The Story of Us
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by summer dragonfly
Chapter XII
"Tragedy Strikes"
A/N(author's note): Soooo sorry for the delay. I've just been caught up with midterms and other stuff. Not to mention
one of my fave hobbies, reading manga! I just got into a new one, Chobits by Clamp. It's great! My Japanese
is like crap, so I've got to read the translated ones! ::pout:: I can't wait for volume 5. Wow, I've gone off at a bit of a
tangent, haven't I?
Anyway, so now you know what this chapter is about. You'll have to bear with me if this sucks; because
I'm more of a romance-drama-any other category writer than an action writer. Plus, I felt so stupid when
writing this that I kinda put it off for a long time. Why is it that action stories are so much better when you read
them then when you write them yourself? ;D I also went on a HUGE writer's block. Excuses, excuses.. Anyway, I hope
you like and as always, plz tell me what you think by reviewing. Not to mention that reviewing will also help keep
this fic up. ...enjoy I guess...
PS: Nothing *really* happy in this chapter. Except the Ryo and Rika will grow closer and have a deeper
bond. Nothing more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Alarming reports have shown that unidentified creatures are mysteriously appearing in all corners
of Tokyo as of thirty minutes ago. They seem to be combining with one another in the heart of West
Shinjuku. Authorities have warned all citizens to stay indoors and together with your loved ones
until this matter is resolved. Further developments show that this may be connected with the appearance
of strange entities called Digimon years ago. Stay tuned for recorded footage of the attack on
West Shinjuku, and the world, when we come back."
Rika clicked the TV off. She turned towards her friends. "This isn't good."
Takato agreed. "This is happening too fast; we're not quite ready yet."
"I can see it from here." Jeri was at the window, pointing out at the city. "It's near the shopping
district; seems to be closing off at the corner of---" she squinted. "9th and some other street."
"Where's Yamaki?" Henry looked around. "Why is he leaving us at a time like this?"
"He said he was going to get something. Make some arrangements." Kazu said, biting into an
energy bar. "Protein bars, anyone?"
They all looked at him strangely. "How can you even eat right now?" Rika asked.
"Gives me energy," Kazu shrugged. "Clears my mind. Helps me focus."
"I'll take one!" They all said, and Kazu laughed.
Then, Ryo came into the room. "I just got off the phone with the commander of the military."
"What happened?" Takato asked. "Are they going to---"
"Yeah, they've agreed to help us create a diversion."
"That's wonderful!" Rika then thought of something. "But then---there's a risk that---"
"Some people may be killed." Ryo nodded, looking down.
Everyone was silent, not sure of how to respond. Rika sighed and put on her sweatshirt. "Well, I
say we give Yamaki a call and tell him about this."
"Good idea." Jeri pulled out her phone. "But I tried reaching him before and---"
"Sorry I'm late," said a voice. Yamaki stepped in.
A big sigh of relief came to them and they all rushed over to ask him questions.
"I was out making a few last changes to the virus. Here's the plan. I already called the commander
and the military's going---"
"---to help us, we know." Takato said.
"...ok, then. While they're using their tanks and helicopters to distract them, the D-Army's smarter
than that. It'll know about the plan. And based on its size right now and growth rate, it's intelligence
will more than double in a matter of minutes. It'll know not to pay attention unless it's got a real,
live, human being with knowledge about Digimon. That's where you'll come in, Ryo."
"OK." Ryo was listening.
Rika looked at him nervously, but didn't say anything.
"...so you'll lead the D-Army, combined, to the bridge connecting over to main Tokyo. There, our
tech teams will be hidden, waiting to implant the virus into the D-Army using the massive signals
it's giving off. But since we can't afford to be figured out, we'll have to stay a distance of
at least 100 meters from it at all times or the signals will be jammed. We've seen that because it's
putting most of it's energy into increasing its' strength and intelligence, it isn't very fast.
It's top speed is about 10 miles an hour."
Kazu laughed. Everyone looked at him. "Sorry."
"What will we do?" Jeri asked.
"You'll stay on the field, ready to engage the backup copies of the virus in case the first one fails.
Everyone understand?"
They all nodded, throats too tight to speak. Just then, Rika's cell phone rang. "Excuse me," she
said, picking it up and rushing out of the room.
Yamaki continued, "We'll be putting this plan into action in THREE hours. So I suggest you all do
what you have to."
The ground shook as a minor earthquake hit. Within a matter of seconds, it was over. Everyone
looked around nervously. "Are you OK"s were exchanged as Takato ran to the window. "Yamaki!" he called.
"I swear, it's bigger than it was before."
"Massive data spikes must be what's causing these mini-earthquakes." Henry said.
Rika came back into the room, panicking. "I'm sorry, everyone, but my grandmother's just gone into
intensive care."
They all gasped.
"I've got to go to the hospital. Ryo, take me there?"
"Yeah, of course." Ryo got up.
"Wait, will you be back in time to---" Yamaki said.
