Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Author's Note(s): I want to thank everyone who reviewed for reviewing my fic, your reviews mean a lot to me. For those who read the first chapter but didn't review, I want to thank you for reading my fic.
Giving it a Chance
Chapter 2: Their Relationship
It's been four years since the tamers defeated the D-Reaper, and since then, the tamers have been having meetings every first Saturday of each month. In last month's meeting, the digimon had to return to the digital world to help the sovereigns with something, and in today's meeting, the digimon are returning home. Kenta, Kazu, and Rika were walking towards Guilmon's hideout with Takato and Jeri trailing behind them. Rika felt like the third wheel walking with Kenta and Kazu, because they were caught up talking about the hot girls in their school. Rika was about to walk with Takato and Jeri, but when she behind her and at them, she saw Jeri kiss Takato on the cheek, and she didn't want to interrupt their tender moment. Feeling left out didn't bug Rika, it's just she never felt left out before when she usually walks with them to the meeting. Rika wondered why she was feeling left out today. Something was missing. She usually had someone to talk to when they walked to Guilmon's hideout. Then it hit her.
"Where's Henry? He's usually with you guys before the meetings," asked Rika.
"He went home to drop off a box of bread I gave him for his family," replied Takato as they got to Guilmon's hideout.
Kenta, Kazu, Takato, and Jeri put their backpacks off to the side and sat down. Rika just leaned against one of the walls.
"So what's everyone doing this weekend?" asked Kazu.
"That reminds me," said Rika. Everyone looked at Rika. "My mom bought me a double mint ticket without my permission to the end of the school year dance. I don't want to go, but I don't want the tickets to go to waste. Jeri, do you want to come with me?"
"Sure, sounds fun. When's the dance?" asked Jeri.
"Next Saturday," responded Rika.
"Oh no. That's our one year anniversary," said Jeri as she looked over at Takato who was sitting right next to her and took his left hand into her right hand.
"Wow, it's been one year already!" said Kenta.
"Well, that's fine. Takato can go with you instead of me," said Rika with a smile, happy that she found a way to get out of going to the dance and not wasting the ticket.
"Can we Takato? We don't have anything planned yet, so why don't we just go to the dance at Rika's school?" Jeri asked Takato, giving him the sad puppy look face.
"I already made plans for us that night. I was going to surprise you, but I guess I have to tell you now. I have reservations to Blowfish next Saturday," said Takato.
"Wow, Blowfish! Isn't that that sushi restaurant with the anime décor and you have to make reservations two weeks in advance?" Kazu asked in shock.
"Yes, that's the restaurant," responded Takato.
"Damn, I guess I'll just have to let the tickets go to wasted then," said Rika.
"Well, you have another option," said Kazu.
"And what's my second option?" asked Rika.
"You can always ask Ryo to go with you," answered Kazu.
"WHAT! Why would I want to go with him?" responded Rika, surprised that Kazu would suggest such a thing.
"Cause you two have that love hate relationship going on. You just act like you hate him because you don't want to show your true feelings for him. Like how Helga acts with Arnold on that American cartoon Hey Arnold. I don't blame you for liking him. He has everything that girls look for in a man. Looks, personality, popularity-"
"If he's such a great guy, why don't YOU date him!" said Rika, cutting off Kazu.
"I know you really like him more than a friend. You just don't want to admit your feelings for him."
"And where did you get the idea that I like him more then just a friend?" said Rika irritated.
"From the way you two flirt."
"FLIRT!?! We don't flirt," stated Rika.
"They just argue a lot," said Jeri, defending Rika.
"The way you two argue makes it flirting," replied Kazu.
"How?" questioned Rika.
"When you two argue, there's chemistry."
"Chemistry? What Chemistry?" Rika said in a load voice.
"Some people pick on the person they have a crush on to get their attention. You pick on Ryo."
"She picks on everyone," said Kenta.
"Yeah, but she picks on Ryo the most," responded Kazu.
"It's not my fault we argue a lot. He usually pokes fun at me and all I'm doing is defending myself. You know what? I don't have to stand around here and listen to this! Tell Renamon to meet me at home." Rika stormed out of Guilmon's hideout.
"Nice going Kazu," said Kenta.
"What? It's true. Don't you guys agree? Think about it. Ryo is the Digimon King, and Rika is the Digimon Queen. They both have similar personalities, and they like to argue with each other because they like and have fun catching each other off guard," said Kazu, looking at everyone around him.
