Again this was never really meant to be made… ahhahaa I guess it was for my personal enjoyment ^-^ Welp, if no likey then review, cause then it'll make me stop before I ruin it all!!

Our lies

"Oh Mom, you can't honestly think she'll stay that way forever?" the young woman's voice pleaded for a satisfying answer.

"Rumiko, please… You remember what happened last time." Again and again she's said this but still nothing seems to go through.

"But that was years ago!" she tried to lower her anxiety so as not to wake her sleeping daughter. "Look at her mom, she has so much potential! I can't let that go to waste!"

"Rumiko…" she closed the door to the room as a symbol that the conversation was over. But it could never be, for the growing adolescent that lay resting, peacefully against her pillow…

~*~

"Oh-oh! Here! This is for you Takato!…. *Buuuurrrpp!!!*" His belch came as strong as his voice.

"Ah! Nasty!"

"I can't believe you beat me!" Takato and Jen laughed joyously at the reigning champion. Chips, pop, and pizza lay across the ground of the old Tamer headquarters. Nothing was better then a Friday afternoon with friends to gorge one's responsibilities away. Through a hiccup Takato asked, "What time is it?"

"Almost eight" Jen replied.

"Where the heck is everybody?!" Hirokazu exclaimed as he stuck his head out the door. Swaying like a drunkard, he turned, "You did invite the others right?"

"Maybe they got held up," Jen shrugged as he broke open another can of soda.

"Great! Another day with you gay punks!" Hirokazu grumbled.

"Shut up!" Kenta's half-filled pop can flew and just narrowly missed Hirokazu's head.

"You shut up! You can't even throw!" The comment couldn't even hit the ground before all the fists were in the air.

~*~

"What!?!" Her features wore an expression of disbelief at the news. "You can't be serious!"

"Oh Ruki, it couldn't hurt to try!" Her mother dodged the reality of the moment, only determined to please herself. "This could be a big break for you! Think of all the opportunities!"

"NO! I'm not interested in any of this!" she stepped back, stopping herself from lashing out. Sure, she's been able to control her body language, her emotions, but everything has a breaking point… "I can't believe you even thought of this!"

"I didn't! Oh honey, when they saw you, oh gosh! I was so proud when they asked me to bring you to a shoot." Her eyes watered with the thought of a dream so close, "Ruki dear, it's a waste to not use what you have to your advantage!"

"I don't CARE!" she yelled as she slammed the doors behind her. She ran quickly, shaking her head to break away the thoughts that were forming.

'I've made up my mind long time ago, it's not changing now…Not with this!'

~*~

"Oh my God!! What in the world have you guys been doing!?!?" Juri shrieked. Along the floor lay Hirokazu and Kenta, frozen and lifeless after the brawl that had just finished. Jen stood cool and collected as he watched to make sure that the two wouldn't spring up again. But no one would fight against Jen nowadays…Despite his peaceful behavior, it would be just plain stupid to go against someone who knows martial arts and that has grown at least five times his strength through the past few years.

"Hahahhah! Don't worry about it Juri! We're tough!" Takato laughed hysterically as he sat against the wall. It was as if he was High, but really off sugar…

"I came here to hang out and all I get is two bums and a laughing freak…" she rests her head on her hand in an attempt to ease the confusion.

"Hey, it's not our fault you came so late" Hirokazu mumbles as he tries to get up. "Besides you didn't miss anything…Not a day goes by without seeing Kenta get beaten up!"

"SHUT UP!!" Takato continued to laugh like a mad man as he watched Jen and Juri try to break up another rumble.

~*~

The giant tree shielded her from the small drizzle that teared from the sky. It was cold, but she didn't care. Life was too frustrating for her to waste her time on finding a warm place to stay. Even still, if she were to look, she would never find it…

"Stupid Mom…" Her eyebrows tightened from underneath her bangs. Not much has really changed with her. Her personality still remains one of a kind, but even though she always denied it, her outer physique was becoming more…noticeable. "Her and her stupid vanity…"

Slamming her fist against the tree, the others were slamming into each other…

"Stop this!!" she yelled as she tried to hold Kenta in place.

