Chapter 9

A Late Night Chat Game!

Amu felt funny, picking out clothes to go out to a club with…Tadase. She wanted to look good enough to grind Ikuto's gears when he saw her with someone else, but didn't want Tadase to get any ideas.

She finally found it; a black tank top with a red, tattoo-like red rose on the left side of the chest and one in the bottom corner on the right that was yellow, black sleeves from her elbows to her wrists that weren't attached to the tank top, a denim black-jean mini skirt, and some black pumps.

The skirt was awfully short and Amu almost was embarrassed to wear it. She pulled her hair back as she always did but used a black hair tie instead of her usual white one.

Amu thought she looked like a stripper and was about to change when she looked at the clock. She looked cool and that's all that mattered now and so she grabbed her purse, heading for the stairs.

It was almost impossible to run down the stairs in heels, but Amu managed it without busting her butt. "Where's Tadase?" she asked over the railing as she stood on the landing. Rima looked up from her magazine. Her honey-brown eyes were bored as ever.

"He said he's sorry, but something came up and he sent a replacement for you, whatever that means," she said. Amu didn't have time to worry about it, so she just sighed irritably and headed for her car.

Driving as fast as the speed limit allowed, Amu took out her cell phone to call Tadase. "Where are you? Who'd you send as a replacement? I have to send it in the text message!" she said. "Calm down, Hinamori-san. I sent Hiro." Tadase answered. Amu turned completely scarlet. "YOU SENT NAGEHIKO?!!" she screeched. "H-he agreed to do it, if that makes you feel any better," Tadase sounded terrified. He should be! After what he had pulled!

Amu rolled her eyes irritably and sighed. "Fine." She slid her phone shut and then back up, sending a message. She would 'accidentally' send it to Ikuto's phone when it was 'supposed' to be going to Hiro's. ((They gave Nagehiko the nick-name, 'Hiro'. Don't know why, but it was easier to spell. XP))

Ikuto knew the nick-name, so he'd defiantly show up. Hiro, meet me at Neon's usual time ;) she quickly texted. SENDING MESSAGE TO: IKUTO, the screen showed. Amu smirked. "Oops. Wrong person."

She pulled into the dark parking lot at a large building lit up with bright, colorful flashing lights. A flashing orange sign above the entrance read: Neon's Night Club!

She opened the front door and saw the bar lit with neon lights and the dance floor dimmed. People were dancing and club music played.

Amu looked around the crowd; it was dark so she couldn't see very well. Finally, she spotted Hiro in the corner of the room. He was wearing a black shirt, a jacket and some jeans. He had cut his hair to his ears, apparently and he looked like someone else. "Hiro!" she said, wading through people towards him.

"Hinamori," he said when Amu finally made her way back. "I am really sorry about this; it's just that Ikuto's been cheating on me. I want to give him a taste of his own medicine. Do what you need to, but make it convincing." Amu said. Hiro nodded and led her to the dance floor. "Nice hair cut." Amu commented.

Hiro and Amu felt a little weird when they started dancing but Amu had to tell herself in her head to deal with it. She had to get her point across. Hiro put his hands around her small waist and Amu put her arms on his shoulders. "So, what happened?" Hiro asked.

He twirled her around once and then the started staying in one place. "I was at Easter yesterday and I saw him with his secretary in his office. She asked him if a kiss would be 'appropriate'," she imitated Midori's light and childish voice on the last word.

"And then he says it would be fine!" Amu explained, outraged. "Well, you have every right to be upset." Hiro said. "Here he is," Amu turned at the words Hiro said.

Ikuto came fumingly into the night club mentioned in the text Amu had accidentally sent to him. He was ready to get her back. Then, he stopped cold in his tracks. There was his brother and Amu, their bodies pressed against each other, kissing!!!

It was dark, but Ikuto knew his brother anywhere. Amu must've thought it was Nagehiko in this dim light. Now he was going to kill someone. (*cough* Len *cough*) "Why that son of a—!!!"

Before Amu knew what had happened, on the sudden surprise of what Hiro had said, she found herself kissing him. "He doesn't look too happy," Hiro whispered. "That's good," Amu replied. Ikuto came up furiously and took Amu around her waist and stood protectively in front of her.

"What the hell do you think your doing, Len?!!" Ikuto shouted. "Len…?" Amu said confusedly. She looked up over Ikuto's shoulders and got a better look at 'Hiro'. It was Len!!

