Here we now have Chapter 5. I wanted to put this up on my birthday, but
things did not turn out as I had planed and I had only managed to remake my
bio, and then I had a whole bunch of things that went crazy with school and
my health. So, now I will post this up and give all you readers what I've
been promising!
-DK
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Chapter 5
Yamato's POV:
"Where the hell were you Friday?" I looked up to Tai, a bit startled. "Huh?" "Why did you just leave me at that club?" "I-something important came up." "Something more important than me?" "Hai, Tai. I needed to do something." "Like?" I got up uncomfortably from the stair I sat on in front of Odaiba High and started walking inside, Taichi following close behind. "Taichi, I can't tell you now." I looked up and saw Rika at her locker. My mind suddenly shot to Friday night. The poor girl looked so weak today, as if something was torn apart from her. Rika slammed her locker shut and turned around. Her eyes met mine. I smiled a little and her cheeks turned a bit pink as she smiled back a little before moving towards our class. Overhead the bell rang. "Listen, Tai, I'll talk to you later, but I don't want to be late for class." "'K, but call me ASAP." "Sure, sayonara!"
I rushed to my literature class and took my seat right away. I looked over to Rika, who sat looking out the window in her own little world. The tardy bell rang and kids poured into the room along with Mr. Meyers. Meyers looked around for attendance and seemed a little startled to see Rika. "Ms. Makino, you made it on time today!" he exclaimed. Rika just gave a little shrug and nod in reply, then looked down at her notebook. "Okay, everyone, turn in your textbooks to page 79. Who would like to." I barely paid attention to the lesson as I wrote on a clean sheet of paper, glancing up at times to make sure Mr. Meyers didn't notice me. When I was finished, I had five minutes left of class, so I copied down the homework assignment and chewed impatiently on my pen. When the bell finally rang, I quickly gathered my things and got up. I walked past Rika's desk and dropped the folded note on her desk. I turned before walking out the door and saw her pick up the note. She looked up at me, her eyebrows arched in confusion. I smiled and mouthed, "read it" before turning and walking to my next class.
*~*~*~*~*
Rika's POV:
As soon as I packed my stuff and headed to my car, I started to read Yamato's note. Why he would ever take the time to write me a note I had no idea, but I would soon find out. In the privacy of my car, I unfolded the note and read carefully:
"Rika,
I'm sure you would rather forget about Friday night, but I want to make sure you are okay. I wont get personal and ask or force you to tell me anything you don't feel comfortable telling me, I promise. And I want you to know I haven't told anybody. It is not because I am scared of my image, but because I know it was hard enough to go through and you don't need people bothering you. Tonight I have a band practice [big surprise.] from 3.30-6.30 in the gym. If you can meet me there, that'll be great.
Yamato"
Putting the note down, I thought for a few minutes before finally leaving. When I reached my house, I changed into a plain black dress and ate a little before trying to start some homework. At 5.20 I heard the front door open. Looking up, I saw my mom and her boyfriend come in. "Rika?" my mom called. "I'm in the living room." She peeked in. "Hey, sweetie. I just wanted you to know that Lee and I are planning to go to a café for a while." "Okay, mom. I have to go somewhere at 6.30 myself." "Okay, just don't stay out too long." "I wont." "Bye, Rika." "Sayonara."
I watched as she and Lee left and I fell back into the couch cushions. It was only 5.30 and I wanted to leave now. Or I would just wait until 6.00. Gah! What's with me?! I'm never this anxious! Sitting back up, I started to work on homework some more. Math formulas raced through my head, taking away my anxious feelings. When I glanced back to the clock, I saw it was 6.10. I quickly put down my work, grabbed my purse, and started my drive back to Odaiba High. The traffic was fairly light, so I made it with five minutes to spare.
Walking to the gym, I could hear the sounds of instruments pounding throughout the building. Touching the handle, I could feel the strong vibrations rivet through my fingers that soon hit my body when I opened the heavy door and walking into the large gym. A stage on the other end held the band, practicing for a gig most likely coming up. Yamato stood at the front center of the stage, eyes clasp shut, brows knitted together as he strummed the bass guitar, singing passionately of lost love and the frustration he felt. Much different from what I have heard from him before. As the song ended, his eyes fluttered open and instantly focused on me. Glancing at his watch, he turned towards the rest of his group. "'K, guys, that was great. Let's meet again the day after tomorrow, same time here," he said, swinging his guitar off his shoulder and setting it gently in its case. As the other band members cleaned up themselves, they cast confused looks in my direction. Ignoring the looks, I waited till Yamato and the others were finished and I was alone with my caller.
