* This story was inspired by previous works that I've read in the past. Key authors being Holly Black and Melissa Marr. I take no credit for their work. Furthermore, I don't carry the rights for this anime. Some of the characters will act OOC; all of these characters are of age. Constructive criticism is very welcome. Enjoy.
Chapter 18: Amu's POV:
"U... tau?" Amu stared in disbelief. Ikuto had told her so much about his younger sister; she'd even seen her before! And yet it was as if it'd been decades since she laid eyes on this particcular face. Maybe she knew where Ikuto was? Tadase? She had to know! There was no question that she did! And, how could Kukai see her? Was he...?
She honestly didn't think that she'd be surprised anymore, not after having seen Ikuto at work, as well as this strange climate of the building. Amu automatically assumed it was Utau. Who else could it have been? Wasn't she part of the Winter court?
The blonde stopped her arguing and took notice of the pinkette- her eyes narrowing into small slits almost immediately. "You're that vermin who's corrupted my brother."
Corrupted? Really?
"Me?" Amu's voice came out squeakier than she'd intended, but she soon got over that fact as the moderate, cool air seemed to shift into a blistering freeze. Curling her arms around her body, clutching at her bare arms, Amu bit her lip and spoke through chattering teeth. "Aren't you being a little too open?"
"That's what I'm saying! This woman has no respect!" Kukai yelled, throwing his hands into the air. Neither of them were being discreet. What a weird pair of enemies.
"You're rather right! Why have respect for these... things?! All they do is destroy! You can not tell me it doesn't irk you! It doesn't give you those queer aches in your skull?!" Utau seemed to get more upset with every word that was passed. The argument took a more insulting, personal tone, and it made Amu shift her weight from one leg to another, take a small step back, shiver and rub at her arms.
Utau resembled Ikuto in a ton of ways, it seemed. They both never missed a chance to complain about humankind. The difference is that Ikuto seemed to have gotten more accustomed to it, more modern than the weird male he was before. Ikuto seemed to have coveted a human heart. And Utau...
"They aren't my favorite mammals on the planet, but not all of them are horrid people." Kukai spoke calmly, lowering his volume. His arms were folded and Amu had to applaud him for not reacting to the sharp wind that practically burst throughout the room.
Amu had forgotten about her coffee run. She think she'd even forgotten the orders, too! What a bad day this was.
"Utau..." Amu cut in for a moment, feeling the need to have her question answered. "About Ikuto, do you know where he-"
"Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. Why should you know? You sent him off with that pitiful, lustful human boy. It's your fault that human boy has to suffer the price, as well. Not that I care about him, I'm just saying it to make you feel guilty." Utau shrugged and lifted a hand to her face, eyeing her nails, "don't look so surprised, either. I haven't spoken to you nor my dearest brother since he'd been sent of to pay punishment. But I do have eyes. And ears."
Well, she was a very... open personality. She didn't beat around the bush when it came to matters such as this. But Amu wasn't satisfied. She needed to know what was going on, and she didn't know whether or not she should believe anything Utau spouted about Tadase, or Ikuto.
"Utau, please. I need to know," she begged, staring straight ahead into oculars nearly the same color as Ikuto's.
Kukai cleared his throat and waved a hand before speaking with disappointment, "the silent dismissal. Don't worry, I get it. Do your girl stuff."
The two girls ignored him even then, their eyes locked on one another's. One, pleading and the other, with distaste. Amu would probably never be able to figure out the reasoning Utau seemed to despise her the most. A room full of humans to tease and pick on, and Amu's the icon of hate? Was the blonde that protective of her brother?
"Meet me at the park," the Faery finally said, turning on her heel as she stalked out, taking the ridiculously cold temperatures with her. The warmth of the heater brought her arms back to life along with the painful tingles.
Amu turned and faced Kukai, whom had his face stuck in a sports magazine. "Ah... Kukai? I'm sorry, but I actually do have an order."
"Oh? Alright! Glad you didn't just come to bring stress." Kukai sighed and raked his hand through his already ruffled locks, "what would you like?"
Amu walked back to the room her friends occupied and entered with a soft sigh. "I'm back!"
"Took you long enough! Now we're hungry~" Yaya wailed, sitting up from the table.
Rima was busy talking on the phone, just as Nadeshiko eyed her in silent worry before holding out her hands; seemingly eager for her cup.
"Alright! Here's your hazelnut smoothie." Amu handed Nadeshiko her mug, and moved to Rima, "your strawberry sweet tea. an~nd your lemonade macchiato." The pinkette said, giving Yaya her glass. The girls stared down at their cups with wrinkled noses before Yaya turned her her with saddened eyes.
"You got all our orders wrong, Amu-chan!"