"I don't know. I'll be in touch." She rushed out the door.
"Oh no," Jeri said. "Why does bad things have to happen before bad things?"
* * *
"Miss, you can't go through here," the receptionist said.
"My grandmother's in here," Rika said, panting. "I've got to go see her."
"Rika Nonaka, is it?" the receptionist asked. "Your mother's here too, but I'm afraid that there's
nothing you can do now. Please, leave the doctors to their work."
"But---"
"Please take a seat. I understand that---"
"No, you don't understand, that's my grandmother in there---"
"Rika," Ryo said. "She's right, if there's nothing you can do right now, then..."
Rika knew that he was right. "Fine." she grumbled and collapsed into a waiting room chair. "What
happened? How could this---what went wrong?"
"Don't blame yourself." Ryo put his arm around her.
"Where's my mother?" she said, looking around. "I haven't seen her since I came home again..."
"I'm sure she's here..." Ryo got up and looked around. "Yes! She's right here, Rika..."
"What?" Rika went over to the other part of the waiting room and saw her mother sitting in a chair.
She was shocked. No longer did Rumiko look like a pretty model, but now a sad and worried person
who looked like she wasn't capable of smiling. "Mom?"
Rumiko looked up. "Oh, Rika, thank goodness---"
Rika hugged her mother. "What's wrong? I've never seen you so sad---"
"It's your grandma." Rumiko said sadly.
"I know that, but---"
"Do you know?"
"Yes." Rika said. "About the cancer and..."
"Do you know what type of cancer?" Rumiko regretted telling her daughter about this.
"No..." Rika cursed at herself for not asking. She had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Brain cancer." Rumiko choked out.
Rika turned away, her mouth open, her whole body numb. She couldn't get any words out.
Ryo spoke up. "But what happened?"
Now Rumiko was crying. "We were just at home, and she started to have a seizure and before I knew
it, she collapsed and I just remembered dialing an ambulance..."
Rika still couldn't say anything. Her expression was blank. At long last, it seemed like her
soul had returned to her body and she said, "How long ago?"
"30 minutes."
*That was when the D-Army started showing up!* Ryo thought. *I wonder if...no...it can't be...*
Ryo's cell phone rang. He quickly went away to pick it up. "Yeah...it's me, yes. What? Already?
But...final preparations? But I can't...not now...but---OK, OK!...fine. Rika? I'm not sure...I'll
ask. I'll be there shortly, yes. Yeah, OK, bye."
"Who was it, Ryo?" Rika asked.
"Um, Yamaki." Ryo said. "He said that the D-Army is developing faster than ever. I've got to get going
now."
"Then I'll go with you." Rika said. Her heart was torn between staying with her mother
and grandmother and going to save the world.
"No," Ryo said firmly. "You've got to stay with your mother. Especially with everything that's
happened with your grandma, and---"
"But..."
"NO, OK?" Ryo said. "I can't do that to you. Your mother needs you right now."
Rika looked back at her mother. She knew he was right.
"Well, if you're going to go..." she unhooked her necklace, the one with the purple heart and the
'R' and symbol for "love" written in diamonds on it. "Take this then."
"Rika---"
"It's the most precious thing I own, partially because it's from you." She laughed at bit, altough
her eyes were full of sadness. "It's a symbol of everything we've been through, Ryo." Rika started
to get tears in her eyes.
"OK." Ryo took the necklace and put it in his pocket. He hugged her. He felt as if they had grown
even closer and that the words 'precious' and 'symbol' somehow made them that way.
"Just promise me something..." Rika said. "That you'll come back to me in one piece, 'k?"
"I promise." He kissed her forehead.
"I can't lose you." Now she was crying.
"You won't." He said. "I love you."
"I love you too." She hugged him again. "Now go before I start holding you back."
Ryo kissed her. "I'll be back. I still have to marry you, remember?"
She laughed in spite of her tears. "I'm going to keep you to that."
"You'd better. Bye then---"
"Go kick some D-Army butt for me!"
"I will!" He waved to her and she watched him leave.
* * *
"So what's happened?" Ryo asked as soon as he entered the building.
"They've more than tripled in size." Yamaki said, pointing at the satellite images. "In only thirty
minutes."
"How are they doing this?"
"That's the question. ...energy? Electricity?"
"Look!" Jeri yelled from the window.
They all ran over and saw that cords were extending from the mass and were attacking people from
all different ends.
"What are we going to do?" Jeri was afraid.
"Looks like we've got to speed it up, and fast." Henry turned towards Yamaki. "Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right. And also---"
"Wait, what are those pink jets of light?" Takato said.
"Those look like data streams---" Ryo said.
"Data streams?"
"Remember when we were in the Digital World and all those data streams kept sucking us up and transporting
us to other places?" Henry said.
"I remember..." Takato nodded. "But why are they here?"
"Check out the data the D-Army's emiting!" Kazu was checking reports on the computer. "That's what's
been causing the data streams."
