It wasn't him it was me. Such a cheesy line right? But it was right. He hadn't done anything; he was just standing outside; his hands stuffed in the pocket of his denim jeans. Damn…I had nearly forgotten that Utau had told me what happens when you invite a guy over to your house. Invites…food…possibly stays the night. Bullshit. Can't a girl just invite a guy over to her house to say thanks by cooking him some food?

"Um…hi?" Ikuto said interrupting my thoughts.

I looked at him strangely at first and then remembered it must have been a while since I had opened the door.

"Sorry. Hi there," I said as cheerfully as I could manage and let him in.

He walked in and I closed the door behind me. Damn right. That's exactly what I was going to do. He would eat, love my food, we would talk, and he would leave. Just like that no strings or messy business attached.

"Just sit here," I said pointing to the kitchen table as I walked over to the stove and turned it on. "It'll only take 15 minutes or so for the entire meal."

"Okay."

"Want anything to drink? Coke, wine, beer…?"

"Beer."

"Manly choice, coming right up."

I turned my head and looked from behind my shoulder to see he had cracked a small smile. I got the beer out of the fridge and I placed it on the wooden table and walked back to the stove. As I cooked the chicken tenders, I decided I might as well make some small talk.

"Thanks," he said before I even got to say anything.

"For what? The beer?"

"That too. Today I mean."

"No problem. It was the least I could do even though I am a new and still inexperienced unlike you."

"Kissing up? Not working," he chuckled.

"Oh darn I thought it would work out so well," I said sarcastically. "At least I made you laugh. You don't do that very much."

"Well I try to keep it to a minimum."

"And how's that working for you?"

"Just fine."

"I see," I said tossing the vegetables in a showy chef manner. "Tell me about yourself. You know a lot about me. My house. Well I bought this when I got out of college and got a job as model part time."

"Model?"

"Strange huh? One of my many friends became a photographer and wanted me to be their model for the summer magazine issues."

"Interesting."

"Sure is. You know about my little sister Ami too. Not sure how she knows you, but I'll squeeze that out of her once she starts talking to me again."

"Starts?"

"She's mad at me for some reason. Not sure why yet."

"I see."

"Mhm. Didn't always live here you know. I used to live in a big city. Tall buildings, lots of people, big fashion."

"What happened?"

"10 years back a tragic accident happened to my- Oh gosh…sorry I went…I um…I…Food's ready!" I exclaimed, color flushing to my cheeks.

I quickly slapped down the placemats and plates and any utensil and cups needed. I brought over the food and plated it.

Ikuto POV

I didn't bother to get up and help her; instead I watched her frantically move across the kitchen. She sure is different. As far as I could see, she doesn't trust people. Not even Rima…and they seem to have gotten together like two peas in a pod. Me driving her anytime… never did suit her. Except for when she was so rushed to get to her little sister's recital. But if she wasn't rushed, I'm positive she would've refused. Now this tragic accident. What was it that got her so riled up and fussy?

"S-sorry about that," she said sliding into the seat right across from mine.

"No problem."

And then I saw it, she was trying to recollect herself again. Fixing her hair, or looking at the food or the kitchen.

"I went on and on about myself. Your turn," she smiled.

Recollecting oneself…she seems to be doing to good job at it. Does she do it often? Is this a common routine for herself?

"I've been a negotiator since I was 17. Been one for 10 years-

"You're 27?" she exclaimed dropping her fork onto her plate. "I thought you were my age!"

"No, I'm 27. Turning 28 in a few months," I said trying to not chuckle. "Anyways, I'm an only child parents still together shockingly."

"Shockingly?"

"They fight over nothing. And not those petty fights either. The ones that leave them ignoring the other one's presence for day, weeks…months sometimes."

"And they still love each other."

"Heck yes. Dad's a mush for her, and mom's got a heart as big as the world for him."

"That's nice."

"Mhm. Mmmm! This is good!"

"What that? Thanks I guess though it is simple."

"Simple or not, I love it. You should give me the recipe."

"I know your species. You don't cook. Your meals consist of frozen pizza, take-out leftovers, and mac and cheese."

"Amen to that. What's for dessert?"

"Tiramisu."

"I should kidnap you and force you to work at my house."

"Or you could peacefully enjoy your free meal."

"Yes ma'am."

Amu POV

The lunch went off wonderfully. We talked, we laughed, and we made jokes. Lots of them. When he left, I walked up to my room and closed the door and locked the door. Locking my door…I haven't done that in a while. I sat on my bed, and hugged a pillow.

That is nice. To be able to see your parents' love for each other on a continuous base. To have them spoil you rotten with goodies and treats. To have them yell at you for not finishing your homework. I felt the load of hot tears fill up my eyes, but only a single tear caressed my cheek. Sniffling, I got up off my bed and looked under it and grabbed it. A large creamy box with a golden lacing and ribbons. I took off the lid and stared at the pictures.

I lifted up an envelope with pictures of my mom and dad on their wedding day. Mom was wearing creamy colored wedding dress, her brown hair spilled over her shoulders. And dad…dad was a wearing a handsome black suit. I took out another picture. In this one, dad had slung mom over his shoulder and it looked like she was pounding on his back. Sighing, I put the envelope back in the box, and pushed the box back underneath the bed. No more…I couldn't take more than 1 or 2 pictures of my past at a time.

