Alright. If you haven't yet, you should go check out my (updated!) profile. For those who are lazy and don't want to, I'll tell you right here: I'll be updating twice a week from now on, once on the weekends and once sometimes during the weekdays. This is because (none other than) school started. BOOOOO!! (for you. Though you get rather bored of summer vacation after awhile if you aren't with your friends.) Alright, just to let you know so you won't be spamming me when I don't post. :P

Thanks for all the reviews. They give me a reason to keep on writing...or else I'll think no one likes this story...-_- Yes, I'm very...______ Fill in the blank with whatever.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara! or Hot by Avril Lavigne, Check Yes Juliet by We the Kings, Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera, Crush by David Archuleta (I can NEVER get his last name right! I just copy-pasted from below), Miss Indepedent by Kelly Clarkson, 4 Minutes by Madonna/Justin Timberlake, or The Start of Something New by High School Musical. Again, please do not insult my music tastes. I LIKE THESE MUSICS! (fine, not the High School Musical one that much, but that was one of the...three duet songs I had that made sense).

Chapter 4: Karaoke Fun

After a long debate, finally, everyone settled on karaoke first. Immediately, I stood up.

"Hey! Rima, you can't back out!" Amu exclaimed. But I insisted.

"But…but I can't sing…" I muttered the last part, so no one heard.

"Hmm? You said something?" Amu asked, as she was reaching for the mic.

"I…I CAN'T SING!" I yelled out. I was lying. Lying. I knew how to sing. Back in the beginning of my high school years, I was in a state of melancholy after Kirishima-kun and I broke up. I know I dumped him, but those visions of the 'perfect boyfriend' disappeared, along with my fantasies, that frankly, turned out really scary. I had rushed home after dumping him switched on the TV to find my comedy show, but I found myself on the music channel instead. I was about to switch channels when the song caught me. It described me then. And I knew it, so I started humming, which turned to whispering the lyrics to myself, which turned to singing, probably because no one was home. And since then, singing was a kind of secret solace for me.

"Awh, come on. No one can not be able to sing!" Kukai insisted. Nadeshiko finished setting up their family's karaoke system (they're rich!).

"So…who goes first?" I asked. No one volunteered, and I sweat-dropped.

"Hey, I used to have this thing we did when no one would sing for karaoke." Utau said. "It's like we draw lots for the order, and whoever is in front of you, you pick the song for him/her." Everyone nodded at the idea and drew lots.

This was the order:

Utau—Kukai—Yaya—Amu—Ikuto—Tadase—Kairi—Nadeshiko—Nagihiko—me.

Yippee! At least I was last!

"Alright. I'm first." Utau said. I took the liberty and took a step towards the karaoke song choosing machine (separate from the TV. They really are rich!) Finally, I caught a familiar looking song and smirked at Utau, who looked at me dangerously. Nonetheless, I pressed the button for that song.

"WHAT?" she blurted out, though Kukai seemed very amused.

"Great choice, Mashiro! Alright now, Utau, just sing the song and everything will be over!" Everyone laughed at Utau's misfortune. She glared at me and turned back to the song.

Hot by Avril Lavigne

Ah, ah ah
You're so good to me baby, baby

You make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby, baby
You're so good to me baby, baby

I wanna lock you up in my closet when no one's around
I wanna put your hand in my pocket because you're allowed
I wanna drive you into the corner and kiss you without a sound
I wanna stay this way forever I'll say it loud

Now you're in, and you can't get out

You make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby, baby
You're so good to me baby, baby

I can make you feel all better, just take it in
And I can show you all the places you've never been
And I can make you say everything that you've never said
And I will let you do anything again and again

Now you're in, and you can't get out

You make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby, baby
You're so good to me baby, baby

Kiss me gently
Always I know
Hold me, love me
Don't ever go
Ooh, yeah yeah

You make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby, baby
You're so good to me baby, baby

You're so good.

Utau finished the song and glared at me. But before long, she was cut off by a kiss from Kukai, much to our delight. She smiled at Kukai but then glared at me.

"Alright, my turn!" Kukai exclaimed. Utau smirked and searched carefully in the songs list, finally choosing a song.

"WHAT?" Kukai exclaimed. "WHY?" he said, looking at Utau with a have-mercy look. Utau pretended to look innocent.

"Why, I don't know? Cause I like it? Now sing, Kukai." She ordered, smirking evilly. Kukai groaned but sang regardless.

