Yay, next chapter! In my last chapter, a reviewer pointed out a mistake I made. It was Ikuto who liked chocolate and Tadase who likes vanilla. Sorry for my mistake! I own nothing!
Today was the day the kids were out of school. A great day for many, but not so much Rima. She didn't sleep that night, though she was extremely tired. However, that was the least of her problems.
"You're everything to me! I love you so much!" Rima heard from the door over. She grunted, knowing Kukai was staying over and was spending time with Utau. Their romantic talk wasn't making Rima feel any better. Especially since Kukai was Nagihiko's best friend and it forced Rima to think about Nagihiko. She hated him so much from last night, but she still loved him. Why, why? Rima decided to get up, and go downstairs. She walked out of her room, and headed to the stairs, passing Utau's room.
"Whoa, is that Mashiro?" Rima heard Kukai exclaim. Rima paused, turning. Kukai opened Utau's door, his eyes widening. "Wh-What are you doing here?"
"It's nothing." Rima muttered. She didn't really feel like explaining to Kukai everything. She was too lazy, but she suspected it would be forced to come out anyway.
"Yeah, but why are you staying here?" He asked.
"Rima, just tell him, or I will." Utau muttered, crossing her arms. Rima explained everything, but intentionally skipped the parts regarding Nagihiko.
"Wow… I didn't realize you were dealing with so much…" Kukai said. "Hey, I'm sorry!"
"Whatever." Rima muttered.
"Geez, so much must be on your shoulders!"
"More than you know…" Rima muttered.
"Hey, sometimes you can learn to just let go and try things differently! For example, try playing a sport! Those always help you let go…"
"Well, unlike you and rainbow hair, I'm not athletic! I hate sports!" Rima snapped angrily.
"Rainbow hair?" Kukai wondered. "Since when does Nagi have rainbow hair?" Rima glared at Kukai, shutting him up.
"Well… do you want breakfast Rima? I'll make it for you if you want…" Utau said.
"No, I'm fine. I'm going to head out." Rima said, going down the stairs. Out of the corner of her eye, Rima saw Kukai and Utau exchange glances. Rima went down the stairs, and went to the door.
"Hey Mashiro-San, how did you sleep?" Yukari asked.
"Fine." Rima lied, leaving the house. Rima walked a little bit, unsure of where she was going.
"Rima!~" Rima turned and saw Kusu-Kusu float beside her. "Why don't we go call Amu and Yaya and go do something with them and their charas!" Kusu-Kusu suggested.
"Maybe…" Rima muttered. She looked at the sky for a minute. It was a windy day, so her hair blew in the wind. She continued walking, until she passed a lake. Rima sat beside it, watching her reflection. She watched the lake, wondering what would happen if she just jumped in now, and drowned herself. It would be so easy, considering she couldn't swim… Something suddenly dawned on her; the only reason she didn't kill herself…
"Rima, what are you doing?" Kusu-Kusu exclaimed. "Back away from that lake, right now!" Rima looked at her chara, a smile spreading to her face.
"Thanks for being here for me, Kusu-Kusu. I'm sorry I haven't respected your company. I don't know what I would've done without you. You've helped me in so many ways I'll never understand…"
"Rima, don't even think about…" Tears came to Kusu-Kusu's eyes. "Rima, don't jump in… Please! You can't go…"
"Go where?" Rima wondered.
"Into the lake! Rima, please don't go into the lake!" Rima chuckled slightly.
"I'm not going to end my life Kusu-Kusu." Rima whispered. Kusu-Kusu smiled widely, and hugged Rima. "To be perfectly honest, you're the reason I'm not ending my life. I couldn't make you disappear for my selfish actions…" Kusu-Kusu smiled.
"Rima…" Kusu-Kusu whispered. "It's not just me. It's Amu and Yaya and Tadase as well!" Rima smiled.
"I suppose…" Rima whispered. Kusu-Kusu was the only one who understood Rima. She was her guardian chara after all… Kusu-Kusu even knew not to say Nagihiko's name.
"Rima!" Rima turned and saw Amu and Yaya jog over. How did they know she was here?
"Hi…" Rima said.
"Let's go shopping! We need dresses for the dance!" Yaya said, sticking out her hand for Rima to take. Rima took her hand, and stood up.
