A/N Good afternoon, good morning, good evening, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches, bonjour, bonsoir, ohayou, guddo afutanuun, bonsowaaru, by all means, hello!

Rika: What's so good about it?
Angel: Jeri has stopped haunting me with her sock puppet....

Jeri: Arf arf! Hi, Angel! Were you talking about me?

Angel: No, Jeri, why would you think that?

Jeri: My name's not Jeri. I'm her dog puppet. Arf, arf!

Angel: **looking petrified** Stop that right now, Jeri Katou! It's just a puppet...it's not really a dog... **puppet grows fangs and eyes glow red** YIPES! **runs for cover**

Jeri: Where did she go? I don't know, Jeri. Let's go look!

Angel: All of the tamers and I have hidden in the closet. Who will be the first to face the wrath of Jeri's puppet? Kenta, you go first!

Kenta: **straightens glasses** You can't be serious! I'm not going out while that...that...sock is out there.

Jeri: C'mon guys this isn't funny. Yes, Jeri was only kidding around!

Kazu: Seriously, dude. Are you that afraid of a sock puppet?

Kenta: Yes....

Jeri: I'm coming to find you guys....Yup, we're coming to find you!!

Angel: Be prepared, she's armed with dog biscuits. Takato, what are you doing in here? Jeri's your girlfriend.

Takato: So?

Kila: Can't you stop her?

Rika: Yeah, Gogglehead. You're the sappy one with the girl who happens to have a psycho puppet on her hand.

Takato: You guys never saw that Jeri clone with the puppet....I never wanna see that thing again...**shudders**

Ryo: You're all a bunch of cowards. **pushes closet door open** C'm'ere, puppet. I'm taking you down.

Angel: Take this walkie talkie. In case we lose contact.

Ryo: **rolls eyes** Whatever.

Angel: **clicks door shut** We'll listen in on the walkie talkie, Ryo...Can you hear us?

Ryo: Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!! It's got my leg!!! I'm fading out....HELP! S.O.S! Mayday!!! Mayday!!! **Static.....click**

Angel: **eyes widen** We lost him....

Summer Vacation: Lizzie vs. Rika: Let the Games Begin!: Chapter 16

"Who is that?"

"This is my digimon, Renamon. Like I said, it would be amazing to have a digimon...and I have one so I would know."

"Well, so do I. If you're really the Digimon Queen and superior, I challenge you, Rika Nonaka to a digimon duel!"

Rika cocked her head to the side.

"Are you insane? What in the world is a digimon duel?"

"I guess it's kinda like the card battle except the loser-"

Lizzie grinned menacingly.

"What does the loser do that's worse than a regular card game?"

"The loser gives up their digimon's data to the winner. And your digimon is lost forever."

Rika's eyes widened in horror.

Lose Renamon? I couldn't risk her well-being just to show a 9 year old I am the Digimon Queen. Do I have the authority to risk Renamon's life?

"Or are you afraid? You can use your modify cards and your digimon is more likely to survive since they only give up their data needed for the higher level. But then again, if you are the Digimon Queen which I highly doubt even though that's what my half brother told me, which gives me even more reason to doubt it."

"You don't need to prove yourself cause I can tell that's what your planning! But since you want to be beaten, so be it. I accept your challenge on this basis. If you lose, you accept the fact that I am the Digimon Queen and you give up your best card which is an extremely rare card, Zhuciaomon."

"What if I win?"

"Then I'll give you my deck and you can believe what you will. But I have proof that I am the Digimon Queen even though I don't have to prove anything at all to someone like you."

Lizzie shook Rika's out-stretched hand.

"Fair enough. Let's duel."

Lizzie pulled out her D-Arc which was silver. Her digimon, Gatomon, bounded out of the closet and stood in front of Lizzie.

"Just so you know, Gatomon has experience in dueling. So far, we've had only one loss."

"Well, this will be your second loss. Just so you know, I haven't lost a battle yet."

Rika whipped out her blue D-Arc and Renamon stood in front of Rika and took her ready stance.

"You're all talk. Since you actually believe you'll win, I'm going to even out the odds since Renamon is so much more superior than Gatomon even though Gatomon's at the champion level, I won't have Gatomon dedigivolve."

