No, I don't own Digimon.

"See the stone set in your eyes

See the thorn twist in your side

I wait for you

Slight of hand and twist of fate

On a bed of nails she makes me wait

And I wait… without you"

            -"With or Without You", U2

Didn't really know how to fit much Rika/Ryo in this one, so sorry if the dialogue between them is sort of forced.  I'm trying though!  Keep reviewing, I find it surprisingly motivational.

-N

~

             Ryo Akiyama snarled as he swatted the bugs away from his race as he rode through the park.  Rika had called him, saying Henry wanted everyone to meet at two.  He didn't really want to go, and neither did Rika, but she reminded him it might concern the Digital World since he's getting all the Tamers together.  She said she wanted to give him his sweater back, too.

            It had been almost a week since she'd come into the restaurant, soaking wet and in a daze, and other than her calling him for the meeting, the only other time they'd spoken was when she called him to thank him.  He really appreciated her calling him; he knew it must have been hard for Rika to do.

            Ryo assumed that Henry wanted to say something about his father, who was injured a few days ago.  Henry hadn't been able to tell any of us what happened, he'd been at the hospital immediately following whatever happened, and nobody would tell the other tamers where they were.

            He arrived at the meeting place, and checked his watch.  1:32: He was half an hour early.  He went inside and saw Kazu and Kenta playing a game of cards, Jeri watching them without much interest.

            Hey guys." Ryo said in his casual friendly tone.

            He exchanged greetings with everyone, and went and stood beside Jeri.

            "Anyone know why we're here?" Ryo asked

"Nope."  Kenta replied.  "Henry said it was pretty important though."

"I think Henry only told Takato, and he won't tell us." Jeri said thoughtfully.  They chatted for a bit, but Ryo drifted out and stood against a wall silently, looking out of the door waiting for the others.

            The others?  Plural, huh?  Sure you're just not looking for someone in particular?

            Ryo knew subconsciously he was waiting for Rika.  Almost everyone knew he liked her, except for Rika, of course.  Maybe Kazu and Kenta, too.  They never are that "into" things.  He'd admitted he liked her once, to Jeri a few days ago, but made her swear secrecy, since he didn't want to jeopardize his new friendship with Rika.

Takato, Henry, and Rika all showed up together: Henry and Takato stood near the door, and Rika casually stuffed his crumpled sweater to Ryo's chest, flashed him a smile, and stood next to him, though not as close as he'd like.

"You gonna tell us why we're spending our Sunday here now?" Kazu asked, a little annoyed.

            Henry glanced to Takato, who nodded.  He passed a small, torn piece of paper to Jeri, who was closest to the center of the room.

            "Can you read that, please?" Takato asked.

            "Um, sure, I guess." Jeri replied, puzzled.  She cleared her throat, and…

"Cityside: July 18th, 2002

Bizarre attack on Obaida, five injured with severe burns

           

            With the reported disappearances of four of the top programmers in the area early last week, all of who were part of the "Monster Makers" group from several years ago, and also the Digimon incident, from a few months ago.  City officials had placed all of the other programmers under protection, except Janyu Wong, who had refused to go into hiding, saying it was unnecessary.

            Yesterday afternoon, when crossing the street to get to his apartment, Wong encountered a suspicious looking person demanding Wong give him information.  When he refused, witnesses state they saw a beam of flames hit Wong in the chest, knocking him down.  The attacker took the body over one shoulder with ease, and ran west, where he was followed by police.

            They were led to an abandoned warehouse, where upon entering discovered not the attacker, but all five programmers, who were unconscious.  They were taken to Osaka National Hospital, where they were pronounced comatose and…"

            "…and that's where it's cut off." Jeri finished.

            "Read this one too.  This one's from today." Takato instructed, passing a smaller piece to her.

