J16: My last chapter before I'm gone on vacation until the 27th! Sorry
guys for leaving you hanging, but I need to spend time with my family up at
Lake Almanor. You know, bonding and stuff. Plus, it'll give me some time
to concentrate on my new stories. Keep reading!
This is where it starts to get confusing. Pay close attention to the details...
Chapter 7: It Might Not Be So Bad Living With Ryo
I stood there, wondering for a brief second as to why my mother was looking like me with her pissed-off face. Then, 'oh no.'
"I didn't want to believe it when I first knew about it, but when one of your friends tell me your recent happenings with a guy, I figured it had to be true." I still didn't understand what she was talking about. Who told my mom?
"What are you talking about?"
She suddenly exploded. "Oh, Ruki Makino, you know damn well what I'm talking about." she raised her head. "Hmm. Juri's house? After prom? A little action with one, Jenrya Lee?"
"Um. mom, I can explain." I tried to explicate, but how stupid would that be? It was no use.
"No, you don't need to explain. Let me tell you something, young lady. Remember what happened to me eighteen years ago. You almost pulled off a freakin repeat. I don't want you to see Jenrya any more!"
Mother was starting to piss me off. "Listen mother, you have no right to know what's going on with me unless I say it's okay! In a few months I'll be out of this house, and I could do whatever I wanted to do!" There goes the rebel in me. I had wished it didn't come out of my mouth, but of course, it was too late.
"Oh so you want an early exit, do you?" She pointed her finger towards the door. "Alright, Ruki, get the fuck out of my house this instant!"
I stood there motionless, trying to comprehend what she said. Once I understood that she wanted no affiliation with me at all, I ran down to my room to pack up. Before I did, however, I decided to give her the friendly finger gesture. My mom showed neither remorse nor sympathy that she just kicked her only daughter out of her house, and I showed no sign of emotion either. I was pissed off; what do you expect?
I grabbed a suitcase and crammed my clothes into it. I took my Renamon stuffed animal (I still like those things, ok?) and a book and put it in the suitcase as well. Then, walking out my room, I grabbed my purse chock full of money.
I said no word to my mother as I flew past the doorway and shut the door as hard as humanly possible. Little did she know that she just made a worse mistake than her prom night.
****************
Well, time to live it single. I didn't know what to do or where to go next; my first problem. Passing Shinjuku Park, I decided to park my car there. I decided to call my boyfriend via a nearby payphone. But first, my little partner in crime, so to speak.
"Hello?"
"Takato, this is Ruki."
"Hey Ruki."
"The plan is moving along nicely." (A/N: What plan? You'll have to find out later, hehe)
"Great. Thanks."
"See ya."
After hanging up on Takato, I next called my boyfriend.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jenrya, it's me."
"Oh hey Ruki! How're things going?"
"Um. I got kicked out of my house if it's anything significant."
"Jesus, Ruki. Did what I think would happen just happen?"
"Yes." There was a distant yell from the phone line, full of obscenities and cussing.
"Who told your mother? Did you?"
"Calm down, Jen. I don't know, other that my mother said it was a friend of mine."
"Hmm. It's got me. I don't have an idea on who would tell. Where are you?"
"Shinjuku Park. Listen Jen, I need a place to stay for the time being. Do you think you could help me out on this?"
"I'm sure there wouldn't be any problems in that." Suddenly there was a silence from the other end, until Jenrya spoke up again. "Dammit, I forgot about that."
"About what? What's going on?"
"Ruki, I'm very sorry, but we're going to visit our grandparents' for the whole day tomorrow very early, and my father doesn't want anyone over to stay the night."
"Dammit."
"Yeah, I know." Another silence. "Hey, I know who'll cover for you while you get things settled."
Well. I hope Jenrya doesn't decide on some rapist or something. "Who is it?"
"Don't worry. I'll call him. He's of legal age to own an apartment, so he'll let you stay for a while. I'll have him pick you up at the park. Just sit tight, it's someone you know well already."
"Thanks, Jen. I owe you one."
"Love ya."
"Ditto." I hung up the phone and sat at the nearby bench. "He'll let me stay for a while?" Who was he? Guess time will tell.
