Back again! Ready to tackle on a whole bunch of unresolved issues in my story and end it off with a bang (eventually) ! Get ready!
I DO NOT OWN SHUGO CHARA OR ANY OTHER LICENSED MATERIAL THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS STORY/ CHAPTER.
Desuka: So Ran, how did you feel about your kissing scene?
Ran: Well…you know…It was totally natural and all… nothing big.
Miki: Bull crap!
Ran: HEY!
Yoru: Hi everyone.
Desuka: On with meh story…
O.O.O.O
NORMAL POV
Everyone at the party stood around the long buffet table, that was now graced with the presence of Rhythm's huge birthday cake. With a huge '18' candle on it.
"Brother, it is customary for one to choose someone to cut the cake with, who do you choose?" Temari asked excitedly, in front of everyone.
"Yes, Temari when we were five…now go…shoo! Shoo!" He said pushing her away and giving her to Ran.
"Come on!" Iru shouted, "Who thinks it's a good idea for Rhythm to choose someone to cut the cake with?"
"ME! ME!" Everyone in the crowd shouted. Rhythm glared at Iru.
"CHOOSE! CHOOSE! CHOOSE!" Miki chanted, and soon everyone followed.
Rhythm was pissed. Not because Iru and Miki could easily manipulate his party guests, but because the first person that came to his mind was Kusukusu, and as he thought about it more it was perfectly logical. Choosing Temari is embarrassing; choosing a guy is a little too gay for him, besides, it would look as though he can't find a girl to do it with him. All the other girls have boyfriends, even little Su! He didn't want to choose a random girl, before they stick around. It was just a mess! Choosing Iru was dangerous too, Iru's reputation as a slut didn't do her any good.
"CHOOSE ALREADY!" Daichi shouted.
Rhythm looked around anxiously. Then he had an Idea! A brilliant one!
"Well," He said clearing his throat, "In order to honour a new member to our group, I'll choose Dia!"
"Huh?" Dia looked up. Everyone cheered loudly.
"This pervert," Miki sneered, "It's only because she is so pretty, like we didn't forget you hitting on her earlier,"
The crowd went "oooh" and made kissy noises.
"Immature, brother" Temari commented.
"Yet, smooth." Yoru commented. Daichi nodded.
The rest of the guys seemed to agree. As everyone expressed their opinion, Dia studied Rhythm for a while with her all-seeing eyes. She stood there for a while, looking dazzling in her party dress, sexy, and a perfect choice to cut the cake.
"No thanks," She said loudly.
Everyone gasped. Rhythm made a face. CRAP!
"Well, It's not like I don't want to!" Dia defended laughing and swaying her long orange ponytail, catching the attention of all the guys, "It's just, I think Kusukusu should do it! I mean she deserves it, she did give him a run for his money on the dance floor!"
"Good point," Iru noted nodding.
"Also more appropriate," Temari said with a smile.
'Oh sis, you have no idea how inappropriate this is.' He thought to himself.
"Well okay!" He said excitedly, putting on a show, "My favourite little dancer Kusukusu it is then!"
Everyone cheered. Rhythm sighed. He looked at Dia and was disturbed to see her mouth to him 'Your welcome'. What the hell?
MIKI'S POV
As I watched, Kusukusu go up there to help cut the cake, I noticed Dia saying something to Rhythm. My eyebrows rose.
"THE FIRST SLICE IS MINE!" I shouted, right before I pulled Dia to the side. She stumbled a little on her four-inch heels as I dragged her a few feet away.
"Why?" I asked.
"Why what, Miki dear?" Dia said innocently.
"What did your freaky eyes see this time?" I pried. She looked surprised for a moment. Wait…did she seriously think I didn't have that part of her figured out by now?
"Well, Rhythm likes Kusukusu. He was resisting the urge to choose her, just now. I'm not sure why…but he really didn't want to, well he did, but he was holding himself back big time."
"Rhythm?" I asked, "Kusukusu?"
"Yes, I'm telling you." Dia said, "Didn't you see them dancing?"
"Dancing? They were dancing? Oh my gosh that pervert!"
"It wasn't like that, Miki." Dia insisted.
Oh goodness, little Kusukusu and his big ass?! What was he thinking?
