A Lot Like Christmas

Intro: Yay! I'm so glad you like my story! ^.^ The next Lee/Juri chapter I promised? Why the Thursday chapter!! That will be chock full of Lee/Juri, hopefully enough for you because I'm writing to the best of my abilities…

  BlackGatomon: By the way, the competition between Ryo and Takato make a last appearance. We had to cut it short because there was no time left for it in further chapters!! Gomenasai!!

 Me: Oh, but we made up for it, there's a quite a bit of Ryuki in here I'm sure you Ryuki fans who somehow stayed with us will enjoy.

 BlackGatomon: CANDY! Truckloads, bags, oodles, and oodles of CANDY!! ^.^ Arigato for making my life heavenly and chock full of candy!!:

Rukato Fan

Digidestined of Courage (The bag hit me on the head!!! ARGH!!!)

Dark Child

The dragon master (yay cookies! Hey wait… puss'n'boots? BLACKTERRIERMON!!!!)

SerpentTreize

Little Rabbit f/LRPLI (ooooo taffy… sticky…)

Kawaii_Superstar

Angel of Hazard

Kamehameha (FUDGE!!! Extra sugar! Party tonight!!)

Me: Oh god… soooo much candy. Blackgatomon save me some please?

Blackgatomon: No way!! Lots of candy!!! MINE!

Me: Sugar high…-_-;;; Anyhoo, momentai about him. On with the show!!!

Disclaimer: Don't own digimon…

Bold- actions, important stuff

Italics- thoughts, memories, other

                                                                        ***Wednesday***

    The next morning Ruki sat up in horror, fingers touching her lips. Cold sweat hung on her forehead as she tried very hard to recollect what happened last night. Oh my god… did he really do that… did he actually kiss me? I must've been dreaming… no… that was real. I know it was real, I remember it.

    She gulped and found her lips were salty from his saliva. Her eyes were wide open, she remembered perfectly what had happened last night. She was lying awake, thinking, when suddenly he stirred. Pretending to be asleep, she heard him come over softly, and kneel beside her. He must've thought she really was asleep because the next thing she knew his lips were on hers! She slept little last night, tossing and turning after she made perfectly sure he was fast asleep again. It was unbelievable to her.

      She removed her hands from her lips as Takato stirred. Taking a deep breath she thought, Ok… stay cool. Do not let him even have an inkling that you know what happened. As far as he's concerned, you were asleep!

   Takato sat up lazily and sighed. "Good morning Ruki-san…" Ruki tried extremely hard to act normal; she did not trust her voice so she only nodded. Takato put his hands to his head and suddenly his eyes turned as round as dish plates. "What happened to my goggles?!"

   Ruki choked to keep from laughing and crawled over to him. "Takato they fell off your head when you went under."

   "Oh…" Takato stared at her, crestfallen. "You couldn't get them?"

   "If I did you'd be in critical condition right now," said Ruki, chuckling. "You may have only been under a few minutes but that's enough time in freezing water to catch a-

  As if on cue Takato sneezed. Ruki sighed. "I was afraid of that… now how am I going to explain this to your parents?"

    "Nonsense, I'm fine," said Takato weakly, even though his head felt like a cement brick. Ruki did not look convinced. "Momentai Ruki-san… I'm just…" He started coughing. "Fine…"

   "Yea, and I'm the Queen of England," said Ruki, wrapping a blanket around him. "Great, now what? You're sick and your parents are probably worried sick."

     Takato smiled. "Momentai alright? Just say I caught a cold last night on the ice and I spent the night at Lee's or something…"

    Ruki put her hands on her hips. "Right… and where's Lee?"

      Takato sighed. Even with the blanket over him he was shivering. "We could just say it's allergies." Ruki snorted. "And just what are you allergic to? Renamon?"
   "It's a possibility…" said Takato. Ruki rolled her eyes and pulled out her cell phone. "Let me call Lee… and your parents."

      A little while later Ruki, Takato, and Lee arrived on the Matsuki doorstep, Takato wrapped in a blanket. Ruki told Lee about their cover up and called Takato's parents, telling them about what happened (got a cold from being out too long, spent the night at Lee's) and came on over.

