Chapter 38: Homeward Bound

Once aboard the ark, the Tamers all sat down and pondered their next move, wondering how their lives would play out as they returned home and how they would fare should the D-Reaper manage to breach their world.

But still seeing something off with her, Henry sat beside Jeri, trying to look her and see if she would be alright.

"Jeri, you haven't said a word for hours." Henry said with a continued concern, looking at the brunette with a caring expression, but found her unresponsive.

"It's ok if you don't feel like speaking now, but just remember, I am here for you." The blue haired boy went on to say, resting his hand on Jeri's shoulder, remaining as caring as ever, but found Jeri stay silent.

Noticing her friend seemingly so distant, concern filled Rika as well, but she also knew they had other troubles and spoke up.

"Once we get home, we need to think of a plan." The red haired Tamer stated.

"Agreed." Guardromon replied, agreeing with Rika as he commented. "We don't know if the D-Reaper will be back."

All agreeing with Rika, unsure of what fate had in store for them, the Tamers were cut off a sudden glow emanated from within Kenta's pocket, before all looked on to see a tiny angel-like Digimon pop out, smiling at seeing all the humans and Digimon.

But what surprised them the most was the Digimon was carrying a light pink coloured D-Power as it floated around Kenta, who questioned. "Whoa. Who are you?"

"That's MarineAngemon." Renamon informed, unable to hide her smile as she commented. "looks like it has taken a liking to you."

"Phoo!" MarineAngemon said happily, hugging itself to Kenta's cheek, which made the boy blush at the strange affection that the angel Digimon was expressing.

But seeing marineAngemon so happy with Kenta, Kazu smiled as he pointed out. "Guess we all have Digimon in the end."

"Phoo!" MarineAngemon replied, continuing to hug Kenta, which left him confused as to how the Digimon wound up in his pocket in the first place.

However, he found he would have to figure out such a question later when he and the others heard Agumon talking.

"And then… Takatomon's father said he make Agumon bread if Agumon protect Takatomon. Agumon like bread." Agumon said, talking to a red sphere on the ark, which piqued Biyomon's interest as she approached Agumon and asked. "Agumon, what are you doing?"

"Talking to the Ark. It can speak to me and can speak to us too if we listen." Agumon replied with a cheerfulness in his voice, which left Biyomon smiling, unsure if the Ark could communicate and decided to play along for Agumon's sake.

"You should know Agumon is a very brave Digimon, a Digimon I am happy to call my friend." Biyomon said, but found she got no reply.

But after a moment, Agumon nodded, faced Biyomon and spoke.

"He said that you are more than a friend to me and think we are cute together." Agumon said, which made Biyomon blush.

"How'd you know?" Terriermon asked with confusion filling his voice.

However, before any more questions could be answered, suddenly, there was a shake on the Ark, making Suzie cry out with fear, ripping Lopmon to her chest as she asked. "What is that?"

"Can you hear me?" Yamaki called out suddenly, his voice heard by all as it transitioned from the communicator.

"It's the D-Reaper. It's attacking the ark." Yamaki then warned.

"Oh, man. Not now!" Kazu whined, looking out the Ark's window, where he and the others saw the D-Reaper attach itself to the pillars of light, where the Ark began to lose its power.

From the power drain, Terriermon suddenly informed. "If we don't get enough power, we'll crash back to the Digital World."

Concerned for his friends, Takato tried to think of a way to save them.

"Ark, can you go faster? We need to go to the Real World as fast as we can." Takato then said, still unsure of the Arc's sentience but had to try something, getting a quick response as the Ark then attached itself to Takato's PDA.

"Ok." A voice said, stunning most of the Tamers, save Agumon and Jeri, with the girl still silently staring down in her seat, before Ryo said with surprise in his voice. "Whoa. The Ark is alive after all."

"See? Told you." Agumon said with a smile, glad to know his new friend was acknowledged by his old ones, where the Ark rushed on without the light aiding it.

Though glad to see that the Ark was succeeding, Lopmon noticed a concern filling Renamon, where she hopped out of Suzie's lap, approached the vixen and asked. "Renamon, what is wrong?"

"We may be leaving the Digital World... but we also leaving Guilmon behind..." Renamon said solemnly, placing her paw on the glass as she added. "He's back at Patamon's temple as we speak."