"What are you two sneaking around for?" Iru growled, crossing her arms, "and without me too!"
"Dia's creepy vision was just messing with her, that's all." I replied. It couldn't be true.
"Messing with her?" Iru raised her brow, "Is it messing with you?"
Why is she asking Dia? Does she not believe me! Well!
Oh who am I kidding? Even I don't believe me. Dia's never been wrong before…
"Well how should I know? It's never messed with me before! Though, I must admit…it does seem a little improbable this time" Dia replied honestly.
"Bitch, I don't know what improbable means." Iru hissed, "Look, Miki told me when you met her you knew that she liked a guy right away and that she was going to get confessed to, right?"
"Well yeah."
"That's dead on."Iru said, "How do you know it's any different now?"
Stop making sense Iru!
"How bad can it be anyway?" Iru asked.
I looked at Dia. Did she think it was bad? I mean she just gave Rhythm another opportunity to get close to Kusukusu with the cake thing. What was her angle on this?
"How bad is it?" I asked Dia, curious too.
"You're the one that was disgusted." Dia said to me.
"Look just tell me already!" Iru squealed.
"Miki," Ran interrupted, "Here's your cake…first slice, Kusukusu actually gave you it."
She handed me a slice of cake, and wandered off next to Daichi. Hmm…I must find out what's going on with those guys when we get home. Oh wait I got cake! Yay!
"You know, maybe that girl is good for Rhythm." I said.
"Well it's not like their best buds or anything; she just cut his cake…and danced with him." Iru said.
"Well," Dia began, she looked at me as if asking for approval but I pretended to be engrossed in my cake. Well I wasn't pretending. But still, "my 'vision' kind of picked up that Rhythm liked Kusukusu and was trying really hard not to choose her to cut the cake, before I volunteered her."
"What! But…little Kusukusu?" Iru gasped.
"Little! Little! Little!" Dia shrieked, "It's two years apart!"
"But…she's Su's age." Iru argued. Yeah…Su's age!
"Maybe you guys should try and take Su out the picture besides, Su may seem little but I saw her and Mussashi come out that hallway looking all torn up, how do you suppose they got like that? They sure weren't fighting!" Dia exclaimed, getting annoyed.
"Ah Dia!" I gasped.
My Su! My Su shoving her tongue in Mussashi's mouth…not good images. Even Yoru and I haven't…done tongue yet….so….NO SHE IS NOT AHEAD!
"Impossible," I argued, mostly in denial, not wanting to be behind my little sister, "We just gave her the talk! What is she doing kissing?"
"She realised she can't get pregnant by kissing thanks to you, that's what happened. Why'd you give her the talk, huh?" Iru screamed.
"Gosh your right!" I sighed, "Dia are you serious?"
Just then, Ran gave Dia and Iru slices of cake. When we were sure she left we continued our conversation.
"Yeah…are you serious?" I asked again.
"I don't know let's check!" Dia exclaimed. She turned to look at Su. She looked for a while. She shook her head and sighed, frustrated. She looked at Mussashi. Slowly, a smile progressed. She turned to look at us, "He's in love, you know."
"Did they make out?" Iru and I asked annoyed. Who cares? I mean that's great. But It doesn't matter if he loves her or not if they aren't doing anything.
"Seems like it." Dia said unsure. We looked at her unconvinced, "Okay, right now Miki I can tell your insecure because you and Yoru haven't done the tongue thing yet, and I can tell that guy over there is hoping to kiss someone tonight, all Ran is thinking about right now is kissing…but Mussashi…all I get is he is in love there are no insecurities or hopes….nothing."
"Dia!" I shouted embarrassed. Did she have to say the part about me out loud?
"Seriously?" Iru laughed, "No tongue?"
"We are not discussing this," I sighed, "But Dia…that doesn't tell me anything!"
"Why is this important again?" Dia huffed, "Point is Kusukusu and Rhythm are two years part…last time I checked that's fine. My parents are five years apart."
"My parents are seven years apart!" Iru said happy.
Does she think this is some kind of competition?
"My stepmother is thirty years apart from my dad, too!" Iru said again.
"Okay gross," I said. Wait she is around our age then….what…?
"I know."
