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A/N: (sulks) Hello everyone. Ugh, welcome to thee umm… whatever chapter were on. I had the biggest writer's block on this chapter, and, honestly, I still do. I will be writing this chapter with only 3 things in mind. The 1st is the title. The 2nd being how I want it to end and the 3rd is a single scene I was able to come up with. Okay… here goes nothing. Love and be loved. Read… and review please.
A/N: (revised) I came back after writing this 'a/n'- I would like to note, that this chapter is being dedicated to two people. The first is my fan base as of when I was writing it… okay, fan, no base. That would be Kuroy! Yeah! And the second is Erica (Sora45609) from Youtube. Love to you Erica, also I'm sorry there is a coincidence in your name and the name of Rika's arch enemy… I'll explain my choice of name at the end of the 8th chapter. Okay, I'm done. Love and be loved. Read… and review please.
A/N: (revised, again!) Hello for the last time. I want you people to know, I'm not done the next chapter yet. Cross country and school are messing me up, so please forgive me if the next one isn't up in time!
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Speak No Evil

Love. What is love? Is just another word people toss around to see the reactions of others? Or is it more? Is love more of a measure of how strongly you care about someone, or is love a level of caring about someone that you attain when you reach the pinnacle? Is love what you have, or what you want to have? Is love what I have, or what I want to have? So many questions, and yet no answers come. I have no one to turn to and ask these questions because I'm so locked up in myself, that the only person I could ask is the person I have this 'love' for. Am I so shallow that I can only love one person, or do I love this person because I'm shallow? God, give me the strength to find these answers inside myself.

I pulled my eyes away from the window. The weather forecast called for snow coming very soon, and I couldn't wait. These damn autumn leaves had to go, their time here had come and gone, and now it was time for the snow to turn them over for dead. Dead and gone, to be remembered by no one but myself, until next year when they come back to remind me of the awkward people around me.

I stole a glance at the clock and realized, slowly, that everyone around me was already standing and packing up. The day was over? Oh well. I stood up myself, and realized it was Friday, and that it was now officially the weekend. I threw everything that I thought I might need and put it in my bag, I was eager to get home. Maybe get some sleep in. I desperately wanted… no needed some. I pulled my book bag over one shoulder, and turned to leave, but my, my what an unpleasant surprise. Erica was standing two desks behind me, talking with Jackie. I began to walk their way, hoping all they were doing was talking, but I guess I'm just not that lucky. Erica stood up from her resting-place on the desk and stood in my path. I didn't bother looking at her, I wasn't going to talk or fight with her. She had come to my house two days ago now, and I had ignored her yesterday, and that seemed to work. So I was hoping it would again. I made to go around her, but she moved in my way again. I changed direction and she just took a side step in that direction. She laughed and so did Jackie at my feeble attempt to get around her. Push her over! My curtain of tough girl act told me in my head, and I considered this for a moment, but I thought of Takato, and I knew he wouldn't want me to result to violence as a first reaction to being unable to walk away.

I changed back to my original direction of leaving and went around two desks to be safe. She didn't bother to keep at this game of cat and mouse, and stayed put. "You can't play the silent game forever, Rika." She said to me.

I didn't respond and kept on walking. 'Not today, not today.' I kept saying in my head. I wasn't going to go through this today, I had a home calling me where both my mom and grandma were going to be waiting for me.

Especially not today, since Takato said he had another surprise for me. In the form of a date . . . and I can't wait for it.
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"So Takato, you gonna tell us why you were going to Rika's today?" Henry asked.
I smiled. I hadn't time to talk yesterday, and knew they would want to ask me today. The way I had been discrete before had been a bit troubling for even myself. "Of course." I said.
I was ready to tell the truth, no matter how much it hurt. Or how embarrassing it was.
"Can't wait to here this one." Someone said near me, a familiar someone.
I turned to my left and saw Jeri coming in to listen. Well… I guess she already knows so there was nothing to be embarrassed about in font of her… and besides… I have Rika now, I thought. "Okay, but you already know." I told her.

