Shadows of The Past

by Master of the Tamers

Up Dated" After barely saving Rumiko for her curse and near death, Matt and Rena returned him to find it on fire with the Thunder Splats logo in front of the house. But what never of them could have known at the time this would lead to Matt final test.

7. Reveling in The Shadows

Rika: All right you; I have another thing I want to talk to you about.

Me (Sighing): Well oh great queen what is it this time?

Rika: I want to know what's the deal with those ghosts?

Me: What do you want to know about them.

Rika (Angry): You know what I mean.

Me (Lazily): I have truly have no clue as to what you mean.

Rika (Grabbing me by the shirt collar): I WANT TO KNOW WHY THOSE GHOST HANG AROUND YOUR STUPID CHACARTER AND MYSELF!! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAN NOW?

Me (Wiping the spit from my face): Say it doesn't spire it, Rika.

Rika: Listen, you got two seconds to tell me before I bash that empty space you call a head.

Me: All right, all right. Let me go and I'll tell you.

Rika (Gripping my shirt tighter): Oh no you don't, you're going to tell me now and you're not getting away.

Me (Throwing her an irritated look): If you must now, the ghost of a former shadow fighter stays with the current shadow fighter until they're earned the title of shadow fighter.

Rika: What does that mean?

Me: You're just have to wait to find out.

Shadows of the Past:
Chapter seven: Reveling in The Shadows

In the heart of East Shinjuku, a lone figure is making his way slowly across an alley. Kai was still feeling the effect of Matt's black lightening strike and needed to use a long wooden pole as a crutch to get around. The evil sorcerer was in a rout as he tried to figure out the power of the black lightening strike.

"Stupid punk. Ahh!" Kai don't know he had gotten his crutch caught between a large creak in the grumble and when he walked to far ahead, he tripped himself up. "This is stupid! What kind of spell did that punk use on me?"

Kai, being an elemental sorcerer knew basically all the spell that were around the world, but the power the Smith boy used against him was a mystery and it angry him to no ends. His body ached because he had to work ever hard to just get it to do what he wanted and he was tried from the entire spell casting it he did that night, too.

Kai slowly worked his way back to his feet and needed to pull with all of his remaining strength just to get his crutch free. After making sure the pole was still good enough to use, Kai resumed his aimless journey.

The evil sorcerer wondered around the back streets of the city for what seemed like hours, when it really was only was close to an hour. During that time, the effect of the black lightening strike had worn off more and now he could walked in nice clear steps and without that pole either. Kai had also spent this time to try and figure out the power Smith used against him, but still the answer escaped the sorcerer.

The entire time Kai was wondering, that same scene from early kept replaying in his head. He kept seeing his magical powered lightening being sliced in half by a bolt of discolored lightening. The evil sorcerer felt the spot where the strike hit him and it still felt a little numb.

Finally, Kai's anger and frustration reached it peek and he let it all out in one big angry roar as he slammed his fist into the closest thing to him, which just happened to be wall. The wall suddenly erupted in flames as Kai's hair once again stood up and turned color, matching the flames he was emitting. For a belief moment, Kai was tempted to burn down the entire building, but as he anger subsided slightly, he realized that would draw unwanted attention he didn't need at the moment. So with a wave of his hand, the fire immediately died down, leaving only a slightly darkened wall.

Kai calmed down the best he could, but the fact that his hair stay in it flame state was a good sigh that his anger was still burning greatly. The evil sorcerer once again resumed his pointless journey. He wondered around for another hour before he finally came to an up all night diner. He was about to walk passed it when his stomach let out a monstrous roar of hunger. Sighing, Kai gave into his hunger and went into the diner.

The diner was one of those 50 styles types from over sea. Booths were besides windows and there's a bar around the center of the diner. Kai looked at the jab box to his right with disgust and used a silent spell to short out the music device. He always hate place like these because of the low life that hang around here makes him feel dirty. He was just to good for places like these.

Kai walked up to the bar and took a set. A woman in a mid 30 with short black hair came up to the evil sorcerer seconds later.

"What can I get for you hen?" She asked.

"Got any rice balls?" Kai grumbled.

"The best rice ball around," the waitress said, boosting slightly.

"Then give me your biggest plate of rice balls and make sure it's heavy on the sauce," Kai grumbled.

"Sure thing hen," The waitress wrote down Kai's order and went into the back.

As the evil sorcerer waited for his balls, he turned around and leaned on the counter so he could look out the window. It still angered him to great length that some punk with weird hair beat him so easily, but at least he had calmed down enough that his hair was back to it normal color.

"You know, I kinda disappointed that, that stupid punk with the massed up hair haven't seen his face in our tuff for the last three weeks, I really wanted to show him my now chain," Kai heard a grouchily voice said rough.

Curious, Kai looked to his right to see three grown man each wearing matching leather jackets. Kai, recognized the redhead with the arm guard from a vision he had while tracking his sister three weeks ago, but he didn't know his friends nor did he care.

"But at last with that punk gone, the bass hasn't been breathing down our necks," a man with greasy massy hair said.

"And let not forget about that little stunt that you pulled three weeks ago that nearly got us the boot from the Thunder Splats," The man with a shaved head said with a commanding tone.

Thunder Splat huh? I heard of these guys and it not very impressive, but I wonder if these three are talking about Smith, Kai wonder to himself.

"Order up hen," The waitress said as she place the plate of rice ball in front of the evil sorcerer.

"Thanks," Kai mutter coldly and snatch the plate in a flash.

The evil sorcerer lifted his spot and worked his way to where the Thunder Splat was seated.

"Is this set taken?" Kai asked in his icy smooth voice.

"That's depends on the one who want their face bashed in?" the leader of the three said dangerously.

Kai ignored that little commit and take a seat. He looked at the three gangsters like he wanted to make a business deal. He took a rice ball and popped it into his mouth, choking it slowly to annoy the heck out of the gangsters and it worked greatly.

"Listen buddy, if you have anything to say, say it now or get out of my sights," The redhead said angrily and stood up, flashing his chain for added fear.

The way the chain shined in the light, Kai could see it was new and plus it had a small metal ball at the end. But the evil sorcerer wasn't scared in one bit; instead he just popped another ball into his mouth. The choking finally got to the redhead and he thrust his chain over his head, but before he could used it, the leader of the grouped pulled the redhead down and the other gangster took the chain.

"Listen if you want something just come out and say it," the shaved man said calmly.

Kai took one look at the man and popped another ball, but this time he choked it quickly. Once he was finished he looked at the gangsters with serious eyes.

"Yes, there's something I wish to speak with you about," the eerie smoothness of Kai's voice sent shiver down the spines of all three gangsters.

"What do you want to talk about?" Shave asked slowly to make sure the fear was kept out of his voice.

Kai grin and said," Just about a certain weird haired boy who has been nothing but a pain in the back for all of us."

(...)

On the busy city street, among the hustler and busier of the many people, a very small group stood out from the rest. This group stuck out because of four very unique things. The first thing was a boy with black and yellow hair, wearing a black jacket. The second thing was the blonde furred cat with unnatural blue eyes staring up at the boy lovingly. The final things were a girl with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes and a fox with flame colored fur, hanging on her right shoulder.

Matt and Rena and they furry friends were taking a break from their weakly tasks. The disgusted fox was resting on bunch while she watched Rika and Rumiko play around in front of her. Matt was off getting some sneaks for the group.

It has been nearly a mouth since Kai attack and the fighting pair was still a little edgy. Rena was edgy because she knew from experience that Kai wasn't the type just to give up, but she was just lucky that Matt felt the same way so she didn't look suspicious when she was on the look out for him.

