Thanks so much for the kind words everyone I hope you keep enjoying my story. I swear to you that I check the chapters before putting them up but things get by and I don't find them until it's too late. Here's another one for you.
Again I don't own Digimon but I wish I did.
Ch. 18. Of Games & Annoying Fans
On the way to the game Matt decided he would ask Rika some questions that he couldn't get out of his head.
"Hey Rika" he said getting her attention she turned her head slightly in his direction to let him know she was listening. "How come no one was worried when that Ryo guy disappeared for three days? Doesn't he have a family or something?"
Rika laughed, "Ryo has a habit of taking off for days at a time. It's just him and his dad and the old man is so used to it he doesn't ask questions he just waits for him to come home."
"He just leaves?" Shocked he couldn't image just disappearing on his dad. "Where does he go?"
She tilts her head in thought, "You know I don't think anybody knows." Shrugs. "The first time we met him he had been in the Digital World for about a year we were his ticket home so he stuck with us. It's normal for him to leave, he always does."
She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world like people should expect their friends to just up and leave it bothered him.
"So he's the one who leaves what about the others what are they like?" He watched the fond smile play on her lips and couldn't help wondering what she was remembering.
"Well Takato's always been the a goof ball but he's kind and a good leader when he has to be he used to be a big crybaby though, Henry's the calm and collected one he always thinks things through but it's really fun when he loses his cool… well when its directed at other people, Kazu and Kenta are a pair as long as I can remember they always stuck together one is there the other's not far their idiots but their our idiots so we make sure no one rags on them but us, Jeri's sweet and sensitive perfect for Takato she's the only one other then Henry or me that can get him moving when he's down and out, Alice is well she's Alice she's a lot harder to describe but I do know I can count on her no matter what on all of them even Ryo. Oh! I almost forgot about the Munchkins. Ai & Mako fight a lot but they love each other and their good kids their Cody's age I think so is Suzie Henry's little sister she's the typical girly girl but she's not afraid to get down and dirty only when necessary of course."
They were getting closer to the topic she had wanted to avoid but knew she wouldn't able to for long. They were almost to the school when he asked.
"How did you meet them all?"
"Through Takato he's the one I meet first."
"Ok." She was being vague but why? "How did you meet him?" Almost to the field now.
She looked at him all emotion gone from her face. "We met at park I tried to delete Guilomon."
Matt watched her carefully it was like the conversation had never happened. She greeted everyone with a smile on her face careful not to disturb the bag that carried a sleeping Calumon.
"Hey Rika Matt! Ready to cheer me on?" Cried Daisuke.
"Hey! What about me?" Was Tai's indignant response.
"Calm down you two they just got here give them time to breathe." Sora scolded. "By the way Rika where's the cutie Tai was telling me about?"
Rika lifted the bag showing so everyone could see it. "Napping," She frowned looking at the bag "I'm actually kind of worried normally he's so full of energy he never stops moving around but he's slept so much since he got here I don't know what to."
"If you like I could look him over after the game." Joe said smiling kindly at Rika.
She looked up at him and smiled in return "Thanks Joe that'd be great!"
Matt decided to cut in since innocent or not he exchange irritated him. I really am a possessive gorilla though I resent the gorilla part. "Good old dependable Joe." He smacked a hand against Joe's back a little harder than necessary squeezing his shoulder a little roughly.
Though it hurt Joe gave him an amused look irritating the blonde further. "How about we go get ourselves some good seats plus we have to save seats for the Tamers." He said trying to get everyone's attention on something else.
Ever the loyal little brother T.K. came to his rescue. "Matt's right we better hurry or we won't get enough seats." The brothers headed for the bleachers while the others followed snickering except Rika because she wasn't sure what happened.
You really are oblivious sometimes.
Am not! Now tell me what happened.
*Sighs* He didn't like how much attention you were giving or getting with Joe so he was purposely rough with his friendly gestures.
He really is a gorilla.
… What?
Never mind. Hey-
"Hello Earth to Rika! Come on girl where'd you go?" Yolie waving her had in her face brought Rika back to reality and she realized she had stopped walking.
You use to be better at this.
Shut up! So I'm out of practice sue me.
She chuckles nervously "Sorry I spaced for a minute." Yolie just stares at her for a minute before she decides to drop it and then drags her to where the rest of the others were looking at Rika curiously too.
This time it's Kari to the rescue, "Hey Rika where's Renamon you didn't leave her behind did you?"
"No she's around I don't know her exact location but she'll come when called." Not to mention she can see us so she can't be that far.
"Doesn't that creep you out?" Ken asked.
"Does what creep me out?" Was Rika's confused reply.
"That she can see you without you knowing she's there that someone's always watching."
She thought about it before saying, "I guess it should but no I'm completely ok with it."
