The Story of Us
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by summer dragonfly
Chapter VI
"The Gift"
A/N: I know I promised to make this one short, and I guess it IS short, based on your definition
of 'short'...enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The door of the Matsukis' bakery shop ringed as Ryo stepped inside. Takato, who was supposed to
be watching the shop while his parents were in the back, jumped at the sound of it.
"Oh, it's you, Ryo." Takato yawned.
"You don't have to sound so disappointed." Ryo said.
"Sorry." Takato got out from behin the counter. "I've been up from 5 this morning to help bake
stuff."
"That's OK," Ryo took a look around. "Wow, the bread sure smells good."
"It better," Takato said, irritated. "I put massive amounts of elbow grease into it."
Ryo laughed. He took a little bag and began walking around the shop, putting various pastries into
it. "Cream puffs look especially good today."
"Ok." Takato said seriously.
"What?"
"I know you wouldn't come here on a Saturday just to compliment and buy cream puffs. What's up?"
"Uh..."
"Does it have to do with Rika?"
"Maybe."
"Why don't you just tell me?" Takato began following Ryo around. "It's not like I'll tell her or
something."
Ryo stayed silent.
Takato gasped. "You're going to break up with her, aren't you?!"
"No!" Ryo said, dropping an eclair. "Of course not."
"Then what?" Takato was starting to get annoyed. "I know we haven't really been close over the
past year, but you can still trust me, you know."
"Of course I still trust you." Ryo put a apple tart into the bag.
"All right." There was a hint of suspicion in Takato's voice. "I know you don't even LIKE apples."
"Yeah...so?"
"So...you're buying all this for Rika, aren't you?"
"Yeah, sort of."
"Why?"
"Can't I buy her breakfast now and then?" Ryo looked at Takato strangely.
"Yeah, you can, but you wouldn't be buying her enough pastries to feed an army if you didn't
have anything to say to her---" Takato gasped. "That's it! You're going to tell her something!"
"Shh, yes yes yes I am," Ryo said. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone---ANYONE---especially
her, before I do."
"OK." Takato laughed.
"Ok.." Ryo put a strawberry-filled danish in the bag. "I'm taking a trip."
"A trip?" Takato questioned.
"Yes, I'm coming with my father on a business trip to Osaka." Ryo brought the pastry bag up to
the counter where Takato could ring them up.
"Why?" Takato asked.
"To tell you the truth...I don't really know." Ryo sighed. "My dad just told me to pack my stuff
'cause we're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? That's on short notice, don't you think?" Takato said. "How are you going to tell her?"
"I was thinking to bring her breakfast today---" Ryo looked at the menu. "---and throw in two
decaf cappuncinos, will you?"
"Sure---" Takato got up and started to pour the coffee into the cups. "Ok, so you're going to
bring her breakfast...then what?"
"Then, I'm going to take her to the park and we'll have fun and...with luck I'll tell her before
the day is over."
"Are you going away forever, though?"
"I don't think so..." Ryo said, accepting the two cups of coffee from Takato. "No, I'm not."
"Good." Takato said. "I don't think Rika's fragile little heart could accept it."
Ryo laughed. "Shut up."
"No, seriously. She's been through a lot in her 14 years, that Rika." Takato put a bunch of napkins
in the pastry bag.
"I know," Ryo said. "Thanks, man."
"Take care."
* * *
Dear Diary,
Being a very non-sentimental person, I don't know if diaries are really for me. But lately I've
been feeling so great that I've just got to write it all down. I'm positive that I'll remember
this time for the rest of my life, but I'd just like to write it down, a sort of memoir or
something.
Rika paused to chew on her pen. What should she write next? She'd never had a diary before.
So let me tell you a bit about me. Rika Nonaka's the name. Currently 14 years old. I'll be 15 in
in 6 and 1/2 months, though! In the past few weeks, things are going so well for me. It's like my
life has taken a whole 'nother spin around. Before all this happened, I was feeling so down and
moody it was scary. But then...this boy came back into my life....
Rika paused again to smile. Just writing about him made her heart do cartwheels. She glanced at
the clock, it was already 10:00. Rather than just waste her Saturday scribbling in a journal, Rika
decided she would do something else. Something more productive.
"Like seeing Ryo." she said aloud.
Just then, the telephone rang. Too busy daydreaming, Rika let it ring and ring. Finally her
grandmother picked it up. A few seconds later, her grandmother walked over to her room and called
through the screen door. "Rika, dear, it's for you."
