7 reviews?! On one chapter?! I can't even remember the last time I got so many reviews! Ahh, thank you all so much! I'm sorry about the slight delay, but without further ado, I present the next chapter! This is actually one of the shortest chapters I've done in a long time, given the fact I've been doing 4000+ lately. Oh well, 3000 is adequate! Enjoy!
A gasp escaped his mouth as Nagihiko sat up, sweat surrounding him. He blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting to the darkness of the hotel room. He turned slowly, relieved his gasp had ceased to wake anyone. He turned to the clock on the table beside him, seeing it read 6:06 AM.
"Nagi, what are you doing?" He turned, watching as his two charas floated up. Temari rubbed her eyes, while Rhythm seemed completely energized despite the early hours of the day.
"I had a frightening dream," He confessed, sitting up slowly. "Amu-Chan, she had, um, a rather extreme reaction to me being Nadeshiko in my dream." He shook his head, chuckling slightly. "It's not that big of a deal."
"You should try to go back to sleep," Temari suggested. "It's still quite early." Nagihiko shook his head.
"There's no point," He whispered. "I might as well take a walk anyway." He turned over to the left side of him, seeing a pile of blonde curls facing his direction. A small smile crossed his face as he stood up and turned toward his designated drawer filled with his clothing. He pulled out a nice pair of shorts and a t-shirt and changed in the bathroom. He pulled out the hair tie in his indigo hair, gazing at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He brushed some of his hair out of his face, and let out a disgruntled sigh.
"Why would Mother make me do this?" Nagihiko muttered. He pulled his hair together and tied it into a neat ponytail. He moved his hands from its style, watching in disappointment how rapidly it took him to look feminine. He stepped out of the bathroom, tiptoeing toward the door and exiting the room.
"So, where are you going to walk?" Rhythm wondered, floating behind Nagihiko as he left the hotel room.
"I figured I would scope out the area," He pointed out, his voice falling an octave. "I might as well find out the path to the beach or the pool. I'm sure it would be convenient if we knew."
"Are you going to swim?" Rhythm wondered, grinning slightly.
"Rhythm," Temari warned.
"Hey, I'm sure you brought unisex bathing suits! I mean, you probably aren't wearing a bikini." Temari shot Rhythm a glare. Nagihiko let out a sigh.
"Yeah, they're unisex," Nagihiko pointed out. "It's just shorts and a shirt."
"Rima is right, you know," Temari told him. "You really need to tell her."
"I know I do," Nagihiko agreed. "It's just so much easier said than done… I just wish she could magically find out with no consequences."
"If such a magic existed, the world would be quite different," Temari pointed out. Nagihiko chuckled lightly.
"It would solve all of my problems. Besides just Amu, my mother would have likely stopped making me dance as Nadeshiko, I would be able to tell Rima that I…" He shook his head slowly, a tint of pink present on his cheeks.
"Tell Rima that you…" Rhythm repeated, waiting for him to finish.
"Do I really have to finish that statement?" Nagihiko wondered. Temari and Rhythm laughed. He smiled up at the sky, watching its greyness in the early morning. "Why is it so difficult to tell people things?"
"Hey, it adds a sort of spiciness to life, you know?" Nagihiko gave Rhythm an odd look.
"Spiciness?"
"Yeah! It's not just the mundane happiness! Life needs a mix of good and bad, you know? Otherwise everything is just the same old!"
"Uh… I guess-" Before Nagihiko could finish, he bumped into a figure in front of him. He jumped back, startled. "Ah, my apologies!" His voice rose up an octave. The man turned around, his eyes focusing on Nagihiko. He had a thin mustache and short dirty blonde hair and stood quite tall, much taller than Nagihiko who was significantly tall compared to his peers. Something about him seemed quite familiar, but Nagihiko couldn't place what.
"Ah, it is quite alright." The man smiled mysteriously, giving Nagihiko a sense of discomfort. He smiled politely, before proceeding to back up slowly.
"It's nice to meet you," Nagihiko told him, turning around.
"I believe I will be getting to know you, Nadeshiko Fujisaki." Nagihiko turned around immediately, but the man was soon out of sight.
"Who the hell was that?" Rhythm wondered.
"I have no idea…" Nagihiko murmured, quite disturbed. How had he known his "name"? Shaking the uncanny feeling away, he decided to head back.
Upon entering his room, he could hear the shower running. Utau was nowhere to be seen, while Yaya and Rima sat atop Yaya's bed, cross-legged. Both of them glanced up as Nagihiko entered the room. They were both dressed.
"Nade-Tan!" Yaya called, hopping up and embracing him.
"Yaya!" Nagihiko smiled, hugging her slightly.
"Where were you?" Rima inquired, her eyes focused on him. He turned to her, letting go of Yaya.
