Me: Ok, so I was pretty shocked. There mustn't be many Ikuto fans, because last time I checked HE WAS DYING and the reviews I received only asked about the note.
Amu: You're all evil people, especially you!
Me: What? Why?
Amu: You're killing him.
Me: I'm sorry. What makes you think he's going to die in the first place?
Amu: Where is he? You kicked him out because you killed him!
Me: No, he left. Doesn't mean he's dead.
Amu: *mumbles evilly*
Me: Don't be planning anything evil.
Rima: Amu? *whispers to Amu*
Amu: *whispers to Rima*
Rima: NO. Geez that's scary.
Me: What's scary?
Rima: She told me what was on the note.
Me: AMU! Why did you do that? I want to know too, tell me!
Amu: No.
Me: Well then I guess if I want to find out I have to keep writing so, without further a due, I present chapter 5. By the way, I do not own Shugo Chara. Please enjoy and review. And blame Amu for not telling me what she found out about what was on the note.
Amu POV
"Wow. How long has this been going on?" Rima asked pointing to the note I'd handed her.
"Remember when my tyres were slashed?" I asked her still staring at the ground.
"That long?" she gasped in disbelief.
"Yeah, well that was the first brick. The stalking started – well I noticed it - the day I asked you to be my maid of honour," I admitted.
"Why didn't you tell anyone? Amu, this could have been all over ages ago if you went to the police." Her scolding made me feel worse; I'm getting a lecture from my best friend while the man I love is in hospital, possibly not going to make it.
"You're right. It would be all over. They would've killed us that day, before the police had a chance to catch them," I argued.
"You can't be certain that they'd do that. I mean, this could be an empty threat" she replied in disbelief.
"No, I'm not certain, but Ikuto is. And don't go and say that he couldn't be certain. He used to work for them." I trusted Ikuto with his judgement of the situation.
"Are you sure it's even Easter?" she asked trying to improve the circumstances. "I mean, what would they need from you? What did you do to deserve this?"
"Not what we did. It's what didn't happen. That's the cause behind everything that's going on," I mumbled.
"What? What didn't happen?" she asked. I thought about telling her, but not after what just happened, and the note.
"Nothing, don't worry yourself about it," I said trying to avoid her queries.
"Amu, tell me. You can trust me you know," she said as she knelt down beside me.
It was a difficult decision that I had to make. On the upside, Rima was my best friend. I could trust her with any secret and she'd take it to the grave if I so much as hinted at my desired secrecy. Having her know could help me in more ways then one; with Ikuto in hospital I'd need someone who understood my situation to stay by my side; someone I could talk too openly without thinking I'd said too much.
On the downside, she is my best friend. That's enough to make her about a millimetre off the target that is concentrated on Ikuto and me. Telling her could put her in too much danger. I couldn't endanger her that way, not after what happened tonight. What happened tonight…?
What really did happen tonight? All I could remember was the pain; clear in Ikutos eyes. The fear I felt for him and now Rima. If anyone – besides Ikuto and I - discovers what is on the note, they'd have a target on their heart too.
Why? Why couldn't they just have left us alone? Why did they have to come and attack us? I understand that Ikuto was given orders to kill me, but just because he disobeyed them doesn't mean they should kill him. Does it? How would I really know anyway? This could be some sick, psychotic company that kills any workers who dare to violate the rules. I hope they just intimidate them, instead of going so far as to kill them. Otherwise Ikuto would be one of their victims. The thought made me shudder.
"Amu? Amu what's wrong?" Rima asked. Her voice was quiet, trying not to scare me.
"What if he dies Rima? It'd be my fault." My voice shook as I came to this conclusion.
"No it's not your fault and I doubt he'll die. Have some faith. He's strong. He'll pull through," she said in a comforting tone.
"Give me the note," I said, my hand out waiting.
"Why? You'll be spending all night looking at it and blaming yourself, which isn't necessary. I can see you already are."
"Because it was addressed to me. Plus, you don't have any pockets to hide it in." I knew she was only trying to protect me from myself but I wasn't going to let the note out of my hands.
"Who would you need to hide it from? The police?!" she scoffed. "No, you need to tell them Amu."
"No I don't. That note is just the warning, the beginning. If I go to the cop's now…," I couldn't finish my sentence. "Easter doesn't waste time with 'empty' threats."
"All the more reason not to hide the note; you should hand it over," she reasoned. I shook my head and kept my hand out waiting.
"I'm not going to drop it, just so you know. I'll deny everything," I said with finality. I'd rather turn a blind eye to what was happening then have anyone else that I love in danger of being hurt.
