Hi, umm, I am so very sorry for this terribly long wait, but the school and the lack of inspiration, it really took a toll on me...but those are just excuses. Here is the 17th chapter. Enjoy.

"Pah, the stench has gotten worse since the last time we were down here." The guard said to his friend. The last time they were down here the princess had gone wild, so it was no wonder they were both wary of the dark dungeon corridor. Shadows stirred in the torchlight, creating monsters dancing on the walls.

„With all the rotting flesh and blood, it's no wonder it has gotten this bad." The other answered, nodding his head. „Why, I worked with corpses before, ugly things, I tell you." The first one shuddered. „Yeah, I don't want to know nothing about any corpses." The other shrugged.

„Suit yourself."

He sudenlly stopped, turning to look at the dark cell, from which no sound came. He pointed with the torch at the rusted bars, the light bathing the walls of the cell in a red glow. He pointed at a lump on the floor, his voice barley a whisper.

„Look, I think that's it, the demon." The other didn't look convinced.

„You think it's dead?" The first one shrugged in response, preparing the bucket with cold water.

„Doesn't matter, we were just told to wash out the blood." The other prepared his own bucket full of icy water, sweating down bullets. He was sure the monster was going to rip them apart if they woke it, bars or no bars, people said it was able to bite through solid iron, so nothing would save them from it's wrath if they were to incure it.

The buckets creaked as they were emptied, the water sloshed onto the bloody lump lying on the floor and washed off most of the bloody bits. A sudden hiss was heard, eerie and rasping, reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard. The two guards found themselves on the wrong end of a terrifying snarl, the monsters elongated fangs barred, the sharp ends glinting in the torchlight. Two twin screams rang through the dungeons and the guards scampered out the doors, tripping over themselves to escape.

Ikuto chuckled to himself. Humans always seemed to be amusing no matter who they were. He then shook himself off, trying to squeeze all the water out of his clothes. The cold usually didn't bother him, but down here, cold was always dangerous, even though his unnatural warmth should keep him from getting sick.

He stretched out, rolling his shoulders and getting out the pain. It would be soon, he mused, before they came out, and with them his vicious side. And then they would all pay. Except for her. Yes, he would keep her. And his sister, family was important afterall, right?

He was snapped out of his musings by a sharp pain in his back and trickle of something down his back. He sniffed the air. Blood. Oh yes, it would be very soon.

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

Amu couldn't believe the monster. A life bond?! There was no chance in hell she was sharing her life with the demon that probably murdered her mother and threatened her kingdom. Yes, she felt nice around him, and yes, her wild side seemed to be docile around him, well as much as a demonic side could be docile, but that didn't matter! She was supposed to be the princess dammit, the princess! Not some monster loving girl!

What about Utau? She tought. That truly seemed to be her Brother. Monster or not, she wouldn't harm her best friends family, that was out of the question. So what could she do? That was bugging her for a while now. She couldn't find a solution. And, oh, what about Tadase? She totally forgot about him.

Talk about the prince...

„Princess Amu, could I speak with you for a moment?" She nodded to Tadase, following him down the empty corridor. The staff seemed to have disappeared, but she paid it no mind. They probably had other buisness to attend. She caught up with him.

„What did you wish to speak about, Tadase?" He looked at her from the corner of his eye. This was the first time she spoke his name willingly. He sighed.

„What happened in the gardens, that wasn't normal Amu. I suspect demon involment in this. I-I think you might be possesed." He closed his eyes, waiting for the blow. It never came.

He turned back to her, regarding her warily. She was still dangerous, root problem found or not. But her expression weirded him out. She had a serene smile on her face, as though she had come to a realization. She finally spoke.

„Don't worry Tadase, it's not a posession, rather, it is an inheritance." She giggled to herself, the sound chilling him out. „I remember now." She turned to him and brightly smiled, his heart skipping a beat. „Thank you, Tadase."

Amu skipped down the corridor, rounding the croner and disappearing from view. Tadase wondered what kind of monster he just unleashed.

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

Tsumugu dreamed. He rarely did, but knew that when he did, it was important.

„Tsumugu dear, I-I'm afraid you must hurry." He truned from the ocean to look at his wife. Midori looked afraid, her fair skin seemingly more pale in the moonlight. She turned to look him in the eyes.

„You've kept it, hadn't you?" He knew immediatley what she was talking about.

„I-I had to, Midori! It had taken you from us, from me! You told me not to kill it, but I had to stop it somehow!" She sadly shook her head, her eyes downcast.

„It doen's matter if he did or didn't, but heed my advice, Tsumugu." Her tone grave.

„If you don't let it go, everyone will die Tsumugu, everyone." She smiled sadly.

„Don't try to stop the inevitable." He looked at her with saddnes and anger writen accros his face.

„How?"

„How can I let go?" She looked at him again, tears leaking down her face.

„Don't try to stop it." She said as she faded away in the moonlight.

He cried.

I hope you liked the chapter. R&R

And I shall try to speed up on the updates, teheheh, uhh, yeah, byee.

By Kuroneko :3