"Come on. We've got to get going." Yamaki told them all.
"Right."
They all gulped.
* * *
"The gigantic green blob brings back memories of a similar mass---a red one---that appeared seven
years ago. But instead of deleting, this one just seems to be causing more destruction by the
hour. Further analysis shows that---"
Rika sighed as she watched the television reports at the hospital. *I feel so useless.*
She turned towards her mother. "Do you want anything, Mom? I'm going to head down to the cafeteria."
"Nothing for me, thank you."
"Are you sure? You look tired. How about some coffee?" Rika was concerned.
"Well, all right...domo arigatou."
"No problem. I'll be right back. Call me right away if...if there's any news---"
"Of course."
Rika forced a smile. She hugged Rumiko and went towards the elevator. But before the elevator
door even opened...
"Rika!"
Rika turned and saw that her mother was calling her. She rushed over. "What is it?"
"It's your grandmother---the doctors say---"
"What happened?"
"I don't know---they just started rushing in there---"
Rika started breathing fast. She was scared. But what could she do? She was forced to be cast aside.
"It's OK, Mom...all we can do now is wait."
What was ten minutes felt like ten days for Rika. She didn't know what to do. She was already
angry with herself for not being of any use to her friends, and now she wasn't any use to her
grandmother either. But her mind wasn't focused on that for long, as she found herself worrying
about Ryo. *I guess he'll be OK...* she tried to convince herself. *He's been in tighter spots...*
but she couldn't think of any other tricky times.
After fifteen more minutes the doctor came out, his face sad and full of sympathy. "Ms. Nonaka...?"
"Yes?" Rumiko looked up. "What's the news, Doctor? Is she going to be all right?"
The doctor swallowed a lump in his throat. "I'm sorry. The cancer has spread too far."
"Nani?!" Rika immediately jumped out of her seat. "What are you saying?"
"It's time."
"No!" Rika said, looking at her mother, who appeared to be in emotional shock. "There---there must
be something you can do---anything---"
The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry. We've tried. She's still alive, but barely. It's only a
matter of time."
Rika wiped away a glimmer of a tear in her eye. "Can we...?" she motioned toward the door.
"Of course. I'm sorry." he said again.
"Thank you for everything." Rika walked over to her mother. "Mom? Are you OK?"
Rumiko nodded placidly. "Yes...I'm fine. What did the doctor say?"
"That it's too late." Rika said with difficulty. "We can see her...say--good--good--" She couldn't
bring herself to finish the sentence. "Are you coming?"
"I'll be there in a minute." Rumiko said. "You go first."
"All right."
Rika walked slowly to the door. She felt like her legs were ice, and that they weren't cooperating
or functioning properly.
She looked back at her mother to see that she was crying.
* * *
"Ryo? Are you OK, man?" Kazu asked.
"Um, yeah, I'm fine." Ryo forced a smile. He had an unexplainable pain in his chest.
"You must be nervous." Kazu said knowingly. "I'd be too."
"Yeah." Ryo think he knew what it was. *Rika must really be hurting.* He had always felt like
they were connected.
Yamaki came over to them. "All Ready?"
"Ready." Everyone said together.
"Move out!" Kazu said, and everyone looked at him.
"We're not in the army," Kenta pointed out.
"I know, but I've always wanted to say that."
*He's so garrulous.* Jeri thought. "Listen, now's not the time for jokes." She said seriously. "We're
up against a very serious matter."
"It's just as we conjectured," Yamaki continued. "It's heading right for this building because it
can sense the brains full of Digital knowledge. Now, we're going to head out, and I want Takato,
Henry, Kazu, Kenta and Jeri to assemble with the Tech Team."
"'kay." Jeri said. Takato could tell that she was trying to be strong, but was scared out of her
mind.
* * *
The sky was gray, the air was chilly. The tension was high. Everyone at the site had to dodge
data streams to get from one place to another. Ryo drank the last of his energy drink, sighing.
"OK, something's wrong."
Ryo turned around to see Jeri standing there, her hands on her hips. He forced a smile. "No, everything's
fine. Why would you say that?"
"It's Rika, isn't it?"
Ryo nodded silently.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" Jeri asked.
"She's...incredibly sad. It's like I can feel her sadness."
Jeri was taken aback. *...their connection really IS deep.* "So that's why you're so down?"
"I---I just want to go there and comfort her, you know? Make it all better." Ryo frowned. "I just
can't stand it when she's sad."
"I understand." Jeri said.
"Do you?"
"Yeah. My parents once had that connection. Before my mom died. I can't begin to tell you how sad
I was. Whatever it is that is causing Rika's sadness, it must be great."
*Maybe...her grandmother...* Ryo gulped. *No...that couldn't be...could it? There's no other explanation
for it...poor Rika-chan..*
"I'm sure she'll get better. She has you."
"Yeah." Ryo said, not fully convinced. *Don't worry, Rika-chan...when this is all over...you'll never
be sad again.*
"Look!" a Tech Team member shouted, pointing east. "It's coming!"
