Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Seeing Red
Chapter: 02
Takehiro slipped back inside the bakery, and poked his head into the store section where Mie currently stood manning the cash register, a grin forming on his face. He took a quick look about, and upon finding that the store was currently empty, stepped toward her.
"Hey," he said, and upon seeing him, the round-faced woman raised an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?" she asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips at the sight of his grin.
"Just saw Rika," he replied, his eyes flicking toward the stairs behind him that led up to the living quarters of their business. "I think she's finally about to make a move on our boy."
At that, Mie glanced upward, a worried look swiftly erasing her smile. As if to give credence to her concerns, there came an abrupt yell of surprise followed by a swift crash, causing Mie to jump in surprise.
"Are you sure about that?" she asked a little louder than she intended. "It almost sounds like she's trying to beat him up."
Takehiro gave a light chuckle and shook his head, though he had to admit he was starting to share her concerns as well. The loud thump followed by a pained exclamation did little to alleviate this. Takato, he knew, had the tendency to prick himself on Rika's thorns unintentionally. Still, he knew that she never struck him or did anything other than yell when she actually lost her temper. He couldn't imagine the boy doing anything so terrible that Rika to go any further than a simple raising of the volume.
"I'm sure he just got surprised," he replied. "Renamon took Rika up to his window after all."
Although the noise does make a compelling argument… he added mentally, straining his hearing for any further sounds of trouble. Presently, he detected none.
"I don't know if I like this," Mie said, her expression troubled.
"Hey, we knew it had to happen sooner or later," Takehiro grinned again at her. "Those two have been dancing around each other for years and they are getting older."
"I know," Mie sighed, turning away and distractedly checking her receipts. "I'm being a worry-wart. As far as I'm concerned, he's still my baby no matter how many times he's helped save the world. And Rika…"
She grimaced, her hand coming to rest on the counter. Seeing this, Takehiro brought his hand over hers, his fingers tenderly massaging it.
"What's wrong with Rika?" he prompted. "I know she's a bit rough around the edges, but I thought you liked her. You're always saying how she helps keep Takato focused."
"I do like her! It's just…" She paused, worrying her lips against one another, trying to find the right words to say what was on her mind. The differences in their social statuses – the daughter of a wealthy, world-renown model and the son of bakers – often sat in the back of her mind, leaving her with a kind of anxiety about how others would look at them, but she mostly left such concerns alone, as the two teens didn't appear to be the least bit bothered by such things. Rika especially didn't seem to care which was enough in her mind, and if Takato did, he never gave any indication.
There was something else though that sat closer to the forefront of her mind. Something that she couldn't quite define, though it always sat on the tip of her tongue. Raising her eyes toward the outside of the bakery, she saw Renamon light on the ground next to Guilmon and deposit the redheaded girl on the ground. She winced upon seeing her stance; the almost commanding way she held herself. The clothes she wore…
And just like that, Mie felt the puzzle click into place and she had her answer.
"Don't you think she's a little bit too mature for him?"
Takehiro cocked an eyebrow at this, puzzled. "I thought they were the same age."
"Don't be dense," she said with a frown, swatting her husband on the arm. "That's not what I meant. Haven't you seen how she acts around Takato? How she dresses?"
Takehiro scratched at the corner of his chin, suddenly looking embarrassed. "Well… Her shirt is certainly…new. But it's rather warm outside, so…"
"Fine, I get it," Mie huffed, understanding that Takehiro didn't want to suggest he noticed anything particularly noteworthy about Rika's current revealing getup. "Anyway, I'm not saying Rika's a bad girl or anything, but she always makes me think that she just…knows more about certain things, and Takato…"
There came a rapid series of thumps now as Takato hurried down the stairs, interrupting her thoughts. His expression was one of crimson panic as he fumbled to get his feet into his battered shoes. Mie winced again. The contrast between her son and Rumiko's daughter couldn't have been more obvious. Takato's shoes were at least a little over a year old and well-worn and his hair, as it always had been since childhood, was an untamed mass of brown. Rika's hair by comparison was neat and straight and never seemed to have a loose strand, and her clothes were often new and of some expensive brand name. He couldn't offer her anything that she couldn't get herself. So what did Rika see in him?
