"Okay a little more to the left..."
Utau and Ikuto were up on ladders trying to straighten up the banner that read "Welcome Home!"
A few days had passed and Nagihiko was finally being released from the hospital. Rima, Yaya, Utau, Ikuto, Amu, Kukai, and a few others were all part of the surprise party for Nagihiko.
"Wait, I meant to the right!" Yaya changed her mind. Utau groaned and Ikuto grew bored. They've been trying to put the sign up for 10 minutes now.
"Move it up!" Yaya stuck her tongue out, in concentration. "Never mind it looks better down."
Ikuto gave up and jumped down from the ladder.
Utau growled, "Ikuto don't just leave! I need someone to hold the other side!" Ikuto ignored his little sister as he went to refill his drink. The rest of the banner fell unevenly to Utau's side.
Kukai got up from his seat and pitched in to help her. With a few tries they finally managed to tape up the lopsided banner.
Rima was found in the hall making a private phone call.
"You always make up excuses!" She shouted into the phone. Whoever she was talking to, she was fed up and hung up before they even responded. She walked back into the entrance area. Amu overheard the last bit of the conversation and handed Rima a blue balloon to tie. Rima grabbed the end of it and squeezed it tightly to keep from any air escaping. Amu took a few steps back, being cautious that Rima might pop a balloon with her rage.
"What was that about?" Amu questioned.
Rima shrugged, "Just my mom being rude as always." Amu rolled her eyes, understanding the type of person Rima's mom has always been.
"She's not coming?"
Rima shook her head and tied the end of the balloon with a thin green ribbon.
Amu tried to cheer up her friend, "Don't worry about it, she would of probably killed the mood anyways." With that said she gave a wink. Rima let out a small giggle and agreed.
"But…" Rima stared at Amu.
Amu continued the drafted sentence, "But?" Rima bit the outside of her bottom lip, "I'm staying at my parents' house after the party."
Amu accidentally let go of her inflated balloon. It went darting in aimless directions all around the room. The deflating balloon zipped past Kukai and Ikuto as they both ducked before it had a chance to strike them. It aimed for Utau's soda cup, and smashed right into it knocking it out of her hands, leading to a splash on the floor. Utau turned to give Amu a warning stare. Amu innocently pointed to Rima, as Rima pointed to Amu for the blame. As soon as Utau turned back around, Amu continued the conversation where it left off, she asked, "Why?"
Rima sighed, "I know it sounds stupid, but it feels like I should." Amu was most defiantly confused, if she was Rima, heck, if anyone had her parents she wouldn't ever visit them. Let alone, stay over for a night. She would completely shut them out of her life.
Utau walked in on the conversation, already bored from the guys talking. "That Hitomi girl isn't coming?"
Rima tied up another balloon, "Surprisingly no."
Utau gave her classic smirk, "Because we're all here. She knows we'll all kick her ass."
"Please do if you ever see her." Rima said, as she grabbed a handle for of balloons and began tying them in random places throughout the apartment.
"THEY'RE RIGHT UP THE STAIRS!" Yaya screamed. Everyone all stared at each other not moving.
"Go! Go! Go!" Kukai yelled, as he hid under a table. Yaya reached for the light switch to turn it off, and hid behind a plant. Ikuto grabbed Amu's arm, and they hid behind the couch. Utau just laid on the couch. "Here!" Rima tossed a wool blanket over her, and threw a bunch of cushions at her head. The other guest hid so quickly, Rima didn't even see where they went. Time was ticking, and Rima made last second adjustments. She didn't know where to hide and was panicking.
"Stop it!" Amu yelled. Everyone guessed it was Ikuto causing mischief.
"Shut up!" Everyone yelled at once.
Rima heard the key jam into the hole and noticed the knob slowly twisting open, she made up a random pose, and stood completely still in the middle of the room, holding her breath to keep from any sudden movements.
The door creaked open, as Hanako and Nagihiko walked into the dark room. Even though the room was dark Hanako noticed Rima standing in the middle of the room, and gave her a weird look. Rima repeatedly pointed at the light switch, signalling for Hanako to hurry and turn it on.
Nagihiko looked like he was oblivious to what was going on and switched on the light.
"SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME!" Everyone jumped from their hiding spots, as colorful confetti scattered around the room. Nagihiko glanced around and was confused not knowing most of these people.
