I know I said that this chapter would be the whole thing with Guilmon's disappearance and such, but this chapter ran away with me, that will be next chapter, also next chapter will be the start of training, as well as advanced D-Ark fiddling classes for the Tamers.
Props to my Beta for this Story, Kokuhi, the thin line between you and various typo's and grammatical errors.
Chapter 10: As Seen On T.V.
Rika sat in her class room fiddling with her pencil case. There was a mirror on the lid and through it she could see her mother, an explosion of color in a lineup that was, by comparison, bland. All the girls in her class were whispering to each other wondering who she was until one of the girls pointed out that she was Rika's mom. Then they started whispering that she must be some kind of model, it was then that Rena's phone began to ring. She rushed out the classroom door as all the girls watched, and Rika sighed, it must have been important.
It wasn't that Rika minded that she left, she had to do her job, but sometimes she thinks that they expect her mother to be on call like some kind of doctor. The door opened again and Rika took a look into her mirror, there was Rena smiling and waving happily at her. She smiled, but wondered if staying is going to hurt her mother's career.
School let out and after maneuvering through the halls full of chatting young girls and their mothers as well as the signing a few autographs by Rena, they finally made it out onto the street to begin their walk to home. Rika walked slightly behind her mother averting her gaze when she would look back, she was beginning to think her mother should just have gone. She had worked hard to get where she was, she shouldn't have to sacrifice that for a silly parents day at her school. After a few minutes of silence Rena was fed up; "What's wrong Rika," she asked," you haven't said a word since we left."
Rika averted her eyes to her shoes before responding, "You didn't have to stay for me," she whispers," it wouldn't bother me I understand you have work to do."
Rena smiled as she hugged her daughter, Rika hesitated at first but responded warmly, after they released each other the walk continued.
"It was a call from a magazine," Rena laughed," they wanted me to do a shoot for them in an hour, can you believe that, I told them they would need to call at least a day in advance."
Rena looked over her shoulder at her daughter with a bright smile; "What, am I some kind of on call doctor?"
Rena no longer looking where she was going ran into a parking meter, much to Rika's secret amusement as she helped her mother, who was ranting about her ruined clothing, up off the ground.
"Definitely not a doctor…" Rika and Kushina thought at once.
"Hey," Rika thought defensively," only I am allowed to insult her intelligence."
"It was just an observation," Kushina chuckled," we really are alike, Minato always said that I was a klutz outside of battle."
"I can see you now," Rika thought cheekily," leaping into the fray only to land on your own kunai."
"I'm not talking to you anymore…"
"Don't be such a…" Rika stopped when a column of digital energy struck the ground a few blocks over and then erupted into the fog that signaled a digital field.
"Kaasan," she said," I have to…"
"I know," she laughed," I'll hurry home and send Naruto after you."
"Thank you Kaasan." Rika said
With that they both ran off to their respective duties.
~Xutzy~
Rika was a block away from the bio-emergence when Naruto dropped down from a nearby building. She sent him a quick nod as they both dashed through the fog. Once they made it through they were greeted with an empty stretch of road, then the car just up the road went up in flames. Naruto pulled Rika away from the blast and put his back to it, effectively shielding her from flaming debris.
"You didn't have to do that," she grunted forcing out of his grip," it wasn't all that close I would have been fine."
"And risk you getting hurt Rika-chan," Naruto laughed," What would I say to your mother."
"He's lying; his father pulled the same thing during a training exercise in Bird Country, only he insisted he thought we were under attack!" Kushina huffed.
"Then why'd he do it?" Rika asked annoyed at her partners sudden over protectiveness.
"Same reason his father did it," Kushina said in a smug voice," he wanted to be close to you. Just like his father he doesn't know how to deal with women he has genuine romantic feelings for. Probably a result of growing up in war, he doesn't want to say it out loud because he is afraid something will take it away."
Rika turned bright red at that instance; "He couldn't, there's just no way…"
As they were having their internal conversation a large mass began to appear through the fog, it was big, bigger than any of the others they'd faced. As it cleared the fog Naruto got his first glimpse of the beast, it was a dinosaur looking Digimon like Guilmon, only this one was big. It had scaly blue skin over its muscular frame, with tribal looking lines in red on its back and legs, as well as a tribal looking necklace and wristbands. It had what seemed to be feathers sticking out of a mane of fiery red hair, which vaguely reminded him of his mother, if his mother became a large scary lizard when angry.
