Me: I don't own Digimon, nor do I own Linkin Park's song, "Points of Authority!" This song, after listening to it, definitely fits with this upcoming chapter. Ahh!
Rika: (puts me in a headlock) I knew you wouldn't be able to hide from me forever, so here's the deal-you get that clone out of Takato and Guilmon by the end of this chapter, and I'll let you go.
Me: Had...plans to do...just that...could you let go now?
Rika: To remind you to not to do anything like this to my Gogglehead, you'll stay like this for the entire chapter.
Me: Just...great.
Digimon Tamers: Takato V.S. Takato
Chapter XII-The Price of Freedom
"You don't have to worry about your mother being overprotective. With a lot of work she has to do in the bakery, she can only worry about her husband." -Takato Matsuki
"Don't be embarrassed that your mother's a model. Maybe you got your tomboy chic from your father." -Rika Nonaka
"Your partner's always around you, at home, at school, in the park, etc. and you have to deal
with his mindless chatter. At least you can practice your comebacks on him." -Henry Wong
Just when the Tamers start planning to head home, trouble strikes from many unexpected
places! First, Kenta finally finds his Digimon partner MarineAngemon while hunting with Susie
for some flowers, which isn't so bad. The next day is when things go south. Ryo tries to warn the
Tamers that Takato's clone is back, but Rika doesn't believe him. That changes when the Tamers
end up running into the Tamer of Darkness seconds later! That's when something horrible
happens-Takato loses control of his body! The Tamer of Darkness ends up possessing Takato's
body and his soul! To make things even worse, he Biomerges with Guilmon and resurrects
Megidramon! During a battle against MegaGargomon, Beelzemon captures Calumon and ends
up seriously giving the Mega Digimon a beating! Finally, the two head back to the Real World-after Megidramon seriously injures Henry and Terriermon! Can the Tamer team find their own
way back to the Real World and save their missing comrades? I hope so!
(Forfeit the game before somebody else takes you out of the frame and puts your name to shame
Cover up your face; you can't run the race-the pace is too fast, you just won't last!)
Japan was still in the midst of repairs from the attack done to West Shinjuku by Vikararamon. Yamaki had initiated a meeting of the Tamers' families-those who could actually make it-near the final battle the Tamers had been through in the Real World. Out of the Tamers' families, Takato's parents had closed the bakery that day, Rika's mother hadn't went into a photo shoot in a while, Henry and Susie's parents had seconded the motion for the meeting and Jeri's father had closed the shop that same day. Both Kazu and Kenta's parents couldn't make it, so in their place, they sent-surprise, surprise-Ms. Asagi to attend the meeting.
"Okay-we all know why we're here: to attempt to reestablish communication with the children and to safely get them home, preferably without their Digimon, but I don't think they'd be willing to part with them that easily. Any suggestions?"
Before any of the parents could suggest anything, bolts of electricity lashed out at the skies, changing the color from a bright blue to a dark red.
"What's up with the sky?" Mrs. Matsuki asked. Her question was answered when Beelzemon, Calumon and Megidramon appeared, and within seconds of their appearance, panic struck out. To the surprise-and shock-of Takato's parents, Megidramon suddenly spoke to them in the voice of the Tamer of Darkness!
"Hi, Mom, Dad! I'm home!"
Back in the Digital World, the Tamers were trying to come up with a worthwhile solution to getting the entire team back home so they could not only save Calumon, but free Takato and Guilmon from the Tamer of Darkness! So far, they hadn't come up with anything.
"I've got it! Why don't we all hold our Digivices out and think of all the good things Takato's done for us or the Digital World?" Jeri asked. Rika had to admit-that was a pretty good idea.
"That just might work." Renamon said.
"Has he done anything good? By my count, his anger over Leomon's death brought Megidramon into the picture, right? And, he was cloned, so that's another negative mark-"
Kazu's tirade was interrupted as Rika launched herself at him, grabbing him by the throat and slowly, but surely, choked him.
"You're supposed to be one of Takato's friends, right? By my count, you've done practically nothing but insult him ever since we got here! I may have said he was weak, but I've always respected him and his skills-even if I never admitted that to him to begin with. You, on the other hand-"
"Okay, I was wrong! Could you let go, please?" Kazu gasped.
"He did say, 'please,' Rika." Jeri replied. Narrowing her eyes, Rika reluctantly released her hold on Kazu.
"By the way, Henry and I were cloned too."
"Come on, people-'tis just a little scratch, on the entire city! Double Impact!!" Beelzemon laughed as he fired shot after shot at unsuspecting citizens and at buildings, whether they were occupied or not.
