Yay! More chapters! Since I have Thanksgiving Break at my school (5-day weekend!!!) I'll be able to put up more chapters easier! One word of warning however. To all of you Rick fans, I'm sorry if I made him a jerk. I really am, but I just don't like the guy. I'm not a huge diehard Rick fan. Now, I don't hate him, I just DISLIKE him. I'm really sorry. Oh and I apoligize if I'm going through the story a little too fast with Koji and Karen's emotions. I just want it to be good. So I hope you enjoy! And remember, bad reviews deletion!!!

Talking
Thinking/Memories
Important words/Emphasis

Chapter 3: Karen's Decision

After sleeping in for a bit, Karen woke up to a beautiful morning where the skies are blue, the flowers are in full bloom, and everything was perfect. She went down to the kitchen to have breakfast and noticed Koji sitting at her table. She smirked a bit and then joked around with Koji for a while.

"(giggle) Don't you know that breaking and entering is against the law?"

"Heh… Oh please! Don't call the cops on me!"

They both laughed and Karen sat next to Koji.

"So what are you doing here at this time?"

"Oh you know, I just wanted to talk. Wow, a pink nightie with no coverage? So that's what you wear to sleep. I better put that down in my list."

She laughed and hit him gently on the shoulder.

"You pervert. Oh, by the way, I wanna say thanks for the flowers you gave me last night. I thought that was really sweet of you."

He blushed and smiled for a bit. Meanwhile, Rick was just passing by the store and noticed Koji and Karen talking with each other for a while.

"Huh? What's Karen doing with Koji?"

In the window, it looked like that they were having a great time talking with each other. Rick was already starting to feel a little jealous and wanted to talk to Karen. He went into the store and into Karen's house. There, Karen was surprised that Rick had come in without her permission.

"Oh hey Rick. I didn't know you were coming in."

"What's Koji doing here?"

"Why do you ask? We're only talking that's all."

Rick suddenly stared at Koji with cold eyes. Eyes that may be even funny looking, but cold nonetheless.

"Karen, what were you doing with Koji?"

"Look, Rick, it's none of your business. We're only talking. I need to have friends too you know."

"Hmm… Alright, I'll let you off easy this time Karen."

"Good!."

She approached him and kissed him while Koji turned away to not feel a little jealous. Rick left and Karen and Koji went back to their conversation.

"What do you see in that guy anyway?"

"Hmm? I guess its because he's funny. But not comedy funny, more like weird funny."

"I bet he really makes you happy huh?"

"Not all the time. Sometimes he can get a little in over his head. If I didn't go out with him, then I'd probably go out with someone who can just… you know…"

Koji stared at Karen, who's blushing madly about the perfect guy she wants to be with. The redness of her face combined with the tender color of her skin, the sparkling emerald eyes, and the smile on her face made Koji melt with love.

"Someone who can just what?"

"…love me and just have that spark... like Moondrops in full bloom."

"Well, doesn't Rick do that?"

"Well, he does care about me and is concerned about me, however, too concerned. It's just that, he doesn't have that spark in him."

"Oh. Hey Karen, if and only if, I asked you out, would you?"

"Hmm… of course. But that's only if right?"

"Um right."

"Then I'd totally go out with you. But Koji, I still don't have that much physical attractions for you. The best thing that we could be now is just best friends."

"I know… I'm only saying if."

Karen smiled and hugged him goodbye after their conversation. As Koji was about to cross the intersection from his house, the Poultry Farm, and the town, Rick appeared.

"Rick?"

"Let's both have a talk. The summit at Mother's Hill. Now."

Koji saw the expression on his face. The way he talked was so cold and he looked really mad. They stopped at the summit near the top of the mountain.

"So what do you want to talk about?"

"Alright buddy, now listen here."

"Hmm?"

"Karen's my girl. I've known her since we were still kids. I was the one who cared for her ever since she lost her first baby tooth and cried her eyes out thinking that all her teeth would fall. When she was sick, I took care of her."

"And your point is?"

"My POINT is that you better stay away from her if you know what I mean. So you'd better back off and try not to get so buddy-buddy with her! Those hugs were supposed to be reserved for me!"

"Okay buddy, I think you're getting a little high strung here."

Suddenly, Rick's face flashed with anger and grabbed Koji's collar.

"You better shut your mouth before I really hurt you."

Koji's expression turned from confused to shocked.

"I'm surprised that you would do this Rick. I thought you would've known better. You push me down the mountain, and everyone will know what would happen to me and what will happen to you. So you better calm down Rick."

