Humpty Dumpty

Ikuto smirked, hearing Amu yell to the high heavens; probably hoping Merlin would hear her cry.

"Just you wait little Amu…you'll soon realize exactly why exactly this is happening to you."

He relaxed himself and pictured his regular black attire, and his body became warm, and before it became unbearably hot he extinguished the fire that was around him. The aftershocks caused him to feel a little uncomfortable so he conjured a mirror to make sure he had changed clothes properly.

Indeed he had, now he wore a black dress shirt with a silver cross on collar and his neck on a choker. He kept his cat ears, and tail since he liked them, his dark color pants hugged his leg's yet was still comfortably loose on him.

"So what are we gonna do, Nya?" Yoru quibbled as he flew beside Ikuto who was walking away from the scene.

"We're going back to report what happened tonight, after we finish out job."

"Are we gonna tell Tsukasa about Amu…?"

Your felt the tension visibly build inside his charge, but he cocked his little head and 'nyaed' at Ikuto in a questioning tone.

Ikuto took a deep breath trying NOT to hurt Yoru for asking the question that would cost anyone their head.

"That man would only meddle in my business, and try to convince me not to…"

Yoru sighed, and he licked his huge paw to clean his head. In his raspy voice he replied "He's a lunatic….he wants you to focus on training to be the Big chief Nya, not be who you are Nya."

Ikuto scoffed. "I would NEVER want to be chief of our coven. If it weren't for the fact he has something I need I would've high tailed and left."

Yoru snickered. "What if the pink girl says no, then?"

Ikuto shook his head and looked up at the Harvest moon. "No…I don't think she will. There are too many questions running through her mind. If what I saw in her was right; she'd want the answers."

Yoru sighed and closed his eyes. "I sure hope you're right, Nya. I'm bored without playmates, Nya."

Ikuto chuckled and flicked his Sprite on the nose. "Come on. Let's get to work Yoru."

They travled through the city and captured the Dark sprites, that always roamed the streets. On All Souls Day, these little things were more in numbers; and definitely even more dangerous on this night…his work would be cut out for him by the time Midnight came around.

Amu looked around for her hat and picked it up, in a rush.

"Stupid…stupid cat…." Amu muttered to herself, she placed her hat back on her head with a huff.

Miki watched this and she looked curious. "Amu….are you going to take Ikuto up on the offer? This could be such a good advantage for you!"

Amu looked at Miki out of the corner of her eye. "Why would I do that?"

Ran got in front of Amu's face. "Because! You need to have strong magic! Being more sound and secure in it…and you can be whoever you wanna be!"

Dia smiled and nodded with Ran. Su looked at all of them and she giggled. "Amu…you do have time…why don't you ask your parents?"

Amu whipped around and she just looked appalled. "If I even SUGGESTED something like that to my parents they just might explode from… I don't know….magic suppression from trying not to kill me!"

Ran waved that notion off. "Nah! They would never do that to their darling daughter!"

That was when the subject dropped, an awkward silence filling the air and Ran shakily laughed. "Well….let's HOPE they don't melt you with magic…"

"Not. Helping." Amu muttered and they continued on their sluggish march home.

When they finally reached home Amu's mother was waiting with a worried expression. The moment Amu was in her mother's line of sight, she was tackled to the ground. "Amu-chaaaan! I was so worried! When I heard about those humans…and then those Dark Sprites, I was thought you had been hurt!"

Her mother rubbed her cheek against Amu's successfully suffocating Amu. Touching every inch of her to make sure she was okay.

"Mom….I…can't…can't…BREATHE."

Her mother let go of her that instant and rubbed the back of her head, through her hat. "Sorry Amu…"

Amu looked at her mother and smiled. Now was the perfect chance….All she had to do was ask her mother if it was alright to become an apprentice. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing would come out.

Amu felt distressed and she just hugged her mother, and buried her face in her mother's chest.

"Oh!" She cried. "What's the matter Amu…?" She crooned and rubbed her back.

The young girl shook her head, muffling out an answer that wasn't exactly translateable, but since Midori WAS Amu's mother, she understood.

Her mother sighed, smiling warmly at her big bad witch. "Come inside and I'll tuck you in bed.."

