Tamers: Stuck in Paradise
Part 15
by Christian "Sid" Lang
One Minute.
Renamon can remember that this has been her limit in the velodrome.
She had stopped herself back then. You never know when a Digimon decides to materialize.
That was what she had told Ruki. But she had stopped out of fear.
She has read of athletes who had pushed themselves too far.
The lucky ones ended in hospital. The unlucky ones... oh well.
Renamon didn't plan to die during a stupid endurance test. One minute has been a good time.
One minute, thirty seconds.
Renamon's vision narrows. Everything seems to happen in a dark tunnel.
The only thing that guides her is her powerful sense of smell.
Got to find her. she tells herself.
She wouldn't let Gatomon commit suicide. No way.
One minute, fourty seconds.
What if I'm already too late? she briefly wonders.
But she bans that thought.
Gatomon is still alive. She has to be.
One minute, fifty seconds.
The fox's body feels as if it is on fire.
She can't really feel her legs anymore.
But somehow she manages to keep moving.
Where am I? she wonders.
Two minutes.
Have I pushed myself too far? Renamon asks herself.
The feeling of heat is replaced by a sudden chill.
Her legs feel numb. She guesses that something's wrong with her blood circulation.
Is that some sort of permanent damage?
Renamon decides to worry about that later.
She can still run. And she has not arrived at her destination yet.
That's all that counts.
"So. This is it, I guess." Gatomon whispers.
She is standing on the stone railing of an old bridge.
The cat can hear the river five meters under her feet.
She has spent the last few days trying to think of a good suicide plan.
Some methods have been ruled out instantly.
For example shooting herself. Ever tried to operate a pistol with claws?
Jumping was also ruled out for quite obvious reasons.
She finally decided to jump into the river.
To ensure things, Gatomon has locked a heavy chain around her ankles.
The chain is normally used to secure large ships. It should keep her under water long enough.
Just toss the stupid chain over the edge! she tells herself.
She lifts up one end of the chain and sighs.
Two minutes, ten seconds.
Renamon can see her. Gatomon. Alive!
She can see the chain that is wrapped around the cat's ankles.
Gatomon seems to be determined to jump at any second.
Two minutes, eleven seconds.
Gatomon has dropped one end of the chain over the edge.
No! Only one chance!
The chain would pull the Champion Digimon down. Renamon can't help that.
Renamon jumps at Gatomon and tosses her over the edge of the bridge.
But I can help her land safely!
She holds the surprised Digimon close and braces for the impact.
Two minutes, twelve seconds.
The two Digimon crash into the river bank.
Then there is silence.
Two minutes, thirteen seconds.
Renamon exhales, letting go the power of Ruki's slash.
She takes a look at Gatomon, who is lying next to her with closed eyes.
The little cat is unconscious from the crash, Renamon can see her breathe.
Thank God. she thinks.
She notices the chain leading into the water. Thankfully, it's not moving.
It's too heavy to be affected by the current. So Gatomon should be safe.
Then her legs start to cramp, and Renamon screams as her whole body seems to explode.
I've heard that death came quickly, but that has been ridiculous.
Gatomon has read about suicide on webpages, reports of people who had been revived.
Some told of a tunnel, a white light, or something like that.
Nobody had ever mentioned rapid acceleration. Maybe things worked differently for Digimon.
Then she realizes that this feeling had started before she hit the water.
In fact, she can't even remember getting wet.
Have I actually messed up jumping off a bridge? Have I missed the river?
Gatomon frowns and opens her eyes. It's still dark around her. She can hear the river.
Which means I'm definately alive. she observes.
She can feel that she is lying on muddy ground. The river bank maybe.
The chain is still secured around her ankles, leading towards the sound of the river.
That's impossible! Gatomon tells herself.
Then she hears somebody breathing next to her and turns her head.
"Renamon?" she asks in surprise when she sees the fox lying next to her.
"I guess so." Renamon answers with a smile.
"Are you out of your mind?" Gatomon snaps.
She has no idea what the fox had done or how she had done it. But that doesn't matter.
"I'd say the opposite is the case." Renamon mutters.
Gatomon just curses. So much for her great plan. No everything would be ruined.
Kari would scold her for trying to kill herself. Then Renamon would laugh at her.
Then Ruki would get mad. Then. Then. Then.
"I have to tell you two things, Gatomon. First of all, I love you."
Gatomon freezes when she hears these words. She looks at Renamon.
"What?" she whispers in surprise.
