"Takato! Get back here!" An angry red-head chased the brown haired boy.
"I didn't mean it! I'm sorry Rika!" Takato shouted over his shoulder as he ran from her.
"I'm going to hurt you!" Rika yelled to him, ignoring the fact he apologized. Takato knew better then to try and stop and talk things out. Rika's idea of talking was different from his. His didn't involve hurting him. She said his idea was "boring." Takato happened to think his way was safe. They were on opposite sides of the "friendly" chain.
Takato ran faster, trying not to get killed. When the redhead was angry, there was little chance of survival.
"But Rika, seriously, can't we talk this out!" Takato yelled over his shoulder.
"Maybe when I'm done pounding you!" Rika yelled.
It was useless, Takato knew it. But it was still worth a try, after all his life was on the line. Takato took a sharp right, and onto the streets. He took off down the side walk, weaving in and out of people. He took another turn and was in an ally. He quickly ducked behind a dumpster.
"Takato! Where are you? I promise I won't hurt you if you come out!" Rika called. Under her breath she muttered, "Much."
But Takato was smarter then that. Rika knew he was, but it was worth a shot. She knelled down and looked under the dumpster. A pair of feet on the other side!
"Fine then!" Rika called. "I'm leaving!" She pretended to walk away but turned around just before she left, and tip-toed back to the dumpster. She heard a shifting noise, and faint footsteps. Just as Takato reached the end of the dumpster where Rika was, she smiled.
"Gotcha!" She whispered, just loud enough to be heard. Takato yelped and took off. The chase was on yet again.
"Come on! You know I didn't mean it!" Takato screamed.
"I don't care! Your gonna pay!" Rika yelled. As they weaved in and out of people, some turned to watch the two chase each other. Some adults smiled, remembering when they were 13, chasing there friends around for fun. Of course, they didn't realize Rika wasn't chasing the goggle-wearing boy for fun. She was planning on hurting him.
"You'll tire before I will!" Rika yelled to the boy. This was true. No matter how much he tried, he knew the redhead was much more fit then him, and always would be.
"I can try!" He called over his shoulder, before making a sharp turn back into the park. They had ran in a complete circle!
Takato ran quicker, hoping to beat Rika back to the hideout, where everyone else was. He was weaving in and out of trees, hoping to lose Rika. But she was fast, and she knew where he was headed.
"Guys! Save me!" Takato called as he ran up to them.
"Back so soon?" Henry asked. Takato glared at him, but Henry was unmoved.
"Just help me, would ya?" Takato pleaded.
"Fine, but just this once. Go hide, and we'll say you went the other way," Henry sighed.
"Thank you!" Takato smiled and quickly hurried off in one direction, while Rika came from the other.
"Where is he?" Rika demanded.
"He went that way," Kazu replied, pointing toward the stairs to the hideout, even though Takato had gone the other way.
"If you're lying to me," Rika need say no more. Everyone pointed the correct direction Takato went. Even Jeri.
"Thanks see ya!" Rika called and ran off. Amazingly, no one felt bad about pointing him out. But when one's life is on the line, one usually doesn't.
Rika started to walk, listening. She didn't want to miss the boy if she were to come across him. Silently creeping, listening for the breath of the boy, she got low. Her revenge would be sweet. She wanted to make sure not to miss him. Little did she know, he had plans of his own.
Rika heard a rustle but it was too late to turn and look. Takato had pounced.
"Ah!" Rika fell to the ground, the boy having tackled her. "What the?!"
"Well, now that your down there, let's talk!" Takato said.
"Let me up!" Rika growled!
"Not in a million years!" Takato replied, smiling. "Not until we talk this over. No hurting, no killing, just talking."
"It's not like I have a choice! I'm pinned down!" Rika glared.
"Now you know how I feel most of the time," Takato grinned. Rika hated that grin. It made him look, well, dare she say it, cute! Or she should say cuter. She did find him cute, grin or not. Not that she would tell him so. Even she refused to believe she liked the goggle wearing boy.
"And what is that suppose to mean?" Rika glared.
"Well, you usual are attacking someone. And unless they know how to move, thy hit the ground," Takato replied.
"Well, no one asked you!" There went her icy personality again. Talking for her, yet again. But it was for the best. Who knew what she would say if she was speaking from her nice side.