Amu nodded and there was a sniffle. She moved away from her mother rubbing her eyes. Midori giggled and shook her head."Let's just Holowerv there." With a wave of her wand, the feeling of becoming something similar to water vapor, transpired through Amu. This weightless feeling relaxed the stressed witchling and she sighed contented, smiling at such a wonder feeling. All too soon they were at her room.

Its pinks and blue's greens and golds all around them. Amu's mother tugged the blankets free from under the bed and looked at Amu. "Whatever troubles you, can be easily cured with sleep."

Amu then realized how very her heavy eye's had become. Almost like butter she slid into bed easily.

Amu's mother looked down at her with loving eyes and kissed her forehead.

"May you have pleasant dreams,

A growing heart,

That in the morning, you have a start,

Your troubles gone,

And soon be blessed

So I and you will go on quests."

Amu smiled at the nursery rhyme her mother told her, she held tightly on the blankets and turned on her side facing her mother. "Night Mama…" she whispered, closing her eyes

Her mother smiled moving her hair out of her face. "Night, My bad witch." With another kiss to the forehead, her mother left her room turning off the light, plunging the room into darknes Amu already asleep before the door even closed.

She sighed and went to her room and there was her husband waiting for her anxiously. "Was she okay, Midori?"

He asked, standing up. His robes were gone; replaced by his night clothes. "She's fine, Tsumugu."

Tsumugu sighed in relief and he flopped himself on his back looking at the ceiling. Midori smiled and went over to her husband and placed his head in her lap.

"Do you think…since it IS Amu's 15th All Souls Day…do you think…she's ready to find a mentor…?"

Tsumugu jolted upright. "No! Never! I don't want my Amu away from her family!"

Midori giggled at her husband's antics. "Calm down…but you do realize we would just coddle her….she would never learn proper magic with us…she needs a strong and trust worthy mentor. We both know how much potential she has."

Tsumugu sighed and shook his head. "I know…maybe…we can wait a little but longer…? Amu's so young..."

Midori sighed and smiled. "No…we have to allow her to grow as a witch."

Tsumugu shook his head. "But it can wait at least another year can't it…? What about her middle school?"

Midori flicked her husband on the nose, receiving a yelp. "You know their policy is that if Witchlings don't have a mentor, they go to school. Now Go To Sleep. We'll talk about it in the morning."

With a sigh Tsumugu nodded and he got under the cover in order to sleep. "I just don't want to let her go…" His winy tone made him sound child like, as he clutched at the sheets.

Midori smiled and kiss her husband on the lips gently and caring. "I know big papa…." She waved her wand again and was in her night clothes.

"Let's get to sleep now." She reached over to her orange glowing lamp, and shut it off plunging the room in the dark. Soon the entire house was silent, but with the soft snores or breathings of its residence.

All was not restful though…for Amu was dreaming.

All was dark; its dampness was very similar to a dungeon cell she had read about in one of her books of tales, or in her lessons in history. A chill went up her spine and she shivered, turning around to see that there was still the darkness.

Fear filled her slowly, but she swallowed it; walking away from where she was originally standing and tried to find some light so that she could at least see where he was going.

She looked and looked, but there was nothing panic was slowly settling itself in the pit of her stomach. Along the lines she began to run, she tripped a few times but picked herself up. Dread filled her and her eyes burned with unshed tears.

Suddenly there was music playing, but it was from all sorts of directions. The stringed instrument was playing a tune filled with hurt and pain; it hurt Amu's ears so she covered them to mask them from the horrid sound.

With a flash there was nothing. No sound. Amu stood up and looked around. Still darkness.

She frantically roamed around searching for a way out...ANYTHING...but there was still the darkness. Always this inky black...She fell to her knee's and bowed her head completely giving up...there was no escape...

Suddenly she couldn't breathe and was swept away. It was like she was weightless, she couldn't find her footing. She struggled panicking flailing her arms around trying to find a hold so she could anchor herself.

Finally she landed.

She could breathe again, gasping for breath and holding her throat.

A bluish gold light encircled her. Suddenly she felt safe, comfort enveloping every inch of her being. Amu curled in a ball since she was already on her bottom. A shadow stepped forward, just on the edge of her ring of light.

