Me: Okay, people-two things. First, I don't own Digimon-

Rika: Lucky us!

Me: -Two, this chapter is dedicated to Angst Gurl, for being the 200th reviewer for "Tamers V.S. Dracula!" Also, a new Digimon is introduced in this chapter and an old one returns.

Calumon: (starts rhyming) If you want stories with drama, anguish and romance-she's the author you go to; come on, Rika-let's dance! YAY!

Takato: (laughs weakly) Right...

Rika: I'm not too sure about the dancing, but for everything else...

Me: I know I've used this certain quote before-like in my bio-but after heading to Fanfiction.net earlier and seeing quite a few Ryuuki/Jurato stories-no offense to any of those supporters-we need all the help we can get! Hopefully, the 6th Digimon movie will-and can-provide us with that. There will be a familiar part in this chapter that was from Hirokono's excellent story "Dreaming Of You" though I've added my own bits of inspiration to it.







Digimon Tamers: Tamers V.S. Dracula

Chapter XVIII-Hiding Out







"We can't give up...NOT NOW!!!" -Henry Wong, "Such Sweet Sorrow"

"This ends right now!" -Guilmon

"Yeah, and hopefully, not for us!" -Takato Matsuki, "The D-Reaper's Disguise"







And getting home was supposed to be a breeze? Not when you end up in a rainstorm! When returning from the Digital World, the Tamers found out that they no longer have to avoid Dracula-who ended up drinking some of Henry's blood, therefore completing his collection of power-but also the police, who blame their Digimon for destroying the Nonaka modeling agency! Takato got shot and almost died when he and Rika rejoined Henry, but Ryo and his newly acquired Whip of Friendship ended up saving the team from Dracula's control. When Takato and Rika used their own weapons against the vampire, they were ambushed by a lone soldier! Oh, man! Tell me when it's over!







"Stay right where you are, nobody gets hurt! Put your weapons down and your hands above your head."

Keeping her grip on her Daggers of Love, Rika narrowed her eyes. She knew what would happen if she, Takato and Ryo surrendered-not only would they lose their Digimon, but they would also lose the chance they needed to stop Dracula!

"What's the charge?" Takato suddenly yelled out.

"Assaulting a civilian and aiding and abetting known suspects." came the calculated response.

"That wasn't us!" Rika spat out angrily, not even noticing the dagger in her left hand revert back to her Digivice.

Turning to face the vampire, Takato and the others saw that his face looked like a human's-just like anyone else's.

"Tell him the truth, pal-you set Impmon up so that the rest of us would take the fall in case he failed to get rid of Gallantmon!" Terriermon demanded, bravely puffing up his cheeks and stepping forward.

"I was just walking home to get out of the rain...and before I knew it, that boy-" Dracula then pointed at Ryo, who, like Rika, kept a firm grip on his whip. "-attacked me with that! Then, those two attacked me with those weapons! I thought I was going to die-"

"TELL THE TRUTH!" Takato screamed heatedly, grabbing Dracula by the collar and aimed the point of the sword directly at his undead heart.

"Stop now, or I will shoot!" the officer warned, cocking his gun at that instant.

"He's lying, sir-and I'll prove it!" Takato insisted, raising his sword to strike the vampire down for good...or at least, that's what would've happened if a bullet hadn't nicked him on the wrist, slightly injuring him and forcing him to drop the sword!

Rika gasped lightly as she instantly clutched her own wrist, feeling the tendrils of blood seeping out from her veins. Hissing low under her breath, the Tamer did a 180 and tossed her remaining dagger directly into the barrel of the gun, forcing the officer to drop it!

"Nice shot..." Takato groaned while picking up the sword and sheathing it into the scabbard, both reverting to his Modify card and Digivice, but not before healing Takato's wound.

"Don't mention it..." Rika replied as almost instantly, her own wound healed instantly.

"Rika, I think you'll still need this!" Using his whip once again, Ryo snagged the dagger out of the barrel of the gun and dropped it at Rika's feet. Raising an eyebrow at him, Rika picked it up and watched it change back into a Modify card before saying, "Taomon, let's go!"

"Stop right where you are!" The policeman's order was unheard as seconds later, the Tamers and their Digimon had successfully left the scene, still on their way towards the tunnel. After the aforementioned officer left, Dracula grinned evilly while holding up one hand.

"Let's see...PyroSphere!!" A powerful fireball shot out into the sky, doused by the rain before it hit its target.

