Anything For A Friend

By: The Smashfriends

Aerisakura: Thanks for all your reviews; as usual we will thank you one by one at the end of this chapter. And we are very sorry for taking so long to post, we had a lot of troubles with the computer and then you know vacations and going out to far away places.

Logan: Anywayz, we are finally free of the D.I.Q. and we are very well hidden from her. Thanks to Genocideking for letting Shadowknight serve as a distraction and becoming Rika's new punching bag. We escaped her safe and sound...I'm still in a little pain but I will get over it.

Aerisakura: Sorry Shadowknight but we had to take any chance to be freed from the D.I.Q., just hope you made it out alive.

Logan: I have something else to say: Seems like the D.I.Q. word was liked and had been used in several fics...

Aerisakura: So? Shut it cousin and let's go with the fic already!

Logan: Well....the first time I saw the D.I.Q. word was at our fic: 'It's a Summer Love' in that chapter that was on Terriermon's P.O.V.

Aerisakura: So what if it was? Cousin is not like no one else could think of that, Rika is an Ice Queen and is the Digimon Queen, it's an obvious choice to mix those names so can you shut up already and....

Logan: But it's a SF's word, someone should give us some credit!

Aerisakura: Look, I'm starting to lose my patience, it's not like we are making any profit of this, so shut up already!!! I'm sure someone used it before us so...

Logan: Who? Tell me who? Besides you're kind of admitting we used invented it. If I recall correctly, it was either you or Freak who came up with it.

Aerisakura: o-# (with a nervous tic on the eye and vein popping) Let's just go on with the fic, alright!?!?

Logan: Aha! So you can't tell me who used before us, I knew it, it's cuz there's no...

SMACK!!!(Logan falls unconscious).

Aerisakura: Finally, some silence....Now, let's go and read this chapter....oh, we don't own Digimon and we don't make any profit of this fics...and ignore my cousin's stupid babbling. Also, we don't own any of the phrases and songs' fragments used for this chapter.

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'Hurt time!'-Paine, Final Fantasy X-2

'I had a dream about him. He was looking at me with sad eyes'-Fragment from Kirie's Diary.

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'You gladly gave me everything you had and more,

You craved my happiness,

When you make me feel joy it makes you smile,

But now I feel your stress,

Love was never meant to be such a crazy affair, no

And who has time for tears,

Never thought I'd sit around and cry for your love,

'til now.'

-'You're Not Here'-Silent Hill 3 OST.

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Chapter 10: It Hurts So Much When I Love You, It Makes Me Cry.

Rika was walking without a specific course; she was very absorbed in her thoughts; she couldn't forget Jeri's words: It's just that...well...I see you as my best friend, and I wanted to talk to you. You don't mind do you? . It was very difficult for her to think about what she feels for Takato and not have those words rushing to her mind. She sighed and cursed under her breath.

'It's all that damn goggle-head's fault!!!' Rika yelled in her mind, and with that she made her choice of course. She had to let the steam somehow, and beating up the goggle-head that caused all this confusion and feeling of guilt in her was the best way to do that....and he probably was at Henry's, another person Rika wanted to beat up, he had helped in making her feel like this. Probably she would be better today if that brainiac hadn't made her reflect about her feelings for the goggle-head.

So that was it, she was going to the brainiac's place and beat him up and if the goggle-head is not there, then she will find him wherever he is and beat him too...unless...if he is with Jeri...then she will let him be...but after he leaves there, she will give him even a worse beating.

She started a brisk walk, eager to kick someone's behind and cause some pain to calm herself and maybe even clear her mind. She needed to know what to do, she didn't liked when she didn't know what to do, and that got her even more angered, and that fueled her to walk even faster and in no time she was at Henry's place.

She was allowed to get in by one of Henry's older sisters; she gave a weird look at Rika and pointed to Henry's room to then leave. Rika didn't care where; she had other things on mind and with those gory thoughts in mind, she walked towards Henry's room and she could hear Takato's voice, she heard just the last part he said: "I should talk to Jeri first"

She did her best to not give to much thought to that for the moment, she opened the door and smirked in delight at the look of true horror on Henry's face and soon on Takato's too...though that bothered her a little, again she gave little thought to that and she cracked her knuckles and let herself in.

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From the next room Terriermon could hear gasping sounds and yells of pain and agony, crashes and other similar noises could be hear coming from Henry's room, Terriermon would have laughed if he wasn't wearing a pink little dress and being called "Pwincess Pwetty Pants" and let's not mention the makeup he was forced to use. Red lips tick covering most of his snout/mouth making look more like a clown than anything else, and the white mascara didn't help either.

