A Lot Like Christmas

Intro: Gomenasai this took so long to get out. I was done with this chapter but the teachers are cramming stuff down our throats because exams are in 3 weeks so I couldn't upload. Anyway, Christmas is coming up and there's 2-3 chapters left to this, Saturday, Sunday, and an Epilogue (you don't have to review for that, but I advise you read it). The Epilogue will have a slight key to my next story!

Blackgatomon: Icicles! *licks a huge icicle* ^.^ Arigato for all the lovely candy! Even though a certain lop head ate a portion of my taffy:

Anime Fan

The dragon master (thanks for including the chisel!!)

Little Rabbit f/LRPLI

KaizerGallantmon

Rukato Fan

Kamehameha

SerpentTreize

Max acorn (yay!! Party!)

Digidestined of Courage

Lilly Katana

Dark Child

Dreaming-Nightingale

Angel of Hazard

Jack of the Pelt (more wine gums!!)

This chapter as usual holds more rukato than anything, but I added a bit of Lee/Juri to make things interesting! I'll try to get all the chapters out by next Tuesday ok? Rukato Lee/Juri itsumademo!

Disclaimer: I do not own digimon

Bold- important crap, actions

Italics- memories, thoughts, other

                                                                        ***Friday***

    "Please Ruki-san?" pleaded Rumiko to her daughter. Ruki folded her arms and made a face. "Mother, there is absolutely no way I'm getting into that dress."

  "Oh, Ruki, please? I wore it when I was young and it would look so kawaii on you," Rumiko held up a velvet blue party dress. "You'd be a knockout at our party!"

  Ruki rolled her eyes. "I told you I don't want to."

    "Please? It would mean so much to me!"

    "No!"

    Rumiko put her hands on her hips, her lips pressed in a thin line. The warning flash that Ruki had inherited flared in eyes that reflected Ruki's own. "I am your mother Ruki, and you'll do as I say!"

   Ruki dismissed the warning glare. "I don't care if you were the Queen, you're not getting me into a dress again! Not after that photo shoot!"

   "Ruki, someday you're going to be noticed for your looks and I just want to bring them out more! That way you can settle down and have a decent relationship!"

   "Like you did?!" Rumiko stopped at this statement at stared at her daughter. She was about to protest, but thought the better of it. Ruki was burning with anger, she hated wearing dresses, her mom should know that. But her mother didn't, she didn't know the first thing about her. "I don't care mom! I don't care for the cameras; I don't care about my looks. To be perfectly honest, I hate modeling!" she spat.

    Rumiko just stared at her daughter. Ruki felt her eyes watering slightly and her face was burning. "I'm out of here…" Ruki stormed toward the door, looking over her shoulder once. "And don't even think about asking me to sing tomorrow night at the party!"

  Slam!

    Rumiko winced at the thundering sound of the door slamming. She knew she'd hurt Ruki; that Ruki never wanted to be like her. And it hurt Ruki's mother to know that her daughter never, ever looked up to her as anything more than a fashion-obsessed immature woman.

   Tears clouded her eyes as her hands drew up to hold her head in her hands. She knew she shouldn't cry, if Ruki knew she'd only despise her more. But it hurt terribly; at times Rumiko could see Ruki's hatred for her in her eyes, she could almost feel its heat like she could reach out and touch it. She never should have taken her to that photo shoot.

    Seiko was walking down the hall when Ruki brushed past her, face flushed and extremely angry. Yet as her granddaughter did so, Seiko saw something. Ruki was crying.

   Seiko soon found out Ruki wasn't the only one.

******

    Ruki slammed the front door and stormed outside. Trudging through the 8 inches of snow that had fallen last night she made her way to the streets, her head swimming with anger and sadness.

   Perched on the roof, Renamon watched Ruki walk toward the streets. Renamon's expression was blank, but she had heard every word. Little did Ruki or her mother know but their fighting hurt Renamon as well. She loved Ruki in every way possible and it hurt her to see her tamer so upset. But after a year or two of being with Ruki Renamon found it better to just leave her alone to dwell on her own anger.

    In blind rage Ruki walked, having no idea where she was going. She found that walking sometimes helped her calm down, and she could get away from everyone. No one in the crowds of Shinjuku cared about where she was or what she was doing, they took no notice of her. Most times she loved that fact.

    Ruki found her feet had finally stopped moving and looked up to see where her feet had taken her. Somehow, instinctively they had taken her right to Takato's home. For a moment she was surprised, but then she sighed and smiled. Of course they brought her here, to her this bread shop was a second home.

    Her muscles, which had tensed up in anger, relaxed as she looked around. She was in the back alley behind his house. Not only that but, not surprisingly, Takato had seen her come. Takato ran out the back door to greet her. "Ruki!"

