Ran: Ohayo, minna!!

Miki: How has your week been?

Su: Take a break to have some freshly baked sweets I made!

Dia: We hope we're brightening up your Monday, at least a little!

Temari: Last week, our poor Nagihiko suffered from a terrible heartbreak when—

Rhythm: That didn't happen.

Yoru: Geez, calm down. Have a dried sardine. *munches*

Ran: Hey! Stop stealing the spotlight!!

Su: Desu! We're the ones who are supposed to introduce the story!

Miki: Hey, where did Dia go again?

Kusukusu: She ran away again! *giggles*

Pepe: Stop babbling and let the baby sleep!

Kiseki: Loyal subjects! Stop arguing and let the King speak!

*background argument*

Dia: *comes out from behind a bush* Let's just go on with the story now, shall we?
———
~Nagihiko's POV~

"Ohayo, Rima-chan!" I called, running out of the house. "How was the show yesterday?"

She smiled at me. "One of the best so far."

I laughed and poked her arm. "You always say that after every show you watch. Or, in today's case, every parfait you devour."

She nodded her head, her expression turning serious again. "Hey," she said softly. "I'm still sorry about changing our plans so quickly."

I sighed. "Well, maybe I minded just a little, but really, I want you to have a good time. Doing whatever you want to do. Although I guess I should start keeping track of all the comedy shows going on."

"Let's put that behind us and just look forward to the parfaits after school!" Kusukusu exclaimed, suddenly jumping out from behind her shoulder.

"Hai!" Temari nodded in agreement, while Rhythm did a backflip in the air and yelled, "Sounds cool!"

"You guys," I sighed. "There really isn't any need to sneak up on us."

"There is nothing for you to spy on," Rima-chan said, sounding exasperated.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Temari smiled slyly, covering her mouth with her fan. Kusukusu giggled and Rhythm chuckled.

"Whatever," I groaned. "Come on, Rima-chan, we're almost at school."

We continued walking in silence, trying to ignore the three crazy Guardian Characters trailing behind us. Still though... Our Guardian Characters are an example of who we want to be. Does that mean we'll be like Kusukusu,Temari, and Rhythm?

I certainly hope not.
———
Su: Break time!

Dia: From Amu-chan's point of view!
———
~Amu's POV~

"Ugh," I groaned, rubbing my forehead as I walked out of the classroom to the bathroom.

"Amu-chan, are you okay?" Ran asked me.

"SHUT UP!!" I yelled. "You kept me up last night with your stupid cheering and now I'm so tired I can't pay attention in class!"

I watched them giggle instead of scrambling to hide behind each other. "What is—" I stopped when I crashed into someone.

"Sorry," I started to mutter, but then I looked up and saw who it was.

"Why, hello there, Amu."

~Ikuto's POV~

I caught her as she tumbled into me. "Why, hello there, Amu," I smirked.

Her face turned a bright crimson as she scrambled to her feet. "I-Ikuto!!" She screamed. "What are you doing here??"

"Came to visit you," I smiled.

"Aren't you supposed to be in college?"

"I took a break."

She sighed and picked herself up, ignoring her four Guardian Characters. "Well, if I don't go now, I'm going to be late to class."

"Alright." I smiled and patted her on the head. "I'll let you go this time."

She blushed madly. "O-Okay..."

I held back a laugh and leaned closer to her. "Let me tell you something, though." I took her face in my hands and pretended to whisper something into her ear. Then I bit it instead.

"Gah!!" She screamed, backing away from me. "You pervert!!"

"You fell for the same trick again," I said coolly.

"Whatever," she huffed. She stood up and began to stomp away from me. Then she stopped and turned back. "Thanks for coming to see me, I guess," she said, looking at the ground.

I smirked and said, "Sure, if you insist. You sure enjoyed it, didn't you."

"You idiot!" She fumed, although I knew she wasn't angry. She stomped away and went into the classroom.

I grinned as Yoru, my Guardian Character, came out from my pocket. "Did she give you any dried sardines-nya?"

I rubbed the top of his head and scratched his cat ears. "Nah, but we'll get some on the way home."

"Arigato, Ikuto!" He beamed and flopped back into my pocket.
———
Kusukusu: After school!
———
~Nagihiko's POV~

"Ready to go?" I asked her, meeting her at the school entrance.

"Yes," she smiled at me. We were about to turn and leave when a certain someone called her name.

"Rima-san! Wait up!"

I groaned inwardly. Kirishima.

"Huh?" She turned and faced him. "Kirishima? What do you want?"

"Um," he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I... I really enjoyed watching the show with you. I was wondering... if you're available today... would you like to come with me to watch a comedy movie? I heard from the reviews that it's really good."

I felt something spark inside me, like an ember of anger. I let him get her yesterday... not again. Never again, Kirishima. Before she could open her mouth to talk, I shot at him, "Sorry, Kirishima, but me and my girlfriend already have other plans for today." In the very back of my mind, I knew that she would oppose, but I couldn't control the fiery rage burning in me. I heard Temari and Rhythm gasp, while Kusukusu just giggled very, very quietly, as a way to show her surprise.

