Two weeks had passed since the group had started living together in Ikuto's castle. Amu was still feeling down every day, but her mood had slightly improved. So far, there had been no signs of the royal couple sending search parties or anything of the sort. They were likely preparing, as they didn't know the state Ikuto was in, but they certainly wouldn't give up on Amu's child so easily.
Moreover, they first had to calm the people. They excused the lack of security by claiming that there hadn't been any serious attacks for years and that their defenses had always been sufficient. Instead, they had invested the money into the city's development. After all, they couldn't have foreseen that a swarm of coordinated wyverns would destroy every projectile they launched.
Ikuto's condition remained unchanged. He seemed almost like a puppet, barely moving and never speaking, not even unconsciously or in his sleep. Su had tried everything, even mixing new herbs and magical plants, but nothing seemed to work. Amu kept to herself, usually staying in Ikuto's chambers with Aruto.
"What should we do? We can't go on like this." Nagi rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Besides Amu, we also have to constantly worry about my parents launching an attack at some point. I can't imagine they would just give up on the child," Tadase added, leaning back on the sofa and staring up at the ceiling, clearly frustrated.
"There has to be a way to bring Ikuto back." Ran didn't want to see her mistress so down and wished with all her heart she could help somehow.
"But if even the Lady of the Lake can't do anything..." Miki mused, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"Amu's healing abilities also take too long to even be worth trying right now..." Su sighed. Amu had been practicing every day, but she had no way to test if she was improving or staying the same. One thing was certain: her magic wasn't helping Ikuto and Nagi was already nearly healed thanks to Su's assistance.
Amu sat on the bed, holding Aruto, trying to joke, even though she wasn't sure if Ikuto could hear her. "You're just shirking responsibility," she stuck her tongue out at him. "The moment things get easier with Aruto, you'll miraculously wake up." Of course, she didn't really believe that and sighed. Just as she laid Aruto back in his cradle and wiped away a few tears, there was a knock on the door. Nagi and Tadase entered to check on her.
"How are you?" Nagi's gaze briefly shifted to Ikuto, and he sighed quietly.
"Oh... Well... How are you?" Amu smiled at him kindly and glanced at his chest.
"Almost healed," he responded, though his tone was still heavy.
Tadase approached and hugged her. Though neither he nor Nagi knew where they stood with her at the moment, and there wasn't a good time to discuss it, at least as a friend, he wanted to be there for her. The pink-haired girl rested her head on his chest and took a deep breath.
"It's only been two weeks... He'll come back," Tadase tried to encourage her.
"But nothing is changing in his condition..." She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment.
Suddenly, a hissing sound and smoke filled the room, forcing Amu to pull away from Tadase and turn around, coughing. "What's happening?" She moved closer to Ikuto, as the smoke seemed to be coming from the other side of his bed. Tadase and Nagi followed her. Only a few seconds later, a young blonde woman appeared where the smoke had been. She placed a hand on Ikuto's cheek and shook her head.
"What are you doing, Ikuto?" Her voice was gentle and familiar, even though in reality, they weren't familiar with each other at all.
"Who are you?" Amu stepped closer, trying to put some distance between them.
"That doesn't really matter to you, but my name is Dia," she grinned, looking down on Amu slightly. "What does he even see in you, that he'd sacrifice himself for you?"
Amu swallowed and clenched her fists. She didn't know what anyone saw in her—she wasn't special, and the girl standing before her was, in her opinion, much prettier. Did she and Ikuto have something going on? Is that why he had been so late? Did he hesitate? Was the training a lie? She swallowed again, trying to push these thoughts away. This woman had a negative, dark aura that even Amu could sense.
Dia could feel Amu's doubts and laughed before turning her attention back to Ikuto. "If you don't want him to remain like this forever, you'll have to cooperate with me," she shrugged, crossing her arms.
"Amu, she's definitely evil," Nagi interjected, standing beside her.
"I agree," Tadase positioned himself on her other side.
"You can help him?" Amu's gaze shifted to Ikuto. What should she do? Would her healing magic ever be enough to help him? But how long would that take?
"Of course, but you'll have to give him to me. Seal the deal I've been after for so long with him," Dia grinned confidently. "Oh, and I'll need someone's life force. Or rather, life energy, in this case, which is basically the same thing, to transfer to him." She shrugged indifferently.
"Amu, you can't do that. Ikuto wouldn't want this," Tadase turned her toward him, making her look into his eyes.
"But... This might be the only chance..." Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she nervously tugged at her clothes, clearly overwhelmed by the decision.
"He's right... You wouldn't be doing Ikuto any favors... Who knows what she's really planning?" Nagi didn't like the idea either, but in the end, Amu was the only one who could decide.
"I... I think the most important thing is that he lives again... Not just remains unconscious. Everything else will be easier to resolve than this..." Her voice was shaky and uncertain. "What do I need to do?" Her gaze now rested on Dia.
"Give me his hand as a seal for the deal, and of course, the life energy." Before Amu could respond, Tadase already offered to give his life energy. Nagi was also willing to give a portion, so it wouldn't be too much for Tadase. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll only take the necessary amount, and it's not much, don't worry," Dia remarked with a shrug and a grin.
Amu tried to dissuade them, not wanting them to sacrifice for her, but both made it clear they wouldn't allow it any other way. Sighing, she let the situation sink in. She wasn't just playing with Ikuto's life and fate now, but also with the life energy of the two men.
"I want at least one more day with him..." Her gaze was determined as she looked at the woman before her.
"Fine by me," Dia replied indifferently.
Tears rolled down Amu's cheeks as she took Ikuto's hand. What did it mean to hand him over? What would happen? Would she ever see him again? She placed his hand into Dia's outstretched one.
The blonde made a hand gesture toward both men, and a white, mist-like substance began to emerge from their chests. Both gripped their chests in pain, coughing, and sank to their knees, overwhelmed by the pain. Amu panicked and knelt beside them, trying to talk to them, but they were unable to respond, the pain too intense. Meanwhile, the white mist flowed from the two men into Ikuto's body. Both Dia and Ikuto glowed for a moment, and a sharp inhale was heard. Just as quickly as she had appeared, Dia vanished, and Amu was torn. She wanted to check on Ikuto, but didn't want to push the others aside.
"Get up already... We're fine now," Nagi was the first to manage words.
Tadase struggled to stand, gesturing to Nagi that they should leave the room for now, offering him his hand.
Once outside, Tadase leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths. "That witch could've at least warned us how much it would hurt."
"It wouldn't have changed anything," Nagi replied.
"I could have mentally prepared myself, at least," the young prince grumbled.
"Our next task is clear now..." the lavender-haired man began.
"Freeing Ikuto," they both said in unison.
"I never would've thought I'd end up on the same side as you..." Nagi had once suggested to Amu that maybe Tadase would help eventually, but he hadn't really believed it at the time.
"Neither did I, but it doesn't help me to keep acting like I did. And thanks to her, I'm free from my parents, at least for the moment." Tadase sighed with relief as the pain finally subsided.
"Well, I guess you're a good guy after all. Maybe we were wrong to exclude you from our relationship mess," Nagi laughed, crossing his arms behind his head.
"I hope she just chooses one of us. I don't think I could handle this sharing thing forever... Besides, in the end, it'll be Ikuto anyway." Tadase sighed, shrugging.
"Hey, we finally agree on something!" Nagi laughed again. Tadase just shook his head.
Nagi was referring to the matter with Ikuto—the sharing didn't bother him that much.
As the two left the room, Amu stood up and, after watching them for a moment, finally turned to Ikuto. His eyes were open.
"You're such a fool…" His voice was still weak but gentle.
"What else could I have done?" She sobbed, wiping her tears with her arm, but they kept coming.
"Your healing magic would have eventually grown strong enough." He stretched out his hand toward her.
"That would've taken forever, if it would have ever happened at all…" She took his hand and sat on the edge of the bed.
"How do you even know about that? Did you hear everything?"
Ikuto shook his head and explained that she had visited him before and that he could feel her magic on him now.
"What will she do to you?" Amu barely dared to ask, but she had to know.
"I'll become her mindless puppet, so she can use my magic however she wants." He hoped that was all it would be, though she seemed to find him interesting in other ways too.
