Author's Note: I must say I'm actually surprised that I'm getting somewhat close to an end here...of course not soon, but getting there. It's crazy! lol I hope you enjoy this little chapter. This is where Ikuto starts to come to terms with his feelings. he he

Rating: T

Dedication: Witchgirl1590 and I love athrun for your reviews. I love athrun- I love the support from the beginning and Witchgirl1590, if I didn't know any better, I'd think that you are a Kairi fan. he he

Chapter 20: Spilled Milk

Hotaru and Ikuto were currently walking home, the two engrossed in a small conversation. School had just ended and it was obvious that the good weather was going to occur for awhile.

"So, you skate professionally when contests enter the area?"

Hotaru nods her head, her shoulder bag bumping against her thigh, a book in her arms.

"Yes…Honestly, I love to skate but I could do without the paparazzi following me every time I win the gold."

Ikuto chuckles, obviously amused by the girl's chagrin expression. It was apparent that she detested the publicity. Yoru suddenly plops onto Ikuto's shoulder, the little feline seeming troubled.

"Ikuto…A few Easter guys are heading this way. You can't be spotted with Hotaru."

Ikuto nods his head. Turning to the fragile girl, he places a smirk as he suddenly pulls her into a dark alley with him, a small gasp escaping her lips.

"Ikuto-kun, what are you-?"

Turning another corner, he pulls her into his arms, effectively shutting her up. An immense blush covers Hotaru's face at the contact, not having been this close since they reconciled after her performance, not counting the incident last week. Lifting her head up, she gives him a questioning look at the spontaneity of his actions. Noticing eyes on him, he gives that smirk that she loves so much, her words caught in her throat. Placing a small kiss to her forehead, he pulls away.

"See ya."

Hotaru, confused by the turn of events, watches him disappear from sight before returning to their original path, her hands beginning to open her book.

"Well that was odd…"

Suddenly, two arms grab around Hotaru's waist, a hand effectively clamping her mouth, Hotaru desperately struggling against the two.

"Let me-!"

She can only let out a small scream as they pull her away, her book falling to the ground, forgotten.

Ikuto's ears had barely managed to pick up a small scream, the sound causing his blood to run cold. He turns his head to Yoru, a question in both of their minds.

"You don't think…?"

"…that was Hotaru-chan?"

Ikuto hurriedly turns around, cat ears appearing on his head as he rushes back to where he had left the lavender-haired girl, his eyes catching no sight of her.

"Do you think it was in our head?"

Yoru shrugs as Ikuto turns around, suddenly halting, his eye wide. Yoru, noticing Ikuto's stopped movements turns to question him when his golden eyes catch a book on the ground. Ikuto bends down to pick it up, his eyes scanning the title.

'Didn't Hotaru have a book with her…? Is this it?'

Scanning the front for any sign that it belonged to someone, his mind hoping that against all odds that it had just been forgotten. His heart dropped though when he opened the first page, a name written in beautiful cursive along the blank paper, the ink setting fear into his mind.

'Hotaru Nikaidou…'

Amu was frowning at her phone, her text not having been responded to. Noticing Amu's distress, Tadase decides to find the source of the problem.

"Is something wrong Amu-san?"

Amu turns to him, a worried glint in her eyes.

"I texted Hotaru awhile back and she usually replies back by now, but…I haven't heard anything. I have this bad feeling in my stomach."

Tadase reaches over, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, a smile on his face.

"I'm sure that Hotaru-san is fine. Give it time, she'll reply back."

"So, what do you think?"

An older man inspects the girl before him, her eyes devoid of emotion.

"And you're sure that she has a beautiful voice? She'll have the ability to steal heart eggs?"

A woman nods her head, a smirk on her face.

"Yes, she does. She's up there along with Utau and with the new egg, it should help with the egg collecting."

The man chuckles as he swivels in his office chair, a malicious grin on his face.

"Perfect. Let's start the plan then."

"Nee-san, I'm back. You said you had something for me to do?"

A young woman, hair curling on her shoulders, adjusts her frames as she turns to her younger brother.

"Yes, Kairi. I need you to pass out some CD's that Easter is going to start producing. We're actually about to record them."

Kairi tilts his head, his confusion growing when spotting Utau sitting on a lounge chair not too far away.

'Utau isn't recording the music…?'

Turning his head, his eyes landing on the empty recording studio, a question rises in his throat, an empty feeling filling his gut.

"Um…Nee-san…Who's recording?"

Yukari turns her head to her foolish younger brother, an evil glint in her eyes as she crosses her arms across her chest.

"I do believe you should know her. You remember…."

As she speaks the door to the studio opens, Kairi's eyes widening at the sight. Instinctively, he steps forward, his hands gripping tightly, knuckles white.

"Hotaru-san?!"

Nikaidou was currently pacing the house, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. Sighing, he turns his head to the door before beginning to pace once more.

'Where is she? She's never this late…'

Hotaru hadn't returned home yet and he was starting to get worried. He had tried reaching her on her cell phone, but it kept going straight to voicemail. Hearing the door begin to squeak, he turns to it happily, ready to chastise his younger sister when blue hair appears first. His yell dies in his throat as Ikuto pokes his head in, and upon noticing Nikaidou waiting by the door, curses to himself, his frown deepening.

"Shit."

"Ikuto…Where's Hotaru?"

Ikuto sighs as he walks in, his hand closing the door behind him. Reaching into his book bag, he pulls out a book, passing it over to Nikaidou. Nikaidou takes it from him slowly, his eyes scanning over the cover.

"What does…?"

"I found that on the ground. I didn't think….I thought that they were looking for me."

Nikaidou doesn't understand what Ikuto was going on about until opening the book and finding Hotaru's name written on the first page, her handwriting as elegant as usual. Snapping his head up, fear settles into his eyes.

"What happened?"

Ikuto looks down at the ground as Yoru's eyebrows furrow.

"Yoru had spotted Easter employees headed our way, so I left Hotaru as fast as I could so they wouldn't spot us together. I had only gotten so far when I heard a small scream. When I went back, that's all I found."

Nikaidou looks down at the book, his arms limp at his side. Placing a hand on the wall beside him for support, he chokes out his worst fear.

"Easter has her…"

Somewhere downtown, the night young, is a small group of kids going on. Yells of cheer encourage the group on stage, the guitarists forgotten, all eyes on the singer. Eyes hidden behind sunglasses, clad in a tight dress, the black fabric clinging to her thin body. Hands covered in fingerless gloves, the skirt split in two, white fabric peeking out on the sides, the top tied around her neck. Stray lavender locks spill from the two braided pigtails, bangs pulling to one side as her voice echoes throughout the vicinity.

"A sparkle so dark…."

The younger ones, hands thrown in the air, cheer further when singles are thrown out to them, their fingers grabbing greedily for the compact discs. Mike in hand, the girl continues to sing, her voice sultry and mysterious, diamond ornaments on the end of each braid.

"Black Diamond…."

In the background, Kairi can only watch with a heavy heart, his eyes averting from the sight as his sister watches on in amusement.

Author's Note: I know that I'm evil for ending it this way, but let's face it, it has to be done. Sorry!!! Review please? ^-^;