A/N: WELCOME TO CHAPTER 17! I'M SORRY MY UPDATING SCHEDULE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE!

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(When you walk away I count the steps that you take,

Can't you see how much I need you right now?)

Breathe

It was easy, in out, in out

It wasn't supposed to be this difficult, damn it! Utau resisted the urge to jump off a cliff out of frustration.

She felt as if she was the main character to some Korean drama and was certain that if she was starred in some accursed TV show that the audience was probably getting a kick of out her dilemma.

Rolling her eyes Utau threw off her blankets, abandoning the thought of sleep, it was futile and she knew it.

Her eyes found themselves on a resting Iru and Dia. they were fast asleep on two small beds sitting on her nightstand it was then when her eyes widened.

"…Oh my God"

Her egg was missing! Her other would be self was gone!

Utau began to pace "Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic" she muttered as she began to open and close her draws, trying to keep calm as she tried to look for her egg.

Dear God what if she accidently cooked her egg into breakfast?

Maybe she dropped her egg somewhere while she was out?

Holy mother of God she didn't have a clue as to where her egg was!

Utau brought her hands to her face "I'm such an Idiot," she groaned "I fucked up last night and this morning" she sweat dropped.

She made a mental note to look for her missing egg as she walked into her bathroom, ready to take a shower

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Yawning, Utau put her ankle boots on. She had to prepare for a concert for tomorrow and wasn't planning on being killed by Sanjou-san anytime soon.

Straightening her skirt with one hand and putting on her earbuds with the other Utau exited her house, her mind was whirling.

Just how the fuck was she supposed to face Kukai? Dear God she wanted to burry herself in a hole and die.

Flashback

Dear God she couldn't help it. He was about to leave and she would be damned if she let him walk away without an explanation. Utau's eyes went wide as she watched as he began to walk towards the door.

Oh hell no

Immediately, Utau stood up ignoring the plate and running up to tackle him into a hug from behind.

It felt good holy shit. Even if he did suddenly tense up.

Utau bit her lip before letting out a huge intake of air "I messed up really bad didn't I?" she tightened her hold on the other teen and sighed. "I'm sorry it took me like eighty years to reply, seriously. I didn't even know I got all these texts until like thirty seconds before you called."

"I seriously deserve the whole silent treatment, don't get me wrong. I don't want forgiveness cause that'll be shitty after the crap I keep pulling. But just…listen to what I've got to say. Please?

Utau could feel him relax, and she inwardly thanked the ramen Gods. She could feel the heat against her cheeks because who the hell just randomly tackles someone into a hug and does not feel embarrassed by it?

Letting go Utau winced as he turned to face her. It was a huge slap to the face seeing him in such an exhausted state. "But before I say anything. Is that…the fact that you look like you're going to tumble over right now. I-Is that my fault?"

Her hands were already inching towards her hair once again, a habit formed whenever stressed or freaked out. She was a hundred per cent sure that she'd become bald if she ever went to a haunted house.

He was silent. Oh fuck no, nononono

Her distraught must have been painfully obvious as his own expression changed to being drastically serious, He opened his mouth to speak

"Oh no you don't! Cut that out!" she stomped her foot stubbornly, eyes wide and she was positive tears were about to start falling "You don't- You shouldn't be worried! I'm not worth that and I think we both know that! I'm a mess man, can't you see that? No one would be surprised if I ended up in rehab in a couple years." She snorted

Utau looked up at him "I don't even know where to begin man, you're still…any sane person would've given up by now." Utau ran a hand through her blonde hair "I'm…selfish, I'm a selfish bitch. I'm a terrible person who goes and steals kids' dreams"

"You're being such a fucking idiot right now"

Utau flinched at the tone of his voice, eyes wide she looked up at him.

"Who the hell was the one who had to give up her freedom to save her brother? Who avoided attacking me- no, who dropped her weapon in the middle of a fight against me? Who was going to scratch herself bald after just seeing me look sleep deprived? Because I'm totally seeing how selfish you are"

"I didn't reply to you for ages! I didn't even call after Sanjou-san randomly made me change my phone!"

"You didn't know!"

Utau opened her mouth to protest "I didn't-"Her face was swiftly met with his chest.

"Just stop. Calm down and breathe for a second okay? I'm not mad at you" he said with his chin resting on the crown of her head.

"…But why" she muttered "I suck"

He didn't answer for a while "You always act different around other people, have you noticed that? It's like your defence mechanism. How come?"

"Why the change in topic?" she murmured, her arms wrapping around his torso

"Just answer the question"

Utau sighed, "To be honest I don't really get it much myself. Back at school, way before we met up. Didn't Hinamori Amu have that whole Cool and spicy attitude? I'm pretty sure it's something like that"

He let out a hum in thought "But she stopped using that ages ago after joining the guardians"

"Exactly, she had people to support her and to help her show who she really was. You and the rest of the guardians did that."

He then frowned "We can still help you Utau"

"It's not worth it" she snorted "I'd be forced to betray you if Easter knew"

"Who says Easter needs to know?"

Utau groaned "Kukai listen to me, you need to stop trying to save me, and I'm not some helpless girl locked in a tower. I've got wings"

"You don't use them"

Utau bit her lip "I can't-"she whispered "I'm not like you Kukai. Let's leave it at that" she then let out an intake of air "Listen to me for a second okay? This is really important" she went ahead and covered his mouth with her hand.

"Two days." She used her free hand and held up two fingers. "In two days Easter's planning on getting rid of you and the other guardians—or at least, they're going to try to get you out of staying at school"

She then released her hand from him mouth and looked up towards him, waiting for a reaction.

"What- why?"

"Okay- Kukai you got to really pay attention to me. There's going to be two concerts, though there's a high chance the second one will be postponed after what's about to go down with the first one. Sanjou-san's making me do duets with Ryo- you remember him right? The guy from the park."

"…He's apart of Easter?"

"Yeah, Annoying right? After he was so nice. Anyway the concert's going to be during school okay? The second one's going to start at night, around eight." Utau made her way towards her bag, frowning as she buried her hand into it.

"You're helping me" he whispered before grinning boyishly as she shoved a handful of tickets for the evening concert into his hand

Utau felt her cheeks flush. Finally, he was smiling "It's not like I don't want too but It's going to be only this once okay? They're going to become suspicious when you and your friends undoubtedly pop out of God knows where for the school concert."

He nodded, something in him had drastically changed, his dull eyes had become brighter and his grin was now becoming painfully infectious.

Curses

Now she had to bite her cheek to keep from grinning as wide as he was.

It was then Utau found herself frozen on the spot when warm arms wrapped around her slim figure, a pair of lips being pressed against her forehead as he murmured something against it.

"Thank you"

(You're not alone, together we stand

I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand)

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A/N: AND SCENE! WOOT. Finally, I updated a little bit quicker than usual. Thank the Ramen Gods, if I wasn't in such a Shugo Chara mood right now who knows when this would have been updated.

I'll try to make the next chapter longer but no promises!

Bye! R n R!