I'm so so sorry. I meant to update. I really did, but I guess I just got sidetracked. I intend to finish this story before May and I have about 10 more chapters left the most. Please bear with me. I really want to finish this so I can start on other projects so you can expect more frequent updates.

PS I made this chapter extra long to make up for my absence. Hope you like it :3

Chapter 20: Planning

Amu's POV

I smiled as I watched their look of shock melt away from their features as it was replayed by pure delight.

"Our mansion?" Rima gaped, "We're moving back?"

I shrugged, trying to keep a straight face, "If you guys want to."

"Of course we want to!" Yaya yelled and I laughed.

"Well then," I snapped my fingers and a bunch of brown boxes appeared before us, "We better get unpacking."

There was an immediately flurry of movement and soon boxes were floating pass me as they unpacked (Why carry them when you can use a simple spell?).

Rima and Nagi argued about how they wanted to redecorate their room. Kukai and Utau were busy fighting to see who could charm the most boxes to move into their room (and one of Kukai's boxes effectively smacked him straight in the face as it whizzed past him way too fast). And Yaya was sitting on one of the boxes as she made it fly around while Kairi chased after her worriedly.

I laughed heartily at the sight. God I'd missed my friends.

Still smiling, I left them to unpack their things and was about to fly off when I realized Ikuto was still holding my hand.

"Where are you going?" he asked distressedly as fear reflected in his midnight blue eyes.

A pang went through my heart as I realized how worried he must be. I had died less than an hour ago, there was no way he was going to let me out of his sight any time soon.

Smiling comfortingly, I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, "I'm just going to go back to the old house," I explained gently, "Ran, Miki, Suu and Dia are all waiting there. I need to speak with them."

He immediately shook his head fiercely, "No way," he all but growled, "I'm not letting you anywhere near them," his grip on my hand tightened, "I don't know what they'll do to you."

I sighed, I knew he was going to be difficult about this, which was exactly why I wanted to leave discreetly.

"Come on, Ikuto, be rational," I soothed, "I still need to hide them away. Just in case Akanoko ever uses them for leverage again," I reasoned.

He shook his head again, "No. Absolutely not," he said stubbornly.

Irritation sparked within me but I tried to calm down. I understood why he was so upset. If it was me in his shoes I would be doing exactly the same thing.

I gently reached my free hand to face and brushed his cheek.

"Hey," I smiled, "I'll be fine, I promise."

"That's what you thought the other time," he pointed out.

"And if you hadn't came I would've been," I snapped more harshly than I intended.

Guilt filled his features as he immediately looked away and I felt horrible.

Sighing, I squeezed his hand again, "I'm sorry," I apologized, "It was't your fault. I didn't mean that. I'm sorry for being so testy. I know you're just worried about me, Ikuto."

"It is my fault," he muttered, "If I had just stayed put like you asked, you wouldn't have been hurt at all."

"It's not your fault," I defended fiercely, "It will never be your fault."

"I should've protected you," he countered, "I should've stopped you from jumping to save me in time. I hate feeling this weak and helpless," he whispered as he clenched his fists angrily.

"Look at me," I commanded as I tilted his chin up.

His sorrowful midnight blue eyes searched mine as my golden eyes bore through him with determination.

"You are not weak, Tsukiyomi Ikuto. You are far from that. You are brave and amazing. This happened not because you couldn't protect me, but because I had to protect you," I smiled at him weakly, "I can't always rely on you to save me and you can't always save me. I have to save you sometimes too."

He just looked at me with grief-stricken eyes, "Just, please, don't go again," he begged.

"I have to," I said and he opened his mouth to interrupt but I quickly powered on, "But you can follow this time," I added, "I just need to keep them safe and work things out with them."

He still didn't look too pleased about me going at all, but at last he finally gave in when I gave him a puppy dog look.

"Okay," he agreed reluctantly, "But at the first sign of trouble, we're walking away," he warned.

I smiled, "Whatever makes you happy," I laughed as I pecked him on the cheek before flying away as he stood stunned for a few seconds before charging after me.

The house looked almost haunted as we flew closer. The entire place was pitch black, and the only sign of light was streaming eerily out from the kitchen window.

Hesitantly, Ikuto and I flew towards the kitchen, him stubbornly insisting on going first just in case anything happened. It annoyed me to no end. If anything were to happen, I would stand a better chance of surviving than him. But, I bit my tongue, I knew he was just worried after all. He had good (but annoying) intentions.

Thankfully, when we reached, only the four of them were in the kitchen, no Akanoko lurking in the shadows.

As we approached them, I scanned the area. The house looked uncomfortably barren and deserted with all of our stuff gone. Like the life had been sucked out of it.

"Amu," Dia whispered as she spotted Ikuto and I walking in through the door.

"How are you guys feeling?" I asked.

"Better. Thank you," Miki replied with a shy smile.

I didn't return the gesture.

