Yeah, last year I wrote a Genkyouien X-mas Special. This time I'll write something with the Tamers.
This story should be treated canon within the Gardens of Babylon setting, taking place the Christmas three or so months before the Prelude.
WARNING: this is Rukato-ish. Actually, scratch that, this is Rukato, period. You've been warned.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Christmas. I think it is not even possible to own Christmas. Then again, with people nowadays claiming ownership of the Sun and shit like that, you never know.
By the way, I do not own Digimon, either.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GARDENS OF BABYLON
Chapter -04
Christmas Chapter û White Pansies for Your Loneliness
Makino Rumiko had a problem.
In fact, she had several problems, some more important than others, but all of them worrisome.
As expected, the atmosphere of Christmas could be felt everywhere, even in the rather non-descript supermarket she was visiting that late afternoon.
After glancing at the simple red and green adornments dangling from the ceiling, the young mother focused on the most immediate of her current problems.
ôHmmàö
Biting her lower lip, the model cursed her womanly pride that dumped her into her current predicament. Only because of that stupid argument she had with her daughter. Did Ruki not recognize the effort she went through raising her?
Of course, it was tough, becoming a mother so young; and she would always be grateful to her own mother for her support. So, why the hell did she feel the need to prove herself? To her daughter, of all people!
She was Makino Rumiko, mother of Makino Ruki! She didnÆt need to prove that!
Then again, she could see RukiÆs point; and she somewhat understood why her daughter was in a bad mood, but stillà
She looked at the empty shopping basket she carried, and then sighed.
ôInstead of sighing like that, you should share your problems with someone, Makino-san.ö
The womanÆs eyes fell on a boy standing just three steps to her left and reaching for a bottle of vinegar on the nearby shelf.
ôVinegar is go!ö Matsuda Takato butchered the English language with a smile. The same smile which then fell upon RumikoÆs surprised face.
ôGood afternoon.ö
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ôI know IÆve said it several times already, but youÆre a real lifesaver, Takato-kun!ö the smiling woman declared while her right hand idly worked on the simmering pot in front of her.
Takato grinned and tried to look shy.
ôAaah, itÆs what I do best: lifesaving.ö His right index finger pointed straight up so as to make a point. ôYou can ask Katou-san, you know.ö
ôMy, so very humble.ö
Woman and child exchanged a round of chuckles.
ôNee, am I supposed to keep stirring?ö
ôOoh, definitely; until everything has blended well,ö Takato declared, while he made sure the rice was properly cooked. Not that it was necessary, with the blessing of Japanese rice cooking technology, but still. With that done, he moved on to chopping and slicing the vegetables Rumiko had washed. It was salad-making time.
A part of RumikoÆs mind reminded her that she should feel ashamed of having to ask a child her daughterÆs age for help buying ingredients for curry, as well as for cooking the aforementioned curry itself.
ôHas Makino-san made a salad before?ö
The woman made a face. At least she had the decency to look embarrassed.
ôIàmight have seen mother make oneàfrom time to timeàö
Takato quietly stared at the young and rather unskilled mother. Rumiko actually pouted and looked away making an adorable ôtsun!ö sound.
ôI-IÆm a working woman, you know!ö
ôàright. Well, thereÆs always a first time, they say! I will take care of the curry so Makino-san can make the salad.ö
ôBu-But Iàö
Takato grinned and presented the chopping knife to the unusually nervous woman.
ôItÆs okay, itÆs okay; itÆs not hard and you know it, maÆam.ö
This was how RumikoÆs mother, Seiko, found the odd couple in the kitchen.
ôHmm, smells surprisingly good,ö she admitted after filling her nostrils with the aroma of simmering curry.
ôWhat do you mean, æsurprisinglyÆ?ö Rumiko was quick to complain, and Takato realized Ruki was truly her motherÆs daughter.
The fake blonde relaxed after the prompt complain, though. ôMaa, I guess itÆs because I have a good teacher.ö
Takato mock-sobbed. ôOh, if only your daughter were half as obedient, Makino-sanàö He then quickly bowed to the oldest resident. ôGood afternoon, Hata-san.ö
ôTakato-kun,ö the woman responded with a slight bow and gentle smile. ôThank you for taking care of my daughter.ö She then turned her attention to the stated daughter. ôYou should be ashamed of yourself,ö she joked.
