Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara or any of its characters. I also do not own Stolen by Dashboard Confessionals.
Stolen
"And…" Faith began, lifting her right arm and bending it into an angle, her foot gliding across the floor. "Done!" she ended, raising the floral patterned fan in her hand to conceal her face. She remained in the position for a few moments, and then broke free. "How was that?"
Silence filled the dance room as my mom and Baaya were thinking of how to rate Faith's performance.
Temari flew to my ear and whispered, "She's gotten better."
My chara's right. In the past seasons Faith's been here, her dancing has steadily improved. Especially, considering, her first day of dance practice, she ran out crying and wanted to give up.
"Nagi, when can we leave? I'm a sports chara; I don't want to be watching dance all day. I need action!"
Temari was going to shush him for being rude, but something gray and moving caught her attention. Her quiet and lady-like manner transformed into an aggressive and fierce-tempered one.
She raised a kimono sleeve and her purple eyes became two expanded diamonds. "You filthy rat! How dare you sully the name of the Fujisaki Family during a performance!"
Rhythm and I jumped. Temari threatened the rat some more before chasing it. The door of the dance room slid open, thus the war between Temari and the rat was on.
Rhythm and I exchanged glances then to the door. He shrugged. "Not really the action I wanted, but it'll have to do." Rhythm drifted away. "Yo, Temari, Rat, wait for me."
With both my charas gone and glad Temari didn't chara change with me, I released a sigh of relief.
"Everything okay, Nagi? You seem tense." My mother and Baaya observed me.
I sweat-dropped when I felt the stares of the three people. I don't know what's worse: Those three stares combined or Rima's death glares.
I sweat-dropped again as I saw, in the corner of my eye, Rhythm holding Temari back from the rat. "No need to worry. I'm fine," I chuckled nervously.
"Alright, then. So… How was the dance?" Faith asked, completely dropping the previous subject.
"You danced beautifully, Faith-san," Baaya admitted.
All heads rotated toward my mother. She wore a calm expression on her face. She lifted her hands and clapped them gently. "The quality of your dancing has truly improved significantly."
Faith let out the breath she was holding. She bowed slightly and smiled. "Thank you, Baaya, Fujisaki-san. Now all I wonder about is that dance contest Nagi and I were in. They were supposed to send a letter telling us if we got the scholarships for the boarding school or not."
I stiffened.
"That's right. Thank you for reminding me. The contest was several months ago. We should've received it by now. Baaya, could you go check the mail?"
"Right away, Madam." Baaya bowed and got up to leave. When she reached the door, however, she paused. "Didn't we shut the door?"
I remained quiet.
Faith shrugged. "I didn't see anyone come in or leave while I was dancing."
"Ah, well, it's probably nothing. I'm off to check the mail."
With Baaya gone, it was the three of us. "Faith-san, why don't we phone your parents? The letter could've been sent to your house instead."
Faith removed the kimono she was wearing to reveal her normal clothes underneath. "Okay, I'll go-"
"No!" I cut her short. My mom and Faith turned to me for an explanation. "I mean…" I had to think of a reason quickly. "I mean, they're probably still sleeping with the time difference."
Faith placed a finger on her chin. "That's right. With the time here, it should be dawn there."
I exhaled in relief that my excuse was valid.
"Yeah, so since we're done with dance practice for today, Faith and I are going to get ready for tonight. Excuse us, Mother."
I gripped Faith's wrist and yanked her out of the room before my mom could object.
When we were in the safety of the hallway, I let go of her wrist.
Faith raised an eyebrow. "You were in a rush to get out of there. Too much dancing for one day?"
"Huh? Yeah, I suppose." I changed the topic. "We better get ready. My friends will be here soon. I promised them a cake."
"Our friends," she corrected. "And how can you think of cake at a time like this? With the graduation ceremony only a couple days away, we need to find out if we got accepted or not. If not, then I'll be attending high school here for the next few years." She ended with resentment in her eyes.
"Faith, would it really matter if we got accepted or not?."
Her expression softened. "I guess, not really. I love Japan, but… I really want to know! Don't you?"
When we arrived at the kitchen, I didn't bother responding.
I sighed to myself. It's because I already know the answer.
"You have stolen my heart"
"Fujisaki-kun, we always have a hard time finding your house," Kukai stated.
"It's not a house, it's a mansion. A huge mansion! How hard is that to miss? And I'm short! That should say something," Rima retorted.
Everyone laughed at the short blonde's response, especially Kukai.
"You got that right, Mashiro." He slapped the Queen on the back hard enough to make her fall on her knees.
She sent a death glare to the boy who stepped back as a result. The others were still laughing, but I wasn't. Rima was picking herself up, but she stopped when I extended my hand out to her.
"Need help, Rima-chan?"
