Last nights events were done and over with. We should've been out after Kyou, but for some reason the four of us excluding Hana, who was currently eavesdropping on us from the kitchen, sat around the table embarrassed by what had actually happened last night.
Okay, so maybe it was just Ikuto and I who were slightly embarrassed.
Fine, it was just me. But can you blame me? The two of us had been jumping on the bed half naked, and if that wasn't bad enough, he kissed me. He went ahead and just kissed me; and how fitting that he French kissed me in France. Not only that, but I was braless in the same room with him, cried right in front of him, and slept on his lap. So much for being anger I'd built towards him.
"Yesterday was...different," said Kukai finally speaking up.
"And revolting, but we didn't manage to see Kyou at all," agreed Kain.
"You didn't seem him, but I was less than an inch away from him," I retorted, trying to erase the vile images from my head.
Kukai leaned in. His face had a mix of anger, interest, and disgust. I'm positive that interest outweighed anger.
"Do tell."
"There's nothing to say besides the fact that he's a sick bastard and dead meat for touching me the way he did."
"I'm sorry Amu, I shouldn't have ever convinced you to come. We should've stayed at the hotel."
He actually sounded regretful, so much that it made me want to get up and kiss him – on the cheek. Anything but that is kind of out there. Just saying.
"It's okay, I was the one who agreed after all."
"Which reminds me, I didn't get a chance to ask this yesterday, but why were you guys at the brothel when I specifically ordered you to stay back, and why was Amu dressed like that?" asked Ikuto staring at us angrily; well mainly Kukai.
"Ikuto, I-
"It wasn't his fault!" I protested defending him. "I really wanted to go especially after you'd ordered me to stay back. And the only way I could get in was if I wanted to apply for a job, or else…it was girl on girl services. But that's all done and over with seeing how nothing bad happened."
"You were lucky. You were lucky that Kyou didn't recognize you or even worse bring you to harms way. You were also lucky that I had been sitting at the bar un-entertained, and I was the one they happened to drag up for your test. It was careless and stupid of you."
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Kain and Kukai were holding their breaths. I bet you that they expected us to fight.
"I know."
I turned back to look at them, only to see their mouths dropped wide open. They totally expected us to have another fight. Pushing back my chair, I got up headed upstairs. Ikuto followed.
"What's gotten into them?" asked Kukai.
"Who knows…?"
I rushed up the stairs, noticing Ikuto was still behind me. For the moment, I didn't mind it, it was when I was entering my room, that I whirled around and stared at him annoyed.
"Why are you following me?"
"We need to talk."
"We have nothing to say to each other."
There was a small period of silence.
"It's important Amu."
I looked into the very eyes that at one point loved me and vice versa.
"Fine."
We both walked into my room and sat on the bed giving me flashbacks to last night. At this my face slightly warmed. Get over yourself Amu, it had to be happened; and besides be thankful you still have your virginity in tack.
"What'd you want to talk about?" I asked casually though I was still trying to recover.
"I've been acting like an asshole lately."
"More like a douche."
At this he chuckled leaving me very confused.
"What kind of sane person chuckles when I call them a douche? You're supposed to say something back or at least get pissed."
"We've been over this once before actually."
"Huh?"
"I told you that I'd been acting like an asshole, and you said 'More like a douche'. Don't you remember?"
"Not really."
But it softened my heart that he did remember.
"So what do you want?"
"I want to say sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything. For breaking up with you without offering an explanation. For not telling you about being that negotiator when I found out. For making you cry. For letting you get hurt. For picking fights with you. See…everything."
"I'll forgive but-
"But what?"
"I have a deal. You know all about my past, tell me about yours."
"Amu," he groaned. "Can't you just forgive me like any other ordinary person would?"
I smiled at him.
"Tough luck, I'm no ordinary person."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I know, just go."
Ikuto POV
Sighing, I closed my eyes for a moment and continued.
"From when I was little, my dad and I never saw eye to eye. Mainly because we were high in the social ladder, and it was because of that he wanted his son to be just like him. His brother – my uncle, he was a negotiator. It was fascinating what he did; to be able to save someone just by talking to them. My dad didn't agree, and if that wasn't bad enough, my best-
"He saw that Tadase wanted to become a painter, which in his opinion was a perfectly good job, and thus he compared you to him. Am I right?"
"Yeah…My mom told you?"
"Nope, Tadase."
"Oh, well things just kept getting shakier and shakier between us. I'd just come back from school and received a scolding from my dad. It was the usual shit about why I was ruining my life or some other crap about why I was worthless. Anyways, I head upstairs and see Tadase sitting there with my little sister teaching her to draw a bunny. I yelled at him; I yelled at him to get out of our house. He was going to turn everyone against with his stupid artwork."
