Me: Okay, here we go-I don't own Digimon, nor do I own Linkin Park's latest song "My December." Fits well with the theme of this chapter, don't you think?

Rika: Sure-if it was really December, but it's March, and you're about 3 months behind if you want to keep things real!

Me/Takato: What?!

Rika: (groans) Out of all the authors I had to befriend...







Digimon Tamers: Takato V.S. Takato

Chapter V-Takato's Darkened Heart







"Don't regret that you created your partner. Besides, you have raised a Digimon stronger than any Rookie Digimon you know, which proves that you're a stronger Tamer. After all, a dinosaur is stronger than a fox." -Takato Matsuki

"Having the most mature Rookie Digimon of all, you get the reputation of being a woman yourself. Don't lose her." -Rika Nonaka









"Things just keep going from bad to worse, huh? Susie ended up being transported to the Digital World alongside Antylamon and Makuramon, but Makuramon was deleted and absorbed by Beelzemon. And, Susie's a Tamer too-to former Deva Antyramon, who deDigivolves to Lopmon. To make matters even more troublesome, Takato was beaten to a bloody pulp by his clone-not actually, but just about! And, just as Rika finally realizes why the link between her and Takato existed, Beelzemon decides to take out the Tamers' leader. He almost does, if Leomon hadn't sacrificed himself at that instant. The instant Leomon was deleted, Takato practically lost it and caused WarGrowlmon to vanish entirely because of a Darkness Modify card. Now, instead of WarGrowlmon, we have Megidramon, an extremely powerful and extremely evil Digimon who could be out to destroy the world! Something tells me Takato has nothing but almost pure darkness inside that beating heart of his..."







This is my December, this is my time of the year

This is my December, this is all so clear

This is my December, this is my snow-covered home

This is my December, this is me alone...









Takato stood alone near the cliffs as he observed his Digimon completely taken over by the evil that resided in the Darkness Modify card. Unbeknownst to Takato, the evil Rika thought she'd dispersed hadn't completely faded, but it was biding its time until the young Tamer snapped again. His anger would be his own undoing.

"Don't listen to any of these other so-called 'Tamers.' With this card, you've got all the power, and if you want it to happen, you can change all your weak Modify cards into Darkness Modify cards. Together, you and I could make a formidable team. We-the twin Takato-Tamers of the Digital World! With our partners WarGrowlmon and Megidramon, we'd be invincible. What do you say? Join with me and Beelzemon?"

Takato's eyes flashed red while he glanced at the Darkness Modify card in his hand. The redness faded away as he brought himself out of the strange trance he'd been put in.

"I don't know. I don't want to fight my friends! And I definitely don't want to fight Rika. After all we've been through, to give it all up like this." Takato shivered at that instant. "And Jeri...she doesn't even have Leomon anymore to look out for her."

"That's all true." muttered "Takato" a second later, "but, I promise you that I would leave your friends, Rika and Jeri alone if you agree to work with me and Beelzemon. Deal?"

Takato grimaced with a confused look on his face.

"A part of me really wants to see what it would be like, to be evil. But, there's this other side that reminds me that darkness doesn't fill up the loneliness I've felt in my heart ever since Rika broke up with me, and I wish I hadn't said what I said to her. Rika, if I could, I'd take everything I owned and give it up just so I could see you smile one more time." Takato sighed as he looked back up at Megidramon, who'd noticed Beelzemon and flew toward him at a quick, steady pace.







And I...(just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed)

And I...(take back all the things I said to make you feel like that)

And I...(just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed)

And I...(take back all the things that I said to you)

Chorus: And I give it all away just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away just to have someone to come home to







"Impressive, but not even a new form can help you win this battle, bud! Double Impact!!" Beelzemon continuously fired round after round directly at Megidramon, who howled in pain and agony as the bullets hit, but he didn't have even a scratch on him!

"Whoa! Remind me to draw a Digimon like Takato's next time." Kazu remarked, as the Tamers helplessly watched from the sidelines.

"What about me?"

"I'm only kidding, Andromon!"

"Why are we all just standing around here for? We've got to stop Beelzemon, and if necessary, that Digimon who's battling him-who is he again, Henry?" Rika asked, her impatience showing almost instantly.

"That's Guilmon! Have you forgotten already?" Jeri cried from the inside of Henry's shirt which by now was pretty soaked with her tears.

"No! Of course not." For once, Rika wanted everything that had happened since they'd gotten to the Digital World-being separated from Takato and the others numerous amounts of times, her breakup with Takato, the loss of Jeri's partner Leomon and Takato finally snapping, which brought about the creation of Megidramon-to be a dream.

"There's only one person who can snap Guilmon out of his crazed state, and as much as I can't talk to him right now, and as much as I've got to apologize for that stupid reason I gave him, he's the only one who can do this!" Rika broke into a run toward the cliff Takato and his clone were trapped on, Jeri and Henry running after her.