"Fine with me. Let's get this on with. But we should probably go outside."

"Why?"

"I'll be trashing your room and under the cover of darkness no one will be wiser."

"Fine. But Jacob's going to be the referee."

As soon as they all had gotten outside, including Veemon and Jacob.

"There are two flags which will represent winner and loser. Green's winner and red's loser. And the green flag starts the duel and red ends."

Veemon held the green flag and Jacob had the red.

"I don't care about the stupid colored flags. I just wanna get this over with."

"Rika, I'm ready."

"So am I, Renamon."

"D-Arcs ready? Digimon and tamers, ready? Go!"

Veemon brought the green flag down.

"Digi-Modify, Digivolution Activate!"

Rika's digi-vice glowed blue.

"Renamon digivolve to....Kyubbimon!"

"Lightning Paw!"

Kyubbimon leapt aside.

"Dragon Wheel!"

A blue fire dragon headed straight for its target and sent Gatomon flying into the fence.

"Gatomon, you've got to get up to digi-volve!"

Gatomon's ears were flopped to the side and her chest rose just barely.

"Finish it, Kyubbimon!"

Kyubbimon stopped and her tails fanned out and the flame on each tip began to glow blue.

"Fox Tail Inferno!"

The flames launched themselves towards the fallen figure at the edge of the fence.

"NO!"

A tear slid down Lizzie's cheek and her D-Arc began to glow and an image of Gatomon appeared on the screen.

"MATRIX DIGIVOLUTION."

The blue words appeared on the screen as Lizzie picked up her digi-vice.

"Gatomon matrix digivolve to...Angewomon!"

Rika looked up in awe as white light surrounded the newly evolved digimon. A celestial being with 6 wings and a helmet that masked the upper half of her face.

"Be on your guard, Kyubbimon. I think we better get up to a higher level. Just in case."

"MATRIX DIGIVOLUTION."

"Kyubbimon matrix digivolve to... Taomon."

Rika held her D-Arc up and an image of Gatomon's ultimate form appeared.

"Angewomon, ultimate angel type. Her special attacks are Heaven's Charm and Celestial Arrow. Be careful, Taomon. Those attacks are pretty powerful."

"Talisman Spell!"

Thousands of red colored cards flew at Angewomon.

"Hyperspeed Activate!"

Angewomon seemed to have disappeared in a moment's notice. Taomon looked around wildly.

"Celestial Arrow!"

Rika did a card slash...but wasn't fast enough. Taomon took the arrow to the chest and tumbled to the ground in her rookie stage.

"Renamon!"

"Now, Angewomon. Use another Celestial Arrow and defeat Renamon, who will be no more."

Rika had run to her fallen partner and looked at Lizzie angrily.

"You said that we wouldn't lose out partners. You said they'd only lose their data and go to a lower level."

"Did I happen to mention that Angewomon's Celestial Arrow wipes out her opponent completely at anything lower than ultimate?"

Rika's eyes widened and then she glared at Lizzie.

"You dirty rotten scum brat. You cheated."

"Don't hate the player just because she's better than you."

"You shouldn't flatter yourself."

Rika reached into her card holder and the card she held instantly turned red.

A red card...Let's see how Miss High-And-Mighty takes this...

"Renamon, it's time to bio-merge."

Rika took out a card Shibumi had given all the tamers. This card he called 'Digi-Core' for it had the same effect as the 4 Guardians of the Digital World's power. This card enabled the digimon to biomerge since the power given to the tamers from Azulongmon by Dobermon had worn out after the digimon had returned to the Digital World for a period of time after the defeat of the D-Reaper.

"Digi-Core Activate!"

Rika's blue D-Arc began to glow and vibrate as she held it skyward and a light shot down to the D-Arc, giving it the digital make-up it need to...

"BIOMERGE DIGIVOLUTION."

Rika pulled the digi-vice to her chest and Renamon's data broke down and Rika began to combine with Renamon.

"Renamon biomerge to....Sakuyamon."

"Sakuyamon, a shaman data beast digimon. Special attacks are unknown."

