Kitase-chan: New chapter~ thanks so much to the people who reviewed so far. Well, here is chapter two, and I hope you like it! I surprised myself by updating faster than I usually do, I'm going to try to keep that up ;)

Temari: Ahem. Disclaimer. She doesn't own Shugo Chara or any associated characters and whatnot. Though seeing as this is fanfiction, that should be obvious already.

Kitase-chan: XD

2. The Circle Broken

A week had passed. The world around me seemed almost the same. This morning I walked to school with Nagihiko, who bounced his basketball idly on the concrete footpath. The weather was warmer, and comfortable sunlight rested placidly on our shoulders and played through the branches of nearby trees, a welcome guest. The grass had been nourished by the rain and now, under brighter daylight, the full vibrancy of its green was visible. Younger kids and older people alike were out and enjoying the weather.

Nagihiko slowed his pace and waited for me to catch up. When I was walking alongside him, he asked, "What's up, Nade? You seem out of it."

The concern was visible in his amber eyes. He stopped walking and turned to face me, waiting for an answer. "Everything's fine," I responded, hoping I sounded convincing.

There was never any point in lying to Nagihiko. He raised his eyebrows at me. "Maybe you should see a doctor. You've been like this all week."

Suddenly I couldn't conceal this from my brother any longer. He was my other half – the one I always depended on, the one who always knew just what to do. I knew he could see right through me, and the truth was that I needed his help, because I was utterly lost. I took a breath and decided. I was going to tell him, right now.

"I did see a doctor," I told him matter-of-factly.

"I mean, it's not normal for you to be like this, and we're really worried, you know –"

'Nagihiko," I interrupted softly, "I did see a doctor. A few days ago."

He stopped mid-sentence and looked at me, surprised. At my expression, his face paled. "Oh, my goodness... it's serious?"

I shook my head quickly. "No... I mean, it is serious, but it's not the way you think. But – I – I'm just... so lost, I don't know what to do about anything..."

Nagi looked terrified. "Nadeshiko, what? You're really freaking me out. What's going on?"

It was impossible to hide, and before I knew it, the words spilled out. "I'm not sick. I'm – pregnant."

At first Nagihiko's expression was blank, uncomprehending. And then the first part of what I said processed, and he looked relieved. And finally, the last part processed, and the full import of what I had said dawned on him. He dropped the basketball, leaned forward and pressed his hands on his knees, shocked. "Oh. Oh. Oh, my goodness. That's why you've been – and that's why... Oh. Shit, Nade. What are you going to do?"

I flushed. "I don't know." I pressed my knuckles against my lips. Telling Nagi was supposed to help, but right now I only felt worse.

Nagi looked up and, seeing my face, raised his hands hurriedly. "Whoa – hey – don't cry. Are you, like, hormonal and stuff already?"

"I'm not hormonal; this is a perfectly legitimate thing to be upset about!"

An elderly couple walking past stared at us, and I realised I had been raising my voice. "S-sorry," I said more quietly. "I mean, I don't think I am; I don't think that kicks in until later. But I don't even know. That's how little I know about this." I dropped my face into my hands. I didn't know what else to do, or say.

Nagihiko put his arms around me. "Sshh, it'll be okay," he soothed. "How long have you known? Have you told anyone else?" He squeezed me comfortingly, and I squeezed back.

"I've known for about a week. And I told Amu." Amu had persuaded me to go to the doctor and to start taking pre-natal vitamins. She knew more about this than I did, I guess because she had helped her parents with Ami so much.

"Okay. Now," he hesitated. "Have you decided what you're going to do? I mean, are you going to carry through with the pregnancy?"

I nodded. There was no way I was going to terminate it. I couldn't.

He exhaled, relieved. "Okay. Well, first thing is first. We need to do some research. I'll go with you to the library after school, we can use the computers and maybe there'll be some books. You don't have to figure this out by yourself, you know."

I hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Nagi."

He rubbed my back and then let go. "Don't worry about it." Suddenly he looked puzzled, as if something else had just occurred to him. "Is Kukai...?"

I shook my head.

"Then who...?"

"Ikuto Tsukiyomi."

