Shelly Cullen owns the plot and ch 1 through 10.

Shugo Chara

Hell's Lingering Kiss

ShellyCullen: Okay, so good times. Good times. I was utterly surprised to come home after some Christmas shopping and already find 5 reviews waiting for me. I was totally ecstatic!

And I was always happy to find the loyal reviewers who are kind enough to me to keep up with the chapters. And to have some of my own favorite authors and reviewers sending messages. ^-^

And…publishing this story? … I'm kind of young, I don't know if they'd take it. (Ah, wasted on the youth) Plus it IS Shugo Chara based…but this must mean this story is AWESOME!

Ironically, I actually got my scores pretty high in English and the reading test; even though I took resource from kindergarten to 4th grade for English and reading.

But I'm not complaining. Apparently I've been making up stories since I was little. (Mom says something about me saying the WHO HAWAIIANS) And now I don't think I'll ever be able to stop this story. Which IS a good thing.

Again, thank you reviewers. Who I've probably known since HOT OR NOT or your a newy one. ^-^ Sorry for the long chat, I'm rambling, aren't I?

Without further ado, let us start. Huzzah!

Chapter Seven:

Comfort

Thank You, Jesus, that Your Spirit brings such comfort to my heart. When I am sad or frightened, remind me that all I need to do is open myself to You – and Your love will wrap around me like a warm, comforting blanket. Amen.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, the dark sinister hands reaching out to grab me. My eyes popped open, my whole body jolted in surprise as some shady object jumped off from my lap and ran into the bathroom.

My breathing rate came out harshly, having me gasping for my last breaths. I tried to get a good grip on myself, steadying my body and heart, but after each gulp, I ended up panting harder.

My chest was aching, in a way that made me think someone had come over and knocked the air right out of me. Or if I had been swimming in a pool and gasping for my final breaths, adrenaline racing in my veins. My ears, throbbing with the pounding of my pulse, felt extremely hot and seemed sensitive. After the sound of rushed footsteps, the door burst open.

"A-Amu?" Mom cried, standing in her usual pajamas. Plain, simple white pants and a baby blue spaghetti tank over her shoulders. Mom never really showed her p.j.s, the fact that her robe was always over her whenever she was relaxed at home. She must have been in a hurry.

She ran up to me and searched my face, stroking the back of my head with her hand.

"Are you alright, Amu? Is something wrong?" She asked, concerned and shocked at the same time. I stared at her for a moment, completely focused on my mom before the memories flooded back.

My body shook, trembled and I had to fight my lip from getting out of its strained position. The tears finally brimmed over as I tucked into as much of a ball as I could and wailed into my knees.

I could feel my mother's embrace, her calming hug giving me some comfort. She got onto the bed as well and rocked me gently. I tried again to keep my concentration only on Mom.

The smell that radiated off her skin, something sweet tasting, like cinnamon; and the warmth that rubbed off of her and filled me up as well. I tried, real hard to think of nothing else, but mom…and hope, that somehow, someway, she could make this better. Just like she always did, and could, and would.

But this time…it didn't work.

After my sobs and cries had finally subsided, I rested my chin on my knees and continued to sit in my own little bubble. Mom was standing now, bending down and picking up some pillows I must have knocked down in my sleep. Despite my quiet state, my body still shook with unnecessary force. Locking myself in a curled up ball perched on the wall helped keep me still.

She finished, before staring at me now and sighing. Her body slowly sat on the bed, as if she thought I'd freak out with the slightest movement, and bored her eyes into my own.

"You want to talk about it?" She asked into the overwhelming darkness. Only the faint moonlight reviled her face, and I wanted to turn on all the lights to reassure myself she wasn't just some hallucination; but I was afraid if I got up, I'd only shake uncontrollably and have to limp my way to the switch.

I shook my head, having no voice in my state of weakness. I felt only more helpless than the last time I was soaking wet in the kitchen.

Mom nodded, maybe trying to have some form of communication and looked back up at me. I stared down at the bed sheets, no longer able to face her like this. I suddenly felt…embarrassed for her to see me like this. I didn't feel as safe and secure with her as I always had been.

"You…" Mom struggled for words and I could see her face pondering for a moment. She tried again. "Its been, what? More than a month now, Amu? If you're still this way, maybe a therapist would help."

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I was afraid of this. I wasn't crazy…or perhaps this was the help I needed to get. But I knew if I went, it wouldn't be my feelings I'd be letting out.

