Chapter 14: O Partner, Where Art Thou?
The morning following the battle Naruto was awoken from his blissful sleep by a light jostling of his shoulder. It struck him as strange to be bothered like this, as it was a Saturday and Rika normally woke late. Nevertheless, he did not feel like getting up and as such shrugged the arm off and mumbled his displeasure before turning over.
Sadly, whoever it was seemed to be persistent as the shaking began anew and it was at this point Naruto realized it was not Rika who was doing the waking. He knew she would have done something far more drastic after the initial shaking. With a heavy sigh Naruto rose his hair disheveled and a sleepy look on his face.
Eyes not fully open it took the young ninja a few moments to recognize the golden furred muzzle of Renamon only a scant inches before him. With a mighty yelp he feel back into his futon calming his errant heartbeat as the foxy digimon laughed softly.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked once he was able to right himself into a kneeling position on his futon.
"I am here so we can begin our search." she replied.
Naruto nodded for a moment then caught himself; "Search?"
"For my partner." she clarified.
"Now?"
"You promised didn't you?" Renamon stated.
Naruto sighed.
"That I did, just let me leave a note for Rika."
Naruto made his way over to the nearby dresser retrieving a pencil and note pad. After a few minutes of scratching and furious bouts of erasing Naruto slid he finished note just inside Rika's door frame. Satisfied that it would be found he went back to his room to find Renamon still waiting.
"Now I just need to suit up," Naruto said as he made his was to the closet." can't be seen moving at your speeds looking like me."
Renamon was confused until he pulled out a wide rimmed black hat.
~Xutzy~
Naruto laughed as he swiftly dodged and weaved through the swings of the irate man before him.
"Hold still freak!" the thug yelled as he swung his bat.
"Freak." Naruto said loosing his smile." Not that's not a nice name."
Naruto dodged the mans next swipe causing his aluminum weapon to meet a traffic poll rather harshly. His assailant growled as the shock of the strike traveled up his arm.
"That must have hurt." Naruto commented.
Renewing his grip the man swung again only hitting air ironic really as the air in his lungs chose at that moment to abandon him. A fist dug heavily into the mans stomach Naruto chuckled.
"That should teach you to pick on little kids."
Naruto slapped his hands together as if to loose some dust that may have tarnished his black gloves. Looking into the alleyway with a smile on his masked face he regarded the two boys that minuets before had been accosted by those thugs. Along the edges of the alley were a few other bodied in various states of discomfort.
"You kids okay?"
The smaller of the two nodded furiously while the other just smiled.
"Good stay safe you two, try and stay away from dark alleys." Naruto laughed.
Looking down at the man from before who lay moaning in pain on the sidewalk, he quickly pulled a kunai from his belt. The mans eyes widened at the sight of the blade, and as it came down he closed them unwilling to gaze at his own demise. There was a swift tearing noise and a strange coolness on his chest and after a moment he opened his eyes.
Tears stung his face as he gazed at the large "Z" cut into his shirt.
From the rooftop opposite Naruto gazed down as the thugs were collected by the authorities, a few street cops, and hauled away to the local station. One of the cops stayed behind to get a testimony from the two boys. Naruto watched as they gestured adamantly with smiles on their scuffed faces. He had always wanted to be a hero, a hero to his people.
The youngest boy caught sight of him over the officers shoulder and pointed him out. The officer turned and saw the dark figure standing straight and tall, his cape billowing in the wind. Then in an instant he was gone.
~Xutzy~
"Why the theatrics?" Renamon asked.
"It's fun." Naruto said conclusively.
"We're wasting time." she scoffed.
"Look Renamon," Naruto sighed." it may take a while to find your partner."
Renamon looked out over the city, it was already midday and they were no closer than when they began.
"I just wish we had some kind of lead." she said finally.
At that moment a shrill scream broke through the air.
Naruto was up in a second bounding off in the direction of the call, Renamon right on his tail. After bounding across roof tops for about a minuet following the sounds of a struggle, they caught a glimpse of what caused the commotion.
Below them in an alley way was a young girl of around twelve, her hair a strange purple shade and wearing a white sundress and purple choker. She was flailing against the wishes of the two digimon dragging her down the alley way.
The digimon in question were small round creatures with large bat like wings. The wings looked to be part of the purple mask covering their face as apposed to being a part of the body. Both had their overly large red birdlike talons wrapped about her arms as they tugged her along.
"DemiDevimon." Renamon growled." Nasty little things, where they go trouble can't be far behind."
Naruto nodded; "We have to do something."