"Your D-Arc will not save you now."

"Where did Rika go, Jacob?"

"No clue, buddy. But that's one cool digimon."

"She shure ish."

"Celestial Arrow!"

"Crystal Sphere!"

The arrow was deflected and disintegrated.

"Now, it's my turn. Spirit Strike!"

Red, blue, and yellow spirits appeared and flew right through Angewomon, causing her to dedigivolve back to Gatomon.

Jacob held up the red flag to signify the end of the duel and Veemon held up the green flag.

"The match ish over. Victory goesh to Sakuyamon."

"No fair! Rika cheated!"

Sakuyamon glowed as she separated into Renamon and Rika once again.

"I didn't cheat. You're the one who never mentioned stuff to me and you never said the digimon couldn't biomerge."

"I didn't even know you could biomerge."

"Well, it is fair then."

"Rika's right, Lizzie. She won fair and square."

"Fine, whatever."

Lizzie pouted with her arms folded.

"You do remember the deal. You accept the fact I'm the Digimon Queen and give up your rarest card to me."

"No! Not Zhuciaomon."

Jacob handed the card to Rika.

"Now follow me so you can see the proof."

Rika led Lizzie up to her room and opened the desk drawer and took out a crumpled newspaper clipping.

'News coverage at the latest Digimon Card Game tournament. Rika Nonaka, seen above, now nicknamed the Digimon Queen only after her defeat to the Digimon King, Ryo Akiyama, has won her 15th tournament. And we quote from her words with our commentator, Terry Robarra.

"Rika, what did you do to prepare?"
"I didn't do anything. It was easy."

Miss Nonaka is the daughter of Rumiko Nonaka, the international super model and resides at her home located in West Shinjuku. Congratulations once again to the Digimon Queen.'

"So you're the Digimon Queen cause your second best to Ryo Akiyama, the Legendary Tamer and the Digimon King? And why did you crumple up that clipping?"

"The newspaper people had the nerve to mention me with Ryo Akiyama. How do you know about Akiyama?"

"You act like you know him on a friendly basis. Anyway, he's in all the digimon card game magazines. He's totally hot."

Rika held herself from telling off the little brat.

"I'm tired. Why don't you go bother someone else?"

Lizzie glared at Rika and stalked off to her room. Rika sighed and put on her pajamas and crawled into the bed.

"Renamon?"

"Yes, Rika?"

"I hope you don't mind me risking you like that. I'm-"

"Say nothing more, Rika. I am honored to have you as a partner and as a tamer. You were only protecting your title. I know you did not want to appear weak to Elizabeth."

"Yeah, that's pretty much it, Renamon. You hit it right on target."

You do not fool me, Rika. You were protecting your pride and showing the child you are superior.

"Well, I'm going to get ready for bed. You fought well, Renamon. Thank you for understanding."

"Good night, Rika. Pleasant dreams."

"Good night, Renamon. I'm honored to have a digimon like you."

Renamon nodded and melted away into the darkness after Rika switched off the light coming from the lamp on the nightstand. Rika lay in the darkness, her mind confused.

I don't understand Lizzie's angle. I thought she was friendly and wanted me as a sister. Now she acts as if I'm only competition. I hope I can straighten it out. How did Jacob know about me being the Digimon Queen? I'll have to figure out their angles and maybe talk with them. Oh well, they aren't worth my time...I shouldn't lose sleep over them. Besides, I've got to be up so I can get online when the others do.

Rika snuggled into her pillow and pulled the blankets up to her chin and she fell asleep. The only glow that was in the nearly pitch black room was the light from the full moon, pouring in through the window.

* * *

Rika's eyes opened as the alarm clock went off and the first bright rays of sunlight streamed in through the parted curtains and open window. Rika reached out from the haven under the white sheets and swatted at the alarm clock but missed and hit the nightstand, sending the digital alarm clock to the floor causing it to shut off.

"Damn alarm clock, wonder who set it."

Rika pushed the covers back and rubbed her eyes sleepily as she went to stand up and collapsed in pain when she stepped directly on the alarm clock.

"Damn the friggin' alarm clock. Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!"

