Tamers: Stuck in Paradise
Part 7
by Christian "Sid" Lang
Renamon is lying on her small sleeping mat next to Ruki's bed.
Back in their world this would have been unthinkable.
But Digimon weren't a secret here. So she could afford being near her heartbreaker.
It was a wonderful feeling not being forced to sleep in some hiding place.
Or existing in her space that is out of human sight.
Of course there are risks sleeping where everybody can see you.
*THWACK*
Renamon blinks in confusion. Her nose hurts. What had happened?
She has never been ambushed in her sleep before.
The gloved fox quickly assumes a fighting position as she scans the room.
There are no attackers. Just Ruki holding a rolled-up newspaper.
The Digimon slowly realizes that Ruki has slapped her with the paper as if scolding a dog.
"So, Renamon. How was your date?" Ruki hisses, tapping her foot.
What? Ruki looks angry. What has happened? Has she been attacked? Have I failed her?
Renamon frowns. Ruki doesn't look scratched. Just angry.
"Uhhhh... not bad. Why're you asking, Heartbreaker?" Renamon answers after a while.
"Don't gimme this Heartbreaker routine!" Ruki yells.
Renamon notices Kari and Gatomon standing in the door frame. They look disturbed.
What have I missed? she asks herself.
"OK Ruki. Would you please tell me what has-"
Her voice fails her when Ruki unrolls the paper she has whacked Renamon with.
She stares at the front page Ruki now shows her.
The entire front page consists of one large photo.
The photography shows Renamon. And Veemon. Kissing passionately.
"Ohhhh boy." she mutters, covering her eyes with her right paw.
"Oh hiya Veemon!" Davis greets as he exits his room.
Veemon has finished destroying the front page minutes ago.
He didn't just tear it into little pieces. He also burnt the pieces.
Twice. It had been quite difficult to burn the ashes. But Veemon was desperated.
"He, he. Mornin' Davis. How's it goin'?" Veemon asks, trying to sound at ease.
"Perfect, dude. Just perfect." Davis answers with a smile.
Davis walks past him, and Veemon notices the boy's blank look.
"Davis. The kitchen's the other way." Veemon sighs.
But Davis just walks towards the door.
"Be right back. Just have to order something." Veemon's partner whispers as he exits the house.
He actually goes somewhere before breakfast? Wow...
"I'll break every bone in his body. Twice." Hawkmon grumbles.
Yolei gulps. She has never seen her partner this angry.
Why's he so mad? Renamon and Veemon are kissing. So what? she asks herself.
Then she starts to see the connection.
Hawkmon seems to be... jealous. Bu-But that would mean-
"Are you in love with... her?" Yolei finally asks.
Hawkmon stares at her with murder in his eyes.
"Objections?" he hisses.
Not waiting for her to answer, he starts towards an open window.
"WAIT!" Yolei shouts.
Surprisingly, Hawkmon does as he is told and stops walking.
"Does Veemon know that you love Renamon?" she asks, hoping to get through.
"No." Hawkmon answers. His wings are trembling.
"Does Renamon know you love her?"
Hawkmon sighs and shakes his head.
"Maybe you should tell her first. This could be done-"
"You're right, Yolei. I'll show her my affection." Hawkmon interrupts her.
Thank God. I would have hated if he actually attacked Vee-
"I'll send her a gift. And then Veemon is gonna pay."
Before Yolei can shout her objection, Hawkmon has exited through the window.
I should warn Veemon. But Hawkmon would be mad if I did it.
"Oh boy."
Ruki has been ranting for some time now.
Gatomon gulps. She knows that this is her fault. Sort of.
Still, the fox doesn't say it. She simply accepts Ruki's shouting.
Renamon is kneeling on the floor, eyes fixed on the carpet.
Gatomon had wanted to stop Ruki before the shouting had gotten really bad.
But Renamon had simply looked at Gatomon then. And the fox had simply shaken her head.
It was a small gesture, Kari had not noticed anything.
But Gatomon has been deeply moved beacuse Renamon didn't want her to get into trouble, too.
