Last time, Amu failed epicly at battling the Guardians. She later told Utau and the rest that she was a Guardian, but left out the fact that she was a criminal.

The town of Bluté is said blu-tay. Also, my apologies to those of you who read Chapter 10 as soon as it was released. It must have been really confusing. That was the wrong chapter. Also, thanks to Emily-at-random for pointing that out. Anyways, the right Chapter 10 is up now!

Night had fallen. The blue moon was but a sliver in the black sky. Tiraldae was void of stars.

The nine of us were headed for the town Bluté. It was finally time for the mission that Utau had organized: sneak into a house and take the portal back home. We were healed from the battle completely, after ten long days of rest. Now it was time to take action.

I convinced myself that it would be fine. We had it all planned out down to the second. We would not be caught. I had told them almost everything about myself to Utau, Ikuto, and Tadase-kun when I first woke, everything except my being a criminal. And the crimes I had performed hand in hand with Nadeshiko. I had slipped out of telling them how I had gotten on Earth. I was scared of the truth. I couldn't admit to them that I had helped Nadeshiko steal magic from Tiraldae.

Bluté was relatively small, set just outside the forest. It was lit up by glowing lamps that were, one by one, turning off. Utau was at the head of us, violet eyes narrowed and slim figure tensed. We waited for what seemed like forever in darkness, as lights flickered off inside Bluté. Yaya whispered a constant stream of nonsense into my ears beside me. It was probably just her way of venting her worries, but I had no patience for that. I tuned her out and focused on my own reflections.

We were close to going home. We could do it. But what would happen then? I would still be in exile. I would still be unseen by all those who couldn't see Guardians. The future was bleak for me, fail or succeed. But these others, their happiness depended on going home. If my future was in shambles, maybe I could still save the others'.

"Amu." Utau yanked me forward. "The townspeople are slowly going to sleep. I've already determined which house. See that one over there? The residents went to sleep a long while ago." Utau pointed at a cute little house whose lights had long since gone out.

"I have to find the portal and alert you all as to where it is?" I clarified. Of course, they just had to choose me to be the one who broke into the house. All Utau and Co had to do was keep a strict lookout.

Utau nodded. "We'll keep contact with you." She put a finger to her temple. "Iliean." The telepathy spell I had taught them spread throughout us, until I could sense the thoughts of everyone else.

"Go."

I set off at a light jog. Utau consistently sent me telemessages, until I knew practically everything that was happening in the vicinity of the house. They were keeping very alert watch, as they knew there were a great price if we were caught. Perhaps they did not know as well as me, but they were faintly aware.

"Shadow, give me the power to stay hidden." I whispered. Now it would be nearly impossible to find me. I skulked through the streets, heart thumping wildly. I drove all thoughts out of mind. This was my moment of defiance. If I could escape, then I would have slipped through the clutches of the Guardians.

"That's it." Utau tele-hissed into my mind. The house was even more cute up close. It was cream-colored, though illuminated by a faint shade of blue from the moon. No sound came from inside.

I made my way to the backyard, marveling at how easy this was. No magical barriers stopped me. Of course the door would be locked, so I would have to make my way in through the window. There would be barriers there too, but they would be weaker than the ones on the doors.

"Wind, give me the power to fly." I levitated, smiling slightly at my success. Once I had reached the window, I let the magic fade and balanced on the window sills instead. But when I reached out to test the barrier, I found none. They left their windows unguarded?!

"Utau, their windows are unblocked." I reported.

"Do Guardians have security systems?"

"No. Their magical barriers on all entrances prevent people from entering."

"What if somebody broke the house itself to get in?"

"This world is more honest than ours. Stealing is much worse a crime." The words were bitter on my tongue. Stealing.

"Well, then, go ahead! Good luck." I gently opened the window. It slid open with a slight creak.

I leapt down, and took stock of the house. The floor was carpeted in blue-gray, and the walls were a pale blue. The whole place was neat and polished.

I made my way to the staircase. Downstairs, in the kitchen, the Portal would be there. And all I had to do was unlock the door for the rest. It had been almost too easy. Everything we had endured so far, the injuries we had suffered, it all came down to this.

I flitted down the steps, making barely a sound. I had begun to revel in my success when footsteps echoed on the stairs.

A young girl of no more than eight stepped forward into a patch of moonlight. Her light brown hair was shoulder-length, tousled from sleep. She wore simple pink pajamas. Her eyes were huge, adorable...and the exact same shade of golden as mine.

I froze. It wasn't possible. This girl…

I covered my mouth with my hands, stifling a sob. It couldn't. No. Of all the people in Tiraldae, it had to be her.

"Ami…"

Shock slowly registered on her face. Her eyes widened and she began to tremble.

"Big sis…"

Her golden eyes hardened.

"...No. Amu."

Only then did I see the dark circles under her eyes, the way she shrunk backwards. Her uncertainty, her insecurity. Because of me, Ami was living in fear.

I could feel the tears I had sworn not to cry streaming down my face. "Ami, I…"

"What are you doing here?" Ami was fighting to keep her voice steady.

"You've become so pretty." That was all I could say. It was true - behind the unhappiness, she had beautiful features.

"A lot...has happened in these three years." Ami's voice broke. "Wh-why are you here?"

"Ami...they're after me here. You've heard that there are humans with me, right?"

She nodded numbly.

"Please, just let me use the portal in this house and go home, with them. My future is gone. But they still have lives to live."

"I'm surprised." Ami's voice was barely audible.

"Wh-what?"

"I thought you had no heart."

