Chapter 1 – Nagihiko's Return

Disclaimer: This anime belongs to Peach-Pit, and this story belongs to NyaaShi Futa. Enjoy!

This may contain mild spoilers from the manga. However, it is not directly extracted from the manga, and will be altered here and there.


'I really like you, Hinamori-san'

Amu shook her head vigorously to try and get those words out of her head. She was still in shock by Kairi's confession, and his sudden leave. Trying to push his words out of her mind, she fiddled with her pencil and stared at the lonesome blue sky, whilst Nikaidou-sensei was teaching something she didn't quite understand.

Rima stared at Amu with her big, nonchalant eyes. Despite all that had happened, she had found herself slowly warming up to Amu, and considered her as a friend. Embarrassed to admit it as she was, she was beginning to like Amu. Kusu Kusu looked at her curiously, and Rima turned away hurriedly.

"Himamori-san!" Nikaidou-sensei's voice rang out pleasantly, "This is the third time I've asked you to answer the question on the board."

Amu's mind reverted back to normal as she saw the whole class staring at her. She found her cheeks flaring up, turned to Rima for help, whilst Nikaudou-sensei smiled his obnoxious goofy smile. Amu's hopes were dashed as she saw Rima staring resolutely at her book and not bothering in the slightest to help her. She turned rigidly back to Nikaidou-sensei, who grinned expectantly. She could've sworn that amidst that grin, a dangerous flash could be seen in his eyes.

"Extra homework for three months…" Amu was still grumbling when class ended, "Why couldn't he lay me off just this once?"

Rima made no answer, and quietly listened to Amu whilst Amu walked on, complaining in fury. They found themselves making their daily journey to the Royal Garden to attend the Guardian's meeting.

"Now that Kairi's gone, who will be the new 'Jack'?" Amu wondered aloud.

"Shiranai " Rima muttered.


'Right now, I am still very inexperienced in love. Wait for me, Hinamori-san, I will definitely come back when I have become a man. Oh, and by the way, Tadase, I will never lose to you.'

Kairi's last words echoed inside Tadase's head resolutely. He flicked his stack of cards quietly. Yaya wasn't around, and the Royal Garden felt rather deserted. He was lonely without someone to talk to. He still could not get over the fact that Kairi had confessed to Amu, and declared him a rival. Kairi knew he liked Amu. Why did he have to confess? He sighed, picked a card, and turned it over.

Jack.

Bummer, Tadase thought, and went to pick another card, oblivious to the footsteps behind him.

"Yo! Tadase!" A cheery voice brought him back to reality.

"Kukai!" Tadase was only too glad of his presence.

"Why the long face, Tadase?" Kukai grinned good-naturedly.

Tadase's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Betsuni"

"Sulking because of the loss of the Jack Chair?"

"I-It's not like that, Kukai!" Tadase stammered, looking flustered.

Tadase was wearing the middle school uniform, having graduated from elementary school months earlier. Tadase looked at him and wished he was the Jack's Chair again. Kukai couldn't be compared to anyone, not even to Kairi.

They sat talking for a while, catching up with news. Suddenly, they heard a feminine voice ring out, "Konnichiwa, Tadase-kun, Kukai-kun,"

They turned around, and Tadase's eyes widened with shock. This is impossible, he thought as he rubbed his eyes.

It was Nadeshiko.


He wasn't seeing things. No, he definitely wasn't. It really was Nadeshiko. The exact same one. Only a little taller. Tadase's breathing quickened, and he stared at her, as if trying to determine if she was real or not.

"Hey, Nadeshiko! It's been a while!" Kukai grinned and went up to her, slapping her back as a greeting.

Nadeshiko smiled and chuckled softly. Before both of them could say another word, she beamed at them. Nadeshiko then turned her back and them and said, almost inaudibly, "Wait for five minutes. I'll be back soon."


Nikaidou-sensei approached Amu and Rima as they were nearing the Royal Garden. "Himamori-san, Mashiro-san, could you take these books up to the staffroom for me?"

He then dumped a pile of huge textbooks on the floor in front of Amu and disappeared as quickly as he appeared, leaving Amu and Rima bewildered.

"Mou!" Amu-chan sighed, "We'd better get this over with then!"

"What about the Royal Garden?" Rima pointed out.

"We'll go after this," Amu struggled to carry all the books, "Rima! Aren't you going to help?"

"No."


"Sorry for the wait." Nadeshiko called out, and stepped in front of Tadase and Kukai.

Tadase studied her speculatively. Except she wasn't a 'her' anymore. Nadeshiko's hair was let loose down, and she was wearing a boy's school uniform, and was smiling slightly.

"N-Nadeshiko? What's up with the boy's outfit?" Kukai stammered.

"My name isn't Nadeshiko." Nadeshiko answered smoothly, "My name is Nagihiko, and I'm a guy."

