I guys! I'm sorry for the delay on this update, I've been busy. I hope you all like this chapter where Rima's secret is revealed. OOOOOOOOH what could it beeee? xD thehe it's nothing special, still I work hard on this so.. enjoy!

"Rima's Secret"

"I don't know what «love» is."

"The white?" I asked. "What is that supposed to mean?

Yaya and Utau were both staring at the floor. There was a moment of silence and then Mashiro sighed and started:

"When I was 5 I had a dream of becoming someone that would always bring joy to others." Mashiro wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. "My parents had a difficult job and whenever they were felling down I would make sure to be a good girl and make them laugh again. At school, I met Nagihiko. He was actually a dull kid, always worrying about his dance, always playing cool and quiet, but I noticed he was sad so I played my part as his new friend and started to dance with him. I didn't get his dance at all but, we had lots of fun every day. I knew I had made him happy. That was when my wish became stronger."

I listened carefully while seeing the light in Mashiro's eyes getting more and more distant. She continued:

"I wanted to bring happiness to everyone and so, every day during play time –at school- I would play magic and make everyone's sadness disappear; friends, colleagues, teachers… I would help everyone. But at home…" I saw Mashiro tighten her grip. "at home, things were a little different. My parents gradually became more and more busy, more and more tired… of me. Every time I tried to approached them and make them happy, make them smile, they'd push me away and say «stop being so childish». I couldn't help them. They wouldn't let me." She started to tremble "As time passed, my parents fights started to get more intense, they'd yell at each other almost every day after picking me up at school, sometimes because mama or papa forgot to go pick me up and the school had to call them, or because I needed help with something and neither wanted to help, or of course they would argue about their complicated jobs. I couldn't help them, and I slowly came to realize I was the problem. I stopped trying to make anyone happy, stopped trying to be happy and fell into the pitch dark hole in my hurting chest. I didn't want to bring any more misery to my parents so one day, I ran to the rooftop of my school and saw the white…"

I gasped, shocked to what I had just listened. I heard Yaya weeping.

"S…So you jumped."I said.

"I did." She replied. "Don't look so surprised. Many kids try to commit suicide. But anyways, I did it because I felt useless. When I was hospitalized my parents didn't shed a single tear. Instead they told me I was stupid to try something like that. I was already done with them, with everyone, but there was someone who rushed to me when he heard what I had done. Nagihiko stopped at the door of my room and why I turned to face him I saw him all messy and puffy, crying… crying so much I thought he would go dry. He ran to my side, he gave me a forehead flick and yelled «Idiot».The flick didn't hurt but I busted into tears and grabbed Nagihiko assuring he wouldn't leave me like my parents did. Ever since then he has been taking care of me. My parents got a divorce and, because I didn't want any more drama, Nagihiko's family took care of me, still are."

A moment of silence came.

"You…you said that your dream was to make everyone happy, but the way your treating your friends, it doesn't make them happy." I said.

Mashiro chuckled.

"Was ,usually implies to something that is in the past, no?" She replied.

"Then… you don't care anymore?"

"Precisely. Having everyone happy is a foolish dream that can never come true." I raised an eyebrow, and then Mashiro continued in a lower voice "Someone who fell so deep into darkness cannot regain emotions such as happiness."

"Are you really that stupid?"

I saw Utau and Yaya look at me wide-opened.

"What are you doing Amu?" Utau asked.

"What needs to be done." I replied. "You are really an idiot, you said t yourself that when you were little you could make magic. That's not a gift that one can just lose by getting a little depressed. You are surrounded by people who love you, who care about you. Take Nagihiko for example, don't you think the least you can do for him is smile again? Happiness is not something you lose, is something you think you forget. Stop acting like a spoiled brat and make emends to whatever regrets you have. If you keep falling, then keep getting up, if you don't have the strength to get up then you better crawl to whatever destination you're supposed to go to. Don't ever stop. Don't give up, because if you do, than there is no going back."

