Me: Well, I don't need to state the obvious, but this is the last chapter of Shadows of the Past.
Rika (Mumbling): Yeah, yeah, just get on with the stupid thing, already.
Me: Are you still upset about my last chapter?
Rika (Glaring): Yeah, well I don't like how you made my mother pregnant
Me (shrugging off the glare): Well I made my character somebody who didn't want to make any more mistakes, so I need to do something.
Rika (Screaming in my face): WELL YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT LIKE THAT!!!
Me (Wiping the spit from my face): Well like I said before, you'll just have to deal with it and now onto the final chapter.
Rika: Oh no you don't! You're not getting away that easy.
Me (Grinning slyly): I'm not going anyways, it you who going on a trip.
Shadows of the Past:
Chapter 12: Leaving the Shadows.
In the dead of night, its creatures played their sings of the dark. A cricket chirps as an owl hoot and a cat's glowing eyes pierced through the dark, looking for prey to play with. But among all of these natural wonders of the night, something else was stirring.
A figure raced across the grounds with the grace of a jungle cat. She ran on silent feet and the creatures of the night paid her no attention. The figure choose to stop at one certain house and the full moon choose that time to peek from it hiding spot behind some cloud. The glowing object cost it light down onto the figure, reveling the figure was in fact the humanoid digimon from the future, Renamon also known as Rena Kamiya. The house the disguised fox was staring at was in fact the house of her long time friend and self-proclaimed cousin, Matthew Smith.
She sighs and placed her hand behind the back of her neck. She could feel the heat reradiating off that strange clock shaped tattoo located on the back of her neck. It had been acting strange for the past two weeks and just a few hours ago, Rena had been told by her cursed tamer, Rika, that the tattoo was glowing and she a pretty good idea what that meant.
"Why is this happening now?" Rena wondered to herself.
True, she was happy that she and Rika would be returning to their rightful time, but still it sad, knowing that she would have to leave people she saw as close friends and knowing that she would be returning to only one of these friends.
Sighing again only deeper, Rena bent at the knees and jumped into the air. She made it to the back of the roof in one leap and sat down Indian style. She looked out into the back yard and let memories filled her head.
She still could remember all of the early morning sparring matches Matt and she had in that very back yard. She could hear the yipping and meowing of their curse charges as they watched from the porch, cheering on their favorite to win. Staring deeper into the grassy green of the back yard, she could see ghostly images of herself and her sparring partners appeared.
They bowed to each other and then got into their usual fighting stances. This ghostly pair started out like their real counter parts do, with a staring contest. But like the real Rena, the ghostly Rena, broke down first and made the first move.
Rena could only smiled as the ghostly images disappeared into thin air. Thinking back to all of it, she recalled that she had always threw the first punch or made the first move. She also realized she do so out of fear of her sparring partners.
These eyes always seem to have a piercing feeling to them and that always got under my skin, the fox thought, costing her eyes up to the night sky. Not even his own daughter had that kind of effect on me, but then again Matt isn't your run of the mill human, either. I doubt I could take him on even if I was in my natural body.
"So, Rena, why are you here at my Grammy's old place?" a deep voice asked casually.
Turning her head to the right, Rena watched as her close friend materialized out of thin air, wearing his second attire and in his usual standing position.
"Hey, Matt, I know I didn't wake you up as I lifted because I live on the other side of the collage," Rena said lightly and forced a smile.
Matt shrugged his shoulder lightly as he walked over to his friend and said," Well ever since Rumiko told me I was going to be a daddy, I gotten back into the habit of keeping my senses on high and I just sensed you leaving." The easiness faded from his eyes as he spoke the next groups of words. "I could also sense that something is wrong with you, so mind sharing with the rest of the class?"
Rena dropped her fake smile and looked away from her cousin. She didn't know when she started to actually call Matt her cousin, but she really didn't care anymore. She just knew that she couldn't face the man she thought as family without spilling her guts to him.
"Hey, Rena what's wrong?" Matt asked softly, taking a seat next to his friend.
"Why do you think there's something wrong?" Rena asked weakly, refusing to look her friend in the eye.
"I have known you for four years, Rena. I know when something wrong, so just tell me," Matt spoke softer then before.
Rena sighed and looked at her friend. She knew she couldn't hide something from Matt for long.
"What would you say if I was leaving?" though Rena spoke in a calm, clear voice, Matt saw the grief and sadly in his friend's eyes.
"If you had ask me that question four years ago, I wouldn't even gave it a second thought, but now I different and this is coming from deep within my heart."
Rena waited on edge for her friend to say what was in his heart.
Matt looked at Rena seriously and said," You were the first person who even concerned looking at me more then just a bully or a victim. You'll the first to even stand by my side and actually tell me when I did something wrong. You were the first to challenge me, time and time again. You have helped me see just as much as Rumiko has and for that I thank you for the bottom of my heart, but I guess what I'm really trying to say is, I would miss you because you were one of my first friends and I would never forget that."
Rena could feel tears swallowing up, but willed them away. It was at this time, that she realized how much Matt actually meant to her. It was like she was sitting next to her crimson skin lover and that all of the trouble she had encountered just vanished into the air.
Matt smiled lightly at Rena and said," Well, Rena, we should be getting back, we have an early day."
"Well, I feel like just staying here for a while longer," Rena said, turning to face the moon.
"Okay," Matt simply replied and stood up. He turned around and began walking towards the front of the roof, but stopped midway and faced Rena again. "You know, Rena, if you do have to leave, just know you'll always have a place to call home."
Then without waiting for Rena's reply, Matt jumped off the roof and disappeared into the shadows. From her spot, Rena was now struggling to keep her tears from flowing and failing too.
Matthew Smith, how I wish you were still alive in my time, so then I wouldn't have to face your wife along, Rena thought sadly, letting her tears come willingly.
(Later)
Matt walked down the streets with his hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket and an easy smile on his face. He was heading towards a local bakery that was rumored to make the best bread in the city, but he kept distracted by little things. Two kids, brothers no doubt, about five years old, ran past the shadow fighter, waving the newest toy fad. Matt pasted the kids' parents and noticed how their eyes seem to be watching their children like they were the only ones around.
