Author's Note: Well, this is part 3 of one of my best fics, I think, so far… ^^ Love Season. More Love Loners for those who wanted to see it. I promise, it'll be better in this part. Enjoy!
Love Season
Part 3 - Broken Heart
I'm merely a child
So what is this I feel
When I'm with the one
I love
I know what it is
I shouldn't feel this way
I shouldn't be suffering
from a broken heart
at this age.
…is love really everywhere?
The bell rang for classes to start, and Takato looked around the classroom for Hirokazu. He wasn't anywhere to be found. Hirokazu's late. He's never late, no matter how much he doesn't like waking up early in the morning. Where could he be?
"Roll call," Mr. Terada sighed. "Aita, Kiki."
"Kuru!" She beamed.
"…the word is here, Kiki."
"But Kuru sounds so sweet."
"…Shiota, Hirokazu."
The door swung open, and Hirokazu walked in the door, looking very aggravated. "Don't ask me anything, don't tell me anything, don't talk to me!"
"…Hirokazu,"
"Ah! What?!" He gasped.
"…you're late."
He sighed and walked to his seat, "I'm aware."
"With your sudden outbursts, would you like to share the reason why you're late with the rest of the class?"
"…I was walking too slow." He lied.
"…you can do better than that."
"I got caught in traffic."
"You don't drive."
"I was following some girl who goes to a school across town!!" He snapped. "That's your answer!!"
"…Matsuda, Takato."
"Here," He said, absent-mindedly. "Psst! Hiro, who were you chasing exactly?"
"Miss Attitude," He replied. "She abruptly asked me Why are you here? And I said, I'm selling kaizers. She asked where they were…then she chased me down the block…then I walked to school…and that's why I'm late."
"…Kitagawa, Kenta,"
"Present and at ease, sensei." He nodded. "…if I might ask, how come you called Takato's name before mine. I'm not sure if you noticed, but K comes before M."
"Well, someone messed up the files so the attendance is a little out of order." He replied.
"A little? You called Hirokazu second, and Juri fourth! Juri's supposed to be before me, who's before Takato! You're confusing me!" He snapped.
"A-"
"I object!"
"Shut-…Keep quiet, Kenta." He sighed. "…okay. Well, quite a number of you the other day asked me about our discussion on love. To start off our second discussion, Hirokazu-"
"Oh no."
"Why were you chasing the girl this morning instead of taking your regular path to school?"
"…I won't discuss it." Hirokazu sighed.
"Well, we all know it was for a reason. Now, yesterday, and I might add--Hirokazu, I watched the so-called "best show on Television" Love Loners yesterday, and I heard your letter. Did you take their advice?"
"…I don't know."
"Well, I assume you did, by actually falling in love with someone yourself. Now, since you are all pre-teens, I shall tell you a secret. Do you know why people divorce each other?"
"Yeah," Kenta raised his hand. "Because they hate each others guts."
"Well…they just don't love each other any more."
"No, they hate each other!" Hirokazu added. "Just like Yama and Ai."
"Yama and Ai didn't hate each other." Takato protested.
"Yes they did."
"No they didn't."
"Yes they did."
"No they didn't."
"Yes they did."
"No they didn't."
"Yes they did."
"No they-"
"ATLANTIS DOESN'T EXIST!" He snapped.
"…well, the point is, they divorce because," Mr. Terada added. "they have fallen out of love with each other. And I'm warning you, it may happen to you as well! Don't think it won't because you're young. This is the most vulnerable stage. Anything could happen. So be careful."
What does he mean anything could happen? Juri asked herself. …should I sort of lay off Takato before he starts ignoring me? She looked over in his direction. …he does seem sort of distant at the moment. …okay. Maybe I won't try to kiss him, then.
******
"Class…uh…class?" Miss Kao began. Her class was either half asleep, or half dead. "…CLASS!" Most of them snapped upright. "I am warning you! Next time, it's detention! Now…"
"…what?" A student asked.
"Since you are all so determined on getting some rest, let's issue a policy." She reached over for one of her textbooks. "The next person who wants to sleep or fall asleep, must write out 10 pages of this math textbook, diagrams and all. If you fall asleep twice, it's 20 pages of math, 10 pages of language. Three times, 30 pages math, 20 pages language and 10 pages of history."
