Could You Read My Mind?
Author's Note: I need a better summary, I know. This is actually a repost due to the fact that I thought the previous was rushed...and no one reviewed that one x(
Anyways, the idea came to me during one of my Writer's Block days while I was writing IOIWR. This one is set immediately after the second Tamer movie: Runaway Digimon Express (For those of you who haven't seen it, you can read the English adaptation by Exiled Tamer). In case many of you haven't noticed, most stories that take place after the movie are "Rukatos" so I decided to try my hand at a Ryuki/Jurato perceptive.
This fic will use the original names and ages as the movie was never dubbed and I want to preserve that. Since I doubt that Ruki would be the first or last to turn 11, I've placed Takato and Henry in that position as well. The story will be in the POV of the four main characters involved—Ryo, Ruki, Takato, and Juri—and the chapters will overlap each other to express how each Tamer felt about the situation, so you'll have tobear with me there. This is also my first time doing anything in first person (Everworld doesn't count...) so if you have anything negative to say, please don't do so on account of that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or any characters mentioned in this story. I do, however, own this story itself.
Chapter 1: Just Concerned!
"I'm done!" Lee Shiuchon bowed to the polite applause with Terriermon and Lopmon on either side of her, repeating the action. The latter stumbled in the act and was looking slightly embarrassed. "Ruki-oneechan is up next," the little girl pointed out to the sea of surprised faces.
Hirokazu finally stopped his lecture of the responsibilities of being a Tamer, giving me a chance to hear what Shiuchon said with equal surprise. "What? Ruki's next?" I echoed, turning around.
"Come on, sing!" Hirokazu called over to the girl. "I heard you were really good!"
Behind us footsteps were heard coming from the kitchen and Takato rushed out with a nervous expression printed on his face, his hands signalling for the other boy to stop. "Quit it! Don't say stuff like that!" His voice was panicked.
A soft sound caught everyone's attention and my eyes found Ruki place the drink she'd been holding in her hands and stand up before proceeding to exit the room. I tried catching a glimpse of how she was feeling, but her face displayed no emotion. "Man, you've got her mad..." Kenta muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, prompting Makino-san to eagerly volunteer lending her voice.
My eyes lingered before the last of her figure disappeared altogether, concern beginning to bubble its way into me. What had upset her so much so that she wouldn't enjoy her birthday party? I smiled to myself, intending to ask her that question as soon as she came back, and sat back against the low tabletop. Makino-san's voice filled the room to the melody of "My Tomorrow" but the pleasure of enjoying it was stole from me when Hirokazu started his lecture again.
Beside me, Cyberdramon grunted in irritation and shifted slightly on the wooden boards before nudging me in the ribs. I knew that he was uncomfortable in this house, but I couldn't let him go wild like I do in the Digital World. Although he'd gotten less aggressive this past year, he could still be provoked to attack if I wasn't there to restrain him. I shrugged helplessly and he grumbled about what kind of Tamer I was being. Well compared to some of the people here, a good one.
As much as I enjoyed it, I couldn't call myself the best anymore, not since I met Takato and the others. In a way, I admire the closeness between Matsuda Takato and Guilmon for I know that I would never be able to have that kind of relationship with Cyberdramon. Although Millenniumon resided within him and I knew that as long as he was alive so was I, that connection was overshadowed by their solid friendship. I looked up at Cyberdramon and sighed mentally. If only we could become friends instead of partners.
From the corner of my eye I caught Takato walking purposefully toward the door and briefly wondered what that was about--until I remembered that Ruki had exited the same way. A frown curled at my lip but I quickly dismissed the thought. Takato was my good friend; I couldn't start accusing him just because of my wild imagination. He was probably just worried for Ruki just like I was. I cursed myself for even thinking such a thing; couldn't someone be concerned about the people around them?
Hirokazu had apparently left me and was now letting Jenrya hear what he had to say. Jenrya's grey eyes found mine wandering their way and he directed his annoyance at me, though I knew it was only a friendly glare. I laughed to no one in particular and shrugged, an innocent grin finding its way on my face. He rolled his eyes and propped his head up on the palms of his hands, sighing. I chuckled inwardly but that laugh was stopped short when the table gave a sudden lurch backwards and I found myself laid on the floor. I groaned, relieved that the floor was wooden and not tiled so the break to my fall had not been painful, but the ache in my head was hard to ignore. I sat up and saw that the culprit could not have been any of my fellow Tamers as they were as out of place as I was. Jenrya, for one, had fallen forward on his elbows and was sitting in a stretched position, before pain nerves interacted with his brain and he jolted right out of it. Kenta had been pinned between a pole and the table, prompting the nearby Adult to help him out of the situation. Guardromon held the table up and waited patiently for the boy to pull himself out of it.