******************
11:00. This place gives me the creeps at night. Kidnappers lurking, just like the one who stole Suzie from Jenrya four years ago. I decided to keep my guard up and stay alert.
Even though it was June, the environment was cold outside. And I lacked a sweater. Great. I pulled out an extra shirt out of my suitcase and put it on me.
Suddenly a hand touched my shoulder, at which I perceived to be one of those kidnappers previously described. Adrenaline surged through my body as I reacted quickly and wrapped my arm around his neck and took his legs down with my feet, a technique in self-defense Jenrya taught me. I couldn't see well, but the kidnapper had brown hair and was a little taller than I was.
"Ahhh!"
Odd. His voice didn't sound like a thirty year old or something. In fact, it sounded like a guy around my age-
He hit the ground and I still had a grip on him. Slowly, and very slowly, I pulled him up, waiting for his face to appear in the shadows. He was an inch or two taller than I, his brown hair spiked up, and he had blue eyes. You know, an old buddy of mine had those same features-
"Ryo Akiyama?" I opened my eyes in disbelief to the guy whom I nearly gave a concussion to.
He moaned a loud grumble. "Yep, that's me. Shit, you really creamed my face," was his introductory statement. Geez, is that any way to address a lady? "Enough with the introductions, I haven't seen you in forever!"
I smiled. Yes, Ryo Akiyama, whom I bet to this day hasn't forgotten about what happened the day we defeated the D-reaper. when he asked me out. "It's really great to see you, Ryo. What are you doing here out this late?"
"Oh Jenrya called me. He says you're waiting for someone to take you to his house."
"Yes that's true."
"Well, I'm that someone," he said confidently, pointing to himself and sticking his chest out high. Well. He sure hasn't changed.
"You mean to say I asked Jenrya to give me someone who will look out for me for the time being, and he picks you?" I guess that came out worse than I wanted to, but what said was said.
"Hey, I didn't have to volunteer, and you'd be sticking around with the bums in the middle of the park." He had a point. He's nice enough to let me crash at his house for a couple days. Then again, he'd probably enjoy the company-
"You're not going to do anything. naughty to me, are you?" I giggled.
He laughed. "Oh c'mon, Ryo wouldn't do that! Now what do you say we go to my house and get settled? You can follow me in your car-that is, if you have one."
"Yes, I have a car," I replied, crossing my arms. "Hey, you have your own house?"
"Well, it's my regular house, I'll explain when we get there."
I followed Ryo down the highway to his supposed home. I had never been there myself. It was hard keeping up with a '06 Porsche when all you have is a '98 Honda Accord. Sheesh. However, he slowed his car down once I was getting too far behind, and after about 25 minutes, I arrived at his shack.
The house was very nice; it was the only full two-story out of any of my friends, unless you count Takato's bakery/home. Juri's didn't count, I guess. Anyway, it was very modern, two-car garage, and I had a pretty good intuition that there were more than enough bedrooms to house the average family. It was also out in the country, which was nice, because it was secluded and it was a good place just to hang around alone.
Ryo helped me get my belongings out of the car (c'mon, there wasn't that much stuff to carry) and dragged it inside. Inside, the place was much more impressive. Perfect carpeting, nicely painted walls, and clean windows just complemented the outside of the house well. I guess it goes with a 'perfect' guy like Ryo claims himself to be.
"Now, about the house," he started, "I've lived in this house the past 6 years. So that means when we were fighting in the digital world, this was my home. Anyway, just recently, my father passed away, giving all his possessions to me, including his house. And now, since I'm of legal age to own a house," he pulled out his driver's license clearly indicating such, "I pay for the stuff around here. So I guess I'll have to take care of another body, which is you, Ruki. No sweat."
"Thanks," was all I could muster up. "Where were you the past five years, when I didn't see you?"
"Oh, I was still around here. I guess you just didn't see me around hither and thither," he laughed. "I just finished my freshman year at Shinjuku University, so I have a job this summer, and I suggest you get a part-time job too while you're here, to support yourself and to get some spare change. Are you still in school?"
"I graduate on the 7th. That's what, a Thursday?"