"Why Rika though?" said another familiar person, behind me.
I turned around to see Kazu. Here we go again, I closed my eyes and got ready. Kazu's gonna bash Rika in right in front of me, saying she's a problem and what ever, but he won't once I tell him that were-

"I mean, she's such a bitch."
WHAK! I… I punched him. I didn't mean to… but it was my initial instinct when he said that.

I heard Jeri gasp, and Henry said, "Takato! What you do that for?"
"Yeah, Chumly what for?" he asked me.
"You idiot, you know what for!" I retorted.
"What? Because I called Rika-"

I gave him a stare that sent a chill down his spine, and he stopped talking. "She's a problem dude." He managed to get out.
I wasn't about ready to forgive Kazu for what he said, but I could still tell them the truth, regardless.
"I mean… look what she's done to you? She's got you hitting people! And not just anyone… me!"

"She didn't do that to me… you did that to me." I said to him.
"No way dude… the real Takato doesn't hit someone for calling Rika a-"

He was going to say it again! I looked at him with that look and he stopped. "a- . . . a problem." He said. He could tell I wasn't going to let him get away with calling her that again.

"Kazu you have no idea what you're talking about." I told him.
"Umm… I think I have some idea." He said.
I was getting angry. Just because he knew Rika didn't mean he knew Rika. "I mean, come on! A month ago you wouldn't have swung at me if I had called her that." He said.

That was a lie! He knew it… or maybe he didn't? I don't care! He has no idea what he's talking about! "You would have agreed."
"What?" I said.
"You would have! She always so cold, and mean to everyone it's ridiculous! She needs to get a life… or a boyfriend?"

Aha! Here's my chance to shut him up once and for all! I opened my mouth to respond, but he was a step ahead of me. "Or maybe… now this is a vague one, but what if…" he started.
He looked around, I don't know why; no one was listening in on our conversation. "What if she's a lesbian?" he said.

SNAP! I grabbed him by the shirt with both hands and I wasn't in control any longer, my anger was doing it's bidding through my body. I had fire in my eyes, and thunder in my voice and I didn't care if anyone tried to stop me, he wasn't getting away with that one! I raised my right fist in the air. "Say it again! Call her that again! I dare you!" I said.

He seemed too lost in my actions to even think of responding. I could tell he was afraid of what I was going to, and was then too afraid to respond. "Takato let go of him!" Henry said to my left.
"He's right, look what she's done to you!" Henry said again.

The blood in me boiled, and I let go of Kazu. I turned to face Henry and my fist connected with his face. Why didn't he respond? He was supposed to be so great at karate, so why didn't he stop me? Because he didn't expect it. My head told me. Do it AGAIN! My head told me again, and I could feel the anger agreeing with it. Now I grabbed Henry by the shirt and lifted my right fist again. "Do YOU want to call her that again?" I dared him.

He looked at me with a not so equal amount of anger in his eyes, but I could tell there was anger there. It didn't faze me; I wasn't going to let them get away with this!
"Dude… what's your problem? What is she your girlfriend?" Kazu asked.

The words were out of my mouth before I could think them over, or consider what answering the question might mean. "Yes she is!"
CLICK! The anger in me was gone. I was finally realizing what I was doing, and realized that everyone was in shock. Henry's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. I looked to Jeri, who hadn't said a thing during the entire affair, and she had the same dumb look of shock on her face. I turned to Kazu and he looked like he didn't believe me. I turned my head to an open space where no one was standing and thought over what my options were while I was still standing here. Run! Run! Run and don't turn back! My head said. But I wasn't going to listen to my head, not again.

I realized I was still holding Henry by the shirt and let go. I put my hands at my side and balled them into fist. Not to hit with, but just out of pure anger at myself for hitting Henry and Kazu. What have I done? A different voice said in the back of my head. This isn't how I wanted them to find out. This isn't how it was suppose to be. It said again. I felt like I should say I was sorry… but am I? They said horrible things about Rika. Was I sorry… or did I want to be sorry? My mouth became so dry I was afraid I would die of thirst on the spot. I couldn't strangle out a sentence even if I felt I had to. Was now a time to be silent, or a time for actions? I was too caught up to answer and just stared at the ground for a long time.