"NO! Not history!" One chanted. "Please no!"
"Then stay awake," She snapped, setting the book down. "But if you know you can't, I have all 3 books waiting right here. Who wants to go first?"
"Miss Kao," The P.A. system beeped throughout the school. "Miss Kao, back to room 5-2. Miss Kao. Mr. Terada, report back to room 5-4. Mr. Terada."
"…well, you're all lucky, I guess." She sighed. "When Mr. Terada comes back, resume your normal behaviour." She picked up her books, and headed for the door. "Oh, and Jenrya," She turned to Lee. "Your teacher told me he had something for you. He said I shouldn't tell you that he had something to give you after class, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut."
"…huh?" Lee asked.
"…resume." She walked out the door, just as Mr. Terada, their official teacher walked back in.
"…alright, well, with my last class we were talking about the issues of teens your age." Mr. Terada sighed. "…love."
"Love?" Asked one student. "You mean like love on Love Loners, or-"
"Does everyone watch that show nowadays?!" He gasped. "It's a load of crap!"
"Mr. Terada, how dare you?!" The whole class snapped…except Lee, that is.
Mr. Terada, did happen to spot him, slowly falling asleep, with his head rested on his desk. "…Jenrya,"
"Wha?" Lee looked up. "Good morning, sir,"
"Good afternoon, Jenrya,"
"…what?"
"Are you paying any attention to our discussion?"
"Nope."
Mr. Terada smiled, "I admire your honesty. But I'm afraid this is no time for sleeping."
"Okay."
"Save that for your next class, now," He continued. "Jenrya, what do you know about love?"
"…what do I know?" Lee asked.
"Yes."
"…not very much. What am I supposed to know?" Lee asked.
"Well, tell us all you know."
"…on Love Loners-"
"Forget Love Loners!!" Mr. Terada snapped. "What ELSE do you know?!"
"…nothing."
"Okay…okay…" Mr. Terada sighed. Breathe…breathe… "Who knows something about love?" Everyone raised their hands. "...excluding what you learned from Love Loners?" Everyone's hands shot down. "AAAAAHH!!! Class dismissed!"
"…we still have 10 minutes."
"LEAVE EARLY!" He said, uncovering a bottle of pills, and gulping 5 of them down. Breathe…breathe…
*******
Lee was walking through the park, during lunch that day, when he heard chanting near one of the monuments. He walked over to it, and looked up and inside. Kenta and Hirokazu were chanting while burning papers and pictures, in the centre of their ritual. "…what are you guys doing?"
"Shh…" Kenta whispered. "…we are burning papers. For out beliefs…"
Lee sighed, and climbed up to join them. "…did you guys join a cult, or somethin'?"
Hirokazu's eyes snapped wide open, "…no…we believe Yama and Ai hated each other, unlike a certain goggle-headed boy we once knew, in our former lives."
"Former lives?" Lee asked. "What the…"
"Listen," He continued. "To the crackling fire pits." They listened to the fire crackle, even though nothing happened. "…now, they shall reveal the name of the man who was turned a certain girl's heart on me."
"What?" Kenta and Lee asked.
"Oh…I mean," Hirokazu stuttered. "…um…"
"Man? Girl? What?" Kenta asked. "What are you talking about?"
Hirokazu instantly dumped the rest of his water in his water bottle on the fire, then threw it out the nearest window space. "You didn't hear anything, okay."
"This wouldn't happen to be the same girl you were chasing this morning, would it?" Kenta asked.
"…no…it's not."
"What girl?" Lee asked.
"Oh, he was chasing some girl this morning so he was late." Kenta explained.
"Kenta!" Hirokazu snapped.
"By the name of…Ruki Makino, or somethin'."
"Kent!"
"R-Ruki?" Lee asked.
Hirokazu glanced at him, "…you know her?"
"…well…no." Lee replied. "…no…no…of course not."
Kenta and Hirokazu exchanged weird looks.
"…actually, yes." He replied.
"Traitor!!"
"Shut up, Hiro," Kenta interrupted. "…let the man speak."