Just think in a few short mouths, I will be like them. Watching as my child grows, experiencing all the pains and joys of fatherhood, As Matt thought this, his easy going smile slowly turned into a frown as a picture of his family unexpected popped into head. He mentally sigh as he thought, Just wished my parents were here to share in the joy.
A woman scream of terror brought the shadow fighter out of his thoughts and he looked to source of the scream. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the family he just pass, watching in fear as one of their boys had wondering into the streets carelessly and was now staring down a speeding car, frozen in place. The driver of the cherry red sport car was to busy talking with his female passenger to even notice the kid in his way.
It only took a split of a second for the shock to set in and the shadow fighter spring into action. He let the power of the shadows flow into him once more and with that power boosting his speed, he was at the place were the family stood shock beyond movement and jumped the length to where the kid was. Matt quickly scooped the boy into a tight embrace and jumped just as the car reached the spot where the kid was. Matt landed next to the family and immediately the mother took her son into a loving hug.
"Thank you so much," the father said in gratefully and bowed his respected.
"It's nothing," Matt said seriously. "But in the future, be more careful. This is a busy city and anything could happen."
The father just nodded his head and then wrapped his wife and child into a hug. Matt smiled warmly as he watched the family cry tears of joy for their son, when he felt someone tugging at his jeans. He looked down at the boy's twin brother and he could only smile more.
"You know what Mister?" the boy asked in innocence.
"What's that, kid?" Matt asked, roughing the kid's milky brown hair.
"When I grow up, I want be to just like you!" the boy answered in childish heroism.
Matt chuckled lightly at this and said kindly," Well, if you work hard and remain true to yourself, then you may just be like me."
The shadow fighter then walked away from the grateful family with this spot light shining down from the heavens.
"Like at me. My kid isn't even born yet and I feel like a father," Matt mumbled to himself as he came up to a bakery titled "Matsuki bakery". "This the place."
He was about to go in when he saw a group of thugs, holding the place up. One thug had a pistol pointed at a person about four or five years older then Matt himself. Off the to corner, Matt could see young lady with what appeared to be a baby in her arms. Seeing all of this started to get the shadow fighter ticked and it showed in his tattoo.
One of the thugs suddenly looked in Matt's direction, but he was quick and ducked below the window. But the guy, who thought he saw something, became suspicious and decided to investigate. He stepped out of the bakery and that's when Matt made his move.
The shadow fighter spring forth from his hiding spot and delivered a fierce upper cut to the guy's chin. The thug flew a good feet before landed on his back, out like a light. The guy's friend's snapped their heads to the door when they heard something and saw Matt looking over their friend. Before they could process what was happening, Matt snapped his head in their direction and the thugs flinched at the icy look the shadow fighter was giving them.
Before the thugs had time to act, Matt had disappeared and reappeared behind the thug that held the mother and her baby. He grabbed the guy by his left arm and snapped it in half. He then shoved the guy forward and gave him a hard kick to the stomach, sending him flying into a wall and knocking him out cool.
Matt looked at the final guy and notice he was starting to tremble in fear, but still he held his gun at the owner of the store.
"You better let that guy go, now," Matt said in a calm voice.
"Or what?" The guy exclaimed angrily and then grinned. "If you haven't noticed I have the edge."
"Oh, really?" Matt grinned and then disappeared from sight, taking the thug by surprised.
He looked around the small bakery fiercely, but find no trace of the boy with the strange hair anywhere. The thug began to sweat as he pondered where the boy could have gone.
"Hey, you, you going to buy something?" a casual voice asked.
Startled, the thug snapped his head towards the counter and saw the weird haired boy, standing where the storeowner should be. He was even wearing the apron that the owner had on. The thug lost all of his nerves after this and dropped his gun.
"W-Who are you?" he asked in a shacking voice.
"The name's Matthew Smith, but I have another name..." Matt held up his tattoo fist. "...They call me Black Lightening."
Right at that moment, the thug felt like he was going to pee himself. He, like any other street thugs had heard about the infamous Black Lightening, the one who taken out Thunder, one of the toughest gang leader in all of the city.
"So you're going to buy something or you going to stand there all day?" Matt asked in a casual voice.
The thug lost what little nerve he had lift and decided to run for it before he got hurt. He spun around on his heel and bolted through the door, completely forgetting about his two down friends.
"Man, it's a real shame when something like this happens," Matt muttered to himself and then looked under the counter. "It's safe to come out now.
The shadow fighter stepped away from counter as the storeowner came out from under it. He instantly ran towards his family and made sure they were fine. After seeing that they were wasn't a scratch on them, the owner sighs in relief and then turned towards Matt.
"Thank you. I wouldn't know what would have happen if you haven't shown up when you did," the owner said gratefully and bowed.
Matt shrugged his shoulder light and said easily," Hey, it was nothing, I save people all the time."
"But still I wouldn't know what I would have done if I lost my son, Tatako," the man said, looking at the infant in his wife's hands and then at Matt. "He's only about three mouth old."
Matt looked at the little baby with just a pinch of drown fuzz and imagine what his baby was going to look like. He imagined that his baby was going to have it mother's golden blonde hair and his beautiful violet colored eyes.
"By the way, I'm Takehiro Matsuki and that's my wife, Mia," Takehiro said, bring Matt out of his thoughts and offering his hand.
"And I'm Matthew Smith," Matt said, reaching out with his tattoo hand.
The second the two hands locked together, Matt's tattoo began flashing in a rainbow of colors and Matt felt a strange power overloading his senses, making him light headed.
"Uhhhhh," Matt moaned as he removed his hand from his new friend's and held his head. He stumbled backwards until he fond a wall and leaned up against it.
"Are you okay?" Mia asked in concern.
"Yes, I just suddenly very light headed," Matt, said groggily as he fought to regain his balance. "I think I better go back to my dorm and lay down."
"Do you want me to drive you there?" Takehiro offered nicely.
"No, I'm starting to feel better," Matt, said, walking carefully to the door. "Beside, I don't want to trouble you when need to get back to work."
He then walked out of the store before anyone could abject. Mia looked at her husband, worried about the young man that just saved them.
(With Rena)
"Hmm, if I didn't know better, I was swore this is a placement spell," Seiko said, looking at the tattoo on Rena's neck.
"What's a placement spell?" Rena asked, letting go of her hair and looking at the spell caster.
