-A Face-

Waves after waves of radiant, orange flames chased the Coredramon just as he began to take flight and get the advantage of higher ground. Unfortunately, one shot got him, hitting him in the wings. A scream came, followed by the loud bang created by Green crash-landing.

Disoriented, Green struggled to find footing, rising up slowly. But Cerberumon wasn't allowing its opponent to have even a second of rest. Growling, Cerberumon charged forward, the razor-sharp claws on its forelimbs shining with reflection, giving a vibrant silver color.

"Styx Killer!" with a creepy snarl that sounded like a zombie Rikuto could only imagine, Cerberumon raised its forelimbs up high, gathering potential energy before it struck, the claws moving so fast that they almost turned invisible.

Green barely escaped the strike, taking a u-turn before starting to retaliate. "Strike Bomber!" he yelled, slamming his spiked tail Cerberumon. The strike was successful, and it hurt Cerberumon so effectively that it felt like he was just being beaten by a swinging maze. It could almost feel its bones fracturing under the impact.

"Keep up with the good work, Green!" Rikuto yelled. Not having much experience as a Tamer –or Digi-Destined –he could do nothing but to ensure that his bullies had fled to somewhere safe.

"Green Flare Breath!" Green fired a stream of flames, green like glass. The attack hit Cerberumon right in the head, leading to the poor Digimon's screaming.

"Easy job!" Green commented.

But the fight wasn't over. In the cloud of smoke and flame, a silhouette raised up, amber eyes penetrating the green smoke. The noise of flame burning covered the gasp of air Cerberumon was producing. And within a second, it was no longer just a silhouette, but a ball of blackness that jetted towards Rikuto with full speed.

"Look out!" having turned his back on the flame and believing the fight was over, Rikuto failed to notice the Digimon's strike.

Green, who had noticed the strike earlier, flew faster than he'd ever done and pushed Rikuto away. The human feel. He could sense his skin burning from the scratches created by the floor, but the pain was nothing compared to what Green was baring.

When he turned to look for his partner, he discovered a giant hole on the floor, bounded by a dark violet curve, with absolute blackness towards the center. He had a bad feeling, and it was confirmed when he saw Green barely keeping his balance midair and Cerberumon binding his limbs around Green like a living cage, weighting him down. He could almost be certain Cerberumon was trying to drag Green into the non-attractive black hole. It reminded him of the portals the government designed to travel through the Human World and the Digital World, though he'd only used those one, and it had been an illegal act.

"What are staring at? Do something!" a voice came from behind –voice that belonged to a girl. "You're his partner, right?"

Rikuto turned, and saw a girl about his age, with dark red hair that was tied into a knot. Her outfit seemed strange, at least to him, since he'd never properly talked to a girl before. The girl wore a purple tank top, covered by a military green short-sleeved jacket and a pair of jeans that looked quite new.

"What are you waiting for?" the girl asked again, approaching Rikuto. Her eyes looked enraged, as if she was watching a sports competition and got disappointed.

"What…who are you and…" before Rikuto could finished, the girl's face was already inches away from his, her sharp eyes made her somehow meaner that Cerberumon in appearance.

"You have a Digivice, right?" she started searching Rikuto's pockets without permission, and got a green Digivice from one of his pockets on his shorts. The whole process lasted for no longer than a few seconds, but it nevertheless embarrassed Rikuto.

"Wow!" the girl's green, sharp eyes turned into large, watery ones, as if she'd just seen her idol passing by. "You are a Destined?"

"Kinda, I guess." Rikuto replied numbly.

But the girl's digression only lasted for a second. With her minds seemingly cleared, she took a deck of cards from her pockets and began selecting, eventually getting two between her fingers. If those hadn't been Digimon cards, Rikuto would say he'd just met the youngest gambler.

"Offensive Plug-in A!

"High Speed Plug-in!"

As she swiped the two cards across Rikuto's Digivice, Green started to glow with a warm light. And by the next moment, he was already gone. Having no footing, Cerberumon instantaneously fell into the black hole it'd created, its claws roughly hanging it on by the edge of the hole.

