A/N Hi! Hi! It feels so nice to write a Shugo Chara fic again, it's kinda like my comfort zone you know? Anyway, this story is going to be NOTHING like Safe and Sound for those of you who read it, and for those who haven't, let me assure you that this story is DEFINITELY going to take you for a ride. Be ready for intense action, romance and a mystery that'll boggle your minds. I hope you enjoy this story!
Have you ever lain in bed, late at night when good little kids should be sleeping, thinking about time and life and space and the secrets people hold? Do you have regrets? Do you have things you wish you could have done right? Wishes and wants and pleadings from the past?
What if you could go back? What if someone gave you the key to time and all you had to do was turn it in the lock? Would you go back in time? Would you run through the clocks and ticking and memories and experiences and fix everything you couldn't back when you were younger? Would you hug your loved ones and cut ties with the people you knew would just hurt you down the road? Could you change your past to save your future?
Because if time travel was real…if you had the power to fix your mistakes…if you could save the ones you love and save the world from a future not worth living…if you could go back in time…would you?
I did.
"Mmm, Ikutooo! You're feet are cold!" cheeks flushing in annoyance, Tsukiyomi Amu pulled her legs up to her chest and turned her back on her five year husband.
Grumbling, the blue haired man lying beside her turned on his side to hug his petite wife to him possessively. Blowing into her ear suggestively, he smirked as he imagined her widening eyes and open mouth. Pretending as though he were about to kiss her, his arm shot out to grab the blanket from in between his wife's arms. "Well I wouldn't be an icicle if someone wasn't such a blanket hog." He condoned teasingly.
"Blanket hog!" she screeched, "I'm not the one who uses their wife as a pillow!" harrumphing indignantly, Amu flicked Ikuto's forehead condescendingly, sticking out her tongue immaturely.
Like a flash of lightening, he was suddenly on top of her, arms locking her down as his nose brushed her own lighter than air. "But I can't help it…Amu." He whispered, secretly delighted at the nervous face she was making. She was such a fun tease, always so innocent despite the fact that he had already stolen any innocence years ago.
Twisting her head away, a resigned frown stretched across her lips. "Stupid playboy." She muttered as he chuckled before flopping back beside her, wrapping his long arms around her chest. "Honestly, it's already midnight and we're still awake. You're the one who said we needed to sleep early tonight." His wife murmured affectionately, drawing little stars on the top of his hands.
"But you're much more interesting than sleeping Amu…besides, we're adults now, there are much funner activities we could-" a curt slap interrupted him as he sighed petulantly. "You're no fun Amu." He pouted before he felt his eyes drooping closed. "We have a big day tomorrow don't we?"
Amu smiled, turning over so that her face snuggled into the crook of his neck. "Kukai's coming back from playing in the World Cup and we're hosting the party-dammit why aren't we already asleep?! I don't want to hear a word out of you until tomorrow understand?" she ordered, her voice leaving no room for discussion.
"But it's already tomorr-"
"IKUTO!"
Mornings were always hard. Waking up from your dreams, leaving the cozy warmth of the blanket and then splashing freezing water onto your face. Waking up sucks, but Amu had never felt more like a zombie in her life. Rising up from her pillow like the undead, she rubbed her eyes slowly, already feeling the chilly morning air and wishing she was back under her soft, soft blankets until her eyes zoomed onto the clock.
"KYAAAAAA! IKUTO WE OVERSLEPT!"
Three-thirty. THREE-FREAKING THIRTY! HOW in the WORLD did they even sleep that late? It was ridiculous! Everyone was supposed to arrive at five and oh my God she hadn't even cooked dinner or cleaned the house or-WHY WAS THAT STUPID CAT STILL ASLEEP?!
Stalking over to the king sized bed menacingly, Amu's eyes flashed dangerously as she grabbed hold of her husband's ear and squeezed it painfully, smiling sadistically as Ikuto yelped as he jumped out of the bed, fully awake and angry.
Blinking, the blue haired boy rubbed his eyes before glancing at his disheveled wife. Taking note of her frantic eyes and messy hair, he groaned. "We overslept didn't we?"
She would have loved to yell at him, but there was not time for that, snapping her arms behind her head and stretching, she pulled her arms in a winning gesture, a determined expression on her face. "Alright! We have an hour and a half to cook, clean and entertain. Let's go!" cheering and waving her arms around wildly, Ikuto could almost see her signature red heart clip from back then before shaking his head of their past memories.
Grinning at her, he grabbed her hand as they walked down the stairs, splitting up at the kitchen, each ready to put in 200% before their friends showed up. This would be the first time they'd ever held a party at their own home and they were determined to do this right.
