Me: Hey everyone M here to tell ya all that's a familiar face is going to
be appearing in this chapter.
Rika (Hopeful): Gogglehead?
Me: Nope, he's only in the first chapter. Why miss him?
Rika (Embarrassed): NO! I thought this series was support be about Gogglehead and myself.
Me: True but if you remember this is just a side story to fill in some of the gasps that I will be putting into the In-Training sequel.
Rika (Screaming): THEN WHY ARE YOU WRITING THIS NOW!!!!!
Me (Grinning Slyly): When I say I'm going be a tease I mean it. Beside it's builds up the drama that way.
Rika (Muttering angrily): You really know how to makes me mad.
Me: That's my job.
Shadows of The Past:
Chapter 5: Cursed in The Shadows
"Man I wish these stupid gangsters will just get off our back!!" Matt screamed over his shoulder to his companion.
"You think you have it rough? Rena shouted back to him. "Try wearing a skirt with a couple of hormones driven teens on your tail!"
"Hey why did you think I jumped in front of you Rena?" the fox turned human didn't missed the amusement in her friend's voice and that caused a low growl to escape Rena. She vowed to get Matt back once they were out of this mass.
The truck owned by the Thunder Splat has been chasing the fighting pair for a good 15 minutes and it was starting to work on the pair's nerves. On the back of the vehicle, the kids had somehow gotten their hands on a large amount of fruit and were now throwing it at them, hoping to trip them up, but with their fighting skulls, Matt and Rena were able to dodge the produces.
"Will you two just fall already?" the bandana wearing kid shouted angrily.
"Hey!" the bandana wearing kid's friend said harshly and slipped his friend on the shoulder. "Don't spoil the view."
He looked up, getting a clear view under Rena's skirt and his bandana- wearing friend joined him a minute later. With her increased hearing Rena had picked up the little talk the friends had and that caused an angry growl to escape from Rena. She skips over the remains of an orange that one of the kids had thrown and picked up the juicy object in one swift monition. She then executed a wide forward flip, throwing the fruit in the process. The remains of the orange hit the roof of the truck with such force that it splatter, sending some of it juices right into the kids eyes and burning them.
Rena allowed a small victory grin to appear as she heard the kids hollowed out in pain and she could imagine them gripping their eyes in attempt to rid themselves of the juice burning their eyes.
HA! Take that you stupid prevents! Rena screamed victoriously in her mind.
"Rats!" Matt curse.
Curious, Rena look over Matt's shoulder and saw they were running out of fence to run on. Then she saw an elderly man, older then Matt's grandmother with a boy about they age with bright blonde hair and deep grayish, sliver eyes. The boy was probably the man's grandson was carrying golden retriever puppy in his hands. Rena began to worry that the jerks will run them over them.
Matt also saw this little predicament and began cursing in English. He then saw a turn that lead down to a dark, wide-open street and he grinned. He jumped from the fence and right in front of the speeding truck.
"Hey follow me if you think you're man enough!" Matt said in a mocking voice and flashed his rear like a target.
That got the three Thunder Splat members very angry and they followed Matt blindly into the alley. Rena watched as the truck rapidly vanishes into the alley, feeling relieved that Matt was able to get these madmen away from the innocent bystanders before they were hurt. She looked at the bystanders to see the old man holding his frightened grandson in a warm embrace, the golden puppy whimpering in its owner hands.
The old man lifted his head up and looked at Rena with eyes of a soldier. The blonde haired former digimon locked her battle weary eyes onto the former soldier's and they came to an understanding through their stares. Rena looked at the boy for another second before jumping off the fence and giving chase to the truck.
That boy, he looked like someone I know from the future, but that can't be him, can it? Rena tried to put together the resembling to the boy she just saw and the man running the watchtower that over looks the digital world as she ran, looking for Matt and the Thunder Splat members.
Luckily Rena had a trail of tipped over trashcans with trash spilling from it and skid marks, swirling to and away from building. The fox turned human looked at everything with heavy eyes and a sweat dropping forming on the back of her head.
She sighs heavily and muttered to herself," If I'm not following one reckless teenager, I'm following a hold lot of them."
Looking at a can nearest to her, feasting with rats, Rena sighs once more before once again giving chase. Following the trail that was so nicely place there for her, the former digimon came to another alley, where the Ford was parked. Running up to the mouth of the alley, she heard the sound of chain hitting pavement.
"Stay still so I can massed up that face of your really good!" she heard that redhead Thunder Splat screamed angrily and was followed by the sound o his chain hitting the ground again.
"No thanks I like my face just as it is," Matt said in a serious tone, which was a change from his usual casual tone of voice.
Curious, Rena peeked into the alley and saw her "cousin" jumping off the walls of the narrow alley to avoid the Thunder Splat's chain. The kids that were throwing the fruit at the pair early were now lying unconscious near the opening of the alley. Rena was relived that they didn't look hurt, only subdue. Letting out a relieved sigh the fox turned her attention back to the fight at hand and notice a few things she missed early.
Matt had his uniform jacket off and had it around something he was curdling in his left arm. That and his eyes didn't have that victory glee hidden deep within his them. Instead his eyes seemed to be showing concern for the thing in his arm.
Matt jumped to avoid the chain yet again and saw the blonde fighter's crystal blue eyes following him. He bounced off of a building and landed in front of Rena.
"Here take her and be gentle," Matt held out the thing that was covered by his jacket, gently. Rena did as she was told and immediately notice that bunched up jacket was shivering slightly. "I'll take care of this clown and then we can see to getting her some help."
Matt spun around on his heels and Rena saw the red mark through the rips on the back of the shirt, but what she really notice was the large wound on Matt's right shoulder, blooding running to his hand and dripping from it. Seeing that blood made everything clean to the disguised fox. Matt couldn't use his right hand, so he wasn't able to fight with it and thus gave up whatever was he was carrying to finish this guy off. But at the same time Rena couldn't help but feel that Matt really wanted to help whatever is under his jacket.
Matt stepped up to the guy and the Thunder Splat grinned cockily as he began swinging his chain. He whipped it against the ground and threw it at Matt. The shadow fighter stood there with unflinching nerves and caught the chain with ease. He pulled on the chain hard, forcing the Thunder Splat member off of his feet and right at Matt. The shadow fighter threw his head into his opponent's head and followed that up with a swift knee jab to the gut. Finally he let go of the chain and delivered a sharp uppercut to Red's chain, sending him a good two feet in the air. The guy landed hard on his back and finally the guy out for the count.
