Chapter 10~ Flaw #10~ Technology Hates Me

"What the heck?"

"Oh my god, do you think they… did anything?"

"Haha, I bet Rima's glad we made her wear that now!"

"Guys, shut up! You'll wake them!"

"Too late." My eyes flew open as I heard Nagi's 'pretending-to-be-cheerful-but-really-plotting-your-bloody-demises' voice.

"What's going on?" I asked, my own voice sounding slightly distressed. I was still sleepy, wrapped up in Nagi's arms.

Wait.

Oh no crap, crap, crap, they're totally going to get the wrong idea now!

"It's not what it looks like!" I cried, trying to untangle myself from Nagi's grasp. He let go immediately, and I bolted out of his bed, running into the bathroom and locking it so that nobody could see me hyperventilating.

Thankfully, they left me alone. I felt slightly bad that Nagi was the one that had to deal with their interrogation, but I definitely didn't want to face their weird questions.

After a while, I straightened up and rummaged through the closet, pulling out sophisticated black dress. It was slightly flowy, but casual and pretty. Pairing it with some ballet flats and a light pink ribbon in my hair, I washed my face and brushed my teeth, making sure to mark which toothbrush was mine.

Emerging cautiously from the bathroom, I relaxed when I saw that nobody was crowding Nagihiko and asking him questions. Everybody seemed slightly distraught, sad and miserable, sobered up in his or her pensive thoughts.

I sat down on the carpet in their little circle; nobody said anything.

"This is bad." Amu's voice cracked, breaking the silence. She wasn't even trying to maintain her cool and spicy image anymore, instead choosing to gaze forlornly at the ground.

The others murmured their agreement.

"It seems nice here. Not really like we've been kidnapped, but come on. This is Easter." Amu continued, tone bitter. "What are they going to do to us? And our charas? What if they never let them out of their eggs? Those are our DREAMS in there!" Her voice rose in intensity and pitch, hysterical and frightened. Then, her voice dropped again, breathless and broken. "And I miss Ami, and Mom, and Dad…what if I never see them again?"

She didn't protest when Ikuto pulled her into an embrace, a single tear leaking from his sapphire eye. Amu clutched his shirt, sobbing quietly.

"We have each other." Utau encouraged half-heartedly, holding on to Kukai's arm. He patted her back, trying to form a smile.

Nagihiko forced out a laugh. "Well, if you think about it, things can't get any worse, right? We'll find a way out."

I opened my mouth, about to agree, but instead a scream ripped itself out from my throat. Everybody's heads snapped towards me, as I collapsed in the middle, shaking and rolling around in fits of agony.

The pain was back.

"Rima, are you okay?!" Someone-not Nagi, which was weird, because he had seen this before-asked. I looked up and saw pink hair, my vision blurring the fine details of Amu's face. I could see other people crowded around me, but not all of them, and no purple.

I squinted forward, and saw why. Nagihiko was doubled over in pain was well, although silently. He clutched his chest, bent over and kneeling. I felt a flash of sympathy, but the searing pain in my Heart's Egg quickly replaced that.

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I remembered that the fire had seemed to work it's way through my veins, burning. My palms felt so warm that I wondered if there was something else wrong with me. Nagihiko, strangely, was clawing at his throat.

And then I blacked out.

"Rima? Rima-chan?"

"Is Rima-tan awake yet?"

"Not yet, Yaya."

"Wait…" I said groggily, blinking as Yaya and Kukai came into focus. Yaya had her hand on my forehead, and Kukai was scratching his own in a worried manner.

I didn't have to ask what happened. I was pretty sure I could figure it out, anyways. "Nagi?" I croaked, asking silently how he was. Kukai nodded.

"He's okay. Resting over there, but he didn't pass out."

"Rima!" Amu bent over, staring into my eyes, relief in her expression. "What happened?"

"Yeah, Rima-tan, what happened?" Yaya asked curiously.

"Do you know, Rima?" Utau appeared behind Kukai, looking concerned but still getting down to business.

"Influence." I croaked. They all looked confused. I waved my hand weakly in the air; I was in no condition to explain. "Ask Fuko. Where's Kusukusu?"

