Chapter 25: Blizzard

She bit her lip, trying to stop the tears, Ikuto looked at her full of concern. "Whats wrong?"

The stranger continued, "There are various groups searching for them, but i'm afraid, if we don't find them in an hour, there is not much we can do, due to heavy snow and possibilites of a high ranked blizzard coming"

"I understand. Where abouts is the place where the plane crashed?" Amu asked, trying to keep her voice steady

Ikuto looked at Amu, she had gone pale white with fear and she tried to sound strong to the person on the phone with her. Then she hung up the phone and slowly moved it away from her ear.

"What happened?" Ikuto asked

Amu fell on her knees and dug her head in her hands. Ikuto got on his knees as well and wrapped his arm around her, "Amu, what's wrong?"

"The plane" she paused "The plane Mom, Dad and Ami were on crashed...their only ones left missing..." she explained

Ikuto held her tighter. She dried her eyes and stood up. "Look after the charas please Ikuto"

"huh?" he said, confused as he got up.

She went to the front door and pulled one arm through her jacket.

"Where are you going?" Ikuto asked as he walked up to her.

"To look for them, the plane didn't crash too far from town, but it is amongst a forest and some hills." she turned to Ikuto with a determined look on her face "I dont care what it takes, I will find them" 

"Everything's already covered in snow, soon there might be blizzard-" Ikuto explained, trying to stop her.

"Ikuto" she interrupted. Looking up at him with firm eyes. "If that was me or Utau or someone you love out there, would you really just sit at home, knowing that your just leaving them out there to die!?"

He got his jacket off the sofa and put it on, "I'm going with you"

Amu half smiled, she was worried, but kind of relieved that she would have Ikuto's help, "thank you"

 

Lucky enough, they caught the last train that was heading out for the day, because of the heavy snow falling. Once they were out of town they caught a bus at the edge of town that came close to the area where the plane had crashed and saw people out there still sorting out the plane and picking up pieces from the crash, even though it had happened many hours ago.

Amu and Ikuto began to walk, along the heavy piling snow. The area was like thirty huge fields and a few forest areas many kilometres apart. More snow began to fall harder and harder.

Amu put her arm over her face, to try and stop the snow flakes from hitting her eyes. She looked at the ground multiple times to see if there were any footprints or anything, but the snow had covered them up.

"over there!" they both said at the same time, looking in different directions.

"you see something over there?" Ikuto asked, turning to Amu

"yeah, I think so. What about you? " she replied

"Theres a bunch of trees in this direction but i'm certain theres something down there. I'm going to check in case" Ikuto explained

"me too. I'll look over here" 

They then went their sperate directions. To search for the things they had spotted moving, yet it was possible they were seeing things since the snow became so heavy. It had turned into a blizzard.

The hard snow pelted against her, like it was attempting to keep her back, like it was stopping her from going any further. 

The more she walked, the more she was convinced that she was seeing things. The area looked so much closer on the hill, not that she could even see it clearly.

 

Ikuto kept going on until he reached the area with a couple of snow covered trees. He anxiously searched untill he came across a small cave, inside he had found them, he had found Amu's parents! He shook both their shoulders. They both slowly awoke, looking relieved yet as it seemed, freezing to death. 

"Ikuto-kun. We're so glad to see you."

Ikuto nodded he then noticed something, "wait...wheres Ami?" he asked

Mrs Hinamori tried not to panic, "we don't know...one second she was with us...and the next she was gone" Her husband comforted her. "We searched and searched but couldnt find her anywhere. We were only led here."

"I think maybe Amu has found her. She's out there now, we split up because we both spotted something moving" Ikuto explained

"I'm glad. And thats good, if I hadnt went out there to move the snow out of this cave, you wouldn't have seen me or have found us" Mr hoshina said

 

Amu dragged her feet along the ground, she felt something vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out, her phone. Which she never even remembered putting in there. 

"I found your parents, but noone knows where Ami is" the message read

Her eyes squinted at the message, she bit her lip. "Ami..." 

She put her phone back in her pocket, amazed even that Ikuto was able to send the message since there was so little reception. 

She looked all around her, "Where are you, Ami!?" Amu yelled running ahead, then tripping over. 

She dug her face in the cold snow. Unable to accept the fact that her little sister is missing and could very well be lying on the ground like she is, somewhere and possibly, slowly dying or perhaps it is already too late?

Amu trembled at the thought. She layed there, face buried in the snow, as the blizzard continued on all around her, thinking of her little sister, Ami.