Me: (sighs sadly) As usual, I don't own Digimon...
Rika: Hold on-what's wrong? Usually, you're in an upbeat mood, always yakking away about how much Gogglehead and I love each other.
Me: People, I'm sorry if this chapter isn't my best, like they usually are, but for reasons I must keep to myself, this chapter-and possibly the rest-will have emotional turmoil to reflect how I'm feeling, and some lyrics. I know I keep using "Weathered" by Creed-which I don't own-a lot, but it reflects how I'm feeling right now and how unable-and useless-I think I am concerning someone I care about. No, I don't have a significant other in my life-not anymore. (grits teeth in anger)
Takato: Oh, man...I'm sorry.
Rika: We both are.
Terriermon: Momentai! Things will work out in the end.
Me: (grins weakly) Thanks. That's what I heard earlier, but differently: God has ways of making
things work out.
Digimon Tamers: Tamers V.S. Dracula
Chapter XIII-Rika's Torment
"How can you be so cold? You're not even sorry for what you did!!!" -Takato Matsuki
"I just can't let anyone else get hurt because of me..." -Jeri Katou, "The Battle Within"
When the Tamers were headed home, they'd forgotten one little detail that had gotten himself
trapped in a drawer at the hotel-Calumon! Luckily for him, the Tamers realized he was missing,
so Rika and Renamon volunteered to go and find them. Takato was worried that they wouldn't
make it back in time, but Rika convinced him she would be okay. It took some time, but
eventually, Rika and Kyubimon found their little pal and headed back to the airport. Takato
himself had nearly missed the plane ride home, but thanks to a forklift, and a surprise
appearance by Rika, Kyubimon and Calumon, the remaining Tamers and Digimon got onto the
plane and are now successfully heading home! Welcome back, guys!
"Help! Someone, please help me!" Rika screamed out, not caring about the tears that were streaking down her cheeks as she carried Takato's limp body inside a hospital, knowing that Renamon, Guilmon and Calumon were right behind her.
"What's the problem?"
Fighting her tears, Rika mustered up enough energy to speak. "My...boyfriend, he accidentally, uh...cut himself, and he's losing a lot of blood..." At that instant, Rika fought back a sob of indignation and pain, so she stopped talking.
"Okay, we'll send someone down right away. Here, let me take him."
Immediately, Rika shook her head, grasping onto Takato's hand with a firm grip. "I'm going with him, and you can't stop me!"
"Okay. If you'll follow me?"
Motioning for the Digimon to remain where they were at, Rika solemnly walked with the receptionist, keeping a firm grip on Takato's hand and eyeing the thin trail of blood trickling down his neck.
"This is all my fault! If I hadn't been so heartless with him earlier this morning, he could've concentrated on the battle at hand, and he would've noticed Dracula behind him..."
Sniffling silently, Rika jarred herself out of her thoughts and forced herself to remember what
had just occurred only three days following their return from Transylvania...
I lie awake on a long, dark night-I can't seem to tame my mind!
Slings and arrows are killing me inside
Maybe I can't accept the life that's mine
No!
Maybe I can't accept the life that's mine...
Simple living is my desperate cry; been trading love with indifference, yeah, it suits me just fine
I try to hold on, but I'm calloused to the bone
Maybe that's why I feel alone-yeah, maybe that's why I feel so alone...
Flashback-Three days after their return from Transylvania
"Rika! There's someone here to see you."
Rika groaned with deep irritation in her voice as she got out of bed, barely remembering to throw on a nightgown. Their parents had truly been surprised when they'd showed up-unexpectedly-out of the blue a couple of nights ago. And, her mother, her grandmother and Takato's parents had enjoyed the presents they'd gotten them, although the eight pieces of meat left something to be desired. Right at 7:00 the following morning, she and Takato had been hustled out of bed-by their mothers, at their separate homes-to get to work. For Rika, that meant getting changed and catching a train just to get down to Takato's part of town. From 7 to 6, the two of them had to help with bread, making it as well as shipments of the "Guilmon" bread, which Takato's father had finally completed during their stay abroad. Guilmon-and Calumon-were estactic about it and nearly bowled Takato and Rika over to get to the first shipment! The following day-helping Rika's mother whilst she modeled for potential agents-hadn't gone too badly, except for when Rika and Takato had to pose. That meant dressing up. Takato hadn't minded too much-unlike Rika, he liked striking a pose for others, at times. The only two reasons Rika hadn't ditched this place like she'd had before (A/N: The episode where Kyubimon Digivolved into Taomon should jog your memories) were simple, yet easy: The main reason was because Takato was doing this with her. As for the second, it had been part of the agreement she'd made before they'd left-if she and Takato got to go on vacation with their friends, they would do whatever was required for at least a month.
"If this is Ryo, looking for another reason for me to beat him into oblivion, getting up this early is a blessing in disguise." Rika thought bitterly before opening the door.