"I was going on a walk," He explained. "It was really odd actually; on my walk I saw-"
"Nade!" Amu called, stepping out of the bathroom. A towel was wrapped around her body, prompting a sense of awkwardness to pass through Nagihiko. His eyes immediately focused on her face.
"Nade and I are going to get breakfast," Rima suddenly announced, standing up suddenly and linking her arm through Nagihiko's.
"We…are?" He watched, puzzled as Rima half-dragged him out of the hotel room, leaving before Yaya or Amu could protest. As they exited the room, Rima slipped her arm out of his, and walked a bit faster. Nagihiko easily caught up to her.
"What was that about?" He asked, a bit puzzled. Rima paused for a moment, glancing up at him.
"You were having perverted thoughts about Amu," Rima pointed out.
"What?! No I wasn't!" Nagihiko exclaimed. Rima giggled slightly.
"Yes you were," She told him. "You wanted Amu to take off her towel." Nagihiko frowned at Rima, rolling his eyes.
"I most definitely did not. Who do you think I am, Ikuto?" Rima smiled, beginning to walk again. He followed her lead. Nagihiko knew that Ikuto wasn't really that way, but ever since Amu has declared Ikuto was a pervert, it was the running joke.
"Well, it seems every guy has a crush on Amu," Rima pointed out.
"I don't." He could feel his heart beating slightly, each breath Rima took prompting him to tense.
"Oh really? Are you just better than all the other male guardians?" He rolled his eyes.
"I just like someone else, though I never liked Amu-Chan romantically to begin with." He smiled nervously. Rima glanced over at him, looking surprised.
"W-Who…?" Rima wondered. Rhythm kicked the back of his neck in eagerness. Nagihiko smiled gently, though he felt like his insides would explode. As he opened his mouth to reply, he was immediately interrupted.
"Oi! Are you two going to eat or just stand there?" Kukai called. Both of them turned, blushing significantly. Rima hurried forward, grabbing a plate and proceeding to select foods. Nagihiko exhaled, realizing how much breath he had been holding back.
"Were you going to…?" Rhythm began.
"I probably would have failed to confess anyway," Nagihiko murmured, grabbing a plate as well. He watched as Rima brought her plate to the table, sitting beside Kairi. He shifted his gaze and picked out some foods. He brought his plate to the table and sat on her other side.
"How did you two sleep?" Tadase wondered, smiling. He sat across from Nagihiko beside Kukai who was also next to Utau.
"The bed was comfortable," Nagihiko pointed out.
"YESSS THEY HAVE CHOCOLATE CEREAL!" Yaya shouted, running into the breakfast room. Amu followed her, though she walked quite slower. She smiled at everyone, grabbing the food she wanted and sitting on Nagihiko's other side. Yaya grabbed her food as well, sitting beside Utau.
"Yaya, what food didn't you take?" Rima wondered, her eyes widened upon seeing Yaya's plate. Yaya grinned.
"Yaya didn't get butter for her pancakes!"
"Instead, you decided to drown them in syrup," Rima pointed out.
"Yaya-Chan, is it truly wise to ingest an abundance of food?" Kairi wondered. Yaya stuck her tongue at him. Nagihiko watched Yaya's behavior toward Kairi. If the romantic tension was clear between Rima and him…
"We're going to the beach later, so Yaya can be healthy there!" Yaya grinned excitedly.
"Besides, we're on vacation!" Kukai patted Yaya's head. "Who cares about being healthy?"
"YEAH!" Yaya grinned. Utau rolled her eyes at them.
"I'm so excited to go to the beach!" Amu exclaimed. "Nade, do you want to pick sea shells with me?" Nagihiko smiled at Amu, prompting Rima to snort.
"Of course! That sounds like fun," He agreed. "I can't even remember the last time I went to the beach…"
"They didn't have beaches in Paris?" Amu wondered.
"They do, but because of my dancing, I never had time to go," Nagihiko told her.
"Yaya heard they have nude beaches in France!" Yaya suddenly spat.
"They have nude beaches everywhere," Utau pointed out.
"I'm sure Nadeshiko would have loved going to a nude beach," Rima pointed out. "She would have loved showing off her body." Nagihiko frowned at Rima. Kukai stifled his laughter.
After going back upstairs to change into a bathing suit, Nagihiko arrived back downstairs, ready to meet everyone else. Yukari and Yuu had joined them. They began walking to the beach, with Yaya and Kukai leading the group in excitement. Nagihiko drifted toward the back, becoming lost in his thoughts. Who was that man that had clearly recognized him? He had seen something familiar, but he couldn't place from where.
"Hey," A voice called. Nagihiko glanced up, surprised as Tadase walked beside him. Nagihiko forced a smile.