"Ikuto…"
"The day I turned 16, I went up to my parents – my face completely emotionless as I walked up to them with the tickets held behind my back. Usually I would've waited for them to call my name before starting to talk. But by this point I'd had enough of everything. I told them straight out I was going to Japan whether they liked it or not."
"How'd they take it?"
"Not good."
Flashback
I walked into the family room where Mom was reading a magazine and Dad the newspaper. Out of habit, I stood there for a moment waiting for them to call my name like they usually did. Remembering what I had come here for, I cleared my head. It's now or never.
"I'm going to Japan."
Startled, they both turned towards me; though I suspect Dad was more furious as he usually was at me than startled. Sensing his discomfort, Mom made a small noise in the back of her throat before turning her attention to me.
"Oh Ikuto I didn't see you there. What'd you want?"
The hell you didn't hear me I thought to myself bitterly. But I didn't dare say that out loud no matter how rebellious I was feeling at the moment.
"I said I was going to Japan."
"Honey, why don't you sit down for a moment?"
"I don't want to sit down."
"Okay…now what's this about going to Japan? Aren't you happy here?"
"No I'm not happy here. I've never been happy here. I'm going to go to Japan and live with Uncle Kazuya."
"THE HELL YOU ARE!" shouted Dad throwing down his newspaper.
"Aruto-
"I'm going to Japan Dad, whether you like it or not. And I'm going to become a negotiator."
He chuckled at me, with anger and disappointment? I don't think so, it was more of the anger I heard.
"You can't go, because you don't have the money or the tickets."
"Try me," I snarled holding up the single airplane ticket that I'd held behind my back. "My flight leaves in an hour, I just came here to tell you that I'm leaving. My luggage and everything is in the taxi ready. I may call once in a while…or maybe not. Goodbye."
I turned my back and slowly began to walk out. Mom began screaming my name with tears strolling down her cheek.
"Ikuto!"
"IKUTO! Please don't go!" she cried.
It hurt me to leave her broken hearted like this, but if I stayed any longer I'd feel like a bird caged in. I had to leave. Once I reached the front door I heard a shuffle of footsteps and saw Saya waiting at the bottom step of the stair case.
"Where are you going?"
"To Japan."
"Can I come?" she asked eagerly.
Frowning, I walked towards her and bent down so I was eye level with her.
"You can't come Saya."
"But-
"No buts, I'm leaving by myself."
She considered this for a moment knowing I'd gone to Japan by myself once before by myself.
"Okay, when are you coming back?"
"I don't know. I'll probably be gone for a long time though."
"Oh," sadness resounded in her voice.
"I'll call you Saya or maybe even send you a letters on those fancy postcards you love."
She flung her tiny arms around my neck and buried her head into my chest.
"I'll miss you!"
For the first time since actually making this decision I felt a pang of regret in my heart. Leaving my mom hurt, it hurt a lot, but leaving Saya did something else to me. She was my blood. She was the person who knew what I was the worst at it. Just like how I knew what she was bad at. She was the one who would be the obnoxious brat and start petty fights with me. Just like how I would act indifferent towards her when she became a bit too bratty. She was the only one who I would secretly play Barbies with.
I kissed her forehead when she pulled away and faintly smiled.
"I'll miss you too. Take good care of Mom while I'm gone, okay? Bye Saya."
"Ikuto," she whispered with a single tear slithering down her small cheek.
I didn't look back and grabbed the handle of the door.
"Aruto do something! Our son is leaving!"
My grip hardened on the handle. Would he do something? And if he did, would I stay back?
"Let him go screw up his life in Japan. I don't give a shit at all."
I flung the door open and left. Figured he wouldn't try and stop me.
"Aruto!" screamed Mom angrily.
She quickly ran out of the house with Saya and got into the taxi with me.
End of Flashback
"Oh Ikuto, that's horrible," said Amu snapping me out of my trance.
"Uh yeah," I mumbled casually as I slid off the bed and held out my hand to her. "Let's go."
She stared at my hand. I sighed, knowing she was thinking too much about it.
"I won't bite."
"I know…I'm just-
"Thinking too much?"
"No!" she shouted and impulsively grabbed my hand.
"Good," I smiled when I sensed her think over her action again.
Downstairs
"What's up with you two?"
"Nothing," I shrugged grabbing my shoes.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Kukai," replied Amu indifferently as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail.
