Ikuto POV
The phone suddenly went on the dial tone and there was a commotion around the house. I looked and saw a young girl and an older woman running out of the house. They must be the hostages. While the police around the house came towards the hostages, I remembered Amu. Why hasn't she come out yet? Nor has Renji. I looked around for any free officers. Mostly all of them were dealing with the crowd. Then I spotted long wavy blonde hair and I smiled.
"Rima! You and three other officers follow me inside. The newbie and the suspect are still in the house!"
She quickly pulled three officers who were managing the crowd and ran up to me. I led them into the house, and the minute I got inside I wanted to turn back. Amu's face was as white as a sheet of paper, and she was all bloody. Her golden eyes were wide in fear, and she was trembling. On the floor lay Renji…bleeding while Amu was leaning against the wall. She was clutching her shoulder, but she never looked up to see us.
Rima immediately ran over towards Amu and wrapped her jacket around her, while the officers and I dealt with Renji.
Later that Day
Amu POV
Footsteps? I could hear a faint tap of footsteps near me. But there was also people talking. A woman and a man…and I think there was someone else. Someone younger? But I wasn't sure. My head hurt…a lot and I couldn't move my right arm at all. Where am I? How was Yuzu and her family? Did they make it? What about Renji? What happened to-
"Amu can you hear me? Amu?"
A voice suddenly snapped me from my thoughts, and for the first time I looked around. White light flooded the room and wires ran from the machine to the bed. Who was sick? I looked around and saw Ikuto, a girl in blonde hair, and Tsukasa staring at me. Was I sick?
"Where am I?" I croaked.
"The hospital," answered Ikuto quickly and indifferently.
Blinking in approval I turned my head to the side and watched a tree sway before turning back to the crowd in front of me. My partner seemed to be staring at the monitor where an occasional beep would sound out. Tsukasa was just staring at the window. It was quiet.
"Ugh! You two are making this room so gloomy! Get out. Come on now!" shouted Rima.
"You can't help but be gloomy Rima," said Tsukasa.
"Does it look like I'm gloomy? Nope. Am I? Hell yeah! Now get out before she faints again. And this time I wouldn't blame her!"
"Fine. But take care of her. Bye Amu," waved Tsukasa before leaving the room.
"You too."
"She's my partner though," argued Ikuto.
"Whatever. You're not really helping the situation."
"Fine. Just…be careful."
"Yes, yes. Now shoo kitty," smiled Rima.
"Bye shortie," chuckled Ikuto.
Rima moved to Amu's side and sat down on the nearby chair.
"Sorry about that. Those two just don't know what to say at times like this so they just stay all quiet and the atmosphere is suddenly gloomy," smiled Rima.
"No…it's fine. What happened?"
"Well we don't know much. But after Yuzu and her mother escaped, Ikuto realized you and Renji hadn't come out yet, so he got me and three other officers and we intruded the house. You were as pail as a ghost and all bloody with a bullet hole in your shoulder. Renji was on the floor with two gun shots. One barely missing his ankle another near his hip."
"Oh."
"And I bet you're probably wondering when you can leave. The doctors said your wounds aren't very severe and so you can leave by today if you want."
"I can?"
"Yes, yes."
"Thank God," I mumbled.
"Haha. You know you're not bad; it might be good to have you around. I'm Rima Mashiro, a cop and dectective."
"Amu Hinamori…negotiator."
9:45 p.m.
"So Miss Hinamori you are able to leave if you want. Just make sure to get plenty of rest and eat."
"Okay. Thank you so much," I said picking up my bag from the corner of the room.
I opened the door and just as I was heading out I bumped into something and stumbled back. Rubbing my head, I looked up and in between my bangs I saw Ikuto just standing there.
"You still here?" I asked.
"Um…yeah. I thought it was partially my fault you got hurt so I thought I'd drop you off."
"NO! Um…what I mean is…I-I'll go with my car."
"Your car got busted up pretty bad. Renji drove right into it when he was trying to escape."
"How'd he try to escape?"
"Police took him inside of their car. Turns out the little bastard had a crow bar and he quickly pulled apart that fence type screen and started to drive the vehicle."
"Can I walk?"
"Do you not like me?"
"No it's not that…it's just…I-
"Okay it's fine. Let's go."
Ikuto turned around and started walking out of the hallway. That was so bad. You're an adult now Amu…being 20 kind of makes you an adult, so act like one. Plus what were you going to tell him? Oh it's not that, it's just I don't trust people. And he's probably mad at you too. Ooooh! This is horrible. I barely know the guy besides the whole partner thing and I've made him angry.
