Reposted with a fixed spelling error.


Amu panted heavily in the alleyway. This was getting worse. Much worse. She was now fourteen years old and things were bad. Her mother and little sister had been going to the supermarket and been ran over. The person who did it, who happened to be Rima's father, was in jail. That had happened when she was thirteen, about three months after Ikuto left in search of his father. Her father had broken with the loss of his wife and younger daughter, he had started drinking and it turned him into a monster who would abuse his only living child and the few times he was sober he'd be her papa again. She hated and loved her father at the same time.

Rima hated Amu now, but Amu didn't blame her. All she was now to the small comedy-loving girl was a reminder that her father was gone and now her mother was even worse. Amu had quit the guardians when all of her Charas had become X Charas. Looking up at her four Charas who had followed her Amu smiled slightly, they were still with her.

Ran's visor was gone now and her hair was now in pigtails with heart clips on each with a black X over them. The light pink of her dress had become black but the dark pink at the end and her bandanna tied around her neck were left alone. Her sneakers are now black with dark pink socks and her pom-poms are black with the red hearts still, and her eyes had darkened to almost red.

Miki's cap had shrunk into a paper boy hat and let her waist-length hair loose, there was a black X over the spade and her undershirt is now the dark blue her shorts used to be which are now black along with her messenger bag. Her eyes darkening to a deep blue, almost black, color.

Su's apron and headdress are both now black and her hair is now held in a side ponytail with a black X over her clover on the headdress, her curls now are ringlets, and her eyes had darkened to a forest green.

Dia hadn't returned to the way she was when she was an X Character before, her hair was still the orange color but in a ponytail and her headband is orange with the yellow diamond with a black X over it. She wears black thigh high boots and black skirt and belly shirt. Though her eyes were the same dark brass color as when she was a X Character and her hair style were the only similarities.

Amu was dressed in black pants and a blood red under armor that was long sleeved with a black tank top over it and a bubblegum pink belly top over that. She wore a black X clip holding part of her hair sectioned off and braided. She also carried her red and black plaid egg carrier case along her waist, the Humpty Lock firmly around her neck, and black and red sneakers. She had done a bit of redecorating of her egg carrier, she had gotten rid of the clip in the shape of a heart with a crown on it that Tadase had given her; that had been a symbol of Tadase only liking a single part of her and she happy enough just to be liked for Amulet Heart. She had found a yellow diamond for Dia to add to the chain and then a strawberry, metal X, and a half moon. The clip that Tadase had given her she had been run out of the house once and gone to the Royal Garden and slept there, leaving the clip there for Tadase. It was the first change, it was when she decided to quit the Guardians.

"Well, that was a close one, ne?" Amu asked her Charas she was referring to the fact that her father just went on a binder and would have pummeled her if she hadn't jumped out a window. Thanks to Ran she didn't hurt herself and ran. Times like this she was very glad for Character Change.

"Yes, it was. He's getting worse." Miki said looking sadly at Amu.

"I know." Amu agreed sadly, "we should probably find something else to do until he passes out." Nodding in agreement her four Charas move closer to her; Miki sat on one shoulder while Su sat on the other, Ran on the top of her head, and Dia on her carrier case. When this had first happened Amu tried to handle it but slowly one by one each of her Charas got an X. However they didn't leave and instead were closer to her. She was closer to being her true self with them as X Characters.

Biting her lip Amu blushes slightly as she hears her stomach growl, her father spends so much money on sake, booze, liquor and who knows what else there is barely any food in the house. Amu had to take a job to be able to buy food. Su's ability to turn something from nothing is invaluable in times like this.

"Perhaps we should get dinner~desu." Su said in Amu's ear as Amu put her hand to her stomach. Nodding in agreement Amu headed to the supermarket to buy some food, her father often passed out quickly so she had nothing to worry about if she just go to the supermarket and head home walking. Now just need to figure out what to make for dinner, and to prepare her lunch for the week.

Entering the supermarket Amu walked along with a shopping cart and carefully remembered what amount of money she had so she could afford everything. She decided that this week for lunch she'd have rice balls, longevity buns, and sushi for her bonton boxes. She was kind of in the mood for fish so she figured that would do.

After buying everything, walking down the street for awhile she is surprised when she hears a gasp that sounds like her name so turning her honey eyes widen at seeing someone she didn't excerpt to see. Ikuto. He had been gone for almost a year now. Flying by him was not only Yoru but another Chara, this one had black hair and green eyes but was cat like to with black pants, a black short sleeve shirt with a plum skull and crossbones on it. On one of his arms was a plum band, much like the one Amu wore with her school uniform only the color was different and a sword on his side. Ikuto wore black jeans that had faded to gray in some places over black shoes and wore a navy tank under a black button up shirt that he left unbuttoned and rolled up the sleeves to his elbows.

Ikuto is smiling until he notices the X's on each of her Charas. Yoru noticing it as well immediately flew over to Miki.

