Information In and Out
Amu stayed there in her bed with a shocked expression written all over her face. She didn't know what Ikuto wanted to talk about and that was enough to get her worried. Ikuto walked closer to her bed and he pulled a chair right next to it. He sat down and sighed.
"Amu, I….sorry…." he told her
Amu was still speechless and she couldn't make put what was happening. "Why was he apologizing to me?" she thought to herself
"Amu can you please say something? Anything." He told her, Ikuto was getting worried because of her lack of voice.
"…" Still, she said nothing
"I get it if you're mad, but can you please just hear me out?" he asked again. It made him wonder if she was ever going to talk to him this way
"I…I'm not mad at you." This time Amu spoke. It shocked him for a bit but still he stayed calm
"You know you have every right to be." Replied Ikuto knowingly "I was being a jerk."
"No, you're supposed to be the one mad. I kept things from you, even after all the things you did for me. I lied." Said Amu and now she felt twice as guilty
"That was never your fault. I should have given you more time. I guess finding out from Tadase had it's effects." He told her
"Did you not like having him here?" asked Amu "I thought you two were close and everything."
"We are, but I never knew that you'd be the one person that Tadase knows more about than I do. It's weird and different." Said Ikuto
"Did you guys think I was dead too?" asked Amu, her voice was softer than before
"No, that fib wasn't entirely believable. It was full of holes, I just didn't see it then." Said Ikuto "They told us you were dead. And that you sold your little sis to someone else for money once."
"Hn, that's nothing new. They do it all the time to everyone who asks." This time Amu's voice was a bit colder and her eyes showed no direct emotion.
"Why didn't you do anything?" asked Ikuto "If people were to find out that you were alive, then that would change everything."
"True, and the consequence would be putting my friends in danger and misery. I'd rather not take it." Said Amu "People see me differently than they do, and I'm not losing them because I'm being selfish."
Ikuto was silent. He was shocked. She was choosing everyone else's happiness and this would end up disregarding her own, but it didn't seem like she minded either way. His thoughts were cut off when he heard Amu speak again.
"You know, it's a bit ironic. I know I can do something about them. I can free myself from my own misery and leave, but as it turns out, I'm the one who doesn't want to do just that. I want to stay, no matter how horrible that place is, I want to stay. They're the one's bossing me around and I still want to stay. No matter how long, as long as I'm with the others, I won't go." She said
"You're doing all this for them? What about you? And what you want? Happiness, isn't on your list?" Ikuto asked her
Amu's expression returned to normal and she spoke "I am happy, what gave you the idea that I wasn't happy? I am very happy."
"But you're miserable, that doesn't make sense." Said Ikuto, being a prince was so different from common life that she made it look so complicated. How could someone be happy in the state she's in?
"I have friends, very good one's might I add, I have a life and personally I don't regret anything." Said Amu
"What about family?" asked Ikuto, he knew that her parents were dead, so how come she was still happy?
"I have a family. I have Ami, Nagi, Rima, Ran, Miki, Su, Dia, Kukai, Yaya, Temari-oneesan, and Rhythm-san and now I have new friends too. They're not perfect and they're not my biological family either, except Ami anyway, but I love them just the way they are." She told him "I wouldn't have things any other way."
Ikuto was stunned, she didn't have her family, she was miserable at times but compared to his life, she seemed to be way happier than he was. Amu looked at Ikuto and he told her something that shocked her a bit.
"You know, you're strong. You can handle all of this, and you're still happy. It's kind of annoying, seeing how you can bear all that, but it's worth it for you." He told her "You're happy no one can miss that."
"You make is sound like you're not. You have everything in your life, why be lonely?" she asked him, but in reality she knew full well what it could have been like. She just wanted to hear Ikuto tell her about it.
"Because all I have is meaningless. They're mostly material things and they won't last long." Said Ikuto "Look at it this way, there may be only a few people I can actually talk to. Utau, Yoru, Tadase. There's Nikaidou and Yukairi-san but that's different and I'm not even close to Kairi."
"Kairi?" asked Amu "Who's Kairi?"
