The Rise of a New Superhero
One day, Amu transforms with Yoru and the catgirl is born! Rumors begin to float around about a new superhero. Why is Amu able to transform with Yoru? Will she be able to find out why the mafia is after an innocent kid? Does this have to do with the Guardian's sudden reunion? Amuto!
Will probably more focused on Amu and Ikuto with the other stuff as a background plotline...
So this is my first Shugo Chara fanfic. I tried to come up with something original, but I don't know exactly where this story is going yet. Also, I tried a new writing style here... Read and review please!
Chapter 1: Amuro Neko
The ticking of the clock resounded in my head. It was all I could focus on past the droning of the teacher. I turned my wrist over, glancing at my watch. 2:45, ugh, there was still 15 more minutes of torture!
Okay, so it wasn't usually so bad - school that is. But today I was particularly antsy. The Guardians were throwing an all out bash for Seiyo Elementary this weekend and today, I was supposed to help Tadase-kun with shopping. I fought the urge to let my inner girl escape by squealing with delight, and instead wore a bored expression.
Don't look at me like that! I'm the Hinamori Amu, so no, I did not grovel at his feet to go on a shopping date - I mean, to go shopping.
I really had to thank Nadeshiko for somehow managing to set this up. Even though she had left Japan a few months ago, we still kept in touch and she still managed to help me along the sidelines. It was because of her that we were having this party at all. It was a reunion for us Guardians and for the first time in months, I'd finally get to see Nadeshiko again! Kukai was coming to visit too!
I looked down at my wristwatch again, foot tapping against the floor as I leaned my head against my hand. 2:50 You have got to be kidding me! That wasn't just five minutes. That most definitely felt like another hour. I accidentally let a groan escape my mouth. This was torture, pure torture!
"Miss Hinamori?" My teacher walked over. She held a stick in her hand, threateningly tapping against her palm. She didn't look at all pleased with me.
Crap. I kept quiet for a good few minutes, fighting to find the words to speak. Finally, I managed to utter one word.
"Yes?" My head was still leaning against my hand. I hadn't moved for the fear of falling off my seat - I didn't trust myself to move an inch from my seemingly bored position. I let my eyes slowly make their way to her face. Even though it was hard, eye contact was a must. It'd be rude otherwise.
"Cool and Spicy!" I heard distant squeals. "That's Hinamori-san for you!"
"She's so cool!"
"I-uh, nevermind." Her strict expression fell as she suddenly gave in to a small yelp. I watched the teacher jump in place before hurriedly turning away from me. I was a little confused, but didn't show it. Exactly what happened?
"Oh, did you see how Hinamori-san looked at the teacher? And the way she said 'yes,' that was classic spicy attitude! I'd be scared too!"
"Eh, What'd you expect? New teacher. At least now she'll know never to mess with Hinamori again."
"She was so cool! Insert squeal here. And she didn't even flinch when the teacher tried to stare her down. I wish I was as cool as her!"
W-wait. Did they misunderstand me again?!
"Yeah!" Someone answered for me. "Her father's a famous photographer who's traveled the world." Huh, if the 'world' was the outskirts of wooded Japan- namely parks and people's backyards.
"And her mom is a renown editor and writer. I heard that she's published across the globe before she decided to settle in Japan." Cough, if Housewives' Knowledge Magazine was read worldwide.
This was getting ridiculous. I thought that by now, they would have caught on to what I was really like. Picking up my bag, I sighed. I didn't care if the bell hadn't rung yet - I just had to get out of that suffocating room. In the end, there were only a couple of people I could trust enough to show my real self and that was the Guardians. Even though I should have been glad that there were people to understand me, which is a lot more than I had going for me a year ago, it still hurt a little that my other classmates felt so distant from me.
"Oh! She didn't even wait for the bell! As expected of her." I groaned, slinging my bag against my shoulder.
"Amu..." Ran floated towards me. What was with that tone in her voice?
"Tsk." Don't get me wrong. I love my Shugo Charas, but sometimes I just needed time to myself to think. It didn't help that they were always somehow able to detect my mood. I looked up at the frowning Miki and concerned Suu who hovered beside Ran.
"She's probably going early to meet her older boyfriend," a classmate said. I groaned yet again. No, I did not need constant reminding that I did not have a boyfriend, even though I'd give almost anything for Tadase to like me as me, and not Amulet Heart. I narrowed a glance at Ran and she took a slight hop back.
