Ikuto was gone. Amu sighed. She felt bad. She was mad at him but she hasn't gone to say goodbye. She shook her head. No was not the time for guilt. She had to look forward not back. She was going to highschool next year. She took a deep breath and put Ikuto behind her
3 years later
Amu laughed. Yes! School was finally over! She wasn't sure if she wanted to go to college but for now she just wanted to relax. She ran over to Tadase and hugged him. They had patched things up a long time ago. He hugged her back. She laughed. "Yes! No more homework! No more tests! No more anything!" Tadase smiled and shook his head. He put his arm around her shoulder and they walked home, laughing and talking about life.
Ikuto looked at the town as it came into view. He hasn't been here in 3 years. He thought it was funny. He had taken three years the last time too. He sighed. His orchestra's conductor had died and everyone had a year off until they could find a new one. He thought about the last time he had been here. Tadase's hurt expression and Amu's fury. He sighed. He didn't want yo screw this up again. Yoru was snuggled into his pocket. "Nya. Nya. Nya." Yoru was sleep talking again. Ikuto sighed as the bus stopped and he got off. He hoisted his bag higher on his shoulder then walked to Amu's house
The doorbell rang out. Amu was watching TV with Tadase. "I'll get it mom!" She got up and went to the door. She opened it to see...Ikuto. They stood there for a minute. They just stared at each other in silence. "Amu? What's wrong?" Tadase walked up. He saw Ikuto and froze. "Why are you here?" Amu found her voice enough to ask. "We have a year off. So I came home." His tone was filled with longing but Amu didn't detect it. "Oh." "Amu?" Her mom walked in. "Oh! Ikuto! It's been too long!" She smiled but saw the tension between the three. "Um, I'm gonna go back to the kitchen." And she twas gone. "Mom?!" Ami came out. "Mom?! Who was at the-" she stopped when she saw Ikuto. "Oh, hi." She said. She vaguely remembered him. "Ikuto, right?" She asked. Ikuto nodded. "OK, this is awkward. Um, bye!" And she took off upstairs to her room. "She's grown." Ikuto commented. "Yup. Eleven years old." Amu mumbled. The atmosphere was tense. "Listen Amu, I don't want this to be this way. I don't want us to hate each other." Ikuto was the first to break the silence. "I don't hate you Ikuto. It was an accident, I don't care anymore. It was three years ago. It's just weird. You just showing up out of nowhere." Amu explained. "You loved it last time I just showed up out of nowhere. What changed?" Amu sighed. "I changed and so have you." Her voice was filled with sorrow. "You've grown up." Was all he said before he turned and walked away. "Go." Tadase said. Amu gave him a quizzical look. "Go. You know you want to. I'll be OK." Amu looked at Ikuto's retreating figure. He was really far away. She wasn't sure if she could catch up. "Ran! I need your help." Ran smiled. "From a girl who can't run to a girl who can." Then Amu took off faster than she could on her own. She caught up to Ikuto quickly. "I was hoping you'd do that." He smiled as Amu changed back. "Amu." He turned and they looked at each other. "I need you to know one thing." He said. Amu gave him a questioning look. "This time, it's not a joke." Then he pulled her in and kissed her. She was surprised and tried to pull away but he held her still. After what felt like an eternity, he let her go. "Ikuto! We're not kids anymore! I can't defend you against Tadase this time! What if he saw?!" She burst out. "You have no clue how much I've wanted that the last three years." He said. "And I don't care if he saw. It's the truth Amu. You've grown up." Then he sighed. "Even if you don't feel the same way I want you to know that..." He took a deep breath. "I care about you...deeply." His voice cracked a bit. Amu was taken aback. "Ikuto, what about Tadase?" Ikuto shook his head. "Make your own choices. I was just done hiding it." Then he turned and walked away, leaving Amu stunned. She touched her lips. She remembered the feeling his lips. He had changed. The guy who used to hide his feelings so well...had confessed his feelings.
Ikuto was mentally kicking himself. That wasn't like him! And he hasn't been truthfulm he didn't care for Amu. He loved her. It was foolish, he knew. But he did. He kicked a rock. He looked up. He had unknowingly ended up at the old gazebo. He sighed and sat down. "That's a face I thought I'd never see again." Ikuto whirleed around. Aika was standing there with Eri on her shoulder. "Hey." She came over. "Aika. How did you know I was in town?" He asked. "I didn't. Have you seen Amu yet?" She asked. Ikuto looked away. "You did didn't you?" Suddenly her phone went off and she pulled it out. "Speak of the devil. Shh." She put it on speaker and answered. "Hey Amu." She said. "Aika, Ikuto's back. And-and he-he kissed me, Aika" Aika shot Ikuto a surprised look. "He did what?!" She exclaimed. "He kissed me and said that he cared about me. Oh, Aika I don't know what to do!" Amu sounded stressed. "I can't betray Tadase like that but...I think I'm beginning to have very strong feelings for Ikuto and I just don't know what to do!" Ikuto's eyes opened wide. Aika remained calm. "Well then, go after him. If you can admit it to yourself you can admit it to him." Amu sighed. "At this point, Aika, I think he might hate me."
Oh wow two chapters in one day?! Dang!