Speaking of the devil, here he's comes, the former digimon thought as she watched the shadow fighter come up to her with their sneaks.

"You know people will really start to talk if they see you bringing me stuff all the time," Rena said in a light humorous tone.

Matt just smiled lightly and he handed her a cherry energy drink and a chocolate bar. He set down next to Rena and opened a can of his favorite soda, root beer. Once Rika heard the opening of the can, she stopped rough housing with her mother to be and eye the can hungrily. The love of root beer was just one of the many teats Matt would pass down to his daughter that Rena has been mentally keeping since coming to live with the shadow fighter.

Matt was in the process of taking his first sip when he notice Rika's violet colored eyes staring at his drink. Holding the can in front of him, Matt slowly moved it to his right and Rika followed it. He moved it to the left and the colored fox followed it. He moved it up and down and Rika still followed the can.

"Do you want a sap of my soda?" Matt asked and Rika nodded eagerly. He turned to Rena and asked," Did you let her had root beer while your two traveled?"

Rena, keeping up her appearance nodded and said," Just a few time, but by that she was hooked. She would yipped and complain until I gave her some." Rena, ignored the angry glare she got from her cursed partners as she said," But I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if you gave her just a little."

Matt, looked at the little fox with pleading eyes and sigh," I know I shouldn't, but... why not." He took two small plates from his bag at the side of the bunch and placed them in front of the two small animals. He then pooled some of his soda into the plates and Rika went for her immediately, but Rumiko eyed the plate wearily.

"Don't worry its only soda and I know you had them before," Matt said in a gentle, whisper-like voice.

Rumiko, looked up at the boy she had a thing for, for a quick second with loving eyes and nodded. She then titled her down and began drinking. Matt smiled as he leaned back on the bench and began drinking what left of his soda. Rena watched the entire scene unfold with one of her small smiles on her face.

Once the group was done with their sneaks and their garbage was despoiled of, they resumed their airings.

"Okay all we hit is the food stores and we're home word bounded," Matt said casually.

Rena nodded without taking her eyes off of the road in front of her. The pair continued to walk in a comfortable silence for about five minutes when Matt stopped suddenly and began looking around. His eyes were narrowed and his jaw was set tightly.

"Something wrong?" Rena asked lightly, but was curious to know what was wrong with her friend.

"He's back," Matt said simply while still scanning the area.

When, Matt talked about "him" the three Rs knew whom he was talking about and it made Rumiko's fur stand on end. Rena joined in the search a split of a second later and it wasn't long before they heard a chuckled that caused Rumiko's feline blood to run cold. The twisted sorcerer emerged from a shadow close to the pair with his smooth, sarcastic grin plastered on his face. Instead of wearing his normal trench coat, he was now wearing a beat up leather jacket with the Thunder Splat symbol on it.

"You must be slipping if you just starting to sense me, Smith," Kai said in his smooth sarcastic voice.

"What's that support to mean?" Matt asked calmly.

"Because I have been following you ever since your break," Kai answered like he was speaking to a kid instead of powerful fighter.

"How did you do that?" Rena asked with no curiosity what so ever?

Kai shrugged and said with a proud voice," Just a spell I created myself and I might added, it was based on Smith's own shadow walking technique."

"Now that we got the cleared up, what do you want?" Matt asked demandingly.

"Just to tell you that you're going down and my darling sister will be drowning in a pool of her own blood," Kai said menacingly.

A slight angry look cross Matt's face, but it was there for only a second and then it was gone and he said calmly," As long as I'm here, your "sister" will not be doing any kind drowning and beside I really don't think you'll get anywhere teamed up with the Thunder Splats."

"Oh this?" Kai asked, grabbing hold of his new jacket. "I just joined these losers so I could used them to beat you to the ground. But I do like the jacket."

"Right," Matt muttered sarcastically and then became serious," But know this, even with they're help you'll never take Rumiko from me."

"We'll see, Smith," Kai said and began disappearing into the shadows. "We'll see."

The fighting pair and their furry friends watched as the twisted sorcerer vanished completely into the shadows. Matt stared at the spot where Kai was moment before, before snorting slightly and turning to the still frightened feline. He picked up the trembling Rumiko and started to pet her in her favorite spot. The petting took effect almost instantly and Rumiko melted into her crush arms, purring softly. The shadow fighter began walking again while still petting Rumiko, but Rena stayed behind and Rika stayed with her partner. The disguised fox looked at the spot were the evil sorcerer stood and felt a hint of doubt rouse up in her.

"Why did I have a bad feeling things about to heat up again," Rena said, voicing her thoughts as she looked down at her cursed tamer.

Rika looked up at her humanoid partner with doubt hidden in her own violet colored eyes. She walked up to Rena and began nuzzling her leg in a pathetic attempt to reassure her. Rena let one of her small smile appear on her face as she bent down and scoop Rika into her arms.

"Hey slowpokes like get a move on before the store closes!" Matt called to them in a light voice.

"Coming!" Rena answered with a fake light-hearted tone, but she couldn't help by watch her surrounding as she ran to catch up with Matt and Rumiko.

Unknown to the fighting pair and their furry friends, Kai was close, taking pictures with an instant camera. He took the photo and waited for the picture to focus. Once he could see it clearly, a twisted grin spread across his face.

"Soon, my darling sister, very soon," the twisted sorcerer muttered darkly to himself and then left, using his new spell to disappear like the shadow fighter.

(The Thunder Splat's hang out)

The second in command watched as his superior bashed away on an old punching bag with a slight thinking look on his face. He looked at his superior and said," I don't trust that Makino kid one bit."

The leader of the Thunder Splats was a man in his early 30thies stopped bashing on his bag and glared at his underling. The second in commanded of the Thunder Splats flick at that look, but he wasn't going to be silent so easily.

"I just don't think we should haven't let that boy join, I have a feeling he might be the end of us," the second which was named Jou said nervously.

Again, his superior, Yugi was quiet. Instead he got his new looking, brown leather jacket and slipped it on as he made his way to a small icebox in the far corner of the large room. He took out bottled water and walked over to a small relaxation area near the front of the room. He took a seat and began drinking his water.

Jou nervously walked up to his superior and was about to voice his thoughts again when Yugi held up his free hand, telling his underling to stop. The leader of the Thunder Splats lowed his bottle and looked at his second with cold piercing eyes.

"I don't trust him either, but if he could help us bring down that Smith punk, then I'll gladly take his help," the leader said in a cold voice.

"But sir, the Smith boy haven't bother any member of the gang in almost two mouth and I don't think it-aah!" Jou was cut short when his boss threw his bottle of water in Jou's direction, which Jou barely avoid.

Yugi got to his feet angrily and stormed over to his underling and grabbed him by his shirt. The leader of the Thunder Splat close to his face and his second could smell the onions Yugi had for lunch.

"Now listen and listen good, that punk with the massed up hair had nearly ruined our rap, the others gangs around here are now starting to muscle their way into our turf and its all that stupid punk's fault. Do I make myself clean enough now?" Yugi's voice was low and had a level of danger to it that made his second nearly chocked down his own tongue.

"Y-Y-Yes sir, I get it," Jou said nervously.

"Good," Yugi said simply and let his second go.

"You know I can really admire a person who can muscle fear into others," A cold voice said complementally from everywhere at once.

"Who there?" Yugi shouted into the room.

"Just looked at your couch," The voice replied.

Curious, Yugi and his underling did as they were told and they saw Kai sitting on the couch, sipping on some water he must have gotten from Yugi's icebox.

"How did you get in here and how long have you been here?" Yugi demanded angrily.

Kai shrugged lightly as he said without taking his eyes off of his water," Well let just say someone need to hire some muscle to guard this place and as to how long I been here is not really that important."

