Anything For A Friend

by The Smashfriends

Takato wants to tell Jeri how he feels for her but he doesn't know how to, so he ask help and the one to aid him is Rika, but will she really aid him or will she just mock him? And why doesn’t she wants him to succeed? Rukato with Jerato hints.

7. Chapter 7: Honesty, Opportunities And Re...

Anything For A Friend

By: The Smashfriends

SF: Sorry for the delay…again!! Anyway, we assure you that we WILL finish our fics. And before we forget, this is a RUKATO so don't worry, it will get there…someday, not yet but is close to be, just be patient. This won't turn in a Jerato or a Ryuki.

Terriermon: Still forced to be here since the SF discovered that if I die I will turn into data and not into something they can eat. So they just forced me to be here and say the same things over and over again….but oh well, they do pay me to be here and the pay is good. I can't complain, I get as much candy as I can eat and I get to be in a "D.I.Q. Free Zone" because if she was here, she would kill the SF for sure. Anyways, The SF don't own Digimon.

SF: Thanks for all those of you who reviewed, and here comes the 7th chapter. Enjoy!! Don't forget to read the final notes!! There's an announcement we have to make!

Chapter 7: Honesty, Opportunities And Realizations.

'You love him that much…?'-Tellah, Final Fantasy IV.

'I don't want anyone else but you'-Rena, Star Ocean: The 2nd Story.

It has been several days after Rika and Ryo became friends…well, since Rika accepted Ryo as her friend, and it was rumored that they weren't just friends and since Rika was…not someone to…explain herself and her actions in a kind/nice/gentle way…those rumors continued to grow, and as you may already guessed by now, it was Kazu and Kenta who were spreading those rumors. And since Rika hadn't come and beat them up, they continued to spread them, not worrying about Ryo either, since he had "disappeared" too.

As is to be expected, the rest of the Tamers were the firsts to know of these rumors, at first not believing them, after all, Kazu and Kenta were always inventing things like this about everyone. But when they…or more specifically, when Takato went to see Rika, since he was worried about her; it had been many several days since he has last seen her, though he had decided not to go to her house again since she was all cold towards him. But his worries were stronger than his fears, so the good old Takato went to see if she was okay and saw Ryo going inside her house probing, or at least giving the opportunity to believe that those rumors were true.

After Takato, let's say, made the mistake to tell his friends what he saw, Kazu and Kenta only invented more rumors. If they were true or not, no one knew nor wanted to know, except for Takato, who wanted to believe that Rika wouldn't get mad at him for going and ask her about it, yes she might kick him or punch him, or maybe even do both, but he didn't care he had to know. For what reason, he wasn't sure.

He had decided to go to see her today; he was now at the park and he was thinking very carefully what to say to not upset Rika and end up all beaten up. And he was feeling uneasy, not just because he would have to ask her about something, that he knew will upset her, but because he didn't know if she still thought of him as a friend…or she had gone back to think of him as nothing but an annoying and weak little goggle-head (SF: No bashing meant here). He sighed deeply and continued to be lost in thought, trying to get the enough courage to go and see her, he was alone now, he had wanted to be, he asked Guilmon to leave him alone and Guilmon though didn't really understand his Tamer's wishes, left to play with Calumon, and right now Takato was starting to regret that, the little dinosaur would have given him the support he needed, but it was now to late. He sighed again and slowly stood up and started a slowly walk towards Rika's house.

"We already had this talk, Akiyama!! And I haven't changed my mind about it so drop it!!" Rika almost yelled, feeling her anger starting to raise, a not so good thing to happen.

"*sigh* That would help to probe the rumors wrong and, who knows, the goggl….Takato might have a different reaction at the one you think he will have" Ryo said noticing the intense glare Rika was giving him, now he didn't know if it was right to call Takato as the "special" nick-name she had gave him or if saying his name, both seemed to upset her, and a D.I.Q. upset meant….he has to get the hell out of there!! And soon!!

