Mai: I'm back...
X: And I'm willing to bet that many of her fans would hate this chapter.
Mai: Do I have any fans? Hopefully...by the way, I don't own Digimon Tamers...I hate myself...well, if hating is that bad.
X: She's so thankful for the reviews. The Tanabata chapter will wait, maybe next chapter, or the next, or the next, or the-
Mai: Shut up X. And addition, to (no offense, but it's true) the dense reviewer, that boy is Ryo. Seriously, what is the coupling? I intended to have around Ryo and Rika please....
~~ ~~
CHAPTER VI: PARTY
~~
~~ Three days after the tournament: Nonaka Residence ~~
The people in the house had been quite busy, maybe because of the fact that Rumiko Nonaka's birthday is twenty-four hours away. Not only the members, but also the Tamers helped around for the party. Actually, they volunteered to do so, not similar to Rika's purpose.
But not all the help the Tamers extended were always useful, especially the help from two Tamers named Kazu Shiota and Kenta Kitagawa. In less than one day, Ryo had noted ten arguments made by the duo and Rika, seven of which nearly turned bloody.
But thankfully, the day turned out better than what he expected. Those good moments also included the small, unnoticed (for the others except Henry) Kodak moments between him and Rika. Right now, he was sitting near the pond, watching the wind create ripples on the crystal clear water.
~~ FLASHBACK: A FEW HOURS AGO ~~
Kazu and Kenta did an amazing work for once, so they were promoted to being Rika's assistants for the ceiling decors. The two nitwits are to hold the ladder Rika was supposed to climb on.
So Ryo had been busy with some of the decors, and he's on the other room helping Henry and Takato. Jeri was on the kitchen, helping out Seiko with the food.
"Ryo, I think I saw some of the decors on the hallway." Henry said, desperately trying to pin a décor on the ceiling. "Takato is holding the ladder, so could you take them in for me?"
"Ah, sure." Ryo walked out of the room, took the decorations, and was about to go back in when he heard a commotion in the room Rika, Kazu and Kenta were in.
"Rika, you'd better hurry! We're kind of having trouble holding the ladder in place." Kazu declared. Kenta was silent, knowing that the sixth comment will cause another war between the Ice Princess and Idiot Number One.
"Don't tell me that you can't hold a ladder in one place, and with two of you on each side!" Rika sighed, holding a wire in one hand. "Keep your arms steady for once because if I make a miscalculation because the sudden movements, there will be a short circuit in this house."
What is it with morons this time of the year? They get weirder and weirder and weirder still, Rika concluded, picking out the wires. This is about to get weirder still...
"Hey, any problem there?" a voice startled her out of the wires, and immediately lose her balance. She toppled over from the ladder. She closed her eyes from the impact, but the only impact that came is someone catching her, before a soft 'thump'. She opened her eyes to see Ryo on the floor, his arm on the back of her chest and the other arm behind her knees.
"Well, Rika, you should be careful." Ryo smiled. "Someone might not be here the next time you fall, and..." he looked somewhere else, "You are not so light."
"Why did you catch me then?" Rika asked, not making a move in getting out of his grasp. Somehow, both felt the heat rising up inside them, especially on the parts Ryo was holding with his arms.
Ryo grinned impishly. "Well, I thought you would appreciate it if someone is looking out for you. Well, we don't want you getting amnesia now, do we?" Well, that was part of the reason why he did that.
Neither had noticed that Kazu and Kenta sneaked out of the room to avoid getting into Rika's wrath, so it left them silent and all alone in the room, still not getting off of the other's hold. Their eyes stared at each other for what seem to be an eternity.
That is all happening until a sound of a falling person was heard and it took them both back to reality. Realizing the position they're both in, they quickly stood up, blushing.
"Ryo, how long can you get those decors?" Henry cried out from the other room. "It's just beside the next room. Takato isn't that strong enough to hold me."
"Hey!" the voice of Takato Matsuki protested.