"Kid genius. He's got his head in books and he wants everything in order but he's not so bad, I guess…." Stated Ikuto with a shrug
"…does Utau feel that way too?..." asked Amu
"Yeah, she feels even worse some times. You have no idea…" Ikuto muttered the last part but she still heard him.
"Lonely….is that how it is for you?" she asked
"Huh?" asked Ikuto
"You guys are lonely, guess it's true when someone says money can't buy everything." Said Amu
"Money, it can't buy you a normal life…." Said Ikuto
Amu was silent for a while and then it hit her. Ikuto was shifting to another side of him again. Not the perverted side, no definitely not that, but this side, something she hasn't seen yet. "I'd be nicer if he was like this all the time, but I guess that just what makes Ikuto…well Ikuto" she giggled slightly at the thought. She remembered how it felt not having Ikuto around to tease her and it just ended up being funny to her and ironic that she wanted to see that side again.
"Do you mind telling me what's so funny?" asked Ikuto as he saw her laughing to herself
"Nothing, I just had a thought." Replied Amu and she ceased her laughing now.
"Sure didn't look like just a thought." Replied Ikuto
"Honestly, it was nothing." She was now calm just like earlier.
Ikuto smiled to himself, happy to see Amu back to normal again. Then he remembered the cause of all this. "Hey Amu…" he started
"Yeah?" she asked
"I need to ask you something." Amu stayed silent and waited for his question "When you first woke up, you were babbling on and on about something. Something about you and your friends getting 'punished'. I asked you about it but you didn't have time to answer cause that's about when Utau came in the room."
Amu was silent, she knew what he wanted to know but could she really tell him? "Ikuto, it's complicated…."
"I've got room for complications." He simply told her, but she could tell he was serious
"Punished….that's what they'd usually tell us." She started "We couldn't brake the rules, or something horrible would happen to us. That was basically the logic they wanted. If you want to stay in one piece, you have to stay out of trouble."
"Then why is it that you're other friends don't look as bad a s you do? They were perfectly fine then." Said Ikuto, he knew she wasn't telling her all of it yet.
"Whenever one of us did something wrong, the one responsible would get punished. But it seemed that they liked seeing me in that state more than anyone else. So they'd double it when it came to me." Said Amu "But I got used to it overtime and soon they got so used to it that they do it almost every day."
"Why?" asked Ikuto that was the only thing that came out
"Because they enjoy my pain more than anything else." She told him
"What….what did they do to you?" asked Ikuto
"Usually, it starts off with just the hitting. Eventually, they've developed a new way to see me in pain." Said Amu "They would whip me…"
Ikuto's eyes widened. A whip? They'd use something like that on her? She was a girl for goodness sake. What sane person would do that? Even his parents didn't do that.
"It wasn't just me. They'd do it on Miki and the others too, but I would step in and they'd just let me. They knew that f they let me step in they'd see the others in misery and me, well they just enjoyed it." Said Amu, she never realized that soon enough, she was crying.
Ikuto clenched his fists, he knew things were bad, but this bad? It was insane, he never would have thought she suffered this much. He soon noticed Amu's falling tears, her honey eyes glistening because of it.
"Amu, why are you crying? No one's going to do that to you here." He assured her
"I know, I just…I don't know. What if Rima and the others were getting hurt right now?" she asked "What would happen to them then?
"Everything's fine. I'm sure your friends are holding up fine." Said Ikuto, but he didn't know how much truth there was in that. He didn't know how they were right now and he just hoped Utau had a bit of answers.
"Amu, you should sleep, it's getting rather late." Said Ikuto, he took up some of her time for resting and she had to sleep some time.
"Okay…" Amu didn't argue with that anymore. She was too tired and a bit more confused. But she knew she needed some rest or she wouldn't get better any time soon. She laid down on her bed and looked over at Ikuto
"What about you?" asked Amu
"I'll be fine, I'll go when you're asleep." Said Ikuto
"Thanks Ikuto…." Said and she was slowly drifting to sleep
Ikuto smiled. A little later, it didn't take long for Amu to drift to a sweet slumber. Ikuto bent down to touch her face and he was about to do something else too. His face was so close to hers…just a few millimeters away and.,,
"What am I doing?" he screamed in his head. He pulled himself away immediately and started walking out the door.
