Author: Stoked-Tokr
Chapter One
..
..Tamers-verse
..
The Sun beamed through the trees to the sidewalk as cicadas filled the airwaves with their calls, Ruki walked past quietly. She was walking back home from her class, her eyes glossy and red from exhaustion. She'd been tired all day with no reasoning to why. She thought nothing of it passing it off as just not sleeping good. She couldn't hang out with Takato and Lee, she didn't have the energy to hang out, she just wanted to sleep. Her thoughts were broken by the voice that spoke from the shadows, making her jump, something she normally wouldn't do.
"You left in a hurry, is there something wrong?" She asked her partner, sensing her unease.
"No Renamon, I just didn't feel like hanging out with the others." She said playing it off as nothing.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Knowing her face said no, Ruki just smiled.
"Yeah, I just wanted to take a day off. I'll call them later...or tomorrow." Ruki turned.
Ruki walked inside as Renamon flashed out of sight even though she was unsatisfied with Ruki's answer.
Ruki tossed her bag on the shelf and took her shoes off before walking into the hall. She walked into her room, tossed her shirt off, then made her way to the bathroom that connected and flipped on her stereo. She then climbed in the shower. As the water rushed down, covering her face, it felt so good, why was she so tired, she closed her eyes for just a second, then she suddenly she zoned out, it felt like her mind was just turned upside down. She put her hand on the wall to keep herself steady, but her hand was radiating with a purple glow.
"What the-?!" She asked herself out loud.
'My hand, it was...' She thought, then shook her head and blinked, it was all normal, 'I'm starting to see stuff. What is wrong with me?' Shutting the water off, Ruki climbed out and dried off. She walked out of the bathroom, turning the stereo up when she passed and entered her closet. She found herself a t-shirt and pajama pants and laid down in bed, glad that she could finally just go to sleep. She rolled onto her side then looked at her hand.
'I swear my hand was...' Ruki pushed the thoughts from her head and rolled over to go to sleep. 'Shut up.' She told herself...
..
..Adventure-verse
..
Daisuke was walking home, Takeru and Hikari just told him what he knew, they were going to start dating, he knew it was coming, when they were trying to help Meiko after they rescued him and the others, they were different ever since. Closer and closer.
It invaded his mind again.
"We just wanted you to know; we don't want to hurt our friendship, it just sort of happened when you were missing, we won't-."
"I'm fine! Really, I am happy for both of you, seriously, how could I let this ruin a friendship, you guys be happy together." He told them, smiling.
'What else could I have said? I'm a bearer of friendship, I can't say what I wanted it's not what a leader should say. I can't lose her completly.'
He knew they would still date, even if he said no anyways. He had started to see it recently, he knew her and Takeru were destined to be together, they were harmony. He really should be happy for them... but he just couldn't be, he still wanted to go blow off some steam, he thought for sure one day...but even if he knew what was best, what was right, he still loved Hikari in his heart and it hurt.
He was walking down the abandoned boardwalk the waves crashing in the background, the wind was light, the dark gloomy sky matched his mood he felt like. It was late, but you could see the clouds, full brimming, ready to let go. He grabbed a rock, pointed towards the horizon over the water, raised his hand, and let it rip, immediately where he threw the rock it started dripping a purple malice.
His eyes were wide open, "what," his eyes formed tiny dots, confused, "no wait what, like, wait what the-'
His thoughts stopped suddenly, as a hand burst out from the purple malice in front of him, no owner, just a hand sticking out of malice that's dripping out of thin air, Daisuke just sat there blinking, he looked around for someone to verify what he's seeing wasn't a prank. No one anywhere. "What the f-" Quickly as he spoke, though, it was all gone. Like nothing happened. He just sat there, "...uhh," looking around a few more times, he finally turned and walked straight away from the boardwalk along the beach. "Yea see Yamato I told you that stuff would give me random trips for the rest of my life you asshole. Like what the actual hell did I just see?" He shook his head as he hurried away from the boardwalk.
