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-This is the next chapter you guys. I hope you like it. It might be a bit boring, sorry about that.

-More interesting stuff during the next chapter : ))

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-On with the Chapter!

Searching, Looking but not Finding

Ikuto was in the throne room with his family and friends, everyone but Utau and Kukai were present. It was three days after the ball, and just when they thought things would go smoothly, Amu decides to disappear and things go downhill all over again. They were talking with the king and queen, along with Yukairi and Nikaidou about the current scenario and even Musashi was there too.

"Did you not find her?" asked Aruto as he looked at Yukairi.

"No sir. I've sent informants all over town last night, no one seemed to know her or recognize her." Said Yukairi as she shook her head.

"It wont be easy looking for her if we can't even ask anyone about her whereabouts." Said Nikaidou.

"This is what happens after she's been locked up all there years." Said Kairi.

"Not to mention the fact that people think she's long gone. Dead." Stated Ikuto as he looked over the letter he was holding.

Ikuto's been reading the letter over and over again ever since last night, hoping to find some clue as to where Amu was. Sadly, there was none, but he just wouldn't give up, not until he finds her.

"Sire, finding her would be impossible at this rate." Said Nikaidou, he didn't want to admit it, but at this rate, almost every one in the palace was loosing hope.

"We don't have enough information on her. And the fact that she's a Hinamori and nobody knows it makes it even harder for us." Said Yukairi in agreement.

"We could stop first, take a break in this, and maybe she'll come back." Said Nikaidou "All of us are worn out sire, most of our men have been searching the towns for a whole two nights now."

"No! We can't stop searching." Said Rima.

"But…" protested Yukairi "We don't even know where to start looking."

"Then you can go ahead and just give up. We wont." Rima told her seriously.

"That's right~desu." Agreed Su "Amu-chan is our friend, our family, we have to find her no matter what~desu."

"You can stop if you want, but we'll keep going. We won't give up until we find Amu-chii and that's that!" exclaimed Yaya.

All were silent for a while and mainly, the royals were all surprised. They didn't know how to react to something this sudden. They've never seen people so determined before.

Nagihiko sighed and then he spoke as he looked over to the king and queen "I am truly sorry for this. None of us would have wanted this, and we would never have wanted you to have gotten involved." He stated.

"But they're all right." Stated Tsukasa with a sad smile "We shouldn't give up so easily, there's always hope."

"Please just let us continue with our search. We will no longer bother you to help if it's truly too much trouble." Said Nagihiko.

"We just want to find Amu-chan…." Stated Ran sadly.

"Things keep happening, one right after the other." Said Miki with a sigh "She never gets some kind of break. I mean, even she doesn't deserve this much pain."

"That could have been the reason she left." Said Tsukasa.

"What do you mean?" asked Tadase "If she was in pain, she could always come to us. We would all be more than happy to help her."

"That's true, but it was hard for her as well. Every time something happens to her, it involves the rest of you. She must have felt she was the one causing you all the pain and suffering." Explained Tsukasa.

"…" Ikuto stayed silent and then he suddenly started to walk out the door.

"Ikuto-kun?" asked Nagihiko as he looked at Ikuto.

"Ikuto? Where are you going?" asked Souko curiously as she looked at her son.

"I'm going to town, I'm going to look for Amu. I wont accomplish anything by just staying here." He told them. He turned around slightly to face his mother and then smiled a bit. "Don't worry, I'll be back, I'm not tired yet anyway." And then he walked out.

"Did he just…smile?" asked Yukairi shocked.

"Ah…" replied Nikaidou who was dumbfounded as well.

Tsukasa blinked a few times before his face broke into a smile "Looks like Ikuto-kun…is changing."

"Why are you all so shocked?" asked Ran curious.

"Aren't you?" asked Kairi "He never smiles like that."

"What are you talking about? He's always like that around Amu-chan." Said Miki "What's so shocking about it?"

"Has he…never smiled around other people?" asked Dia.

"Nope, no one sees Ikuto smile like that here~nya." Said Yoru.