"Look, focus!" Dia shouted, "In order for me to help Rhythm I need to establish if it's appropriate or not, If it will be helping him or making it worse!"
"Well," Iru began, "You said he was trying hard to avoid picking Kusukusu, right? There must be a reason."
"Hold on," Dia said. She stared at him again for a while, "He feels regret, and guilt. Like he did something bad,"
"She is really creepy," Iru whispered to me.
"I'm used to it by now, it comes in handy though." I replied.
"Guys,"
"Okay, Okay." I said, "The truth is, he probably thought of Su as well. But I guess Su will always be like three years old to us. So having feelings for Baby Su's friend…hello that is major wrong."
"Well then we just got to let him know it's right." Iru said nodding.
"I suppose," Dia said.
"Yeah well how?" I asked.
"Hey you guys!" Daichi squealed approaching us, "Stop being mysterious and come join the group on the balcony."
I sighed and looked over at Dia ready to see if she was going to answer my question anyway. Instead, I saw her studying Daichi intently. I looked over at Iru, and Iru looked back at me right away.
"Yeah sure Daichi, in a minute." I replied.
"No," He laughed, "Right now!"
"Oh gosh you are so annoying," I laughed. I secretly watched Dia from the corner of my eye, "Please, just give us a minute, okay?"
"Fine, fine," He said walking away, "But I'll come back!"
"We get it!" Iru shouted.
"Since when is he safe to talk to?" I asked when I was sure he was gone.
"Well, at least we know somebody made out, and why Ran is thinking about kissing," Dia laughed, still staring after Daichi as he wandered on to the balcony.
"What did you see?" I gasped.
"Relax, they didn't do tongue," Dia said.
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT!" I shrieked. Mentally happy about it, though. Wandering how she could tell….
"Look guys, let's just continue this later, they'll get suspicious." Iru said.
"Alright,"
NORMAL POV
When Dia was sure Miki wasn't looking. She whispered to Iru.
"I can't really tell if they did tongue or not."
Iru gave Dia a high-five and laughed, trailing behind Miki. They watched as Yoru walked towards her, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her closer as they continued to walk outside. Dia and Iru looked at each other and smiled, happy for their friend.
O.O.O.O
"Rhythm," Ran began sitting down and eyeing Daichi as he brought her back more cake. She looked pretty comfortable on the patio furniture sinking into the cushions with her arms sprawled out, "This was the best party ever."
"Agreed," Su said smiling over on the other side of the balcony, staring at the view with Mussashi's hand on her shoulder.
"I'm glad you got caught with the club thing," Ran snickered.
"What club thing?" Miki gasped.
"He was trying to get us all to go to Frost and ditch the party instead," Ran explained, "But his mother caught on,"
"What!" Miki exploded, "That sucks! I've always wanted to go to Frost!"
"Oh relax, Miki." Ran hissed, instantly going back to bossy-mode.
"I feel you Miki," Rhythm sighed, "I was looking forward to it too."
"Well, I think I wouldn't be wrong in saying that we all quite enjoyed the evening, is that right?" Temari said happily clapping her hands.
"I know I did," Daichi said. He secretly eyed Ran, enjoying every moment of his new life as her boyfriend. It was such a blissful feeling.
"Are you two going to tell us what happened already?" Rhythm laughed. Everyone nodded, showing that they too were curious.
"What do you mean?" Ran asked, not without letting loose a high-pitched giggle, excited that she had finally become Daichi's girl.
"Ran," Miki groaned.
"Oh alright, we made up as you can see," Ran shared.
"Clearly," Iru sneered.
"Well duh, sis. Now tell us what you are dying to say." Miki pressed.
"We're a couple of course," Daichi said, plopping down on the chair Ran was lounging in, not giving her much room of her own, "Is that what you've been dying to say, Ran?"
"Well, yeah." Ran growled, as she and her cake were now squeezed into a corner "But you just had to be first, huh?"
"You'll always be number two, Ran." He smiled.
"Some things never change, huh? Even when they're a couple their competing!" Rhythm exclaimed. Everyone laughed at this looking at the new couple.
"It's okay, she might come in second place when she's competing with me but she's always number one in my heart," He said with a smile.
"That was so corny!" Rhythm exclaimed.
"Yeah, Daichi gross," Miki agreed.