    Without giving a second thought he threw his arms around her and hugged her. Ruki was pushed back some and extremely surprised, but she regained her footing. Still startled, she stayed still. Yet after a few moments of his embrace her arms wrapped around his coat. "Ruki… are you alright? Renamon just came by and told me you were coming…"

     "S-she did?" was all Ruki could say. Takato stepped back and his arms slid down to grasping her arms. "Yea, so what's up?"

   Ruki broke away from him. "Oh… mom and I had another… fight…"

     Takato's face fell. "About?"

  "Settling down and starting a 'family'," Ruki growled in annoyance. "I'll never marry…"

   Takato smiled gently. "Don't say that, you'll change your mind…" He brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. She never noticed it, but during the course of the year Takato had gotten a few inches taller than her. They used to be able to see eye to eye, yet now she had to look up to make eye contact. Lee was the same way, but Lee didn't embrace or kiss her while she slept.

   Ruki smiled slightly at his remark and suddenly felt drawn to his eyes. Takato's eyes were warm and peaceful, and Takato didn't dare break away. He could stay there staring into her beautiful violet ones for all eternity and be blissful. Although he had denied it many times before, he found he couldn't do that anymore… he cared too much about her. Everyday he watched for her and everyday he longed to have his lips meet hers once more.

   Yet fear and love were strange. He loved her deeply, but he was afraid she did not return his love. Ruki however, had no idea what her strange goggleheaded friend was thinking.

   Takato drew closer, leaning in slightly. Ruki's mind panicked, she knew what he was going to do, but her body was rigid and wouldn't obey her pleading mind. 

    Strangely, Takato no longer cared what she thought if he kissed her. He could make up an excuse. He had to do something, anything, to prove to her he loved her more than anything in the world. And this was it.

    Ruki grew tense and cowered. For one of the first times in her life she was scared. Her mind didn't want him to kiss her, but a deeper, much more instinctive voice was chanting, "Closer… closer… closer… keep going…"

    Takato leaned forward, lips inches away, and suddenly paused. Curse his cold, which had still lingered after 3 days. Of all times, now it had to start acting up. He took a deep breath, trying to swallow the terrible itching in his nose. But it persisted.

   Ruki watched and silently thanked god for answering her. Takato meanwhile, felt as if a peppershaker had been lodged up his nose. Unable to stop it from coming, he released her, turned away quickly and started to sneeze so hard his nose began to bleed.

    Now was her opportunity to change the subject. She smiled. "Still got that cold huh?"

    Takato's hands flew up to his nose as he sneezed again. "Yea…mom's making me stay in one more day although my fever's gone…" He examined his hand. "Ugh… nosebleed. she's going to kill me."

   Ruki laughed. Hands still covering his nose, he glanced over at her. "Would you like to come inside?"

    She put on her sweetest smile and said, "Sure, Takato." He could've melted onto the hard concrete.

    When they got inside his mother cleaned him up the moment he stepped in with blood all over his hands. Ruki waited in his bedroom until he came back from the bathroom, clean and rather pleased. "Are you going to sing at the party?"

   Ruki looked up at him. "I don't know. Mom wants me to…"

     "But you have such a pretty voice," said Takato happily. "I think you'd be a hit."

    Her face fell slightly. "No…"

       Takato knew that had been the wrong thing to say. Ruki pretty much despised fame and fortune; inheriting her mother's was bad enough. Although she had been flattered that she had won the tournament the publicity was rather annoying. She had secretly vowed to never become famous, which is ironic because no matter what she did she became famous.

      "Aw, Ruki I didn't mean it that way," said Takato, sitting down next to her. "We'd all like to hear you sing again…" Ruki didn't look convinced, so he decided to change the subject. "It's your decision. What would you like for Christmas?"

   Ruki's heart sank and she turned away. "Don't worry about it…"

    "Nani? Why?" asked Takato. "I've got to get you something…"

   Ruki shook her head. "No, what I want is too hard for you to find…"

    "What, is it rare or expensive or something?" Takato watched Ruki's expression. She looked slightly depressed. "I'll get whatever it is Ruki… you name it…"

   Ruki swallowed. "Not 'what' Takato, 'who'."

     Takato was puzzled. Does she mean me? Ruki turned away to look out the window, and again he saw it. That glazed look like she was staring into another dimension, he had seen that look before. "Ruki-san?"

    Her facial expression… it's so familiar, I saw it last spring…after Parasimon attacked…

 

    Crack!

