Author's Note: Well, I know it's taking me foeva to type these, but hey…I have a life, too ^^ "Which includes this, so why's the real reason that you're slacking?!" …I'm lazy. And, I'm tellin the truth. But I promise, no more!! This fic will be done soon enough, I hope. Enjoy, so far! BTW, I made up Lee's sibling's names. They are not official!
Love Season
Part 4 - Things Look Up
So what if my life breaks down
right before my eyes?
So what if I lose my house,
my friends, my family?
So what if I lose my right of being
a citizen in this town?
I can rebuild, although
no one said it will be easy
but things will
definitely look up
because you're with me
…if you leave…
…then love has left me too…
It really isn't everywhere is it?
"Well," Juri got up from the sofa, smiling. "That was a nice episode, wasn't it? Takato, wanna stay for something to eat? My cousin's coming over, and she really likes you. She's only 7, though."
"Uh…no thanks, I'll…just…go home." He stuttered. "…right, Hiro?"
"Don't ask me." Hirokazu shrugged. "My position as official date stander-inner-person is officially…over. See ya-"
Suddenly, the phone rang. Juri went to get it. She picked it up, "Hey. Katou residence. Juri speaking- …oh, hi Miki."
"Quick, she's planning an attack." Hirokazu snarled. "We have to leave!"
"But, it's only Miki-"
"Are you chickening out on me?!" He snapped.
"…no, but I think you're chickening out, period."
"…just shut up, and run." Hirokazu dashed for the door, pulling Takato along behind him.
Juri paused when she saw them leave so quickly, "…actually, he just left."
"Really?" Miki asked. "You sure Hirokazu just isn't there and…hiding?"
"No, he left. Thought you were planning an attack or something." Juri shrugged.
"…I don't think he'd believe me if I told him that I liked him." Miki sighed. "Cuz as kids we were always joking around with each other, like…the time I told him his hair was tall enough to block the view of the sun,"
"Miki,"
"Or the time I tricked him into thinking the tooth fairy really did collect fake teeth by putting a dime under his pillow in the middle of the night when he left a stick of onion there instead-"
"Uh, Miki-"
"And I can't forget the time when we were 6 and I told him if he pulled the fire alarm the escalators in the mall would go the other way." She laughed, lightly. "And-"
"Miki, stop it."
"…you're right, he wouldn't believe me!" She gasped. "…I know, I'll…I'll…send in a letter on Love Loners and ask them under a secret name, like that Ki No person-"
"Hey, who do you think she was anyway?"
Miki thought, "…I can't think of anyone who would have those kinds of hinted initials…or nickname…so…I really don't know."
*****
"Karu Karu is so stupid," Ruki paced back and forth in her room, slowly. "Just tell the guy you like, you like him. What an idiot. If only he knew how hard it is… and Lee is so stubborn, he wouldn't listen to me."
"I think it's the other way around, Ruki," Renamon muttered, quietly.
"No offense, but, shut up, Renamon." Ruki stated. "This love thing is so hard." She looked up. "…I think, Renamon…I'm gonna have to go into drastic measures…but…who, Renamon?"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…Renamon, answer me…"
"Oh, I thought I remembered you telling me to shut up."
"Oh shut up, Renamon, stop being so smart and answer me." She snapped. "I need advice."
"…I think Karu Karu is right." She nodded, slowly. "No true feelings are to be unless they're said confidently."
Ruki sighed, "…the rhyming gets to me. Try not to do it again."
"Sorry, Ruki."
"…but…how? I need more advice."
"Well…you could either ask your mother,"
"Yuck."
"Your grandmother?"
"Yuck-y."
"Or…those wimpy girls at your school?"
"…I won't even dignify that with a response."
"Well, you can bottle yourself, too, and never say the truth."
"I said stop rhyming."
"It comes naturally…I'm so sorry."
Ruki shuddered. "…Renamon,"
"Yes, Ruki?"
"…I think those wimpy girls…are my only refuge."
