Aqua: I saw that some people want to know what's going on! Eh hehe….

Ikuto: I bet they don't get it! *smirks*

Amu:*hits Ikuto* You're doing fine!

Ikuto: ow….. She hit me!

Aqua: Oh I know you love her!

Ikuto: So! She still hit me!

Amu: She doesn't own us…. On with the story!

~A Knight's Princess~

Normal POV

Amu tried to pull away from the attacker, but her attempts failed. She was pulled into the arms of her captor and felt as if she was flying. They landed on a tree nearby the smoke filled road. It was above the smoke, so Amu took gulps of the fresh air and was ready to scream her heart out.

"Don't even try, princess!" the stranger hissed. Amu looked up and finally got a better look at his face. He was blonde with reddish pink eyes. He looked about the same age as Amu, but he was taller than her. The blonde wore a white shirt that was tucked into brown pants. At his side, a broad sword hung in its case. There was also a dagger in one hand. "W-who are you? What do you want from me?"

"Ha! I'm just here to warn you! I'll be taking you later. I'm just curious about what your little Guardian do when he finds out!" the man smirked and tossed a note to her. "Read it if you must, but it's for the one that protects you."

With that, he jumped off the branch and disappeared into the smoke. Amu sat there and stared at the note in her hands. Should she read it? It was for her knight, Ikuto, but should she? Suddenly, Ikuto appear before her with his sword out. Apparently during her time with her captor, there was a group of allies attacking the rest of the party.

Ikuto had helped fend them off, but when he lost sight of Amu, he went into a full out rage. Finally, the smoke lifted, and Ikuto spotted Amu. To his relief, Amu was on a tree branch not to far, but how did she get on the high branch?

"Amu? What happened? How'd you get up here! Are you okay?" Ikuto asked. He ran to her and checked for any injuries. Then, after making sure she was ok, he picked her up and jumped off the branch. When they landed, he put her down and walked with her to the queen.

"Ikuto… there's a note. The guy gave it to me and said, 'give it to the one that protects you' I didn't read it in didn't want….." Amu said quietly. Ikuto took the note from the pinkette's hand gently.

The note was on a piece of parchment rolled and tied by a blood red ribbon. It said:

Ikuto of the Guardians

Be prepared of the pain that is to come.

Your princess is to be my wife in one way or another.

I'll do anything to get her, so get ready.

Good luck,

You're going to need it

The Platinum Prince

Ikuto glared at the note. How dare this "prince" underestimate his skill. He practiced the arts of battle and Guardian magic for over 10 years! This damn "prince" is going to pay for the thought of him being able to beat him. Ikuto was about to rip the notes into shreds until he realized the queen must see it. He must get her opinion and discuss their options with the Guardians.

At the castle

Inside a secret room, the Guardians, Queen, and Ikuto sat discussing the note. The Guardians consists of 16 people. There are the Locks, and they were the most powerful of the Guardians. There are four people that complete the Locks each generation. In addition to the Locks, there is the Keys. The Keys coexist with the Locks, and they also change every generation. The other eight are just students of the Guardians that are training to fight for the next generation. Ikuto use to be one of them. Training to be a Guardian takes time and effort. Most of the knights of the Kingdom of Seiyo never make it, but there are always 8 that shine above the rest. The old Guardians chose those eight.

The four Locks were four sisters, and there names are Ran, Miki, Suu, and Dia. The Keys were not related, but they act as if they were family. There is Kukai, Kairi, Yoru, and Ikuto. The Locks are teaching four girls named Utau, Iru, Eru, and Yaya, and the Keys are teaching four boys. Their names are Daichi, Rhythm, Kyo, and Shigure.

"What are we to do with this?" hissed the Queen. "I cannot have my own daughter married to man we know nothing about! He will do anything to marry her!" She paced around as the Guardians began to discuss the whole situation. Ikuto listened in and began to think.

Ikuto's POV

"We need to relocate her!" Kairi said. He was the brains of the group, but he never considers the emotions of the people he makes the decisions for. "But! He'll only just strike again."

It was Ran that spoke out. She was the hyper one of the group, but when things get serious, she goes into determined mind that is set to complete its goal. "He can even bring more help!" She stood up, and her high ponytail swung freely out of its hood.

"Still, she is a princess! She still needs to be nourished!" Miki added. Her signature hat stay perfectly in places when she stood up to argue as well. Ran looked at her sister ready to counter the reply of her younger sister, but she was stopped by the Queens.

"Ikuto, you are Amu's personal knight. What do you think we should do to protect her? You did deal with the thief himself," the Queen asked with a interested look. Ikuto looked up from the ground. He pondered about the right words to say.

"I think that it would be best if Amu and I will go around the kingdom in hiding. It'll give Amu the knowledge of the kingdom and its villages, and it'll keep her safe from the Platinum thief," Ikuto said confidently. He stood up and walk to the Queen. He bowed his head. "I believe that it is the only way to keep Amu safe while continuing her training."

The Queen looked up at the young man and thought about the suggestion. Hmm…. This could help, but I can't having her fall for anyone during her travels. There is the thought about her falling for one of the Guardians if I plan this right, thought the Queen. "I agree with Ikuto's plan, but it will have to be at least 2 Guardians protecting her. The group must be small and I will have certain locations ready for your travels with money just in case the group runs out. I expect that Amu will be well protected, and her studies will not be interrupted. Does anyone disagree?"

