a/n: Here’s chapter three of More than Rivals!!^^ Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Thanks a lot! and sorry about the grammar mistakes, and I know they are slightly OOC, sorry about that..~~;; I’ll try my best to keep them in character, we all know Rika isn’t a cold person anymore, she’s just got not-so-good attitude.-_-;; And for Henry, he fights with Rika sometimes in the show ^_~ , but anyhow, I’ll try to keep them in as in character as possible~^^~

p.s. Keisan, nope I suck at Math too..-_-;;;

Chapter Three


After spent a period of time to argue who’s going to cook breakfast, Henry finally came up with a idea that for once in their life two of them both agrees.

Henry sighed, “Okay, how about this, why don’t I cook for one day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you cook for the other day? And we will routine like this?”

Rika rolled her eyes, “ This is stupid.”

Henry snorted, “ Yeah I know, but if only some one’s willing to cook, this solution wouldn’t be happening, now would it?”

“ Whatever.” Rika glared at him.

“ Anyways, I’m going to cook breakfast now, and after we eat maybe I can show you around the city. In case some day you run away and it’s always better that you know the way to come back.” Henry chuckled. Rika glared at him hard. She turned away and walked to up stairs to her room.

Henry just shook his head as she disappeared, and went into the kitchen began to cook breakfast.

***
Rika lay on her bed, eyes looking at the ceiling blankly,

‘What’s wrong with that guy anyway? He made it sounds like I wanted to live here or something, which I don’t!’ Rika thought angry. Suddenly she smelled something that were coming from outside, she sniffed, and sniffed again to identify the smell -- Smoke! Rika’s eyes widened she quickly got up from her bed and opened her door,

“ Henry Wong what did you do?!” Rika yelled from her room as she coughed violently, the smell of the smoke’s getting stronger, there were smoke all around the house and Rika could tell it was coming from the kitchen.

Henry’s head popped up from the smoke “ What do you think??? I screwed up the breakfast what else! Do you mind? I need a little help here!”

Rika groaned angrily as she ran down to the kitchen, the pot was on fire and the room was filled with smoke. Rika covered her mouth and nose as she approached to Henry who was trying to put the fire out.

“ What did you do?!” Rika yelled through the smoke, her hand still covering her mouth.

“ I was trying to cook egg and rice for breakfast!” Henry yelled through the smoke as he trying to get the pot out of fire.

“Agghh! Can’t you do anything right?” Rika scowled.

“ Hey, I don’t see you doing any better! And will you help already?”

Rika quickly grabbed another pot and filled with full of water and splashed the water onto the burning pot to put the fire out. Henry then ran around the house opening up all the windows and doors to let the smoke out. After a long half an hour, both of them were exhausted from cleaning the kitchen, and there were still some smell of smoke remain in the room. They slam themselves onto the couch and let their body sank, both feeling tired and hungry.

“ This is all your fault Wong.” Rika whispered in a weak voice, closing her eyes.

“Okay, why don’t you try to cook next time then?” Henry replied in a equally tone. Rika just ignored him. He looked over at Rika, he’s eyes softened as he stared at her, for the first time he noticed how peaceful she looked when she’s not angry, and for some reason he couldn’t take his eye off her.

Rika seemed felt he was watching her, she turned her head to face him, “ Something wrong?”

Henry suddenly snapped out from his thought, and turned his head away quickly, “ No, nothing.” he answered nervously, for some reason he felt his face burning. Then he suddenly stood up, and reach his hand to Rika.

“What?” Rika asked, confused, staring at him.

“ I have an idea, why don’t we go out for breakfast?” Henry said, grinning at her.

Rika blinked.

“ After all, it’s kinda my fault that I can’t cook. And I’ll show you around after we eat, how’s that?”

Rika blinked again, and then for the first time since Rika met Henry, she smiled, a rare and small smile, “ Sounds good.” she replied, taking Henry’s hand in hers, Henry smiled back and pulled her up from the couch, maybe it’s because he pulled too hard, or maybe it’s because Rika was to light, either one, Rika’s body leaned into his chest as Henry wrapped his arm around Rika. Her face brush against Henry’s chest, she could almost hear his heart beating, she could feel the warmth around her, and it felt almost....nice....they stayed in that position for seemed like forever, even though it was only few seconds.

Both of them finally realized their pose, Henry quickly unwrapped his arm around Rika while she pushed herself away from him. Their faces were burning as they stood there, Henry felt uncomfortable, and uneasy, Rika felt the same, but also a little angry.

Suddenly Henry coughed in a fake tone to broke of the silence, “ So, let’s go now, I’m really hungry.” he coughed some more and turned back began to leave.

“ Yeah, me too.” Rika murmured quietly, face still burning, then followed him behind.

***
They ordered their food after they arrived, now they were sitting across each other in silence, Henry was trying to think of some thing to say to broke off the uncomfortable silence.

“ Um, so what are you planing to do when you go back?”

Rika move her gaze towards Henry, “ I don’t know, maybe study hard and prepare for university.” she answered in her usual flat tone. Henry nodded.

“ What about you?” Rika asked after a pause.

“ Same thing, getting ready for university.” Henry paused, “ What would you like to do after university?”

Rika thought for a moment, “ Um...maybe a designer...design houses and buildings.”

