It's been a while since I updated this story. Okay, I own nothing except for this story. I don't own any characters. This story is about to take an even more dramatic turn! Alright, let's begin!
"Wake up; I need to talk to you. It's important!" Rima expected her mother to be standing beside her bed. She smiled, and tried to reach for her mom's hand. However, it seemed to move quickly away from her.
"I'm up mom." Rima said, yawning.
"Mom?" The voice exclaimed. Rima opened her eyes, and gasped at who it was; not her mom.
"W-What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?" Rima exclaimed, jumping backward.
"Calm down, Rima. I found out from Amu where you lived."
"Shouldn't you be rehearsing for your performance?" Rima wondered. The person, Utau, sighed.
"I'm not having a performance for another month. Well, I need to tell you something important. Stay away from my brother." Rima blinked.
"Um, why?" Rima wondered, not caring too much. No matter what, Rima was pretty determined to stay with Ikuto.
"He doesn't want a relationship with you. He's using you, Rima." Utau said. "Don't trust him."
"Look, I don't really understand your 'feelings' for Ikuto, but you can't have him." Rima said. "He's mine, and I won't let go of him!"
"For one thing, I don't have feelings for him. Ever since I started dating Kukai, I've matured about that. Anyway, I'm serious; he will break your heart."
"Why does everyone hate us together?" Rima yelled, not even afraid her parents will hear. "He's the only thing that brings bliss to my life!" Kusu-Kusu floated up, clearly hurt. Rima didn't even notice her chara.
"Alright, suit yourself. But, when he betrays you, don't come back crying to me." Utau opened Rima's window, and hopped out, just as her brother would do. Rima got changed, and ate a very quick breakfast. Not to her surprise, her parents didn't hear a word Rima said to Utau. Her parents were arguing loudly. Rima felt a tear come from her eyes. She grabbed a piece of toast, not toasting it, and left without a word. She arrived in front of the Royal Garden. That's right, she was going to quit. She knew she had to, if she was going to help Easter and Ikuto. It was best for everyone.
"Rima-Tan!" Yaya exclaimed, seeing Rima outside. Rima, not uttering a smile, walked inside the Royal Garden. She took off her guardian cape.
"Let's make this quick; I'm quitting the guardians." Rima said. She threw the cape at Tadase. "Have fun without me." She began to walk out of the Royal Garden. She stopped midway out of the Royal Garden.
"I hope it's better for you, Fujisaki; no one to annoy you." On that last note, she left the Royal Garden, leaving the guardians speechless. Rima almost wanted to run back home, completely leave school. Instead, she went to the Planetarium. Rima didn't even try to find it on purpose. She was just walking to nowhere, and it just came up. Rima decided to walk inside, and sit down.
"I see you are lost in your path, aren't you?" Rima knew it was Tsubasa talking. She simply grunted, ignoring him. "Though everything may seem foggy, and it may seem to get even foggier and it may blind you completely, a fog always clears up. Remember that." Tsubasa stood up, and left the planetarium. Rima stared at the ground, thinking about what he said. "A fog always clears up…" Well, if Rima was in a fog, it was sure never to clear up. Rima shrugged off what Tsubasa said, and decided to head for class. She left the planetarium, and arrived in class.
"Mashiro, you're late." Nikaidou said. Rima said nothing, taking her seat. Who really cared anymore? Rima felt Amu's eyes on her, but she ignored her, taking out her textbook.
"Rima." Amu whispered. Rima ignored her. "Rima, please, come on!" Rima continued to read what Nikaidou instructed them to read. "RIMA!" Amu hissed louder.
"Is there a problem, Hinamori-San?" Nikaidou wondered. Amu looked up, and blushed.
"T-There's no problem Nikaidou-Sensei… sorry…" She whispered, embarrassed. Some students stared at her, astonished, for not acting cool & spicy.
"Alright, is everyone done reading the chapter?" Nikaidou asked. The class nodded. Rima wasn't done, but she didn't say anything. So, the class reviewed the chapter and began to study for the test which was tomorrow.
Class was over. Rima left the classroom, making sure she was faster than Amu and Tadase. Ahead of her, she happened to notice Nagihiko. She immediately turned away, and intentionally walked the other direction. She hoped he didn't notice her.
"Hey." Rima looked up to see Ikuto sitting on a tree.
"Hi." Rima greeted, a small smile coming to her face. Ikuto hopped down from the tree, and hugged her. "How come you aren't wearing that guardian cape?" A shadow crossed her face.
"I quit the guardians." Rima admitted. "There was no point. I don't even care about them." Ikuto smirked.
"Interesting…" Ikuto said. He picked her up, much to Rima's surprise. "Come on, let's go to Easter." Rima nodded, letting Ikuto take her to the Easter Building.