"Well, a placement spell is a spell where a person could be place in another time period," Seiko explained as she took a seat at the table. "So I take it, you're not from around this time period?"
"Yes, I'm actually from 14 years from the future and I knew your grandchild," Rena had to admit; it felt weird to finally tell somebody the truth about herself. "But I would really like it if you do not your daughter or Matt at the time."
"I understand, dear," Seiko said kindly.
Rena smiled at the woman's kindness and took a sip from her tea. Seiko also began drinking her tea and for a few minutes, the two just sat there quietly, drinking their tea. But soon, Rena set her tea down and looked at Seiko.
"Can I ask about these placement spells?" she asked kindly.
Seiko nodded slightly as she finished her tea and then placed the empty cup onto the table. "Certainly, dear. They are actually two types of placement spells. The first is a simple spell and the most common used for final testing of a trainee spell caster. All the spell caster has to do is enchanted two simpler items. One of these two items are taken by the spell caster, while the other stayed in the normal time period and that second enchanted item acts as a road to lid the first item back to itself," Though Seiko was explaining things, she still kept that kind voice.
"And that second placement spell?" Rena asked, curious to know.
"Well I believe the placement spell on you is the second one," Seiko answered kindly, confusing the disguised fox. "Well this spell is very complex then compared to the first one. No items are enchanted when this spell is used. Instead the bonds of spirits are used."
"Bonds of spirits?" Rena repeated in a calm, confused voice.
"Yes, the bonds of spirits," Seiko said, nodding. "For example if I wanted to send you back in time, all I needed to do was used the bonds you formed with someone and send you back through time with their past self as a point of guidance."
That makes little sense, Rena thought as she held her chin in thinking. If what Seiko saying is true, then wouldn't I have landed somewhere near Rumiko or this house instead near Matt?
The disguised fox was brought back to reality when Seiko said," But I could be wrong. This spell seems somewhat different from the ones I know of."
"How is it different?" Rena asked, hiding her confusion.
"Well when the second placement spell is used, it often leaves an aura of the spell caster who activated the spell, so the person could returned to their rightful time at any given moment, but I don't sense an aura around you."
"So what do you think it means?" Rena asked calmly, but feeling worried herself.
"Hmm..." Seiko looked down at her empty teacup and grabbed it. She got up from the table and went to the teapot. Rena waited patiently for Seiko to finished poring her tea. Once she was finished, Seiko returned to her seat and took a long drink. After her drink, she placed the cub on the table and let out a long sigh. "Well rumors among the old spell casters said that there was a third placement spell that is said to be very different from the others."
If Rena was in her true state, her ears would be twitching at the moment, but since she was human, she could only settled for a confuse look. Seiko took another long sigh and another long drink before going on.
"Well this third placement spell was rumored to be created by the ancient council of spell casters and was said have a different use then the last two."
"But how is it different?" Rena asked, her curiousness starting to show in her voice.
"Well your remember how I said that the second placement spell used the aura of the caster to return to their right time period?" Seiko asked and Rena nodded. "Well this third placement spell was supposedly used when a person from one time is meant to aid person from another time period."
"That really doesn't make a lot of sense," Rena said slowly.
"Well the spell was meant to say that nothing is choose, but fate has a hand in everything," Seiko spoke in a low, mysterious voice.
"Okay, now you lost me?" Rena said uneasily.
"Well the council thought that even if someone was born in one time, they might have a destiny in a different time and once that destiny is fulfilled the person would returned to their rightful time," Seiko said then sigh. "That's why the spell was never created, because destiny can be ever changing. Well I better let you go. You probably have a lot of things to do before heading home."
Rena nodded and finished off her tea. Getting up, she placed her empty cup in the sink and lifted without another word. Seiko also finished her tea and went to the sink. From the window over the sink, the middle-aged woman watched the disguised fox walked around of the grounds. Though Rena looked like she was walking normally, Seiko could see how sad she truly was.
Sighing heavily, Seiko lifted the kitchen and walked the halls of her house to her room. She stared at her door for the longest time, before letting out another sigh and grabbed the knob. She stepped into the dim lit room and closed the door quietly behind her.
Seiko stared into the room, looking at all the objects that she had inherited when her husband pass on. But the one that stood out the most was a simple, praying statue with a magical glowing green gem on its base. She looked at the statue for a long time before lowing her eyes to the ground and walking to the center of the room. Seiko waved her hand across the floor and a section of it rose up. A secret safe rose up from the ground and stopped at Seiko breast level.
Seiko reached out to the center of the safe a locking mechanism appeared. Seiko send some of her magic into the mechanism and the four locks undid themselves. She lifted the lid of the safe and stared at all of the forbidden spells, littered in the safe.
My husband's family was charged with keeping these dangerous spells for every falling into the wrong hands and I may have broken that vow by using the third placement spell on that girl, Rena kamiya, Seiko thought worryingly, eyeing the spell scroll which contents the third placement spell.
(...)
Matt walked the halls of his college in a semi small daze. He was still feeling light headed and it was not only missing with his vision, but his sixth sense too, making it harder to find his dorm by locking into his friends' auras.
What's wrong with me? Matt wondered to himself. Even since shaking hands with that bread storeowner, I felt like my head is in the clouds. It's a wonder I made it back here without having an ancient.
The shadow fighter was currently heading towards his dorm or at least he thought he was and he needed to hang on the wall for support.
"And what was with my tattoo?" he asked himself, looking at the black lightening bolt on his right hand. "It fleshed so many colors and it was so hot, it nearly burned my hand."
Matt wanted to think about it, but anytime he tried to put together a descent thought, he would just get ever more light headed and now a headache was coming, he could fine it. So he would just have to settle for getting back to his dorm and getting into bed for a nice long rest.
He putted his hand back on the wall and resumed walking. After five minutes of walking, he finally came to what he believe was his dorm and went in without a second thought.
"Matt, you don't look so good," Sho asked in concern.
Matt sighed, slightly relieved that he was in the right dorm and then said in a groggy voice," Trust me Sho, I feel like I have been run over by ten bikes, trampled by at least three big matron runners and to top it all off, poked in the head by a child with a stick."
"Hmm, that's sounds bad," Rena, said from her spot at the desk.
