I took out my phone and called the number Kukai had given me. This was completely different than my last hostage case. Yuzu…Ren…their mom and dad. While I had been trying to get Yuzu and everyone else out, there had been a crowd of worried neighbors, curious onlookers and frightened family who had been called. The police was keeping the crowd in line and there were others who were keeping watch on the house. I was in the center talking to Yuzu's dad who had finally snapped.

But this…this scenario was totally different. There was no crowd or the worried whispers. The school was completely empty as if no one was there. It was in lockdown mode. But there were people here. Thousands of students and some hostage takers…they were just out of sight. There wasn't a crowd of police in the background. No, it was Kukai, Rima, and I along with three other officers. Police cars had surrounded the school. Everyone else was trying to empty out the classrooms. The students…how did they feel?

"What?" asked a tired but arrogant voice.

"I'm the negotiator…Amu."

"I'm Kaine. Fuck off."

"I can't. Anyways, how are the kids in there?"

"Scared to death and I love every minute of it."

"Medical issues? We've got an ambulance and paramedics on the scene."

"No."

"Why'd you come here?"

"Reasons."

"What reasons?"

"Fuck off bitch."

"And as I said before I can't. You have hostages in there, and it's my job to get them out."

"Listen here, I don't know what your problem is but I'm not getting involved. I certainly don't want a cheap ass negotiator trying to help, because you can't. And if you try anything I will kill every student in this classroom."

"A trade."

"What?"

"A trade. What do you want and in exchange you'll release the hostages."

"I want…cash."

"Okay, how much? 10 thousand, 20 thousand-

"1 million."

"Kaine, be realistic we don't have that kind of cash just lying around and-

"Listen here bitch, you said a trade; I asked for cash in exchange for some stupid students."

I sighed.

"How many students would you release if we gave you the million?"

"10."

"How many students are in there?"

He didn't respond, instead I heard him counting every single student in the class.

"56, supposedly there should only be 36 but some guest students came."

"Well, now 10 students aren't enough. 1 million is a lot-

"Supposing you give it," he interrupted.

"Say if we do, then you need to raise the number of student hostages you plan on releasing."

"Make it 20 million and I'll release all the female hostages."

"Okay, so 20 million and all females in there are out and safe?"

"Don't make me repeat myself bitch."

"Let me get someone to get the 20 million."

"On second thought, I don't want the cash, which means no hostages for you."

I could hear the grin in his voice.

"Are you playing with me Kaine? This is a serious matter."

"To you. To me it's all a game."

I wanted to argue back but decided against it.

"How old are you?" I asked suddenly changing the subject.

"27."

He's the same age as Ikuto if I'm right.

"Are the cops after you?"

"Well that's a stupid question knowing that you guys have surrounded the school."

He's sharp.

"How about-

"Is that you're real hair color?" he asked all of a sudden.

"Yes," I said confused.

"Do you have a sibling?"

"Yes," I said once again in a confused voice.

"Call back in exactly 10 minutes or a student is going to get it."

And then he hung up.

I turned around to see Kukai and Rima with guns in their hands looking around the area. I walked over towards them. Rima was the first to talk.

"What happened?" she asked in a frantic voice. "Why aren't you talking?"

"He hung up and told me to call in 10 minutes or a student is getting shot."

"Well what are you going to do now?" asked Kukai walking towards Rima and I.

"Guess I'm going to have to wait."

On the outside…I may have just been a patient negotiator waiting for the 10 minutes to end so I could talk to the hostage taker. But on the inside it was different. I was sick. Ami will probably shred me alive if I told her I was taking on a hostage case while I was sick. And this was the school of my fears…of my pains…of my unborn hopes.

Ikuto POV

"What the hell is up with this school?" I shouted impatiently.

"What are you talking about?" asked Nagi.

"It's like a fucking maze. You turn one corner there's like two classrooms and dead end."

"Not really. It's actually very organized."

"Whatever. So far all three classrooms have been empty."

"Yeah, but I'm worried about Amu. She didn't look so good in the car. What happened with her in your car?"

The first thing that popped into my head was the thing Amu told me in the car. The way she rubbed her arms while she was shaking. Her tears.

"She had somewhat of a sob fest, but she calmed down in the end."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

After a few more empty classrooms we stopped searching and headed back to the group. Something was wrong. A high school like this shouldn't have more than 6 empty classrooms, especially in the state of a lockdown.

When we got back we saw Amu sitting under a tree with Kukai and Rima on either side of her…almost like bodyguards.

"What happened?"

"The guy hung up on her and told her to call back in exactly 10 minutes or a student is shot," answered Rima shortly and bluntly.

"Oh."

