Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara!!

I'm baaaaaa-aaaaaaack!!

…ahem. High T rating warning-Enjoy!

Chapter 13

Before We Part

The day after they returned from their honeymoon, preparations began for the war council meeting to take place at a fort near the edge of the Kingdom of Easter. King Aruto would stay at the castle, while Prince Ikuto attended the meeting.

And Princess Amu was nervous-REALLY nervous.

While they were on their honeymoon, a declaration of war from the Kingdom to the east arrived. They had allied with a Kingdom in the North, aware of Ikuto's and Amu's marriage-the alliance between their two kingdoms.

Amu watched as Ikuto packed his bag for the trip, silent. When he was done, he spoke with his back to her. "…smile, Amu."

Amu looked up then, surprised by his words. "Wh-what?"

Ikuto turned around, facing her, a sad smile on his face as his eyes met hers. "I've told you before-your smile gives me strength. I'll need it."

Amu felt the tears she had been holding back all day begin to surface. "Ikuto…"

Ikuto sat next to her on the bed, holding her hand in his. "…I'll be gone for about a week to communicate with the generals. I promise, no matter what, that I will return to you. I vow as your husband, as a Prince, and as Ikuto Tsukiyomi, that I will protect you-always."

Amu let the tears fall then, throwing her arms around him.

Ikuto gently ran his fingers through her hair. "…I want to spend tonight making love to you, Amu. May I?"

Amu nodded, looking up and kissing his lips softly. "…I promise as your wife, as Princess, and as Amu Tsukiyomi, that I will wait for your return. Please, Ikuto…hold me tonight."

Ikuto nodded. "I will." With that, he kissed her passionately, gently lowering her back onto the bed. Clothing was removed piece by piece. Ikuto pressed his body against hers, gently biting her ear where he knew she was most sensitive. She blushed deeply.

"I can't believe you figured that out." She grumbled.

Ikuto chuckled. "Now who is like a cat?"

Amu rolled her eyes, but pulled him close for another kiss.

As they became one, Amu let herself drown in their passion, as did he, tomorrow forgotten, all that mattered in that moment was that-that moment when two hearts and bodies joined.

Sometime around midnight, Amu woke up, suddenly unable to fall back asleep. She sighed, eyes wandering the room illuminated by moonlight… until something shiny caught her eye. It was the key attached to Ikuto's violin case… the Dumpty key.

She looked at the jewelry box on her nightstand, where she knew the Humpty lock safely resided.

"I never did tell you the legend."

Amu jumped slightly at the sudden sound of his voice. "Ikuto…?" She looked at him curiously. "How long have you been awake?"

Ikuto shrugged. "A half hour, maybe? I was resting my eyes." He sat up, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind her. "… That lock and that key… are artifacts passed down through the generations of royalty in my kingdom. The legend says 'When two hearts become one, the key will open the lock…and a secret shall be revealed."

Amu stared at the key with wide eyes in wonder. "… the lock has never opened?"

Ikuto shrugged. "Not sure-I didn't get a chance to try myself before the lock was gifted to you as a baby-a gift…a promise that one day, our kingdoms would unite."

Amu looked thoughtful. "Can we… try?"

Ikuto chuckled. "I'll make you a deal-when I get back, we'll try. Okay?"

Amu smiled genuinely at him and nodded. "Okay."

Ikuto nuzzled his nose against the right side of her neck. "…Amu…"

Amu blushed lightly, feelings of desire from earlier that night resurfacing. "Y-yes?"

Ikuto kissed her right shoulder. "I love you…so, so much…"

Suddenly overcome with emotion, Amu turned around in his arms, wrapping her arms around him. "…I love you, too, Ikuto… so, so much…"

They then made love again-and again, and again, until a few hours later when they were both finally able to sleep soundly.

The next morning, Amu saw Ikuto off with determined eyes and a smile-determined to be strong as she waited for his return. Ikuto gave her lips one final, gentle kiss before mounting his house and riding off with a few of their kingdom's knights.

Amu watched until they were long out of sight, standing in the stables alone. Her horse whinnied, sensing Amu's sadness. Amu lightly pat her horse's neck. "Thank you, girl…we'll wait for him…" she looked at the open stable doors. "…I'll wait for him."

Three anxious days passed.

On the fourth day, Amu walked through the hedge maze, lost in her thoughts…when somebody suddenly grabbed her from behind, a damp cloth covering her screaming mouth…before everything went black.

Yeah, yeah, I know…I finally update and end it with a cliffhanger…sorry, but I promise I'm back to writing this story! Also, if you've read the manga or seen the anime, hopefully you got the reference of Ikuto biting Amu's ear-her reaction in the series was hilarious. Also, I thought it'd be a cute idea to include the lock and key like in the series. Who knows? Maybe there's some magic in them?

Anywho…review please!