"You won't even consider it, Amu?" She now had her own tears building up as I felt a great wave of guilt wash over me. I wanted to comfort mom as she had with me, but I just wasn't quite sure I'd have the same effect. "You…You have to move on. You've been acting so…distant. It shouldn't be this way, Amu."

Mom said the words I was dreading to hear. I only had one answer to give her, and probably the answer to what really had me on edge, beating myself up for that stupid, stupid accident.

"Mom…he was Everything." The words rolled off my tongue as my throat burned into heavy coughs. I pushed the lump back, swallowing it as mom reached for me.

"Hey…are you-?"

"I'm fine." I replied, letting out rigid breaths. I laid my head back on the wall and closed my eyes, my clothes feeling clingy by how hot I felt with this new nervous breakdown. I sighed. "I'll be fine. I just want to be alone and sleep." I reassured, watching the bed sheets as I said this.

I could feel her hesitation, probably wondering if I were going to attempt suicide tonight. After a few more seconds, she left without a single word. I stayed still, gazing off into the full moon's glare until my silent cries drew me unconscious.

::~0~::

The sun's rays felt like blistering heat waves driven into my eyes lids. I refused to open then, hating how the light hurt my eyes in such a way. If I were to open then, who knows what would happen.

It was only a few minutes later, did I realize that the sun SHOULDN'T be burning my eyes, because school started before sunrise even appeared. I fought the side of grogginess, knowing I still had to make it to class because of the time I took off after the incident, and peered at my clock.

11:23 A.M.

I stared at the green neon lights, blinking at them; hoping that if I just continued to stare they would magically turn into a different time.

To bad magic didn't exist. I could have really used it today.

I groaned, now agitated, as my eyes felt hot and heavy on my head. I threw the blankets off me, aware as goose bumps slowly rose up my arms and legs. I ignored the feeling and stood up…before stumbling and gripping onto my desk chair.

My eyes and temperature wasn't the only thing wrong with me. My head, being lifted off the comforter, now felt dizzy and a big, burden for my shoulders to carry. My body, now trembling so hard, was hard to bypass. I laid my head onto the desk's surface, but the gesture had it pounding and making me feel the need to vomit.

I wasn't sure when, but a hand suddenly touched my shoulder. I flinched by instinct as last times, before stumbling back slightly. Mom helped me get back to the bed.

"I-I'm late…for school." I choked out, my throat hurting at the mere process of words I was speaking. I already felt winded from the four things I had just said. Mom shook her head.

"This morning you didn't turn your alarm clock, and when I came up you were curled into a ball and breathing heavily. Plus, you're pretty warm. I think you have a fever." She stated knowingly, quickly overlooking the watch on her arm. I shook my head, trying to protest.

"B-B-But…" I gritted my teeth together, trying to form the sentences out of my mouth. I felt ice cold at the moment, and I thought of checking the thermostat. "I-I took o-off too much school f-for the…the…" I still couldn't bear to say it. Not even like this. Mom looked at me kindly.

"I'm going to your school today to explain the situation to the principal. Ami is at school and I have work to go to afterward. Now I don't want you leaving this bed except for bathroom breaks. Got it?"

I nodded, finding that multiple blankets already lined my bed along with a couple of water bottles and a small lunch. I laid back down, my head still feeling as it were a spinning top and closed my eyes.

After many hours of sleep, it was dark again. I opened my eyes, which were more willing to see than last time and made my way to the bathroom. I wasn't as shaky or cold, but I still felt really dizzy and breathless. After being relived, I walked back into my room.

There, staring up at me on the ground, was the black stray cat that seemed to come and go at will. His big, yellow eyes gleamed at me, and I felt a little happiness that the cat seemed to be reasonable to some extent.

It stared at me, dazed, before turning and slowly walking over to the opened balcony doors. I watched, curious, as it turned back and looked at me…waiting.

I shook my head. There was no way…the cat wanted me to follow it…was there? No, it was just some street feline. Maybe I was imagining things, or this was all some weird dream.

The cat meowed, a nice, strong, deep-ish sound and its eyes locked with mine. I froze, unable to look away, and by some invisible force, I walked toward it.

My head, still very dizzy, concentrated to make sure I didn't fall over. I shivered when I made it to the entrance, shivering with more trembles than before and looked for the cat. It jumped up on the railing and sat, looking back at me.

I began to gnaw my lip nervously. The cat was a good two, three stories maybe? From plunging into its death onto the concrete, black top lined street. I sucked in a breath, forgetting how I felt for the time being, and headed forward into the evening's cool air.