"Oh! Um, okay," he said, quickly walking away. "In that case, I'm sorry for bothering you!" And he ran off.

We continued to walk down the sidewalk in silence, her bangs falling in front of her eyes with each step she took. "I'm not your girlfriend," she said quietly. "And I never will be. So don't ever call me that again."

I felt my heart skip a beat for a second, and I gritted my teeth as I tried to keep my eyes from watering. "Yeah. Yeah, um, okay," I stuttered, feeling my heart shatter in place.

We continued walking towards the cafe. I could feel the new tension in the air between us. "Rima-chan," I said softly. "I'm sorry."

~Kusukusu's POV~

"Temari, Rhythm," I whispered.

"How terrible he must feel right now!" Temari empathized, a sad expression on her face.

"We've always thought, and now we know," Rhythm said quietly.

Silence fell over us as we all thought the same thing: Nagihiko likes Rima.

"I'll try to talk with Rima," I said sadly. "Because..."

"Because?"

"She likes him too."

~Rima's POV~

I won't let him just call me that randomly. I'm not his girlfriend.

Something else in me, though, argued back and yelled at me to stop being so stubborn and just admit it.

But I won't. I won't.

We reached the cafe and walked in, sitting down at an empty table. I will never admit it.

~Nagihiko's POV~

We sat down at an empty table and ordered our parfaits. "What did you get?" I asked her, trying to break the ice between us.

"The usual," she responded coldly.

"I thought we came here to try out their new flavor." I said.

"Oh."

Our orders came and we dug in, both hoping the sweet dessert would make us forget about what had just happened. I didn't know if it worked or not; I certainly didn't feel any better. I couldn't help the sinking feeling in me, or the hurt coming from my chest and rising to my throat.

As we neared my house, I turned to her. "Goodbye, Rima-chan," I said. She gave me a small smile before turning away.

Hopefully... tomorrow will be better.

~Rima's POV~

"Geez, what's his problem?" I mumbled, slamming the door shut. "How can he just suddenly call me his girlfriend? I'm just not..."

"But Rima," Kusukusu said sadly. "I thought you liked him."

"Who said...?" I exclaimed, dropping to the ground. "When did I ever say that to you?"

"You didn't, but I can tell. Your feelings are my feelings, too."

I sighed and sat down on the rug. I'm just not ready to be in a relationship of any kind right now.

"Kusukusu, why do you think... why do you think he said that?"

"He was jealous. He knew that Kirishima had a crush on you and he didn't want to lose you to him. You mean everything to him, Rima. That's how much he cares about you."

He does?

I've rejected him...

He looked so crestfallen and so unhappy...

I felt a tear slowly roll down my cheek.

"What is my dream? Who do I want to become? What do I want to be?"

Flashback

'Konnichiwa! I'm Kusukusu, your Guardian Character!'

'Guardian Character?'

'Yep! You want to be able to make everyone smile! Isn't that your dream?'

'How did you know...?'

'I was born from your strong wishes! Now, smile, Rima! You can't expect to make others smile if you don't smile first!'

'Smile...'

End of Flashback

"I can't even make a friend happy," I whispered, feeling hot tears begin rolling down my cheeks. "Not even the person who cares about me the most."

"Rima..." Kusukusu said sadly. "If you don't believe, then I'll..."

"I can't make a friend happy. I couldn't make him smile. How am I going to make others smile? I wonder if my dream is even possible."

"Rima! Of course it is!! Anything is possible if you put your heart to it!"

"My dream is worthless. There's no point in trying anymore if it's impossible."

"Rima, believe in yourself!! Then--"

"It's impossible."

~Kusukusu's POV~

If you don't believe in yourself... If you don't believe in me... If you don't believe in your dreams... then...

I felt a strange force pushing me back into my egg. A dark energy shutting me out of Rima's life.

"Rima--"

The last thing I saw was the shocked face of the girl whose dreams gave birth to my existence, turning towards me and screaming my name.

"KUSUKUSU!!!"

~Rima's POV~

Kusukusu...

I watched in fear as she was forced back into the egg, and marked with a large 'X'.

No... it can't be...

I've lost her.
———
Temari: You all have gone and jinxed it. I knew this would happen.

Rhythm: Fine, fine. Cool.

El: LOVE!!!!

Il: Shishishi...

Ran: Ahh!! Amu-chan, help, help!

Miki: We're being replaced!!

Su: Desu!!

Dia: ...

Amu: Well, it's your own fault for making me buy taiyaki on the way here!

Kusukusu: Minna!! I wonder what will happen to Rima. I hope she'll be all right. As for me... *giggles*

Pepe: What will happen to Rima and Nagihiko? What will happen to Kusukusu? Who are El and Il? You'll find out in the next chapter-dechu! *pauses* Oh, and when will I ever be able to take a nap? Babies are supposed to 17 hours of sleep a day. I've already spent that amount of time putting this script together.

Daichi: All you did was roll around and complain about how much babies are supposed to sleep a day.

Ran, Miki, Su, and Dia: STOP STEALING OUR LINES!!!!!!!

*backstage fighting*

Narrator: *sweatdrops* This'll take a while... So, um, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!