"Terrier Tornado!!" A tiny tornado flew from the vampire's hand and steadily grew bigger before it hit its target-a telephone pole. It didn't do any damage to it, but that wasn't the point.

"And now, the final step...Diamond Storm!!" A significant number of shards of ice-that could be considered diamonds-flew from Dracula's fingertips before pinning the telephone pole at that second!

"At last, I can withstand their power. And now, not even their strongest warrior can stand up to me..."







The rain and the hail struck the bubble protecting everyone, but to Takato, who was brooding over what had just happened, didn't notice it. Seeing that her boyfriend was even more melancholy than she used to be, Rika knew a pep talk was needed to bring him back. And, since Guilmon had gone to sleep, it was up to her to perform the task.

"Hey, Gogglehead. What's up? You look even more down than I would on a normal day."

Groaning, Takato looked upward at the sky, covered by the clouds and the hail before responding. "I almost lost it again, Rika..."

"Lost what?"

"My temper. It happened when Ryo pulled us out of that jam a few minutes ago-I felt it! I wanted to be the one to stop that vampire, not him. Sometimes, I wonder why your not with him instead of with me-"

Irritated-and extremely put out-by that remark, Rika yanked Takato up by the collar and forced him to gaze deep into her violet eyes.

"There are plenty of reasons why I should beat you to a pulp, but the only thing that's stopping me from doing that to you is because I love you and I would never hurt you-ever! Listen, and listen good-despite his reputation as a pompous, arrogant jerk, as much as it pains me to say this, Ryo is a good Tamer. That still makes me want to beat him in a card game even more so now than before-"

"Really? With the way I was perfecting my technique before Cyberdramon and I left for the Digital World the first time, you wouldn't have a snowball's chance of beating me!"

"Who said you could listen in on that conversation?!" Rika quickly dropped Takato and glared at Ryo, who still had that confident look on his face.

"I heard my name and thought you wanted to say something. I didn't know it was private!"

Gritting her teeth, Rika had to force herself not to strike Ryo where he stood.

"We're here." Taomon suddenly announced.









"You're sure about this?" Takato asked calmly while Rika was rummaging through the bag that Takato's father had given him earlier that day. Even though it was nighttime, it was still raining outside.

Henry nodded briefly. He, Terriermon, Susie, Lopmon, Ryo and Cyberdramon had to return home for a brief amount of time. They already promised that they would return with the others in the morning. "Be careful, Takato. Even though you guys are this far in the tunnel, Dracula could return."

"That's why I have Rika-that way, I won't need to be careful."

"Real cute, Gogglehead." Rika's retort sounded loud and clear a second later, causing the boys to laugh before Henry turned and headed after the others.

Takato turned around to face Rika, a light shade of red splashed across his cheeks. The last time they'd been this close was back in Transylvania, not under parental supervision.

"Just think of this as a camping trip...a co-ed camping trip, and I've been paired with my soul mate/fiancee all on the same day!" Takato grimaced as he pulled himself back to the here and now, knowing that Guilmon, Renamon and Calumon were guarding the entrance to the tunnel-actually, Guilmon and Renamon were; Calumon was eating away at a portion of Guilmon bread.

"So, what's inside the bag besides the usual?"

Smirking, Rika unsuccessfully hid the tinge of pink that appeared on her face from her boyfriend before answering. "Besides every food imaginable your parents stuffed in here, there are two pillows and two blankets-and a note."

"Huh? A note?" Confused, Takato reached over and plucked it out of Rika's hand before reading it:

"Dear son,

Right now, you're probably wondering why your mother and I put this note inside the bag with your other odds and ends-along with your pajamas, but hopefully, Rika won't find them."

Takato was interrupted as Rika started giggling lightly, holding up his pajamas with one hand. Irritated, and the blush on his face growing even redder, Takato yanked them away before continuing on:

"Anyway, since the police are going to be searching practically every place for you and your Digimon, I suggested to your mother-and to Rika's mother-that the two of you rest somewhere within city limits at a place the two of you know won't be spotted by the police."

"Guilmon's shed would've really helped right now, if it still wasn't raining." Takato said calmly, stifling his snicker at the same time.

"We trust that the two of you will use sound judgment on this night and however long the two of you have to go into hiding. Just because you guys are engaged doesn't mean you have to go for it the umpteenth time you've disbanded from your parents! Sorry, son-your mother wrote that down."

Both Tamers tried to think about other things besides what they'd come across at that particular moment.

"I'm gonna get her for this." Takato groaned sadly.

