Hello everybody, and thank you, kind reader, for stopping by my story. I have been a Digimon fan for a long time, and a Ryuki supporter for almost as long, and yet, I only submit my first Digimon fanfic now! Unusual, I'll admit, but I have been working on this for a long time, and as it is a chaptered story, I wanted to make sure I had enough written in advance before submitting anything. I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it, and once again, thank you for stopping by!

-Lusankya

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or its characters, just this little story.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The sun was bright, the birds were chirping and kids were playing and running around everywhere, just happy to not have school on this blessed Sunday. And, in the corner of West Shinjuku's park, six teenagers were hanging out, happy to have the chance to be together.

It has been a while since the Tamers had the chance to get together. Well, it seemed this way to Rika. While the others went to the same school and basically saw each other every day, she rarely had the chance to see them. Curse her mother and her beliefs about what she considered a good education. Not that she didn't like her school, mind you. Her mother had the money to send her to a private school where she was challenged and she even had some friendly acquaintances. But there were two things that she definitely did not like about her school: the fact that she couldn't see her friends, and the fact that she had to wear a skirt.

But now wasn't the time for dwelling on the unfairness of her life. It was a wonderful day of September and she was going to spend it with her fellow Tamers.

Takato, Rika, Henry, Kazu, Kenta and Jeri were sitting on the grass, just outside of Guilmon's old hideout. Since the temperature was still warm enough to do so, they had decided to picnic.

"Jeri, said Kazu between two bites of his sandwich, I absolutely adore you."

"Yeah, it was super-nice of you to make all this food for us!" Added Kenta.

The young girl slightly blushed and smiled brightly before answering "It wasn't that much, really. Plus, Takato helped me out a lot."

Henry turned to Takato, an eyebrow raised and a teasing smile on his lips. "Well, well, you hadn't told us that…"

Takato blushed slightly before stammering an answer.

"W-why would I have told you? I-I mean, there's nothing special about me helping Jeri making sandwiches…"

"No, but there's something special about you and Jeri alone in a kitchen" said Kenta, grinning. Kazu chuckled at his friend's comment but choked on his food at the same time, alarming the Tamers until he managed to swallow it down.

"Don't mind me, guys, said Kazu while coughing a bit. I'm good now, I'm alright…"

"Man, what is it with you guys? The second I'm not there, you all start dying."

All at once, the Tamers turned around to face the newcomer… to happily realise that it was Ryo. They did not see him often, as his parents had divorced shortly after the D-Reaper's events. Since then, he had moved with his mother to Nerima and only went back to Kyushu a few times a year to see his father. While he never talked about his parents' divorce, Ryo seemed happy to live in Tokyo and he made a point of coming to West-Shinjuku as often as he could to visit his fellow Tamers.

"Hi Ryo!"

"Long time no see, pal!"

"Yeah, how long has it been since the last time you came here?"

"Well he did come here for a couple of weeks in August."

Ryo laughed at his friends effusions of affection. It was good to feel so welcome.

"I'm glad to see you too guys. It's always great to come here! Hi Henry- oh, thanks for the sandwich Jeri! Hello, hello, and of course- (he plopped down next to Rika) Hello to you, Rika", he said while flashing her his most charming smile.

Rika raised an eyebrow but smiled back.

"I couldn't help but notice that I am always the last one you greet, Akiyama."

"Well, you know what they say, you got to save the redheaded ones for last" he answered while winking at her.

Rika rolled her eyes at his antics. Ryo did not change much in the way he behaved with her over the year, meaning that he always had a little extra in store for Rika. They weren't particularly close, mind you, but Rika had warmed up slightly to Ryo during the last year and was able to successfully converse with him without insulting or trying to maim him every two sentences.

"So Ryo, asked Takato, how come you're here? When I called you to tell you about our get-together, you told me that you couldn't come because you had too much homework."

Ryo nodded.

"I did. But I woke up really early today and managed to finish everything just in time to run to the bus station and get here relatively on time. I swear guys, I think teachers have some kind of device that enables them to sense when there's something you really want to do so they can give extra homework just to spite you!"

The others laughed and wholly agreed.

"Speaking of school, intervened Rika, aren't you excited about next Saturday?"

"Heck yeah!" exclaimed Kenta and Kazu.

The redheaded girl smiled at the enthusiasm of the two boys.

"Isn't it great that the autumn's equinox falls on a Saturday this year?" continued Rika "I love two days week-ends. We should really make something big for the occasion."

