Authors Note: Finally made it to chapter 50! We have seven google documents (chapter 51 will be starting our eighth) and we've written 1010 pages. It's about 20.2 pages per chapter. Not bad, and I really have to say, thank you all who have stuck it out with us so far and a special shout out to those who review. Knowing your thoughts and reactions helps us keep going. Even if it's sobbing and cursing our name.
Chapter 50: S.O.S.
Ever since Renamon came back, Rika had begun to carry her D-arc and cards again, slipped into her back pocket or hidden in her jacket where her mother couldn't see - just in case.
Clutching to Kyuubimon's white fur around her neck, one eye on the D-arc, she couldn't help but think it was a good thing she did too. While she had grown substantially since she was a child, her partner was still able to move through the streets and rooftops swiftly, keeping out of the line of sight.
"It's just up ahead," she told her partner, probably unnecessarily, lifting her head to see a rather large Digital Field in the same park where she had to say goodbye so long ago.
Kyubimon nodded as they came to a landing atop the last roof before the park and launched herself into it, disappearing into the foliage without raising so much as a single, curious eye. Her fiery paws touched down on the dirt path and resumed their pace, neither tiring or slowing in spite of Rika's growth. If anything, it caused Kyubimon to chuckle slightly at it.
"It feels good to have you on my back again," the nine-tailed kitsune commented with a slight grin on her face. "Even if you are a bit heavier."
It was meant to be a joke, partially something of a habit she picked up from her association with Terriermon which had gone on far longer than she believed it to be healthy, but also to calm her partner. This was to be their first major bio-emergence together since she returned to the real world and she could feel Rika's tension from past events running through her muscles. The former was relatively easy to deal with, as Rika was talented and had a natural confidence to her that allowed her to take to taming with far less experience. The former was…harder to deal with.
"You know, it's rude to comment on a woman's weight," Rika scolded playfully, a small smile breaking up on her lips as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. This particular habit she never got out of the habit of - the sun hurt her eyes and on some days she just had to admit weakness and wear the damn things. Slipping them on her face, she stroked the side of her partner as they entered the digital field.
There was four Digimon on her D-arc; she wasn't sure what to expect, but she was sure that they could handle whatever it was.
"My, my," Kyubimon chuckled as they began to draw nearer to the digital field. "My apologies. I was under the impression you weren't yet a woman at your age."
She extended her senses, trying to determine if there was anything about the digimon she could determine so as to create an effective strategy before battle was to be joined. Three of them were of considerable power; one especially.
Yet…there was also something familiar about what she sensed.
Could it be…? she wondered, but didn't dare hope.
That's when a large, towering demon with three red eyes stepped forward, glowering down at them.
"What the fuck Kyuubimon?" Beelzemon growled.
"Oh," Rika's voice belayed her surprise. "It's Impmon."
The Demon Lord's attention turned to the girl on the kitsune's back. It had been years since he saw Renamon's partner, and it seemed the human girl had grown. Considerably.
I wonder if Ai and Mako are the same way, he thought staring down as the other Digimon appeared behind him, a large rabbit bending down to be at eye level with the girl.
"Hello Kyuubimon, Rika," she greeted softly. "It's been a long time. Is it just you?"
"No. They just cheated," came the voice of Terriermon as the Chinese Tamer and his partner came running into the field, or in the case of Terriermon, hitching a ride. "Long time, no see! Seems like you got our message!"
"Indeed we did," Guardromon said as he and MarineAngemon emerged from behind them. "Although it was quite a journey to get here. The data streams have been quite active of late. Beelzemon had been dropped in another digital world at least twice before arriving at Zhuqiaomon's palace."
"That hardly surprises me," Kyubimon said, smirking at the Demon Lord openly. "You always did attract trouble like a magnet."
"Is this everyone?" Henry asked, his eyes panning over each of the digimon. "We're all back together again?"
Except Leomon, Rika thought, but didn't say anything.
"Assuming Guilmon and Calumon are with you, I would assume so," Antylamon said, nodding softly, looking around before her eyes landed back on Henry.
"Is Suzie…" her voice trailed off, only to get interrupted by Terriermon.
"She's fine; Henry and I were picking up some things on our way home when we got the call as it were. She's probably making sappy romance cards of her and Takato," Terriermon said before giggling and jumping off Henry's head and landing on the Ultimate's, whispering not so secretly- "Get this, she likes Takato."
Beelzemon, who was about to say something totally witty in return to Kyuubimon, finally shutting her up by finally having the last word, instantly got sidetracked by this juicy piece of information.
"Wait, what?" he demanded, spluttering in shock, not expecting this.
Of course, he wasn't quite sure what he expected, but suddenly he realized very quickly that he had thought he would come back and everything would be the same. Well, same as it could be, but like a bolt of lightning, it hit him this wasn't the case.
Antlyamon, on the other hand, had a much more subdued reaction.
"OK?" she asked, not quite sure why it should matter to her who her partner wanted to mate with.
"Let's leave it aside for now," Henry sighed, not wanting to get on the topic of Takato for the time being. "We've got to get you out of public sight as quickly as…"
"Henry! Rika!" came the sudden call of the former Goggle-wearing teen in question as he suddenly burst into view, panting heavily with Gigimon on his shoulder. Upon seeing him, Henry winced.
