(Start Chapter)

I woke to two deep blue eyes staring intensely into my yellow ones. I jumped, dazed, thinking that they belonged to Ikuto. As my butt planted itself on the ground I found to realize that it was Hikaru. I sighed, a little disappointed. "Hikaru, why'd you scare mama like that?"

"Mama, you're late for work."

I took in his soft voice as he too fell backwards, due to surprise. He was now on his hand and knee as he rubbed him bum, a sign of pain. "What?!" I screamed, making Hikaru recoil from my voice. I ran into the kitchen, looking around for the calendar but because I was still dazed I forgot that the calendar wasn't in the kitchen, but the hallway. "Ah!" I slid into the hallway, slamming into the bathroom door, then retaliating into the wall, with the calendar. "Today is…" I looked, trying to figure out the date. "Ah! Got it. Uh… "Take Hikaru with you Amu, I warn you." What does that mean?"

"It's "take your child to work day", don't you remember, mama?"

Oh.

"Well, let's get ready then." I smiled sheepishly. As I went through my normal walk through of the morning, though a lot speedier this time, Ikuto never left my mind. All of our childhood memories, I blushed, the hospital. Tadase was pretty pissed and demanded explanations, and for a while, didn't talk to Nigehiko. It's been a long time.

Hikaru and I left the house. I gave him a piggyback ride most of the way to work, smiling and laughing. I didn't realize that today would end up pretty bad.

(End Amu's POV)

(Ikuto's POV)

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My heart pounded in my chest, it was pretty painful, but my face stayed neutral.

"Older bro-" Chiharu began as she tried to open the door. "Hey, older brother, why won't you let me in?" Truth be told, I didn't have a lock on my door, but whenever I felt like not being disturbed I would move a large dresser in front of my door, loaded with heavy junk.

"Not now Chiharu," I spoke out, just loud enough for the girl to hear. I was annoyed enough that she was bothering me, and the fact that she is the reason I had to come up with moving the dresser in front of the door, or considered a lock. Rolling over in my bed, I spotted the most ingenious object in my room, sitting right on top of the dresser. A large CD player with cassette and radio magnificently connected to two beautiful enormous speakers.

My motivation to drown out Chiharu's constant "play with me" became overpowering, which was a good thing. I sat up, a little slumped, and dragged myself over to the stereo. I looked through the CD's that were already in and played a random mix I'd made myself, years ago. Turning the knob for volume, the sound became piercing in my ears, a perfect pitch to drown out all life and leave me to my thoughts in silence.

Take me out by Fanz Ferinand slammed out of my speakers, leaving a nice turn to my thoughts. I was in a happy place, nearly to a nap mode when a part of the lyrics sent me in a totally different direction. It was only the beginning of the song but it crashed me through painful memories, I'd rather almost forget.

"So if you're lonely, you know I'm here waiting for you."

Amu.

"I'm just a shot away from you, and if you leave here, you leave me broken, shattered, I lie."

"If there was a flavor for this girl's voice, it'd be 'strawberry milk." I heard my younger self say in my head. I nearly begged for no more. "She looked up at me with her gleaming golden eyes, her strawberry pink hair, and a smile upon her delicate pale pink lips and said, "Thank you," with her strawberry milk voice." I nearly cringed, rolling onto my side and glaring at the wall, hoping it'd burst into flames. "The feeling inside me urged me forward as I turned to face her completely; taking her chin in between my two hands that were freezing compared to her little kid warmness. She was looking up at m with complete innocence in her eyes as I gazed down at her, my face inching closer to hers." I growled at myself for remembering any of this.

"I laid down next to her, though not under the blnket like she was, and somehow ended up spooning with her, one arm around her waist. I laid like this for a while, running my face into the back of her neck lightly. I thought a few times that she was going to wake up. "I-Ikuto…" I flinched as she said my name, though it didn't seem like she woke up… So she was talking about me in her sleep? I chuckled."

"Go away!" I nearly screamed to the memories running through my mind.

"My eyes opened to the blinding light of the sun outside the sliding glass door, and slowly I realized the mistake I had made. I shot up, my eyes wandering around the room then landing on the empty space around me on the bed." I rolled over onto my other side, hoping it was the position I was in that was bringing all these things back. My next memory was of when Amu 'ran away' from home because of Easter and Ami was in my possession. "I left the house, locking it and jumping into a character change, leaping from roof to roof, trying to find the missing kitten that could get badly hurt at this time of night. Kitten huh? That has a nice ring to it. It made me smirk a little."

I nearly tried to fall off the bed, just to purposely slam my head against something.

My next memory not only pained me because of the events before hand, but because it was the first time I realized the power Amu had over me. "I-Ikuto!" She sounded so happy; she even made my name sound like it was worth multi million dollars." The crazy stories I told Amu about, the hospital blowing up and mushrooms, I'll never trust doctors again with Amu when medication was required. "Amu" I heard my memories voice say. "What is it Ikuto?" Her breath tickled my scalp and her voice intoxicated my mind. It was so soft; it was almost like she was ready for sleep to come for her as well." We cuddled in the hospital, our body's intertwined and giving the other warmth.

