Enemy of the heart
Section 1: I thought I shut you out…
"Eskimo Kisses!!"
"Culumon! ARGGH!" shouted Ruki as the cute snowball with eyes jumped on her. "Why do you keep doing that to me!?"
"Why not? Don't you like it?" He asked while giving her his best childlike innocence look.
"You little shorty! Why in the world would I li-!" she stopped abruptly as she noticed that not so far in the distance a creeping white fog grew slowly around the west side of the park. "Now that is what I like Culumon!"
"Hey! Ow!" he yelped as Ruki (oh so gently) dropped him on the ground. Lifting himself up he could only see the shadow of her running away.
"Renamon!" In the trees the form of a sleek furred fox appeared. Her stance was strong and eyes were focused but the most intriguing thing about her was the beauty she rediated. Knowing that she had to battle she still had time to look good.
"Ruki…" her unruffling fur signaled that she was no longer tense. Turning her direction from her partner to the shadow blobs, of what she assumed was another tamer, only continued with, "It's over…"
"How..?" she faintly said before she started to sprint again. Thoughts on who it could be began going through her head but her only conclusion was….
"Guilmon! You were awesome! This Hyper Speed card works the best on finishing blows!" Takato yelled with joy as Guilmon happily marched toward his tamer.
"Thanks Takatomon! But don't you think that was a little too fast?"
"Ah, you're just underestimating your strength! C'mon Guilmon lets go meet Juri at the playground." As Takato was about to turn to leave, he caught a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye. I was Ruki. He smiled with a little cocky laugh as he said. "I was wondering when you would show up! It's not like the digimon queen to miss on a chance like this!"
"Who was it that you fought?" She asked monotonly, shrugging off the odd comment.
"Heheh…. Don't worry about it, me and Guilmon took care of everything." His old cheery exterior back again. He waved to Guilmon signaling that he can run off somewhere and play. Of course Guilmon took this chance to eat the bread that was in Takato's backpack. "So Ruki, how's it been going these past few days? Ya-know I haven't seen you around lately. Me and Lee's been wondering where you were."
"Well there hasn't been many digimon around has there?" It has just been a few months since they last fought with each other side by side but now that it was over, there were even lesser battles to fight. Meaning no pointless time hanging around together. Ruki tried to program this into her mind but she knew that this was not true. That this distance no matter how short was changing the things she loved and missed. "What's the point of hanging around when there's nothing to do?"
"Oh C'mon! Hey, Hirokazu's having a party for all the tamers. We all know it's just a way for him to challenge us to a card game but hey, it's free food!"
"Hmm…"
"Don't think about it! Just come! We haven't hung-out in ages!"
"Fine!..." she said with agitation. Unaware to Takato was that deep inside she actually liked this idea and hoped that maybe something would…..work out.
Section 2: But I guess I was wrong.
"Takato! Guilmon I've got something for you!"
"Peanut butter cookies! Thanks Hirokazu!" Guilmon shouted over the load voices of the other tamers. Takato looked around the house to find that there were more digimon and tamers than he ever realized! The only one he recognized out of the whole troop of tamers was Lee.
"Hey Takato! Who knew there were so many tamers in our town! Kenta met them all on the Internet!"
"Yeah great…"replied Takato as he tried to keep a look out for Ruki. 'Man, she better be coming or els-.."
"Oh my god! It's the digimon queen!" Some tamer shouted setting a trigger of silence amongst everyone in the house.
"Hmm… This tension is getting kind of disturbing…"
"You said it Renamon… Takato!!" yelled Ruki (a little too cheerfully Lee noticed)
"Heh, I knew you wouldn't miss out on something like this!" the noise slowly came back to the party as Ruki made her way to Takato. Renamon feeling curious left to check out the other strong digimon that were there.
It's been awhile Ruki, you've been keeping busy I'm sure?" Lee asked. He studied her. She looked the same but something was different. She was more…open to him but even more so to Takato.
"I guess you could say that. So what's there to do around here Takato?"
