Do the people whisper 'bout you on the train like me?

♫ ~"I think there's a fault in my code." I don't think I've ever felt this strongly about anything in my life. tracking: rukuin indie Ruki Makino / Rika Nonaka

[rukuin-blog]

@lionheartedjuri:

[from: x]

[text]: oh nooo!!! [text]: want me to come join you?

[text]: sure. [text]: come along. [text]: … thanks. meet at the convenience store by Takato’s parents’ bakery?

[cheerfxl-blog]

Takato felt the grip on his shoulder and loosened up immediately, letting tears fall finally, again, onto the floor beneath.

Ruki wasn’t lying to him. Ruki, he knew Ruki – Ruki would slap him if it were his fault. But this…

… This was her form of comfort.

Takato had to hold himself back from jumping into his friend’s arms, though he did let himself hug her a little.

“R–Ru…ki…” Choked up, caught in the moment, hands gripping at his friend, it hurt his heart immensely; what had happened. But it wasn’t unforgivable.

Perhaps Takato was too forgiving, much unlike Ruki was. He didn’t believe Wallace was a bad person, though…

Backing off rather quickly, he laughed, the droplets and wetness still in his face. Sniffling a bit more, letting himself cry still.

“… It was also–” He’d reached up to his chest and clutched his shirt tightly.

“It was also my first kiss, so…” He’s been wanting to save that, after all. He was sure he’d said it sometime.

[rukuin-blog]

Ruki didn’t jerk away at his touch, instead lifting her hands to grip at his shoulders, a sort of psuedo hug back-- after all, he was still holding back, despite his obvious hurting. She could see him keeping her levels of comfort on the back of his mind, even while he was in a state like this; did Wallace know he had done this? Did Wallace know he had wounded someone who could bawl his heartache and still maintain a fierce consideration of others? When Takato backed off and mentioned it being his first kiss, she pulled him back, giving him the hug she felt he might need at this time.

Again-- too many things on too many things. Takato was the little dork with the dreams of making his first kiss special-- and this had been on that day-- and Wallace had the charisma (though, it couldn’t have just been that… Takato was a fool, but he just wasn’t the type to initiate anything that would alienate another. Heck, he wouldn’t even hug her now, knowing her disdain for that sort of thing.) “I’m gonna kick his ass.” It’s said while she’s still pulling her arms around him tightly, but she dropped her hold, and took his shoulders again. “Takato-- whatever idiotic thing he said or did after that to make you like this… It’s not your fault. You need to stop beating yourself up over it.” That was her job, after all. “Have you even eaten?!”

[izzyizms-blog1]

Wʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜɪs ɢɪʀʟ’s ᴅᴇᴀʟ? Hᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʏᴘɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀᴛ ʜɪs ʟᴀᴘᴛᴏᴘ ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ sᴛᴏʀᴍɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀʀᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴏᴛʜᴇʀ Iᴢᴢʏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ʜᴇ ʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ᴀ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ʟᴀᴘᴛᴏᴘ. “Oᴋᴀʏ, ᴡᴇʟʟ sʜᴇ’s ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴘᴀɪᴅ ᴍᴇ. Yᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ.”

Hᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ sᴇʟᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴜᴛ ɪғ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ'ᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ Iᴢᴢʏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜxᴜʀʏ ᴏғ sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ sɪᴍᴘʟʏ ᴛʏᴘɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴀɪᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴊᴏʙ. Hᴏᴡ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜɪs ʜᴇʟᴘ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ɴᴇᴛᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏ? Sᴜʀᴇʟʏ ᴛʜɪs ɢɪʀʟ’s ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴋɴᴇᴡ sʜᴇ'ᴅ ʙᴇ ʟᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄʜɪᴛᴄʜᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ.