"You have to kill me, or all the kingdoms will fall." He placed his hand on her cheek.
"Never! We'll free you!" She could hardly believe what he was asking. "Nagi or Tadase will surely understand and be able to do it."
"They won't act against my will, and I'll never agree to it. We'll free you, and until she comes for you, you won't be alone for a second." She wasn't about to give him a chance to get any stupid ideas. "At least she agreed to give us one last day together.." she sighed sadly.
"But… I don't want to be a mindless puppet again…" he said more to himself, so quietly while his gaze dropped.
"What did you say?" She hadn't heard him clearly, but he just shook his head and let it go.
"Let's at least enjoy this one day." He sat up and ruffled her hair gently.
Amu sighed. She could feel how down he was, but she was sure that if she hadn't done it, he would never have woken up again. She stood and fetched Aruto, placing him in Ikuto's arms. "You haven't even held your son yet!"
Ikuto held the small bundle with one arm and gently tapped his little nose with his free hand. Aruto's eyes sparkled, and his tiny hands eagerly grasped his finger. Now, in the calm, Ikuto felt an inexplicable bond with Aruto, a connection that left no doubt he was his son. Why, he couldn't explain, maybe it was because they shared the same magic.
"I'm glad he has your beautiful eyes."
Amu blushed briefly and smiled a little. "You know, we never planned on having kids." They had been pretty much in agreement about that in their previous world, as children were quite limiting.
"Really?" She thought about it briefly, and her heart sank a little. She had never really asked herself that question before—having children was just a given in this world, especially as the wife of the future king. Was Ikuto unhappy with that?
"Oh, is someone finally starting to believe me?" Until now, Amu had vehemently denied that these memories were hers or that Ikuto was telling the truth about her.
"No, but I've noticed I've never really thought about it. It's just normal to have children here. It's almost a duty."
Ikuto's face twisted. "Really? Still not?" His voice sounded both whiny and desperate.
"I've missed you so much…" She wanted to distract from the topic, but at the same time, it hit her like a wave, overwhelming her in these light moments with him.
"I don't want to lose you again…" She started crying once more, and Ikuto, holding his son, felt a little awkward. He wanted to comfort her. Finally, he carefully placed Aruto on the bed beside him and pulled Amu into a tight embrace.
"I've missed you too, Amu. Every single second. You are my light, my breath. I love you so much that I could never put it into words. I want you to never forget that, even if I'm no longer myself and do things I would never normally do." One of his hands rested on the back of her head, and Amu wrapped her arms around his waist as her tears continued to flow.
"I love you so much, Ikuto. My heart breaks at the thought of not having you by my side from tomorrow on. " A part of her regretted her decision, but her reason knew that otherwise, she would've only been able to watch him lying there motionless in bed. She relished the warmth from his body and took in his scent, which she loved so much.
He lifted her chin and looked deeply into her golden eyes for several seconds. He bit his lower lip lightly before finally pressing his lips to hers. Passion, longing, and emotions surged through both of them in the kiss. He was the one to break it, speaking again through heavy breaths. "Amu… admit it… say you'd choose only me…" He kissed her neck, pulling her close.
The pink-haired girl swallowed. Why was he suddenly asking her to make such a decision? Her feelings for the other two hadn't just disappeared, but she had never spoken to them the way she spoke to him. She never had the same burning desire and emotions for them as she had for him. She closed her eyes and surrendered to him. "I'd do anything for you, Ikuto."
"That's not enough. Say it." He left gentle bites on her neck and kissed her collarbone.
Amu's breath grew heavy and quick, and she tried to push him away, especially since Aruto was right beside them. But Ikuto didn't stop, and he had something else in mind anyway.
"I belong to you alone. I love you, and I'd give up everything for you. I want to belong to you forever," she panted through heated breaths. The blue-haired man grinned in satisfaction and let her go. "Do you really mean that?"
Amu gave him a pouting look and had to calm her racing heart. "Yes… I do."
"If I'm no longer here, I still want you to find happiness, Princess." He brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead.
"Don't say that… That's not going to happen."
She sighed, unsure if she could truly stand by her words, as he had kind of forced them from her during the heat of the moment. Still, she wanted to give him that security for this last day when he was still himself. After all, she still didn't fully believe him, even though she felt this incredible connection to him.
"We should go back to the others before they get the wrong idea." He grinned and winked at her playfully. Amu rolled her eyes and stood up. As she picked up Aruto, he immediately started crying, leaving Amu helpless and confused. She shoved him back into Ikuto's arms, whether he liked it or not, and the crying turned into a joyful baby laugh. "Oh wow, our son seems to like you better."
"That's nonsense," he ruffled his beloved's hair and left the room with Aruto in his arms.
Tadase and Nagi were back in the hall by the entrance. They usually hung out there outside their rooms to talk. Yoru and Amu's maids were there too.
"You look like nothing ever happened." Nagi grinned. "And you've already slipped right into your role, huh?" His gaze shifted to Aruto. Of course, he was referring to the time between the castle and the incident, as Ikuto was still pale.
Amu noticed that Yoru must have been inwardly overjoyed to see his master and friend again after so long. She took Aruto from Ikuto's arms, just in case they wanted to hug.
The blue-haired man only gave her a puzzled look before going over to Nagi. The two exchanged a glance before Nagi initiated a hug. "You know, I really got used to you. You can't just disappear without a trace." He released him and grinned at him.
"Don't fall too much in love with me, I'll be gone again tomorrow," Ikuto stuck out his tongue, and both laughed briefly, though the fact remained disheartening.
His gaze fell on Tadase, and he sighed internally, as he barely knew him and wasn't sure what to think of him. Amu still had to explain to him why it was so important to save him. If it hadn't been for that delay, he might never have taken that shot. Amu also remembered she still owed him an explanation, so she filled him in on everything that had happened, especially about his parents.
Ikuto sighed and now stood in front of the blond. He extended his hand. "Thank you for standing up for her."
Tadase hesitated briefly but then took his hand. "Of course. I'd do it again anytime."
"Then I know she's in good hands."
Even though Ikuto tried to lighten the mood with a few jokes, it remained rather somber overall.
Finally, he went to Yoru and smiled softly. "I'm sorry for asking so much of you and worrying you, my friend. I owe you a lot."
Yoru swallowed and couldn't help but let a few tears fall. He hugged his master, immensely relieved to finally see him again, healthy.
"I'll bring you back..." Naturally, Nagi and Tadase had already explained everything to the others.
"We..." Amu placed a hand on Yoru's shoulder and smiled encouragingly. She knew Nagi would definitely help, but her gaze briefly lingered on Tadase. "You don't have to help, after all, you hardly know each other."
Tadase shook his head. "I won't just stand by and watch you become more and more unhappy. It's different from the castle. You know he's alive, that he loves you, that he needs help. Under these circumstances, you'll never get over him and will constantly suffer. I'll always help you, Amu."
"What? You got over me?" Ikuto looked at her, feigning shock.
Amu glanced at Aruto and avoided Ikuto's gaze. "You didn't contact me for seven months. I had no choice."
"Besides, she hasn't really gotten over you, or she wouldn't still love you," Nagi chimed in, shrugging.
Amu sighed and looked at her maids. Here, she was just a normal girl, so why would anyone serve her? She explained to them that they could leave, that they could finally live free lives if they wanted. The three exchanged glances and started laughing. "You've long been a friend to us," Su spoke first.
"You never treated us like servants, you were always kind to us," added the blue-haired one.
"We're happy to stay with you and continue to help, as friends," Ran smiled widely at Amu and nodded confidently.
"Thank you," Amu was truly grateful for the strong bond they had developed.
Yoru took a deep breath and looked seriously at Ikuto. "You should finally tell them the truth about who you are in this world." He felt they all deserved the truth, and it would certainly help Tadase come to terms with the fact that Amu loved Ikuto, once he realized everything had been a lie.
Ikuto sighed. He didn't care if everyone saw him as evil, but Yoru was right—after everything, they probably deserved the truth if they wanted it. He approached Amu and placed his hand on her arm, the one holding Aruto. "Lend me your strength for a moment, okay?" He smiled gently, but Amu only looked at him confused. He wasn't sure if it would work, but it was worth a try, and if this worked, his next idea would probably work too.
