Chapter 36: The Struggle

Ikuto slashed at Ruby from behind, his eyes still on Kage and Amu. She narrowly missed his blades, as apparently she underestimated his ability to sense her. She'd hoped to strike him from behind, while he'd merely done it out of annoyance that she'd even considered the fact that he could be attacked so easily. His fight was with Kage. He'd handle her after.

"Let her go. I'm not about to ask again." Ikuto said firmly.

Amu finally felt herself coming to. She opened her eyes but only saw fuzz. "Ikuto?" She thought. Something felt off. She felt a lingering burn on her skin, and a strange feeling that a part of her...was missing or something. She swallowed.

She really wanted to punch Kage or something...but her body barely felt like it could move.

"What are you going to do? Without her Lock your Key and your little King self isnt about to come out anytime soon." Kage had let Amu lay onto the ground, and smugly looked at Ikuto tilting his head. "But if you really want to fight...lets do this."

Ikuto swallowed and looked at Amu. He'd fight to the death if he had to for her. Nothing about that was about to change. He held his hand out infront of him, and ran forward, lunging with his claws at Kage. The fight was on.

"Let us go!" Utau said as they all warped in and out of the darkness and shadows. Their own shadows controlling their movements.

"And listen to you? Why would I?" Amaya asked sharply, playing with the ruby ring on her finger.

"Is it because you think Kage will provide you friendship?" Kukai asked.

"Because if you stopped back-stabbing us maybe we could actually be friends..." Rima said irritated.

"Friends? Hah! I have friends here! By the end of this fight I will be Kage's second hand! He likes me, I don't need you!"

"He doesn't really." Ryuu said suddenly. They all looked to him. "I can see things. Visions sometimes. The my fire-spirit-dragon chara Tatusya lets me see things sometimes. He's infatuated with Amu...I saw him with her a few days ago in a vision...what's playing out right now. He may have been friendly with you before as just Kage, but right now, as the Kage-Cracked King, he's only using you."

The others were silent. "Why didn't you tell us about the visions?" Nagi asked.

"I was afraid Ikuto would do something reckless...plus it didn't matter either way. We are going to save Amu and Ikuto and thats that." He turned slightly red and angry being put on the spot.

"Did you see that too?" Yaya asked innocently, with a little grunt under the pressure of the darkness.

"No. Only some things." He said, kind of put down from all of the questions.

Amaya had been silent for the time. Had Kage really used her to get to Amu? But he seemed so into her before...well before he was his old self...and...he'd kissed her? He'd been seducing her? Was that all it was?

"Don't you get it? You're going to end up sacrificing your own dreams. You'll be the lone wolf until you die unless you accept the fact that his friendship isn't real." Tadase spoke out.

"WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU?!" She said suddenly enraged, yelling at them, as the darkness clouded her and tightened their grasps on the group, as they grunted in pain.

"Well you're a hot rocket aren't you?- Ugh! Just accept the fact that all of their friendships made me realize that I was on the wrong team before too. If you really want Kage that bad, bring him back, and help us get rid of his curse. Maybe then he'll come to see you the way he did before." Utau said, rather earnestly. "But you keep this shit up? He's gonna take the lock, and next thing you know you'll be one in the million of his followers, and he's probably going to keep Amu as a prize if he really does obsess over her that much anyway. Face it. I was in your shoes. And Amu doesn't want to steal him from you either, so don't get that idea. She's already head over heals for my brother's charming ass." Utau managed to use her stubborn sass to make the point clear and the others were impressed.

"I..I..."

"We can't hold a grudge forever. That would make us as bad as you. If you really wanted friendships so bad, you have to let people in. Show us now that you care and we'll be able to trust you more." Kukai added.

Amaya's eyes were cloudy as she looked to the ground, her head spinning with their words.

"The last person you want to fall in love with is someone you're not sure of or wonder if they only has eyes for you. Help us and we'll help you." Yusako added. Tadase looked to her and wondered if that was what she was afraid of when she turned rogue Crack-Marked before, when he still used to have lingering feelings for Amu when he and Yasuko first started dating. He nodded though. It was the truth, and he understood her point.

"...But how? How?...If I defy Ruby I'll be powerless...and Kage...Kage will hate me..."

"If he cares for you he should be able to forgive you. We want to save Amu and Ikuto so we can save him too. He shouldn't have to die...nobody should. If we can help the two of them...if we can undo the curse...maybe then they won't have such a grudge." Tadase added.

"I'm going to regret this aren't I." Amaya bit her lip, showing a slight fang.

"Regret it now, or regret it later...we don't have much time." Kari said rather realistically.

Amaya looked at the group she had captured, and took a second to think about Kage's behaviour. She knew what she wanted...but she wasn't sure if she'd get it. But she needed answers. On the other hand she may just screw everything up in a matter of seconds.

She looked down at the ring. It was now or never. She had to decide.