I got into his car, even though I had to take several deep breaths before I was actually 'comfortable'. When the car started I got all tense and couldn't even relax.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Um, yeah."
"Okay."
The car pulled out of the parking lot and soon we were on the freeway. The radio was playing Closer by Ne-Yo.
"How long was I in the hospital?" I asked, annoyed sort of by the silence.
"3 days."
"That long?"
"When you get shot it usually does take some time to recover."
"Oh."
"Where do you live?"
"Are we near the police department?"
"Yeah."
"Okay…so um start there and then go straight till you reach the crooked Sakura tree near the stop sign. Then turn a right, go straight, turn left, go straight, turn left again, and then you'll see some houses. Mine is the one with the Sakura tree."
"Got it."
The rest of the drive was quiet…heck even the radio was quiet and it was playing punk/rock music now. It hadn't even been 20 minutes and we were now on my street. Ikuto successfully located my house and parked his car right in front of my house. I looked, the lights were still on…every single one of them. Dammit I forgot about Ami! Did she walk home or what?
Panicking, I quickly got of the car and started running back towards the house when Ikuto called.
"Hey! Tomorrow the station has a day off, and Rima thought it would be good if you got to know some of the other officers there. Do you want to come?"
"Sure. Where and what time?"
"Meet us at the plaza near the park and at I think 3:00."
"Got it. Thanks again for the ride."
"No problem…go- Bye."
"Bye."
I fished for my keys in my purse and opened the door. The minute I shut the door, I heard Ikuto's car speed off and a crash from upstairs. Following the crash was the sound of a groan and some footsteps.
"Where have you been? I've been- WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?" screamed Ami running down the stairs.
"Long story…"
"Well you can tell me it while you eat dinner. You've been gone for 3 days. 3! I've been worried sick about you!"
"I'm sorry…but yeste- I mean three days ago I got a case."
"It's about time," mumbled Ami under her breath causing me to giggle.
"Anyways, my partner and everyone else had hoped it would be easy, but it wasn't…hostages were involved."
"What was the situation?"
"A mother and her two kids: 5 year Yuzu. God she was a cutie, and 9 year old Ren. Turns out the biological dad had died years ago and a couple years after that the mom started dating again."
"How'd that turn out," said Ami with sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Well the guy was really successful. CEO of some big shot company," I said taking the last piece of orange chicken out of the take out container.
"Then what happened?"
"Abuse. He obviously abused her, but she didn't do much I think. But she really took action when she learned he was abusing the kids too. She got a divorce…he went broke and is homeless. So he came back."
"Okay. Now what happened to that shoulder of yours?"
"…I got shot."
"BY WHO?"
"That CEO guy."
"And no Ami, I'm not quitting this job. There could be others like us and I want to help," I said when her mouth opened.
"Fine. But it's late, I'm tired, and I'm positive that your own bed is way better than a hospital."
"That's for sure. Goodnight Ami."
"Goodnight."
The next day
"Oh my freaking gosh!" groaned Ami when I came back in with a different outfit.
"I don't know what to wear. Like should I dress how I would if I was going out with friends? Or should I be sophisticated yet elegant?" I asked rummaging through my closet.
"If someone saw you they'd think you had a crush on someone in that group."
"Pssh as if. I barely know anyone, and I'm not looking for a relationship just yet. Ooh how's this?"
"A dress? Are you kidding me? It's fall Amu. Fall! You know what? Get out of the way, let me pick something!" shouted Ami.
5 minutes later
"Oooh this is cute!" I exclaimed putting my hair in a side ponytail.
"Yes, now leave before I get sick of looking at you," teased Ami.
"Whatever."
But the outfit was cute. Gray skinny jeans matched with a pair of black ankle boots with a flower at the side and a small heel. I was also wearing a white tee with a long plum purple cardigan. Silver locket necklace and dangling earrings. I picked up a silver bag with my favorite white sunglasses and headed out the door.
"Bye! Take care and don't do anything weird!" I exclaimed.
"Sure thing. Ooh I know, I'll make so much popcorn it can fill out our living room."
"Ami!"
"I'm kidding; now go before you're late."
Smiling I shut the door and just as I was about to walk out, I groaned. My car was still at a repair shop and wouldn't be ready till Monday. This stinks. Just as I was about to pull out my phone, a red BMW pulled up right in front of my house. It's radio was blaring the song California Girls by Katy Perry.
