Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Masks ❯ Face from His Past ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: A Face From His Past

 

“You … did … WHAT?!?” Henry gasped as Takato pounded his head against his bedroom wall.

 

“Slept … with … Rika,” Takato said in between slams.

 

“My god,” Henry said, fighting desperately to hold back his laughter.

 

“Holy mother of the Divas!” Terriermon gasped a smile spreading on his face so broad it looked like the top of his head would flop off. “RIKA AND GOGGLEBRAIN DID THE NAUGHTY! OH MY … Wait till the boys hear about THIS!”

 

“No!” Takato gasped, his eyes widening, “We did NOT do … THAT! I just … sorta held her all night …”

 

“Ahuh sure,” Terriermon nodded, “I like my story better, so we'll just say you and Red did the horizontal mambo!”

 

A moment later, Terriermon was off his feet and held in the air, inches from Takato's face. Takato mustered the best `Bat-glare' he could before speaking in his Robin voice to the small Rookie level Digimon, “Say that to another living being and you won't like what I do to you.”

 

Terriermon was silent for a moment before Takato felt some liquid hitting him in the chest.

 

It took a moment for it to register what was happening, and he quickly threw the Digimon down on the bed, “HENRY!” Takato whined wiping furiously at his chest, “YOUR Digimon … PEED ON ME!!!”

 

“Hey, it's your own fault using scare tactics on something without pants,” Henry shrugged.

 

“Oh dang, could you loan me a … nother … shirt …” Takato said trailing off taking a glance at the television in the corner of the room. On the screen was a news anchor saying something about some topic, but Takato wasn't listening. His eyes were fixated on a girl in the crowd behind him. Dark hair, big brown shy and frightened eyes, a larger size but same black and red dress. “Annie …”

 

“Huh?” Henry asked, handing Takato a spare shirt.

 

“I've have to go, talk to you later, Henry,” Takato said running out pulling his costume from his backpack.

 

“What was that about?” Henry shrugged, glancing down at the still traumatized Terriermon.

 

----

 

Robin swung to down town and perched on the ledge of a tall building. He quickly scanned the crowd of people below and eventually caught sight of the familiar brunette.

 

He quickly changed out of his costume, and approached the girl. “Excuse me?” Takato asked nervously, before taking a gulp of air, “Excuse me, Annie?”

 

“Yes, do I know you?” the girl turned to him with a smile.

 

“Is it … is it really you?” Takato asked nervously.

 

Annie blinked a few times, before taking her hand to cover Takato's eyes, “Oh my … it's you …”

 

Takato enveloped the girl in a hug, “I thought I'd never see you again!”

 

“I thought I'd not see you again either, Robin,” Annie beamed, “but then I saw the news report that you were here, so I had to come and find you!”

 

“What happened, how did you get away from Clayface?” Takato asked, with a broad smile.

 

“A scientist at Arkham separated me from him, I'm free from him at last,” Annie smiled, and then I met a friend who's been helping me a lot, promise you won't freak out and I'll introduce you.” Takato nodded, and the girl opened her backpack and what looked like a teddy bear made from mud popped his head out. “This is called a Digimon, this one's name is Mudfrigimon.” Annie said, before glancing back at her Digimon, “Mudfrigimon, this is …”

 

“Takato,” Takato smiled.

 

“Takato …” Annie indirectly dug.

 

“Takato Matsuki,” Takato finished, taking the Digimon's muddy paw in a handshake.

 

“So you're not freaked out about me taming Digimon?” Annie asked, with a smile.

 

“No, I'm a Tamer too, I have friends who are tamers too, want to meet them?” he asked, taking the girl's hand, not noticing the clamminess of it.

 

“Sure, I'd love to meet your friends, Takato!” Annie nodded, her grin growing almost evil as Takato turned his back to lead her toward the park.

 

---

 

“What's taking him so long?” Rika growled impatiently, leaning against Guilmon's hut.