"I have nothing to say. Go on with your rituals, I'll be right back." Lee edged back slowly, until he was able to climb down the structure. He then slowly walked away.
"Hey Jenrya!" Juri ran up to him.
"Lee."
"Right, anyhow," She began. "Have you seen Takato? I don't know why, but I have the strangest feeling he's trying to avoid me."
"…I couldn't imagine why."
"Was that supposed to be sarcastic?"
"…not at all."
"Okay, tell me if you see him, though." She smiled. "Bye!" And she walked off.
******
Ruki sighed, twiddling her pencil in her hand. She stared up at her teacher, blabbing away, like she really cared. She just wanted to get home, see Renamon, and carry on with the rest of her life. She was starting to understand Renamon more than before, and she was starting to believe that digimon were more than just data. She was beginning to believe it, after she had a long talk with Jenrya.
"Stop it," Ruki told herself after school. "Just stop thinking about him. He doesn't care about me." She kept walking, tears quickly welled up in her eyes, as she remembered her talk with him.
***
Ruki out through her backyard one night, and jumped the fence. She needed to get away from it all. Her mom and grandmother were driving her crazy. She almost stumbled over her feet as she screeched to a stop in front of the next yard. She spotted Lee walking down the street, in her direction, not noticing she was there.
She quickly stepped back, slightly, and was about to head back when she heard him call her name. "Ruki!" He called running up to her.
She had no choice but to turn to face him. She sighed, "What?"
"Just wanted to say hi." He smiled. "What'cha doing out this late?"
"No-"
"Hiding?"
"None of your business. I am not hiding." She stated, firmly. "Just…have places to go."
Lee didn't reply. He looked side to side, as if he was looking for something. Ruki spoke up, nervously, "What happened? Bunny's gone?"
"Terriermon." Lee corrected. "I took him walking earlier. He went off to find Guilmon…I have to find him."
"…h-he's not even real." Ruki interrupted. "Why do you care so much about him? He'll come back. And if he doesn't, so what?"
Lee looked at her. "…I'm real tired of you saying that. Digimon should be treated with respect. They're not just something that can be toyed with, and abused because of your enjoyment. They have feelings too."
"…Sure they do."
"What's the use? You'd never understand." He brushed past her, slightly, and kept walking down the street.
Ruki stuttered, "…I…I." She ran to catch up to him. "So what if I do understand, but I just don't want to act that way! I care about Renamon."
"You just want a strong digimon. You don't care about her." He said, not bothering to look at her. "…you don't care about anyone, do you?"
"…well-"
"Other than yourself?"
"I don't care about myself!" She snapped, causing him to stop suddenly. He slowly turned around, to face her. "…I-it's true." She added. Tears slowly began to flow down her face.
"…well…you should. If you don't care about yourself…who will?"
"No one has to." She replied, lowly. "No one would want to."
"…I would…" He muttered, quietly.
Ruki looked up at him. He smiled, thoughtfully, "Ruki…you're crying."
She turned away from him. "…I told myself to never cry…for Renamon."
"…Renamon?" He asked.
"Yes, Renamon…" She nodded. "I do care about her! I…never knew…what to do without her… I don't want to lose her!"
"Then why do you always treat her like she's nothing?"
"I do not!"
"Yes, you do, Ruki. Always battling without a break?" He asked. "…doesn't she deserve it?"
"…she does deserve it."
"Then what doesn't she deserve-"
"Me!" She cried. Lee was shocked. "Yes, me! She thinks I'm a pain. She hardly talks to me! It's all because of me, but I try to hide it…I know…I know she deserves a better Tamer…like you…Jenrya." She sniffed. "…I'm sorry, Renamon…I'm sorry…I'm sorry, Lee." She wiped her eyes, then turned and ran back home.
Lee was left completely speechless as he saw her run into the darkness. He slowly turned back, and began to head back down the street, calling Terriermon's name.
***
She'd never forget that talk. It changed her life…and her feelings…towards him.
She was in silence, walking home, until she heard footsteps racing towards her. She turned around, to see Hirokazu, the boy from the other day…smiling at her. "What now? I really don't feel like being bothered."
"Well, hey, I just wanted to say…hi." He nodded. "…I guess you know a guy named Lee."