"I'm coming, wait a sec, will you?" Ryo responded. He turned over to Rika, who was surveying the area, and probably looking for the two idiots who left her. "So, Rika, stay out of danger for a while. It's not everyday that a knight in shining armor such as myself is there to save you."
Rika fixed him with a death glare, which hinted that she needed to clarify some things. "One, I am capable of taking care of myself. Two, you are not my knight in shining armor, or any knight for that matter. Three, get moving so that I can beat the hell out of those idiots who ran off."
Ryo gave a mock salute. "Yes ma'am, Ice Princess, ma'am." He walked smartly out of the room, took the decors Henry asked for, and went back to the two guys in the other room.
~~ END FLASHBACK ~~
A smile lit his features as he recalled the memory. If Rika really didn't feel anything at all, she would've shoved off and shouted obscenities at him. But then, she didn't. And that had to show promise.
He heard footsteps coming from behind, and he knew that it was the girl sharing his memory earlier.
"She is coming back in a few minutes." Rika started, approaching him. "Why are you here?"
He turned to look at her, and another smile, a smaller one, was etched on his lips. "I like staying near bodies of water." When Rika made no comment, he continued, seeing as it would do no harm. "Just looking at it keeps me comfortable and peaceful for a while. Unfortunately, my house doesn't have these things. I just took my chance while I'm still here."
"You mind if I sit here?" she asked, gesturing at the empty space beside Ryo. The boy just shook his head, so she sat down. "I didn't know we think that alike."
Silence reigned for a few seconds while they watched the wind create ripples in the pond. The wind only generated a small noise equivalent to a whimper and it took some sakura petals from the neighboring house that belonged to a person who loved cherry blossoms. A few petals dropped to their hair, and some landed on the pond, disturbing the ripples. Ryo looked at her, and she looked more like an angel with pink on. This thought brought up another smile on his face, a smile that didn't go unnoticed by Rika.
"What are you smiling about?" she asked, rather curious, yet embarrassed on how Ryo looked at her.
Ryo decided to be frank, as he was never one to really lie. "You look kind of adorable with those petals on your hair." This comment caused a light blush to appear on the redhead's face.
Before Rika was able to give an appropriate reply, a shout from Kazu was heard, along with the shrill voice of Jeri. "Rika! Ryo! Where the heck are you? Mrs. Nonaka is already on the gate!"
That took them out of their moment _again_. Rika sighed and stood up. She gave a hand to Ryo. "We'd better hurry. Mom is here."
Ryo took the hand gratefully, and both of them went inside the house to welcome Rumiko. But before setting foot on the well-shined floor, Rika expertly took out every single petal out of her hair and smirked at Ryo. "You should do the same, you'll never know who might laugh at you for being fond of pink."
Ryo grinned affectionately before shaking his head, causing all but one petal to fly away. "Well, not exactly fond of pink." He shrugged. "Fond of everyone who looks cute on pink."
Rika, however, didn't get the idea. She noticed the stubborn petal stuck on Ryo's dark tresses. "There is still a petal. Hold still." She took the petal out of Ryo's hair, while the boy looked back and forth at the girl and his hair with innocence present.
Inwardly, Rika shuddered. This boy was able to take out most of the emotions she never thought she had in less than one day. She silently wondered if all of this would end in - oh! No! Never would she think of something...but that always happen, right?
They made it before Rumiko opened the door. "Mother? Rika? The lights are still on." She made it to the main dining room. "What is going...oh my..."
"Happy birthday!"
The smiling faces of not only her mother and the Tamers, but also of Rika, whose smile never failed to please her, greeted her. She placed a hand on her mouth and tried to choke down her tears. But failed, as usual.
"I...oh thank you!" Rumiko cried as she walked towards the room. "Mother, Rika, all of you, thank you..."
Rika ran to her mother and gave her a big embrace. "Happy birthday, mom." She exclaimed, tears flowing freely, tears Ryo had never expected seeing from one having such a cold heart. Could it be, that Rika Nonaka has finally found what was missing?