She picked up the alarm clock and put it back on the nightstand, scowling. She saw a scrawled note that had fluttered to the floor when the alarm clock had fallen.

'Hope I didn't interrupt Her Majesty's sleep. Hahahahahaha!'

Rika growled and crumpled up the note and threw it away. She looked at the red numbers which read 6:05. Rika glared at the clock and got an idea.

"No one wakes me up early and gets away with it."

Rika crept down the hall, all the door were closed or open slightly. Rika went into Lizzie's room and opened the desk drawer to reveal a pack of markers. She took a black one and a red one.

"No one."

She uncapped the markers and got to work. Lizzie would wish she'd never messed with Rika.

After she had finished, she closed the door with a click and darted back to her room and turned on the computer, yawning as she did so. She logged onto the IM program she often used.

"Welcome, Digi-Queen. You have 3 people available to chat and 2 new messages.

LoneSurferGrl

TLTAWATDK

Lion-Heart

are available. Incoming Instant Message from LoneSurferGrl. Do you choose to accept?"

LoneSurferGrl: Morning, Rika. Sleep well?

Digi-Queen: No. The brat of a half sister woke me up.....1 1/2 hours early!!!!! :o

LoneSurferGrl: That majorly bites. But I thought you liked ur half sis.

Digi-Queen: Not anymore. Long story.

LoneSurferGrl: Why don't you tell all of us about it?

Incoming Chat Invitation from LoneSurferGrl. Do you chose to accept?

Digi-Queen has entered 24/7 Sunshine Club.

Digi-Queen: Who came up with the title?

Lion-Heart: Me.

LoneSurferGrl: hold on....some kid's stalking me online....gotta change my s/n

LoneSurferGrl has logged off.

Shooting*Star has entered 24/7 Sunshine Club

Shooting*Star: Back. Some guy named lonesurfergrlshunnie was bothering me....i'm pretty sure it's Devon from school....damn...why did i have to be good looking......

Digi-Queen: Poor lil Kila.....being stalked b/c she's beautiful..

Shooting*Star: How bout I give him ur s/n, Rika? in fact, i shall......he was at camp btw so he knows u.....

Digi-Queen: Wait.....

Shooting*Star: auto response: **chatting wit another peep. bbs** Too late.

Incoming Instant Message from Anonymous-Surfer? Do you choose to accept?

Rika figured she would cause she could warn him then block him.

Anonymous-Surfer: Hi, Rika. Kila's told me about you. **warning level goes from 0% to 85%**

Back to 24/7 Sunshine Club

Digi-Queen: Took care of him, Kila.

Shooting*Star: Wut u do........

TLTAWATDK has entered 24/7 Sunshine Club

TLTAWATDK: Hey ppl.

Shooting*Star: Ryo gotz 2 jobs now.......but he's broke until his 1st paycheck...:-P!

TLTAWATDK: **glares**

Shooting*Star: Which is NOT till 2 weeks from now... **points and laughs**

Lion-Heart: That's not nice, Kila.....

TLTAWATDK: Yeah, you heard Jeri, you meanie! *****

Shooting*Star has logged off.

TLTAWATDK: I meant cranky...not stars..... Where'd she go?

Lion-Heart: Maybe her puter froze?

Digi-Queen: Lock up and lock up tight, Ryo. The Hurricane is paying you a visit.

TLTAWATDK: You're just being paranoid.. There's some1 at the door...brb

Digi-Queen: Don't answer the door, Ryo!!!!

TLTAWATDK: auto-response: brb, getting the door....
TLTAWATDK has logged off.

Shooting*Star has entered 24/7 Sunshine Club

Shooting*Star: Hi.

Lion-Heart: You were being paranoid, Rika. She didn't go and get Ryo. She couldn't've been bak this fast.

Shooting*Star: You make me out like a st. hu said i was @ my house?

Lion-Heart: **eyes widen in fear** You mean...

Shooting*Star: Ryo's here tied to the computer chair and gagged by his own bandana....**laughs evilly**

Digi-Queen: I think we'd better make a run for it, Jeri, while we still can.

Lion-Heart: You're in America...I'm..here...about 6 miles away from Ryo's house...

