I thought the title was pretty clever.

Chick Turned Chicken

What the hell is that?

I looked around secretively, ascertaining that Nagihiko was still buried under his blankets.

It was five in the morning, and I was holding an egg in my hand. And it wasn't even a regular, small, chicken egg someone had put under my pillow as a prank.

Nope, not this egg. This was full on circus meets Easter. It was actually kind of beautiful, colorful patterns and designs encircling the large egg. It was big enough to comfortably hold in my hands.

However, no matter how clumsy I was with it, or how hard I tried, it didn't crack. And believe me, when Mashiro Rima actively seeks to destroy something, it gets DESTROYED. (Cue chibi fire.)

Except this egg.

It was warm. It was… alive. I could tell it wasn't made of plastic, clay, or glass. But it didn't feel like a regular egg.

"Rima?"

I whipped around, frozen, looking like a criminal. I fumbled to keep the egg hidden behind me, He had already seen it.

"It's okay, Rima-chan." He said quickly. "I understand… kind of." I breathed a sigh of relief to know that he wasn't judging me for randomly trying to hide an egg, and then choked when he held out an egg the exact same size as mine. Only, his was blue with cherry blossoms swirling around it.

There was an awkward silence. And then,

"Nagihiko, you're a chicken too?!"

"Okay, it's not that funny." I grumbled. "Nagihiko was still cracking up next to me (no pun intended) as I held my egg. He sat upright and tried to imitate me with a straight face.

"'Nagihiko, you're a chicken too?'" He mimicked, cracking up in the middle. Then he dissolved back into laughter.

"It was an instinctive reaction!" I defended. "I didn't literally think we were chickens. Duh." He wiped his eyes of tears and calmed himself down.

"Whatever you say, Rima-chan." At that moment, Amu chose to burst in.

"Nagihiko, help me-" she stopped short, her gaze directed to my hand. "What is that?"

I realized that she was looking at the egg in my hand, and the egg behind Nagihiko on his bed. I quickly hid it.

"Uh, we made them in Art. Clay and painting."

"No, you didn't." She disagreed immediately. "When we first got here, Nadeshiko and I assisted the Art department. Painting clay eggs is not in the curriculum."

I sighed. "Okay, fine. I don't know what it is, or where it came from. It appeared under my pillow this morning. Same situation for Nagihiko."

She walked over hesitantly, her original purpose forgotten. "Can I see it?"

I shrugged and handed it to her. "Sure."

She turned it over in her hand, and then put it close to her ear. I absently stared as she inspected it, and I noticed a fleck of blue by her head.

"Amu, there's something in you hair." I got up and reached towards her face, intent on brushing away the offending speck. She jerked back, startled, and what her head had previously hidden from view was now revealed.

"Ah!. A mini-monster!"

The little floating person looked offended. She had a French style hat, blue eyes, blue hair, blue clothes and a blue bag. Now all she needed was some blue skin to turn into an Avatar.

"I'm a chara." She huffed. "Not a mini-monster!"

I stared uncomprehendingly, and then blurted, "Ah! Mini-monster talked!"

"Uh…" I turned around and saw that Nagihiko was just as stunned. In fact, his mouth was hanging open. If I hadn't been so confused I would've laughed.

Amu hurriedly grabbed the little thing around the waist, and she- is it a she?- shrieked. "Miki, I told you to stay behind me."

Miki, which I assumed was the chara's name, crossed her arms. "It's not that easy now that they can see us. Besides, not all of us can disguise as pink freaks!"

"Hey!" A tiny, indignant voice sounded next to Amu's hair. At first glance, I didn't see anything, but I looked again and saw another small person, and this one all dressed in pink (hence the reason I missed it the first time) like a preppy cheerleader. Miki seemed more the artist type.

"Ran!" Amu moaned. "Not you, too."

"Well, we might as well all come out." A serene voice decided. A kind, bright chara floated out, hair tied into pigtails and dressed in yellow. Closely behind was a delicate, sweet looking one in a maid uniform, everything tinted green.

"Dia! Su!" Amu buried her face in her hands. "Great. Now we look like freaks." She looked back at Nagi and I. We had watched the whole exchanged with confusion and were still staring. "Sorry. I'll explain." She looked at us apologetically, and then drew out her cellphone.

"Um, Tadase? Yeah, we're going to need a meeting. Nagihiko and Rim- Riku have chara eggs."