"That's a shocker." Said Rima sarcastically. She knew why, and now she fully understood, why Ikuto was like that. After the event during the ball, who wouldn't see it?

"Now Rima-chan…" started Nagihiko with a nervous laugh.

"Well, sire, I will be going with them." Said Kairi "I'm quite sure that they'll be starting a search of their own as well."

"Yes, we'd like it if we could start our search for her as quickly as possible." Said Tadase "I want to go with them as well."

"Tadase…Kairi…." Started Aruto.

"We'll be cancelling our duties here sire, or now our only main priority is to find Amu-chan." Said Tadase firmly.

"I haven't known her long, but I highly disagree in the way she was treated and I think it's only right that she gets the happiness that she truly deserves." Said Kairi.

"We'll be taking our leave sire. We might bump into Souma-kun and Utau-chan, and we'll tell them to come back of we can. They left again this morning." Said Nagihiko.

"Alright, if this is your choice, then I will gladly accept it." Said Aruto "I wish you well, and I hope you find her."

"Oh we plan to, and we will." Said Rima.

"I'll go with them too~nya. I don't want to leave Ikuto and the others while I stay here doing nothing~nya." Said Yoru.

"Then I would like to accompany them as well." Said Musashi "May I?" he asked.

"I would like to come too." Said Tara. "This is partly my fault. I was no able to stop my family from committing such mistakes, I will be the one to atone for what they've done." She explained.

"You don't have to feel guilty Tara-chii." Said Yaya "Yaya thinks you did nothing wrong, we like you."

"That's right, you're completely innocent in this." Said Dia in agreement.

"But still, I can't just sit here and do nothing, so please, let us come with you." Said Tara as she looked at them.

"Well, we could use all the help we can get." Said Rima "Might as well let them come with us."

"Right, we can't afford to slack off now." Said Daichi with a thumbs up.

"Okay, you may go with us." Said Nagihiko with a smile "Thank you for offering to help out."

"No, we should be the ones thanking you." Said Tara with a smile. "I think that…everyone here can agree with that."

The royals smiled. They knew Tara was right, these people in front of them were the ones who changed their lives and who knows what could have happened if they never met? Things would sure be…a whole lot different.

"Go ahead and take your leave. You must hurry." Said Aruto with a smile "Bring her back."

"We will." Replied Daichi as all the others nodded.

Soon, they all left in a hurry, out of the throne room, out of the castle and into town to find Amu. Meanwhile, the royals were left inside the throne room to think about the current events that have happened.

"Hm, well things have taken their turn haven't they?" asked Aruto with a sigh.

"True, but look at it this way Aruto, your children are changing." Stated Tsukasa with a smile "Do you think it's for the worse? In my own opinion, things have taken their turn for the better."

"Yes, this was the first time…" started Souko with a caring smile.

"First time?" asked Yukairi.

"First time that…Ikuto has smiled like that." Said Souko and then she giggled "He's never smiled like before, it's been so long…"

"Yes, Ikuto…he's changed…" agreed Aruto with a smile "He would never be this worried for just anyone."

"I think that…this girl is really worth it sire. I mean, if she can make him smile like that, then she must be something." Said Nikaidou.

"Yes." Agreed Aruto with a smile "She must be very special. Tsugumu's daughter…I would have never imagined she'd still be alive."

"None of us ever did." Said Souko "Things seem to be coming at us by surprise."

"Then it would be fair to say, that it will be such joy to find and meet that girl." Said Yukairi.

"Yes, I do want to know what Ikuto finds so interesting about her." Said Aruto with a slight laugh.

"She seems like a nice girl. I got to talk to her once, such a kind girl." Said Souko with a smile.

"Sire, I hate to change the topic, but what do we do with…the other situation?" asked Yukairi.

"Other…situation?" asked Souko questioningly "Whatever do you mean?"

"I think she's talking about…Souma and Utau sire." Said Nikaidou.

"Oh…" stated Souko.

"Well…." Started Aruto "I know the other kingdom leaders might be against it, but…maybe, it would be fair to give the boy a chance and change some rules…."

