A/N: Long time no read faithful readers! Chapter 7 is finally up! Hope you like it! Please hang in there for the last chapter coming soon! Arigatou gozaimasu!

Chapter 7 – Teamwork in a Crisis!

"HALT!" Miki and Ran immediately stopped at Kiseki's commanding voice. Under the now moonlit sky, the others didn't see Miki and Ran stop. Soon, Kiseki was watching, unamused, at a pile of Guardian Charas in midair.

"What is it?" Temari said as she readjusted her kimono while pushing Kusu Kusu and Suu aside.

"USLESS!"

"That's what's wrong," Kiseki muttered as a storm of X-Charas charged at them.

"Amu-chan isn't here, desu!" Suu said shrilly.

"None of our owners are here," Miki replied as she dodged a charging X-Chara.

"SPLIT UP!" Kiseki commanded as he pulled Miki in one direction. Getting the idea Ran, Suu and Kusu Kusu flew off after Pepe and Daichi.

"Use…less," Pepe muttered through her dummy looking gloomily towards the orange sun. She shuddered violently as her egg formed above and below her.

"Yaya-chan, don't leave me!" with that, the egg shuts tightly on Pepe's small body. As the decorations on the egg darkened, a luminescent X etched itself in the middle. Soon, the egg cracked open revealing a small Chara in a tight black outfit with a pair of black sunglasses over her eyes. Hearing the sounds of other X-Charas, dark Pepe turned and began floating towards the commotion. However just as she was about to join them, three Guardian Charas suddenly appeared, surrounding her.

"Pepe! Oh we've finally found you-!"

"Wait, Suu! Something's not right…," Ran cautiously approached Pepe who although was silent, was staring rather coldly at her new visitors.

"Move…out…of…the…way…," Pepe said, deathly quiet.

"P-Pepe, what's wrong desu?"

"Do I need to repeat myself? I said MOVE!" the dark Guardian Chara suddenly charged, scattering the trio.

"Don't let her escape!" Ran shouted, already recovered from Pepe's assault. Pepe took one glance behind her then hurried away.

In the opposite direction, Kukai slowed his run as he saw Yaya leaning against a tree. Sighing softly he walked towards the A-Chair. Hearing him approach, Yaya turned and immediately tried to jump away.

"Yaya, wait!" Kukai took her hand and pulled, preventing Yaya from running. A cool sea breeze blew around the two as silence stretched.

"Yaya, a moment ago… it's not what you think," Kukai continued as he received more silence.

"I still remember the time when you cried before my graduation and even threatened to chain me to Seiyo Elementary to stop me leaving. You cried… like a baby."

"I did. But don't you see I'm trying to change-!"

"I like the way you were. The words you were using back there it pains me to see that Yaya's baby-self has gone."

"Amu-chi and others don't speak like Yaya does-"

"-which separates you from the others," Yaya looked up, tears lined around the bottom lids of her eyes.

"Really?"

"Really and truly!" Kukai held thumbs up at Yaya. Unable to resist, Yaya giggled then hugged Kukai.

"Honestly, you really can't forget that baby charm of yours! Crying one second, then laughing the next!" the two laughed harder as the breeze picked up slightly.

"Let's go back now; the other Guardians will be worried about their A-Chair-" Kukai's eyes suddenly widened.

"Kukai, what's wrong?" he looked at her, a mixture of confusion and anxiety in his eyes.

"D-don't you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"X-Charas-"

"Kukai, there are X-Charas here! They're attacking the Guardians!"


"YAAARGH!" four Guardians suddenly rushed out from a sand dune as they ran from X-Charas flying furiously behind them.

"What'll we do?!" Amu screamed out as she dodged a tree and continued running.

"We need to find our Charas!" Tadase replied, beginning to pant a little.

"Just keep going!" Nagihiko urged.

"We're going the wrong way! We should be running towards where the Charas were going a moment ago-" Rima's sentence stopped short as she tripped.

"Mashiro-san!"

"Rima-chan!" the other three Guardians doubled back and braced themselves for the oncoming attack.

"What are you guys looking dazed for, RUN!" the Guardians looked up.

"Kukai!"

"Run! I can't hold them off much longer!"

"Tadase, Character Transformation!" the Guardians looked round as Kiseki and Miki rushed to the scene.

"My own Heart, unlock! Character Transformation, Platinum Royale!"

"My own Heart, unlock! Character Transformation, Amulet Spade!" as Tadase and Amu transformed, Nagihiko helped Rima get up.

"Alright, just like old times! Let's go, Daichi!" Kukai jumped on his skateboard once again and began rounding up the X-Charas. Tadase swung his sceptre at a nearby X-Chara while Amu produced her giant blue paintbrush.

"Colourful Canvas Special!" a whip of rainbow watercolours splashed itself on the X-Charas, confusing them momentarily.

"White Decoration!" from Tadase sceptre, a gold ring formed around the X-Charas.

"Now, Amu-san!"

"Negative Heart! Lock On! Open Hear-" but she never completed the cleansing because suddenly, the gold ring broke releasing the X-Charas. Amu fell backwards as the X-Charas produced a black beam at her.

"Amu-san!" but Tadase needn't have feared because next second, Amu was being gently placed on both her feet.

"Ikuto!"

"Was I too late, Amu?" Ikuto smirked at a gob-smacked Amu but soon leapt away to defend her against the angry X-Charas. However, he soon stopped.

"Who's this little evil Chara?" The Guardians blinked. In front of Ikuto was…

"Pepe! Yaya's been looking for Pepe!" Yaya yelled. The dark Chara bored her cold blue eyes into Yaya's.

"That's childish, Yaya talk properly."

"But Yaya is! Yaya being herself! What's wrong Pepe? Why are you being mean?" tears began to well up again.

"I'm only changing to suit you. You did want this after all?"

"No! If it means Pepe has to change into this, then Yaya doesn't want it at all!"

"I see. Well we have a slight problem now, Yaya because frankly I like being this way. It feels very… grown-up," Pepe swiftly moved away from Ikuto and flew in front of Yaya.

"Look, I'm all pretty and I have curves. Don't you think this suits me?"

"Yaya doesn't know what Pepe is saying but Yaya definitely doesn't want this!"

"Shame, then let me show you this new power I have gained!" without warning, the X-Charas dived towards Amu.

"Holy Crown!" Tadase pushed Amu back as the X-Charas fell back away from the shield. However, as Amu moved away, Pepe suddenly whipped past her, taking the Humpty Lock from around her neck. Miki was soon expelled from the Character Transformation with Amu.

"W-what?! Give it back!" Amu yelled, grabbing at Pepe but the cunning Chara was soon beyond her reach.

"Well, don't we have a nice audience here? Your emotions are all over the place, Yaya. Oh well, it makes things easier. Let's show them what being an adult is really like!" the Lock then began to glow brightly in Pepe's hand. The Guardians, Kukai and Ikuto all shielded their eyes as both Pepe and Yaya dissolved in the blinding light. As the light disappeared, they all stared at Yaya. Instead of her Seiyo Elementary swimsuit, a long velvet black dress sparkled mysteriously under the moonlight. A single blue rose protruded from a black choker to the left of Yaya's neck while silver long earrings dangled from her ears. With one hand on her hip and the other behind her head, Yaya stared at her audience below.

"Character Transformation, Elegant Lady," Yaya and Pepe both said in a smooth voice.