~Bound by Blood~

~ Chapter 10: Is it a Happy Ending Yet? ~

(A.N.): Hey guys! So, I've closed the voting for the quick little summary part for Bound by Blood. I've decided…

I will do it! The votes were 3-0 for yes, so I'm doing this for all of you. :) Well, happy reading all! See you soon!

P.S. I was going to post a new chapter tomorrow (Feb. 10, 2013, my time), but I may not have time due to Chinese/Vietnamese New Year. I'll try my best though!

-Hugs and Kisses, Kim

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Shugo Chara.

….

Previously on Bound by Blood…

Amu finally decided to go to Ikuto. He thought she was a hallucination when she went to meet him, but Amu assured him that she was very real. They embraced and finally showed their love for each other. They're finally boyfriend and girlfriend now.

With Utau and Kukai, problems begin to emerge. Kukai tells Utau about how Amu's vampire side was awakening. She had recently been craving a certain… liquid, and she had been unconsciously going out late in the night for a little snack. Utau tells him that it's impossible because her vampire side was sealed in by a wonderful wizard. However, the effects are wearing off, as Kukai and Utau come to realize. The love Amu had for Ikuto has aided the fact that Amu was quickly regaining her memories and her instincts to hunt. Once a vampire has fallen in love, the effects of it multiply all of a vampire's instincts and abilities. However, Amu still doesn't know that she is a pure-blooded vampire.

And that's where we left off the last time…

….

Finally, in his eighteen thousand or so years of life… Ikuto was able to feel true sunshine on his skin. The feeling of the sun kissing his face was like heaven. The bright rays that Mr. Sun produced seemed like bliss. He could never get enough. He had spent most of his childhood and teen years locked up in his room, away from the sunlight.

The sun doesn't really hurt vampires. They just weaken them to the point that they're almost exactly like humans. In order to gain their powers again, they would have to drink four or five times the amount of blood they would usually take in. That's why most would rather stick to the shadows. It was bothersome to just go out in the sun and kill five humans. That and it would be way harder than it sounded to kill five humans. Well, think about being a vampire. Now, think about being hit directly by the sun. Bam! You're instantly powerless, so how exactly are you going to hunt down those humans and try to kill them? Exactly, you can't! Vampires were mostly trained to use their body in battle. For example, they used their elongated nails and razor sharp fangs to rip open throats, beauty to attract prey, and abilities to have a better advantage. Without all of those things, vampires were technically useless. Now, you're probably wondering why the Resistance didn't just form a group of humans with amazing weapon wielding, charge into the dang castle, and kill all those vampires. Well, the answer is simple. That castle is booby trapped with so many traps that stepping on the drawbridge can kill your whole army. Not to mention that the whole castle is shrouded in darkness, so those vampires can slit your throats in a nano second.

Ikuto was always taught to stay inside when the sun was out and shining brightly. Now, he wondered why he even took the advice his parents gave him. First of all, the sun was beautiful. It was blinding to look at, but it was worth it. It brought a little bit of joy into his life, and he loved it. Second, the sun provided the light that he always craved. Darkness got a bit… consuming sometimes. He got tired of the darkness, so he always strived to go into the warm sunshine. That couldn't happen… until now.

He rested his head on Amu's head. Stray pink locks flew around them, fluttering in the breeze. Their hands intertwined, and Ikuto felt Amu snuggle into him even more. The girl muttered something that sounded like, "I wuv yurrr." She was so cute!

Ikuto laughed. This time, it was a real laugh. It had been a long time since he laughed like that. Amu, once again, was the only one who could get him to open up. He had never laughed like this before, not even with Lulu. Lulu… She was so distant now; he almost forgot who she was. Who was she again? Oh, right. She was that lying, cheating woman.

Well, no time to dwell on the past. Like someone once said, "Keep moving forward!" Yep, that was Ikuto's motto now. Keep moving forward. That seemed easy enough, if you counted the fact that Ikuto was moving forward from Lulu.

"Ikuto?" Amu's soft voice wandered into his thoughts.

"Hmm?" Ikuto replied softly.

"How do you like the sunshine?" Amu asked.

"I love it, Amu. It's beautiful and warm." He closed his eyelids and pressed his lips to her soft silky hair. "It's just like you, Amu. You're the only sun that I'll ever need."

Amu giggled against Ikuto's body. She placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "That's so sweet." She murmured.

All around them the flowers swayed in a little dance as the breeze blew across them. The whispers of the wind were ticklish and song-like as they passed by Amu and Ikuto's ears. The meadow around them seemed to blend into the beauty that surrounded both of them.

….

Utau paced the length of the room, her white dress swishing out behind her. The fabric rustled annoyingly as Kukai sat at the dining table, fingers clenched into fists and pressed to his forehead. His head bowed low as he started to think. The same question ran through their minds at the same time.

What is going to happen to Amu?