   Hirokazu and Takato cracked open confetti crackers over Ruki's head. "Happy Birthday Ruki-san!" everyone cried. All the tamers were here with their families in Ruki's mansion. Her cake was beautifully decorated with strawberries, Juri of course had made it. The whole mansion was strung up with streamers and confetti, mainly in blue and purple colors. Ruki was sitting in front of her cake with confetti in her hair. Her expression looked as if she was being tolerant to a rambunctious kid.

  Yet despite her extremely bored face she quietly blew out the candles. As they blew out her audience erupted in applause. Thus, the festivities began.

   Rumiko picked up a microphone and began to sing. So did Shuichon, beside her was Lopmon, dancing along to the tune. Ryo was gossiping with Hirokazu and Kenta, while Takato wandered around the room chatting here and there. Everyone was so happy… everyone but Ruki.

 Ruki didn't seem to care it was birthday. Takato watched her get up slowly and walk out of the room. "Ruki?"
  Obviously she didn't hear him and kept going. Silently Takato followed her through the hallways out to the porch. He hung in the doorway, watching her sit in silence, a glazed look in her eyes. Under her breath he could hear her humming a tune to herself, something she must've made up, but it was very pretty.

   "Takato…" came a quiet voice behind him. He whirled around in surprise to see Renamon standing next to him. Renamon smiled slightly. "She's alright Takato, just a little shaken."

  He nodded and Renamon motioned for him to leave. Although unwilling to leave her he went anyway, because he knew Ruki would be very cross if he stayed. Taking one last look at Ruki he followed Renamon away from her.

  He never knew what had happened inside Ruki when Parasimon took over. He didn't see her father. But then again, he would never really know what went on in his red haired friend's mind.

*Author's Note: This birthday scene is actually based on the movie. Although it was only a Japanese comic book form when I saw it and I'm going from that. Gomenasai if it's inaccurate!*

   "Ruki… you never told me why you were so distant at the party," Takato said slowly. Ruki turned to him and smiled. "Momentai Takato, it was nothing important."

   "It must've been to you…" Takato drew closer to her. "Just tell me, if you could have anything in the world, what would it be?"

   She took a deep breath and allowed Takato to wrap his arms around her. She laid her head on his chest and looked up at him. "You know… this doesn't feel weird," she remarked.

  "Nani?"

  "You hugging me, I always thought it would feel strange. But now that we're doing it… I feel kind of…"

  She was changing the subject, but Takato didn't quite mind. "Kind of what?"

  "I don't know… it just doesn't feel uncomfortable."

   "Ruki, you're changing the subject. Now what do you want for Christmas?"

    She paused and then said very slowly, "You know when I was attacked by Parasimon?"

  "You're changing the subject again!"

  "No, no, just listen," said Ruki, still in his arms. They were sitting on his bed, his body heat warming her own. "When it grabbed me, I was taken to a swing set in something like my own little dream world. And I saw myself… only younger, singing that song I was humming the night of the party. And pushing the little me was my dad."

  "So how does this relate to what you want for Christmas?" said Takato. Ruki broke away from him and stared straight into his eyes. "You're so impatient sometimes Gogglehead. Do you know why I'm so cold and distant toward most people? Don't tell me I'm not, I know I am. It's because my dad left my mom when I was young."

  "So what're you saying?"

    Ruki shook her head. "Forget it."

  "You were getting somewhere!"

    "Momentai," said Ruki, standing up. Pulling on her leather jacket she sighed. "Takato, I'll never be happy on Christmas, so don't even try to help me ok? Ever since my parents split up there's only one thing I've always wished for, and that was to have a family… like yours. I never got that wish. It'll never ever come true. My mom hates his guts, and we don't even know where he is. Sure, he left his work phone number, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't answer it."

  Takato took her hand. "Ruki…"

    "Please Takato, don't go looking for him. I know ever since you met me you've tried to make me happy. Let me just tell you that it's impossible. I've had a rotten life and I can't believe I'm telling you any of this," she pulled her hand out of his and walked toward the door. "But yea, I've always wanted to see my father…"

   Takato rose and walked toward her. "Oh Ruki, I never knew…" Ruki shook her head. "Of course you didn't. If you don't mind, I'm going home."

    And she was gone. Gone with the wind, as always. Takato sighed and cursed to himself. He was not only so close to telling Ruki how he really felt about her, but he had found out what Ruki had wanted most in the world. He smiled slightly, leaning over his desk, his hands tense and scrunching up papers. But Ruki, you do have family… you do have love. It's been sitting right in front of you this whole time.

   And despite all that, he still didn't know what to get her for Christmas, but at least he had a hint.