I decided to lay on my back, where I started, gazing at the ceiling as I gave into my memories. I was breathing abnormally from exhaustion, trying to hold back all my old memories I had for so long.

"I found myself so deeply in love with Amu, though anytime anyone asked about something related to it, she seemed to shy away from it. I wanted to make Amu mine forever with this kiss, and during this… amazing event, there was a voice in my head telling me I could d more, something to make Amu really mine. Something that'll make her never forget me, something that will probably hurt her for the rest of her life, and something I'd regret in time."

I tried to cut my memory again, but failed.

"Ikuto, you're hurting me!" Amu from my memory, her voice broke out. I winced, knowing what was going to happen.

"Amu's voice cut through every other voice in my head; now looking down at Amu in shock I realized I'm putting most of my weight on Amu's wrists. Quickly I jumped up off of her and stood across the room from her. I was so ashamed; she looked scared as she looked up at me. That sight will be in my mind for a long time, it will haunt me after I leave…" And it still does. "…and this is the reason I need to make Amu mine. If I don't she'll forget about me and when I come back I'll no longer exist in her world. I will just be a stranger, a shadow of the past that wants to come back and haunt her. I don't want to be a shadow; I want to be her future."

This time, I went through with my plan. I rolled off my bed and onto my floor where a hard ground awaited my head. On the way down I got the pleasure of slamming against the end table and cutting my head open. Just a little scratch. I rolled onto my back, feeling the cold of the floor and the wave of depression running over me. "Pathetic" I murmured to myself before turning off the stereo and loving everything back to its original spots.

Chiharu was nowhere to be around, and it was my time to escape. Where? I didn't know yet, but I soon found out where my feet led me. The same place, or perhaps person is a better term, that my feet always drag me to, Amu.

(End Ikuto's POV)

(Hikaru's POV)

Bored.

I sat at a booth as I watched my mom go around serving men and women tea, coffee, pastries, and other goods. I wasn't allowed to move from this booth, but it was defiantly better than going to school. Ding Dong. A group of people entered the shop, one seemingly very familiar, but blocked out from me.

"Tadase?" My mom's voice was so loud in my ears as the shop quieted at whatever seemed to be going on now. I glanced over the booth to see the group now more defensive. Mom looked my way and a man with blond hair and pink eyes followed her gaze. Tadase was his name? It was so familiar to me.

"You're taking him out of school?" His voice was angered.

"For good reasons!" Mom fought back. Why did this man care if I was in school? "And at least I have a job to support him. You don't do shit for your own child." Her words stung me a little, but I knew they weren't directed towards me but the man. He flinched away.

"Amu, go to the back room," the manager of the shop demanded, angry with mom now. As she walked passed me, she grabbed my hand and took me with her. "You may take the rest of your time off for you to cool your head." The manager's words were almost whispered, as trying not to embarrass mom, though everyone was quiet, waiting for the next hit.

She changed faster than I could imagine. I went to the bathroom and came back to see her waiting for me, ready to leave. "You ready?" Her voice was soft, gentle, but very quiet. I nodded, and then threw her a questioning gaze. "Don't worry, I called in sick for the other shop," she said, almost sheepishly.

As we walked out the back door I just looked at the ground, not feeling like looking up at the sky. It was only when mom stopped suddenly that I finally glanced up to see the obstacle of me running into momma's leg. What I saw was not as unpleasing as I thought it would be; I was unsettled by the man standing in front of us, not sure what to make of the situation.

(End Hikaru's POV)

(Amu's POV)

"Ikuto?" His name seemed jagged on my tongue, like I haven't said it in many years. He gazed at me with a sad look. "Ah! Blood." My movements weren't thought of as I pulled a cloth out of my pocket and dabbed Ikuto's head. I wasn't looking at his face, afraid of a blush running across my own, but even if I wished his hair blocked the sapphire gems from view. My body stiffened as he flinched away. I had to ignore it. "What happened?" His hand cautiously move to my wrist, seeing if it was okay to touch me before I freaked out screaming for no reason.

"Amu," his voice was husky as it ran through my ears, teasing me.

"Mamma?" Dear god I almost forgot. I turned my head in Hikaru's direction. He was confused so I just smiled and winked.

I turned back to Ikuto, worry filling my eyes. "Shouldn't you go to the hospital?" He flinched away from me. I was worried. "Ikuto?"

"It's nothing, you should be going. Tadase is in there, huh?" He looked enraged from the glimpse I got. He started to move towards the shop. I let go of Hikaru's hand and quickly moved after Ikuto, grabbing onto the back of his shirt. "Amu? Please let go?"

"Tell me what's wrong!" I demanded. If he wasn't going to tell me, I'll make a scene. I swear I will, just watch!

……….Two Hours Later………

How'd I end up here again?

Hikaru was sitting on the couch that I woke up on at Ikuto's house, Chiharu sitting next to him, trying to amuse and get to know the poor boy.