"Ugh, fine…" Rima wondered. She followed Amu and Yaya to the mall. Kusu-Kusu was chatting with Pepe and Amu's charas.
"Hey Rima… What color dress do you think Tadase would like?" Amu asked. "And you too Yaya." Amu added, seeing Yaya narrowing her eyes.
"Blue!" Yaya said.
"Blue? Wouldn't that be a color more for…" Amu's eyes darkened. Rima was confused, when she realized who Amu was discussing. The other one who managed to ruin Rima's life…
"Then yellow!" Yaya yelled.
"Yaya, just because Tadase has blonde hair doesn't mean that's his favorite color." Rima muttered. "Yellow isn't my favorite color."
"What is your favorite color?" Amu asked Rima.
"Red I guess…" Rima muttered. She considered asking what the opposite of purple was, but then she realized it was yellow…
"Don't where a red dress Rima-Tan. You'll look like a vampire!" Yaya said. (A/N funny because of my fanfic, Rima's life as a vampire. Please read!) "Yaya wants to wear green! Or blue. Or yellow. Or pink."
"Well, that's a lot of colors…" Amu said, sweat dropping. "Well, it's noon now, so do you want lunch?" Rima and Yaya nodded, as they headed for the food court. They got their food, and began to eat.
"Amu-Chan, Yuiki-San, Mashiro-San!" All three of them turned, and saw Nagihiko and Tadase. Rima could've fainted at this point. It wasn't just a coincidence that they were there. Someone told the others that they were here… Rima looked at the plate, avoiding eye contact with Tadase and Nagihiko. They brought their plates to the girls. "How are you three?"
"We're good, just shopping for dresses for the dance." Amu said, smiling at Tadase. "How about you two?" Amu seemed as if she expected Tadase to be here.
"That's interesting." Nagihiko said, sitting next to Yaya and Amu. He didn't try to make eye contact with Rima, much to Rima's luck. They began to eat their food. Rima was done with guessing about this "coincidence."
"How did you guys know I was here?" Rima asked. All eyes were on her. "Amu, Yaya, you guys found me in a completely random spot. It's not just a coincidence that the guardians happened to find each other in the mall."
"Well…" Amu's eyes narrowed. "El followed you and she told Yaya and I where we can find you. Then we phoned Tadase-Kun and Nagi to meet us at the mall." Rima realized that no one, except for Nagihiko of course, knew what happened last night. She realized that Nagihiko barely even knew what happened…
"Oh." Rima answered, continuing to eat.
"Why didn't you tell us you're staying at Sanjou-san's place?" Tadase asked. Rima coughed.
"W-What? How do you know…? Kukai, that idiot!"
"It wasn't completely Kukai. Amu-Chan and Yuiki-San told us as well." Tadase admitted, looking at Amu and Yaya apologetically. Rima glared at them.
"I thought I told you not to tell anyone! What else do you know?" Rima asked.
"There's some trouble with your parents…" Tadase said. "That's it, though…" Rima was mad now.
"There's some trouble? That's a huge understatement! I left my parents' house! They don't treat me as a human-being! They just fight and fight! That's not even all of my problems!" Rima stood up, angrily, ignoring the hot, angry tears falling down her cheeks.
"Rima-Chan, wait." Rima stopped, hearing Nagihiko talk for the first time.
"I thought I told you to stay away from me…" She whispered. Nagihiko ignored that comment.
"We only want to help you. We're your friends…"
"They're my friends!" Rima snapped. "Not you, never you!" Nagihiko was clearly hurt. Even Rima felt a little bad. "I-I didn't mean…" There was a silence. Rima didn't know what to do. She felt bad for him, and more affection seemed to be growing for him. Rima began to wonder if everyone else in the food court was watching them. Luckily, they were minding their own business. No one said anything.
"Rima…" Amu whispered. Why was Amu giving her pity? She was just extremely rude to Nagihiko!
"I didn't mean it…" Rima whispered. "Nagihiko, I'm…"
"Whatever." He grunted, clearly not forgiving her right away. Rima didn't know what to do. She looked at Kusu-Kusu, for advice. Kusu-Kusu gave her a small smile back. Tears were in Rima's eyes. Idiot! All he wanted to do was cheer her up, and what does she do? First she tells him that she hates him. The next day he cares so much that he comes back again, and Rima tells him that he was never her friend. Rima knows, that even if she wanted to deny it, she couldn't. They were friends…
"Hey everyone!" No one looks up as Kukai and Utau jog over. "What's up? Did something happen?"