    Mei burst out the door and hugged her son. "Takato!! Oh thank goodness you're safe… You had us worried sick!!!"

    Takato sniffled and Mei put a hand to his forehead. "Takato! You're burning up! What did you do, fall through the ice?"
    Takato laughed nervously and pulled away from her. "No way mom. Just a virus going around school… it'll pass, and it's not contagious. I'm fine, really."

    Mei sighed and turned to Ruki and Lee. "Arigato so much for bringing him, I just wished you'd have called sooner…"

   Ruki stepped up. "Gomenasai Mrs. Matsuki…"

      Takato smiled. "Mom… I should check on Guilmon so I'll just-

   "Oh no you won't!" cried Mei, grabbing his arm. "You're too sick for that. Come on upstairs and let me take your temperature, you're not setting foot outside until you get rid of that fever."

    "Oh, and by the way," Mei said over her shoulder. "You two are free to come over and visit him."

    Lee and Ruki bowed slightly. "Arigato Mrs. Matsuki. Ja ne." Takato watched his two friends walk slowly out the door and sighed.

     Ruki and Lee stayed silent for a bit while they walked. Suddenly Lee spoke. "So… let me get this straight, he was teaching you how to ice skate?"

    "Forget it…" murmured Ruki, staring at the ground as she walked. Lee cocked his head. "What's up with you? Did something bad happen?"

   "I told you to forget it!" she said sharply. Lee stared at her, a little taken aback. "Gomenasai for asking Ruki, I just want to know…"

    Ruki was silent. She sighed and spoke, "You're right… you always are. You deserve to know what's been going on."

   Lee stared at her and stopped by a bench. "Sit down, we'll talk."

   Ruki sat down and Lee sat beside her. "What happened last night?"

   "He was teaching me how to ice skate… I don't know what went on in that little goggleheaded mind of his, anyway he taught me how to ice skate and I fell…"

   "So?"

  " Before that he caught me and for the longest time we were just staring into each other's eyes. It was weird," she continued. "And then while I was practicing how to do a pirouette something happened and he fell through the ice." She buried her face in her hands. "I couldn't reach him in time and he fell under. I got Renamon to help and dove into the water to get him… but I didn't get his goggles…"

    Lee stared at her. "But that's not what's bothering you is it?"

   Ruki shook her head. "No…"

   "Then what is it?"

   She got up. "I'm just very confused… and shaken… must've been the water…" She was about to walk away when Lee grabbed her arm. "No, Ruki. You'll feel much better if you tell me what's bothering you… Takato does."

  "He's different."

  "Not by much," said Lee. "And it must've been pretty bad to have you like this."

    Ruki took a deep breath. "While I was sleeping last night, or he thought I was sleeping… he… kissed me…"

    Lee's eyes widened. "Nani?"

       Ruki struggled to control her emotions. "Hai… he kissed me. And I'm just so torn…"

   "Why?"

  "I… I don't know…" said Ruki tentatively. "One half of me feels like I've been betrayed somehow… but the other… I don't know how to explain it… but it was a wonderful feeling…"

   Ruki turned away. "I've said enough, I'm going home…"

     Lee watched her walk away in disbelief. Takato actually kissed Ruki? Whoa…that is one sick kid… one lovesick kid. And from what I've just heard, she didn't understand what just happened. I'd say she likes him back… she just doesn't realize it…

   Terriermon waddled up to him. "Hey Lee. What happened? Did I miss anything?"

     Lee decided not to tell Terriermon what he had just witnessed. "Nothing much Terriermon, Ruki's just very confused, and Takato's sick."

                                                            *******

      Takato sighed; he didn't want to be sick. Gazing out his window he watched her walk off into the streets of Shinjuku, a perplexed look on her face. He yearned to be free from his mother's grasp to comfort her.

     He turned away from the window and a thought struck his mind. A thin smile curled over his pale face as he threw the covers off him, got off the bed, and quickly went down to the linen closet. Making sure his mother wasn't watching he grabbed some extra pillows and ran upstairs.

    Using his busted lamp he kept, the pillows, and his pajamas (he changed into his regular clothes) he fashioned them in such a way it looked just like him under the covers. He grinned happily and made a grab for his coat, but he hesitated. If he didn't want his mom to know he was out than bringing a coat would give him away. His hand fell to his side as he took one last look around his room, and called up Guilmon. "Guilmon?" he whispered hoarsely.