The poor bunny/dog like Digimon sighed and continued to pretend to drink some tea and hear his little warden ramble about some supposed gossip on her little imaginary word...he couldn't help but thank god that he wasn't Loopmon.....though right now he wasn't sure if wearing some dippers and some other baby clothes was worse that wearing that makeup and pink dress...that let very little to the imagination. Maybe being a baby would be a lot better...if the sardonic girl didn't shove food into Loopmon's snout/mouth every so often

Sometimes he thought he saw a disapproval look on Loopmon but what was he to do? He had tried to escape but that only ended on him getting caught and the little girl inventing something like he needed to "go" and so she would take him to the potty and leave him there for hours waiting for him to "go".

He could hear now running steps and then a door slamming...his tamer had gone and had forgotten him here...again...with his little devil sister and some baby wanna be...and he dressed like...he didn't even wanted to finish that train of thought and accepted his cruel fate...hoping his tamer or someone else could come and rescue him...but no one came...oh well.

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Takato and Henry had barely escaped with life from their encounter with the D.I.Q. and now they were trying to catch their breath. Panting and turning around wildly they hoped they had lost the scariest girl in all Japan...or maybe the scariest girl in the whole world. To their good luck, she wasn't anywhere around. They saw this as a ray of hope thought in truth she was in a place that only got her more angered...but let's leave that for later, now the two tamers, already recovered from their long run, tried to decided what to do.

"Well...as I was saying I think I should talk with Jeri first. I don't know if I should tell her that is Rika the one that I love" Takato said scratching his head, all this thinking and running were giving him a hell of a headache.

"I think you should tell her, she has a right to know. At least that's what I think is the best thing to go" Henry replied.

Takato sighed deeply and nodded, he knew that Henry was right but he couldn't help but worry. He feared that something bad could happen; he feared that Rika didn't felt the same way about him and then he would be losing Jeri's friendship. He sighed again, if he told Jeri, she might hate him and never talk to him again...or at least not for a long time but he could be with Rika...that only if she felt the same way...if not he would end up with nothing. With so many complications Takato felt like smashing his head against the wall for had been so dense and have taken so long to realize what his feelings for Rika were.

"If you want...I can go with you...of course I will leave you to talk to Jeri alone but...afterwards...you can count on me" Henry offered after sensing Takato's discomfort.

"Thanks...but I think it could be best if you talk to Jeri afterwards...so she sees that she's not alone" Takato said taking a deep breath and preparing himself to go. Henry only smiled and nodded, and then the two friends made their way towards Jeri's house.

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Rika was fuming; the two idiots had escaped her and all thanks to the Digimon Idiot King (Logan: (now awake) D.I.K. for short HEHEHAHAHA!! That one is mine!), who had crossed her way making her fall unceremoniously but thankfully, she didn't fall on top of him, if not, the idiot would get idiotic ideas and bug her even more. Glaring at everyone that dared to cross her way Rika tried to find any trace of the two idiots that escaped her while the D.I.K. (A: rolls eyes at Logan ) was following her close behind; he was rubbing his sore cheek after the punch he received from the angered red head and clutching his ribs after the kick she gave him, thankfully she stopped there wanting to catch up with her two main subjects of torture.

"So...what's new?" Ryo finally decided to break the silence, though he feared she would stop her search and finish him right there...but he was getting bored with so much silence.

Rika stopped and turned to give him her famous death glare, and she smirked evilly when she saw him gulp, deciding to leave her chase for later and finish the annoyance now...except that now that she think of it, she might leave that for later too and talk to him.

"You can't stop trembling in fear now Akiyama, I will leave your beating for later" Rika said cracking her knuckles in frustration.

"I wasn't trembling in fear!!" Ryo replied but decided not to press him luck and just cleared his throat and asked: "So?"

"I need to talk with someone and...well you are the only one around" Rika said not really wanting to admit that she really hadn't anyone else to talk to for the moment, if it wasn't Takato the main subject of this conversation she would go to him; and Henry was one of her main subjects of torture besides that he was with Takato right now and Jeri is totally out of the picture since she is the other main subject of the conversation and Renamon was with the Dino-boy.

"Jeri went to see me yesterday and told me that...she had feelings..." Rika was trying her best to sort out her thoughts and feeling so she doesn't let Ryo know to much about her own feelings, he may be her friend and someone she barely trust, but she sure as hell wasn't going to open up just like that to the King of Idiots, but her hesitation cost her to much, for she didn't count with the way that the mind of the D.I.K. works.

