Amu skipped merrily down the stairs, humming upbeat songs to herself. She jogged over to her mom who held the phone patiently for her daughter. "Thank you mama" she said politely, taking the phone. She held it up to her ear and smiled as her mom walked into the kitchen to give her some privacy. "Hello? Tadase-kun?" she asked, placing her hand on the table and turning to face the wall. She heard movement on the other side of the phone line and smiled. "Good Evening Amu-Chan," he greeted warmly. "I hope I'm not being a bother, calling this late and so suddenly at that." he said with a forced chuckle. Amu shook her head as if she was talking to him in person. "No, it's alright Tadase-kun! I-i'm sorry about skipping out on our.... date." she said with a gulp; she could feel her face turning red.
"It's fine. More importantly, how are you doing? Has your fever gone down? Have you been drinking fluids and getting any rest?" he questioned in a concerned tone. Amu smiled. She was happy that Tadase had worried about her; her heart was hammering inside her chest uncomfortably but she ignored it. "Yes Tadase-kun; I'm doing just fine. Thank you for...being concerned." She couldn't see Tadase's face but she knew he was smiling along with her. "I'm glad you're feeling better." he replied.
After a short conversation, Amu hung up the phone and rubbed her cheeks. She had been smiling for so long that her jaw started hurting. "Amu-Chan!" Her mother called from the kitchen, "Can you please come in here?" she beckoned and Amu walked in. "Yes Mama?" she asked, curious as to why she was being called. "Amu, I'm going to go ahead and run to the market for a bit." she said, grabbing her purse and checking her wallet. "Ami's upstairs sleeping in her room and your father is here but I'm afraid he fell asleep on the couch again; can you check on Ami every now and then while I'm gone?" she asked sweetly. "Sure" Amu answered. "Thank you sweetie. I'll be sure to pick up some medicine for you while I'm there." She walked out of the kitchen and Amu heard the front door shut moments later.
Amu didn't eat anything all day so she reached over the table and retrieved an apple from the glass fruit bowl. She made her way over to the sink and rubbed the apple under the running water. She took a bite out of the apple and chewed happily with her eyes closed as she walked out of the kitchen. "After I eat this apple it's straight to the shower for me~" she planned, wanting nothing more than to have a relaxing shower. She tapped the bottom step with her toe and opened her eyes. She looked up and froze as she was about to take her first step up. Ikuto was standing on the stairs, staring down at Amu. He was leaning on a wall in the narrow stairway and Amu guessed that he was using the wall to support himself.
After a few moments Ikuto descended down the stairs and looked around. "What are you doing?!" she breathed. Ikuto stopped looking around and turned his attention to her. "I'm hungry." he blurted; it looked like he was half asleep. Amu shook her head in amazement and stomped her foot. "I'll get you something to eat later Ikuto! Now get upstairs before my dad wakes up!" she whispered, trying to nudge him up the steps. He turned his head and stared at her while she failed to push him at all. Amu dropped her arms in defeat and clenched her fists. "Why does he have to be like this!?" she screamed in her head.
Ikuto turned around and placed his hands on her shoulders. Amu blinked in confusion, her anger disappearing as fast as it had come. He leaned his face in closer to hers "Is that any way to treat a guest?" he asked her, amusement flicked across his face as the corners of his mouth pulled up. Amu was taken aback by Ikuto's manner and let out a gasp. She inhaled too hard and she held her mouth as cough after cough escaped her body. After several coughs she scrunched up her face and gently beat on her chest, pretending to beat all the coughs out. She turned back to Ikuto with an angry look on her face "Shut up Ikuto! If you don't like it then why do-" She was immediately cut off.
Ikuto pressed his lips against hers and her body went into an unexplainable frenzy. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe; all she could do was stare wide-eyed at him as their warm lips joined together. Her heart rate picked up and she was certain if it kept up that way it would rip out of her chest and explode. She wanted it to stop; she wanted to push him away and tell him to never come near her again but.... at the same time, she wanted him to stay by her side.
How could something feel so wrong...and so right at the same time?