"When you guys fully recover, go back to heaven. I'll bring back as many Angels as I can and I'll then I'll lock down heaven. Make sure no one get in and out while the Celestial Angels and I settle the Akanoko problem," I instructed.

"Amu, you know locking down heaven won't solve everything, right?" Ran asked cautiously.

"I know that," I snapped harshly, "But I have to start somewhere. I have to keep everyone safe. No one else has to die because I made the mistake of trusting you all those years ago," I said hotly.

The four of them stared at me mournfully and I felt my anger rise. Yes, I had saved them, but it didn't mean I had forgiven them. Far from it in fact.

"Amu-chan," Suu said softly, "We never meant to hurt you."

"But you did anyways," I pointed out, "And if you had never meant to hurt me, you would've never taken his side!"

"We only did that to protect you!" Miki snapped.

"Protect me?" I scoffed, "What a joke."

"It's true!" Ran protested, "Akanoko said that if we didn't do what we were asked to…he would kill Ikuto."

My blood ran cold for a second and I felt Ikuto tense up beside me. I cast a furtive glance and him and saw he was looking at me with worried blue eyes.

Akanoko had threatened to kill him?

He gently squeezed my hand as comfort and I turned back to them, still too angry to listen to their reasoning.

"Then you should have told me!" I retaliated ruthlessly, "You should have told me and I would've protect him!"

"How?!" Dia demanded, "How exactly would you have done that? You would've risked your life for them and gotten yourself or him killed!"

"You don't know that," I seethed, "You don't know anything."

That only seemed to anger them as Ran yelled, "We knew you would've risked everything to protect him! We know losing him would've destroyed you! We wanted to protect you from that!"

"And yet I lost him anyways!" I screamed as tears built up in my eyes.

They froze at those words and Ikuto's grip on my hand slackened for a second as they all stared at me with a shocked expression.

Harshly wiping away the tears, I glared up at them, "All those years I couldn't see him," I whispered softly, "All those years I couldn't be with him…I lost him anyways," I choked.

"Amu," Ikuto said, speaking up for the first time since we arrived.

He squeezed my hand tighter and brushed away the tears from my cheeks as he gave me a loving smile, "You didn't lose me. You could never lose me."

I stared up at him gratefully but the moment was ruined when Dia spoke.

"We only wanted to protect you Amu," she whispered.

I looked away from her stubbornly, my blood boiled as I clenched my jaw, "You didn't protect me."

"We did what we thought would hurt you the least. You were our friend Amu. We never would've hurt you on purpose," Suu reasoned.

"Friends don't do that to each other!" I screeched.

Miki raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that you did to your friends, Amu?" she asked coolly, "You took away their memories because you believed that that was best way to go. You believed that that was the only way you could protect them the most."

Heat flushed to my cheeks, "That was different."

"How so?" Dia challenged, "We did it because we didn't want you to lose Ikuto forever. You did it because you didn't want them to remember the pain of losing each other forever."

"I didn't leave them hurt and betrayed when I left!" I snapped.

Their eyes softened at that.

"Amu, we never meant to hurt you, we really didn't. Please, understand that," they begged, "If we could've spared you the pain we would've."

I bit my lip uncertainly. They had been my best friends before this entire thing happened. They had supported me and loved me through everything. They created me. Taught me everything I knew.

Sighing, my resolved weakened as I looked Dia in the eyes.

"I'm not ready to forgive you completely yet," I said bluntly, "But," I hesitated, "I understand your reasons. And I want us to be friends again."

Their faces lit up at that as they smiled brightly and launched themselves, hugging me tightly. My grip on Ikuto's hand loosened and broke as they did so. I tried ignored how empty my hand felt without his and instead focused on them.

I blushed and grumbled slightly as I hugged them back tentatively.

"I haven't completely forgiven you," I warned as they broke the hug.

They just smiled.

"It's a start," Dia said chirpily.

I smiled slightly then coughed and tried to act nonchalant.

"We should get going. I still have to discuss with Rima and the rest abut what to do about the Akanoko problem," I said as I scrunched up my nose in disgust.

They nodded in agreement before spending their wings.

"We'll need to prepare the Hall of Ages first. I imagine it'll need cleaning and repairing after everything," Suu sighed.

I nodded, "I'll get the rest prepared before we meet you there."

With a last smile, they flew out of the window and towards heaven, leaving Ikuto and I behind.

Almost immediately, Ikuto slipped his hand back into mine and I felt my body relax with relief at the physical contact.

I smiled at him and he smirked back.

"It's just like you to forgive centuries worth of hate and anguish," he said with a chuckle.

I blushed, "I didn't forgive them!" I yelled indignantly.

He smirked, "Oh yes you did. I can see it in your eyes, you won't be holding any grudges against them."

I scowled and looked away stubbornly.

Ikuto chuckled and pulled me into a hug.

"That's what I love the most about you, Amu," he whispered into my ear, his breath tickling my skin and I shivered involuntarily.