"If I could move a muscle, I'd hug you. But so I just have to say it. I love you."
Renamon looks sincere enough for Gatomon to believe these words.
"Really?" she finally asks happily, jumping at Renamon.
Her graceful jump is shortened by the chain wrapped around her ankles.
Gatomon hits the ground inches from Renamon away, but that doesn't change her mood.
She... loves me! She really does! And I almost... Oh God!
"Oh Renamon!" she simply cries, her tears of joy flowing freely.
"By the way, your suicide note stinks. Good thing Kari never saw it."
As if to emphasize her words, Renamon presents her the letter.
"She didn't...?" Gatomon gasps.
"Nobody knows of your foolish act." the fox confirms her thoughts with a smile.
"You're the greatest. Then I can finally say it freely: I love you, too." the cat admits.
Renamon sighs happily.
"How comes you can't move?" Gatomon asks after a while.
"Long story." Renamon mutters with a sigh.
"Well, we're not really going anywhere soon, right?"
Both Digimon snicker.
It takes Renamon another quarter hour before she can stand on shaky legs again.
Now she has finally a chance to examine the chain pinning Gatomon to the ground.
"Where'd you get a padlock of that size?" she finally asks.
"From the boat house." Gatomon admits.
"Oh well. Keys?"
Gatomon laughs nervously and points at the river.
"You threw the keys into the river." Renamon observes flatly.
"I wanted to make my decision final. I wouldn't have needed them anymore."
Renamon sighs and shakes her head.
"OK. I've got an idea. Don't wander off, okay?" she tells Gatomon.
"Funny. Really funny." Gatomon mutters.
Snickering softly, Renamon disappears.
Ruki paces through the apartment, biting her lower lip.
She is torn between curiosity and her promise not to follow Renamon.
I don'teven have an idea why she wanted me to slash the card!
This wouldn't have been possible a week before.
Before her Date with Davis, she would have asked about Renamon's motivation.
But a lot has happened since then. And Ruki has learned to trust her partner.
"Ruki."
Ruki jumps when she hears the voice of her partner.
She whirls around to face... nobody.
"Sorry, I don't want to mess up the carpet. But I need you to slash another card."
Ruki frowns. Then she sees that Kari is also frowning.
"Are you all right, Ruki?" the DigiDestined asks.
"another card? Please tell me what's-" Ruki whispers, nodding at Kari.
She knows that Kari can't hear Renamon in this state.
Renamon usually used this method to inform Ruki of things when she has been on the streets.
"I'll explain it later. Please." Renamon begs.
"What if I refuse?" Ruki asks boldly.
Renamon is her partner, and partners should talk things out.
"If you refuse, I'll tell Kari what kind of aftershave Davis uses."
Ruki gasps when she realizes what Renamon is hinting at.
She's blackmailing me! On the other hand, she has done me many favors. Oh well.
She browses through her cards and picks the one Renamon wants her to use.
"Card slash - Heavy Metal!"
"Thanks. See you soon!"
"Uhhh... OK." Ruki mutters, sensing that Renamon is gone again.
"Ruki? Are you sure you're all right?" Kari asks, cocking her head.
Gatomon covers her face when Renamon uses the impact hammer on the padlock.
When she looks again, the lock is... gone.
Renamon carefully frees her ankles and lets the weapon disappear.
When Gatomon can move again, she finally jumps at her love and hugs her.
"I love you." she whispers into the fox's ear.
Everything would be fine. Gatomon is sure about it.
The she realize that Renamon is holding her just like she had been holding Veemon on the photo.
She gazes into the fox's blue eyes and slowly moves closer.
Closer.
Closer.
"Yuck." Renamon suddenly mutters.
Gatomon blinks in surprise.
"Excuse me?" she asks, ears lying flatly on her head.
"Your face is covered with mud." Renamon remarks.
"Hm. However did that happen? Oh, I know. You shoved me into the mud!" Gatomon hisses.
"Well, I'd still call it life-saving." Renamon chuckles.
The fox gently places her on the ground again.
"The park shouldn't be too far away." Renamon muses.
"Thinking about a midnight bath?" Gatomon purrs, wrapping her tail around Renamon's leg.
"Maybe." Renamon replies, giving her a grin.
"Let go!" Ruki barks.
"Come on, you need some rest!" Kari hisses.
"Renamon talked to me!"
"Yeah. Right. And Gatomon talks to me the whole time."
"I mean it! Really!" Ruki protests.
"You're suffering from the stress."
