A/N: Ok, I'm sorry this took so long, but I didn't have any inspiration! Sorry this is just a kind of filler chapter, but enjoy!

Chapter 9: Assault

Amu's POV

I was laughing as I leaped ahead of Ikuto, but that peace didn't last long. The happiness I felt as Ikuto struggled to keep up didn't stay in my heart. I stopped in front of my house and froze. My smile faded, an ache weighed down heavily on my heart. "Ami...Okaa-san...Otoo-san..." Tears trailed down from my eyes and I couldn't put on a smile anymore. Ikuto was by my side in an instant and held me close. I tried not to cry, but what else am I supposed to do.

"Amu...For now let's head to Utau's place and settle there temporarily. I'll pack our stuff." Ikuto darted away from my side and into the house. I pulled myself together in the time that passed. From the beginning, my nightmares started to haunt me and that was also the day Ikuto came back. Ran, Miki, and Su got X'ed and disappeared. Ki-chan was born as my new fox chara when I found out Tadase was cheating on me. My family left temporarily and I was alone with Ikuto for a while. His confession. And now my family's death... What other misfortune is about to come?

"u...Amu. Amu!" I felt a tug on my elbow and the same familiar deep voice pulling me out of my depressed trance.

"Ikuto...did you already pack all of our stuff?" I looked to him with expressionless eyes and the scene from my nightmares flashed through my mind. Bang! Ikuto gasped, reached a hand out and mouthed "Aishiteru..A...mu..."

"Īe! (A/N: No!)" I screamed and knocked Ikuto back.

"Amu!" Ikuto called after me, but I ignored him and ran.

Okaa-san...Otoo-san...Ami...Ikuto! Blood, gunshots, and desperate cries echoed and flashed by my eyes. Unconsciously I screamed, "Watashi no kokoro! Unlock!" Kitsu-chi character transformed with me as I was enveloped in a dark red light. "Amulet Vixen!" My hair grew slightly longer, just like my chara change, but it was dark red with white tips, just like my tail and ears. Little black whiskers were drawn on my cheeks, three on each side. A black choker wrapped around my neck and connected to the Humpty Lock. Black boots adorned my feet and I also wore fishnet leggings. A lacy white tank top wrapped around my chest and a black vest covered over the straps. I wore dark red shorts with a little fox embroidered on one leg. What looked like a little stuffed fox also wound itself around my right arm.

I ran through the streets until I stopped at Seiyo High. It was about lunchtime and I tracked through the school using my nose. I was searching for a certain blonde kiddy king. It wasn't long until I found him laughing on a grass lawn with the same blue-haired girl from before, Umi-senpai. I smirked slyly and approached them from behind.

"It's nice to see you, Tadase-kun." Tadase turned around, surprised.

"A-A-Amu-chan..." he stuttered, but hearing him call me that got on my nerves so I quickly, and instinctively, lashed out. I pinned him to the tree they were sitting under and the stupid bluenette cried out in worry for her 'boyfriend.'

"Now you listen here kiddy king. Never call me that again! You have no right to as the person that killed my parents and stole away all my happiness! Don't even THINK about trying to fool me!" I hissed in my ex-boyfriend's face before roughly shoving him to the ground and glaring at the Umi bitch behind me. My cold, hard gaze made her stiffen, but she didn't move. She simply sat there, like a deer in headlights. I growled and threw a few daggers at her to pin her down to the ground.

"Umi-chan!" Tadase tried reaching out to her, but he was too slow for I pinned him down too.

"Shut up, Hotori. Now explain why you would steal all my happiness away from me! My parents? Ran, Miki, Su? Spill!" I screamed in his face. Tears dropped form my eyes as I gripped his collar tightly and he smirked.

"Amu-chan? Why are you crying? I couldn't have you so I made you miserable. I made you feel the same pain I felt when that accursed black cat of misfortune came back and stole you from me! If I couldn't have you, then no one can! If you leave me, then you don't deserve a happy life, Hinamori Amu!" Tadase eyes went slightly hazy as he let out a mad laugh and ran a hand through his hair. I leaped off of him as I recognized his chara change. Except, this one was a bit different and Kiseki was X'ed. An evil aura with killing intent oozed from Tadase and my ears bristled in fear, urging me to retreat ASAP. "I'm the emperor and everyone in the world shall obey my command! This includes you, the beautiful vixen, Hinamori Amu and that damned alley cat, Tsukiyomi Ikuto! I'll kill even you to get what I want." Tadase sneered and whipped out a small pistol from inside his guardian cape. He pointed it at me with both hands and smirked.

