Chapter 12

Amu sighed contently, setting a plate of cookies on the table for Yoru and Miki before she slid into a chair next to Rima. Their card game was now paused seeing as how Utau suddenly ran to the washroom.

Ever since Ikuto left, Yoru had done nothing but mope around all day, which is why Miki was visiting. With Yoru finally happy once again and busy playing video games with his friend, it freed up time for Amu to hang out with the girls.

Stealing a glance at the female beside her, Rima rested her chin in her palm, elbow on the table. What had her stumped was how to tell Amu that she knew of her little secret. Really, how could one bring up such a topic? 'Hey, I know who your baby-daddy is' just didn't seem like the right way.

Usually Rima knew what to say and when to say it. However, this was new to her. It also surprised her how nobody else had figured it out. And she'd know if others knew, 'cause they wouldn't be able to keep their mouths shut. Especially Utau, being the gossip queen she is.

The blond's eyebrows slanted downwards. Perhaps that's why Amu didn't tell anyone. She didn't want to risk the word getting out and spreading all across Asia.

"...with Nagi?"

Rima zoned back in and apologized. "What was that?"

Amu chuckled at the behavior. It wasn't common for Rima to daydream. "I asked you how your date was with Nagi." She repeated.

The blond looked away again to hide her blush. "Oh, that." She spoke as if it was nothing. Shrugging, she replied, "It was fine. That was like.. days ago. Why are you wondering all of a sudden?"

"Just 'cause this is the only opportunity I've had to ask. I mean, the last time I saw you was last week at poker night." Amu replied, wondering why Rima was suspicious all of a sudden.

Slanting her eyes at the pinkette, Rima slowly nodded. "Okay..."

"Are you okay, Rima? You've been acting weird all day." Amu commented, feeling the blond's forehead with the back of her hand, much to Rima's annoyance. She didn't have a fever, she could've just told her that instead.

Rima sighed deeply, lifting up her glass and examining it. "I uh... I know about Ikuto." She spoke in a voice quiet enough for no one else to hear. After the words were said, there was silence, despite the occasional yell from Yoru or Miki.

"You know...? Oh, that he left?" Amu questioned before nodding. "Yeah, he did... but I thought everyone knew that already. Guess I was wrong. That's shocking, though, since news tends to get around really quickly around he-"

"No, Amu. I know..." Rima hushed her voice once again, moving closer to Amu. "I know that you and Ikuto were... involved at sometime in the past." She stated slowly, hoping the pinkette would be able to understand what she was trying to get at.

Still, the girl kept her mouth zipped tightly shut and it didn't look like she was going to speak anytime soon.

Sighing again, Rima rolled her eyes. Rip it off quickly like a band-aid. "I know Ikuto is Yoru's father."

It hit Amu like a boulder. How could she know? Was it the way she was acting while around him? Nonetheless, she forced a laugh, ignoring the fact that her heartbeat was echoing in her ears. "I-I don't know what you're talking ab- give me that." She reached for the glass of water, immediately downing it. "How did you find out?"

Rima shrugged. "How did I not find out sooner?" She retorted. "I mean, now that I know, it's pretty obvious when I look back on it. They do things the same way, they look identical – except for the eyes - but they even walk the same – you know, that certain cat-like strut."

The pinkette groaned and buried her face in her hands. Clearly her plan to not let anyone know of that small fact had failed.

"Wait a minute..." Rima began slowly. "Ikuto doesn't know, does he?"

Amu shook her head. "What was I suppose to tell him? In his perspective, I'm someone he just met. If I suddenly whipped around and said, 'Oh, I know I just met you, but this is your son that was conceived before your memory loss, so that's why you don't know either of us.' Yeah, somehow I don't think that would end up all that great."

Before any more words were shared, Utau burst through the bathroom door, rolling up her sleeves. She whistled and sat down. "That was a big one."

Rima and Amu groaned. They didn't want to know what she was talking about. Though they had a pretty good guess, anyway.

"Where were we?" Utau asked, mainly to herself as she scanned her cards. "Oh, right! I was pwning your guys' asses!"

Yoru suddenly walked up to the table, grabbed a cookie and sat on Amu's lap, sulking. "Miki cheated." He mumbled grouchily.

"Just because I won, doesn't mean I cheated. Duhh." Miki commented before folding her arms, standing beside the table.

Yoru just shoved a cookie into her mouth as a response in hopes it would keep her quiet for a few minutes.

Amu's smile slowly faded. Yoru was so much happier with Ikuto around. Now he was nothing but either silent or cranky. When he gave the silent treatment, it was scary how much he reminded her of Ikuto.

Ikuto...

When nighttime came around, Utau had managed to drink herself senseless after Yoru had gone to sleep and Miki went home. Rima just sat on the armchair with a magazine while Amu did the dishes.

Scrubbing at a plate, she found her thoughts once again turning to Ikuto. More specifically, to that one poker night when he insisted on helping her with the dishes. She could still remember the tingling feeling she got when she brushed hands with him.

Amu drained the water from the sink and dried her hands on a nearby towel before taking the stack of freshly washed cups. Walking to the cupboard on the other side of the small kitchen, she once again had to stand on her tiptoes to try to reach it. At her last resort, she climbed on top of the counter and shoved the cups into the cupboard.

Walking into the living room, Amu's eyes lingered on the couch. The couch Tsukasa put the passed-out Ikuto on when he first arrived in Seiyo. That was where she had first seen him again after all those years. It made her heart ache.

She couldn't help but wonder what he was doing at that very minute.

OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH. Yeah, I know. Lame chapter and all that basically served no purpose, but NEXT CHAPTER. That's the chapter! He will remember. DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN. Heh. Sorry... I just had a sugar rush, but I'm sane now.