In a flash, Green was back to Rikuto's side.

"Finish him!" the girl said.

Green was about to make a fatal blow, but was stopped at the last moment by Rikuto,

"Why, Riku?"

"I guess that's enough for him." Rikuto replied. All he could hear now was the endless morns produced by the extreme fear Cerberumon; all he could see was Cerberumon's claws sliding towards to black hole, inch by inch. He couldn't imagine the pain and the fear Cerberumon was facing.

'Get him out of there." He said, his voice plain.

"But!" the girl insisted.

"If you say so, Riku." Green said before flying at his still enhanced speed and rescued Cerberumon in an instant.

"You've done something very wrong." The girl argued. "What if he still wants to fight?"

"That's my business." Said Rikuto.

Slowly turning around, the both of them saw the battered Cerberumon, its will to fight completely gone. It soon paced in small steps back into the alley.

"See? Problem solved." Said Rikuto as he let himself collapse by the walls of the alley, sitting there.

"What's wrong with you?" the girl asked. "You all right?"

"No." he answered, avoiding eye contact with the girl.

"Your brain got fried?"

"No." he repeated. "Everybody thinks I'm nothing without my brother, and now I had to be saved by a girl. So none of this is right to me!"

"So, you don't like getting helped?" she asked.

"I don't like everyone thinking I need help."

The girl looked amused. "So you're just shy."

"No."

"Then maybe you won't mind telling me your name?" she said with a gentle smile, reaching out one hand to help Rikuto get up. "My name's Ren. Hamasaki is the surname."

"Rikuto." He answered bitterly, as if she was some judge about to sentence him to life imprisonment. He wasn't afraid. Rather, he was annoyed. There had been too many things going against his will in a single day. "Fujimoto." He paused a little, then added, "Don't attempt to make any nicknames."

"Why are you talking to her like that, Riku?" Green, now degenerated back into a Dracomon, asked in a whisper. "Your face is a bit red."

"Shut up!" he didn't want Ren to heard that.

"So he can call you by your nickname?" Ren said sarcastically. "You're strange."

"What about you?" Rikuto demanded, hoping it will get the redness out of his face. "A Tamer?"

Ren's head dropped a little. Just when Rikuto decided the question had offended her, she started to talk. "Used to." She said, eyes glued to the ground, as if the Ren Rikuto'd just met was an entirely different person. "But my parents don't like that, so I have to give up." she managed to pull up a smile. "Don't worry. Valkyrimon –ex-partner and now friend –still lives with me." She took out her own Digivice, which was manufactured by humans. It had a much different shape than the Destined's, having a pill-shaped body and a large rectangular screen right in the middle. The black leather strips contrasted against the white paint of the model.

"I really enjoyed being a Tamer, as you just saw." She said, tying her Digivice on her left wrist. "Now that I can't really participate in any battles, I don't really have to wear it all around. But I like to keep it. And as you saw, I got out of control sometimes when I see Digimon battling each other." She paused. "Strange, huh?"

"Well, I didn't really elect to be a Tamer."

Ren looked angered. That was when Rikuto realized that he had made a mistake. From his limited experience, he could tell that it would already be suicidal to get a female mad, not to mention a teenage girl.

"With regards to that, I have two points to make." She said, her face serious. "First, I really expected a Digi-Destined to be stronger –a lot stronger than us Tamers."

Green observed that Rikuto's face was turning red again as he slowly shifted his gaze to the ground.

"Secondly, you might not like being a Tamer, but never say such thing in front of one, especially me!"

Rikuto turned to see Green still there. He gave the Dracomon a questioned look, to which Green couldn't reply, so he simply nodded.

"Sorry," Rikuto started. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Ren spoke immediately after he had, and she was back to her normal self again, with a warm smile hung on her face. "You'll have to make up for that." She muttered. "Let's see. What should I make you do?"

"You can't be serious…"

"Oh, speaking of seriousness." She started, biting her lower lip, which only made her smile broader. "You've to allow me to say your nickname."

"What?"

"That's a deal." She continued. "Or maybe you want to feel bad for the rest of your life remembering how you hurt a little girl's heart?"