"I think so too, if you must know the truth." She slowly disappeared into darkness.
"…rhyming digimon scare me." She said to herself, walking over to her bed on the floor. "…I'll ask them tomorrow at school."
********
"Mom, dad, I'm home, betcha don't care, made it home alive, too," Hirokazu babbled, while walking in the front door. "Wanna know how school was today? It was fine. We built a rocket and went to the moon, oh, I betcha knew that already. But then when the rocket ran out of fuel, we took a quick zip to earth, got another one and went all the way to Jupiter. Isn't that the truth?"
Ayumi Shiota quietly walked out of the kitchen, wiping fish guts on a towel, that she threw on the floor. She smiled, weakly, "Hi Hirokazu, how was school?"
Hirokazu gawked, "Didn't you hear everything I said about the rockets?!"
"…Hirokazu," Shingo walked down the stairs, interrupting, "Sorry to bother you, but, uh…Miki called for you."
Hirokazu looked at his father, "…what does she want?" He asked. "If she wants me to drink her new flavor of Kool-Aid, tell her THAT'S what caused my phobia of anything curdling and brown…plus I was sick for a month, had to take 2 flu shots and almost caused the risk of anthirax…whatever that is." He shuddered.
"She wanted you to call her back. She sounded serious." He nodded.
"Dad, I told you to never ever fall for anything she says." Hirokazu replied. "…she's dangerous. Do you know how much times she nearly killed me?! She knows I'm allergic to kiwi."
"If you don't call her back, guess what?" Mrs. Shiota smiled. "We're going to visit the Saki's this weekend."
"…no."
"Yes." She smiled again. "You'll have more than enough time to talk to her."
Hirokazu turned to his father, "Can I stay over at Kenta's for the weekend?"
"No, son."
"You're right…Takato's family is much more sane."
"No, son."
"Fine…I'm sure I could just CAMP OUT at SCHOOL!" He snapped. "…there is no way, I'm visiting her this weekend."
Ayumi smiled, "…Shingo, pack your things and prepare the car." She turned to walk up the stairs.
"…we're not…" Hirokazu stuttered. "…going today, are we?"
"…if your mother says." Shingo shrugged. "It won't be that bad."
"Dad, she hates me." He shivered. "She wants to kill me…"
"…ah, but that's only if you put it that way. She's just being friends in a dangerous manner."
*****
Shingo knocked on the Saki's front door, as Mr. Saki, Keisuke, opened the door. He smiled, "Ah, Shingo, Ayumi. We weren't expecting you till this weekend, but…come in anyway." He opened the door wider, as they stepped in. Keisuke looked around for Hirokazu who was still nowhere to be found. "…Ayumi, didn't Hirokazu come with you?"
"Yes, but he was going to stay at his friend's house, so he packed everything he would need for the weekend." Ayumi sighed. "He'll be fine."
Keisuke then spotted Hirokazu trudging a large suitcase towards the door. He smiled, "Ah, Hirokazu! …nice suitcase."
Hirokazu shoved the suitcase aside, and walked up to Keisuke, out of breath, "Mr. Saki, sir, I talked to my friend's friend's dad who is a judge, and by any terms of the law you MUST at ALL TIMES keep your devil-of-a-daughter away from me."
"…Hirokazu-"
"It's the law." He snarled.
"…I think we need to have a talk." He pulled him inside and shut the door.
****
Hirokazu got up from the adult's boring conversation. I had no choice, I didn't want to sit in with Miki. "Um, 'xuse, I'll be heading towards the bathroom for a tour and stuff… don't talk about anything interesting without me." He walked out of the room, making gagging noises. Interesting, my butt. This is boring crap!
"Don't worry, honey, we won't!" Ayumi called, smiling. She then turned back to Shingo, Keisuke and Mrs. Saki, Keiko. "…so…what was this about arranged marriages?"