Amu widened her eyes and glanced down at their cups. "I-I did?! I'm so sorry, I could have sworn this is what you wanted!"
Rima hung up the phone and stared into her drink with the same eyes Utau had given her. "I can't believe it took you this long just to mess up..."
Nadeshiko gave her a pained smile and picked up her glass, taste-testing it. "Eck-!"
Ikuto's POV:
"Quit touching me, Kiddy King. I am not your human play toy, and if you honestly believe you can kill off other Fae with a touch, you should expect a very rough existence." Ikuto grumbled. He couldn't very well argue with Yoru, or anyone from the high court. "'This one has potential,'" he mimicked under his breath as the pair made their way down the sloping hills of greenery. They were on their way to find the newest Faery a home. One that would suit him well, and wouldn't start any riots. A place already holding bad energies and horrid legends. Ikuto knew just the place.
"Whatever you say, Tsukiyomi." Tadase spoke with enough hatred to start a fire. The boy looked to be dead. Simply dead. Black rings under his eyes, with skin pale enough to rival even Utau's snow white pallor. Though Tadase looked grey-ish. Very, very ugly. He most certainly was not the Prince he'd looked like before.
Ikuto sighed and shook his head. The only thing that saddened him now was the idea of him having to give the boy a new insulting- rather, a fitting nickname. "It's just up ahead."
When the two arrived to their destination, the new Faery looked toward him with disdain. "Here?"
"Where else were you expecting, Kiddy King? One of those five star hotels? A mansion? We Fae are one with nature. Only the highest ranking Fae can think about investing themselves a home," like Yoru, and his parents, Ikuto thought. "You sleep outside from now on."
The boy grunted and pointed toward the barren land. A very large, prominent circle was shown. Grass and life surrounded the ring, though thinner than where they stood. In the middle of the ring was nothing but death. No grass, dry soil, nothing. Ikuto had heard many upon many of tales about the Ring of Death. Satan's circle, as they would call it. People claimed to have camped inside of the circle, only to wake up miles away from this very landmark.
Ikuto wasn't certain if it were true or not, he honestly couldn't care in the least. "Kiddy King, you are to sleep here. This is your new home. I'm sure you've already heard about your power, but I would like to explain it once again."
The new Faery had already begun walking toward the ring and Ikuto stepped in front of him; grasping at his shoulders. "Stop and listen, you moronic child! As a Y'eii, you are to act as our race's balance. It's a huge responsibility. With coming good, there is bad. You are the very embodiment of Death! Humans will 'summon' you for ceremonies, they will give you offerings and their respect! And in return, you are to pass judgement! Level out the population in order to allow this planet, and the lifeforms in it to flourish, to-"
"I didn't want this! Who on earth would ever want this?! Play Death? I fear death! You're an idiot! This is entirely all your fault. I should be with Hinamori. I should be with her right this very second, but you had to just..." The Kiddy King trembled underneath the Gancanagh's hands, and in turn caused Ikuto to stand stunned. Red filled his vision. He sensed the boy's hatred, the boy's sadness and anger. It was oh, so very overwhelming.
"I... know it is my fault. And I can't say that I truly regret it, because that would be a lie. You would have kissed Amu, and I-"
"You're not human. I was. I could have been with her, given her a happy life. Now who will?! Most certainly not you! You don't know a thing about love! You're nothing but a sex symbol. I may be a form of Death now, but you're the black cat! You're the one most deserving to feel this misfortune."
Ikuto stood back. The words hit home, and he could feel his own emotions close off. He did feel unfortunate. Pitiful, forlorn. Hapless, and unhappy. Why was it that he had to endure this? This... human heart?
"You sleep there. I'm off. Get to your duties. It's not my hands who will be taking your life if you err." His words were short, and sharp. The Gancanagh walked off without another word. He never felt as starved as he did at that moment.
~Later.~
'Oh, how lovely.' Ikuto mused. He shifted into a Glamoury, dressed in a black high-collared jacket that showed off his midriff, and the tightest black pair of slacks he'd ever dressed himself in. With his look finished off with an uncomfortable pair of black boots, and a couple of necklaces and bracelets, he began walking the streets of Amu's neighborhood. He was certain what he planned was wrong. But somehow.. he seemed angry with himself.
He wasn't vermin. He was a Faery. He fed on sexual activity, why should he be ashamed of it? Any human being would love to be in his place. Free of disease, yet able to have sex consistently. For hours on end. Ikuto wasn't ignorant about the prostitution and the abundance of iconic sexual themes. He'd always thought the obsession ridiculous. His entire existence, he'd yearned to change his role.
"Ikuto?"
The Gancanagh paused and his brow furrowed. He stood in front of the coffee shop that he was more than familiar with. Amu. Ah, so he found her. His good luck was working well.
