DISCLAIMER: HappyJunjou doesn't own Shugo Chara or any characters and stuff except the things I made up! ^.^
***Chapter 2***
Fire and Water
Rima's POV
I sighed and pushed open the entrance door to the Royal Garden. I then took my usual spot next to Amu, MY best friend. Fashionably late.
"Mashiro-san?" The Tadase called.
"Yes?" I answered in my natural indifferent tone.
"What do you think about the increase in X-eggs?" Tadase questioned.
Of course. I hadn't said a word since I entered. They probably got worried, since I hadn't said anything. It's not like I usually talk much anyways and when I do it's too quiet to hear.
"Since Tsukiyomi hasn't showed up in the last few days it's probably those other Easter goons who always make those machines." I stated. Tadase nodded in agreement at my response. Duh. Of course those guys were behind it! I couldn't have said anything more obvious! We had discussed the increase of X-eggs, Tsukiyomi Ikuto, and other guardian duties before ending the meeting.
"This concludes our meeting." The king's chair stated, dismissing us. I quickly latched onto Amu's arm.
"Let's go home together Amu-chan!" I suggested. She gave me a sad smile in response. Uh Oh. I guess that means a "no".
"I'm sorry Rima, but Nagihiko invited me over to his house for a while." She responded.
"What?" I hissed, giving my rival from across the table a death glare.
"I have an idea! Why don't you come with us? Nagihiko wouldn't mind would he?"
Nagihiko shook his head and gave us a polite smile.
"I'm completely fine with it. It's a great idea, Amu." He gave me a small smirk that no one seemed to notice except me. That jerk! He just liked making me mad by taking Amu away from me. I wouldn't take it this time. This time the one being third wheel would be him not me!
"I like that idea too!" I lied returning a smirk towards Nagihiko. Amu smiled happily thinking that we finally were getting along.
"Okay! Are you guys ready to go?" Amu asked happily. We both nodded, secretly giving each other dirty looks.
***Walking to Nagihiko's house***
Personally, I knew I didn't feel my greatest but I couldn't lose, not to HIM. Amu and Nagihiko were both already a few feet ahead of me. I almost slipped several times, trying to catch up with them, but only to trip over my own feet. I swayed from side to side staring straight ahead.
Wait! Why are there 5 Amu's?
I felt way too dizzy to go on but I wouldn't give up! Everything started blurring and I couldn't feel the ground underneath my feet anymore.
"Rima!" I suddenly snapped back into my senses.
"If she okay?" Amu asked in a worried tone.
"I think she's running a bit of a fever." Nagihiko answered, pressing the back of his hand against my forehead checking for abnormal temperatures. Amu smiled. The blurs were pretty clear now, but I was pretty sure it'd get much worse if I didn't get some proper medicine and sleep.
I slapped away the arm that had caught me before.
"Get your dirty hands off of me!" I demanded coldly. He seemed in complete shock that I'd say such a thing after he'd offered me his help but we're enemies, aren't we? Wasn't that to be expected?
"I'm leaving." I announced, walking away in the opposite direction.
"Wait! You're ill, Rima!" I heard them shout, trying to bring me back. I blocked out the faded sounds as I started to lose consciousness once more. Darn it! It was no use; I couldn't hold myself up anymore. I closed my eyes giving in to the inner sharp pains repeatedly constantly attacking my head.
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"I think she's waking up!"
I blinked a few times before fully opening my eyes. Amu was hovering over me with a worried expression. She pulled me into a tight hug as soon as I sat up.
"Rima! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I shook my head as Amu checked my temperature.
"It's still a little warm, not as bad as before but you never know when it might rise." Amu stated. I examined the room realizing that it wasn't somewhere I was familiar with. It was way too formal and traditionally decorated.
"Where are we, Amu?" I asked. Amu paused as though she knew that I wouldn't be pleased with her answer. That could only mean one thing...
"Nagihiko's house." Amu answered. I frowned. Great. I get nursed over at my own enemy's house? Now I owe him...
Nagihiko entered the room and handed me a cup of water.
"Thanks." I muttered adding no trance of appreciation in my ice cold words. He just smiled gently.
What's the point of trying to fool Amu into thinking we're friends if she knows we're not? Quit with the nice act faker!
"Are you feeling any better?" He asked with a troubled expression.
"You don't have to fake worrying about me if you weren't worried at all." I murmured in my sarcastic tone. I turned to Amu, ignoring whatever Nagihiko said after that.
"What were you planning to do here anyways?" I asked. If this weren't real life, then I'd be able to see a huge sweat drop on the side of Amu's head.
"Well, we were going to go out X-egg hunting. And then hang out a bit." I flinched at her last sentence.
"You mean like a date?" I inferred, disgusted that I even suggested that option. As expected, Amu instantly turned a bright red.
"N-no...that's not what I meant! We'd never do that right, Nagi?" Amu spazzed. Nagihiko shot me an evil smirk.
"I don't know. I wouldn't mind going on one with YOU, Amu-chan." Nagihiko replied still smirking at me. I felt rage build up inside me. What the heck was he doing? How dare he hit on MY best friend, Amu! He was just doing this to get on my nerves wasn't he?
"I'm going home." I announced. I felt a grasp on my hand that clutched the door.
"Why don't you stay for a little longer?" Nagihiko suggested. I glared at him. Was he an idiot? Why would I stay? I slapped his hand away and opened the door.
"Wait! I feel the presence of a whole bunch of X-eggs!" Ran exclaimed.
Oh great. This again. It was always X-eggs and their stupid timing that forced me to stay.
"Fine. Let's get this over with." I sighed. Amu gave me a wide grin. Great. Just great.
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As usual there was a big amount of X-eggs in the area. Yawn. My body still felt pretty weak as though I was going to give out any second now, but I couldn't let Amu get worried over me. She had the X-eggs to concentrate on. After all, she was the only one who could purify them.
"Juggling Party!" My pins shot up, but the eggs dodged the attack. Darn. I tried again but completely missed, resulting in shooting at the opposite direction.
Eh? How could I miss by that much? I stared up at the blurry spinning X-eggs. There must have been about 50 eggs up there!
"There's only 10, Rima!" Kusukusu chuckled. Eh? Only 10? My vision must be really messed up.
"Rima! Can you get that egg over there?" Amu asked. I nodded and ran to where she pointed.
"No! Rima, you're going the wrong way! They're behind you!" I struggled to get up after I tripped over my own feet.
"Tightrope Dancer!" Yes! It actually worked this time!
"Amu! Now's your chance!" I shouted.
"H-hai!" She stammered, "Negative Heart. Lock on!"
Once the eggs flew back to their owners, I slumped to the ground. My body felt incredibly heavy and hot. There was a sharp throbbing in my head, and my legs felt like Jell-O.
I stared around at Amu and Nagihiko as they helped me up, but my eyesight gradually failed and everything turned black.
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Where am I? Oh great. It's HIS house again. More like mansion, rich snob.
"Rima, are you okay?" I stared into his mesmerizing golden eyes. He looked worried, but I'm pretty sure that was all an act.
"Amu's not here right now, so you don't have to act like you care." I said coldly. He stared down at the ground before looking back up at my face.
"Maybe that wasn't an act." He whispered in my ear.
I could feel my face heat up. What was that? You stupid flirt! I bit my lip.
"Shut up."
"I guess it'll take a while to get you to stop hating me, right?" He chuckled. No duh.
"I'll never like someone like YOU!" I hissed. He just laughed at me.
"Want to bet on it?"
"You're on."