A/N: Hello to everyone! I'm so sorry this is late. I was not planning on an f—king computer malfunction to happen (you don't want to know). But I'm here, and I'm typing! These are sad times, because the story is ending, but happy times because… a sequel has been decided upon! Woot! Yeah! I know the vote… do you? Hahaha. Okay, two little notes about this chapter- (1) treat it as the end of the story, please. There may be a sequel, but its still the last chapter of my first story. And second (2) this chapter itself is being dedicated to-RomanceRighter (gasp!). Shocked? Thank you for being my friend of recently. Thanks to you, I was kept from being disheartened from re-typing this chapter, I was given some GREAT Rukato's to read, and had a few awesome long messages. Thanks a ton. Love and be loved. Read… and review.

Hear No Evil

The leaves in Autumn are beautiful, with their colors of gold, red, brown, and green. They make you feel safe, welcome, good… loving. They dance around your head when they fall, tempting you to reach for it, daring you to out reach and touch something real that won't be there anymore very soon. So soon you can't help but reach out and touch them. Because if you never reach out, how will you ever know if there was anything to touch? If you can't reach out and lend a helping hand to someone that is falling apart, or breaking down how would you ever know if that person was willing to return your love? But still… the leaves are beautiful in Autumn.

It's been two days since me and Takato had our… how should I word this? Our… 'moment.' In those two days it's snowed like crazy, almost two feet! After we got back home on Friday he went home, it started yesterday afternoon, and went straight through the night. I had set my alarm last night because I wanted to wake up early. It's screaming once again but I can't make out what it's saying. I turn over in bed, and turn my ears towards the radio and-

"That's right Tom, almost 23 inches! Now if we'll turn to our traffic re-"

What!? I quickly sat up and look at the radio. I could… I could hear! Clear as day, I could hear that damn radio for the first time in God knows how long!

But how? How could I hear this damn thing again? I tried to think quickly about what in my life has changed and Takato flashed into my head. I smiled to myself at how obvious it was.

But I had to be sure. I rolled out of bed with my dulled cat like agility. It was dulled because I hadn't needed to, or been using them as much lately. They were still there for me regardless. I found my cd player, and put on any song I didn't know and… I could hear!

"This is incredible!" I said out loud.
I hurried out of my room, and went straight for the phone. He would be the first to know, for sure.
I picked up the phone and dialed his house.

Fucking snow.

I stumbled out of my room and down the stairs cursing the cold as I held my elbows trying to stay warm. For a bakery the walls sure did seem to be paper-thin at times. I walked into the kitchen where mom and dad were apparently cooking breakfast.

"Morning, Takato. Want some of your fathers world class pancakes?" she asked me.
"Do you even need to ask him?" dad said.
She gave him a glare, and I came to the rescue. "Honestly, do you?"
They laughed, and I walked over to the table. I pulled out a chair and- BRRRRRING!

I let out whimper. Why me God? What did I do to deserve this? I thought to myself, cursing the phone as I pushed the chair back in and walked over to the telephone. I picked it up, and wanted to scream into it. "Hello, Matsuda residence, this is Takato speaking."

"Takato, good! What's up?" I heard a very familiar voice say into the other end.
I closed my eyes and savored her heavenly voice. Did she sound better in the morning or just when I'm drowsy? I smiled and said, "Not too much, just-"

"Awesome, meet me in the park now." She interrupted me with.
I let another whimper out. "What? I just-"
"Got up?" she offered.
"Yeah!" I said, finally glad to get it out.
"Great, so did I, but this is important!" she said, a little bit of persistence about her tone.

I thought over my options. I can't keep arguing…I'll lose for sure! Well… she's been up as long as I have, and if its important to her, it really must be important, oh well. Maybe if I eat fast enough… "Okay, just give me some time to get ready."
"Now, Takato I don't care if… wait, what?" she asked, surprised at my response.
"I said, give me some time to ready. Like a half hour." I said.
"Oh! Okay! See you then!" she said, excited, into the phone.
"Yep, bye." I said.
"Bye." She said.

Then an idea hit me faster then lightening; I breathed quickly into the phone. "Love you."
There was no response at first, and I thought she must have hung up before she heard it, but then I heard her say. "Love you too."