Ikuto continued to walk to Kairi's room. He was still fighting with his head with what he did, but he had to shrug it off. He knocked on the door and Kairi came and answered it. Once Kairi saw him, he asked "Ah, Ikuto-san, what are you doing here so late at night? Anything I can do for you?"
"Actually Kairi, there is this one thing I want you to do for me." Replied Ikuto "If It's okay that is."
"Yes, what might that be?" Kairi asked confused
"Are you busy tomorrow?" asked Ikuto
"No, I'm free. Why?" Kairi asked again, not knowing where Ikuto was going with this.
"I need you to do me a favor….." started Ikuto and Kairi just started at him in shock….
The Next Morning….
While Ikuto's plan remains a mystery to most, we look onto how the others take in Amu's sudden disappearance….
Rima and the others were quietly in the garden, Dai went to get the door as they heard the doorbell ring just a few seconds ago. None of them spoke too much, even up until now. No one dared talk much about Amu disappearing. Rima would normally spend some time with Nagi because she needed to talk to him most of the time and she was starting to get comfortable with having him around. Ran would spent her time with Miki, Su and Dia. None of them would do most things together in one day, because even if they tried Lady Yamabuki would find a way to pull them apart.
Saaya had been furious but half glad that Amu was out of her life. Now, no one was going to get in her way. She thought of new ways to get the prince to notice, but the others knew that was never going to happen. He'd have to be blind by then.
Soon Dia arrived and she wasn't alone. Daichi, Kukai and Yaya were with her. With this, all the other's moods seemed to brighten up. Kukai got near them and spoke "Wow you guys are a mess!"
"Oh be quiet." Muttered Rima
Nagihiko laughed at her expression and spoke "Hello Souma-kun, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see how you guys were doing, and now I got my answer. You all look beat! Right Daichi?" asked Kukai
Daichi nodded in agreement and he smiled when he saw Ran approaching him. Ran gave her a hug and spoke "You guys are here! Finally!"
"Glad to see you too." Replied Daichi
"So? Where are Saaya and her mother?" asked Kukai
"Not here, thankfully. They left a while ago. Don't look for them will you?" said Rima
"I won't I was just asking, but since they aren't here, looks like we came at a right time." Said Kukai with a small smile on his face
"What do you mean?" asked Nagihiko
"We need to talk, it's important." Said Kukai
This caught their attention. They didn't know what was going on…yet, but they had a feeling this was needed. They all sat in a circle on the cool grass and waited for Kukai to speak. They preferred the floor so they could speak closer to each other and no one would hear.
"It's about Hinamori…." Started Kukai. Everyone was in shock, they haven't heard news from Amu and now Kukai had it.
"Is she alright? Did you find her? Where is she? When is she coming back? Did the Yamabukis know? What if they came to get her?" Ran was bombarding him with panicky questions
"Oi, Ran calm down, I'm not even done talking yet." Said Kukai and Daichi slightly laughed
"Oh, sorry…" said Ran with an apologetic tone
"No problem, now as I was saying. First things first, Hinamori's fine, perfectly fine." Said Kukai
"How would you know something like that?" asked Rima suspiciously "None of us knew where she was Kukai, how would you know?"
"Rima-chan calm down, Souma-kun can explain better than we can. We were the ones who asked for his help." Said Nagihiko, he knew she was just worried for Amu.
"It's fine Nagi, but she's really fine." Said Kukai "You see, Utau came to the village again the other day, well that was yesterday actually."
"Really? Hime-san came?" asked Yaya in shock
"Yeah, and it was interesting. Let's see, what would you say of I told you that Hinamori was….let's say…in the palace?" asked Kukai
All of their eyes widened in shock? Since when did she go there? "But how? She could never just get in." said Miki
"True, she didn't get in alone. She was there because she fainted in front of the prince. He was the one who took her there." Said Kukai
"Wait, so the royals took her in?" asked Ran
"Kind of, Utau told me that she fainted. You remember the day you got punished?" asked Kukai and they all nodded "Well, looks like she went out when you left her in her room. She must have wandered off and met with the prince somewhere."
