Ash: Hehe I've updated! I suddenly feel proud of myself for updating so soon after updating TP! Unfortunately I probably won't update this fic till my end of year exams are over… I'm really scared to fail. If I fail then… well…

Amu: Darkdemon's Ashes does not own Shugo Chara! Peach Pit does!

Ages:

Ikuto: 19

Amu and Utau: 16

Souko and Aruto: their ages are….

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Ash: Huh? What? You didn't honestly expect me to tell you that they got younger by 20 years. Sorry not happening :p

Utau's POV

What the hell is Ikuto saying to the prisoner? Damn, I can't hear anything.

I badly wanted to move closer to take a look, but Ikuto might find me, so I stayed hidden.

Ikuto's POV

"You're not going to tell me anything again at all huh?" I said bitterly.

Amu raised her head briefly to look at me, and then looked away, as if I were something that was not to be looked at, like some kind of curse.

"Well then, I apologise for taking up so much of your precious time Amu," I said coldly before walking out of the cell and slamming the door shut behind me.

Amu's POV

"Well then, I apologise for taking up so much of your precious time Amu," I heard Ikuto say coldly before he walked out and slammed the cell door closed.

I flinched as the loud bang echoed through the lonely prison. Once again, I was the only one left in this prison, the one reserved for the dangerous criminals.

Somehow, I hated the loneliness of the prison, though I know I shouldn't.

A part of me wanted to be alone, so I wouldn't have to see Ikuto's hurt and painful expression, which made me feel so guilty, so sad, so broken. But… a part of me wished he would stay, so I wouldn't have to feel this suffocating feeling of loneliness.

Utau's POV

Ah! There he is!

Squeezing myself into a tight corner between two walls, I watched as Ikuto walked out and past me.

I watched, holding my breath as he walked down the hallway, not even the sound of his footsteps echoing.

Then he turned the corner and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Easing myself out of the cramped hiding space, I looked around quickly before walking to the dungeon.

I nodded to the guard and asked for the keys. He handed them to me and nodded respectfully as he let me pass.

Amu's POV

I was curled up against a corner when I heard soft footsteps resound through the dungeon. I froze. Had Ikuto come back, or was it someone else?

I looked on curiously, and then my eyes widened as Utau walked into view, the dungeon keys in her hand.

I pushed myself further into the shadows, hoping she would pass right by me, but then she stopped right outside my cell.

Utau's POV

I looked into the cell that Ikuto had gone into, but I saw nothing.

Then I looked closer as my eyes adjusted to the darkness and saw a person huddled in the corner.

She was obviously a female; I could tell by how small she was.

I cursed for not taking a lantern with me, but then lightning suddenly flashed, lighting up the girl's face.

Amu's POV

I looked up dully as Utau stumbled backwards, her eyes impossibly wide.

Then she ran forward and clutched the bar fiercely, her as she crumpled to the ground in front of my cell.

"What are you doing here Amu?" she finally breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

Her face was so pale and drawn, her eyes wide and filled with hurt and disbelief. She looked so hurt, so broken, that I wanted to put my arms around her. I wanted to comfort her so badly. So badly.

But my arms remained by my side and my face still impassive, unreadable. Enough practice has taught me never to show emotions to others. Being easily readable is a weakness that so many people can take advantage of.

Nobody can take advantage of a poker face.

When I did not answer her after a long time, she actually giggled a little and said, "No wait, you can't be Amu! She would never do something like this! You must be someone else right? Right?" She reached through the bars and grabbed my hand in hers, clenching tightly as she whispered again, "Right?"

I looked at her and her eyes were so filled with despair and so distraught, half begging me to tell her that she was right.

Then I turned away from my best friend and sharply pulled my hand out of her grasp.

Be strong Amu. Act, for Utau's sake.

Turning back to face her, I suddenly smirked and then laughed. "Poor you Utau, what a naïve child you are!" I said mockingly.

I watched as her eyes started to fill with tears and felt a pang in my heart.

