Fiberglass Slipper: Part 7 - One Sand Castle Doesn't Make a Summer
Title: Fiberglass Slipper: Part 7 - One Sand Castle Doesn't Make a Summer
What: Digimon Tamers fanfiction
Rating: PG13
Words: 1703 + two silly graphics and one photomanip
Summary: Jenrya breaks his arm in an attempt to climb a tree one-handed. Drama ensues, as well as possible carbon poisoning. Established Jenrya/Ryo, background Takato/Juri, some vague one-sided Kai/Jenrya, Kenta/OC even more in the background. Written for 30_ways using theme #14 - trees.
Previously: Part 6 - The Boys of Summer
Notes: With thanks to JK Rowling for the lie, and more thanks and also apologies to Franck at Flickr.com for the photo of Shuri Castle which I proceeded to bastardize in Photoshop because this is an anime fanfic.
Sample: He has a girlfriend type person!
“Well, finally,” grumbles Terriermon, when Jenrya emerges reluctantly from Shuri Castle, “we were beginning to think you’d never come out.”
Lost for words, Jenrya starts to gesture wildly before remembering that what with the camera in one hand and a swath of souvenir shopping bags in the other, this could only end in disaster.
“I think what Jen’s trying to say is ‘thank you’,” Takato translates for his cousin.
A hint of a blush hits Kai’s face. “Ah, any time, bro.”
Guilmon suddenly sniffs the air. “I smell the shuttle.”
Takato groans. “Don't do that, Guilmon; carbon monoxide is bad for you.”
“Can we even get carbon poisoning? I mean, we’re data,” points out Terriermon. At Kai and Takato’s stares, he raises an eyebrow. “What, Jen makes me help him study.”
“It’s coming this way,” Guilmon continues, regardless.
“Jian, come here a sec?”
Jenrya enters the airport bookstore curiously. Without warning, Kai grabs him by the cast and scrawls over a blank spot on it.
He puts the pen back on the shelf, then draws Jenrya close. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”
“...I have a boyfriend.” Jenrya informs him, not liking where this is going. “Jealous type. Big bloke. You wouldn’t want to cross him.”
Kai backs up, laughing. “Well, let me just say, on behalf of everyone in Japan who likes boys... Damn.”
“I’m flattered,” replies Jenrya, “but I thought you and Minami-”
Takato’s cousin ignores him. “So what’s his name, then?”
Jenrya gives up. “Ryo.”
“As in Akiyama?” Kai’s eyes widen. “No way. In the media, he just doesn’t come off as...”
“Gay?” supplies Jenrya helpfully. “I think he prefers the term ‘equal opportunity’.”
“You guys must make one good-looking couple,” Kai grins. “So why didn’t you want to talk to him yesterday?”
“It’s complicated,” announces Terriermon, coming to the rescue from behind a manga. “Jen, can I buy this?”
“No,” replies Jenrya, grateful for the diversion, “they’ll wonder why a plushie’s buying manga. I’ll get it for you. What series is it, anyway?”
“Er...” says Terriermon, hiding the book behind his back.
In business class once again, Takato buckles Guilmon’s seatbelt. “One of these days, I’m going to hang a sign around Guilmon’s neck that says, ‘I helped save the world, let me through darnit’.”
“Good thing I’m so small,” Terriermon remarks over his book, “I can just be Jen’s carry-on bag no matter what the airline.”
“Yeah, and then I can’t bring anything else on board.” complains Jenrya. “And what happens when I’m older? I’m already getting weird looks; a fourteen-year-old boy carrying a plushie...”
Terriermon’s eyes don't leave the page. “They must think you’re gay.”
“Hey, cheap shot,” Jenrya objects.
With unusual tact, Guilmon attempts a distraction. “What are you reading, Terriermon?”
“A book.”
Terriermon hurriedly folds his ears over it, but not before Takato spots the title and starts laughing. “Sailor Moon? Seriously?”
“I had nothing to do with it,” Jenrya remarks, all too smug.
The child goes on the defensive. “There's shoujo ai!”
Takato continues to cackle.
“There she is,” says Terriermon, pointing over the crowds at Haneda Airport. “Mayumi!”
“Terriermon calls your parents by their first names?” Takato blinks.
Heedless of the public, Terriermon grabs Jenrya’s souvenir bag and launches painfully off his head.
