Chapter 22

Chapter 22 is finally up! Thank you all for the 5 awesome reviews for chapter 21 :)) Yeah, I'm fine with that amount for now. Loved 'em all!

Anyways, on with the story!

~~~~~~~~flashback ~~~~~~~~

"Nagi!" I called. He looked back at me, amused. "You just called me Nagi..." He said. I blushed at the realization but spit out anyway. "This isn't our first kiss!"

He eyed me shocked yet curious. "W-what...?"

~~~~~~~~Nagihiko's POV~~~~~~~~

"W-what...?"

I don't understand her at all. I mean...wasn't this our first kiss? If I remember it right, there were no others...

"Shocked, aren't you..." Rima ran up to me without hesitation. She stopped in the stairs, three steps below me then eyed me. Her expression showed that she was stern at the moment. "Nagihiko..." She started in her ever-so-angelic voice. "What is it" I responded. She sighed. "Does the word 'meet' remind you of anything...?" She said in what seemed to be a single breath.

H-how...Does she know?! No. I must act calm...I'm always calm...

She can't be thinking of what I'm thinking! It was simply my dream!

"No, Rima-chan, it doesn't. 'Meet' is simply a word people use when they get together. Nothing...else..." It may not sound like it but I did take a lot of effort trying to respond to her in a calm, cool way! For once, I wish Rhythm was around!

"Nagihiko!" She seemed to make her voice sharp. I abruptly looked at her. Her thin eyebrows were furrowed yet her mouth seemed to be pouting.

"If you don't tell me the truth, then I'm going to feel bad!" Her attitude instantly changed from this stern little munchkin, into this whiny little twelve-year-old.

Okay...at this very second, I only have two choices: To lie or not to lie!

"Nagi...?" She shot me that sparkle face... (Yes, the one Amu-chan used on me. That was exactly why I am now the jack's chair...)

I twitched then finally sighed. "U-um...it may sound funny b-but the word 'meet' reminds me of a certain dream..." Well that went well. Rima's cheeks became the color of crimson then she smiled. "Nagihiko...didn't we kiss there!"

.

.

.

"NANI!?!?!?! W-WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I KISSED YOU IN MY DREAM!!! I-I-I-I'M NOT A PERVERT AND...AND...and..." I sighed. Now that you think of it, maybe I was a pervert... *sigh*

I suddenly felt small, warm hands on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Rima-chan looking down at me with a contented smile forming her lips. "Nagi, some nights before, Ki told me 'meet' wasn't just a dream. It was really us." She chuckled. "You're dreaming. At that time you hated me" I pointed out. She sighed then gently shook her head. "Do I really need proof just so you could believe me...?" She glared at me then giggled.

"Now what were the things you told me back then that I still remember, hmm? 'I couldn't imagine life without you, Rima-koi' (chapter 15), 'I would love to wake up and see you beside me, embracing me and loving me forever. Rima-chan...' (chapter 18)? I also remember the pretty sakura tree don't you?" She spoke in a teasing way, her golden eyes staring back at me with hope. Silence surrounded us as I was slowly remembering all those and then I realized...

