Reaching

"Meet Mama at the exit in two hours, okay? Don't talk to strangers, don't wander off, don't take anything from strangers, don't…" I droned out the rest of her speech. I had memorized it by heart, after all.

Mama was so protective these days. Which was better then angry and upset, but you get the point. Ever since Papa and Mama decided to live apart (Not divorce!), she's been more relaxed. Which is a huge improvement.

I nodded and left her standing their by all the large textbooks. She knew where to find me. I always was at the largest section in the store, giggling freely on a comfortable chair with a pile of colorfully drawn gags within arm's reach.

This place was happy. It made Mama laugh and me happy. When I was little, Papa and Mama would read the gag comics with me and smile at each other every time I laughed. It always filled with this…feeling that I haven't felt for a long time…We haven't been to a book store in a long time, either.

I remember the week when they started planning the whole issue of living separately. I had desperately tried to put the pieces back together, in hopes of changing their stubborn minds. It was then I realized it was fruitless. The past was the past, the future was being written, and the present was the present. I couldn't change a thing.

…

This so weird of me; talking/thinking so poetically or deeply. Blunt and straightforward was me; poetic and deep was Nagihiko. Wait.

Why did I even think that?! Since when did the cross-dresser start intruding my thoughts? See? Everything is changing. Too quickly, I suppose.

Amu's changed. She's no longer the dense girl having love problems. She found a path to take and followed it through. Yaya's grown up. She took out the ridiculous ribbons in her hair and only put a clip with pink ribbon as a reminder of childish side. Not that she's NOT childish anymore. Tadase's changed. He's still polite and 'princely' as ever. But he's learned to let go and move on.

Utau's changed. Ikuto's changed. Kukai's changed. Kairi's (Who is in another city somewhere; I didn't really listen when Amu talked about where exactly he moved to) changed.

I've changed.

Except, of course, for my blasted height. I haven't grown much in the two years since the 6th grade. A few inches here, a couple more there. I was getting sick of the fact both of my parents were tall while I was some elf.

There. There is was. The manga shelves, stocked full with drawn comics, romances (Like I'd read that!), and my favorite: Gag comedy! KusuKusu made a squeak of glee when we neared the shelf where the gags were placed in neat, straight lines.

I couldn't stop the smile from lighting up my face. I had forgotten this feeling of masked delight when seeing all these books. Mama bought me all the gag manga anthologies online. She had always been too busy to take me out to buy them in person.

My walking slowed to a stop, only a few feet away from the last shelf in the corner. KusuKusu was talking to me, but I didn't hear. My smile fell.

From this far, I could see. See that the newest volume of what I had been looking for. There was only one left, atop the highest shelf and all the way at the back. Without a doubt, there was probably no way I could ever reach it. Mama could reach it; Papa could reach it, and heck! Yaya could reach it (Or at least touch it enough to make it fall)!

But I could not.

I tried too. KusuKusu and I found a stool. I stepped on it and tried reaching, jumping, on my tippy-toes, anything. KusuKusu tried to pull it down, no luck. It was a principally heavy gag manga, filled with the entire year worth of gags, for her tiny body. When it fell, it simply tumbled over; slightly wavering over the edge. Then it was still.

"Rima-chan! Get someone to help." My chara suggested, though she knew full well that I would not comply. It was a pride thing. This was my mission, and I would somehow solve it.

Hopefully.

---

"You need to stop, Rima-chan! You look icky now." KusuKusu murmured, tugging on the strap of the sundress Mama had force me into. She was right, perfectly right as she had been for the last thirty minutes. My arms were sore and bruised from banging against the shelves, my legs hurt from springing so much, and my head…It's like a herd of elephants is stampeding through it.

But I would not give up. I've put up with too much to leave empty-handed or ask for help. Mashiro Rima does not give in that easy.

I reached my arms up for another try, squinting my eyes tightly together, and muttered obscenities under my breath. They fell back to my side like limp spaghetti Mama used to make when she was in a particularly foul mood. KusuKusu had resigned from cheering me on. I sort of wish Ran was here now; it is nice to have a cheering section from time to time.

"No. No. No." I whimpered to myself, summoning the toughest scowl I could. I would not surrender. Not now, not ever!

So once again, I pulled myself up from pits of despair and do the only thing I could. Reach, reach, reach, and reach. I really did endeavor. Why was I cursed shortness?! This was so embarrassing… Flailing my arms around trying to find a way to merely pull a book off the uppermost shelf! If anyone saw this…I would die; seriously die of mortal humiliation.

Subsequently the most embarrassing thing in all my life happened.

I was reaching for another attempt at it, my cheekbones flaring and my patience wearing thin. I could already feel damp drops lining up my hazel eyes. They weren't crocodile tears. I was that terribly upset. Being short always had bothered me, but this…This was an ultimate low. Who actually spent almost a half hour trying to get a book?

This was just… shameful. Disgraceful! Mortifying, even!