If there was one thing Yugi hate more then stuck up punks, it was punks who weren't afraid of him. Yugi is a master of kickboxing and had a lot of bulk to him. He was used to scaring people with his skills and muscle to get his way and it really boiled him when there's someone who didn't cowering at him.

Yugi angrily grabbed Kai by his jacket and hoisted him from the couch. "Listen here and listen good, if you don't tell me how long have you been here and if you don't I'm going to bush your brain in," Yugi used his low, dangerous sounding voice he uses when he wanted to scare someone, but it didn't seemed to work on Kai.

The evil sorcerer calmly took another sip from his water and looked at the Thunder Splat calmly. "Like I said before that not important, but this is," Kai whipped out the picture he taken early and showed it to Yugi.

"So, it just the Smith boy and some fleabag," Jou said lazily.

"But he cared for this fleabag like she was a human being," Kai replied.

"What does this have to do with anything?" Yugi demanded with an edge working it way into his voice.

Kai just flash his sickly smooth smile at the leader and his second and easily broke free of Yugi's grip. He took his seat back on the couch and looked at the two head gangsters again, his smile never wavering from his face. "Well I just happen to know that cat means the world to Smith and he takes her on walks ever night just after 6:30."

"But what does this have to do with anything?" Yugi demanded angrily.

"Easy, we lay an ambush for the boy and steal that fleabags of his and use her for bait to lure him into a deadly trip," Kai's voice began lower, adding an eerie feeling to his smooth voice.

Yugi snorted slightly and crossed his arms over his chest angrily," And how are we going to do that? Even if I sent the entire Thunder Splats after that punk, I know he would just beat all of them into the ground."

Kai smile turned into grin and he said," Oh but with these, he would be ice melting on hot summer day." Kai then took out something out of his right jacket and showed Yugi and his second what appeared to be cherry bombs.

Yugi took one at the bomb and broke out laughing. "HAHAHAHAHA!! What good would cherry bombs against a train fighter like Smith?"

Kai surprised the two head gangster by smiling instead of frowning like they thought he would. He placed his half drunken bottle of water on the coffee table and with barely touching the fuse of the bomb, lit it. He placed the bomb carefully on the tip of the bottle and the fused quickly burned away. It exploded, releasing a strange, think icy white mist over the entire bottle. Yugi and Jou watched in amazement as the bottle was frozen because of the mist. Yugi slowly reached out and touch it to be sure it was real and to his surprise, it was as cold as ice.

"How?" Jou asked in awe, looking wide eyes at Kai.

"Simple, magic," Kai said simply.

Yugi's attention still was on the frozen bottle water with a strange glint in his eyes. He suddenly began laughing softly to himself and grabbed the bottle firmly. "Hahaha, with those bombs of your Makino, Smith wouldn't know what hit him." He then crush the bottle in his hand, causing the frozen plastic and it content fall to the floor.

(Matt's Grandmother's house)

"Man, I'm itching like crazy!" Matt shouted as he tried to reach the impossible to reach spot on his back.

"You think you have it rough, try having all this hair!" Rena screamed as she clawed at her long hair like it was a fierce beast, trying to tare its way into her skull.

"Well you two just relaxed, it only fleas," Sango said calmly as she applied some itching cream to her bare left arm.

The Umrashi household had somehow become infested with fleas and bothered the residents to no end of how the little monsters invaded their home in the first place. But of course if someone was to ask two certain uniquely colored animals or at least looked at them, all questions would be answered, but these two have a habit of making themselves vanish when fingers needed be pointed.

"All right who want this itching cream, it grantee to get rid of all fleas," Sango asked, holding up the tube of cream.

In a flash, Matt was kneeling before his grandmother, his back to her and his shirt in his right hand.

"Please, just make the itching stop," Matt said, whimpering like a small child with his first cold.

Sango smiled at her grandson and oiled up her free hand with the cream. She began rubbing it across Matt's back and the shadow fighter felt it effect take hold immediately and the itching finally stopped.

"Sorry Rena, but this would only make your hair more of a mass then it already is," Sango said, looking at the disguised with sympatric eyes. "But if you like, I could go out and get you some special shampoo that should get rid of all fleas in one wash."

Rena shook her head and said sincerely," Thanks, but I think I can handle it, but I would like to know where all these fleas came from?"

"Maybe Rika or Rumiko had somehow gotten some fleas on them," Sango suggested off handedly.

The former digimon stared at the elder like she would about to jump off the couch and do the hundred-matter dash. She then slapped himself on the forehead, hard and mutter a cursed she learn from Rika a while back.

I forget that Rika's fur is like a magnate for fleas and I have a feeling Rumiko's fur might be the same way, Rena thought to herself.

Matt was looking around the living room as his grandmother finished applying the cream to his back. "You know I haven't seen those two since the house have been infested with fleas."

If I know Rika, she and her mother are probably hiding so avoid a bath at all costs, Rena thought as she scan the room for an possible hiding spots.

"Well let go and find these two before they cause us anymore trouble," Matt said as he got to his feet and placed his shirt back on.

Rena nodded and the two began they searched for the furry friends. Matt took the upstairs where Rena looked downstairs. After searching for 20 minutes and coming up emptied handed, the fighters returned to the living room and began thinking about anything they could have missed.

"You searched the living room and the kitchen, right?" Matt asked as he circled around the couch in a thinking way.

Rena nodded as she took a seat on the couch," Yea and you checked all the bedrooms and bathroom, right?"

"Oh yeah and I came up with a big fat nothing," Matt said as he took the empty space next to his friend and leaned his head back on the head of the couch. "Why did I feel like I'm missing something?"

"I know, it like the answer is right under our noses," Rena said casually.

"Or under us?" Matt whispered to himself as he remembered something his mother once told him. The shadow fighter got up and went over to the left end of the couch, confusing his partner.

"Something up Matt?" Rena asked as she curiously watched her tamer's future father grabbed the end of the couch.

"Rena, mind grabbing the other end?" Matt asked.

"Um okay," Rena got up and did as she was told.

"Okay on my mark, we move the couch," Matt said and Rena nodded her head, still confused by all of this. "One...two...three."

The two fighters lifted the couch up and moved to the side. There in the floor was a small ditch, just big enough for two small animals like Rika and Rumiko. And said animals were there sleeping peacefully.

"Gotcha," Matt whispered as he bent over to pick them up, but as fate would have it, some dust had flew up as the fighters moved the couch and want right up Matt's nose, causing him to sneeze just enough to wake up Rika and Rumiko.

Startled, the two small animals looked up at their friends wearily, but as their clouded minds began clearing, the two figure out want their proctor wanted to do and bolted before anything could be done.

"You take Rika and I got Rumiko, but be sure to be gentle with them," Matt said firmly.

Rena nodded quickly and the two took off. Rika bolted upstairs while Rumiko stared down on the first level.

The blonde cat took a sharp turn into the kitchen and even with all of his training as a shadow fighter; Matt still whacked his shoulder on the door as he tried to keep up with Rumiko.

"All right, Rumiko I know you don't want to take a bath because of all the water, but I really don't want anymore fleas running around the house," Matt said as he saw that Rumiko was back against the wall.

But the feline was unnatural blue eyes seemed to smile with her feline lips and with a burst of speed, ran through Matt's legs. The shadow fighter bent down to watch as Rumiko ran between his leg, but he went a little to forward and he tripped himself up, landing float on his back.

"Okay, Smith that wasn't one of your best moments, but least no one was around to see it," Matt muttered to himself sarcastically.

After a minute of looking at the ceiling, Matt rose to his feet, holding his slightly sore back and went in pursuit of Rumiko again. He found her with her back to the wall and itching herself with her right hare leg.

