Epilogue: For Nothing Else
Pairing: Jenruki and huge hinting of Ryouki in the beginning
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon Tamers or Digimon.
Takari-san: I was actually too lazy to conclude this, would you believe that? Hai… I know you would. I'm a lazy bum after all. ^^ Well here it is the supposedly short epilogue for the I Wish series, after this I can work full time on Finding You and Through the Oddest Circumstance again, also on my sites and Shaman King fics!
*Ruki's POV*
I tapped my feet softly and counted to three when right on cue, my husband appeared from our living room our youngest son in his arms and our son, daughter and the Digimon following him too.
He sweatdropped when he saw me there… waiting for him impatiently, like I always do.
He gave a quick bow of apology then I softened and shifted my gaze to Takato, our eldest son… He had unruly auburn hair and deep purple eyes but he acted more like his father, cool, calm and collected. I then looked at Mariko, my daughter that was named after my mother. She had navy hair and determined grey eyes. Though she looked almost exactly like her father, she was a perfect Ruki in her attitude. She was cold to others and also hot-tempered. And there was little Ryo-chan, though our first son was supposed to be named Ryo but Takato was the name we chose since he was born on the same day Takato was born. Little Ryo-chan had a very cheerful and sweet smile; he had navy hair and amethyst eyes. I smiled as Jenrya shoved the children (except for Ryo-chan of course ^^) to the car. We were none other than a happy family indeed.
It's quite hard to believe that I used to be so distant from my friends and found love in one of them… I smiled as Renamon patted my back as if reading my mind.
"You have a wonderful family Ruki…" the fox told me.
I nodded, "I
know Renamon, I know…"
The fox entered the car as well with both Monodramon and Terriermon when Jenrya signaled me to go to my seat.
I sat on my seat and Jenrya placed Ryo-chan on my lap.
"Okaa-san… Where are we going?" Takato asked as he played with Terriermon's huge ears.
I turned around and smiled at him, "We're going to the cemetery Takato, to visit an uncle you never knew."
"Why…?" Mariko asked as she patted Monodramon's head gently.
"You'll get it one day kids…" Jenrya said as they finally were on the road knowing that even if fifteen years passed already, I was still sensitive to the issue.
"I guess you would tell us, ne, Otto-san?" Takato said excitedly.
"Of course I would…" Jenrya laughed.
"We're going to the cemetery, ne?" Mariko asked, "Is uncle Hirokazu going to be there? I would love to hear one of his jokes… he hasn't visited us from America for a year now!"
"Of course he would, but a cemetery is no place for jokes… maybe after we exited the cemetery, okay?" I told little Mariko.
Mariko nodded, "Hai!"
Jenrya then parked the car and I finally noticed that I was still stroking Ryo-chan's hair.
"We're here," he said as he opened the doors for everyone beginning from me… Jenrya's such a gentleman…
I stepped out of the car finding Jenrya having a hard time yanking the currently sleeping Takato out of the car, awake. Mariko and the Digimon went out from the other door.
Finally after a long while Takato was finally reawakened and we went to the area where the tombstone was to find a family already there…
"Takato!" Jenrya greeted as a man in his late-twenties got up from praying in front of the tombstone.
"Jenrya… and his family of course…" he smiled sheepishly, in his Takato-like way.
Jeri on the other hand made her way to me as our children played with each other.
"So another year has passed from that day, ne?" Jeri said as she smiled softly as she gazed at the stone.
I nodded but kept silent; Ryo was still there, in my heart… He was or rather is… one of my most cherished friends. I then stroked Ryo-chan's hair.
Jeri then grinned; we're still up for lunch right?" Jeri asked lightening up the mood. Both Jenrya and Takato were still praying in front of the tombstone.
"Of course we are!" A voice said then we turned around to see both Hirokazu and Kenta waving their hellos.
Takato and Jenrya got up from their kneeling positions and made their way to their friends. I, on the other hand went knelt in front of Ryo's tombstone.
I could hear faint laughter of re-acquaintances but I didn't mind… I was once more absorbed in praying for Ryo, little Ryo-chan still on my arms. I made sure of that.