Knowing that I'd follow through with the denial plan, Rima put the note in my outstretched hand and I shoved it in my jacket pocket just before some policemen came in. One looked about 45-years-old. He was short and had a bit of a beer-belly; he was balding with some curly brown hair standing up like a halo around his head. The other looked no older then 20. He was tall and lanky, with short, jet black hair, looking almost as afraid as I was. The difference being I had good reason; I was in the centre of the target. I was also a bit of a wuss. At least he was brave enough to put himself in the Easter firing line – even if he didn't know it.
"Excuse me ma'am, we need to ask you a few questions about the incident tonight. If you could please come with us to the station," the bald one of them said gesturing to the door.
"It all happened so fast. I don't really know what happened. I'd be more helpful if you could let me rest for a night or two, please?" I asked, hoping my attempt at acting innocent was convincing.
"Okay then. Would you be able to answer any questions for us then miss?" he asked turning to Rima.
"No, not really, sorry I couldn't be any help," she apologised.
"We believe that this was an attack on your house specifically." Tell me something I don't know, I thought. "We will provide a safe house for you that will be under our surveillance until it is safe," he told me.
"Actually, I'm not too afraid of it. It was an accident really," I said trying to think of an excuse of how Ikuto ended up with some glass in his back and the front window smashed.
"How was it all an accident? I thought you said you couldn't remember anything?" the young one asked. For an apprentice he was more observant than the bald one.
"Well, you wouldn't want to tell anyone how some glass broke if it was for a private reason," I said clutching my jacket closed. I was wearing a small tank top so when my jacket was pulled tight there wasn't any sign of a shirt that would reveal my façade.
"What are you talking about?" the bald one asked.
"There is a reason as to why I've got a jacket on when it's obviously too hot," I implied. The young one understood almost immediately, but he wasn't thinking of telling his partner. "Hey, I'm engaged, eyes off," I warned. The bald one looked at his partner confused. "Private reasons between me and my soon-to-be-husband, that I do not wish to be telling a stranger," I hinted. He looked at me still perplexed. "I'm not about to let complete strangers see me topless. I'm sure you're both honourable men, but I don't think my fiancé would appreciate that," I told him giving up any subtleness there was left. He was still confused, "You are freaking kidding me," I said dumbfounded. "Ok in plain, simple words: we were having sex okay, which would explain why I'm topless."
"Oh… I understand now," he said, blushing deep red with embarrassment.
"Wow, lucky guy," said the young one unashamedly.
"He's got glass in his back and lost enough blood to die! How is he lucky?!" I screeched outraged.
"I'm sorry ma'am," he apologised.
"You bloody well better be!" I screamed.
"One last question," the bald one interrupted.
"Better not be about my sex-life," I warned.
"No. It's just… how did the window break in the first place?"
"This is a question about my sex-life but since you didn't mean it… Well, he was giving me a lift home, and well, it started at the car. The bag full of wedding designs was in the way, so… I kinda just threw it. I wasn't looking where it was going and the glass didn't really change our train of thought," I said trying to make myself blush, hoping I sounded sheepish.
"That's it? There really was no attack or anything like that?" the bald one asked.
"No, I'm sorry to have wasted your time," I said smiling apologetically.
"No problem at all," the young one replied eagerly, appraising my chest.
"Yeah, um that's uncomfortable for me; you looking at me that way so could you please stop," I said sternly, crossing my arms closely around myself. The older one grabbed the young one by the arm and spun him around, practically escorting him out as if he were some rebellious teen who had just committed some petty crime.
When they were outside I heard a small thump followed by an "ouch" and some low muttering. I was quite sure was the older one giving his young partner a lecture on his inappropriate behaviour.
"Amu, why did you lie? They could've helped," Rima whispered urgently.
"Because I don't want Easter after anyone else. They want me dead and I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of it. Telling the police would do just that." No matter what she said, protecting my loved ones was my first priority.
"Fine, we'll discuss it later. C'mon, you really need to have a shower. Your hair is in matted clumps. What is that?" she asked standing up to examine it closer.
I shuddered slightly but simply answered, "Blood," before getting up, picking up my suitcase of clothes and walking out to her car.
x-X-x
Rima went to take my suitcase out of the boot of her car. "Just knock. Nagehiko should be in by now!" I heard her call.
I hesitantly knocked on the door and was greeted by one of my best friends, "Hello Amu. It's a surprise to see you here. How have you been? How long are you here for? A month?" he asked. His expression was slightly shocked, but welcoming.
"Until its sa-,"
"Until the front glass window is fixed," I spoke cutting Rima off.
"How did it break?" he asked concerned.
