Morg: Heyo! So I'm trying out this new thing where I don't wait a month between updates.

Ikuto: Isn't that nice?

Amu: Great.

Morg: Please let me know if you enjoy it or not.

Ikuto: She might wait two if you say you don't.

Amu: Could you imagine the procrastination that would happen if she actually owned us?

Morg: Hey now! Things would be a lot more fun if I actually owned the two of you!

~Guardian of Light~

Standing in the middle of the clearing in the woods, Tadase let his eyes wander around the creatures gathered. Their meeting was held at noon. Better to have the sun directly overhead when having a meeting about the Angel of Darkness. This way no eavesdroppers could drop their eaves.

Tsukasa moved next to his nephew's side. He knew that the Knight of Light was impatient to begin. "We're almost ready, Tadase. Do you know what you are going to say?"

Scoffing, Tadase moved to stand on a small mound of earth. This gave him the advantage over the others present. All of the creatures turned to him as he called their attention. "Creatures of Light gathered, hear me now!" Tadase waited until the clearing was completely silent. "The Guardian of Light whom I have been protecting all this time has fallen into the hands of the Angel of Darkness once more."

Whispers instantly broke out though Tadase did not let them last long. "Listen! He does not know who she is. The Angel believes that the Guardian is a simple human due to the spell I have placed on her. Not even the Guardian knows that she is the Guardian. Still, she is not safe in the castle. The spell will wear off, leaving the Guardian exposed and in the middle of the enemy's lair! We must rescue her!"

A fairy lifted her small form from the ground in order for the Knight of Light to see her properly. "Yaya will go to save Guardian-chi! Yaya will help Tadase-kun!"

Others called out in agreement to what the fairy had said. If the Guardian was in trouble then the Creatures of Light would do anything to protect her.

Tadase raised his hand to bring silence to the glen once more. "When the Angel took her he also took a dragon. Rima is doing all that she can at the moment to keep the Guardian safe without giving away who she is and why it is important to protect her. We must move soon."

Rising a few feet above those standing around him, a centaur nodded his head in agreement with their leader. "I am willing to go straight into the castle if it means getting her back."

Tadase nodded to the centaur he knew as Kukai. The other was definitely one he was glad to have on their side. "We strike during the day when those creatures are at their weakest! We will get her back!"

Seeing as how the creatures hidden in the trees were getting riled up before any plans had been made, Tsukasa stepped forwards. "I will fight."

The woods stilled as Tsukasa spoke. There was something in what he was saying that made everyone listen.

Seeing that the creatures surrounding him were waiting for him to continue, Tsukasa took a shaky breath before doing so. "I am human. Given the gift of a longer life so that I might protect the Guardian until she can rise again, I am still human. I belong on neither side, but I will fight. Love and beauty have vanished from this world since the Angel took it under his control. His power is terrifying and I am afraid, but I will fight. Until my last breath I will fight."

Cheers broke out. Hearing Tadase, the Knight of Light, speak to them in such a way was uplifting. Hearing a mere human show so much conviction and love for their Guardian was beyond words.

Tsukasa did not want the creatures to get out of hand. That was not the point of his speech. "Listen now. I will fight, will you? Will you fight? Will you bring the Guardian of Light back to this world so that she may have a chance? I do not ask you to go now. That would be foolish. All chances of such a rescue would be lost if we blindly blundered into the castle. Even if the creatures were weak because of the sun in the sky, they are still in their castle. The Angel is near. He will know that we are coming. We must strike when he is not there."

Slinking her way to the front, Miki, a pristine white tiger, drew the attention of those speaking and listening alike. "So what would you have us do? It would be impossible for any of us to spy. As you said, the Angel would know we were coming."

Shaking his head, Tsukasa knew that this would be the tricky part of their meeting. Tadase could lead them, yes. The boy would do anything for his mistress. Keeping his head cool and thinking everything through while he knew Amu is in trouble. That was something Tadase was not good at. He wanted to be her savior. Tsukasa wouldn't allow for him to mess this chance up. "We will watch, we will scheme and we will wait until the perfect moment to strike. She has time. With the spell protecting her and Rima there, the Guardian will not fall prey to the Angel. After all, she is the Guardian."

A few others in the crowd agreed as Tadase once again took control of their meeting. "Tsukasa is right. We will plan and once we are certain, we will strike. The Guardian will once again rule what is rightfully hers."

More cheering broke out as the different creatures began talking to each other about what they could do to help. Tadase only smiled before he led some of the ones he knew better than others away for a private discussion.

XXX

Ikuto couldn't believe that he was actually doing this. Telling the girl that he'd send the other human back to earth before he'd gotten to spend even one second alone with her was different from actually doing it. He much preferred to just let the girl remain and rot like he had the others. He almost said so too. Until he saw Amu's pleading eyes and protective manner over the human. If it had been anyone else, Ikuto would have laughed in their face and then probably start them on fire. But not Amu. He just couldn't say no.