"Gargomon, keep an eye on the others!"

"Just tell me you really want me to look after Susie, okay? Try covering up the truth with a teensy little lie..." Gargomon muttered.







"This is all I need right now..." "Takato" thought heatedly, struggling to hide his anger at that moment from Takato and "Guilmon," who'd reappeared via his orders. "...I give this wannabe leader a chance at greatness, and what does he do? He's gotta 'think about it.' And I'm supposed to be the bad one?"

"Calumon? What are you doing over here?" Takato asked in slight surprise, looking down at the minute, In-Training Digimon at his feet.

"That new Digimon Guilmon changed into is scary! Could I stay here with you? The others aren't even paying attention to me."

Considering Calumon's silent plea, Takato nodded in agreement, once again feeling that ache inside his heart.

"Well? What's your decision?"







This is my December, these are my snow-covered dreams

This is me pretending, this is all I need!

And I...(just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed)

And I...(take back all the things I said to make you feel like that)

And I...(just wish that I didn't feel like there was something I missed)

And I...(take back all the things that I said to you)

Chorus: And I give it all away just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away to have someone to come home to







Growling defiantly, Megidramon slashed again and again at the Mega Digimon, opening and reopening new wounds onto Beelzemon's chest. Still, he wouldn't bow down in defeat!

"Man, what's it take to get rid of this guy-some rocket launchers?!" Kazu hissed.

"I don't know, but we should all keep an eye out for anything suspicious-"

"Henwy, where'd you go?" Gargomon sweatdropped and screamed in shock as Susie and Lopmon both headed in the same direction that Rika, Jeri and Henry went.

"Ahhhhh! Come back, Susie! You really don't wanna see anything bad happen to good ol' Terriermon, right? Or should I say-" Gargomon cleared his throat and braced himself for what he was about to say next. "-Princess Pretty Pants."

Susie by this time was too far away to hear them, so Gargomon and Renamon-who'd been out surveying the landscape of the Digital World-shot off after them, with Kazu, Kenta and Andromon racing to keep up.







When Rika, Henry and Jeri all made it to the cliffs, they noticed something was slightly amiss-one, the ground had literally started to split; two, both Takato and his clone were standing at the top cliff; and three, Takato's eyes were shining a dark red! Calumon stayed in hiding behind a rock, at Takato's suggestion.

"Takato, what's wrong with you?" Rika barely managed to ask.

"I've been freed-freed from all purgatory and deceit! And now, alongside Beelzemon and our partners, the two Takato shall obliterate the Digital World!"

"You're kidding! When we first got here, you were the one who convinced me to try and help out those Digimon who were being attacked by Beelzemon's bike. Who's always tried to lend a hand in this world or back home? You. Who tried to reach out to Rika first? You. Who kept the team together throughout good times and bad? You." At Henry's words of confidence, Takato faltered, nearly collapsing onto his knees, his eyes seeming to return to their natural brown color.

"No! You're wrong, Henry. Rika never accepted my help, saying that I was nothing but a 'weak Gogglehead.' Who's got the stronger Digimon now, huh Queen?" Takato grinned evilly as Rika had to force herself not to jump up and smack him upside his head.

"And, you guys hardly ever believed in me or my skills! Against Indramon, you both wanted to give up when I said there was a chance to win, and you Henry said 'let the military handle this.' They'd have better luck finding a car thief in the middle of New York traffic than taking care of a stupid Deva! It's all so clear now that I've been looking entirely in the wrong place and with the wrong people for a partnership."

In the distance, Beelzemon was slowly, but surely, gaining the upper hand against Megidramon.

"Darkness Claw!!" The two of them slashed at each other repeatedly until one or the other had to rest. Then the slashing and cutting old wounds would just start all over again.

"What's wrong with you, Takato? You're not the same boy I've known ever since this whole adventure started!" Jeri cried angrily, still showing her tears freely toward Takato, who flinched.

"You've changed-and I don't just mean by being with Rika, I mean by Leomon dying. It's revealed another side of you that you've just kept hiding from the world until now! I looked up to you, in awe of your Tamer skills, and now...I can't even look at you without seeing Megidramon there! You're twice as bad as Guilmon is right now!"

Takato stood there, stunned, as Jeri sank down to her knees and cried softly. Henry gazed at his old friend before bending down and holding her close. Throughout all of that, the Tamers hadn't seen Takato and Guilmon's clones leave with Calumon in tow!

The one thing Rika had taken notice of was the fact that Takato's eyes no longer flashed red.







This is my December, this is my time of the year

This is my December, this is all so clear!

Chorus: Give it all away just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away to have someone to come home to

Give it all away just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away to have someone to come home to...

(music instrumentals; song ends)







Takato looked up at the feuding Megidramon and Beelzemon on his far left; at the right, Kazu, Kenta and the others were trying to avoid splitting ground, opening cracks and bursts of hot, molten lava. He felt hot tears come to his eyes, while looking at Rika, gazing into her own eyes.