Amu wordlessly handed me my chara's egg, still sealed, as she watched me cup it in my hands and examine it.

Three-quarters.

I set her egg on the nightstand beside the bed I was lying on, sighing. "Seriously, I can't explain. Go ask Fuko."

"How?" Kukai asked, raising an eyebrow. I shrugged, turning over and closing my eyes.

"Like this!"

Oh god. That voice…

"Fuko, my gosh, what are you doing here?" I asked, immediately sitting up as I heard the stone wall open and Fuko skipped in, smiling innocently as if she hadn't kidnapped us and wasn't planning to use us in a freaky experiment.

Fuko giggled, clapping her hands. "To answer your questions, of course! How are you, Rima? The Influence is almost completely done, isn't it?"

I plastered on a fake smile, nodding and trying to be energetic. "I don't know, Fuko-chan! Since you're so smart, why don't you tell us? Please, best friend?"

Amu gave me a look that plainly said, "what the fuck." I shot her a warning glance, and immediately Amu turned to face Fuko, smiling shyly and tilting her head.

"Hey, Fuko. I guess we're not really friends yet, but I just want you to know that we have no grudge against you! Treat us all like close friends, and we'll do the same. Could you tell us about the Influence?" Amu asked, sparkle-attacking Fuko. She didn't seem affected, though, only being her usual self and laughing.

She danced into our room, five agents surrounding her in case we tried anything. Kukai's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to look pleasant. Utau was outright glaring, so I stood in front of her in hopes that I was at least tall enough to cover her mouth, which was probably best described as snarling.

Ugh, it sucks being short, because I could clearly see Ikuto signaling across the room, telling Utau to stop looking like a grizzly bear.

Utau took a deep breath, wiping the scowl off her face. Fuko beckoned us all closer, sitting on the floor as we gathered cautiously in a circle around her, our line of sight broken by the legs of the agents.

I stayed in my bed, since I already knew everything. Fuko told them the exact same thing she had told me, but she added on a bit at the end.

"Rima's almost done with the Influence, and when she's almost about to go through the fourth pain, we'll put you into the experiment. Nagihiko has developed halfway through from being around her, and Hinamori Amu is not far behind. She'll probably be experiencing the first pain soon. Shortly after, Yuiki Yaya, Hoshina Utau, Souma Kukai, Tsukiyomi Ikuto, and Sanjou Kairi will start to undergo the Influence."

"Today's the prequel to the experiment. Rima has approximately twenty-four hours before she's almost done, so we have to start the experiment before then. Until then, we'll put you all under a small experiment to see how well you'll work with…technology."

She got up and flitted out the door faster than we could react, skipping down the hallway as the stone door started sliding shut. Fuko smiled at us, waving goodbye before turning around and disappearing out of view.

Then, just before the door slid completely shut, somebody stepped in.

Ochre eyes. Purple hair. Creamy, pale skin, and a slender figure, lashes long and full. A red ribbon tied up that long, silky hair, and perfect lips smiled, pink and small.

Nagihiko bowed, waving.

"Wha-at?" Amu stammered, finally getting out a word. My head whipped backwards to where Nagihiko was sitting in our circle, looking just as stunned.

Wait.

But.

There are two of them?

Huh?

Haaa?

Something's weird here. Wasn't Nagihiko supposed to be Nadeshiko? Isn't that his secret?

HUUUUUUH?

The two identical people locked eyes, and Nagihiko got up, hesitantly walking over, but steadily nearing her as if hypnotized.

"Nadeshiko?" He choked out, looking as though he was being strangled. She/He/It smiled pleasantly, reaching out a hand and caressing Nagi's cheek carefully with one fingertip. Nagi didn't move, looking shocked.

And then she/he/it slapped him.

Stunned silence followed.

"Hmm. Human skin feels strange. It stings. Is this a normal way of greeting?" Nagihiko #2 asked. He/she/its voice was slightly higher pitched than Nagihiko's, and carried a more feminine quality.

"No!" Amu cried, wringing her hands and looking as though she was freaking out. Actually, I think we all were, on the inside. We were just too shocked to say anything. "You don't slap people!"