A wispy voice spoke, it neither male nor female. "In darkness, light is swallowed." For an example this figure conjured a ball of pure white light and sent it to the never-ending darkness where it faded.

"It will tempt you to hope; then smother it. Life will sweep you away to drown you."

The weightlessness began again, but Amu was unaffected, as yet another ball of light was created, and fizzled out in an unseen current.

"Magic," The shadow continued, "it's the source of light as well as darkness. Both are anchors. Light can heal. Darkness will harm. With the right...or wrong guidance, the Magic will choose you."

Amu watched in fascination as this being told her these wise things. "Now open your eyes, choose your path; when one steps out of ones boundaries. A journey begins. When a journey begins. You're destiny is neigh."

Everything rippled, and Amu stood up. Winds pushed her back and forth whipping her hair in her eyes, blinding her partially. "Wait!" She called, but her voice was stolen.

"Wait!" She reached out to her wall as she shot out of her bed. The only thing she saw was the mirror across from her was the mirror image of herself with a REALLY bad case of bed hair. Outside her window the birds chirped, gossiping about different things.

With a moan Amu flopped on her back. Things just couldn't get any worse…could they?

Amu detangled herself from her cocoon of light pink blankets and sat up getting out of bed.

She jumped a little bit when her feet touched the cold floor.

She muttered a summoning spell as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, not bothering on controlling on how much magic she had placed in the spell, and her clothes flew right to her...well…. They threw themselves at her with such a velocity it threw her back on the bed with and 'umph'

"Well...things just got worse." Amu muttered.

Amu had a battle with struggling off her pajamas and pulling on her clothing.

Amu went to her mirror and looked herself over.

The T-shirt she wore had an old fashioned wand on it and said. "Good Witch Gone Bad"

Her shorts went down to the middle of her thigh and today her bangs were held up with purple moon clips.

Just for kicks she reached for her strawberry scented lip gloss and coated a light layer on her lips.

Now that she looked presentable for the day she walked down the stairs to have breakfast.

"Amu~ you're awake!" Her Mother cooed as she prepped the stove with the fixings for pancakes and bacon.

"Morning to you too Mama." Amu sleepily stated and stretched.

"Seems like only yesterday you were sleeping till noon...Being so young...without a care in the world!"

Amu smiled and shook her head. "I'm fifth-teen Mom, the age where...you know. My actual magic training begins...at least. Until I'm given the A-Okay…" Amu looked at the pale yellow almost white tiles were, babbling like a hungry baboon.

Her mother gave a solemn sigh and vacant expression, with a shake of her head the warm smile returned. "So Amu...did you dream last night?"

Amu blinked. Her mother very rarely turned to that kind of conversation...but this was something she wanted to share so why not?

"It was… a strange dream ...I guess you could call it somewhere in between a nightmare and a dream."

Her mother nodded as she stirred the pancake mix. "Go on."

Amu furrowed her brow and looked beyond her mother and recalled the dream that had occurred. Patiently her mother waited for the tale to end, and the more Amu told her, the stiffer she became.

"Is there some sort of meaning to this dream Mama?" Amu inquired as she helped Midori with the pancakes.

"Yes Amu...you had...a very special dream." Midori sighed and got out her wand whispering an incantation telling the utensils how to make the pancakes.

A few sort seconds later the spell did its work and Midori went over to the dining room; the gold paint making a serene atmosphere. Eight chairs sat around the table.

"Sit down dear." Amu followed and did as she was told. It was a little confusing, but whatever her mom had to say must've been important.

Her mother set her elbows on the table and strung her hands together placing her hands on them.

"The dream you had...in our Coven we call it the 'Guide'. The Vampires call this being 'Mother' some alchemist call it the 'The Truth' the Humans outside this dimension refer to it as 'God, Allah' In some of their cultures the being is split into many persons.

"I'm not very sure what everyone has called it...but on our subject: for witches, and wizards, the Guide comes to them to give advice. In your case Amu, this is your coming of age vision, and Amu...when you come of age it means you can find yourself a mentor to train you in magic."

Amu watched her mother as she spoke. Disbelief colored Amu's face, and the best comparison would be that similar to a cod fish.