"I'll show you stress in a minute!"
Part 15
by Christian "Sid" Lang
One Minute.
Renamon can remember that this has been her limit in the velodrome.
She had stopped herself back then. You never know when a Digimon decides to materialize.
That was what she had told Ruki. But she had stopped out of fear.
She has read of athletes who had pushed themselves too far.
The lucky ones ended in hospital. The unlucky ones... oh well.
Renamon didn't plan to die during a stupid endurance test. One minute has been a good time.
One minute, thirty seconds.
Renamon's vision narrows. Everything seems to happen in a dark tunnel.
The only thing that guides her is her powerful sense of smell.
Got to find her. she tells herself.
She wouldn't let Gatomon commit suicide. No way.
One minute, fourty seconds.
What if I'm already too late? she briefly wonders.
But she bans that thought.
Gatomon is still alive. She has to be.
One minute, fifty seconds.
The fox's body feels as if it is on fire.
She can't really feel her legs anymore.
But somehow she manages to keep moving.
Where am I? she wonders.
Two minutes.
Have I pushed myself too far? Renamon asks herself.
The feeling of heat is replaced by a sudden chill.
Her legs feel numb. She guesses that something's wrong with her blood circulation.
Is that some sort of permanent damage?
Renamon decides to worry about that later.
She can still run. And she has not arrived at her destination yet.
That's all that counts.
"So. This is it, I guess." Gatomon whispers.
She is standing on the stone railing of an old bridge.
The cat can hear the river five meters under her feet.
She has spent the last few days trying to think of a good suicide plan.
Some methods have been ruled out instantly.
For example shooting herself. Ever tried to operate a pistol with claws?
Jumping was also ruled out for quite obvious reasons.
She finally decided to jump into the river.
To ensure things, Gatomon has locked a heavy chain around her ankles.
The chain is normally used to secure large ships. It should keep her under water long enough.
Just toss the stupid chain over the edge! she tells herself.
She lifts up one end of the chain and sighs.
Two minutes, ten seconds.
Renamon can see her. Gatomon. Alive!
She can see the chain that is wrapped around the cat's ankles.
Gatomon seems to be determined to jump at any second.
Two minutes, eleven seconds.
Gatomon has dropped one end of the chain over the edge.
No! Only one chance!
The chain would pull the Champion Digimon down. Renamon can't help that.
Renamon jumps at Gatomon and tosses her over the edge of the bridge.
But I can help her land safely!
She holds the surprised Digimon close and braces for the impact.
Two minutes, twelve seconds.
The two Digimon crash into the river bank.
Then there is silence.
Two minutes, thirteen seconds.
Renamon exhales, letting go the power of Ruki's slash.
She takes a look at Gatomon, who is lying next to her with closed eyes.
The little cat is unconscious from the crash, Renamon can see her breathe.
Thank God. she thinks.
She notices the chain leading into the water. Thankfully, it's not moving.
It's too heavy to be affected by the current. So Gatomon should be safe.
Then her legs start to cramp, and Renamon screams as her whole body seems to explode.
I've heard that death came quickly, but that has been ridiculous.
Gatomon has read about suicide on webpages, reports of people who had been revived.
Some told of a tunnel, a white light, or something like that.
Nobody had ever mentioned rapid acceleration. Maybe things worked differently for Digimon.
Then she realizes that this feeling had started before she hit the water.
In fact, she can't even remember getting wet.
Have I actually messed up jumping off a bridge? Have I missed the river?
Gatomon frowns and opens her eyes. It's still dark around her. She can hear the river.
Which means I'm definately alive. she observes.
She can feel that she is lying on muddy ground. The river bank maybe.
The chain is still secured around her ankles, leading towards the sound of the river.
That's impossible! Gatomon tells herself.
Then she hears somebody breathing next to her and turns her head.
"Renamon?" she asks in surprise when she sees the fox lying next to her.
"I guess so." Renamon answers with a smile.
"Are you out of your mind?" Gatomon snaps.
She has no idea what the fox had done or how she had done it. But that doesn't matter.
"I'd say the opposite is the case." Renamon mutters.
Gatomon just curses. So much for her great plan. No everything would be ruined.
Kari would scold her for trying to kill herself. Then Renamon would laugh at her.
Then Ruki would get mad. Then. Then. Then.
"I have to tell you two things, Gatomon. First of all, I love you."
Gatomon freezes when she hears these words. She looks at Renamon.
"What?" she whispers in surprise.
