Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara!!

Chapter 14

War

Amu woke up slowly, extremely groggy. Her head hurt, and she was slightly dizzy. She slowly opened her eyes. "Nnh…? Mmph?!" She realized then that there was a scrap of cloth over her mouth, with her hands tied behind her back and her ankles tied together. She remembered being in the garden, then the weird smelling cloth over her mouth and nose…her blood ran cold. Someone had snuck into the palace and kidnapped her. She was in a dark room, very little light coming in through a small window-moonlight. It was mid-day when she was kidnapped-how much time was she unconscious for?

A door creaked open, a man holding a lit candelabra entering the room. "So-you're awake."

Amu squinted as her vision adjusted to the sudden light. Her eyes widened in shock. 'That's…Satoshi?! That Prince from the North?! I danced with him at my birthday ball! But why is he here?!'

The brown haired, brown eyed man laughed, but not kindly. "Surprised? Oh, I should explain. Welcome to the military base of the Northeast-yes, my Kingdom has chosen to side with your new kingdom's enemy. Is it nice, Princess Amu? Being married to a Prince who left you defenseless at home?"

Amu glared daggers at the man.

Once again, Satoshi laughed unkindly. "Such fire in those golden eyes of yours! I like that." He smirked. "As we speak-well, as I speak- a ransom note is most likely being thoroughly examined at Easter castle, trying to figure out who kidnapped you. You see, I had a knight from my Kingdom write one sentence-'surrender, and Princess Amu will be returned to you alive'. Pretty dramatic, right?"

Amu paled at his words.

Satoshi chuckled. "Don't worry, I have plans for you, dear Princess. You see, I have admired you for many years-I asked your parents for your hand at your birthday ball, but then I learned of your betrothal to Prince Ikuto. They wouldn't budge. So I spoke to my father, and we agreed to go to war with your enemy as our ally. I don't take rejection well, you see. Your Kingdom is quite powerful, and you are beyond other women in beauty-it would have made us a perfect match, really. But…" His expression darkened then. "I saw you dancing with Prince Ikuto. A man you still barely knew, compared to I who had met you countless times these past few years, yet you had to ask to confirm my name? That hurt, Princess Amu." He set the candelabra on the floor in the center of the room. The room now fully illuminated, Amu realized she was in a jail cell made with brick walls and a heavy-looking wooden door.

Amu struggled in her restraints, desperately trying to shake the fabric off of her mouth.

Satoshi smirked as he knelt down in front of her, lowering the fabric. "Scream all you want-you are in a fortress at the edge of a battleground where war will soon begin-no one can hear you from here, little girl."

Amu glared at him, fire in her eyes. "Ikuto will find me-and then you'll regret ever even meeting me."

Satoshi laughed loudly. "Ha! Ha haha! Oh, such a scary look! Believe me, Princess, I look forward to dueling your darling husband…all the way up until my sword runs him through his loving heart, full of all his feelings for you. And then, you will become my princess-you wait and see."

Amu looked panicked now. "Wh-what?! You're going to kill him?!"

The man before her was now more monster than man in her eyes. "As they say, all is fair in love and war. And the war, little girl, has officially begun."

--

Ikuto received word of Amu's kidnapping that same night. His blood froze at the messenger's words, a dark look of rage clouding his expression. The war council he was meeting with were now anxiously discussing strategy when another messenger ran into the room. "The enemy is heading this way! They should be here come morning!"

Ikuto spoke to the generals calmly, but there was ice in his voice. "The enemy has Princess Amu-as her husband and crown Prince of our Kingdoms, I will find her and bring her back safely."

The room went silent, but no one, not even the older generals, dared to object to the authority in Ikuto's tone. He then turned on his heel and walked out of the room. 'I'll find you, Amu, and bring you home safely-no matter what!'

--

Amu had been allowed to keep the fabric off of her mouth, too anxious to speak. Her thoughts were whirling around in her head. Thoughts of her Kingdom, thoughts of her friends, her family…and thoughts of the love of her life. 'Ikuto…please…end this war…please... Please…find me…' she cried herself to sleep, her head resting on the single folded blanket on the cold, hard concrete floor.

On the silver chain around her neck, the Humpty Lock was tucked under her bodice, hidden from the enemy. And within it, a strange power slowly awakened.

The war…had only just begun.

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