DR: I can't believe this is already the third chapter!

Rika: Two questions. How long is this thing, and when do I get to kiss my Gogglehead?

Takato: Yeah! Does it have tongue and everything? *blushes a little when Rika looks at him, astounded*

DR: Okay, there goes my breakfast…

CARD-O-RAMA!

Chapter 3

Everything That Wasn't Meant to Happen…

Takato, once again, happily walked to Rika's house, looking forward to spend another whole day with her. Being a dream come true, Takato couldn't think of anything else. During that walk of absolute perfection, he forgot the whole Tournament Complot, the card he kept in his pocket, and the Digivice he carried with him, too (don't ask…force of habit). He ignored the crowded streets, and the car drivers who shouted at him when he crossed the streets without any caution. The only thing in his mind was Rika Nonaka. Finally, after a 10-minute walk that almost seemed like an eternity, he found himself in front of Rika's house. Without any fear (for the first time in his life) he knocked the door, and waited for Rika, who wouldn't greet him with an insult, by the way, to open the door. The first surprise of the day came when Rika's grandmother opened the door, and not Rika (duh!).

"Oh, hello, dear. I'm sorry, but Rika is not here."

What!? Why!? How…?

"Oh, really? Well...do you think I can wait for her?" Takato replied, an obvious tone of disappointment in his voice. But Rika's grandma just sighed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think Rika will return before lunchtime." Takato closed his eyes and lowered his head. He could believe Rika had forgotten him.

"Oh…okay…thanks anyway. Good bye." Takato said softly.

"Have a nice day."

At the same moment Rika's grandmother closed the door; all of Takato's plans for the day went down and sank to never return. So…what now?

But he knew exactly what to do. No matter how long it took him, he would find Rika and tell her one thing or two (yeah, right.). Then, faster than a Rapidmon in a sugar rush, he ran to the first place he could think of: Shinjuku Park.

In the meantime, our favorite redhead, Rika, who by the way was already at Shinjuku Park (great minds think alike!), tried to enjoy a silent stroll around the place, without anyone who could possibly bother her, and that says a lot. However, as life loves to kick your ass (which is something Rika would say), she found a rather…unpleasant surprise.

"Come on, Ryo! Show us those cards!" an annoyingly familiar voice shouted.

"Ok, ok. Look!" The above mentioned "Ryo" said.

"Whoa! Cool!"

When I thought those two couldn't do worse by hanging with Gogglehead, look at this…

Making sure to keep her distance, Rika looked at the three boys who were resting under a tree, while Ryo bragged and bragged about his new deck of cards, the ones he'd use during the tournament (not that I have anything against Ryo, by the way). However, Ryo easily saw her.

"Hey, Rika! Come on here!" Not before muttering a "dammit!", Rika slowly walked closer to the group.

"Well, if it's Moe, Larry and Curly. What stupid ideas do you have for today?" Rika said mockingly (really! No way!). Before Kenta could ask which of them was Moe, Ryo spoke.

"Well, I was just showing them which cards I'll be using during the tournament."

"Of course, Mr. Perfection had to be showing around his cards. Don't you think about strategy at all, you idiot?"

"If you want to see them, you just have to ask." Ryo said, and his big smile didn't disappear from his face.

"No, thanks. I'll see them when I beat you in front of everybody."

"Well, I must say I have practiced a lot lately. I feel very confident."

"Oh, pu-lease…you're the very definition of confidence…and by the way, you've been practicing with these two!? Even Jeri could beat them…"

Ignoring Kazu and Kenta's complains, Ryo replied, with a big smirk on his face.

"And who have you been practicing with, Rika?"

Ryo smirked even more when he noticed Rika's doubts. Rika noticed three pairs of eyes waiting for an answer, and she carefully took her time to think.

