A/N: After…wow. It's really been a long time for this story. Anyway, we're finally getting back into the saddle with this story, so let's see where things go. I promise not to have the next update be so long in waiting. :P

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A Story for Suzie

Chapter: 36

Takato took his time making his way to the area Rika's grandmother directed him to for his bath, picking at his clean clothes and the blue arm band tied around his sleeve, feeling very self-conscious the whole way. He caught the odd glance from a guard or a servant, very few of which were in any way subtle, and more than one took note of the arm band. It had been restored to him by Seiko, who returned to his chambers with the servant, reminding him to wear it as he went about. His actions throughout his stay here, from the incident with Ryuuji Tamashiro, his duel with the prince, Ryo Akiyama and finally his assistance in the battle with the Reaper, he had stirred up a not inconsiderable amount of controversy.

If it weren't for the Reaper, I would have left a long time ago, he thought, his expression tense and pensive. I'm a disturbance here for everyone, most of all for Rika.

He sighed, her face from earlier floating through his mind, and he paused on it. It struck him how different she had been when divorced of her duties as a sorceress and a princess to the Makino realm. How peaceful she had been sleeping next to him; the way she had laughed when he sneezed into the flour…

If I could take away all of her worries… he thought, coming to a halt in front of the door, allowing the thought to continue on into the distance as he took hold of the handle and pushing it open.

All thoughts vanished in one mad rush as the door opened to Rika rising from the tub, water dripping off her naked body, and he stood there, dumbfounded their eyes meeting one another. She regarded him with a neutral expression, a shadow of emotion floating over her violet eyes before she raised her washcloth and wrung it out.

"You're letting the heat out," she said simply, and as if her voice had broken a spell, the boy mad a light, squawking noise. Remembering himself. Quickly shutting the door with a heavy slam, he spun around so that his back was facing her nakedness, giving her some privacy.

"Sorry," he croaked out. Rika shrugged.

"You know our traditions here," she replied. "Anyway, you're here. Best disrobe and get in so we're not overly long."

"I…" Takato began, his voice catching in his throat before suddenly sighing. Blushing profusely, he reached up and undid the clasp by his shoulder and began to take his shirt off. "I guess there's no point protesting. Not when war might be in the future."

"It is best to not waste any more time on your prudishness," Rika nodded in agreement before stepping out of the tub. "Besides, I've already seen a great deal of you. You have nothing to hide from me."

Something about the way she had said that caused Takato to pause and turn back in her direction, only to jerk away, his face coloring again.

"Well… You are the princess and I am in your service."

Taking up a towel, Rika proceeded to dry herself off. "But not a slave," she said, running the cloth through her crimson hair. After a moment, she set it down around her shoulders and cast a look over at her knight as he dropped his shirt to the floor. Sensing her gaze, he paused and turned back toward her, only to jerk around again at the mere sight of her bare skin. Turning to face him more fully, she placed her hands on her hips, as if to order him sternly to 'hurry up'.

Takato kicked his boots off, fighting through the heat that flooded his face. His pants quickly followed and, after a moment of hesitation, his loincloth, and soon enough he was as bare as the princess. He swallowed, feeling self-conscious at the feel of himself rising at her sight, and shame flooded him.

"Sorry," he muttered, turning toward the tub and starting toward it, if only to get this over with as quickly as possible. Rika shrugged.

"You are a man," she said simply as he climbed in. "Just like I am a woman. You have nothing to apologize for, Brush Knight. You have served me and the realm loyally and well so far." As he settled in, she came up behind him and drew a finger over his back before settling her hand on his shoulder. "The kingdom of Makino recognizes your merit and intentions first before all else."

Takato tensed beneath her touch and Rika gave him a soft squeeze before retracting her hand. He frowned, sensing something more in it than he would have thought there'd be between a master and her servant. He opened his mouth again to speak, only to snap it shut when he saw her pale legs slip into the water beside him.