Rika snapped out of it. "Thanks, Grandma!" she picked up her own phone. "Rika Nonaka."
"Hey."
"Who is this?"
"Don't you know me better than that?"
Rika laughed. "Ryo!"
"Good guess." Ryo said.
"You won't believe how glad I am to hear your voice."
"I'm happy to be talking to you, too. Um, Rika-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Would you mind going to the park with me today?"
"Of course I would." Rika looked out the window. "It's a beautiful day."
*Did Rika just say it was a beautiful day?* Ryo thought. *That's so unlike her. Weird.*
"Ok, I'll come by your house in 10."
"Cool. I'll be waiting. By---"
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
"There's also something I need to tell you."
"Like what?" Rika asked curiously.
"I'll tell you when we get there."
"Ok..."
* * *
Ryo knocked on the door. To his bad fortune, Rumiko answered it. She gasped when she saw him.
"Ryo, isn't it? Pleasure to meet you!" She said, immediately grabbing his hand and shaking it.
"Hi, Ms. Nonaka." Ryo smiled. *Why is Rika's mom so excited to shake my hand?*
"You must be Rika's boyfriend, right?"
"Uh---"
"Mother!" Rika said, coming out from the inside. "What are you doing?"
"I've been wanting to meet him. Weren't you ever going to introduce us?" Rumiko said.
"Ryo, this is my mom. Mother, this is Ryo...my...boyfriend." She finally spat out. Altough she
loved being his girlfriend, it was still a little awkward for her.
"Yes! I knew it. Very nice to meet you, Ryo." Rumiko said again. "Hmmm..."
She began walking around Ryo. He stood quite still, not knowing what to do.
"Mom, what ARE you doing?" Rika was torn between being exasperated at her mother and laughing at
the look of panic on Ryo's face. *Is she doing some sort of boyfriend evaluation all mothers do?*
"Say, Ryo, have you ever considered a career in modeling?" Rumiko finally said.
(A/N: At this point, Ryo gets a huge sweatmark and Rika falls to the ground exasperately ;p)
"Well, have you? I've been trying to convince my own daughter---" Rumiko jerked her head toward
Rika. "But she's so stubborn, you know, she gets that from her father---"
Rika looked at her mother in disbelief. *The first time Ryo's here, and she's already chatting
him up! If this keeps up, he may never come back!*
Ryo just stood there nervously, nodding at everything Rumiko said.
*Look at him, he's scared to death,* Rika thought. *I have to do something.*
"Mom?" Rika interrrupted.
"Yes, Rika?"
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but Ryo and I were kinda planning to go to the park and---"
"Oh, another little date!" Rumiko gushed proudly. "Of course, silly me. I'm just going to go now
and get out of your hair! Have a great time, kids!"
And with that, Rumiko went back inside muttering things that sounded oddly like "she's growing up
so fast" and "what a cute little pair".
Ryo laughed nervously. "Is your mom always like this?"
"Worse." Rika groaned. "Everytime I bring home a guest---" she sighed. "Let's just not go there.
I'm sorry you had to listen to that."
"It was kinda flattering, really." Ryo said, laughing. "No one's ever told me I was model-material
before."
"Ryo, you REALLY don't want to get me started." Rika said.
Ryo handed her a cup of coffee and the pastry bag, filled with muffins, danishes, and various
goodies. "I brought you breakfast."
"You shouldn't have..." Rika sipped her coffee. "Decaf cappucino? Two sugars? Half-skim
half-whole-milk?"
"Everything you like." Ryo smiled.
"You big charmer!" Rika said, laughing. "Thank you so much. Do you want to come in?"
"No, that's OK. Ready to go?"
"I'm all ready."
"Great." Ryo took a sip of his own coffee.
"What, no car this time?" Rika said, biting into a blueberry muffin.
"Nope." Ryo looked up at the sky. "You said yourself it's a beautiful day."
"Yes, that's true." Rika held the bag up to him. "You hungry?"
"No, I already ate."
"I feel so bad, dragging you away from your priorities."
"Not really. I'm all yours for the day."
With the sun shining down on them, Ryo and Rika headed toward the park, talking and laughing.