Laughing evilly, Megidramon rammed his entire body against multiple buildings, destroying them and causing havoc in downtown Tokyo!
"Come on! We've got to figure out a way to bring our children back!" Mr. Wong yelled.
"That voice..." Everyone turned to see Mrs. Matsuki, her eyes brimming with tears. "...it was Takato's, wasn't it? How could this have happened to him?"
"Hmm..." Yamaki could only assume that some outside force had done this to the young child
and was now forcing him to do unspeakable things. He relayed this information to the
tearstricken Matsuki family, then turned toward his comlink. He had to get this information to
the Tamers, unless...the boy had his own comlink on him! And if he did, the message would fall
on deaf ears. That was a chance he was willing to take.
"Hey, check it out! We're receiving a message from Yamaki!" Terriermon exclaimed.
"How? I thought Takato had the comlink on him." Kenta objected.
"Not after last night-for some reason, Takato gave it to me, saying that he was worried something would happen and if it did, he wanted me to have it." Rika explained. "What's it say?"
"Oh-now you're talking to us, after we almost deleted your boyfriend, huh?"
"What does it say?!"
"Okay, okay-can't anybody take a joke around here? Yamaki wants us to know that Takato's been possessed by some outside force, in the shape of a dragon and along with someone that looks like a biker, they're trashing Tokyo!"
"We knew that, but we didn't know they'd already gotten back!" Rika responded.
"That's it-Jeri, Susie, hang on. We're gonna try your idea and let's hope it works!" Henry declared.
The Tamers all eyed each other, then held onto their Digimon as they pulled out their Digivices and held them up into the sky.
"You coming with us?" Rika remarked to Ryo.
"You're with him, that's true-but he's a pretty good Tamer. I'm not gonna stand by and watch you guys get all the glory, that's for sure!"
"Takato's been a true part of the team ever since the beginning. I'm not going to just wait here and hope for this to blow over!" Henry said quietly. A second later, his Digivice glowed brightly, and he and Terriermon vanished.
"Takato's been my friend for a long time, and even though his determination ended up bringing in Megidramon, he had good intentions." Jeri whispered.
"That angwy kid's been bothering me and Pwincess Pwetty Pants for a while, but he always kept Henwy out of twouble." Susie responded sweetly.
"Chumly may be a little nervous when it comes to his girlfriend, but he had the guts to admit his feelings when they came up-which is more than what I can say!" Kazu said briefly.
"Takato was always a good friend when it came to the card game-and he even beat Kazu once by thinking and putting together a good deck of cards!" Kenta added.
"Even if I don't know Takato that well, he's one of the decent ones, one of the good ones. I can't just sit back and let him be tainted by evil." Ryo said.
Rika held her breath for a while before letting it out. "Gogglehead-what to say about him? He's my everything in life-my opposite, my artist, my missing half, my soulmate. He's someone I couldn't do without. If anything bad were to happen to him now, or if he did the unthinkable and died on me, I would probably have to kill myself just to be with him! Just hang on, Takato-you are strong, no matter what anyone says, and we'll pull through this...together."
At that moment, the Tamers all found themselves back in the Real World, with their Digimon by
their sides.
"Well, well, well-if it isn't the Tamers! What kept you?"
Narrowing her eyes again, Rika looked up to see Megidramon alongside Beelzemon, who was still holding Calumon captive!
"I've got one thing to say to you-give Takato back, and we'll let you go in peace!"
"Ha! And be bodiless? I don't think so! Why don't we make this harder for you?" A second later, Megidramon deDigivolved back into Takato and Guilmon, the Rookie Digimon regaining control of himself at that second.
"Renamon-get Guilmon out of there!" Rika demanded.
"Everyone-scatter! Kazu, get Susie and Lopmon over to my parents now-the rest of us will handle Beelzemon." Henry advised.
Susie was about to object, but the look in her brother's eyes told her there was no persuading him to let her stay, not this time.
"You hate this, don't you-the fact that I can hurt you just by speaking in his voice? Don't you want me to feel your pain, your agony, your torment? Just take this, and stab me with it. Here-I'll make it easier for you." At that moment, Takato slid the knife across his wrist, instantly drawing blood.
"Stop it! You're not hurting yourself, you're hurting Takato! I won't let you cause him anymore pain." Rika declared in a quiet voice.
"Really? Then all you have to do is attack." The knife, slick with Takato's blood, was dropped at Rika's feet.
Shaking slightly, Rika knew that it could end swiftly-one jab, and Takato could break free from
his clone, but what if instead, she caused him even more pain?