Rika gave an exasperated sigh and that was the cue Ryo needed to leave. He started to get nervous, thing that wasn't easy but now knowing very well how Rika let her frustration and anger out-meaning that she will beat him up to a pulp-he had learned to fear her, and now he knew that she was very frustrated and angered and all those feelings were going to be lashed out at him; that was enough to make him nervous and though it was hard to admit even to himself…he was scared.

"You know Rika, ahhh….is getting late and I have to go, I…kind of promised dad I would be at home early today" Ryo said walking towards the door at Rika's room. Rika said nothing to him and just turned her back to him.

Knowing that that was something like a "go now before I kill you" Ryo didn't lose any more time to leave, but before leaving, he was going to say his goodbyes to Rika's grandmother, he still had the hope that one day Rika could look at him as something more than a friend and having her family's support would be great. He headed to the kitchen, where it was more likely for Mrs. Seiko to be.

Takato was about to arrive at Rika's house when he saw Ryo going out from there. Takato stopped not knowing what to do and Ryo walked to the opposite direction not noticing Takato's presence. After a while Takato decided to go and see Rika, after all he was already here, so gulping down, he walked towards the door and knocked and waited for someone to answer him and it didn't took long before someone did.

Mrs. Seiko opened the door and smiled at the sight of Takato standing there looking all nervous, it had been a long while since the last time he was here, and she hoped that he could lighten up her granddaughter a little.

"Hello young Takato, how good to see you, it has been a while" Mrs. Seiko said with a smile making Takato feel more at ease.

"Hi Mrs. Nonaka, it's good to see you too" Takato replied, still not knowing what to say.

"Come in. Rika is in her room, go on and see her" Mrs. Seiko said with that comforting smile that was making Takato less nervous until she mentioned going to Rika's room…alone.

"Umm…thanks ma'am. Excuse me" Takato said going back to his nervous mode.

Rika's grandmother said nothing, just smiled and waited for Takato to go to Rika's room, and Takato sensing that she wouldn't leave until he gets inside Rika's room, he started the slow walk, trying to block his worries about what could be thinking Mrs. Nonaka of him seeing him like this. Deciding that, that wasn't important now, Takato knocked at Rika's door as soon as he got there.

An annoyed "Come in" was heard and Takato gulped before opening the door and going inside.

Rika was very surprised to see Takato standing at her door, she said nothing and decided to just wait for him to talk, and it took Takato a while before he said anything.

"H-hi Rika. How have you been?" Takato said with a nervous smile.

Rika just continued to stare at him, making him uncomfortable. And since another moment of silence followed, she decided to go straight to the point. "What are you doing here goggle-head?"

Gulping Takato carefully picked his words and said "Well…I wanted to…ask you something"

Rika hated her self for feeling her heart drop at those words, a part of her had hoped that he had came just to see her and spend time with her, she hated herself for hoping for that and for feeling hurt, she was Rika Nonaka the Digimon Ice Queen, she wasn't supposed to feel like that…or to feel at all. Quieting those feelings, she tried her best to sound cold and uncaring as she said "And what could that be? I don't think is more help to get Jeri since you know she likes you and you are a couple now"

Takato blinked several times after he heard that, he was trying to process the information he just got…Jeri liked him!?!?!?....

"What!?!? Jeri…likes me!?!?" was all he could said after his brain finally got what Rika meant.

Rika blinked too, she then realized that Jeri hadn't told Takato about that, and she slapped her forehead and muttered "Crap!" 'Me and my big mouth!!' her mind finished.

"How do you know that!?" Takato said still very surprised and a little confused.

Rika cursed again under her breath and then replied "She told me when she came the other day to ask me if we're a couple"

Takato blinked yet again, that was a long time ago, a lot of questions started to form in his head, but he placed them at hold and concentrated on what he came to ask Rika, but then a thought occurred to him and he voiced it out loud "Is that why you told me not to come anymore!?"

