Too many goggle-heads!
Chapter 3: I truly…deeply…despise my job!
By: Flamegaruru
Rei: Hey there! Goggle-head has made a comeback!
Ruki: about time.
Takato: Oooo….the suspense!
Rei and Ruki: ?_____? Huh?
Takato: at the end! The suspense at the….oh, never mind….-.-()
Rei: -.-()
Ruki: '_'
Okay, first off, I chose Ruki as a homicide detective because I thought she could go well in the story I have in. This actually happened to my cousin (although I changed it a bit in certain places), and I included him in here, so all is well. ^__^ That's why I chose her. And don't worry about the new character and Ruki spitting venom at each other. Believe it or not, they're good friends (Ruki saved the girl's life in this dimension). It's one of those 'love-hate' friendships. -.-() Sorry I couldn't think up much for Takato here. ^_^() Ehh…Howling has just been eaten up so that's why you can't see it. *sighs* Also, I do not own Ruki's partner in the field. *grins wickedly* Hey, just out of curiosity, what would you like to see if Takato proposed to Ruki? ^_~ On to the story!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Digimon or related characters. I do own Chibi Taichi Chan and Mena, so, don't take them!
Ah, DC! Thanks for pointing out my error!
Oh, and to Ben: Takato doesn't want Tai to marry Sora because they're too young. -.-() Takato freaked out.
Onward, ho!
Dedication: To my cousin Mike, that he didn't get killed. Breaking your wrist is bad enough, and I'm thankful that was the only thing harmed….even if you do make fun of me in front of 30 people.
Rika slowly opened her eyes and immediately shut them again. I'm too tired, she gave a little groan. Stretching her legs a bit, Rika forced her eyes open once again. Ahhh….morning. A new day full of new ways to pick on goggle-head. Rika devilishly grinned as she looked at Takato and Tai, sleeping in the exact same position: mouths wide open, a little snore once in awhile, a scratch on the head, and back off to dreamland.
After a few moments, Rika slowly got up out of bed. Well, well, well. It's seven o'clock. Henry will be here in an hour. I should take a shower. Nothing like going to inspect dead bodies unless you're fresh and clean. Rika woefully sighed and silently went into the bathroom to take a shower.
Takato scrunched his eyes tighter. He was having a really nice dream [A/N: Don't even think it ¬.¬] when all of a sudden, he got the strange sensation he was being, well, climbed on. Grunting, Takato opened his eyes.
" Taka-daddy!" Tai clapped his hands, ecstatic his father was awake.
" Good morning, Tai!" Takato cheerfully smiled. " Would you mind getting off of my stomach?"
" O-tay!" Tai grinned and rolled off of Takato and onto the bed.
Takato and Tai both stretched their arms as high as they could, cleared their throats and scratched their ribs. Takato got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom door.
" Wait, Taka-daddy," Tai warned.
Takato turned. "Why?"
" Wika-mommy's in theah, taking a showah," Tai rolled his eyes. " You wemembah what she said last time, wight?"
Blinking in confusion, Takato shook his head.
" Taka-daddy!" Tai slapped his forehead. " She said if you evah dawed to go in theah, she would have to pwo-pwo…"
" Sound it out," Takato supplied words of wisdom.
" Pwo-voke," Tai grinned. " Pwovoke youah 'besa' pwivilweges."
" My besa privileges?" Takato rubbed his chin.
Thinking back took a lot of effort, but luckily Takato was up for the challenge. Besa…why does that word ring a bell? Let's see…hhmmmmmm….sounds like a foreign word. Rika took Spanish…Takato's eyes widened.
" On second thought, let's just wait here," Takato said as he sat on the edge of the bed with Tai.
Takato drummed his fingers on the edge of the bed. " Hey, Tai, why don't you help Rika and I pick out what we should wear today."
" O-tay," Tai leapt off the bed and rummaged through the closet.
Takato clapped as Tai emerged a few moments later with a casual brown suit for Takato, and Rika's police uniform. Takato snorted. I can't believe Rika is a cop! And here I was thinking she was sound in mind…
" Wika-mommy!"
Blinking out of his thoughts, Takato looked up. Tai ran to Rika and attached himself to her legs. Rika was grinning a bit while holding up her towel. Takato found himself staring (A/N: Yami: Someone is certainly anxious for the new 'Austin Powers' movie. Rei: heh heh. ^_^;;;;;;;).