ôI am now,ö Rumiko deadpanned, but then she pounced on Takato with a smirk. ôSo, youÆd prefer Ruki to be more obedient, hmm?ö
ôWith all due respect, maÆam, are you kidding me?ö Takato quickly replied while checking on the curry one more time. He guessed it was plenty stirred; he could just let it simmer some more. ôThat would be creepy. Extremely creepy. I say sheÆs fine just the way she is.ö
He paused, before glancing nervously at both women.
ôJust donÆt tell her I said that, okay?ö
Rumiko smirked. ôMy lips are sealed.ö
It was TakatoÆs turn to deadpan. ôYou are a terrible liar, Makino-san.ö
ôI know,ö Seiko admitted. ôI still say thatÆs why she never made it as an actress.ö
ôHey!ö Suddenly the object of the other twoÆs laughter, Rumiko could only pout cutely. ôAnyway, IÆve put all the vegetables in one bowl. What now?ö
Takato never ever imagined he would be asked such a seemingly obvious question.
ôWellàwhat can we addà?ö
ôThereÆs truffle oil in the cabinet in front of my daughter.ö
ôCool.ö
ôIÆll get it,ö Rumiko immediately declared, eager to make herself useful. ôIs this it?ö
ôYou got that right, maÆamàoh, made of actual truffles. How nice,ö Takato said while gazing appreciatively at the fancy-looking elongated bottle.
ôIsnÆt it?ö Seiko nodded, acknowledging the boyÆs feelings.
ôWhatÆs that supposed to mean?ö Rumiko wondered; her tone as if scolding Takato for saying something silly. ôItÆs truffle oil; of course itÆs made of truffles.ö
ôNot really,ö her mother quickly explained. ôReal truffles are very expensive, so most truffle oils you find in the market are actually synthetic. That tiny bottle in your hands; you donÆt want to know how much I paid for it.ö
ôHmmàö Rumiko suddenly grinned. ôYou see, Takato-kun? I might not know my way around my own kitchenùô
ôNah, I wouldnÆt even call it æyourÆ kitchen, Makino-sanàö
ôùbut at least my job makes sure my family has quality ingredients, hohoho~ö
Takato had to chuckle at that.
ôI see that, yesàö He took the bottle from RumikoÆs hands and opened it to very quickly capture the scent. ôItÆsàmild, like I expected. Damn, IÆm kinda jealous.ö
Rumiko felt somewhat uncomfortable at that, as she remembered this was the humble son of a pair of humble bakers. It was like she was rubbing her wealth on his face.
Seiko smiled at the sight of her daughterÆs discomfort. Her daughter was an open book to her.
Takato offered the open bottle to RukiÆs mother. ôNow, please add some oil to the mix and stir the vegetables so that theyÆre all soakedùoh, but pour just a tiny little bit; you really donÆt need much at all to give the salad a nice flavor.ö
ôAnd remember the oil is awfully expensive, so donÆt waste it,ö Seiko promptly added.
ôYe-Yeahàö
Takato grinned, and SeikoÆs expression softened as well.
Even my daughter can learn a thing or two from this boy.
ôUmmàsorry to bother you, butàcan you help me set up the table, Hata-san?ö
ôWell of course.ö
They were in the middle of that when Renamon phased into view in the middle of the dining room.
ôI am back.ö
ôWelcome home,ö Seiko responded, while Rumiko and Takato just flashed smiles at the Digimon.
ôMatsuda Takato,ö the Child-level focused on the MakinosÆ guest. ôI have successfully delivered the groceries to your residence.ö
Takato and Rumiko met in the supermarket for a reason, after all. The fashion celebrity learned that Takato apparently knew exactly when every supermarket, general stone and grocery stall in the district offered discounts, both general and of specific products. That explained why they met at a place far closer to her residence than to his own.
She would have to mention this knowledge to her mother, if she was not aware of it already, that is.
ôAnd I thank you for that, Renamon. Though, you kinda took your time, didnÆt you?ö
ôàyour mother insisted I tried some æGuilmon BreadÆ.ö
ôAhàahahaàhow nice of heràö
Takato had to appreciate his motherÆs effort. He knew she was still a little wary of Digimon in general.
He guessed she was a bit glad he was not a Tamer anymore, even if she had nothing against Guilmon.
