CHAPTER TWENTY: HOME SWEET HOME
"They're not coming back, aren't they?" Ryo questioned in a worried tone.
"They're coming back Ryo, just be patient," Takato said reassuringly.
Four teenagers stood in the middle of West Shinjuku Park at exactly 5:45PM on Wednesday afternoon. The adolescents were Takato, Ryo, Rika and Henry.
They were accompanied by smaller beings who were Alex, Suzie, Ai and Mako. The four mini-tamers had gone exploring amongst the forest of trees and bushes in the park, leaving the remaining older tamers to wait by themselves. Takato heaved an exasperated sigh,
This was the third time that week in which he and the others had come to the park. They had come expecting to discover that Jeri, Mia, Kenta, Kazu, Marineangemon and Calumon had returned safely with the rest of their team plus Renamon however that afternoon appeared to prove the same as the other days……wasteful.
"Urgh! Where are they?" Ryo said tapping his foot agitatedly.
"Be patient Ryo," Takato reassured, "I'm sure they'll be back this time, I know it!"
"Meh! Yeah right. That's what you said the last time," Ryo scoffed. "And they didn't show up back then either," Ryo added with a snort.
Takato groaned.
Henry breathed a tired sigh and yawned. The blue-haired tamer stood with his back leaned against the trunk of a sycamore tree, staring languorously at a single strand of grass on the ground. The only time he looked up was when a familiar mauve-haired little girl came skipping up to him.
"Hendwy! Hendwy! Have they come back yet?" Suzie shouted to her older brother.
She was followed by Alex, Mako and Ai. The four mini-tamers stopped at Henry's feet.
Henry shook his head at his sister's inquiry.
"Not yet," Henry replied.
"Aw! No Wopmon?" Suzie whined.
"Nope. No Lopmon," Henry answered.
Suzie sighed as she turned to the other three. "Sahwy you guys but Wopmon isn't here and if Wopmon isn't here twen no one isn't here," Suzie said sadly.
Ai, Mako and Alex all sighed miserably.
"No Gabumon or Mia or Wolfemon," Alex groaned.
"No Impmon too," whined both Ai and Mako.
Henry looked at the four mini-tamers. He stooped down and gave the four younglings a confident smile.
"Hey don't you guys worry too much. Mia and the others will be back I'm sure," Henry said, "now why don't you guys go back and continue playing, 'kay?"
"Nuh uh! Hendwy we're twired of pwaying," Suzie said with an exhausted yawn.
"Yeah, we wanna go home," Alex said.
"Home," Ai and Mako repeated.
Henry lowered his head and groaned. He glanced at the wristwatch around his wrist. The time on the watch read 6:01PM. Henry stood to his feet and looked to Takato and Ryo.
"Hey Takato! Ryo! I think we should get going now," Henry said.
"What? We can't leave now," Takato said turning to Henry in disbelief.
Henry shook his head at the goggle-wearing brunette. "Listen Takato, it's getting late. Suzie, Alex, Ai and Mako are tired of waiting and frankly so I am," Henry said.
"I'm with Henry," Ryo said in agreement.
"Come on you guys. Can't you wait just another minute?" Takato said, "I know the others will return today, I just know it."
"That's what you said yesterday when we came to wait," Henry stared.
"……and the day before that," Ryo added.
"……and the day before that----the list goes on," Henry said with his arms folded.
Takato sighed. "But……" he began.
"Face it gogglehead. The others aren't coming today," said the somber voice of Rika. The red-haired girl was perched on the branch of the tree that Henry was leaning against. Lavender optics narrowed at Takato as Rika glowered at the boy.
"We were all idiots for believing that they'll come today," Rika continued, "and I was an even bigger idiot to believe you Takato…AGAIN!" Rika pointed an accusing finger at Takato.
Takato swallowed.
"Rika…"
Rika jumped down from the branch she sat on. She landed opposite Henry who almost jumped. Shoving her hands in the pockets of her jeans and ignoring the startled look on Henry's face, Rika turned her back and started walking off.
