Gun and Water

Utau glanced away from Kukai. Though she had promised to tell him everything she was uneasy to speak of it, the truth. She breathed and began, "have you heard of Xerxus corporation?"

"Vaguely, yes," Kukai answered, "it caused a huge uproar with the police and citizens. Around 15 years ago, Xerxus used to be a famous mafia group but disbanded. The original leader of that group founded the company if I'm not mistaken."

"Your absolutely right and the uproar wasn't because a company was founded by a ex-mafia boss but…"

"The mass treasure rumoured to be kept and hidden by that boss within this area. The boss, Xerxus Manabue II publicly announced that he hid it in a secret location and he would not use any of it. If anyone found it, then they could take it. Of course people went wild, trying to look for it but up until now, no one has seen it. This is a rather famous story in the area, but what has it got to do with you or Ikuto?" Kukai questioned.

"So you haven't connected the two yet?" Utau taunted, "certainly something should ring a bell when you hear XM2, the item that Ikuto has."

Kukai almost gasped, his eyes widened with the sudden realisation, "it couldn't be."

"It precisely is," Utau said, "XM2 stands for Xerxus Manabue II. The item that Ikuto has supposedly is what leads to Xerxus treasure. "

"No, that's just crazy," Kukai whispered, bewildered by what Utau is saying.

"It is isn't it," Utau taunted, "well I don't think even Ikuto knows himself what XM2 really stands for. It was most likely passed to him through his parents, who are the likely candidates to take over Xerxus Corporation. Right now the possible candidates are in a race of some sort to retrieve Xerxus treasure in order for them to lawfully claim the Corporation. Apparently that is the deal and will left from the previous head of Xerxus Corp. Ikuto's family is part of the candidates."

Kukai didn't say anything but from his looks Utau knew he was trying to take in what she said.

"Should I continue?" Utau deliberately asked.

"I wondered," Kukai slowly began, "I really wondered what kind of a person Ikuto really was. When I first met him… he wasn't your natural gangster. Who would've thought he was someone of potential to succeed such a rich corporation." Kukai stopped talking and then he stared at her in a speculating manner, "are you making this story up? How do I know this isn't some made up fairy tale of yours to cover up the real truth?"

"You can choose whether to believe that story or not Kukai but right now, my partner is going to obtain the XM2." Utau said, her hands lowly reaching behind her. "I guarantee Ikuto's safety only if you…"

"Sorry Utau," Kukai said cutting her sentence off, "I plan on helping him no matter what. He's my friend."

"Then don't blame me," Utau shouted, pulling a dagger from under her shirt and ran towards Kukai with it, startling him of her sudden action.

Kukai held the gun steady and without hesitation fired but before he did, his vision was clearly filled with a silver slash aiming at his heart. There was a loud bang and the clanging noise heard when the dagger fell to the ground and blood spilled.

…..Ikuto inhaled, wiping the blood off his face and ignoring the beaten up men that were lying on the floor, he continued his way into Sanjo's layer. Until now Ikuto still couldn't believe that Nikaidou and Sanjo would team up. No, Ikuto thought, their actions earlier, I should've guessed they were in this together. He stepped up to the steel door and kicked it open, stepping into the rather dimly lit room and as he entered, at the centre, he saw no other than Nikaidou sitting casually on a chair, waiting for him.

Nikaidou smiled, "have you got XM2?"

"Answer my questions first," Ikuto demanded.

"Do you understand the situation you are in? You have no right to demand me of anything."

"I told you over the phone already that I don't care about that girl," Ikuto reminded Nikaidou, "however, to both of us, XM2 is important. I want to know why you're after XM2?"

"I'm interested in it. The rumoured treasure of Xerxus."

Ikuto sneered, "surely enough your not foolish enough to believe its real are you? I've done research into you, Yuu Nikaidou. You're a pawn for that man."

"Still doesn't change the fact that I'm interested in the treasure and mass wealth it can bring me when I obtain it. The results for me are the same."

