A/N: Another long chapter! I'm so happy! I finally found a good name for Shiki's Great Uncle! 優 (yuu) superiority, and 人 (to) person. I think it fits him good. Next chapter will be a year from now when their ten.

Thanks for all your reviews everyone! They really help encourage me with my writting!

Chapter 9, Impasse

Over the next two months Rima noticed something about Shiki. He was quieter then before, though he still had his blunt comments now and then.

"Ne, Shiki?" Shiki opened one eye to look at her to acknowledged that he heard her before closing it again. They were at Ichijo's place, in the sitting room. She was sitting on the couch while Shiki sat on the floor, leaning back against it. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." he said. "Why?"

"You seem…different."

"I'm fine Rima," he stood, yawning, and sat down beside her. "Just tired."

'I don't believe you' Rima thought. She would have said this but Ichijo came back into the room.

"It's your mother on the phone Shiki," He said. "She sounds worried about something."

"Alright," Shiki got up and left.

"Let's go to the kitchen Rima!" Ichijo said. "Shiki will know where we are!"

"I'm not really hungry Ichijo-San.""Aw come on, my mothers been showing me different types of tea, I want to know which one you like," Ichijo used the smile that she hated. The one was made it impossible to say no to.

"Fine," she sighed.

"So Rima, what kind of tea do you want to try?" Ichijo looked through the bottom cupboard to see what all Tea's his mother had picked up. "I got Chai Tea, Rose Tea, Green Tea, Spice Tea-"

"What's wrong with Shiki?" Ichijo turned his head to see Rima sitting at the table, starring at him.

"Uh, Chai Tea it is, I'm sure you'll like it," Ichijo said, taking the box out. Rima didn't comment on his avoidance to her question. At least not until he finished making it and set a cup in front of her.

"You've known him longer then me," She said quietly. "I know you noticed too. He keeps avoiding me."

"He's he with you right?" Ichijo said.

"He won't be alone with me. He leaves right away after out photo shoots and won't be near me." Rima frowned.

"He sat beside you on the couch-""After you came back into the room." Rima stared into her cup as steam rose from inside. "He sat on the floor the whole time…"

"I'm sure it's nothing Rima-Chan," Ichijo reassured her, taking a sip of his tea. "Drink up before it gets cold."

"What did I tell you about calling me 'Chan'?" Rima glared.

"Aw, your manager calls you 'Chan' now! I heard her two weeks ago!"

"That's different."

"How?"

"I can't hurt a human.""Rima's scary…"

Rima opened her mouth to reply but Shiki came back then.

"How's Mitsuki-San?" She asked.

"She okay, she was just wondering when I'd be home." Shiki told her, sitting down beside Ichijo.

"I'm going home," Rima stood up.

"Hiro will give you a ride," Ichijo gave her a look of sympathy.

"Yeah, and thanks for the tea," She said. "Bye Shiki.""Bye," Shiki said quietly, not looking at her.

Ichijo waited until he knew Rima was gone before speaking.

"Okay Shiki, what's going on?" He asked his friend.

"Nothing," Shiki muttered.

"Come on, even Rima's noticed and your hurting her feeling acting like this," an uncomfortable look crossed Shiki's face.

He sighed and told Ichijo about how his mother was starting to break down more.

"If I don't listen to Yuuto and do as he says, he tells my mother about my father, which upsets her." He said. "And I hate myself for it because I can't keep my promise to Rima."

"You should tell Rima," Ichijo frowned. "She thinks you mad at her, or something like that. She doesn't like you avoiding her.""But every time I see her I feel guilty!"

"Still, you should let her know your not mad at her," Ichijo told him. "You owe her that much."

'Could Shiki be mad at me?' Rima thought when she got home. She hated how he wouldn't look her in the eye anymore. She hated how they don't hang out as much anymore and how he won't tell her why.

As she went to go upstairs one of the maids hurried over to her.

