Roaring or Lying? [mana] [PG-17]

Charles was a bit disappointed that the shake Mana seemed to resented missing was not really all that special. She also didn't quite that impressed by the chosen location for this next part of their date, which made him even more disappointed. He expected the place where they met to have a romantic feel to it, given they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Yet he couldn't stop now. He keep taking this route for better or the worse (hopefully the better).

As the waiter left to get Mana her smoothie, Charles sat down with her. Mana began giving Charles a theorycall introduction to her family, to which he listened carefully.

Then Mana asked what he thought of her friends.

"Of course they are. Ryoko gave us a live show, with as much risk as the one we witnessed right? What more can one ask of a friend, but to take that kind of chances for you? And Karin...she's great too. She tries to help and does the best she can at it." Charles commented, happy about the route the conversation had taken."And Tatsuya, well, I had met him before. I'd introduce you to some friends of my own, but hum..." Charles decided to keep himself from finishing that sentence, as apart from Mana, her friends and possibly Tatsuya, Charles was quite lacking of friends "Anyway Mana, tell me how didyou and Ayaka meet?"

He was hoping the sequence of detours would be able to manage his way out of talking about his parents. Distracted, he put the cloak from Nightspellmon upon another chair, away from his sight or Mana's.

Charles looked at Mana, waiting on what she might be thinking. Her mind was a complete mystery to him, just something he couldn't grasp beyond the fact that she seemed to be happy. What could she be thinking?

Mana told him about the way she met Ayaka, causing Charles to remember the day he met his first spirit, Steamdramon. In that day he had met his only friend from the dark area...and murdered him. Even after all the time that passed since, it still hurt to even think of that day. Yet, Charles was snapped out of his memories when Mana stated her intention to go to the dark area with Ayaka alone. This of course worried Charles. What if she got hurt?

Charles pondered upon what answer to give Mana. If he said she should go, she might get hurt or think that hr didn't care if she did get hurt and that Charles just wanted her away from him. Yet if he said no, she wouldn't listen, she'd go anyway and probably think that he simply didn't trust her. Finnaly, Charles made his decision.

"Ok, if you want you can go. Not that I could stop you anyway. I trust Ayaka can protect you, but be carefull anyway, I'd hate to have raw data for a girlfriend." He told Mana, the last part being said in a joking tone. "And make sure to remember to come back, will you?"

Then, Charles recalled the day he found out Mana had a crush on him. What an embarrassing day that was for both of them, yet something really important came from the finding. Still, one thing was said in that day, one thing that been hidden in Charles's mind and had now come out to torment him: Mana had question his trusting of her. Charles imagined Nightspellmon laugthing at him for his stupid mistake. No, he wouldn't let, he wouldn't just loose Mana to something like that.

So instead of answering her question on his favorite drink, Charles attempted to grab her hand and look into her eyes.

"Mana, I wasn't actually planning on telling you this, because it still pains me to speak of it, but...remember when I tried to hide behind you and afterwards behind that set of jackets this morning? Well I was hiding from...my mom. This was the first time I saw any of my parents in over two months, as I'm still afraid of what my spirits might do to them. I mean, they don't any digimon partner, so how could they ever defend themselves against things like Chaoskimeramon? I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier and I hope you can forgive me for it." Charles told Mana.

Around that point the waiter arrived and out Mana's smoothie on the table, bowing before leaving. The man entered the kitchen with his red napkin over his arm, while Charles just kept his eyed  in Mana, hoping he didn't screw things between them.

Charles was caught compltely off-guard by Mana's reaction. She began to cry and shouting, this culminating in her leaving the cafe. Everyone else at the cafe had either hidden or left, to avoid witnessing this fight between the two lovers.

Charles didn't know what to do. For amoment he just reamined in his seat, completly stunned, but then he took off after Mana. She was nowhere to be seen.

"Mana!" Charles called out. "Please, come back! I'm sorry! Please! I really am."

Where could she be? Charles needed to find her, to apologize in her face to mend whatever he did wrong. But what could he do? He though he was doing the right thing by sharing that information about his parents, but it seemed to not be enough.

A tear came down Charles's eye. That's when he saw a figure running of. He'd forever recognise that hair, nomatter what she did to it. Charles ran after Mana.

"Mana please stop! I'll do anything, please just tell me what you want. Don't want to loose you. I could never take it. I..." Charles got hit by something, interrupting him. A huge rage grew within him, as he had stopped running and whatever this was had interrupted his words to Mana, his girlfriend for the moment. Still it felt more than just...natural. He couldn't explain or care about it right now, he needed to get Mana back. He began running again.

"Mana! If you wanna give me one more chance, please...I'll at alley. The to wich you followed me. I'll never forget that day and I wish you didn't either. Just ask what you want...And I'll give you the answer."

With this, Charles ran to the promissed location.

(OOC: *Grabs his own collar, and swallows*)

Charles listened to Karin, she was clearly angry at him, and quite likely with reason.

"I'm not sure WHAT I did wrong yet,but I must have done something, so if you want to punch me, kick me, whatever, please do, but not today. I'd prefer seeing this fixed before." Charles commented. Ayaka then explained what was essentially what nightspellmon had just told him, with one exception. But if that part of what his spirit had told was true, then...could the rest be as well? Was he doomed to loose the Mana inevetably, was this relationship fated to end in disaster? No, he had yo take it off his head, he had to focus on what what was important. "Thank you Ayaka. And to you to Karin and Jeanene." Charles said as the newcomer decided she and her partner would give him and Mana some privacy. The boy got on his knee, over a rock. It didn't hurt a lot, at least not at first. But from his chest a pain grew, intense. Charles decided it was best to ignore it for now. "Ashmore. That's my surname. Not a very one, I know, but I guess that happens. My parents are Jessica Robertson and James Ashmore. I was born 15 years ago, in Los Angeles. We weren't "particulary rich", though we managed and when my dad got this huge promotion we moved to Japan. Everything started to fine, better I'd say until there was this car crash. I beleive I told about the nightmares it gave me in that day in the park. I got p a little pulled away from friends after they begun, and a few months later, I got sucked into the digital world." Charles told Mana, looking right at her, trying to perceive her reaction " I know this isn't too much of a precisely detailed story, and if you have any questions for me, just ask them. I don't wanna hide anything from you, but...I see you as more than the walls around us, you are SOMEONE, more than just any person, my girlfriend. I guess...I guess I need to learn these things. Trust and proactiveness, two things I lack. Will you teach them to me?" Charles asked. "I want nothing more than to be with you. Is it the same way with you?"