Rika stopped petting Tai's head with one hand. The grin frozen on her face, Rika noticed Takato was staring at her and wasn't blinking. Rika absently found herself looking back at him….
" Taka-daddy!"
Rika and Takato were jarred from their fantasies (A/N: Erhem) by Tai's cry of alarm.
" Youah nose, Taka-daddy! It's bweeding!" Tai gripped Rika's leg tighter.
" Ack!" Takato's face turned crimson as he realized he was indeed bleeding from the nose! Tilting his head upwards and holding his nose, Takato ran into the bathroom and put a tissue up to his nose.
Rika glanced down at herself and felt her face heat up. Dangerously close to the point of spontaneously combusting, Rika decided that she would get angry with Takato another time.
Takato emerged a little while later, grinning apologetically at Rika. Rika raised her fist and was about to clobber him….
" Something wrong?" Renamon appeared out of thin air.
" Gaaaaaaaaaa!"
Takato leapt into the air, his hair sticking straight up, his arms pointing to the ceiling. Tai's face was a look of horror, his hands coming to his mouth, detaching themselves from Rika's legs. Rika herself had, initially, raised her arms in fright, but immediately put them back down, clutching her towel.
" Renamon! Why can't you warn us when you're about to do that?" Rika snapped, her heart rapidly beating.
" Sorry, Rika. I heard the commotion and decided to see if something was wrong," Renamon apologized.
" Look!" Takato cried out in vain, pointing to his head. " I've already got white hair!"
Rika rolled her eyes and pulled the piece of lint (A/N: MWUAHAHAHAHHA!!) out of Takato's hair. " It's lint, goggle-head."
" I knew that!" Takato shakily laughed.
" I think you guys had better go change," Rika suggested, although it sounded more like a command.
" Right," Takato and Tai grabbed the clothes and exited the room, shutting the door behind them.
" Oh," Takato snapped his fingers halfway to Tai's room. " I forgot my goggles! Be back in a jiff!"
Takato's hands were on the doorknob when Rika's voice wafted through the door. He stopped.
" What do I see in him, Renamon?"
" You'd know that better than I would."
A sigh. " And I married him!"
" You said it was better than Ryo."
" Hmm?"
" Don't you remember? You and Takato broke up for awhile and you and Ryo went out. He asked you to marry him."
Takato struggled to control his anger. He moved to Tai's room.
Rika sat on the bed, confused. Why would I break up with goggle-head? " Why didn't I marry him?"
Renamon sat beside her Tamer. " You told him your heart was already taken, and you were just denying it. You told him you were still in love with Takato."
" Why did he get back with me?" Rika asked in wonder. " I'd be too mad to even think!"
" It did take awhile," Renamon said. " But you realized you'd…."
" ….screwed up big-time," Rika looked down to the floor. I can't believe I did that to goggle-head! It pains me to even think this, but I thought I was more sensitive than that!
" But thanks to me and Guilmon, you two got back together (and immediately teamed up to pound Terriermon for some certain, eh, comments he made). Perhaps it was you being humble, or maybe he loved you more than could be imagined, but Takato did get back with you," Renamon grinned. "I still remember the day he proposed to you. Even though Terriermon had to go to be bandaged up later, it was quite an emotional time. You even cried."
" Ohh!" Rika put her head in her hands. "How embarrassing!"
" Don't forget your badge, Rika," Renamon said.
Rika rolled her eyes. " How could I?"
~Down at breakfast~
" Good morning, Rika!" Guilmon merrily swished his tail.
Rika smiled back and sat next to a very sullen looking Takato. " hey, goggle-head."
" Good mowning, Wika-mommy!" Tai exuberantly greeted her.
Rika grinned at Tai and blinked at Takato. " Is everything all right?" Rika gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Takato roughly shook her hand off and glared at her. The room went as silent as a tomb. A huge sweatdrop materialized on the side of Rika's face. What the heck is with goggle-head?
" Excuse us a moment," a perplexed Rika yanked Takato out of his seat and into the living room.
" Takato! What is with you? I haven't seen you this angry since Karusimon wanted me to be his wife-to-be-forever-rule-with-me-eternally!" Rika threw her arms in the air exasperatedly.
