Author's Notes- The last few chapters seemed kind of different from the first few to me, but I've snapped back into writing gear now, so expect better content, and hopefully more of it. And, for those who didn't find it funny, sorry about the konnichiwa bitches thing. He he... At least I thought it was funny, but then again, I wasn't the one being called a bitch...
Disclaimer- I'd like to be able to say "Guess what guys, I own Digimon!" But I can't. Sorry.
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Three years after making up with her father, Rika's world had pretty much gone back to normal. She was thirteen now, but her physical appearance was practically unchanged, despite being a few inches taller and having more pronounced... Er... "features". Yes, that's it... Anyway, about the normal life thing...
She and Ryo weren't a couple anymore, after a very long "It's getting weird, isn't it?" talk. They were, however, back to being platonic(yes, I've finally realized how to spell it) friends. Too bad for Ryo.
Ryo's life was more complex, he being a prince. There were now royal balls almost every six months, for some random occasion or other. At least he didn't have to worry about getting a date like everyone else. Rika gladly went with him every time he asked. Just as friends, of course. He was now expected to make all of the other princes his friends, so that he would have connections as a king, and he was expected to flirt with all of the princesses, although there was only one girl for him, and she happened to be the one drowning some poor guy in the punch bowl for flirting with her.
Oh, and did I mention the horde of peasant girls that chased him everywhere he went? No? Well, there was one. On to his life with Rika.
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Rika and Ryo were walking through the royal gardens, still dressed in their ball attire from hours ago. "I thought you'd look happier," Rika said, "after your fourteenth birthday ball."
"Yeah, well... I've got other stuff on my mind."
"Like what?"
He looked at her. She was looking back at him, her beautiful violet eyes showing genuine concern. "Like... You," he said, sitting on a bench.
She laughed. "I thought we'd been through this? I like you, but I don't want to risk our friendship by getting too emotionally attached."
"Yeah, but... I think it's too late for me. Every day I see you, going about your life thinking of me as a friend. It's driving me crazy."
She lightly touched his shoulder. "What're you talking about? I thought we were just friends. We tried couple thing, remember?"
He laughed. "How could I forget? Being with the one you love for the first time isn't something that just slips your mind."
She was shocked. "Ryo Akiyama, did you just say that you love me?"
He stared into her eyes and nodded. "Remember when you were ten, and I told you that I couldn't verbalize my feelings?"
It was her turn to nod. "Well... I just did. I love you."
She stared at him... And stared... And stared... And stared, until Ryo was forced to say something. "Well, is the feeling returned or not?"
When she answered, her voice was shaky. "Yes, Ryo... It is."
And, for the first time in years, they kissed. Or, if you're british, you could say that they snogged, because it was what we Americans call a French-kiss.
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Rika's mother was shocked. "He told you that he loves you? At thirteen years old?"
"Yes. And he's fourteen, mom."
That shocked her even more. She shook it off. "It's your life, and I shouldn't meddle... But if I find that you've done anything stupid with that boy, I'll lock you in a tower without an exit."
She ignored the last comment and went off to bed, humming "Homecoming" by Green Day.
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Ryo's friend's reactions were different. "Really? You just told her? Just like that?" He nodded.
"Wow. Let's hope you don't screw up."
He laughed, and the root beer that he was drinking came out his nose. "Shut up, Henry... And Kazu, stop asking what she kisses like, it's kind of sick that you want to know."
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The next time they saw each other, Rika felt slightly awkward, but Ryo didn't. He greeted her with a kiss on the lips and a cheery "Hi, pumpkin!"
Then, he realized that he had no clue why she was in his room. "So... What's up?"
She flung her arms around him in a tight embrace. "Er... Rika?"
"You're a clueless idiot, do you know that?"
"So... You came here to hug me and call me an idiot?" he said, blinking.
"No! I came here to tell you... Well, that I love you, too. All that I said last night was that I returned the feeling. So, now you've heard it straight from my lips. I love you. There."
Ryo was smiling. "You have no clue how many of my dreams you just fulfilled."
She laughed. "Do you realize that we're still hugging?"
"Yes. And I was kind of hoping that you wouldn't notice for another hour or so."
"Sorry, but we don't have an hour to kill. I came her to tell you that, and that I'm going to my dad's for the weekend- and he said that you can come!"
They seperated. They were both grinning. "Really? Wow. He really trusts you to spend the night with a boy in his house?"
"Actually... He kinda doesn't know you're a boy. I asked him if a friend could come, and he said yes. He'll probably flip once he sees you, but who cares?"
He raised his eyebrows. "We've gotta go in like half-an-hour, so get packing."
He rushed into his closet.
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At the train station, they boarded the 1:00 PM train to the Eastern kingdom. It was an hour ride, but all Rika did was stare out the window. It was strange for Ryo, because strangers bowed to him in the hallways. The trip was over before they knew it.
When they stepped off of the train, they had a ten-minute walk to Rika's father's house. They made light conversation on the way. "It's beautiful here, isn't it? Too bad your face makes the landscape look like human entrails."
"That's sweet, but the grossest thing that I've ever heard. Just because I love you, doesn't mean that I love your complments, too."
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Author's Notes- Well, there's chapter nine. Mushy, but at least I like it, which is more than I can say about the last chapter. Oh, and my family's going on vacation to Washington DC tomorrow, so don't expect any updates for a few days. Sorry, but even hard-working authors like me need a break sometimes.
