At the pool…
Man, was I in trouble.
Rima towered above me with fire in her eyes, while I, in comparison looked much tinier. That is a very frightening situation.
"Where have you been, Amu…?" she asked softly.
"I... um… was... just…" I tried, frightened by the deadly sound to her question.
"THAT'S NO EXCUSE FOR MAKING ME WAIT HERE WITH THESE LITTLE
MONSTERS!" she roared, chasing after me with murderous intent. I'm going to point out right about now that she also happened to be wearing an adorable red swimsuit with white polka dots before I run away from a possibly lethal situation.
"R-R-Rima…" Nagihiko said; sweat dropping and holding his hands forward in an attempt to shield me. How kind of him.
"It's not even eight yet, Rima," he assured her, indicating that I wasn't late yet.
Phew. Thanks Nagi. I'm saved.
"Oh," Rima said, glancing at the watch Nagihiko had held out for her to see. Just in time.
"Th-Thank you, Nagihiko-kun," I stammered, when what I really wanted to say was: OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH I THOUGH I WAS GONNA DIEEEE. I OWE YOU MY LIFE. But of course I'd totally not say something that lame.
"Amu-chan, the lesson's about to start," Ran said urgently, because the kids looked rather impatient for Rima and I to get in the water. How'd I get myself into this mess again? Oh, yeah, I remember now.
Flashback…
I felt a tug on my sleeve while I was walking home from the Royal Garden. It was Rima. She really looks so cute when she does that!
"Yes, Rima?" I asked, wondering why she wasn't running to her car right now because her mother was likely to be angry with her. Personally, I don't understand why they won't back off a little - But of course, I'd never say that, it'd be too embarrassing. Knowing my outer character, I'll probably blurt it out one of these days anyway.
"Amu, I'm teaching swimming at the public pool."
"Um…" I'm not sure how she expected me to react. "Oh, yes! Mama said that Ami was going to be taking a swimming course this summer!" I replied, happy that I'd remembered. "But you're going to be teaching, Rima? How'd that
happen?" I asked, truly curious. She seemed a bit… young to be teaching something like that.
"… You were just thinking I was too young, weren't you?" she asked darkly.
"O-Of course not!" I stammered. Damn, this girl can read minds.
Rima sighed, "My parents wanted me to take on a responsibility this summer and contacted a friend that was supposed to set up a class."
I see. I see.
"Amu-chan, weren't you supposed to take it too?" Miki asked, knowing full well that I could not and would not admit to not knowing how to swim and humiliate myself in front of five-year-olds for being no better than they.
"Shhhh!" I said, putting a finger to my lips and hoping Rima didn't catch that.
That hope was short-lived.
For Rima's sake, I explained that I had politely told my parents that I'd rather not. Unfortunately, they responded by telling me that I was to go or lose all my privileges. In other words, I'd be grounded. So now I'm going to end up embarrassing myself in front of Ami. I told Rima all this with a miserable expression on my face.
"Hmm…" Rima murmured, pondering my predicament. "Looks like you're in trouble, Amu," she said with a pitying look.
"Well, I guess I've got no choice. You're going to help me teach the beginners instead of learning with them!"
"EHHH?!?!?"
End of flashback…
Now that I think about it, it was a pretty good idea. I can fool my parents by making them think that I'm taking the class since I go there with Ami but the actual teachers don't have to learn per se, just tell the students what they're doing wrong. But even that will involve me getting in the pool and quite possibly drowning when I try to demonstrate.
So here I am, chickening out at the last minute.
"I can't, Rima!" I panicked, waving my arms about frantically.
"Aw, is Amu giving up before it's even started?" Rima inquired with a flat expression.
"Amu-chan is scared," Nagihiko teased.
They were both leering at me.
"It'll be fun, Amu-chan! You can do it!" Ran cheered.
"Fine then…" Nagihiko sighed deeply. "What?" I asked suspiciously.
"I guess you won't be needing this, then…" He held up several pictures of a sleeping Tadase.
"A-Are you bribing me?" I asked indignantly.
"Don't give in, Amu chan!" Miki, Su and Dia chorused.
"Of course! And I have a whole album of this just for you, if only you'd teach with us…" Nagi sighed.
Blackmailer. He is so like his genius of a sister.
…
"Amu?" Rima said, poking me on the arm. KAWAII!!!
I fidgeted, glancing at the big, pleading eyes that Rima was giving me and at the pictures that Nagi was offering me.
"I-I'LL DO IT!"
"She gave in…" groaned Miki.
"Desu!" Su agreed.
"Amu-chan…" Dia sweat dropped.
In the changing room…
The four charas giggled as they hovered behind the door of the changing room, sneakily holding up Amu's cell phone to take a picture of their bearer in the bikini that her Mama had bought for her to wear to the class.
Amu was currently staring at herself in mortification as she looked at how much of her skin was revealed. She flushed fierce red color and began to map out the quickest routes she could take to jump into the pool and somehow distort her body so that no one would see her.
"Hurry… Hurry…" Su whispered, urging Miki to press the button and take the shot already.
"Wait a bit, would you? It takes time to get a good angle," The blue chara muttered, tilting the phone slightly.
Dia floated a little behind, wishing they would just get on with it so she'd stop feeling guilty.
"Got it! Ran cheered, dancing about.
"SHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" The rest hissed, glaring at her.
"Send it, send it, send it!" Dia said in a strained voice, seeing that Amu had begun to notice that her charas were nowhere to be seen.
"DONE!" Miki said triumphantly and quickly pushed the phone back into Amu's bag.
