Written by: Rodriguez Alb.
Edited by: Rodriguez Alb.

Inspired by the song(s):
Keri Hilson – I Like
Owl City – Vanilla Twilight

Note: Hi guys . . . -.- This is now the last chapter, I SWEAR IT IS. Haha:D I've been under so much stress, I wanted to freakin' update this so much but I was wayyy too lazy, and look at me now! I UPDATED! I'M A GOD. WHOOT. Please enjoy . . . and don't forget to review pleeasseee, I worked my brain (that I've got left) way overtime!

Shugo Chara

Drift Wood

Chapter Seven

NORMAL POV

She hung up on Souko, and turned towards the Hospital and sped off to the streets and called a taxi. A bright yellow one drove right up and stopped in front of her; she sighed and opened the glossy door. Slipped in and gave the address to her house . . . not their house anymore. Her mind was blank the whole ride home, the taxi driver kept up bringing up the subject of her hair color.

Getting no reply, the guy gave up and the ride home continued in silence. She threw 100 dollars at the man and stepped out of the taxi and ran towards the door of the house. Souko opened the door immediately before Amu could touch the bell,

"Amu!" Souko cried, "Sweetie, come in," Amu sniffed, Souko led her to the living room, there sat Utau, curled in a ball on the ground. Aruto, whose face always seemed so bright and content was crinkled in sadness and worry buried in his hands.

"Amu . . .!" Utau said, looking up at Amu, she threw herself onto Utau and sobbed into the blonde's shoulders. A large hand placed itself onto the small of Amu's back, she turned slightly, a soft smile flashed onto the man's face, Kuukai stood up and sat himself next to Aruto. There was a silence filled with sniffles and low cries, until Amu spoke.

"It's all my fault isn't it?" Utau scoffed, "Of course not, Amu, you're a part of our family, no matter what happens, we should stick together! Don't start blaming yourself for anything!" Utau retorted,

"But-" Amu began until Souko cut her off, "But nothing Amu, Utau is right. We stick together through everything." Aruto nodded wordlessly, and Kuukai gave Amu a pat on the back, "Yeah Amy," She wasn't convinced though, she knew it was her fault, she saw it – all because of her, but even though, she said nothing in response. She got up and left the room in silence, still in her day clothing; she slipped into her bed and wondered what would happen the next day.

Was it all just a dream . . .? Did Ikuto really die? Did he actually really love Amu? Why'd he save Amu in the first place? What would've it been like if Ikuto had lived . . .? "I love Ikuto," she whispered, her closing eyes wet with tears and succumbing into a dark dream, cold tears streaming down her face..

Amu's eyes opened as bright light streamed through the curtains and windows, brightening the quiet serenity of the room. A calm feeling emitted from all walls, she sat up quickly, her head spinning from the sudden movement, her head felt light and dizzy. Her hands immediately came to her head and she held it there as the room began to still.

"W-Where am I . . .?" She managed to whisper as she looked around the room. Amu got on her feet and looked inside the closet, inside the pure white clothing, dresses, jeans, shirts and underwear. She took out a white dress, plan and beautiful, tight fight, high-waist, and ended at her ankles. "Pretty . . ." she said as she had it on her body, examining herself in the full-length mirror standing tall in the corner of the room.

"Beautiful is the word," A low and familiar voice said. Amu turned towards the door, a look of shock on her face, but when she turned around, no one stood there, the door which was once closed was now left wide open, slowly looking back at the mirror when she felt a warm breath of air on her neck.

No one was there at the door, but on her side, there stood a tall man dressed completely in the same purely pale white shade she'd ever seen. White seemed all of a sudden so dull against his lightly tanned skin, marble blue eyes that shone like diamonds when he looked back at her through the mirror with a playful smirk of his. Amu was frozen.

Ikuto. Yes, it was Ikuto. Her breathing was ragged; she could see him in the mirror, but why not next to her? She shivered involuntarily, "A ghost . . .?" she whispered, Ikuto laughed, and his arms slipped their way around her waist, "No, no. Of course not." This time when Amu turned her head to his, she could see him, and gasped, his eyes moved to meet hers and his lips curved into a smile.

