Authors Note: I really don't have anything profound to say for this chapter, except it is 17 pages and we now have written 166 pages in total. Also, we have written for our own private notes the cliffhanger discussion between Renamon and Rika. It is fucking adorable. Maybe we'll eventually release these in a side story of interactions we couldn't fit in here. Someday perhaps. Today is not that day, however.
Chapter 11: Dawn to Dusk
Sweat dripped down her forehead and her grey long sleeved shirt clung to her tightly as her feet pounded on the pavement. The morning dew was beginning to evaporate as the sun peeked above the horizon, waking up finally, and Rika slowed down to a stop, pulling the neck of her shirt up to wipe her sweat away as she caught her breath.
Pulling her earbuds out, music blasting from the small buds, she hit pause on the small iPod attached to her belt as she leaned against a brick wall, the bricks cool to the touch.
"Renamon?" she asked after a moment.
"Yes, Rika?" came the voice from the vulpine digimon, her shadow falling over the girl from atop the brick wall as she materialized out of thin air. While she remained wary of being seen despite being largely invisible to the world around them, she wasn't concerned such would be the case this early in the day. "You sound concerned." She tilted her head to one side curiously. "Is something wrong?"
Rika tilted her head up at the Digimon, staring at her for a moment in silent awe. Even after the events of last night, she still hadn't quite grasped the fact that this was, for a lack of better word, real. She could reach out and touch Renamon, and interact with her like she did with Leomon. More amazingly, Renamon was her Digital Partner.
She was still reeling from the fact Digimon once upon a time were real. Probably still were as well.
"I guess so," Rika said after a moment as her breathing slowed to a more normal tempo. "I'm still in shock about ... well ... everything. You being real. Some thing messing around with our heads. Just ... wanted to make sure it wasn't a dream."
"I can assure you it is no dream," Renamon smiled softly, her tail swishing slightly. To herself, it felt so good to be by Rika's side again. She couldn't put her feelings into words, but that was all right. She was united with her partner once more, and that was all that needed to care about.
"I know that," Rika assured her, before pausing a moment trying to put her feelings into words. "At least logically. Still..." she frowned and struggled once again to fully express herself. "It's like ... sinking in still. It's only been a few months now since I actually talked to someone about what I could see, and suddenly things are speeding up as we're going up this roller coaster hill and all I can keep thinking is 'what is going to be around this next corner,' you know?"
Part of her, if she was honest, was afraid of what was around the next corner. Whatever was out there managed to ruin her - their - lives several times before and had the ability to mess with the thing most precious to her; her mind. Part of her though, a larger part, was excited. To be in the middle of things - to be in the middle of trouble - thrilled her on a baser instinct she couldn't quite explain.
Renamon nodded in understanding. Things had very much been the same way when they initially became partners. Once they met Takato and Henry, it was as though a switch had been flipped. "Regardless of whatever's around the next corner, we will face it together."
Which is more than what I remember us doing before, Renamon thought quietly to herself. Have things changed enough to make a difference? Will we be strong enough?
She kept those thoughts to herself. For now, Rika needed to feel that they could make headway as long as they maintained a united front. There was so much she herself didn't know, and Rika knew even less. They were fighting blindly while their enemy held all the cards and keys. It certainly appeared hopeless from that perspective.
"Heh, yeah," Rika smiled as she bent down and stretched a bit before her legs started to cramp up. While she found track and field boring after joining it her first year, she did learn some useful things. Henry never stopped nagging her since though to join a new club after she refused to rejoin in their second year.
It's a good thing I ignored him then, she thought, slightly amused. After all, if she listened to his advice, she would have other responsibilities besides whatever this was.
Beginning to walk again, Rika glanced up at Renamon.
"So you ready for today?"
"I am," Renamon nodded, keeping pace with the girl while still standing atop the brick wall.
"You remember the plan, right?" Rika asked, chewing on her bottom lip as she already began to have second thoughts, worried about Renamon and what could happen. They had discussed 'the plan' in no great detail last night as it was fairly simple, but that by itself was enough to cause worry as they lacked intel to pull it off with a significant chance of success. Still, if Renamon lasted as long as she did ... plus she was to pull out at the first sign of trouble. The fear though settled in her chest. It was a blind attempt at answers, and while Rika never tended to plan ahead that much, she preferred to know what she was getting into to at least prepare accordingly.
"Of course," Renamon replied, a bit amused while simultaneously glad for the girl's concern. Rika… You have come a long way…
"Right," Rika said dumbly, not really sure what else needed to be said. "Remember though, if it gets hairy, get out."
