Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait! I had an English project and I worked HARD over it over the weekend, and then on Monday, my two groupmates had a fight...one of them cried...it was...UGH. Anyways, here's the story! I added a mini-SongFic as an apology for the lateness! Thanks for all the reviews everyone! I think I replied to all of them. If I didn't I'm sorry. :)

Alright. Enjoy!

(Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara! or parts of Hate that I Love You (ft. Ne-Yo) by Rihanna in any way)


Chapter 8: Fighting Out and Making Up

Roaming around on school grounds, I searched around for Nagihiko and Chika, though my sense of direction proved to fail me, once more. As I roamed around, I realized that the more I roamed, the more I felt like I was getting nowhere. Sure, I've been at the High School Division Building for three years, but it wasn't like I went around everywhere, so there was (hopefully) still some reason why I couldn't find my way around the school.

Or was it simply cause I was short? Yeah right.

Catching a mutter in the breeze, I froze in my tracks and listening carefully to where the voice came from. Straining my ears to hear, I quietly walked as I followed the mutterings, increasing in volume, to behind the back building and discovering Nagihiko tugging on Chika's wrist as Chika struggled to get away.

"Let go of me!" Chika hissed harshly, continuing trying to shake Nagihiko's hand off. Yet Nagihiko didn't seem to make any notion to let go. "Let go!" Chika screamed once more, shaking her arm even more desperately. Nagihiko didn't let go, as I crept along a tree to hide behind it and see where the fight was developing towards.

"No." Nagihiko said, loudly, clearly, simply, and forcefully. Chika froze and uncontrollably started sniffing, probably controlling her tears, and stopped struggling. The two stood there in silence, neither moving nor making any notion of striking up a conversation. Finally, Chika broke the silence.

"Let go…" she whispered, in an ever long voice. A tear unconsciously dropped out of her eyes, which Nagihiko took notice of. He turned Chika around and found her whole entire face full of tears, as the two looked at each other…longingly, into their eyes. I slightly shuffled my feet silently as I scooted behind the tree trunk a bit more. Nagihiko opened his mouth to say something, but Chika spoke first.

"No." She said. Nagihiko closed his mouth, a confused expression hanging on his face. Chika muttered something incoherently that Nagihiko apparently didn't understand either. Her eyes strayed to stare on the ground, as to not gaze directly into Nagihiko's amber orbs.

"I said I'm fine!" Chika snapped, jerking her hand away from Nagihiko's grasp, and staring at him ruefully into his eyes. A staring battle broke out, neither of them twitching a muscle, when finally, Chika broke the gaze.

"I can't." she said, turning around as so her back faced Nagihiko. She unintentionally heaved a deep breathe, closing her eyes and along a solitary tear slip out one last time out of her puffy eyes. "I'm not the Chika you knew. I'm sorry." She said cryptically, though Nagihiko seemed to understand.

"What happened…after I left?" Nagihiko asked, gulping. Chika copied Nagihiko, as her body started to tremble. Finally, the trembling stopped and she drew a deep breathe.

"Everything. Please, no more." Chika insisted. Nagihiko didn't make a sound as Chika raised her head and looked directly forward. "I—I don't hate you. I don't. But…no." Chika finally said. Nagihiko gulped, nodding his head.

"You know I'll figure out what happened to you anyways." He mentioned. Chika bit her lip and slowly nodded.

"Course. You're that type of person." Chika said. "But…I choose delay." Chika said, as she walked off, soundlessly, her Chara following behind her, as Nagihiko stared at her retreating figure.

I took care to hide behind the tree, but unfortunately, when Nagihiko isn't preoccupied with something, his observance skills were at its max. The moment I slightly moved myself to settle down in a more comfortable position, his head jerked towards my direction. "Who?" he asked in a rather demanding way. I froze, attempting to sneak away, but Nagihiko's approaching footsteps made it difficult. Finally, I decided to give up and just run away, but before I did so, my hair got caught in a bush. Curse my hair.

"OW!" I exclaimed rather audibly, as Nagihiko popped his head from behind the tree. He laughed at the pitiful sight of my hair stuck in a branch, as he walked over and gently helped sort out my hair. I blushed slightly when his hand brushed over my scalp. Why though? Why did I? I flattened my hair as to occupy myself.

"A—arigatou." I stuttered. Nagihiko looked at me like I was an alien. I looked at him like he was the weird one. "What?" I asked. Nagihiko blinked.

"You realize what you just did." Nagihiko asked, or more of prodded. I slowly nodded. Nagihiko blinked again.

"You realize you just thanked me." Nagihiko emphasized, as I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, it's not like we can stay mortal enemies forever. I've thanked you before, haven't I? Get over it, Purplehead. It's not like I l—like you or something." I silently cursed over my stuttering, hoping Nagihiko didn't notice. He was still staring at me weirdly. I slapped his face.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, placing his hand over this cheek. I slightly chortled. "Come on, it's just a slap. Don't you get many of these when you break up with your girlfriends?" I asked. Nagihiko rolled his eyes.

