Advance On

There was a few knocks on the door that startled Nikaidou since he wasn't expecting anyone to come to his office at this time. He opened it and Nobuko Saeki forced her way in. "What a surprise Miss Nobuko?" Nikaidou said, "Did you not leave the school just before lunch ended? I'm rather surprised to see you here."

"Cut with the questions," Nobuko commanded sitting in Nikaidou's chair, "don't tell me you don't know who I really am? You fail as that man's right hand man."

Nikaidou stared hard at Nobuko then he laughed, closing the door shut. "I'm equally… no even more surprised. Why might you be here then, looking like that? Were you here to protect Ikuto again?"

"I told you to stop asking me," Nobuko said more loudly, "besides instead of getting valuable information from day Ikuto, you managed to let loose the mad night Ikuto. With this I know that man won't be satisfied."

Nikaidou leaned against the desk, "I just miscalculated."

"Miscalculation to that man means failure," Nobuko pointed out, "luckily for you, I'm here to help you."

Nikaidou stared hard at Nobuko, "I believe we are working for different purposes. Surely your not trying to lure me into a trap are you? I'm certain the boss realises you have certain motives."

Nobuko tilted her head and smiled, "but Yuu, as an intelligent man like yourself, you do realise that even if I go against him, he would not punish me excessively. Unlike me, he can never surpass the restraints of our relationship. If I back you up then you are excused."

"What is it your really after?" Nikaidou asked, "If you answer me then I shall consider your offer."

"I think you are mistaken," Nobuko said loudly, "I'm not here to offer anything. I'm here to inform you on what you must and have to do. You're trying to obtain XM2 for that man aren't you, then I will help you, on the condition that I get a copy of XM2."

Nikaidou chuckled, "so you're after XM2 as well. It's not a problem that you make a copy as long as this time I am guaranteed to obtain it."

Nobuko stood up and straightened her suite, "then make sure you follow everything I tell you to do precisely. Three years has already been wasted from the confusion the Tsukiyomi's created. Now we are certain of who is who, all that's left is to obtain XM2 and we will get it without fail. You understand if this drags on any longer he will notice and escape."

"I understand," Nikaidou replied. "Everything now can only just advance and move forward. There will be no turning back."

Nobuko nodded and walked out of the office, closing the door gently behind her as she left. She reached for her chin and with her nails digging in, she hardly tore the skin from her face, letting loose her long golden hair.

…Outside Ikuto's house, Lulu and night Ikuto simply looked at each other in confusion.

"Ikuto, did something happen? What happened?" Lulu asked, walking closer towards Ikuto. There was a strong feeling inside her as she looked at the Ikuto before her, it was that of relief and a realisation that this was the person she had always wanted to see again.

"Amu… is my daughter… impossible," Ikuto kept chanting. "I don't recall ever having a daughter… this is not real."

"Why are you so shocked?" Lulu said, gently touching his arm.

Ikuto grabbed hold of Lulu, which surprised her so much that she dropped her shopping bags onto the floor. His grip on her shoulders were so strong that it began to hurt. That force and strength, she was certain, this was the real Ikuto. From the increasing pain on her shoulders, Lulu protested, "Ikuto, let go of me. It hurts."

"Tell me Lulu," Ikuto shouted, "why do I have a daughter? Who is Amu Hinamori? Is she really my daughter? What's going on, that's something I want to ask you."

Lulu began to tremble from Ikuto's intense shouting. It was the exact feeling she'd always get from the real Ikuto, because he was that violent. She pushed him away from her. "Calm down," she shouted over him, "calm down Ikuto. Come in the house and I'll tell you."

Ikuto obediently followed Lulu into the house and as soon as the door closed shut, he began to ask Lulu the same questions which Lulu reacted by grabbing hold of his shirt tightly and with one swift movement she pushed Ikuto against the wall. She needed to be certain that this really was the real Ikuto. She knew precisely how he would act to her sudden attack. She began to tighten her grip on his shirt around his neck, it was to slowly strangle him.

Knowing what Lulu was attempting to do, Ikuto immediately grabbed both of Lulu's hand, wrenching them off his shirt and kicking her knees to make her loose balance. He then twisted her hands behind her and held her still. "What are you playing at Lulu? I'm serious here," Ikuto said with frustration. "Or, is this the way you treat me after not seeing me for so long."

Ikuto tightened his hold on her and Lulu's body began to tremble which made him let loose of her and it wasn't long before she started to cry and laugh. She turned, gently holding his face, "You're back. You're finally back Ikuto. I knew it when I saw you, the expression, that aura, it had to be you. Ikuto, if only you know how much I've wanted to see you sooner."

"Well it's a given that you won't see me if you decide to go abroad," Ikuto said, "it's been around three years since we last met."

