Chapter 36

"This is getting a little bit suspicious. You two are the third pair of newbies that entered the headquarters. Can I see your ID's again?"

An ordinary person that didn't know Rima wouldn't have noticed her slightly flinch beneath the large guard's request. However, since his life practically revolved around her, Kirishima has mastered the art of reading Rima's very subtle movements.

In his mind, there is no one in this world that understood Rima more than he did.

Yes. Not even Fujisaki Nagihiko.

He was guilty, to be honest, for being displeased with Rima's decision to go save the boy. After all, he knew her way before Fujisaki did. He loves her way more than Fujisaki could ever do. He knew what she was like before that big turning point in her life; Fujisaki didn't.

Why?

Why Fujisaki? Why not him? Did he lack something that Fujisaki had? I mean, sure, Fujisaki did make him look like a noob when his female alter-ego "Nadeshiko" easily beat him at his own game. And sure, he may be strangely popular with the girls in Seiyo. But it's not like Kirishima wasn't popular with girls in his own school. And it's not like he isn't the top basketball player there either.

While Fujisaki isn't around, he thought, his eyes wavering to Rima, I'm going to do what it takes to win her over.

The man scrutinized their faces, though their eyes were obscured by the shades that came with the uniform. Then he glanced back at their ID's, his brows narrowing. The two knew that he was dangerously close to asking them to remove their shades, and Kirishima could feel Rima tensing up. So, ever so gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

There.

When he felt her relax, he knew he had her.

"We're in a hurry" Rima snapped in a voice booming with superiority. She crossed her arms and sneered, catching both Kirishima and the guard by surprise. "Are you going to let us in or not? Mr. Executive Director waiting for us. They're training the newcomers, and I don't want to be late"

At the mention of "Mr. Executive Director," the man's eyes instantly widened. He let the two in. Rima strutted ahead, her nose held high while Kirishima meekly scuttled behind her. When they were finally out of sight, beads of sweat started to fill up Rima's very small face.

"Thanks for encouraging me there, Kirishima-kun. That man was scary…" she whimpered. At the sight of this, Kirishima couldn't help but laugh meekly. There was the Rima he knew and loved— sweet, gentle and honest. And he wasn't about to let her slip away so easily.

"Well, your acting skills were great, Mashi- I mean Rima-chan!" He smiled inwardly when he saw a twinge of pink trail its way to her face. "By the way, who is this 'Mr. Executive Director' you mentioned?"

Rima decided that standing around while she told her story would be a waste of time, so she rounded up the corner and proceeded to the basement with Kirishima easily following suit. "I assumed that he's their leader…or something. I heard him once. I was pretending to be asleep." She slightly shuddered at the memory. Kirishima then decided by the way she reacted that she'd rather not talk about it.

They finally reached a staircase that was dark and narrow. One would obviously think that they keep people locked up in there, so why not check it out while they were there?

"Maybe this leads to the cells." Kirishima whispered. Suddenly, he felt something tug at his blazer. He looked down and felt his face heat up when he saw Rima gripping tightly onto him, her face pink with embarrassment.

"I don't like dark places. You lead," she said. He now felt the need to keep his heart locked inside his ribcage or it will jump out and start dancing the salsa. Rima was depending on him. His Rima!

"That annoying hobbit, Fujisaki, might be there. We'd better hurry up"

"O-oh…" Kirishima trailed off, his smile frozen in place. "I-I see…"

The way down was pretty awkward. Rima wasn't blind. She could see it, and she hated it. Kirishima was one of her really good friends, and she honestly felt terrible for making him feel rejected. He's one of the few people she can be very comfortable with.

And that's the point! How can they avoid any awkward situations if she starts seeing him as anything that is more than just a friend? Honestly, she couldn't bring herself to think of him that way but now, it seemed like it was the only way to go. Like him, or don't like him! Keep him or lose him! Rima is a logical person, and she knew that back then before she was filled with these sappy emotions, she would've picked whatever was more convenient. And she knew in her heart that the most convenient person to pick now was Kirishima, who isn't bad at all! He is the epitome of a great boyfriend yet…she could only see him as a really good friend.