"If I could move a muscle, I'd hug you. But so I just have to say it. I love you."
Renamon looks sincere enough for Gatomon to believe these words.
"Really?" she finally asks happily, jumping at Renamon.
Her graceful jump is shortened by the chain wrapped around her ankles.
Gatomon hits the ground inches from Renamon away, but that doesn't change her mood.
She... loves me! She really does! And I almost... Oh God!
"Oh Renamon!" she simply cries, her tears of joy flowing freely.
"By the way, your suicide note stinks. Good thing Kari never saw it."
As if to emphasize her words, Renamon presents her the letter.
"She didn't...?" Gatomon gasps.
"Nobody knows of your foolish act." the fox confirms her thoughts with a smile.
"You're the greatest. Then I can finally say it freely: I love you, too." the cat admits.
Renamon sighs happily.
"How comes you can't move?" Gatomon asks after a while.
"Long story." Renamon mutters with a sigh.
"Well, we're not really going anywhere soon, right?"
Both Digimon snicker.
It takes Renamon another quarter hour before she can stand on shaky legs again.
Now she has finally a chance to examine the chain pinning Gatomon to the ground.
"Where'd you get a padlock of that size?" she finally asks.
"From the boat house." Gatomon admits.
"Oh well. Keys?"
Gatomon laughs nervously and points at the river.
"You threw the keys into the river." Renamon observes flatly.
"I wanted to make my decision final. I wouldn't have needed them anymore."
Renamon sighs and shakes her head.
"OK. I've got an idea. Don't wander off, okay?" she tells Gatomon.
"Funny. Really funny." Gatomon mutters.
Snickering softly, Renamon disappears.
Ruki paces through the apartment, biting her lower lip.
She is torn between curiosity and her promise not to follow Renamon.
I don'teven have an idea why she wanted me to slash the card!
This wouldn't have been possible a week before.
Before her Date with Davis, she would have asked about Renamon's motivation.
But a lot has happened since then. And Ruki has learned to trust her partner.
"Ruki."
Ruki jumps when she hears the voice of her partner.
She whirls around to face... nobody.
"Sorry, I don't want to mess up the carpet. But I need you to slash another card."
Ruki frowns. Then she sees that Kari is also frowning.
"Are you all right, Ruki?" the DigiDestined asks.
"another card? Please tell me what's-" Ruki whispers, nodding at Kari.
She knows that Kari can't hear Renamon in this state.
Renamon usually used this method to inform Ruki of things when she has been on the streets.
"I'll explain it later. Please." Renamon begs.
"What if I refuse?" Ruki asks boldly.
Renamon is her partner, and partners should talk things out.
"If you refuse, I'll tell Kari what kind of aftershave Davis uses."
Ruki gasps when she realizes what Renamon is hinting at.
She's blackmailing me! On the other hand, she has done me many favors. Oh well.
She browses through her cards and picks the one Renamon wants her to use.
"Card slash - Heavy Metal!"
"Thanks. See you soon!"
"Uhhh... OK." Ruki mutters, sensing that Renamon is gone again.
"Ruki? Are you sure you're all right?" Kari asks, cocking her head.
Gatomon covers her face when Renamon uses the impact hammer on the padlock.
When she looks again, the lock is... gone.
Renamon carefully frees her ankles and lets the weapon disappear.
When Gatomon can move again, she finally jumps at her love and hugs her.
"I love you." she whispers into the fox's ear.
Everything would be fine. Gatomon is sure about it.
The she realize that Renamon is holding her just like she had been holding Veemon on the photo.
She gazes into the fox's blue eyes and slowly moves closer.
Closer.
Closer.
"Yuck." Renamon suddenly mutters.
Gatomon blinks in surprise.
"Excuse me?" she asks, ears lying flatly on her head.
"Your face is covered with mud." Renamon remarks.
"Hm. However did that happen? Oh, I know. You shoved me into the mud!" Gatomon hisses.
"Well, I'd still call it life-saving." Renamon chuckles.
The fox gently places her on the ground again.
"The park shouldn't be too far away." Renamon muses.
"Thinking about a midnight bath?" Gatomon purrs, wrapping her tail around Renamon's leg.
"Maybe." Renamon replies, giving her a grin.
"Let go!" Ruki barks.
"Come on, you need some rest!" Kari hisses.
"Renamon talked to me!"
"Yeah. Right. And Gatomon talks to me the whole time."
"I mean it! Really!" Ruki protests.
"You're suffering from the stress."
"I'll show you stress in a minute!"