The white painted ceiling still had traces of old paint in certain areas. That is what Rima discovered after staring up to it for half an hour. Her mind was completely blank, as if nothing ever was at all. She slowly moved her hands on her eyes. What was going on? Why was this bothering her so much, and why, in the first place, did she have so much fights with Nagihiko? What the hell was he trying to pull? Amu, or no one else for that matter, had never asked that many questions. A suffocating feeling bothered Rima's chest, when a scary thought crept in her head. What if he already knew about her situation at home and just wanted her to tell him? Rima could barely breathe anymore just thinking about it. The idea, however, made no sense. If he actually knew, wouldn't he have taken different steps? It was not his noisyness, not his arrogance, but the confusion he caused Rima that made her mad. She had felt the same thing before, when people like Amu really wanted to be her friend.. But she didn't what Nagihiko was trying to do. His actions, his intentions, his thoughts… It was all a mystery to Rima. And that was NEVER the case. Even the strange blue-haired boy that clearly wanted Amu was readable for her. Sure, there was a certain secrecy to him, but besides that most of his intentions were clear. Rima giggled. Not for Amu of course, that being a different case all together..

The feeling of hopelessness easily entered Rima's mind when she layed on the bed doing nothing. Not any of the conflicts she had before would be solved if she didn't do anything. Then again, dealing with her parents and Nagihiko on one day.. It probably wasn't a good idea. Besides, he wasn't exactly at the top of her list now.
''… What a depressing thought.''
Rima pressed her head in her pillow and took a deep breath. Not solving her problems with Nagihiko was a great relief… Having to run from him was not. She only knew one other person who would understand her feelings and had the patience to deal with her problems. That was if she could find her first.
Confidence grew in Rima's chest, to eventually break down again. But she knew that she had to something to end the circle of fights with him, or rather with everyone.
''I have to go find Amu.''

Weeks later Rima still wondered how it could've been that Seiyo had been so empty that time in the morning. Not a person around, the hall were completely deserted. The same feeling came back that she had had right before she took her first drama lesson. When she found out that Nagihiko was such an outstanding dancer. At the time it excited her to know that he was like that. Now, however, it annoyed her to know how perfect he was. All her problems seemed so petty. And then again.. It made her smile. He was so perfect yet he had so much trouble dealing with her or even just understanding her. Messing with him was fun.
Abruptly, Rima stopped. What was she doing again?
''Oh right. I was going to find Amu.''
The realization fell upon her that she had only so much time left until the other students returned from breakfast, and that she had no idea where Amu could possibly be.
Even if something upsetting had happened in the past few days, Amu with her happy-go-lucky would never miss the beginning of the day for it. That meant that she was defiantly not in her room.
Rima felt a bit guilty that she hadn't worried about Amu before, and that she was now only searching for her out of selfish reasons. Then again, getting involved with Ikuto wasn't the best idea either..
Erasing the last doubts in her mind, Rima dialed Amu's number on her phone.

''Hi?'' Amu's voice sounded a bit frantic.
''Hey Amu, It's Rima. We need to talk. You weren't at breakfast this morning. I thought something might have happened. And something happened with me too.. So I need some help..''
''Talk? Yes, I think we should talk.. Listen Rima, I discovered something about Ikuto. If you want to talk, it'll have to be quick. I can't go to my room right now. Meet me on the rooftop.'' Those were her last words before she hung up.
''What is up with her?'' Rima thought. ''She sounded like she was going to plant a bomb or something…''

The stairs up to the roof were long. Much longer then Rima remembered from the last time she climbed them. Whether this was a more serious matter then before, Rima did not know. But she feared that it was far more serious than any of the previous situations, by the way Amu sounded on the phone. Somehow the scenery she was in didn't feel dangerous at all. She could never stop thinking how perfect the building that Seiyo made was. The big broad windows on the flat part of the staircase made her feel as if she was walking through a castle. Well, it was kind of like a castle. One of education and friendship.
''But.. not with everything that has been going on.''
At that moment Rima needed to talk to Amu even more. She just wanted to get everything of her chest. Ditch all her responsibilities and cry like a little girl. That's what she yearned for.
She felt a cold gust of wind brush up against her face as she neared the already opened door to the roof. The weather had changed much in such a short time. A colder period was approaching.
She could see white clouds passing by through the hole of the door. It was cold, but it was a beautiful day. When Rima entered the roof she thought she was the first to arrive, until she looked to her left.
But seeing Amu didn't grant her any relief at all. Her hair was loose, messy, and out of control. She was only wearing a blouse and a skirt, not the entire uniform. She wasn't wearing any shoes, just two plastic flip-flops. Her appearance matched that of a broken doll.
Rima was afraid to see Amu's expression, but knew that she needed help.
''Amu!'' Rima yelled.