" Why don't you go seek comfort with Ryo?" Takato spat.
Rika's mouth dropped open. "Were you eavesdropping on me?" She exclaimed.
" What does it matter!" Takato yelled, his face a mask of fury. " You dumped me!"
" Idiot!" Rika screeched. " If you would've eavesdropped properly, you would've heard I made a bloody mistake!" Rika's eyes shone with hurt. " Use your head! If I didn't love you, why were we married? Why would Tai even be living?" Rika's chest heaved.
Takato blinked rapidly. " you love me?"
" Duh, goggle-head," Rika grinned shakily while turning pink. " Why did you think I even stayed with you? Because you were a good kisser?"
Takato thoughtfully scratched his chin. "I'm a good kisser?"
Rika gave a little groan. " Besides that," Rika smiled warmly up at him. " You helped change me all those years ago from a cold (yet attractive) girl to someone in the future who willingly (gag me with a spoon) wears dresses! Now that is what I call a feat!…or perhaps a small miracle."
Takato's anger melted away as he stared at Rika. " I'm sorry for not having faith in you, Rika."
Rika pulled Takato into a quick and passionate kiss. " And don't you forget that."
" The kiss?"
Rika slapped her forehead. " No, you loopy goggle-head! That I love you!"
Takato blushed. " I love you, too, but let's go eat!"
Rika gagged and held her stomach. " I don't know about that. All that lovesy-dovesy, cutesy-wootsy junk has made me vomitous."
" Some things never change," Takato grinned.
" Thank goodness," Rika sighed with obvious relief.
The doorbell rang and Tai burst out of the kitchen, nearly bowling Rika and Takato over. They quickly followed Tai to the door where Henry stood, yet not alone. Rika and Takato's eyes widened in shock as they saw a stout, red-haired police officer next to him.
" Well hi there, Rika, hun. We just got a call from the office saying that we have to go check out this special case right away. Don't worry dear about skippin' breakfast; I've got some coffee and donuts out there in the car. Nice ta see ya again, lil' Tai, You too, Takato."
" Margie!" Rika exclaimed.
" Well, yea, hon. Now we gotta get going, here now," Margie dragged a protesting Rika out the door and into their squad car.
Takato gaped. " Was that Margie from 'Fargo'?"
Henry scratched the back of his head. " Well, she cuts perilously close to being an exact clone."
Takato glanced at his watch. "We'd better get going…." He glanced down.
Tai tugged at Takato's leg. " Hug, Taka-daddy?"
" I gotta get…going…" Takato felt his resolve break as Tai gave him 'Bambi' eyes. " Disney movies should be outlawed, especially 'Bambi'," he grumbled as he gave Tai a quick hug.
" Let's go to work!" Henry happily grinned as he and Takato got into his car.
" Sunfire?" Takato's eyebrow arched.
" Whatever," Henry mumbled as they set off to Takato's office.
~The land of the nuclear mosquitoes…er..Rika and Margie~
Rika's eyes rolled constantly in her head as Margie drove down to the police station. Rules for cars: 1. Never drive fast after eating a whole chocolate-sprinkled Bismarck. 2. Also never drive with a fictitious character behind the wheel. Especially one who's pregnant.
" I hope you're ready to inspect a few bodies now," Margie said as they pulled up to the station.
Rika's eyes bugged. " Bodies!? Homicide detectives are one thing; forensic pathologists are another! Are you saying I have to go in there and dissect someone? Ugh!" Rika put her head in her hands. "I feel like I belong in the 'X-Files' working right along Scully! In fact, I may even replace her!"
" Then I guess I'll be Agent Mulder," Rika's door was opened.
" Ryo!" Rika's outburst was loud enough to wake the dead.
Ryo's arrogant grin remained the same as his spiky brown hair shot up towards the sky. "Let's not keep those cadaver waiting, my dear!"
Rika put her head in her hands. This just isn't my day….
" hey, there, Ryo," Margie smiled as she hefted herself out of the car. For a few seconds she put her hands on her knees, breathing deeply.
" Are you okay?" Ryo looked a bit queasy.
