Hi guys, here is the second instalment of Like An Angel, I hope you like it! And thanks so much for the reviews and stuff so far!

There is some implied Kukai x Yaya in this one, but the focus is still Kutau X3

Chapter 2: Blame

Ikuto stood at the top of a building, listening to the night. Just listening. It wasn't often, and it wasn't something he told anybody, but sometimes he felt he had a special connection to the night. On nights like this he could close his eyes and feel the breeze against his face, and just listen to the absence of everything. It was like a song that played for his ears alone, and in his mind he was worlds away. And sometimes he would pick up his violin and become a part of it, of those sounds, of that song. When he played to the night he felt like he was somewhere else entirely, in another world, and that was the real world. Not the world he usually belonged to, where everyone struggled, where everyone cried, where everyone hid some sort of pain.

Ikuto frowned. As if in answer to his thoughts, he heard the faint but definite sound of someone crying. He opened his eyes and looked down. It was a small girl, running through the streets. Was she lost? She didn't look quite young enough to be lost. What was she looking for, then? Ikuto hopped closer to the girl, and realised with a start that he knew her. Her hair was tied in brown pigtails; her slender frame moved quickly as she darted through this street and that. She was undoubtedly one of Amu's friends. Yaya. Ikuto jumped down in front of the girl.

Yaya leapt back, startled. 'Ikuto!' she gasped.

'Yaya,' he greeted her. He frowned at her. 'Why are you out so late at night? And why were you crying?'

Yaya hesitated, then turned and ran.

'Wait!' he called after her, surprised. He caught up to her and held her back. She tried to struggle, pushing him away she wept.

'Ikuto,' she started, sniffling, 'Let me go!' She tried to push away from him again, to no avail. 'You don't understand,' she told him in a small voice. 'There's been an accident, and Kukai's missing, and everyone else is at the hospital, but I went find him, and – and –' she broke off.

'Accident?' Ikuto repeated, alarmed.

'A car accident,' she nodded. She pressed him away again. 'Please, let me go! I have to find him...' she gave in and buried her face in his shirt, muffling sobs.

Ikuto held her as she cried. 'Calm down!' he told her. 'Just calm down, okay? Kukai's at my place.'

Yaya sniffed and looked up at him, surprised. 'At your place?' she repeated doubtfully.

'Yeah. He came to see Utau. I stepped out for a bit 'cos the atmosphere was pretty gloomy. But he's still there; he's staying for the night.'

Yaya wiped her eyes and gave a small giggle that sounded out oddly into the night, and then disappeared. 'Yaya is so silly,' she said softly. 'She should have known to check Utau-chan's place first.'

b . l . a . m . e

Kukai got out of the car, swinging the door shut behind him. It was late afternoon, almost dark, but the soccer team was holding a training session in preparation for the big game the next weekend.

'Have fun at soccer practice,' his mother said cheerfully. 'Don't be home too late.'

Kukai grinned, 'I know, Mum.' He waved as his parents pulled away. Turning, he set his skateboard down at the top of the stairs that led to the soccer fields. He hadn't perfected this trick yet, and he had time to work on it before practice started. He stepped up onto the board.

'Kukai!'

He jumped at his mother's voice. His parents were driving away, but he could still clearly see their irritated facial expressions as they looked back at him.

'Get away from those stairs right now, young man,' his father called angrily. 'That's dangerous!'

Kukai couldn't help but laugh at the looks on their faces. 'Mum, Dad, it's fine!' He protested. 'I've done this plenty of times!'

'I said now!' his Dad demanded.

Rolling his eyes, Kukai skated down the stairs anyway. Just a turn here and a turn there and – perfect.

All of a sudden Kukai heard a loud horn beeping. He turned and watched, dumbfounded, as his parents' expressions turned from fury to fear. They looked up in shock as they drove onto the main road – directly in the path of an approaching truck. Panicking, his Dad swerved. It was too late. Kukai gasped as his parents' small car collided with the truck. He watched in disbelief as the car was sent skidding and rolling, until it came to a halt at the other end of the intersection.

b . l . a . m . e

'I just... I just laughed at them,' Kukai finished, his voice a broken whisper. 'It's my fault.' The night had become eerily quiet, and those tortured words seemed to amplify in the silence.

Utau didn't know what to say. 'Kukai...' she began. She took his hands in hers. He'd been digging his nails into his palms so hard that they'd started to bleed.