The effects of the spell were wearing off. Kukai could clearly tell. The late night snacks from the villagers, the constant craving of something "liquidy" as Amu called it, and the mood swings were all part of the spell going away. Now, the mood swings didn't happen as often. In fact, it barely happened at all. Most of the time, it was just the craving and the late night sleep walking. Amu didn't even know what was going on with her body at all. She probably thought they were hormones or something to that sort.

"I'm worried." Kukai said, voicing both of their thoughts.

Utau stopped pacing momentarily. "No shit, Sherlock, you don't think I'm worried either?!" She snapped.

Utau was in an extremely pissed off mood. She was worried over her best friend, and she had no idea what to do! She hated sitting around, waiting for something to be done. She would rather do it, and then she would just get it over with.

"Jeez, calm down, Utau." Kukai responded. He was obviously used to her weird mood swings now. In fact, if he wasn't, he'd long been dead by now. Utau was so unpredictable that only three people could handle her. Those three were Amu, Ikuto, and Kukai himself. Not even her parents could handle her haywire mood swings, which was kind of sad.

Utau took in a shaky breath. She tried to calm her nerves. In, 1, 2, 3. Out, 1, 2, 3. In, 1, 2, 3. Out, 1, 2, 3. Utau seemed to calm down after that. She forced a smile, but it quickly faded as she began to pace again. The problem at hand was not helping them at all. They could track down the wizard and make him do an even bigger spell to seal her vampire side in. No, that wouldn't work. Amu was far too in love with Ikuto, her mate, to convert back to human. At this point, Amu was already "half awakened". It was important that she awaken all the way before a certain amount of them, or else she would go crazy.

"What are we going to do, Kukai?" Utau asked, stopping suddenly and looking at Kukai.

"I don't know, Utau. I don't know. Honestly, I think we should just wait and see what happens. I know that Ikuto will try to help Amu once he finds out that she is of the same race as him. I mean, they could be together for eternity now. They're mates, aren't they?" Kukai said to Utau.

Utau was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "I know, but I can't help thinking that… once Amu reawakens, she'll be different. She'll be like a new, improved Amu, maybe she'll be worse. What if she hates us, Kukai? Remember, when a vampire's true side awakens, everything changes. When I say "everything", I mean "everything"! The Amu we know now may just disappear forever."

"Hey, don't worry too much! It's going to be fine, Utau. Stop worrying your little pretty face over this. She'll be fine. I know it!" Kukai said, smiling.

Utau sighed and flopped down on the couch. Her white dress rustled as she moved to lie on the couch. "Ugh, fine."

Kukai smirked. Kukai-1, Utau-0, yep, he was totally on a roll. "Good, now take my advice and relax."

Utau made a disgusted sounding noise, but she didn't say anything else. After a while, the silence that fell grew uncomfortable. Utau didn't say anything because she didn't know what to say. Relaxing was something she wasn't really used to. She had spent the last few days worried sick over Amu, but now Kukai was making her rest. Was it really a good choice…? She didn't know, but it was getting harder… and harder… to concentrate….

Kukai sighed as his eyes trailed over Utau. Her arm was slung across her eyelids and her breathing was slowing. Soon enough, it was even. Utau had fallen asleep.

It's probably because of the stress… Kukai thought.

He smiled and moved towards her, picking her up bridal style. Utau murmured something inaudible and snuggled into Kukai. A blush made its way up Kukai's face as he stared at Utau's sleeping face. She looked so peaceful, and she looked five years younger than she actually was. The frown that had once been on her features had disappeared. Kukai sighed and walked to his bedroom, laying her down in his bed. He pulled the blankets up to her chin and tucked her in. He hovered for a moment before giving her a quick peck on the forehead. He left and closed the door quietly.

….

Amu stretched from where she laid on Ikuto's stomach. She blinked her golden honey eyes and yawned. Ikuto stirred from his sleep, but he didn't wake up. Amu giggled softly as she moved away from Ikuto. She started to get up, but she never got to. Strong lean arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her down again.

"Don't leave me, Amu-koii." Ikuto whispered into her ear.

Amu blinked, and then she laughed. "Oh my god, Ikuto, jeez, I was just getting up to stretch. I'm not going to leave you. You know I never would."

"I can't be so sure, Amu. I have to keep you right next to me!" Ikuto said into Amu's back. His voice came out muffled, but she could tell he was whining.

She laid down next to him, resting her head on his arm. "I won't leave you. I promise you, Ikuto." She whispered and snuggled into his arm. When Amu promised something, she always kept it, no matter what. That was how she was raised, so she was determined to keep it that way.

Ikuto sighed, giving in. "Fine, fine, you win!" Ikuto said.

That was the first time Ikuto had ever given in to a woman. Amu was certainly a special girl, and he was going to make sure that he kept her around. After all, she was his to keep.

….