Clever beauty, but I don't fall for the same trick twice, Matt thought to himself and melded into the shadow.

Rumiko was still itching herself, unaware of the person creeping up on her from within the shadows. She stopped itching herself when she felt the wind change which was weird because there shouldn't be wind inside a house, so that could only mean one thing.

"Gotcha!" Matt screamed, as he appeared in front of the blonde feline with blue eyes.

But with amazing reflexes equal to that of the shadow fighter, Rumiko jumped onto the wall and rebounded off of it. She used Matt's head as a springboard and jumped over the shadow fighter. Matt became off kilter because of that stunt and he slacked head first into the wall.

"Correlation!" Matt shouted thrusting his hand out, index finger out. "That wasn't my best moment!"

The shadow fighter peeled himself from the wall and held his hand over the new red mark on his forehead, as he looked at the blonde feline, setting on the couch. Rumiko seemed to be smiling at Matt again, only this time the smile was more like touting him. Despite everything that was going on, Matt couldn't help but smile openly.

You're not going to get the best of me, wildcat, Matt thought to himself playfully and then he heard a few crushes coming from upstairs, followed by Rena's stress out voice.

"Rika get back here, right now!!"

Looks like Rena having trouble herself, but I'll bet she's not having as much fun as me, Matt thought, throwing Rumiko a playful grin.

Rumiko somehow returned the grin before bolting for the stairs with Matt giving chase seconds later. The blonde feline just reached the stairs just as Rika came down them with Rena not to far behind. The fighters' eyes widen as they saw each other and Matt put on the brakes, but it was just a little to late. They meant in a headlong collision.

Everything seemed to slow to a stand stay as Matt fell backwards, his arms flying out in front him. Since Rena was on the steps when the collision happed, she fell forward and just happened to fall right into Matt's arms. He unknowing closed his arms around Rena when he felt her weight. Matt landed on his back with a loud oof and just as luck would have it, Rena laps meant his own.

(Author's note: Okay, if any of you sick minded people are actually reading this, I want you to clear your head, because this isn't going to be turn into any type of love triangle, got it?)

Matt eyes widen freighter as he felt the blonde teen's lips touched his own and his face turn such a shape of red that Guilmon's skin would like plain to it compared to it.

Rena pulled away from the shocked teen and easily broke free from his grip. She took one look at shock redden face of her friend and immediately felt shame wash over her.

His first kiss was probably suppose to be from Rumiko and I just stole it, what would Guilmon think about me now, Rena wondered, touching her lips, sadly.

Matt was still in a state of shock, but was slowly coming out of it. His face lost some of its red as he vision returned to him. He took one looked at the grief stricken digimon and felt concern for the look on his face.

"He's very lucky," the shadow fighter spoke softly, almost whispering to his friend.

"Huh?" Rena looked down at her friend, confused by his words.

"I known for a long time that you been saving your lips for someone special, but don't worry I really didn't feel anything with that little action," Matt said and winked. "Now do you mind getting off me, your not light you know."

"Are you calling me fat, Matthew Smith?" Rena asked in mock stubbornness as she put her fists onto her hips.

Matt opened his mouth to protest when a mix of feline meowing and fox yipping caused him to close it and the two fighters looked forward to see their small animal friends, amused by what they were watching.

Matt looked back at his "cousin" with determination burning in his eyes. "Let continued this once we taken care of our other little problem," he said with a hard voice.

Rena nodded her agreement and got off of Matt and to her feet. Matt took his time getting back onto his feet because the mixture of the fall and landing with a little extra weight on him had caused him to hurt his back a little more.

The two fighters took a belief look at they furry friends before looking at each other and nodded. Then they lung at the two small animals, but Rumiko and Rika were ready for them and jumped back. Unfortunately Matt was in the lead and when the two small unnatural animals jumped out of the way, Rena landed on Matt, making his back pain sore higher. Rumiko and Rika continue their animal-like laughing, unaware that someone was sneaking up from behind. A pair of gentle hands wrapped around the two animals and lifted them off the ground.

"You know, you guys made enough racket that I think the family down the road are going to call the cops," Sango joked lightly as she walked pass the two teenagers. "By the way, you two make a great couple."

The two fighters looked at each other with reddening face before jumping off each other and hurrying after Sango.

(Later)

After Matt and Rena have given, Rika and Rumiko a thoroughly washing and they had some dinner, it was time for the shadow fighter and the blonde cat's nightly walk. So now the shadow fighter was walking like he usually would with his hands in his jacket pocket and Rumiko was by his side. She would glare up shyly at the young man by her side, but would quickly turn her cat eyes forwards when Matt would look at her.

Rumiko was still thinking about the bath she had just a few hours again. She still could feel Matt's soft hands running through her fur as he used the special shampoo to rid the feline of her fleas. She wouldn't ever forget the glee that was his eyes as he gently took her from the tub and carefully dried her off so her fur wouldn't stuck up and she would look like a yellow fur ball with legs. But what was forever edged into her brain was the way how he said," Better, Wildcat?" That voice had sent shivers down Rumiko spine and made her feel like child being held by her father, but she would never that even if she was to die right there and then.

"Whatcha you thinking about, Wildcat?" Matt asked softly when he noticed the far off, thinking glare in her unnatural blue eyes.

Rumiko looked into the violet colored eyes of her proctor and became lost in them. She stared into them for what seemed like hours before looking forward and letting out a shy meow.

Matt smiled to himself as he took Rumiko into his hands. He began rubbing her in her favorite spot and instantly she began purring in pleasure. He leaned up against a wall and he stopped rubbing Rumiko's ear. Rumiko looked up at the man with a feline frown because he stopped rubbing her ear, but became curious when she notice the far off look in his eyes.

"You know Rumiko, one day I would just like to sit on a hill and watch the sunset with you in your true form," Matt said in a trance-like state.

Rumiko snuggled into Matt's arms and join him in looking at the sitting sun. One day Matthew Smith, you'll see my real face, the blonde cat thought as she watched the sun slowly sink into the horizon with the man she have grow to love.

When the sun gone and the streetlights began going up, a few figures were alimented by the glow of the lights. The figures crept up on the unexacting teen and his cat. Or at least the figures thought they were creeping up on the teen, but when one of the figures was in reaching range, Matt's right arm snapped up and his fist went into his attacker. Matt looked at the rest of his attackers as the man he just socked went down like a sack of photos. He took one look at the jackets the men were wearing and the clubs in they hands and he knew who was attacking him.

Thunder Splats huh? Figures, I haven't bother them in nearly two mouths and they must be getting antsy for a good beating, Matt thought cocky as a shadow of a grin began forming. "So what do I own the visit for?" Matt asked causally.

"Just to gave you a taste of your own medicine," The redhead with the arm guard said coolly as he stepped from the shadows.

Matt grin openly at the redhead as he said with just a hint of confidence," And how are you going to do that?"

"With these," The redhead said and whipped out what liked like cherry bombs.

Matt took one look at these things in the Thunder Splat's hand and it took anything he had to hold his laughter at bar. "And what are you going to do with cherry bombs?" he asked with a straight face.

The redhead surprisingly smiled cocky and by rubbing his thumb on it light, lit the fuse on the bomb. He then tossed it underhanded and Matt just took a step back to avoid the seemingly harmless bomb. The bomb exploded silently and released an icy blue mist that want unnoticed by the shadow fighter or his friend.

"What was that going to do?" Matt asked lazily.

The redhead's grin turn into a victory smile and he singled his men to move in. The seven remaining conscious men began moving in on Matt, but he wasn't worried in the least bit. He goes to jump onto the fence behind him when he tripped on pitch ice that had mysteriously appeared there. He fell hard on his back, which was still a little sore from earlier, but held back his cries as he rolled onto the empty streets and onto his feet.