ôPlease, allow me to help you, Seiko-san,ö Renamon joined in setting up the dining table, allowing RukiÆs grandmother to engage in more idle conversation. Meanwhile, Rumiko took a sip of the curry when she thought nobody was looking, and amazed herself at the taste.
ôBut, I must say, IÆm quite impressed by your skill at the kitchen, Takato-kun,ö Seiko declared, cueing TakatoÆs mild embarrassment.
ôAh, wellàö He scratched the back of his head. ôMom taught meàsometimes I have to handle the house chores on my own so mom and dad can focus on the bakery.ö He shrugged. ôMaa, I guess itÆs good practice for when IÆm on my own.ö
Seiko grinned. ôItÆs nice to see a young man who does not expect his woman to shoulder the entire burden of housekeeping.ö
ôWellàö Takato made a face; the conversation was treading into a strange direction. However, he maintained his cool.
Ever since his Digimon adventure, he made an oath to remain cool no matter the circumstances. It mostly worked.
He pointedly stared at Rumiko.
ôNowadays you cannot just assume a woman knows her way around the house, you knowàö
ôUghàö the young woman grimaced. ôTo be put down by a childàö
Takato and Seiko laughed together, while Renamon remained politely quiet.
ôBut, really, we can even look at the Tamers.ö Takato was on a roll. ôI donÆt even need to bring up Katou-san: sheÆs pretty much housewife material. Did you know she already cooks her own bento?ö
The women shook their heads in unison. Takato smiled tenderly as his mind filled with fond thoughts of his good friend Katou Juri.
Rumiko and her mother exchanged (worried?/forlorn?) glances.
ôI know both Kenta and Lee-kun can cook a little bit. Kazu wonÆt touch the kitchen with a three-meter pole, but I know his mother makes him do plenty of chores, so he knows his housework.ö
The women nodded as if listening to a lecture.
ôNow, letÆs look at Ruki. She canÆt cook, can she?ö
ôTakatoàö Renamon called out in an admittedly quiet tone.
ôIàhonestly donÆt think she does,ö Seiko admitted, noticing her daughter was looking at her as if expecting an answer. ôIÆve never taught her, I can say.ö
ôWell there you go.ö
ôTakatoàö Renamon tried again.
ôYou see, Ruki wants to give off this image of a strong, independent girl, but how does she expect me to take her seriously if she canÆt even cook? Haaàö Shaking his head, Takato sighed exaggeratedly. ôAs her friend, IÆm a bit worried, you knowàö
Rumiko and Seiko chuckledàand then went awfully quiet. And still.
ôHaaàö Takato sighed again, completely lost in his monologue. ôSeriously, that girl, what will be of her? What if she goes to a college far from home and she has to live on her own?ö He shook his head, truly looking like a mother rambling about a worrisome child. ôWhat about when she marries? When she raises her own family? Oh, those poor children, living on instant ramen, and microwave food, andùô
ôIÆm home.ö
It was a terrible, ominous voice, coated in darkness and promises of blood and carnage.
The boy met RukiÆs stone-cutting glare, his expression unchanging.
ôOh, welcome home, Ruki. We were just talking about you.ö
It was more Takato rambling on his own, but he did not dabble in semantics.
ôYes, I noticed.ö
If words could kill Takato would be paying his fee at the Sanzu River at this point.
ôYou donÆt seem very worried, Takato-kun,ö Seiko mused, admittedly amused by the situation and the boyÆs straightforwardness.
ôNah, not really. ItÆs one of the rules of my life, you see: æwhenever you are truly having fun, undoubtedly and inevitably Ruki will show up to end itÆ.ö He paused. ôWell, while I was in the Digltal World I replaced æRukiÆ with æa hungry DigimonÆ, but, really, itÆs not much of a difference.ö
Renamon could see the temperature in the vicinity of her Tamer increased somewhat. Or decreased; it was hard to tell.
ôHmmàö Rumiko spoke quietly close to Takato. ôYou are aware youÆre digging deeper and deeper, right?ö
ôWhat can I say? IÆm already screwed, so why bother saving grace?ö
ôYouàyou littleàguhà!ö
Takato was acting like he was without a care in the world, but in truth he was keeping a very close watch on Ruki.
The first pounce was critical, after all.
