Past Trigger

Utau frowned at Kukai, tapping her feet impatiently, "be clear Kukai. What do you mean by Amu Hinamori was taken by a women? Your making no sense. If you saw that women taking Amu, why didn't you stop her?"

"I told you Amu was already gone by the time I got there," Kukai began. He took a piece of paper from his pocket that was slightly wet around the edges, "I assumed it was a women from this. It was left inside the room where Amu was kept."

Utau took the paper from Kukai's hand and read the smudged message on it; I Have Taken The Girl! Utau brought the paper to her nose and smelt the reddish writing before scrunching it up and tossing it to the side in the room. "Lipstick," Utau finally said, "you concluded the abductor was a woman from the lipstick. God, who else is involved in this? Let's go after that girl."

Utau headed towards the door but Kukai stopped her, grabbing her arm tightly and pulling her towards him.

"What are you doing?" Utau asked. Strangely in Kukai's light embrace, she felt so nostalgic that she was beginning to feel weak and feeble, almost the way she feels when she is with Ikuto. When, she questioned herself, when did she start feeling so relaxed around Kukai Souma? When did she start letting herself accept this person…

"Aren't you tired?" Kukai whispered into Utau's ears, "aren't you and Ikuto both tired of this? To me, I don't see any meaning to either of your actions." He pulled away from Utau gently, "to me, XM2 isn't worth you two going through this craze. Stop and just let things happen."

Utau completely pulled away from Kukai now, staring at him with utter perplexity. The more she stared at him and his serious expression, the more she wished to question him. Did she hear him wrong before? Did he just tell her to stop, after everything that she's done and everything that Ikuto has been through because of their stupid, irresponsible parents fight over something they don't even know what it is. Some sort of rage now slowly consumed her. "We shouldn't waste any more time," Utau slowly said, getting a grip of herself, "if we don't hurry up and find that girl, Ikuto will-"

"I'm attracted to the strong feelings within you Utau," Kukai shouted over Utau, "the way you care and look at Ikuto. Those strong feelings are very similar to mine. I've always noticed your distance from other people besides Ikuto. I don't understand fully the situation you are in or what your feelings are but I've always been watching both you and Ikuto. Recently, I've been watching you more." Kukai took a step towards her, "Utau I don't want you to get hurt. Please stop. I'm worried about you."

Utau quickly walked out the room, blood rushing to her face all of a sudden. What was wrong with Kukai? Why all of a sudden was he talking nonsense like this? This wasn't the right time. Utau glanced around the place and started to feel more irritated seeing the many different directions the mysterious women could have taken Amu to.

Just as Utau was about to head off to the right, Kukai once again caught hold of her. "Utau, I'm sorry," he said covering her mouth and nose with a cloth.

The startled Utau grabbed at Kukai's hand but it was too late. She couldn't avoid inhaling the strong scent from the cloth and as soon as she did, her eyes closed and she fell into his arms, unconscious. He lifted her up and stared towards the end of the corridor, "come out."

There was a small giggle and the sounds of echoing clicks as a woman stepped out into view, smiling as she looked at the sleeping Utau in Kukai's arms. "Very well," she said, adjusting her glasses as she turned, "please follow me Mr Souma. I appreciate your help."

"I'm only cooperating because I want to end this nonsense regarding the XM2," Kukai stated following the woman who gracefully walked along the narrow corridor.

"For you to choose to end things," the woman repeated, running her fingers through the curls at the bottom of her auburn hair, "is rather selfish of you."

Kukai sneered, "who are the selfish ones here? You guys suddenly appearing amidst this chaos and then taking control over everything."

"At least you know we are on the same side," the woman pointed out, "if it weren't for me coming to that girl's rescue, by the time you arrived, she would've died."

"What will happen to Utau?" Kukai questioned suddenly. He held Utau closer to him, "Regarding what you've told me about her father-"

The woman stopped before the door and knocked four times. "Kazuomi Hoshina is the main cause of everything. Once he's been dealt with, everything is fine. I'm sure Miss Hoshina won't feel much for the end to her father."

Kukai didn't say anything only holding onto Utau closer and tighter. The door opened and Musashi greeted them, motioning them to enter. Kukai couldn't hold back his unfriendly look at Musashi as he entered the room.

"Have you received his call yet?" the woman asked before closing the door.

"So impatient Yukari," Musashi commented.

The woman gave a displeasing look, "Musashi, I told you many times that you have to call me sister. You do not address your elder sister by her name."

"You don't act much like an elder sister…" Musashi muttered.