"Huh, Sorry, Rena, didn't see you there," Matt said groggily. "What are you doing here, anyways?"
Rena's face fall when she heard that and just couldn't bring herself to say what needed to be say. So instead, she just hanged her head and kept her mouth shut. Luckily Sho seemed to sense this and spring into action.
"Well actually Rena was here to tell us something, but I think she can wait until, you're feeling up to it, right?" Sho looked at the blonde for some help and Rena simply responded with a meek nodded.
Matt nodded and said," Just gave me a minute to find something and then you can tell me."
He then want over to his dresser and opened the top draw. Instead of cloths, there were various items, like the hat he wore to the nightclub two weeks back and other stuff. He rummaged through the draw until he found a small bottle of aspen. He then wanted over to a small icebox that was to the far left of the dresser and got a small bottle of water. He then took two pills from the bottle and swallowed them with some water. He then wanted over to his bed and lay down, waiting for the pills to take affected. The pills only took about a minute to take affect and Matt was finally starting to feel like himself.
"So, Rena what was it, you wanted to talk to me about?" Matt asked clearly as he set up in his bed.
The humanoid digimon looked up at her cousin with sad eyes and opened her mouth to say something, but a knocked at the door stopped her before she could start.
"It's opened!" Matt called without taking his eyes off of Rena.
The door opened and Takehiro walked in with a wrapped up loaf of bread in his hands. When Rena saw the bread maker, her mouth nearly hit the ground.
Is that Takato's father? Rena wondered to himself. It has to be, they look so much alike even at though he's a few years older then the Takato, I know. What's that?
In the four years, Rena had spent with Matt, she had learn to control her sixth sense somewhat and was able to sense auras, just not as good as Matt, but still good enough to see them and what she was seeing was blowing her mind. Takato's dad's aura was the biggest she had ever seen, even bigger then Matt's own shadow aura and that was saying something.
Why is Takato's father aura so big and more importantly, does Takato have a similar aura? Rena wondered to herself, looking at the man in shock.
Takehiro didn't even notice the shocked blonde as he walked up the Matt with the smile he would pass onto his son.
"You lift in such a hurry that I never got the chance to properly thank you, so take this sweet bread as a thanks you," Takehiro said kindly and unwrapped the bread.
Matt took the bread, careful not to make an kind of connected with Takehiro. Matt brought the bread to his nose and inhaled the rich scent of the sweet bread.
"Smells good," Matt said, smiling slightly at the bread maker. "So how did you know I go to this college?"
"Well to tell the truth, I had a feeling you would be at this college," Takehiro said quietly, looking at the floor.
"What do you mean a feeling?" Matt asked, a hint of suspicious working it way into his voice.
Takehiro thought abut telling a lie, but a feeling told him that Matt might just see through the lie and decided it was better to tell the truth. So, sighing, the bread maker took a seat opposite of Matt.
"Well I don't know what's these feeling I have really are," Takehiro said, looking at his hands like they were dangerous weapons. "My father said, he has these feelings as did his father, but these feeling had scared me since I was a child."
So this guy, Takehiro does have some kind of power, but that still doesn't explain why I feel so light headed when we shacked hands, Matt thought, staring at the bread maker intently. He suddenly let out a small gasped and his eyes widen slightly as something popped into his head. Wait! I remember now. My grandfather said that when two powerful auras would clash, they cancel each other out and the one with the weaker aura would be disoriented, so does that mean this simply bread maker could be stronger then me?
Takehiro didn't even seem to notice the stare Matt was giving him as he sigh slightly and looked towards the clock located between the two beds. He looked back at Matt and said kindly," Well I have better be getting back to work. With Takato around, it hard for one person to managed the store."
The bread maker then pushed himself off of the bed and patted Matt on the shoulder as walked towards the door. He lifted without saying another word, leaving one slightly concerned shadow fighter and his two confused friends.
Luckily, I dulled my sixth sense before he touch me or I probably down for the count, Matt thought, turning towards the sweat bread, forgotten in his hands and took another whiff of it rich smell. He then turned towards his friends and asked," Hey guys, do you want a slice of this, it smell really good."
Both Sho and Rena nodded, still feeling the awkwardness of the moment. Matt hopped off his bed and made his way over to the desk. He set the bread squarely on the table and raised his hand over his head. Then quicker then the eye could see, the shadow fighter had chopped three slices, one for himself and one for each of his friends. The trio took their slices and began eating.
"Man! And I thought Miss Makino tea was the bomb! Sho exclaimed and took a big bit out of his slice.
Matt nodded his head in agreement as he swallowed the bread already in his mouth. "You said it, bro. This has to be the best sweet bread I have ever had."
Rena took another bit out of her slice and need to resist shaking her head. Even now, Takato's father is a pro at making bread.
"So, Rena, want did you want to tell us?" Matt asked casually, bringing Rena out of her thought.
The disguised fox felt like cursing up a storm. With the whole Takehiro thing, she had forgotten about telling her friends that she was leaving and she also wanted to curse Matt's stern memory.
The disguised fox refused to look her friends in the eyes and chose to look at her slice of bread instead. She found this to be really hard and couldn't right the words that were needed.
"Rena, is something wrong?" Matt asked in concern. "Because if there is, you know you could always come to one of us."
Rena felt like cursing again. She should have known Matt would have picked up on her mood and say something comforting, which at the moment was making the fox feel uncomfortable.
"Rena," Matt said seriously, drawing the fox's attention. "I have said this before and I'll say it again. Don't hold things in, they will just eat at your soul. It betters to come out and say it."
Rena sighed and finished off her slice of bread and want back to not looking her two friends in the eyes. She, for some reason found this to be the hardest thing she had even done and that worried her. Matt and Sho waited patiently for their friend to tell them on her own. Finally after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Rena looked at her friend in a sad kind of way.
"Well I have only told Rumiko about this, but I have a very uptight father. He was always trying to groom me into his vision of the prefect lady," Rena said quietly and her friend nodded. "Well I put up with it for a while, but when he told me about an arrange marriage, I finally snapped and decided to hit the road."
Matt and Sho looked at each other at a loss for words. They thought they had touch lives, but hearing Rena's story had opened their eyes to the real Rena kamiya or that how Rena want it to sound.