Renamon was ahead of him in that aspect, she had leapt from her position crossing her arms as her eyes took on a glow. Below her the DemiDevimon were making their move, a portal had appeared before them and they moved to take the girl through.
"Kohenkyo!" she yelled.
Naruto was overtaken by a sense of nostalgia as Renamon disappeared in a swirl of leaves, only to be replaced by one of the winged devils from below. Naruto leapt forward grabbing the little bugger out of the sky as he caught one final glimpse of Renamon disappearing into the void.
"Let go of me you jerk!" cried the DemiDevimon in his grasp.
Naruto smiled a cruel smile;"Uh uh, you an I have a lot to talk about."
~Xutzy~
Renamon snarled as she tore flame covered paws through another DemiDevimon. It seemed that ever since she entered that strange portal they had been coming in never ending waves.
"Power Paw!" she yelled the flames on her feet and fists flaring into a blaze.
She could barley make sense of where she was due to the darkness that surrounded her. She could tell the walls were made of some flimsy steel or sheet metal. She could smell salt in the air, and hear waves every now and again between the sounds of battle.
After an hour of fighting she had grown tiered and it seemed the enemy had acknowledged this as they closed in on her haggard form.
"My, my." Came a voice from the darkness." You have fought well to have made it through so many of my minions."
Slithering into sight from the surrounding DemiDevimon came their apparent leader.
"Marine Devimon, at your service." he said with a sick smile.
He looked every bit like a regular Devimon or Ice Devimon, only his figure was slightly hunched. He had four arms all ending in flat five clawed tentacles, two of said arms came from over his shoulders. What would have been wings was instead a tattered cape like thing hanging from his back. Instead of horns two small wings protruded from his longer cone like head.
"Bakemon," the sea digimon called lazily." shackle our guest and place her with the other."
From the the crowd came two ghost like figures with drooling mouths full of jagged teeth. They floated towards her to steel shackles shaking. Renamon, too tiered to resist, allowed herself to be chained and taken away.
She winced as she was tossed into what seemed to be a cage of some sort, her arms shackled tightly behind her back. She tried to maneuver herself so that she would not be staring at the wall, but found the task to daunting.
"Did they hurt you miss fox?" came a small voice from behind her.
"No," Renamon said after a moment." I just grew tired, one can only fight for so long."
"You were great miss fox, you really tried your best."
"It wasn't good enough I'm afraid." she sighed." My name is Renamon, by the way, can you tell me why they where taking you."
There was a slight shuffling as Renamon felt a presence grow closer to her.
"The bat things said something about their master needing a human to get stronger." the girls voice was shaky." Mi-Renamon, whats going to happen to me?"
Renamon felt something tug at her heart as she heard the young girls shaking voice.
"Nothing," Renamon said." Not if I have anything to say about it. Once I regain my strength I'll find us a way out I promise..."
"Kagura Yuma." the girl said." But you can call me Yuma, Renamon."
Renamon smiled before finally submitting to sleep. It would be another two hours before she awoke having regained a lot of energy from her sleep. She was lucky she was only drained an not injured. With a grunt she sat up finally able to take in her surroundings. She was in what she assumed to be a warehouse of some sort, and judging from the boats hanging from the ceiling it was located near the sea.
"Yuma." she called, in search of her cell mate.
"I'm here." came a quivering reply.
Shifting herself so she can look behind her she see's the small form of Yuma sitting in a corner of the cage hugging her knees. Her white sundress dirtied, her face full of tears.
"Don't cry Yuma." Renamon reassured her."We'll get out of here, and we'll get you home."
The girl choked back a sob; "I don't have a home Renamon."
Renamon gasped and struggled against her bonds for a moment wanting to go to the girl.
"I'm an orphan." she continued." I was being moved to Shinjuku because my old home was filling up to fast. They took me when my handler stopped at the park to let me stretch my legs after the ride here."
Renamon could only watch as the girl teared up again.
"I used to be sad about not having a home," Yuma cried." But now I'd be happy just to leave this place."
A cruel laughter permeated the air as heavy footsteps and the flapping of wings approached.
"You cannot leave just yet," Marine Devimon said." I need you Yuma."
"You fiend." Renamon growled." Stealing a young girl."
"Such harsh words." he grinned." I want only what you want, power, and the means to achieve it."
"I am nothing like you!" Renamon shouted.
"Not anymore." she whispered harshly.
Marine Devimon moved towards the cage eying the bound form of Renamon on the floor then Yuma. He smiled as one of his arms stretched out wrapping about her waist and bringing her to face him.