"Why are you here with HIM!?" Ikuto asked Amu. "I-I didn't know it was—" "She didn't know it was me; she came here to hang out with her friend for a while and I said I'd take Hiro's place. I told him to tell her I was him so I could talk to her. I was the one who kissed her when you walked in." Len cut Amu off.

"Is that true, Amu?" Ikuto asked. Amu looked uncertainly at Len. "I don't—" "Rest assured, Amu wouldn't cheat on you. She was upset and wanted to get her mind off of it. Don't all college students go to clubs when they want to forget schoolwork?" Len cut her off again.

"Stay away from Amu," Ikuto told him coldly. "Ikuto he—" Amu couldn't get a damn word out!! Len shook his head. "No; it's all right," he said, walking by Amu. "I want you to know I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand with those guys the other day in the alley. I told them not to hurt you." he whispered as he went by.

Amu's eyes widened in pure shock. "Amu, what's the matter?" She went pale and felt light headed. That couldn't be right. Len wouldn't have men do that to her, would he? It was too much to take in. Amu felt her head spin and she went crashing to the floor; several people gasping and shouting as she did. Everything went black.

Ikuto caught her from behind and shouted, "Someone call and ambulance!"

The paramedic looked Amu over. "Her body's just having some after shock to the tests that were run on it a few days ago. If she was on nerve medicine, then something completely overwhelmed her and sent her body into shock after overcoming the nerve medicine. Has anything happened to send her into anger or stress lately after the incident?" he asked Ikuto.

Ikuto looked at Amu on the ambulance's bed. They were gong to give them a ride back to Tokyo U. "Yeah, something big did happen yesterday." he said, remembering Amu getting the wrong idea of him and Midori.

"Don't worry; I can take her from here," Ikuto reassured the paramedics, picking Amu up bridal style carefully and carrying her across the grass. He had to be careful not run into any trees or bushes.

He sat her down on her bed and covered her up. He couldn't leave; his car was still at Neon's. He sighed and leaned against the side of the bed.

Amu woke him up by shivering like crazy in the middle of the night. Was she really that stressed? Ikuto looked at her and then got under the blanket, pulling her close. She stopped trembling and buried her head against him. Ikuto held her around the back and shoulders, letting her get comfortable.

Amu went back to class the next day, hoping she hadn't fallen too behind. She avoided Len all day. She had been feeling better than she had in days as she walked to the cafeteria with Rima, Yaya, Kukai, the real Hiro, Tadase, and Kairi.

She had a salad and some water and then was off to history class. It was free period today, so she mainly sketched. She drew like Miki would…Miki, Ran, Suu. She almost began crying. Her eggs were still black and had x's over them.

Would she EVER see her Chara again? Suppose they went back? But…how would she turn herself true to who she was again? She didn't even know who she was.

It was all so confusing and Amu let her pen go where it wanted by itself. She ended up drawing all three of her Chara. She furiously closed the book and snapped her pen shut.

Ikuto had left Amu's bed before morning came, for fear she might faint again. He now sat at his desk, signing some paperwork for his father. Why was it always so boring at work? He NEVER wore any business-like clothes, and he could hardly stand waking up early.

His father had to bribe him to wear that bland tux to the awards at Tokyo University.

"Mr. Tsukiyomi," Midori stood in the door hesitantly. She had bright red curls and green eyes. "Come in," Ikuto said, looking at the papers. "I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. Was that your fiancé? She didn't look very happy with me being in here."

Ikuto had to fight going blush at the word 'fiancé'. "No, she's not my fiancé. She is my girlfriend and she thought you and I were talking about something different."

Ikuto finally finished his paperwork around noon and was free to leave. He wanted to see Amu, but he was afraid she might be in dangerous health if he was there. Maybe he should wait until she was fully recovered in a few weeks. Could he last a few weeks without his Amu, though? He would have to push through it for her.

Amu sat in the armchair, her legs folded beside her again as she read from Misery's Journey. She was almost finished with it. Yaya and Kukai were watching anime, Tadase was doing homework, Hiro was playing a PSP (Don't own!), Rima was reading another magazine, and Kairi was reading a book.

Why hasn't he come? He owes me an apology, but I owe him a bigger one. I kissed his brother right in front of him! That must have hurt. Is that why he won't come to see me? Is it really over?

