:O

I'm shocked people already like this story. I can already feel the love from past fans. XD Thank you all for supporting this and 'The Social Food Chain'. I love you guys.

Recap

"I'm leaving Japan, with my father, to go to America. And I'm not sure if I'll be coming back."

Normal POV

Had she heard him right?

Her breathing stopped and Amu's eyes went wide. Ikuto was leaving? But hadn't he just said that he wasn't going to go anywhere? She felt even more confused than she needed to be, or wanted to be. Amu breathed again and wiped her eyes.

"But…but you said that you weren't going to leave me," Amu said. Her voice had begun to rise but she managed to stifle it. She didn't want to argue with Ikuto. It was the least she could've done since…

"And I won't—I don't break my word—but there are things I want to do, Amu. I want to go college for music in New York and become a professional violinist like my dad." Amu hadn't understood why she suddenly felt jealous, but she did. Ikuto probably hadn't seen his father for years and all of a sudden, he's all he could think about. What about her? "I'll come back for you anytime you need me."

"Ikuto…" Her eyes softened and a small smile curved her lips upwards. At least she was with Ikuto. At least everything was simple as of then.

As they left her room for the living room, Amu had a feeling that everything was about to get a lot harder.

The buttery aroma filled the air as Ikuto popped the popcorn until all the kernels were popped open. He dumped the bag into the bowl and pulled out two cans of berry soda for Amu and himself. He made his way over to Amu, who sat on the couch with her feet tucked under a pillow. She watched Ikuto join her on the couch. She pulled a can of soda from his hand.

"Thanks," she said with a small smile on her lips. He nodded and popped a handful of popcorn into his mouth. Amu took a few kernels and popped them into her mouth as well. "So, what's on television?"

"Absolutely nothing. Unless you want to order the porn channel." To describe the blush that spread itself across Amu's cheeks would've taken another language to do so. Ikuto chuckled at her reaction.

"That wasn't funny!"

"Oh yes it was." Amu pouted and turned her attention back to the television, where a commercial for jewelry was playing. Amu sighed, grabbed the remote, and shut the television off. Ikuto didn't say a word—he continued to eat more popcorn.

"Ikuto…"

"Hmm?" The pinkette's tongue darted past her lips and gave them a quick licking even though they were freshly glossed and sticky. Her fingers began to play with a random strand of her hair until she sighed and forced her hands to clench the arm rest.

"Well, it's just…" Amu wanted to tell him then…but something stopped her. "Never mind." Ikuto looked at her, his cheeks slightly puffed from the popcorn, and narrowed his eyes.

"Tell me," he said through the mouthful of popcorn. He quickly finished chewing and swallowed.

"No, forget it. It's stupid." Amu sighed.

"Nothing you say is stupid, Amu." Her eyes focused on her lap and her cheeks turned pink. She was doubtful of his words, despite the effect they had on her.

"…that's not true."

"Well I don't think anything you say is stupid." Amu's eyes narrowed at her lap and her hands clenched into tight fists. Ikuto was too good for her and yet he continued to compliment her. She hated how everything was going good for him and not for her. Selfish? Yes, she was being selfish, but she couldn't help it. It wasn't fair for Ikuto to be so happy and for her to be so miserable.

"Sure you don't. And while I get to be miserable, you get to be the happy one," she said sourly. Ikuto winced.

"…you do know that I haven't been this happy in years, right?" His gentle tone coaxed Amu into looking him right in the eyes. She mentally noted that Ikuto's eyes had an odd way of making you believe him. She looked away slowly and felt her cheeks heat despite the anger she felt. "This is the happiest I've been in years, Amu."

"…it's still not fair." Ikuto sighed.

"Why are you miserable?" Amu's eyes widened slightly and she turned to face Ikuto once more. He looked concerned. She blinked. It was nice to see Ikuto again but…but this wasn't the way it was supposed to be. Tears pricked her eyes. She couldn't stop them from falling but she didn't sob or whimper. She just cried. "You're crying."

"I know…and I'm miserable b-because I…I did something I know you won't like," she blurted out. Amu gasped. Ikuto's concern became something…something else. Amu looked away quickly.

"Tell me, now," he demanded. Amu took in a shallow breath before blowing it back out. She wanted to tell Ikuto…she desperately wanted to…but she couldn't.

"I..I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I…just can't."

"…you just don't want to tell me." Amu's eyes widened.

"That's not true!" Amu and Ikuto began a stare off. She wanted to tell Ikuto, she truly did, but she couldn't. She tried, but maybe she hadn't tried hard enough. Amu backed away and sighed, a crease line between her eyebrows. "That's not…"

"Just tell me when you're ready." Amu looked at Ikuto and found him eating more popcorn. He sipped his soda and popped another handful of popcorn into his mouth, chewing idly. Amu blinked and put one kernel into her mouth.

Amu watched Ikuto sleep on her pillow. His blue hair splayed across the white material, making it look even more attractive. He looked childish, angelic, innocent, in his slumber. His lips were slightly parted as he took even breaths, an occasional snore slipping out, and his full eyelashes sparkling from the moonlight Amu let in. She stepped out of her bed, careful not to wake him, and walked onto her balcony.

She allowed the wind to make her cold, to make her shiver, to fill her lungs with a new breath. She exhaled slowly and pressed the palms of her hands to her temple. It was stressful to be so conflicted on the inside. The guy she was sure she was in love with was with her, and wanted to talk to her, and yet she felt like he was a stranger. But the other one…

Much to her surprise, her phone began to vibrate. She walked back into her room and lifted the red phone—the cell phone strap decorated in all sorts of things and brought memories to replay against the surface of her eyelids—and flipped it open. She pressed it to her ear and walked back out onto the balcony, this time closing the door behind her.

"Hello?" she breathed out. The other end of the phone conversation was silent except for the occasional stagnant muffled sound.

"It's me," said the other in his light hearted tone. "We haven't spoken at all in a while."

"…he's over here, you know. I want to spend some time with him." The person sighed.

"You're going to have to tell him sooner or later, Amu," replied the man. Amu nodded. She knew this was going to happen, and she was thankful she had the chance. She was just pissed at herself for letting each chance crumble and fall right in her hands.

"I know, I know." Amu sighed and leaned against the railing of her balcony. "I'll tell him tomorrow."

"Okay…I don't want to be separated from you for so long anymore. I miss you." Amu smiled and pressed a hand to the back of her neck.

"I miss you, too. Sleep tight, okay?"

"You as well, Amu." With the sound of the click, the line went dead. Amu closed her phone and returned to her bedroom.

Amu walked down the sidewalk barefoot, unaware of where she was going or why she was going there. All she knew was that she walking. A white dress clung to her body. It felt as if it weighed a ton, but still felt light and airy. She looked down at herself; the dress was soaked.

"Amu!" Amu spun on her heels and almost fell until his arms wrapped around her waist and hoisted her up onto her feet. Amu pressed her hands flat against his warm chest and sighed.

"You saved me," she said. He chuckled.

"I didn't save you. I just stopped you from falling." Amu looked up at him and smiled. He still looked the same, the same person she was in love with. She stood on her tip toes and quickly pressed her lips to his. They kissed, and even though it was only a few seconds, it felt like an eternity.

So, I'm sorry this chapter is so short. But there will be more next. And I'm sorry about the long update—I was stuck with this chapter.

Anyways, R&R!