The doorbell rings, but nobody pay it any attention.
Finally Kari's mother has gone to the door.
"Kari? Ruki? could you come here for a moment?" Mrs. Kamiya shouts after a while.
"Don't you dare to move!" Ruki hisses as she walks out together with Kari.
"Aren't you a little rough, Ruki?" Kari asks as they approach the door.
"Rough? Renamon's kissing some weakling Digimon!" Ruki hisses.
"Come on. You haven't even heard her side of the story."
"Don't tell me how to treat my Digimon." Ruki tells Kari.
They reach the door and see a man in a green uniform standing outside.
The young man is carrying a bunch of flowers and is smiling.
"Takenuchi Flower Service. Are you Kari and Ruki?" he asks.
"She's Kari. I'm Ruki." Ruki quickly explains.
"Takenuchi? Like in Sora Takenuchi?" Kari asks with a frown.
The man nods happily.
"Sora told me once that they rarely deliver flowers." Kari observes.
"Well, somebody has begged Sora to make an exception. And her mother approved."
Who on this planet would have the nerve to ask Sora to do this? Kari asks herself.
She smiles when the man hands her a red rose and an envelope.
Only one boy in the world would be romantic enough to send her a rose.
And Kari knows that Sora's mother is one of the best florists in town.
She gently hold the rose and sighs dreamily.
"And this is for young lady Makino." the delivery man says.
Kari gasps when she sees the man hand Ruki a bunch of roses.
"Pardon me?" Ruki asks, staring at the flowers.
She slowly accepts the flowers and flinches.
"Those roses have thorns!" Ruki yells at the man.
The delivery man just nods.
"That's correct. One thornless rose for Kari, one dozen wild roses for Ruki."
Ruki and Kari look at each other.
"Oh, and greetings from Sora." he adds as he walks away.
"Renamon?" Gatomon asks once the girls have left the room.
"Yes?" Renamon answers, still staring at the floor.
The fox is still kneeling like a statue.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you into trouble."
"Don't be sorry. It has been a foolish act."
The snow-white cat bites her lower lip.
"Do you- Do you love him?" she finally asks, not sure why she is asking.
"Hm. He loves you. He told me so."
"That doesn't answer my question." Gatomon points out.
"I... I don't think I could love him even if I wanted to."
Gatomon stares at the kneeling Renamon.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she hisses.
"He loves you. And you obviously care for him, too. I wouldn't want to interfere with that."
Kari's partner blinks. Her plans to break Veemon's neck are forgotten.
And Gatomon realizes that she indeed likes Veemon as much as Patamon.
"I bet I hurt his feelings. I should talk to him." she whispers.
"That would be a wise thing to do." Renamon assures her calmly.
"Still... why did you kiss him?"
The fox with the yin-yang gloves sighs.
"It was a challenge. I said I'd be better at anything he could think of."
"And he...?"
"...proposed kissing. Yes." Renamon sighs.
Gatomon snickers.
"That was all? A stupid challenge? Nothing more?" she asks the fox, feeling relieved.
She would have said more, but Ruki and Kari have returned.
Renamon feels better already.
She had expected Gatomon to strike her down to have her revenge.
After all, Renamon has kissed Gatomon's... closest friends. Well, one of them at least.
But the cat seemed to understand her. Maybe things would calm down again.
As if to mock her, Ruki enters just in that moment.
Renamon's eyes widen when she sees that Ruki is carrying flowers.
Oh please don't tell me Veemon has sent me flowers!
The thought seems silly. After all, Veemon had told her that he is in love with Gatomon.
Still, Ruki has flowers. Roses. A dozen of them.
Renamon resists the urge to stand up.
Her pose is very uncomfortable, but Ruki would be really mad if she moved.
So she remains in her kneeling position and follows her Heartbreaker with her eyes only.
Geez, who'd send me flowers? Roses with thorns. Tsk. Ruki asks herself.
She and Kari sit down on Ruki's bed and examine the cards that came with the flowers.
Ruki places the flowers on the bed and starts to read.
"You're too cute." she remembers him saying to her.
