Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

The Dreamer

Chapter: 10

Rika strode down the paths that led to her home, a feeling of uncertainty pervading her heart. As she walked, Renamon phased into view next to her, a quizzical look on her face.

"So…do you mind telling me what brought that on?" she asked her partner, an invisible smile on her muzzle.

"What brought what on?" asked Rika in repost. Her voice was calm and casual, but she knew better. Inside she felt strangely tense…not unlike the way Takato had been earlier, only without the tripping over her words.

Renamon made a small sound that, to Rika, sounded like chuckling. Rika eyed her partner carefully, but the vulpine digimon made no sign that she had done so. Rika narrowed her eyes.

I know you laughed… she thought to herself.

"What you said to Takato," continued Renamon. "I don't know much about the habits of humans in regards to how they 'hang out' with those close to them, but if I'm not mistaken, what you asked of him was very much close to what you'd call…a date, regardless of what you told him."

"You've been talking to grandma again," snorted Rika.

"My apologies. Do you wish that I not continue to do so?"

"I didn't say that," she replied, berating herself for how she must have sounded. "And I don't want you to stop. I'm glad to see that you're getting along with my family. It…makes me feel like you're a closer part of it."

"Rika…" Renamon looked at her partner, feeling a sensation of happiness warm her digital core. Her smile widened for just a moment before she continued. "Thank you, Rika. Yes, I have been talking to Ms. Hata. Due to her experience I feel that some guidance is needed concerning what I observe among humans and how they interact with one another. It also helps me learn more about you as well."

"Really?" asked Rika, raising a surprised eyebrow. "Like what?"

"All kinds of things," replied Renamon succinctly as though that was all that needed to be said on the matter. Rika furrowed her brow, starting to feel a bit worried about what sort of stories her grandmother was telling her partner about her.

"Mmm…hmmm!"

Unfortunately for Rika, her dagger-like emphasis for Renamon to elaborate did not conjure the desired effect, and Renamon continued to walk beside her, a smug smile still invisible on her muzzle.

Ugh. Family and their stories…

"Look," sighed Rika in annoyance. "I just want to hang out with Gogglehead. It's no big deal, and he and I still have unfinished business anyway. I want to wipe that smarmy grin off his face and show him that the Digimon Queen still rules the card game."

"You haven't called yourself that in a while," observed Renamon.

"I hate that name," Rika admitted. "It's something I used to call myself like it was a trophy I earned."

"You did, didn't you?"

"Well…yeah. I did. But the way I carried it wasn't all that good. Either way, I don't want Takato thinking that he can play in the big leagues just because of one lousy win."

"I see. Then should I be expecting you to invite Ryo as well?"

"Huh?" Rika turned towards her partner, startled by the question.

"Until recently, he has been the only Tamer to have defeated you in a match. You haven't challenged him directly since the D-Reapers defeat."

"Not like he's given me much of a chance," grumbled Rika. "And what's he have to do with this? So he beat me. Big deal. He just got lucky that time."

"As does Takato, in his own way."

With that, Renamon phased out of view before Rika could even say anything in response. Rika frowned at the spot where she had been before continuing on.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" she asked. Deep inside though, she felt that she knew. Her joking with Takato earlier in the dinosaur, warning him against having any 'funny ideas' stood out prominently in her mind. And the days that had preceded their match in the park, starting from the Hanami celebration, never mind her own recent conversation with Jeri prior to Takato's arrival…

Why did I ask him that? she wondered. In light of her conversation with Jeri, a part of her feared the answer.

That's ridiculous, she berated herself. We're just friends. Nothing more. Nothing less. Ugh. I'm going to have to really grind him into the ground if I'm even having those kinds of thoughts. Stupid Gogglehead and his 'kitsune wedding' line. How stupid is that?

As Rika continued her way towards home, a small smile grew on her face as she envisioned the number of ways she would crush Takato over the weekend. With the setting sun at her back, things were already starting to look up.

Phew… breathed Takato as he closed the door behind him with a click. Ahead of him Guilmon bounded into the kitchen, already looking for snacks from Mie and Takehiro.