Sighing in relief for the third time that day, Rena to walk over at Matt collapsed to his knees.
"You going to make it?" Rena asked as she kneeled down to examining her friend closely.
Matt gave the fox a reassuring smile and said in his casual voice," Yeah, just a little tired from the entire running and not to mention the suddenly blood lose. But it's nothing a good night rest with some of my grand's special medicine wouldn't cure. So how's the cat?" Matt's voice took on a very serious tone as he looked at his jacket.
Cat?" Curious, Rena lifted up the fabric and looked at the pure blonde furred cat, shivering in her arms. There's a small red mark on it right front paw.
The fox turned human looked at her "cousin" confusingly and asked," What happened before I found you?"
Matt leaned against a wall on his left side, so not to irrupt his wound and breathed out heavily. "Well it began as I lid these Thunder Splat jerks into this alley..."
(Flashback...Matt's P.O.V.)
I ran into the alley, not realizing at the moment that it was much more wider then I thought it was and the truck had no problem getting in there. I began darting left and right, in hopes to try and make them crash, but when I heard trashcans tipping over and tires screeching, I knew that guy had some driving skulls behind him.
So I continued on running, darting here and there in hopes of getting these jerks off of my back. Plus it didn't help matters that I was starting to tire out. But it would seem that lady luck was on my side today as I saw another alleyway that was to small for the truck to get through and went for it immediately. I dash into the alley only to find it was nothing but a dead end. I turned around to leave and saw the three Thunder Splat members had parked their truck in the mouth of the alley, blocking my escape routine.
The three gangsters got out of their vehicle and bear their weapons. I was a little surprised when the bandana wearing kid pulled out a whip instead of a chain or a club like his friends.
"Haha. It time for you to pay for all you done to me," Red said with a cocky grin.
"Hey I beat you down everyday, so what makes you think this time will be any different? And besides when I broke your arm that was by an accident," I said calmly.
"I don't care!!!" Red screamed angrily. "I'm just sick and tired of eating dirt, so now it's your turned to have a nice dirt pie."
The three began advancing on me and I readied myself. One of the Thunder Splat's must have stepped on something because a loud feline shriek filled air and something leapt out of the shadows. It latched onto the bandana wearing kid's face.
I watched as a pure blonde furred cat began clawing the kid's face in fear. The kid grabbed the cat by the fur and after a little effort pulled it off. He threw her to the ground and creaked his whip. Luckily the boy wasn't a good aim and the whip hit her paw.
For some reason, seeing that cat taken a beaten got my blood boiling. Attacking me was one thing, but beating a defenseless creature that was only doing what came natural was just plain wrong. My tattoo showed my anger by glowing a deep red color.
With a soft battle cry I charged at the gangsters. I slammed my body into them and pushed them away from the cat. I gave them a quick spun kick to their jaws to hold them at bar for a moment. I then turned to the cat and stared at her unnatural blue eyes and became lost in them. It was like everything around us disappeared and we were all that were left in the entire world. I could see a scared human soul buried deep within these beautiful and captivating eyes.
I notice that the cat has begun shivering and without thinking, I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the cat as took her into my arms. I felt like I wanted to do nothing but hold this creature in my arms and protect it for the rest of my life.
But sadly tender moments like those never last long for me. I felt cool leather hit against my shoulder, followed by cold steel hitting against that same spot. My arm go numb and it fill to my side as I turned to face the three angrily gangsters. But for once I didn't feel like fighting because I didn't want to upset that beautiful creature anymore then it was, so I did the only other that came to my mind. I began dodging the weapons that were thrown at me.
(End of Flashback...Normal P.O.V.)
"...That kid with the whip was able to scar my back little before I knock him and his buddy out with a couple of pressure point I learned from my grandpa," Matt out let a high sigh as he finished his tail and closed his eyes. For a moment he didn't move and Rena fear that he may have passed out from blood lost. She slowly outstretched her hand to touch Matt's shoulder when his eyes shot opened. "Well let go."
He slowly worked his ways back to his feet and put his uninjured hand on the wall for support. He began walking towards the mouth of the alley, but lost his balance and began falling. Luckily Rena caught him just before his fell on his bad shoulder.
"Let me help you," the fox turned human offered kindly.
Rena could see in Matt's eyes that he didn't want help, but he didn't voice it. Instead he said in his dry humor," Okay boss, but just one question, how are we going to get over that truck?"
Rena looked at the parked Ford with a big sweat drop forming on the back of her head. That's a really good question, Rena replied in her mind, but said instead," I'm sure we'll find a way."
"I'm sure we will," Matt said and flashed his casual smile.
(Matt's grandmother's house)
Sango was dusking off the front porch, while humming to herself. She looked up from her work, wondering where her grandson and his friend were?
That's strange Matt's never this late, She wondered to herself.
She went to go back to her sweeping when she heard something like ruffling leaf. Looking up again, she saw Rena carrying her grandson and a blonde cat with her. Dropping her broom, she hurried over to her grandson and his friend, concerned for them.
"Are you all right?" Sango asked and gasped when she saw the blood dripping from her grandson's hand. "What happened?"
"Let just say I don't have the best of times making friends," Matt tried to use his casual voice, but the lost of blood was starting to make he dizzy and it was hard to put anything behind his voice.
"Hurry and bring him inside," Sango commanded and spun around on her heels. She ran into her house with speed uncommon for someone her age.
"Grand please take it easy!" Matt found the strength to plea to his grandmother as Rena carried him into the house.
Sango lid Rena into the kitchen and pulled a chair out from the table. "Set Matt down in the chair gently," she in that commanding voice.
Rena nodded and did as she was told.
"Matt, I going to take off your shirt, now this might hurt a little," Sango explained in a soft, comforting voice.
The shadow fighter opened his mouth to protest, but his grandma yanked his shirt off causing him to hollowing in pain.
Sango began gently running her fingers through all of her grandson's wounds, examining each one carefully and causing him to wince slightly. Her fingers rested on a semi large gaping hole in Matt's shoulder and gently pressed in. Matt yipped and jumped in his chair.
"Sorry," Sango said sincerely and then turned serious again. "Well these smaller wounds don't look to serious, but it the cut on your shoulder I worried about. It's deep and you lost a lot of blood, but I really don't think it to alarming."
