Chapter 34

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Anyway, on with the story!!!

"You're kidding…right?" A small boy and girl stood beside each other with obviously mortified expressions. "Why do I have to sleep with you tonight?" The little girl asked. The blonde boy sighed. "It's not like I want to sleep with you either. It's just that…well…" He trailed off.

Rikka's parents were out of town and so they asked Hikaru's grandfather to watch over her since Rikka's other family members were out of town and far from Seiyo; but an unexpected even came up and Hikaru was told that they cannot come in the company and the only idea as home they could think of for the meantime was the Royal Garden. Rikka and Hikaru looked at each other then sighed.

"At least there's free food offered by the school!" Rikka grinned.

Nadeshiko walked through the ship's hallways with rigid shoulders. Sweat droplets were pouring from her forehead. Her leather boots seemed heavier every step she took. Being Nadeshiko around Amu-chan was not a big deal for me back then but now it's hard since Tadase, Kukai and Rima now know… She-He thought.

(You know what, let's just call Nagi a 'she' if dressed as Nadeshiko)

"Hey!" Someone, whose voice sounded like a nerdy boy, called her. Nadeshiko turned to see a fat boy with curly, black hair; On his right hand he held a burrito (A/N Know who this guy is? Sorry…I don't know his name…).

"What's your name?" He asked as he took a bite of the burrito. Nadeshiko shrugged. "Why do you ask?" She said. Suddenly, the fat boy knelt on the ground then looked Nadeshiko straight in the eye. "Will you marry me? I mean…you look gorgeous!!!" He exclaimed. Nadeshiko sweatdropped. "I don't even know you yet. Go away" Nadeshiko said with her left eye twitching.

When she was away from the heartbroken boy she told herself, "I am not bi-sexual…"

Amu pranced around the ship with her fingers on her chin. "I wonder what's taking Nadeshiko so long…" She cried. Rima, too was deep in thought. "I thought he's fast with wardrobe changing…" Rima muttered. "What was that, Rima-chi?" "Oh! N-nothing, Yaya!"

"Hey! Is that her?" Bailee was pointing at a girl with long, purple hair tied up in a ponytail, who was walking towards them. Well, at least she was trying to walk towards them. The look on her face read 'Help me get this bunch of boys off of me!!!'

Yes. A bunch of boys were crowding over Nadeshiko as if she were a celebrity but they were too close to her that she looked like she could hardly move!

Rima seemed to burn with jealousy while Zack looked at Nadeshiko from head to toes with wide eyes. "Okay, Zack. Spill it. Not even the craziest of fanboys would crowd over someone that much just for the reason that she's pretty" Midori looked at the blonde sternly. Zack sighed without taking his eyes off Nadeshiko. "Okay. It goes like this. Tomorrow night is the couple dance and everyone is eager to find a dance partner". He then turned to Amu, Utau, Yaya, Rima and Midori. "Are you girls single? Or do you guys have a boyfriend?" Zack smirked.

The girls looked at Nadeshiko, who was currently trying to push the boys away. They then looked scared then immediately turned to Zack then said simultaneously, "We're not single". Zack groaned but handed them a gold star pin anyway.

"Put that on your clothes so guys will know that you're not available and so they won't crowd over you" Zack said. They took one then pinned it on their clothes.

Zack also handed the boys their pins. He then turned to Nadeshiko, who was now looking pissed off. "Can I help her out?" He turned to the guardians then pointed at Nadeshiko. "Please! I want to talk to Nadeshiko again!" Amu pleaded. "Get rid of anyone who comes near Nadeshiko!" Rima added.

A huge grin formed Zack's lips. "Okay then"

Oh no…Rima thought. He's not doing what I think he's doing…is he? The thought made Rima's brows crease with worry.

Cody sighed. "Oh Zack is such a bad boy…" He mumbled.

Zack wrapped his arms around Nadeshiko's shoulders, much to her surprise. He then pinned the star pin in her peach blouse then looked down at the boys. "Back off. She's mine" He said. Everyone, especially Rima, watched in horror as Zack attempted to kiss Nadeshiko's cheek but she kicked him in the place a guy would never want to get hit in before his lips got anywhere closer to her face.