Renamon was like a ninja the way she seemed to appear and disappear, and Rika couldn't help but wonder if that was part of the kitsune folklore. The evolutions took after it - especially Kyubimon, and she was curious how much else they lined up. She knew some folklore of course, but most of it revolved around the goddess Inari. What little else she knew was tidbits she picked up from spending time with her grandmother.
They're tricksters, right? she mused as she walked around the corner approaching her house. Renamon didn't seem like a trickster to her, but of course with a large chunk of memories missing she had no way of knowing that for sure.
"Of course," Renamon nodded again. She didn't expect things to 'get hairy' as Rika put it, but she knew enough to not underestimate humans, and with the entity going about changing memories, she couldn't afford to be caught on anyone's radar.
Opening the gate, pausing a moment to ram her shoulder against it due to the fact it stuck again - they really needed to get the hinges greased or something - Rika walked toward the house to hop in the shower before getting dressed for school.
She figured grandma might be up by now, although it wouldn't surprise her if mama was still sleeping - unlike her mother and daughter, Rumiko was not a morning person at all. There was a reason her photo shoots tended to be scheduled bordering on the afternoon with "early" ones at around 10 a.m. Getting Rumiko Nonaka up any earlier was a struggle that most just didn't feel it was worth dealing with.
Renamon followed her partner inside, feeling a touch mischievous for doing so. During her years of 'exile', she rarely entered within even though she was invisible, and when she did she confined herself to the vicinity of Rika's room. Now however she was allowed to enter and explore once more, only this time she didn't even have to try hiding.
Himiko… she thought, smirking a little, pondering ways she could get back at the woman for her ill treatment of Rika before she quickly squelched thoughts of disreputable behavior. She frowned slightly at herself. It seems those years had changed me as well, she mused, wondering how she didn't notice it until now and not sure how she felt about it.
While she concerned herself with such thoughts, her nose twitched at smells emanating from the kitchen, and her stomach growled slightly.
Rika glanced back at her partner as they entered the kitchen, head tilting slightly as she wondered how the heck she ate when she wasn't staying with her.
Himiko was slumped forward at the table, a rather large coffee cup nestled between her hands, half of which was gone. Like Rumiko, it was obvious that morning's didn't agree with the Hata woman as her obsidian eyes lifted to meet the violet eyes of Rika.
"You're up early," she grunted as she took another swig of coffee, watching the youngest woman of the household put some bread in the toaster before opening up the fridge.
"You have a problem with that?" Rika demanded as she slammed the fridge shut, and Himiko noticed she had grabbed not one but two juice boxes. While it was a bit unusual perhaps, judging by her stench, damp clothes and labored breath, she had come back from a run.
"No," Himiko replied coldly, deciding that dealing with a somehow more obnoxious miniature Rumiko this early in the morning wasn't worth the headache she felt coming. Dealing with anybody who could willingly and easily get up before the sun was even awake tended to put Himiko in a bad mood, and the fact it was Rika only made it worse.
Sipping her coffee again, slowly feeling her brain to creak into gear, she decided to ignore the younger woman. Just seeing those obnoxious violet eyes - the mark of a Hata that should belong to her, not some mistake - burned angrily in the depths of her soul. It was going to be a long day already without a child ruining it.
Renamon padded over to the woman, curious to get a closer look at this person who seemed to detest Rika so. She could see the anger burning in those dark eyes – a kind of pettiness annoyed at the unfairness of life.
How sad, Renamon thought. To waste one's life being angry toward an innocent…
Renamon was interrupted from her thoughts as her stomach abruptly growled again at her, unhappy at being left empty. She blushed lightly, remembering that around this time was when she would be raiding the Matsuki Bakery or another such location for day-old bread and food to keep her going. Her diet had become rather…chaotic following her initial breakup with Rika.
She would have to stop by there again to see what they had. She wondered if they had the cinnamon buns today.
They should, but they sell so quickly…
Renamon blushed again. Since rejoining with Rika, she felt a touch self-conscious about the habits she formed over the years.
I don't think I should tell Rika about where I've been living all this time…
Rika fried some eggs - more than enough for the both her and Renamon - as she got a large bowl and the bread and juice, balancing it rather artfully as she intended to squirrel it away to her room.
"Where are you going?" Himiko demanded, causing Rika to pause and stare at her.
"Did you want me to eat here with you?" she asked sarcastically. The silence was all either of them needed and without another word, Rika left the kitchen, holding out the container of juice for Renamon as she walked down the hall toward her room.
"I normally prefer rice and miso soup for breakfast, but I don't really have the patience in the morning to make it," she admitted. "So I hope you don't mind eggs and toast. I'm going to jump in the bath real quick to wash down, so feel free to eat your fill. I can always make more too or mooch some food off grandma if she's in the kitchen before I leave for school."