She presented a tiny smile before sticking her hand out. "Yeah. Thanks, Nagi."
By the time she was standing again, everybody had ceased their laughter, it being replaced with amusement.
Rima and I noticed and watched our friends' reactions. Tadase and Kukai were grinning while Amu and Yaya were giggling and whispering to themselves. Rima and I rolled our eyes.
"Amu-chi, don't you think so too?"
Amu nodded her head and smiled at us.
"What are you talking about, Amu, Yaya?" Rima asked, slightly irritated.
Yaya jumped into her usual hyper self. "That you two would make a cute couple!" Kukai and Tadase's grins widen and Amu's giggling got louder.
Rima and I, on the other hand, turned our heads away from each other. Before she did though, I saw a slight blush in her cheeks. I wonder…
Yaya interrupted my thought by walking up to us. She stared at me right in the eye and then to Rima. Rima rolled her eyes. "When did you start calling him 'Nagi,' Rima? Why no insults?"
"Because that's his name, isn't it?" Rima's face grew with aggravation.
"Okay, Yaya will believe that. But then… Why are you two still holding hands?"
Rima and I quickly looked down at our intertwined hands, which was from me helping her up. She jerked her hand away from mine and crossed her arms over his chest. "You guys set us up," Rima pouted.
Kukai, Tadase, Yaya and Amu were full on smiling. Even the charas that had silently left us earlier, returned to watch our expense.
While our friends commented on our ordeal, Rima turned her back on me. I sighed, thinking if I don't tell her soon; I may never be able to tell her.
When I was going to tap her shoulder, our friends ceased their laughter. They apologized for their behavior and the charas had left us again, Temari and Rhythm in the lead.
"We're sorry, Rima, Nagihiko," Amu apologized again.
"Yeah, Yaya thought it was true, though. Especially, since Rima-tan's been a bit nicer to Nagi since his broken bones. But sadly, we all know that Nagi has Fai-pfft… Rima-tan, what was that for?"
Rima had gone to Yaya's side and covered her mouth with her hands. The three behind them were sweat-dropping at whatever Yaya was going to say.
"I have who?" I questioned.
The five answered simultaneously. "No one."
If that doesn't scream they're hiding something, then I don't know what will. "Alright, we better get to the living room."
As I led the way, I heard Rima's small voice telling the others something. "Whatever you do, remember don't mention anything about…"
Rima realized I was eavesdropping.
"It's not good to eavesdrop, cross-dresser." Back to name calling? I sighed as we walked through the hallways.
We reached the living room just in time to see Faith come out of the bathroom. "I knew you guys were here because I heard laughing and giggling from the front door. What was it all about?"
We all stared at Rima. "Hey, why are you all looking at me? It's the purple-head's fault!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger.
Says the one that didn't let go of my hand when I helped her up. Wait…
Why didn't Rima let go once I helped her up? It's as if she wanted me to let go first, but like that would've happened. Why would I let go of the girl who's stolen my heart?
Could it be that Rima likes me also?
"Nagi, are you just going to stand there like a potato? Get inside the living room," Faith commanded.
I entered the living room, pushing the idea out of my head. I watched the golden-haired, petite girl smiling and talking to Amu. It couldn't be true.
Could it?
"You have stolen my heart"
The hours went by with the fun my friends, Faith and I were having. We had finished playing a random game Faith knew and now everyone was hungry.
"Fujisaki-kun, where's that cake you promised us?" Kukai inquired.
Yaya beamed. "Yeah! Yaya wants cake now!"
I could tell the others wanted the cake in a hurry because they were hungry, but to also quiet Yaya down.
Faith giggled at Yaya. "Calm down Yaya-chan." She stood up. "I'll go get the cake. I hope you guys will like it. Nagi and I baked it together earlier." She smiled at me and I returned it before she proceeded to walk out.
Faith was stopped short, however, by a certain girl's remark.
"Hey, Nagihiko, you should go help your girlfriend," Rima said innocently.
I sat there processing in my mind when Rima said. When it did, my eyes widened. I noticed Faith twitching at the doorway.
Yaya was too busy with her desire of cake to do anything, but Tadase, Amu and Kukai slightly snickered. As for Rima, she sat across from me, grinning like she didn't do anything wrong.
I shook my head. I probably heard wrong. "Excuse me? What did you say, Rima-chan?"
She stood up and repeated herself. "I said that a gentleman like you should go help your girlfriend with the cake."
My reply was to stand up and exclaim, "Faith's my what!"
Faith retreated from the door to join my side. She pointed at me. "I'm his what?"
Rima stepped back from our reaction and Amu, Tadase and Kukai now got up. "Girlfriend?"
I exchanged a glance with Faith before asking my friends, "You thought we were dating?"