"…possible," the half-Chinese Tamer finished, knowing they were about to go off course thanks to Terriermon's gossiping.
"I got here as quick as I could and…" Takato's eyes widened upon seeing Beelzemon and he quickly took note of the other digimon. "…No…way!"
His mouth dropping open into a wide smile, Takato suddenly forgot the exhaustion of his running here and rushed on over to their returned friends. "Beelzemon! Antylamon! MarineAngemon! Guardromon! You're back!"
"You're dating Henry's kid sister?!" Beelzemon asked in response shocked as Terriermon erupted in howls of laughter.
"Uh… What?" Takato asked, baffled by this unexpected question before glancing over at Terriermon. "Did I miss the joke at the bus stop or something, because I'm confused. Since when was I dating Suzie?"
"Never mind," Henry said with a touch of irritation, shooting his partner a sharp look. "Look, let's just get everyone over to the hideout before the digital field finishes dispersing. We don't want to start a panic."
"I agree, although the hideout isn't where you'll be going," said another voice as a woman came in the field, holding an odd looking gun. Removing her sunglasses, her obsidian eyes dragged around the gathered Digimon and Tamers before landing on Takato, narrowing. "Do you not listen? When I said stay out of fights, I wasn't kidding."
"Who the hell are you?" Beelzemon demanded, glowering at the odd woman, not quite liking her authoritative tone. Reminded him too much of Zhuqiaomon.
"She's my cousin, Himiko," Rika said, turning around more fully to look at the odd weapon in her cousin's hand. "New toy?"
"You could say that," Himiko grumbled, holstering it.
"You said no fights unless there was an emergency," Takato replied with a slight frown at Himiko, though he had the good grace to look a bit guilty. "Gigimon said there was at least two Megas and an Ultimate. Those aren't good odds."
"He…does have a point," Henry remarked, wishing he weren't defending the boy at the moment given circumstances, but he could hardly argue with reality. "Besides, you're coming here when you have no experience with a digimon fight. Do you have any idea if it would work at all?"
"Um… How about we get out of here first before we start arguing?" Takato suggested, reminding everyone of their current situation. "A lot of people use this path."
"Can any of you hide yourselves or make yourself … smaller," Himiko said, looking at the gathered Digimon. Antylamon nodded and in a flash of light reverted back to her rookie stage, Lopmon, causing Terriermon, who was on her head moments ago to topple over.
"Why do we gotta hide?" Beelzemon asked arching an eyebrow. "It's not like people don't know what Digimon are."
"About that," Himiko said, grimacing slightly. "We have a lot to catch you up on."
###
"…and that's the situation," Riley said, gazing at each of the Tamers and their respective partners in turn. They were down in the lab section of Hypnos so as to house all of the digimon away from public eye – Guardromon being too large and heavy to accommodate anywhere else in the building. All of the Tamers were there as well, having received a quick call on their cell phones and given directions or a pick-up where necessary.
Riley had to repress a grimace. Seeing most of the digimon back in the real world with their partners would have, under other circumstances, have been a joyous occasion, as she remembered the distraught looks on their faces when they were children and their partners ripped from their hands and hearts on the very cusp of their victory over the D-Reaper. Unfortunately, now, their presence was only a reminder of how bad things had gotten. It felt too much like a confirmation of the series of disasters and helplessness Hypnos had in defending the human world from Mnemosyne and the echoes and now…the Dark Ocean.
Floating next to Kenta, MarineAngemon turned to his android partner and spoke a series of Pihs and Puhs, to which Guardromon nodded.
"Yes, it certainly does sound like what the Sovereign spoke of to us before we left," he noted. "But I'm surprised he said nothing about Mnemosyne. Perhaps he didn't know?"
"Puh!"
"Right. Or care."
"He cared enough to help send you guys here," Takato pointed out. "That's got to be worth something, right? Maybe he really just didn't know."
"Psh," Impmon said, scoffing, seated between Mako, who had grown quite large and was now bouncing up and down rather excitedly, and Ai, who grew into a pretty looking young girl that seemed considerably more uncomfortable than her twin brother. "There isn't anything the great and powerful god doesn't know."
"Impmon," Lopmon managed somehow managed to gasp between her partner squeezing her half to death, still delighted to have her partner back, a bit annoyed at the sarcasm in the little demon's voice.
"What? Are you going to say I'm wrong," Impmon challenged. "You do realize that would be admitting your master has quite a few flaws."
"Fight. Fight. Fight. Fight," Terriermon muttered under his breath, watching Lopmon and Impmon glower at each other in eager anticipation.
"How about not?" Henry sighed, tapping his partner's head with the side of his fist. "Come on everyone, let's stay focused. We're almost complete as a team, so that means that we have some more options for us to work with."
Ryo shifted uncomfortably at that, wondering where his own partner was. He was told it was Cyberdramon and the green card also showed his partnership with Monodramon, which after some Internet browsing, revealed itself as Cyberdramon's Rookie form.
I hope he's alright, he fretted.
"Right," Takato nodded. "We need some sort of plan for dealing with the Dark Ocean."
"That we excludes you, Takato," Riley interceded before debate could go too far. "Himiko has explained your situation to me and your arrival on what could have been a potentially dangerous situation, potentially putting everyone's lives at risk."
