(Rima's P.O.V)

Entry 3: Infiltration

The art of infiltration is a difficult one to master. The most honored reporters, investigative journalists must often go undercover to get their stories. They compromise their identities, their values, and sometimes even their safety to deliver the truth to the people. Naturally at sixteen I won't be exposing multinational prostitution rings or government conspiracy (unless someone lessens the restrictions on child labor laws, that is) but to me this assignment is as top notch as it gets. I, Mashiro Rima will singlehandedly expose the "ruling class" of Seiyo high school for the narcissistic wasteful insensitive monsters they are. And in the process I will earn enough support from the student body that the school newspaper will become the treasure of our campus and in thus untouchable. Through my work, I intend to make the student body less shallow callow and annoying and hopefully a spark of insight and intelligence will be instilled into the people of earth. I know, a little unrealistic, but a girl can dream right?

You're probably wondering how a short blonde outcast like me will possibly go about entering this forbidden (and vastly overrated) world. Well the answer is simple. Literally. With simple minded people like them when you get to one you get to all of them. With the help of Nagihiko I'll be able to observe all of them up close. The only thing I'll have to do for this information is pretend to like him which will be no problem for a seasoned performer such as myself. This plan is perfect. Absolutely nothing can go wrong.

End

I closed my laptop and slipped it back into the carrying case. Since my last period is a study hall I usually just go home early but today I have to start my plan. Right after school is basketball practice, the one place I was sure to find Nagihiko. Since practices are open to everyone the bleachers were packed with fan girls. I rolled my eyes. Its bad enough as it is that I have to be here now on top of it all I'm gonna have to sliver through the crowd to find someplace to sit. I scanned the crowd for someone that I knew and I soon found Amu and Ikuto in the top bench, best seats in the house. No knees pressed against your back and nobody's head blocking your view. The best part is there was space. No one dared invade the space of the black cat, king of the school.

"Amu!" I waved knowing there was only a slight chance she'd see my hand considering my…vertical challenges. As luck would have it she saw me from behind the perverted kitty's lips.

"Oh Rima! Come up here!" she shouted and then blushed redder than a clown's nose when people turned around. Someone's loud. I swear the purple mongrel turned around when he heard my name. How did he get to be captain with such poor focus? I swear, people nowadays. He met my eyes for a split second and did that cocky annoying smirk of his before I turned around and ascended up to where Amu and Ikuto were.

"Rima! I'm surprised to see you here. Does that mean you and Nagihiko are warming up to one another?"

"No, no it does not mean that. Tenouji-senpai wanted to see me cover at least one sporting event before she graduated." Phew, good save Rima.

"Wow! What did you do to get her so mad at you? Everybody knows you hate sports." Amu said.

"The chibi is lying." Damn that black cat.

"Really? How can you tell?"

"Well first off, basketball practice isn't a sporting event and secondly if she were here on business she'd be in the press box instead of crammed up in here with everybody else."

What just happened? I've always been a proficient liar. To be caught by some perverted lazy bastard…unforgivable. But I can't say I don't respect it. Maybe pretending not to notice anything is a part of his persona and he's really hiding a pretty meticulous mind. The mystery of the black cat just made it to the top of my list.

"So you really did come to see Nagi! How sweet!" Amu gushed.

"Whatever." I let myself blush a little to throw Ikuto off my tracks. He can't find out what I'm up to.

"Yea, she even covered up that black eye of hers for him. It must be serious."

"What black eye Rima?" Amu asked.

Dammit Ikuto!

"It's nothing, I just fell down the stairs a few nights back." Not this topic again.

"That's what she told Fujisaki too. He didn't believe her."

Great, so now the purple idiot thinks I'm a liar.

"He doesn't think you're a liar or anything." Okay did I even say that out loud? "He just really hates the idea of girls getting hurt. Chivalry or some shit like that. Too much work."

"Whatever," I said. "Let's just watch the game practice thing!"

I do not know anything about this game but it seemed like those tall Neanderthals were doing it right. Especially Fujisaki, he somehow always got the orange ball into the white basket-like-thing. He kind of glided around the court while everyone else ran. It's like he has wings in his shoes or something. "Hey, he's actually good at this. I thought he just got the position because he's rich."