"Come on guys, let's go!" she said.
Rika was followed by Ryo who was leaving as well. Henry proceeded to leave also and he was accompanied by Suzie, Ai, Mako and Alex.
"You guys----come back!" Takato yelled behind his comrades, "they'll be back I know it!"
Still the others continued to exit the park. Takato groaned and slapped his forehead in frustration.
'Aw man. It's been so long since we've seen the others that everyone else is losing faith in their return,' Takato thought, 'and………………I'm losing faith as well,'
Takato slumped down on the grass and looked to the sky. It was not sunset as yet and the sky remained its usual azure hue with the clouds as usual, cumulous and the sun shinning dimly because of the late afternoon.
For a second time, Takato groaned. He leaned back against the soft grass. He stared back at the indigo sky. The wind blew briskly against the top of his head but then-------the breeze became a little vigorous and Takato had to hold on tightly to his goggles or else they would have been blown away in the wind.
"What the------what the heck is going on!" Takato shouted.
His crimson eyes traveled in the direction from where the wind was blowing. The strong breeze originated from one specific area……down the small slope in the heart of the park. Takato climbed the steep slope and looked down the hill.
He noticed something peculiar about the breeze. The waft of air was hovering above the ground and seemed to spiral anti-clockwise in a rapid movement. Takato gawked at what he was seeing. He placed on his goggles to see if his eyes were playing tricks on him but what he was seeing was real.
Takato gasped.
"Guys……guys……GUYS!!"
Takato jumped on top of the slope. He waved his arms frantically and he yelled for the other tamers to come. Rika, Henry and Ryo along with Alex, Suzie, Ai and Mako stopped in their tracks and peered around at Takato. Takato continued to jump up and down with an overenthusiastic grin plastered on his face.
"GUYS! GUYS COME QUICK!" Takato yelled.
The others looked at each other before running up the slope to meet the leaping Takato.
"What is it Takato?" Henry asked.
"You better have a good reason for calling us or else," Rika growled threateningly.
Takato ignored her as he continued jumping. He gestured a finger down the slope.
"Guys look down there!" Takato said, "do you see what I see,"
"The others peered down the hill. The wind spun faster and faster. Electrifying static sparks jolted from the interior as the gap materialized, revealing an opening portal.
Rika, Ryo and Henry gawked. The mini-tamers stared awe-stricken. Takato just grinned.
"Is that------a portal?" Ryo questioned.
"You bet it is," Takato replied.
"Guys-----you don't think……" Henry started but he was cut off. Sounds of muttering voices whispered from the interior of the floating portal.
The next thing the tamers knew, one giant lightning bolt shot from the gateway and fifteen beings came tumbling onto the soft ground one after the other.
The beings landed in an angry heap on top one another.
The portal then disappeared leaving the fifteen beings struggling to get up from under each other.
"Where the heck are we now?" an ignorant voice questioned.
"I think we're in West Shinjuku Park," answered a second voice.
A third voice squealed. "You know what that means don't ya?" the voice uttered.
"We're home!" several voices exclaimed.
"Home! Home Sweet Home!" another voice shouted enthusiastically.
The voice belonged to a short figure that jumped down from the pile of tumbled beings and landed on the grass. The figure appeared to have long white and lime-green bunny ears which seemed to droop onto the ground as the figure bent down. The figure was Terriermon.
The rabbit-dog digimon, with his body on the ground, began kissing the earth continuously.
"Sweet Real World, oh how I have missed you," Terriermon said, kissing the ground for the umpteenth time only to spit out a wad of grass.
"Terriermon?"
Terriermon looked up and emerald eyes widened at the figure standing in front of him.
"Henry," Terriermon spoke and a smile crept on his face.
Henry returned the smile. "Terriermon!" the blue-haired tamer exclaimed.
"Henry!" Terriermon shouted. He leapt from the ground and flew into his tamer's arms. Henry stood holding Terriermon in his arms and the two hugged one another as if they hadn't seen each other in ages.