ôYou little know-it-all Gogglehead! DIE!ö
Using the Storyteller system as a reference, we could say Takato has a Dodge Specialty in Ruki.
ôProtect the curry, Makino-san!ö Takato cried out just as he darted to the side and away from his friendÆs (?) lunge.
ôYes!ö Rumiko happily replied, stepping in front of the oven just in case.
Fortunately, Takato swiftly and skillfully led the chase out of the kitchen and into the vast garden space.
ôWah! Wait, Ruki! If youÆre angry æbout what I said, I can just compliment you or something! Whoa!ö
ôShut up and beg for mercy!ö
ôI canÆt do both at the same time! Wah! Careful thereùthat could actually hurt me!ö
ôBe a man and let me hurt you!ö
ôHOW IS THAT BEING A MAN!?ö
ôAhaha, how amusing,ö Seiko delighted at the sight of the awkward chase.
ôIàdonÆt think thatÆs normal,ö Rumiko muttered, worried about her daughterÆs rather fuzzy femininity.
ôAh, well, Ruki does not chase any of her other friends around when they bother her, does she?ö
RumikoÆs eyes settled on watching the end of the chase.
That, and the wide smile on her daughterÆs face.
ôOhàö
ôGot you!ö RukiÆs hands closed on the back of TakatoÆs shirt, allowing her to fiercely pull him towards her to seize him in a headlock. ôEat fist, Gogglehead!ö
ôBut IÆm not hungry yetùoof!ö
ôIÆll shut your wise-ass mouth, damn it!ö
ôWaahùgive, I give! Mercy!ö
ôAhahaha! You could not be more pathetic, Takato!ö
ôI thought you wanted me to beg!ö
ôYes! IÆll make you shriek like the pathetic pig you are!ö
ôGuh! Ow! Ouch! Me-mercy! Have mercy on your pathetic pig, Mistress!ö
ôNo mercy!ö Ruki barked between bumps, fists and laughs. ôCome on! Shriek like a pig! Buhii! Bu-hii! Say it!ö
ôNever! Ow!ö
Rumiko glanced at her mother. ôIs that normal as well?ö
ôWe-Wellàö SeikoÆs voice faltered as she tried to act nonchalant. ôChildren these days are quite bold, you knowà?ö
This story should be treated canon within the Gardens of Babylon setting, taking place the Christmas three or so months before the Prelude.
WARNING: this is Rukato-ish. Actually, scratch that, this is Rukato, period. You've been warned.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Christmas. I think it is not even possible to own Christmas. Then again, with people nowadays claiming ownership of the Sun and shit like that, you never know.
By the way, I do not own Digimon, either.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GARDENS OF BABYLON
Chapter -04
Christmas Chapter û White Pansies for Your Loneliness
Makino Rumiko had a problem.
In fact, she had several problems, some more important than others, but all of them worrisome.
As expected, the atmosphere of Christmas could be felt everywhere, even in the rather non-descript supermarket she was visiting that late afternoon.
After glancing at the simple red and green adornments dangling from the ceiling, the young mother focused on the most immediate of her current problems.
ôHmmàö
Biting her lower lip, the model cursed her womanly pride that dumped her into her current predicament. Only because of that stupid argument she had with her daughter. Did Ruki not recognize the effort she went through raising her?
Of course, it was tough, becoming a mother so young; and she would always be grateful to her own mother for her support. So, why the hell did she feel the need to prove herself? To her daughter, of all people!
She was Makino Rumiko, mother of Makino Ruki! She didnÆt need to prove that!
Then again, she could see RukiÆs point; and she somewhat understood why her daughter was in a bad mood, but stillà
She looked at the empty shopping basket she carried, and then sighed.
ôInstead of sighing like that, you should share your problems with someone, Makino-san.ö
The womanÆs eyes fell on a boy standing just three steps to her left and reaching for a bottle of vinegar on the nearby shelf.
ôVinegar is go!ö Matsuda Takato butchered the English language with a smile. The same smile which then fell upon RumikoÆs surprised face.
ôGood afternoon.ö
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ôI know IÆve said it several times already, but youÆre a real lifesaver, Takato-kun!ö the smiling woman declared while her right hand idly worked on the simmering pot in front of her.
Takato grinned and tried to look shy.
