Chapter 2 of And After That.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon

"HENWY!!!!" Henry looked up at the familiar voice of his little sister. She was grinning as she ran towards the small group. Henry's eyes widened.

"Suzie?" He whispered in disbelief as the little girl ran up to him. He caught her in his arms with little effort. Takato's eyebrows knitted together. Rika crossed her arms over her chest. 'How did Suzie get here' She thought. Takato was thinking the same thing. Henry must have been too, because he asked. "How did you get here Suzie?"

"I can smell him!" Monodramon shouted. He ran around with his nose to the floor of the park.

"Wyo said you would be hewe Henwy! He bwought me to you!" Henry stood up, settling Suzie on his hip.

"That can't be right!" Rika said.

"Actually it could be." Alice murmured. They all looked at her. She looked over at Ken who sighed.

"Ryo's faked his death more than once." Ken explained. "That's why we came back. To see if he was really dead. Ryo's not the type to put his burdens on everyone else. I'm sure you've seen it first hand. His father isn't dead and if Ryo really is alive he's going to make sure Mr. Akiyama hasn't and won't harm any of us before he goes after his father himself." Jeri put her hand over her mouth.

"I knew I wasn't hallucinating!" Everyone looked at her. "I saw Ryo over there in the trees. I thought I was seeing things!" They all looked at the trees right across from them. Monodramon grinned and ran, jumping on something that was perched behind the tree closest to them. A boy fell out from behind the tree with Monodramon jumping on him.

"I found you, I found you! I knew you'd never leave me Ryo!" Monodramon shouted. Ryo groaned.

"Okay, okay Mono you found me! Stop bouncing, You're killing me!" Ryo shouted. He took in a breath when Monodramon stopped bouncing on him. He fell back against the ground and groaned again. Monodramon looked a little confused, Ryo had never really cared if he'd bounced on him.

"Ryo what's wrong?" Monodramon came up and put his paw on Ryo's cheek. Ryo forced himself up, grimacing as he did so.

"I'm not exactly in the best health conditions, Bud." Ryo rubbed Monodramon's head. Ryo stood up and brushed himself off. He looked up at Ken and Alice. Neither of them looked surprised. "You don't look to shocked to see me." Alice crossed her arms.

"I can't believe you did this again!"

"Alice-"

"It's different this time! It's not just me and Ken anymore! You have other friends that love you and are just as much involved in this as we are!"

"You two are only involved because I couldn't exactly leave you there! Same thing with them!"

"Of course, because you have to do everything yourself!" Ryo shook his head and smiled.

"You're only upset with me because you think I faked my death."

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't!"

"I didn't fake my death."

"That's bullshit Ryo. Takato saw you die." Rika said. She couldn't believe this. Why would he lie, when the proof was right there in front of them? Ryo looked over at her.

"Yeah, I remember I was there. That's not the point though."

"What are you talking about?" Jeri asked. Ryo shook his head, rolling his eyes as he turned and walked away.

"WHAT THE HELL RYO?" Rika shouted after him. He looked back.

"If you want to know so badly then go talk to Azulongmon! I don't have time to tell you about it. I've only got a week!" Ryo left with Monodramon running after him.

"Rika?" Henry whispered. She shook her head.

"When I see him again, I'll kill him!"

"I'm afraid," A voice started. "That's impossible." Everyone looked up in the sky. There Azulongmon floated.

"What do you mean?" Rika asked.

"You can't kill someone who's already dead." Alice's eyes widened as did Ken's.

"You joined his mind and soul with his dead body?"

"Yes, it's temporary. He will only be here this week. So he can take care of his father. Then he will pass for good."

"Why would you do that?" Ken asked..

"It was his wish. That if he ever died before he took care of his father then I'd bring him back long enough to rid the world of his father. So Ryo could honestly rest in peace." Rika looked away. She couldn't take this. Henry put a hand on her shoulder.

"So, he really died?" Rika asked. She knew the answer, but she had to hear it.

"Yes."

"And in a week, he'll be gone for good?"

"Rika." Henry whispered. His hand slid down and gripped her elbow. Rika looked at him, her face gave away that she already knew the answer. The answer none of them wanted to hear.

"Yes."