* * *
Ryo and Rika were sitting on the bench, eating their ice cream cones that Ryo had bought.(A/N: I'm
a traditional sort of girl; I think the guys should always pay...;P that's why I have my own
boyfriend so well trained--er--I mean---mannered...yeah...)
Ryo had bought Rika a giant teddy bear that was her size and height along with two dozen roses,
lovely arranged in a bouquet, wrapped with a silver ribbon. Rika had been quite suspicious about
why he was doing all of this, but didn't tell him.
Rika sat there, licking her ice cream pensively. Ryo noticed this. "Hey," he put his arm around her. ]
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She smiled at him.
"You don't like your ice cream?" Ryo said. "Double fudge 'N pecans not your flavor?"
Rika laughed. "No, there's nothing wrong with the ice cream, it's delicious..." She rested her head
on his shoulder. "I was just wondering---"
"What?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter."
"Hey..." Ryo said. There was a hint of worry in his voice. "You know you can tell me anything. Now
what is it?"
Rika sighed. "I'm just worried..."
"About what?"
"About us..."
"Us? What have you got to be worried about?"
"About how long we'll last..."
"Rika, what are you talking about? You're afraid we're going to break up?"
"Mmm-hmm." Rika said, taking a few more bites at her ice cream.
Ryo kissed her head. "I thought we already talked about this on our first date. You're being silly."
"Am I? Everyone's hoping for it."
"Like who?"
"Everyone at school."
"Mitsumi doesn't count as everyone."
"Oh, Ryo, didn't you see her and her cronies? They were looking at me like I was some kind of
disgusting bug...especially Mitsumi."
"She's just being Mitsumi."
"Hmm."
"I mean, she wasn't exactly jumping for joy when she saw us walking around campus hand-in-hand..."
"Yeah, maybe we should stop that."
"Huh?" Ryo said.
"I don't know. What do you want?"
"I want whatever that'll make you happy, Rika-chan. If you don't what to hold hands anymore, that's
fine too."
"Are you saying you don't care?"
"No, no! I DO care---about what'll make you happy."
Rika looked up at him and smiled. "How did you get so wonderful and charming?"
"I met you." Ryo said, returning her grin.
"You always make me feel better."
"It's a gift..." Ryo laughed.
"Ryo? Another thing..."
"Shoot."
"What did you have to tell me?"
"Oh yeah, that..."
They had such a great day at the park, boating out in the lake, climbing the trees...he had
completely forgotten what he was going to tell her. The sunset sky casted an orange glow over
the two of them, bathing them in warm sunset light.
"...um." He couldn't get the words out.
"What is it? You know YOU could tell ME anything."
"Well, Rika...I'm going away for a little bit."
"What?" Rika took her head off his shoulder and looked him in the eye.
*I can't stand it when she looks at me with those eyes.* Ryo sighed. "On a business trip with
my dad. In Osaka. He can't stand to leave me alone with the house...afraid I'll burn it down or
something..."
"You can always stay with me," Rika prompted straight away.
Ryo smiled weakly. "I know...but..."
"But what?"
"It's complicated."
"Are you calling me too dumb to understand it?"
"No..."
"Then why---"
"I don't know, Rika. I'm just supposed to come with Tousan...suppose he wants to teach me the
family business."
Rika didn't know what to say. "But...but...you'll come back, won't you? This is just temporary?"
"Of course it's temporary. I'd miss you way too much if it was forever."
Rika smiled and put her arms around him.
"Hey...what's wrong?" Ryo hugged her back.
"I'm going to miss you." Rika said. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yeah, at 10:00 in the morning. That's why I wanted to spend time with you today, Rika-chan.
Before I go..."
"Stop it! You're making it sound like forever."
"I promise you it won't be. I'll stop by your house before leaving tomorrow."
"No," Rika said stubbornly. "I'll see you at the airport. I wanna be with you until you have to
get on that plane."
Ryo looked at her sincerely. "Really?"
"Yeah, and watch it take off, too."
Ryo laughed. "I'm not the only wonderful person around here."
Rika finally let go of him. "Come off it. You're just saying that."
"No, I'm serious. You're really special. That's why I have a surprise for you tomorrow."
"A surprise?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
* * *
"This is the boarding call for Flight 682 to Osaka." said the woman over the loadspeaker. "This
is the boarding call for Flight 682 to Osaka."
Ryo looked around. "Rika, where are you?"
Just then, he saw a girl dashing out of the elevator. He smiled and got up to greet her. Rika
threw her arms around him. "Oh, Ryo, I was afraid I would be too late..."