ôAaah, itÆs what I do best: lifesaving.ö His right index finger pointed straight up so as to make a point. ôYou can ask Katou-san, you know.ö
ôMy, so very humble.ö
Woman and child exchanged a round of chuckles.
ôNee, am I supposed to keep stirring?ö
ôOoh, definitely; until everything has blended well,ö Takato declared, while he made sure the rice was properly cooked. Not that it was necessary, with the blessing of Japanese rice cooking technology, but still. With that done, he moved on to chopping and slicing the vegetables Rumiko had washed. It was salad-making time.
A part of RumikoÆs mind reminded her that she should feel ashamed of having to ask a child her daughterÆs age for help buying ingredients for curry, as well as for cooking the aforementioned curry itself.
ôHas Makino-san made a salad before?ö
The woman made a face. At least she had the decency to look embarrassed.
ôIàmight have seen mother make oneàfrom time to timeàö
Takato quietly stared at the young and rather unskilled mother. Rumiko actually pouted and looked away making an adorable ôtsun!ö sound.
ôI-IÆm a working woman, you know!ö
ôàright. Well, thereÆs always a first time, they say! I will take care of the curry so Makino-san can make the salad.ö
ôBu-But Iàö
Takato grinned and presented the chopping knife to the unusually nervous woman.
ôItÆs okay, itÆs okay; itÆs not hard and you know it, maÆam.ö
This was how RumikoÆs mother, Seiko, found the odd couple in the kitchen.
ôHmm, smells surprisingly good,ö she admitted after filling her nostrils with the aroma of simmering curry.
ôWhat do you mean, æsurprisinglyÆ?ö Rumiko was quick to complain, and Takato realized Ruki was truly her motherÆs daughter.
The fake blonde relaxed after the prompt complain, though. ôMaa, I guess itÆs because I have a good teacher.ö
Takato mock-sobbed. ôOh, if only your daughter were half as obedient, Makino-sanàö He then quickly bowed to the oldest resident. ôGood afternoon, Hata-san.ö
ôTakato-kun,ö the woman responded with a slight bow and gentle smile. ôThank you for taking care of my daughter.ö She then turned her attention to the stated daughter. ôYou should be ashamed of yourself,ö she joked.
ôI am now,ö Rumiko deadpanned, but then she pounced on Takato with a smirk. ôSo, youÆd prefer Ruki to be more obedient, hmm?ö
ôWith all due respect, maÆam, are you kidding me?ö Takato quickly replied while checking on the curry one more time. He guessed it was plenty stirred; he could just let it simmer some more. ôThat would be creepy. Extremely creepy. I say sheÆs fine just the way she is.ö
He paused, before glancing nervously at both women.
ôJust donÆt tell her I said that, okay?ö
Rumiko smirked. ôMy lips are sealed.ö
It was TakatoÆs turn to deadpan. ôYou are a terrible liar, Makino-san.ö
ôI know,ö Seiko admitted. ôI still say thatÆs why she never made it as an actress.ö
ôHey!ö Suddenly the object of the other twoÆs laughter, Rumiko could only pout cutely. ôAnyway, IÆve put all the vegetables in one bowl. What now?ö
Takato never ever imagined he would be asked such a seemingly obvious question.
ôWellàwhat can we addà?ö
ôThereÆs truffle oil in the cabinet in front of my daughter.ö
ôCool.ö
ôIÆll get it,ö Rumiko immediately declared, eager to make herself useful. ôIs this it?ö
ôYou got that right, maÆamàoh, made of actual truffles. How nice,ö Takato said while gazing appreciatively at the fancy-looking elongated bottle.
ôIsnÆt it?ö Seiko nodded, acknowledging the boyÆs feelings.
ôWhatÆs that supposed to mean?ö Rumiko wondered; her tone as if scolding Takato for saying something silly. ôItÆs truffle oil; of course itÆs made of truffles.ö
ôNot really,ö her mother quickly explained. ôReal truffles are very expensive, so most truffle oils you find in the market are actually synthetic. That tiny bottle in your hands; you donÆt want to know how much I paid for it.ö
ôHmmàö Rumiko suddenly grinned. ôYou see, Takato-kun? I might not know my way around my own kitchenùô
ôNah, I wouldnÆt even call it æyourÆ kitchen, Makino-sanàö
ôùbut at least my job makes sure my family has quality ingredients, hohoho~ö
Takato had to chuckle at that.