"Don't tell me that...nononono...she has feelings for you!!! WOW!!! I never knew Jeri was like that!!" Ryo said, his eyes widening but he should have known better than to tease the Digimon Ice Queen like that for he never saw the clenched fist coming towards his left eyes until it was too late.

"You idiot!!!! Would you let me finish before you jump to idiotic conclusions!!!" Rika yelled angrily and connected another punch, now to the stomach, at the poor idiot boy before her. Not even giving him the chance to answer she, more calm now that she had let some steam out, continued "She told me she had feelings for Takato and that she had already confessed her feeling to him. She also told me...that she...sees me...(she send a warning glare for him to shut up when she saw him about to speak again)...as her best friend...and as you now...I..."

"You have feeling for the goggle-head that happens to be the same guy she like/loves. Man, why does the goggle-head get all the attention from the ladies!?" Ryo finished for her and for his last comment he received a slap on the back of his head, what lead him to reply: "Hey what was that for!!!"

"I'm the only one who can call Takato that and, if you were less of an idiot...no sorry can't answer that question" Rika replied smirking at him.

"Whatever. So what? What happened after she told you that? Did you tell her what you feel or...." Ryo said feeling a little offended but he let it go.

"She asked me a few days ago if I had feelings for him...and I told her that I felt nothing for him" Rika replied crossing her arms across her chest.

"And why would you do that!? It would've been easier if you had been honest!" Ryo raised his voice but did his best to control himself since he knew she would punch him again if he yelled at her.

"Well despite what you think I'm not some heartless b-person that would break her heart by telling her that I do have feelings for Takato and that he had just told me he has feeling for me and not her!!" Rika yelled and when realization hit her of what she had just said her face turned hot as a blush covered her face.

Ryo smirked and was about to make some nasty comment on her slip up but she recovered quickly from her shock and gave him her deadliest glare shutting him up on the instant. He cleared his throat and said: "Well...I still think you should talk to her and tell her the truth since you say go-Takato....wait! Takato told you he has feelings for you!! He actually told you!! What a brave guy!!" sensing her glare getting deadlier and deadlier, if that was even possible, he kept his comments to himself and cleared his throat yet again and continued: "Right, so Takato told you he has feelings for you and...wait, what did you tell him? Forget that, I'm sure you say nothing or just plain lied to him" he stopped there hoping that she would tell him about the exchange between her and Takato.

"......I...didn't exactly lied...I just told him that...Damn it Akiyama, that's none of you damn business!! The only thing you need to know is that we are not a couple!!!" Rika yelled but tried to calm herself, let her frustration out by beating the idiot before her won't do her any good since she would loss her chance to talk to someone 'Where the hell is Renamon when I need her most!! This will be easier if I could talk to her but nooo, I have to talk with the King of Idiot'.

"Okay, okay, take it easy and...well, please do continue" Ryo said trying to sound calm but in truth he was afraid, she was starting to lose it and he would become her punching bag if she exploded.

"I just couldn't tell her what happened between Takato and me...that stupid goggle-head made a mess of all this!! Now, I don't think I can go and tell her that..." Rika stopped not being able to continue and Ryo being Ryo finished for her: "That you love Takato as well"

"I can tell her that, I know it will hurt her and I can't do that to her" Ryo was surprised after hearing Rika said that and letting show such emotion on her voice. He was a little glad that maybe now she trusted him a little more by letting her guard down with him, but he was also as a little sad since she sounded sad too.

Ryo thought of comforting her, maybe even placing an arm around her but he knew that would ruin everything between them and that she would beat him up, so he decided to just gave her a pat on the shoulder and tell her: "Then, what are you going to do?"

"She thinks of me as her best friend...and I....too see her as...a very good friend...and that's why I don't know what to do" Rika replied quietly.

"....What are you going to do about Takato. If you tell him what you really feel you will have to tell Jeri and...damn, this is like going in circles!" Ryo said scratching the back of his head.

Rika sighed deeply and started to walk away only stopping to say: "I need to take a walk...alone....Thanks for listening..."

Ryo just let a small smile play in his face, he knew he didn't had a chance with Rika, and he knew she never will look at him in the same way she looks at Takato, but at least now she saw him as a friend, and that would be enough for him.

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Takato was standing just a few feet away from Jeri's house; his hands were inside his pockets, he was trying to gain courage, courage enough to move him and knock at the door, and to gain the courage to tell Jeri what his answer was. Henry had left him to wander around and come back after he left and try and console Jeri. Now he was alone, sighing softly he walked towards the door and knocked softly. He gulped when Mr. Katou was the one to open the door.

