Yes, I know. It's been a long time. My laptop was down so I had to save up the money for the hardware repair plus I lost all of my work so you can imagine the stress I've been going through with my internship, money problems and lack of access to a computer these past few months.

I know these sound like excuses but honestly I did not mean to make you wait. I love you guys very much and from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your support thus far and really hope it continues as well.

I'll continue to try my best. Thank you all for your patience.

Love,

Hime

"When was the last time you've seen Lulubell?" Rhode asked immediately, the moment Ikuto was alone her and the Jasdevi brothers in the hallway outside the classroom.

"In class after we were dismissed. She was still at her desk."

The spiky haired girl tilted her head at him, "You didn't see her after that?"

"No…should I have?" Ikuto asked her, confused.

Jasdero frowned, "Maybe something happened to her on the way back?"

Devit nodded, "It's possible, we're just going to have to wait till Lulu comes home."

Ikuto blinked, "Lulubell didn't come home? Are you guys her family?"

Rhode looked at brothers giving them a look before turning her attention back to the tallest man in the hallway, nodding her head in response, "Thank for your time Tsukiyomi-san, we appreciate it."

The Noahs turned to leave and was about to walk away but Ikuto stopped them, "Hey, for what it's worth, I hope Lulubell-sensei is safe."

Jasdevi smiled a little at Ikuto's kind words before continuing to leave, guiding a distressed Rhode out with them.

Once outside

"I think Amber had something to do with Lulubell."

Devit sighed, "Come on Rhode, you can't jump into conclusions. It's not even a day yet."

"Devit's right Rhode, we can't afford to make hasty decisions. The Earl will have our heads if we mess this up."

Rhode shook her head, "Amber had something to do with it. I know she did. We're accelerating the plans."

Before the brothers could argue with her, she stormed off stubborn & determined.

That night at the Exorcists home

Lavi frowned from his perch on the couch, "Lulubell is missing?"

"And the Noahs questioned your classmate Ikuto about her?" asked Allen.

Kanda nodded firmly.

Leenalee looked very confused, "Where could Lulubell have gone?"

Link entered the living room, his voice loud and commanding, "You lot, turn on the TV to the news channel. Now."

Allen picked up the remote and did as told. On the new channel, there was a female anchor person speaking but at the bottom of the screen, words in an unfamiliar writing was seen on the page.

"What is that?" Leenalee wondered aloud.

Lavi squinted his eyes, "I think it's some old language…"

"It's Old English."

The exorcists turned to see Amber coming down the steps, clad in a light blue bathrobe and a white towel over her head. As she walked down barefoot, her natural scent and a fragrance of her goat's milk and honey soap hung in the air. She smelled sweet and intoxicating much to Kanda's and Lavi's discomfort. Before anyone could say anything about it though, Amber read the text out loud to them fluently as if she had been speaking the language since birth.

"What does it mean?" Link asked, amazed as soon as she finished.

Amber sighed and translated in English, "Amber, we have your friends. Come to the docks if you want them back alive. Bring Lulubell if you have her. Come tonight and alone; do not be late, a minute later after midnight they will die."

Allen shivered.

How could something that sounds so beautiful have such an awful meaning behind it?

Kanda blinked, processing the information, "That means-"

"-I will need to go" she finished, exasperated by the situation.

"Amber, you can't go there by yourself!" Leenalee told her, getting up.

The pre-teen raised an eyebrow, "The message was for me of course I have to go. Besides, the Noahs will kill them if I come with you guys."

"How do you know it's the Noahs?" Allen asked.

"Old English is the language of magic-users. Only Rhode could send me something like this."

"Could it be any other magic user?" Lavi asked.

Amber gave him a look and Lavi closed his mouth immediately.

"I'll go by myself. None of you are allowed to follow me. Am I clear?"

Kanda looked ready to argue, getting up from his chair but Amber already moved to leave.

"Kit!"

She turned around and they locked eyes, they weren't wearing their contacts so the copper eyes she was born with stared back at his own blue ones. They glared at each other and their stares softened for a while after not longer being able to with tired eyes so they studied each other.

Amber could see the care he had for her, the concern over her safety in his dark, deep blue eyes that could drown you if you were not careful but right now, in her heart she was troubled so she let herself feel and breathe, taking the moment of silence to lose herself in him.

Meanwhile, Kanda could smell the scent from her earlier bath waft over to his nose, making it a little harder for him to think at the moment. He focused on her skin then to distract him which was another bad idea because it made his fingers itch to touch her, it looked so soft, so touchable. He bit his lip, irritated by his wayward thoughts and moved to meet her face, another bad idea. Her lips were slightly parted, moist, inviting as she stood before him. He wanted to know how they would feel if he were to just move and pull her close. He knew the sweetness that her mouth would offer to him if he made a move. A whisper interrupted them, breaking Kanda and Amber from their reverie.

"You guys alright?" Allen asked softly, worried.

Kanda opened his mouth to say something but before he could, the female brunette ignored him & hurried up the stairs to avoid further argument before the swordsman could stop her.

Few hours later at the docks...

"Rhode. Could you fucking stop pacing?" asked Jasdero, growing irritated.

"Don't tell me what to do."

"There!" Devit pointed.

The Noahs turned and a girl with bubblegum pink hair and bright golden honey-coloured eyes came, walking toward them much to the shock of her former friends of the Guardians, the Tsukiyomi siblings, Nikaidou and Yukari.

"AMU!"

She walked toward them all, determined and confident; dressed in a long sleeved and fitted black sweater with a red checkered skirt and black converse on her feet. if it wasn't for her usual red X-clip standing out amongst her bubblegum pink in her usual elementary school hairstyle, the Guardians wouldn't call her Amu.

Just how much has she changed?

They pondered over this watching as she raised a hand to silent them and turned to give Rhode a steely glare.

"Release them, I'm already here."

Rhode scoffed while the Jasdevi brothers stared at Amu in amazement, "Damn, you're the spitting image of your mother!"

Amu rolled her eyes and Rhode frowned.

"Show your true form. Now so I can beat you down."

Amu raised an eyebrow but did as she was told. She closed her eyes and started to chant. Rhode deadpanned realizing that her arch nemesis was chanting in the Greek tongue, a language unfamiliar to her. Rode watched as Amu was surrounded with a golden whirlwind but her brothers broke her concentration watching Amu by shouting for her.

"Crap! Rhode look!"

The female Noah turned just in time to see where her victims were supposed to be were now gone and in their place was smoke. She turned back to Amu, her eyes blazing with anger; realizing what she did.

"AMBER!"

Hime: Please review!