This is going to be a long one, so sliced it up to smaller chapters while I work on the rest.

School setting, by the way...

I don't own shugo chara

Chapter 8: Consequences – part One

School has never been a big deal for me – mostly because I got the looks, the brains, the skills, the charm, and a childish decency and simplicity to prevent all that from swelling up my ego to explosion. What brought the edge to my everyday education was the need to wear a skirt, and I would not even share the reality of having to wear a girl's undergarment. No choice there son, it comes with the package – mom said to a helpless 5 year old me as she walks forth with a menacing, drooling look on her face.

But that wasn't enough of a challenge for me. I got to speak like a girl, smell like a girl, think like a girl, and um, yeah, pee like a girl. It was troublesome, but having been used to it exposed me to its perks, and I'm not talking about using the same bathroom as the young ladies. There's only one person I'd admit to be a lolicon for, not that I was already slightly perverted back then. I was able to experiment on a number of grade schoolers who were stupid enough to confess. Plus, teachers trust mostly girls so whenever something goes wrong, the boys would get the blame and I off the hock. Oh yeah, those were the fun days.

So yes, school is a phase that I appreciate, but has never consumed 75% of my everyday concerns. Pretenses were well kept, and the charm was well established. All was well… that is, until SHE entered the picture.

The transition between being a girl and boy is pretty much simple. The transition between being single and having a girlfriend is a tiny bit more complicated. Because apparently, those stupid elementary school brats that I turned down weren't able to outgrow their stupidity and still laid eyes on her, and even tried to make romantic advances towards her, her and her unreasonably powerful charm.

But that's not even the hardest part. The school even saw it fit to put me in a different class, where I would be unable to protect her from thieving, lecherous hands of filth and lust. Tadase is a consoling light behind that fart-gascloud of a reality, but he alone is not a reassurance. He's always busy, plus… he's a damn good-looking kid, a true gentleman, graceful and honest – put those traits together and we make him a threat, instead of a consolation.

I trust Tadase, but I dread the fact that Rima might still, with every right and reason to, fall for him.

Ah, but the generous twist is that I have Amu here in my class, and she's sitting right next to me. If worse comes to worst, I'll have her as leverage… of course, assuming the worst DOES come.

…kami-sama, I'm beginning to think like a villain. Rima showed me a great amount of trust last night, why can't I do the same? And Tadase and Amu are both my friends, for crying out loud. I have to keep my mindset in check.

Needless to say, with all of the above, I could not afford to make a small deal out of school. Put obsession into compulsion and add a pint of possessive, love-struck desire and you have the makings of a bitter, middle school delinquent. The aftermath of which would be Rima-less.

I got to put my values in the scale here, but I cannot afford to lose track of Rima. Forget 85% or even 100% of my everyday concerns. During school days, she is my ONLY concern.

"Fujisaki."

"…"

"Fujisaki!"

I felt a nudge on my rib, and only then I realized the teacher was calling, all eyes were on me, and we were deep in a discussion, the momentum of which I broke and I could not keep up with.

"Yes mam?" I gracefully stood, and smiled with all the vile charm I have mastered since the dawn of the trap-days.

"Would you kindly answer the question please?" she said, closing the book and placing it on the table.

The clock on the wall showed only a few minutes before the bell. The smile on her face showed an understanding, and a triumphant glimmer that says 'caught you again.' Everyone was expectant. Amu, my rescuer, was panicky. She was rummaging through her notes to look for the answer.

I gave it a quick thought and then bravely answered, "That would depend on what the question would be, mam."

Of course, such an answer is not acceptable for Japanese classrooms, but me and Mrs. Kino had this unspoken understanding of mutual respect.

"The only question I raised prior to my courteous request, I trust you would know. But I wonder if you were able to hear it, seeing as you were gravely engrossed with a cinematic phenomenon in your head." She said. The clocked ticked some more. "Oh, I fear my class must be boring you, Fujisaki."

"I did hear it mam, and I did know what the question was."

"Did? Not 'do'?"

"Yes mam- did. Past tense."

"I assume then you no longer 'do' know the question."

"I must confess mam, that I don't." I said, eyeing the clock and expecting the close of the period. "For had I been focusing on the question, I would not have enough resources in my mental stock to device an answer that you would accept."

A sweat crept from my forehead, down to the side of my head. I was expecting another retort, or a rebuttal, something to further fry my hide. But all she did was smile at me. She removed the thick, reading glasses and gave everyone a gentle, motherly look.