   "Takatomon!" said Guilmon happily, who was below the balcony picking through the trash. "You're supposed to be in bed."

   "Sh-h!" he shushed him. "Get me down from here," he said, leaning over the rail of the balcony.

   Guilmon folded his massive arms. "No… Takatomon needs rest!  You're sick."

     Takato sighed. "Please Guilmon? I'll bring back bread."

  "Bread?" Guilmon's ears perked. "Ooo…. Okie… but if your mom gets mad at me it's your fault."

   "Hai, arigato," said Takato as Guilmon tossed up a rope and he quickly and quietly slid down. He hugged his digimon. "Now this is just between you and me ok?"

   Guilmon smiled. "Okay!" Guilmon waved as Takato ran off into the city, a nagging feeling in his mind that told him he just did something wrong.

  Takato ran down the streets in blind pursuit after Ruki. Unfortunately, his health slowed him down. He had a coughing fit and had to stop and sit down so he wouldn't collapse or puke. Taking a deep breath he managed to stop and in a second he was up and running, but at a slower pace.

   He followed Ruki through the streets, but he was not paying attention to where he was going.

   Wham!

 Takato and the person he hit toppled over backwards and landed on the cold cement. Brushing the dirt off him Takato got up to give the person he hit a hand. "Gomenasai… I'm in a hurry."

  The person smiled back up at him. "Now what I don't get is that if you're sick then why are you out here without a coat?"

  Takato gasped. "Ryo?!"

   Ryo got up and smiled. "Ha, what are you doing out here Gogglehead? You're supposedly sick in bed."

   Takato gulped, causing his throat to burn. "I… I…" He sneezed and Ryo grinned. "That's what I thought. You snuck out, and now you're following Ruki-kun."

     Takato backed away. "So? What about you?"

    Ryo smiled. "Making sure certain Goggleheads are in bed." Takato narrowed his eyes and tried to move past him. Ruki was already out of his line of vision; he'd lost her. "Let me through already!"

   "Go home Takato," said Ryo, hands on his hips. "Ruki's mine."

  "Who said anything about that?!" cried Takato. "I just want to see if she's alright, she seemed a little shaken…"

    "Oh stop making excuses!" Ryo spat. "You like her and you know it! And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you don't get her."

   "I do not like her!" said Takato, but his own words didn't convince himself or Ryo. He knew that wasn't true, but he wasn't going to let Ryo try and get closer to Ruki.

   Ryo grinned. "You do too, I've seen you. I saw you kiss her!"

    Takato froze. "You wha-what?"

    Ryo was suddenly softer. "I saw you kiss her last night…"

  "I-I didn't… I…" Takato sputtered. Ryo shook his head.

     "How do you know?" he asked. Ryo's face fell and he suddenly looked like an ashamed little puppy. "I watched her save you from the lake and bring you into the shed. I figured that when you guys were asleep I sneak in and kiss her… but you got to her first."

   "Nani?"

 Ryo ran his fingers through his hair. "Takato, give it up. I know you like her, but there's no way we can both have her. I'm not backing down anytime soon."

   "I don't care," he blurted out. "Alright, I admit it, I like her ok? I've liked her since we started… and I covered it up with my crush on Juri… I didn't want it to happen, it just did."

  Ryo sighed. "I know what you mean… I liked her the moment I saw her. She's a wild cat."

  Takato smiled. "Yea…" They stared at each other for a moment. Although they'd hated each other's guts earlier, they realized that maybe this didn't have to cost them their friendship. Ryo stuck out his hand. "May the best man win her heart…"

   Takato shook it. "Yea." Ryo stared up at the sky and then reverted his gaze back to Takato. "You're a bold kid Takato. I'll tell you what, I won't tell her about you sneaking out or that you kissed her."

   Takato smiled. "Thanks Ryo… thanks a lot." He sighed and was suddenly very tired. "I think I'll go home… my mom will throw a fit if she finds out I was out…"

    Ryo watched Takato disappear into the city streets. There goes the bravest, yet craziest kid I ever met…

                                                            *******

     Ryo continued to file through the streets, turning the subject over in his head. He suddenly realized that Takato was about as determined as he was. Maybe he should ask what she thought.