"You have a point," said Kenta.
"What do you think Jeri? You're her best friend," asked Kazu.
"I don't know. Rika hides her feelings really well, and she never talks to me about guys," replied Jeri.
"Yeah, and Rika is hiding her feelings for Ryo by acting like she hates him," Kazu notice Takato hasn't said anything about the topic, "What do you think Chumly?"
"Don't bring me into this," said Takato, waving his hands in the air. Takato didn't want to say anything because he didn't like to pick sides; also he didn't agree with Kazu and didn't want to discuss the topic with him, "Actually, I think you should apologize to Rika."
"Why, for telling the truth? It's not my fault she won't accept her true feelings for Ryo," said Kazu, putting his hands behind his neck.
"You should apologize for pissing her off," explained Takato.
"Dude, she usually gets pissed off."
"That's because you always annoy her," said Jeri.
"Ah, ok I'll apologize," responded Kazu.
----------
Rika was walking away from Guilmon's hideout and was still thinking about what Kazu said. 'How can anyone think I like Ryo? I can't stand him! I do like him, but only as a friend, that's all.' Rika couldn't stop thinking about it until some footsteps interrupted her thinking. She looked up to see who it was.
"Hi Rika!" Mako shouted as he ran past Rika.
"Hi!" Rika greeted back, turning around to watch Mako run towards Guilmon's hideout. Rika heard some more footsteps and reverted her attention back on the pathway to see Ai and Suzie running towards her.
"Hi Rika!" said Ai, out of breath as she ran past Rika.
"Hi!" responded Rika.
"Hi Rika!" said Suzie. She stopped in front of Rika and gave Rika a small light hug. "I'll see in at Guilmon's hideout. I have to catch up to Ai and Mako," explained Suzie, who then ran off towards Guilmon's hideout.
"Ok, but I'm not... forget it!" said Rika, knowing Suzie wouldn't be able to hear her.
Seeing Mako, Ai, and Suzie enter Guilmon's hideout; Rika started walking away again, looking down at the ground until she heard footsteps again. Rika looked up and was happy to see whom it was. Henry ran up to Rika and stopped in front of her to catch his breath.
He panted for a while, "Hi Rika, where are you headed to? We have a meeting today," said Henry, wondering why Rika was walking away from Guilmon's hideout.
Rika looked at Henry confused, "Why were you, Ai, Mako, and Suzie running? You guys aren't late."
"We were having a race."
Rika looked in the direction of Guilmon's hideout then back at Henry, "You run pretty slow."
"I was letting them win."
"Yeah right, you're just saying that to make yourself feel better," Rika said with a smile.
Henry smiled at Rika's comment.
"Why are you walking away from Guilmon's hideout? Is the meeting cancelled?" Henry looked around for Renamon, but saw no sign the yellow-haired fox digimon, "Has the digimon come back yet?" asked Henry.
"No, they haven't returned yet, and the meeting isn't cancelled. I'm going home. I don't feel like hanging out today," said Rika while she crossed her arms, and looked away from Henry.
Henry tilted his head to look at Rika's purple eyes. He could tell from her eyes that something was bugging her. "You're lying. What happened?"
Rika looked at Henry's gray eyes and let a sigh. "My mom bought a double mint ticket to the last dance at my school. I don't want the tickets to go to waste, so I asked Jeri to come with me. She can't go because she has plans with Takato that night. I wasn't going to go anymore, but Kazu got this stupid idea that I should ask Ryo to the dance."
"Oh," said Henry.
Rika looked away from Henry's eyes and off to the distance, "Do you think there's something between Ryo and me?"
Henry gave Rika a confused look. "What do you mean?"
"Do you think there's something between Ryo and me relationship wise?"
Henry felt kind of down when he heard Rika ask that question, but he put those feelings aside to focus on Rika's question. "Why do you ask?" asked Henry.
"Kazu said I should ask Ryo to the dance because he thinks there's some chemistry between us. What chemistry? All we do is argue. Has there ever been a time when I showed any sign of liking him more then just a friend?"
"Well, there was that one time..." said Henry, as he started to reminisce.
*****(Flashback)*****
Henry watched from a distance.
Justimon: Sakuyomon, listen to me. I want you to send all your power to my blade. Quickly!
Renamon: What? You can't be serious.