"This is it!" Yamaki addressed them all.
* * *
Rika sat down in a chair by her grandma's bed. She looked at all the machines, beeping. She had
heard what the doctor said...but she still hoped for the better. She felt tears welling up in
her eyes. She sniffed and wiped them away.
"Grandma?" Rika said. "Can you hear me...?"
*Guess not.* she thought.
"Well...I just wanted to say...you always understood me, Grandma. Even when Mom couldn't...you
knew my intentions, my feelings. You always gave me the best advice...and now I can't believe
what it's come to..."
She sniffed and wiped away more tears. "You never did anything wrong, Grandma. You don't deserve
this."
She sighed. "Sometimes...when everyone else is sad...and I couldn't understand why they were crying...
I thought they were sorta dumb to go to such extremes for nothing...things like that make me feel
like I have no soul or something. But I know now. Crying...is part of being human. I never thought
that I could cry easily. You taught me so many things about life, Grandma. And after today you
won't be here to teach me anymore...why? Why do these things happen? Can you tell me?"
*I sound like a little kid.*
"I know what you'll tell me...that death is a part of life. Just like love. And now I didn't even
have the chance to tell you---I'm engaged." she laughed a little, and held up her hand. "Ryo's
the most wonderful man in the world, and I know you'll be there when we get married...spiritually.
And although that's good enough for me...I just wish that...."
She kissed her Grandma's forehead, and stood up. "Goodbye, Grandma. I hope you'll always watch
over me. I love you."
Rika choked out a sob.
* * *
There was a sharp pain in Ryo's chest. He knew. *Oh, Rika...*
"Whoa!" he heard Kazu yelled. "That thing's scarier than the teacher at Cram School!"
Ryo looked up and saw that the enemy was coming up to them. He knew what he had to do. He stood
his ground and saw the other vans driving away to their location as stated in the plan.
His whole body was frozen in fear. Then he remembered his role. *Oh yeah! Get moving, Ryo!*
He say that the enemy was ignoring every shot fired at it. It was looking at him. *It must have
detected the amount of Digital knowledge in my brain.* Ryo thought. *Better get going.*
He ran towards the van that was designated to him and started leading the D-Army blob on a chase
across the city.
"It's working!" Henry said, back where they were going to upload the virus into the D-Army. "The
sensors we put in that van are showing that Ryo's leading it across the city...he's passed the shopping
district...heading towards the financial buildings!"
"Excellent." Yamaki picked up a walkie talkie. "Ryo, can you hear me?"
"Huh?" Ryo looked at the walkie talkie on the seat next to him.
"Ryo!"
"Oh." He picked it up. "Yeah?"
"Be prepared to stop within exactly 2.3 kilometers, that's where we are."
"All right."
Everyone at the base was holding their breath. Jeri turned nervously toward Takato. He gave her
a reassuring smile.
Within minutes they heard the squeal of the tires as they Tech Team started uploading the virus
to the D-Army using the Digital signals it was giving off. "38% complete!" A tech worker shouted
to Yamaki.
"38%?! That's too slow!"
"45%..."
"Hurry!"
"53%!"
Ryo had reached the base. He stopped the van he was driving and got out quickly. He ran over to
everyone. "Is it done?!"
"Uh---" Kazu said, shaking.
The enemy was showing signs of weakening. It was now roaring as it was being destroyed from the
inside.
"74%!"
But the blob still had the energy to attack. It thrashed around, sending off more Digital bits
of data then before, increasing the number of data streams. But now the weapons that the army was
firing were taking effect.
"87%!"
The enemy spit out a green substance, which seemed to be gluing everything down. Now everyone
was running to avoid it. It was mainly trying to get Ryo. He dodged one after another, but eventually
his foot was caught in some.
"It's complete!" Yamaki shouted. "The upload is completed!"
They all rushed to get out as the D-Army blob roared some more.
"Ryo!" Takato shouted, running over and trying to pull Ryo out.
The D-Army was now literally blowing up from the inside, as if bombs were going off inside it.
"Takato! Go! I'll be fine!" Ryo shouted, trying to wrench his foot out of the sticky substance.
"But--"
"Now!"
Takato decided it would be best not to argue. He went off in the opposite direction.
Just then, a huge explosion occured and knocked Ryo out. As he collapsed on the ground, Rika's
necklace fell out of his pocket.
The whole D-Army being was disintegrated, but data streams were still shooting around.
Suddenly, the last of the data streams came by and sucked up Ryo, still unconcious...
...end of Chapter XII!
A/N: OK, I'm officially feeling very dumb. I know that was a bad chapter! What's happening to me?