"That's OK." Said Ryo, and lead her out of earshot of his dad. "Remember yesterday when I told
you that I had a surprise for you?"
"Yeah...what is it?" Rika said excitedly. Ryo took a box out of his bag. It was a square shaped
velvet box. Rika knew instantly what it was. She opened it. It was a necklace.
"Oh..." she said. "It's beautiful..."
"Spent two years worth of saved money on it." Ryo said, blushing.
Rika looked up at him guiltily. "First you spoil me with teddy bears, pastries and roses, now this. It's
like I'm burning a hole in your wallet. You are so sweet...domo arigatou..."
It was the most beautiful necklace that she had ever seen. It had a gold chain, and a purple heart
pendent to match the color of her eyes. The letter 'R' was engraved on it in fine silver, and there
was the Japenese kanji symbol for 'love' under it, written in real, glittering diamonds.
"You're welcome, and it's OK, don't feel guilty. I WANT to spend money on you." Ryo blushed harder
than ever. "I thought...something to remember me by..."
"I'll never forget you, silly!" She giggled. "You didn't have to do this..."
"Well, you are my girlfriend, aren't you?"
Now it was Rika's turn to blush. "I don't have anything for you...I feel awful!"
"It's OK." Ryo said. "I'll never forget you, Rika-chan...even if my life depended on it."
"Here," Rika said, taking off her ring and giving it to him. "Think of it as a sort of promise
ring."
"I promise never to forget you." Ryo grinned and placed her ring in his bag.
Now Rika was getting tears in her eyes.
"Don't..." Ryo said, reaching out and wiping her tears away. Rika laughed. She hugged him.
"Here, why don't you put it on?" Ryo took the necklace from her and put it around her neck. He
fastened it and turned her around to look at her. "You look even more beautiful than always."
Their lips inched closer and closer until they finally met. Rika threw her arms around his
neck, he had his hands on her waist. It was the most magical moment that either of them had ever
had. Even a few people at the airport stopped to "Awww." Finally they parted.
"This is the final boarding call for Flight 682 to Osaka." said the woman on the loudspeaker.
Ryo looked at his dad, who looked as grumpy as ever. "Well, that's me."
"Don't go..." Rika whined, still hanging on to him.
"I'll be back before you know it." He began to walk toward his dad, but Rika held him back.
"Now you be careful," she said, sounding adoringly worried. She straightened the collar of his polo
shirt. "And don't talk to strangers."
"Of course not." Ryo laughed.
"And you better not fall for any Osaka girls while you're there." Rika hugged him. "I'm going to
miss you so much."
"I promise not to even LOOK at any other girl." Ryo laughed again, remembering something. "At
least there'll be no one around to poke fun at you, huh, pumpkin?"
She punched him playfully on the shoulder. "You baka."
Rika hugged him again. "Ai Shiteru, Ryo-kun..." She let go of him.
"I love you too, Rika..." He took her hands in his and kissed them, making her laugh and cry
tears at the same time.
But then, she wiped away her own tears. "You're only going to be gone for a little while, and I'm
making myself cry, how silly." she looked straight at him. "Well, goodbye then, Ryo..and call me
as soon as you get there!"
"I will. Sayonara, Rika-chan." Ryo said, kissing her on the lips briefly. He finally let go of her
hand. Oh, how he didn't want to.
Ryo walked over to his dad, who nodded. They began going to the gate of the plane.
"I'll write!" Rika called after him. "Everyday!"
"Me too!" Ryo called back and winked at her.
She blew him a kiss and watched him disappear behind crowds of people.
Rika couldn't help but wipe away her tears. She tugged on her new necklace.
"I'll miss you, Ryo-kun..."
...end of Chapter VI!
A/N: Everyone together: "Awww." Heehee. Hope you liked it! If you did, plz review! And if you hated
it, uh...review anyway and just tell me what you didn't like about it. I appreciate all comments. Also,
if you're wondering on why I named this chapter "The Gift" instead of "Goodbye" or "Ryo Goes Away"
is that the necklace Ryo gave Rika has a very important part in later chapters. You'll see what
I mean when we get there ;P. Thanks for reading!