"Good morning, sweetie! Rise and shine!"
At that moment, not only did Rika blush-out of embarrassment and anger-but she also yanked Takato inside of her house-by his ear!
"Let's get one thing straight-don't ever call me 'sweetie' or any other type of pet names you've got thought up in that head of yours! Got it, Gogglehead?" Rika hissed under her breath, fully awake.
"Uh, s-sure, Rika. No problem." Takato stammered.
"Now, why'd you come over at 6:30 in the morning? We aren't supposed to work at your parents bakery for another 30 minutes."
"Oh! I just wanted to tell you that I had a dream last night, and it involved...us."
Rika's eyes narrowed slowly. She remembered mentioning to Takato that if he'd told anyone else about the previous dream, she'd send him to dream land for good. Of course, that hadn't apparently stopped him from having anymore dreams about her-the one he'd had concerning the battle in Transylvania was proof enough.
"And what were we doing in this dream of yours?"
"We were taking on Dracula again, and-"
Takato gulped as Rika yanked him forward by the scruff of his neck, irritation clearly evident in her eyes and by the tone of her voice.
"Dracula was beaten, remember? Together, we took him down and watched him turn to dust on the streets of Transylvania. There's no possible way he could come back."
"But, I'm serious! I just watched an hour-long TV show last night, and after the good guy-well, actually, it was a good girl, but anyway-when she beat the vampire, his dust collected and came back, numerous times!" Takato objected. (A/N: That's for you, Frozen Phoenix!)
Rika scoffed in response. "Please! You're telling me your whole theory is based on a TV show?"
"Well, yeah. And as my girlfriend, I would've thought you would be more supportive of this! What if it comes true?"
"Dreams are part of our subconscious mind, Takato. Your subconscious is probably telling you that due to jet lag, you want to make things up; therefore, you want to believe Dracula came back from the dead-again."
In shock and amazement, Takato stood there, tears forming in his eyes before falling. A second later, out of either instinct or anger, his eyes dilated.
"Out of everyone I know, besides Guilmon, I hoped you would believe me. I guess relationships aren't what they're cracked up to be!"
Turning, Takato ran out the door, making sure to slam it behind him. Rika told herself that she
would apologize to Takato later, after she'd gotten a few more minutes of sleep.
Chorus: 'Cause me, I'm rusted and weathered, barely holding together!
I'm covered with skin that peels, and it just won't heal!
I'm rusted and weathered, barely holding together!
I'm covered with skin that peels, and it just won't heal...
No! It just won't heal, no, no...
Saddened, and calmer than he'd been a few seconds ago, Takato started crying softly as Guilmon came out of hiding from the alleyway.
"What's wrong, Takatomon? Didn't Rika believe you when you told her about the dream?"
"No...and I should've realized it from the start..." Takato wiped some tears off of his face while hugging Guilmon as best he could with the sun blaring down on them.
"Rika may show emotion whenever we have a moment, but if you have a problem and you try to go to her with it, she'll shut you out!"
"That may have to do with the fact that you showed up at her house this early to begin with."
Gasping quietly, Takato and Guilmon looked up to see Renamon appearing behind them.
"I didn't know she was still asleep! If I'd known, I would've stayed at home until she came down." Takato protested.
"The truth of the matter is that even as we speak, I'm sure Rika is contemplating what you told her and is attempting to think up a heartfelt apology for acting the way she did."
Raising an eyebrow upward, Takato smirked slightly at that comment. "No offense, Renamon, but Rika and apologies don't mix."
"Probably not, but Rika will see this as a challenge, and she isn't one to back away from a
challenge."
The sun shines and I can't avoid the light-I think I'm holding on to life too tight
Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust
Sometimes I feel like giving up, yeah!
I said, sometimes I feel like giving up!
Rika grunted in irritation and worry as she paced around in her room at that moment in time, dressed for the day and noticing her grandmother eyeing her out of the corner of her eye.
"I don't know what to say to him! If it was about how I felt about him, or if it was about our wedding, I would probably have something to say within two minutes. But, this is the first time I've shut him out, and it hurts! It hurts even deeper than any evil Digimon's attacks could do to us..."
Seeing the torment her granddaughter was going through, Rika's grandmother smiled softly while placing a hand onto her shoulder. "The answer will come to you when you least expect it to come. Now, if you do want to apologize to him, you'd better hurry and catch up to him before he gets on that train."
Nodding, Rika hugged her grandmother before grabbing her Digivice and cards and running out
the door. "Thanks, Grandma!"
Deep underground, in the tunnels the Digimon had been forced to hide in following the attack done by Indramon, Dracula smiled evilly to himself. Ever since he'd arrived, Shinjuku had been an interesting complex to visit, and he was sure he would enjoy himself, especially after discovering his newly acquired powers.
