Chapter 26

I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! You see, I was really busy. Yeah, I know. I make bad excuses. Anyways, thanks for all the reviews! :D

On with the story!

Rima hesitated before running up the mossy rock. She never did like weeds and such gross plants. In fact, she wouldn't climb this if she weren't in a real emergency…

And the situation Rima and Nagihiko are in, my friend, is a REAL emergency…

"I can't believe you got us chased by a tiger!!!" Nagihiko screeched, as he helped the struggling blonde up the rock. Rima was finally able to get on top. "How was I supposed to know that hitting the tiger on the head with a rock would only make things this worse?!" Rima's tiny hands flew into the air. Nagihiko sweat-dropped.

"Rima, the tiger only broke your gag manga. That doesn't mean you should get it to break our lives! Rima, you are going to kill me!" Nagihiko screeched. Rima pouted. "That manga happens to be the latest volume. Now I have to go all the way o the bookstore and buy another one! You know I'm too petite to go all the way! It would be HARD!" "Then why'd you bring it in the first place if you knew it would probably break?!?"

Rima bit her lip then finally replied. "In case I get bored…?" She said. Nagihiko stood up, although he wasn't planning on going down for the tiger was just below this mountain of rocks.

He got a match that happened to be in his pocket. Rima's eyes widened. "What are you going to do with a match?! You're not going to burn yourself, are you!?!' Nagihiko chuckled at Rima's sudden outburst.

"I'm not going to do anything too evil. I'm just going to burn the tiger a little to get it out of the way. How does that sound" Nagihiko smiled. Rima was not able to respond, though, for Nagihiko had already lit the match and sent it hurling towards the growling tiger. Its eyes widened as it ran away, squealing like a kitten.

When the cost was clear, Nagihiko finally went down with Rima in his back. "Now, Rima-chan can you please…" He started, then his eyes grew narrow, "not kill me"

"Push!!!" Utau yelled. Everyone, including the charas, pushed their hardest to rid of the boulder that kept them from the sunlight. Yaya and Pepe were the first to give up, followed by Kusukusu, Ikuto and Yoru, Tadase, Amu, Kiseki, Ran, Miki, Su and Dia, Midori and Ki then finally Kukai.

An annoyed nerve popped out of Utau's forehead. "Why are you all giving up that easily?!"

There was silence.

"You're the one to talk, Utau. You're not even trying" Kukai shrugged. Utau blushed of embarrassment. "S-so? That doesn't mean you should give up that easily…" Utau replied.

Kukai stood up from his exhausted sit then placed a hand on Utau's shoulder. A light pink appeared on Utau's cheeks. "Utau, if you try, I'll try again" He said. Utau's stomach seemed to go topsy-turvy because of Kukai's touch. She felt her blood rush faster and her cheeks get redder and redder and- No!! She thought. 'Kukai's just a child! He's three years younger than me! If we were dogs it would make a huge difference! I can't possibly have feelings for him!!!' She continued in her thoughts.

Too late. Kukai grabbed Utau's hand then they ran towards the boulder. He turned to the rest- His sweat droplets seemed like sparkles to Utau. "Everyone! Help us out!" He said as he placed his palm before the huge rock. Everyone stood up then helped.

Under a tree, beside the nice flowing river, Nagihiko and Rima sat. Nagihiko was trying to light a fire with some sticks he and Rima had gathered while Rima was twirling a wilted flower with her fingers, a look of sadness in her eyes.

"~Nee, Nagihiko…" She started. Nagihiko looked away from the fire then gazed at Rima's eyes. Rima took this as a signal to go on. She gulped.

"A-after everything that has been going on…are we…" She then pointed her fingers from her to him then him to her. Nagihiko turned a bright red then looked down.

"W-well we…did kiss but…"

He sighed then gave up on the fire. He leaned on the tree branch like Rima then continued. "Do you want to be?" He asked. This time it was Rima's turn to blush. She never thought that he was so capable of saying that so straightforwardly!!!

"I-I don't know!!! I mean… I really don't mind and…" She bit her lips, obviously trying to hold back what she was about to say. Nagihiko leaned his face closer to hers, their faces only a few inches from each other.

"You know, I don't mind. I did tell you that I love you" He said. Rima felt the energy drain off her body, like all the blood rushed to her face.

"I-I-I really don't mind, Nagihiko!" She screeched. A smile then formed her lips.

'So I guess he is mine' she thought.

'But then…this is a big responsibility! And we are stuck in this forest, not sure if we could ever return to our home; and what about the others? I also really want to see Amu and the rest again! Being…coupled with Nagihiko is a huge commitment and…' Rima's trail-of-thoughts were cut off when Nagihiko's lips brushed against hers.

Rima's mind then went blank.

'What lost? I'm perfectly fine! I'm not lost! I'm with him but…the others? I'm sure we'll find them!' Was all that was on her mind before it went blank.

"N-Nagi…" She said, shocked. Nagihiko still stared into her eyes with a soft smile. "I dare you to tell me you didn't like it" He teased. Rima blushed again then stubbornly turned away. She opened her mouth to say it but it never came out.

If possible, she blushed a deeper shade of red. Nagihiko smirked. "I see" "It's not that! I just…I just…" She trailed off. "Loved it?" Nagihiko continued, making Rima's eyes grow wide and, if possible, her face has turned into a deeper shade of red.

He smirked then continued on with the fire with a soft smile playing across his lips.

"Oh, and Rima-chan!" Nagihiko said, not pausing with the fire. Rima looked p at him dreamily. "Hai?" She said. Sparks flew out of the sticks then soon, it formed the fire Nagihiko had wanted to come out.

He then looked at Rima straight in the eye. "Don't tell anyone about us being together"

Little did the lovers know that a child with aqua hair looked down at them with pity. "It's almost time…" She whispered.

"Aika!"

The little girl froze at the harsh mention of her name. She slowly turned to the caller. "Yes, Tanaka…?" She gulped. The striking x-character looked at the boulder-covered cave. "We start by breaking that cave. The rocks will then crush whoever guardian is inside" She said ruthlessly.

Aika badly wanted to cry. All this evil was too much for a nine-year-old like her but she couldn't do anything about it! She needed to obey Tanaka. She had no choice.

Ciffie? Nah, I don't think so.

I have watched the latest episode of Shugo Chara Doki! Doki!!! Let me tell you one thing!!! It was totally Rikkaru with some Rimahiko! And the story's finally getting some plot!

RATE and REVIEW!!!