The moment he let the sigh out of his mouth, Amu jumped into his arms to hug him. She hadn't been entirely certain that Ikuto would keep his word. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Standing uncertainly in the back of the room, Alice watched the silent conversation happen without an ounce of knowing what it was actually about.

Never having the chance to embrace the girl hugging him back, Ikuto stood dumbfounded as Amu practically skipped across the room to hug Alice. His mind wasn't quite working right.

Beaming, Amu hugged Alice close to her before whispering in her ear. "I want you to remember me when you go back. I had so much fun with you, Alice. You are a great friend. No more stuttering."

Warmth filled her body and it was all Alice could do to hold back her tears. Knowing that she had to leave lest she start to go crazy, the young girl did not want to. Amu had protected her and shown her that the dark wasn't so scary.

Crossing the room, Ikuto figured he should probably get this part of the night over with. He had other things to do. Maybe another human girl to grab while he was on earth. Of course, this time he wouldn't let Amu get a hold of her before he could get what he wanted from her. "Time to go."

Amu gave Alice one last hug before watching Ikuto take her hand. They disappeared right before Amu's eyes.

XXX

Leaving the human on the steps of the home that he'd taken her from, Ikuto frowned at her. "You are lucky. Had Amu not befriended you I would have done terrible things to you and let you die. You owe her your life."

Nodding her head, Alice trembled. She knew. The girl was no fool. Amu had saved her and she was eternally grateful.

Ikuto left without wasting a second.

Bracing herself, Alice turned to her front door. What could she tell her family about her absence? Would it be better if she just ran? The thought of Amu's smile flinted across her mind. No, she could do this. This was her family. They would always love her.

Pushing the door open, Alice went home. "Momma? Papa? I'm home."

Two people rose from where they sat. Both looked weary and frantic. The long nights they'd been searching for their daughter had worn them down. "Alice?"

Nodding her head, Alice ran into her mother's embrace. She felt her father hugging the two of them. Together they cried. "I've come home."

"How did you?"

"I don't understand it myself, momma. She protected me and he let me come back home."

"Alice! Your stutter!"

A hand flew to her throat as Alice realized that she could speak now without messing up her words. Tears flew down her cheeks once more as she realized what Amu had really done for her. "It must have been Amu."

When Alice removed her hand, her parents saw the mark left there. One that had not been seen in ages. The mark of the Guardian. Their daughter was very blessed indeed.

XXX

Amu felt tired. Ever since Alice had left to go home, she just felt exhausted. Her feet dragged horribly as she made her way down one of the stone passages. The constant attention she'd forced onto the human girl had finally taken its toll.

Lifting her large head once she felt Amu enter the room, Rima frowned in a way that only dragons could. "You wore yourself out."

It was not a question so Amu did not dispute it. "Alice was taken home."

"Then you did well."

Nodding her tired head, Amu slumped against the side of the dragon's belly. "I convinced him to take her home before any defects began. I know why he brings them here, but I can't stand it. I was brought for the same reason and yet he has only shown me kindness. Why did he bring another?"

Not knowing entirely what to say, Rima remained silent.

Amu's question, however, was answered by another. "Ikuto doesn't know what to think of you, Amu. You are, in many ways, an enigma. You baffle him. You are human and yet being here does not affect you in the same way it has affected the others. You stood up to his highness rather than cowering before him. Ikuto simply doesn't know what to do. None of his predecessors had to deal with a human like you."

A small smile played on the blonde's lips as she looked over to where the dark elf stood. Nagihiko had just entered the room. Amu couldn't help but like the man. "You think that's the reason?"

"I know that's the reason. The Angel and I are not close by any means but that does not mean that he can hide the changes he's going through from those of us who have been with him for so long."

Yawning once last time, Amu felt some strength returning to her. The sun was rising. Morning had come and a new day was starting.

.

Morg: I was totally going to make that longer but that was such a good place to end it!

Ikuto: So I completely didn't notice Amu using her powers?

Amu: Guess not.

Morg: Well, that would just ruin everything if you figured it out too soon!

Ikuto: So you are writing me like I'm stupid?

Amu: Not far from the truth if you ask me.

Morg: No one did! And no, Ikuto. You were simply distracted by the hug and didn't notice the small exchange of power.

Ikuto: Whatever.

Amu: Doesn't really matter anyways.

Morg: What does matter is that it is Mirene's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ikuto: What does this have to do with anything?

Amu: Oh be nice. Mirene is a friend.

Morg: Yep! So have a good day! And to the rest of you! REVIEW!