-1[HAPPY VALENTINES 2011]

Date Crisis

Amu found herself in a deep panic now, not knowing how things will turn out. She was currently walking ahead of night Ikuto, pretending as though she knows where she wants to go, since her big mouth had to shout out that she had planned out this 'date'. Reflecting on herself a little, Amu wished she didn't lie about liking night Ikuto this way to start with, why she couldn't have come up with a better excuse at the time was always a factor that bugged her.

Amu turned around to take a quick look at Ikuto who seemed to just be walking behind her and staring off into nowhere in particular. She turned back to look ahead of her. They were heading towards the main shopping area but where should she take him to when they arrive. Now that Amu thought more about it, this was her very first date with a guy, so how was she supposed to know what to do? "Maybe copying the dates in movies would do..." Amu muttered quietly.

"What did you say?" Ikuto asked from behind.

"No-no I didn't say anything in particular," Amu replied frantically. "Say Ikuto, do you have anywhere you want to go to?"

"No," Ikuto answered straight out, "that's why you're leading the date. You even said you had so many places you want to go to that your scared there isn't enough time, so why not hurry to our first destination."

Amu nodded, which was all she could do at the moment. She racked her brains now trying to think of places they can go to. The cinema, but she had no tickets and what if Ikuto questioned her again because she wasn't prepared enough, wouldn't she be busted and it'd show that she really didn't have a schedule for today's date. The arcade – it may be too childish, Ikuto was older and more mature than her, and not surprising since his other self is her father. The park – there wasn't anything to do there. "Then this leaves me the last option," Amu whispered to herself again. She turned to face Ikuto, "I'm a little hungry so I'm going to change my original schedule slightly and eat first. Are you ok with this?"

"I don't mind," Ikuto said truthfully then he smirked, "but what would you do if I said I wasn't hungry."

Amu took a deep breath, "it doesn't matter who likes who. You're still a guy so you shouldn't starve a girl." She walked faster, not trying to converse with Ikuto anymore in case he asks her anymore unanswerable questions. Ikuto followed her swiftly.

Amu felt slight relief as she arrived at the restaurant, it wasn't the most expensive or exquisite place in the world, it was probably the opposite. It was a place that she and day Ikuto frequented, a normal neighbourhood family restaurant that she felt comfortable to be in. Maybe day Ikuto might show up if we went to places day Ikuto goes to was what Amu was thinking as she took the back seat near the window. Amu couldn't take her eyes off from Ikuto as he was reading through the menu. They had the same faces but upon it were different expressions.

"Have you stared enough?" Ikuto asked catching Amu from the corner of his eyes. "Am I really good looking?

Amu looked away with a small blush on her face. She had never really considered whether Ikuto was handsome or not. Daughters don't usually concentrate on that aspect of their father; she wasn't planning to start noticing either. Ikuto motioned a waiter and started to order what he wanted.

"Miss, what would you like?" the waiter politely asked.

Amu looked up and ordered, passing the menu back to the waiter. Amu stared at the waiter who seemed to just be staring back at her and Ikuto. "Is something wrong?" Amu couldn't help but ask, seeing the strange face the waiter was making.

"I'm sorry Miss, you seem awfully familiar," the waiter began to explain, "Do you two come here often?"

Amu gulped, "this is our first time."

"Oh, ok," the waiter said walking off.

Amu let out a little sigh. She was afraid that the waiter would recognise her and Ikuto. Well, normally when she comes here with day Ikuto she'd be wearing her uniform and she definitely didn't wear make up so right now she must look older than what she normally looks. Ikuto himself is dressed so differently to the normal Ikuto and looks so wild that when you look at him, he seems younger, let alone thinking he's someone different. It wasn't that much of a surprise that the waiter doubts whether it's them, Amu herself was amazed how some make-up and the way you dress and your expressions can change the way you look so much.

"Why are you in a daze?" Ikuto asked having quietly observed Amu who seemed to be thinking whilst looking at her faint reflection on the window.

"Nothing much," Amu replied.

"Don't worry, you don't look like yourself," Ikuto said, "I made sure you looked at least a bit different before taking you out. I said before didn't I that I didn't want trouble."