"I'm home!" Takato called out.

"So I see," chuckled Takehiro, poking his head out of the kitchen. "You're home awfully late. Everything all right, son?"

"Ms. Asagi made me stay after again for not paying attention," admitted Takato, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Like father like son," came the admonishing tone of the boy's mother from the depths of the kitchen.

"Sorry…"

Takehiro grinned nonetheless. "Just one of those days, huh? I noticed that it was pretty nice out. Just make sure that you don't get caught up in that sort of thing too often. The city needs its hero after all."

Takato blinked. "Hey! You know, Ms. Asagi said the same thing to me before I left." Takehiro raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah?"

"Well…not the exact same thing, but she called me the cities 'knight in shining armor'." Takato laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed at the memory. Now that he thought about it, it never quite occurred to him that he looked like something out of a storybook. Granted, he wanted to be a hero in that way before he became a Tamer, but it always had that distinct feel of a dream that would never come true. When he became a Tamer, he did wonder if he was meant to be a great hero like the Digidestined were depicted as being in the show, but at some point he supposed that when the dream of being a Tamer became reality those thoughts disappeared.

"What can I say?" asked Takehiro. "It's like I told your mom last year. You look pretty good like that. Just don't let it get to your head."

"Somehow I don't think I have to worry too much about that," said Takato, scratching his cheek. "I have enough of a time just keeping my balance."

"Well, even heroes have their weaknesses…not to mention jobs. You've got kitchen duty this evening by the way."

"Uh…right. Um…" Takato paused. "Hey Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"This is probably going to sound like a weird question…not to mention embarrassing…"

"Well out with it," urged Takehiro gently. "You know I'm here for when you want to talk."

Takato nodded, feeling a little bit more at ease. "Right. Um…how…how do you know if a girl is…um…interested in you? Like…uh…" Takato coughed, feeling a sliver of red heat slip its way into his cheeks.

"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" asked Takehiro, grinning.

"Uh…right."

"So Cupid has finally started firing his arrows, huh? Well…if memory serves, your mother first showed interest in me when she hit me over the head with a rolling pin…"

"Takehiro! Don't go filling up his head with false stories now…"

Why do I get the feeling that I'm the only sane one in this family? Takato asked himself.

Later that evening, Takato lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind deep in thought. Guilmon lay on the floor beneath him, snoring loudly. Takato allowed a small smile to grow on his face at the noise, a part of him grateful that the crimson dinosaur was able to sleep so soundly.

It's been awfully quiet lately. Ever since the Parasimon incident we haven't had any serious bio-emergences. Come to think of it, I don't think we've had any. I wonder if that means the digital world is doing okay…or if it's just a calm before the storm.

"A Tamers work is never done," he murmured aloud. "That's what Kazu would say at a time like this."

Was that really the case though? Sure, he was a Tamer with his very own digimon. Sure, he and his friends worked alongside Hypnos during those times that visitors from the digital world became violent, which was more often than not unfortunately. Did that mean that was all they were going to be for the rest of their lives? To be honest, he wasn't sure what the future held for him. Henry already had his future planned out, but he didn't. Kai had asked him about it, as did Henry, and he didn't have an answer for either of them. Between the two of them, Kai at least was of the opinion that he was going to take over the bakery once his parents retired, but he wasn't sure if that was what he wanted to do.

Baking bread is fun and everything, but is that what I want in the future? I've always been good at drawing, and with a big enough imagination that it keeps getting me into trouble at school. It's like a curse sometimes…at least that's what Mom tells me. So…what could I do?

Closing his eyes, he tried to envision what his future self would be like. He fancied himself as working for a manga publishing company, drawing award winning manga, or something along that nature that would inevitably lead to an anime. That had been at the very least a vague dream of his next to being a policeman. It was rather interesting to note, now that he thought about it, that he was closer to the latter rather than the former.