"Good...ahh...afternoon, sir. Umm...is Jeri home?" shaking Takato asked and waited for Mr. Katou to slam the door shut on his face but just as Mr. Katou was about to do as Takato expected, and secretly hoped, both heard Jeri's voice call for her father. Mr. Katou grunted and opened the door wider telling Jeri of Takato's presence.

As soon as Takato saw the joyful look on Jeri's face when she saw him, he felt awful and wished to be somewhere else, he wished for her to love Henry and not him. He gulped again and forced a smile on his face. His right eye slightly twitching when he sensed Mr. Katou's glare on him.

"I will come back in a while dad" Jeri said hoping for that to be enough for her dad to go back inside and to leave them alone. Grunting again, Mr. Katou let his daughter be and left her alone with the goggle-headed boy.

"Hi Takato" Jeri said smiling at Takato, who in return gave a pathetic attempt of a smile, which Jeri took just as a nervous/scared smile after that little encounter with her dad.

"Hi J-Je-Jeri" Takato replied, his nerves, fears and his guilt making it difficult for him to even breath.

"Do you want to take a walk?" Jeri said with her smile still present.

"O-Okay" Takato softly said, waiting for her to close the door and lead the way.

"Do you want to go to the park?" she asked, worry staring to make it's way to her heart.

"No, let's just stay around here. I need to talk to you" Takato said finding his shoes to be very interesting to look at.

"Alright" Jeri replied, her face turning serious now.

They didn't walk that far when Takato decided to start before he lost the courage that took him so long to gather. "Well...Jeri...about...what you said yesterday..."

Jeri stopped walking and turned to look at him, giving him her all of her attention. She felt her heart beating faster by the minute; she hoped that he was just nervous while trying to tell her that he feels the same rather than him being nervous because he was going to reject her. She could only hope for the best...but dread was taking over her heart.

Takato stopped as well trying to avoid eye contact but he slowly turned to look at her as he said: "I...You...well...yesterday...I didn't got the chance to tell you that..."

He was looking at her now, his eyes had finally made contact with hers and while he regretted it because it would be more difficult for him to say what he must say, she regretted it because now she could see how sad his eyes were, something was making him sad and being in the place they were and having this conversation, she could feel her own eyes matching his sad ones, her fears had just been proved right. She tried her best to give him an encouraging smile and wait for him to finish, though it would be painful, she wanted to hear what he had to say.

"I...ahh...feel that...you...umm..." Takato gulped looking at her, he decided to tell her the whole truth, Henry was right she deserved to know everything and so he started: "Until a few weeks ago...I would have been so very happy to hear you say that, what you told me yesterday for I felt the same way. I was just not sure, well actually I thought you didn't even thought of me in such way, so...I asked Rika to help me, to help me to be...I don't know...to be appealing to you, to do or be someone you could notice and would...love...but...but in that time Rika and I got closer together and well...I kind of...umm...fell for her, or rather realized my feelings were much more different of what I thought. I thought that I...well that I loved you, and I do...but not in the sort of way of girlfriend/boyfriend do...not in the way you want me to"

Jeri turned away from him to hide the tears that threatened to fall, and Takato felt awful and didn't know if he should continue or just leave it there but before he could decide, Jeri decided for him: "Then...you love Rika?"

Takato lowered his head and softly replied: "Yes"

"And...have you...told her?" She asked with a broken voice.

"......Yes" Takato said with hesitation.

"What did she told you?" Jeri asked, remembering her talk with Rika yesterday, many question popped inside her head but she decided to ignore them for now. She remembered asking Rika if she had feelings for Takato just a few days ago and remembered that she had said that she didn't liked him. 'Were you lying to me, Rika?' Jeri wondered.

"...She didn't give me an answer. Jeri I..." Takato said sighing.

"Don't worry Takato. I can't really be mad at you for not returning my feelings. We are still friends but...please just leave me alone for a while...give time" Jeri said; she tried her best to contain the pain filled tears and sobs that tried to rush out of her eyes and throat.

Takato nodded, he attempted to rest his hand on her shoulder to give her comfort but thought better of it and left saying a quiet "Goodbye Jeri" After not getting a reply from her, he walked slowly, giving her what she had asked for, he could only hope for her to be fine.

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Henry was looking at the pair from afar, he could see Jeri lowering her head and he longed to be next to her to cheer her up and try his best to make her feel better...but in truth he wished to be the one that had won Jeri's affections instead of Takato so she didn't had to go through this.