***
Hirokazu walked aimlessly down the halls, in the same direction. He mapped out where he would and wouldn't go, because Miki was still somewhere in the house, and he wanted to steer clear of her. He turned a corner, and to his surprise, there was Miki smiling, hands on hips. "Hi Hirokazu." She beamed.
"…this isn't right. My territories were marked!" He showed her a small map on a paper. "See, I went around the house, away from your room!"
"I was looking for you, wanted to ask you a question." She smiled, nodding.
Hirokazu shoved the map back in his pocket, "…this is all some kinda big plan so you can stalk me…no way."
"No, I'm serious. I really needed to talk to you."
Hirokazu glared at her, "…alright, fine. But I'm gonna stand at that wall, you stand at this wall and don't move. Yell, if you must, but don't come any closer!" He ran to the farthest wall and called, "Go ahead!"
"Okay, well, I wanted to ask if you wanted to go somewhere with me later!" She called to him.
Hirokazu didn't move for a selected…minute. He instead, ran, after he figured it was some kinda trick.
"Hirokazu, come back! I mean it!!" She yelled. She ran down the hall, and looked around the corner. He had totally disappeared. Miki sighed.
*****
"Hi mom, hey dad." Takato walked in the door at 8 that night. "So…what's for…dinner?" He asked, throwing his bag to the side.
His dad, Tenchi, popped his head out of the kitchen, as Takato walked passed him. "…hi son. …dinner, right?"
"Yeah, dad."
"…well, your…cousin's over. You know, Cousin Kai, from Okinawa? Well, uh…he's helping your mother bake." Tenchi explained.
Takato stopped, and stared into the kitchen. Smoke rose from the oven, and Kai tied a cloth around his mouth and nose, under the table. He waved to Takato, slowly, as Mrs. Matsuda, Yuka brought out a fire extinguisher. Takato face faulted. He walked back to the door, "On second thought." He picked up his bag and left. "I'll be at Lee's."
***
Takato arrived at Lee's house later, just in time to see Lee's older sister, Aziya, before she left for her date. "Ryo, you freak, give me my credit card, I'm late!" She called down the hallway.
Ryo popped out of the room at the end of the hallway. "I told you, Aziya," He sighed. "Dad said I could have $20 from your account, but you only cut it to $10. So mom gave me allowance for 3 weeks she missed, which was $40 in total, including 3 of your chores, and an extra $15 and that's 10 plus 40 plus 15, which is $65! That's only half. Because Jen gave me $20, except he put it in your account, so add $20, that's $85 now! Plus, if you add the extra $15 which is mine, that's $100! Which is your balance in this card!"
"But why would it be in my card?!"
"Because, it's all your money!!" He called, smiling.
"What?! I gave $100 to you?!"
"No, no," He sighed. "You idiot, haven't you been listening?! Every expense was stored in your account but the $40 and $15 from mom and dad. They charged everything to your account! Mom was on vacation for a week, and dad couldn't pay me so, since you're the oldest, it was your money that's mine! But since you owe me $100, and that's all that's in this card, I guess I get it all!" He smiled, eventually. "…have a nice day." He zipped back in the room and shut the door.
Aziya grumbled, and headed for the front door.
"So Takato," Lee began, as they passed his sister. "Why are you here again?"
"My cousin's burning down my house. If you hear anything otherwise, don't believe them." He nodded.
"Jen!!" Asiya called from the doorway. "Jen, come here!"
Lee sighed, and walked to the doorway, slowly, "Yeah?"
"Since that stupid freak you call a brother stole my money, do…you have any…extra money?" She asked.
"Well… Dad gave me $200-"
"Oh, really?" She gasped, smiling. "…what are you gonna do with it?"
"…nothing." He shrugged. "But if you insist on me giving you the $200, you have to ask dad for possible substitutes for my new computers."
Aziya grumbled, "Shut up. Just shut up." Lee smiled. "I just realized you're paying me to redecorate your room." And she left.
"…redecorate?" Takato asked. "What do you need to redecorate for?"
