DISCLAIMER: I do not own Shugo Chara.

Chapter 2: Love

Mmm... love. That's a very complicated subject, if you ask me. There's the friendly-love, the love-love, and family-love. Example one, I love Kukai. As a friend. Or, Amu. I love her, sure. As a friend, though. Not like everyone else thinks I do, but don't get me started on that. But, the love-love... that's the one I always have problems with. It's not like I'm in love with more than one person and can't decide, that's the problem Amu has. Also, it's not that I'm not sure if I love someone, but the issue is that I don't know how to tell this person how I feel because she hates me. Okay, I'll come clean. I, Nagihiko Fujisaki, am madly in love with Rima Mashiro. There. That was easy enough, but how am I supposed to tell Rima?

The worst possible thing that could happen is that she rejects me and maybe even hates me more... the best possible outcome is that she feels the same way and admits to it, then we live happily ever after. Judging on how my life has gone so far, that's probably not going to happen. There's a slight chance it will, but it's not probable.

Okay, I've come up with a plan. I go to Amu, tell her how I feel about Rima, and then ask her how to tell Rima. Or just ask her if Rima even likes me back... anyway; the best time to carry out this plan would be in homeroom. Rima won't be there and I sit next to Amu.

In Homeroom

"Hey... Amu." I said, obviously to Amu.

"No talking please, Nagihiko!" Shouted Nikaidou. This wasn't going to be as easy as I thought. I got out a piece of paper and began writing on it:

I like Rima.

Then I passed it to Amu sneakily. (A/N: Is this even a word? Lol, spell check didn't say anything about it.) I could see her writing back out of the corner of my eye. She then slid the paper back to me just as 'sneakily'.

Aww, really? You two would be a cute couple if it weren't for the height difference.

I figured she'd say something about our heights... now I just have to ask if Rima likes me back.

So... does Rima like me? If she does; how TF do I tell her?

The 'TF' was underlined more than once... I slid the note back to Amu and waited for a response.

I don't know, we don't talk about stuff like that. And... just tell her. Don't worry, Rima really isn't as mean as she looks. AND... she doesn't really hate you, you know that right?

I, in fact, did not know that Rima actually didn't hate me. I'm not sure about telling her, but I'll work at it bit by bit.

First I have to at least get to know her some, be her friend. Then, once I'm comfortable around Rima, I'll tell her. Maybe I'll even like her more once I get to see her other sides.

At The Guardian Meeting

Today we were working in pairs. Normally, Amu and Rima worked together, sometimes Rima and Yaya and Amu would work with Tadase, but today I was planning on changing that. I had told Tadase before hand to pair up Rima and I.

"Alright; today we're working in pairs. I'll assign you each to your partner." Tadase began ordering us around... as always. "Amu, you and I will work together. Rima, you're working with Nagi. Hikaru and Rikka, you'll observe together. Yaya, you'll help keep Hikaru and Rikka in check, right?"

Yaya nodded excitedly at her new job. I knew she wouldn't mind. Rima, on the other hand, did mind. She glared at me from across the table. Sort of a why-the-hell-were-we-partnered-together glare mixed with a if-you-screw-this-up-I-will-be-sure-to-kill-you glare.

Wonderful. We began our work and for the first five minutes it was silent and awkward. Then I spoke up.

"You're probably wondering why we got paired together, right?"

She nodded, not one to talk much.

"Well... I just wanted to get to know you, I guess. Hating each other isn't all that fun, really."

"Hate is a strong word. I don't hate you." AMU DIDN'T LIE! Yesss, it's a miracle.

"You... don't hate me?"

"No, I only act that way towards you because I thought you hated me."

Oh. Crap. "Um... same here. I only hated you because I thought you hated me."

We both started laughing. This was great, she doesn't really hate me. Now that that's cleared up...

"So..." she began. "I'm kind of glad we got assigned to each other."

... Is it possible? Could she like me too? "Why is that?" I said calmly, but on the inside I was really nervous.

"Uh, because, I uh... wanted to get to know you, too." She said with a weak smile.

Well, I was able to hide my nervous-ness... she on the other hand was not. But since she was nervous...? Once again, a possibility that she likes me.

"Cool." I said. Then Kusukusu came up behind Rima's shoulder.

"Rima..." she began.

"What?!" Rima yelled, I think a bit too harshly.

"Jeez, calm down. I just think you should be honest with Nagihiko."

Rima glanced at me, and then I think she got more nervous. "Uhm... about... w-what?"

"You know damn well what!" I never knew Kusukusu was that... uh... I don't know how to say it. But I never thought she cussed.

"Ugh... you know he can hear you, right?" Rima then looked at me.

"Yes, you need to tell him!"

"TELL ME WHAT?!" I yelled, accidentally getting the attention of all of the Guardians. Crap.

"Oh wow, Nagi... look what you did." Rima looked around at everyone staring at us.

"You guys... sorry... get back to work!" Crap crap crap! I turned back to Rima. "Tell me what?" I said, more quietly.

"N-nothing."

I insisted she tell me. "I'll tell you tomorrow, okay?"

"Tomorrow's Saturday."

"I'll tell you Monday, okay?" She repeated.

I laughed, "okay."

A reminder: R&R. Or you die. (: