Thank you for all the reviews. I am really encouraged by them. I do not own Shugo Chara, however the story plot is mine. I do apologize when my chapters are shorter. I don't mean to skimp out, but it sometimes happens that way.

TTT

Never trust a thief. He'll slit your throat faster then you can blink. Her father had always told her this. He had hundreds of things that he had drilled into her head since she could understand words.

Don't attract to much attention. It's bound to get you in trouble.

Just because a person is smart, doesn't mean they're trustworthy.

Never show that you're confused.

Utau gave an amused sigh. Her personal favorite that had made her giggle as a child.

Never dance with a Bobcat.

When she was little she had thought that he had made it up just to make her laugh. When her mother had died, she had learned that it held a meaning, it was just one that she couldn't see until she was older.

And she wondered, if perhaps she was dancing with a bobcat. Kukai…or whatever his name was…could very well be the very thing that could ruin her. Utau didn't have to remind herself that he was a thief. And a clever one at that. She couldn't get to mixed up with this "ally" thing.

"Utau." She turned to the sound of her name. She gave a slight grimace when she saw the figure that had uttered the word. Leroy Fitch headed this way. Now there was a bobcat if she ever saw one.

"Utau. I know that your style of clothing is unique to your own…personality, but-" He didn't get to finish his sentence. Utau ignored him and kept walking, feeling anger burn under her skin. What was he going on about now? Her clothes?

She glanced down at her dress. It was a black lace, with crimson roses at the bottom. What was wrong with that? It seemed fine enough to her.

She gave a slight snarl. Did Leroy think he could just make her into the perfect female emblem that he wanted? He could kiss his pathetic excuse for a job goodbye if he enforced some kind of dress code. She knew things about him that he didn't want out in the open.

Had she just suggested blackmail? The thought brought a smile to her lips.

Leroy took it for flirting. A smug look settled onto his face, and a spark of mischief danced in his eyes. He strode quicker, trying to keep pace with Utau's brisk walk.

"So, it looks like you aren't made of stone after all." He cooed. Utau snapped out of her pleasant vision of Leroy on his hands and knees begging her not to tell the king about his shady goings. Her smile had vanished, replaced with the cold and calculating stare that everyone knew her by.

"Excuse me?" She asked, truly bewildered. Leroy was acting different, in a way that she felt she wasn't going to like.

As usual, she was correct to her assumption.

"Get back!" Utau flung his arm away from her back. She viciously bit into his flesh and she heard the shrieking howl of pain that followed. She began to run for the window. Believe it or not, she was quite acrobatic.

She remembered nimbly climbing tree's when she was a little girl. Climbing high, all the way to the top, and spreading her arms out to fly…

She gave a yelp as Leroy yanked her hair back. Utau kicked his face and jumped out the window. She just hadn't realized how far up she had been. Grasping frantically at the gargoyle that guarded the castle, she felt the stone give way a little.

Soaring, soaring, soaring. She had felt like she was soaring. And then she had slipped and fallen down…

Utau gave a sharp hissing as the gargoyle gave a slight groaning noise. It didn't move, but she had a feeling that its hideous face wouldn't hold her up much longer. In fact, it seemed to be snickering at her from its stony silence.

Hold on all you want, its not going to save you! Mocked the stone.

Utau tried to peer up to see if Leroy was going to lend a hand. But no, that would be too much to ask for. Heaven knew that if anything was going to happen to her then it had to be difficult. No doubt Leroy was already planning the speech he would give when he "found" her body.

"Yes, how unfortunate. She had such a pretty voice. Must have been suicide, we all knew how unhappy she was. Never smiled, though I never imagined that she would take her life this way…"

"Oh give me a break." Utau growled as she tried to climb up the wall. It was to steep, to slick.

"Catch me papa!" She cried as she fell down. The Tree's braches whizzing past her, twigs snapping viciously at her face.

Utau gave a shriek as her hand slipped from its hold. She felt the wind catch her hair, and her stomach flipped with fear. She thought she was going to throw up, but she couldn't, not in the air.

