Me: I don't own Digimon! There-you happy?!
Takato: Calm down! Man, with that attitude, you're even worse than Rika.
Rika: I doubt that, but Takato's got a point.
Me/Takato: Huh? Are you serious?
Rika: First time for everything.
Takato: Uh…
Me: (smirks) I'll leave you two alone now. I also don't own "My Tomorrow" from Megchan's site. To the story!
Digimon
The Meeting of the DigiDestined and the Tamers
Part VI: A Sacrifice of Love
"Are you in love with me, loverboy?" –Rika Nonaka
"Besides, it's not everyday you get to meet your dream girl…" –Takato Matsuki
With narrowed eyes, Tai, Davis and I stood our ground and awaited Daemon's appearance.
"Are you guys ready?" Tai demanded. Davis and I both nodded, ready for action. Technically, I was the leader of the Tamers, but Tai had precedence over me since he had led the original DigiDestined to victory against Apocalymon so long ago.
"Battling against so many DigiDestined and Tamers could tire one out…let's even out the odds, shall we?" Before any of us could react, tiny, miniature black balls hovered in the air and headed for us!
"Get down!" Tai yelled as he immediately tackled Sora and Kari, sending them both down to the ground. Likewise, I did the same with Rika. The problem was that the balls weren't heading for us, or the Digimon. They all wedged themselves inside our Digivices, with the exception of mine, Davis' and Tai's.
"What gives? What are those things supposed to do, anyway?" Davis asked.
"I'm not sure. It'll take some time for me to figure out what those things are." Izzy said as he got onto his laptop and started working out some calculations. Henry was by his side in an instant.
"You're gonna need some help, so let me try."
I turned and saw that WarGrowlmon and Gargomon had both deDigivolved back to Guilmon and Terriermon! Imperialdramon and WarGreymon had both deDigivolved, too!
"Man, what else could go wrong today?!" Davis exclaimed. That's when it happened…The skies grew even darker than what they had been before. A portal suddenly opened up above our heads and a Digimon was revealed! After pulling my goggles over my eyes, I gaped in shock at seeing two Digimon inside the portal.
Rika chose that time to glare at Davis. "Next time, don't ask stupid questions like that!"
"Tamers…you have absolutely no idea what a pleasure it is to finally meet you." I gulped in amazement as Rika unconsciously grabbed my hand with hers and held on to it tightly. We all knew who this Digimon was, but were surprised that he had come back.
"Excuse me, but I'm not with the Tamers, so could you give us at least a hint of who you are?" Davis yelled out. I groaned as I picked up Calumon, making sure that he wasn't caught in the crossfire of whatever was about to happen.
"Certainly, although none of you will be around long enough to remember. The name is Apocalymon…"
"I thought the DigiDestined destroyed you over 4 years ago!" I growled, making a fist with my hand as Black WarGreymon and Piedmon both got in front of me; Rika pulled me back gently a moment later.
"They did, but if it wasn't for Daemon's appearance, I would still be in limbo. Oh, I have plans for you second-rate characters, but as of now, we only require the heroes of Courage."
"What is it with Digimon always wanting to battle with the three of us?" Davis ranted impatiently.
"It makes sense, if you think about it. You, Tai and Takato are the most powerful out of all of us. Naturally, any evil Digimon would want to test the leader's strength. If the leader is defeated or, heaven forbid, destroyed, the remaining teammates are ripe for picking." Henry explained while struggling to find out what the black balls were that had invaded their Digivices.
"Oh, that makes me feel a lot better." I muttered under my breath.
"We no longer require your services, so if you please-Death Claw!!" Before Black WarGreymon and Piedmon could move, Apocalymon's main attack struck the two of them and they were deleted right where they stood!
"If you wanna take over this world, you're gonna have to get past us!" Tai growled as he pulled out his Digivice.
"Agumon Warp-Digivolve to…WARGREYMON!!!"
"Yeah, 'cause there's no way we're gonna let you jerks destroy everything we hold dear!" Davis added as he grabbed his D3.
