A/N: FINALLY! I have updated this story!

I just want to start out saying that, aside from a 3-week long wire problem that caused my house to be able to access the internet, I have no excuse for taking this long to update. Knowing this, I will accept any and all flames and criticisms related to my lack of punctuality as a writer.

It may not seem like it, but I was honestly ALWAYS thinking about this story, but I didn't know how to proceed for awhile. I also work 40 hours a week now which cuts into my available time quite a bit, but I still definitely could've sat down and wrote on one of my days off over the last two months. So, like I said, it really boiled down to a lack of confidence in me being able to present you with an amazing ending.

On that same note, this is NOT the last chapter of the story. I know. I can't believe it either. But I wanted to delve more into the Rimahiko part of it before I moved on to Amuto. So this short (in comparison to the last) chapter is a continuation of that as well as a means for me to inform you all that I am still alive and working on this story.

I plan to get started on the next segment tomorrow. I was trying to round this story off at a nice chapter number like 25, but I've given up on that, and will no longer try and cram everything into one chapter. But for real this time, there will be (at most) 2 chapters left. Followed by an Utau-centered sidestory afterword that I think all Kutau fans will enjoy. :D

But enough of my yapping, I basically sat down and decided to type what I could before I had to go out this evening, and this is what resulted. Hope you guys enjoy it. And I also hope you can forgive my discretions here. Once again, feel free to vent it all out in your review. I will accept it all completely and not judge you for it I promise!

Amu stirred from her slumber as the sound of two people arguing permeated her ears.

"I'm serious! Please don't eat it."

"It can't be that bad. Just let me try it!"

Her eyes opened slowly and she sat upright, gradually taking in her surroundings. She was in a large open room with a black and white color scheme. Across from her was a curved staircase leading up to a vast hallway.

Where am I?

Why was she always waking up in strange places recently?

"Fine! But I'm trying it first!"

"Rima, it's not like you accidentally added poison!"

Amu stilled as she processed the words. Rima? She was suddenly conscious of a distinct warmth consuming her left hand, and her eyes opened wider as she looked in that direction. Ikuto was sound asleep as his head rested on the arm of the couch. Her cheeks reddened as she noted the way his long, dark eyelashes accented the pale skin of his face, and she couldn't resist the urge to reach her hand out and swipe his bangs away from his eyes.

This action caused him to stir slightly but he soon resumed his soft snoring. Amu smiled at this. Here she was, sitting and holding hands with the boy she liked. As she continued to stare at him, the warmth from his hand spread to her heart as well. He was so much more now than that asshole she'd been forced to partner with in gym class.

"You're being ridiculous now, Rima. Now let go so I can go up and grab the pot."

Amu was brought back to reality as the voices came closer.

"No! You'll have to drag me if you want to move."

"Fine."

She could hear the sound of rubber scraping along tile as she suspected Rima was actually being dragged behind as Nagihiko made his way toward the stairs.

That means they're coming this way!

She softly, but quickly, removed her hand from Ikuto's and moved over to the empty side of the couch so Rima and Nagihiko wouldn't get the wrong idea as they came by. Her earlier suspicions were soon confirmed as she saw Nagihiko's body grunt its way through the opening on the other side of the large waiting room. When her best friend came into view, heels sliding against the floor as both hands grasped Nagihiko's right arm, Amu's memory finally returned.

Rima had come here however many minutes or hours earlier to confess to Nagihiko. And apparently Ikuto and herself had fallen asleep while waiting for the verdict.

The fact that they're talking and interacting at all must mean it went well, right?

"This…," Nagihiko panted, "is…stupid."

Amu realized they hadn't noticed her yet as Nagihiko came to a stop causing a pulling Rima to almost come crashing to the floor. The blond regained her footing and retightened her grip on the boy's arm as he turned to face her. She stared up at him defiantly, silently informing him that she was not going to give in.

"Rima," Nagihiko said, his features softening into a smile.

Amu watched Rima's eyes widen as he reached down with his free hand to cup her face. Rima's cheeks reddened instantly and Amu felt her own heat up as well. Time seemed to pass slower as Nagihiko leaned down and captured her best friend's lips with his own, and Amu slapped a hand to her mouth to hide the sound of her gasp.

Rima's grip on his arm loosened and her arms eventually fell to her sides. Amu couldn't peel her eyes away as Nagihiko used his now free hand to cup the other side of Rima's face. Her own face felt like it was on fire now, and she watched as the two finally separated.

