Ami POV

As the current group danced on stage, I snuck out of my dressing room and ran over towards the curtain that shielded the oncoming groups from the audience. I poked my head out. The front seat that had been where Amu promised would be was empty. A sinking feeling reached my stomach and I sighed and walked back to my dressing room. I opened the door and was greeted by a bunch of girls putting on makeup and such when they already had pounds of goop on their face.

It was hard to make friends with these girls A) because they were older than I was. Yes I'm 12 years old and I'm in my first year of high school. I skipped a grade or two. B) Most of them were just…blugh…they had athletes for boyfriends while I didn't have a single one. Not even a nerd. They also put on so much makeup you'd think it was an alien from outer space or something. The only thing I could ever relate too with them was the latest style and that was pretty much it.

"Hey Ami, how are you?" asked a small girl with large brown eyes and cocoa brown hair.

"What do you want Saki?" I scowled.

"My oh my, what a big temper for such a little girl."

"Spit it out, I don't have time for you or your little posse."

"I checked out in the audience, didn't see Amu or your parents."

A couple members from her posse snickered, even Sarah; her new best friend…my old one. I turned around and saw all the participants' eyes on me and her. Attention…I had had enough of it when I was younger…no more…please. But with that being said I had somehow always gathered the attention. Whether it was the latest style, my sister being Amu or even hanging out with my very many guy friends.

"Amu is coming! And like I've said before my parents aren't coming." No they're watching over me. I finished in my head.

"Really? Because last time I checked she was 20 and just recently got a job," replied Sarah.

"Shut it," said Saki mimicking her words with her hand.

Sarah only made a face at me. I felt bad for her, I really did.

"I bet she's hanging around one of the guys at work."

"Just watch her come!" I countered.

"Oh I will," smirked Saki before walking off.

I huffed my breath and walked towards one of the vacant mirrors and fixed my hair and the almost make up Amu had let me wear. Only mascara and eye shadow and some lip gloss. Amu I know deep inside you're coming. You are coming, right?

Amu POV

Someone shoot me! Why the hell is he coming along, I barely even know him. I pushed past a couple of officers who stood in the middle of the hallway socializing. I honestly had no time to think about the reasons towards why he was coming with me.

"Already leav-

"Sorry Suzuki I have to go!" I shouted running towards the parking lot.

"Where's your car?"

"Excuse me?"

I stopped still and just stared at him. I really don't want to be rude but I rushing and I really don't have time to be polite.

"Are you half brain dead or something. Where is your car?"

What he did I really didn't expect it. He smirked and pointed to the familiar black convertible. I ran towards the car and just as I was about to open the door to the driver's seat, Ikuto pulled me back and sat down.

"Sorry kiddo this one's mine."

"Whatever, just drive. Fast!"

He pulled out of the parking lot and drove into the street. I looked at the time: 3:05 p.m.

"Dammit! I'm late! You drive faster!"

"I can't…speeding ticket."

"ARE you serious? Get out NOW!"

"Wait this is-

"NOW!" I screamed.

When he didn't move, I took the steering the wheel and pulled the car to the curb. I then physically grabbed him by the arms and pulled him over, and he then just climbed around and got into the passengers seat while I switched to his. I then pressed my foot to the pedal and sped away.

"And every one says bossy women are the best type of women. Pssh as if," mumbled Ikuto under his breath harshly.

"I heard that."

"Good."

"Hey why'd you even come with me?" I asked.

"Slow down red light," he said.

I only looked back up at him confused, and I guess I must've crossed a red light because he just exploded.

"What the hell? You just crossed a fucking red light!"

Haha he seems angry. That's a nice change he's always so emo…

"Nice to see you're not so dead and emo now," I smiled.

"Whatever."

"So why'd you come with me?"

"Because I don't need you bitching about how you couldn't get a ride or how you missed some recital thingy at work."

"Could've lent me you car."

"And have you cross a hundred red lights? No thank you."

I snuck a quick peek at the time again, 3:15 p.m. Damn its already been 10 minutes? I pressed my foot harder on the pedal then took a sharp turn towards the school. In a matter of minutes I was parked at the school parking lot and I ran towards the MP room.

Ami POV

We finished our first performance and were just heading back into the dressing room to change our clothes for the next dance. I was just walking back when Saki and her posse stopped me.

"Didn't see your big sis now did I?"

"What does any of this have to do with you?" I shouted, my throat started to hurt and I could feel the hot sting of tears.