I can't tell them I've been practicing with Gogglehead…if we can call that "practice", that is…

"So, Rika? You know, we can't wait forever." Kazu said playfully. While Rika sweatdropped, looking at her three interviewers, who seemed to enjoy the Queen's insecurity, she ignored the existence of a fourth pair of eyes that patiently waited. Takato, who had arrived, found them and now spied on them, looked at the scene with absolute despair. Does it cost you that much to say it, Rika? So that's it…

"Nobody! I've been all by myself, as I always do." Rika finally answered. While Kazu and Kenta seemed to accept her answer without question, Ryo and Rika exchanged one last glance. Ryo obviously didn't believe her. In the nearby bushes, Takato sighed, his heart broken. Consumed in his sadness, he didn't notice the person slowly kneeling behind him.

"What are we looking at?"

"WHAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Takato cried, a little too high-pitched. His yell obviously caught Rika and the others' attention, which approached the bushes, and Ryo moved them apart. In the grassy field behind them, the foursome found Henry and Suzie Wong, who giggled like crazy, and Takato Matsuki, who lied on the grass, doing something that slightly resembled an epileptic attack. Finally, when Henry and Suzie saw them, the laughter stopped, as they looked at the confused and surprised Tamers. But Rika was only looking at Takato, who had already recovered from the shock, and slowly got up, shooting her a glare that almost made her shiver.

"Chumly! What brings you here!?" Kazu said cheerfully. Silence possessed the place, as Takato and Rika seemed to be in their own world of eternal staring, sparks shooting everywhere.

"Gogglehead…" Rika said softly.

"Nonaka…" Takato replied, which seem to startle everyone in the place. Finally, Takato looked away, after shooting a glance at Henry, who moved a step backwards.

"Can we walk together for a while, Henry? I really need to talk with you."

"Hmm…well…I'm just taking Suzie back home…"

"Hey!" Suzie finally spoke. "But we just left…some minutes ago!"

"Then I'll walk with you. It's very important."

"Oh…okay…" Henry reluctantly agreed. While Ryo and the other guys waved goodbye to the Wong couple and Takato, Rika just walked away from the park. She remembered Takato was supposed to visit her that day, too. And she realized he had probably gone to her house already.

I…I guess I totally screwed…but then again, why do I care, anyway?

Rika shook away the remorse and quietly walked home. She had nothing to say to Takato, as her pride and personality was first. But her conscience, that little thing inside her that she had gotten used to ignore, wouldn't leave her alone that day.

***An hour later, at the Wong's Residence…***

"Is…is that true, Takato?" Henry said worriedly.

"Of course it is true! What, do you think I'm making up stuff?"

"Well, no, but…Takato, this is serious stuff."

Even after Takato explained him the situation with great detail –twice–, Henry still couldn't believe there was actually a complot to fix the Card Game Tournament. Besides, the fact that Takato invaded private property AND stole something from there wasn't very relieving. Takato walked from one side to the other across the room, every once in a while looking outside the window. Henry could tell he was mad about something, but he knew when to keep his mouth shut, not like his Digimon partner, I may add.

"So?" Takato finally said.

"So what?"

"So…are you gonna help?"

"Once again, what?"

"We have to uncover the complot!" Takato shouted. "If not for us, for the ones who are competing!"

"You mean for Rika…" Henry said with a mischievous grin. The only person blind enough not to notice Takato's crush on Rika was, well…Rika. It didn't take Henry long after the whole D-Reaper thing to realize the owner of Takato's heart wasn't Jeri anymore, which was pretty much of a relief, for reasons we'll discuss later.

"Yes, for Ri…I DO NOT!" Henry let out a silent chuckle. Takato just fumed and restarted his walking around the room. A minute later, Henry resumed the conversation.

"Anyway…what do you expect me to do?" Suddenly, Takato's expression lightened, and a huge grin covered his face. He obviously had something in mind, and Henry wouldn't like it.

"We've got to find clues! They won't believe us if we just show up saying that there's a plot to fix the competition."

"Once again I'm the one with the questions. How…?"

"Simple! WE sneak in the store, find where does he have the money, and…"

"And…" Henry questioned, even if he already had like…ten reasons for not to help Takato.

"...oh! We take pictures of it! And maybe, maybe…"

"Takato, that's not gonna work." Henry said. "He'll just say…it's money he got at the store."