She glanced over at Rika. "Same for you, given your recent abduction by the Dark Ocean. I'm afraid we can't give either of you a clean bill of health until you've both been seen to."
"What?!" Rika demanded, looking quite possibly the most insulted she had in a long time. For someone who had looked half dead and exhausted for the last few days, it was a welcome relief. Especially since it clearly showed that the mere insinuation she couldn't fight on the front lines was a great affront to her - something which was normal for the redhead.
"Yes. While we have no reason to believe you fighting could cause great damage if your emotional state of mind remains how it is, until we can be sure that you suffer no ill effects from the Dark Ocean, you will be on the second lines along with Suzie, Kazu and Kenta," Himiko said, giving a sharp look to her cousin.
"Woo! Hear that Kenta! We're on the second lines!" Kazu shouted excitedly, jumping up and down, excited that Hypnos was recognizing his awesomeness. However, Kenta had a different reaction.
"But I'm the healer," he pointed out, his voice cracking. "Not to mention I'm not as good as Rika or Kazu…"
"That can be fixed. Fact is, you have a Mega for a partner," Himiko sighed. "If this was normal, I would have you on the back lines, along with the younger Tamers who don't have battle experience either. However, times aren't exactly the best."
She turned to Henry before looking at the twins.
"Henry, Ai and Mako, you three are the front lines," she said simply. "You have the power necessary to take on strong opponents and have a clean bill of health."
"YATTA!' Mako yelled, jumping to his feet, picking up Impmon, who was flustered for half a second before deciding to join his partner in rubbing it in Renamon's face. Finally, someone who recognized his awesomeness.
Once again, however, Ai had a different reaction.
"But … we don't have any battle experience," she pointed out. "I mean Impmon does, but-"
"Rika will teach you two how to play the card game," Himiko said simply. "Henry, it goes without saying you'll teach your sister."
"I understand," Henry nodded before throwing a glance at Takato and Rika. Rika, of course was fuming while Takato… For once, his expression was hard to read.
"So…what now?" the brown-haired boy asked.
"We're working on a program now to repair the damage to the dimensional barriers…" Riley glanced at Himiko as she said this, reminding her of the role she played in those events. "…but it's still in its infant stages. For now, we have to hold the line and maintain stability until we're ready to implement the program."
She turned toward each of them, a small smile playing on the corners of her lips. "Thanks to all of you, this program was made possible. Especially you, Ryo Akiyama. Your presence alone has helped reveal layers of the digital world that will help us in this venture."
Ryo shifted uneasily, wondering whether Riley would mean that if she knew the full contents of the Green Card he scanned once upon a time.
"Well… It's the least I can do right now, since I can't seem to do much else," was all he said in return, his tone cautious and guarded.
"Speaking of which … Kazu, Kenta, Suzie, Ai and Mako, since you are here, it would make sense to run scans on you," Himiko said, folding her arms.
"Scans?" Suzie asked, not sure if she liked the sound of that.
"Moumanti," Terriermon assured her. "It's probably something for their experiments. You know how mad scientists get."
This just caused Suzie to squeeze Lopmon harder, not liking the sound of this.
"Can't … breathe …" Lopmon complained.
"Terriermon…" sighed Henry before approaching his sister. "I wouldn't worry about it," he said, placing a hand on the young girl. "The rest of us have already been through them and it hasn't hurt any of us in the slightest. The most you'll feel is a tingle, I promise."
"Puh, puh, puh!" MarineAngemon said suddenly, flying over to Suzie and blowing a heart at her.
"If worst comes to worst, have no fear," declared Guardromon. "Our ever-faithful ally and friend, MarineAngemon is here to help us as well. Be brave, young Lady Wong, and know that you're in the best of hands."
"What he said," Kazu grinned, lightly bumping his partner's chest with his fist. Henry nodded, smiling, but before he could say anything else, Takato came up behind him, a friendly smile on his face.
"It'll be okay," he added. "Besides, your brother is the smartest person I know. If he says it's okay, then it'll be okay. If you can't trust him, who can you trust?"
Henry paused, looking at the other boy with concern before looking back at Suzie expectantly.
"Well if you say so," Suzie said, although it was clear to anyone who knew her by now, her fears only were alleviated when her "prince" came to her side. Instead, now, she seemed to be swooning a bit at the sight of Takato.
My prince is worried about me. I must be strong! She thought, giggling slightly and squeezing Lopmon tighter, the poor Rookie not getting a single break since she got back with the Chinese girl.
"Well that concludes everything I think. Just for a reminder though, Rika second line, Takato, reserves until we call you. Do I make myself clear?" Himiko asked, clapping her hands, not wanting to waste more time on idle chit chat now that the debriefing had been finished, taking the time to glare at the crimson eyed boy and her cousin.
"This is tyranny," Rika grumbled, and Himiko decided to take this as a 'yes' and turned to Takato.
Riley glanced at Himiko, a stern look on her face at the woman assuming authority that wasn't hers any longer, yet she let the matter slide for the time being. In the end, the situation was resolved.
Takato nodded reluctantly at Himiko.
"Roger," was all he said in response as Gigimon peeked out from his hoodie, scowling at Rika's cousin, clearly the least happy with the situation and not at all afraid to let her know it.
Behind Rika, Renamon placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder, giving her a soft squeeze.
