"You walked with me… & helped me understand" – Footprints in the Sand [Leona Lewis]

A week later –

Amu's P.O.V.:

I'm so happy! I giggled on the porch swing at Ikuto's house; thinking back to all that Ikuto had explained to me. It finally made sense why I always had a relaxed feeling whenever I was around him. We were friends before I lost my memory but still there was something I didn't understand…

"…why didn't he just come out and say it? We were friends… did it hurt him that much that I didn't remember anyone?" I asked to no one in particular.

I pouted; that was the only thing I didn't understand. Was there something else that he hasn't told me yet? I sat still on the swing, thinking hard of possible reasons for Ikuto taking so long to tell me we use to be friends.

Reason 1:: He was afraid.

Afraid of what, exactly?

Reason 2:: He wanted me to remember by myself.

So then why was he so angry when I didn't know about something?

I swung my feet slightly, swinging back and forth thinking hard on the subject. I nibbled a bit on my lip… I know, gross habit right?

Anyways, I nibbled a bit on my lip mumbling: "Is there something no one is telling me?"

I looked down at the picture of me and Ikuto as kids; I wanted to ask Souka about it since Ikuto wasn't going to be home. He had to go to work today… The sound of the front door opening broke through my thoughts; Utau stood looking at me confused.

"Amu? Ikuto isn't here…" She stated simply.

"W-what? I-I didn't c-come h-here to s-see I-Ikuto!" I defended.

"Oh," her purple eyes darted down to the picture in my lap, "You know… My mom won't tell you anything… Your mom made her promise not to say anything…" She explained.

My shoulders dropped; my only chance to find out anything else fell apart just like that.

"I might not have been around much before you left but I might be able to help you… if you want." She pouted, looking away glaring off into the distance.

"Yes! Please…" I begged, hugging her.

She motioned me to follow her into her car; "Where are we going?" I asked, unsure how this was helping.

"I want to show you something before I talk about the past… and besides, tell me what you think." She responded.

"Think about what?"

"Everything… Everyone… Just tell me what you remember and what you've been told."

"Well for starters, we've been neighbors since we were kids… Apparently, whenever my parents were fighting I'd always sneak out and sneak into Ikuto's room… When they divorced, I started acting out and dating," counting on my fingers, "Kukai… Kairi… Nagihiko," I sighed before I continued on: "According to Ikuto, I would always end up at his window whenever one of them broke up with me… I remember running somewhere whenever things got too much to handle… I guess it was Ikuto that I always ran to. I know that I caught you, Yaya and Rima with each of my exes," I saw Utau shiver beside me, "I'm not mad…" I added, finishing.

She pulled into one of the mall parking spots; "What's here that's suppose to help me realize what I want to know?" I asked.

"Just follow me…" She shoved a hat over my head, sliding a pair of fake glasses onto my face.

"Disguises?" I questioned as she slipped on her own disguise.

"Yeah… Pop idols can't just go anywhere anymore." She explained.

I followed her into the mall, weaving in and out of other people until she grabbed my wrist and signaled me to stay quiet. She pulled me into one of the stores; I didn't see which one but I figured it out once I was inside: It was actually a café! A cosplay café! My jaw almost dropped when I saw someone that oddly resembled Ikuto serving a group of school girls!

"Act natural." Utau hissed at me, glaring.

A waiter dressed in a butler outfit, wearing glasses approached us; "Hello Madams~" his voice sounded soothing.

"Hello." Utau greeted softly, smiling.

The waiter led us to a small table asking, "Is there something I can get you ladies?"

"Two strawberry milkshakes…" Utau held up two fingers with a smile.

The waiter left us with a bow then I looked through the menu he had left on the table, curious of what was being served here.

"Alright," I looked up to her, "What he said to you wasn't entirely wrong but there is something he left out… Something very important… It's true that you always ran to him when you were upset but the reason we all figured was that you two have a special bond that goes beyond being friends," her voice trailed off as she looked over at Ikuto who was serving a table near us, "Have you," looking at me, "ever wonder why he seems to get angry or hurt when you didn't remember things…?" She added, with a smug smirk.

My eyes widened as the question resurfaced in my mind; "You have, haven't you?" She spoke quietly.