"Oh. Wow." Nagi looked like he was considering asking something else, but didn't. Instead we walked to school in silence, but it was a comfortable silence, and for the first time since I had found out about my pregnancy, I actually started to feel like things might possibly turn out okay. Just knowing that my twin knew made me feel safer somehow, as if no matter how badly I screwed up, he would always be there to pick up the pieces in that way that only he knew how.

On walking through the school gates, I was immediately swept up in a bear hug. I tried to breathe. "Hey, Kukai." I pressed my hands against his chest, gently pushing him off me.

He grinned and let me go. "Hey, babe." I stood with my back to the wall and he faced me, leaning slightly over me, positively beaming with delight at my arrival. His brilliant green eyes sparkled, and sunlight filtering through the trees framed his head. The light dappled his auburn hair, making it appear a rich bronze colour. Several girls walking past regarded me jealously, but I ignored them.

Nagihiko laughed and continued through the gates. "I'll talk to you later, Nade," he called easily, and I nodded back, hoping Kukai wouldn't see the anxiety in my face.

Kukai's eyes narrowed at me suspiciously.

Then he laughed. "You're wearing the new perfume. You like it. I knew you would."

I nodded. "I do like it, Kukai. It's pretty."

He grinned again and nudged my fringe out of my eyes. "That's why it reminded me of you." Wasting no time, Kukai leaned down and softly brushed his lips against mine. The kiss was surprisingly gentle, even sweet. It picked up in pace, though, soon becoming passionate. Kukai was in a particularly indulgent mood today. But I couldn't respond the way I should have, the way I usually would have. While Kukai kissed me, I remembered lips that were smoother yet stronger, and I remembered feeling desperate, somehow, desperate for more. Kukai's arm hooked around the small of my back, and I recalled how much that simple act had meant when it had been Ikuto's arms instead. I felt like a liar just touching Kukai. The wrong person here was me, but somehow it felt as if Kukai was the intruder. And I couldn't stand the thought of hurting him, but I didn't know how to stop.

After a short while, Kukai pulled away. He looked down at me seriously, green eyes worried – probably worried that he'd done something wrong. "What's the matter, Nade? You're not really into it."

I shook my head and smiled up at him. "Nothing's the matter, Kukai. Exam stress, that's all."

"Exam stress, huh." Kukai nodded, but looked as if he didn't really understand. The word 'stress' itself seemed to puzzle Kukai. He scratched his head, and then grinned. "Well, you know what the best cure for that is?"

Oh, no. Usually he only tormented Amu with these.

"Usually I only treat Hinamori with these. But, you know what I think it's time for?" He gripped my hand, and continued, "High speed dash!"

Kukai tugged me with shocking force, but I stood my ground. "Kukai, that's not really necessary –" and just then, the bell went off to indicate the start of class. It looked like the high speed dash was happening after all.

"Haha. Run!"

And with that we were off, racing past trees and benches and other students, bolting through the main entrance and up the stairs. 'Kukai!' I protested, but it fell on deaf ears. Eventually Kukai halted, once we were outside my classroom. He turned to face me.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

I felt out of breath and disoriented. But those things aside, I did feel better.

"Yeah. Thanks, Kukai," I said in honesty.

He beamed. "Anything for you, Nade," he said sincerely, and – after placing a light kiss on my forehead – he hurried off to his own classroom. But he paused and turned outside his classroom door – which was at the opposite end of the hallway – and called, "See you at lunch! Love you!" One of his friends laughed and ruffled his hair. Waving cheerfully, Kukai disappeared into the room.

Blushing, I entered my own classroom. Some friends saw my blush and teased me about it. I sat down in my chair and took my books out, feeling energised just from spending a short time in Kukai's presence.

At lunch time, I made my way to the outside picnic table my friends and I usually sat at. When I arrived, Amu, Nagihiko and Rima were already there. I sat down just in time to pick up on the last threads of their conversation.