"Fuyuki-kun," she said. She could feel him flinch beneath the blazer. "Talk to me." After saying that, she mentally slapped herself. 'Talk to me'. Way to go, Rima! Such a genius! You couldn't have said anything better. Hardi-har-har…

She expected Kirishima to stay silent or say something along the lines of, "There's nothing to talk about" but instead he said,

"You…like Fujisaki…"

"Huh? What? No! He's annoying!"

"But I heard you admit it to Hinamori-san back then. You said you liked Nagihiko"

"I said Nadeshiko…"

There was a pause.

"I mean, I'm not saying that I'm a lesbian. I'm saying that I liked Nadeshiko so I was disappointed to know that she didn't exist…"

Kirishima just sighed, knowing fully well that she was lying. She was always good at doing that, but Kirishima can read her well. After all, she did teach him the tricks herself.

"Well then, I'd like to know," Kirishima realized that it was best to change the question, "how long have you known Fujisaki?"

Rima silently cursed herself for wanting him to speak. Of all topics, why talk about Nagihiko? She'd rather not talk about him until she's confirmed with her own eyes that he didn't abandon all of them. But then she couldn't just ignore Kirishima. "About a year after parting with you" she replied.

"Is he…mean to you?" he asked, shutting his eyes. He expected Rima to say "No" and rant about the things she liked about him. Instead, he got a loud, quick "Yes"

"I mean," she added, "he always comes up with annoying nicknames for me such as 'midget' and 'demon spawn' and oh! The list could go on and on! Where does he even get those nicknames?"

When she described him as that, Kirishima figured that it would be best to tell Rima about how he felt about her. She may not see him that way now, but if she knew about how he felt, she might start considering him, too.

Fujisaki didn't treat her right. But he will.

"Uh…Mashiro-san, actually I—"

"I mean, he also likes to mess with my head. He's annoying, I tell you; always so full of himself; too confident; too proud; too…"

"Mashiro-san, I—"

"He's too…"

"Rima-chan, the truth is, I actually lo—"

"He's too irreplaceable…"

That shattered Kirishima's plans. He could still feel Rima's grip on his blazer but suddenly, he wasn't so proud of that fact anymore. She would've held Amu and Kukai and all of her other friends just the same.

Friends…

He didn't see this coming.

The two continued to trudge down the endless staircase in silence. Neither could see the other's expression. A blessing, thought the two. But that was at the back of Kirishima's mind. What he was thinking of now were those words said by her soft, innocent little voice.

Irreplaceable…

How can she say that? You could go to any rich, popular kid's home and you'll find a replica of Fujisaki. Has he been wrong about her all this time? Was his little Rima actually just like those other girls who went for the richer, better, more popular boys?

No! he mentally scolded himself for thinking that. Rima was your first friend! She made you a better person! This is the girl you've been chasing all your life! How could you think such a thing?

"Fuyuki-kun…" Rima tugged on his blazer, stopping him. He looked back at her and felt his heart skip a beat. She kept her head down, her bangs obscuring her eyes.

This is it, he thought. Rejection.

"I'm really…scared…"

Huh?

"Darn it…" she whispered, her voice croaking. "Why is it that whenever I'm with you, I tend to be more honest with myself..."

"Rima…chan…"

She gripped his blazer tighter then bowed her head a little more. "Honestly, I'm doing all of this and I'm not even sure if I'll really see him. I know now that the percentage of him leaving all of us to live with a fiancé is low but that makes the percentage of him giving himself up to them high…"

Kirishima looked down and took note of how her feeble hands shook as she went on.