Following Rika out of the kitchen, her eyes went wide at the offered food and drink. "I…" she paused as her stomach crooned gratefully, mirroring her own emotions. "Thank you, Rika," she replied, accepting the breakfast. She glanced over her shoulder in the direction of Himiko. "She may be leaving shortly, so I may not be here when you get back. I promise to return as soon as possible."
"OK," Rika said as she rolled her shoulder blades back, feeling immediate relief when they popped. "I'll see you soon then, Renamon."
"See you soon," Renamon nodded, vanishing from view.
###
Himiko Hata didn't think she was a paranoid person. She only accepted logical thought and rational discussion as truth, and anything else was mindless drivel she didn't need to concern herself with.
However since the moment she took a step out of the Hata family home where she was staying momentarily, she felt like she had been followed. Even when turning around, her black eyes darting around as baser, animal instincts roared warily, she saw nothing.
It did nothing to settle her unease. Part of her couldn't help but wonder if Yamaki's insane ramblings were in fact contagious.
They must be if I'm even thinking such foolish things, she thought darkly as the sliding glass to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building swished open.
Her black pumps clicked on the granite floor as she entered an elevator, pressing the "23" button before glancing at her watch. She was still on time, thankfully, after the late start to the morning.
Taking another sip from what had to be her third cup of coffee, the elevator dinged and she walked out into the hallway where Yamaki's office - now hers - awaited.
###
Renamon had found over the years, since parting ways with Rika and 'awakening' back into the world, that she had difficulty using the abilities that allowed her to slip into the phantom, shadowy world she so often did when Rika was younger. Cold and dark where no one could see her if she didn't want to be seen… Only now no one could see her anymore no matter what she wanted. She was alone in ways that tore at the there was solitude within that she craved, and now…now she desired the company of others. She desired the warm caress of the sun on her fur. She did these things and more in her new 'bubble', rejoicing every time she raced through the city, following Rika or one of the other Tamers…and now following Himiko Hata.
The joy was false – its taste nowhere near as good as when she finally met Rika face to face – but it would suffice for now. Her self-discipline remained difficult to shake even after all these years.
However, she did wonder if perhaps she had gotten careless when it came to following humans. Himiko turned around far too often; almost as if she knew she was being followed.
Another time, another place, Renamon would have hidden herself better. Even felt sorry for disturbing someone. However, that was all in the past, and she found herself disliking Himiko as much as she pitied her for allowing herself to be trapped in her own anger.
Stopping across from the Shinjuku government building, she dropped down, extending her senses. Himiko's presence, though faint, was easy to track through the building. She wondered if she should have followed her inside, but not knowing what sort of defenses the building had for her mysterious job, Renamon was hesitant to take too many risks until she felt it appropriate to do so. This building always made her pause anyway. She sensed something wrong with it – as though it were a tiger hiding in the grass – and she preferred to avoid it when convenient.
It would appear that this isn't going to be the case today, Renamon mused, dropping down into a crouching position, taking in the windows, her eyes tracking Himiko's still as yet unseen movements before finally pausing on one. The door within the room opened, and Himiko stepped inside, coffee thermos in hand and ready to assist her in the day's battle. All that was left now was to wait for an opportunity and see what happened.
###
Even three cups of coffee didn't do enough to bring her to full processing power, even though her hand started to shake ever so slightly from the caffeine overload. Still it was enough for her to enter into a work environment without killing her co-workers until about 10 a.m., and that what was important. Shutting the door to her new office so she wouldn't be disturbed, she sat down in her chair and pulled out the files where she had left off yesterday - late 2006 - and cracked open the large binder.
Resting her chin on her hand, she stared at the rows of numbers and letters in front of her. While nothing as interesting as 'Oracle' was popping up at her, it seemed that the Predictor Server 9 was something which had been part of Mnemosyne even prior to program which seemed to be running now.
Picking up a pen and scribbling a note of it, she nibbled on her pen as she turned a page. More numbers, nothing of any real value or interest - or at least nothing Himiko found interesting. Standard governmental expenses which she expected within the price range.
Oh it looks like they got a new coffee machine that year...
###
Time passed, during which Renamon wished she had brought a book from her 'home' to read while she waited. She left her spot every now and then, probing the area for a weakness she could use to gain quick entrance, but as yet there was nothing that could be of any use to her save the top rooftop where the helipads were located and the bottom floor, neither of which she felt comfortable enough to use at present.
Finally though, after what felt like an eternity, Himiko stood up and pushed open the window to her office, though whether for a breath of fresh air or out of sensing her presence Renamon couldn't be sure, although her glaring across the street in her direction certainly gave her suspicions a strong case to argue.