"C'mon let's go check this place out," answered Takato as they left a chuckling Lee behind.
"I bet you five-bucks Guilmon will win!"
"He can't eat that much! He'll explode before he gets to the tenth one!" exclaimed Kenta to Hirokazu as they both watched Guilmon and another gigantic sized digimon duke it out on who could eat the most pies. Unfortunately Guilmon was losing by one (must have been the cookies).
"Oh great!…. Looks like I'll have to clean up after him again…" Takato and Ruki had just arrived to see Guilmon shove two pies in his mouth to close the gap between him and his competitor.
"It looks like you've been training Guilmon well," commented Ruki. Once again Guilmon stuffed two pies in his mouth. Unfortunately one was starting to seep out. It dropped onto the floor not even resembling the cherry pie it once used to be.
"Hey! I don't train him like this! Ah!! Guilmon try to-!" It was too late. Knocked out in only the ninth round, Guilmon collapsed into his heap of chewed up pie. In an exasperated tone like a mother does to her difficult child, "Now do you see why I don't bring you anywhere? *Sigh* It's time to go home…"
"I told you he'd explode…" was all Takato heard as he and Ruki lifted up Guilmon and dragged him back to his home.
"Sorry I dragged you out here only to make you leave"
"It's okay, I only really came to see you…" said Ruki as she thought back to when she was at the door of the house, contemplating if she should go in. And glad that her desire to see him was what pushed her through… Who knew that she'd get the opportunity to talk to him alone?
"Umm…me too…"
Guilmon moaned but he wasn't conscious enough to see both the tamers dragging him blush…
Section 3: It doesn't matter now,
It was dusk when they arrived at Guilmon's home in the park. Each of the city lights were on but the darkness came too slow for them to show-off their brilliance. The two tamers pulled in Guilmon and tried their best to gently put him into his customized bed. Which was really just the result of Guilmon's Pyro Sphere burning itself into the ground. He lay peacefully with a little snore here and there signifying that he was still alive. Takato and Ruki made their way out closing the fence door of his concrete house behind them.
"It's better when he's sleeping…well…at least when he's not on top of you."
Ruki smirked at the comment as the two began walking around the park. They both had no desire to go back to the party since both of them realized they were only there to see each other. Besides, the park was a good place to pass the time. Winter was around the corner so the trees were already shedding their autumn bloom. The crunch of the leaves under their feet was a more relaxing sound then the blasting noise of tamer and digimon voices.
'Great! I finally have the time to talk to him but now I can't think of one thing to say! I can never be ready for anything!' Ruki thought. Scolding herself as she realized the awkward silence between them was growing quite rapidly. 'I haven't changed at all!'
"Hey Ruki?"
"..Yeah?.." she responded a little slowly.
Takato noticed she was a little out of focus. This wasn't like her at all… He knew that one of her training rules is to keep notice of everything and to be prepared for anything that comes at you. She was not acting like herself today. Not one bit…. But this didn't stop him from asking her his next question… "Ruki, did, did you really mean it, that you only came to the party, to, to see, me?"
Silence…
Not one word was spoken as they made their way around the corner. Just as Takato was about to loose hope of any kind of answer he felt something-warm wrap around his cold hand. He look down to see that Ruki had clasped her hand around his! 'Whoa I never thought,' thought Takato as his tanned face was given a deep scarlet.
'I hope he understands….' Ruki wished but little did she realize that this act replaced all the words that she tried so nervously to say. Actually adding more to it. She squeezed his hand gently just to test out of he understood what she meant.
He squeezed back…
Section 4: Because you are gone…
Hirokazu's party was a big hit. Everyone's worries, digimon and tamer's, was washed away. Even Lee's curiosity of where Takato and Ruki went was drowned by chants from the tamers who waited for the winner of the best digimon comedy act (Terriormon won with his best Guilmon jokes). Just recently Renamon won energy drinks in the arm wrestling contest. Who knew the night was so much fun?!
Who knew the night could be so surprising?