He ended up at the marina park, it was on his way home of course, but it's where he saw Hikari the first time. She was leaving with her family he only waved but she smiled and waved back, it was love at first sight he said to himself, 'I'm gonna make her love me one day, I'll do whatever it takes!'. That one hurt to think about, he felt like a stupid kid again, embarrassed. He sat down on a bench and watched the clouds roll over the marina, starting to zone out, just staring. He suddenly got a really weird feeling and felt sick, his hand covered his mouth, then everything stopped, the whole world went silent for just a moment. Before his brain reacted he blinked. It was all back, he shook it off and decided it was time to go home.
It was pretty dark now as Daisuke stood up to walk home; with his two friends still on his mind. He didn't really know how he'd be around them, 'I don't know what our future holds but I can't let you guys go..' His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a drop of rain hit his nose. He looked up and sighed, 'Damnit.'
..
..Tamers-verse
..
Ruki had been tossing and turning all night; she rolled over in her bed. "Mmm its hot," she grumbled as she tossed the covers off, her eyes squinted open, sitting up & looking around for a moment spotting the purple malice in the corner, but it was gone when she looked. Her head dropped as she passed back out.
Moments later the bed is full of purple malice as she sleeps solidly, engulfed by the liquid-like substance, she disappears.
'Damnit, now I'm cold' She sighed and reached for her covers... nothing but she quickly realized how uncomfortable she felt, like she was sleeping on a rock. Something wet hit her forehead and her eyes shot open; no roof was over her, only a dark cloudy sky could be seen. She jumped to her feet, panicked, heart racing, not knowing what was going on. She tried to think of where she was. She looked left; it looked like some park and she heard water behind her, she overlooked the traffic. 'The water? I wasn't by the water. She freaked and quickly spun around to look, instead seeing a boy standing behind her with quite possibly small saucer dishes for eyes they were in such shock. But that wasn't her concern, it was who the boy that had her attention, she knew him, "you? It can't be you, you're not... How can you... this isn't re-" Her voice wavered as she began to get light headed, then she went down as her body went limp, the boy rushed to catch her.
..
As the drop of rain fell from his nose, it suddenly was absolutely silent, no waves crashing, no cars, just silence, he looked down and froze as the purple malice was spilling out on the ground in front of him while a girl in her pajamas was laying in the middle of it. 'Is she doing that? Is she creating that? Is it taking her? Should I grab her?' All these thoughts raced through his head, but before he could react, the malice disappeared and suddenly there was the sound of waves crashing, the traffic hurried past again. Daisuke was in shock, completely baffled by what he'd just seen, he didn't notice she had woken up, stood up, and began looking around. He couldn't speak as she turned and seemed in the middle of her own crisis when her eyes met Daisuke's. He heard her mumble moments before she turned white as a sheet and went limp. Daisuke, out of pure instinct jumped.
Catching her he set her down, to check vitals. Her pulse was steady, but weak, he looked up and knew, he cursed to himself. Takeru's house was the closest, so he picked the girl up, he needed some help that would believe him. The clouds finally let the rain go as Daisuke took off.
..
Once he reached the apartment building dripping, he pressed the buzzer, once, twice, 12-26 more times, he lost count. Someone finally answered over the intercom.
"WHAT?!"
"Let me in Takeru!" He hated just saying the name, close friend or not it was a fresh wound.
"DUDE, do you have ANY idea-"
"Shut up, it's important!" It was silent for a moment, the door buzzed, Daisuke balanced his weight with the girl on his knee and opened the door. He quickly made it up the stairs, at which, Takeru was waiting holding the top of a trash can like a shield, thinking Daisuke might be having a hotheaded moment. Instead he just blinked in confusion when he saw a young girl in his arms. Daisuke looked at him thinking 'that's fucking hilarious looking,' but quickly saved the thought for a better time.
"Well? Move!"
"Uh, who the hell is that?" Takeru asked moving to lead them down the hallway, his makeshift shield falling to his side.
"I don't know, she literally popped up in front of me then fainted, she's feels warm, her pulse is weak, now she's soaking wet, I don't know what to do and I knew no one at the hospital would believe me."
Takeru opened his apartment door and led them in, "I don't believe you either bro."
