Author's Note: Hello everyone! I'm back earlier than usual! XD Sorry it's been taking so long, just having fun with drawing...and work. Lots and lots of work... -_-'
Rating: T
Dedication: To those who have stuck by my side and to those who have come along recently. 3
Summary: Like any popular boy, Ikuto has many girls that chase him on a daily basis besides his sister, so there's only one way, in Ikuto's mind, to stop them. Have a fake girlfriend of course!
Chapter 32: Believe
"Hotaru, are you awake?"
A soft knock emits from Hotaru's bedroom door, her brother waiting patiently for an answer. Hotaru had cried herself to sleep last night, having caught a slight fever from the cold. He sighs before going away, unsure of what to do in this situation.
Hotaru is sitting on her bed, her eyes wide in shock as Yoru knocks on her balcony door. Quick to rise, she opens it to allow the obviously shaken Chara.
"Yoru! What are you doing here? Where's Ikuto?"
Yoru's eyes are red as if he's been crying, his little paws wiping at his eyes on occasion.
"The d-director of Easter has him!"
Hotaru's eyes widen in shock, her heart beat seeming to echo in her ears.
"E-easter…caught him…?"
Yoru nods his head.
"Yes, we have to go save him or he could die! I…"
Yoru looks down, a bit saddened, almost a bit afraid as if he was in trouble.
"…I didn't want to tell you this because I was afraid you'd get mad, but…truth is…the other night…there was a weird sound…"
Hotaru nods her head, sitting down and allowing Yoru to sit on her lap for comfort. She was personally in some need for comfort as well, her hair still down since she had just woken up despite it being mid-afternoon. Her fever had caused her to sleep a lot.
Her dreams had been filled with images of Ikuto.
"When I heard the sound, I woke up to see what Ikuto was doing and he was up…with the violin in his hands…A completely black egg came from it!"
Hotaru closes her eyes in anger as she recalls Ikuto spacing out about the violin a few days ago.
'Why didn't he tell me!'
Kia and Lily float over, both pondering about the situation.
"A completely black egg?"
"It wasn't an X egg?"
Yoru shakes his head, seemingly having thought of the same thing himself.
"That egg and Ikuto character transformed together and then he took off. I don't know…"
Yoru's head lowers, his eyes watering slightly.
"Ever since we got the violin back from the head of Easter, it seems like he's in a daze. As if he's being controlled by something, nya! He gets weaker and paler every day too! At this rate he'll be killed by it!"
Hotaru's head lowers, her bangs hiding her eyes as they water up. This was all so much to take in.
"I followed him as far as I could that night, but then he started fighting with the kiddie king…"
A small gasp sounds from Hotaru's lips, her eyes widening in realization that Tadase was telling the truth.
(Flashback)
"Can I…in love…you?"
Hotaru's eyes widen. That was Ikuto's voice this time, her hand now grabbing the doorknob and opening the door. She could feel all eyes on her, her heart faltering a bit at the sight of the owner of the unknown voice.
She gulps.
"T-Tadase…kun…"
She looks between them, unsure of what to say when Tadase's voice breaks the silent.
"You…you were in on this too, Nikaidou-san?"
She could feel her heart break at the sound of the betrayal in his voice. She looks away as she nods her head, her voice low with regret.
(End Flashback)
'He said those mean things…It wasn't meant to hurt Tadase…'
Hotaru's hand comes up to grasp the Dumpty Key hanging around her neck, her eyes softening at the sight of it.
"Ikuto…gave me his Dumpty Key to assure me that he wasn't going to disappear."
All of the Chara stare at her as she seems to turn it in her hand a bit before clenching her fist. Standing up quickly, a fire seems to burn behind Hotaru's eyes.
"I will not allow him to vanish! Yoru!"
Hotaru turns to Yoru, a smile appearing on her face as he watches her in awe.
"Let's go find him."
Yoru smiles happily, a few tears straying at the corner of his eyes.
"Right, nya!"