Swatting away angry tears threatening to spill, I attempted it again. Reaching, reaching, reaching…

And then the strictly impossible happened.

---

I had just begun to work at this old book store near town. I needed the part time job, and it offered an escape from my over bearing mother. Okaasan was trying to persuade me into leaving Japan and return to Europe under my alias.

She knew what my answer would be. Still, Okaasan wouldn't let the topic drop. I was tired of those tortuous words she constantly sprouted.

"Nadeshiko was just a divine dancer! Why did you quit?"

"Dancing as female is part of the tradition! You can't blame me for wanting to keep it alive!"

"I will not refer to you as a son! You are a kabuki, Nagihiko! I will forever call you Nadeshiko until you find the true meaning of dancing!"

Mother could be rather theatrical at times. Especially when taking 1) Nadeshiko, 2) Kimonos, and, 3) My love life in account. It was…sickening.

At the time I decided to stack all the gag comedies at the top of the self, the thought of Rima-chan no being able to reach didn't cross my mind at all. My manager, a stern man who had his nose constantly stuck in a book, had just given me the job without a mention of instructions.

"Here," He had said in a muffled tone, "Take this and stack 'em."

So I did. I put them right at the tallest empty shelf, thinking smartly to myself that no one really cared for gag comedies much so it was the perfect spot.

Oh, how I was wrong.

It was only after I stepped into the manga division of the store and saw the familiar of figure of the Queen's Chair by the gag comedies; I knew I had made a horrible mistake.

She looked like nothing I had ever seen at school: the cool, self-assured dignified doll that seem to never drop a sweat. Rima looked…Awful in this position. Everyone knew she was short, but now she seemed to shrink even further more. Her face was clearly trying to remain calm on the surface, but failing miserably.

Lucky for me, I had left Rhythm at home due to the massive trouble he had cooked up the last time I was here. KusuKusu wouldn't be able to sense another chara's presence.

I wanted to help her. Not just reaching for the book but something else…A meaning hidden under her strong-willed actions. I had no idea which was more impossible. Reaching the book meant revealing that I worked here (Seeing my well polished name tag and uniform) and, gulp, that I was the one to place it so high up. Plus, I knew Rima-chan hated to be…fussed over.

The Guardians have never been told the story of why her parents are what they are. But I deduced it. Over-protective parents usually have a reason for being so protective. There were many possibilities but only one seemed the most reasonable.

Either her parents are complete paranoid loonies or Rima-chan's been kidnapped before.

Truthfully, I was leaning to the first one. But I remembered her hush chats on that orange phone of hers before. Clipped off words, but words nonetheless. Being an actor and all, I had good hearing. Off set cues were very important back when I was still Nadeshiko.

A lot of those talks had something about "What if--", "We don't want that to happen again!", "I'm just trying to do the best for you!", and whole lot of bickering from the other end of the phone. Rima's been hiding it but I also know her parents have recently separated.

My mom is the host of S.S.M.S (Single Mothers Secret Society) tea parties for a reason you know. Sometimes, I think she has a clandestine underground base that retrieves confidential information about others people's lives.

The next thing that happened was completely unexpected of me. I don't know what took over my body, but it did.

I found myself walking steadfastly towards her with a calm smile edging itself on my mouth. In a few steps I was behind her, an arm snaking out and grasping the thick gag comedy with ever so subtly wavering fingers

---

When the arm reached out from around me I didn't know what to think.

Long, slender fingers wrapped around the spine of the manga anthology; giving me a fleeting visualization of fingers on ivory piano keys. Still trying to collect my thoughts, I heard a light chuckle.

The gag was being handed to me from behind…The person was still behind me… That meant one terribly thwarting thing.

If I wasn't so shocked, I would have turned a shade of scarlet…The person's arms were literally around me.

Gingerly taking the book, I felt my surroundings go blurry. The only thought in my mind was to start reading. Legs going wobbly, I resisted the desire to collapse on the ugly navy carpeted ground and start reading then & there. I felt oddly cheerful, similar to the feeling I received when around Amu. It was like my entire character was turned inside out.

So I glanced up and opened my mouth to pronounce a soft word of thanks.

Nothing but a strangled sound came out. My throat had grown absurdly dry. For a good reason, too.

The arm that had helped me reach the dear comedy, clad in a shamrock green polo with a name tag hanging on a chain-y thingy, was connected to the last person I had ever wanted to see in such a appalling situation: Fujisaki Nagihiko; Former Best-Friend-Stealer (That position had, grudgingly, been given to Ikuto Tsukiyomi), Cross-Dresser Extraordinaire.

And he was actually grinning… at me!

Wait-- Fujisaki had been…embracing –If you could call being encircled that− me from behind.

Blast him and his stupid soothing smiles.

---

I didn't know which was cuter: Rima's in-a-oblivion expression or her down-right pissed off expression. Both, to me, were simply angelic on her.

