Just so you know, Alren is a COMPLETELY made up character. He IS NOT Aruto. He is Ikuto's REAL father. Just clearing that up.
Chapter 13: Dear old Dad
Amu woke up and found herself in Ikuto's bed once again. She'd been having terrible dreams at night, sending her to Ikuto in her sleep. She would come in and lay down next to him. Today he wasn't there. Amu then remembered it was Saturday.
She stood up and went to her room again to get dressed. She put on the same black and pink striped sweater she always wore for casual and the same skirt. She brushed out her hair and pulled it back.
Ikuto has to work today...she thought. I wonder why he didn't introduce me to his dad? He just sort of ignored whatever questions I had.
Amu walked down the stairs and into the large parlor they ended in. She turned and made her way into the huge kitchen. She stepped in and saw a tall man with the same strong, thin build as Ikuto and the same hair and eyes.
He was trying to get the cookie bag to close again. "Oh, good morning, Miss Hinamori." he said cheerfully when he saw her. She gave him a small smile. "Good morning,"
"I'm sorry; where are my manners? I'm Alren Tsukiyomi, Ikuto's father." he said, bowing from behind the counter. The plastic cookie holder inside the bag was poking out and he was trying to push it back in. "Do you need some help?" Amu asked, trying not to laugh.
"It would be deeply appreciated; I can never get these things closed. It's like there's some code to it." Alren said. Amu giggled and walked over to the counter. She took the container and smoothed the sides of the paper that covered it out, sliding the plastic holder full of cookies into it with ease.
"Thank you," he said. "No problem," Amu replied, heading to the fridge. She opened it and poured herself a glass of milk, taking a drink of it. "Is something wrong?" she asked when she saw Alren still hadn't left the kitchen. "Oh, no. I was just thinking of how my son really doesn't deserve someone as beautiful as you,"
Amu blushed from the compliment. She knew he only meant it as one, but it still made her feel over praised. "Where have I heard that before?" she muttered to herself as she placed her lips on the glass to get another drink.
"May I call you Amu-chan?" Alren asked. "I guess," Amu said. "You can call me Alren, or dad if you want to." Amu blushed furiously. She sat the empty glass in the sink. "So…you've heard the tabloids and the E News?" Amu asked. ((once AGAIN, I do NOT own it!))
"Yes, but I don't pay them any attention. They invade people's personal lives. You seem to be an honest, respectful young woman to me, and I don't judge by what I hear in the tabloid." Alren assured her.
Amu felt slightly relieved. She smiled again and then headed out of the kitchen to the stairs.
Sitting in the library, Amu read on her novel she'd been reading. She was at the last three chapters, FINALLY! She was so absorbed, she didn't even see when a maid came in. She looked curiously at Amu. Her hair was light-brown and to her neck and she wore a knee-length maid's dress.
"Excuse me, miss? The master called and wants to meet you for lunch. He gave me the address to write down," she said sweetly, handing Amu a piece of paper. Amu smiled softly at her and took it, opening it up.
She closed her book and stood, thanking the maid with a bow. Amu hurried to get changed as she got ready. She pulled on some white jeans and an orange tank top with an orange 'X' clip where her hair was pulled back by the hair tie.
She grabbed her purse and her cell phone. She'd gotten used to driving again but wouldn't let anyone else but Ikuto drive while she was in the car.
When Amu walked into the French restaurant, she expected to find Ikuto. I was surprised to see Alren sitting at the booth.
"Hi—?" Amu slid into the booth across from him. "Don't feel awkward, Amu. I only wanted to get to know you. I want to know some things about my son, that I feel I can ask you and get an honest answer." Alren asked. Amu felt slightly more relaxed. "I hope I haven't offended you?" Alren asked. "No! No!" Amu said quickly. "It's just…the maid neglected to tell me which master had asked me to have lunch with him, so…" Amu blushed slightly in embarrassment.
"You were expecting Ikuto?" Alren finished with a smile. It made Amu feel a little better about it. "Yes, sir," she said.
"Well, that's fine. I just want to know some things about my son. Not Ikuto…Len." Alren explained.
The name shivered Amu for some reason, though she still couldn't remember him. "I…to tell you the truth, I don't really remember much before my accident," Amu answered solemnly. "Accident?" Alren was obviously interested.
Amu was surprised Ikuto hadn't told Alren about her accident, so she began to tell him what had happened. Alren listened intently as she explained.
"Wow. Are you remembering anything so far?" Alren asked. "Yeah; I can remember my friends now and I can remember my eg—" Amu stopped, feeling like she wasn't supposed to say anything about it.
Alren looked inquiringly at her. "My—uh—excellent ability to design!" Amu said in a nervous laughter. Alren raised an eyebrow. "Sorry—I'm still not really myself yet," Amu blushed.
"It's fine; really. Do you remember anything at all about Len?" he asked. Amu thought hard as the waitress came to take their drink orders. Alren order grape wine and Amu ordered some sparkling water. ((Is there a disclaimer for water?? Oh, hell! I'll disclaim it anyway, just like EVERYTHING else!!))
Amu thought hard about Len's face while looking at the menu. She knew she didn't like him, and she knew he was Ikuto's younger brother, but other than that, she had nothing.
