Still in Our Hearts

(Fanfic By DigiFreak103)

-Disclaimer…I know you probably don't read these things but I don't own Digimon or the characters. I only own the story…I think…yeah-

Chapter 1 – Henry's Thoughts

'I can't believe she's been gone for a year now,' I thought while lying on bed, staring at the ceiling of my room. I reached over to my side table to get my journal and pen to write what happened today. As I flipped to the next blank page and started to write…

Dear Journal,

It has exactly one year since she died. Her untimely death struck us all by surprise especially Suzie, and me. Rika Nonoka meant so much to me, to all of us. All of tamers walked down to the cemetery where she was buried.

-Flash Back-

"We beat D-Reaper," Takato yelled. All of us started to celebrate the victory, but we celebrated to soon. D-Reaper somehow managed to control Beelzemon and started shooting his guns all over the place. When this happened, Rika prepared to fight again. We did the same. I was looking through my modify cards when I heard Rika shout out my name. I turned around and saw Beelzemon, pointing his guns at me a few yards away. I closed my eyes, shuddered to think what would happen next.

When I opened my eyes, after hearing the BANG, I was on the ground. I looked around and saw Rika, bleeding on her side. Jeri ran over to help Rika while Ryo, Takato, Kazu, Kenta, and I fought. We finally beat the D-Reaper for sure. Now our only worries were to help Rika. We carried Rika into the ark and made our way home. Renamon looked helpless, watching her tamer die, right before her eyes. Takato emailed Yamaki telling him that we were coming home, but needed an ambulance because of Rika's condition.

When we got there, Rika was being sent to the hospital. Her mom and grandma followed the ambulance. Soon after we, too, went to the hospital, avoiding the news reporters. We made it in front of Rika's hospital room, hearing the sobs of her mother. Rika's grandma stepped out with a depressed look on her face. Jeri asked, "Is Rika going to be okay?" Her grandma shook her head and said that she had probably another half hour to live.

We were all startled with this and decided to take turns talking to her one last time. Finally, it was my turn. I stepped in the room thinking what I should say to her. It was hard to see Rika in this state. She was lying there, helpless, attached to an IV and a heart monitor. I held her hand and gave her a small kiss the cheek. Rika forced a smile a on her face.

"Take care of Gogglehead, Puppetgirl, Visorhead, Four-eyes, and especially Renamon, okay?" Rika said nearly whispering. She started crying. It was the first time I had seen her cry. "Henry, even if I never showed, I have always loved you." she said. I said the same thing back, trying hard not to cry. The last thing she had said was to always remember her and never forget her. After that, the monitor went blank, as she lost grip of my hand. "It was because of me." I said as I cried.

-Flash Back-

"It was because of me she died. I should have kept my guard up." I said, trying to hold back the tears. Just then, Renamon appeared right before me. "It's not your fault. She did it because she cared. She met her destiny. You helped her change from a cold-hearted person to a person that cared for others." she told me. With that in mind, I left a ring on the gravestone that read, 'Forever mine' on it.

As our shadows grew longer, and day became night, we walked home going our own ways, still thinking about Rika, the Digimon Queen, who cared enough to be a friend, more than a friend, a hero. Well til tomorrow. -Henry Wong- Jul. 15, 2001