A/N: Tadaa! The new chapter has arrived! Sorry for the wait, but I was away at school camp. Again, thanks for all the reviews! You guys are the best :D

(My usual paragraph breaks are not working, sorry! So it'll be : -break-)

Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo chara

Chapter 4 - Christmas Shopping

"Thanks Yaya," said Rima. They were sitting in a newly opened ice-cream parlour called 'Happy Ice!'.

"No problem," said Yaya cheerfully. She ate a mouthful of chocolate ice-cream that she had ordered.

Rima had no idea what she was going to say to Amu when she confronted Rima. And now, as she ate her mint-chocolate ice-cream , she felt guilty and angry with herself, because even when she was speaking to Amu, she had found herself staring over Amu's shoulder for a few seconds to look at Nagihiko.

So she was extremely grateful that Yaya had pulled her away. Rima didn't know what would happen if she had to talk to Amu.

Then a thought struck her.

"Why did you take me here?" she asked cautiously.

"Because I wanted to try the new ice-cream here," replied Yaya.

A likely excuse, thought Rima. How could it be that Yaya wanted me to go with her exactly when I needed to avoid answering Amu. It can't be just a coincidence. But if it isn't, then Yaya must have found out about my feelings. But I didn't tell maybe...

"Is Yaya psychic?" asked Rima to Kusu-kusu in a whisper.

Kusu-kusu gave Rima an incredulous look.

"Forget I said that," whispered Rima, feeling stupid. What kind of question was that? A really stupid one, of course.

She was getting paranoid.

She watched Yaya order a third round of ice-cream. Yaya probably wanted to come here for the ice-cream, like she said. She was just being the usual sweet-loving Yaya.

"Hey Rima-chi. Why were you so nervous when you were talking to Amu-chi?" asked Yaya. "Come to think of it, you've been acting strange lately. Amu asked me about it, you know. I told her maybe you were busy, but I don't think that's it. So what's the matter?"

Rima ate her ice-cream so that she wouldn't have to answer.

"Well, you started acting weird since about three weeks ago," said Yaya, looking thoughtful. "That's when Amu-chi and Nagi got together..." A look of comprehension spread over Yaya's face. Not good. "This has to do with Nagi right?"

"What do you mean?" asked Rima, putting a blank look on her face. If she wasn't good at hiding her facial expression, she'd be having a horrified and panicked look. She's found out! What do I do?!?!

Kusu-kusu had stopped giggling. Rima guessed that she didn't have any ideas either.

"You have feelings for him, don't you?" asked Yaya.

Well, not really 'asked'. Yaya knew. She only needed Rima to confirm it. After all, the pair of them were the ones who were always teasing Amu and Tadase, a long time ago. They had knew the oblivious couple's feelings. So of course Yaya would easily spot the trouble Rima had.

There was no point in trying to trick Yaya.

"Yes," muttered Rima quietly.

What is she going to do? Call Amu? Tell her?

Yaya gave Rima an uncharacteristic sad smile. "It must hurt."

Rima nodded slowly, looking down. "Don't tell anyone," she said.

Yaya nodded.

"Promise me," said Rima.

"I promise," said Yaya seriously.

Sometimes Yaya might be overly loud, but Rima felt that this time, Yaya would not tell anyone.

Rima gave Yaya one of her rare smiles. "It's a deal."

"Okay, so let's order a banana split! We can share it together. But I could finish one by myself. Do you want your own?" said Yaya, in her usual hyper voice.

Rima, inwardly taken aback by Yaya's sudden change said, "We'll share, I can't finish one on my own anyway."

Yaya ordered the banana split, then turned back to Rima.

"Okay! First things first. We have to get you over Nagi," said Yaya.

Rima stayed silent for a while. Get over him? Of course I don't want to have feelings for Nagihiko but getting over him...that's impossible...

Still, she was willing to listen to what Yaya had to say.

"Operation 'Getting Over Nagi' needs planning," said Yaya. Where does she come up with these names? Rima asked herself.

"So what kind of feelings do you have?" asked Yaya.

Rima felt surprised. Obviously the romantic kind, or else she wouldn't be in this predicament. But Yaya would know that. So why did she ask?