"Once this is over and I have complete control over this place, I must thank my army for giving
me what I needed in order to help them adjust to their new lives as members of the undead."
Later on that afternoon, Takato had asked if he could skip the rest of the day and go off to think for a while. Curious about it, but knowing he would be okay, his parents agreed. Making sure Guilmon hadn't eaten up the entire box of Guilmon bread, Tamer and Digimon left, the former barely even giving Rika a glance. Rika humphed while turning away.
"If that's how he wants to play it, fine! Two can play the silent game, Gogglehead."
Takato and Guilmon had went back to Shinjuku Park, mostly because this was pretty much the place where it had all began-Takato receiving his red D-Power, which officially made him a Digimon Tamer! And it had all come true because of a blue card. This was also where it had supposedly ended, when they'd returned after saving Jeri and Calumon from the D-Reaper, and they'd all had to say goodbye to their Digimon. A month later, however, they'd come back, with no explanation at all.
"Takato, why is the sun turning black again, like it did when we visited Transylvania?"
"Huh?" Confused, Takato looked up and saw that an eclipse was occurring yet again!
"Great! This makes it the third eclipse I've seen ever since I was sent forward in time. Is this actually supposed to happen, or-?"
"No, my young adversary, it isn't. Diamond Storm!!"
Takato and Guilmon barely had time to turn before they were blasted to the ground by one of
Renamon's own attacks!
Chorus: 'Cause me, I'm rusted and weathered, barely holding together!
I'm covered with skin that peels, and it just won't heal!
I'm rusted and weathered, barely holding together!
I'm covered with skin that peels, and it just won't heal...it just won't heal, no...
"Ahhh!" Rika cried out as she felt pain radiate up throughout her entire body, and she instantly knew what had happened-that, and the sun seemed to vanish behind the moon.
"Rika? Is everything all right?"
A part of Rika had almost expected that to be Takato, but how could it be him if she'd just felt the pain of whatever had just hit him? Looking up, she saw the concerned face of Takato's mother.
"No, ma'am. It was nothing. Could I go and try and find Takato? He seems to be taking up a lot of time, and-"
"Say no more. His father and I were once your age, so I understand. Go on."
Rika couldn't help but blush at that statement-it sounded like something her own mother would say. Even so, she also couldn't help but chide Takato as Renamon appeared by her side while racing as fast as she could toward where she expected him to be.
"Figures that Takato couldn't keep himself out of trouble while he's away from me!"
"PyroBlaster!!"
Growlmon's main attack hadn't even harmed Dracula, mainly because he'd dodged it by using a Talisman Spell move-one that Taomon frequently used on occasion during their previous battles-which deflected the massive fire attack!
Moments after they'd been blasted to the ground, Takato felt pain throughout his entire body, and he assumed that Rika had to have felt it, too. Eventually, she would make her way here. So, he managed to make it to a payphone and called Henry, telling him to come to the park as fast as he could! That's when the vampire ambushed them again, but Takato had used a Modify card, and Guilmon Digivolved straight to the Champion level.
"How'd you get all of Renamon's attacks, anyway?" Takato demanded heatedly a t the Dark Prince.
"That's for me to know and you to-eventually-find out, all in good time. What you can know is this: I can use any of her attacks, but to the opponent, they all feel like they were hit by a Mega Digimon!"
"That's comforting to know." Takato quipped cynically.
"Stay away from our buddies, you legendary Dead Boy! Bunny Pummel!!"
"Dragon Wheel!!"
Takato and Growlmon turned to see Rika and Henry, running up alongside Kyubimon and Gargomon, who'd just launched their attacks directly at Dracula. Laughing, the vampire chose that moment to reveal one of his own moves.
"Talisman Spell!!"
A second later, the attacks were deflected, just like Growlmon's had been!
"That was one of my Ultimate attacks!" Kyubimon exclaimed in shock.
"Okay-how'd you copy Kyubimon's attacks?" Rika demanded angrily, stepping forward besides Takato, her fists clenched at her sides.
Disappearing, the Dark Prince grinned while explaining how things had unfolded. "It was quite simple, really. When I drank your blood and made you one of the undead while you were generous enough to visit my humble abode-"
"After you kidnapped my boyfriend in the middle of the night!" Rika snapped.
"-for some reason, your blood wasn't as normal like others' blood would be. Your blood has some tendrils of data, possibly from when you first, how did you say it? 'Biomerged,' that's it. When you first Biomerged with your partner and created that Mega, Sakuyamon."
"Your point is...?" Gargomon added, holding up his guns at that time.
"I now know all of your friend's attacks, from Rookie to Mega! And, as I explained to your leader, I could launch any attack, and to the opponent, it would feel like they'd been hit by a Mega Digimon! Such as this, although it is a Mega's attack, but it will do as a demonstration: Spirit Strike!!"