"What? It's payback sweetie. I am going to make you suffer in a form I can, and right now pressing those short tempered buttons of yours, that's like frosting on a cake for me."

I pushed right past her and headed into the dressing room. Amu, just where are you?

Amu POV

"Sorry. Excuse me. Sir, move your chair I'm trying to get through. Hey you, yes you, move it!" I barked as I tried to get to my reserved seat in the front.

"Definitely bossy."

"Shut up."

When I finally got to my seat I sat down and Ikuto sat besides. The minute we sat another performance had begun. Three girls walked on stage two of them I immediately recognized. Ami and her ex best friend Sarah. When Ami looked my way I gave her a wave and she smiled at me, her attention then turned towards Ikuto and her eyes widened in shock. I shrugged it off as the lights dimmed. All of a sudden the song Shots by LMFAO ft. Lil Jon started to pound in the background.

The lights flashed back on and the dancing began. A few minutes into the performance I turned to look at Ikuto and he looked…stressed?

"Didn't you say you had a sister?"

"Yes, I did and I do."

"Well I can't find her. In fact there's no one on the stage with pink hair."

At his comment I started to laugh loudly enough that one of the parents turned around and shushed me. I apologized and started to giggle.

"What?"

The lights suddenly turned back off and the curtain drew signaling the end of the recital. A woman came on stage.

"Thank you family and guardians for being here and watching your wonderful child perform. I hope to see you once again in the future."

"Come on!" I said pulling Ikuto up.

Ami POV

I walked towards main hall to meet Amu with a happy grin on my face. Thank you. That smile however was immediately wiped away when I saw Saki and Sarah.

"Hey Ami," smiled Sarah.

"Shut up!" snapped Saki. "Anyways, I saw your sister. She was late. And had a guy with her. Double whammy."

Who says whammy anymore? And you didn't have to remind me about him. I had already slightly winced when I saw him…before I recognized him.

"Shut it. At least they were mature unlike that little sister of yours who I saw was crying. Something about her older sister's Barbie doll," I smiled.

"Shut your- Hi Amu!" cheered Saki happily as if she was some sort of God.

"Hi. Are you Ami's friend?"

"Not eve-

"Of course we are!" exclaimed Saki interrupting me.

"Okay, well it's nice to meet you."

"Same here," said Saki walking away with Sarah.

Amu POV

"Who's that?" asked Ikuto referring to Ami.

"My little sister."

"Did she dye her hair?"

"No."

"Amu!" exclaimed Ami flinging herself into my arms.

"Hi kiddo! Loved your performance!"

"Really? Good!...Hi Ikuto."

I spun and immediately face Ikuto who had a frown on his face. How do they know each other?

"Amu, have you talked that much about me at home?" asked Ikuto.

"In your dreams. Ami how do you know Ikuto? I've never once said his name to you."

Ami looked at me like I was insane.

"You don't remember him?"

"From where? I've only known him for a month or so."

"What about you? Do you remember Amu?"

"No. Same as her, I've only known her a month."

"You guys really don't remember?"

"Not really."

"No."

"Why what's up kiddo?" I asked.

"Huh, nothing, never mind. Amu, are we going to go?"

"Yeah sure. Ikuto, do you mind?"

"Not at all."

"Thanks."

We walked to Ikuto's car. Ami sat in the back seat and when I came to sit with her she frowned and pointed to the front seat. I sighed and sat in the front next to Ikuto and he then sped off. As he drove I looked at the time 5:54 p.m. That was…quick?

We were soon at my house, and Ami quickly jumped out of the car and ran into the house. I too got out of the car but instead of running into the house I turned to face Ikuto.

"Thank you for today. For everything."

"No problem," said Ikuto turning around.

"Wait! I should repay you…um…how does lunch sound?"

"I could just make it."

"Deal, on tomorrow then at 3:00…my house."

"I'll be there."

With that I watched Ikuto speed off. I could really use a bubble bath. I thought absentmindedly as I headed back inside. I walked upstairs and saw Ami's room shut with the lights off. It's not even late out yet. I opened her door, and looked inside, she was sleeping.

"Ami, you okay?" I asked sitting on the corner of her bed.

"Go away."

Never in my life had Ami told me to go away. Never. Not once. Not knowing how to respond I got up and left the room.

Ikuto POV

Having nothing better to do I drove back to work. I walked inside and found myself going towards Kukai's office, which I hardly ever do.