Rika didn't knew what to say at first but then just nodded and explained "I thought that if you kept coming here, Jeri would continue to think that there was something between us, so…" she lowered her head towards the table, making it seem as if she was just looking at her Digimon Cards instead of avoiding eye contact with him, after all, she has a reputation to protect.

"But then why didn't just told me that!! I thought you didn't want to be my friend anymore…we are friends right!? Cuz you are one of my best friends and….and…I don't want to lose your friendship" Takato said deciding to just be honest with her, as much as he can be, there were a lot of things he still didn't understand but he was sure he didn't want to lose Rika.

And Rika was a little shocked to hear that and again she was left not knowing what to say. She was deep in thought, she really didn't know what to do, and she thought about Ryo's suggestion, he had recommended her to tell Takato how she feels about him, but she still thought it was useless to do so. But now, she thought that she had an opportunity with him, but before she had any chance to get to a conclusion, Takato interrupted her thoughts when he spoke again.

"Or…you don't want me here because of Ryo? Are you…um…dating him? And you are worried that he could get jealous and get mad at you, though I don't see why would he get jealous of me but anyway; if that's the case, then I understand and I just hope we can see each other from time to time" Takato said looking at the ground, hoping that she wasn't to mad at him for saying all that.

Rika's right eye twitched, she couldn't believe he was asking all that, and if only he knew that Ryo had a lot of reasons to be jealous of him. She took a deep breath not feeling like beating him up for asking such a thing; instead she limited herself to answer. "Fine, first of all, I didn't told you about any of that so you wouldn't suspect anything about Jeri's feelings, it had to be her the one to tell you but now…. Anyway, second, listen well because I'm not going to repeat my self, yes we are friends, you are one of my best friends too and….I don't want to lose your friendship either. Third *eye twitch* I'm NOT dating Ryo!!!"

Takato got a little nervous since her eye continued to twitch and it was obvious that the question did upset her, it made her angry and she was holding herself from beating him up. But he was still curious so he said "But…I just saw him leave your house and the other day I saw him come in and…and I remember you telling me you didn't liked him, but lately…" he didn't dare to finish.

"Yes, exactly, you have asked me that before, and I already told you, I don't like Ryo and he…well, I still think he is a jerk but I gave him a chance and he has been a good friend, so we are just that-FRIENDS-and nothing more. And I will appreciate it if you tell those two idiots you like to call friends to stop those rumors before I lose my patience and I have to KILL them and I'm NOT joking when I say that I WILL KILL them, believe me, I will" Rika said and then she took deep breaths to control her anger and it wasn't working that much but she just pictured herself chocking those two idiots and she felt a little better.

Takato sweat dropped at the look on her face. 'She must be imagining how it would be to actually kill Kazu and Kenta' he guessed.

Before any of the two…well Rika was still on her sadistic little world, so that leaves us only with Takato so, Before Takato could say anything, though he didn't really dare to, he didn't want to be the one to "wake" Rika up from her "murderous daydreams", there was a knock on the door before it was open and Mrs. Seiko entered the room.

"Rika lunch is ready. Young Takato, are you going to join us?" Mrs. Seiko asked hopefully.

Takato blinked and all he could do was nod while Rika "woke up" and said nothing but followed her grandmother as she went to towards the dinning room, Takato was not to far behind her.

Hours later Takato walked very slowly through the park, he was so very full. Mrs. Seiko hadn't let leave the table 'til she thought he had had enough food, 'til she thought he was really satisfy…but it was a lot of food he had to eat to convince her he was satisfy and now he like he was going to explode. He rubbed his belly and stopped his walk when he saw Henry walking towards him. He seemed troubled and he stopped right in front Takato.

"Takato…I…we need to talk" Henry said with such a tone in his voice that worried Takato.