"I've been a fool. I can't believe I let myself get suckered in like that! I'm sorry, Rika. I'm glad we got to meet. If we hadn't met, we'd probably be under Deva rule by now. And about the link, it really doesn't matter-"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you. What do two people do when they're in love?" Rika asked gently, noticing the Darkness Modify card still in Takato's hand.

"Uh...make out at movies and sneak off against their parents' wishes?" Takato responded, stumped about the whole thing.

"They share everything, Gogglehead-their feelings, their understanding, their confusion, their sweetness, their happiness...as well as their pain, their agony, their torment, their despair and finally, their darkness. That's why we had the link, Takato. What good is being in a relationship if you can't share everything equally with the one you love?" Rika finished her explanation with practiced ease, seeing the others finally cut across the cracks and make their way over to Henry and Jeri.

"So...what are you saying?" Takato spoke up, sliding down to Rika's level and chuckling quietly as she cupped her hand around his chin.

"Despite the pain and the agony...I'm willing to give our relationship another shot if you are." Rika declared, feeling her D-Power glowing brightly with a blue light.

"Always." The second Takato leaned forward and kissed Rika, the Darkness Modify card in his hand vanished, replaced with a regular Modify card. Megidramon had been beaten to near deletion when he deDigivolved back to Guilmon. Beelzemon was about to attack, but an excruciating wave of pain caused him to crumple up onto the ground. Bits and pieces of data flew out of the Mega Digimon's body and headed directly over toward Jeri's blank Digivice. The instant the data seeped inside the Digivice, it shrieked and glowed with intensity as the data reformed entirely back into a completely restored Leomon.

"LEOMON!" Jeri had a broad smile on her face as she ran up and hugged her partner, refusing to let go.

"Jeri, are you okay? The last thing I remember was trying to protect your friends from Beelzemon and then, nothing."

Jeri nodded before turning back toward Takato and Rika who had stopped kissing only moments ago.

"Thank you...both of you!"

Takato nodded before seeing Guilmon in the distance and knowing what had to be done-and hoping he had the power to do it.

"Come on! We've still got work to do."

"What are you talking about, dude? Ahh! Where's Calumon?" Kazu screeched.

"Here!" The Tamers all looked and saw a recovering Beelzemon beside "Takato", "Gallantmon" and Calumon.

"We both want to battle you, and only one-or two-shall win!"

"You wanna fight? Bring it on!" Takato retorted, feeling better than he had in a long time.

"What are you talking about? You don't have any cards-" Henry pointed toward Takato's ruined Modify cards in his pocket, then at the card in his hand. "-except that Red one there. You don't even have your Digivice anymore. How are we going to pull this off?"

"There's gotta be another way to Digivolve, without the cards, without the Digivices and without receiving any pain in return! And I promise you right now, Tamers, I will!" At that second, Takato and Guilmon started glowing intensely before Takato vanished right before their eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, Takato had transformed into data and had been placed inside Guilmon's body.

"Guilmon Warp-Fusion Digivolve to...GALLANTMON!!!"

Rika, Henry, Jeri, Kazu, Kenta, Susie and all the other Digimon-Calumon included-were all in awe at seeing this Digimon for the first time in a long time.

"Amazing, but where'd Takato go?" Rika asked calmly.

"You've destroyed innocent Digimon with your carelessness, and that resulted in our losing Leomon! For that, death shall be the only punishment you shall receive!" Gallantmon rose his sword and was prepared to send the death blow.

"Wait!" Gallantmon quickly turned to see Leomon run up with Jeri and the others. "He's the one who beat me in battle, so I should be the one who gets to delete him."

"Try this." A voice seemed to say from out of nowhere. A Red Modify card suddenly appeared in Jeri's hand.

"What's this?"

"Wow! That's a special card, Jeri. It allows some Digimon-like Guilmon-to reach their Mega level. Apparently, Guilmon won't be needing it anymore. Go on-give it a swipe." Gargomon suggested.

"Okay-this is for you, Leomon."

Digimodify!

"Digimodify! Warp-Digivolution, activate!"

Warp-Digivolution!

"Leomon Warp-Digivolve to...SABERLEOMON!!!"

The Tamers were just as impressed with SaberLeomon as they'd been with Gallantmon and Leomon's return.

"What do you say, Gallantmon-let's bring these guys into justice!"

"Let's."

"Jeri-I would be honored if you would join with us in this battle." SaberLeomon suggested.

"It's a deal!" Jeri hopped onto SaberLeomon's back, ready to swipe some more Modify cards.

"RAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" Roaring with determination, Gallantmon and SaberLeomon raced forward to meet "Gallantmon" and Beelzemon in battle!

Alright! Thanks to a rekindling of Takato and Rika's flame, Leomon's back to normal and both he and Guilmon have reached the Mega level. Can they take on Beelzemon and Gallantmon's clone? And what happened to Takato in the first place? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!