A/N: Thank you, i-is-monstarr-RAWR, KuraiNezumichan, kamikorosuXP, and LittlePlagueSpirit for your awesome reviews! Also another thank you to IceFire56, and KooriFenikkusu for adding the story to their favorite's list. There isn't much to tell you about this chapter so let's get on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't not own Shugo Chara!, only my OC's and their role in the story.

Enjoy!

Chapter 27: Dark Memories.

Darkness is all around me… I couldn't hear or- wait… I think I'm starting to hear again.

"Collect more X Eggs… Ikuto."

Ikuto… What's he doing here? Where am I anyways?

"The Embryo doesn't appear just because there are a lot of X Eggs… It appears when the X gets taken off!"

Music… Sad music… But why am I hearing that?

"I'll make those Guardians brats do my work for me. Continue playing the violin. They are sure to come."

I open my eyes slowly to see the back of Ikuto playing his purple violin in his Death Label Transformation and noticed Kazuomi was standing next to me. I look around and found out we were on the top floor of the Easter's satellite dish that was on top of the Easter building itself!

"And they don't know I have traps waiting for them!"

Kazuomi said, laughing to the world while I started to remember what happen before I was out cold and gasps. I stood up way too fast, feeling dizzy until it went away and I glare at Kazuomi in hate.

"My friends will destroy whatever it is that you have traps for!"

I spoke up, getting Kazuomi to stop and look over to me with a smirk.

"Oh really? You have no idea how hard it'll be for them."

He said, taking out his cell phone. Ikuto was still playing that purple violin but if I look over to him, I would've seen him peeking at us from the corner of his eye. I watch as Kazuomi place the phone to his ear and waited until someone answer on the other end.

"Yes, she's awake. I need body guards to make sure she doesn't ruin my plan."

Kazuomi told whoever on the phone and I become eye widen and made the move to attack with my Characters but when I look over to see them they weren't there!"

"My Characters!"

I said in surprise and went to attack them man but before I could attack Kazuomi myself I was already graph by two of the guards from last night!

"Let go of me!"

I shouted as Ikuto tries to stop playing to help me when the old man took out the tuning fork and tap it lightly and it made Ikuto stop and scream in pain before going back to playing the purple violin again.

"Ikuto!"

I call out, starting to feel scared. I promise Yoru! I promise to keep Ikuto safe but why am I felling at it! I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything. If only I've given more time and graph that tuning fork and destroyed it… I would've save Ikuto before the guards came in and stop me! Kazuomi smirks at me before looking at Ikuto's back.

"I know you're coming, Guardians…"

I heard him whisper. I look over to him again with a glare.

"Why? Why are you after the Embryo so much? You guys can't even see it so why are you after something that you can't even see?"

I ask, seeing him look over to me with his own glare.

"That's none of your business!"

He snaps and it made me flinch. I look down again in sadness. I'm never going to get this guy to talk, am I?

"Heh, heh, heh. Looks like it's started."

Kazuomi spoke up, looking away with his smirk again. I watch him walk over to the rail in front of Ikuto, who wasn't looking too good. I look over to him with a deep frown.

"I guess the X Eggs hatch if I leave the owner alone. I'm sure the Guardians are having fun."

Just then Ikuto fell on his knees, not having much energy left to play. Kazuomi looks over to him with a death glare.

"What's wrong, Ikuto? Don't stop playing!"

Kazuomi shouted but Ikuto didn't get up and was looking over to me. Kazuomi growls under his breath and use the tuning fork again. Making Ikuto scream in pain and is being forced to get up. The old man smirks once more.

"Stand up. That's right. Continue playing the violin!"

He said, smirking wider as I felt useless and watch Ikuto start playing the violin again.

"Ikuto! Tira!"

I heard someone shouted out from the bottom floor below us.

"Amu…?"

I thought to myself and smile warmly. I knew they were coming!

"Hmph."

I look over to Kazuomi in question.