"R-Rika…" he stammered out as she set herself down.

"My apologies. It turns out that I wasn't as clean as I thought I was," she replied, raising her hands and frowning at her fingers. "A shame. I was in here quite a long time already, waiting for you to arrive."

Seeing their wrinkled look, Takato arched an eyebrow before chuckling a little.

"Better hurry up and get clean then, otherwise you'll turn into a raisin."

Rika blinked at him in utter confusion. "Why would I…?" she began, only to pause, glance at her fingers and then, after a moment, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Raisins…" she said, mirth bubbling up in her voice as she struggled to keep from laughing. She quickly failed however. Leaning back against the side of the tub, she threw her head back and mirth broke free from her lips. Her knight looked at her in alarm as her shoulders shook before smiling and laughing a little as well.

"Come on," he continued, grabbing a washcloth and handing it to her. "Let's get you cleaned up all the way this time, otherwise we might have someone mistake you for the real thing and then the throne will be in real trouble."

Much to her surprise, Rika stuck her tongue out at him and threw the washcloth back at him. It struck him full in the face with a loud, wet slap before sliding into the water, disappearing between their legs.

"Maybe you really are a raisin," Takato quipped with a grin. "Because I'm pretty sure princesses don't act like this."

Rika snorted, some of her humor disappearing now as she ducked her hand down to retrieve the washcloth. "I never wanted to be a princess any…" she began, only to falter as she felt her fingers brush against her knight's. Both faces grew red as her fingers entwined around his, and, after one long moment, she lifted their hands up out of the water. She gazed at them before turning her eyes up toward Takato's. She could feel the tension within them, and warmth buzzed the length of their limbs, running so deep that she was no longer sure where their own embarrassment began and the bath ended.

"The gods love their humor," she said after a moment, giving his hand a soft squeeze. Takato blanched at this gesture and reflexively pulled back, but her fingers held firm, keeping him from escaping.

"Rika…" he began, only for Rika to interrupt him.

"I saw what happened." Her tone was firm, but there was a tone in it that brought Takato up short.

"Saw…what?" he asked, the heavy atmosphere between them only growing.

"What happened to the girl from your village," Rika replied. "When I came in to check on you, I saw a spell of my mother's not…running properly, and I was tired when I dealt with it. I bore witness to your memory."

Takato blinked. "Oh," he said, feeling himself grow cold all of a sudden. Feeling the tension run out of him in one mad rush, Rika ran a thumb along his hand.

"I'm sorry," she continued. "I wasn't meant to see that."

"No… No!" Takato replied, collecting himself. "No, you said it was an accident. It's fine. I…" Running a hand through his hair, he pressed his lips together, struggling to find something to say. "I'm…sorry you had to see it."

Rika dipped their hands back beneath the water, her thumb still massaging his. She noted that he was now returning it, both of them trying to send comfort to the other.

"You have no reason to apologize," Rika said quietly. Shifting slightly, Rika turned around and clasped a hand behind her Brush Knight's neck and angled him toward her so that their foreheads were touching. She felt the temperature in his face rise several degrees again and he pulled back suddenly, his body trembling as he did so.

"I'm sorry," he said, staggering out of the tub. "I can't."

"Takato…?" she began, rising from her spot, one hand reaching out for him. Her wrinkled fingers barely brushed against his back before he retreated again.

"I can't!" he exclaimed as his feet touched the ground on the other side. "This… You're the princess! The heir to the throne and betrothed to the heir to an empire. I'm a foreigner! This…" Clenching his eyes shut, he struggled to continue. "I'm sorry. I'm being most inappropriate and negligent in my duties. I'm… I don't…"

He lifted a hand to his face and Rika felt her heart clench a little, her eyes taking in the scars on his back. She withdrew slightly, only for her face to harden.

"Maybe I'm being inappropriate," she said, laying her hand on his back again, touching the scars. "But…I can't help but feel for you…about what happened."

