"But, Mama…"

"No buts, Rima! Remember the last time you walked home alone?"

14-year old Rima Mashiro was in the living room of her house, trying to convince her mother to let her walk home alone. Many teens her age wouldn't be having this issue. But many teens her age were never kidnapped when they were younger.

When she was still in elementary school, Rima would walk home from school. This was a happier time for her. Her parents were still happy and she would always make them laugh. But one day, her happiness was stolen from her. Those men took her while she was walking home but she was able to escape. After that day, everything was different. Her mama and papa, as she would call them, would fight over whose fault it was that she was kidnapped. She could no longer make them laugh. Childish things like her jokes were tossed aside like dirt. But Rima wanted this to change.

"Mama, I'll be fine. I will walk with my friend, Amu."

Amu Hinamori, age 14, was Rima's best friend. They've known each other since they were in 5th grade. Back in elementary, Amu still had her outer personality as her main personality. She was "Cool and Spicy! Amu Hinamori". No one was able to see through it until Rima came along. Rima moved to Seiyo and enrolled in Seiyo Elementary. At first, she thought Amu was foolish for smiling when her smiles were fake. But Amu wasn't that different from her, was she?

"I'm not so sure about that Hinamori girl. I've heard things about her-"

"What kinds of things, Mama?" Rima glared at her mother.

Rima was extremely protective of Amu. Amu was there when no one else was. She hated these rumors of Amu being evil or heartless just because she had an attitude. No one knew the real Amu because so far, no one had the right to know.

"Big things, Rima, big things you should be aware of. I've heard she was kicked out of her old school for hospitalizing someone. I hear she threatens her own parents. There's something wro-"

Rima's mother was cut off again, this time by the sound of the door slamming open.

"Kaen, you should listen to Rima." Rima's mother narrowed her eyes.

"This is none of your business, Kou."

"Rima is my daughter as well. It is very much my business."

"I care about her. You care more about you work!"

"My Rima is the most important thing in my life!"

"Yeah, that explains why you let her get kidnapped!"

"That wasn't my fault! If you hadn't been busy with your job, it would have never happened!"

Rima watched in horror as her parents fought. They were always like this. They always fought about who let her get kidnapped. She hated it. It wasn't anyone's fault except her kidnapper. Why can't they get it through their heads?

"SHUT UP!"

These two words from a short little girl silenced the fighting.

"Rima…" her parents said at the same time.

"Both of you. Please. Stop fighting", Rima whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. Kaen and Kou weren't sure what to do. Rima never cried while they fought. She always remained passive. Or did she?

Kaen looked at Kou. Kou stared at Kaen. What happened to them? They used to be so happy together. They looked at Rima's crying figure at the same time. Rima will always be their top priority but for the past 7 years or so, she wasn't. Their arguing was.

They always fought and in front of Rima, too. Their daughter was still strong after she was kidnapped but they were slowly weakening her with their fighting. Why are they fighting when they should be making sure Rima is happy and healthy? After all, Rima's happiness and well-being are what matters most right.

Kaen and Kou looked at each other again and for the first time in about 7 years, they smiled.

"Rima", Kaen cooed," Don't cry, baby. We're not fighting anymore. It's all okay. It's okay." Rima looked up at her mother with her honey eyes glistening with crystal tears. "See, we aren't fighting." Most teens her age would be annoyed if their parents spoke to them like they were babies. But for years, Rima hasn't had this. Rima yearned to be a child again. After alternating between staring and her mom then her dad for awhile, Rima finally spoke.

"No…fighting?" she spoke carefully and quietly, thinking if she spoke normally, the scene of her parents not fighting would shatter like glass. No, this had to be carefully preserved.

"No, honey. We're not fighting. There's no more fighting," Kou said to her, pools of unshed tears beginning to form in his eyes. He looked at Kaen once more. She was trying not to cry either. "There will be no more fighting about that. It's all in the past."

Rima was at a loss for words. They were actually not fighting. It's been years since this happened. Of course, Rima remember every moment when they wouldn't fight. Whether it was just because they weren't speaking or they were speaking to someone else, any time they wouldn't fight was precious to her. Now, her father is telling her they wouldn't fight. After 7 years of constant arguments, she didn't know whether she should believe that this is happening or try to wake up from the dream that would never actually come true. All this news was too much for Rima.

"Rima! Rima! Hello? Are you there?" Rima began to sit up, feeling extremely dizzy. The last thing she remembered was darkness. Her vision was blurred but becoming cleared as she opened her eyes. "Rima! Are you alright?"

"Mama?" Rima asked weakly.

"Yes, baby, I'm here. Are you okay?" Kaen answered, her eyes flashing with worry. Rima nodded slowly, trying not to get any more nauseous than she already is. Kaen and Kou sighed in relief. "Rima, you don't know how worried we were." Rima was shocked. Then the memories filled her head. Her eyes widened.

"So it's true?"

"What's true?"

"What you told me, papa. That you won't fight." Honestly, Rima feared the answer as much as she anticipated it. It seemed like hours before he answered.

"Yes, Rima. We won't fight." Tears began to fill Rima's eyes. After 7 long years, it was finally over. The fighting was done. Her wish was finally granted. Kaen saw Rima's tears of joy and smiled.

"There's another thing, Rima," Kaen said happily. Rima tilted her head in a very cute manner.

"What's that, Mama?" What else could there be? This is the happiest day of my life, Rima thought to herself.

Kaen and Kou looked at each other, then at Rima, and smiled.

"You can walk home with Amu," they said together.

They didn't know it yet, but this one sentence will change Rima's life very soon.

This is the first chapter of Take It Out On Me. I hope you enjoyed it. All reviews are appreciated, including flames.

I'm going to always put the disclaimer in the end of the chapter so here I go.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara nor will I ever. I make no money from writing these stories. I own nothing but the plot and the names of Rima's parents. I don't even own Rima's parents. Only their names.