Rick finally let go of his collar and warned him one last time.

"Remember, you better back off."

He went down the mountain and Koji looked back in confusion. After Rick's episode, he went down to the waterfall to relax. There, he met Karen at the river. She looked really stressed.

"Hey Karen, what's wrong?"

"I can't believe Rick would try to do something like this…"

"You saw what was going on at the top?"

"I saw the whole thing. How could Rick do that to you?! You could've gotten hurt if he pushed you down the mountain or even worse KILLED!!!"

"Don't worry Karen, it's alright. I mean I'm still here aren't I? And not in the hospital or graveyard?"

She smiled and laughed a bit. She sat a bit closer to Koji and rested her head on his shoulder. Koji felt a little bit worried.

"Um Karen, are you sure you should do this? I mean, what if Rick sees us?"

"Don't worry, he's not gonna see us. I just needed someone to be my teddy bear for a bit."

"So what are you gonna do with Rick?"

"I don't know… I may break up with him, but I'll give him another chance. However, if he does anything like that to you again, I'll leave his ass out on the ground."

"Ouch, I didn't know you're the violent type. But still, I can't be seen like this with you. He already told me to stay away from you."

"Then don't listen to him. Who's he to tell you what to do? You're my friend Koji and nothing will ever stop me from being with you. Not even Rick."

He smiled and both of them stayed at the waterfall till evening. Karen remembered something and got off Koji's shoulder.

"Oh I have to go Koji. I got date plans with Rick tonight."

"Umm… sure, no problem. Just remember something, if he gives you any trouble, you can come to me."

Karen smiled and gave Koji a big hug and left. Meanwhile, Rick was waiting at Town Square for her. It was almost one minute till their date started. Finally, Karen arrived.

"Hey, sorry I'm late."

"Where were you?"

"I was just out that's all."

"With who? Koji?"

"Heheh… why does it matter to you?"

"Never mind. Let's just go."

Rick took Karen out to the movies a couple miles away from town to see some movie called "Flowering Passion". During the movie, Karen cried her eyes out to the drama and romance of the story while Rick held her tight. A little too tight.

"Rick, aren't you holding me a bit tight?"

"I just wanna make you feel better. I'm there for you."

"I know you are, but I do need my personal space you know."

"Fine…"

He loosened his grasp and they both continued to watch the movie. After that, they both went to the park for a stroll back to town. There, Rick put his hands around her while Karen snuggled back. Unfortunately, Rick was giving passing men about his age some nasty looking glares.

"Rick, what are you doing?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop looking at them like that, they're not bothering us."

"I'm just trying to make sure you're safe."

"I'm already safe enough with you around. You don't have to glare at them like that."

Then a guy was just walking past them and accidentally bumped into Karen. And just like that, Rick shouted at him with a "HEY!!!" and tackled the guy mercilessly.

"Hey man! Get off!!"

"How dare you hurt Karen!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!!! I was just walking! I didn't mean to bump into your girlfriend!"

Karen tried to pull Rick off of the guy. Once she did, the guy just ran off before Rick could tackle him again.

"Rick, what were you doing??!!"

"I was only trying to protect you!"

"Rick, I don't NEED to be protected like that! It was an accident! Sometimes you can just be so immature… You're too possessive Rick!"

"Karen, I was just-"

"I don't need your excuses Rick! I'm going home by myself!"

And when she left, Rick stood there all alone in anger. Meanwhile, Karen ran back home in tears and ran into her room while her mom didn't get a chance to ask what's wrong. She ran towards her bed and buried her face in her pillow.

"(sniff) Stupid Rick…"

She grabbed the picture of Rick and her beside her bed and teared out the picture of Rick leaving only Karen.

"Karen?"

She turned around and saw Koji standing at her doorway. She quickly got up and ran over to hug him while crying her eyes out on his chest.

"Oh Koji…"

"I heard you crying all the way from the park. Is something wrong?"

"It's just that… Rick… and… he just… (sniff)"

"Oh it's something that has to deal with Rick."

"He's such a jerk sometimes!! I feel sick…"

Koji felt sorry for her and wrapped his arms around her. He tried to calm her down by placing his hand on her head and embracing her gently. She smiled a bit and stayed a bit longer.

"I knew you would always be there for me Koji…"

Meanwhile, Rick was at home sitting in front of his fireplace.

