Disclaimer: I don't own digimon.

A/N: I'll be updating MBFG as soon as I can, and this story should be finished soon. Please review!

Love and War

Chapter Four

Rika Nonaka

Rika knelt next to the pond located in the centre of her front lawn and stared at her reflection. The sun was starting to set, and a slight breeze sent small ripples rolling across the water.

Stupid Ryo! His ego's so big it's amazing his head hasn't exploded yet!

She let out a sigh and frowned at her reflection. "How am I supposed to figure out whether or not he cares about me when he's always joking around all the time?" she muttered, making a face.

Earlier that day, she had been tempted to tell Ryo how she really felt about him. After the way things had turned out, though, she was glad she had remained silent.

I can't believe how close I came to making a fool out of myself. It's not fair! Why does he have to have such a huge effect on me?

She knew why, but that did not make her feel any better. As much as she did not want to admit it, she had fallen head over heels in love with a boy who was more than enough of a match for her.

Typical. I have to go and fall for the most arrogant boy on the planet. Well, I've never been one to back down from a challenge. Maybe that's why I like him so much. Life would get pretty boring if I fell for a guy who was too afraid to stand up to me! He is fun to argue with, and that always spices things up a bit!

She smiled to herself and turned to gaze at her digimon cards, which were lying next to her in the grass.

I wish there was a way I could tell him how I feel without having to actually say the words!

The smile faded from her face, and she gave the cards in front of her a dirty look. The digimon tournament was tomorrow, and she still did not have a clue what to do about Ryo. He had definitely noticed her again, but that did not seem to make any difference. He was still acting as if he could care less how she felt about him.

Somehow I'm going to have to find a way to make him tell me how he really feels about me. That's why I have to win the tournament. If I win, it'll prove to Ryo that I'm his equal and that I'm not someone to be taken lightly. Maybe then he'll realize how special I am. I've never pictured him as the type of guy who would want to date a girl with no spine. I have all of that and more, so why is he acting like I mean nothing to him?

"Sometimes he'll act as if he's interested in me, but I know for a fact he isn't. This whole thing is nothing but a big joke to him!" she said angrily, crossing her arms and glaring at the trees for good measure.

She turned her back on the pond, and the anger faded from her eyes. "Oh, Ryo," she whispered, "why can't you care about me as much as I care about you?"

She let out a sigh and started to gather up her cards. She was about to head back inside when she heard a sudden noise. It sounded like a twig snapping. She froze in her tracks and glanced nervously towards the street.

"Who's there?" she snapped, her voice trembling slightly.

The sun was starting to set quickly now, and she had to squint in order to make out any unwanted visitors that might be hiding within the trees.

No one answered, and her heart began to fill with sudden fear.

"Who's there?" she called out again, glancing frantically towards the street.

"Relax, Rika, it's just me," a voice answered.

Rika stiffened as Ryo suddenly appeared out of the shadows, and her heart began to pound with sudden excitement. He slowly headed towards her, and she felt her face heat up.

"What do you want?" she snapped, ignoring the sudden butterflies in her stomach.

"You're in a bad mood today, aren't you," he replied, looking amused.

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "Like you would know! Well? Are you going to answer me, or not?"

"I just want to talk," he said softly, his blue eyes sparkling with sudden emotion.

"Yeah, well I don't!" she snapped, turning her back on him.

Ryo stared at her for a moment and gently put a hand on her arm. "Is this about what happened earlier?"

"You wish!" she snapped, yanking her arm away.

Ryo sighed and gave her a small smile. He stepped closer to her, and she let out a gasp when he suddenly brushed a stry strand of hair off her face. "Why are you doing this, Rika?"

"Doing what?" she asked, feeling confused. His fingers were warm against the side of her face, and she was starting to feel a little bit dizzy.

"Why are you really competing in the tournament?" he asked, gazing into her eyes.

She blushed and quickly looked away from him. "I can't let everyone go on thinking I'm too chicken to compete in the tournament again. I'm not a coward, and I'm going to prove it to all of those wannabe Tamers out there!"

"So you say," he murmured, smiling slightly. "How did you find out I was competing in the tournament this year?"

"Takato told me," she muttered, giving him a dirty look. He seemed so calm, and that was making her extremely angry. It was all she could do not to punch him right in the gut!