"Henry, you have no idea of how much money we're talking about. No normal person would keep that amount of money in a store. I'd go to a bank right away."

"And how much money are we talking about, Takato?"

Takato sweatdropped. After all, he had no idea of how much money had Mr. Sagara given to the shop owner. But if he wanted Henry's support, he would have to play big time.

"Umm…half a million…maybe…"

As if he had springs on you-know-where, Henry jumped off the couch and dragged the puzzled Takato out of the apartment.

"Then what are we waiting for!? Oh, wait! The camera!" Henry shouted excitedly. A couple of seconds later, when Henry returned with a digital camera hanging around his neck, Takato asked.

"Umm, Henry…what's with the rush now?"

"You don't get it, don't you!? We may be heroes! We may get a REWARD…you know, there's a new Digimon World Videogame about to be released, and I seriously need some cash…" And that way, as Henry talked (mostly to himself) about what would he do when he got the "reward", Takato did the only thing he could think of: he sweatdropped. Again.

***In front of the Store***

"Umm…Takato…"

"What's the matter, Henry?"

"…are you sure this is gonna work?"

"Of course I'm not sure! If I were sure we would have already done it!"

Henry sighed. After the emotion of a possible reward faded away, Henry felt overwhelmed. He had calculated there were at least 24 ways their plan could fail, and an 83.7% possibility that one of them would happen. Reasons? There was an obvious one: Takato's plan was so simple even Calumon could have thought of it. It was the trademark "you go and distract him while I sneak through the back door" plan, and Henry was sure it would fail. But you just can't say no to Takato Matsuki, can you? Noooooooooo… his inner voice said.

Look, inner voice… Henry's conscience began. I wouldn't do this if he weren't the best guy in the world. The bad thing is, he is, and he's my friend, and I love him as a brother, so will you shut up and let me help him!?

"Okay…gee, aren't we moody today…?"

"Henry…Henry!"

"Um, wha!? Oh, what is it?"

"Go now!"

"Eh…Takato…I don't think it's a really good idea…"

"Oh, come on, Henry! Everything is going to be okay…Momentai!"

"Shut up, Takato…"

"Ok…"

Sinking the sudden memories of Terriermon, which had suddenly taken control of his mind, Henry sighed and walked inside the store. Of course, it was crowded with children, seeking for comics, toys and Digimon Cards. But Henry didn't want any of that. He slowly approached to the owner, and thought of a good (and long) conversation topic. He decided to ask the first question he could think of, but not before looking back for a second and noticing that Takato had already dashed out of sight.

"Good Morning, Mister…" Henry could notice a slight sign of nervousness on the man before he replied.

"Oh, but if it's our local hero, Mr. Henry Wong! What brings you here?" Henry could also notice that he had suddenly become the center of attention in the place. He had enough with the unknown people who suddenly greeted him or stopped him on the streets to shake his hand or ask for his autograph ("It's for my daughter, I'm sure she'll like it…"), and now he had to bear this guy, who wasn't helping him at all. Of course, the worst came by the hands of Kazu and Kenta, who kept introducing him to any random girl they could find (That would be the top of it…a girlfriend who would show like some sort of trained dog or something…).

"Ah, hehe…" Takato! I'm SO gonna kill you if we get out of this! Henry thought when he noticed the amount of people of the two sexes suddenly approaching to him.

In that very same moment, our goggle-headed hero was walking through the back door (So it IS open…geez, if I had that money I wouldn't leave the back door open…). Silently, but yet as fast as possible, he searched through the mountain of boxes for a single clue of the money's location. He could hear a loud noise coming from the store, and Henry's voice rising through them.