Henry was feeling troubled, he had seen how Takato and Jeri had grown close to each other at the same time that Rika and Takato had grown apart. Henry had hoped that Rika would somehow make Takato fall in love with her or as he believed, make Takato realize his true feelings but maybe all if this was just Henry's hopes. After all, if Takato loved Rika and not Jeri, he wouldn't have to feel guilty for having these feelings for Jeri and for trying to persuade a relationship with her, that just in the case that Jeri were to feel the same way about him.

Henry sighed deeply, he had decided to go to Takato's house and talk with him but he wasn't there and Takato's parents had said that Takato had gone to see a girlfriend, and Henry was debating with himself what did they meant by saying 'a girlfriend', was it a friend that happens to be a girl or…a girl that is dating Takato? These thoughts discouraged Henry, he was now fearing the worse, he feared that Takato had already spoken with Jeri and now they were a couple and now he wouldn't be able to do anything.

Henry was lost in his thoughts, he refused to just give up but he didn't want to just go and tell Jeri how he feels about her without talking with Takato first. 'Maybe if I could convince Rika to talk with Takato and…' He stopped that train of thought. 'But I already tried that and she didn't acceded to do anything, not even to hint Takato that she had feelings for him…maybe…no, that I can't do…not anymore, not if Takato is already with Jeri, I can't tell him how I feel for Jeri, it would only make things harder, but then again, there might not be another way to get out of this, maybe…those are a lot of maybes…I think. What should I do!?'

Henry chose this moment to wake from his musings and look at his surroundings, he was in the park; he laughed a little as he realized that he always ended here at the park (Terriermon: Like everyone else in the fic, have you noticed that? What an important place is the Shinjuku Park isn't? That's all I wanted to say, and now, when we return to with the story, my partner is going to be serious again, this is just the way of the SF to say that they needed a little break of to much seriousness.), he was about to turn around and go home when he saw Takato walking not to far from where he was. Henry made his choice; he was going to talk with him right now. So he walked towards Takato, he was feeling troubled but couldn't back down now. He was going to do it; he stopped in front of Takato.

"Takato…I…we need to talk" Henry said, his voice nervous and confused.

Seeing the troubled look and the strange tone of voice on his best male-human friend, Takato placed his hand on Henry's shoulders and frowned. "What's wrong Henry?" he said worriedly and waited for Henry to answer.

"…Takato…is there something between you and Rika?" 'Damn it' Henry cursed himself for not being courageous enough to get to the point and just tell Takato that he too loved Jeri…or to ask him if Jeri and him were dating but Henry saw his question as a indirect way for asking that. He watched Takato very carefully; his reaction may hint him something useful.

Takato was taken back by that question. At first he thought Henry was asking him that because he likes Rika…but if that was the case, then why didn't he ask Ryo that, after all those rumors…not that himself asked Rika what he asked because he had feeling for her or anything, anyway he was already confused by that and now he was more confused with that question so he simply answered what he knows: "No, we are only friends"

"Are you absolutely sure about that?" Henry asked and prayed and hoped the answer to be 'no' but, Takato being as confused as he was just nodded almost breaking Henry's hopes but Henry did noticed the confused look on Takato's face, he still had hope, or so he wanted to believe.

Henry sighed and lowered his head, it was time, what he was about to do wouldn't be easy but it had to be done so he said: "Takato…I have to tell you something…I…I didn't want to do it but I can't keep quiet any longer, you are my best human friend and I don't want to do anything that may hurt you but…like I said I can't keep quiet anymore….Takato, I…I like Jeri too!!"

Takato was shocked to hear that; he blinked several times and hoped to find this to be all a joke but one look at his friend face was enough to make him realize it wasn't a joke. He was left speechless so Henry continued.

"I haven't told Jeri about this and I don't think I will…yet. I believe that you do have feelings for Rika but you haven't realized yet…"

At this Takato interrupted him by saying: "I know I don't have feelings for Rika" 'Do I?'

