Recap
To make you feel better Nadeshiko can join girl's basketball team. The tryouts are tomorrow and you should go," she said.
"At least he still has basketball," Rhythm said now call and sitting on my head.
"Nagihiko's mom always makes sure to take care of her son," Temari said who was sitting next to him.
"Mom I would like that but I have guardian duties and dance practice," I said.
"I'll work something out with dance practice and I'm sure the guardians can work something out. Just go tomorrow. Can you promise me that?" she asked.
"I promise I'll go," I said.
"That's my boy. Now go get some rest," she said.
"Thank you mother," I said, bowed, and left.
"You're mom always finds a way to make the best out of a bad situation," Temari said.
Chapter 10 Nagi is Yelled at by Two Girls
*Nagi's POV*
I was walking to school as Nadeshiko. I hated wearing skirts but I did. At least I had basketball tryouts.
"Nadeshiko!" I heard behind me. I looked to see my favorite chibi devil
"Good morning Rima," I said in my normal voice.
"You shouldn't use your normal voice," she scolded.
"It's just us," I said.
"Rima, who are you talking to-" Kusukusu came out of Rima's bag but stopped and laughed when she saw me. Did she think me crossdressing was funny?
"Stop laughing Kusukusu," Rima said. Where her cheeks pink? She grabbed her chara and covered her mouth.
"Did we miss something?" Temari asked. Kusukusu broke free and floated out of the reach of her short bearer.
"Nothing, just a conversation Rima and I had last night. It's an inside joke," Kusukusu said.
"It's not a joke," she said. I was so confused.
"We better get going. Hey Rima, would you and the guardians like to see me tryout for the girl's basketball team?" I asked. She looked at me a bit confused.
"I thought Nagi was good at basketball?" she asked as her and I both began to walk to school together.
"Nagi's taught me a thing or two. It's also something my mother allowed to do to cheer me up a bit. I may have to be a girl and my grandmother may have complete control over me but at least I get to play my favorite sport," I said. I could've sworn Rima smiled at me.
"Nadeshiko! Rima!" Both of us looked up to see Amu. A certain blue haired boy was with her. Ikuto was back from Europe. I know Rima has worked pretty hard to get Utau to move on and start Kutau. This is her chance to show Ikuto that he didn't have to worry about his sister and then Rima would work on Amuto.
"Nadeshiko you remember Ikuto right?" Amu asked.
"Yes, I remember I tried to kill him with my naginata. Sorry about that," I said on my Nadeshiko voice.
"I'm over it," he said. He then looked at the chibi devil next to me.
"Who's the shrimp?" he asked.
"That's Rima Mashiro. Rima, this is Ikuto. You better lay off her!" Amu said trying to protect Rima.
"I can handle myself Amu. I may look like a little kid but I'm just as old as you," I said.
"Really?" Ikuto asked.
"Yes really. You should be happy I'm around. I need to talk to you later kitty boy," she said.
"Why is that?" he asked. Rima gestured for him to come closer. He did and she whispered in his ear.
"You know what shrimp, you're not half bad," Ikuto said with a smirk. She must've told him her plan about Amuto.
"Amu-chan, I was wondering if you would like to see me tryout for the girl's basketball team with Rima," I asked taking attention away from the two master minds.
"I never said I was going," Rima said.
"Please Rima," I asked giving her a kira kira sparkle attack. Kusukusu started giggling again. What was so funny?
"Fine," Rima said as she looked away from me. She could make eye contact in the worst arguments we had but now she can't? You'd think I know so much about girls but I'm still as clueless as any other boy.
"I knew you would," I said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked being defensive.
"Nothing, just that your my best friend. I assumed you would come," I said.
"Anyway, we better get to class," Amu said noticing the tense air.
~~~~*Time Skip*~~~~
Everywhere I went everyone one either said "Nadeshiko is back!" or "Why is Nagihiko-sama in a skirt?" Luckily, Rima helped me explain that I was Nadeshiko. Tryouts would be here soon. I was in the girl's locker room. I was in the bathroom changing in a stall. I was also waiting for Rima to tell me all the girls are dressed.
