"It's Just a Little Crush" Story Written by Freedom Fighter Disclaimer: None of the characters or songs belongs to me, but to their respective creators. Now, move along! We've got a fanfic to finish! ****** Chapter 0 - "The Making of..." "Cut! That's a wrap!" The Tamers disperse as their work for the day is over. Well, for the show at least. The six main human cast members, Takato, Rika, Henry, Jeri, Kazu, and Kenta, head towards the recording studio to tape their singing performances for the fanfic. "That should take care of all of the stock footage we need for the fanfic," Henry said. "Thank goodness," Rika added. "Do you know how frustrating it is to redo episodes? Especially since we had already done these episodes months ago!" "I think it was fun!" Jeri giggled. "Yeah," Kazu said, putting his two cents in. "I can't wait to get to the recording booth," Kenta stated excitedly. "Yeah," Takato responded sarcastically. "I can't wait." Kazu and Kenta go into the booth to record their song first. While they do, Takato, Rika, Henry, and Jeri are outside in the waiting room. "Just how many times did we end up fighting Mihiramon?" Takato asked. "One too many," replied Henry. "This has got to be the stupidest thing we've ever done," Rika said. "Stupider than that flag Takato made." "Hey!" "I don't know about that," Jeri piped up. "You looked like you were enjoying it a lot, Rika." "Shows how much you really know about me." Jeri smirks. "You think so? Well, there's so much you don't know about me!" Jeri walks over to Takato and kisses him on the lips. Takato doesn't resist. Instead, he grabs Jeri by the shoulders and keeps his lips pressed against hers for several seconds. Henry gasps in surprise. Rika, on the other hand, is rather offended by their behavior, as she reaches over and pulls them apart. "Okay, break it up you two!" she yells. "You're ten years old, for crying out loud!" "Correction!" Takato noted. "In the dub, we're thirteen!" "So, it's a little more appropriate," Jeri added with a smile. ====== Inside the studio, Kazu and Kenta are already recording their song. It's "Crazy for this Girl," from Evan and Jaron. Their singing was far from perfect, but it was good enough for the recording. [Kazu & Kenta] And what was I thinking when The world didn't end Why didn't I know what I know now Would you look at her She looks at me She's got me thinking about her constantly But she don't know how I feel And as she carries on without a doubt I wonder if she's figured out I'm crazy for this girl ====== Back out in the waiting room... "Who's the girl now?" Jeri mocked. "Who's the girl?" "You're kidding me, right?" Rika joked. "That's the best you can do?" "And you can do better?" This time, Rika smirks as she walks over and starts French kissing Takato. Once again, Takato helps out by grabbing Rika by the shoulders and holding her in place. Jeri was dumbfounded over it all, seeing as how it looked like Takato was enjoying Rika's kiss more. Henry, on the other hand, is still stunned. Rika and Takato finally let go of each other. Rika turns and smiles evilly as Jeri huffs in disgust. Rika then walks off towards the restroom, although no one notices. "I'll beat Rika! I'll show her!" "Jeri, aren't you taking this a bit too seriously?" "Of course not, Henry! I've got to prove that I'm better than Rika!" "Takato, will you knock some sense into Jeri?" "I'm ready for another kiss!" Takato replied jokingly. "Who's next?" At that moment, Kazu and Kenta come out of the recording studio. Before anyone else can react, Henry runs in to do his song. ====== "Why can't they act more their age?" Henry thought to himself as the song he chose begins to play. His song is Marc Anthony's "I Need to Know." [Henry] They say around the way You've asked for me There's even talk about You wanting me I must admit that's what I want to hear But that's just talk Until you take me there As Henry continues to sing, he thinks about Rika. "Why doesn't Rika notice me? I'm much better looking than Takato is!" ====== Back outside, Rika is still missing as Takato and Kazu play the Digimon card game. Kenta and Jeri watch from the side as they keep track of the game. "Why do you even try, Takato? You've only beaten me once!" "Well, I want to prove that I'm better than you." "Good luck," Kazu said sarcastically. "You'll never beat me again!" Their game is interrupted when Henry exits the recording studio. "I'm done," Henry said. "Did I miss anything?" "Not really," Kenta said. "Kazu and Takato are battling again, as usual." "Where's Rika?" "I haven't seen her since she kissed Takato," Jeri replied. "I'm going to go find her," Henry said, beginning to walk off. "I'll find her," Jeri said, stopping Henry. "You still have to record your song!" "I'll do it later! Make Takato go!" "Okay," Takato quickly agreed, as he gathered his cards and started heading in. "Hey, no fair!" Kazu shouted. "I was beating the snot out of you!" ====== Takato was listening to the song he had chosen before recording the lyrics. He wanted to make sure that he was getting the lyrics right. After doing so a few times, he finally began to record. His