"The law would help her out, since you are considered a fugitive, Takato." Rika mumbled.

"Oh, yeah."

"No matter what happens, we all love you, and we'll pray for your safe return."

Takato felt tears come to his eyes, so he quickly wiped them away as another memory came to him, about the time they'd been in the Digital World.

"What is it?"

"Oh, you weren't with us then, were you? When Ryo, Kazu and Kenta caught up with us-after you wisely left, he led us to some sort of house when I found a note my mom left me in my backpack. It also contained a certain item she'd given me to show that she trusted me and supported me in whatever I did."

Rika felt tears of her own come to her eyes, but unlike Takato, she didn't wipe them away. Instead, she embraced him, slightly surprising him, as well as leaving him confused.

"Sometimes, I wish my mom and I had what you and your parents had back then-trust, love, caring, understanding..."

"You did have it, Rika! You probably didn't know how to show it then, and that's eventually what gained you the title of the Digimon Queen." Takato smiled brightly, which, in turn, brought a tiny smile on Rika's face.

"Along with some other 'titles,' but we'll talk about those later."







Morning had arrived, even though it was still raining outside! Takato woke up to hear the pitter-patter of raindrops striking the tunnel above them, but also to another grand surprise-his face pressed firmly against Rika's chest!

Takato instantly blushed crimson as he remembered how he'd gotten himself in that position to begin with-after their little conversation concerning family, Takato and Rika had spread one of the blankets onto the hard, concrete floor; the two pillows were side-by-side and a final blanket was folded in two on top of the other one. So their parents couldn't accuse them of anything, Takato and Rika had struck a compromise: while Rika slept under both blankets and possibly risked getting sick from the cold, hard ground, Takato would sleep in between the two blankets. As the two Tamers had drifted off to sleep, Takato had been aware of two things-one, Guilmon, Renamon and Calumon had reentered in on them, and two, that Rika had unconsciously placed her arms around his neck.

Now, as those memories came to him full force, Takato found himself staring up-close at the completed heart on Rika's shirt! For some reason unknown to him, his girlfriend was holding onto his head like he was a teddy bear, or a forgotten item that had been lost long ago.

Not wanting to get into trouble-or wanting to get slapped by Rika-Takato squirmed under her grip, trying to get free. That proved futile, as Rika moaned quietly while pressing her fingers against his head, feeling Takato's hair in between them, and making sure he didn't escape.

"Rika, please wake up." Takato whispered worriedly, not wanting anyone to find them like this, but also not wanting to risk her wrath. Her response? A light, but happy, sigh of contentment.

"Did you have a nice sleep, Takatomon?"

That wasn't Guilmon! Not able to see whoever was there, Takato realized that only one other Digimon would ever call him that-it was, of course, Terriermon!

"Whoa! By the way you and Rika are bunched up together, I'd say you did." The Rookie Digimon failed to stifle his laughter, especially when Ryo entered in, looking for the two of them.

"Takato, you sly devil! Not even married, and you and Rika are taking the next step towards adulthood."

Though his voice was muffled, Takato's anger clearly rang out a moment later. "If either one of you make any remarks-or jokes-about this to anyone else, the beatings Rika give people would feel like paradise compared to the ones I'll give you!"

Amazed, and worried, Terriermon stepped back, never hearing Takato speak like that to him at all! Ryo simply shrugged, not even moving a muscle.

"Now, if you two are done acting like-what was it Rika said once? That's it-wise-cracking jerks-or something like that, could you get me out of this predicament?"

"But I thought you loved her, Takato." Ryo said, not able to resist ribbing him like this. A second later, Takato's body started glowing a faint color of red.

"Ryo, ix-nay on the oking-jay! He's serious!" Terriermon insisted while racing over to help Takato out. It took a few minutes-mainly because whenever Terriermon would untangle one of Rika's fingers from Takato's head, she would groan with irritation and force it back down-but five minutes later, Takato was free from Rika's grasp.

"Guess you could call that the 'irresistable charm' the Nonaka women possess!" Ryo laughed while helping Takato up. To his surprise, Rika's palm came into contact with his face, sending him down to the ground and causing Takato and Terriermon to stare at Rika in shock.

"The 'charm' we Nonaka women possess is the ability to show up snobby men like you, Ryo!" Rika grumbled while waking up fully.

"Does this mean I won't have to make breakfast?"

"What do you think?"









