* 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 21: Amu's POV:

Where did she come from; why was she here?

Amu's head reeled. All of the surprises. She didn't think she could handle anymore. What on earth... Why... Nadeshiko? Or was that...? Making an attempt to ignore the pounding in her head, she looked toward the figure lounging perilously across the net of the dilapidated soccer goal. The figure looked... male. And she noticed that he wore something completely different than what Ikuto, or Utau had on. Unlike Ikuto, who stood clad in what was left of his usual tunic, and unlike Utau who dressed herself in a skirt, and a skimpy top; both the colors of white and blues, Nade—this... person dressed in black and grey. Only clad in a low-hanging pair of harem pants so sheer looking, she could make out nearly every detail of his figure. Though she tried very hard not to think on it.

"Nade...shiko?" Her head tilted to the side and she squinted at the figure with a frown.

"Nagihiko, more like." The male—she realized—replied.

"You look like someone I know." Amu glanced toward an annoyed Ikuto, only to shift her gaze back to Nagihiko. He'd had extremely feminine features. Features that nearly made Amu jealous.

"Do I? It makes me happy to hear that, Amu. Because you remind me of someone as well."

"Can we stop for just a second?" Utau cut in.

Amu was surprised it was Utau, since Ikuto looked as though he really wanted to be able to do so. In any case, all attention turned toward the blonde.

"I'm tired. So, allow me to get things straightened out, yes? No more people are going to be showing up here uninvited." She stepped forward and took the still groveling human by her arm; pulling her up with a lack of sympathy. She was dead after all.

The thought made Amu wince. "What are you going to do?"

"What I always do."

That didn't answer a thing, so instead Amu turned toward Ikuto with a questioning gaze. Having seemed to have calmed down, Ikuto sighed and plopped down onto the green earth, folding his arms over his chest. Amu wasn't sure of how to react. His mood changed drastically, and yet she still didn't feel as though it were safe to talk with him.

So instead, she turned back to Utau. And froze.

Froze being in the figurative sense. The girl that'd once been pulling at Ikuto's skin without a rational thought in the world was the one who'd froze. It was a terrifying sight. It was odd. Amu had never actually seen anything supernatural aside from Ikuto's Glamoury. But seeing a polish of permafrost sweep of the victim's arms, chest and body overall made the pinkette all the more lightheaded. None of it made sense. Not a single bit. She felt as though she were caught in the longest dream imaginable. Yet at the same time, she felt indifferent about the supernatural sight. Like it was the norm for her.

The girl hadn't enough time to cry out, scream, or anything of the sort. Looking at her pale, frostbitten face, the female almost looked... blissful? And Amu could imagine. She could imagine how it would have felt to have a 'burning' body placed in a cool sheath of ice. Amu looked away, and stared toward Nagihiko, who'd sat back and patiently watched the show.

"What's your reason for being here?" She'd asked him.

"I don't have one. I felt the presence of these two, and of course seen your striking pink hair. So I decided to drop by." He lifted himself off of the soccer net and balanced himself by hand- Amu could feel her eyes widening. Acrobat was the first word to come to mind.

"I knew I recognized you somewhere," Ikuto began, frowning toward the other Fae. "We're a little busy, Nagi." Amu couldn't tell if the two had met before, but there was an air of familiarity, so she'd guessed so.

"Where am I to go?" Nagihiko frowned and flipped off of the net. He stood next to the newly iced sculpture and touched it's cheek. "I bet she was a lovely girl..."

Amu's gaze quickly snapped over to Ikuto; just in time to see him wince at the comment.

"Maybe you can help me carry her on back," Utau cut in to Nagi's musings.

"'Carry?' Isn't there a more easier way?" He replied.

"I'd like to walk," she said after a pause.

It was then that the blonde's eyes met her own. There was still a sense of disrespect, and annoyance in her cool gaze. But beneath that, Amu saw acceptance. She saw willingness. And the pinkette wasn't sure if it was rational for her to have felt warm inside at the moment.