"I don't think he's here Leomon, maybe he's at Guilmon's house. Let's go look." Tamer and digimon made their way to the park. Leaving the party without even saying "Hi…"
Takato and Ruki continued walking through the park ignoring the other couple's comments on how cute they look hand in hand. They were too busy to notice as they whispered few words on how their day was or on how they've been keeping busy these last few weeks. They were comfortable knowing… That one can hold a hand and not be pushed away and one can look, and believe, that they had an effect on a person, they never thought they could…
The sky started becoming the dark abyss that Ruki knew all too well, but it didn't matter now, because everything she forced herself to believe would never happen…was. She looked at him, for the first time without annoyance in her heart. His hair lay unkept over his goggles. She then realized that not once in this night did she refer to him as "goggle-head." Her eyes traced down to his face and saw that his exterior has changed to assertive and determined from the nieve tamer he once was. 'Time has changed all of us I guess' she thought as she blushed when he turned noticing that her eyes were on him.
"Ruki, I was wondering if, since it's getting pretty late, that I could, walk you home?"
"No it's okay, you don't have to.."
"But I…" He began but stopped to hear a faint pair of steps coming toward them get louder and louder. Takato stepped forward and at the same time releasing the hold he had on Ruki's hand. She never did notice that it was done, and done on purpose. A form began to emerge from behind the shadows of the trees. Slowly but surely coming into detailed view. Takato and Ruki tensed but Takato was the only one to relax as he saw who it was.
"Takato! I've been looking all over for you! Why weren't you at the party?" atop Leomon's shoulder sat Juri. Takato's school…friend.
"Oh! Hey Juri. Heh, Me and Ruki were there but then Guilmon had to stuff his face and puke. So we went and brought him home."
"I see," she began as she made her way down off Leomon's shoulder. "Do you have some time Takato? I really need to talk to you."
Takato was about to answer when he just remembered about Ruki. He turned to ask her to wait but was only blessed by seeing her turn around the bend toward the subway. 'Great, now I can't.."
But he was cut off as he turned back and felt Juri kiss him on the lips…
Section 5: I wish, I wish,
Takato's faced burned as he realized what was happening. It burned even more as he remembered who was doing this to him. Juri, the one he's been crushing over for who knows how long has just touched him in a way he thought would never happen. Not in one moment did he remember anything that happened before this event… Or even after!
Juri broke off, hoping that maybe he would say something. But him being dazed for a good minute left her to start off the conversation.
"Takato I've been meaning to tell you that, that…" She looked down and began to blush a very deep red. It was only this time that Takato decided to listen.
"I love you Takato."
Takato stood in shock as she said this. Forgetting that Leomon was there, and forgetting to take notice of everything around him. If he did then maybe he would have realized that Renamon was up on the tree above him. That she could hear everything they said even if she didn't try or want too. "Juri I didn't know you felt that way... I have no idea what to say…Juri I.."
"Takato please tell me you feel the same way..!" she said with a little tinge of panic. Now it was his turn.
"Juri I don't feel, I mean I don't know, Oh! Why did this all have to happen now!!!" Confusion was eminent in his voice because only now did he remember Ruki.
Of course Juri took this in a different way then he meant.
"Oh…. So I guess this means that you don't like me." It was then that she began to tear, making Leomon growl and give the evil eye toward Takato. This scared him.
"It's-not-that-I-don't-like-you-it's-just-that-I-I-I-need, more time?"
"Is that it!?" The tears stopped as she continued, "Why didn't you say that in the first place?! C'mon Leomon let's go. Takato did I ever tell you that your cute when your scared?"
"Not soon enough…"sighed Takato as Juri and Leomon started to walk back to the party. He stood there figuring out a way to solve this situation. He thought so hard that he never heard the *swish* of a fox jump from one tree to another all the way home,
eager to tell the day's news to her tamer.