What would things be like if the digimon hadn't returned? He wondered. I mean, not that I'm not glad that they're back, Takato glanced down at the floor, where his partner snored away relentlessly, but I guess I can't help but wonder. Life would be so…I don't know. Boring? Maybe that's not the right word for it, but I definitely would have to think more about what I'd be doing to make a living, and not just saving the world or anything. I don't think kids my age have to think about this kind of thing? Man, what do kids my age think about? Certainly not saving the world…

Takato again tried to envision what his life would be like if the digimon were still trapped in the digital world and the portal had not reopened. He imagined that he would have gotten a job eventually, and possibly moved out if he didn't stay on to help his parents with the bakery. From there he would pursue whatever career choice would be within his capabilities, and, inevitably, he supposed, marry someone.

Takato smiled a little as he thought about returning home to Rika and…

Takato's eyes widened in shock, and he bolted upwards.

Okay…did I seriously just think that? Rika…and…me?! Groaning, Takato flopped back down on his bed, one arm covering his eyes. Mom's right. My imagination can be a curse. Forget the fact that Rika would just hurt me for even thinking that, there's just no way she would go for it! …Right?

Takato lowered his arm, thinking back to Rika's request from earlier in the day. Had he really heard her right?

Maybe I'm just over thinking it. It's been on my mind a lot ever since I got home. But it's kinda weird. She only wants to hang out with me this weekend. Me and no one else. That's…um…'new'. She's been acting pretty strange lately. Well…she's always been pretty strange…

Takato sighed. Rika's right. I worry too much about everything. If she were here she'd probably tell me to mind my own business or something like that. But can I help it that I get worried?

The irony in that thought, Takato felt, was that Rika would tell him that he worried too much about everything, even when they were inconsequential. That was just how he was though. He hated seeing his friends have to deal with problems on their own, or be troubled by something. Why should they when it was far better to be happy? Wasn't that the best thing for everyone involved?

If only it were that simple.

A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.

"Uh…yeah?" he asked, sitting up in his bed. His door slid open and his father poked his head in.

"Just thought I'd check in on you. It's just about bed time, Takato. Your mom wants you to be up early for school tomorrow. You know how she gets about your late arrivals."

"Uh…right," nodded Takato sheepishly. "Sorry. I'll be sure to do that."

"So…" Takehiro coughed and grinned. "…About what you were asking me earlier today. We didn't have much of a chance to really talk about it when your mother got involved."

"Oh. Well…um…" Takato rubbed the back of his head nervously. "…It's nothing. Really."

"Uh-huh. Didn't sound like nothing. Hanami wasn't all that long ago, and I seem to recall Rika walking you home—which by the way is supposed to be the other way around if you're a gentleman."

"Somehow I don't think Rika would stand for that," mumbled Takato before realizing what he was saying. "Hey! It's nothing like that! We're just…we're just friends!"

Takehiro shrugged, but grinned all the same.

"I said very much the same things about every girl I was close with before I met your mom, and when I met her, I had grown up enough to not be embarrassed by that sort of thing. Well, you've still got some growing to do." Takehiro paused. "Mind if I come in?"

"Uh…sure."

Opening the door, the elder Matsuki stepped inside and closed it behind him. Taking a quick glance around the room, he spied Takato's chair and pulled it over to him. Sitting down he fixed Takato with a comforting smile before he spoke.

"I was about 24 when I first met your mother. By then I was close to graduating college, and your mother had just entered it. She was smart—well, smarter than me, but I've always been attracted to that sort of woman. With her though, it was different. She kept me on my toes, and kept me from slacking off, especially when I was going through some hard times trying to make ends meet. I guess that's why the two of us opened up a bakery together." Takehiro chuckled as he thought back to those bygone days of his youth. "I used to not eat very well. Ramen is good until that's all you're reduced to eating—for months at a time, but that was all I could afford and just about all I knew how to make. My father always used to tell me that men were lost without women. Well…he was right. Mie helped take some of the pressure off by baking some fresh—better—food at first, and then teaching me how to do it myself once I had my feet under me a little. I think that was when I really fell for her."

