-18- Sacrifice

Her words seemed to repeat themselves over and over in his mind. He gazed at her. The mermaid and even the third treasure, Ikuto processed, can it really be, the locket is already showing Amu the way to the seventh treasure….

"COVER YOUR EARS," he heard Amu shout besides him which snapped him out of his thoughts.

"DON'T LISTEN TO THE MELODY," Amu shouted desperately, knowing that the moment any-one of them should hear the sweet, enticing voice of the Sirens, it would be over for all of them.

Na, La, Na, La, La, Laa, La, Laa…

"Ikuto, hurry, we need to turn the ship back around…" Amu exclaimed. "Ikuto…please turn back."

"I'm not turning back," Ikuto announced sternly. He let go of Amu, "I know how dangerous it is ahead, but I have no intention of running away from it."

"You'll die," Amu uttered, feeling her own resolve weak when Ikuto had such a determined expression upon his face. "Everyone will die…you don't realise how dangerous it is?"

"I'm prepared to risk my life," Ikuto stated. "We're not turning back."

Amu stared at Ikuto; for a moment, she was unable to say anything to him. It was simply shocking, that conviction and strength to face dangers and death without any hesitation. This is a Pirate, Amu thought, they truly are scary... "Even so," Amu began, regaining her composure, "to risk your own life and to recklessly throw it away are two completely different things. It's fine to risk your life but right now, you're just going to throw it away. You're no match for the Sirens."

"How would you know without even trying?" Ikuto questioned.

"It's because you won't get the chance to fight," Amu tried to explain. "Once the melody…"

CRACKLE. Amu looked up into the sky, recognising that ear-scorching thunder. Lightning streaked above them in consecutive flashes and the entire place darkened with the forming black clouds gathering. Just like a few minutes ago with Aruto and the others, Amu remembered.

La…La, La, La, Na, La, Laa…

The melody got louder, Amu breathed, now looking straight ahead of her. "It's exactly the same," she uttered. "We're sailing towards the same rocks."

"KAIRI, steer the ship away from the left," Ikuto commanded. "Aim for the small gap…KAIRI…KAIRI…"

With his hands on the wheel, a relaxed and dazed Kairi stood staring at the black sky above. He couldn't hear Ikuto's voice anymore; only the beautiful voice of the Sirens.

"KAIRI," Ikuto shouted again, but Kairi didn't respond. "What's going on?" A perplexed Ikuto looked around him to see that the others were no different from Kairi. Nadeshiko and Nagihiko stood staring at the black sky with a dreamy look on their faces. Yoru was sleeping and Daichi slouched on the floor. "STOP FOOLING AROUND-"

"It's useless," Amu shouted over Ikuto. "I told you before to turn back because I knew this would happen. Once you're affected by the Siren's melody, it doesn't matter how strong you are, you won't be able to move at all."

Furious, Ikuto turned towards Amu, "What melody? What's going on? What happened to them?"

"It's the Siren's melody," Amu repeated, "it lulls people into relaxation and…"

"What melody?" Ikuto asked again.

"Why do you keep asking?" Amu paused, letting out a gasp with her sudden realisation. "You can't hear it…you can't hear the Siren's melody."

"Damn it," Ikuto cursed, running towards the wheel. He pushed Kairi aside who just slouched onto the floor. Ikuto tried to turn the wheel but the strength of the waves was so strong, he couldn't turn at all. "I have to do something," Ikuto told himself, but it was no use; the waves were raging, moving the ship at full speed towards the rocks. There wasn't much time before they'll smash, and with the others being useless, Ikuto couldn't do anything. "There has to be something I can do…there has to be," he told himself. He looked around at his crew, then at Amu. "You're not affected are you?"

Amu tried to move; her fingers flexed freely and she could move as she pleased. She didn't feel relaxed either. She nodded back at Ikuto. He was right, she can hear the melody but she wasn't affected. Is it because I've already heard it once…Amu wondered.

"Amu, work with me," Ikuto yelled, "We can survive this."

"What do you want me to do?" Amu asked rather anxious now, since they were getting closer and closer to the rocks.

"Can you do it?" Ikuto asked back, "Make the ship fly like you did in Barren Town."

"Fly," Amu repeated and immediately she caught onto what Ikuto was thinking. They can't control the ship on the waves but once it leaves the waves, they can control the ship in the air. Without wasting any more time, Amu materialised her umbrella and began to chant the flying spell. Slowly, the ship started to lift off from the sea.

"Faster," Ikuto commanded.

Closing her eyes, Amu concentrated on nothing but the flying spell. Lift the ship, left the ship, Amu chanted in her mind. Her breathing was heavy and she felt a weight on her body, pressing her down. Something was wrong. She had never felt this way before when chanting this spell. The abnormal weight on her body was somehow distracting her. She couldn't concentrate.