"Correct."
I nodded. It might not be so bad living with Ryo; the guy actually cares. When I first met him five years ago, I thought he only acted to care about me just to get attention; but I was wrong. The guy turned into a sweetheart, which is very rare for me to dub a male like that.
"Listen, I'm going to go to bed right now, it's been a long day, as I'm sure it has been for you as well," he told me. "There are about four bedrooms you can pick from; just don't sleep in mine, ok?"
I laughed. "Got it."
******************
I couldn't sleep that night. It was about 1:00, the wind was blowing through the windows, the bed was very comfortable, but I still couldn't find that fortieth wink. I decided to get out of bed and get some water.
I carefully tiptoed downstairs as to not wake Ryo up. The light turned on in the kitchen as I searched through the cupboards to find a cup. I located one and filled it up with water from the sink.
Either the water tasted better up in the country, or I was really thirsty, because I downed a good 12 oz. in about 10 seconds. Feeling satisfactory, I crawled back upstairs to my room, but not before hearing a voice from Ryo's bedroom.
He couldn't be talking in his sleep, could he?
Carefully, and I mean very carefully, I wormed through the door until I could see him through the darkness of the shadows. He was staring at the ceiling in his bed, singing words that to this day bring rare tears to my eyes.
"The worst love is a lost love The love you lose one day You wonder to the man above Why is life this way?
That you could love somebody And they don't love you back? Why must love feel like A sharp pain just like a tack?
So to the girl I love let me say I wish you'd love me too. I just hope there is more In the words 'I love you.'"
Ok, I know it was kind of corny, but it made me sad to think that Ryo still acted like that; a love sick fool that needed to be talked to. I figured I could be the one to help him. Chalk that up as another good deed for me.
I slowly opened the door to get Ryo's attention, who kept repeating the poem/song over again, until he noticed me.
"Ruki?"
"Ryo."
"Were you listening to me.singing?"
I nodded.
"Oh damn."
"No that's alright." I looked at him slowly, scanning him. "Look Ryo, I'm not really good at these kinds of things, but let me try. This love you have for me, I'm very well aware of it. I remember when you first asked me out about five years ago. When you did, I must admit, inside I felt.happy, even comfortable, just to be around you."
He looked at me. "What do you mean?"
I gave him a stern look. "Pay attention. Not because I wanted to go out with you-are you listening?" He nodded in reply. Man it was good controlling him. I eased into a smile again. "It meant that we shared the same love around each other. Not a love boyfriend-girlfriend type, but the ones that friends shared with each other, much like the one Jenrya and I had before it turned into something more." I let Ryo talk now, because I was sure he had a lot to say.
"You know, I act all tough on the outside just like you, but we both have a hidden heart. Ruki, I didn't want to see you anymore because, well, I was afraid of talking to you after you rejected me. I still thought, even after what happened in the d-reaper, that you were still Tough-Girl and I didn't want to hurt you anymore, and since I figured you didn't love me any longer, so I just decided to not be involved in your life anymore. Until today, or yesterday, or whatever, when Jenrya called. At first, I didn't want to take you in after you ran away, because I didn't want to face the past. But then Jenrya said these words to me:
'Ruki loves you.'
Sure, maybe I took that statement the wrong way, and I feel very stupid for interpreting it incorrectly. Jenrya was right. You do love me, Ruki. But only as friends. And I have come to the realization that it was all I ever asked for in the first place."
A lot of things were going through my mind at once. Love and friendship, those things can be like peanut butter and jelly, but they can also be a slab of teriyaki jerky and a brown-colored fruit roll-up. They go hand in hand with each other, yet they can be confused within each other and destroy what friendship would be left. Such was the case with Ryo and me. Now we understood it.
I gave Ryo a soft kiss on the forehead, a kiss that meant love in friendship. "This is the gift of love as friends," I said to him. "I love you, Ryo."
He felt his forehead, and smiled as if it just healed him of a serious disease. "Good night, Ruki." Ryo Akiyama fell back asleep much happier than the Ryo Akiyama that I just met a few hours ago. Seeing his heart full of contempt, I slowly walked back to the guest bedroom, making certain not to wake the sleepyhead up.
