Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Love Is A Battlefield ❯ Phase I: Preparation- Pondering ( Chapter 3 )

Love is a Battlefield

Phase I- Preparation: Pondering

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Disclaimer: Digimon and all related characters are not mine. The title comes from the song sung by Pat Benatar, written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight so it doesn't belong to me either. No money, don't sue.

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That night, I lay in bed thinking about what had happened earlier that evening. Between what Ryo had told me and his manner while we were at the park, I was confused. Most of the things he'd said, about Cyberdramon and previously going to the Digital World, I really didn't understand. And I'd never seen him in that sort of mood before. I didn't know how to interpret it. And I didn't understand why he'd shown that part of himself to me... not that I regretted him doing it, I just didn't know what had caused it. Because of all of that and other things, I admitted to myself that I didn't know enough about him... I needed to know more. I _wanted_ to know more. Sitting up, I realized I needed someone else's input.

It was a little after midnight that I called Jen's cel-phone... he was safe to talk about this too... he wouldn't go all squeally and excited (like Juri would) and he wouldn't bring it up in front of other people. He was also probably Ryo's closest friend among the tamers. Jen had even gone to visit him in Fukkuoka (along with Shuichon... their father had a business trip down there.) Anyway, after three rings, Jen picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Ruki! What's up?"

"Not much."

"Is everything all right?"

"Yeah... I just wanted to talk."

"Okay... about what?"

...

This was where I stalled. I was about to ask Jen questions about another guy... and he was smart enough to have some idea of my motives. Did I really want to let it out yet? But, I knew I wouldn't be able to get the answers I needed without doing this. So, sighing in resignation, I answered.

"I have a couple of questions..."

"About?..."

Another sigh of resignation.

"Ryo." I could just hear his eyebrows raising. "Don't get any ideas! I just need some information."

"And what ideas would I get~?"

"None! Because if you did, or if you tell anyone about this, I'll have to..." (Nuts! Intimidation never works on Jen!) "... do really mean things to you!"

He laughed, I scowled, and he asked, "What do you need to know?"

I scowled again then made myself relax... this was annoying and more difficult than it seemed when I first thought of it.

"What do you think about him?"

"What do you mean? If you're worried about competition for him, don't be... I don't swing that way and I'm pretty sure he doesn't either..."

"JEN~!" He was _so_ dead the next time I saw him.

"Haha~! Just kidding. Shuichon though... she might give you a run for your money..."

He was incredibly lucky this was over the phone because I would have strangled him if he'd been in front of me.

"... but she's too busy blushing at Kenta to do anything toward anyone else."

I snorted at that... but Jen was still a punk.

"She and Kenta are both pretty obvious... what are you going to do, Mr. Over-Protective-Older-Brother, if they start dating?"

"One of them would have to make a move first... and I'd know ahead of time if either one was planning something."

Hmpf... interesting. "How?"

"A spy network acquired by my secret older brother powers."

Smirking, I said, "So you somehow convinced Hirokazu and Lopmon to rat them out?"

Laughing he replied, "Close... Terriermon convinced Lopmon."

I rolled my eyes.

"But this has nothing to do with why you called me tonight... or does it?"

My eyes widened, then I wrinkled my forehead not liking the implication there.

Silence.

"Ahem... So, what do you want to know about him?"

I hadn't really thought of what to ask before I called...

"Ummm... well, what's he like around just guys?"

"Pretty much the same... less verbal sparring than when you're around."

"You e-mail him often?"

"Pretty regularly..."

"What's he like there?"

"Same as in person... with more of a tendency to make bad puns."

I raised my eyebrows at that... but it wasn't the information I needed.

"Ruki... what do you really want to know about him?" Jen asked in an annoyingly calm and understanding voice.

Why did Jen have to know me so disturbingly well? I knew he wouldn't help (well... wouldn't be able to help) until he got at least part of the story. So, breathing out in resigned irritation, I answered.

"Tonight, I was at the park with Ryo... don't get any ideas! Renamon and Monodramon were practicing! But I was talking to him and he told me some things that I didn't understand. And he was different tonight... but I've only seen him hanging out with us. You know him better than I do. I wanted to know what he was like in other places."

"Well... he's pretty much the same everywhere I talk to him, and that's the same way he acts when he hangs out with us. But..."

There was a 'but' here.

"When we were visiting him in Fukkuoka, he seemed a little... not different but..."

"What?"

"His personality wasn't any different from normal but he didn't seem very... connected there."

Confused again. "What do you mean?"

"Like... he didn't mention anyone or anything from school unless we asked him about it... that's understandable during summer vacation but then when we were at a mall shopping for souvenirs with Shuichon, a group of students from his school came up to him. They seemed pretty nice and some of them were in his class. They asked him about his summer homework and if he was planning to join any of the sports clubs since he hadn't joined one yet... he answered them but was doing that 'smiling, but not _really_ smiling' thing he does."

Hmmm... Jen's noticed him do that too...

"When they noticed us, he introduced us as his friends from Tokyo but them as his classmates from school. Before they left, they invited him to the beach with them the next weekend but he just did the smiling thing and gave a noncommital answer. Then, when they were gone, he turned back to us, acted like nothing had happened, and suggested another store to shop in."

"Other than that, what did you think of him in Fukkuoka?"

"I think... he was a little bit lonely. He seemed well liked in school but I don't think he had any close friends there. He didn't seem down or anything... just not really connected to anyone there."

"Hmmm..." Jen had given me a lot to think about, along with earlier tonight's things.

"Did that help you understand anything he said earlier?"

"Maybe... I'm not sure yet."

Silence.

"So... do you like Ryo?"

Gah~! That brought me out of my thoughts quickly. I never thought anyone would ask me so bluntly.

"Wh~what!?!" I sputtered.

"Just wanted to know."

He seemed so calm about it... the punk. Denying it would have been lying to Jen and I didn't want to do that but... I wasn't ready to say it either.

"I... I don't _dislike_ him..."

"Haha~... good answer. But that's good to know. Now, if you're done interrogating me, I need some sleep."

We said 'goodnight' and hung up the phone. I got back into my futon and was full of thoughts about a boy I didn't understand, but I was too tired to think about them. Besides, I had to face the real thing in the morning.

TBC

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Author's Notes: June 23, 2002- Finally, after a week of carrying around my notebook to plug away at it when I had time, this chapter is finished! I'd had it all planned out and all of the major conversation points set out but couldn't get Ruki and Jen to actually talk about them. But they finally got the urge... and now it's done! Yay! Thanks to Kira Wagner for beta reading. See you at laser tag and please R&R!

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Riah-chan
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ruki_and_Ryo/
.. .because everyone needs a little R&R.
"Well, then there'll be just one less person to poke fun at you, right pumpkin."
"Tashika ni kimi wa Queen, kedo dattara ore ga King da na!"