Cookie0monsta: I've been wanting to make a oneshot series for a while and here's the start! Hope you enjoy. If you have any idea's or criticism you'd like to share then go ahead. Flame's are welcome. Please Review.

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The Lone Leaf

I sighed. It was lonely with out Ran, Miki, and Suu here. Dia never hatched and after I graduated from Elementary School they all disappeared into thin air. Now it was the third year with them gone and the season's just seemed to fly by.

I stood on my balcony and watched as the leaves turned colors and slowly floated down to the ground.

I was the lone leaf. After my chara's disappeared I severed myself off from everyone. I was afraid to get hurt and even more afraid to lose something I held dear. I sighed and stepped back inside making sure to lock the sliding door.

"Don't want any perverted cats coming in." I said. But the truth was, Ikuto never came back. Not once after he left me three years ago. I never admitted it but I loved his company. It was fun to play around with him and just forget everything else.

When we were together we only saw each other and no one else. It was blissful. But I'm alone now and I like it that way. That's what I always told myself at least.

I made sure I never worked with anyone at school. I never talked to anyone except for my family. I ignored the chara's floating around and pretended I couldn't see or hear them. It was better this way. Right?

The kids at school knew very well it was best to ignore me for I was the untouchable. I let no one near and they knew that and respected it. They warped my solitude in their minds thinking I was back to the way I was when I fist came here, and labeled me once again as Cool and Spicey.

I didn't think those two words fit but what did I care. I wanted to be alone and they left me alone. Nothing fazed me anymore for I felt as if I has seen it all. There was nothing more to it. I didn't think it could get worse. But it did.

My mom had gotten sick two years after the people I kept closest to my heart disappeared. The doctor said she had cancer but not just any type of cancer. A rare type that was in her nerve cells. Slowly but surely my mother lost her movement and eventually she died.

Papa didn't take to this well. He started beating me. He blamed me and I didn't try to tell him otherwise. I knew I was just an outlet for his anger and sadness but if it made him feel better then I allowed it. For he was a precious person to me and I didn't want Ami to see this side of him.

I sat on my bed as I thought back to when it first began. He came home drunk one night and I quickly ushered Ami to her room fearing for her safety.

I walked back out to him and tried to coax him to bed but before I could get close to him he threw his beer bottle at me. It hit me in my stomach and I sank to the ground wheezing.

Then came the full onslaught. He pounced, as well as a drunken man could, and started punching. The first one caught me in the jaw and the next in the stomach. After that it was just a blurry memory I chose to forget.

I was the scarred lone leaf. No one wants a scarred leaf. People want a pure, pretty leaf. I was not wanted.

I shook the memories free and lay back on my bed. I winced as my head touched the pillow. Lightly I fingered the back of my head only to feel a lump the size of an orange. "Joy."

A few minutes later I turned to see what time it was. 7:57, three minutes until my scheduled beating. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. I walked out my room and down the stairs. The countdown has started.

I waited by the door to welcome him home from the bar.

5.….

4.…

3...

2..

1.

0

The door slammed open and Papa walked in, "I'm home Ami!"

"Welcome back Papa." I bowed my head to him slightly.

"I wasn't talking to you bitch." He snarled as he advanced on me.

"Gomen." I bowed my head down further. Waiting.

Then it came, not where I was expecting though. This time he aimed for my stomach and made a clean punch. I gasped and blood went flying out of my mouth. He pushed me against a wall and started punching my face. I heard the cartilage in my nose creak. That's going to leave a nasty bruise. Another punch had enough force to knock me to the ground and take my breath away.

Then I heard it. The tiny steps walking down the stairs. Ami. She was coming! I scrambled up and hid in the kitchen. Papa didn't follow though for he had heard them too. His mood lightened considerable, "Ami!"

I almost cried at how much love was infused in his words to her. He wouldn't even say my name. He would barely look at me. I swiped at a tear that leaked out of my eye. I hurried past Papa and Ami making sure I kept my head turned to the side so that Ami couldn't see the bruises that I knew had already started forming.

I darted up the stairs and softly closed the door to my room. I went to my mirror and gazed at my mangled reflection. A purple and blue bruise had blossomed over the bridge of my nose. Another graced the side of my cheek. My bottom lip was split and I felt the blood trickle down my chin. I pulled up my shirt and saw that my stomach was an angry red hue with scars marring the surface. Rolling my sleeves up I counted the bruises on one arm. Right arm:12. Then the other. Left arm:9. He must have had a lot of pint up anger to make this many on me. It was a new record. I rolled my sleeves back down and sat on my bed.

I guess I had drifted off to sleep because the next thing I heard was a soft rap on my balcony door. My eyes shot open and my adrenaline started pumping. Only one person came through those doors this late at night.

Ikuto.

Slowly I sat up and stared at him through the glass. He had come back. At last.

Somehow he had gotten the door open and was on his way over to me, "Hey Amu." His voice was deeper than I remembered. More masculine. This time I couldn't hold them back. The tears leaked out of my eyes and trailed down my cheeks.

He must have heard my sniffing because he came over.

"I'm back Amu." he ruffled my hair and I let out a gasp of pain.

Concern flickered across his face along with confusion, "Are you ok? There's a big bump on the back of your head. Amu, look at me."

I refused and kept my head down scared he would see my bruise and run away. No one wants a scarred lone leaf.

He knelt down in front of me and cupped my face lifting it so my gaze met his. He gasped at the ugly sight of my bruise. I knew it. No one wants a scarred leaf.

That's when I noticed his hands were now balled in fists by his side. They were shaking slightly. Curious I looked up at him.

"Who did this to you." He spat.

That's when I realized that he was angry. For me!

Futility I shook my head, "No, it's no one." My voice came out scratchy and hoarse.

That's when he pulled me into his lap on the floor and hugged me tight to his chest. I breathed in his scent. I loved this scent and had missed it for so long. When I was done breathing it in though I noticed a burning pain in my arms. I let out a whimper, "It hurts."

Ikuto released his tight grip on me immediately. With a determined look he lifted up my sleeves. I watched his face and the emotions that flickered across it, sorrow, anger, and then rage. Next his fingers were at the hem of my shirt. They lingered there for a moment before pulling it up. His eyes widened at the sight of my red and scarred stomach. I felt the waves of hate roll off of him.

He moved to get up but I clinged to him desperately, "No! Please. Don't leave me again."

His eyes softened and he stopped moving. Slowly and lightly he wrapped his arms around me, "I wont ever leave you again Amu."

I nodded against his chest and sobbed softly.

I was no longer a lone scarred leaf. I might still be scarred but I will never be alone again because I know I have Ikuto by my side, now and forever.

"I love you Amu."

A smile graced my lips, the first since he left, "I love you too."

"Feels like, I'm standing in a timeless dream

Of light mists, of pale amber rose

Feels like, I'm lost in a deep cloud of heavenly scent

Touching, discovering you

Those days, of warm rains come rushing back to me

Miles of windless, summer night air

Secret moments, shared in the heat of the afternoon

Out of the stillness, soft spoken words."

I love you always forever - Donna Lewis

*~!Preview!~*

I sigh as I take the elevator down to Headquarters. I was called down for my next assignment. The fourth this week. Most people could only complete one or two but I'm not most people. I'm Hinamori Amu.