I, however, was being dragged off by Ikuto; he told me not to ask any questions, so I didn't, but it still didn't mean I wasn't curious of why we ended up here. Hallway after hallway after hallway, does this house never end? Or, maybe Ikuto doesn't own a house, but an estate? Yeah, that's it. Rich violinist. Maybe? Uhg! So many questions, none of which will be answered because I'll forget them in a second. How I knew? Ikuto was dragging me into a dark room.

…

A dark room huh?

Ah! No! It's not supposed to be like this! I have a kid I need to take care of, and I need to focus on my two jobs! I don't have time for a relationship right now.

Ikuto turned on the lights. The room was quite big. A bed lying on the floor in the corner, the place he sat me down, and a couch on the other side of the room, where he sat. Was he trying to put distance between us? I don't get him at all.

"Amu, I'm sorry."

What?

"I don't understand," I said slowly, thinking he'd comprehend my words better this way. Stupid idea of course, but I thought, 'why not?' "Why do you have to be sorry?"

"I still haven't been able to forgive myself." All right, Ikuto. Smoke and mirrors, tell me the gig. He had a sad look in his eyes as he looked down at the floor between his feet. "I still wonder if I did anything to you that night, if you'd wait for me, but I didn't want to risk hurting you." All of this emotion, bursting out from Ikuto, it was all too strange to me. I tried to concentrate on Ikuto's words, though I didn't fully understand them.

His hand was covering his face now; his index massaged his right temple and his thumb rubbing his left. "I sometimes with I had, but the look you gave me afterwards, I still can't leave it alone." He looked at me with sad eyes; barely able to see them now as his hair veiled his face and his hands dropped. "I thought if I broke from Easter and left you, you would be safer. I also thought that maybe I could forget about you, but not one day has passed that I haven't been haunted by your image."

A shudder ran through me. Ikuto sounded so cold now, so intimidating, and so dangerous. I was looking to the side now, trying to avoid eye contact. "But it seemed that I was the only one plagued by the sweat memories we share." This was like a spear through my chest. He'd never been this cold towards me except for a few times that we were both deciding if we were enemy or friends.

I felt something, and as I looked up I couldn't help but see the crying child in Ikuto's form. No, he wasn't crying, but there was something that said he wanted to, he was holding it all back. "Ikuto," my voice betrayed me as I wanted it to be even, solid, unaffected. It came out as a whisper, wavering and fear riding it like it wasn't even a challenge. I stood before thinking, took some shaky steps, and kneeled down in front of Ikuto. I placed my hands on both sides of his face, like he'd done to me a few times, and pulled him closer to me. I gave him a light kiss, only a second, but powerful enough.

It wasn't Ikuto who cried, but me. Tears started to well up and fall from the rims of my eyes, leaving wet lines down my cheeks. "Ikuto," I whimpered. I felt a little pathetic though, but at the same time, I felt the need to do this. If Ikuto wouldn't cry, I'd do it for him. I was shocked as his fingers smoothly made their way through my hair. I looked to Ikuto, who was studying me. Gazing at the long strands of hair between his fingers. Glancing at my tear stained cheeks. Staring at me as if I'll vanish in thin air.

"Ikuto," I whimpered out, wrapping my arms around his neck, holding him closer to me.

"I've wanted to see you. I'm sorry that I've forgotten and that I forgot. I've wanted to feel the warmth only you've shown me." I could feel his rigged body against mine. "I've wanted to see you," I repeated again.

He loosened him mussels and wrapped his arms around my petit waist. He stood suddenly, taking me with him. He was pushing me back, moving slowly backwards to somewhere I couldn't see. I let out a squeak as I fell backwards onto something soft, the bed I sat on before. Ikuto hovered above me, looking down at me with a sad look. I let into all urges. First, I gently rubbed my fingertips against his cheek, right below his eye. I then lifted myself, just enough to steal another kiss. Finally, I wrapped my arms around Ikuto, and hugged myself to him.

Ikuto. Can you hear my heart beat for you? Do you hear the song it makes? Calling out your name.

(End Chapter)

A short chapter with a cliffy, I admit. It's a long read but I promise, next chapter will be fantastic! That is if the Ikuto and Amu in my head actually MOVE somewhere.

Amu: You can't push us too much! It's embarrassing.

Scarlet: Yeah yeah.

Okay, one thing, I didn't mean to have Hikaru, Amu's kid, and Hikaru, Gozen, to be related. I didn't even know that kids name! I laughed… then once it sits it cried a little. Hahaha. I looked around and decided on the first name I saw. Twala.

Responding to the Reviewers Corner! (Aww, only 2, but you guys ROCK!)

TheQueenOfMe

Café, Café. The first only hires single mothers. A male runs the other and he only hired people who can attract attention, Amu fits. (Pink hair!) He got a little bit angst and depressed this time, but he's always wearing a mask, he just needs to realize that Amu means well and wants… I was about to say in his pants but… well… that too. :/ Anyways. Crazy? Just a lot.

CreativeJournalist

I hope I have come to a fine deadline?