"Where'd you go?" exclaimed Kukai once I had taken a seat on the uncomfortable couch.

"Drop off Amu."

"Mhm. Do you guys…um…have something?" asked Kukai with a crooked grin on his face.

"No way in hell!"

"Nice to finally see some color in your face man. You've gotten noisier too."

"Noisier?"

"Yeah, you talk more now. You always only used to say a couple words at a time." I just stared at him blankly. Haven't I always been like this?

"So you guys have nothing?" asked Kukai.

"No."

"I see," he said sounding a bit dejected.

I got up from the chair and turned to leave the room, but then faced Kukai again.

"She invited me to lunch…tomorrow," I said before leaving the office.

I walked back to the main office and just as I was about to pull out my card that signaled that I was working, I noticed that Amu's was still in the slot so I pulled hers out too and stuck them both in my wallet. I wonder what we'll have for lunch…

The Next Day

Amu POV

I tied my hair in a high ponytail leaving a couple chunks of my bangs out. I then quickly put on a pair of dark jeans, and a dark blue long sleeve.

"Ami! Hurry up!" I shouted, my voice echoing throughout the house.

"…"

I groaned. Ami had been giving me the silent treatment for quite some time now. I sighed, and grabbed a big black bag and my favorite pair of black sunglasses. I ran down the stairs of our house, and put on a pair of gray boots.

"Ami!" I shouted impatiently.

I didn't bother to listen for her reply, and instead looked at my watch 12:31 p.m. Damn today was the worst day to sleep in. Today is failing horribly. Not only did I sleep in but of all days it had to be the day I was expecting company and Ami certainly wasn't helping. When I finally heard her door open and a shuffle of footsteps I sent a silent prayer and walked…okay more like ran to the kitchen table and grabbed my keys. She walked down stairs taking her oh so gentle time. When I looked at her she looked like she had thrown her outfit together in less than 3 minutes.

Her golden almost brown hair was curled, and she had on a white long sleeve and matched it with a plaid red skirt with black leggings and boots. I groaned then stormed to the garage where my wonderfully white BMW was waiting for me. Oh how I missed you, but I sure as hell wouldn't miss my freaking bill on its damage payment. Hell I shouldn't even be paying for it.

Ami got into the back seat which was unusual because she always craved to sit in the front, but I didn't give it much thought and backed out of the garage. I started to drive towards the supermarket and when I got to the parking lot I strangely had to look for a parking space. Then bliss hit me. I finally found a space – but so did some other lady. I quickly pressed my foot to the pedal and I'm guessing she did too. She was just about to park into the space when I cut her off and park receiving an angry park and some snickering from the back seat. Now if I hadn't been so rushed I would have never done such a horrible act, but today wasn't under normal circumstances so I ignored the lady and put her out of my mind.

I grabbed a car from the cart rack that was near my car and raced to the store.

Ikuto POV

Saturday, the day any sane person would take a day off and enjoy the weekends…not me. Nope…well kind of. I had been taking my day off to do some other things, but no work just had to call me. And what was I doing now, oh nothing special just negotiating another suicidal victim. I looked at the guy again and wondered why none of the other negotiators had bothered with this guy.

He was standing in front of his own house with a gun up to his head. He wasn't…slim either. Very chubby in fact, and I pitied his reasons for even doing this. He was young, so very young, I guessing he was near his teens. Reasons? The kids at school bullied him about his weight. Though this might've been easy to any other person, it wasn't to me. It was too deep, too personal. Anything I might've said at this point wouldn't work because he's heard it all from parents, family, close caring friends.

"Ikuto, what's the matter with you?" scolded Rima. She too was pissed for being called here on her day off. "Say something. Do something!" she hissed.

"I can't. It's not meaningful, if I said it to him now, considering his state and situation it would be a bundle of shallow lies."

"Well at least try. Who knows you could end up saving this boy's life."

"Fine, but I'm telling you it's not going to work. Are any other negotiators in right now?"

"Just you right now and two others who have their hands full on other cases."

"Damn I hate to do this, but keep Amu on speed dial."

"Got it."

I walked up to the boy.

"Hi there, how are you doing?"

The boy looked up, his face blank with emotion.

"I'm fine…sir."

"Call me Ikuto. What's your name?"

"Kiyoshi."

"Kiyoshi, you want to explain your situation to me?"

"…Could you just go…I don't want to talk about it."

"If that's what you want."

And for the first time I turned away from the victim and headed back to the scene.

"What happened?" asked Rima quickly.