Feedback from the magic, she thought, feeling her heart clench again painfully within her breast, her fingers tracing along the angry scars that marred his flesh. That's all it is. This feeling… It's from his memories… Just mere feedback.

She swallowed, a part of her wondering how much she actually believed that.

"You have done my home a great service and shown us great loyalty," she continued. "For that, you have my loyalty as well. My friendship. I don't want us to be simply a princess and her bodyguard. I want you to be assured that your troubles – your worries will have a heart to be laid to rest in."

As if in response to her emotions, her living shadow reached out and merged within Takato's, causing the boy to shudder.

"Rika…" he began, muscles knotting together. "It's…It's really nothing. There's no need…"

Rika drew closer to him.

"Please don't lie to protect me, Brush Knight…" she said softly. "My heart is where yours is allowed to rest."

Again, that stiffening of muscles, and Rika watched the knight's fists tighten around each other. She wondered what was going on in his mind. She wondered if she was doing the right thing.

How…do I feel about this? About him? A thousand emotions wound their way through her, twisting and snarling together in her heart. She had been protective of him ever since his bout with Ryo and her mother focused her attention on him like an enemy, loathe to see him entangled in the politics of her home country. He was an innocent trying to help, but her mother would crush him if she so much as saw him as a threat to her country's treaty.

She hated that.

For Takato's part, he felt a great deal of confusion at this sudden display of affection for him. Because of what she saw? It was possible, he supposed, but all the same, he still felt that this was immensely inappropriate for the two of them. If the queen was watching them as he suspected she was doing…what would she make of this?

It…almost feels like a marriage proposal, he thought, thinking back to the arm band she had given him, and how he found her sleeping beside him, seemingly without care for how it looked or how difficult it made her position in the kingdom.

If nothing else, he didn't want her to shoulder all the burdens, least of all his. She would try to do so whether he agreed to or not. It felt unfair to him. As Jeri told him once upon a time, no one could carry the world on their shoulders alone forever.

Jeri… His throat tightened at the memory of her face and how she came to her end. Being here with Rika in this manner almost felt like a betrayal, but all the same, he didn't want her to shoulder everything by herself.

Jeri wouldn't have.

"Only if you allow me to lighten your burdens," he finally replied, his voice soft. Turning around, he took a deep breath and embraced the princess. It was an awkward hug, given their current state of nudity, but he wanted to show her how much her offer was appreciated. The girl gave a light, surprised sound, having not expected the hug, but she found herself returning it all the same. Her hands clasping around his back again, she nodded against him and, much to both of their surprise, she moved closer and brushed her lips against the corner of his mouth.

Both of them blinking in surprise at the unexpected gesture, they pulled apart, gazing into each other's eyes, silently asking questions that they both knew they didn't have an answer for. Rika's mouth moved, trembling slightly as she searched for something to say.

"We…We should finish getting you cleaned up," she fumbled out, feeling horribly awkward, suddenly becoming aware of him in a way she hadn't expected before.

"R-Right," Takato nodded in quick agreement, dropping his hands from around her.

The tub called to them, but neither were sure that they wanted to answer.

###

"Um… This is new…not to mention bad."

Her arms folded together, Rika harrumphed at her goggle-wearing friend as both he and Guilmon surveyed the situation. "Way to state the obvious, Takato."

When the pair had woken up, she hastily explained what she knew, which unfortunately wasn't much, but given the setting of the environment they found themselves in, they drew the obvious conclusion.

They were somehow stuck in the fantasy world Henry seemed to have constructed in the story he told to his sister.

"How are we going get out of here without being seen?" Takato asked, turning back to Rika. "I mean, our partners aside, we're going to attract an awful lot of attention with the clothes we're wearing. We don't look anything like these people."

"This is likely the same place that your doubles arrived in," Renamon said, approaching the pile of gear in the corner and sifting through it. "It would appear that there is some clothing that we can use, but there remains the matter of Guilmon."