Their expressions changed into confusion, but they managed to nod their heads.
Next to me Faith face-palmed and uttered, "And this is why I miss Nadeshiko."
I rolled my eyes. "Okay. Let me get this straight, for the past several months, you all thought Faith and I were dating?" They nodded faster. "Who told you that?"
Kukai shoved Rima into view. "Mashiro."
Rima shot a glare his way and faced us. "Well, neither of you told me, but I kinda assumed it with the way you two act."
So what Yaya was trying to say earlier before Rima shut her mouth was this?
"At the ice rink, you two were pretty close and-"
"I was just helping Faith skate. She lacks balance and coordination."
Rima blinked back. "How about the time you played with her hair at the picnic?"
This was weird coming from Rima. "I was just getting the grass out of her hair. I would've done that for anybody, even Hotori-kun or Souma-kun." Maybe.
Rima pouted. "What about the time you told her that you wouldn't know how to live without her and that she was born to make you happy?"
My eyes narrowed, suspiciously. "I never said that. I said that she was born to make me realize that one day I might shoot myself because of her."
"And after that," Faith started, "I slapped him." I just wanted to make sure she was okay.
All eyes turned to Rima. I walked up to her and bent down. In a childlike voice, I asked, "Rima-chan, how did you know I said any of that? Could it be that you were spying on-"
In that instant, I gazed into Rima's amber eyes. Usually there'd be some trace of iciness, but this time there was none. Instead, I saw a flicker of something I've never seen in her eyes.
Before I was able to say anything, Faith ruined my moment.
"I can't believe you all thought we were… I don't even want to say it. Nagi's a nice guy and all, but why would I date somebody who doesn't even want me to date in the first place."
The guardians' heads tilted confuzzled.
"You might've never seen or known it, but Nagi, I swear, is one of the most protective people I've ever met. There's this guy I like and Nagi won't-"
I politely interrupted her. "They don't want to hear that right now, Faith. Why don't you just get the cake?"
She growled and finally left.
I sighed and faced my friends. An apologetic expression on their faces. "Don't worry about it. Yeah, Faith and I have known each other a long time and are really close, but we're more like brother and sister. If we even tried dating, well… just imagine Ikuto and Utau."
Besides, somebody's already stolen my heart.
We all stayed in our position, Amu being the first to break the silence. Her eyes widened and she became spazzy.
"Something wrong, Amu-chan?" Tadase wondered.
"Where's Yaya?"
Through the misunderstanding, we forgot about the pig-tailed girl and her craving for cake. We went investigating around the room, in case she was hiding.
When Yaya was nowhere to be found, we assumed she went to the kitchen herself. The five of us dropped to the ground. Today had been a long day.
My eyes closed. I replayed everything in my head, including the conversation not too long ago. I mentally sighed. Faith should be back with the cake and Yaya anytime soon.
That was when I felt a flick on my forehead. I opened my eyes. "Hi, Rima-chan."
"Oh, you're alive; I thought you were dead. I was about to write something for your tombstone."
"Very funny, Rima-chan," I said sarcastically.
She turned to Tadase, Amu and Kukai – sitting across the room from us, absorbed in a conversation – before facing me. "Now let me get this straight, Faith's not your girlfriend?"
Why is she bringing this back? "No, she's not Rima-chan."
"Then why were you being so nice to her?"
I tilted my head to the side. "Aren't I nice in general? Besides, Faith's miles away from her parents; I didn't want her to feel homesick. I would've done that for Amu-chan or Yaya-chan." I smirked after. "I have a question for you, Rima-chan. Why did you pay so much attention to Faith and me?"
"I don't have to answer." Stubborn as always.
I sighed, "Rima-chan."
She pointed a finger and glared at me. "Wait, you said that you would've done those nice things for Amu or Yaya. Not that I care or anything, but what about me?"
I smirked again. "There's a reason I treat you differently, Rima-chan."
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
I chuckled. "Do you want to know?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Nagihiko, tell me now!"
"Okay, Rima-chan." It's now or never. "Rima-chan, remember-"
"The LETTER!"
What was that?
Our eyes shifted to the door where Faith was standing, more pissed than I have ever seen her.
"Suzuki-san," Tadase started, "what's the…"
He didn't get to finish. Faith stomped toward me, her fists clenched and eyes full of anger.
Rima and I got to our feet and backed up to our other friends. I put my hands up in defense, though I didn't know why she was mad in the first place. "Faith, why are you…"
She fake-grinned. "You know what else about Nagi that bugs me, other than him being protective? He's a LIAR!"
"We already knew that. It took him until our teacher's wedding in sixth grade to tell Amu and Yaya he was Nadeshiko."
Not helping Rima. "What did I do, Faith?"
She brought her hands out from behind her and pulled out an envelope. The second I saw it, I knew this little celebration before the middle school graduation would not end well.