"Kukai-Tan, you probably came at the worst time!" Yaya said. Kukai looked confused. "What happened?"
"You idiot! Someone will explain later!" Utau hissed, elbowing him.
"OW!" Kukai moaned. Rima lifted her head, feeling Utau's eyes on her. Utau knew that the problems were caused by Rima, of course. The girl who causes drama… The one who's life is so screwed up that she finds herself screwing up everyone.
"Yes Utau, I started another problem." Rima grunted, assuming those were her thoughts. "I should be going. Thanks for the idea of dress shopping Amu and Yaya. Good day." Rima stood up, and left everyone watching her. She walked into the girl's bathroom, which was empty. She opened a stall, and closed it, crying.
"Rima, it's okay… sometimes you can't control what you say…" Kusu-Kusu whispered.
"I really screwed up this time! Even if he was once my friend, surely I ruined that forever! As I ruin everything!" Rima moaned, curling into a ball. "I'm an idiot Kusu-Kusu… Why should someone stupid like me get an amazing chara like you?"
"Rima, you aren't stupid! You aren't an idiot! You're a good person! He'll forgive you, don't worry. Nagi-Kun is great at forgiving people!"
"How could anyone forgive me?" Rima muttered. She wiped away her tears, and left the bathroom. She paused, seeing Amu, Yaya, and Kukai waiting for her. She really didn't feel like talking to any of them, especially Kukai.
"RIMA-TAN! YOU AREN'T LEAVING WITHOUT HAVING THE BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD!" Yaya yelled. Rima stared blankly at her.
"Um, what?" Rima wondered. Ice cream?
"It's the best ice cream in the world Rima! C'mon, we have to go!" Amu said.
"Yeah!" Kukai agreed. "We got this ice cream at the end of the final soccer game, and boy, it was amazing!"
"When you say 'we,' do you mean you and the team, or you and Utau?" Kukai turned red.
"…Utau…" Kukai admitted. "I'll admit, she didn't like the ice cream as much as me, but she even liked it!"
"Did you have an ice cream eating contest like you do with ramen?" Yaya asked. Kukai shook his head.
"Nah, that's a ramen thing!" Kukai said. "Well, anyway, let's get ice cream!" The four of them went to get ice cream.
"Amu… What are… the other three doing?" Rima asked.
"They're getting ice cream too." Amu said. "However, they're not sitting with us." Rima looked at the ground.
"…They can sit with us." All eyes turned to Rima. "Look, I feel terrible about what I said to Nagi… Amu, Yaya, I still mean every word I told you before." Amu and Yaya looked shocked, and Kukai looked confused.
"What?" Kukai looked confused. Rima turned to him. "I have a crush on your purple haired friend." Kukai's eyes widened.
"…WHAT?" Kukai exclaimed, shocked. Rima turned bright red, turning the other way. "And I thought he was rainbow hair?" Rima looked at him, as if he was stupid.
"Rainbow hair? Nagi doesn't have rainbow hair." Amu said.
"It's… never mind." Rima muttered.
"Does he know?" Kukai exclaimed. Rima turned at him.
"I wouldn't tell him, you idiot! I don't want a relationship with him! I just happen to be freaking in love with him!" Rima said. "Of course I didn't tell him!"
"Okay…" Kukai said. They got their ice cream, and Yaya immediately started licking it. A wide smile grew on Yaya's face.
"IT'S SOOOOOO GOOD!" Yaya exclaimed. Rima licked it slowly, tasting. Rima even had to admit, it was the best ice cream she had ever tasted and it tasted amazing. It made her even momentarily feel better. Suddenly, Rima felt she had to ask something.
"Is he mad at me?" Rima asked, scared for the answer. She licked the ice cream that seemed to be from heaven.
"…I don't think he was ever mad at you." Amu whispered. Rima almost dropped her ice cream.
"Yes he was! He snapped at me!" Rima said. "He had to have been mad at me! How could he have not been mad at me? I'm a bully to him!" Rima realized once again that besides today and yesterday, she had been extremely mean to him all through her depression. Even before that, she wasn't exactly nice to him… She remembered the day when she was upset and Nagihiko and Amu tried to cheer her up. Her sadness couldn't even be compared with now. The thing that made her laugh was when Nagihiko fell into a hole. Not Amu, not Kusu-Kusu's "funny" faces. Just when he got hurt… Suddenly the heavenly ice cream tasted empty, if that was even possible.