"Wait, what about Easter?" Kusu-Kusu exclaimed.
"That's right, I'm helping Easter now." Rima said. Kusu-Kusu's eyes widened.
"How could you do that, Rima? I know you aren't a guardian anymore, but you can't!"
"Who says I can't?" Rima said. Kusu-Kusu didn't say anything. "You aren't the boss of me, Kusu-Kusu. If you still want to help those guardians out, go ahead. Tell them I'm helping Easter, see if I care." Kusu-Kusu didn't move, and looked close to tears. "Go on."
"I'm worried about you…" Kusu-Kusu whispered. "Be careful Rima-Chan…" Kusu-Kusu was gone.
"Borrow Yoru again." Ikuto said. Rima nodded, performing a character transformation. "M-My own heart, unlock!" Rima said, transforming into Midnight Leopard. As she did yesterday, she created X-Eggs with X-Energy. She wondered how long it would take for the guardians to come. How would they get purified? Which character transformation would Amu use? Would she purify it with Tadase? Would Utau help purify them? Rima only knew that Nagihiko and her would not purify the X-Eggs, obviously, for many reasons. She remembered that day when they both transformed, and purified those X-Eggs together. That was the beginning of when Rima had feelings for Nagihiko. If only that day never happened…
With the Guardians
"W-What?" Amu exclaimed. Everyone in the Royal Garden shared the same expression, shock. Though each had their own variations of shock, with some anger involved or betrayal or broken heart; but everyone was pretty much shocked.
"I wish I could say it's a joke, but it's not…" Kusu-Kusu said. "I think she started yesterday, but I'm not completely sure…" No one said anything.
"Amu, I can sense X-Eggs…" Miki said to Amu.
"How does she make X-Eggs without Kusu-Kusu?" Amu wondered.
"She must be transformed with Yoru." Tadase said. Yaya was beginning to cry. Kukai, who was originally just visiting, comforted her. "…We should go. Is everyone ready?" No one said anything, but the reluctantly was the same universally. All five of them stood up, and headed outside to find the X-Eggs and very possibly Rima.
Rima
Rima felt powerful for once. She could feel thousands and ten thousands of X-Eggs floated around her. Her eyes were closed, feeling engulfed in this dark power. Hearing loud footsteps coming her way, she opened her eyes. The guardians were facing her, along with Kusu-Kusu floated above Amu. So they came, and they knew everything. Well, not even close to everything…
"What have you done?" Amu said. Rima didn't answer. She didn't want to fight her, or any of the guardians. "Rima, please…" Again, no response. "You're leaving us no choice but to fight you. We won't go easy just because you were a former guardian; a former friend." Those words stung. Former friend… Is that what Amu truly thought of her as?
"I accept that." Rima whispered, calmly. Tears formed in Amu's eyes, as she began to character transform into Amulet Heart. The others did as well.
"Spiral Rod!" Amu yelled, throwing her Heart Rod in a spiral motion. Rima simply caught the rod. It turned black from the X-Energy Rima was using. Rima shook it, and more X-Eggs were created.
"We can't worry about Mashiro-San… purify the X-Eggs!" Tadase called. Rima shook her new "magic wand" and created barriers to prevent the X-Eggs from purification. Ikuto stood to the side, watching Rima.
"This is going well." Rima heard someone whisper from behind her. She recognized it as the Easter boss, the one they tried so hard to defeat. The one who hurt Ikuto originally. Why didn't this anger Rima now? Perhaps it's because it was in the past? Amu and Tadase together used their technique to purify the X-Eggs, but it failed.
"Why won't the X-Eggs purify!" Amu exclaimed, slamming her foot down in frustration. She faced Rima. "Please Rima, you were my best friend!" Like that was even close to true.
"What do you want me to do?" Rima asked.
"Be a guardian, forget all of this! It's your last chance! Come join us…" Rima didn't budge nor hesitate. Tears fell down Amu's face. Tadase comforted her. Rima watched them. Weren't they going to try to stop her? She saw Yaya, crying really hard that Kukai had to hold her. That hurt Rima a little that Yaya was upset, but she ignored her feelings. She refused to look at Nagihiko. She turned her back to them, and created more X-Eggs.
"Ikuto!" Everyone turned, and saw Ikuto's little sister glide over in Seraphic Charm. Rima glared at her, remembering their conversation from earlier. "Nice to see you again, Rima." Utau muttered. She faced Ikuto, not even addressing Kukai. "Ikuto, admit what you've been doing."
"Admit what? That I have been dating Rima, because everyone knows that." Ikuto said.
"You don't give a crap about Rima!" Utau said.
"Of course I care about her!" Ikuto yelled, angrily. He bit his lip. "She's everything to me."
"What's Amu?" Utau asked. Ikuto hesitated. Everyone gasped.
