Da Capo (At the Beginning)

-Meeko Melodie

Meeko: Thank you so much for all your reviews! I get all excited and hyper when I get reviews. Heh... Anyhow, Digimon does not belong to me, once again.

And to answer one of my beloved reviewer's question: No, Ryo is not in love with Izumi, just no. He's a protective friend, that's for sure and he's obsessed with Ryuko.

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Recap from last chapter:

But no sooner did he reach the dining hall door, a figure halted him.

"You got some explaining to do, mister," Ryo Akiyama told him seriously, looking darkly at the direction Izumi had just ran out, tears stinging in her sea green eyes.

End of Recap

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Chapter 9: A Brilliant Idea

"Look," Kouji said desperately, trying to push off Ryo, "can we have this little talk later because this is not really the best time."

"No," Ryo insisted, "this is serious." He looked so stern and kept sending Kouji these scary looking glares that Kouji had no choice but to let Izumi go, again.

"Alright," Kouji sighed, "what is it?" They started the walk back to their dormitory.

"It's about Izumi," Ryo replied simply, they had stepped outside the school building.

Kouji tensed up. Why did he just have to be an ass hole and bring it up? Light breeze was dancing against his cheeks, making Kouji felt more awake than ever.

"What about her?" Kouji asked, using his most neutral voice, although it was kind of hard because his throat was getting unbelievably tight.

"What about her?!" Ryo practically shouted, shocking Kouji a little, "Kouji, you stupid bastard, what were you thinking when you were kissing her?"

"Her?" Kouji pretended he had no idea what Ryo was talking about. Ryo continued to send him daggers.

"Jocelyn Clarkson, smart ass," Ryo replied ruthlessly, dipping in sarcasm.

"Oh, her," Kouji continued to act as if nothing dreadful was happening but his heart really was a real mess. His eyes darted to the ground, unable to look at Ryo straight in the eye.

"Yea, her," Ryo repeated vacantly.

They were quiet for a few moments until they reached their dorm.

"So aren't you going to do anything about it?" Ryo burst out hotly, turning to him. His eyes were, as hard as it was to believe, blazing with fire (because he was always so cheerful it was seldom to see Ryo getting all angry).

"Or maybe you are starting to fall for that bitch Jocelyn-what's-her-god-damn-disgusting-name?" he continued to glared at Kouji. Kouji was motionless, blood draining out of his already pale face.

"No, that's not true," Kouji shouted back, "I hate her! I hate that bitch!" It was true too. That was gratifying, the yelling and declaration of hatred towards that human being people called her pretty.

Ryo smirked.

"So, what are you going to do about it?" Ryo asked, cocking an eyebrow, "now that you finally have your senses back." He added.

"My senses are always here," Kouji replied, rolling his eyes.

"What ever, so what are you going to do about her?" Ryo repeated.

"Oh, that Jocelyn bitch is going to pay for it alright," Kouji grinded his teeth, hard, "I'm going to-"

"Whoa, hold it," Ryo instructed as they enter their room," as much as I do enjoy listening how you're going to make that Jocelyn suffer, I must ask you to remain sane and think about other important stuff."

"And that is..." Kouji lifted an eyebrow.

"Are you being stupid or are you just being the Kouji Minamoto that you are?" Ryo asked sardonically and he continued," I'm talking about Izumi."

"Oh," Kouji sounded unsure again.

"Come on," Ryo shouted desperately, "just go and get your girl already! People who are not blind can see you're still in love with her! God-damn-it, even those who are blind can sense it!"

Still, Kouji remained silent.

"She hates me," Kouji stated suddenly, throwing himself onto the bed, "even if she doesn't hate me before, now she's going to hate me for sure."

"Don't be too pessimistic, my dear friend," Ryo smiled, patting Kouji's shoulder sympathetically. Somehow, the glint of Ryo's sky blue eyes told Kouji his mischievous friend had something in his mind, but what?

"What are you thinking?" Kouji asked suspiciously, afraid of what Ryo might think up of.

"Don't look at me like that, Minamoto," Ryo said, "this brilliant idea of mine is just the solution you might need so you better be sincere."

"Alright, alright," Kouji gave up, laughing and said in mockery, "o great one, please tell me what to do?" Even if Ryo's plans were sometimes...entertaining and interesting, yes, he would put it this way, most of the plans did work. So Kouji was going to hear Ryo out.

"Okay," Ryo started, getting all business-like, "tell me, Kouji, what are you best at?"

"Huh?" Kouji was struck by this question," what am I best at? Aren't you supposed to be the one who's helping me here?"

Ryo sighed, "I'm here to guide you, you poor, little, lost lover-boy." He grinned.

Kouji decided to ignore his remark and think. Okay, what is he best at? Well, that's really easy; he had been doing it since he was three.

"Piano," Kouji announced.

"Good, good," Ryo said, his eyes still glinting excitedly, "we're getting there. Now, other than piano, what is it that you're best at?"

"Again?" Kouji asked, scratching his head, "err...guitar?"

"Bingo!" Ryo yelled, "So what you're going to do is exactly what you did years before in that piano competition and pour your heart out, except this time..."

"What?" Kouji asked, uncomfortably.

"You're going to sing out all your god-damn feelings to that girl you love," Ryo declared and added playfully, "in other words: Izumi Orimoto."

"Right," Kouji sighed thoughtfully. He should have thought of that; it was that simple, yet brilliant.

"Akiyama, you actually came up with some thing good this time," Kouji exclaimed.

"What do you mean, this time?" Ryo protested, "I have great ideas every time someone asks for help!"

"Yea, sure," Kouji replied. His heart became much lighter now that he had the idea how to get Izumi back; how to get her girl back into his embrace.

And the thought of it was soothing and ...nice.

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Meeko: So...how's it? See? I'm trying to update it as quickly but summer school exam is coming, so I'm going to die soon! Ahh...send some comments or suffer!