Recap
"You have a friend," I said.
"Who?" she asked curious.
"Me. You said you and I are in this together. We might as well get along and be friends. Fighting and teasing will get us no where," I pointed out.
"Alright buddy, what do we do first?" she asked. Did she just call me buddy? That is just too weird.
Chapter 4 Becoming a Guardian...again
*Nagi's POV*
Rima and I decided to talk about how to figured this out. It was so confusing but since Rima had every class with me it was easy to talk to her.
"What's our last class? I didn't really read my schedule," Rima asked.
"Dance, but it doesn't say the teacher's name," he said. Rima took out her schedule and looked at it.
"Why am I in dance? I can't dance to save my life," she said.
"Maybe you had to pick a extra activity and decided dance over cooking," I thought.
"I'd rather cook instead of fall and make a fool of myself," she said.
"There's nothing we can do about it now," I said as I opened the door then let her go through.
"It's that lady from this morning," Rima said.
"What do you mea-" I stopped talking. Baaya was sitting there at the teacher's desk. I walked over to her.
"Hello Young Master," she said then bowed her head slightly.
"No need to bow or call me young master at school. Just Nagihiko is fine. Also what are you doing here?" I asked. Rima stood next to me. Baaya instantly ignored me and started talking to her.
"Hello Rima-chan, how are you? I didn't get to see you last night at dance practice. I was busy with the mistress since she had a slight fever. You are always so cute when you dance," Baaya said. I saw Rima flinch a bit when Baaya called her cute. I know Rima hated that word.
"I am also sorry that I didn't see you too. I was a bit occupied," Rima lied.
"Bayaa, what are you doing here?" I asked again.
"It's Bayaa-sensei and your mother is the new dance teacher but since she's sick she had me fill in for her. She should be ok in a day or two," Baaya said. My mom was the dance teacher? When did this happen? I know she taught dance at home but at school?
"Can you two be my models? Your the only two I know that can dance in this class," she asked.
"What kind of dance?" Rima asked.
"Just a slow dance, nothing hard. You've been practicing hard but I don't want you to over do it," she said. Rima look a bit puzzled. Don't tell me she didn't know how to slow dance. She's sixteen for goodness sake. Doesn't every sixteen your old now how to at least do an amateur slow dance.
"Take your seats in the front," she said. We sat in the front row like Baaya said.
*Rima's POV*
Can I suddenly dance now? Did she say that I took classes at the Fujisaki dance school? When did that happen? I remembered that dance poster I had.
"Baaya-sensei," I asked.
"Yes, Rima-chan?" she answered.
"How long have I been dancing?" I asked.
"You mother told me you've dance since you were little but you didn't join the Fujisaki school till you were in fifth grade," she replied. I looked at Fujisaki and him and I had the same thought. Since I wasn't kidnapped, I was happy and willing to do different things besides read gag manga and watch comedies. The bell rang as students flew in. Utau came in as well and sat next to me. She had her laptop with her to do some school work.
"Hey chibi," Utau said.
"Why do you have to call me chibi?" I asked.
"It suits you," she said.
"What are you doing here anyway?" I asked.
"I have classes online and I bribe everyone to let me hang here. The school atmosphere really helps," she said.
"I thought it was because your only friends went to this school," I said not thinking about my comment. How would I know that if we've never met before today? There was a dark aura around her.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"That's what Nagi told me," I said.
"I didn't tell you that," he defended himself.
"She called you by your nickname again," Rhythm pointed out. I guess I need to use my acting skills. I put on a fake smile and I swear there were sparkles all around me. Ha! I have a kira kira sparkle attack too.
"Of course Rhythm. Nagi and I are friends," I said in my sweetest voice. Both of them sweatdropped.
"Alright class, I am your substitute teacher Baaya-sensei. Fujisaki-sensei is a bit under the weather so I'll be filling in," she announced. Everyone looked at Nagi since she said his last name.
"Is Nagihiko-sama's mom going to teach us?"
"I heard they are the best Japanese dancing school around."
"Maybe Nagihiko-sama will want to dance with me." His fangirls were gossiping about him Nagi didn't seem to mind. He was always calm except when Rhythm was first born. That was a funny week.
"I have a note from Tsukasa," Utau said as she pulled a pink paper out of her pocket.
"Alright, do you know anything about dancing?" Baaya asked.
"A little bit but I mainly sing," she said.
"Alright, I know two students that do dance. Rima-chan, Nagihiko," she said. We stood up and walked to her desk.
"I'll need you to clear some desk so they can show you a proper slow dance. Slow dance is a very simple dance in the dancing arts but it can be frustrating if one does not know what to do or they do not know their partner well," Baaya began explaining. Some student moved the first row of desks back.