"Quit it!" at the same time Jen was trying to keep Hirokazu in a lock, but was struggling since he kept wailing his arms around.

"You suck in every aspect of human talent!!!"

"Takes one to know one!"

"Don't get all kindergarten on me! Fight like a man! Oh that's right, you aren't one!"

"I'll show you who has the bigger d---!" Kenta sprang out in a fury only to be intercepted by Takato himself.

"Dude! Calm down! Don't waste your time on him, he's not worth it!" He chuckled at little, trying to drown out Hirokazu's further rude comments.

"Stupid idiot…" Kenta spat as he started to exit the little hangout. But even after he left, Hirokazu was still shouting insults in hopes to get the last laugh. Jen continued to keep him in place all the while wondering how the peaceful friendship they once had, had somehow been ruined. It may not be his business, but it's annoying to have other people's problems ruin the stability of everything else. Something was going on between these too… And it was finally testing his patience. Glancing at his side, Takato didn't seem to notice, or at least give a damn.

After a moment Hirokazu broke away out of Jen's grip, and grumbling, "Let's go Juri, there's nothing here for us to do anymore…"

He pulled her by the hand leaving the two with all the untouched food. Takato watched as Juri left, giving the both of them an expression of 'sorry…maybe next time?' He responded with a shrug. For a while now, all the group's outings have ended with an argument, or with blood on the floor. At first he wanted to help, but ever since Juri started 'seeing' Hirokazu, he stopped caring. Quite unusually, despite being buried inside only to be revealed between sarcastic remarks, the tension between both Kenta and Hirokazu, had grown exponentially…

Jen sighed as he began cleaning and packing up all the food. "That's it, I'm never going to hang around them anymore."

"You can't help it, we see them everyday at school." Takato pointed out as he too packed up all the pop-cans and chips into the cooler. "No use running, they'll always be there…"

"Well then I'll make them run," he frowned as together they lifted the cooler and left their little headquarters. Takato laughed softly as they carried it, making their way to his house.

~*~

"Hey?"

"What?" Takato asked as he turned around to face Jen.

"You hear that?" Jen perked up his ears in hopes to find the direction of where it was coming from.

"I…think so.." It was faint but he could still pick it out from the growing raindrops. In his mind, he related the sound to a person kicking a punching bag. "Want to check it out?"

"Yeah… Let's go." He jogged, pulling the cooler and Takato along with it.

*bam!*

"Ruki?"

*bam! BAM!*

"Ruki!!" she stopped her fist for just a second.

"Leave me alone if you don't want to be this tree here…" She continued to punch even though her knuckles were starting to become red.

"No way, if it'll help save the world's ecosystem, I'll gladly take its place." Takato laughed at his own joke, obviously still contaminated with sugar. He dropped the cooler on the ground as he made his way towards her. Jen followed behind him.

"Ever since the beginning, you guys never seem to stay out of my business."

"That's what friends do!" Takato smirked as he put his hand on her shoulder…

"And it's not like you don't do it to us!" Jen did the same as Takato as he openly pointed out the times where she used to follow Takato in an attempt to battle Guilmon…

"Yeah, remember when you were so merciless and wouldn't let anyone near you?" Takato reflected on the good ol' times…

"If you guys keep touching me then I don't think they'll be anymore of this apparently 'nice' friend you have…" She eyed them both with pure malice…Sure she was used to human contact, but she didn't like it all that much. Especially with people she didn't favor…But it's not like she hated the both of them, no, it's just, she'd only let them in so far…

With an effortless laugh both of them stepped back, returning to her the personal space that she had come to love. They were not at all surprised with her reactions, and the way she treated them. In fact, they thought it was neat to see how close they could get… It's a thrill to try to annoy someone so much, just to see him or her crack and reveal their inner most thoughts, past politeness and shields. It's because you never see it much, that makes one all the more curious. Breaking points are fun to discover… good or bad.

"Say, are you up for a bite to eat?" Jen asked as he casually made his way back to the cooler.