"That's between Ikuto and me actually." I edged past him, eager to be indoors. I took my bag off Rima before heading to the spare bedroom – which, thankfully, also had a bathroom - before Nagehiko could ask any more questions.
I undressed and stepped into the hot streaming water, allowing it to calm the tension in my back. I stood there in the shower, the drops pelting on my shoulders, trying to find a way to end all this … this… madness that was going on. As much as I hated it this knowledge, I knew it was only going to end badly. A bloody mess that Easter would get away with.
When I was finally a little more relaxed, I turned off the water, wrapping a towel around myself and carefully stepped out of the shower onto the cold tiles. I could tell Rima had told Nagehiko; it was quiet enough that I could hear the droplets from my hair dripping on the tiles.
x-X-x
I was curled up on the bed biting hard on my bottom lip. I was so worried about Ikuto. Why haven't they called? Was he in a worse condition then I'd first suspected? These thoughts worried me so much that I barely noticed the bright light coming in through the window. Seasons could've changed and I wouldn't have noticed.
Neither Rima nor Nagehiko came in to see how I was doing; they are good friends who understand that I need my space.
I was in such a deep trance that I almost fell off the bed when I heard a shrill ringing right next to my ear.
Desperate to hear Ikuto's voice, I snatched the phone up and pressed it to my ear. "Hello?" I asked desperately.
"Wow, you must be really worried. Anyway, I thought I should tell you that I was able to pull a few strings, and you can come and see Ikuto now," I barely listened to any of what Utau said – I was waiting to hear a different voice - until the part where I heard Ikuto's name.
"What? How? Thank you so much Utau, I so owe you! What do I have to do?" My words rolled together as I struggled to get them all out, but still managed to sound appreciative.
"They said direct family so all you have to do is say that you're my sister-in-law and they'll let you in," she said, as if it were simple. With her status as a celebrity I wasn't surprised that it was that easy.
"Oh, thank you so much Utau! Really, I mean it. You have no idea how much this means to me," I babbled. "I will repay you, whether you like it or not, I am."
"No you won't. You really are a sister to me Amu, and family takes care of each other. So think nothing of it. I know you'd do the same for me anyway," she said.
"Thanks again. I'll be there soon." I was still speaking to fast, this time with excitement.
"See you soon Amu," Utau said before she hung up. I got off the bed and dressed in a rush.
I didn't really care what I was wearing but why would I? I'd get to be with Ikuto! That's definitely good enough for now. It meant that he wasn't dead; a good sign of him pulling through, right?
"Where are you off to Amu?" Nagehiko asked looking up from the newspaper.
"Utau was able to pull some strings and I'm allowed to go see Ikuto almost any time I want," I replied with a grin. "Hey, can I borrow your car?"
"Sure. The keys are on the cupboard just there." He pointed to the cupboard by the door. I grabbed the keys and my bag, practically running out the door.
x-X-x
I pulled up in the car park, locking the door in a rush. When I reached the lobby (A/N I have no idea if that's what they call it or not) I was instantly approached by Utau who I eagerly followed.
"You have to be quiet. Doctors orders," she notified me in a hushed voice.
"So has it been just you here all this time?" I asked matching my voice to her quiet tone.
"Yeah, I've been feeling lonely and this place has been messing with my head. It might be good for you to talk to someone unconscious, but it makes the conscious person feel like a lunatic. I'm glad you're here." She did sound relieved.
I was about to answer when I saw Ikuto on the hospital bed, barely breathing. He looked worse then I remembered. I quickly rushed to his side while trying to keep my footfalls silent. He looked so sick. I stared down at his face, praying that he would open his eyes soon. He promised he'd be with me until we were old. Many years on marriage under our belt and surrounded by our grandchildren. He had to pull through.
I took a seat next to him and held his cold hand in both of mine. I placed it on my cheek. It took me a minute to notice that tears had begun trickling from my eyes, but I didn't attempt to stop them. It doesn't matter if I cry now – I have a very good reason.
My head sprung up as I heard the door open. I recognised her in an instant by her sparkling, chocolate brown hair.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Stow and-," she looked up from her clipboard, "Amu? Hinamori Amu, is that you?"
"Yeah in the flesh," I joked lightly.
"It's been ages. Why are you here?" she asked.
I looked back at Ikuto; lowering his hand back beside him and a few more tears fell when I looked back at her. "For Ikuto."
"How close are you two anyway?" she asked with compressed excitement that had a bit of an edge.
"We were- are," I corrected, trying to stay positive, "planning to get married in a few months. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but you kinda… just disappeared with Tadase and I didn't know where to start looking," I shrugged apologetically.