Nagihiko #2 furrowed his/her/its eyebrows. "You don't? Fuko told me that was how humans greeted each other. It isn't?"

"No…" Utau trailed, dumbfounded. "Why are you talking like you're not human?"

Nagihiko #2 giggled. "I'm not. I'm a robot."

His/her/its voice, His/her/its movements, and everything about Him/her/it were so much like Nagihiko that it was unnerving.

"This is SO weird." Kukai said, rubbing his eyes. "I'm not going crazy, am I?"

Amu didn't seem like she wanted to accept this reality. "Nagi? Why is Nade-chan here? I thought she was in Europe."

Nagihiko rubbed his cheek, wincing, but probably not from pain. Rather, from the confession he had to make.

"I'm sorry, Amu-chan. But there is no Nadeshiko. There's only me, and there's only ever been me. I was pretending to be Nadeshiko in order to study dance better. I'm so sorry for lying."

Amu blinked.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A-?!"

She screeched, and everybody cringed away. Nagihiko #2 frowned.

"What are you talking about, Nagi-kun? There is a Nadeshiko. Or at least, there is now. I'm Nadeshiko Fujisaki. Call me Nade." Nagihiko #2-or rather, 'Nadeshiko' said, nodding and smiling.

Nagihiko stared at her.

Nadeshiko skipped into our circle, plopping down on the floor. "Fuko said that since I'm a robot, I don't have any emotions. But she said that I should play with you guys to be more human-like. She says it can advance technology."

"Are you sure you're a robot?" Kairi asked, his scientific mind probably blown. "I mean, you act very human-like. I've never heard of a robot like this before."

Nadeshiko smiled. "Of course. 'Cause Fuko keeps me secret, that's why. I'm the first model, the prototype."

"Why do you look like Nagi?" I blurted, still shocked. She shrugged. "Fuko can change my appearance as often as she wants. That part's not hard. She thought that Nagihiko would look cute as a girl, so last night she did some research and found out about Nadeshiko."

"But why do you act like him, too?" Utau asked suspiciously, crossing her arms. Nadeshiko smiled.

"I don't act completely like him. Some of my mannerisms are alike because they tweaked my program a bit from what they've seen of Nagi. But I'm a learning robot, so my "personality" will change according to what I'm influenced by."

Everybody let that sink in for a second before questions started flying.

"Why do you listen to Fuko, anyways?"

"Yeah, and do you have lasers in your eyes?"

"Kukai, shut up."

"A-ano, would you die if you got dunked in water?"

"Tadase, that's the lamest question ever."

"Onii-san!"

Nadeshiko smiled, unfazed. "I listen to Fuko because she made me. I listen to her because I have to. It's in my program to listen to her. I do have lasers, want to see?"

"NO!"

"Oh, well then. I won't die if I get dunked in water, because a coating that's somewhat like human skin protects me. That was a lame question. Onii-san, you're handsome."

"This robot is messed up." Amu stated, rolling her eyes. "You may look like Nade, but you're not her."

"Nope!" Nadeshiko agreed. "I'm better."

"Conceited much?" I asked, voice scathing as I spoke for the first time. I had many reasons to hate this robot. First of all, she looked exactly like Nadeshiko, Amu's first best friend. Second, she was being conceited. Third, Fuko had made her, so she was probably evil.

"Amu has high standards for a best friend. And if Nade was good enough for her, then she must be amazing. You're nowhere near her, or Nagi for that matter." I spat out, eyeing the robot distrustfully. Nagi smiled.

Nadeshiko tilted her head, looking confused. Then, she gracefully got up, marched over, and slapped me. "Hello, Rima Mashiro. Nice to meet you."

I held my throbbing cheek in shock, staring at the much taller robot. Everyone seemed to be collectively holding his or her breath, watching intently as I started to glare.

"Why. You. Little. Ugh-" I launched forward, reading to slap the robot and see how she liked it.

Nagi easily lifted me off the ground from behind. "Rima-chan, calm down. It's not worth it."