"We have all the food that gives comfort!" Again he smiled with all the gusto that could be pumped out of him. Instead of waiting for an answer, Takato pushed her from behind, leading her down the trail.

Although reluctant, and a bit disturbed by his energetic behavior, she smiled…Knowing, and not knowing why…

~*~

"I'm… home?" The store lights were all off as he stood puzzled at the door.

"Takato? Isn't it a little early to close shop?" Jen asked as he glanced at his watch.

"Maybe they ran out of some ingredients, and decided to close up," he shrugged as he pulled in the cooler and started to unload it. The others began to help, not forgetting to take a little for themselves. "C'mon, lets go to my room."

"Don't you still owe me some cards?" Ruki asked, looking around for his tin box that held his deck. Pushing him out of her way, she found it on his bookshelf, and as if it really was her room, she made her way on top of his bunk bed. She searched through the box while Jen took a seat at his desk, taking a glance at his most recent artwork. With no other place to go, Takato sat on the floor, biting into his slice of pizza.

They've been doing this for a while. Visiting one another from time to time. It's almost amazing how they could even stand being near each other even though their personalities are completely different. 'It's always about the digimon,' Takato reveled to himself while looking at the other two. 'Without them, I would never have known how much strength one has, and, how close we really are connected. Each one of us had something to deal with, and without these guys, and Guilmon by my side…I know I would've never pulled through.'

Unexpectedly, Jen asked, "Takato? Do you know why Kenta and Hirokazu are always fighting like that?

"It happened again?" Ruki asked a little surprised.

"Yeah…"

"Don't make a big deal about it," Takato said as he waved his hand, "They always fight, nothing new."

"But like today??"

"Well, I have to admit, it never really was this bad until Hirokazu and Juri started going out."

"Ah man, all this over a girl??" Jen sighed.

"You're right in a way, but not exactly there…" Takato's eyes shifted from side to side, hoping that he didn't say too much…

"What does that mean?" both Jen and Ruki looked at him with confused expressions. Takato laughed a little more nervously as he heard the front door open.

"Takato!?" His parents were home. "Could you help us out with the groceries?"

"Ah-man…"

"Here, I'll go help, I gotta leave soon anyways." Jen offered.

"Haha! Thanks a lot Jen!"

~*~

"I can't believe you still have this!" Ruki laughed, pulling out the ace of hearts that she threw at him years ago…

"Me either, I guess I thought it was worth keeping." Takato replied as he began drawing the next part to his manga.

Feeling a little tired, Ruki lay back to rest upon Takato's comforter. Through a sigh she asked, "What time is it?"

"Um… ten thirty." He turned to see her hand dangle over the edge of the bed, the little playing card held by her fingertips. "… Sleepy already?"

"Hmm," She tried to open her eyes but fatigue was coming in fast. All the energy expensed from yelling and running away, with little food to regenerate…Was starting to take its toll. Slowly, she pushed herself up, but Takato stopped her.

"No it's okay! If you wanna rest for a bit then here…" he picked up a cushion and placed it beside her. "Borrow it as long as you like, no hurry."

Takato smiled at her as she pulled the cushion in for a hug. But just before she dozed off into a nap, she looked at him straight in the eyes. It held on remorse or anger, or even a smile… It was sort of a blank look, but for some reason it sent a small jolt of electricity down his spine. Smiling a little harder, he scratched the back of his head, obviously a little embarrassed… He turned back to continue with his manga, to give himself, and Ruki, some space…

'thank you'

~*~

*tap tap*

Slowly the door slid open, and slowly Takato's mother came into the room. He sat, still adding parts into his manga, with the only the desk lamp on. She turned to her left to find Ruki breathing softly on his pillow. Asking, "I was wondering why it was so quiet."

"Yeah," he stretched out a bit to try to not fall asleep either.

"She's a very stubborn girl you know…" Mrs. Matsuda commented as she leaned by the closed door. "Her mother phoned, searching for her…"

"Why? Did she say?" His brows furrowed a bit as he looked at Ruki.