"You're so lame," Rima was saying angrily. "Well, whatever. I don't care. Loser." She shoved her fork viciously into her cake and haughtily ate a piece. I didn't know how it was possible for someone to look so dainty even while they were angry. Nagihiko stared wordlessly at his own food; I could tell from the set of his shoulders that he was upset. Amu looked helplessly from Rima to Nagi and back. She looked immensely relieved when I sat down beside her.

"Now, now," I said as I took out my lunch, trying to sound consoling. We were all accustomed to their lovers' tiffs. "There's no need to get all worked up. You'll figure this out and your relationship will be stronger for it –"

"What would you know about relationships? Don't you just skip that and go straight to the sex?" Rima shot back venomously, her voice layered with meaning.

I was struck dumb for a second. "She... she knows?" I asked Amu.

"She overheard last week, when you came over. She came up to my room to get something, and she listened from outside the door." Amu glanced down at her lap uncomfortably.

The strained atmosphere was interrupted as Kukai and Tadase came to join us. Kukai announced their arrival with a 'Yo yo!' and sat across from me; Tadase taking the spot next to him and, confused at my pleading look, giving me a cheerful smile. My heart was beating as rapidly as a hummingbird's. Rima knew? Amu and Nagihiko I could trust no matter what, but Rima... we were friends, but, it was no secret that I wasn't her favourite person in the world.

Kukai glanced around at the other occupants of the table with dissatisfaction. Amu looked almost as nervous as I felt. Nagihiko looked depressed, and Rima was glaring daggers at her food.

"Geez, what's with this mood?" he complained loudly as he began to eat. "I can't wait until Yaya starts high school. This place seriously needs some lightening up." When he got no response, he sighed. "Oi, Tadase. Can you help me with my Art History homework now? It's actually paint-ful. Haha, do you guys get it? Paint-ful?" He arched his eyebrows upwards in amusement at his own terrible joke, looking around for some sign of cheer from the rest of us.

I realised I was supposed to laugh at the same time Amu, Tadase and Nagi did. "Oh. Ha, ha!" I said half-heartedly, and they echoed my forced laugh.

Kukai's joke did actually help to ease the tension somewhat. Nagihiko perked up, and asked, "Kukai, you're still having trouble with that? I spent ages explaining the Modernist rejection of Academic standards of art in the Western world to you yesterday. You could probably have just submitted my email as your homework and gotten full marks. Honestly." Nagi shook his head, deliberating whether to be exasperated or amused.

Kukai grinned sheepishly. "It totally went over my head," he admitted, shrugging.

After a while we were chatting easily, and the tense atmosphere had been almost entirely forgotten. Tadase rehearsed a speech for Modern Japanese, and Amu told us how she had won a cross-country race without the help of a character change at all. Nagihiko expressed annoyance when a bird tried to get at his lunch and succeeded, much to the amusement of the rest of us. Kukai laughed throughout every topic of every conversation, pausing only to flirt with me or reach his hand across the table and place it on mine.

Rima stood up to take her rubbish to the bin, and some wrappers fell on the ground. I automatically asked, "Can I help you with that, Rima-chan?"

"No thanks, skank," she replied.

And the tense atmosphere was back. "R-Rima-chan..." I said helplessly.

"Eh?" Kukai looked offended. "Rima, don't call Nade names," he scolded.

"Why not? It's true. Even ask her about it. She's a sl–"

"Rima!" This was Amu.

"Rima, don't." Nagihiko spoke to Rima for the first time since their argument. His voice was low and warning.

She glared at him. "I'll do whatever I want. It's about time he found out how much his girlfriend really cares about him, anyway."

"I'm going to tell him. But please, not like this," I asked her quietly, but it was useless. I stared at my hands, resigning myself to what was to come.

Both Kukai and Tadase looked utterly confused. "What is going on?" Kukai asked exasperatedly. He looked from me to Rima and back, eyes searching. "Will someone please fill me in?"

Rima's eyes flashed up to Kukai. "Nadeshiko's pregnant. She slept with Ikuto Tsukiyomi."

There was complete silence. Dumbfounded, Kukai looked at me for confirmation, and I gave a small nod.

Kukai stared at the table in shock for a moment. His emerald eyes filled up with anger, and so much hurt. His shoulders trembled, and I dug my nails into my lap, hating myself.