"Is that it? All you want is money," Ikuto prompted, "then how about working with me instead? Unlike your boss, I'm not too bothered about how much I get as long as I can live out my life with that money. I won't take as much as your boss. You'll get more of the share. Plus right now, I'm the one holding XM2. If you're smart enough, you know which is the better deal."

Nikaidou stared at Ikuto, "you're willing to work with me for real?"

"Of course," Ikuto said with certainty, "I'm tired in keeping the XM2 to myself and being pursued all the time and… I'd love to see your boss's reaction when he finds out you betrayed him."

Nikaidou began to chuckle, "true enough, at this moment you have the upper hand but I can't trust you. I'd rather stick with what I'm certain of."

"Really," Ikuto continued, "think carefully of the reward. Obtaining the treasure between just the two of us, you will immediately be as powerful and rich as the boss that hired you. If your scared that Xerxus Corporation will be after your life, remember that money is everything. With money, you can buy your safety."

"Why didn't you get the treasure?" Nikaidou suddenly asked, "why are you choosing to work with me to get it now? I'm curious about your sudden-"
"I was waiting," Ikuto began to explain, but his voice was strained with emotions, "I was waiting for that one person to return so I could share the treasure with him, my father Aruto Tsukiyomi who had disappeared. I've been foolishly waiting for him to come back all this time so I didn't try to find XM2 or use it in anyway. I was protecting my childish dream, but I've changed. I know he won't ever return and even if he does, he has missed his chance already. This is my own revenge against him. So what do you think of our new partnership?"

Nikaidou studied Ikuto for a few minutes, thinking deeply about his situation and the circumstances in betraying his boss. He smiled, knowing the better option, "our partnership is established. Hurry up and show me XM2, then we'll think of a plan to get out of here and find the treasure."

"Treasure," Ikuto repeated, "you actually believe this is about a treasure?"

Nikaidou's smiled slowly faded as he looked at the strange expression on Ikuto's face. Something was wrong, something wasn't right. "XM2 is Xerxus treasure…."

Ikuto smirked, looking at Nikaidou in a pitiful way, "so that really is everything you know. I could've guaranteed that double crossing Kazuomi Hoshina wouldn't tell you anything."

Nikaidou flinched at the name of his boss. How on earth does Ikuto know who his boss is, Nikaidou asked in his mind, anxious now, to what more does Ikuto know.

Seeing Nikaidou remained silent, Ikuto continued, "It's a shame but there is no such thing as a treasure. The name of XM2 was deliberately created to link to that myth to mislead people into thinking XM2 is the treasure. I guess our partnership won't work out after all."

Nikaidou stood up, kicking the chair hardly away from him in anger. "You said all of that just to test me to see how much I knew."

"Yeah," Ikuto admitted, "depending on what you know, I'd have to deal with this situation in a different way. Now, I don't plan on giving you the XM2. What are you going to do?"

Nikaidou gritted his teeth and he swiftly took out his mobile from his pocket, "Ikuto Tsukiyomi, we'll do things your way. The ugly way." He pressed a button and without waiting spoke as the phone connected, "Sanjo, switch on the screen. We'll show Mr Tsukiyomi the splendid performance featuring that girl."

Ikuto clenched his fist, telling himself to stay calm as a screen in the room lit up and the live video image appeared showing Amu laying still, motionless in the bathtub. Ikuto had to bite on his own tongue to stop himself from shouting out her name or saying anything that will give his nervousness away to Nikaidou. This couldn't be, Ikuto thought as he watched the screen, Nikaidou is going as far as to actually kill Amu for XM2... Though there were no sounds coming from the screen, Ikuto could hear the strong deafening voice of water lashing out from the taps; the tormenting sound of water claiming its victim. He felt his heart beat against his chest that was slowly becoming so heavy, it suffocated him. He clenched a fist, I promised myself to not care about her, Ikuto told himself in his mind, I'm here for a different purpose… for that purpose she'll have to be sacrificed.