Amu was terrified of losing Ikuto, maybe that was why she had acted so out of character to deal with the situation when she thought she would lose him. She didn't like the idea to begin with, but it made her so angry to think about it.

The first relationship she liked and it was over before it really started. It hurt to think of Ikuto telling her something like that. Maybe she didn't want him around right now. If he did come, he'd probably just shout, "We're through!" and leave again, just like after graduation.

She wouldn't let that happen. She'd have to deal with staying away from him for a while. It would kill her to hear those words from him. She'd have to hold on. But, wouldn't it hurt her worse to not see him? No, it would hurt worse to lose him all together.

But…it would hurt her even more to see him and to be left again. "Hinamori-san?" Tadase snapped her from her hurting thoughts. "Yeah?" Amu said. "Are you going to let up on that book? You've stared at the same page for five minutes and you've been digging your nails into the sides."

Amu released her hold on the book and she marked her page before closing it and standing. "If anyone needs me, I'll be on my computer." she said, walking upstairs.

Amu checked her instant messaging account. She searched "Ikuto Tsukiyomi" and a username popped up. Bluecat22 was his user. She clicked on it and began typing a message. Her user name was Belldandy18. (Name from Oh! My Goddess! I don't own it either!)

She clicked, 'send chat request' and then waited about five minutes. A large 'Chat Request Accepted' appeared on the screen. Amu quickly typed, "Hi. Wat's up?"

A few moments later, a chat box came up saying:

Not much.

Belldandy18: R u mad at some1?

Bluecat22: No. Y?

Belldandy18: I don't kno. Just wonderin'

Bluecat22: Who r u?

Belldandy18: Y?

Bluecat22: Because. Who r u?

Belldandy18: I am Belldandy18

Bluecat22: I mean ur real name.

Belldandy18: ….0-O

Bluecat22: Will u just tell me who u r?!

Belldandy18: No

Bluecat22: Y not? Amu

Belldandy18: ???? How the frick do u kno?!!

Bluecat22: I'm lookin at u rite now.

Amu quickly stood and ran for the window. A small 'ding' letting her know she had a new message sounded from her computer.

Bluecat22: Not there. U have 2 look harder.

Belldandy18: Wat is ur problem Ikuto?!

Bluecat22: Don't u kno a game wen u play 1?

Belldandy18: I don't kno if I like this game!

Bluecat22: Come out and u can find me.

Belldandy18: R u sure ur Ikuto?

Bluecat22: I can prove it.

Belldandy18: Then do it.

Bluecat18: Ur little sister's name is Ami and u let me stay with u wen we were kids. Plus, u wear strawberry undies.

Belldandy18: SICKO!

Bluecat22: So I guessed rite on the underwear?

Belldandy18: U r an idiot! Pedophile!

Bluecat22: Ur so mean

Belldandy18: serves u rite!

Bluecat22: I AM Ikuto and I want 2 play a game.

Belldandy18: u really r a cat.

Bluecat22: dat wat the screen says.

Belldandy18: fine. I play

Bluecat22: Good. Go outside & look 4 me.

Belldandy18: K.

Bluecat22: If u find me, u get a prize

Belldandy18: I don't like sound of that

Amu pulled on a sweater and headed down stairs. She opened the front door, seeing that everyone was asleep. She stepped out into the night, listening for any sounds and looking for any sign of light.

"Amu," Ikuto said quietly. Amu spun around after walking to the left of the sidewalk in front of all the rental houses. "Not there," he said lowly again.

Amu turned the other way. She almost jumped when tow hands slid over her eyes. "Guess who," Ikuto whispered. Amu smiled and said, "Ikuto,"

How are you liking it so far? I am writing faster than I ever have, coming up with more ideas. I have a real plot for this story and I hope you can all continue reading it. I am working hard and I want you all to enjoy it.

By the way…STOP sending requests for romance and stop telling me to kill off Len! I had her dump a milkshake on him, didn't I?!! As for the romance, there will be some more, so chill!! I will start putting it in there in the next chapter. You'll have to wait a little while before we find out what Amu's prize is.*Laughs evilly* Amu: I don't WANT to know what she has in mind.

Me: But why NOT?

Amu: Because, you might have me streak it down the road!

Me: I will NOT DO THAT!

Amu: *Sighs in relief*

Me: I won't have anything like that. U might have to kiss him, though…although that won't be the prize.

Amu: Phew. Wait…WHAT?!!

Please R&R!! And don't forget Jobrolover93's stories!