Disclaimer: I do not own "The Only Exception"(the song, that is. I own the chapter.) All rights go to their respective owners. Oh, and the italicized part with Kirishima is third person. Note in advance.

The Only Exception

"Move it, Mashiro! You're a sorry excuse for a man!" The coach deafeningly shouted, but I didn't flinch as I dragged myself around the track, pitying myself.

Kukai lapped me (for the third time) with a cheerful, "C'mon, Riku!" and Nagihiko wasn't far behind. Ikuto was ditching and even Tadase had passed me at least twice already.

Finally, we heard a loud whistle and gym was over.

"Thank god!" I muttered, walking into the locker room with Nagihiko, Kukai, and Tadase. (Kairi had been excused to go do some genius thingy.) As usual, I avoided looking at the guys and slipped into the private changing room, taking my bag off the shelf and changing back into my hoodie and jeans. I took off my cap, which had all my hair stuffed into it, and put my sunglasses back on. Tucking my tracksuit into the bag, I shouldered it and stepped out.

As I was walking down the hall, Kirishima-kun, one of my few friends that wasn't part of the top-secret secretive circle that knew my secret, caught up to me. "Hey, Riku, how's it going?"

We kept walking down the hall towards the mess hall, since lunch was right after gym. Good. I smiled.

He smiled back. "Well, that's good! Say, do you know who you're taking to the dance?"

I was utterly confused. Uh, I'm straight...

He laughed. "Yeah, I know. Oh," he realized. "Oh, no no no. I'm not asking you, of course. I meant, which girl are you taking?"

I frowned. Well, Amu and Utau and Yaya are all just friends, so- he cut me off before I could continue writing. "No, the TAs don't count. They're all pretty much taken. Any other girl in mind?"

I blinked. There aren't any other girls, unless you mean the teachers, which would be really weird.

He laughed again. "Oh, Riku, did you not know?" I furrowed my eyebrows. About what?

He explained. "Well, the dance is held with that all-girls boarding school about twenty five minutes away. It's more prestigious and expensive than this one, but the girls are mostly okay. I say mostly, because-" he cringed "-there are a couple that you gotta watch out for. I guess you wouldn't know any of them since you just transferred, but our schools hold joint events a lot and most of the guys text the girls from that school. Some of them are even dating."

Like who? He thought about it for a moment and said, "Well, like Miku and Ryuu, and Sakimoto and-" I shook my head frantically. No, I meant, who do I have to watch out for? And why?

"Well, there's Saaya and Lulu and their group. They can be pretty persistent when they want somebody- ask Nagihiko, we all know he's been scarred- so you better stay out of their sights," he said, smiling wryly. He seemed to feel sorry for Nagihiko, who could handle just about anything. I shuddered and decided that I would attempt to avoid the two girls.

Who are you taking? I asked slyly, watching his face go crimson. He stammered. "Well, I haven't decided yet, but um…" He lowered his voice. "Did you see that girl on the field trip? Hoshina's little sister? Rumor has it that she's going to be attending, too."

My stomach dropped. He was going to ask… me?! For some reason, even though I liked Kirishima-kun in general, I didn't want him to. "I mean, I don't even really know her, but she just seemed so beautiful and funny. I laughed as soon as she started talking. I don't want to date her or anything, but one dance would be nice…" His expression was slightly dreamy.

I breathed a mental sigh of relief. I could handle one dance with a friend. Well, I actually happen to know her, so do you want me to ask if she would spare a dance for you?

His face lit up. "Really? Thank you so much, Riku! You're a really good friend." Then he smiled warmly and I couldn't help but smile back. Somehow, recently, I was finally able to make friends. I wasn't really sure what had changed.

"Rima-chan, are you really going to do it?" Kusukusu asked once Kirishima had waved goodbye. I nodded.

"Of course. I'm not that mean, you know. Besides, it's the least I could do for a friend that's accepted me."

After lunch and the rest of my classes, they handed out report cards. My heart beat rapidly, since I was never one to get good grades (aka I've never gotten an A in any subject that matters) but when I received mine, I could hardly believe it.

I skipped happily back to the dorm, humming under my breath. Then, unable to contain my excitement, I started outright singing the catchy song as I opened the door grandly and stepped inside, whipping off my disguise.

Utau and Amu were on my bed, chatting, Kukai and Nagihiko were playing some kind of game, and Ikuto was sleeping on the chair.

Utau raised an eyebrow. "Wow, what's got you in such a chipper mood?"

I grinned at her, wiggling my report card. "Mashiro Rima has straight A's!"