I got up and walked to him. "So, you want to talk to me?" Yamato nodded. "Hai, if you have the time?" "I think I do." "Okay, let's sit and talk." We sat down on the bleachers facing each other, I waiting to start. He sat silent for a moment, apparently finding words to start. Finally, he looked me in the eyes and said, "Rika, I'm a bit worried about you." My eyebrow arched in curiosity. "Huh? Worried about me?" "Hai." "Why?" "Just.I don't know.It's just, you seem so different, like.you aren't as strong as you were before." "Why are you worried about that? Shouldn't you be happy about it?" He shook his head furiously. "Of course not! Why should I be happy that you lost a part of something that is vital to you?" "Vital to me?" "Yes. People may not realize it, but you need to be strong in order to survive. You don't take shit from people, and so they know not to mess with you." "Uh-huh." "And.it makes me so angry that you lost a quality that makes you who you are because some motherfucker tried to take advantage of you!" My eyes widened in surprise to see the raw anger in his. "Yamato, you don't have to worry about it. Just forget about it, please."
"No, how can I?! Rika, I know that something is wrong and this hurts you more than you may realize." "But Yamato, it is not your problem! I don't need you playing the father in my life! It is nothing, and I'm nothing to you!"
With those words, I jumped up and started running towards the doors, tears welling in my eyes. But, Yamato was much father than I am, and so he easily caught up to me, lightly grabbing my wrist and stopping me in my tracks. I turned to him in defeat. "Yamato." "Rika, please. I cannot forget. I don't know why I need to care for you, but I do." All of a sudden he got down on his knees, still holding my hand, as if proposing marriage. I stared at him, my surprise plastered to my face. "Rika, please let me help you and be there for you?" "O-okay." "Arigato, Rika. You can count on me for anything." I nodded dumbly, still in a daze. "May I leave to think things over?" "Hai." I turned to leave, but just as I was about to pass through the door, I stopped and turned to the boy. "Arigato, Yamato." With those words, I left to ponder all of this discussion.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 5
Yamato's POV:
"Where the hell were you Friday?" I looked up to Tai, a bit startled. "Huh?" "Why did you just leave me at that club?" "I-something important came up." "Something more important than me?" "Hai, Tai. I needed to do something." "Like?" I got up uncomfortably from the stair I sat on in front of Odaiba High and started walking inside, Taichi following close behind. "Taichi, I can't tell you now." I looked up and saw Rika at her locker. My mind suddenly shot to Friday night. The poor girl looked so weak today, as if something was torn apart from her. Rika slammed her locker shut and turned around. Her eyes met mine. I smiled a little and her cheeks turned a bit pink as she smiled back a little before moving towards our class. Overhead the bell rang. "Listen, Tai, I'll talk to you later, but I don't want to be late for class." "'K, but call me ASAP." "Sure, sayonara!"
I rushed to my literature class and took my seat right away. I looked over to Rika, who sat looking out the window in her own little world. The tardy bell rang and kids poured into the room along with Mr. Meyers. Meyers looked around for attendance and seemed a little startled to see Rika. "Ms. Makino, you made it on time today!" he exclaimed. Rika just gave a little shrug and nod in reply, then looked down at her notebook. "Okay, everyone, turn in your textbooks to page 79. Who would like to." I barely paid attention to the lesson as I wrote on a clean sheet of paper, glancing up at times to make sure Mr. Meyers didn't notice me. When I was finished, I had five minutes left of class, so I copied down the homework assignment and chewed impatiently on my pen. When the bell finally rang, I quickly gathered my things and got up. I walked past Rika's desk and dropped the folded note on her desk. I turned before walking out the door and saw her pick up the note. She looked up at me, her eyebrows arched in confusion. I smiled and mouthed, "read it" before turning and walking to my next class.