He closed his eyes briefly and concentrated. Amu felt her blood change, as if he was controlling it. Yet, she remained calm because she trusted him. She had already shown she could use illusion magic, and in searching for her magic, he now discovered her other abilities as well.
However, the illusion was his goal. Once he figured out how it could be activated in her body, he did so, and Amu instinctively made a hand gesture with her free hand. The room darkened, and a picture appeared before them in the air. It was almost like a screen, displaying images, a film. Amu was utterly confused but tried to remain focused while Ikuto continued to guide her.
In this replay, everything was shown. The long friendship between the Hotoris and Tsukiyomis. The machinations of the Hotoris against the Tsukiyomis. The truth that this friendship had only ever served a purpose. The murder, committed by the Hotoris themselves. The infamous scene of Ikuto and the knife, but also the moment before, showing how they perfectly set him up. The forged will and the entire show the Hotoris put on to gain sympathy.
When the show ended, Tadase clenched his fists and swallowed hard. He didn't want to believe it. Who could guarantee that this was the truth? But he had to admit that it all perfectly fit his parents. "So they're even more vile than I thought..."
His gaze met Ikuto's. "I'm sorry such terrible things were pinned on you... But there's one thing I still don't understand... The attacks?"
Here, Yoru took over the explanation he had already given the others: that it was the wild demons, and that Ikuto had even prevented them from causing greater harm.
Finally, Tadase knelt before the blue-haired boy. "So you are the rightful king..." He bowed his head, though it still weighed on him.
Ikuto blinked, surprised by the sight before laughing. "I don't care about that at all. Come on, get up."
The blonde sighed and followed his words. "You have to take the throne once we free you from that witch's grip. We can't let my parents continue." The young former prince was glad that his status had never meant much to him, otherwise, this would have felt like a slap in the face.
"We'll see. But me? As king? I'm completely unsuitable." Ikuto laughed again and scratched his head. The group exchanged doubtful glances, as none of them, except for Ikuto, saw him as unsuitable after the coordinated and relatively peaceful attack on the castle.
Ikuto had already resigned himself to his fate, and everyone felt it. In every conversation, it sounded like he was saying goodbye. He was convinced that there was no way they could win against him and Dia.
"I know no one wants to hear this, except maybe Tadase," he grinned, winking at the blonde, "but is there anyone here who, if things become truly hopeless, will end me for the good of the kingdoms?"
Tadase crossed his arms and pouted. "I definitely don't want to hear that! Idiot..."
"Honestly... Even if Amu wanted it, I wouldn't do it..." The lilac-haired boy shook his head. "You're my friend..."
They had been through enough together, and he couldn't just give up on Ikuto.
Ikuto sighed and looked at Tadase, who also shook his head in refusal. For him, it was probably a mixture of guilt over what his family had done and the fact that he wouldn't act against Amu's wishes.
Finally, he looked hopefully at Yoru. Surely his loyal friend would stand by him, right?
"Ikuto, you have responsibilities. You have a wife and a child. I can't bring myself to take a father away from his family." That was just one reason—he would have found it incredibly difficult to banish his only friend from this world forever, regardless.
"Guys... come on..." Ikuto sank onto the sofa, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
"I don't want to sound arrogant, but you don't realize what's coming. I alone could probably wipe out everything, but with Dia... you have no chance. The smartest thing would be to take me out here and now..."
At this, Amu clutched Aruto's blanket tightly, trying to remain calm and suppress her pain.
"You still look pretty worn out; maybe you're not as strong as you think right now," Nagi shrugged, eyeing his dark circles, prominent cheekbones, pale complexion, and overall rather frail frame.
"I was in the same condition when I came to the castle," Ikuto shrugged back. "Just the fact that I can use blood magic gives me a huge advantage." He seemed very confident and decided to amuse himself by briefly controlling Nagi, causing him to suddenly move closer to Tadase. The blond looked at him in confusion, backing away until he fell over the sofa. Ikuto made it seem like Nagi was about to kiss the blond, thoroughly enjoying the scene before releasing the control.
Nagi took a deep breath, stayed calm, and extended a hand to help Tadase up, though he shot Ikuto an annoyed glance.
"I don't know what kind of weird relationships you all have, but me... I only like Amu..." He didn't even use the general term "women," only specifying her.
"You wouldn't even notice he's a guy. His lips are softer than Amu's," Ikuto grinned, causing Tadase's expression to go even more blank.
"Oh... that... we were just messing around... That one time... and the other time, it was because we had to give him something, and I preferred to do it myself rather than have Amu kiss him indirectly..." Nagi tried to explain, hoping to clear up any thoughts in Tadase's mind.
"So, want to repeat it?" Ikuto grinned charmingly at the lilac-haired boy.
"Of course, anytime," Nagi rolled his eyes but grinned as well. He was well aware that Ikuto, despite the negative facts, was trying to keep the mood light and positive.
"There were two times...?" the blond raised an eyebrow. "How about you guys keep doing your thing, and I'll take Amu?" Of course, this wasn't serious, as Amu would be the one to decide that anyway.
Amu narrowed her eyes as she silently watched everything. The two had already been getting along better day by day back then, but right now, it seemed like they hadn't lost contact for seven months but instead had been in contact every day. Eventually, she joined in on the silliness. "You'd better watch what you say, or I'll end up challenging both of you." She stuck her tongue out at Ikuto and Nagi, laughing.
Ikuto just grinned and stood up confidently. In the next moment, he was in front of Nagi, wrapping an arm around his waist, turning slightly toward Amu in a charming pose, and holding Nagi so that Nagi was now bent backward and he over him, their torsos pressed together. His expression was both charming and seductive, and the next thing Nagi knew, he felt Ikuto's lips on his once again. However, Ikuto's gaze was fixed on Amu from the corner of his eye, with a victorious grin.
Nagi, who couldn't even process what was happening fast enough, felt his heart skip a beat. In the next moment, Ikuto released the pose, and both stood upright again. The lilac-haired boy blinked in confusion, trying unsuccessfully to hide his blushing cheeks. Even though he wasn't into men at all, he could understand why Amu had fallen for Ikuto.
"You're all crazy..." Tadase shook his head, unable to believe what was happening. He also found this silliness inappropriate, though he understood that Ikuto wanted to make this last day for Amu as positive as possible, not filled with sadness and negativity.
"What happened to your 'eww'?" Nagi asked after regaining his composure.
"Well, I can't lose a challenge," Ikuto grinned and shrugged. "Besides, after the second time, it wasn't so bad anymore. We had mentally prepared for much worse, just in case."
"But... the challenge wasn't even spoken," Nagi said, confused.
"Think of it as revenge," Ikuto stuck out his tongue and crossed his arms behind his head.
"You two..." Amu sighed, shaking her head, then laughed for the first time in a long while.
Meanwhile, Miki had sat down next to Yoru. "You were always around, right? Were they always this crazy?"
Yoru sighed, his ears twitching briefly. "This is nothing."
"What... what else?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"You don't want to know... But aside from that, both of them flirted with Amu every day, intensely. They were both pushy... At least they eventually became friends." The cat-boy explained and sighed again. "But it was fun too." He smiled, recalling the carefree days at the inn.
"I wish I had been there..."
She looked at Yoru, blushing slightly. She still found him very attractive, and now that she knew Ikuto wasn't truly evil, her guilt had vanished.
"Is something wrong?" Yoru glanced down, wondering if something was off or if he had stains on him, noticing her gaze.
Miki blushed even more and flailed her arms. "No, everything's fine!"
Yoru narrowed his eyes and noticed the flush on her cheeks.
Ikuto noticed the scene out of the corner of his eye and quickly understood what was happening with Miki. He grinned and sat between the two, putting an arm around each.
"What are you doing?" Yoru complained.
"You two better take care of my girl, yeah? Who knows how reliable those two over there are," he said, glancing at Nagihiko and Tadase with a cheeky grin. "You two should team up so I can leave with peace of mind tomorrow."
Yoru blinked in confusion. He was pretty sure Ikuto would definitely trust Nagihiko when it came to Amu, and he himself would also trust Tadase. Both of them would surely risk more for her than he and Miki ever would—well, at least as he would. He couldn't speak for Miki.
