Standing by You

I'm sorry, those familiar words that bought about grief and anxiety to Ikuto every time he heard them was said once again before him by the person he thought was dead. Was it anger or frustration? Ikuto didn't know, bur he was certain of the invisible tears that seemed to well up in his eyes. Eyes which are turned away from her but yet, see her so clearly. "Why are you alive?" Ikuto asked again, uncertain of what else to say. Between them, there could be many or nothing to say.

Staring at Ikuto's back and wiping her tears, Amu took a few deep breaths. She slowly approached him, careful not to anger Ikuto again, "a woman saved me…" Amu paused, not knowing what kind of a reaction to expect from Ikuto with what she was about to say. "Her name is Yukari Sanjo. She saved me upon the orders of a man named Aruto Tsukiyomi. I met him."

Amu quickly took a step away from Ikuto who she was so eager to approach before. Wild, his expression was wild and like an animal locking the track of its prey, he stared at her with those unbelieving eyes. He leaped forward towards her, grabbing both her shoulders so intently that she felt she was about to cripple under his rough touch. "You've met him," Ikuto repeated. "You've actually met him…"

Amu nodded, "almost like a reflection of you. Mr Tsukiyomi really does look a lot like you Ikuto."

"Where is he? What has he said to you?"

"Ikuto, answer me first," Amu said over him, "even if you get hurt again by him, do you still want to meet him tonight?"

Ikuto stared at Amu who looked dead serious and all of a sudden he felt a lot calmer. He let out a small smile on his face, noticing how his occupation with his father had completely rid him of all ill feelings towards Amu, or maybe, even to now, he didn't truly hate her. He stared into those honey coloured eyes of Amu, what are my feelings towards you? Wanting you dead, wanting you alive…Amu Hinamori, tell me… Ikuto let go of Amu. Before he sort out this little affair between them, there was something else he needed to do. "I will see that man at all costs," Ikuto announced.

Amu closed her eyes and when she opened them, she had a big smile upon her face. She grabbed hold of Ikuto's hand, pulling him into a run towards one of the rooms, where she entered with him. "I knew it. Ikuto will always choose the worst options ever. You will never run away from danger but follow it. I… I've always been a fool. Sorry for that Ikuto."

Ikuto stared rather blankly at Amu as she seemed to be a completely different person. Not the sorry Amu or scared Amu that he usually sees but a confident girl leading him. They ran up the stairs in the room which was headed towards the rooftop.

"I've always thought that what I did was to protect you. Pathetic isn't it? Only when I've been through death that I finally realised properly that I never asked you what you wanted. I selfishly disrespected your will and did as I pleased," Amu continued, her grip on Ikuto's hand tighter. "But I've changed. I don't know if you will give me another chance but form now on, I won't choose for you anymore. Whatever you do Ikuto," she turned around to look at him, her smile sweeter than before, "I'll stand by you. I'll always stand by you."

Before Ikuto could respond to Amu's words, the door opened and the cold air signalled their entrance into the dark night.

"Mr Tsukiyomi," Amu whispered, pushing Ikuto forwards, "the person you wish to see…"

With heavy heart beats, Ikuto stepped further out onto the vast rooftop, his vision locked upon the man that stood far out besides the railings. The familiar sight of that man; his same navy hair which fell over his poker face, those same mocking eyes which gave Ikuto both comfort and hate, he was staring at the very face he most longed to see.

"You've finally come to me, my son," Aruto whispered, "Ikuto."

Ikuto said nothing but stared at his own father who had left him and disappeared for the past three years without notice. There were so many things he wanted to say to this man and yet, when Ikuto finally gets the chance to meet him, he can't say a thing. Words won't come out. He turned his attention almost immediately towards the small crowd of people that were also present on the rooftop that he had not noticed straight away when he first entered. Amongst them, he recognised no one and Kazuomi Hoshina was nowhere to be seen. Ikuto looked at his father, "you owe me an explanation, Aruto."

"Is that the first thing you wish to say to me?" Aruto asked, "You won't address me as father."

"I don't need a father who leaves their own son alone for three years without contact," Ikuto stated firmly, "I do want an explanation."

"So you can feel better about the situation," Aruto mused.

"So I won't have any regrets when I cut all ties with you," Ikuto said.

"Do you hate me this much?"

Ikuto took a step closer to Aruto, "you've already wasted three years of my time, can you not waste anymore." He stared at the woman who walked towards him. Judging by her appearance, it was the one who saved Amu.

"Little kids should stay out of adult's business," she said.

"Yukari," Aruto said, "weren't you about to leave?"

Yukari adjusted her glasses, "of course." She took one nervous glance at the young man behind her before walking straight passed Amu, leaving the rooftop.

