I apologize for the long wait, seriously, but I counted, I had three test each week, at least three test, so I spent most of my time studying, but no matter, I'll try to post at least three or four more chapters over the winter holidays and I'll try to make them all longer, please don't give up on the story...christmas cookies to all who review

„You do know that I'll throw you to the monster without a backwards glance?" She answered with a yes, her tone cold and voice steady. He shook his head.

„Fine then, you stubborn girl, you asked for it." He grabbed her hair and dragged her out of the damp cell, she gritting her teeth in pain.

„Get up bitch, don't make me drag you." He pulled her up, almost tearing out her scalp. She trembled slightly, from the pain or fear she wasn't sure. But she knew that she would never betray Amu, no matter what and for her friend she would die at the hands of a monster. Closing her eyes her thoughts went back to Amu. The girl was strange, she was strange even before her mother was killed, but now, Utau would say she was downright mad. Amu would always be her best friend and sister by everything but blood, but those shadows she had seen clinging to her and those golden eyes. They had a mad glint in them that made everyone shiver. Perhaps Amu was too not entirely human, like herself. But Amu couldn't be half demon, because neither the queen nor the king were demons, it would've been obvious.

She felt pain shot through her and knew she was thrown onto the cold floor of the dungeons. She braced herself, her sad fate sealed. An angel would die at the hands of a demon. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, her mother would be disappointed. Her mother was a half angel, a white witch.

A growl brought her back to the situation at hand. Her death.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Amu ran as fast as she could to her fathers study, her will not letting her body rest. This has gone far enough and she had to ask for help in the search for Utau. She couldn't find her anywhere and that meant that she might have been taken from the grounds of the castle.

Stupid demon had distracted her and when she came back to her room Utau was gone, but if she hadn't been so out of it from what the monster had done then she would've realised sooner that Utau was missing. She would've been able to find her sooner. Dungeons! She hadn't looked there. Of course Utau could be there. Maybe it was him who lured her down there and then captured her, like he had done to herself.

But he was a monster at heart, what...what if he already... . No she wouldn't think like that, she had to find Utau and she would find her fine and well. Not...not bloodied or...or lifeless.

She swiveled suddenly off course and used her momentum to turn around, not slowing down even a notch. She headed towards the dungeons, goal in mind.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

He sat on his throne made of earth and animal bones, twirling a round stone in his hand, it's color and structure changing with each squeeze. A large grey wolf sat at his side, on its forehead a large emblem of gold. Its eyes were red, but they were tinted with a sickly green light and dull. If only the stupid stubborn girl hadn't messed up his plans, but no, the human would rather die than betray her friend. If only she knew what her friend was, she would betray the demon in a heartbeat. She smelled kind of funny though, too sweet and innocent for his liking.

„Yuu." A man in his thirties stepped into the room, his brown eyes cold and calculating. Bowing to the man on the throne he looked up, his orange hair falling in his eyes.

„My lord, what is it you wish me to do?" The self proclaimed lord of earth stroked his chin and shot him a look that made Yuu shiver.

„You will find me the well of wisdom, Waizu." Yuu waited for the man to speak more but when no more words were heard he bowed and left.

He had to find Tsukasa and tell him of this development. The world was in danger.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Ikuto was soundly asleep, dreaming. His mother had come for a visit.

Ikuto found himself sitting on a rocky cliff, waves of an ocean beating against the black stone. It took him a moment longer to realise the water was crimson instead of blue and the dark sky littered with reddish stars.

A woman suddenly appeared next to him, like she rose from the shadows. He looked up at her face and breath hitched in his throat. She hadn't visited him in a long time.

„Mother." He breathed and she turned her violet eyes on him. Her silvery golden hair floated around her and the regal dark dress she wore fluttered in the wind. A crown of jewels glittering on her head. A warm smile graced her lips.

„Ikuto, my baby, you've grown so much." She sighed. „Time passes so quickly."

„Mother, how come you are here?"

„Cannot I visit my son just to see him?"

„You always have a reason, mother." The woman sighed again and sat next to her son, draping an arm around him.

„You're always like this, just like your father." It didn't matter that he knew not who his father was, she always said this.

„Well, I have come to tell you a story Ikuto, one that you shouldn't forget, ok?" He nodded and she smiled.

„Once, there was a beautiful woman with flowing golden tresses and violet eyes named Zuru. She was not a noblewoman and therefore should not have been as regal or as beautiful as she was. For that she was shunned and almost burned, she was accused of being a witch. With nowhere to turn to she started working at a shady bar, and in the end had to sell herself to continue living. She had two children, of two different men. One was a child of a demon, and the other a child of an angel.