Blushing lightly when Ikuto's face moved closer to hers until their noses touched, Ikuto's breathing on her face intoxicated her with the deep musky smell, and her breathing began to speed up as she inhaled more of his smell. His head slowly moved towards her neck and rested there, she was just staring back at their reflection in the mirror. How she fit so perfectly into his form.. and just as she was about to touch his hand.

Everything.. disappeared.

And for the second time, she opened her eyes; dull light filled her room, Amu's eyes felt heavy and sore from the crust in her eyes. From either side of her room, she could hear the muffled cries of Utau and Souko, Amu closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath. She slid odd the bed and walked unsteadily to the bathroom; she sat on the toilet seat and buried her face in her hands.

Amu pulled her shirt over her head as she got off the seat, and took off her pants, removed her undergarments, turned the water in the shower on, Amu stepped in. She leaned her head back and felt the steam rise around her. She heard a doorbell ring, the soft and polite voices of Souko and Aruto silenced as the footsteps went downstairs, the sound of the door opening a little afterwards.

Then she heard two other voices, and then silence, Amu switched off the water and stepped out, drying herself with a towel, and walked out of the bathroom, grabbing a bra and underwear and put it on. She slipped on a jumper and black leggings. She sat cross legged on her bed with her hair up in a messy bun, she watched the door silently, the door creaked open and a girl stood there in the doorway.

She had her hands at her sides, her long blonde hair in a long braid, her deep purple eyes were stricken with pain and mourning. Her lips were a straight grim line, her bangs fell over her eyes, and the way she stood . . . it was just heartbreaking. "They're going to take you away," she said quietly, her voice cracked.

Stepping forward, her tears began to fill her eyes, blurring her view, she made her way to Amu who sat in the middle of the bed, Utau joined her soon and buried her head into her knees. "Who are?" Amu asked faintly, "Your parents," Utau said, looking up at Amu slowly, "Oh." Amu muttered. "You don't have to go there if you don't want to!" Amu shook her head as Utau whispered, "Why would you want to go there..?"

Amu's frown deepened, "I've caused enough trouble already. Please don't try to make me stay. Please." Amu begged, Utau was about to say something when the voices from downstairs grew louder.

"We demand to see our daughter!" A woman said, Aruto spoke, "You have no right! She's our daughter, we took care of her, you mistreated her, and therefore she ran away!" another man growled, "We made mistakes, and we know this is a difficult time for you, but we've waited years to see Amu again!" Souko screamed.

"Don't you dare go up there!" Utau quickly put her arms protectively around Amu, Amu took Utau's hand and held it tight, giving her a scared glance, the door whipped open, and a couple stood at the doorway, smiles spread on their faces, "Amu!" the woman was aging, her mousse brown hair had strands of white in it, her brown eyes that couldn't see their end were pretty.

And her partner, he was just as old, pale bronze hair, his eyes were a fancy shade, but their light, it was all wrong.

Amu gasped, and she remembered as a child when he had come back home from work with another woman, she was about 5 years old then, Ami wasn't born yet, and Amu was extremely lonely. She was just playing with the maids, until the front door slammed closed a woman's young laugh and Tsumugu, Amu's father's erotic growl.

Their noises came from the living room, and past the kitchen, where she was, Amu was baking sweets – that was until they passed the kitchen, her hair was dyed blonde, but the roots were black, her eyes were dark and cruel, her brightly painted lips were smudged at the edges, her hair was messy, eye shadow was smeared all the way to her cheekbone, and had heavy eyeliner. She wore a strong does of perfume; it seemed to fill the whole house.

Poor little Amu coughed at the thick scent, the maid tried to distract her from the prostitute in small clothing, and her fake twinkly laugh, and her greed for money. What was her father doing with another woman . . .? Amu didn't understand, nor did she want to. "Mrs. Kitagawa, w-who is that woman?" Amu asked shakily, tears began to fall from her eyes.

