A/N: Chapter 13. Time to get messy.
A Life Without a Legacy
Chapter 13
Takato, Henry and their digimon gathered at Rika's home as Renamon returned with Snow. They had already been informed about the situation, Yamaki had also uploaded the coordinates of the digimon they were after. Even as Rika looked the signal was moving through the city. It had obviously been spooked by the turn of events leading to its discovery.
Renamon was itching to get her claws on the one who had jeopardised her 'son', manipulating him into seeing things that he hadn't done. Snow was a child, he shouldn't be exposed to those things. It was time to stop this by ending this digimon.
Snow was left in the care of Rika's mother, he wasn't safe anywhere else. The vixen wasn't happy about leaving him behind but she had no choice. And taking him to the one who was controlling him seemed like a bad idea. So they went without him with the promise that she won't be long, and reluctantly a second promise of sugar. Needless to say Snow agreed to being left behind. Renamon could already feel a headache forming.
With one final wave goodbye they left the albino and tracked the now stationary signal on the tamers' digivices. It seemed to be within an abandoned industrial building that took them a few minutes to reach. Renamon could already sense a digimon inside, her claws flexing in anticipation. This digimon would receive no quarter.
As one they ventured in, Takato and Guilmon going first with Henry and Terriermon second. Rika followed with Renamon but the vixen was out of phase. The plan was to lure the digimon out with Guilmon and Terriermon while she got behind and flanked the rogue, using her stealth to get the drop first. It didn't take long for the rogue to come forwards.
"Here we are, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you did find me. No matter, I shall simply remove you and claim the albino myself."
As the male voice spoke a silhouette came from the shadows. Simply put he looked like Snow only much older, a white furred Renamon. His eyes were blue, the same eyes Renamon had seen Snow have when he wasn't in control. She knew for certain, as if she needed the help, that this digimon was the one behind the murders and the manipulation to her 'son'. She got behind him and signalled to Rika that she was in position.
Rika scanned the digimon with her digivice. "Ghost Renamon. Rookie level. So you're the one behind the recent murders huh? A little low to blame them on a child don't you think?"
Ghost Renamon smirked. "Who's to say it wasn't him? Not that it matters. I'll remove you lot from my path and claim him fully afterwards, seeing as the vixen is obviously too afraid to leave him alone. I'll enjoy dealing with her in front of his very eyes, perhaps I'll even get him to do it." He chuckled darkly before being thrown forwards by a pissed vixen.
"I wouldn't count on that, runt."
He picked himself up, still smirking. "You're a vicious one, eh? I'll really enjoy 'dancing' with you, don't ruin my fun by dying too quickly though. I want to savour this."
Renamon leapt at him again, phasing out to reappear behind him whilst still carrying her momentum. She collided with his back again and sent him staggering forwards, shortly before her foot smashed into his spine. Ghost Renamon landed on his stomach with a whoosh of air escaping his lungs, but he recovered before the vixen could capitalise on his position.
He turned to her, eyes glowing heavily with his paw held up in a halting fashion. "Hold it. You kill me and the albino dies."
Renamon faltered as Takato called across. "What do you mean?"
"We are linked, me and the albino. Should I die then he dies with me. A failsafe if you will. Now, I suggest you leave before you do something you will regret."
His speech didn't prevent Renamon from smashing into him again. "You're lying, trying to save your own arse now you know you are outmatched."
Ghost Renamon grinned maniacally, gesturing to a door in a wall. Even as they turned the door opened, Snow walking in with his blue eyes glowing.
"I never lie." Both Ghost Renamon and Snow spoke in unison. "Should my life end then the albino will join me. Choose your actions carefully vixen, they may be his last to witness."
No one moved for a while, except Snow who walked to stand between Renamon and her ghost counterpart. The vixen gazed deep into his blue eyes, trying to search for him through the rogue's controlling influence.
"Snow, it's me." She knelt before him, ignoring anything else except her 'son'. "Come back to me son." She bowed her head low, closing her eyes. "I need you."
Snow stared back at her, a brief flash of red in his eyes. At the same time Ghost Renamon frowned a little, giving the vixen all the evidence she needed that he was losing his grip. All she needed to do was push.
"Son." She purposely used the words she felt he would react most to. "I know I'm not your real mother, but you are the son I never had. Only our digital blood prevents us from being true family, and that is not enough for me not to see you as my own. You are my son in all ways except blood. I will be with you until the end of time. Snow, I love you."
Ghost Renamon recoiled away, slamming into a wall as Snow's eyes snapped back to his own. Surprisingly the albino rounded on the fallen white fox, his young eyes hard and dangerous. So much so that Renamon grew weary of him.
"You!" Snow advanced on Ghost Renamon. "You made me think that was me! You were going to make me hurt my mother!" He had his older personality again, but possibly older still. "No one gets away with that!"
Renamon, snapping out of her momentary daze, placed a paw on his shoulder. "Easy son, let mother deal with this one."
Snow shook his head. "Not this one mother, this one is mine!"
The way he spoke sent a pang of fear through Ghost Renamon, who only managed a strained 'eep' before Snow's claws sank into his shoulders. He tore them out viciously, leaving ragged gashes down the rogue's torso. Ghost Renamon released a pained howl as he tried to get clear, but was stopped by the vixen.