“This is the Digimon who badmouthed a Sovereign to his face,” Jenrya sighs. “What does Guilmon call your parents?”
“I heard him talking to ‘Takatomom’ once,” the younger boy offers.
Suddenly he envelops Jenrya in a hug. Pretty impressive, considering he’s always been smaller than Jenrya, but still kind of awkward. “You’ve been spending too much time with Juri.” Jenrya informs him. “Are we going to turn into a pair of girls who hug when they meet, when they say goodbye, and in the middle of the stairs?”
“Sorry,” says Takato, releasing him. “It’s just - I had a great time this weekend, I’m so glad you and Terriermon came to Okinawa with me."
Jenrya smiles. “Yeah, it was good fun. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Thanks for coming,” retorts Takato, “now I'm never going to get seasick ever again.”
“Be one with the boat,” Jenrya teases, and they share a laugh.
“If I don’t see you for a while, have a good summer, okay?”
Jenrya quirks an eyebrow. “It’s summer. We live in the same city. You’re my best - human - friend. Why wouldn’t I get to see you?”
“You’re right, I have been spending too much time with Juri,” Takato grins.
“Jenrya!”
“Coming, Mom!” Jenrya yells. “Okay, gotta go; you have a good summer too.”
In the car, Terriermon keeps up a steady stream of chatter about the trip: Flying business class, the ferry, the beach, Okinawan cuisine, Shuri Castle...
“Mom,” Jenrya interrupts him, “can I tell you something?”
“Takato, you were right.”
“About what?”
“Not seeing me for a while.”
“Oh, nuts, I hate it when I’m right! What happened?”
“What do you expect happened? I’m grounded. For the first time in my life, I might add.”
“What did you do? Already?”
“It’s more like who did I almost do. Sorry, that was crass; I’ve been around Terriermon too long.”
“I heard that.”
“I know. And get off my cellphone. Sorry, Takato. Um, I came out to Mom, and told her about Ryo, and she grounded me for lying about seeing him.”
“Ouch.”
“I dunno, I don’t really blame her, I mean, maybe if we weren’t sneaking around, we wouldn’t have tried to hide the whole date thing by having a picnic up a tree, and then maybe I wouldn’t have broken my arm. No, wait, what am I saying, it’s Ryo, of course we would have had a picnic up a tree.”
“Yeah, sorry to say, but Ryo’s crazier than a catfish. How’s your dad taking it?”
“Actually, I came out to him right before we left for Okinawa, and he took it pretty well, and then managed to guess I was with Ryo. Oh, gods, at first he thought I was with you.”
“Ew, no way! Sorry, that came out badly...”
“Let’s just leave it at ‘we’re not each other’s types’, and besides: You and Juri, beautiful, would never want to break that up.”
“Thanks.”
“So anyway, after Mom freaked, I had to go give Dad all the sordid details. I’d promised I would once we were back from Okinawa, but it was still really...awkward. And of course since Ryo and I almost...you know, Dad decided it was a great time to have the birds and the bees talk.”
“That must have been...”
“Yeah. Only it obviously ended up being more of a bees and the bees talk, which was possibly even more awkward.”
“Oh, god. So glad I’m not going there.”
“Feel grateful you’re straighter than a, as you would say, straight thing.”
“Oh yeah, I was saying that about Kenta, wasn’t I? It’s crazy!”
“’kazu from memory, actually, but go on?”
“He got a girlfriend type person!”
“A what? Is that like Ruki?”
“No, as in a person who might become his girlfriend!”
“What? Kenta?”
“Yeah, it’s insane! He called right after I got home. He was at the card shop yesterday with Marine Angemon, and there was this girl, I think her name was Tomoyo or something, and she was like, ‘oh, a Marine Angemon, what a cute plushie,’ so he started mouthing off about how he’s not really a plushie and of course Marine Angemon was all ‘pipuu!’ at her which she found totally adorable, and then she was like ‘awwwww!’ and Kenta started going on about how he’s actually really strong and he was going to use some random card on him and they started talking about cards and they’re going to the park tomorrow!”
“That’s incredible! Kenta, of all people! Over Marine Angemon!”
“I know! Geeze, Jen, Kenta’s getting a girlfriend before you.”
“That was low, Takato.”
“I know, sorry, only joking. So are you grounded for the whole vacation?”
“Yeah. First time and it’s for a month of vacation time, go figure.”