The two little girls were inseparable, and both looked like carbon copies of their mother. They were named Souko and Shina, Souko had a son, and Shina,a white witch, had only a daughter before she died. The two were best friends, inseparable, until Shina died in childbirth. It was only a year after your birth, son. I took care of her daughter for five years, until I was almost killed and then saved by your father.

And the two children were separated, destined to meet again."

Ikuto was looking at his mother in disbelief. She had tears in her eyes, and they fell like blood drops down her face.

„You don't mean, Tau?" His mother started to fade and he scrambled to hug her close.

„Family is important Ikuto, remember that." And she dissolved in his grasp.

Ikuto woke gasping for breath, bloody tears dripping down his face. It has been so long since his mother visited him last, over five years ago. Now even remembering his little sister that was taken from him, it was cruel. So cruel of his mother to do this to him. But he was glad that he saw her, and when he realised what she meant he heard the creaking of metal against metal. Somebody was at the door. He turned to look and what met his cool gaze stunned him.

And the two children, destined to meet again. Echoed in his mind.

The blonde girl was shoved into his cell by the man he had seen yesterday. The doors banged closed.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Utau shivered as her eyes trailed upwards, stopping on the beasts cold eyes. It was rather dark, only the soft light of torches illuminating the cell but she could see better than most, her heritage making it possible. The beast was in form of a boy, but that wouldn't fool her, many demons took on the human form. He had glowing azure eyes and red, matted hair. His pale skin was splattered with blood and two furry ears twitched on his head. A tail swished behind him, its fur also slick with red. She would be damned if she went down without a fight.

Standing up and squearing her shoulders she looked up at him, expression stony.

„What is your name demon?" He cocked his head and looked at her curiously. She fumed, he was making fun of her. The damn demon was playing with its pray like a cat!

„Don't play with me, I know that you understand me!" She yelled and his expression darkened, a low growl reverberated through the room. She gulped slightly but prepared herself.

A punch was aimed at him and he dodged, but before he could land she jumped at him. He ducked and she sailed over him, bounced of the wall and right back at his back. He turned around at the last moment and she crashed into his chest. They both toppled down to the floor, he leaning over her. He growled viciously and she couldn't help but gulp. She drew her legs up and threw him off her. He swiped at her with his claws and her blood splattered over the floor. She clutched her arm in pain. He lunged for her throat but she held him back.

She punched him in the gut and he staggered backwards, claws ripping into her abdomen when his grip loosened. She slid down the wall, holding onto her stomach.

He turned back to her again and kneeled down in front of her, fangs ready to end her. She saw his azure eyes scanning her and closed her own, praying it would be over soon. Another pair of azure eyes popped into her head, her big brothers beautiful eyes. She laughed, the sound so bitter it would freeze someones heart. Tears sprang to her eyes as she tought about her big brother whom she lost so long ago, if only he could see how pathetic she became. Dying at a monsters hand, how shameful for a white witch.

„Sorry Iku, I couldn't find you after all." She whispered as the fangs neared her throat. The demon suddenly stiffened. She opened her eyes again to see what happened. She found a pair of eyes staring at her.

„Tau?" The whisper came from the demon, and she suddenly realised the demon had dark blue hair, it was only blood that was making it red. She almost laughed again.

„Don't make fun of me now, finish me of." How could the demon be so cruel as to call her that name, to resemble her brother. He sniffed her and his eyes lit up.

„Tau it's really you." She was suddenly hugged by him. She winced, her wounds throbbing. He looked at her with concern.

„Tau, Tau! I'm sorry, please don't die!" She looked again into his eyes. It was him. He was alive.

„Big brother, I'm so glad I could see you again." Her hand fell from his, it was getting colder.

„You won't die Tau, just bear with me for a moment ok?" She nodded absent-mindedly, knowing it was her end but not wanting to upset him.

She felt a weird sensation on her arm and realised he was licking it. She tried to shook him of, but weakness from blood loss kept her from moving. She watched in amazement as the wound started to close up.

„How?" He just grinned a bloody smile. He ripped the dress around the wound on her stomach and healed it too. She felt better, the pain almost gone, but she was still weak. He hugged her close.

„Go to sleep Tau, you'll be better tomorrow." She nodded, her eyelids felt heavy.

Ikuto looked fondly at his sister. To think he almost killed the only real family he knew. He shook his head. Nothing more would hurt her. He wouldn't let them. It didn't matter that she was half angel. She was his little sister, and no one was allowed to hurt her.

„I'll protect you."

I think it's kind of sweet, at First I wrote it without Ikuto actually hurting her, but he's prone to violence so I rewrote it, hope you liked it and don't forget to R&R

Kuroneko is out :3