I stared in horror at the threat and slowly stammered, "Tadase...-kun. Why?!" Tadase smirked and lowered his gun a little bit to listen to my 'last words.' "I believed you loved me! When did you turn so cruel and cold-hearted?! You can kill me later, if you have the guts to, but answer my question! Why did you kill my parents and Ami!? What did they ever do wrong?!" I demanded fiercely as more tears dropped endlessly down my cheeks. I whipped out a few more daggers and attacked my former love from grade school. I hissed and rushed him with a multitude of attacks from all directions. But in my burst of fury, my attacks were clumsy and nothing compared to the graceful ability of a real fox. I created some distance between us and lashed out a hand screaming,"Shadow Blade!" Multiple slashes were aimed at Tadase, who deflected them all, but the attack was enough for me to distract him. "Poison Gas!" Purple gas spread from my previous shadow attacks and Tadase, being the dumbass he is, breathed it in. He and Yumi both screamed in agony as the poison gas filled their lungs and knocked them out. Of course, I wasn't out to kill anyone so the poison gas I released was only minimal power, enough to let out a warning. I snapped my fingers at the same time Ikuto flew by and leaped us out of there. The attack ended just as my character transformation canceled and I lay in Ikuto's arms with Kitsu-chi hovering around me worriedly. I was slightly dizzy and Kitsu-chi was also tired from the first time transformation.

"Geez, you're so reckless Amu." Ikuto smirked. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I may be reckless, but that's just all the more reason why you should save me!" I giggled and held on tight as he jumped me back home off the roofs.

The Next Day...

I stretched out of bed and went to take a shower. It was the weekend and I didn't exactly have anything to do. But when I came down, Ikuto was already making breakfast for me, aka bacon and eggs.

"Good morning, Princess." he smiled and placed a plate in front of me. "Your breakfast shall be ready in a little bit. If you would be willing to wait a few minutes." he smirked at his own role playing.

"Haha, why thank you Tsukiyomi-san. I greatly appreciate your service." Amu smirked as Ikuto pouted at being called by surname like mere acquaintances.

"Amu~!" Ikuto whined and leaned down to force a kiss on his newly proclaimed girlfriend who accepted his attempt gladly. Amu stood up to meet Ikuto and cupped his face in her palms. Her boyfriend turned away momentarily to place the food in his hand on the table before resuming to attack his strawberry's lips once again. He wrapped his arms around Amu's waist and pulled her up into the air to meet his height. Amu smiled in response and leaned down on him to reward his efforts with another kiss.

"Ikuto-nya~!" Yoru cried out from his bearer's pocket. "I'm hungry-nya!"

"Amu!" Kitsuko flew out from under Amu's hair. "Please refrain from these acts right before a meal!"

Ikuto flicked Yoru's nose and Amu used one hand to cup Kitsuko and shove her in her pocket.

"Ikuto-nya!/Amu!" the two charas complained before taking the hint and dismissing themselves completely. The couple finally broke apart for oxygen when a knock sounded at the door. They exchanged a look before Amu split from her boyfriend to answer it.

"Who would be visiting right now?" The pinkette wondered aloud to herself as she opened the door.

"Amu-chan..." Tadase stood on the doorstep with a pistol hanging from his right hand.

"Amu? Who is it?" Ikuto came out from behind Amu and his eyes widened when he saw the familiar blonde. "Kiddy king?" The question came out as a more cautioned growl than really a curious greeting.

"Tadase..." Amu acknowledged her ex before narrowing her eyes to eye the gun. "What do you want? You better know that you're not welcomed here anymore. You betrayed me once and I'm not about to feel that betrayal again. Ikuto is with me and is currently my victim for support." Her voice was cold and unwelcoming.

"Amu-chan...you're rejecting me for this black cat? He'll hurt you even more than I did. Trust me Amu. Give me one more chance." Tadase started trembling for some unknown reason and Amu was on guard.

She took a deep breath before retorting back, "Ikuto will hurt me more than you did? I think you created the biggest scar in my heart already Tadase. No, you hurt me so much that you don't deserve to be called by name, Hotori. Ikuto was there for me and confessed when you left me laying limp like a ragdoll on the side of the road. I've forgiven Ikuto because he was here for me when I needed him the most. Earn your chance Tadase. you don't deserve to have me." With her final words, the pinkette shut the door in her ex's face and leaned against the door.

"Amu-chan! You will come back to me this instant for your own good! I love you and I know I cheated on you with Umi which left unhealable scars on you, but I miss you! Hinamori Amu!" Tadase screamed and a loud shot rang. Amu fell forward from the impact of a bullet hitting the door. Ikuto caught her before more damage was done, but a few more shots collided with the door. Bullets ricocheted off the hinges of the door outside and the door handle until Tadase kicked the door down. He snarled viciously as his normally ruby red eyes turned icy blue and fluffy white ears popped out.

"A wolf?!" Ikuto freaked and instinctively chara changed. Amu followed suit and she also linked hands with her current boyfriend.