Renamon glanced up at the sky. The sun was tracking toward the direction of noon and so far she had yet to make any serious progress. Renamon had to admit to being impressed by her fortitude. Still, in the end, she was just human.
You have to go to the bathroom sooner or later, Renamon thought. You certainly drank enough coffee for it.
Almost as if responding to Renamon's wishes, Himiko pushed her chair away from the desk and walked out the door, closing it firmly behind her.
Seizing the opportunity, Renamon quickly teleported to the other side and entered through the open window, all without so much as disturbing the papers on Himiko's desk. Sauntering over to the desk, she began to leaf through the files spread out across its surface. Very little made sense to her. Numbers and names… She assumed perhaps some kind of cost analysis given her studies into human culture and her familiarity with the yen symbol attached to each number, and having learned to read enough Japanese to get by, it wasn't difficult to decipher the words on the papers.
Oracle caught her eye here, along with many others. Pulling back Himiko's chair, she sat herself down and began to pour more directly through the files to see if there was anything else. Perhaps, just perhaps…
Ah… Here we go… she thought, her eyes widening at the sight of one of them. Some kind of pictograph or…
It was just then that an alarm sounded throughout the building. Cursing under her breath, she swept the papers into one folder and then, taking one last look around to see if there was anything else of interest she should take while she still had time - though the rush of footsteps told her otherwise - she jumped out the window and vanished from view.
###
"Yamaki!"
Stomping down the winding staircase which lead to where the staff of Mnemosyne lurked, her dark eyes darted around looking for the former director before seeing his pale blonde hair illuminated in the blue glow of the computers. Her lips turning into a snarl, she pushed the boiling anger back down as she reminded herself not to become like her more emotional cousins.
While yes, the files detailing Oracle had gone missing, she was in a work environment. She was supposed to be in charge and biting the head off an employee, even if she was sure he was the one who stole the papers, was not the best approach.
Even if he is going to stonewall me and try to make me look incompetent, I'm not going to let him win, she thought grimly. If he wanted to stay in charge of Mnemosyne, he should have done a better job. I'll show him how a person of refinement acts.
The bared teeth receded into an angry grimace as she stomped over to the lunatic.
"Yamaki, I would like a word with you," she said with barely hidden restraint.
"Before that," Yamaki began, pointing to the screen. "I think you should see something. You might find this...interesting."
Nodding to Riley, an image appeared on the screen, one of what appeared to be a golden-furred fox pawing through the files that were left on her desk.
"This was taken right before alarms sounded," Yamaki stated. "As you can see from the video footage we have from your office, this...thing, whatever it is, manages to take a number of files before fleeing." Yamaki glanced at Himiko out of the corner of an eye. "I assume that's what you're here for."
Himiko covered her mouth with her hand, trying to find the words to say. After the obligatory "what the fuck" running through her mind, other questions popped up such as "why do you have your, my, office bugged," "how the hell did that thing get inside," and "what is it."
After weighing the questions in her mind, she opened her mouth to ask the most prevalent one - what is it and how did it get inside - before the video seemed to become fuzzy and simply disappeared before it began to loop her office to become completely empty.
"What…?" was all she managed to get out as her hand dropped from her face in shock. However, she quickly recovered herself and turned to the two women manning the machines. "Pull up the file! See if you can find it and look for any foreign entity on our system! Block any requests coming into this building that isn't from Mnemosyne!"
Clicking her tongue irritably, she glared at the screen almost as if she was challenging it. It was clear something was attacking the governmental server, and whatever it was, Himiko had no intention of letting it win.
Maybe Yamaki isn't as paranoid as previously thought.
###
Renamon sat atop the roof of Guilmon's old shed, folder laid across her lap as she meditated, waiting for her partner and her friends to arrive. Standing guard at the top of the stairs was Leomon, arms folded over his massive chest, the hilt of his sword gleaming in the sunlight. Between the two of them they appeared as statues.
Jeri's partner… That still sounds so strange…
She had seen enough echoes to not be surprised by it, occasionally at Jeri's house and once here to have worked things out, but the puppet-loving girl seemed to make an odd pair with Leomon, who was more a wandering barbarian with a samurai code.
The absence of further images of Leomon following what she could gather from other echoes was trip to the digital world worried her. Did he stay behind? Or did he…?
There was much she didn't know, and she felt that as the entity behind all this lost more control, the more information that would become available. She adjusted her grip on the folder, wondering, with her and Leomon's presence, how many more echoes would become sentient. Opening her eyes, she gazed at the cat-man, his mane blowing in the wind. Yet he continued to stand there, strong and resolute, like a rock against the ocean. Renamon gave a light chuckle.