"These two have been dancing together since they were twelve so they know each other's rhythm. You two could you please demonstrate," she said. I don't know how to slow dance. What am I supposed to do? I could fake sick. I could pretend to sprain my ankle. For some reason I didn't do that. I put one hand on Nagi's shoulder and the other on his back. He placed both of his hands on my hips. Usually I would call him a pervert but I couldn't say it. Him and I began dancing. I could feel his fangirls give me glares but I ignored them.
"You see her students, the first thing you work on is you space. These two are close enough to dance but not to close where they step on each other's foot. The footwork should be together. If her foot goes back then his foot goes forward," she instructed. Him and I were in sync. His foot went right mine went left. Maybe I did take dance lessons.
"Now the girl has several hand positions. She can rest both hands around his next, she can have one on his back and one on his shoulder, and she can also rest her hand on the upper back of her dance partner with her fingers resting on his shoulder. The boy had very few options. He can either have both hands on her hips or he can rest his hands on the small of the girl's back," she said. We did every example she gave. The whole class was clapping.
"Now partner up. I know we have an equal amount of boys and girls," Baaya said. There were a few groans but the class partnered up anyway.
~~~~*Time Skip*~~~~
"Rima-chan, you don't have to hold on to my shirt," Nagi said.
"You have to lead me to the Royal Garden since I'm new," I said. He sweatdropped at my sentence.
"Rima-chan, you know where it is. We were there earlier today. You dragged me there," he pointed out.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a new girl that hardly knows her way around," I said acting innocent. He sighed and continued guiding me to the Royal Garden. I was holding onto the back of his shirt like I used to do to Amu.
"Here Rima-chan, this is where the guardians meet every day before and after school," he said as he opened the door to the giant glass building. The second we walked in Nagi was whisked away by a ginger who was giving him a noogie.
"Hey Fujisaki, I saw you with that small girl earlier. Is she your girlfriend?" Kukai teased.
"Kukai let go!" Nagi said. I sweatdropped at this. Why does everyone think we're dating?
"You have to tell me is she you girlfriend," Kukai said as he continued to noogie his best friend.
"She's not my girlfriend. She takes dancing classes at the Fujisaki school," Nagi explained while still being noogied. The ginger let go of him. I just stood there and sweatdropped. He knew I was here right.
"You're such a kid," Utau said not looking away from her laptop. I couldn't see very well but I think she was shoe shopping instead of doing school work.
"Anyway," this is Mashiro, Rima. She's agreed to join the guardians," Nagi said as he fixed his hair.
"You were in my homeroom class and the girl I saw this morning," Amu said.
"Sorry that I was cold. I was the new kid and I thought that I wouldn't know anyone so I was hiding behind an outer character," I said hoping she would open up and tell me about her outer character.
"I understand what you mean. I was new back in the fourth grade and I always hide behind a 'cool and spicy' character," she admitted.
"I know that already. I was wondering if you would trust me enough to tell me," I said.
"WHAT!? WAS IT THAT OBVIOUS?!" she yelled.
"Nagi tells me about you guys sometimes. He is my only friend so he tells me a lot," I said.
"NAGI! WHY DID YOU TELL HER ABOUT ME!" Amu yelled as she grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
"I-I'm sorry Amu-chan," Nagi said as he sweatdropped.
"I think I know all of you," I said then pointed at Utau.
"Your Utau," I said. I then pointed my finger at every person while I said their name.
"Kukai, Amu, Tadase, and there is a blue haired boy that's like a cat but I don't see him," I said. Where was Ikuto?
"Ikuto is in Europe playing his violin," Utau informed then swooned. What the hell!? I thought she was over her brother. Wait! I was never here so I never convinced her to like Kukai. Damn! I'm back to square one!
"So you are joining the guardians," Tadase asked. I nodded my head. He handed me a purple guadian cape. It was just like the red ones were wore when we were younger but obviously they're purple instead.
"I'll introduce the charas," Kukai said.
"No need to introduce them. Rhythm told Kusukusu and me about them," I said.
"Really?" Ran asked.
"Sure, you're Ran, the spade is Miki, club is Su, diamond is Dia, Tadase's is Kiseki, Kukai's is Daichi, Utau's was El and Il but they're gone now, Yaya's is Pepe, Kairi's is Musashi, and Ikuto's was Yoru but he's gone too," I said.
"You talk about us too much Nagi," Utau said.
"Sorry guys but she wanted to know about my friends since she didn't have any friends besides me and Nade. Ever since Nade left she's never had a friend that was a girl," Nagi said. He's writing me a death wish. The girls will drag me to the mall and dress me up like a doll. Amu and Utau looked at each other a smirked.
"Rima, if we can call you that, would you like to go with us to the mall this weekend," they both said at the same time. If this were an anime then there would be a scary fire background behind them. I did the safest thing to do. I hid behind Nagi.
