Author's Note: I don't own digimon nor its characters. Only the storyline is made up. Please read and review. Thank you so much! :D

Chapter 16: The Plan

The next day, Henry was really bothered inside his home because he could not reach Rika in her phone and at the same time, he could not locate her. With what Aimei told him yesterday night, he was afraid that Rika might board the plane without him telling her that everything was cancelled and he needed her back again.

Rika… I hope that I can catch you before you leave me… Henry thought. Do you still love me?

Right now, he was in front of his parents and somehow drinking his coffee. He informed them of the scheme and both were sorry to hear that there was something illegal behind what they had been pushing Henry to do so.

"Henry," Mrs. Wong began in their behalf since they felt embarrassed with themselves. "We didn't know that there was something ulterior behind Miya's actions. That was why we were reluctant in agreeing to your arranged marriage, you know?"

"Yes, I know that, Mom…" Henry answered with a smile. "I know that kind of scheme already."

"Then why are you smiling?" Mr. Wong asked, noticing the goofy grin that Henry still had since years ago.

"It's so funny because we had to resort to that kind of stuff just to make our ends meet," Henry remarked with a smile.

His parents smiled broadly. They decided to help Henry get his girl back again.

"Whatever you do, Henry… We'll be always right beside you," Mr. Wong assured him with a smile. "Now we know that you are a right man. And a right man always does the things that are the best for everyone."

"So what are you going to do then, Henry?" Mrs. Wong asked him.

Henry's face wore a smile as he suddenly found himself an idea.

"Mom, Dad, I'll still push through with my wedding," Henry answered with a grin. "This time… to the right person… and the right time!"

The Wongs exchanged shocked looks. They did not know who Henry was referring to.

"I'll explain it later, Mom," Henry answered with a sly grin. "Right now, I need to ask for someone's help as well."

"Whatever you say, Henry," Mrs. Wong replied while she returned the grin and suddenly had an idea. "But before you could say it, I think I already knew who she was."

Henry only smiled and stood up from his seat. He excused himself from his parents so he could talk to someone. He walked from the living room and made his way upstairs. When he reached his room, he began to search for his laptop and found it on his study table. As he sat down, he plugged all the necessary cables and wires in order to establish the connection that he needed for her to talk to that important person. He opened the laptop and typed the name so he could send that someone an electronic mail.

Meanwhile, in America, Mrs. Nonaka was busy typing something in her laptop when she saw a notification pop inside it.

"Huh?" Mrs. Nonaka asked curiously as she saw the notification in her video message. She clicked it and saw Henry's name on it. "Henry Wong? I think I need to accept this."

With this, she clicked the OK button so that she could respond to his request.

Back at Henry, he was surprised that his request was granted. With this, he started his video message with Mrs. Nonaka.

"Hello, Mrs. Nonaka!" Henry started causing his image to pop now on Mrs. Nonaka's screen.

"Henry!" Mrs. Nonaka greeted as well. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Nonaka," Henry answered. "Uh… I need your help."

"With what, Henry?" Rika's mother asked. "What do you need from me?"

"I'm asking for Rika's hand in marriage… if that is okay with you," Henry answered seriously.

This caused Mrs. Nonaka to laugh online. This was definitely taking advantage of it as well.

"Are you serious, Henry?" Mrs. Nonaka asked in amusement. "You want to marry Rika?"

"Of course, Mrs. Nonaka," Henry answered with a smile. "I want to marry her."

"But isn't this sudden, Henry Wong?" Mrs. Nonaka asked, somehow confused with what she just heard.

"I know it's sudden, Mrs. Nonaka, but I just want her back again," Henry answered.

"But Henry… Rika's leaving for America tomorrow… How can you possibly marry her?" Rumiko pointed out. "She doesn't even want a long distance relationship! Are you sure you want to do this?"

"That's why I'm going to enlist your help," Henry answered. "I'm going to stop her from leaving tomorrow. That's why I wanted to marry Rika already."

"At such a short notice?!" Mrs. Nonaka asked, already delighted with the idea but confused with why was the wedding going to be immediately.

"Mrs. Nonaka, I'm gonna tell you this… I was supposed to get married tomorrow but the bride I'm supposed to be marrying called it quits. So… the bride I wanted to marry tomorrow should be Rika," Henry explained. "It's surprising but it's still hassle."

And from the other line, Mrs. Nonaka had finally understood everything. Actually, she was confused because she had heard from Rika that Henry was getting married then Henry wanted to marry Rika. Now she knew the exact reason.