Maybe I'm becoming a worse and worse writer everyday. Must be stress. Oh well. Please tell me what
you think and maybe if you're really, really nice, you'll give me some tips? Also, if you don't
like the way it's going so far, then you can always tell me what you want to happen. Thanks for
reading and you know the drill: review, review, review!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by summer dragonfly
Chapter XII
"Tragedy Strikes"
A/N(author's note): Soooo sorry for the delay. I've just been caught up with midterms and other stuff. Not to mention
one of my fave hobbies, reading manga! I just got into a new one, Chobits by Clamp. It's great! My Japanese
is like crap, so I've got to read the translated ones! ::pout:: I can't wait for volume 5. Wow, I've gone off at a bit of a
tangent, haven't I?
Anyway, so now you know what this chapter is about. You'll have to bear with me if this sucks; because
I'm more of a romance-drama-any other category writer than an action writer. Plus, I felt so stupid when
writing this that I kinda put it off for a long time. Why is it that action stories are so much better when you read
them then when you write them yourself? ;D I also went on a HUGE writer's block. Excuses, excuses.. Anyway, I hope
you like and as always, plz tell me what you think by reviewing. Not to mention that reviewing will also help keep
this fic up. ...enjoy I guess...
PS: Nothing *really* happy in this chapter. Except the Ryo and Rika will grow closer and have a deeper
bond. Nothing more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Alarming reports have shown that unidentified creatures are mysteriously appearing in all corners
of Tokyo as of thirty minutes ago. They seem to be combining with one another in the heart of West
Shinjuku. Authorities have warned all citizens to stay indoors and together with your loved ones
until this matter is resolved. Further developments show that this may be connected with the appearance
of strange entities called Digimon years ago. Stay tuned for recorded footage of the attack on
West Shinjuku, and the world, when we come back."
Rika clicked the TV off. She turned towards her friends. "This isn't good."
Takato agreed. "This is happening too fast; we're not quite ready yet."
"I can see it from here." Jeri was at the window, pointing out at the city. "It's near the shopping
district; seems to be closing off at the corner of---" she squinted. "9th and some other street."
"Where's Yamaki?" Henry looked around. "Why is he leaving us at a time like this?"
"He said he was going to get something. Make some arrangements." Kazu said, biting into an
energy bar. "Protein bars, anyone?"
They all looked at him strangely. "How can you even eat right now?" Rika asked.
"Gives me energy," Kazu shrugged. "Clears my mind. Helps me focus."
"I'll take one!" They all said, and Kazu laughed.
Then, Ryo came into the room. "I just got off the phone with the commander of the military."
"What happened?" Takato asked. "Are they going to---"
"Yeah, they've agreed to help us create a diversion."
"That's wonderful!" Rika then thought of something. "But then---there's a risk that---"
"Some people may be killed." Ryo nodded, looking down.
Everyone was silent, not sure of how to respond. Rika sighed and put on her sweatshirt. "Well, I
say we give Yamaki a call and tell him about this."
"Good idea." Jeri pulled out her phone. "But I tried reaching him before and---"
"Sorry I'm late," said a voice. Yamaki stepped in.
A big sigh of relief came to them and they all rushed over to ask him questions.
"I was out making a few last changes to the virus. Here's the plan. I already called the commander
and the military's going---"
"---to help us, we know." Takato said.
"...ok, then. While they're using their tanks and helicopters to distract them, the D-Army's smarter
than that. It'll know about the plan. And based on its size right now and growth rate, it's intelligence
will more than double in a matter of minutes. It'll know not to pay attention unless it's got a real,
live, human being with knowledge about Digimon. That's where you'll come in, Ryo."
"OK." Ryo was listening.
Rika looked at him nervously, but didn't say anything.
"...so you'll lead the D-Army, combined, to the bridge connecting over to main Tokyo. There, our
tech teams will be hidden, waiting to implant the virus into the D-Army using the massive signals
it's giving off. But since we can't afford to be figured out, we'll have to stay a distance of
at least 100 meters from it at all times or the signals will be jammed. We've seen that because it's
putting most of it's energy into increasing its' strength and intelligence, it isn't very fast.
It's top speed is about 10 miles an hour."
Kazu laughed. Everyone looked at him. "Sorry."
"What will we do?" Jeri asked.
"You'll stay on the field, ready to engage the backup copies of the virus in case the first one fails.
Everyone understand?"
They all nodded, throats too tight to speak. Just then, Rika's cell phone rang. "Excuse me," she
said, picking it up and rushing out of the room.
Yamaki continued, "We'll be putting this plan into action in THREE hours. So I suggest you all do
what you have to."
The ground shook as a minor earthquake hit. Within a matter of seconds, it was over. Everyone
looked around nervously. "Are you OK"s were exchanged as Takato ran to the window. "Yamaki!" he called.
"I swear, it's bigger than it was before."
"Massive data spikes must be what's causing these mini-earthquakes." Henry said.
Rika came back into the room, panicking. "I'm sorry, everyone, but my grandmother's just gone into
intensive care."
They all gasped.
"I've got to go to the hospital. Ryo, take me there?"
"Yeah, of course." Ryo got up.
"Wait, will you be back in time to---" Yamaki said.
