The Inevitable Fate

Flashback from the previous chapter

But he seemed eager not to let her escape and she felt a tug on her wrist and with a spun, she confronted a pair of blue wonders. The colour of an ocean. It was not a calm ocean.

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Chapter 7

His eyes…they did not portray a calm person he used to be. Instead, she could sense his inner torment just by gazing at them. Those pair of wonders that used to glimmer with joviality and irony now subsided into a raging fire. The moment stretched. And then realized…she was in his arms.

She WAS in his arms. How could that possibly happen?

Her body went rigid at his touch and trembled at his breath. Their eyes met and locked within each stare. The moment stretched even longer… until –

"Let go of me." Rika hissed.

Ryo tightened his grip around her waist. He wasn't going to waste his opportunity just like that. "I'm not going to." He grinned. "Not till I want to."

"Let. Go. Of. Me." She stressed once more but now, with pure hatred.

"Hush. Just let me talk."

"I DON'T WANT TO LISTEN!"

"But Rika, I –"

She screamed. That was the first time she lost her cool in front of a guy. And not just any other guy. It was the guy who she thought she could get along with. The guy who she thought different from the others. Oh, how wrong she proved to be. He was just like any other guy.

I hate you Akiyama.

 I hate you.

*~*~*~*~*~*

He was terrified. What on earth have he done? How could he allow himself to assault her when she least expected it?

I'm sorry Rika… I don't deserve someone like you…

Ryo released his grip while his head was bowed low. He tried to summon his usual smile, assuring her it was all a joke; he just wanted to see her smile again. But he couldn't. It was lost. The smile was gone, away with his sanity, away with his condensed soul. He couldn't look at her; he couldn't bear to look at her beautiful face which was now moistened with tears, tears of poignant and agony caused by him. He hated himself.

Someone kill me now.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Tears pricked her eyes but she was persistent of not letting them flow out so easily. A moment ago, she could have control them but now she had naught the will anymore. She bit her lips bitterly and faced him with rheumy eyes of a harassed girl, feeling quite disappointed of the guy she used to know.

"Listen here Akiyama. Why can't you just leave me alone and let me go on with my life? This freedom I obtain now was something I have to plead for. It was something that I was born without unlike all of you." She choke in a sob and stared into his eyes once more that was no more raged with fire but with something softer and gentler…was that remorse? "Do you really hate me Akiyama? Do you really hate me that you have to bug me, every minute of my life?"

Ryo was quite taken aback by her outburst. He did not utter a word at all. In fact, words seemed to have failed him that moment and were carried away by the whispers of the dead afternoon. How cruel fate was. One month ago he was glad to have met her again but one month later, he was struck with a depressing truth. So, this was what she thought about me… I'm a nobody, just someone who intended to make her life a living hell. This was not the way at all… He had never wanted things to turn out this way. Yet the last line had murdered him alive.

Rika however was still flared by his unproven attitude. She pushed him away and proceeded to pace down the corridor but something stopped her in her track. The touch of his cold hand. Slowly, he opened his eyes and his mind hovered within the brink of insanity and madness. He needed to tell her why he had treated her like that. It was not because he hated her, it was because…

"I'm sorry." He muttered.

She couldn't see his face, he wasn't facing her. But one thing for sure, his tone was deep and resentful, not like what she had expected to hear. This was not the way she would have wanted it either, but it was too late to take everything back for she had just wounded him beyond any assurgent. The truth hurt and the pain she had to endure to see him like this was even worse. She hadn't told him the entire truth. She couldn't stay long this time. She hadn't told him she will be leaving for somewhere, somewhere far away from Japan in another half a year. Perhaps thing were best when they stayed this way. They were nothing more than common friends – no, merely acquaintances.

Rika pulled her wrist away and ran down the corridor; tears streaming down her cheeks, and fears playing in her mind after leaving a very lost child behind her.

I'm sorry too…Ryo.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Another month come and go and summer had finally arrived. This year, summer was humid and didn't brought much sorrows; perhaps a couple of rains once fortnightly or far-off thunder rumbling in the distance once in a while that rose false alarms to those who desire some leisure outdoor activities. It indeed offered a more eminent comfort compared to the previous season. Spring, the season of despair.

Bright rays dispread through the drawn blind and Rika dimly opened an eye. It was the first day of the summer break and yet she could already feel the adrenaline rushing through her entire body. She stepped off from her bed, all the while stretching herself and stifling a loud yawn before preparing herself for the day. That event that took place one month ago was now just a pipe dream and was buried within the depths of her mind. It was nothing than a pure aloof memory.

"Nothing could depress me anymore. I'm just going to spend my holidays with my friends happily down at the beach and think naught but fun." She muttered jovially to herself.