"If that will be all," Riley said, getting everyone's attention again. "Everyone who still needs a scan, follow me. The rest of you…be careful on your way home. I don't think I need to remind you that we still have a bit of a situation on our hands."
With that said, she glanced at the remaining, non-scanned Tamers and gestured for them to follow her to the exit.
And here we go again, Ryo thought as they filed out of the room, Kazu cracking a nasty joke at Kenta along the way.
###
Jeri was sitting at her desk, attempting to read over her manga while simultaneously glancing over at her phone, waiting for that call she knew was to come and just wishing her phone would hurry up and buzz already so that she could get the news that everyone was all right. Her digivice had blared its usual alarm at the bio-emergence, and she had to resist from jumping out and running off to the source. The knowledge that, without a partner, she would be next to useless in the fight and thus a distraction to her friends, brought her up short.
So she waited, as much as she hated doing so.
Curling her fingers into her palm, Jeri attempted to divert her attention to the manga in her hands; a Sailor Moon story, with Usagi pining after Tuxedo Mask, as per usual, his mystery and knack for saving her tugging at her heartstrings…
The phone buzzed and Jeri nearly threw her manga to the side in her mad scramble for the offending object. Hitting the reply button, she brought it to her face.
"H-Hello!" she greeted a little too loudly, cursing silently as she realized that she hadn't checked to see who it was.
"Wow. Nice response time," came the voice of Rika from the other side of the phone. "I hope I'm not interrupting something. You sound breathless."
"I-I've been waiting by my phone ever since my digivice sounded the alarm," Jeri explained hurriedly. "I've been worried all this while, so I've been…um… My heart's been beating like crazy." She bit her lower lip and took a deep breath to steady herself. "Is…Is everyone all right?"
She dreaded the answer she might get, but she had to know.
"Yeah. Everyone's fine. It just ended up being Impmon and the others, so it seems things are starting to go our way," Rika said, and there was water running in the background. "Sorry I didn't call earlier. There was this huge debriefing and if you can believe this, Himiko pulled me from the front lines! I mean, like, seriously!"
Rika's voice ended up in a growl; it was evident to anyone who knew her (and even those who didn't) this was upsetting her. A lot.
"Oh thank kami," Jeri breathed, relaxing into her chair as her heart returned to a more acceptable pace.
"I'm just going to go ahead and assume you are talking about the first part I said and not the second," came the exasperated voice from the other end.
"Both actually," Jeri replied with a shaky breath. "But…yeah, I'm really glad to hear that everyone made it back safe and sound."
A small, relieved smile touched her lips and Jeri felt tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Sniffing, she wiped at them and straightened up. "We're almost complete…aren't we? We're ready to face whatever the digital world has to throw at us."
Rika, however, seemed to focus on the first part of what she said. Not that it was too surprising; when she was upset, the redhead tended to have a one-track mind.
"Wait, what do you mean both?! Don't tell me you agree I shouldn't be on the front lines!" Rika demanded.
Jeri scowled at that. "Rika, you know my feelings about this, remember? You know I've been worried about you ever since you came back from the Dark Ocean. It pulled you in and then you come back and you don't want to talk. You look exhausted a lot… Rika… Yes! I agree that you shouldn't be on the front lines if you're going to be like that! Why wouldn't I? I care a lot about you!"
Jeri felt her heart freeze at that, the soft, warm glow of an emerging emotion that she felt building for weeks now making itself known once more, but she pushed it aside and pressed on.
"Please Rika… Don't be mad. I…I worry about you. I can't help but worry about you."
There was a silence on the other end for a good 15 seconds or so before Rika spoke up again, her voice quieter this time.
"I'm not mad, OK? So … if you are crying … you don't have to."
"I'm crying a little anyway," Jeri whispered, wiping at her face once more. "I'm just…so happy that the others are back, and so…worried about you. I know it's silly, but…I can't help myself."
Wrapping an arm around herself, Jeri, with an effort, reigned in her emotions and sniffed, forcing the tears to stop.
"Sorry," she said, remembering their conversation in the digital world about needing to grow up. Oh kami… It's good to remember that again…
"I'll be a grownup," she continued. "Don't worry."
"Let's be honest, we are already adults," Rika pointed out, although she was still using that soft and gentle tone from earlier. There was a grunt, and she spoke up again after a second. "...They're having me teach Ai and Mako. The card game I mean. They'll be the ones on the front lines, and Kenta has been moved up from support too. Takato's been put on reserves. He can't fight until he gets a clean bill of health from a shrink; I can't fight on the front lines until I have the same." There was a snort. "I'm not looking forward to that. I already can hear the daddy issues comment coming up."
"Did you encounter your father in the Dark Ocean?" Jeri asked, becoming curious at why she would even bring the man up if the focus was on her experiences in the digital hell dimension.
There was an awkward pause before-
"...No."
"Okay," Jeri nodded. "I don't think they'll bring it up. Psychiatry has come a long way from Sigmund Freud. Most of his work has been shown to be wrong anyway, I think."
"You think." There was an ounce of amusement in that.
"I've been reading up on it," Jeri said, wrinkling her nose. "Anyway, I'm sure you'll make a great teacher to Impmon's partners. You did great with me after all."
