Dark-Angel: Whoo, my last chapter and it's gonna be sappy, maybe. Note to
all who's reading this, there will be a sequel and it will be out in about
a month or so. I will have a new fic out during that time and it's a bit
different from this one.
Anywho, back to this fic, the sequel will revolve around Rika's family and such but it still will have action in it.
Now with that said, Floramon do the disclaimer.
Floramon: No, you didn't say please!
A/N: Pretty please with a cherry on top.
Floramon: I'll think about it...
A/N: Fine. Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, its characters and the list goes on. Therefore, I cannot be sued! Whoot!
Chapter 16
We Can Do This, Can't We?
~*~*
Rika stood next to the small pond in her garden. Her mind was wondering to a far away place and didn't want to be disturbed. Renamon had told everyone what had happened and why she was in the Digital World, and now everyone but Ryo and his father had gone home. Everyone was so tired that it was a wonder how they managed to stay awake the whole time she was gone. Almost three days she had been gone and a lot of her unanswered questions remained unanswered and a mystery to her.
Rika could here talking coming from inside her house but she blocked it out. She didn't know how she was going to tell her mother about some of the personal secrets that she had discovered during the past few days. She wasn't even sure she wanted to tell anyone about her brother and the enemies that she had to face in the future.
And there was the situation with Ryo. She had to confront him sooner or later, but how? She was only one person, with normal human hormones and emotions. And right now, she had a lot of mixed emotions that she could not justify. Confusion, hatred, anger, love, and frustration. But the two that were the most blatant, sadness and happiness. She was happy now that she was back home and alive, but she had resolved so little in the way of finding who she was. But she was also sad because she didn't know what was ahead of her. Koryomon was going to come back and be stronger than ever, and he was going to have one thing on his mind; revenge. I guess it just shows how much life can set you off but also upset you at the same time.
Everything seemed to rush back to her as she thought about them. She could've suppressed the thoughts, but she didn't want to show weakness by delaying the inevitable. She thought about Bakemonomon and how he had lured her into his trap. She fell for what he had said about her Kitsune powers. She had fallen into his trap and she regretted that. But why had Bakemonomon contacted her in the first place? Why had he wanted her so badly? Was it just because he wanted to enslave every living Digimon and take over the Digital World? Or was something more going on that she didn't know about? Did Bakemonomon even die? Was that even Bakemonomon that had captured her in the first place? Had Bakemonomon even existed, or was he just a pawn put there as bait? Was he put there to fool her into thinking everything that she had thought? And her powers, what about them? Was she really the chosen one who was destined to ascend into a Kitsune?
Rika tried to focus her thoughts and place them where they belonged, but no matter how many she put away, more just seemed to pop up into her head.
What was Koryomon doing now? Was he alive? Was he training and focusing his energy? Yeah, yeah. She knew he was waiting for her, but what exactly was he doing to prepare for her the next time they would meet? Obviously he was the stronger one out of the two, so why had he left so abruptly when he could of killed her straight up? Could she beat him the next time they were destined to meet? Maybe there was a way to contact him in his human form...Maybe her father knew something else about him, after all, he is his son.
Everything was so confusing, so frustrating. Rika just wanted to scream out loud in pain and aggravation because of this. Her mind just wouldn't stop registering new thoughts...
"Hey."
The voice breaking the night silence made Rika jump. She turned around to see Ryo standing a few feet in front of her. He was wearing black, baggy jeans and a loose black shirt.
"Ryo, don't do that again." Rika plainly said before turning back to look at the rippling water. The wind acutely seemed to pick up and the trees began to sway. Rika shivered when she felt the prickly sting of the wind on her bare arms.
Ryo ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry." He noticed Rika shivering and thought he should do something about it, but right now he didn't know how to approach her. "Rika, if you're cold I could get you a jacket."
Rika instantly frowned and stared harder into the pond. "Do you think I'm weak, Ryo? Is that why you feel like taking care of me is such an issue, because you want to protect those who are weaker than you?"