Takato and Ryo reacted the same way toward their digimon as Henry did.
"Guilmon!" Takato exclaimed.
"Takatomon!" Guilmon shouted, running forward and bounding on top of his tamer. Takato landed backwards on the grass with the blissful Guilmon on top of his licking his face cheerfully. Takato laughed.
"Ryo!" Monodramon shouted running toward his tamer.
"Monodramon!" Ryo shouted. The spiky-haired brunette knelt down on the grass and petted the top of Monodramon's head, much to his contentment.
The mini-tamers ran down the slope and bounded toward their digimon partners, which their arms outstretched to embrace them.
"Wopmon!" Suzie yelled.
"Suzie!" Lopmon flew into Suzie's arms and the two embraced.
"Oh Wopmon I've missed you," Suzie said.
"I've missed you too Suzie," Lopmon replied smiling.
Impmon looked around uncertainly. "Now where are those-------"
"Impmon!"
The next thing Impmon knew he was rolling on the grass with both Ai and Mako on top of him, both hugging him tightly. Impmon choked slightly.
"Impmon we're so happy that you're back in one piece," Ai said.
"Did you miss us?" Mako asked.
Impmon smiled at both of his tamers. "How could I not miss ya," he replied while ruffling Mako's hair.
"Gabumon! Gabumon!" Alex shouted.
"Alex!" Gabumon shouted grinning as the blonde boy tackled him with a bear hug.
"Ahem. A hug for your digimon but no hug for your big sis," Mia said turning to Alex.
Alex grinned at Mia. "Mia!" he said as he ran into his sister's arms. Mia smiled and she lifted Alex off the ground swinging his laughing form around playfully.
Kazu folded his arms and pouted.
"Well isn't this typical. Not even a little 'thank you Kazu' or 'Good job Kazu'," Kazu grumbled.
"Yeah," Kenta said nodding in agreement.
Takato gently pushed Guilmon off of him and turned to Kazu, Kenta, Jeri and Mia.
"Hey guys, thanks for bringing the digimon back," Takato said gratefully.
"Really?" Kazu said raising a brow in disbelief.
"Yeah. Takato's right, thanks," Henry said.
"True. Believe it or not we thought that you guys weren't gonna come back this time," Ryo said.
"We'll we're here now, aren't we?" Kazu said.
"And so are the digimon," Jeri added.
"Speaking of which," Mia turned to Rika, "we have a surprise for you Rika," she said.
"Oh you do," Rika said dryly.
Mia nodded with a bright smile. "TADA!" The brunette tamer gestured behind her as both Wolfemon and Renamon approached her. Rika's amethyst eyes widened as she gaped at Renamon.
"R……Re……Renamon?" she stuttered.
"See Rika we brought Renamon back to you just as we promised," Wolfemon said.
Rika smiled at Wolfemon appreciatively but then he smiled disappeared as she turned to Renamon. Renamon smiled at Rika as she looked at the red-head tamer squarely. Rika's expression remained solemn.
"Hello Rika," Renamon greeted, "it's nice to finally see you again,"
"……"
"So how have you been?" Renamon questioned.
"……"
Rika said nothing. She only continued to stare at Renamon seriously-----as if angered by her very presence. Renamon heaved a downhearted sigh. It didn't take her long to comprehend that Rika was profoundly mad with her and forthrightly Renamon gave her no reason not to despise her at that moment for what she did was inexcusable.
"I understand that you're angry with me, don't worry I don't blame you for not being angry with me," Renamon said, "I should have told you that I was leaving but instead I left without saying a word to anyone,"
Rika gave an aggressive snort. "Angry……Angry----of course I'm angry," Rika snapped icily. Renamon winced. "Do you know how worried I was about you?" Rika continued, "do you know how many sleepless nights I stayed up thinking about you and worrying if you'll ever come back to me, do you?"
"I'm sorry,"
"What did you say?" Rika grumbled.