Miki swallowed, blushing once again, feeling uncomfortable. She had never been this close to a man. "Of course, I'll take care of her..."
While the two of them were flustered and bewildered, Ikuto took the opportunity to grab Yoru's arm and, as he slipped away from between them, placed it around Miki's waist, pulling her closer. Before leaving, he quickly whispered in Yoru's ear, "She likes you."
Yoru's ears perked up and twitched, but by the time he turned, Ikuto was already gone, and his matchmaking attempt was over for the moment.
Yoru gulped nervously, blushing. Should he pull his arm back? His heart was racing. He had never been interested in situations like this before.
Miki, now sitting right beside him, her body touching his, felt her heart pounding in her chest, her face burning up.
"Uh... uh... I'm sorry..." Yoru stammered, looking away.
"I-it's fine..." Miki sounded shy and embarrassed but also sweet.
"S-should I...?"
"No, it's fine." She knew what he was about to ask but didn't want him to pull his arm away.
"Okay..." Yoru's cheeks were still flushed, and the two of them sat in awkward silence for a while.
The blue-haired observer watched them for a moment longer, smiling at their awkwardness, before heading out of the castle and into the forest. The others were in relatively good spirits and preoccupied, so no one would notice immediately.
"Old friend, what deeds do you commit? Where will this path lead us?" Arthras emerged quietly from the shadows of the forest, shaking his head.
"Why must you sacrifice everything for this girl? Where is the Ikuto who once denied love? With him, my heart would not be so burdened with worry."
Ikuto smiled bitterly and gently stroked the hellhound before him. "That Ikuto had to step aside for my soul to live. I don't regret a single second of loving Amu." He paused and sighed. "You probably know already. I want to ask you, all of you, to stand by her side. Please don't come if my mindless body calls for you. Don't come, no matter how much this body suffers. You would suffer losses, for this woman will show no mercy."
Arthras bowed his head in silence. "This woman is foolish and bereft of any skill." referring to Amu.
"That's not true. She just needs to learn. And even if it were true, she needs protection. I know I can't force or command you and your kind, nor do I want to, but I ask you once more, as a friend, to stand by her and the others."
Ikuto's voice was heavy with sadness. He knew he was asking a lot.
"Humans have always treated us as lesser creatures, banishing and even hunting us. Now I'm expected to stand by such a person? She was no different when she first laid eyes on one of our kind." Arthras wrinkled his nose and sighed.
Ikuto sighed as well. "Even if you don't want to help her, please stay away from me. The wyverns will listen to me the moment my voice rings out. I can't stop them from fighting in this false battle, but you, you must stay away. Don't fight because of me."
"We are to stay away, yet we are supposed to support the girl. What do you think she intends to do?"
"That... I know... I would appreciate it if you joined her, but under no circumstances should you fight for my controlled body." Ikuto looked down at the ground, his head bowing.
"So be it. We will stand by her. It would be in her best interest to ensure that you are free in the end." Arthras breathed deeply, speaking calmly, though he wasn't particularly pleased. Ikuto embraced the large creature and thanked him. "Farewell, my friend," he tried to smile a little.
"May a reunion be foretold and blessed by the stars," the hellhound said before turning and disappearing back into the forest.
When Ikuto returned to the castle, the others were already wondering where he had gone, and Amu was imagining the worst.
"Why the long faces? Did someone die? I was only gone for a moment," he said, raising his arms and looking around.
"Idiot!" Amu walked up to him and smacked his chest. "Don't just leave without saying anything!" At some point, Aruto had fallen asleep in her arms and was now in a cradle, allowing Amu to move freely.
"Come on, no need to sulk. We have a big ballroom; how about some fun and distraction?" He glanced at the others. "And don't worry, we'll all dance with her."
Tadase and Nagihiko exchanged glances, both thinking that Ikuto and Amu should spend their time alone, but arguing was pointless.
"And the music?" Amu looked at him, irritated, and sighed.
"Records."
He glanced over at Yoru and Miki. "A little dancing wouldn't hurt those lovebirds over there either."
"Ikuto!" Yoru's voice was shocked, his face once again the color of a tomato.
"I... uh... sounds fun... I've never had a dance partner," Miki mumbled quietly.
Yoru swallowed nervously. Of course, he could dance. As the king's right hand, it was a required skill for certain events, but he had never needed to actually dance, let alone with a partner.
Finally, Ikuto took Amu's hand and led the others to the ballroom. "Su, would you be so kind as to take the cradle? My hands are a bit full," he said as he picked up Amu and carried her. The green-haired girl blushed at the sight, then nodded, picking up Aruto and the cradle.
Once in the ballroom, Ikuto gently set Amu down on her feet and made sure music started playing.
In the magnificent ballroom, where the soft light of the chandeliers danced on the polished marble floor, a scene of bittersweet beauty unfolded.
Yoru, though initially hesitant out of nervousness, gathered his courage and led Miki onto the dance floor. Their eyes met, and in that moment, amidst the swirling movements and gentle music, a connection formed that went deeper than words ever could. A delicate smile played on Miki's lips as Yoru looked at her with an expression that revealed more than he intended. It was the beginning of a love that was still in its infancy, but already planting its tender roots.
Amu, in a stunning dress, danced first with Ikuto. Their movements were harmonious and fluid, as if they were a reflection of each other. Then she changed partners, first dancing with Nagihiko, and then Tadase. With each change, she seemed to shine even brighter, as if she was blooming in the joy of the dance.
Ikuto, as quiet observer, stood at the edge of the ballroom, watching. His face was neutral, but his eyes held a hint of melancholy. He knew he would have to let Amu go, that it was best for her. But that knowledge didn't make the pain any less. He hid his feelings behind a mask of false cheerfulness, but inside, he felt the sting of loss.
Ran and Su occasionally floated together across the dance floor as well, after Su ensured that everything was fine with Aruto. They enjoyed the carefree moment wholeheartedly.
A few hours passed, filled with dancing, laughter, and unspoken feelings. These were moments of joy and farewell, moments they wouldn't forget anytime soon.
Near the end, Ikuto organized a partner swap. Amu moved from Tadase to Nagihiko, and Ikuto used the opportunity to share a few more steps with Tadase, who looked a little intimidated. "Please don't kiss me..." he almost pleaded, and Ikuto couldn't help but chuckle briefly. "Just play along later, okay?"
The blonde frowned. "What?"
"The chance of me surviving this whole ordeal is very, very slim." Ikuto paused briefly, taking a deep breath. "But still, I want her to have someone by her side. If, by some miracle, I survive, then she's mine."
Tadase looked at the blue-haired boy in disbelief. "That's for her to decide."
"I know, but she would choose me. She already did back then." The reason she was locked away was simple—because she had told Tadase the truth.
Tadase scowled and rolled his eyes. Such an arrogant guy. "Why me? Aren't you and Nagihiko good friends?"
Ikuto swallowed and sighed sadly, his gaze drifting to the two of them. "We are, but he'll understand. You can offer her more protection and generally much more. I want her to live a fulfilled, carefree life."
"She'd never choose me... Besides, I can only offer her that if I return to the castle, and neither she nor your son would be safe there." He now looked at Amu and Nagihiko as well, both of whom seemed carefree at the moment.
"I'll help her understand her powers faster and learn, then you can overthrow your parents. Arthras will also support you." Ikuto playfully twirled Tadase and continued to glide effortlessly across the dance floor with him. "I'll nudge her feelings a bit more in your direction, so just play along."
"We'll make sure you survive," Tadase rolled his eyes and now took the lead in the dance. "How can you give up so easily? Is she really as important to you as you claim? Shouldn't you do everything you can to survive?" His eyes were both disappointed and serious.
"Tadase, how do you plan to defeat someone who can transform into a strong, giant wyvern, who commands wyverns, controls you, commands shadow warriors, and then there's Dia. She drains life from her opponents, strengthening herself or her allies in the process. She can create shields that block any attack. Her corruption beams weaken the target or even make it sick." He sighed heavily, allowing Tadase to lead for once.
The blonde swallowed hard at this list. He had to admit it sounded quite unbeatable.