Nothing could've prepared Tadase for this.

He stared at Nagihiko as if he was some sort of alien. "H-How could you be a guy?"

Nagihiko looked as if he was extremely prepared to answer the question. He took a chair and slid in. "The Fujisaki family has a tradition that ran for many generations. It the rule of the Fujisaki family that male sons are trained to become oyama – that is, people who play female parts in plays. That is why, from young, I was trained to wear female clothes, speak like a female, and act like one too." It sounded as if he had memorised some lines, and was reciting it smoothly.

Kukai seemed to recover pretty quickly. "Then, you can be the new Jack's Chair, Nagihiko!" he shouted excitedly, "Yeah, that's right! You could be the new Jack's Chair!"

Nagihiko seemed taken back by the offer. "I really can't…"

"No buts! We won't take no for an answer, right, Tadase?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah…"

"But, I can't. Temari had returned to her egg." Nagihiko sobered up, and held out Temari's sealed egg. He paused, then took out another egg, one very similar to Temari's, only a shade darker, "Also, a new Shugo Chara was born."

"Impressive!" Kukai gawked, staring at the new egg, "Now you've got two!"

Tadase regained his composure. "Does Hinamori-san know you're a boy?" he enquired.

Nagihiko avoided both their eyes, and remembered the time when he had appeared before Amu as 'Nagihiko's twin brother'. "W-well …"

He froze and didn't complete his sentence. He turned to the door and saw a figure staring at him. He cursed silently.

It was Amu.


Nagihiko swore a profanity that could send a child to tears. Of all the people he had been fated to meet, it had to be Amu. Amu's eyes widened when she recognised him.

"Nadeshiko… no wait… Nagihiko?" She took a step towards him. Nagihiko swore again, and couldn't move.

Yabai! I'm done for! He thought.

"You know who Nagihiko is, Hinamori-san?" Tadase seemed rather startled too hear this.

Here it comes… Nagihiko closed his eyes.

"Of course!" Amu cried, "He's Nadeshiko's twin brother, right?"

And she said it, Nagihiko sighed. Now a misunderstanding would really happen.

"Twin brother?" Tadase and Kukai sweatdropped.

Nagihiko took a step backwards, and looked for the nearest escape out, sweating profusely.

"Isn't Nadeshiko a b- " Nagihiko covered Kukai's mouth before he could blab anything out.

Rima looked indifferent, though a slight widening of her eyes displayed her shock too. However she calmly took a seat and began ordering for tea.

"Nagihiko is going to be the new Jack Chair!" Kukai burst out, unable to contain himself any longer.

CRAP! Nagihiko bolted for the door, but Kukai held him securely, oblivious the the fact that Nagihiko was desperately trying to escape.

Amu smiled in amazement, and her golden eyes sparkled. Half a moment later, she pounced onto Nagihiko and was shaking his hand vigorously. "I hope you'll have a good time here! Let's work hard together from now on!" She burbled.

Nagihiko succumbed to all this, though was rather flustered inside. Ugh, this has turned into a big mess. I came just to greet Tadase, and now THIS has happened. Amu-chan wasn't even supposed to know Nadeshiko was a boy! She thinks I'm Nadeshiko's twin brother! What should I do, dammit? His thoughts clashed against one another, and roared in his ears.

"Amu, let's go. I'm hungry." Rima slid off her chair and gestured for Amu to follow her. Amu looked at her for one second, sighed, and followed after her.

"I have to go now!" she waved, "Let's have fun during the new school term!"

The moment the pink bob disappeared through the gates of the Royal Garden, Nagihiko threw a fit. "WHAT THE HELL SHOULD I DOOO?" He shouted. Ugh. What sort of mess have I gotten myself into?


The night was drawing in, and clouds faded away as a shadows began to creep in the sky. Soon, the sky became dark, the only light was the flickering from the tiny pinpricks of lamp posts in the streets. The moon was out, but it added on to the overall eeriness.

A silhouette darted deftly past the bright moon, and landed from one rooftop to another. He landed on one particular rooftop however, and stopped. His long thin body was dressed in a signature black outfit, and he slumped his shoulders a little to rest. His eyes seemed to pierce the darkness, as he looked around and searched for something.

"Who are you looking for –nya?" Yoru asked.

"No one of your concern."

"Whose house are we standing on, Ikuto?" Yoru pressed again.

Ikuto paused, and his mouth curled into a smirk.

"Hinamori … Amu's."

-To be continued-


Vocabulary

Shiranai – I don't know

san – an honorific indicating politeness.

Betsuni – Nothing much / Nothing

Konnichiwa – Good day / Hello

kun – an honorific used for young males which indicates familiarity

Mou – expression indicating exasperation, similar to 'Argh'

Yabai – a word that can be indirectly translated into 'crap'


Hope you enjoyed this chapter! A new one will be coming soon! R X R!