P.S. Gomen if that was TOO sappy...i know they were totally OOC but I had to put in an emotional chapter
sooner or later...had to get it over with because new and better things are on the way!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by summer dragonfly
Chapter VI
"The Gift"
A/N: I know I promised to make this one short, and I guess it IS short, based on your definition
of 'short'...enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The door of the Matsukis' bakery shop ringed as Ryo stepped inside. Takato, who was supposed to
be watching the shop while his parents were in the back, jumped at the sound of it.
"Oh, it's you, Ryo." Takato yawned.
"You don't have to sound so disappointed." Ryo said.
"Sorry." Takato got out from behin the counter. "I've been up from 5 this morning to help bake
stuff."
"That's OK," Ryo took a look around. "Wow, the bread sure smells good."
"It better," Takato said, irritated. "I put massive amounts of elbow grease into it."
Ryo laughed. He took a little bag and began walking around the shop, putting various pastries into
it. "Cream puffs look especially good today."
"Ok." Takato said seriously.
"What?"
"I know you wouldn't come here on a Saturday just to compliment and buy cream puffs. What's up?"
"Uh..."
"Does it have to do with Rika?"
"Maybe."
"Why don't you just tell me?" Takato began following Ryo around. "It's not like I'll tell her or
something."
Ryo stayed silent.
Takato gasped. "You're going to break up with her, aren't you?!"
"No!" Ryo said, dropping an eclair. "Of course not."
"Then what?" Takato was starting to get annoyed. "I know we haven't really been close over the
past year, but you can still trust me, you know."
"Of course I still trust you." Ryo put a apple tart into the bag.
"All right." There was a hint of suspicion in Takato's voice. "I know you don't even LIKE apples."
"Yeah...so?"
"So...you're buying all this for Rika, aren't you?"
"Yeah, sort of."
"Why?"
"Can't I buy her breakfast now and then?" Ryo looked at Takato strangely.
"Yeah, you can, but you wouldn't be buying her enough pastries to feed an army if you didn't
have anything to say to her---" Takato gasped. "That's it! You're going to tell her something!"
"Shh, yes yes yes I am," Ryo said. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone---ANYONE---especially
her, before I do."
"OK." Takato laughed.
"Ok.." Ryo put a strawberry-filled danish in the bag. "I'm taking a trip."
"A trip?" Takato questioned.
"Yes, I'm coming with my father on a business trip to Osaka." Ryo brought the pastry bag up to
the counter where Takato could ring them up.
"Why?" Takato asked.
"To tell you the truth...I don't really know." Ryo sighed. "My dad just told me to pack my stuff
'cause we're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? That's on short notice, don't you think?" Takato said. "How are you going to tell her?"
"I was thinking to bring her breakfast today---" Ryo looked at the menu. "---and throw in two
decaf cappuncinos, will you?"
"Sure---" Takato got up and started to pour the coffee into the cups. "Ok, so you're going to
bring her breakfast...then what?"
"Then, I'm going to take her to the park and we'll have fun and...with luck I'll tell her before
the day is over."
"Are you going away forever, though?"
"I don't think so..." Ryo said, accepting the two cups of coffee from Takato. "No, I'm not."
"Good." Takato said. "I don't think Rika's fragile little heart could accept it."
Ryo laughed. "Shut up."
"No, seriously. She's been through a lot in her 14 years, that Rika." Takato put a bunch of napkins
in the pastry bag.
"I know," Ryo said. "Thanks, man."
"Take care."
* * *
Dear Diary,
Being a very non-sentimental person, I don't know if diaries are really for me. But lately I've
been feeling so great that I've just got to write it all down. I'm positive that I'll remember
this time for the rest of my life, but I'd just like to write it down, a sort of memoir or
something.
Rika paused to chew on her pen. What should she write next? She'd never had a diary before.
So let me tell you a bit about me. Rika Nonaka's the name. Currently 14 years old. I'll be 15 in
in 6 and 1/2 months, though! In the past few weeks, things are going so well for me. It's like my
life has taken a whole 'nother spin around. Before all this happened, I was feeling so down and
moody it was scary. But then...this boy came back into my life....
Rika paused again to smile. Just writing about him made her heart do cartwheels. She glanced at
the clock, it was already 10:00. Rather than just waste her Saturday scribbling in a journal, Rika
decided she would do something else. Something more productive.
"Like seeing Ryo." she said aloud.
Just then, the telephone rang. Too busy daydreaming, Rika let it ring and ring. Finally her
grandmother picked it up. A few seconds later, her grandmother walked over to her room and called
through the screen door. "Rika, dear, it's for you."