Lee led Takato to his room, and pushed open the door. There were pink bowties drawn on the wall in the new Barbie Pretty Pink colour, and a picture of a red frog and purple cow. "…Kako and Hira-Nu, the best show on TV, says Shiuchon. Since you never watch the show, let me draw them for you, she says. And so…she draws." He shook his head slowly. "…wanna stay for dinner?"
"That's why I'm here." Takato nodded. "…that and to get away from someone."
"…to get away from who?"
Takato whispered, "…Juri."
"Why?" He asked.
"…I…I think I like her." He whispered, slowly. "I mean…it's because she's stalking me! Her personality is growing on me!"
Lee nodded, slowly, "…you are avoiding her because you like her…?"
"I guess so."
"It won't go that well, trust me." He said, walking out of his room and down the hall.
Takato was confused, "Lee," He called after him. "Lee, wait a second! What do you mean by that? How are you supposed to know?"
Lee shrugged, "I…I don't know what you're talking about…"
"…but-"
"Uh, you can come into the kitchen, and tell my mom you're staying for dinner." Lee nodded. "Just one thing. Don't reply to anything she says about pudding."
"…a-alright." He stuttered, following Lee into the kitchen. Why is he being so secretive about hiding from Juri? …think Takato, think. Maybe not from Juri, but from girls, period. That must be it!
"Hey mom," Lee smiled, slightly, to his mother, who was mixing something in the kitchen. "Uh…this is Takato, he's staying for dinner."
"Ah, Takato. Hi!" Lee's mom, Emiri, smiled, brightly. "Where are you from?"
"Oh, uh, around the corner. Near Jiroki Drive."
"…she means where are your parent's from…" Lee whispered.
"Well…they live with me too."
Lee sighed, "Uh, he's from Shijoku."
"Ah, you were born here, right?" Emiri asked. "Well, my parents were from Japan too, but they were on a vacation in Hong Kong when I was born. Then they moved back to Japan, and when I was 14, we moved back to Hong Kong, lived there for awhile, and I met Yu."
"…who? Me?" Takato asked.
Emiri giggled, girlishly. "That's my dad's name, Takato." Lee whispered. "Yu Shen Lee Cheung Kao Ka Fai."
"Ah…that's pretty cool. Confusing, but cool." Takato shrugged.
"Do you like pudding, Takato?" Emiri asked, out of nowhere.
"Uh oh…" Takato whispered. "Should I answer her?" He asked Lee. Lee nodded, slowly,
"But only this once." He added.
"Um…yeah."
"What kinds?"
"…chocolate."
"Oh, well, if you ask Jenrya, I make a delicious chocolate pudding! Don't I, Jen?"
"…seriouisly?" Takato asked, nervously.
Jenrya shook his head. "It's different."
"Jenrya."
"Different and…good…tasting."
"Good, good, now got get Shiuchon, tell her to get Ryo for dinner." Emiri replied. "Takato, you stay with me. I want you to sample my pudding."
Takato's eyes watered, as he watched Emiri stir the…uncouth, gunky pudding. She slapped some in a plastic cup and it burned right through. "…god, I'm full." Takato muttered, quietly.
"Nonsense. I'll just find a glass bowl instead." She smiled, and searched the cupboards. "My pudding is too good to contain, RIGHT JENRYA?!"
"Right, mom!" Lee yelled from Ryo's room.
Emiri smiled, "My kids just love my pudding. Perhaps your family can come over for dinner sometime, I hear they own a bakery-"
"Yeah, but they only sell baked goods."
"Well, Takato, this is baked. It's cooked with oregano, artificial cocoa and salt."
"…but there's not even any chocolate in it."
"Oh, Takato, my parents used to say, 'You can fool 'em with the eye if you convince 'em with the mouth!'" Emiri smiled.
"What does that mean, Mrs. Lee?" Takato asked.
"It means, if it looks like chocolate it doesn't have to be chocolate. As long as it looks enough like chocolate, it'll fool anyone." She smiled. "I can purchase a couple, can them and send them to your parents. I can make profit off of them! They can be used as a dip, or a sauce, or gravy!"