"Heading out, Takato?" Takehiro called as the teen finished lacing up his shoes. The brown-haired boy's crimson eyes swung up towards them and, after a moment of looking bashful, rose and stepped into the store area.
"Y-Yeah," he stammered out. "Rika…" He coughed, looking as though he were having a hard time meeting their eyes for a moment before continuing. "She says she wants to hang out and…um… I need to talk to her about…stuff."
The crimson flood in his face deepened, leaving Mie and Takehiro to exchange looks again before returning their attention to their chaotic son.
"Well, don't let us keep you," Takehiro chuckled, stepping away from Mie and clapping the boy on the shoulder. "Just remember to be home at a decent hour and if you can't make it in time, give us a call, okay?"
"Right," Takato bobbed his head up and down, a smile forcing its way onto his lips. Mie noted that they didn't touch his eyes however. As usual, he was fretting about something. No doubt about Rika finally making her move and finding himself uncertain as to how to handle her feelings. Once more, her worries welled up in her chest and she found herself all but beating them back with a rolling pin.
She won't take advantage of him, she told herself. Rika, she knew, was more respectable than that, and Takato, for all the criticism she levied on him about having his head up in the clouds, was a lot more mature and attentive than she gave him credit for and a fair amount of good judgment. He went to the digital world to save a friend knowing full well the stakes that were on the line; not even knowing if he would come back alive from that alien world. Surely Rika wouldn't be any more dangerous than that even if she did intend anything harmful. And she did like the girl, so what was the harm?
I really should be more supportive of them if they want to start having a relationship, she told herself. With that in mind, she planted her hands on her hips and gave her son a stern look.
"Honestly, Takato. Don't you have anything better to wear if you're going out with her?"
The blush that stood out on Takato's face only deepened as he shot a look in Rika's direction, the girl checking her phone with an impatient look on her face.
"Sorry, Mom. I've got to go. Rika… She's waiting for me."
Mei sighed and shook her head. Well, it was worth a shot. Maybe next time. Provided that there even is a next time.
"All right. Take care of yourself out there."
At this, Takato smiled, his eyes flicking over uncertainly toward Rika once more before hurrying in her direction, giving a quick wave of goodbye. Mie watched him go, folding her arms together.
My little boy… she thought, pressing her lips together. I hope you know what you're getting yourselves into.
###
Takato had no clue what he was about to get into, and as a result, he was half in a panic.
Normally, he looked forward to hanging out with Rika. Years ago, she was someone he looked up to and wanted to be friends with, but at the start of their connection as Tamers, she rarely gave him the time of day and for a time after becoming associates, no more of it than was necessary. Rika, then as now, was one of few words and those she did have were often laced with criticism for what she perceived to be the cavalier attitude she saw Takato take to taming Guilmon. She had lightened up considerably since then, and as they advanced into high school, finding increasing difficulty when it came to hanging out with any of their friends, they clung to each other all the more tightly. Not at first – Rika initially keeping herself as busy as she often could to distract herself from the declining bonds – but slowly, over time, at Renamon's urging and Takato's persistence, they found ways to work around their tight schedules for 'mandatory hangouts,' as Rika called them.
It wasn't always the two of them, but of late it seemed as though they found more time with each other than anyone else, and so they made the best of it that they could.
And all because of a dream.
Takato couldn't argue that his life took some strange turns at times, pushing him in odd directions or prodding him into another. Certainly none of his friends – Rika least of all – would argue against the idea that this was a sign that the universe saw him as its personal chew toy, as it often seemed to be having fun at the situations he found himself in, such as the one that Rika quite literally landed in herself just scant minutes ago. He hated that. Hated that he always seemed to trip into trouble around her; embarrassing her or making her mad. Why she kept him around honestly left him baffled, though, truth be told, he found himself grateful for her never ending well of patience or whatever it was that kept her coming back.
He paused at the doors of the bakery and they slid open. Warm air wafted over him and his eyes fell on the fire-haired girl. He swallowed, feeling heat burning his cheeks once more and his heart skipped a beat uncertainly about what to expect, but nevertheless was determined to meet it – and die – as bravely as possible. His friendship for Rika demanded that he do no less for her.