            "Cityside: July 19th, 2002

                        First of five comatose victims awake

Janyu Wong was the first to wake from his coma, at 10:03pm last night.  When asked what the attacker asked, he refused to tell authorities.  We'll have more information on this story as it becomes available."

            Everyone was silent for a moment.  Ryo personally didn't understand why, but he didn't want to say anything that might be disrespectful to Henry or his father.  It was Jeri who finally broke the silence.
            "What did he ask him, Henry?"

            Once again, Henry and Takato exchanged worried looks, but Henry replied nervously.
            "He was asking him the locations of where we could be found.  That thing wasn't after my father or the others, it was after us.  It attacked them because they'd all refused to tell it where we were…  My family and me are staying with Takato's, since if that thing can read it would know where I live…  Whatever that was, it wasn't human.  I think it was a Digimon, and it's going to try to hunt us down, but we can't fight back. 

            Knows where we live?  I'm a decent distance away, but what about the others?  Takato, Jeri, Kazu and Kenta are in fairly crowded areas, so they could hide easily.  His thoughts turned to the daughter of Rumiko Nonaka, the local supermodel.  He could tell she was scared for herself, and Ryo was sure at least some of the others did too.

            "Alright, let's take a break, I think.  We can meet back here later."

            Everyone began to leave, and Ryo shot a glance to Rika, who was walking away by herself.  He glanced to the others and then began to run to catch up to her.  She took no notice as he got closer.

            "Hey."  He murmured as he reached her side.  She nodded absentmindedly, but her blank expression didn't change, her violet eyes fixed on the air in front of her.

            She must be worried…  Hell, I would be too, some crazy freak with firepower possibly knowing where I live?

            "You okay?" Ryo asked with genuine concern.

            "Yeah…I think.  Maybe-I don't really know, this is a lot to take in."  She replied, frustrated.  I think I need to sit down."  She said flatly.
            The two silently walked to a nearby tree.  Rika plopped down, leaning next to it, Ryo's back only partly touching it, so that he could be sitting next to her.  Neither of them spoke for a moment, Ryo not knowing what to say.  Rika was staring at her hands as if she'd never seen them before.

            "…You scared?" Rika asked suddenly.
            Ryo wasn't expecting that question, so he didn't answer right away.  "A little."

            Rika nodded.  "Me too.  I'm worried that thing will come after me and-"

            Ryo cut her off.  "That's exactly what I'm scared of."

            …Did that come out right?

            Rika looked at him for a moment, unsure of what he meant, thus unsure of what to say.  His thoughts scrambled around, trying to think of something to say that would make her feel better.

            "Why don't you live with me?" He blurted out.

            What?

            "What?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

            "My family's never home, you and your family could live with me for a bit.  I'm sure it would be safer, as long as we don't tell them

            Gee, real smooth.

            Rika said nothing.

            "Come on, it could be fun!" Ryo said a little louder than he knew he should have been.

            Gonna scare her off, you know…

            "I don't know.  I'll have to talk to grandma and mother about it." Rika nodded finally, not ruling it out as a possibility.

            She took that well.

            "But what if I end up bringing it to your place?" She asked with the same worried look Henry had given Takato before.

            "If it does come," Ryo said thoughtfully, "I'll kick its ass, deal?"

            Rika laughed, lightening the tension between the two.

            "Alright, I'll talk to them when I get home."

            "Want me to walk you home?" Ryo asked casually.

            "If you want." She replied with no visible favor to either possible answer.

Even though Ryo knew this would probably be a bad idea, he could find it in himself to be worried for his own sake, but only for Rika's.  He told himself that this would work, that it would be okay as they both stood up and walked to Rika's house. 

            And whether or not you just made your own home a target for some violent creature, you'll find out soon enough, now won't you?

~

Alright, I need some feedback.  Should I be sticking to just Rika who I'm following around?  How long should each chapter be?  And should I be keeping everyone together and have dialogue all around, or break them apart and stick with Rika and Ryo?  Thanks, I'll try and update soon.

-N