My eyes studied the cat for a moment, making sure I wouldn't startle it with my loud footsteps. I took a few more steps closer, holder out my finger for it to sniff. By the time I reach it, the cat stood up and jumped onto an even higher pipe.

Without thinking, I slowly climbed the railing, grabbing up and holding the pipe with my hands. I leaned my weight forward, so if I were to fall off, it would be back on the balcony's surface.

I silently cursed myself for my stupidity; not grabbing a chair to stand on, or even a pillow to land on if I did fall. Guess it was too late now.

With the balls of my feet just over the edge and ready to slip off to my dying doom, I readjusted myself so my toes were the only thing left to support me. I held one hand out for the cat, inches away from my own grasp, and my other was in a tight death grip until the inside of my palm stung with the pain of my hard grasp.

I kept reaching, still too far before my left foot slipped slightly and I tumbled back. My hand, still attached to the pipe moaned under the new pressure of my wait. The cat continued to stare.

I tried pulling myself back up, reaching as hard as I could with my other hand. I just needed to thrust my body weight forward and…

"What are you DOING?"

A voice, one sounding distantly familiar boomed into my ears. My head, still pounding with dizziness winced at the loud sound.

Before anything processed in my brain, my legs were suddenly being gripped and pulled forward. My upper body started falling forward into the open air, just when my entire body went down and my stomach jumped and flipped at the swift motion.

I was now safe on the balcony ground, shaking from either fear or my own bad fever, my hands pressed against a chest and body much too close.

I stared at the black shirt, knowing very well who this was. I didn't, WOULDN'T, give this violating stranger the satisfaction of meeting my vulnerable gaze. Even with that knowledge, my cheeks proceeded to darken and heat up.

I wasn't sure what he was doing, but soon I heard that same moan of bending pipe. I looked back up to see the cat leaping away onto another balcony and continuing on. I slowly looked down, now more than ever feeling like a complete and utter moron.

"What are you doing?" His voice, sucked into his mouth, leaked with acid and slowness at each sound. He emphasized each syllable, and the threat in his voice was apparent. I didn't respond.

"I asked you why you were doing something so stupid." He stated, now his voice much louder than before. I could feel his body shake with his own anger, and hands were holding onto my arms. They began to tighten. I swallowed in fear and still stared down.

"T-The…cat. I was trying to get it back. For safety." I added for my own benefit. Maybe I wouldn't seem like such a retard. Then again, why did this guy care so much of what I did?

But I could feel my knees begin to wobble and my face get much to hot. I was taking in deep breaths as much as possible and my body begged for me to lie down. I felt like throwing up.

"That was very stupid of you. Even someone with an airhead like yours should know cats are excellent in balance." He scoffed and I finally looked up, appalled.

"I'm not an airhead! I just happen to be a good person, unlike you." I hissed, and I could tell it wasn't as menacing as his own voice. He smiled now though, wickedly amused.

"What makes you think I'm so bad now, Amu?" He questioned, leaning in closer to my face. Millions of reasons crossed my mind, and I was sure some would have left him speechless; but the one non-insult racked my mind the most.

"H-How do you know my name?" He was silent for a moment, before the smirk returned. He leaned into my ear, letting his moist lips brush the sensitive cartilage.

"Would you like to know?" He asked, and I wanted so badly to run and hide and scream that this boy was here. But my body won the fight and, whether or not this was due to his seductiveness or my fever, my knees gave up and I fell on my butt. I looked up at him, wide-eyed and speechless.

He merely laughed at my reaction and I knew I was an even bigger idiot than before. My cheeks were now permanently crimson from all these moments of the day, I was sure.

I clutched my head, rested it on my knees and breathed deeply. My head felt like it was being drilled at the temples.

"Your sick." He stated, as obvious as it was. I sealed my lips shut together and tried not to think about anything that made me feel queasy. Blood was pounding in my head. "You shouldn't have come out here," he continued, "now you're even worse than before."

I didn't want to hear this anymore. His voice, though before very soft and gentle, now banged against the inside of my mind. With the frigid cold winter weather, I tried crawling my way to the door. My legs protested, demanding to curl up to my chest as not to lose anymore heat.

The teen looked down at me with deep blue eyes and sighed, almost bored with my pathetic state. Before getting even close to my bedroom door, he lifted me up into his arms.

"L-Let go." I said as harshly as I could. My head lobbed back and forth with each stride he took and I steadied with my hands. I felt that eerie cold sensation from his body again. Even his chest. Almost, as if, his body wasn't even running with blood.

