A/N Okay, I'm VERY sorry! But good news, I've just graduated high school and don't start college till the 7th of January, so I'll try to get a lot of chapters up during this time. Thanks to all the people who reviewed:

Hinata2413: You're welcome and thanks for the review.

Anya Seneca Primrose: Whatever…-_- thanks…

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kitty.0: Yeah, everyone seems to like the confession. Thanks for the review!

aznlove806: I would love to tell you what happens next…only one problem with that…*Anya holding gun at my head* Anya hates spoilers. Thanks for the review!

The Blue Cat: It might be the same way with this chapter…Thanks for the review.

Love Psycho: Panther Knight? Can I use that?! I've been trying to think of a name for that! Yay! Cookies! *Attacks plate* Anya: She's a little hyper from all the chocolate she got for Christmas… but she would probably thank you for the review and hopes you aren't mad for the long wait.

Heiress of Blaze: *Blushes brightly and faints* Anya: Dang…she's really not used to all that praise…DO IT AGAIN!

sweet XD melody: I am and thanks for the review!

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Okay, once again, sorry for the long wait. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, but WARNING: it has a cliff hanger… I don't own Shugo Chara.

The Director walked in and I scooted closer to Ikuto. Ikuto wrapped his arm around me. The Director stood beside his lawyer, "Hoshina Kazuomi," the judge said, "You are charged with several kidnappings, forced labor, child abuse and neglect, and violations in work payments. How do you plead?"

I didn't quite get the term used, but I guess that didn't really matter, "Not guilty," Kazuomi said.

Ikuto grip tightened on me slightly, "Then we'll begin," the judge said, "Defense, present your opening statement."

The Director's lawyer stood up, but he seemed uncomfortable slightly. The lawyer went up to the jury, "People of the jury," he said, "My client is the Director of Easter. Why would he kidnap a 12 year-old?"

I gripped Ikuto's arm tightly. I felt really closed in. Ikuto bent down, "Calm down, Amu," Ikuto whispered, "Nobody will hurt you here."

I relaxed slightly, but never let go of Ikuto. Kazuomi's lawyer was finished when I turned back, "Thank you," the judge said, "Prosecution, you may now present you opening statement."

Atsuo stood up and walked to the jury, "People of the jury," Atsuo said, "Hoshina Kazuomi may be the Director of Easter, but, as you will soon see, he has shown his grandson absolutely no love. Hinamori Amu, as well as one of her friends, Fujisaki Nagihiko; Hoshina's ex-wife, Tsukiyomi Souko; his grandson, and Souko-san's son, Tsukiyomi Ikuto; were all found in a hidden room in his office. Police officers have even quoted in saying they heard Tsukiyomi Souko singing behind the hidden wall. This man is guilty and I will prove this today."

Atsuo then sat down, "Thank you," the judge said, "Now Saki-san please call your first witness."

Kazuomi's lawyer stood up, "I call Ichinomiya Hikaru," he said.

I turned as Hikaru got off his chair next to Souko and walked up to the stand beside the judge. Saki-san came up, "Hikaru-kun-"

"Just Hikaru is fine," Hikaru stated without emotion.

"Hikaru, is it true Hoshina Kazuomi is your grandfather?" Saki-san asked.

"Hai," Hikaru stated.

"And he took you in when your parents died when you were a baby?" Saki-san continued.

"Hai," Hikaru stated.

"As you can see," Saki-san said turning to the jury, "Hoshina Kazuomi is a family man and wouldn't hurt his family."

Ikuto said something in French and he was glaring. I don't think I want to know what he said because both his parents gave him stern looks, "Objection," Atsuo said.

"Proceed," the judge said.

Atsuo walked up to Hikaru and stood beside him, "People of the jury," Atsuo said, "Do you see even the slightest glimpse of emotion on this boy's face?"

The jury murmured to each other, "Hikaru, what is love to you?" Atsuo asked.

Hikaru looked at Atsuo, "I do not know this emotion," he stated.

Murmurs now filled the entire room, "No further questions," Atsuo said.

Hikaru stood up and sat back down next to Souko. Souko ran a hand through Hikaru's hair, "Saki-san, your next witness," the judge said.

Saki-san muttered a few things before standing up, "Defense calls Tsukiyomi Utau, AKA Hoshina Utau, to the stand," he said.

Utau stood up and walked up to the stand. She sat down, "Utau-chan, Hoshina Kazuomi gave you the start of your career, correct?" Saki-san asked.

"Hai," Utau said.

"As you can see, Hoshina Kazuomi gave Hoshina Utau her beginning," Saki-san said, "No further questions."

"Would you like to take the stand, Atsuo-san?" the judge asked.

"Hai," Atsuo said and stood up, "Utau-chan, would you mind rolling up your sleeves?"

Utau hesitated slightly, but then slowly rolled the sleeves of her long sleeved white dress. Gasps filled the room and I went wide eyed. Utau had bruises and cuts all down her arms, "Can you tell the court how those came to be on your person?" Atsuo asked.

Utau glared slightly, "Kazuomi," she stated.

"Going back to the defense's last statement," Atsuo said, "How is this being a 'family man'? No further questions."

Utau stood up and went back to her seat along with Atsuo. I gripped Ikuto's sleeve, but not in fear this time. Ikuto looked at me with sadness in his eyes slightly, but smiled softly. I tightened my grip on Ikuto sleeve, "Saki-san, your next witness?" the judge asked.

