"What's wrong with me?" – thought Amu. "How could I tell Nagihiko all those things?! This is so strange… He is right, though. I should talk to Ikuto. But… how?"
The phone rang.
'Amu…'
'Ikuto… I… was just… thinking of you. What is it?'
'I felt… something strange – as if… Are you all right? I called earlier and no one answered.'
'Yaya organized a party for me. But you knew that… '
'Oh, yes. I knew that. It's just that… yesterday I started having a bad feeling. It sounds silly, but I felt something was wrong with you. And it grew on me… I got worried and… all this party-thing slipped out of my mind.'
'I felt the same thing.'
'So… nothing bad happened?'
'I wish you came back as soon as possible.'
'That's why I called. I'm at the airport right now. I'm coming home.'
As he got to the front door, Ikuto saw somebody leaning against a pole in the shadow.
'Ikuto…'
'Who are you?'
'Nagihiko.'
'Oh… I guess Amu invited you to the wedding.'
'Not really. Yaya found out I was back from my tour… and she thought we should all meet.'
'I'm… under the impression that you've been waiting for me. '
'True.'
'Something's wrong, isn't it? I can feel that.'
'I need to have a talk with you. You must be right: something is strange. I don't know what it is, but Amu's behaviour is strange! The way she speaks… But I must confess that I'm not… myself, either. I can't say more. I can't explain. But… For Amu's sake, I thought I should warn you! Do whatever you need to do, just…'
'What do you mean?'
'Will you help me find out what's going on?'
'I must see Amu right now!'
'Go, then. Stay close to her!'
'Are you saying I should protect her? Against what? Or… whom?'
'I don't know yet. Maybe against herself. Or against me. Or against you. I can't tell.'
It was obvious Nagihiko was right. Amu was so quiet and troubled… And she was so… cold… when he tried to kiss her… Ikuto called Yaya and asked her where he could find Nagihiko. She took him to the opera house.
As he entered the changing room, Ikuto felt that smell that had made Amu feel so attracted to Nagihiko. Actually he found him as Nadeshiko and for a couple of seconds he thought he was a very attractive woman.
'You've come… So… things haven't changed… You've seen it… '
'Yes, I have. So I need to know what happened in my absence. Yaya, don't leave! You've been here all along, so tell me what happened!'
'I don't know… What are you talking about?'
'Yaya, try to concentrate: what did Amu do in my absence?'
'Oh, this perfume… is making me dizzy… What smells like this, Nadeshiko?'
'My costume, I guess. I found it smelling like this before the show… I thought it was nice.'
'Yes, it is very nice.'
'Actually Amu… I think she noticed it, too. But I have no idea what kind of perfume it is.'
'The perfume!' – cried Amu, appearing in the doorway. 'We must find out what it is!'
'Why?' – asked Ikuto.
'Er… Because… Well, it's beautiful, isn't it?'
'I can see in your eyes that there's something more to it… Tell us, Amu!'
'Do you think our recent behaviour has something to do with the perfume?'- asked Nagihiko.
'Maybe.'
'Then… you're right. We must find out what it is!'
'But first the two of you have some explaining to do!' – said Ikuto.