I smiled a huge smile to myself, and waited just long enough to let her know I heard but not too long to think I was going to say something else before hanging up. I stood there a moment by the phone, pleased with my courage to say what I had said. Then I quickly ran back into the kitchen, desperate to get some food in me before I went out, thinking all the while, "Why me God? What could I possibly have done I to deserve her, above anyone else!?"

"Its… so… cold!" I said to no one in particular, shivering as I trudged through the snow regardless of about three and a half layers of clothes I was wearing. I was sort of late because mom wanted to make sure I was completely covered up. Ugh, Rika's gonna be pissed. I slowly dug one heavy boot into the ground, while attempting to unearth the other and make forward progress.
So far I had managed to get almost to the halfway point, so maybe Rika would be coming around the corner any second! I just hope she isn't mad that she had to go further then that. I mean c'mon, when we talked it was obvious she had more energy then me! What the hell am I supposed to do? Run there? I think I did that enough already! I meaaaaaaa- "Ouch!" I screamed out.

I looked down to my right foot, which was a hell of a lot deeper into the snow then it should have been. I realized I must have stepped into a divot. "Fuc- WHAK!

Ice cold nothingness filled my body. I was completely numb for a few seconds, fazed by the freezing air and the wet snow covering me. I realized it wasn't my entire body covered in snow, but rather, just my face.

I wiped it off clean and made to look for the cause of the snow smacking me in the face. I looked to my left… nothing. I turned to the right… nothing? What gives? No one or thing was standing near me, and I couldn't see any footsteps up ahead to indicate someone was in hiding, yet I felt a sudden uneasiness about my current surroundings.

As if… someone was watching me.

SLAM! I jumped! I looked to my left an saw a rather HUGE pile of snow appear at my side, only a few feet away, that had not been there before. I hesitantly looked up, and saw a branch removed of snow, and seemed to be only a ten feet above my head. I started to try and push forward, but turned around as I was walking to stare at that branch. Could that stupid thing have dropped snow on me?

I watched it with suspicion, and gave it an evil eye as long as I could. However, before I could turn back around I felt my weight triple, saw flares of red streaks around me, my knees buckled, and for some odd reason… I had no problem with it.

I hit the ground with a thud, felt something, or rather someone, crawl on top of me and pin me to the ground. I smiled as I looked up at my captor, and saw the red fire streaks fall down and surround me like a veil, or a curtain closing on the final act.

She smiled right back.

This beautiful angel, who seemed intent on keeping me within grasp, leaned on top of me, bent its head, and graced my ice lips with a blaze of passion, but only for a moment… and then it was gone. The weight was alleviated as she rolled off of me, and lay in the snow next to me. I smiled again at one of the most beautiful persons I had ever laid eyes on, and thanked God I was so lucky to have her.

Rika returned the smile, and I felt the warmth come from her, as if she were setting me on fire with that smile, and melting away this ice.

I stared at him a moment longer. Everything just seemed surreal! How could I possibly be so lucky? Even in the snow I felt good with him! The snow, this damn snow, was so cruel, and so… well, so cold, I guess you could say. I hadn't really been thinking about it, but the snow reminded me of one of the worst experiences of my life. That time I had been captured by IceDevimon. It reminded me both of his cold touch and of the cold heart I had felt when I was in his grasp. But with Takato, I thought nothing of it! With Takato, the snow was just… snow! I was caught in the moment. I stood up, and pulled him with me, grabbed his hand, and led him to the protection under some trees just a few feet away. I sat us down on the closest thing I could find, which happened to be a stump. It was wide enough for both of us to sit on a look directly at each other. I stared into his eyes, and begged him to do the same, but he took no notice. He was too preoccupied by my speed and reactions, to notice my staring at him, trying to catch his attention. I reached my snow-covered glove up, touched his face gently, and brought him to look at me. I leaned in and we kissed again. An infinity seemed to pass as I poured myself into him, trying to convey all of my feelings of love for him! To let him know-

SMACK!

Ice cold nothingness surrounded us, and we broke apart. Immediately I began to look around for the cause to the end of my peace. I blinked back some snow from my eyes and could see the outline of someone leaning up against a tree no five feet from where we were sitting.

"Ya know, I distinctly remember Terriermon singing 'Renamon and Guilmon sitting in a tree, K-I-SS-I-N-G' Now I can sing, 'Rika and Takato sitting on a tree, K-I-SS-I-N-G." it said in a sing-song voice that mocked us, and caused my blood to run wild with anger.
"Henry! What are you doing here?" Takato said, excited to see his friend, and oblivious to my anger.
But what was I angry about? Henry had interrupted our… our… what exactly was that we just had? I searched within myself for a word, and none came. Henry spoke again, "Oh, not much. I just happen to enjoying a nice first snow and saw a certain best friend of mine walking in the park and couldn't resist to causing a little mischief."