"Apparently, without even trying, your friend was picked by her mother's associates to be pictured in some young fashion article…And well, when her mother told her the news, she ran out in rage."

"Oh…" He watched as her breathing grew more and more relaxed. And in taking the opportunity, he looked at her figure. She wasn't exactly like most of the other girls that went into modeling. She wasn't 'stick thin'… But she wasn't either like those girls in the bikini posters that Hirokazu had wallpapered around his room…No, she wasn't quite there yet… It must be something else, he assumed. She did have that unique personality, and those eyes that he had come to like. "That's not surprising."

"Still, I think it's a bit of a waste."

"She must have her reasons though…" He stood up from his chair to get his pajamas.

"Yes, but anyways, I told her she could stay for the night, since it's so late already." She pulled out a futon from his closet and began to unravel it onto the floor. His bed was all set up as he came back from changing his clothes in the washroom. Yawning, he made his way to the futon with his mother wanting to tuck him in. She still thinks he's her little baby.

"I keep telling you to get rid of these!" she scolded him as she pulled the goggles off his head. "I don't want your head to get all warped!"

"Mom!" he grabbed them back, and argued. "My head will not get warped!"

A bit tired herself, she let it be for now. Placing the comforter over him and kissing his forehead, she told him "Get some sleep now, because you have that martial arts practice with Jen tomorrow."

"Yeah okay," he agreed as she turned off the light and left the room.

~*~

Ruki bolted her eyes open and pushed her self up, trying desperately to remember where she was. It was dark, but through the curtains moonlight shined down to the floor. Peaking over the edge of the mattress she found Takato snoring... Now she remembered, she had fallen asleep on Takato's bed, expecting to be woken up when they wanted her to leave. Weird how they didn't…

'Guess I've stayed long enough' quietly she made her way down the ladder. Once on the floor she tried her best not to step on Takato, but that in itself was a little hard to resist. Tip-toeing gently across the rug, she made it as far as the handle door before she was forced to freeze.

"…hey?" he yawned.

Quickly she answered. "I'm going to get some water." Before he could even respond she closed the door behind her, trying her best to leave the house without waking everyone else. Through the side door of the house she went, leaving the unsettling confusion she would feel when she was in it.

The streets were quiet beneath the midnight blue sky. Slashes of gray partially cascaded over the decreasing moon. It was like she was walking within herself, enveloped in a deep darkness with just that one little hope shining, guiding through. But sometimes, even those passing clouds could mislead anything…

'Stupid vanity.' She clenched her fist, trying to hold her anxiety in, keeping all her power in whole, but stopped when she heard footsteps stalking behind her. He appeared, still as bed ridden as ever. "What are you doing?"

"Same to you…" he slapped his face to try to keep awake.

"I'm going…" she stiffened as her voice spoke to her. 'Where Ruki? Where are you going?'

The cool air brushed his face but even then that seemed to lull him to sleep. Still she did not continue, so a bit eager to be back in his warm house he said, "Let's go back Ruki, it's okay, your Mom knows that you're at my house."

"Oh? She actually noticed I was gone?" her words were tainted with sarcasm.

Rubbing his temples he says, frustrated, "Ruki C'mon! Let's just sleep on it, for sure all this anger will be gone with a few more winks."

"I don't want it over! ARH! Why does everyone give me advice that won't even help me?!" She tensed as her anger grew. She was loosing control!

Takato gave a sigh as he slumped down on the sidewalk. His eyelids, falling limp to all the unrest. He was so tired that he didn't really care if he slept outside, defeating the whole purpose of calling Ruki. 'God, just let me wake up with my clothes still on…' he laughed out loud again at his own comment. Of course Ruki was still there to take it the wrong way.

"What was that for?"

"Wouldn't it be funny if I woke up to find I had no clothes on?" automatically he could feel the quizzical look that was written on Ruki's face. 'Wait. Did I just say what I thought I said?' Desperately he tried to clear it up. "You know! The homeless people on the street!"

"You're weird…" slowly she turned away.

"And thieves that mug people of everything valuable!"