Mashiro had her eyes on me. Her face was showing no emotion at all, even when she said:

"Do you think this is some sort of movie? Don't think my problem will be solved just by a few pretty words."

I glared at her and said slowly but steady:

"Everyone haves some shit on their lives. Even if you say you don't care anymore… I don't believe it. I don't believe you."

Finally, Mashiro glared back at me.

"I can see that you care. You care so much that you are afraid of losing what you love, again."

"Again. Sweet words won't do."

"They are not sweet words, they are the truth."

"Your truth."

"No. Someone once told me it is okay to cry. (S/N: referring to chapter 7 Ikuto is the one who tells her that) It is okay to feel sad. Your situation is sad, but you can't live on frustration for the rest of your life. You do care. I know you do because I saw regret in your eyes when you got all stupid on Yaya earlier" Mashiro glanced at Yaya ", and justifying yourself to me is carrying."

No response. I thought. Then I remembered who the most important person in Mashiro's life is.

After a slight moment of silence I said:

"You love Nagihiko don't you?" I saw Mashiro's eyes go wide open. "Is keeping a distant from him going to help on anything?"

"Shut your trap. You're going too far."

That's the point. I thought, and then it hit me another important thing.

"You... do you…still love your parents that much?" Mashiro strated to tremble and she clenched her teeth. "That's it, isn't it? Those are the feelings you've been trying so hard to erase."

Utau and Yaya stared at her close friend with worried eyes.

"Shut up…" Mashito whispered breathing erratically.

"Guilt. Love. Sadness."

"Shut up…" this time she was begging.

"It's ok." I wrapped the tiny and fragile girl around my arms. "It was not your fault."

I repeated it several times to the girl crying on my shoulder. Utau and Yaya came closer and hugged her too and we stayed that way, until the fragile kid in our arms calmed down.

The morning sun spread it's light to my bedroom and made us wake up from a tiring night. Even though I feel bad to have crushed Mashiro's old wounds I believe it was necessary to bring light back inside her. It was a new day, and hopefully a new start.

The four of us got our breakfast and left to take a walk. The mood was nice even thought Mashiro still didn't smile, she talked a bit more, of course her problems are yet far from solving but, from now on I leave it to Nagihiko, who I believe to be able to understand Mashiro's feelings better than anyone.

The morning went smoothly. Yaya had to leave earlier because she needed to take care of her baby sister and Kukai dropped by to pick Utau. It was only left Mashiro.

This feels a bit awkward… I thought. The two of us were sitting face to face on my room waiting for Mashiro's ride to arrive. The silence was horrifying.

She must hate me. I thought.

"Thank you." The fact that Mashiro was the one who broke the silence surprised me.

"wha… what for?"

"…"

Oh no the death silence…

"Because you helped me." She said almost in a whisper starring at the floor.

… w-wait… could it be…

"ma…Mashiro-san, could it be your embarrassed?"

She widened her eyes and then looked away with her eyes closed.

"Hmpf." She was blushing.

"heh…hahahaha"

"What's… funny?" She asked sulking. "Are you making fun of me?"

"No… no I'm sorry." I sighed and smiled. She was still sulking. I patted her head and said: "you are a good girl after all."

"W-w-w-what nonsense are you saying?" she shoved my hand.

"Heh…"

We heard the doorbell from downstairs.

"Well, it's probably for you." I said.

"Yes."

Mashiro picked her bag- even though it was normal sized it looked gigantic when he was carrying it.

If my father sees this he'll probably faint.

I greeted Nagihiko and he replied with a wide smile. When Mashiro got to his side he patted her head and whispered something I couldn't understand.

"Well, thanks for taking care of her."

"No problem, even though Mashiro-san is a lot of truble."

"..I-I'm sorry…" Nagihiko said worried. I was about to reply I was kidding when a whisper caught our attention.

"What?" I asked Mashiro.

"Rima." She said without looking at me. "Rima is fine."

That reply shocked me and Nagihiko.

"What happened yesterday?" he asked dumbfounded.