Takato laughed a bit at this, and I did too, but only after I had heard Takato laughing, and it was shaky laughing, pointing out how obvious it was I didn't want to laugh. I thought a second to what Henry had said though, 'sitting on a tree?' I looked down to where we were and felt embarrassment and stupidity come over me at how badly I had walked right into that one. I wasn't happy with Henry right now, but if Takato could put up with him…

I looked at Takato, and he seemed to be out of it. He was in deep thought, and maybe, just maybe, he was thinking over Henry's song as well.

"I thought for sure you'd catch me the first time I hit you, Takato." Henry said.
Takato responded with an awed and confused look on his face, and had a sudden realization. "That was you!?" he asked.
Henry nodded, and Takato proceeded to push him to the ground. "You jerk! That was so cold!" he said in a friendly like aggravated tone.

Henry laughed as he began to try and sit back up. I was lost in my own little world of confusion. 'What are they talking about?' I caught myself thinking, and Takato apparently noticed. "SOMEONE, hit me with a snowball to the face right before you tackled me." He said.

I gave a smirk, and then let it drop. I just couldn't be as happy with Henry around. It was too… awkward.

"Gee, the three of us haven't been together at the same time since…" Henry had started, but broke off, realizing where it was headed.
We all became silent, thinking back truly, to when we last had been together. It was such a sad day, such a horrible nightmare, such… 'DAMNIT RIKA, DON'T LOSE IT NOW! NOT HERE!' my head screamed, and my anger at Henry returned, because with him, I couldn't be my new self… I had to be the old, fake Rika, the same one that no longer existed. Especially not when I was around Takato.

We sat there another good ten seconds without a word, and my anger at Henry for being present rose with every one of those seconds. I forced a fake smile at him, and he seemed to be shocked I was smiling at all. Finally, Takato broke the silence. "Umm… can I show you guys something? … Its kind of important."

I thought it over a second, and thought of how earlier this morning I had used that same word to hook him in. I smiled a real smile and said, "Absolutely."
"Yeah, sure, why not?" Henry said as well.
Takato stood up suddenly and said, "Great! Its kind of a surprise, and its not the pond Rika." He added for me.

Henry looked bewildered for a moment, but whatever; he doesn't need an explanation. Takato started walking, and I stood up quickly and began to chase after, closely followed by Henry.

'I wonder how they're going to take it?' I thought to myself.
I mean… it's been so long, and we haven't really talked about it till just now. Is it… is it really that important? 'Of course it is!' said my head again.
'They were our best friends!' it continued, and I stopped it. I found myself walking up the stone steps into the hangout, but no longer heard footsteps behind me. I turned to look at a hesitant and reluctant Rika and Henry. "What's that matter?" I asked.

They looked at each other a moment, and Rika tried to answer, "It's just… well, Takato… there's just so many memories here… so many-"
"- So many things to remind us of what we were trying to get past all this time." Henry finished for her.

I smiled at them. "Well… maybe we don't have to try anymore." I said.

They looked at me bewildered again.

I smiled a mischievous smile at them, which they could easily read 'no good' into, and I walked right into the hangout, without another word.

I waited a few more seconds, maybe a full fifteen, and then they came walking into the hangout, slowly, but they were in. Got em! Now, to tell them the truth that I had been holding in for this long, but no longer shall it be hidden. "So… they're all gone. Terriermon (I looked at Henry)… Renamon (I looked at Rika)… and Guilmon (I looked to where the hole was, it was visibly 'invisible' because of the snow, but I knew it was there.)"

They looked at me upset, because I was bringing back bad memories. I took a few steps to the right, and the only thing between them and me… was the hole. "Guys… come here… I've got a secret to tell you."

They looked surprised and yet still bewildered. They started to move forward '… Three steps to go…. Two steps to go… One more step!'

They both took one huge step forward and fell two feet into snow!

Rika screamed, Henry too… they obviously had no idea what they had walked right into. I rushed to help them both out of the hole they fell into. As I pulled them up, I also started to dig. I knew once we got to the bottom we would be able to see the portal. They were screaming at me after I helped them out, screaming insanity's as I dug and dug and finally, not even twenty seconds into digging… hit bottom! I crouched down and looked to the end of the path… and a strange familiar light shown through the darkness. "TAKATO! What the HELL are you DOING!?" Rika screamed at me.

