Takato gently laid her down on the bed, turned off the TV, and laid next to her. He then gently covered her with the blankets and kissed her on the forehead and laid down to go to sleep as well. While Rika was sleeping she had a horrible dream.

'It was dark all around her and she began to smell alcohol everywhere. She heard something behind her and turned to see what it was. Whoever it was they were covered in shadows and all she could see were the eyes staring at her menacingly and a hand reaching out to get her. She turned and began to run then, but he was always right behind her. As she was running the hand grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. She struggled but could not break free from his grip. She started to cry because as she came closer she saw who it was. It was the man from earlier, and he had her with nothing around to stop him. She was now beginning to scream at him to let her go and struggling but to no avail. Then she heard Takato's voice calling out to her and then everything disappeared.'

The next thing she knew she was being woken up by a worried Takato gently shaking her awake and out of the nightmare. She looked up at him with teary eyes and began sobbing into his chest. "It's ok, shh, I'm here" he said to her gently holding her close to him. She cried for a while and then began to calm down and take in the comfort of his warm embrace.

He held her close and wrapped them blanket around them so that they were covered while sitting against the wall. She kept her arms wrapped around him and his around her. He moved his head down and nuzzled it between her neck and shoulder gently kissing her cheek along the way. Soon they both fall asleep in each others embrace this time without any nightmares for Rika.

The next morning the sun was out and it was a very nice day. Sunlight shone through the window onto Takato's face waking him up. He rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to the light. When they focused he saw a beautiful Rika sleeping peacefully next to him.

He quietly got up out of the bed and went into the kitchen to fix her breakfast. Rika got up slowly when the morning sun lightly touched her face. She sat up and looked at her room with no sign of Takato. "I wonder where he went off to.' She thought to herself. Not minding the privacy went over to her dresser and got clothes out and began to change right there, seeing as it is her room. Takato walked down the hall with her breakfast on a tray. He turned into her room and saw her there changing.

Takato being the shy boy he is was immediately startled and closed his eyes and turned away trying to walk back out. However with his eyes closed he ran into the door way and almost lost the tray of food. Luckily he regained control, but not without a clamor. Rika heard this and turned around seeing him there. She smiled at him standing there with his back to her. After pulling on her shirt she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry" he said still blushing from seeing her in the middle of changing. She smiled and let go of him "Don't be, I was the one who decided to change when I knew you were still here." She walked back over and sat on the bed with him right behind her. "I um made you breakfast." he said shyly as he handed her the tray of food. She smiled at him and accepted it "thanks that was sweet of you." He blushed and sat down next to her on the bed.

She finished the breakfast he had made her and set the tray down onto the floor. She then laid down on the bed with her head in his lap looking up at him. "Aren't you going to eat?" she asked giving him a curious face. "I ate while I was cooking yours." She gave him a sort of 'oh okay' look. He smiled down at her and brushed the hair out of her face. "Did you notice if my grandmother was back yet?" she asked sitting upright.

"The car isn't here so assume she didn't come home last night." He told her getting up and grabbing his clothes to go change. "I'm going to go change" he said then gave her a kiss and went into the bathroom. Rika went out into the living room and flopped down on the couch. She then noticed a red flashing light on the answering machine and pushed the button for the message.

"Rika it's mom. I'm in Miami right now doing a show so I can't talk long. I just wanted to say that I'll be home after another 2 months and that I love you." The machine beeped and went to the next message.

"Rika its me. I'm going to be gone all weekend with my friends. Its Mary's birthday tomorrow and we are going to go partying all weekend as a present. I've left the emergency contact numbers on the refrigerator in case anything happens. Also there is money under the sugar jar if you want to order out or something. I'll see you Sunday night when I get back love you." The machine beeped and shut off.

Rika laid back down on the couch after hearing the messages. "Three days with out my mom or grandmother, that's never happened before "she lightly said to herself. "What was that?" someone said from above her. She looked up and saw Takato standing there looking down at her. "My grandmother is going away to party for the whole weekend leaving me home all by myself." she said told him.