"Don't suddenly decide that you are in control," a demanding voice said, "I should be the one handling everything." The young man stepped towards both Aruto and Ikuto, swinging his long violet hair as he did, with a broad smile on his face.

The thing that caught Ikuto's gaze was the badge he was wearing on his jacket. "The Police," Ikuto muttered staring at the young man.

The young man smiled, "the name is Nagihiko Fujisaki. I am indeed with the police and I am in charge of this case."

"Since when has this family trivia become a police investigation?" Ikuto questioned.

"From the start," Nagihiko answered without hesitation, "from the death of the previous owner of Xerxus Corporation. The police force has been…"

"Ikuto," Aruto spoke up, "if I can't give you an answer tonight, will you continue to wait?"

"Wait," Ikuto almost exclaimed, "how much longer are you going to make me wait? How much longer are your secrets going to hurt me?" Ikuto clutched at Aruto's shirt, his hands trembling. Was it rage or was it fear? "Do you have no faith in your own son at all? Even if…"

Nagihiko separated the two swiftly, pushing Aruto away from Ikuto and immediately placing handcuffs over Aruto's hands. Before Ikuto could make a move, Nagihiko pointed his gun towards him, "it's a shame but I'll have to end this touching reunion between father and son. Aruto Tsukiyomi, like Kazuomi Hoshina, we'll be taking you on the principal that you are a main suspect for murder three years ago." Nagihiko waved a mini disc before Aruto's eyes, "this is XM2 isn't it? The supposed evidence that will show who killed Xerxus Manabue."

Aruto simply nodded. Ikuto simply kept quiet. Three years has passed since he last saw his own father and tonight, when he finally got to meet him again, he was arrested before his very own eyes. What was there for him to say? Even XM2, the thing in that police officer's hand, the one thing that connected them was all a fake. Ikuto never had XM2. What was he protecting all this time?

Nagihiko put away his gun and nudged Aruto to move.

"Sorry Ikuto," Aruto whispered as Nagihiko led him away.

Sorry, that one word seemed to echo in Ikuto's mind, that wasn't something he wanted to hear, not from his father.

Amu stared at Ikuto who stood there motionless. He wants to talk…Amu thought in her mind, sensing Ikuto's reluctance, his fear, his sadness, Ikuto doesn't mind getting hurt if he can see you…

Without hesitation, Amu ran towards a surprised Nagihiko and grabbed the gun from his waist, causing him to let go of Aruto and turn to face her. Like the time she shot at Sanjo, she fired the gun, hitting the air as a warning for no one to move.

"Amu," she heard Ikuto shout, "what are you doing?"

Still pointing the gun towards Nagihiko, Amu pushed Aruto towards Ikuto, handing the key to them as she did, "Do it. Run away!"

"What are you doing girl?" Nagihiko asked, calmly standing still, staring at Amu. "You can be arrested for attacking a police. My colleagues are here as well. You won't get away."

"What are you doing?" Ikuto asked again, running towards her.

"DON'T STOP ME!" Amu shouted, "Ikuto, I said before didn't I, that I would stand by you no matter what."

"Stand by me…." Ikuto muttered, her words seemed to have finally reached him. There was a strange warmness within him that seemed to allow him to breathe once more without pains in his heart. Love, that was the emotion he regained after meeting her even if it was through her lies. "Do you understand your actions, do you know what you are doing? You almost died once today."

"That doesn't bother me. I'm alive right now," Amu said with a confident smile on her face as she looked at Ikuto, "for once, let me do something that you truly desire for someone to have done for you." She walked towards Nagihiko, stretching her hands out and holding the gun towards the floor, "I'm sorry for my actions but won't you allow them more time. I know there are many things that Ikuto wishes to say to his father."

Nagihiko swiped the gun from Amu's hand, pushing her to the side as he ran towards Aruto and Ikuto but was stopped as Amu held him there.

"Hurry up," Amu shouted in frustration, holding onto Nagihiko with all her strength. Really, she wondered over and over what she was doing right this minute, helping a suspect murderer escape.

Seeing the opportunity to escape, Ikuto grabbed hold of Aruto, pulling him away from the rooftop.

"You can't escape, the police has already surrounded this place," they both heard Nagihiko shout.

"She isn't holding back at all," Aruto commented, "she's giving it her all for you. Are you sure you want to leave her there? Ikuto."

Ikuto smiled, pulling Aruto into a run, "it's fine because this is her final answer."

Aruto kept silent and followed Ikuto. When they reached the outside, they moved carefully, seeing the police cars parked around. As Aruto stared at Ikuto who was observing their situation calmly, there was a nostalgic yet regretful feeling in him. Ikuto had changed so much within the three years that he had abandoned him. It was regretful not being able to be with him but everything had to be done. Maybe tonight was finally the time to end this charade.