"I can't bear to leave her now, to take away her last hope. I just hope I won't regret it later, but once an opportunity arises on the battlefield, you must kill me." He repeated his words from the morning earnestly.
"I'm sorry, I can't promise that. As for the other thing, fine, but the final decision is still hers." With those words, he finally broke away from the dance. The others had already been watching the two with curiosity, noticing that they seemed to be discussing something.
"We should all get something to eat, but first I need to tell Amu something," Ikuto raised a piece of paper and began reading from it.
"Amu,
There are moments in life that are like stars shining in the darkness of the night. They are rare, precious, and unforgettable. You are one of those stars in my life.
I remember the first time I saw you. You were like a ray of light breaking through the darkness, a glimmer of hope in a world that all too often seems gray and dull. Your smile, so genuine and pure, touched my heart like nothing else.
But I am not blind to the tears you hide behind that smile. I see the pain in your eyes that you try to conceal. It breaks my heart to see you like this, and yet I know I'm not the one who can ease that pain.
I wish I could tell you how much I love you. But I know those words would only add salt to your wounds. So I will remain silent and watch from afar as you walk your path.
I hope that one day you find someone who loves you as you deserve. Someone who makes you laugh when you're sad, who holds you when you fall, and who is always there for you, no matter what happens.
Until then, I will be here, Amu. In the shadows, quietly, always watching. Because even though I can't be the one to heal your heart, I will always be the one to protect it."
Ikuto's voice was calm, emotional, and shaky at certain points. He used well-chosen pauses to deepen the emotions and looked back and forth between the letter and Amu's eyes. The pink-haired girl clutched her hands to her chest, feeling the tears rising until she could no longer fight them and sobbed, touched. But why couldn't he give her that love? Before she could question it, Ikuto spoke again, his voice shaky and sad.
"That... That's... all written here. I just found it by chance," he pointed to Tadase, who stood for a moment, lost and overwhelmed. His and Amu's gazes met. Tadase could see that the letter was completely blank. Ikuto had spoken from the depths of his heart. The blue-haired boy approached Amu and took her right hand, the one still wearing Tadase's ring. He walked with her hand in his toward the blonde. When he stopped in front of Tadase, he took his hand as well and united the two.
"Do you love me that much...?" Amu swallowed hard, looking deeply into Tadase's eyes. The blonde reluctantly took a deep breath. "Y-yeah..." he sounded hesitant because those weren't his words. Of course, his love for her was just as strong, but still, those weren't his words.
"I'm sorry, but..." Amu began to explain that she couldn't return those feelings since she had already promised Ikuto she would choose him, though it was a bit forced. After this letter, however, she was more uncertain than ever.
"It's okay, my little princess," Ikuto kissed her forehead and gently stroked her head. "You'll have a good life with him." Shortly after, he turned around, heavy-hearted, and made his way to the dining hall.
The rest of the group stood at the edge, silently watching the scene, also moved by the words. Still, Ikuto's pain hung heavily in the air. Yoru and Miki, along with Su and Ran, followed Ikuto, with Aruto in their arms.
"Amu... I hate to say this, but the chances of Ikuto surviving are slim. That's why he's entrusted you to his care," Nagi explained, sparing Tadase from having to tell her that. The purple-haired boy knew that Ikuto had made his decision for Amu's best interest and had nudged her in the direction he thought she should choose. He didn't hold it against him and followed the others afterward. "But... How can you say something like that...?" Amu whispered, disappointed as she watched him walk away.
"We... We'll talk about it later, let's go join the others," Tadase held her hand tightly and walked with her, following the others.
However, there was no sign of Ikuto in the dining hall, so Nagihiko went outside. There, that familiar blue figure leaned against the outer wall, gazing up at the sunset.
"I'm sorry, after all, we're friends..."
"It's okay. I understand your reasons." He stood beside him, looking up as well.
"Ikuto?"
"Hm?"
"Let go, I'm here for you..." The lilac-haired boy lowered his gaze and fixed it on his friend.
Ikuto smiled bitterly for a moment, then slid down the wall and buried his face in his hands, crying.
Nagihiko knelt in front of him and hugged him, which Ikuto reciprocated. "I don't want to die... I don't want to lose her..." He had carried that weight all day and was finally allowing himself to let out his true feelings.
"I know..." Nagihiko held him tighter. He wished he could do more than just listen.
"Why did she have to make that deal with Dia..." Nagihiko had only heard Ikuto sound so broken once before, back at the inn.
"Because you'd practically be dead by now if she hadn't..."
"There still would've been more hope than now..." His head leaned against Nagihiko's shoulder, his breath still heavy.
"We'll find a way to bring you back, okay? Just enjoy the rest of today, and everything after will just feel like a nightmare you wake up from." He stroked Ikuto's back, feeling his restless heartbeat.
"You know that's not going to happen." After a few deep breaths, Ikuto slowly pulled away from the embrace and looked into his friend's orange eyes.
"Nothing's impossible, plus you don't even know my power. I can still do a lot." He smiled confidently. "And you surely can't control all of us at once." He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "I bet if I unleashed my power, you wouldn't be able to control me." His grin became self-assured.
"Then let's find out." Ikuto shrugged, watching Nagihiko closely.
Nagi also shrugged. "Unfortunately, I can't. My power comes with a pretty high price, so I can't just use it for fun."
Ikuto sighed, unsure if he should believe that or if Nagihiko was just trying to give him hope.
"Let's head back inside. And today, she's all yours... Well, unless she doesn't want that, but I doubt it." He struck a thoughtful pose with his fingers on his chin.
He stood up and offered the blue-haired man a hand to help him up.
When they reached the dining hall, Nagihiko put an arm around Ikuto's shoulders and led him toward Amu. "Here, I brought your husband back," he laughed briefly and let go of Ikuto in front of her.
Amu blushed and looked at the floor. "But... we're not even..." she stammered shyly.
"Someday you will be." Nagi nudged her shoulder and smiled confidently. The pink-haired girl frowned and sighed. "You don't even know that; none of you knows who I'll choose..."
Ikuto sighed, realizing her words from that morning weren't as certain as he had hoped, but he was partly to blame—he had wanted to hear it so badly that the method didn't matter.
Nagi also sighed. Even if it was the truth, she could have shown a bit more empathy and not said it so bluntly in front of him.
Finally, he took Ikuto's arm and positioned it so that Amu could link hers with his, which she did, before he went searching for a seat. Ikuto rolled his eyes with a smile and led Amu to the table as well. They sat next to each other, and he placed his hand on her leg whenever he could, to which she responded by intertwining her fingers with his. After everyone tried to lift the mood with light-hearted conversations during dinner, they all eventually returned to their rooms.
Su offered to take Aruto to her room so that Ikuto and Amu could have more peace. Amu agreed, but Ikuto wanted to spend a little more time with him first. They would bring him to her later.
With their son in his arms, they also made their way to Ikuto's room.
Once inside, they sat on the bed. The curtains were open, and the moon was slowly rising.
"You need to grow up strong and fast, you have to protect your mom, okay?" His face was relaxed, adorned with a soft smile that mirrored his gentle voice. Aruto looked at him with large, sparkling eyes, as if assuring him that he would do his best.
The little boy stretched his arms up high and made some noises, prompting Ikuto to offer him his pinky finger, which was quickly grasped by tiny hands.
Amu watched the scene, feeling both happy and sad. She wished she could have moments like this every day, but she knew she only had this one.
Ikuto leaned down carefully and placed a gentle kiss on his son's forehead. "I love you, little one..."
His voice sounded strained, which Aruto seemed to notice, as his expression also became sad.
Amu rested her head on Ikuto's shoulder, looking into Aruto's eyes as well. Seeing his parents together, his eyes brightened again, and he happily waved his hands, still holding onto Ikuto's pinky.
"Just as carefree and full of energy as his mom," Ikuto joked with a laugh.
"I'm not like that..." Amu pouted in response.
"I know," he smiled lovingly at her and kissed her softly on the lips. But the kiss didn't last long, as he quickly pulled away. "We don't have much time left. It's time to practice."
"Practice?" Amu repeated, confused.
"Your powers," he explained, playfully poking her nose with his finger. He laid Aruto in the middle of the bed and guided Amu to the center of the room.