"Wow, that's great!" Amu applauded. I was smiling when Nagihiko took it from me, reading it over. He sweat dropped.

"Uh, Rima, you have an F in P.E." Everybody paused and stared at me for a moment. I blinked and then barreled on.

"Mashiro Rima has straight A's in everything that matters!" I amended.

Nagihiko laughed. "I guess the tutoring helped, huh?" I grudgingly nodded, and Kukai looked thoughtful.

"Tutoring… well, Rima, if you need help in Gym, I can tutor you! We can start right now, even! I have a great regimen for newbies," he exclaimed.

I looked at Amu and Utau on my bed, which was situated behind Kukai so he couldn't see them. Utau was nodding emphatically, grinning devilishly, wanting me to accept his offer. Amu frantically shook her head and made 'X' gestures, miming death. I sweat dropped.

"Uh, I'll pass."

"Okay!" He agreed cheerfully. "Maybe next time?"

Utau looked disappointed, pouting, and Amu seemed so relieved that I was sure I had made the right decision. Utau spoke up again. "You know, Rima, you're actually not a bad singer."

I snorted. "Please. I sound five."

She shook her head. "Well, it's true that your voice is high, but it's also clear and pretty. Not super special, but good. Have you thought about joining the karaoke session at the winter festival?"

I rapidly shook my head. "No way. I refuse."

"Nonsense," Utau said as she got up and bolted out the door, calling over her shoulder as she ran. "I'll sign you up right now!"

"Utau!" I wailed, but she was long gone and I couldn't step out disguise-less. "She just wants to torture me, doesn't she?"

"Yeah, that's probably why she wanted you to be tutored by Kukai," Amu agreed. Kukai furrowed his brow, slightly frowning.

"What do you mean?"

"N-NOTHING!" Amu quickly said, and Nagihiko and I chuckled while Kukai let out a hearty laugh to let her know he was just teasing. Ikuto twitched in his sleep. He rolled over, muttering something about fish and strawberries and "Yoru, come back." It was disturbingly cute.

"Oh, by the way, Nagihiko, what do Saaya and Lulu look like?" I asked innocently. My real intent was more to torture him, because, for some unfathomable reason, it was more fun with him.

He almost choked on his oxygen. "W-Why do you want to know?" He asked nervously. "How did you even find out about them?"

"Well of course!" I flipped my hair. "Mashiro Rima knows everything!"

"Except how to pass Gym," Ikuto muttered, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "And how NOT to disturb creatures named Tsukiyomi Ikuto while they are sleeping."

I flipped my hair again. "That was all intentional!" Everybody laughed.

I honed in on Nagihiko. "Answer the question!"

"If you already know everything, why do you need me to tell you?" He asked with a scared expression. I 'hmphed', not missing a beat.

"Well, if you don't tell me, then I'll find out myself. And when I do, I will find said two girls, and tell them that you absolutely adore them and can't wait to make out with them at the dance!" I announced triumphantly.

His eyes widened in horror. "No, no, no, don't! I'll die!"

"Then start talking, mister." I was enjoying this way too much. It was incredibly fun teasing Nagihiko, and I didn't know why.

He took a deep, shaky breath. "Um."

"Descriptive," I commented.

He started again. "Um, well, they're…uh…"

"Seriously, your vibrant adjectives cause me to have the perfect mental image," I said sarcastically, watching him blush.

"Well, Saaya has red curly hair-"

"That's fake," Amu inserted.

"-And green eyes. Kind of cat-like."

"It's an insult to cats, really," Ikuto sniffed, his own feline ears popping up.

Nagihiko shot them both looks. "Um, and she's a bit immature."

"He means that she's a bitch," Ikuto supplied helpfully. "Which I can attest to."

Nagihiko rolled his eyes but continued. "Lulu has blonde hair with a slight tint of green, and it's curled on the ends-"

"Which is so tacky," Amu interrupted, groaning.

"-And she wears a hair clip. She's also, um… not too mature."

"Basically, she's also a bitch," Ikuto translated.

Nagihiko gave them exasperated looks. "Are you guys like professional partners in bashing people or something?"

"Yup," Ikuto agreed as Amu blinked innocently. "Hah? What?"

Kukai and I both couldn't hold it in anymore, bursting out with laughter. Amu's confused expression and Ikuto smirking like a creeper behind her only made it funnier. Nagihiko broke into a grin as well, and soon enough, everybody joined in. (Except Ikuto. It's actually a bit creepy when he laughs. It turns out sounding like an evil cackle.)

Utau came back into the room to find us gasping for breath. "What the hell happened while I was away?"

"Amu and Ikuto became partners in crime," I answered, wiping my tears away.

