Hey all! Last chap. was short, so I'm updating again.

Plus, I really wanted to do this chap because of the dance. Fun, fun, fun ~

So... I'm really happy that I got 7 reviews for Chapter 9.

I Just find it interesting that almost every chapter, I have different reviewers... xD... For those of you who have come back for more, thanks for sticking with me and my story!

So reviews.

Blueglitter33 – Both are interesting ideas... Unfortunately, I have a bit more complicated plot planned ^w^... I'm sure you'll all will love it.

Monkey Girl 13624 – Thanks ^.^

Tsubasagirl – Teehee... Yeah. Breaking the chapter where Tadase walks in and then turning into something else was all part of the plan c; Yup, yup. And here's your update!

SailorVmoon1311815 – Yup, and alright! Here's your update, too!

Kityallstars – knew you'd get it! I was hoping someone else would, too, though. Oh well!

Jemstone6259 – It's fine you don't know the book. ^^ Here your update, as well. As for your request, will do.
XX Ichigo Koneko Xx – Thanks and okay!

Right. Thanks again to my lovely reviews. (Why do I always say lovely?)

I don't own anything from Shugo Chara!

XXX

Chapter Ten: Betrayal

"We're both predators, Amu. You can't change that. It's what makes us, us." Ikuto walked towards the door. "Good-bye, Amu. This creature won't appear on your doorstep again." With that, he walked out of the house.

XXX

One normal day. That's all Amu asked for. Fate, however, never had a whole other plan.

At least she didn't have Ikuto to worry about. Unfortunately, it made her worry all the same.

Amu walked into her first class. She sat at her desk. Ikuto came into class a few moments later. He ignored her. Somehow, this made Amu feel worse than when he teased her. Amu sighed softly.

"Something up?" Wyn asked from the seat behind Amu.

Amu was about to reply, when the bell rang. Just as the bell sounded, a girl with shoulder-length black hair walked into the room and up to Mr. Reskae's desk.

The teacher looked up from his computer. "Ah, Lana. Welcome."

The girl – Lana – nodded in reply.

"Let's see... Sit behind... Ikuto for now. I think the girl who sat there moved classes," Mr. Reskae said, standing and looking at his students.

"And who is Ikuto?" Lana asked.

A couple of girls from across the room from Amu giggled. Mr. Reskae glared at them. "Ikuto, raise your hand, please."

Ikuto lifted his hand up slightly, just barely high enough to be considered 'raising your hand.'

Lana nodded to Mr. Reskae and sat behind Ikuto.

Wyn and Ikuto both turned to eat other and raised their eyebrows. Then, both shook their heads. The only other person in the room to see and understand the exchange was Amu.

"Is she one of yours?"

"No."

Mr. Reskae clapped his hands together for attention and began his lecture. Ikuto and Wyn turned to face him.

XXX

"What's wrong, Nagi?" Utau asked as Amu joined Utau and Nagihiko at their lunch table.

Amu studied the dark-haired boy. He was picking at his food and hardly eating.

In reply, Nagi chuckled sadly and said, "Rima's decided to be mad at me."

"What for?" Amu asked.

"That's the thing. I don't know why. She won't tell me, either." Nagi sighed and took a small bite of food.

"Ohhh," Utau sighed. "And just before the dance, too."

Nagi looked at her. "What dance?"

Amu couldn't help but laugh.

"Nagi. I think we just figured out why Rima's mad at you," Utau said. She looked like she was resisting the urge to slap him. Instead, she dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Where is Rima, anyway?" Amu mused.

"Over there, somewhere," Utau said, motioning towards the other side of the cafeteria before focusing on her food.

Amu studied the room, looking for Nagi's small blonde significant other. When Amu found Rima, she was surprised. Rima was sitting with Kukai, Ikuto, and Mayu. Amu turned back to her food, wondering what bad omen that could be.

Amu suddenly felt like she was being watched. For a moment, she'd thought Ikuto was back to his weird stalking, but when Amu turned around, it wasn't Ikuto watching her.

The new student from Amu's earlier class was sitting next to Ikuto at his table. Amu recalled, faintly, that the girl's name was Lana. That's who was watching Amu. Lana. It then dawned on Amu that she'd noticed the girl in each of her classes before lunch.

