NOTES: Story is set in winter. First chapter takes place two days before winter break starts. Also, I will be switching between saying Nagi and Nagihiko. Rima will call him whatever, depending on her mood, so it could end up being an insult.
Rima, now 15, lives with her father after the divorce that was made final 2 years earlier. Her father, depressed after the divorce and not able to find another woman who would date him, took to drinking, resulting in him taking his rage out on his only daughter. What happens when her dearest crossdressing enemy finds out?
Rated T for cursing and scenes. Maybe not in this chapter, but I don't know what I'll be writing in later chapters.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Shugo Chara anymore than I own an iPhone.
Why the makeup, honeybunch?
Do you feel like a man
When you push her around?
Do you feel better now?
As she falls to the ground.
Well, I'll tell you my friend
One day, this world's going to end
As your lies crumble down,
A new life she has found.
~ Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
"GET DOWN HERE, YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE GIRL!" Rima heard her father yell. She was grateful their house was a bit secluded from their neighbours, or else they would definitely know.
She glanced at her alarm clock. It read 6:27, her usual time for waking up. However, she had no clue how her father managed to get up that early. Motivated to yell at her, perhaps?
Rima pulled herself out of bed, left her curly hair as is, and replaced the bandages on her most recent cuts, inflicted by her father. She then put on her uniform and stockings to hide the bruises on her legs and headed downstairs.
"Morning father." Rima said, looking down at the floor.
"What took you so long, kid?!" Her father roared. Rima winced from the noise.
"I had to get dressed, father. I apologize for taking so long. Would you like breakfast?" Rima asked, trying to change the subject. Rima's father slapped her with force, and she could already feel that she was going to have to cover the developing bruise with make up.
"Would I like breakfast?! Do you expect to get away with being late that easily?!"
"No, father. Please forgive me. I promise I won't be late again." Rima looked up at her father for the first time that morning; he looked crazed, just like every morning. Her father nodded, and she rushed over to the kitchen to make breakfast. 'I'll have to buy more make up tomorrow, with the time he started slapping me today.' she thought as she fried some eggs for the two. The eggs cooked quickly, much to Rima's delight. She placed them on separate plates and brought one down to her father.
"Here you go father. I hope you enjoy them." She said as she turned to go back to the kitchen.
"Rima, remember that I want you home right after school, I will not tolerate you being late again." Her father said sharply. She mentally groaned; today was definitely going to be one of those days. One of the days where he just constantly abuses her, both emotionally and physically.
"Of course father. May I go to school now?" She asked timidly, turning back to face her father.
"Sure, do whatever the hell you want, just don't be late coming here after school." Rima rushed out of the living room and to the kitchen, scarfed down her eggs, and quickly left for school. Since she wasn't going to have time after, she decided to get more make up before school, it will also give her a chance to cover the bruise from this morning.
'Why did he have to start so early?' She thought. She just hoped that none of her friends would wonder why she had to go home directly after school, no talking or anything. She knew Amu, Yaya and Tadase wouldn't find out on their own, they were much too dense, even at fifteen. Kukai might assume something is going on, but he would never be close to guessing what exactly it was. However, Fujisaki, she was worried about. Rima knew that Fujisaki would find out sooner or later, and that he had his suspicions, but he hadn't any evidence other than her behavior. Although, Rima hadn't changed much in the last three years.
Rima was still shorter than everyone, even Yaya now. She was often called a midget by Kukai and Nagihiko. Her blonde hair was still as long and curly as ever, and she was still considered an ice queen by most of the students. The only thing that had significantly changed was her living situation.
Two years earlier, Rima's parents' divorce had been finalized, and Rima now clearly lived with her father. She knew that the abuse was horrible, but she also knew that it would get worse if she told anyone about it. He was usually careless about it, usually just hitting wherever he could reach first. Although he usually restrained from hitting her face, as it showed much too easily.
Rima then arrived at the store. 'While I'm here I might as well buy some painkillers and Advil.' She thought, not wanting anyone to get suspicious from wincing because of the pressure placed on her bruises whenever she moved.
She looked around for a minute or two until she found what she needed. She went up to the counter, and bought them quickly. She went outside, and covered up the bruise until you couldn't even tell it was there. Rima then rushed off to school, not wanting to be late again.