ôI see that, yesàö He took the bottle from RumikoÆs hands and opened it to very quickly capture the scent. ôItÆsàmild, like I expected. Damn, IÆm kinda jealous.ö
Rumiko felt somewhat uncomfortable at that, as she remembered this was the humble son of a pair of humble bakers. It was like she was rubbing her wealth on his face.
Seiko smiled at the sight of her daughterÆs discomfort. Her daughter was an open book to her.
Takato offered the open bottle to RukiÆs mother. ôNow, please add some oil to the mix and stir the vegetables so that theyÆre all soakedùoh, but pour just a tiny little bit; you really donÆt need much at all to give the salad a nice flavor.ö
ôAnd remember the oil is awfully expensive, so donÆt waste it,ö Seiko promptly added.
ôYe-Yeahàö
Takato grinned, and SeikoÆs expression softened as well.
Even my daughter can learn a thing or two from this boy.
ôUmmàsorry to bother you, butàcan you help me set up the table, Hata-san?ö
ôWell of course.ö
They were in the middle of that when Renamon phased into view in the middle of the dining room.
ôI am back.ö
ôWelcome home,ö Seiko responded, while Rumiko and Takato just flashed smiles at the Digimon.
ôMatsuda Takato,ö the Child-level focused on the MakinosÆ guest. ôI have successfully delivered the groceries to your residence.ö
Takato and Rumiko met in the supermarket for a reason, after all. The fashion celebrity learned that Takato apparently knew exactly when every supermarket, general stone and grocery stall in the district offered discounts, both general and of specific products. That explained why they met at a place far closer to her residence than to his own.
She would have to mention this knowledge to her mother, if she was not aware of it already, that is.
ôAnd I thank you for that, Renamon. Though, you kinda took your time, didnÆt you?ö
ôàyour mother insisted I tried some æGuilmon BreadÆ.ö
ôAhàahahaàhow nice of heràö
Takato had to appreciate his motherÆs effort. He knew she was still a little wary of Digimon in general.
He guessed she was a bit glad he was not a Tamer anymore, even if she had nothing against Guilmon.
ôPlease, allow me to help you, Seiko-san,ö Renamon joined in setting up the dining table, allowing RukiÆs grandmother to engage in more idle conversation. Meanwhile, Rumiko took a sip of the curry when she thought nobody was looking, and amazed herself at the taste.
ôBut, I must say, IÆm quite impressed by your skill at the kitchen, Takato-kun,ö Seiko declared, cueing TakatoÆs mild embarrassment.
ôAh, wellàö He scratched the back of his head. ôMom taught meàsometimes I have to handle the house chores on my own so mom and dad can focus on the bakery.ö He shrugged. ôMaa, I guess itÆs good practice for when IÆm on my own.ö
Seiko grinned. ôItÆs nice to see a young man who does not expect his woman to shoulder the entire burden of housekeeping.ö
ôWellàö Takato made a face; the conversation was treading into a strange direction. However, he maintained his cool.
Ever since his Digimon adventure, he made an oath to remain cool no matter the circumstances. It mostly worked.
He pointedly stared at Rumiko.
ôNowadays you cannot just assume a woman knows her way around the house, you knowàö
ôUghàö the young woman grimaced. ôTo be put down by a childàö
Takato and Seiko laughed together, while Renamon remained politely quiet.
ôBut, really, we can even look at the Tamers.ö Takato was on a roll. ôI donÆt even need to bring up Katou-san: sheÆs pretty much housewife material. Did you know she already cooks her own bento?ö
The women shook their heads in unison. Takato smiled tenderly as his mind filled with fond thoughts of his good friend Katou Juri.
Rumiko and her mother exchanged (worried?/forlorn?) glances.
ôI know both Kenta and Lee-kun can cook a little bit. Kazu wonÆt touch the kitchen with a three-meter pole, but I know his mother makes him do plenty of chores, so he knows his housework.ö
The women nodded as if listening to a lecture.
ôNow, letÆs look at Ruki. She canÆt cook, can she?ö
ôTakatoàö Renamon called out in an admittedly quiet tone.
ôIàhonestly donÆt think she does,ö Seiko admitted, noticing her daughter was looking at her as if expecting an answer. ôIÆve never taught her, I can say.ö
ôWell there you go.ö
ôTakatoàö Renamon tried again.