Amu turned her gaze from the other girl as Tadase walked up and set his lunch on the table. He sat down next to Amu and leaned over, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Tadase," Utau greeted him before Amu could even blink.

"Hey, Utau. Hey, Amu-"

"Hi," Amu managed between Tadase's greetings.

"-Hey, Nagi. Where's Rima?"

"Over there," Amu motioned at Ikuto's table.

Tadase scowled slightly. He turned to Nagi. "What happened?"

"She's mad," Nagi simply replied.

Tadase watched Nagi a moment before looking around the table. "Has anyone seen Wyn?"

"Right here," Wyn said, hurrying over and sitting on the other side of Tadase. She started shoveling food into her mouth for a few moments.

"The food isn't going anywhere, Wyn," Utau said, smiling.

"I'm hungry, though!" Wyn complained. "I forgot to eat breakfast." She pouted for a little. Then, Wyn started eating again, though she did seem to put some effort into shoveling food into her mouth at a slower pace than before.

They all started chatting and laughing together. Nagi was quieter than normal, but that was to be expected.

As the bell rang, ending lunch, Tadase pulled Amu into a hug and said, "See you tonight?"

"Six," Amu confirmed, smiling at him as he broke the embrace.

XXX

Amu walked contentedly, Tadase at her side. They'd had a nice dinner and were now on school grounds, heading for the gym.

She studied him for probably the hundredth time that night. He was wearing a simple white tux and looked quite handsome in it.

"Something wrong?" Tadase asked, turning his head to study Amu in her close-fitting, strapless black dress that fluffed out as it ended mid-thigh.

"Nothing's wrong," Amu replied. Then she scowled and stopped about 10 feet from the gym doors.

"Except...?" Tadase asked as he stopped beside her.

Amu dug through a small black handbag until she pulled out her cell phone. It vibrated once in her hand, but was cut off as Amu answered it. "Hello?"

"Amu, you moron, look behind you." Utau's irritated voice came from the cell.

Amu turned. She pressed the 'end' button on her phone as Utau strutted towards her, her black leather boots making a click sound each time the heels hit the ground. She wore a simple sleeveless white dress than was extremely short. The knee-high black boots complimented the large black sash that wrapped around Utau's waist.

"Right. Let's go," Utau said, throwing her phone into a small black handbag similar to Amu's.

"And who is your date, Utau?" Tadase asked as they continued walking to the gym.

"He's here," Utau replied. "He just doesn't know he's my date yet."

"You mean you don't have one," Amu muttered.

Utau punched Amu in the shoulder as she opened the gym door with her other hand.

"Ow!" Amu exclaimed. She glared at Utau and stuck her tongue out at the other girl.

Tadase chuckled. He held the door open for Amu after Utau walked into the gym and she walked into the dance, lights flashing, music blaring. This was going to be good.

XXX

"Utau!" Amu had to shout to be heard above the noise. Even then, Utau didn't hear her. Amu approached the other girl and shouted, "UTAU!"

Utau turned from yelling at the DJ to play a song that was actually good and looked at Amu. "Amu! Where have you been? What's up?"

Amu rolled her eyes at the enthusiastic blonde. "Have you seen Tadase?"

Utau thought for a moment. "Not in the past 20 minutes or so."

"I've been looking for him for 20 minutes," Amu replied hotly.

Utau made a whistling sound. "Well, last I saw lost boyfriend was heading towards the back of the gym. Near the east exit."

"Thanks!" Amu said over her shoulder as she headed towards the east exit of the gym. She walked through the doors.

The scene Amu witnessed was the the last one she expected. But it was one that would affect her the most.

A thousand thoughts drifted through Amu's brain. She could have just walked away. Instead, she simply managed to mutter, "Ikuto..."

Ikuto's head whipped up. He jumped off the grass, almost knocking Lana over in the process. The black-haired girl was watching them with a blank expression as she sat on the grass of the field behind the gym.

"Predator," Lana said, pointing at Ikuto.

Lana's gaze turned to Amu. "Prey."

"No," Ikuto stated simply. He looked into Amu's eyes. "Amu, this is not what you think..."

"You..." Amu whispered accusingly. "You kissed her."