Cody, Tadase, Ikuto and Kukai winced. "That's gotta hurt…" Tadase mumbled.

"Man! What was that for?! Why'd you hit me there?!" Zack cried. Nadeshiko crossed her arms then turned away. "For trying to kiss me. Idiot. I hate you so much…" With that, Nadeshiko walked towards Amu, who just stared at her, mortified. "What?" Nadeshiko nervously asked. Amu just smiled. "I just never saw this side to you, Nadeshiko" She smiled. Nadeshiko chuckled nervously.

"By the way! How about Nagihiko!" Bailee asked. Amu shrugged. "He's single" She said. Rima was about to protest when she remembered that it was supposed to be kept a secret. She sighed. "Y-yes…he's single" She mumbled. Bailee's face lit up then she raised her hand. "Cool! I volunteer to bee Nagihiko's date, then! Well…so he won't get crowded over too much" She exclaimed.

Rima's head exploded, Nagihiko, who heard the whole thing gave out a loud 'WHAT?!', Cody sighed then looked down in shame and the rest just stared at Bailee.

Utau was the first to speak up. "O-okay…I guess…" She muttered. "I suppose we all need to have a date" She continued.

Kukai hooked his arms with Utau

Tadase and Ikuto abruptly turned to Amu, who was sulking in between them

Zack intertwined his fingers with Nadeshiko's, who immediately slapped it away

Nadeshiko covered her face with her bangs so no one would see her looking at Rima, who was just staring at her and Zack with wide eyes and quivering lips. The look on Rima's face made Nadeshiko bite her lower lip from guilt. She then turned to Amu with pleading eyes.

"Amu-chan! I was wondering…

Can Nagihiko be partnered with Rima-chan since it would be better for him to be partnered with another guardian, right!" She forced a smile but Amu could see right through it. "Nadeshiko? Seriously. What's the real reason you want to pair them up?" Amu asked. Rima walked towards them, obviously trying not to explode.

"It's okay, Nadeshiko" She spat. Nadeshiko winced. Rima then turned her back from the two. "I don't want to be paired up with purple head" She groaned as she walked away. Amu sighed then looked at Nadeshiko.

"Nadeshiko…you probably don't know this but Rima happen to hate your brother very much" She said. Nadeshiko sighed. "Okay…"

Rima ripped her pin off as she stomped further and further away from her group of friends. She had no destination. She just wanted to keep walking away; away from him; away from her friends. Basically, all she wanted now was to be alone.

"Idiot…" She muttered.

"Hi!" She heard someone say. The voice was somehow geeky. It wasn't the voice that would come from a hunk.

She turned around to see a fat boy with black, curly, messed up hair. "H-hey?" She said unsurely. The boy fished something off his pocket then he pulled out a golden star pin.

"London won't be my date for tomorrow's couple dance so can you please be my dance partner? Pretty please with little cherries on top?!" He pleaded. Rima sweatdropped.

She opened her mouth to say no but remembered something: "It's okay, Nadeshiko" She spat. Nadeshiko winced. Rima then turned her back from the two. "I don't want to be paired up with purple head"

That's right… She thought. I'm not going to be with him. Not even on the couple's dance…

Rima sighed then looked at the boy. "Okay. I'm going with you…" She said. The boy was silent at first. He seemed shocked, actually. He then screamed, catching the attention of everyone on the boat.

He happily skipped around then finally, he looked at Rima. "I'm so glad I got a girl! Not to mention a cute one!!!" He cried at he put the pin on Rima's dress. He then grabbed a burrito from his pocket, much to Rima's surprise! He opened his mouth to bit but stopped then turned to Rima. He moved the burrito closer to her. "Want some?" He asked. Rima immediately shook her head sideways. "No thanks..."

Hey! Thanks for everyone who reviewed :)

Anyway, can you please tell me who the boy is? You know…the one that likes London and the friend of Zack. It would be a great help if any of you told me!