[rukuin-blog]

“Her money’s gone to worst causes,” was what Ruki decided to snap back, looking over the few assignments she should at least look over-- if she was going to sit there, trapped, she’d at least make it a productive session and handle her business about her own way. Of course, the problems didn’t appear terribly challenging-- the inkling of doubt in herself that had arisen with her mother’s suggestion to look into getting a tutor was readily squashed and she made a face down at her notebook. It really had to be about getting into communication with new people then. So, why this boy? As she scribbled out the first set of problems in her mathematics sections, she couldn’t help but sneak a peak over at the loser with the laptop. He didn’t look like the usual recruits her mother’s company went for, so it couldn’t have been that-- maybe he was already established somewhere? Not that it mattered. “Who are you, anyway?”

[tastedmanyaheart]

♥ Hikari found herself rather relieved that the girl seemed to actually be thinking over her offer. Whilst she seemed rather confrontational, it wasn’t like Hikari had anything against her - and it seemed a little cruel to just leave her wandering in the rain with no protection. She stood patiently enough, waiting for an answer.

♥ When she answered in the affirmative, Hikari gave a responded smile and nodded. Perfect! It would probably mean going a little out of her way, but truthfully the brunette wasn’t fussed. The rain wasn’t off-putting to her, at least when it was like this and the wind wasn’t whipping it into her face.

   “I am. I’m heading to a convenience store further ahead.                There are a few directions to take to get there, so as                long as that’s the way you’re going… Well, it suits the both                of us.”

♥ Hikari moved in closer, slowly. She wasn’t being overly cautious, but there was no reason to do anything to alarm this girl - who was still a stranger. Hopefully this girl really was headed in that direction, because Hikari really didn’t want to let her get soaked now. Not to mention, she was still curious to learn more.

    “I’m Hikari. Yagami Hikari. And if we’re headed the same way, it                  just makes sense to use the same umbrella, whilst possible.”

[rukuin-blog]

She was kind-- with a genuine tone that wasn’t difficult to trust in. Maybe Ruki had just been hanging around too many doofy boys as of late. Not that they were bad people-- she wouldn’t lower her standards so far as to purposely suffer through intolerable company--, but her only girl “friends” were reluctant coworkers, and the sweet and solemn Juri and Shaochung. That had to be a part of it-- she wasn’t used to such a blatant display of clear decency, especially from a complete stranger. And with a trailing rep of a near-win at a Digimon Card Game Tournament, any unfamiliar approaches tended to be of the male persuasion. Of the muzzy, thick-headed boy collection. “Makino Ruki,” she took her turn, repeating the name in her head a couple more times before glancing up at the umbrella Hikari had shifted over them, effectively preventing any more of the rainfall from pelting her. “Thanks,” she breathed out quietly, raising a hand to flatten out her more or less dampened hair. Leading the walk, she sighed to herself-- she hated owing favors, but there was no way to pay off her debt in such a short walk. “A convenience store right now? It seems like such an inconvenient time for that. It must be urgent.” The statement was left at that-- she could answer to it if she chose. In the meantime, she reached over, meaning to take the umbrella from the girl’s grasp-- the least she could do, she’d keep to herself. The motion drew her attention to a construction site several streets down, and Ruki stared at it a moment too long. “Is that where the Digimon--” Ah, but what use would this conversation be to this girl? She snapped her jaw shut before trying again. “I can take that.”

[rukuin-blog]

Juri: I made a marshmallow Ruki. See? Her arms are crossed because she's mad at all the other marshmallow Tamers for annoying her. You like it?

Ruki: [Choked up] It's fine.

[rukimakinoofficial]

I’m heavily ship confused

[hopecrested-blog]

He has the hat you just burned in his head, like nothing had happened.

“Did you think it was going to be so easy?”

[lionheartedjuri-blog]

Juri smiles up at the older boy and adjusts the hat as it begins to droop in her eyes. “Thank you, Takeru-san!” she chimes happily.

“Oh, that’s my friend Ruki!” she says excitedly, waving at the red haired girl before running up to her. Beaming, she wraps her arms around Ruki’s shoulders, her eyes forming crescents of mirth.

“How do I look? That blonde boy let me try on his hat.”