Renamon finally landed upon the roof of her home. As she made her way toward the door she could hear someone humming. It was a happy tune but, 'Who in the world would be doing that? Ruki doesn't…' She opened the door to the room. She entered to see Ruki in her pajamas, pull her comforter over her, and on her face she had a smile of pure joy. The first time that Renamon has ever seen her tamer like this. "You're sure in a good mood"
"Ah-huh!" Ruki nodded in satisfaction.
"May I ask why?"
"Oh you won't be interested.." She giggled. This surprised Renamon. Sure she's heard her tamer laugh but not in this way. It was different but she was sort of glad that Ruki was finally letting herself feel this way.
"I didn't know you left the party so early but while you were gone I won this."
From a plastic bag she grabbed one out of the ten energy drinks that she had won. "I know this may not be important but as I was walking home I heard Leomon's tamer say that she loves Takato. It was quite a cute thing to see. The day's been so eventful hasn't it?
Today was also the very first time that Renamon wished she had never learned to talk…
Section 6: it's just you and me
Ruki sat in class, deep in thought. To some it would seem that she was thinking hard about the days assignment. But to do that proved that you don't know Ruki at all. It also proved that you were stupid enough not to see that she didn't even write down the day's assignment! Or even pick up the pencil!! To the selected few however, they would know what she was feeling. That the cold exterior she always wore could be shattered by something so strong, so important that it reaches to the very deep of her heart and can be seen within her eyes. Actions and words can be said and done, but what you hold in your eyes can be seen by anyone you want or don't want to…
'Why does this hurt..? Even if what Renamon said IS wrong, then, why does this fear still wander around? Wait a second. Did I say.…fear? Am I…scared of the pain I might feel? No I can't be afraid! I trained myself for everything! I have no weakness!…'
"Love is such a strange thing Ruki… I makes you heart do all kinds of stunts. All you can hope is that when you finally land, you don't go SPLAT!" Ruki's grandmother's words came into her mind. Somehow it eased her anger. 'Maybe this… this feeling is natural. Maybe what I'm feeling happens even to the…even, to me… I-I don't like falling anymore…"
*BRINNNNG!!!*
"It's time.." Ruki whispered to herself as she made her way out, following the roads to Takato's school. The determined strength in her eyes did not once waver as the droplets of rain poured all over her.
"Oh great! It's raining!" muttered Takato. Remembering that he forgot his umbrella. "If this whole girl mess didn't happen then I wouldn't have to walk in the rain."
"What girl mess?" Takato turned in shock to find that Lee overheard his private conversation.
"Wha-how-girl?-I-said-Guilmon mess!-Ya-know-that-digimon-leaves-a-lot-for-me-to-clean-your-so-lucky-you-have-Terriormon!-Okay-got-to-go-see-ya-around-Lee-bye!!" Takato ran as fast as he could. To any place where he could think alone. But unfortunately he's not that lucky.
"Takato! Why are you running around in the rain? You're going to get sick." Even though he didn't want to, he turned to face Juri and noticed that she was sharing her umbrella with him. "But if you do get sick maybe I can be the one to take care of you…"
"Umm…Yeah" he replied with a sweatdrop.
'no…Ta-Takato…. NO!' Ruki's mind became berserk as she came just in time to see Juri kiss him on the cheek. Too bad she didn't stay long enough to see Takato make a disgusted face.
"Juri don't do that to me!" yelled Takato as he moved away from her to rub off the warmth on his cheek.
"But Takato…"
"Look Juri. I told you, I need more time. You can't just do that to me!"
"But I could help convince you."
"ARHGG!" Takato stomped away hoping that paying a visit to Guilmon would drown away his confusion.
"He's so cute when he's mad."
Section 7: So then I no longer…
"Jeeze! Those girls! How in the world can this be happening to me!?" Takato once again complained to himself. The trees barely protected him but not even the heavy rain could drown away his worries. He quickened his pace as he caught sight of Guilmon's house. But something stopped him. Something washed over him as he turned to face to cause of his shock. Growing slowly but surely…a digital field was emerging…
"Of all the time…Guilmon! Let's go!"