I guess I am good at the friendship and love kind of thing after all.
This is where it starts to get confusing. Pay close attention to the details...
Chapter 7: It Might Not Be So Bad Living With Ryo
I stood there, wondering for a brief second as to why my mother was looking like me with her pissed-off face. Then, 'oh no.'
"I didn't want to believe it when I first knew about it, but when one of your friends tell me your recent happenings with a guy, I figured it had to be true." I still didn't understand what she was talking about. Who told my mom?
"What are you talking about?"
She suddenly exploded. "Oh, Ruki Makino, you know damn well what I'm talking about." she raised her head. "Hmm. Juri's house? After prom? A little action with one, Jenrya Lee?"
"Um. mom, I can explain." I tried to explicate, but how stupid would that be? It was no use.
"No, you don't need to explain. Let me tell you something, young lady. Remember what happened to me eighteen years ago. You almost pulled off a freakin repeat. I don't want you to see Jenrya any more!"
Mother was starting to piss me off. "Listen mother, you have no right to know what's going on with me unless I say it's okay! In a few months I'll be out of this house, and I could do whatever I wanted to do!" There goes the rebel in me. I had wished it didn't come out of my mouth, but of course, it was too late.
"Oh so you want an early exit, do you?" She pointed her finger towards the door. "Alright, Ruki, get the fuck out of my house this instant!"
I stood there motionless, trying to comprehend what she said. Once I understood that she wanted no affiliation with me at all, I ran down to my room to pack up. Before I did, however, I decided to give her the friendly finger gesture. My mom showed neither remorse nor sympathy that she just kicked her only daughter out of her house, and I showed no sign of emotion either. I was pissed off; what do you expect?
I grabbed a suitcase and crammed my clothes into it. I took my Renamon stuffed animal (I still like those things, ok?) and a book and put it in the suitcase as well. Then, walking out my room, I grabbed my purse chock full of money.
I said no word to my mother as I flew past the doorway and shut the door as hard as humanly possible. Little did she know that she just made a worse mistake than her prom night.
****************
Well, time to live it single. I didn't know what to do or where to go next; my first problem. Passing Shinjuku Park, I decided to park my car there. I decided to call my boyfriend via a nearby payphone. But first, my little partner in crime, so to speak.
"Hello?"
"Takato, this is Ruki."
"Hey Ruki."
"The plan is moving along nicely." (A/N: What plan? You'll have to find out later, hehe)
"Great. Thanks."
"See ya."
After hanging up on Takato, I next called my boyfriend.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jenrya, it's me."
"Oh hey Ruki! How're things going?"
"Um. I got kicked out of my house if it's anything significant."
"Jesus, Ruki. Did what I think would happen just happen?"
"Yes." There was a distant yell from the phone line, full of obscenities and cussing.
"Who told your mother? Did you?"
"Calm down, Jen. I don't know, other that my mother said it was a friend of mine."
"Hmm. It's got me. I don't have an idea on who would tell. Where are you?"
"Shinjuku Park. Listen Jen, I need a place to stay for the time being. Do you think you could help me out on this?"
"I'm sure there wouldn't be any problems in that." Suddenly there was a silence from the other end, until Jenrya spoke up again. "Dammit, I forgot about that."
"About what? What's going on?"
"Ruki, I'm very sorry, but we're going to visit our grandparents' for the whole day tomorrow very early, and my father doesn't want anyone over to stay the night."
"Dammit."
"Yeah, I know." Another silence. "Hey, I know who'll cover for you while you get things settled."
Well. I hope Jenrya doesn't decide on some rapist or something. "Who is it?"
"Don't worry. I'll call him. He's of legal age to own an apartment, so he'll let you stay for a while. I'll have him pick you up at the park. Just sit tight, it's someone you know well already."
"Thanks, Jen. I owe you one."
"Love ya."
"Ditto." I hung up the phone and sat at the nearby bench. "He'll let me stay for a while?" Who was he? Guess time will tell.
******************
11:00. This place gives me the creeps at night. Kidnappers lurking, just like the one who stole Suzie from Jenrya four years ago. I decided to keep my guard up and stay alert.