"So you're the one who was having an arranged marriage with someone else?" Mrs. Nonaka asked in surprise.

"How did you know that it's arranged, Mrs. Nonaka?" Henry asked, surprised that Mrs. Nonaka knew about his arranged marriage.

Mrs. Nonaka sighed from the other line. "My daughter told me about it. To be honest, she looked glum when I asked her about you because she told me once that you two met again. She also added that you're getting married already when we last talked in video message."

Henry felt his heart pumping faster. His arranged marriage was the one that caused Rika not to answer his calls and to totally avoid him like a plague. He wanted to talk to Rika so bad right now.

"I don't know what made Rika decide to follow here… Before, she was stubborn to tell me that she didn't want to follow us and live here in America. But now, it's a completely different thing," Mrs. Nonaka answered wistfully. "I guess she really felt alone there in Japan after she had been through. She just waited to earn the money that she needed so she could restart her life here."

At that point, Henry sighed. Rika may be his former girlfriend but he still had no idea what was transpiring inside her mind. Maybe she chose to avoid him for good because she felt that he could not move on with her around him.

"I asked Rika if she was sure about her departure to America tomorrow. She said yes," Mrs. Nonaka stated. "But deep inside, I have a feeling that she's still reluctant. You know that girl… always keeping her pride high!"

Henry did not even know what to say. But he was still determined to get her back, no matter how hard it would take.

"That is why I wanted to marry Rika tomorrow. I wanted to make sure that she'll stay here in Japan and be with me," Henry stated. "After what she told me regarding her life-death story, I even wanted to take care of her and spend the rest of my life with her. I just wanted to make it up for the lost time when she hid her disease with me. It's not yet too late, right?"

Mrs. Nonaka saw how determined the young man was in winning back her daughter. She was already proud to have him as a future son-in-law. After all, she joked about Henry and Rika being married someday and now, she was the bridge in fulfilling that dream.

"I know it's not yet too late and you have a lifetime in doing that." Mrs. Nonaka smiled. "I really see how much you love my daughter so much and I have a guess that it never died during the time she chose to keep her sickness secret. I'm proud of you, Henry."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Nonaka." Henry smiled as well. "I love your daughter so much and I'll do everything in my power to make her happy."

"Okay," Mrs. Nonaka said in conclusion. "With that, I'm granting your permission to marry my daughter. As her mother, I also wanted to make my daughter happy. If being with the man she loved will make her happy, I won't have any objections."

Henry nodded and smiled with what Mrs. Nonaka told him. He was that close in undertaking everything!

"But how are you going to do that, Henry?" Mrs. Nonaka asked. "My daughter's flight is at morning!"

"I can manage that, Mrs. Nonaka," Henry answered. "I have my friends with their girlfriends."

"Don't 'Mrs. Nonaka' me anymore, Henry," Rumiko said with a chuckle. "You can call me Mom already."

"Oh… Sorry, 'Mom'!" Henry smiled. "And like I said, I have Jeri Katou and Alice McCoy with me."

"Good luck then." Mrs. Nonaka chuckled. "Just be sure to give me grandchildren when you two get successful in your marriage, okay? I'm already waiting for a mini-Rika or a mini-you!"

Henry blushed at that point. During their vacation in Okinawa, he almost ended up in getting it on with Rika if it was not for him who knew how to control.

"No problem, 'Mom'!" Henry smiled. "But don't tell about this to Rika. I wanted to surprise her."

"Alright!" Mrs. Nonaka agreed. "I'll book a flight to Japan as soon as possible."

"Thanks so much, 'Mom'." Henry smiled. "I have to go now. At least I got your OK."

Mrs. Nonaka nodded and with that, the video that contained Rika's mother was truly gone. With this, Henry closed the laptop and wore a smile on his face as he had the mother of his girlfriend's approval.

One down… Henry thought with a smile on his face.

Back in America, Rumiko Nonaka was happy that her daughter was going to get married the next day. She squealed so loud that even her mother was surprised with what she just did.

"Rumiko? Is there anything wrong?" Grandma Seiko asked. She was wearing her white shirt and a black skirt.

"No, Mom!" Mrs. Nonaka replied gleefully. "Someone's getting married!"

Grandma Seiko frowned. "Was it you? Was it you who's going to get married?"

Mrs. Nonaka shook her head. "No, silly! It's my baby girl! She's getting married tomorrow so we need to fly to Japan right now!"