"That's okay," she laughed anxiously.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked suspiciously.
"Oh, it's nothing you need to worry about," she promised. I relaxed. I had enough on my plate and didn't need more concerns.
Shaquille Stow was one of my best friends from high school and once Tadase had gotten over his crush on me, he realised that there was another girl for him; a girl that loved him too. It was all going fine between us until Tadase mysteriously disappeared. We searched everywhere for him, but none of us were as frantic as Shaquille had been. By the end of our high school years she had disappeared too. We all suspected that she had just gotten a really good college offer. Now I guess we know its true – she's a doctor for crying out loud.
"I'm glad you're Ikuto's doctor. You're easier to trust, and must have had a good amount of experience in advanced medicine. Medical school… I'm stunned, but not in a bad way," I said suddenly, my voice proud. Shaquille had always been very smart. It made me feel like a mother talking about their child who just graduated from Harvard at the top of their class.
"I just came to check Mr. Tsukiyomi's charts and then I have to be off," she said regrettably as she walked to the other side of the hospital bed and checked the machines that were keeping Ikuto alive. "All fine," she assured smiling, "nice to see you again Amu."
"I'm sorry but I have to go too. Kukai doesn't know how to cook apparently. I don't know what's so hard about 2 minute noodles though," Utau said before following the doctor out the door. (A/N: FYI, pairings are Amu and Ikuto, Rima and Nagehiko, and Utau and Kukai. Sorry if you got confused.)
I giggled a little. I didn't understand how anyone could have trouble cooking 2 minute noodles, but then again this is Kukai we're talking about.
My eyes drooped shut, - I hadn't noticed how sleepy I really was - so I pulled the chair closer to Ikuto's bed and lay my head down. I put his hand on my cheek again and let it sit there as I drifted in to unconsciousness.
x-X-x
I was in the middle of a pleasant dream. It was our wedding. Ikuto looked stunning in a classy tuxedo and I was wearing an absolutely gorgeous wedding dress. I was following my little fairy of a sister down the isle. Ami had a flowing, baby pink flower girl dress on and she was gently dropping rose petals on the velvet carpet. I reached the end of the isle and took my place beside Ikuto.
I faintly heard an irritating, fast beeping sound but I ignored it, not wanting to disturb my dream further. It kept getting louder and louder until Ikuto faded away and I was snatched away from my dream back into reality.
I gazed up disoriented at Ikuto's face and it finally sunk in that the beeping sound was coming from one of the machines next to him.
It all happened so fast. Doctors rushed in and swarmed around him. I backed off out of the way. Agony overcame me. My breath turned quick and shallow as I began hyperventilating. What was going on? I wanted to ask someone but I couldn't speak. My throat was so dry that it felt like sandpaper was dragging through as I took each breath.
"We need you to wait outside please miss," one of the masked strangers asked calmly.
"Why are you so calm?" I asked. My voice broke.
"Please just leave miss." It sounded more like an order, and when I didn't respond he didn't give me an option. He escorted me out into the waiting room.
I turned to follow him back in but he shut the door in my face. There was no way for me to see what was going on and I would only get in the way if I forced myself inside. My heart beat faster despite the aching pain and I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face.
One of the ladies at the counter came over and tried to comfort me. "It's okay sweetie. There's nothing to worry about."
"NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?! HE'S DYING! HOW CAN YOU SAY I HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?!" My screeching hurt my ears and her face was hurt as she backed away. I didn't care. I wasn't going to take the words back.
Me: All done for this chapter.
Amu: He's dying?! You evil person.
Me: I don't get to know what was on that note yet, do I?
Amu: Ha! You have a better chance of hell freezing over, thawing out and then freezing over again in five seconds flat!
Me: Is that a no?
Amu: Of course it's a no!
Me: When do I get to find out? Amu, where are you?
Rima: She's in the depressed corner again.
Me: Hey Rima? What was on the note? You know now right?
Rima: Yeah I know, but I promised Amu I wouldn't tell anyone.
Me: What? Oh damn. *sigh* Anyway I guess I should say thanks to everyone. Especially Shaquille who gave me the idea for this chapter, even if she didn't know it, (random msn conversations are always good for ideas). Huge thanks to IAmTwilighter who edits my chapters and always gives support. And humongous thanks to all of you guys who read my stories. Please review, they make me and the voices in my head happy. Trust me, they do. The voices told me so themselves. By the way, the voices are called SMS (Stephanie Meyer Syndrome). Most Twilighters should understand that, if not then it means my characters communicate with me and often tell me what is going to happen in the story. Or in my case, I have to persuade them too. THANKS FOR READING!!! Please review.