Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Digimon.

They were almost block away from home when Ruki noticed that something was wrong. Ryo hadn't stopped talking (surprise, surprise), but the problem, she noticed, was that her feet were slowing. She didn't want to go home.

She didn't notice when she stopped walking, but Ryo did, and turned to see what was up. He paused in recounting more Cyberdramon memories, but he wasn't exactly being quiet now, since he immediately asked, "What's wrong?" And he looked around, as if expecting something big and dark and scary to appear out of nowhere, that obviously only he could take care of.

"Nothing," Ruki told him, and resumed walking.

"You sure?" Ryo asked. When Ruki glared at him, he just shrugged. "Okay."

She had a feeling that he was punishing her by not saying anything after that. Punishing. Akiyama, I was waiting for you to shut up. What do you think this is going to do? She glanced at him, but he was just looking at her with that small little Akiyama smile, and humming this bright, cheerful, annoying tune.

She couldn't stand it. They were on her street (finally) when she stopped again. "Okay, fine," she said quietly. "I give up."

Ryo also paused, and looked at her quizzically. "Huh?"

She crossed her arms, and glared at him as if it were all his fault. "I don't want to go home."

He was staring at her as though she'd just started talking another language. But then he nodded, and said, "Okay. Where do you want to go?" as though it was his job to humor her. As though being four years older made him responsible for her. Sometimes he just made her so...erg!

"Never mind!" She snapped and started walking again.

"No, Ruki! Talk to me." He actually caught her by the wrist before she took three steps, and didn't let go when she tried to yank her hand away.

"Why should I?" She asked him. "I don't even like you."

There was a long pause. Ruki looked up at Ryo curiously, but his face was very blank. She watched as a smile appeared on his face, but it looked kind of empty, not the bright smiles he usually gave. "I know," he said. "That's okay. Do you..." he paused. "Do you want me to take you to Juri's house or something?"

"No," Ruki looked at her house. "We're already here, anyways. I'm just kind of afraid to go inside."

"You don't have to go in," Ryo said immediately.

Ruki smiled a little. That was the Ryo she knew. All ready to protect and defend, just say the A-word.

"No, it's okay," she said, freeing her hand from his grip. She patted his shoulder. "See you later, Hero Boy."

Note: I actually do like this chapter, though it's kind of short. I'm sorry! Can you believe that I actually thought the Ryuki scene was over last chapter, and I was ready to move on? Yeah. Scary, huh? I hope that you don't think that Ruki is being too mean, karika88.

Now to move on to the next chapter that was supposed to be this one. Yay!

Matt and T.K. -- Please update quickly:P I update two chapters a day, didn't you see? Just kidding. :) And thanks for the compliment.

AzNAnGeL07 -- I'm glad you like it. :)