“That’s really bad, I won’t see you again until school starts. Unless I could come over? Maybe?”
“Maybe! I think you’d be parentally sanctioned for a visit, seeing as we’re not attracted to each other in any way, shape, or form. I’d give it a few days, though.”
“Yeah, good idea. Okay, Mom’s telling me to get off the phone; I’ve been on ever since I got home, haven’t even unpacked yet.”
“Takato, you are turning into a girl!”
“Shut up.”
“Okay. Talk to you later?”
“Sure. Bye, Jen! Good luck with Ryo and stuff.”
“Thanks, I think I’ll need it. Bye!”
“Hey, Dad?”
His father winces slightly. “Any more epiphanies for me tonight, Jianliang?”
“No!” Jenrya denies hurriedly. “No, just a random suggestion. Can we get Terriermon a cellphone?”
He blinks. “Um, why? It’s not like Terriermon goes anywhere without you.”
“Yeah, but...” Jenrya scratches his head. “I dunno, he’s been sneaking around with my phone being all mysterious and he won’t let me use it.”
“I’m done,” announces Terriermon, walking into the room and tossing Jenrya his cellphone. The Tamer catches it only by instinct. “Don’t bother checking the in- and outboxes, I deleted everything.”
“You’d better not be wasting my txts...” Jenrya warns.
“What about an e-mail address?” Dad suggests. “You could have your own e-mail address to yourself and then you wouldn’t have to use Jianliang’s phone.”
Jenrya thinks about it. “He does go on my computer an awful lot. We could give him one of the spare ones from the ISP.”
“I like this idea!” Terriermon declares. “Wow, an ISP-provided e-mail address, does this mean I’m part of the family now?”
Dad smiles, and scratches Terriermon behind the ears. “You were always part of the family.”
“Who are you e-mailing, Terriermon?”
The child flattens his ears against the screen but continues typing. “No one.”
“Riiiiight.” Jenrya goes back to his Game Boy Advance, but looks back with an afterthought. “What’s your username, anyway?”
“Lee dot Terriermon.” Terriermon grins. “I wanted ‘rapid dot twister’ but your dad convinced me to go for a family one.”
Jenrya breaks into a smile, and, without a word, goes to give his father a hug.
Part 8 - June, They Want to See Us Together
What: Digimon Tamers fanfiction
Rating: PG13
Words: 1703 + two silly graphics and one photomanip
Summary: Jenrya breaks his arm in an attempt to climb a tree one-handed. Drama ensues, as well as possible carbon poisoning. Established Jenrya/Ryo, background Takato/Juri, some vague one-sided Kai/Jenrya, Kenta/OC even more in the background. Written for 30_ways using theme #14 - trees.
Previously: Part 6 - The Boys of Summer
Notes: With thanks to JK Rowling for the lie, and more thanks and also apologies to Franck at Flickr.com for the photo of Shuri Castle which I proceeded to bastardize in Photoshop because this is an anime fanfic.
Sample: He has a girlfriend type person!
“Well, finally,” grumbles Terriermon, when Jenrya emerges reluctantly from Shuri Castle, “we were beginning to think you’d never come out.”
Lost for words, Jenrya starts to gesture wildly before remembering that what with the camera in one hand and a swath of souvenir shopping bags in the other, this could only end in disaster.
“I think what Jen’s trying to say is ‘thank you’,” Takato translates for his cousin.
A hint of a blush hits Kai’s face. “Ah, any time, bro.”
Guilmon suddenly sniffs the air. “I smell the shuttle.”
Takato groans. “Don't do that, Guilmon; carbon monoxide is bad for you.”
“Can we even get carbon poisoning? I mean, we’re data,” points out Terriermon. At Kai and Takato’s stares, he raises an eyebrow. “What, Jen makes me help him study.”
“It’s coming this way,” Guilmon continues, regardless.
“Jian, come here a sec?”
Jenrya enters the airport bookstore curiously. Without warning, Kai grabs him by the cast and scrawls over a blank spot on it.
He puts the pen back on the shelf, then draws Jenrya close. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”
“...I have a boyfriend.” Jenrya informs him, not liking where this is going. “Jealous type. Big bloke. You wouldn’t want to cross him.”
Kai backs up, laughing. “Well, let me just say, on behalf of everyone in Japan who likes boys... Damn.”