"I don't know. I'll be in touch." She rushed out the door.
"Oh no," Jeri said. "Why does bad things have to happen before bad things?"
* * *
"Miss, you can't go through here," the receptionist said.
"My grandmother's in here," Rika said, panting. "I've got to go see her."
"Rika Nonaka, is it?" the receptionist asked. "Your mother's here too, but I'm afraid that there's
nothing you can do now. Please, leave the doctors to their work."
"But---"
"Please take a seat. I understand that---"
"No, you don't understand, that's my grandmother in there---"
"Rika," Ryo said. "She's right, if there's nothing you can do right now, then..."
Rika knew that he was right. "Fine." she grumbled and collapsed into a waiting room chair. "What
happened? How could this---what went wrong?"
"Don't blame yourself." Ryo put his arm around her.
"Where's my mother?" she said, looking around. "I haven't seen her since I came home again..."
"I'm sure she's here..." Ryo got up and looked around. "Yes! She's right here, Rika..."
"What?" Rika went over to the other part of the waiting room and saw her mother sitting in a chair.
She was shocked. No longer did Rumiko look like a pretty model, but now a sad and worried person
who looked like she wasn't capable of smiling. "Mom?"
Rumiko looked up. "Oh, Rika, thank goodness---"
Rika hugged her mother. "What's wrong? I've never seen you so sad---"
"It's your grandma." Rumiko said sadly.
"I know that, but---"
"Do you know?"
"Yes." Rika said. "About the cancer and..."
"Do you know what type of cancer?" Rumiko regretted telling her daughter about this.
"No..." Rika cursed at herself for not asking. She had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Brain cancer." Rumiko choked out.
Rika turned away, her mouth open, her whole body numb. She couldn't get any words out.
Ryo spoke up. "But what happened?"
Now Rumiko was crying. "We were just at home, and she started to have a seizure and before I knew
it, she collapsed and I just remembered dialing an ambulance..."
Rika still couldn't say anything. Her expression was blank. At long last, it seemed like her
soul had returned to her body and she said, "How long ago?"
"30 minutes."
*That was when the D-Army started showing up!* Ryo thought. *I wonder if...no...it can't be...*
Ryo's cell phone rang. He quickly went away to pick it up. "Yeah...it's me, yes. What? Already?
But...final preparations? But I can't...not now...but---OK, OK!...fine. Rika? I'm not sure...I'll
ask. I'll be there shortly, yes. Yeah, OK, bye."
"Who was it, Ryo?" Rika asked.
"Um, Yamaki." Ryo said. "He said that the D-Army is developing faster than ever. I've got to get going
now."
"Then I'll go with you." Rika said. Her heart was torn between staying with her mother
and grandmother and going to save the world.
"No," Ryo said firmly. "You've got to stay with your mother. Especially with everything that's
happened with your grandma, and---"
"But..."
"NO, OK?" Ryo said. "I can't do that to you. Your mother needs you right now."
Rika looked back at her mother. She knew he was right.
"Well, if you're going to go..." she unhooked her necklace, the one with the purple heart and the
'R' and symbol for "love" written in diamonds on it. "Take this then."
"Rika---"
"It's the most precious thing I own, partially because it's from you." She laughed at bit, altough
her eyes were full of sadness. "It's a symbol of everything we've been through, Ryo." Rika started
to get tears in her eyes.
"OK." Ryo took the necklace and put it in his pocket. He hugged her. He felt as if they had grown
even closer and that the words 'precious' and 'symbol' somehow made them that way.
"Just promise me something..." Rika said. "That you'll come back to me in one piece, 'k?"
"I promise." He kissed her forehead.
"I can't lose you." Now she was crying.
"You won't." He said. "I love you."
"I love you too." She hugged him again. "Now go before I start holding you back."
Ryo kissed her. "I'll be back. I still have to marry you, remember?"
She laughed in spite of her tears. "I'm going to keep you to that."
"You'd better. Bye then---"
"Go kick some D-Army butt for me!"
"I will!" He waved to her and she watched him leave.
* * *
"So what's happened?" Ryo asked as soon as he entered the building.
"They've more than tripled in size." Yamaki said, pointing at the satellite images. "In only thirty
minutes."
"How are they doing this?"
"That's the question. ...energy? Electricity?"
"Look!" Jeri yelled from the window.
They all ran over and saw that cords were extending from the mass and were attacking people from
all different ends.
"What are we going to do?" Jeri was afraid.
"Looks like we've got to speed it up, and fast." Henry turned towards Yamaki. "Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right. And also---"
"Wait, what are those pink jets of light?" Takato said.
"Those look like data streams---" Ryo said.
"Data streams?"
"Remember when we were in the Digital World and all those data streams kept sucking us up and transporting
us to other places?" Henry said.
"I remember..." Takato nodded. "But why are they here?"
"Check out the data the D-Army's emiting!" Kazu was checking reports on the computer. "That's what's
been causing the data streams."