She closes her eyes and holds the card close to her chest.
What the... Kari asks herself and reads the card again.
Then she gulps and turns her head.
Ruki looks completely lost in her own world. Her flowers are next to her.
Oh. My. God.
"Ruki? Could I take a look at the card, please?" she asks nicely.
Ruki just sighs, hands her the card and immediately picks up the flowers.
Kari quickly reads Ruki's card and gasps.
OH. MY. GOD.
"Davis is in love with you?" she whispers.
Gatomon blinks furiously. Even Renamon whirls around to face Kari.
The fox's paws are instantly at Kari's neck, the snarling rest of her not far behind.
"How dare you spread these lies about my Ruki!" she snaps at Kari.
"And I think I love him, too." Ruki whispers, causing Renamon to release Kari's neck.
Renamon stands in front of the girls, unsure what to do.
In the end she snatches Ruki's card out of Kari's hands and reads it.
"Whoa..." she whispers after some seconds.
Then she kneels in front of Ruki.
"Ruki?" she asks, frowning.
"Hmmmm?" Ruki answers dreamily.
"You all right?"
"I'm fine. Thank you, Renamon..."
Kari frowns, too. She doubts that Ruki is really listening.
Obviously Renamon shares her opinion as she tries to provoke a reaction.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going now. Okay?"
Ruki just smiles and pets the fox's head.
"And I'm going to marry Veemon." Renamon adds, looking quite annoyed.
"Oh, isn't that lovely." Ruki whispers, still petting her Digimon's head.
"And we're going to make love for the rest of the week."
"I'm happy if you're happy, Renamon."
"And after that, I burn down this city, just like Nero."
Ruki simply giggles. Renamon just shakes her head in defeat.
"Must be one of those days..." the Digimon whispers to herself.
The doorbell rings again. Kari can hear her mother move.
"Kids! It's the nice flower delivery man again..."
Kari starts to stand.
What could he want? Oh, maybe a tip. she thinks.
"...and he wants to see Renamon!" her mother finishes the sentence.
Everbody in the room freezes. Except for Ruki, who is still smelling at her flowers.
Renamon frowns, but walks towards the door. Gatomon follows her.
"If Veemon sent you flowers, he's going to die." Kari's cat mutters.
What else can go wrong today? Renamon asks herself.
She kissed Veemon. Bad.
The kiss became public news. Bad.
Ruki is braindead. Bad.
Renamon admits that she is jealous. Somebody stole her Ruki.
The flower guy smiles as she greets him.
He doesn't seem to care that she isn't human, and that startles her.
"You must be Renamon. Biyomon told me much about you and the others." the man explains.
Renamon gives Gatomon a questioning look.
"He works for Sora's mother. Sora's been one of the first DigiDestined." Gatomon tells her.
"Oh." Renamon just answers and looks at the man again.
"Here. Looks like Sora can ask for many favors soon."
Saying that, the man hands Renamon a bunch of yellow roses.
Renamon frowns and takes a look at the card.
Gatomon looks up at Renamon.
She has gone through a lot of trouble. But maybe everything is going to be better now.
Renamon frowns as she reads the card.
Suddenly the fox drops the flowers. Gatomon quickly catches them, and frowns, too.
Something's wrong. she knows.
"Oh please no!" Renamon whispers and looks around frantically.
Before Gatomon or the flower delivery man can ask something, Renamon dashes away.
Gatomon sees the fox run into the kitchen.
But when she runs around the corner into the kitchen, Renamon is gone.
Where'd she go? The windows are closed, and there is just this one door!
Then she notices the card that came with the flowers lying on the floor.
Frowning, Gatomon picks it up.
Part 7
by Christian "Sid" Lang
Renamon is lying on her small sleeping mat next to Ruki's bed.
Back in their world this would have been unthinkable.
But Digimon weren't a secret here. So she could afford being near her heartbreaker.
It was a wonderful feeling not being forced to sleep in some hiding place.
Or existing in her space that is out of human sight.
Of course there are risks sleeping where everybody can see you.