 

“He took off in a hurry from my place, not sure what's up,” Henry shrugged as the gathered Tamers waited for the only missing member.

 

“Maybe he found another girl to do the naughty with,” Terriermon spoke up, before getting smacked repeatedly by Rika and Jeri.

 

“Wait … what did you mean by that, you little worm?” Rika asked lifting the pummeled Terriermon by the ears.

 

“Mean by what?” Terriermon asked innocently.

 

“Another girl, just how many girls has Goggles supposedly been with?” Rika asked with narrowed eyes.

 

“You wouldn't be jealous, would you, your highness?” Terriermon grinned trying to take some high ground in the situation.

 

“What's going on guys,” Takato's voice sounded as he approached, “Sorry we're late.”

 

“We're?” Rika asked, tossing Terriermon over her shoulder, then turning her attention and anger toward her usual target.

 

Her rage was stopped in its tracks, but her anger stated fuming as she narrowed her eyes on the girl who had the audacity to hold Gogglehead's hand. “And who the hell are you?” Rika hissed.

 

“Rika! Be … umm” Henry started but the death glare halted his sentence, and he turned his attention to Takato and his friend, “Hey, Takato, you going to introduce us?” he said to his best friend, then turned to the girl, “Forgive our friend, she's … umm … cranky.”

 

Takato turned to the girl, “Guys this is my old friend, Annie.” He then turned to the other Tamers, “Annie, this is Henry, his sister Suzy, Kenta, Kazu, Ai, Mako, and Rika.”

 

Annie nodded to each, then approached Rika with a friendly smile and a challenging glimmer in her eye, “Pleasure to meet you, Rika, Takato has spoken a lot about you since we met back up.”

 

“That's nice,” Rika crossed her arms, “He hasn't said a damn thing about you.”

 

“So how did you meet Gogglepimp?” Rika turned her attention to the fearful Tamer.

 

“We've known each other forever, grew up together you see,” Annie said, looking down her nose at the fuming Rika, “We were as close as two people could ever get as friend.”

 

“And just what did you mean by that, you little American tramp?” Rika shot off.

 

“I just meant what I said, little girl,” Annie retorted. She then shook her head at the trembling-in-rage Rika before turning to Takato, “Takato I have to go meet with the people I'm traveling with. Could we meet her again tonight? So we can be alone, you can bring your Digimon too, I'm sure Mudfrigimon would love to get to know him better.”

 

“Sure, Annie, how does seven sound?” Takato said oblivious to the danger he was in.

 

“Wonderful,” Annie sighed, then caused every jaw in the group to drop as she kissed the wide-eyed Takato and pushed her tongue into his mouth. She pulled back. “Bye, my Takato.” She said flirtily before running away from the stunned Tamers.

 

All the Tamers quickly moved away from the steaming Rika when she suddenly turned her back and stomped over to lean against a tree.

 

“Rika …” Henry asked carefully, “Are you … ok?”

 

“Yeah, I'm fine,” Rika smiled, before shaking her head and walking back to the group. “I have some things to take care of, if Gogglehead and his girlfriend hadn't taken their time I could of stated.” She then leaned forward and kissed Henry's cheek right in front of the still dazed Takato. She scowled when she saw him still staring into space. “Fill me in later about what's going on, Henry-kun,” She grinned seductively at the deathly frightened Henry, before slinking all the way to the still out there Takato.

 

Rika's eyes narrowed, before doing a hard leg sweep finally bringing the boy out of his daze with the impact of the ground, “HEY WHAT'D I DO?”

 

“I'm not even going to answer that if you don't know, Gogglebrain,” Rika growled, “Have fun with your little American.” With that she ran off.

 

“Henry?” Terriermon asked, looking up at his tamer.

 

“I think I soiled myself …”

 

---

 

Rika stomped all the way to her room and slammed her door so hard it bounced. She responded by slamming it repeatedly six times before shutting it properly. “You seem upset,” Renamon asked, blinking at her tamer.