"Will you really?" asked Souko, she seemed happy about that fact.

"Ikuto and Utau have been living under our rules long enough. Now, they have proven that they can make their own right choices, and I want to respect that as much as they respected our rules." Said Aruto with a smile "And maybe, I didn't see it, but I have been too hard on them."

Yukairi and Nikaidou smiled, and so did Tsukasa. As he did so, Tsukasa had one more thought that slipped in to his mind "Amu-chan, please…come back…if you don't…things might never be the same around here again…"

In the Town of Corinth

While all that was going on at the palace, Utau and Kukai had their own business to handle. "Man, Hinamori, where are you?!?" asked Kukai with a huge sigh.

"Calm down Kukai, we'll find her." Stated Utau.

"Utau…" he whined a bit, but not too much. "We've searched all the nearby piers in town, and no one's seen her. No one even knows her here."

"This is why we can't just go ahead and give up. We need to find her Kukai, all this would be for nothing if we don't." stated Utau.

"I know that, but when was she so good at hiding from everyone?" asked Kukai with a groan.

"Come on Kukai, you know what Rhythm-san said, he took her to a pier and she left." Said Utau.

"Sometimes I wonder why he didn't stop her." Said Kukai. He then remembered their conversation with Rhythm the night that Kukai went to town right after the ball…

Flashback: Night during the ball

Kukai and Utau walked briskly into town. Kukai wanted to make this quick, and he hoped that he would make it on time. He went to the markets and continued to walk on the nearly empty streets. Not such a surprise that it was empty, it was late, so most of the townsfolk were asleep to say the least.

"Kukai? What are we doing here?" asked Utau as she looked around.

"We're going to Rhythm-oniisan's place, she could have been there. I doubt she'd ask the Fujisakis for help since Ami's there." Said Kukai. "Utau, don't let go kay? Just stay with me, it's dangerous here during this time of night."

"I won't." said Utau "No need to worry."

"I don't worry too much, but it's late, dark and who knows what he can happen in the next street or alley." Said Kukai with a laugh.

"Do you really think Amu could be there?" asked Utau suddenly.

"I doubt she'd stay there for long, but something tells me that…she's definitely been there." Said Kukai seriously.

The two of them continued to walk and it didn't take long before they arrived at their destination. Kukai didn't hesitate to knock at the door, and soon, as expected, Rhythm opened it.

"Kukai? Hime-san?" asked Rhythm surprised "What brings you here?"

"I don't have much time, it's late, cold, dark and I want to get Utau home, so please just tell us what we want to know." Said Kukai.

"Okay?" asked Rhythm "What is it that you need to know?"

"Hinamori went missing tonight, missing as in no clues to wherever she's going. We can't find her and everyone's worried. I punched a guy in the face for this, so please. I know you know where she is, something tells me that you do." Said Kukai, he was panting right after. He really wanted to find Amu.

"…" Rhythm stayed silent and then he sighed.

"Please tell us, we need to find her. Ikuto's worried and so are the rest of us." Said Utau pleadingly.

"I…" Rhythm looked at the two people in front of him and spoke "She…she was here."

"Was?" asked Kukai "Where is she now?"

"That…I honestly do not know." Said Rhythm sadly "She wouldn't tell me where she was going. She begged me to take her to the nearest pier, and when we got there, she told me to leave. Amu-chan…she wouldn't tell me a thing, and she begged me to take her there, I don't even know why I did, anymore."

"She just left?!?" asked Kukai shocked.

"Yes, I have…no clue as to where she could have gone." Said Rhythm "I should have never taken her there to begin with, but she begged and she was in so much pain, there was a part of me that couldn't say no to her."

"I wonder…where she could have been?" Utau asked herself. "Is there a chance that she's still in the pier?" she asked Rhythm.

"Afraid not. I saw her…she took off as soon as I left." Stated Rhythm "As bad as it sounds, I really have no clue as to where she could have gone."

"This…is bad…" stated Kukai.

"How are we going to find her now?" asked Utau sadly.