To Leomon, it was a bit of a relief to have another like him in this strange world where nothing made sense. He only came to the human world recently, and for six years to change in a blink of an eye was a bit disconcerting.
While Renamon had been in this world longer than he, it seemed from their failed attempt at "small talk" she hailed from an earlier time when they had not yet met. Still, he supposed it didn't matter as long as they got to the bottom of this mystery, and the plain looking folder sitting innocently in Renamon's lap seemed to hold clues they searched for.
"Hey!" The giant cat turned his head slightly to see three of the four Tamers running their way. With Takato going to a different school, it would make sense that he would lag slightly behind the others.
"In the words of Terriermon, it's about time." Getting up, Renamon hopped down from off the roof and stepped over to stand by Leomon's side, tucking the folder under one arm as they drew near. Upon seeing Jeri and Henry along with Rika, she inclined her head slightly. "Hello everyone. Takato should be here shortly. I imagine he is on his way as we speak."
He would most certainly be at his most attentive when there's an important meeting after school, she thought. She kept tabs on each of the Tamers and had come to know their habits to a degree. Takato's unruly hair unfortunately kept getting him into trouble with his class rep, so much so beyond what was reasonable that she couldn't help but wonder if she had a crush on the poor boy.
He's not for you I'm afraid, she thought distractedly, smiling at Rika.
"Sorry," Rika apologized as she drew closer, slowing down to a jog as Henry raised his eye at what seemed to be a folder floating in midair. He wondered if it was Leomon, but the indent in the grass where the large cat's weight pressed down hadn't moved while the folder seemed to tumble from the top of the bunker.
There was only one he knew of which could move so gracefully, and after digging his phone out of his pocket his suspicions were confirmed correct.
"Renamon," he greeted with a slight smile, happy to see the vulpine Digimon again. He had wondered what got Rika all excited after she demanded that Jeri and himself meet after school, assuring them both she already texted Takato. She remained tight lipped on what was so important, but upon seeing Renamon, he was beginning to have an inkling.
"We should probably wait for Takato to show up," Rika said as she slung the bag of food over her shoulder she insisted on grabbing at the local market on their way here. "It's a pain to explain more than once."
"Heeeyyy!"
Takato's cry came as if on cue. Looking up, Renamon watched in amusement as the brown-haired boy raced up the length of the stairs, his lungs gulping down oxygen by the truck-full to fuel his lagging pace.
"S-Sorry I'm late," he wheezed, drawing to a halt and nearly collapsing from the strain of his run. His hair was matted to his face and soaked with sweat. "I thought… I thought I wasn't going to make it… My class rep… And the mop bucket…and the mop… And… a Renamon?!"
His breath came out in one large blast as he set himself down on the last step and he began to laugh almost hysterically. "Yeah… I'm pretty sure all that exploding ramen and the detention…was worth…this…"
Still smiling, he looked at Rika. "She's why you…texted…for a meet up." Not a question. Simply a statement. "She's...your partner."
"She's very beautiful," Jeri smiled, having taken out her own phone in order to see the vulpine digimon. She glanced at Takato worriedly, his face red from his running and wondering if she should do something.
He seems okay… She thought a bit hesitantly before returning her attention to Renamon. "What's that she's holding?"
"Yes and isn't she? Anyway I didn't call you all over to gawk at Renamon; that can be done later. To start with, I suppose I'll give you the too long, didn't read version and something is messing with our memories," Rika said as she looked at Takato with a slight frown, her brow furrowing. She was worried if he was OK, but considering he seemed to be breathing still and hadn't passed out, she decided he would be fine. "I mean we figured that out yesterday, but apparently this has happened multiple times. Apparently Takato saw it happen when he was dreaming or whatever, Renamon can explain better than that, but it's probably not human. So, I'll chalk that up into the I told you so isle.
"However, my cousin Himiko, who I must add real quick is the devil in human clothing, works for the government and has recently transferred over here and her work is super top secret. Since her coming to live with us shortly after everything was super coincidental, I asked Renamon to follow her, and it seems she learned something. And stole something."
Rika glanced at her partner and grinned - a slightly evil one, but held back on the maniacal laughter. Just barely though.
What's top secret now, huh? she thought smugly as her sadistic smile grew larger.
"Um… Isn't that illegal?" Jeri asked, raising a questioning finger. "I mean, if we're caught we could all go to jail."
"Probably," Rika agreed, pointing her finger at the other girl with a grin, too much on a high of victory to really care about consequences at the moment.