[rukuin-blog]

“Oh, Juri--” And she’s enveloped in a hug much too quickly-- Ruki manages to stammer out the rest of her hello, eyes flickering up to take a look at the hat. She smiles, dropping a hand on her head. “It’s cute--” Wait. Isn’t this… that hat? The useless, dorky hat that couldn’t even save a guy from bubblegum catastrophe? Ruki narrows her eyes back towards where Juri had come from and-- target confirmed. “It looks good on you, but could I see it for just a sec?” She grabs the bill and tugs it off, casting a glance back for Shaochung, who should have been following along-- “Oh, Shaochung! Didn’t you want to try a hat on today, too?” Is she smirking? She’s not smirking. It’s a sincere smile at the sweetness of a little girl about to try on a hat.

[rukuin-blog]

"Your mother is trying to put me in dresses again." The tone in Renamon's voice said just how strange it found this.

She knew it was going to be a problem the moment the woman first spoke the words, but– so quickly?! “I already told her that you’re not a doll…“Renamon.” Ruki paused, considering her next words carefully. “What do you think about– fashion?” She looked at her partner intently for a full five seconds before turning off. “Nevermind.”

[hopecrested-blog]

thats debatable

jk. you are

[rukuin-blog]

--free concert tickets.

Deal.

[cheerfxl-blog]

There was no way it could be his fault. But it was his fault, it was, it really was. Hands balled into fists, nails digging at his own skin. Not out of anger, no, at least not towards Ruki. He’s incredibly upset at himself.

“Its – A long story, so I’ll spare you the details.” He looks toward his feet, fists staying clenched, eyes threatening to water at every given moment. He rubbed them again, it was best to prevent that.

“It was… That day.” The implication being strong enough that she should understand. The anniversary of them leaving. He sniffled a bit, before making sure –

“Ruki, um.” A pause. ‘Who’…? He wasn’t sure if Wallace had familiarized himself with Ruki or them prior to–

Ah, but it was worth a try, at least.

“It was Wallace, but– You aren’t going to hurt him, right? Please don’t hurt him, Ruki. It was my fault!”

[rukuin-blog]

Watching Takato struggle to form his words-- on any other occasion, her amusement wouldn’t cease. But he was trying so hard to keep from letting those tears fall that it tore at her; just how many times had he cried before? When their friends were in danger? When their frustrations were pressing the limits? When their efforts brought them to a loss? And now she was witnessing him try to keep together-- it couldn’t be just because she was there. (It’d never stopped him before.) She looked away from him. He really thought it was his fault. --Was that why? If it had been that day, then there had probably been some heavy emotion in play. A prime example of why feelings were sloppy-- but learning it that way was almost a little cruel. She placed a hand on his shoulder. And her fingers may or may not have tightened considerably at the drop of the cause’s name. Wallace? The dopey blonde kid? She should have known. Takato didn’t ramble about which Digimon was cooler to just anyone. (Except he did, but by the sounds of it, this guy had taken him for granted and that was not forgivable.) “Takato-- don’t be dumb. It’s hard, I know, but give it a try and hear me out. You’re not really the type of boy to go around kissing everyone on a little whim. It wasn’t your fault.” But Wallace-- He had the face of a womanizer. A-- a boyinizer. An everyone-inizer. Her grip tightened out even more. Wallace, you prick.

[glassesandpassion]

- Really?! But I heard it’s very good!

“MEN & THEIR HEADS: A complete guide to get in your man’s head (and pants!)” had been on the top 10 Self-Help books list of the past year. As an almost high school student, Miyako felt that it was her obligation to read if she ever wanted someone to date her.

The only library that she knew that could have that book was crowded, though. It seemed that a famous card game player was going to go there to give autographs, not something that Miyako really cared about. She just wanted to get the book and go home. Her eyes shone when she saw the book on that good-looking girl’s hand. But, wait - that girl had actually better advice to give?

- Would you mind to give me some advice, then? I’m Inoue Miyako, by the way!

