A/N:: AHH! I got nine reviews *jumps up and down excitedly* THANKYOU! I hope you guys like this chapter, and please tell me what you want to see in the story and stuff. xD I will update after…I have 20 reviews in total! *evil laugh*

C H A P T E R T W O:

My eyes opened and I stared up into the sheets of the lined bedding that I had pulled over my head

the alarm clock that sat perched on the dusty bedside table next to me ticked and tocked at a steady pace, suddenly becoming a very loud noise to my ears; irritating me.

What was that dream I just had?

I ran my fingers through my midnight blue hair and replayed the fragments that I remembered

I was standing in Amu's porch, and Amu had her back to me.

"Amu…I didn't mean to—"

"shut up." Her flat, cold whisper sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine

slowly, slowly she turned to face me

"who do you think you are?" her face was filled with contempt as she glared at me

"you barge into my room whenever you want like you own the place and you mess around with me like I'm some toy."

She clenched her fists

"I've…I've had enough."

I half-reached out a hand towards her, then thought better of it.

I didn't remember the rest of my dream, all except for one vivid image etched into my mind

"I HATE YOU!"

I blinked.

reaching over to grab the half full glass of water, I tried to console myself by remembering that it was just a dream

too bad that particular dream is reality.

She hates me.

~*~*~

I looked at the time. 2:45AM

when I realized that my cheeks were wet, I pulled up my covers to wipe them dry.

Never in my life have I felt so violated. Tears began to pool in the corners of my eyes again

it seemed so unlike Ikuto, of course he teased me all the time, but…to go that far?

All this time, for some reason, I had been holding on to some foreign hope that behind all the teasing

behind all the jokes

behind the perverted façade that he used with me daily

somewhere deep down, he actually cared for me, that he actually thought about my feelings.

I rolled around in bed, a hint of anger coloring my thoughts

and it wasn't like he hadn't given me ground to think that, either.

Every now and then, he would comfort me when I needed it, or he would give me advice, or he would stop smirking for a goddamn minute and tell me his honest opinion on a question that I asked him.

Was all that—was everything fake?

I laughed in spite of my self

of course. How much older is he than me? Five years? It must have been like babysitting

imagine, that's like me spending time with a seven year old.

And now, finally, when he had gotten bored with me, when he decided there was no more fun to have spending time with me,

he thought of the best way to finish it of with a bang, huh.

Unable to help myself, I glanced over at the door that lead out to my side porch.

I could imagine perfectly what it would look like if he was standing out there, undoing the lock so that he could come inside and play his games with me some more

I clenched my wrists.

I've had enough. I don't need to suffer like this.

If Ikuto has already forgotten all about me and skipped away to find some new object of interest, then I can do the same.

That's right

good for nothing alley cat
why did you play with my emotions?

Who does he think he is?
how can you not care about me at all?

I hate him!
why am I so ready to forgive him?

I hope he never comes back!
why do I miss him already?

I grabbed a stray pillow from the floor by my bed and curled my body around it, hugging it tightly.

My eyes let loose one lone tear before the confusion and sadness that surrounded me overwhelmed me completely and I fell under.

Ikuto.

~*~*~

[ O N E W E E K L A T E R ]

"wait, Rima, let me, um… help you" Nagihiko said quietly as Rima struggeled to free herself from a thorny bush her shirt got stuck on

a light blush colored the pretty blonde's cheeks.

The guardians were walking from their last class of the day to the royal gardens, where they were going to have tea

Tadase and Yaya were deep in some conversation over which sweets would be allowed after Tadase became the king of the world

Amu trailed behind the four others, her gaze blank, her feet dragging.

suddenly, with sudden determination, she made her way up to Rima and Nagihiko

"hey, Rima…"

her best friend turned around in surprise, for the past few days, Amu had been particularly quiet

"what's up, Amu?"

"oh its nothing really… I was just wondering if you've heard anything about why Ikuto's been missing lately" Amu gulped quietly

Rima blinked, "sorry, Amu, I didn't realize that he wasn't around.."

Amu suddenly broke out into a wide smile

"hahaha never mind. I dunno, I was just randomly thinking about it I guess. Come on, lets go get some ice cream or something!"

Rima shook her head as she was dragged along while her friend rambled on and pretended she was having the time of her life

~*~*~

Nagihiko was walking home after school when he spotted a familiar orange haired friend

"Hey, Kukai!"

"What's up, Nagihiko? How are my guardians doing?"

"everything's normal, Rima's doing well, and so are Tadase and Yaya"

Kukai spun a soccer ball around on his finger

"and Amu?"

"I think she's doing fine…I haven't talked to her recently, but Rima said that she mentioned something about Ikuto—you know, the one from Easter—not being around and asking if Rima knew anything about it."

Kukai laughed quietly as he brought the soccer ball to a halt

"it's great that everyone is doing well. I have to come visit you guys as soon as possible"

Nagihiko nodded, "oh, how are you doing, Kukai?"

Kukai turned to face Nagihiko as he walked away, "Me? I'm in middle school now, and let me tell you, enjoy your time now, Nagihiko."

Kukai laughed a warm energetic laugh as he walked away.

~*~*~

Utau ate her fourth ramen bowl as she realized that she was somewhat full

"oh by the way Utau, I met up with one of my old friends back in elementary school the other day"

Utau didn't look up from her steaming hot noodles, "oh?"

"yeah, he mentioned something about Amu. Seems she's been kind of worried about Ikuto recently."

Utau looked up "what do you mean?"

Kukai scratched his head, "well, apparently he hasn't been around for a week or something, and she's been asking people if they know what happened to him"

Utau frowned, "leave it to my brother to make life difficult for everyone around him"

Kukai laughed knowingly

"haven't you eaten enough?"

"shut up!"

"…just kidding"

and with that, he leaned towards utau and placed a quick kiss on her cheek while she laughed, her tinkling sound echoing throughout the ramen shop

~*~*~

Suddenly, the door to Ikuto's room opened

He blinked and raised his eyes up slowly until he was met with his sister's piercing glare

"…what?" he mumbled

"you know what. Why are you hiding in your room like a scared little cat and avoiding Amu?"

Ikuto sighed. "im not hiding in my room, I just got home from the park. And im not avoiding Amu—she just doesn't want to see me anymore"

Utau placed a delicate hand on her hip

"oh yeah? Then how come she's been asking around about you? Sounds like she wants to see you to me."

Ikuto's head snapped up and his eyes tightened

"…what?" he whispered

"you heard me"

Utau exited her shocked brothers room, closing the door behind her. She had said what she needed to say.

Impossible

She hates me

there is no way in hell that she wants to see me ever again

but what if she does?

no.

NO!

If she does, then everything I tried to do was all for nothing

If she does, then I hurt her for no reason

If she does, then I don't have the strength to stay away.

He closed his eyes and swallowed.

Utau's just meddling.

She wants nothing to do with me.

He nodded firmly.

…right?