Title: Blood Lust

Author: CryingInsideOut

Summary: After three months of fuzzy memories and getting used to her vampire senses, Amu finds comfort within the Hoshina vampire clan. As she tries to piece together her previous mundane memories, war is coming, but the Hoshina clan will have little survival without help from the enemy Tsukiyomi vampire clan. Relationships will be made and waters will be tested as war looms ahead.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara!

Chapter 2: Playful Banter

{Edit 08.14.14: It's been 109324802384 years. Rewatched a few eps of SC!, and am ready to finish the story. But first things first: gotta rewrite/revise all these crappy chapters bc there's like friggen plot holes and I am NOT satisfied. Please be patient bc currently fixing all the chapters. Some things might be different, but hopefully it won't affect the story too much. Thank you so much for being patient, encouraging, and super supportive. Love you. (: }


About 12 minutes into their dash back to the safety of their hotel, Rima had suddenly stopped mid-dash.

"Something wrong Rima?" Amu skid to a halt as well and watched her best friend wrinkle her nose in disgust and narrow her eyes dangerously. A sudden familiar scent wafted towards Amu and into her nose. The rosette then immediately understood why Rima had stopped: it was the vamps from the Tsukiyomi clan.

"Ehhh? If it isn't Souma and Fujisaki. Tch, what a heavenly surprise." It was clear that Rima's voice was dripping with sarcasm as she spoke slowly. However, when she spoke of the name Fujisaki, it was spoken with caution.

"Konban wa." Fujisaki Nagihiko greeted with a small smile on his face.

"Matte, Rima. We're going get in trouble if we engage." Amu warned her hotheaded comrade. Although Rima did not pounce or do anything irrational, Amu did take note of Rima's clenched fists and offense stance.

"What? Is the newbie scared?" Souma Kukai laughed and proceeded to jump off the garbage disposal he had been standing on top of just a second ago.

"I'm being rational unlike you two idiots," Amu snapped back. There was just no use in fighting at a time and place like this, Amu noted. In fact, if things were to get ugly, Amu was pretty sure there would be consequences later on with each their own leader.

"Honestly, you've only been gone for 3 hours and you already stirred up trouble?" A shrilly voice suddenly interrupted the tension. Everyone all turned around to find Yuiki Yaya sitting on top of a garbage dumpster lid nearby, one leg crossed over the other. She giggled before jumping down from the dumpster and side-stepping in between the four vamps in a blur. "I thought you knew how to resist trouble, Rima-tan!"

Rima rolled her eyes and huffed out a short breath. "Need I remind you that you're the one who's the troublemaker here? I wouldn't count out the times you played countless pranks on me and Utau."

The caramel-headed girl playfully stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry at Rima before speaking, "So mean, Rima-tan!"

"We're wasting time," Nagihiko sighed and jumped off the garbage disposal himself. He stepped out from the shadows and shone brilliantly underneath the glow of the moonlight.

From the corner of Amu's eyes, she watched as Rima silently catch her breath, her jaw tightening as Nagihiko completely revealed himself.

"Wasting time indeed," a sixth voice spoke out. Everyone warily drew their eyes toward the newest addition to the group. There at the entrance of the alley stood a boy with golden hair and ruby eyes. With a patient look on his face, he calmly said, "Ikuto is waiting for you two, Nagihiko and Kukai. He's not pleased, so you best be on your way back."

Kukai grinned and boldly placed his hands on his hips. "Honestly, Tadase! Don't you have a clan to lead? Why are you playing messenger for Ikuto?"

"Kukai!" Nagihiko hissed, in hopes of silencing his comrade. However, that didn't stop Kukai from sizing down the younger boy in front of him.

"Don't you think I would if I had a clan to lead?" Hotori Tadase countered back. Through all this, Rima, Amu, and Yaya stayed quiet.

"Here, take the kid. Make her yours! She'll be a good addition to help revive your dead clan," Kukai jokingly stated as he grabbed Yaya by the arm and pushed her towards Tadase. Yaya let out a startled yelp as Tadase caught her by her shoulders.

"Kukai no baka!" Yaya yelped, her cheeks flushing as she stepped away from the golden boy.

"Honestly, Kukai," Nagihiko rolled his eyes at his friend's childish behavior. "Gomen, Tadase-kun, Yaya-san. Please forgive Kukai and his foolish behavior."

"Mou, calling me Yaya-san makes me feel old!" Yaya pouted, the flush still evident on her cheeks as she tried to change the topic.

"Aa, gomen, Yaya-chan." Nagihiko gave her a polite smile.

"What the hell is all this!" Rima snarled suddenly, drawing everyone's attention towards the shorter girl. "What do you all think you guys are doing? This isn't some damn reunion! We're enemies, for Kami sake! Chotto koi, Fujisaki! Come fight me!" Her defensive stance then slid into an offense stance. At this, Amu grew alert, ready to stop Rima if she were to engage.

"Yamete, Rima-chan. I don't wish to fight you. If you really hate me that much, I'd rather we talk it out than have to engage in physical activities." There was a frown on Nagihiko's face.

"Urusai, liar!" Rima screamed. Before Amu could react, Rima had pounced off the balls of her feet and flew towards the purple-haired vamp.

"Rima!"

"Mashiro!"

"Rima-tan!"