*~*~*~*~*
Rika's POV:
As soon as I packed my stuff and headed to my car, I started to read Yamato's note. Why he would ever take the time to write me a note I had no idea, but I would soon find out. In the privacy of my car, I unfolded the note and read carefully:
"Rika,
I'm sure you would rather forget about Friday night, but I want to make sure you are okay. I wont get personal and ask or force you to tell me anything you don't feel comfortable telling me, I promise. And I want you to know I haven't told anybody. It is not because I am scared of my image, but because I know it was hard enough to go through and you don't need people bothering you. Tonight I have a band practice [big surprise.] from 3.30-6.30 in the gym. If you can meet me there, that'll be great.
Yamato"
Putting the note down, I thought for a few minutes before finally leaving. When I reached my house, I changed into a plain black dress and ate a little before trying to start some homework. At 5.20 I heard the front door open. Looking up, I saw my mom and her boyfriend come in. "Rika?" my mom called. "I'm in the living room." She peeked in. "Hey, sweetie. I just wanted you to know that Lee and I are planning to go to a café for a while." "Okay, mom. I have to go somewhere at 6.30 myself." "Okay, just don't stay out too long." "I wont." "Bye, Rika." "Sayonara."
I watched as she and Lee left and I fell back into the couch cushions. It was only 5.30 and I wanted to leave now. Or I would just wait until 6.00. Gah! What's with me?! I'm never this anxious! Sitting back up, I started to work on homework some more. Math formulas raced through my head, taking away my anxious feelings. When I glanced back to the clock, I saw it was 6.10. I quickly put down my work, grabbed my purse, and started my drive back to Odaiba High. The traffic was fairly light, so I made it with five minutes to spare.
Walking to the gym, I could hear the sounds of instruments pounding throughout the building. Touching the handle, I could feel the strong vibrations rivet through my fingers that soon hit my body when I opened the heavy door and walking into the large gym. A stage on the other end held the band, practicing for a gig most likely coming up. Yamato stood at the front center of the stage, eyes clasp shut, brows knitted together as he strummed the bass guitar, singing passionately of lost love and the frustration he felt. Much different from what I have heard from him before. As the song ended, his eyes fluttered open and instantly focused on me. Glancing at his watch, he turned towards the rest of his group. "'K, guys, that was great. Let's meet again the day after tomorrow, same time here," he said, swinging his guitar off his shoulder and setting it gently in its case. As the other band members cleaned up themselves, they cast confused looks in my direction. Ignoring the looks, I waited till Yamato and the others were finished and I was alone with my caller.
I got up and walked to him. "So, you want to talk to me?" Yamato nodded. "Hai, if you have the time?" "I think I do." "Okay, let's sit and talk." We sat down on the bleachers facing each other, I waiting to start. He sat silent for a moment, apparently finding words to start. Finally, he looked me in the eyes and said, "Rika, I'm a bit worried about you." My eyebrow arched in curiosity. "Huh? Worried about me?" "Hai." "Why?" "Just.I don't know.It's just, you seem so different, like.you aren't as strong as you were before." "Why are you worried about that? Shouldn't you be happy about it?" He shook his head furiously. "Of course not! Why should I be happy that you lost a part of something that is vital to you?" "Vital to me?" "Yes. People may not realize it, but you need to be strong in order to survive. You don't take shit from people, and so they know not to mess with you." "Uh-huh." "And.it makes me so angry that you lost a quality that makes you who you are because some motherfucker tried to take advantage of you!" My eyes widened in surprise to see the raw anger in his. "Yamato, you don't have to worry about it. Just forget about it, please."
"No, how can I?! Rika, I know that something is wrong and this hurts you more than you may realize." "But Yamato, it is not your problem! I don't need you playing the father in my life! It is nothing, and I'm nothing to you!"
With those words, I jumped up and started running towards the doors, tears welling in my eyes. But, Yamato was much father than I am, and so he easily caught up to me, lightly grabbing my wrist and stopping me in my tracks. I turned to him in defeat. "Yamato." "Rika, please. I cannot forget. I don't know why I need to care for you, but I do." All of a sudden he got down on his knees, still holding my hand, as if proposing marriage. I stared at him, my surprise plastered to my face. "Rika, please let me help you and be there for you?" "O-okay." "Arigato, Rika. You can count on me for anything." I nodded dumbly, still in a daze. "May I leave to think things over?" "Hai." I turned to leave, but just as I was about to pass through the door, I stopped and turned to the boy. "Arigato, Yamato." With those words, I left to ponder all of this discussion.