Yukari grabbed hold of Musashi's cheek and started to pinch it, causing Musashi to cry out. Kukai sat down, still holding onto Utau but clenched his fists, rather annoyed by the sibling quarrel Yukari and Musashi Sanjo were displaying before him. To the side, tied up and blindfolded was Kairi Sanjo, no doubt that it was the woman's handy work.

"Hey, shouldn't you guys be helping out rather than quarrelling here?" Kukai voiced, unable to stand their silly argument for any longer.

Yukari Sanjo sat down on a chair, "we simply wait. Nothing we can do until we get the signal. Musashi, have you taken care of Kairi's followers."

Musashi nodded, "I sent them away."

"Good," Yukari said. She looked at Kukai who seemed uneasy, "you must be feeling insecure with our presence here."

Kukai chuckled, "I guess I haven't really been on good terms with those that have the name Sanjo. Especially with those two." He glanced at Kairi and Musashi, "It just feels weird that I'm sitting calmly in the same room with some people who have tried to kill me and Ikuto in the past."

Yukari clicked her tongue, "so those two idiotic brothers of mine actually went and did something stupid, let alone side with the wrong person."

Musashi gulped, not daring to meet his sister's gaze. He leaned himself against the wall. "I didn't side with Kazuomi Hoshina. I was only trying to support brother."

"Yeah, I always knew it was that idiot Kairi's fault," Yukari sighed.

"I was actually trying to help," Musashi continued, "I tried to get Amu Hinamori to steal the XM2 from Ikuto before Kazuomi got his hands on it. Though it seems Utau made her move before that could happen. I was keeping track of Nikaidou Yuu's actions as well."

"So, would you two care to explain to me just what is going on?" Kukai demanded with a stern and loud voice. "I'm only here because of that man."

Yukari stared at Kukai, "I believe you are already told much about XM2 and of Xerxus Corporation." Seeing the nod from Kukai, Yukari continued, "then, you must have also heard about the Mafia background and the connection between possible candidates to succeed the corporation." Yukari paused, "The Sanjo family are just another possible candidate along with the Hoshina's and Tsukiyomi. Xerxus Manabue, the creator of the corporation and last Mafia boss had 4 close followers, so when he was murdered, anyone from the 4 followers family had the right to succeed and take over. XM2 is the key to finding out who the murderer is." Yukari smiled, "in other words, everyone is so anxious to get XM2 because whoever has it will automatically succeed lawfully under Xerxus's will. But as you may know, the one currently in control is Kazuomi Hoshina. The other candidates had no chance whatsoever in gaining the slightest power back."

"Sister," Musashi spoke with an uneasy expression, "You've said enough."

"Don't worry," Kukai slowly said, "about all that crap, I already heard. I seriously don't care about it either. What I want to know is why that man-"

"We don't have an obligation to tell you anything," Musashi stated.

Yukari held her hand out as a signal to stop Musashi from talking. She took a breath, "Aruto said you can be trusted and I need to win you over so, I will tell you."

Kukai sat still and waited for Yukari Sanjo's reply. Crazy, this night was beyond crazy if anything. It seemed like everything was happening at once and he couldn't keep up with it. He still remembered the feeling of shock at that time…. He arrived at the scene in time to see Yukari Sanjo carrying Amu out of the room. Kukai immediately shouted out to her, telling her to put Amu down but Musashi from behind suddenly made a move on him, attacking him which allowed Yukari to run for it. Despite Musashi's bravery, he was too weak and it didn't take long before Kukai passed him to pursue Yukari, a woman whose name and face he first saw this night. He had his hand tight on his weapon and was about to hit Yukari Sanjo when that man appeared before him. The man with the strikingly almost same face as Ikuto which when you took a closer look can only tell it wasn't Ikuto. "I've seen you before. You're my son's friend aren't you?" he spoke, a voice so much deeper than Ikuto's. "Work with me. I'm Ikuto's father." ….Kukai closed his eyes and opened them again, the flashback in his mind dissipating. Aruto Tsukiyomi, the father who had suddenly disappeared from Ikuto's life had appeared tonight out of nowhere and Kukai hated to think what Ikuto would do if they met. Would Ikuto forgive his father? He stared at Yukari, who began to speak again.

"Somehow, Souko Hoshina got her hands on XM2."

"Souko," Kukai repeated, startled, "that name is-"

"Souko was Kazuomi's sister," Yukari clarified, "of course, within the Hoshina family who had already seized most of the power, having XM2 was a confirmation. Never did Kazuomi ever think that his own sister would betray him."

"She married Ikuto's father," Kukai stated.