Finally, I decided it wasn't a time for silence, or actions, but rather for words. I opened my mouth to apologize, but someone else beat me to the punch again.

"Whoa… I'm… I'm sorry man." Kazu said.
He… he was sorry? I was the one who was supposed to be remorseful, not him. He didn't have any reason to be sorry, when I was the one who hit him. "No… I'm sorry." I said.

I couldn't walk around with that dead weight in me, of feeling the need to apologize and not being able to do so. I looked up from the ground and looked at Kazu. He was looking at the ground now, and I couldn't help but feel childish… the way we had acted. I put my hand out for him to shake. "Fr… friends?"

He looked up at me, looked at my hand, then again back up at me. He smiled and laughed. "Were we ever not friends?"
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I walked up the concrete path and up the steps to the front door. I reached for the knob and turned. Without thinking I pushed forward with my shoulder… I hit the door head on. What gives? I turned the knob again and realized that it was locked. Ugh… I reached into my pocket and pulled out the door key. I unlocked the door, opened it and walked in. I could hear mom and grandma talking in the kitchen. I followed their voices and found them talking near the sink. "Oh, Rika. Your home!" mom said.

I became dazed… I was more tired then ever. I gently put my book bag down and said, "Yeah… umm… I'm gonna take a nap." I said.

"Okay… don't forget Takato is coming over today." Mom said.

I nodded and walked past her thinking, I didn't.

I lied down on my bed, closed my eyes and thought back to two days before. What a catastrophe that had been… but somehow Takato had found a way to turn it into a miracle. A heaven sent miracle. A heaven sent… miracle.

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I awoke with a start… Oh my God, what time is it? I turned over in bed and looked at the clock… 5:07. I was only asleep for an hour? It seemed like I had been asleep for a much longer time then that. I stood up, left my room and went into the kitchen. Mom and grandma weren't in here anymore. I walked over to the cupboard, pulled out a glass and pulled out some orange juice from the refrigerator. I drank it to try and wake myself up, but I don't think I needed to do so. For some reason I was wide-awake. I checked out my surroundings and tried to tune my ears into any sound to see if I could hear mom or grandma. Slowly a sound began to come in that I normally wouldn't have heard if I hadn't been trying to listen for it. It was coming from outside. Someone… was outside… someone…

"Takato!" I said to no one.

I ran to my room and got changed quickly, anything other then my school clothes. I grabbed the closest shirt, a long sleeve dark shade of red shirt, and put on a pair of jeans. I ran out of my room, and to the door. While still running I grabbed hold of the door knob, turned the knob and- SMACK! I fell over, and looked at the door that hadn't moved at all. I stood up and turned the knob again. Wow… it was locked again! I unlocked it quickly and opened the door. I jumped down the steps and turned to the driveway… and there he was! He was standing amongst his mom, my mom, and grandma. He seemed to be listening rather then engaged in the conversation. I realized I didn't have any need to be in a rush anymore, and walked over to the group. About four feet from him, he turned around to see me. "Hey, Rika!"

He had a white long sleeve shirt with the sleeves being sky blue and regular jeans on. I walked up to him, and he gave me a hug. I was frozen on the spot for a second, not responding. I hadn't expected him to give me a hug and was surprised. After another second of surprise I returned the hug. We let go, and he said, "So, you ready to go?"

"Go where?" I asked.
He smiled and said, "On a walk."
A walk? This was the surprise he had planned? "Where to?" I asked.
"Through the park." He said. I gave him a confused look and he said, "Just trust me!"

I nodded and he gave me his wonderful smile. He grabbed me by the hand and started to run towards the park. I didn't try to hold back but felt a swift and merciless heat come into my cheeks and couldn't help but feel that if I looked in a mirror, my cheeks might be roses. I realized, while I wasn't holding us back, I was slowing us down by not running too. I picked up my pace and ran beside him. "Be back by Six-thirty!" I heard his mom call to us.