She looked at us. "Uh, don't go anywhere. We're going to explain everything."

"Where the hell are we gonna go at five in the morning?" I muttered, bewildered.

Then Kukai busted in. That was fast. Ikuto followed behind him, and I realized I was still in my pajamas, hair down and glasses off. He stared. Then he opened his mouth.

"Shhh!" Four of us simultaneously jumped on him, covering his mouth. I saw Utau coming in the open door, and she looked confused as to why Nagihiko, Kukai, Amu and I were assaulting her brother.

I quickly grabbed my disguise and hastily slipped into the bathroom just as Sanjou and Yaya arrived. "Did I just see a bunch of flowing blonde hair?" The greenette questioned.

"N-No, it's just your imagination." Nagihiko covered. I slipped into the jeans as they stalled. Put on the t-shirt, and pinned up my hair.

"Okay, but why are you guys smothering Ikuto?" Damn him, why is he so smart?

There were noises to indicate that the three of them leaped off of him. I quickly shoved on the sunglasses and pulled up the hood, then scrawled something on the paper and stepped out.

We were guessing riddles and Tsukiyomi was about to spoil the answer.

Ikuto looked wildly confused at the lie, but decided to keep his mouth shut. I could sense that he had had his fair share of secrets.

I felt a little uneasy when Hotori came in at last and started touching my egg. He handled Nagihiko's as well. I didn't know why, but I felt somewhat protective of the damned unbreakable thing.

What are you doing? I asked, a possessive tint creeping into my usually monotone expression. Hotori turned towards me, blinking innocently and reading my message. Then he ignored my question and turned to Amu.

"They're shugo chara, alright. Time Nagihiko developed one. But Riku? I think you two helped each other realize your dreams." He directed the last part towards us.

Realize our dreams?

Nagihiko and I's conversation came flooding back. And I realized that Hotori was right. He had helped me rediscover my love of making people laugh, and I had helped him admit he wanted to be a boy, be himself. I snickered inwardly. First step: Cut his hair.

"But what are they?" Nagihiko asked, sounding completely dumbfounded. Not that I was any less confused, but I was better at hiding it. The sunglasses might've helped.

"These are called Shugo Chara." Hotori said. "Your heart's eggs. They represent your dreams. From them will hatch a chara, like all the ones you see around Amu. They are your would-be selves, and are what you aspire to become."

Said rosettes charas waved at us. I swallowed my shock, and then gestured towards Hotori's head. He nodded. "Kiseki, show yourself."

A small person wearing a red cape with fur detailing floated out, a tiny golden crown glinting in his purple hair. He crossed his arms, clad in royal clothing, and stared at us with ice blue eyes.

"Uh, what exactly is your dream?" Nagihiko asked awkwardly. Fire suddenly flamed in Hotori's eyes and he cackled.

"WORLD DOMINATION!"

I backed away slightly. He was scaring me. Then, the fire died down and Hotori blushed, grabbing Kiseki and crouching down with his back facing us. "That was embarrassing! What's wrong with you?" He stage-whispered to his chara. I sweat dropped.

He then faced us, looking ashamed. "My real dream is to become king of my own world. Control what happens to me, and protect everyone dear to me. I don't want to stay helpless, the way I am."

Two laughs, sounding almost exactly the same in attitude, resounded across the room. Kukai had on a wide grin, and so did a tiny turquoise-haired chara next to him. They even had their hands behind their heads the same way. They both smiled warmly at Hotori.

Kukai noticed me staring and jerked a thumb at the chara next to him. "Oh, this is Daichi. My chara and would-be self." Daichi waved, and all at once, everyone started introducing his or her charas.

It was a lot to take in, but it felt normal somehow. Meant to be. Slowly, I became accustomed to the little things. Personally, I thought Yoru was much cuter and nicer than Ikuto. Amu was indecisive, Yaya's a baby, Kairi has a little ninja, and Utau is bipolar.

I looked down at my own egg, and wondered why it hadn't hatched. Kairi seemed to know what I was thinking, and said, "It'll hatch when you're both ready."

It didn't explain a lot, but it put to rest the fear that I was abnormal and my chara was defective or something.

In the midst of the excitement, there was a loud cracking sound. We all jumped, startled, and looked around to see the egg on Nagihiko's bed shaking. He rushed over to it and right when he touched it, there was a small flash and a chara popped out.