Walking down the driveway, I looked at the passengers. Rima was in the front seat driving. Then followed a boy in shaggy brown hair but these beautiful green eyes who was sitting in the passenger's seat. A boy…I think with long purple hair sat in the back next to a grumpy Ikuto who had the window seat.
"Hey Amu!" shouted Rima happily.
"Hi you guys."
"Little Ikuto here told us you're car was pretty much demolished and practically begged Rima to bring her car to pick you up," laughed the boy in shaggy brown hair.
"I did not do such a thing!" shouted Ikuto.
"Whatever, just hop in!" exclaimed Rima.
Smiling I walked over to Rima's car and took a seat next to the guy in the purple hair. The car was now blaring It's Disgusting by Kesha.
"Oh Amu I didn't introduce to these people."
"We have names!" shouted the boy in boy in shaggy brown hair.
"Whatever. Okay this boy who keeps talking his head off is Kukai. He like me is cop but isn't a detective…that would be Nagihiko here. He's the guy in the long purple hair that looks like a girl. I mean really Nagi you should think about getting that thing cut. It's longer than my hair."
"Aww Rima-tan do you really pay that much attention to me. Even comparing our hair lengths," smiled Nagi.
Rima suddenly stopped the car causing us to fall forward with the impact then fall back.
"YOU CAN WALK! Freaking little nasty…" mumbled Rima.
"Oh no. I'm sorry."
"Ugh fine."
The car started again. Kukai, Ikuto, and Nagi were snickering; Rima was mumbling things under her breath, and I just sat there…silent and dazed.
"Amu is it? Don't worry about these two, their relationship is weird."
"Do you want to walk?" asked Rima threateningly.
"I'm good."
"Good…we're here."
I looked out the window and saw a large beautiful park and near it was a bunch of shopping stores. The place was filled with people from elderly woman and men to young teens to little kids. Once Rima parked the car we all filed out and started walking towards the plaza.
"Here's the plan we'll go shopping then have lunch and then go the park."
"That's it? That's what girls do?" whined Kukai.
Rima suddenly elbowed him in the ribs.
"You're making a bad impression in front of Amu," hissed Rima.
"Oh, sorry."
"No…ahaha it's fine," I laughed.
"Let's go then!" exclaimed Rima grabbing me by the arm and pulling me to the front.
After talking with Rima for a while I felt like we became so close that we were as close as sisters.
"Oh my gosh he didn't?" Rima gasped.
"He did. He actually asked me out with one knee down and a necklace in one hand."
"Did you accept?"
"…no."
"But I thought you liked him?"
"Oh I did…there was just one problem…."
"Oh... Oh my god! Look at that store! It sells comics!" exclaimed Rima.
"Comics?"
"Nagi, Kukai come with me! I found a comic book store…THEY HAVE A NEW ONE!" shouted Rima running into the store before she could wait for their answer.
I turned around and all of a sudden Kukai and Nagi handed Ikuto all the bags and they chased after Rima. What do I do now? I walked towards Ikuto and grabbed some of the bags.
"Here let me carry some…they must be really heavy for you," I smiled.
"Okay."
"Do we just leave them there? Or should we go in?"
"Knowing them they'll probably spend at least an hour in there. Might as well go walk around."
"Okay."
Here's the problem. The minute I reply and we start walking its dead silent between us. So awkward. I've known Rima for about 1 day and we got off fast and can go through at least 20 different topics in an hour. But I've known Ikuto for more than a week and have no idea what to talk to him about. Not to mention all we ever talked about was work…work! That's it.
"What's your most interesting case you've had as a negotiator?"
"Interesting? Hmm….I would have to say trying to stop someone from committing suicide by jumping off a building…on Valentines Day in his boxers. Why? Because his girlfriend broke with him."
"Ahaha sweet but overdramatic."
"My point exactly," chuckled Ikuto.
"What did the girlfriend think?"
"Well she didn't know at all, and when we brought her and she saw him she cried, he cried. They had a fight, and made up."
"They're together then?"
"Well this happened two years ago but he had to serve a couple months in jail it's the rule. So I have no idea."
"Mhm."
"Do you want to go anywhere?" asked Ikuto.
"Um I don't really think s- There! I want to go in there!" I exclaimed pointing to a store.
"In there?" mumbled Ikuto in distaste.