Friendship
I was confused, and to me, confusion is a state of helplessness. When I feel helpless, I get mad. What is going on here!
"What did you do?" I asked in a cool voice, very opposite to the boiling anger inside of me. Takato did not answer. I threatened him.
"If you don't tell me what just happened, I'll make sure your goggles will be permanently wrapped tightly around your neck until your circulation is cut off and then I'll throw you outside into the snow where…" I trailed off, leaving the rest to his imagination. But still, he did not speak.
I was thinking of following up on my offer when I heard him. When he spoke, he did not sound like the Takato I knew.
"I had a dream –"
Then again, how much did I know him?
"– and I was dreaming of you."
"What did you do?" Ruki broke the hateful silence. I never knew such a simple question could be so hard to answer.
How could I tell her? The first time I revealed to Ruki that I dreamt of her before I actually met her was suicide. She promised me she would pummel my face into my head so hard that even my own parents wouldn't recognize me. It was a good thing Jenrya was there or I would've gone home without face at all – both literally and figuratively.
Imagine that, being beaten up by a girl. Under normal circumstances I would've laughed and shrugged it away, but Ruki was not a normal girl. She is cold and calculating, smart and cunning, making her a very talented card player. But most importantly, she is tough and strong. If she was dangerous in her usual icy mood, I wouldn't want to know how she is when she gets mad.
But the weird thing is that I should know. After all, it was she and Jenrya whom I spent the most time with during our digimon adventures. Now I don't remember much of our exploits or if she had ever gotten mad and lost control… I know I did. Snap out of it, stop feeling sorry for yourself!
I… I have to admit that in the one and a half years that passed us by after our digimon escapades, I only could recall bits and pieces. The ones I have of the most are… are of Guilmon. He is always the star in every one of my memories, and I miss him so. It was so painful and very hard for me to lose my closest friend. I made him and he completed me. I miss him so.
A gloom had settled in my stomach and could not be lifted even when I heard Ruki's threats. Her words could penetrate the dark barrier that I have erected around me. It always gets like this when I think of Guilmon… I wonder if I'm going crazy…
I must be because I truthfully answered Ruki's question.
Ruki stood up, perplexed and enraged. Her anger had ebbed away when she found threatening hadn't affected Takato in the least bit. But after hearing his answer, her fury was burning anew. How dare he!
"What. Did. You. Just. Say." She made sure to punctuate each word. Her eyes blinked a dangerous glint and she advanced towards her guest.
Takato didn't even move. Nor did her flinch when she pushed her face in front of his.
"You heard me," he whispered. It earned him a slap from Ruki.
"Are you mocking me?"
Takato felt the stinging aftershock on his right cheek and Ruki could see her handprint turning fiery red on his face.
A cold silence settled upon the two children, regardless of the bouncing rays of the sunlight on the walls. Ruki's face held no remorse; instead a look of justice hardened her features.
"You have no right barging into my house and insulting me," she gritted through clenched teeth.
He scoffed. "Like I would ever come after you. Don't flatter yourself, Ruki."
Another slap.
"If you really care about your life then you will be gone from my sight in a blink," she spat.
With nothing more to say, or rather having a lack of things to say, Takato pushed himself from the futon and led his way to the door. He courteously bowed to his host and her guardians on the way out before turning down the street and heading towards the bakery.
Like I would ever come after you…
His own words echoed soundly and deeply in his mind and nothing could shake it off. What made him say that? He never thought he could do anything stupider than telling her about the dream but now this happened. Her impression of him now must be lower than the lowest it had ever been.
But she was his friend. Of course he'll always come after her, like he would for Jenrya, Hirokazu, Kenta, and Juri. That was the point, right, when he had that frightening dream?
He shook his head and brought his knees to his chest. He hoped Ruki wouldn't think he didn't care about her, because he did. His friends are some of the most precious things he has and he had no nerve to start losing them.
After coming home and giving his parents a fright with his appearance in front of their store and instead of his bedroom (which they should have gotten used to by now), he went on with his Saturday chores and headed for the park. He had rung for Jenrya's house the moment he came home and told his friend to meet him there, telling him to call on Hirokazu and Kenta as well. Just because their adventures were over didn't mean they stopped being friends. Maybe more if only he could get closer to a certain girl…
"Takato?" Speak of the devil. Juri Katou stood in front of the dazed boy, sunlight reflecting of her smooth skin, making her glow like a... an angel, Takato thought. When was the last time he had seen her? Too long ago… In fact, Ruki was the first person from the Digimon troupe he had seen in almost over a year. His heart heaved a sigh, for it felt warm just to see a familiar face that held some of the memories he had saved. Also, it felt relieved that it didn't have to be alone and defend itself from the looming gloom of the dream.
He didn't speak, but he didn't turn her away either. She sat down with him, and he could feel her warmth, pinking his face a little. The both of them, backs against a great, old tree, waited in companionable silence for the rest of their friends to come.
Author's notes: I have plans for this, muahahaha! Let's just hope it carries through, because I'm already looking way past this moment here and seeing bright and wonderful things ahead! And some dark and gloomy angst, too, but that's beside the point. =)
Disclaimer: Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin' Clementine You are lost and gone forever, but Digimon still has a copyright………….. Yargh.
Next chapter preview: Yea, I noticed these aren't previews at all. So why don't we call them next chapter questions? Just like a textbook! So, why is Ruki really ticked? And since when did Takato get so depressed about Guilmon? Write down your answers, kiddos, and let's see if you're right in… the next chapter!