"You've suddenly become very quiet," Nikaidou provoked, "judging by the amount of water that's already there, it won't take long before she'll drown. Hand me XM2 and I may tell you where she is."

"Go ahead and let her die," Ikuto said with a cold smile on his face.

Nikaidou was slightly taken back by Ikuto's indifference towards Amu. He was so sure before that he cared for this girl but right now, that cold-bloodedness he sensed from Ikuto proved he really didn't care for her at all. Unfazed by this though, Nikaidou asked, "why are you here? If you don't care for this girl then why are you standing before me right now?"

"For Utau," Ikuto simply said.

"Then I can really discard Amu Hinamori…" Nikaidou said watching Ikuto's reaction carefully. "You don't have second thoughts about saving her?"

"A quicker way to kill her would be to just shoot her in the head," Ikuto said, "why don't you get Sanjo to do it now?"

Nikaidou clicked his fingers and the screen went blank. He whispered into the mobile before putting it away and slowly he walked towards Ikuto. "I did exactly as you asked, but our business has not ended."

"I'm prepared to die tonight," Ikuto stated, his smile growing into laughter, "I came here to die Yuu Nikaidou. I want you to kill me. I won't ever give XM2 to anyone so I'll give my life away instead."

Nikaidou grabbed onto Ikuto's shirt, pulling him towards his fists which hit hardly in the abdomen, making Ikuto kneel onto the floor. "I've had enough of you," Nikaidou shouted, taking a gun out his pocket and whacking Ikuto's head with it so heavily that Ikuto spat out blood. "I've had enough of playing cat and mouse with you. Your death is precisely what I want to end this endless pursuit." Nikaidou pressed the gun onto Ikuto's head, "any last words."

Ikuto chuckled, "tell Utau I now she betrayed me. I knew she set me up to come here."

Nikaidou gripped tighter onto his gun, "you're mad Ikuto Tsukiyomi. You knew things were against you but you still came, and not for the hostage but for the one who betrayed you. You knew Utau set this up with me and yet you still come for her. I don't understand."

"Utau didn't choose to be Kazuomi Hoshina's daughter. She also didn't choose to develop feelings for me either. I just want her to know, I'll allow her plan to succeed because no matter what, I think of her as a part of my family," Ikuto whispered, "today's act is all for her."

"Rest in peace," Nikaidou said, his finger pressing down to trigger the gun. "Pity, you didn't get to meet her." A loud and clear gunshot was heard.

…..Laying very still in the bathtub that was now more than half filled with freezing cold water, Amu kept gasping for air. She wanted to move but before Sanjo had left, he forcefully injected some liquid into her body that paralysed her. She couldn't move at all. She knew she was going to die here and that wasn't what brought tears to her eyes, nor was it the reason for her aching heart and bitterness. It was Ikuto's words that she heard when the mini video camera switched on in the room for the brief few minutes. Go ahead and let her die… those last words that she'll ever hear from Ikuto already killed her. It was painful, so painful she wanted to die and loose all senses. "I'm actually hated by you so much," Amu whispered, "I'm sorry Ikuto…" It was so regretful, not ever having another chance again to tell him how sorry she was for everything she had done. She was selfish, unreasonable and stupid. Tsukassa was right when he warned her, she wasn't saving Ikuto, she was only dragging both of them to despair with her actions because she felt like she wanted to do it, to satisfy herself.

The water continued to fill the tub, submerging Amu's body in it's cold embrace. Amu closed her eyes as she felt her lips covered in the liquid and then slowly it rose and her entire head was underwater. She was suffocating, unable to breath, water just entering her as if she was an empty vessel. Her conscience was beginning to fade and the last thing she saw was Ikuto's face, night Ikuto's face. How pathetic, Amu said along with her final heartbeat, I only realised now… I love you Ikuto… I love you as a man and my lover…

…..The tap was turned off and the room was quiet. Reaching into the water, a pair of arms wrapped around the senseless body and effortlessly lifted it out, placing it gently onto the ground. "Don't' die…" a voice breathed.