Recap

Nami was over here? This is where she's been hiding out? I almost forgot about her since the whole hot and cold thing hasn't happened. Then again it hasn't happened to me yet so I should worry. I need to tell the others when I get back.
-Nade's POV

"Nagihiko. Someone brought to my attention that you were in a battle with a company called Easter."
-Mrs. Fujisaki

"Also what is Shugo Chara?"
-Mrs. Fujisaki

"Nagi I have important news. Nami has been hanging around Lulu's house. Her mother told me. Lulu could be working with Lulu."
-Nade

Rhythm: It's getting pretty intense

Kusukusu: It's a little scary

Rhythm: Don't worry I'll protect you

Kusukusu: Yay! My hero! *kisses his cheek*

Temari and Hikari: *Rolls eyes*

Rhythm: Smooth

Chapter 34 All the Pieces are Coming Together

*Nagi's POV*

"This better be important. I had to cancel an interview," Utau said.

"It is. Trust me," I said.

"Give me one minute and I'll have Rei on my computer. She just got home not too long ago," Rima said. Everyone was at the Royal Garden. Of course Rei was missing. It took awhile to get everyone out of here.

"This is really really big! We figured out a bunch of stuff!" Hikari said.

"I got her online," Rima said.

"Hi guys. What's so important?" Rei asked.

"I'm pretty sure I found the last of the puzzle pieces," Nade said.

"Do tell," Aarin said.

"I was at Lulu's house earlier today. Her mother told me that Lulu has been having another friend over. It was a girl that's name started with an N, had long black hair and green eyes," Nade began.

"Sounds like Nami," Rei confirmed.

"But Lulu's mom said that Nami was depressed recently."

"So she can't be controlled by a ? egg," Yaya said.

"You're right Yaya. The ? egg make you go crazy over your dream," Amu said.

"She could be doubting herself. Kaya could've gone back into her egg. I doubt she is an X chara since she's not causing destruction," Tadase added.

"I was thinking the same thing," Nade added.

"So Nami is being held captive?" Aarin asked.

"Seems like it," Kukai added.

"But I don't understand how Nami is involved at all," Ikuto thought out loud.

"I wondered the same thing so I did some research while waiting for everyone. Mr. Valentine is Nami's step-father. Her mother married him a little over a year ago," I said.

"That explains why she moved and lives a town over," Kairi stated.

"Wait! Lulu also dances for Valentine company," Yaya pointed out.

"That's how she was able to follow us in America," Utau said.

"Also Mr. Valentine knows about Shugo Chara," I said.

"How?" Yaya asked.

"I'm not sure but my mother and him got in a fight when we took a tour at the Valentine studio. He knows about our fight with Easter and he knows about Shugo Chara because my mother questioned me about it. Luckily Nade was able to keep her off my back," I said.

"That may possibly explain the hot and cold thing," Kairi added.

"How?" Yaya asked.

"If Mr. Valentine knew about our fight with Easter then he knows that we use our charanari. He knows that particular charanari's can purify eggs. He probably hired Lulu or Nami to make us use our charanari and then either make us not be able to charanari or burn through the power so fast it exhausts the user. The hot and cold is a side-effect. He's making it where we can't use our charas to defeat him. It's either Lulu or Nami but considering Nami's condition I'm leaning towards Lulu but we aren't sure she has a chara," Kairi calulated.

"Lulu has a chara too!" Hikari said.

"Are you certain? If she does then all evidence points to Lulu," Kairi calculated.

"Yes. The problem is that I only sensed one chara. If Nami was at Lulu's house then I might have sensed Kaya. I've never personally met her but I'm almost one hundred percent sure that it was Lulu's chara. I didn't sense Kaya anywhere in that house," Hikari said.

"Then that means Lulu is holding Kaya hostage," Kukai said.

"It could be worse," Ikuto added.

"What do you mean?" Amu asked.

"Nami is depressed and Kaya can't be sensed. Lulu might have crushed Kaya's egg with her inside." Everyone stood in silence for a few seconds.

"I refuse to believe that. Nami is stronger than that. She's smart too. She'll do what it takes to get Kaya back. Also if Lulu crushed Kaya then nothing would be keeping Nami in Lulu's clutches," Rei reasoned.

"Let's not assume the worst yet," Tadase said.

"Let's figure out what this guy's purpose is. Why is he doing this?" Utau asked.

"He's trying to discover what our family tradition is," I said.

"All this for one secret?" Kukai asked.

"Discovering the secret of our tradition could mean me never being able to live in Japan again. The Fujisaki traditional dance would be gone forever. Nade, mother, and I would probably move to Europe to be with my father. The same thing happened to him. He isn't allowed to touch Japanese soil. This is bigger than one secret," I said.

"Calm down Nagi. You're not going anywhere," Rima said. She grabbed my hand and squeezed.

"I'm guessing what the secret is about is out of the question right?" Aarin asked

"That is correct. No one but the Fujisaki family knows," I said.

"Think about it. Rima and Nagi were the first to have the hot and cold hit them. Valentine's goal was Nagi all along," Kukai said.

"Ikuto and I were next," Amu said.

"He went after the person who can purify chara eggs no matter what her charanari is," Kairi said.

"What does Rima and Ikuto have to do with anything. I understand Rima could be used as a sort of hostage against Nagi but Ikuto isn't super close to Nagi," Utau said.

"We might figure more out if we finish this thought. Who was next?" Rei asked.

"Me and Utau," Kukai said.

"Utau is also capable of purifing eggs," Kairi added.

"I was too," Tadase said.

"So was Nami," Rei added.

