Ikuto: We regret to inform you that Blackimi-baka has been suffering from a brain tumor for three years. She was sent to the hospital yesterday.

Amu: She has gone into a -

Blackimi: HEY! I'M PERFECTLY FINE! IT'S NOT FUNNY TO JOKE ABOUT DEATHS LIKE THAT!

Ikuto: Damn it! Amu, I thought you locked her in the underground chamber!

Blackimi: You depended on Amu to handle ME? ME? AMU? (starts rolling on the floor laughing)

Amu: What's so funny? I'm not completely undependable! Right, Ikuto? Ikuto?

Ikuto: (turns to Blackimi) So... Where's your twin brother?

Blackimi: Oh, Kyle? He's gone back to where he's come from. I don't know. I didn't see him after his shower so i think he went back to the USA.

Amu: He's gone? Oh...

Blackimi: Ooohhh! Amu-chan! Do I see interest in your eyes?

Ikuto: WHAT? AMU, IS THIS TRUE?

Amu: BLACKIMI-BAKA DOESN'T OWN SHUGO CHARA, BECAUSE IF SHE DID, IKUTO AND I WOULD HAVE A REAL KISSING SCENE! AND SHE'D LIKE TO THANKS ALL OF THOSE WHO REVIEWED, FAVORITED AND ALERTED HER STORY! AND ALSO THOSE WHO PUT HER ON AUTHOR ALERT AND AS FAVORITE AUTHOR! (gives brownies)

Ikuto: AMU!


Madness In Wonderland…

The Giant Cat's Paw…

Black_kimono_otaku


-*Ikuto's P.O.V.*-

I stared at the single black glove that the old man gave me…

"To protect what's important to you…"

His words rang in my mind. I glanced at Amu from the corner of my eye. She was talking to Rima and didn't notice me staring…

I slipped the glove on and studied it carefully. How is such a simple item gonna help me protect Amu?

I suddenly froze on the thought. Then, I balled my gloved hand into a tight and hard fist… No… only I knew what Amu meant to me… no one else

"Ikuto…!"

Amu's voice interrupted my thoughts and I turned to her "Yeah?"

"Sorry, did I interrupt you or something?" she apologized "You looked as if you were thinking about something serious."

My eyes softened, "No it was nothing…"

Amu smiled then scanned the dirty path we were on. "Tadase," she called, "I don't remember this road…"

Tadase stopped his horse and we all did the same. He narrowed his eyes at the road and shook his head "I've never seen this before in my entire life…"

Rima studied the dirt and her eyes widened "None of us have! This is a trap! This is a hand made path!"

Suddenly, we were all surrounded by things that looked like goblins only uglier.

They opened their mouths; revealing their dagger sharp teeth, in a hideous smile.

One of them lunged at Amu's horse. It reared back in fear and kicked its front legs in the air. Amu's eyes widened as she started to slip off…

I seized her by the waist and pulled her onto my horse. "Are you ok?' I whispered in her ear.

"Y-Yeah…" she nodded shakily.

Just then, another goblin lunged at Tadase. Its claws caught in his cape and dragged him off his horse and into their midst.

A cloud of white powder erupted at our feet…

"Tadase, get out now!" Rima screamed.

There was a squeal and my horse kicked its front legs in the air.

I wrapped my arms tightly around Amu as I felt us slip off our ride. We collided to the ground and pain charged through my entire body "Argh!"

"Ikuto, I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" Amu rolled off me and lifted me up to a sitting position.

I rubbed the back of my head then turned to Amu with a playful smirk, "Worried about me, Amu?"

She opened her mouth to response but Rima cut her off, "Do you two mind helping out here?"

Tadase was slashing at the goblins with his sword and Rima was busy shooting small bombs into their open jaws and making them explode.

Suddenly, the three goblins that were sneaking up behind the two blonds burst into flames.

Amu had her eyes closed and her hand was engulfed in flames. She was frowning slightly and beads of sweat rolled down the side of her face…

Another random goblin burst into flames as Amu folded her hand into a fist. Then, she opened her eyes and let the fire on her hand die out…

"I don't have much strength." she gritted her teeth as she got up to her feet. Then she turned to me "Stay out of this one, ok? I don't want you getting any dirt on that new outfit I bought you." Her tone was serious but her words were playful…

I widened my eyes then narrowed them almost immediately, "No."