"I thought Rika was single!" Grandma Seiko said in confusion as Mrs. Nonaka paced the room aimlessly. "What's going on?"

"Henry talked to me in a video message and he asked me if he could marry Rika. I didn't see a problem with him and he seemed to be a perfect candidate as Rika's husband." Mrs. Nonaka chuckled as she went to her closet so she could pack her bags. "So I gave him the go-signal."

Grandma Seiko eventually laughed. "Secretive but clever. Is it to stop Rika from leaving Japan?"

"Sounds like," Rumiko concluded. "Come on, Mom. I need to see flights."

"Okay." Grandma Seiko smiled. True love wins after all. Oh, my dearest and sweetest granddaughter Rika.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Aimei was seen arguing with her mother inside her house. The former had only informed Miya because her mother was drunk when she came home.

"Why did you call it off, Aimei?" Miya Chen asked furiously. She hated it when her plans were smashed or ruined into pieces. "You're an idiot!"

"Mom, are you nuts?!" Aimei retorted. "I don't want to get married to someone just because of money! For Pete's sake, Mom, I've always been a pawn to your failed businesses!"

Miya Chen only shrieked as she realized that everything she planned was gone for good.

"You're such an imbecile, Aimei!" Miya yelled. "Now we can't get a hold on Shinjuku Industries because of what you're doing!"

"You're the one who's at fault, Mom!" Aimei pointed out. "You've resorted yourself to pyramiding! Now we're the ones who are totally broke!"

Miya felt ashamed of herself as she realized that her daughter was right.

"You're only thinking of yourself, Mom," Aimei replied as she was hurt because of her being a pawn to her mother's requests. "Have you not noticed why I was treated badly by our relatives? Because they thought that I was a product of Dad and you as a gold-digger! That's why when Dad died, they were mad at us because they also thought that our bankruptcy was one of the cause!"

Miya eventually was engulfed in silence. She was very ashamed of what she did. Even her daughter was now mad at her. She placed her palms on her face.

"I… I'm so sorry… Aimei… I didn't know that you're already thinking that way," Miya said in remorse. "I'm so sorry if I raised you because I was hungry for money. I'm sorry for being this way, Aimei."

Aimei went towards her mother and hugged her. "I'm sorry too, Mom. But I just don't want to fool or hurt any other people around me. I'm marrying the ex of my friend and I don't want to be some rebound."

"Wait!" Miya said with her eyes wide. "You mean…"

"Rika and Henry know each other not just as friends. They used to be a couple… and I envy them because I want to marry a guy I love and not just by arranged marriage," Aimei explained. "That's why I called this arranged wedding off so I could return back the couple to where they should be."

Miya looked at her daughter oddly. "Despite me as your mother, you still have a good heart, Aimei. From now on, I'll change. I'll start operating a business that is legal… from now on."

"That's my mother!" Aimei said cheerfully. "Good job on it!"

Meanwhile, Henry was in his room and saw the tuxedo that he was supposed to wear on his wedding day with Aimei. The wedding gown was in Suzie's room. as he was looking at his tuxedo, he heard a voice.

"Hey, brother!" the voice called out.

When Henry looked around, he saw that it was Suzie and he smiled.

"I knew that woman's a bitch!" Suzie chuckled.

"No. It's not Aimei who was the problem. It's her mom." Henry smirked. "She's the one who wanted us to be set up into this kind of crap."

"So what are you going to do now, Henry?" Suzie asked, wondering what would happen because the wedding was called off.

"You don't know?" Henry asked in surprise because Suzie had been asking him regarding what would happen next.

"What I don't know?" Suzie asked in return. "I came home and heard from Mom that the bitchy Aimei called the stupid wedding off!"

Henry laughed since the secrecy of his plan was still maintained and his sister was totally clueless with everything.

"If I'm arranged to be married to a certain woman but the wedding's called off, then I'm going to arrange myself and Rika into a wedding." Henry smirked. "I already got a future mother-in-law's approval."

"It's going to be a surprise wedding for Rika!" Suzie said cheerily. "That's so romantic, dear brother!"

"Yeah." Henry smiled. "I just wish that my plan works. I don't want to lose Rika for the second time around."

Suzie raised her eyebrows with what Henry just said.

"You can always check on her at her house, you know?" the mauve-haired young woman suggested.

"I tried calling her and her local home number but no one's there," Henry answered. "Worse, she's scheduled for a flight to America tomorrow and that's why this wedding is an urgent one."

Suzie only threw her arms around Henry. Henry smiled at his sister's affectionate gesture.

