It Can Still Feel Empty

It was burning; her entire body lit up with the intense heat of his touches as his fingers traced every last inch of her skin, her face clenched in his hand whilst their lips furiously met in a wild kiss. She pulled away from him, gasping from her ecstasy, "Ikuto…. It's too much."

Ikuto smirked, licking the side of Amu's neck, "we're not stopping until I decide to. You were the one who asked for this."

"I know," Amy whispered, entwining her fingers into his silky hair, pulling him in for a light kiss. Her hands ran down his bare back; it was stern and warm. She stared into his eyes which reflected her, completely naked and shameless. Just how had she become like this, Amu questioned herself, how did she end up craving Ikuto so much to be so brazen before him.

Ikuto grabbed her legs, lifting them over his shoulders, completely exposing her now. Before Amu could instinctively use her hands to block his view, he took hold of them, tying it up with his belt above her head. He kissed her inner thigh, "there's no point hiding anything from me now."

Amu faced away from Ikuto, her cheeks flushing a beat-root red; she was wary after all. She didn't have much time to think though as she felt Ikuto push against her, like the time before in the school library. She flinched, remembering that incident, the time when she wasn't prepared, the time when Ikuto nearly forced her. She noticed Ikuto stopped and she turned to look at him.

"Scream if it hurts," Ikuto said, before thrusting himself deep within her.

There was a loud shriek as Amu felt the searing pain. This wasn't like last time, she didn't even feel anything last time but this time she felt as though Ikuto had ripped her apart. The pain was so excruciating now that Amu cried, her tears running down her face whilst blood trickled from her broken virginity.

Ikuto ignored Amu's scream and continued to move within her but he bent over and licked her tears away, "Amu, the fun is only just beginning…." He kissed her and she began to ease and relax herself, feeling him inside of her.

For the very first time, she finally felt like she knew Ikuto, she knew who he was and understood him at last. "I love you Ikuto…" she whispered gently into his ears.

Ikuto bit Amu's ears playfully, "you've said that too many times already. From now on, let me be the one to say it Amu." He kissed her passionately, their tongues engaged for a few minutes before he held her face in his hands.

Gazing into Amu's eyes, Ikuto said, "I love you."

….. Tadase slowly walked back towards the church. His mobile kept vibrating and it got so hard to ignore, he picked it up knowing exactly who it was, "Nadeshiko."

"What the hell was wrong with you? You suddenly just stormed out the car and left?" Nadeshiko almost shouted down the phone. "Well we didn't see Amu in the end but, seriously, what was wrong with you? Tadase, are you still there…. Hey Tadase answer me."

Tadase kept very silent. The mere mention of Amu's name giving him pains in his chest as that scene replayed itself over and over before his eyes: that one kiss Amu shared with that man outside the police station, her father, it gave him the creeps. Tadase clenched tightly onto the mobile, taking deep breaths but the pain just won't go away. Before he knew it, a sudden wrath began to consume him and he threw his mobile onto the ground. Running towards it, he continually trampled over the device until it was completely broken, shattered and wretched. Dropping to the ground, Tadase clutched as his aching heart and cried, "Amu, Amu, why… why is it like this? Please tell me this isn't true." Tears ran down his cheeks as he continued to shriek, "It isn't you. Amu I know that wasn't you… why… I love you so much so why… Amu." He stared up into the sky and all of a sudden, part of his grief vanished, "no, I know you Amu. I believe in you…. Everything is that man's fault. He's corrupting you." Tadase stood up, wiped his tears and walked over, placing a hand on the door of the church and a hand over his heart, "God, I swear to you I have no ill intentions. I am a believer but I must get rid of that man. Help me please and guide me to rescue my love."

"Tadase," a voice called out.

Tadase immediately turned around, surprised to see his school teacher standing there with blood and dirt on his clothes. "Mr Nikaidou," Tadase said, worried, running up to support him. "What happened to you?"

"I was almost killed tonight," Nikaidou said nervously looking around. He lowered his voice, pulling Tadase closer to him, "I-I discovered a secret regarding Miss Hinamori and I've-" Nikaidou stopped backing away from Tadase, "you are her boyfriend so I think you have the right to know but… I know you won't believe and so… please forget that I ever turned up here tonight."