"Yea well believe it or not, right now she needs someone who knows what they're doing, the rest we'll figure out later." Daisuke said as he led the way through Takeru's apartment, "call Joe and tell him get here fast." Daisuke sat the girl on the couch, then joined Takeru back in the kitchen looking out at her over the bar.
Takeru finally got Joe on the phone explained what little he knew and convinced him out of bed.
As Takeru and Daisuke both were sitting in the kitchen looking at the girl they avoided any conversation they just stood silently waiting until Takeru began to ask.
"So she just-" Daisuke wiped his face with a towel his friend gave him and sighed.
"Dude, yes, Takeru, she just fuckin appeared, one second not there then the next second there's a purple weird mirror goo on the ground with her in the middle of it!" Daisuke growled as he started drying his hair, they both grew silent again.
Daisuke walked into the living room, taking another towel to her. He checked her fever again, in the light she was pretty, she had wet orange hair a cute nose and from a distance earlier it looked like purple eyes, 'wait do people have purple eyes? He thought.
She was wearing a loose t-shirt and tight pajama bottoms, but there wasn't any notable designs. Her hair was down, some strands were falling over her face.
'"So, can you tell me more?" Takeru asked confused.
"I don't really know what to say man, it doesn't make much sense to me either."
Joe interrupted their conversation as he knocked on the door. After another unsuccessful Q & A Joe went checked her over. After a few minutes and giving her something to bring the fever down he finally told them she was fine mostly.
"I don't see anything medically concerning, she just needs rest, maybe a check up with her doctor. I gave her something for the fever, unless it persists or doesn't come down there's no worries." Daisuke just wanted to know why she looked at him like that.
Joe stayed for another half-hour just to make sure her fever would break. When it did, he told them to call him when she woke up and that, "someone's probably missing her."
Takeru and Daisuke argued for awhile after he left, about who would check for ID, since she didn't have a purse they'd have to check her pockets. That was not to appealing since she could wake at any moment. The blame fell on Daisuke for bringing her.
Carefully Daisuke slowly moved over to the couch. He tapped the side of her pants, and then quickly backed away from her. She didn't move, so carefully he patted her front right pocket, nothing. The left pocket felt weird, but it's pinned between her and the couch pillow.
Cautiously, he lifted her blanket up and warily reached in her pocket. He felt a slip of paper, just pinched his fingertips on it when he looked to his left making sure he was sure she was asleep.
Her lavender eyes stared back at his, widely. Daisuke's eyes and face reflected his embarrassment, turning a bright, bright red.
She finally reacted, she screamed. Daisuke went to jump up, but Ruki was quicker, he felt her punch as he flew back on Takeru's coffee table.
"PERVERT!" She screamed, before she jumped up off the couch.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Just calm down. It's not what you think." Daisuke said holding his hands up in defense as Ruki stood up.
"Yeah, we were just-," Takeru was interrupted as the door opened, Yamato walked in, his key still in hand, leading Hikari and Taichi in. 'Really? Thanks for not telling everyone tonight Joe'
"What's going on, why did Joe say we need to get here?" Yamato said immediately feeling the tension.
"Nothing," Daisuke immediately regretted the knee jerk response.
"Nothing?!" she yelled, "You call that nothing?!" Her voice grew nothing but louder, "you lifted the covers, your hand was on my-"
"Look it's not what you think!" Daisuke desperately pleaded
"What is going on?" The three at the doorway asked in unison.
"Wait, don't jump to conclusions, it's just a misunderstanding, honest, Hikari" Takeru spoke calmly.
"Yeah a really big one," Daisuke said, not-so calmly.
"You tried to..." Hikari began, directed at Takeru.
"What, no, no, jeez, we were just looking for ID, I swear," he stammered out in defense.
"Liars!" Ruki yelled, glaring.
"No it's the truth; I'm really sorry I was just looking to see if you had id, we were going to call someone for you."
Ruki had backed herself into a corner, she slipped from anger to unnoticed panic, realizing she was accusing tv characters. Her breathing began to get faster, she looked at Daisuke, she looked to the others. She was almost hyperventilating.
"Hey, I'm Hikari, what's your name?" Ruki glared, annoyed at being talked down to, but immediately not panicking.
