As Nagihiko stood and stared after her, his eyes wide and mouth gaping open, still holding his cheek and trying to figure out what she had meant, and how she knew his secret, Amu jumped out from the bush behind him, walking up to him angrily.
"Nagihiko! How could you say something like that? I knew you were hurt she left and all, but that was too far! Way too far!" She said each sentence as if she was trying not to cry, pain evident in her voice as she hit her fists off his chest. "She… She must have been so hurt… to hear you of all people say that." Nagihiko stared down at Amu, grabbing her wrists to stop her hitting him.
"Amu…what are you talking about? I've not met Rima-chan until I moved here." The confusion could be heard in his voice, and with that, Amu fell to her knees.
"Y-You mean… You don't remember Rima? At all? How do you not remember her?" She said, frowning, then remembered back to a year ago, when she was having a worrying conversation with Nagihiko.
Amu walked along the school corridors with Nagihiko, heading to their next class and chatting happily, with fangirls flocking around them, when Nagihiko suddenly fell to the ground, fainting, from exhaustion, Amu suspected. She managed to carry Nagihiko (with the help of fangirls) to the Nurse's office, where he got examined.
Later, when he woke up, he looked around, dazed, and then stared blankly at Amu.
"Who are you? Where am I?" He said in a monotone, before shifting his gaze to the ceiling.
"I- I'm Hinamori Amu. One of your best friends. Don't you remember me?" She asked anxiously, biting her lip. "You're in the Nurse's office of Seiyo Academy… You go to school here…but you fainted. Hang on, I'll go get the nurse." She stood up, and turned, about to dash to get the school nurse, but felt a cool hand grab hers. She turned back, looking down at Nagihiko. "A-Are you okay?" She trys not to let her panicking show through, but fails.
"Ah, sorry, Amu-chan. My mind is going alittle foggy and everything, since I can't really sleep. My mother is forcing me to dance more often to perfect it, so I'm forgetting things." He said, sadly, forcing a smile on his face. "I'll be fine. It's not like it is long-term or anything, because it only happened for a few seconds."
She smiled sadly up at him. "Nagi. It's not you fault. I'm sorry. I'll go tell Rima what happened. It seems like you just have a bit of memory loss. But… I think you should say sorry to her too. I think it upset her a lot." Nagihiko blinked, and nodded slowly, unsure of the change of heart in Amu. "We should let her calm for awhile, and then explain. Should we go back to your house, as you promised to show me around?"
Amu stood up, dusting herself down, and Nagihiko nodded, turning and walking out of the park, the pinkette not far behind him, a strange silence between them. "S-So… how's your new school? Made any new friends yet?" Amu broke it awkwardly, glancing at him.
Nagihiko thought for a bit, and then smiled. "Yes, I've decided to make friends with a girl who seems to despise me. I'm unsure of what she looks like since she never takes off her hat or glasses. Her last name is… uh… Mash-something. Oh dear, how rude of me to forget a new friend's name. I'll need to ask her later." Amu stifled a giggle at the description, guessing who it was right away. Sometimes Nagi can be so clueless.
He turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you smirking like that? Is something funny…?"
She shook her head quickly. "No, I'm just happy you've got a friend in school is all." Oh wow… I sound like his mother… She thought to herself.
He nodded. "What about you? How is you and… what's his name? Icky-toe? Aren't you guys dating or something?" At that comment, Amu turned a tomato red, much to his amusement. "I take that as a yes."
"What?! Me and that.. that…. That… Stupid perverted cosplay cat?" She said, flustered, waving her arms around frantically, trying to think of what to say. "No, no, no! We are definitely not dating." She flushed, looking away, and muttering the word under her breath, "Yet."
Nagihiko gave a small smirk. "Whatever you say, Amu-chan. Better watch out though. He's probably listening into our conversations." With that, she looked around, to try and catch him watching the two.
"Wh-WHAT?! Where? Where?! I don't want him stalking me!"
"Joke, Amu-chan." He said as they walked into the apartment building, walking to the elevator and waiting for it. The elevator finally came after a few minutes, with a loud "Ding!" and they stepped inside, Nagihiko pressing the floor that he stayed on. There was an awkward silence, before Amu started laughing manically.
"A-Amu-chan, are you okay?" He stared at her, unable to find what was so funny.
"Y-Yes, it's…. just," she said in between fits of laughter, "you've been walking around for ages with this tiny pink hand mark on your cheek! An- And it looks really… stupid!" She laughed even harder, although stopped when the lift opened, out of shock and fright. "Oh, that was funny. My ribs hurt now."
Nagihiko shook his head, a wide smile on his face. "Amu-chan, you have a very weird sense of humor." He stepped out of the elevator, and began walking towards his apartment, Amu following slowly behind him, still doubled over. He unlocked the door in one swift motion, and then beckoned Amu inside, shutting the door, and strolling to the kitchen and making hot chocolate.
A few minutes later, when it was done, he brought two mugs to a small table in the main room, and put one in front of Amu, the other at the opposite side, at which he sat down at. He sighed alittle, looking around the untidy place. "Sorry for the mess, Amu-chan. I've not put everything away yet."
She shook her head, smiling. "It's okay, you just moved in, silly." She hesitated for a minute, before looking up. "Do you remember the others? Tadase-kun, Yaya, Kukai, Utau, and everyone?"
"Alittle." He shrugged, looking gloomily down at his hot chocolate. I can't remember Kukai very well… same with Utau. This sucks." He took a long drink of the warm beverage, and then glanced at Amu as she did the same. "Can you tell me some funny stories about them?"
Amu nodded, happily, and began telling a lot of stories which made him smile, much to her delight, but also lead to her blushing a lot too.
A few hours later, they stood up, almost nervously, and looked at each other. "Time to speak to Rima." Amu said quietly. "Do you think she'll answer?"
"Only one way to find out, I guess." Nagihiko answered, walking to the door and swinging it open, Amu exiting it first, him last, and closing it quietly behind him. They turn to Rima's door, and find a man pounding his fist against it and yelling her name.
"RIMA! RIMA OPEN UP! RIMA MASHIRO. OPEN THIS DOOR." He yelled, before noticing two pairs of eyes on him, and he turns to them. "Hello, are you Rima's friends?"
They both nod, and Nagihiko steps forward protectively. "And who are you, may I ask?"
He smiled, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm her father."
Hello, everyone!~ Did you guys like this chapter and the last chapter? I'm sorry the last one was so small, but I have school now. Whoop. Fun times, I know.
But I'm just happy people are with this story, I'll get my other one, Deception, updated soon.
Also, the dashes are just because FF won't let me put borders for some weird reason.
Stay happy and healthy!
- KokoKaga