*THWACK*
Renamon blinks in confusion. Her nose hurts. What had happened?
She has never been ambushed in her sleep before.
The gloved fox quickly assumes a fighting position as she scans the room.
There are no attackers. Just Ruki holding a rolled-up newspaper.
The Digimon slowly realizes that Ruki has slapped her with the paper as if scolding a dog.
"So, Renamon. How was your date?" Ruki hisses, tapping her foot.
What? Ruki looks angry. What has happened? Has she been attacked? Have I failed her?
Renamon frowns. Ruki doesn't look scratched. Just angry.
"Uhhhh... not bad. Why're you asking, Heartbreaker?" Renamon answers after a while.
"Don't gimme this Heartbreaker routine!" Ruki yells.
Renamon notices Kari and Gatomon standing in the door frame. They look disturbed.
What have I missed? she asks herself.
"OK Ruki. Would you please tell me what has-"
Her voice fails her when Ruki unrolls the paper she has whacked Renamon with.
She stares at the front page Ruki now shows her.
The entire front page consists of one large photo.
The photography shows Renamon. And Veemon. Kissing passionately.
"Ohhhh boy." she mutters, covering her eyes with her right paw.
"Oh hiya Veemon!" Davis greets as he exits his room.
Veemon has finished destroying the front page minutes ago.
He didn't just tear it into little pieces. He also burnt the pieces.
Twice. It had been quite difficult to burn the ashes. But Veemon was desperated.
"He, he. Mornin' Davis. How's it goin'?" Veemon asks, trying to sound at ease.
"Perfect, dude. Just perfect." Davis answers with a smile.
Davis walks past him, and Veemon notices the boy's blank look.
"Davis. The kitchen's the other way." Veemon sighs.
But Davis just walks towards the door.
"Be right back. Just have to order something." Veemon's partner whispers as he exits the house.
He actually goes somewhere before breakfast? Wow...
"I'll break every bone in his body. Twice." Hawkmon grumbles.
Yolei gulps. She has never seen her partner this angry.
Why's he so mad? Renamon and Veemon are kissing. So what? she asks herself.
Then she starts to see the connection.
Hawkmon seems to be... jealous. Bu-But that would mean-
"Are you in love with... her?" Yolei finally asks.
Hawkmon stares at her with murder in his eyes.
"Objections?" he hisses.
Not waiting for her to answer, he starts towards an open window.
"WAIT!" Yolei shouts.
Surprisingly, Hawkmon does as he is told and stops walking.
"Does Veemon know that you love Renamon?" she asks, hoping to get through.
"No." Hawkmon answers. His wings are trembling.
"Does Renamon know you love her?"
Hawkmon sighs and shakes his head.
"Maybe you should tell her first. This could be done-"
"You're right, Yolei. I'll show her my affection." Hawkmon interrupts her.
Thank God. I would have hated if he actually attacked Vee-
"I'll send her a gift. And then Veemon is gonna pay."
Before Yolei can shout her objection, Hawkmon has exited through the window.
I should warn Veemon. But Hawkmon would be mad if I did it.
"Oh boy."
Ruki has been ranting for some time now.
Gatomon gulps. She knows that this is her fault. Sort of.
Still, the fox doesn't say it. She simply accepts Ruki's shouting.
Renamon is kneeling on the floor, eyes fixed on the carpet.
Gatomon had wanted to stop Ruki before the shouting had gotten really bad.
But Renamon had simply looked at Gatomon then. And the fox had simply shaken her head.
It was a small gesture, Kari had not noticed anything.
But Gatomon has been deeply moved beacuse Renamon didn't want her to get into trouble, too.
The doorbell rings, but nobody pay it any attention.
Finally Kari's mother has gone to the door.
"Kari? Ruki? could you come here for a moment?" Mrs. Kamiya shouts after a while.
"Don't you dare to move!" Ruki hisses as she walks out together with Kari.
"Aren't you a little rough, Ruki?" Kari asks as they approach the door.
"Rough? Renamon's kissing some weakling Digimon!" Ruki hisses.
