Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Digimon.

She hadn't expected to see Okanao waiting for her in the hallway, but Ruki had to admit that she was happy to see him. She crossed her arms though, and looked at him suspiciously. "What are you doing here? Where's Iida?" Okanao was already ushering her along, one hand on her back that covered her from shoulder to shoulder. He didn't answer, but she hadn't really expected him to. In any case, Iida was leaning against the door of the car, looking pained to see her--because, Ruki saw, the officer he'd been hitting on before was stalking off as though she couldn't get away fast enough. If she were a cat, her tail would be lashing.

"What was she doing here?" She asked blankly.

"Her daughter goes here," Okanao told her. "Oohira Tori."

Iida sighed and opened the door for her, barely giving her a second to climb in before the door shut. Okanao took the leisurely stroll around to his own door, before climbing in, just in time for Iida to hit the gas and tear out of the place. Looking completely at ease, Okanao buckled his seat belt, and pointed out that Iida had missed his turn. Ruki screamed as he yanked the car around, leaving a long black line on the street.

The scream seemed to have regained his attention. Iida immediately pulled over, and turned around. "You okay?" He asked.

Ruki gasped for breath. The seatbelt was now uncomfortably tight. "Yeah," she said, trying to squeeze far enough back that the belt would relax. "Are you okay?"

He turned back to the wheel. "Yeah." He took a long breath. "Perfect."

Okanao nodded. "Then we can go."

"Hey! Do you want to drive?"

Ruki didn't finally start breathing again until Iida (apparently Okanao didn't want to drive) pulled up at her house, whistling that same annoying tune Ryo had been the night before. "What," she started, and then paused.

Iida glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. "Huh?"

She shook her head. "Nevermind."

"Wait," Okanao said, before she could get out of the car. She looked at him and saw that he was offering something to her. "You forgot these yesterday." Her keys.

Ruki all but snatched them out of his hand, relieved beyond belief that she wouldn't have to worry about her privacy--or at least not as much. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "I was really worried about them." Since he just nodded and didn't say anything, she went ahead on inside.

Rumiko was waiting for her at the door, holding the phone and looking just about mad enough to kill. Nervous, Ruki waited for her to speak, a good two yards away. "Mom?" She queried.

"Who's Kunda Tai?" Rumiko asked.

Ruki watched her mother closer, trying to get a hint. "Why? Did she call?"

"Can you tell me what Digimon is doing calling this house?" Rumiko's voice grew louder.

"They want to sponsor me," Ruki crossed her arms, trying not to look defensive. "It sounds like fun, you know?"

"Ruki..."

Seiko placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Rumiko, let's talk about this inside."

"Why? She doesn't have privacy anymore. She's a celebrity!"

"Rumiko, please."

Ruki held her breath, watching her mother fight with herself. Finally, she sighed. "All right. Ruki, come inside."

Ruki glanced back at the car. She could, she thought, easily run back there and hop in, and she wouldn't have to go home until tonight. She could go to Lee's, or Juri's--or even Takato's--and she wouldn't have to worry about what would happen when she walked in that door. It would be so easy just to run that way right now. Iida and Okanao were watching her right now, she was sure, waiting to see what she would do.

So she took a step. In the right direction.

When finally she was inside, and the door was closed, she heard the distinct sound of a car driving off. Well, she thought as she took off her shoes, there goes my chance.

Note: One of the harder chapters to write (this whole day of chapters sucks). Tomorrow will be better though. Hopefully.