-1Finally Back

Amu wanted to pull away from night Ikuto but she couldn't. She had lied and told night Ikuto she liked him so It wasn't all unnatural that he'd demand her to do something such as this. Only she was really uncomfortable with it. It was wrong, it was even a sin for a father and daughter to do such a thing like kissing. She was lost in what to do. Amu closed her eyes, not wanting to make the wrong move which will give her away but also because she simply didn't know what to do or how to refuse. Her heart began to race, beating faster with each passing second that he held her there. He was going to kiss her wasn't he. Strangely Amu was expecting it, his kiss, the touch of his lips on hers. But why?

Amu finally opened her eyes as Ikuto suddenly pulled away from her. He didn't kiss her. She felt herself gasp for air or from relief. She looked at Ikuto who seemed to have just headed out the room. Amu got slightly nervous now, not knowing what he was thinking. Would he distrust her again? She touched her face which was slightly warmer than usual. She began to really panic now. What was she to do if Ikuto wanted to continue the kiss when he came back? Should she just do it or think up of an excuse to evade it? What if he'd get mad at her again if she refused? Amu really didn't want to be on night Ikuto's bad side again, it felt terrible and all her encounters with him when she was in bad terms with him was nothing but a nightmare played in reality. If night Ikuto wasn't a part of her father she would've never bothered with him in the first place.

Ikuto finally came back into the room. He put on a very small smile that you wouldn't notice if you didn't look hard enough, "shall we go on a date in two days time?"

Amu stared at him, "yes. Yes that would be nice."

"Then give me your mobile number and write down your address," Ikuto said, passing her a notepad and pen.

"But you live with m…" Amu began to say but shut herself up straight away. She had to remember this wasn't day Ikuto, not her father. She had to try and treat him as someone else. She wrote the details down as Ikuto has said.

Ikuto took the paper from her and put it in his pocket, "I'll come and pick you up at night then. Its just precaution against Sanjo."

"Ok," Amu simply said.

"Follow me," Ikuto said.

Amu did as she was told. Ikuto opened the door to another room further down the corridor. Amu peeked in to see a bed already fully made. She gulped and nervously looked around the place. There was two pillows on the bed. He wasn't going to say something like…we'll sleep together was he? If so, she was in big trouble.

"That's my room but you can stay there for the night," Ikuto said.

Amu turned to look at him, "You…"

"I'll share a room with Kukai," Ikuto explained, "have a nice dream then."

Amu blinked, standing perplexed on the spot as Ikuto entered the room next door. He wasn't going to kiss her, but why and what's with his sudden change in mood? Amu quietly slipped into the room and as quietly as possible closed the door. Without taking off her coat she went to bed and slept still for awhile. She didn't understand why Ikuto told her to kiss him and suddenly decide not to but she was really tired and it wasn't hard for her to fall asleep. She'll think of things later.

In the next room, Kukai had his ears pressed to the wall. "Hey I think Amu is asleep."

"Really," Ikuto said, tired himself from everything's that happened.

"So why did you not kiss her in the end?" Kukai whispered.

"You peeped at us didn't you?" Ikuto asked.

Kukai ignored Ikuto's question, "just answer me why? I'm curious."

"Because I don't truly love that girl yet. I was testing her to see if she was lying," Ikuto simply replied.

"And was she-"

"I don't know. The way she looked at me feels as though she had feelings towards me. It was like she really cared and wanted me…it felt like desire."

"Bastard, why do you get all the girls? I'll praise you for being decent this time round though." Kukai complained.

Ikuto continued ignoring Kukai's comment this time, "but her feelings or desire, whatever it was. It felt strange."

Kukai yawned, "whatever mate. So have you accepted her then?"

"At the minute, I'll give us a chance to see," Ikuto said. He closed his eyes and slept.

…The birds were already chirping to the morning sun and the night before was yet another past dream lived out. Amu stretched, waking up. She looked around the room. She didn't notice how old or damaged it was before. She went to the small kitchen, planning to make breakfast for Kukai and night Ikuto then tidy the house a little after.

"Amu, you don't need to make breakfast," Kukai yawned coming out his room. " I mean you can for yourself if you want. I'm not eating till late into the afternoon. That's my style. There's not much food in the kitchen anyway."

"Oh," Amu said, "I didn't know. I'll make something for-"

"You should probably go home for today," Kukai said, "Ikuto's left already."

Amu stared at Kukai, "he left."

Kukai smiled, "don't worry. He always disappears after the night. He goes off somewhere I don't know early in the morning. He comes back at night though."

Amu gave Kukai a weak smile and rushed a goodbye to him, running out the house. She headed towards her home, her and day Ikuto's home. It wouldn't be a dream would it? It wouldn't be just her hopes or her wish… In her heart she was begging now, praying that Ikuto had went home. It was day time, it meant that her beloved father was back. "Don't let this be a dream…" Amu whispered.