Rika released her embrace, and Seiko made her way, holding a lovely cake, with blue icing on the sides and on the top are candles lining up parallel to the circumference and the hiragana letters which means "Otanjobi Omedeto" in it. Rika glanced at her grandmother and Jeri, and her lips broke into a smile.
"Make a wish, mom." Rika said, smiling for her mother. Rumiko looked at her mother and her daughter.
"Rika, dear, my wish was already granted." She replied, before blowing the candles. Everyone clapped, some cried (AN: Insert Kazu and Kenta crying their eyes out.) =), but Ryo chose to smile.
Rika knew that she was doing the right thing. But then, will there be enough time? A sudden aching started on her chest, but she refused to let it appear on her expression. So this won't stop until it get her, would it?
During the whole party, and some visitors arrived, Rika decided on staying outside the take out the pain. She sat on the same place she sat a good hour ago, and clutched her chest, this time, the pain was quite unbearable. Not knowing that he was watching intently, she bit her lip in an attempt to hold any scream she might make, but that didn't stop her tears from flowing out of pain this time.
Ryo couldn't stand it, just standing there and watching her suffer like that. He had to go to her. But then, there was that aftereffect. But he didn't care, obviously. He walked and sat down beside her and pulled her into a hug. Whatever is happening in Rika's system right now must be really painful if it made her like this. "Rika, please try to fight it."
Rika knew, and Ryo knew, what is really happening. Ryo's vision of seeing her in this state caused him to embrace her tighter. There would be nothing he could do to help her right now. He knows that she cared enough for her mother that she wouldn't spoil her happiest day.
~~
Mai: I don't like fluffy stories...the too fluffy stories...nothing, I'm just rambling. I don't like my day as of late. I'm short on money...just review to make me feel any better, please?
X: She's in a wreck, forgive her for rambling. Oh and a quick addition, she's quite nonsense for this day. Hiragana letters meaning "Otanjobi Omedeto"? Seriously, um, it means Happy Birthday. So, um, goodbye.
X: And I'm willing to bet that many of her fans would hate this chapter.
Mai: Do I have any fans? Hopefully...by the way, I don't own Digimon Tamers...I hate myself...well, if hating is that bad.
X: She's so thankful for the reviews. The Tanabata chapter will wait, maybe next chapter, or the next, or the next, or the-
Mai: Shut up X. And addition, to (no offense, but it's true) the dense reviewer, that boy is Ryo. Seriously, what is the coupling? I intended to have around Ryo and Rika please....
~~ ~~
CHAPTER VI: PARTY
~~
~~ Three days after the tournament: Nonaka Residence ~~
The people in the house had been quite busy, maybe because of the fact that Rumiko Nonaka's birthday is twenty-four hours away. Not only the members, but also the Tamers helped around for the party. Actually, they volunteered to do so, not similar to Rika's purpose.
But not all the help the Tamers extended were always useful, especially the help from two Tamers named Kazu Shiota and Kenta Kitagawa. In less than one day, Ryo had noted ten arguments made by the duo and Rika, seven of which nearly turned bloody.
But thankfully, the day turned out better than what he expected. Those good moments also included the small, unnoticed (for the others except Henry) Kodak moments between him and Rika. Right now, he was sitting near the pond, watching the wind create ripples on the crystal clear water.
~~ FLASHBACK: A FEW HOURS AGO ~~
Kazu and Kenta did an amazing work for once, so they were promoted to being Rika's assistants for the ceiling decors. The two nitwits are to hold the ladder Rika was supposed to climb on.
So Ryo had been busy with some of the decors, and he's on the other room helping Henry and Takato. Jeri was on the kitchen, helping out Seiko with the food.
"Ryo, I think I saw some of the decors on the hallway." Henry said, desperately trying to pin a décor on the ceiling. "Takato is holding the ladder, so could you take them in for me?"
"Ah, sure." Ryo walked out of the room, took the decorations, and was about to go back in when he heard a commotion in the room Rika, Kazu and Kenta were in.
