Chapter 16: Light in the Dark

Amu's POV

Hysteria filled me as dozens of scenarios of what Akanoko might be doing to them ran through my head. They may have betrayed me, but they had been my friends at one point in time, my best friends, I wasn't about to let anything happen to them.

Determination filled me and I snapped the phone shut.

Taking a deep breath, I walked back to where the others were waiting in the living room. They stood in a nervous circle. Kukai had his arm wrapped around Utau, Rima and Nagihiko were holding hands, and Yaya was clinging to Kairi like a lifeline, while Tadase and Ikuto stood in a corner, their faces set in a grim, taut line.

Folding my arms across my chest as I sighed, "I'm leaving," I stated as I transformed and my black wings spread out from behind me.

Not bothering to wait for their reply, I started to fly off, only to have Ikuto suddenly dash over and grab my arm to hold me back.

"Wait," he demanded, "I'm going with you," he stated bluntly, looking at me with a fierce determination.

"We're going with you," Tadase corrected as everyone stepped up, wings beating behind them.

"No," I rejected immediately, "Absolutely not. You," I said as I pointed to Ikuto and everyone else, "Are all staying here," I said with finality, stubbornly crossing my arms, "Only Tadase may follow."

Ikuto's gaze hardened, "We're going, Amu," he growled as he took an offensive step forward.

I didn't back down though, as I stared back defiantly at him, "No. You're. Not," I hissed.

He glared down at me, "Why not?" he challenged, "Why can only Tadase go?" he demanded.

"I don't have to explain my reasons to you," I snapped, feeling anger bubble up inside of me.

There was no way I was letting any of them follow me back to the Hall of Ages. I didn't even know what was going on up there. It could get nasty and Tadase was only following me because he has to. I was not about to let anyone else get hurt. Especially not him.

"You can't stop me, Amu. I'm following you," he vowed.

A part of me was happy, and grateful, that Ikuto loved me enough, that everyone loved me enough, to put their lives on the line. But majority of me wanted to take all of them and stuff them away somewhere safe as I dealt with this. And the latter won.

They'd been hurt before, because of me, and I wasn't about to repeat my mistake.

I sighed, looking at him remorsefully as I took a step back and away from him.

"Yes," I muttered, "I can stop you," and before anyone knew what was going on, I waved my hand across the room.

Their eyes widen in shock as too late they realized that I had just cast a spell. They didn't even have time to cry out as all of them collapsed to the floor, deep in sleep. Only Tadase remained upright as he stared at me in disbelief.

"I'm sorry," I murmured as I cast another spell, moving them from their heap on the floor and laying them comfortably on the couch.

Then, I bent down and kissed Ikuto on the forehead, "I love you," I whispered as I held back a wave of tears.

Tadase reached out and clasped his hand gently on my shoulder, jerking me back to reality.

"Amu-chan," he muttered worriedly, "We have to get going," his voice was soft and gentle but there was an underlying urgency that made me fully remember the situation at hand.

I nodded grimly and took his hand, "Tadase…you know that when we get there..." I trailed off uncomfortably, unable to repeat what we had discussed.

He squeezed my hand comfortingly, "I know," he soothed.

I wanted to say something, but the words got caught in my throat, so I just nodded grimly and willed us away.

When we reappeared, we were standing in the middle of the Hall of Ages, it was where the Angels kept all the memories of the past, every incident, every encounter, was all stored here. It was like a giant library…if all libraries had books that were flame, water, tear and magic resistant.

My mentors stood at the center of the room, Dia had her arms stretched out on either side of her as she futilely attempted to shield Miki and Ran. And Suu, poor Suu was trapped in a deadlock by Akanoko, a blade closed in threateningly against her jugular.

My mouth went dry.

"I'm here," I said slowly as I raised my hands, "Let her go."

He ignored my request and instead held her tighter, causing Suu to let out a sharp squeal of pain, "You brought company," he stated unhappily as he looked Tadase up and down as if he were a piece of trash in his way.

"What do you want from me?" I asked painfully.

He smiled cruelly, "I want what you have. Power," he rasped, "Relinquish your throne and title to me and I'll let you guys trotter off."