Noticing even the tiniest of doubt in Takato's voice, Henry continued: "As I said, you haven't realized: Look there are many incidents that make me see that you do feel something for her. Something more than just friendship"

"….Like…what incidents?" Takato said 'Maybe this is the answer to my doubts'

"Takato, sometimes you are to and excuse me for saying it, but you are to dense, and I can't tell you everything, you have to figure it out by yourself. Just remember Takato, remember the times you were with her in the Digital World and the times during the D-Reaper" Henry said almost exasperated, he wanted to make Takato realize that he may just have a crush on Jeri but that Rika is the one for him.

"But…" Takato really didn't know what to say anymore, he only had more doubts and he tried to remember all those times and he knows that it was there when Rika and him started to get closer to each other as friends, maybe even a little before that, he wasn't sure, Rika did treated him better than when they first meet…he didn't see anything more than just friendship…or was it that he didn't want to see so he wouldn't be more confused or get hurt and lose her friendship forever in the case that she didn't feel the same way. Takato didn't know if he felt something for Rika that were more than just friendship but he knows and is sure that he doesn't want to lose her friendship.

"Just…think about it Takato. If you find that you feel nothing of the sort for Rika…and if you really…love Jeri…I won't stand in your way. I will…give you both…my best wishes" Henry said going back to his very troubled state.

"But…Jeri and I….Rika doesn't…" Takato was left even more confused than before and now he felt awful for Henry. He could never have guessed that Henry feels that way about Jeri.

"You both are so dense" Henry said with a sigh and then walked away leaving Takato alone with his thoughts.

"You both? Who? What are you talking about Henry?" Takato said very confused but got no answer, Henry was already out of hearing range.

While Henry just repeated to himself the words: "So dense"

Takato looked at the ground lost in thought. First he finds out Jeri likes him, or at least she said that to Rika several days ago. Then Henry tell him that he has feelings for Jeri, then that he-Takato Matsuki loves Rika instead of Jeri but he hasn't realized yet, and not only that but that Rika too might love him back.

"Today was a very tiring day and is not over yet…what else could happen today? Let's better not find out. I will just go home and stay there until I…get to understand all this" Takato said to himself and started the long walk home. Now the last of his worries was his stomach ache for eating too much. And if he only were to know that thing are about to get worse.

End Of Chapter 7.

SF: Okay that was all folks! We could have continue it but, it would have taken much more time to finish it so…Anyway, we have told you that we'll post faster for the fics that get more reviews, this one doesn't get that many reviews but since it's closer to and end (at least 3 or 4 more chapters to come) is the one that has almost all of our attention, it will be the same with the others fics we haven't finished, the shorter ones will be the ones to be finished sooner and those that got very little reviews or the ones that we just can't/want to continue will be erased. This was our "big announcement", we are cutting some "work" since it's getting more and more difficult for us to meet but worry not, it's more likely for A. to stay around and continue the fics, and for the rest of us, well…we will give some ideas to new fics and to what could happen on those fics and A. will do most of the work…that what she decided, to continue writing fics. Anyway, here comes the list of unfinished fics that are going to be erased (are going to be erased this February 1st):

* When The Stuffed-Animals Cry…Of Laugher (didn't got to many reviews, better save the waste of time).

* Takato's Story (again, this 2nd time didn't had that many reviews to bad and to good, we didn't really know if give you the sad ending or the happy one, most of us voted for the sad one ;_; we didn't finish it but we did decided and even wrote a piece of the ending. This one is really one that we didn't want to erase but to write something no one reads is a waste of time).

* Another Weird Adventure (same, didn't got to many reviews).

* Innocents' Day (not many reviews and we just don't want to continue it, we do have a lot of funny jokes to make but it's best to just "let it go").

The following list is about fics that we are not going to erase but that are going to take a long while to post their next chapter:

* Digimon Fantasy X (we'll finish it, but it will take a long, long time to do it).