"No, I don't. It's just that I care about you and I don't want you to be cold just to prove a point to me." Ryo raised his voice a little, taking a step forward to stand next to Rika. He looked at her before turning to the pool of water.
"Whatever." Rika answered before walking over to the veranda. She was pondering on whether or not to walk back into the house or not. If she did, she'd have to face her mother's worrying tone. But if she didn't, she'd have to confront Ryo, and she wasn't sure that she could.
After a few seconds, Ryo followed her and stood a couple of feet away from the girl. When he noticed her twitching uncomfortably, he walked closer to her.
Rika inwardly sighed as she realised she was out of time and options. Before she could turn around to face what she had been running away from, she felt two warm arms encircle her waist. She was aware that the person was Ryo and that he was moving around so that they would be facing the garden.
~I'm so close to you baby
But I'm so far away
There's a silence between us
And there's much to say
You're my strength, you're my weakness
You're my faith, you're my doubt
We gotta meet in the middle
To work this thing out~
Rika stayed perfectly still and allowed herself to be guided by Ryo. She felt herself be lowered until she felt the wooden floorboards beneath her. They were now sitting on the veranda, both cross-legged, both thinking the same thing; what now?
There was another silence between them before Rika finally broke it. "Why are you still here? I mean, everyone left ages ago."
Ryo, who was thankful that Rika could not see him as he was still holding her from behind, looked offended and disappointed. "Do you want me to leave?"
~More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love~
Rika thought for a second before she realised that Ryo's father was there too. Ryo probably couldn't leave because of him. She cursed herself silently for letting that slip out. Instead of talking, she just let out a soft sigh and shook her head.
Ryo looked at her from an angle and saw a tear threatening to leave her eye. He gently wiped it away with his finger when it started to fall down Rika's cheek. Rika began to tense up and suddenly stood up quickly, breaking Ryo's hold on her.
Ryo, who looked a little taken back, stood up and began to walk towards the girl. When he heard her crying softly, he stood back a couple of feet. He wanted to be out of striking distance in case he said the wrong thing. "Rika, what's wrong?"
Rika intensely turned around to face the older boy and tried to suppress the tears that were running down her face. "Ryo, ever since I met you, I thought I hated you. Ever since you beat me in that stupid tournament, I despised your perfection and effortlessness. But when you showed up in the Digital World, and you helped me out, I began to think differently. I slowly started to think of you as a friend more than a rival. After we defeated the D-Reaper, I questioned our friendship a couple of times and even imagined that you might like me as more than a friend, which was stupid because you do, don't you?"
~We're afraid to be idle
So we fill up the days
We run on the treadmill
Keep slavin' away 'til there's no time for talkin'
About trouble in mind
And the doors are all closed
Between your heart and mine~
Ryo lowered his head after hearing what Rika had said. It was true, but he wasn't sure that she wanted it that way. He took a deep breath. "Yeah, I do, but do you want it that way? I mean, do you want something between us?"
Rika looked deep into his eyes but was lost for words. How could she say no when she did want something between them, but then how could she say yes when she didn't know if she could trust love again?
Ryo could see the confusion in her eyes and willed her to stop hurting herself like that. He gently touched her cheek and stop the flow of tears from falling further. "Rika, you're born, you live and you die. But what are you going to do with your life? Are you going to be alone for the rest of it, or are you going to let people inside? Are you going to love and let yourself be loved? But most importantly, are you going to learn to trust us? Because we need you, just like you need us, we can't live without each other, Rika. Not now, we've come so far."
~ More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love~
Rika wiped away her own tears for once and willed them to go away. She didn't like crying, it showed weakness. She frowned slightly when she looked at Ryo again. "Were you talking about us or all of us?"
Ryo lowered his so his forehead rested on hers. "Which one do you want it to be?"
"Do you think it's going well, Renamon?" Monodramon asked as he struggled to look at the two teenagers from his huddled position. Renamon held him down when he became impatient and stood up altogether.