Everyone noticed Utau struggling under the blanket and pillows and finally poked her head out, out of breath, "Surprise! Sorry for the delayed reaction, someone had to suffocate me!" She glared at Rima, as Rima acted shameless, as though she wasn't the cause of Utau's suffocation.
Nagihiko chuckled, "Thank you everyone. I would have been more surprised if Rima wasn't standing in the middle of the room."
Rima nervously laughed, as Kukai shouted, "Let's get this party started!"
After a few moments music was played, and everyone was talking amongst themselves. Rima was busy re-introducing people to Nagihiko. Such as old friends, and his old teachers in high school. She introduced Nagihiko to his old basketball coach. As they started chatting, Rima took this time to step away from the conversation and join her friends around the couch.
"How's it going?" Utau noticed Rima standing next to her.
"Good, no sign of him remembering anyone though." Rima sighed and looked at Utau's glass, "Hey can I have a drink?" Before Utau could protest Rima snatched it from her hands and took a long sip.
Rima finished the glass, and handed it back to Utau, "That was good, what was that?" Utau raised an eyebrow, "No more for you...there's no more left." Utau lied.
"Alcohol…I don't want Rima drinking this…especially at a time like this." She thought to herself.
"Why don't I get you some refreshing iced tea?" Utau nicely asked.
Rima nodded, "Sure."
Utau quickly left her spot and walked over to the kitchen, to get a glass of iced tea. "I need to watch her back more often. With alcohol, she acts weird..."
Utau walked back once she filled the glass. She realized Rima drinking from a cup again.
"Thanks, Kukai." Rima took a long sip, "No problem," Kukai was busy watching home videos with other people. It was to help Nagihiko remember, but Nagihiko was still busy talking to people from his past to even know the video was on.
"Watch this part, this is funny!" Hanako laughed as she was getting into the video.
Utau jumped for the glass, and grabbed it from Rima's hand it took a whiff, it was definitely alcohol. Utau shoved the iced tea in her face, "Drink this…or else." Rima gave her wide eyes, and did as she said.
An hour went by and the party was about over, and people slowly began leaving by the minute. Rima Yaya, and Hanako were the only ones, staying after cleaning up. Utau was there to, to supervise Rima, but didn't even bother to clean. After they were done, Yaya gave Rima and Nagihiko a hug before she left. Then, Utau walked out after her.
Rima walked into the bedroom, being slightly dizzy, she grabbed a few spare clothes and a small bag as she existed the room and passed Nagihiko,
"I'm staying at my parent's house tonight; I'll be back tomorrow morning."
Nagihiko nodded and opened the door for her. "Thank you for the party."
Without even realizing what she was doing, Rima lightly kissed his cheek, and whispered, "I'm glad your home." For a split second, Nagihiko felt a wave of thoughts and memories fast forwarding through his mind. It ended too quickly for him to even remember what just happened. All he knew was he could trust Rima.
"It felt like I was remembering something important..." Nagihiko was puzzled. Hanako stayed back behind the kitchen counter watching in awe. She held in her scream of joy.
Rima eyed him suspiciously, "Is something wrong?"
Nagihiko blinked a few times trying to comprehend what just happened, "Oh, uh…no."
Rima nodded and continued her way out the door. "Bye."
As Nagihiko replied, "Bye." He shut the door. Once the door was sealed shut, Rima's back slid down the door, "What were you thinking Rima? My mind feels so foggy I didn't think I'd do that! You're moving too fast. Slow down! He probably thinks I'm weird… I mean when I did that, it looked like he was in a daze…"
A honking of a horn could be heard and Rima quickly got up from the floor, and rushed down the stairs to see her mom's pitch black car with the tinted windows. Even if she couldn't see through the windows, she pictured her mom's brutal expression. Seeing the car in view, Rima felt a wave of annoyance. This was just killing her mood. She opened the door and stared at her mom. She looked like she aged since the last time Rima saw her.
"Wow, you actually came." Rima slid into the passenger seat and slammed the door close.
"Don't start." Her mom had an infuriated look on her face.
"Mom, you could have at least came to the party and re-introduce yourself!"
Rima's mom shared an ice cold glare at her daughter then shifted her gaze back on the road. When her mom didn't respond, Rima's patience level decreased. "Or u could have came to the hospital and see him! I mean come on, everyone worked around their schedule to see him. Even Utau and she's a singer!"