"You were a good student. I enjoyed teaching you," Rika responded, and there was a pause before- "You know, I was really happy when you wanted to learn. I never had a girl friend who was interested in Digimon before. I mean granted you were the first girl friend I had … but … you know … details."
Jeri drew her legs up to her chest and huddled on her seat. "Yeah," she said with a small smile. "I was glad that you wanted to teach me. I admired you from the day we first met. You were so strong and confident…"
Her finger traced a circle on her desk. "I wanted to be like you."
A light blush crossed Jeri's face just then and she suddenly became flustered.
"A-Anyway… Yeah, you'll do fine. Be careful with Mako though. He can be a bit… Well… You know how boys his age are. Bullheaded and excitable."
"Isn't that boys at any age?" Rika snorted before there was another momentarily lapse before she spoke again. "I hope you don't still want to be like me. I like you the way you are."
Jeri smiled. "Well… I admire a great deal about you, so, yes, I do want to still be like you. But…with a lot of me in there of course."
Her expression softened as she smiled, her finger continuing to trace along the desk for a moment longer before pausing. Her eyes firmed and she looked back up.
"Rika… Would you… Could you teach me the game again? Just like before?"
"Of course," Rika responded instantly. "I would love to."
Jeri smiled brightly at that. "Thank you Rika!" she said excitedly. "I…"
A light bulb clicked on as something her friend had said earlier came to mind.
"Wait… You remember teaching me?"
"Yes?" Rika replied, confused by the question, and in the background it sounded like she was standing up again. However, after a second, a lightbulb of her own seemed to click in her head. "Oh yeah! Wow, I'm sorry … my memories came back earlier before I fell. Henry chewed me out earlier today for forgetting to mention it, so no need to chastise me. And ah … Renamon's shaking her head at me again."
Jeri sighed. "Tell her I'm mirroring her right now," she said. "Rika… That's pretty irresponsible of you, you know. That's…kind of important information. For everyone."
"In my defense, that has been literally the last thing on my mind," Rika retorted, and once again there seemed to be the pouring of water in the background.
"I'll forgive you since you literally went to hell and back," she said, but a small frown crossed her features. "Is there anything else we might need to know? And is there anyone else who might need to know that your memories are back so that you don't keep having this conversation?"
"Uh…" there was an awkward silence. "...Only you and Henry know. Henry reminded me earlier today, and then I forgot again with all of this until you reminded me just now." There was another silence and then- "Hey Jer? Do you have memories of a time and place with a red sky?"
Jeri raised an eyebrow at that. "You mean other than when we went to the Sovereign's level of the digital world?" she asked.
"Yeah. I mean … a red sky … in our world."
"I…don't think so?" Jeri replied, more a question than an answer. "I'm sorry, but after the digital world, I was stuck in the D-Reaper. Until Takato rescued me I didn't get much of a chance to see the outside. Why do you ask?"
"I…" There was a pause. "No reason. Just … dreams is all. Sorry."
Why do I get the feeling that that's not the case? Jeri frowned before shrugging, not sure what to make of Rika's response. Maybe it was related to the Dark Ocean?
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.
"No… sorry I brought it up," Rika said, and then there was the sound of some metal rattling, and Rika seemed to be talking to someone in the background - probably Renamon - before she returned to the conversation with the brunette. "Anyway, Ai and Mako are coming over tomorrow morning - sooner is better than later - but afterwards you want to go out and grab lunch and I can resume our lessons?"
"Sure," Jeri nodded. "Do you want me to tell any of the others that your memories are back?" She forced a small laugh. "I'm sure you might forget again and I bet some of us might appreciate knowing."
"I'll do it. Renamon will probably make sure I don't forget again. Since you know, that seems to be a common thing with me," Rika sighed. "Anyway, I'll give you call tomorrow then?"
"Sure," Jeri nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Talk to you then."
"It's a date," Rika said before the phone line went dead.
Jeri blushed brightly, becoming flummoxed again as she lowered her phone. She stared at it for one long minute before setting it aside. Dangling one foot off her chair, she leaned her head on her knee, pushing against the floor as her heart focused on Rika's last words.
"Don't be silly," she scowled at herself. "She doesn't mean it like that."
Her heart paused, not liking what she was telling herself, before continuing again with a heavy, pained sigh.
###
Clicking the end on the phone, Rika leaned back and gave a sigh staring at the device before lifting up the small mug of tea she had made for herself and Renamon, taking a sip. It made her uncomfortable when it was clear that she made Jeri upset and she wondered if she would ever stop caving so easily to the smaller brunette girl.
At least I didn't see her cry… she thought, pulling up her contact list, part of her wondering why she had to go and say it was a date. She doubted Jeri would take it as meaning anything but-
You're playing a dangerous game, Nonaka. Keep a damn grip on yourself, she berated herself mentally, starting a mass text, her finger hovering over Takato's name in the contact. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly as her heart squirmed uncomfortably.
Yes, getting a grip on herself would be fantastic right about now.
Sighing, she passed over Takato's name in her phone and added the others; Kazu, Kenta and Suzie. After a secondary afterthought she even added her brother's number. She supposed she should tell Ayaka too, but honestly she rather not deal with the copper-haired girl right now - or ever really. She was perfectly fine playing telephone with Ayaka via Jeri.
Approaching Rika from behind, Renamon placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, her eyes full of concern.