Sighing, I lifted a hand to my head to rub my temples. It wasn't Ran's fault, but I just couldn't help but give her a slight glare. I could hear them trailing behind me as I left the room.
"We're your would-be selves you know." Suu sheepishly said.
"Meaning that we are you." Miki drew in her sketchbook, and didn't even look up to talk.
"Amulet Heart..." Ran began to say. I spun around to look at her, feeling a sharp tug at my chest. "You are Amulet Heart, or you can be if you choose to."
I took a minute to consider her words. What was I worrying for? They were right. It would take a little time, but if I wanted to, I could become like Amulet Heart and there was no one else in this world that could.
Once I escaped the classroom and saw that the hall was empty, I let myself giggle. Well, even if Tadase didn't like me now, there was a chance. At least I was going shopping with him - that was a start.
My reliable trio looked at me relieved. "Thanks guys." I flashed them a smile. I really did love them. I'd hug them now if it wouldn't squash them to death.
Ah, there it goes, the bell.
I made my way through the courtyard and waited by the gate. Ran, Miki and Suu had run off somewhere, saying they had something to do, but I suspected that they were trying to give me the privacy I wanted.
For all the gossip about me, I wasn't any different from a normal girl (except for maybe my Shugo Charas). But still, I had a reputation to uphold, so instead of shuffling my feet around the dusty ground nervously, I forced myself to lean against the gate, bag still slung against my back as if I didn't have a care in the world.
"AHH!" A scream echoed through the air. "An X egg?" I wondered. My legs stretch automatically in front of me as I dashed toward the sound, ignoring the flood of classmates leaving the school. Responsibility overwhelmed me. It was my duty to cleanse all X eggs. No, it wasn't just a duty; I really wanted to help everyone keep their dreams.
And then I saw them. "Hey guys." My bag was still slung casually over my shoulder and I narrowed my gaze at the three men who cornered a guy around my age in an empty alleyway. His uniform belonged to my school.
"A fellow classmate, eh?"
"Hinamori Amu!" He yelped, running towards me. I raised an eyebrow at him. Who the hell was he? But finding him hiding behind me, I decided he wasn't interesting enough to keep my attention on.
I watched as the three men turned their gazes on me. I didn't let my body jump in fear. Besides, it was most likely that they would just back off if someone was brave enough to interfere, which was usually the case with most of the bullies I interrupted. My reputation did come in useful sometimes.
But why would three grown men go after a kid? Of course, being the curious person that I was, I just had to ask.
"Yo. You guys have no one better to pick on? Why would you go after a kid?" And of course, being the cool and spicy Hinamori Amu, I just had to say it so rudely. "And do you really need the three of you? For such macho guys, you can't take care of a kid?"
Damn my mouth. They were a lot scarier than I thought. They had suddenly tensed up, just barely holding back the urge to probably wring my little neck in half. What on Earth possessed me to do that? They were neatly dressed in black suits and were now taking off their sunglasses to stare at me.
"Run, kid." I whispered to him, feeling a knot form at my throat. I had to get him out of there. Maybe there was some way I could transform with him gone. Whatever was going to happen, I needed him to leave.
"B-But Hinamori-san, what about you?"
"I'll be fine."
"Aren't y-you scared?" Yes, scared shitless.
"No." I lied. "Just go damnit!"
As soon as he noticed the three men looming towards me with their hands out, he dashed off. "Alright," I whispered to my side. "I'll run to the corner. Ran, transform with me as soon as we're out of sight."
I hissed through my teeth, waiting for a reply.
"Ran?" I turned around. Oh crap. I had completely forgotten they were gone! They were always around and I had gotten so used to it that I was beginning to take it for granted. Why on Earth had I thought that I wanted time to myself earlier?
I cursed myself under my breath. "Dead. I am so dead." They were inching closer and closer with a weird smile on their faces.
"We'll take care of that kid later. It seems as if we've stumbled on something better..." That tone made me shiver. It was...disgusting.
They walked towards me, backing me into the corner of the alley. As the future Amulet Heart, I sure got trapped easily. Panic overwhelmed me, flooding my body as I found it impossible to move. My racing heartbeat was deafening and I screamed at my legs to run, but they stayed planted to the ground.
One of them grabbed my wrist and harshly knocked me into the wall. A sharp pain shot through my arm and I hit the floor almost as hard as I had collided with the wall. My back throbbed as I lay on the floor a little limp, unable to force my muscles to move.
