I DO NOT OWN SHUGO CHARA, ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS, OR ANY LICENSED MATERIAL THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS STORY AND CHAPTER.

THIS STORY IS RATED T FOR LANGUAGE AND CONTENT SO BEWARE OF THE LANGUAGE!

Taking One for the Team

CHAPTER 21: Frigging Tokyo!

The train ride was long and consisted mostly of sleep, I do remember waking up for an hour and talking to Amu and Yumi about final exams and such, but shortly after I fell asleep again, before I knew it I was being slapped on the arm vigorously by Amu as she chortled and giggled with Yumi.

"Rima wake up! It's time! We're here; you've got to see this!" Yumi squealed, she bounced up and down and I felt her motion.

I opened my eyes slowly, and looked out the window. It was around like 6:00 already since we got here later than we were supposed to, and the lights were completely stunning. I never imagined being surrounded by all those colors bright and neon, so many signs, flashing animations, herds of people surrounded the station as we pulled up inside.

"Rima!" Amu breathed grabbing my hand she turned to me and grinned, "We're here!"

"Yeah…" I whispered nodding, A smile tugged at my face and I couldn't hold it in anymore a series of giggles escaped my lips, I covered my mouth quickly and looked around.

"Excited are we?" Ikuto whispered from the seat behind me.

Oh, to hell with this! Why would I act cool at a time like this?

"Of course I am! We're in fricking Tokyo, Ikuto!" I screamed, and turned around to smile at him.

"Shopping! Lulu I want to go shopping!" Saya squealed.

"I've never seen a place like this before," Amu whispered looking at the crowded train station, "It's so dazzling yet….scary."

"The unknown is always scary," Nagihiko whispered looking over at us from the aisle across.

"Huh?" Amu asked tilting her head to the side, "What does that mean?"

"This city….these lights…..these crowds….these people…..they are all a change, a difference. Often when Humans face a change its way too different from what they're use to and they begin to resent it. But in the rare event of accepting change, after enduring it for a while, they realize change can bring greater good, and that though it's frightening at first, it's a gentle and beautiful thing; after all everything happens for a reason right?"

Wow….deep.

"I get it!" Amu smiled, "Though it'll take some getting used to, I'm sure I'll find Tokyo to be an awesome place to be in!"

"Right!" Yumi and I agreed.

"Let's go!" Yaya screeched.

"OKAY! Follow me!" Sanjo wailed.

O.O.O.O

I spent the entire ride to the hotel staring out the cab window. We were divided in three groups, four of us in one cab. Yaya, Yumi, Amu, and I were in one. Yaya sat on my lap cuz she didn't want to go on in the front with the creepy taxi man. Lulu, Saya, Nikaidou, and Sanjo were in one. Then, lastly were all the boys in one.

We finally reached the hotel, not all at the same time though. Our cab was the second to arrive. The first was Saaya and Lulu's. Then the boys arrived. The other students were already staying in that hotel. The teacher staying with them was Tsukasa-sensei a creepy yet fun sensei. He is my science teacher who blabs off about astrological signs.

"There you all are!" He squealed exiting the probably 4.5-star-hotel, "We've been waiting for so long,"

"Sorry about that," Nikaidou apologized scratching the back of his head.

"Detours, you know?" Sanjo added leaning on her boyfriend flashing Tsukasa a perceptible over-exaggerated smile.

"I see, you went partying, right?"

The couple flushed at Tsukasa's question which was more of a statement in truth. They bowed at the same time and apologized many times.

"As long as the kids are happy, I won't tell," Tsukasa-sensei smiled winking at them; he glanced behind them and settled his gaze on us. His eyes trailed all of us then landed on Amu who was thrown over Ikuto's back snoring, his glance moved more swiftly and noticed poor Nagihiko leaning on his luggage with his eyes closed, "Hmm…well come along guys there is much to be discussed!"

So we entered the hotel and stared in awe at all the floors. Once we got to the 15th floor, which was the second to the top, we noted there were only four doors in the entire hallway.

"This a special floor for purposes such as this, no other guests come or stay on this floor." Tsukasa explained, at the end of the hall on the wall was a bulletin board. It had many things posted to it, "That board over there will hold each day's Agenda for the entire length of this trip."

"Aw, we have to do stuff?" Ikuto whined.