“I’m flattered,” replies Jenrya, “but I thought you and Minami-”
Takato’s cousin ignores him. “So what’s his name, then?”
Jenrya gives up. “Ryo.”
“As in Akiyama?” Kai’s eyes widen. “No way. In the media, he just doesn’t come off as...”
“Gay?” supplies Jenrya helpfully. “I think he prefers the term ‘equal opportunity’.”
“You guys must make one good-looking couple,” Kai grins. “So why didn’t you want to talk to him yesterday?”
“It’s complicated,” announces Terriermon, coming to the rescue from behind a manga. “Jen, can I buy this?”
“No,” replies Jenrya, grateful for the diversion, “they’ll wonder why a plushie’s buying manga. I’ll get it for you. What series is it, anyway?”
“Er...” says Terriermon, hiding the book behind his back.
In business class once again, Takato buckles Guilmon’s seatbelt. “One of these days, I’m going to hang a sign around Guilmon’s neck that says, ‘I helped save the world, let me through darnit’.”
“Good thing I’m so small,” Terriermon remarks over his book, “I can just be Jen’s carry-on bag no matter what the airline.”
“Yeah, and then I can’t bring anything else on board.” complains Jenrya. “And what happens when I’m older? I’m already getting weird looks; a fourteen-year-old boy carrying a plushie...”
Terriermon’s eyes don't leave the page. “They must think you’re gay.”
“Hey, cheap shot,” Jenrya objects.
With unusual tact, Guilmon attempts a distraction. “What are you reading, Terriermon?”
“A book.”
Terriermon hurriedly folds his ears over it, but not before Takato spots the title and starts laughing. “Sailor Moon? Seriously?”
“I had nothing to do with it,” Jenrya remarks, all too smug.
The child goes on the defensive. “There's shoujo ai!”
Takato continues to cackle.
“There she is,” says Terriermon, pointing over the crowds at Haneda Airport. “Mayumi!”
“Terriermon calls your parents by their first names?” Takato blinks.
Heedless of the public, Terriermon grabs Jenrya’s souvenir bag and launches painfully off his head.
“This is the Digimon who badmouthed a Sovereign to his face,” Jenrya sighs. “What does Guilmon call your parents?”
“I heard him talking to ‘Takatomom’ once,” the younger boy offers.
Suddenly he envelops Jenrya in a hug. Pretty impressive, considering he’s always been smaller than Jenrya, but still kind of awkward. “You’ve been spending too much time with Juri.” Jenrya informs him. “Are we going to turn into a pair of girls who hug when they meet, when they say goodbye, and in the middle of the stairs?”
“Sorry,” says Takato, releasing him. “It’s just - I had a great time this weekend, I’m so glad you and Terriermon came to Okinawa with me."
Jenrya smiles. “Yeah, it was good fun. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Thanks for coming,” retorts Takato, “now I'm never going to get seasick ever again.”
“Be one with the boat,” Jenrya teases, and they share a laugh.
“If I don’t see you for a while, have a good summer, okay?”
Jenrya quirks an eyebrow. “It’s summer. We live in the same city. You’re my best - human - friend. Why wouldn’t I get to see you?”
“You’re right, I have been spending too much time with Juri,” Takato grins.
“Jenrya!”
“Coming, Mom!” Jenrya yells. “Okay, gotta go; you have a good summer too.”
In the car, Terriermon keeps up a steady stream of chatter about the trip: Flying business class, the ferry, the beach, Okinawan cuisine, Shuri Castle...
“Mom,” Jenrya interrupts him, “can I tell you something?”
“Takato, you were right.”
“About what?”
“Not seeing me for a while.”
“Oh, nuts, I hate it when I’m right! What happened?”
“What do you expect happened? I’m grounded. For the first time in my life, I might add.”
“What did you do? Already?”
“It’s more like who did I almost do. Sorry, that was crass; I’ve been around Terriermon too long.”
“I heard that.”
“I know. And get off my cellphone. Sorry, Takato. Um, I came out to Mom, and told her about Ryo, and she grounded me for lying about seeing him.”
“Ouch.”
“I dunno, I don’t really blame her, I mean, maybe if we weren’t sneaking around, we wouldn’t have tried to hide the whole date thing by having a picnic up a tree, and then maybe I wouldn’t have broken my arm. No, wait, what am I saying, it’s Ryo, of course we would have had a picnic up a tree.”
