A/N: THE ENDING IS FINALLY HERE! However, BE WARNED! This chapter is quite long... but as my faithful readers, I'm sure you would read to the very end to find out what happens! Here goes nothing…! (There are some Transformations and Attacks that are made up by myself and are not of the original!)
Chapter 8 – The Calm after the Storm
- My, my Yaya you're in a pitiful state!
- Stop…
- Don't you see, a little immature girl like you could never fit in properly with the Guardians.
- That's not true…
- Kukai only said those words to get rid of those tears. It's anyone's headache to see them.
- No…
- Recall that feeling you had when you took away those ribbons, with your hair blowing in the wind.
- Yaya prefers it up…
- Your mother finds it silly now that her oldest child is still acting like a baby.
- Mother will never think that…
- Feel this power, Yaya! Don't you feel it surging through you? Anyway, we're doing this because of the Embryo. Yaya, tell me, your wish is to be a baby forever isn't it?
- Y-Yes…
- Then accept this new power! With it, we can find the Embryo together. Once we do, we can wish for anything!
- Really?
- I am still your Guardian Chara, Yaya.
- Y-yeah… thank you-
- Not yet. You can thank me after we have our wish granted…
"Slash Cro-!"
"Stop, Ikuto!" Amu threw herself at Ikuto as he raised his right hand.
"Amu…"
"This is Yaya we're dealing with, not X-Charas. If you didn't stop, Yaya would get hurt-!"
"Cursed Rose!" immediately, Ikuto picked Amu up and leapt away as a single blue rose hit where the two were a few seconds beforehand.
"Yaya…"
"This is why I attacked first, so that she doesn't do that," Ikuto said softly letting Amu down gently. Amu didn't even the time to blush; she was busy staring at her Humpty Lock that was now embedded in Yaya's blue rose on her choker.
"Ne… this is boring if you don't retaliate, Amu-chi. I can only display my power with an active audience. Hmmm, never mind I'll just have to go get more reinforcements…" Yaya spun round swiftly in midair just as the X-Charas flew up to replace Yaya.
"Yaya, wait!" Kukai immediately took off on his skateboard followed closely by Daichi. Amu made a move to follow.
"USELESS!"
"Amu-san, watch out! Holy Crown!" as Tadase jumped in to counter the X-Charas' attack, while Ikuto once again dragged Amu away.
"Ikuto! We need to stop Yaya!"
"You don't have the Humpty Lock with you-"
"I don't care!"
"Don't be reckless, Amu. You'll only get hurt. Leave it to us."
"But you can't cleanse her and Pepe! I can't leave Yaya like this!" Ikuto stared at Amu. Suddenly, a bright light of rainbow colour emitted from Ikuto's chest.
"What the-," the light surrounded Amu.
"Character Transformation, Amulet Diamond!"
Dia!
Long time no see, Amu.
How did-?
I reacted to your Heart. Let's go and save Yaya.
Y-yeah!
"Amu-san…" the Guardians all stared at Amu in her fourth transformation.
"She, transformed using the Dumpty Key," Ikuto muttered just as stunned.
"Yaya, stop!"
"Catch me, if you can sport addict," Yaya sneered. Face lined with anger, Kukai quickened his pace, "If you don't catch me, the rest of the camp will be filled with X-Eggs!"
"Yaya, don't you remember what we said earlier?"
"Oh I remember alright. However, isn't it obvious that if we find the Embryo our wishes will be granted?"
"That's not we as Guardians do!"
"Isn't it? It'll all come to that in the end anyway; why not hurry it up a little?" without warning, she suddenly stopped and lowered herself to Kukai's level. Using one hand, she cupped Kukai's chin upwards towards hers. Instinctive, Kukai tried to recoil but Yaya's grip was firm.
"I see the hesitation in your eyes, Kukai. What's wrong?"
"Everything is, you're not being yourself."
"I am. We all have different sides to ourselves. So do you," smirking Yaya loosened her grip and with a blink of an eye, was afloat again.
"You're lucky you get to witness my power. Observe," closing her eyes, Yaya raised her right hand to her lips.
"Black Kiss," kissing the palm of her hand, Yaya then blew towards the campsite. In front of her, a glossy black heart appeared. Within a few seconds, cracks appeared all over the heart, eventually the heart broke apart. Sparkling dust-like powder fell gently on the campsite. Soon, X-Eggs began emerging.
"What do you think?"
"Why, Yaya, why?"
"All for the best-"
"Hold it right there!" Kukai and Yaya both turned at the new visitor. It was none other than Amu.