"No you don't. My son hasn't finished playing with you. He does like his toys."
He paled, even if his white fur didn't show it. "No, please! I was acting on orders! Have mercy!"
"Did you show mercy to the humans you killed?" Snow asked, digging his claws into his neck. "Would you have shown mercy to my mother, my friends? How can you ask of something when you purposely avoid showing it yourself?" Snow tore his claws away again, rending Ghost Renamon's neck open.
The white fox gasped for air that he couldn't get, his windpipe severed. His panic stricken eyes locked helplessly with Snow's, who stared back impassively.
"This is the mercy you will get from me, bastard. You will drown in your own blood, knowing that a child defeated you because you underestimated him. Now die!"
Snow kicked him away, leaving him to live his last moments as he walked back to Renamon. All were shocked to see such a display from a child, but none could blame him. He stretched his hand to take the vixen's paw.
"Can we go home mother?"
He was back to his four year old self again. Renamon nodded. "Come, let's get you cleaned up."
They all left the building, watched helplessly by Ghost Renamon. He clutched his neck in a vain attempt to close the hole in his windpipe so he could breathe, trickles of digital blood dripping from his paws. He gasped silently, his vocal cords useless to him as his life ebbed away.
He had underestimated the albino, he understood that now. He had a strong bond to the vixen that even he couldn't overpower. The only way he could be claimed was if she was removed, permanently. But that task would fall to another, his time was up.
With a silent sigh and the sound of his body slumping against the wall, Ghost Renamon broke apart and faded away to the four winds.
After a quick cleaning session Snow was sleeping once more. Renamon sat with him the whole time. She felt guilty for even thinking that he had killed humans, but seeing the way he dealt with the Ghost Renamon proved that he had the capabilities to do so. She should have known Snow didn't kill those people, perhaps she should have searched with Rika and found the rogue earlier. She could have spared Snow a few nights of torment.
But that was behind them now. They could move on with their lives knowing he was himself again. Sadly, because of the dreams he was forced to witness from the Ghost Renamon, Snow wasn't sleeping soundly. He wasn't thrashing in his sleep but his mind was far from calm. He saw the murders over and over in a loop inside his head, paws that weren't his own slashing and maiming humans he had never seen before. The same three people died again and again and Snow watched it all.
Renamon had no idea what he was going through.
The door opened to allow Rika entry into the room. She saw the two foxes on the bed, her partner sitting over the young albino, and joined them at a respectful distance. Ever since the redhead had detected the way Renamon had changed she had tried to placate the vixen, making sure she didn't do anything to upset or anger her. The last thing she wanted was to distance herself from her partner and friend.
She cast an eye over Snow's form. "How is he?"
Renamon sighed lightly. "He's fine. A little tired I guess but fine otherwise. How's your mother?"
"She'll live. She was more shaken than anything." When Ghost Renamon had controlled Snow to bring him to the building Rika's mother had tried to stop him leaving. 'Snow' had lashed out a little, forcing her back with a few minor cuts and escaping before she could react. She knew he wasn't himself when Rika explained what had gone on.
"Good." Renamon sighed again. "I feel terrible Rika. I had thought Snow was responsible for the murders. Last night I stayed awake just to see what happened, to see if it was him."
Rika blinked. "So that's why you were so tired this morning."
The vixen nodded. "He did wake up though, but only to go to the bathroom and get a drink from the kitchen. The night before I found him outside looking very out of it, which is why I had to make sure last night. It was too suspicious to ignore. But I was wrong, I just assumed and blamed him for it all. I'm glad I am wrong but I still treated him as a murderer. What sort of mother am I if I rush to conclusions like that?"
Rika placed a hand on her shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes Renamon. At least you can know for certain that it wasn't him. If it wasn't for you checking on him you wouldn't have found out about the rogue digimon, possibly until it was too late. Who knows what he was up to with Snow?"
Renamon sighed yet again. "I suppose you're right. But it doesn't rid me of this guilt I feel."
"I'm sure Snow will forgive you if you explained it to him. He would understand. If not, you could always give him some more sugar."
Renamon shuddered. "I'll pass on that, Snow's hyperactive enough as it is!"
Both females laughed lightly at the images of Snow racing around, high on sugar. Snow himself twitched on the bed once, then twice as his dreams escalated. Renamon noticed the movements and watched him closely, seeing a third twitch and hearing a very faint whimper. She stroked his back lightly to soothe him and calm his mind.
"Hush Snow, they're not real."
She watched as his movements stopped, his body calming down again. Rika smiled. "You really are good with him Renamon, despite what you think. He couldn't have a better mother."
Renamon gave her tamer a sad look. "Except his real one."
Rika mimicked the look. "Except his real one yes. But you are the next best, as bad as that sounds. You know him better than anyone else, I bet you he couldn't ask for anyone else as his mother even if he wanted to."
The vixen smiled. "Thank you Rika."
The redhead smiled back before rising and leaving the room, giving the two foxes their space and privacy. For her part Renamon laid beside him, intending to get some sleep back, and pulled him close.
"Rest well my son, mother's here now."