"I'm not sure if I will ever find myself getting used to those two being in a relationship," Temari commented.
"I was like that too with Su and Mussashi," Kusukusu shared. She was quiet until now, so it was weird hearing her speak. As she spoke, Miki, Iru, and Dia all eyed Rhythm involuntarily.
"So was I!" Ran exclaimed.
"We all were, I mean Su, with a boyfriend….oh my gosh!" Daichi added.
"Even I, must concur, it was very unusual," Temari agreed.
"But," Miki added, averting her gaze from Rhythm, "I can see Mussashi Is very good for her."
"I know, right?" Kusukusu said, "They are so much alike, when you think about it."
Su and Mussashi, who remained quiet throughout the whole talk about them, smiled at Kusukusu appreciatively. Rhythm continued to look at Kusukusu. Dia could already see his conflicting emotions.
"Oh my gosh," Dia said suddenly, earning curious glances from the others, "It's like 1 a.m and we have school tomorrow. Miki, your crap is still at my house."
"Oh, I know, I know. Iru, can you drive me back at Dia's house to get my crap, and then back home?" Miki asked Iru.
"What you're leaving?" Rhythm whined.
"Well, I don't want to ruin my perfect attendance." Dia explained, "If I can't wake up on time, I'll be late. If I don't go to sleep soon, I won't wake up on time."
Dia almost sounded annoyed with Rhythm's question, so he just simply nodded.
"Hey, Ran." Miki said looking at her sister, "You and Su stayed over here, right?"
"Yeah, and Kusukusu." Ran replied looking at Kusukusu. Dia's brow rose.
"Well, if you all get your crap, I'll be happy to drive you back to the Hinamori residence," Iru said, even though everyone could see she wasn't very eager.
"How are we all going to fit into your car?" Dia asked. She gave Miki a look. Miki didn't know why Dia had been staring at her so strangely, so she simply just looked away.
"I don't know…we'll stack everyone on each other I guess." Iru answered, dismissing the problem. Dia sighed and nudged Miki a little. Miki was still confused. Dia looked at Rhythm, then at Kusukusu, trying to hint something at Miki. Miki still looked confused. As those two struggled with communication, Iru also watched, perplexed.
Suddenly, it hit her.
"Well…." Iru started looking at Dia as If to say 'I got this', "I guess we could split everyone in groups, I mean if I took everyone it would be me, Dia, Miki, Yoru, Ran, Su, and Kusukusu…all in one car!"
Dia smiled at Iru understanding immediately.
"I mean, my car has trouble holding five people, eight is a little…" Iru started, "Unless someone like Daichi or Rhythm could help and take four of us."
"Ooh, what does Rhythm drive?" Dia asked 'curiously'. Miki finally caught on.
"It's a…." Miki frowned…. "Nice car…one of those things that guys like go crazy about. Anyway it's nice and can easily hold eight people, four shouldn't be a problem, how about it, Rhythm?"
"Are you volunteering me, Miki?" Rhythm asked with a glare.
"Why yes, Rhythm." Miki answered happily, "You can take Su, Kusukusu, Ran and…well since me and Dia are going the same place, Yoru?"
"Well, brother, driving your guests home would be very polite, you know." Temari added.
"Miki! Why are you ditching me? I don't want to go home with him! I wanna go with you!" Yoru whined.
"Oh hush," Miki hissed, pinching him, "you have no choice in this Rhythm. Su, Kusukusu go get your crap."
O.O.O.O
"Yoru, listen carefully." Miki said to her boyfriend, "Make sure Kusukusu sits in the passenger's seat."
"What? How?" Yoru asked confused, "…and why?"
"Just do it," Iru growled, "Or we'll kick your tooshie."
"You guys can no longer threaten me with that, you know." Yoru said glaring.
"Wanna bet?" Iru asked inching closer to her cousin with a playful look.
"Listen Yoru, just try please," Dia said, interrupting, "whatever it takes."
"Got it," Yoru sighed, he looked over at the entrance to the mansion as more guests were leaving.
"Thank you," Miki said, pecking him on the cheek.
He gave her a hug, and as she stayed cuddled into his arms, she felt very safe. It was the feeling of being in her bed snuggled in tons of blankets on a cold night. It was the best warmth.