"Ahhhhhh!!!" Takato and Growlmon cried out as they were struck from the side, although to the others, it looked like nothing but dead air had lashed out at them!
"Takato, get up!" Rika yelled out while holding her sides in pain.
"Takato, hurry! He could be on his way." Henry added.
"Too late-I've already claimed my prize." Dracula reappeared and picked up the unconscious Tamer. Luckily for Rika, it just felt like she had a humongous headache.
"Let him go right now! PyroBlaster!!" Regaining his footing, the Champion Digimon fired his most powerful attack once again, to have it deflected by a certain Crystal Sphere attack. Laughing out loud, Dracula and Takato flew off at that instant.
"Takato! Bring him back right now before we have to get rough!" Rika screamed angrily as she
jumped onto Kyubimon's back and the two of them raced off, trying to keep up with the evil
vampire.
The day reminds me of you, the night hides your truth
The Earth is a voice speaking to you
Take all this pride and leave it behind, 'cause one day it ends, one day we die...
Believe what you will, that is your right, but I choose to win, I choose to fight-to fight!
Before they knew it, Rika and Kyubimon found themselves back at the tunnel where they'd been forced to hide out at following their attack against Indramon.
"Why would he bring us here?" Rika whispered under her breath.
"Maybe he's chosen this spot as an ideal location to hide out from the sun. We should be careful."
"You can say that again!"
"Huh?" Amazed, Rika opened her backpack to reveal Calumon! The In-Training Digimon had snuck aboard and had hidden in her bag the entire time, happily munching on some Guilmon bread.
"Calumon, what are you doing here?"
"I thought I could help out with the mean, old vampire, Rika. I could make Guilmon, Renamon and the others Digivolve." Calumon explained. "Plus, this Guilmon bread tastes yummy! Is there peanut butter inside here, huh?"
"I think so. Okay, you can come along, but stay out of sight."
Moments later, Rika and Kyubimon were sneaking quietly inside the tunnels under the city until they heard Dracula's voice.
"I was wondering when I would get the chance to drink your blood, and surprisingly enough, you gave me the opportunity I needed by appearing right in front of me!"
"And yet, you were invisible. That's a camouflage trick I've gotta teach Guilmon."
Rika grinned slightly as she and Kyubimon crept up on the two of them, focusing on their voices at the time.
"Ah, well. Now, it is time to feast. Don't worry-I won't make you into one of my army of Tamers after all-you would be much too dense to even last a day as a vampire. So, I'll just drain you, learn your partner's attacks and dump your body."
Rika gasped in fear and pain as Dracula bent down and bit Takato's neck, slowly, but surely, draining his blood at that time. Her mind totally blank, Rika looked around for anything she could use as a weapon. Surprisingly enough, she found a stick on the ground near her. (A/N: Remind you of when Renamon first Digivolved to Kyubimon?)
With tears blurring her view, she picked the stick up and ran forward as fast as she could,
Kyubimon lingering long enough to notice Growlmon's appearance.
Chorus: 'Cause me, I'm rusted and weathered, barely holding together!
I'm covered with skin that peels, and it just won't heal!
I'm rusted and weathered, barely holding together!
I'm covered with skin that peels, and it just won't...
Covered with skin that peels, and it just won't...
Covered with skin that peels, and it just won't heal...! (song fades out; ends on a chord)
"TAKATO!!! GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU PASTY-FACED JERK!" Rika screamed while wielding the stick like Gallantmon would his lance and stabbed Dracula directly in the back. Instantly, Takato slumped to the ground as Dracula realized precisely where he'd been stabbed at-the heart.
The vampire laughed quietly as he started to dissolve into dust. "Thank you, my dear. The next time I return, I shall know the attacks of your most powerful Digimon yet..." His sentence was interrupted as he disappeared, the dust falling onto the ground.
Ignoring the feeling of dread, and the feeling that she had these same marks back on her neck, Rika bent down and held Takato in a sitting postion.
"Takato! Gogglehead, you'd better talk to me! Please-I'm sorry for not believing you earlier, but I'm not that hospitable at 6:30 in the morning." A second or two passed before Rika hefted Takato's body over her shoulder.
"We've gotta get him some help! Let's go!"
End flashback
As Rika held onto Takato's body, she felt the tears return full force, and she made no move to stop them.
"Takato...I know you can't hear me, mostly 'cause we don't have that kind of link like Henry and Jeri do. But, I have to get this off my chest while I can actually remember it...I'm sorry. I know I said it earlier, but the way I said it was uncalled for. If I'd just listened to you, you probably wouldn't be here right now, a heartbeat away from death and taking away the only reason I had to live...No matter what happens, I'll stand by your side and I will always love you..."
Uh-oh! With Takato temporarily out of commission, how are the Tamers gonna handle the big, bad vampire? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!