"Ruki, I'm 17 and I'm not a baby," she sneered. "I've just lost my mind is all, because none of you are real." Hikari just kind of blinked, not expecting that as an answer she looked back to the others.
"I'm sorry... what?" Daisuke asked. Ruki's eyes narrowed on Daisuke, stood up and walked to him, he began getting worried she was still mad, "lend me your defenses! Trash-can Link!" he snatched Takeru's makeshift shield. He used it to cover his face as she leaned close, he didn't know what was about to happen, he leaned back on his heels. Then she raised her hand, he yelped and covered his face with the shield completely, then she pushed him, not expecting the push, he fell back right on his ass. The others tried to stifle their laughter.
Ruki suppressed a laugh too, "damn...funny as that was it definitely means I have indeed lost my sanity."
They all looked at her confused again, "I guess I should explain. Ugh I can't believe I'm really doing this."
Ruki sat back down, "I don't know how... ok look," she stopped, 'I can't believe I'm really saying this.' She thought.
"Look when I went to sleep, you guys were a bunch of characters on a TV show, but then I had my own encounter with the digital world, met my own partner but you guys were still just cartoons, made up by someone, at a studio, someone was paid to voice you guys, there was a cast, I remember... Takato wouldn't shut up about the show sometimes." Everyone stared blankly as she rambled.
"But I'm real," Taichi turned to Yamato, slanted his eyes, "right? We are real aren't we? I didn't miss something right?" His hand reaching out, a pointing finger was smacked away by Yamato.
"Quit it." Yamato said making a face at Taichi.
"If so I'm pretty damn sure I've lost it, or this is one damn vivid dream. Or I was slipped some opiates and I'm in my bed dying." Ruki laughed darkly.
"How do we know you are telling the truth?" Yamato asked.
"Well, bearer of Friendship, you don't. Neither do you, bearer of Miracles, or you Hikari Yagami and Taichi Yagami, or you the Hopeful little boy." They were mostly impressed, Yamato wasn't, "that's stuff you could find out online if you search hard enough. It proves nothing."
Ruki walked over to Yamato, leaning over to whisper in his ear, he listened for just a moment before turning beet red, "how do you know all this about us?" he asked regaining his composure, he was still red Takeru noticed.
"I told you, you're all characters on one of my favorite weekend morning shows, I don't know how, nor why, nor what. But here I am. So it doesn't matter what you believe, I'm not supposed to be here."
"Okay, okay, okay, enough about that, is there someone you can call, they will be missing you I'm sure."
"Give me a phone then." Takeru stood up quickly to go find his, she was scary, "I'll go find mine."
"So, are your eyes real?" Ruki looked at Daisuke like he was some weird creature.
"What kind of question is that, why wouldn't they be real?"
"I've never seen anyone real with lavender eyes before, they're beautiful," he looked the other way as she rolled her eyes, shook her head, and looked out the window.
"Um, is it me or was Daisuke just flirting, with a stranger." Yamato asked.
"No, he really was flirting. He never usually flirts with other girls when Hikari is around." Taichi joked quietly.
"Well, it might be because Takeru and I told him we're dating." Yamato and Taichi both jumped when they realized their gossiping was overheard. They both turned to see Hikari's disapproving face.
"Then he's jealous maybe?" Takeru added quietly beside Hikari who made a whole different face at him.
"What?" Takeru said realizing his overstep.
"I mean, you could've hurt his feelings, Hikari." Taichi reminded her, she turned back and looked at Daisuke in the other room, she sighed.
"You know what? You're right." She pushed off and walked to Daisuke in the other room.
"Hey Daisuke, can I talk to you?" Hikari asked, motioning for him to follow her down the hall. Once out of earshot from everyone she asked.
"Daisuke, were you just flirting with her because of us?" Daisuke blinked confused, and then shook his head.
"No, I wasn't flirting, I just thought her eyes looked different." He downplayed it, 'I wasn't flirting, was I?' He thought asking himself.
"Are you sure? I just wanted to make sure you weren't upset over that, you mean a lot to us." She told him.