Shooting*Star: C'mon, you make me sound evil.......tell me more!!! BWHAHAHAHA!
Digi-Queen: You're freaking me out...

"RIKA!!!!!!"

Rika took her eyes from the computer and for the first time, heard futile banging on her door.

"OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY FACE?"

Rika opened the door a crack.

"Doesn't your face always look like that?"

Lizzie glared at her.

"HOW DARE YOU!!"

"Lizzie, quiet down right now, young lady. People are trying to sleep!"

"Exactly, Elizabeth. Why are you falsely accusing me? I was only awake because someone set my alarm for 6:30."

"Don't play innocent with me! I know it was you-"

Rika shut the door in Lizzie's face and locked it.

Digi-Queen: I can't WAIT till these 2 weeks r over.....

Shooting*Star: Look on the brite side, u come home in 12 days....I've gotta head home. Ryo keeps pushing his chair in2 my leg...bbiaf (a/n be back in a few)

ShootingStar has logged off.

TLTAWATDK has entered Sunshine Club 24/7.

TLTAWATDK: She finally untied me...Now I have sore wrists.....

Lion-Heart: Stop whining...

Gogglehead has entered Sunshine Club 24/7.

Gogglehead: Jus got off fone wit Henry. He said he would be on after he gets Terriermon off the computer.

BuNnIeS_RoCk has entered Sunshine Club 24/7.

Digi-Queen: New s/n Henry?

BuNnIeS_RoCk: Terriermon.

Digi-Queen: ??

BuNnIeS_RoCk: It's not Henry. I figured out how to....O NO!!

BuNnIeS_RoCk has logged off.

Terrier-Tamer has entered Sunshine Club 24/7.

Terrier-Tamer: Hey guys. That was Terrier I think.....I was in the computer room, helping my dad. He was working on rebuilding an old computer.

Shooting*Star: ur dad's rebuilding a new puter?

Terrier-Tamer: Yeah....hu's this?

Shooting*Star: I'm shocked....u don't even kno hu this is?

Terrier-Tamer: Now I do...sorry, Kila...

"Rika, get dressed. After breakfast we're driving to Busch Gardens, so be ready to go."

"Alright."

Digi-Queen: I'll be getting off soon......when am i gonna talk 2 u guys again??
Shooting*Star: Dunno......the whole lot of us r going 2 the beach....maybe @ nite again? like....10ish?

Digi-Queen: I'm missing out? lucky me...i don't kno if i'd survive the day with u all...

Shooting*Star: And I bet Kazu, Kenta, and Takato feel the same...you're always teasing them...making threats.....but i'll miss you....even if you don't miss us!!!

TLTAWATDK: Me 2, Wildcat

Lion-Heart: I'll miss u 2....it won't be the same w/o u keeping Kazu and Kenta inline...;-)

Terrier-Tamer: How r u getting along with ur new step/half sibs?

Digi-Queen: Haven't heard a peep out of Jacob...Lizzie's another story....

QTPie has entered Sunshine Club 24/7

QTPie: Evening, all.

Shooting*Star: Hey Jodie!

QTPie: Can't stay on long....I took the evning shift @ my dad's store...Kazu's here 2....he's in the library section....

(A/n The Jamison bookstore has a regular book section, a cafe section, and a library section. It's where kids hang out for homework and there's free reference books and laptops 2 work with and get online....wish there was a store like that around here)

QTPie: Dad sighting....gtg nt2y (a/n nice talking 2 ya)

QTPie has logged off.

Gogglehead: So, wut time we meeting 2morrow 2 go?

Terrier-Tamer: 10:30....be early so we can load everything in2 ur parent's van......and Ryo, ur dad's driving us 2 rite?

TLTAWATDK: Yeah. I'll be there 4 10.....@ Kila's house rite???

Shooting*Star: Yeah.....brb...mom has 2 talk 2 me bout something......

Shooting*Star has logged off.

Gogglehead: Alrite...well, i've gtg....my mom found out that i broke the oven yesterday.....

Digi-Queen: Only a gogglehead like you could even break an oven.

Terrier-Tamer: How'd u manage 2 do that, Takato?