"T-the thing is, Kirishima-kun, these people aren't forgiving at all. I knew that. I knew that all along but I want to hold onto this bit of hope. So I'm here. Still…" Rima paused, as if saying the next words would cause her to break down. "Kirishima-kun, if everything doesn't end well and…if I can't see him again, as a friend, will you be there for me?"

Something within Kirishima leapt. He had a huge chance of winning her over if, and only if, Fujisaki isn't saved.

Don't think that! He thought to himself as he gathered Rima up and pulled her into a hug. He couldn't help but notice how tiny and soft she was. Despite her assertive and strong ways, he was still filled with the desire to protect her.

But I can't hug her like this if we manage to save Fujisaki, he tightened his hold on the blonde, Just in my thoughts, then. Just in my thoughts will I wish that Fujisaki won't be saved.

Suddenly, the moment was interrupted by a loud, booming siren. Kirishima and Rima abruptly let go of each other and looked around, shaken and alert.

"Is that a fire alarm?" Rima said, rubbing her eyes a little bit and gaining her composure. As if it was answering her question, a loud, mechanical voice screaming "INTRUDER ALERT" began to echo across the halls. Scared, the two quickly ran down the stairs, only to be greeted by a door. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. But unfortunately, it was filled with people working for the so-called family. Rima almost melted in relief when one of the members looked at them and said, "You two! Go to the fire exit now and make sure that those intruders can't get away!"

Slowly, Rima glanced over the man's shoulder where she could see a huge compilation of CCTV monitors. Then, she felt the air getting knocked out of her. There, all over the screen were Utau and Kukai running as a mob of guards quickly sprinted after them.

"Wait. How do we know they're intruders?" Kirishima wondered. The girl that was intently watching the monitors looked at him, shocked.

"Look closely would you, kid? That girl is clearly Utau no matter how many times you look at it! We've been chasing after her all this time so even if she disguises herself, we can still tell if it's her!"

Unless she's dressed up in a chicken suit, Rima thought.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't notice…" he whispered. Then he turned to Rima, looking very nervous. "Let's go guard the exits"

"Yes!" Rima nodded, and with that, they were off.

x Somewhere in the headquarters x

He couldn't believe this. Here he was, offering Mikuru her freedom and she goes and taunts him. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with the desire to be with Rima. Because even though Rima taunts him, she wouldn't ask *cough* demand *cough* him to kiss her in exchange for a hairpin.

Wait. But Rima could make him do worse.

Let me rephrase what I said.

Suddenly, Nagihiko was overwhelmed with the desire to be with Amu or Yaya or Tadase. The three of them would just give him the hairpins without asking for anything in return!

"It's simple, Nagihiko-kun!" Mikuru smirked, inching her face closer to his. For the first time since he met her, her green eyes glinted with excitement and she was smiling. Still smiling with a malicious intent but at least it wasn't so deep and gloomy. He suddenly missed her deep and gloomy smiles. Was he ever going to see her happy not because she's taunting someone?

"Listen, Mikuru-chan…" Nagihiko gulped, his business smile frozen in place. "A kiss to me is a really big deal. You see, if I kiss you, I'll turn into a girl"

"And I'll turn into a boy!" she giggled, causing shivers to run down his spine. He expected that. After all, why else would he be locked up with her if there was nothing unusual about her? "And I don't mind staying here a little longer with you, Nagi-chan!"

N-Nagi-chan? Nagihiko thought, beginning to panic.

"Listen, Mikuru-san. My friends are out there and I want to help them somehow. But I can't do that when I'm trapped in here"

"Oh!" Mikuru said, her lips pouting "When you're reunited with them again, you'll leave poor Mikuru all by herself!"

"Of course not!"

"Then you need to promise me. And what's a better way than a kiss?"

"A pinky swear"

"It has to be a kiss!"

He sighed, feeling his shoulders sag. The alarm was still ringing and time was running. For all he knew, Kukai who was, for some odd reason with Utau, could be jumping off the window in his desperate attempt to get away. And where was he? Here, stalling all because he didn't want to surrender his manliness for the millionth time by turning into Nadeshiko.