She then went to a cabinet close to the sink and took something out of it. She turned around and showed Rena an old brown pouch and a roll of bandages. A small gasp escaped the fox turned human when she saw that pouch.
That's the same pouch Rumiko carry around with her, Rena thought, eyeing the pouch surprisingly.
Sango ignored the shocked human and went to her grandson. Opening it, she took out a hand full of deep green muss and gently smeared it across Matt's injured shoulder. Matt tried to suppress the urge to cry out in pain, but a few groans escaped him.
The muss seemed to harden around the wound, forming a barrier around it and stopping the bleeding. Sango then gently wrapped the bandages around her grandson's shoulder. Matt was glad the effects of the remedy was immediate because he didn't want to show any more weakness in front of Rena.
"Wow," Needless to say Rena was speechless, but it wasn't just from seeing the pouch. She was amazed of the level of skull Matt's grandmother display when nursing her grandson. "Where did you learn to do that?"
Sango looked at the disguised digimon with a gentle smile and said," Well dear I used to be a nurse before my heart attack, but after that my grandson pleaded with the office to transfer me to a dusk job. And now mister what happened to you?"
Rena opened her mouth to explain but Matt quickly interrupted her," I saw a group of bullies beating up on that cat in Rena's hand for no reason and I got mad."
"Cat?" Sango looked at Rena, really noticing the feline in her hands for the first time. The cat had passed out about half way during the trip home and was now resting in Rena's hand.
Sango carefully took the cat from Rena and curdled it in her arms. She examined the cat's paw and was relieved that the wound was only small.
"Well this one look all right too, but I wonder who would hurt a poor defenseless creature." Sango asked no one in practically.
Matt shrugged and said," Who know, but I give those jerks a good beating that's for sure."
Rena looked in Matt's eye and saw for the first time that he wasn't trying to hide his anger. It was like he could see past the feline body and into the human soul that was buried deep inside.
What am I saying, Rena thought. This is Matthew Smith, the soon to be father of my tamer, of course he can see that the cat is more then she seems.
"Hey look it got a name tap," Sango said suddenly, bring Rena out of her thoughts.
"Really?" Matt asked and his grandmother nodded.
Curious, the shadow fighter lifted himself from his set and moved over to his grandmother. Rena knew what was on that tag, but need to keep up appearance also moved behind the elder. The two got a good look at the cercal nametag attached to a black leather collar. But the weirdest thing was that there was only the word. Rumiko was the only thing written on the tag.
Matt titled his head to the side in confusion and then looked at Rena," That's just like Rika's collar."
Rena sweat dropped and said in a slightly nervous tone," Yes, quit the concordance don't you think?"
Matt raised a suspicious eyebrow, feeling not for the first time that the person he was looking at knew more then she was letting on. He decided to drop it for now and turned back to the beautiful creature in his grandmother's arms.
"Hey gram don't you think you should treat that wound before it becomes infected?" Matt asked, nodding his head at the injured paw.
"Oh you're right Matt," Sango said and moved to the table.
The elder took a seat and gently set Rumiko on the table. She grabbed the pouch with her family remedy and was prepared to patch up the paw when Rumiko's eyes snapped opened. For a second Sango was stun at seeing blue eyes on a cat, but it passed when she saw Rumiko began licking her injury.
"Hey don't do that, you'll only make it worse," Sango said gently and leaned down.
Rumiko wasn't aware of the others in the room until she heard the voice. She stopped licking her wound and looked up at the elder first. She then looked at a boy with black hair with a mass of yellow in it and had the most stunning violets colored eyes she even seen. Rumiko was threatened to just get lost in those eyes for hours, but quickly looked at the blonde before that could happen.
Being in an unfamiliar place and seeing all of those unfamiliar faces caused Rumiko's feline's instincts to kick in and she did the only thing a scared kitty cat is supported to do. She jumped off the table, despite her injured paw and ran with all her might under table.
Matt, his grandmother and Rena all looked on as the cat executed one of it most primate instincts with curious eyes.
"Matt did you notice those eye?" Sango asked her grandson.
Matt simply nodded and shoved his hands in his uniform pockets. He walked up to the table, took the pouch from his grandmother's hand gently and got onto his stomach. He made a face as pain shoot through his shoulder, but he ignored it and extended his left hand like he was showing Rumiko that he wasn't going to hurt her.
"C'mon girl, let get that paw patched up," Matt spoke in a soft almost whisper like tone.
Rumiko was afraid that this beautiful stranger was trying to trick her and she panicked. She clawed at Matt's hand, leaving three small wounds on the side of his hand. Matt yipped and yakked his hand back. He looked at the blood coming out of the wounds and surprisingly let a gentle smile form on his lips.
"Man you're sure one mean wildcat," Matt spoke in an even gentler tone then before and looked at the cat under the table with trusting eyes.
Something in his voice and eyes seem to say something Rumiko. They had a warm trusting feeling to them, something Rumiko hasn't seen since her time. She stared up at the man with these stunning eyes and for the first times in mouths felt safe.
Rumiko slowly made her way out from under the table and Matt took her gently in his arms. Dropping the pouch on the table, he began stroking Rumiko's fur just right, causing the blonde cat to begin purring softly. Matt took a seat at the table and continued to pet Rumiko.
Rena and Sango had made themselves scarves a whole ago, but the shadow fighter didn't even notice that his only family and friend had even lift because he was to intertwine with this strange cat with the human-like eyes. It was the first time since the passing of his grandfather that he actually let down his barriers and for the first time actually truly felt at peace.
Matt didn't notice that throughout the entire time he was with Rumiko that his tattoo was flashing between white and black.
(Rena's room)
Rika laid on her back, looking up at the ceiling, bored out of her mind. She had slept half the day away, but had woken up about a couple hours ago and Rena had shut her door, leaving Rika tripped in her room.
Normally when she was this bored she was bugged Rena to go to the Mutsaki bakery to bug gogglehead.
"Gogglehead," Rika sigh as she turned onto her stomach. She would never say this out loud, but the digimon queen missed her goofy gogglehead. She missed teasing him, fighting with him, but most importantly she just missed being with him. "I guess it's true about what they say about never knowing how good something is until it's gone."
"I never thought I would actually hear these words come out of the mouth of the famous digimon queen herself," a light humor filled voice said.
Startled, Rika up to see Rena closing the door to her room. Once the cursed tamer saw what her partner was wearing, she burst out laughing.
"What's so funny little one?" Rena asked, putting her hands on her hips in a Rika-like way.