"Gotcha!" Nagihiko said suddenly.

Both Amu and Rima's jaw dropped as he quickly released his hold on the blond and took off at a run for the stairs. Suddenly realizing her own presence, Amu quickly feigned sleep as she heard Nagihiko's footsteps pass by her, soon followed by Rima's.

"I can't believe you did that, you jerk!"

This outburst caused Ikuto to stir next to her. She heard a small groan escape his lips, and she opened her eyes slightly to ensure Rima had disappeared up the stairs before opening them fully. Her heartbeat had finally started to calm down from all the events she had just beheld, but upon seeing Ikuto wake up and rub his eyes through a slow yawn, her heart quickly resumed its accelerated beat.

He hazily looked over at her causing her face to heat up, and his eyes widened after registering who she was. She watched a pink tint form on his cheeks as well as he continued to stare at her with a confused look on his face.

"W-what?" she stuttered.

"Nothing," he muttered as he looked away, glancing around the room to figure out where they were.

That was weird…

"Wait…did I fall asleep while Rima confessed to Nagihiko?" He asked suddenly.

"Uhh…yeah. I did too I think."

"Wow. How long were we out for? Is she still up there?"

Amu's felt her face flush red as she tried to figure out how to tell Ikuto what she witnessed prior to his awakening. It must've been obvious because his features changed to a confused expression all the sudden.

"What happened?"

"Umm…"

Ikuto just stared at her with a raised eyebrow as she struggled to articulate her thoughts. Why couldn't she just say it? That she saw them…kiss. It was then that Amu realized that her previously love-shunning spinster of a best friend got her first kiss before she did.

The world is so unfair…

Unfortunately, that train of thought led her to thinking about kissing Ikuto, further enhancing her flushed skin and inability to speak.

"Amu, you're really worrying me here. You look like you're about to pass out."

He leaned toward her as if to inspect her face, and she immediately hopped up off the couch to prevent her head and heart from exploding.

"S-sorry," she managed to spurt out, refusing to turn around and look at him. "I'll…I'll go check on them."

She moved to run up the stairs but was pulled back by a wrist clasping onto her arm. She forced herself to turn and look at him now.

"Wait, Amu. Don't do that. You might be interrupting! What if she's still confessing?"

"She's not!" Amu shouted louder than was necessary.

"How do you know?"

"Cause I saw them," she started, her face reddening again. "I saw them…"

"You saw them what?" His grip tightened on her arm.

"I saw them kiss!" she finally blurted out, her face now a tomato.

She watched as Ikuto's face started to mirror her own and they stood in silence for a few moments.

"Oh…well…I'm happy for them then," he finally said as he avoided looking at her.

"Yeah…me too."

Why are things so awkward?

Rima burst through the bedroom door just as Nagihiko was dipping his spoon into the soup pot. She rushed toward him as he quickly shoved the spoon into his mouth.

"No!"

She stopped just short of him as his eyes widened suddenly. She covered her face with her hands upon seeing his reaction.

"I told you it was bad! You should've listened to me!"

"What are you talking about, Rima? It tastes delicious!"

She slowly removed her hands from her face and watched as he dipped his spoon in and took another bite.

"What? There's no way."

"Try some if you don't believe me."

She took the spoon he held out to her and sampled her soup. Her face took on a shocked expression as she let the concoction trickle down her throat. He was right. It was good.

"But I made it by myself," she muttered in disbelief as she stared down at the soup.

"That's right."

She looked over to see him smiling down at her.

"Without your help."

"Yep."

The spoon-filled hand dropped to her side as she let it all sink in. She had made an entire meal on her own, without those jerks in cooking class, even without asking the teacher for help. Unable to stop herself, she hurled herself against Nagihiko wrapping her arms around him.

"I did it!" She exclaimed, smiling up at him. "I cooked my own meal!"

Her face faltered for a second as he moved a hand up to his face, shielding his gaze from hers.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

When he didn't answer, she let go of him and forcefully moved his hand away. She was met with a red-faced Nagihiko. Her own face started to heat up just looking at him.

"What the hell are you making that face for?" she yelled, shielding her own face now.

"Don't get upset with me. You're the one who had to go and smile like that."

"What? I'm not allowed to smile in front of you?"

"N-no! That's not what I meant! It…it just makes me really happy when you get all happy like that and I can't help myself."

Rima's blush deepened at his words. He was avoiding her gaze again, his face reddening even more as well.