"Rika, said Jeri looking uncomfortable, I'm afraid we won't be able to."

"Why not?" answered Rika, puzzled.

"Because our grade at school is going on a field trip to Kyoto next week-end", sheepishly said Henry.

"The teachers couldn't make it fit anywhere else in our school's schedule", apologetically added Takato.

"Oh" was all Rika managed to answer, letting her gaze fall to the ground. Her disappointment was obvious.

"Haven't we told you about that? I was so sure we did!" said Henry

"We'll try to do something all together another time" promised Jeri. "Maybe on Sports Day?"

"Yeah, maybe…" Rika smiled. "So, what will you be doing in Kyoto?"

-----A few hours later------

"It's getting late now, and I really have to get back home, so I'll talk to you guys later, okay?" said Jeri.

"I'll walk you home" offered Takato. Jeri smiled before nodding.

"Well it was great to see you guys! Have fun in Kyoto, and don't forget to take pictures, okay?" said Rika while taking her leave from her friends.

"Don't worry, we will!" answered Takato.

"And lots of them, too!" added Jeri, grinning.

The pair waved the others goodbye and so, the two of them walked away. When they were far enough, Ryo permitted himself to chuckle.

"Aren't they just adorable?" he fondly said.

"Yeah, it's only a matter of time before those two become an item", predicted a grinning Henry.

"Takato and Jeri, sitting in a tree…" started singing Kazu and Kenta. Rika rolled her eyes at the pair.

"Cut it out you two. Anymore of Kazu's singing and I'll have to start a therapy."

"Speaking of therapy, I have to go and pick-up Suzie at her friend's house" said Henry while looking at his watch. Ryo raised an eyebrow at the comment.

"I don't get it. What does therapy has to do with Suzie?"

"Oh, she stopped playing Princess Pretty-Pants. Instead, she plays psychologist. She makes us lay down on the couch and forces us to tell her about our day while she takes notes."

They all laughed at the image.

"Anyway, I have to go now. See you later, guys!" And so Henry departed.

"Yeah, we better go too. Hey, Kenta, want to eat at my place tonight?"

"Yeah, sure Kazu!"

"Race you to my house!"

"Hey, not fair!" And so they ran off.

Rika shook her head.

"I wish I knew where they find such energy. Oh well, I got to go too. Goodbye Akiyama."

"Mind if I walk a bit with you? I have to go in that direction to catch my bus anyway."

Rika gave him a strange look but shrugged.

"Sure, if you want."

They started walking in silence, both lost in their thoughts and enjoying the crisp September breeze on their face. Rika permitted her mind to wander freely. After a while though, she got the nagging feeling that somebody was watching her. Unable to ignore it anymore, she turned her eyes towards Ryo. Just as she had guessed, he was starring at her.

"What is it" she asked, annoyed.

He smiled before answering. "Just wondering about a few things. You really seemed disappointed this afternoon, when the others told you they were going on that field trip. Had you already planned out something?"

Rika looked away. "Yeah, of course I was disappointed. I don't see them as often as they see each other, you know, since I go to another school and all."

"But had you prepared something? What were your plans for next week-end?"

She shrugged. "I don't really know. We could have gone to the movies or the arcade. We could have thrown a small party. It would have been nice to do something else than just hang around in the park for a few hours."

"Yeah, it would have been nice", sighed Ryo.

Rika hesitated before adding "Also, I… I wanted to ask Jeri if she'd spend the night at my place."

Ryo gave her a surprised look before chuckling. "Like a slumber party? Why, I would never have guessed you had a girly side, Rika."

Said girl's cheeks coloured themselves slightly. "There's nothing funny about it!"

He kept laughing softly.

"Really, Rika, I can see it from here.2 He cleared his throat before starting to speak in a very high-pitched tone: "Rika, can I braid your hair? Rika, who do you think is cuter: Takato, Henry or Ryo? Rika, let's do my magazine's test! It tells you what type of guys you should date!"

Rika gave a small laugh. "Yeah, I suppose Jeri would be like that", she conceded. "But it could have been fun. You know, a night dedicated to the female minority among Tamers."

He winked at her. "I'm just teasing you."

"As usual."

A few minutes went by as they kept on walking. Suddenly, Ryo stopped. Rika stopped walking too and looked at him quizzically.

"Rika", he began, "what if we spent next week-end together?"

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"You and me? Are you kidding?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. What, you don't think it could be fun?"

