Shelly Cullen owns both plot and chapter 1 through 10.

Shugo Chara

Hell's Lingering Kiss

ShellyCullen: Chapter six! I'm a happy person. ^-^ ALSO, I encourage you all to READ the note at the BOTTOM when you are DONE READING the CHAPTER .

Aio: Yeah, time for some disclaimers! ShellyCullen does not own Shugo Chara nor the scripture prayers at the beginning of the story. Peace out, yo!

Shelly: Okay, now read! I command it! ;3

Chapter Six:

Shame

Thank You, Jesus, for washing all my shame away. Amen.

I glared at the mirror in the bathroom, appalled by my own reflection. It revealed a girl with sloppy hair and a flushed face. The neck was showing red ovals over the skin, which could only be identified as hickeys.

It wasn't a dream. It really did happen.

I examined the bare flesh more and placed a finger over the mark. Despite it being a light red color, the mark wasn't warm at all. Instead, it felt cool. So cool I would have thought someone placed ice on it just minutes before.

I removed the finger and tried to relax my muscles. They refused to lighten up as I felt knots build in my shoulder blades and legs. I sighed and thought of ways to cover this up.

Makeup was an option. But considering I wasn't that kind of girl, I was limited to Ami's young child pack of blues and pinks. After playing with her for years, I knew it wouldn't do me any good.

Mom didn't wear much makeup, if any at all; and I didn't have a friend to confide in. At least, I didn't anymore.

So I was down to either wearing a scarf or necklace throughout school. Scarves weren't allowed indoors, and neither was a necklace. Maybe if I had my hair placed over it…

::~0~::

"And that is exactly why the music was such a hit in its day." Ms. Oshinge pointed out and the girls nodded. I slumped down in my seat, trying my best to shuffle my hair in the front without looking too obvious. If they just didn't see the necklace…

Right now I even questioned why I put the necklace on in the first place. It was probably attracting more attention than the marks would. But, then again, I didn't want to take my chances. If you noted as a slut once, then that's what you're labeled for the next 3 years.

It wasn't like I cared what people thought. These last few weeks didn't exactly make me queen of the halls, but I was still embarrassed, still terrified. If anything else bad happened in my life, I might just pop.

I sighed when the bell rang and gathered my stuff together.

"Hinamori." Sensei called and I instinctively looked up. Big mistake. Ms. Oshinge's eyes narrowed on the accessory around my neck. A light pink choker with thin black criss-crossed lines over.

"Hinamori!" She scowled. "You know the rules! Hand it over and you may pick it up after school." Her hand was held out as I froze, wide eyed and cursed under my breath. This is not something I needed right now.

I tried waiting for the rest of the girls to leave the room, but they all seemed to move with a certain slowness today. I sighed and hesitated, touching the jewelry for a moment before slowly pulling it off. I handed it to sensei, who gratefully didn't give me another glance.

I walked out with as much dignity as I had, seeing as everyone's eyes appeared on me…or, at least the marks set on my neck. I felt my eyes tearing as the girls began whispering and giggling with each other. I knew this would happen.

On my way to lunch, there were many side comments around. I just picked up on a familiar voice, when turning to the source.

"Slut." Saaya stated, giving me a nasty cruel smirk. I glared at her, thinking of something to say back. My brain racked with nothing, so she continued on humiliating me. "Exactly what I expected from a loner. Let me guess, you're pregnant?" She sneered and I quickly exhaled to lower my anger. It didn't help.

"Saaya," Her name felt bitter in my mouth, "just crawl under a rock you piece of fucking drama queen shit." I, of all people, was surprised with such vocabulary, especially from me. Her eyes widened a moment, before narrowing on me.

"Don't think I've forgotten, Hinamori." She turned and slowly began walking. "You're the one who said you'd give up EVERYTHING to him…didn't you?"

As her figure retreated, my hands clenched into fists. I gritted my teeth together and threw my lunch bag into the nearest trashcan. Going for the door, I left the school campus and ditched the rest of the day.

Never, in my entire years of High School, have I loathed Saaya so much…

::~0~::

"This is so weird."

"Weird." I agreed. The tossing waves kept the area out of awkward silence. The seagulls called above as and I stared at them longingly.

"Are you okay? You seem a little quiet." She asked, smiling over at me. I nodded, trying to give a convincing smile.

"I'm fine…I just have a feeling something bad is going to happen."

My eyes opened to the clouded sky. Not just this, but something was tapping me. I jolted in surprise; paranoid from that guy that "visited" me last night. I moved away from the figure, hitting my head with something hard and hollow. I winced at the throbbing pain.

In front of me, Utau sat with cautious eyes. She had her hand out still, the one that had tapped me, and now was frozen in either shock or concern. I sighed, shaking my head.

