AN: Sorry about the chapter numbering problem. It jumped from 10 to 13 and the last update should have been Chapter 11. Sorry for any confusion!
I know it's another short chapter, but I really appreciate everyone sticking with me this long. Digimon fans are some of the best ever!
I don't own Digimon. Duh. If I did, Tamers DVD box sets for everyone!!!
FM
"Mom...Dad...can I..talk to you about something important?"
The quietly spoken question caught both Yoshie and Takehiro off-guard as Takato had not said much all of dinner, which was odd enough in itself. With a slightly worried look they glanced at each other before turning towards their only child.
"Something wrong Takato?" Yoshie asked, setting her fork aside.
Wincing under the pair of looks, Takato hesitantly played with his food ( if liver and onions could be CALLED food ) before the youth could find his voice. "Uhm...Rika's mom is going to be home this Friday night instead of being out on a photo shoot and they're kinda having a dinner party and we've been invited so can we go?" he managed to get out in one breath.
Expecting something a lot worse, Takehiro put aside his own silverware for the moment. "I don't know Takato; this is awful sudden. And you know we have to open extra early on Saturday so we couldn't stay too long if we went."
"Besides, there's really not much of a cause to have a party Takato...unless there's a reason you're not telling us?" Yoshie said, narrowing her gaze on the boy.
"No, nothing like that!" the Tamer quickly shot back, fighting the urge to run and hide from his mom's piercing stare. "It's just..we ain't..."
"Haven't..." corrected Takehiro
"...haven't been together since the D-Reaper problem, and Rika thought it'd be nice to have a party just because, y'know?"
Takato hated lying to his parents about the reason for the gathering, but without Rika he didn't have the courage to face them alone should one...or both...of them guess close to the truth.
At the mention of Rika being behind the idea, a few pieces of the puzzle fell into place for Takehiro and he smiled to himself. Reaching over he gave Yoshie's hand a light squeeze and turned back towards his son. "Tell you what Takato; you take the dishes in and wash them, and your mom and I will talk about it okay?"
Ignoring the somewhat frosty glare he was getting from his wife, Takehiro smiled as his son seemed to relax a little at the thought of his parents at least -discussing- it instead of outright saying 'No'.
"Sure Dad...thanks!" Takato replied, gathering up the dishes and taking them into the kitchen.
Waiting until her son was out of earshot, Yoshie turned to face Takehiro eye-to-eye... "Okay...spill it."
Takehiro blinked. 'I'm sorry?"
"You know something don't you?"
:The man smiled, it was rare he was the one in control of a conversation and he wanted to relish it. "I've got an idea or two...".
"Such as?"
"Well, first I need your word that you won't get upset with Takato."
"What?"
"You heard me. I need you to promise you won't get made at Takato for not telling you this sooner."
"But he's told you something?"
"He did, but it was in a confidential father-son conversation and he asked me not to tell you and I said I wouldn't unless you asked. You haven't, so I didn't say anything until now."
"Takehiro..."
Reaching over, Takehiro took his wife's hand once more. "Honey, I know this is asking a lot, but remember we're dealing with a teenaged boy who revealed to me something very private to him and EXTREMLY embarrassing if anyone...especially his mother...found out. I know what that's like so please, listen with an open mind?"
Hearing the seriousness in her husband's voice, Yoshie knew he meant every word said and found herself nodding in agreement. "Okay, I promise."
Takehiro smiled. "Takato's in love."
"He's WHAT?!"
Somewhere in the kitchen, a glass broke and Takato's legs quivered at the yell.
"Takato, are you okay?" his mother called out, frowning when Takato didn't reply. "Takato?"
"I'm fine Mom. Just...dropped a glass. Sorry...".
"Be careful cleaning it up."
"Yes, Ma'am..."
:"He's what??!!" repeated Yoshie in a low, harsh whisper as she glared at her husband.
Takashi sighed. "Remember a few months ago when Takato ran off into the park at night when his Digivice detected Digimon fighting?"
Yoshie crossed her arms. "Of course I do! Do you mean to tell me you know what happened in the park?" she said, eyes narrowing as Takato never gave her more than 'it was just a misunderstanding between Renamon and Terriermon' explanation.
"No, I don't know what happened in the park honey. Something like that you know I would tell you."
Yoshie sighed, nodding in agreement. She could find fault with a lot of things Takehiro did, but loving his son and wanting him to say safe was not one of them. "So who's he in love with? Jeri?" she asked, remembering the way he acted around Jeri for the longest time. But... if that was the case...then why a dinner at...
A slow look of recognition filled his wife's face. "You're kidding me right?"
"Nope. Our son is in love with Miss Rika Nonaka."
Yoshie took a sip of her wine, trying to organize her thoughts. "And he told you this when?"
"I had gotten up to go to the bathroom when I came back by his door and saw he was awake."
Yoshie blinked as her nose crinkled at the memory . "Oh, THAT night. I had to air out the bedroom all the next day because of you, you know" she chided.
"I've already apologized for that several times over. Now, can I continue?"
With a curt nod, Yoshie sipped a little more of her wine.