Rika lay quietly on her bed, thinking about the days events. How did her day get from bad to worse? Henry got hurt and they were both hurt again. In a week they would lose Ryo all over again and Rika wasn't even sure that she would be able to see him again. Of course it was just like Rika to end arguing with him. That would be his last memory of her and her last memory of him. Walking away. She put her pillow over her face. She could feel the tears force their way out. This wasn't working for her. She hated crying, that's why she never did it. Was it possible that she could actually...love him? Just as the tears made their way down her cheeks she heard a quiet knock. Rika sat up and saw Ryo standing outside the room. Watching her through the glass door. Rika pulled herself out of bed and quickly wiped the tears away. She slid the door open.

"Hey." He murmured. Rika looked him up and down. He had a green T-shirt on and jeans with his hands in his pockets. He had a matching beanie on too. She had to admit. He looked good in it...for a dead guy.

"You know it's a little creepy knowing a dead guy is watching you." He smiled.

"This is harder than I thought it would be." He whispered. Rika closed the door behind her.

"What?"

"I know this is going to be the last time I'm going to see you and this will be my last memory of you. I don't want to screw it up." Rika shook her head.

"Don't do anything to piss me off." Rika got quiet for a moment. "Come here." He walked up and stood in front of her. She looked up at him. He met her gaze and bit his lip.

"Does this upset you?"

"I'm going to lose you all over again," She rested her forehead on his shoulder. She could the feel the tears coming again and she didn't want him to see. "And I don't know if I'm going to be able to get through it this time." Ryo shook his head.

"Rika you're strong-"

"I use to think so. And then I met you. You tore down my defenses so easily. You fought so hard for me."

"Do you want to know why?" She looked up at him in confusion.

"Why?"

"Because I love you." The tears escaped then, shocking Ryo. "Why are you crying?" His fingers brushed against her cheek.

"Can you believe that, I think I love you too?" Ryo shook his head and looked away.

"You're full of surprises tonight aren't you?"

"Does it make you sad?" He looked back at her and smiled.

"Only that I didn't get more time with you." Rika rested her head against his shoulder again. Ryo kissed the top of her head and put his arms around her, pulling her close to him. "I never get tired of holding you. I never want to let go." He whispered. Rika grabbed hold of his shirt and looked up at him.

"Guess it wasn't meant to be." Ryo didn't say anything, he just kissed her forehead. "I can't hear your heart..."

"Of course you can't...I'm dead."

"Stop saying that. You're standing right here. You are alive." Ryo smiled at her. "Don't let it go to your head." She added. Ryo chuckled.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"It went to your head, didn't it?" He grinned and nodded.

"Uh huh." She giggled and pulled his beanie down over his eyes. "Hey!" Rika's giggles reduced to only a smile as she kept his hands from pushing his beanie back into place. "Oh come on Rika! I wa-" Rika stopped his plea dead in its track. She kissed his lips. She pulled away before he got the chance to kiss her back. He groaned and she giggle.

"What's wrong?"

"You can't just tease me like that."

"Sure I can."

"But it's mean."

"That's what I'm known for Hotshot!" Ryo groaned again. Rika finally gave in. It wasn't any fun when he stopped arguing. Rika pressed her lips to his, knowing it was the last time she'd ever be able to kiss him again. The last time she could hug him, the last time she'd see his smile or hear his laugh. Ryo pushed his beanie up out of his face, before she could stop him. Ryo pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Rika's arms slid around his neck. When the kiss finally ended, Rika couldn't let go. Ryo glanced at the alarm clock sitting on Rika's bedside table.

"Damn!" He whispered. He gave her a tight squeeze and took in a deep breath. "Rika." He murmured as he loosened his grip on her.

"No!" Rika mumbled into his shoulder as she shook her head. He couldn't leave yet, he'd just got there.

"I'm so sorry, Rika. I have to go, before I lose track of him." She let him pull away from her, but she kept hold for his shirt. "There's some stuff in a box under my bed. When all of this is over...I want you to have it, okay?" Rika nodded in response. "Anything that is a part of me belongs to you anyway." Rika kissed him again and again. Until she felt something being put into her hand. It was cold and felt very familiar. She looked down and spotted his D-Arc. Rika shook her head as she looked back up at him.

"Ryo-"

"I need you to take care of Monodramon for me. I can't trust anybody else with him. I know you can handle him and keep him undercontrol. Besides he really likes you. Now that you're living with Henry and Suzie's not here, I'm sure Terriermon will need somebody to play with." Rika smiled as did Ryo. He pecked her on the lips and kissed her cheek. She watched Ryo leave. Quietly and gracefully. She couldn't help, but roll her eyes. He just had to be perfect.

Alright ch. 2! How about a round of applause for this one.
...yeah i didn't think so either.
R&R

Bee lya

P.S. Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews for the 1st chapter