This will only last until the 14th. In other news, it's my birthday :D

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Shugo Chara.

She picked up the rose and examined it. After years of being pursued by classmates and coworkers, she had experience with gifts, if you can call it that. She picked up the rose and pinched a petal between her thumb and forefinger. She gave it a light tug, the rubbed it slowly back and forth. It had a nice velvet feeling. She ran a finger down the stem, feeling its smooth green, not even the tiniest prick of a thorn. Finally a little note attached to it by a white ribbon was read.

I'll always be there,
And I'll catch you if you fall.
Safely in my arms.

-Closer than you think ;)

Rima wasn't all too happy about the letter. It made the perfect rose…well, it just ruined the image. Though a lovely haiku it was, she did not like the message sent. Who did this person think he was, her protector? Her knight in shining armor? She could very well take care of herself thank you very much. Still, Rima smiled to herself.

"Let's see where this takes us." She whispered to herself. She filled up a glass vase and put the rose in, then setting it next to the window letting the sunlight was over the flower. She read the note again and smiled. Setting it down next to the vase, she grabbed her bag and walked out the door. The wind created by the door closing caused the flower's single leaf to waver.

"I got a rose today." Rima brought up, not caring to glance up at her partner to see if he was listening.

Nagihiko smiled, also not looking at her. "Did you now?" He opened his eyes and looked at the ducks swimming across the pond. "Was there a note?"

Rima snapped a picture of a duck just rising out of the water. "Yup. Haiku."

Nagihiko smirked. "Classy."

"Anonymous signature too."

"Stalkers with stationary."

Rima looked through the pictures she had taken for the photography class she was taking. "I'm taking you know this from experience?"

Nagihiko glanced at her. "Maybe."

Rima really didn't know why she was talking to the young man sitting next to her. Sure, he was the best friend of her best friend, but they really didn't care much for each other if Amu wasn't involved. Maybe he was bored. Maybe they were both bored.

"Can I see your pictures?" Rima handed him the camera and drank some water. "So what did the note say?" He asked as he thumbed through the pictures.

Rima gave him a look. "Is it any of your business?"

Nagihiko chuckled. "Nope."

Rima sighed. "I'll always be there, and I'll catch you if you fall, safely in my arms." Rima mock quoted.

"You don't like it?" The young man raised an eyebrow.

"It's a decent piece of literature. I can tell he meant it. But it's a little cheesy, and underestimates my ability to take care of myself." Rima explained and held out her hand for the camera.

Nagihiko gave it back to her. "Coming for the girl who lives on cup noodles and frozen pancakes."

Rima stuck out her tongue at him. "I can cook, I'm just too lazy."

Nagihiko chuckled again. He watched her movements as she took the pictures. For a college freshman in photography, she was really good. "So, if you met this person, what would do tell him to fix about this little gift?"

Rima gave him a side-glance. "Why would you want to know?"

"Genuine human curiosity."

"I wouldn't change a thing."

Nagihiko raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said it was cheesy."

Rima smirked at him. "Maybe…I might like cheesy." She put her camera back in the bag she brought with her and walked away from the benches they were sitting at.

Nagihiko breathed deeply and pushed himself off the bench, heading in the other direction. Not his own home, for it was the same way that Rima was heading, but the flower shop a few blocks down. As Nagihiko strode down the sidewalks toward the flower shop, he murmured to himself, "Cheesy…huh." He smiled and walked in the store, asking for a violet.

I got a fuzzy blue monkey 8D.