* Final Fantasy D-03 (same that the last one)

* The Cursed Tunnel Of Lost Love (for the tamers that is, just wait more, it will be out before the 2 from above)

* Digimon Tamers Behind The Scenes (we are even contemplating deleting it, what we have planned it's to long and it might get boring, well maybe we'll make some changes to make it shorter..).

Stay "tuned" since the following fics are the ones that are going to get all of our attention:

* Anything For A Friend (as we said this one is the one that we are going to finish soon).

* Not A Simple Kind Of Life (this one, we'll finish it, after all is the fic that had gotten more reviews in just 2 chapters that any other one of our fics).

* RE The New Nightmare (we are big fans of the Resident Evil series, we want to make our own story about it).

* The Day That My Life Changed (a fic that we like a lot to write, just wait a little more for it).

* The fic for other animes like Shaman King, the fics we are writing on Spanish and the new fics we want to post. By the way, we'll try and correct our grammar mistakes in our fics, we can correct all of them and we are sorry for that, we are too translating all of our fics and posting them (not sure yet if here- if it is possible – or in another page).

SF: We are working on some new projects. We cut some work to new fics. Anyway, now we get to give the special thank you to those who bothered to review:

Newbi: Yes some of our fics are very weird…some of us, or if you prefer all of us are weird XDD. Thanks for reviewing!! Keep reading and don't forget to review this chapter!!

Tamer of Light: Thanks for reviewing!! We appreciate it. Keep reading and don't forget to review this chapter!

AnT: Hope it ended well in your case. Thanks for reviewing and for the comments. Keep reading and don't forget to review!!

Disturbed One: Sorry, but we did get some comments to not bash the Digimon King, but we will write an Omake and in there we'll do all the bashing XD. Thanks for the comment and for reviewing. Keep reading and we hope you review this chapter too.

Black: Yeah, we are trying our best to not bash Ryo (out of the omakes), and if we do, we will make it just because it's needed for the plot of the fic. Thanks for reviewing. Keep reading and don't forget to review.

zero_x_gundam: Thanks for reviewing. Hope you liked this chapter too and don't forget to review!!

DigiDestined of Courage: Hey long time since we saw you for the last time XD. Haven't been able to read your SK fic lately but, we don't need to tell you that it was going great! Thanks for reviewing and for the comments. And BlackTerriermon you better behave if you don't want to die, and don't get so desperate, just wait and see what Rika is going to do next XD. Keep reading and hope you review:

Morbed-Kai: XDD Yeah that would have been nice!!...but now…sniff…will do that in the omakes, in each one we write XDD. Thanks for reviewing and for the comments. Keep reading and don't forget to review.

RoseRosa: XDD we support you in that…though we aren't showing it lately…but anyways, thanks for reviewing and for the comments. Keep reading and don't forget to review! XD

Gtajake: We dislike Ryuki deeply (not really, or we do?? -_-U Maybe we just don't care for that at all??)!! And Ryo…well…let's just say that is not our favorite character. Thanks for the comments, we do what we can to keep Rika in character, thought sometimes is difficult. And it's more likely that we'll update later than sooner XD but we'll try to do it sooner @_@…anyways, hope you review.

SF: That's all…though mentioning that SK fic make some of us wonder why A: hated Ren.

A.: Not hate, dislike! And I still don't like him, I dislike him less but I still dislike him.

SF: Yes but why?

A.: I don't like arrogant people.

SF/Terriermon: But you like Rika!

Rika: What's that suppose to mean!!

Terriermon: O.O NO!!!!! This is no longer a D.I.Q. Free Zone!! AHHHHHHHHH!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

SF: How could she get inside here!?!? Wait for us Terriermon!!! (Freak, MMX2 & Logan run after Terriermon and Rika goes after them and then Freak falls and becomes Rika first victim).

A:: (stay behind thinking)…don't think Rika to be arrogant…at least not enough to be a bother and she did changed…Hey, now that all of them are gone I suppose that I have to say the goodbyes and all. They are so lazy. Well then, goodbye everyone and take care! Now I think I should go and try to help them…nah.