Luckily Henry was a bit more level headed and was able to make a more rational argument to assure Jeri's fears. While Jeri did have a point - they did just steal highly classified documents, or at least Renamon did - as far as he was concerned they were playing hardball with forces outside of their control.
"We can always have Renamon return it," he assured her. "But if we have it now, why not take a peek? After all, like Rika said, a governmental employee who is related to one of us transferring to this district when all this is going on is a bit too coincidental. Maybe we can learn something."
That and he really wanted to see what Renamon managed to swipe.
Jeri crossed her arms together and scowled, not at all sure if she liked this. Rika's reputation already didn't do her any favors, but she never heard of her stealing before (even if it wasn't technically 'her' doing the thievery). That little seed of doubt was not going away anytime soon.
However, unable to do more than be concerned and more than a little curious about the contents of the folder now that Rika's friend – or rather her partner – had it. She glanced over at Takato to see what his reaction was. He stared straight ahead in the direction of the floating folder as it was placed down on the ground and opened, revealing its contents. He seemed more than a little bit curious as well as he forced himself closer, his breathing now under control.
"Um… This looks complicated," he said, picking up one of the papers and turning it around so that it was facing right-side up. "Um… Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what 'Oracle' is?"
"Typically oracles refer to future events. Like a prediction," Henry explained as he peeked at the folder, only for his brow to furrow slightly. "Oh, uh, wow ... hm ..."
Picking up one of the papers, he sat down on the steps as he studied the lines of numbers as his stomach flipped uncomfortably. While he wasn't sure what it meant exactly, he had a nasty inkling of what exactly he was looking at.
"The money that is being put into this program is a lot it seems ... kind of excessive too. How much was the national budget last year again?"
"Sorry," Takato shrugged, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "I don't really follow the news all that much. Um… Jeri? Rika?"
"I don't," Jeri replied quietly, not meeting his gaze.
"No, but I could tell you what it was in 2000," Rika replied sarcastically. Henry rolled his eyes.
"OK, so not helpful. I'll look it up later. Either way this is clearly an informational agency and this amount of money is a big deal. Rika, do you or Renamon know where your cousin works?"
"Nope," Rika replied again. "I was too busy trying not punch her face in."
Both Jeri and Takato frowned at Rika, but as yet said nothing, not sure what to make of it.
"Well," Takato coughed politely, "either way, I'm not sure what it is that we're looking at. Is this Oracle or whatever predicting what we're doing or something?"
"Well ... it could be," Henry said with a frown, not really concerning himself with Rika's issues with her cousin considering it was probably on her mother's side. He knew of her mother's maiden name - a secret he had kept from the others due to Rika's desire to been seen as normal despite her already obvious affluence in wealth and talent. Being known as a Hata no doubt would make things more difficult for her, even if unintentionally.
"Look at this, it's called Behavior Server 9 and it's under Digital Arms and Research Division. And it's rather ... detailed," he continued. "Plus look at the expected outcomes of the project."
"Looks like a lot of stuff about catching criminals before they can even commit a cri – Oh." Takato blanched before taking a closer look. "Oh… Wait. They can do that? And what's this about 'tagging high-risk targets with an algorithm that alters their predicted paths and…' Uh… This is a lot of science-heavy stuff. 'Quantum Branches'? And something about merging these branches helps 'course change' people?"
Takato scowled. He wasn't getting much about what he was reading, but so immersed in creativity and storytelling that a suspicion began to put together a pattern for him. It almost sounds like a form of mind control.
"Catch someone before doing a crime?" Rika asked as she squatted down in front of the papers, scowling. "What is this? A police state where the possibility of committing a crime is cause for incarceration? How is that fair?"
"Ignore that for a moment," Henry said, although he didn't like the implications either before tapping the quantum branches section. "This is what we should be looking more at in regards to us and what we've experienced. Course change people. Now think, what is a good way to change someone's course?"
"What's been happening to us, right?" Takato tapped the side of his head. "Change our memories and everything."
"Exactly," Henry said solemnly as he pointed his finger at Takato.
"Well ... that doesn't explain Renamon or Leomon, or anything about the other echoes," Rika pointed out with a small frown, rocking slightly on her heels. "And Renamon said it wasn't the government ... or Digimon either."
"Who said it can't use governmental technology though?" Henry pointed out before turning to Renamon, using his phone as a guide so he could look at her. "Can you explain again to us what exactly you told Rika?" He paused and turned to Takato and Rika. "You two will obviously need to translate for Jeri and myself considering."