Midori giggled. "Darling if you keep your mouth open like that the houseflies will try to make their home in there."

Immediately Amu shut her mouth. How could she tell her mother she already had an offer on being an apprentice…? Her own mother, had just told her that she could go find an apprentice without having a conniption!

Apparently her mother observed her emotions. "Amu…would you like to tell me something?"

It was going to be now or never….well, maybe not NEVER but her mother would put it off until Amu was ready to tell her... even if technically she already had the okay, but there was still a chance she could say 'no'…

When one steps out of ones boundaries, a journey begins, when a journey begins: Your destiny is neigh.

That's what the Guide had told her…so maybe…just maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to tell her own mother about the offer.

Amu looked into her mother's calm eyes. She was waiting…Amu chewed on her lips for a few minutes.

"Last night…" Amu whispered. "I was given an offer to be an apprentice…before I came home…after the party." She coward a little bit, waiting for an explosion, but none came.

"I see." It was neutral. "How much time do you have till you have to give an answer?"

Amu winced at the emotionless tone. "Tonight…" Amu confessed, training her eyes on the table.

Her mother stood up and went to Amu's side of the table and wrapped her in a hug. Amu felt warm tears on her shoulder.

"Then go…. Neither your father nor I even sensed your coming of age being near….if this wizard offered to be your mentor before your vision, then that PROVES he's worthy to be your mentor without a doubt. I'm so very, very proud."

How is this possible? Her own mother…hugging and crying tears of joy about something like this…it's insane!

Slowly Amu hugged her mother back, the fear that she had not even realized she HAD enveloping her. "But Mama…you don't even KNOW this person….how…why.."

"Shhh…" Midori crooned. "It'll be alright….the point of a mentor is that you place your full trust in him or her to protect and teach you…"

Midori pulled away from the hug and brushed her fingers on Amu's cheek. "It took me two years to find a mentor…you have a real chance to learn magic so much sooner than me."

Amu shook her head. "You can teach me magic..you never use words, and the strength-"

"Amu." Her mother chided. "You know as well as I do that I would just spoon feed you everything; as well as your father. That's why the council made this system. So that Witches and Wizards could learn to the best of their ability. It's not a flawless system…but it does have its advantages that being 'homeschooled' doesn't."

As her mother spoke more and more, Amu felt her fear dwindling away….she felt her mother's approval…she approved that it was alright for her to go.

Ikuto walked through the main hall of the meeting house for his coven. He looked at the pictures of all the different forms of this grand city.

The steps he made echoed throughout the hall and he almost smiled, but it turned into a smirk. Maybe he wouldn't have to give a report to Tsukasa after all.

"Ikuto~" A shiver went down his spine at his former mentors voice.

"Yes…Tsukasa?" He turned to the blond man with the kind looking eyes.

"I was wondering…you're what? Eighteen? You're old enough now to find yourself an apprentice."

Tsukasa made his way over to Ikuto, whose hands were promptly in fists in his pockets. "Sixteen…maybe Seventeen if I'm lucky." Ikuto coolly stated. "If it weren't for that de-aging draught I was slipped on my last night of being your apprentice I would be older." Malice was strung in his voice, as he spoke but he kept his tone calm and looked straight at the man he once trusted with his life fully.

The memoery wasn't exactly pleasant. He was in a ballroom, everyone who he was either friends with or related to were there to celebrate him finishing his apprenticeship.

Tsukasa had given him a goblet filled with shimmering blue liquid with a kind of thick consistency. Little did he know this familiar drink he had come accustomed to was a simple illusion of a de-aging draught that caused his body toas it were…turn back the clock.

It was lethal in large doses, so you couldn't remain young forever, but you could lengthen your life by a maximum of ten or so years.

This particular draught had turned his clock back by about three years. Everyone in the auditorium gawked at him, but Tsukasa still had that smile on his face…

In the present time, Tsukasa gave a hesitant laugh. "I just didn't want to see you grow up so fast…I told you…the council kept your original age… well your technical age on paper." He counted on his fingers silently. "…you're twenty! See! Much better than the eighteen I thought you were!"

