Chapter 4

Three days had passed since the recording of Amu's new song and Ikuto had just gotten out of rehearsal when his phone rang. "Utau," he said, wondering why his sister was calling of all times.

"Ikuto. Are you near a computer? There's someone wanting to use a song from years ago you wrote. They sent a demo over and was wanting your approval. Apparently you'd be getting forty percent of all profits," came Utau's voice. Ikuto scoffed at that. No way in hell would he let someone just use it.

"I don't see why I would let someone do that, but I take a listen," he said pulling his laptop from his bag. He hooked it up and went to his email before pulling his earbuds out.

"No I wanna heaaaar," Miki protested as she sat on Ikuto's shoulder.

"Me to, me to!" Ran said, moving her pom poms. Once the girls were all situated with Miki on Ikuto's shoulder, Ran on the laptop, Dia on Ikuto's hand, and Su sitting on Ikuto's head, he pushed play on the song. Ikuto was automatically entranced by what someone had done to his when the chorus came on, all four girls started to freak out.

"AMU!" all four girls yelled in chorus.

"Amu?" Ikuto asked then listened. "These lyrics… I used to tease her about them…" he said, picking his phone back up and calling his sister.

"Did you give it a listen?" Utau asked.

"Utau who's the singer!? What company!?" he asked quickly. Utau raised a brow. He seemed desperate to know.

"Ah I see. Going to support someone other than your sister?" she asked teasingly.

"Utau… it's Amu…" he said. Utau fumbled as she almost dropped her phone.

"THAT'S AMU!?" she asked. "Her name, or her stage name is Starlight. She works with the Shiba company," Utau said. Ikuto felt a sigh of relief. He finally knew where Amu was. "I can board a plane now if you want me to."

"No… I've actually got some backup over here," he said, looking at the girls who seemed excited.

"Keep me updated. I love her too, you know,' Utau said in a huff before the phone hung up.

"Just wait for me, Amu…" he said, closing his eyes for a moment.

It was at that same moment that Amu and Yoru seemed to shake Julie. Amu ran down the hall, smiling. The feeling of freedom, as much as she could get was nice. Though she and Yoru had a mission today. Why did Kimi need a treatment once a week? And why did she never remember it when she came back? Amu was closer than she ever had been to the lab where Kimi took her treatments. This would be easier if she could chara change with Yoru… Yoru tried to reassure Amu through this, but Amu never found it easier.

As the pair rounded the corner, she saw Kimi unconscious, hooked up to a machine. Upon further watching, Amu could see her chara egg hooked up as well! "Yoru…" Amu said as she looked at the chara. There was no way they could take all of the doctors and get past the guards. The pair had to retreat for now… But they waited nearby for when a doctor carried Kimi by. Amu knocked into him hard enough to where he dropped the girl. Amu picked Kimi up and started to run. "We have to get outa here! They were pumping her with x energy, Yoru!" Amu said as the pair of them started for the exit. Yet the were blocked! Amu looked around and ran to the emergency exit steps. Down was blocked off… So she went up! To the roof! It was the only way she could get them off of her for now.

"Amu?" a voice came. Amu looked at Kimi.

"Kimi! Why didn't you say they were trying to mess with you?" Amu asked as she set the girl down, making her run with her.

"Cause mommy said not to!" Kimi said as they ran out onto the roof top.

"AMU!" Julie's voice came from the door.

"Quick Kimi the fire escape," she said, ushering the girl to the ladder. Kimi blinked and nodded. They were going to leave today if Amu had anything to say about it.

"How could you do that… to your own daughter!?" Amu asked, turning around. As long as Kimi got away… that's what mattered right now.

"Because she's going to be great. Once her and her chara chara transform, they'll have enough power to create an embryo, to make a wish!" Julie said.

"Why is it always an embryo! It doesn't exist!" Amu yelled at her. Amu wasn't sure if it did or didn't, but everyone always wanted it… The last one turned out to be a heart egg run wild. "If it did exist, you can't create one!" Amu said. "She's your daughter!"

"She's a tool!" Julie said which shocked all of Amu, Yoru, and Kimi.

"Is that what I am to you, mommy?" she asked, starting to tear up.

"Get rid of them both. We have what we need from Kimi," Julie said. Amu backed up a bit as some of the security guards drew not stun guns, but real ones… Amu heard the first shot and turned to Kimi who the bullet had missed, but Kimi let go of the fire escape ladder.

"Kimi!" both Julie and Amu screamed. Amu's gaze turned back to Julie's face of horror. There had to be more to this story… Amu shook her head.

"Let's go Yoru!" she said as Amu too leapt over the side of the fifty story building.

"AMU!" Kimi yelled as she reached up for Amu. Amu reached for Kimi, their fingertips just brushing each other the first time, but on the second time Amu managed to grab onto Kimi. "Amu… are we gunna die?" Kimi asked. Amu looked to the ground. She knew that answer all too well… Her girls were with Ikuto, Kimi couldn't chara transform… There was no one there. Her gaze turned to Yoru who was flying close to Amu. Amu reached up and pulled Yoru to her.

"Yoru… I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry…" she said, tears forming.

"You can't die, nya!" Yoru said, gripping onto Amu. "YOU CAN'T!" he yelled and as Yoru yelled, the humpty lock reacted. It shone as bright as the northern star. Amu pulled it out of her shirt as she looked to Yoru.

"We have to protect her…" she said to which Yoru nodded. The light surrounded the three of them and Yoru's egg appeared to which Amu pulled it to her. "My heart… unlock…" Her hair pinning back with a pair of black cat ears appearing, her clothes replaced with a more girlish version of Ikuto's transformation, a skirt, the cut off halter top, and knee high boots, followed by a black tail. When she opened her eyes once again, she and Yoru had done it! She once again pulled Kimi to her and dove towards the building side, kicking off the side towards the one next to it. She trusted Yoru, his ability to move her body. They did this back n forth until Amu landed on the ground on her feet. She scrunched over to help stick her landing and held Kimi close to her. She smiled a bit as she closed her eyes again. "Charameli, Amulet Panther," she and Yoru's voice both said at the same time.

It was time to move… no one thought Amu and Kimi would make it to the bottom so astonished people stood there. Amu wasted no time as she moved Kimi to her back and leapt off the ground. She didn't know where she was to go, but away! She had to keep Kimi away from the gunfire and get to a phone. This wasn't an easy task as she leapt from light post to light post, not caring if someone saw her. She wasn't faster than their cars though and if she was to get Kimi out of there. She let out a sigh as she lept down to the street. "Kimi… I need you to run," she said, pointing in the direction away from the cars.

"No I can't leave you!" she said.

"You have to! They'll want you more than me and if I can push them back here, it'll be okay!" she said. Kimi looked at her. Amu looked determined as she flicked an ear at Kimi.

"But you finally chara transformed!" Kimi said. Amu let out a single laugh.

"Can I tell you a secret?" she asked as she turned her back to the girl. "Yoru is Ikuto's. The four girls belong to me. This was something that was never supposed to happen… Do you know why it did?" Amu asked, looking at Kimi again who shook her head. "Our desire to protect you, Kimi… So if you don't run now, it'll be all in vain." Kimi nodded, finally understanding as she turned, starting to run in the other direction. Amu turned back to the cars as they started towards her. "You ready, Yoru?" she asked, showing off Ikuto's trademark smirk. If they were going down, they were determined to go down together.

"Let's go, Amu-nya!" he called as Amu ran at the cars, leaping into the air.