"I meant, is it just a crush? Do you really like him? Or is it..." she paused with an eager look on her face, trying to create a dramatic effect. "Love!"

Love...the word echoed in Rima's mind.

"No," she said. Liking Nagihiko, that was one thing. Amu would never speak to her again. Love? Rima might have to move away from Japan to hide her shame.

"I said three things! Which ones are 'no'?" asked Yaya impatiently.

"Not love..." said Rima. Definitely not love.

"So it's love? This will be hard..." muttered Yaya. She started scribbling some things in a notebook that she pulled out from nowhere.

"I said 'not love'," said Rima.

"Which means it is love," announced Yaya, closing her notebook.

"It's not love," Rima repeated.

"Yes it is," sang Yaya. "You're in denial."

Rima stared Yaya. Denial? Rima? Never.

''I'm not in den-"

"See! That's denial!" said Yaya excitedly.

Rima was starting to get annoyed with Yaya. How on earth could she be in denial about being denial?

"I've read lots of mangas," Yaya said. "The main girl is always in denial about the guy that she actually loves!"

Rima remained silent. All the romance mangas Rima had read had also had a girl in denial, who always acted exactly like how Rima was acting.

"Fine," said Rima, though she wasn't so sure. But Yaya's point made sense. If she only liked Nagihiko, she wouldn't have this much pain would she? But love...when did she fall in love with him?

"Don't worry! I'll come up with a plan," said Yaya confidently. "Hey, the ice-cream's here!"

Yaya picked up her spoon and started eating the ice-cream at top-speed.

Rima started to eat the ice-cream too, but at a slower speed then Yaya. While Yaya was coming up with a plan, Rima thought she should spend some time with Amu. Maybe it would let her stubborn heart realize that she shouldn't love Nagihiko, for the sake of her friendship.

-break-

"Amu," called out Rima. The pinkette saw Rima and ran over to her.

"Hi Rima," said Amu. "Did you wait long?"

Rima shook her head.

"Okay, let's go," said Amu. They started walking in the usual mall. "Oh yeah, do you have the list?"

Rima nodded and took out a long list for Christmas presents.

Amu was going away for week to visit her relatives and would only be back just before Christmas, so she and Rima decided that they would go Chistmas Shopping. It was only the two of them shopping, which made Rima happy.

The list read:

Yaya's List ^-^

Amu-chi: This really cute clip that I saw.

Rima-chi: The newest gag manga I can find.

Kukai: A skateboard (his brothers accidentally broke his old one!)

Nagi: This cool sports bag.

Inchou: I'm not really sure yet...

Utau-chan: A hat!

"Eh? Isn't this Yaya's list," said Ran, after reading the list.

"Yup!" replied Kusu-kusu. "It's also a list of what not to buy!"

"Yaya always thinks of the good stuff," said Amu. "I'm no good at thinking up presents."

Rima wasn't good at it either, though she didn't say it.

"Why don't we go to that shop first?" suggested Rima, pointing at a shop.

"Okay," Amu said.

They walked into the cute shop and started looking around. It was full of soft plush toys and cute accessories.

"Hey look, I think I see a perfect present for Yaya," said Amu. She reached up and pulled out a plus rabbit. "She still loves rabbits and plush toys."

"It's so kawaii!" cried Suu.

Rima nodded. That was fast...What would she get for Yaya?

She kept walking around the shop until she spotted two hair bands with orbs of bubble-gum colour. Yaya would love them. She took them and walked back to Amu.

"Look what I found for Utau," said Amu happily. She held up a brooch which was half a red bat-like wing, and half a white feathery wing.

"It does match her theme," said Rima.

"What are you getting her?" asked Amu.

Rima thought about this. Utau was always more of Amu's friend but Rima had sort of gotten closer to Utau after some outings together with her.

"I'll help you," said Amu, after Rima didn't reply. "Let's look at more accessories."

Rima and Amu scanned the displays. There was a bunny shaped clip...clips with stars...a heart clip with a crown...

"Hey Amu, isn't this on your Shugo Chara Egg box?" asked Rima, holding up the clip for Amu to see. "Did you come here before?"