"Come on. We've got to get going." Yamaki told them all.
"Right."
They all gulped.
* * *
"The gigantic green blob brings back memories of a similar mass---a red one---that appeared seven
years ago. But instead of deleting, this one just seems to be causing more destruction by the
hour. Further analysis shows that---"
Rika sighed as she watched the television reports at the hospital. *I feel so useless.*
She turned towards her mother. "Do you want anything, Mom? I'm going to head down to the cafeteria."
"Nothing for me, thank you."
"Are you sure? You look tired. How about some coffee?" Rika was concerned.
"Well, all right...domo arigatou."
"No problem. I'll be right back. Call me right away if...if there's any news---"
"Of course."
Rika forced a smile. She hugged Rumiko and went towards the elevator. But before the elevator
door even opened...
"Rika!"
Rika turned and saw that her mother was calling her. She rushed over. "What is it?"
"It's your grandmother---the doctors say---"
"What happened?"
"I don't know---they just started rushing in there---"
Rika started breathing fast. She was scared. But what could she do? She was forced to be cast aside.
"It's OK, Mom...all we can do now is wait."
What was ten minutes felt like ten days for Rika. She didn't know what to do. She was already
angry with herself for not being of any use to her friends, and now she wasn't any use to her
grandmother either. But her mind wasn't focused on that for long, as she found herself worrying
about Ryo. *I guess he'll be OK...* she tried to convince herself. *He's been in tighter spots...*
but she couldn't think of any other tricky times.
After fifteen more minutes the doctor came out, his face sad and full of sympathy. "Ms. Nonaka...?"
"Yes?" Rumiko looked up. "What's the news, Doctor? Is she going to be all right?"
The doctor swallowed a lump in his throat. "I'm sorry. The cancer has spread too far."
"Nani?!" Rika immediately jumped out of her seat. "What are you saying?"
"It's time."
"No!" Rika said, looking at her mother, who appeared to be in emotional shock. "There---there must
be something you can do---anything---"
The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry. We've tried. She's still alive, but barely. It's only a
matter of time."
Rika wiped away a glimmer of a tear in her eye. "Can we...?" she motioned toward the door.
"Of course. I'm sorry." he said again.
"Thank you for everything." Rika walked over to her mother. "Mom? Are you OK?"
Rumiko nodded placidly. "Yes...I'm fine. What did the doctor say?"
"That it's too late." Rika said with difficulty. "We can see her...say--good--good--" She couldn't
bring herself to finish the sentence. "Are you coming?"
"I'll be there in a minute." Rumiko said. "You go first."
"All right."
Rika walked slowly to the door. She felt like her legs were ice, and that they weren't cooperating
or functioning properly.
She looked back at her mother to see that she was crying.
* * *
"Ryo? Are you OK, man?" Kazu asked.
"Um, yeah, I'm fine." Ryo forced a smile. He had an unexplainable pain in his chest.
"You must be nervous." Kazu said knowingly. "I'd be too."
"Yeah." Ryo think he knew what it was. *Rika must really be hurting.* He had always felt like
they were connected.
Yamaki came over to them. "All Ready?"
"Ready." Everyone said together.
"Move out!" Kazu said, and everyone looked at him.
"We're not in the army," Kenta pointed out.
"I know, but I've always wanted to say that."
*He's so garrulous.* Jeri thought. "Listen, now's not the time for jokes." She said seriously. "We're
up against a very serious matter."
"It's just as we conjectured," Yamaki continued. "It's heading right for this building because it
can sense the brains full of Digital knowledge. Now, we're going to head out, and I want Takato,
Henry, Kazu, Kenta and Jeri to assemble with the Tech Team."
"'kay." Jeri said. Takato could tell that she was trying to be strong, but was scared out of her
mind.
* * *
The sky was gray, the air was chilly. The tension was high. Everyone at the site had to dodge
data streams to get from one place to another. Ryo drank the last of his energy drink, sighing.
"OK, something's wrong."
Ryo turned around to see Jeri standing there, her hands on her hips. He forced a smile. "No, everything's
fine. Why would you say that?"
"It's Rika, isn't it?"
Ryo nodded silently.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" Jeri asked.
"She's...incredibly sad. It's like I can feel her sadness."
Jeri was taken aback. *...their connection really IS deep.* "So that's why you're so down?"
"I---I just want to go there and comfort her, you know? Make it all better." Ryo frowned. "I just
can't stand it when she's sad."
"I understand." Jeri said.
"Do you?"
"Yeah. My parents once had that connection. Before my mom died. I can't begin to tell you how sad
I was. Whatever it is that is causing Rika's sadness, it must be great."
*Maybe...her grandmother...* Ryo gulped. *No...that couldn't be...could it? There's no other explanation
for it...poor Rika-chan..*
"I'm sure she'll get better. She has you."
"Yeah." Ryo said, not fully convinced. *Don't worry, Rika-chan...when this is all over...you'll never
be sad again.*
"Look!" a Tech Team member shouted, pointing east. "It's coming!"