He let go of my hand, and I felt upset, but I wasn't sure why. He began walking backwards and called back, "I know!"
He turned around and grabbed my hand again as we began are run into the park again.

Again… I was sure my cheeks were roses.

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After a few minutes of running through the park, we let go, and I was beginning to wonder where we were going? Where could he be taking me that we haven't been already? During our adventure we had seen just about every part of the park. What could be here that we missed… that I missed? "So where are we going?" I asked.

He turned to me and smiled, "You'll see."

I didn't much like being kept in the dark, but for him… I could wait. After another few minutes of walking around aimlessly, well at least for me it was aimlessly, he made an unexpected sudden turn, right into the thick of the woods. "Where are you going?" I asked from just outside of the wooded area.

"Just trust me, the rough road is worth what we get to see." He said.
I didn't question him… he had never led me wrong before. I started to climb into the woods, and it did seem like it was going to be a rough road ahead.

After a few minutes of climbing around, over, or under branches from every tree, we finally came to an opening. After just a few seconds of walking on this open space though, just as I was beginning to think it was going to be smooth sailing, he made another unexpected left turn. I followed after, not running, but struggling to keep up. I couldn't run because I wasn't sure when he would make another unexpected turn. It was as if he was my candle in a dark hallway and I hadn't any idea of where the next turn I'll have to make will be.

We walked through some more heavily wooded areas and finally he hopped over what seemed to be the top of a hill, "Okay, now be careful, because this is a steep hill." He warned me, as I began to hop over the top as well.

Apparently it was a very steep hill. I lost my footing, fell down and began to slide down the hill. "Takato!" I said while sliding.

He grabbed me by the hand and pulled me back to the top with him before I could get too far. "There ya go!" he said, still holding my hand, and this made the roses return.
I smiled… my roses seemed to be contagious because he developed some of his own. "Okay, lets keep going, we've only got a little bit further to go." He said, but he didn't let go of my hand.

We walked a bit further on top of this steep hill, and then we stopped. I stepped up to stand beside him. "Okay, here's where we go down." He said.
He began to crouch down and slowly move down the hill, bringing me with him by the hand. "What do you mean down?" I asked, but still followed.
"Your surprise is waiting at the bottom." He said, and again smiled.

We made our way down slowly, and when we finally got to the bottom, there was no surprise. "Okay, are you ready for this?" he asked.
"It better be good, because-"

But I was cut off; we walked down what seemed to be like actual stone steps, as if someone had put them there on purpose, and waiting in front of me was one of the most magnificent scenes I've ever seen.

It looked like a small pond, or lake, and above it was a clearing of trees where the skyline was being reflected off the water. The sky was an incredible shade of pink, and only a few clouds were being reflected off the water. I was speechless… no, I was breathless. "So… what do you think?" he asked.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I tried again and was able to get a word out, "Beautiful."

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"The waters about five feet deep all around." He said.
"So how… how did you find this place?" I asked him.
"Hmm? Oh… I'm not really sure. I just remember coming here all the time, just to be alone. Way back before Guilmon was even in my life. Gee… that was a pretty long time ago." He said.
He wanted to be alone sometimes? Him? I couldn't believe it. But anything's possible I guess. "So… who else have you brought here?" I asked.

"Now that you mention it… no one." He said.
"What! No one? Not even… not even Jeri. Or Guilmon?" I asked in amazement.
"No. No one as in, 'no one but you.'" He said.

I looked back out into the beauty of the pond in amazement. 'No one?' That means… he cares about me so much that he'd bring me to a place so dear to him, he didn't even show it to someone he'd always had a crush on, or a certain red dinosaur that was his best friend, when no one else was. Was this… could this possibly be?

Was this, truly . . . love?