"Fine, then." He gave up. "Since we won't be seeing each other for another time. By the way, what are you doing so early here?"

"I could ask you the same."

Rikuto took a few steps so he was standing right by Green's side. "This is Green." He said. "And I was supposed to take him around to know more about the city."

"Then maybe I can accompany you?" she said. "It's kinda boring just wandering around on you own."

"Whatever."

Katashi was amazed that none of them in the group said a word as they traveled to the Xe's wall. The whle party was too silent to be normal. He could understand why Kaito chose silence, but it was just making their truck lame, like they were prisoners being transferred.

Katashi tried to start a topic. "Anyone here want to ask me anything?"

There was no response. Blue had been the most outspoken one, but even he had gotten used to the atmosphere of the truck and decided not to speak.

"We're about ten minutes away from the destination." The driver informed them.

"Thanks!" said Katashi politely, as he'd always done,

"What are we doing there, exactly?" Kaito finally asked.

"Well, a few days ago, there was an accident at Xe's wall. You should remember that not much detailed was revealed. The truth was, it had something to do with whatever's outside and inside our city, or so I've heard from Smith's men."

Kaito sucked in a deep breath. "So they sent a kid there?"

"Two, actually." Katashi corrected him. "It's four to be more precise. You see, since I was tasked to supervise you, I practically lost a day as well. As did them." he looked at Liollmon.

"Sorry I got you into this." Kaito said lowly.

"Maybe that's what Smith'd wanted so long." Said Liollmon, jumping up and sitting a Katashi's lap. "You know, his punishment didn't really sound reasonable at all.

"Whatever. We're already on our way." Said Kaito. He looked around to see Blue dozing off. "Next time you decide to be a messenger, tell Smith I hate him."

"You can tell him that yourself." Replied Katashi. "I think that would be much more effective."

Before they could say another word, the truck stopped.

"You're free to go now, kids!" Shouted the driver. "Just remember don't get past the wall. Who knows if the Digimon out there are cannibal?"

"Don't worry. We can take care ourselves." Replied Katashi. "Thanks again!"

Kaito gently poked Blue's shoulder. "Time to get up." he said softly. When Blue opened his still dropping eyelids, Kaito decided he needed to help Blue get out of the truck. It took him a few seconds to guide Blue to the door, and by then Blue had already awakened.

"Good luck for you kids!" the driver's voice sounded more and more distant, as did the truck.

"Don't you think it's a bit weird that you keep following me everywhere?" demanded Rikuto. He was currently at a department store, at the men's fashion sector.

"Don't you think it's weird of a boy to shop at such places?" she asked back.

"Why not?" Green asked. Commonly, Ren would consider that as a trap question, intended to start a verbal combat by some ridiculously nit-picking guys. However, having noticed that the question was from Green, she answered gently. "Generally boys care less about appearances then girls do."

"Generally." Rikuto repeated. "Then where did my clothes come from?"

She didn't answer, simply whistling as she walked past him to another corner.

"And can you explain why you're following me everywhere?"

"You hurt my feelings, so you had to compensate." She said.

"What good does that do to you?"

She giggled. "You really don't have much friends, do you?"

"What's that supposed to mean? He became defensive. Ren's smile only embarrassed him more.

"You don't need a reason to hang out with friends." She leaned her face close to Rikuto's, and then whispered in his ear. "Right, Riku?"

"I told you not to…" he started, but quickly remembered his deal with Ren.

"At least I haven't bossed you around." She uttered. "Not yet, Riku."

"You don't have to keep saying that." He replied, not realizing his face blushing. "Only a few close ones know to call me that."

"You're one of the few?" she asked Green, who nodded in response. "Maybe I want to join the club."

"It's not a club." Said Rikuto. "And I don't really like having you around. No offense."

"Well, I was just bored anyway." She admitted. "I just want to stick to someone, okay?"

"Well, if you feel that way." Rikuto started, his eyes still avoiding contact with hers. "Maybe you can be in charge of our next stop?"

"Gladly." She replied. "Riku."