"Come on. You haven't even heard her side of the story."
"Don't tell me how to treat my Digimon." Ruki tells Kari.
They reach the door and see a man in a green uniform standing outside.
The young man is carrying a bunch of flowers and is smiling.
"Takenuchi Flower Service. Are you Kari and Ruki?" he asks.
"She's Kari. I'm Ruki." Ruki quickly explains.
"Takenuchi? Like in Sora Takenuchi?" Kari asks with a frown.
The man nods happily.
"Sora told me once that they rarely deliver flowers." Kari observes.
"Well, somebody has begged Sora to make an exception. And her mother approved."
Who on this planet would have the nerve to ask Sora to do this? Kari asks herself.
She smiles when the man hands her a red rose and an envelope.
Only one boy in the world would be romantic enough to send her a rose.
And Kari knows that Sora's mother is one of the best florists in town.
She gently hold the rose and sighs dreamily.
"And this is for young lady Makino." the delivery man says.
Kari gasps when she sees the man hand Ruki a bunch of roses.
"Pardon me?" Ruki asks, staring at the flowers.
She slowly accepts the flowers and flinches.
"Those roses have thorns!" Ruki yells at the man.
The delivery man just nods.
"That's correct. One thornless rose for Kari, one dozen wild roses for Ruki."
Ruki and Kari look at each other.
"Oh, and greetings from Sora." he adds as he walks away.
"Renamon?" Gatomon asks once the girls have left the room.
"Yes?" Renamon answers, still staring at the floor.
The fox is still kneeling like a statue.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you into trouble."
"Don't be sorry. It has been a foolish act."
The snow-white cat bites her lower lip.
"Do you- Do you love him?" she finally asks, not sure why she is asking.
"Hm. He loves you. He told me so."
"That doesn't answer my question." Gatomon points out.
"I... I don't think I could love him even if I wanted to."
Gatomon stares at the kneeling Renamon.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she hisses.
"He loves you. And you obviously care for him, too. I wouldn't want to interfere with that."
Kari's partner blinks. Her plans to break Veemon's neck are forgotten.
And Gatomon realizes that she indeed likes Veemon as much as Patamon.
"I bet I hurt his feelings. I should talk to him." she whispers.
"That would be a wise thing to do." Renamon assures her calmly.
"Still... why did you kiss him?"
The fox with the yin-yang gloves sighs.
"It was a challenge. I said I'd be better at anything he could think of."
"And he...?"
"...proposed kissing. Yes." Renamon sighs.
Gatomon snickers.
"That was all? A stupid challenge? Nothing more?" she asks the fox, feeling relieved.
She would have said more, but Ruki and Kari have returned.
Renamon feels better already.
She had expected Gatomon to strike her down to have her revenge.
After all, Renamon has kissed Gatomon's... closest friends. Well, one of them at least.
But the cat seemed to understand her. Maybe things would calm down again.
As if to mock her, Ruki enters just in that moment.
Renamon's eyes widen when she sees that Ruki is carrying flowers.
Oh please don't tell me Veemon has sent me flowers!
The thought seems silly. After all, Veemon had told her that he is in love with Gatomon.
Still, Ruki has flowers. Roses. A dozen of them.
Renamon resists the urge to stand up.
Her pose is very uncomfortable, but Ruki would be really mad if she moved.
So she remains in her kneeling position and follows her Heartbreaker with her eyes only.
Geez, who'd send me flowers? Roses with thorns. Tsk. Ruki asks herself.
She and Kari sit down on Ruki's bed and examine the cards that came with the flowers.
Ruki places the flowers on the bed and starts to read.
Dear Ruki, A rose with thorns may look wild and unattractive to the untrained eye. But if you know how to hold them, how to care for them, they become the most beautiful flowers on the world. I think you are just like these roses. Because for me, you're the most beautiful person in the world. DavisRuki stares at the card. Then at the roses. Then back at the card.
"You're too cute." she remembers him saying to her.
She closes her eyes and holds the card close to her chest.
What the... Kari asks herself and reads the card again.
