Edit: 2/12/09. And not just a tiny one. I decide to rewrite the entire first chapter which may be deemed by some as a bit of an extreme in terms of overhauls, but it was necessary. After a good critical review, I took a look back at the first chapter of this story and I have to say I have no idea how any of you got through the first chapter. Rika sounded almost suicidal just because the boy she liked might not like her back. It was completely out of character, and I'm surprised I didn't get flamed for that, because I certainly would have deserved it.
So here is the rewrite. I bring you a stronger Rika and a more convincing segue. I hope you like it as much, but preferably more than the previous version.
"Before criticizing someone you should try walking a mile in their shoes. This way, when you do criticise them, you'll be a mile away and have their shoes."
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Someone Else's Shoes – Be Careful What You Wish For
. . . I Wish . . .
How many times have you said those same two words?
How many times has frustration of some kind forced them out of your mouth?
How many times have you let them be said unthinkingly, never actually meaning them in the slightest?
I'm sure it has happened more often than you can remember, and never did you expect someone to actually make that wish come true. To be honest, neither did Rika.
But somehow . . .
. . . somewhere . . .
Her wish was heard . . .
. . . and it was granted.
Rika Nonaka shifted uncomfortably, sandwiched as she was between two of her closest friends who liked each other so much that they couldn't possibly sit next to each other. Instead the two glanced meaningfully across her, blushing brightly any time they caught the other's glance. Rika refrained from rolling her eyes, accustomed to this sort of thing as she was.
It was borderline pathetic, but Rika had the decency not to say so. It had been five years since D-Reeper, and Takato still hadn't worked up the courage to let Jeri in on his feelings. Not that Jeri wasn't well aware of them, but Jeri just wasn't the sort of girl to make the first move. The most forward she could bear to be with Takato was the various hints she would drop regarding upcoming events, which would in turn lead to quazi-dates like the one they were currently engaged in.
Jeri had shrewdly hinted of the 'grand opening' of a new ice cream bar down town in the hopes that Takato would suggest they two attend it together. Takato, apparently seeing fit to follow some sought after advice form Ryo of all people, had instead invited everyone to attend, which was how Rika ended up on Jeri and Takato's quazi-date along with Herny and Ryo. The two other goobs – Kazu and Kenta – had declined the invitation, citing a previous engagement that undoubted involved something latently homoerotic.
Rika glared dangerously at the counter of the packed ice cream parlour, before quickly turning her eyes down to her lap before anyone noticed. Apparently she wasn't quick enough, because Jeri had not failed to notice the poisonous look she had aimed at the cashier.
"Are you ok?" she whispered quietly, so as not to draw the attention of the two boys they were seated with, nudging Rika's side gently.
"I'm fine," she replied quickly, unwilling to entrust her secret to anyone.
Jeri gave her a sceptical look before announcing – loudly – that they just had to see the bathrooms.
"Why?" Takato asked, sending her a biscuit-arsed look. "They work just the same as any other toilets."
Jeri rolled her eyes, but smiled all the same at how cut her would-be-boyfriend (if he would only come out and ask her) looked when he was befuddled (which was pretty much all the time – Takato only really had two settings: confused, and –for lack of a better word – genki, and Jeri found both of them equally adorable). "Boys," she scoffed. "They just don't understand."
Rika frowned too, but followed after Jeri all the same. Like Takato and Ryo, she had no idea what all the fuss was about, but figured it was safer not to argue with her friend. Rika had been to the building a couple of times under its previous purpose, and she didn't remember anything particularly interesting about the plumbing, nor did she see how it could possibly be improved. As long as it was clean, and as long as it flushed, Rika certainly wouldn't fault them.
Rika decided that she was correct in her supposition once they reached the toilet – there was absolutely nothing interesting about the bathroom. Irrespective of any intrigue, Jeri quickly herded out the four girls using the bathroom, and barred the door from prospective occupants.
"Jeri, you're being creepy," Rika warned the younger girl, assessing her with a look of indifference. "That last girl hardly had time to wash her hands. Do you know how unhygienic that is?"
Jeri was unphased by the comment. "Don't think you're fooling me with that 'I'm fine' business," she began in a cool tone that could have come from Rika herself. "I saw the look you were giving that girl back there."