Ruki gasped. "Yes…uh- no…none of your business." She turned and continued walking.
"Well," He ran to catch up with her. "Something's going on between the both of you, and I wanna know what it is." He looked at her, as she stopped. "…please?"
"You really are a pain."
"Can you just answer my question so I can leave?!" He snapped.
"Alright. I know him. He…lives on the next street beside mine, so what?" She shot back.
"…so…that's why you're so edgy?" He asked. "You could've just told me you knew who he was. That's all I wanted to know."
"Good."
"…but since your brought it up, I was wondering if you liked him…more than me."
Ruki turned to him, "…what are you talking about?! I don't like you. I don't like him. Neither one of you care about me…or know who I am."
"I know who ya are," Hirokazu smirked. "You're…Ruki Makino, you go to some girl's school, you think your mother's a freak…and you won the digimon 'ships 2 years in a row! Therefore, you're….some kinda…digimon mistress…" He beamed.
"Is that all you care about?!" She snapped. He was taken aback. "Digimon cards are more than just cards…they're reality. And I'm not a mistress…I'm a Tamer." She turned and walked forward.
"…hey…hey," He caught up with her again. "Sorry, okay?! But, a tamer? Aren't those people who…tame things?"
"Yeah."
"Then whad'dyou tame?"
"…nothing important. Just data." And she continued walking.
"…just data?" Hirokazu repeated to himself.
***
"Thanks for the hot chocolate, cookies, biscuits and malt balls. I…really…appreciate it."
"No problem."
"So Lee," Hirokazu began. He was over at his house, in the den, drinking hot chocolate, and snacking on cookies, biscuits and petit malt balls. Lee insisted he take them…all. "What was Ruki talking about, when she said she was taming data?"
"Why do you ask?" Lee asked, sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows in them.
"Well…I dunno, it bothers me."
"She's always described taming…uh…her pet fox, as taming data." He nodded. He then leaned over and whispered, "She doesn't think they're real."
"Ah." Hirokazu nodded, in relief. "I thought she was talking about…well, you know…digimon, or something."
"Jen…rya! Jenrya!" Shiuchon ran in the room, Terriermon hanging by an ear in her hand. She held him up to Lee. "Make Terriermon come alive! Like yesterday, when I was feeding him medicine!"
Lee was shocked, and looked at Hirokazu, wide-eyed. "…she's…a child." Hirokazu looked at Lee, confused.
"No, he was eating it! I-"
"Shiuchon, go play with your dolls or something, please." He picked up Shiuchon, deftly, and carried her outside of the den. He then shut the door, and went back to sitting across Hirokazu. He picked up with cocoa, Hirokazu still looking confused, and he asked, "…you were saying?"
*****
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!!" Miki screamed, throwing anything reachable at Kenta. After gift shopping, he walked her home, and she'd been sneezing the whole way there. When she realized, the one thing Kenta bought her, a fragrance bottle, she was allergic to. "You know I'm allergic to," sneeze. "STRONG fragrances!!!" She threw any objects she could find at him.
"You never told me!" He ducked. "I didn't know! I'm sorry! Don't kill me!"
"I'm never talking to you again, Kenta…Kenta…Ki…Kita…gawa!" She snapped, then shut the door.
She marched up the stairs to her room, and slammed the door. She sat down on her bed, on the brink of crying and sneezing at the same time. She picked up her phone and dialled Juri's number.
"Juri! Pick up the phone! It's Miki!" Her mother called.
"Alright," Juri raced to the cordless phone, and ran into the nearest room, then shut the door. She spoke into the phone, "Hello? Miki?"
"It's awful." Miki smiled, all of a sudden, as her allergy attack stopped. "Kenta…dumped me."
"Ha ha," Juri sighed. "What happened? Seriously?"
"I told him I was allergic to strong fragrances, and he totally believed me." She smiled. "I mean, I was sneezing and coughing and pretended I couldn't breathe." She giggled. "Genius, huh?"
"Remind me again, why you even bothered to waste your time like that, especially when you like HIROKAZU-"
"Shh!!!" She snapped. "Don't…ever say it out loud, that loud ever again."
"Then why do you treat him like an idiot?"