"Heh, I'm not a weak little king anymore. I'll take Amu back from you! Tsukiyomi-san!" Tadase declared and raised his gun again, pointed it at Amu. Amu raised a set of daggers and quickly blocked the three bullet aimed at her and her boyfriend.

"Hotori Tadase! Stop this insanity! What happened to Kiseki?" Amu tried to calm her ex-boyfriend, but only succeeded in getting tired from blocking bullets. Ikuto pulled her to the side to dodge a few more bullets, but one grazed his shoulder.

"Heh. What happened to Kiseki? I could ask you the same thing, Amu. Where are Ran, Miki, Su, and Dia? What happened to your other charas? Same thing, they all disappeared and got replaced by a new animal!" Tadase let out a wild laugh. He thrust a palm forward and an icicle formed in his hands. He swung down at the couple who made a poor attempt to dodge. Ikuto tried locking Amu from the blow with his arm, but got cut instead. The black cat hissed in pain and swung a fist at tadase. A blue Phantom Claw materialized and a claw scratched Tadase's cheek. The wolf smirked at the weak attack and aimed straight for Ikuto with his icicles again, this time with more protruding from his hands.

"Vixen's Protection!" I intoned and thrust my arms in a crossguard in front of Ikuto. Tadase's icicles collided with a transparent red shield right in front of Ikuto's face and I grit my teeth from feeling the impact.

"Oh? Interesting trick there, Amu-chan. But how long will it last?!" Tadase cackled evilly and threw continuous slices across my shield. My shield grew harder and harder to maintain as it was battered with different attacks, but I didn't let up.

"Amu! It's enough! Just stop! I'll protect you!" Ikuto desperately shook my shoulders and tried to dispel the shield. Eventually, Tadase's attacks grew stronger with each hit and the last blow blew me backwards. "Amu!" Ikuto caught me before I crashed into the wall, but still had no way of defending against Tadase.

"This is it! Tsukiyomi! Amu will be mine!" Tadase lunged forward with an ice dagger pointed directly at Ikuto's chest, but the black cat quickly swung a leg out and kicked the offending weapon out of the wolf's grip. Ikuto grabbed Tadase's wrist, pulled him forward and smashed a hard fist into his face, momentarily stunning him.

"Tadase...what happened?" Amu cried and leaned to Ikuto for support. " This won't earn you another chance!" The female fox sobbed in despair for her old friend's insanity.

"Amu. We should hurry somewhere else for safety before Tadase wakes up. He's no longer the kiddy king, just a cold-hearted wolf, hungry for blood." Ikuto picked his girlfriend up and leaped onto rooftops outside. He made his way to Utau's place in the dead of night, clutching his now unconscious lover close to his chest. the black cat hissed for his sister through the window to her room. Utau spotted Amu's current vulnerability and opened her window.

Being the good friend filled with worry for her best friend asked, "What happened Nii-san? Why is Amu so battered?" Ikuto kept it brief and just told her that Tadase attacked them. He gently laid Amu on Utau's bed.

"Utau. Tadase's gone insane. I'm going to stay with Amu in your rom for the night. So go stay in a separate room. Don't argue with me and just listen to what I say." Ikuto paused as he waited for a sign from his sister that she'd be obedient. "Tadase has a new chara and has turned into a wolf. Amu's parents are dead and I suspect it was he who killed them. Right now, Amu is fighting, mentally, emotionally and now physically for her life against Tadase's inflicted trauma. Stay alert for any sign of danger."

Utau had used all her willpower to stay calm as she listened to her older brother tell her all the horrible things that are currently happening to her best friend. She rushed to another room to think over everything that was just spilled to her. Il and El flew to her side and help her with a little emotional support.

Ikuto watched his sister leave before locking the door behind her. He tended to Amu's few bruises and tucked her in. Then, changed clothes in the bathroom to see to his own cut that was now dripping blood. On the way to Utau's house, the concerned boyfriend had ignored all of his own wounds and the blood falling from his arm. He was now regretting the pain the shot up to his shoulder as he poured medicine on the cut.

"Gah! Stupid Kingly wolf...I despised canines before, now I hate them with all..." he trailed off at the end, not able to think of an insulting enough analogy. Ikuto's hisses silenced themselves after he bandaged his wounds properly, but he still felt the soreness in his muscles. He staggered to the bed next to Amu and slowly crawled in next to her. Amu rolled over in bed as the bed creaked slightly under her boyfriend's weight.

"Ikuto..." she mumbled softly his name softly in her sleep and the said man let a smile grace his handsome face.

"Amu...Aishiteru." he responded and kissed the pinkette on her forehead. Ikuto drifted away into sleep with his precious fox in his arms.

A/N: YAY! Chapter 9 is finished! Sorry for the kinda filler chapter, but I knew I had to finish by New Years at least. Happy New Year everyone and I hope you liked this little present!