"Not to worry Tsukiyomi-kun a typical daily schedule consists of: 4 hours practice, 3 hours sightseeing, and a curfew of 10:00." Tsukasa explained, "Sometimes we will do community service or earn money for the school, but that would include only 2 hours."

"Only 2 hours…" I muttered.

"Yes, Mashiro…only 2 hours." Tsukasa smiled at me knowing that he was creeping me out, "The two doors over there are the boys side, and those two doors are the girls side. There first doors are bedrooms, and the second doors are bathrooms."

"Everyone's sharing a room?" Saaya gasped.

"This is Japan, Yamabuki; we have futons spread out on a wooden floor in there." Tsukasa replied, "And the bathroom is an indoor bath, or hot spring."

"oooh," Yumi mumbled.

"Everyone is to wake at 8:00 each day," Tsukasa continued, "They are to have 1 hour to get ready, and 45 minutes to eat breakfast, and then we will leave the hotel at 9:45 by bus. You will practice for 4 hours in an indoor gymnasium. You will finish at 1:45 including a short 50 minute lunch break at 12, then you will sight see until 4:45, return to the hotel by 5:30, eat dinner at 7:00, you may go out again but will have to be back by 10:00."

"If this is what happens each day then why do we need an Agenda?" Tadase inquired.

"Because," Tsukasa blabbed on again, "Sometimes 'Practice' Includes dress fitting for cheerleaders, or shopping for basketball players, and Sightseeing is a designated area, and what we eat for dinner and what we wear will always change, the Agenda will specify everything,"

"okay then," I mumbled not quite understanding. Tadase nodded.

"Well I see that you are all tired, so girls you can go in now," He gestured to his right. Amu slid off of Ikuto and gave a peck on the lips.

"Good night," She whispered, he patted her on the head and smiled, she rolled her luggage down the hallway towards the room, Saaya and Lulu following promptly.

"See ya guys!" Yumi smiled at the guys saluting to them.

How can she not be tired? All I can think about is how great it will feel to lay down and sleep my troubles and thoughts away.

The guys waved goodbye and she trailed after the group. Kairi still had Yaya hanging onto him like a koala fast asleep. I looked at her and sighed.

"I'll take her," I offered.

"Mashiro I couldn't…." Kairi began, his words fell short to my glare he blushed and handed her over.

I bent over like a folded elderly woman submitting to Yaya's sudden weight as I piggy backed her to the room.

"Rima," Nagihiko smiled at me his eyes drooping slowly from exhaustion, "See you in the morning,"

"You too, Nag-evil," I smiled and hobbled over towards the room.

When I opened the door I saw multi-colored futons everywhere probably like 30, the room was huge! It had a shiny wooden floor, and nothing else but the futons and luggage randomly placed all over. Then there were the girls. They were giggling in their checkered pajama pants rolling over and pulling on each other's hair. 'shut ups!' and 'Omgs' bellowed through the room as they wrestled laughed and danced to the music on their IPods. They rolled on the many futons pushed each other and jumped around with Joy.

Is this what a sleepover looks like?

They glanced at us one by one and screamed.

"You made it!" One girl, who I recognized as Murasaki Mayami, ran up happily her light colored braids bouncing about, "Yumi!"

"Maya-chi!" Yumi squealed hugging the girl.

"Amu, you made it too!" Mayami cried and hugged Amu, Amu rubbed her eyes and looked at the girl blinking.

"Mayami-chan you brought that nail polish, right?" Amu asked wearily.

"Yes, just like you asked," She grinned.

"Good," Amu sighed falling asleep already. I see Amu has other friends…..

"You guys sound exhausted." Mayami noted, she looked at me and smiled."Rima-chan! You made it too," She embraced me suddenly.

This feels way too weird. I've never been to a sleepover before! What do I do!

"Well we all better get some sleep," Yumi sighed.

For the rest of the night, we slept. We chose our Futons and plunged into the comforting realm of slumber. We saw Utau; all she did was smile meekly and run up towards Lulu in deep conversation.

At that time, I had no idea how deadly this trip was about to become.

One thing's for sure, If human beings were capable of communicating their feelings properly then none of all the Drama I'm out to tell you about would've happened.

O.O.O.O

THANKS FOR READING! ONCE AGAIN, REVIEWS ARE APPRECIATED