"If you would keep quiet and stop asking me that, we might find out." An annoyed Renamon whispered firmly under her breath. From their hiding place behind the rock on the other side of the pond, it was hard for the Digimon to get a good look at their Tamers while still trying to be invisible.
Rika thought about what Ryo had said and somehow her mind replayed some memories of the Tamers as a group and how happy Takato and Jeri were now that they were dating. The two had been through so much during the last couple of years, but they had fought their way out of it together. Together, they could face even the toughest enemies.
~Just look out around us
People fightin' their wars
They think they'll be happy
When they've settled their scores
Let's lay down our weapons
That hold us apart
Be still for just a minute
Try to open our hearts~
Rika knew she wanted that, but she still had so much pride to swallow. But, she knew that if Jeri and Takato had fought their way through their problems together, then she and Ryo could too. She slowly looked up at Ryo and smiled, a rare but beautiful smile. She could feel her heart opening and her troubles seemed to half. 'Yes.' She thought. 'This is what I want.'
~ More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love
More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love~
A/N: Finished! Amazing, Floramon never once used her attacks on me...
The song was "More Love" by the Dixie Chicks.
Hope I didn't make it too sappy for all you sap dislikerers (heh, there's no such word)
Now, all of my thankyous. I would like to say a big thank you to the following: shadow wulf, matchmake-t, DigiqueenTMIM, KuTiExAzNxAnGeL, con2020tran, Sparky2005, niofaw, punkofice, n (great name, btw ^_~), DarkShadow9247, ryo&rika 4ever, WezL, Yayahna Warrior Goddess, Amethyst, shadow*dragon, Nightshade, Shiroi Taiyou, Cool_rika, Dark Shadow and all of those people out there reading this! Please note that this was a random order, k.
As I said before, the sequel will come out in around about a month but look out for my new fic that will be out as soon as a can get it written. Whoo, I go to camp tomorrow, I'm happy!
L8erz
Anywho, back to this fic, the sequel will revolve around Rika's family and such but it still will have action in it.
Now with that said, Floramon do the disclaimer.
Floramon: No, you didn't say please!
A/N: Pretty please with a cherry on top.
Floramon: I'll think about it...
A/N: Fine. Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, its characters and the list goes on. Therefore, I cannot be sued! Whoot!
Chapter 16
We Can Do This, Can't We?
~*~*
Rika stood next to the small pond in her garden. Her mind was wondering to a far away place and didn't want to be disturbed. Renamon had told everyone what had happened and why she was in the Digital World, and now everyone but Ryo and his father had gone home. Everyone was so tired that it was a wonder how they managed to stay awake the whole time she was gone. Almost three days she had been gone and a lot of her unanswered questions remained unanswered and a mystery to her.
Rika could here talking coming from inside her house but she blocked it out. She didn't know how she was going to tell her mother about some of the personal secrets that she had discovered during the past few days. She wasn't even sure she wanted to tell anyone about her brother and the enemies that she had to face in the future.
And there was the situation with Ryo. She had to confront him sooner or later, but how? She was only one person, with normal human hormones and emotions. And right now, she had a lot of mixed emotions that she could not justify. Confusion, hatred, anger, love, and frustration. But the two that were the most blatant, sadness and happiness. She was happy now that she was back home and alive, but she had resolved so little in the way of finding who she was. But she was also sad because she didn't know what was ahead of her. Koryomon was going to come back and be stronger than ever, and he was going to have one thing on his mind; revenge. I guess it just shows how much life can set you off but also upset you at the same time.