"Let me go!" I struggled futilely, trying to pull away Nagi's arms. But he held tight, still holding me in the air so that my legs were swinging. Stupid tall people!

"Do you… do you have a chara?" Amu asked, hesitantly stepping forward towards Nadeshiko. She shook her head.

"I can't, obviously. I'm a robot. I have no feelings or emotions, and I have no dreams. I could never produce a Shugo Chara. In a way, I am simply a walking, talking computer." She explained, no regret in her tone. She didn't seem to feel sorry for herself at all.

I stopped struggling.

How sad that must be, to be a robot. Not having anything to look forward to, not being able to have feelings, not even knowing what happiness was. Looking at Nadeshiko's perfectly emotionless eyes, knowing that she didn't care because she couldn't, I felt bad for the robot.

"Nagi, let me go." I said quietly, hanging limply in his arms. He set me down gently, and I slowly approached Nadeshiko again.

"What does Fuko want you to do with us for her little test?" I asked suspiciously. Nadeshiko shrugged.

"I don't really know. But if I had to make a guess, based on statistical probabilities, she wants to know how well I can adapt to being around people. She also wants me to gather information on you, data that she can use in the experiment." Nadeshiko said, before sitting down again. "So far… I'm not impressed."

I gritted my teeth and reminded myself that Nadeshiko wasn't trying to piss me off; this was just how she was programmed.

"So what would it take to impress you?" I asked, crossing my arms. Nadeshiko shrugged again.

"You're not trying to impress me. You want to impress Fuko. And something that would her is if you were able to use your Influence. But do you know what it is?" Nadeshiko asked, her blank stare burning into my own eyes. I turned away, unnerved.

"Amu. I need to talk to you." I murmured quietly. I heard Amu get up after me, and I led her into the bathroom before closing the door.

"Rima, what is it?" She asked, looking confused and concerned. I took a deep breath.

"I think I know what my power is. But I can't let Fuko find out, or I could die." I blinked, trying to figure out exactly how to word it.

"It was after the first pain. Mom was baking cookies because Dad was out of town and she was all happy about it, but she went to take a shower during the time when the cookies were done. I didn't want them to burn, so I took them out of the oven."

"But I forgot to wear the mitts, and my hand touched the oven rack when it was still hot. The weird thing is, though, it didn't feel hot at all. And I laid my entire hand in the hot oven, and it came out perfectly fine."

"And this part sounds really stupid, but I thought something was really wrong. I lit a candle and touched the flame. First with my finger. Then with my palm. Then, I grabbed the entire flame with my hand. And every time, my hand was fine."

"And then you know how I just experienced the third pain? My entire body felt hot then. Like there was fire running through me, and my palms felt really warm. So…"

I trailed off. Amu had been listening intently the entire time, gazing me the tiled floor solemnly. She looked up at me.

"So you think your power is being fire-resistant?" she questioned. I shook my head.

"That's what I thought, too. But then Fuko said that the power doesn't fully manifest until all four pains are over with, so my entire power couldn't just be the first time. There must be more to it." I held out my palm.

"And I think I know what it is."

Sparks danced across my palm for an instant, and Amu gasped. I felt shocked (no pun intended) myself, as I watched my fingers light the spark again. It was a warm orange electricity, arching across my palm but not yet fire.

"Oh my god!" Amu let out a strangled whisper. "I didn't know it was possible! I didn't even believe Fuko…"

I swallowed. "I know. I don't even know how I'm doing this, it just comes naturally. And it scares me, because I don't what Fuko might do if she ever found out."

"I know."

Our heads whipped towards the bathroom door, where Nadeshiko was lazily leaning against the doorframe, clapping sarcastically. She smiled evilly.

"Congratulations, Rima. You're an elemental."

OOHHHHHH. I actually wasn't originally planning on having Rima reveal her power in this chapter, but what the heck. And I'm SOOOO SOOO sorry for not updating earlier ): I just haven't had time this week. Next week will hopefully go better, though.

Thank you very much if you are still reading, and I love you all!

Pretty please with Rima and Nagi on top, leave a review? It encourages me that people are still reading.

~Sea-chan