I do not own Shugo Chara! Or anything

Chapter 37: Lion

"Uh…" She audibly clenched her teeth, "I said, wouldn't you want to return the human brat to her home? Or would you rather her stay here to die?"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAMU'S POVxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I sat in the meadow, watching the flowers sway to and fro. How can I sleep and dream when we're trying to escape? Not that I think we have any hope of actually getting out of here…

"Who are you?" Startled, I looked up to see a lion crouched in the shadows. Wide-eyed, I backed away and tried to keep from screaming. Try is the keyword there, people. Staying to the shadows, he circled around the meadow, keeping away from the flowers, until he had run all the way around.

"I asked you a question. Who are you?" He growled. I gulped and decided it was best to answer, "A-Amu Hinamori!" Why did I give him my whole name? He paused for a second then continued pacing around me, "Why are you here? Are you lost, Hinamori?"

"I-I'm not lost!" I didn't exactly know why I was here but I was so I am. I don't think he'd like that answer. What do I know about lions? Oh, right, nothing! What do I know about lions in this dream land? Oh, right, nothing! Except that the talking ones are vampires! Oh, wait…OH MY GOD! Can you die in a dream? I didn't want to find out.

"W-well I'll j-just be going, then!" I got up and started backing away quickly. I got to the other side of the meadow and screamed again as the lion was right there in front of my face. I fell back into the sunlit meadow. Right, they're super fast. He sniffed the air, "Human." I gulped. Please don't eat me, please don't eat me, please don't eat me! I slid back, not being able to stand up due to shaky knees. If a lion could possibly smile, this one was doing it. He chuckled silently then just full out laughed. Huh? What's so funny?

"Amu-san, you don't need to be so afraid. We're in a dream, remember? You're dreaming all this up." Huh? Well, yeah, I knew I was dreaming, but…I looked up at his eyes. Violet? "Utau…" I murmured. He stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes, "Utau?"

"U-uh I-I mean uh….um…" He laughed again half-heartedly, "Maybe you should wake up, Amu-san." I stared at his sharp teeth and gulped again. Um, how do I wake up again? He moved closer until he was towering over me but still in the shadows. He started to say something but my scream drowned his words. His teeth are so close and sharp! Rustling was heard and my good old friend the fox jumped in front of the lion, keeping to the shadows too. A wolf came tumbling after him. The lion stood much taller than the two combined.

"Do you like near-death experiences, Amu?! Jeez!" I huffed, "Well it's not like you had to come save me anyways!" He whirled around, "Well maybe I shouldn't!" I crossed my arms, as he took another step closer to me and the sunlit flowers. "I don't get why I bother with you, Amu!"

"I don't get it either!" The lion and wolf forgotten he strode into the meadow while I looked away, "Hmph!" Warm breath tickled my cheek and I looked back only to scream at the closeness of Matt's face. "Wha- who-hey!"

"Whoop de do, it's me. So what?" The wolf sighed and walked over. At touching the sunlight he started glittering until he took the familiar form of Nagehiko. The lion stayed in the shadows, watching us. I looked from one to the other over and over again. How come I never see these things coming? I demand a lawyer! Demand I say! Demand!

"Why would you want a lawyer…?"

"Cause I'm just that cool! I-I mean nothing!" He shook his head and looked back at the old lion that was sitting in the shadows still.

"Back to business, Aruto-san."

TBC…