"What are we looking for here?" it was the second time Blue had asked the question, followinf Liollmon's

Kaito looked over his shoulder to locate Blue, and said. "I don't really know."

Right now, they were at the wall of Xe. Just a few days ago it was still in its glory days, with spray paints everywhere and guards keeping the bad boys away from trying to climb over the wall, which had already been impossible considering its size. But now, none were here, not even the guards. The attack a few days ago changed everything. Kaito only knew that a human kid was found out there via Katashi's words, which meant nobody knew that yet. He suspected the kid had something to do with Smith sending him here.

"At the top of the wall, everything looks different." Commented Katashi, who was sitting by his side.

"Just make sure you don't fall."

Katashi stood up. "We're mostly here to be left idly by, seriously." He gazed around, and sighed. "Smith insisted something would happen here after the incident a few days ago. Maybe that's the reason he got us here."

"So, we're basically waiting for something to happen?" Kaito asked.

"Basically, yes." He answered dryly as he gestured for Liollmon to come by his side. "Take a break first. It's getting kinda hot here."

"You don't know the meaning of summer, do you?" Kaito jinxed him as he, too, walked to Katashi's side. Blue followed tight.

Since they were on top of the wall, there was no cover for them to hide. The sunlight shone directly at them in the middle of the day. All they could do was to find a place where their shadows extended the longest, and sit there for a while –a long while.

"Let's get some diversion here, shall we?" uttered Katashi. "I don't like being scorched and bored at the same time."

"What do you suggest us do, then?" Kaito asked.

"Anything that can keep my mind cool." He said. "Speaking of coolness, why'd you still wear gloves under this kind of heat?" he muttered, though it made him feel more heat by imagining how Kaito's hands were like under the black, stretchy fabric. Maybe even a swimming pool or a good shower couldn't help him get rid of the feeling that was only in his imagination.

"I have my reasons." Kaito replied. "Besides, I'm not feeling the heat."

Blue joined the conversation. "What are we doing here?" his partner simply shook his head, making Blue confused.

"It means he doesn't know, either." Liollmon informed him. "You've got a lot of body language to learn."

"Body language?"

"It is some movements that tells you something on a person." Liollmon explained. "I don't know it very well, but generally different persons tend to have their own sets of body language." He pointed at Katashi, who was currently looking up at the sky; his eyes nearly formed a line with the sun. "Take Katashi as an example, he's bored whenever he does that."

"Really?" uttered Blue, looking at Kaito. "What about Kai's?"

"You should know better than me. You live with him, after all." Liollmon commented. He might not like either of the Fujimotos, but the innocence and ignorance of the Dracomon made him suppress that feeling. The smile on Blue's face just made him feel worse for mistreating Blue's partner.

Katashi looked to his side, where Kaito sat.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"What?"

"Why do you seem to hate me so much?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kaito said in an accusing tone.

"Well," Katashi started. "I was just wondering if we can be friends with each other because, you know, we're supposed to work together some times later. And you seemed to dislike me every time I show up."

"Everyone has secrets." Kaito replied coldly. "I don't think I'm capable of giving it to a stranger yet."

"So how can I become a non-stranger?"

"No idea."

"I believe I've paid back every word I said." Said Rikuto as they walked past a peculiarly shaped building. At first glance, Rikuto didn't really see much of a difference it had with other bizarrely shaped ones. But Ren stopped as they walked right beside it. She looked at the building with wary eyes, almost as if she was about to cry.

But she didn't. She just said, "You know what this building is?"

"What is it?" uttered Rikuto. He hadn't been fond of the girl since they'd met, but her watery eyes made the annoyance melt. She didn't answer, so he continued to examine the building as close as he could get, an image popping on his head.

The L-Shaped structure from aerial view, with the dome on top of one of the glass buildings, and an exceptional swimming pool for a building –all evidence pointed to it being the Institute –the one that was opened just by the end of last year.

When he turned to see Ren over his shoulders, and then he understood. She was inspired to be a Tamer, and the Institute was basically more a school for Tamers than a normal Institute. She must have studied there before, and those must be her good old days.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I forgot…I shouldn't have taken this path."