"O.K Taka--" abruptly Guilmon was cut off.
"AAAHHHGG!!!" A frightened screamed reached the two as they faced the direction of where it was coming from.
"Wha-? Guilmon c'mon!" Right behind Takato ran Guilmon. In their minds as if they were connected telepathically they both asked 'Who screamed?'
"Terriormon! Someone's in trouble! Hurry up!" Lee, who was searching for the digimon with his D-arc, was close enough to hear the scream. "I hope they're not badly hurt"
"Let's go see then!" Terriormon countered sarcasticly.
"Hey!" Before Lee could give a good comeback they had just arrived on the scene. Before them stood three Snimon. They stood together in a group, huddled like a team preparing for a play. Lee knew that Snimon were too easy to beat but with three against one… It would be nice to have a little back up.
"Lee look! They're standing around something!" Finally taking his mind off strategy, he followed Terriormon's advice and looked between the Snimon. But even if he squinted, it was too blurry to make out what the Snimon were so viciously slashing at. "What, are they doing?"
"LEE!" From around the edge Takato and Guilmon appeared from behind the trees. "What's been going on? Who screamed?"
"I don't know but look a-!" Too swift for their eyes to catch Renamon appeared, giving one Snimon a kick right square in the back. Making things easier, she attacked with a diamond storm, depleting the stunned Snimon to nothing.
"Yeah Renamon! Help her out Guilmon!"
"You too Terriormon!" Both digimon ran to attack the other two Snimon. With both being at extremely high levels, they only needed to use their basic attacks to finish off the pests.
As Lee and Takato went to reach the battle area, each digimon was equally absorbing their victory data. But when they finally arrived, Renamon left in a hurry holding something in her arms.
"So much for a tamer and digimon reunion…" commented Takato as he saw Renamon jumping from tree to tree until she was out of sight.
"Why would she stay Takato? When you vow to protect someone you usually keep that on top priority." Terriormon snapped back. His voice was a little more intelligent than rude.
"What are you talking about Terriormon?" asked Lee.
"Didn't you see what she was holding?" replied Guilmon. "It was that thing the Snimon were poking at, Renamon's tamer."
"WHAT!!!" Takato and Lee exclaimed in unison.
"Ta-ka-to!!" called out a familiar voice. It was Juri.
Section 8: Have to dream…
"Renamon?" Ruki spoke softly as she began to raise herself up. Unfortunately the sudden shock of pain from all around her body forced her to fall against her pillow.
"Ruki stay still and rest. Let your wounds heal." Renamon commanded as she placed the comforter neatly over her tamer. Finally done, she kneeled to look at the many cuts that could not be covered on Ruki's face. Regret was firmly embedded into her mind as she watched her tamer struggled to cope with the pain from the reopen wound she accidentally cut for herself. "Please forgive me Ruki…"
"No…It was…my fault"
"Hello is Takato there?" Lee asked through the phone. It's been three days since the Snimon attack and he hoped that today might be the best time to visit Ruki.
"Sorry Lee, he's not here right now. Do you want to leave a message for him?
"Yes please. Just tell him I'm going to visit Ruki and that he should do that too."
"Alright. Bye."
"Bye…" 'Where is he?'
"Juri! Hirokazu! Kenta! I have to go!" cried Takato as he tried to get away from his crazy friends.
"You owe us cards!"
"You owe me a date!"
"NOOOO!!!"
"Ruki I searched for the others as you wished, but it seems like they're too busy to come." Renamon stated as Ruki sat in her bed.
"So much for friends..." Ruki looked down to her bandaged hands. Not even realizing the emotions that she was feeling. Loneliness, sadness, all were emitted as she sat with eyes downcast. The scars and the bandage around her head made her look even more like a child. More weak in her words. She did change a little bit as Lee entered the room. First happy…then sad…then for some reason a thin shield built around herself. It was weak from not being used as much, but it was still there.
"Hey Ruki. How are you feeling?" He looked at her and instantly blamed himself for not knowing that she was the one who screamed at the battle.