Rika managed to get her laughter subdue enough to answer her partner," It just that uniform you're wearing." And started to laugh again.
Rena looked down at her uniform and then back at her cursed tamer with a raised eyebrow," And just what's wrong with this uniform?"
"It just looks funny on you?" Rika answered through her laughing.
Rena just rolled her eyes and let Rika get this out of her system as she changed into her street clothes. Finally after five minutes Rika calm down enough to get her laughter under control.
"Done?" Rena asked with a raised eyebrow and Rika nodded. "Good. Now mind telling what was so funny?"
Rika in danger of another laughing fit, managed to say," When I saw you in that uniform the first thing that popped into my head was you in your true form, wearing that uniform." With that said the cursed tamer once again broke out laughing.
Rena rolled her eyes again and waited for Rika to calm down again. This time it only took the fire colored fox three minutes to settled down. She then looked up at her humanized partner with narrow angry eyes.
"What was the big idea leaving me in this room all day huh?" the little fox asked demandingly. "Do you have any idea how boring it is with no one to bug?"
A small smile blossomed on the disguised digimon's face as she said," Well little one I didn't really mean to leave you along, but it wouldn't really matter now."
"Huh?" Rika looked at her partner confused, but before she could ask what she meant, Rena scoop the cursed tamer up and went downstairs.
Rika was surprised when she saw her father, sitting on the couch, petting the blonde fur of a cat in his arm and humming to it. The cat's ears were twitching in rhythm with Matt's humming.
Is that my... Curious, Rika jumped from Rena's arms and onto the couch. She slowly walked up and examined the cat. Her fur was filled of dirt and gram from being out on the streets for so long and the obvious bandage on her paw.
When Rumiko saw the strange fox coming towards her, she panicked and tried to get someplace safe. Matt gently tightened his hold on the hysterical cat and lean down to her right ear.
"Don't worry Rumiko, Rika's just like you," Matt softly whispered into Rumiko's ear.
The blonde feline stopped her struggling and looked at the boy with trusting eyes. She wanted to get lost in those eyes forever and just forget her troubles. But her sanative hearing informed her that the strange fox, named Rika was closing in.
Forcing herself away from those stunning set of eyes, Rumiko looked at the fox, realizing for the first time that she carried the same eyes as the boy holding her.
The two animals looked in deeply into each other's eyes, both seeing the human souls that rested deep within. Rika walked up to the cat and took in a good whiff of her scent. Wild cherries and blueberries filled Rika's nose.
Rika remember after being cursed when her mother held her, that she her gotten a whiff of her scent and the cat's was the same as her mother. So that mean's that the cat in front of her was indeed her mother from this time.
Rika then did something that even Rena wasn't prepared for. She yipped like a normal fox. Everything seemed to become stiff as stone as they waited from the blonde feline to reply. After a minute of waiting, Rumiko bunched up in Matt's hands and let out a shy, almost timid meow.
Rika took that as a yes and jumped at her future mother, forcing her out of Matt's arms and onto the couch. The two began wrestling around playfully or Rika began playing around, while Rumiko just went along for the ride, but in a few minutes she joined in on the fun. Matt was worried that Rumiko might hurt her paw more and his tattoo showed it by flashing green.
"Hey be carefully you two," Matt said, sounding like a concern father.
"AAH, don't worry about it Matt," Rena said casually. "I'm sure Rika wouldn't do anything that will hurt Rumiko."
Matt looked at the disguised fox for a quick second before turning his eyes at the small animals on the couch. They were dangerous close to the edge of the cough and Matt was worried that they might fall. The two animals saw the edge and rolled onto the couch.
Rumiko managed to get onto of the fire colored fox and playfully licked Rika on the nose. The cursed tamer bunched her face up in disgust and she was tipped to use her bubble attack, but she knew that, that would draw to much attention. So putting all of her strength into it, Rika rolled to her side, taking her playmate with her and getting on top of the cat. Rika was careful not to touch her bandage paw as she leaned down and licked Rumiko's nose.
Rena watched the future mother and daughter playing around like a couple of children with one of her small smiles. It was a big change to see them actually having fun together like normal people instead of having them at each others throats like back in the present.
It's good just to let yourself go once in a while, The fox turned human mused softly to herself.
(...)
Close to where Matt, fought these three Thunder Splat members, a young boy about two years older then Matt himself was wondering around, looking for something. He wore a long black trench coat that covered his plain black t-shirt and black jeans. His sneakers hit the ground silently as he wondering around. His deep blonde hair was cut in short.
This boy had a dark, ominous feeling to him, causing all the vermin in the area to flee. It was like he was nothing more but pure darkness.
The boy came to the alley where Matt fought the three Thunder Splats and entered. He looked around for a short time, taking in the alley's feeling. The boy could feel that he prey was here not to long ago, but he could also feel the presence of a two powerful being.
The boy walked to the center of the alley and took out a small pouch from his left jacket. Opening it, he took out a crimson red dust and tossed it into the air. The dust seemed to cover the entire alley and the boy began chanting softly.
"Oh great watcher of time, hear my call and answer my plea. Show to me the answers of this alley that had long since past."
A crimson mist rolled in, covering the alley completely in a thin lair. The mist began taking on shapes and minutes later, the mist turned into ghostly imagines. The boy looked at a young man with strange hair, feeling a huge source of power coming from him. Looking behind him, the boy found three gangsters, looking quit mad, but they were nothing special about them.
The boy watched as the three gangsters began moving on the boy with strange hair, only to have one of them stepped on something, causing a loud shriek to fill the air. Then a blonde cat jumped out of the shadows and began latched onto one of gangsters face and began clawing it.
The boy smiled to himself, as he knew that, that was the prey he was looking for. He watched the rest of the scene play out and was a little impressed with the boy with the strange hair skulls.
The boy was about to call off the vision when a girl with long blonde hair stepped into the alley after her friend had defeated the gangsters. The boy could feel a power hidden deep within this girl, but that was none of his concern now.
With a wave of his left hand, the imagines turned back into mist and vanished into nothingness. The boy looked at the spot where the cat was hiding early, the edges of his lip curling into a smile.
"So, my darling sister, very so," the boy said in an eerie calm voice and began walking away, his hair suddenly standing up and changing into a flame color.
(...)
Rika: Okay if you're think people are that stupid not to know who that guy was, then you give them way to much credit.
Me (Shrugging): Oh well.
Rika: But what's with the hair?
Me (Grinning): You'll just have to wait and seen.
Rika (Hopeful): Gogglehead?
Me: Nope, he's only in the first chapter. Why miss him?
Rika (Embarrassed): NO! I thought this series was support be about Gogglehead and myself.
Me: True but if you remember this is just a side story to fill in some of the gasps that I will be putting into the In-Training sequel.
Rika (Screaming): THEN WHY ARE YOU WRITING THIS NOW!!!!!
Me (Grinning Slyly): When I say I'm going be a tease I mean it. Beside it's builds up the drama that way.
Rika (Muttering angrily): You really know how to makes me mad.
Me: That's my job.
Shadows of The Past:
Chapter 5: Cursed in The Shadows
"Man I wish these stupid gangsters will just get off our back!!" Matt screamed over his shoulder to his companion.
"You think you have it rough? Rena shouted back to him. "Try wearing a skirt with a couple of hormones driven teens on your tail!"
"Hey why did you think I jumped in front of you Rena?" the fox turned human didn't missed the amusement in her friend's voice and that caused a low growl to escape Rena. She vowed to get Matt back once they were out of this mass.
The truck owned by the Thunder Splat has been chasing the fighting pair for a good 15 minutes and it was starting to work on the pair's nerves. On the back of the vehicle, the kids had somehow gotten their hands on a large amount of fruit and were now throwing it at them, hoping to trip them up, but with their fighting skulls, Matt and Rena were able to dodge the produces.
"Will you two just fall already?" the bandana wearing kid shouted angrily.
"Hey!" the bandana wearing kid's friend said harshly and slipped his friend on the shoulder. "Don't spoil the view."
He looked up, getting a clear view under Rena's skirt and his bandana- wearing friend joined him a minute later. With her increased hearing Rena had picked up the little talk the friends had and that caused an angry growl to escape from Rena. She skips over the remains of an orange that one of the kids had thrown and picked up the juicy object in one swift monition. She then executed a wide forward flip, throwing the fruit in the process. The remains of the orange hit the roof of the truck with such force that it splatter, sending some of it juices right into the kids eyes and burning them.
Rena allowed a small victory grin to appear as she heard the kids hollowed out in pain and she could imagine them gripping their eyes in attempt to rid themselves of the juice burning their eyes.
HA! Take that you stupid prevents! Rena screamed victoriously in her mind.
"Rats!" Matt curse.
Curious, Rena look over Matt's shoulder and saw they were running out of fence to run on. Then she saw an elderly man, older then Matt's grandmother with a boy about they age with bright blonde hair and deep grayish, sliver eyes. The boy was probably the man's grandson was carrying golden retriever puppy in his hands. Rena began to worry that the jerks will run them over them.
Matt also saw this little predicament and began cursing in English. He then saw a turn that lead down to a dark, wide-open street and he grinned. He jumped from the fence and right in front of the speeding truck.
"Hey follow me if you think you're man enough!" Matt said in a mocking voice and flashed his rear like a target.
That got the three Thunder Splat members very angry and they followed Matt blindly into the alley. Rena watched as the truck rapidly vanishes into the alley, feeling relieved that Matt was able to get these madmen away from the innocent bystanders before they were hurt. She looked at the bystanders to see the old man holding his frightened grandson in a warm embrace, the golden puppy whimpering in its owner hands.
The old man lifted his head up and looked at Rena with eyes of a soldier. The blonde haired former digimon locked her battle weary eyes onto the former soldier's and they came to an understanding through their stares. Rena looked at the boy for another second before jumping off the fence and giving chase to the truck.
That boy, he looked like someone I know from the future, but that can't be him, can it? Rena tried to put together the resembling to the boy she just saw and the man running the watchtower that over looks the digital world as she ran, looking for Matt and the Thunder Splat members.
Luckily Rena had a trail of tipped over trashcans with trash spilling from it and skid marks, swirling to and away from building. The fox turned human looked at everything with heavy eyes and a sweat dropping forming on the back of her head.
She sighs heavily and muttered to herself," If I'm not following one reckless teenager, I'm following a hold lot of them."
Looking at a can nearest to her, feasting with rats, Rena sighs once more before once again giving chase. Following the trail that was so nicely place there for her, the former digimon came to another alley, where the Ford was parked. Running up to the mouth of the alley, she heard the sound of chain hitting pavement.
"Stay still so I can massed up that face of your really good!" she heard that redhead Thunder Splat screamed angrily and was followed by the sound o his chain hitting the ground again.
"No thanks I like my face just as it is," Matt said in a serious tone, which was a change from his usual casual tone of voice.
Curious, Rena peeked into the alley and saw her "cousin" jumping off the walls of the narrow alley to avoid the Thunder Splat's chain. The kids that were throwing the fruit at the pair early were now lying unconscious near the opening of the alley. Rena was relived that they didn't look hurt, only subdue. Letting out a relieved sigh the fox turned her attention back to the fight at hand and notice a few things she missed early.
Matt had his uniform jacket off and had it around something he was curdling in his left arm. That and his eyes didn't have that victory glee hidden deep within his them. Instead his eyes seemed to be showing concern for the thing in his arm.
Matt jumped to avoid the chain yet again and saw the blonde fighter's crystal blue eyes following him. He bounced off of a building and landed in front of Rena.
"Here take her and be gentle," Matt held out the thing that was covered by his jacket, gently. Rena did as she was told and immediately notice that bunched up jacket was shivering slightly. "I'll take care of this clown and then we can see to getting her some help."
Matt spun around on his heels and Rena saw the red mark through the rips on the back of the shirt, but what she really notice was the large wound on Matt's right shoulder, blooding running to his hand and dripping from it. Seeing that blood made everything clean to the disguised fox. Matt couldn't use his right hand, so he wasn't able to fight with it and thus gave up whatever was he was carrying to finish this guy off. But at the same time Rena couldn't help but feel that Matt really wanted to help whatever is under his jacket.
Matt stepped up to the guy and the Thunder Splat grinned cockily as he began swinging his chain. He whipped it against the ground and threw it at Matt. The shadow fighter stood there with unflinching nerves and caught the chain with ease. He pulled on the chain hard, forcing the Thunder Splat member off of his feet and right at Matt. The shadow fighter threw his head into his opponent's head and followed that up with a swift knee jab to the gut. Finally he let go of the chain and delivered a sharp uppercut to Red's chain, sending him a good two feet in the air. The guy landed hard on his back and finally the guy out for the count.