"Nah. They're all too busy worshipping my words and recording them." Nagihiko said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I let out a laugh, as Nagihiko's smile broadened. Wait…he was driving away from the main subject!

"Hey, don't try to run away from the main topic!" I exclaimed. Nagihiko blinked innocently. "Topic?" he asked. "What, of your hair?" he said amusingly. I sighed.

"No running away, Purplehead. Who's Sasaki-san?" I asked. At this, Nagihiko's eyes hardened. He looked at me, his gaze almost a threatening glare.

"Nothing." He said, harshly, crudely, rudely, directly. Stiffly, he turned his head towards the side, not facing me directly in my face. I glared at him straight back.

"What are you talking about? Sure I'm dumb, but not completely as to not think something was wrong after your exchange with her just now." Nagihiko suddenly stood up and turned his back towards me.

"I said, Rima-chan, this doesn't have to do with you." He said.

"So you do admit something is up."

"…Yes." He finally admitted. Yes, I was one step closer!

"What then? Why can't you tell me?" I asked. Nagihiko clenched his fists.

"I said I can't! Don't you understand?" Nagihiko snapped; in a state I rarely saw him: anger. Frustration. Rage. At…me?

"U—understand? Yes, of course I do! I understand, so I need to help!" I exclaimed right back.

"You don't understand anything!"

"I so do!"

"How could you? Stop acting so!"

"When did I act like I did? Are you blaming me for trying to help?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed, turning his body around and moving with body language.

That was it. I was never a patient person, and Nagihiko wasn't an exception. I glared at him once more and slapped him finely across the cheek. This time, he didn't yelp. "Fine! I'll leave you be then! Be alone! Hope you'll rot up, shrivel and die, Purplehead." I huffed, turning around and leaving, striding rather large strides, leaving Nagihiko far behind me.

That Purplehead, his nerve! What in the world was wrong with him? There wasn't possibly anything we couldn't share now that we were fr—

WHOA. Was I just about to say friends? Well, at least we're not enemies anymore. That's improvement. I soon got tired from the long strides I was taking and slowed down back to me petite steps. I sighed tiredly, wishing KusuKusu was here to talk to me.

Tiredly, I shuffled my feet as I trudged home as quickly as I could. Yet it turned out to be rather slow.


"RIMA!" I heard Amu's voice yelling out my voice from behind me the next morning. I turned around and saw her familiar figure, once more, just like any morning, and smiled friendlily at her. Suddenly, another familiar figure appeared at her side, at which I immediately stiffened up and dropped my smile.

"Fujisaki-san." I said curtly, greeting Nagihiko with a simple nod. He nodded back, as Amu watched our exchange with interest and confusion. "Um…did something happen?" she asked. My mind traced back to Chika's words.

"Everything. Nothing. Something." I said, as I turned around and walked off before Amu or Nagihiko could catch up to me. I sighed. If this was what school was gonna be like the whole day, it was rather certain I could possibly die from sheer fatigue of all this act I was putting up. What I really wanted to do?

Slap him harshly across the face once more.

Yell at him for treating me so meanly yesterday.

Stomp on his foot and tell him that's what he gets.

Tug on his hair till they all fall out. If that doesn't work, shave it.

But sadly, some inner emotion took over and prevented it all. I entered the classroom, taking my seat next to Chika. She was busy listening to her iPod. I raised my head to see what song she was listening to. It was Because of You by Kelly Clarkson. Nice taste of music she had.

Before she noticed, I took my seat. Grimly, I winced the moment Nagihiko entered the room and his surveying gaze landed on me. Turning away from his stare, I idly gazed at Chika's iPod till I realized KusuKusu was still stuck in my bag. Opening it up, she floated out, sleepy and groggy-looking, as usual on bad mornings.

"Rima…" KusuKusu muttered, rubbing her eyes. "Ohayo…" she mumbled. I was just able to figure out her words. She stifled a yawn and waved, signaling she was going off to have fun. Lucky her. I stared at her as she floated out of the window and Rhythm followed after her. Lucky Charas.

Rhythm…

Nagihiko…

ARGH. Why was I thinking about him again? He was so rude, so mean yesterday! I already swore I wouldn't actually talk to him till he apologized. I was in no mood to think about that, as I glanced at the clock.

Tick, tick, tick…the clock's second-hand went. I groaned. School would probably be slower than usual today.