He waited patiently and when he saw Takato leaving he walked towards Jeri. And when he was right behind her, he placed his hand on her shoulder and when she turned around; he embraced her and held her close to him as she finally let the tears fall. For now, all Henry could do for her was to be a good friend and offer her his shoulder to cry on while he whispered comforting words to her.

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Rika continued to walk aimlessly at a slow pace; she was still debating within herself what to do. She didn't like all the feelings that were invading her heart; she would have preferred to go back to her old self and have more control on her emotions. Sighing and kicking a small rock laying on the road she continued her slow pace towards nowhere, hoping for all those confusing feelings and thoughts to leave her already; she wanted to reach a conclusion...but luck seemed to be against her since just a few feet ahead from her was the goggle-head walking at an even slower pace than her.

She thought of turning around and leaving him alone but luck was really not on her side that day, just as she was about to turn away, Takato spotted her and waved at her, a small smile gracing his features. Sighing and cursing under her breath, she walked towards him.

Takato feared for a moment that she would want to continue with what she wanted to do to him that morning, but sighed with relief when she didn't made any move to beat him up. She had a very serious look on her and Takato smiled a little more at her hoping to receive one smile of her own but got nothing; he still kept his smile since he got to see her again and she wasn't trying to murder him.

"Hi Rika" Takato said trying to sound cheerfully.

Though he was trying to sound happy, Rika picked a sad tone on his voice but she say nothing about it. She just continued to stare at him, she was trying her hardest to remain with her emotionless façade and it seemed to be working, but it only made Takato's eyes turn sadder and she started to feel even worse.

"A-are you upset about this morning?" Takato quietly asked not bothering to try and look cheerful anymore, though he had been happy to see her; he now felt sad that she was being so cold to him.

"No" was her short answer, her voice, as she tried to make it sound and achieved it, was void of emotion.

"Are you upset with me?" Takato tried again.

"......No" she replied finding it harder to keep her façade, it was harder to control her feelings with him around.

"Is there something wrong?" Takato asked staring to lose hope; he wanted to tell her everything but...with the way she was acting, he didn't know it she would care to listen.

"......You don't look so good yourself, what happened?" Rika asked, she let the worry be noticed on her voice, she was in truth worried about him since he looked so sad.

"...I talked with Jeri" Takato lowered his head avoiding eye contact with her.

Rika's eyes widened and she could feel her heart beating faster. She made a great effort to remain neutral and asked: "About what?"

Takato snapped her head towards her; he had hoped for her to understand already, or had his confession meant so little to her that she already forgot. He decided to leave those negative thoughts aside and believed that she maybe just thought that he had told Jeri that he returned her feelings. Blinking and gulping he said: "About how I feel about her...and you"

"And what was that?" Rika said, shock evident in her eyes and voice, she couldn't hide it any longer.

Takato seemed almost offended but decided to answer her anyway "That I don't return her feelings and I told her...what I told you...yesterday, remember?" Takato said hoping to have some kind of reaction from her.

"...Yes, I remember. And you told her that?" Rika said turning away afraid that something will show in her eyes that will tell him how she really feels; she was trying hard not to blush at the memory of his words, how could she forget them, she only wished the circumstances were different.

"Yes...but without the 'I think' part, because that's how I truly feel. I'm sure that I love you Rika" Takato said wearing a serious expression, hoping to already get an answer from her.

Rika's eyes were widening and she couldn't help a small pink blush on her cheeks, but...she couldn't think about it now, since Jeri's words were ringing inside her head yet again:

"It's just that...well...I see you as my best friend, and I wanted to talk to you. You don't mind do you?"

Rika frowned eliminating any other emotion from her face and turned to look at Takato, then she asked: "And how is Jeri?"

Takato was surprised by this question and chose not to lie to her: "She's...she's sad, she told me she will still be my friends but...she told me to give her time..."

Rika sighed and started walking towards Jeri's house; she ignored Takato, she was still to troubled to say anything to him, but Takato didn't see it that way, he tried to stop her but she just muttered a: "Later. We'll talk later"

Takato stared at her as she continued to walk away from him; he sighed turning around and walking towards his house; it had been a very tired day, there had been to many tiring days lately, he just wanted to catch some sleep; he will need his energy if he was to talk to Rika. Feeling his eyelids heavy; he started a brisk walk home, hoping he could get some sleep.

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Henry was still holding Jeri, her sobs had stopped now and he couldn't tell if she was still crying, but he continued to hug her and tried to not think of how much he liked to hold her like this, or how good she smelled, he just wished the reasons for him to hug her where different, but all that didn't really matter right now, he had to concentrate on what she needed and only on what she needed.