"I don't know", she answered, doubt evident in her voice. "Wouldn't it be weird? I mean, it's not like we're close or anything."

"And your point is?"

"My point is that we don't have anything in common!"

"Yes we do!"

"Name me four things we have in common."

"I can easily do that!"

"I highly doubt it.""

"Okay then. First, we both are Digimon card game champions."

Rika rolled her eyes. "Easy one."

"We both got cool spiky gravity-defying hairstyles."

"That's subjective."

"We both have purple as our favourite color."

She frowned.

"Your favourite color is actually purple?" she asked in disbelief.

"Actually, it isn't. But I like blue and red equally, and they make purple when they are mixed together. That's good enough for me."

She chuckled. "Fine.'

"And finally… uh, finally, we both… uh…"

Rika crossed her arms and started tapping her foot in mock impatience. "I'm waiting, here, you know."

"Uh, we both… like… Star Wars?"

"How in the world did you know that?" she cried out in astonishment.

He nervously scratched the back of his head.

"Lucky guess!"

She sweatdropped but quickly shrugged it off.

"So, what do you say Rika? I'm sure we could have a wonderful time together!"

"I don't know", she cautiously replied. "You really must be desperate for company if you want mine so bad. Don't you have adoring fans? I'm sure they would be delighted to spend the day with you and attend to your every need."

He looked at her blankly. "If I really wanted to spend the day with an empty-headed girl who never heard of the Digimon card game and only fawned over me because she saw my picture on the cover of some magazine, do you really think I'd ask you in the first place?"

"Hm. Good point."

Ryo sighed before turning around, sadly looking at the ground, his hands in his pockets.

"It's alright if you don't want to, Rika. I won't force you or anything. It's just that…' He sighed loudly. 'I was looking forward to spending two whole days with the Tamers too. We could have thrown a huge slumber party, and Henry could have braided my hair…"

Rika began laughing uncontrollably. The image of Henry braiding Ryo's hair truly was hilarious. But, Ryo kept his demeanour and continued his monologue, pretending to be oblivious to Rika's hilarity.

"But, since you don't seem to want my company, I guess I'll just stay home… alone… lonely… I'll spend the week-end in my room, re-watching my DVDs of the 1st season of Digimon …"

She shook her head, her laugher finally stopping. "Okay, okay, then. We'll do something together next week-end. But only because I pity you."

"Why, thank you for your condescendence, Your Majesty."

"At last, you give me a nickname I like! This day just keeps getting better and better."

"What was wrong with 'Wildcat' and 'Pumpkin'?"

"They sucked."

"They so did not!"

"Oh yes they did. But you're free to call me 'Your Majesty' anytime you like."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Good boy."

They resumed walking. Rika discreetly snuck a glance at Ryo, only to find out that he was doing the exact same thing. They both laughed and kept on walking, both smiling to themselves.

"I make a left here" suddenly said Rika.

"Well I have to take right to get to the bus station. Looks like we must already part, Your Highness."

She softly laughed.

"Looks like it. But it seems that we'll be catching up next week-end, won't we?"

"Sure we will! We'll touch up on the details later this week."

"Okay then. Well, goodbye Akiyama."

He looked at her in disappointment.

"I don't even get a hug?"

The redheaded girl looked at him blankly.

Ryo smiled and opened his arms to her.

She narrowed her eyes.

The wind blew.

"Fine!" he said while throwing his hands in the air. "You win. No hug then."

She game him a small satisfied smile.

"Good boy."

"Well, goodbye Rika! See you on Saturday!" He said, waving to her as he walked away.

"Bye!"

She starred at Ryo's back for a long time before snapping back to reality and beginning to make her own way toward her house. It was weird that Ryo had offered to do something with her just like that, she decided. She suddenly frowned. 'I hope he didn't do it because he felt sorry for me', she thought. 'Though, maybe he did really feel lonely and was only desperate for company... Nah. Ryo, desperate for company? Yeah, right. But he could be nostalgic of the Tamers' days, I guess.' Lost in her thoughts, she kept on walking, nearing her home.

'Let's say though… Just for one second, let's say that all along, Ryo just wanted to spend some time with me?'

As she made her way under her porch, fumbling through her pockets for her keys, she let a small amused smirk graze her lips.

'Heh. As if that could happen.'

Once inside, she chuckled at the silly idea while untying her shoelaces.

'Come on; me and Ryo Akiyama, playmates and best friends? Not in a million years!'

And so, she made her way to her room.

End of Chapter 1