"Rika, you'd better hurry! We're kind of having trouble holding the ladder in place." Kazu declared. Kenta was silent, knowing that the sixth comment will cause another war between the Ice Princess and Idiot Number One.
"Don't tell me that you can't hold a ladder in one place, and with two of you on each side!" Rika sighed, holding a wire in one hand. "Keep your arms steady for once because if I make a miscalculation because the sudden movements, there will be a short circuit in this house."
What is it with morons this time of the year? They get weirder and weirder and weirder still, Rika concluded, picking out the wires. This is about to get weirder still...
"Hey, any problem there?" a voice startled her out of the wires, and immediately lose her balance. She toppled over from the ladder. She closed her eyes from the impact, but the only impact that came is someone catching her, before a soft 'thump'. She opened her eyes to see Ryo on the floor, his arm on the back of her chest and the other arm behind her knees.
"Well, Rika, you should be careful." Ryo smiled. "Someone might not be here the next time you fall, and..." he looked somewhere else, "You are not so light."
"Why did you catch me then?" Rika asked, not making a move in getting out of his grasp. Somehow, both felt the heat rising up inside them, especially on the parts Ryo was holding with his arms.
Ryo grinned impishly. "Well, I thought you would appreciate it if someone is looking out for you. Well, we don't want you getting amnesia now, do we?" Well, that was part of the reason why he did that.
Neither had noticed that Kazu and Kenta sneaked out of the room to avoid getting into Rika's wrath, so it left them silent and all alone in the room, still not getting off of the other's hold. Their eyes stared at each other for what seem to be an eternity.
That is all happening until a sound of a falling person was heard and it took them both back to reality. Realizing the position they're both in, they quickly stood up, blushing.
"Ryo, how long can you get those decors?" Henry cried out from the other room. "It's just beside the next room. Takato isn't that strong enough to hold me."
"Hey!" the voice of Takato Matsuki protested.
"I'm coming, wait a sec, will you?" Ryo responded. He turned over to Rika, who was surveying the area, and probably looking for the two idiots who left her. "So, Rika, stay out of danger for a while. It's not everyday that a knight in shining armor such as myself is there to save you."
Rika fixed him with a death glare, which hinted that she needed to clarify some things. "One, I am capable of taking care of myself. Two, you are not my knight in shining armor, or any knight for that matter. Three, get moving so that I can beat the hell out of those idiots who ran off."
Ryo gave a mock salute. "Yes ma'am, Ice Princess, ma'am." He walked smartly out of the room, took the decors Henry asked for, and went back to the two guys in the other room.
~~ END FLASHBACK ~~
A smile lit his features as he recalled the memory. If Rika really didn't feel anything at all, she would've shoved off and shouted obscenities at him. But then, she didn't. And that had to show promise.
He heard footsteps coming from behind, and he knew that it was the girl sharing his memory earlier.
"She is coming back in a few minutes." Rika started, approaching him. "Why are you here?"
He turned to look at her, and another smile, a smaller one, was etched on his lips. "I like staying near bodies of water." When Rika made no comment, he continued, seeing as it would do no harm. "Just looking at it keeps me comfortable and peaceful for a while. Unfortunately, my house doesn't have these things. I just took my chance while I'm still here."
"You mind if I sit here?" she asked, gesturing at the empty space beside Ryo. The boy just shook his head, so she sat down. "I didn't know we think that alike."
Silence reigned for a few seconds while they watched the wind create ripples in the pond. The wind only generated a small noise equivalent to a whimper and it took some sakura petals from the neighboring house that belonged to a person who loved cherry blossoms. A few petals dropped to their hair, and some landed on the pond, disturbing the ripples. Ryo looked at her, and she looked more like an angel with pink on. This thought brought up another smile on his face, a smile that didn't go unnoticed by Rika.
"What are you smiling about?" she asked, rather curious, yet embarrassed on how Ryo looked at her.