The Guardians all nodded in agreement, so with that, the meeting was called to order. Ikuto stay behind along with the Queen, Dia, and Suu. They sat in their seats thinking of how the whole thing was going to be set up. It was soon decided that Ikuto and Utau. Although Utau is not a full Lock, she was going to train to a better extent. By the way, Utau is the most powerful of the 8 that were to be trained, and she is Amu's friend, a person Amu can trust.

"The journey will be challenging, but it is the best thing we can do for Amu and the kingdom," the Queen stated after the last of their discussion.

"We shall leave at dawn the day after tomorrow. I'll need our Guardian equipment and supplies of course," Ikuto said. He glanced at Utau to see her reaction of being chosen, her expression was emotionless. After all was said and done, everyone left. Ikuto went straight to Amu's room.

Amu's POV

I was sitting in my room when I heard a knock on the doors to my balcony. I knew it was Ikuto. I mean, who else would come in my room through the balcony. I walked toward the doors, and when I opened them, I saw a man dressed in black. I started to back away towards the dresser near my door. Inside the dresser, there was a dagger, and Ikuto had already taught me how to use it. The stranger crept towards me as he began to remove the clothe that covered his face. By the way, the only thing I saw was his ruby red eyes. Once his mask was off, I got a great look at his face.

He was more like a prince than a criminal. His blonde hair framed his face nicely, and his red eyes glowed in the light. I stood still, for I was mesmerized by the sight of him.

"Don't scream unless you want to be thrown off your own balcony," said the man with a smirk. I glared at him.

"How dare you think I'm nothing, but a damsel in distress!" I said through my teeth. I inched closer and closer towards the dresser.

"Well, you're a princess. What else do you know how to do other that cry for help," the blonde hissed. He looked around the room. Then, he noticed her inching towards the door not the dresser. "Don't even think about it!" I stopped looking at him curiously, but after he looked away, I ran to the dresser and opened the drawer. The dagger laid in its case as I grabbed it and ran back towards the stranger.

"Now, who are you! And, what do you want with me!" I demanded. I drew the dagger to his neck forcing it on for him to know it's there. He stood there dumbfounded. I guess he didn't think I could be just as bad ass like he thought he was. Ha!

"I-I'm the Platinum P-prince….. I was going to take you to marry me," stuttered this so called prince. "I want a name! Now!" I ordered pushing the dagger deeper into his neck almost drawing blood.

"Tadase! Hotori Tadase!" blurted Tadase. He started to shake; this loser is a nothing compared to what Ikuto told me about. Suddenly, our position switched. "Sorry, but I can't keep the act anymore, your highness." His own dagger was pointed at my neck. I thought I was doomed as he began to drag me towards the window with his eyes at the doors.

"Where are you going with my princess, kiddy king?" asked a very familiar voice. I began to grin as I felt myself being pulled away from the jerk and into Ikuto's arms. He held me gently as he glared at the man. "Get the hell out of here before I kill you! And if you're ever near Amu like that again, you'll be wishing you were dead!"

Tadase pulled out a smoke pellet smirking as he threw it on the ground making a thick cloud of smoke inside my room. I held onto Ikuto tighten just in case Tadase tried to kidnap me. Soon enough the smoke cleared up, and Tadase was gone.

"Geez! Just when I'm about to tell you how we're going to protect you from him, you almost get kidnapped!" Ikuto exclaimed as he tore away from his hold. Then, he began to pace the room. "I'm fine! I just under estimated him! I didn't think he would be ready for a princess that can fight," I said trying to reassure him. He stopped and looked at me.

"Well then, you need more training if he knows that you can fight now, but I guess we'll just have to do that while we're on the road," he said as he began mumbling to himself. I tried to listen, but wait! Traveling?

"What do you mean traveling I thought I was going to stay here!"

Normal POV

Ikuto looked up at Amu and said, " You're going to be traveling the kingdom with me and Utau, so you stay safe from Tadase. You'll be able to learn more about your kingdom with alittle more freedom than you usually get when you travel with your mother. We're going to wait until Tadase is captured or until your married." Amu stared at him unable to speak. She couldn't decide if she was either excited for the freedom or worried about the being alone with Ikuto and Utau but especially Ikuto.

" By the way, we're leaving the day after tomorrow, so make sure you're ready. Don't worry about money, food, or anything else. Everything has been taken care of," Ikuto explained. "Ok….. But what will I do while I'm traveling?"

"You're going to learn about your kingdom! Do you not listen or what?" Ikuto said while smirking. He crossed his arms around his chest as he started to walk towards Amu. Amu sat on her bed to take everything in; Ikuto sat next to her. "Don't worry everything will be fine. You got a Key Guardian and a Guardian coming with you. You'll be safe and sound."

"I know, but what if I still won't be able to run the kingdom even after all of this mess? What if I can't be as great as my mother or any other Royals. I can't stand this pressure!" Amu exclaimed while throwing herself on he bed. Ikuto laid next to her and held her.

"I'll be there to help you," Ikuto whispered as he hugged her closer. Amu began to blush a deep red, but she savored the gesture and began to fall asleep. Ikuto watched the young woman he loved sleep. He stayed with her that whole night falling asleep himself. Late that night, the Queen cracked the door to check on her daughter. She Amu and Ikuto in Amu's bed sleeping. If it was another Guardian, the Queen would be sending guards in the minute she saw it, but it was Ikuto.

Also, the Queen's secret plan was to marry the two of them, but it would have to be at a better time. Tonight everyone slept nicely without knowing the dangers and challenges that were to come during the princess's journey.