Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I'm updating FTFOD next. Please review! The next chapter for this story will be better.
Love and War
Chapter 3
Rika Nonaka
"Rika, I see you're as charming as ever," Ryo said, crossing his arms and giving her a small smile.
Rika stared at him for a moment and frowned. For a second there, she could have sworn he had looked a little uneasy.
No way. I must be imagining things. Ryo's never anything but confident!
"There you are, Rika. It's about time you showed up. I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost!" Kazu said, putting an arm around Ryo's shoulders.
"Nice one, Kazu. Your jokes get lamer everyday!"
"Hey, Rika, are you ready to face defeat at this year's digimon tournament?" Kazu asked, raising an eyebrow.
She rolled her eyes and let out a snort. "Against you? Please. You're hardly a challenge!"
She had found out a while ago that Kazu was entering the tournament, and she was not the least bit worried.
Kazu grinned and gave her a look. "So, the Digimon Queen's afraid to face defeat, huh?"
"Right, and you're afraid to face reality!"
"I'm glad you decided to show up," Jeri said, taking Takato's arm and giving her a warm smile.
Rika managed to smile back at her female friend and sighed. Jeri was the only person who knew how she really felt about Ryo, and she had made the other girl swear never to tell anyone. So far, Jeri had kept her promise.
"You said it yourself, Rika. Even the best Tamers have to face defeat once in a while, and I'm taking you down!" Kazu said.
"Hello? Digimodify, loser activate!" she shot back, poking him in the chest.
"You might be able to defeat Kazu, but you won't defeat me!" Ryo said, smiling innocently at her.
"You wish!" she snapped, turning her back on him.
Ryo gently tugged on the end of her ponytail, and he stepped in front of her. "Hey, Rika, did you miss me?" he asked, smiling slightly.
"About as much as I'd miss a bad rash!"
Ryo raised his eyebrows and studied her face. "Is this your way of playing hard to get?"
"Yeah right, Ryo. You're so not worth the effort!" she snapped.
I can't believe him! He's so full of himself!
She turned her back on him again and quickly headed for the forest that stood at the edge of the park. The others followed after her, and they sat down in the shade of the trees.
"If you think I came here to see you, forget it!" she said, turning up her nose.
Ryo sat down next to her and shrugged, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "If you say so."
Her original plan had been to avoid Ryo until she came face to face with him in the tournament. Unfortunately that idea was no longer going to work, thanks to Takato. Now she did not know what to do. She wanted to be angry with him, but for some reason she was finding it difficult to stay mad. She was also finding it hard to concentrate with him sitting so close to her.
Stupid Ryo! Why does he always have to make me care so much?
"Can't you two at least try to get along?" Henry asked, sitting down on her other side and giving them both a stern look.
"Tell that to Mr. Perfect!" she muttered, making a face.
"I never realized you thought so highly of me," Ryo replied, giving her a wicked smile. "I'm touched!"
Rika elbowed him in the ribs and rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, Ryo!"
He gazed at her for a moment and sighed. "If only."
She stared suspiciously at him, and he gave her a faint smile.
What does he mean by that? Is he making fun of me or something?
"Well, at least Rika has someone else to beat up on instead of me!" Takato laughed.
He wrapped an arm around Jeri and smiled at her, and the female Tamer smiled back at him.
"Lucky me!" Ryo said dryly.
Kenta laughed and patted his shoulder. "It's a good thing you're here, Ryo."
"Yeah. Having you around gives Rika someone else to harass, besides Kenta and myself!" Kazu joked.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you two," she smirked. "You guys are more useless than pretty boy here, and that's saying something!"
"You'll be changing your tune real quick after I beat you in the tournament," Ryo said smoothly.
"News flash, Ryo. You're the one who's going to be changing your tune after I win the tournament. In other words, you're going down like a ton of bricks!" she shot back, making a fist with her hand.
"So much for getting along!" Takato muttered.
Jeri gave her a look, but Rika ignored it. Instead, she turned to Ryo and stared hard at his face. "Why are you competing in the tournament anyway?" she asked quietly.
Ryo smiled slightly and shrugged. "I wanted to give you a little competition. Let's face it, Rika, you'd win easily without me there!"
"Hey!" Kazu shouted.
Rika stared down at the grass and frowned.
He's lying. I can tell. That's a stupid reason for wanting to enter the tournament. There must be another reason, but what could it be?
"You're lying," she said bluntly.
Ryo exchanged a quick look with Henry, and his face turned serious. "You'll find out soon enough."
"Will you quit talking in riddles?" she shouted, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "I know there must be a reason why you're entering the tournament this year, and it has nothing to do with wanting to win. You've already won, and you have nothing to prove like I do! You'd better give me a decent explanation or you're going to be sorry you ever entered the tournament in the first place!"
"Ryo..." Henry gave the other boy a meaningful look, but Ryo just shook his head.
"Well?" she demanded.
What is going on with those two? Are they hiding something from me?
She glanced at the rest of her friends, but Jeri and the others just looked confused.
"Maybe it's because I enjoy your company so much!" Ryo said, blowing her a kiss.
Rika felt her face heat up, and she quickly scrambled to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Kenta asked, giving her a curious look.
"If you're trying to distract me from the tournament, it's not going to work!" she shouted, ignoring Kenta and giving Ryo a murderous look. "I'm out of here! See you goggle-heads later."
"Rika, wait!" Jeri cried, leaping to her feet.
Rika turned to look at her and made a face. "What?"
"You can't leave now! You just got here!"
"Sorry, Jeri, but I have to practice for the tournament, and I know Ryo does. He's going to need all the practice he can get to beat me!"
"You're not leaving because of me, are you?" Ryo asked, pretending to look hurt.
"I'll see you at the tournament," she replied, turning on her heel and heading towards the street.
How dare he pretend to be interested in me! I'll show him!
Unfortunately, despite her thoughts, the ache in her heart still remained.
Ryo Akiyama
"Well, you really blew it this time," Henry said, giving him a sympathetic smile.
No kidding. I knew she was angry at me, but I didn't expect her to be this mad!
"I know," he mumbled, making a face.
Jeri patted his arm and smiled warmly at him. "Don't worry, Ryo, she'll come around."
He let out a sigh and shook his head. "I doubt it, Jeri."
"What kind of an attitude is that?" Kazu said, punching him lightly on the arm. "You have to put up more of a fight if you want to win a girl's heart."
"And if that girl happens to be Rika, then you're going to have to win her over before she tramples you!" Kenta muttered.
"Since when have you two become experts on girls?" Takato asked, looking amused.
"I think you guys had better let me give out the advice from now on!" Jeri laughed.
Ryo jumped to his feet and smiled at her. "Actually, Jeri, I think Kazu might be right!"
Jeri blinked at him in surprise, and he turned to stare off down the street Rika had used only seconds earlier. "I'm going after her."
"Good for you, Ryo," Kazu said, patting him on the back. "There's only one problem. You're not going anywhere until you've helped me practice for the tournament!"
"Alright." He let out a deep sigh, and pulling out his cards, he motioned for Kazu to sit down across from him. "Let's get this over with."
Kazu nodded and turned to look at Jeri. "See? I'm useful for something, even if Rika doesn't think so!"
"Of course you are!" Jeri replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Ryo glanced towards the street again and frowned.
I have to find a way to get through to Rika, no matter what it takes. I just hope it's not too late for us to start over again...