Amu came back to reality, "Amu?" the woman asked, "Would you?" Amu continued to stare at her 'mother', "Would I what?" she asked coldly, "Would you like to come with us . . . back home?" the Tsumugu asked, Amu looked at Souko, Aruto, and Utau, "Yes, I don't want to bother anyone anymore, thank you guys." She smiled sadly, her eyes touched by grief.

Utau screamed, "STOP!" she threw her arms up in the air, got off the bed and gripped the nightstand hard, "I've had enough of your "I'm sorry", "I'm bothering you all" Just shut the fuck up!" she hollered, Amu flinched, "Utau . . ." her shoulders relaxed, "I just . . . I just don't want you to leave me," Amu hugged Utau. "I'll never leave you Utau, you're my best friend. My sister," Utau sniffed.

"I just won't be here," Amu said, Utau nodded sadly, "Amu, are you ready to go home?" Tsumugu asked her, "Not just yet," Tsumugu nodded and he and Midori left the room and went down the stairs to the living room. "Amu, sweety.. why?" Souko questioned sadly, her eyes were a deep pool of hollow depression.

Aruto held his wife close, afraid that she may be the next person to leave him. "Mother . . . I can't stay here, I have to leave because, if I stay here, everything I see will remind me of . . ." Amu broke out into load sobs, "I just can't stay here! I love you, and everyone who lives here, and – and I love him too much to be here!" Utau squeezed Amu tighter, "Okay, if that's your choice . . . but remember, you are always part of our family. You are always welcomed back here, into this house of ours."

Amu pulled away from Utau's warm hug slowly and pulled out a picture of her and Ikuto in a Photo Booth. She smiled lightly, holding it to her chest and stepping out to her balcony where the beginning of summer's breeze's greeted her. "The end is close Ikuto, you won't need to wait long for me." She inhaled the sweet scent, and somehow, somewhere, you could hear the sounds of a violin playing not too far off in response to her voice.

THE END

So guys, that's the end. :) I'm happy that I don't need to worry about this anymore, but I'm sad that my first on-going story had to end at 7 chapters . . . seriously, I am a SAD CHARACTER. Seriously. I was actually, sorta planning on making this story go on longer and kinda drag it on, but that would take like another 5 years since this chapter almost took like a year already to update D: and I also came to the conclusion that this ending was better, though it was rushed and very . . . cliché. :/

And if you must know why it took so long, I broke my arm, which is actually a very bad excuse because my arm has been healed for like 5 months, I had school too, I am currently fail at French. Je suis stupide. I'm sure you should all know what that means. If you don't. You're worse than me :) it means "I am Stupid" TA-DA. And also, my brain . . . just wasn't working the past couple of months before.

I think you should all read SleeplessRiot's one-shot story thing, "One More Night". It's good :) trust me! And if you didn't know, I have a one-shot apology for you guys which has only 7 reviews . . . really, it shows me how much you guys forgive me for not reviewing :D So if you could . . . maybe review it?

Oh, and I think this chapter was extremely rushed and horrible, I'm sorry guys . . . I suck. Really bad. But we all can't be as awesome as "xAmuIkuto", "NyammiToast", and "Niixx" and all these other awesome people. Well actually everyone is a great writer (minus me), but I don't know everyone so I can't mention all you great people out there.

SO THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT: Kaggie101, Luna-chan926, Neji0392, xSkulls-n-Bonesx, xAmuIkuto, Moonlight X Luna, ichiruku12741, Natsuya801923, NyammiToast, C 0 o l G I r l Z . B e l Z Z Z, liledormouse, Foxgrl18, Shokora 'N Strawberries, darkangelzera, ServantofShadows, vampire-fetish15, Refigerator-burn, xheyxhaleyx!

Edit:
There's going to be an extra chapter, chapter 8 (: So please be patient guys! (: