Henrika: A Tale of Two Tamers
Chapter 2
In her room, Rika began sorting through her Digimon cards as she always did. Even though playing the card game no longer seemed as fun now that she had a real Digimon, she still collected the cards, mostly to get the modify ones. Renamon stood nearly invisible in the shadows.
"Another good job tonight Renamon," Rika said to her stealthy companion.
"I aim to please," replied Renamon.
"Still need to work on the digivolving though. We almost didn't win that time."
"Yes, I know. It's a good thing that Henry and Terriermon showed up when they did. Otherwise it might have been disastrous."
Rika slammed her cards down onto the table, as if Renamon had just hit some emotional nerve.
"Are you implying that we couldn't handle things on our own?"
"I'm not implying anything Rika; I'm saying it straight out. Sometimes we need a little help. Just like we did tonight."
"Once we've perfected the art of Digivolution, we won't need anybody's help."
"Perhaps you should talk to Henry then. He was the first one to get his Digimon to digivolve, maybe he could give us a few pointers?"
"He's just another obstacle, always getting in the way, slowing me down from achieving my goals! He doesn't even fight for data! Why he became a tamer is beyond me! Who cares about Henry?"
"You should, for one." With that, Renamon vanished into the shadows.
Rika began picking up the scattered cards. As much as she hated to admit it, the fox Digimon might have a point. Their opponents seemed to be getting stronger lately. Before it had been mainly Rookies and Armours, but now they were going up against Champions. Unless she could find a reliable way for Renamon to digivolve soon, they wouldn't stand a chance. And unfortunately, Henry might be the only one who could help.
"Wait a minute, I'm one card short!" Rika quickly counted her cards to see which one was missing.
"My Antylamon promo card! The one I got from the movie! I must have dropped it during the battle! I have to go back for it! That card can't easily be replaced!"
Quickly slipping on her coat, Rika ran for the door. When she opened it, there, standing on the front porch, was Henry.
"Whatever it is, I can't be bothered with it now! I've got another problem to deal with!"
"You mean this?" said Henry, holding up an Antylamon card.
"My card!"
"Yeah, I thought this belonged to you. I figured you might want it back."
"Well you're darn right I want it back!" snapped Rika, plucking the card from Henry's fingers. "If you think I'd let you keep it, you're out of your mind!"
She turned around to go back in, but then stopped, and thought for a moment. Most people probably would've kept the card, but Henry decided to return it. This was perhaps the most decent thing anyone had ever done for Rika. Anyone, who wasn't a family member or fox lady, that is.
'Oh what the hey,' thought Rika. She turned around to Henry who was already on his way out.
"Hey Henry!" Rika called. Henry stopped and looked back.
"What?"
"…Thank you."
Henry smiled and then continued on his way.
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Meanwhile, inside a twin-towered building, a secret government agency known as Hypnos was busy monitoring the Internet for any Digimon who might bio-emerge.
"I'm picking up a Wild One sir. No indication yet if it's going to bio-emerge, but it looks pretty powerful."
"Keep an eye on it Riley. Let me know if it does anything I don't like," said a man named Yamaki, as he flicked his lighter.
'They just never learn.'
TO BE CONTINUED
