Meilin: Yosh! A new Chapter :D This one is slightly longer to compensate for the last one which was shorter.
Ikuto: I better not get ambushed again. No more make up! No more dresses!
Amu: D'aw but you looked so cute in that wedding dress. -tease-
Ikuto: Shut up!
Meilin: Hehe. Alright, alright. Calm down you two. Disclaimer please!
Ikuto: Aznpride16xx does not own Shugo Chara - Just the Plot
Behind A Smile – Chapter Fourteen: The Second Chance
Magic is science we don't yet understand…but what's a Miracle without a little mystery?
Although he was obeying all the traffic lights, Ikuto sped down the road trying to catch up to the girl he was looking for. All he could think about was her. Images of her saddened face filled his mind. I made her cry. She shouldn't have wasted her tears on me.
The unbearable sound of many horns brought Ikuto from his thoughts. Many drivers were honking their horns but none did anything of the situation. The midnight haired man slammed his foot on the breaks as he saw a five year old girl wonder off into the busy intersection. He quickly stopped the car, put it in park, and hopped out of the car, ignoring honks from other drivers. His thought in that moment was to carry the girl off to safety. The drunken motorcyclist, who had not noticed the girl, flew down the street. If it was not for Ikuto, that child would have died.
Only at the last second did Ikuto notice that the motorcycle was headed straight for the petite female. He leapt across other cars, jumped and dove diagonally grabbing the girl and turning his back toward the heavy-bike. It was too late for the cyclist to do much, but at the last second he noticed the two people on the streets. Before Ikuto could even hit the ground, the owner jerked his bike handles to the left but it continued to travel forward, colliding with the back of Tsukiyomi, Ikuto. A few back ribs and a part of his spine cracked out of place, raw flesh was seen through his ripped clothing and the back of his hair slowly died the crimson color of his blood.
"Mommy!" the five year old cried. She pried her little body from the cold hands of the stranger and ran into the warm embrace of her mother.
The mother came up to the disabled male and yelled, "Someone call an ambulance! This man is seriously injured!"
Coughing faintly, Ikuto lifted his head from the ground and grabbed the attention of the woman. "I'm fine. Please, don't worry." Despite the pleas and protests from the lady, he took a glance back and voiced, "I don't have time to be in a hospital. I have to chase after the girl that I love." He gave a weak, but sincere smile to the woman who in returned understood that he was truly in love. She smiled at him and gave him an encouraging nod. He limped forward though he did it with pride. The woman and daughter, as well as a few witnesses, stayed behind to testify what happened.
Being in excruciating pain, Ikuto dragged his feet to an ally way and leaned against a stack of crates. His arms were folded across his body clutching at his sides, gripping, and clawing at his skin to draw attention away from his breaking back.
"Ikuto," he heard someone whisper.
Lifting himself off the crate, he hobbled his way over to the back ally. He noticed that the farther he walked more light shined through the crack at the end. This ally led to a hidden forest and in that forest was a path, the path that led him to who he was searching for. Her back was towards him, leaning against a tree. She couldn't see him and she wasn't even aware of his presence.
"Ikuto," he heard Amu whisper again. As soon as he was about to call out her name, she called out to him unconsciously. "Why didn't you wait for me, Ikuto?"
He stood completely still. Why didn't I wait for her? "I'm sorry. I thought-"
Again he was cut off. "I waited for you. Every day I was overseas, I always thought about you."
His heart ached. Each word she said was true and it struck his heart. As if someone had thrust a sword through his chest, it hurt worse than his broken bones. He couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want her to think that he didn't care for her because in reality he never stopped loving her.
Ikuto slowly and painfully limped over to her, making sure that she could see his face when he finally confessed to her. "Amu, I…" She didn't interrupt him nor was he at a loss for words. She was simply…sleeping. Her cheeks were stained with streaks of tears. She was crying and talking in her sleep. Ikuto gently wiped her cheeks with his thumb and whispered, "I'm sorry."
The pinkette opened her eyes slowly, still dazed, and said, "It is okay. Nothing is your fault so you don't have to apologize."
"What are you talking about? I caused you so much pain."
"No, I did it to myself. It was my fault for not telling you before I left. When I came back I was planning on confessing to you but you moved on with your life. I never had the courage to tell you before and I probably won't have the heart to tell you when I wake up…"
When you wake up? "Amu, this isn't a drea-"
"…I love you, Ikuto. I always had and I always will."
He was stunned for a while. He didn't know what to say, how to act, or how to respond. it was obvious that they had a strong connection but he honestly never thought that he would hear her say it to his face.
She patted the patches of grass beside her telling him to sit next to her. He did. "Even if it will only ever be in my dreams, tell me that you love me," she said, her eyelids dropping down once again.
He gripped her hands and stared her straight in the eyes. "I love you, Amu. I, Ikuto Tsukiyomi, love you, Amu Hinamori, with all my heart."