"It's all right." Replied Ren, a faint drop of tear ran down her left cheek. "The memories there are precious. That's it. Besides, I only enrolled in there for three months."

"I'm…" he started again, only to be interrupted by Green's words.

"Why do you keep apologizing?"

Ren giggled. "You've got a pretty cute partner, I see."

"So you're all right now?"

"I told you I was fine. You just didn't listen." She said. "By the way, Green. Riku only said 'sorry' for so many times because that's our way of expressing compassion."

"Speaking of compassion." Rikuto started. "Am I free to go now? I've spent the first half of the day with you."

"Just one more place." She said. "One more place I wanted to show you."

Waiting could officially top Katashi's list of most inhuman tortures.

It had been three total hours, and nothing except for the direction at which sunlight glowed changed. He tried not to think of a nice, cool bath at home, feared that the imagery would only aggravate his suffering.

"Smith told me we needed to wait until five." He said for about the second-hundredth time. "So it'll just be half an hour of waiting before we can part ways."

"Half an hour seems long here." Kaito replied weakly. "Sorry I brought you into this."

"What have I told you?" Katashi argued –if it could be acknowledged as one –and managed to pull off a smile. "We're likely to be here even if you hadn't been on the accident scene. You know how Smith thinks."

"I only know I hate him." Kaito would've shouted if he had some strength left. "And what are we really doing here, on top of a wall, when nothing happens outside."

Dracomon rose up, pointing at the sky. "What's that?"

A purple whirlwind appeared somewhere close to where Katashi and Kaito had been watching, and in a matter of seconds the wind changed into a hole, circled by violet lightning and an empty center. It was a Gate, and it was definitely not official, since those looked way different than this.

He got up, and told Liollmon to be ready.

"What's happening?" asked Kaito, his eyes fixed on the Gate. It was the first time he saw one that wasn't from human technology, and it reminded him of the rain of dragons the last year, when dozens of crimson-armored Digimon had descended upon the earth.

"I think something's trying to get here, but got the coordinates wrong." Katashi finished the sentence quickly. He wasn't going to make a joke about it. "Think about all those Digimon out there. Even if someone in the Digital World really were trying to get to us, they wouldn't risk being killed before they could do anything."

Liollmon glowed, and Digivolved into Grapleomon, readying a fight.

Yet nothing but the exceptionally creepy breeze was there.

"What are we waiting for?" Blue asked.

"Whatever trying to come here." Said Katashi numbly. "More precisely, whatever that tries to get here by killing us."

And then the breeze sounded. It was almost like a jet taking off; a rush of invisible force rushed right at the Destined, pushing them over to the floor. Fortunately none of them fell to the ground.

"Grapleomon!" Katashi shouted. Grapleomon immediately turned around, but couldn't see anything, not even a shape or outlines.

A huge bang sounded, and when they noticed it, the Gate had already been closed.

"Who's there?" Grapleomon shouted. "Come down and face as!"

Kaito thought the idea was the worst he'd seen –taunting an invisible enemy. He tried desperately to remember the day before, when Blue just Digivolved from a Fresh to a Champion. He ran his fingers along his pockets, and got his blue D-Magnus out, hoping something would pop out of the screen. Not to his disappointment, it did nothing.

But Katashi's Digivice did. His prototype Digivice let out a loud screech, its screen flashing with lights until one final word concluded the situation.

"Unidentifiable"

"Show yourself!" Grapleoman yelled again. However stupid it sounded, he figured that if he really could enrage his opponent, he might just have a chance to have physical contact with the enemy, and could capture it with luck.

The enemy struck again, this time targeting Blue. The Rookie fell, hitting the ground hard.

"How dare you!" Kaito yelled, but could do nothing.

And then the enemy stopped. It hadn't been invisible at all. Instead he'd just been moving exceptionally rapid for the eyes to follow. The creature stood on the edge of a wall, his blue skin flickering with crimson patches; his hand running along a stylishly designed lance.

When they were finally able to see him, Katashi saw a face of nightmares.