"Oh Rima-Sama, your back," She said. "Ruka-Sama is on the phone for you.""What is it, Ruka?" Rima sighed into the phone."what kind of greeting is that?" Ruka's voice said. Without waiting for an answer she said, "My family is having a party, can you come? Akatsuki's grounded and I don't want to be alone with Hanabusa."

"Why's he grounded?" Rima found it hard to imagine the always calm, easy going vampire getting into trouble.

"Hanabusa dragged him into doing some experiment that blew up the outside of one of their vacation homes. Their both supposed to be grounded but Aidou's a spoiled brat and got less of a grounding. So can you come?"

"I don't know…"

"Don't worry, I'm inviting Takuma and Shiki."

"…"

"Rima? Is something wrong?""No I'm just…not sure I want to go."

"Why not? Please, I don't think I can hold my temper around that idiot without Akatsuki there." Ruka begged. Rima sighed, giving in.

"Fine, when is it?"

"Tomorrow, see you there! Bye!"

Rima sighed, hanging up the phone.

"Well, maybe I'll be able to as Shiki what wrong," She muttered under her breath. 'Yeah, and he'll tell you like he did earlier'

Shiki was laying down on the couch, starring at the ceiling lost in thought.

"You owe her that much"

Ichijo's words rang through Shiki's ears. He wanted too, but he was too much of a coward to face Rima knowing he can't keep a simple promise to her.

"I'm a bad friend," He muttered as the phone rang. Luckily it was on the table next to him so he just had to reach out a hand to get it.

"Yes?"

"SHIKI YOU IDIOT!" He jerked the phone away from his ear, Ruka's voice damaging his hearing."WHAT DID YOU DO TO RIMA!"

"What?" he said into the phone when she stopped yelling.

"I just talked to Rima, she sounded upset and it was when I mentioned your name. now What. Did. You. DO!" Shiki had to pull the phone away again at the last part.

'Can vampires get hearing damage?' he thought.

"My families hosting party tomorrow," Ruka went on. "Whatever you did, make up with her then. She's my best friend Shiki, you better not hurt her feelings!"

And she hung up before letting him say more then one word the whole phone call.

Rima starred around at the guest, a bored expression on her face. She decided last minute not to come but then Ruka came and forced her.

She was a simple dark maroon, long sleeved dress, her hair in her special ribbons from Mitsuki.

"You idiot! You should be the one grounded, not Akatsuki," Ruka snapped. "It was your stupid idea."

"Hey, it's not my fault his mother grounded him longer then mine!" Aidou snapped. "And I don't know why it blew up. I hadn't even added the chemical yet!"

"It's still your fault-"

"Shut up!"

Rima sighed. She wasn't good with peace keeping. Mostly because she didn't care if they ripped each others throats out. Less of a headache for her.

"Need help?" She turned and jumped, startled. It was Akatsuki.

"Aren't you supposed to be grounded Kain?" she asked.

"Yeah, about that, my father realised why the villa caught fire," Akatsuki shrugged.

"And?"

"Well," Akatsuki held up his hand in front of him, almost as if he was offering Rima something that wasn't there.

"What-" She started to ask but it turned into a gasp. A flame appeared on his hand. "You got you Noble power?"

"Yeah, looks like it." the flame disappeared.

"What was the experiment?" Rima asked, frowning. She was told vampires get their power only when they were put in danger, or when a circumstance called for it."I don't really know," Akatsuki admitted. "From what I understand Hanabusa was trying to make a solution for making it easier grow plants in the winter. According to my father if I didn't accidentally make it explode when it did he would have exploded the whole area."

"Are you sure he's a genius?" Rima sighed.

"That's what the IQ tests say."

"Well, at least your not grounded anymore," Rima smiled slightly. "Now you can stop these too from giving me a headache so I don't have to wait for them to rip each others throats out." She added, making him chuckle.

"Shiki's bluntness it rubbing off on you." He said."Akatsuki!" Ruka and Aidou finally noticed him there.

"What are you doing here?"