Then, a feeling of pure hurt and terror slapped her in the face. Her eyes widened as she remembered how she felt around Len. She saw herself inside a dark, neon lit room with dancing people around her. A night club, probably. Just Dance by Lady Gaga was playing. ((ONCE FRICKIN AGAIN: I do NOT own the song!))
She was wearing a—a…stripper's clothes!!!! She stood behind Ikuto, looking at Len over Ikuto's shoulder. He walked by her. "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 almost choked and hid her face behind the menu. "Are you all right, Amu-chan?" Alren asked. "Yes, sir. I'm fine!" Amu said as normally as possible.
She swallowed hard and then remembered saw herself on the ground, screaming as someone lifted her skirt. She shivered hard and felt tears build in her eyes.
"I have to go to the restroom, I'll be back in a second." Amu quickly stood and went for the ladies' bathroom. She shoved the door open, covering the crystal tears spilling out of her eyes.
To be raped was terrible. But to relive it in your head; the feeling of being terrified beyond your worst nightmare; to feel so alone and helpless; knowing you can't stop what's happening to you; and being petrified to the point you can't think straight, it was even scarier. No. It was horrifying.
Then, all of her negative feelings, her desire to be with Ikuto, her pain of not wanting to be left by him; it all came back to her. They were only certain memories and they came in fragments, like a puzzle.
Amu felt stupid for jumping up like that. She dried her eyes and washed her face in the white marble sink. She wiped it off with a paper towel, composing her trembling breath.
"Amu-chan, are you sure you're okay?" Alren asked as Amu slid into the booth again. She smiled. "I'm okay," she assured.
"Well, Amu, I'd like to talk about my other son now. What do you think of him?" Alren asked. Amu felt like she was talking to a friend! Not her future in-law!
Amu blushed and looked at her lap. "I-I love him," she said timidly. Alren smiled softly at her…just like a father. He was so much like Ikuto. Only he wasn't as perverted. (As far as she knows! ~_~)
Amu ordered a salad because she didn't feel very into eating snails and Alren had the same. Apparently he thought as little of French food as she did.
Amu had a little ranch dressing put on it. (Disclaimer on the ranch. -_-)
After they ate, Amu drove back to the mansion. She pulled in and walked across the large lawn she had found fasinating before.
As soon as she was in, she was up the stairs to her room. She dropped her purse, kicked off her shoes, and laid back on her bed, pulling her hair down from the orange 'x' clip. ((Don't you all think it's ironic that in the series, her clip changes, yet when she's normal, it's an X, just like an X Egg? Leave me your opinions. I just think it ironic.))
She looked at her dim eggs with white X's pasted over them. She sighed, rolling to lay on her stomach and look at them, supporting her upper body by her elbows. "You guys? Are you going to ever come out again?" Amu asked. She waited for a few minutes and then gave up with a sigh.
She put on her casual sweater and skirt again and pulled her hair back the way she normally did. She finally finished that novel she'd been reading and then looked for something else to do.
Ikuto carefully opened one of the front double doors a crack to peek inside. Seeing his father wasn't there, he made a dash for the stairs and darted up them. He slid into the library and closed the door with a relieved sigh, sliding down it.
This 'visit' was going to kill him! There was no telling what Alren had told Amu. Ikuto groaned at the thought. He then stood, almost falling back as he realized his shoe had caught the bottom of his black t-shirt while he was crouched and carefully got off of it.
"Mr. Alren, have you seen Ikuto?" Amu asked. She was startled at first when Alren had been sitting in the chair backwards, because she couldn't see him. It was like he was hiding or something. "Oh, yes, he's in the library,"
Alren smiled, mentally patting himself on the back for being a genius for setting these two up for an embarrassing situation.
He waited for Amu to disappear around the corner at the top of the steps and then quietly followed her.
"Ikuto?" Amu said quietly, sliding into the library. She looked around the room full of shelves. No answer came, so she began making her way into the 'book labyrinth'.
She figured she might as well get a book to read while she was there, seeing that she had finished the one she had. She looked in the novel section, where all the books she liked were at. It was a coincidence that she had stumbled on it a few days after being here.
Amu reached for a book on the top shelf, her tall, slim form stretching up even farther. She put her foot on the small stool and elevated herself, still having to stretch for it.
She just missed it when the stool gave out from under her. She fell sideways and landed on her stomach on something soft. She tripped forward, dragging Ikuto with her in instinct to grab something to support herself. They toppled to the floor, sapphire meeting with gold.
Even though she was dating Ikuto, it was still strange. He was supporting himself now with his hands on the floor by Amu's sides. She was slightly propped up, looking at him. He was over her, a position that could be seriously mistaken.
A small blush came to her face and Ikuto just stared down at her. Then, to their horror, Alren came in with a small group of people with cameras. "And this, is the library…" he looked at Amu and Ikuto, who had both turned scarlet upon all these paparazzi entering the room.
"Are we interrupting?" he asked a little awkwardly. Photos were being excitedly snapped and flashes were going off every few seconds. Oh no! both Ikuto and Amu were thinking. Not again! Ikuto knew his father was a teaser, but the press?!!
Well, that was dear old dad for you…
What'd you think? I am getting lots of good reviews and I thank you all for that. Lol. I just realized that it's becoming more Amuto fluff than anything. Oh, well, if it's what the readers want…so go occupy yourself by reading Reminiscing Amuto by Jobrolover93 while you wait for me to update again!