"No need to get touchy, I was just saying," Takato replied, looking down at her.
"Well, start talking!" Rika ordered.
"Well, I was running for quite some time. I don't even remember what I said to make you mad," Takato confessed.
"Well, umm, truth be told, neither do I," Rika admitted. She was to busy chasing him to remember what she was angry about.
"Then why are you still attacking me?" Takato demanded.
"To be honest, it's kinda fun! Not to mention, you made me mad. I might not remember what made me mad, but I know you made me mad. So, I decided to get even," Rika smiled
"So if I let you up, I die?" Takato asked.
"Yup!" Rika had no interest in lying here. Might as well tell the truth now that they were talking, right?
"Well, I don't like that idea. So your staying down there, and I'm up here where it's safe," Takato replied.
"Safe for now, yes. But how long will that last?" Rika smiled a mischievous smile. Takato gulped.
"Well, I guess for now is good, right?" Takato replied. Rika raised an eyebrow. He was defiantly one of the weirdest kids she knew. He didn't fear her, he just ran for some reason. Others feared her, but not Takato. It was part of what made her like him. That, and he was cute! Rika shook her head, to clear the thought! She did not like Gogglehead!
"You okay Rika?" Takato asked.
"I'm fine!" The fiery redhead snapped. "I was just thinking!"
"Hey, no need to snap. I'm your friend and I worry for you! Even if that is hard for you to believe," Takato said, looking down at the girl.
"Hmm," Rika averted her eyes. She hated when he did that. When he cared. No one else did, so why did he have to? It aggravated Rika.
"Hmm, as in what?" Takato asked.
"Hmm as in none of your business. Now, let me up or I'll have to hurt you," Rika glared at him.
"Of course you will. Now, if I let you up, I get hurt. But if I don't let you up, I get hurt. Either way, I get hurt. I don't like the odds," Takato said.
"That's your problem, Gogglehead! Now let me up!" Rika said.
"How about, if I help you up, you won't hurt me?" Takato asked.
"Fine! Just get me up!" Rika growled. Takato nodded and stood, extending his hand to her. She took it and he helped her stand. Rika glared but Takato was quick to remind her of the promise. Rika turned and was about to walk away, when Takato put a hand on her shoulder.
"What do you want, now?" Rika asked, sounding tired and defeated.
"Want to swing?" Takato asked. Rika looked at him, a confused expression on her face. Takato pointed toward the direction she was going to walk, and she looked. Sure enough, there were swings. The playground was abandoned.
"Why?" Rika couldn't help but ask.
"I donno. Seems fun, I guess. Don't you want to swing? Don't you ever want to have fun?" Takato asked, eyeing the girl.
"Well, yes I do. But that doesn't mean I should. I have a reputation to keep, you know," Rika replied with a sigh.
"I know. I just thought that, you know, you wouldn't mind swinging with me for a little bit. Be a little kid again, with no worries," Takato shrugged. Rika couldn't help but feel like she wanted to make him happy. Rika couldn't help it. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the swings. Takato staggered at first, not sure what she was doing, but then was walking with her when he realized.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Takato asked.
"I don't know. I guess you made some sense," Rika shrugged. 'It's because you like him! And you know it!' The nagging voice in the back of her mind said. She hated that voice because it couldn't lie! As much as she did, it could not. She'd learned that early.
"Hmm, interesting," Takato replied, then a blush came to his cheeks. "You do realize your still holding my hand, right?"
Rika dropped it quickly, like it was hot coal. A blush came over her cheeks, but she looked away so Takato wouldn't see.
"Sorry," Rika mumbled. She hated apologizes. She hates giving them and hearing them. Usually they are never meant, and Rika didn't mean hers either. Rika wasn't sorry she had his hand. Before anymore could be said, she ran over to the swings.
"Are you coming?" Rika called, sitting in a swing. Takato jogged over and sat beside her.
"See swinging isn't that bad," Takato grinned.
"I know," Rika replied. She started to swing.
"Hey, Rika," Takato asked as they started to slow down, to get off the swings.
"Catch me if you can!" He jumped for the swing and ran.
"Takato! Get back here!" Rika yelled, jumping from the swing. So he wouldn't know she liked him. At least, not today…