Chapter 18: Embrace
Whoosh.
The wind blew softly against the two lovers who laid unconscious on the ground. Utau stirred, her hands roamed around, trying to feel where she was. Her hands found someone lying next to her. Alarmed, she sat up with a jolt. Her eyes flickered, she turned around to see Kukai lying next to her. She smiled, brushing leaves off of his spiky hair and gently caressed his cheek. She noticed his skateboard was beside him and laughed softly.
"Looks like Kairi does have a little soft spot for him after all."
She got up and summoned her whip, which appeared in her outstretched hand. She fastened it to her belt and leaned down to wake up Kukai.
Plop.
Her phone dropped from her pocket. She picked it up and scanned her call list. Her eyes widened at how many she had: 100 missed calls. She sighed heavily.
"Must be from Ikuto, no doubt."
A pair of warm slender arms snaked around her waist, hugging her tightly.
"Geh!?"
Plop.
Her phone fell from her hands again. Kukai snuggled lovingly against her back, blowing against her ear and whispered,
"What must be from Ikuto? Hm?"
Thwack.
Thud.
Utau tried to punch him but he blocked her punch with one hand, yawning.
"Sheesh. Why so violent in the morning?"
Utau glared at Kukai, who flashed her one of his killer smiles. 'Get that damn smile off your face!'
"Amu's been captured, and Ikuto's gone to save her. We've got to help him."
Utau got up to leave, tugging her arm slightly, signaling Kukai to let go. Instead, he pulled her arm lightly, turning her around to face him. He gave her a swift kiss, before burying his face in her hair. She blushed lightly, hugging him closely to her. He broke away from her and grinned sheepishly.
"A little something just in case we won't get to see each other again, y'know?"
Utau returned the grin.
"I know."
Whoosh.
Kairi had appeared out of nowhere, watching the two impatiently. He pushed his glasses, sighing heavily before landing on the ground.
"I hate to ruin your little reunion, but if were you, I wouldn't waste time."
Utau turned and glared at Kairi suspiciously.
"You were watching us the entire time, weren't you?"
Kairi snorted.
"Nonsense. I'm not interested in that kind of thing."
Kukai snickered.
Silence.
Kairi and Utau both turned to glared at him. Kukai nervously laughed it off.
"Right, let's go."
Kairi nodded. Suddenly, a green portal appeared, showing an image of Ikuto running into the castle dungeon to save Amu.
"After you get to the dungeon, make sure you keep yourselves hidden from Yaya. That way, you won't be affected by her illusions. The rest is up to you."
"What about the other Gatekeeper?"
"She's been defeated by Ikuto and currently kept safe where the First Shinigami resides now."
"We should get going. See you later Kairi!"
Kairi watched as Utau and Kukai stepped into the portal.
Whiz. Whirl.
Shrink. Poof.
The portal disappeared, the wind blew violently around Kairi. Within half a second, he disappeared with the wind.
'Good luck.'
Ikuto arrived at the castle's dungeon, approaching the door cautiously which was heavily guarded.
"Halt! Who goes there!"
Ikuto revealed himself and showed the guards the glowing death scythe, who immediately bowed.
"You may enter."
Creak.
Ikuto entered through the doors swiftly, smirking. 'I'll have to thank Her later, right now I have to defeat this other Gatekeeper and get Amu away from here.' He brandished the scythe lightly, dispelling all of Yaya's illusions and continued his way down the hallway. There, he saw Amu, imprisoned in a cell, her eyes were dull and welled up with tears flowing down her porcelain skin.
Slam.
The dungeon door slammed shut. His ears perked up, hearing a girl's giggling.
"You finally came, Black Cat. But now it's too late."
Yaya was standing near the wall, the jail keys dangling against her fingers. Suddenly, maid puppets appeared from the shadows. With a flick of her wrist, they charged at Ikuto.
Slam.
Crack. Crack.
Ikuto slammed the scythe onto the dungeon floor, causing the tiles to crack and levitate around him.
Fwoosh.
He brandished the scythe, sending the jagged projectiles at the maid puppets and Yaya. The maid puppets were destroyed in a instant, as the others stabbed through Yaya's petite body.
Plop.
She dropped the Ikuto doll and the jail keys and whispered into the darkness,
"Destroy the doll to save her, but it will already be too late. You will soon kill her with your own hands, by the power of the Lord!"
Whoosh.
Yaya disappeared. Ikuto picked up the jail keys and pocketed them. He turned his attention to the replica doll. His blue cat claw appeared, with a flick on his wrist, he immediately destroyed the doll; shattering it into a million pieces and it disappeared into nothingness. He walked to Amu's cell and fished out the keys, unlocking her cell door. He hugged her tightly, and kissed her. He placed his hand lightly on her forehead and entered her mind, which was trapped in Yaya's illusion.
Ikuto appeared in the amusement park. He saw a illusionary person with himself and Amu. He watched as his fake self toy with Amu's feelings, hurting her in the process.
Ikuto dropped Amu's hand and walked over to the girl standing in front of them.
"Jeez! What took you so long, Ikuto?"
"Relax Kady, I brought Amu along."
Kady looked at Amu, and snuggled against Ikuto; sticking her tongue out at Amu.
"Aren't we supposed to let her know something very important, Ikuto?" she pursed her lips.
His arm wrapped around Kady as he pulled her closer to him. He glared at Amu coldly, piercing her eyes with his own. Amu stared at them both in horror, she just couldn't believe my own eyes. She nervously tried to laugh it off.
"You're kidding right, Ikuto? Stop playing around already!"
She reached out to touch him, but was slapped away by Kady.
"What did you think you're doing? Ikuto's mine, it's already over between you and him." she sneered.
Amu didn't want to hear anymore, she turned around and ran back to her apartment; crying.
The real Ikuto gritted his teeth in anger. He was about to destroy them both, but was stopped by the voice emitting from the scythe.
"Maintain your anger, and focus on clearing the path that leads to her."
Suddenly, the scythe's power fused with Ikuto's own. Then, he began to incant a spell.
"Chrono's Time: Spirit's Calling, Dispel!"
A large invisible clock appeared, it's hands moving at a fast pace. The combined energy force from his body was absorbed into the clock. When it struck midnight, the gathered energy spilled throughout the area and the clock disappeared. The illusions crumbled slowly, a bright white light shone upon Ikuto; clearing the path that lead him to Amu. He walked slowly up the steps, as everything behind him slowly dissolved into air. Soon, he arrived to her apartment. He opened the door, and walked into her bedroom. She laid sprawled onto her bed, crying herself to sleep; hoping to wake up from the endless nightmare.
He slid into the bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
"I-Ikuto?"
He smirked. He snuggled comfortably against her hair, breathing in her scent.
"I missed you, Amu."
She gasped, not wanting to believe Ikuto was really with her. His tail wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He smiled.
"Turn around, I want to see your face."
Slowly, Amu turned to face him, tears stained her porcelain skin. He wiped away her tears and kissed her. The kiss was warm and gentle, removing all of her fears and doubt. He broke the kiss and lifted her off the bed, bridal style. Suddenly, a portal appeared from her bedroom; showing an image of Utau and Kukai waiting for them to return.
"Ready to go back?"
"Yeah."
She snuggled against him, while they stepped into the portal; teleporting back to the dungeon.
What awaited them was something that was unexpected to them both.
Gosu: I'm already feeling better now, don't worry! I'll keep updating as much as I can. Apparently I fainted from getting drenched from rain and feeling cold. XD