 

The glare Rika gave the Digimon would have caused anyone else to run in terror.

 

“I'm not upset, why would I be upset?” Rika snapped hatefully.

 

“Rika, denial can only bring you more pain and distress,” Renamon nodded.

 

“That's it, I'm not letting you watch Dr. Phil again!”

 

“Shifting the blame and/or subject, this is serious,” Renamon glanced up at the girl who was now showing a very homicidal expression on her face.

 

“Human mating rituals give me a headache,” Renamon stated, rubbing the area directly above her muzzle.

 

“WHO EVER SAID I'D WANT TO MATE WITH THAT GOGGLEHEADED FOOL?!?” Rika shouted in her Digimon's face.

 

“When was Takato's name brought up in this conversation?”

 

Rika visually backed down. “If you hadn't been stubborn you could have had him at the end of the D-Reaper battle. He was available, interested and needing support,” Renamon stated standing up, “Excuse me for exceeding my boundaries, but to risk sounding cliché, you had your chance.”

 

“Why would I even want a chance with Gogglehead?” Rika laughed halfheartedly, throwing herself down on her bed, “They're bigger fish in the sea … like Robin.” She then glanced up at her Digimon who was seemingly head-butting the wall. “Something wrong?”

 

“Headache … getting worse …”

 

----

 

Later that night a young couple walked hand in hand down the street of Shinjuku. “You like it better then Gotham, Takato?” Annie asked beaming at the boy holding her hand.

 

“Yeah, its not as dark and creepy here,” Takato gave the girl's hand a small squeeze.

 

“I like it wherever you are, Takato,” Annie said as she let go of his hand and hugged his arm.

 

“Heh, thanks …” Takato blushed crimson, but continued walking with the girl. “It's getting late, can I walk you home?”

 

“No, but I can walk you home if you like?” Annie asked, looking up in the boy's eyes hopefully.

 

Takato felt a ping of warning, but shook it off as nerves, “Sure, I'd like that.”

 

Meanwhile above them, “She's hugging his arm!” Rika fumed.

 

“I thought we were looking for Robin, Rika?” Renamon asked, smirking at her Tamer.

 

“We are,” Rika nodded, “just so happens their walking path is the same path we're going. Purely coincidence.”

 

“Whatever you say, Rika,” Renamon rolled her eyes, and helped her to the next rooftop.

 

“HE'S PUT HIS ARM AROUND HER NOW, THE TWO TIMING GOGGLEBASTARD!” Rika all but screamed, her eyes glaring daggers at the couple.

 

“Could you be a little louder, I don't think they heard you in America, Rika,” Renamon shook her head, “And explain how he's two timing.”

 

“That was a … figure of speech, and what's with that smug look!” Rika growled, not taking her eyes off the couple, walking smack into a TV antenna on the roof.

 

“Would you get a hold of yourself, Rika?” Renamon scolded holding the back of the girl's shirt as she almost tumbled over the side.

 

“Oh! Oh! They're stopping!” Rika said quickly, clamping Renamon's mouth closed with both her hands. “Listen!”

 

“Little hussy,” Rika cursed, “The boy walks the girl home, not the other way around, … not that I'd have a idiot boy walk me home or anything but … no, Gogglehead, don't do it!”

 

Back down on the street, out front of the Takato's parents Bakery, Takato and Annie stood before each other holding hands.

 

“So this is where you live?” Annie asked, glancing over the bakery.

 

“Yup, this is my humble abode,” Takato smiled, “if you come by tomorrow before the Tamers meeting, I'll give you some free samples of my own baked bread.”

 

“I'd like that,” Annie smiled, “Thank you for the wonderful evening.”

 

The two were silent for a long moment, when Takato finally took the initiative and leaned forward.

 

Two pairs of eyes closed.

 

Two pairs of lips puckered.

 

Heads tilted and got closer and closer.

 

Pain of an empty can colliding with a goggled head shattered the mood as he collapsed to the ground from the force of the impact.