"What girl?" Rika replied neutrally. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Jeri gave her that same sceptical look once again. "The one who was talking to Henry."
Rika flinched, her cool mask falling for just an instant. She almost began to protest, but Jeri made it clear she wouldn't be fooled. Rika sighed. "I just don't see how she can flirt with him like that," she complained, a light blush forming on her cheeks.
"Why?" Jeri asked. "Do you want her to give you lessons?"
"Don't be like that," Rika frowned. "You know we're just friends. I'm just saying that it's kinda sick her being so obvious like that."
"So you're saying that you'd feel the same way if had been Takato? Or even Ryo?" Jeri questioned, her tone almost smug.
"Definitely for Takato," Rika replied. "The only girl who should be flirting with him is Jeri Kato," she added, making her friend blush in return. "As to Ryo, I don't see what harm it would do. He's almost as bad as she is."
"I still don't believe you about this friend business," Jeri shrugged, seeming to accept Rika's argument as she unlocked the door to the bathroom, "but I promise not to push it."
Rika didn't say anything in response. A thank you would be an admission of guilt, and a denial would be blatantly ignored. Instead she was quiet as she followed her friend back to their booth.
"How as the bathroom?" Takato asked upon the return. Ryo whacked him on the side of the head.
"You can't ask them that," he told the younger boy. "Try something else. Something that doesn't got to do with bathrooms."
And so they were back in the swing of conversation. It didn't take long for Rika to become distracted once again, her eyes drawn to a familiar figure standing stoically beside the counter, waiting for their orders to come. As soon as her eyes fell upon them, she wished she hadn't looked. The girl was leaning over the counter, making the effort to draw attention to her assets, and lightly touching Henry's arm.
The sight made her feel almost nauseas. Before anyone noticed, that is, anyone other than Jeri, she quickly made an excuse to get away.
"I'm sorry, guys," she said furiously, "I just remembered I was supposed to pick up some ingredients for my grandma. I need to get it to her by four so she can start making the roux. Sorry."
And with one last apology she was out the door, without even a word of goodbye to her best friend who stood still at the counter, unhappily being molested by the shop girl.
And so Rika Nonaka made her first fatal wish . . .
. . . I wish that were me . . .
Rika sighed with relief when she finally found herself alone in her room. She couldn't begin to describe the feats she had gone through to get there, namely her mother trying to convince her to give up her favourite pair of sneakers for a pair of monolo blahnik heals. Rika had declined the offer, slamming the door behind her just to emphasise the point.
Now, finally alone, she could be left with the thoughts that had been troubling her since she left her friends as the ice cream bar. Thoughts of Henry, and thoughts of whatever girl had decided to try and take his fancy this time.
It wasn't an uncommon occurrence; in fact, it was far too common for her liking. Henry was handsome – even her mother had noticed. He had a slightly exotic look to him due to his Chinese lineage, and a good build due to training in martial arts. He wasn't exceptionally tall, but tall enough. And he had the loveliest blue-grey eyes she would ever see.
She sighed again, although this time more despairingly. There was a reason why she didn't utter these sorts of thoughts aloud. She sounded like a complete and utter fan girl whenever she thought about Henry. She couldn't help but gush about his smile – rare as it was – and his handsome face, even though those weren't the things she liked best about him. Those were just part of the package – trimmings you could call them – but what she really loved about him could have come in a less attractive package, and she would still be undeniably drawn to him.
She was attracted to his strength, and the strength he offered others. To his caring nature. To his sense of responsibility. To his dependability. To the fact that he accepted her even though they were the complete opposites of one another.
But he was her best friend, and that was all they would ever be. There was no place beyond that, and that was something she was going to have to live with.
And so came her second fatal wish . . .
. . . I wish that weren't true . . .
"Rika!" her grandmother called, trying to get her attention.
Rika groaned, silently protesting any form of social interaction. "I'm not hungry, obaa-san," she replied, hoping to divert her grandmother. Seiko probably thought that she was still hung up on whatever comments Rumiko had chosen to make about her choice of attire, but Rika hadn't even let them cross her mind for more than an instant, too hung up on Henry to be bothered with her mother today.