"…because he is an idiot." Miki nodded. "But he's my idiot! And over the years, when he's tortured me, I…sort of…grew into a liking for him."
"Then tell him, not me." Juri nodded. "I'm tired of hearing it…"
"Then tell me something I really don't want to hear. Tell me…" She began. "…tell me something about Takato."
Juri hung up, instantly, blushing. She looked out her window, to see Takato walking down the street with Hirokazu. She smiled, and called to him, "Takato! Takato, come here!"
Takato stopped in his tracks, and turned around, to look at her window, "…uh…J-Juri?"
"Yeah, hi!" She replied. "They're gonna show Love Loners in a few minutes! Wanna come and watch it with me?"
"…Love Loners?" He stuttered. "Well…I dunno, Juri, I-"
"What are you doing?!" Hirokazu shoved him in the shoulder, to get his attention. "She's practically throwing herself at your feet! It is what my older friends call…a date."
"A date?"
"Yes!" He nodded. "Ah…hmm, one second-" He turned to Juri. "He'll talk to you in a few, okay? I'm negotiating!"
Juri sighed, "Alright." She walked back into the living room, and turned on her TV. "Boys are sooo weird. …especially Hirokazu. …actually, maybe it's just him."
"You don't think when she said, Wanna come watch it with me, that she meant just watching?" He asked.
"…what else would she mean?"
"SHE MEANT," He began, raising his voice. "That this is her only available opportunity to ask you out! And she's using Love Loners to lure you in!"
Takato arched his eyebrow, and looked at Hirokazu. "…where did you hear all this?"
Hirokazu sighed, "Listen, just follow my lead. A-And hey, since this is your first official date, I get to come with you."
Takato looked at him, as he just nodded, "…you just wanna watch Love Loners, right?"
"Absolutely." He replied. "…let's go."
***
"Hi Takato!" Juri beamed, once they arrived at her doorstep. "…Hirokazu." She added, to the rather eager Hirokazu beside him. "…what is it you want?" She asked Hirokazu.
Hirokazu picked $5 out of his pocket, and handed it to her. "Let me in. Love Loners starts soon."
Juri smiled, and took the money. "Oh, but it'll cost you to walk on my floor, and sit on my sofas."
Hirokazu sighed, and handed her 2 cents. "Now let me in."
She grumbled, "You're cheap, Hirokazu."
"Ha."
"Come in," She smiled, letting Takato and Hirokazu walk in front of her. She shut the door, as they headed for the sofas by the TV, and Love Loners came on.
*audience applauds as Karu Karu steps on stage; love loners theme plays*
Karu Karu: Hi, hi! Welcome all to Love Loners. The show for those who love love but have no love lives. Yep, just like those hobos by the river! Ha ha…ha ha…
*silence; crickets chirp*
Karu karu: Well, let's begin with our question of the day. As you know, we have questions from our viewers to…clear up some things, so you can all move on and be Love Lovers and not Love Loners. This question is from someone who would like to go under the name of Ki No… Ki No writes: Karu Karu, I was wondering. What do you do if you really like this guy, but you know this other guy likes you, and you don't like him. But the guy you like doesn't really like you, so what am I supposed to do?
Well, Ki No, it's simple. Tell the guy you like, you like him. Tell the guy you hate, get lost. Or, you can call the Love Loner's line at 555-LOVE ext. KARU, to talk to me, or ext. MIKE to talk to the Microphoned Improvisational Key Entertainers.. Now, on with our situation of the day. Starring our Loner Actors who just needed a break-
Audience: Ha ha ha ha…
KK: Ha…ah, hilarious, aren't I? Anyhow, actors Hikaru and Miss Reiko as…Nikaru and Keiko… uh, situation, how to tell someone your feelings for them…hmm, a toughie. But, hopefully this will help you get through it. Now onto, the situation of the day! Brought to you by Smores and Smorez! Smores in chocolate for everyone! A Mr. Kisti company.
(screen starts showing video)
(Keiko and Nikaru in the park, sitting at a bench across from each other)
Nikaru: …Keiko…I wanted to tell you something.
Keiko: I was waiting to hear something from you. What is it?
Nikaru: …I don't know how to say this, but…
Keiko: But what?
Nikaru: Well…I seem to have real strong feelings for you.