''So that's what the file said, but.. Are you absolutely sure?''
''Yes, that's what it said. But I thought that you out of all people would understand. I mean, this explains everything! His neglecting attitude towards almost everything, him skipping class, the teachers allowing him to break the rules..''
''But Amu.. You're leaving out a part of the story. So what if you found this file that has all this information? Why would you care? Why does this upset you?''
''.. I guess I'll have to tell you.. I kissed him..''
''You did what?!''
''Rima.. You don't know what he's like when he's with me. Sure he's a pervert, Sure he's annoying, but.. He was a very sweet side. He's been through a lot from what I can tell, and still takes the time to solve other people's problems..''
''Well.. I.. When did you two kiss?''
''I was really upset when he kissed me the first time, and I wanted to tell him that it was wrong. And then we just started talking.. And I found out that he wasn't all that shallow.''
''Wait. Wait wait wait. I thought you liked Tadase! Have you told him about this?''
''I wanted to tell him but.. I can't. Ikuto's just so irresistible..''
''… That is so gross.''
''You'll understand one day, if you have your own boyfriend.''
''Yeah… That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I know this guy..''
''You have a boyfriend?! What's he like? What's his name? Where's he from? What-''
''Amu, calm down. I'll tell you everything okay? I just have to tell the story from the start. Nadeshiko has this… Cousin who looks a lot like her. Their names are similair too.. The guy I'm talking about is called Nagihiko. He's a nice guy but.. He annoys the crap out of me sometimes. He just keeps digging or pushing me to tell me more about myself and to show more vulnerability but I don't want to.. I feel like he's tricking me into it.. On the other hand.. Maybe I'm just going along with it.. Or maybe I act that way and then stop to spite him… I don't even know anymore.''
''What is wrong with showing some vunerability?''
''He does this all the time, Amu. Then continues to bother me with it. In litteraly every way possible. It really gets on my nerves. Or.. Or perhaps I like it. I'm really confushed. My mind is as damp as a sponge right now..''
''So have you told him about.. About your situation?''
''No. Absolutely not. He'll just make things worse.''
''I'm not so sure. Nadeshiko sure seems like a smart person. She gave me some really good advice you know..''
''I'll find some kind of solution for it.. Your current problems are a lot more serious than mine anyway..''
''I don't think you should compare problems, but I do need help. So what do you think I should do?''
''Listen to me Amu, I say this from experience, do not confront any adults with this until you got the full story, okay? Because if you don't, they will just cover it up with lies, to leave you completely in the dark. Probably going to Ikuto and telling him you know is the best option.''
''He didn't tell me Rima! Can imagine how he's going to react?''
''Let's hypotheticlly say that he is not as shallow as I think he is, and he isn't using you as his play-thing. The only other thing I can think of as to why he would not tell you is to protect you.''
''That would upset me even more.''
''Why?''
''Being equals in a relationship is one of the most important aspects, Rima. I want to help him with his problems, or at least make him feel better. I talked with him about my problems all night, yet he doesn't even bother me to tell me his. You're right, going to Tsukasa or any other teacher is a bad idea. I am talking to Ikuto about it, however. But how?''
''You've got an whole weekend to think about it.''
''And you need some company!'' Amu smiled.
Rima talked with Amu about her own and Amu's problems for more than half an hour. Perhaps things weren't as messed up as she first assumed.
Talking to Amu while watching over the gigantic terratorium of Seiyo gave Rima some peace. At the same time a feeling of discomfort snuck upon her. There were so many question unanswered. Where did Tsukasa get all the money to build this place? Why did Ikuto's dad want to lay a claim on the ground if he all-ready was a bigshot in the industry? What was Ikuto doing here in the first place? The most innocent things were covered by corrupt intentions. Thanks to Amu's story, Rima now understood the adult world a little bit better. Or, at least, the adult world here at Seiyo..
A second thing Rima noticed from Amu's talk is how she had grown up in the past few days. How could it be that Amu went from a simple girl with no experience about love whatshowever to a every experienced shrink over a few days? Ikuto could not be that special. Rima could not imagine how Ikuto would have such an influence on Amu over the span of a few days. He was mysterious, sure. But it just didn't add up for Rima. And, yet the biggest question of all, who else knew about all of this? Was it just Tsukasa? Or were the other teachers involved in the scandel too? Amu's story dazzeled Rima's head. Who ever knew that these kind of things went down backstage…
''Hey Amu?''
''Yes?''
''I now know why Saaya likes to gossip so much.''
Amu laughed. Rima smiled back. She felt happy that she could cheer Amu up, despite everything that was going on in her life. Until she remembered something Nagihiko once said. ''You don't have to hide it. I think the dream to make someone laugh is a wonderful quality, and I think you should share it as much as you can.'' Somewhere in the back of her head there was a little voice that pestered Rima about apologizing to Nagihiko, after remembering the thing he said three days ago. The voice, or rather, the feeling was the source of all the questions and confusing Rima was thinking about lately. Rima then decided on something.
''Amu? You have to promise me something.''
''What do I have to promise you, Rima?''
''If it's Monday, and the weekend is over, I should've made up with Nagihiko. If I haven't done that by then, you have to keep reminding me of it!''
''Even if you don't want to hear it anymore?''
''Even if I don't want to hear it anymore..''
The silence that followed made Rima realize which consequenes Amu's promise could have on her life. Whether or not this was a bad decision, only time could tell…
''Or his a little bit of both.''
A smile crept upon Rima's face. She wondered back then, if she had already forgiven him..