One hour and twenty minutes later, the two adults were running around their room, stuffing legs into pants and feet into shoes. Amu pulled on a soft purple summer dress and quickly pulled back her hair into a ringlet side pony-tail as Ikuto slipped on a pale blue dress shirt and slowly ran his fingers through his hair.
Giggling, she reached over and fixed his collar, gently pulling it downward so all the sides were even as Ikuto smiled down at her gently. "Well, well, someone's all dressed up." He mused, running his eyes up her body exaggeratingly.
"Don't go thinking it's for you." She retorted, sticking out her tongue.
"And here I was about to compliment you…" he laughed, seeing her expression as he bent down to kiss her smoothly before pulling her down the stairs again. "Come on, we don't want to be late when Utau-"
A loud bang interrupted him as Amu's eyes widened in trepidation. "AMU! What kind of hostess are you? Forcing a pregnant woman to show herself in!" a familiar screech caused a sweat-drop to grow on the back of both their heads as Ikuto shook his head. "Speak of the devil,"
"And the devil will arrive." Amu finished solemnly before bounding down the stairs to hug her best friend.
"I really don't see what you being pregnant has to do with anything Utau. You really should wait for me to open the door before you come barging in." she reprimanded her as she took her jacket and hung it up in the closet adjacent to the door.
Snorting, Utau rubbed her protruding belly and rolled her eyes. "Right. Because you and Ikuto have hot monkey sex in the living room all the time."
Blushing like a fire hydrant, Amu stuttered, unable to think up a response as the haughty blonde strode in regally before collapsing on the large couch in the corner of the room. "As eloquent as always, dearest sister." Ikuto greeted, reaching out to ruffle his sister's hair affectionately.
Narrowing her eyes, the blonde singer swatted his hand away and glared at the older boy. "Don't touch my hair!" she screeched, "I have to look good for when Kukai comes back!"
"I'm sure he'll be happy to see you either way-"
"But I'm FAT! Look at me! I don't look like a star! He's going to leave me I know it! He's going to divorce me and then where'll I be?" bursting into tears, Amu's jaw dropped as she noticed Ikuto backing out the room slowly. Drama-queen sisters were one thing but overemotional, hormonal and PREGANT sisters? No way.
Glaring at her coward of a husband, Amu walked up timidly to the sobbing blonde and patted her back awkwardly. "Don't be ridiculous Utau. You're still as beautiful as always and even if you weren't, Kukai would still love you anyway because, well, technically, it IS his fault you're fat." She pointed out, gesturing at her bulging belly.
Snapping up her head, rage burned in Utau's eyes. "You're right. It isn't my fault. If anything, I should be the one divorcing him!" face-palming, Amu groaned before the bell rang.
Jumping up at the very welcome distraction, she threw open the door only to find the rest of her friends standing cheerily at her doorstep. "Amu-chan!" stepping in for a hug, the tall and talented Fujisaki Nagihiko pulled the grinning rosette into an embrace and hugged her tightly. "It's been a while Amu-chan." He greeted.
Rolling her eyes, Amu shared a look with his wife, "He hasn't changed a bit has he?" she asked dryly, grinning as the petite woman shook her head amusedly.
"We saw her yesterday idiot." Rima stated coldly, already pushing past her amused husband and into the airy house as she made space for Yaya and Kairi to come in as well.
"Amu-chi!" despite having grown up after all these years, Yaya's cute use of suffixes hadn't changed in the least and to be honest, it was a nice change to hear her childish voice. "Come on in Yaya, Kairi." Smiling, she invited them all inside before she noticed a dark blue car pulling up the side of the road.
Grinning joyfully, Amu turned around and widening her arms cried out, "Kukai's here!"
Jumping up, Utau all but ran to the front door and blocked everyone's way. "He's MY husband, so I get to see him first!" she declared, thrusting out her chest and sticking her hands to her hips.
"Well technically, I'm the one who saw him first Utau, but if you don't want to be technical…" stepping from behind the corner of Amu and Ikuto's house, Tadase stood calmly, waving at everyone and pulling the guest of honor into the picture.
"KUKAI!"
Jumping over the house steps, Kukai grinned widely as he burst through the door and swung Utau around, smashing his lips against hers in a passionate hello. A smack to the head forced him to pull away as he pouted in Ikuto's direction. "You already have a kid inside of her, don't go trying to make twins." He stated dryly, already walking back in the direction of the kitchen.
Blushing, Kukai turned away from his heated wife to say hello to everyone else as they all settled down onto the long dining table. The clattering of forks and spoons were heard over the rumbling over voices as questions were asked and greetings were made.