Even though it was June, the environment was cold outside. And I lacked a sweater. Great. I pulled out an extra shirt out of my suitcase and put it on me.
Suddenly a hand touched my shoulder, at which I perceived to be one of those kidnappers previously described. Adrenaline surged through my body as I reacted quickly and wrapped my arm around his neck and took his legs down with my feet, a technique in self-defense Jenrya taught me. I couldn't see well, but the kidnapper had brown hair and was a little taller than I was.
"Ahhh!"
Odd. His voice didn't sound like a thirty year old or something. In fact, it sounded like a guy around my age-
He hit the ground and I still had a grip on him. Slowly, and very slowly, I pulled him up, waiting for his face to appear in the shadows. He was an inch or two taller than I, his brown hair spiked up, and he had blue eyes. You know, an old buddy of mine had those same features-
"Ryo Akiyama?" I opened my eyes in disbelief to the guy whom I nearly gave a concussion to.
He moaned a loud grumble. "Yep, that's me. Shit, you really creamed my face," was his introductory statement. Geez, is that any way to address a lady? "Enough with the introductions, I haven't seen you in forever!"
I smiled. Yes, Ryo Akiyama, whom I bet to this day hasn't forgotten about what happened the day we defeated the D-reaper. when he asked me out. "It's really great to see you, Ryo. What are you doing here out this late?"
"Oh Jenrya called me. He says you're waiting for someone to take you to his house."
"Yes that's true."
"Well, I'm that someone," he said confidently, pointing to himself and sticking his chest out high. Well. He sure hasn't changed.
"You mean to say I asked Jenrya to give me someone who will look out for me for the time being, and he picks you?" I guess that came out worse than I wanted to, but what said was said.
"Hey, I didn't have to volunteer, and you'd be sticking around with the bums in the middle of the park." He had a point. He's nice enough to let me crash at his house for a couple days. Then again, he'd probably enjoy the company-
"You're not going to do anything. naughty to me, are you?" I giggled.
He laughed. "Oh c'mon, Ryo wouldn't do that! Now what do you say we go to my house and get settled? You can follow me in your car-that is, if you have one."
"Yes, I have a car," I replied, crossing my arms. "Hey, you have your own house?"
"Well, it's my regular house, I'll explain when we get there."
I followed Ryo down the highway to his supposed home. I had never been there myself. It was hard keeping up with a '06 Porsche when all you have is a '98 Honda Accord. Sheesh. However, he slowed his car down once I was getting too far behind, and after about 25 minutes, I arrived at his shack.
The house was very nice; it was the only full two-story out of any of my friends, unless you count Takato's bakery/home. Juri's didn't count, I guess. Anyway, it was very modern, two-car garage, and I had a pretty good intuition that there were more than enough bedrooms to house the average family. It was also out in the country, which was nice, because it was secluded and it was a good place just to hang around alone.
Ryo helped me get my belongings out of the car (c'mon, there wasn't that much stuff to carry) and dragged it inside. Inside, the place was much more impressive. Perfect carpeting, nicely painted walls, and clean windows just complemented the outside of the house well. I guess it goes with a 'perfect' guy like Ryo claims himself to be.
"Now, about the house," he started, "I've lived in this house the past 6 years. So that means when we were fighting in the digital world, this was my home. Anyway, just recently, my father passed away, giving all his possessions to me, including his house. And now, since I'm of legal age to own a house," he pulled out his driver's license clearly indicating such, "I pay for the stuff around here. So I guess I'll have to take care of another body, which is you, Ruki. No sweat."
"Thanks," was all I could muster up. "Where were you the past five years, when I didn't see you?"
"Oh, I was still around here. I guess you just didn't see me around hither and thither," he laughed. "I just finished my freshman year at Shinjuku University, so I have a job this summer, and I suggest you get a part-time job too while you're here, to support yourself and to get some spare change. Are you still in school?"
"I graduate on the 7th. That's what, a Thursday?"
"Correct."