"I said……I'm sorry," Renamon repeated dejectedly. Her facial expression expressed deepest remorse. Renamon looked at Rika only to have the tamer girl suddenly wrap her arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Renamon stared at Rika in shock; the red-head's face was buried into the surface of Renamon's coat.
"Rika?"
"This is real. This is truly real," Rika muttered.
She looked into Renamon's face and for the first time, Rika actually smiled at Renamon. Tears streamed from the tamer's eyes and she grinned at Renamon through her contented tears.
"I've had-----dreams about this moment," Rika said, "dreams of you and me hugging each other after you returned to me but those were just dreams. This----this is real,"
Renamon reached a gloved hand over and wiped the tears from Rika's face. Rika continued smiling.
"Oh Renamon, you don't know how much this moment makes me," Rika said gladly, "I'm so happy,"
Renamon beamed at Rika.
"I am too Rika," Renamon said and she returned the hug to Rika. Rika smiled. More tears flowed from her eyes but she didn't bother to wipe them away for the tears were a sign of happiness. A sign that she had gotten what she had wanted the most. Renamon.
"Renamon?"
"Yes Rika?" Renamon answered.
"Just promise me something," Rika said.
"What is it?" Rika asked.
"The next time you plan on leaving the Real World, don't you dare leave----- without me, okay?" Rika said with sardonic smirk.
Renamon laughed. "Of course," she said.
Henry checked his watch and his eyes goggled at the clock. The time was 6:23PM.
"Aw nuts! My parents must be climbing the walls right now. I should have been home with Suzie twenty minutes ago," Henry complained, "we should get going,"
The others nodded.
"Let's move out team!" Kazu shouted as he started marching out of the park, joined by Kenta and Marineangemon (who had returned to his sanctuary inside Kenta's pocket)
The others tamers, including the minis, rolled their eyes at the two of them as they followed behind.
Takato shook his head with a wry grin as he walked behind Ryo with Guilmon at his side.
"Yeah let's go," he muttered softly.
'……only this time we can allgo home…… together,'
"Now this is just beautiful," Gabumon commented.
"I'll say," Marineangemon said nodding in agreement.
Terriermon, Lopmon, Marineangemon, Calumon, Wolfemon, Renamon, Gabumon, Monodramon, Impmon, Guilmon and Guadromon had all regrouped. They reunited at Wolfemon's secret spot on the outskirts of West Shinjuku. Now the group of eleven all sat on the pillars of boulders watching dreamily at the glowing sunset in the evening sky.
"Aw wow! This sunset is so pretty," Lopmon said.
"The prettiest," Calumon said gaily.
"Hey Wolfemon, you never told me how you escaped being crushed by those boulders when we were back in the Foxwood Village," Terriermon said, "so how'd ya do it, eh?"
"It's simple Terriermon. I ducked, "Wolfemon replied simply.
"You ducked! That's it?" Terriermon sweatdropped and did an anime fall.
The others laughed.
"It's been so long since I've seen the sunset of the Real World," Renamon said gazing at the sunset, "it's more stunning than the sunset I saw previously in the Foxwood Village and to be honest……I've missed it,"
"And we've missed you Renamon," Guilmon said.
"We're so glad that you came back with us. Things were just not the same here without you," Guadromon said.
Renamon giggled and smiled at her fellow friends. "Thanks you guys," she said, "and I've missed you guys as much as you missed me,"
"Some missed you more than others though," Wolfemon said softly. He looked directly at Renamon as he spoke. Renamon's cheeks turned red and she beamed at Wolfemon frivolously.
At that moment, Terriermon nudged Lopmon with his shoulder. Lopmon nodded her head.
"Uh……I hope you guys don't mind but Lopmon and I will be heading out now," Terriermon announced.
"What? Already?" Wolfemon said looking to both bunny-dog types disbelievingly.
Terriermon and Lopmon both shrugged.
"Yeah, we should get going. It's getting late," Lopmon said.
"Besides……I think I left the blender on," Terriermon added.
Wolfemon looked at Terriermon suspiciously.
"What? I was making a banana smoothie before I came here," Terriermon said.