"…You should be thankful waking up alive. There are a lot of people that would kill strangers for just spare change." She said with a little smirk.

"…Man, you really are evil." He smiled back, more awake then before.

"Only because it's fun..." She replied as she sat beside him. A little more closer then Takato would have expected.

"You're trying to scare me aren't you?"

"Take it as you want…"

Streetlights illuminated the area, but it wasn't strong enough to ease the fear of the lurking shadows of his mind. He yawned again, tasting the bitter cold wind. To ignore his subconscious torture, he turned to look at Ruki, who had been quite quiet for the past fifteen minutes. He shifted a little to wake her from her daze. "So, can we go now?"

"Where?"

"Home…where else?"

"…Where I can be myself…" Gently she folds her arms to rest upon.

"What's the big deal with you not agreeing to take this photo shoot?" he asked bluntly.

"Who told you?!"

"My mom from your mom. Look, it's just a couple of pictures, then that's it! No worries after that!" He smiled again at her, but it was rejected when she closed her eyes.

"I just don't want to okay?"

"There has to be a reason…" she sighed out loud for Takato to know that it was better for him to stop. She got up and together they quietly made their way back to his house.

"Ruki…" It bugged him how she can be so deathly quiet. All the way home they went, their steps showing no sign of turning back. It continued on that way until they were back in his room. They returned both to their respected beds and after a long while did Ruki begin to talk again…

"I know that it's inevitable, but I really don't want to be like my mother."

"Well it's not like this is going to set off a career or anything." He imagined what it would be like if Ruki really did become a model… No more digimon card games, that's for sure.

She leaned to her side, peering over the edge of the bed. She let her eyes connect with his as she continued, "It could you know… Then what would happen then?"

"I dunno?" He wasn't sure, but it seemed that her eyes began to get a bit glossy… maybe it was the moonlight.

"I'd learn to forget the things that mattered most to me, and try to find the answers in useless vices."

"No you won't. You know too much on how it feels to be on the receiving end to do that to another…."

"I guess so."

It was then that he remembered. "It's like with me and those loner kids. I used to be like them, so now, I make sure that I at least say 'Hi.' I mean, it's bad enough they get ignored, why add more to it? Yeah, but ever since digimon came out, I obsessed. Well, more so with the partner friendship. I always wanted a digimon, because then you wouldn't need anyone else. It'd be just you two, an unbeatable team!"

"And here I thought you were just another fanboy…"

"What made you get into digimon?"

"I was good at it, so I just stuck with it." She shrugged. "Winning was a top priority at first, but then, well you know what happens…"

Stretching out his arms, he hummed in agreement. Shifting his eyes he glanced at his clock. It was three in the morning and he still hasn't been able to get some sleep! 'Jen is going to beat my butt if I don't get some rest…' "Hey, don't worry about it, our image of you won't change if you ever decide to do it… I mean, you'll always be you…

"Yeah…" She smiled at him and turned back to her pillow. "Thanks Takato…"

"*yawn*… I'd hate for you to change who you are…and in truth…" laying on his side he continued sleepily… "…I'd miss it if it were gone…"

"What do you mean?" she whispered. The sand man's dust working it's magic very very slowly…

He spoke, his voice barely audible, "… Your warrior spirit, if it was gone, I'd miss it…"

"…Really…?" she asked…gently…

"…Yeah…" he closed his eyes. "…That's what I like about you… Yeah, and your eyes…"

"…my eyes…?"

"…Yeah…"

Simultaneously they both fell asleep… Letting their dreams continue on the conversation…

~*~

"Hyah!!" Takato shouted, completing his Round House Kick exercise. The noon sun beating it's way down to the roof of Jen's apartment building. From his side he could see Jen watching. He wasn't as built as Jen, but he still had the desire to prove that he was stronger then before. Takato gave a right punch, the sweat flying off his skin, and at the same time showing off his muscles. They were smaller then Jen's, but just as much defined.

As he tested his jumps Jen asked. "Remember what happened yesterday?"