"The Guardians got past the first floor. But how about the next trap? It is a creature made the same way as that violin, by pouring X Egg energy into it."

I gasp in shock. No! That's what they've been doing!

"They can't defeat it that easily… Right, Ikuto?"

He asks, making me look over to see Ikuto about to fall down again.

"What's wrong? You're tired already? You look like you're about to die from only a few hours of playing. And you call yourself the son of a genius violinist?"

I glare at the old man.

"You're weak because you played music when you're so young. You need to play sports. I played rugby until college. Hahaha-!"

"You're wrong!"

I spoke up, getting Kazuomi to look over with a raise eyebrow.

"How am I wrong, little girl?"

He asks as I made fists.

"Ikuto's not weak! He's never weak! I believe that he can do anything. You may not know this but even the strong needs help sometimes."

I try breaking free of the two guards that held me but still couldn't.

"I made a promise to keep him safe! He's been alone after he lost his father. He was sad but smiles because he has friends like me! Ikuto is my friend and I won't let you get away with this!"

I shouted and kick the two guards hard in the knees and ran after Kazuomi who panic but use the tuning fork again and Ikuto scream, putting away his violin fast and taking out his grim reaper weapon and block me from hitting Kazuomi.

"Ikuto! Tira!"

I heard Amu and look over to see her and Tadase in their Character Transformations as I notice my Characters were with them. Amu was in her Amulet Heart.

"Guys…"

I whisper as Tadase glares at Kazuomi.

"Wow. The brainwashing is even stronger then before."

Kazuomi smirks at them.

"I've been waiting, Guardians. Please enjoy yourselves."

He said and Ikuto attacks them, making me eye widen.

"Ikuto, no!"

Amu, Tadase, their Characters, Yoru, and mine back away from the attack. Amu then summons her Heart rods.

"Ikuto! Can you hear me! You can't use your power anymore! Or else you're- aaaghh!"

Amu screams in pain, getting hit by another attack from him. Just then something dark came upon Amu's leg and she couldn't move. Ikuto was about to finished Amu off when Tadase came and block his attack.

"Ikuto!"

Tadase started with a glare.

"I know that you are weak… And being manipulated right now. If you're going to hurt her… I will… Fight! Royal Sword!"

Tadase calls out and a sword appears instead of his King's staff. He pushes Ikuto away from him as we stare in shock.

"I will protect her!"

Tadase shouted and Ikuto attacks again and the two started fighting each other.

"Why…. Why do they have to fight against each other!"

Amu asks as my Characters took this chance and flew over to me. Amu's Characters spoke up to her.

"This is sad. They don't hate each other."

"That's probably… Because they're boys."

"Ikuto didn't want to involve those dear to him. Tadase wants to protect those important to him."

They said and Amu frowns.

"Even if they don't want to… There are times when they have to fight!"

"But-!"

Kazuomi cut her off.

"Hahahaha… Good! It's very manly of both of them! The more Ikuto fights, the more there will be negative energy. And that's when the Embryo appears! Heh, heh, heh…"

He said as I notice Yoru was getting something out of the old man's coat pocket and found out it was the Dumpty Key. Just then Kazuomi notice Yoru and was about to stop him when I came and did a Character Transformation with Kiki and push him away with my wings, going fast. He hits the floor as Yoru flew over to Amu with the key.

"Amu!"

She looks over in surprised.

"Yoru!"

"Catch, Amu!"

Yoru warn and threw the key to Amu who gasps, but caught it before it hit the floor.

Just then mine, Amu's lock and Ikuto's key started glowing. We both could see a crying boy, but his back was turn to us so we couldn't tell who it was in the bright light.

"This is wrong…"

Amu spoke up, getting me to look over to her.

"To fight even though they don't want to… I don't get it. Because I'm a girl. But… Girls have… Their own way of fighting!"

Amu shouted out and put the Dumpty Key into her Humpty Lock's key hole.

"Dumpty Key, Humpty Locks! Lead me your powers!"