"You seem troubled, Rika," she said gently. "I thought your conversation with Jeri went well."
"Huh?" Rika asked craning her head backward to look at her partner. "Oh, no, it went fine."
Right up until the part where I started getting all mushy at any rate, she thought, but Jeri always seemed to make her do that. So nothing out of the ordinary there. It didn't help that her feelings for Takato though weren't the only thing that returned. Still besides that stupid slip-up at the end, she managed to keep the same cool she had when dealing with this particular issue in the past.
Renamon tilted her head to one side questioningly. "If you say so," she said. "But you feel…tense. Is informing everyone that your memories are back difficult for you?"
"No, just awkward," Rika said, composing a message to everyone but Takato which essentially boiled down to, 'Got my memories back; Henry and Jeri already yelled at me for forgetting to mention it.' before hitting send. "It's just … I'm not quite sure how I should tell Takato. Or what I should even say."
She took another sip of her tea before putting it back down on the table. Running her thumb around the rim of the mug, she spoke once more.
"We dated a few times, you know. Never really went anywhere because of the mind wipes. It wasn't that long ago he confessed to me. I would say again, but in the past it was always the other way around." She paused before her voice became lower. "I turned him down. Even though I didn't share the same feelings for him at the time, seeing that broken hearted face was the worst. I could barely look him in the face for a week after that."
"I see," Renamon replied. "Henry said as much to me. He described it as…most complicated. Given your current situation, I imagine that it can't be easy for you."
Sighing, she drew her partner into a hug. "Regardless, I will stand by you."
"Thanks," Rika whispered, putting her hands on her partner's gloves, feeling comforted by the kitsune's presence.
She sighed and once more scrolled to Takato's contact. Her finger hovered over the call button.
"Still … I need to tell him. He, at least, deserves to hear it via something other than a text."
Rika wasn't sure if she was talking to Renamon or herself with that last bit.
Renamon nodded in understanding. "Do you need some privacy?"
Rika shook her head and clung to the kitsune's arm a bit tighter. She knew it was childish, but she wanted her partner with her. She didn't do so well with expressing feelings (or the term in general) and Renamon always did a fantastic job of grounding her, or at the very least made her stop before saying something too insulting.
Right … stop being stupid about this, she instructed herself and pressed the call button.
###
Takato was sitting at his desk, his pencil doodling a sketch in his notebook while behind him, Gigimon nibbled on a piece of bread – Guilmon Bread that Takato had started working on again – when his cell phone buzzed, breaking him out of his thoughts. Raising an eyebrow, he picked it up and upon seeing who it was, he felt his heart freeze a little.
Rika…? Why's she calling?
"Takato?" Gigimon asked, looking up at his partner, his keen nose having picked up on Takato's sudden rise in tension. "Are you okay?"
"Uh… Yeah. It's Rika. Hang on."
Hitting the reply button, he raised it to his ear.
"Uh… Hi? What's…um… What's up?"
"Hey Gogglehead," came the voice of the redhead from the other line. There was an awkward pause, as if she was struggling to find the words to something before she just did want she did best; say everything in the most candid, blunt way possible. "I was talking to Henry earlier today about something from the past, and he was surprised that I remembered it. Turns out I forgot to let people know I got my memories back when … ya know … the whole echo incident in the hospital."
Takato blinked in surprise at that. "You… You remember?! Oh…wow!" A wide smile spread across his face. "That's… That's great!"
All worries vanished momentarily as he shifted in his seat. "So…how are you feeling?"
"Meh. Haven't really thought about it much to be honest," Rika replied. "Kinda caught up in other things, ya know?"
"I get that," Takato nodded in understanding. "We do have a lot going on."
He paused, wondering what else there was to say. If she says that she remembers everything, then…does that mean…? He paused and frowned slightly, feeling his heart pause in his chest. No. Don't go there. She doesn't need that right now.
He drummed his pencil on his table, feeling uncertain now. "So…um… Well, here's hoping that things calm down sometime soon, huh?"
"Yeah, but knowing our luck it isn't going to," Rika grunted, and her voice became quieter and more mumbled, although the word "second line" and "complete bullshit" could be heard.
"It could be worse," Takato laughed lightly. "At least you're not in the reserves. I bet if that happened, you'd turn into a Deva on us."
"Please, if they put me on reserves, I would make Megidramon look like an ugly, harmless kitten," Rika snorted.
"I've seen you get mad enough to vouch for that," Takato chuckled. "Anyway, let's try not to worry about it too much. We should focus on making sure that everyone's safe, you know?"
"I'm not worried. Are you?" Rika asked, her voice becoming slightly more gentle.
Takato's expression softened as the tip of his pencil tapped on his sketchbook and stilled.
"Trying not to be. You know how I am. Worrying is in my DNA."
"Yeah. Well. Don't let things get to you, speaking from experience. I know it's easier said than done, but…" her words trailed off, although the implication was there.
"Yeah," Takato nodded. "You know that better than anyone." Heaving a sigh, Takato set his pencil down and leaned back in his chair. "Don't worry. I'll do my best." He paused and then laughed again and pressed his hand against his head. "What am I talking about? You already said that you're not worried. Anyway, we'll get through this. Things'll calm down and then…"
He paused, his eyes turning toward the ceiling in contemplation, his humor fading as he became sober.