If only I could do more to make her happy, he thought, his expression softening as his eyes touched her face.
"Takato!" called out his mother, causing the boy to jerk in place with a surprised yelp that caught Rika's attention. "Either go out or stay in! But whatever you do, don't let any flies in here, do you understand?"
"Sorry!" Hurriedly, Takato started forward, hurrying over to his friend at a rapid pace. He attempted to school his face into something approaching casual, but the memory from his bedroom ensured that he would fail at this without a doubt.
Just be calm. Just be calm. Just be calm… he told himself over and over as Rika pocketed her phone, offering him a small smile upon seeing him, a light blush rising to her cheeks. Takato bit the inside of his cheek at that. No doubt she was thinking about his little 'show' from his room.
"Hey, Takato," Guilmon beamed, turning toward him. "Are we going to…?"
"I'm being calm!" Takato interrupted, finding himself jarred out of his thoughts by Guilmon's question. The crimson dinosaur blinked in confusion.
"Um… Okay?" he replied.
Oh man… Takato blushed furiously. Approaching Guilmon, Renamon patted the dinosaur on the head.
"It's all right, Guilmon," the vulpine digimon said. "He was a little surprised earlier." Her azure gaze met Takato's crimson ones, and for a wonder, Takato found a trace of sympathy in them. "It seems he still hasn't quite gotten over it yet."
"Not like I can blame him," Rika muttered under her breath. Renamon gave a light chuckle before turning to Guilmon.
"Why don't we give them some time alone today?" she suggested. "I think they will need the solitude. If you'd like, I'll…play with you."
"Hah?" Guilmon's eyes widened at this. "You'll…play? With me? But you never want to play."
"I'm willing to make an exception this time. If that's all right with you."
The way she said that left Takato with the distinct impression that she was talking to all three of them, and Takato found himself nodding exuberantly while Rika merely shrugged nonchalantly, arms hugging about her sides tightly. Takato found his gaze drop down to them, noticing, seemingly for the first time, that she had gone sleeveless for a change, not something she normally did on sunny days like today. He looked up at Rika questioningly, and she frowned, having spotted where his eyes had gone and adjusted her arms accordingly, attempting to hide their nakedness behind each other.
"We'll be close by in case a Wild One shows up," she said to her partner, and Renamon nodded before turning toward Guilmon.
"In that case, are you ready?"
Guilmon looked at the two teens with concern before tugging off the sign for the bakery. "Sure," he said after a moment, handing the bakery sign off to Takato. "What kind of game would you like to play?"
"How about…hide and seek?" Renamon smiled before vanishing from view.
"Ohhh… My favorite!" Guilmon laughed before waving to Takato and Rika. "Have fun!"
"You too, boy," Takato waved back, his voice cracking a little. He cursed himself for how he sounded. Puberty, it seemed, was still not being kind to him on that score.
The pair were left standing in the street, an awkward silence filling the air as Takato watched Guilmon hurry off. Both clearly wanted to break the ice, but neither one seemed to know where to begin.
"Hey," she began at almost exactly the same time he did, and the two of them paused, staring at each other, waiting for the other to say whatever they had on their mind. After a moment of nothing, they began again.
"Takato…"
"Listen, Rika…"
Again, another pause as they found themselves speaking over one another simultaneously, and this time Rika frowned.
"Should I let you start so we can get you tripping over your words out of the way?" she asked, her small smile becoming something of a warning smirk. She adjusted her footing and shifted her arms over her chest, forming, to Takato's mind, a makeshift barrier against his gaze. Takato swallowed. There was no way this conversation was going to go well. Especially since she was wearing red, a combative color he knew she wore when she was in an angry mood.
Just think of it like jumping into an ice-cold bath, he told himself. The sooner you get it over with, the better.
"Uh… About what you saw…"
"Ugh… Stop."
"But… Rika…"
"I mean just stop. We're not talking about this here." Her violet eyes flashed as she took a step towards him, her tone dropping, but losing none of its intensity. "Do you really want to have this discussion in public?" Her cheeks darkening, she impulsively unfolded her arms and snagged hold of one of the boy's hands, squeezing hard, as if by doing so she could get his mind to buy itself its much-needed clue.
