Utau's Act

With a painful smile, he swirled the glass, it's inner blood-red contents almost spilling out from the movement. He placed the tip of the glass at his lips and drank the fresh wine. He stared at the uncomforting silent house, the very house that he has been entering and disappearing from for the past years like a phantom. He quietly walked over to the room where Lulu still soundly slept. "Stay there for awhile longer," he whispered, closing the door to the room and walking over to the extremely small terrace that was more a balcony. The evening was cold but he had never felt warmer, so warm that it was more accurate to say that he was boiling. The excitement in him now as he realised that he can soon meet his son again. From his pocket he portrayed a small bag that held the very thing that everyone was crazy over, the real XM2. Clutching it he breathed, "the item that Xerxes Manabue II left behind." He closed his eyes, there was a sudden sound of the breaking of glass then a loud crash and he was gone from the mini terrace with no signs of him ever being there.

…..Staggering with her hand over her arm, Utau finally reached Kukai's house again. She banged heavily and strongly onto the door, shouting at the top of her lungs in pain, "Ikuto… oh Ikuto… HELP ME!"

The door opened immediately and as soon as Ikuto saw Utau, he swiftly lifted her into the house, carefully placing her onto the sofa before examining her wound. "What happened?" he questioned whilst ripping her sleeve that was soaked in blood off. He took a careful look at the stab wound on Utau's arm and let out a small sigh of relief as it didn't seem to be life-threatening in any way. It was minor, thankfully. "How did this happen?" Ikuto asked again.

Tears flowed out of Utau's eyes as she looked away from Ikuto and started to mutter, "it was all my fault. I'm so sorry… I'm sorry Ikuto…"

Ikuto hugged Utau from behind, holding her gently, "calm down Utau. Just take in deep breaths and then tell me slowly. I won't blame you for anything, I promise."

"T-this is different," Utau said almost choking in her own sobs, "that girl actually-"

The ring tone on Ikuto's mobile sounded and leaving Utau's side he went to pick it up, not bothering to look at the name of the caller. "What is it?" he spoke into the phone.

Ikuto gripped tighter onto his mobile as he recognised the bone-chilling laugh from the other side of the line.

"Did the little messenger tell you yet? You need to thank me for being so generous, I let that girl go back to you with only minor injuries."

Ikuto shot one quick glance at Utau, "what the f*ck. You were actually in the position to hurt her. I'm impressed Nikaidou."

On the other end of the phone, Nikaidou continued to chuckle, "well I told Sanjo to follow her and he managed to catch her off guard since she was with another girl. Oh, I almost forgot, or did you forget because you sound very calm, about the other girl."

Ikuto kept his stoic tone, "Yes I know. Sanjo managed to injure Utau because she was with Amu right. I'm presuming that under your orders he let Utau back just to notify me that you've got Amu as a hostage. Well if there isn't anything else, I'll hang up now-"

"HOLD IT!" Nikaidou shouted, "why are you hanging up? Do you not care what happens to this girl?"

"About that girl…" Ikuto slowly said, "I don't even know her."

"Don't try to lie," Nikaidou said more calmly, "I've done my research into your and her relationship beforehand. I'll say this only once Ikuto, I want XM2. Bring it with you to the abandoned warehouse close to the gas station area. If I don't get XM2 by midnight then you can meet her corpse."

"Do what you want with her. I don't care. She has nothing to do with me."

"Are you so sure?" Nikaidou asked.

In the background, Ikuto could faintly hear voices and then there was a clear loud scream. After Nikaidou's whisper he heard with no mistake Amu's voice saying No. Ikuto clenched a fist, mentally blocking her voice from his mind.

"Well, does not seem like she wishes to speak to you," Nikaidou snickered, "from now on it is entirely your decision Ikuto Tsukiyomi."

The connection cut off, leaving Ikuto standing there very still. He put his mobile back into his pocket and returned to Utau who looked better than before. He bandaged and treated Utau's stab wound, not speaking a word.

"Ikuto, say something," Utau whispered.

Ikuto gently stroked Utau's hair, "don't worry. Just take some rest. Do you want to watch a film with me?"