Papa caught her, and quickly put her down. There was scolding, then cookies, then more scolding, and a hug, and then "Don't ever do that again!" Her papa gave a firm bang on the table. Utau just smiled and replied "But you'll always be there to catch me papa!"

What a joke.

Utau gave a slight choking sound as she did indeed land. But not in the messy death as she had visualized. In someone's arms, strong but they still laid her down gently.

"Papa?" It was so soft that she was sure that the person in question hadn't heard it. When she opened her eyes she found that he was not her father. Of course he wasn't. Her father was most likely dead. And if he wasn't then she didn't want to see his face ever again.

No, this wasn't papa. This was a boy about her own age, who had stormy grey eyes. Her father's eyes had been violet, much like her own.

"Are you okay?" He asked, as Utau began to sit up. He had light hair, and an odd accent. She was a little dizzy and felt incredibly sick. Most females at this stage would be enthusiastically thanking the hero.

Instead, Utau snapped "I just fell from a castle building and you have the gall to ask if I'm okay?"

The boy took a step back, anger clouding his features.

"You could be a little thankful you know! I just saved you from…from a horrid death! You're the one with the gall here, not me!"

Utau rubbed the back of her neck. Visions of herself falling from the tree had confused her. Was she in shock? Did people in shock think they were in shock? She rubbed her head, brushing back the blonde hair that was in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Utau muttered to the boy. "I'm just feeling a little funny right no-" She proceeded to end the sentence by throwing up in the grass. She felt him lift her up, and into his arms.

"I'm taking you to the doctor. Maybe something happened when you were falling-" He didn't get very far.

"You are not taking me anywhere!" Utau shouted as she struggled out of his arms. He looked perplexed and unsure of what to do. Good, it would be better if it stayed that way.

"I'm fine. I thank you for saving me…but a doctor will be completely unnecessary." Her body decided to contradict the statement as she hurled once again. She saw the boy approaching her and she backed away.

"What's your name?" He asked in a weary voice. She hesitated, thinking about a very different boy that had asked her the same question not long ago. She had told him so easily…why?

"Utau Hoshina." She whispered quietly. Shock registered on his face.

"Like…the girl who sings for the king and queen?" His grey eyes were bright and fascinated. They scared her.

"No, the other Utau Hoshina." She replied sarcastically. He gave her a wicked grin, and took a step closer. She leaped back, ready to defend herself if necessary. She wondered if she was okay. Usually she didn't feel this edgy.

"Whoa there." He made a soothing gesture with his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you. My name's Malcolm."

What a stupid name, she thought with vehemence. She felt her knees wobble a little and was grateful that her dress hid it from Malcolm. If he dared pick her up again then she would rip his eyes out and…

The world was awful blurry.

"I should get going." She muttered. She began to walk away, hoping she would make it to her room without collapsing. Had she hit her head? No…she didn't think so…then what was wrong?

She thought back, and then realized that a piece of the gargoyle had come down with her. Had is smashed into her head? She hadn't felt anything, but that didn't mean that she was fine.

Of course at that very moment Leroy Fitch decided to appear. Even though she felt like she had just gone through a war she still felt amused. He was practicing making a sorrowful and still surprised face, no doubt for when he found her body.

What a shame. He was so good at it.

Leroy made a slight choking sound, as he looked up and saw Utau. His mouthed opened, then shut, then opened again. He looked like a fish gasping for air.

"Why, Leroy. You look like you've seen a ghost." She couldn't help but tempt him. She had once heard someone compare her to a mountain lion. Solitary, but still enjoyed toying with people.

"Utau…uh…what happened before lets keep that to ourselves, shall we? Its not something that anyone else needs to know about." He gave her a charming smile, but she could see right through it. He was nervous.

She knew that he could easily snap her neck right now, but she had just talked to Malcolm and it would be to much of a coincidence for her to be dead soon after. Leroy was smart.

That didn't mean that he wouldn't kill her later.