"Break it up you two, time to go," Rhythm growled, walking over to Dia, Miki, Iru and Yoru as they stood by his front gate. He made his way through the crowds of people leaving his party.
"Do. Your. Job." Dia said seriously as Yoru let go of Miki and walked towards Rhythm who lead him to the garage where his car was and Kusukusu, Su, and Ran waited.
"So, you can sit in the passenger's seat okay, man?" Rhythm asked Yoru, already eager to dispel the possible issue of ending up next to Kusukusu.
"Oh sorry dude. I get…car sick. So I got to sit in the back." Yoru explained.
"With the way you drive?" Rhythm scoffed, laughing, "You do remember teaching me how to drive, right?"
"Yeah, man." Yoru said, "But I suddenly developed this car sickness…must be because of how I drive."
"Well, don't people with car sickness usually try and sit in the front?" Rhythm mentioned sceptically.
"Look," Yoru stopped walking, "I know how to handle my car sickness."
"Okay, okay," Rhythm said, a little creeped out. They continued walking. Rhythm thought maybe he was just worrying himself. I mean, Ran will probably sit beside him, since Su and Kusukusu always are together; they can't be together if one of them is in the passenger's seat.
Yoru, Ran, Su, and Kusukusu stood outside the garage patiently as Rhythm backed his car out. He stopped the car beside them. Ran walked towards the car and opened the door to the backseat.
As Kusukusu clutched her sleepover bag ready to jump in, Yoru knocked it down. Kusukusu looked up angrily.
"Hey!" She said. But he already went around on the other side of the car and sat in the backseat. She picked up her bag confused and looked up, only to find Su and Ran taking up the backseat and Yoru beside them, sprawling out more than necessary.
"I wanted to sit by Kusukusu-chan," Su pouted all cute-like.
"But I get car sick." Yoru complained.
"I'll just sit in the front," Kusukusu said with a glare. But she immediately regretted it when she realised she'd have to sit beside Rhythm. But she couldn't just change her mind…that's too obvious.
"Any time now," Yoru said, impatiently, keen on completing his mission enlisted to him by the angry trio.
That's right! It was just a seat….right? Anyway, she'd have to do it soon! So she took a breath, and made her way to the passenger's seat and sat down. This was going to be a long ride.
O.O.O.O
RHYTHM'S POV
This was bad. I couldn't sleep. I had school tomorrow, oh joy. Yet, that was the least of my issues. At the top was the fact that I almost crashed the car like five times because I was too busy staring at Kusukusu and how cute she is. Not Su kind of cute…but cute cute. Like Daichi's "go in closet with," cute.
This sucks. My life sucks. This sucks. My life Sucks.
It was almost the Christmas dance too. I was too busy thinking about Ran's date than mine! Also, now that she is with Daichi, how is he going to let her go through with her side of the bet and ask a second year? This sucks. My life sucks. This sucks. My life….
Just then there was a knock on my door. This only ever happened because of one thing. So I sighed and got up, knowingly. There was Temari.
"I can't sleep." She whispered inviting herself in, her pillow and teddy-bear in her hands.
"Join the club." I replied, closing the door.
She lay on my bed, and I lay beside her, content. I waited until she slept and then I got up and went to a guest room. I always did this when she couldn't sleep, but she didn't know. Before she woke up I would be back right beside her. Her thinking I was beside her made her sleep better, just the thought.
When I got to the guest room, all princess-like, I blushed in realisation. This is where Kusukusu had stayed the night before…
O.O.O.O
NORMAL POV
The students of Chara high slugged themselves around the school, evidently tired; their teachers all had their own theories about what it could mean.
Some were sure that it must be some viral disease going on. Others figured it was dance preparations and exams getting to their heads. But, for teachers like, Takaru-sensei, they knew exactly what it was. A Fujisaki party.
"HINAMORI-SAN!" Takaru-sensei screamed, annoyed. Miki jumped up, surprised.
"Yeah! I'm here! I'm here!" Miki said still very groggy.
"Are you?" Takaru-sensei sneered.
"Yes, I am." Miki replied.
"Well then, why don't you tell the rest of the class how Rhythm's party was, in your opinion?" Takaru-sensei asked with a smile.