She rushed over to Amu and hugged her, almost choking the breath out of her. "Finally! I've waited forever for this! My innocent Amu isn't innocent anymore!" She drew back and stared Amu seriously in the eyes. "Now, remember, the first rule of pranking is that-"

"No! I don't want to be like that!" Amu freaked, hysterically flailing her arms. "Make me innocent again!"

"Oh, Amu, don't you know?" I shook my head in mock sadness. "Once you go down the path of darkness, you can never go back.

Everyone, with the exception of Nagihiko, who was sweat dropping, smirked at her evilly.

Then we all (predictably) burst out laughing, and Yaya and Kairi came through the door, dragging a sleeping Tadase with them. They joined in the craziness and even more chaos occurred when Utau accidentally stepped on Tadase (who was just sleeping on the floor like 'I don't give a shit') and he made a noise like a dying cat.

Finally, we got (slightly) more serious and started talking about the dance. I complained about Utau signing me up for karaoke, and she somehow managed to avoid it and change the subject.

"I might not even go," Nagihiko said thoughtfully, resting his elbows on the pillow. I immediately became alert, and I had no idea why. Again. Why is he so confusing?

"Why not?" I asked, hating the way my voice actually sounded vulnerable.

He shuddered. "Because Saaya and Lulu are going to be there."

I sniffed, ready to roll out the crocodile tears. A couple started to slip down onto my cheeks. "B-But then you won't get to see me… I even bought a dress and all. That's mean, Nagi!"

He looked stricken. "No, don't cry! Of course I'll go, I just didn't know that you'd be going as a girl!"

Immediately the waterworks stopped. I grinned. "Great!"

He narrowed his eyes. "You were faking, weren't you?"

I blinked innocently. "Whatever are you talking about, dear?"

He sort of smirked and then said, "That's mean, Ri-ma."

My cheeks died.

And so did everyone else. Of laughter, that is. Then dinner came and I had to put on my stupid disguise, but Nagihiko and I argued with expressions and looks. We had a silent war, basically. Everyone else was watching with amused interest and eventually, we all started laughing again. Seriously. It's like we were high on drugs or something.

Life was great.

"Um, hi. I'd like to know Mashiro Riku's schedule?" Kirishima bent over the secretary's desk. He had to ask Riku something, and he didn't know where he could be right now.

The secretary frowned at him. "I'm sorry, we're not allowed to disclose students' personal information." Her eyes widened as Kirishima gave her the sad puppy eyes.

"Please? He's my friend, and I just need to ask him something…"

"Well, alright," she relented. "Just this once, and don't tell anybody." She typed quickly, and then her expression became confused. "I'm sorry, but there isn't a Mashiro Riku enrolled here."

What?

She looked closer. "There is, however, a Mashiro Rima." And then her eyes widened and she stammered. "Oh, I'm sorry, there's been a mistake! There is actually a Riku and no Rima. Sh-He should be in his dorm, 301, right now," she hastily corrected.

Rima? Sh-He? Something was wrong.

Kirishima shook it off. The secretary had just made a mistake, that's all. "Well, thanks!" He waved, and started down the hall.

The secretary waited until he was gone, heart pounding. Then, she quickly spun in her chair and dialed the main office. "Headmaster?" She gulped. "I think I might've screwed up."

As Kirishima was walking down the hall looking for 301 but not really paying attention to the dorm numbers, a voice stopped him in his tracks. "Whatever are you talking about, dear?"

The voice was very familiar. With dread, he realized that it was Hoshina Rima.

"That's mean, Ri-ma." That was Nagihiko's voice he heard. So she was there, in that room.

A loud bout of laughter erupted from the group inside the room. Then, someone- Kukai, by the sound of it- exclaimed, "Oh, it's dinner time!"

A few seconds later the group came out and Kirishima buried his head in the book that had been under his arm, pretending like he had just been walking past. When they were behind him, he looked at them, counting the group members.

Hoshina Rima was not there. But someone of very similar height was.

He glanced at the dorm room number. 301.

"Amu, you look fine," I told her for about the millionth time as she stared herself down in the mirror.

"Easy for you to say!" She cried. "You look amazing!"

I snagged one of her straps and pulled her down to my height. "Amu, you are a head taller than me. You are blessed. Now let's go."

"Wait, Rima, don't move!" Utau exclaimed. I turned back to her, exasperated.

"What now?"

She bent down, her high, thin black heels slightly restricting her movement. "Sorry. The back of your dress is caught on something."