Ikuto took a deep breath in and slowly let it out with a hiss. "That's not the point. The only reason why I'm here is to retrieve the Humpty Lock and Dumpty Key." Ikuto avoided that conversation as much as someone in Europe would the plague.

Tsukasa stopped and he smiled. One of those that on the surface looked like it was, but Ikuto knew better. Tsukasa always had something up his sleeve.

"That must mean Ikuto that you have indeed have found an apprentice."

Ikuto couldn't help but smirk. "Her vision was going to come that night. I knew I had to take that once in a lifetime opportunity. She has great power in her. It can help our cause."

Tsukasa laughed. "There's no need to convince me! If you chose her then I know I can trust your judgment."

Ikuto felt a warmness encase his heart. He would never admit it, but he was glad to have his former mentor approve… even if he was slightly manipulative.

"Are they still there?"

Tsukasa smiled and nodded. "They always are."

Ikuto turned on his heal and walked down the hallway.

Yoru whined about how stupid Tsukasa was being, and Ikuto tuned him out; his mind on other things.

When he reached the door he was looking for he stopped. The door was labeled "Kokoro no Tamago"

The egg of the heart Ikuto thought of these words translated meaning. This door had no door knob and protective wards resonated from it.

No one could get through without the password. Not if they valued their life.

"Joker." Ikuto said. Almost immediately the door swayed open with a whoosh and Ikuto stepped forward.

"Stay." Ikuto ordered Yoru.

"But why, Nya? I've always been allowed in there before, Nya. "

Ikuto gave Yoru a hard look. "And the last time you went in there you tried to open a shelf that nearly fried your ears off."

Yoru jumped and shivered at the memory.

"Fine, nya..."

Ikuto smiled at his Sprite and made his way inside the dim lit room.

The room was filled with shelves, dust wafted throughout the room and beams of light shined through the windows.

Each labeled with the name of each person in the coven, within the shelf a different pair of items were there. These items created a bond only a mentor and apprentice can have. It ensures the mentor will teach, as well as protect their apprentice.

"As is the way from generation to generation..." Ikuto muttered as he recited what Tsukasa ingrained in his mind.

Still he walked, sending out his energy so that the correct shelf would open when he neared it.

Just like he knew it would, one specific shelf opened, and the label on it read "Tsukasa and Ikuto"

Ikuto reached inside it and gently held the crystal key and lock. The heart crystals making a clover shape on both, he blew off the dust that had gathered on them both and took away from the true beauty of these pieces.

"Just a few short hours more..." Ikuto softly muttered.

As he walked away from the self Tsukasa's name began to fade.

Amu watched her mother and father bustle around the house almost as though their heads had been taken off.

Midori had insisted that they have a wonderful 'last day', but Amu knew the moment that thought was set in her head that the day was going to be hectic.

Amu slumped more in her chair that was in front of her desk and looked at her phone which was full of IM's from her friends on a chat room they made they had called 'The Guardians.'

Amulet Fortune: Hey everyone...guess what? I'm going to be an apprentice starting tonight!

Amu waited, the anticipation rising inside her as she saw her friends were typing a response.

Clown Drop: Wait...when did that happen? Not that I'm not happy for you.

Yamato Maihime: Congrats! -pats on back- hope you enjoy yourself. ^^

Sky Jack: Way to go lil witch!

Beat Jumper: That's awesome!

Amu smiled at her positive sounding friends. She was worried that they would freak out or something...

Amulet Fortune: Thanks for all of your support...I'm just really worried. I just met my mentor last night and I have no clue what kind of person he is.

Yamato Maihime: Well you can only hope for the best. Things will turn out for the greater good.

Sky Jack: Just keep your chin up! You'll kick all the other apprentices Asses!

Clown Drop: Even though Sky Jack said a terrible word I'll have to agree with him. Don't worry about it so much.

Beat Jumper: Like everyone else says, it'll be fine!

"Amu-chaaan~ would you come into the living room~?" Her mother poked her head in the room Amu was currently engrossed in her phone.

"Yeah Mama, I'll be there in a sec..." She quickly typed her goodbye to her friends, and logged off.

Amu shoved her phone in her pocket and she went to the dining room, she wondered what her mother was planning...when she reached her destination the entire dining table was covered in different kinds of food.