"Nadeshiko, the coast is clear," Rima said as she knocked on the stall door. I opened the door.
"How do I look?" I asked. I was wearing girl gym shirt and shorts.
"You're too flat chested. Hold on a second," she said as quickly left. She returned a minute later and handed me a sweatshirt. I put it on.
"There now you look less flat. At least you're grandma doesn't make you wear a bra," she said. Kusukusu and Rhythm (who was hiding in my hair) started busting up with laughter. Even Temari let out a little giggle. I just sighed.
"That was a joke Nadeshiko. It was supposed to put a smile on your face," she said.
"I'm sorry Rima-"
"Don't be sorry! We have dance practice tonight and you have tryouts in a few minutes. I don't need a depressed purplehead. Now get out there and be awesome," she said as she pointed to the door. I couldn't help but smile at her pep talk.
"That's the smile I was looking for but next time smile at my jokes," she said. Her and I walked down to the gym. All the guardians were there sitting on the bleachers. Rima went over to them and sat in between Utau and Ikuto. She planned them to sit on both sides of her.
*Rima's POV*
"Utau, is there something you need to tell your brother," I said.
"Rima I don't know if I'm ready to-"
"You called me Rima. I thought my name was chibi," I said trying to ease her mind a bit. Ikuto snickered a bit.
"Chibi?" he asked.
"Utau," I said ignoring Ikuto," the sooner the better." She sighed but afterwards she had a face of determination.
"Ikuto," she said.
"What is it Utau?" Ikuto asked as if he was bored.
"I just want to say I'm sorry about all those years I clinged to you. It's not healthy for a sister to think of her brother that way. I've had some help, counseling you could say, from a friend and I am getting over you," she said.
"Nice to know I can go home without fearing I'll wake up with you in my bed," he said.
"Is that your way of saying, Rima is a genius and should be rewarded for her counseling as Utau called it?" I asked.
"You still got to work on the second part of your plan," he said.
"I told you Kuta...you know what goes first. You will have to wait," I said.
"You can help me now or I send this picture to Tsukasa and have him send it to every student in school," he said as he showed me a picture on his phone. It was when Nagihiko and I slept in the same bed. I felt my face heat up a little bit.
"Who-sent-you-that?" I said in a threatening voice.
"Utau," he said.
"UTAU!" I yelled.
"What? I didn't have blackmail on you till then," she said. I whipped out my phone and showed her the picture I took when she slept with Kukai. Her face heated up just like mine did not too long ago.
"Erase it!" she said.
"No, you gave my picture to Ikuto," I said.
"Girls quiet down. It's Nadeshiko's turn," Kukai said. I watched her as she went to that line...what's it called? Free throw line I think...that sounds right. Anyway, she shot ten times and made it everytime.
"Go Fujisaki!" Kukai cheered.
"Souma-kun, I'm done," Nadeshiko pointed out as she sweatdropped.
"My bad," Kukai said. He was really looking at Utau the whole time and wasn't watching Nadeshiko shoot so his cheering was late.
"Alright girls, get changed. I'll post who makes it tomorrow," the couch said. I hated that lady. She's also the P.E. teacher and she is harsh on me. I guess now I'm more athletic but I still don't like her. Nadeshiko came over to us. Amu handed her a towel.
"Thank you Amu-chan," she said as she wiped her face.
"Gross," I said.
"Just because you don't like sweating doesn't mean everyone else doesn't like sports," Nadeshiko said.
"Now you're gross and probably smell bad. We have dance practice," I said.
"Nagi always managed dancing, basketball, and school. If he can do it then I can do it too," she said. Kusukusu giggled next to me. They are the same person.
"You better get dressed so we can go to dance practice," I said.
"Alright," she said.
"Bye guys. We'll see you tomorrow," I said as Nadeshiko and I started walking down the bleachers.
