'Never gotten this far

Your heart is pounding'

He entered the night café scared out of his mind. He cleared it over in his head 'clothes?…check…wallet?..yup….uh, hair?…good enough…fly?…closed! Looks like I'm ready to go!' He took a booth near the wall, it was dark but he could still see the rest of the place and the stage more clearly, instead of being surrounded by the foggy mist that seemed to travel around the center of the room. Slowly he traced his eyes across the dazed customers that sat quietly, he could swear they were all dead. For the only movement they made was a small sip to their drinks, and that was it. They were so stationary that they didn't seem to be blinking…

Taking his mind off their misty eyes, he looked to the stage, and there she was setting up her stuff. Calling out her name and waving brought her attention to him, but someone else seemed to get it across faster then he could, for she turned around to be greeted by a hug... The man stood a great foot and a half above her, just a few inches taller then himself, Takato calculated... His business suit making him look professional and hiding the obvious strength that seemed to be suffocating Ruki while she was still caught in his bear hug.

Takato's eyebrow twitched as he examined his face…a pretty boy! How was he going to compete with that!?! But his thoughts shifted when his logical voice came in… 'You came to repay a favor…and possibly say how pretty she is…not to sweep her off her feet and hope that she would stay with you forever…more then serenade, mind you…'

He swallowed hard as the man began to kiss her cheeks, and from her laugh it seemed to Takato that she was enjoying it. He slumped into the cushioned seat, disgusted… 'You dream too much, you should be thankful she's giving you this chance to talk to her…You're a loser remember? Not one minute of you is worth anyone's time…' Angered by his own thoughts, he ordered a drink and quickly sucked it down, killing half of the voice…

He was still angered as he sat with his second drink but when she finally came over his heart lightened a little, and so did his head… 'Be thankful'

"Sorry for that, he just sort of came out of nowhere…" she muttered a little grumpily.

"Oh, an obsessed fan?" he spoke, trying not to sound too interested…

"Something like that…" Waving at the waitress she ordered a drink and together they sat silently. Finishing his glass, he commented.

"Your really great. I wish I could play and sing, and write like you can…" he stared at his ice cubes, never daring to look directly at her…

"Just one of those natural talents that surprise people." She continued to drink from her glass, not bothering to look at him either. "Everybody has something…"

"Don't know where I'd be without mine…" he chuckled.

Just to be polite she asked, "And what would that be?"

"Uh… I'm an artist, mostly for comic strips and stuff…" he blushed a bit, he was quite embarrassed because most people thought his 'interest' was just an interest, not worthy enough for money.

"That's all you do?"

"Well, aside from night school, I run a bakery around this area, while my parents take care of one in the west side of town."

"Is it your business?" she placed her blue glass on the table.

"More like the families'," then he thought, "Well I guess when they're gone, yeah, it'll be mine."

"So you're an only child?" finally she looked at him, "…Just like me."

'Blood's running

But in a good way'

Takato applauded spiritedly as she finished her gig, and in some way he felt that it awarded him another drink with her, for after she packed up she was back to sit and drink.

"So what do you do?" the question seemed to catch her off guard…

"Um.. I'm at my last year at university." Her eyes traveled to watch the people walking by.

"What are you planning to be?"

"Uh… a teacher." She gave him eye contact for a second, but then returned to gazing around the café.

"Wow, that's going to be tough… Taking care of kids, having to make sure they do their homework…" he laughed when an old memory came back to him, "I once had this teacher, she yelled my head off for spacing out too much and when I drew instead of pay attention…Heh, she never did like my drawings back then, but then again, they were all just digi-er- monsters…"

Somehow a word of his got her undivided attention. "Did you say ah- never mind…"

"What?"

"Forget it…" she sighed.

"You mean, digimon?" he smiled, "You were hooked on it too?"

She smirked, "Yeah, a little…"

"Whoa! There's barely anyone I know that still remembers that series! So who's your favorite character? Mine's Taichi!"

"Well, I never get to watch it much anymore…" her face turned a little pink under his excitement. Looking down, "but I still like Yamato, well, in Adventures not Zero Two…"

"This is so cool!!!" he shouted but his joy was stopped when he felt a firm hand land on his shoulder. Angered he turned to find the man with the pretty boy face.

"Couldn't help feeling all the energy that seemed to be erupting from this table." The man smiled at him, revealing such white teeth that it almost seemed to illuminate a glare all it's own. Takato was slightly blinded, but even more disgusted.

"Get out of here…" he turned to see Ruki hiss at the man, her eyes glaring, almost glowing with anger.

"Aren't you going to introduce your friend to me?" he pouted like a puppy, one that Takato felt Ruki would be all too happy to kick…

"I'd rather not waste my time…" she paused, "Or his…"

Ignoring her gaze, the man returned his attention to Takato, "My name's Akiyama, Ryo. I head a video game company around here, and hopefully, I'll own it someday."

"That's neat, you must own a lot… Video gaming is getting bigger and bigger every year… I know I spend a lot on it!"

"Yes, yes, so what do you do?" his eyes seemed to challenge him.

Oddly with a little more pride, "Part-time baker, part-time artist!" but as Ryo's critical eye hit him, it shriveled like a dried plum.

"That sounds… fun…" then unexpectedly he bent close to Takato's ear and whispered but still loud enough for Ruki to hear. "But for today, don't expect too much… I mean…" he went closer, "She is mine you know…"

Takato quivered a little when Ryo stroked his cheek, and messed his hair. When he finally left, Takato still felt out of place, but it faded when Ruki finally started talking…

"He's an ass, and don't believe what he says about me being his… It's a lie…"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just…" she stopped. Takato wanted to ask more but then thought better of it. "Say, I gotta go… I have some school stuff I have to finish."

"Sure, all right then…" Takato looked down into his glass, not bothering to say anymore. He could feel Ruki get up from her seat but she stopped right beside him.

She stuttered just a little, "Did you ever play the, card game?"

"Still do. Every card, every action figure they ever made, I have it." Still he didn't turn to face her.

"I'd like to see them some time, maybe even challenge you to a game…" At her words Takato's confusion lightened, and he turned around quickly to be awarded with a piece of paper. Her number. "Call me when you're free."

He gulped. Completely empty of any sense that would normally put words together. He didn't even hear her laugh at his speechless expression…