"Oh Leroy. You're right. It would be so much more fun if we kept this to ourselves." She gave that smile that she knew had always annoyed him. He forced a smile back.

She could tell that she would have to watch her back.

TTT

She woke up seven times that night. She felt so sick, that she wondered briefly if she really should be a doctor. But around the early morning hours she began to feel better.

She began to dress, then remembered what Leroy had said about her clothing. For once, she started questioning if it was really all that fashionable? She snapped out of it. What Leroy thought about her clothing choice was irrelevant.

As she stepped out into the hallway a maid slammed into her. Utau groaned as the smashing headache that she had gotten rid of the night before came back in a sickening wave.

She glared murderously at the maid who cringed under the fierce glare.

"Watch where you're going!" She snapped, then flinched at her loud voice. The headache was so much worse when there was loud noises.

"I-er-I have an-um-message for you." The maid waved her hands in a flustered manner, and it made Utau dizzy to watch. She closed her eyes and paused a moment, then opened them.

"Can I have the message, please?"

"Eh? Yes of course! I mean, oh where did it go?" The maid began to frantically search her pockets. Utau grimaced. The girl was making her head pound even worse then it was already.

"Here!" Utau gave a slight groan. The maid was just so loud….

She snatched the message and the maid scampered off, no doubt heading off to gossip about meeting the infamous Utau Hoshina.

Utau flipped the paper opened and frowned. The message made no sense.

A Queen of her palace

Though its one not known

And her servant waits to see her

She hears the bells chime

And then for a time

Answers his pleading call

What the heck did that mean? Was it supposed to be a poem? It was a pathetic excuse for one. Even she could write better then that, and she wasn't really much of a writer. The person could have at least mentioned some hint of who they were.

She stuffed the message in her pocket, deciding to look at it later. She had practice, then lunch and more practice, a performance…the message could wait.

TTT

It wasn't until Utau was getting ready for bed that the meaning of the message came to her. And even then she needed some help from the bells.

The bells were ringing ten o'clock (like they always did) When she realized who had sent her the obscure and silly message and exactly what the poem meant. He apparently had a flair for the dramatic.

The Queen was her (Utau since she was called "Princess" by him; still to her annoyance.) The kingdom was the forest that she so often visited.

He was the servant, and he was asking that when the bells chimed she go to the woods to meet him. For what? This was stupid. She was going to hop into bed and forget about that wicked thief who obviously had attention problems.

She waited for a half an hour. She still was awake. What did he want…?

Well. If it was going to keep her awake, then she might as well find out. She grabbed a dress and hurriedly put it on, and then angrily stalked out of the castle. She used the secret window that (as far as she knew) was only known to her.

She had never walked to the woods at night before…and she thought it was rather eerie.

The trees cast a darkness like Utau had never seen before, and the limbs grabbed to her shoulders and hair, pulling and yanking and laughing. She could almost feel their breath as she twisted and turned…she felt claustrophobic.

Utau held in a scream as she saw green eyes appear, glowing in the darkness. What creature was this…?

"Shhh. It's okay." Kukai soothed. She realized that she had been whimpering and immediately stopped. She stomped up to him. Her anger was fizzing to amusement, and she had to stop before she actually felt like…laughing or something.

"You're late."

"I wouldn't be complaining if I were you. You're lucky I came at all."

He gave her a knowing grin. "Oh, I knew you would come. You try to hide it, but I can see that you're curious."

She wasn't sure how to respond so she just said "You're terrible at poetry."

He winked. "I thought it was rather clever actually. I'm pleased that you figured it out. I wasn't sure if you were smart enough." She gave him a menacing glare but he just kept on grinning.

He was never intimidated by her.

"Why am I here?" She asked, glancing around the dark woods. It hadn't even occurred to her that this would be the perfect time and place for Kukai to mug her. In her mind, he would have done it when she was in that embarrassing vulnerable moment tangled in the trees.

"I wanted some company. You and I are going into the capitol. There's nothing like sightseeing in the dark."

