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Chapter Nine: Second Chance

The pink haired girl dropped the milk and fell to her knees, tears running down her cheeks.

"Amu-chi!" her charas cried out. Ran, Miki, Dia, and Su each grabbed her arm in a hug.

"I-if I would have noticed—I should have—I could have saved him! B-but I went for the Embryo instead! I didn't—I n-never e-even said g-goodbye! I n-never even asked w-why he would do s-such—why he would save me!" Amu choked out. She could still see his body falling to the ground. The blood—it'd been everywhere! Amu could feel her heart breaking into a million pieces. It hurt. It hurt so much to know that she could have saved him and didn't. She had caused his death.

"Amu-chan, you can fix it now! You have a second chance~ desu!" Su pointed out.

"Mmmhmm, the Embryo brought us back…" Miki trailed off.

"Which means that any second now—" Ran started. She was interrupted by a knock on the balcony door.

Amu could see a blurry Ikuto through her tears. "I-it's unlocked," she stated. She couldn't force herself to get up just then. She had no energy to stand or move. Her grief had stolen any bit of energy she had had. Dia clung to Amu while Ran, Miki, and Su went to the door and worked together to open it for Ikuto.

"Maybe he can cheer her up," Miki whispered. The other two nodded as they got out of the cat boy's way.

Ikuto froze when he saw the condition Amu was in. Yoru bumped into him. "Ikuto, why did you—" Yoru started to complain. He stopped mid-sentence, though, as soon as he looked over his master's shoulder.

Amu, who had looked down as soon as she saw her charas open the door, looked back up. "I-Ikuto, Yoru!" she exclaimed. She tried to stand, but found that she still lacked the energy. She felt like running over to the two and hugging them both. She tried again and managed to stumble over to the two. She wrapped her arms around Ikuto tightly, replaying his death over and over in her memory. "It really did send me back," she marveled aloud.

Ikuto held Amu away so as to look at her face. "Why are you crying, Hinamori Amu?" he asked sternly. "Who made you cry like this?"

Amu shook her head not knowing whether to tell him or not. She thought back on the embryo's words. "You and your guardians will remember but Ikuto will not. It is important that he doesn't remember."

"Amu, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Ikuto's voice brought Amu out of her trance.

Miki tugged at Amu's hair. "Amu-chan, you are making him and Yoru worry." Amu nodded.

"I'm sorry, Ikuto," Amu started. She thought of any kind of excuse to get him to stop worrying. "I- I don't feel so good."

Su caught on to what her master was doing and instantly explained, "Amu-chi has been feeling sick today~ desu. She didn't listen when I told her to rest~ desu. Could you lay her on the bed for me~ desu? She is too weak to walk."

Amu let her "cool and spicy" character take over as she snapped, "Oi! I can walk! I don't need his help!" She then pulled away from Ikuto and attempted to walk to her bed. She ended up stumbling and falling to her knees again.

Miki sighed. "Shouldn't Amu-chan change though? She is still in her towel."

Amu looked down in horror. "Ran, chara change with me, please?" Amu begged. Ran nodded and Amu was able to walk that way. She grabbed some night clothes and went to the bathroom and changed. When she came out, Yoru was waiting along with Ikuto. The cat boy picked her up and carried her back to her room. Once he closed the door, Amu glared.

"What if mama or papa had seen you?" she demanded.

Ikuto just shrugged. "They wouldn't have. I was just worried about you, Amu. There really is no need for you to be angry," he replied as he sat her down on her bed gently. Amu struggled to pull the blankets over herself. After about half a second, Ikuto helped her.

"You really should take better care of yourself," commented the blue haired boy. Ran raced to turn off the light. Ikuto made a move toward the balcony, beckoning Yoru to follow, when Amu grabbed his wrist.

"Please stay?" she begged, the images from his death overwhelming her. She felt tears fall down her cheeks.

Dia caught one and said, "Don't cry, Amu-chan."

Ikuto nodded and looked over at Yoru. "We're staying here tonight." Yoru just nodded. He didn't like how weird Amu was acting. It gave him a feeling of foreboding and made him very uneasy. He joined Ran, Miki, and Su quietly. Dia joined them as well.

Amu felt a little relief. He's staying tonight, she thought. It was silent for a moment and then Ikuto got into the bed beside Amu.

She didn't protest which set off a red light in Ikuto's mind. "You must be really upset or sick, Hinamori Amu. You haven't kicked me out of the bed," he stated. He was starting to get very worried about the pink haired girl.

Amu turned to face him. She stared into his eyes, and instantly found herself lost in them.

Ikuto found himself lost in her eyes as well and soon their faces were inches apart. After a moment, Amu took fate into her own hands as she barely touched her lips to his.

Ikuto was fast to respond and kissed her back.

Amu broke away first and gave Ikuto a serious look. "Don't leave, please," she murmured.

Ikuto was shocked. This wasn't like Amu. Something had happened to her, and something serious. He couldn't put his finger on what exactly. Could Easter have tried something already? he thought. He looked Amu over and was surprised by the seriousness and grief there.

"Promise me that you'll stay," she demanded sternly.

Ikuto chuckled at how cute she looked that way before nodding and saying, "I, Ikuto, promise to stay here."

Amu smiled before letting herself drift off to sleep.

Ikuto smiled, and then decided to join her. Before long though, he was awoken by Amu screaming. "Nooo!!!! Ikuto, don't leave me!!!!"

A/N: This chappie was actually a little longer than intended…. Please read and review! And thanks to those who do! You guys rock! n.n