I nodded. It might not be so bad living with Ryo; the guy actually cares. When I first met him five years ago, I thought he only acted to care about me just to get attention; but I was wrong. The guy turned into a sweetheart, which is very rare for me to dub a male like that.
"Listen, I'm going to go to bed right now, it's been a long day, as I'm sure it has been for you as well," he told me. "There are about four bedrooms you can pick from; just don't sleep in mine, ok?"
I laughed. "Got it."
******************
I couldn't sleep that night. It was about 1:00, the wind was blowing through the windows, the bed was very comfortable, but I still couldn't find that fortieth wink. I decided to get out of bed and get some water.
I carefully tiptoed downstairs as to not wake Ryo up. The light turned on in the kitchen as I searched through the cupboards to find a cup. I located one and filled it up with water from the sink.
Either the water tasted better up in the country, or I was really thirsty, because I downed a good 12 oz. in about 10 seconds. Feeling satisfactory, I crawled back upstairs to my room, but not before hearing a voice from Ryo's bedroom.
He couldn't be talking in his sleep, could he?
Carefully, and I mean very carefully, I wormed through the door until I could see him through the darkness of the shadows. He was staring at the ceiling in his bed, singing words that to this day bring rare tears to my eyes.
"The worst love is a lost love The love you lose one day You wonder to the man above Why is life this way?
That you could love somebody And they don't love you back? Why must love feel like A sharp pain just like a tack?
So to the girl I love let me say I wish you'd love me too. I just hope there is more In the words 'I love you.'"
Ok, I know it was kind of corny, but it made me sad to think that Ryo still acted like that; a love sick fool that needed to be talked to. I figured I could be the one to help him. Chalk that up as another good deed for me.
I slowly opened the door to get Ryo's attention, who kept repeating the poem/song over again, until he noticed me.
"Ruki?"
"Ryo."
"Were you listening to me.singing?"
I nodded.
"Oh damn."
"No that's alright." I looked at him slowly, scanning him. "Look Ryo, I'm not really good at these kinds of things, but let me try. This love you have for me, I'm very well aware of it. I remember when you first asked me out about five years ago. When you did, I must admit, inside I felt.happy, even comfortable, just to be around you."
He looked at me. "What do you mean?"
I gave him a stern look. "Pay attention. Not because I wanted to go out with you-are you listening?" He nodded in reply. Man it was good controlling him. I eased into a smile again. "It meant that we shared the same love around each other. Not a love boyfriend-girlfriend type, but the ones that friends shared with each other, much like the one Jenrya and I had before it turned into something more." I let Ryo talk now, because I was sure he had a lot to say.
"You know, I act all tough on the outside just like you, but we both have a hidden heart. Ruki, I didn't want to see you anymore because, well, I was afraid of talking to you after you rejected me. I still thought, even after what happened in the d-reaper, that you were still Tough-Girl and I didn't want to hurt you anymore, and since I figured you didn't love me any longer, so I just decided to not be involved in your life anymore. Until today, or yesterday, or whatever, when Jenrya called. At first, I didn't want to take you in after you ran away, because I didn't want to face the past. But then Jenrya said these words to me:
'Ruki loves you.'
Sure, maybe I took that statement the wrong way, and I feel very stupid for interpreting it incorrectly. Jenrya was right. You do love me, Ruki. But only as friends. And I have come to the realization that it was all I ever asked for in the first place."
A lot of things were going through my mind at once. Love and friendship, those things can be like peanut butter and jelly, but they can also be a slab of teriyaki jerky and a brown-colored fruit roll-up. They go hand in hand with each other, yet they can be confused within each other and destroy what friendship would be left. Such was the case with Ryo and me. Now we understood it.
I gave Ryo a soft kiss on the forehead, a kiss that meant love in friendship. "This is the gift of love as friends," I said to him. "I love you, Ryo."
He felt his forehead, and smiled as if it just healed him of a serious disease. "Good night, Ruki." Ryo Akiyama fell back asleep much happier than the Ryo Akiyama that I just met a few hours ago. Seeing his heart full of contempt, I slowly walked back to the guest bedroom, making certain not to wake the sleepyhead up.
I guess I am good at the friendship and love kind of thing after all.