Ikuto watched as the ship was now almost completely off the sea surface. We can do this, Ikuto told himself, as the ship slowly flew over the rocks.

"Ikuto I can't any longer..." Amu screamed from a sudden shock within her body. Her spell broke and the ship dropped back onto the raging waves.

A strong vibration through the entire ship sent Ikuto and Amu to the floor. The sharp rocks had pierced through the wood, ripping the entire end of the ship apart from the front that managed to just land back on water. Ikuto got back up. Even with all the tremor, those affected by the melody he can't even hear, didn't move. They were still in a dream-like state. That wasn't his main worry though. The waves were still strong and it was carrying the ship towards the other rocks ahead.

"Amu, can you…"

"I'm sorry…" Amu breathed with difficulty, "I don't think I can make the ship fly another time." Something is preventing magic, Amu thought, and to begin with, I don't have that much magic…

Ikuto bit his lips in frustration. Nothing, there was nothing he can do now. "Damn it," he cried out in anger, clenching his fists, "why…if that man can survive this, why couldn't I too…?"

Amu watched Ikuto, somehow understanding how he felt. He was the captain of this ship and there was nothing he can do to save his crew. CRACK. Amu was suddenly tossed to a side as part of the remaining ship crashed against a rock. The ship didn't stop shaking and it was slowly flipping over from colliding into another rock.

"YORU," Amu heard Ikuto shout.

In front of Amu, a sleeping Yoru was sliding off the ship. Moving fast, Amu just managed to clutch onto him before he dropped into the rampant sea. Ikuto quickly grabbed both Amu and Yoru, pulling them away from the broken edge of the ship.

"Ikuto," Amu whispered.

Ikuto didn't respond. He just held onto Yoru. "If he can survive this…so can I…"

He hasn't given up yet, Amu realised, sensing his will to fight on.

SMASH. The ship almost flipped again, bumping into another rock. Blood sprayed out of Nagihiko's mouth as his body hit back onto the ship with a loud thud.

"Nagihiko," Ikuto shouted.

"He hit the rock along with the ship," Amu gasped, seeing the blood run from an unconscious Nagihiko's mouth.

"Captain…"

Ikuto turned to look at Kairi who was still staring at the sky in a daze.

"Leave us…" Nadeshiko muttered, tears falling from her eyes. She stayed lying still though, unable to move.

"Go…" Daichi breathed.

"I won't leave any of you," Ikuto stated clearly, "he managed to survive this without sacrificing any of his crew. I can do the same. I can do what he did. I can surpass him."

Sacrifice, Amu repeated in her mind. Although she didn't know what Ikuto was talking about, he reminded her of something. Moments ago when she was on Aruto's ship, he was going to sacrifice Leira, the mermaid to the Sirens. Amu stood up, making her way towards the front of the ship. Siren's won't take human sacrifices. If it's not something magical or mythical it won't work, Aruto's words recited again in her mind. I'm a witch, I have magic inside me, only I can do this…

CRASH. The ship shook hard.

"ARGH…" Daichi cried out.

"DAICHI," Ikuto yelled but it was too late. A jagged rock had pierced into the ship through Daichi's body.

"Kid," Nadeshiko uttered weakly.

"No," Amu cried, almost falling over again. "Nadeshiko…" she continued to cry, gripping onto her arm as the ship now split into two halves. Kairi, Nadeshiko and Amu was now on one side, Yoru and Ikuto on the other.

"Captain run…" both Nadeshiko and Kairi spoke.

Ikuto didn't move or respond. He just kept staring at Daichi's lifeless body stuck on the rock.

Amu wiped away her tears, holding tightly onto her rubicund umbrella. "Ikuto," she shouted, "it doesn't matter how many survive, as long as at least one of you survives."

Ikuto looked at Amu, his mind blank.

"You were right all along," Amu slowly said, "I don't want to see any one of you die. So I'm prepared to risk my own life."

"Amu," Ikuto uttered, a bad feeling washing over him. "What are you…?"

"I'm sorry, I should've done this earlier," Amu apologised with a teary smile on her face. "Live on." She closed her eyes. Sorry Dia, I have to break my promise with you, Amu whispered in her mind. I can't let any of them die. I just can't. I don't know why but I want to save them. Dia, do your best and win the Magic Duello. I know you can. "SIRENS," Amu shouted, opening her eyes again, "LET THEM LIVE." Amu placed the umbrella before her chest, "in return, take me, my blood and my magic."

"Witch…" Nadeshiko called out, trying to move with no success.

"Sacrificing yourself…." Kairi muttered, watching Amu.

"DON'T YOU DARE," Ikuto yelled from the other side of the ship. He placed Yoru safely to the side.

"Live on and…be kinder Ikuto," Amu said with a smile before pushing the umbrella into her chest. The sharp metal tip impaled her flesh, stopping her heart and her body fell into the wild sea.