 

“Stupid kids …” Takato grumbled, rubbing the knot on his head, as he glanced up to see a giggling Annie waving goodbye as she walked around the corner. “Oh damn it!” He then looked at the multiple rooftops, “IF I EVER FIND OUT WHO DID THAT, I'LL KILL THEM!!”

 

“Are you sure that was wise, Rika?” Renamon asked following the girl who was walking away with her chest stuck out.

 

“Are you kidding? That was a bull's eye hit if I ever saw one!” Rika winked, but despite the wink and smile, her eyes had a pained feel to them. “Now that the mission is completed, lets go home.”

 

---

 

“Yes father, I learned where he lives and who his friends are.” A girl spoke in a shadowy alley.

 

“Very good, very good, anything especially useful?” a man's voice asked from the shadows.

 

“Yes, the girl, Rika, she seems to have feelings toward him, and I believe that they may be returned,” the girl replied.

 

“Excellent,” the voice chuckled, “Well, now Takato my boy, lets see what you're really made of!”

 

---

 

“WHOO HOO!!” Robin flipped through the air, free falling before finally firing his grappling hook and swinging to a rooftop, “I got kissed! Almost twice! If I could just figure out what little brat threw that can!” Robin shook his gloved fist before him, “What I'd give for a batcomputer.”

 

He glanced around to get a feel for where he was, not far from where Rika lives. He never could figure out where the need to especially patrol this area of town came from, but he never failed whenever he went on `autopilot' he would always end up in this area.

 

“What's this?” He asked when he saw a figure on a rooftop setting on the ledge leaning against a chimney. “Hope it's not a jumper, I hate jumpers.” He sighed, before firing his grapple to get a closer look.

 

He swung up to the shadows of the building and was surprised to see the figure to be Rika, who was sitting there with an incredibly sad look on her face.

 

Robin watched her for several moments before clearing his throat, “It's a school night, shouldn't you be asleep?”

 

“Robin!” Rika jumped, her wide eyes going straight to the Boy Wonder, “How do you do that! You're worse then my Digimon!”

 

“Years of training,” Robin smirked, “Again, shouldn't you be getting a beauty sleep, even though I doubt you could get much more beautiful.” He then blinked surprising himself, `Takato, where the hell did that come from?'

 

If his own words surprised him, the bright blush on Rika's face surprised him even more, `I thought she could only do that when she was about to hit me,' Robin thought as she stood up.

 

Rika approached him, and the closer she got the brighter red her face seemed to get. “Robin, can I ask you something?” Rika said in a tone of voice he had never heard her use before.

 

“Um … sure …” Robin said, struggling to keep his voice `bat-like'.

 

“You're supposed to be the apprentice of the world's greatest detective, so I want you to hit me with it how it is ok?” Rika said, staring at his boots, “And even though I don't know who you really are, I feel like I can trust you. So … how do I ask this …”

 

Rika then took a deep breath, “What are the signs that you need to look for in liking a someone?” Rika asked, looking up in the domino mask hopefully, “I mean like-like?”

 

`How the hell am I supposed to know, Rika?' Robin thought, as he stared blankly into her deep eyes, “Well … I uh … I guess … no … You just … well … you know it when all you can think about is being around them, and you smile when you're with them, no matter how mean or silly they can be. And when they're in danger all you can think about is their safety, even above your own. Yeah I guess that's it …” before he could say anything else Rika was pressing her lips to his.

 

“Rika …” Robin said pulling away, “you can't … like-like me, you don't know me …”

 

“I know enough,” Rika said softly, before pulling him back down for a deeper kiss, and this time, he returned it.

 

Robin's last functional thought before the kiss caused a mental shutdown was `what am I going to do?'

 

To Be Continued…

 

C. Cowboy: Sorry for the long wait guys, the next one will come quicker now, promise ^^ hope you've enjoyed it so far, and I promise I won't leave you guys hanging again!