"Call Amu, I can't do this," I said without another word.

Amu POV

"Baby its you…na na na," I said singing to the song that just popped up onto the radio.

I took out some chicken and started to marinate it when the phone suddenly called. I quickly washed my hands, and turned down the volume of the radio and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Amu, we need you now," said Rima urgently.

Frowning, I took off my apron that had been put over the clothes I worn to the store and sat down at the kitchen table.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Suicidal case, we need you to come."

"Aren't there any other negotiators in the station?"

"There were only two at the station but their schedules are filled up. So we called Ikuto but he can't handle it."

"Got it, I'm coming right now," I said running to get my keys.

"Ami! Watch the house, and turn down the stove! I need to go out for a case."

Not bothering for her to respond I ran to my car and raced to the sight.

30 minutes later

I jumped out of the car and ran to the sight. I saw a few people and a lot of police. The faster I ran; I could see Rima trying to calm down Ikuto who was pacing around. When I got closer, Ikuto turned his head and relief spread to his face.

"Thank God you're here. Please help!" he exclaimed.

"What's the case."

"There's this teenager and the kids have been making fun of his weight and-

"Is that his?" I asked cutting him short.

"Yeah."

I didn't need much more, and stalked towards the boy.

"Give me your gun please," I said without introducing myself or asking for his name.

He was clearly taken back by this but didn't do anything. Stubborn is he? Fine then I'll be forceful. I snatched the gun out of his hand, and just as he was about to protest I slapped him across the cheek.

"Amu!" shouted Ikuto.

"Shut up!" This is so out of character…

"Listen here…what's your name?"

"Kiyoshi."

"Kiyoshi, I am not like the others over there. To them you are just another victim; to me you are another kid throwing away their life."

"Why do you care?" he spat out bitterly. "You are like the others. You are so wrapped up in your own selfishness that when someone else is in trouble you think gentle coos and pats on the back will solve it all."

"Listen to me, I understand how you're feeling and-

"NO! No…no you don't understand it at all. There you are again trying to fix the surface when there's more, deeper."

"Listen to me!" I nearly shouted. "You don't need to do this! Family, friends…me. I want to help you like you were my own sibling. You should know your family loves you and your friends. They stand by you no matter what."

"…My friends left me a long time ago…" he muttered darkly.

"Then," I said holding his head with my hands. "They aren't your friends. But I am…I want to be. I had a hard life too, and people always tried to smooth the surface. For example a pizza, if your dough is messed up no matter how much sauce you spread over it, it won't taste as good. My parents were murdered, I had no support. So don't go thinking my life was perfect, I had troubles. I want to help you. Will you let me?"

He looked at me, and then I saw it in those vivid green eyes. He was a teenager, but not now. He was a crying child at heart. A single slid down his cheek and landed on his lap.

"You are different…thank you," he whispered.

I gave him a big bear hug then pulled him up off the ground and we walked to the awaiting crowd. His parents ran up to him and smothered him with hugs and kisses. Me too, I was smothered with 'Thank you' and 'Good job'.

"Amu!" squealed Rima walking over towards me. "You did great!" she said giving me a big fat hug.

"Really?"

"Yeah, here some water," she said handing me the water bottle.

"Thanks, I'm beat," I smiled.

I looked up and saw Ikuto walking over towards me.

"I owe you one," he said before walking away.

"What's with him?" I asked frowning.

"Ikuto? He's always been like that…but he was scared about actually talking with the boy. He did try to talk to him, but didn't push."

"I see."

"You want to head to a café?" asked Rima.

"Sorry, I have to go."

"Date with Ikuto?" smiled Rima cheekily.

"How'd you know?"

"Word travels."

I got up and started to walk to my car when I turned around and smiled.

"Not a date. I just owe him."

"Suuuuure, now go have some fun."

"Whatever."

The minute I was home, I started cooking like I would die in the next hour. Around 2:34 p.m. the doorbell rang and was nearly mortified thinking it was Ikuto, turns out it was Mikoto from next door asking if Ami would come over. After finishing the food was done. Okay well not finishing but preparing the majority of it, I started to 'clean' the house very quickly.

Looking at the time again there was only 10 minutes left before he came, I ran upstairs to get dressed. I walked back down in denim jeans and a cute tee shirt. Just as I started to take the food back out and prepare the table the doorbell rang.

I walked to the door, opened it and then thought out a long line of curses. This could possibly be the worst idea I've ever had.