We all stared for a moment, assessing the little human. He wore a white beanie (guys with beanies are hot) and an indigo vest. His hair was a lot like Nagihiko's, and headphones dangled around his neck. A confident smile lit up his face and he gestured at us. "Yo, I'm Rhythm!"

Nagihiko's mouth opened. But before he could say anything, Rhythm swooped down on him and said, "Chara-change!"

"What's that?" I asked Amu, who's eyes were wide with anticipation. She shushed me and made a 'watch' gesture.

Headphones popped into place around Nagihiko's neck, and a beanie suddenly appeared. (Damn. Hot.) A strangely unlike him smile appeared on his face, but it also somehow seemed to suit him. He seems cockier, cooler, and… damn. Hot.

He crossed over to me and stuck his face right in front of mine (I blushed because damn. Hot.) and smirked. "How's it going, Rima?" His voice got a little huskier on my name and I almost died.

Kairi spoke up. "Not to ruin his first character change or anything, but who the hell is Rima? And why are you hitting on a guy?"

Shit. Dumbass (hot) Nagihiko.

"I have to tell you guys a secret."

And then I took off my glasses and let down the hood.

I told them most of the story. I left out the parts about my pain and suffering, because for some reason, Nagihiko was the only one I could talk to about it.

I hadn't even told him the whole story. But the part I didn't discuss was irrelevant, at least to the reasons as to why I was here. So I refrained.

They didn't seem to mind my gender too bad, since half of them already knew, anyways. I made them promise not to tell anyone (more like threatened) and actually felt more at ease since I could now talk freely when it was just us. I didn't have to wear the stupid disguise that made my entire vision look dark, either, so all it all telling them was a good idea.

It was Saturday, so no classes. We all left to go have breakfast, and then sat around and talked for most of the day. Then lunch. Repeat. They told us a lot about Shugo Chara, and all the funny kinds of adventures they had with them. (Everyone thinks they're schizophrenic.) And when character changes happen, shit goes down.

All of them went back to their rooms at about seven. Nagihiko was conversing with his chara, and I turned my own egg over and over in my hand. I smiled slightly, fondly remembering the last bit of the story I had never told.

Then my lips curved downwards. It hadn't ended happily, but then again, did things ever?

"Rima, what do you think your chara's going to be like?" Nagihiko had crossed to my side of the room and bent over, looking at the colorful egg in my hand.

I didn't look up, continuing to twist it around. In order for him to understand, I'd have to tell him the rest. I didn't want to spill all my secrets to someone I had just met, like Nagihiko, but I couldn't hold it in anymore. I had to tell someone, and since he already knew more than the rest of them, why not all?

"You know, when I was little, I used to think that the circus was all clowns and gaudy tents and tigers jumping through hoops. Then, for my seventh birthday, my parents took me to a real acrobatic show, a circus."

I looked up at him. He was patiently staring back. "It was beautiful. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. The light, the costumes, the set, the music, all of it was like magic. There wasn't a single thing about it that was childish. I almost cried because of how much the show made me feel."

"I told my parents exactly what I thought about it, and every year after that, they would take me to the cherry blossom festival during the day, and then the circus at night. Those days were the best of my life."

"I met a boy there. We talked. He was one of the performers, a prodigy, able to go on stage at such a young age. As we grew older, we also grew closer. We met only once a year, on my birthday, but we somehow were the best of friends. We had a lot in common. I think he might've been the only person I've ever loved."

"Then the fights started. We never went again. And I've never seen him since."

Nagihiko was almost gaping. He seemed surprised at how much emotion I had just displayed. I realized I hadn't answered his question yet, and hurriedly tried to explain.

"My dream isn't just to make people laugh. Laughing is temporary. But joy is not. My goal in life is to bring joy to people. Circuses have always brought joy to me, with the beauty it holds. So maybe one day, I can make something so beautiful that people feel joy, too."

I blushed slightly. "That's all."

He was quiet for a moment. Then he did something unexpected. He stood up straight, grabbed Rhythm's empty egg, and shrugged on a coat. He stuffed the egg in his pocket, picked up his car keys off the table, and gestured to my sunglasses.

"Put them on. We're going out."

"Where?" I asked, confused, but he didn't answer, only pulling me out the door. Nobody could tell I was a girl in the hallways, but once we got outside I could take off the glasses. He dragged me to his car, and after a bit of driving, I realized where he was taking me.

We pulled up in front of the circus.