"One at a time, please…"

Takato silently pitied him, but at the same time considered himself lucky of not being him. After all, he was one of the Tamers, too. However, he didn't have as much trouble as Henry, Rika or Ryo. The reason was that Ryo and Rika are famous Card Game players, and Henry, well…he is smart and handsome. On the other side, he…he is just a Gogglehead. One who can transform into a cool Holy Knight who can kick some serious booty, yes, but still just a Gogglehead. But he didn't need fans or publicity. He knew what he was capable of doing, and he also knew he was an important part of the team, that is, when they still were a team. And that's probably the reason he found the bag with the cash in record time (or he was just lucky, who knows?). When he opened it, he widened his eyes at the biggest wad of cash he had ever seen. He was so hypnotized, that he ignored the cat that entered the Storage Room. He also ignored how the cat tried to jump to one of the higher boxes. And finally, he also ignored how the cat lost its grip and the boxes fell all over him, with a loud crash. What he did notice was how the mumbling from the store suddenly stopped, and the steps of someone approaching the room. Instantly, Takato hid behind some of the boxes that hadn't fallen on the poor cat. From there, he could see the shop owner walking inside the room, and pushing away some curious kids.

"Matsuki…I know you're here…" the not-very-nervous-anymore man spoke, when the room was finally abandoned, leaving Takato, the intruder alone with the Owner. "You know, I think fame has really gotten on you head…you're just a kid looking for attention…" But Takato completely ignored the guy's words, as he had other things in his head.

"Momentai, Takato! Everything's gonna be okay…"…yeah, right, as if I were THAT lucky…

"But…you know what, Matsuki? Maybe we can make a deal…if you promise to keep your mouth shut…" When the man noticed the open bag, he continued. "Well, so you've seen it, don't you? I guess you noticed it's a lot of money…and I'm willing to share…"

Damn it, Henry, help ME!!!!!

Almost as if Henry had actually heard him, another loud crash could be heard from the store. In the second the man spent to look for the origin of the noise, Takato dashed through the room (again), took yet ANOTHER box of cards (he's becoming a kleptomaniac of sorts, don't you think?) and ran the hell out of there.

"Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!" the man shouted when he noticed Takato had escaped again, and he shouted so loud the kids at the store could hear him.

Gee, that guy should realize there are small children in here… Henry said to himself as he carefully walked out of the store, before anyone could blame him for the drawer he had pulled down.

***Some minutes later, somewhere in Shinjuku Park***

"So…did you get the pictures?" Henry asked to his friend when they rested after the long run they made from the store to Shinjuku Park.

"Well…*pant*…I didn't…"

"Then why do you have that grin on your face!?......man, I'm in a horrible shape…" Henry said as he breathed heavily.

"Well…I got this…." Takato said cheerfully as he showed his friend the box of cards he had…okay, stolen.

"TAKATO!? WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT!?" Henry shouted in a burst of rage. After combing his hair with his fingers, and wiping away the saliva Henry had thrown, Takato replied.

"The guy can't tell anyone about it, since he thinks I'll reveal the whole plot, okay? So I thought we could take advantage of it while it lasted…"

"I can't believe you just said that…you've become some sort of mixture between Hirokazu and Rika."

"Man, just shut up and take this for helping me. As… a token of my appreciation." Takato said as he handed a card to Henry. He could hide a smile when Henry widened his eyes in surprise at the card he had just received.

"This…this is…"

"See ya later, my friend." Takato said, patted his friend back and walked away. Henry wanted to stop him, maybe to say thanks or to hug him, who knows? But he couldn't afford to move, as his eyes were focused on what he had in his hand. A holographic, limited edition, MegaGargomon card.

********************************************************************

DR: End of chapter 3, yay! What did you think of it? There was some nice bonding between two good friends in it, which makes all the work worthy!

Rika: Well…*cough, cough "Mushy!" cough, cough*

DR: Oh, shut up, Rika! By the way, where's Takato?

Rika: He went to find a phone. After he read this chapter he remembered he hasn't called Henry in…what was it? Five weeks.

DR: *sigh* Ah, real friends…hard to find, harder to keep…anyway, don't forget to review, and be good!

Next Chapter: Finally, the story comes to an end in chapter four! The tournament finally arrives, and Rika easily makes it through the first rounds, but when Mr. Sagara and the Shop Owner's plan begins, will Takato be able to stop them, before it's too late? Move quickly, Takato! It's your last chance! Hilarious moments and a cute Rukato moment soon, in the final chapter of Card-O-Rama: When Rika's Fist Meets Takato's Face!