Amu was at a loss. How was Ikuto supposed to help her train her powers? After all, he didn't have any of her abilities. Then again, he had significantly expanded her illusion magic that morning. She still didn't fully understand how to use those new skills.
"When I control your blood, I can sense what powers lie dormant within you and how you can activate them," Ikuto explained patiently.
The girl still looked confused, but she chose to trust him and let him proceed. Ikuto focused, took her hand again, and sent his magic flowing through her bloodstream. He instructed her to concentrate fully on the flow of blood, as the magical energy would gather momentarily where the ability originated.
After several attempts, during which he guided her to manifest all four elements in different forms, Ikuto took a break. "Do you feel it?"
The pink-haired Amu took a deep breath. It felt good to have full control over her body again after several minutes. "I think..."
"Try to reach that feeling on your own. It takes time, but maybe this will help you find the right direction." He hugged her from behind, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his head on her shoulder. "Just imagine someone else doing something forbidden with me. How you'd want to see them, or me, suffer," he said with a mischievous grin, his tone making it clear that such a thing would never happen.
Amu grimaced, not out of anger but rather sadness at the thought.
"It's just about using the emotions as a stepping stone. If you take that feeling as a starting point, you can learn to control your powers better," Ikuto explained patiently. "In everyday life, of course, you shouldn't channel your powers from emotions. That's dangerous and unpredictable. This is just to help you feel and direct the energy within you right now."
Amu nodded slowly and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She focused on the emotion Ikuto had described, even though she knew it was just for practice. She could feel the warmth of his body, the safety he gave her. Slowly, she began to feel the energy inside her waiting to be unleashed.
"Good," Ikuto murmured encouragingly as he held her hand. "Now try to isolate that feeling. Imagine drawing the energy not from something negative, but from a neutral or positive thought."
Amu let his words sink in and tried to transform the feeling into something positive. She thought of the beautiful moments she had spent with Ikuto, the laughter and affection. Gradually, she felt the energy within her becoming more stable and controllable.
"I think I've got it," she said with a soft smile, opening her eyes. "It feels different, but somehow more right."
Ikuto nodded, pleased. "Exactly. It'll get easier with time. You just have to learn to consciously choose and control that energy source." He let go of her hand and stepped back to give her space. "Now try to summon a gust of wind, but focus on the positive feelings."
Amu took a deep breath, focused again, and stretched out her hand. A gentle but fierce wind blew through the room, leaving green traces behind it. She smiled proudly and looked at Ikuto, who gave her an encouraging smile.
"There you go." He smiled contentedly, wondering if he could help her with her other abilities. Finally, he transformed into a small wyvern, just the size of Amu's hand, and perched on a table next to her. In smaller forms, he could still speak normally, though not in his final form.
"You're adorable," she giggled and gently poked the tiny wyvern on the snout.
Ikuto grinned inwardly and countered with a fireball the size of her fingertip.
"Ouch!" Amu pulled her finger back and rubbed it briefly. It didn't hurt much, but she could still feel it.
"Who's cute here?" Ikuto raised his nonexistent eyebrows, and they both laughed briefly.
"What's your plan?" The pink-haired girl continued to scrutinize the miniature wyvern before her.
"You can neutralize attacks. Maybe we can practice that a bit. I don't want to hurt you, which is why I'm in this small form. Without this form, I don't have any attack magic you could apply yours to," he explained calmly, hoping it would work. He had noticed that she could transform elements and especially neutralize attacks.
"Focus more on your inner self and imagine my fire turning into water or disappearing altogether." He flew a bit further away so that the fire would vanish before hitting her, as he didn't want to keep giving her small burns if she took longer to learn her ability.
After Amu nodded, he began spitting fire in her direction at regular intervals. The pink-haired girl tried hard to stay focused the whole time, but she was slowly becoming tired and exhausted. Ikuto didn't miss that, but they couldn't stop yet; she had to at least learn this.
"Forget that I'm cute." His voice sounded reluctant; he didn't find "cute" a fitting description for himself, but he understood that his current form appeared cute to women. "Imagine I'm a wild, larger wyvern trying to attack you. You don't want to get burned alive, do you? Deflect it."
Amu shuddered at the thought and sighed. She closed her eyes for a moment, pushing aside the knowledge that Ikuto was sitting right in front of her. Unconsciously, she used her illusion magic, making his wyvern form appear larger. She felt another magical source bubbling inside her, one that was new. All her awareness and focus flowed there until she felt a pleasant warmth and the sensation that she could channel it.
She stretched her hand towards the fire, and after a brief golden shimmer surrounded it, Ikuto's fire vanished. Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled happily as she realized her success.
Ikuto transformed back and nodded, satisfied. "I'm proud of you." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and gently took her in his arms. "Tadase should be able to help you with the magic shield. He can create magical shields, after all. But I think you just need to picture the people or things you want to protect and wish for it from the heart; it'll come to you."
Amu nodded and rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes for a moment to enjoy his closeness.
"I want you to practice your powers every day, okay? You need to get stronger, you need to be able to defend yourself."
"And use them against you," she murmured, frustrated.
"Yes, but you also need to overthrow Tadase's parents, or you'll never be able to live in peace." His hands gently stroked her head before resting on top of hers.
"You will come back. I'll do everything I can. Stop talking like it's final. Stop saying goodbye." Her hands buried themselves in his clothes as she clung to him, a weak sob escaping her lips.
Ikuto sighed, saddened. "And watch out for Nagi... I only controlled him briefly and weakly, so I'm not sure, but combined with what he said, I think his magic is dangerous for him. He mustn't use too much of it."
Amu looked at him, her head tilted slightly, and her gaze confused. Was there magic that could harm its user? "That sounds terrible. Would my healing magic help in an emergency?"
Ikuto shook his head. "I don't think so." He suspected that Nagi's magic was eating away at his life itself, so regular healing likely wouldn't help.
Amu sighed. It was all too much for her. How was she supposed to overthrow a kingdom? How was she supposed to lead a war? On top of everything, how was she supposed to make sure Nagi didn't do anything foolish and constantly improve her abilities? How was she supposed to bear fighting against Ikuto? And then there was Aruto. Her gaze shifted to him, and she noticed he had fallen asleep.
Ikuto followed her gaze and walked over to the bed, gently picking up the little one in his arms.
"Goodbye, my little one. Grow up to be a good man," he smiled softly and kissed his forehead before bringing him to Su.
Amu silently observed the whole thing, unable to hold back her tears. Would they really have to live without Ikuto? Would her son have to grow up without his father? As soon as he left the room, she sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed bitterly.
When Ikuto returned, his expression dropped at the sight before him. He sighed and crouched in front of her. "Amu..."
The girl didn't look up but wrapped her arms around him, causing him to lose his balance and both of them to end up on the floor, with her lying on top of him.
He gently stroked her head, hoping to calm her a little. What could he do? He couldn't promise that everything would be okay when he was convinced it wouldn't.
"It'll be fine. Live your life, alright?" His voice was soft, though slightly shaky. "Tadase is basically alright, I think. Let him make you happy."
Amu clung to him even more tightly at those words, shaking her head. "But I don't want that..." She didn't know if she could choose just one of them yet, but she knew she didn't want to lose Ikuto.
"Sometimes, we don't get to choose certain things. We have to accept what life gives us and make the best of it." He slowly sat up, bringing her with him, gently wiping away her tears with his right hand as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His smile was soft and warm.
"Maybe I don't want that kind of life," Amu gradually calmed down, though her gaze remained fixed on the ground. "If what you're saying is true, who's to say it won't happen again?" Her hands balled into fists, both out of determination and fear. After all, she would have to take her own life or consciously put herself in such a situation, leaving her son behind.
"Hey, hey, hey, I don't want to hear that from you, understand?" He lifted her chin with his finger so that their eyes met. "But..." She sobbed again.
"No buts!" He shook his head, his gaze clearly expressing his firm disapproval.
Amu sighed, deciding not to say anything more, though that didn't mean the topic was off the table for her.
"Why don't we spend the rest of the time doing something happier or just sleep?" He raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly as he continued to gaze deeply into her eyes.
"That would make sense..." Even though she didn't feel cheerful, this was her last chance to be with Ikuto for who knows how long, and she didn't want to waste it sulking.