    Ryo sighed and finished his soda. Throwing it into the trashcan, he tried to make a decision. Should he tell Ruki how he felt about her and try to redeem himself… or continue feuding with Takato over Ruki? That last thing he had ever wanted was what was happening right now, and there would only be one winner, which didn't seem to be him.

    Maybe I should just tell her. I can deal with heartbreak… I think. I have this terrible pit in my stomach that's telling me that I'm going to lose her… and as far as I know I don't think I've ever lost much of anything… He exhaled and watched his breath twirl in the air like smoke. His breath formed the shape of her face and disappeared. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and sighed. No matter how hard he tried, no matter what he could do, he knew he'd never win her, not with Takato around.

     He made a decision. At that moment he saw the usual flicker of red hair, Ruki. He started to run through the streets, trying to reach her.

   Finally, he caught hold of her jacket. "Ruki?"

  Ruki whirled around. "Oh… you… for a moment I thought…"

   Ryo didn't give her time to answer. He gripped her shoulders and stared at her. Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "Ruki… I know you're going to hate me for this but please try to understand. Remember what I told you about that card? That was all true, every last bit, I swear. Please don't hate me for this Ruki, because the last thing I ever wanted to do was to lose your or Takato's friendship… which is pretty much why I tailed you. I think it's better if you know the truth. Ruki, ever since I've laid eyes on you I've… loved you. I love you Ruki, I really do…"

     They stood there for a moment, staring at each other as the snow fell gently around them. Ruki searched his eyes and found he was telling the truth, but she knew that all along. She never wanted to face him, she couldn't. She didn't know it yet, but her lover was in bed with a fever right now.

    Ruki wasn't surprised, but it seemed to confuse her even more. For the first time in her life (yes, the first) she did not want to hurt Ryo. And, to be perfectly honest, she had liked him back when they first met at the tournament… but that all changed when he 'betrayed' her. She grieved, how could he have done that? But when he explained himself, she found she couldn't return his love then, a boy with goggles had slowly and secretly stolen her heart away, but she did not know that.

   Ryo couldn't wait any longer and did one of the most dangerous things you could do to the Ice Queen. Gripping her shoulders tighter, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Ruki's eyes grew wide, but because she was stunned by his sudden affection she couldn't break away.

    Finally she found her sense and broke away from him. Ryo backed away from her, apologetic. "Gomenasai Ruki-san… I've been waiting so long for that…"

     Ruki wiped her mouth and stared at her hand. She didn't love him anymore, that kiss had no meaning to her. She stared up at him. "Gomenasai too… I'm just not ready for love… I guess…"

   Ryo smiled weakly, he knew this would happen, he knew she already loved Takato. What he wasn't prepared for was that fact that she didn't know she loved the gogglehead. He realized that she was very confused right now, and he had just made things harder. "Oh god… Ruki, I'm so sorry about that."

    "No… it's alright. I should be sorry," she smiled at him. "You know, I'll tell you something. Even though I cannot give anything to you that you would want, namely my heart, I did love you too when we first met."

    Ryo smiled, that was of at least some comfort. "Really? I thought you always hated my guts since time began."

   "Naw…" she put a fist playfully to his face. "Who wouldn't love you? I may not be the right one, but I'm pretty sure you'll find another…"

   Ryo grinned. "Arigato Queenie." Ruki scowled and waved. She walked away from him, and he watched her knowingly. My sweet Ruki, may you find happiness in that gogglehead. I am at peace with you and him…

                                                                        ******

 Awww… a little Ryuki fluff for you all!

Blackgatomon: hmmm… maybe we should've turned this into a Ryuki story *looks around and laughs* I'm kidding!!! We're total Rukato fans, but we weren't going to leave you Ryuki fans without something! We're not that mean!!!

  By the way, this does mean that Ryo has backed out of the fight. Hai, I'm so sorry to end it so soon but need I remind you these two were feuding for Ruki before the time this story is set! But this does not mean he's not going to make any more appearances… ooo no…

Preview for next chapter: You guessed it; the day Lee goes over to Juri's house. What will become of this madness? Is Terriermon really jealous of Lee's crush?