Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon in any way, shape, or form. I do own this plot though, so if you steal it and I catch you, I will sic... ^ponders^ Deathscythe on you! ^winks^ Beware...

Italics: thinking, dreams, etc.


Ch.8

Rika sat cross-legged on what she presumed to be the floor. She had only been in this dark dimension for six hours or so, maybe more, but she had already found her spot. She stared at the smooth matte circle before her, and watched as it absorbed all the light around her.

Rika closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them again, the surface of the pool had changed.

A small girl sat on the front step of a house, clutching a teddy bear.

She looks like Suzi, Rika observed. The girl turned her head a bit, and Rika realised who it really was. That's not possible... It can't be me, can it?

Daddy, where are you going? the smaller Rika called.

The scene changed to show a man getting into an expensive sports car. I'm going on a vacation, Rika-chan. I'll be back soon, I promise.

the girl protested. A woman, who Rika knew to be her mother, came outside and picked her up. The smaller Rika struggled a bit, then relented.

Her mother stood on the porch with a twisted smile on her face. She knew he wasn't coming back.

Rika kept her hand clasped around her wrist to stop herself from lashing out at the fading scene. Her knuckles turned white from the effort of controlling her anger. How dare this place mess around with my memories! I won't allow it. I will not allow it!

~~~

Rika said softly. Her hair hung long and straight down her back, the ends almost brushing the bow at the back of her dress.

Yes, Rika? Her mother perched on the edge of a chair. In the background, Rika's grandmother stirred a pot in the kitchen.

Is Dad ever coming back? He's been on an awfully long vacation. Almost three years now...

Her mother sighed. You're eight, Rika Nonaka. Surely you know. She stood up and walked into the kitchen.

Know what? Rika asked, following her mom.

Know that he's not coming back. Rika's mom said simply.

Rika's eyes filled with tears of grief, then narrowed with a flash of anger. Mom! Grandma! How could you have kept this from me?!

Her grandmother sighed. You were... You are, so young... So fragile... We couldn't tell the truth.

That's not an excuse! Rika yelled, livid. On impulse, she darted to a drawer and grabbed a pair of scissors.

Rika took a fistful of her long auburn hair. You told me I should keep my hair long because Daddy liked it that way! Kind of selfish, when Daddy's not here!

No, Rika... Her grandmother protested weakly.

This is what I think of that! Rika clipped off her beautiful hair, letting it fall to the floor around her feet.

And this! Her now chin-length hair swirled around her face as she held up her wrist, displaying a delicate bracelet. This bracelet was the promise that we would always be together. A broken promise, a broken bracelet! Rika wrenched the bracelet off her wrist, snapping the chain.

I hate you! I hate you and your lies! Rika's grandmother hung her head in shame as Rika stormed away. Her mother just stood there, showing no remorse, but no pleasure either.

The image of the two women faded and was replaced by a blue-blackness. There was a soft click', and a shaft of light revealed Rika's face, framed by her recently shortened hair.

She pushed her quilt off her legs off her legs and padded to the doorway of her spacious room, clutching her flashlight tightly. There was no light coming from any of the other rooms in the house, so she slipped down the corridor to the kitchen.

It's got to be here somewhere... Rika shone the flashlight around the room, briefly dispersing the darkness. A faint glint of reflection caught her eye. There...

She scooped the bracelet into her hand and fled back to her room.

I think this will be needed later, she whispered. Her anger from just a few hours ago was gone, but Rika Nonaka would never trust again. Until...

Rika's eyes snapped open. Damn it! She had let herself fall asleep, vulnerable to this dark dimension.

Tell me, she screamed, What are all these mind games for?!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Neko's note: I know my editors were a little bit confused about this chapter, so I just want to clarify some things:
Both Rika and Takato are in this weird dark dimension thingy
The bits about younger Rika are dreams, memories or random scenes that I added
I don't know what's going to happen next, but everything will be okay!!!

Does that help? I hope so. Please review, or email me at psycho__neko@hotmail.com!

*~Beware the rabid Duo fangirl~*