I shook the thought from my head, I could think about that later. Now was a time to enjoy the beauty of nature, and company of a dear friend. We sat down next to each other on some rocks near the water. I wanted to touch the water… because unlike the leaves, this water would always be here. Always. Almost like… Takato… and how he's always be here for me, no matter what. Even if the harsh winter froze it over, it'd still be here for me. I smiled at this thought, and bent over the rock I was on and touched the water. It was… wonderful!

It wasn't too cold, or even as cold as it should be, considering there was going to be snow in the next few days. I grabbed as much as I could into a both of my hands, brought it up out of the water, and threw what was still left at Takato. He hadn't been paying attention, and didn't seem to react, but turned to me slowly and said, "You've got to ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?" He asked me.

I laughed and went to pick up some more water, and he followed suit. We began to splash water at each other, and it was fun! I was having such a great time I forgot to enjoy Mother Nature, and the beauty of the pond.

After several minutes of futilely trying to pick up handfuls of water, I decided to take it a step further. I jumped over to him, grabbed him by the waist, and jumped into the pond, remembering he said it was about five feet deep. We hit the cool water and it was like nothing before. The water wrapped itself around us and seemed to try and invite us to breathing underneath, rather then try and strangle us of air.

We swam back to the top and laughed at each other for a long time. We swam to the edge; he got out first, and then helped me out. Once out of the water, I gave him a great hug and stayed there for a few seconds, wrapped in his warmth. I let go and gave him the best smile I could muster. "Well… now I'm going to need a new watch." He said, and I laughed.

"Sorry, I forgot you were wearing one." I apologized.

"It's okay." He said, checking his now useless watch. "But maybe we should start heading back." He said. "When we hit the water it was just past six."
I smiled again, "Alright."

So we headed back home, and the ride was much smoother then it was when we were coming because I knew where we were going this time. But once we got back to the top of the hill, I slid again. Not accidentally though… I wanted to hold his hand again.

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We came out of the woods, still soaked somehow, and still hand in hand. We ran back to the house, this time… the door was unlocked. We walked inside, and Takato's mom was at the dinner table. "Are we late?" he asked.
She checked her own watch and said, "Not only that, but your also soaked."

We looked at one another and laughed. "Don't worry, I'll get some towels." Grandma said, walking to the laundry room. We went into the kitchen and stood there waiting for grandma to come back with towels. "So… how was it?" Takato's mom asked.
Takato opened his mouth to respond, but I decided to give a better answer, "The time of my life."

He looked at me, with a bit of surprise about him, and the roses blossomed on his face. I realized mine would be coming soon and tried to stop it, but I felt the hot sense of 'blush' and I knew mine were out for show as well.

And you know what? I don't care who sees them, because he knows they're their and that's all that matters.

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A/N: Hello people! Wow… I actually ended up liking this chapter. The whole thing came to me like a song, and I loved it! But not all of it, I had HUGE blocks of like a combined of about 3½ hours in two parts in the story! I had a three-hour block before the scene where Takato gets into a fistfight with Kazu and Henry, I just couldn't think of anything at all. I was just blank, but it came to me gradually, and then I also had to keep their friendship alive, so I restored it. Then I also had about a half-hour after the 'were we ever not friends?' line, because I couldn't think of how to bring Rika back into the story, and then pass the time before the date. Also, see those times when she rams into the doors, that happens to me all the time and I felt like adding a little bit of personal flare into the story. Oh, and I don't own that quote from 'Dirty Harry' the movie. For those who don't know, it was that 'You've got to ask yourself' line by Takato. Anyway, this was one of my shortest chapters ever because I was drawing another huge blank for the rest of the way. But don't you people worry, schools about to start ('a/n' revised: when i wrote this), but I have the last two chapters already all lined up! I know exactly what I want to do with Chapter 8 and Chapter 9! But after that (sobs) it'll be over! Unless? Hmm… nah! Anyway, I hope you all liked it! Okay, buh-bye!

Love always, and Rukato forever. Peace.

(Truck horn sounded and trucker talking) Honk! Honk! I thank you.
(Chappelle in the background) I'm Rich Bitch!
(I also don't own 'The Chappelle Show' closing or anything remotely like that.)
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