You love the way I look at you-while taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through
You take away, if I give in
My life, my pride is broken!
Rika looked back up at Takato, but she saw the darkness in his eyes, and she knew the Tamer of Darkness was in control. A moment passed, and she saw the faintest shade of brown reappearing within his irises.
"Please, Rika-Guilmon and I just destroyed part of Tokyo. How can you just pass that by as nothing? You know what's the right thing to do-kill me."
"NO! That's not the way this is supposed to happen. Quit acting like some sort of brooding hero, Gogglehead, 'cause you're not like that. You've always been someone to me, even if I never appreciated it at first. You told me, once upon a time, that you would take any pain I had and accept it as your own. Let me do that for you now. Let me share this agony with you. Together, we can beat your clone for good!"
A moment passed as Rika eyed Takato, hoping he would fight a little longer. Another moment
passed as Guilmon and Renamon came in, ready to help out in anyway.
Chorus: You like to think you're never wrong...(You live what you learn)
You have to act like you're someone...(You live what you learn)
You want someone to hurt like you...(You live what you learn)
You want to share what you've been through! (You live what you learn...learn...learn...learn...)
That moment was shattered as MegaGargomon and SaberLeomon were tossed in between them, Beelzemon flying above their heads!
"Hey, Rika-catch!" MegaGargomon took the time to toss Calumon-who'd squirmed out of Beelzemon's grasp when he'd caught sight of Henry, Terriermon, Jeri and Leomon Biomerging at the same time-over toward Rika, who dived forward and caught the tiny In-Training Digimon.
"I'll look out for him, Rika. Keep trying to reach him." Renamon advised.
When Rika looked back over at Takato, his eyes were flashing red once again.
"Trust me on this, Nonaka-I'm not merely doing this to revenge myself against Matsuki, but against you. Can't clones share the same feelings as the original? Tell me-can they?"
Rika would've laughed if the situation was different, but it wasn't, so she refrained herself.
"You destroyed my reason for living-when you deleted your clone, you broke a part of myself down, and now-I'm gonna do that to you by making you do the one thing you wouldn't do! YAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Takato suddenly leaped upward, snatched the knife from the ground and stabbed Rika with it straight through the stomach!
"Ahhhhh!" Rika collapsed to her knees in pain as the redness in Takato's eyes faded away.
"Rika!" Temporarily regaining control of himself, Takato yanked the knife out of Rika's stomach, the blood pouring out immediately. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-Are you okay?"
Blinded by anger, pain, and sadness, Rika found strength to stand up and punch Takato, sending him to the ground! Once he got back up, his eyes were shining red once more.
"That's the spirit-take your anger out on me! Come on-you always wanted to fight with Matsuki,
so here's your one and only chance!"
You love the things I say I'll do-the way I'll hurt myself again just to get back at you
You take away when I give in
My life, my pride is broken!
"Surround him, MegaGargomon!"
Even tag teamed, SaberLeomon and MegaGargomon couldn't stop Beelzemon, who kept disappearing and reappearing throughout the air, repeatedly firing round after round at the two Biomerged Mega Digimon.
"And now, the finale-Darkness Claw!!"
SaberLeomon screamed in pain as he was hit hard by that attack and was forced to deDigivolve back into Jeri and Leomon!
"Jeri, hang on!" Henry's voice yelled from inside MegaGargomon. Leomon regained his senses in time to grab Jeri and land safely on the ground.
"Get her to her family, Leomon-and hurry!" Nodding, the Champion Digimon raced off.
"Now-are you gonna give it a try, or are you just gonna run off?"
"This is for Takato and Jeri! Gargo Missiles!!"
Growling deep within his throat, MegaGargomon fired his main attack directly at Beelzemon, who quickly flew up in the sky again and avoided the attack. Both Henry and Terriermon winced as they heard the attack topple a building over.
"Whoa-you guys leveled a building! Maybe you should think about working for us, but I don't think you would. Double Impact!!"
MegaGargomon cried out as he was caught off guard and was hit repeatedly by the attack and was forced to deDigivolve back into Henry and Terriermon!
"Hang on, son!"
To Henry's surprise, his father managed to jump up-once they'd fallen a considerable level down-and catch them in time. Susie, Lopmon, Yamaki and Mrs. Wong were waiting.
"Are you okay, son?"
"We'll live, thanks."
"Yeah. Momentai, right Henry?" Terriermon said with a smile.
"Right." At that instant, they caught wind of a scream that didn't sound normal-it sounded like
the cry of death.
