Disclaimer:
I don't own anything about Digimon.No money is being made and no copyright or
trademark infringement is intended.

Author Notes:
Again I'm releasing this fic ahead of schedule but hey because people want to read
it doesn't mean I have to hold it to it's proper dates. Again I will state
That this fic is released early because of:
The Legendary Tamer
chibisilverstar
NekoKat
KaraXIII
litecrystal
april
Jen
keisan
EveningDarkAngel

Thank-You


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On The Line
Chapter 3/?


Rika yawned, shuffling through the shelves she looked around for something for
breakfast.

"Are you sure you don't want me to make you something dear?" asked Rika's Grandma.

"Yes Grandma," said Rika, "I don't want to be too full."

A knock on the door interrupted her Grandma from continuing the conversation. "I'll
get it," said Rika rushing towards the door. Opening the door wide she was greeted
by the sight of Henry carrying a tray of hot drinks, a large paper bag, and his back-bag,
with Terriermon settled on his head. "A bit early aren't you?" asked Rika scowling.

"Good morning to you to Rika," said Henry cheerfully, "I brought gifts."

Snatching the paper bag out of Henry's hand, Rika peered inside, the bag were filled
with sweet bread from Takato's family bakery. "Well come in then," said Rika eating
one of the sweet breads.

"Good morning Henry," said Rika Grandma seeing Henry, "I see you brought something
Rika is willing to eat."

"Good morning," said Henry bowing to Rika's Grandma.

"Henry," said Rika's mother greeting Henry with a hug.

"Morning Mrs. Nonaka," said Henry returning Rika's mother's hug.

"How is your parents?" asked Mrs. Nonaka pleasantly.

"They're fine," said Henry, "they told me that they would be happy to have dinner with
you tonight."

"That's great," said Rika's mom smiling, seeing Rika impatiently tapping her feet
waiting. Mrs. Nonaka smiled, "I'll leave you and my daughter to get work done now."

"Thank-you Mrs. Nonaka," said Henry politely remaining quiet he followed Rika to her
room.

Seeing Renamon, Terriermon jumped off Henry's head and followed Renamon out to the back
yard.

Setting down the tray of hot drinks and his bag Henry wordlessly handed one of the cups
to Rika.

Taking a careful sip she smiled as the taste of sweet tea filled her mouth, "So which do
we do first?"

Taking a drink out of his own cup Henry pulled out his favourite pencil from his pencil
case, "We'll start with your project first, all we need to do for mine is gluing so we
have plenty of time to complete it."

Nodding Rika picked up her own pencil, soon they were both hunch over the table putting
together Rika's presentation. After several hours they had finished putting together
Rika's project and glued the last parts of Henry's project.

"Done," sighed Rika stretching.

"Uh-huh," murmured Henry as he drained the last of his now cold drink.

"Henry, Rika are you staying for lunch?" asked Rika's grandma outside of Rika's room.

Henry glanced and Rika raising an eyebrow.

"No Grandma we're going out for lunch," said Rika scratching her head. Looking at Henry
who was packing his bag, "I want to get out we've been cooped up inside for half the day."

"Okay," said Henry, "where do you want to go?"

"Pizza," said Rika getting up, "leave your back-pack you can pick it up later."

Henry raised an eyebrow but he didn't argue, following Rika out the door they both stopped
by the back yard to get their Digimons.

"Terriermon Tornado!" shouted Terriermon spinning he unleashed a small tornado at Renamon
who jumped out of the way.

"Diamond Storm," shouted Renamon unleashing her attack, Terriermon took to a run using his
large ears he quickly glided up into the air.

"Terriermon," said Henry, "come down here."

"Renamon, let's go," said Rika.

The two tamers were not surprised since they had been spending time with each other
Terriermon and Renamon amused each other by practicing their fighting techniques on each
other. On the rare occasion one of them got hurt, it was nothing a Regen Card couldn't
fix.

"Where are we going Henry?" asked Terriermon floating down onto Henry's head.

"Lunch," answered Henry smiling up at his friend.

"What kind of lunch?" asked Terriermon his mood suddenly brightening up.

"Well I think we're going to get pizza," said Henry glancing at Rika who pulled on a
jacket.