"Nagi!" Amu exclaimed, greeting our Jack this afternoon with a friendly hug. He smiled politely at her, as I accidentally caught his glance. Immediately I jerked my head the other way and pretended I was preoccupied with having a stare contest…with my teacup…

"Alright. Is everyone here?" Tadase asked. I looked around, and sure enough, everyone was. We took our seats as I refused to touch my teacup. No one noticed.

"Alright. About the Christmas Ball…" Tadase started. CRAP. I totally forgot about that with all the things going on, with Chika and Nagihiko. Unintentionally, I flinched at the mention at his name. School was just awkward while evading him, cause he was in my class. Every time he and I caught each other's gaze, I immediately jerked my head the other way. Every time we brushed past each other in the halls, I unintentionally flinched. It…wasn't very nice.

"Decoration Committee, are you going to set up your decorations anytime soon?" Tadase asked. "If you remember, the gym is already emptied." I forgot about it yesterday, after the whole affair with Chika.

"O—" I was about to say 'okay' when I realized I was talking simultaneously with Nagihiko. Immediately both of us closed our mouths. Yet this did not go by unnoticed.

"Nagi-kun? Rima-chii? Are you okay?" Yaya asked worriedly.

"Yeah." Again, simultaneously. Amu couldn't help but laugh, as Tadase laughed along good-naturedly.

"Shut up." I said, finally not at the same time. "We'll do the decorating after this freakin' meeting, 'kay?" I said. They soon stopped and got back to topic. Great, I'd have to tell Mama I was staying afterschool to do the decoration with—

CRAP. Just realized that meant I'd have to work with Nagihiko. I frowned and bit my lip. Better face it now though.


"Come on, Mashiro-san." Nagihiko said emotionlessly. I frowned. Was he really angry? Usually, he'd have apologized by now if he made a mistake. Did I really hurt him so much? I wasn't quite sure, as I gulped and followed his lead. What should I do?

"Give me some of the bags." I said, looking at him lugging the ten bags half-way across the school campus. He continued walking. "No." He said. I sighed.

"Give." I said forcefully, as he drew to a stop. Turning around, he rolled his eyes and handed me a bag to hold. "Happy, my queen?" he asked sarcastically, as I bit my lip once more. Dang, this wasn't progressing…nicely. We continued walking to the gym in silence, as Nagihiko placed down his bags and I placed down my one.

Decorating wasn't too difficult. We'd already gotten the basic outline down, and so we simply quickly split the work and worked on our own quietly and motionlessly. The Christmas tree was already up, as Nagihiko quickly worked to put up all the ornaments and I helped place the streamers and banners up. Getting bored, I pulled out my iPod and placed it on shuffle, listening to a song as I worked.

That's how much I love you

That's how much I need you

And I can't stand ya

Most everything you do make me wanna smile

Can I not like it for awhile?

"Sorry." Nagihiko finally muttered. I blinked. Had what I thought would never happen happen? I blinked once more.

"Pardon?" I asked, my polite tone still up, turning around to face him. Nagihiko sighed, taking his hand down from the ornament he'd just put him.

"Sorry." He said, clearly, crystal clear, perfectly understandable, as he looked at me seriously into my eyes. I couldn't help but let out a small smile.

But I hate it

You know exactly what to do

So that I can't stay mad at you

For too long, that's wrong

I smiled, half at the lyrics and half at Nagihiko. "It's…alright. I overreacted as well. I'm sorry." I said. Nagihiko broke out into a smile.

And I hate how much I love you, boy

I can't stand how much I need you

And I hate how much I love you, boy

But I just can't let you go

And I hate that I love you so.

I pulled out my iPod and turned it off, stuffing it into my pocket. I smiled.

Perhaps…everything would be okay?

"Chika-chan?" he exclaimed, looking past my shoulder to the gym door. I turned around and saw a wondered sight.

Chika was standing there, one of her eyes differing from its usual gentle shade of magenta, blazing a fierce bloodshot red, and her normally black hair seeming to start to gleam silver and white. Her lips were deadly red, her clothes total gothic, and a pained expression on her face.

"Death…" she muttered under her breathe, her pain etched clearly on her face. Finally, she closed her eyes and let out a sharp cry, piercing my eardrums. I plugged them and opened my eyes when the shrieking stopped. Chika's other eye turned completely blood red and her hair was clearly white. A smirk replaced her previous expression.

"Let's have some fun…with Death." She said, smirking evilly.


Meh...I've got minor Writer's Block. I TRY to still update even if I do...I gotta go study for my Science quiz. ARGH.

The SongFic (if it even counts)...is random...I'm seriously not in a good mood now...gotta go guys. Hope you'll...be fine with it? I'm sorry for the poor quality. Hope you liked it though! Not much fluff...I'm sorry, even though I said I'd have more. The stupid Writer's Block isn't leaving me. I'll try drills tonight. Drills of Daydreaming. Doubt it'll work though.

Hope you liked it!

~~*Hope-chan*~~