"Yeah," Yukari simply said, "that could be said as the reason to the situation we are in now. Souko was the trigger, her identity was in conflict. Was Souko with XM2 a Hoshina or Tsukiyomi?"

There was a buzzing in Yukari's pocket and she took out her mobile. She read the message; Hoshina's reign is over. Standing up with a broad smile, Yukari announced, "the signal's arrived. Take Kairi home Musashi. I'll be going where I should be." She looked at Kukai, "do as you please, but I advise you to leave." Yukari Sanjo left the room.

…..Ikuto stopped running, his breathing rather heavy and unsteady. His father, his father who had left him without a word after his mother's death, the man who had abandoned him had finally returned. Ikuto clenched his fists, where is he, he thought. Where? Ikuto closed his eyes, thinking carefully of this warehouse's structure. For a warehouse, this place was built almost like a miniature mansion with a few rooms and some narrow corridors. He was and currently still on the first floor. There was a second floor, the top of the warehouse and a basement… Ikuto clenched at his chest from the sudden numbness. The basement was the place where Amu was kept. "Amu," Ikuto whispered, "you're probably already dead…" That same dull pain in his chest was beginning to increase with each passing second that he thought of Amu. She doesn't love me, Ikuto thought, she's dead. I chose her death. Ikuto turned to look at the stairs that led downwards. A strong impulse was building within him now for him to find Amu, for him to go to the basement and see her. He forced himself to turn away from that tempting exit. I was the one who killed her, I allowed her to be drowned, Ikuto reminded himself, nothing will change even if I went and besides, I have more important things to do. He headed upwards, once again blocking all thoughts of Amu. Detached, he would remain distant from the feelings he once had for that girl. She was gone and even if she was still alive, she didn't love him. He won't allow himself to get hurt a second time and they will never meet again.

Ikuto looked around the second floor. Dimly lit and completely silent. He wasn't here, his father or Utau's. The thought of Utau brought back reason to Ikuto. They were so alike. Their parents both had tossed them away for whatever they wanted. That was why they were so close because they understood each other, their feelings, their actions and what they desired the most. A answer, a proper answer from their parents. I will obtain that tonight, Ikuto thought. I'll find you and I will get my answer. Ikuto stared at the far door of the corridor that led up to the roof. That was the only place left. Ikuto slowly made his way towards it. BANG. The obvious sound of a gunshot from above. Ikuto stared at the ceiling and then rushed towards the door. They were there after all. Kazuomi Hoshina and his father were there…

"Damn," Ikuto shouted in frustration as he yanked at the chains that bind the door shut. "Who the hell did this… I need to be up there…" Ikuto glanced around but saw no weapon to use. He kicked with all his might at the door and it shook, but the chains were still in place and it remained shut, the padlock still hanging. He tried again but to no avail. "Is this it? I'm so close… I'm so close to seeing him…" Ikuto gritted his teeth, "I'm this close…" He banged his fists on the door, his mind void of any ideas to get passed this door. Sorrow, an emotion he thought he had long lost began to take over him and he became weak. Ikuto dropped to his knees, fear and sorrow bewitching him. "Someone," he whispered almost like a child, "someone help me… I want to see him… father…" Ikuto closed his eyes, his fists clenched so tightly that it began to hurt. No matter what Aruto did, he was still Ikuto's father and like any child, they would do anything to obtain their parents love. Ikuto was no different, deep down he still possibly yearns for his parents to have been by his side. "Why?" Ikuto shouted, banging his fists on the door, "why am I this weak? Why am I getting hurt by him again? I haven't even seen him yet…"

"Do you honestly want to meet him? You'll get hurt even more… do you still want to meet your father?"

"YES I DO! I will make him explain everything to me with his own words…" Ikuto shouted from frustration in reply to that voice. When he realised it, Ikuto could feel his heart skip many beats. "It couldn't be…"

"Is that your decision? You choose to hurt yourself for the unknown truth…"

He didn't need to turn around to know or find out who it was. That sweet voice that had confused him on so many occasions and the feel of her presence which drove him to madness only belonged to her. The one girl who did not love him and yet he had tried his best to love. "It's you…" Ikuto said, "it's you isn't it?"

"Ikuto…"

"Don't say my name," Ikuto yelled, "don't ever call my name again. Why aren't you dead?" Ikuto slowly stood up but he didn't turn to look at her, "WHY ARE YOU NOT DEAD… AMU?"

Tears falling rapidly onto her already soaked cheeks, Amu put her hands over her mouth and sobbed, "I'm sorry."