"Or dish decoration." He squinted at the bubbling pudding. "…I don't even think that's edible anymore."
"KIDS, DINNER'S READY!!" Emiri yelled. "GET TO THE TABLE, NOW!!"
Instantly, Ryo, Lee and Shiuchon arrived at the doorway, smiling. "…hi mom."
Emiri smiled. "Everyone to the table. For dinner, we have rice, chicken and pudding for desert!"
"I think I'll skip desert, mom." Ryo stuttered. "Sorry."
"Oh, Ryo, honey I forgot to say," Emiri smiled, sweetly. "NO ONE SKIPS DESERT!"
Tears formed in Shiuchon's eyes. "…but the Pepto Bismol is finished. You promised you'd buy more!"
"Sorry, dear, next time."
"Lucky Aziya," Lee gulped.
They all sat down at the table, praying for hope as Emiri set the disgusting concoction she called "pudding" on the table, beside the rice and chicken. "Well," She began. "Help yourself."
Ryo reached for a spoon of rice, and 3 chicken wings. He smiled, "Thanks mom." Emiri smiled, then reached for the pudding bowl and scooped a large, large amount into Ryo's plate. "That's for wanting to skip desert."
"Mommy," Shiuchon began. "Remember when I threw up thanks to your pudding. I'm allergic to it."
Emiri smiled, "You kids are so sweet, but I was just telling Takato how all of you appreciate my cooking."
"For Christmas, I'm gonna get mom a new cookbook." Lee whispered to Ryo. Ryo chuckled, quietly.
*******
"Hirokazu," Miki popped out from the side corner near the family room, smiling. "You've been avoiding me and I could tell…"
Hirokazu slowly turned to look at her, and sighed, "Okay, Miki. I've tried my best to avoid you, but still…you're always finding me. What is it that you want?"
"…I want you and me to go somewhere."
"…no, seriously. Stop playin- now, that you finally got me to not run away, what is it?" He asked.
Miki sighed, "Juri and I both knew you wouldn't believe me…" She shook her head. "Forget it, it's nothing."
Hirokazu was shocked. "…so you're just gonna leave me alone and not stalk me anymore?" He asked. "…what's wrong?"
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." She scoffed. "Forget it. I never talked to you, and you never saw me. Okay?"
"…no, it's not okay. What did you really wanna ask me.?" Hirokazu asked. "I can take the truth."
"…it's not a joke either."
"Good, cuz I'm not much of a joking person." He lied. "…even if, it wouldn't be very funny, right?"
"Right."
"So, are you gonna tell me or is it something I really don't need to hear." He said.
Miki looked up at him, slowly, but still facing downwards. Hirokazu could see there were tears coming out of her eyes. "…Miki, you're crying."
"I know. I figured you wouldn't believe me if I wasn't crying…"
"So, you're just faking it, right?"
"Not this time."
"If you told me what it is, I swear I would believe you."
"…if you say so." She whispered, walking closer to him. She instantly wrapped her arms around him, in a tight hug and whispered, "…I think I like you."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- slight pause for air. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! She was crying. She wasn't lying. I'm dying. Ah…oh god. This is definitely something that Love Loners is not gonna fix. …maybe double time! If I watch reruns, I might be able to master this…perfectly.
"…well…" Hirokazu muttered. "…that's different."
"…notice I said think." Miki nodded. "I still think you're a jerk, but hey…I've known you too long to think you're a complete jerk."
"….oh…right."
"…you can go back to avoiding me, if you want. Or totally thinking of me as your rival, but… at least I'll always know the truth." Miki smiled, letting go of him. "…you're hair's growing. Better cut it, before I do." And she skipped off.
Hirokazu was left speechless. …I'll try to think of that as a compliment, but I…don't think it's possible. He shook his head. Then, he instantly reached into his pocket for his Love Loners Guide. He flipped through to a section called: They Love You. He read further.