Utau tried to reign in the frustration. "You dragged me out here in the night just so we can sightsee?" She wished desperately for a watermelon to chuck at his head.

"I didn't drag you over here." He replied cheerfully. Then he grabbed her hand and dragged her (Yes, in the end he dragged her) to the capitol.

TTT

"I don't see why this is necessary." Utau looked nervously down at the street below them.

"What do you mean?" Kukai hopped expertly from one roof to the other. It made her feel queasy just watching him. The memory of falling from the castle still loomed in her memory.

"I mean normal people use a street. Normal people sight see in daylight. Normal people don't rent camels and then let them loose on the street." (She was still trying to figure the last one out.)

"The world would be so dull if everyone were normal." Kukai tossed back as he jumped to yet another roof top. Utau gracefully followed him, but not without her stomach flipping back and forth.

"It couldn't hurt to be slightly normal." Utau took a deep breath. She deliberately refused to look down towards the ground.

"You're very good at jumping roofs." Kukai complimented. Utau felt her lips tug, but she wouldn't let the smile bloom fully. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"I've never had anyone tell me that before. Thank you." She leaned closer to the edge, and shut her eyes when she realized how high up they were. She felt some vomit rising, and she fought it back down. Whoever said that facing your fears was a good thing was a liar that deserved to be punched in the face.

"We're here!"

Utau stopped her trembling and took a deep breath. She wasn't going to show Kukai that she was scared. She had to be brave.

"Where are we?" She tugged her cloak closer around her body. It wasn't cold but she wanted to hide the Goosebumps. They were proof that she was frightened.

"You'll see. Here," He tossed her some rope. She tied it to a clothes line and he happily shimmied down it. Watching him, it looked like the easiest thing in the world. Then again, he had made stealing the Queens Necklace look like the easiest thing in the world too.

"You're turn!" He called.

"I don't know…" She clenched her fist when she saw his eyes dance with that amusement that she was starting to recognize on his face.

"And if I fall?"

"I'll catch you." He said it like it was obvious. Perhaps it had escaped his attention that she had trouble trusting people.

Never trust a thief.

Against her better judgment, Utau began to climb down the rope. She didn't know if Kukai would catch her, for she didn't fall, but when she reached the bottom there was a certain amount of satisfaction she had gained.

"Okay. Look where we are!" He spread his hands out like he owned the place. She wondered how many wealthy people had tried to kill him in the past, just for this gesture.

"This is…the gardens of Blemeh. And her statue." Blemeh had been the princess that was kidnapped from the neighboring land, the one found dead in the castle. There was a statue erected for her memory and placed in the place where her supposed "garden" was while she had been prisoner at the castle.

"I've never been here before." She said with some wonderment. Kukai grinned. "I didn't think so. That's why I brought you."

"She doesn't look unhappy." Utau mused aloud. Kukai raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean…in the story she's so unhappy because she's kidnapped. But her statue looks fine to me."

Kukai gave the statue a long look before answering. "Perhaps she was hiding it." Utau agreed. She of all people knew about hiding pain from people. Perhaps she should let Blemeh keep her secrets in that shadowy face of hers.

She stayed in the garden with him almost all evening , looking at the other statues and flowers. It was a magical night.

But she never forgot the fact that he was a thief. She knew she still needed to be on her guard. And when she asked about the other sights, he just gave her that knowing smile. "We're going to do one a night."

"Who says I want to?"

"You don't have to come…" And then they would bicker like children.

The next morning Utau woke up exhausted. "This is all his fault." She muttered. "If he hadn't dragged me out in the middle of the night."

TTT

Okay. So Please leave a review. Also I wanted to say a little about what Utau wears. I considered putting links on my profile, but I decided that it would be a waste of time on my and your parts. So I'm just going to add that Utau wears a kind of gothic Lolita Dress style. If you are curious to what that looks like, go to google and type it in, and it should pop up. She's not really gothic, but I thought that the dresses matched her dress in the show, and her personality in this story. Also, this is a fantasy, so this isn't like England or anything. It is a fake and fictional place.