I looked up at her, her face racing with rage, and I smiled. "Reminiscing… reminiscing." I said.
"What are you talking about!?" they both screamed at me.
"Come down here and look." I said, reaching up and pulling myself out of the hole.
They both stared at me like I was crazy. "What?" Henry said.
"Well ya see… remember when Guilmon found the portal to the digital world, when we were still fighting the devas?" I asked of them.
They stared unbelievingly, but Rika's expression changed suddenly. She stared at me, her eyes wide. "No…" she said.
"YES!" I replied.

Immediately she jumped down to the bottom, and after a few seconds of trying to get right… "YOU'RE FUCKING KIDDING ME!"
I laughed hysterically, and Henry quickly looked from me to Rika, who was pulling herself out, and bent down to crawl down himself. Rika got out and rushed at me, arms wide, and gave me a tremendous hug. I returned it, but she pulled away and hitting me on the head. "Ow! What was-"
"HOLY SHIT!" Henry screamed.
"Right. What was that for?" I asked Rika.
"For holding this back so long you dope!" she nearly yelled.

Henry pulled himself out rather quickly. "How long… how long have you known about… about… about this!" he found the word he was looking for.
I frowned, "Since they left."
"And you never told us?" He asked.
"I have now." I said.

He closed his mouth, deciding not to go through with his retaliation. "So, what do you think?" I asked.
"I think we should leave right now." Rika said.
I smiled, and got ready to agree. "No!"
I did a double take. "What?" I asked Henry.
"WE can't go… not alone. We're not the only ones who lost our partners. We have to tell the others. And besides, we can't go now… what if we can't get back? How will anyone know what happened to us?" he reasoned with us.

I thought this over for a few seconds and realized he was right. I nodded, and, although reluctant, Rika nodded too. "So… we have to tell everyone, and be prepared to go then. But what's it going to be like when we actually get there? I mean… its not like our appearance is going to be announced or anything." I said.

"We'll find a way to find them… we'll find a way." Henry said reassuringly.
I smiled, knowing he was sure it could work, then turned to Rika. She was already staring at me. "We should get back home… so we can start to talk about how were going to deal with the craziness when everyone hears about it." I said, mostly to her, but to Henry too I guess.

She smiled and nodded, and she knew I loved that smile.

We slowly made our way out of the hideout, and back to my house, because it was the closest. We talked about our partners, how we thought everyone, individually, will react, about how I had somehow kept it from them for so long, about how excited we were knowing we were going back. However, for some odd reason, right before we got back to my house, Rika told me "You'll never know how you mean to me." I smiled, and gave her a peck on the cheek. Henry just walked ahead of us, shaking his head like he wished he didn't know us. If he only knew how we acted when he wasn't around… if he only knew.

Maybe he'll find out soon enough?

-FIN-
Autumn Leaves
-FIN-

A/N: All finished! Or is it? Okay… it is. But the sequel starts now. I'll get to work immediately and just give me like… 3 weeks to get ahead, that way if anything goes wrong (i.e.- computer malfunction's) I'll have a good cushion of time to fall back on. Also, sorry for all the cursing… I really couldn't find anyway around it… not this time. I do really hope you all liked it. I don't have much else to say, except: don't expect me to disappear. I've got another poem/story coming, eventually, and I have another many chapter story that I mentioned in the end 'a/n' of an earlier chapter (possibly the second?), but the sequel will be worked on. I still have to say… this was my first, and I want to thank EVERYONE for reading it thus far, and reviewing. Please proceed to the review section after reading this though, because I appreciate it very much. Anyway, again, thank you for reading, and be watching for more from… Thee Notorious… P…A…T…

The curtain closes,
they're throwin roses at my feet
I take a bow,
and 'Thank you all for comin out'
They're screamin so loud,
I take one last look at the crowd- Eminem, When I'm Gone

Indeed… Thank you all for coming out. Yeah, this feels right. Okay, Peace!

Love Always. Rukato Forever.

(Truck horn sounded and trucker talking) Honk! Honk! I thank you.
(Chappelle in the background) I'm Rich Bitch!
(I also don't own 'The Chappelle Show' closing or anything remotely like that.)