By the time she arrived, the first bell was just ringing, so Rima ran straight to her home room, not stopping to put her stuff in her locker. She burst into the room, out of breath, yet calmly walked to her seat beside Nagihiko. "Good morning Rima," She heard him day.
"Morning," Rima muttered, not wanting to talk.
"Why were you late?" Nagihiko asked her. She looked up at him, glaring.
"Why should I tell you, Eggplant Head?" Nagihiko leaned down, so he was eye level with her while still sitting in his seat.
"Because you're secretly in love with me, honeybunch." Nagihiko grinned, but that grin was wiped off his face as Rima pushed him off of his chair.
"Don't call me honeybunch, Eggplant Head. And no, I most definitely am not secretly in love with you, as much as you wish I was." Rima said, facing the front of the class and resting her hand on her bruised cheek. She quickly lifted her head as Nagihiko got back into his seat and she rested her head on her other hand.
"What was that all about?" Nagihiko asked. Rima gave him a questioning glance, acting as if she didn't know what he was talking about. "You know, the whole quickly switching hands thing. Is there anything wrong?" Nagihiko poked Rima's bruised cheek.
Rima slapped his hand away. "Ow! What was that for?" She squealed, putting her hand over her cheek.
"I dunno," Nagihiko answered as he looked at his finger. It felt weird, and then Nagi rubbed his fingers together. 'Make up. But why would Rima need to wear so much in one spot?' He thought, as he left Rima alone.
'Good, he's finally stopped talking to me.' Rima thought, removing her hand and leaning on the opposite one. she looked at her hand; it had a thin coating of the powder on it, and if that was so, then Nagihiko must've gotten a bit on his finger when he poked her. Rima looked over at him, Nagihiko looked deep in thought.
'Shit, he's definitely thinking about the make up,' Rima thought. In her head, she was completely panicking, but her outer character was cold and collected, acting as if nothing was wrong, while she was actually on the verge of being discovered.
"So class, today we'll be-" And then poor Nikaidou-sensei fell on his face. All the students sweatdropped at this, as even after all these years, his coordination is poor as ever.
"Well, I guess that gives us another five minutes of free time," Nagihiko said, to no one in particular. "So, Rima, why are you wearing all that make up?" He asked Rima casually.
"I'm not wearing that much make up, Fujisaki. And I'll be leaving now." Rima informed him, and then left the classroom. She sprinted to the bathroom, which was a jog to most average height people.
'Okay Rima, all you need is reapply the make up and take a painkiller.' She thought, taking her powder and new bottle of painkillers out of the pocket she had sewn into her uniform skirt.
Taking two pills out of the bottle, she filled the cap with water and swallowed the pills one at a time before reapplying her make up.
She had just put back her painkillers when Amu came running into the bathroom. "Rima!" She yelled, and put her hands on her knees, panting. Amu wasn't in best physical condition either.
"Yes?" Rima asked innocently, acting as if she wasn't going to cover up the evidence of abuse.
"Nikaidou-sensei wants to meet you in the classroom, something about grades." Amu informed the blonde, with her breath now back.
"But isn't class still going on?" Rima asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
"Well, he just sort of gave up on trying to do anything in home room after attendance, so it's just a free period." Amu said. "So, are you coming back to class?"
"I'll be there in a minute, you can leave now." Rima answered.
"Okay Rima! No skipping out on class though!" Amu said before she walked coolly out of the bathroom. Rima let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding, and took out her make up. She evenly put the make up on, covering the bruise expertly.
After finishing redoing her make up, Rima exited the bathroom and walked briskly to the classroom. As soon as she got there, she walked into a classroom filled with chaos. Everyone was yelling, and some were standing on chairs, and there was the occasional paper airplane flying by. She looked around, and saw Nagihiko being the buzz kill that he was, reading. Reading a textbook.
She walked over to Nikaidou, ignoring Nagihiko for now. "Sensei? Amu said you need to see me." Rima said in a quiet monotone.
"Ah, yes Mashiro. You see, all of your grades are slipping, a lot. They're lower than usual. Care to explain why?"
"Not really." Rima replied coolly, putting on her cold façade.
"Well, you're going to have to explain why anyway, Mashiro. Or would you prefer to talk to the guidance counselor?"