Check Yes Juliet by We the Kings

Check yes Juliet
Are you with me?
Rain is falling down on the sidewalk
I won't go until you come outside
Check yes Juliet
Kill the limbo
I'll keep tossing rocks at your window
There's no turning back for us tonight

Lace up your shoes
(Hey oh, hey oh)
Here's how we do,

Run baby, run
Don't ever look back
They'll tear us apart
If you give them the chance
Don't sell your heart
Don't say we're not meant to be
Run baby, run
Forever we'll be
You and me

Check yes Juliet
I'll be waiting
Wishing, wanting
Yours for the taking
Just sneak out,
And don't tell a soul goodbye
Check yes Juliet
Here's the countdown
3, 2, 1, now fall in my arms now
They can change the locks,
Don't let them change your mind

Lace up your shoes
(hey oh, hey oh)
Here's how we do

Run baby, run
Don't ever look back
They'll tear us apart
If you give them the chance
Don't sell your heart
Don't say we're not meant to be
Run baby, run
Forever will be,
You and me

We're flying through the night
We're flying through the night
Way up high,
The view from here is getting better
With you by my side

Run baby run
Don't ever look back
They'll tear us apart
If you give them the chance
Don't sell your heart
Don't say we're not meant to be
Run baby, run
Forever we'll be...
You and me,
You and me,
You and me

And Utau kissed him again. Cute couple, aren't they?

And so, similar things ensued. Everyone had fun singing their song, with Nadeshiko singing Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera, much to Nagihiko's dismay.

"What type of song is that? You are not to sing those songs anymore!" Nagihiko exclaimed, but Kukai held him back before he could say anymore.

"Alright, Onii-chan's turn!" she exclaimed happily. Nagihiko grumbled and Nadeshiko cheerfully went through the song selection, clicking on the song choice.

"WHAT? What did I do wrong?" he exclaimed. Nadeshiko smirked.

"But this song really describes your life now!" she said innocently. Everyone looked at her. I hadn't heard the song before, so I didn't bother.

"REALLY?" Amu exclaimed. Nadeshiko smiled innocently, while Nagihiko mumbled something under his breathe.

"Fine. But don't go making assumptions on my personal life, please." Nagihiko took adeep breathe and took the mic next to his mouth.

Crush by David Archuleta

I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time deep inside
It was a rush, what a rush

'Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It's just too much, just too much

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Has it ever crossed your mind
When we're hanging, spending time girl, are we just friends?
Is there more, is there more?

See it's a chance we've gotta take
'Cause I believe that we can make this into something that will last
Last forever, forever

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
This crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Nagihiko finished the song and slouched back into the sofa. Everyone, for some reason, turned to look at me. Probably cause I hadn't heard the song before and they wanted my response.

"Hey, I never knew you were in love!" I remarked. "Who's the lucky girl?" I teased him. He sulked for awhile but immediately smirked. I realized I'd probably forgotten something.

DANG. I was up for singing next.

Nagihiko cheerfully skipped over to the song selecting machine and scrolled up and down the list. I gulped, thinking of the worst. When the song name appeared on the TV, I gulped.

"WHAT??" I screeched out. Everyone started laughing and I glared at Nagihiko, who shrugged innocently. I took a deep breathe and started the song.

Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson

Miss independent
Miss self-sufficient
Miss keep your distance, mmmm

Miss unafraid
Miss out of my way
Miss don't let a man interfere, no

Miss on her own
Miss almost grown
Miss never let a man help her off her throne

So, by keeping her heart protected
She'll never, ever feel rejected
Little miss apprehensive
Said ooh, she fell in love

What is this feeling taking over?
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise, it's time, to feel what's real
What happened to miss independent's no longer need to be defensive?
Goodbye, old you, when love, is true

Misguided heart
Miss play it smart
Miss if you wanna use that line, you better not start, no

But she miscalculated
She didn't wanna end up jaded
And this miss decided not to miss out on true love

So, by changing a misconception
She went in a new direction
And found inside, she felt a connection
She fell in love

What is this feeling taking over?
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise, it's time, to feel what's real
What happened to miss independent's no longer need to be defensive?
Goodbye, old you, when love, is true (when love, is true)

When miss independent walked away
No time for love that came her way
She looked in the mirror and thought today
What happened to miss no longer afraid?
It took some time for her to see
How beautiful love could truly be
No more talk of why can't that be me
I'm so glad I've finally seen

What is this feeling taking over?
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise, it's time, to feel what's real
What happened to miss independent's no longer need to be defensive?
Goodbye, old you, when love, is true (when love, is true)

Miss Independent

I don't know when, but I rather…fell into the song. It really described me. I mean, aren't I 'independent, self-sufficient,' and whatever else they said? And…when will I fall in love? That's what I want to know. That's when I realized everyone was staring at me after I'd long finished the song. I quickly thought of something to say.