"Oh, more spectators?"
"This isn't you, Yaya! Your caring side, what happened to it?!"
"Don't worry, Amu-chi it's still there. I'm caring a lot about what'll happen to my dress if you start trying to cleanse me…" Yaya tipped back her head and laughed shrilly.
"Yaya, your wish isn't to grow up; it's to never grow up. You're alone at the moment, with no one as your friend. Why? Because you've changed!" the cackle immediately stopped.
Kukai…
Stop, Yaya! He's wrong! Don't you remember the reason you were crying in the first place?! It was him that changed, not you!
But, it's true, what use is it fulfilling a wish when no one cares about Yaya?
Don't listen to him! He only wants the Embryo for himself!
"Sh-shut up!" Yaya clutched her head as her internal debate with Pepe continued.
"Hinamori-san," Amu nodded as Kukai subtly moved aside.
"No don't! Don't come near me!" with one eye open and one hand clutching her head, Yaya used her other hand and gestured the X-Eggs and X-Charas to attack Amu and the others. Tadase, Rima and Nagihiko all jumped in to battle the X-Eggs while Amu, Kukai and Ikuto fended off the X-Charas. Yaya continued to thrash, trying desperately to make Pepe see what Kukai and Amu have said.
"Believe in yourself, Yaya!" Kukai shouted, knocking an X-Chara aside with his skateboard.
- Come with Yaya and the rest of us, Pepe! Pepe will be able to play with the other Guardian Charas again!
- Friends…
- Yeah! Remember the cookies Nagihiko makes?
- I do…
As the battles raged on, from the distant, a long high-pitched sound played. Everyone paused to listen. The sound was soothing and soon, different sounds were strung together into a piece of music.
"A violin piece," Ikuto whispered in mid-attack.
"It's…beautiful," Amu said. The music stretched throughout the night. No one moved a muscle, transfixed by the music.
"Attack them!" the Guardians, Ikuto and Kukai all snapped out of their trances as Yaya once again ordered the X-Eggs and Charas forwards. Barely managing to dodge the attack, Ikuto fell forwards.
"Stop the music! Stop it! STOP!" Ikuto covered his cat ears as he shut his eyes tightly.
"Ikuto! What's the matter?! Ikuto!" Amu quickly bent down covering Ikuto as three X-Charas charged. Hissing with pain, Ikuto pushed Amu to the side and sliced away the X-Charas.
"I…can't…stay!" Ikuto collapsed onto the floor.
"Uuuseless!"
"Nightmare Lorelei!" "Cross Swipe!"
"Utau-chan, Kairi!" Amu's voice said shocked at the arrival of her two rescuers.
"Are you alright, Joker?"
"Ah! What happened to my Ikuto?!" just as he heard his name, Ikuto picked himself up from the ground. The music continued to play in the background.
"What the hell is wrong over here?" Utau asked Amu as she hit away oncoming X-Eggs with her trident.
"It's Yaya! Pepe has turned into an X-Chara and she Character Transformed with Yaya!"
"You mean her heart's wish has changed?"
"Yeah, we reckon she wants to grow up because she started using these… adult words," Utau blinked at Amu, her trident still raised in offence. I taught her those words!
"A-ah, I see. Well… uh… huh? Ikuto! Where are you going?!"
"Leave me alone!" quick as a flash, Ikuto darted away from them into the shadows, his Character Transformation dissolving the moment he began to move.
"Ikuto, don't leave me!" I better leave!
"Character Transformation, Sky Jack!" everyone spun round at Kukai and Daichi's shout.
"We have a lot of Character Transformations today," Rima said softly while throwing her bowling pins. In a triangle formation, Tadase Rima and Nagihiko rounded the X-Eggs towards Amu.
"Hinamori-san," Kairi stood, legs apart both swords raised. Nodding, Amu stepped forwards.
"Cross Swipe Grand!" from Kairi's swords, two beams of jade green emitted and stamped a big plus sign across the X-Eggs and X-Charas.
"Golden Song Special! Negative Heart! Lock on! Open Heart!" this time with no interruptions, dark Charas and Eggs alike began to cleanse. Soon they were rushing back to their owners.
"Phew! I thought that was going to last forever-!"
"Right, let's go! Athlete Soar!"
"Cursed Rose!"
"We're still not done yet…" Nagihiko pointed out, amazed at how Kukai is grinning as he dodged Yaya's angry attacks.
"That's the ex-Queen's brother by the way," Amu whispered to Kairi.