Ryo gave her a warm smile and nodded his head. "I thought so. What's the matter, Rika? You don't seem very happy about the fact that I'm competing in the tournament this year. I thought you'd be jumping at the chance to show everyone that you're a better Tamer than I am!"

"Get away from me!" she snapped, pushing his hand away. "I don't need to defeat you to prove I'm the better Tamer! Anyone with half a brain already knows that. You don't come anywhere close to being as good as I am!"

Ryo crossed his arms and gave her a long look. "There's another reason why you're entering the tournament this year, isn't there? I can tell. Winning back your title may have been your original reason for entering, but I think your priorities have changed since then. I get the feeling you have a bigger goal now, and I will find out what it is. In the end, I always do."

Rika stared at him in disbelief, and her face turned red with anger. "Get off my lawn, Ryo!"

Ryo laughed and shook his head. "You'll never change, will you?"

"I can't be anyone else, Ryo, and you know it!" she smirked.

Ryo raised his eyebrows, and a small smile slipped across his face. "What's with the attitude?"

She gave him a sweet smile in return and patted his arm. "I wouldn't be me without it!"

"That's for sure!" Ryo rolled his eyes and made a face at her. "You talk tough, but we'll see who's on top after I beat you in the tournament tomorrow!"

"Please, you're a rookie compared to me!"

"We'll see about that when everyone starts calling me the Digimon King!"

She let out loud snort and rolled her eyes. "King of the losers, maybe!"

"Don't worry. I'll have you eating your words tomorrow!"

"And I'll have you choking on yours!"

Ryo shrugged and did not reply. He did not look at all worried. In fact, he appeared almost to be bored with the whole conversation!

"It looks like we have ourselves a bit of a challenge," he said calmly.

"You bet we do, and I'm going to win!"

"Really."

"Yes!" she snapped. "And you know why, Ryo? It's because I always win, and I always get what I want!"

Ryo's eyes flickered with sudden emotion, and he sighed. "I wish I did."

What is that supposed to mean?

She frowned at him and studied his face. He seemed rather quiet all of a sudden, and he was no longer gloating like he had been earlier.

Stupid Ryo! He's just trying to make me let down my guard!

"You really think you can beat me?" he asked, looking skeptical.

His ego was back in full force, and Rika felt her anger boil over again. "I mean it, Ryo!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Get off my lawn, or I will kick you off myself!"

Ryo held up his hands and quickly backed away from her. "Alright. I'll leave, if that's what you want, but not until you tell me why you're so set on defeating me in the tournament."

"I'm not telling you anything until you tell me the real reason why you're competing this year!"

Ryo slowly stepped towards her and placed a warm hand against her cheek. "Isn't it obvious?"

Her heart started to race, and she felt her cheeks turn pink. "What do you mean?" she asked, giving him a suspicious look.

He stepped closer to her, and her breath caught in her throat. He was so close she could feel the heat of his skin surrounding her body.

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" he murmured, his eyes glued to her face.

She blushed and quickly turned her face away from him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Now get off my lawn before I start to get really angry, or you're going to be one sorry Tamer!"

"You feel it, too. I know you do, and I'm going to prove it," he whispered softly. "Why else would you be acting like this?"

"I'm not acting any different than I normally do!" she snapped, feeling extremely frustrated.

What is he going on about?

Ryo gave her a mysterious smile and took another step closer to her. She could feel his heart beating against her own and another gasp of surprise escaped her mouth.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered softly in her ear.

She was about to tell him to get lost when he suddenly leaned forward and gently kissed her cheek. His lips were warm against her skin, and she shivered.

Is this really happening to me?

Ryo slowly pulled away from her and smiled. The expression on his face made it impossible for her to tell what he was thinking, but she had a feeling she was going to find out.

"Good night," he whispered before turning away from her and disappearing into the shadows.

She stared after him in shock and slowly raised a hand to her cheek. She could still feel the warmth of his lips against the side of her face, and it made her toes tingle. Her skin felt like it was on fire.

"Good night, Ryo, and good luck," she whispered softly.

She was pretty sure he had not heard her words, and she was glad. If he had heard the tone of her voice at that moment, he would have known right away how she really felt about him, and that was something she could not reveal until she was sure he loved her back.