I looked down at my dress. It was lovely, lush, midnight blue color. The top was tight and off the shoulder, and the bottom was all flowing ruffles. The front was short and flirty, while the back was long and wild. It was something you'd see on a runway, and not anything I ever thought I would wear.

But I looked stunning, and I knew it, and therefore, I wore it.

Yaya laughed. "Why is Amu-chi freaking out? She's beautiful!"

"Right?" I deadpanned, dragging Amu away from the mirror. "Now, let's go, for real this time, or else the dance is going to be over before we even get there."

We walked down the hall giggling, and even though I had practiced for the longest time walking in my heels, I still tripped about a dozen times over on the way to the ballroom.

We 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at all the beautiful decorations. Lanterns were hanging everywhere, shedding soft light in different shades of blue and white. Small snowflake models hung in chains from the ceiling. There were refreshments and even a station for making wishes and putting them in a box. The teachers would read them and give the most deserving students what they wanted.

I saw two girls who I assumed to be Saaya and Lulu by the punch bowl, because they matched Nagihiko's descriptions and were wearing the smallest scraps of fabric that were miraculously stitched together.

Yet, there were GROUPS of guys around them.

I voiced my opinions to our group and Amu muttered half-jokingly, "They pay them."

I laughed and then I heard Nagihiko.

"Rima?"

I turned towards the sound and saw Nagihiko, in all his formal glory, with his eyes wide open. He was looking adorable in a loose, white dress shirt and a black tie that was loosely tied.

"You look beautiful, Rima," he said softly, causing me to blush a bit and attempt to compliment him back in a mass of stutters.

"Rima?"

This time, I turned around to see Kirishima-kun, dressed in much the same way as Nagihiko, holding out a hand. "Would you care to dance?"

I remembered that I had promised him a dance. "Of course, Kirishima-kun."

His eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name? I never introduced myself."

Crap. "Oh, well, Riku told me."

He smiled, seeming to accept this explanation. "Okay, Rima. Let's dance."

"Hold on." A hand wrapped around my waist and I squeaked in surprise. It was Nagihiko. "How do you know Rima?"

Kirishima's smile faltered. "I know her through Riku. And I saw her at the field trip."

"But why do you want to dance with her?" Was I going crazy, or did I hear a hint of possessiveness in his voice?

Kirishima opened his mouth, but I intervened before they could start an interrogation or something. "Let me go, Nagihiko. I promised him a dance."

He looked confused. "You did?"

"Yes."

"Oh." He let go and stepped back, laughing sheepishly. "Yeah, I don't see why not. I mean, I'm not your boyfriend or anything. I don't know why I did that," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head meekly.

"Um. Okay." I was utterly confused.

"Okay."

"Okay…" Kirishima sounded impatient. I quickly whirled around and took his hand, following him out to the dance floor. We slow danced for a bit, and talked. He told me about his basketball tryouts and I absently listened, nodding and smiling when required. Then I told him about my favorite comedy show, and he did the same.

Then, he said, in a low voice next to my ear, "Tell me. I just need to know. Are you… Mashiro Riku?"

I froze.

"N-No, of course not," I managed to stammer out.

"Then why did I hear your voice inside Riku's room, and yet, when your group of friends came out, no Hoshina Rima was to be seen?"

"You probably heard wrong."

"I heard Nagihiko call you Rima inside the room. I'm not wrong," he countered.

I gnawed on my lip. What should I do? Deny? But he had already heard too much. "Please don't tell anybody."

"I won't. But Rima, why did you lie?" His eyes searched mine and I felt guilty for lying to him. I was really going Nadeshiko with this whole thing.

"I have good reasons, but it's a long story," I promised. He nodded, but his gaze was now distant and I could already feel it. Another bond broken. I took a deep breath, ready to explain and apologize. "Kirishima, I-"

I didn't get to finish, because an announcement boomed over the PA system. "It's time to start the karaoke session! Our first ("and only", he muttered, but since it was a mic we could all hear him) singer, Hoshina Rima, please come onstage!"

"Shit," I muttered, drawing my arms back from Kirishima's neck. "I gotta run."

Then someone pushed me from the back and I was suddenly being propelled forward, and found myself tripping up the stairs to the stage. A microphone was thrust in my hand.

"Well hello there, Hoshina Rima! What would you like to sing?" The DJ asked me cheerfully.

"Uh, whatever. You choose," I muttered, still thinking through everything that had just happened in the last five minutes. He nodded and randomly selected a song, and the instrumentals started to play.

It wasn't until the words showed on the screen and I started singing did I realize that I, in fact, knew this song very well. I had listened to it all the time when my parents had first started fighting. It remained one of my favorite songs.