"I told you, I'm fine with you going out, really." He assured her.
'Ugh, can anyone be more whipped?' Ruki thought looking over at Daisuke and Hikari.
'Why he was so stuck on her I still don't understand, never did... I mean she's cute I guess but nothing special...why do I even care?' She let out an exasperated sigh and turned her attention away from them.
"Here, sorry it took so long-" Ruki snatched the phone from Takeru who let out a faint yelp, she started dialing.
'Ugh so rude!' Hikari thought when she saw it as she walked back to her boyfriend's side.
"This number does not exist, please check the num-" She hung up and growled.
"What's wrong with your phone?"
"What?" Yamato asked, she ignored him and started dialing again.
"This number does not exist, please che-" She tried two more times.
"It's not working, I keep trying."
"What is it?" Daisuke asked.
"Every single number doesn't work." She put her hand to her head.
"Okay, why don't I- damn,"
"What?" Taichi replied.
"I was going say I'll drive her home, but my car is back at my place." Daisuke said with dots for eyes.
"What?" Hikari asked.
"Well, after I talked to you and Takeru I went to the boardwalk." He tried to not sound like he was pouting on the boardwalk.
"Oh yea, I meant to ask you why you were out here in the middle of the night walking without your precious car." Takeru jokingly laughed.
"Now you leave my baby out of this, she didn't do anything and will drive circles around yours." Daiksuke growled trying to refocus the subject, Ruki actually almost giggled.
She'd never seen this side of these characters. 'Well they're people, so is it even the same?' She sat there thinking to herself.
"Yeah, I sort of quit paying attention and when I realized it I was at the park." Back pedaling his attitude to Takeru, Daisuke spoke much more softly.
"Sounds like you." Yamato smirked, "it's fine, after we take Ruki home I'll take you to your car, let's go. Where to?" Yamato asked Ruki.
"I live in Shinagawa." Yamato's eye twitched.
"Seriously? I don't have the gas to go that far. The last gig was just enough to cover-" Yamato said.
"Well, looks like we're going to my car first." Daisuke offered.
"You'll take her?" Taichi asked.
"She's got to get home, right? I'll just fill up." Daisuke said as he stood up
"Yea, but... Alright, fine, we better leave now then, traffic will set in soon." Yamato said.
"Ok, come on, let's go too," Taichi said looking at Hikari who rode with him. Though she retorted, "I'll just stay here, I was coming to make breakfast later anyways. I'll start early." She happily quipped. They all said their goodbyes and parted ways.
..
It was pretty much silence between Yamato, Ruki, and Daisuke on the way to pick up his car. Taichi left when they did, alone, leaving him there alone with Hikari.
Daisuke shuddered at what they could be doing but he quickly put his mind back to his new purple eyed friend instead, she made the pain feel ok. Maybe...
Once they got there, Daisuke told Yamato thanks and good-bye, while Ruki muttered a small thanks as she walked over to the only car in the parking lot. It was a ancient looking car it looked like, she couldn't believe the difference.
"This is your car?" Ruki chuckled surprisingly.
"Yeah, yeah, that's what they all said too. Leave my scooby alone." He put the key in the door and unlocked it. He sat down, then unlocked Ruki's door and pushed it open, "it's what inside that matters." He grinned as she looked at the perfect interior.
"...Scooby? You know what, let's go, it doesn't matter. Not your weird car nicknames." He started the car, the sound of rushing air filled her ears, she stared for a moment before rolling her eyes at him and finally grasping the door handle, opening it, and sitting down.
"Are you hungry?" He shifted to reverse and backed out, driving out of the parking lot towards the road.
"No but I could drink a swimming pool."
Daisuke laughed, "well, we'll stop at the nearest gas station then." Daisuke shifted the car into first, and then quickly pulled out of the parking lot.
They listened to music, not talking as they drove to the gas station. He let her control it.
'Some of these band names are weird.' She thought, he interrupted.
"You pay, I pump?" He handed her his card. "You still use bank cards right?" He laughed.
She glared and snatched his wallet, "making fun of my situation just costed you." She took the card and wallet and opened her door, Daisuke hollered from the driver seat and she grinned walking away. 'He's fun.'
