Chapter 13: A Moment of Clarity

Amu went inside, and went upstairs. Her mind wasn't empty of worries, but now that she had a dress...something about it made her happy...or maybe it was the fact that Rima cared. She opened her door and looked around...something was wrong.

She opened her closet and hung her dress up. She felt an urge to lift up the sheets on her bed...nothing.

Ikuto hadn't come. Chances are he was on his way back to Europe.

She sighed and jumped on her bed. Maybe she just wasn't supposed to be with anyone. Kukai was with Utau...Rima liked Nagihiko, it was pretty clear...Yaya...well was Yaya...and Tadase...well Tadase and Ikuto were part of the problem.

She looked at her dress hanging up. Well...at least she had graduation tomorrow. She took a long shower and went to bed...dinner didn't feel like an option at this point.

She fell asleep almost instantaneously and felt her mind overcome her dreams.

Flashing images of Ikuto and Tadase clouded them, while Rima narrated it all

"Who of the two spends the most time with you?"

"Who seems to know who you really are?"

"Who's been there for you the longest?"

...but be with who you love obviously...

Amu woke up with a start. Those questions...she had almost forgot that Rima had helped her earlier! She got up and walked over to her desk and sat down.

"*Yawn* Amu-chan what are you doing up?" Ran said with closed tired eyes.

"Shh. I have to write this down." She scribbled the questions down.

"Leave this to me." Mikki yawned, and Ran nodded and went back in her shell.

"Who of the two spends the most time with you?"

Amu looked at the question. Well Tadase was in her class at school and they saw each other over the holidays but ... lately it had kind of been Ikuto? Only because he came back...which reminded her...he'd left his career in Europe to come back here? For her? She felt her cheeks grow red. She didn't deserve this. She sighed...she didn't get far on that one. Okay next question...

"Who seems to know who you really are?"

...Well Tadase did know her...I mean he told her he'd grown fond of her past Amulet Heart. Amulet Heart was kind of her go to with Ran...but it took him a while to realize that. Ikuto...well Ikuto...never really chose a guardian to favor. He'd just always flirted with her, even as his enemy...even though he never felt like an enemy... She looked over to the bracelet sitting with the heart clip...Her heart started beating faster as she somehow maybe felt a little closer to her answer.

"Who's been there for you the longest?"

...Tadase took a while to warm up to her... he'd first used his dog as a cute excuse...but a surprising reason why not to love her. It was a little juvanile but admirable. Then he liked Amulet fortune so he'd never really come around to just see her. Eventually towards the end he was there a lot for her... it was Tadase and Ikuto took it upon themselves to protect her more than anyone. Ikuto...well Ikuto had basically saved her from the first time she fell off of a ledge, and had hung around since...Yoru had a lot to do with it too...and lately...well lately...Ikuto...*Yawn*...Amu felt her eyes close and she rested her head on her desk. Miki had seen her the whole time...and looked over to the page...she patted Amu-chan on the head and saw that underneath Amu had written the last question down...

"Be with who you love...who do I love?"

Her hand held a pencil that had made one line. One line that could be the start of a T or the beginning of an I ...Mikki smiled. Amu-chan would figure it out..she always did.

Amu-chan got up the next morning and stretched from a rather uncomfortable sleep on her desk chair. She looked down at her paper hard. Her head was still confused...but somehow a fog was lifted a bit...her heart kept beating faster with every answer she found. Then she remembered...

"SHOOT ITS GRADUATION DAY!" She stood up and knocked over her chair.

"Amu-chan hurry!" Ran, Mikki and Su cheered. Dia poked her head out of the egg, and smiled.

She wore her uniform and grabbed her cap and gown from her closet. She brushed her teeth and did her hair and styled it typically. She looked on her desk and grabbed Ikuto's bracelet, and her books and ran downstairs.

"SURPRISE!" Her family said, as they popped streamers.

"My baby girl is graduating!" Her father sung out, almost in tears.

"We'll be coming to watch today!" Her mother said cheerfully and proud.

"It's not a big deal...I'm only graduating grade school..." Amu shrugged. Sometimes...her parents were too much.

Ami-chan looked at her with big round eyes. "Amu-chan going to be a big gwirl now!"

Amu smiled. She didn't feel older...or more adult...but I guess she was...she was going to high school...to decide her future. Her guardians didn't really reveal her future aspiration because she wasn't too clear yet...but I guess she had her options...She grabbed a lunch and walked out.

"You ready Amu?" Rima looked at her as they were almost ready for their graduation.

"I'm not sure..." Amu said. "I think I know but I'm still not sure..."

"If you want to graduate?" Rima asked warily.

"Oh...that...no...no..." Amu said.

Rima looked at her confused. "What's the problem now? I told you to be happy today and you didn't listen...even after I got you your dress. "

"Sorry...Its just..." Amu looked around. Ikuto hadn't shown up last night...he hadn't shown up this morning...maybe he did go back to Europe. "I think someone might have left...and I'm worried they might not show."

Rima questioned her with a look.

Amu sighed and sat down in her spot in line on a chair. She hadn't seen Tadase much this morning, Ikuto was gone, and her heart was wavering sides...she looked at her bracelet and played with the charms absent mindedly.

"What's wrong with Amu?" Nagi and Tadase walked over.

"She said she's afraid someone might have left...and they won't show today..." Rima shrugged, neutral face and all.

Tadase looked at her. He'd had a growing rock in his stomach from the day Amu had told him she wasn't sure she loved him. He'd known Ikuto had always flirted with her...but Amu had been the only one who'd tried to understand Ikuto...he'd made the mistake of thinking he was some rebellious, ex-brother to him who had ran off and left his family for no reason.

"Rima?" Tadase whispered.

"What?"

"Did you find some kind of entertainment for tonight for the Graduation party?"

Nagi looked at Rima. Rima caught his stare and blushed. She lowered her head. "Yea, a band, why?"

"Do you think we have room for a second performance?"

Rima and Nagihiko gave Tadase a questioning look as Tadase took out his cell and sent a message out, hoping that his plan would work.