[rukuin-blog]

“If by very good you mean completely uninformative. I’ve heard better excuses for savage behavior from the mouths of actual men themselves, if that gives you a better perspective on this… work.” She shut it indignantly and meant to hand it off to the girl, the swinging motion stopping abruptly at her-- not-so out of the blue request. To be taken this literally… at a library. It was fitting, sure, but still very much unnecessary. Unfortunately, the signing wouldn’t be for another half hour, so the need for killing time was still there.

Damn it all. “Makino Ruki.” She finally replied in kind, looking over this Inoue Miyako. With such an eager face… maybe she could shorten this schpeal and just break the news that all men were unquestionably dolts. “If it’s that important--” Nothing could be worse than that book, though; she was certain. “Why not? Tell me about the idiots plaguing your life.”

[lightspiritwarrior-deactivated2]

Contrary to what she probably expected he didn’t take the bait, her snark and sass was already boring him frankly. Reaching out he took the album and figured that it wasn’t worth his time, it was sad because the girl was actually really pretty, and if she had simply asked he probably would have given it to her, but he had a thing about respect and she was giving him absolutely none.

“Good then you know where to go for your next record, meanwhile I’ll be listening to my new CD at home.” That said he moved over and set the disc and a twenty on the counter to pay for it. Chances were the girl probably had plenty already bowing and scraping to do things for her. “Just so you know, a bad attitude really takes away from a beautiful face.” 

[rukuin-blog]

What the hell? That punk had some nerve. “You would know,” jumbled out past her lips before she could articulate a proper response and-- ugh, he’d actually managed to scramble her up enough with his stupid commentary and had her say something she would never even think in a million years! “You wouldn’t know,” she hastened to correct, pocketing her hands in an angry flourish and scowling toward the front of the shop, away from the stupid boy who was buying the stupid album which meant that her stupid trip to the stupid shop was all for naught. “I guess you’re entitled to one nice thing in your life,” Ruki grumbled as she went back to browsing through the section the album should be in-- a useless feat. But she was already in the forsaken place, so she could at least dig around at other shops. This was the only one’s location she was sure of, but she’d navigated rougher terrains before. “They would be able to call out to other places,” right? All she had to now was wait for the bandana dork to finish with his transaction.

[cheerfxl-blog]

There was only so much to be done with Ruki like this. Takato heard the banging on his door and quickly hopped out of bed. Hands moved to his face upon the realization there had been tears, and before making his way to the door, his eyes were rubbed ‘till they were red.

“Hey, Ruki.” Edging the door open ever so slightly. “You– you got my texts, right?”

He smiled, looking at her hopefully. “I’m stupid, right? Tell me I am. Because– I mean– It’s all my fault.”

[rukuin-blog]

When the door opens much too slowly, Ruki gripped at it and pulled back with one fierce movement, shoving her way past the boy and into his room-- she wouldn’t be dealing with this talking through a crack business. But-- she hadn’t gotten his messages. At least, what he was saying didn’t seem to correlate with the last of what she’d read. Snapping her phone out as she paced towards the window, making sure there was light to let in, the screen shone at her with a glare of Takato’s words. 

So-- …? Ruki turned heel and walked back straight into him, her gaze locking onto his scrubbed out eyes. Takato tended to wear his emotions on his sleeves plenty, sure, but…. There was an inexplicable clench in her chest. Anger...? Was her eyebrow twitching? She took a breath-- but not for composure. She was perfectly composed. “You are stupid. In fact, you’re so stupid that there’s no possible way that it could be your fault. Who-- what happened, Takato?”

[tastedmanyaheart]

♥ Hikari paused, watching the girl curiously after the snap. Truthfully, Hikari’s thoughts had been anywhere but on the road ahead and who was around her. There was a tonne of school work to be done, and she had to arrange a time to meet up with people to finish projects… And Takeru wanted to go see a new film that was out, and Miyako wanted to go out and try a new restaurant. Her mind hadn’t been on the girl before her until her presence was suddenly made clear.