Everything seemed to rush back to her as she thought about them. She could've suppressed the thoughts, but she didn't want to show weakness by delaying the inevitable. She thought about Bakemonomon and how he had lured her into his trap. She fell for what he had said about her Kitsune powers. She had fallen into his trap and she regretted that. But why had Bakemonomon contacted her in the first place? Why had he wanted her so badly? Was it just because he wanted to enslave every living Digimon and take over the Digital World? Or was something more going on that she didn't know about? Did Bakemonomon even die? Was that even Bakemonomon that had captured her in the first place? Had Bakemonomon even existed, or was he just a pawn put there as bait? Was he put there to fool her into thinking everything that she had thought? And her powers, what about them? Was she really the chosen one who was destined to ascend into a Kitsune?
Rika tried to focus her thoughts and place them where they belonged, but no matter how many she put away, more just seemed to pop up into her head.
What was Koryomon doing now? Was he alive? Was he training and focusing his energy? Yeah, yeah. She knew he was waiting for her, but what exactly was he doing to prepare for her the next time they would meet? Obviously he was the stronger one out of the two, so why had he left so abruptly when he could of killed her straight up? Could she beat him the next time they were destined to meet? Maybe there was a way to contact him in his human form...Maybe her father knew something else about him, after all, he is his son.
Everything was so confusing, so frustrating. Rika just wanted to scream out loud in pain and aggravation because of this. Her mind just wouldn't stop registering new thoughts...
"Hey."
The voice breaking the night silence made Rika jump. She turned around to see Ryo standing a few feet in front of her. He was wearing black, baggy jeans and a loose black shirt.
"Ryo, don't do that again." Rika plainly said before turning back to look at the rippling water. The wind acutely seemed to pick up and the trees began to sway. Rika shivered when she felt the prickly sting of the wind on her bare arms.
Ryo ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry." He noticed Rika shivering and thought he should do something about it, but right now he didn't know how to approach her. "Rika, if you're cold I could get you a jacket."
Rika instantly frowned and stared harder into the pond. "Do you think I'm weak, Ryo? Is that why you feel like taking care of me is such an issue, because you want to protect those who are weaker than you?"
"No, I don't. It's just that I care about you and I don't want you to be cold just to prove a point to me." Ryo raised his voice a little, taking a step forward to stand next to Rika. He looked at her before turning to the pool of water.
"Whatever." Rika answered before walking over to the veranda. She was pondering on whether or not to walk back into the house or not. If she did, she'd have to face her mother's worrying tone. But if she didn't, she'd have to confront Ryo, and she wasn't sure that she could.
After a few seconds, Ryo followed her and stood a couple of feet away from the girl. When he noticed her twitching uncomfortably, he walked closer to her.
Rika inwardly sighed as she realised she was out of time and options. Before she could turn around to face what she had been running away from, she felt two warm arms encircle her waist. She was aware that the person was Ryo and that he was moving around so that they would be facing the garden.
~I'm so close to you baby
But I'm so far away
There's a silence between us
And there's much to say
You're my strength, you're my weakness
You're my faith, you're my doubt
We gotta meet in the middle
To work this thing out~
Rika stayed perfectly still and allowed herself to be guided by Ryo. She felt herself be lowered until she felt the wooden floorboards beneath her. They were now sitting on the veranda, both cross-legged, both thinking the same thing; what now?
There was another silence between them before Rika finally broke it. "Why are you still here? I mean, everyone left ages ago."
Ryo, who was thankful that Rika could not see him as he was still holding her from behind, looked offended and disappointed. "Do you want me to leave?"
~More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love~
Rika thought for a second before she realised that Ryo's father was there too. Ryo probably couldn't leave because of him. She cursed herself silently for letting that slip out. Instead of talking, she just let out a soft sigh and shook her head.
Ryo looked at her from an angle and saw a tear threatening to leave her eye. He gently wiped it away with his finger when it started to fall down Rika's cheek. Rika began to tense up and suddenly stood up quickly, breaking Ryo's hold on her.
Ryo, who looked a little taken back, stood up and began to walk towards the girl. When he heard her crying softly, he stood back a couple of feet. He wanted to be out of striking distance in case he said the wrong thing. "Rika, what's wrong?"
