-1Saved not Solved

There was a loud bang as the gun fired. Short silence followed. Amu felt nothing and she couldn't help but look for herself what was going on. She had heard someone calling out after the gun was fired but she didn't know what else had happened. She gasped, to see Kukai struggling to hold Ikuto's hand with the gun up in the air. The gun wasn't pointed towards her, it was pointed towards the ceiling.

"Get away," Kukai instructed, keeping a firm grip on Ikuto's hand.

Amu did as he said and got herself away from Ikuto; she was now standing by the door.

"Let go Kukai," Ikuto shouted, "she can't be trusted."

"CALM DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME," Kukai shouted over Ikuto.

Amu watched, torn between the decision to leave or to stay. Did it make a difference as to which choice she made? This Ikuto hated her. That was all she ever card about.

"LISTEN IKUTO," Kukai shouted, this time taking the gun from his hands, "I can't explain things now but I suddenly remember something…"

"Explain after I do what is right," Ikuto said making a grab for the gun.

"I TRUST HER," Kukai finally shouted, "I trust…Amu, is that your name?"

Amu nodded, stunned that Kukai, who she didn't even know said that he trusted her. Why? What made him say or think that way?

Ikuto looked at Kukai, "if she didn't betray me than how did Sanjo know I was waiting for her. I was stabbed by a girl disguised looking like her."

Kukai exhaled, "I don't know. Even I can't explain why things turned out as it is. But I still trust her. Ikuto, you can distrust her all you like. I understand." Kukai took a brief look at Amu, "but you can't distrust me. I've been with you for ages. No matter what happens we will always help each other. I'm asking you to trust me Ikuto not her. Me."

Ikuto looked at Kukai who seemed really determined and convicted. He didn't know what Kukai had suddenly remembered or what he was thinking, but he knew he couldn't say no to Kukai. He owed a lot to Kukai who has stayed with him no matter what happened. Ikuto let go of the gun that Kukai still held, "I won't kill her then if you say you trust her so much. But I don't want to see her. I still don't think she's any good."

Kukai turned to Amu, "just leave."

Amu wanted to say something but Kukai just pointed at the door, "its not easy convincing Ikuto. Besides there is an extent to how much I trust you too. Don't bother us again."

Amu began to exit the room but she didn't want it like this. It can't end like this. If she left now then it'll be harder to see night Ikuto again and she'll loose the only chance she has in saving day Ikuto. She stood still at the doorway, "I won't give up Ikuto. I' don't know what I should do to prove my innocence. I really didn't betray you or anything. I'll wait outside the house till you decide to listen to me."

"Don't bother, get out of my sight," Ikuto shouted.

Amu turned away, "I'll wait Ikuto."

She heard a loud bang from inside the room; it was probably Ikuto kicking the table or something like that. Amu went outside the house and stood by the small gate. She didn't move after but waited as she said. She looked up at the sky and only wished she had never went to the church. None of this would've happened if she wasn't with Tadase. Wasn't there a chance to fix things between them?

The day went slowly for Amu who could only stare into space, waiting outside. She didn't move away at all. She probably fell asleep too because when she woke, it was night again. It was cold, the air chilly. She wrapped her clothes around her more tightly but she still felt cold to the bones.

From the window Kukai watched her carefully. "Ikuto she really hasn't left at all. She's been there the whole afternoon."

"Doesn't concern me at all and don't bother telling me what you remembered. I don't want to hear it at all," Ikuto said, flicking through pages of a magazine.

"Are you sure you're not making rash judgements?" Kukai asked, "why would she bother trying to prove her innocence to you if she was Sanjo's pawn? He succeeded in ambushing you and injuring you. She doesn't need to try and trick you again."

"Who knows what Sanjo's thinking?"

"Think more logically," Kukai said, "you're not going to trust her again. Would Sanjo bother to waste his own time like this. Besides, I was watching her all the time. She rather you'd kill her-"

"To try and fool me again by gaining my trust…"

Kukai sighed, "she didn't need to come back to you and get herself killed. Never mind though, you decide since she's here for you. How's your wound?"