Setting on her sunglasses she said goodbye to her grandma and left with Henry walking
by her side. The two tamers walked to the pizza restaurant in silence, arriving at
the restaurant they took a booth and decided on a large deluxe pizza.

"So how is memorizing the play going?" asked Henry eyeing the large bundle of paper
that was in Rika's hand.

"I memorized it but I can't act it," said Rika disgusted handing Henry the script.

"What do you mean?" asked Henry taking the script he began to read it.

"It's stupid I mean I'm suppose to play a naïve girl that has to chose between two
people," said Rika annoyed, "of course anyone could see who she should chose but her."

"What's the problem?" asked Henry frowning, still reading the script, "looks pretty
standard."

"I can't connect with this girl," said Rika sullenly, "I can't seem to become this
girl."

"Why don't you just be yourself?" asked Henry looking up from the script for a second.

"Rika gave Henry a wry look, "This is worth twenty-five percent of my mark Henry I don't
think beating up my fellow actors is going to help."

Henry chuckled, "Okay maybe you should be like Juri."

"That's not funny Henry," said Rika glaring.

"I'm sure you'll do well," said Henry encouragingly, finishing reading the script he
handed it back to Rika.

"You're getting good at speed reading Henry," said Rika taking back her script.

"You taught me how," said Henry smiling.

"Henry is that you?"

Henry and Rika turned to see a girl smiling brightly at them.

"Oh hi Alice," said Henry smiling, "I didn't see you."

"Oh I just got here," said Alice smiling brightly.

"Rika studied Alice, she had shoulder chestnut colour hair, her eyes were a bright blue,
and her skin was cream colour.

"Rika this is Alice Yamaki, a classmate," introduced Henry, "Alice this is Rika Nonaka a
close friend."

Rika could swear as she was shaking Alice's hand as soon as Henry said, `close friend'
Alice's face darkened.

"It's good to meet you Rika," said Alice smiling

Rika could tell that the smile was forced, "It's good to meet you to, Henry mentioned
about you."

"Really?" asked Alice her face brightening, "only good things I hope."

"Henry always says nice things about people," said Rika glancing at Henry who turned
slightly red.

"Well it was nice meeting you Rika, and seeing you Henry," said Alice giving a big
smile, "I'll see you at school?"

"Yeah see you on Monday," said Henry returning her smile.

Nodding happily Alice walked away to a table full of her friends.

"That was interesting," said Rika slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, you were surprisingly polite," said Henry grinning.

"Shut up Henry," said Rika giving Henry a small smile, "So that is Alice."

"Yes she is, what do you think?" asked Henry.

"She likes you," said Rika amused but somehow she felt a bit annoyed about it.

"Think I should ask her out?" asked Henry smiling in amusement.

"Do you like her?" asked Rika her eyes narrowing.

"Yes," said Henry grinning, "but then again you always point out I try to like
everyone."

"I mean a romantic like stupid," said Rika annoyed.

"Not sure," said Henry shrugging.

"Maybe you should give it a try," said Rika calmly, for some reason she felt annoyed
about what she said.

"Hmmm... Maybe I'll ask her to get a drink with me after school," mused Henry.

"That would be a start," said Rika, now she felt a pang of jealousy.

Before she could continue the conversation, the pizza arrived, the two tamers dug in to
their pizza but the subject was changed to about the carnival they were going to tomorrow.
After finishing two slices each they packed the rest, Rika paying for the bill allowed
Henry to carry the pizza out. Walking to the park they went to their secret area, once
they were searching the park for Calumon they found him in a small grove hidden from sight
but it had a great view of the city.

Putting down the still hot pizza Terriermon and Renamon ate together as Rika and Henry sat
against a tree allowing them to have a view at the city below them.

"A lot has changed," said Henry quietly.

Rika looked at Henry surprised, she knew the look that he had, there was something
bothering him.

Henry sighed turning to Rika he saw her face, it held a neutral expression but over the
years Henry had learned how to read her eyes and they told him that she was worried for
him. "Don't worry Rika it's nothing," said Henry.

"Share," said Rika her eyes narrowing, the two of them had a game between them where if
there was something that one of them would like to know but the other wasn't willing to
tell they invoked their `share' privileges. This meant that the other would have to tell
what the other person wanted to know, the price however was that the one invoking the
privilege would have to share something as well.

