Hi everyone. :3 I'm Rea and this is my new fic. Er, I know that 'untrap' isn't a real word, but… but… neither is Digimon! xP

I recently held a contest between two of my other fics to see who could get to 100 reviews first. As stupidity goes, mine is acute: I completely forgot that it doesn't say the times that reviews are posted. xD

Anyway, the winner was supposed to get the next update, and I have no idea who the winner was. So, uhh, I decided to create a new fic instead so nobody killed me! xD;

I hope you like it. This is just an intro chapter right now but I hope to have more up soon. :3

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The Parent Untrap
Chapter One: Family Dynamics

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"We both loved your father very much, but it's been a long time."

When she heard her mother say this, Rika knew her world was about to get a lot more complicated.

She'd been trying to ignore Rumiko and hide behind her book, but her supermodel mother was not used to having her face hidden. She adjusted to it well, bobbing around to make herself visible to her annoyed daughter. Finally Rika shut her eyes and rammed the book against her own face.

That was when Rumiko had said the telltale words. After that, she had Rika's attention. The girl dropped the book and it fell in a clatter on the hardwood floor, losing Rika's place. She didn't care. She couldn't even recall she'd been reading a book.

Rumiko smiled, glad she was the center of attention again. It felt strange for her when she wasn't, like something was wrong with the world. In any case, the earth came back into balance when all eyes were on her. "Thank you, Rika," she said.

Rika just stared at her, awaiting the worst. Her violet eyes regarded Rumiko sharply, and they would have unnerved the model if she didn't have the same color in her own eyes. Everyone said that was Rumiko's best quality – of course, they all made it quite clear that she didn't have any average (a four-letter word in the modeling business) qualities, but her amethyst eyes were "simply ravishing".

"I just think it might be time for me to move on, Rika," Rumiko said. She gave a mournful sigh and looked down at the floor, the image of a troubled woman. Sort of. Her mother may have been a model, but she was no actress. Rika just rolled her eyes at her performance. Well, that was what she usually would have done, anyway. This time, she was too shocked for her annoyed, sardonic air.

Okay, maybe the annoyed part was still applicable. But this was more than her day-to-day irritation with butterflies and pastel colors. "Are you serious? Are you trying to mess me up even more than you already have?"

Rumiko sniffed. "You're so melodramatic."

"No, melodramatic is crying over a split end, Mother," Rika snapped.

Rumiko looked up at her sharply. "That was once, Rika Nonaka. And I was PMSing!"

Rika ignored her. "Melodramatic is having a tantrum when they don't have the pair of shoes you want in your size."

Rumiko crossed her arms. "And that was only twice. Listen to me – "

"Melodramatic is not being upset that your mother is announcing her engagement to you two days before the wedding!" Rika finished.

The two sets of purple eyes glared at each other for a long moment. Rika was almost as tall as her mother now at sixteen and their eyes nearly met. Rika cursed the extra three inches, but she knew she'd win in the long run anyway. She always won. Her mother was a pushover, and Rika was a much better debater than her. Rumiko glared right back at her daughter. She didn't get mad very easily, but she just didn't understand Rika. Sometimes it was hard not to lose her patience, especially when she was coming to ask for her help in something exciting like this. She'd thought Rika might want to help. She'd thought maybe they could bond! They seriously needed to do some of that. They were way overdue.

Finally, Rumiko broke the icy stare and the silence. She blinked, looking confused. "Wait, I'm not engaged," she said.

Rika was almost relieved, but still regarded her mother suspiciously. "Then what are you?" she asked.

"I'm just ready to start dating again!" Rumiko chirped happily, all the previous tension forgotten. "Just casual – nothing serious."

Rika shook her head. As if that wasn't bad enough? She didn't want her mom running around with a bunch of old creeps! "Whatever happened to 'men are pigs'?" she asked. That was usually Rumiko's outlook on the "evil sex".

Rumiko waved her hand airily at her daughter. "Oh, Rika. We all knew that was just a phase I was going through. I am now ready to accept men into my life. Of course I won't get too serious with them, though. I know men are pigs. I'm not going to let my heart get broken this time."

"Yeah right," Rika snorted. "Mom, you get attached to everything. That's why we had to turn Grandma's office into your storage room, because you couldn't bear to part with anything."

Rumiko sighed. "Rika. Please." She put a hand on either one of her daughter's shoulders. "I am begging you to approve this. I need your approval. I don't want to do anything that my daughter doesn't want me to do. But…" Her eyes widened, and Rika raised her eyebrows. Her mom looked so desperate. "Rika. I have certain… womanly needs – "

"Mom!"

"I'm sorry, but it's true. But most of all…" Her voice became softer. "I'm lonely, Rika. You're at school and with your friends all day, and Mom always has something to do. I have fashion shoots, but when I come back home I find an empty house with nothing to do. You know how hard it is for me to keep friends. All my friends get jealous because of how beautiful I am."

Rika rolled her eyes.

Rumiko didn't seem to notice. "I'd like to be able to go out with a man sometimes. I'd like to be able to go see a movie with someone. Do you know how many times I've sat alone in a theater watching a romantic movie? It's pathetic, Rika."

Her daughter frowned. Rika wasn't a monster. She did want her mom to be happy. But it wasn't like Rika was out all the time like Rumiko said. They just didn't go out and do anything together unless it was a family event with Rika's grandmother Seiko involved. Rumiko and Seiko did things, and Rika and Seiko did things, but rarely just Rumiko and Rika. They were too different. And if Rumiko had a boyfriend, she would spend even less time with Rika.

"Rika?" Rumiko asked – pleaded. "Will you approve of me dating?"