♥ Though a little startled, Hikari quickly relaxed and sent the other a small smile. Whether the girl really was lost or not was hard to say. This area could be a little labyrinth-like, especially at this time of day when the shadows were stretching farther and the sun was falling quicker. The cold rain was not helping at all, and even with her umbrella Hikari was still getting hit by splatters of raindrops now and then.

   “I’m sure you’re not. I wasn’t going to suggest that.”

♥ Hikari really was curious now about the girl, trying to work out whether she did need help. Clearly she wasn’t just going to accept help from just some random stranger.

    “…You’re getting soaked, and I have–            Well, we’re going the same way, it seems. You can share          my umbrella?            Or I should still have my old, small one in my bag…”

[rukuin-blog]

Ifshe wasn't one for faking it 'til she made it, Ruki would haveacknowledged the girl's clarification with an apology of sorts.However, the rain wasn't letting up and her mother was sure to have afit when she saw what it was doing to Ruki's hair and the thought ofit all was enough to keep her as frazzled as the strands of redclinging around her face. In short-- she would not beapologizing for her presumptuousness to this girl who was kind enoughto follow up with a solution to a problem that wasn't hers. Sheteetered where she stood, a hesitant action unfamiliar through andthrough to the soles of her feet. This unknown, she had somethingabout her that reminded her of Juri, in some ways-- but the way sheheld herself presented more maturity than Ruki's friend was prone toshowing. --It was this and the fact that she wasn't anotherstupid-faced boy trying to tell her they could show her the right wayon that had Ruki lower her gaze. “If you're going on in thatdirection, I would... appreciate it.” Eugh-- she hated it when hervoice would come out smaller than it was. Nothing a sharp clear ofher throat can't help with. “Where exactly are you walkingto?” Accepting the smaller umbrella would be ideal, but--she couldn't see herself going out of her way to return it shouldtheir destinations be too far apart.

[hopecrested-blog]

“My hat isn’t dumb.”

Surprisingly enough, the fact that this random girl had insulted his hat, offended him way more than having gum stuck on his hair, the gum? An inconveniencing accident that happens to everybody (Okay - although he was distracted too, he knows this very awkward situation isn’t fully his fault).

Having Yamato as a brother - a brother who he loved, but had a shitty temperament (no way to sugarcoat it), kinda teaches you how to deal with people like this girl, he should let this die, tell her to calm down and move on with his life. But she had insulted his hat.

“What about you, though? Unless you were listening to my brother’s band and his musical genius amazed you to the point your head was in another world -” It was a very hypocrite statement, but she didn’t need to know that “You should always look where you’re walking.”

[rukuin-blog]

Helooked tame, but there was a bite in his tone, if Ruki's listeningwas to be trusted. Her headphones hung unused for the moment, butthere was that bit of after-ringing in her ears that might have beento blame. Either way, the twinge of resentment that arose from hisbristly retort definitely showed in her next tug at the gum, anothermerciless pull of confection from hair tufts. Chill out, snappybleach boy. “I'll be sure to keep the chance of rainingidiots in mind the next time I'm out for a walk.” She was almostdone and her yanking was subtly building by the pull. “Ifhe's anything like you, I have to doubt the genius aspect.” But,now she was curious. Ruki paused in her pulling, an eyebrow slowlylifting, and then-- “Out with it, then. If I have to guess thisband, I'm going to start with the disaster boy groups and we don'thave all the time in the world for that.”

[rukuin-blog]

@marchingwishes​ liked for a starter! [x]

Someone had really gone out of their way-- to make such a believable Gomamon plush. Right? Ruki was no stranger to Digimon appearing where they had no business being, but it'd been ages since she'd seen even the likes of Calumon roaming around. Was this Gomamon the new Calumon? And did he know the building just ahead of him was a buffet? He didn't look like he was carrying a wallet. To be sure, Ruki made her way up to the plush(?) and gave him a forceful nudge with her shoe. “This can't be real.”