* 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 19: Ikuto's POV:

Gods forbid Utau keep her nose out of his business.

When Ikuto heard the collapsing of Amu, he glanced towards her. A pang of guilt hit him as his eyes met the mass of pink hair that contrasted against the green of the grass. He wanted to pick her up, walk her home and lie her down in the warmth of her bed. But something inside of him seemed to have taken a large step back. He intended to bed Amu not even fifteen minutes ago. He intended to take her right there, against the tree. He craved the imagination he held when it came to her on her knees, feral and hungry. Needy. Wanting. That emotion, meant for him. Not that damned Kiddy King. Him.

"Ikuto... what's gotten into you?"

"Why does it matter?" His brow furrowed and he pointed to the pinkette lying prone on the grass, "you don't even care about humans. In fact, don't you hate Amu especially?"

"Hate is a human emotion, Ikuto. One you shouldn't even understand, let alone feel." Utau seemed tired. Ikuto simply shrugged and folded his arms with a heaving sigh.

He didn't really know what was wrong with him. He just knew that he wanted what he was feeling to end. The burning, angry mass that had made home in his abdomen. The sharp pain in his chest. The slight dizziness; he wanted it all to go away. He wished to return to the way he used to be be, the way he used to feel.

"Take her home." He motioned to Amu before walking off. As he expected, the chill of Utau's voice behind him caused him to stiffen.

"You're awfully trusting of me. Handling this vermin, and all."

He shrugged and glanced back to her. "Freeze her, then. Do what you wish."

He didn't mean it. And he knew Utau knew that as well. But he didn't intend to admit it aloud. Instead, he walked on. He needed to take time to cool off, to think. The only spot he thought about visiting was their- the park. Utau hadn't said another word, and Ikuto didn't turn to look back. He wanted to be the one to lay her in her bed. He wanted to be the one to feel her warmth. Why couldn't his 'power' be controllable; like Utau's? Turn on, turn off. Utau could touch Amu all she wanted without freezing her unless she gave the command. Damn it! He was jealous of his own sister! How pathetic. Ikuto tsked and shoved his hands into the rough material of his jeans. He should've removed his Glamoury, but instead relished in the pain of walking in his shoes. His own punishment for being a Gancanagh.

Not even two blocks from the shop, he spotted a blonde woman dressed scantily in loud, colorful clothing. He knew in an instant of her career. A woman whom sold her body in return for payment. He couldn't judge her, and yet the very existence of such a career disgusted him. They had a choice. He didn't. Ikuto didn't know whether it was out of spite, or if he was in honest need of a feeding. He found himself crossing the road to the corner in which she stood. He held out a hand and tried his best to hide the displeasure he felt from her overwhelming emotions of desperation and lust.

"Come," was the only word he could bring himself to say. A forced- intense gesture of welcome.

When her fingers brushed along the palm of his hand, and her aquamarine eyes glazed over with hunger, Ikuto knew it was all over for her.

Amu's POV:

"Ow! Wha- Utau?! Where's Ikuto?!"

"Will you please keep quiet, you've barely been conscious a minute," the svelte blonde groaned and paced around the cramped pink space of Amu's room. "You humans are so loud, it gives me a headache."

Amu sat up and held the side of her head with a tiny grunt. She didn't even have time to wonder about what had happened to her; the memories hit her, and they hit her hard. She promptly fell back onto the bed with a bright red face.

"Well, there's a face I've never seen before," Utau said. It sounded a tad snarky, but Amu ignored it.

"W-Where's Ikuto?"

"Off bathing in human emotions."

Amu wasn't sure what she meant by that, or why it was such a bad thing.

He touched me...

"Gh.." Her cheeks burned with the memory and she rubbed at them with a huff of an exhale.

"Listen," a serious voice filled the room; one that didn't hold the usual spite. Amu turned her head to stare at the blonde who'd taken a seat in the corner of her room.

"Utau?"

"I don't like you. In fact, none of my kind like you."

Well, ouch. Amu winced a little and frowned. "Your point?"

"Ikuto... obviously has taken some weird, unorthodox liking to you. The Gods only know why, just look at you. You aren't even slightly attractive."

"I could do without your insults, Utau," Amu snapped, sitting up once again; propping herself up against a wall.

"Sorry, force of habit. Anyway... Ikuto's liking you is causing a lot of troubles. Ones you've probably already been told about."

There was a pause and Amu found herself staring into eyes nearly identical to Ikuto's.

"He's my brother, you know." She continued. "He's getting into a lot of trouble because of you, and obviously telling you two to stay away from each other isn't working. Certainly, you know that you can't have a relationship of any sort with him, right-"

"That's not true. I don't need to touch Ikuto to show that I love him. Because I do, you know. I love your brother." The words felt unusual being said aloud, yet in the same moment, Amu was overcome with a sense of joy after having said it. Her lips curved into a small smile.

"Like you loved the blonde boy, right?"

And just like that, Amu's face froze and her eyes immediately dropped to her clasped hands lying on her lap. Utau's words weren't spiteful when she asked such a question. Amu could hear the honest curiosity in the blonde's tone. And yet, those words stabbed at her heart. Her brain. The question hurt more than anything Utau had ever said.

Of course she never loved Tadase. And she knew she shouldn't have allowed the two of them to get involved. Were she to deny him, he wouldn't be where he is now. The thought hurt. But what bothered her... Was the fact that Utau believed they were in love. If this woman thought so, what could her brother be thinking right now? Does Ikuto feel heartbroken? Jealous? Angry? Did he come to the conclusion that she gave her heart to Tadase?

No..

The thought caused her head to pound and she whimpered quietly before standing. Is that why Ikuto had been acting so off lately? She knew he was upset with her saying what she did the night Ikuto took Tadase. But she never took the time to think about it.

"Where are you going?" Utau asked; hostility in her voice once again. She stood, and Amu instantly took notice of the difference in height between the two. Utau practically towered over her.

"To find Ikuto," she responded simply.

"Ikuto told me to bring you here."

The two stared at each other for a long moment before Utau huffed and walked over to her window; pushing it open.

"Is that how you got in?" Amu asked with incredulity.

"'Is that how you got in?'" The other mimicked. "Come."

Amu was going to find Ikuto. She needed to find him. Their relationship was complicated, but she knew that there was a relationship between the two. It was her intention to try and bring it to light.


Q: Not much for a chapter, I'm sorry. In any case, I've finally figured out where I'm going to take this story, so yay! R&R, I hope you enjoyed it.