"Do you ever miss the old days?" asked Henry looking at Rika with a grin.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you know, not having to worry about all these things we worry now," said Henry
smiling, "Our lives are just so complicated now sometimes I would give anything just to
be thirteen again and worry about a Digimon threat instead of my future, school, girls,
and trying to keep up my old friends."

Rika stiffened looking at Henry quietly, "Is this a way of Henry telling me that he
didn't want to keep our friendship?" wondered Rika.

"I mean our lives are getting busy," said Henry staring out at the city, "there's not
enough time in the day and sometimes it's hard and I don't want to let things go but I
don't have the time or energy to keep up with things."

"Maybe you should cut down on some of your responsibilities then," said Rika quietly
looking away from Henry.

Henry laughed, "If I could I don't think I would, I like my life the way it is but I'm
just worried that I can't keep this up. There is just so much things to worry about
with the future coming closer by each day."

Rika sighed, "But you don't have to worry about it all by yourself you have friends and
family to help you."

Henry smiled touching Rika on the shoulder, "Thanks."

Rika stiffened at Henry's touch, usually she would shrug of anyone touching her, but
this time something was different.

"You're a great friend Rika I don't think I'll know what to do if I didn't have you,"
said Henry quietly.

Rika sighed quietly her friendship with Henry meant more to her then she let on but now
she knew Henry felt the same way of their friendship.

"Share," said Henry looking at Rika who was staying quiet.

Rika smiled, placing her hand over Henry's that was on her shoulder, "Likewise Henry Wong
but if you ever tell anyone I'll throttle you."

Henry smiled it was comfortable with Rika's hand on his sitting back the two tamers just
watched the city as time past. Later they ate at one of their favourite vendors in the
park, paying for their hotdogs Henry turned to Rika who was taking a bite into her hotdog,
"We should be heading back."

Rika nodded, they headed back to Rika's home in silence eating their hotdogs.

"So I'll meet you at your place tomorrow?" asked Rika as Henry shrugged on his backpack.

"Yeah," said Henry smiling at Rika, "Goodnight Rika."

"Goodnight Henry," said Rika closing her door, turning around she found herself looking
at her mother.

"Had a good time dear?" asked Mrs. Nonaka.

"Yes mom," said Rika suspiciously.

"He's a nice boy," commented her mother with a small smile.

"Oh no mom, not that Henry and I are just friends," said Rika annoyed.

"I didn't say anything to the contrary dear," said her mom, her smile getting larger,
"I'd say you're a bit touchy on the situation. Besides I don't see you doing this with
all your friends or boyfriend."

"Henry is well Henry," said Rika crossing her arms, "Henry really isn't a friend and he
definitely isn't a boyfriend."

"His Henry," said Rika's mother smiling, "Goodnight dear."

"Goodnight mom," said Rika annoyed, somehow she felt like she lost a round of argument
with her mother.


************************


"I'm home!" shouted Henry putting away his jacket in the closet.

"How was tonight?" asked his father.

"Okay," said Henry, "anyone else is home?"

"Well your oldest sister is at University so no for her, Suzy is in her room and I think
she had too much sweets so I would stay away from her," said his father smiling, "your
mom is finishing some of her work in the study."

Nodding Henry started to head towards his room.

"Henry?"

"Yes dad?" asked Henry turning to his father.

"What do you think about Rika?"

"What brought this on?" asked Henry sitting down in the living room.

"Just something her mother brought up at dinner," said Henry's dad taking a drink from
his mug.

"Well she's Rika," said Henry confused, "she's a close friend."

"Just a close friend?" asked his father smiling, "you don't spend that much time with
Takato, Kenta, Kazu, or Juri."

"Well maybe she really isn't a friend," said Henry his eyes narrowing, "and if your
implying a she's a girlfriend trust me, she doesn't think of me that way."

"She's just Rika," said his father finishing Henry's sentence.

Henry nodded uncomfortably, "Will you tell me what this all about?"

"Not just yet Henry," said his father warmly, "maybe you'll see what I'm talking about
this year."

"Huh?" asked Henry confused, "Now your confusing me dad."

"Goodnight son," said his father picking up his newspaper.

"Goodnight dad," said Henry walking to his room confused.