It was nice, Amu decided, that they could all be here together just like old times. But then again, old times would have meant that Utau and Ikuto would have been forced to work for Easter and she would still have thought she was in love with Tadase, so maybe the old times weren't all that great. But thinking back on it, thinking back on her old memories and her school life, she was glad that things unfolded the way they did. Because if they hadn't, she might have never been as close to Ikuto as she was. He would have never have confided in her about Easter and his forced servitude and he would never have found the motivation to search for his father. And Amu knew that it was all because he left that they had fallen more deeply in love. And when she thought about it, falling in love with the blue haired musician was exactly what she wanted and she never wanted it to change.
Twisting the crystal and diamond ring on her left hand, she could feel someone staring at her as she glanced up in surprise only to find herself staring into her husband's eyes. Eyes glittering, Amu smiled lovingly as Ikuto grinned back, a secret moment between just the two of them.
This was her life now. This was the happiness she had attained for herself, something only for her. A secret refuge from the storms life threw at her and a home she could always return to. As long as she was with Ikuto, she was happy. That was the kind of life they lived.
Too bad it was all about to disappear.
It was right about that moment, right when she was thinking about happy she was and how amazing her life was that her life was rocked from top to bottom and a brilliant light flashed in the middle of the table. A glaring white light burst in front of them as Amu brought her hands up to shield her eyes, unable to bear the brightness. Just when she thought her eyes would burn and the light would never disappear, it suddenly vanished, leaving twelve glittering eggs in its place.
Gaping, the nine friends stared at each other in astonishment as the one thing they thought they would never see again suddenly appeared before their eyes. "Is that-" Kukai started, unable to finish his sentence.
"That's impossible." Ikuto whispered, already thinking back to when Yoru left him in Paris.
"They're back." Amu murmured, already reaching out to grasp her four eggs, still floating innocently in the air.
"Amu, don't!" Ikuto's sharp voice stopped her in her tracks as her wide eyes stared at him in confusion. "Shugo chara aren't supposed to come back, especially not everyone's all at once. Something's not right."
"But that's exactly why we should take them. We have to find out what happened!" she pushed adamantly, arm already outstretched as her hands clasped around her four eggs.
Pulling them into her chest, she breathed in the scent of birth as she felt them hatch against her. Heart thumping in excitement, Amu suddenly found it harder to breathe as she saw the beginnings of a crack on all four of her eggs.
She had forgotten. She had forgotten how it felt to have guardian characters be with you. She had forgotten how lonely she felt after they had left and how long she had cried when she realized Dia wasn't there to lead her back to her future selves again. She had missed them. She had missed them so much and now that they were back, she didn't think she would be able to handle it if they were just going to leave again.
A sudden feeling of fear overtook her. Ikuto was right. This was unnatural. Shugo chara were for lost children, children who didn't know where they were going in life, lost, desperate and alone. And when you grew up, when they knew you would be alright without them, they would disappear. Gone from your life, never to come back. So why were they back now? What horrible thing happened that forced them back into the human world?
But before she could even begin to think about the horrors that question asked, four guardians burst from their eggs, floating in front of her face. But instead of smiling like they had when she had first met them, the second they saw her face, all four burst into dramatic sobs, fat tears rolling down their pale cheeks. "Amu!" they cried, barely able to communicate from the heavy sobs and gasping as they clutched at her face and tried to take in gulps of air. "Amu it's gone! It's gone!" howling, Ran floated backwards as she tried to regain control so she could say what she wanted.
But instead of Ran, it was Dia who finally regained enough control to explain what had happened. "They've taken it Amu, the Egg's Cradle…it's gone." Gasping, Amu took a step back, memories of a large expanse of magic and light flashing in her mind.
"But that's impossible. It's not somewhere on this Earth." She whispered.
"Some science can beat even our magic." She murmured softly, looking off far away. "The Eggs Cradle has been destroyed, its magic taken and contained…we are the last shugo chara left. There will be no more, not after this." Suddenly, as though unable to bear the sad thought, Dia burst into more tears as Ran reached over to comfort her.
"We tried to get away-desu but the others…others…"Suu struggled to continue but lost her thought, her eyes staring past the rosette into memories she couldn't see.
"A lot of us didn't get a chance to escape." Miki finished. "Anyone who came back to their owners…we're the last shugo chara and if we don't regain control of the Eggs Cradle, every child's dream, all the growing dreams being born and all of them that are still sleeping, waiting to hatch will be lost forever." Miki's voice was low and Amu's eyes widened.
"No more hearts' eggs?" she asked, a horrible premonition overtaking her.
"People's dreams will be taken away…forever."
"But who…"
Serious blue eyes pinned her own as Amu's breath hitched. "Amu…Easter's back. And this time, they won't stop until they've destroyed all the magic in this world."
A/N Thanks for reading the first chapter and if there's any one of you who's interested in being my beta reader, that'd be reallllly great! I hope you liked it!