"Speaking of calling, Amu has it been 10 minutes yet?" asked Kukai.

"Almost…in 10 seconds. I'd better call."

She took out her cell phone and began to dial the number.

Amu POV

"Kaine?"

"Thought you would've been late."

"No."

"Well that's too bad, since I was looking forward to shooting a kid and hearing it scream out in pain."

What the hell is up with this creep?

"Are you thinking about releasing any of the hostages now?"

"Impatient are we? No, not until you tell those other cops who just joined you to leave."

"And if I don't?"

"Let's see…1, 2, 3, 4, 5 students get it."

"Alright…give me a minute."

I put the phone on hold and looked over at Ikuto and the group.

"What?" asked Ikuto in an aggravated voice.

Why is he angry?

"He says you have to go. You, Nagi, and all the police you brought with you."

"Where the hell are we supposed to go?"

"I don't know, he just said you guys have to go."

What the freak is his problem? It's not like we're some married couple and I just randomly kicked him out of the house.

"Bullshit. What if we don't?"

"He's going to injure 5 students."

"Fine…we'll be by the S-wing."

"Thanks."

"There, they're gone," I said bitterly.

"What a commotion that one with the blue hair caused. Is he your boyfriend?"

"No. We are not in the slightest way 'together'".

"Sure."

"How are the students in there?"

"Complaining. They want to use the restroom, but what they don't realize is that if they go, they'll run away, and I'll shoot them down. So they're pissing themselves."

"No bathroom breaks huh? You're quite the cruel hostage taker."

"Just doin' my job babe."

"Don't call me that."

"I can call you whatever the hell I want."

I felt a cold shiver crawl up my spine. Not because I was cold or because I was intimidated. But because I had heard that line before.

"Listen I need you to release the students. Every single one who's in that classroom right now."

It was abrupt and to the point. The fact was my patience was running thin with this guy. He played around and got his fair share while all I got was a bunch of slaps in the face and more pressure.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO FUCKING DO YOU WHORE!"

"Listen, I have no intention of saying: 'Oh I'll do anything you want as long as you don't hurt the students'. No, that's not how we work as negotiators. And I'm as sure as hell not gambling thousands of students' lives."

"You don't even know them. What makes you act so cocky about some teenagers?"

"Because I've been a teenager, and I know what it's like to-

"Shut the fuck up! I've told you a hundred times to quiet your mouth yet you go around helping all these grubby kids!" he shouted over the phone.

He wasn't talking to me and I was positive of that. When he talked to me he made me feel lesser than so he would talk in utter confidence. But now it was in pure anger and frustration.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Some girl who doesn't even look a first year is all trying to comfort the other freshmen of this school after I told her to be quiet twice."

"Oh."

On a sudden impulse I motioned for several guards to go the back entrance of this classroom. I had just remembered that this specific classroom had a back entrance.

"Can I talk to the student who you just got mad at?"

"I don't see why not. But you've got a little more than a minute."

"She wants to talk to you. Get your ass off the floor!" he screamed.

"Hello?" asked a familiar voice.

"Hi, I'm Amu, a negotiator."

"AMU?" shrieked the voice.

"Do I know you?" I asked confused.

"It's Ami!"

"AMI? WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?"

"Well after you left, I got a call from my high school asking if we would like to perform our dance we did a couple months ago at this school. The minute we started to perform, the school went on a lockdown."

"Wait, aren't you in M-12?" I asked in a daze.

"No, we're in the perf-

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" screamed Kaine.

I heard him push Ami to the floor and the sound of the gun in the background. Everything suddenly started to spin. This was no longer just a hostage case…because my little sister was involved. I staggered a bit and handed the phone to Rima. She took it but just stared at the phone and me strangely. I took in a deep breath and began to run.

I ran as fast as I could possibly go. There was only one building in this entire school that started with per. The Performing Arts center…where was that again? I pushed past waiting officers and frantically looked around for the building Ami was in. As I ran I saw a streak of blue and then purple but I ignored it…that is until something grabbed my arm and I fell down.

I tensed a little and then opened my eyes to see that I had fallen on top of Ikuto. I scrambled to get off and just as I was about to run again he grabbed my arm again. I whirled around and shot him an angry look.

"Let. Go. of. Me."

"Where do you think you're going, you have a post to fill in," he said dryly.

"I don't have to answer to you of all people," I said pulling my hand free out of his grasp before running away.

Where's Ami? Where's Ami? Where's Ami? Where is Ami?

"Amu! Get back here!" shouted Ikuto.

I ignored him. Nothing mattered to me more than my sister at the moment. My only family. My best friend. My rival. She was in danger.

