Hello! I've gotten some reviews letting me know that people are reading so I've decided to keep the story going. Thanks for the reviews and for reading! Keep letting me know if I can fix anything. Also, it's finals week so I have a bio test today, trig final and french final on Friday, lit final Monday, and sociology final next Wednesday. So I'll be really busy and won't be able to post much for the next few days but thank you in advance for dealing with it! And p.s., sassy Ikuto is the best Ikuto.


Since the next day was Saturday, I got to sleep in and when I walked into the kitchen that morning, my mom was about to leave for work.

"I'm working a double tonight sweetie so I'll be home later. Call me if you need me and I love you!"

"I love you too" I called as she closed the front door.

I made Kimi and myself brunch and then we began to tidy up the house. As I was fluffing the couch cushions, a thought kept crossing my mind.

"Hey why do you think Ikuto helped us yesterday if he said he worked for Easter?"

She pondered my question for a moment before deciding on an answer. "Well maybe he's not a bad guy but works for bad guys."

"Yeah…maybe."

As we continued to clean, I kept trying to think of a logical explanation for the boy's actions.

An hour later, I was sitting outside and attempting to concentrate on my homework but to no avail. I couldn't stop thinking about Ikuto's motives and Kimi was chasing a grasshopper so I couldn't stop giggling at her. The sun was shining and I laid down in the grass to soak up as much warmth as I could as I tried to make shapes out of the clouds.

"Do you always procrastinate this much or is today an exception?"

I looked in the direction of the voice and saw the mysterious eyed boy and with him, he had a violin, and was sitting on the edge of the house's roof. His purple cat ears and tail were visible and I caught a glimpse of his Guardian Character for the first time. He was a purple cat that was wearing the same type of uniform that his owner had been wearing the day before. I stood quickly in case he had malicious intent but he didn't move, he only smiled.

"Why are you here" I asked quietly. I was embarrassed about a boy being at my house while my mother was away, and somehow, I knew he had planned it that way.

His voice turned cold and neutral. "I just wanted to give you some news. Easter knows who you are and what your powers are and they're interested. They've sent me here to try to recruit you."

"Recruit, like they want me to work for them?" I was stunned. I couldn't believe Easter would propose such a stupid idea.

"Yeah, and they sent a warning too," he added. "They said that they'll get what they want either way."

I thought I detected a sense of sadness in his voice, but I couldn't be sure. I felt a sudden rush of bravery and could tell that Kimi had Character Changed with me so I could defend myself.

"Well you bosses must be morons. Who came up with the idea to ask the Joker, the one that purifies the X-eggs, to make them?" I was angry but Ikuto showed a face of interest at my actions.

"I didn't know your Character Change was so feisty. It suits you."

"Tell Easter I wouldn't join them even if I was dead. Stealing and corrupting children's dreams is despicable" I spat back. I felt Kimi's power disappear from me as Ikuto stood to leave. I blurted out the question I had been wondering about all morning. "Why did you help me yesterday and how did you know I was looking for the source of the X-egg spike?"

He stared coldly at me for a moment before answering.

"You might want to keep the windows to your headquarters closed if you're going to talk about your secret plans." He turned to go but I knew I couldn't let him leave without answering my first question.

"That's a violin, right?" I called. "Do you play? And I'm sorry if I was rude a minute ago." It was true that I regretted being mean to Ikuto, but I hadn't planned on saying so because of my shyness, but it felt wrong not to apologize.

"Yeah."

"Can you play something" I asked as I sat underneath the tree again. "I'm sure you play well."

"What makes you say that?" his voice was neutral, like he was uninterested with the conversation.

"Your case. Even though it's white and would show dirt easily, it's completely clean, which tells me that you value your violin and it brings you happiness. How can someone play badly doing something they enjoy so much?"

He said nothing as an intrigued look crossed his face and he took out his instrument. He pulled it up to his neck and when Ikuto began playing, it was as if all of the birds and bugs and even nature itself stopped to listen. The song he played was beautiful but if one listened closely, they could detect sorrow in the chords. I could tell that this song was meaningful in the way he closed his eyes and swayed with the tempo.

When he finished, Kimi and I clapped profusely to show our appreciation. He started to pack his violin as I had a revelation, and I stood up.

"You don't want to work for Easter, do you?" I asked loudly.

"You're smarter than the average Guardian." Though he was being sarcastic, I could tell that no one had really figured it out before. He stood to his full height.

"I can help you! I don't know how but I'll figure out how to get you and whoever else out!" I couldn't let people suffer at the hands of that awful company any more.

"You can't." And then he was gone.


Monday, after school, the rest of the Guardians eagerly asked me about what had happened Friday night.

"Well…" and at that moment, for some reason, I decided to lie about Ikuto. "Kimi and I were taking a walk and heard music so we went to investigate. Hoshina Utau was giving an impromptu concert at Central Park, so we decided to stay and watch. But she had a Guardian Character who she Character Changed with and while she was singing, she made X-eggs. Easter is making and collecting eggs and the ones that escape are the ones we find."

"Then that means there are a lot more X-eggs than we previously suspected" Tadese said.

A tense silence crossed over the table but Nadeshiko's sweet voice pierced it. "How are we going to get ahead of Easter if they're giving impromptu concerts?"

"All we can do is walk around and hope we stumble upon another concert" Kukai said and Yaya started mumbling to herself.

"Sounds like a bunch of work…."

"It is but it has to be done" Tadese said.

An hour later, Kimi and I were walking home, and she asked me the question I had been hoping to avoid.

"Why didn't you tell them about Ikuto?"

"I don't know" I said after a pregnant pause. "I just don't think they'd understand. I was afraid they would still think he's an enemy."

She wore a disapproving look. "But they would be able to help. I think you should tell them."

"I know."


That evening, as I was walking back into my room after my shower, I noticed my window was slightly opened. Thinking I had done it and forgotten, I shut it and turned to my closet to get my pajamas. I saw a notecard taped to the door and retrieved it. Kimi landed on my head and asked what it was.

"It says 'Main Street, Thursday at six' but there's nothing else, not even a name."

"What does that mean and who left it?"

After a moment, an idea came to me.

"What if Ikuto left it and it's about Utau's next concert?"

"That seems like the only logical answer, but how can we be sure?"

"We can't" I said, frustrated, "but we have to hope it's from him…. I guess we're going to Main Street on Thursday."

"Isn't your mom going out of town Thursday? She wouldn't want you to leave the house."

I twirled my wet hair in my hands, thinking. I had never lied about something so important before and had no idea at what I would tell my mom. Kimi started snacking on almonds and I sat in my bed.

"I'll tell her that I'll be with the other Guardians and since we have a Friday break, it shouldn't be a problem. We can't let Easter destroy any more dreams."

"You're right. It has to be done."


And a big thanks to BlackRoseEden28 and a guest for reviewing!