"We wanted to make it special...so, we decided to make you a feast that will last the entire day!"

Amu felt a bubble in her throat and it turned in to laughter. She doubled over and laughed, and laughed.

Her mother as usual was being so dramatic about everything!

"Thanks Mama...It's a real treat to eat your cooking, but I think this could feed an army!" She wiped the tears from her eyes, and she saw her parents were beaming.

"I guess we shouldn't let this food go to waste." Midori said.

Amu laughed stepping forward and she took a biscuit and bit into it and savored the buttery flavor on her tongue.

Today was going to be eventful. She could feel it.

After that the day was filled with laughter and games. Amu had almost completely forgotten about her leaving to be an apprentice, but the sun had set and the light of the day had disappeared.

Amu took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. She looked at her front door where she would leave it for who knows how long...

Midori noticed the slight distressful look on her daughters face and placed a hand on her shoulder.

With a slight squeeze, Midori felt her daughter relax. "It'll be fine Amu...just think of it as a vacation from home. You'll be back in no time."

Her daughter laughed a little as smiled. "Yeah...a vacation that will test my ability on magic."

"That's the spirit honey." Her mother laughed, kissing her lovely daughters forehead. "But I believe it's time for you to go…"

"Mom…" Amu threw herself on her mom in a final hug. Tsumugu came in with Ami and joined the hug fest, the warmth and love from her family.

There were many shed tears, but of prideful joy. Her parents waved goodbye to Amu as she walked away from her parents for the last time until her training was finished. She would be lucky to meet them along her path.

Midori watched her daughter go out of sight and she smiled at Tsumugu, her loving, wonderful husband.

A tug on Tsumugu's shirt let both of them know Ami wanted to ask a question. "Wh-when will Amu-Chi be coming home…?"

Both parents looked at each other with amazement and they each kissed the side of her head. "Soon."

Amu walked away, her body moving on its own. The fairy lamps lit with a white magic illuminating the cracked sidewalk she stared at as she resisted the pull of tears that she did not want to fall. She would see her family again. That was certain.

"Amu." A familiar voice dawned on her ears, and she realized it was her sprites, she cleared her throat.

"Y-yes?" Miki floated in front of her with a scanning type of expression. "You seem out of it…"

Amu blinked and she laughed. "Out of it? No…no way!" Her hands waved away the comment and she continued on, as her mind began to turn to the more pressing matter…how exactly did apprenticing work?

Su sat on her shoulder, her tiny arm pressing against Amu's cheek. "It'll be fine Amu…you have the love of your family inside you, desu. You couldn't see the magic, desu but I saw it pulsing into you, desu."

Her tiny voice seemed loud as she spoke that. Amu's glance went down to her hands and when she concentrated her magic it almost glistened.

"Mama…Papa….Ami…" She saw them all; they had done a family spell. It was very old magic. Where the children were married at young ages and taken away from their parents. Imagine it being like you going to summer camp with a picture of your family, but literally inside you so you could never lose it…

Amu looked at the stars in the sky and she smiled when she saw four that shown brighter than the others.

"I'm ready…" She didn't notice the exchanged her chara's had.

Amu walked into the park, but this time; there was no melody to guide her, but she could feel the tug of beckoning magic.

Tides of winds whipped Amu's hair around as she walked down the path to where her soon-to-be mentor awaited.

Like Amu had expected he stood at the ready, his hands in his pockets. This time his ears were missing; but the smirk of triumph plain on his face.

"I knew you would come."

"A special being convinced me it was the right thing to do.." Cautiously Amu continued toward Ikuto, the moonlight shinning on his deep blue hair giving his a dangerous yet trusting aura….almost like the dark angel that protects you without giving the enemy mercy. Amu IMMEDIATELY pushed that thought far, far away.

"Do you mean The Guide?" Amu froze, at the knowing tone Ikuto spoke in, for a moment before continuing knowing that she had to trust this cat…even if every instinct in her to turn the other direction and bolt out of there.

"Yes." Something happened, but Amu couldn't be sure. Inside of her it felt that something had broken, and for the first time in a long, long time she felt free.

"You're ready." Ikuto grinned.