'I'll just fill it up,' she just walked in, grabbing a drink and several different snacks and when she found the candy isle she said audibly, "and one of whatever I feel like." She grinned.
She paid for the items and fuel, then headed back to the car with Daisuke.
"It's so weird." Ruki said leaning on the gas pump, bag in hand, as Daisuke filled the car.
"What is?" He said from his spot, leaning on the car.
"Seeing you, it's just; I used to watch you on an anime. I mean it's so eerie talking to you, hearing you, watching you again." She turned a little red not thinking about the words before they came out.
"You were watching me?" Daisuke raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Don't get cocky, when I talk to you I see you. They mean the same." She passed him to open her door and got in the car feeling her cheeks get darker.
'Watching me and seeing me are two different things,' he said to himself and smiled. He let it go. He finished pumping fuel and sat back in the car, back on their way again shortly after.
..
They had traveled all the way to the Rainbow Bridge with nothing but the songs she chose as company. He tried to speak but her looks shot it down each time, 'ugh why does she scare me, Hikari doesn't even make me feel this way.'
By this time Daisuke was getting edgy, bored, and tired, so he decided to spark some conversation himself anyways.
"So, why were you annoyed when I said your eyes looked good?" He questioned.
"..." She quietly continued not talking.
"Nothing? No screw you even?" He joked.
"..." Still continuing to not speak.
"..." Daisuke stayed silent this time.
Ruki finally spoke up. "You said beautiful."
Daisuke had a confused look, "what? And? What?" ._. He stared blankly.
"You called them beautiful, I hate that, being treated like a girl." She looked out of the window.
"Why?" He inquired.
"..." She was again fashionably quiet.
"..." He also continued the silence.
With another exasperated sigh she said, "my mom's a model; she always tried to make me like her. She makes me go to these stupid photo shoots, puts a dress and make-up on me, then calls it a day for bonding, away with her flavor of the week. All the people there call me pretty, cute, beautiful, and all that. They're creepy. And I am not those things, nor do I want to be them. I hate dresses, I hate make-up, and I hate getting my picture taken." She was worried though about her mother. Would she be there?
"Oh, ok, I'm so sorry, when I look at you I feel like I could barf. Should I call you Shrek?...There, was that better?" He grinned and snickered, his laughter subsided when he saw her eyes narrowed at him, most would have immediately shut up, but he just laughed.
"Alright, alright, I'll just call you Ruki-can't-take-a-jokie. So, Ruki-can't-take-a-jokie, you know all about me, what about you?" He looked over to get smacked right in the face, "owwie! That hurt!" He said as he swerved.
"Not interested in giving my life story.." Daisuke shifted, and then looked left to Ruki.
"Well that's not fair..."
"..."
"..." he sighs, "okay fine, how about interests? Or friends? Or anyone at all, you said something about an encounter with the digital world before, who's your partner?" She rolled her eyes. "How many times are you going to roll your eyes?"
"Why are you so obsessed with my eyes?"
"All that stuff I said and you're stuck on that," he rolled his eyes this time, "I told you, I've never seen lavender eyes."
"They're just purple, it's same thing," he grinned, knowing she was getting annoyed, "like it doesn't matter their color."
"You most certainly do matter and whatever, still an odd color to have, naturally anyways." Daisuke said his face more serious than before.
Ruki stared for a moment before regaining her composure.
"No it- UGH, fine. My partner's name is Renamon. Okay, happy now?"
"You don't like talking much do you?" Daisuke liked pushing her buttons, she got cuter as she got scarier.
"No, it's useless usually, my mom talked a lot, it went no where." She looked out the window.
"It's good to talk, it lets you vent." He told her.
"Yeah, sure, whatever," she crossed her arms as she stared out the window, the raindrops sliding off its surface.
"It is, try it one day, you might like it." He told her.
"Fine, you go first." She challenged.
"Ok, ask me anything." He said without hesitation. She whipped around and looked directly at him.
"Why do you have a huge crush on perfect little Hikari still, even when a blind man could see she's got feelings for angel boy?" He nearly swerved off the road, his confidence left, 'she might know me better than I know myself...' He thought.