"This is it!" Yamaki addressed them all.
* * *
Rika sat down in a chair by her grandma's bed. She looked at all the machines, beeping. She had
heard what the doctor said...but she still hoped for the better. She felt tears welling up in
her eyes. She sniffed and wiped them away.
"Grandma?" Rika said. "Can you hear me...?"
*Guess not.* she thought.
"Well...I just wanted to say...you always understood me, Grandma. Even when Mom couldn't...you
knew my intentions, my feelings. You always gave me the best advice...and now I can't believe
what it's come to..."
She sniffed and wiped away more tears. "You never did anything wrong, Grandma. You don't deserve
this."
She sighed. "Sometimes...when everyone else is sad...and I couldn't understand why they were crying...
I thought they were sorta dumb to go to such extremes for nothing...things like that make me feel
like I have no soul or something. But I know now. Crying...is part of being human. I never thought
that I could cry easily. You taught me so many things about life, Grandma. And after today you
won't be here to teach me anymore...why? Why do these things happen? Can you tell me?"
*I sound like a little kid.*
"I know what you'll tell me...that death is a part of life. Just like love. And now I didn't even
have the chance to tell you---I'm engaged." she laughed a little, and held up her hand. "Ryo's
the most wonderful man in the world, and I know you'll be there when we get married...spiritually.
And although that's good enough for me...I just wish that...."
She kissed her Grandma's forehead, and stood up. "Goodbye, Grandma. I hope you'll always watch
over me. I love you."
Rika choked out a sob.
* * *
There was a sharp pain in Ryo's chest. He knew. *Oh, Rika...*
"Whoa!" he heard Kazu yelled. "That thing's scarier than the teacher at Cram School!"
Ryo looked up and saw that the enemy was coming up to them. He knew what he had to do. He stood
his ground and saw the other vans driving away to their location as stated in the plan.
His whole body was frozen in fear. Then he remembered his role. *Oh yeah! Get moving, Ryo!*
He say that the enemy was ignoring every shot fired at it. It was looking at him. *It must have
detected the amount of Digital knowledge in my brain.* Ryo thought. *Better get going.*
He ran towards the van that was designated to him and started leading the D-Army blob on a chase
across the city.
"It's working!" Henry said, back where they were going to upload the virus into the D-Army. "The
sensors we put in that van are showing that Ryo's leading it across the city...he's passed the shopping
district...heading towards the financial buildings!"
"Excellent." Yamaki picked up a walkie talkie. "Ryo, can you hear me?"
"Huh?" Ryo looked at the walkie talkie on the seat next to him.
"Ryo!"
"Oh." He picked it up. "Yeah?"
"Be prepared to stop within exactly 2.3 kilometers, that's where we are."
"All right."
Everyone at the base was holding their breath. Jeri turned nervously toward Takato. He gave her
a reassuring smile.
Within minutes they heard the squeal of the tires as they Tech Team started uploading the virus
to the D-Army using the Digital signals it was giving off. "38% complete!" A tech worker shouted
to Yamaki.
"38%?! That's too slow!"
"45%..."
"Hurry!"
"53%!"
Ryo had reached the base. He stopped the van he was driving and got out quickly. He ran over to
everyone. "Is it done?!"
"Uh---" Kazu said, shaking.
The enemy was showing signs of weakening. It was now roaring as it was being destroyed from the
inside.
"74%!"
But the blob still had the energy to attack. It thrashed around, sending off more Digital bits
of data then before, increasing the number of data streams. But now the weapons that the army was
firing were taking effect.
"87%!"
The enemy spit out a green substance, which seemed to be gluing everything down. Now everyone
was running to avoid it. It was mainly trying to get Ryo. He dodged one after another, but eventually
his foot was caught in some.
"It's complete!" Yamaki shouted. "The upload is completed!"
They all rushed to get out as the D-Army blob roared some more.
"Ryo!" Takato shouted, running over and trying to pull Ryo out.
The D-Army was now literally blowing up from the inside, as if bombs were going off inside it.
"Takato! Go! I'll be fine!" Ryo shouted, trying to wrench his foot out of the sticky substance.
"But--"
"Now!"
Takato decided it would be best not to argue. He went off in the opposite direction.
Just then, a huge explosion occured and knocked Ryo out. As he collapsed on the ground, Rika's
necklace fell out of his pocket.
The whole D-Army being was disintegrated, but data streams were still shooting around.
Suddenly, the last of the data streams came by and sucked up Ryo, still unconcious...
...end of Chapter XII!
A/N: OK, I'm officially feeling very dumb. I know that was a bad chapter! What's happening to me?
Maybe I'm becoming a worse and worse writer everyday. Must be stress. Oh well. Please tell me what
you think and maybe if you're really, really nice, you'll give me some tips? Also, if you don't
like the way it's going so far, then you can always tell me what you want to happen. Thanks for
reading and you know the drill: review, review, review!
