Digimon Tamers: Crimson Ash

Chapter 9

Crimson awoke feeling generally well rested despite his outburst during the night. However his mood was clouded by one thought. Today marked the fifth year since Alex died.

Stretching the stiffness from his body he left his room in favour of the roof. One quick glance told him what he wanted to know.

'Well, today is going to be absolutely shit! I just hope some poor bastard comes across so I get something to kill. Otherwise I might have to vent on something, or someone else.'

He dropped back down from the roof in time to see his standard counterpart exit her room. One look was exchanged between them before he turned away and stalked off.

Renamon was seriously confused. 'What was that all about?' She shrugged it off and went to obtain some breakfast. Rika was already there as she entered the kitchen.

"Morning Renamon."

"Good morning Rika."

"Is Crimson up yet?"

"He is, but I don't think he will be joining us."

Rika put on an angry face. "Why? Is he planning to run off again?"

"I don't think so, but he hasn't spoken this morning and gave me a look when I saw him."

"What sort of look?" Renamon shrugged and mimicked his earlier expression. "That's the look he gave you?" At her partner's nod, "And you don't know what it means?" She shook her head, no. "That's the classic 'I don't want to talk' look, but in his case I think it's more of a 'I don't want to talk, see or hear you' look." As if to prove her wrong, Crimson appeared around the corner.

"Um, Rika? Where is your bathroom?"

"Second door on the left if you turn around, why? Digimon don't need to 'go'."

He shot her an annoyed look. "Digimon don't bleed either..." He stalked away towards the door she indicated, disappearing inside.

Rika and Renamon shared a look. "He must be more biological than we first thought." Rika stated.

"It would seem so. That must be inconvenient." Her ears twitched at the sound of the toilet being flushed as Crimson emerged from the door he previously entered. With another look like earlier, he stomped off round a corner and out of sight. "That's what I meant. He seems even more hostile than ever."

"You have a point. Something has him riled up, and I don't think he will just tell us. It could be us for all we know."

"I'll try to talk to him, maybe he'll open up if I catch him in the right mood. After all he did open up last night." She scooped up some bread from the side and headed off towards where he disappeared to. Rika shrugged and went to sort her own breakfast.

Crimson was sat on the roof on the other side of the house, enjoying the silence for a few minutes while it lasted. He saw Renamon approach and scoffed, it seemed his little respite would be interrupted again.

"What do you want?"

She offered him a couple of pieces of bread. "You need to eat right?"

"Hmph." He scoffed again, but took the offered food anyway. "Don't think you can bribe me again. Same shit don't work twice."

"I wasn't trying to, but I would like to know what's wrong." She refused to get angry with his tone.

He sighed, his hostility vanishing for a few moments. "Today is the day, five years ago, that Alex departed this life."

"I'm sorry."

"No you're not. No one ever is. All they see is the big bad digimon who killed his own tamer and friend. No one sees the underneath, and it sickens me."

Renamon looked surprised. "I never said you killed Alex. I trust your account of what happened, you wouldn't act the way you do if you did kill him."

"Maybe not, but it doesn't change the fact."

"What is the real you?"

"Huh?"

"You said no one sees the real you underneath what they do see, I want to know that you."

"Maybe in time, but for now you'll have to deal with this me." He stood up from the roof, his hostility returning as he sneered towards the sound of playing children. Jumping down off the roof he once again stalked off, heading out of the home and into the city.

Renamon watched him go, trying to piece together a way of making him trust her. Rika was heading off for school so she had the day to herself again. Normally she would accompany Rika and watch her from outside the school grounds, but today she felt she was needed with Crimson. After sending that thought to her tamer she went to find him.

XXX

Crimson was bored. For once he wasn't hungry, and as his previous habits consisted of him always looking for food he didn't know what to do. He perched upon a radio mast watching the city with distaste.

'Come on! Someone better bioemerge already! I'm so bored!'

Renamon phased in next to him while he mused about how bored he was.

"You lost?"

"No." He failed purposely to hide his annoyance.

"Bored?"

"You could say that. Seeing as I spent virtually every spare second hunting for food, and now I don't need to I have no idea what to do."

"Why don't you join me?"

"And why would I want to do that?" He sneered.

"Would you rather be bored?" Renamon almost hid her amused smile.

"Bah! Fine! What are you doing?"

"Patrolling. But if you have a better idea, which I doubt you do seeing as you're here, then feel free to share it." She made no attempt to hide her growing amusement.

"You would do well not to anger me, least of all today, Renamon." His venom was practically visible in his words. "Should you value your life that is."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, it's your only warning. I may be without a tamer, but I am no weaker as a result. Do not try me."

Renamon bowed her head. "Forgive me, I overstepped my mark. I should know better than to act this way." Her plan was now in motion.

Crimson dropped some of his hostility as he returned his gaze across the city. Renamon took up a position by his side.

"I thought you had a patrol to do?" He asked inquisitively.

"And I thought you were coming with me?" Renamon responded with a cheeky grin. "A little break won't do any harm either."

Crimson huffed and continued to gaze out. Renamon watched him for a while before following his gaze.

"What was he like?"

Crimson guessed she meant his tamer. He didn't shift his vision as he recalled his memories. "Kind, strong, confident as hell. He had that air about him, the one that stopped anyone being in a bad mood around him. Not a strong joker, I had that gift." He saw Renamon give him a curious eye. "Yes, before he died I was very different to how I am now. I could laugh and joke just like anyone else, but when it came to fighting I was serious. I needed to be so I could protect my tamer. And I was doing so well. His family adored him, they liked me to an extent too. They found out about me a few days after me and Alex became partners, they actually took it rather well. Me and him became very good friends fairly quickly, we knew each others strengths and weaknesses and how to counter them. We were an amazing team, no rogue digimon could stand before us. But that was then, when he still lived. Now I'm not so sure about my strengths. I've had nightmares about his death every day since he died, last night was the most intense dream yet. The worse it gets, the more I feel myself slip away. It's always bad this time of year. But I don't know if I can carry on anymore."

Renamon didn't expect this much of an answer, but she listened as a friend would. As he finished she unconsciously placed a paw on his shoulder to reassure him as she spoke. "Just remember, you're not alone anymore. We may not be Alex, and we don't want to replace him, but we would like you to consider us as your friends. We will be there for you. All you need to do is ask."

He made no effort to remove her paw. "Thank you Renamon. I would thank Rika but she isn't here."

"I'm sure she would say the same as me, maybe a little blunter but that's just how she is."

Renamon couldn't help but notice his front begin to crack. Slowly she was drawing him out from behind his emotional barriers, breaking them down to get to him inside. She hadn't expected it to get this far this quickly, but she wasn't going to press too hard in case her efforts backfired. She saw him looking out over the city again, but now with the faintest hint of a genuine smile teasing the corners of his lips.

Soon she would break him out of his self prison and get to the real Crimson locked inside. She just hoped she was in time.