"Excuse me Mashiro-san." I looked to see a boy that was in a few of my classes. I believe his name was Yoshi...something like that.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I was wondering if you would like to get a parfait this weekend?" he asked. Before I could answer Nadeshiko grabbed my hand and started to drag me.
"Rima has dance practice this weekend," Nadeshiko said without even asking me. What was her problem.
"I'd rather hear a rejection from Mashiro-san," the Yoshi guy said.
"Nadeshiko stop!" I said as I pulled my hand away from her. I walked back over to the boy.
"I do have dance practice but of you give me your phone number then I will contact you," I said.
"Rima what are you doing? I thought you liked someone else," Kusukusu said. I ignored her as the boy wrote on my hand his phone number. He wrote his name too. His name is Yoshito. I was close enough with Yoshi.
"I'll keep in touch," I said as I walked back over to Nadeshiko. Something about this leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
"Rima, you and Nagi have dance practice this weekend," Nadeshiko said as her and I walked into the girl's locker room. She went into one of the stalls and got dressed. I sat down on the floor and waited for her.
"No one told me that. Mrs. Fujisaki didn't tell me that when I was in her class," I said.
"Why are you dating a complete stranger? You don't even know the guy," she said.
"Since we are in this world I might as well live with it. There might be a possibility that we won't be able to change back. I'm just going to have to deal with it," I said.
"So you are giving up?! That's not the Rima I know!" Nadeshiko said. I started to get angry. Nadeshiko is really Nagihiko. He wasn't my friend back in the normal world. He was my enemy. Why would he care? He tried to steal Amu away from me. He always found a way to tease me. I wasn't the nicest person but he deserved it. He lied to everyone for so long about Nadeshiko. He's even lying again. He doesn't know me.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW! YOU AND I WERE NEVER FRIENDS IN THE REAL WORLD! WE WERE ENEMIES! I CAN'T BELIEVE I THOUGHT YOU WERE A FRIEND!" I yelled. I felt something cold on my hot cheeks. Was I...crying?
"Rima, I-" I ran out before before she could finish. I had this bad feeling in my stomach.
~~~~*Time Skip*~~~~
*Nagi's POV*
"I've look everywhere around here for her. Do you think she went home?" I asked as I walked home without Rima and her clown chara.
"She yelled at you and you go looking for her for hours. You are late to dance practice and your grandma will have a cow," Rhythm said.
"You didn't see the tear in her eyes Rhythm. Rima's defense against Nagihiko was to yell at him and keep him at arm's length. She doesn't want to yell at him but she doesn't want to admit he's right. Kusukusu told me that she thinks that Rima is only going to see this guy because that boy is someone she doesn't know well," Temari said.
"That doesn't make any sense," Rhythm said.
"I agree Temari. Girls are pretty complicated," I said.
"Trust me Nagihiko. She will want to say she's sorry but she doesn't want to admit she's right. That's how Rima works. All those times you proved her wrong or corrected her she wanted to say she was wrong but her pride got in her way. Now is the time to prove to her that she is wrong but you don't care. You like Rima, right?" Temari informed.
"I never said I-"
"RIGHT!" she yelled as she switched moods.
"Ok," I said as I sweatdropped. She honestly scared me sometimes.
"THEN I WANT YOU TO SHOW HER YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT HER IMPERFECTIONS AND EVEN SHOW HER YOURS! YOU BETTER CHEER THAT GIRL UP! YOU TWO ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND I WON'T STAND YOU TWO BEING ENEMIES AGAIN! KUSUKUSU IS MY BEST FRIEND. RHYTHM, KUSUKUSU AND I HATE IT WHEN YOU TWO WOULD FIGHT! THAT'S NOT ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN! Ok Nagihiko," she yelled except for the last two words. Rhythm hid in my hair calling Temari scary.
"You know what Temari? You're right. Rima and I can't afford to argue," I said.
