February 1st: Rima and Nagihiko continued to make the paper chains.

February 2nd: Rima and Nagihiko drew decorations and cut them out. (Hearts, Stars, Bunnies, Ballons etc.)

February 3rd: Rima and Nagihiko taped a collection of papers together and created a banner.

February 4th: Nagihiko wasn't able to come that day...

Rima waited but if he wasn't there by 4 she knew he wasn't coming. She pulled out the paper with her incoherent scribbles. There was a rough sketch of a circus tent and over it in bold letters it said:

'Welcome to Rima's Fun House Party!'

On the outside there were swirls of the circus rainbow. Red, blue, green, white, yellow and orange, a little purple at little pink. Rima got the idea while staring out the window at school, she would put it on her window so Nagihiko wouldn't get lost.

Rima didn't take into account he had found her house with no trouble for at least the last month or two. Never the less the notion was sweet.

Rima pulled out a long white paper and copied the design very carefully. Then shakily drew herself over the tent. It was almost in caricature style but Rima thought it did justice. That was because she had never really drawn herself before.

Rima stuffed it in her party drawer under all the other things and prayed Nagihiko wouldn't see. Then Mama called Rima down for dinner and Rima promptly answered with:

"Coming Mama!" She shoved the drawer shut and rushed down stairs.

February 5th: Rima and Nagihiko couldn't think of anything more to do...

They basically wasted the whole day chatting rather then actually thinking.

Rima and Nagihiko sat across from each other and stared into each others eyes. "You got my gift right?" Rima asked.

"Yup."

"What about my cake?"

"I'll bake it when I get home." Nagihiko laughed. Rima though, was dead serious.

"You can't forget." Rima warned.

"How can I? When it's so important." Nagihiko replied. Rima inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. The way Rima addressed things just made them amusing in her own way. Even though she was trying to be taken serious.

"When are you coming?" Rima asked.

"Eight o' clock sharp." Nagihiko recited. Rima nodded in approval.

"And why?"

"Because your birthday is a Saturday and you want a sleep over birthday party." Again Rima took in a deep breath.

"I think your ready." Rima looked him in the eye and Nagihiko had to swallow down a laugh. Finally Rima stood and twirled around. "I can't wait to wear my dress." She cheered.

Nagihiko smiled at her as she danced around the room.

February 6th: Rima's birthday.

Coloring, reading, sleeping, eating and it was only 11:00 a.m. How was Rima supposed to wait for Nagihiko. Rima put all her stuffed animals in dresses, then took them out and put them in different dresses. 11:42 a.m.

Rima played dress up with herself and tried on everything in her closet. 12:03 p.m.

Rima had a tea party with her 3 favorite stuffed animals. It lasted about another 10 minutes. Rima gave up holding back and pulled out all her decorations. Origami roses littered the floor. Rima pinned up all the paper chains along her wall and on her bed frame. Rima spent about 5 more minutes tearing off tape and making them into little tape circles.

Rima then got out all the little decorations they had colored and stuck them all over her bare walls. Rima had to wonder about the banner though. How would she get it up there? She decided to pull out a little stool and managed to hang the banner just above her door.

Finally Rima pulled out the special picture she had drawn for Nagihiko. She faced it out-wards and stuck it on the window.

It was about 4:00 by then. Rima waited until 7 when it got dark. Like a spy she crept out of her room into her parent's bathroom. Her parents kept most of the house-hold items in there. Not things like the vacuum or cleaning products, that was in the hall closet. Let's say more of the house-hold luxuries. Sprays, soaps shaped like roses, hair products that stuff. It was all crammed into a big dresser with lots of drawers.

The bottom drawer had a large assortment of unused candles. Rima filled her arms with candles and on her way out of her parent's room, she grabbed a lighter off the nightstand.

Rima put some candles on her dresser, some on her nightstand some on her tea table. Then she played with the lighter. How did it work? Obviously no one had taught the technically 9-year old how to use a lighter, or matches for that matter.

Of course, Rima was smart girl and figured it out in no time. Before long all the candles were lit and it was like the lighter had never left it's original spot. Rima quickly changed into her dress and waited. A clock sounded off eight times somewhere far away and Nagihiko climbed through the window. How he climbed up the wall and balanced a cake was a mystery.

Nagihiko set the cake down and before he had a chance to do anything else Rima pounced on him.

"Happy Birthday!" Nagihiko said returning her hug.

"Thank you." Rima said, she looked at the cake like it was the first scrap of food she had seen in months. "You made this?"

"Yup." Nagi said proudly. He caught a glance of her dress. It was as amazing as Rima said. It was light blue with puffy sleeves and a slightly puffed out skirt. The back was tied with a big bow and though it was a bit childish, it fit little Rima perfectly.

"What flavor?" Rima said circling the white frosted masterpiece.

"It's angel cake." Nagihiko said taping Rima's nose. "For the angel herself." Rima glowed. Nagihiko pulled out nine birthday candles from his pocket and lit them with one of the already lit candles.

He stuck them in the cake and gently sung Rima's birthday song. After he finished Rima blew out all the candles in one breath. Rima stared at the smoke coming from the blown-out candles. He watched her lips curve into a little smile as the candles around them seemed to glow brighter. Nagihiko leaned over and pressed his lips against Rima's cheek. Rima turned a light pink and she froze almost instantly. The two stood together in the darkness for a while, not moving, just waiting. Nagihiko pulled away and Rima looked up at him with big round eyes.

"Now were the same age." Nagihiko said. Rima didn't know how that changed anything but she was happy.

That night Rima changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed. Nagihiko went in Rima's closet and changed into his pajamas. Then came out and laid in Rima's bed. She snuggled into Nagihiko's arms and they drifted to sleep. Together.

Awww fluffies! Cutie! I hope you liked it was lots of fun to write this. I also hope you had a fun safe Halloween yesterday. (I sure did, CANDY) Only now did I think of writing a Halloween short story. Oh well, there will definitely be a Christmas one. P.S. (This is next weeks chapter. I felt like posting early.)