"Finish pages 45 to 52 of the exercise books. Review for next week's test, and oh yes, you'll be holding a practical test for your arts class, and that involves your school dance, so do prepare, and pray for rainless days to come. That is all. Class rep?"

"All rise!" Manami declared, her voice followed by a flurry of chairs being moved as every other student in the room stood to pay their respects, "And bow."

Saved by the voiceless bell. The clock showed impeccable accuracy, and so did Mrs. Kino who came walking towards me while the others went out for lunch.

"I don't appreciate daydreaming in my class, Fujisaki." She mildly chastised, "That would be the last time I would be wasting the remaining 5 minutes of my class with you, do I make myself clear?"

I looked up at her, brave and compose but sincere, "Yes mam, I understand. I'm sorry."

Her still youthful face then softened with a small, meaningful smile, "Ease your mind, my dear boy. You let things bother you, and you lose the grace and beauty of things."

She tapped me on my shoulder after those words and then began to walk towards the door, but not before leaning forward to my wearied, pink-haired friend, "Hinamori."

"Y-yes mam!" she stood up in full attention. I would definitely react like that if the only times I am called by a teacher were the ones when I could not provide an answer.

"If you screw up next week's test, you'll make a fine definition to the term 'DEAD MEAT'!"

The remainder of the class, including Manami, all laughed while the poor girl whined in dread and helplessness. We all know Mrs. Kino and how she patiently tutors students with difficulties. She lovingly pat Amu on the head, bid sweet good byes to her students and went out.

"Awww…. I am so DEAAD! Who the hell invented English anyway?"

"Don't worry Amu, I'm sure you'll do just fine." Manami said, walking towards us.

"I wish that'll really be the case. You know I haven't even passed a single test Mrs. Kino has given."

"Oh, that's terrible." I said, and it made Amu plunge deeper into depression. It was supposed to be a joke, the matter being so superficial and all, but I still received a glare from Nanami.

"You should help her study then." She said, in a way, also ordered. "While I find someone who can teach me how to dance."

"I can teach you." I said.

Amu turned her head towards me and equipped those world-renowned puppy dog eyes. God help you, Tadase, if you have to live with this for the rest of your life. Well, it wasn't like I would be refusing anyway. In fact, it was all going according to plan. Manami placed a consoling hand on my shoulder, telling me that I have greater things to deal with, specifically Amu. "Er, don't worry Amu. I'll teach tutor you on English too." I said. "Better yet, why don't we all study at my place this weekend?"

"Can't, flower shop bazar." Nanami said, handing me a flyer that was tucked in her notebook, "Business is booming. Later."

She obviously had other stuff to do that after she said that with a rather brilliant smile, she excused herself and left me to fancy the paper in hand. Couples everywhere would mean income everyday for their family. I made a mental note to take Rima there come Thursday. In the meantime, I had to pull Amu out of that shell. I tugged at her pony-tail and forced her to look up.

"Lunch time, miss."

She blinked a couple of times before allowing herself to be dragged out of the room and into a hopefully fine weather outdoors. The corridor was still bustling with students, some running around, some casually chatting – me on the other hand, have a rather disheartened heroine enjoying a piggy back ride while assuming the worst out of next week. Not an unusual sight for some, a very romantic scene for others.

"Nagi, can you lend me half of your brain? Just for next week?" she mumbled, face buried at the back of my neck. She's really letting this get to her.

"Sorry, I got stuff going on to, so I'll need most of my mind intact."

"So you handle your issues, and get A's at the same time." She said, sounding incredibly impressed and incredibly lazy, "Fine, just give me a quarter of your brain then."

She started plugging fingers inside my ears, literally trying to get some braincells out. Of course it only ended up giving me a reason to squirm and respond with restraint with the tickling effect of it. Fortunately, I didn't have to endure that for long. We met Tadase by the usual corner, surrounded by a familiar sight of fangirls and… ugh, fanboys. I'm glad I'm not THAT charming.

"Hey, your majesty. Tag."

His face brightened after seeing us.

"Excuse me, ladies."

It was a miracle how a first year like him could have so many 'supporters', a miracle still how he managed to escape their clutches. We shared a quick grin, and then his attention came to the one who deserved it more.

"Hello there." He whispered to Amu, running a hand softly through her pink hair.

I felt Amu turn her head, and her cheeks as they rounded up in a sweet smile I knew she was giving him.

"Hi, Tadase. You know, Nagi is so skinny." She said in hazy, sleepy words.

"Hey!"

Tadase chuckled, and then slowly reached out to place hands around her. "That may be, princess, but I'm sure he'd like to give his skinny back to someone else. Come!"

"Eeep!"