ôYou see, Ruki wants to give off this image of a strong, independent girl, but how does she expect me to take her seriously if she canÆt even cook? Haaàö Shaking his head, Takato sighed exaggeratedly. ôAs her friend, IÆm a bit worried, you knowàö
Rumiko and Seiko chuckledàand then went awfully quiet. And still.
ôHaaàö Takato sighed again, completely lost in his monologue. ôSeriously, that girl, what will be of her? What if she goes to a college far from home and she has to live on her own?ö He shook his head, truly looking like a mother rambling about a worrisome child. ôWhat about when she marries? When she raises her own family? Oh, those poor children, living on instant ramen, and microwave food, andùô
ôIÆm home.ö
It was a terrible, ominous voice, coated in darkness and promises of blood and carnage.
The boy met RukiÆs stone-cutting glare, his expression unchanging.
ôOh, welcome home, Ruki. We were just talking about you.ö
It was more Takato rambling on his own, but he did not dabble in semantics.
ôYes, I noticed.ö
If words could kill Takato would be paying his fee at the Sanzu River at this point.
ôYou donÆt seem very worried, Takato-kun,ö Seiko mused, admittedly amused by the situation and the boyÆs straightforwardness.
ôNah, not really. ItÆs one of the rules of my life, you see: æwhenever you are truly having fun, undoubtedly and inevitably Ruki will show up to end itÆ.ö He paused. ôWell, while I was in the Digltal World I replaced æRukiÆ with æa hungry DigimonÆ, but, really, itÆs not much of a difference.ö
Renamon could see the temperature in the vicinity of her Tamer increased somewhat. Or decreased; it was hard to tell.
ôHmmàö Rumiko spoke quietly close to Takato. ôYou are aware youÆre digging deeper and deeper, right?ö
ôWhat can I say? IÆm already screwed, so why bother saving grace?ö
ôYouàyou littleàguhà!ö
Takato was acting like he was without a care in the world, but in truth he was keeping a very close watch on Ruki.
The first pounce was critical, after all.
ôYou little know-it-all Gogglehead! DIE!ö
Using the Storyteller system as a reference, we could say Takato has a Dodge Specialty in Ruki.
ôProtect the curry, Makino-san!ö Takato cried out just as he darted to the side and away from his friendÆs (?) lunge.
ôYes!ö Rumiko happily replied, stepping in front of the oven just in case.
Fortunately, Takato swiftly and skillfully led the chase out of the kitchen and into the vast garden space.
ôWah! Wait, Ruki! If youÆre angry æbout what I said, I can just compliment you or something! Whoa!ö
ôShut up and beg for mercy!ö
ôI canÆt do both at the same time! Wah! Careful thereùthat could actually hurt me!ö
ôBe a man and let me hurt you!ö
ôHOW IS THAT BEING A MAN!?ö
ôAhaha, how amusing,ö Seiko delighted at the sight of the awkward chase.
ôIàdonÆt think thatÆs normal,ö Rumiko muttered, worried about her daughterÆs rather fuzzy femininity.
ôAh, well, Ruki does not chase any of her other friends around when they bother her, does she?ö
RumikoÆs eyes settled on watching the end of the chase.
That, and the wide smile on her daughterÆs face.
ôOhàö
ôGot you!ö RukiÆs hands closed on the back of TakatoÆs shirt, allowing her to fiercely pull him towards her to seize him in a headlock. ôEat fist, Gogglehead!ö
ôBut IÆm not hungry yetùoof!ö
ôIÆll shut your wise-ass mouth, damn it!ö
ôWaahùgive, I give! Mercy!ö
ôAhahaha! You could not be more pathetic, Takato!ö
ôI thought you wanted me to beg!ö
ôYes! IÆll make you shriek like the pathetic pig you are!ö
ôGuh! Ow! Ouch! Me-mercy! Have mercy on your pathetic pig, Mistress!ö
ôNo mercy!ö Ruki barked between bumps, fists and laughs. ôCome on! Shriek like a pig! Buhii! Bu-hii! Say it!ö
ôNever! Ow!ö
Rumiko glanced at her mother. ôIs that normal as well?ö
ôWe-Wellàö SeikoÆs voice faltered as she tried to act nonchalant. ôChildren these days are quite bold, you knowà?ö