"Note to self; never find out."
Rika's D-Ark came to life effectively ending her conversation with Kushina, her final thoughts being; "…He feels the same."
"Allomon, Armored Dinosaur type, its special attack is Dino Burst, must be what caused that little accident earlier." She said with a small blush at the conversation it led to.
"This is a tough one," Naruto said," I think we should go with my Rookie form right off the bat."
Rika nodded and a card swipe later Naruto was ready to fight, he rushed toward the beast using his superior speed to get under it and deliver an arching kick to the underside of its jaw. Landing on his hands and flipping out he winced slightly; "It was like punching solid steel, this thing is armored alright!"
Naruto jumped back as Allomon went for a tail swipe, the beast let out a roar when it missed its target.
"You're a tough one," Naruto smirked pulling out two kunai," but let's see you hit when you can't see."
He charged toward the beast intent on taking its eye's out, leaping high he landed on its snout but missed the stab at the eyes. Instead his kunai hit the creature's skin, and broke; suddenly things were looking far worse than before. Allomon reared its head back tossing Naruto high into the air; Rika gasped and searched her deck frantically for a flight based modifier. In a similar fashion Naruto was searching for the scroll which held his ninja wire, maneuvering in the air was nearly impossible without it.
"If I make it through this I swear I am going to get more organized." They thought simultaneously.
"I'm holding you both to that." Kushina's voice rang within their minds.
Neither of them made it in time, as Allomon looked up opening its jaws as Naruto fell into its gaping maw, and then snapped them shut.
"No," Rika gasped as she fell to her knees cards splayed upon the road," it can't be…Naruto."
Allomon turned its attention towards Rika and began to lumber its way forward step by step, shaking the earth as she stared straight ahead eye's dead to the world as she mumbled in disbelief. It was almost upon her when it was blasted away in an explosion of green and red.
"Pyro Sphere!"
"Terrier Tornado!"
Standing between Rika and the dino were Guilmon and Terriermon, who had his large ears flared out shielding her from view.
"Why don't you pick on someone less than half your size?" The bunny yelled as Guilmon rushed forward and gave the beast a monstrous slash to the face, causing it to stagger backwards.
It was then that Takato and Henry emerged from the fog and saw Rika, they rushed over and Henry knelt before her.
"Rika," he said shaking her lightly," what's wrong, where is Naruto?"
Rika continued to stare straight at the spot Naruto fell; "It ate him, he's gone..."
"No way!" Takato yelled fist clenched.
"You big meanie," Terriermon growled as he charged forward," I'll teach you to eat my friends, Bunny Blast!"
"Yeah," yelled and irate Guilmon," Narumon isn't made of bread!"
The attack hit Allomon dead in the chest and was followed by a "Pyro Sphere" the resulting explosion left a huge cloud of dust. The two tamers and their Digimon waited for the dust to clear, hoping for the end to what killed their friend and partner. From within the smoke came a cry of; "Dino Blurst!" the attack hit the ground between Guilmon and Terriermon sending them both to opposite sides of the road where they impacted painfully against the concrete walls of surrounding buildings.
"Terriermon…" Henry gasped.
"Are you okay boy!" Takato said both rushing to their partner's side.
Allomon continued forward headed for the still for of Rika, Takato and Henry, after making sure that their Digimon were ok, took up a stance in front of her. This action was enough to break her slightly from her stupor.
"Why are you defending me, you're going to get yourselves killed!"
Takato and Henry smiled as Henry replied; "We are a team remember, if it wasn't for you we'd still be playing a kids game besides, we can't let you get hurt or Naruto would kill us."
"That's just it," Rika argued," Naruto is gone, and I am finished, useless."
"Do you really believe that," Takato questioned putting a hand to his chest," can't you feel it? The connection, Guilmon is a part of me; I know he is fine because I can feel his heart beating along with mine."
"His heart," Rika thought as she held her D-Ark to her chest," if you're alive Naruto please come back, I need you."
As Allomon took the final step towards the tamers something strange happened, Allomon's stomach began to expand.
"What's going on?" Takato asked.
"I don't know." Henry responded.
Rika just smiled as she stood up after collecting her cards; "I think it ate something that didn't agree with it."
As if on cue Allomon let loose a mighty roar then exploded into data particles as multiple Naruto's flew in all directions exploding into smoke soon after. From out of the smoke walked the familiar figure of Naruto; "You have no idea how lame it is to be swallowed by two types of reptiles, at least I didn't get snake chunks in my hair this time."