Rika snapped out of it. "Thanks, Grandma!" she picked up her own phone. "Rika Nonaka."
"Hey."
"Who is this?"
"Don't you know me better than that?"
Rika laughed. "Ryo!"
"Good guess." Ryo said.
"You won't believe how glad I am to hear your voice."
"I'm happy to be talking to you, too. Um, Rika-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Would you mind going to the park with me today?"
"Of course I would." Rika looked out the window. "It's a beautiful day."
*Did Rika just say it was a beautiful day?* Ryo thought. *That's so unlike her. Weird.*
"Ok, I'll come by your house in 10."
"Cool. I'll be waiting. By---"
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
"There's also something I need to tell you."
"Like what?" Rika asked curiously.
"I'll tell you when we get there."
"Ok..."
* * *
Ryo knocked on the door. To his bad fortune, Rumiko answered it. She gasped when she saw him.
"Ryo, isn't it? Pleasure to meet you!" She said, immediately grabbing his hand and shaking it.
"Hi, Ms. Nonaka." Ryo smiled. *Why is Rika's mom so excited to shake my hand?*
"You must be Rika's boyfriend, right?"
"Uh---"
"Mother!" Rika said, coming out from the inside. "What are you doing?"
"I've been wanting to meet him. Weren't you ever going to introduce us?" Rumiko said.
"Ryo, this is my mom. Mother, this is Ryo...my...boyfriend." She finally spat out. Altough she
loved being his girlfriend, it was still a little awkward for her.
"Yes! I knew it. Very nice to meet you, Ryo." Rumiko said again. "Hmmm..."
She began walking around Ryo. He stood quite still, not knowing what to do.
"Mom, what ARE you doing?" Rika was torn between being exasperated at her mother and laughing at
the look of panic on Ryo's face. *Is she doing some sort of boyfriend evaluation all mothers do?*
"Say, Ryo, have you ever considered a career in modeling?" Rumiko finally said.
(A/N: At this point, Ryo gets a huge sweatmark and Rika falls to the ground exasperately ;p)
"Well, have you? I've been trying to convince my own daughter---" Rumiko jerked her head toward
Rika. "But she's so stubborn, you know, she gets that from her father---"
Rika looked at her mother in disbelief. *The first time Ryo's here, and she's already chatting
him up! If this keeps up, he may never come back!*
Ryo just stood there nervously, nodding at everything Rumiko said.
*Look at him, he's scared to death,* Rika thought. *I have to do something.*
"Mom?" Rika interrrupted.
"Yes, Rika?"
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but Ryo and I were kinda planning to go to the park and---"
"Oh, another little date!" Rumiko gushed proudly. "Of course, silly me. I'm just going to go now
and get out of your hair! Have a great time, kids!"
And with that, Rumiko went back inside muttering things that sounded oddly like "she's growing up
so fast" and "what a cute little pair".
Ryo laughed nervously. "Is your mom always like this?"
"Worse." Rika groaned. "Everytime I bring home a guest---" she sighed. "Let's just not go there.
I'm sorry you had to listen to that."
"It was kinda flattering, really." Ryo said, laughing. "No one's ever told me I was model-material
before."
"Ryo, you REALLY don't want to get me started." Rika said.
Ryo handed her a cup of coffee and the pastry bag, filled with muffins, danishes, and various
goodies. "I brought you breakfast."
"You shouldn't have..." Rika sipped her coffee. "Decaf cappucino? Two sugars? Half-skim
half-whole-milk?"
"Everything you like." Ryo smiled.
"You big charmer!" Rika said, laughing. "Thank you so much. Do you want to come in?"
"No, that's OK. Ready to go?"
"I'm all ready."
"Great." Ryo took a sip of his own coffee.
"What, no car this time?" Rika said, biting into a blueberry muffin.
"Nope." Ryo looked up at the sky. "You said yourself it's a beautiful day."
"Yes, that's true." Rika held the bag up to him. "You hungry?"
"No, I already ate."
"I feel so bad, dragging you away from your priorities."
"Not really. I'm all yours for the day."
With the sun shining down on them, Ryo and Rika headed toward the park, talking and laughing.
* * *
Ryo and Rika were sitting on the bench, eating their ice cream cones that Ryo had bought.(A/N: I'm
a traditional sort of girl; I think the guys should always pay...;P that's why I have my own
boyfriend so well trained--er--I mean---mannered...yeah...)