"Thank you," Amu whispered even before she realised she said it. There was a small smile on her face, thinking how even it was night Ikuto; it was still Ikuto in the end. Though he makes it sound like he just didn't want any trouble himself, he actually cared enough to consider details like Amu's look. She had never thought so deeply into issues like these before, but she knows that it would look weird for a guy like Ikuto's age to be hanging around a high school girl. Her smile grew a little bigger as she thought about it in that way.

Ikuto found himself staring at Amu, surprised at first to hear her thank him then somehow, he quite liked the smile on her face. She was really unlike him, innocent and pure. There was always one thing that he didn't understand, why would she risk her own life to save his? Who was she really? Why did she like him? He wanted to know.

"Here's your food," the waiter said, returning with the dishes and setting them on the table before heading off again.

Amu and Ikuto began to eat and didn't exchange many words with each other. Amu was still feeling very nervous around night Ikuto. She didn't know what to say to him since he wasn't day Ikuto. She couldn't just start talking about the usual stuff, he might not listen or it can easily give her away. Amu tried though, feeling the silence between them wasn't going to help, "what do you think of here?"

"I've never been here but it's a calm place," Ikuto answered looking around the restaurant that was filled with families with their children. His expression became a bit softer.

"I'm glad you don't dislike here," Amu said out loud instinctively. She didn't concentrate on Ikuto's response though, hearing the door to the restaurant open and hearing that familiar voice.

"Hey Yaya, hurry up won't you?"

"Yaya," Amu repeated in panic, looking up to see Nadeshiko at the door. Why were they here, they were supposed to be at the cinema at this time. Amu was certain she wouldn't bump into anyone familiar at this hour coming here besides the waiter. Why were they here? Amu was shaking from dread now, glancing everywhere to try and find a way to hide herself. What was she to do? There was no way she could let Nadeshiko and Yaya see her like this and especially night Ikuto, she can't let them know at all. What would they think of her? How is she going to explain something that doesn't sound like the truth at all? Amu clenched a fist and sat nearer the window, all tense, knowing Nadeshiko and Yaya was walking further into the restaurant.

"What's wrong?" Ikuto asked, seeing Amu suddenly so tense and uncomfortable.

"Don't talk to me. Don't say anything!" Amu almost shouted within her whisper. She turned her face to look away from Nadeshiko and Yaya's direction to completely face the outside of the window. She was beginning to get more and more worked up, faintly seeing that the waiter had them sit so near where she and Ikuto was sitting. Amu clenched her fist even tighter when she overheard them talking of her.

"We should probably give Amu a call," Yaya suggested.

"Isn't she busy with her aunt though?" Nadeshiko asked. "I don't think we should call her."

The only thing going through Amu's mind now was what am I going to do especially after Yaya had suggested calling her. They'll get the wrong idea for certain since night Ikuto believes I like him...

Ikuto took a quick glance at the two girls who had just walked into the restaurant. They were about the same age as Amu, did she know them? He turned his focus back onto Amu who clearly showed her desire to leave. Ikuto couldn't help himself as he continued to watch her get more agitated. He grabbed Amu's hand catching her attention, "what is wrong with you? There's nothing wrong if your seen by them, you know them right?"

Amu pressed her lips together, almost glaring at Ikuto. She wrenched her hand away from him and whispered more aggressively, "don't interfere with my life. You don't understand anything. I can't ever be seen around with you like this. I absolutely can't."

There was a sudden burning rage in Ikuto after Amu had said that. He stood up, unable to control his fury; he pushed everything on the table off onto the floor, causing loud crashing sounds as the plates and glass shattered. He then bent over the stricken Amu, who seemed too shocked to do anything. "Why do you always piss me off so much," Ikuto shouted at Amu. "If you didn't want to be with me then you shouldn't have messed with me in the start."

Tears fell from Amu's eyes. She had already had a feeling that this so called date wouldn't be any good or even meeting with night Ikuto was probably her worst mistake in life. Nothing is right when she is with him. She couldn't see anyone else but heard the other customers and her friends asking what's happening. Her vision was filled with the raging night Ikuto but she knew everyone in the restaurant was looking in their direction. It was all over, Amu thought, everything is over and she had hurt him once again. Her tears kept falling. "I'm sorry Ikuto..." she whispered through her sobs, the only thing she could say before everything ended. She would never be able to save day Ikuto anymore.