Rima looked back into the crowd while Akatsuki went on to repeat what he had told her. That's when she noticed a familiar head of maroon red hair walking out the back doors.

Shiki kicked a stone off the path, stuffing his hands into his jacket. He wasn't upset. He wasn't mad.

No, he was pretty sure what he was feeling was jealousy.

When he came in he spotted Rima right away. She was with Ruka and Aidou, who were arguing, and talking to Kain who was for once not trying to break up the squabble. He wouldn't be jealous of them talking had he not seen Rima smiling at him and Kain chuckling at whatever she said.

He came up to a small lake that was on the Souen property. He paused, sighing.

He was being stupid. At most, Rima thought of Kain as a big brother. He should know that. It was probably guilt that was making his emotions go weird.

"I'm an idiot," He muttered.

"Just remember you said it first, not me," Startled, he turned around to see Rima standing there. Her face was calm, but her eyes were curious.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I should ask you that," She walked up to him, cocking her head to the side. "Why'd you leave like that?"

"No reason," He looked away. His pride didn't come lose to matching Aidou Hanabusa's, but there's no way he'd admit it was because he saw her with Kain.

"Oh," was all she said. "Then will you tell me what's been bothering you?"

"It's nothing."

"…" he expected Rima to argue it like before but nothing came. He glanced at her, and felt a stab in his heart at her expression. Though she tried to keep it calm, her eyes showed how hurt to she was at his reluctance to confide in her.

"I…I thought I was your best friend," She said quietly.

"You are!"

"Then why won't you tell me what's wrong?" She looked at him, confusion clear in her unique blue eyes. "Did I do something to make you upset or something?

"No! Of course not! It's because…" Shiki struggled with his words.

"You owe her that much."

"I-I don't want Rima to hate me," He said quietly.

"Why would I hate you?"

"Because…I can't keep my promise," Shiki avoided her gaze. "I don't…I don't think I can love my self like Rima wants…"

"You're an idiot," Rima said bluntly. Shiki starred at her, not sure to be shocked but it or amused. "Is it because of Yuuto? Is he pressuring you again? Damn it Shiki, you really need to stop being to passive to others! You need to learn to think for yourself once in a while!"

Shiki didn't say anything. He was expecting her scolding, losing her temper because of his stupidly. What he wasn't expecting was her pushing him into the lake.

He immerged, coughing up half of the lake that he swallowed and glared at her.

"What was that for?" he said angrily. She glared back.

"It was either that or another slap." She said before sighing and squatting down. "Come on, I'll help you out."

"Thanks," He said dryly. He grabbed her hand and instead of letting her help him out he pulled her in.

"Sh-Shiki!" Rima gasped, clinging to him. "I-Idiot! I-I can't swim!"

"Guess your stuck with me," He said calmly, holding her.

"Why would I want to be near an idiot like you," She said.

"Okay then," He made a movement to let go but she hung on tight.

"N-No! D-D-Don't," She stammered.

"Why don't you know how to swim?" he asked as he swam closer to the edge.

"I-I don't like water much," She whispered. She buried her face in his neck, her breath tickling her skin as she spoke. "No one in my family does. On my mothers side at least. She's-she's the only one who does."

"Weird," He muttered. He helped her out of the water first then pulled himself out.

They sat on the edge together in silence for who knows how long.

"I'm still mad at you," She said. "I think your doubting yourself too much.""I think you expect to much from me," He said.

She sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Shiki's too hard on himself," She said. She shivered slightly so Shiki wrapped his arms around her.

"Is this what they call an impasse?" he said.

"Will you agree with me?"

"No."

"Then yes." Rima fell silent for a moment before saying, "Don't do that again. I thought you were mad at me. I don't like it when you avoid me.""I won't," Shiki assured her.

"Promise?"

"I can't keep promises."

"Please?"

"I'll try."

"That's all I'm going to get from you isn't it?"

"Pretty much.""Idiot."

"That's mean."

"You said it first," She reminded him, smiling softly.

"Yeah," He smiled too. "Guess I did."