"Some other people might have seen her, and I doubt that she went far. I'll try to ask one of the men at the pier if they can tell us where she asked them to take her." Said Rhythm "But sadly, I can't make any promises."

"Alright, we'll be here a while, we can't give up just yet." Said Kukai "Well, we'll be seeing you around Rhythm-oniisan."

"Wait, I'll give you the address on which pier I took her too. If they wont give me the information I need, then maybe you might be able to convince them." Said Rhythm.

"That's highly unlikely, but it's worth a shot. Right now we're desperate and we'll try anything." Said Kukai.

Rhythm nodded. He took a piece of paper and jotted down the address, he knew that people and workers from the pier respected others and they wouldn't give out information for free especially if they were told not to, but this case is different and Amu needs to be found no matter what.

"Here, just go there and tell them I sent you." Said Rhythm.

"We will." Said Kukai "Thanks a lot."

"I should be the one thanking you Kukai." He told them "Now, I'll be trying my best to look for her too."

"Sure thing, we really appreciate that, thanks." Said Kukai.

"We better get going now Kukai, it's getting rather dark, too dark." Said Utau as she looked at her surroundings.

"Right, see you soon. Tell us if you see her okay?" said Kukai as he and Utua started to walk away.

"I will…" said Rhythm silently. He only hoped that they'd find her, before it's all too late.

End of Flashback

Since then, Utau and Kukai have been going to the pier that Rhythm told them about, but none of the men there seemed to know Amu. They said that there was one of them who still hasn't come back from his trip, and it's been two days since he took off.

"That man that their speaking off could be the guy that took Amu somewhere else." Said Utau.

"Yeah, but he's not there yet. That's why we kept checking on other places remember?" asked Kukai.

"That's true, but we can check today can't we? He might not have been there yesterday, but today's a new day." Said Utau with a smile "Come on Kukai."

"Okay, but let's not get our hopes too high up." Said Kukai.

The two of them walked briskly to the pier, they've been walking from one place to another for the past two days since Amu went missing and until Kukai had to take Utau home, so they were used to getting tired and their feet hurting so bad it would go numb.

As they arrived at the pier, there was one man there, one they've never encountered before. Kukai had his hopes up with this man, he was rather old, and he had wrinkles already, but he still seemed strong, seeing as he can still pilot boats.

"Sir? Excuse me?" asked Kukai as he and Utau got near the old man.

"Yes? What is it boy?" the man asked kindly.

"Well, we've been coming back here and we were wondering…we haven't seen you yesterday." Started Kukai "You see sir, we're kind of looking for someone and hoped that you could help us out."

"Hm, oh now I know you. You're one of those Souma kids. I usually eat down there at your place." The man told them.

"Thank you." Said Kukai with a smile.

"Now, what is it that I can help you with?" he asked.

"Well, a friend of ours is missing, she happened to have taken a boat somewhere…" started Kukai "She was here about a few nights ago. Did you happen to see her around here?" he asked.

The old man looked at Kukai for a while and then spoke "What did she look like boy?"

"She's a little smaller than me, but not too small. Then she has these gold eyes and pink hair to match." Said Kukai.

"Hmm…." The old man seemed to think things over for a while before he replied "I think I did have a customer like that, was she your age?" he asked Kukai.

"She could look my age. But she's actually a year younger than me." Kukai explained to the old man. "We haven't seen her since two nights ago and we're really worried, if you were the one who took her somewhere, can you tell us about it?"

"She ran away?" asked the old man.

"Well, something like that, but…we didn't know about it. You can say someone scammed her." Said Kukai and then he spoke again "We really need to know where she went."

"I would love to help you boy, but…I can't just tell other people about other's information. Especially if it's personal." Said the old man sadly "But if it helps, yes she was here, that girl you're talking about, and it was me who took her."

"Can't you give us a hint or something?" asked Kukai. Just when he's finally got a clue, he can't get a full story.

"I really want to." Said the old man, but how do I know that you're really related to her? She told me a bit about what happened. She seemed to be lonely."