Sighing in relief for the third time that day, Rena to walk over at Matt collapsed to his knees.
"You going to make it?" Rena asked as she kneeled down to examining her friend closely.
Matt gave the fox a reassuring smile and said in his casual voice," Yeah, just a little tired from the entire running and not to mention the suddenly blood lose. But it's nothing a good night rest with some of my grand's special medicine wouldn't cure. So how's the cat?" Matt's voice took on a very serious tone as he looked at his jacket.
Cat?" Curious, Rena lifted up the fabric and looked at the pure blonde furred cat, shivering in her arms. There's a small red mark on it right front paw.
The fox turned human looked at her "cousin" confusingly and asked," What happened before I found you?"
Matt leaned against a wall on his left side, so not to irrupt his wound and breathed out heavily. "Well it began as I lid these Thunder Splat jerks into this alley..."
(Flashback...Matt's P.O.V.)
I ran into the alley, not realizing at the moment that it was much more wider then I thought it was and the truck had no problem getting in there. I began darting left and right, in hopes to try and make them crash, but when I heard trashcans tipping over and tires screeching, I knew that guy had some driving skulls behind him.
So I continued on running, darting here and there in hopes of getting these jerks off of my back. Plus it didn't help matters that I was starting to tire out. But it would seem that lady luck was on my side today as I saw another alleyway that was to small for the truck to get through and went for it immediately. I dash into the alley only to find it was nothing but a dead end. I turned around to leave and saw the three Thunder Splat members had parked their truck in the mouth of the alley, blocking my escape routine.
The three gangsters got out of their vehicle and bear their weapons. I was a little surprised when the bandana wearing kid pulled out a whip instead of a chain or a club like his friends.
"Haha. It time for you to pay for all you done to me," Red said with a cocky grin.
"Hey I beat you down everyday, so what makes you think this time will be any different? And besides when I broke your arm that was by an accident," I said calmly.
"I don't care!!!" Red screamed angrily. "I'm just sick and tired of eating dirt, so now it's your turned to have a nice dirt pie."
The three began advancing on me and I readied myself. One of the Thunder Splat's must have stepped on something because a loud feline shriek filled air and something leapt out of the shadows. It latched onto the bandana wearing kid's face.
I watched as a pure blonde furred cat began clawing the kid's face in fear. The kid grabbed the cat by the fur and after a little effort pulled it off. He threw her to the ground and creaked his whip. Luckily the boy wasn't a good aim and the whip hit her paw.
For some reason, seeing that cat taken a beaten got my blood boiling. Attacking me was one thing, but beating a defenseless creature that was only doing what came natural was just plain wrong. My tattoo showed my anger by glowing a deep red color.
With a soft battle cry I charged at the gangsters. I slammed my body into them and pushed them away from the cat. I gave them a quick spun kick to their jaws to hold them at bar for a moment. I then turned to the cat and stared at her unnatural blue eyes and became lost in them. It was like everything around us disappeared and we were all that were left in the entire world. I could see a scared human soul buried deep within these beautiful and captivating eyes.
I notice that the cat has begun shivering and without thinking, I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the cat as took her into my arms. I felt like I wanted to do nothing but hold this creature in my arms and protect it for the rest of my life.
But sadly tender moments like those never last long for me. I felt cool leather hit against my shoulder, followed by cold steel hitting against that same spot. My arm go numb and it fill to my side as I turned to face the three angrily gangsters. But for once I didn't feel like fighting because I didn't want to upset that beautiful creature anymore then it was, so I did the only other that came to my mind. I began dodging the weapons that were thrown at me.
(End of Flashback...Normal P.O.V.)
"...That kid with the whip was able to scar my back little before I knock him and his buddy out with a couple of pressure point I learned from my grandpa," Matt out let a high sigh as he finished his tail and closed his eyes. For a moment he didn't move and Rena fear that he may have passed out from blood lost. She slowly outstretched her hand to touch Matt's shoulder when his eyes shot opened. "Well let go."
He slowly worked his ways back to his feet and put his uninjured hand on the wall for support. He began walking towards the mouth of the alley, but lost his balance and began falling. Luckily Rena caught him just before his fell on his bad shoulder.
"Let me help you," the fox turned human offered kindly.
Rena could see in Matt's eyes that he didn't want help, but he didn't voice it. Instead he said in his dry humor," Okay boss, but just one question, how are we going to get over that truck?"
Rena looked at the parked Ford with a big sweat drop forming on the back of her head. That's a really good question, Rena replied in her mind, but said instead," I'm sure we'll find a way."
"I'm sure we will," Matt said and flashed his casual smile.
(Matt's grandmother's house)
Sango was dusking off the front porch, while humming to herself. She looked up from her work, wondering where her grandson and his friend were?
That's strange Matt's never this late, She wondered to herself.
She went to go back to her sweeping when she heard something like ruffling leaf. Looking up again, she saw Rena carrying her grandson and a blonde cat with her. Dropping her broom, she hurried over to her grandson and his friend, concerned for them.
"Are you all right?" Sango asked and gasped when she saw the blood dripping from her grandson's hand. "What happened?"
"Let just say I don't have the best of times making friends," Matt tried to use his casual voice, but the lost of blood was starting to make he dizzy and it was hard to put anything behind his voice.
"Hurry and bring him inside," Sango commanded and spun around on her heels. She ran into her house with speed uncommon for someone her age.
"Grand please take it easy!" Matt found the strength to plea to his grandmother as Rena carried him into the house.
Sango lid Rena into the kitchen and pulled a chair out from the table. "Set Matt down in the chair gently," she in that commanding voice.
Rena nodded and did as she was told.
"Matt, I going to take off your shirt, now this might hurt a little," Sango explained in a soft, comforting voice.
The shadow fighter opened his mouth to protest, but his grandma yanked his shirt off causing him to hollowing in pain.
Sango began gently running her fingers through all of her grandson's wounds, examining each one carefully and causing him to wince slightly. Her fingers rested on a semi large gaping hole in Matt's shoulder and gently pressed in. Matt yipped and jumped in his chair.
"Sorry," Sango said sincerely and then turned serious again. "Well these smaller wounds don't look to serious, but it the cut on your shoulder I worried about. It's deep and you lost a lot of blood, but I really don't think it to alarming."
She then went to a cabinet close to the sink and took something out of it. She turned around and showed Rena an old brown pouch and a roll of bandages. A small gasp escaped the fox turned human when she saw that pouch.