I heard a snicker behind me and I turned around to catch a glance of a familiar Child Digimon before he disappeared into the shadows. Impmon, I acknowledged, knowing that he probably thought that it was his duty to bring some life into this party. You brought life all right, not to mention a few bruises. Thinking to pursuit the Digimon, I stood and creep over to where I'd seen him, only to bump into a returning Matsuda.
"Sorry Takato," I apologized, chuckling nervously. "I was just looking for Impmon."
Takato shook his head, cutting me short in my apology. "I should be sorry, Ryo. I was too busy thinking about other things." He looked around the room in surprise at all the commotion. "What happened here?"
"I think I should clarify myself. I was chasing Impmon." I looked over his shoulder, to the doorway. "So did Ruki tell you what was bothering her?"
"She's obviously upset about something," he said, sighing. "I just wish I could help her. But Renamon stopped me before I could get a word in." His crimson red eyes tiredly followed Calumon as the Digimon flew between us, into the kitchen. "She was acting weird in the train too..." he began before sighing. "It's been such a hectic day, I should probably help Katou-san in the kitchen."
I nodded, allowing him to walk pass me and into that room. A look of concern was etched into my face as I leaned against the wall to think this out. What had gotten Ruki upset? I wondered. I hadn't been with her on the train so I couldn't come up with any conclusions. All I knew was that Parasimon had her under his control for some while before Guilmon broke the spell with his "Rock Breaker" attack. Then the others told me that shortly after that, Ruki had almost fallen off the train but Takato had been there to stop her from plummeting to her doom.
I sighed. Okay, if I almost fell off a train, I would probably be grateful instead of all upset. So why... I groaned in frustration and turned my head to face the doorway once more, deciding if I should go talk to her and find out what's bothering her. It would at least allow me to be comfortable and enjoy the party like I'd planned to do this morning.
But what were the odds of her actually confiding her feelings to me? I haven't exactly been around a lot—mainly because I've been in the Digital Zone the past year helping fix it up—but at least she stopped storming off whenever I'd come to save the day. I smiled to myself when I recalled the incident during the D-Reaper, its memory fresh in my mind. It was the first time I noticed that Ruki actually cared about me enough to put our past behind us, and probably the beginning of our friendship. With a renewed confidence, I exited the room.
Stepping outside into the backyard, I was hit by the intensity of the sun as it fought a losing battle to the darkness once more. "Great view out here," I muttered, holding my hand up in a feeble effort to block out the rays. Ahead I saw Ruki sitting calmly against a wooden pole, her eyes watching that same star. It's a wonder how she's not blind yet, I thought, as I needed to squint to see her figure. My eyes widened at how beautiful the eleven-year-old looked with the golden light acting as a silhouette. Whatever I had thought to say instantly vapourized like sun-baked water, but that was a problem when she stood up and caught me spying on her.
"What do you want Akiyama?" she asked, and I saw that not even the slightest glint of surprise ran across her face, disappointing me for a second.
"What? Aren't you glad to see me?" I pouted but she didn't fall for my act, as her response was a short but firm "no". I sighed to myself, deciding to cut to the chase. "Why's the Digimon Queen outside by herself? Shouldn't she be inside greeting her guests?"
Author's Note: First person annoys me as you have to remember the 'I's, and the 'me's in every single sentence. I hope I proofread it enough to catch any third person-ness.
This was intended to be a short story but seeing as how I'm at odds with romance and have a tendency to make them "cute" (:shudders:), I may develop a plot for this so I would like to point out that although Digimon names will remain Japanese, attacks will be converted to the very versatile English.
Feel like leaving this page? Well remember that since I gave you something to read, you owe me a review in return. :grins: 'ey, I'm just doing business with everyone. Reviews will be treasured and stored in a box for safe keeping while flames will be saved to keep me warm during the cold Canadian winters...uh..."eh" (o.o My stupid action of the day...). The point is, review!