Feeling rather contented, she proceeded to prepare herself and it took her no sooner than fifteen minutes before dashing down the stairs, munching pieces of toasted bread, pecked a small kiss on her nanny's cheek and hopping into her mother's car. She wouldn't fancy her friends to wait for her and this time around, she could grab the opportunity to tease Kazu and have her revenge in the most informal way. She grinned at the thought of it.

"You sure you have everything pack?" Her mother asked after a while.

"Yes mother. All nice and safe in this backpack of mine. And another suitcase in the back." She replied dryly.

Rumiko Nonaka broke into a tiny smile upon seeing her daughter regaining her spirits back. She was looking pretty dejected a couple of weeks back but now she seemed to have found her true self back. And she was glad at it.

"I hope you enjoy yourself dear. There wouldn't be much time left for you to spend with your friends. Make sure you make this trip something memorable you could cherish for the rest of your life."

A wave of emotion tackled her when she heard her mother. Rika scowled. Oh wait, she must not let her emotions get into her so easily. Must relax, must relax…

"I'd rather not talk about it now," she replied and her mother felt terrible for mentioning the subject she was trying to deny but she was proved wrong when an unmistakable grin followed soon shortly after that. "I'm going to treasure this trip for sure." She said. "With all my heart. You don't have to worry about your daughter." She continued and patted the driver's seat with heavy sarcasm. "She is certainly growing up."

Rumiko went ruptured with tears. She just couldn't believe what have flowed out from her daughter's mouth. Clasping a hand onto her mouth, she gazed at her 'growing-up' daughter with much admiration and respect. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye and she was overwhelmed with joy. "Oh, Rika…"

Realization dawned her and immediately, she pointed to her front. "Err, mother… I think you should look where you are  driving."

Gingerly, her mother steered her eyes away and focused her attention to the road. "Of course, my dear. Of course." And with a certitude feeling, for the first time, both lapsed into comfortable silence as this journey had brought new discoveries and a closer relationship between both mother and daughter.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"You're early, Rika. What makes you change all of a sudden?" Henry Wong asked as she helped Rika with her luggage from the car.

"Well, you are early too."

"I'm always early, mind you." Henry stated the obvious. Rika broke into fits of giggle. "How true."

And he stared disbelievingly. "You've certainly change Rika…" He sighed. "I'm glad."

"What's with the sigh? And what do you mean by 'you've certainly change Rika'?" She mimicked him. "You mean to say that I was an intolerable girl with a bad temper, huh!" She raised a brow.

"That, was the truth –" But Henry couldn't finish his sentence for Rika went completely ballistic after him though she only meant that as a joke, with fatal threats such as feeding him to Guilmon and listening to Kenta's and Kazu's song for one whole night.

"Oh, don't do that." Henry pleaded. "I'd rather be fed to a humble Guilmon than to be caged an entire night with Kenta and Kazu singing their heads off. You know how horrible their voices are."

Rika gave a 'humph' and a small knock on his head. "Serve you right."

"Rika!!" Rumiko called out. She hurried to her side, leaving Henry quite densed. "Yes?"

"Enjoy yourself and don't let anything stop you."

"Don't fret mother, I know what I'm up against." And with a hug and a kiss and an assuring thumb-up, she bid goodbye and watched the car pulled away and disappeared into the distance.

"Ready for your next big adventure?"

"Definitely."

"Good, because WE ARE JUST PLANNING TO FEED YOU TO THE SHARK!!!" Kazu, Kenta and Henry carried Rika each by her hands and feet and were swinging her from left, to right, from left, to right…

"Get me down you idiots!"

"AAh…sweet revenge." Henry smirked.

"I'll get you for this Chinese boy!"

And their laughter rang into his earlobes. They seemed to enjoy each other's company more than anything else. But why did it sound so foreign all of a sudden? Ryo, leaned by the shady tree and witnessed the rascals enjoying themselves under the morning sun. The colour of a fresh day was just peeking out from the horizon. He thought, it was best not to disturb their 'pleasant' revenge but Kenta had spotted him first.

"Hey, talk about the devil He is already here!!" He shouted through the midst of crowds. Rika was wondering who the mysterious person who was going to join them in this trip to but when squinted her eyes for a better view, a dark silhouette stepped out from the shadows and her eyes widened with shock. The guy that she was trying to avoid for the past one month now materialized in front of her –

"Yo!"

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Yeah, another chapter done! If I go on with this speed of writing this story might finish before I could even squeal, "Go get her Ryo!" Lol. The school break is finally here and I think I can't update ore this time. I hope you enjoy what's in store for you guys and I promise no more sad and solemn stories anymore. I'll make it sound as witty and happy as possible okay? Though I doubt I have any 'wit' with me. -_-" Thanks to those who have reviewed. I couldn't thank you guys enough. ::Throws confetti::

Signing out,

Psycho_kyugurl