"What…" Miki said confused, almost convinced she was dreaming, "Great, great…it was great."
Takaru-sensei grinned at her.
"Good, anyone else have something to say?"
O.O.O.O
"Happy Birthday, Temari!" Ran squealed, presenting her with her gift, as they sat in the classroom eating lunch, "I can't believe I forgot to say happy birthday at midnight…I'm so sorry."
"It's fine, not as bad as being over-shadowed by your brother's separate party." Temari said rolling her eyes.
"What happened to your joined parties, huh? " Daichi asked, pulling up a chair, "They were so popular when we were younger,"
"Oh don't even start, Temari," Rhythm grouched, "You don't like parties, remember?"
"I do!" Temari protested, "I do, in fact like 'The Party'! It's just….not when it's dedicated in my honour."
"Party, Temari. Not 'The Party'." Rhythm hissed.
"Oh whatever it may be called."
Miki, Iru, and Dia peered at the four of them from the classroom door, attempting to be sneaky.
"So how are we gonna get them together, exactly?" Miki asked.
"Did you ever think of just telling Rhythm we know, and we're okay with it?" Dia suggested.
"No, Dia! First of all, he's going to wanna know how we know that! Are you prepared to share your 'special vision'? Second of all, that's no fun." Iru dismissed.
"She's right, no fun." Miki nodded.
"Well, do you have any better ideas?" Dia said, slightly annoyed.
"We get them together at the Christmas dance!" Miki exclaimed.
"Shh," Iru said slapping Miki a little, "We're creeping, remember?"
"Oh yeah…" Miki said looking at Ran and the others to make sure they didn't notice. When she was sure they didn't, she continued, "All we gotta do is make sure he doesn't ask another girl…then we make them end up together conveniently at the dance."
"It is a dance," Dia said, "It'd be easy for us to request them to dance together on the microphone, after their display at the party."
"Look, there's one person we're gonna need help from…on both sides. I mean, we're not exactly with Rhythm or Kusukusu 24/7." Iru explained.
"True, true." Miki agreed, "Ooh this is fun! I feel like cupid!"
Iru and Dia laughed, shaking their heads.
O.O.O.O
As days went on, Rhythm grew even more upset about his crush on Kusukusu. Kusukusu felt bad because she felt as though he was avoiding her, as though she had done him wrong.
Miki and Yoru never spoke about him leaving, many people mistook it as Miki not caring, but she knew that if she thought about it too much, she'd cry. She didn't want her cuddling with Yoru to be interrupted by an angry 'this isn't permanent' reminder going off in her head. Instead she went into a mental state that blocked out the very idea of him leaving.
Su continued to stay out of danger, and Mussashi started walking her home despite his fencing practice.
Daichi and Ran became the topic of gossip in the entire school. Ran loved it. Especially since the rumour was that she stole him from the slutty Iru. Iru and Ran were constantly questioned, but Iru just went with that story.
Miki, Iru, and Dia decided to tell Su and Mussashi about their plan, and because Mussashi believed in the ability to see special things, and Su believed in just about anything, they didn't question Dia's hunch. Also, Su was delighted to help Kusukusu.
On the other side, they told Daichi. At first, Daichi wasn't very sure about it, thinking that Kusukusu was very young and if what Dia is saying is true then…Rhythm was obviously restraining himself, and there must be a reason. He felt they were very rash, and he didn't want to meddle in his best friend's love life. Dia managed to persuade him by telling him to ask Rhythm if he liked a girl and seeing his response. When Daichi realised that Rhythm, for once, might actually have proper feelings for a girl, he reluctantly agreed.
Then, quicker than everyone expected, the Christmas dance came. The night before Christmas Eve.
O.O.O.O
Well, the story is coming to an end. I hope you've all enjoyed it :)
So please try and review everyone, your opinion, really,really,really, matters! I love you all 3
Yoru: REVIEW!
Sneak peak of next chapter:
"Why? What's the point? You're not spending any time with me anyway, and I'm fucking leaving soon, Miki. Do you even care!?"
"OF COURSE I CARE!" Miki squealed annoyed,
X.X
Regularly, if there is silence during a dance and you're the DJ, its painfully embarrassing. When there are two DJs, and they look like they're about to kiss and there is silence, it's double the embarrassment.