Hotaru is jumping from roof to roof, her hair billowing behind her, wrapped in bandages, a small tuft at the end. After having changed into warmer clothes, she transformed with Kia, her ninja outfit in view.
"This way!"
Hotaru nods her head, Lily behind her, as they make another turn, the sky having already darkened to it's customary violet for the night. After making a few more turns, Hotaru finds herself faced with a familiar wall, one she hopes to not be the same as they jump over.
Memories of their laughter and the lights flash behind her eyes as she stares at the dead amusement park.
"The amusement park…"
She scans the area, her mind wary of her surroundings. People were everywhere despite the park having been abandoned.
"Why are there so many people here?"
Lily's eyes harden.
"All of their heart eggs have been stolen."
Hotaru's head snaps up as a cold feeling runs down her spine, her head turning to her right. There, on top of the carousel, is none other than Ikuto, a glowing black egg in his hand.
"Ikuto!"
Yoru's voice shouts out.
"There's that black egg again!"
Hotaru's eyes scan it, her pupils shaking as if scared.
'Is that a new Chara egg? Why…does it feel like it's alive?'
Taking a step forward, Hotaru draws a kunai, holding it up, ready for any attack. Her heart clenches as Ikuto's voice sounds out, the lack of emotion behind it hurting her.
"My heart. Unlock."
Hotaru watches in shock as Ikuto Character Transforms with the black egg, his clothes changing drastically. A long, fur-lined, coat appears on his body, a suit underneath, a intimidating scythe appearing in his gloved hands.
Hotaru takes a step back warily.
"I-Ikuto…"
Ikuto is quick to move forward, his arms rising the blade only to try and slice Hotaru. Hotaru is quick on her feet though as she jumps back, dodging the attack.
"He really is being controlled! How is he able to transform without the key!"
Yoru is quick to be by her side.
"That violin is sucking up his life! It's the reason why he's able to transform with that egg!"
Hotaru's mouth turns into a grimace as she turns to Ikuto, desperate to return him to normal.
"Ikuto! Pull yourself together!"
She stops to face him, her kunai raised shakingly.
"Don't you remember who I am? AH!"
She raises the kunai in time to block Ikuto, her body leaning back from his strength. Yelling, she pushes him back just in time to dodge him swinging at her once more.
A loud crash causes Hotaru to freeze.
Turning around slowly, her eyes widen in shock as she sees one of the carousel horses destroyed.
'No…the amusement park…This is Ikuto's special place…'
Dodging a few more attacks, blocking another, she jumps back, her back hitting a small iron fence. As she turns to see her obstruction, she notices the ride currently behind her.
'The teacups!'
(Flashback)
"Aren't you going to ride anything?"
"No, I'm having fun just watching you."
Hotaru is a little taken back before grabbing his hand.
"C'mon, you have to ride at least one."
Though, what Hotaru and Ikuto were currently in had not exactly been her best idea. They were both a bit scrunched up in a small, spinning tea cup meant for kids. Hotaru was trying so hard not to laugh, because to her, Ikuto seemed so out of place.
"This has been wonderful."
Hotaru turns her sight off to the side, the images spinning around her. Ikuto watches her with interested eyes, waiting for her to continue.
"I never knew that parks like this could be so fun. I'm glad I finally went to one. It's such a change for me."
Ikuto leans his head into his hand.
"Things change unfortunately. Everyone becomes older, distant…This amusement park is an example. So many kids used to come here, and now it's going to disappear soon. Everything is coming to an end. Only those who really care about you notice the small differences."
Hotaru is quiet as the teacup comes to a stop, the power going out. Hotaru smiles.
"Yes, well…I don't like to think of it as an end. Change…"
She blushes as she stares intensely at Ikuto, her smile warm.
"…is a new beginning."
(End Flashback)
"Hotaru!"
Hotaru turns around, everything seeming to move slowly as she spots Ikuto heading towards her, blade illuminating from the full moon in the sky. Despite the urge in her legs to move out of the way, her heart was yelling at her to stay put.
Raising her arms defiantly, she waits, eyebrows clenched in fear as she watches Ikuto raise his scythe.