"No, this isn't it," Lulu began, "I came back a few months ago. We already met, don't you remember? At that time, I thought I'd surprise you like always and just suddenly turned up at this house but… you were completely different."

"Lulu, I don't understand," Ikuto whispered, "this is the first time I've seen you in ages."

"Listen to me Ikuto, I've been living with you and your so called daughter for quite awhile now. It's time you explain to me what kind of a prank you were playing?" Lulu demanded, "tell me why did you act so differently?"

"How did I act?" Ikuto asked. "I don't recall myself being strange or anything like that. Lulu, why don't you answer my questions first?"

"NO," Lulu shouted, "I want to know. It's been so painful being around you when you were acting the way you did. I came to find you and reunite with you after years of separation and then before me, you suddenly introduce your sweet adopted daughter, Amu Hinamori. Do you know how much of a shock that was? After what had happened in this family, I didn't expect you to become and take upon the role of a father. But even that didn't matter," Lulu paused and took in a deep breath, "What really got to me, the most haunting thing was the way you acted as a father to that girl. You were exactly like your own father before he changed. You took on such a shadow of that man that I hated it and I wished for you to return to the way you were. I feel more comfortable the way you are Ikuto. The you whose violent and full of rage and passion, unlike your father who-"

There's was a faint buzzing noise that interrupted Lulu and Ikuto reached in his pocket to get his mobile. "Utau," he muttered after reading the message. Ikuto stared at Lulu for a few seconds before walking towards the front door. "I understand now, everything that's happened to me. Thank you for telling me. Although I would like to prolong our reunion I have business to attend to. See you around, Lulu."

"Ikuto, don't go," Lulu commanded running towards Ikuto and grabbing his arm. "I'm not prepared to let you go."

"Lulu, I have important business to attend to. I'll explain to you later but I must leave now," Ikuto said clearly."

"You know how much I love you like I loved Souko. You know my feelings don't you? Don't disappear before me and come back being that man again," Lulu shouted, "Ikuto, I don't understand why you've suddenly turned back to yourself but I'm not going to risk loosing you by setting you free, and then have you come home to be that girl's father again and act like that man. I don't want a replica of your father."

Ikuto took Lulu's hand off from his arm and looked at her with a very serious expression, "I will come back as myself. I won't turn into anyone. Trust me like you always have. I'm a son you're proud of aren't I?"

Lulu smiled and nodded, "so you knew I loved you like my own son." Lulu laughed, "fine, just go. When you say things like that - I can't protest at all."

Ikuto smiled at Lulu before leaving the house and Lulu couldn't hold back her tears. She started to cry again, overjoyed to see the Ikuto that she had always longed to see. As soon as he reacted to her attack in the way he did, she knew it was him. But part of the joy couldn't cover the worry that now built up inside her. Lulu walked into her room and towards her wardrobe. Moving her clothes to the side she reached for a well hidden box and took the gun from within it. "Even if Ikuto is ruthless… for precaution I should help him." Lulu turned and pushed at the door but to her surprise it was locked. She tried with more force but it was clear the door was locked and she was trapped in her own room. "What is this?" she said with fear. "How could this happen?"

"I assume it can happen if a phantom entered the house…"

"Whose there?" Lulu asked turning behind her, pointing the gun before her. There was no one.

"I appreciate your deep concern for my child and your realisation of his true nature but you know - I would have appreciated it much more if you minded your own business."

"I said whose there," Lulu repeated, firing the gun at the ceiling as a warning.

"Night Ikuto, Day Ikuto, it seems like you've already realised which one of them is the real Ikuto… this will be troublesome for me."

"That voice…" Lulu slowly said, listening closely. "It can't be…"

The door behind Lulu suddenly opened and a pair of hands reached out from behind, grabbing the gun from her. There was a few loud bangs as the gun fired, hitting the wall and floor. A surprised Lulu kept her strong grip on the gun and immediately twisted her body the other way to see who it was. In the split second she saw him, she lost her breath from utter shock. "I-Ikuto… when did you…"

"Give me the gun Lulu," he whispered into her ears.

Lulu's eyes widened and shouted, "NO you are not Ikuto…" With force Lulu elbowed him on the chest and wrenched the gun away from him as he staggered slightly. She now pointed the gun at him steadily, "It's you isn't it? You look a lot like Ikuto but I can tell. It makes so much more sense now why I thought Ikuto was strange. So you've been the other Ikuto all along."

"Put down the gun. I think you're a little mistaken…"

Lulu gritted her teeth, holding the gun tighter, "You monster, why did you return? What are you planning?"

He placed his index finger over his lips that smiled and whispered, "I don't plan on hurting you. So you must sleep."