Still, how could Rika be so horrible to her mother? She wanted her to be happy. And though Rumiko was always smiling, Rika detected despondency deep within her. It was the sadness that comes from loving someone too deeply – the kind of love that perseveres even after they've left you with no money and a daughter to take care of. Rika thought Rumiko would never get over her father, but it seemed she was trying to. And if she was able to forget Rika's father, then maybe she would be happy again.

"Fine, Mom," Rika finally said, eyes on the ground. Rumiko squealed and threw her arms around her daughter. Rika flushed, embarrassed. They weren't the kind of family that bought into all this closeness stuff. Rika didn't hug Rumiko back.

"I knew you'd say yes," Rumiko gushed, releasing her daughter. "That's why I signed myself up for a speed dating session tonight!"

"What?" Rika demanded. "Speed dating? Mom, you can't be serious!"

"I read in a magazine it's a great way to meet guys. Or maybe I should make a profile on a dating website?" Rumiko paused, contemplating.

"No!" Rika exclaimed. She shook her head. "Speed dating will do just fine." Wasn't Rika supposed to be the kid here? Wasn't she supposed to be the one to meet someone online? Rumiko was supposed to be the one who told her how she couldn't meet him because of how dangerous it was. Honestly, her mother was completely insane. Maybe that was why she still lived with her own mother, because Rumiko couldn't be depended on to think with a parental brain.

"Oh, I'm so excited!" Rumiko exclaimed. "I have to decide what to wear! Maybe my low-cut red dress, or possibly that new mini-skirt I just got…"

Rika stared at her mom in horror. "Mom. I'm going with you," she said. She was not going to let Rumiko get kidnapped and raped! Who knew what those speed dating weirdos were like. And Rumiko was a model…

"Oh, it's eighteen and over," Rumiko said. "Besides, we can't be flirting with the same men!"

"Ew," Rika said. "I don't want to actually do it. But I'm going with you. Like… your chaperone."

Rumiko giggled. Sure, she was a grown woman, but it might be fun. At least that way they'd get to spend some time together! "Okay, Rika," she said. "But we have to make you look eighteen or you won't be able to get in the door!"

Rika sighed and slumped over. "I'm guessing that means makeup."

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"Hey, kid," came a gruff voice as soon as Ryo had set foot in his house. He'd been at the park celebrating his birthday with a couple of his old friends who wanted to get back in touch with him now that he was back from America. He'd come back a few days ago to attend the rest of high school in Japan.

Today was his birthday, and his dad had told him to come back early so they could have a special dinner together. Ryo couldn't really imagine his forgetful, distant dad having any kind of celebration for him, but he was looking forward to it.

Ryo walked over to his dad Akira with his regular relaxed smile. He always had a laid-back air about him, partially because of his calm blue eyes and his warm smile. His father was not laid-back. He was always working, and always full of stress and tension. He was starting to get lines around his eyes and mouth even though he was rather young for a father.

Ryo looked down at his father, who was reading the paper. He was wearing his normal clothes, a suit and tie, but was that… cologne he smelled? Oh well. Maybe he just wanted to smell good for Ryo's birthday dinner. He wondered if they were going to a fancy place. Most likely, with his dad's taste. "Should I change?" Ryo was wearing jeans and a maroon sweater. The sweater could stay, but…

Dark brown eyes finally glanced up at Ryo. "Why would you?" he asked.

Ryo shrugged. "You're dressed up," he said.

Akira looked down at his outfit, as if he had no idea what he was wearing. "Guess so," he said.

There was an awkward silence. Akira had sent Ryo abroad to study in the United States after his mother had died. Ryo's mother had always taken care of him, and Akira hadn't been around much. He'd told Ryo that he was sending him to live with his aunt and uncle for a little while until he could find out how to take care of him. But Ryo had been living in San Francisco for three years, and he finally asked his dad if he could come back. Akira had told him he could, but that he still wouldn't be around much. Now that Ryo was turning eighteen, he wouldn't need anyone to take care of him. He had a feeling his dad didn't really want him there, though. But there was only one more year and Ryo would be moving out and going to college anyway.

"So, when are we going out?" Ryo asked, trying to make conversation. He hoped dinner wouldn't be this awkward.

Another confused stare. "Out?"

Ryo blinked a few times. "For… my birthday dinner," he reminded his dad.

Recognition appeared in Akira's eyes. "It's your birthday today!" he exclaimed. Ryo nodded dumbly. He hadn't had a chance to see his dad yet that day because he went to work before Ryo woke up. Akira cleared his throat. "I told you I'd take you out tonight for dinner, didn't I?"

Ryo nodded again.

"I just – I made plans."

"Oh. Okay." Ryo smiled tightly. "It's okay," he said.

"No, no, I'll reschedule!" Akira exclaimed, jolting out of the seat and running to the phone. He began dialing a number.

"It's really okay, Dad," Ryo said. "I'm not hungry anyway." His stomach growled. Damn.

"Let me just call and see something," Akira said. He held the phone to his ear. "Yes, hello," he said into it. "This is Akiyama Akira. I was wondering if my session tonight could be refunded… Oh. Yes… I see… Well, thank you." He hung up and frowned at Ryo. "They said it's too late to cancel."

Ryo shrugged, a good-natured smile on his face. "I'll be fine; go ahead."

'You sure?" Akira asked, and Ryo nodded. "Why don't we go out to dinner afterwards? Yes, that's perfect. We'll go out afterwards. Wherever you want."

It was better than nothing. "Okay, Dad," Ryo said.

"You can come with me. My friend was going to come, but he's sick. So you can come instead."

"Okay."

Akira, satisfied that Ryo was fine with him forgetting his birthday, sat back down and picked up the paper.

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End of Chapter One: Family Dynamics

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Soo, didja like it so far? Feel free to review! Actually please do. xD Any reviews of love and happiness would be appreciated as well as any constructive criticism. Hooray! xD