Lopmon placed a hand on Terriermon's shoulder and began pushing him away. "Bye guys," she said and both she and Terriermon left the scene.
After Lopmon and Terriermon's departure, the others got the hint.
"I should get going as well," Monodramon said, "don't want to keep Ryo waiting,"
"Same here for Kazu," Guadromon said.
The two of them left.
"Eh……I got to help Ai and Mako bathe Peanut," Impmon said, "see ya,"
"……speaking of peanut," Guilmon said, "I have to make a peanut butter sandwich,"
"……and I'm helping," Calumon added.
"Me too!" Marineangemon piped in.
Impmon and Guilmon started down the slope leading down from the secret area with Calumon and Marineangemon hovering behind them.
"Since when do you help make a peanut butter sandwich?" Calumon asked glancing at Marineangemon.
"Since now," Marineangemon replied.
Wolfemon and Renamon watched as the forms of Marineangemon, Guilmon, Impmon and Calumon disappeared in the distance. Once they were sure of them being gone, Wolfemon turned to Gabumon. He was the only one still there. Wolfemon looked at Gabumon with an Oo expression on his face.
Gabumon grinned nervously. "Heh! Heh! I should get going too. See you later Wolfemon," the dog-reptile said before dashing off quickly.
Wolfemon turned to Renamon and looked at her confusedly.
"Is it me or-----did they leave just for the purpose of giving us privacy?" Wolfemon asked.
Renamon giggled.
"I think they did," Renamon replied. "I don't blame them though," she added.
She rose from her seat perched on top a rock and stood next to Wolfemon, beaming at him with flushed cheeks.
Wolfemon returned the smile as he stared charmingly into the cerulean eyes of Renamon.
"I'm really glad you've returned Renamon," Wolfemon said, "you know for awhile I thought that you would never come back with me but now-----now here you are--right in front of me looking just as lovely as you always are,"
The blush plastered on Renamon's cheeks reddened. The vixen looked towards the setting sun. The atmosphere had changed profoundly. The once cerulean tint of the sky was altered and replaced with the tangerine-pinkish luminosity that is sundown.
"The sunset looks beautiful today, don't you think?" Renamon asked.
"It does," Wolfemon said, "but I've seen something more beautiful. You."
Wolfemon took Renamon's hand into his and cupped on hand on her cheek. The two digimon stood gazing at one another pensively. Either was lost in the other's eyes.
"Renamon," Wolfemon whispered softly, "I love you."
"I love you too Wolfemon," Renamon said.
Wolfemon soothingly stoked Renamon's cheek. Renamon blushed. The two leaned forward and met in a passionate kiss. Renamon wrapped her arms around Wolfemon's neck and pulled him forward, intensifying their kiss. It was the first kiss the two of them had ever shared and it was zealous.
Wolfemon and Renamon continued their loving kiss……the burning sunset dying gradually behind their backs.
But even with the sudden change in the skies, neither Wolfemon nor Renamon bothered to break their kiss. They were too caught up in the passion of their emotions.
For this……this is their life.
This is their story.
This is their romance…………their digital romance.
THE END
Mistress of Serenity (Narrator): And this t'is the end of the Digital Romance III. Readers of Digital Romance III you have arrived at the ending of the story.
I hope you all have enjoyed the epic trilogy I have bestowed upon you.
Before I make my dramatic departure, I cannot leave without giving a little something to my readers
-hands each reader a white card with golden lettering-
It's an invitation. All of my loyal readers and reviewers are cordially invited to my
"EPILOGUE: AFTER PARTY"
I hope you all will be able to attend because at my party, I'll be revealing a cool secret to all of my readers. That's right a cool secret and…you won't know unless you attend my party. I hope you all can attend.
The Epilogue: After Party will be hosted on at 10:30PM sharp on Friday tonight. Time runs differently in Trinidad so……alerts will be sent to all who wish to attend the party (unless you have me on alert already)
If you wish to attend the party, please indicate in your review.
I hope you guys can attend.
See you at the party.
Signed Mistress