"You realise that if I tell the guidance counselor about why my grades are slipping, he's not allowed to tell you, right?" Rima pointed out.
"Yeah, but most students hate the guidance counselor, so it makes a good threat."
"Well, I'm not most students, am I Nikaidou?" Rima finished, and walked to her seat that was sadly next to Nagihiko.
"Fujisaki, you would be one to read while we have a free period." Rima said, leaning back in her seat.
"Well, it's not really a free period. The others just took over." Nagihiko answered as he pushed Rima's seat forward so it wasn't on its two back legs.
"What was that for?" Rima exclaimed.
"You might fall if you do that. I was merely helping." Nagihiko answered, not looking up from his book.
"Well, it's not your problem if I fall, is it?" Rima answered, going back to leaning backwards.
"Actually, it is. Now stop leaning backwards, honey." Nagihiko pushed her seat forwards again, and kept his hand there to prevent her from leaning back again. Nagi closed his book and looked up. "So, why were you wearing so much make up on your cheek?"
"I really don't know what make up you're talking about, Eggplant Head. Go back to your book." Rima said, looking away from him.
"Oh really? What about this?" Nagihiko swiped a finger on her cheek, making her wince and widen her eyes. With this, he could end up getting real evidence. And that just wasn't allowed.
"I have acne." Rima blurted out. She mentally faceplamed. 'Really Rima? Acne was the best you could come up with?'
"I think an inch of powder isn't going to do much for acne, hon, hate to break it to you. Now, why are you actually wearing all the make up?"
"That's for me to know, and you to find out." Rima said, closing the topic for discussion.
The school day continued on, Nagihiko occasionally bothering her about her excessive use of make up. But the moment the bell rang, signalling the end of the day, Rima quickly gathered her things and rushed out of the school to get home; if you could call her house a home, that is.
It didn't take her very long, and once she got there, she cautiously opened the door. "I'm home," Rima called out. She didn't have to wait long for a reply.
"Took you long enough, brat!" Her father sneered, grabbing Rima's hair.
"I came home right after school Father. I did what you told me to." Rima answered, not looking her father in the eye. Not that she could, of course - that would result in her hair getting pulled.
"Don't talk back to me!" He pulled her hair hard, and Rima winced at the initial pain, however didn't make any noise. That would only provoke her father more, she knew from experience. She nodded slightly, trying not to get her hair pulled more.
"Good!" Her father said, letting go of her hair. "Now, go make me some food!" He snapped, and pushed Rima roughly in the direction of the kitchen.
Rima walked to the kitchen, hoping they had enough ingredients to make what she wanted to. She opened the fridge, and found only alcohol. She looked in the cupboards, there were some instant rice packages in there. They weren't ideal, and would most likely result in being slapped again, but it was basically the only thing left to eat. She would have to convince her father to let her go shopping later in the day.
She pulled out the rice cooker, covered in oil and grime. She washed it off with a look of disgust on her face. She hadn't realised how long it had been since they had used it. She dried it off and poured in a packet of rice. She knew it would take at least 15 minutes, so she went upstairs to change out of her uniform. Her uniform needed to stay clean, and around her father, that was hardly possible. She changed into an old outfit that she didn't care if it got ruined.
She fleeted downstairs, washed two bowls in the small sink, and found two pairs of chopsticks in the drawer. She looked for the soya sauce and by then, the rice only had about four minutes left to finish. (I've always called it soya sauce, soy sauce just doesn't look right.)
The rice cooker went off soon after, and Rima put an equal amount in each bowl. She grabbed one pair of chopsticks and walked over to the living room where her father was at. "Here you go Father." She handed him the rice, the chopsticks and the soya sauce. He added some soya sauce, took one bite, and threw the bowl of rice at Rima.
"This rice is disgusting!" He roared. "How dare you even think of serving this to me?!" He got up and pushed Rima onto the ground.
He kicked her once. "That was for the terrible food!" Another kick. "For being late!" Another kick. "For breaking me and your mother apart!" Rima was crying, screaming, hoping anyone would hear her. It had been a few months since he had done something this bad to her, it was usually only minor abuse that she received.
After about fifteen more kicks, none with any real reason, she reluctantly gave into the dark, and fell unconscious.