"…then we can move on with our lives."
"Yeah. Hopefully no Mnemosyne to ruin that," Rika agreed with a sigh. "Anyway, just wanted to call you and let you know what's up. See ya later?"
Takato nodded. "Yeah. See you later. Take care…Rika."
With nothing more to be said, Takato hesitated for a second before hanging up. Looking at his cell phone for a moment, he heaved a heavy sigh.
"Rika said that her memories are back, Takato?" Gigimon asked. Turning, Takato nodded.
"Yeah. She's back to…well, maybe not one hundred percent, but she remembers, so that's…something."
Wandering over to him, Gigimon stood up on his tiny, stumpy hind legs, waving at his partner with his front legs, begging to be picked up. His heart breaking at the sight, the boy set his phone down and did as requested, hoisting him up into his lap.
"Does that mean that she remembers that she liked you as more than a friend?" Gigimon asked, settling down.
"I'm pretty sure that comes with everything," Takato nodded. "But…"
Gigimon turned his gold eyes at his partner. "You don't sound sure."
"Oh, I'm sure, it just… Well… How to explain it." Takato scratched the back of his head before shrugging. "I guess… It doesn't matter, Gigimon. We've got more important things to worry about right now. It's…up to Rika what she wants to do about that."
As he ran his hands along Gigimon's smooth scales, he turned his gaze out the window and took a deep breath.
I still hurt her, he thought. It doesn't matter what happens after this. Memory or not, I still hurt her, and I'm never going to forget that.
###
After hanging up, Rika sighed and placed her phone on the table next to her tea, hugging her partner closer to her. While it wasn't as bad as it could have been - thank gods he didn't ask her about their shared past - the implication was there, like an awkward elephant in the room.
And while it was there before, now both parties were acutely aware of it.
"That sucked," she said softly.
At that, Renamon raised an eyebrow in surprise. "It didn't sound like it did. Takato seemed amiable enough and even happy to hear that your memories had returned. The two of you even shared a joke."
"It's the things left unsaid," Rika explained. "The words not spoken. They are still there, even if it's not brought up."
Renamon nodded and ran a claw through Rika's hair. "And that bothers you," she said. "Perhaps someday the two of you will be able to say what neither of you can now. You just need time, Rika. I'm sure even Takato of all people can understand that."
Rika nodded her head.
"I sure hope so."
###
Mako peered around the corner of the hallway, looking around suspiciously before rolling like he was a secret agent forward.
"Mako, quit it!" Ai hissed, holding Impmon close to her like a doll. The way he was acting, it was like they were doing something suspicious. Which, granted, they were but no need to call attention to it.
"Are you two finally back?" Mom yelled from the kitchen.
"Yeah!" Ai yelled back, ignoring Mako's gestures to be quiet.
"Well we are having dinner once your father gets back from walking Bo, so wash up!"
"We will!" Mako assured her, grabbing his twin's hand and dragging her toward their room. Ai found it a miracle that he didn't slam the door before locking it.
"This is so awesome!" he squeed as Ai put Impmon down on her bed. The rookie Digimon looked around, and Ai noticed the red scarf around his neck was worn and frayed.
"A lot really has changed," Impmon murmured. "After all the suits told me, I'm surprised you two still remember me
"Well it has been six years," Mako pointed out smiling, bouncing on the bed next to Impmon, causing the Rookie to bounce a few inches in the air in return. "And I mean our minds may have forgotten you, but our hearts didn't. We're happy to have you back."
"I'm happy to be back," Impmon smiled, watching curiously as Ai began to root around in one of the drawers. He wasn't quite sure how their reunion would be, especially with his Tamers so young when he left; honestly he thought he might have to convince them he was their partner, and despite the dangers currently going on, it went better than he could have possibly hoped.
Although with the Dark Ocean and dat ominous presence … he thought with a frown. He didn't know what exactly this Dark Ocean was, even after multiple attempts to explain it, but if it could pull Miss Ice Queen in, it had to be dangerous.
"Impmon, here."
Ai's voice broke his thoughts and Impmon looked up to see her holding up a red scarf.
"Ai…"
"Your scarf looks like a rag, and no partner of mine is going to be tramping around looking like a hobo," she declared, untying the fabric around his neck and putting the new one on.
"Ah what does it matter?" Mako asked, rolling his eyes as Impmon gingerly put a hand on the new gift. "We are going to be front lines anyway."
"Doesn't that bother you?" Ai snapped. "We have no business being up there! I understand why Takato should be in reserve, but I agree with Akira's sister - she should be up there!"
"Wait, who is Akira-" Impmon tried interrupting, but it seemed the fight between the twins started once again.
Some things change while others stay the same.
"Except Rika has PTSD-" Mako shot back only for Ai to interrupt him in turn.
"We don't know that!"
"Sure as hell seems that way!"
"Whatever the case may be, we have no idea what we are doing and if something dangerous happens-"
"Impmon knows what he is doing and Rika is teaching us the card game! We'll be fine! We can do this!"
"This isn't some game Mako! People have already died, and you want to be front and center for the next round?! We're only 10!"
"The others were only 10 when they fought last time. We at least have back-up of people who know what they are doing!"
There was a momentary pause, and Impmon sensed either a lull in the fighting or a temporary truce. He opened his mouth to speak only for the twins to round on him.