(A/N; I was really tempted to end the chapter here. But I continued out of the goodness of my heart.. xD)

With Amu as company, the hours went past quickly and dusk soon set in. The time had come for Rima to face her biggest fear of all. A little hope was still present when she thought about her parents.. What she did not know, was if this hope was to be diminished. She hoped with all her heart that her parents had decided to put aside their diffrences to give Rima a better life, but the doubt always remained. Almost if as the doubt was the emotion that ruined everything. It was a silly thought. It, however, was also a thought that Rima really wanted to believe, no matter how badly. She looked up at the sky. It looked like it was going to rain..
''I have to stand my ground in the rain.''
With that last confidential thought, Rima left Seiyo's terrain. The bus was already waiting for her down the street. Even she had to admit that she felt a bit sad for not going back with Nagihiko.

It had been raining for four straight hours. Nagihiko had almost forgotten what it was like to be dry, with his hair sticking straight to his back. The rain slowly pouring down on the road in front of him gave him a piece of mind, but also partially filled him with sadness. Rima's words kept repeating itself in his head. She was usually the type of girl to exaggerate everything.. Still, this time, it was his fault. It had taken him hours to realize it. He realized so many things. How he didn't really know anything about Rima at all. That it was him who had kept pushing her. The last thing, which he was most ashamed of, that he hadn't taken Rima's feelings into account at all. His own selfish plan had been the one most important thing.. It was strange, because he had never had that sort of feeling before. Even now, after doing so much thinking, he didn't feel any regrets.
Letting people down was not something that he was permitted to do at his mother's dance academy.. Then why did he have no problem with letting Rima down, picking fights with her, or dissapointing her?
Another selfish thought came up.
Nagihiko liked to think it was because he forgave her for it. If that was the real reason, he did not know. All the other reasons he could come up with were all much more selfish, the next one even worse than the last.
She was driving him crazy. That was not a reason. That was just an excuse..
Another waterdrop hit Nagihiko on his cheek. When he left school in the afternoon, he decided to walk home to think and as punishment for forcing Rima in such an awkward position.
After seeing so much clarification, he came up with only two solutions.
One was distancing himself from her.. To repress his feelings. He obviously didn't want to, but he feared he had to seeing how little choice he had left. Or the other choice, which was going to be very tiring.. Or very worth it.
Giving it his all, sacrafizing himself for Rima's sake, and really getting to know her. He did not know if he was cut for the challenge, What he did know is that he at least wanted to try. And it was going to be one hell of a try.
Through the leaves of the tree standing next to him, he could see that it had stopped raining. Finally. The park Nagihiko was walking in was completely deserted, he could hear the birds sing and the leaves whisper with the wind. Or perhaps he was not the only person in the park.. Far away in the distance, he could see a girl with long blond curly hair sit on a tree. Well, it was more like a big ball of hair.. No way it was Rima, right? Nagihiko felt a bit worried, so he walked closer to the bench the girl appeared to be sitting on.
''Unbelievable. How is this even possible?''
The girl sitting on the bench was Rima. Or rather, the girl sleeping on the bench. Her face clearly showed that she cried before she fell asleep. Nagihiko felt horrible. What could anyone possible have done to cause Rima this much pain? She looked so fragile alone in a park in the middle of Tokyo..
More importantly, what was he going to do now? He couldn't leave her here.. Nagihiko sighed. He had no choice. He gently lifted Rima up, and slowly put her over his shoulder.

And there it is. The end of this chapter. I might update sometime later this month again.