Her mom gripped the steering wheel, "There you go again, always asking for things. Everything that comes out of your mouth is selfish."
Rima threw her hands up in the air angrily, "This is not selfish! This is for Nagihiko! Don't even try to say he's not important...he's your future son in law!"
"By the looks of it doesn't seem like we're headed in that direction anytime soon, does it?" Rima's mom was so ignorant.
Rima was so angry no words came out, so her mom spoke instead,
"I told you he was a bad one."
It was true; Rima's mother always hated Nagihiko. She never gave him a chance, and probably never would. Ever since a few years ago when she caught Rima and Nagihiko kissing in her backyard, she couldn't stand him being pulled into a conversation. The news about the engagement had made it ten times worse.
Rima's level of steam exploded, and decided to not to keep her composure.
"It was an accident! What, you think this happened on purpose? The least you could do is be supportive for me and him."
Rima's mother made a sharp turn, at the green light.
"Rima, it's hard to be supportive in the first place. How can I support you when I don't like the choices you make to begin with?"
"You're treating me like I'm 13 again. I'm 19! I'm an adult; stop acting like you controls my decisions. Learn to deal with it." Rima never wanted it to come to this. She's always wanted to be close to her mother, and be able to tell her anything. But with her, it was the complete opposite, everything was kept a secret.
"You're lucky I even still come and visit you in the first place." Rima muttered to herself and stared out the window. Rima could just stop visiting her parents if she wanted to. But recently Rima's mom had been having heart problems. As soon as Rima found out she had told Nagihiko. Nagihiko always told Rima that she should at least try to spend as much time with her mom, before anything bad starts to happen. Not only that, but she felt as being the daughter she could at least try and keep working at their relationship. She knew for definite she wasn't the problem. It was always her parents treating her like this from the start.
The rest of the ride was quiet.
As she entered her old home, old memories passed through her head that made her feel relived it was all in the past and there was no way to go back. Though, a few memories came back from the house of her and Nagihiko, which made her blush a bit. She saw her grumpy dad sitting at the table, and talked to him for awhile, before heading upstairs to her old room.
It was the next day, as Rima finally left the prison household, and greeted Nagihiko back at the apartment. She knocked a few times, as the door swung over she said,
"Now that your well rested, I got an idea."
"We better hurry up before that Hitomi comes over." Rima thought to herself. She remembered the day before yesterday Hitomi said she wanted to come over. Rima chuckled at Nagihiko as she noticed he had bed head hair, and looked like he just woke up. Rima held a basketball in her hand, and failed as she tried to spin it on her finger.
"Let's play." Rima smiled.
"Basketball?" Nagihiko leaned against the door frame, still adjusting his eyes to what was going on.
"Yes basketball is your best sport and your hobby. I'm sure with practice you'll have your skills back, and maybe even something will come back to mind?"
"Alright," He yawned.
It took a few minutes for Nagihiko to get properly dressed. They soon exited the apartment and went behind the complex where there was a small park for little children and a full basketball court. The wind was picking up, Rima bounced the ball a few times but didn't hit it hard enough as the ball's bouncing slowed and it rolled away. She chased after it as the wind was making it roll in different directions. Nagihiko was easily amused and was careful not to let his laugh slip out.
After practically throwing herself at the ball she finally got hold of it and walked back onto the court.
"Sports are definitely not my thing." She passed the ball to him, and he swiftly caught it.
"Shoot it!" Rima cheered. Nagihiko stared at the ball before doing anything. He dropped the ball into the ground as it slowly sprung back up. He hit it again, and slowly started a dribbling motion like he was a beginner. He faced the basket, and with the correct posture and a quick toss the ball hit the backboard and sunk in the basket.
"He definitely didn't forget basketball..." Rima was a bit surprised; she didn't think he'd get a basket on the first try.
Rima playfully yawned. "I can do that too."
She ran and grabbed the ball. Her dribbling was all out of coordination, and the ball kept almost slipping out her hands, she hopped on one foot and tossed the ball as it flew right below the net.
She groaned, and shouted behind her, "I did that on purpose."
Rima made her way back onto the middle of the court; she tried it over again- starting further back from the shooting line. She dribbled then stopped and took a few steps forward. She stopped again and began dribbling in place.
"You're supposed to do both at the same time." Nagihiko was definitely entertained by the girl.
"I can't!" Rima getting all frustrated let the ball go and began to dribble the ball again when she realized the ball was out of her sight, "What?" She glanced around the court to see Nagihiko already casting the ball into the basket.