"Yuma." he sighed." Why do you resist, we could be partners you an I."
Yuma refused to meet his gaze as he hands frantically pulled at his tentacle in a desperate attempt to free herself.
"Your a big jerk!" she cried as tears trailed down her cheeks." Let me go, let Renamon go!"
Marine Devimon recoiled as if struck a gargled gasp escaping his lips.
"You care for this," he regarded Renamon disgust clear in his eyes." weakling!"
Marine Devimon reached out with another of his arms grasping Renamon.
"I will show you how pathetic she truly is!"
He reared his arm back and tossed her into the nearest wall, causing Renamon to gasp in pain as the wall was dented severely.
"Stop!" Yuma yelled.
"If you want this to stop then join me, make me grow stronger than ever!" Marine Devimon demanded.
Yuma remained silent, yet tears still slid down her cheeks.
"So be it, watch her suffer."
With another flick of his arm Renamon was sent flying to one of the hanging boats, crashing clear through its hull. Marine Devimon followed after her, bringing Yuma along for the grisly ride.
He lifted the injured fox once more tossing her into a lumber pile. Wood cracked beneath her form as she cried out in pain.
"No."
She was lifted once more and tossed to the side where she impacted with their holding cage. The bars dug into her flesh at off angles causing the fox digimon to once more cry out in anguish.
"Please..."
"I grow tired of this." Marine Devimon said gesturing dismissively to the downed mon and addressing his minions." Do what you will with her, it would seem our charge needs more convincing."
Renamon turned her head and, as the DemiDevimon and Bakemon closed in on her, she could see Yuma's tear stricken face. Yuma gazed deeply into Renamon's dulling blue eyes, he heart pounding in her chest she screamed.
"Renamon!"
DIGIVOLUTION
Streams of violet data began to fly off of Renamon surrounding her in an egg like shell of power. Her fur feel from her form as she fell on all fours the framework that now constituted her being shifting, changing. Flames danced across her leaving new skin and fur in their wake.
Where once stood a yellow anamorphic fox, no stood a majestic silver furred nine tailed fox. Her tails and paw were tipped with raging red flames. On her shoulders and hunches were yin yang symbols, matching the one on the center of her forehead. A red an white stripped rope with gold ends hung around her neck over her silvery violet mane.
"Renamon Digivolve to...Kyubimon!"
From above having just arrived in time to see the light show Rika whistled as she and Naruto looked in on the boathouse. Rika activated her D-Arc and after a moment had gotten her readings.
"Rare Vaccine type Kyubimon," Rika read.", the silver coloration is pretty cool, it says here that its one of the few in the Virus Buster family."
"That means?" Naruto asked.
"It means things are about to get real bad for this group of virus type." Rika smiled.
"It's game time!" said Calumon as he popped up from Naruto's cloak between her and him.
"How did you get there?" she questioned.
The little guy just smiled, the triangle on his head dimming.
Down below Kyubimon was crouched low growling menacingly at the surrounding virus types, her flames flaring in anticipation.
"Let her go Marine Devimon!" she growled.
Marine Devimon laughed; "And if I don't?"
Kyubimon howled as her flames overtook her form.
"Fox Flame Dragon!"
She leapt into the air where she began to spin then with another might howl a dragon of red flame burst forth devouring the DemiDevimon and Bakemon alike. Kyubimon ceased her spinning landing gracefully before falling back into a low stance teeth bared.
Marine Devimon laughed;" You think that taking out those fools makes you worthy of calling yourself my equal?"
"Yes." Kyubimon replied." What's more, I am your better."
"You dare!" He cried in outrage." Dark Deluge!"
Marine Devimon spewed a deep black ink from its mouth. Kyubimon leapt out of harms way as the ink hit the floor eating away at the concrete as it bubbled out of sight.
"I will end this now." Kyubimon declared." Fox Tail Inferno!"
Kyubimon's tails fanned out wide as the flames there burned brighter until the each showed their own foxy face and snarl. With a flick they went flying swirling around the virus types form as he swatted at them like flies only to be burnt. Wincing in paint he dropped Yuma who was quickly retrieved by Kyubimon as Marine Devimon fussed with the fox fires.
"Get these things off of me! I demand you take them away!" Marine Devimon cried.
"I think not." Kyubimon replied. "Say goodbye."
With that the flames converged on Marine Devimon and in a brilliant red blaze he was gone.
"Renamon?" Yuma questioned from her perch atop the champion levels back.
"Yuma." Kyubimon replied." It's Kyubimon for now."
"Are you going to take me back now?"
Kyubimon nodded.