Amu stared at the clip. "Yeah...a long time ago..."said Amu looking uncomfortable. Her eyes seemed to glaze over and she looked down, as if Amu was remembering something unpleasant. "Anyway," Amu said suddenly. "Found anything for Utau?"

Rima pointed at a stack of shirts. Amu turned around, her face looking curious. Rima was pointing to a white shirt with musical notes, and said 'Music is My Soul'.

"How artistic!" exclaimed Miki, examining the shirt.

"Nice choice. Oh, yeah, Rima, are you going to get something for me from here? Or should we move on?"

"Actually I think I saw something, could you go out for a while?" requested Rima.

"Oh okay. I'll wait outside then. No, Ran! You have to come too," said Amu, walking out the door.

She picked up a charm bracelet. It had a heart, spade, clover and diamond charm attached to the chains. She found her eyes travelling to another charm bracelet, with a rain drop charm and star charm.

Maybe she would get Yaya to drop hints to Amu that Rima wanted a charm bracelet. Then it could be something like a friendship bracelet.

-break-

"Ahh getting boys gifts are much harder than getting stuff for girls!" cried Amu hopelessly.

After an hour, Rima and Amu had only found a present for Kukai. It just came out and was quite expensive but Rima and Amu decided that they would share the present.

"What do you think I should get for Inchou?" Amu asked for about the tenth time.

Rima shrugged, she had found this authentic looking samurai sword that was quite cheap. Kairi probably wouldn't notice, though.

Maybe Amu should get Kairi the whole Naruto series, though maybe he wouldn't like it that much since Naruto was about ninjas, and not samurais and the fact that it would be expensive. Then again, maybe he didn't really care.

"Look Amu-chan," said Dia, pointing over to the book shop. There was a new release on display that said: 'How to Be A Samurai' by Brian Chiga.

"Score!" cheered Ran happily.

Amu rushed into the store and came out a minute later with a big book.

"This was the last one they had in stock," said Amu.

Who knew that so many people were into Samurias? Thought Rima, amused.

"Oh wait here for a moment," said Amu. She hurried off in one direction.

Rima sat down on a bench, satisfied at their choices of presents for their friends. Five minutes later Amu returned.

"Okay! Now's the last present is for Nagihiko," said Amu. "I think I know what to get him. What about you?"

Rima froze for just one moment.

"I don't know," said Rima truthfully. Here she was, trying to get over Nagihiko by spending more time with Amu, but of course, since she was shopping with Amu she also had to go get something for Nagihiko too. How could it have slipped her mind?

"Well let's look for something that you can get him," said Amu enthusiastically.

"What about you?" asked Rima.

Amu turned slightly pink. "I think I'm going to try and m-make something for him."

Rima felt a surge of pain. Why didn't she think of that? Nagihiko would really like a present like that...but Amu thought of it first...

No, she couldn't afford to be jealous. She wouldn't give Nagihiko a nice present. She wasn't supposed to. That was up to Amu.

"I don't want to give him a present," said Rima.

Amu looked at Rima with an astonished look.

"But it's Christmas!" said Suu.

"They say that it's the thought that counts," said Rima.

The others sweat-dropped.

"Well, if you really don't want to,' said Amu looking a bit disappointed. "I thought you guys were friends now. Don't you like him?"

Rima felt another stab of pain. I do like him, but not in the way that you think...

"He's okay, I guess," Rima muttered.

"Then come on, let's look for something," said Amu.

They walked for a few minute, but to Rima it felt like a few hours. What should I get him? Nothing to nice, or Amu would get suspicious. But if he doesn't like it, Amu might not like me anymore.

Rima stopped suddenly and looked at a shop with traditional flowers that were placed outside.

"I think I know what to get him," said Rima softly.

Amu looked at what Rima was looking at and said.

"I think he'll like it. You should get it for him," said Amu encouragingly.

Rima walked in and placed her present for Nagihiko on the counter.

"Are you sure you want to get him that?" asked Kusu-kusu.

Rima nodded.

I can't help it...I really want him to like it.

As Amu and Rima walked back home, she thought of the friendship bracelet in her bag. Then she glanced at Amu, who was arguing with her charas.

Is it really okay for me to be friends with her?

A/N: It seemed a bit like a filler to me. Oh well. Hoped you liked it anyway.

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