"Wow, just wow," Sho said breathless. "I lost my father before the Thunder Splats took over my hood, but he was a good man."
"I know," Matt sounding just as shocked as Sho does. "My grandfather was touch when it came to my training, but he was still there when I really needed him. He used to comfort me when I had a nightmare about my parents' death."
Rena forced a sigh out of her lips as she looked down at the floor. "Well my father was a jerk and will always be."
Once again, Rena felt like every inch of her body was covered in dirt and no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't clear herself off. That's because she knew she just told a big lie to two of her good friends and they had just accented it like that.
"But, Rena what does any of this have to do with you?" Sho asked curiously.
"Because he found you, hasn't him and he wants you back," Matt stated more then asked.
Rena looked at Matt and nodded her head shamefully.
"But he just can't do that!" Sho exclaimed. "I mean, Rena had already formed a good life here and is already going to collage. So why take her away for that now?"
"Well buddy, when you look at it, this is only a second rate collage and I bet someone like Rena's dad wouldn't settle for anything less then the best," Matt explained calmly, then looked at Rena. "So when are you leaving?"
Rena looked at the shadow fighter with wide eyes. She really hasn't thought about when she was actually leaving.
"Well I really don't know when I'm going to be leaving," Rena admitted and hanged her head. "Now if you don't mind, I'll like to go back to my dorm."
Then without waiting for her friend's reply, the disguised fox want to the door, but before she was able to leave, Matt said," Hey, fox, wait a minute."
Rena looked at Matt as he turned back to the sweet bread and cut a large piece of it. He then grabbed the piece and tossed it to Rena. She caught it in mid air and looked at it strangely.
"Take it, its no skin off of my nose," Matt said with a causal smile, but that faded as he looked at Rena seriously. "Rena, just remember this. You may be leaving soon, but you'll always have a home."
Rena nodded her head a little sadly and lifted without another word, leaving behind two sadness humans in her wake.
(Rena's dorm)
Rena lay in her bed with the only source of light in the room, a small lap at the fox's bedside. The only other living thing in the room beside Rena was her cursed tamer, who was at the moment sleeping.
Rena's dorm was just like Sho and Matt's dorm, so it was design for two, but at the time, only Rena was there. She was supposed to have a roommate, but she canceled at the last moment, leaving the dorm to Rena and her partner. But Rena liked it that way; it gave her time to think.
"Why? Why do I feel such sadness from all of this?" she wondered to herself.
On some level, she was happy about going back to her own time because that would mean, she would be able to be with Guilmon and Rika could be with Takato. Still there was a sense of great sadness resting in Rena's heart and it troubled her, greatly.
Rena rolled onto her side and looked at her sleeping tamer. Million of thoughts ran wild through the humanoid digimon's head, threatening to overwhelm her, so she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep, in her hopes that she could put all of her thoughts to rest. Immediately after closing her eyes, she was bombarded with random images of the Matt. She saw some of her sparring matches and times when they just hanged at the large tree on the school grounds. But one memory seemed to be the diamond in the rough. It was the one where Rena helped Matt and Rumiko get closer together in that nightclub two weeks ago.
Rena opened her eyes, unable to get to sleep with all of these thoughts in her head. She rolled back onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, trying to piece all of this together.
"Is it because I know Sho and Matt wouldn't be in the future when I get back? There two have been family to me and it's really hurting me, knowing that when I leave this time, that I'll never say them again. It would be like I lost Rika all over again," Rena whispered into the darkness.
Rena continue to lay there for about a few minutes, just thinking about all of this, but dealing with emotions was something she wasn't good at, even as a human. Finally after a little more time, she decided that she wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon and decided maybe a good night practice would help. So she quietly got out of bed and changed into her usual workout clothes. Then she tiptoed to the door and lifted the dorm without a sound.
Instead of heading towards the gym, the disguised fox want outside and headed towards the football field. As she walked to the center of the field, she looked up at the full moon and let memories of her human past flow into her.
She remembers on nights of the full moon, Matt and she would get up extra early and spar a little more then usual. She also remembers just staring up at the moon as she waited for her partner and friend to finish his morning stretching. Those were good times and she was semi sad that they were ending soon.
If Guilmon could fight as good as Rika's father, I'll be in heaven, Rena thought dreamy. She could picture it now. She and Guilmon would be sparring, when she would trip him, she would anciently fall onto him, their lips meeting in a- Wow, Wow, Wow! Stopped right there Renamon! I really got to stop reading all of those romance novels.
"You know, I had a feeling you would come here," a voice said casually.
Looking to her right, Rena saw Matt leaning against the yellow goal post, hands in his training jacket. Rena was so deep in thoughts she hadn't notice the shadow fighter until he said something.
Matt pushed off his leaning post and slowly walked up to Rena, an easy grin on his face. "I still can remember the first sparring match we had. You were so clumsy from that fall you took early, that I needed to coach you from the sides, but after that you became someone who could take me on at a certain level."
"Hmm," Rena looked towards the moon as more memories began flowing into her. "Back in my hometown, there was one person who could take me on as an equal."
"Is it the one who had stolen your heart?" Matt asked seriously.
"Actually it was," Rena replied, looking at her friend. "Like you, I had a hard life and took anything out by fighting, but when I mean Guil, things changed. He was strong, but he didn't believe in using his strength for fighting, but I wanted to fight anyways and usually forced him to fight me, but soon I find myself changing all because of his kindness and friendship. I guess that's why I fell for him in the first place."
Matt took a seat on the grassy field and began swirling his finger in the grass as he said lowly," People like that are so rare and hard to come by now a days. I know because I was once a bully, using my skill to avoid my own problems. But when I meat Rumiko, I felt for the first time that I was different, special and that I should use my gifts for something different then just bulling."
"I guess we really are different from the rest," Rena said, but thought, some more then others.
"Humph," Matt grinned as he stood up and looked at Rena. "No, fox, we're not different, but unique and unique people should act different."
Rena laugh slightly from that one. At times Matt remains her of his daughter and at other times, he was like Takato, but that what made Matthew Smith such a good person to be around.
"I guess, you're right and I should be happy that I would be able to see Guil again, even if I have to see my father again," Right at that moment, Rena felt like a large chip had been lifted from her shoulders and now she could face the world anew.
