Chapter One – Darkness in her Heart

Her eyes were brimming with tears as she fixed her gaze upon her father's unmoving form, watching as he struggled with each and every breath, as his eyes closed and his muscles became limp. His energy was being rapidly depleted, leaving Rika feeling helpless, frustrated, and alone. There was nothing that she could do to save him, nothing that she could do to combat the cancer that had viciously taken over his entire body. The disease had caused so much damage that she could barely even recognize him with his bony limbs; he used to be such a firm and solid man that was never before a victim of any type of illness, including the common cold and flu. How could this have possibly happened? He was only middle-aged; surely it wasn't his time yet! She quickly wiped away the tears that threatened to fall, only to find that they were already streaming down her face. It just wasn't fair… Rika, only ten years old, was so close to her father; she did everything with him. She was very much of a tomboy, outranking the boys when she played sports and successfully winning competitions such as arm wrestling. He was her best friend, her idol, and she was lead to believe that he'd always be there for her. But no, not this time. This is time was different, and she sensed that it wasn't going to be long before…

"R-Rika…" Rika froze in place upon hearing her mother's fragile voice. Just then the heart monitor omitted a continuous high-pitched ring, indicating that her father's heart was no longer beating. "He's gone…" her mother sobbed. "He's gone…" It was after those words were left lingering through the air that everything around her became distant and unclear, almost as if time itself had come to an abrupt stop. There was motion all around her, as the nurses entered the room to detach his body from the machines that had been stabilizing his condition, but to her everything seemed like a blur. It was as if nothing mattered anymore, that her entire world had shattered into a million pieces before she was even able to break its fall. Then, without thinking, Rika bolted for the door and pushed past the doctor who had arrived to offer her and her mother her sincere condolences. But she didn't care. She didn't even notice that her mother was calling out her name. Her mind was completely blank as she flew down the fleet of stairs and down the hallway towards the main entrance of the hospital, not really aware of what she was doing or where she was going. All she knew was that something had broken inside of her, and there was absolutely nothing that would be able to repair it.

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"Rika, are you alright?" a familiar voice asked, concerned. Rika glanced around the room only to find that everyone was staring at her, including a boy with brown, shaggy hair and brown eyes, with features so soft and handsome he looked cute and innocent. Upon his head sat a pair of yellow goggles that she had always accredited him for, being that he was the only one she knew that actually included them in their casual wear. His outfit was composed of a blue dress shirt worn over a black, cotton T-shirt which was accompanied by a pair of baggy, beige shorts along with blue and white sneakers. His name was Takato, who she always referred to as "Goggle-head". He was one of the tamers that she had been associating with ever since their first confrontation with one another so many years ago.

"…" Rika's outfit was composed of a red T-shirt with white skulls surrounding a black heart, accompanied by baggy, black jeans with her old sneakers to match. Her hair was exactly the same; pulled back in a pony tail and spiked in the back. The only thing that was different was that her side bangs were slightly longer than the ones parted in the middle. Silently rising to her feet she walked out of the room, uncaring of the fact that it was her 19th birthday and that her friends had gathered in her living room to celebrate it with her. Takato instinctively followed, despite knowing how she would react.

"I think Takato has feelings for her, don't ya think, Henry?" a little rabbit-like creature asked inquisitively.

"Terriermon... that's none of our business!" a boy with bluish, black hair replied.

"Rika... hey!" Takato said as he walked to where Rika sat looking out at the backyard. Noticing that she was very quiet he sat beside her, thinking about what he could possibly say to her to put her in a better frame of mind. Takato was well aware that she was extremely macho and that it was about normal for her to react this way, but somehow he sensed something really serious was bothering her. "Please… Tell me what's wrong."

"Just go away. You're not wanted here." Rika replied smugly, making him flinch.

"Rika… You're my best friend." Best friend…? Was that all that she was worth to him? He continued, "I just really care about y—"

"Back off, alright?! I know how to take care of myself!"

With that Rika launched herself through the corridor and the living room, running straight out the front door of her house. At this point everyone was left in confusion and dismay as they turned to watch the commotion. Just as Takato was crossing through the living room he was struck in the stomach with enough force to knock him flat on the floor beneath him. Standing over him was Ryo with his fist poised. He was the Digimon King, another tamer that the group had met in the Digital World.

"What the hell did you say to her, Takato!?" He asked furiously. "I never should've trusted you alone with her!"

"Stop acting like she's your girlfriend! Besides! It's her decision, not yours!"

"What's it to you? You act like you're jealous! Isn't Jeri enough for you?"

"Shut up! Jeri's more like a sister than anything!" Takato stated heatedly, clenching his fists. The room fell silent for a few brief seconds, allowing him the time to realize what he had just said. Feelings of guilt immediately came after he looked at Jeri's heart-broken expression. "Jeri… I'm sorry… I didn't mean…" Why on earth would he say something like that? It was never declared that he and Jeri were going out, but he did love her…didn't he? Rika was just a friend…wasn't she?

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The sun had long retreated behind the horizon as Rika strolled along on the sidewalk, heading in the direction of downtown Tokyo. She really didn't have a destination, in part because she wasn't paying attention to begin with. That stupid goggle-head! Following me all the time! She thought to herself. He just feels sorry for me! I wish he'd just stick to his stupid girlfriend and leave me alone! She was so riled up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the street lights go out one by one as she passed them. Hmph. Idiot… The darkness seemed to be growing around her as she continued her walk down the street, observing that everything was quiet…too quiet. "Renamon?" Rika turned around only to find that she was enveloped in the shadows, unable to find her way back from where she came. Moaning in agony, she staggered backwards as she felt something cut into the flesh above and beneath her left eye and across her cheek, causing her to grip the side of her face impulsively as blood ran down her forearm and onto the pavement below. Just as she was about to make the attempt to defend herself, the darkness had dispersed and she was left standing under a lit street lamp with Renamon by her side.