Ikuto motioned for Aruto to move and he followed obediently, unable to suppress a smile at how mature his own son has become. They stopped momentarily, some distance away from a police car as they stared at Kazuomi Hoshina who was captured. "Did you set this up?" Ikuto couldn't help but ask.

"I did intend to see Kazuomi Hoshina tonight but the police…" Aruto replied, "they were uninvited guests."

"So did you know of Utau's plans?" Ikuto continued to question, moving further away from the massive warehouse.

"Can we talk after we escaped?" Aruto asked a little agitated.

"Hey, you two," a voice called out behind Ikuto and Aruto.

"Shit, run for it," Ikuto shouted, seeing the policeman.

"It's them… I've found them," both Ikuto and Aruto heard the policeman report.

"Run towards the main road that heads away from this place," Ikuto shouted, "don't look back and keep running no matter what."

"Yes," Aruto simply answered as both of them ran as fast as they could towards their road to escape. Aruto kept his focus before him but noticed Ikuto wasn't besides him. He heard clearly the squeals of pains and thuds of fists hitting onto chins and stomach. Ikuto was held back, he was fighting. For the moment, Aruto was lost as to what to do, Ikuto had told him to not look back no matter what but, was he going to abandon his son once again? Aruto smiled, turning back towards Ikuto, he no longer needed to think.

"Idiot," Ikuto gritted his teeth, watching as Aruto returned for him, grabbing the head of a policeman and hitting it against his knees. "Now neither of us can escape."

"As Amu said, I also want to stand by you this moment," Aruto said but his voice was drowned out by the roaring of a motorcycle that soared through the sky and landed before them in a flash.

"Hurry on," the driver shouted, motioning at Ikuto and Aruto.

"You're as crazy as ever," Ikuto said, getting Aruto onto the motorcycle before standing onto the extremely small space at the end that was left on the bike.

"Wait, this is…" Aruto was about to protest but the motorcycle started and they were already moving out of the place. Aruto could only watch in awe and wonder at how Ikuto managed to balance himself by standing on that tiny spot and not fall off. Youngster's these days were crazy.

"I don't think we've met before," the driver said, "I'm…"

"No need," Aruto spoke over him, "I know who you are. You're Kukai."

…..Nagihiko sat opposite of Amu in the interrogation room. She had kept silent throughout the entire journey back to the police station and no matter what he talked about, she just stared. He still didn't understand why this girl had done what she did since she wasn't an acquaintance of Kazuomi Hoshina or Aruto Tsukiyomi.

"Hey, are you not going to talk at all?" Nagihiko tried again. "You're young. You should have a bright future too. Do you know what you have done tonight has ruined your-"

"I know," Amu whispered, "but what else could I have done? For the person I love, I think I didn't do anything wrong. At least, this time, I know I didn't hurt him."

"For Ikuto Tsukiyomi," Nagihiko indicated, "is that the person you love? You helped Aruto escape because you wanted to help Ikuto."

"I'm sorry," Amu apologised, "I've experienced death tonight and that has made me realise how important Ikuto was, is and will be to me. He was and will always be my everything. I don't have any excuses for my actions."

"Is it worth it?" Nagihiko questioned, "Ikuto may not ever return to you. For a man that might never-"

"I love him…" Amu whispered, "but it was my fault for hurting him in the first place. It doesn't matter if he doesn't return for me. I still love him."

Nagihiko stared at the paperwork on Amu Hinamori before him, knowing that this girl wasn't bad or anything, just a fool in love. His gaze paused momentarily upon one line on the paper, "Amu Hinamori."

Amu looked at the police officer.

"Do you attend Seiyo Academy?"

"Yes," Amu answered.

"Then…" Nagihiko began, "do you recognise my face?"

Amu blinked and then her eyes widened. She was so engrossed with Ikuto that she didn't focus on anything else. Now that she looked properly at this police officer, he bore a striking resemblance, an identical appearance to Nadeshiko. "N-Nadeshiko," Amu uttered in disbelief.

"As I feared," Nagihiko said, standing up, "another officer will attend to you." He left the room, leaving a shocked Amu Hinamori alone. He hurried over to his desk, taking his essentials and passed on the work to a trusty colleague before getting into his car and heading off home.

"Nadeshiko," Nagihiko called out as soon as he was home. He ran up the stairs and without knocking, barged into his little sister's room. "Wake up, Nadeshiko."

A angered Nadeshiko threw the pillow at Nagihiko who blocked it. "Brother, your so rude."

"No wait," Nagihiko said, taking a photo out of his pocket, "do you know this person?"