After a more few minutes, Jeri took a deep breath pulled away, rubbing her eyes trying to brush away the few tears that remained. She looked at Henry and gave him a sad smile that Henry returned.

"You feel better?" Henry asked softly and placed his hands inside his pants pockets.

"Yes. Thank you Henry" Jeri replied not taking her eyes from the ground.

"So...you want to talk about it?" he said though he already knew what had happened; he thought that maybe talking about it could help her to feel at least a little better.

"Not really. Maybe later" she said still looking down.

Henry sighed and was about to ask her to go and take a walk with him maybe even go and get some ice cream or something but before he could even utter anything he saw Rika coming towards them; he was about to panic and take Jeri away, thinking that seeing Rika would only get Jeri to feel sadder but it was already to late, Jeri had already seen Rika and started to walk towards her.

"I...I'll see you later, okay Henry?" Jeri said taking a deep breath and then walked towards Rika. Henry could only nod and leave the two of them alone.

"Hi Rika" Jeri said with a serious tone on her voice.

"Jeri...I..." "Have you spoken with Takato today?" Jeri interrupted Rika, who didn't know if she should tell Jeri that she had just seen him and what he had told her. After several moments in silence Rika finally nodded.

"Yesterday...when...I went to your house...to tell you..." "Takato had already told me how he..." Rika answered knowing that that's what Jeri was trying to ask her but she found herself unable to finish.

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Jeri asked, tears threatening to fall again.

"...I didn't...I didn't want to hurt you. You looked so happy to have told him, to have confessed your feelings to him and...I just couldn't tell you. I'm sorry Jeri, you said I...was you best friend...and I...I came to realized that you too are my best friend and...I don't have many friends, I don't want to lose any of the few friends I have" Rika was having a really hard time explaining herself and she only felt guiltier after every word that came out of her mouth.

"...Rika I...sighs don't worry, we are still friends...but...just tell me the truth...what do you really feel for Takato?" Jeri replied knowing Rika was being honest and she too didn't want to lose Rika's friendship.

"You asked me that before" Rika answered trying not to look Jeri in the eyes.

"Rika...be honest with me, please?" Jeri pressed.

"....I..." Rika frowned, this would be something very hard to do but she had to do it, it was for the best.

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Hours later Takato was awakened by a loud knock on his bedroom door. Rubbing his eyes he stood up and stumbled towards the door. Yawning he opened the door to reveal his dad standing there. He seemed very happy about something or at least that's what Takato thought since his dad had a huge grin on his face. Takato raised an eyebrow at his dad and gave him a "what's-up-with-you" look.

"Come down son, someone is here to see you" Mr. Matsuki said and chuckled. He didn't wait for Takato to reply, he turned around and went back downstairs.

Takato just shrugged and followed his dad; he went to the kitchen where he heard voices. His mother was talking with someone and Takato's eyes only widened when she recognized the other voice as the one of Rika. Blushing he went inside after his father did.

"Hey Takato, you're finally up. This lovely lady here had been waiting a long while for you" Mrs. Katou said making them blush, and in Takato's case his blush only got deeper. (SF: Can anyone tell us Mr. and Mrs. Matsuki's names, please?).

After a few seconds in an awkward silence, Mr. Katou decided to come to the rescue of his son and said "Well Takato, why don't you take your girl friend for a walk?" of course he tried his best not to chuckle out loud at his little teasing.

If it was even possible Takato blushed even more just like Rika who was just recovering from being called "lovely lady". Knowing his voice would fail him; Takato just nodded and motioned for Rika to follow him.

"Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Matsuki" Rika said with a calm voice having more control over her emotions than Takato.

"Hope you come to visit us again, Rika. And thanks for helping me here today" Mrs. Matsuki said with a smile. Mr. Matsuki smiled at her as well.

Rika returned their smile but was too embarrassed to say anything to them so she just followed Takato out of the house and the two of them remained in silence for a long while. Takato was starting to feel very nervous. Remembering the talk they had a few hours ago, he could only guess what was what she wanted to talk to him.

They arrived to Guilmon's shed they found Renamon and Guilmon were talking; Guilmon was making silly questions and Renamon answered with a hint of humor on her voice but all of this stopped when Renamon saw the two tamers coming their way. One look at her tamer's eyes was enough for Renamon to know what's happening and she turned to Guilmon and motioned for him to follow her. Guilmon was little confused but followed Renamon waving a goodbye to his tamer before leaving. His tail was wiggling from one side to the other.