song? "Wherever You Will Go," by The Calling. [Takato] I know now, just quite how My life and love might still go on In your heart, in your mind I'll stay with you for all of time ====== Out in the waiting room, Henry, Kazu, and Kenta were now talking. They seemed to be asking each other personal questions. "Okay, who's the hottest female Digidestined?" Kazu asked. "I say Mimi. Man, none of the girls I know have legs like she does!" "I knew you'd say Mimi," Kenta commented. "After all, you keep imagining Jeri with Mimi's body. They're almost alike!" Kazu blushed. "I do not! Stop lying!" "It's the truth!" "Okay, so what if it is? At least my choice is better than yours!" "You're saying that Yolei isn't hot?" "Of course not, dude!" "Did you see her swimsuit in the movie? She was hot!" "A one-piece swimsuit that looks like it's part of a cow? You're telling me she looked hot in that trashy thing?" "Oh, you don't know anything, Kazu!" Kazu and Kenta then turn towards Henry. "Henry, what do you think?" they both asked. "I'm not going to answer that question," he said. "Come on," Kazu pleaded. "I know you've got to like at least one of them." "Yeah," Kenta added. "It's not like we're going to tell. Everything we say here stays between us!" "Really?" "Yeah!" the two exclaimed. "We promise!" "Well..." The door to the recording studio opens, and Takato steps out of it. "Hi guys! I'm done!" "About time," Kazu said. "You still owe me a game!" Rika appears out of nowhere. Seeing Takato coming out, she heads into the studio. "Hey Rika," Takato said, greeting her. "Where have you been?" "None of your business," she replied nonchalantly as she stepped past him and inside. "You were saying?" Kenta stated, reminding Kazu that Henry was about to tell who he liked. "Oh," Henry replied. "I'm not sure. Sora, I guess." "Sora?" Kazu looked at Henry strangely. "You have got to be kidding." "Sora's not all that," Kenta added. "Man, were your eyes closed when you watched the TV show?" Henry sighed as Takato wondered what they were talking about. ====== "I honestly can't believe how long it took me to figure out what to sing," Rika admitted. "But at least I've found a song that's decent." The music begins to play in the background. Rika has chosen LeAnn Rimes's "Can't Fight the Moonlight" to sing to. [Rika] Under a lover's sky I'm gonna be with you And no one's gonna be around If you think that you won't fall Well just wait until, 'till the sun goes down Underneath the starlight starlight There's a magical feeling so right It will steal your heart tonight ====== After the session is over, Rika smiles as she heads out. "At least I found something that was fun out of this whole experience." Jeri returns to the waiting room. She finds the boys reviewing their performances in the redone scenes. "How do you do it?" Kazu asked Takato. "You got all of your lines right every time!" "It pays to study the script at night," Takato replied. "Unlike some people..." "I'll be lucky if don't get a pay cut after how many retakes I had to do," Kenta sobbed. "At least yours won't be as bad as mine," Henry said. "You're not a main character, so your pay isn't as big as mine is." "Talking about the fanfic?" Jeri asked, interrupting them. "Yeah," came the response from Kenta. "How did you do, Jeri?" "I'm getting a bonus!" she beamed brightly. "You're getting a bonus?" Takato cried out. "I didn't mess up once, and I've never gotten a bonus! How can you get one?" "It helps if you have connections," she responded. "I heard her puppet has its own acting contract in China," Kazu whispered to Kenta. "Can you believe that?" "That's it!" Henry shouted. "I'm asking for a raise after this is all done!" Rika comes out of the recording booth. Surprisingly, she's happy. "Your turn, Jeri," she said pleasantly. "Thanks," Jeri smiled as she walked past Rika and into the studio. "Rika, how much are you getting paid?" Kazu asked her after Jeri had closed the door behind her. "Same as usual. Why?" "Jeri's getting a bonus." "What? How can she get a bonus? In this fanfic, she's not a Tamer yet!" "She says that she has connections," Takato added. "I'd like to find out what those are," Rika stated. The others nodded in agreement. ====== In the recording studio, a song from one of Jeri's CDs is playing. "You know, I wasn't even aware the producer was running a contest based on our selection of songs. If I knew that ahead of time, I would have chosen an American artist, rather than an Asian one." The song begins to play in the background. Jeri starts to sing. [Jeri] I've got the world I have it all In your arms wrapped in your arms The only place I want to fall, Is in your arms wrapped in your arms This feeling is so strong Baby won't you wrap me up in your arms Just keep me safe and warm Baby won't you wrap me up in your arms The only place that I belong Is wrapped up in your arms A few minutes later, Jeri starts to head out of the recording studio. On the way out, she takes her CD out of the karaoke player. "I so love that song!" she exclaimed. "April is such a great singer." The song plays again in the background. It's April's "Wrap Me in Your