"Oh, yeah. Guilmon remained behind" Terriermon said, feeling a little sad himself.

"Won't be the same without big brother" Agumon said, causing Takato to try and comfort his partner and his friends as he set his hand on Agumon's head, rubbing it gently as he said. "Guilmon would want it this way. While we fight the D-Reaper, he will be busy preparing for Sephiromon. So we have to be strong for him."

"Takato's right. Guilmon can manage on his own, he always has in the past." Rika spoke up, agreeing with the brunette, trying to cheer up the others, namely Renamon.

"I know, Rika, but I will miss him terribly." Renamon said sadly as she remained staring out of the window, wondering when she would see her love again.

'Guilmon… stay safe.' Takato thought as the Ark slowly began to break apart as it headed closer to the Real World.

-Meanwhile-

Back at their temple, Master Patamon and Mistress Gatomon watched on as Guilmon and Veemon continued their sparring match, where the 'V' marked Digimon attacked with a lash of his tail, causing Guilmon to counter, managing to avoid the attack.

"Fire Mitts!" Guilmon then announced, setting his paws on fire again as he countered every punch Veemon threw at him.

"Vee Headbutt!" Veemon called as he slammed his head into Guilmon's chest, making him groan as he skidded a few feet back.

While still using his Fire Mitts, Guilmon decide to go for a new move, one he had been working on, where he moved his hands to the right side of his waist, cupping his claws and causing the Fire Mitt flames to merge together into a fireball.

"Now that's a neat trick." Veemon said, impressed, which also impressed Patamon and Gatomon.

"Then take a closer look. Pyro Beam!" Guilmon called with a great voice, bringing his arms out in front of him and firing off the flame like a beam, which struck Veemon before he could react, making him crash back.

Worried that he had dealt too much damage to Veemon, Guilmon was about to check up on him, only to stop when he saw Veemon rise up and laugh.

"Well, I totally lost." Veemon said with a continued grin, which made Patamon and Gatomon smile, not only at seeing Guilmon's power, but at how cheerful the blue dragon Digimon was at losing, where Veemon approached Guilmon and stretched his hand out as a gesture of friendship. "But this was useful. I get to learn more of my skills and I get a new friend to go with. I am glad I could fight with you."

"Yeah... me too." Guilmon said in reply, accepting Veemon's gesture as the duo shook hands.

"Well I am glad you made another friend, Guilmon." Patamon said, but had to be a little stern. "However, we must now wait for Sephiromon to appear before you could rejoin your friends."

"Yeah. I know." Guilmon replied.

"But I know Takato and the others can succeed without me. I am not a superhero after all." The red dino Digimon then added, confident in his Tamer and his friends.

"Well we've got a mediating room so you can truly prepare yourself." Gatomon informed.

"Why not mediate your mind there?" She then suggested.

"Of course, Mistress Gatomon." Guilmon replied with a continued loyalty toward the feline Digimon, ready to cease his physical training and focus on his more mental aspects, but he felt there was one more thing left to do.

'Takato… Renamon… everyone. Just do your best until I return.' Guilmon thought, closing his eyes and wishing the best of all those he had come to love.

-Back in the Real World-

The Tamers all emerged from the light, where they returned to the park and were immediately reunited with their parents and family, with Kenta tearfully hugging his mother, Kazu's father scolding Kazu for only leaving a note, Ryo's father scolding Ryo for being away for so long, Henry and Suzie happily reuniting with Janyu and their mother, Rika showing her feelings as she hugged her grandmother and mother, while Takato happily embraced his parents in a deep and loving hug.

Happy to see the humans reunited with their parents, the Digimon all gave the Tamers room, just before Biyomon looked up to Renamon and asked curiously. "Renamon? Do you know if BlackRenamon and Impmon...?"

"Yes." Renamon nodded. "I sensed BlackRenamon's energy the second I returned here. She is here and so is Impmon."

As the families continued to express their feelings, both of scolding and of love, Yamaki cut in as he asked. "So you all managed to make it back safely?"

"Thank you all." Henry said, grateful for the assistance Yamaki and his staff had offered, only to see Jeri standing alone with a remaining solemness, which made him ask. "But where's Jeri's father?"

"He didn't come. He said 'If that ungrateful daughter wanted to, she can come back alone'." Riley informed, hating to be the one to say it, which angered the Tamers and made Terriermon say. "That was harsh!"