"That. Was. So Embarrassing." Everyone chuckled a bit as I placed the mic down. The others started choosing upbeat songs to sing together, while I sulked in the corner of my misfortune.

"Rima-chan, are you alright? Are you really mad at me? I'm sorry. It was just for fun. Seriously though, I think it describes your life." Nagihiko said teasingly. I sighed, realizing I was making too big of a deal over it.

"No, it's my fault. I'm overreacting. Though singing was fun. And it did describe my life." I said. Nagihiko smiled.

"You have a nice voice. Why'd you say you couldn't sing?" he asked. I slightly winced. Hopefully, he didn't notice.

"Cause I can't." I replied bluntly. I then stood up and went over to the bathroom, curling up into a ball shape leaning on the locked door.

Why? Why couldn't I? Singing, slowly, became more than a solace; it became my comfort, my confider. I sang out my secrets, and Music kept my secrets. I couldn't sing. I just couldn't…it was frankly ridiculous, and I didn't even completely understand.

After a suitable time, I walked out. Amu and them had just finished a song and took a deep breathe.

"I'm exhausted!" Kukai exclaimed. Everyone that sang (which was everyone besides me and Nagihiko, who didn't join for some reason) agreed and collapsed on the ground.

"Hey!" Amu exclaimed, while an evil expression spread across her face. She whispered something to Utau, who whispered to Yaya, who whispered to…you get the point. It travelled around the 'singing group' and eventually, the eight of them turned their heads to look at me.

"RIMA!" the girls exclaimed, rushing over and handing me a mic. "You'll sing a song cause you didn't sing with us!" they said.

"Wh—what?" I asked. By now, the boys had dragged Nagihiko over next to me.

"Um…what are we doing?" Nagihiko asked. He then looked at me and we both blushed. Cause however I looked at it, we were doing a duet.

"You two are gonna sing a duet cause you two didn't sing just now!" Yaya exclaimed. She then sighed.

"But Yaya's nice. So you can choose the song. Now, do you want 4 Minutes or—"

"NO!" we both exclaimed. To some certain extent, that song was a…slutty song? Something like that.

Yaya smirked. "Fine. Then the other song." As the words of the song came up, I groaned. It was something that Amu and them would do. Nagihiko looked at me uncomfortably.

"Um…Rima-chan? If you're not comfortable, we can just tell them we won't do it." He said kindly. I smiled.

"I'm fine. Let's just sing it and get over with it. Or else they'll annoy us tell we do." We chuckled a bit and the song began.

The Start of Something New by High School Musical Vanessa Hudgens and Drew Seeley/Zac Efron

Nagihiko:

Living in my own world
Didn't understand
That anything can happen
When you take a chance

Rima:
I never believed in
What I couldn't see
I never opened my heart (Oh ohh)
To all the possibilities

Together:
I know
that something has changed
Never felt this way
And right here tonight

This could be the start
Of something new
It feels so right
To be here with you...oh
And now...looking in your eyes
I feel in my heart
(feel in my heart)
The start of something new
(ohh, yeah)

Nagihiko:
Now who'd of ever thought that

Together:
We'd both be here tonight (ohh, yeah)
And the world looks so much brighter (brighter, brighter, ohh)
With you by my side (by my side)


I know that something has changed
Never felt this way
I know it for real

This could be the start
Of something new
It feels so right
To be here with you
And now looking in your eyes
I feel in my heart
The start of something new

Naghiko:
I never knew that it could happen
Till it happened to me (ohh yeah)

Rima:
I didn't know it before

Together:
But now it's easy to see

It's a start
Of something new
It feels so right
To be here with you…ohh
And now looking in your eyes
I feel in my heart

That it's the start
Of something new
It feels so right
To be here with you (ohh, ohh)
And now looking in your eyes
I feel in my heart (feel in my heart)
The start of something new (the start of something new)
The start of something new

"Wow! You guys were great!" Amu sincerely complimented. I admit I kinda felt like I was falling into the music towards the middle.

"A cute couple too!" Nadeshiko teased. I blushed red and glared at her.

"Yaya is so tired! DRINKS! Yaya wants drinks! Yaya's throat is so dryyyyy!" Yaya exclaimed. Nadeshiko smiled and went over to kitchen to get us some drinks.

And my first karaoke experience at a sleepover thus ended.


Hehe. It's rather fun writing from Rima's point-of-view. She's dense on someone's feelings. Anyways, look for the next update around three to four days later. I'm sorry for taking up this chapter with songs, it's a really cliched plot, but I had to get them to do something. DDR? Nah. I don't even own one.

Guess what their next sleepover game is? (Sorry, you can't pick, cause I already got the idea of that chapter thought out) Wait and see! Heehee.

~~*Hope-chan*~~