Rika: Has the fighting gone to your head or something? The force of it could kill both of you!
Ryo: It's a chance I'm willing to take, Rika. We've tried everything else and we haven't even been able to land a scratch! But with the combine forces of your strength and my blade, we can give the D-reaper something to really howl about!
Rika: Or you could die. Did you ever think about that, hotshot?
Ryo: Well, then they'll be one less person to poke fun at you, right pumpkin?
Rika: You big twerp. You're doing all this just to impress me, aren't you?
Ryo: So, is it working or not?
Justimon: Come on, Sakuyomon. It's now or never!
Renamon: Rika, are you sure?
Rika: Ryo may be out of his pompous mind, but he's also right. It's the only chance we have of destroying that thing.
Sakuyomon: All the power of my body... my soul... my mind... I now send to you... all the strength within my heart... my spirit to you I now freely give...
*****************
Rika looked at Henry, "You take that as evidence that I like him more than just a friend?"
Henry shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the floor, "Kind of. You were really concern about him."
"I would be concern for anyone in that situation," said Rika.
"Name five reason how it's not evidence," said Henry, challenging Rika.
Rika never turned down a challenge, so she took on Henry's challenge. "One. I was only thirteen. That's a young age to have any romantic feelings for any body. Two. I was emotional when all of that happened because the future of the world has resting on our hands, and at that moment there was no sign of us winning. Three. I had to go with his stupid plan because we had no other plan to defeat the D-Reaper. Four. His plan failed! Do you think I would want to be with a guy who left me defenseless against the D-Reaper after taking all my power? Five. Like I said earlier. I would have acted the same way if someone else were in Ryo's position at the time. If you like I can also give you a sixth reason," said Rika with a smile, knowing she got her point a crossed.
"What's the sixth reason?" asked Henry out of curiosity.
Rika was about to say the sixth reason, but for some reason, she couldn't say it. "There is another reason, but I can't put my finger on it," said Rika, getting frustrated at the fact she couldn't figure out the other reason. It was on the tip of her tongue, but she lost it.
"You did proved to me that your relationship with Ryo is simply platonic," Henry's heart didn't want him say what's on his mind, but his mind told him to, "but..." Henry hesitated on saying the next line, "you'll never truly know until you give the relationship a chance," Henry couldn't believe he just said that. 'I should take my own advice,' Henry thought to himself.
Rika looked up at Henry who was a few inches taller than she was, trying to look into his eyes, but she couldn't because Henry's eyes were focused on the ground. "So, you're telling me I should ask him to the dance to see if there is something between me and him?" Rika asked slowly.
Henry took a deep breath in to keep his composure. "Yes." It hurt Henry to say that.
Out of all her guy friends, Henry was the one she respected the most. He was one of the first people she trusted. So any advice he gave, she would take it without question.
"I was afraid you were going to say that," said Rika.
"We better go to the meeting. The meeting was suppose to start a few minutes ago," Henry said in a fake cheerful voice.
"Ok," said Rika.
They walked towards Guilmon's hideout.
----------
"There's only three weeks of school left, and you guys still have to do an essay?" Kazu asked Suzie and Ai.
"Yeah," Suzie and Ai replied in unison.
"I don't remember having to do a descriptive essay," said Kazu while he scratched his head, trying to remember if he had to do one before.
"We did have to do one. You just didn't do it because you didn't feel like doing work for the last month of school," Kenta told Kazu.
"Oh, yeah! Now I remember."
"So you guys did do one. Do you still have it?" Ai asked Kenta.
"Sorry, I throw all my school work away once I get my final report card for the school year," Kenta responded.
"I have mine. I always keep my school work just in case my brother needs to study off of them in the future," said Jeri.
"Great! Can we please borrow your descriptive essay?" asked Suzie.
"Sure," Jeri responded back with a smile, "just stop by my house anytime to pick it up."
Rika and Henry entered Guilmon's hideout. Mako walked up to Henry and tugged on his t-shirt.
"Yes Mako?" said Henry looking down at Mako.
"Next time we race, don't make it so obvious that you let us win. We know you don't run that slow."
Henry laughed, "Sorry, I had to talk to Rika."
"Oh, ok," said Mako.
Kazu went up to Rika, "Rika, I'm sorry for pissing you off earlier."
"You're forgiven," said Rika stubbornly, "Just don't let it happen again. Can we start the meeting now?"
