Well the last chapter was … strange and DRAMATIC. Well I hope you liked it 'cuz this one will be too! Well, more dramatic, but still dramatic as a get out. Ah! I give up…

*Ikuto POV *

All I could do was stare. I couldn't move. Should I run? Yes… but it's Amu. "Think Ikuto!" Utau screamed again. Think, think, and think. Think What? What am I supposed to think?!

"Ikuto!" Utau screamed and I came back to Earth for the moment. I still stared at the ground though. "Ikuto, you didn't expect this right? You thought Amu was normal, right? Then this should be OK! She's still Amu! We don't run from you because of your ears! Think of what's inside Ikuto! THINK!" She said shaking me now. Think…

What is inside? Something in the back of my head whispered 'a blood-sucking monster' no, no! Utau spends all her time with her. She killed that thing before it got to us… 'Maybe she wants your blood to herself' then why would she wait so long. She wants me to run.

I looked up at her, she was normal again. If I'd ever be able to see her as normal again. I just stared at her. Her face faltered to a worried look. She quickly looked away. The battle went on in my head. Minutes passed, the guys were watching from the whole in the wall.

*Amu POV*

Ikuto why are you taking so long? Just run already! I need to leave here; my presence is attracting more danger than you know! I saw him looking at me and turned biting my lip. I think I looked normal there; I had been staring into space. I have to look extremely cold. He needs to run; it's the best thing for all of them.

*Utau POV *

I couldn't stand this. Ikuto loves her, I know it. Otherwise he would be long gone by now dragging me along. I had to fight with her for her to stay here and not erase my memory and it is not going to go to waste now. Amu is trying to get him to run, so she can leave. She'll have an excuse even if he changes his mind and comes back. She'll leave and we'll never see her again. It's not fair!

"AMU!" I yelled tears stinging my eyes. She turned her head back forward eyes widening in surprise. "Amu you aren't like this! We're best friends remember! I've known about this but I stayed anyways! You always make sure I'm safe! You aren't bad! You aren't a monster!" I screamed.

She just glared at me then turned away again. This must be a tough spot. She's trying to look like a monster and I'm reversing it.

"You have no idea." She said softly.

"You had a hard past, Amu. It's not your fault. And it's definitely not your fault what you are!" She looked at me again a pleading glance before turning around completely and looking at the moon.

"Besides that, you aren't like other vampires. You can go in the sun! You eat food except when you have to drink blood to survive, and even then you refuse to drink human blood and drink the blood of rats! Which must be disgusting, but you fight through it! You are a good person!" Ikuto was staring at me in disbelief. He looked at bit relieved. Good.

"Again, you have no idea!" Amu almost yelled through clenched teeth.

"You were the one who told me that there were more vampires coming after me than usual. If you leave, what would happen?"

"The reason they're coming for you is ME." She said straining.

"Well I'd rather have them coming for me than you not here!" Utau screamed. Amu turned her head, bangs over her eyes, her lips a hard line. The moon shown its ghastly light on her, outlining the streaks that sparkled down her face.

*Ikuto POV*

I watched the battle happen. Amu straining while Utau pointed out reasons for her to stay, reasons for me to let her stay. I listened to every point, wrapping my mind around it slowly. The rats were surprising. She refused to drink human blood? Amu turned around, she was crying. If she was as much of a monster as my conscious was trying to tell me, she wouldn't have the heart to cry.

If she needed to leave so much why didn't she just go? Utau…

She didn't want to leave. She should leave, but she wants to stay here with Utau. However to be with Utau she'd have to be near me too. That is what this is about. This is about ME. If I run I'll be ruining everything for her and Utau. Utau would never speak to me again. Also… if I chose to run, I-I don't think I would forgive myself either. This is when the flashbacks started.

They went through first meeting her, when she was in the 5th grade, all the times I thought about her while I was gone, all the way until after I came back. The laughter, the teasing, all of it, so clear.

*Amu POV*

I couldn't help it. I was crying just as much as Utau. My shoulders shook from holding back the sobs. I begged Utau to stop with my eyes. I couldn't take it. The thought of me having to leave made my shoulders shake more. I lowered my head and squeezed my eyes shut, begging for it to end, for him to run before I wouldn't be able to leave. I looked at Ikuto, his head rose. He stare seemed to go right through me as if searching for something. Then his eyes widened and he stood up straight.

*Utau POV*

He had finally made up his mind. He stood up straight and looked straight at her. He took a step toward her, her eyes widened and she took a step back. She covered her eyes with her bangs. Every step closer, she took a step back. He wasn't running though. HE WASN'T RUNNING! I wiped the tears off my face, feeling the smile spread as fresh tears stained my face. A small smile touched his lips.

*Ikuto POV*

Every step closer is a step back. It's like acting out my life right now. Not just my life though, my life with Amu. Every time I try to come closer there's a setback. We don't go anywhere. I smiled at this just a tiny bit. She looked at me in disbelief. I used my height as an advantage and stepped longer than her getting closer now. She shook her head slightly.

*Amu POV*

No! What is he doing! Wrong way! Go the other way! Soon he was just a foot away from me. He took another step and as I went to step back, grabbed my wrist. He leaned down a bit so he was level with my face. "Where do you think you're going, Amu." He said teasing. My mouth just fell open. I couldn't believe this. This guy has to be the most backwards, stubborn, perverted, dumb ass I have ever met! He just found out I'm a monster and he is teasing me.

"I-Ikuto?" I said unsure. I was still waiting for him to run. He just smirked.

"Surprised?" I just blinked a few times.

"We should get going now! The ball will start soon! It's already 8!" Kazuka yelled like nothing just happened.

"Its 8! That only gets me an hour to get ready! We'll meet you there Amu!" Utau yelled and ran to the street. Ikuto let go of my hand slowly.

"Bye Amu, I'll see you in an hour." I just blinked, and then puffed out my cheeks.

"Not if I hide!" I said mad. He chuckled and walked to the limo waiting for them in the front. I turned and character changed with Ran. I flew to my house deep in thought.

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Well this is kinda another cliffy… cuz now you have to wonder wat'll happen at the dance! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

YAY! Two chappies in one day! I'm proud of myself. I liked the way this overly dramatic chapter turned out. For those of you who have ready Twilight I'm sure you are seeing the connections right??? Please Review!

UNTIL NEXT TIME… AT THE BALL/DANCE THING! T.T

n.n REX ;]