I didn't move. I just sat there in the middle of the floor near my bed – thinking. Only when the doorbell rang, was I interrupted with my thoughts and was racing down the stairs. I opened the door and saw Ami standing there covered with mud and her golden brown hair had streaks of dirt in it. I shot her a questioning look.

"Tug-of-war. I won," she smiled slyly.

"Go on up and take a bath. You reek."

Ikuto POV

I drove the black BMW all the way back home. I was exhausted and full and that always equals to sleep. But even as I drove back I couldn't help but wonder about her past. It must've been painful by the way she stopped herself midway. But not only that, but that look on her face. She had lost that confidence and cool manner she had in the beginning. Yes, when she spoke of that accident…her face turned fragile, but her voice seemed bitter. Why would you seem bitter about an accident?

I sighed as I drove up to my house, and parked the car. Strange enough I didn't head upstairs to my bed, no instead I made a detour to the kitchen, grabbed a beer, and sat at the kitchen table and thought about her past. Just what happened to her?

The Next Day

Amu POV

"Curiosity killed the cat," announced Rima throwing down the latest Vogue magazine. "No, that's too past tensed. How about: Because of his curiosity, the cat is going to die!"

"What happened?" I asked filing some of my papers.

"I'm going to kill him!" she fumed.

"That's illegal in most places."

"So what? He had no right to interrogate him!"

"Could you tell me what happened before I die of curiosity?"

"Sorry," smiled Rima sheepishly. "Anyways, Nagi invited me to dinner last night, and Kukai somehow got the scope of it all. He interrogated him."

"Oh, details please. And you can't help it with Kukai," I smiled.

"I know what you mean. And I'm not sure why but he came up to me last night and asked me to go to dinner. So Mr. Hotshot takes me to a fancy Italian restaurant and then – nothing. When I ask him why he took me out, he said that he had the money and I looked a little stressed."

"Oh wow, what'd you do?"

"I said next times you have money to just throw off go to a club and shove it down a hooker's bra and next time I feel I'm stressed I'll have someone give me a massage."

"Harsh," I smiled. "He was only trying to help."

"I don't need his help especially when his reasons are stupid and naïve."

"Rima?" I said smiling at her. "Could it be that you like Nagi?"

"Of course not," she said in a dismissive tone. "He's just a no good, naïve-

As she talked I saw Nagi's head poke in and his eyes were wide in shock.

"Rima," I hissed, but she ignored me.

"He's just a spoiled little rich kid who just flaunts off his money. I don't even know why he works, he's filthy rich. What? Does he want to show off? Is that why he took me to dinner yesterday at some high class restaurant and gave me a stupid reason as to why he took me? Well-

"Rima!" I hissed again.

"What's your problem? Anyways, I don't need his help. I've been perfectly fine for years without anyone helping me. And I certainly don't need him!"

Silence filled the room. Rima was staring at me triumphantly, but my eyes were on Nagi.

"What're you looking at?" asked Rima turning around.

She stopped dead in her tracks and looked Nagi right in the eye.

"Is that all I am to you?" his voice cracked but it was full of bitterness and anger. "Just another rich kid wanting to flaunt off their money?"

"Nagi…you – that's not-

But he didn't listen and just opened the door again.

"Nagi wait!" exclaimed Rima.

He stared at her, his eyes ice cold.

"Funny isn't it? We were both thinking of each other. I already know what you thought, but I on the other hand had planned to take you out again. Not sure why though. Just had this feeling I should."

"Nagi."

"I'm pathetic, I know. Don't make that face Rima," he said putting his forehead against hers. "You look prettier with a smile. Bye," he said turning out of the office.

Rima just stood there. Not moving at all.

"Rima," I said getting out of my seat.

"Damn it!" she shouted pounding her fist against the wall.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!" she shouted, repeatedly pounding her fist on the wall until there were little red marks staining it.

I quickly ran across the room and pulled Rima back, embracing her into a hug. For a moment she struggled, then her body went limp and she started to quietly sob. I pulled her into a chair and forced her to sit down while I went in the back to get some ice and bandages.

"I-I hurt him so bad," she sniffled as I bandaged her knuckles.

"Oh Rima, why'd you say it? Why couldn't you have told him how you really felt?"

"How I feel? I don't feel anything for him," she said, her defenses shooting up.

"You're lying to yourself again. Why won't you accept it?" I asked softly.

It was a silent for a few moments, but I was okay with it because I knew she was realizing.

"He deserves better than me," she finally said. "I'm not rich like him, and I'm not even close to nice. When people befriend him because of his looks at first, they become closer because of his nice attitude. When someone befriends me because of my looks first, they run away because I'm selfish and bitter. It's always like that. Every one of my boyfriends…but not Nagi. He stayed with me and helped me through every one of my problems step by step. Oh Amu, I've made a horrible mistake!"

"Yes, you did. But it wasn't a selfish reason…you felt that if you did this you would save him the heartbreak even if you didn't know he was in the room. But you gave him a heartbreak, and you made yourself suffer. I'm going to help you Rima, because you're my friend, almost sister," I smiled.

"You're my sister too," she smiled.

All I need to do now is find the person I really don't want to see…

A/N

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the reviews I love love love them! Haha about the last three pages, I wasn't even planning to make it a Rima/Nagi thing at all. It was just going to be Rima talking about her date and that was about it. I don't know…I think I like it better with the fight in it. I don't know. Tell me if you liked it.

Read~Enjoy~Review

Neko-Meme