"Sorry." I mumbled, trying to clear my mind. I had to be more careful. I reminded myself. Utau repositioned herself in a squatting position so she didn't get her outfit drenched in snow.

"It's alright. I'm more worried about you." She replied, running a hand through her bangs and letting deep breaths out. She turned back to me and smiled. "I'm glad you're doing well."

I blushed at the obvious care for me in her voice. I looked down and shook my head, my voice low. "No, I'm fine, really. You don't have to worry." I stated. No one had ever been so…watchful over me. I didn't like to impose on others.

I shifted my own position, before finding that my butt was completely wet with frozen snow. I shivered, remembering that I was leaning against the tree before I fell asleep. Now I sat on the ground, with a cold ass.

"Something wrong?" Utau asked, alert. I stood up and Utau steadied me to my feet.

"No, I just got a little…uh, wet." I replied, blushing. This must be strange for an acquaintance to hear.

"Oh, I see. Well, my place isn't far off. Would you like to come to my house for a change of clothes?" She suggested, and I shook my head for the third time.

"No, no. My house is just…" I looked around my surroundings, bewildered for a moment. I was in such a frenzy earlier I didn't even know where I went.

"Please, I insist." Utau asked and I nodded weakly. She smiled at me in triumph and we began walking.

It was silent for a while, when a question struck me.

"Hey, Utau-san? Shouldn't you be in school?" I questioned, curious now. There was a quick silence before she answered.

"No, I'm actually working to be a singer. I have a private tutor at home." She responded and I nodded, understanding.

"I wish I could say the same." I murmured under my breath. Utau gazed at me for a moment, but kept her lips shut. I was happy she understood I didn't want to talk about it.

We went down routes unfamiliar to me in this city before stopping in front of a hotel. THE CHARITY was actually a high class 5 star hotel. I gaped at it for a moment.

"You coming?" Utau asked, a few paces in front of me.

"Y-Your staying here?" I asked, stunned. She nodded.

"Something wrong with it?"

"N-No. Of course not!" I looked away nervously and stared at the ground as we entered. The lobby heat quickly engulfed me as I peeked up under my lashes.

It was very fancy and clean. The floor was lined with yellow carpet, each tile consisting with a thick outline of a red brick colored square. The walls were bright; a light yellow with white swirled designs to show the elegance of the room. There were about three chandeliers on the ceiling, each spaced out evenly. They had many crystals hanging off and let small rainbow reflect off the wall surfaces.

The lobby was a big area to hang out in, hallways and other rooms surrounding. There were two brown paneled staircases on either side, descending downward in slight curves. The golden railings shun as newly clean and matched perfectly with the rest of the room. I was awestruck.

"Amu."

I turned around and found Utau standing by one of the hallways. I hurried to catch up to her, watching as she began leading the way. I could hear some classical music play in the background.

Down the long path, was a smaller staircase. It looked insignificant compared to the grand one in the lobby, but I didn't say a word about it. Utau began heading up as I followed at her feet.

Once we got to the third floor, another hallway revealed several doors with numbers on them. We continued on before stopping at the last door at the very end.

She knocked once, and when her hand fell back to her side the door opened. In a matter of seconds, Kukai stood there and attacked me in a big hug.

"Nice to see you again, Hinamori!" He exclaimed, overly excited to see me. Utau flicked his forehead and he immediately let go, smiling sheepishly.

"Mind your manners." She stated coolly, walking inside. Kukai watched as she entered then turned back to me.

"Ah, sorry for such a non-formal greeting. I got a little carried away." He rubbed the back of his neck with a small grin. "Hope you don't mistake that for recklessness." He leaned casually against the inside part of the doorframe, his lean arms crossed over his chest in a laid back manner. His face was covered with something that can only be described as excitement.

"No, no. It's fine. It's kind of a relief, actually." I sighed, remembering what happened earlier. Saaya always had a way of stirring up things.

"Something wrong?" He asked, a little worried. He examined my face, as if the answer were somehow written across my forehead. His own features were dead serious, all traces of silliness gone.

"Everything's okay. Just, you know, school." How much easier was it to sum up than that?

"Not that I would know." Kukai said, a smile beginning to re-form.

"Are you home schooled too?" I asked, bewildered by his statement.

"Something like that…" He trailed off, looking away. It was silent for a few seconds, when Kukai took in the environment around us. "Oh, sorry. I'm keeping you outside, aren't I? You can come in." He moved off to the side and I slowly entered the hotel room, taking in the surroundings.

The room, despite the hotel, didn't look very big. The walls were plain and white as two twin beds were about two feet apart; a night side table separating them. The floor had blue carpet and a bathroom was located near the back. At the end of the room, were two doors leading out to the balcony.