Looking at Jeri again, Henry took off his jacket and wrapped it around her, getting nothing from her, but he didn't mind.

"You guys mind if I take her back?" Henry then asked, staying close to Jeri. "I want to make sure she'll be ok."

"Go for it." Takato said with an understanding smile, where Henry set his hands on Jeri's shoulders and began to escort her away from the group, causing Terriermon to make haste after the pair.

"I am coming with you!" Calumon called, wanting to join Henry and Terriermon, who held no objection as they the Jeri out of the park and towards the train station.

As henry headed off, keeping his eyes on his daughter, Janyu picked Suzie up, smiling to see she was unharmed and had made friends with Lopmon, but noticed the remains of the Ark.

"We lost the ark though." Janyu said, feeling empathy toward his research.

"But it did save us" Ryo said.

"Yeah but still..." Takato just said as he had some uneasiness going on within his soul, believing the Ark was more than it appeared.

And while it looked as though it was gone, within him, Takato knew they would not see the last of the Ark, believing they would get to see it again when they needed its help.

-With Henry-

Having escorted Jeri through the streets, trying to make her smile, with no such luck, the group had arrived at the subway station and boarded the train that would take them the closest route to the Katou residence.

Sitting in the cart, Henry, Terriermon and Calumon sat on the other end of Jeri, all three looking sadly at her as she just looked down, believing she was still in a great amount of pain at losing Leomon and seeing such a dark side to Takato and his Digimon.

"Jeri... I don't know how you feel about losing Leomon but I don't... I don't want to see you suffer anymore." Henry said with a soothing and caring voice, moving from his seat as he sat beside Jeri, set his arm around her and gently guided her head to rest on his shoulder, where he told her. "But I deeply care and love you. I just don't want to see you upset. Please... just say anything. Please let me know you are alright."

But to his surprise, Jeri was reading the ingredients of a lunch box, which concerned Henry further.

"That was peculiar." Terriermon commented, where he and Calumon were confused as to why Jeri seemed so distant.

-A while later-

After several stops, the train had arrived at the station within Jeri's area, where henry kept a hand around Jeri's as he guided her out of the train cart and to the outside, where the group could see Jeri's father, Tadashi Katou, was waiting for her, showing a lacking love to him as he stared at his daughter.

Opening the back door, Henry gently gave Jeri a shove, telling her to move ahead, where she silently entered the car and took her seat with Calumon joining her.

"Thank you for escorting her." Jeri's father said, failing to notice Calumon sneak inside, joining Jeri, before Tadashi got in his car and drove away, leaving Henry and Terriermon, causing the small beast Digimon to comment. "Man, her father has some parental issues."

"Easy up, Terriermon. We all can't have the family we dream of." Henry said in reply, before heading back into the subway and prepared to head home himself, but found that the whole trip back, he couldn't stop thinking of Jeri, hoping that her distance and depression would fade away by the time they met again.

-Meanwhile-

While Henry had escorted Jeri home, Seiko was kind enough to offer the Matsuki family to spend sometime at their residence, allowing the adults time to talk, while giving Takato, Rika, Agumon, Renamon and Biyomon a little time to spend together.

Despite what Rika had told her, Seiko could tell there was something between her granddaughter and the brunette, just as there was something between Agumon and Biyomon, hoping that being alone would help advance whatever feelings the Tamers held.

Inside of Rika's room, while Renamon stood in the corner, her arms crossed and deep in thought about Guilmon, her sister and Impmon, Agumon sat at the end of Rika's bed, lightly blushing as Biyomon sat by his side and had fallen asleep, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Takatomon?" Agumon spoke softly, trying to talk but not wake Biyomon.

"Why do I feel funny to have Biyomon so close to me?" He asked, not minding the avian Digimon resting against his body.

"Agumon… it's just like the bond I share with Guilmon. You might be in love with Biyomon." Renamon answered, finding her thoughts turning toward Guilmon at the mention of love.

"Oh, you mean love?" Agumon asked remembering Renamon's confession to Guilmon during their fight with Beelzemon

"That's right. Love is the feeling you get when you care for another, when you want to be there for them." Renamon explained, before adding. "But unlike the love you have for me, Takato and our friends, the love you hold for Biyomon is more romantic."

