Chapter 8

A Night in Solace Part 1

Reasons

A Lolibear Fanfiction

Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait, school kept me busy the past month. Never forget about Mid-terms! o(╥﹏╥)o, It's the worst! Anyways, there was a commenter that I would like answer to here: Radom Chick wrote:

No Dia? She belongs to Amu, doesn't she? I mean, when she wasnt' an X-Egg, she was Amu's, and when she returned to normal, she still is. So how come she isn't included in the story?

So, I didn't include Dia because I started writing this in 2008. At that time I had not read the manga and in the anime, her egg had only been introduced. I didn't know enough about her to include her in the story, nor do I really see a need now to go back and add her when the Chara aren't a big factor in this story ＼（〇_ｏ）／

This is written in two parts because, well, I figure get this up now so you all know I didn't fall off the earth again! Part 2 will be up as soon as it can.

So onto the story!

The old frumpy man was at least at least fifty years of age and his head baldhead sparkled in the dim light that shown through the shouji screen.

She put on a false smile and mustered a voice to talk to him.

"How do you do?" She slowly said to him. He put on a perverted smile and walked from the door to the kotatsu.

"Miki-chi, I finally get to meet you." His voice cracked at her. "Call me Tadao-nii" Amu let out a nervous laugh.

"Anything for you, Tadao ... nii" she pushed a piece of cake Anzu had left on the table. It was a white cake with fresh cut strawberries and whipped cream. "Tea?" she casually asked and Tadao replied with a 'no'.

"Come sit next to me, Miki-chi" the old man patted the seat next to him. Amu hesitantly stood and sat next to him. He wrapped his thick, flabby arm around her and pick a piece of strawberry off the cake and held it to her mouth.

"Say 'ah' Miki-chi" he ordered.

'No, no, no, no!' Amu screamed to herself. She slightly pushed him away.

"I actually am on a diet!" Amu scooted away from him and looked awkwardly.

"Don't be scared!" He wrapped his arms around her. The smell of his body sickened Amu.

"I promise I will be gentle with you today Miki-chi." He tried saying soothing.

Amu shoved his arms off her and looked at him in wonderment. "What do you mean?" The answer to her question suddenly hit her as her stomach began to stir.

"Well… I did pay for us to sleep together." Her eyes widened. "Is it your first time?" He asked in the most weird voice that was ever heard. He wrapped his arms around her and pushed and pinned her down onto the tatami flooring.

Ikuto stepped into the waiting room where one of the workers had led him. He sat down on one of the cushions that were provided. The female worker sat down in front of him him, he light pink kimono clung loosely to her body. "Have you ever visited us before, sir?" She asked in a sweet voice. Ikuto shook his head 'no' at her and a small smile crept on her face.

"Well, we offer quite a bit of services." She pulled out a small pamphlet from her sleeve and handed it to him. His midnight eyes scanned over it. There was a traditional drawing of a geisha on the front and in beautifully written calligraphy it said 'Kawano Hotel and Tea'. He turned the first page, it was history of the building and the 'Kawano' family. The next page had the service offers and pricing.

'$20 for a 1 hour tea and chat? $100 for a hour private session? $50 for additional hours? What is this about?' He thought and continued reading, 'They offer $100 per day and night for a room? full meals and hot spring provided? thats not too bad.'

He turned the to the next page. Profiles for each of the available girls were pictured neatly on the page. Name, pictures, age. Ikuto's eyes were suddenly drawn to Amu's picture. He could tell she was forcing a smile. 'Kawano Miki? Why is that listed as her name?'

"Have you seen anything you like sir?" The girl asked. Ikuto showed her the profiles page and pointed to Amu. "I'd like to meet with her." He tried not to sound harsh.

The girl smiled, "Miki-chan? She is our newest worker. She is such a kind girl. What would you like?" Ikuto turned back to the prices page. "Do you take credit cards?" He asked while examining the prices and thinking of how much he could possibly spend.

"Of course sir." Ikuto pulled out his wallet and handed her his card for 'emergencies' that his parents had given him.

"May I get a private session with Kawano Miki-san please? Also, a hotel room for two days please?" The girl smiled and bowed to him. She took the card from him and stood up. "I'll be right back sir."

Amu sat in her room. She had changed her clothes to a different kimono. This time she was wearing a purple one with light pink petals scattered about it. Her hair was hanging loose on her shoulder. She was resting against her bedroom walls and had her knees pulled into her chest.

'it hurts' she put her head on her knees and quiet tears started to slip out of her eyes.

'Mama... Papa... please take me back home. I want to go home...' She thought. She heard her main door open. Amu quickly wiped her tears and listened to see who was there. The door closed and footsteps walked to the fusuma doors the enclosed Amu's room.

"Miki-san." a voice gently said. 'That voice...' Amu thought and stood up. She quickly slid open her door and Ikuto stood before her.

"I...kuto..." Amu slowly said to him. A small smile crossed his face and his eyes met hers with a look Amu was not use to. It was almost... sorrowful, yet comforting. Tears built up in Amu's eyes again.

"Ikuto!" She wrapped her arms around his body and buried her head into his chest, letting her tears fall freely. "Ikuto she repeated again."

He tenderly wrapped his arm around her back and placed his other hand on the back of her head and pulled her as close as possible. He held her for a few minutes and let her cry, then he pushed her back and moved his face close to hers. He looked her deep in the eyes and said clearly to her, "Amu... never leave me like that again."