Brushing it aside, I laughed a little too hysterically and said, "Sorry to burst your bubble Utau, but I am the one and only Hinamori Amu. I killed your brother, that little princess Tadase." I snickered. "Now why don't you call the guards and have them dispose of the Big Bad Wolf Amu."

Utau's eyes were wide and stricken as she stared at me, her mouth open, totally unmoving except for the tears that rolled down her cheeks endlessly.

Then she suddenly stood up, her bangs covering her eyes. Walking over to my cell door, she unlocked it with the key and stepped in slowly before shutting the door behind her.

Standing right in front of me, I looked into her violet eyes steadily until without warning, she sat down and quickly wrapped her arms around me.

Staring ahead feeling shocked, my arms refused to move to push her away. So, I remained in her embrace.

Then she put her lips close to my ear and whispered, "Amu, I believe in you. I refuse to think you are a murderer. I believe in you."

The words struck so close to home that I almost wanted to hug her back.

My arms responded and made to wrap around her when suddenly, I remembered the purpose of my meaningless existence.

Protect those you love, for it's the only thing you can do.

I had chanted these words, my purpose, in my head day and night, to constantly remind me of my single goal in life.

There is absolutely no way I can just let Utau keep hugging me. If she sees, she will definitely kill Utau just to hurt me. I absolutely can't let anything happen to those I love the most!

With my strong resolve, I reached behind me and pulled out a small knife which I had managed to prevent the guards from finding when they searched me.

Pressing the cold blade against Utau's neck, I felt her stiffen against me. "What do you think you're doing, hugging your enemy like that?" I snarled.

She lifted her head and turned to me.

Then the lightning struck again, lighting up her face with an eerie glow, and I saw how hurt she felt. Her eyes gave everything away.

A storm is coming. I thought to myself faintly.

"Do you honestly think that I'm the same Amu you used to know? No, definitely not. I won't hesitate to kill you now," I hissed menacingly.

"If you don't want to die and leave your brother with all the pain and suffering and responsibilities, then I suggest you leave while you still can."

Utau's POV

The moment I heard Amu say those words, I instantly remembered what she had said so many years ago.

"He hides his true feelings behind a mask Utau. Remember that and try to help him no matter what."

Amu's POV

I pressed the blade deeper, making her squeak a little in pain. I really didn't want to do this to her, but she can't get close to me as I am now.

"Since you don't want to run away, then I'll just kill you now!" I shouted. I would never ever kill her, but I could at least threaten her. She would be safe from her if she leaves now.

Utau's POV

I stared, eyes wide as Amu lifted the blade, as if preparing to swing it down and sever my neck.

As she lifted up the blade, the lightning flashed, illuminating up her face, and for that second, her expression looked horrifyingly psychotic.

As she started to swing the blade down, I took the opportunity and bolted out of the way and out of the door.

I'm so so sorry Amu. I'm so so sorry. I don't want to leave you, but I can't leave Ikuto alone either. I don't want to believe that you are the killer but… So I've decided to take care of Ikuto, because that's what I promised you so many years ago.

Amu's POV

I let the weird fake, psychotic smile fade from my face as she ran out.

"I'm so sorry Utau, so so sorry," I murmured to myself as my vision started to blur slightly as tears started to fill my eyes.

Utau's POV

I ran out of her cell, aware of tears streaming down my face, blurring my vision. I stopped right outside her cell long enough to lock it, before running out of the dungeon and throwing the keys in the direction of the prison guard. He called after me, sounding worried, but I could not care less.

Running down the hallway and back towards my bedroom, I felt like my heart was tearing in two. I opened my mouth in a scream, but no sound came.

As I stopped right outside my bedroom door, thunder boomed and lightning flashed right outside the window. Then the rain began to fall.

Ash: Done! Now time to go to sleep Hehe, noticed the appearance of the she again? ;) That she won't be appearing till quite a while later though.

Oyasumi minna! Please R&R!