As soon as he cleared the smoke he found himself tackled to the ground by a very happy Rika.
"You idiot," she scolded in an oddly happy tone, tears pricking at the edge of her eyes," I thought you were dead, again! You promised me you wouldn't do that anymore, can't you win any fight without nearly dying first!"
"You're not the first one to point that out." He said as somewhere in heaven a pineapple headed man sneezed ruining his game of shogi.
"I'd bet," she said pulling away slightly looking him in the eyes," I don't know how I am going to stay sane with you charging off to your death every other second."
"You'll manage I'm sure," he laughed," We just have to make the best of the time we have away from battle, live the dream and all that."
"Make the best of it," She thought.
"Your right," she replied," which is why we are going to see a movie this weekend."
Rika wasn't sure if it would work out, but she wanted to at least try. They spent a lot of time together regardless walking in the park and making small talk, but the way she worded it she knew there was no way her could mistake the statement for anything but what it was.
"Should we invite the others too," he asked innocently thinking back to the time he and his team watched the Princess Fuun movie, "like a team bonding experience."
Rika sighed, apparently he was just that thick," No Naruto I mean just you and me."
Naruto gulped slightly and averted his eyes," Your sure about this?"
"Yes," she replied accusingly breaking the embrace and standing up," is that a problem, do you not want to?"
"No!" he said yelling slightly as he stood and took her hands," I'd love to go with you, really."
"Good," she smiled," I hate to think of what may have happened to you if you refused."
"Would it involve a leash, is that why you got the collar for me?"
"Idiot!" she yelled smacking him across the head.
Takato and Henry looked on in amusement, until Terriermon made a critical error; "Rika and Naruto sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-woah!"
"Let me at the little fur ball!" Rika growled as she was held back by Naruto.
"Henry, do something!"
"No way," he laughed," you got yourself into this."
"Momentai Rika, Momentai!"
"Take THIS easy you stupid bunny!" she said kicking as Naruto struggled to restrain her.
"Let's all calm down." Takato insisted," We'll pick up some bread at my families bakery, and then we can head to the park and work on some cards strategy, that is if you'll help us Rika."
Rika calmed down and Naruto released her; "Lead the way; we are a team after all. We need to stop by my place though so I can change out of my school clothes."
"Yeah," Guilmon chimed," let's go!"
"Guilmon I think you are less interested in the team and more in the bread." Henry laughed.
"Team Bread?" Guilmon asked cutely.
"If we have a team name it is certainly not going to be Team Bread." Rika scowled.
"I agree," Naruto said," Team Naruto sounds better."
"Of course you'd think that." Takato laughed.
~Xutzy~
The conversation continued from there to Rika's were she changed and until they reached Takato's, at which point Guilmon was made to hide in an alley way until they returned. Upon entering the store they were assaulted with the wonderful and warm sent of fresh bread. A small bell on the front entrance beckoned a woman from the back room; she had short brown hair held up in a cloth on her head, as well as a pink full length apron.
"Welcome to…Oh it's just you Takato."
"Love you too Kaasan." Takato deadpanned.
"Who are your friends," she asked," I've only ever met Kazu, Kenta, and Jeri."
"Oh you're right sorry, this is Henry, that's Naruto, and the girl is Rika." Takato said hurriedly.
"Nice to meet you all," she said receiving two nods from Rika and Naruto, as well as a slight bow from Henry.
"Kaasan do you mind if we grab a few bread rolls," Takato questions," we always have some left over."
The woman gave it some thought before conceding with a nod as four teens dashed past her into the kitchen. Naruto leaned against the wall munching on a small roll as Takato packed some bread into a small bag. Rika stood next to him leaning into his shoulder ever so slightly and absentmindedly picking at a sweet roll, when suddenly Henry called them all over to the small television in the corner where a news broadcast was commencing.
"It seems in the last few days that people can rest easier in the Shinjuku Ward of Tokyo. Over the last two days many a crime has been halted in its tracks by a man who calls himself "Zorro". Not much is known about him, but police are keeping an eye out, despite the good he is doing vigilantly justice is frowned upon. The only known footage of him is seen here as he fights off two rival gangs that had been a threat to local civilians. Channel 3 news is offering money to anyone who can supply a photo of "Zorro" our contact information is displayed below."
It was the same video Rika had seen before, Naruto fighting off those gang members, but the woman had said the last two days.