"Well, whatever it is, I'm glad you two aren't at each other's throats anymore."
"Yeah," smiled Amu softly as she caught my gaze in the mirror.
Kain cleared his throat and walked out of the kitchen and towards us.
"Not to burst any bubbles or anything, but where are we heading first Ikuto?"
"We're heading down to the Pier to visit TaeYang."
Amu and Kukai snapped their heads in my direction.
"They haven't put him behind bars?"
"He's under police supervision 24/7, and that's only because of his daughter, Bella. No family and no orphanages would accept her."
"How sad," whispered Amu quietly to herself.
"He has a daughter?"
At the Pier
"You nervous Amu?"
"No."
I turned around to face her when I detected a hint of uneasiness in her voice. Her eyes were calm but very cautious even though we were at least a yard away from the house. I wanted to pull her into a tight embrace even though I knew I couldn't. We weren't like that anymore. Not to mention the fact we'd just forgave each other for everything.
"You can stay back if you'd like?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"It's not really that important…"
"What?"
"Um…well there was this satchel I had been wearing to Kyou's house. And well after the explosion it got lost…do you think TaeYang has it?"
"Nope."
"How do you know?"
"I know, because I went back to the ruins and got it."
"No way…"
"Yes way, now quit your worrying."
"Thanks."
"Your welcome."
We walked towards the small yellow house with heavy thoughts and feelings about the whole ordeal. Two guards stood at the front door, heavily loaded.
"Ikuto Tsukiyomi."
"Oui. Allez dans."
"Bien."
I nodded my head to Kukai and them before heading inside. At the door was a small girl with long wavy brown hair, curious gray eyes, and a wide smile that revealed a toothless gap in the front. Bella.
"Hi Ikuto!"
"She is too cute!" squealed Amu.
"Hey Bella," I replied crouching in front of the young girl of 7.
"Thanks for giving daddy a vacation!"
Is that what she thinks? And with all those police here too… More likely that's what he told her.
"Your welcome. Now, could you tell me where your dad is?"
"Hmm…oh he's in the garden!"
"Thanks a lot."
I could tell from the gleam in her eyes towards them, she wanted me to introduce them.
"Bella, this is my team: Kukai, Amu and Kain."
"Yo."
"Hello."
"Hey."
"HI!"
"Anyways, Kain come with me. Amu, Kukai you wouldn't mind watching Bella would you?"
"No it's fine."
"Cool."
Amu POV
Kukai and I sat on the floor watching the young girl practice her dance routine in front of us. In more ways than one she was starting to remind me of Ami. Midway through her performance my phone vibrated leaving me to silently apologize to Bella who was currently staring at me with frustration.
"Hello?" I whispered.
"Amu…why are you whispering?" asked Ami quizzically.
"I'm watching a dance performance."
"Ooh! Who is it? Is it Mirabella?"
"What no! Who's Mirabella? I'm watching Bella dance."
"Who's Bella?"
Clearly, we like to ask questions…
"A six year old."
"Bummer, so what else are you doing?"
"Visiting the guy who blew me into a coma and gave Kukai tons of injuries. What about you?"
"Well if you must know, I'm watching Utau teach Noelle how to sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. It's pretty entertaining if you ask me."
"Interesting. Does Utau want to talk to me or perhaps Kukai?"
From over the phone I heard Ami shout out to Utau the question I'd just asked her. Utau shouted back her answer and Ami cleared her throat.
"She said 'No'".
"Thanks I heard."
For a moment Ami didn't say anything.
"Amu, when are you coming home?"
"I don't know really. I think soon…but he's managed to cover his tracks up really well. I did however manage to get so close to him we were hardly inches apart."
"Do tell!"
"Sorry kiddo, that's another story I'll tell you when I get back."
She whined from over the phone leaving me to laugh.
"I'll make sure you do…Bye Amu…I miss you."
"Miss you too. Bye Ami."
I closed my cell phone and slipped it back into my pocket. Kukai stared at me expectantly.
"What's going on?"
"Utau's teaching Noelle how to sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'".
"She really does love to sing."
"Yeah."
"Noelle?" asked Bella stopping her dance routine and walked over towards us.
"You know Noelle?"
"Yeah, when my Daddy was working with Uncle Kyou, I got to see Noelle all the time."
A/N
Late update. Yeah…sorry about that. I've been busy over summer homework…especially an essay about A Raisin in the Sun – 3 – Yeah Temptful knows what I'm talking about lol. Anyways, the beginning of this chappie is a little iffy. Oh well, overall I'm almost satisfied with how this turned out.
Enjoy~
Neko-Meme