Where did that came from, Matt wondered as he eyed the ice, but then he remember that cherry bomb that was thrown at him a moment ago. It couldn't have been that cherry bomb, could it?

A warning meow from Rumiko, snapped Matt out of his thought just as three more of those cherry bombs were heading their way. Matt jumped just as the bombs went off, covering the spot he was in an icy blue mist. He landed on the fence on the opposite side of the street and watched as the spot he was just in froze over.

It is these bombs, Matt thought in a slight amazement. But where did they get them?

Rumiko let out another warning and Matt jumped just as more of those bombs came his way. He jumped over to the other fence and set Rumiko down on it.

"Stay here, this shouldn't hopefully take to long," Matt said calmly, his eyes drained of al emotions.

The shadow fighter jumped from the fence and shaved his hands in his jacket pockets as the Thunder Splats surrounded him.

"May I ask where you got your new toys?" Matt asked calmly, eyeing the Redhead.

The Redhead grinned smugly and said," From our new friend."

Kai, it figures he would be behind this, Matt thought, shacking his head. But even if he's got entire army behind him, I'll never let him get his dirty hands on my Rumiko.

With that thought firmly set on his mind, Matt charged at the men who was determined to harm his blonde beauty. The Thunder Splats whipped out more of their freezing bombs and began chucking them at Matt. He began darting left and right in order to dodge the bombs freezing effects. He was also hoping that they would use on all they bombs before one of them actually hit him.

One of the gangsters must have seen this and thrown a bomb at Matt's feet when he dodge another barrage of bombs, freezing the ground under his feet and he slipped on it. He landed on his back harder then last time and this time he cried out in pain. He quickly got back to his feet, despite all the pain running through his back and kicked the nearest gangster in the stomach. He then quickly jumped into the air to dodge another barrages of bombs and was meant with another wave of bombs. Forcing his body into a back flip, Matt was able to dodge the bombs, but one got hooked into his right foot and it went off. He came back down with a leg, frozen from the foot up to the knee.

It just ice, shouldn't be any problems, Matt reassured himself, but when he tried to move it, it felt like he was lifting solid congruent. My leg feel like it's in congruent!

A warning meow from Rumiko once again snapped Matt out of his thoughts and he looked to see the Thunder Splats advancing on him. He stood up to the best of his power and readied himself the best he could. He began fighting them off and he was doing pretty well too, but that soon ended when one of the gangsters clubbed him in his sore back. He cried out in pain and the Thunder Splats used this time to began whacking him on the back. In a matter of minutes Matt was in so much pain that he couldn't move and the redhead ordered his men to stop.

"You know I waited for so long for this and no one is going to take this away," he said and raised his club.

Matt waited for what he knew was coming with nerves of steels. His own only concern that he knew Rumiko would be in danger and that caused his heart to sink, knowing that he would never get to see Rumiko in her true form.

The redhead swung his club down, but stopped mid-swung. Confused Matt, looked at the gangster in hopes of shedding some light, but the man had his head titled in such an angle that it was impossible to see his face. He looked around and noticed that all of the gangsters were the same way. The eerie silence that had crept into the astrosphere was starting to creep Matt out and a nervous sweat began running down his face. Suddenly the redhead head snapped up and his eyes had a look like a demon had possessed him. Matt looked around and noticed that the entire group was like that and it sent shiver down the usually calm fighter.

The redhead put on a smile that was eerie similar to Kai's and walked up to Matt. He dropped his club and hit Matt hard in the face with his fist. Matt hit the payment hard and the last thing he heard before the darkness overtook him was the concern cries of one blonde furred, unnatural eyed beauty.

(...)

In his unconscious state, the shadow fighter could hear the sounds of a curl, almost sinister laughter, coming from everything and nowhere at once. Suddenly the figure of the twisted and evil sorcerer, Kai appeared before the shadow fighter. In his right hand, he held the unconscious Rumiko out, like he was touting Matt. In his other hand was a knife, pointing right at Rumiko's throat.

The evil sorcerer laughed so curly that it came out more like a hissing sound. "You actually thought you could have stopped for from fulfilling my destiny now did you, Shadow fighter?"

"Please, put her down?" Matt asked in a pleading tone. "You could have me instead."

Kai made that hissing/laughing noise again as pure insanity flashed in his blue eyes," Why would I want your life when taking my darling sister's would cause you so much grief." And with a turn of the wrist, stamped the knife into Rumiko's throat.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!" Matt ran towards the figure as he disappeared and the blonde feline fall. He caught the cat, but what he saw wasn't the normal feline he had grown to love, but instead a young woman about his age with fine blonde hair and glazed over blue eyes. He touched the bloodstain on her cold neck and tears began filling his eyes. "No, no, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

"Matt! Matt, wake up!" a soft voice broke through the vain of the darkness around Matt.

"Rena?" Matt asked as the darkness around began giving away to a blinding mass of colors.

"Matt, please you must wake up," a soft elder voice said as more colors overtook the darkness around him.

Matt slowly opened his eyes and let them adjust to the light. He looked up at the concern faces of his grandmother and his best friend.

"What happened?" he asked in a sleepy voice.

"We were hopping you could tell us," Sango said in a soft concern voice.

"I found you about a hour ago, your leg was completely covered in a block of ice," Rena added just as softly.

Matt eyes went wide as he recalled the ambush the Thunder Splat laid for him and the bombs they used to freeze his leg. Then the moments of his dream came flying back to him and he shot up, causing him to irritated his still sore back. But at the moment he didn't care if he couldn't move, nothing was going to stop him from saving Rumiko.

He threw his covers off of him and got off of the couch. His leg felt numb from being in that ice for so long and there were still the problems with his back, but nothing would stop him.

"Where do you think your going?" his grandmother demanded.

"Where else to find Rumiko before anything happens to her," Matt whispered.

'But Matt you don't even know were they taken her," Rena said in a reasoning tone.

"That doesn't matter, I will find her no matter what," Matt said in a hard voice.

He grabbed his jacket from the chair on the left and a folded piece of paper fell from one of the jackets. Everyone watched as the paper fell to the floor and Matt picked it up. He unfolded it and read it quickly. A small scrawl crossed the shadow fighter's face and he crumpled the note. He threw the crumpled up piece of paper to the ground angrily and stormed out.

Rena and Sango exchanged confused looks before the disguised fox got the note and smooth it out. She began writing the note to herself.

"Pathetic excise of a fighter, if you want you precious hairball back come to the park on the outskirts of your neighborhood and don't forget to bring your annoying blonde haired friend, so she could watch as I personal tare you apart. You're the great and powerful Kai." Rena shocked her head as she muttered to herself," That's guy is full of himself no matter what time he's in."

"You better go after him," Sango said softly, snapping Rena out of her thought.

"Huh?" Rena looked at the elder with a slight confuse look in her eyes.

"My husband and daughter used to get that same look in their eyes when they were set on something," Sango said.

Rena nodded and thought to herself, yeah Rika has the same look in her eyes too. Just another thing I need to add to that ever-growing list of father/daughter treats.

Rena nodded one last time before hurrying after the shadow fighter.

(...)

The fighting pair stood at the entrance of the park, one with determination burning in his eyes and the other one looking at her friend in concern. Tension was high as the two fighters scanned the area, looking for any sigh of a trap. Matt looked at Rena and the two nodded quickly. Then without exchanging a single word, the two entered the park.