Rika intensely turned around to face the older boy and tried to suppress the tears that were running down her face. "Ryo, ever since I met you, I thought I hated you. Ever since you beat me in that stupid tournament, I despised your perfection and effortlessness. But when you showed up in the Digital World, and you helped me out, I began to think differently. I slowly started to think of you as a friend more than a rival. After we defeated the D-Reaper, I questioned our friendship a couple of times and even imagined that you might like me as more than a friend, which was stupid because you do, don't you?"
~We're afraid to be idle
So we fill up the days
We run on the treadmill
Keep slavin' away 'til there's no time for talkin'
About trouble in mind
And the doors are all closed
Between your heart and mine~
Ryo lowered his head after hearing what Rika had said. It was true, but he wasn't sure that she wanted it that way. He took a deep breath. "Yeah, I do, but do you want it that way? I mean, do you want something between us?"
Rika looked deep into his eyes but was lost for words. How could she say no when she did want something between them, but then how could she say yes when she didn't know if she could trust love again?
Ryo could see the confusion in her eyes and willed her to stop hurting herself like that. He gently touched her cheek and stop the flow of tears from falling further. "Rika, you're born, you live and you die. But what are you going to do with your life? Are you going to be alone for the rest of it, or are you going to let people inside? Are you going to love and let yourself be loved? But most importantly, are you going to learn to trust us? Because we need you, just like you need us, we can't live without each other, Rika. Not now, we've come so far."
~ More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love~
Rika wiped away her own tears for once and willed them to go away. She didn't like crying, it showed weakness. She frowned slightly when she looked at Ryo again. "Were you talking about us or all of us?"
Ryo lowered his so his forehead rested on hers. "Which one do you want it to be?"
"Do you think it's going well, Renamon?" Monodramon asked as he struggled to look at the two teenagers from his huddled position. Renamon held him down when he became impatient and stood up altogether.
"If you would keep quiet and stop asking me that, we might find out." An annoyed Renamon whispered firmly under her breath. From their hiding place behind the rock on the other side of the pond, it was hard for the Digimon to get a good look at their Tamers while still trying to be invisible.
Rika thought about what Ryo had said and somehow her mind replayed some memories of the Tamers as a group and how happy Takato and Jeri were now that they were dating. The two had been through so much during the last couple of years, but they had fought their way out of it together. Together, they could face even the toughest enemies.
~Just look out around us
People fightin' their wars
They think they'll be happy
When they've settled their scores
Let's lay down our weapons
That hold us apart
Be still for just a minute
Try to open our hearts~
Rika knew she wanted that, but she still had so much pride to swallow. But, she knew that if Jeri and Takato had fought their way through their problems together, then she and Ryo could too. She slowly looked up at Ryo and smiled, a rare but beautiful smile. She could feel her heart opening and her troubles seemed to half. 'Yes.' She thought. 'This is what I want.'
~ More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love
More love, I can hear our hearts cryin'
More love, I know that's all we need
More love, to flow in between us
To take us and hold us and lift us above
If there's ever an answer
It's more love~
A/N: Finished! Amazing, Floramon never once used her attacks on me...
The song was "More Love" by the Dixie Chicks.
Hope I didn't make it too sappy for all you sap dislikerers (heh, there's no such word)
Now, all of my thankyous. I would like to say a big thank you to the following: shadow wulf, matchmake-t, DigiqueenTMIM, KuTiExAzNxAnGeL, con2020tran, Sparky2005, niofaw, punkofice, n (great name, btw ^_~), DarkShadow9247, ryo&rika 4ever, WezL, Yayahna Warrior Goddess, Amethyst, shadow*dragon, Nightshade, Shiroi Taiyou, Cool_rika, Dark Shadow and all of those people out there reading this! Please note that this was a random order, k.
As I said before, the sequel will come out in around about a month but look out for my new fic that will be out as soon as a can get it written. Whoo, I go to camp tomorrow, I'm happy!
L8erz