He wore a smirk and let out a growl that made me yelp. To hell with my rep; like I could even be thinking about that when I was only moments away from certain death! I was scared, beyond scared. I wanted to cry. I wanted to run. I wanted to disappear.
He crouched low beside me and grabbed both wrists, pinning me onto the floor.
"G-get off!" I screamed. Get off, get off, get off! My body convulsed. I wanted to reach for my bag and whack him senseless, but the force of his hand was too much. I kicked, flailed, screamed, yelped. "Why?" I whimpered quietly. Why did I have to leave school early? Why did I have to respond to the scream? Why was I the one standing here, and not that kid?
I know it wasn't right to think like that. But I couldn't help it. Backed into a corner and pinned down on the ground, I really wished I wasn't the one there. I wasn't even supposed to be, but I had to butt in all on my own. I felt the man sit on top of me, his weight crushing my stomach. Tears fell from the corner of my eyes.
"What's the matter little girl?"
I kept my mouth shut tight, fighting off the need to sob. I was helpless, utterly helpless, but it didn't mean that I was going to give in so easily. I spat at his face, a move that wasn't so smart considering it only made him angrier, not to mention the drool was dropping back towards me. Just lovely.
"Stupid Amu. Stupid stupid Amu." God, didn't I know it. I could feel his breath getting closer. It'll be okay Amu, I told myself, fighting off a sob. As soon as he gets close enough, I'll bite him to death. I've still got teeth!
And even though I really thought that, more tears escaped my eyes. I blinked them away. Be strong Amu! But I couldn't, I just couldn't. I shut my eyes, fearing what was to come. My mind flashed memories of the happy times I shared with the others. I loved everyone so much. I had so much love to give but never knew how to express it until I met the other Guardians. I was finally getting closer to becoming the true me. Why, why did it have to end so soon when I just started to like myself?
"Amu! Get up!"
I heard something crack and the weight of the man pinning me down suddenly disappeared. My eyes shot open just in time to see the deep azure eyes of...
"I-Ikuto!" I cried, absolutely relieved. He stood a few feet apart, heaving slightly as he bent down low to pick up another rock. The man who had kept his hold on me had rolled to the side, now keeled over with blood running down his face. Hell friggin yeah, catman! You knock them unconscious!
Ikuto! I ran over to him, nestling my head in his chest. Never happier to see someone in my life than at this moment.
"A-Amu?"
"I-I thought I was going to die!" My hands clung to his shirt. I didn't care how it looked. I was way too glad to see him to be embarrassed about anything. I jumped up, giving him a peck on his cheek. Really, after being saved from the verge of death, I'd be more than happy to kiss a girl on the lips even.
"Wait here. I'll be done in five minutes."
"Okay." My voice was sheepishly quiet. It didn't sound like me, but any louder and my voice would have cracked. I hugged myself protectively, my heartbeat racing as I looked on. I noticed a slightly gleaming object one of the men was pulling out of his suit.
Oh shit. "Ikuto! He has a gun!" I screamed, my eyes overflowing with tears.
He knocked the gun from his hand and I let out a relieved sigh. Then I noticed something. Ikuto hadn't character changed. Yoru was floating next to him, pleading to let him help but the dark-haired guy refused him.
And then I saw it, the other two men reaching inside their suits. No. This can't be happening. There was no way Ikuto could take care of them without changing. And there were two...
"Yoru! Character transform with me!" I screamed. To hell with it. I couldn't care less that the three men were going to discover my biggest secret. There was no way I would just watch Ikuto do all the fighting and possibly die because of me. Not when I could help it.
Ikuto lost his concentration from the fight, turning to me with his eyes wide. "Snap out of it!" I cried, as I watched one of the men thrust the handle of the gun down onto his head. Ikuto turned around just in time, managing to twist the man's arm. Now two were gunless, but the third was too far off, and he had the gun raised at him. Another guy ran over towards Ikuto, waving around a silvery gleaming knife.
"My own heart - UNLOCK!" I screamed as soon as I saw Yoru nod and float towards me. I prayed that it wouldn't be too late. I watched as the knife managed to graze his arm. He had dodged a direct thrust, but the man with the gun was still a threat...
Ikuto's heart's egg resonated. I knew Yoru's will; it was the same as my own. Protect Ikuto, nya! As long as our thoughts were the same, we could save him- no, we will save him.
The Humpty Lock glowed in the beat with my heart and immediately after transforming, I darted toward the man with the gun with lightening speed. I drop-kicked the man roughly and ran through the other two men so quickly, everything was a blur even to me. After knocking all of them down, I went back to them for a second round, this time beating them senseless just for the sake of it.
