Shelly Cullen owns both plot and ch 1 through 10.

Shugo Chara

Hell's Lingering Kiss

ShellyCullen: Chapter ten! Woop!

Please take your time reading this chapter and then the bottom chat. ;3

Guidance

Direct my life's path, Lord. I want to follow You. Please show me the way. Amen.

When I woke up, I was not ready to go back to school.

It was a pain to have to face so many of those teenage girls again, remembering the gossip that was brewing up on Friday. Everyone saw those hickeys on my neck. Well, with the exception of Ms. Oshinge, but that was beside the point; and I refused to hear or rekindle any memory of Tadase or Kukai. I would not make sense in this theory when it didn't even make sense in the first place. Sometimes, common sense is the only thing I can trust anymore.

I had just about gotten used to that weird stray cat, and again it was gone. Each time I left alright with the strange animal or just close to it, it seemed as if it would run away somewhere. Kind of like the way a boyfriend would be.

They want to stay with you because they love you, but if you even mention commitment they run like frightened kittens. Then, when they've had enough, they come crawling back to you to start the cycle all over. It was almost as if I was in a twisted relationship with this random cat. Call it ironic if you will.

I left the bed, no sign of any animal around in my room, and took refuge in the bathroom. I had a quick shower, much to my dislike, and sadly had a lot of time on my hands before school started. Great.

I thought of all the options I had, and decided to show up to school early for a change. Staying at home probably meant having to face Mom and she was already furious enough. Although, the school girls were probably going to end up killing me without mercy.

I entered my first period, avoiding all the looks and whispers that took place. Figures everyone was talking. The silent Amu comes back from her depression to have some sex with a new guy. That was probably the headline of my week. Or month.

By lunchtime, I considered ditching again. I got in line, grabbing a water and chips. I wasn't hungry today; I was full and tired of all the back talk.

I couldn't rest in peace for long. Once I got to my table, Saaya returned along with two other girls in my grade. I glared at her as she smirked, dropping her left hand to lay on my tabletop.

"Here you ditched Friday. Could the big, bad Amu not take a little small talk." She laughed and the other girls followed as ordered. I sighed, opening my bottle of water and ignoring Saaya altogether. Annoyance and power filled her twisted face. "What? No comeback? Cat got your tongue?"

The statement didn't anger me, but rather brought my thoughts back to the stray in my room. What did it mean?

Saaya was finally tired of all my cold shoulder. Her mouth curved in anger as she lifted her manicured hand and took a swipe at my face.

Saaya ended up screaming.

I blinked, hardly aware of the scene. Saaya cried out in agony, grasping her own cheek as the girls assisted her. She fell to the floor, her eyes pricking with tears as she forced them open to glare at me. The blood shot color was hard to ignore.

"You…freak!" She screeched, pointing in my direction. Now I knew she wasn't pointing at me, and I hadn't done anything to Saaya. Instead, I saw dirty blonde hair in front of me; Mashiro's petite form standing in front of me.

The monitors finally took notice to the scene congregated in the side of the cafeteria. The teachers pulled Saaya away as well as me and Mashiro. I followed them, confused.

What…had just happened?

::~0~::

"She did this to me! She ripped my face off!" Saaya yelled, clutching her hand to her cheek for dear life. That was a bit of a stretch and the nurse knew that. She tried to calm Saaya down.

"Now, please calm down. I'm sure they didn't mean it." She soothed, asking permission to see Saaya's wound. Saaya glared hard at me, already blaming me for her misfortune. She gave the murderous look to bore into my own confused one and lifted her hand to personally show me her scars. I knew she was doing this to make me feel sick both ways.

The cut was deep for fingernails, I had to admit. Three scratch marks starting at her temple down to her chin. They were a bright red, most of it already clotted, and the skin around it was pink and irritated. The nurse examined this and dabbed at the injury with a cotton ball. Saaya winced at the alcohol mixing with her blood and protested again.

"She did this! That little bitch did this!" She yelled.

"Don't use that language." The nurse instructed, though she knew it was a lost cause. I returned to the office, where I was safe from Saaya's outcries.

The principal sat at his desk and gestured for me to take a seat. I sat next to Mashiro, nervous beyond recognition.

I shouldn't be nervous. I reminded myself. I didn't do anything; I was completely innocent. Maybe I'm just nervous for Mashiro.

I shot a quick look at her voice. It was completely smooth as she slumped casually in the chair. I waited, turning back to the man. He sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Girls, I hope you know better behavior than to start fights." He looked us both over and them at the folders in front of him. "Mashiro, you are a newcomer this year, but I'm sure you know that is unacceptable at any district. This will have great consequences." He looked at me next. "Hinamori. It's your second year; you should be well informed with the system. I know about your case, and although it is most depressing, I can't look passed this."

The man sighed now and eyed us both. We didn't see anything and he raised an eyebrow.

"Anyone care to tell me what happened?" I didn't know what to say, partly because I was still confused on the subject. I glanced at Mashiro, who didn't make any move to talk either, as he sighed again. He closed his eyes and re-opened them. "No one wants to talk, huh? All right then. I have no choice. I'm suspending you both."

I decided to confront Mashiro on the topic once we were alone. We left the office without a word said, and once we were out of ear shot, I began.

"What just…is that…why did you?" I couldn't quite find the words I was looking for. Mashiro still wouldn't meet my gaze, and I suddenly wondered if she were deaf or something. I immediately mentally smacked myself for thinking so rudely; but this didn't kill my curiosity.

"What did you…do to her?" I finally got out. Mashiro met my gaze very slowly, and when she did, her eyes brimmed with a sort of fierceness. It was almost as if her earlier anger hadn't died yet. I waited.