Nagihiko braced himself, but nothing ever came at him. Instead, a blur of shadow stepped in front and reflected Rima's attack, the force so strong that she rebounded and slammed into the trashcans behind her.

"Shit!" Kukai whistled low as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.

"Rima-tan!" Yaya jumped and ran to the blonde lying on the ground.

"Ikuto!" Tadase sighed and watched as his best friend stood up from a crouch. The seventeen-year-old in front of him slid his hands into the pockets on his pants.

"Tadase. Did I not tell you that I was waiting for my comrades?" Tsukiyomi Ikuto spoke, his voice low and slightly cold.

Amu watched, eyes wide. She slid into a defensive stance, bracing herself. Her movement caught Ikuto's eyes, and violet orbs locked onto honey orbs. The rosette gasped. Somehow just by eye contact, Ikuto was able to send shivers down her spine.

"Hinamori Amu," she heard him mumble to himself. Before she could question him, the blue-haired vampire prince turned towards his brunette comrade. "Kukai, what do you think you're doing? Why are you picking a fight with Utau's vampires?"

"Just a little fun here and there, Tsukiyomi. Eheheh!" Kukai let out a nervous chuckle as his leader raised a brow, questioning his answer.

"God damn," Rima groaned. With the help of Yaya supporting half her weight, she was able to sit up and slowly stand up. Amu ran over and stood on the other side of the petite vamp, helping Yaya support Rima.

"I think it's best for Utau's little vampires to run along, don't you think?" Ikuto questioned. "I know for a fact that Utau will be furious once she finds out three of her vamps are mingling with the enemies."

"Che," Rima spat. "What makes you think Utau will find out about this little quarrel of ours?"

"Ah!" Kukai yelped and pointed at the shadow on top of the building that barely managed to conceal itself. The shadow smirked, fangs gleaming as it took off in a flash, running from roof to roof.

"Shit!" Rima and Amu screamed as they watched one of their fellow clan members fly towards the hotel.

"Better hurry," Ikuto taunted, a smirk on his face.

"Let's go!" Rima screeched after throwing the three males dirty looks. She threw herself out of Yaya and Amu's grip and started running back to the hotel first, determined to try to catch the sneaky vampire far up ahead.

"Ahhh, Rima-tan! Be careful! You're hurt!" Yaya wailed and chased after her friend. Amu herself began to chase the two, but before she left, she glanced back once to find Ikuto's eyes still on her. She narrowed her eyes a bit before giving full speed to chase.

By the time the three girls burst through the entrance to the hotel lobby, it was eerily quiet. Vampires that had been chatting and lounging around the lobby stopped what they were doing to eye the three vamps. It was apparent that the three were not able to catch the sneaky traitor. News spread fast throughout the Hoshina clan, and this was news that everyone wanted a piece of as eyes followed the three.

Amu clenched her fists as cold sweat dripped down her back. She glanced at her two comrades, and was surprised to see how calm the two were acting. Rima's eyes were fierce, her orbs daring the vamps staring at her to just say something. Even Yaya who usually acted like a baby was calm and composed.

The three crossed the lobby, but before they could make it to the emergency exit stairwell, a male vampire appeared before them. Amu recognized him as one of Utau's trusted vampire messengers.

"Hinamori Amu. Mashiro Rima. Yuiki Yaya. Utau-himesama has requested your presence in her room. Please proceed quickly."

Amu, Rima, and Yaya glanced at each other. Each girl but Amu had a look of knowing. Sensing the uneasiness in Amu, Rima sighed softly and placed a hand on her shoulder. Yaya grabbed Amu's hand and squeezed it once, reassuringly.

Holding hands, the three girls proceeded to climb the stairs to the thirteenth floor towards Utau's master bedroom. A strong knock earned the girls entrance.

"Utau-tan, you asked for us?" Yaya questioned. Amu was not at all surprised by the honorific Yaya had used. It was obvious that Rima and Yaya had experience with the Hoshina vampire princess and seemed to be in the category of what could be described as somewhere between friends and acquaintances rather than just "clan members." Amu, however, was still the newborn and felt the need to respect those older than her.

Utau dropped the white chiffon curtain she was holding in her hands and turned to face away from the window, her violet eyes fierce. As she approached them, Utau eyed Rima's scrapped arms from when Ikuto had kicked her to the ground.

"Hmm?" Utau drawled.

"Utau..?" Rima questioned. "You called for u –" Before Rima could finish her sentence, Utau had swung her leg in unreadable speed and kicked the petite girl squarely on the jaw. Yaya and Amu bit back a gasp as they watched Rima stagger two steps before she crashed to the floor in shock.


Terminology:

Konban wa - Good evening

Matte - Wait up/hold on

Kukai no baka! - Kukai you idiot!

Mou - Geeze

Chotto koi! - Come here (rudely)

Yamete - Stop

Urusai - Shut up

Himesama - Princess

{Edit 08.14.14: It's been 109324802384 years. Rewatched a few eps of SC!, and am ready to finish the story. But first things first: gotta rewrite/revise all these crappy chapters bc there's like friggen plot holes and I am NOT satisfied. Please be patient bc currently fixing all the chapters. Some things might be different, but hopefully it won't affect the story too much. Thank you so much for being patient, encouraging, and super supportive. Love you. (: }