"Wait," Tadase shouted after Nikaidou who was leaving, "I can take anything about Amu. No matter what she does, I can accept her because I love her."

Nikaidou hid his smirk as he turned to face Tadase again, "I found out she is having an abnormal relationship with her father. I confronted her father tonight about it. I told him to stop whatever it was but he refused and he went crazy. He threatened me to keep quiet." Nikaidou paused for a bit, "I'm sorry about this Tadase. It wasn't something very pleasant for you to know of the one you love. I know it's hard for you to believe me so…"

"I believe you," Tadase calmly replied, "I've seen it. I've seen them kissing, tonight."

"I'm so sorry," Nikaidou said, "what are you going to do? Are you going to end it with Amu?"

"NO," Tadase shouted. He took a few breaths to retain himself, "I promised I'd protect her, so I'll protect her to the very end, using my methods. Mr Nikaidou, I don't want to drag you into this but would you support me? Would you help me take revenge on that man?"

"Yes," Nikaidou simply answered. Revenge is exactly what I want, he silently thought to himself.

….. Amu slowly opened her eyes and she couldn't stop herself from smiling as she saw Ikuto's sleeping face up against hers. He's adorable when he's sleeping, Amu thought leaning forward to give him a light kiss on the cheeks. She snuggled up against him, feeling safe and comfortable in his arms and warmth. She closed her eyes again; only wishing this moment, when they were together would last forever. Amu opened her eyes and slowly got up, realising it was already noon and she felt slightly hungry. They had slept in after the long night. Amu cautiously rolled herself out of bed, trying not to disturb Ikuto or wake him. She sat on the floor for a few minutes, suddenly noticing the pain on her lower body. She tried to stand up but was wobbly and almost fell over. She caught hold of herself though in time before she did make any noise. Was it normal to feel pain after 'that' last night, her breast were a bit sore too? Amu questioned as she grabbed her dress and slipped into it. Amu made her way to the kitchen, putting on the kettle and getting some bread out the cupboard. She practically smiled like an idiot whilst making breakfast, too happy to notice someone entering the room.

"You're making breakfast or lunch?"

At the sound of Ikuto's voice, Amu put down the cups in her hand, turned around and ran towards him, hugging him. "I'll make anything you like," Amu said, grabbing Ikuto's neck and pulling him towards her as she gave him a light kiss at the side of his lips, only missing by a few inches. Amu looked at Ikuto, smiling at first, expecting him to kiss her back or tease her but was shocked to see his expression and her smile vanished instantly.

Ikuto just stared at her, bewildered and upset. Ikuto gently grabbed onto Amu's arm, kneeling down before her and said in a really soft voice, "are you alright? Has something happened sweetie?"

Amu looked closely at Ikuto, into his eyes that were tired and dreary. This wasn't Ikuto, this wasn't her night Ikuto. It was her father, day Ikuto. Realising that it was day Ikuto, she put on a faint smile, "I think I might have been slightly overexcited. Sorry I acted inappropriately towards you. I didn't mean to kiss you, father."

Ikuto smiled, rustling Amu's hair as if she was a kid, "you rascal." Ikuto stood up and stretched himself, whilst yawning, "Are you going shopping with Yaya and Nadeshiko again? You always get excited whenever a sale goes on. Remember don't spend too much money on junk."

"Of course I won't but it just gets me excited when I think of the discounts," Amu replied pretending to be enthusiastic about this non-existence trip. She started pouring water into the cups, her back turned to Ikuto and she bit her lips trying to stop herself from expressing her disappointment and sadness. She felt tears prick at her eyes but stopped herself from crying by pinching her hand.

"I seem to have a lot of miscalls from work, I'll probably be busy at home or my workplace all day," Ikuto said, sitting at the dining table, reading a newspaper. "Amu, was I ill?"

"Sorry," Amu said, her mind not really focussed. "What did you ask again?"

"I was wondering if I was severely ill for the past day or something. Apparently I didn't go to work, I don't remember myself going to work either," Ikuto began, flicking through the newspaper, "did I come down with a fever or something?"