"Veemon Digivolve to…EXVEEMON!!! ExVeemon Digivolve to…PAILDRAMON!!! Paildramon Mega Digivolve to…IMPERIALDRAMON!!! Imperialdramon Mode Change to…FIGHTER MODE!!!"
"Guys, let's take 'em by the numbers!" I advised with a wicked grin on my face as I pulled out my D-Power and a card.
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Digivolution activate!" I yelled out.
Digivolution!
"Guilmon Digivolve to…GROWLMON!!!"
Digimon!
"Come on, guys-let's help them out!" Rika insisted as she grabbed her D-Power and a card.
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Digivolution activate!" Rika demanded.
A beam of light shot out of Rika's D-Power, but nothing happened!
"What? Renamon, why didn't you Digivolve?"
"Got it! Those black balls are known as Darkness Gems. They infect a Digivice and prevent a Digimon from Digivolving." Izzy explained.
"Yep. That's why Renamon-or any of our Digimon-won't be able to Digivolve until either Tai or the others defeat Daemon or Apocalymon, or…" Henry stopped.
"Until what?"
"For the second one to occur, we'd need a miracle."
"I tire of this-Death Claw!!"
This one surprised everyone! The claws grabbed Tai Davis, and me and yanked us all into the portal-while I was still holding Calumon! Then, three more shot out and grabbed Growlmon, WarGreymon and Imperialdramon, and pulled them in after us!
Come on-this time, let's run to a place not on any map
There's nothing to be afraid of
A small breast, filled only with courage, alone in the rain
My pockets are empty, but I'm only looking ahead
"Calumon, you alright?" I asked as I felt the little Digimon shaking in my arms.
"This place isn't anywhere near home! Wherever this is, it's dark and scary. I wanna go back home!" I put Calumon down, but made sure that he was near me.
"There's no need to be afraid. Tai's here, Davis is here and I'm here. We're not gonna let anything happen to you. Right, guys?" I noted calmly. Tai and Davis both nodded.
"Touching, but none of you will go home. Evil Inferno!!"
"Death Claw!!"
Davis, Tai, WarGreymon, Imperialdramon, Growlmon, Calumon and I all separated to avoid those deadly attacks!
"PyroBlaster!!" As I suspected, Growlmon's attack had no effect on Apocalymon.
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Power activate!" I demanded. Growlmon's attack tripled and when he fired off a second PyroBlaster attack, Apocalymon felt the burn!
"As Black WarGreymon himself stated, 'Impressive.' But that alone won't be nearly enough to save you!"
"You haven't felt his full power!" I retorted as I grabbed my Matrix Digivolution card and swiped it quickly. The gem on top of Calumon's head glowed brightly and a beam of red light hit Growlmon seconds after that!
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Matrix Digivolution, activate!"
Matrix Digivolution!
"Growlmon Digivolve to…WARGROWLMON!!!"
Digimon!
As WarGrowlmon engaged Apocalymon, I looked over and saw that Tai and Davis were holding their own against Daemon.
"Terra Force!!"
"Positron Laser!!"
The two attacks hit their mark and an amazing explosion sounded, causing us all to cover our ears. When the smoke cleared, Daemon was still standing, without a scratch on him!
"Unbelievable!" Davis cried out.
"That's not possible." Tai insisted.
"We need the others. Even leaders know-when you're outnumbered, you always call for backup." I thought grimly.
I knock on the door of the unknown and advance, advance to the other side of the world
I won't waver any longer!
"That's it! I'm going in there and bringing them out!" Rika started forward with Renamon by her when Sora and Yolei stopped her.
"Not without us, you're not." Smiling faintly, Rika jumped inside the portal with Renamon, Sora, Biyomon, Yolei and Hawkmon, which effectively left the others outside.
"Why aren't we going in there to help them?" Matt asked.
"Because of two reasons: One, our Digimon, as well as theirs, aren't able to Digivolve beyond the Rookie level-or in Gatomon's case, beyond Champion. I assume that we'll need extra firepower to sufficiently defeat Daemon and Apocalymon. Just give me a minute to go online…" The DigiDestined waited as Henry and Izzy did some quick calculations and computations.