"Now that that's only..." Matt got a mischievous looked into his eyes as he took off his jacket and threw it to the side. "...How about one last spare under the moon, fox!!"
"Humph. You're on, shadow fighter!" Rena exclaimed vigorously and threw off her coat.
Then the two prepared from their last sparring match under the light of a full moon.
(The next day...afternoon)
"This thing wouldn't just stop itching," Rena complained as she itched her glowing tattoo on her neck.
The fox was currently on route to Sho and Matt's dorm by the shadow fighter's request. The itching on the back of her neck had started about the time she had woken up and haven't stopped all day, in fact, it was getting worse with each passing hour.
"It must mean we're about to go back to our own time," Rika stated obviously from her hiding spot.
Rena would have made a remake at her cursed partner's obviousness if someone hadn't walked pass the foxes of the future, so instead, Rena just have to settle for an annoyed look. She came to the door of the fighters' dorm and just when she was about to knock when she thought she heard something like mumbled voice. Curious, the humanoid fox place her ear to the door and strained to hear what was behind it. She could make out the familiar voices of her friends, but couldn't make out what they were saying. After another second of getting nothing, Rena pulled away from the door and just opened it. She walked into dorm and there was nothing by total darkness.
Now this is weird, even for those two, Rena thought as she looked for the light switch. Now where that switch? Got it.
She flipped on the lights and she was meant with a big...
"SURPRISE!!!
Rena blinked twice. In front of her was her three best friends, all standing around the desk with one of those small, round cakes on it. The cake was covered in yellow icing and had in bald red letters "We'll never forget you, Rena."
The disguised fox felt something rare filling into her eyes. Tears. Rena was dangerously close crying and there was only a few times she had ever done that.
"What is all of this?" Rena was flattered and she wasn't putting on an act for once.
Matt walked up to her and Rena noticed for the first time, that he was wearing a completely different suit of clothes. Instead of the clothes Rena was used to seeing, the shadow fighter was now wearing a pair of nice black pants and a white dress shirt. Rena looked around and realized that all of her friends were dress a little more fancy then normal. Sho was wearing clothes like Matt, but his pants were tan and his shirt was green. Rumiko was wearing a silk, once piece, sleeveless dress and her face had just a touch of makeup on it.
"Well, Fox, this is our way of showing you just how important you are to us," Matt said and gave Rena his casual smile that was at the same time caring.
"Yeah, so why don't we dig into this yummy cake," Sho said eagerly, eyeing the cake hungrily.
"Sho, behave," Rumiko scolded and light slapped him on the back of the head. "This party is for Rena and not for feeding your bottomless gut."
Matt chuckled lightly as he walked up to his future wife and patted her on the shoulder. "Can you really blame the guy? I mean we all were in the store as Takehiro was making the thing and it smell so good, I was thinking about taking a small bite myself," he said in a light hearted voice.
Rumiko glared at her future husband for a moment then dropped her eyes and said," I know, it just my stomach at the time when I feel like I'm about throw up my guts and I don't feel like eating much of anything at the time."
Matt smiled lightly ands patted Rumiko's shoulder again," Wildcat, you know I'll save a piece for you to try when you're up to it."
Rumiko rubbed her check against Matt's hand and mumbled a thank you. Matt smiled lovingly at Rumiko and then turned to the group.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let get this party staring!!" the shadow fighter exclaimed.
"Yeah!!" the group screamed and threw they fist into the air.
(Later)
Some time later, half of the cake was gone and now the group was sitting around the desk, telling stories about their earlier days while drinking either soda or cherry energy.
"You should have seen it, Rumiko," Rena said humorously. "Matt was walking down the hall of the school when suddenly he tripped because he didn't notice the wet floor or the sigh telling about it."
Sho and Rumiko began laughing so hard that Sho fill out of his chair and held his aching sides. Matt just crossed his arms and looked away, trying to fight off the embarrassing blush that was threatening him.
"It wasn't that bad," he mumbled. "I was thinking about a math problem, that's all."
"Right, and the fact that it was the anniversary of your meeting Rumiko had never to do with it," Rena said in a sly voice and a mischievous gin.
Sho was still laughing from early that his face was starting to turn into a light shade of blue. Matt looked at Sho a little angrily before looking at Rena with a completely calm face.
"And how about the time, you walked into the boy's locker room?" he asked, but his eye were glistening with revenge. "And I guess you weren't thinking about your old flame, Guil, now were you?"
Rena was got off guard by the sudden question and couldn't think of a comeback and that resulted in a tomato red blush to spread across her cheeks.
"Well, Fox, I'm waiting," Matt said slyly while a smug grin settled on his face.
"Ummm," Rena was still unable to think of any kind of remark just did the first thing that came to her mind, which was to cross her arms and turned her head to the right. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right," Matt said sarcastically and his smug grin turned into a smile of triumph.
From her hiding place, Rika's sides were vibrating from all the laughter she had to hold in. She leaned forward enough so she was next to Rena's ear, but still concealed from sight.
"You know he's right, Renamon," the cursed tamer said in the same mischievous voice as her father. "I was with you that time and I know for a fact, that you were thinking about dinoboy."
Rena gave her cursed partner a sideway glare and raised her hand into her hair. She was planning on whacking Rika lightly in the head, when suddenly her tattoo began itching like crazy and she charged her course to the tattoo. The disguised fox scratched it like crazy, but it wouldn't stop. In fact, this strange tingling sensation began going down her entire body.
Now's what going on? Rena wondered as she continued to itch her tattoo. This thing is starting to drive me crazy and now I feel like my entire body is in one of these massages chair. Wait, could this be it? Could it be time for me to go back?
She looked at the clock, located on the dresser between Sho and Matt's bed and saw that it was about 4:58. She then looked at Matt with a serious expression.
"Matt, I know this is going to sound weird, but do you remember at what time you fond me?" She asked as calmly as possible.
"Hmm," Matt looked towards the clock and did the math in his head. He looked back at Rena and said," Well I think it was somewhere around 5:15."
That's has to be it! Rena screamed in her mind. When the clock strikes the time, I came here; I will be hauled back to my own time period!
"Why do you want to know about when I find you?" Matt asked in slight curiousness.