The tension grew as the fighters sensed that they wouldn't along. Their eyes began darting left and right as they scanned every shadow and hiding place they could see. They walked up to the play area of the park and were meant with the evil sorcerer himself. Kai was setting up a slid shaped like an elephant and was looking down at the two like they were a couple of bugs ready to be stomped out, all while wearing the curl, almost sarcastic smile.

"Well look what we got a couple of bug ready for a squishing," the evil sorcerer said in his usual tone of voice.

"Where is she," Matt demanded bluntly.

"Straight to the point, that what I like about you Smith," Kai said, that smile of his never leaving his face.

"Where is she?" Matt asked in half demand, half screaming.

"Look to your right," Kai said and snapped his finger.

The fighting pair did as they were told and they saw two of Kai's mind controlled puppets emerged from the shadow. Between the two was none other then the blonde feline herself. Rumiko's fur was covered in dirt and grave and there were some bloodstains on it, but what the fighters notices that most was the thin wire wrapped around her neck that the two gangsters were holding.

"As you can see, my darling sister has new collar," Kai said, his voice becoming even sicklier smooth. "All I need to do is a simple nod of the head or a snap of the finger and will let me just show you."

Kai told his puppets to tightly the wire around Rumiko's neck with his mind and they did as they were told. The gangster puppets tightened the wire just enough that it cut off Rumiko's air and cut off a few strain of fur. Matt watched as Rumiko meowed slightly from the pain the gangsters were causing her and it broke his heart to see his crush in so much pain. He began stepping forward without any knowledge of what he was doing.

"If you moved from your spot and I'll have my "friends" cut her head off and I bet not even you're that fast," Kai said smoothly.

Matt looked up at the evil and twisted sorcerer with anger burning greatly in his eyes. Rena was starting to worry that he might do something ruse and was about to act when Matt said," Kai, would you actually let a bunch of puppets take away your choice of taking your vengeance, are you?"

Kai chuckled light to himself as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I see what you're doing Smith. You trying to get my goat, so I'll became clueless and make a mistake, but know this, I'm not that stupid."

Matt grinned and began looking for something in his right jacket pocket without Kai noticing. "Well it sure seem like it would work, but then again, it might not work." He suddenly thrust his hand out and threw something at the gangsters holding Rumiko.

A small throwing knife flew through the air and before anyone could act, the knife cut through the wire being held by the left gangster. Matt then disappeared in a blink of an eye and reappeared in front of the other gangster. He then quickly used some pressure points on the guy and knocked him out cold. He quickly got rid of the wire around Rumiko's neck and hugged her tightly.

"I'm so sorry that I was late," Matt whispered sincerely in Rumiko's ear.

The blonde feline responded to this by struggling into Matt's arm and gave him an exhausted, yet relieved meow. Matt smiled at this, his own worrying melting way as began rubbing Rumiko in her favorite spot.

How cute a boy and his pet, makes me want to throw up, Kai thought, his smile wavering a bit and then snapped his fingers.

The rest of his mind-controlled gang came out of their hiding spots and bared their weapons. They began advancing on Matt, but he was to engross in what he was doing to even notice them. The gangster closest to Matt raised his club and a certain former digimon saw this.

"Matt look-," But she was cut short when she saw Matt jumped up just as the club came down and preformed a flying round house kicked to the guy's head. He goes trembling to the side and hit his fellow gangster.

"Time to go!" Mat shouted as he ran through the opening he just made for himself.

Rena nodded and joined her friend as he passed by. The two ran for the entrance and was surprisingly meant by little resistance. Kai watched from his spot as the two were nearly at the entrance with a victory smile on his face.

Matt and Rena reached the entrance and were about to run through it when suddenly the two collided with an invincible barrier of some kind. The two fighters were thrown at least a foot back.

"You actually think I was going to make it that easy?" Kai called to them smugly.

"What did you do?" Matt screamed at the evil sorcerer.

"Simple," Kai said with his cold smile. "I put barriers talismans around the outside of fence and the entrance so once a person entered they can't leave."

Hmm, when Kai, tried that in my time, he goofed big time, Rena thought to himself.

"How do we get out then?" Matt demanded coldly.

"There's only two ways. One you need to beat me or two I release the spell myself and trust me I don't feel like taking any number twos," Kai said smugly.

"Why your full of it all the time," Matt said in his dry sarcasm with a grin.

Kai's smug look flickered for the first time since the fighters wondered into his trap, but it lasted one a minute and then his smug grin was back on. "You know you two are starting to bore me," and with that said, snapped his fingers.

His mind-controlled puppets responded to their master's called and began surrounding the fighting pair. Rena back up against Matt's back and got into her fighting stance.

"Got any plans, Matt?" she asked as her scanned her opponents.

"Just one," Matt said seriously. "You take on these punks while I get Rumiko to same place safe and then I'll take on Kai."

"That's you plan?" Rena asked skeptically.

"Hey it all I could come up with in the curse of a second," Matt replied casually.

Rena sigh and then said," Okay, but just don't over do it like always."

"Hey this is me we're talking about," Matt said with just a hint of mischievousness in voice.

Yeah and that's what I'm afraid the most, Rena thought a little worryingly to herself, but said in false confidence," Yeah I know that."

Then Matt jumped over the mind-controlled gangsters while Rena began fighting them. Matt ran up to the sandbox and dug in a small foxhole in it. He carefully set Rumiko in and covered it with sand just enough that it hid the blonde feline.

"Stay here and I promise I'll be back soon," Matt whispered in Rumiko ears as he patted her head.

Rumiko meowed as she moved her head so she could rub her cheek against his hand. Matt smiled softly to himself and rubbed Rumiko in her favorite spot. He quickly stopped before he got to engross in it and rose to his feet. He looked at Kai with determination to stop this guy once and for all.

(With Rena)

"For a bunch of mindless puppets, these guys sure have a lot of brain power," Rena muttered to himself as she dodged another wave of freezer bombs.

The fight was very one sided at first with Rena, pummeling her opponent with a mix of blazing footwork, kicks, punches and other moves she knew. But that soon want down hill when the mind zombies somehow gain some brains and whipped out some of those special bombs that Kai had given them. They had thrown them with such force that one would think a cannon was being fired. Rena was barely able to dodge all the bombs and when you're up against probably 30 to one, it made it that much harder.

There's must be a way to get those bombs away from them before I ended up as a frozen humanoid digimon, Rena thought as she preformed a mid-air barrel roll to avoid more bombs.

The disguised fox jumped behind one of the gangsters and used a sleeping hold to put him out. She then threw him into two of his fellow gangsters and ducked as more bombs came at her.

Auurrg, this would be so much easier if I were in my normal body, then these stupid gangsters wouldn't stand a chance, Rena thought in frustration.

Rena continued to dodged the gangsters' seemly endless supplies of bombs while trying to come up with a plan. She spotted a group of swings and a plan clicked in her head. She jumped over the gangsters and made her way to swings with the gangsters hot on her heel. She jumped onto one of the swings and gripped the chains tightly. She swung back and clocked three guys in the chin. She then jumped from the swing and landed behind her foes. She quickly knocked the guys out with a roundhouse kick to the back of the guys' head.

Rena let out a deep breath as she wiped the small sweat starting to run down her brow. Now that was a chore, but at least all the time sparring with Matt seemed to really help me trained this human body. Speaking of him. She looked in the direction Matt was in and saw that he and Kai were staring each other down. Neither look liked they had more a single inch since they starting their staring contest.

Rena sigh and muttered to himself," Well this is probably going to take some time, so better stretch out this human body of my." She walked over to the swings, took a seat and used one of the unconscious gangsters as a footrest.