Kukai spoke, and his voice sounded broken. "Wow... Brilliant, Nade. You manage in yet another way to turn me into a complete loser. As if that's not what I am to you already. So, what? You and Ikuto got bored, and hey, it's not like Kukai's going to know, stupid, goofy, idiotic Kukai," he said bitterly.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice wavering.

His voice started to rise in volume, causing some people to glance over at us in curiosity, as he said vehemently, "Sorry? Ha! Yeah, right. Sorry that you got knocked up, sure. But obviously you wouldn't think twice about me. You know Rima's right, Nade, you really are an easy s–"

"Shut your mouth," Nagihiko growled. His eyes narrowed at Kukai dangerously.

"Ha! Shut your mouth? Is that what Ikuto said to you, Nade? I'll bet.' Kukai noticed that people were beginning to stare, and, standing away from his seat, he waved his arms around emphatically and proclaimed aloud, 'Come one, come all, and see Nadeshiko, the – "

He would have continued that sentence had Nagihiko not leapt up and seized him savagely by the scruff of his shirt, pushing him back several steps. Kukai was taller than Nagihiko, but not by much, and Nagihiko looked so furious at this point that even someone standing on the other side of the school grounds would have been scared. "Don't. Ever. Talk. That. Way. About. Her."

"And why the hell not?" Kukai retorted. The audience had grown, especially now that people sensed an oncoming fight. "Because what I say would apply to you as well? You Fujisakis are all the same. It's probably why your Dad's not around –"

And that was all it took. Nagihiko launched into Kukai with frightening force, hitting him hard. Kukai recovered from the initial shock before retaliating, and the two were at each other's throats, pounding into each other ferociously. It was hard to see who had the upper hand, both boys fought with such brutality. Amu gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. I think she would have tried to say or do something, but had no idea what to do. I could only watch in dread, as each fist made a sickening thump when it came in contact with the other's body. My stomach lurched at the sound.

Tadase reacted almost instantly, and I mentally thanked the heavens for Tadase. He leapt up and tried to intervene, his voice ringing out with a commanding authority, "Break it up! Calm down." Kukai spun away from Nagihiko after one particularly forceful blow and Tadase took it as an opportunity to step in between the two, seizing Nagi's arms before he could begin another attack. "That's enough. Stop it, both of you." Kukai made one last attempt to get at Nagi and Tadase said to him, "Oh, really? Don't you think you're a little the worse for wear at the moment?" At this Kukai stopped and backed up, seeming to realise the futility of trying to continue the fight.

"Good," Tadase said approvingly. "Kukai, go and get cleaned up. Both of you need some air, and to cool off. No more of this fighting nonsense. You are not to go near each other for the rest of the day. Am I understood?"

Both boys nodded reluctantly. After Kukai went off in the direction of the nurse's office and Nagihiko mumbled vaguely about going to the basketball courts, Tadase sighed. "Commoners will be commoners, I suppose." He turned to the small audience that still remained and told them, "Disperse!" to which they hastily dispersed.

Amu put her arm around my shoulders. "It'll be okay, Nade," she said comfortingly, and I realised that there were tears in my eyes. I quickly brushed them away. Rima, who still sat with us at the table, suddenly darted off in the direction of the library. Tadase came back to the table and began to clean up what remained of the lunches. Like Amu, he tried to reassure me; whether he actually believed that things would work out or not I don't know. But despite their convictions I couldn't shake the feeling that I had broken the special connection we had had; not just Kukai and I, but all of the ex-Guardians. It made me sick to think of what I had destroyed. I felt as if the innocent ties that bound us together so tightly were gone, and I wondered if we could ever reach that peaceful place again, the place away from hurt and anxieties – the safe place that I had always felt made our friendship stronger and more wonderful than any in the world.

Kitase-chan: And there is chapter two. I hate the sad parts in stories T^T but things will get better, you'll see :) [but yeah, there's also going to be a whole lot more drama and everything . ]

So, thanks for reading! Please review! Even if it's to say 'update soon,' or something like that xD it still helps to know what people are thinking, so I can try a new angle or keep going with the same one, or anything ;)