As for Tai, Davis and myself, we were nearing the edge of our rope. Not even WarGrowlmon's attack was helping out. Daemon and Apocalymon stood over us in victory.
"Game over?" Calumon asked me worriedly.
"Not by a long shot!" The four of us turned and saw Sora, Yolei and Rika! Right behind them was Biyomon, Hawkmon and Renamon.
"Diamond Storm!!" The attack did little damage to Apocalymon, but it gave me and WarGrowlmon time to get up-I managed to grab Calumon and toss him to Rika.
"What took you?" I joked as Rika came up to me.
"Vortexes showing up in the sky, Digimon barricades, the usual." Rika responded. I wasn't able to hide my surprise when I saw the smile on her face!
Come on-this time, let's run to a place not on any map
There's nothing to be afraid of
Now is the only time to build tomorrow
Take off to my distant tomorrow
The wind blows through between the buildings, a night when even the stars have disappeared
My clasped hands are trembling, but I'm looking up at the sky
"Spiral Twister!!"
"Hawk Beam!!"
"Diamond Storm!!"
The three attacks combined did nothing to injure Daemon and Apocalymon! I knew what one of us would have to do-and it couldn't be Tai, Davis or Sora. I steeled myself, getting ready to carry out my plan. Unfortunately, Rika had grasped what I planned to do and shot forward ahead of me, dropping Calumon by my side! With the way she ran, there was no way I was gonna be able to stop her.
"Rika, stop!" I pleaded worriedly. She didn't listen-not like I'd expected her to.
"I'm not gonna lose you again, Gogglehead! As much as I wouldn't want this known, you're too important to me to have to die fighting some freaky Digimon!" Rika cried out as she grabbed her D-Power, which had started glowing! The Darkness Gem came out and exploded.
Digivolution!
"Renamon Digivolve to…KYUBIMON!!!"
Digimon!
"Very well. If you are seeking a death wish, who am I to refuse your request? Evil Inferno!!" I gasped in shock as Rika held her D-Power up and it collided with Daemon's energy beam, while it was still glowing!
"RIKA! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" I cried sadly as a terrible explosion erupted seconds later!
In the flow of time I grasp, grasp what I really want, without hesitation
The day will come when I am enfolded by an invisible brilliance
Surely, surely I'll be able to change
The instant the smoke cleared, I saw no sign of Daemon, but I saw a red-haired girl lying on the ground with blood trickling down her mouth and a smashed D-Power. I raced forward, with Calumon running beside me, and cradled her head in my hands.
"Rika…why'd you do it?" I croaked out sadly, making no pretense whether she saw my tears or not.
"It's like I said, Takato…you're too important to me…Too bad I didn't realize it when you told me about that dream you had…" Rika gasped out. I recalled the dream I'd had the night before I met Guilmon and looked back down at Rika, remembering what she'd said to me when she'd cornered me in the alley.
Flashback
"A dream? What, are you in love with me, loverboy?"
End flashback
"Rika…are you saying what I think you're saying?" I asked calmly as Calumon and the others came up to us.
"Mm-hmm…I think-no, I know-that I love you, Takato…" Before that information could process it's way into my head, Rika leaned up and, despite the dried blood on her lips, she kissed me with unbridled passion! I'd been kissed before, even though it was Jeri, and she'd only kissed me on the cheek, but that wasn't anything like this! I forgot about the fact that she was only seconds from Death's door and just held her in my arms, savoring the kiss and kissing her back. Crying out, Rika pulled away and slowly put her head back in my lap. I had to strain to hear what she was whispering to me, the words that would leave their mark on my heart.
"It was fun, Gogglehead…"
And before I could reply back, Rika Nonaka died, releasing a slow, satisfying breath, in my arms. As I sat there, I was vaguely aware of Renamon slowly, but surely, being deleted, but that didn't matter. I heard the final lyrics of a song that I had come to cherish, and it was only now that they came back to memory…
Come on-this time, let's run on this road we've chosen; I don't want something that just looks similar
I am the only one to build the future
awake to my new tomorrow
This time, let's run on this road we've chosen; I don't want something that just looks similar
I am the only one to build the future
Awake to my new tomorrow…
