Hurt
Crunch. Ruki turned around. No one was there. She frowned before she continued walking again.
Crunch, crunch. This time, she swore she heard footsteps trampling on dead leaves. But instead of stopping to look again, she kept on walking.
Upon reaching a corner, she turned and pushed herself against the brick wall. Whoever it was following her would soon see he should never mess with Ruki.
The trees rustled nearby and Ruki shivered a little when the breeze swept her way. Maybe Grandmother was right about a sweater… It's too late for that now, and besides, only a few more strides and she'll be at the park in no time.
Wait a minute… was she worrying? What does she have to worry about? She balled her fists. Nobody makes her worry, and if they did, they won't live to see tomorrow.
Ruki grinned evilly.
Whoever was around that corner better be saying his last prayers…
Drat, he lost her! Jenrya stopped walking and turned his head both sides. Where did Ruki go? She was just there a moment ago. On his way to the park after telling the others to meet with Takato and him over there, he spotted Ruki and wondered if Takato called her, too. So he followed her; he called out the first time, but apparently she was too absorbed with herself that she didn't hear him, and just now she just pulled a disappearing act on him.
When he didn't see anyone to his left or right, he commenced his journey again. Hold on a second - commenced… journey, wha-? Since when did he use uncommon words as part of his everyday vocabulary?
This must be what his father warned him about. He couldn't wait to get to the others and enlighten them on this new circumstance.
Argh, there goes those words again! Jenrya hurried his walk. He made sure not to forget the most important parts of what he learned during his 'family' trip. Who knows? this could lead to another adventure. He smiled at that thought.
Takato and Juri have been waiting for half an hour but so far nothing has been said between the two. The comfortable air that first surrounded them slowly faded away and a refreshing feeling of uneasiness replaced it.
"So, uh, how've ya been?" he asked.
"F-fine, I guess," she replied.
A pause.
"That's good…" he trailed off. Another round of silence.
"Say, Takato, um, well, do you, d'you think that… uh…" she left the incoherent sentence hanging. The boy, on the other hand, was clinging to every word she said.
"Yeah?"
"It's nothing. N-nevermind."
"Oh, ok." He didn't bother to hide his disappointment. This might have been the only moment she thought it was a bad thing she wasn't deaf. She couldn't bear that tone, especially from her friends. Especially from him. Too much disappointment already flooded her life, making her accept only the few friends she already has. It hurt her to know, see, feel, hear that the people she trust the most are disappointed with her.
In her.
She just couldn't bear it anymore.
So she cried.
This startled him and he didn't know what to do.
The footsteps reappeared, and they were getting closer and closer…
Ruki whipped around in a flash and – WHACK! – did a high spin kick. Unfortunately for Jenrya, her target meant his head. He was out before he even hit the ground.
Ruki smiled to herself as she examined her handiwork. This was the first time she had ever beaten up a person in real life and she was successful. Those threats weren't empty after all.
She would have celebrated that fact if she didn't happen to glance down at the face of her victim, who was none other than Jenrya Lee. Instead of guilt, dread, concern or any feeling that may have indicated she was acquainted with him on friendly terms, she felt her temper soar. You'd better have a damned good explanation for following me, Lee.
As it turns out, a victory cannot be enjoyed by Ruki if the loser happened to be an unknowing… friend.
Damn you, Lee. You just rained in on my parade.
Just because of that, she concluded that it was only fair to leave him there.
She continued her way to the park, leaving the poor, vulnerable, unconscious boy to rot on the sidewalk.
Takato didn't know what to do with the crying girl beside him. What did he say? What did he do? What is going on?
"J-Juri…?" he tentatively ventured. But she didn't give him any hints that she heard him and so he felt even more confused. What was he supposed to do?
He contemplated on putting his arm around her, but she probably would think he was taking advantage of her current state. What should he do then? Think, Takato! Unaware, his back had slowly started to slide up on the trunk until he was upright.
He wanted to make her stop crying because it made him nervous. Maybe, if he just gave her time to cool down she'd come around and tell him what's wrong. Yeah, she obviously was in no mood to talk… just a few minutes and I'll come back to check on you, Juri. Wait for me.
Taking a few tentative steps away from the tree he looked back over his shoulder and quickly snapped his head forward; Juri wasn't a pretty sight right now.
Whoa. Hold on a minute. I cannot believe I even thought that! Thinking even more lowly of himself, Takato did the only thing he could think of right now – run away, away from here.
As Takato took bolder steps away from the mourning Juri, she looked up only to see him walking down the road toward the sunset. What have I done? She did it again; she scared him away.
She dried her tears, they couldn't wash away her sadness, and headed for home. As she was walking past the entrance to the school, she saw a peculiar sight. A child no older than herself was staring beyond the gates and up at the school buildings. What was the child very strange was his attire.
Dressed in all green, topped with a green cap (it reminded of Juri of a wizard's headdress, but this one wilted down instead of standing straight up), the child would be easy to spot amongst a crosswalk crowd.
As Juri walked nigh, the child looked up and the intensity of his stare made Juri stop four steps away.
"Who are you?"
Author's Notes: AHHHHH!!! Sorry for making you wait - -;; I hope this was enough to sate your unsatisfied hunger for my tale-weaving ;)
Before I forget – Merry, Merry Christmas to you all! Personally, I can't wait – lots of food in store for my bottomless glutton. Hehe, too much info but isn't it good for authors and their fans to have a healthy relationship?
Whooo, I'm getting ahead of myself here. My ego trip even amazes me sometimes. But all the same, thank you for your patience.
Now, on a more serious note, I have seen that this chapter isn't that much of a development on the story and the glaring fact that cannot be ignored is that it's very short. Nonetheless, I would be ecstatic for a little supportive criticism. And I do read the reviews - honestly, what kind of an author doesn't? And I got an idea by reading one of your comments =) I'd like to thank you very, mucho much! Reviews are indeed handy.
Disclaimer: I'd put a rather witty/clever twist to my disclaimers but seeing as how I am incapable of ever pulling of a sarcastic expression, let's just lay off it. I don't own Digimon =)
Peevey fact: Did you know I cringe everytime I see words misspelled?