"She's…nothing." Ikuto whispered.
"That's a lie!" Utau hissed. "If she was nothing, you would've said it faster without hesitating!"
"I had to comprehend what you were saying." Ikuto said. Before Utau could speak, Ikuto interrupted. "Why are you here Utau? Is there an actual reason you are here?"
"I'm telling the truth." Utau said. "Remember when you stayed at Amu's house when you were hiding from Easter? You trusted Amu, even more than your own sister! I'm sure you wouldn't do the same with Rima, would you?"
"Of course I would!" Ikuto said. Amu was blushing madly, and seemed to be wondering how Utau knew about that…
"You once told me that you would never bring Amu involved with Easter because it was dangerous. Look what you are doing to Rima…"
"I never said… The circumstances were… It… I…" Ikuto knew he lost. Rima thought about this. It's true, working for Easter was dangerous, and Ikuto did manipulate her… Realization was in Rima's eyes. She was manipulated! Ikuto used her! She was a puppet used by her depression. She wanted someone to hold on to that wouldn't give her pity; someone to escape with. She didn't even realize how careless she was being, until now. She was simply a toy of Ikuto's he possessed; just another string on his violin he could strum. Rima was nothing to him. Tears fell down Rima's face, as she knelt on the ground, crying. No one comforted her; who would?
"Ikuto, admit to her that you have been deceiving her." Utau said. Ikuto faced a crying Rima.
"Fine… I've been lying, and I simply used you as a slave for Easter." He turned back to Utau, a glare in his face. "Happy? What's your motive, Utau?"
"You know my motives." Utau said calmly. "Why don't you apologize for all of the stress you brought to Rima? Look at her! You single-handedly bombed her heart!"
"I refuse." Ikuto whispered coldly. He gave one last look at Rima, than faced Amu. Her eyes were shaking, and she just seemed shocked overall. "I'll come back for you, when the time's right." He muttered, as he left the scene. Yoru followed, ending the transformation. The Easter Director seemed to flee the scene. Rima continued to cry. Now with Ikuto out of her romance life, Rima had to suffer from remorse and anger for Ikuto. Of course, that brings back the major problem of Nagihiko, now that she's single. Also, there's no distraction from her parents. Rima was back to square one, really square negatives.
"Happy to know the truth?" Utau said to Rima. Rima looked up, her eyes still watery. Utau looked at her.
"…Why me?" Rima whispered, thought she knew the answer.
"You were vulnerable. He loved Amu too much to use her, and was Yaya ever going to fall for something serious?"
"Hey!" Yaya moaned. Kukai laughed slightly. Rima shot him a glare. Why would anyone laugh in her most distress? Kukai stopped laughing right away. Rima stood up, her legs shaking. She looked at the other guardians, whom were all watching her.
"Amu, I'm sorry…" Rima said quickly. She actually felt sincere. She felt terrible, and not just for that. She realized how mean and cruel she has been. "…For everything…"
"Rima…" Amu whispered.
"I know you can never forgive me completely. I understand, any of you… What I've done, can these X-Eggs actually be purified?" Rima said.
"You didn't know what you were getting into…" Tadase said. Tadase accepted her apology? "It's okay Mashiro-San." Rima smiled, the first sincere smile for a long time from someone not Ikuto. She hugged Tadase, surprising them both, but it was clearly just as friends.
"Forgive and forget, that's the assembly Yaya watched last week!" Everyone stared at Yaya. "So, that's what I'm doing with Rima-Tan! How could Yaya not forgive the person who is pretty much her sister?" Those words really meant a lot to Rima.
"Yaya…" Rima said, tears coming to her eyes. How could she be so loyal?
"I'm all for forgiving as well!" Kukai said, grinning. He put his thumbs up. Rima looked at the other two out of the corner of her eye. She never expected them to forgive her, especially Nagihiko. Nagihiko… Rima had been so mean to him… She never even looked at him. So, she forced herself to look at him. Both of them shared a look at each other. His golden eyes stared into hers. He forced a sad smile at her. Even he could forgive her? Why were these people… so nice?
"Rima, why don't we pretend that this never happened?" Amu wondered. Rima looked at her, breaking her glance with Nagihiko.
"Amu… I'm afraid that will never happen…" Rima muttered. "I can't just forget what Ikuto did to me." She shook when she said his name.
"I understand." Amu said. "Rima, are you going to join again?" Rima's eyes widened.
"W-What…? I thought you said that my last chance was…?"
"The circumstances have changed, Mashiro-San." Tadase said. "We need you with us." Suppose Rima was lying about these feelings, and she was going to betray them. At this moment, she only wanted her friends.
"I shouldn't… I-It's best I don't…" Rima stammered.
"I know you're going through a lot, and with Ikuto bringing more problems, it's bound not to help, but that doesn't mean we don't want you." Nagihiko said. This night was probably the night of the most nicest things people have said to her.