"But aren't they the same-?"
"Holy Crown!" Tadase yelled, shielding him and everyone as one of Yaya's roses came their way. Skilfully he also prevented Amu from asking what Kairi was talking about.
"Now, now Yaya, no need to attack the others too…"
"Shut up and fight me, coward!"
"Hmmm, competition is great but not when it's fatal!"
"What use are your words now?!" Kukai then stopped. The other Guardians and Kairi all stared at Kukai's suicidal approach.
"Maybe not a lot but if you do intend to hurt me, I will not retaliate because you are my friend…"
- A friend, Pepe!
- He's lying! Grown ups are alone! They take everything alone!
- That's untrue, if they are alone then mother and father would never be together!
The Humpty Lock which has been constantly glowing suddenly stopped. Yaya and Pepe were propelled away from each other as their Character Transformation dissolved.
"Now, Amu-chi!" the old Yaya shouted, her eyes bright with hope. Amu felt her power wavering with exhaustion.
- A little more, Dia!
- It's alright, Amu. We have both the Lock and Key now.
Amu looked down. Sure enough, both Lock and Key were dangling from around her neck. As both glowed in unison, Amu held the two up. A blast of pink and blue light erupted.
"Ahhhhh!" Pepe screamed curling up into a tight ball as the 'X' was lifted from her. Eventually when all was dim again, Yaya was cradling an exhausted Pepe in her arms.
"Pepe! Are you OK?" but the little Chara was too tired to even utter a sound. Pop sounds emerged as everyone else undid their Character Transformations, exhausted after their long struggle too. Thank you, Dia.
"Good going, Hinamori! Looks like you still keep up with the training!" Kukai beamed at Amu who was slumped on the ground.
"R-really, oh that's good," Amu muttered sleepily but was soon wide awake as she found Tadase supporting her up.
"You'll catch a cold if you sleep on the ground, Amu-san."
"T-thank you, Tadase-kun… Oh yeah! I need to return this to Ikuto! But it seems caught…"
"Let me try, Amu-san," stepping closer to Amu, Tadase undid the Dumpty Key from the Amu's necklace. Heat was rushing madly from Amu's cheeks as Tadase pressed the Key into Amu's hand.
"Kuh kem, I think I'll go now," Kairi coughed, pushing his glasses up his nose. Amu immediately let go of Tadase and hurried towards the ex-Jack.
"W-wait, Kairi! Aren't you going to stay for a bit since you're here?"
"My sister will be waiting at home. I need to go," as Amu continued to plea, Kairi sneakily caught Tadase gaze and narrowed his eyes. Tadase smiled awkwardly at Kairi's glare.
"Looks like you have a hard time too," Nagihiko patted Tadase shoulder as Kairi and Amu walked away.
"Not really. Sanjou-san is a nice person really," Tadase paused, "What did you think of the music and Tsukiyomi Ikuto's behaviour?"
"Related."
A few metres away, a group of girls got up unsteadily.
"What happened?" the leader of the group, Hanaru said groggily.
"No idea, just collapsed…" the girl in the pigtails said.
"My hair! It's ruined!" Hanaru exclaimed.
"Everyone's hair is…" the short-haired girl, Mitsan groaned.
"Why are we here in the first place?" Hanaru complained.
"I think we were arguing over a guy…"
"What, you mean that one over there?" Mitsan pointed towards Ikuto who was still busy covering his ears.
"I can't believe we were arguing over him. Come on, girls, let's go!" and so the girls left for the campsite, unknown to the fact that they have just been saved.
"Is being an adult really that scary?" Yaya asked Kukai as the Guardians and Kukai trudged back to the beach.
"Not really, some adults turn evil though."
"Bleh, Yaya thinks she'd rather stay as a baby!"
"But you'll never get to drive then!"
"Yaya can walk!"
"It's not the same though… oh yeah, you won't be able to work either!"
"Uh! Work is for boring adults!" Kukai laughed then sighed.
"Whatever your heart thinks, Yaya."
"Yaya's heart thinks 'Baby!'" everyone laughed while Kukai smacked his forehead.
As the group reached the beach, the moon had risen to its highest point in the night sky. While more clouds cleared, the group sat down to watch the stars twinkle at them. Another ordeal was over… for now.
THE END
Thank all my faithful readers very much for sticking to the story till the very end! I hope you have enjoyed reading my Shugo Chara fanfic! Please let me know what you think about the story so the Review button is greatly appreciated! :D Arigatou gozaimasu!
Shaari