My eyes continued to wander, before landing back on the beds.

"You two sleep in the same room?" I asked, biting my lip insecurely. Kukai sat on his bed and nodded.

"Yeah. Something wrong with that?" He questioned, confused himself. I flushed.

"W-Well…you two don't look related so…" I let the words linger as the era turned into one big understanding. No one said anything.

I was hoping to be reassured with a 'oh, we are related', but of course no one denied anything. Kukai and Utau seemed to be deep in thought, coming up with a good explanation for all this.

"We-." Utau began, before being interrupted.

"Its just-." Kukai looked back at Utau, who had been speaking, and it felt like he was asking her permission to talk first. Then, after their brief exchange of glances he turned back to me. "Its nothing…sexual, if that's what you're asking. I'm actually on some business here and Utau happened to be the only person I could trust."

I stared, watching the expressions on both of them. They seemed innocent enough, and after thinking, I released a breath.

"Okay then. I believe you." I stated as Kukai's smile came out once again. Utau nodded and headed to another room.

Kukai seemed thankful with Utau's absence and gave me another reassuring smile, patting the spot on his bed right next to him. I searched the bed and after careful consideration, sat down with a safe few inches between us. He didn't seem to mind this.

I suddenly felt awkward with Kukai for some reason, when most of the time he was very easy to get along with. Maybe my feelings were just getting mixed up. I shook the thought out.

"Amu, can I see your…" Kukai started and it was after I felt fingers brush against my neck did I flinch. I stared at him, apologizing in a small voice, and he let it go. However, the hands continued to reach for my neck.

The hands, bigger than mine as it was last time, gently touched the skin on the base of my throat. His eyes focused on what I knew were the marks, and I couldn't help blushing furiously; but the matter was that this didn't make me quite as embarrassed than the fact that he was touching me. His hands were warm and comforting, soft to the touch. I tried not to think about this, and move my mind somewhere else. I was WAY too aware of Kukai now.

He brushed his fingers over the cold spot on my neck and I inwardly flinched, feeling steamy hot.

"I have the extra clothes, Amu." Utau suddenly stated, walking back into the room. I jumped, surprised and moved further away from Kukai. He adjusted his own body as well, now turning it straight ahead and thinking on something. Another awkward silence filled the room.

I desperately tried to get my mind off what just happened, having the sweat rise on my forehead and hands numb with sheer coldness. I took in account the surroundings again before blurting out the first thing that came to mind.

"Umm, your room is very…empty. You don't have a TV or anything?" I asked, bewildered by the two as always. It seemed strange to be in such an amazing hotel and not have many valuable items in stock. I took the unanswered question as a bad sign. Had I just insulted them by mistake?

"We…we don't watch much television," Utau began, sighing, "the mindless babble this world's got to say can be troublesome at times."

"Huh?"

"Never mind." Utau shook her head and held out the new pants. "Here. You needed some extra clothes, right? Because of the snow?"

I blushed at the memory, quickly glancing over at Kukai; but he was no longer beside me, now having disappeared. I frowned, before drawing my attention back at Utau.

"Yeah…"

I grabbed the clothes as she led me to the bathroom; about average sized, it couldn't be any bigger than mine. There was the toilet on the side and a nice tub across with a big marble white sink and a huge mirror in front of me. I quickly glanced at the reflection, before gasping.

The marks, spots weren't spots anymore. In fact, they had inflamed into something much bigger. A whole giant rash enveloping my entire neck. I touched the strange reaction my body had to it, and of course it burned an icy cold. I pulled my hand away, swallowing, and then changed my pants.

I took one last peek, praying a miracle would happen and it would just disappear into thin air. I sighed, turned the doorknob and looked out with wary eyes. Though, to my advantage, no one was in the room.

I opened the door more, keeping myself alert and ready if they questioned. I didn't need to be sent to the hospital again, over nothing. After checking the room completely, I walked forward. And like the coward I am, I left without a word, feeling guilty as charged.

ShellyCullen: Okay, this chapter we got a little bit of background from Utau and Kukai. And I'm really impressed with myself for taking this slowly and introducing everything in a realistic manner. Some of the good fantasy stories lately (including my own) have been going WAY to fast. I'm just beginning to notice this. (Duh!)

So, I also have to say there are WAY more visitors again as there are reviews. I have to say I'm a little disappointed. The reason for these late postings is because I'm waiting on more reviews. REVIEWS.

And please, if you have time, let me know your actually reading this somewhat of a novel. The best encouragement I need right now are some thoughtful reviews.

Thanks again, and have Merry early Christmas! ^-^

Shelly