Ikuto felt strongly as the last barrier had broken. It was the shackles that kept Amu from being the true Witch she was. From the first time he saw her, he saw the restraining magic's of being a child.

As he was near her, he unfurled that magic without harming her, but some magic had to be vanquished by her, or the family.

Now….now she was at full power and ready.

Ikuto stepped forward and took out the lock and key.

He had put the lock on a chain. "The Humpty lock."

He chanted in an ancient language that Tsukasa himself had sung to him at this age; Sliding the necklace with its pendant over her head.

He held up the key to Amu's eye level, allowing her to visually see the magic within it. "The Dumpty key."

Ikuto let his magic flow into it, as he chanted again this time for his own sake. Though Amu would not understand the words, through the lock she would hear its meaning.

"I Ikuto Tskyomi swear upon the very being that guides us throughout life, to be your Mentor…your teacher, and protector." He paused, creating a moment of silence letting Amu fully comprehend his words. "I take you Amu….of the Hinamori family, and coven under my guardianship until you're training has been completed." Ikuto looked at her straight in the eyes, chanting more of the ancient words, before continuing the vow. "Amu….do you trust me with this responsibility? Will you allow me to nurture your magic so that you may grow into your true self?"

Ikuto watched her careful, for if there were any hesitation…anything at all. Then the bond won't be made. She must have complete and utter resolve and trust with him.

Amu felt power, and magic enveloped the two as he chanted. As she watched him with what was going on, she felt something whisper in her mind; comforting words, promising words.

Nothing else existed, as he spoke. Her body felt weightless, bliss enveloped her, and the butterflies she had assaulting her stomach were slowly dying out.

That's when she heard Ikuto ask her the pressing question. All she had to do was agree…and all will be sealed.

There were no negative thought. She had no doubts. This is exactly where she was supposed to be.

"I accept." Ikuto grinned and he nodded. He brought the key to the lock. With it in place he turned the key and a soft 'click' sounded out as though it were a clap a thunder.

With a burst of light the air was stilled, as the powerful bonding magic threaded itself creating a band of red magic on the left wrist of Ikuto, when she glanced at herself she saw the pulsing band of red magic on her left wrist as well. Faintly a string was connecting the two together.

Time quickened and Amu gasped. "What….is that?"

Ikuto chuckled and he placed the key back in his pocket, starting to leave. "It's called 'Iunctio'; Latin for Connections."

Amu frowned following her new mentor. "And the line…?"

"The line means we are for each other like the Japanese culture…In this case it simply means I can always find you, but…. If the chant is spoken differently it could be used to tie the line to your left pinky to find your other half. Unfortunately in this case I used the chant to create an unbreakable bond till you're finished with your training. Since it's fresh it's visible. If we're ever apart we can find each other. Once it fades, all you have to do is concentrate your magic on your wrist and it'll show itself."

Amu soaked this in and nodded a little training her glance at the ground. So many things were going on… absently touching the Humpty lock she wondered of its importance. "What does the lock do…?"

Ikuto sighed and looked at her with a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "So many questions…you should save some for later."

Amu blushed and looked up at him. "Okay then. Here's a really good question for the present: Where exactly are we going?"

Ikuto chuckled. "That's for you to find out…remember. If something happens, I'll be there to save you." With that, he disappeared.

Amu hung her mouth open. She just got her mentor and he already abandoned her!

Amu flared her magic, the feeling felt good...getting her frustrations out like that.

But never in her life had she want to hurt someone so much in her life!

She got an idea and concentrated on her right hand fueling the fire of her hand. Suddenly it turned blue and her hand was warm. Though her hand wasn't burning. Amu narrowed her eyes and threw whatever was in her hand at a tree.

Amu shrieked when a chunk flew off and the rest of the tree was charred. "Wh-what the? What is going on!"

Amu looked at her wrist and then the line… THE LINE

Amu cackled a little bit. "You think you can play this little game of tag? Well…when I find you you'll get a LITTLE sting."

Well hello everyone! I'm proud at how fast I'm updating though I'm slightly disappointed in the length. I did a good job right? But I do think I did better than the three months it took me just to get out the 7,000 and some odd words in the first chapter. Remember: Read Review and Rainbows need Rain….until next time~