(Matt and Kai)

The shadow fighter and the evil sorcerer stared each other down, neither moving a muscle. There was electricity in the air as Matt threw some of his inner powers towards Kai and Kai meant it with his own dark sorceress. Both were determined to show the other that he was the strongest. But it soon grew boring to Kai and he just stopped, but he did jumped down onto the slide to avoid Matt's own powers.

"I have became curious about your powers Smith, mind sharing?" Kai demanded more then asked.

"Even if I knew how I do half of this stuff, do you actually think I would tell you," Matt said seriously.

"You mean you don't know?" Kai asked, looking at the shadow fighter in slight surprise.

Matt gave a casually shrug of the shoulder and replied in a casual tone of voice," Hey it just something my family have been doing for years. Now are we here to talk or dance." His voice became more serious after the second sentence and he got into fighting stance.

Kai's surprise was gone by now and was replaced by rage. Here's a boy who doesn't even understand how his powers works and he threw me to the ground like I was nothing by a stupid toy and that makes me mad.

Kai's rage began doubling as he thought about the last fight with the boy before him. All that ran through the evil sorcerer head was the power he had felt when Matt unleashed it on him.

This accident beat m? ME, the great and powerful Kai. This freak beat me, With ever thought, his anger continued to peek and small bolt of electricity began sourcing off of him. This FREAK doesn't diverse to look at me, let along lay a hand on me!

With his smug looked finally gone from his face, Kai jumped from his spot on the slide and proceed to walk up to Matt in a monk style of Matt's walk. As he walked, his hair began changing colors to flame. By the time, he was in front of Matt; Kai's hair was like pure fire itself.

"You don't diverse to be in my shadows," Kai's voice was low and angrily and he made sure to spit in Matt's face.

Matt wiped the spit from his face and looked at Kai with serious eyes," I really don't care what you think about me, but I will do whatever it takes to protect the ones I care for, beside..." A shadow of grin began growing on Matt's lip as he said, "...They don't call me the shadow fighter for nothing."

Kai's rage reached new heights when he saw how smug the boy before him looked and the electricity coming off of his body turned into raging bolts of lightening.

"YOU'RE NOTHING COMPARED TO ME, BUT A FREAK ACCIDENT WITH A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS OWN POWERS!! Kai screamed in a sharp tone and jumped back as he pulled out two spell scrolls, one in each hand. "OH GUARDAIN OF THE SKY HEAR MY PLEA AND SEND ME YOUR WEAPONS OF JUDGMENT!!!"

Like last time, the symbol of lightening appeared on the scrolls and bolts began sourcing around them and Kai, but unlike last time, he let a bigger charge build.

Here we go, Matt thought as he got into position for his black lightening strike. He once again concentrated all of his being on protecting the ones he loved and his tattoo began glowing, but not as bright as last time. "Black lightening strike!!"

"TAKE THIS YOU FREAK!!!" Kai shouted as he threw his arms in front of him and placed them besides each other just as Matt threw out his tattooed hand.

Two large bolts of lightening came flying at each other and clashed, lighting up the area in a mix of blue and black lights. Smaller bolts of lightening began tarring themselves from the larger ones and bounced off of Kai's barrier, luckily none were close to Rumiko's hiding spot or near Rena and the unconscious gangsters.

The bolt of the evil sorcerer's magic and the bolt of the inner power of the shadow fighter continued to clash for what seemed like forever with both wielders refusing to submit to the other, but slowly Kai's lightening was overwhelming Matt and soon the shadow fighter was forced onto one knee. Matt found himself struggling to keep his lightening from being completely overpowered by Kai's and he was wondering why his black lightening strike was so much weaker then a mouth ago?

"WHAT'S THE MATTER FREAK? REALIZED IT PLOINTLESS TO FIGHT AGAINST SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME? Kai shout insanely

What's going on? Why is my black lightening strike so weak, Matt wondered to himself as he struggled to get back to his feet.

"Because your heart isn't completely set on saving her," the voice of his grandfather echoed in the back of Matt's mind.

Suddenly that image of that young girl with the bloodstain neck from his dream appeared in front of Matt's face and he felt his heart skip a bit.

No, no! I would not let that be her fate, not as long as I'm here to change that, Matt felt the need to see that blonde beauty from his dreams in real life and that determination fueled his tattoo, giving it and him even more power then last time.

"AS LONG AS I'M AROUND, YOU'LL NEVER GET YOUR HANDS ON RUMIKO!! Matt shouted and in a burst of power, his black lightening strike tripled in size and completely overtook Kai's lightening.

The evil sorcerer barely had time to drop his spell scroll and jumped to the side as the black lightening bolt streak by him. He could feel that same power as before flowing off of that lightening bolt.

Where does he get all that power from, Kai wondered as his eyes turned towards the shadow fighter.

Matt felt weaker then he had ever felt in his life and yet he his body refused to move even the smallest muscle. His hand was smoking and numb from that burst of power had and his leg felt they were rubber, but yet he refused to fall. Finally Matt's body seemed to process all the energy it lost and he collapsed to his hands and knees.

Man that was something, Matt thought as he took in short deep breaths.

Kai was also at his end, but since he was so great, he had a backup plan just in incase he happened to lose. With the little strength he had lift, Kai summoned the last of the Thunder Splat, he had kept hidden for this certain time, from his hiding spot and pulled out his special weapon from his jacket. The six-foot man with red greased back hair pointed the handgun right at the back of Matt's head. But as luck would have it, Kai was more tired then he thought and it was massing with his concentration. The red from his eyes were flicking and the gun wavered. Kai put all of his remaining strength into controlling the gangster and the red began solid and he raised his gun to Matt's head. Rena saw this and bolted from her seat, but she knew, she would never make it in time.

Time slowed to a stand as the gun went off, filling the air with a loud boom! Matt turned around and stared at the in coming bullet with the first hint of fear appearing in his eyes since he first fought, Kai. But before the bullet made contact, a blonde blur jumped in front of Matt and took the bullet for him. Rumiko jerked backwards as she took the bullet in the side and she fell into Matt's waiting hands.

Time resumed it nothing course as Rena run up to the gangster and knocked him out with a punch to the face before he got the chance to fire off another round. She looked at Matt and saw the tears threatening to cloud his vision as he held Rumiko.

"You're going be okay," Matt said in harsh whisper as he looked at the wound fearfully. "We're going to get you to my place and my grandmother will fix you up good."

It tore at Rena's heart as she watch her friend grief over his wounded crush. That was soon turned into rage and she looked at the spot where the person responsible for all this was, only to found out that he had let down his barrier and escaped. She growled to herself as she looked down and notice things had taken a turn for the worse.

"Rumiko, please you got to hang on!" Matt exclaimed, the dread in his voice taking a deeper tone. He knew even with his speed, he would never be able to get Rumiko anywhere to treat her wounds in time. This can't be happening, not now, not that I finally figure out what she means to me!

"Rumiko you can't left me, not now," Matt said, tears starting to fall from his face. "I probably should have told you this, but I knew. I knew you were more then just a cat with the most beauty eyes I have ever seen. I saw your tore human soul through those beauty eyes. It was those eyes that first got me thinking. Your eyes were so blue and beauty, but I could see the sorrowful soul that was buried deep down within and it was those eyes that haunted my dreams every single night for the last two mouths."

By the end of his heart-filled talk, he was in tears and his sobs were mixing with his words, but he just didn't care anymore. The person he cared about the most was dieing in his arm no less, so he could care less for his image. But he wasn't the only one in tears that night.

Rena looked on with tears of her own, but even though her mind was on the scene before her, her heart was on something else. Oh Guilmon, are you thinking about me right now? Well you hold me if I was close to death? Would you shied tears if you lost me? Oh, Guilmon, I want to see you so badly.