As I ran, I didn't see the root of the tree we had planted several years ago, and tripped over it. I fell in the dry and wet dirt/mud. My ankle was pretty much busted and I had scraped up my knee as well. But it didn't stop me. Compared to everything I had gone through those wounds were nothing.

I limped to the performing arts center and I could hear Ikuto's footsteps. I didn't have to turn around to know it was him…I knew it was.

Ikuto POV

What the hell is she doing? First she gets all sentimental in the car. Now she's all bomb-rushed about something else. Mood swings…

I pulled out of my cell and started to call Kukai.

"Hello?" answered a semi-lazy voice.

"Why the hell is Amu running?" I shouted.

"First off," chastised Kukai. "You need to chill. Second, I don't know why she's running. They were talking, he hangs up, and she starts to run."

"Is that all?" I asked bitterly.

"Yeah."

I finished my goodbyes and started to speed after Amu again. And then I put 1 and 1 together and figured it out…partially. He's the reason why Amu is running. So…Hostage Taker + Amu running away…= she's going to him? If you really thought about it…it made sense and it didn't. That is…until I saw Amu pull out her gun.

The rest happened in a flash.

Amu POV

This was all risky. I could just run in there with my gun, yell at the kids to evacuate and deal with the hostage taker all the while saving Ami. But that could also end up in someone getting hurt. Or I could have officers surround the building and once everyone is evacuated go in there and deal with Kaine. I'm probably going to have to go with the latter.

"Ikuto, I need officers to surround this building!" I shouted.

"There's no one in there! The suspect is in the other building where Kukai and Rima are."

"No they're not. That was a trick. Trust me on this."

"Fine…but you can't go in there at all."

"Promise."

"You'd better. And if you get hurt it's on your head."

I grinned and nodded my head.

Ikuto pulled out his walkie-talkie and ordered more than a dozen officers to surround the performing arts center. In a matter of minutes officers had surrounded the building. They went in after I gave the signal. And in less than 3 minutes students began to rush out. I looked for Ami in the crowd…but I never saw her. My heart began to beat faster. The number of students was starting to decrease…still no Ami.

An officer came to me once the building was empty and told me no one was in the building. My breath hitched and I felt my blood go cold. I started to run and I heard Ikuto call my name and curse after me. I ignored him.

I ran into the building and looked around. It was dark…the only light was from the lights built into the floor. I pulled out my gun.

Ikuto POV

Fuck this. Fuck this. Fuck this. Fuck this.

"Nagi, take control of this. I'm going in after her."

"Got it."

Stupid girl. She's going to get herself killed. Why the hell is she going in there? I rushed into the building and cursed at the darkness. I pulled out my gun and started to walk between every seat aisle. No one was here at least.

"Amu!" I shouted.

No answer. Fuck this.

Amu POV

"Ami!" I shouted.

No answer. Damn it.

I started to go backstage…quietly. There was no muffled scream. No sign of anybody except me. As I was walking I heard an echo from the audience room…but I just ignored it and kept venturing through the backstage.

I was thinking about leaving and having another officer come in when I heard a muffled scream. Just barely. It was barely audible…but I had heard it. I began to run, faster and faster. I could hear the screams louder now. I knew Ami had to be in here. And just as I was about to open the door to the dressing room I heard a gunshot.

I froze. Did Ami…no…she couldn't have been…I couldn't take it anymore. No matter how unwise this was I had to go in…so I did. I lifted my hand to the door knob and gently opened it. The minute I did, a gunshot whizzed right past me, missing my shoulder by less than a inch. I looked in and saw Ami in the corner of the room, her mouth and arms tied shut. Kaine was standing right next to her…armed.

What happened next all went in a flash. I lifted my gun and shot him in the knee so he would fall down…which he did. I ran up to him and kicked the gun out of his hand.

"Run Ami!" I screamed.

She stared at me as if saying: "I'm not leaving without you". When she didn't move, I grabbed her by the shirt and pushed her out of the room.

"Run!" I screamed again. She started to run…looking back several times.

Kaine got up without me noticing.

"You stupid bitch!" he screamed punching me right in the face.

As I stumbled back he grabbed his gun and shot at me twice. The first one missed again by just a centimeter the other hit me right in the shoulder. I cringed in pain and he smirked then laughed.

"You may have saved her but you're a goner," he chuckled coming right at me.

No matter how numb my shoulder was starting to feel I lifted my gun and aimed at his chest. I pulled the trigger but nothing came out…he kicked me in my stomach. I grunted and when I started to get up he kicked me again. Again. And again. And again.

What's wrong with you Amu? You've never in your entire life been so weak…so why now? Sure you've managed to cry in front of your peers and have a mass break down but at least get up and kick this guy's ass.