"They're your friends. Don't let them dress me up like a rag doll," I said.
"Rima, if they started dressing you then me coming to help would make things worse," he pointed out. I didn't realize that.
"Don't let them take me," I said as I grabbed his shirt.
"I'm not used to you being clingy," Nagi said.
"You know the one thing that makes her yell at anyone," Rhythm pointed out.
"Don't do it," I warned.
"Rima, what's that comedy sketch you liked?" he said.
"When did I give you permission to use my name without an honorific," I said.
"Just now so I don't say it," he said. That evil mastermind! I can't believe I agreed to be friends with him. Wasn't he the one that said no fighting and no teasing? I had a plan too. My crocodile tear slid down my face.
"Nagi, I never knew you could be so mean," I said sadly as another tear fell down my face.
"Way to go man. You made her cry," Kukai said.
"She's not crying. Well, she is crying but they're fake tears," he said. He can always tell. Why is it always him?
"How do you know I was and don't tell me it's because you have acting skills," I demanded.
"Um...uh..." he said as Rhythm whispered something in his ear. I saw a smirk on his face.
"Rima, Tala-Balance," he said. Damn him! I am so getting him back for this.
"Rima, let's do the usual, Character change!" Kusukusu said as she floated out of the doll house Ami got them a long time ago. A star and teardrop appeared on my face. I glared evilly at Nagi.
"IT'S BALA-BALANCE YOU DUNCE! YOU HAVE STRAIGHT A'S YET YOU CAN'T REMEMBER A COMEDY SKETCH THAT I'VE LOVED FOR YEARS! BALA-BALANCE!" I yelled at him. The last part I did the pose. Everyone except for Nagi looked at me with shock. It was similar to the face Amu made when she first saw me character change. My character change soon vanished and the face paint was gone. I just stood there for a second then curled up in a ball.
"A ball?" Amu and Utau said confused.
"Rima," Kusukusu said worried.
"It's Rima's defense move," Rhythm pointed out.
"I like the yelling Rima instead of the clingy Rima," Nagi said.
"What just happened a minute ago?" Kukai asked confused.
"Isn't it obvious? Rima loves to make others laugh,"" Nagi pointed out. Amu sat down next to me.
"I know what it's like to have a character change against your will. Ran did a character change with me and made me confess in front of the whole school. I was so embarrassed but it all smoothed over," she said.
"Really?" I asked as I popped my head out a little bit to look at her. I already knew about her character change but it was nice that she trusted me enough again. I looked up and smiled at her.
"You and Utau can call me Rima and I would love to go to the mall this weekend," I said. She seemed a bit shocked but smiled back at me.
"I'm still calling you chibi," Utau said. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote my number down.
"Call me later with details," I said.
"Rima, I better take you home," Nagi said.
"Fine," I said. I hugged Amu and Utau and waved to the boys. Nagi and I walked out.
"Why did you do that?" I asked while we were walking to my house. Under different circumstances I would've probably killed him by now.
"Do what?" he asked.
"Why did you trigger a character change?" I asked pissed.
"I knew you wouldn't be yourself but I also knew you wanted to be Amu-chan's friend. There only way that would happen is that you show your true self, just like you did back when you first went to Seiyo," he said.
"How would you know? You were in Europe at the time?" I asked. He was being very suspicious.
"Amu-chan told me," he said.
~~~~*Time Skip*~~~~
"I'm home, and I have a guest," I said. I didn't really want to invite him in but him and I needed to think this through.
"Onee-chan, your home," I heard a small voice as I felt something impact me. I looked down to see a little girl. She had eyes like mine but her hair was brown. She looked about seven-ish Did she just call me onee-chan?
"Azumi, let your sister in," mom said as she walked in. She then saw Nagi.
"It's nice to see you again Nagihiko," she said. She didn't use an honorific. I guess she's know me since Rima joined dance school.
"Nagi-kun," Azumi said as she let go of me and hugged him.
"Hello again Azumi-chan," he said.
"Mom, I joined a club at school. Is that ok?" I asked.
"Sure, what club?" she asked.
"I'm part of the guardians. It's like student council," I said.
"Did you get that cape from joining?" she said as she pointed at my new cape.
"Yes," I said a bit confused she would ask.
"Purple is such a good color on you Rima," my mom said.
"I agree," Nagi said. No one asked for his opinion.
"Is there a reason you are over Nagihiko?" mom asked.
"I was going to discuss the guardian duties with Rima. I'm in it too I just don't wear the cape," he said.
"Alright, also Rima, dance practice is canceled since Mrs. Fujisaki is sick," she said.