Dear Kari, I have finally realized that T.K. has won your heart a long time ago. For all this time I have caused you two nothing but trouble. You always seem so happy when you see T.K. And yesterday, I have found my true love. Best wishes, DavisHe has found his true love? What is he- Kari thinks.
Then she gulps and turns her head.
Ruki looks completely lost in her own world. Her flowers are next to her.
Oh. My. God.
"Ruki? Could I take a look at the card, please?" she asks nicely.
Ruki just sighs, hands her the card and immediately picks up the flowers.
Kari quickly reads Ruki's card and gasps.
OH. MY. GOD.
"Davis is in love with you?" she whispers.
Gatomon blinks furiously. Even Renamon whirls around to face Kari.
The fox's paws are instantly at Kari's neck, the snarling rest of her not far behind.
"How dare you spread these lies about my Ruki!" she snaps at Kari.
"And I think I love him, too." Ruki whispers, causing Renamon to release Kari's neck.
Renamon stands in front of the girls, unsure what to do.
In the end she snatches Ruki's card out of Kari's hands and reads it.
"Whoa..." she whispers after some seconds.
Then she kneels in front of Ruki.
"Ruki?" she asks, frowning.
"Hmmmm?" Ruki answers dreamily.
"You all right?"
"I'm fine. Thank you, Renamon..."
Kari frowns, too. She doubts that Ruki is really listening.
Obviously Renamon shares her opinion as she tries to provoke a reaction.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going now. Okay?"
Ruki just smiles and pets the fox's head.
"And I'm going to marry Veemon." Renamon adds, looking quite annoyed.
"Oh, isn't that lovely." Ruki whispers, still petting her Digimon's head.
"And we're going to make love for the rest of the week."
"I'm happy if you're happy, Renamon."
"And after that, I burn down this city, just like Nero."
Ruki simply giggles. Renamon just shakes her head in defeat.
"Must be one of those days..." the Digimon whispers to herself.
The doorbell rings again. Kari can hear her mother move.
"Kids! It's the nice flower delivery man again..."
Kari starts to stand.
What could he want? Oh, maybe a tip. she thinks.
"...and he wants to see Renamon!" her mother finishes the sentence.
Everbody in the room freezes. Except for Ruki, who is still smelling at her flowers.
Renamon frowns, but walks towards the door. Gatomon follows her.
"If Veemon sent you flowers, he's going to die." Kari's cat mutters.
What else can go wrong today? Renamon asks herself.
She kissed Veemon. Bad.
The kiss became public news. Bad.
Ruki is braindead. Bad.
Renamon admits that she is jealous. Somebody stole her Ruki.
The flower guy smiles as she greets him.
He doesn't seem to care that she isn't human, and that startles her.
"You must be Renamon. Biyomon told me much about you and the others." the man explains.
Renamon gives Gatomon a questioning look.
"He works for Sora's mother. Sora's been one of the first DigiDestined." Gatomon tells her.
"Oh." Renamon just answers and looks at the man again.
"Here. Looks like Sora can ask for many favors soon."
Saying that, the man hands Renamon a bunch of yellow roses.
Renamon frowns and takes a look at the card.
Gatomon looks up at Renamon.
She has gone through a lot of trouble. But maybe everything is going to be better now.
Renamon frowns as she reads the card.
Suddenly the fox drops the flowers. Gatomon quickly catches them, and frowns, too.
Something's wrong. she knows.
"Oh please no!" Renamon whispers and looks around frantically.
Before Gatomon or the flower delivery man can ask something, Renamon dashes away.
Gatomon sees the fox run into the kitchen.
But when she runs around the corner into the kitchen, Renamon is gone.
Where'd she go? The windows are closed, and there is just this one door!
Then she notices the card that came with the flowers lying on the floor.
Frowning, Gatomon picks it up.
Oh my beloved Renamon, How it hurts me to see you in the arms of another 'mon. Especially since you have won my heart long ago. We are destined for each other, I simply know it. And we will be together, I promise. I just have to take care of Veemon. You're too good for him. And I will make him pay. Hawkmon