"Then she must have fainted because she wasn't in a good condition." Said Nagihiko and Kukai nodded
"That's it. She's with them right now. Utau said that her brother didn't want to tae her back here." Said Kukai
"But how are we supposed to see her then~desu?" asked Su
"I don't know, but they're thinking of something, she said she'd help out here and I trust her." Said Kukai seriously "Besides, taking her back might not be such a good idea either. It's going to make things worse for her."
"I agree with Souma-kun. Maybe we should bear with this just a little bit more okay?" said Nagihiko
"But what about Amu?" asked Rima
"We have to let them decide. Besides they might be able to help too, we never know." Said Nagihiko "Let's be patient."
"Utau might be coming back anyway, she'll inform me if something happens." Said Kukai
"Did she tell you anything else?" asked Miki
"Nothing big, she said Tadase came back though." Said Kukai "He came for a visit, and it looks like he's still there."
"He hasn't been here for a while. If that's the case, then do they know? Tadase might have said something." Said Dia
"Well, yeah. That's actually what happened. He accidentally blurted it out an called her Hinamori-san in front of Utau and the prince." Said Kukai
"Ouch." Said Daichi "What happened then?" he asked
"Don't know, she said they were still trying to fix things." Said Kukai and he shrugged "She'll figure something out, it's Hinamori were talking about remember?"
"I'm just worried about her~desu, what if the Yamabuki's find out." Said Su
"That's why we have to keep quiet okay? No one has to make it obvious that we know something too. Or things will backfire…again." Said Kukai seriously
"That's true, we have to try. We have to do it for Amu-chii and Ami." Said Yaya
"Right. We have to act like the usual." Said Nagihiko
"You mean depressed and stuff?" asked Ran
"That would be the only way that we won't raise suspicion. Unless we tell them that we've already moved on, which I doubt they'd believe." Said Nagihiko with a sigh
"Well then, this is just peachy." Said Rima, they all knew this was going to be anything but easy.
"We're going to have to do it either way." Said Miki "So did Utau-san tell you when she'll be coming back."
"She said she'd be back as soon as she could." Said Kukai
"And I bet you're looking forward to it, ne Kukai?" asked Daichi teasingly
"Urasai Daichi!" said Kukai
"Eh? Did something happen?" asked Yaya
"Yup. Kukai just won't admit it." Said Daichi
"I told you it was nothing okay?" said Kukai
"What's nothing?" asked Rima
"You see, when I came back from the search we had I saw Kukai there sitting on a chair. Him and Hime-san were facing each other." Said Daichi
"But that's normal, isn't it?" asked Ran
"Yeah, but they were holding hands." Said Daichi
"Ugh, Daichi…." Complained Kukai
"Eh? Really?" They all asked in unison
"No way, Kukai…you like the princess?" asked Ran excitedly "That's so awesome!"
"No Ran it's not like that." Protested Kukai
"Then why's your face all red?" asked Miki slyly
"Wha?" he must have not noticed it, but Kukai was blushing
"See? I told you I was right." Said Daichi
They all started to tease Kukai about it and he tried to tease back between Nagihiko and Rima, and Daichi and Ran.
All of them were still talking when the bell rang again. Dia excused herself and then she went to open the door. To their surprise, when Dia came back, she was once again, not alone. Behind her was a green haired boy, about a year younger than Yaya.
"Eh? Dia, who's that?" asked Yaya
"Ohaiyou, my name is Sanjo Kairi." Introduced Kairi with a bow
"Yes, is there anything we can do for you Sanjo-san?" asked Nagihiko
"I'm here because of orders from Ikuto-san." Replied Kairi
"Eh?" they all said in unison, Kairi didn't look like your normal rich guy. He was wearing normal clothes just like all the others.