"Yeah, what about it?" He jumped, trying his hardest to reach the sky.

"What did you mean when you said 'I wasn't exactly there'?" Jen eyed him, making him feel like he was cornered.

"That you weren't exactly there!" He laughed as he gave a fake punch to Jen's face. As if he was water, he moved about, grabbing Takato's arm and twisting it into a lock. One wrong move can make it broken in two…

"I'm serious Takato." He said, still holding him in the lock.

"Okay okay!!! What I meant was…Juri is part of the problem but she isn't exactly the center cause of it…" Wiggling about, he continued. "She's sort of like a pawn."

"A pawn?" Jen asked as he let go, and let Takato sit down.

"Jen, Kenta likes…"

"He's??" Jen eyes weren't as shocked as Takato's were when he found out…

"Yeah…"

"Then how is Juri a pawn?"

"Hirokazu is using her because, what I think, he doesn't know if he sways that way or not…"

"Then why are they fighting? You'd think that if Kenta liked him then he would be a little more understanding…"

"Kenta thinks that Hirokazu is just hiding that he's like that… Using Juri to prove otherwise to others and himself…"

"Those two are messed up!" Jen exasperated. Scratching his nose he asked. "So what does Juri think?"

"She doesn't even realize…"

"HUH!?!" Jen was starting to get a little ticked off…

Speaking with a bit more anger then he would have wanted, "Look! She was the one who made her move on Hirokazu! If you ask me, she got herself into it."

"But don't you care?" Jen wondered…

"No, I don't!…I don't like her anymore!" He snapped back, turning his head away in deep anger.

"Doesn't seem like it…" Jen turned to face the clouds…

"I have someone else in mind…" Takato spurt out, giving Jen something to think about.

"Oh you do, do you…" He narrowed his eyes at Takato…laughing.

"Yeah! I do!" Bouncing back up on his feat, Takato went through to the stairway door. Leaving Jen to go about things on his own…

~*~

"Moumantai…That's what he'd say…" Jen knocked the door of the house. A little nervous on how to say the news.

"Hullo…" His eyes narrowed at him, making him even more panic stricken.

"Mr. Katou? Is Juri home?"

"Jen!? What are you doing here?" She asked, pushing her dad out of the way.

"I need to tell you someth--" He stopped when her father grunted at him.

"Dad! Don't worry! It's nothing like that!… Is it??"

"OH! Of course not!" He sweated under her father's deathly stare.

"Well c'mon in then!" she smiled as she led him into the living room.

~*~

He walked at an extremely slow pace, keeping his eyes focused to the ground. Words were swimming in his head. Colliding with each other like stupid fish…

'God, I'm messed up…'

Automatically he went to Guilmon's hideout. It was his place to go when he needed to be alone. Away from all the insecurities that friendship and love could bring. A place where he could think it out with the presence of an old friend…Even though he was never really there.

"Guilmon, if you were here I wouldn't need anyone else…" Self-sorrow started to enfold but then he snapped. "NO! I'm grown up now! I... can take care of myself! He believes in me so, so should I!"

He paused a bit before he declared… "Screw Juri! She doesn't like me so I don't like her!!"

Confusion set in making him pull at his hair. "ARGGH!!!"

~*~

"I know that already." She confirmed for both herself and Jen.

"You knew?" Jen was surprised.

"Well, I just found out yesterday… I had to beat it out of him but Hirokazu finally told me. How did you find out?"

"Takato…" he said, eager to tell her more.

~*~

"What happened with you!?" Ruki asked as he stood in front of her door, sweaty and his hair a complete mess. He was thankful that it partially covered his somewhat red eyes. "Hahaha! Jen beat you up didn't he!"

"Uh, yeah…" he laughed, Grateful that there was someone who didn't go into complete hysterics with 'Are you okay?! Are you hurt!?' But even if she did ask, he would lie… 'No use bugging her with my problems'

"Usually I would kick you out of here… But since your all messed up… You deserve just a little consideration." She smiled, letting him into the house.

"You don't know how much…" A smile was plastered on his face but inside he felt like a lost puppy.