"I'm glad you see it my way," she said. I made it to my house. Quickly, I got dressed and knocked on the dancing room.
"Enter," my mother said. I opened the door and bowed.
"I'm sorry I'm late," I said.
"It's alright Nadeshiko. You had tryouts so I expected you to be late," mother said.
"Tryouts for what?" grandmother asked.
"I'll tell you later," my mom said. She must've not told my grandmother.
"Rima went home sick today so everyone is here," my mother said.
"She bailed so she didn't have to see you," Rhythm said. I figured that on my own. Tomorrow I will definitely make up with her.
"Nadeshiko, I need to talk to you after practice," mother said.
"Of course," I said.
*Rima's POV*
I told my mom that I wasn't feeling good. My stomach still had that bad feeling but I really didn't want to see Nadeshiko right now. I yelled at her when I had no real reason to.
"Rima," Kusukusu said worried.
"Why did I do it? I always yell at Nagihiko when I'm wrong. Do I have to be right in front of him all the time?" I asked.
"Rima, do you want to know what I really think?" she asked.
"What?" I asked desperate for an answer.
"You like Nagi," she said.
"I know that. Even though I yelled at him I still think of him as a friend," I said.
"No I'm talking about like-like. When you ran away you told me you had this feeling in your tummy. You feel bad that you yelled at him. When you told that boy you would call him you didn't feel right. Face it! You like Nagi more than a friends but your to scared to admit it," she said. I let that settle in.
"More than a friend," I whispered. Strangely, it sounded right.
"Good. We can clear it up tomorrow. Just tell him it's that time of the month again," she joked. I couldn't help but laugh. Kusukusu always knew how to make me feel better.
*Nagi's POV*
"You wanted to talk to me mother?" I asked.
"I'm going to cut straight to the point. What happened between you and Rima-chan?" she asked getting straight to the point.
"Tell her the truth Nagihiko. It's rude to lie to your mother," Temari said.
"I agree Temari," mother said.
"SHE CAN SEE US!" Rhythm and Temari yelled in shock.
"Mother? Can you see charas?" I asked shocked myself.
"Of course I can. I've seen Kusukusu and all your friend's charas too," she said.
"How? That must mean you've had a chara when you were a child," I said.
"Yes, I had a chara similar to Temari. I was the first Ace in the guardians," she informed.
"Ace? You were in the first guardians with Tsukasa then," I said.
"Yes, he was king, Rima's mom was queen, Amu-chan's mother was joker, and Utau's father was jack," she informed.
"So Mrs. Mashiro and Mrs. Hinimori could see the charas when you were having a girl's night at the Mashiro house?" I asked.
"Of course. Tsukasa didn't want us to tell you but I could help but over hear Rhythm say that 'Rima bailed so she didn't have to see you' or something like that," she said quoting my boy chara.
"This guy asked Rima out, who is a complete stranger, and she agreed to go with him. Nagi was trying to help her. Why should she go out with a boy she doesn't know?" Rhythm explained.
"How is she to get to know this boy if she doesn't give him a chance," mother said. Rhythm opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't come up with anything.
"Nagihiko, you are at that age where it's more difficult to be a girl because you like girls. I think since Rima knows who you really are and accepts that...you've seem to develop a crush on her," she said.
"A crush on Rima! That's ridiculous," Rhythm said.
"They did sleep in the same bed. Nagi was so nervous," Temari pointed out.
"Thank Temari," I said sarcastically.
"I'm not saying you should act on this crush but don't throw it away either. If you give Rima a chance then you may change your mind," mother said. She's right! I should at least try and if it doesn't work out then I'll bail.
"Alright mother," I said.
"Good boy, now good get ready for dinner," she said.
Hey Daydreamer1105 here. I just want to warn people that my laptop has been messing up a lot so it will be fixed over the next few days. Luckily, I got this chapter out before I turned it in. I hope you enjoyed. I've been getting less reviews lately and I was wondering if everyone had suggestions to make things better.
I love all my reviewers!