"So, is it still raining outside?" Takato asked as everything was packed up and the four of them headed toward the entrance to the tunnel. It was at that moment that Takato finally noticed the matted fur clinging to Terriermon and the rapidly drying tendrils of hair on Ryo's head.

"What do you think?"

Neither Takato nor Rika could keep away the wicked smiles from their faces. It sounded like, for once, Ryo had finally been pushed to his limit.

"It's umbrella time." Rika added while Takato pulled out the umbrella his mother had made sure was inside the bag. As they approached the entrance, they made out the distinct features of Jeri, Henry, Susie and their Digimon, as well as Guilmon, Renamon and Calumon.

"Hey, guys! We survived the night!" Takato yelled out loud. "Guilmon-when'd you guys get here?"

Lightning flashed and thunder crackled as Dracula made his appearance at that precise moment!

"Just great! Can this get any worse?!" Terriermon exclaimed as he, Takato, Rika and Ryo came to a halt near the others.

"Let's see if it can. Gargo Missiles!!"

BLAM!! The entire team cried out as they were blasted back inside the tunnel with one attack!

"Never say things like that!" Rika ranted impatiently.

"That's it! I've had enough of this vampire fiasco! Guilmon-time to Biomerge!" Takato demanded heatedly, pulling out his Digivice and holding it up in the air.

Biomerge Digivolution!

"Biomerge, activate!" Takato screamed as he transformed into data and merged with Guilmon. "Guilmon Biomerge to...GALLANTMON!!!"







"Raaaaah! Lightning Joust!!" Gallantmon roared while exiting the tunnel, firing one of his two main attacks! The vampire grunted as he felt the extremity of it, but it didn't even stop him.

"Nice presentation, but I can do you one better. Mega Barrage!!"

The Virus Digimon held up his shield and barely blocked the oncoming attack.

"Is that all you've got? We're just getting started!" Guilmon stated mockingly.

"Guilmon, no more hanging around Terriermon for a week."

"Aw, nuts!"

"You want power? Then I'll show you power-and how to amplify it! Blade of the Just!!" Dracula held out his right arm and changed it into a flaming lance! Takato, Rika, Guilmon, Renamon were in shock!

"That's one of OmegaGallantmon's attacks!" Renamon warned.

"You think we don't know that?" Gallantmon retorted while keeping his shield up. Seconds later, the shield did him no good as he was struck by the powerful attack and sent flying to the ground, Takato screaming the entire way!

Rika grunted as she felt the pain of that attack. It had felt like people were literally trying to burn her at the stake!

Gallantmon got back up, smoldering all over, but still willing to fight.

"Is this what the great Gallantmon has been reverted to? Just a helpless Digimon who, like his partner, end up being as weak and as useless as the next victim?" Dracula mocked. Unbeknownst to the vampire, Takato and Rika were getting angry at those comments.

"No one insults my fiancé and lives to tell the tale! Renamon-time to Biomerge!"

Biomerge Digivolution!

"Biomerge, activate!" Rika yelled out as she transformed into data and merged with Renamon.

"Renamon Biomerge to...SAKUYAMON!!!"

Whereas Sakuyamon was just barely getting to the field of action, Gallantmon seemed to glow a radiant color.

"You'll regret wanting to see how high up my power levels go!"

Mode Change Digivolution!

"Gallantmon Mode Change to...CRIMSON MODE!!!"







"Hey, Henry-look who's back in the house!" Terriermon laughed as Gallantmon: Crimson Mode reappeared once again.

"Very funny, Terriermon."

"Do you think Takato and Rika-alone-can beat this vampire?" Ryo asked, prepared to Biomerge if he had to.

"As long as the police don't show up here, we'll be fine."

That plan was ruined as two police cars ended up in the vicinity!

"Now what?" Terriermon asked irritably.

"Momentai, Terriermon! Let me think-I've got it! Ryo, can you and Cyberdramon lead the police away?"

Smirking, Ryo responded, "Aren't I known as the Digimon King?" As Cyberdramon flew off, Henry yelled out to him, "Rika would kill you if she knew you said that!"

"Probably, but that's a chance I'd be willing to take!"

"Henry, what are the rest of us going to do?" Jeri asked, looking out at the two Mega Digimon face a deadly vampire.

"Two things-one, we're going to pray that they can pull it off. Two, we'll have to do what they did-try to Biomerge!"

Terriermon's jaw dropped in shock at that statement; Jeri simply blushed; Leomon rose an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Calumon, Susie and Lopmon all looked up in amazement-and wonder-trying to understand what had just happened.