"Film? Now?"

"Yes," Ikuto said reaching for a box at the corner of the room, "me and Kukai have rented a load but never got room d to watching anything. Which one do you like?"

"Seriously, at a time like this," Utau said, "you really want to watch a film with me?"

"There's popcorn and plenty other snacks in the kitchen as well…"

"Ikuto," Utau raised her voice, standing up, "I'm fine with you not blaming me for not taking good care of that girl but why are you acting this way?"

"Don't get the wrong idea?" Ikuto shouted, "I'm not blaming you because there was nothing you did wrong. I never told you to take care of her and if she is so easily taken then let her be. Remember you only took her away because you were scared that I'd end up killing her."

"That is the girl you love," Utau slowly said, "even if she messed with you, even if you wish to kill her, do it with your own hands like what you usually would do. Stop acting like you don't care and let Nikaidou get the last of that girl. The one who should be doing anything to her is-"

"I thought you didn't like Amu," Ikuto cut in, staring at Utau in a strange way.

"I don't necessary not like her but I know I don't like her for sure. What I hate the most is seeing you without madness." Utau took a step towards Ikuto, "madness defines the Ikuto I know."

Ikuto walked towards the door with a contorted smile. "You're right Utau. I am mad. I guess this madness of mine is what's going to save Amu…"

So she really still has value within your heart, Utau thought looking away from Ikuto's back. "I'll stay here so don't worry about me." There was a soft bang as the door closed shut, leaving Utau alone in the room. She clutched at her chest, excitement once again filling her. Her plan would work, everything would go according to plan. She only needed one more person. If she could find that one person, her plan is complete. Waiting around for another ten minutes to make sure Ikuto really was gone, Utau then left the house swiftly.

…..The room was dark, so dark that it felt no difference from whether her eyes were opened or not. Amu lied very still on the floor, the pain in her cheeks still stinging. She could not believe Utau, that girl that seemed so nice would do such a thing. Before she was locked up in this dark room, Sanjo was talking to someone over the phone. There was a microphone placed near her and then he had struck her. She still didn't understand Sanjo's actions because it was clear he said Boss when he was on the phone so it wasn't Ikuto he was talking to. Why did he make her scream from pain? To prove to his boss that he had a hostage or something else. Amu held back her tears that were rapidly forming in her eyes that saw nothing but total black. "Ikuto…" she whispered. Her heart ached at the thought of Ikuto but her whole mind was filled with nothing but him. Time travel, she really wished she could go back in time, go back to the very start where nothing happened between her and Ikuto. He was her father not anything else. It was scary, the presence of Ikuto that does not mean a guardian or parent to Amu is still growing within her heart. The more time she spend in this utter darkness the more she seemed to realise her true feelings and they were still horrifying in the moral and logical sense.

There was a loud click and within the darkness there was light as the door opened. Amu sat up and closed her eyes before slowly opening them to adjust to the new brighter environment. By the door she clearly saw Sanjo and someone else behind him. What now, thought Amu as she edged away from the door.

Sanjo stepped into the room casually. He gazed at Amu as he talked to the person standing by the doorway who Amu could not make out who, "Boss, it's about time we threw her into there. Just received a call and confirmed that our prize is heading our way."

"Very well. Do exactly as Utau has instructed. Place her into there."

Amu felt a jolt going through her body, a jolt of shock. She recognised that voice and could not in her wildest dreams, not even now though she heard clearly, that it was him. The Boss that ordered Sanjo to do everything cannot be him, Amu told herself. But her nightmares became reality before her as he stepped into view. "Why?" Amu uttered out of disbelief. "You…you're actually-"

"Should I apologise?" Nikaidou said crouching down besides Amu, "you've already got a good idea of who I really am… but I will introduce myself. My name is Yuu Nikaidou and I am the one who hired Sanjo to go after your beloved father."

"Why? Why is everyone after Ikuto?" Amu shouted, her voice shaky. "Aren't you a teacher…why?"

"Why you ask. It's because he has XM2."

"What is that?" Amu questioned, "you keep going on about that but what the hell is it?"