Which, fortunately, he did.
###
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
"I figured you would be. I don't know why though. It's not like you were doing anything wrong."
Rika pretended to ignore Takato's sidelong glance as they strolled through the park. The crowds here were much thinner, allowing them a certain degree of privacy that they could depend on. Scratching the back of his head, Takato furrowed his brow.
"You're…taking this a lot better than I thought you would."
Rika harrumphed at that.
"You're a boy, Takato. I'd be surprised if you weren't doing that sort of thing." Unconsciously, she again folded her arms across her chest. Scowling at herself as she realized what she was doing, she undid that and stuffed her hands into her pockets. Images of Takato's penis shooting its sperm onto his floor flashed through her mind, and she found herself becoming far, far too aware of her open bosom and how she had it exposed for his viewing. "Besides…" she continued, her face flushing again. "It's not like I haven't done that kind of thing either."
At that admission, Takato again blushed hard and quickly averted his eyes from her, not trusting them to stay focused on her face. Unfortunately for him, his imagination, curse as it was, took her words and immediately began to form an image of his friend, seated in her room, hand dipping between her legs as he had been earlier. Finding himself suddenly growing hard, he groaned and pressed his face into his hand, earning him a quizzical eyebrow.
"What?"
"N-Nothing," he stammered out. "Just…awkwardness. Of all the conversations I thought we would have I can honestly say that I never thought this would be one of them."
"Does that include conversations where I ask you out on a date?"
Takato stumbled at that, his foot unexpectedly finding itself getting caught on its own shadow.
"Guess not." Rika sighed while Takato righted himself, fighting against the urge once more to cross her arms together. Pausing in her stride, she looked skyward, her eyes softening. Takato turned towards her, detecting a strange note in her voice.
Is she…disappointed?
It seemed impossible. He didn't think Rika was interested in him. His heart often dreamt about it, but she presented no outward sign that such was the case. At least none that he could be certain of.
But could he trust his memory? He wracked his brains for something – anything – that might have suggested otherwise before quickly deciding that perhaps he was overthinking things.
"Well…" he began carefully. "It…actually has, but…um…"
He trailed off, and Rika turned back toward him, her expression sullen.
"I'm not going to like this 'but' am I?"
Today really, really sucks to me right now, Takato groaned inwardly. He felt as though he was standing on thin ice with his friend.
What am I supposed to do here? She's always liked me for my honesty, but that's also what keeps getting me into trouble with her!
He thought back to all the times he had complimented her clothes; starting with the first time in the tunnels, when they were journeying to battle the psychotic program known as the D-Reaper. It had been more of an accident then and he hadn't intended to tell her that he thought her new shirt looked good on her, but she dragged the confession out of him and inadvertently gave him permission to do so, something she never granted him previously and never gave to anyone else since aside from her own family. He had stepped warily when doing so, but every so often she put something on that took him by surprise, causing his mouth to disengage from his brain and act on its own accord.
Something that for quite some time resulted in mutual embarrassment and awkward silences before she would mutter a blushing 'thanks.'
Still, she valued his honesty, and with a deep breath, he took the plunge.
"Well… I know you don't like me dreaming about you…"
Rika stiffened at that and once more her cheeks blossomed bright red. She quickly looked away.
"S-Sorry…" he began, only for Rika to cut across his words as they began to spill out.
"That's natural though, right?"
"Huh?"
Rika shifted, her eyes falling towards her shoes. "You dreaming about me. That's natural, isn't it? I mean… You're a boy and…"
"W-W-Wha…?!" Takato gasped for air in shock. "You think I'm…?"
"What other kinds of dreams would you be having about me?" Rika demanded heatedly, her eyes narrowing. "Your old enough, aren't you?"
This is…not how I thought this would go, Takato thought, his mind awhirl with confusion over Rika's reaction. Her eyes were bright, angry, and rather frazzled, something he had seen an uncountable number of times over the years whenever she became unsettled by something and was desperate to try and cover it. Was that what was happening here? Or…?