It's been a while, Ryo. Here's Ryo-chan, we named him after you. When he grows up he'll find out he's named after an arrogant man though. However, he will also know that he's named after a hero, a hero that saved his mommy's life.
An invisible tear fell from my eyes. Those memories of Ryo, where we used to just tease each other still vividly imprinted in my mind. A hand though, made me come back to reality.
"Are you ready to go now? Do you need a bit more time? I mean I'll go now if you want…" the owner of the hand said as I looked up to see Jenrya backing away from me assuming that I wanted to have a bit more time with Ryo.
I stood up from my position and let Jenrya hold Ryo-chan before cleaning my pants from the dirt that managed to stick to them, "And what makes you assume that…?" I glared at him as I usually do.
He smiled nervously, stroking Ryo-chan's navy hair, "I just thought… you'd want to… well… I guess you got my point..." He just laughed it off.
"Well you estimated wrong, I bet the children are hungry anyway…" I said turning away from the tombstone…
See you next year, Ryo…
"I guess you're right…" Jenrya said taking one final glance at the tomb as well.
*******
"Is everyone well comfortable in there already?" Jenrya asked as he peeked inside our van checking on Takato and Mariko since we were going to eat lunch already, "Ryo-chan's with you guys, right?"
The two children shook their heads.
"I knew that… WHAT!?" Jenrya immediately said after it registered in his mind.
He looked at the Digimon to ask if they know where Ryo-chan was but they also shook their heads.
I immediately rushed to his side, "What's wrong?"
"Ryo-chan… he's missing…" Jenrya said after gulping knowing that he would get lecturing from me, which was correct nonetheless…
"WHAT!?" was my initial reaction as well.
"Wait… let's go to Ryo's grave… He must have slipped from us, Children wait for a while. Take care of them guys," Jenrya said looking at the Digimon.
The two and the Digimon nodded. He then pulled my arm as he frantically ran towards the cemetery again.
"What if… what if… he's gone?" I stuttered thinking of the worst.
"Don't think that way okay…?" he said soothingly, "because seeing you frantic is… is… not Ruki anymore."
I glared at Jenrya, "baka… Jenrya no baka…"
He then smiled, "I know!" he exclaimed proudly then we found ourselves in front of Ryo's grave.
We face-faulted when we saw our surroundings…
No Ryo-chan in sight…
I was about to burst out in tears… I don't know how or why… but I was… because… maybe because… Ryo-chan is my son. I then felt Jenrya's hand on my shoulder, he squeezed it and was about to say something about not to give up when there was a tug on my foot.
I bet Jenrya felt it too since we both turned around.
We then saw Ryo-chan smiling at the two of us.
I found myself smiling… and Jenrya was too.
Smiling, who would have guessed? Me…? Smile…? It sounded impossible before but now… with my family, my love and friends… who knows?
Ryo-chan – now in Jenrya's arms began to point at something on the ground and both of us were forced to look.
Sorry to make you worry… just had to play with the kid…
Jenrya rubbed his eyes to see if what he saw was true. Yes, quite vividly etched to the ground actually.
I looked up at the sky and under my breath murmured, "Next time, ask… Ryo…"
Jenrya seemed to understand what that was on the ground and shouted to the sky, "DON'T MAKE US WORRY NEXT TIME, WILL YOU?"
A breeze then blown around us and seemingly whispered, Hai, Hai…
Both of us smiled and headed back to the van, making sure Ryo-chan was with us this time…
I looked at Jenrya and he smiled at me… and I knew… I would forever want to be in the arms of one man, this man… Jenrya Lee.
I remember before I wished… wished not to be alone
Not to be lonely
Not to be confused
However, I'm all of those now… I'm not sad, lonely or confused… that's why…
I wish… I wish… for nothing else…
I wish…
*Owari*
Takari-san: Finally finished, and as I said this is a very short epilogue ^^ and this concludes my first Tamers series…
ARIGATO MINNA-SAN and… please don't forget to R/R in this epilogue… R/R!