"Tadase," He greeted, relieved to see his closest friend. His voice reverted to its normal octave. Tadase was practically a brother to him, and he trusted him immensely.
"You seem distracted," Tadase pointed out.
"Huh? No, I'm fine," Nagihiko lied. Knowing Tadase would likely see through his lie, he quickly changed the subject. "Have you been speaking to Amu-Chan at all?" Tadase blushed slightly, but shook his head.
"She's been practically clinging to you," Tadase pointed out. Nagihiko let out a sigh.
"Sorry…"
"No, it's not your fault!"
"Well, you should say something to her on the beach," Nagihiko suggested. "She suggested picking seashells with me, but there's no reason she can't be with you too."
"Maybe…" Tadase glanced at the pinkette longingly. She was walking beside Utau, talking and laughing with her. "I mean, I really should. I feel like I never get her alone these days. Well, not alone, but you know…"
"Without Ikuto?" Nagihiko offered. Tadase nodded, sighing.
"I shouldn't act this way. Ikuto-NiiSan is like my brother and I should be supportive that he is searching for his father, but I just can't help but to feel…happy…"
"You love her," Nagihiko pointed out. "You want to be with her alone."
"Love…" Tadase glanced up at the sky. "Love is weird…" Nagihiko glanced in front of him, his eyes fixating on blonde curls. Rima was talking to Kairi, her blonde hair flipping over her petite shoulder. Nagihiko couldn't help but to smile.
"I can't argue with that…"
"WE'RE AT THE BEACH!" Yaya screamed, her eyes widening at the sight of the vast sandy beach and the ocean that caressed against it. Yaya immediately stripped off her cover up, revealing a black one piece with yellow duckies decorated on them.
"Of course you would have a bathing suit with duckies," Rima murmured, rolling her eyes. Yaya turned around, grinning widely.
"C'mon slowpokes!" Yaya taunted.
"Hey, I'm coming!" Kukai called, practically ripping off his shirt.
"Yaya-Chan!" Kairi called suddenly. Yaya turned around, giving him an odd look. Yukari and Yuu had drifted off to another side, giving the friend group some privacy.
"What is it, Kairi-Kun?" Yaya wondered, cocking her head to the side.
"It would likely be wise to apply sunscreen before exposing yourself to the scorching sun," Kairi suggested. Yaya whined.
"You're such a worry wart Kairi-Kun!" Yaya whined. "Yaya's too lazy to put sunscreen on!"
"If you insist, I will aid you." Kairi took out sunscreen, and gestured for Yaya to come to him. His face turned bright red, as he began putting sunscreen on her shoulders. Kukai watched them, smiling warmly.
"They're so cute," He whispered. He glanced up, turning to Utau.
"Don't even bother asking me, Souma," Utau spat. He pouted. As everyone began getting situated on the beach, Nagihiko set up his beach chair and sat down, taking out his book to read. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the others enjoying their time on the beach. Yaya was dragging Rima and Kairi around on some misadventure, Kukai was in the ocean with Utau, and Amu and Tadase were walking across the edge of the ocean with their hands occasionally bumping together. However, Nagihiko always read whenever he went to the beach. He found the beach relaxing rather than a place to play.
"So, we meet again." Nagihiko glanced up, his eyes widening as he saw the face. Sure enough, it was the same man he had encountered earlier, his smirk still intact. Nagihiko stood up, alarmed.
"Who are you?!" He wondered. The man feigned pain.
"You don't recognize me? I'm so hurt, Nadeshiko."
"How do you know my name?!" Nagihiko exclaimed, his voice maintaining its femininity.
"I haven't even said your name," The man pointed out. "I was saying the name Nadeshiko. That's not your name." Nagihiko took a deep breath.
"Look, I don't know-"
"I'm disappointed with you, Nadeshiko, rather Nagihiko. Your mother always said you were intelligent. I was hoping for a display of your intellects." Nagihiko clenched his fists, feeling them become sweaty. How did this man know so much? "I guess I shouldn't be too stunned; it has been seventeen years after all."
"Seventeen years? But I'm-" Nagihiko froze, his eyes fixating on the man's eyes. He suddenly knew exactly what had been so familiar about the man. The honey-golden eyes of the man mirrored his. He always thought that his eyes came from his mother's side, but this man standing in front of him evidently proved that this was not the case.
"Have you figured it out now, Nagihiko?" The man mused.
"H-How did you find me?!"
"That does not matter. Aren't you delighted to see your old man?" He stepped forward, prompting Nagihiko to immediately step backward.
"I don't even know who you are," Nagihiko began.
"I'm your father. Isn't that enough?"