"Fine..." She answered with no feelings what so ever. "What are you doing here?"
Handing Renamon at what looked to be a get well present answered with; "I came to see how you've been doing. We tried to come earlier but your Grandma wouldn't let us."
"Oh…" The shield slightly thinned. 'Us…Does that mean him and…?'
"What happened out there Ruki? Didn't you have any warning? Didn't you see the field?" Lee asked impatiently but didn't let his voice become too demanding.
"I was…I didn't notice…" words like these bothered her more than anyone could ever know. 'I try to protect myself so much but with one blow a go down like a stupid rag-doll. I'm so pathetic.'
"As long as you're okay now we're happy." He smiled at her hoping that it would brighten up the mood, but her blank look remained. "Hey, I'll see you around. Takato might be coming by so don't be surprised."
A simple goodbye and thank you was all the response he received. Renamon closed the door as he left and noticed that her tamer's reaction toward her friend was different. She wondered if it would also be the same for the other.
Four more days passed….
"Can I speak to Lee?" Takato waited anxiously on the phone for Lee.
"Hello?"
"It's me Takato. So how's she doing?" He tried hard to not sound worried but it didn't do much against Lee.
"It's bad. She has so many cuts on her…its like a thousand needles attacked her. But what's worse is that she's put up that guard again."
"What do you mean?" His voice was serious.
"I mean that, that she's acting like when we first met her."
"You mean distant and uncaring?"
"Yeah…and I think It's because, wait a second…" Lee finally noticed that it's been a few days since he talked to her. 'Why in the world would he be asking me this unless…' Abruptly he asked, "You did visit her right?"
"Well…Hirokazu and Kenta's been bugging me this whole week an-"
"Takato! Out of all the things you've done wrong this one takes the cake! Get down there now and talk to her!!!" Takato was suddenly hit with the dial tone. Leaving him dumbfounded.
Takato made his way to Ruki's house. As he walked he continually thought about what he was going to say to her. He does care for her but he knew that since he didn't visit her then she wouldn't believe him. 'I wasn't my fault!' he thought. 'The guys were always on my back with cards and Juri's been always trying to make me stay with her.' But he knew that half the reason he didn't want to go see her was because he wanted to know what he really felt toward her. He didn't want his actions to give her the wrong impression if he ever decides whom he likes.
"Renamon is Ruki here? I really want to talk to her."
"I'm sorry, but she is busy."
"Oh…" He stood there hoping that maybe something would happen. With a slow *creek* the door opened. Slightly revealing an emotionless light-violet eye. "Ruki!"
"So you finally decided to show up…" She emerged from behind the door. The expression on her face unchanging.
"Sorry Ruki but Juri…" Unknowingly he hit her harder than he ever imagined.
"Spare your excuses. Nobody wants to hear them." Takato could feel the gap growing between them. Just like Lee said. Her words were not of anger though. Not like before. It was as if someone was controlling her, as if her real mind was asleep and all he was speaking to was a zombie.
"Ruki…What's wrong?" His eyes tried desperately to find a way to break down the mask she wore. Surprisingly it worked but not to the outcome he wanted.
"You said you were my friend…so I waited." Her eyes wavered as she continued. "But you didn't- I only want to heal now…and I can do that alone!"
Takato stood there watching as she slowly began to retreat back behind her shield. It was then that he knew that this was the only chance he had of fixing things, but he blew it. It was also only now that he realized how much he took her for granted. Confusion leeched out at him as he began to look back at all that had happened between them. "The holding hands, the long talks, what did it all mean?"
"Exactly what you thought it meant…Except now…that's in the past." Not once did she turn back. "Renamon could you please see him away?"
Ruki closed the door behind her; not even wanting to look at Takato's saddened face. She leaned against the wall, wrapping her arms around her. She whispered, "Takato…You were the only one to break down my shield…. But now that you cut me…Your apologies aren't enough to let you in."
"Looks like we'll just have to keep dreaming Goggle-Head…"