"So they got everyone but Nade, Rei, and Aarin. Nade didn't have her chara yet so that may have spared her. Not hitting Rei and Aarin may have been to raise suspicion," Kairi said.

"I don't think so. We were hit last night, " Aarin said.

"I wasn't though," Nade said.

"Maybe they don't know about Hikari," Yaya said.

"I was in Lulu's home. There was no way she missed me," Hikari confessed.

"Lulu made a necklace for me. Maybe it's the reason I wasn't hit. Think about it. Rei and Aarin had necklaces from Nami. They didn't get hit by the hot and cold. After they took them off they were hit when everyone else was," Nade said.

"Then you'll need to keep that necklace on. It may be our ace in the hole," Kukai said.

"What we need to do is make a plan. Rei, how fast can you get here?" Aarin asked.

"I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Great. Kairi, we need your brains man. Also Nade is our double agent. Lulu may not know Nade is suspicious of her yet and Nade is a great actress," Aarin asid.

"This isn't a spy movie," Amu sweatdropped.

"Sorry I've been watching a lot of those recently," Aarin said as he nervously rubbed the back of his head.

"He's still right. I will come up with a plan," Kairi said.

*5 hours later*

"Does everyone know the plan?"

"Yes we've gone over it a million times," Yaya whined.

"I want to make sure everyone is clear on the plan," Kairi said.

"Yes we are. Can we eat now?! It's past dinner," Amu whined.

"We can dismiss for now. Everyone meet here tomorrow morning," I said.

"Aye aye!" Yaya saluted.

"You can sleep at my house Rei. Your parents don't know you're here," Utau said.

"What did you tell them?" Tadase asked.

"I told them I was spening the night at a friend's house so we could finish our science project. My friend Taiga is covering for me. I can only stay till the weekend though. We're lucky we made this plan on a Friday," Rei answered.

"Why don't you spend the night with Rima-tan or Nade-chi?" Yaya asked.

"Well my aunt would wonder why I was back and call my mom. Also Mrs. Fujisaki and my aunt are close friends now. By going to Utau's I won't have an adult snitch on me," Rei said.

"Our parents are never home," Ikuto confirmed.

"Enough! I'm starving too," Kukai said. We agreed it was definately time to go home and eat.

"Nade could I talk to you alone?" Tadase asked her. He seemed nervous. Rima had told me that Tadase has a very obvious crush on Nade. I noticed myself too. I wouldn't really mind if they dated but it's a little odd since he mainly knows Nade as me in a skirt. Although Nade has really made her own personality rise above the outer character I gave her.

"Rima, Nagi, could you wait for me outside?" Nade asked.

"Of course but Nagi has to carry me home. I'm tired," Rima whined.

"I'll carry you," I promised. Everyone walked out but Nade and Tadase. Everyone left too till it was Rima and me sitting outside the Royal Garden.

"I can't believe he's gonna confess," Rima said.

"I wondered if that was what he was going to do," I said.

"Shhh, I need to listen," she said.

*Nade's POV*

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked. My face may have looked calm but I felt my heartbeat speed up. My hands were starting to sweat. Is he doing what I think he is doing?

"Nade calm down a bit," Hikari whispered in my ear. I would if I could.

"Well we're sort of doing this dangerous mission and I wanted to get something off my chest," he said.

"You sound as if some of us won't make it. It's not life-threatening. The worst thing that would probably happen is my family moving to Europe," I said. What am I saying? It's changing the subject and I don't want to. I did it on instinct.

"I-I know but I wanted to ask you something," he said. I saw his cheeks begin to blush. I noticed he wasn't doing a sparkle attack on me so that means he's not confident. PLease be what I think it is.

"What is it?" I ask sweetly.

"Would you...um...like...to...uh-"

"Ow Rhythm that hurt!" That sounded like Temari from outside.

"Would you like to be my partner when we fight?" Tadase blurted out. I was disappointed. Temari's distraction must have drained his confidence, or maybe he wasn't asking at all. I was almost 100% sure he liked me too.

"Oh," I heard the disappointment in my voice. It was hard to hide. After a small awkward pause, I smiled at him.

"We make a really good team. Our battle against Blue and Leo was something magical. Of course I'll be your fighting partner," I said.

"Great." There was another awkward pause.

"Go home and get some rest. I think we've made your brother and Rima wait long enough," he said. He had a hard time looking me in the eye. I had to do something. I felt something around my waist. It was a black obi. Wait! I couldn't control my body. I walked up to Tadase and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed instantly.

"That's for good luck partner," I said and walked out of the building. I had control once I made it out. Hikari began to giggle.

"Nade kissed Tadase!" she sang.

"Hikari!" I tried to grab her but she floated away. I chased after her.

"Nade! Wait!" Nagi yelled. Nagi picked Rima up and ran after me.

*Tadase's POV*

"You chickened out," Kiseki said.

"What?" I touched my cheek. She kissed my cheek.

"You were gonna ask her out. A king doesn't back down. You almost had your queen."

"I know but I got too nervous. She kissed me though."

"Yes she did."

"I think she knew what I was really asking. I'll ask her after we beat the Valentine company tomorrow."

Kusukusu: Temari! You ruined Tadase's confession!

Temari: I'm give my deepest apology. I am very, truly sorry Tadase

Tadase: It's alright. I'll ask at a better time

Temari: You can ask the question then

Tadase: Question #36 How do you think the big battle will go?

Kusukusu: We kick butt and win and we all live happily ever after! *giggles*

Temari: I think we are looking for a more realistic guess

Kusukusu: Review Please