"Alright." Rima said, taking the cape from Tadase, and putting it on. Everyone smiled. Suddenly, from the transformation with a chara other than her own, she collapsed to the ground, panting. "I'm okay…" She whispered, panting.
"It's from character transforming with Yoru, hm?" Amu said, kneeling beside her friend. "I've transformed with both of Utau's charas, it's awfully tiring." Rima nodded. Amu stood up, and stuck her and out. Rima took it, and she stood up. "Amu, what about the X-Eggs?" Rima wondered.
"That's right… Tadase-Kun, we should purify them." Tadase nodded, and together, they attempted to purify the X-Eggs. Again, it didn't work.
"What have I done…" whispered Rima.
"Anyone could've done it." Nagihiko reassured. He walked next to her. Rima was completely aware of his presence, her face reddening. She almost wanted to take his hand, but decided against it. Suddenly, something hit her.
"Kusu-Kusu, I'm so sorry!" Rima exclaimed. Kusu-Kusu floated over. "You've always tried to comfort me, and I just blew it off!"
"It's okay Rima!" Kusu-Kusu said. "I know what you were feeling." Rima hugged her little chara, and watched Amu and Tadase trying and trying to purify the X-Eggs.
"It's no use…" Amu muttered. Rima felt even more guilty. Everyone decided to head back to their own houses.
"See you guys tomorrow." Tadase said. Everyone went their own ways.
"Rima, hold up a minute." Rima turned at saw Utau. Rima waited for Utau to catch up.
"Sorry…" Rima whispered. "I should've believed you the whole time."
"Whatever." Utau said. "Just… don't push your thoughts about my brother. The director isn't afraid to do terrible things. He needed you for something. He'll apologize to you soon." She reassured. Rima nodded. Utau left after that. Rima headed to her house. She opened the door slowly, and saw her parents waiting by the door. Rima gulped.
"Where were you?" Her mother yelled.
"I-I was with some friends…" Rima said.
"Oh really? Well you can't see them anymore!" Her mother yelled.
"It's your fault! You should've kept better watch on her!"
"You are her father! You should be in charge!"
"You're the mother! You should take care of her and be in charge!"
"I'm sick of you!" Rima yelled, unintentionally. Both parents looked at her. "Why do you always do this? I've actually been leaving the house without you guys even noticing! I'm leaving and I'm going to sleep at my friend's house! Thanks for being the best parents in the world!" Rima stormed up to her room. She could hear her parents arguing again. Rima grabbed a suitcase, and packed everything she wanted; clothing, money, pillows, blankets, toys, and old pictures. She found one of her family. Tears came down her face, as she packed it. Another one of the guardians, Kukai and Kairi were there as well. Rima smiled, remembering when that was taken, and packed it.
"Rima, where are you going to go?" Kusu-Kusu wondered.
"…I don't know…" Rima admitted. She grabbed her stuffed luggage, and went downstairs with it. Rima exited her house, without her parents. "Good-bye…" Rima was crying again, as she began to walk. She passed the park and suddenly heard a voice singing. It sounded like…
"Can I have you autograph, Hoshina-San?" Fans yelled. Utau smiled, and saw Rima watching in the back.
"I have to go. I'll give you autographs at my concert in a month." The fans shrieked, as Utau walked to Rima. "What are you doing here? I thought you went home." Rima explained everything, and literally everything. "Well, I can see how happy you've been these past few weeks…" Rima nodded glumly, crying. "You can stay at Sanjou-San's place; she wouldn't mind."
"…Thanks…" Rima whispered. They walked beside each other, Rima dragging a suitcase that was as tall as her.
"So, you mentioned you had feelings for Fujisaki?" Utau wondered. Rima blushed, nodding. "Interesting… I thought you hated him?"
"I tried to at one point." Rima said. "However, I tried hard to, but I just couldn't…" Utau nodded. They arrived at the Sanjou house. It was really large, not quite as large as the Fujisaki Mansion, but large. Utau knocked on the door.
"Oh hello Utau!" Yukari greeted. She noticed Rima. "Why is she here?"
"Rima…needs a place to stay." Utau said. Yukari nodded.
"Come with me, Mashiro. I have an extra room you can stay in." Yukari led Rima and her large suitcase to a vacant room.
"Thank you…" Rima whispered. Yukari smiled, going to her room with Nikaidou. Rima remembered she had a test tomorrow. That was the least of her worries. Rima led her stuff down, and began to cry. About everything. Ikuto, her parents, Nagihiko… She didn't sleep that night, just simply cried and let everything set in.
Wow, that was unintentionally depressing! Please rate and review, I really need it on, debatably, my best story! By the way, next chapter will be called Rima Recovery Plan.