"Naruto," she growled," have you been out playing hero again?"
"That was you," Takato said astonished," wow good job you really helped a lot of people."
"Yeah," Henry said," I may not approve of violence, but some there are some bad people out there. Plus I think I heard that name somewhere before…"
"You guys don't get it," Rika interjected," he is wearing his street clothes as he goes about saving the day, someone could make a connection."
"Your right," Takato said," he needs a secret identity!"
"No," she said taking Naruto's hand in hers with the D-Ark between them," he needs to stop throwing himself in harm's way!"
"You have been given a second chance; you don't have to be everyone's hero this time." She thought," You can be selfish if you want, no one expects you to die for them."
"I know, but when I can't look at someone in need, knowing I can help, and do nothing." He replied.
"I'm sorry Rika," Kushina sighed," it's in his blood, he is a Kage by birth, and it's a Kage's duty to protect his village. This is his village now, and its people need his protection as well as yours. Rest assured you are his most precious person, but it is for that very reason that you must understand that this is who he is."
"Your right," Rika sighed," I just wish there was more I could do for you Naruto."
"You do plenty," Naruto laughed," you give me strength Rika, strength to do all I can; I want you to be safe always. This is my second chance, and I want to spend it by your side, as your friend, your partner, and maybe even more."
A heavy cough interrupted their thoughts as they found themselves face to face noses nearly touching; "Well it's not in a tree…" Henry muttered.
"What got into you two," Takato asked," you just kind of spaced out then…"
Rika blushed as she inched away from Naruto ever so slightly; "We have a special connection, I can hear his thoughts, and he mine."
"So you were talking?" Takato asked.
"Yeah," Naruto said chuckling," it can be a little awkward when people are watching."
"Cool!" Takato shouted wondering if he and Guilmon could do the same.
"By the way," Henry added," I remembered where I heard that name before, you have to see this."
With that Henry left out the back door, a collective shrug later they were all walking down the road towards the city.
~Xutzy~
After dropping the Digimon off at the park with the bread, they found themselves down the street at a small net café. There were a few people on laptops sipping coffee and one or two school kids playing the latest Digimon game. Henry hurried to the front desk and got a computer pass then led the others to his assigned desk.
"What is it we are doing gain?" Naruto questioned.
"Where did you get the name Zorro?" Henry said ignoring his question.
Naruto panicked slightly, it wasn't like he could just say; "It was my ANBU from in my past life where I was an elite assassin."
"I-ah read it in a book somewhere, thought it sounded cool." He lied unconvincingly.
"Right," Henry said as he pulled up a video," check this out."
As the video played out they realized it was the opening to an anime, it featured a young blond male dressed in a white dress shirt under a dark blue vest, with a cummerbund of the same color. He had black boots and gloves, as well as pants held tight with a gold buckle, on his head he wore a black Spanish Gaucho hat and a black cloth mask tied tight around his head. Completing the look was a heavy black cape that reached just behind his calves. As the video played on they saw him wielding a rapier as he fought against various uniformed men of some obvious military, even cutting a large "Z" into one's clothes, which confused them, wasn't he the hero? It showed him with a small boy dressed like him, as well as dancing with a long blond haired woman.
"That was Kaiketsu Zorro," Henry said," it's about this guy named Don Diego de la Vega, he comes back from a long trip to find his homeland is under a military dictatorship. He takes up the identity of Zorro to help defend those who can't defend themselves, and liberate his home."
Naruto looked on eyes wide as he studied Zorro's image a large smile began to spread across his face, Rika caught this.
"No." Rika stated harshly.
"But Rika-chaaaan…" Naruto whined.
"I said no and that is final…"
~One Hour Later~
"Do you guys understand the meaning of the word "no"?" Rika questioned as Naruto fanned his cape out theatrically much to the other two boys amusement.
"Common Rika-chan," He laughed," you have to admit it looks good."
Rika did have to admit, he really pulled the look off coming off as an exact replica of the anime character. The clothing made him look mysterious, and that coupled with his normal looks was a potent combination, he did look good.
"He looks so cute," Kushina squealed," take a picture Rika I want to remember this moment."
"Sorry, I don't have a camera."
As Kushina pouted Naruto went back into the dressing room coming back with his selection neatly folded and his normal street clothes back on. He smiled brightly as they went to the counter and Rika used a credit card to pay for the clothes not bothering to try and talk him out of it. They had been searching all day for a store that had what they were looking for and ended up at a high class costume shop on the other side of town. By the time they got back to their neighborhood it was already getting quite dark out, they decided to head by the park to check on Guilmon and Terriermon. When they were six blocks away a stream of data struck ground near the park; "Rika we need to hurry."
