Chapter 12 - About Goggleheads

"Come on! Let's Go!"

"No."

"No?!"

"You heard me Dirk Canterson!"

"But…"

I hate this guy! Why do I have to work with such trash!

I walked up to him and slapped him. The sheer force of my blow dropped him into the ground.

"We leave them alone for now."

Dirk stood, still holding his cheek.

"Why?"

"WHY! WHY! In case you've forgotten, partner, we have a project due tomorrow. I am not failing because of your stupidity and bloodlust. Now march!"

"Yes Ma'am."

*Do not forget our agreement, Alicia.*

*I won't. Tai is yours.*

No matter how much I want him myself…

I sighed and signaled for DarkTyrannomon to dedigivolve. He became DemiDevimon, and flew off to where ever he kept himself when not with me.

Stupid DemiDevimon…

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I spun around at the shout, and stared straight into the face of death itself, Rika Nonaka. She couldn't seam to form a coherent sentence.

"You… You… You… GOGGLEHAD!!"

"Heh heh… Long time no see, eh Rika?"

The response on my part only seemed to increase her anger. She let out a primal roar, and leapt at my throat. Shortly, I could no longer breathe. She soon tired of choking me, but I still couldn't get much air, as she began to really beat on me. Many bruises on my part later, she seemed to tire of this as well, and sank to her knees.

*Take us down near her house, Grani*

*Right.*

"Why?"

The question caught me off guard.

"Why'd I leave?"

"No. I think I know that. Why didn't you tell me when you came back?"

Oh. That.

"I was scared."

"Of what? That I was gonna go ballistic on you?"

"Like you just did? No. Well, not too scared. Not of that, anyway."

"What, then?"

I sighed.

This is the hard part.

"I was scared…"

She looked at me expectantly.

"I was scared that you'd… hate me."

She smiled.

"Well, you do have a lot to do to make it up to me."

Then her eyes widened.

"Oh, crap! The report!"

"I'll handle it."

"You sure? I mean I can…"

"Hey! It's the least I can do to start making it up to you."

Rika smiled again.

"Yeah. You'd better Gogglehead."

The rest of the trip was pretty much in silence as we helped Guilmon tend to the wounded Renamon. We landed, and I helped Rika get Renamon down. We laid her nest to the pond, and I turned to go.

"Gogglehead! Wait a second."

I turned. She unclipped my goggles from her belt and handed them to me.

"Here."

Then, before I could say anything, she turned and ran into the house.

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Three hours later, I was bored stiff. Not surprising really. Dirk was a muscle-bound idiot. I had to do the report myself to make sure he didn't screw it up. Finally, Delia came to pick him up and take him home. The freak wasn't anything like Tai. There was something about Tai that was so… confusing to me. As ChaosGallantmon he was a nearly unstoppable force, a cunning warrior with more tricks up his sleeve than a dozen battle hardened generals. But, outside of battle he was, well, innocent, as if he no idea of what the meaning of the word fight was. He would laugh with friends, play games, and make googly eyes at Nonaka.

Th-that… bitch! What does she have that I don't!

I sighed. She had his heart, that's what she had.

But how the hell does a girl like Nonaka get the complete attention of a guy like Tai? I so obviously superior that every guy in school hangs off me… except him! He'd hang off her if he weren't so sure she'd hit him!

Grrr! At least the report is done. It's probably best not to dwell on Tai much anyway, after all, soon there won't be that much left of him…

But I couldn't. I kept thinking of Tai long into the night, before I finally passed out.

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I walked in the house, feeling pretty good about myself, and was going to get some food for when Renamon woke up. I stuck my head in the refrigerator when my mom came up behind me.

"Rika?"

"Yeah, mom?"

"I thought you didn't like that boy."

"Which boy?"

"Tai, dear. The one who flew you in on that dragon thing."

"It's name is Grani… Why aren't you scared of it? You usually panic about these things."

"Because I'm more interested in the guy riding it that you seem to like so much."

"W-What! I do not!"

"Rika, we talked about this a few weeks ago. Mothers know these things."

"And how did you know this, oh wise one?"

"Don't take that tone with me, young lady. I know for two reasons. One you were smiling as he helped you with Renamon, despite her condition. Usually you won't let anyone help you when she's hurt. Two, you gave him those goggles. You never let anyone touch them, much less walk, or in this case fly, off with them."

I sighed. If there was one thing mom knew, it was relationships. She'd been in enough of them. And she knew a heck of a lot more about me than I would ever have anticipated.

"Look mom, I didn't exactly give the goggles to him."

"Then what exactly did I see out there Rika?"

"This is one of those things you can't tell anyone mom."

"It stays between you and me Rika, I promise."

"Tai Kamotozumi isn't his real name. He was born Takato Matsuki."

"Takato?! That boy? Oh, no wonder! So, when are you going to ask him out?"

"MOM!!!"

"Seriously, Rika, you need to take advantage of this. Who knows when you'll like another boy? Take some initiative, it's a new millennium, after all."

"Riiight."

"Fine, do what you want Rika, but don't come crying to me when he likes some other girl because you didn't make a move…"
"UHHH! I'm going outside to sit with Renamon!"

I can't believe her! I'll live my life the way I want to!

I walked outside and sat on a rock to wait for Renamon to wake up. She'd want the food, but be too proud to ask for it. A thought occurred to me.