As she was approaching her house she saw someone outside standing there looking around. Tears started to spill from her eyes as she recognised Ikuto and his kind expressions. She leaped towards him and hugged him tightly. He was back. He was finally back. Day Ikuto had finally returned.

"AMU, WHAT HAPPENED?" Ikuto asked in a worried voice, "where'd you go off to. I woke up this morning and you weren't there. My breakfast wasn't there either."

Amu wiped her tears and giggled, "is your breakfast the only thing you care about."

Ikuto rubbed his head, "you've become a rebellious daughter. Get in the house. I'll have to re-discuss house rules with you."

Amu pulled Ikuto into the house, "I'll make breakfast whilst you explain then father."

Amu couldn't stop herself from smiling and giggling as she was cooking breakfast and whilst Ikuto was standing beside her, telling her the house rules again. He was so much like a father, acting all adult-like and speaking deliberately in a lower voice. He sighed several times and lightly hit Amu on the head when he noticed she wasn't listening to him at all. When they both finally sat at the table, he still kept talking. Amu looked at Ikuto. This was the Ikuto she wanted, he was so much like an old man ranting, but she liked him this way. She felt safe with a father like this.

He stopped and let out a big sigh, "Amu. I'm serious. Do not do anything to make me worry. It's terrible for someone of my age to worry."

Amu raised her eyebrows, "typical old man."

Ikuto twitched, "I don't want to hear that from you young lady. Anyhow, it seems I haven't been to work for a day or so and you've skipped school."

Amu paused from eating. He was talking about yesterday when night Ikuto completely took over. It was something even she didn't understand why it happened. It wasn't something she particularly wanted to remember either.

"I've also managed to hurt my chin here," Ikuto said pointing to the gash, "what happened Amu?"

Amu rolled her eyes and glanced everywhere but at Ikuto. How was she going to explain things? Ikuto didn't know she had already met his other-self. "Erm… you see…" Amu struggled.

Ikuto tapped his fingers on the table. "Grounded for the week for hesitating."

Amu looked at Ikuto with a stricken face, "NO WAY! That's unfair. You're exploiting the authority of a parent here."

"So you realise I'm your father then?" Ikuto said, "answer me or else more punishment."

Amu hesitated then, "we were playing tug-o-war…"

Ikuto frowned, "Amu."

"ITS TRUE!" Amu shouted before he could say anything more.

Ikuto considered for the moment, "did I really play tug of war, a childish game like that…"

Amu looked around for something else to talk about or steal his attention to, then she suddenly remembered the phone call. She hurriedly said, "do you know a woman called Souko?"

Ikuto's expression changed; he suddenly became very serious looking or more like fear. "Where…how do you know that name?"

Amu quietly answered, "there was this man the other day that phoned here when you were out and thought I was her."

Ikuto stood up and rushed over towards the phone, picking it up but didn't press any buttons. He slammed the phone back down and banged his fists on the table which frightened Amu. What happened? What was wrong? Ikuto didn't seem right; he was acting strange.

"What else did he say?" Ikuto raised his voice, "who was it? Who was that man Amu?"

Amu slowly walked over to Ikuto but stopped, leaving a slight distance between them. "He never said anything about who he was. He cut me off after I told him I wasn't Souko."

"Really…" Ikuto said in a shaky voice.

Amu stepped closer to Ikuto, not knowing what to do seeing Ikuto's saddened expression and the tear that dropped down his cheeks. "Ikuto, I'm sorry…I didn't I-"

Ikuto patted Amu's back and forced a weak smile. "I'm sorry I got emotional Amu," he said, "that name brought back too many memories."

Amu gently held onto Ikuto's hand. She wanted to cheer him up somehow. She hated seeing him sad.

"Souko," Ikuto continued, "is the name of my deceased mother."

Amu wanted to say something but the door bell rang, distracting both her and Ikuto's attention. Who could it be? Ikuto squeezed Amu's hand to tell her he was fine and went to open the door. Amu went to tidy up the dishes on the table. She began to start washing as well, wondering what Ikuto's mother was like. If she had known she wouldn't have mentioned anything at all. She knows how it feels to have someone close to you die. Amu was about to open the taps again for more water but paused. It was strange that there was no noises. Ikuto had taken quite a while too. Worried Amu headed over to the door. She saw Ikuto standing by the doorway, completely silent. She went to see what was happening and who was there. Amu gasped, seeing a woman dressed completely in black with a black hat that covered her face pointed a gun at Ikuto.

"Go back inside Amu," Ikuto ordered, concentrating on the woman before him. He pushed Amu behind of him.

The woman holding the gun laughed, "don't be so rough to a girl. You need to introduce us."

"I don't really want to," Ikuto said. "Get lost."

The woman sighed, "it won't change a thing dear. I am…finally back."