"On it," Rika said swiping a card," Digimodify Naruto's Battle Cloak Activate."
Rika jumped onto Naruto's back as his hands went into a cross shaped seal; "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"
In a puff of smoke two more Naruto's appeared taking Takato and Henry up in a firemen's carry, much to the two boy's dismay.
"Hey what's the big idea?" Takato complained.
"Just bear with it Takato," Henry said," the sooner we get there the better; it looks like it hit near the park."
Takato paled slightly then nodded as Naruto took to the air, landing nimbly on the roof next to them, then began his run to the park on the rooftops.
~Xutzy~
Reaching the park they found the digital field just within the park's main walkway, Naruto let the boys down to enter the park from the ground. Dismissing his clones, he made sure Rika was holding tight earning an exasperated; "Yes."
With that said he leaps high aiming his body for the center of the digital field, as the fog cleared a quick kunai swipe was all that kept him from being caught up in a large spider web. Landing gracefully on the ground he let Rika off as they both heard a yell of; "Guilmon!"
They turned as the fog cleared to show Takato hugging the fading form of Guilmon in his arms, tears falling freely as he called out to his downed partner. The area was covered in spider webs, between two trees on particularly large one was a gigantic spider Digimon, which Rika recognized as Dokugumon. Naruto caught a bright glow coming from Takato's D-Ark as Guilmon form began to float upward and was surrounded by spiraling lengths of red data forming an egg.
"Guilmon Digivolve to, Growlmon!"
The egg burst open with a blast of blazing wind, where once stood the battered form of Guilmon now stood a monstrous Digimon easily three times his size. He looked like a much larger Guilmon with a long Mohawk like mane of white hair, along with two large horns that sat just above his eyes, as well as blade like protrusions from his elbows. He exhaled a large burst of flame into the sky letting out a powerful roar.
"It's about time…" Naruto and Rika murmured in tandem.
"Your okay boy," Takato said whipping away his tears," I knew you'd be okay!"
"I think this spider needs to be stepped on," the newly evolved Growlmon, well, growled," right Tamer?"
"Your right," Takato nodded," squash that bug!"
"Dragon Slash!" Growlmon cried his energy charged arm blades cutting cleanly through a mass of webbing that Dokugumon sent their way.
"Pyro Blaster!"
It had to be at least three times the power of Guilmon's "Pyro Sphere", it incinerated Dokugumon and the spider fell apart to data after letting loose one final screech. The fog receded, but the webs stayed, a testament to the strength of Dokugumon, and what it must have taken to defeat her. Rika and Naruto walk casually to their friends as they congratulated the Digi-dino, Naruto patted him roughly on the nose, while Rika merely said; "Not bad for and overgrown lizard."
~Xutzy~
They parted ways at the park leaving Takato to try in vain to de-digivolve Growlmon. Rika and Naruto walked side by side through the gates of their home stopping at the pond just before Rika's bedroom.
"So…"Naruto said nervously," are you serious about this weekend?"
"Don't get too excited," Rika laughed," it's just a weekend outing, it's not like I asked you to marry me, who knows I may just grow to like your charmingly idiotic self."
"Are you sure you haven't already?" Naruto said cheekily.
"If you keep this up I may just change my mind," she chided," just, lets cross that bridge when we come to it, ok?"
"Yeah." Naruto said as he walked down the hall to his bedroom.
"But Rika," he added just as she was about to shut the door," just so you know, I am already on the other side, waiting for you."
"Idiot!" Rika growled as she slammed her door, Naruto's laughter still ringing down the hall.
Rika got undressed and laid down for bed staring at the ceiling with blush and a slight smile; 'Idiot.'
"No you!"
Rika growled would she ever get a good night sleep again?
~END~
I really didn't want to rush their relationship so I am hoping that this is a good start. Also the poll is closed; I notice many of you voted for Weaponzing Naruto, I am sorry to say that I am having trouble making that work. But I have a wonderful idea, kind of a mix between the current choices; it will certainly satisfy those who wanted to see Rika kick some ass, as well as fans of Naruto. Things will get a lot more interesting come the Deva and Digital World Ark.
Please R&R your words give me warm fuzzies in my CPU.