Arms." ====== Jeri walks out of the recording studio with a smile on her face. The others are waiting patiently for her. "You ready for the stage performance, Jeri?" Takato asked. "Yep," she smiled. "You know, we really have to talk about your connections." "What are you talking about, Takato?" "Just tell us how you get a bonus and the rest of us don't?" Rika asked. "I do puppet shows for the production staff's children when they have special events like birthdays and other important functions. I get paid for it." "You see!" Kazu shouted. "She's a genius! That puppet of hers is a cash cow!" "Weren't you just saying how much you wanted to throw that stupid puppet in the trash?" Kenta asked him. "Shut up," Kazu replied, elbowing Kenta in the side. "Let's just get this over with so we can get paid," Henry said. ====== (In the background, Takato, Rika, and Henry are replaying the scene where their Digimon are fighting Mihiramon, the first deva. Kazu, Kenta, and Jeri are hiding behind some nearby bushes on the other side of the stage. As the battle continues, a spotlight shines on the left end of the stage. Matt and his band, the Teenage Wolves, begin playing Michelle Branch's "All You Wanted." As they do, another spotlight shines down on Jeri, who has a microphone in hand. She starts walking towards Takato, despite the fact that the battle is still going on. She begins to sing the first verse.) [Jeri] I wanted to be like you I wanted everything So I tried to be like you And I got swept away (Jeri walks past Rika, who is now nursing an injured Renamon, and then past Henry, who is watching Terriermon jump into battle.) [Jeri] I didn't know that it was so cold And you needed someone To show you the way So I took your hand and we figured out That when the tide comes I'd take you away (Jeri is now standing right in front of Takato. Suddenly, everyone on stage except for Jeri and the band freezes in place as she begins to sing the chorus.) [Jeri] If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted Was somebody who cares (Jeri runs back to her hiding place as Rika suddenly produces a microphone out of nowhere and everyone else begins moving again. Walking away from the fallen Renamon, she watches as Terriermon quickly falls and Takato has Guilmon digivolve into Growlmon. The battle continues on as Rika sings the second verse.) [Rika] I'm sinking slowly So hurry hold me Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on Please can you tell me So I can finally see Where you go when you're gone (Takato faints on stage. Rika walks over to check on him as Calumon appears and quickly revives the fallen Tamer. As Takato begins to gather himself, everyone on stage freezes once again. The band continues to play as Rika sings the chorus aloud.) [Rika] If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted Was somebody who cares (Everyone else on stage resumes the battle. Takato stands up and has Growlmon digivolve into WarGrowlmon. Jeri pulls her microphone back out as she signs from her side of the stage, while Rika continues from her current position.) [Jeri & Rika] All you wanted was somebody who cares If you need me you know I'll be there Oh, yeah (WarGrowlmon defeats Mihiramon. Takato and Henry celebrate, as Kazu and Kenta come out of their hiding place. Jeri and Rika also come out, heading towards each other at center stage. They meet Takato there, as everyone stage freezes yet again. The band continues playing as the girls continue singing, while in Takato's face.) [Jeri & Rika] If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here (Jeri: I can take you away) So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted Was somebody who cares (Everything unfreezes as WarGrowlmon comes down from the roof of the building and celebrates with the guys. All except for Takato, who is happy with the two girls serenading him.) [Rika] Yeah [Jeri] Oh, yeah (The others make their way around the trio as the girls belt out the chorus one last time.) [Jeri & Rika] If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here (Rika: Take you away) So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted Was somebody who cares (Jeri and Rika each take one of Takato's hands and lean in towards each other as if they were going to kiss him at the same time.) [Jeri & Rika] Please can you tell me So I can finally see Where you go when you're gone (As the music stops, Jeri and Rika both give Takato a quick peck on the cheek. They then turn towards the audience and take a bow with everyone else. Then the rest of the cast steps aside as the three stars get their own individual rounds of applause.) ****** That wraps up this fic officially! As for the contest, there will be no winner because I did not receive enough entries. For those of you who did participate, though, you now know the songs I used. I did try to pick songs that best fit the characters, but I honestly wasn't accurate all the time. And as a reminder, there will be another Tamers fanfic after this one real soon. It depends on when I can get around to it. Please remember to leave a review! And thanks for reading! Copyright Date: 2/14/02