"You know the rules. We can't start until everyone shows up," said Takato.
"Well, you don't have you wait any longer cause I'm here!" Ryo said in a load voice as he jumped into Guilmon's hideout.
"Fashionably late as always. Ryo, for once can you show up to a meeting on time?" said Rika irritated.
"Sorry pumpkin, if I knew you missed me so much, I would have soon up sooner," said Ryo as he stood next to Rika.
'If I had a pumpkin around me right now, I would throw it in your face so you can see how a real pumpkin looks like,' Rika thought to herself. "I don't miss you. It's just the sooner you arrive, the sooner the meeting starts, and the sooner the meetings starts, the sooner it'll end, and the sooner it'll end, the sooner I'll get to go home and be away from YOU. And don't call me pumpkin unless you want a pumpkin thrown at your face," said Rika, annoyed.
"You didn't complain when I called you that the first time," Ryo said with a smile.
"See what I mean," said Kazu, nudging Kenta.
"What did you say Kazu?" said Rika, giving Kazu a deadly glare.
"Nothing!" Kazu replied fast.
"Ok, let's start the meeting!" Takato said out loud to get everyone's attention.
----------
The meeting went on for two hours. Nothing out of the ordinary happened in today's meeting. Like every meeting, they caught up with each other to see how everyone was doing. Their meetings were more like monthly reunions. It was near the end of their meeting and the digimon haven't returned yet.
"The meeting is almost over. Where are they?" asked Henry, getting worried that something bad might have happen to their digimon.
"Guilmon emailed me that they were going to get here by the end of our meeting," responded Takato.
"How can he email you?" asked Kazu.
"I gave him the palm pilot that Yamaki gave me when we went to the digital world four years ago," answered Takato.
"Are you sure it's this weekend and not next weekend?" asked Ryo.
"He said they'll be back by the next meeting, so I'm pretty sure it's this weekend," replied Takato.
"Ryo what are you doing next Saturday night?" asked Rika, not believing what she's going to do next. 'I'm going to regret this later,' Rika thought to herself.
"I don't have anything planned? Why? You want to go on a date with me?" said Ryo teasingly.
"Actually, I was going to ask you if you want to go to my school's dance with me?" Rika said in a low voice, not looking at Ryo.
Silence fell upon Guilmon's hideout, as everyone, except Henry, was stunned that Rika asked Ryo to the dance. Ryo never expected Rika to say that to him.
"I would be honored," Ryo said with a smile.
Takato looked at Henry to see his reaction and notice Henry was looking a bit down.
"Ok then. Pick me up at six. If you're a second late, I'll leave without you," said Rika in a monotone voice.
"I told you so," Kazu whispered to Kenta.
"Wow, I didn't see that coming," Ai whispered to Suzie, "I always thought there was something between her and your brother."
"Me too," responded Suzie.
"Why is it quiet in here?" said a voice that came from the digital field in Guilmon's hideout.
Henry, who recognized the voice, looked up to see Terriermon appear from the digital field. "Well, it's been quite quiet around here since you're big mouth left," said Henry, happy to see Terriermon again.
As soon as Terriermon appeared, the other digimon appear right after him, one after the other.
"Guilmon, I missed you boy!" Takato said as he saw Guilmon appear. Takato walked towards Guilmon and gave him a hug.
"I missed you too Takatomon, but you know what else I miss?" Guilmon said innocently.
"What?' asked Takato.
"Bread and peanut butter!"
Takato laughed at Guilmon's comment, "Don't worry, I made a special bunch of bread for you at home, and I bought a bunch of peanut butter."
"Ooh, goody!" Guilmon said with excitement.
Renamon appeared before Rika. They just stared at each other. They didn't need to say anything, because they both knew how happy the two of them were to see each other by just looking at one another.
"Lopmon!" Suzie cried out in a load voice as she saw Lopmon appear, "I missed you so much!" said Suzie as she gave Lopmon a tight hug, making the rabbit like digimon choke.
"Jeri!" Calumon said out loud as he appeared from the digital field and jumped into the arms of Jeri, "Miss me?"
"Of course!" said Jeri as she gave Calumon a hug.
Impmon appeared from the digital field and walked casually towards Ai and Mako, trying to hide his excitement about being back.
"Impmon we missed you," Ai said calmly as she gave Impmon a hug. Mako just patted Impmon on the head.
