A/N: I realized I have been spelling Kukai's name wrong.. Well, whatever. No big deal another 'u'. Thank you for the reviews until now, I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Kodochi Tsukasu: Did you even look at the rating of the story? I assume not, since you're so revolted. I don't get people like you. DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ! I write what I want and as long as I respect the rules of the site and even warn readers about the content, you have no right to say such things. Besides, I spent my time writing this and some people appreciate it. I'm not going to stop writing just because you flame me, I honestly couldn't care less about your oppinion. Have a nice day.

Chapter seven. Her party, his past—Part two

"My parents are home."

"I don't care."

Utau didn't know how much time passed since she came to Kukai's house, but the sun was setting. She heard her parents' car and figured out they came home.

She was in Kukai's bed. He was were facing each other, their faces very close and bodies almost glued. Her hand was on his waist and his on her cheek.

God, the way he was looking at her made her think nothing was wrong in the world.

They have been talking about them for the past hours. From their middle-school years, to the first time they met.

Utau's heart was throbbing the whole time and so was his, she could feel it. He was like a total different person. Maybe this is the real him.

"Do you still think about Ikuto?" He asked her.

"I haven't for the past hours."

"Not even a second?"

"No."

He smiled, happy with the answer. He kissed her forehead.

"I like you." He told her.

"I.. I like you too but.. I'm afraid." She replied, looking away.

"What of?" He asked.

"Of being hurt again."

He took her chin and rose her head, making her look at him.

"I would never hurt you. Not on purpose, at least. But love hurts. No matter how much two persons love each other, they will eventually hurt each other."

Utau was surprised. She was even more afraid now.

"But even if we get hurt, I will never leave you. If you want me next to you, I will never leave."

Utau didn't realize until then, but she begun crying. Those words.. How she longed to hear them.

He hugged her tightly and she hugged him back, crying on his chest. How happy she was.

She pushed him away.

"I like you, I really do and I want you by my side but.. I have to do something before that."

At first he was surprised, but he trusted her. Her eyes didn't lie.

He smiled. "I'll wait right here."

She got off the bed. Before she left the room, she turned her head around and smiled.

"I'll be back."

"Have a safe trip."

Utau was in front of Ikuto's door. She already knocked and could hear the steps approaching. She already prepared herself, but she was still a bit afraid.

When the door opened, Ikuto looked at her with a surprised look.

"Utau." He said.

"Uh..hey." She replied. "I came here to listen."

Ikuto smiled and welcomed her inside. They passed by Ikuto's parents on the way to his room.

"Utau-chan, it's been so long!" A well-known blonde woman came and hugged Utau, Ikuto's mother.

"It has." Utau replied hugging her back.

"Why didn't you come over anymore? Did Ikuto do something to you? I'll make sure to cut his b—"

"It's ok, I.. I just had some problems. I'm sorry I didn't visit."

"Mom, we have something to talk." Ikuto said.

"Oh, I'll see you later then." The woman said.

When they entered his room, nostalgia got Utau. It was the same as she remembered.

"You can sit wherever you want.." Ikuto said, scratching the back of his neck. She giggled. "What?" He asked.

"You always do this." She replied, pointing to his hand. "Even though we've known each other for a long time.."

"I guess I didn't change too much." He said smiling too.

That was when Utau realized. He didn't change. His room didn't change. He was the same, it was she that avoided him. She realized how foolish she was.. Maybe she hurt him. She was so selfish.

"Why did you leave, Ikuto?" She asked, looking him in the eye.

He felt guilty. She could see it in his eyes.

"I.. I missed you very much, Ikuto. I was hurt, it hurt so much.. I thought you hated me, I thought you left because of me."

"I did. I left because of you." He told her. She was surprised, but he continued. "I left to protect you."

"What do you mean? I was perfectly fine with you by my side!"