"Ikuto?"

Ikuto glanced up toward his sister, and rather than focusing on the two's conversation, she eyed Nagihiko and the sculpture, deep in thought.

Ikuto's POV:

"Ikuto?"

The male in question glanced up toward his sister with a quiet hum of acknowledgement.

"You can't keep acting this way," she continued, causing him to huff and frown. How many times must he hear that?

"Ikuto."

Her voice, along with the air grew cold and Ikuto released a shiver. He nodded then. He knew that he wasn't in the greatest sense of mind, but he couldn't seem to control himself. He felt rabid, angry. Ever since the conversation he and Amu had in her room, all he could feel was anger. He wanted to rid himself of such burdening feelings and return to the way he used to be.

"Human emotions can't be all that bad," his sister spoke up once again. He glanced up toward her and was surprised to see a faint blush on her cheeks. "Nerve-wrecking, most definitely. But not bad."

"Utau?"

"Shut up," was her reply.

And he did. He kept quiet, but a small smile rested on his face. She didn't ha ve to say much to make him feel even remotely better. He raised his eyebrows and gestured to the purple haired male behind her, and she shook her head. Murmuring, she turned her back to him. "Coffee shop."

With that being the final thing she said, Utau grasped the sculpture Nagi had been caressing. With a sigh, the two of them hobbled off; carrying the poor girl-sculpture in their arms as they made their way down the street.

It took him awhile before he turned his head to Amu. He couldn't remember when she'd gotten so close, and immediately stiffened when he noticed her sitting right beside him. He didn't feel confident in his own self control these days. It scared him more than the idea of her getting too close to him.

"Calm down, I'm not going to touch you," she whispered.

He thought it odd that she was the one to comfort him rather than vice versa, and promptly loosened up his posture with a sigh. "I know."

"It's been awhile, huh? Since we've sat out here?" She added. He simply nodded before leaning forward to snatch a blade of grass from the earth.

"A few months." He couldn't help his smile when he tasted her annoyance. He didn't know why she was annoyed, but he could have taken a decent guesstimate.

"What have you been up to? You know, except for..." Amu faded and he pretended as though he hadn't an idea as to what she was so timid to bring up.

"I've been babysitting your mate." He frowned and pinched the lone blade of grass between his thumbs. "I don't know what you saw in him. He's whiny and I can't stomach his presence."

Saw. Past tense? He wasn't sure why he used it. Maybe it was because he knew she'd never see him again.

"He's always been a little... strong with letting others know what he wants," she answered.

There was a pause between them and Amu shifted, scooting around to sit in front of himself.

"What is it?" He frowned and stared at her visibly distressed face.

"Ikuto, I'm sorry."

"What on earth are you apologizing for?"

"Things got out of hand. And lately, it's just been one problem after another, and I just..."

His eyes widened when he'd felt the droplet of salty water fall into his palm. Though he was staring straight at her, her tears hadn't registered within him until that point. "Amu..."

"It's really hard... Why can't I just love you comfortably?"

"This was to be expected," he all but whispered back to her in return. The two sat silent for an unbearable, long period of time before Ikuto made an attempt to lighten the mood. "'It's a hard knock life. For us.'"

The pinkette snorted and shook her head, wiping her face. Her mood lightened, and Ikuto sighed contently; closing his eyes to enjoy the moment.

They still couldn't touch. They were on square one, once again. Not that they had made any progress to get any further than that. Still, it wasn't a worry he wanted to hold in that moment. He missed the smell of Amu's hair. The smell of strawberries. He missed the warmth he got from just standing near her. Opening his eyes, the Gancanagh sat straighter and raised his hand; a leather glove materializing in the same moment. Catching her chin, he lifted her face to stare into her watery eyes.

"I love you too, Amu. And... I love you comfortably."


Q: Hello, hello! It took me a while to type this one, but it's been done! I thank FT Island's "Madly" for giving me the inspiration to write this. I hope you like this. R&R!