"Yes, I'm sorry to have shocked you, but this is concerning your friend, Hinamori Amu-san." Said Kairi
"What about Amu-chan?" asked Nagihiko
"Well, Ikuto-san told me to go talk to you all. He wants to help, as he puts it." Said Kairi
"Okay, what do you need then? We can't give you money that's for sure, cause as you can see, we work here." Said Rima
"I don't need money." Said Kairi
"Of course you don't…." muttered Rima, he was rich, why would he need money?
"Then what is it that you need?" asked Dia
"I need information." Replied Kairi
"Information?" asked Ran
"Yes, it would be a big help to you and to your friend." Said Kairi
"So…what? This is going to be some kind of interview or something?" asked Kukai
"Yes, something like that. I just need you each to answer my questions." Said Kairi
"I think he's suspicious." Said Rima
"I'm here to aid you and help in any way I can. We have to learn to trust each other. You see, Utau-san and Ikuto-san have been trying to help." Said Kairi
"And what's your role in this exactly?" asked Daichi
"You could say, I'm an informant." Replied Kairi "Whatever information you give me may be used in the future for….references."
"Okay…." Replied Kukai
"Please try to answer me honestly, we won't use this for blackmail, I can assure you." Said Kairi
"Alright, we're in. If it helps, you can start asking anytime you want." Said Rima and the others nodded.
That's when the questioning began…..and they knew this was going to be interesting. After all they've already been bombarded with so many surprises in one day right? What else would they miss after this?
In The Palace….
Utau walked down the halls, she stopped when she heard someone yell from Amu's room, and it sounded like Amu.
"Ikuto! You pervert! Get away from me!" yelled Amu
Utau laughed a bit and she went a little closer to the room then she heard her own brother's voice.
"Aw come on Amu….you're no fun." Complained Ikuto "It was just a hug."
"I don't care, what makes you think I want to hug you?" yelled Amu "And stop saying my name like that!"
"Why not? You were saying someone's name in your sleep you know?" said Ikuto and Utau could tell that her brother was smirking.
"I-I was not! There was no way I was saying your name in my sleep!" said Amu, she must have missed what she just said
"I never said you were saying my name you know." Said Ikuto and this made Utau laugh a bit more. Amu was being cornered again.
Utau opened the door to the room slightly, as quietly as possible. And then she saw Amu fall silent after Ikuto's last counter.
"…" Amu couldn't think of something to say back….
"Ah, were you thinking perverted thoughts about me again Amu?" asked Ikuto with another smirk
"W-what? N-no! My thoughts have nothing to do with you right now!" said Amu
"So does that mean you think of me often? Other than now Amu?" asked Ikuto
"Ahhhhh Ikuto!" said Amu
Ikuto chucked and spoke "You are so fun to tease Amu."
As much as Utau wanted this to go on as long as it could, she soon stepped in the room and spoke "You two are just so cute."
"U-Utau! W-when did you get here?" asked Amu while looking at Utau with a shocked and embarrassed expression
"She's been here since you started yelling." Said Ikuto "And she just had to talk and kill my fun."
"You can have fun again later, cat." Said Utau as she stuck her tongue teasingly
"Eh? Did you just call him a cat?" asked Amu
"Yes, Ikuto's like a big cat." Said Utau "He has sensitive ears, which makes me wonder how he took all your yelling, and he's quite fast and sly at the same time."
"You have sensitive ears?" asked Amu as she looked up at Ikuto
"Yes, I do." Replied Ikuto plainly then he looked at Utau "I suppose you need something?" he asked her
"Yes I do, in fact I just wanted to talk to you." Said Utau
"Okay, does it have to private?" asked Ikuto
"It would be better that way, would you mind if I took him away for a while Amu?" asked Utau while looking at Amu
"No it's fine, I need to be free of this pervert." Said Amu
Utau laughed at her response while Ikuto gave her a hurt look and said "Aw, Amu I'm hurt. I thought you liked having me around."
"Looks like she wants to be away from you now." Said Utau
"Utau, you can go ahead and take him." Said Amu as she gave Ikuto a glare
Ikuto soon laughed it off and spoke "Alright, I'll go Amu." Then he came closer and whispered in her ear "But I will be back, so wait for me won't you?"
Amu blushed deep red and spoke "A-as if I'd wait for you!"