"Amu-Chan, you were right! This ice cream is amazing!" Tadase exclaimed.
"Suited just for a king!" Kiseki agreed. Utau and Nagihiko followed Tadase. Rima's heart probably fell two hundred stories. She had no idea what to say; sorry? She already tried that, and it didn't work out. However, right now, he seemed to be enjoying his ice cream, not looking at Rima.
"Well, it was more Yaya and Kukai who suggested it, but they were right!" Amu agreed, licking her chocolate ice cream. Tadase seemed to frown at Amu's ice cream, but continued to lick his vanilla.
"Yaya feels like… she's in heaven! IT'S SO GOOD!" Yaya exclaimed, twirling. Suddenly, Yaya dropped the ice cream. Rima sweat dropped, frightened for Yaya's reaction. "NOOOOO!~ NO! NO!" Yaya burst into tears.
"You shouldn't have twirled." Rima muttered. She handed her ice cream to Yaya. Through blurry tears, Yaya looked at the ice cream, than Rima.
"R-Really?" Yaya exclaimed. Yaya took it, than hugged Rima.
"Honestly Yaya, why are you hugging me with your ice cream? Do you want to drop it again?" Rima muttered.
"THANKS RIMA-TAN! YOU'RE THE NICEST PERSON EVER!" Yaya said, licking Rima's old ice cream. Like that was even close to true… Rima wasn't nice at all… There was a silence for a minute, except for Yaya's burst of happiness with the ice cream. After everyone finished their ice creams, they left the mall.
"We should play basketball!" Kukai said, grinning at Nagihiko.
"I'm in Kukai, but later…" Nagihiko said.
"Okay, fine…" Kukai muttered.
"Besides, you really don't want to exclude your girlfriend in any activities do you?" Nagihiko said, crossing his arms, and smirking. Kukai and Utau turned bright red.
"W-What? I'm not excluding her! You…" Kukai paused, unsure of what to say. Nagihiko raised an eyebrow.
"I, what?" Nagihiko asked, daring him.
"I don't know!" Kukai said, a lie that Rima noticed. If he was going to put her name involved, Rima would've murdered him.
"Amu-Chan, I sense X-Eggs ~desu!" Su exclaimed. Amu looked at her green chara, and the guardians plus the others, went to purify the X-Eggs. However, when they got to the area, they recognized them as the already impossible to purify X-Eggs. Rima's eyes darkened.
"Well, we already know about these." Kukai grunted.
"Sorry ~desu!" Su moaned.
"It's okay Su." Amu said, smiling. They all stared at the X-Eggs for a minute. Rima really didn't want to be here. It made her feel guilty.
"So, what are you guys up to?" Everyone turned and saw Ikuto standing there. If Nagihiko had caused Rima's heart to drop, Ikuto made her practically pass out. Rima's heart began to beat really fast. However, on the outside, Rima only turned pale. "I can see how happy you are to see me." He muttered.
"Ikuto, what are you doing here?" Utau wondered, crossing her arms.
"I'm simply visiting my friends, that's all." Ikuto muttered, sneering the word "friends."
"Ikuto… we don't want you." Amu whispered. Tadase took her hand. Ikuto turned to her, his eyes darkening. "Let's go…"
"Wait, Amu!" Ikuto called. Amu turned. "I don't give a crap about anyone else here. I just came for you." Utau looked hurt.
"Well, after what you did to my closest friend, I don't want to look at you!" Amu snapped. She crossed her arms.
"You don't understand! I did it to…" Ikuto stopped.
"I thought you were a good person, but all you do is deceive everyone! You owe Rima an apology! You're ignoring your own sister! Do you honestly expect me to trust you? I don't!" Tadase squeezed her hand.
"Let go." Ikuto muttered.
"I don't think I will, Ikuto-Niisan." Tadase said. Ikuto glared at him, in a Rima-like manner, but it still didn't threaten Tadase. "My own heart, unlock!" Ikuto whispered. He transformed into Black Lynx, and before landing, slashed at Tadase.