                                                                        ******

   Juri appeared at the Lee residence that morning with a tin box of cookies under one arm. She really liked Lee, especially after yesterday's little mishap, and she was willing to spend more time with him. She had never truly gotten to know Lee even though they had fought side by side. Then, Takato's attention was totally consumed with Juri. Although at some points she did have some feeling for the goggleheaded kid she did not love him, he was only a friend.

   But, more or less Takato had realized that. After the whole Parasimon incident he was suddenly protective of Ruki. Juri had noticed earlier in their adventure that Takato showed some signs of liking her, but she figured it was just to make her jealous. Yet that had changed, thankfully. She no longer had Takato running after her or goofy looks from him.

   Janyuu opened the door. "Konnichiwa Juri, what brings you here?"

     Juri smiled and dug her foot into the ground to give her amore innocent look. "Can Lee come out?"

   Janyuu smiled. "Sure." He disappeared for a moment into the hall, scratching his head and wondering why Takato's crush had showed up on their doorstep. But he let it roll off, there was probably some logical reason. "Lee, there's someone here to see you."

   Lee was in his room fiddling around with the computer, Terriermon more or less in the room, usually being hauled off by Shuichon for the "Pwetty Pants" Treatment. Now that Shuichon had Lopmon Terriermon was no longer the baby girl, but more often the boy that fell in love with the girl. Strangely, Terriermon enjoyed his new situation and always tried to find a way to play, no matter how annoying Shuichon was during play or how much Lopmon pleaded him not to.

    "Nani?"
  "It's the Katous' girl," said Janyuu, opening the door. "She wants to see you. Probably something important."

   Lee almost dropped the books he was holding. "J-Juri?! Here?!" he stammered, and put the books down, grabbed Terriermon, and went out the door. "Bye dad, see you later!!"

    Janyuu sighed and looked down at the distraught Shuichon, who had just lost "Teruhiko-kun" (Literally Translated: "Prince Husband"). "Now what was that all about?"

    Lee and Juri ended up in the park by Guilmon's shed, happy to be with each other. Guilmon was sleeping in the corner of the shed and took no notice of them at all, while Terriermon was in a miserable mood because Lee had pulled him out of the game in which he got to 'kiss' "Kahime-kun" (Princess Fragrance).

    "Gomenasai, I probably should've called," said Juri, smiling. "Your father seemed a bit confused."

  Lee shook his head. "He still thinks you and Takato are an 'item' or something." Juri giggled. "Actually, I've hardly seen Takato!"

   "Well, he's better, that's for sure," said Lee. Juri's eyes widened. "You mean…?"

   Lee grinned. "Hai, we can set them up. This should be interesting."

     "Are you positive they like each other?"

   "Those two have been pining for each other since they first met," Lee grinned slyly. "They just never realized they had something for each other."

    Juri nodded. She blushed and shoved the colorful tin of cookies into his lap. "These are for you… as thanks for helping me yesterday."

   Lee turned crimson. "Arigato Juri-kun…"

    They closed their eyes and leaned closer together. Juri smiled as she leaned in, she realized she had slightly liked Lee all the time she'd known him, she just never realized it. She laughed inside, she was like Ruki in some aspects.

   Their lips were inches apart from one another until…

     "Lee!!"

   Lee and Juri snapped back and turned, both of their faces beet red, to see Takato in the doorway, breathless and wide eyed. "There you are! I thought I'd never find you!" Takato noticed Juri. "Oh, hi Juri!" he looked from one stunned face to the other and became confused. "Did I miss something?"
    Juri quietly said goodbye and brushed past Takato. Lee and Takato stared after her until Lee snapped out of it and turned to his friend. "No, you didn't miss anything. What's going on?"

   "Listen, will you help me find someone?" Takato asked hurriedly. Lee raised an eyebrow. "Ok… define 'someone' for me and I'll think about it."

   Takato smiled slightly. "It's Ruki's father. I have to find him for… her…"

    Lee folded his arms. "Oh, alright. Now, why are you doing this?"

    Takato took a deep breath. "It's for Ruki… as a Christmas present…"

  Lee smiled. "I'm in." Takato thanked him and turned to leave, but Lee thought of something and grabbed his shoulder. "Takato… do you like Ruki?"

   Takato turned and stared at Lee for a moment. "I… well… yes."

     "Is that the reason you're doing all this?"

    "…hai…"

   Lee smiled. "Good… um… can I tell you something?"

    "Sure, anything."

    "I think I'm in love with Katou Juri."

                                                                        ******

   And we leave off right there!! In the next chapter Ryo will make an appearance for those who are Ryo fans!

   BlackGatomon: by the way, this will have 8 chapters, 7 chapters plus the Christmas day one… and an epilogue. You'll like the epilogue! R+R Rukato Itsumademo! Bring Candy!!!!