Curious, Renamon sat on the bed, beside Agumon as she asked. "Tell me, do you think of Biyomon, do you ever think of kissing her?"

"You mean like mouth to mouth like you and big brother did that one time?" Agumon asked.

Blushing at the memory, Renamon focused and simply nodded.

"Yes. That is what I meant. And I assume you want to do the same with Biyomon?" Renamon asked, her question causing Agumon to blush further.

"Well… yes I do. But what if she reject me?" Agumon asked.

"She won't, I assure you." Renamon replied, giving Agumon a caring smile as she told him. "Don't tell Biyomon I said this, but she is in love with you."

Agumon blushed but nodded, promising to keep Renamon's words a secret, before he got further curious about love and asked. "So tell me, Renamon, is it true you love my big brother?"

"With all my heart." Renamon replied with a smile as she put her hand on her chest, feeling her heartbeat increasing at the mention and thought of the red dino Digimon.

"By the way, Renamon, back in the Digital World, Shibumi told me and Henry something interesting." Takato said as he entered the room with Rika, having walked around the garden, a suggestion from Rika's grandmother as to show the brunette around, but to also get the pair alone.

"If you and Guilmon mate, you will also bear the Digital Hazard mark." The brunette informed, before adding. "But only the symbol will be part of you, as a sign to mark you as Guilmon's mate."

"Really?" Renamon asked, excitement filling her.

"I hope that when I do get marked, I'll also bare Guilmon's child." Renamon then confessed as she rubbed her belly, imagining herself in the later stages of pregnancy as Guilmon carried her in his arms.

"I wonder what mark Biyomon would get if she mated with Agumon." Rika then thought aloud, puzzling Agumon and making him ask. "What is mating? Can Agumon do mating with Biyomon now?"

Blushing deeply at Agumon's question and unable to get the mental image out of their heads, about to reply, Rika spoke up, only not of love, but what she saw on her tv.

"Is that...?" Rika asked in shock, where Takato said, matching Rika's astonishment. "It cannot be! The D-Reaper!"

Looking upon the image, the Tamers could see the D-Reaper was covering the lower grounds of the old Hypnos building, and it was growing.

"The D-Reaper followed us? This is bad!" Rika said.

"Takatomon, what is wrong?" Agumon asked, just as Biyomon woke up, shaking the blush off of her face at falling asleep on Agumon despite how comfortable she felt.

"The D-Reaper?! This is bad!" Renamon said as she saw the news.

"The Sovereigns must have failed to hold it back long enough!" Biyomon said in horror.

"Then we've gotta go and stop it!" Takato declared as he took command.

"I'll get Henry from the station and meet you at the park." He instructed, getting no objections from Rika, Renamon or Biyomon, before he and Agumon all ran out, unsure of what they would have to face but they knew that it had to be stopped.

-At the Digital World-

"The D-Reaper reached the Real World? This is bad!" Veemon said with worry as he, Patamon and Gatomon sat in the chamber, concern filling all as they could feel the negative effects of the D-Reaper, where thunder clashed closely to the temple.

"True, but we must put our faith in Guilmon's friends to pull through and the Sovereigns to hold it back somehow." Gatomon said in reply.

While the three Digimon were worried, within the meditation room the feline Digimon had lead him to, Guilmon was focusing as best he could, keeping himself cross legged and eyes closed, meditating at a dojo in the middle of a storm, with the only source of light coming from a lit candle.

As the storm grew stronger, lightning continuing to flash around the area, the shadow of Guilmon cast on the wall by the candle began to take shape, forming into a sinister form of Guilmon that gave off a dark laugh, only to vanish as another flash of lightning hit nearby, causing Guilmon's shadow to return to normal.

And though Guilmon could sense the shadow, he ignored it, ignoring the darkness as he remained mediating.

However, Patamon felt the darkness and grew concerned, which Gatomon picked up on and asked her love. "Patamon, what is the matter?"

"A dark presence just left the temple. Whatever it was, it's bad news, and it's heading to the Real World. I hope our friends can stop the D-Reaper and this new darkness that is heading towards them." Patamon replied, feeling tension building up within him.

As he said that, that same dark presence left the temple and went straight for the Real World, with one dark ambition on his mind. "Kill them all! Kill them all! Kill them all!"

Who is this mysterious presence?