It feels like it's been forever since I've written. Well here is chapter ten, slowly making its way here. lol Enjoy and review at the end! Thanks!

Chapter 10: I Can' t Stay Mad

I feel so weak…what are these voices saying?…are they saying my name?…

"Amu, wake up!" Souta yelled as he ran over to the still Amu, his mask removed.

Amu's eyes shot open when she heard him tell her to wake up. She looked around and saw Souta and Ikuto running over to her. When they arrived at her side they each took an arm and lifted her up on her feet.

"Are you all right? Let go of her! You're the reason she was hit!" Ikuto yelled at Souta as he pulled Amu to his side.

"No! You let go! She's mine!" Souta refused as he tried to pull her back.

Everyone was surprised when Amu tore her arm from Ikuto's grasp and wrapped her arms around Souta before bluntly saying, "I'm his."

Souta blushed furiously, Ikuto's mouth was agape, and Amu's face grew red as well before releasing her hold around Souta. She smacked her face as she turned away from the both of them.

"What the heck?! What did I just do?!" Amu freaked out as she tried to figure out why she did what she did.

Souta then smiled slightly as it all clicked. Ikuto looked between Amu and Souta before turning his glare to Souta completely.

"What did you do to her you bast-?!" he hissed before being cut off by Souta's hysterical laughter.

Souta doubled over with laughter before standing up straight and looking at Ikuto with a mischievous smile, "Well looks like my whip's effect has her doing whatever I say. What a wonderful day it is!"

Amu turned on him and yelled, "What?! Make it stop! I'm not your slave!"

Souta turned to her with the same oppressive and intimidating aura from before and told her, "The whip's effect doesn't wear off unless I leave the subject so for now you are my slave. Now, come to me."

He extended an arm to Amu and she felt her legs moving on their own as she walked over to his side. Souta wrapped an arm around her waist before using his other hand to tilt her head up. Ikuto was ready to pounce before he heard the crack of a whip again.

"Just because I removed my mask doesn't mean I don't have my powers as Ring Leader. Now stay put kitty," Souta told Ikuto as he retracted his whip.

Ikuto felt his body stop, but he could have sworn that it hadn't touched him! Yet, his body wouldn't listen to him.

"Those who have been affected before just have to hear the crack of my whip to have it triggered again. It really is a wonderful weapon," Souta laughed as he turned his attention back to Amu, "Now where were we?"

Amu began to shake as Souta leaned close. She yelled out and struggled against her will which made him very angry.

"Amu! Kiss me like you did Ikuto! I demand it!" He yelled furiously as he waited for it to kick in.

"Nooo! Please Souta! Don't make me do this!" She cried out as her face leaned closer to Souta's, "Please! I-I love Ikuto!"

He was taken aback by her words before he pushed her away. He stared at her with a frantic expression before snapping out of it when he heard Amu's voice again.

"Why did you do that?!" she demanded to know as she rubbed her sore bottom after getting off the ground.

"Sorry, please forgive me…now let's go," Souta told her as he replaced his mask and held a hand out to Amu.

Amu felt her body move on its own as she got up off the ground and walked over to Souta. She placed her hand in his before he swept her off her feet and took off with her as Ikuto yelled for him to bring her back.

"Damn!" Ikuto cursed as he stared angrily down at his feet.

He sat alone on the bench in the park as he thought about Souta. He was extremely frustrated with the kid's power to control others with his special whip. Ikuto thought to himself as he tried to think of a way to beat the kid at his own game…then it came to him. Ikuto got up quickly as he took off to find the guardians.

"What?" Rima asked in almost threatening tone as she became ticked at the face of the cat thief standing before her.

"I need your help," Ikuto repeated.

Rima turned around as she refused strongly with a loud no. Ikuto grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, looking seriously into her eyes. She glared at him as she waited for him to make a case for himself.

"Now just wait. I know we don't know each other very well, but we do know Amu. Right now she needs our help, but mostly I need you to help me rescue her! Only you can do what I'm asking!" he pleaded to her.

Rima softened her gaze as she frowned at the mention of Amu, her only weakness, "Fine. I'll help. Just tell me what you need me to do."

"Souta!" Amu cried out as she watched him fall to his knees. He was doubled over with pain after he was hit in the stomach.

A man in a black suit held Amu by her arm as he kept her from going to Souta's side. Two men in black suits lifted the beaten up Souta off his feet, each holding an arm. The male scientist walked over to him and lifted his head to make him look him in the face.

"See? This is what happens when you try and mess around little boy. Don't do it again or else you'll get more than just this," the man warned him as he motioned for the men to escort them out.

Amu peered over her shoulder as she watched them drag Souta along as they escorted her back to her room. Amu looked at the hefty man holding her arm and figured it was worth a try. She broke the grip of the man and ran over to Souta to see if he was okay.

"Souta?! Are you ok?!" she asked in a concerned tone.

"Please don't do that again," the hefty man told Amu as he grabbed her again, lifting her up and throwing her over his shoulder.

Amu kicked and struggled as she stared over at the motionless Souta. Then she saw him lift his head up and smile at her. She couldn't help but smile back even though she was still mad that he had controlled her earlier. When they arrived at her room she was placed on her feet and asked to enter her room.

"Leave him here," Amu turned to face the men with a serious tone.

The men looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders and dropping Souta onto her bed. Once they left she rushed to his side, leaning over him to see if he was truly ok. Then he opened his eyes and smiled at her again as his arm shot around her, pulling her down on top of him.

"What are you doing?! I was only trying to see if you were ok!" Amu protested as she struggled, but she was awkwardly positioned and couldn't get up.

"Just lay here with me…" he coughed before continuing, "…I'm sorry about earlier. Please don't hate me. I would never purposely hate you…" he managed to say before drifting off to sleep.

Amu was astonished that he had fallen asleep with her on top of him. She became self-conscious and thought that she may be crushing his lungs or something like that. She removed his arms from around her and laid next to him, staring at his sleeping face. He's got a cute sleeping face…Wait! What's wrong with me?! she thought to herself before blushing at her own thoughts. As she stared her eyes began to flutter as she too fell asleep, cuddled next to the sleeping Souta.

"Then tomorrow," Rima repeated before waving goodbye to Ikuto.

He nodded his head, "Yes, tomorrow we will rescue Amu and get rid of that Souta kid for good."

Ikuto blushed slightly as he thought back to earlier and how close Amu was to kissing that kid. I-I love Ikuto! Amu's voice played

back what she said in his head over and over again. Then he became a bit jealous as he thought how close Souta was to Amu while he was always being distanced from her.

Ikuto looked up into the darkening sky and whispered out loud, "I love you too…my Amu…"

Alright there you go. Thanks everyone who's read this. I really hope you've enjoyed this. I feel the end is nearing!