"We... hum… had a talk…"

"What kind?" Nagihiko asked curious. And another shocking reply from the tiny girl by his side:

"A good one." Rima said smiling over her shoulder to –apparently- both me and Nagihiko. "Let's go." The girl said grabbing Nagihiko's hand.

"wa..wait.. Rima…"

I watched the two of them leave; dazed thinking of what had happened and it hit me:

"Oh... she wanted him to see her first smile."

I jumped in surprise when my cell phone ringed loudly on my jacket pocket.

"He-hello?"

"What are you doing?"

"Ikuto!" I almost screamed.

"Gee women, don't yell on the phone. Are you That surprised it is me?"

"No. I was just…" I blushed.

"Just what?"he asked on the other side of the line.

"No-Nothing." I knew that if I answered him he'd make fun of me.

"What is it?" I didn't reply. "…Pff.. could it be.. you were thinking about me?"

I blushed even harder.

"Shut up!" I faced the floor.

"Hahahaha… I bet your blushing right now."

"URG so annoying." I hung up. "There… "

"Hey… that was rude." When I looked up Ikuto was standing right in front of me, smirking, of course.

I hated-thought at the same time loved- when smirked like that. I got pissed so I turned and closed the door behind me.

"Amu! What are you doing?"

"Serves you well." I looked thru the window on the side of the door and put my tongue out.

"Wha… your evil…" he said pouting.

"ME?!" I replied.

"Yes… I didn't even get the chance to give you a hello kiss." He was playing innocent.

"Don't say such embarrassing things out on the street."

"Then let me in."

"No."

"Why not? It's not like your parents don't know me already."

"My parents are not even home."

"oooooooooooooooh I see…"

He sounded weird.

"Wha…What?" I asked curious and felt my cheeks getting warmer.

I heard him sigh.

"I understand. Amu it hurts me though."

"What are you talking about?"

"your parents are not home. You don't let me in. Are you really that afraid I'll do something pervert to you?"

My heart started to beat uncontrollably and I knew my face was all red.

"WHA-WHAT ARE YOU SAYING YOU PERVERTED CAT?!"

"pff…hahahahahahahahaha"

"DON'T LAUGHT…it's not funny."

"It is…" I could tell he was smirking happily but something changed when he continued. "really though, are you really that against doing"

"Don't finish your sentence." I interrupted and there was silence. He was waiting for my reply. I opened the door and looked at him, he was serious. I looked away felling my cheeks burning and replied: "It's…it's not like that." And I invited him in.

"Then... you don't mind whatever may happen is I walk in?"

"I didn't say that, but knowing you… I trust you."

He smiled and then grabbed me by the waste and kissed me.

"Hey… don't do this on the street…the neighbors might see."

"So?" he asked not preoccupied and kissed me again.

"hmm… it's embarrassing…" I said.

He chuckled and rested his forehead on mine.

"Fine. Let's go in."

I told Ikuto about the previous night and he smiled proudly and said:

"See? Didn't I tell you?"

"yeah.. yeah…"

"Well, I think you were really brave…" he said patting my head. I smiled at him. "I'm glad that Rima is getting better."

"Hmm…"

"What?"

"I wa ….well… actually, I was only able to help her because I remembered what you told me once…that it is ok to cry. Thank you." I said trying my best not to blush so much.

"You're thanking me? Why?"

"Because…" I took a deep breath and grabbed his face with my hands, bringing him close and continued looking him in the eyes. "Because, if you hadn't messed up my head I wouldn't be able to meet such great people, and merge into that wonderful world you now share with me. You, Ikuto, made me realize I had sides to me that I didn't even know."

"Then… it means there are faces you show only to me?"

"…yes."

Ikuto showed me that dazzling smile of his and then wraped his arms around by waste, pulling me closer and whipered like a secret:

"I love you."

Hearing that made my heart skip a beat. My face was burning at that point and I couldn't control my obviously too happy smile.

"I love you." I finally replied.

So? Worth the wait? I am really so so sorry about the time it took me to write this update. Please let me know your thoughts on my story! Review\Comment!

Till the next Chapter!