Gulping, Takato motioned for Rika to take a seat at the foot of the stairs. Rika avoiding to make eye contact, sat and waited for him to sit next to her. After Takato sat with her, another long silence followed; both waiting and hoping for the other to make the first move or to speak first. But Rika knew she should be the first to speak, and so she sighed and turned to look at him and he looked at her.

"I talked with Jeri...she said we're still friends"

"She told me the same. But that she wanted me to give her some time"

Rika turned away, his eyes looked sad but hopeful and he was starting to make her feel all nervous; her heart beating at a faster rate, if she didn't get a hold of her self, soon she will be blushing.

"Henry said he was going to stay with her and try to cheer her up"

"Yes, when I arrived he was there. He left when he saw me"

"Mmm...Rika..."

"Look Takato, this is difficult for me to say, so just shut up. I'm not going to repeat myself"

"Okay"

"......I...the answer you want me to give you...I don't think I can give it to you"

"W-what?"

"You're very important to me Takato but...not in the way you want. You are the very first human friend I had and...I don't want to lose your friendship"

"You won't. I promise..."

"These feelings will only ruin things and I...don't want things to change"

"W-wait, are you telling me that you do love me but you don't want to be with me!?"

"......I don't want to ruin our friendship"

"But..." Takato sighed feeling defeated.

"I'm sorry Takato" Rika said and she was about to stand up when Takato spoke again.

"Don't you trust me?"

"...What?"

"Do you trust me!?" Takato said looking at Rika straight at her eyes and she felt awful when she saw tears forming in them.

"...Takato...I do. I do trust you"

"Then why won't you give me a chance!? You know I would never do something to hurt you. At least not intentionally cuz I know that sometimes I'm very...clumsy and I end up doing something stupid but...I will never hurt you Rika"

Rika lowered her head and closed her eyes, they were stinging and she sure as hell didn't want to start crying now, she had to control her emotions but it was probing to be something very difficult to do.

".......Jeri asked me if I feel the same way about you"

"And...what did you tell her?"

"......That...I don't. That you are only my best friend...and that's the same answer I give you"

Takato shook his head; he, unlike Rika, let his tears fall down he stood up and walked away; she wanted to stop him but thought better of it and let him go. She felt a lump in her throat it was starting to be impossible for her to keep her emotions controlled.

Stopping, he spoke again: "...I... if you ...I don't know how can we be friends if you don't even trust me. How...how can you be friends with someone you don't trust...with someone who hurts you"

"...Takato..."

"That's what you do to me Rika...you only hurt me and you don't trust me, how can we be friends then? I know...well who knows if you really care but if you do, and I'm hurting you now, I'm sorry but I don't want to be friends with you anymore. It's too painful. Goodbye Rika" he didn't dare to look at her and didn't wait for her say something, he ran as fast as he could and never looked back.

Rika lost complete control of her emotions and she tried to call for him stop him or do something to make him stay but sobs came on the way and she could do nothing else but cry. She had just been scared of her feeling, feeling something so strong to then lose it, because she feared that he would leave her just like her father had done, it wasn't that she didn't trust him, she just was afraid, afraid that he would meet someone better, 'cause she knew she wasn't that good of a person; and she feared he would leave her hurt and alone. And that fear had done just that, because of her fear she had lost him, she had lost Takato and it was all her fault. She had wanted to mask her fear saying she would do anything for a friend and that she wouldn't be with Takato if that made Jeri be hurt, she did worried over Jeri being sad and hurt...but she knew that Jeri would have understood and maybe she would even be happy for them. She had wanted to do anything for Takato, except face her own fears.

Tears wouldn't stop falling and sobs keep coming, the read headed girl pulled her legs and hugged them closer to her, she buried her head between her knees and let all the tears fall. She had lost her best friend and her loved one today...she was alone now. And she knew she would never be able to forget those brown sad eyes.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

'It's not that I wanna say goodbye

It's just that every time you try to tell me that you love me

Each and every single day I know

I'm going to have to eventually give you away

And though my love is rare

And though my love is true

Hey I'm just scared

That we may fall through'

-I'm Like A Bird'—Nelly Furtado.

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The End

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Logan: No happy ending.

Aerisakura: Sorry folks but...

Logan: You sure didn't saw that one coming did ya?

Aerisakura: (--U) Well...I had wanted a happy ending but...I do like to sad endings and we wanted to...

Logan: Do something unexpected!! We placed this on the "Rukato Section" because as you can see, this fic is focused on this couple; though they don't end up together...and well having someone who doesn't support this couple reading this fic would be a bad thing.