"Stupid Koji… he's responsible for everything that Karen said to me… I'll deal with him yet…"

The next day, Karen was sleeping soundly. Suddenly, she smelled something really great in the kitchen. She opened up her bedroom door and saw that her mom had made her an omelet for breakfast, her favorite. She sat at her table and found a note written in Koji's handwriting

"Meet me at the tree at the base of Mother's Hill. We'll talk!

Koji."

She smiled and thought deeply about what Koji had done for her. She smiled and blushed at the way Koji held her. After breakfast, she went ahead to talk with Koji at the base of Mother's Hill. She met up with Ann along the way.

"Hey Karen!"

"Oh hey Ann."

"I heard that you ditched Rick at the park last night. Aren't you sad?"

"A little, but not in the least bit. Koji made me feel better last night."

Ann made a face and asked about what happened slyly.

"Ooh… what did you and Koji do together?"

"It's nothing! He just held me when I was feeling sad. That's all."

She stopped for a moment and smiled again for what Koji had done for her.

"He was really nice to me… he actually cares about how I feel… Ann… I think…"

"Hmm?"

"I think I'm in love with him…"

She blushed and Ann smiled and gave her a hug.

"Aww!!! That's so cute!!! I knew you two look perfect for each other!"

"What?! No! I mean, uh… I like him, but uh… how should I say this… umm…"

"Come on! Don't lie to me…"

"(sigh) Okay I do like him… he really cares about me… and plus… whenever he holds me… I feel… so comfortable around him… like I've been waiting for him to do it…"

"Look Karen, talk to Koji first and just give it some time… you can't just ask him out already… he may need some time to think… aren't you going at this a little fast?"

"Yeah… I guess you're right… I don't even know a lot about him. Maybe if I take some time to know him more, I'll probably think of asking him out."

They waved goodbye to each other and Karen continued to go to Mother's Hill. There, she found Koji sitting at the tree holding a little fox cub and its mother sitting next to him.

"Aww… that's so cute…"

"She was just born yesterday… I wanted to show you, but you were on a date with Rick. I've been taking care of her ever since…"

"You're so great with animals…"

"Heh… I guess its genetics… my family have been great with animals for a long time…"

She sat close to Koji and held the cub in her arms.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I just wanna know if you're feeling a little better from yesterday. You were crying your eyes out until you went to sleep."

"You stayed up all night for me?"

"You looked like you needed a friend… I never seen you that sad before…"

"Koji…"

She laid her head on Koji's shoulder while giving the cub back to its mother. Suddenly, Rick appeared and saw Koji and Karen together. His face flashed with anger and he grabbed Koji by the collar and slugged him right in the face.

"I thought I told you to stay away!!!!"

"Rgh… you're crazy man…"

He pulled Koji up and punched him again. Karen tried to stop Rick and just shouted at him.

"Stop it Rick! He never did anything wrong!"

"Of course he did! Come on Karen I'm taking you home!"

He grabbed her arm but Karen snatched it away.

"No! After I saw the way you've been acting, I've realized that I've been going out with a big jerk!"

"Karen…"

"We're done Rick…"

"Fine! You know what? I don't need you! You're just gonna be crawling back to me one day!"

He left with a defiant smirk on his face and went home. She looked at Rick for one last time and turned her attention to Koji whose nose was already bleeding from the impact. She held him up and walked back with him to the clinic where Elli repaired the nose and put some ice on his cheek and eye.

"I'm sorry for what happened today Koji…"

"Don't worry… it's not your fault…"

"I don't think that I should've broken up with Rick like that."

Then Elli came back with a new ice pack and rubbed Karen's back for reassurance.

"Hey… don't worry… you had to because you were doing the right thing… if you went out with him any longer, your troubles are just gonna keep increasing…"

"You're right… thanks Elli… if you don't mind, I would like to be alone with Koji for a bit."

"Alright… I'll give you all the time you need…"

She looked at Koji who still smiled behind the bandage and ice pack. She just couldn't believe that he still kept smiling, even if he got hurt. She smiled back at him and held Koji closer to her.

"Koji... I wanna ask you a question…"

"Well, what is it?"

She thought for a little while about what Ann said. She loves him, but she also thinks that it's a little too soon. She loved him because he always make her feel happy and that even through all the troubles that has been occurring between them, he still kept a warm smile that she knew she would love, but she realizes that even throughout all the drama, she doesn't want to tell him. Not yet.

"It's nothing… can you just hold me for a bit longer?"

Her eyes closed and just let her heart flow through the hug.

"Koji…"