That's the same pouch Rumiko carry around with her, Rena thought, eyeing the pouch surprisingly.
Sango ignored the shocked human and went to her grandson. Opening it, she took out a hand full of deep green muss and gently smeared it across Matt's injured shoulder. Matt tried to suppress the urge to cry out in pain, but a few groans escaped him.
The muss seemed to harden around the wound, forming a barrier around it and stopping the bleeding. Sango then gently wrapped the bandages around her grandson's shoulder. Matt was glad the effects of the remedy was immediate because he didn't want to show any more weakness in front of Rena.
"Wow," Needless to say Rena was speechless, but it wasn't just from seeing the pouch. She was amazed of the level of skull Matt's grandmother display when nursing her grandson. "Where did you learn to do that?"
Sango looked at the disguised digimon with a gentle smile and said," Well dear I used to be a nurse before my heart attack, but after that my grandson pleaded with the office to transfer me to a dusk job. And now mister what happened to you?"
Rena opened her mouth to explain but Matt quickly interrupted her," I saw a group of bullies beating up on that cat in Rena's hand for no reason and I got mad."
"Cat?" Sango looked at Rena, really noticing the feline in her hands for the first time. The cat had passed out about half way during the trip home and was now resting in Rena's hand.
Sango carefully took the cat from Rena and curdled it in her arms. She examined the cat's paw and was relieved that the wound was only small.
"Well this one look all right too, but I wonder who would hurt a poor defenseless creature." Sango asked no one in practically.
Matt shrugged and said," Who know, but I give those jerks a good beating that's for sure."
Rena looked in Matt's eye and saw for the first time that he wasn't trying to hide his anger. It was like he could see past the feline body and into the human soul that was buried deep inside.
What am I saying, Rena thought. This is Matthew Smith, the soon to be father of my tamer, of course he can see that the cat is more then she seems.
"Hey look it got a name tap," Sango said suddenly, bring Rena out of her thoughts.
"Really?" Matt asked and his grandmother nodded.
Curious, the shadow fighter lifted himself from his set and moved over to his grandmother. Rena knew what was on that tag, but need to keep up appearance also moved behind the elder. The two got a good look at the cercal nametag attached to a black leather collar. But the weirdest thing was that there was only the word. Rumiko was the only thing written on the tag.
Matt titled his head to the side in confusion and then looked at Rena," That's just like Rika's collar."
Rena sweat dropped and said in a slightly nervous tone," Yes, quit the concordance don't you think?"
Matt raised a suspicious eyebrow, feeling not for the first time that the person he was looking at knew more then she was letting on. He decided to drop it for now and turned back to the beautiful creature in his grandmother's arms.
"Hey gram don't you think you should treat that wound before it becomes infected?" Matt asked, nodding his head at the injured paw.
"Oh you're right Matt," Sango said and moved to the table.
The elder took a seat and gently set Rumiko on the table. She grabbed the pouch with her family remedy and was prepared to patch up the paw when Rumiko's eyes snapped opened. For a second Sango was stun at seeing blue eyes on a cat, but it passed when she saw Rumiko began licking her injury.
"Hey don't do that, you'll only make it worse," Sango said gently and leaned down.
Rumiko wasn't aware of the others in the room until she heard the voice. She stopped licking her wound and looked up at the elder first. She then looked at a boy with black hair with a mass of yellow in it and had the most stunning violets colored eyes she even seen. Rumiko was threatened to just get lost in those eyes for hours, but quickly looked at the blonde before that could happen.
Being in an unfamiliar place and seeing all of those unfamiliar faces caused Rumiko's feline's instincts to kick in and she did the only thing a scared kitty cat is supported to do. She jumped off the table, despite her injured paw and ran with all her might under table.
Matt, his grandmother and Rena all looked on as the cat executed one of it most primate instincts with curious eyes.
"Matt did you notice those eye?" Sango asked her grandson.
Matt simply nodded and shoved his hands in his uniform pockets. He walked up to the table, took the pouch from his grandmother's hand gently and got onto his stomach. He made a face as pain shoot through his shoulder, but he ignored it and extended his left hand like he was showing Rumiko that he wasn't going to hurt her.
"C'mon girl, let get that paw patched up," Matt spoke in a soft almost whisper like tone.
Rumiko was afraid that this beautiful stranger was trying to trick her and she panicked. She clawed at Matt's hand, leaving three small wounds on the side of his hand. Matt yipped and yakked his hand back. He looked at the blood coming out of the wounds and surprisingly let a gentle smile form on his lips.
"Man you're sure one mean wildcat," Matt spoke in an even gentler tone then before and looked at the cat under the table with trusting eyes.
Something in his voice and eyes seem to say something Rumiko. They had a warm trusting feeling to them, something Rumiko hasn't seen since her time. She stared up at the man with these stunning eyes and for the first times in mouths felt safe.
Rumiko slowly made her way out from under the table and Matt took her gently in his arms. Dropping the pouch on the table, he began stroking Rumiko's fur just right, causing the blonde cat to begin purring softly. Matt took a seat at the table and continued to pet Rumiko.
Rena and Sango had made themselves scarves a whole ago, but the shadow fighter didn't even notice that his only family and friend had even lift because he was to intertwine with this strange cat with the human-like eyes. It was the first time since the passing of his grandfather that he actually let down his barriers and for the first time actually truly felt at peace.
Matt didn't notice that throughout the entire time he was with Rumiko that his tattoo was flashing between white and black.
(Rena's room)
Rika laid on her back, looking up at the ceiling, bored out of her mind. She had slept half the day away, but had woken up about a couple hours ago and Rena had shut her door, leaving Rika tripped in her room.
Normally when she was this bored she was bugged Rena to go to the Mutsaki bakery to bug gogglehead.
"Gogglehead," Rika sigh as she turned onto her stomach. She would never say this out loud, but the digimon queen missed her goofy gogglehead. She missed teasing him, fighting with him, but most importantly she just missed being with him. "I guess it's true about what they say about never knowing how good something is until it's gone."
"I never thought I would actually hear these words come out of the mouth of the famous digimon queen herself," a light humor filled voice said.
Startled, Rika up to see Rena closing the door to her room. Once the cursed tamer saw what her partner was wearing, she burst out laughing.
"What's so funny little one?" Rena asked, putting her hands on her hips in a Rika-like way.