" Oh, it's just a bit of morning sickness, hun," Margie suddenly straightened up. "Oop, well that was sure over in a jiff. Ryo, did you get those files on the victims?"
Rika grinned devilishly as Ryo's smirk was wiped from his face. " I'll get right on it," he mumbled as he ran into the building.
Rika's bouts of laughter sent puffs of steam into the chilly fall morning.
" I thought you needed that. I know how you are 'connected' to him," Margie gently patted Rika's shoulder.
Rika grinned. "Thanks."
As they walked towards the building, Rika decided having Margie as a partner wouldn't be too bad….(A/N: But that doesn't account for the job…MWUAHAHA!)
Taka-chan! ^^;;;;;;;;
Takato wrung his hands as he glanced at Henry. "Henry?"
" Yeah?"
" you don't suppose that this future is, you know, permanent or anything?" Takato hopefully looked at his friend.
Henry glanced back at Takato from the corner of his eye. " We make our own future, Takato. You should know that as much as anyone."
" You're right! Now, what do I have to do?"
" What?" Henry quizzically raised his brows. " For work?"
" Yeah."
" Well, you have to finish the strip for today. You have it pretty easy."
" Is there anyone I'll know?"
Henry guffawed. Takato didn't take this as a good sign.
" Well," Henry drawled. " Kazu and Kenta work with you, too."
" What!" Takato bellowed.
" We're here!" Henry jovially announced as he pulled up to Takato's office: a fifteen-story building.
Takato's eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets as he looked up. " This is my office?"
" Of course not! You're on the 15th floor, though. This is a place for all artists and authors featured in the weekly Kodansha (A/N: If memory serves correctly, Kodansha acts like a newspaper for animé)."
" Whew!" Takato sighed. " See ya at 5:45, and find us a portal, or you'll have to deal with Rika!"
Henry grimaced. " Don't remind me."
Takato hopped out of the car. Taking a deep breath, Takato looked up once again. "Down the gray brick road, off to work I go!"
~ The 'stiff'-inspecting Rika~
Rika's insides gave a little squirm as she and Margie hovered over the dead body.
" Well now, what we got here is a male, about 25 years of age, and nice gouge marks in his chest," Margie scratched the back of her head.
" Probably in some gang fight of sorts," Rika recoiled as Margie pointed out the various wounds.
" Ya don't say," Margie thoughtfully replied, and, to Rika's delight, covered the body.
" Never fear, Ryo is here," Ryo smirked as he entered the room carrying some papers.
Rika glared. Ryo's smile broadened. Margie sighed as she held out her hands for the papers. Not taking his eyes off of Rika, Ryo handed them over.
" Gee, Ryo, did you do this all by yourself?" Margie raised an eyebrow.
Ryo's chest puffed out. " Yep."
" That's what I thought. You spelled my name wrong, and put hearts all over Rika's."
Rika guffawed loudly while Ryo turned a shade of crimson.
" It says that there is a gang of druggies downtown," Ryo quickly changed the subject.
" Ya don't say," Margie folded the papers. "Come on, Rika. We've got some druggies to bust."
Rika's laughter instantly ceased. " Right now?"
" Ya, you betcha," Margie grinned.
" What about me?" Ryo indignantly said.
" Do you have to re-live the Jell-O incident?" Margie grabbed Rika's arm and lead her out, leaving a stuttering Ryo behind.
Rika sighed as they made their way to the squad car. I deeply, truly, despise my job! For all I know, my partner could go into labor any second, I'm about to arrest people on crack, I have no idea how to use a gun, and I just had to look at a person who greatly resembled a gutted fish! What else could possibly go wrong?
" Ow!" Rika yelped as something fuzzy collided with her head.
" Rika!" Calumon cried and nuzzled her chin.
" Gah! Calumon! What are you doing here?" Rika grimaced as Calumon proceeded to gush over her.
" Henry and the others are searching for you and Takato, I went into this fun, whirly ride, and did you know the man down there is giving away free cream puffs?" Calumon beamed.
" I thought you had a fox," Margie perplexedly poked at Calumon.
" That tickles!" Calumon giggled.
Rika's eye twitched. Too…much….love…! "Let's go," she gruffly continued to the car. She had the horrid urge to perforate something.