I could smell my own blood now…the only wound he had was on his knee which didn't seem to be bothering him much. Damn it.

Ikuto POV

I was staring to head backstage when I heard hurried footsteps echo. I held my gun tighter and looked around cautiously. And then I saw a small figure run towards me frantically. At first I couldn't make out the figure, but as it came closer I identified it as Ami.

Wait…if Ami's here then…she knew. She stood in front of me, panting incredibly. I gently took the tape off her mouth.

"Amu's in danger! She's….in…there…with the hostage…taker. Help…save…her!" she shouted.

I should've ran…but I didn't. I just stood there and continued to stare at Ami.

"What?" I asked.

Just the very thought of Amu being in trouble seemed…absurd…because just moments ago she had promised not to go in. That she would be careful and not get hurt.

"Please just go! She came to save me after I talked with her on the phone! Ikuto, go! She's sick! She doesn't have good memories about stuff like this! PLEASE!"

I only nodded my head and started to run. I pushed past the thick and heavy red curtains and stopped still. Screams and grunts and gunshots exploded but there were two doors. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

I took in a deep breath and ran to the door in the left. I flung it open and heard a gunshot. I peered in…

"Fuck!" I cursed turning around and running to the other door.

I flung this door open and prayed just silently prayed that it was the guy who had been shot and not Amu. I didn't have to peer in this time because the sight was pretty easy to see. Amu was sprawled out in the corner of the room…he was staring at her motionless body. I cursed to myself. There was no way in hell she was dead.

The man finally caught sight of me and grinned.

"She's a looker isn't she?"

"I wouldn't know seeing that you've done quite a number on her," I mumbled bitterly.

Cool it Ikuto. He wants you to get angry; to see you lose your head over a partner. Just proceed normally. He started it with the first fire that missed my leg by several inches.

"Nice aiming," I commented. "Now let me try."

As I was about to shoot I noticed a bullet wound on his knee and shoulder and smirked a bit knowing that Amu had at least gotten some marks on him. I shot his other shoulder and he fell down with a grunt.

Oh no. You're not getting off that easily.

I walked over to him and pulled him back up to his feet. His eyes were steel gray and they stared at me mockingly. I smirked at him before punching him right in the face. He fell down with a thud right next to Amu, but before he could enjoy his time on the ground I pulled him back up and shoved him to the wall. I punched him several times in the face and just once to my satisfaction I heard a small crack and figure I must've broken his nose. His face was bloody…but just because I was done with his face didn't mean I was actually finished. I punched him several times in the gut and he got winded pretty badly.

At the end he fell to the floor and just laid there limply panting heavily. Knowing he was too beat up to actually fight I walked over towards Amu and kneeled down besides her. The edges of her pink hair was stained in blood…I continued to look down slowly.

Her face was bruised up pretty bad, but not as bad as he was. As I was looking down I suddenly noticed the large bloody wound near her chest. I quickly looked down and noticed I was standing in a pool of her blood.

"Damn it!" I cursed for not realizing that she had been bleeding profusely earlier.

I picked up her cold and bloody body bridal style and made a run for the door. As I ran up the steps of the auditorium and I nearly wondered how I didn't trip. I shoved the door open with my foot revealing the afternoon light and just vaguely remembered our lunch date we were supposed to have.

I stepped outside.

Ami was the first to see me.

She ran up to me and her eyes were wide with shock and she turned quite pale when she saw her older sister lying limply in my arms covered with blood.

"Is she…?"

"I don't know. Stay here, I'm taking her to the paramedics," I said already running.

"Not a chance," she shouted running after me.

I rushed to the waiting paramedics and ordered them to the hospital.

"Come with me to my car," I told Ami once the ambulance had rushed off.

15 minutes later

"Yes, he's in the performing arts center. The dressing room to the right."

"Okay, we've captured the other four suicide bombers. Nagi and Rima, along with a couple other highly trained officers are checking the spots where the bombers planted the bombs."

"Are they activated?" I asked worriedly.

"Thankfully no, they are activated with a remote control."

"That's good. I'll call you in a little bit to give you the details on Amu."

I hung up on Kukai and took a seat on the waiting room chair, leaving the two sisters to themselves.

11:00 p.m.

I threw my leftover food in the hospital trashcan and walked to Amu's room. The doctors had said that the operation had gone quite well even though she had lost a bit too much blood. And that if she had come in a moment later than she had she would've been a goner. I sighed and walked into her room where Ami had fallen asleep on her bedside.

"Ami. Hey kiddo wake up," I said shaking her slowly.