"Need a hand with that?" came a voice from above.
Naruto dropped in from a window in the ceiling with Rika on his back. He smiled at the astonished look on Yuma's face, as well as the smile on Kyubimon's. He was garbed in his battle cloak, having ascended to rookie level in order find them as fast as possible.
"I think we can get you back where you belong." Naruto said.
Yuma shook her head; "I don't know where my handler was taking me, I won't be able to tell you where to take me."
"Handler?" Rika questioned.
"I am an orphan." Yuma replied." I don't have a home to go to..."
This struck a cord with Naruto, and he noticed the slightly flustered look on Kyubimon's face she didn't know what to do about the situation. To be honest neither did he, but he hoped he had a solution.
"Yuma, how would you like to have a home?"
The girls eyes widen as she heard the words that Naruto himself remembered wishing more than anything to hear in his youth. However, there was a hint of hesitation, and he was pleasantly surprised that she sent a glance at Kyubimon.
"I do." Yuma said quietly." But only if Kyubimon can come with me."
"Yuma..." Kyubimon gasped.
"Your the first friend I have ever had everyone always made fun of me because of my hair, but you never once did, you protected me."
Yuma hugged her arms around Kyubimon's neck.
"I don't want you to leave me."
There was a soft humming as a light began shine withing the boathouse it started small but grew in intensity as it neared its destination. Yuma gasped as the light fell from the ceiling to rest before her, tentatively, she reached out to grab it.
Naruto smiled, as did Rika as she realized what the light had held. Naruto took her hand in his as they watched these two new friends begin their partnership.
Yuma grasped the device, it was white with the screen rimmed in a light violet the buttons being the same color.
"What is this?" she asked.
"That," Kyubimon said with joy." is the symbol of our bond, I will stay by your side Yuma, I'll always be there when you need me."
"Kyubimon." Yuma whispered hugging the foxes neck again.
~Xutzy~
"Oh she's just the cutest thing!" Rena squealed. "Can we keep her?"
Naruto and Rika looked at her flatly.
"I though it was we who were asking..." Naruto mumbled.
"Me too." Rika replied.
"As much as I would love to have her." Grandma Makino sighed. "We need to figure out how we are going to afford having her."
Rika nodded. Her mother worked hart to provide for them, but they were by no means rich, they house had been in the family for years. On the outside it seemed as if they were very wealthy, but they lead a very average lifestyle.
"I think I have an idea." Naruto said.
~Xutzy~
"My arms are killing me." Takato moaned.
"Your telling me..." Henry agreed.
"Less talky more wavy!" Naruto called.
Takato and Henry moaned before the resumed their task of vigorously shaking Naruto's cape. There he stood in full Zorro attire as Rena dashed about him snapping photo's.
"Work it! The camera loves you!" she called.
"Kaasan!" Rika growled in embarrassment.
"What? Normally I'm on the reviving end of this, just having a little fun." she laughed.
Naruto struck another valiant pose as the camera continued to flash.
"That was quite clever of him." Grandma Makino noted. "Newspapers and stations alike would pay top dollar for pictures of Shinjuku's new hero."
"You hear that Yuma!" Naruto said mid pose." Now you can stay here w-"
Naruto smiled as did everyone who looked to see what had caused him to quiet. There on the deck was Kyubimon curled up around a sleeping Yuma who nuzzled herself deep into the foxes plush silver fur.
"I'm glad." Henry smiled." It looks like we've gained a new ally."
"Yeah, maybe more will show up too!" Takato smiled.
"We can only hope the quality continues to improve." Rika scoffed.
That night the Makino residence was alight with laughter as they celebrated new friends, and new family.
~End~
Very short chapter I know, but I have been working on the follow up chapter "Snake Like A Train" for a while now and I should have it done in the next two days at most.
I apologize for the lateness but a lot has been going on in terms of family matters. My grandmothers health is deteriorating rapidly, at this point we are not sure she will make it past the next month. As it is I find it hard to write very much, but I am getting things done I swear just bear with me.
Anyway, Kagura Yuma is actually a character from one of the Digimon video games. She partners with a Renamon in the game and I thought why not give her a cameo here as Renamons Tamer? I was agonizing over what to do and I knew that you had all been waiting so long so I sat down for the better part of two days and worked out this idea. Rest assured the next chapter is nearly finished so once again I apologize for the shortness. Also in regards to Kyubimons new look, I wanted to do something different. As stated the only difference is that this Kyubimon is a Vaccine type as opposed to the normal Data type.
Let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for a much longer chapter coming within the week!
~Xutzy