To the less violent Takato
Takato rocked on the balls of his feet as he headed up the building in the elevator. I wonder what my strip is about? I wonder if Kazu and Kenta have changed? I wonder if Rika has strangled someone yet? Takato gulped. He could only imagine the rage Rika felt at her job. He only hoped that no one was dead….no one that already wasn't.
The bell dinged and Takato boldly stepped out of the elevator.
" About time, Chumly!" Kazu took Takato by the arm and drug him over to what appeared to be his office.
Takato, meanwhile, was thunder-struck. Kenta was randomly pecking keys at Takato's computer )at least, Takato thought it was his computer-and was Kenta drooling?-), and had now started a fight with Kazu, demanding that they shouldn't be playing a certain game.
" Wow," Takato mused aloud as he picked up a few papers from his desk. " So this is 'Mitsushi Amachi'," he gazed in wonder at his character's (his! Takato's own character!) face in bold colors plastered on the front cover of the weekly Kodansha.
" I'm going to look around for a bit," Takato dreamily clutched the paper to his chest.
" Don't forget to send in your strip," Kenta pushed his glasses up.
" Yeah," Takato off-handily replied and started walking.
^~^
Rika sullenly walked down the grungy streets, Calumon nestled atop her head. She had refused flat out to wear the cop cap Margie gave her, so settled for Calumon instead (Margie said she had to wear something).
Rika snarled at the street, This was the perfect place to find those druggies they were after. The place smelled rotten, like a sewage line had busted, the places looked like they needed to be evacuated (did someone drop a bomb here?), and already several drunks had tried to make the moves on her! Rika growled, for she hadn't released all of her anger when decking those goons. Besides, couldn't they see her ring (Rika left it on her finger, since it was on there when she first arrived in this awful twilight zone)?
Calumon's ears perked up as Rika started rounding a corner. "Rika!"
Rika looked up too late. In all her ponderings, she wasn't looking where she was going, and thus had ran into another body who was squirming underneath her.
"Hey, watch where you're going, punkette!" An indignant feminine voice piped up.
" Punkette?" Rika's eyes flared up and she yanked the girl up with her. "Watch whom you're calling that!"
" Oh, yeah," the girl scoffed, glaring right back. "Shiver me timbers."
Rika glared at the girl even harder. The girl glared back. Rika raised an eyebrow. What the heck is this girl wearing? It seemed like she had just broken out of a science lab, wearing a white lab coat, black sneakers, and…Rika's eyes bulged. Contact solution in her pockets? Uh, Rika groaned. This day just keeps getting better and better!
The girl shook her head, sending her dark brown pigtails flying. Her brown eyes glared defiantly back at Rika's. Rika reached at the girl's coat….
" Hey!" The girl slapped Rika's hand away. " Touch my smock and I'll clean your clock!"
" Don't you know it's a felon to harass a cop?" Rika's eye started to twitch.
" What about harassment to a citizen, eh? If you would've watched where you were going, none of this would've happened, you….Margie!" The girl's frown evaporated into a smile as Margie came up to them.
" Calumon! Cut it out!: Rika snapped as Calumon flew under her chin, nuzzling it, explaining that he thought Rika 'needed some lovin''. "Margie, please tell me that I can arrest her!" Rika pointed to the girl.
" Aw, Rika, we can't do that. Mena provides us with some very important information," Margie said while Mena stuck her tongue out at Rika.
" That's why I'm here," Mena said.
" Then say it and get it over with," Rika scowled. When I get back home, the first to pay is dino-boy for getting goggle-head and me into this mess…
" Someone stole my dog!" Mena roared furiously.
" Your dog? You cam all the way down here because some people nabbed your dog?" Rika asked.
" To follow them, dimwit," Mena scowled back.
Rika's anger flared. " Nitwit."
" Dummkopf."
" Dumbbell."
" Blockhead."
" Dunce."
" Pinhead."
" Knucklehead."
" Chowderhead!"
" Dolt!"
" Simpleton!"
" Fool!"
" Stop it!" Margie yelled, effectively ending the battle of insults. "Mena, we're on a very important case…."
" They were druggies, I saw them drop some crack," Mena smirked.
" Hey, now, those could be the people we're lookin' for," Margie nodded. "Show us where you followed them to, Mena."