Renamon nodded. "During my travels, I would notice some kind of code surrounding everyone. You… Your families… Everyone. There are some strange entities that move between people. They resemble some kind of glowing…butterfly or bird, and they interact with the code surrounding you, inserting something within them. I can only guess that this is how they were able to alter your memories." Renamon frowned. "I don't believe they are digimon. I do not know what they are. They aren't like anything I have encountered before."
As Rika repeated what Renamon said, Henry frowned slightly. It was nothing he ever encountered before, and it seems while they keep receiving puzzle pieces, without the bigger picture to help guide them ... they had no way to put it all together.
Rubbing his chin, he remembered that Rika said Takato saw something similar while sleeping. His stomach flipped a bit at the description of what it was, but he shook his head and shoved it to the side for now. There was no way that was possible, and there was no reason to cause unnecessary fear without more facts.
"Renamon said that Takato saw something like this as well, correct? Takato do you remember anything?" he asked hopefully. If he did, maybe the boy could use his art skills to draw it for the rest of them.
"Ah…no?" Takato replied uncertainly after giving the question the weighty attention it deserved. "I'm pretty sure I would remember something like that." He furrowed his brow, remembering Renamon saying that he 'dreamt' of these things. "Come to think of it… I've been having a hard time remembering my dreams lately…"
"That helps us none," Rika complained as she stared at the papers, most of which only made sense to Henry. Resting her chin on her knees, her foot tapping irritably, she closed her eyes as she recalled the conversation last night. "OK, so recap of everything. If I add anything not discussed, let me know.
"First off, we know that our memories have been altered several times. The reasoning for these altering, according to Renamon, varied from something one of us said or something we've seen.
"Second off, we've been able to resist these changes as of late, which would explain why we are still here talking about it instead of being complete strangers. Again. The reason for this is unknown.
"Third, something, not Digimon or human, has been meddling with our memories - and others - via some sort of digital code each of us apparently has. I'm not sure if I read in a science fiction book or an actual article, that memories are data. So by changing the data you change the memories. It's the access of this data which is more worrisome, although I wonder if that has something to do with the Devas and the Digital World Leomon talked about.
"Fourth, Takato dreams aren't normal, and he can't remember them. Which doesn't help us much considering Picasso might be able to show us what he sees if he remembers. Unless Renamon can draw, which would help in the meantime.
"Fifth, we have no idea why only Takato and I can see Leomon and Renamon and the other echoes. We also don't know anything about the echoes, except I'm pretty sure they are they are the result of whatever this force Renamon told me about. Oh, which is also losing control, so yay for that. We're on a crash course to Armageddon."
She opened her eyes and gave a deep sigh. While they had more information than before, it was still close to nothing. It bothered her to no end.
"Finally, we know the government is not only deciding not to bother with the justice system but seems to have technology for some sort of memory wipes. Am I missing anything?"
"Um… I don't think you left anything out," Takato said before raising an arm. "So what about what we can do to do something about it. We've been trying to find evidence and we're finding some stuff but we need something a little more…concrete? Otherwise, who's going to believe us?"
Jeri nodded in unison to Takato's words. "No one else can see Leomon and Renamon, but I think today proved that they can touch and move things and we can see that. And…oh!" Jeri's eyes widened as a thought occurred to her. "I know someone who might be able to help us. Our cell phones get erased, but…what if we used something a little…different? Like older cameras?"
"That could work," Henry agreed nodding his head. Convincing others that things were not as they seemed would be a sensitive task when actually carried out, but preparing for it with evidence was a good place to start. Baby steps. There was no reasons to repeat the mistakes of the past. "The only problem would be finding someone who prints negatives, but it's not impossible. Photography is a pretty popular hobby and some old folk haven't caught on to the digital technology yet, or simply don't want to."
"Woah, I didn't even know they sold old cameras that still used negatives. Good thinking, Jeri," Rika whistled as Leomon puffed his chest out like a prideful father. While he had nothing really to add to the conversation as a newcomer, he was happy that his partner was contributing just as much as the other three.
"Yes," the cat Digimon agreed, speaking for the first time since discussion began. "That would be a wise course of action."
"About what Renamon sees…" Takato began a bit carefully. "This might sound stupid but… What if I taught Renamon to draw? Or helped get her what she needs for it? I've got a lot of stuff to use. It might give us something to look out for at least so we're not going into this blind."
Rika craned her neck upward as she looked at her partner. While she didn't mind personally, the decision was Renamon's.
"What do you think, Renamon?"
"It's worth a try," the vulpine digimon replied. "It couldn't hurt at this point."
"Well, let's give it a whirl then. Probably whenever is convenient for Takato considering his family owns a bakery," she said before turning to look at the documents with a slight frown. "What should we do with these those? I can't exactly take them home for obvious reasons."