Ryo had bought Rika a giant teddy bear that was her size and height along with two dozen roses,
lovely arranged in a bouquet, wrapped with a silver ribbon. Rika had been quite suspicious about
why he was doing all of this, but didn't tell him.
Rika sat there, licking her ice cream pensively. Ryo noticed this. "Hey," he put his arm around her. ]
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She smiled at him.
"You don't like your ice cream?" Ryo said. "Double fudge 'N pecans not your flavor?"
Rika laughed. "No, there's nothing wrong with the ice cream, it's delicious..." She rested her head
on his shoulder. "I was just wondering---"
"What?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter."
"Hey..." Ryo said. There was a hint of worry in his voice. "You know you can tell me anything. Now
what is it?"
Rika sighed. "I'm just worried..."
"About what?"
"About us..."
"Us? What have you got to be worried about?"
"About how long we'll last..."
"Rika, what are you talking about? You're afraid we're going to break up?"
"Mmm-hmm." Rika said, taking a few more bites at her ice cream.
Ryo kissed her head. "I thought we already talked about this on our first date. You're being silly."
"Am I? Everyone's hoping for it."
"Like who?"
"Everyone at school."
"Mitsumi doesn't count as everyone."
"Oh, Ryo, didn't you see her and her cronies? They were looking at me like I was some kind of
disgusting bug...especially Mitsumi."
"She's just being Mitsumi."
"Hmm."
"I mean, she wasn't exactly jumping for joy when she saw us walking around campus hand-in-hand..."
"Yeah, maybe we should stop that."
"Huh?" Ryo said.
"I don't know. What do you want?"
"I want whatever that'll make you happy, Rika-chan. If you don't what to hold hands anymore, that's
fine too."
"Are you saying you don't care?"
"No, no! I DO care---about what'll make you happy."
Rika looked up at him and smiled. "How did you get so wonderful and charming?"
"I met you." Ryo said, returning her grin.
"You always make me feel better."
"It's a gift..." Ryo laughed.
"Ryo? Another thing..."
"Shoot."
"What did you have to tell me?"
"Oh yeah, that..."
They had such a great day at the park, boating out in the lake, climbing the trees...he had
completely forgotten what he was going to tell her. The sunset sky casted an orange glow over
the two of them, bathing them in warm sunset light.
"...um." He couldn't get the words out.
"What is it? You know YOU could tell ME anything."
"Well, Rika...I'm going away for a little bit."
"What?" Rika took her head off his shoulder and looked him in the eye.
*I can't stand it when she looks at me with those eyes.* Ryo sighed. "On a business trip with
my dad. In Osaka. He can't stand to leave me alone with the house...afraid I'll burn it down or
something..."
"You can always stay with me," Rika prompted straight away.
Ryo smiled weakly. "I know...but..."
"But what?"
"It's complicated."
"Are you calling me too dumb to understand it?"
"No..."
"Then why---"
"I don't know, Rika. I'm just supposed to come with Tousan...suppose he wants to teach me the
family business."
Rika didn't know what to say. "But...but...you'll come back, won't you? This is just temporary?"
"Of course it's temporary. I'd miss you way too much if it was forever."
Rika smiled and put her arms around him.
"Hey...what's wrong?" Ryo hugged her back.
"I'm going to miss you." Rika said. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yeah, at 10:00 in the morning. That's why I wanted to spend time with you today, Rika-chan.
Before I go..."
"Stop it! You're making it sound like forever."
"I promise you it won't be. I'll stop by your house before leaving tomorrow."
"No," Rika said stubbornly. "I'll see you at the airport. I wanna be with you until you have to
get on that plane."
Ryo looked at her sincerely. "Really?"
"Yeah, and watch it take off, too."
Ryo laughed. "I'm not the only wonderful person around here."
Rika finally let go of him. "Come off it. You're just saying that."
"No, I'm serious. You're really special. That's why I have a surprise for you tomorrow."
"A surprise?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
* * *
"This is the boarding call for Flight 682 to Osaka." said the woman over the loadspeaker. "This
is the boarding call for Flight 682 to Osaka."
Ryo looked around. "Rika, where are you?"
Just then, he saw a girl dashing out of the elevator. He smiled and got up to greet her. Rika
threw her arms around him. "Oh, Ryo, I was afraid I would be too late..."