Ikuto stayed silent for a little. "I-"

He was cut off as a voice came from around the corner of the gym, the speaker blocked from view by the gym wall. "Honestly, Tadase, there is some danger of us being seen, you know. . . And I didn't exactly want to come, either."

"May I remind you, that you, Nagihiko, joined the Wolves on your own accord." Amu would've known that voice anywhere. Tadase.

"They're here," Nagihiko stated as he turned around the corner of the gym. "Well. I stand corrected, some of them are here."

"Predators," Lana stated, motioning in Nagihiko and Tadase's direction.

Tadase turned around the corner. "Ikuto," he growled.

"Tadase," Ikuto said coolly, turning his gaze from Amu to Tadase.

"Rima." Amu heard the voice of her best friend as she opened the gym door behind Amu. "Amu, if you're going to stand in the way, at least don't stare at people as you do," Rima huffed.

Amu hastily moved out of the way of the gym doors – just in time, too.

Utau threw the doors open. She stomped outside and glared at Tadase. "Honestly, Tadase! You could have waited until that one song was over!"

"Your welcome, Utau," Tadase rolled his eyes at the furious blonde girl. "Where's Wyn?"

"Ah-" Utau said, turning behind her. "I lost her..."

Mayu ran up in jeans and a plain black t-shirt. She was running so quickly she almost knocked Ikuto over as she ran to him. "Sorry. Late, I know."

"We're missing Kukai, still, so you're good, Mayu," Ikuto said. As an afterthought, he added, "And Nadeshiko."

"Oh, Kukai's coming. I saw him jogging over as I ran here," Mayu said.

". . . Oh, that's good," Rima said, rolling her eyes.

Wyn opened the gym door slowly and slipped outside. "Sorry. I got lost in a crowd," she said, walking over to Tadase.

Kukai jogged up, followed closely by a purple-haired girl. Amu noticed the dark-haired girl had recent wounds that seemed to be just healing.

"Kukai, Nadeshiko. There you two are," Ikuto greeted them.

"Yo," Kukai replied.

Nadeshiko nodded to Ikuto. "They're outnumbered."

"No," Ikuto said, motioning at Lana. "She's fighting for the Wolves."

"Predators," Lana repeated, walking over to Tadase.

It was then Amu noticed there were two distinct sides forming between the gathered people. There was Ikuto's side, and Tadase's side.

Amu now understood why Rima had sat with Ikuto and not Nagi. They'd joined different sides. The same with Utau and Kukai. It was then, Amu wondered, how did I never know? How could they seem so normal. . . How was it hidden from me, this whole time. . . ? It seems that everyone I love. . . Everyone that's dear to me, is a monster.

Amu looked from one side to the other. Ikuto and Tadase both turned to Amu. In unison, they said, "Which side are you choosing, Amu?" Then they glared at each other.

Amu was silent. She looked at her friends, who'd been split apart by this 'hatred' for the other group. Her eyes locked with Lana's, and, somehow, a silent understanding passed between them.

Predators are hunters.

They don't fight for the good of others.

They fight for themselves.

Instead of answering Tadase or Ikuto, she shook her head and whispered, "Why. . . ?"

Amu knew they couldn't hear her. They turned to each other. Ikuto unsheathed his claws. His cat ears and tail appeared. His side did the same. Except for Rima. Rima turned into a golden lioness.

Everyone on Tadase's side, except for Tadase and Lana, followed the example of the Lynx. They either turned into full wolves or grew claws, tails, and ears.

Lana's transformation was different than the others. Her fingertips grew into talons and sprouting from her back were two beautiful golden-brown wings. Amu guessed a falcon or hawk.

And Tadase?

Well, his form should have shocked Amu. And it did. It shocked Amu that the golden-haired prince of her daydreams had turned into the red-eyed wolf of her nightmares.

XXX

Now I'm sure you all wanted a battle. And, of course, there will be one. But it's a bit more complicated than a battle, one side wins, and boom – story's over. I have a few tricks up my sleeve still, don't worry.

Thanks for reading!

And I'm kinda sad none of you knew the quote. Well, except for Kittyallstarts, but I knew they'd get it. The answer was " - Jace Wayland & Madame Dorothea, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare"

Anyway! Please review, and thanks for reading!