"Okay, then. But only on the—" he never got to finish his sentence because suddenly, Mikuru grabbed both his cheeks and crashed her dry lips into his. Around three seconds passed before he got to thaw out of his shock. Then, he pushed her away, his face jet-beet red.

"Yay! I got to kiss Nagi!"

Nagi? He thought as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand. He then turned to Mikuru, who was at the happiest point he's ever seen her in. Looks like she hasn't transformed yet.

"You satisfied? Now hand over the hairpin" he said, holding his hand out.

She held it up then grinned. Then, just as she was about give it to him, she tripped over air and fell down, causing the pin to go flying past the cage's bars and into a distance too far to reach.

Nagihiko, now as Nadeshiko, stared at it, her expression blank, her face as white as paper.

"I-I think I have more lost somewhere in my hair. But you'll have to kiss me again…"

Mikuru's voice has become a lower octave. Nagihiko abruptly turned to her and sighed. 'She' was a guy now, still malnourished but with a longer, more angular face and a messier mane of dark hair. She also had stubbles covering her upper lip and chin. The only things that didn't change about her were those piercing green eyes.

Nagihiko's breath hitched. Even though he's a girl now, what could be more awkward than kissing a guy? With stubbles! "Life is a dreadful thing…" he sighed, bringing his now slender and feminine fingers up to his heart-shaped face.

At that very moment, a woman walked in. She was twirling keys around her long fingers while humming a tune beneath her breath.

She works here… Nagihi- err…Nadeshiko thought, narrowing her eyes. She's not the usual guard assigned to watch over us, though…

The woman stopped humming and turned to them. Then a cheeky grin made its way to her face when she saw their genders. "Wow! You kissed? Couldn't help yourselves, aye?"

Nadeshiko groaned, turning away. To her surprise, Mikuru stayed silent. Then the woman inched closer, straight blonde hair flowing. The boy-turned-to-girl wondered to herself why she didn't have it tied to a bun like the rest of the female workers. She also thought that there was something fishy about this one. She seemed almost nice.

"Oops!" the woman cried as something hard and metallic clang against the floor. Nadeshiko looked down and felt her eyes widen when she saw the key at her foot. "It looks like I dropped the key for this cell. Could you please give it back? I can't reach it!" she smiled, slightly stretching her hand out to Nadeshiko. Nadeshiko slowly bent down to pick it up and examined the key. She felt around its sharp edges and its slightly rounded handle. It was cold, she noticed. Then, she glanced at the woman, slightly shocked.

The woman was still smiling as she held her hand out, as if the thing that she dropped wasn't a very important key; as if the one holding it wasn't the prisoner. With a smirk, Nadeshiko grabbed Mikuru's wrists, which were slightly thicker compared to the last time she held them and unlocked the door. She swung the gate open then quickly took a step out.

They were free.

"Oh no! You got away! This is bad!" the woman cried, running after them. When she was an arm's length away, Nadeshiko slung the key back to her waiting hands.

"Thanks!" Nadeshiko said, a side of her lip twitching up a bit. She gave the woman a salute before leaving the area. Then the woman shouted, though she doubted that the two could hear, "Y-you're not supposed to be thanking me. I'm a bad guy, okay? When the workers ask how you got away, tell them that you beat the key out of me, okay?"

Hi, everyone! Okay, I know that everything lately has been in third person speech. You don't mind, right? A lot of things are happening, and it might be limited if I keep it in Rima's point of view. Anyway, hint for these two workers! One of you reviewers got who the first one is! When you figure out who it is, you might also figure out who this latest one is. Heehee. Haha…haaaaa…

Anyway, I'm thinking of editing the first few chapters of this fic, so if you've got A LOT of time in your hands and if you're feeling very bored, feel free to reread it to see the difference to the original. So far, chapter one is done!