"Whatever you say Amu, whatever you say…" said Ikuto as he followed Utau out of the room. He left a blushing and stuttering Amu inside…
Utau and Ikuto went to the garden to talk, something new. Utau soon faced her brother and asked "Have you seen Kairi?"
"Hm? Oh Kairi, yeah, of course I've seen him." Said Ikuto "Why are you looking for him."
"He hasn't come back yet. Sanjo-san hasn't seen him since this morning and it's starting to worry him." Said Utau and then she asked again "Do you know where he is?"
"I sent him to the village as a favor." Said Ikuto
"You sent him there?" asked Utau and Ikuto nodded "Why? What for?"
"He said he was free and this would be okay for him to do." He replied
"What did you want him to do?" asked Uau
"I asked him to stop by the Yamabukis house." Said Ikuto
"What? Are you insane, Ikuto how could you?"asked Utau, she was fully facing him now and couldn't believe what he's done "Didn't you think of the risks he had to take? If he get's caught then Kairi can kiss his career here goodbye!"
"Calm down Utau, I didn't make him do something that reckless." Said Ikuto
"Then why?" asked Utau
"I told him to dress up as a common person, you know some kind of disguise. Besides, he's a genius, he would have said no to me if he knew he couldn't handle this." Said Ikuto knowingly
"What did you tell him to do then?" asked Utau eagerly
"I told him to go there and get me some information on the Yamabukis." Said Ikuto "I need to know some things about them."
"Why would you? Is this for Amu's sake?" she asked
"Kind of, but it's partially for my sake and the rest for her friends' sake too." Said Ikuto
Utau noticed the look he had and asked "She told you something didn't she? I thought you two were getting along so well now."
"We are, I think we are." Said Ikuto "I just didn't like what she told me."
"What did she tell you?" asked Utau
"Did you know about her punishment? Did she tell you anything about it before I knew about this stuff?" asked Ikuto
"I knew about it, Kukai and Nagihiko had been the ones to tell me, it wasn't Amu. Why do you ask?" asked Utau
"She told me about it last night. She told me…that she was whipped." Said Ikuto icily
"Oh that…." Replied Utau, t reminded her of when she overheard Nagihiko and Kukai's conversation and when she first found out that Amu was a Hinamori
"Yes that, and it…shocked me to a point." Said Ikuto "Did you know she feels happy right now?"
"Yes I do, Kukai and I had that talk before. Odd isn't it, how they can be happier than we are, but if you think if it logically, we have more than they could ever have. That's how it is to others isn't it?" said Utau
"We don't have more than they do. They have more than we do Utau." Said Ikuto
"I know that, but it stinks when other people make you think that you have everything they could ever want and want you to be happy." Said Utau
"Like the price's that you've dated?" Ikuto asked
"I never dated any of them. They're arrogant jerks, why would I? I'd rather date a cow." She said harshly
Ikuto laughed at her reaction and Utau spoke "Why? Would you rather spend your day with some random princess or Amu?"
"Amu, isn't that a bit obvious? Heck, I'd rather speak time alone than with one of those clingy girls." Said Ikuto
"Well good for you. You seem to enjoy having Amu around." Said Utau
"Who wouldn't, she's too much fun." Said Ikuto
"Is that all?" asked Utau in a teasing tone
This was the time Ikuto couldn't answer. After what almost happened, and what he almost did last night, he didn't know what to think of Amu now. Utau noticed that Ikuto was hesitant to answer and spoke.
"Are you okay? I was just kidding you know." She told him
"I know that Utau, anyway, is that all you needed to ask me about, Kairi?" asked Ikuto changing the topic, he'd dwell on his problems later.
"Um….yeah that's it." Said Utau "You think Amu will feel better soon? Will we even be able to help?" asked Utau
"We'll help her, and we're going to keep her safe here until we figure something out. I won't let someone hurt her. Not on my life." Said Ikuto and that's when he walked back to Amu's room as Utau stared at him leave.
"You know Ikuto, you've changed, I think we both have. And we have all of them to thank for that. Let's find a way, it's about time you were happy…." said Utau silently as her lips curved up into a smile….