She took a breath. 'Kukai, listen,' she said firmly. 'You can't blame yourself for this. The most important thing right now is to be with your parents. Where are they? Are they at the hospital?'

Kukai nodded wordlessly.

Utau was worried. Kukai still seemed disoriented. Was he in shock? What were the symptoms of shock? Utau had no idea. 'Kukai,' she said as gently as possible. 'You need to go and see them.'

He shook his head, looking down. 'I can't face them,' he said chokingly. 'I can't face anyone, not after what I did.'

'Kukai, it isn't your fault!'

But he shook his head again, not believing her.

Utau jumped as there was a knock at the bedroom door. 'Uh, come in!' she called.

Ikuto poked his head into the room. 'Kukai's got a visitor.'

'Visitor?' Utau questioned. Ikuto swung the door open to admit Yaya.

Yaya's eyes widened as soon as she saw Kukai. 'Kukai! You're here!' she exclaimed, diving into his lap. She wrapped her arms around him, bumping his chin with her head. 'Kukai, you silly,' she complained, 'why did you run away? Yaya was very worried! She was searching for you everywhere! You shouldn't make Yaya worry like that!'

'Uh... s-sorry,' Kukai stammered, confused by the sudden ball of energy that was tugging on his jacket and wagging her finger at him crossly.

'Ikuto, why is she here?' Utau said sharply. 'She's a nuisance.'

'She was running around the city by herself, looking everywhere for him,' Ikuto responded calmly. 'I couldn't just leave her.'

'Fine,' Utau sighed, impatient. 'Yaya,' she said, turning to the girl. 'What are you doing out so late at night anyway? You should be in bed by now.'

'My parents and Kukai's are good friends,' Yaya said defensively. 'They went to the hospital when they heard. They said I could come as well.'

Why did Yaya always manage to exasperate her so much? Utau rolled her eyes. 'Yaya, don't you think they're probably home by now? Ikuto, get her some hot chocolate and then take her home.' Ikuto nodded swiftly, stepping forward.

'No!' Yaya protested. She jutted her chin in defiance. 'I'm staying where Kukai is.' She clung tightly to the boy.

Yaya's presence actually seemed to have had a positive effect on Kukai. He sat up straighter and, looking at Yaya, he managed a small smile and murmured to her reassuringly, 'Go on, Yaya. It's okay. I'll be fine.'

Yaya stared up at him hesitantly. Utau watched him too. He looked better, she observed. More alive. Utau could almost believe what he said – that he would be okay. If this was Yaya's doing, then Utau began to feel relieved that she'd come. Yaya nodded slowly. She gave Kukai one last hug and went downstairs with Ikuto.

The door closed softly behind them, leaving the two in silence.

'Kukai,' Utau began. 'You should at least call your brothers and let them know you're here.'

Kukai nodded, taking out his phone. 'Yeah, I'll do that now,' he said quietly. 'I-I wasn't really thinking straight earlier. It was probably stupid of me to run off like that. I'm sorry for causing you trouble.'

Utau sighed, relieved. He seemed back to normal, or somewhat normal at least. Utau watched as Kukai flipped open the phone and began dialling. She was so glad to see him with some semblance of his usual self. She hadn't realised how terrified she'd been, up until now. He'd been like a ghost before.

Kukai paused. 'Utau...' he started, unsure.

'Yes?'

Kukai took a breath. 'I-I want to go to the hospital tomorrow morning to see them. It's too late at night to do that now, I realise that. But, Utau...' his green eyes focused on hers. Troubled though they were, they still managed to make Utau's heart tremble. 'Will you come with me? I know I've been a lot to deal with already, but... I'm not sure... if I can do it, without you... so please...' he trailed off.

Utau smiled, coming forward and embracing him. 'Of course I'll go with you.' Head on Kukai's shoulder, she inhaled his scent. She pushed back the anxiety that still hovered at the edge of her mind.

'Everything's going to be fine.' For the sake of Kukai, and for the sake of the Souma family, Utau found herself praying that her words would hold true in the morning.

So, that's the end of Chapter 2! I hope you guys liked it. I'm glad Yaya made an appearance, 'cos she's awesome :D

But whoa. That's really much more angst than I'm used to writing, so I'm sorry if it sucks XD

Anyway, please review and tell me what you think! And please let me know if you think there are any problems with it!

Well, thanks for reading! Next up is Chapter 3: Emergency.