Am I like that? Do I not go after something because I'm too proud to ask?

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"Sounds like you had a busy morning Takato."

"Yeah, but I have nothing to do this afternoon. You got plans?"

"Yeah. Jeri and I are going to see a movie tonight. You could come if you want to, if they let you go earlier, then it's doubtful they'll do anything tonight, what with the project and all."

"Since when do evil kids care about their grades?"

"You don't know Alicia that well. She almost scratches my eyes out every time I come out higher than her on the class rankings. She's a perfectionist."

"Great. Well, regardless, I think I'll go patrolling with Rika tonight, if Renamon's up for it. Besides, I don't want to get in the way of your and Jeri's *AHEM* extracurricular activities."

"You've been talking to Terriermon, haven't you? It wasn't like that!"

"Suuuure it wasn't!"

We shared a long laugh. Then Henry frowned.

"Don't you have to finish your project Takato?"

"Not really. It's on me after all."

"I don't know Takato, I think you should really think about it some."

"I have Henry. I know exactly what I'm doing. That's why I stopped at the mall on my way home. Besides, it's an oral report. I just have to stand up and talk about me for awhile."

"You do know you have to have a visual aid right?"

I wordlessly handed him my sketchbook.

"I don't see… oh, wow. These are good. Is this why you were out so early?"

"Yeah, I had to get it all out of me. I've found drawing what I'm upset about works the best."

We sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Then Henry spoke up again.

"Hey Takato?"

"Yes Henry?"

"You said that you're able to beat these guys so easily because their attacks don't work too well on you. Virus on virus, that sort of thing."

"Yeah, so?"

"So why do your attacks work on them?"

Okay, now that I think about it, it is a little weird.

"I'm not sure Henry. You have any theories?"

"None. Theoretically, ChaosGallantmon's natural strength, along with the several powerful data clusters you acquired, should make you stronger against them, but your attacks do more damage than they should even with that taken into account."

"It's strange, I'll admit, but why worry about good things?"

He sighed, probably somewhat exasperated with me.

"Because, Takato, what if someone else has the same ability, but can use it against you?"

Okay, that is a bit troubling.

"I'm not sure, Henry. But you guys will always be there to back me up right?"

He smiled.

"Right."

"Now, I have to make a call."

"To who?"

"Rika. I need her to do me a favor on Monday."

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I smiled as I walked in the room. Gogglehead was going to make us ace the report, I was sure. I walked up to the desk.

"Ms. Asaji?"

"Yes, Rika?"

"Tai is in the hall right now. He doesn't want to spoil the surprise for our report. He wants me to come get him when it's time."

"I'll have to actually see him to confirm he's here."

"Fine."

I went to my desk while she went out in the hall. She came looking a little shaken. Henry looked back at me with a raised eyebrow, but I shook my head. It was a surprise. One heck of a surprise. Henry and Jeri went first, and they talked about the monster makers, as ordered. Then went Alicia, and her report on the Digimon attacks.

"Which leads us nicely right into Rika and Tai's report on Takato Matsuki."

Alicia laughed.

"Looks like you're missing a partner Nonaka! Welcome to loserville!"

I smirked at her, and then went to the door.

"Get in here!"

"Yes Rika."

"Okie Dokie!"

In walked Takato Matsuki. Not Tai, but Takato. He wore his blue sweatshirt, gray shorts and yellow goggles. He had his glove on, and my D-Ark hooked to his belt. His hair was the brown I remembered, and his eyes a soft red. He carried his sketchbook with him. Behind him walked the ever-faithful Guilmon.

Takato sat on the stool set up while I stood behind him, and Guilmon sat down next to him. He smiled that goofy smile of his I like so much. It was one of those smiles you didn't need to see to know was there. He patted Guilmon on the head, and began to speak.

"Hi, My name's Takato Matsuki. This is my best friend Guilmon."

"Hiii!"

"My life started out pretty simple…"

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"…and then I walked off, and was never seen again."

He stood up and took a bow. Guilmon tried to imitate, but smacked his head on the floor.

"Ouchie."

You could have heard a pin drop the classroom was so quiet. Then, Henry started to clap, followed closely by Jeri, and soon by the whole class. Well, minus Alicia and Dirk of course. Their jaws were still on the floor. Takato got up and gave both the D-Ark and the goggles to me.

"Why don't you hang on to those for me."

I nodded.

He's giving back the goggles? Why? What did I do?

Takato and his 'young cousin 'Bill' in a suit' sat down and the other presentations began. Time finally came for lunch and I hurried after Takato.

"Tai wait…"

"Yes Rika?"

"Why did you give me back the goggles?"

"Because I want you to keep them. Call it a present."

I blushed a little.

"Thanks. You hang on to this."

I handed him back his good luck charm.

"Rika? I thought you would have destroyed this…"

"Yeah, well, keep it."

Then I narrowed my eyes and scowled at him.

"But if anyone else sees it you're dead."

He looked a little nervous at that. I lowered my voice and grabbed his shirt.

"Okay, who else has seen it Gogglehead."

He mumbled something I couldn't make out.

"What was that!?"

He sighed.

"Henry and Jeri have seen it. And Ken and Sora."

He showed it to people in the east quadrant?!

"You are so dead Tai!"

He blinked and took off like a bat out of hell. I chased after.

He's definitely better at running than he used to be.