Rika's jaw dropped and her arms fell to her sides, Calumon landing on the ground, but scampering back up to her head again. "She's not coming with us!"
" It'll be easier that way," Margie followed Mena who said the druggies were right around the corner.
Rika bit her lip from rapping out any vulgar language. She turned the next corner and saw a huge white house. " Why would a house like that be here?"
Mena rolled her eyes. "Every crackhead down here gets their stuff from these dealers, and all those toxic substances cost a lot of money."
Rika sighed. All three (with the tag-along Calumon) walked over to the house and crouched behind a car.
" Let's go," Rika put Calumon in Mena's arms.
" Hold up there, hon," Margie said. "We don't know how many people are in there."
" Two; I saw them," Mena said. " Gosh, they've got some nasty weapons! Jeez!"
" Okay, we'll be careful," Rika stood up.
" Puh," Mena scoffed yet again. " You'd better call for back-up. You couldn't knock the teeth out of a mosquito."
" Mosquitoes don't have teeth!" Rika hissed.
" My point exactly."
Rika balled her hands into fists. Thou…shalt…not…murder…
" That's okay, Mena. I think Rika and I can handle this," Margie hefted herself up and she and Rika headed off to the house.
Mena scrunched her nose up as Calumon nuzzled in her arms. "Margie could handle herself, but she's pregnant! And whom does that chowderhead think she's kidding? I've seen tougher piece of lint! (A/N: Yami: The killer lint strikes back! Rei: *glomps Yami* Shh, Yami-sama!)" Mena groaned as she had visions of her 8th grade science teacher's water bursting while explaining the periodic table of elements to the class.
" I think Rika has cream puffs, and I haven't gotten to give her enough Eskimo kisses!" Calumon piped up, eager to get to the action.
" Oh, yeah," Mena smirked as she got up and held Calumon tighter. " She looks like she needs some lovin'," and with that, she and Calumon ran up to the house, careful to stay a safe distance behind 'the chowderhead' and Margie.
Rika will be thrilled! To Kato-kun!
Takato happily returned to his desk after taking his own little tour of the floor. He leaned in between Kazu and Kenta, playing what looked like a game, at his computer.
" What're you guys up to," he questioned.
" Gah! Takato!" Kenta screamed and Kazu threw his body in front of the screen.
Takato furrowed his brows. " Really, guys, what are you doing?"
" Anything but playing a game starring your wife," Kazu murmured.
" WHAT!" Takato bellowed. "Let me see!" He struggled to push his two friends away from the screen, appendages hitting the keyboard.
Takato held a hand to each of the two boy's throats and gaped at what was on-screen. " 'Digimon Queen: Rika Nonaka'! Arena Two: Rika versus Lara Croft!! What is this…..!" Takato stopped his furious ravings when the screen froze up.
" Kazu! What did you do?"
All three boys stared at the screen. The now pitch-black screen. A screen that now flashed: ERROR- DOES NOT COMPUTE.
Takato's cries of rage echoed throughout the building as he chased his fleeing companions.
Dun dun dunnnnn!
Rika silently ran on the grass, creeping along the edges of the house. Spying a door, she motioned for Margie to come over.
" Okay, hun, you kick open the door and we burst in, cuff 'em, and call the station," Margie bit her lip.
Rika looked anxiously at Margie. " You okay? You like kinda pale…"
" I'm all right," Margie waved her hand. "Let's go."
Rika grinned as she prepared to kick the door open. Now this part I like… With a forceful roundhouse to boost her strength, Rika busted the door down to reveal a dirty-looking man sitting on the floor, cocaine packets littering the ground around him. Rika spied a little dog carrier, which housed a furiously barking dog. That must be Mena's mutt.
Margie leveled her gun at the man. " Don't move," she said, and her eye spied several glittering objects on the floor.
" For once, Mena wasn't kidding around," Rika's eyes widened as she saw the poles of golf clubs with assorted knives attached to the ends of them. " Looks like bayonets…must be used to defend themselves from other crack dealers…Margie!" Rika rushed to her partner.
Margie had holstered her gun and was clutching her stomach, slowly sliding down the wall to the ground.
" Margie! What's happening?"
" It's either Braxton-Hicks contractions, or I'm going into labor."
Great, Rika grimaced. This is just peachy.