The blue-haired man flashed a mischievous grin and kissed her neck, gently biting her to mark her again.
Unconsciously, Amu's body shifted, her head tilting to give him easier access to her neck. "Stop teasing me," she pouted, pulling away from him slightly.
"Teasing?" He raised an eyebrow and smirked before lifting her and laying her on the bed.
"Yeah, like this morning." She rolled her eyes, recalling how she had to practically force herself on him back then before anything had happened between them. She doubted he'd suddenly just start things this time.
However, Ikuto continued to grin confidently, kissing her neck again and moving lower to her décolletage. Amu felt his breath on every fiber of her skin. It was restless and hot.
She tried to maintain control, knowing that he would probably stop soon and they would end up sleeping instead. But he didn't stop, and when he began touching her lower, she finally started to give in, believing he wasn't just teasing her again.
"Last time I had to beg. What's different now?" Her breath was already quickening.
"Even if you don't know it or don't want to admit it, I know you belong to me. I know you want me, so I don't need to hold back." He gazed deeply and confidently into her eyes. Amu swallowed and furrowed her brow slightly. "Arrogant guy..."
"I'm not arrogant, but I've known you long enough to understand every bit of your body language."
"So you're just referring to the physical," she rolled her eyes.
"No... Your looks, your way... I just feel it." He eventually sat up and paused while looking at her. "I can stop if you want." He shrugged.
The pink-haired girl swallowed again and sighed. Why did everyone seem to know what she wanted, except for her? Everyone was convinced she would choose Ikuto.
"Do we really have to make this so complicated? If my words offended you, I'm sorry, but I don't want to spend our last time together in such a mood." He lay down beside her, briefly looking at the ceiling before pulling her to his chest.
"And once again, just teasing." She made a face and took a deep breath while resting on his chest. Ikuto blinked in disbelief and rubbed his nose bridge before positioning himself over her again. "Amu... I already started. I want this... But what do you want?" He felt the question was unnecessary. He knew, but for her conscience, he had to ask.
The pink-haired girl bit her lip as he hovered over her, their gazes deeply connected. She grinned briefly, realizing this was her chance to make it difficult for him, as he had done last time, but did she want that? Not really. She cupped his face with her hands and kissed him, causing Ikuto to continue what he had started.
Ikuto knew exactly what to do with her, which spots, positions, and points. He knew what she liked. He still teased her a little, bringing her to the brink of climax multiple times, only to change the movement or position. She was only allowed to reach her peak at the end of the long night, which made everything more intense as time went on. Every one of his movements was like a passionate fire for her, and he often had to cover her mouth to keep anyone from hearing. It drove her crazy, and she begged him several times, to no avail. The blue-haired man enjoyed seeing her like this, but he remained fair, holding back his own building desire until the very end.
Amu had to admit that with the other two, it never felt as intense, perfect, or connected as it did with Ikuto. Everything she did with him stirred a deep bond and trust within her, and she realized that he really did know every inch of her body.
As the first weak rays of sunlight crept through the window, Ikuto finally allowed them both the long-awaited release. His breath was heavy and fast, his arms trembling. They both covered each other's mouths with a gentle smile until his arms eventually gave way, and he collapsed onto her chest to rest.
"So much for sleeping," Amu mumbled tiredly as she rubbed her eyes with one hand, the other resting on Ikuto's back.
"We'll have plenty of time for that in the future," he mumbled, his eyes closed, also tired.
"Tell me, why did you have to mark me so excessively if you're so sure I belong to you?" she chuckled, referring to the love bites scattered all over her body.
"Well, I want everyone to know that you're mine, not just me." He briefly lifted his head and gazed gently into her eyes.
"And yet you handed me over to Tadase." She sighed, thinking back to the words Ikuto had read aloud, placing a hand on her heart.
"He loves you too... Just think about what he wrote."
"I want to see that note," her voice was firm, her gaze fixed on Ikuto.
"I don't have it anymore. I gave it back to him," he blinked at her, slightly puzzled.
"I don't believe you… But what can I do? If this is your wish, then so be it…" She sighed sadly and sat up carefully.
He sighed too and sat up as well. "Believe me, he really feels that way."
Amu took a deep breath and changed the subject. "You have dark circles under your eyes." Her finger gently brushed over the thin skin beneath his eyes.
"Not just me, princess." He grinned mischievously and also brushed over her dark spots.
"Someone had to go overboard." She rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Overboard? As if you didn't enjoy it." He grinned and gently bit her lip.
"Still, I'm really exhausted," she kissed him and stretched. Then she looked for her clothes and handed him his too, but let her fingers glide over his muscular chest once more, placing a few loving kisses on it. He smiled and ruffled her hair. "I love you," her voice whispered just above his skin.
"Me or my body?" He grinned in his usual cheeky tone.
"Idiot," she shook her head, and just as she was about to turn away, she was pulled into a hug from behind. "I love you, forever and everywhere," his voice softly whispered in her ear, and she placed her hands on his arms.
A gentle, happy smile spread across the pink-haired girl's lips, but it didn't last long. "We don't have much time left, we should go back to the others, right?" Ikuto nodded, and the two dressed and stood up.
The others were already waiting, and one look at the pair told everyone more than enough. The dark circles and the marks on Amu's neck said it all. Tadase discreetly rolled his eyes and sighed. Nagi simply accepted it.
Amu still tried to divert attention, hoping to fool them. "We practiced a lot! I can now use wind magic! And I can neutralize attacks!" Her voice was cheerful as she demonstrated her wind magic with a small gust that swept through the room. "He expects you to help me with the shield magic," she looked at Tadase.
"He was a little super cute wyvern," she giggled happily. "But even as a mini wyvern, fire still hurts…" she added with a mumble, causing Nagi and Tadase to shoot Ikuto disapproving looks. The blue-haired boy raised his hands defensively, after all only the first tiny fireball hit her fingertip, after that he kept his distance.
"No, no!" Amu waved her arms. "He didn't hurt me!"
"And all the marks?" Nagi raised an eyebrow, grinning. Of course he knew those weren't from small fireballs.
"I'm clumsy… Until I got the hang of the wind magic, I hit myself a few times," she sighed and scratched her neck, embarrassed.
Tadase rolled his eyes, not quite understanding the show she was putting on, but at least the part about practicing seemed true. He was happy for her, glad that she was gaining more control over her abilities.
"It's almost time." Yoru stepped beside Ikuto, and they exchanged troubled looks. "Are you sure you want to leave me with this crazy girl, old friend?" Ikuto smiled bitterly at Yoru, a hint of desperation in his eyes.
"We… we'll somehow get you back…" Yoru's voice trembled, sounding uncertain, as even he had little hope.
Everyone swallowed hard. The atmosphere weighed heavily on everyone's shoulders as they finally stood together in front of the castle's main entrance, just moments before Dia would appear. Amu and Ikuto held hands, gazing into each other's eyes. She wanted to say so much more, to experience so much more, but all that came out were sobs.
He gently ruffled her hair and kissed her forehead. "You'll be okay, I'm sure of it."
"That's… not the same and it doesn't matter right now…"
In the next moment, black smoke appeared, a smoke Amu knew all too well. She sighed deeply and tightened her grip on Ikuto's hand. The blonde woman appeared right behind him, grinning and bursting with enthusiasm. You could see it in her, she couldn't wait for the last few seconds to pass.
"Soon, the world will be ours, my beautiful," she stroked his cheek gently, but Ikuto immediately knocked her hand away. His gaze was fixed on Amu, his heart growing more anxious with every second.
Amu sobbed more and kissed the blue-haired boy one last time. As she pulled away, she could practically watch the smile fade from his lips and his once lively blue eyes were now dull and became lifeless. Her heart ached so much from this sight that she could never put it into words. As she saw him standing before her, so lifeless, so unlike himself, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her head, and she collapsed with pained noises onto her knees.
Nagi and Tadase reacted immediately. Nagi knelt beside her, trying to comfort her, while Tadase looked back and forth between Ikuto and Dia with a serious expression. "What are you doing to her? That wasn't part of the deal!" He was ready to attack at any moment.