Ryo and Cyberdramon flew in and managed to tackle Beelzemon while he was caught off guard.
"Please! After what happened before, you think he'd learn. Guess not. Darkness Claw!!"
"Colossal Claw!!" The two attacks collided before Beelzemon lashed out, striking Cyberdramon and sending him and Ryo down hard!
"Think we still have a chance?" Ryo asked weakly. Not even acknowleging his presence, Cyberdramon growled while leaping back toward the Mega Digimon.
"Colossial Claw!!"
"Double Impact!!" The Ultimate Digimon shrieked in pain as he was taken down by the barrage of attacks. Ryo gaped in worry as Cyberdramon deDigivolved into Monodramon!
"Now...who's next?"
Knowing this wasn't a battle he could win, Ryo picked up his partner, then after seeing the
direction Henry and his family were heading, raced off to catch up.
It took a while, but Takato's parents and Rika's mother-and grandmother, who'd finally arrived at the location-found their children, locked in a deadly battle: one, blinded by anger and pain, the other possessed by an evil enemy. Once Guilmon, Renamon and Calumon saw the anxious spectators, they ran over toward them.
"This may take too long to explain, so here's the short version-Takato's been possessed, and now he and Rika are locked in combat." Renamon said quickly.
"Wow-that really was short!" Guilmon marveled with ease.
"I see being merged with Takato's clone didn't leave any side effects."
"Excuse me-our son has a clone?" Mr. Matsuki finally found his voice, but Yamaki, along with the other parents, and the rest of the Tamers entered in, Beelzemon waiting patiently up in the sky.
"I'll take it from here." Yamaki replied.
Chorus: You like to think you're never wrong...(You live what you learn)
You have to act like you're someone...(You live what you learn)
You want someone to hurt like you...(You live what you learn)
You want to share what you've been through! (You live what you learn...)
(Forfeit the game before somebody else takes you out of the frame and puts your name to shame
Cover up your face-you can't run the race; the pace is too fast, you just won't last!)
(Forfeit the game before somebody else takes you out of the frame-puts your name to shame
Cover up your face-you can't run the race; the pace is too fast, you just won't last!)
After minutes of intense battling, both the Tamer of Darkness and Rika were bloodied, and a heartbeat away from death, although, it wasn't really his body, merely Takato's. Nevertheless, both Tamers were extremely hurt and were barely able to stand up.
"Just stopping now? I'm getting my second wind." Rika joked sarcastically while keeping her knees from buckling underneath her.
"Unlike you, I've got plenty of energy. You only have enough energy for one shot-take it." The Tamer of Darkness tossed the knife one last time at Rika's feet. She saw it, and considered ending this clone's reign of terror for good.
"Come on-you've always been strong! Or has being linked to my goody-two shoes left you soft? Remember-all others are mere obstacles in your way, and I, the Tamer of Darkness, am in your way. To please Takato, all you have to do is kill me."
Having sensitive ears, Renamon heard everything spoken, and she started forward.
"Rika, don't! It's a trick. That's been his plan all along-don't fall for it!"
"All others are mere obstacles..." Picking up the knife, Rika lunged forward and, just as the
redness in Takato's eyes vanished, she stabbed Takato with the knife, her blood mingling with
his.
Chorus: You like to think you're never wrong...(You live what you learn)
You have to act like you're someone...(You live what you learn)
You want someone to hurt like you...(You live what you learn)
You want to share what you've been through! (You live what you learn...)
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The Tamers cried out in worry and fear as they all heard Takato's scream of anguish. This time, however, it wasn't a battle for control that he'd lost, but trust. As Rika's anger faded away, the Tamer of Darkness relinquished control of Takato's limp body-that fell to the cracked ground-and floated behind Rika, hissing, "You've done it-you've not only stopped me, but you've helped me fulfill my purpose-to have the Digimon Queen kill the only one who's ever put his own life on the line for you! You can't say you've never done anything wrong now...you always thought you were someone important, but you can't say that now. Others can share your pain with you now, but that's all they will share-the pain you've brought upon everybody!" The Tamer of Darkness laughed evilly as Rika cried out and pulled the knife out of Takato's body, feeling for a pulse.
"Takato? Are you still there? Please, speak to me!"
"I know, Rika...it wasn't your fault, nor was it my fault or Guilmon's...Don't blame yourself..."
"Don't you dare leave me, Gogglehead." Rika croaked out, stroking his hair with a hand covered in blood.