"I walked in and sat down; and yes, I told him he needed to be in bed and no, he didn't have a fever." he commented, anticipating his wife's next series of questions and concerns. "He was feeling a little blue, so I asked him what was wrong. It seems..."and at that Takehiro paused, considering his next words carefully.
"What?"
"Well, apparently, and up front I don't know when this happened but I'm guessing during their little trip into the Digital World to stop the earthquakes...our son and Rika kissed."
Yoshie nearly dropped her wine. "Kissed? He's too young to kiss girls!" she whispered through clenched teeth once more.
"Honey, he's a teenaged boy who's in love with a very pretty girl. Boys and girls kiss; they DO that remember? WE did that more than once if you recall..." he said, grinning slightly at the memories.
A deep blush cascaded over Yoshi's face as those same memories surfaced from the protective places of her mind. "You always were a good kisser..." she commented, more to herself than her husband. "I guess it's okay then; I shouldn't get too upset over a kiss on the cheek."
It was then Takehiro paused, taking a rather large gulp of his wine.
"It WAS a kiss on the cheek...right?"
Takehiro took another large sip.
"Takehiro?" she asked again, this time her voice was low and dangerous.
"Well, based on what Takato told me in...between burying his face in his pillows...tongue was involved."
Yoshie nearly exploded and would have disturbed Takato in the next room and half their neighbors had Takehiro not sat up, leaned across the table and kissed his wife with such a passion that her outburst was quickly shoved aside for a few moments. It was only after a few minutes did she pull away. "That was a dirty trick...".
"But necessary. We don't need to give Takato a heart attack by announcing to everyone in earshot he French-kissed a girl."
"He's definitely too young for that!" Yoshie said, fixing her husband with another chilled look.
"Is he? By today standards Yoshie a kiss like that is fairly tame; it's not like back in our day when that was a scandal waiting to happen."
Yoshie frowned, but had to admit Takehiro was right. "It's still pretty serious for a first kiss." A look shot across her face. "It WAS his first kiss...right?"
Takehiro held up his hands. "As far as I could tell, yes. And besides, he didn't mention much else so it could have been them thinking that's the way first kisses are supposed to be. We'll probably never really know so we just need to trust him and he can tell us if he needs or wants to."
Yoshie downed the rest of her wine, sighing. "You do realize our lives just got incredibly more complicated?"
Takehiro smiled. "Of course, but you have to admit they make a cute couple. And...I think they're good for each other."
"How so?" she asked, still a bit amazed it was Rika and not Jeri who had captured her son's heart.
"Well, even though we both don't know Rika all that well I think we can agree she's a bit...impersonal at times."
Yoshie considered that and nodded slightly.
"I don't mean that as a slight against her; but she does strike me as someone who doesn't open up with her feelings too often. Takato is sometimes too open with his feelings and well, we both know his self-confidence can...on the rare occasion...ebb at times."
Regretfully, Yoshie had to agree with that as well. "So Takato helps Rika be open and more outgoing, while she helps build his self-confidence and focus...?"
"That's the way I see it."
"And the dinner part is for them to...what...tell us their going steady?"
"Well, Rika's grandmother strikes me as very opened-minded, but also mindful of tradition. I'm betting this dinner is a way for Takato and Rika to tell us they're in love 'officially' and do it properly."
"So there's a better chance for all of us to approve of the relationship."
"That's my best guess. I mean, what else could it be?"
Both parents sat there, lost in their own thoughts before Yoshie nodded at Takehiro. "Takato, can you come in here a minute please?" she called out suddenly, unable to see Takato on the other side of the door jump nearly a foot into the air as his name was mentioned.
It took a moment before the kitchen door opened and the young Tamer walked out. Takehiro could swear the boy looked like he was walking the Green Mile.
"Sit down son" asked Takehiro and waited for Takato to return to his chair.
With a final glance at each other, Yoshie turned and smiled at her son. "I think dinner at Rika's will be a nice change of pace Takato. Tell Rika that we'll be there whenever is best for her, and ask her if we can bring a dish."
The pair of adults stared as Takato's eyes softened, as if a unfathomable amount of fear had just been released from his soul. With an honest grin he nodded, scooting out of the chair and into his mothers' arms, savoring the hug he was getting. "Thanks Mom..." he whispered, casting his father the slightest of nods which the elder Matsuki returned with a knowing smile.
But behind that smile, Takehiro hoped he was right. The life Takato led was far from being close to what anyone could call 'normal'. Would a relationship with another Tamer bring even more danger into their lives?
Enough of this! Takehiro said to himself, banishing such thoughts from his mind. His son was in love and he was going to be happy and supportive of that blossoming relationship. Rika was a unique young woman and together she and Takato were a good match for the other. The best thing for everyone involved was to sit back and be there if the teens needed them for advice or support.
Besides.. he thought once more, remembering the words spoken earlier to his wife...what else could it be?
To be continued...
Next up: Rika hasn't told Jeri the news about her and Takato and that's an oversight she wants to correct! But how will Jeri react to Rika's other bit of news, and how will Rika react when Jeri reveals a major surprise of her own! Hint: remember the pine tree last chapter? Those marks got there somehow...