"Uh-huh," the crimson reptile nodded as he ducked down from the window. "I don't think I can hide in a cardboard box this time."

"Not to mention I think that whoever's running this place would notice if we tried to make off with the sheets," Takato added as Rika took a gander at the clothes Renamon was laying out, grimacing at the dress. While it was divided for riding and looked considerably more functional for combat, it was, in the end, a dress.

More proof, if proof was needed that her double was not her in the least. She would never allow herself to be caught in something like that.

Except I might have to, Rika scowled, taking in the clothes that were being set out next to it, appearing rather obviously to be made for a boy of Takato's size, if not a little bit bigger.

I wonder… If there aren't enough clothes if I could get Gogglehead to wear the dress…

A light blush crossed Rika's features as she considered the thought, and she smirked suddenly.

"Rika?"

"Hm?" Blinking, the girl turned back toward him, coloring slightly again at having been caught daydreaming. Harrumphing again to cover it, she pushed away from her spot and sauntered over to the clothes. "We should probably wait until dark or something to get out of here. The less attention we draw, the better."

"Uh… Right," Takato nodded, his brow furrowing slightly before glancing out the window. "That might be a while though. What do we do in the meantime?"

Rika was silent as she picked at the clothes, not answering his question or even certain she wanted to answer. An elephant sat in the room with them and they both knew it.

For once, Takato was brave enough to point it out.

"Rika… About what happened earlier…"

The girl sighed. "You really want to talk about that?"

"Well, you were pretty upset earlier and…" The boy rubbed the back of his head nervously. "…this is as good a time as any to talk about this. If you want I mean."

"If I want," Rika grunted. "You know I'm not exactly the sort of person to talk about this kind of thing."

"But why?" Guilmon asked, padding over to the girl and poking at the dress. "Oooh… I bet you'd look really pretty in this."

"Guilmon, you saw her double wearing that earlier."

"Oh, right." Guilmon laughed and beamed at Rika. "I guess I win that bet. You do look pretty in it."

Rika blushed ferociously at the compliment and glared balefully at the crimson dinosaur, who shrank in response.

"Ohhh… What'd I do wrong?"

"Um, can we go back to Guilmon's first question or…something?" Takato asked, stepping between the two. "Look, I get that you don't like talking about things that stress you out, and I'm okay with that. I just…worry sometimes, you know? It's hard to know what's on your mind and I sometimes feel like I'm not really good at helping you when things get…weird."

Rika folded her arms together and turned away from the boy.

"Things are always weird, that's the problem," she said irritably, causing Takato to raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Rika shifted uneasily, feeling everyone's eyes on her now.

I hate this, she thought bitterly at being the center of attention. This conversation was the last one she wanted to have.

But…maybe that's why we need to have it…

"It's just…" she began hesitantly, feeling her heart banging painfully in her chest. "I sometimes feel like…"

She was interrupted from her thoughts by the sounds of sudden screaming from outside. Breaking out of her thoughts, she quickly joined Takato by the window just in time to see people running by, as though fleeing from something.

It didn't take them long to figure out what it was. A number of black shadows fell over them, and as they watched, a massive, black feathered crow, humanoid in appearance and bearing twin swords at its hips, swooped down and grabbed the first person it saw – a child – and brought it up into the air, screaming and thrashing within its talons, trying to break free.

It found freedom, but not in the way it would have liked, as the next thing they saw was that very same child come crashing to the ground with a bone-cracking smack, shattering into innumerable shards of data.

Rika felt her heart grow first cold and then white hot with fury. She didn't even need to turn to see that Takato felt the same. His knuckles were bone white as he clenched the window frame.

"Renamon," Rika began, taking out her digivice.

"Guilmon," Takato said, doing likewise.

The two partner digimon nodded in agreement, not even needing to ask. Fury and thunder, it seemed, was going to be their first order of business in this world.

6