For a moment she thought she heard a chuckle from Seiko, and this was only confirmed by her simple sentence. "Henry's on the phone."
Without wasting a moment, Rika raced to her door and opened it so she could take the phone from her grandmother. The older woman smiled at her eagerness, briefly remembering a time when she had been almost as eager to speak to her own beloved. Somehow she knew her granddaughter would not appreciate such thoughts.
"Hello?" she asked, her heart pounding excitedly. She had the strangest paranoid fear that it was all some ruse, and any moment a voice other than the one she longed to hear would reply.
"Hey, Rika," he answered, "are you feeling ok? You left the ice cream place pretty quickly. You didn't even get your ice cream. I think you made Takato's day."
"I had to get some things for grandma," she answered, being careful not to switch stories and give herself away. "I just completely forgot about it."
"That's not like you, Ri," he replied earnestly, his voice heavy with concern.
"I told you not to call me that," she complained, hoping to divert him.
"What do you mean, Ri-Ri?" he asked, some of his playfulness coming out as he took the bait.
"That too!" she protested.
"How about Ri-chan?" he suggested teasingly.
"No."
"Ri'a?"
"No."
"Rik?"
"How about 'mei mei'?"
"I thought that meant little sister?" she questioned, caught off-guard by the sudden use of his other native tongue.
"Among other things," he replied ambiguously.
'He thinks of me as a little sister?' she questioned sadly to herself, not realizing the hidden message in Henry's words. This of course, led to her third fatal wish . . .
. . . I wish he thought of me differently . . .
"So, what was with the girl at the ice cream bar?" she asked casually, trying her best to sound uninterested. She held her breath, hoping that he wouldn't know what he was talking about.
"Who? Kylie?" he asked in response, breaking her heart. "She goes to the school by me and Tak's. Apparently she recognised me from the quiz bowl competition."
Try as she might to contain herself, Rika had to laugh at that. "Only you would have fans from an academic event. You are one of a kind, Henry Wong."
"I don't have fans," Henry protested. "She wasn't a fan. She was just being nice. She gave us all free toppings."
Rika scoffed. "You were being nice" – or she hoped that's all he was doing – "she was flirting."
"She wasn't . . ." he began to argue. "Dammit she was. How come I never notice this at the time? Everyone says I lead girls on, but I really don't know what I'm doing. I thought we were just exchanging pleasantries, but it turns out she was more interested in exchanging bodily fluids."
"Oh, you're so inexperienced to the ways of the worlds," Rika teased with a sigh. "One of these days I'm going to have to sit you down and teach you to flirt."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that," he replied, his tone sounding almost hopeful to Rika's ears.
"Don't test your luck, mister," she replied.
"But, Ri-Ri, you know you're the only girl for me," he promised her.
"One of these days, someone is going to take you seriously on that one," she warned him.
He mumbled something low under his breath that Rika didn't here, before his tone suddenly changed. "Hey, Ri, I promised I'd help Suz' with her homework before she went to bed, so I better go. I'll see you tomorrow, right?" he asked quckly.
"Right," she agreed.
"Good. That way we can get started right away on those lessons. Goodnight, mei mei."
"Bye, Henry."
As the phone hung up, Rika made her fouth and final wish. A wish encompassing all others . . .
. . . I wish it wasn't like this . . .
~ to be continued ~
So, clearly, completely revamped. No tears. No depression. No near suicide. All is well in the world.
Let me know what you think of the change.
Notes:
Biscuit-arsed: I'm reading Trainspotting right now, and I'm 90 percent positive that it means befuddled or confused. Just felt like expanding everyones vocab a little.
Obaa-san: Grandmother. I figured that would be the most appropriate address towards Seiko even though I'm using the English names simply because Rika's grandmother is so traditional.
Mei mei: Can have different meanings according to the tone, but I'm not Chinese so I can't really explain how this works. The point is that it's ambiguous. The most common meaning is obviously 'little sister', but it can also be used as a term of endearment to mean 'beautiful girl'. As was hopefully implied by Henry's words, he meant the second meaning.
Next chapter: Not My Size