"That...wasn't a dream...?" I said softly. She gleefully shrugged then warmly smiled at me. "Now you see how I've always felt about you...?" I stared into her eyes. It showed pure honesty and love. She patiently waited for my response. "Yeah..." What shocked me was the calmness of my voice as I said those words. It was probably because I was so numb at the moment. She chuckled then strutted ahead of me. "Let's go, Nagihiko" She said as she paraded across the mansions hallways without looking back at me. I swiftly followed then held her hand once I caught up to her. I looked up at her. She was closing her eyes, she was blushing and she was smiling.

~~~~~~~~Night time: Rima's POV~~~~~~~~

I kicked the blanket then turned to the right.

I then pulled my blanket up until my neck

Then I pushed it back onto my ankles.

I finally gave up then threw the blanket off then screamed.

I knew I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight. So many things have been happening. I lay in my bed, gasping and staring up at the ceiling.

Amu and the rest haven't come back yet. It was simply a mere joke this morning and afternoon but as night came in, the four of us (Me, Nagihiko, Ikuto and Midori) couldn't help but feel worried. It was so unlike Tadase to be late, and knowing Utau, she would probably text or call us if they were to extend. This is the first thing that is bothering me...

The second is that...I'm not sure what to do! Nagihiko and I just confessed our feelings for each other, right! Does this mean that we're a couple? If we are, then I would be glad he's mine but I don't know how to be a good lover. I'm inexperienced! I mean...my parents can't even hold each other's hands!

"Rima! Are you okay?!" Kusukusu floated out her head to get a better view of me. "Yeah..." I sighed. Kusukusu didn't seem to take it in. Her delicate eyebrows still creased with worry.

She stretched her cheeks then stuck her tongue out. "Look, Rima! Funny face...?" She said. I softly smiled. "Yay!" She cheered. "You smiled!" She continued. I chuckled then patted her on the head. "Arigatou, Kusukusu..." She grinned at my comment then lay beside me.

Yes...I was worried...But I know that everything will work out...

~~~~~~~~The next day: Still Rima's POV~~~~~~~~

"Rima-chan!" I came back to earth as someone mentioned my name. I swiftly turned and saw Nagihiko looking up at me. He smiled when I looked at him. "Urhmm..." Midori faked a cough to get our attention. "We can be lovey-doveys after we find out where the rest are..." She winked. "We are not lovers..." I calmly said as I took a sip of my favorite tea. "Oh! You're not? Well that's too bad!" She whined. "Urhrmm..." This time it was Ikuto who faked a cough. "Can we get on with the meeting...?" He said. We all sharply turned to him.

"As I was saying, maybe they did get trapped in the earth's core..." Ikuto took a bite of his chocolate taiyaki. My jaw dropped at his current stupidity. "A-are you serious...Ikuto...?" Nagihiko and Midori said together with the same expression as me.

Ikuto eyed us as if he were wondering why we were staring at him with odd expressions. "Well, maybe they're in mars?" Ikuto said casually. "No way! There is no possibility for any beings like us to exist in that planet because it doesn't have the amount of H2O we humans need. The planet is also continuously bombarded by cosmic rays such as UV rays and as a result, has sterilized the surface of the Pla..." "Please don't go nerd on us..." I stopped Nagihiko before he could continue on his little 'speech'. Nagihiko sank on his chair.

"If not the earth's core or mars, they're probably lost in a forest!" Ikuto exclaimed. I sweat-dropped. "There's no way. Ikuto, why must you always think of the impossible?" I said. "She's right. I know it's good to have high imagination but there is a limit in cases like this, Ikuto-kun" Nagihiko agreed.

Ikuto crossed his arms, leaned onto the chair then placed his foot on the round table. "Fine then! Go think of a 'possible' reason for them to get lost!" "Fine we will" Midori stated as he turned to us.

"Maybe they were kidnapped!" Midori gasped. That had sense! I was nearly kidnapped when I was younger. "That may be true..." Nagihiko wondered. "I still think they're lost in the forest!" Ikuto said from the background. That's it! "What made you think that..." I said threateningly and if this were an anime, I would have a dark, dark aura surrounding me. Ikuto gulped but said anyway...

"Because I was watching them get on the wrong train and direction..." He mumbled. For once, he had us interested in his story. "What?!" Nagihiko screeched. "You see, Amu and Tadase walked off together to the wrong train. They didn't know that Kukai and Utau were on the same wrong train as them. After that, the four of them went inside this place that had a sign that says 'Do not enter. This is a forest with wild animals' in bold writings"

We all sweat-dropped. "So you were stalking them...?" Midori sighed. Ikuto nodded. "I always stalk Amu" He tried to sound as innocent as possible. We didn't have time to argue about this.

I grabbed my rubber shoes, green Capri pants, favorite yellow blouse and cap that all came from nowhere then said, "Let's go find'em"

Sorry this chapter took short. I ran out of ideas for this one but I do have for the next one! Rate and Review!