"AMU," Ikuto shouted, running towards the edge. He watched, as soon as her body was submerged by the sea, her blood dyed the water a deep red. The raging waves immediately stopped and the broken ships finally remained stable. The storm was over. "Why?" Ikuto kept asking, "Why did you do that?" Unknowingly, his hand clutched onto the splintered wood of the ship; the pain however, wasn't able to draw his attention away from Amu. He only kept staring at the empty sea water, which like a mirror reflected her face. Just like her, Ikuto thought, the watery image of Amu's dead body somehow merging with another image of a precious girl he once lost. Doing the exact same thing as her… Ikuto punched the wood with a fist. He was frustrated, angry and in pain. "I'm not going to let another person save me," Ikuto hissed, biting hard into his lips, "she will always be the first and the last to save me with her life. I'm not going to let you do the same, Amu."

Without another seconds thought, Ikuto jumped off the broken ship. Instantly, the icy sensation of the sea pierced through him as his body dove deeper into its chilling depth. Amu…Ikuto kept shouting in his mind as he swam towards her. Reaching out before him, he grasped hold of her hand, drawing her towards him. As he pulled the umbrella from her chest, he held her face close, pressing his lips upon hers. Breathe…Amu, breathe…. Ikuto kept thinking. Don't you dare die when I haven't told you to... Wrapping his arms around her waist, Ikuto swam towards the surface. The moment he broke free from the sea, he took in a huge breath of air, still embracing Amu's lifeless body close to his. "Wake up," Ikuto said, out of breath. He shook Amu in his arms, gently slapping her face. "Wake up Amu," Ikuto ordered again.

She didn't respond. Her eyes remained closed, her body cold and her skin a ghostly colour. "WAKE UP," Ikuto shouted, his hand caressing her emotionless face. "You're not allowed to die, do you hear me? Wake up Amu." Ikuto rested his head on Amu's. "Why…why did you go and do such a foolish thing? Answer me Amu." He took in another deep breath, his voice calmer than before, "always, you prove me wrong. Doing things to show me that witches aren't all bad, showing me that you're more human than a witch…why?" Ikuto held onto Amu tighter, "why are you acting like a brave princess trying to save the world. You're not her. So why… Why do you keep reminding me of her, bringing back all these painful memories? Answer me Amu." His breathing was beginning to get heavy, his heart beating slower. Ikuto closed his eyes, "You're not a sacrifice, Amu. I will never, allow myself to owe a witch like this. I'm prepared to die here too." Sorry Yoru, everyone else, Ikuto thought, as he allowed the cold water to freeze his senses and numb his body.

"This is the second time…"

Ikuto opened his eyes, hearing a hoarse voice boom around them. He stared as a huge shadow loomed over. There's more than one, Ikuto thought as he slowly made out the bird-like creatures circling around in the sky. Those are….

"This is the second time someone has tried to save a sacrifice," one of the creatures sounded, landing on a rock right besides Ikuto.

"Sirens," Ikuto confirmed. Just as the legends told; a beautiful head of a women, but the body of a bird, with wings and scaly feet, this was a Siren – the creature that lured sailors to their deaths.

"Is he the one?" another Siren questioned from behind Ikuto.

Without Ikuto even noticing, he was already surrounded by these creatures. Some still circled in the sky, many now perched on the rocks and wrecked parts that remained of the ships.

"I was wondering who else in this world would try to save a sacrifice," a more elderly looking Siren spoke up, flying to peer over Ikuto. "So, it's you again Aruto."

Aruto…Ikuto gasped at the name.

"Oh, it's Aruto…." he heard the Sirens whisper around him. "He's back…"

"You haven't aged at all," the Siren standing next to the elderly one commented, "hurry up and show yourself…you miss him don't you?"

SPLASH. Still holding Amu, Ikuto moved towards a rock as something burst out from beneath the sea. A silver tail almost hit Ikuto, before he felt a cold and wet hand on his face.

"Aruto," a cheerful voice greeted. But the smile on the woman's face faded the longer she stared at Ikuto.

"I'm not Aruto," Ikuto stated.

The woman removed her hand from Ikuto's face, "Then, could you be…"

Ikuto reached for his sword still attached to his waist, ready for any sudden attacks from these creatures. Even if he was ready to die, he would always fight first.

"What do you mean he's not Aruto?" the elderly Siren questioned.

"I've spent time with Aruto. This person isn't him," the woman in the sea spoke up. She moved slightly and a silver tail surfaced briefly from the sea.

A mermaid, Ikuto noted. What is a mermaid doing here?

"You," the mermaid spoke, pointing at Ikuto, "Could you be…Aruto and Souko's son?"

Mermaid…Ikuto thought again, "the one he sacrificed thirty years ago…Leira."

A smile appeared on the mermaid's face, "you really are…you know my name. That's right, I'm Leira. Aruto's son."