"Why would she just leave you alone like that for a whole weekend?" he asked not quite sure what was going on in her grandmother's head. "No one knows why she does half of the stuff she does" Rika said shaking her head. Takato walked in front of the couch and got on his knees in front of her with arms crossed on the couch and his chin resting on them.

Rika smiled at him and ran her hand through his hair lightly. Takato climbed up onto the couch with her and took her in his arms. Rika wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled back into his chest. She looked up at him and asked "so what do we do now?" "We could spend the day at the beach" he suggested to her. She thought about it for a minute "well we could, but…." she trailed off. "But what?" Takato questioned

Rika looked away and mumbled something he couldn't hear. "Come again" he said to her. Rika sighed and replied where he barley heard it "I don't have a swimsuit." He chuckled slightly "Is that it?" he asked her. "Yes I haven't had one in a few years." He had her get up and got up behind her "well let's go find you a swimsuit."

Takato wrapped one hand around her and placed it in her left back pocket and guided her to the door. "Wait a second" she said and ran into the kitchen. Rika went over and lifted up the sugar jar to grab the money. She pulled the money out and counted it after she finished she gawked at how much her grandmother left her. It was $2,000 in hundreds.

She put the money in her front pocket and went back out to Takato who had went out onto the porch. Rika closed the door behind her and locked it and went over to him. "Ready?" he asked her as she came over. "Uh huh let's go" she said as he put his hand in its previous position. They started off toward the stores which were a few blocks over.

Takato and Rika went down the street and looked at the many stores. The couple finally came across a store that carried swimsuits and they went in. The store was filled with many different types of swimsuits of all colors. They slowly walked through the many racks looking for some for her to try on.

"God why are most of these so revealing?" she asked seeing the swimsuits. Rika grabbed one she thought was the least revealing and went into the dressing rooms. She took off her clothes and put the swimsuit on and looked herself over slightly embarrassed about it and then cracked the door open. Takato was standing outside of the door waiting for her when the door cracked open and saw Rika peaking out.

"Before I come out you must promise not to laugh, not even a snicker" she told him. "I promise, scouts honor" he said holding his hand up. Rika sign and pushed the door open and came out. She was wearing a red two piece suit that showed off her beautiful body. The bottom tied around the sides of her hips and the top around her neck and back.

Takato's eyes opened a little wider as she came out. She was holding rubbing her arm nervously standing there letting him see her. "Wow" was all he said seeing her there. Her face went red as he looked at her "What do you think?" she asked. "It looks great on you" he replied and she became even redder.

She went back into the changing room and put her normal clothes back on and cam out. They went up to the register and paid for it with some of the money her grandmother left her. After that they walked out of the store and down the street. "Let's stop at my house so that we can get some supplies." he said to Rika. She nodded and he guided her down his street to his house.

Takato opened the side door to the house/bakery and went inside. "Mom, dad I'm home." he called out but got no answer. He looked through the house, but could not find his parents. When he went into the kitchen he saw a not on the counter he picked it up and read it.

"Takato, your dad and I are going up town to see old friends. We are going to dinner then a play at the new theater we'll be staying at their house tonight so we won't be back until tomorrow. If you are going to be somewhere leave us a note so that we know. Love mom and dad. P.S. there is a late birthday present in the garage"

"Well that explains where they are" Takato said going back to Rika. "I'm going to get some stuff to take, make yourself at home" he said heading off upstairs. Rika nodded and went into Takato's room and flopped down onto his bed lying on her chest. She saw him go by a couple of time carrying a few things.

"Hey Rika, you want to have a picnic to?" he called to her from the opposite side of the house. She turned her head slightly "yea that'd be great" she replied to him. She laid there for another 15 minutes before her came into his room with a picnic basket and a bag with two towels and sun block.

"You can change into your suit here and put your clothes on over it that way you don't have to worry about it" he said coming over to her. "Ok, while I'm doing that you can go see what's in the garage." she told him as she headed into his room. "Oh yea, I almost forgot about that" he said jumping up and going outside. He opened the garage door and when it opened fully he just stared at what was inside.