Amu took the two cups of tea and slowly made her way to the dining table, not sure how to answer day Ikuto's questions. "You were feeling very tired and you looked ill to me," Amu slowly said, thinking it best to play along with his logic. It wasn't like she could tell him the truth that he had turned into night Ikuto and had finally reunited or met his own father after three years. She couldn't possibly tell him what happened to them last night, what they did together. "I saw you sleeping in your room," Amu lied, "and I just left you to sleep because I didn't want to disturb you."

"Really, well it did feel like I had a very long sleep. I don't remember a single damn thing that happened either," Ikuto said, "not that any of it probably matters."

Clash. Ikuto looked up from the paper and quickly went over to Amu who had dropped the two cups of tea. "What are you doing?" Ikuto asked, sighing as he tidied the mess, motioning for Amu to sit down whilst he took over making breakfast.

"I think I'll go back into my room for a bit," Amu said, running into her room and leaving Ikuto in the kitchen. She closed the door behind her and as soon as she was alone, she grabbed her pillow and hugged it tightly, sitting on the floor. She realised how foolish she was, overreacting to day Ikuto's words, that he didn't remember, that he didn't care about what happened. It wasn't as if he really didn't care, he just doesn't know it happened. Amu sighed, knowing that day Ikuto and night Ikuto were two different people, knowing that when facing day Ikuto, she was facing a parent, her father. "I knew," Amu whispered, calming down, "I knew and I was expecting it… I just didn't realise that I minded. I didn't know it can still make me feel empty like this." Amu closed her eyes, rested for a few seconds before going through her wardrobe for some clothes to wear. She loved Ikuto and she can do anything and endure anything for him. In front of day Ikuto, she told herself, she will act like nothing had ever happened; she will simply be his good adopted daughter.

There was a knock on the door and Amu opened it, finding Ikuto stood there with the phone. He looked worried. "What's wrong father?"

"Have you seen Aunt Lulu," Ikuto asked.

Amu shook her head and like Ikuto, she began to feel anxious. When she came back with night Ikuto last night she was already gone and she didn't hear her coming back. Where could Aunt Lulu have gone to?

….. Aruto cut the apple pie and placed it onto the plate. He walked over to her with a smile, "will you forgive me for deciding everything by myself."

She took the plate of apple pie and began to eat it, without saying a word.

Aruto sat on the chair next to hers and watched her eating her pie quietly for a few minutes before he apologised again, "I couldn't refuse Ikuto's request. I think it's only fair that we explain everything to him clearly, with no lies. We need to tell him the truth."

She put down the plate of pies, turning her attention to the book on her lap instead.

Aruto continued, "It was painful for me to see him hate me so much. He thinks you're dead and I am the one who took all the blame for it. If not being fair to him then at least to me. I've been by your side for so long, don't I deserve a little justice?"

She finally turned to look at Aruto, her hands gently caressing his face, "I've been an awful person haven't I? I'm so sorry Aruto. Will you forgive me instead? Will you give me courage and stand by me when I finally see our beloved son again?"

Aruto smiled, kissing her forehead, "Ikuto will find it hard to understand at first but I know he will be happy to see you Souko. I'm sorry I made you break your promise."

Souko smiled, "I only want my family back now. That promise, I'll just have to owe for this lifetime."

"It's good to see you two finally doing the right thing," Tsukassa said, watching in a corner. "One thing I think you need to sort out though Aruto."

"What is it?"

"How you are going to deal with your son's condition and his relationship with Amu Hinamori," Tsukassa said, "is something I'd like to know."

"Everything is already decided," Aruto answered, his tone serious, "Ikuto's split personality happened because of my absence and his resentment towards me. Once I've told him everything and both I and Souko are back by his side, one of his personalities is bound to…" Aruto stopped, not wanting to continue his sentence, knowing it was a sad truth.

"In two days' time when we tell Ikuto the truth, he will change. One of the Ikuto's is destined to disappear," she finished for Aruto, "it's down to Amu Hinamori's luck whether she becomes our daughter- in- law or our granddaughter."