Aerisakura: Hope you liked it though. Writing several parts on this chapter was so very hard. Specially the one with Ryo, I just hate that guy and well...

Logan: Another one was the ones with Jeri, but we hope they had come out ok.

Aerisakura: And of course the last one...all of it, making it with Takato's parents as if everything was going to be okay to have it tumbling down.

Logan: Yeah!! But it was kind of funny. Anywayz, now we gave you the personal thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter.

GtaJake MK-II: Sorry we took so long to update again. Did the fic lead where you thought it was going to? If not, hope you still think this was a great ending. And thanks a lot for your words, but I have come to accept that this disease can't be cured and I just can hope for better way to control it. I don't lose hope on that and well thanks again and hope you keep reading our fics. And about what happened to you in this page it really suck and hope that that won't stop you from writing fics.

Newbi: Yep, things only get more complicated and have disastrous ends; at least this one had it. Well Takato and Henry are better now but Terriermon...poor bunny/rabbit; he will continue to suffer the "Pwincess Pwetty Pants" treatment. We counted the reviews and the counter in our stats is the one that's correct, weird but who knows what's up with this place. And hope you read our future fics as well, see ya!!

DigiDestined of Courage: Now that I think about it my mom maybe just say that to make me laugh since it's her the one cursing, needless to say that it didn't really work. Sorry for your own problems, being sick sucks and we can only hope for our diseases to not get more complicated. Thanks for your words; I really appreciate it and now for the review: Well nothing of what was expected happened; Takato and Henry did got beaten up but not as badly, after all they could still walk (Logan:laughs). And for Terriermon; he should have seen it coming; his big mouth will only get him in trouble. Thanks for your comments and we hope you keep reading our fics. Thanks again for everything and momentai for you too.

Genocideking Archfiend: Don't worry about it, the important thing is that you did reviewed and we can really complain about taking to long to do something since we take a long time to post (--UU). And don't worry about that other review, we won't hold any grudges or anything of the sort (Logan: hides a gun behind him...just kidding we don't have any complains about that review, you're right on what you pointed out and we'll use that for future fics). Thanks a lot for your comments in this fic, we try our best, now we don't have a beta reader for those computer problems we had and we don't want to risk causing problems to the person that was helping us so...we try to review and correct as many mistakes as we can but...we think is still not good enough. And as you can see, you're right, this is the last chapter...unfortunately it since it wasn't and all happy ending. (Aerisakura: My cousin as you could see can keep his mouth shut...he kinds of reminds me of someone.) And thanks a lot to give us a chance to be saved by the demonic D.I.Q. or by now we would be dead. Well, we do hope you keep reading our fics, thanks again and see ya!!

The Mad shoe: Your head must hurt even more now...there was, at least in our opinion, even more feelings from all the characters in this chapter. But we hope you liked this one too. Thanks for reviewing and see ya!!

DragonTidalWaves: Thanks for your comments...and now we aren't that many people, the SF had reduced to be a large group to have only two members. We still see Freak and MMX2 from time to time, we "speak" with the other two members that left long ago through mails but we hadn't lost the will to keep writing...err...sorry about that. Ahem! There should be even more Rukato fics from any subject: romance or humor, horror or drama and so and so. We won't get enough Rukato, we need more Rukato (Aerisakura: whacks Logan shut it! You are going to scare them.) We hope you don't make us face your staff of doom for taking so long to post and we hope you have liked this chapter and that you keep reading our fics. Thanks and see ya!!

ss3dj: We fixed most of our computer problems...they do suck but at least now we can get into internet without that much trouble...well thanks for reviewing and see ya!!

Aerisakura: I just realized something while writing the "Thank you notes"...you, my little cousin, are like my own Terriermon!!

Logan: Hey!!!

Logan: Now, for what to expect next from us...

Aerisakura: Well...I'm trying to write a one-shot sort of Rukato fic with hints of Henrika/Jenruki fic. We're going to work on others that are unfinished and of course on the one we gave you a preview about in the last chapters.

Logan: And if you like Shaman King, my cousin is working on some very interesting fics.

Aerisakura:...I don't want to post that one until I finish it and the other one is on Spanish.

Logan: Anywayz, keep reading our fics!!

Aerisakura: Thanks to all of you who bothered to read and leave a review. Thanks for your support and...

Logan: See you next time!!!

SF: Don't forget to R&R!!!

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This movie doesn't end the way we want all the time

-Hometown, Silent Hill 3.