"If someone thinks they might like you, then here's exactly what you have to do. You must think of them as friends, or people and only friends or people. You must encourage the fact you might never be more than that. You must think of yourself as best friends. If you don't, this relationship could become a RELATIONSHIP.
What Ifs
Q. What if I end up liking them too?
A: Then there's nothing you can do but sit back and watch….
Hirokazu put the put back in his pocket and sighed, "Karu Karu sucks."
*******
"Thank you,"
"No, thank you."
"…uh…whatever." Takato slowly backed away from the Lee's front door holding a bag full of cans of Mrs. Lee's pudding. "I'll…be going now." He walked off.
"Glad you could stop by!" Emiri called to him as he ran down the hall, and down the stairs. "Oh, and send me the profits within the next week or so." She smiled. "Bye Takato!"
Takato was already down to the 2nd floor by in the stairwell. He figured if he waited for the elevator, he's get stalked downstairs. He reached the lobby, breathless as the elevator just reached. He ignored it, and walked slowly to the door.
He walked down the streets of West Shijoku, tired and most of all, feeling sick. He swore he heard someone from the building upchucking, but it was probably his imagination. As he continued to walk, he heard footsteps gaining closer to him.
He turned around and there was Juri, walking slowly, head facing downwards. Oh no, Takato thought. She followed me here. She knew I was up in the building all day and- He stopped as soon as he noticed she walked right by her without her saying much. …that's odd. She was supposed to stop and hug me, then smile and completely annoy me. "…hey Juri," Takato caught up to her. "Where ya goin?"
"…home." She muttered, slowly. "…where are you going?"
"…home." Takato replied.
Juri sighed, tiredly and exhausted.
"…hmm…so, where have you been?"
"The park. Just sitting." She sighed. "What about you?"
"Lee's house." Takato replied. "…do you like pudding?"
"No."
"You're lucky. I love pudding." Takato gulped, quietly.
Juri giggled, "Takato, you're weird."
"Finally." Takato smiled. "I was wondering what was wrong with you."
"Takato…" She began, slowly. "…I think I actually like you this time."
"…wha?"
"Because last time I just thought you were really adorable, and I never actually considered liking you as more than a friend. But…hey...things change, right?" Juri nodded. "And besides…your personality is growing on me."
"…weird, I was just thinking the same thing…"
"You were?"
"Almost."
"…Takato, how do you think we'll look like in 6 years? When we're all 16 or 17, in high school or college. Would we still be together or all separated?"
"…I don't know." Takato shrugged. "I'm not good with life situations."
"Just asking. …hey, you know what?"
"What?"
"I think Miki really likes Hirokazu." Juri smiled.
"…are you crazy?" He asked. "I thought they hated each other ever since they were 5 or something."
"True, but a few days ago Miki only went out with Kenta to make Hirokazu jealous. He wasn't, so Miki made up this lie that she was allergic to the flowers Kenta bought her and dumped him easy. She hasn't really told Hirokazu she likes him yet but I think Hirokazu's family is visiting Miki's family today or this weekend."
"…interesting, I guess."
"…this is too much, right?"
"I think so."
"Okay." Juri smiled. "I'll tell you more tomorrow. I'm coming over to your bakery tomorrow after school because your mom said I could help again. …last time was pretty fun, right?"
"…yeah."
"Okay. Just asking." Juri winked, and continued walking.
Takato was puzzled, and walked slowly just to regain himself. …I think Mr. Terada put a spell on us all. Some kinda love spell. And it's working pretty good, too…
*******
End of part 4!! ^^ Please review, chapter 5 30% done!
Next chapter includes:
-What will those wimpy school girls say when Ruki asks for advice?
-Will Lee ever have the courage to talk to Ruki after the incident?
-Will the so-called "bond" between Hirokazu and Miki still be okay after the encounter?
-What will happen to Takato and Juri now that they finally told each other their feelings?
-Who's on Love Loners?! ^^