"Nothing compared to what I could have." She answered, and for the first time I heard her voice. It seemed to come from somewhere deep inside her, sounding much closer to woman than to child, much as she looked. Mashiro left then, disappearing off campus. I stood, puzzled.

I needed answers.

::~0~::

I got home early, seeing that mom was nowhere insight. I headed to my room, hoping that somewhere there I would be able to decipher everything that was going on.

Tadase had said he was an angel. Kukai mentioned a sort of project. Mashiro had pretty much clawed one of my high school enemies, and Ikuto had been close to raping me a few days ago.

I couldn't ignore these intense events like I was doing with the incident. The accident may have been done and over with, but these new occurrences were just beginning.

I ran to my room, opening the door and froze at the scene. Ikuto laid on my bed casually, in a position that was the perfect angle in seeing me come through the door. It was as if he had been waiting on my return. He smirked at my expression and slowly sat upright as I struggled to find my legs.

"Welcome home." His voice whispered, tempting me to take a seat by him. I stood my ground, but mostly because I was too weak to find my legs. I grabbed the doorknob for support and glared at him.

"What do you want?" I asked bitterly, trying to keep hold of myself. The room felt like it was spinning. Ikuto shrugged, much more relaxed and at ease than I was.

"You." He answered simply and the word had my spine tingling with fear. He seemed wildly amused by my reaction as I swallowed. At this point I had to many questions building inside me and I wanted to know exactly what was going on.

"Why?" I asked, just to humor myself. I probably couldn't expect an honest answer from him anyway. He shifted positions, now standing and towering my height by all means, as he ruffled his hair.

"A questions as good as its answer, is it not?" Was all the reply I got. Though, now I couldn't make sense of anything. I gripped the handle, nervous, scared.

"What…happened last time?" I forced the words to come out through clenched teeth. He knew exactly what I was referring to as he mused over this, and looked at me at last.

"Nothing out of the ordinary." Ikuto answered bluntly, taking his steps toward me. I backed up. The strange feeling of fear and guilt mixed into me as I cowardly shrunk before him. He came to me, despite my fear, and grasped my face in his hands.

The sensation froze my entire body as I gasped and shook violently in his hold. My hands were a clammy cold as my body reacted to his touch. I was terrified of what he would do; yet I was strangely tempted to touch him back.

His face lowered to my own, his head resting against mine, and his lips close enough to just barely brush against my own. I continued to shake until my teeth clattered with enough force to rattle my brain. He smiled as his eyes danced in a firey light.

"Are you so moved by my intensity you can't keep yourself steady?" He asked at last, and with each word his lips brushed mine more. For every movement I felt his breath blow into my mouth and tremble my own lips. He chuckled and released my face. "So vulnerable." He mumbled, walking toward my desk in the corner. I stood still; not sure if stunned or enchanted where the right words for what just happened. Ikuto picked up a pencil on my desk and examined it closely.

"I have to admit, I haven't given them much credit." He muttered, placing the utensil back down. I wasn't sure if he meant for me to hear or not, but I asked anyway.

"Who are they? And what are you talking about?" I demanded, searching for the answers I seeked. He smiled at me then, a smile that revealed no secrets, and took a seat on my bed. I fumbled with anger.

"Why can't you just tell me what you know? Rather than keep everything a big secret?" I demanded, my patience for everything that happened crumbling at a final blow. He watched me long and hard, before a smirk appeared.

"What's the fun in just telling you?" He questioned as my anger subsided. "It's all just a game." He told me, standing and heading to the balcony. "It's all just a big game, Amu." He stated again and perched on the balcony railing. Than he jumped out and disappeared. I ran to the railing.

"Ikuto!" I yelled, peering over the ledge. Ikuto was nowhere to be seen. Whether the 20 feet crash had stopped him at the spot or the rushing cars had driven him away, it was clear he was gone. I was starting to believe anything was possible with him. I sighed.

"Damnit!" I yelled, frustrated. I was getting more questions than answers. The new people I confided in were either crazy or got a kick out a sick jokes, because something was obviously wrong with each of them.

Scattered with thoughts, I searched my room for a notebook and pencil. I found the items and turned the table lamp on the desk. It flickered for a moment as I took a seat and tried to think through the strange encounters.

I thought back to seeing Kukai. The first time was at the park, where he was skateboarding. He was obviously friendly, and even formal in his greeting. Then at his apartment he noticed my hickeys and looked at then closely, and then mentioned a project. Angel business?

I shook my head. It had to be a joke. There was no such thing as angels; and God was definitely out of the question.

But what about Hotori-kun? He spoke so passionately about his beliefs in God and angels. He was so mature, so sure of everything; but everything was still a big stretch. Angels?

I took a deep breath and forced myself to keep thinking. Utau. She was also kind and formal as the rest had been. She found me when I had ditched that day, and was sharing a hotel with Kukai?

It suddenly occurred to me that neither had mentioned anything about a home or family, and this was surely suspicious.

Then there was Rima and Yaya. Yaya was just a kid though; she couldn't possibly have anything to do with this, right? Although, Rima looked like an innocent teen enough, until she took a lash at Saaya. Why did she do that? And how did she get such a sharp, distinct mark on her face?

What did this all mean? Was everyone connected somehow? What had Ikuto known? And exactly, how does this all pull together with me?

Shelly: Rima's got a violent side. Lol. I liked how this chapter went, though I'm a little uneasy about how I ended it.

Again, thank you to all supportive reviews! I love you! ^-^

And, if you have time, can you tell me ONCE AGAIN what you think is happening? Always good to check up on myself and make sure it's going smoothly! More SUMMARIES on what you think is going in the story helps more then you could know!

Thank you again! Xie xie.

Shelly