Her eyes widened. It all felt so real, yet she knew it was but only a sweet nothing dream. Then she closed her eyes in content, leaned her head back on the tree trunk and smiled. "That is good enough." A tear slid down her cheek. She was happy to hear him say that to her even though the back of her mind kept nagging at her, telling her that she would have to wake up sooner or later. Another tear cascaded down her cheek. "It's been so long since I've been happy. Now, I don't even remember what it's like to smile. I don't want to wake up. If I can be happy only in my dream, let me sleep forever."
It almost sounded like she wanted to…
"Let me sleep eternally. Let me wander the world of dreams. I'm tired of chasing. Reality seems like nothing to me."
…almost if she wished for…
"If I died right at this moment would I be happy, dream Ikuto? Would I be happy with you? Would I feel complete? Or would I just be the loser girl who chases after someone she can't have?"
…death. Yes, that was what she wished for all along.
It was Ikuto's turn to shed a tear for once. "Don't speak like that! You're not sleeping. You are awake and I will make you happy. I will fix everything!" He shouted desperately.
"You can't fix my heart. You're nothing more than an illusion in my dream. Besides, my heart was broken a long time ago. It's broken beyond repair," she explained. Her eyes closed and her body went numb though she was still breathing.
"Amu!"
"Shh…let me dream a little while longer. I want to be happy as long as possible before I wake up again." She then fell asleep again, not knowing that she was once awake.
A false happiness? You were never like this before, Amu. Have I damaged you so much?
Ikuto laid his head upon her lap as she dreamt. He held on to her hand tightly. "I'll never let you go again." He, loosing as much blood as he did, began to doze off into unconsciousness. No matter how much he fought to stay awake, his body would not let him. His body went numb and he passed out on Amu's lap. She subconsciously ran the fingers of her free hand through his hair. And although his head and back were burning, he didn't mind the sensation of her hands petting his head. She was worth the pain.
It was already sun down when the little pinkette woke from her slumber. She sighed as she realized her sweet dreams came to an end. Wanting to get up and go home, hopefully to fall asleep back into her dreams, she tried to stand but felt unusually heavy. She looked down at her lap and gasped at the horrific scene before her.
A layer of blood coated her hands and legs. A trickle of blood was streaming down the side of Ikuto's face. And the grass beneath her was drenched in the scarlet liquid.
"Ikuto?" She whispered. She shut her eyes tightly and slapped both of her cheeks simultaneously. Opening her eyes again, she knew that she was not dreaming. "Ikuto, wake up. Please, open your eyes!" She tried maneuvering around his body so that she could get up without hurting him but he grabbed her arm.
Not opening his eyes, he mumbled, "I stayed while you slept. Now stay here while I sleep." He opened his eyes for only a second to look at her. "It seems I can't do anything except make you cry." and then his lids began to fail him once again.
"Stay awake, Ikuto! Stay with me and don't leave! Stop closing your eyes," she panicked. Whipping out her phone, she dialed Utau's number. She didn't answer her phone and that only brought on more paranoia upon the girl. She dialed Kukai's number at the speed of light and as soon as she heard him pick up the phone she yelled into it.
"Kukai, help me! Please, help me!" At this point she was in hysterics.
"Amu? Calm down, what's happening and where are you?" He knew that she would never be that desperate for help unless it was something completely out of her hands. This was one of those times.
"It's Ikuto, he's dying. Please, help me! I don't know what to do. Kukai, tell me what to do. I can't stop the bleeding and he's unconscious. He won't wake up and I can't move him-" She rambled on and on, not sure of what to do. She wasn't thinking clearly before and not thinking straight was not helping her situation either.
"Amu! Calm down," he said once more. "Tell me where you are and I'll come get you."
In the next few minutes, Kukai told Amu to apply pressure to the back of Ikuto's head to stop the bleeding. That was most important. He also told her to stay calm for both her and Ikuto's sakes. Kukai grabbed Utau, called a few paramedics, and headed straight over to the forest behind the ally way. Luckily for him, Kukai had been there many times as a kid.
As soon as everyone was on their way to the hospital, Utau asked what happened to Ikuto but all Amu could do was shake her head. "I don't know. I thought I was dreaming. It was all a dream, wasn't it?" She asked more to herself than anyone else. "If I had just realized that I was awake. Ikuto wouldn't be in this mess right now."
After many stitches, operations, casts, and hours later, the gang was allowed to see Ikuto. He was awake, on pain killers that made his drowsy, but he was awake. "It's amazing that he made it. He was very lucky that none of his wounds got infected while he was outside for so long. Quite a miracle if you ask me," the doc explained.
"Don't you want to see Ikuto, Amu?" Utau asked. She shook her head and walked to sit on the waiting bench outside his room.
"No. I'll wait here." She didn't know how to face him. She was afraid.
Kukai and Utau left the room. It was late, so they went home. All that was left was Amu and Ikuto. Amu placed a hand on the doorknob but her hands were so shaky that she couldn't bring herself to turn it. The images of his blood on her hands made her body tremble. She placed her back on the wall and slid down to the cold floor. She couldn't stop shaking. She jumped at the slightest sound and barely had a heart attack when the nurses said she couldn't sit on the floor, saying it was hazardous.
Quietly, not to disturb his sleep, Amu tip toed into Ikuto's room and sat on the small couch in the dark corner. Hopefully, if he woke up he wouldn't be able to see her.