When I was younger I saw

My daddy cry

And curse at the wind.

He broke his own heart and I watched

As he tried to reassemble it

My voice cracked. It was too true.

And my momma swore that she would

Never let herself forget

And that was the day that I promised

I'd never sing of love

If it does not exist…

I found that my voice refused to sound. I couldn't sing the next part. The crowd had been waving and clapping, but stopped and looked confused when I stopped. "I'm sorry," I uttered, then dropped the microphone and ran. A loud noise accompanied the downfall of the microphone, but I didn't care as I burst out the doors and into the cold night air.

It was snowing. Figures. But I kept running, into the woods on the campus, because I had to get away from it all.

"I mean, I'm not your boyfriend or anything."

"You look beautiful, Rima."

"No, don't cry! I'll go!"

"I guess the tutoring must've helped, huh?"

"I care, too. About you. You're not alone anymore, so don't cry."

What the hell was happening? Why was I remembering all of this? And what was this strange sensation, this alien feeling?

I could identify most of my emotions right now. Panic. (But at what?) Fear. (But of what?) Sadness. (But for what?) Loss. (But of what?) There main emotion that was in my chest, that was blocking my thought process, however, refused to be identified, elusively staying out of my mind's grasp.

I didn't notice Nagihiko until he grabbed my arm, spun me around, and kissed me.

And all of a sudden all of my feelings magnified and exploded, and I drew back, wide-eyed. The memories of him weren't the only things I had.

"How could you? This is all YOUR fault!"

"My fault? Well, you could never admit to anything!"

"Oh, don't you dare make this into something about me. This is about Rima!"

"No, it's not! It never has been! This has always been about us. Just face it, we're too different!"

"We wouldn't be if it weren't for you!"

And then the doors to happiness slammed shut.

I looked at him. His hair was disheveled from the wind and his lips were bruised and dark. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes had never looked brighter. The snow landed gently on his dark hair and his tie was over his shoulder.

And the look that he gave me…

"I can't, Nagihiko. I can't…" I sounded broken.

He stepped dangerously close. "Why not, Rima? Is it because of your parents?"

"Yes," I whispered, looking up into his endless eyes.

"Well, you know what I think?" He reached out and gently rested his fingertips on my cheek. I shivered at his touch, so soft and light, but at the same time, so agonizingly noticeable. "To hell with your parents, Rima."

"You're not them. This is your life. And you're damned if let their mistakes control you forever, Rima."

And then, in that moment, I decided that I absolutely loved Nagihiko Fujisaki and that he was completely right, because to hell with my parents' mistakes. I wouldn't repeat them because I would never give up on what I wanted.

What I wanted was right in front of me, so I fucking took it.

And this time I felt all that stupid electricity people talk about, when you're in love. I felt all the sparks and thunder and the light kisses of snow on our skin and that ache in your heart.

The doors to happiness may have been closed, but he broke down all the fucking walls just so he could lead me through.

And when we broke apart, laughing, and I smiled, and he told me I was an idiot and gave me his jacket and led me back inside, I was at peace. I had finally let go of my past with that one small kiss and all my demons were laid to rest.

But darling you, are, the only exception…

And then we danced the night away.

I was grinning and so was he. We were laughing about nothing and we looked completely stupid and I didn't care at all.

"Rima, your cellphone is ringing!" He shouted over the music.

"Okay!" I yelled back. He laughed.

"Well, answer it!"

"Okay, be right back!" I drew my cellphone out of the pocket of the shorts I wore under the dress. I was still smiling, but wiped it off and tried to act serious as I slipped outside to get away from the noise.

I saw that it was Mom. I smiled widely again, eager to tell her about everything. We called each other frequently, but this would definitely be news since I never told her that I loved Nagihiko. I myself had only figured it out a little while ago, right?

I flipped the phone open and leaned against the wall. "Hey, Mom."

"What do you mean, I'm leaving?"

-fin.-

DON'T HATE ME DON'T HATE ME DON'T HATE ME okay you hate me I'm so sorry

I'm almost afraid to ask, but...d-d-do you w-w-wan...ahem. Do you want an epilogue?

Please answer honestly with this. This actually is the first story I've ever finished and I want it to be the best it can. Logically, Rima will eventually get found out and leave. So yeah, I'm super sorry ):

I never imagined their confessions to be like that. I just let it play out and personally, I don't think they could've been more perfect :)

Please tell me you want an epilogue. I actually hate to leave them like this D: Also, the how-to fic is up. Please go read that and review (no, it's not an ego thing, you'll understand if you read it) and I love you all.

Ciao!

~Sea