A/N: Chapter 2...

Fall From Grace

Chapter 2

Rika and Renamon continued their search. A day had gone by with them still following the now fading tracks. Each hour made the trail harder to follow, other tracks were obscuring the ones they wanted. However they had met a few peaceful digimon along the way who had confirmed seeing a Blood Renamon passing recently. They were gaining ground even if they found it hard to see the way.

But night was approaching and they needed to rest. Neither wanted to waste time so they both decided on a quick sleep and to leave before day returned. The more ground they covered the better.

Like the two females following, the Blood Renamon also needed to rest.

He, for he had identified himself as male from the thoughts in his head, had had very little luck in finding out anything about where he was or how he got there. A whole day was spent roaming this place with very little interaction with other beings. Sure he had seen others, but if he tried to approach they simply scattered. Almost as if they were afraid of him.

He snorted again. He was getting nowhere. And he had the distinct feeling he was being followed. He couldn't understand why he felt that, and each time he looked back he saw nothing, but the feeling remained.

He shook it off as best as he could, laying himself down in a tree to get some rest. He doubted he would remain there for the whole night as his quest for answers was pulling him even now.

He yawned, rubbing the side of his neck to relieve an itch and allowed himself to fall asleep.

Rika and Renamon slept for a couple of hours before they were up and moving again. They weren't well rested but they didn't care for their own fatigue, they needed to find Zero. There was a very good chance that the digimon they were following was him as only two Blood Renamons were confirmed to have survived the attack, but there was still a chance that others may have escaped. If that was true, why did it take so long for a sighting?

That was what convinced the females that this digimon was Zero. The sooner they caught up to him the sooner they could go home. Neither female had been satisfied for two months, they were beginning to get desperate.

They proceeded through the night, Renamon's sharp senses leading the way with Rika close beside her partner. Both females wore their mate mark on their necks, Zero marking the redhead as she also marked him. They weren't sure it would work but were relieved when it did, it allowed Rika access to Zero's true form without Renamon's aid.

Renamon's mark though had a slight itch to it. Rika showed no such reaction to her mark but both had slowly begun to fade, neither noticing either. They just trudged on, hoping to catch up sooner rather than later.

An hour into their night search Renamon's senses picked up a digimon, unmoving and slightly elevated from the ground. The tracks led in the same direction as the digimon, the coincidence wasn't lost on her.

"Rika, he's close." The anticipation was palpable in her voice.

Rika looked around them. "Where? I can't see anything."

The vixen pointed ahead of them. "That way, possibly in a tree. He isn't moving so I guess he's asleep. Come on."

They moved closer, taking five more minutes to reach the base of the tree the digimon was in. Renamon knew it was him now, she could sense a Blood Renamon anywhere. They had a very unique signature about them given how Zero has rewritten his own data code after losing his digivolution. That had passed down to all Blood Renamons as a result.

Up in the tree though, something stirred. The digimon woke.

His eyes snapped open, senses detecting two beings very close by. His instincts told him he was in danger, making his body wake up in a split second. He bolted upright, on his footpaws an instant later. His head whipped down, seeing a yellow shape through the trees as his sharp vision pierced the darkness.

He glanced up as well, seeing a wave of daylight approaching. Night was lifting. He closed his eyes to prevent himself being dazed by the sudden brightness, opening them slowly before turning and leaping from the tree.

Rika and Renamon weren't so lucky with the light. By the time they knew it was happening they were already dazzled by the brightness. As their vision recovered they both heard the digimon jump from the tree and land nearby on the ground. Retreating footsteps marked his escape, but why did he run? If it was Zero, didn't he recognise them?

Finally able to see they turned to the sound of his steps, seeing him disappear through the cover of the forest.

"Something isn't right Rika. If that was Zero then why did he run?"

The redhead turned to the vixen. "I don't know Renamon, but even if that isn't Zero it might still know where he is." She swiped her digivolution card, digivolving Renamon into her much faster Kyuubimon form. Rika climbed onto her back. "Let's go."

Kyuubimon nodded and took off after the Blood Renamon.

The chase lasted for most of the day, the Blood Renamon surprisingly fast and able to shake Kyuubimon as he changed direction frequently. But for all the skill he had he failed to notice the dead end he reached, trapping him between tall sheer cliffs and Kyuubimon.

With nowhere to go, he dropped into a fighting stance. He knew how to fight, and even if he felt out matched he wasn't going to lay down and accept defeat. He would go down fighting if he had to.

Kyuubimon stepped into the clearing he was in, seeing his stance. Rika hung back as she saw his readiness to fight them.

Kyuubimon called out to the digimon. "Calm yourself. We mean you no harm."

Blood Renamon just snorted again. His handpaws were clenched into fists, claws visible and extended. His left leg drifted back as his weight shifted forwards, preparing for a charge towards Kyuubimon.

"We do not wish to hurt you, please. We just wish to ask you some questions." Kyuubimon again tried to placate the digimon before her.

He growled lowly. "What makes you think I know anything?"

Both Kyuubimon's and Rika's hearts leapt. That was Zero's voice. But at the same time it caused them to wonder why he didn't recognise either of them.

Tentatively the redhead stepped forwards, standing beside Kyuubimon. "Zero? It's you, isn't it?"

He looked more confused than before. "Who or what is this Zero?"

That got them. It was definitely Zero, but without his memories. Either that or this elusive Blood Renamon happened to sound exactly like him in tone and pitch. Kyuubimon could no longer stand and watch on.

"Zero, let us help you. You've lost your memories, we can help you recover them."

His head whipped back and forth, tail flailing in agitation. "I told you I don't know what this Zero is! Get away from me!"

Kyuubimon wasn't done. She didn't come all this way after two months to be defeated so easily. "You are Zero. We know you, very well in fact. We can help you remember."

Something inside his head hurt madly, threatening to tear his mind asunder. It hurt more with each word she said. He clutched his temples with a grimace of pain. "I said get away from me!"

His sudden change in voice startled them both, before they noticed the red aura surrounding him.

Rika voiced it for the both of them. "It can't be..."

"Blood Renamon, awaken!"