Yoru was an amazing shugo chara! With him, I felt an overwhelming surge of power yet at the same time, was so light on my feet. Suddenly, Yoru popped out, detransforming me. "Ikuto!" He cried in concern.
Meanwhile, I was still kicking that asshole to a bloody pulp. Serves him right.
"Amu?" Ikuto's eyes suddenly fell on me. He didn't seem as collected as he normally was. "Where'd you go before?"
My jaw dropped. "You're kidding right?" How the hell did that guy not even know I had beaten up a mound of scary looking guys for him? Okay, granted it wasn't really for him considering those guys had gone after me first.
"How'd those guys end up on the floor?"
"Yoru." I called his guardian character. He floated towards me, knowing what I wanted to do. I was just a bit amused by Ikuto's surprise at Yoru's sudden obedience towards me. But really, it wasn't that he obeyed. We were more like partners who kept a common secret with each other. It was kind of nice, even if he was the Shugo Chara of the enemy.
I smiled as Ikuto stared at our transformation. "Amuro Neko?!" I jumped up after announcing the name of our transformation. Well, I couldn't really be picky with the name considering Yoru really had helped me out there. "Fine..." I whined to the cat. Ikuto probably wondered why I was talking to myself. No one else ever heard my Shugo Chara's voice when I transformed except for me.
"Well, unless you'd prefer Yoramu. I think that sounds better." I could hear the smugness in Yoru's voice.
"Don't push it." I snarled.
"Tch. You sound like Ikuto."
"No she doesn't." Ikuto denied. I looked at him. So he could hear Yoru? Well, I guess that makes sense since he is Ikuto's shugo chara and not mine.
Ikuto walked over, wearing a slight smirk. What exactly was he planning to do?
I held my breath. He stopped right in front of me before suddenly leaning down low to whisper in my ear. "Nice cat suit, Amu."
"I-uh-not-w-what?" I sputtered. Oh god, he was way too close. I felt my cheeks growing warm and cursed myself silently. It was just the way my name rolled off his tongue; it made me tense up and unable to move as I stayed planted there, feeling his light breath against my skin.
Damn you, Ikuto. He pulled away smirking, probably amused by my typical glare at him. "PERVERT!" I screeched at the next moment, clenching my fists together.
"But Amu, I haven't even done anything."
Damn you to hell Ikuto!
"...yet."
"Let's get out of here!" I spun around, catching a glimpse of the three men scampering from the ground. "We have to report to Kureko-sama."
"Wait." I said, walking up to them calmly. Apparently, I had a nice set of sharp claws thanks to Yoru. I extended them, licking them slightly though I don't know what possessed me to do so (cat instincts probably). "Tell me...who is this Kureko-sama?" I growled slightly, beyond my own recognition. Yoru was really something.
"AHH! Run! It's Catgirl!" I smirked. That's right. I am the Hinamori Amu, just try messing with me again. I blinked at my own sudden arrogance. Ikuto's Shugo Chara really didn't suit me.
"Amu" His husky voice made me jump. "Little kids aren't cute when they're trying to imitate me."
"I'm not a little kid!" I screeched as soon as Yoru popped out. Stop staring! I know. Yea, yea. Real mature of me. "And what are you doing here, Ikuto?!"
"Is that how little kids show gratitude?"
I glared at him. "I didn't ask for you to come!" Not that I wasn't glad he did.
"Sorry about that Ikuto nya!" Yoru looked down apologetically. The midnight blue-haired teen narrowed his eyes at the cat. "Don't do that again Yoru."
I watched his guardian character and smiled. He really was kindhearted. He had only done it to save that stubborn guy.
"Oh I forgot!" I screamed suddenly, catching a glimpse at my wrist watch. "Tadase-kun!" No, no, no. I hadn't just missed my one golden opportunity to be alone with him had I?
"Date with the Kiddy King?" He asked dryly.
"Um...eto..." My eyes settled on the ground as I felt my cheeks grow hot from embarrassment. "Not...really." My voice trailed off but was covered by the sound of a loud THUMP!
"Ikuto -nya!" Yoru screamed. My head shot up and I stared at the limp figure in front of me. Ikuto leaned against the wall, grabbing onto his bleeding arm as he winced.
"Ikuto!" My voice echoed Yoru's, but I choked slightly on his name. "I-Ikuto..."