"Huh?"

"Nothing…"

~*~

"After all these years he still hasn't gotten over me!?" She was shocked to find this kind of information.

"It surprised me too when I was talking to him… The guy must really care about your happiness that he forced himself to get over you. I admit that hate isn't the best way but at least he tried" Jen said, doing his best to make Takato look good.

"Yeah…" She said, trying to understand Jen's theories.

"Why don't you give him a second chance?" Jen asked, blurting it out of the blue.

"Jen… I don't know…"

"Well, I was just saying…" he shrugged making her feel that she wasn't being forced or anything… "Ha.. You know me, always there for my best bud!"

"Yeah…" She smiled contently, but at the same time her eyes softened… 'Maybe I should…'

~*~

"Well hello hello!!" She smiled enthusiastically as she caught sight of Takato. "Wow! I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Umm…Hi Mrs. Makino…" Takato blushed.

"Look at you! You've grown up so much! No wonder my little girl always goes to your house!"

"Gosh Mom! That's the reason why I never want to come home!" Ruki shouted, angered by all the teasing.

"Hahaha… Can't you ever take a joke!?" Her mother tapped her on top of the head but Ruki swiftly slapped her hand away.

"Enough mother!" She growled while clenching her jaws.

"Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed…" she winked at Takato oh so innocently. It confused him, but for some reason it left his face beet red… "Oh honey, we're leaving at five so you better get ready."

"Yes Mom…" Ruki mumbled.

"Say Takato? How long do you plan to be staying?" Mrs. Makino asked, directing her complete attention to him.

"Not for long I guess" he shrugged. "I guess I could help out my parents at the shop…"

"Why don't you come with us!" she suggested. "There's someone I want you to meet."

"Oh… Okay." He agreed. "Where are we going?"

"Hahaha! Didn't Ruki tell you!?" she smiled so proudly! "She's going to her photo shoot!!!"

"NO WAY!!!" his eyes bulged out. Completely amazed.

~*~

"You're not going to make me wear something pink are you?" Ruki asked the clothing stylist who began choosing an outfit for her.

"We can start off with the blacks first, but you know, there's always a light with a dark." The young woman smiled as she pulled out the first outfit. "Without each other, neither would ever really be seen."

"Yeah, but the light doesn't have to be pink…" she said, looking down and examining the deep red and black dress.

"Well, let's see what happens…" The young woman left with a smile of encouragement, leaving her to get ready on her own.

~*~

"Well aren't you a handsome young man!" The modeling agent exclaimed wide-eyed. He walked around Takato as if he was the rarest digimon card in the world! "Quite built… not too husky… just the right length of hair… hmmm… you're very light skinned you know… a good height for your age…"

"Umm…Thanks?" Takato laughed nervously as the agent walked around him a few times… He wasn't used to men examining him in this way…

"So? Do you think we can??" With her hands clasped together Mrs. Makino hoped dearly that all efforts weren't going to waste.

"Yes I think we can! Come, I want you to try on some clothing…" The agent directed Takato to the dressing room. Still in complete shock and amazement.

~*~

"Alright Ruki, now give me that snob look…" the cameraman said as he focused on her face.

"Wha…? You're not making me smile and prance around like an idiot??" she asked lifting one eyebrow and put her hand to her hip. Just then the camera flashed, blinding her for a second.

"Great!! Now try the 'stay away death glare'!" this time he went for a whole body picture, making sure that the elegance of the gothic dress can be seen. Unknowingly Ruki complied, and was rewarded with another blinding flash. "You're a complete natural!"

'Okay…?' she stood, confused that her usual behavior was what media was demanding.

~*~

"Hey! I look pretty good!" Takato examined as he looked at himself in the mirror, favoring the Chinese collar that was on the dark metallic blue shirt. He liked it because it made him look tougher, sort of like Jen.

"You may look good in bright colors, but dark ones are very complimenting for you…" The agent smiled at another successful find. Then with pursed lips he looked at Takato's hair… Before he could stop him, the agent ripped off his goggles, letting his bangs fall to his eyes and leaving the rest a spiky mess… "Hmm… Nice… You're quite a looker if you try."