"No reason," Rena said and gave a small weak smile that almost instantly turned into a frown. "Listen guys, I don't know how to tell you this, but-"
"You're father's here to get you and we have been holding you up?" Matt interrupted in a calm voice.
Rena looked at her friend, nodded and then hanged her head. "Well, it something like that and I haven't packed yet."
"Do you want help?" Rumiko offered nicely.
Rena shack her head, refusing to look at her friends as she said," Well, actually I haven't packed yet because my father doesn't want to wear normal street clothes, so I'm leaving them to you guys. Do whatever you like with them and I such be going now."
The three just nodded and all of them stood up. Rena then shack hands with Sho from a quick second and then shared a friendly hug with Rumiko. Finally Rena looked at Matt and the shadow fighter held out his hand while flashing his trademark smile. Rena managed a weak smile as she took her friend's hand into her own. Then quicker then Rena know, she was drew into a tight hug by her friend.
"Let the one you love embrace you as I did Rumiko," he whispered into Rena's ears.
Unable to form words, Rena just acknowledged her friend's words by returning the hug. The two stayed like that for about a minute before Rena pulled herself and looked at the person who was like family. Tarring her eyes away, Rena quickly ran out the door without another word, but words wouldn't need for something like this. Everyone in the room knew, that this was the last time they would ever see Rena Kamiya.
(With Rena)
The disguised fox ran with all of her might, far, far from the college. She didn't want anyone to see as she sucked up into a vortex and have someone questioned her friends.
Matthew Smith. He's a man even before turning 10 and yet, his soul is still pure. Sho Nonaka. He was another who was a man before his time, but still had a heart of gold. I will miss you both, Rena thought sadly, her blonde hair shadowing her eyes.
She finally came to stop when she was far away from the college and out of watching eyes. She collapsed to her hands and knees. The power of her tattoo was getting even worse then before and it has been numbing her body for a while now, but didn't want to stop until she was as far away from the college a she could. Rena took Rika out of her hiding spot and began stroking her fur just as Matt did to Rumiko.
"Renamon, are you crying?" the cursed tamer asked when she felt something wet hit her fur.
"Of course, I'm crying, little one," Rena replied, lifting her head so Rika could see the tear streaming down her partner's face. "I will miss by brothers dearly. Haha, it's actually funny when you look at it. Digimon don't have brothers or sisters and yet, I feel like those two back there are my brothers and because of them, I now can feel the one I love with new courage."
Rika looked up at her partner and understood what she was saying. So she didn't say a word, just snuggled into Rena's warm arms. The former digimon looked down at her cursed tamer and let a relied, yet tired smile grace her lips. Rena closed her eyes and waited for the magic to begin.
She didn't have to wait long because the tattoo on the back of her neck began pulsing and a minute later, the tattoo shattered, releasing its magic in the form of blue, glittering dust. The dust circled around Rena's entire body once and then swirled into the sky, where the portal, leading back to the future, opened. The portal began pulling the fox up and this time; she didn't fight instead she wants willingly into the portal. The portal closed up behind the humanoid digimon and thus that was the last anyone would ever see of Rena Kamiya, the first person to befriend the toughest human on the face of the world.
(Inside the void)
As Rena traveled through the colored rings of time, she could feel the magic she was bestowed upon the first time she traveled thought time itself, being lifted. But she barely notices the pain; her mind was to focus on the friends she had to leave behind.
I wished I know what happened between my time and now? Rena wondered to herself.
Then as if answering her, the black void in front of the changing fox opened up, reveling what appeared to be a wedding. Looking up, Rena saw as Matthew Smith slipped the wedding bond onto the slender finger of his new wife, Rumiko Makino Smith. All of the immediate family was there with Sango and Seiko in the front role, both with tears of joy in their eyes. Sho Nonaka was right at the front of it all as Matt's best man and he couldn't look happier for his friends, then he did now.
"You both had to suffer through so much, it nice to know you both fond happiness, even if it's just for a moment," Rena whispered sadly to herself.
As the fox watched this event play out, she didn't notice that her clothes were began to fuse with her human skin and turned from cloth to fur.
The scene changed and now Sho, Sango and Seiko were all in a waiting room of a hospital. All looked worried because this was the time of the newest member of the family to come into life and each how their own fears. Finally after nearly 18 hours of waiting, the door to the operation room flow opened and out walked a very tired looking, yet happy Matt. And though no words came out of the shadow fighter's mouth, Rena understood he had said," We have a beautiful and healthy baby girl." Hearing that, everyone in the room, immediately relaxed and began bombarding Matt with thousands of questions. Matt answered them to the best of his power and then came the big one. Seiko asked if they could see the newest member of the family and Matt gladly said yes. He then lid them to the room were, Rumiko was holding a white bundle and humming to it softly. When she noticed the others in the room, she smiled tiredly and told everyone to see the baby. Being careful as they crowds around the bed, Seiko, Sango and Sho saw a young baby girl with just a punch of red hair on her head and violet colored eyes, staring at everyone in innocence. She then looked at her father with her violet eyes and Matt's own violet eyes meant with love and warmth.
"You're just as cute as you where then, little one," Rena whispered into the sleeping cursed tamer's ears, causing them to twitch slightly. Rika had fallen asleep almost instantly after entering the rings of time.
As this all took place, Rena's feet fused with her sneakers and formed into paw-like toes with claw pointing out the ends of the toes and her heels rising off the ground. The cliffs of her legs ballooned out slightly with new muscles forming and the familiar symbols painted themselves onto the legs.
Rena looked back up and notice the scene had once again changed. The happy couple with their now one-year-old daughter returned from home from a family outing to a concern and worried Seiko. Rumiko asked what was wrong with her mother and Seiko just gave Matt a note without saying a word. Confused, the shadow fighter read the note to himself. His eyes suddenly widened in shock for about a second and then they became set in anger. He then clumped the note and threw it to the ground before melding into the shadow.
Confused, Rumiko looked towards her mother, who still remained quiet and then handed Rika to her. She then picked up the note and smoothed it out. She looked at the note and gasped loudly. On the note, read," I need to settle a score with you. The great one."