"It's not her fault…" Amu wheezed, stretching a hand toward Tadase. All the memories flooded her at once, overwhelming her brain and her mind. Past memories clashed with present ones, struggling to make room for each other without crossing. Another sharp pain caused her to let out a pained scream, and she clutched her head with her hands.
"Ikuto, put her out of her misery," Dia grinned darkly. She never intended to spare Amu, she wouldn't leave her alive as a risk. The blue-haired boy approached Amu, emotionless. Nagi recognized the coldness and emptiness in his eyes and, along with Tadase, stood in front of her.
"Stop, don't interfere!" Amu gasped in pain, but it was slowly easing.
"But Amu!" Nagihiko shook his head in disbelief.
"This is too dangerous!" Tadase shouted at her.
"Move!" The pink-haired girl insisted, and the two boys reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Ikuto to approach her. The mindless Ikuto bent down and roughly lifted her by the throat, squeezing. Amu coughed and grasped his hand with hers. Her gaze was firm and determined, showing no hint of fear as she stared into his lifeless eyes, though she could feel the air leaving her body.
"That's enough!" Tadase wanted to intervene, but Nagi held him back. "Not yet… Trust her…" The lilac-haired boy wasn't sure himself, but he wanted to believe in his friend.
"Why is this taking so long? Finish it, Ikuto!" Dia taunted with a condescending look.
"You… won't… hurt… me…" the pink-haired girl forced out with all her remaining strength. "I'll bring you back…" Another cough interrupted her. "I'm so sorry you have to go through this again because of me…" The way she looked at him had changed. Her gaze now held a firm, steadfast, and sincere love for him. He seemed to notice, as for a moment, his grip loosened, and a faint glimmer appeared in his eyes for a millisecond.
"Ikuto!" Dia pressed. The young man didn't tighten his grip again and instead threw Amu roughly toward Nagihiko, causing them both to crash into a wall and fall to the ground. As the blonde woman irritably extended her hand toward them, she realized she couldn't move anymore. He had stopped her. His glowing red eyes were still empty and lifeless, but he wouldn't allow her to attack Amu.
"Damn it, Ikuto, obey!" Frustrated by the failure, she retreated with her new servant, leaving behind only smoke, which quickly dissipated.
"Amu!" several voices called out at once as they rushed toward the girl, surrounding her with concern. The pink-haired girl gasped sharply and took a few deep breaths before turning to look at Nagi, who had caught her when she was thrown at him. His arms still rested around her waist. "Are you okay?"
The pink-haired girl gently wiped the blood from his mouth. The impact had been hard; Ikuto could only hold back enough not to kill her, but not enough to prevent her from getting hurt, if it wasn't for Nagihiko. On the other hand he probably controlled himself enough to throw her at Nagihiko and prevent her from getting hurt after all.
"I'll be fine. More importantly, are you okay?" Nagi studied her worriedly, but she seemed unhurt, which she confirmed shortly afterward. Her hands glowed blue and glided over his body. The injuries from the impact gradually faded. Once she was finished, she finally stood up.
"You seem different…" Tadase looked deeply into the girl's eyes. The uncertainty was gone; she seemed completely changed. He had never seen her that confident and determined.
Amu sighed. "I'm myself again… My memories are finally back…" she murmured thoughtfully. Her mind circled around Ikuto. How could she bring him back? She had done the worst thing she could have done to him, yet all he gave her was love.
She sighed loudly. "I should never have made that deal… He never wanted to be under anyone's control again, and I basically forced him into it…" She rubbed her forehead and took a deep breath before her gaze landed on Su, Ran, and Miki, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I've missed you all so much…" She hugged the three tightly, which only confused the maids even more. They had never been gone, after all.
"You're just like back then... What a coincidence..." She smiled and wiped away her tears. The three of them resembled her Shugo Charas in personality so much. Of course, she noticed the confused and concerned looks, so she immediately told them the story of her world with the Shugo Charas. "And you, you were Ikuto's Shugo Chara in our world," she said, looking gently at Yoru.
Everyone except Amu seemed a bit lost; there had been too many confusing events at once. Ikuto was suddenly taken over by Dia without warning, Amu regained her memories but was still attacked by Ikuto, though he spared her, and now there was this story about another world again and now even from Amu, not just Ikuto.
"I'm sorry for all the emotional chaos. I still feel these emotions; of course, they haven't just disappeared. But there will be no one else for me except Ikuto." Everyone could hear the resolve in her voice. Although the emotions she had for the others still lingered in her heart, just as strongly as they had moments before, and she felt terrible and wretched for saying it, she knew it was the only right thing to do.
Nagi smiled and shrugged. "We expected this anyway." Of course, it hurt, but those two simply belonged together.
"What if we can't free him?" Tadase sighed softly.
"We have to find a way. I owe him that, even if it costs me my life, and you won't stop me!" Nagi and Tadase both frowned in frustration and sighed. They quickly realized that this Amu was incredibly stubborn, and resistance was futile.
"Do we exist in your world too?" the lavender-haired boy asked thoughtfully.
Amu nodded. "We were best friends. And Tadase…" she sighed, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Our story was pretty similar... At first, there was something between us. We were together, but eventually, I couldn't deny that Ikuto somehow managed to steal my heart."
"The star of loss and failure seems to hang over me, no matter which world." He sighed, casting a brief, sorrowful glance at the sky.
"No, it has nothing to do with you. You're a kind and good-hearted person. I enjoyed our time together too, but my heart just longed for Ikuto, and I couldn't do anything about it." She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile.
"And now what? We still stand no chance against Dia and Ikuto..." Yoru didn't want to dampen the mood, but his friend was gone, and he doubted he'd ever see him again.
Suddenly, a dark shadow cast over the sky, and moments later, a familiar voice echoed for everyone except Amu and Tadase.
"Girl, who is mistress of the elements, your journey has only just begun. Your heart seeks the freedom of a loved one, but to calm this longing, trials will be placed upon you." Velkan landed gently before the group, speaking in riddles.
"I'll do anything, what must I do?" Amu quickly realized her lack of formality and bowed her head gracefully.
"Velkan… you're helping us?" Yoru stared in disbelief at the massive wyvern.
"The master of shadows is also my friend, one bound to my heart. It is in my interest to free him from the clutches of destruction." The wise wyvern observed Amu and appreciated her respectful gesture.
"Scattered across the land, you will find caves. March forward with courage and a strong heart, explore the unknown, and submit to the trials. Only through victory will you gain the favor of the elements." With these words, and a powerful flap of his wings, the black creature ascended into the sky once again.
"Where you feel magic the strongest, that's where you'll find what you seek. Follow the directions of the compass, four in total." These final words echoed in the air before Velkan vanished completely.
"How am I supposed to find anything with this vague information?" Amu ruffled her hair in frustration. "North, east, south, and west, that's clear enough, but does he even know how big this land is? Each direction has so much ground to cover..." She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Elements... There are legends and myths about elemental spirits, but they were always just fairy tales. No one has ever managed to actually find such a being." Yoru pondered out loud and sighed.
"The lake was also just a myth, and yet it exists! What do you know about it?"
Yoru shrugged. He didn't know much, but surely Ikuto's library had books on the subject.
Amu radiated determination and spent the following days in the library whenever she had the chance. Of course, she also made sure to care for her son, though with her old memories now resurfacing, she felt a bit awkward, as she originally hadn't wanted children.
Currently, Su was with her, keeping her company.
"And you're really sure now? What if we have to kill Ikuto? Do you want to be left alone?"
The pink-haired girl flipped through a light blue book and sighed softly.
"I don't know what will happen if it comes to that, but I was already as good as his wife. We spent so much time together, survived so much…"
"Yes, but you've done that with the others in this world too." Su's gaze fell on Amu's right hand, where Tadase's ring still remained. Technically, one could argue she was closer to being Tadase's wife than Ikuto's. After all, it was an engagement versus just missing the final words from the priest. "Just make sure you're certain."
Amu noticed Su's glance and raised her hand to look at the ring, gently running her fingers over it. She sighed heavily. She would have to return it soon, though she dreaded seeing Tadase's grief. Nevertheless, her decision was made. As she mulled over everything, she absentmindedly flipped through the book until her eyes widened.
"I've got it!" she beamed with excitement.