Amu calls out and the three items started to glow brighter and in a flash of light, I, Amu, and Tadase were in darkness, inside our own human size babbles.

"Whoa!"

"Amu! Yuarona!"

"Tadase, you too! What is this?"

"I don't know. I was suddenly enveloped in a strong light."

Tadase answers as I look around us.

"Everything is in darkness…"

I whisper, having them hear me. Just then Kiseki spoke up.

"Calm down, kids. This is inside the torrent of light. The energy from the key and the locks gushed out… And we are floating inside a flood of light."

"I don't get it."

Ran spoke up in thought. Kiseki sighs before speaking up again.

"To explain it more simply… This is the build up energy right before it explodes."

We gasp at that.

"And when does it explode?"

Amu asks, looking up and around.

"We just return to normal. No worries."

That's good news… Just then Amu notices something.

"Oh. That's the boy we saw earlier."

She said and we look over and soon found out who it was.

"Ikuto!"

I call out but he couldn't hear me.

"Tira, I think this is a memory."

Kiki said and I frown, watching him walk over to a younger Utau, who was sitting down. They were in a hospital from the looks of things.

"Mom needs to be in bed. We can't visit her because it'll tire her out."

"No!"

"Utau."

"I want to see her. I miss her!"

Utau shouted and started crying.

"Daddy is gone, too. What's going to happen to us?"

Utau asks and Ikuto lightly graph his sister's arm and look at her in the eye.

"Utau. We can't cry."

He started, while the adults pass by them with sorry looks on their faces.

"Kids like us shouldn't cry. Or else, everyone will pity us."

He said and Utau wipe her tears away.

"What does pity mean?"

"When people feel sorry for us."

"People can't feel sorry for us?"

"…"

It then shows us another memory.

"Big brother!"

Came a cute little Tadase, hugging Ikuto's arm, as they enter his house. Just then Tadase's mom walks over to them with a sad smile.

"Ikuto and Utau are going to live with us, Tadase."

"Yay, yay!"

Tadase cheers as Ikuto smiles at him.

"I feel sorry for both of them. Tadase, be nice to them."

They frown at that. How sad. It's so sad. They're still so young. So sad…

"Is this… all of Ikuto's past memories?"

I thought to myself and then another memory came and we watch the first King talking to Ikuto in the back yard of Tadase's house.

"There's nothing to feel sorry about."

Ikuto had a face of surprised but then it went away.

"See? Look over there."

The older man said, pointing to the younger Tadase and Utau who were looking at a tree that held a bird house.

"Everyone eventually leaves the nest to go off on their own. It's just that flew you off earlier then most."

Ikuto didn't say anything as Tadase's mom walk over with glasses of ice tea on a tray.

"Oh, Tuskasa. Don't say such mean things to the kids."

The first King, Tuskasa, look over to her.

"Am I the mean one? 'I'm being nice to them, but they're so unfriendly.' 'These kids are not cute.'"

She gasps at that in shock.

"Be careful what you think."

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

Ikuto didn't say anything and just listen. The woman left and Tuskasa look over to him with a smile.

"You're wondering how I knew. You've never met such a wired adult like me before, right? That's because… I'm not an adult."

He said and hands Ikuto a black and blue Egg with an anime black cat's face on it.

"What's this? A black egg?"

Ikuto ask himself as Tuskasa stood up and took a few steps to get something until he stops and looks over to Ikuto. He then hands him his dad's violin's case after walking back.

"It came into my care when Soko was hospitalized. Your father's feelings are in that violin, so you should hold on to it."

"…"

Ikuto looks down with a frown.

"I don't understand my father's feelings. It's because of him mom and Utau are unhappy. What's happiness? What's unhappiness?"

He asks as Tuskasa smiles at him.

"Do you think your father was happy about leaving alone?"

"I don't know. Yeah."

"But don't you want to know? About your father?"

He asks and took out his hand to him.

"Come with me and find out… Your father's true feelings."