"She is, was…I don't know…but we really are friends." Said Kukai "Please trust me."

"…" the old man stayed silent, there was a part of him that wanted to believe Kukai, but he also respected Amu's privacy, he needed to be sure.

"Excuse me sir?" Utau decided to step in.

The man looked at Utau shocked and then he bowed "Princess, a pleasure to see you here."

"You too kind sir." Said Utau with a smile and then she turned to face the man and spoke "May I know, are you familiar with the name Hinamori?" she asked kindly.

The old man's eyes widened "Y-yes, I actually am familiar with it. Tsugumu…he used to take his daughter here a lot when she was just a little girl. I would always be the one to accompany them."

"I see…did you know what happened to the Hinamoris?" asked Utau kindly.

"Well, I've heard rumors. It's been years now, since someone's asked me about them. I heard about the death of Tsugumu, and then…what happened to his two daughters…" the man's voice trailed off.

"Did you believe it?" asked Utau curiously.

"I didn't know what to believe any more…." Admitted the man. "Why ask all this princess?" he asked Utau.

"Sir, I don't know if you'll even believe me, but…that girl…Amu, she's Tsugumu's eldest daughter…she…she isn't dead…" said Utau.

"E-excuse me?" asked the man shocked.

"She's alive and…she needs to be found. We miss her, she's been lonely because of her step family. Now, we have no idea where she is, and we want to find her, to tell her that everything's going to be fine now." Said Utau.

"…" the man stayed silent as he continued to listen.

"The Fujisakis…they have Ami Hinamori, the youngest daughter." Stated Kukai as he joined in their conversation.

"Please sir, we need you to tell us where she is. My brother is worried sick about her." Said Utau. "You need to take us to her."

"Please?" asked Kukai.

The man looked at them both, and he knew that they weren't kidding. The old man sighed and spoke "It truly is a hard story to believe. I was distressed when I heard those rumors spread throughout the kingdom, but…I know that you wouldn't make something like this up princess…"

"Will you tell us?" asked Utau.

"Alright, I will tell you where she wanted to be taken, and what she told me. All I know of this, I will tell you." He told them.

"Thank you so much!" said Utau happily.

Kukai and Utau soon left the pier as soon as they got the full story. Utau thanked the man once again and soon, she and Kukai left. They walked back to the Souma household and Kukai spoke.

"Man, you are such a big influence on people." Said Kukai with a laugh "They do anything you tell them don't they?"

"Hm, I wouldn't say that." Said Utau with a light smile "He really seemed to know what he was talking about, and you can't blame him for wanting to respect Amu's privacy, he did say she told him not to tell anyone."

"So, Hinamori made it until the next neighboring town eh?" said Kukai.

"It would seem so." Said Utau with a sigh "I do hope she's alright."

"If she did make it that far…then we should hurry." Said Kukai "I want to make sure she stays in that town…who knows where she could be now?"

"We have to make sure she doesn't leave anymore." Said Utau.

"It'll be more complicated and harder if she does." Said Kukai "This is our chance to find her and we have to take it."

"I know…we better hurry now." Suggested Utau as she started to pick up her paste.

"Where are you going? What's with the quick paste?" Kukai started to pick up his own paste and walk faster.

"I have to tell Ikuto, quickly now Kukai!" Utau told him as she started to pull him with her.

"Okay, okay already! Calm down!" Kukai laughed at her a bit, but he wasn't making fun of her.

The two of them more like ran to the Souma residence now. Utau was about to barge into the door of the household when she noticed a tall blue haired boy outside the restaurant. Utau slowed her walk and then she recognized the person immediately.

"Ikuto? What are you doing here?" she asked her brother as she approached him.

"Utau." Stated Ikuto.

Utau stared at Ikuto and then she soon asked "Are you alone? What are you doing? Ikuto?" she asked him.

"I need to find Amu." Ikuto was still holding the letter Amu had written to him and he wasn't letting it go. "I have to find her."

"Ikuto…" Utau's face suddenly broke into a smile. She hugged Ikuto and spoke "We know Ikuto, we know where she is!"