"I just wish you and Rika are the ones who get married. She's probably the best woman to be with ever!" the younger sister added as she broke away from Henry's grasp.

"I know," Henry answered with a smile. "I think this calls for an emergency meeting. Suzie, call up the others so we can have an unofficial meeting just for the wedding tomorrow!"

Later that day as soon as Henry called up his friends in his house, Takato, Ryo, Kazu, Kenta, Jeri and Alice had arrived inside the Wong residence. They sat in front of Henry who was seated at the smaller couch.

"What seems to be the problem, Henry?" Takato asked. "And why so urgent, dude?"

"And what's with the meeting?" Ryo inquired as well while Alice sat next to him.

"Dude, are you organizing a bachelor party for us with the girls invited?" Kazu asked ridiculously.

Henry cleared his throat. "Actually… Something happened and I needed all your help."

"With what?" Kenta asked curiously.

"Anyway… Aimei cancelled the wedding off," Henry answered.

The friends wore shocked looks with what they heard.

"Are you serious, Henry?" Takato asked. Aside from Suzie, he was the other one who knew all about Henry being engaged to another woman.

"Yes," Henry answered. "It was just a trick so that they can get our money."

"Now that's a gold digger!" Kazu remarked in disdain.

"If that's the case, then why did you invite us on an emergency meeting, Henry?" Jeri asked.

Henry took a deep breath and composed himself. "Because I'm going to push the wedding… with a different bride…"

The friends exchanged odd looks but began to smile as they realized who the different bride was.

"You mean you're marrying Rika tomorrow?" Takato asked in surprise.

"Correct," Henry answered with a smile. "She's leaving tomorrow."

"But how are you going to do that?" Ryo pointed out. "Rika's leaving for America tomorrow."

"What?!" the friends except Henry chorused.

"Yeah! You heard me! Rika's leaving tomorrow! She told me about it and she didn't want Henry to know," Ryo answered and began to realize what he just said. "Oops!"

Henry became agape with what he heard. Rika did not want him to know about her departure for America.

I'll just talk to her tomorrow… Henry thought wistfully.

"Uh… Sorry about that, Henry…" Ryo answered. "But Rika's so stubborn in not telling you about her leaving."

"It's okay," Henry answered and remained calm. "Anyway, back to what I was saying… I'm setting up an arranged marriage tomorrow with Rika."

"How could you do that?" Alice asked, intrigued with what Henry just told her.

"I asked Mrs. Nonaka to let me do so. She's on her way now to Japan with Grandma Seiko," Henry explained.

"Smooth move, Henry!" Kazu commented with a smile. "You're lucky that Mrs. Nonaka is a kind woman!"

"I first thought she won't accept. But for Rika, she had to," Henry answered. "Anyway, our plan will start as soon as Alice and Jeri arrive at the Nonaka residence."

"What are we going to do?" Alice asked, interested in what she was supposed to do with Jeri.

"You're going to go to Rika's house and give her the wedding gown so she could wear it," Henry instructed. "You and Jeri."

"Roger that!" Alice smiled. "This is the best thing I've ever been to!"

"You'll be expecting more, babe!" Ryo smirked as Alice only pinched him in the cheek instead of kissing him. "Hey! That hurts!"

"You'll be scoring in the first base when we get two a more higher level, dumdum!" Alice chuckled.

"We'll do that, Henry!" Jeri said with a smirk. "Right now, we need to confirm if Rika's still at home as of this moment!"

Henry felt reluctant. If they were to use his phone in order to call her, then Rika would not answer or do anything. He saw his sister Suzie and had an idea.

"Suzie, can I borrow your phone?" Henry asked.

Suzie smiled and handed Henry her phone. The moment Henry got it, he immediately dialed Rika's number and waited for the other line to ring. Henry was placing the phone nearest to his ear.

At that moment, Rika saw her phone that was ringing. She decided to answer it since it had an unknown number.

"Hello?" she said.

Meanwhile, at the Wong residence, Henry was surprised that Rika had answered but he did not say anything. She might put the call down if he said that it was him who was calling.

"Hello?" the person from the other line replied.

With this, he ended the call. Now he was sure that Rika was still there and most probably, she was still packing her things. He gave the phone to his sister and resumed the conversation.

"Now we know that she's still there," Henry said wistfully. I still can't believe that she didn't want anybody to tell me that she'll leave. Maybe she was afraid of what I'd feel.