"You…You left me…" Nagihiko whispered cautiously. "I-I never knew you…I…" Nagihiko could not fathom the situation in front of him. He had to be dreaming. He had experienced dreams of this nature before; dreams where he arbitrarily met his father. He had spent all seventeen years of his existence contemplating who his father was, and now, he was standing right there. It couldn't be.
"Why would I stay?" He smirked, almost sadistically. Nagihiko looked up at the man who called himself his father. This man…this man had been with his mother and helped produce Nagihiko, without bothering to stick around. "I never wanted you in the first place. I merely met a beautiful woman at a bar and had sex with her. I wasn't expecting her to become pregnant with a son, oh sorry, a daughter." Nagihiko could not believe his ears. His mother…so reckless…?
"You…"
"I was supportive for the pregnancy. I helped your mother out, stayed with her as she gave birth to you. I even helped raise you for the first few months. But I wasn't expecting her to raise you as a girl. Quite frankly, if I wasn't going to get my way, I didn't give a crap. And now, seeing you again… it seems she truly succeeded in raising you as a woman. "
"But…why…" Nagihiko's voice was broken.
"You deserve to know the truth." The man smiled slightly. "I wouldn't want you have an enormous ego, thinking you were special in this world and born out of true love. You were born out entirely out of lust and alcohol. You are just a mistake, Nagihiko Fujisaki." Nagihiko was too stunned to stop him as he walked away, his smirk unwavering. He was frozen in spot, his eyes widened with tears daring to slip down his cheeks. Temari and Rhythm gave him panicked expressions.
"Nagi!" Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rima running over to him, worry quite present in her expression. He didn't turn to look at her. "Who was that man?!"
"It…it doesn't matter…" Nagihiko croaked, feeling tears cascade down his cheeks. He tried to blink back his tears, but he couldn't stop them from coming nor could he move his hand to wipe them away.
"What happened?" Tadase asked, suddenly coming behind him. Nagihiko took a deep breath and turned around, forcing a weak smile as he faced Tadase. Amu stood beside him, looking quite confused. He panicked slightly, but refused to allow such frantic emotions to be exposed.
"Huh? Nothing happened. I'm fine," He insisted, playing the role of Nadeshiko again. It stung significantly more now. "Amu-Chan, shall we search for seashells like we were going to?"
"Nagi, cut the bullshit," Rima growled.
"Eh? Nagi?" Amu looked confused. Rima's eyes widened, as she covered her mouth rapidly.
"I-I mean Nade…" Rima quickly bluffed. "He, err, she I mean, looks upset, so I just thought-"
"Why would Nade be a guy?" Kukai came up from nowhere, playfully slapping Nagihiko on the back. He winced in pain. Amu raised an eyebrow.
"What's going on?" Amu inquired.
"Amu-Chan…" Tadase placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No, you're hiding something." Amu gave Nagihiko a skeptical glance. "Why did Rima call you Nagi?"
"It was just a mistake," Rima pointed out. "I spend a lot of time with Nagi, so it's only natural for me to confuse the two of them."
"Besides, Nade's your best friend, so she would never keep a secret so great from you," Kukai pointed out, grinning. Nagihiko could have slapped Kukai.
"Nade…please tell me that's true…" Amu looked hurt. Nagihiko tried to look at Amu, but he couldn't. His glance fell, his eyes fixating on the sand below him.
"Amu-Chan…" He swallowed hard. "You're my best friend and I love you tremendously…" He allowed his voice to fall into its proper level. Gently, he could feel Rima take his hand and squeeze it lightly. For once, he did not blush or react to it. Amu's eyes fixated on their hands.
"Nade…" Nagihiko could feel his tears resume.
"Nadeshiko doesn't exist," He whispered, his voice wavering significantly. He squeezed Rima's hand tightly before letting go, and forcing a look at his supposed best friend. Her eyes were widened, filled with immense confusion. Nagihiko knew that his eyes were likely red and puffy, but he could not regard that. "There are no Fujisaki twins… It's just me, Nagihiko Fujisaki. Just a mistake." In a matter of a few minutes, Nagihiko's life made a complete 180 degree turn for the worse.
I'm so happy I managed to squeeze this little update in! Unfortunately, I am leaving you all off on a pretty major cliffhanger, and I'm about to go away on vacation. I'll be away for nine days, but I'm taking my laptop with me, so hopefully I'll have some time to work on the next chapter. I know Nagihiko's father seems completely obnoxious for no particular reason, and I know that was part of the problem with the original Nagihiko's Father, but I promise, it will make complete sense. Please review! Seven reviews was great last chapter, and I'm hoping for the same amount, or more! Every review equates to a virtual hug for Nagihiko, since he really needs a hug at this point.
…Or a virtual shove to me to make Rima hug him sooner. Regardless, he needs something.
Anyway, whatever your reasoning is for reviewing, just review! :D