"That's such a shame," I said pretending to be upset. I might've gotten away with slow dancing but I don't know anything about traditional dancing. Mom got up and went to cook dinner I assume. Azumi went upstairs.
"I didn't know you had a sister," Nagi said as him and I went to my room.
"I didn't till today," I said. Him and I went into my room.
"Nade has that dance poster too," Nagi said.
"You mean you have that poster," I said.
"Yes, but it's in Nade's room so that makes it Nade's," he pointed out.
"Whatever, what are we gonna do about this situation," I asked.
"I think the best thing to do it to check out the well. Maybe if you wish for things to go back the way they were then maybe all of this will be changed," he said.
"The problem with that is I don't remember where it is. I was crying and upset. I had no idea where I was running," I admitted.
"I wasn't paying attention where I was going either. I was trying to look for you," he said.
"So we pretty much have a little plan, an unknown well, and a mixed up world. I can tell this is gonna be tons of work," I said.
"We'll just try to live through it. That's all we can do right now," he said. I knew he was right. My door then slammed open.
"Onee-chan, it's time for Nagi-kun to go home because it's dinner time," my little sister said announced.
"Alright, bye Rima, bye Azumi-chan," Nagi said then left my room.
"Onee-chan has a boyfriend," Azumi sang.
"He's not my boyfriend," I said to her and I went downstairs to eat. I always want a younger sibling but now I find them annoying.
"How was your first day at Seiyo?" my father asked.
"It was a little weird but I was offered to join student council," I said.
"Are you joining?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
"I hope it doesn't get in the way of your dance lessons," my mother said then took a bite of food.
"Nagi is in student council too. If he can handle it then I can too," I said.
"Nagi-kun is Rima's boyfriend," Azumi said.
"WHAT!? Why didn't you tell your father? You have to introduce him properly," my father said.
"I don't have a boyfriend and you already know Nagi," I said. I assume he would know him since I've taken dance lessons with him since we were twelve.
"Did you make any friends beside Nagi?" mom asked.
"All of the student council and Utau Hoshina," I said.
"UTAU HOSHINA! YOU KNOW HER!?" Azumi yelled so loud that I'm sure the neighbors could hear her.
"Yeah, she doesn't go to school there but she takes classes on line but would rather have a school atmosphere," I explained. That's what Utau told me so that's what I was going with.
"I want to meet Utau Hoshina," Azumi said.
"Speaking of her, my new friend Amu and Utau want to take me shopping this weekend. I don't know the whole details but they are offering to take me,"I said.
"It's fine with me but you have to take Azumi with you," mom said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Mrs. Fujisaki and I always have ladies night with Midori Hinamori every other weekend," she said.
"That's Amu's mom...I assume," I said since I wasn't supposed to know about that.
"Does your friend have pink hair, wear gothic-like clothes, and wears X clips in her hair?" she asked.
"That describes her perfectly," I said.
"I know her. She is a sweet kid. He has a little sister about Azumi's age. Maybe she can bring her little sister," mom said. I finished my food then excused myself. I took a shower, did my homework, then sat on my bed and read gag manga.
"Rima, I like you mom and dad like this. Do we really want to change it by wishing into the wishing well again," Kusukusu said.
"I do like it that mom and dad aren't fighting but Azumi annoys me," I said.
"She's your little sibling. You could ask Temari. She tells me all the time that Rhythm is annoying," she said.
"She can't say anything now. That stupid purplehead can't believe in himself enough for Temari to hatch. How stupid can he be? I've only saw him dance one time when Nadeshiko had that dance recital that Amu dragged me to, but he was so graceful. I can't believe he thinks terrible of himself."
"Why don't you change his mind?"
"What do you mean?" I asked her and tilted my head a bit confused.
"You convinced him that day we went to save Ikuto. If you did it once then you can do it again."
"How would I do that?" I asked.
"You said words that really moved him. He took them to heart and Temari hatched. Every time he dances then say how good he was," she said.
"He'll think I'm his best friend," I pointed out.
"Is that such a bad thing? Temari will be the only girl chara that remembers me. I really miss her Rima," Kusukusu said. She was being serious. It was rare to see her like that. I smiled at her.
"Alright, I'll try my best," I said.
"Yay! Operation Make Nagi Happy so Temari Will Come Out of Her Egg," Kusukusu cheered. I couldn't help but giggle a little bit. I didn't even comment how ridiculous that plan named sounded. I looked at my clock and it was already ten-thirty. I got up and brushed my teeth then went to bed.
"Good night Kusukusu."
"Goodnight."
Who's awesome? I'm awesome, or at least I had an awesome moment when I stayed up late for all of my followers and reviewers who were sad I will be gone for a few days. If you don't know then I will tell you now. I am going to Chicago for a couple days. I don't know how many exactly.
Also ideas/flames/comments are allowed