"I missed you guys a little bit," said Impmon. Ai and Mako both knew Impmon missed them a lot and just didn't want to show it.
It was Marineangemon's turn to appear from the digital field. "Hello Hello!" the small pink digimon said as he flew towards Kenta.
"It's good to see you too!" said Kenta with a smile.
"Where is he?" said Kazu, getting impatient to see Guardromon.
As soon as Guardromon appeared, Kazu jumped on him and gave him a hug, "It's good to see you man!"
"It's good to be back," Guardromon responded.
Cyberdramon was the last digimon to appear.
"I hope you behaved without me in the digital world," Ryo told Cyberdramon.
"I did," replied Cyberdramon.
"That's good." Ryo looked at the time on his blue d-ark and turned towards the group, "Well, we better get going. Bye everyone! And Rika, I'll see you next Saturday," said Ryo as he winked at Rika.
"Do you have something in your eye Ryo?" said Rika.
Ryo laughed at Rika's comment.
Everyone said bye to Ryo and Cyberdramon as they left.
"What's happening next Saturday?" Renamon asked Rika once Ryo and Cyberdramon left Guilmon's hideout.
"I'll tell you about it later," Rika responded. "I'll see you guys around," Rika said to the rest of the tamers and their digimon.
"We better get going too or our parents will start worrying about us," Ai said.
Everyone said bye to Rika, Renamon, Ai, Mako, and Impmon as they left.
Henry looked around at the remaining tamers and digimon, "We better be going too."
"Before you leave, can I talk to you in private Henry?" asked Takato.
"Ok," said Henry.
Henry and Takato got out of Guilmon's hideout and walked half way down the stairs to talk.
"So, what's up?" asked Henry.
"Are you ok?" asked Takato, concerned.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be ok?" questioned Henry.
"Because Rika asked Ryo to the dance."
"And why wouldn't I be ok with that? I told Rika to ask him."
'You're always putting people before yourself,' Takato thought to himself. "I know you like Rika," said Takato.
Henry looked at Takato wondering how he found out. Henry told no one about his small crush on Rika.
"How did you...?" Henry stopped talking not knowing what to say.
"I had a feeling. Henry, I was in your position before, so I know how it feels. It took me awhile to admit my feelings for Jeri. So, are you really ok with Rika going with Ryo to the dance?"
"I am," Henry said bluntly.
"But?"
"No buts Takato."
"If I wasn't with Jeri, and Jeri asked out Ryo. I would be hurt."
"That's you Takato, but I'm ok. I think it's a good idea for Rika to go to the dance with Ryo."
Takato knew where Henry was going with all of this, "You want to make sure there's nothing between them."
"I don't think anything is going to happen between Rika and Ryo at the dance. If nothing happens, then we would positively know there's nothing but friendship between them," Henry said optimistically.
"If something does happen?" questioned Takato.
"Then, I can't do anything about it can I," Henry said in a down voice, "Anyway, there's plenty of fish in the sea."
"Yeah, but you don't sound happy about that fact."
"We just have to wait and see what happens," said Henry.
"When Kazu told Rika to ask Ryo to the dance, she got mad at him. How did you convince her to ask him?" asked Takato.
"I told her to give the relationship a chance," Henry said in a low voice.
"You should take your own advice," said Takato looking Henry in the eye.
Henry let out a sigh, "I know."
After that conversation they went back to Guilmon's hideout. When Takato and Henry entered Guilmon's hideout, Terriermon jumped onto Henry's right shoulder.
"So, what did you guys ttalk about?" asked Terriermon
"I'm surprised you didn't eavesdrop on the conversation with your giant ears," said Henry as he turned his head to look at Terriermon.
"I would have if I wasn't listening to Kazu tell us about Rika asking Ryo to the dance," responded Terriermon.
Henry looked away from Terriermon when he made that comment, "Well, we better go," said Henry, trying to stay away from the topic about Rika asking Ryo to the dance, "Suzie, Lopmon are you ready?"
Suzie walked around Guilmon's hideout giving everyone a goodbye hug.
"Well the meeting is over. Kenta, Marineangemon, Guardromon, and I are going to leave too," said Kazu after receiving a hug from Suzie.
Jeri looked at the time on her yellow D-ark, "Perfect timing. I have to go and help my family with the restaurant."
"Guilmon and I will walk you and Calumon," said Takato.
"Ok," said Jeri with a smile.
The rest of the tamers said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
~