"Hello Rima-chan. How are you today?" I asked, thrusting my hand down at her sitting form. Her smile was gone, replaced with an unsure line. Predictably, she didn't take my hand. Just hold the gag closer to her chest and glare.

"Nagi-kun, where's Rhythm?" Her chara squeaked flittering up to me with wide eyes.

"Don't talk to the enemy, KusuKusu." She finally said hoisting herself off of the ground and waltzing off toward a small coffee table with two wooden chairs propped up crookedly by its side. The chara glanced at me for a second and waved before floating back to Rima's side.

The hazy happy look in her eyes that appeared when she finally had the comedy in her hands was gone, replaced by those cold monotone orbs. I could tell she was self-conscious. Who wouldn't be after that scene that just took place? In the distance, I saw her climb onto the chair and place the book with careful movements on the fake wood table. Her delicate shoulders were slumped over, the thin cardigan draped over them rustling slightly as she took shuddery breaths.

Reluctantly, I followed her and sat down, my own eyes never leaving her bowed head. I sat straight, ready for an insult or threat. None came. Then I saw the way her face looked.

She glowed; glowed with an insane light from inside, as if she was in the middle of a character transformation. Rima's cheeks were flushed pink, her lips curved in an innocent smile, blonde curls hanging at the side her face like curtains, and a twinkling giggle starting to form. She was…truly happy.

I had never seen her this way. Every time I stepped in room, her face was lifeless and bored. Once, I'd catch a glimpse of a small smile. Only if Amu-chan was around though. I had never seen her sincerely happy. I didn't even think she noticed I was sitting directly in front of her, either.

The girl was in her own little world where comedy fairies roam, people who perform gags incorrectly are sentenced to jail for eternity and the Goddess of Comedy reigns supreme.

"Why are you watching me like that, Nagihiko?"

I blinked with surprise. The gag comedy was lying flat up on the table, shut close. She had finished. Rima's voice was…different, drawled and dazed sounding. And she was calling me by my first name; proof that she wasn't thinking right.

"Nagi—Fujisaki, why are sitting across from me? Go away." Heh. That lasted long.

"You looked happy." I answered, ignoring her statements completely. She turned her face away, fidgeting in the too big chair. "Do you come here often, Rima-chan?"

"Do you work here or something?" the blonde shot back, viciously glaring solidly back at me. Managing a lopsided smirk, I raised an eyebrow.

"How did you know?"

---

It drives me nuts! How can the pretty boy not flinch under my gaze?! I was rapidly breaking inside; I had let someone see me at my weakest point. Only KusuKusu & Amu knew that…soft side of me.

Nagihiko was feigning mock surprise. I should have known he would get a job first out of all us Guardians. Except maybe the Chairman, but he doesn't count anymore. Nagihiko was wearing one of those uniforms, green with the logo of the book store embroidered on the right side. Green actually looks good on— what am I saying?!

"Will you leave me along? Don't you need to take care of the cashier or stack some—" Realization dawned to me. It couldn't be…right? Was he the one that placed the gag comedies on the top shelf?

No. Way.

"YOU!" I accused, my voice going all shrill, "You were the one that put all those comedies on the highest shelf! You…You were the one that put me in all this torture, degradation, and pain of being short! This is all your fault!"

His face turns slightly pink, nervously chuckling. "Well, Rima-chan, it's a really funny story. Is that a new dress?" He explained, trying to play it off. Stupid Fujisaki.

But lucky for him, I still have a pile of mangas to read. No time for a brilliantly thought up plot this time. Grabbing the top book from my pile (Which I coincidentally had placed near my chair), I lean back in my chair and open the cover. KusuKusu is giggling already. Bleh, does my chara even know how to read? Or does she just look at the funny picture? I'll have to ask Tadase later.

I find the first speech bubble and mouth the first word when something feels out of place. Looking up, I see the cross-dresser is staring at me with these…eyes. I feel self-conscious now. Is he checking me out?!

"Get your mind out the gutter." I order, my tone coming out raspy. He's not blinking; is Nagihiko delirious? KusuKusu pays no attention to us. She's too busy practicing the 'Bala-balance!' on random children --that can't see her-- to care.

"Serenity, it's a beautiful thing isn't it?"

"Are you talking about Utau's chari nari? I didn't know you liked Utau. But I think she's dating Kukai. Don't get your hopes up." I'm rambling now; I really don't like the way he's smiling. Creepy…

His amber eyes rolled dramatically. "Nevermind. My intelligence is wasted on you. Go back and read."

"Yeah…I'm just going to do that."

---

Silence surrounded the small coffee table as the former Queen and Jack sat across from the other in a book store.

Rima reading her gag comedies, Nagihiko watching her carefully from behind a book he plunked off the shelves, and Ms. Mashiro spying with knowing eyes from her hiding place chatting on her cell phone... With Mrs. Fujisaki and the entire hoard of S.S.M.S. ladies.

Who would ever predict this little scenario would be repeated a number of times afterwards? And that it would become so much more then just a little scenario?