"No more witnesses your honor," Saki-san stated then muttered things again.

"Alright, Atsuo-san, you may bring call your first witness," the judge said.

Atsuo stood up, "I call Hinamori Amu to the stand," I gripped Ikuto tightly before standing up slowly.

Ikuto grabbed my hand, "Relax," he whispered, "I'm not going anywhere."

I relaxed slightly and walked up to the stand, but then froze. That seat was very tiny, "Something wrong, Hinamori-san?" the judge asked.

"Um," I said pointing to the stand, "It's kind of closed in…"

"If you need to stand you may," the judge said.

I nodded and Atsuo walked up to me, "Amu-chan, can you tell us why you wouldn't sit?" he asked gently.

I bit my lower lip and played with my fingers, "Kazuomi…" I said, "He…he put me in really tightly closed cage. I couldn't move, not without getting shocked painfully. I just don't like to be closed in…"

"How long were you out of that cage daily?" Atsuo asked.

I closed my hands together, "Wh-whenever Ikuto came in," I said, "Which was about five minutes."

I looked at Ikuto and his eyes told me to keep going, "Did Hoshina Kazuomi feed you?" Atsuo asked.

I shook my head, "I, I didn't trust him," I said, "Nagihiko brought me food, but I never had enough time to eat it because I was, I was just terrified to leave Nagihiko or Ikuto's side. In the beginning, Kazuomi even said I could starve, he didn't care."

Murmurs filled the room. I held my arms tightly. I just wanted Ikuto beside me, "Amu-chan," I turned to Atsuo, "Why did Hoshina Kazuomi do all this?"

My grip tightened on my arms, "He, he wanted Ikuto to listen to him," I said, "He used me as a way to control him."

"Amu-chan," Atsuo said, "Can you please tell the court how this kidnapping has affected you?"

"I," I looked down and tightened my grip on my arms, "I can't sleep without Ikuto beside me. I can't feel safe without him. My brain has rewired itself so that the feeling of safety only comes when he's near."

"No further questions," Atsuo said.

"Defense, do you have any questions?" the judge asked.

Saki-san opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, "No, your honor," he finally said.

"You may be seated, Hinamori-san," the judge said to me.

I practically ran back to Ikuto's side. I sat down and grabbed his arm. Ikuto bent down, "You did great, Amu," he said.

I relaxed and buried my face into his arm. I felt Ikuto's hand run through my hair, "Your next witness, Atsuo-san," the judge said.

"I call Tsukiyomi Ikuto to the stand," Atsuo said.

My grip tightened on Ikuto, "I'm not going out of the room," he whispered in my ear, "You'll be able to see me the whole time."

I let Ikuto's arm going slowly, hesitantly. Ikuto kissed the back on my ear and I shivered slightly. Ikuto stood up and walked to the stand. Unlike me, he was able to sit down. Atsuo walked up, "Ikuto-kun," he said, "Can you tell the court what Hoshina Kazuomi wanted from you and how he used Amu-chan to do it?"

Ikuto closed his eyes, "I never listened to him," he said, "Not unless he threatened my mother, sister, or, sometimes, even Tadase," Tadase-kun went wide eyed at this, "He'd already kidnapped Amu once before, the same night actually," murmurs filled the room, "I managed to get Amu out of there before she was meant to be home. I honestly didn't think he'd try it again, but he did. He apparently realized that I cared for Amu just as much as my family and Tadase. He used Amu as a way to control me. If I did one thing to his disliking, he'd kill her," several gasps from women were heard, "I had to do things I would never do if he didn't have her."

"Wait, Kazuomi kidnapped Amu-chan before?" the judge and Atsuo asked.

Ikuto nodded, "Same type of cage, but bigger," Ikuto stated, "Probably wasn't going to hold her for very long, but he didn't cover his tracks very well and I found her easily."

Atsuo looked at the judge; "May I call Hinamori Amu back up?" the judge nodded, "Remain here, Ikuto-kun."

I slowly walked back up to the stand. Ikuto held out his hand and I slowly entered the small podium and sat in Ikuto's lap, "Amu-chan, were you really kidnapped that same night?" Atsuo asked me.

I nodded, "Hai…" I said, "Someone took…something of mine," I glanced at my charas quickly, "I went after them and wound up running into an electric cage, but I was able to move in that one."

I felt extremely closed in, but Ikuto kept his hands on my arms, so I wasn't as tense as I felt. Murmurs of shock were heard around the room, "Saki-san, care to defend?" the judge asked.

Saki-san stood up, "Yeah," he said, "I'm a better ninja then I am a lawyer," I now tensed up.

Suddenly, Saki-san threw silver star things at-"Ah!" I screamed.

I felt Ikuto jump up and heard Hoshina laugh, "Restrain them!" the judge yelled.

I gripped Ikuto tightly as he landed. I whimpered and Ikuto held me closer to him. Several people ran out screaming and I screamed when something flew past me. I suddenly heard a painful hiss and my eyes flew open, "Ikuto!" Souko yelled.

I turned just as Ikuto fell to one of his knees holding his right arm, "Ikuto!" Souko yelled again, running up to us.

I was frozen in shock. Ikuto got hurt because he was protecting me…. I suddenly saw nothing but blackness.

~End Chapter