He sneak-pried the unwary girl, forcing her off my back and her mind to a more refined constitution. Amu ended up cradled in Tadase's able hands, carried like a bride in the care of her loving groom, looking completely flustered. At least that got her mind off the test.

"Shall we dine, my love?"

Amu naturally didn't have enough composure in head to respond calmly to that. This is one of Tadase's innocent traits that I don't mind blaming him for, as it usually renders his victims to a speechless, blushing mess. Amu is no exemption, and the fact that Tadase doesn't even have to exert any effort in giving his stealthily sweet and princely antics adds to the potency.

"Y-yeah, sure." Amu managed to say. Thank God she didn't unconsciously call him prince again like last time. I'm not seeing any bucket around, and that alone does the trick of toggling between an egoistic tyrant and a public servant.

We were about to head out and get all merry and filled, when I caught a very horrific, utterly disturbing sight that made me reminisce the terrible headache last night. A mixture of gold and red crops of color were the first to touch my eyes, followed by a lovely, adorable smile, and then everything was fouled by a familiar, handsome face.

There were several things that got my blood boiling. First of all, Rima was smiling, and it's because of a guy. Second, she's in a room with said guy, and she doesn't even care that the only thing preventing total privacy for them is a small, glass window, for which I am very much thankful for. Third…

"Rima, care to join us for lunch?" I said, stepping inside the room and leaving my fellow guardians by the hallway.

"N-nagi…" she reacted very much surprised. I was definitely the last person she had in mind, especially with Kirishima's hands happily gracing her body.

"Fujisaki, it's been a while."

Had this been the setting a year ago, it wouldn't have mattered to me. Ironic though – he did ask me to help him in confessing to Rima, and now here I am making sure nothing happens between them. I wonder if that makes me a bad person.

"Kirishima," with my eye still sorely pinned on his proverbial hands, I slowly strode inside the room with their eyes following me. My red-haired 'friend' at least saw it fit to remove his hands from Rima, while I pressed the pause button of the player on top of the table to devoid the room of the music they had been swaying to. "Preparing for the practical test?"

"Yeah… I have very poor coordination with these sorts of things… dancing I mean…" he said, and I suddenly had the urge to scrub the friendly smile on his face.

"Really? Your moves in the basketball court suggests otherwise." I said, bitterly admitting to myself that his infamous side-step 3-points are still unmatched.

He let out an uncharacterized, awkward laugh, obviously accepting the compliment. I wondered if he was able to detect the gravity of my presence, or the sarcasm I was inserting in every second I portrait a happy face in front of him.

"Um, well, this isn't as simple as that, you see… I just needed Rima's help…"

"Rima? That's nice! So you two are on a first-name basis?"

I directed that question to Rima, whose default annoyed face has been projected at me since I came in the room. She gave a sigh, and something close to a trace of 'bothersome prick' came with it. There's really nothing worth sighing about, not when I just caught my girlfriend dancing with another boy in an enclosed room.

Kirishima's face blushed terribly, finally realizing the scenario, but it was too late. The gasoline have been thrown in the flame, and I'll be burning him alive in the subtlest, most delicate means I can concoct. "It's nothing like that!" he said, stumbling in between words, in-experienced in terms of these sorts of things. "…you see, there is a… there's a situation and, well, I need to…"

"You don't need to tell him anything, Kirishima-kun." Rima said, as she walked towards me while bearing a defiant look. "I was just giving him some pointers. There's nothing to it."

"Oh, I okay then." I said, devious intent brewing in mind, "But seeing as you are determined to keep to yourselves whatever business you have with him, why don't we let him in our little secret, eh?"

She knew what I meant, and she knew that at that distance she won't be able to do anything about it, not with my hand already around her waist, and the other on her face. "Don't." she whispered. I could really feel the anger in her soft, little voice, but it's worth the risk, especially with a wide-eyed, disbelieving Kirishima Fuyuki as an audience. I gave him one dark look which I doubt he noticed, and slowly closed my eyes. I leaned down towards the scowling, little blonde and gently claimed her lips.

Half of my brain was appreciative of the fact that she chose not to slap me away, the other half was launching fireworks in sheer happiness for having this adored flavor of Rima's lips in the middle of the day. Darn, if I could kiss her a few minutes longer like this, I'd have my fill of lunch already.

I felt her tiny hand lay on my chest just when I was starting to get lost in that kiss. It was a good thing, because I was also starting to forget our young spectator who was red to the ear by the time we pulled away.

"…you… you guys, are a couple?!" was the only question he was able to ask.

To be continued…