" Rika! Don't let him get those weapons!" Margie screeched.
Rika whipped around to see the man on the floor heading for the killer golf clubs. Rika dove at him, both rolling on the floor, away from the weapons.
Rika sat up to a crouching position. "All right, bub, you're…" she stopped as the man scrambled up the stairs. "…under arrest…" Rika had no choice but to follow him. only one day of this…
Rika caught sight of the man heading into a room at the top of the stairs, and rushed to block his exit.
" I got you now," she said.
Rika gulped apprehensively as the man drew to his full stature; a good head and a half taller than her. This guy's taller than Takato, a little voice said in her head. Rika knew she was no match in brute force, so her only choice was to use her gun. I hate guns, Rika sourly thought. It's so much more fulfilling to deck someone…
Reaching for her gun, Rika gave a short intake of breath for the man grabbed her wrist and painfully tightened his grasp. Rika aimed a kick at his stomach, but the man quickly sidestepped that, took his right hand, and clenched it over her throat.
Rika tried to breathe, although it was quite hard with the man crushing her windpipe. Menacingly, he raised his hand and brought Rika right up to his face, her feet dangling at his lower legs. Aw, man….where is that goggle-head when I need him?
Mena and Calumon snuck in through the door Rika had kicked open.
" Phew! This place reeks!" Mena gagged as Calumon flew out of her arms.
" I knew that oaf couldn't handle this. Calumon, go find Rika while I call for back-up," Mena instructed.
" Aye aye!" Calumon saluted Mena and soared away.
" Jette-pet!" Mena cooed as she crouched next to the dog carrier and let her fingers be licked by her dog. "I'll get you out as soon as Mike comes here…Margie!" Mena gasped as she ran next to her and knelt down.
Mena took Margie's pulse. " Still breathing, but unconscious. Gosh, I think she may be going into labor!" Mena nervously bit her lip.
Seeing a phone, Mena rushed towards it, punching in the number for the police station.
" Mike? Yeah, it's me….listen! The chowder-erm-Rika and Margie are here at this druggie joint-I'll tell you later, yes, I'm fine-; I'm sure you can get the address from that nincompoop who always drools after Rika….Ryo, yeah, that's him…..and, uh, Margie's going into labor. Yes, Mike, I am perfectly fine, but we need your help, though! Bye!"
As Mena hung up the phone, her eyes widened as she felt a clammy hand clamp over her mouth, and an arm encircle her around her midsection.
Thought I was going to show you what happened, eh?
Takato sat at his desk with a blank sheet of drawing paper, a sharp pencil, previous drawings of the character, and Kazu and Kenta gagged and bound next to his desk.
Takato glared at both of them. "When I'm done with this strip, you two are going to answer some questions...either that, or I'll show Rika the game."
He smiled as Kazu and Kenta's eyes rolled back in their heads. He wasn't going to do any of that (save drawing the strip). I've got the real thing, and that's good enough for me. Thinking of Rika makes me wonder if she's okay. Takato thoughtfully chewed his pencil. I have the oddest feeling…but, knowing Rika, she'll knock people in her way out flat! Pa-pa-pa-pow! Takato smiled and started sketching.
Will Rika die? I think not!
Ironically, Rika was also thinking about her significant other. Takato, why aren't you here? Takato, why did you let my future self choose this career? Rika sighed without using much air. Things were becoming dizzy, and Rika was becoming disoriented. I'm about to suffocate, and I'm thinking about boys like some namby-pamby, wishy-washy girl! Wait…that's it! Rika smiled deviously and brought her right knee up forcefully.
" Ugh!" The guy groaned and immediately relinquished his grasp on Rika's throat.
Rika dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. Her vision blurred, but she could make out the dim outline of the man getting up (oh, gosh, this guy is a superhuman! He took a hit like that where it hurts and he can get up just like that?? My life really is turning into the X-Files). Too tough a cookie, Rika reasoned as he wobbly strode to her, fist raised….
I must be losing my mind, Rika surmised, for she could've sworn she saw Calumon head-butt the man and knock him out.
" Rika! Do you know what time it is? (A/N: Yami: It's time to duel!…gak! @_@ Rei: *glomps Yami yet again * NO, Yami-sama, it is not time to duel. And actually, it is Tool Time! *watches the TV *) " Calumon flopped onto Rika.