I nodded my head as I responded, "Yeah… That still one of the things I don't understand… Please, I'm begging you tell me…"

"I can't," my gaze flashed up to her as the milkshakes were placed down in front of us, "It's something that I honestly believe Ikuto should tell you himself," my face was getting red from anger, "now wait before you start getting mad… I will however, even though I'm being outnumbered, try and get you to realize it yourself." She added, taking a sip.

Ikuto's P.O.V.:

I was heading back to get two parfaits for a table when I overheard two of my co-workers whispering to each other: "Hey… See those two girls…?"

I rolled my eyes, annoyed that they were slacking off during work; "You two better get back to work before you're caught…" I warned them as I was heading back to the table.

"Yeah yeah… Just tell us which one do you think is cuter?" One of them asked, pointing out a table in the corner.

I sighed, looking over to the sight of my little sister and Amu sitting there! My legs almost gave way as I muttered, "A-Amu…?"

I ignored any remarks my co-workers made as I crossed the room to place the orders from my table, watching them talk. What are they talking about?

"…about it… Ikuto gets upset whenever you don't remember something about him…" I listened carefully as I checked up on a table a few feet away, "Why do you think that is?" I heard her add with a smug smile.

"Maybe he's afraid…" Amu shrugged, not sounding like she even believed those words, as I was forced to go back to the kitchen.

Normal P.O.V.:

"And if he is… what does he fear when it comes to you?" Utau asked the pinkette.

"Erm… I don't know," receiving a glare that plainly said to just answer it, "Maybe he's afraid that something won't go right…?" Amu added unsure.

"Something won't go right, huh? Like what?" Utau was beginning to see that she might have been right in trying to get Amu to realize something closer to the truth.

Ikuto meanwhile was only able to catch snippets of the girls' conversation which continued on as the two sipped their milkshakes: "I don't know," Amu thought back to everything that had happened since her arrival back, "from any outsider's point-of-view… you'd think Ikuto was in love with me…" She thought out loud quietly, furrowing her eyebrows.

"In love with you, huh? Does those sort of feelings—"

"Wait Utau, if that's right then," gasps, "That explains a lot!" She added the last part a little louder than she expected to.

Amu's P.O.V.:

Could the answer really be that simple…?

As it sank in, I could help but wonder; then does this mean… I use to feel the same…?

Thump!

My hand gripped the hem of my shorts as my heart continued to pound in my chest; when did I fall in love with Ikuto?

"Amu?" I heard Utau ask as she leaned over the table toward me.

I smiled meekly before excusing myself to the bathroom; I had seen one before we entered the café. I needed some air…

Ikuto's P.O.V.:

"So how much of it did you eavesdrop on?" I heard my sister ask nonchalantly, folding her arms and watching Amu's retreating back.

"Not much… I missed the ending actual—"

"She thinks the reason you're acting like a brat is because you love her," Utau interrupted me, blurting out the whole sentence before I tensed up and reacted!

"Wai—What? She knows?" I panicked; no wonder she let here in a hurry! I need to—

"Not so fast, idiot…" My sister's death-grip on my wrist stopped me in my tracks enough so I could muttered loud enough for her to hear: "Let me go… I need to tell her,"

Her grip slacked; I ran out of the café after Amu, hoping she wouldn't be hard to find. I checked the bathrooms: no luck! I heading towards the nearest exit when I saw a flash of strawberry pink hair outside the mall; the pinkette was pacing outside the doors. As I got closer, I noticed it was Amu! Thank god!

I quietly stepped out and was about to say something when I heard: "—just go back inside and confess, Amu… Geez I'm so pathetic at times… just tell Ikuto that you l-l-l-lo-love h-h—Ugh! Why does this," swinging around and noticing me, "have… to be… so… difficult…?" Her words came out slowly before she stopped completely.

We stood apart silently before she bit her lip and asked: "How much did you hear?" turning red in the process.

"The ending, I suppose…" I replied, swallowing my fears and walking closer to her.

"Well… w-what do y-you h-have to say?" She tried her best to sound annoyed but was failing miserably especially with the pink dusting her cheeks to turn bright red.

I waited until I was a couple centimeters from her before I leaned down whispering, "I… love… you… too… Amu," before I finally kissed the lips I've been dying to feel against my own.

Author's Note: I'm so bloody sorry for EVERYONE who wanted me to finish this… &I really am sorry for the crappy and abrupt ending but this story was dying and I was feeling awful for not finishing it… ;;