"Hotaru!"
"Nikaidou-san!"
Hotaru closes her eyes in fear only to open once more as she hears the sound of metal clashing. In front of her is Amu and Tadase, Amu standing in front of her, Tadase clashed with Ikuto.
"Amu-chan…Tadase-kun…"
She can't help but smile as relief seems to settle into her gut, the feeling of uneasiness settling in as well as she realizes that Ikuto wasn't going to stop. She hears Tadase trying to talk to Ikuto, her mind somewhat numb, her hand clenched tightly around the Dumpty key around her neck.
Amu turns to her, worry etched in her features.
"Hotaru, are you okay?"
Hotaru nods her head, offering a smile of comfort.
"Yes, I am. Thanks you guys."
"Tsukiyomi Ikuto!"
Hotaru and Amu turn to Tadase and Ikuto as they pull apart, Ikuto's hand coming up to clench his head. Hotaru steps forward.
"Ikuto-kun…"
"Can't…too close…"
Hotaru's ears pick up a faint sound, her body running cold at the noise, Ikuto's face contorting into one of pain before swinging at them, each of them barely able to dodge his attack. Hotaru steps forward, her voice filled with desperation.
"Ikuto-kun! Please! Snap out of it!"
"Geez. What childish rubbish."
All three turn to the sound of the new voice, each of them standing in shock as an older man walks towards them.
"What are you doing Ikuto? If you are going to lure out the Embryo, we need more X eggs! Don't bother with those brats!"
Tadase raises his sword, eyes defiant.
"Who are you?"
"I am Easter's Director. Hoshina Kazuomi. I'm Ikuto's step-father."
A few gasps break the silence as the man reaches into his suit coat, pulling out a small tuning fork.
"Ikuto…do I have to use it again?"
Tapping it lightly, small dark waves emit from it, the sound causing Ikuto to cover his ears in pain. Hotaru rushes over to him, worry gleaming in her emerald pupils.
"Ikuto!"
Amu and Tadase prepare for battle.
"That's what he's using to control him!"
"That's horrible!"
Kazuomi only chuckles, his laughter one filled with darkness.
"What's so horrible about it? Everything is as you see. Ikuto is happily working for Easter."
Hotaru frowns, her body a few steps away from Ikuto.
"That's a lie! I believe in Ikuto!"
More laughter.
"You believe in Ikuto?"
"Yes! That's why I'm going to save him!"
A smirk appears on Kazuomi's face as he begins to push down Hotaru's words.
"Kids like you wouldn't understand! You're filled with happy endings and useless dreams, aren't you? Believing in someone is worthless! You don't need to believe in anyone!"
"You're wrong."
Amu steps forward as Tadase does.
"Ikuto may have done some bad things but he had good intentions, besides…"
Amu turns to Hotaru, a soft smile on her face.
"…there's someone he cares about deeply that I care for."
She turns back around, her amethyst eyes hardened.
"I will not allow you to break that!"
Amu raises her heart baton as Tadase raises his royal staff. Crossing them together, a strong light begins to emit from them as they purify the X eggs. Hotaru smiles as a warm glow envelops around her.
"Even if you can live without believing…Your heart needs to feed upon it to live. The feeling of believing in someone…The feeling when you think about it…"
Hotaru's eyes lower to the key, images of when she first met Ikuto crossing her thoughts, the egg around her neck shaking a bit.
"It's so gentle…It's like a snack…but if you have too much, you'll spoil your heart…even so…You need that feeling to continue on. "
As Hotaru opens her eyes, a shining bright light appears from above, everyone looking up to see it.
Hotaru's eyes widen.
"The Embryo…?"
Author's Note: So, there is another chapter. Sorry it's been taking so long. I've just been in the mood to actually write past stories, I'm just not sure how you guys would react . XD
If you guys are up for a few memory stories like when Kairi and Hotaru first met and the full version of when Hotaru first met Ikuto and when they ran into each other again. lol
Well, Happy New Year to you guys~! :D