A/N: Hey guys!

Just as a point of reference, in this fic, Amu is about 18, so take everyone else's ages from there.

On with the story!

It was the most beautiful and horrific sight she had ever laid eyes on.

A multicolor light desperately trying to touch the sky, shaking and moving as if it was alive. And yet, this lively beacon was causing only death and destruction. The greatest and most depressing irony. She dropped to her knees and watched in horror as her whole life burned away. She felt tears drop down her cheeks, but she did not brush them away. She was in too much shock to even form that simple movement.

Ran shook her head as she watched the girl kneel motionlessly in front of her home. She knew that this girl was now one of her kind. Alone and in need of a new family. All thanks to that fucking organization. But that was how life worked. That was how they worked.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Amu sat on the ledge of the apartment's balcony, holding up an enormous diamond to the night sky, watching as it distorted the moon and the stars. No emotion passed her face. She would not cry. She had not cried, not ever since that fateful day. Though on the inside she was crying. Painfully, horribly crying. But she could not show it. She had to be strong for her new family.

"Amu! Come inside! You don't want them seeing you, do you?"

Amu sighed as she recognized Su's voice. Always the worry-wart. "I'm coming." She replied as she coolly jumped off the ledge, closing the sliding glass door and shutting the blinds as she entered the apartment.

"Amu you need to stop going outside so much! What if Easter saw you!" At the mention of the third-to-last word, Amu gave Su her most frightening and dangerous looks. She had spoken the forbidden word. But when she saw Su's look of fear, her countenance changed back to normal.

"I'm sorry Su. I didn't mean to freak out. It's just at the mention of those horrible people I tend to…lose my cool." Amu said sympathetically.

Su smiled. "I understand. I mean, we all hate Ea- I mean the organization. But I know they hurt you probably the most." Su looked down in sadness but Amu just retained her coolness.

"Well it doesn't matter anymore. You can't change the past right? You just got to make it a wonderful future. Well, at least try to." Amu sighed. Things had just seemed to be getting worse and worse recently. In the last three months, they had changed their hideout four times! All to avoid the worst people on the planet.

Easter.

The corporation that ruined every single one of Amu's 'family' members' lives. All because they wanted to get their greedy little hands on something they owned. Like Ran's Amulet Heart, or Tadase's 'King' Sapphire. Normally the expensive jewel they owned would become their nickname. Why a nickname? Well considering no members of the 'family' could get a job, lest notify Easter of their location, they obtained their money by…other means. Stealing. Normally robbing helpless pedestrian's in order to get the cash they needed for food. Because of the unusual way the 'family' attained money they were considered a gang. They were known as the "Cards." A minor gang to civilians but to other gang's they were a serious threat. They were infamous for having short tempers, and if you mocked their unfortunate pasts, you would be sorry. Even though they were all very young for a gang, they were also very strong. Anger made you strong.

"So, let's count today's profits shall we!" Amu said to the rest of the 'family', trying to get their minds off of depressing thoughts and focused back on work. When all the members had surrounded their small wooden table, Nagihiko spoke up first.

"Well today I lured a man into an alleyway and stole his wallet, unfortunately, there was barley any cash in it, and when I tried to use his credit card, it had already been canceled." Nagihiko sighed in depression and embarrassment. He threw in the little bit of money he had stole, about 4,000 yen.

"Ah…well it's better than nothing." Amu said in her usual cool and spicy way, trying to cheer Nagi up. It did, as he was used to Amu's unemotional way of giving the others encouragement. "What about you, Yaya?"

"W-well, I kind of sort of accidently knocked someone out while robbing them, and I felt really bad so I didn't exactly make any cash today…" Yaya looked down sheepishly as she spoke, her little brother Tsubasa cowering behind her.

Amu sighed at this. They were really tight for cash, and for Yaya not to contribute at all... But still, Yaya was family. "I'm a little bit disappointed in you Yaya. You know we can't afford mistakes right now." Yaya nodded sadly. "Well, just do better next time." Yaya smiled and nodded again, this time more vigorously.

Amu watched as the people who had gone robbing today placed their cash at the center of the table. It was not much, in fact very little. Amu sighed once again; it had been another rather unsuccessful day. "Well, it's been a long day guys, I suggest sleep? I'll join you after I check up on Ran." The others nodded at their leader who went into the only bedroom of the gang's one bedroom apartment where Ran lie, eyes shut. Amu rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on I know you're not asleep." Amu said with a smirk. Ran chuckled at her friend and opened her eyes.

"You know me too well, what's up?"

"Brought you some medicine, how're you feeling?" Amu questioned, she was answered with a cough.

"A little bit better." Ran lied, not wanting to worry Amu. It didn't work.

"A little bit better my ass. Here let me take your temperature." Amu said, handing the thermometer to Ran who slipped it under her tongue. After a few minutes, the thermometer beeped and Amu frowned as she read the results. "I don't think 103 is 'better.' Here take this." Amu handed Ran a pill and some water which she took without protest.

"Look, I already got Su freaking out about me; I don't need you doing it too. Besides I've been on this earth longer then you have so stop babying me."

"Looks like someone's temperature is making them a little bit cranky." Amu teased with a smirk.

"Oh yeah? How's this for cranky!" Ran said as she threw a pillow right into the center of Amu's face.

"I'm not going down that easily!"Amu retaliated, taking Ran's other pillow and hitting her in the stomach. Soon an all out pillow war was started.

Amu was so glad that the walls in their apartment were thick, because frankly, Ran was the only person she could be herself around. She was the only one who had ever seen her cry, the night the elder had found her and introduced her to the rest of the gang. And ever since that day Ran and her had shared a really close sisterly bond, even though Ran already had sisters and Amu had…had a sister.

Oh Ami.

A/N: So what do you think? I know there's no Kukamu in this chapter not even any Kukai! But I promise he'll appear soon. Also, Kukamu is the only pairing I have right now, so is there any other pairing you would like to have? Also as you can probably tell, the Chara's are all human in this fic so are there any Chara pairs you want? Just tell me and maybe they'll happen.

Well bye for now!

~animefreak69