Once morning came, Ikuto woke up in less pain than yesterday. I guess the pain killers are working. He spotted a pink head in the far corner of the room. Amu. He unsteadily wobbled over to Amu and placed a blanket around her. It was quite chilly and she was only in a tank top and thin-fabric pants.
He accidentally brushed her shoulder and she woke up. "I'm sorry, I woke you," he apologized.
Seeing him so defenseless made her feel guilty. He was usually strong and firm but the sight of him made her cringe away. He was weak and brittle. She though that if she touched him he would fall to pieces. He looked so broken.
"Are you…okay? she asked.
"I'm fine. It's just a few broken bones. It'll heal," he joked. "But I should be asking you that."
She wasn't injured nor did she have a scratch on her. Why was he asking her such a question? "I was talking about us."
"W-what do you mean?"
"That wasn't a dream back there. I didn't mean to hurt you so badly. I'm sorry…for everything. And I meant what I said. I will make you happy, if you give me the chance."
"I…I don't know what to-"
"You said you were tired of chasing, right? Then let me be the one to chase you. I'll follow you. It doesn't matter where you go or how far the distance. I'll be the one to wait for you."
The door suddenly crept open. "Mr. Tsukiyomi! Please get back into bed. You're going to open your wounds again!" The doctor came into check on his wounds, but seeing as he was out of bed it didn't look like it was going to be good. Ikuto didn't move and he didn't move his gaze from Amu's eyes.
"I won't go back to my bed until I tell you this, Amu. Please, hear me out." She nodded for him to continue. "Saaya was the only way to fill the hole. I thought I was in love with her when I only needed someone to fill the empty space when you left. I know that sounds stupid and cheesy, but I love you. I meant what I said when we were in the forest. I can make you happy if you give me a chance to."
"Ikuto, I meant every word I said back there. I thought it was a dream-"
"It wasn't a dream," he interrupted. He wanted to make it clear that when he said he loved her, he meant it. "It wasn't a dream. You were awake then and you're awake now."
Struggling to get down on one knee, Ikuto looked up at the beautiful lady before him. He cupped her hands gently in his and…
"Marry me."
Amu's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected offer.
"Marry me," he said again. Without them knowing, all the nurses had gathered around the room watching the scene unfold before them.
"Answer him!" One of the nurses shouted. She was a sappy one. Amu turned her head back to Ikuto and thought it through.
"I…"
End Chapter Fourteen - Upcoming: Chapter Fifteen
Meilin: Dun dun dun! What will be her answer?
Ikuto: She'll obviously say yes. I mean, who can resist this sexiness, right fangirls? - wink-
Amu: Oh pu-lease...who would fall for a sadist like y0
Meilin: Kya! - squeezes Ikuto-
Amu: -_-"
Ikuto: You were saying? - smirks-
Amu: - mumbles- Meilin, you traitor.
Ikuto: Please R&R and You get a chance to hug me too. :3
Meilin: No! Mine only!
Amu: Don't review for this egotist! Review and I'll have Kukai send you those blackmail pictures!
Meilin: Psh, you don't even have those pictures...but Review anyways!
Special Thanks To:
XxHate's-A-Strong-WordxX (Thank you for reviewing! It's al good. You were 199 but without you I would have been stuck at 198 :P So you're amazing!)
popjarcandy (I'm sorry it was short. Hopefully this chapter makes up for it though. And I do feel better thanks to you guys!)
KARONA-CHAN (I'm glad that you found this chapter so amusing. I do mybest for you!)
Crescent Moon 202 (LOL! It was funny when I wrote it out because I could totally see Utau as Ikuto's younger sister trying to fit him into a dress xD)
Little-bad-Angel (Thank you so much! Please continue on supporting me. :3)
Minato-kun Luver (Haha! Wouldn't everyone want to see those black mail pictures ;P I'll tell Kukai to send them to you. Haha jk.)
Amutofangirl (Thank you for being so considerate of me. I'm feeling better thank you but I will gladly PM you and have a chat sometime. It's good to get things off my chest once in a while.)
xtoxic rainx (Thank you for your kind words. I'm sure you have many talents/ You just gotta find them, right? :])
Jemstone6259 (I'm sure he knew hitting Amu was a mistake...that's probably why Saaya didn't get hit...but it sure would have been nice to see her ger socked in the face.)
Jacovy (COOKIE! -munch munch- ...Wait...did you just say...stolen cookie? O.O Don't kill me Suu! Jacovy did it! -runs away-)
cctrail (Thanks so much! I'll continue to write Hurt/Comfort stories like these. This genre is my specialty. Until the next chapter comes out, please feel free to read my other stories. I'm sure they have similarities that you may like.)
SweetRoseBriar (Thanks! I also thought it was clever. :3 I just love quotes...I collect them sometimes...well at least the ones I think are super cool or cute ^.^)
DarkFaerie0 (Thank you very much. I try my best :3)
Thank you everyone who reviewed and for those who worried about me. I'm feeling a bit better and I hope you enjoyed this chpater to the fullest.
Until Next time my lovely children! Ja ne!