I snorted, "And I'm suppose to believe that? No way in hell will I ever give up earth to you. You would torture everyone. I would rather die," I hissed.

He looked at me for awhile, his face passive. Then, a wicked gleam appeared in his eyes as he smirked, "If you insist," he said with a shrug.

Then, he lunged.

He jumped towards me, a sphere of fire growing in his palm as he aimed for my throat. Instinctively, I blocked his fist with a quick flick of my wrist, sending his fire blast flying towards the ceiling. The marble stones cracked and rubble start to fall.

My eyes widen as I saw the ceiling start to fall. For some reason, my legs froze on the spot and I couldn't move. I always found it unreasonable in movies, when the character is so obviously in danger but doesn't make the slightest effort to move. But now I knew why.

Fear paralyzed my muscles and no matter how much I wanted to I couldn't budge.

Luckily for me, Tadase had no such instincts and he jumped in, knocking me over and getting both of us out of harms way…for now.

I managed a weak 'thanks' to him before getting up and facing Akanoko. I was very aware of my mentors huddled in a corner and before Akanoko could do anything about it. I waved my hand and they teleported away, back to the mansion where they would be safe.

Akanoko howled in rage over the fact that he had just lost the leverage he had over me. I smirked, anger meant rashness on his part, and that was good for me.

As if on cue, Akanoko ran towards me, a sword that he had summoned pointed dangerously towards my heart. With one wave of my hand, the sword shattered and Akanoko was sent flying back.

The thing about being in battle, is that all your senses go to high alert, which is useful if you don't want to get squashed like a gnat. I could see everything extra clearly, from the cracks on the walls to the wounds on Akanoko's face. And, from the corner of my eye I saw Tadase ready himself and I breathed a sigh of relief, now all I had to do was direct Akanoko in that direction…easier thought than done.

I shifted my body so that I was facing Tadase and Akanoko's back would have to be facing him too.

The said Fallen Angel stood up, dusting the rubble off of him like it was nothing.

"Good trick, Amu-chan," he commented off handedly, but then smirked, "But not good enough," he shot out his hands and blasts of fire came hurtling in my direction, it took all of my concentration to prevent the spell from charring me to bits.

Too little too late, I realized the flame column was a distraction, Akanoko had moved over to Tadase, where he held him in the same death grip he had Suu in not five minutes ago.

Laughter bubbled up in my chest, for once, thank god, luck was on out side.

Akanoko must've seen the look on my face because confusion filled his features, he didn't have time to process everything, however, before I yelled to Tadase.

"Now!" I screamed and a flurry of things happened at once.

Tadase jabbed him in the gut with his elbow, causing Akanoko to release him. I cast a spell over the whole room, trying my best to keep the ceiling from collapsing on us before the deed was done. Tadase then trapped Akanoko in a force field and the latter was too shocked to retaliate.

Finally, Tadase raised in hand and formed a concentrated sphere of light energy just as I did the same while trying to hold up the room.

This was the only reason why I allowed Tadase to come. Akanoko was the child of Darkness, Tadase was the Angel of Light and Darkness, his light magic was the only one that could possibly rival to the Eternity Angel's. I needed this to defeat Akanoko. My own magic was not strong enough to keep him at bay, but maybe the two of us could do it.

Just as we were about to unleash our magic on him, however, a cry from the other end of the room distracted us.

"Amu!" an all too familiar voice yelled and I felt my stomach drop.

No. He couldn't have. I put them to sleep.

But, as I turned around, lo and behold stood my group of best friends. My stupid, reckless, brave best friends.

Unfortunately, this distraction jolted Akanoko out of his shocked state and he kicked Tadase away, before creating a sphere of dark energy.

At first, it looked like he was going to aim the sphere at me, but once again, too late I realized it was a decoy.

And this time I wasn't so lucky.

Akanoko aimed the sphere at Ikuto, and I knew I wasn't going to make it in time to push him out of the way.

My heart reacted before my mind did, and I teleported in front of him. The sphere crashed against my body and I cried out in pain. It was nothing like I had ever experienced before, the pain was mind numbing and yet it made me feel like very cell in my body was being roasting in acid.

Soon, the pain got too much, and I only managed to see Akanoko teleporting away with a smug grin on his face before the darkness consumed me.