"Nope," Amu said. "Nagi's the best there is. But he is kind of showing off today."

I rolled my eyes. "For his fan girls of course."

"Actually Rima, I think it's because you're watching!" the pinkette teased.

"Shut up Amu!" I said. A few minutes later, Amu and Ikuto slinked away to go make out somewhere leaving me alone until the end of practice. Eventually the fan girls moved out following various members of the team into the locker room. Everyone filed out until it was just me and the purple head. He smiled at me, nodded, and kept throwing the ball in that infernal hoop from insanely far away. Can he miss once, for my sanity!

After about five minutes I got tired of it and walked down to the actual court. "Hey, you, practice is over, right? What are you doing?" He looked over at me still bouncing that orange monstrosity.

"Playoffs are starting soon. This year we're gonna take home a championship, the pressure is on I guess." I rolled my eyes. So this is what they classify as a jock problem.

"Oh poor thing, you must feel like the planet earth when you pompous athletes release exhaust into its atmosphere on your way to victory parties!" I said in a sickly sweet voice. He just stared down at me in that incredulously condescending Nagihiko way. Then, a little smirk found its way to the corners of his mouth.

"What?" I asked. "What could possibly be so amusing?"

"A lot of cars nowadays are hybrids Rima-chan, but that aside I appreciate the faith you must have in my team. Already planning my victory party?"

Curse that infallible confidence of his. I was about to insult him beyond immediate repair when I remembered my mission. Entry to one of their exclusive victory parties was a great way to do undercover research for my article. I might as well play it up a little.

"Well it can't be that hard to be the best at putting a ball through a hoop. Even seals can do that, and much more impressively at that. It'd be really disappointing if you couldn't bring home at least a high school championship."

He shook his head. "You are very hard to impress, did you know that? Besides if it's so easy then why haven't I seen you play any sports?"

I murmured an unintelligible reply.

"What was that?" he asked.

"I can't play sports," I said grudgingly.

"Is that so? I mean, even seals can do it, right?" he said with a wink. I sniffed and let my eyes fill with tears but kept them from spilling over.

"I-I know a seal can do it I just s-said that. But I can't. Don't tease people like that Fujisaki. Some people have really severe breathing conditions that prevent them from doing strenuous activity such as athletics!" I sobbed. A crying girl, something like this should kill a (fake) gentleman like him. I paused, waiting for my acting to induce the proper reaction but nothing happened.

"I know those are fake tears Rima-chan," he sighed. I glared at him.

"How? What can you possibly know of the female manipulation of estrogen to create tears on a whim?"

It might be my imagination but I think I saw the purple head roll his eyes at me.

"I have a sister, remember. Trust me, I know manipulation when I see it," he said. Eureka! That was it! The first piece of information leading toward the horrible truth about their group.

"Really?" I asked, going for innocent but too much to give me away. "So even the little lady has that side to her? Nobody would think so."

Nagihiko shrugged. "The girl can act. In school even I almost forget how crazy she can be?"

"Crazy? Like insane?" I asked, wishing I could pull out a pen and notepad. My memory would have to do for now.

"No, not literally crazy she's just a little aggressive, violent, brutish like the time she chased me with a Naginata. But then she turns around and cajoles her way into whatever she wants. Manipulative."

"Interesting."

"I guess. But why the sudden interest in Nadeshiko?"

"No reason," I said. "Just wanted to know how the other, more obnoxious half lives."

"You should come over sometime, maybe Amu-chan can bring you for brunch."

"I suppose so. If it means that much to you Fujisaki, I'll see you tomorrow or something. Let me leave you to your ugh, sport." I said. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek before leaving. I had to give him something to think about.

Notes for Today:
1. Gather information at victory parties
2. Fujisaki Nadeshiko is a manipulative bitch
3. They plan their superficial activities at brunches
*4. Fujisaki Nagihiko does NOT in fact know manipulation when he sees it*

A/N: So the chapter is finally done. What do you think? Rima's plot is beginning to unfold hehe! Read & Review please!