"What is it, Faith?" Amu questioned, trying to see it.
"Oh, this? This is only the letter I've been waiting for since I got here! You see, the dance contest we entered was run by the same person who owns this prestige boarding school in London. If they thought we had potential and Nagi and I got accepted, we could get scholarships for the school. But, Nagi kept it from me!"
I groaned. "How did you even find it? It was in my room."
"I know. I was passing by your room and I heard a loud crash and some items floating, so I went to check it out. Then on your desk, I saw a bunch of letters and amongst them, found this one."
"Hold it. You're saying Fujisaki-kun, hid the letter from you. Why would he do that?"
"Yes, Nagi. Tell them why you hid it?"
"I-"
"When would you be attending the school and leaving if you got accepted?"
"We would be attending for high school," I announced. "And we would be leaving two days after the ceremony."
My friends' jaws dropped. "Fujisaki-kun, you weren't going to tell us?" the king asked.
I didn't know what to say which is why Rima did. "Wait! We don't even know if they got accepted or not. Faith, did you?"
She handed the envelope to Rima. "See for yourself."
Rima seized the letter from inside. I left her side and went to Faith's as she began unfolding the contents. "Nagihiko Fujisaki and Faith Suzuki, I am very pleased to inform you of your acceptance to attend…" she trailed off, not wanting to read more.
She looked up at me with those fawn eyes of hers and I, yet again, saw that same flicker in her eyes.
Rima…
She gave the letter back to Faith. "I guess this means you guys will be coming to the airport to say goodbye?"
They nodded slowly. In those minutes, I had pissed off my "sister," saddened four of my friends and shattered my heart.
The letter didn't only mean to bid a farewell, but also meant to crush everybody's spirit. I had just gotten back not too long ago and now I have to leave again. It's too early to say goodbye.
I observed my friends. Three distressed faces were painted over with smiles while the other remained emotionless.
It got quiet until…
"Hey guys, Yaya found the cake! Huh? What did Yaya miss?"
As Yaya strolled into the room with the cake, Rima took that opportunity to leave. "It's getting late. I promised my mom I'd return home. Bye, everyone." She casually past by me mumbling, "Have fun in England," before exiting the room.
Tadase, Amu and Kukai stayed hushed and Faith told Yaya everything that occurred.
I stood there a second before knowing what I had to do. I ran out of the room, despite my name being called.
I caught up to Rima right as she made it to the front door. It's a surprise she knows her way around this place.
"Rima-chan!"
She looked at me. Her face still impassive. "What cross-dresser?"
"Rima-chan," I spoke softly. "I didn't mean to not tell you guys we got accepted. I guess Faith can go and I'll stay here in Japan."
She blinked leisurely and sighed. "No, Nagihiko, you have to go. I've heard about that school; they don't just accept anyone. You have something special." She half-smiled.
"Rima-chan, but… I l- I mean, so are you coming to the airport?"
Her hand inched closer to the door. "I don't think so. Look, I really need to go. Tell KusuKusu to come home when she's done." With that, she pushed open the door and ran out, not even giving one last glance.
I sighed heavily. That's when a slip of paper caught my eye. I picked it up and examined it. My eyes widened and looked up, hoping Rima was still in sight, but she wasn't.
I walked back in my house with the letter I wrote to Rima the day I left for Europe. Why would she still have this unless…
I read the letter again, seeing that 'I love you' was circled.
Rima does like me too. I sighed. I had so many chances to tell her tonight, but I didn't and I may never will.
I scanned the letter again and noticed something else. There were certain letters underlined. I stood there trying to decipher it.
After a couple minutes, I figured out the words "are," "waiting," "for," "what." There was one word left. Right as I was about to crack the code, I heard footsteps.
"Hey, Nagi, sorry I was rough on you in front of your friends. I didn't mean to upset them by telling them the news, but why didn't you want to tell them?"
As she asked me, I figured out the last word. "You!" I looked up at Faith.
She narrowed her eyes. "What's that?" She grabbed the letter from me and read it. When she was finished she was stunned. "I get it now. Ugh, I can't believe I'm so stupid! You like Rima-chan, don't you? Wait, so you thought if you left without saying goodbye, it would hurt her less?"
No comment.
"Nagi, Nagi, Nagi." She shook her head disapprovingly. "I don't want to get involved in your love life, like you do to mine, but I have to tell your this: What are you waiting for?"
That's it! The coded message.
"While you think it over, I'm going to check on our friends." She vanished into the hallways.
I stood there staring at the letter, thinking of what to do next. All I know is that Faith's right...
What am I waiting for?
To be continued…
I know this chapter doesn't do justice, but at least almost everything has been explained.
Happy New Year!
Constructive criticism, please.