Henry nodded, smiling, “ I want to be a computer programmer just like my dad!” Henry said childishly. Rika blinked, then couldn’t help but giggled softly at the boy’s words.

“ What’s so funny?” He asked, confused.

Rika just giggled some more, Henry just stared at the girl in front of him. For some reason, he felt a warm feeling inside and also formed a smile on his face.

“It’s just that the way you said it sounds so stupid.” Rika explained, finally stopped laughing.

Henry frowned, “Well it’s true, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Sure, of course, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Before Henry could shout back a reply, their food finally arrived on their table and without another word they started digging in.

***
After they had feed their stomachs, Henry decided to show Rika around town which she didn’t have any problem with.

“This is one of the largest book shop in the city, if you need any book for your exam or anything, just come here.” Henry said, pointing to a tall building in front of them, Rika raised up her head and followed the direction where Henry’s pointing to.

“ Then how come you never bought a cooking book?” Rika suddenly asked as she staring at the tall building, somehow sacarstic.

“ Huh?” Henry blinked, didn’t get the meaning of Rika’s words.

Rika ignored him and went on, “Or maybe you bought one but never bother to read it. Yeah, that must be it.” Rika said knowingly nodding her head.

Henry blinked again, suddenly got what Rika meant as he recall the ‘incident’ in the morning, “Hey! That’s not funny!”

“It wasn’t a joke anyway.”

“It’s not my fault that I can’t cook, and besides I made up for it!”

“Well still, you are nearly 18 and you still can’t cook?” Rika said with a laugher.

Henry’s face turned bright red, he could feel he’s face burning, “ I never had to cook in my family, that’s why I never learned how to cook, I could if I want to, and I’m sure I’m going to be a way better cook than you are!”

“Whatever.” Rika answered back sarcastically, “So are you going to buy a cooking book or not?”

“No, no need to.” Henry answered in a very certain tone, crossing his arms around his chest.

Rika rolled her eyes, “Fine then, if you are not going to buy it, I will.” with that she began to walk into the building.

“Why? I thought that was a joke.” Henry asked, standing there as he watched Rika walking towards the building.

“Cause I don’t wanna die of food poison while I’m living with you.” Rika replied simply without turning back. Henry’s face got redder, he had no choice but to follow the girl.

***



“I’m starving.” Henry comment, he let his body sank into the couch.

“Yeah, me too, we better find something to feed our stomach.” Rika replied as she also leaned back against the couch. They had just got back from outside and both of them were exhausted because of all the walking they’ve done during the day. Henry had took Rika to the shopping center, the library, the super market where his family usually go to and some more places. Now it was already dark outside and they haven’t had any real food to eat yet since the morning, even thought they did have some snacks.

“I’m too tired to cook, why don’t we just order a pizza or something?” Henry suggested.

Rika shook her head slightly, “No, I don’t feel like eating pizza, I want to cook something.”

“You know how to cook?” Henry asked surprised.

“Duh! Of course, I’m not YOU remember? But I need the cooking book to guide me a little to make a really good dinner.” Rika said, taking out the cooking book she bought earlier that day then getting up from the cough and walking inwards the kitchen.

Henry rolled his eyes, then stood up, “ Hey, I’ll help you.”

“ I thought you were tired and didn’t want to move.” Rika said annoyed.

“Well yeah, but I think I should help you, after all you are making dinner for both of us.” Henry replied looking away from her. “Don’t you want my help? If you don’t it’s perfectly okay with me.”

Rika rolled her eyes, “ You better help me, or I don’t think you will have anything to eat for dinner.” Henry just laughed and they began to work for their dinner.

***


“Ah, I’m so full.” Henry sighed as he leaned back against the chair.

“Me too.” Rika said softly, putting down her spoon, also leaning back. They just finished their not-so-bad dinner that they cooked for themselves, of course it wasn’t bad, not after they spent at least an hour to cook the delicious meal, reading every single instruction that printed on the paper and had all the recipes.

Henry looked at he clock, it was already over 11pm, “It’s getting late, let’s clean up and get ready for bed.” he suggested. Rika nodded and then they started transporting all the dishes and bows from the table to the kitchen and started washing them.

“ Hey you know what.” Rika suddenly said to Henry as she washed one of the dishes.

“What.” Henry asked, turning to look at her, picking up another unwashed dish and began to watch it.

“ You are not that bad after all.” Rika replied, gave him a small smile, “ I mean, at least you helped me cook dinner and showed me around the town, now you are helping me washing dishes.”

“ Well, I should have. You are my guest after all.” Henry smiled back. “ And, I guess you are not such a miss little attitude too, at least you wash dishes.”

They both laughed softly, and then smiled at each other. For some reason, Rika couldn’t help but be happy, and what she didn’t know was that Henry felt the same way.

***

End of Chapter Three

May 20 2002 - sorry, sorry, I’m soooo sorry, sorry!!! Sorry, I didn’t get this up sooner, I know I haven’t update in like almost two weeks or more, that’s because I was having writer block... and I couldn’t think... and I just barely finished this chapter... so it sucks big time.. but please review, things will get interesting... this is only the beginning though.... and sorry again... hope my writer block will over soon and I’ll get the next chapter up as soon as possible! oh, and sorry for all the grammar/spelling mistakes...^^;;

p.s. Don’t worry I’m going to finish my other fics too, as soon as I’m over with this stupid writer block and I’ll work on the other fics!^^