She shook her head and the question crossed her mind, "How did you find me?" she asked. Ikuto pulled back and put a cool smile on.

"I asked your parents." Amu smiled at his response.

"You know where I live?" She let go of him and the smile on her face grew. 'Mama... Papa... Ami... I wonder how you are doing?'

"You left your wallet in the dorm." Amu let out a little laugh. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the shouji screen. She carefully slid it open and revealed the rock garden to Ikuto. She stepped out and sat down on the private rouka, pulling her knees to her chest, she let out a sigh of relief. 'Maybe things will be better from this point on?' She thought.

"You're quite the detective aren't you, Ikuto?" Amu smiled and played with her silky kimono. Ikuto sat next to her without saying a word. They sat in silence for a few minutes. She found comfort just being in the company of someone familiar. The clouds above where grey, the air started to become more cold as snow fell from the sky. The rock garden was slowly turning all white.

"Do you like hot springs?" Amu asked and broke their silence. "Do you want to get into it?" Amu pointed to a small building. It was made out of clean looking wood and had a small door with a wooden handle.

"Do you have one back here?" She nodded, and stood up. She followed the steps off the rouka and slipped on some slippers. She stepped on a small rock the made a path to the small building. Ikuto followed her lead and even put on slippers that were intended for guests. Amu got the the door and pulled it open gently. She walked in and allowed room for Ikuto to enter before she closed the door and slid its metal lock closed.

The room was small with two shower stalls on the side with a wooden divider in between the two. Each shower was equipped with some soap, shampoo and conditioner, as well as a stool and wooden wash bucket. The opposite side was two selves with a wooden container on each. Next it it was a tall cupboard with two doors that touched from floor to ceiling. The far wall was a shouji screen door that could slide open. Amu opened the cupboard and there were towels folded up of different selves varying from large to small wash clothes. Amu pulled out two large towels as well as two wash clothes.

After closing the cabinet, she pulled down one of the baskets from the self, put a towel and wash clothe in it and handed it to Ikuto, she filled one for herself too. "You can put your clothes in here while we bathe and are in the hot spring." Amu smiled.

Ikuto too the basket and set it on the floor next to his showering space. He was wearing a simple long-sleeve black shirt and black jeans. He slowly pulled the shirt off of his body and over his head and messily tossed it into the basket. Amu slowly reach behind her and untied her obi. Then she notcied Ikuto starring at her undressing.

"Face the wall!" She pointed " Please don't peek okay?" Ikuto sigh and did as she instructed.

"How silly... I've already seen it all, why hide it now?" Amu turned around and faced the main door. She grunted to him in response. She took off each piece of her kimono and folded them as neatly as possible. She turned around and sat on her stool.

"You can sit down now." She said. Ikuto put his basket back on the shelf and sat down on his both turned on their water and waited for it to heat up.

"Did my parents seem happy?" Amu asked. Ikuto thought back to their meeting.

"They seemed, somewhat unhappy." Amu shook her head. "Your little sister seemed okay though." He rinsed his hair off.

"Ami? That's good. I don't like seeing her upset." Amu added shampoo to hers. "How'd they let you see me? Did you pay?"

"Yup." Ikuto rinsed his hair and added conditioner, "I have you for three hours. Plus I got a room for the next two nights." Amu snapped her head and looked in Ikuto's direction, since the divider only when up to their shoulders they made eye contact.

"What?!" That's really expensive!" Ikuto let out a smirk.

"My father, he runs a company. I used a business credit card he gave me. The expenses for this won't make much of a dent in the allowed limit."

"HA! Someone's a little privileged, huh?" Ikuto smirked.

After they finished showering Amu wrapped her towel around her body and stood up. Ikuto wrapped his around his waist. Amu opened the shouji screen and revealed the hot spring. It was round with stones covering the edges. Snow covered the ground around it and steam disappeared into the air with the cool air.

Ikuto removed his towel and slowly stepped into the hot spring. Amu shyly did the same with a blush on her face. She sat across from Ikuto. He kept a smug face a moved to sit next to her.

"Why sit so far from me?" He wrapped an arm around her waist and she winced. Ikuto pulled his arm back, "Did I hurt you?" she scouted away.

"No, no you didn't" and she forced a smile. Ikuto saw through the lie and moved back to her.

"Let me see." he demanded. Amu tried to move away again but he grabbed her arm and turned her around to look at her back. She had deep red scares scattered around her back, some looked relatively new. Some were inflamed, others were completely red.

"Please don't look." Amu pulled away from him and looked into the water.

"What happened?" he demanded to know

"I didn't do my job right. When I do, Kawano Anzu whips me." Ikuto's eyebrows fell together.

"Today, you actually saved me from a beating. There was a man that bought a private session with me. Anzu told me to basically sleep with him. He forced himself on me and I ended up hitting him until one of the maids came in." Amu's eyes started to fill up with hot tears again. "I was going to get fifty hits until your order came in. I was told if I did well, I won't get hit as much."

Ikuto wrapped his arms around her shoulders, minding where her injuries where.

"I'm sorry, Amu." He said and she burried her head into his chest and let her tears fall.

Sorry for the short chapter, I'll try to get the next part up by next weekend. I have been crammed with school the past month,