"Tadase-Kun!" Amu cried. He fell to the ground, injured.
"Ikuto, what was that?" Utau exclaimed, transforming as well.
"That's what you get for touching Amu, little king." Ikuto muttered. Yoru snickered from inside him.
"Don't call me-" Tadase's character change was cut off by Ikuto who knocked him out. Amu kneeled beside him.
"Someday, you'll understand that I'm the one for you, and not him." Ikuto muttered.
"How dare you hurt Tadase-Kun!" Amu whispered. Anger rised in Amu.
"Amu, don't transform." Utau muttered. "Leave Ikuto to me. Leave with Rima and the others." Amu shook her head.
"No, I need to stay." Amu said. Rima forced a look at Ikuto. He was scratching his claws together, in a noise that was really annoying.
"STOP!" Yaya moaned. All eyes fell on her. "That noise is really bothersome!" Ikuto continued, as Yaya screeched in annoyance.
"Hey, Yaya told you to stop, so, um, stop." Kukai said.
"What makes you think I really give a crap? Besides, why do you give a crap about Yaya? Are you cheating on my sister?"
"WHAT? No! Yaya's like my sister! I look after her the same way you looked after Tadase…"
"I never cared about Tadase…" Ikuto muttered.
"Don't lie Ikuto; you did!" Utau yelled. "The three of us were like a family… We still are, except that you're barely apart anymore!" Tears fell down her face, but she didn't stop them. "I miss the Ikuto who cared about us!" She wiped her tears away. Kukai held her hand. Amu's legs were shaking.
"Um, what are we supposed to do?" Yaya whispered. Rima looked at her.
"…I... don't know…" Rima admitted.
"This is hard for you, isn't it?" Yaya asked.
"Whatever." Rima grumbled.
"I have an idea." Yaya and Rima turned to face Nagihiko. "Let's leave." Rima blinked. She looked at him blankly.
"Um, leave? Just leave everyone else randomly fighting Ikuto? We can't do that! What about the X-Eggs?"
"…We can't purify them now. They aren't moving, so we can just come back to them." Nagihiko reassured.
"Yaya has to stay; Kukai-Tan needs her help!" Yaya said, jogging over to Kukai. Rima was now alone with Nagihiko, making her uncomfortable.
"Look, you really don't want to be here, do you?" Rima looked at the ground. "Come on, it's the best plan."
"…Fine." Rima muttered.
"I know I'm not the one you exactly want to be with, but I think it's better me than Ikuto." Rima knew he was right. "Take my hand."
"WHAT? I'm not taking your hand!" Rima snapped, a little louder than intended. Nagihiko sighed, grabbing her hand, and dragging her out of the "battle." After they got far enough from the "battle," Nagihiko let go, and Rima fell to the ground, panting.
"You alright?" Nagihiko asked, sitting next to her.
"Yeah…" Rima whispered. She was relieved to be far away from Ikuto. Even if that meant her and Nagihiko alone… Rima realized it was perfect. "Um." Nagihiko turned to her. "I'm sorry… For, um, well, a lot…" He laughed a little. That wasn't what she imagined Nagihiko would do.
"Don't worry about it. You've been down lately, I understand." Nagihiko said.
"Yeah, but before that…"
"You're going back to that? I never minded that. I always knew you were kidding." He smiled, making Rima sigh. How could he always manage to impress her after all of this? After so hard she tried not to fall for him…
"Do you still want to know my problems these past few weeks?" Rima asked, surprised by asking that. It had fallen out of her mouth unintentionally.
"I guess I have to admit, yeah." Nagihiko said. What had Rima done? Now she was guaranteed telling him.
"Ugh, fine…" Rima muttered.
"You're actually going to tell me?" Nagihiko said. Rima nodded.
"I can change my mind still…" Rima said, smirking. "Well, I'm not going to…" Rima felt that he should know for some reason. She figured she should tell him, before Kukai accidently tells him. "Well, um…" Rima hesitated. However, she had to tell him. "I've had a crush on you for this whole entire time."
That's where I'm going to leave us. A nice, open, cliffhanger. I am going away in a few days, so I probably won't update this story for a while… I'm sorry to all Amuto fans about Ikuto's current annoyance/evilness. However, in later chapters, Ikuto won't be such an idiot. I'm happy RimaHiko finally is coming true! Anyways, please review!