"Your heart of gold is what I love the best."

Ikuto's POV

When we got back, Amu wasted no time updating everyone about the situation and immediately, the festive mood dissipated and was replaced by somberness.

"The finial battle, it's really happening, isn't it?" Utau asked as she hugged herself.

They had basically finished refurnishing the place in the hour and a half we were gone so we were all sitting on comfortable couches or beanbags, but the last thing any of us felt was well rested.

The winter solstice was in a week's time and none of us knew what to do.

"We need to plan about what to do," Amu began.

Rima sighed, "Every year Akanoko send troops during the winter solstice, and every year we have to fight them off. You guys will be practically powerless during the winter solstice, all Angels will except for Amu, Utau, Yaya, and I."

Utau grimaced, "The Fallen Angels, on the other hand, will have all the power they need to destroy us. We've seen their strength every winter solstice for the past hundred years. They've tried endlessly to break down our barriers and we've managed to keep them at bay, but I'm afraid this time we won't succeed."

Amu nodded gravely in agreement, "More angels have fallen this year alone than in the past three decades. Akanoko's army size had grown tremendously and so had his power. If we don't stop him by this solstice, there'll be no hope left."

"Thankfully," Tadase piped up with a smile, "Being the Angel of Light and Darkness, my powers aren't as effected by the solstice," Tadase smiled at Amu, "And I would be more than happy to help you take him down Amu-chan."

I felt a slight pang of jealously as Amu smiled gratefully at him. I was completely useless in a situation like this. I can't even protect my own girlfriend from getting hurt.

Sighing in frustration, I ran a hand through my hair. Amu saw my stressed out state and stared at me worriedly but I waved her off. The last thing she needed was for me to add to her ever growing pile of worries.

"I think your idea of getting all the Angels into a safe place is a good one," Kairi piped up, frowning slightly, "It'll make the situation easier if we can protect everyone at one time."

Amu nodded in agreement, "To make sure it's properly guarded, I have a spell we can use, it keeps out Fallen Angels."

At this piece of information, my ears immediately perked up and I scowled.

"No," I immediately rejected, "If it keeps out Fallen Angels, it'll keep you out too," I said flatly.

Rima nodded, "For once I agree with the blue haired freak," I raised an eyebrow at the comment but didn't press further, "You are not putting yourself in danger, Amu."

Amu sighed, "Don't you see?" she asked, exasperation clear on her features, "We don't have a choice. Akanoko is going to come. He is going to try to take over. And he will succeed if we don't do everything in our power to stop him. It's my duty to protect everyone, no matter the stakes. And I will carry it out to the very end."

"You can't let it cost your life, Amu," Rima snapped, "If you die there is no one else to take over. Your reign will end and everything will fall into chaos. Is that what you want?" she challenged, "And beyond that you are our friend. We can't lose you again!"

"You won't lose me," Amu promised, "And, even in that one in odd chance that something really does happen, you guys and the Keepers can rule in my place," Amu insisted, "You are more than capable of handling things. Besides, I won't die. I won't let myself die."

"You can't control everything!" I yelled, exasperated, "What if something happens and you can't prevent it?" I demanded.

She went silent for awhile and looked away. Relief washed through me as I thought the point finally got through to her, but when she looked at me, her eyes burned fierce with determination.

"I have a duty to those who are under my rule. And I will fight for and protect everyone of them till my dying breath. It is my responsibility as ruler," she said fiercely.

I glared at her, "Your dying breath may come sooner than you think at the rate you're going," I snapped.

She just glared back, "Do you think I want to die?!" she demanded.

I stared coldly back, "With the way you're acting I would have to say yes."

Amu scoffed at that, "I don't want to die. I want to live. I want to live eons more, to spend eons more with you guys," she whispered as she looked round the room with a mournful expression.

"But," she added, "If it ever comes to the choice between my happiness and the lives of the people I love. Your lives will win, it always will."

"Don't you see?! Losing you would mean losing part of ourselves as well!" Utau cried out, tears welling up in her eyes, "You're our best friend. We can't lose you again!"

Amu shook her head, "You won't. And I don't expect you to understand or support all of my decisions but I am doing this, and you can't stop me."

I glared at her for awhile but finally relented when I saw she wasn't giving up on this.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, "We'll support you if think this is what's best for everyone. But, please, just think things over properly before you make any rash decisions," I pleaded.

"I have thought things through," Amu insisted.

I sighed irritably but didn't pursue the matter any further, it would do us no good arguing out what could possibly be the last week of our lives.

"If we have everything settled, we should start heading up, the sooner we get this done the better," I sighed, trying to deviate the topic.

We all murmured in agreement, knowing better than to try and change Amu's mind, all that we could do now was protect her.

We then grabbed our crystals and began transforming.

Kukai smirked as he folding his arms across his chest, his dark red wings spread out behind him.

"Let's go kick some butt."