"Ikuto, that's you, right? I was just... I was just thinking about you..." The voice came off as hesitant and nervous. Good.
Ikuto turned on his heel and stared at the pinkette. She looked worn and tired, but other than that, he couldn't stop the relief he felt for her not seeming to have changed.
You're not human. You don't know a thing about love! You're nothing but a sex symbol.
"Amu." His voice came out as tight and he quickly turned to walk off. What did he have to say to her? Nothing. He had no good news to give her. He could hear the footsteps sounding behind him, and he'd ignored her calls out to him as well; instead turning to his left to walk through the trees covering the sides of the coffee shop.
"Ikuto, stop walking! I don't have a lot of time to spare! I was heading to the park to see Utau! Your sister? Yeah!"
And he stopped walking abruptly, spinning around only to find her closer to him than he'd expected. Gloves soon sheathed over his hands as he grasped her wrists, maneuvering her petite form around before he practically slammed her against the trunk of the nearest tree.
Amu's POV:
O-Ow! Ikuto, what are you do-!" Amu gasped, arching her back a bit with resistance. It ached, but it wasn't truly painful. To feel his hands touching her.. even with gloves, well, it made her feel more pleasure than what would be considered appropriate. His grip on her wrists tightened and he leaned in close to Amu's face. "You were going to what?"
"To s... See Utau! I needed to know where you were! I was worried!" The pinkette managed to say in her defense. She didn't feel hurt, or upset. She felt overwhelmed and a bit dizzy to say the least.
"You're a ridiculous human. There was no way she would have honestly told you my whereabouts. Utau may be my sister, but she's not as merciful as I have been." He murmured, wedging his knee between her thighs as if to show his point; pinning her to the tree. She gasped and squirmed in response. His knee barely brushed her upper thighs, it was the fact that his knee was simply there that caused her body to catch fire. She was unable to lock her legs together, to close them in order to stop the fire she felt swirling about in her very core. Fully clothed, and yet she felt exposed all at once. She could tell him to stop. She could do it, and she was certain he would.
"I'm hungry, Hinamori Amu. I've given you a lot of free passes. I don't think I can give you another one." He murmured as his hands released her wrists in order to move to brush and stroke over the curves of her hips and waist. Her body quivered and she sighed quietly. How unbecoming of her! This was out in the open, for goodness' sake! This wasn't special at all. This was not how she imagined her first time. Ikuto's hands were still gloved when they brushed over the front of her shirt, over the tops of her breasts. If he intended to hurt her, why was he still keeping the gloves in place?
"I-Ikuto, please, I-"
Her voice broke off when she felt him push her bra up over her newly aching breasts, keeping her shirt intact. The cups of her bra felt uncomfortable atop of her collarbone, and she knew the straps that strained to hold on her back and shoulders were going to leave marks.
"Amu, you don't understand how hard it is to love you. It's so very hard, and I can't..." The male shook his head, and she could've sworn she'd seen tears welling up in his eyes. "I can't.. take it. Please understand why I must bring you this misfortune. I just want it to be over."
"Ikuto, I don't understa-nngh!" Her back arched a bit more when his head lowered and she'd felt his lips lock onto a semi-sensitive nipple. Though clothed, it felt as if she were nude. The relish she felt, the yearning. The sudden burst of sexual frustration caused her to moan her approval.
"Don't move so much." She heard him mumble through her haze. What he'd said after, she couldn't hear very well. He seemed to have purposely lowered the volume of his voice. She listened to him though, and made an attempt to stay as still as she possibly could. Having him tease her and stay still all at once proved to be a troubling task, so when his knee mercilessly pushed upward, to press and grind against her very groin; feeding her fire, Amu tilted her head back and released a rather loud moan of eagerness, her hips bucking forward in response.
"I-Ikuto-"
"Ikuto."
Amu froze up in shock and embarrassment as Ikuto quickly backed away from her. She slid down the bark of the tree and stared at the sister who'd interrupted the two. Amu didn't know if she should have felt grateful, or incredibly angry; so she instead watched Ikuto. He didn't seem like himself. He seemed... different. As cold as Utau. Maybe even colder.
She watched as the man of the hour raked a hand through his hair, his eyes narrowed and deadly as he spoke to Utau. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
Utau walked toward the two, the blistering cold returning just as Amu remembered it in the shop. Only this cold was uncomfortable and felt strange to her heated, boiling blood.
"You and I both know what would happen if I let you continue, Ikuto. Especially with her." Utau, though saying something so kindly, gave the pinkette a look of pure, unadulterated hate.
It's all happened so fast. Amu didn't expect herself to pass out.
Q: Please forgive this horrible teaser. ;w; I will get better, I promise you! SO R&R! Let me love you! Thank you for reading.