Takato was silent while he digested this bit of information. He hadn't expected his father to talk to him seriously about how he met and fell in love with his mother. As when he returned home had demonstrated, his father had a very joking tone whenever discussing his life. Even when he was serious, he would border on just being bizarre, such as when he just about broke up in regards to the 'Cardboard Box' that Takato first brought Guilmon home in. He never quite understood why his father was like that but it was something that he more or less took in stride. Just another one of those strange, parental quirks. The sudden change in demeanor left him rather speechless.

"So…um…wow." Takato scratched his head, trying to think of something to say. "I guess it's true what they say. The way to a man's heart is through their stomach. I thought that only applied to digimon."

"Not everything is about digimon," chuckled Takehiro. "Though I have to say, you grew up a lot dealing with them." Takehiro glanced over at Guilmon and smiled at the snoozing dinosaur. "This doesn't really answer your question, does it?"

"Huh? My question?"

Takehiro laughed a little. Yes. Takato was definitely his son. Absent minded as always, and could promptly forget everything he heard at the slightest change in the subject.

I used to be a lot like him when I was younger. Mie called it one of my least endearing charms. Makes me wonder why she even bothered putting up with me all these years. She had to hit me over the head just to get my attention…

"How to tell if a girl is interested in you," Takehiro reminded his son, and Takato's eyes lit up in remembrance.

"Oh…yeah."

"I won't embarrass you by asking who you were talking about," though I think I can guess who's on your mind, "but I can tell you that there's no easy way to tell whether or not a girl is interested in you. Just try to use your best judgment, and don't jump to conclusions. You'll look pretty silly if you do."

Takato did not feel in the least bit comforted by his father's advice.

Somehow I get the feeling that that's going to be tough for me—the not embarrassing myself part. Oh boy. I think that I'm in over my head here…

Takehiro closed the door behind him quietly so as to not disturb Guilmon's rest.

"I was wondering where you had gotten yourself too," came the voice of Mie as she made her way up the stairs. "Honestly, I was starting to worry if you had gotten lost in your own home with how long you were taking looking in on Takato."

"Sorry," apologized Takehiro. "I was just having a chat with him."

"I gathered," Mie nodded. "You were looking rather pleased with yourself. You're only like that when you've either come up with a new recipe or you've done your duty as a father."

"He was just asking relationship advice. He thinks someone might like him."

"Oh?" Mie raised an eyebrow and smirked at her husband. "And you thought you could help him with that? I seem to recall that I had to 'hit you over the head with a rolling pin' just to get your attention."

"I learned from it, didn't I?" asked Takehiro.

"Sometimes I wonder. You still have trouble remembering half of the recipes I taught you—and they're always the most difficult ones. The only one you've done consistently right is the Guilmon bread."

"That's because it was a great idea." With that, Takehiro took his wife into his arms and gently kissed her forehead. "Come on. We can talk more in bed."

"Oh, you…"

Takato lay in his bed, listening to Guilmon's breathing. In spite of the conversation that he had with his father, the dinosaur had not woken up once, not even at the mention of food, which had often been enough to rouse him against even the most ferocious digimon. Takato smiled.

At least one of us is going to get some sleep tonight, he thought to himself. I know that I'm not falling asleep anytime soon. Aggghhh!!! Takato ran his hands through his hair in agitation. What am I getting so worked up about? It's…it's Rika! I mean, it's not like she really…er…yeah. Anyway. We're only hanging out. I mean, sure, this is the first time where she's invited me and only me to her house—as her friend and not as a fellow Tamer…or an enemy…and she's the first girl to actually invite me over to her house period.

Takato let out a heavy, frustrated sigh and he blinked wearily. He thought about his conversation with his father. Although he had a lot to tell him, things that he hadn't known, none of it really helped him as far as he could tell.

I'm in a fix. No question about it… Takato glanced out his bedroom's window to see the moon as it traced its path across the sky. …this is going to be a long night…

A/N: Hey everybody. Sorry for the lack of updates lately, it's just that I've been focused on school, and my regular writing has been shifting to more original work. At any rate, I figured that, since today is Valentine's Day I'd continue my tradition of writing something with romance tones for the month of February. Hope that this chapter was worth the wait and your while. 'Till next chapter. :)

-Crazyeight

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