"I'm sorry, Rima," he continued, falling back to take a seat on his bed. "This is all just so surreal still. I'm still not even sure if this is all real right now. I'm still afraid I'll wake up soon and this will have all been a dream."

Rima's heart was pounding mercilessly against her chest now, and his sad expression made her comforting instincts kick in. Being with him like this just reinforced in her mind that her feelings for him were much more than just friendship. She didn't like seeing him this way.

She closed the distance between them and grabbed hold of his wrist. He looked up at her now as she moved his hand to the left side of her chest. His face flushed a color of red she'd never seen before.

"Rima, what are you—"

"Do you feel that?" she asked, her face as red as his again. They were at eye level now and he was searching her eyes for some clue as to what she was doing.

"That's my heartbeat. And it's real. This isn't a dream. I…I like you, Nagihiko."

Her face may have been red, but she continued to stare at him intently, determined to convince him of her feelings. But the silence become too much for her to handle.

"But," she said as she dropped his hand, "If you ever pull a fast one on me again like you did downstairs, I'll kill you."

Nagihiko's face faltered for a second before his mouth opened in a smile. This girl was just too much for him. One second she was yelling at him, the next she was hugging him happily, and now she was expressing her feelings to him yet again. And after all that, she could still say something to make him laugh.

He reached out for her waist and pulled her toward him so that their faces were only inches apart. Her warmth engulfed him as he watched the redness dance across her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Rima," he whispered. "I'll do my best, but I can't promise you I won't kiss you spontaneously in the future. I love you so much that sometimes I can't stop myself."

He blushed as he said this but not nearly as much as she did. He tightened his grip on her waist, causing her lips to move even closer, her breath mixing with his.

"Rima," he said, his eyes dancing between her eyes and lips. "Can I kiss you?"

"Idiot," was all she said before closing the remaining distance between them. Her arms snaked around his neck as he moved his lips against hers. He loved how warmth spread throughout his body every time he kissed her.

"Rima," he said as they separated, "I lov—"

He was silenced by a finger against his mouth and a shaking head. After a few seconds, she removed her finger and he started to speak again.

"But—"

This time he was cut off by her lips on his again. His shock melted into a smile as he kissed her back. She was definitely a sly one. He didn't realize this about her before, but he was already starting to like that part of her. She wasn't going to win this battle though. He pulled away from her again.

"Rima—"

"Please don't," she interrupted again as she leaned into him and pressed her forehead against his chest.

"But I want to."

"But I can't."

"I don't care."

"I do."

"Why?"

"Cause it makes me feel guilty."

"That's stupid."

"You're stupid."

"…"

"Why can't you wait?"

"Because I want you to know."

"But I already know."

He pushed her back so she was looking at him again.

"I don't want you to ever forget."

He watched her face flush.

"H-how could I forget something so important?"

"I don't know. But you definitely won't if I tell you every day will you?"

"I won't forget, I promise."

"Fine. Reason number two."

"What?"

"I've been keeping it inside for a long time. And it was an awful feeling. I don't ever want to go through that again if I can help it. But if the only thing you feel from me saying it is guilt, I'll stop."

He tried to force a smile as he said this. She pressed her forehead against his chest again and mumbled something into it.

"What?"

"I said it makes me happy!" she blurted, pulling away again. Her face reflected half shyness, half anger and having to repeat herself.

He practically let out a sigh of relief at her words.

"I…I don't want you to suppress yourself," she said, "so I'll stomach the guilt as best I can until I catch up with you."

She said this in a completely serious tone, as if she was accepting a challenge. He half-expected her to shake his hand as a form of contract or something. But she just continued to stand there, staring at him with that adorable, stubborn look on her face. He smiled as he stood up and grabbed her hand.

"I love you, Rima."

He had to hold back a laugh as he watched her face flush as she tried to tame her features to stop them from reacting in any way to his words. He tugged on her arm pulling her to him again and he placed a small peck on her lips.

"I love you," he repeated.

"Yeah…" she whispered to him before he kissed her again.

"I really love you."

He leaned forward again and this time he swore he felt her lips crack into smile against his own.

A/N: Yay! So I pretty much said all I needed to say in the note at the beginning of this chapter so I will make this note brief. Thanks to everyone who read it. I hope you share your thoughts with me in a review but I won't hate you if you don't!

And I will hopefully be posting again within the next two weeks at most. And it will be Amuto-focused from now on with little Rimahiko moments thrown in. I will finish this story before the end of August when I have to move back into college. I apologize again for the long hiatus between the last chapter and this one.