Keiko: …
Nikaru: …wanna grab a bite to eat?
Keiko: …sure, Nikaru. And don't worry. Wakatta. I understand.
(screen fades; audience applauds)
Karu Karu: Wonderful! Now, if you didn't get the code, grabbing a bite to eat is a perfect way to either hide, or uncover your feelings…
****
KK: Now, to our commercial break! After the break, we'll see presentations and an extra 2 minutes of Love Loners! Right here, on…Love Loners!
Miki watched the screen attentively. "…Wanna grab a bite to eat…got it!" She dashed to the phone, picked it up and dialled Hirokazu's number.
"Shingo, get your lazy butt up from that chair and get the dang phone!!!" Mrs. Shiota yelled.
"Whatever you say, Ayumi--uh, dear," Shingo, Mr. Shiota, walked to the phone as he picked it up. "Hey. Shiota residence. Mr. Speaking."
"Hi, Mr. Shiota,"
"Miki."
"Is Hirokazu home? I really need to talk to him."
"…" Mr. Shiota hung cold on the other line. "…Miki Saki, right?"
"Yes."
"…rivals with Hirokazu, you are, right?"
"…yes."
"…one second." He set the phone down, and walked to the kitchen where Mrs. Shiota was chopping live fish. "…honey,"
"Something's wrong." She said without looking up.
"Miki's calling for Hirokazu."
Mrs. Shiota's chopping slowed to a sudden shudder. She dropped the knife and turned to him. "I told you not to lie like that ever again, Shingo."
"I'm not lying. She's on the phone. She asked for him, sincerely. I think something's very wrong."
Ayumi eyed Shingo and headed for the phone. She picked it up, "Miki, dear,"
"Mrs. Shiota, is Hirokazu home?"
"…this is about your well-being. Are you on any medication? We think that might be the cause." Ayumi nodded.
"No, please, listen, I really need to talk to him!" She snapped.
Ayumi was silent. "…well, if you put it that way…he's not here."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, he went off with his friends about an hour ago." She nodded, truthfully. "…this is Miki, right?"
"Yes, Mrs. Shiota."
"I'll tell him…you call…uh, called, for him." She stuttered. "…anything else?"
"No. Sorry for bothering you." And she hung up. She headed back to the TV as Love Loners began playing.
******
Karu Karu: Alright, we're back! Now after out daily show of On The Wrong Side, airing in 30 seconds, we'll have a presentation with a guest speaker who was once a Love Loner, telling us tips on how to walk out of that situation. Here's On The Wrong Side.
Even though you might think life is great
It's not
It sucks
And you're always on the wrong side
of it!
Nothing ever goes right…
Starring Ai as Miss Kara, Mark as Tre and Yama as Kalen! Co-starring Sunai as Miss Jenii!
Kara: Let's play chess.
Tre: Sure, you in, Kalen?
Kalen: I got a date. Can't.
Jenii: With who?
Kara: Me.
Tre: Then why did you want to play chess?
Kara: It's in the script.
All: …oh.
(audience applauds as screen fades)
Karu Karu: Wonderful episode! One of our best, too! Now, we're here for a quick 3 minutes or so with our guest expert, Kiki Karu, my cousin. Hey Kiki.
Kiki Karu: Hi Karu. 'sup?
KK: Nothing much. Now we have a few tips from you before we leave. Go ahead, you've got 30…seconds that is.
Kiki: Well, first, you should never be eager to start a relationship, and try to not be that annoying.
KK: …that all?
Kiki: Yeah. I only took the high school course for 2 days.
KK: There you have it! Kiki is almost an expert! 2 days! Wow, that's…uh…wow! Thanks Kiki.
Kiki: No problem.
KK: Now, you know how to get your comments in you must send them to:
Love Loners
co Japan
And now we can add an extra thing to it!
Love Loners
West Shijuku
co Japan
There's the address! Visit us, comment us, send us something! Tips, questions, anything! See you next time, same loner time, same loner place, same loner channel! Good night everyone!
*******
End of part 3!! ^^ Some way to end it, huh… ^-~ Anyhow, please review, and tell me what you think…see ya next time, same loner time, same loner place same loner channel! ^^ Ja!