"Hee hee hee…" They laughed quietly.
At the airport…
"Ikuto, nyaa~!!"
"What is it, Yoru?" (A/N: I'm positively evil… Mehehehehe!)
Back at the pool…
"Okay, now we're going to teach you how to kick! Everyone, grab onto the edge of the pool." Rima said formally. Was it really necessary to say that? All the kids were clutching onto the sides of the pool for dear life. Sadly, I was one of them.
"Amu-chan," a familiar voice said. I looked over to see Nagihiko. And, because I was still somewhat confused about the whole "twin" thing, I reflexively glanced down at his chest. Whoa-kay. Definitely a guy. I turned beet red and looked away.
"Yes, Nagihiko-kun?" I said, still looking anywhere but his chest.
"It isn't that deep. Here," He said, reaching a hand out to me. I reluctantly took it and he gave my hand one quick jerk.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed, making a desperate grab for him and ended up wrapping myself around him. I'm pretty sure Rima was glaring at me for that but I really didn't care. It beat drowning.
"Onee-chan…" Ami trailed off, clearly embarrassed at having me for a sister. This time, I didn't blame her.
Rima's POV…
Amu. Nagihiko. Amu. Nagihiko. Amu. Nagihiko. Amu. Nagihiko.
I shot daggers at her with my eyes - icy daggers, I might add.
How dare she…
Wait a second. Why should I care? I shouldn't. That's right. I DO NOT CARE. DO NOT CARE THAT NAGIHIKO IS LOOKING VERY HANDSOME AND MANLY.
Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. STOP IT!!!
"Hee, hee, hee!" KusuKusu snickered.
I shook my head and turned to the students, pointedly ignoring the Joker and Jack.
"Now, arms straight, head down, keep legs together and kick!" I said to my students.
DO NOT LOOK. DO NOT LOOK. DO NOT LOOK.
Fine, I admit it. I looked. Only to find Nagihiko meet my gaze and smirk.
JERK.
Nagihiko's POV…
I was shocked when Amu leapt on me, holding me in a death choke after I pulled her away from the safety of the pool edge. I blushed mildly as we were now in a very awkward position. But wait… This could be to my advantage… I glanced over at Rima and sure enough, she was glaring at Amu. Heh. She looks so cute when she's angry!
"Jealous, Rima?" I said after smirking at her.
"Like hell, NO!" She yelled. "AND DO-NOT-FORGET-THE-HONORIFIC!"
She so loves me.
Back to Amu…
She so loves him.
"I DO NOT!" she shrieked.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a stubborn little child.
In my amusement at the scene unfolding before me, I had nearly forgotten that I was strangling Nagihiko to death.
"I'm sorry!" I cried, relaxing my grip on him very slightly.
He winced at the sudden gush of blood that coursed through his numb limbs.
"Amu-chan, let go," Nagi said, trying to pry my arms off.
"No." What? Is he crazy?
"I won't let you drown. Just relax and kick the water, gently, and try to stay afloat," he soothed me and my arms started to loosen little by little.
"That's it, gently, don't tire yourself out." He continued, filling the silence. I say silence because by now all of the children, parents and Rima were watching us. How EMBARRASSING. My face was burning up. Must not act like a chicken in front of Ami though. She'd be sure to relay this event to Mama and Papa.
I took a deep breath and took hold of Nagihiko's hand before releasing my chokehold on his neck.
"Hooray! Hooray! Amu-chan!" Ran cheered waving her fluffy pink pompoms. (A/N: She does a lot of that.) "Do your best; do your best, Amu-chan!"
"I'll reward you with cookies when we get home, desu!" Su said, beaming.
"I'll make you a better swimsuit!" Miki cried.
As for Dia, she just patted my hair and smiled. Man, I love them.
I followed Nagihiko's instructions and began "treading" water. At least, that's what he called it. Then, very, very, very slowly, I let go of his hand.
I DID IT! I DID IT! I HAVE CONQUERED THE TREACHEROUS WATERS!
And to my utmost joy, everyone cheered for me. Except for Ami, of course.
Holding her kickboard in front of her, she paddled closer.
"Onee-chan, the water's five feet deep!" she stage whispered.
I looked down, and my bubble of happiness deflated.
I reached down a bit deeper, and my foot hit bottom. Curse it all; she was right!
For what was left of the hour, I curled into the ball Rima was so well known for and went to go emo in the corner.
At the airport…
"Souko…" My father murmured as he stood on the sidewalk, waving for a cab.
"Yes. Mother is waiting for us." I said, bringing the rest of our luggage.
"Ikuto that was great, nya!" Yoru meowed, trailing behind me as I walked forward, shoulders slumped, hands in pockets, head bowed. My signature walk.
I was still chuckling. That image will be seared forever in my brain. In the "Amu" corner of my brain, of course. The corner that took up most of my thoughts. Oh, if only that kid understood. Ah well, she's only twelve after all. Damn it. Thirteen. I missed her birthday.
I smirked. Well then, I'm going to have to give her a present, won't I?
"Something important you're thinking about, Ikuto?"
"It's nothing."
2020 WORDS! YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!!! I stretched my computer time to their extent by doing that, guys. And, I love how this is turning out ^^. I had absolutely no idea how to do this until I finished it. Rima? Nagi? Please do the honors?
Rima: I do not like you depicted me.
Sorry, sorry Rima-chan!
Nagihiko: I LOVED this chapter.
I knew you would!!!
Rima: I dislike you.
Nagihiko: Oh let's just finish this.
Rima and Nagihiko: Please R&R!