"That's OK." Said Ryo, and lead her out of earshot of his dad. "Remember yesterday when I told
you that I had a surprise for you?"
"Yeah...what is it?" Rika said excitedly. Ryo took a box out of his bag. It was a square shaped
velvet box. Rika knew instantly what it was. She opened it. It was a necklace.
"Oh..." she said. "It's beautiful..."
"Spent two years worth of saved money on it." Ryo said, blushing.
Rika looked up at him guiltily. "First you spoil me with teddy bears, pastries and roses, now this. It's
like I'm burning a hole in your wallet. You are so sweet...domo arigatou..."
It was the most beautiful necklace that she had ever seen. It had a gold chain, and a purple heart
pendent to match the color of her eyes. The letter 'R' was engraved on it in fine silver, and there
was the Japenese kanji symbol for 'love' under it, written in real, glittering diamonds.
"You're welcome, and it's OK, don't feel guilty. I WANT to spend money on you." Ryo blushed harder
than ever. "I thought...something to remember me by..."
"I'll never forget you, silly!" She giggled. "You didn't have to do this..."
"Well, you are my girlfriend, aren't you?"
Now it was Rika's turn to blush. "I don't have anything for you...I feel awful!"
"It's OK." Ryo said. "I'll never forget you, Rika-chan...even if my life depended on it."
"Here," Rika said, taking off her ring and giving it to him. "Think of it as a sort of promise
ring."
"I promise never to forget you." Ryo grinned and placed her ring in his bag.
Now Rika was getting tears in her eyes.
"Don't..." Ryo said, reaching out and wiping her tears away. Rika laughed. She hugged him.
"Here, why don't you put it on?" Ryo took the necklace from her and put it around her neck. He
fastened it and turned her around to look at her. "You look even more beautiful than always."
Their lips inched closer and closer until they finally met. Rika threw her arms around his
neck, he had his hands on her waist. It was the most magical moment that either of them had ever
had. Even a few people at the airport stopped to "Awww." Finally they parted.
"This is the final boarding call for Flight 682 to Osaka." said the woman on the loudspeaker.
Ryo looked at his dad, who looked as grumpy as ever. "Well, that's me."
"Don't go..." Rika whined, still hanging on to him.
"I'll be back before you know it." He began to walk toward his dad, but Rika held him back.
"Now you be careful," she said, sounding adoringly worried. She straightened the collar of his polo
shirt. "And don't talk to strangers."
"Of course not." Ryo laughed.
"And you better not fall for any Osaka girls while you're there." Rika hugged him. "I'm going to
miss you so much."
"I promise not to even LOOK at any other girl." Ryo laughed again, remembering something. "At
least there'll be no one around to poke fun at you, huh, pumpkin?"
She punched him playfully on the shoulder. "You baka."
Rika hugged him again. "Ai Shiteru, Ryo-kun..." She let go of him.
"I love you too, Rika..." He took her hands in his and kissed them, making her laugh and cry
tears at the same time.
But then, she wiped away her own tears. "You're only going to be gone for a little while, and I'm
making myself cry, how silly." she looked straight at him. "Well, goodbye then, Ryo..and call me
as soon as you get there!"
"I will. Sayonara, Rika-chan." Ryo said, kissing her on the lips briefly. He finally let go of her
hand. Oh, how he didn't want to.
Ryo walked over to his dad, who nodded. They began going to the gate of the plane.
"I'll write!" Rika called after him. "Everyday!"
"Me too!" Ryo called back and winked at her.
She blew him a kiss and watched him disappear behind crowds of people.
Rika couldn't help but wipe away her tears. She tugged on her new necklace.
"I'll miss you, Ryo-kun..."
...end of Chapter VI!
A/N: Everyone together: "Awww." Heehee. Hope you liked it! If you did, plz review! And if you hated
it, uh...review anyway and just tell me what you didn't like about it. I appreciate all comments. Also,
if you're wondering on why I named this chapter "The Gift" instead of "Goodbye" or "Ryo Goes Away"
is that the necklace Ryo gave Rika has a very important part in later chapters. You'll see what
I mean when we get there ;P. Thanks for reading!
P.S. Gomen if that was TOO sappy...i know they were totally OOC but I had to put in an emotional chapter
sooner or later...had to get it over with because new and better things are on the way!