She opened her golden eyes but they were red and underneath was quite baggy. I sighed and tried to smile.

"Hey kiddo, it's close to midnight and you probably haven't had a bite to eat yet. Go on up to the hospital cafeteria and give the lady at the counter my name. She'll give you some food."

"Thank you," she lingering a bit before leaving.

"Ikuto," she said her eyes on Amu. "Take care of her."

"No problem."

When she left, I sat on the chair next to the bed and took a good look at Amu. Her bruises had turned a bit darker and the hospital hadn't bothered to wipe off the dried blood. Sighing, I got up and walked over to the sink and wet a paper towel. I walked back and began to wipe away the remnants of the blood. Once I was done, I quietly went to the trash outside of the room and stopped at the doorway.

"Damn it," I cursed, punching the hospital wall before walking back to my seat.

It wasn't the fact that she was injured that upset me the most. It was the fact, that I had let one of my partners get hurt when I could've done something about it. Never, never, had I in the line of duty let one of my comrades get hurt like this and end up in the hospital wired up to a breathing machine.

"Stupid girl," I said with a small smile. "You went and broke your promise and look what you got yourself into," I said pushing some hair out of her face.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a love-struck pup on our hands," said Kukai standing in the doorway.

"No."

"Listen Ikuto…I got some of the story from Ami. She says you're beating yourself up pretty bad about this. It's not you're fault."

"Yeah it is. I wasted so much time. Every single fucking second counted and I wasted all of it. Taking my time to check the aisles. Asking questions when Ami had come up to me pleading me to save her older sister. Going into the wrong dressing room. It all fucking counted!" I said burying my face with hands.

Kukai didn't answer; instead he took a look at Amu.

"Never though I'd see such a pretty face get hurt this bad. If I had known this was what he'd done to her, I'd have punched him one more time before I stuffed him into the back of the police car. But he was beat up pretty bad too. Kudos to you."

"Thanks…"

"No problem. I'm going to go check on Rima and Ami."

"Ok."

"Ikuto," he said before leaving. "Try not to beat yourself about it."

After Kukai left, the room turned quiet. All that was heard was the sound of Amu breathing slowly. I can't believe this. She's been in the hospital twice now. Both of the times I could've saved her. I've let-

"Ikuto…"

I looked up and then around the room…no one was there. I refused to believe Amu had just said my name…but it had to be her. No one else was in the room but us.

"Ikuto…," she repeated.

This I saw her open her mouth…but her eyes were closed. A dream?

"Ikuto…you jerk. I can't believe…you gave the last slice of chocolate cake to Rima!" she exclaimed in her sleep.

I put my head down.

"Stupid girl," I mumbled.

"Ikuto?" she asked in her sleep again. "You act all witty and you say you 'live in the moment' and you're a pervert…and a smoker…and a pain in thebutt…but why are your eyes so sad?"

I snapped my head and just stared at her and then smiled. I lifted my hand and ruffled her hair.

"You are so dead when you wake up."

A/N

It's CHRISTMAS EVE! Hooray! This chappie is really late. It was supposed to be up by this afternoon and I got it up at 11:53 p.m. But I guess you can forgive because I have three presents for my wonderful reviewers and readers.

Present A) I didn't give you a cliffhanger. Yes, I had decided to be evil and stop it at the part where Ikuto found her on the floor motionless. But I decided to be nice.

Present B) Some slight Amuto fluff. Though Amu's not really conscience…but Ikuto's there and I guess that counts.

Now a drum roll for present C.

Present C) You are all getting an extra ON TIME! Christmas special for the next chapter. And because I feel so generous…I'll give you a small sneak-peek.

Sneak Peek for the Chapter!

I paced the hospital waiting room. It was 5:12 a.m. and just a handful of nurses and doctors were working. It was Christmas Day…and Amu had yet to wake up. She'd been lying in the hospital for nearly a week now. Just remembering what the doctors had told me the day before made me want to punch the walls until I bled.

Flashback

"Why isn't she waking up?" I asked impatiently, knowing that Ami was standing right behind the window staring at us.

"We fear that she may have slipped into a coma due to blood loss. "

"Bullshit!" I shouted clenching my fists. "She was muttering to herself in a dream just a few days ago."

"We are very sorry, but this is what it is. She's gone into a coma."

End of flashback

I can't believe Ami can't have her sister awake for Christmas Day…and then I remembered I had to get presents for everyone. I walked back into Amu's room and stood right beside her bed. I had a present and a wish.

I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Amu, Merry Christmas. And please…if you can hear me…wake up so you can give Ami a good Christmas. Please."

Muahahahah! End of Sneak-Peek!

Merry Christmas

Neko-Meme