It was painfully obviously to anyone who knew him, but Kai had sent that note as a challenge to the shadow fighter. And speaking of the said fighter, he just appeared aside his wife, dressed in his trademark battle clothes. Rumiko knew what her husband was thinking and bagged him not to go. Matt refused to talk; instead he just took Rumiko in a loving hug and still remains quiet. They stayed like that for untold minutes and when Matt finally broke free, he patted his baby girl on the head once and smiled a little sadly. He then lifted without saying a word and walked out to the street, where Sho was mysterious waiting him. The two looked at each other and with a simple nod, they lifted the house.
"It must have been hard for you to leave, but you know this has be done," Rena said, sobbing and closing her eyes tight.
Rena's shirtsleeves morphed into her gloves as her fingers fused together to became paws with claws. Those arrow like objects burst from her shoulders, but she still didn't feel a thing. Finally her body curved out a bit more as her vest fused with the rest of her body and the small patch of fur appeared over her beasts.
Rena was almost afraid to look, but knew she had to look. So, she slowly looked up and noticed that Matt was facing Kai now. The shadow fighter was asking the sorcerer to back down, but he wouldn't and force Matt to act. Matt moved quicker then the Kai could see, but Rena saw it because she was out of the time itself. She saw as her friend took out a ring, specially made incase Matt ever ran into Kai again and he punched the evil sorcerer, leaving the thunderbolt shape mark in his cheek.
Thus, the final fight between the shadow fighter and his evil brother-law began with Matt walking all over Kai, but soon the evil sorcerer got tricky and pulled out those poisoned tagged daggers and began throwing them at Matt. Matt dodged the daggers with the grace of a dancer and Kai just kept throwing them. Eventually, Kai landed a hit on Matt's knee, slowing the fighter down enough for Kai to pump more poison into Matt, leaving him helpless. That's when Kai got cocky and made the mistake that would cast him dearly. He threatened Matt's family, right in Matt's face. Well that got Matt mad and his tattoo began glowing in response from all the emotion it owner was feeling. But unlike most time, the tattoo glowed a pitch black and that light spread to all corners of Matt's body, giving him the strength to stand and continue to the fight. Then the picture vanished, surprising Rena greatly.
"No! Wait! Please, let me see the end of this!" Rena screamed as her voice returned to it originally patch and she held out her paw. Her face became more pointed as her hair flowed over it, fusing with it and becoming fur. Her eyes shrunk slightly and the scars under her eyes returned to their originally colors and her human ears melded into her skull, her fox ears returning to their originally place on the tops of her head. Finally she notice all of the pain her body was taking and blacked out from the suddenly overload of pain
(...)
Renamon moaned as she slowly worked her way back to consciousness. The first thing she noticed as she began somewhat aware was that she could smell things better. She could also hear her surrounding better too and she could feel the grass under her fur. She lifted her hand and looked at her gloved paw.
Was it just a dream? Did I really dream all of that? Renamon wondered to herself, turning her paw over.
"You know, Matt said when he first found you, you slept for about two hours...Rena," a familiar voice said lightly.
Bolting up right, Renamon turned to the source of the voice and looked at the adult Rumiko. She was dressed in the usual cloths Renamon was used to and she was holding a sleeping Rika.
"You just called me Rena, so that means..." The shock was all too much for the stern digimon and she lost her voice.
"Yes, Rena, you did go 18 years into the past and meant by husband and Rika's father," Rumiko said in a low semi solemn tone, like saying the person she loved brought her pain.
Renamon got to her feet, automatically readjusting to her digimon body and walked over to her friend. She patted Rumiko on the shoulder and said, reassuringly," You know, Matt always did say never to keep emotions buried for long."
"Hehe," Rumiko hanged her head, so her hair was shadowing her eyes. "When you lifted, I lost the one of the three person who saw me for who I was and not just some model who only cared for her looks. But when I saw you, Renamon, I knew right away who you were and killed me to wait for you to know who you were."
"Sometime it still hard to believe that I was there, that I meant the two who helped shaped Rika into the person she is today," Renamon said.
Rumiko looked at her friend for a moment before taking a small photo out of her right jacket pocket. She held it out for Renamon as she said," Do you remember when this was taken?"
Renamon take the photo and looked at it. The picture was of the old gang. Matt was in the center and had his arms around Rumiko and Sho, while Renamon in her human form stood off to the right, part of the picture and yet distance from the others. "This was taken a week before we want to that nightclub that changed all of our lives." And held out the picture for Rumiko to take back.
"That was the copy meant for you, Rena," Rumiko said, refusing to the photo. "Matt made copies for himself, Sho, Me and you."
Renamon looked at the picture for more time before slipping in one of her gloves. "If you don't mind, I'll like to take a run and I would like it if you came with me."
"No thanks, I have things to do," Rumiko said softly and then stood up. She began walking into the house, but stopped mid-way and looked at Renamon. "You have been gone for nearly four days, Rena. Guilmon has been worried sick about you. Why don't you dropped by his house and tell him and Takato, that you and Rika are okay."
With that said, the model/fighter disappeared into the house. Renamon stood there for about a minute, letting the wind caress through her fur, a feeling she had miss for nearly four years before she bent at the knees and jumped into the air. She landed on the fence of the house and looked forward with her piercing blue eyes.
Yes, I will go to the one I love with all of my heart, but first I need to take care of a small tack, She said to herself and jumped from the fence, vanishing in her trademark way.
From the fence where Renamon was just moments ago, a familiar ghostly figure watch as the fox vanished into thin air. His right, dark blue jean leg was against the fence and his arms were cross over his whit shirt chest. An easy, almost casual smile was on the ghost's lips.
"Yes, Rena, let the one you love embrace you tightly, just as I did to my wife," The ghost of Matthew Smith mused softly to himself and then disappeared from sight.
(...)
Me: Well I'm finally done with this half of my series.
Rika (Sarcastically): Well excise me if I don't jump for joy, space for brains.
Me (Ignoring Rika): Well I'm glad that my partner wasn't awake as I wrote this.
Rika (Slightly angry at being ignored): And why is that, Space for brains?
Me: Because, if he were, I wouldn't have gotten this done.
Rika (Angry): Just get to your preview of your final story and let me get on with my life!
Me: Okay, okay, no need to bit my head off.
In-Training: The next level: Four more mouth had pass since, Renamon's little trapped into the past and now Kai had gotten his hands on the world's most dangerous spell and that could spell trouble for our little band of heroes.