"I could hold onto them," Renamon said, collecting the documents once more. "I have a place of my own, so to speak. It's not much, but it's safe from prying eyes."
"That works for now," Rika said with a shrug. "Just in case we need to look at them again. Well, Henry needs to look at them since he seems to be the only one who understands this stuff."
"Maybe if you paid more attention to your surroundings, you'd understand them as well," the Chinese boy said dryly as he stood up, glancing at his watch. "I need to get home, but before I forget, my sister's birthday is coming up next week. You are all invited - she was particularly insistent you come, Takato."
Takato raised an eyebrow at that before shrugging. "I'll see if I can make it, but I can't really promise anything. I mean, we're all going to be pretty busy with this stuff and I've got to make sure I stay on top of my grades." Heaving a sigh, his shoulders sagged. "I really don't want to disappoint my parents or anything once exams come at the end of the month. I almost didn't get into high school because I got sloppy studying for entrance exams."
"If you struggle that much with exams, I can help tutor you," Rika offered as she stood up as well as Henry shook his head slightly, amazed at Takato's obliviousness and Rika's ability to offer to tutor him nonchalantly. "I do pretty well in school, and as long as I review my notes, I ought to be fine."
Rika was well aware she was one of the hated type of students who was able to grasp a concept with relative ease and remember it with little studying. While she could go with little studying and constantly hit around high 80s to low 90s, subjects she tended to be more interested in were closer to perfect scores.
"Really? That'd be great!" Takato's smile beamed like a ray of sunshine, causing Jeri to frown and a small, barely visible smile to form on Renamon's muzzle. "Uh…if it's not a big deal that is… I wouldn't want to cause trouble or anything…"
"Nah, it's no problem," she said as she stretched lazily.
"Thanks Rika!" Takato exclaimed happily. "I owe you one!"
Jeri's scowl deepened and she glanced away, fingering the hem of her skirt and wishing she didn't feel this way. She was with Kazu now after all, and yet...seeing the boy she used to like get along so well with Rika, who had a bad reputation, it was hard not to feel a tiny bit jealous.
That's all in the past though, she told herself, forcing her eyes back to the pair. She smiled, wanting to feel happy. Maybe Rika can help him get better grades. I tried, but he's just...always so distracted.
Rika noticed Jeri's change in demeanor as she offered to help Takato study. Tilting her head slightly as Jeri mood seemed to sour, she couldn't help but remember the sexual tension that day in Henry's room between the two and not for the first time she wondered what the heck was going on between the two. She struggled though trying to figure out how helping him study would make Jeri upset.
I thought she got good grades as well, Rika mused scratching the back of her head. While Henry was in the top of their grade and Rika was constantly hopping on and off the top 10 list depending on how interested she was in school during the exam period, she was pretty sure she remembered seeing Jeri's name at least within the top 50.
"It's no big deal," she said shrugging. "The four of us could even have a study session. My best subjects are English - don't say anything - and history. Henry is really good at math and science, and Jeri's always good in literature-" Rika hoped that guess sounded surer than she felt - "so it wouldn't be a bad idea if we helped each other with our strengths and covered our weaknesses, or something."
And more importantly, get Jeri to stop sulking, she added mentally. While she only knew the girl for a short period of time - well technically not correct she supposed, but was recently remembering and getting along with her - she really had no desire to cause a weird rift between them unknowingly. She could always talk to Jeri later, but it might be smart to play nice for the moment until she figured out what was going on between Jeri and Takato.
"That might not be a bad idea," Henry agreed, more aware than his friend on what exactly the issue was and somewhat impressed how oblivious and intelligent she could be at the same time. Unlike Takato who seemed painfully unaware of Jeri's feelings, Rika seemed to have picked something up but didn't quite understand the full context of the situation yet.
Yet she did a rather impressive save, he thought somewhat amused.
"That way we can continue discussing the problem while helping each other out. It would be bad if any of us fell behind in our studies after all," he continued, looking at Takato for that. While he didn't think the boy was dumb, the crimson-eyed teen was just … scatterbrained.
Renamon watched as the teens went back and forth with their plans, sharing schedules and refining things. It felt...wonderful seeing them starting to work together once more, just as they did in the echoes she had seen. Just like the one echo she came across where they were all gathered together outside Guilmon's hut, packed and ready to go to a trip to the digital world. All of them rallied under the banner of Takato's ridiculous flag.
She smiled, wondering what her original self would have felt, being a part of all that. She tightened her grip on the folder, wondering if she would find out.
Authors Note: Google is the best friend anybody can have. It's been how we've been figuring out exam periods and school culture in Japan despite being Americans. Also pretty much everything else about Japan. Yay for Google!