It didn't look like much from the outside. Just a large building. The real magic was within.

He practically charged in, paying for two tickets before I could protest and we rushed into the theater just as the show started.

A woman started singing, soft and slow, her words almost sounding like a foreign language.

And just for today, we are free

And there's nothing to say, stay with me

The dancers swept into existence. The acrobats hung from the ceiling. The lights shifted into difference hues, and stage sets miraculously appeared. The costumes melded onto their bodies and became them. Everything fit together in perfect harmony.

It had been a long, long time since I was granted with this sight. This memory of happiness.

So silently weep, not for the past

But for the moments that won't last

I started crying.

Beside me, Nagihiko didn't say a word. He simply watched, in all its splendor and glory, the circus. There were more lights now, the colors shifting. A white sheet blossomed and snaked towards the floor. And then there were shadows, frolicking among the white background, in graceful arches and slow dances.

And I can't love, for fear of hurt

Playing with fire gets you burned

The lovers fled, they danced, they jumped, and they flew. The white ribbons flowed in the wind and carried them high up, towards the ceiling, where they swung, free of all the opinions and objections and the weight of the world. They were just two people in love and beautiful.

And so just tonight, I'll pretend

That I can heal, that I can mend

I could hardly bear it when the show came to a finish. The roar of applause didn't register. I was still caught in the ethereal moment of the last act. The final notes and words resounded.

And when it's gone, and dark's at nowhere

I'll be lonely, with no one to care.

I'll be lonely once more.

An unfamiliar crackle sounded, and I realized it was the PA system. They were saying something about a special event, and volunteers?

"We've decided to let two lucky people try and learn to swing on the ribbons. We'll attach them to harnesses and then we'll teach them how to hold on to the ribbons, and how to swing up on them. We need a girl and boy volunteer."

The crowd was small today, and nobody raised their hand. It sounded dangerous and embarrassing if you couldn't do it right. How could we compare to the grace of the actual ribbon dancers?

A small crack sounded somewhere nearby and I suddenly stood up, against my will. "Chara-change!"

"I'll do it!" I volunteered, sticking my hand up in the hair. Everyone looked at me in surprise. I had no idea what the fuck was happening.

"Great!" The person said. "Now we need a boy."

"I'll be her partner," Nagihiko said, standing up. I looked over at him, starting to protest, when he cut me off. "It's okay. I want to do this. And I'll be fine, okay? I'm a dancer, after all."

I thought I saw a small flash of pink on his seat, but before I could really look, the person dragged us away.

They attached harnesses to our pants, and then showed up how to wrap the giant ribbon around our hands and legs. They showed us how to gracefully run around in a circle and eventually pull yourself off the ground.

They taught us a simple routine that started with the two of us on opposite sides of the circles, running and then kicking off the ground, and swinging. We were to let the circle get smaller and smaller with each passing round, and eventually our ribbons would wrap around each other and we'd be left in a position where I was higher than him, staring straight down into his face.

When they were satisfied that we wouldn't hurt ourselves, they turned down the house lights, and hit the stage ones. Soft blue lights washed over us, and the music started again, slow and gorgeous.

We started the routine. It wasn't as hard as I had expected, but that was probably because they were pulling us up by the harnesses.

But we flew.

And we kept flying and I felt the wind in my hair and I looked down and we were so far away from the world. I felt the white silk fluttering delicate against my skin and felt the stretch in my legs and thought about how I had never been so graceful.

I saw Nagihiko's eyes and the way they were deep as the sky and open and alive. I saw how his hair floated behind him and made everything all the better.

As we came to a stop and he stared up into my face, for one timeless forever, everything was beautiful.

Then forever came to an end and we were just people again, with secrets and problems and our lives ahead of us.

And I was only a girl, learning to love again.

A voice nagged in my head. You're going to end up just like your parents.

That was something I couldn't afford.

However, my heart and my head tended to disagree.

Um, yeah. Sorry for not updating, I had no wifi ): But 30 reviews for three chapters?! You guys rock. This was supposed to be funny in the beginning and then all deep and beautiful in the end. I actually went to a circus show the other day and it's exactly as described. Amazing. I don't really think I did it justice.

I have no idea what the fuck is up with the lyrics. They're so weird when you put them together because they're practically contradictions. So don't put them together. Just think of them as random couplets I wrote that fit Rima. Yeah.

Review?

~Sea