Gogglehead: long story...i'm not even sure how i broke t...it just wouldn't heat.....they had 2 get a repairman.....my mom was ready 2 kill /c we had 2 close yesterday......

TLTAWATDK: So that's y u told me i didnt need 2 B @ work....u neva explained nething 2 me, T.

Gogglehead: So that means 2 months paycheck and my computer privileges r out...i can only go on an hour a day....i only am going 2 go 2 the beach 2morrow /c it was pre-planned and my mistake can't ruin it on every1....nite........bye rika-

Gogglehead has logged off.

Lion-Heart: Well, I've got 2 get off 2....Masahiko has been begging me to play video games with him....ugh......

Lion-Heart has logged off.

Terrier-Tamer: Suzie's playing with Lopmon and Terriermon...They're playing house I think......

Digi-Queen: I pity Terrier...

Shooting*Star: Back.........bad news....beach trip is cancelled...

TLTAWATDK: No....seriously?

Shooting*Star: **sorrowful nod**
Terrier-Tamer: Why?

Shooting*Star: I can't come. My mom was our ride home.

Terrier-Tamer: Emergency meeting? Surprise client?

Shooting*Star: It's a surprise alrite...

Henry felt worried. He speed-dialed Kila's cell phone.

"Hello?"

Henry listened closely, a skill he'd picked up from Rika. Kila's voice is quivering....it sounds like she's been crying....

"Kila, it's Henry...."

"Oh...hi...."

"Is something wrong?"
"Yeah...My mom's made a announcement. I'm moving to Yokosuka tomorrow...."

Henry nearly dropped the phone.

***

"Rika, can we come in?"

"Yeah."

Lisa and Haruki entered into the room.

"Rika, we've come to a decision. We've decided that we want you to stay with us for a trial period. We want you to stay with us for a school year. If you like it here, you're welcome to stay."

"Wait just one minute. Don't I have a say in this?!"

Lisa smiled before continuing.

"You're still a minor, we have equal custody over you. You're staying here for the school year and you can go back to Shinjuku right after the last day of school ends. You can go back for Christmas Vacation too if you want. Now, I have to wake up Lizzie and Jacob and finish breakfast."

Lisa left the room and closed the door.

"NO! I'm not staying here."

"I've already worked it out with your mother, Rika. I want you to stay here with us and you will be even against your will."

Her father smiled. Rika stared at them both in disbelief.

"I HATE YOU!!! I've been trying to tolerate my new siblings, I'm trying to get used to the situation for only 2 weeks....So far the only inhabitants of this house I don't have a problem with is Lisa and Boomer. I tried to act all happy and jolly. First, you break my heart by abandoning me when I was 4 years old. 10 years later, I finally get over the thought of you and you pop up and drag me here and make me stay here against my will and now you're forcing me to stay here for a school year???!!! I'll be a freshman this school year....I want to be with my friends....start school with my friends...spend my last day of summer vacation with my friends....go home and be with the only family who have loved me. I don't want to stay in this house, this town, this state, or this country!!!!!"

"I'm sorry you feel this way, Rika, but, you have no choice."

Her father looked unemotional as always did and he closed the door. Rika flopped on the bed.

"Rika?"

"Please, Renamon. I need to be alone."

TLTAWATDK: Rika? Wildcat? r u there?

Rika heard the computer beep, meaning she had gotten another message. For the first time, she shut off the computer, closed the blinds and curtains, locked the door, shut off the lights, and buried her face into the pillow, hoping to suffocate so she wouldn't have to be in this stupid city, state, and country.

"They can't do this...I'm not letting them....I'm not staying in this joint......Mom will understand....she'll let me come home..."

A/N Well, there will be a special Christmas chapter which is why I sped everything up. So, hold on 2 ur hats cause here we go!!!!
Rika: Is it safe to go out, you think?

Angel: I'll check......**peeks outside** Coast is clear.....Jeri's out there with Ryo playing Go Fish. **opens door**

Jeri: Hey, we were wondering when you all were gonna get out of that closet. How did you all fit in there?

Angel: **grins mysteriously** That is for me 2 know and everyone else 2 ponder about. Happy 18 Days till Christmas!!