CHAPTER 22.1:

His lips touched mine, surprisingly warm despite the cold weather. I let his other hand touch the back of my neck and pull me closer. A current flowed through me. I wasn't sure if kissing was only part of the act but right now I just didn't care.

Just as I was certain I didn't have any air in my lungs anymore, Ikuto pulled away and held my face in his hands.

"I will never betray you, Amu. Never doubt me," he'd said.

I was so confident that I didn't know how to cry. But right at that moment, for some unknown reason, a tear slipped from my eye, followed by more and more until I could no longer see Ikuto's face.

His hand reached behind my head and pulled me to his chest. "Ssshhh..."

My fingers wrapped around the lapels of his jacket and gripped hard. I wasn't sure why I was crying but I really felt like I was hurting pretty bad. Ikuto patted my head and kept on running his hand down my hair over and over.

"Just let it all out. I'm right here. I won't leave you – ever,"

I knew the moment I woke up I wouldn't be in the hospital anymore. And I was right. Strong arms wrapped around me as I jerked awake from my dream – or nightmare for that matter. I felt silky cloth in my hands and found that I was gripping onto someone's jacket, the half of my face buried in that someone's chest. Another jerk from the vehicle let me know that we were travelling. I threw my gaze outside. It was dark.

How long have I been out? Well, obviously, long enough from them to be able to carry me inside this car. My chest tightened at the memory of Ikuto and Yoru betraying me. I still couldn't believe what happened. Those fucking bastards disappointed me. Damn them.

A familiar spiced scent wafted around me like cloud. I exhaled, purging the smell out of my lungs but it's no use. The scent surrounded me nevertheless.

"I know you're awake, you know," Ikuto sounded like his old, playful self. But then, was he really like that before or was that a front, too?

My heart clenched painfully, still unable to grasp the reality that everything had been an act. He asked for my trust and I unthinkingly gave it to him. I mentally shook myself, hoping that this was all a dream that when I wake up, I would see my family safe and sound; and Ikuto still on my side. But my subconscious refused to let me live in that false pretense, instead, it made me feel helpless and weak.

I shoved him away with my cuff-less-but-tied-up-anyway hands and failed. Whatever drug they gave me made me physically weaker than I thought. Either that, or he was incredibly strong.

"Stop fighting, Amu," He sounded way gentler than he should.

"Don't. Just don't, Ikuto,"

Was it just me or did my voice sound really bitter?

Ikuto tightened his arm around me. "Please, just stop–"

"Or what?" I snapped, "You'd let them take me, too, just like you did to my sister?"

Defiant tears slipped from my eyes. I turned my head away, not wanting him or whoever was driving see me crying. For a moment, I couldn't see a thing from all the tears. My family was out there in God-knows-where, God-knows-what happening to them. Trusting Ikuto probably was the greatest mistake I'd done in my entire life. I angrily wiped the tears away, refusing to give in to grief.

I will get away from this.

And I WILL save my family...whatever it takes.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" I demanded.

Ikuto loosened his arm and faced me. "We're taking you somewhere safer,"

"Right," I deadpanned, "because you care about my safety so much,"

A pained expression flashed across his face, breaking his calm demeanor a little. Then he blinked and it disappeared instantly, making me doubt if it was really there. I itched to punch him straight in the face. Suddenly, my blood boiled at the thought of wrecking his perfect face.

"Just stay put. We're almost there," I heard Yoru speak from the driver's seat. He sounded calm, nonchalant, even.

The car pulled into a stop and I could make out two people outside caught by the dim orangey light of the lamppost. Ikuto opened the door and pulled me out. I staggered out as he dragged me away, his hand gripped so tight on my arm it'd probably leave a bruise.

"Where are you taking me?" I tremble with rage. "Let me go, Ikuto!"

He remained silent and got me away from the car. I tried to stop him from dragging me but failed. I glanced around. It was dark. Besides the twenty-five-meter-away lampposts, there were no other source of light, no houses anywhere. Just where in Japan were we really?

He pulled me to the front of the car where the two figures I saw earlier stood. The lamppost illuminated their faces, making it possible for me to see what they looked like. All the blood suddenly drained from my face as I recognized one of them.

One had shoulder-length purple hair brushing the top of his leather jacket. Under it, he wore a gray shirt. His golden eyes stared at me for a second before glancing at Ikuto beside me. Beside him was a girl in a Charanari High uniform covered with a white coat. Her long, high ponytail was held up by a strikingly familiar red ribbon. They had identical faces.

"N-Nagi..." I choked out.

What the fuck was going on?

I felt Ikuto drag me forward. My feet obeyed mindlessly but my eyes were still trained on the twins. Nagi looked poised and calm, like he knew perfectly well what was going on and he had no problem about it. Nadeshiko shoot me a glance and then looked away and bit her lip.

"Tsukiyomi-kun," Nagi's voice sounded formal, business-like.

Ikuto walked closer, his left hand keeping half of my body behind his back. "I trust you on this, Fujisaki," he said.

My eyes danced between the two of them. Yoru, on the other hand, suddenly had an automatic in his hands. He was glancing around, as if hunting for something to shoot. I shivered. I had no idea what was going on.

Nadeshiko nudged Nagi. "We should hurry up," she said and shifted on her foot.

Then I saw Nadeshiko's hand which had a huge gold ring on it. It had a familiar round insignia carved on top. I squinted and saw letters circling the emblem.

I. K. A. S. I. J. U. F.

It was the same letters over and over, circling the design in the center. The logo in the center glowed like coals under the headlights. It was the same insignia from the seal on the letter Ami got.

Then it clicked.

F. U. J. I. S. A. K. I.

Oh, fuck.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Oh, no! Not only Ikuto and Yoru are traitors but Nagi and Nadeshiko, as well? Is there anyone still on her side? And what did that ring mean?

FIKASIJU = FUJISAKI

Get it?

Anyway, this is Chapter 22.1 because the entire chapter was too long so I decided to split it in two. Give me your thoughts, dear readers. Please review. Arigatou gozaimasu!

With all the love for writing,

Lace Ashdown