Ikuto stare at him before taking his hand and the two left far into the country. Another memory appears and it was winter and the two were in the middle of the park.

"Huh? We don't have any money?"

"Yeah, I used it all up at the market. I can't find my wallet."
"Either you dropped it or were pick-pocketed. Any credit cards?"

"All in the wallet. But lucky, my passport is in my coat pocket."

"Idiot! Where are we going to stay tonight? You dragged me all over the place and we still haven't found out anything about my father!"

Ikuto snaps, having cat ears and a cat's tail appear.

"Ikuto, you've become harsh. You're just like Aruto. We'll think of something. Let's just enjoy the snow for a bit."

"Looking at the snow will do nothing other then freeze us to death. Sheesh."

Ikuto said and got an idea. He opens up his father's violin case, took out the violin and started to play. Having the people around them hear the music and walk over to the two. Soon they were able to find a place to stay with enough money and since then they've been getting money that way ever since. Until one day an old woman walk over to Ikuto and hands him a photo of his father, holding his violin in a restaurant.

"Aruto was performing part time when he was a student touring Europe. He also worked at that lady's restaurant. She knew as soon as she heard your violin… That it was Aruto's violin."

Tuskasa said, looking at the photo, while he and Ikuto sat on an outside bench.

"Everyone came to the restaurant to hear him play. Business was good and one of her customers married her daughter. She's old now so she closed the restaurant. But she wanted you to tell your father… 'Thank you for all the happiness you brought us."

"… I see… Father's violin wasn't causing bad luck for everyone."

Ikuto said, looking down in thought. Tuskasa nods his head at him.

"That's right. You're a stray cat with a lot of pride."

Ikuto started to cry so Tuskasa held him in his arms.

"You kept all your hurt and tears inside, didn't you? But you're okay now. No one has to feel sorry for you, or order you around. You are-!"

"Free!"

Came Yoru's voice, being hatch from his Egg as Ikuto looks over to him in surprised. We watch in sadness but yet amaze about his story. But the memory wasn't over just yet. We saw two guards from Easter walk over to them.

"We finally found you. Ikuto Tsukiyomi."

Ikuto graph his Egg and Yoru as Tuskasa place his arm around Ikuto, looking at the two adults in front of them.

.

"Sigh. You found us already?"

He asks, while Ikuto looks over to Tuskasa in question.

"This boy has the right to the Easter fortune. As long as he had been missing, the inheritance issue would've remained unsettled. But I guess I couldn't keep that up for long. That's why I took him away. I didn't want to see… A child gets pulled into adult power struggles."

Tuskasa said and the two guards shook their heads no.

"Actually, the situation has changed. Ikuto's mother has remarried."

"What?"

"Easter now belongs to Mr. Ichinomiya. Actually his name is now Mr. Hoshina."

They look over to Ikuto, who was in shock.

"Now come with us Ikuto. Don't cause your new father any trouble."

And the memory ends with a blast of energy around us.

"What's going on!"

"The energy is about to explode!"

Kiseki answers in a panic as we look all around us to see random memories. Same we didn't like to see and some were at least happy. The one I notice was that Ikuto was now the age is he now and same for Utau. He walks into the house and notice Utau walking over to him.

"Ikuto, I'm going to live in the apartment my agency provided. Those people are not our parents."

Utau said and left with a suit case as I saw another memory with Kazuomi speaking to Ikuto.

"Listen, you don't need music. I don't want you to become like your father. Ikuto you don't have any freedom. If you run away, those left behind will suffer. You're going to make up for your father's sin with your life!"

Ikuto… I watch all the things he had been force to do.

Ikuto was sad and he didn't want others to get hurt so he did what he was told to do. But now we have to keep him safe! I made fists as I heard the three words I knew very well near by me.

"Unlock my heart!"

A/N: The story is really getting good, huh? We're getting close to the end I don't know what story I might start next! Will okay, I lied; I have a story that I've been typing every now and then and was thinking about posting it after this story. But the story is rated M! LOL, seeya!