Deciding to let the thought go, Takato opted to simply run with the flow of conversation. Worst case scenario, she would punch him and maybe have Renamon load his data.
"Yeah, but… I mean… Not… Not those kinds!" He held up his hands in a placating gesture, not even bothering to explain what he meant by 'those kinds.' "I swear! I don't even think about you when I'm…" He coughed. "…you know."
Oh man… Kill me now…
Humiliation ran thick in Takato's blood right now. "I just…wouldn't feel right about doing that and… Ah, jeez…" He ran a hand through the thick mop of his hair, trying desperately to concentrate so he could say the right things that would make everything better. As things stood, he felt as though he were doing more harm than good. Talking about whether or not you masturbated to one of your best friends? Or had wet dreams about them? Who does that sort of thing? I mean, besides us right now I mean…
"B-But…I have sometimes dreamt about the two of us…together. Like we're watching a movie and…stuff."
Rika was silent for a moment, eyes on him. "Stuff?" she finally asked.
Takato blanched now. Was she really disappointed in his lack of thought about the two of them dating? His mind immediately began to backtrack on that.
"N-Nothing big, really…"
"Takato. If you don't define 'stuff' I'm going to start thinking that you're dreaming something about me a little more naughty than what you were doing in your room, so out with it!"
Today really sucks to me right now…
"You know." Takato shrugged uselessly, too embarrassed to say it out loud. "Corny stuff."
"Like what?" Rika took her hands out of her pockets again and folded them together, this time however beneath her breasts, making no effort to hide her cleavage now. "Me resting my head on your shoulder or something? The two of us holding hands?"
The crawling flood of crimson on Takato's face spoke volumes. She cocked her head in contemplation, thinking his unspoken admission over as she held his gaze. He didn't flinch or look away, though it was clear he found it difficult to do so, having always had a hard time matching her intense scrutiny. In spite of herself, Rika felt a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips before she giggled.
"Wow. Takato. Aren't you pretty wild?"
"Hey!" Takato squirmed at this, flustered. "I told you it was corny!"
"Not to mention mushy," Rika laughed, turning away and resuming their walk. "I suppose it was some lovesick movie we were watching in your dreams? Maybe I should take you to watch a horror film instead! Forget handholding, you'd be dying for a hug then. You want to get a teddy bear before we get there, Gogglehead?"
Takato frowned, feeling a slight touch of annoyance at her teasing, but opting to let it pass without comment. Instead he fell into step beside her, eyeing her quizzically. "Is that what you wanted to do today? Catch a movie?"
Rika looked disappointed that he wasn't rising to her poking fun at him, but she shrugged. "I…actually haven't given it much thought," she admitted, a note of embarrassment in her voice. "But…sure?" She looked back at him, her eyes softer now, searching his. "I just really wanted to hang out with you today and…" She chewed her lower lip for a moment before continuing. "…and I wanted to see if you would call it a date."
Takato found himself becoming aware of the wind playing across the park, causing the tree branches to sway slightly, leaves rustling in unison. He felt his heart skip a beat. She…She was serious? Even after what she saw him doing?
"Are you sure?"
Rika gave him hard, angry scowl. "Gogglehead, do you really think I'd be asking if I wasn't?"
"Well, if not that, you'd probably be yelling at me and dragging me to the theater. You know, after you've knocked me out and thrown me over your shoulder."
"I'm not laughing at that, Gogglehead."
"Sorry. I was just trying to… Never mind." His expression softened and he offered her a small, comforting smile. "I did want to make sure though. I mean, I am a Gogglehead after all."
Rika's silence hung upon the air as she frowned at him. After a moment, she spoke again.
"You've got that right at least. Now if we're done here…" Unfolding her arms, she reached out and grabbed hold of his wrist. Almost immediately, she began to storm off, dragging the squawking, surprised boy behind her.
"Ah! Rika, what are you…?"
"I'm dragging you to the theater, Gogglehead! What's it look like I'm doing? Now keep up! If you fall, I'm going to be really mad if you drag me down with you!"
"Wouldn't dream of it," Takato laughed bewilderedly as he found his feet and did his best to keep pace with the swift girl in what was, without a doubt, the strangest beginning to a relationship he had ever heard of.
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