Rika's eyes widened, and she promptly passed out.
Mena's skin recoiled as she felt someone grab hold of her. She wasn't claustrophobic; she just didn't like being held by some drug dealer whom most likely high. So, she did the only thing she could think of….even if it did repulse her.
" Ow! You stupid girl! You bit me!" The man released his hold on Mena's mouth, shaking his hand, but still grasped her firmly.
Mena rolled her eyes. These guys just don't know when to let go… " Solarplexus! Instep! Nose! Groin!: Mena elbowed, stomped, and punched her way through the body parts. " Yeah, bub. I saw 'Miss Congeniality', too."
Sticking her tongue out at the man rolling about in pain, Mena smiled as the police stormed the house, her cousin Mike in the lead along with his enormous Darth Vader-esque sergeant beside him.
" Mena!" Calumon zoomed up to her face as the paramedics rushed in to Margie. "Rika's out like a light!"
Mena sighed and followed Calumon up the stairs as Mike took her dog in the carrier out to the car, and his sergeant apprehended the druggie.
" Well," Mena put her hands on her hips as she saw Rika. " It could be worse."
" How?" Calumon asked as the man on the floor moved.
Mena kicked the guy hard and called for her cousin. " Easy. At least she doesn't resemble a bloated beached balooga whale. Hey, what's this?" Mena picked up a little picture off the floor, looked at it for a moment, and pocketed it.
Stooping down, Mena lifted one of Rika's shoulders and slung it across her own. Shakily, she rose up.
" She should be thankful she doesn't weight like one, either."
The paramedics swarmed upstairs, and so did the sergeant. The sergeant picked up the dealer from the floor by the scruff of his neck, and drug his downstairs, followed by the astounded others.
" Let's take these ladies to the hospital."
*cracks back *
Takato grinned as he admired his handiwork. "All finished," he sighed.
Takato absently reached for his goggles, but they weren't there. He laughed at his silliness and strode over to the secretary's desk.
" Thank you, sir. I'll send this right away. Oh, there's a message for you. Your wife's in the hospital."
Henry, who had just entered the premises, felt the thump of Takato hitting the floor. Uh oh… he thought as he raced to the secretarial desk where Takato was in an uproar.
" What-do-you-mean-MY-WIFE-is-in-the-HOSPITAL!" He bellowed, rattling the writing utensils. He wheeled on Henry the moment he stepped into view. " Where is the hospital?" He demanded, his eyes already turning viral.
" Just down the street," Henry breathed.
Takato tore his way to the stairs and ran full out down them, a panting Henry just behind him. Elbowing his way past people in the main lobby, Takato burst out of the doors, right across from the hospital.
Zigzagging through the cars, Takato threw open the doors of the hospital. " Where is my wife?" He hotly commanded.
Hearing no immediate answer, he started searching for Rika. Lifting up the covers of a cart a nurse was pushing along, Takato decided Rika might be under it. " Are you in there, Rika? No….partially eroded dead person….sorry ma'am…." Until his arm was grabbed by Henry.
" Takato! Calm yourself! How do you expect to help Rika if you are in a state of hysterics?"
Takato's breaths came deeper and his eyes became normal again. He and Henry strode up to the help desk.
" Could you please tell me where my wife is?"
" Name, please," the nasally voice replied.
" Rika Nonaka."
Henry's eyes bugged. " He means Matsuki. Rika Matsuki."
The nurse raised an eyebrow. " Room 5, second hall to the left."
Takato and Henry swiftly made their way to Rika's room, where she was sitting up in be with her uniform on.
Takato flung his arms around Rika and gripped tightly. " I'm so glad you're okay."
" I appreciate your concern, Takato, but, in case you didn't realize, I can only be choked once a day as is my health standards!"
Takato smiled apologetically as he released her.
" Good, now let's get out of this place. They charge me for oxygen intake," Rika hopped out of the bed.
Takato slung his arm across Rika's shoulders. " So, honey, how was work?"
*BAP*
Ouch, what did she do to him???
Thus concludes this portion of goggle-head!
Next part: Henry has disappointed our wee little family, but, there is another way to get home! See Takato propose! Watch, as Mena confronts Rika yet again!
~Flamegaruru~