Ikuto's eyes widened and then he asked "Are you serious?!?"

"Would I be joking?" asked Utau with a grin. "You better hurry though…" she told him suddenly.

"Where? When? How? Utau…" said Ikuto, he didn't even know where to start asking. "You have to…" he was about to say more when Utau cut him off.

"Enough Ikuto, you have to go after her, and as I said, you better hurry." Said Utau "Come, we'll take you there quickly." Utau looked at Kukai and nodded.

"Wha??? We have to run again?!?" Kukai was panting hard and he just smiled 'Alright, this is how you guys want to do it? Fine."

"Huh?" asked Utau confused.

"3, 2, 1…DASH!!!" Kukai started running and Utau and Ikuto…well they were doing their best to keep up…

"Kukai!!!!" yelled Utau.

With Kukai's running, it didn't take long to go back to the pier. Utau and Ikuto were the one's panting hard now. They didn't know how Kukai could keep up with that kind of speed.

"Alright!!! That's what I'm talking about!" said Kukai while laughing. He looked at Utau and Ikuto and spoke "You two alright?"

"Kukai…*pant* I *pant* hate *pant* you *pant*." Said Utau.

"Curse you Souma." Said Ikuto, and he was panting as well.

"I know right?" teased Kukai.

Kukai and Utau took Ikuto to the man that they talked to just a while ago. The man immediately recognized them. They approached the man and Utau spoke.

"Good day to you again kind sir." She told him.

"A princess, you've returned once more." Said the man. "What brings you here? Is there something you needed?" he asked.

"Well, I was wondering if you could take someone to the place you took Amu to." Said Utau.

"Oh…who?" asked the man.

Ikuto suddenly showed up behind Utau and spoke "That would be me sir. I don't mean to be a bother, but I have to find Amu."

"Highness…I would be honored." Said the man.

Ikuto thanked the man and then he went over to Utau. "How did you know about this?"he asked her.

"Simple, Rhythm-san was the one who took her here." Said Utau with a shrug "No one else knew where she went and when we saw the man, he told us about it."

"Where's Amu then?" asked Ikuto.

"She went to a neighboring town. It's just a few hours here through boat ride." Said Utau. "You have to hurry, we'll stay here okay?"

"Why the hurry?" asked Ikuto.

"She went there two nights ago remember? Who knows if she decides to leave for somewhere else Ikuto? That's why." Said Utau.

"We'll tell the king and queen where you're going." Said Kukai and then he looked at Ikuto seriously "Just bring her back."

"We'll tell the others about it too. No time for you to waste your time here now Ikuto." Said Utau "Now get on that boat and leave."

"I will." Said Ikuto then looked over to Kukai and spoke "Listen here Souma, I'll be leaving Utau with you. If something happens to her…"
"I know, let me guess, you're going to hunt me down, and then when you find me, you're going to break me from limb to limb until I can't feel anything." Said Kukai.

"I was going to say I'd never forgive you…but that's a good idea too. Breaking you limb to limb sounds nice." Said Ikuto with a grin.

"Alright, that's enough." Said Utau "Stop this."

"Well, I better get going." Said Ikuto.

"The boat is ready highness." Said the man as he approached Ikuto.

"I'll see you guys around then." Said Ikuto "I will find her, I won't come back until I do." He said with a smile.

"I know. Good luck Ikuto, take care of yourself." Said Utau "And come back with Amu soon."

"See you around Tsukiyomi." Said Kukai.

Ikuto got on the boat, and he waved goodbye. The small boat that he was in didn't even make him feel uncomfortable. He didn't feel anything, he had one goal. He was going to find Amu, no matter what happens. He was heading to some unknown town, he had no idea where he was going, but he didn't care.

"Amu…I will find you…I'm about to get there…wait for me." Thought Ikuto as he looked at the wide vast sea around him, with a ship setting sail to Amu's, hopefully Amu's destination.

Authors Note: And there you have it! I finished just in time too!!! Now I need to go to bed! Please Review and tell me what you think of this chapter. Thanks guys : ))