"No you weren't!" He replied angry. Ikuto rarely loses his calm. "After that incident when you got hurt because of me.. I knew I couldn't stay by your side forever. I couldn't protect you from all those people and I cared about you so much that I couldn't bear seeing you get hurt, so I left."

Utau couldn't believe her ears. He just confessed to her. Ikuto said he liked her. He left to protect her.

If he would have told her all of those earlier, she would have jumped on him. But she was different now.

"You were hurt too, right?" She asked. He nodded. "I liked you too, Ikuto. Actually, I loved you. You were my first love."

He was surprised by her words too.

"But I have somebody else I love now. I know you have someone too." She smiled.

She never thought she would push Ikuto towards her, but she knew Ikuto cared about Hinamori Amu. She was happy now and he deserved to be happy too.

"I'm sorry Utau, for everything." He said.

"I'm sorry too." She replied. "I avoided you since you came back.. I hurt you even more."

They looked at each other and smiled.

"I would have never thought we would confess that we loved each other." Ikuto said.

"Me neither. I suppose we weren't meant to be.."

"Ikuto, Utau-chan, I made some cookies!" Ikuto's mother yelled.

"What flavor?" They both yelled at the same time.

"Coconut!"

"Great!" They said in unison again.

They begun laughing. Nothing has changed. They were still the same, same best friends.

That was how Utau gave up on Ikuto and decided to befriend Hinamori Amu. If Ikuto loves her, she sure is a nice person.

It was the end of party, almost 1 o'clock in the morning.

Utau saw Amu and Ikuto dancing on a slow song, they looked like the perfect couple. Kukai was next to her, holding her hand. Everything was perfect.

Just then she saw Ayami, Suzuka and Rena. They hated Utau since first year of high school because she didn't want to let them join The Guards. They hated Yaya and Rima when they did join The Guards and they begun bugging Amu too.

When she saw the three girls approaching Amu, she knew nothing good would come out of it. Who invited them anyway.

"I gotta go for a second." Utau told Kukai.

Everything was perfect. She had the perfect night with the person people. She was dancing with Ikuto and her heart was throbbing like there was no tomorrow.

"How was your night, princess?" He asked, kissing the back of her hand.

"Perfect." She replied, taking his face in her hands.

He put his hand on the back of her head. They were about to kiss when someone interrupted them.

"Hey Amu."

'Oh no. Not them.'

"What do you want, Ayami?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to ask how's it going with the bet." She said with a mischievous grin.

'How does she know about the bet?'

"What bet?" Ikuto asked.

'Oh no, if he finds out he'll think I'm faking everything. He'll hate me.'

"Nothing, they just want to anger me." Amu replied.

"Ok." Ikuto said, believing her.

She was surprised he believed her so easily.

"We're not lying, she made a bet she will make you fall in love with her in a month. If she doesn't, she'll have to drop out of school." Suzuka said.

"Yeah sure." Ikuto said. He believed Amu, even though she was lying. "Just leave already."

"I keep telling you, we're not lying!" Rena yelled.

"Leave!" Ikuto yelled back.

"Amu, the bet is canceled!" Utau came running.

With that, Amu knew she was done for. Ikuto was looking at Utau surprised.

"Utau.. Is it true?" He asked.

"W-What?" The blonde asked.

"I told you it's true." Ayami said.

Ikuto looked at Amu. "Is it true? You made a bet on me?" She didn't reply, she couldn't even look at him. "Answer me!"

"I.. It's true, I did. But it was at the beginning, now it's different. I li—"

"Liar." He said coldly.

When Amu looked at him, he had a total different expression. He was so cold, distant. She begun to tremble.

"Ikuto—"

"I don't want to listen to your excuses anymore. I hope you're happy, you won the bet."

"W-What?" Ayami was stunned, she couldn't believe she actually won the bet.

"Oh no, I.. I'm sorry Amu." Utau said as Ikuto left, leaving the pinkette stunned.

"What have I done..?" Was all Amu could say.

The world was falling apart and she could do nothing, because it was her fault.