As the ball entered through the net he smiled, "You're too slow."
She groaned. "Hey!"
Nagihiko caught the ball from underneath the net and tossed it back to her, this time she easily caught it. "Hmph."
She began dribbling, as Nagihiko was coming towards her, she hurriedly gripped the ball in her hands, not even bothering to continue dribbling and dashed towards the basket. Then, threw it up in the air, and a swoosh, was heard.
"Yes!" She spun around in victory.
"Foul, you can't just run with the ball." Nagihiko raised an eyebrow.
"So? Who said we were playing a fair game?" Rima gave a smug look.
Nagihiko grinned, "Very well then." With the basket ball back in Rima's grip she began dribbling in place. Nagihiko easily blocked her from passing through. She struggled to get pass him, he was just too tall, towering over her.
She pretended like she was going to throw the ball, faking Nagihiko out. She used the distraction to get pass him. She threw the ball, but Nagihiko caught it in thin air, before it reached the basket.
Rima groaned with an annoyed tone, as Nagihiko now had hold of the ball and bolted to the other side of the court and made a successful basket.
"Ugh! You cheater!" Rima crossed her arms and faced away from him.
"It kind of feels like before..."Rima was in deep thought.
"Here," Nagihiko tossed her the ball, "I'll give you a free shot."
Rima smirked grasping the basketball, she threw the ball but it soared too low and it bounced on Nagihiko's head. They both stared at each other and began laughing. "It was an accident!" Rima tried to convince him. He smiled, "You were just trying to get me back."
"No, no!" Rima walked up to him to see if he was alright, but lost her balance and fell forward.
Thankfully, Nagihiko caught her in time. She slowly looked up at him and made eye contact. "Sorry..." she was at a loss of words as she felt like she was drowning in his beautiful eyes. As for Nagihiko he was mesmerized in her eyes. The only noise they heard was their racing hearts beats.
"Oh, am I interrupting something?" They both turned around to see Hitomi standing there. She wore a revealing outfit, and had a sly smile on her face.
"No," Nagihiko simply responded, slightly moving Rima to the side of him. Rima's eyebrows furrowed.
"What are you saying? Of course she was interrupting us!"She yelled at him through her thoughts.
Hitomi bent over and gathered the ball with her hand. "Mind if I join?"
Nagihiko agreed, "Not at all." They both smiled at each other.
Rima angrily walked away from the court. She couldn't stand how Nagihiko was so nice to Hitomi. She just wanted to yell at Hitomi, but knew if she did that Nagihiko would think that she's mean. She couldn't stand the thought of them ever being together either. Hitomi just had to ruin her perfect starting day. She whipped out her phone and quickly scrolled down her contacts and chose a specific person. She needed to let off some steam. She rapidly texted,
"I'm free tomorrow."
A/N: It makes me laugh how Hitomi is getting to you guys, I know she ruins everything, don't worry I hate her too! I know short chapter yet again, but I guess in this chapter there are a few hints to what may happen in future chapters xD Foreshadowing? I think that's what it is..Next chapter will be longer!
Thank you everyone for reviweing, and putting my story on your alert list and things like that! You're awesomely awesome. :3 Review if you wish! More chapters await! Hehehe. ;D
And my responses to the last chapter reviews:
Peachygotit-Kica: Thank you! And to answer your earlier question in case you were still wondering, it's because Rima and Tadase were friends during childhood, so no one else really knows about him. (:
Half Angel Half Evil: Ahahaha! Rimahiko forever! x3 Oh! I noticed that you review like every chapter, and thanks so much for that! You're awesome! :)
SeeingXxViolet: Aww, thank you! Haha, yeah I think I know what you're saying. I've read so many stories when a character comes in, and then it seems like they are the center of attention and they take away the spotlight from the main characters. It's like "Ugh! Go away!" xD
But I mean, if she irritates you then that's a good thing, it means I'm doing something right with the characters. (:
arkee: Thank you for the review! :) And yeah that would be sad, but you never know what can happen in stories!
SpiraTheAnimeGirl: Omg! When I read your review it literally made me "LOL!" Like seriously! XD
chocolate covered charas: Thank you! Yay! I'm glad you're enjoying it! (:
sweet laya: Thank you so much for all your reviews! :D I'm happy your getting into the story and liking it so far! :)