"Then after Rika dresses up, we'll go straight to the church, is that it?" Jeri pointed out.

"Yes," Henry said. "But don't let her know what's going on. I want it to be surprise."

"Nice plan. Let's just hope that she doesn't see a thing at all!" Ryo commented with a grin.

"I'll tell her when she agrees to this." Henry winked. "And to you, guys… You'll just help me in the normal groom's business."

"Oh… This sounds fun!" Kazu smirked as he winked towards Kenta.

"Count us in, Henry!" Takato and Ryo replied with a smile.

And the eight former tamers were still discussing with what they wanted to do the next day.

Rika was at home that evening and she was doing some last-minute packing. Two bags and two suitcases would not hurt for her. Just as she could finish, she heard the doorbell ring. She stood up and walked towards the doorway. When she opened the door, she saw that the persons were Zoe Orimoto and Mimi Tachikawa.

"Hi?" Rika said with uncertainty. "What are you doing here?"

Mimi threw her arms around Rika and Zoe followed suit. They were now engaged in a what-do-they-call "group hug". When they broke away, they were already teary-eyed.

"We're gonna miss you so much, Rika!" Mimi remarked as tears fell from her eyes.

"Me too! We can never repay you for your kindness when we're in college!" Zoe added as she wiped her eyes.

"Jeez, girls! You don't have to be emotional for me!" Rika snorted.

"We can't help it! You're our best friend!" Mimi protested as she began to laugh.

"And for being our best friend, you'll have this…" Zoe said as she took something from her bag. It was a notebook with purple as background.

"Uh? Thanks… even if it's purple," Rika answered sheepishly as she held the notebook.

"Purple stood for your eyes… Zoe's outfit and the last color of my hair before we graduated in college," Mimi explained with a laugh. "It's a send-off gift of SP's babes to you."

"Thanks…" Rika answered as she mentally snickered for the explanation behind the notebook's color. "But be kind to my replacement, alright?!"

The two nodded and smiled. Eventually, they waved Rika goodbye and walked towards the gate. Rika led them to her gate. When they were already completely out of Rika's sight, she closed the gate and opened the notebook. It contained some of her pictures with the two when she was still studying in college.

Wow… Rika thought. I look more like an idiot when I'm with Zoe and Mimi!

When she was already inside her house once again, she went back to packing once again. As soon as she had finished, she saw a picture frame that she almost forgot to pack. It contained a photo of her and Henry during their senior prom wherein the boy was carrying her in bridal style.

Gosh… Rika thought as she saw the picture.

She stood up and took the frame from her stand and opened it. She took the picture and saw that it was the annoying yet humorous photo for her. She began to recall how the photo was taken.

"Hey, Rika…" Henry said to his girlfriend as they were standing nearest to a photo booth. He was wearing his black tuxedo while Rika was wearing her V-neck and sleeveless purple dress.

"What?" Rika asked.

"We never had a unique picture together here in this prom," Henry remarked.

"Henry… I don't do poses, okay?" Rika snorted.

"Come on, Ri… This will be fun!" Henry said with a smile. "Come on!"

Rika did not want Henry to be pleading and kneeling so that his request could be granted. She eventually became convinced to have a unique photo with him.

"Fine!" Rika answered. "But only one, okay?"

Eventually, they stood in front of the photo booth. When they were still thinking of a pose Henry took Rika's legs and carefully swooped her up into a bridal style of carrying her.

"Henry? What are you doing?" Rika asked, wondering why her legs were over Henry's arms.

"This is how I want to remember our prom," Henry answered with a smile.

Rika only blushed because she still remembered what her mother told about her and Henry earlier.

"SMILE!" the photographer said as the couple was looking at him already.

The young couple smiled as they had their picture taken.

Rika laughed at herself for being stubborn with Henry's wishes. She only had this picture framed because it was given to her by Henry. But when she looked at the back, she saw that it had something on it.

"Hey, Rika-san,

I know it's weird but I wanted to give this to you as a souvenir. This is memorable to me because it's you and me who are in the photo. But you're more memorable to me.

I love you so much, Rika. Take care!

Cheers to more years for us!

~ Henry. :)"

Gaaad. He's the most stupid hopeless romantic, Rika thought. But I love him.

But the last sentence made her heart break. She only lasted a year with Henry because it was her decision to hide her disease. And now, it was too late. Henry would get married tomorrow and she would be leaving as well. It was better that they were in separate ways.

Goodbye, Henry… Rika thought. Thanks for the memories… I love you and I always will.