"Final Justice!!"

Gallantmon's main attack struck Dracula directly in the chest, but still, he was unscathed!

"This makes no sense! Everytime we hit this guy, it seems like he just absorbs our attacks!" Rika spat out angrily. The vampire suddenly pretended to pout.

"Aww, and I was hoping you would figure that out later. You've guessed correctly-I have absorbed your attacks, and if I wish, I can use them against you! Final Justice!!"

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!" Sakuyamon didn't even get a chance to dodge it, and with the combined force of Dracula's own evil energy combined with Gallantmon's attack, the Mega Digimon was forced to deDigivolve into Rika and Renamon! Takato doubled over in pain, but he fueled up his anger with that pain instead.

"Let's see you dodge this, vampire! Invincible Swords!!"

Grinning, Dracula held up his left hand-which now held up a shield-and the attack bounded off of it!

"Now, the final lesson-Amethyst Beam!!"

"Takato, watch out!" Rika screamed weakly, still in the process of regaining her strength.

"Takato, please, get out of there!" Jeri cried.

"Run away already!" Terriermon insisted.

"Takato, dodge the attack!" Henry cautioned.

Grunting, Gallantmon figured he would regret this, but he ignored his friends' pleas and held out both swords in front of him. A second later, the Virus-type was hit with pinpoint accuracy, forced to fly downward and strike the ground with such accuracy that it felt like a momentary earthquake!

While Dracula started laughing, Rika barely managed to run up to Takato, since he and Guilmon had been forced to deDigivolve.

"Gogglehead, are you crazy?! You could've been killed up there!" Rika cried angrily, resisting the urge to slap him, since she already did it on a daily basis.

"I knew what I was doing, Rika...we can't beat this guy...not apart, anyway." Takato gasped, finding the strength to stand.

"Are you serious? The last time we Biomerged-"

"-was in Transylvania, but I've figured it out." Takato felt the raindrops striking his palm, so he pulled his goggles down over his eyes. "What if we wore something while we Biomerged?"

Eyeing Takato with a skeptical look, Rika asked, "You sure this will work?" while pulling out her shades and put them over her eyes.

"Positive. The only other way we could be sure would be if we used the Digital Plane."

"Takato, wait!" Henry advised as he and Jeri came up, Henry already taking out his own shades; Jeri simply used her bag slung over her shoulder.

"Think you guys could use some help against him?"

"Yeah!"

Just as Justimon, Kazu, Kenta, their Digimon and Beelzemon: Blast Mode-along with Ai and Mako-entered in, Takato, Rika, Henry and Jeri did something that hadn't been done in a long time-they'd reactivated the Digital Plane, from the Real World!







Biomerge Digivolution!

"Biomerge, activate!" Takato, Rika, Henry and Jeri chorused while transforming into data and merging with their partners-inside the Digital Plane.

"Guilmon..."

"Renamon..."

"Biomerge to...OMEGAGALLANTMON!!!"

"Terriermon..."

"Leomon..."

"Biomerge to...SABERGARGOMON!!!"

Returning from the Digital Plane, now deactivated, were two brand-new Digimon! The others, with the exception of Ai and Mako, had already seen OmegaGallantmon, but they hadn't seen SaberGargomon, who Kazu scanned on his Digivice.

"Who knew Jeri would have the power to Biomerge with her soul mate? SaberGargomon, a Vaccine-type Digimon. His Blade of the Beast King, Gargo Blasters and Eclipse of Darkness attacks are tremendous!"

Inside the spheres, Takato's plan of not only wearing some item, but of going through the Digital Plane, had actually worked! This time, the four Tamers were side-by-side, but fully clothed.

"If you ever had a lame idea that never worked in the past, Takato, this one truly makes up for all of them." Rika admitted, a smile on her face.

Turning toward SaberGargomon, OmegaGallantmon rumbled in Takato and Guilmon's voices, "Are you guys ready to take on this menace?"

"Ready, willing and able!" Henry and Terriermon's voices rang out an instant later.

Dracula prepared himself for the battle of a lifetime, since he had a plan waiting in the wings. "I'll let these Tamers think that with these tougher Digimon, that they have the advantage, when, by Biomerging here together, they've allowed me to unlock their newest Digimon's attacks as well. And in case that fails, my number-one move will ensure victory by taking the one thing away that these heroes desire..."

That's not good news! I hope OmegaGallantmon and SaberGargomon can take Dracula down, otherwise, the Tamers are in a world of trouble! Find out what happens next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!