I rushed downwards, crushing Ami in an embrace. "Ami, you have no idea how many tears…"

Ami pushed me away. "It seems you have the heart to help those humans, but yet you have done this to me...to us."

"Ami, please! I've-"

"You're not my sister anymore, Amu. Now get out."

I sank to my knees. She hated me. My sister hated me.

Ami snapped into a fighting stance. "Pöruca!" A glowing white sphere began to grow in her hands. It was blast magic.

I made no move to defend.

The magic shot directly at me. It was perfect aim, beautifully balanced. The blast soared forward.

I couldn't bring myself to defend. I was thrust backwards, through the window, outside. I was frozen for one second in midair before plummeting to the ground.

"Amu." Utau shook my shoulder yet again. "What is wrong with you?"

I simply buried my head in my knees.

"If you're sad that you failed, it's okay. We'll try again." Tadase-kun attempted to comfort me.

"You did your best." Nagihiko consoled.

I shook my head. "Leave me alone."

Utau groaned. "Look, none of us like seeing you all mopey. Just cheer up."

I whimpered something and tried to elbow her away, but to no avail. It took several minutes for them to get up and leave, muttering amongst themselves.

It had been a few days since the raid on Bluté, and Ami's betrayal. I had yet to tell the rest of the heartbreaking failure. As of now, they simply thought I was feeling guilty for failing.

What have I done? The three years I spent banished were supposed to be a punishment for me. I thought that by going to Earth, Ami and my parents would be able to forget about me and start a new life. I guess that wasn't the case. If Ami had been doing so badly, burdened by so much grief, then how were my parents? My family had always been bright and full of laughter. We used to live in the south, with warm sun and humid weather. And now, in the cold northern areas, I had found my family once more.

What about Wakana and Manami, my old best friends? Had they knitted together or fallen apart in my absence? Rikka and Hikaru, the two kids I used to teach magic to...were they strong with magic? They'd be twelve now. I hadn't realized, until now, how much my exile, my crime, had affected all those close to me. Three years hadn't just been an eternity for me.

Old resentment for Nadeshiko began to simmer inside me again. If she hadn't begged me to help her steal that magic, then maybe I would still be living a normal life. But images of Nadeshiko crying and sobs of regret filled my mind. The pity for her rose up, only to be fought back by the resentment. It was an endless battle. To love, or to hate? To resent, or to forgive?

It was twisted, it was all twisted. Everything I had done. Was it really Nadeshiko who made the wrong choices? Or was it me?

If the number of people who admired and respected me reflected my ability at making choices, then I was an utter failure. Guardians across Tiraldae saw me as Amu Hinamori, ex-Guardian, criminal. Tiraldae, a more pure world than Earth, seldom had any real criminals. I, for them, was considered evil. I was still a teenager! Not even sixteen, and subject to all of this. It was too much to carry. I didn't want to live like this, hated in my very own homeland, shunned by my very own family. Was going back to Earth even worth fighting for? In the end, it would come down to me revealing my true identity and being cast on to the streets, again.

"Hey." Ikuto's unmistakably bored voice was startling, and yet, annoying. "Utau's making me try to cheer you up."

"Why you? You're so antisocial, I'm not sure you've said a word since we got attacked back in the forest." The insults felt good.

"What about you, constantly crying? It gets on my nerves."

My fists clenched. "Oh, if you went through what I did, then you'd be crying like a baby."

"Stop whining, then, and tell me what's so horrible. Then maybe I can go."

"No."

Ikuto chuckled. "That was blunt. Why not?"

"Because."

Ikuto sighed. "Aren't you a tough nut to crack."

I didn't bother looking up. "That's also why I'm alive."

A sharp tap on my head. "Look up."

I groaned and obeyed, lifting my head to glare into his stern purple eyes.

"We all have gone through awful things. But when we're needed, we stand back up and keep going. Are you so weak as to give in to whatever's bothering you?"

I was tempted to yell at him. And I was never that good at holding back temptation.

"Awful things? What awful things? Oh, your father's gone, your mom doesn't stop by, but who cares? You have enough money! You at least know there'll be food on the table tomorrow! You stood up and helped everyone else get through sadness. That's all well and good, but try suffering ALONE!"

SLAP.

Ikuto stood over me, breathing heavily. I fingered the stinging mark on my cheek where he had hit me.

"That's your problem, Amu. You think you're the only one who suffers alone."

Ami couldn't sleep.

She was tormented by images of her sister. Amu had become so tall, and there was so much more darkness in her golden eyes. Her glossy pink hair still retained its cotton-candy sheen and her clothes had been clean.

Why was Amu doing so well? Ami had thought that she would be on the brink of capture. But it even seemed as if she had the upper hand on all the Guardians out to catch her.

Ami remembered Amu as "Onee-chan", Ami's older sister and role model who was kind, and beautiful, and everything a toddler could wish for. But Ami was seven now, and after three years her vision of Amu had changed: Amu Hinamori, the Guardian who attempted to steal magic from Tiraldae's capital with the aid of her Character and was exiled. An evil woman.

But after this most recent meeting Ami could only see her sister's pain-stricken eyes, her desperate embrace. The tears that had rolled down her cheeks and trickled their way down Ami's back. Maybe her clothes were without a tear, but her heart and soul had obviously been ripped to pieces.

I am editing the first few chapters of this story. Just quality, no plot changes. The only thing is that I'm making it more clear in the first few chapters that Amu's crime was stealing magic from Tiraldae with Nadeshiko, which Nadeshiko asked her to do. That was kind of vague before, so just thought you should know.

ReachForTheSky is out.