Ryo decided to be frank, as he was never one to really lie. "You look kind of adorable with those petals on your hair." This comment caused a light blush to appear on the redhead's face.
Before Rika was able to give an appropriate reply, a shout from Kazu was heard, along with the shrill voice of Jeri. "Rika! Ryo! Where the heck are you? Mrs. Nonaka is already on the gate!"
That took them out of their moment _again_. Rika sighed and stood up. She gave a hand to Ryo. "We'd better hurry. Mom is here."
Ryo took the hand gratefully, and both of them went inside the house to welcome Rumiko. But before setting foot on the well-shined floor, Rika expertly took out every single petal out of her hair and smirked at Ryo. "You should do the same, you'll never know who might laugh at you for being fond of pink."
Ryo grinned affectionately before shaking his head, causing all but one petal to fly away. "Well, not exactly fond of pink." He shrugged. "Fond of everyone who looks cute on pink."
Rika, however, didn't get the idea. She noticed the stubborn petal stuck on Ryo's dark tresses. "There is still a petal. Hold still." She took the petal out of Ryo's hair, while the boy looked back and forth at the girl and his hair with innocence present.
Inwardly, Rika shuddered. This boy was able to take out most of the emotions she never thought she had in less than one day. She silently wondered if all of this would end in - oh! No! Never would she think of something...but that always happen, right?
They made it before Rumiko opened the door. "Mother? Rika? The lights are still on." She made it to the main dining room. "What is going...oh my..."
"Happy birthday!"
The smiling faces of not only her mother and the Tamers, but also of Rika, whose smile never failed to please her, greeted her. She placed a hand on her mouth and tried to choke down her tears. But failed, as usual.
"I...oh thank you!" Rumiko cried as she walked towards the room. "Mother, Rika, all of you, thank you..."
Rika ran to her mother and gave her a big embrace. "Happy birthday, mom." She exclaimed, tears flowing freely, tears Ryo had never expected seeing from one having such a cold heart. Could it be, that Rika Nonaka has finally found what was missing?
Rika released her embrace, and Seiko made her way, holding a lovely cake, with blue icing on the sides and on the top are candles lining up parallel to the circumference and the hiragana letters which means "Otanjobi Omedeto" in it. Rika glanced at her grandmother and Jeri, and her lips broke into a smile.
"Make a wish, mom." Rika said, smiling for her mother. Rumiko looked at her mother and her daughter.
"Rika, dear, my wish was already granted." She replied, before blowing the candles. Everyone clapped, some cried (AN: Insert Kazu and Kenta crying their eyes out.) =), but Ryo chose to smile.
Rika knew that she was doing the right thing. But then, will there be enough time? A sudden aching started on her chest, but she refused to let it appear on her expression. So this won't stop until it get her, would it?
During the whole party, and some visitors arrived, Rika decided on staying outside the take out the pain. She sat on the same place she sat a good hour ago, and clutched her chest, this time, the pain was quite unbearable. Not knowing that he was watching intently, she bit her lip in an attempt to hold any scream she might make, but that didn't stop her tears from flowing out of pain this time.
Ryo couldn't stand it, just standing there and watching her suffer like that. He had to go to her. But then, there was that aftereffect. But he didn't care, obviously. He walked and sat down beside her and pulled her into a hug. Whatever is happening in Rika's system right now must be really painful if it made her like this. "Rika, please try to fight it."
Rika knew, and Ryo knew, what is really happening. Ryo's vision of seeing her in this state caused him to embrace her tighter. There would be nothing he could do to help her right now. He knows that she cared enough for her mother that she wouldn't spoil her happiest day.
~~
Mai: I don't like fluffy stories...the too fluffy stories...nothing, I'm just rambling. I don't like my day as of late. I'm short on money...just review to make me feel any better, please?
X: She's in a wreck, forgive her for rambling. Oh and a quick addition, she's quite nonsense for this day. Hiragana letters meaning "Otanjobi Omedeto"? Seriously, um, it means Happy Birthday. So, um, goodbye.