"Miki, what happened~nya?" Looking at the spadette Yoru turned angry eyes on Amu. "What did you do~nya!" He yelled, and before Ikuto could stop him, scratched Amu. Suddenly Miki was pushing him away and slapped him across the face. Staring him down with dark blue eyes she all but growled.

"Don't you dare ever try to hurt Amu." She said angrily, "you know nothing of what's happened." She added before Amu gently patted Miki's head.

"It's okay Miki, he just cares for you. In his place I'd be mad to." Amu said before staring down Yoru, the scratch on her jaw to her cheek bright red and Yoru felt awful, his ears drooped. He liked Amu a lot, he was part of Ikuto-how could he not? And she made Ikuto happy and she was a nice girl, however seeing Miki with an X just freaked him out and he didn't think rationally, all he could think of was to protect.

Miki nodded, seemingly unconvinced before hugging Yoru. "I've missed you," she said quickly before flying back to sit on Amu's shoulder again with a light blush on her face.

Ikuto calmly walked towards Amu and moved her head to look at the mark. "That doesn't look good, I'm sorry he did that, let's get you cleaned up." Ikuto said dragging her towards his apartment. He had been back in Japan for exactly three days, the first two finalizing on his apartment he was staying in that he arranged over in France where he finally found his dad. He had just been on his way to Amu's house but his apartment was closer.

Amu allowed him to lead her with his hand in hers. She had grown much in the last year and could pass for a bit older than her age while he could pass for a bit younger so they looked like a normal teenage couple to most passersby.

"So...how have you been for the past year?" Amu asked, then felt like shooting herself.

"I have been okay, my black egg-the one I transformed with Yoru and you to become Seven Seas Treasure-hatched. His name is Mamoru." Ikuto introduced the new Chara who was at that second busy hitting Yoru over the head with the sheath of his sword. Amu sweat-dropped a bit as she watched him do that before Mamoru turned to look right into Amu's eyes. He smirked a very Ikuto-like smirk

"Hello Cherie, I've been waiting for a very long time to meet you, sorry for my brother's idiocy." The second Chara said, ignoring Yoru's cry of protest, before looking at each of the girls on the pinkette. "If the stories are anything to go on, you are Dia, Ran, Miki, and Su, no?" At this all the girls nodded their heads in agreement.

Entering the apartment Ikuto quickly directed her to sit down on a deep blue couch before heading to the bathroom for the first aid kit. Yoru and Mamoru stay in the living room both looking at Amu worriedly. "Amu~nya." Yoru said with his ears down, Mamoru looked off to the side knowing how difficult this was for his brother. "I'm sorry," he said looking off to the side with a blush, Amu let a rare, gentle smile curve her lips as she gently scratched behind one of his ears affectionately to let him know it is okay.

"Why don't you ever scratch me there Amu?" Ikuto whispered suddenly beside her causing such a fast reaction by all of the girls that it took Ikuto, Yoru, and Mamoru a second to catch up with what had happened even with there cat senses. Amu had jumped and backed away to the wall pressing her back firmly against it, Miki and Ran were both in front of her one holding her pom-poms and the other a very pointy pencil, Su had moved to Amu's shoulder placing a hand onto her cheek, while Dia had moved higher floating above Amu's head. All of them had wide, fearful eyes and shaking slightly.

"Amu?" Ikuto whispered holding his hands out to let her know that he didn't mean to hurt her. She never seemed to truly fear him, she had no reason to ever fear him since he'd die before he let her be hurt. Seemingly all at once all the girls calmed down and let out a sigh.

"Sorry about that. I...uh" Amu said looking off to the side and none of her Charas would look at Ikuto, Yoru, or Mamoru. Walking silently Ikuto touched Amu's face and frowned even more deeply then he already was when she flinched.

Amu looked at him with wide honey eyes he stroked her face from her temple down her cheek and along her jawbone gently. She looked at him silently as all the six Charas watched the two humans quietly. Miki was holding Yoru's hand, Dia and Ran held tightly to each other, while Mamoru was pretty close to Su. His eyes following his hand Ikuto noticed her neckline didn't quiet hide a slight red mark on her shoulder. "Amu, what's this?" He asked with a pale face as he traced the part of the mark he could see, being careful not to actually touch the mark lest he hurt her.

"Let's just say that a lot of stuff has changed since you've been gone." Amu answered simply looking over to the side. Looking at her worriedly Ikuto used his spare hand to use her chin to angle her face to look at him, his azure eyes intense.

"Amu, what has happened?" He demanded softly, and it was so long since she actually saw such genuine caring for her before besides from her Charas. And this was Ikuto; he had saved her more times then she could count. Biting her lip Amu took a shuddering breath.

