Lone Wolf: And finally after a month and almost two weeks, Chapter 6 of INJYTV.
Hiei: (looks at stats) Isn't it ironic how your shortest chapter received the most reviews?
Lone Wolf: Yeah. Maybe I should start making my chapters short again...

Chapter 6: Of Basketball, Snoring, and the Television

It was a little past five by the time the Tamers returned to their vacation home. The sun was still shining brightly and gave no sign of setting any time soon.

Everyone had taken a shower. It was almost six. Kazu and Kenta had dozed off in their room. Stuffing yourself with food, swimming, and walking could be quite exhausting. Suzie was watching TV; she's seriously obsessed with it. Henry, Rika, Ryo, and Takato were playing basketball in the backyard. (Henry had skipped over the part about this in the brochure.) Jeri was keeping score. There was a full-sized court, which surprised Rika, Ryo, and Jeri greatly. It really was a nice summer house.

Henry and Rika went up against Ryo and Takato. Ryo, not wishing to be slapped again, didn't go easy on Rika. Could you blame him? Rika hit hard. Despite the fact that Ryo and Takato were playing their best, Rika and Henry were still winning.

6:30. Rika and Henry high-fived. They'd won with a score of 20 to 8. "You're pathetic Akiyama," Rika informed. "What about Takato then?" he joked, "He was on the losing team, too." Henry and Jeri just laughed; Takato tried to redirect Rika's insults back to Ryo.

Snore. Kazu and Kenta were still asleep.

"Switch up the teams?" Jeri asked. "Sure," Ryo flashed his trademark smile, "As long as I can be with Pumpkin." "Excuse me while I gag," Rika replied. Takato and Henry chuckled. "Hey Jeri, do you wanna play? I'll take a break," Henry offered. "Thanks Henry," she said, smiling.

Henry sat down, "So it's Takato and Jeri versus Rika and Ryo. How cute. It's the two couples facing off." He laughed. Rika glared at him, ready to pounce. "I knew it. Wildcat loves me," Ryo said cheerfully, jabbing her cheek playfully.

Rika sank to the ground, "Why me?" She couldn't take it anymore. All the teasing was too much for her. Some vacation this was. "Aww, cheer up. I was only joking," Ryo told her. Jeri giggled, "He doesn't realize that's why she's on her knees wanting to die." Ryo looked at her quizzically, "Pumpkin...wants...to die? But..." He made his lower lip quiver like a little kid. "Wahhh," he began to wail, trying to refrain from laughing. His efforts were in vain. Soon all five of them were rolling around bursting with laughter, including Rika. Not literally rolling on the ground, mind you. I exaggerate.

"He's really something isn't he?" Henry commented. He and Rika had calmed down. Takato, Jeri, and Ryo were still laughing. "Yeah."

"So are we playing or not?" Jeri asked, not laughing as much as she had previously been. "Of course," Takato answered. "Then let's go!"

The lot of them can be such dorks sometimes. Still...you gotta love 'em.

Suzie continued watching cartoons.

It was seven. The score was 16 to 6.

"Okay, fine. So maybe it wasn't Ryo. It was Takato," Rika sighed, defeated, although she'd won the game, "Goggle-head is worse at basketball than Ryo...But Akiyama's not that great either!" "Come on. Admit it. I'm good and you know it," Ryo said. "Then how come you lost by, what was the score again? By twelve points?" Rika retorted. There was no response.

Jeri broke the silence, "Well, now that we all have to take a shower again..." Rika sighed again, "Sure, whatever. You can start dinner then." Jeri nodded in agreement and returned to the kitchen. The remaining four also went inside. Rika and Ryo went to the upper bathrooms, Henry and Takato to the lower ones.

Jeri finished making dinner and went to take her shower. The other four had finished by then. They went to the living room to watch TV; it was rude if they just went to eat. After all, it was Jeri who cooked and for her not to eat with them just wasn't right.

Everyone, minus Kazu and Kenta, ate their dinner after Jeri finished her shower. They woke up the two sleeping pigs...er...boys after they'd finished their own food. You couldn't exactly blame them; Kazu and Kenta would've eaten everything.

Takato and Jeri went out front and sat on the porch swing by the door, each donning a light jacket. The sun was just setting and the sky was filled with brilliant colors.

Henry was on the computer once again and Suzie resumed her television watching.

Rika (after changing out of her pajamas) left for a walk in the midst of Kazu and Kenta's whining about how no one woke them up, leaving only Ryo behind.

It's so peaceful out here, without them making such a racket.

(A/N: Rika's referring to Kazu and Kenta, of course.)

Back at the house, Ryo threw on a pair of shorts and T-shirt and left, looking for Rika.

"Do you think they'll ever get together?" Jeri asked as Ryo left the house. "Rika and Ryo? Who knows," Takato replied, "It is Rika we're talking about here." "Ah, but it's so obvious they like each other. It'd be a shame if they didn't."

Rika reached the lake. Since the previous day, she had declared the small area her territory. There was such a great view of the setting sun. She sat down, hugged her knees, and relaxed, enjoying the silence.

"It's so beautiful," Rika mumbled, gazing at the sun.

"I know something even more beautiful."

Rika turned around, recognizing the voice, "Stalking me again, Akiyama?" "Maybe," Ryo smiled and winked.

There was silence again. Ryo sat down and he and Rika watched the sunset together.

Jeri and Takato were doing the same back at the house, except they were actually enjoying each other's company. Jeri rested her head on Takato's shoulder; he blushed slightly. Were they an item? Neither of them were sure. They only knew that they both liked each other and would do anything for the other.

"Is it safe for me to ask what's more beautiful than the sunset?" Rika wondered, half whispering. Ryo leaned over and kissed her cheek. He hovered by her face for a second after, "You."