Rika managed to get her laughter subdue enough to answer her partner," It just that uniform you're wearing." And started to laugh again.
Rena looked down at her uniform and then back at her cursed tamer with a raised eyebrow," And just what's wrong with this uniform?"
"It just looks funny on you?" Rika answered through her laughing.
Rena just rolled her eyes and let Rika get this out of her system as she changed into her street clothes. Finally after five minutes Rika calm down enough to get her laughter under control.
"Done?" Rena asked with a raised eyebrow and Rika nodded. "Good. Now mind telling what was so funny?"
Rika in danger of another laughing fit, managed to say," When I saw you in that uniform the first thing that popped into my head was you in your true form, wearing that uniform." With that said the cursed tamer once again broke out laughing.
Rena rolled her eyes again and waited for Rika to calm down again. This time it only took the fire colored fox three minutes to settled down. She then looked up at her humanized partner with narrow angry eyes.
"What was the big idea leaving me in this room all day huh?" the little fox asked demandingly. "Do you have any idea how boring it is with no one to bug?"
A small smile blossomed on the disguised digimon's face as she said," Well little one I didn't really mean to leave you along, but it wouldn't really matter now."
"Huh?" Rika looked at her partner confused, but before she could ask what she meant, Rena scoop the cursed tamer up and went downstairs.
Rika was surprised when she saw her father, sitting on the couch, petting the blonde fur of a cat in his arm and humming to it. The cat's ears were twitching in rhythm with Matt's humming.
Is that my... Curious, Rika jumped from Rena's arms and onto the couch. She slowly walked up and examined the cat. Her fur was filled of dirt and gram from being out on the streets for so long and the obvious bandage on her paw.
When Rumiko saw the strange fox coming towards her, she panicked and tried to get someplace safe. Matt gently tightened his hold on the hysterical cat and lean down to her right ear.
"Don't worry Rumiko, Rika's just like you," Matt softly whispered into Rumiko's ear.
The blonde feline stopped her struggling and looked at the boy with trusting eyes. She wanted to get lost in those eyes forever and just forget her troubles. But her sanative hearing informed her that the strange fox, named Rika was closing in.
Forcing herself away from those stunning set of eyes, Rumiko looked at the fox, realizing for the first time that she carried the same eyes as the boy holding her.
The two animals looked in deeply into each other's eyes, both seeing the human souls that rested deep within. Rika walked up to the cat and took in a good whiff of her scent. Wild cherries and blueberries filled Rika's nose.
Rika remember after being cursed when her mother held her, that she her gotten a whiff of her scent and the cat's was the same as her mother. So that mean's that the cat in front of her was indeed her mother from this time.
Rika then did something that even Rena wasn't prepared for. She yipped like a normal fox. Everything seemed to become stiff as stone as they waited from the blonde feline to reply. After a minute of waiting, Rumiko bunched up in Matt's hands and let out a shy, almost timid meow.
Rika took that as a yes and jumped at her future mother, forcing her out of Matt's arms and onto the couch. The two began wrestling around playfully or Rika began playing around, while Rumiko just went along for the ride, but in a few minutes she joined in on the fun. Matt was worried that Rumiko might hurt her paw more and his tattoo showed it by flashing green.
"Hey be carefully you two," Matt said, sounding like a concern father.
"AAH, don't worry about it Matt," Rena said casually. "I'm sure Rika wouldn't do anything that will hurt Rumiko."
Matt looked at the disguised fox for a quick second before turning his eyes at the small animals on the couch. They were dangerous close to the edge of the cough and Matt was worried that they might fall. The two animals saw the edge and rolled onto the couch.
Rumiko managed to get onto of the fire colored fox and playfully licked Rika on the nose. The cursed tamer bunched her face up in disgust and she was tipped to use her bubble attack, but she knew that, that would draw to much attention. So putting all of her strength into it, Rika rolled to her side, taking her playmate with her and getting on top of the cat. Rika was careful not to touch her bandage paw as she leaned down and licked Rumiko's nose.
Rena watched the future mother and daughter playing around like a couple of children with one of her small smiles. It was a big change to see them actually having fun together like normal people instead of having them at each others throats like back in the present.
It's good just to let yourself go once in a while, The fox turned human mused softly to herself.
(...)
Close to where Matt, fought these three Thunder Splat members, a young boy about two years older then Matt himself was wondering around, looking for something. He wore a long black trench coat that covered his plain black t-shirt and black jeans. His sneakers hit the ground silently as he wondering around. His deep blonde hair was cut in short.
This boy had a dark, ominous feeling to him, causing all the vermin in the area to flee. It was like he was nothing more but pure darkness.
The boy came to the alley where Matt fought the three Thunder Splats and entered. He looked around for a short time, taking in the alley's feeling. The boy could feel that he prey was here not to long ago, but he could also feel the presence of a two powerful being.
The boy walked to the center of the alley and took out a small pouch from his left jacket. Opening it, he took out a crimson red dust and tossed it into the air. The dust seemed to cover the entire alley and the boy began chanting softly.
"Oh great watcher of time, hear my call and answer my plea. Show to me the answers of this alley that had long since past."
A crimson mist rolled in, covering the alley completely in a thin lair. The mist began taking on shapes and minutes later, the mist turned into ghostly imagines. The boy looked at a young man with strange hair, feeling a huge source of power coming from him. Looking behind him, the boy found three gangsters, looking quit mad, but they were nothing special about them.
The boy watched as the three gangsters began moving on the boy with strange hair, only to have one of them stepped on something, causing a loud shriek to fill the air. Then a blonde cat jumped out of the shadows and began latched onto one of gangsters face and began clawing it.
The boy smiled to himself, as he knew that, that was the prey he was looking for. He watched the rest of the scene play out and was a little impressed with the boy with the strange hair skulls.
The boy was about to call off the vision when a girl with long blonde hair stepped into the alley after her friend had defeated the gangsters. The boy could feel a power hidden deep within this girl, but that was none of his concern now.
With a wave of his left hand, the imagines turned back into mist and vanished into nothingness. The boy looked at the spot where the cat was hiding early, the edges of his lip curling into a smile.
"So, my darling sister, very so," the boy said in an eerie calm voice and began walking away, his hair suddenly standing up and changing into a flame color.
(...)
Rika: Okay if you're think people are that stupid not to know who that guy was, then you give them way to much credit.
Me (Shrugging): Oh well.
Rika: But what's with the hair?
Me (Grinning): You'll just have to wait and seen.