"My mom and little sister got ran over by Rima-chan's dad." Amu whispered, "I lost my family and friends at the same time." She whispered and Ikuto's eyes widened and stroked her hair. "Papa drinks and he's not the same Papa anymore usually." She whispered as tears slowly fell down her cheeks, "I've lost everyone." She said before pushing foreword and holding onto his chest as she cried.

Ikuto wrapped his arms around her body and held her tightly. "Your wrong Amu, you haven't lost everyone. I may not be much but I'll always be with you." He promised quietly holding her tightly, she looked up at him with sad eyes that are puffy and red.

"No I don't, you left Ikuto. I know you wanted to find your dad, how pathetic am I?" She let out a humorless laugh, "the entire time I just wished you'd be on my balcony because when I'm near you it almost seems like everything will be okay." She muttered, sounding embarrassed, Ikuto said nothing and instead held her tighter.

Ikuto silently lifted Amu up into his arms bridal style and carried her over to the couch where he sat with her in his lap. He silently brought out the disinfectant and gently cleaned her cut. Amu winced and his eyes widened in concern. He kissed her forehead but this wasn't the normal perverted, teasing kisses he'd give her. This one was extremely sweet and caring. It reminded her of the kiss he had given her after everything calmed down when they became Amulet Fortune and Seven Seas Treasure, or the one he had given her at the airport that was so close to her lips.

Remembering those kisses made her blush and Ikuto lightly smirked though his eyes still held concern as he bandaged her face. He remained silent as he thought long and hard about what he was about to ask. He hadn't planned it, well not for right now anyway, but situation forced his hand.

"Amu," he whispered and waited for the pinkette to give him her attention. "If your father is hurting you like this, then stay with me." He said simply looking into her eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise, no one had even seemed to care, much less offer help. Ikuto could tell by the look on her face that she hadn't expected that. But why wouldn't she? She deserved to be safe and has to know that he'd do anything to make sure of that, "stay here with me." He whispered stroking her uninjured cheek.

Amu looked up at him with wide eyes that shined with tears and her lip trembled. Unnoticed by both the humans but all the Charas saw Su began to glow with a green light. She looked at her hands shocked, she was starting to go back to normal instead of being an X Character. "Ikuto, I can't, I have to wait four more years to leave." Like that Su was back to how she had been before, still an X Character. The Charas decided not to say anything about it. It wasn't strong enough to almost turn her back, but it was a start. Ikuto is the only one on the face of the world who can get to Amu's heart now.

Amu was looking down at her lap, she couldn't look him in the eye. How often had she wished someone would come save her from that monster? And now when they did, offered her safety on a silver platter, she turned it down. What was wrong with her? "Then I'll just have to watch over you." Ikuto said simply and Amu looked up at him shocked. He had a sweet, gentle smile on his face as he moved some hair out of her face, "because I won't let anything else hurt you." He promised solemnly and Amu, without even realizing she was doing it until it was already done, buried her face into his chest and held on tightly.

She couldn't believe she was hugging him, twice, but it had been so long since she felt any physical contact that was good. Of course those rare moments when her papa wasn't drunk and didn't hurt her-seemed like they were getting shorter and shorter each time-he tried to comfort her but being comforted by the one who caused the pain just doesn't work.

Ikuto held her tightly to him around her waist with one arm and his free hand gently stroked her hair. They were both silent, Ikuto was silently badgering himself for not knowing this. He loved Amu, Mamoru was proof enough as he was born from Ikuto's need to protect his loved ones which right now is his mother and father, little sister, and Amu. He has always felt the strongest need to protect Amu though.

"Ikuto? I need to go home." Amu whispered and Ikuto held her more tightly. "Would you like to come over for dinner?" She whispered looking up at him with her wide, innocent eyes and he nodded gently. He was going to come with her anyway, he wasn't going to let her out of his sight. Gently he took one of the two bags with one hand and the other he grabbed Amu's hand.


Well, that was...I know it seems out of character a bit, but her dad has gone a bit crazy, Amu doesn't have anyone, and Ikuto is also very protective. I put the Charas being closer to Amu as an X Character instead of leaving because Amu needs them strongly. I think that they won't leave, that they'll stay with her because they didn't become X Characters because Amu lost her way but because of the situation, it came from externally to internally instead of internally to externally.

I know that Rima, considering Amu her best friend, is acting strange and so for Nagi, Tadase, Kukai, Kairi, and Yaya to all ignore her but considering that Rima's obsession with comedy is because it was the glue with her family and to lose her father permanently would be a bad blow and the few times the others can get to Amu she would push them away so they don't notice her bruises. They usually can't see through her Cool & Spicy act. And especially when Rima calmed down and try to talk to her Amu would have to push her away. And about Amu's father being abusive, how much he loves his wife and daughter (he's seen frequently photographing Ami while he doesn't seem to take a picture of Amu at all) losing them made him lose his mind. He's kind of got a bit of a split personality now. But I think he's the most out of character. But maybe it works with the situation I put them in.