"What?" Lulu gasped as she felt her head become dizzy. Her grip on the gun loosened and as the gun hit the floor, so did she. Lying there, Lulu felt her eyes grow heavy, "y-you…"

"I filled your room with some sleeping gas. When you were locked in it, you must've breathed in quite a bit. I'm guessing it's taking affect now." He reached down and took the gun. "I'll be leaving with this then."

"Wait," Lulu called out weakly, her conscience fading with each passing second. "Stay away from Ikuto. Stay away from him… please… I beg you Aruto … don't hurt my family anymore."

"The family you speak of is also my family," he answered softly. "PLEASE…ARUTO!" Lulu cried out before her eyes closed shut.

He smiled gently, "I'm sorry but I can't stay away from him. At this very moment I am not the man you speak of but I am also Ikuto." He picked Lulu up and laid her onto her own bed before leaving, "I am day Ikuto."

…Still walking aimlessly on the streets Amu was beginning to loose hope in finding Ikuto. Knowing it was night Ikuto that was now awake she knew there was no way he would return home and there were a limited amount of places she knew that he would go to. Thinking more deeply about it, Amu really didn't know anything about Ikuto, either day or night. His past, his thoughts, what he likes the most, the reasons for the things he does, everything, she knew so little. Amu sighed only just realising how much of an idiot she had been for the past months. She only hoped it wasn't too late now to put things straight again. Amu's mobile suddenly rang and she quickly picked it up. "Hello."

"It's me."

"Kukai," Amu slowly said. "This is great timing, I was wondering if you've seen-"

"Come to my house, I need to speak to you," Kukai commanded, "Come here right now."

Before Amu could say anything else Kukai had already hung up. From hearing the serious tone in Kukai's voice, Amu was slightly anxious but she did as he told her too, since she was planning to ask him whether he knew where Ikuto was anyway. It wasn't long when she arrived at his house. She knocked on the door and Kukai opened it, motioning for her to go in.

"Do you know where Ikuto-"

Kukai took some photo's from the table and chucked them at Amu with rage. "Explain yourself. Explain everything to me now," he barked.

A rather bewildered Amu stared at Kukai in confusion. Her eyes met with his intense glare and she immediately looked away. This was the first time she saw Kukai this mad and she didn't know how to act. She was only slightly calm in the fact that he didn't seem to be as violent or aggressive as night Ikuto when he was angry. She glanced away from him and her eyes settled on the photo's that were spread all over the floor. Amu gasped at the sight of the pictures of her and Ikuto. She knelt down and picked a few up, "these are..."

"Yes, I was following you for the past week," Kukai said, "I did that for a reason Amu Hinamori. Do you know why?"

"I don't," Amu quickly spoke, clenching the photo's, "I noticed someone was following me but I never thought it was you. Why did you stalk me?"

Kukai stepped closer to Amu, "what have you done?"

"Why did you follow me? What have I done to make you-"

"Don't avoid my questions," Kukai said loudly. "Speak the truth Amu Hinamori, who are you really? What is your true relationship with Ikuto and what have you done to him?"

Amu stared at Kukai, "I honestly don't know what you're trying to say or ask."

Kukai smiled in a odd and strained way, "It doesn't matter if you don't talk. I've got my answers already. What's left is just for me to hear it from Ikuto."

"Ikuto, is he coming here?" Amu asked slightly happy that she may be able to meet him.

"Funny how you call Ikuto by his name," Kukai said, "you don't usually call your father by his name. You wouldn't date him either."

Amu clenched tighter onto the photo's in her hand, "you know."

"Is it that much of a secret?" Kukai questioned, "I suppose it is a rather disgusting secret isn't it, for you to be dating with your own father."

"It's not like that," Amu tried to explain, "I was only trying to protect Ikuto and we're not…"

"We're not related by blood, because apparently I adopted her."

Amu and Kukai both looked at Ikuto who entered the room. The way he looked was obvious that he was night Ikuto.

"You finally arrived," Kukai said.

"Yeah," Ikuto simply replied.

"Now that everyone's here I believe I can get the real picture of what's happening don't I?" Kukai asked, "Ikuto, I've always believed in our friendship but this time around - do you understand how frustrated I am? Do you know how I feel when I know you are keeping so much from me?"

"Kukai, listen to me. There are things that even I am confused about. So how do you expect me to tell-"

"Explain it Amu Hinamori," Kukai ordered, ignoring Ikuto, "You know don't you, the things that Ikuto and I don't. SAY IT NOW!"

Amu put on a weak smile and looked at Ikuto, "this is exactly what I wanted. I promised I won't lie to you again so I won't run away, I'll tell everything."

Ikuto just stared at Amu, "inspire me then."