"Rumiko, I can't lose you now, not when I finally realized that I, I..." Matt soon find out that this was going be his toughest battle, but he would win it no matter what. "I have want to say this for so long that, I, I, I...LOVE YOU!!!" As he screamed his hear out, a single shambling tear fall from Matt and landed on Rumiko.

Matt squeezed his eyes shut tightly as held the dieing feline close to him. In back part of his mind, he knew it was silly for having this deep of feelings for a simple cat, but his heart told him other wises. He cared for the blonde cat with all of his heart and he wanted nothing more then to be with Rumiko for all eternal. He suddenly felt the weight in his arms shafted, growing heavier and he felt a hand gently wiped away his tears.

"It's okay, it not that bad anymore," Matt heard a soft, almost heavenly voice whispering in his ear.

Matt pulled himself away and looked at the girl of his dreams. She had the same blonde hair and blue eyes just like the one he has been dreaming about. He then notice the collar around the girl neck as the same one his Rumiko wears. Curious, the shadow fighter looked down at body and had to resist looking at her breast as he scanned her body for the something that would prove his theory. He found it just above her waist, a small wound just as the right size for a bullet, piercing the skin. That would have been a fatal wound for a small animal like a cat, but for a human that wouldn't even count as a fresh wound.

The shadow fighter looked up at the young girl with his eyes widen in amazement and shock. "R-Rumiko?" He asked in shock and to make sure she was real lightly gripped her on the side of her face.

Rumiko felt her cheek heating up from Matt's touch as she nodded shyly. She then tried to stand up but being in a cat body for nearly a year had thrown off her center of balance and when she managed to stand, she found herself falling backwards. Luckily, Rena was there to catch her and offer her support until she regained her balance.

By now the shock was finally settling in on the shadow fighter and he found himself staring at Rumiko's body with a reddening face. She was just starting to develop, but he still found himself urged on by his hormones to stares at the young naked woman in front of him. Rena notice the dazed look on her friend face and how he was looking at Rumiko and began slightly annoyed.

Stupid human with their urges, luckily digimon don't get like that, Rena thought, annoyed as she ducked her friend hard in the face.

Matt fell hard into his back with an imprint of a fist on the center of his face, but that dazed look was still on it.

"Sorry, but Matt hasn't been around to many girls like you before," Rena said calmly, turning her body in an angle that it blocked Matt's view.

"It's okay, I really don't blame him for it," Rumiko replied with a small smile, that was soon replaced by an embarrassing look. "But, I wouldn't mind if I had something to cover me up."

"Here! Take my jacket and anything else you would like!" Matt said quickly and held up his jacket.

After Rumiko was clothed and Rena conversed Matt, not to gave up anything more but his shoes, the former feline told her story to her new friends.

"So the only way the curse could be broken was for someone to realize what I truly was and fall in love with the soul deep down within," Rumiko finished her tail as she finished fixing Matt's jacket so it was comfortable.

"Can I ask, why would you leave the safely of your house when you brother couldn't reach you?" Rena asked calmly.

Rumiko titled her head down as shame appeared in her eyes. "Well I had to deal with the cat's natural when I became one. I did fine up for the first ten mouths I was one, but then one night I saw a black cat on my fence and tried as I might, my cat side won and I found myself chasing it all across the city. By the time I realized what I was doing, I was already lost and I hurt my right paw."

"That's when I found you, right?" Matt asked softly from Rena's side.

The former feline looked at the boy shamefully and nodded her head once. Noticing the look on his crush's face, Matt stepped in front of Rumiko and took her and in his owns.

"Look, you did nothing wrong and if you asked me you did something right?" he said in a whispering that caused Rumiko to blush madly. "I would like to get to now the you better, would you like to stay with me a little more?"

Rumiko looked up in the boy's eyes and was on the verge on getting lost in them, but before that could happened she shock her head a little sadly," I would really like that Matt, but I haven't see mother in nearly two mouths. I would like to know if she okay."

Matt felt hurt by these words, but hid it like he always do, by a casually smile," Sure, but if you even feel like stopping, just drop on by."

Rumiko smiled cheerfully as this and wrapped the shadow fighter in a big hug. Rena couldn't help but smile slightly as she watched her friend's go to the shape of red that would make Guilmon's skin like pale.

"Thank you, but I don't know how many times I would be able to visit, because my mother is-"Matt cut off his love's words by pressing his fingertips to her lips.

"There's no need to explain, but I know we'll meat again when the winds of destiny blow our way," Matt said truthfully.

"Thank you again..." Rumiko leaned in a planted a small kiss onto Matt's cheek "...for everything."

She then hurried off, waving to her friends as she left. Rena returned to wave and then looked toward her weird haired friend. Matt didn't wave back because he was still in shock from the kiss Rumiko had given him as a going away gift. His fingertips were lightly touching the spot where Rumiko's lips were seconds ago, a wearily smile on his face.

Well there's something that Rika and Matt will never share, Rena thought as she watched her friend. Rika would never get this emotional over kiss, epically over a simple peck on the cheek.

Matt then did something that took the disguised fox totally by surprise. He jumped about 20 feet in the air and threw his glowing ruby red tattooed hand into the air.

"YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Rika would definitely not do that. Takato might, but I doubt he would jumped 20 feet in the air, Rena thought as she watch Matt landed and began doing this crazy dance.

(...)

Matt and Rena were walking down to Matt's grandmother's and the shadow fighter was as happy as Guilmon when he gets three freshly mode bread. There was a spring in his step and he was humming a little tune to himself. Rena was taking a step ahead of her tamer's father, her eyes forward, but at time she would glare behind her and would see Matt doing something that remained her of Kazu.

This is the most happy I ever seen him since I first came here and it weird seeing like that, but at the same time it, aaahh," Rena was brought out of her thought rudely when Matt got her in a playful headlock and began rubbing his fist against her skull.

"Yo R, what's got you so doom and groom at the moment?" he asked in a cheery voice that remained Rena of Kazu again.

"Oh I just thinking about a friend from my old hometown that's all," Rena replied calmly.

"Oh so you were thinking about your old fire, right?" Matt asked with playfully grin.

"What? No, no, this friend is the friend o the guy I liked," Rena come to her defense quickly.

"Oh, okay," Matt said cheerfully and let her go of his headlock.

The two resumed their silent walking, if you count the fact that Matt was still humming to himself. They pair rounded the corner and stopped in their tracks when they saw smoking rising into the air. In the back of their minds, the fighters knew something was off, so they broke into a full run. Even though Matt was in nothing by his socks, he was still ahead of Rena and was the first to reached the source of the smoke. When Rena arrived a second later, she was meant with Matt, his face set in that look of fear that he had when Rumiko nearly died. She didn't know what could cause Matt's happy mood to suddenly come to end and looked at what he was staring at. What she saw shocked her to her human core.

In front of the fighting pair was a house on fire, but this wasn't just any old house. It was the house Matt had lived in for half of his life and in front of it was a piece of burning wood in the shape of the Thunder Splat symbol.

(...)

BlackRenamon (Crying on my shoulder...again): That was even better then your last chapter.

Rika (Looking annoyed): WHAT IS WITH THIS DIGIMON!!! I mean he would probably ball if he stumped his toe!

Me (Throwing an irritated look at her): Believe he has and to answer you question, I really don't know, but it makes it hard when you're trying to write some drama.

Rika: Well you got a lot of work to do then.

Me (Throwing her a grin): Hey I didn't think it was that bad.

Rika (Throwing a hard punch at me and I dodged it): Of course you think it's good because you wrote it!

Me (Grinning): Well lets just let the people decided on that.

Rika: Fine just keep that waterfall away from me.