"...I..." He stopped and stayed silent.
"See you don't want to talk either." She accepted victory from no one but looking forward triumphantly.
"I don't know," he whispered, not changing his gaze.
"What was that?" She snickered, looking back at him, relishing in his discomfort.
"I don't know, ok. That's what I've been thinking that myself tonight, why I fell for her, why I chased her so long, I mean really it was stupid to pine over her for so long..." Daisuke looked very uncomfortable.
"Oh." Was all Ruki could muster. They fell back into silence as another ten minutes passed. She felt his pain, 'he looks sad.' She thought.
"Water," Ruki said, changing the subject for him.
"Huh?" Daisuke asked glancing at her.
"I like the water. I like the smell of the beach, at night. That's when no annoying people are there, nothing but the sound of waves," Ruki said, staring out the window. Daisuke smiled, as he signaled to exit the highway finally.
"So do I," he put the signal on, turned off the exit of the bridge and downshifted. "It's part of why I was at the park tonight..." She stayed quiet, she could tell what the other part of why he was there was. Hikari.
The car had fell back into silence as they neared where Ruki told Daisuke she lived. Out of the corner of his eye, Daisuke spotted Ruki staring at him; he made another turn and looked over to her.
"Why are you staring at me? Caught the lust?" He joked, as he made sexy poses, laughing at her initial reaction.
"Lust, ha, hardly, don't bullshit yourself, cartoon boy, I'm still just trying to figure out how in the hell you exist, you're an anime character."
"I don't know, but I know I've got a whole life of memories to go along with me. There's not much more I can think to say." He said.
"Me either, but right now I just want to get home and get out of these damn pajamas."
"Hey, I think you look cute in your pajamas."
"Daisuke, I don't care if you exist or not, if you ever say that again, I'll kill you."
"Hahahaha-"
"Daisuke….." Her voice was different, he stopped and turned to Ruki, she was looking out the car window, he slowed to a stop and she opened the door and jumped out.
"Ruki wait." Daisuke opened his door and stood up quickly, forgetting his seatbelt, which yanked him back into the seat, "ack!"
He cursed and took it off, as he stood back up his car started to roll. "No!" He quickly reached back in and snatched it into gear, it quickly stopped, he slammed the door and began running in the direction Ruki went in.
..
He ran past the large building, she wasn't there; he looked around towards a small sidewalk, following it he finally found her sitting on a bench.
Once he got up close he could see Ruki had her knees to her chest, with her head down and eyes closed. He slowed his pace when he found her, but as he looked around he finally started to sort-of understand why she ran off.
"This is where it was, isn't it?" He said softly to her.
"GO AWAY!" Her voice cracked, obviously upset.
"Look I know, but it'll be okay, don't worry." He tried again to comfort her to no avail.
"Okay? Okay?! Daisuke. My house is gone, the house I grew up in IS GONE, do you understand? Poof, nowhere. And me? I just woke up 100 miles from my house and when I get back it's gone, nothing, just an office complex, I was driven here by an anime character, and I'm probably going insane, I had a fever when I went home, I'm probably dying, so what makes you think it will be okay?!" She screamed, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Daiksuke, don't feed me bullshit." Her voice was cracking, but she would never show her weak side to anyone, ever. At least, that's what she told herself as she wiped the tears away.
"I'm sorry, I…" He let out a breath, and then just walked over to Ruki, sitting down beside her. He put his arm to her.
"DON'T TOUCH ME, GO AWAY!" She protested.
"Look, it will be okay, we'll figure something out, Koushiro is a genius." He put his arm around her ignoring her demand. "I swear to you, I will take you home, no matter what it takes I'll get you home. I promise." She finally turned and hugged him, much to his surprise and hers too, she just squeezed. She wouldn't cry, she held on tight, fighting the urge to break down.
He waited a few minutes until her grip finally loosened, "come on, you can stay at my house." He said standing up, "we'll figure the rest out tomorrow." He motioned for her to follow.
"I'll be there in a minute, I just need a moment alone." She said softly.