"I won't, but...I've got to do something...No matter what, Rika Nonaka, I'll always love you..." Takato Matsuki sighed deeply as Rika leaned down and kissed him passionately, everyone else wondering what had transpired. Then, his head fell back onto Rika's outstretched hand, a look of contentment on his face.
"Takato? Takato, answer me! You just promised you wouldn't leave me!" Rika struggled to hide her emotions, but after turning and seeing Jeri crying softly on Henry's shoulders and Takato's parents with tear-filled eyes, she broke down and cried on Takato's bloody shirt.
Unbeknownst to anybody-who were all in tears over his death-Takato's spirit exited his body. Even with that wound he'd been given, Takato could've survived it, but he had one thing he had to do.
"Where are you?! I know you're here!"
The Tamer of Darkness revealed himself, eyeing Takato with a look of joy.
"Finally, you and I get to fight beyond the grave! How 'bout it? One-on-one. Mano a mano! Thou and-"
WHAP! Takato lashed out and struck his clone hard on the temple. One good thing about being a spirit was that you got to pummel other spirits who gave you a really hard time.
"That's for making Rika, Jeri, my friends and my parents cry over me, and for making Rika fight
me to the death!" Takato growled defiantly.
Chorus: You like to think you're never wrong...(Forfeit the game; you live what you learn)
You have to act like you're someone...(Forfeit the game; you live what you learn)
You want someone to hurt like you...(Forfeit the game; you live what you learn)
You want to share what you've been through! (You live what you learn...learn...learn...learn...)
(Final chords; song ends abruptly)
The Tamer of Darkness hadn't been prepared for Takato to have this much strength, or to start whaling on him like he was a punching bag!
"After all my own threats, you just don't learn-YOU DON'T MESS WITH RIKA, GUILMON, OR MY FRIENDS!" Takato screamed while repeatedly punching him again and again.
"Just one question-how'd you get so powerful?"
Takato grinned while winding up for one final hit.
"That's easy-you messed with Rika. You wanna possess a body? Here's the perfect test subject!"
WHAM! Takato sent his clone's spirit flying directly into Beelzemon's body! The two of them yelled in shock and pain as the Tamer of Darkness was fused into Beelzemon's body on instinct alone.
"Pineapple head-" Beelzemon rose a gun and aimed it at Takato's head. "-you watch out for yourself, 'cause one day, we'll be back, and you'll get it then!" Growling with anger, the Mega Digimon flew off into the skies.
Takato's eyes narrowed as he declared quietly while jumping back inside his awaiting body, "I'll
be waiting..."
"Rika...?"
Rika lifted her head up and saw Takato, his eyes opening slowly, and a wan smile on his face, but other than the tiny amounts of pain he was receiving, he was fine!
"Takato!" The leader of the Tamers held back a cry as Rika hugged him and repeatedly kissed him over and over on the face.
"Rika-it's good-to see you-too, but-could I have-a moment to breathe?!"
Regaining her composure, Rika pulled away and gave Takato a smile. "Sorry about that-I mean for what happened earlier."
"It's forgotten. Now, if only I had some painkillers..."
"Takatomon!" Takato was steadied by Rika as Guilmon ran up to him.
"Guilmon! I see you're recovering pretty well, too."
"Eskimo Kisses!" Takato laughed quietly as Rika was bombarded with kisses from a joyous Calumon.
"Hey, Calumon-I'm not the one who had a near-death experience, so go hassle Gogglehead for a while!"
"Son?" Takato lifted his gaze from Rika-even if it was hard for him to do so-and saw the extremely happy faces of his parents. Not even hiding his tears, Takato dived forward and hugged them tightly.
"I'm so glad to see you two!" Takato sniffled while eyeing Rika out of the corner of her eye, who'd reunited with her mother and grandmother.
"We're glad to have you-and Guilmon-back and in one piece." Mr. Matsuki noted.
"Mom? Thanks for the note of encouragement. It meant a lot to me." Takato admitted, wiping his tears away.
"I'm just glad to have my baby back home again."
Takato blushed when he realized that Rika was tugging at his hand.
"Oh-that's right! Mom, Dad..." Takato knew that he'd have to at least introduce Rika to his parents, but he'd wished it was under better circumstances, as did Rika. They both noticed that the others had left, probably being happy to be with their own families again.
"You've already met him, Grandma. Mom..."
Turning toward each other at the same time, Takato and Rika chorused, "...there's someone I'd like you to meet."
For now, the Tamers are back home, safe and sound in the Real World! But what's Beelzemon and the Tamer of Darkness got planned for the Tamers now? And how are Takato and Rika's family gonna take the news when they hear that they're together? The answers next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!