Redemption Miracles
The Rika arc
Love that can't be described in words
Chapter: 10
By: S.Stryker

03 Dimension: Digital World

Gennai was walking through an abandoned village. Rather it wasn't abandoned, but recently destroyed. He'd been waiting at the place we're he'd met with Davis meditating, when he felt a cold grip of fear in his chest, but it wasn't his own. He'd felt the fear of hundreds of village inhabitants, fear for their lives. It was if they all cried out for someone to save them and they were instantly silenced.

Now he was walking through that recently desolated village, He'd managed to put out the fires that had been around, the smell of mass Digimon deletion hung in the air, and by the looks of things there were no survivors.

"Not even the women and children, this doesn't look like something a normal band of Digimon would've done." The Digimon of this village would've done something to fight back. I've been here once before; this village had a significant number of Grizzlymon inhabitants, even if the enemy completely overwhelmed them they should have at least put up a decent fight." Gennai thought.

"What on earth happened here?" he whispered.

He reached down and picked up and ice crystal from the ground. "This building was on fire when I put in out. What's an un-melted ice crystal doing so close to it?"

"Wait a minute, this crystal wasn't formed naturally. You can tell from its neat, fractured shape. This was created by an Ice-type user. But…Ice type Digimon wouldn't live in this area, it's not cold enough. I don't care what dimension I'm in, Ice-type Digimon will always prefer a cold, snowy environment, the same way other types of Digimon prefer environments of their own affinity. That means that this crystal most likely came from the attack of the enemy who attacked this place. But then, why didn't I sense a large mass of Digimon migrating to this village? Does this mean that a single entity wiped out this village?...wait a minute…when I traveled here I saw him pass through the Dimension Gate with me, and now this village is destroyed..."

Gennai's eyes widened in realization. "Oh no…Davis!" He began to race back to where he'd met with Davis previously. "This is bad, this is really bad."

03 Dimension: Digital World

Davis and Rika were waiting at the site where they had seen Gennai earlier that day. They had contacted Cyberdramon and Renamon to meet them, and to come quickly. The problem was there was no Gennai to be seen. But they weren't exactly being impatient the two lovers were cuddling together underneath a tree watching the sunset. They both felt a familiar sense of comfort and peacefulness as they witnessed the beautiful sight.

Davis turned his attention from the horizon to his love. He was admiring how beautiful she was when a thought dawned on him.

"Hey Rika?"

"Hmm?"

"What is it that you needed to run home for that was so important?"

Rika smiled. "So you remembered after all huh? I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to ask me." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a long rectangular black box and handed it to him.

Davis took it and smiled. "Cool just what I've always wanted, a box of cardboard." He teased.

Rika rolled her eyes playfully. "Shut up and open it."

Davis complied. Inside of the box was a beautiful silver necklace with an elegant Kanji pendant attached to it. Davis picked up the necklace curiously. It was very well made. He couldn't recognize the kanji attached to it.

"Well…do you like it?" Rika asked nervously.

Davis smiled and kissed Rika on the cheek. "Like it? I love it, but what does this symbol mean? It's nice, but I've never seen this Kanji before."

Rika smiled. "That's a very special Kanji because it isn't recognizable. I made that Kanji up myself. This is called a mijuku-ji."

Davis blinked "Mijuku-ji?"

Rika nodded. "It means 'Raw Love'. Hundreds of years ago a samurai, who didn't know how to read or write fell in love with a young woman who returned his feelings. The too got married and lived a long happy life together until one day the man had to go off to war with the belief that he may not come back alive. The woman didn't want him to go, but the man insisted that he did, he loved his country and wanted to do everything in his power to protect it. As a final gift to his beloved, he wanted to express his strong feelings for her, to her. However being illiterate he could've express his feelings through poetry. So he created a necklace, a necklace with a pendant that he himself created. It meant nothing in the Japanese language, but it was a reflection of the love he felt for her in his heart, although he was unable to put it down on paper. Mijuku-ji has no true appearance it's a reflection of how someone feels of someone else."

Davis grinned "Wow that was deep. You did this for me?"

Rika shrugged. "That was your present for our anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend. I wasn't supposed to give it to you for three weeks but…well this seemed like the perfect time." She said.

Davis noticed that she looked away from him as she said the last part. "Hey, relax. I already told you I'm coming back. So stop worrying already."

"That's exactly what my father said to me when he left my mom and me."

Davis stared at Rika in realization; he thought that he knew the extent of her pain, when really he'd only gotten half of it. This scenario also brought up painful memories for her. Her father ran off with his mistress when Rika was a little girl, leaving her with a broken heart.

"Don't worry, I'm not your father, I'm Ry…Daisuke Motomiya and I know where my loyalties lie."

Rika smiled. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry for doubting you, it's just…I love you, you know?"

Davis smiled. "Really? Thanks. I feel the same way."

Rika looked at him hopefully.

"I love me too."

Rika smacked him in the chest. "Dumb ass." She rolled her eyes "Trust you to ruin a perfect mood."

Davis laughed and embraced Rika.

"Get off." She mumbled although they both knew that her heart wasn't in it.

"Promise you'll wait for me?" Davis asked.

Rika smiled. "What do you think?"

The two began to lean in when suddenly a Fox-like Digimon instantly appeared and grabbed them.

Rika blinked. "Renamon…what?"

Renamon didn't answer she just pulled them apart while holding on to both of them and jumped out of the way just as a blast of ice hit the spot where they'd just been.

Renamon landed safely on the ground with Davis and Rika. "Are you two alright?" She asked.

Davis and Rika didn't answer instead they were looking at the Digimon in the sky who'd attempted to assassinate them. It was a crazed looking Gargoylemon. Saliva dripped from its vicious looking mouth, as it fumed with killing intent.

"Renamon why is that Gargoylemon attacking us?" Rika asked.

"I don't know. But I intend to find out." Renamon replied. Her eyes were dangerous. Nobody tried to harm Rika and lived to tell about it.

Davis looked at the Gargoylemon intently. "Wait a minute, This Gargoylemon…it's different from anyone I've ever seen before. Its way more muscular, and Gargoylemon are peaceful what's up with this one? Also what's up with that hole in its abdomen? And that number '23' tattoo?"

"MOTOMIYA!" It screamed.

Renamon tensed. As did Rika and Davis

"DIE! MOTOMIYA!"

Gargoylemon strikes! And the foreseeable battle commences.

Next Time: The Dark hand nears: Puppet and Puppeteer