“Yeah, sorry to say, but Ryo’s crazier than a catfish. How’s your dad taking it?”
“Actually, I came out to him right before we left for Okinawa, and he took it pretty well, and then managed to guess I was with Ryo. Oh, gods, at first he thought I was with you.”
“Ew, no way! Sorry, that came out badly...”
“Let’s just leave it at ‘we’re not each other’s types’, and besides: You and Juri, beautiful, would never want to break that up.”
“Thanks.”
“So anyway, after Mom freaked, I had to go give Dad all the sordid details. I’d promised I would once we were back from Okinawa, but it was still really...awkward. And of course since Ryo and I almost...you know, Dad decided it was a great time to have the birds and the bees talk.”
“That must have been...”
“Yeah. Only it obviously ended up being more of a bees and the bees talk, which was possibly even more awkward.”
“Oh, god. So glad I’m not going there.”
“Feel grateful you’re straighter than a, as you would say, straight thing.”
“Oh yeah, I was saying that about Kenta, wasn’t I? It’s crazy!”
“’kazu from memory, actually, but go on?”
“He got a girlfriend type person!”
“A what? Is that like Ruki?”
“No, as in a person who might become his girlfriend!”
“What? Kenta?”
“Yeah, it’s insane! He called right after I got home. He was at the card shop yesterday with Marine Angemon, and there was this girl, I think her name was Tomoyo or something, and she was like, ‘oh, a Marine Angemon, what a cute plushie,’ so he started mouthing off about how he’s not really a plushie and of course Marine Angemon was all ‘pipuu!’ at her which she found totally adorable, and then she was like ‘awwwww!’ and Kenta started going on about how he’s actually really strong and he was going to use some random card on him and they started talking about cards and they’re going to the park tomorrow!”
“That’s incredible! Kenta, of all people! Over Marine Angemon!”
“I know! Geeze, Jen, Kenta’s getting a girlfriend before you.”
“That was low, Takato.”
“I know, sorry, only joking. So are you grounded for the whole vacation?”
“Yeah. First time and it’s for a month of vacation time, go figure.”
“That’s really bad, I won’t see you again until school starts. Unless I could come over? Maybe?”
“Maybe! I think you’d be parentally sanctioned for a visit, seeing as we’re not attracted to each other in any way, shape, or form. I’d give it a few days, though.”
“Yeah, good idea. Okay, Mom’s telling me to get off the phone; I’ve been on ever since I got home, haven’t even unpacked yet.”
“Takato, you are turning into a girl!”
“Shut up.”
“Okay. Talk to you later?”
“Sure. Bye, Jen! Good luck with Ryo and stuff.”
“Thanks, I think I’ll need it. Bye!”
“Hey, Dad?”
His father winces slightly. “Any more epiphanies for me tonight, Jianliang?”
“No!” Jenrya denies hurriedly. “No, just a random suggestion. Can we get Terriermon a cellphone?”
He blinks. “Um, why? It’s not like Terriermon goes anywhere without you.”
“Yeah, but...” Jenrya scratches his head. “I dunno, he’s been sneaking around with my phone being all mysterious and he won’t let me use it.”
“I’m done,” announces Terriermon, walking into the room and tossing Jenrya his cellphone. The Tamer catches it only by instinct. “Don’t bother checking the in- and outboxes, I deleted everything.”
“You’d better not be wasting my txts...” Jenrya warns.
“What about an e-mail address?” Dad suggests. “You could have your own e-mail address to yourself and then you wouldn’t have to use Jianliang’s phone.”
Jenrya thinks about it. “He does go on my computer an awful lot. We could give him one of the spare ones from the ISP.”
“I like this idea!” Terriermon declares. “Wow, an ISP-provided e-mail address, does this mean I’m part of the family now?”
Dad smiles, and scratches Terriermon behind the ears. “You were always part of the family.”
“Who are you e-mailing, Terriermon?”
The child flattens his ears against the screen but continues typing. “No one.”
“Riiiiight.” Jenrya goes back to his Game Boy Advance, but looks back with an afterthought. “What’s your username, anyway?”
“Lee dot Terriermon.” Terriermon grins. “I wanted ‘rapid dot twister’ but your dad convinced me to go for a family one.”
Jenrya breaks into a smile, and, without a word, goes to give his father a hug.
Part 8 - June, They Want to See Us Together