Ikuto touched the deep gash on his chin, "it's not bleeding anymore."

Kukai smiled, "that's good to hear-"

"What is it?" Ikuto asked seeing Kukai rush towards the window. He slowly got up and rushed to the window too. "Just great…where's the gun?"

Amu stood up and moved slightly to the side of the gate seeing four green cars suddenly stopping in front. The car doors opened and a bunch of thugs scrambled out. "What's going on?" Amu whispered, scared since none of the people who have just arrived look nice. She backed away back towards Kukai's house.

She watched as one of the thugs opened the door for who seems to be their leader. A guy with green hair wearing a black suite stepped out. He adjusted his glasses but his gaze was always on Kukai's house. He smirked, clicking his fingers and another one of his servants brought a silver case towards him. Amu wheezed at the sight of the many guns within the case. The leader of the group rummaged through the collection and took hold of one.

Amu turned, seeing Ikuto and Kukai coming out as well. Her attention was on the gun Ikuto held in his hands. A feeling of horror flooded over Amu. Who were those people? What are they planning to do? She took a step towards Ikuto but he immediately glared at her. She didn't dare step any closer and she didn't move away either but just looked at Ikuto who turned his attention to the leader of the thugs.

"Its so nice of you to visit us Sanjo," Ikuto greeted with a smile.

Amu stared, Sanjo. This was the guy that ambushed Ikuto and made it look like she was a part of it. But she didn't know him.

Sanjo smiled, "I was worried about you Ikuto. I wondered whether you were dead from that stab. I didn't know you had a weak spot for girls. But I'm glad your alive for now."

Ikuto clenched onto the gun tighter, "you sure like to talk a lot. Using such underhanded tactics I suppose is what cowards always do." He turned to look at Kukai, "do you still trust her now?"

Kukai didn't say anything. Ikuto walked towards Amu and grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly along with him.

"Stop please Ikuto," Amu said.

He then shoved her to the ground towards Sanjo, "take back your little killing toy."

Sanjo stared at Amu who looked back at him with fear mixed with slight anger in her expression.

"I don't know you," Amu mouthed.

Sanjo pulled a disgusted face, "move the bitch out of my way."

Two thugs grabbed onto Amu and dragged her out the gate, pushing her more harshly to the floor outside. She pressed her lips together, not wanting to let out the small cry from scraping her knees. She went back towards the small gate, where all the thugs now crowded around, struggling but still able to see what was going on.

"I'm guessing you're here to finish what you started last night," Ikuto continued.

Sanjo just smiled, "not so fast. Ikuto we don't need to fight. Just hand it over to me and we'll call it to an end between us."

Ikuto smiled, "I'd rather it didn't end." He pointed the gun at Sanjo who did the same. They stood there glaring at each other. Sanjo raised his hands and his followers each pulled out a gun too, pointing it towards Ikuto and Kukai.

"This is for your best interest," Sanjo said, "hand it over to me or just die."

Ikuto didn't say anything. Sanjo pulled the trigger, firing a bullet at Ikuto which scraped across his face, leaving a small line of blood.

"NO!" Amu cried, but no one heard her because it was drowned by the thugs laughter. Her legs began to tremble. She was full of nothing but fear now. It was a different fear to when Ikuto wanted to kill her, this fear was more painful and scary. She didn't know what to do but she desperately wanted to help Ikuto or at least protect him. She didn't want to see him dead. Amu began to step towards the crowd of thugs but a hand clasped around her mouth, pulling her back.

A voice then whispered into her ears, "you want to help Ikuto. Are you with him?"

Amu nodded, unable to answer properly since her mouth was still covered.

"Then listen, you can't just charge in and defend him. You need to do something more… take me as a hostage."

Amu grabbed onto the hand that was over her mouth, unable to believe what she had just heard. What did this person mean? Who was this person?

Whilst she was asking these questions in her mind, a gun was pressed into Amu's hand by this stranger. Did he really mean to help?