Author's Note: I'M so so sorry! *bows Tohru Honda style* (see fruits basket) I apologize for being MIA for so long. Basically I had major writer's block, and a huge stressful schedule. I still have a stressful schedule (freshmen year baby!) but I will hopefully be able to update more frequently. Again, SO SORRY. Please bear with me ok? And if you have any comments or suggestions, please review. They are always appreciated. Thanks so much!

~Ri

Chapter 3: Dreams of pain

(Ikuto-1st Person P.O.V)

"What do you mean it's my fault?" I stared in shock at Rima as if she'd just said that the sky was polka-dotted.

"You left her!" Rima shouted, her anger seeping through the carefully neutral exterior she'd built. "She was depressed, and sad and lonely!" Tadase seemed to shrink as the words spilled from his friend's lips. He obviously had known what was going on.

"She was depressed? But she has you guys, and Tadase and her family!" I almost said feeling desperate. It couldn't be my fault that Amu was gone right? Please God, let her be ok…

"Alright, Rima this is helping nothing." Nageiko's tone was calm and gentle but rung with finality. This argument would not continue. With a scalding glare, Rima turned her tiny back to me and picked up her cell phone again, desperately hoping for a message from the one person we all knew would not leave one.

Deciding now was a good time to figure out battle plans; I walked over to Kukuai and nudged him. He showed me the places they hadn't had a chance to look yet. I decided that I'd take those places and some other ones that they had yet to think of. Since the Guardians were still in school they had to live through the torment while I was a free cat. With a nod to all of them except Rima, I leaped out the ceiling hole and headed to the park.

(Amu-1st Person P.O.V)

The pain was getting worse each day. I have no idea how long I'd been missing and to be honest, it was one of the farthest things from my mind. I was just concentrating on the walls that guarded my sanity. I'd kill to be able to see my friends and Charas. What if they didn't even realize I was gone? As if reading my mind again, which he had an annoying habit of doing, the devil man himself spoke. It was sometimes him, sometimes it was a woman. Both are soulless monsters anyway so it doesn't make much of a difference. Except the woman lets me eat sometimes, the man doesn't. I don't know what I did to deserve this, but I made a promise to myself and to Ikuto that I'd keep myself safe. And I NEVER break my promises. So I will find a way out of this. I have to.

(Ikuto-3rd Person P.O.V)

Ikuto sat on a small wooden bench by a white fountain in the park. To most people this was just a park. A place for playing, talking, and hanging out. But to him, this place held a special significance. This was the place that Amu first heard him play the violin. He could still remember her bright eyes and pink cheeks as she listened to the sorrowful melody coming from his instrument. It had been a soft almost peaceful moment. But, he shook head sadly, that's all over and done with. No going back now. He traced his steps through the park, looking everywhere he could think of. Eventually he began to feel wary and depressed.

"Yoru, we'll never find her at this rate." Yoru was surprised. Ikuto was often pessimistic but he had recently been open and positive. What had happened to that Ikuto?

"You can't give up-nya." The alley cat Chara encouraged. Deciding to just take a nap while he waited for the school to end, Ikuto climbed a tree and immediately passed out. Rolling his eyes at his master, Yoru curled up in Ikuto's navy locks, and soon fell asleep as well.

Amu had never been one to cry. She had always been disdainful of the princesses in Disney movies as they very rarely tried to think or fight for themselves. But even Amu had to admit, at this point, the best she could do was lift her head. She was too weak. Her thin hands were pale and scratched and seemed to be releasing some sort of pus from the wounds. Her right leg was broken; she had a concussion, a sprained wrist, and bruises from head to toe. In short, she was a mess. And they weren't done with her yet.

"Stubbornness will only prolong the experience." The man's voice held quiet amusement. Amu responded with a weak glare. "I'll let you sit and ponder our little proposition ok? But remember, eventually all you're little friends will end up here. Whether or not you cooperate. So just make the right choice and we can be more lenient on them when they get here."

"Not gonna happen." Amu choked out, punctuating every word with a devil's look.

"I think," The man spoke as he pulled a lever, "That in time you'll see it my way."

The sky was covered in smoky grey clouds. Lightning crashed, and in the distance, Ikuto could hear the rumbling of thunder. The city lights had dimmed to reveal a city doused in quiet. The silence that oozed from the tall buildings was slightly eerie, Ikuto decided. Deciding he'd better shelter from the now hard, almost painful drops of rain that seemed to sear his skin, he grabbed Yoru and the two fled for a cover. Safety appeared in a rather unlikely form. A huge dark office complex.

I'll just hide myself here for a couple hours. Just until the rain stops. Then I'll keep looking. Ikuto picked the lock on the gate that barred the complex from unwanted guests and slunk into the nearest warehouse. Just as he was about to doze off on top of some boxes, he heard a shriek. Jumping, his head whirled back and forth in shock. What in the name of Vitali was that?

Creeping through the rafters of the tall building, he listened for noises and heard another shout of pain that nearly knocked him off his precarious position on the ceiling beam, it was so loud. It had come from directly below him. Flattening himself on his belly, Ikuto stared down at the scene before him.

The room was cold and dark, small and cramped. A tall figure cast in shadow held up a deadly looking knife and then the next thing he knew Ikuto was hearing the sound of tearing flesh and screams of agony. Clenching his fists, Ikuto braced himself, ready to come to the aid of the suffering girl, whose screams were so anguished he felt as if his very heart was getting plucked. The shape of a young teen became visible in the small patch of moonlight streaming from a tiny skylight. Her pale brown eyes were wide with horror and pain. Her bright pink hair was sticking out in random places and her black and red plaid clothing was ripped in places that revealed cuts and bruises. A huge bleeding cut was scratched on her pale cheek. As she let out another agonized yell, Ikuto let out a yell.

"AMU!"

A loud car horn shattered the nightmare and Ikuto woke up, shaking and sweating. Was it all just a dream? I really hope so. Glancing out over the now awake and bustling city, Ikuto couldn't help but shiver. Amu, wherever you are, please PLEASE be alright.

Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading! Favorite and review ok? By the way; Tomaso Antonio Vitali was a famous violinist from the late 16 to early 1700's. Just in case you wanted to know. Which I bet a lot of you didn't.