Nadeshiko squinted her eyes and stared at the photo in her brother's hand. "That's Mr Tsukiyomi, Amu's father."

Nagihiko took out another photo, "is Amu this girl?"

Nadeshiko nodded as she yawned, still sleepy. Nagihiko took out another photo, "what about this man?"

"That's also a photo of Amu's father, Mr Tsuki-" Nadeshiko paused. She snatched the photo away from her brother and looked at it closely, "I don't think this is Amu's father but he looks a lot like him. This man is older than Amu's father."

Nagihiko stared at Nadeshiko intently now, "are you certain the younger looking man is Amu Hinamori's father? Is she a really close friend of yours?"

Nadeshiko leaned closer to Nagihiko and said slowly to emphasise, "Amu is my best friend, a really important friend of mine and yes, I've seen her father. I am 100% certain it's the younger man that is her father." Nadeshiko grabbed Nagihiko's shirt, twisting the fabric tightly in her fists as she glared at her own brother, "now, why are you quizzing me about my friend? Did something happen? Tell me."

Nagihiko gulped, putting away the photo's, "you should stay away from Amu Hinamori. Don't be friends with her anymore."

"Do explain yourself…"

"Tonight, I've arrested Amu Hinamori because she helped a suspect murderer escape."

Nadeshiko gasped, "what? This is a terrible joke."

"I'm not joking," Nagihiko assured, "I remembered you talking about her. I suspected she was your friend so I left her at the police station to my colleagues and hurried home to clarify. Turns out your friends with such awful people."

Nadeshiko let go of Nagihiko and pushed him away, "what awful people? Amu is a kind, sweet and innocent girl. How dare you arrest my friend. You must be mistaken. This isn't April fool's day so stop it with your senseless jokes."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Nadeshiko clasped a hand over her mouth, trying to stop a sob from escaping. She knew that serious look on her brother's face, it meant he was for real. How, why and what happened? "Amu… you arrested her… there's no way she's a criminal and the people she knows-"

"Stay away from her Nadeshiko," Nagihiko ordered, "Amu Hinamori is a disgrace-"

Nadeshiko grabbed onto Nagihiko again. "Stop this. I won't believe this. I know Amu well, she is the most innocent-"

"Innocent," Nagihiko shouted, "yes, she is so innocent that she claims she is infatuated with her own father. She is so innocent that she keeps saying I love him to her own father. It's sick."

Nadeshiko released him, getting out of bed, she began to dress herself despite her brother's presence. "I don't care what it is but if Amu's at the police station then I'm going to see her. Besides, I'll prove your words are wrong, you uninformed loser."

Nagihiko sighed, "I know you won't give up until you hear for yourself. I'll take you to the police."

"Of course you will," Nadeshiko said, taking her mobile and dialling a number into it, "Amu being in love with her own father is crazy. She already has a boyfriend, I'm contacting him now and when he comes, you'll apologise for waking me up in the middle of the night to go through shit."

Nagihiko shrugged, walking out the room as Nadeshiko spoke into her mobile, "hey Tadase, it's me. You have to come with me right now. Amu's in trouble."

…..Kukai placed the tea down onto the table, glancing from Ikuto to his father Aruto who he had just met today. They looked so alike, so identical in many ways, it was unbelievable. However, Aruto Tsukiyomi was a cold-hearted man who abandoned his own son, compared to Ikuto who was cold but still had a heart. "I'll be in the room next door looking after Utau," Kukai announced, leaving the room.

There was seconds of uneasy silence between the father and son.

"is this your friend, Kukai's house? It's nice," Aruto commented, breaking the awkwardness.

"Yes, "Ikuto simply answered. He took a breath, "so, we're safe here. Care to tell me what's been happening these past few years."

"Is it not obvious?" Aruto asked, "I was running away from the police, from the other candidate families. I'm the one who killed the former boss. I'm the one who murdered Xerxus Manabue."

"XM2," Ikuto continued, "the thing that police had in his hand is the evidence that shows you killed Xerxus."

"Yes."

"Kazuomi Hoshina was your accomplice of some sort I presume. You abandoned me because you didn't want to get caught for your crimes and you made up a stupid lie that I had XM2, so people would come after me and that would allow you to escape more easily. Am I right?" Ikuto queried.

"Yes."

There was silence again before Ikuto's laughter broke it. Aruto gazed at his own son perplexed.

Ikuto just kept laughing and laughing as if he was in hysterics but his eyes portrayed no humour. "Father…" Ikuto finally whispered after his long laugh.

Aruto felt his heart beat increase. It was just one word but already, his blood rushed through him, warming him up.

"Father," Ikuto slowly began, "don't lie to me anymore. I know your not a murderer. I believe your not… so tell me the truth. I deserve to know."