"It is something of value is all I can say," Nikaidou smiled, "I'm not a real teacher so I don't need to explain everything to a student. I only entered that school to get close to you. I investigated beforehand and knew Ikuto had a daughter. You need to understand that dealing with Ikuto is a extremely demanding task. He's good at keeping secrets and handling threats, unless I can find out his weakness."

"You… all those times," Amu slowly began, horror filling her with the realisation that she was tricked. "The essay, the rescue, everything was-"

"Fake," Nikaidou finished for Amu, "it was beautifully constructed, that kidnapping of yours. Gaining your trust so you'd tell me on your own accord about Ikuto. You must feel awful now that I've been tricking you all this time."

Amu remained silent so Nikaidou continued, "after tonight whether Ikuto turns up with XM2 or not, you will be dead. Any last words?"

Amu took a few deep breaths and she could already feel herself calm down. From everything's that happened, death and even Nikaidou's true identity as her enemy did not move her emotionally. It was a quick passing shock to her and she simply didn't care anymore. There was only one thing she felt and that was a strong desire to see Ikuto. "I want to see Ikuto," Amu whispered, "I won't be satisfied unless I see him at least once more."

Nikaidou stood up, "what weird last words those are. Sanjo set her up for her slow death. I'm sure Ikuto will be arriving soon, I must prepare."

Sanjo proceeded to blindfold Amu, tying her hands and legs together more tightly, making sure she couldn't move at all. Amu once again couldn't see but she felt Sanjo picking her up and carrying her out of that dark room. Wherever she was to be taken now, it would be where she was to die. From the movement of Sanjo's body, Amu roughly guessed that they were heading down to a deeper and much lower ground. There was a creaking noise, a door must be opened. Then Amu felt herself thrown into a box, a tub and then in the silence as the door creaked once more to close, she heard the sound of running water.

…..Locking the door shut and leaving Amu inside, Sanjo reached for his mobile. He dialled her number and waited impatiently for her to pick up. When she finally did he didn't wait to speak, "when are you going to arrive? Mr Nikaidou is already in preparation for-"

"I will be late to the scene."

"What? You planned this all out so what the hell do you mean you're going to be late?" Sanjo retorted, "understand that I want-"

"If you wish to obtain the money offered then I suggest you hang up right now and don't disturb me. You'll only prolong my arrival by distracting me so see you in a bit…"

The connection cut off and Utau could predict already that Sanjo wasn't happy that she had stopped his little call. She placed her mobile back into her dress pocket, her gaze never leaving her target as he stood opposite her, with his gun pointed at her.

"Put it down. Place the gun down. It doesn't have to be like this between us," Utau slowly said. Though she had found him, the person she needed to complete her plan, she did not expect this. When she found him at last and he suddenly pointed his weapon at her, there was a strong fear more than shock. It was fear that her plan was going to fall to pieces.

"You won't be able to talk yourself out of this. I am not like Ikuto. I will not trust you Utau… you are a betrayer."

Utau clenched a fist, "what proof do you have?"

He smirked, gripping the gun in his hand tighter. With his other hand he clenched a fist like Utau but mimicked as though he was holding something, then he swung his hand towards his arm. "You did this to yourself didn't you? I saw it, with a knife…"

Utau gulped, "you actually saw me stabbing myself."

"Not just that, but from the very start where you led Amu into your trap. A splendid performance I have to say. I was there watching in the shadows all the time. I just didn't expect you to team up with Sanjo."

"Yes," Utau admitted, "it was all my plan, a trap. No, this isn't just a mere trap or plan, it's my grand revolution to end everything. I've spent ages planning this out and finally, with the right people in place, with the right people manipulated I cannot let this revolution fail. You are part of this too Kukai and I won't allow you to ruin anything. Do you hear me? My plan will succeed at all costs."

"Utau," Kukai began, "depending on what you tell me, depending on the truth, you're plan, I might go along with it."

Utau relaxed a little, knowing now that there was chance for a good talk between them. She also didn't want to use force on Kukai, so she will convince him by all means to cooperate. "I will tell you anything you want because, I think you should know the truth as well."