I waited for him to place me on the bed, but instead he sat down on it, with me still bundled into his arms. As I was held in his lap, I blushed many shades.

"Um…" I started, a very nervous and stomach sick wreck.

"Here."

It was a huge shock when he let go of me, to see him lift up his shirt. My eyes widened, staring as each distinct muscle on his chest began to reveal itself. Pale and lean as he made himself to be, he was pretty well rounded.

He finally got the shirt off his body and I quickly averted my gaze to my own legs. A pair of dark pink fuzzy bottoms I had picked clung nicely to my skin, enough to keep me warm.

The usual black satin felt fabric fell onto my lap, neatly. I remained staring at the particular spot; not able to trust where exactly my eyes would lead me.

"Put it on," He instructed, as if I didn't have a brain to understand. "I can't believe you actually went out in short sleeves." I could tell he was shaking his head, and after a few seconds, I noticed I was shaking.

But not because of the cold, I realized. I was shivering because I was scared of him. Because somewhere in my state of mind, I had a feeling if I didn't listen, he would do something to me. Something really horrible.

I suddenly remembered the first encounter we had, then the alley, and leading up to that one sickening night. The time he placed the hickeys all over my neck.

Tears filled up my vision, which I quickly fought back. Tears would be the wrong choice to make with him here. I was sure. Weakness was any guy's strong point.

With all the memories and mixed emotions, I picked up the shirt with trembling hands and stuffed my arms into the sleeves, pulling it over my head.

I quickly checked his face, watching his expression through my lashes. His mouth curved upwards, satisfied in a strange way; like he was expecting me to listen to him. Then I saw his eyes trail to my neck.

"Perhaps…I came off too strong." He stated and I had no idea what to say. I still sat on his lap, uneasy.

Questions, millions of them, suddenly occurred to me. What was he doing here? Why did he lick me last time? Why did I let him in here?

I gritted my teeth together to keep the agony of my pounding head in control. I took more deep breaths and tried to distract myself from the pain. I looked just about everywhere, before my eyes landed back at his chest.

This time he noticed my stare and smirked.

"Like what you see?" He asked as I blushed. Before I could protest, he grabbed my wrist and placed it at the top of his chest. Then, he guided my fingers slowly down, and I could feel each one of his abs, hard as rock, cold as ice.

My breathing accelerated, fingers shaking uncontrollably over his skin. After touching the flesh, I pulled my hand away and turned my head, gasping. What was I DOING?

"You should go." I stated, carefully. I started moving away, sitting on the bed a foot away from him. I laid my head back and tried to sooth my head.

I could feel the bed shift and suddenly he was in front of me, staring with pleading eyes. My voice got stuck in my throat, and I watched as his head bent down slightly and he studied me with probing eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'll be good…for now." He teased, a smirk appearing on his lips. I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not. With my mouth gaping and lip frozen in place, I didn't say anything.

"Unless you want me to be bad." His hands gripped my ankles lightly, before pulling me forward to his chest. He wound my legs around his waist as my stomach flipped and churned.

I prayed I wouldn't throw up over this guy. Which I shouldn't have cared either way. I needed to get my head on straight.

I momentarily blamed my fever for my slow and awkward movements. I shook my head, this time standing up and wobbling my way to my desk. I collapsed into the chair, exhausted and tired after only five feet of moving.

I stared at the guy, cautious, while taking the time to really examine him. In a distance, with his chest bare, he looked quite too beautiful. Something that seemed only my fantasies coming from my dreams could make.

I blinked, taking in his dark blue hair and pale skin. Though the hairdo was obviously messy, I still wanted to ruffle my hands through it. See how soft it felt and take a deep whiff.

His voice broke my thoughts.

"Your still sick." He pointed out, once again. I raised an eyebrow.

"So…?" I asked, bewildered by everything he seemed to say.

He leaned forward, making sure he had a lock on my eyes and continued on. "Your still sick…and until you get better, I'm going to have to watch you." His lips became a wickedly cruel smirk. "I won't be leaving you yet…count on that."

ShellyCullen: So…good, bad? Horrible? Amazing?

I'm not sure this is the best chapter. But hey, what do you guys think?

.:NOTE:.

If you really liked a certain part of it, point it out. That way I know where to continue it on in this story. If you thought it was rushed, than say it.

And again, happy to see some familiar names reviewing. :) Loved the especially long reiviews ( You know it, Natsuya801923 ) Thanks and hope for more chapters of this story.

Shelly