"I'll be here when you're ready," he said and walked away back towards the car, thinking of what he else he could say or do, but he knew there was nothing.
'What the hell does he know….Stupid boy...why does he even care about me so much, I just wanna go home...wherever home is...if I ever get home...' She watched as he walked back to the car. Then she realized she had tears on her face again, quickly she wiped them away.
She took a deep breath, thinking about Daisuke waiting calmed her some. 'But why? He's not even real...why does he make me feel better when 'he's around?'
She stood up, once again she looked to the lot that once held her house, some spark of hope it was a dream she'd wake up from, but still it was not and she knew she would have to accept it. She walked towards the car.
..
As they drove, Daisuke was afraid to try starting a conversation with Ruki, he didn't know whether she would carry on or just break his neck, her aura made him nervous so he kept quiet. Traffic was better now that it had gotten late, he was glad about that at least.
"Don't tell anyone," she said, continuing to look out the window at the dark rainy night.
"Don't tell anyone what?" He asked as she looked over to him.
"About earlier, I'm not weak, if you tell anyone about it-"
"You don't have to worry Ruki. I won't tell a soul. Your secret heart is safe with me." He smiled as she just glared.
"So how is me staying with you going to work?" She asked, skipping subjects.
"Like what?"
"Like me staying with you, I may not know your parents, but I know none who would let a strange teenage girl stay the night with their son. Especially this late at night."
"Well, actually my mom is leaving for work just about now, and my dad works out of town." He told her, glancing to her and back to the road, "besides, they probably wouldn't care about anything I did anyways..." He trailed off. Ruki noticed.
"What about Jun?"
"How...," he shook his head coming back to earth, "I'll just explain what's going on, I'm sure she won't care and I'll bet she's got some nice dresses." He joked remembering how she didn't like being girly. He glanced back over; his smile fading away when he saw the death glare that could have scared Wargreymon enough to tuck tail.
"Sorry, sorry, bad joke, just kidding."
"..." she looked out the window quietly.
"..." he looked at the road, then her, back to the road, and back to her.
"..." she ignored his attempts to get her attention.
"Can I ask you a question?" Daisuke finally mustered the courage to say.
"That's one, would you like another?" She said sarcastically.
"I uh-" he got nervous. She did that to him easily when no one else did, not even Hikari.
"Just ask me Daisuke."
"Why are you so against being thought of as beautiful, is that not a good thing?"
"I have my reasons."
"Okay, well...then what are your thoughts on hotness? Or what about-" He looked over as her fist caught it. He swerved again laughing.
'Okay, he's just an anime character, no one minds if I kill him right?!'
..
They pulled up to an apartment building, five hours passed since he first found her; Daisuke parked and opened the door, Ruki followed closely behind him. He unlocked the door to his apartment. Tossing his keys on the table next to the door, he then flipped a switch that turned on the lamp that sat on the table.
"JUN!?" He yelled, looking at his watch, 5am, 'ugh what a night'
"What, I'm getting dressed?!" She yelled back.
"Can you come here?" He yelled.
"Seriously?"
"Yea, just come on!" The two heard her grumble, then her door opened. She saw Ruki and stopped.
"Daisuke, when you texted you were taking a friend home, I thought you meant their home not yours. Now it's 5 o'clock in the morning and there's a girl in her pajamas in our living room, what have you been up to all night little brother?" She smirked making him uncomfortable.
"Look remember when you said never to try to explain anything that was way over your head?" He asked.
Her eyes narrowed, "mhmm..."
"Well, this would be one of those times. She's literally got no where in the world to go right now. And she's had a rough day, and she's got no clothes to change into, please, it's important..."
Her eyes were as suspicious as they could be, she sighed, "whatever, you owe me so much." She leaned close, "and you're on the couch, if I even think you're in there doing anything except showing her where your bed is then you're sleeping outside, understood? And I will rat you out so fast it's not funny. I don't know squat about this."
"Yes m-." She shut the door on his face.
"Hmh, that went well I think," he said rubbing his fresh smashed nose.
"If you say so," Ruki just looked around the apartment.
"I do say so...now this way." He said, opening the door to his bedroom.
..
..
..
To be continued.