Everyone sweat dropped she had stalker problems but her digimon was basically one too and she didn't even notice.
Someone this oblivious shouldn't be this cute, Matt thought.
"Hi Matt!" Cue group groan.
"What do want June?" An exasperated Matt answered.
"I'm just here to watch my little brother play so I thought we could watch it together." She says batting her eyelashes in what she thinks is a cute manner attaching herself to his arm.
"Thanks but I have all the company I need and want." While shaking her off and moving closer to Rika.
She noticed his movement and narrowed her eyes but whatever she was going to say never came out when she noticed that everyone had their digimon with them. Her face clouded with worry "Is something wrong why do you guys have them with you?"
"She knows?" Rika asked surprised.
Worry turned to anger, "You told her!"
To Rika "She figured it out she does live with Dai." Turning to June, "Rika's one of us so back off."
"You're a Digidestined? That stuffed animal is your digimon? I knew MY Matt wouldn't give you anything!"
Before Matt could say anything Rika responded, "Ok 1 he NOT your anything! 2 I'm a Tamer not a Digidestined and 3 Calumon isn't mine he just likes me."
Scoffs. "Why would anything like you?"
This girl is starting to irritate me.
I'm so passed irritated I'm going to kill her!
Matt grabbed her arm she looked up into his worried eyes. I really need to practice that.
"What's wrong? You keep spacing in the middle of conversations that isn't normal." He tried to hide his worried but was failing while it annoyed June the rest of the Destined shared his concern. Before she could say anything she was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Actually it is though she used to be better at it." They all turned to see Henry leading a group of irritated Tamers while gripping a sheepish looking Takato.
Matt ignored their state to demand "Better at what?" Henry looked at Rika raising an eyebrow in question while she shrugged in response but it was Alice who continued.
"Didn't Rika tell you?" Holding back a smirk at the blonde's annoyed stare. "She has a telepathic link with Renamon so when she's spacing out she's really having a conversation with her partner."
"She used to be able to be able to have a conversation normally without spacing but she's rusty that's why she's been acting strange. Really Rika it's not nice to keep secrets from your boyfriend."
"I wasn't I –"
"He's not her boyfriend! Came the twin shouts of June and Ryo.
"Shut up!" Henry went up to Rika practically shoving a cowering Takato in her face. "Why? Why would you give Takato the directions here? Why not me or Alice or even Jeri? You just had give them to the guy with no sense of direction except when there's danger and even then he's sometimes useless!" "Hey!" "You be quiet!"
"I needed the rolls so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone." It sounded more of a question then she wanted it to be.
Alice came up beside her boyfriend putting her arms around him relaxing him enough to get Rika and Takato out his kill zone.
"I'm sure she didn't mean to she was probably distracted." At the last part she looked a Matt making him blush remembering what had gone on last night.
"Taichi! Daisuke! The games about to start get your asses moving!"
"Crap!"
During the game everyone had calmed down enough to enjoy it only dealing with June as a sort of pest they couldn't get rid of. The whole time Kazu and Kenta took it upon themselves to keep Ryo distracted so he wouldn't cause a scene. While Matt watch amused as the youngest Tamers took turns filling Rika in on the parts of their lives she had missed since she left Shinjuku. It amazed him how someone that came off as cold and unfeeling as her could have such patience and motherly care towards the three young Tamers and the pint sized digimon chowing on the jelly rolls in her bag.
The real trouble came in the form of Keiko who was shockingly absent from their lives the past few days.
"Oh hi Matt I haven't see you around lately- oops sorry!" While walking towards Matt she pretended to trip dropping her soda all over Rika who was to stunned to do anything but stare at her ruined clothes.
The silence was broken by Alice who walked over to her friend, "Don't worry Rika let me find a rag then we'll get you all cleaned up." Her voice was happy and bright putting the Tamers on edge. "Here this will do." She turned to Keiko ripping a large portion of the girl's shirt off. None of the Tamers were really shocked Alice was known to have a temper that rivaled Rika's when it came to people messing with her friends. The real surprise came when Jeri tripped the girl while she struggled to cover up the proceeded to dump both her's and Takato's drink on the prone Keiko who only stared at her.
Before anyone could do much of anything a digital field appeared on the soccer field causing everyone to run except for the Tamers, the Destined and the Two Stalkers.
"What is it with digimon and soccer field?" Takato asked referring to past experiences.
The Odiba group looked around at the Tamers to see they had all some sort of eyewear.
"You haven't had any action lately Rika. Care to do the honor?" Henry asked.
Rika stood smirking ruined clothes forgotten and everyone saw why she was revered as the Digimon Queen.
"Renamon" the fox phased in front of her partner facing the enemy.
"Walk all over him."
It's done! I hope you liked it.