Amu just shook her head and left me to assist the others. I felt anger and despair boil in me. Tadase spared me a glance and I could see mockery in his eyes…

"At least I can protect her…"

I ground my teeth together. I raised my gloved hand to my face, "I want to protect her but I don't know how! You said that you could help! If you can do anything at all, please, do it now!" I whispered.

There was a scream and I saw that Rima had been hurt. Amu tried to keep the goblins away from her but then she was pinned down to the ground. Tadase also had his hands full and was being over powered by the second.

A goblin leaped onto Amu's chest and proceeded to strangle her…

That's when I snapped…


-*Normal P.O.V.*-

The glove glowed a brilliant purple and began to crackle with electricity…

Ikuto could feel it burst with energy and he decided to use it to his advantage…

The energy began to form into a humongous cat's paw with its claws drawn. He closed his eyes and pictured the claw slashing away the goblins. He thrust out his arm in a sweeping motion and sure enough, goblins dropped dead on the ground with deep gashes on their bodies.

Amu let out a choked grunt and Ikuto averted his attention to her. Concentrating, he commanded the claws to kill the other remaining goblins… without mercy…

Soon, there was nothing but the shredded remains of the fowl creatures scattered across the road…

Amu stared at Ikuto in amazement as she rubbed her throat. The grim feeling of the creature's claws still remained.

"I-Ikuto… How did you…" Amu got up to her feet and took a slow step towards the young man.

"I honestly don't know…" he whispered…

"Well, whatever he did, it saved us…" Rima nodded slowly, "Thank you."

Tadase just rolled his eyes and placed his sword back in its place.

Amu ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his torso. "What did I say about keeping out of this one?" she whispered in his ear.

"If I stayed out, then you'll all be dead and now where would I be?" Ikuto muttered back, still slightly confused on what he had done a few minutes ago…

Amu pulled away with a smug smile on her face, "Fine, you win this one."

Ikuto rolled his eyes, "I always win…"

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Argh! Can you two stop bickering? First you're all sweet and all and then, you're at each other's throats! Talk about mood swings!" Rima groaned then winced in pain.

The goblins had taken a nasty bite at her leg and blood was drawing from the wound.

Tadase ripped off a small portion of his cape and went down on one knee so his face was in level with Rima's leg.

"What are you doing?" she shrieked as the boy began to bandage her wound.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Tadase frowned, "Stop fidgeting!" "I d-don't need you to play doctor w-with me!" Rima folded her arms across her chest and looked away stubbornly.

Tadase just rolled his eyes and got back on his feet.

"Well, looks like we'll have to travel on foot…" Amu frowned as she whirled around only to find that their horses have gone and fled…

Rima's face scrunched up in annoyance while the boys just shrugged their shoulders.

This… was going to be a long day…


Coming soon on Madness In Wonderland...

I woke up suddenly to empty feeling by my side. I reached out and sure enough, Amu was gone…

"Damn it, where did that girl go off to?" I muttered under my breath as I got up and looked around.

No sign of her anywhere…!

If she keeps on wandering off by herself, she's going to get into serious trouble…


Blackimi: Drama in the new chapter: The Demonic Angel... I think we can all guess who's appearing here~!

Amu: Where's Ikuto?

Ikuto: NOW you care about me! (cultivates mushrooms in Blackimi's corner)

Blackimi: GET OUT OF MAH CORNER! IT'S MAH CORNER! MAH CORNER! GET OUT, YOU STUPID CAT! IT'S MAH EMO CORNER!

Ikuto: IT'S YOUR BROTHER'S FAULT THAT I'M HERE! HE'S TAKING AMU AWAY FROM ME! GROW MUSHROOMS, GROW! SPREAD, YOU LITTLE STALKS OF FUNGI!

Blackimi: Hey, Kyle's not here anymore so don't drag my twin into this! Amu, apologize!

Amu: WHAT? WHAT DID I DO?

Blackimi: JUST APOLOGIZE ALREADY! THE MUSHROOMS ARE SPREADING! NOW, OR I'LL CHOP YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEAD OFF! (brings out pen in scythe mode)

Amu: I'M SORRY, IKUTO!

Ikuto: Ok, but you'll have to be punished (smirks)

Blackimi: WHATEVER, JUST GET OUT OF MAH CORNER! TAKE IT TO THE BEDROOM, BATHROOM, LIVING ROOM, I DON'T CARE! .OUT!

(Ikuto drags Amu to the bedroom)

Amu: HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?

Mushrooms: R&R!

Blackimi: Awww, they're kinda cute...! DIE! (sashes scythe and chops off all the mushrooms)

Mushrooms: AAAAAHHHH!