"Umm… I'll get my goggle back right?" Takato gave a look of childlike hope.

"Of course of course.." The agent continued. "Now, if it's okay… Would you let us take a couple of pictures… Just to see how well you come out on camera…"

"Sure, why not?" he agreed.

"Now Takato… I want you to sit on that log and give us a distant look." The camerawoman commanded.

"Uh… okay…" Turning to his left, he focused his eyes on the ground till he felt the flash, telling him it was okay to look back.

"Alright! Now let's see your angry face!" she laughed as he gave her a pitiful glare. "Oh! I know you can do this! C'mon c'mon!!!"

'Man, this is getting weird…' Takato thought as he sat on the log, feeling more and more uncomfortable…

"How'd it go?" Mrs. Makino asked.

"Ehh…" he realized that too much smiling can be somewhat painful…

"Oh well, it's okay…" she pouted. "I guess you can change now…"

"Say, where's Ruki?"

"Finishing her last shots. Go ahead and take a peak," she directed him to the door and started to giggle. "You might be a little surprised…"

Takato entered the room timidly, not sure what to expect. Taking a few steps in he made it to the last few shots, and there he stood… The cameraman's voice completely being drowned out.

She sat, her hands folded on her lap. They were barely visible for the long bell like sleeves would cover all except her fingertips. It was almost hard to pick out her outline because the glare from the lights made her pale white fabric blend with the backdrop. Slowly he traced his eyes up to her face, catching the white choker that added so much elegance and grace to the rest of the innocent yet gothic outfit. Finally, he caught sight of her worn expression. Inside he knew it wasn't, that it couldn't be real, for he himself had to wear it for his shoot. But when he looked into her eyes, the sadness felt too real… That someway, looking down at her hands, whatever sorrow she had inside, was cracking through. His heart clenched for a bit as he watched the last flash fade. The torturing sadness folding behind her anger and annoyance, automatically towards her mother and the cameraman. Takato followed her to the dressing room, ignoring the young stylist who tried to tell him otherwise…

"…Ruki…" he spoke, a little out of breath and unsure of how to continue.

"I am never going to do that again!!!" she declared, but stopped complaining when she turned to face Takato. Pointing at him "Ha… They got you too!"

"…Uh…Yeah they did…" He gave a goofy smile and together they laughed. He scratched the back of his head and commented. "That last scenario they put you in, you were really good in it… I almost believed it!"

"It was weird…" she turned away and gave a little laugh. "They told me to think of the most saddest thing and then I started thinking about, well, ah…forget it."

"Of what Ruki?" he took a step closer and there he entered the frame of the mirror. He looked at her reflection as he continued. "Must've been real deep…"

"Guess it was…" she countered. "If you were fooled by it…"

He stepped away, loosing eye contact through the mirror. Making his way to the door he asked, "So what made you change your mind about doing the shoot?"

"My Grandma…" she too took a few steps away from the mirror eager to get out of the itchy dress. "She always has that way of changing my mind…"

He chuckled a little and just as he was about to exit through the door she spoke, with her back still facing him. "Takato? What happened to your goggles?"

He smiled, "They took'em away from me. They said it didn't suit me all that well."

"Too bad, I'm going to miss them…"

"Heh… Really?"

"…Yeah." Just before he left the room he turned back, smiling into the mirror and also catching hers.

~*~

"Goodbye Jen!" she yelled as he walked out of sight. Quietly she closed the door, and turned to walk down the hall. On the way, she caught sight of the phone.. After a few moments standing, she moved, picking up the phone and dialed. It rang two times before it was answered…

"Hello Mrs. Matsuda? It's me Juri… Can I.. talk to Takato?

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Oh NO!!! hahahaa…. This was so freaking long!! And it's only part ONE!!! AHHH!!!

Yeah, the ages of the tamers is between 14-16, I didn't really define it for the age confusion the US version can bring… So that's why I kept saying 'few' years… Hehehe that Takato, so confused…