"What do you think Impmon?!" they demanded in perfect unison. Impmon looked between them uncomfortably
Hoh boy…
###
Suzie glanced up at Henry as she laid out the digimon cards in between them. Her older brother's grey eyes had an intensely deep, introspective look to them, much that he had for as long as she could remember. They often signaled that he was deeply troubled about something.
She could guess why.
"Okay," she said after a moment. "It's your turn, brother."
Henry didn't reply right away, his mind caught in such deep thought that he didn't hear his sister's question. The sound of ocean waves seemed to drown out everything, swirling… Swirling around one image… One face… That of Takato and that black aura that surrounded him…
Terriermon toppled down from off the bed and toddled on over, waving an ear-arm in front of his partner.
"Yo. Earth to Henry! You awake?"
"Hm?" Henry blinked and at once the sound of waves crashing on the shore disappeared. "Sorry. What was that?"
"You're supposed to be teaching me how to play your silly card game so I can properly be a Tamer." Puffing her cheeks out, Suzie crossed her arms over her chest. "I want to be able to rescue my knight from the Dark Ocean when the time comes."
Henry scowled at that. "Suzie… I thought I told you I don't want you to be near Takato."
Terriermon glanced first at Henry and then at Suzie as Lopmon made her way over to them, a concerned expression on her face.
"And I thought you two were friends," she rebutted.
"He's dangerous right now…!"
"Henry, you broke a friend's arm when you were a kid! You've told me how dangerous you are because of martial arts!"
"Takato nearly destroyed the entire digital world," Henry replied coolly. "Suzie…" He dropped his head into his hands, tightening his fingers in his hair. "I don't want to argue with you about this. Look, Takato's already getting help. You shouldn't be involving yourself in this. Not when you need to be concentrating on training."
Suzie bit her lower lip, not happy with her brother's response.
"What're you going to do then?" she asked. Raising his head, Henry looked up at Lopmon's card on the table in front of them. Drawing his hand from his deck, he set his Terriermon card on the table and played a modify card.
"I'm going to start with a speed boost upgrade card and…"
"I mean what are you going to do if I try helping Takato."
Henry froze at that. Grey eyes flashing, he glanced up at her.
"Don't," he said sternly. "Suzie, I don't want to risk losing you until this Dark Ocean business is resolved."
"Uh… You guys," piped up Terriermon, waving an ear at the two siblings. "Hate to remind you about this, but Takato is getting help from someone who knows what they're doing. Chill out."
"They have experience with the Dark Ocean?" Suzie chided with an irritated snort.
"Do you?"
Suzie scowled and shuffled through the cards in her hand.
Henry sighed and glanced at his partner. Patting his head, he returned his attention to Suzie.
"Suzie… Takato isn't in love with you. He's not going to be. Not when he loves Rika."
At that, Suzie twitched, feeling her blood run cold as Terriermon spun at his partner.
"Whoa! Henry! Don't you think that's a little…?"
"It's not about that!" Suzie exclaimed, slamming her cards on the table. Turning an angry glare at her brother, Suzie surged to her feet. "It's not! I'm talking about how you're treating one of your best friends like he's some kind of enemy and you're not bothering to do anything to help him! What is wrong with you?!"
"Suzie…" began Henry, taken aback by her sudden explosion. Tears sprung in Suzie's eyes as she brought her hands to her chest.
"Henry… I know you think I'm silly for thinking you and Rika are meant to be together. That I want to be with Takato. That I think it's all true, but…" She turned toward her brother pleadingly. "I just… I want to help him. He's hurting inside so bad right now. That's how the Dark Ocean took Rika, remember? You can't… You can't just leave him to that place…"
Like he did with her? Henry thought uncharacteristically, darkness swimming in his vision. He closed them and shook his head to clear it, and when he opened them again, they were gone.
"Don't go near him, Suzie."
"Idiot!" Suzie yelled, storming out of the room and slamming the door shut with a resounding bang that caused the walls to rattle, earning the girl a loud scolding from their mother.
Lopmon turned to the boy, equally as shocked as Terriermon was.
"Wasn't…that a bit harsh of you?" the Deva asked carefully.
Henry looked away, feeling guilty, but he held firm. "Suzie can't go through life with a fantasy in her head all the time. "She has to face reality sooner or later."
"Yeah," began Terriermon with a grimace. "But you could have worded it better. And…she's kind of got a point. Takato does need our help same as any of us. We're supposed to be a team after all. And friends. I mean, I was dangerous too when we first started out and Takato pulled back from when he turned Guilmon into Megidramon."
"That was differe…" began Henry, only to be interrupted when his door clicked open and an irate Mayumi poked her head in.
"Henry, I don't know what you did to make Suzie so upset, but you go and apologize to her this instant! Do you understand?"
Henry pressed his lips into one thin line, nodding.
"Yeah," he replied, getting to his feet. "I will."
As the boy headed to the door, Terriermon and Lopmon exchanged worried looks.
"Somehow I get the feeling that a momentai isn't going to be very helpful this time around," the cream-colored dog-bunny sighed as Lopmon wrapped an ear around him companionably.
Authors Note: For the record, the chapter title was inspired by the ABBA song S.O.S. But, ah, I suppose the actual term fits well right now, doesn't it?
