The Power of Trust
Chapter 3 : Robed in White, Foe or Friend?
by Renkin Shenjou
They waited in silence, Kari sitting on one side with Gatomon in her lap, while Ren stood on the other,
his arms crossed. Pyrodramon had long since reverted to Candlemon, and was staring off in the
direction where the emperor had fled. It was Kari who broke the silence. "Thank you for saving all
those Frijimon from the Kaiser."
"I did only what was necessary. You have your methods, and I have mine," he replied. There was
another long pause before he asked, "Why are you here Kari?"
"I already told you - Takeru went to get the others and told me to-"
"No," he interrupted. "Why do you come here to the digital world? Why do you care so much for the
digimon. And what would you have done were I not able to revive those who were slain by my-" he
looked at Candlemon- "our hands."
Kari was taken aback by the questions. She had never even really thought about them herself. "I -
Hey, look!" she shouted, pointing towards a group of people and digimon running towards them,
grateful for the extra thinking time. "The others are coming!"
Ren smiled. "I will be expecting an answer to those questions one day," he said.
The group stopped when they had reached Kari and Ren. "Kari, what are you doing! He could be
dangerous!" Iori yelled, concern showing in his voice.
"You need not worry," Ren replied, still smiling. "Kari and I were just talking. Right?"
"We were," Kari replied. "This is Ren, and Candlemon," she added, realizing that her friends had no
idea who the hell this stranger was.
Daisuke looked around at the others, to see how he should be feeling. Takeru was wearing a deep
scowl, but then again, he really didn't like anybody except for Kari, and maybe his brother. Iori's
expression much resembled Takeru's, with a bit of curiosity thrown in. Yolei, on the other hand, was
staring, awestruck at how handsome the stranger was, from his black hair to his ice blue eyes, and his
weird clothes. He was still wearing a black cloak, and underneath it was a tight fitting black muscle
shirt, and baggy cargo pants. He was thin, but well toned, not scrawny, and he had a smile that seemed
to be both smiling and frowning at the same moment.
The digimon, he noticed, were also reacting to the new pair. Patamon, Hawkmon, and Armadillomon
were all hanging back, glaring at Candlemon. V-Mon, however, walked over, and said, "HI! I'm
V-Mon!"
"I'm Candlemon!" he responded, smiling. V-mon and Candlemon started talking, but Daisuke really
didn't pay attention. For the first time in his life, he was lost in thought.
Daisuke liked the new boy, personally. There was just something that made him feel... connected to
Ren. He stared at Ren for a few moments before saying anything. "Hi, I'm Daisuke. I'm 14 years
old, and I live in Japan. How about you?"
Ren blinked a few times. Ok, this is... different, he thought. "My name is Ren. I am 15 years of
age, and I live in Japan as well." Why did I just say that? The whole point was to keep them from
caring. WHY did I just do that!?
Takeru seemed to notice the inner turmoil inside of Ren's mind, possibly showing in those icy eyes of
his. "What are you thinking about?" he asked coldly. "How it would be best to attack us?"
"What are you saying Takeru? Ren is our new friend!" Daisuke said indignantly.
That does it. I can stand them liking me a little, but friends? That is not acceptable! "If you are
challenging me, then I accept," Ren said, trying to rebuild his dark facade. "Are you ready
Candlemon?" Candlemon nodded and digivolved to Meramon, and crossed his arms, glaring a
challenge.
"I told you he was evil!" Takeru shouted, and pulled out his D-3.
"Should I digivolve, TK?" Patamon asked. Without hesitation, Takeru nodded, and Patamon
digivolved into Angemon.
The two digimon squared off and prepared to face each-other. "Burning Fist!" Meramon shouted, firing a jet of burning air at Angemon, and lighting ablaze on contact.
"HAND OF FATE!!!" Angemon shoted, returning fire. "Angel staff!" he added, throwing his rod at
Meramon, striking him squarely in the chest, then twirling back into his hands.
The two continued to fire, first a 'burning fist,' then a 'hand of fate,' until both digimon were in constant
motion, blocking and firing, thrusting and parrying. Damn, Meramon thought in between attacks. I
don't have much energy left. There is only one shot... "ROARING FLAMES!!!!!!"
Suddenly a great burst of fire surrounded Meramon and shot staright into the air. The flames encircled
Meramon and became a great tornado of fire, which turned and moved towards Angemon.
"Angemon MOVE!!!!" Takeru shouted in despair. Angemon tried to dodge the tornado of fire, but
was unable to avoid it. "NOOOOOO!!!!!!!" he screamed as the blaze enveloped the white robed
angel, searing his wings.
What have we done!?! Ren thought to himself. "Move!" he shouted to Takeru, and pushed him out
of the way, jumping into the fire himself. "ANGEMON!!!! Come to my voice!!" By that time,
Angemon had already reverted to patamon, and Ren pulled patamon close to his chest, and ran back
out of the blaze, burning himself as he tried to escape the vortex. "Takeru CATCH!" he shouted, tossing Patamon out into Takeru's waiting arms. A sob racked through his body as he pulled Patamon closer, tears running down his face.
"What have you done, you MOSNTER!!!" he shouted fiercely.
The flames began to die down, and Ren appeared in the mix of reds and oranges. "Takeru..." he began, using extreme caution. "I..." then he stopped, and his wall came back up. "I apologize," he finished solidly.
Takeru stood up, tears still rolling down his cheeks. "If you want to stay here with this demon, go ahead. But you know how much I hate the powers of darkness. He... almost..."
Kari stood up and followed Takeru, as did Iori and Yolei. Finally, only Daisuke was left with Ren. "Ren..." he started slowly.
"Save it Daisuke," he replied, more softly than he intended. "I am not your friend, nor will I ever be. Just follow them."
"But -" he said. "You also have a fire digimon, like me! And from what Takeru said, our digieggs look the same, and you even have the crest of trust! How can I not want to be your friend!?"
Ren looked at Daisuke with extreme sadness showing in his eyes. I wonder whats wrong, daisuke thought. I mean I just said we were friends! Shouldn't he be happy?
"Daisuke," he said softly. "I do not deserve your friendship, nor your trust." He turned around, and he and Meramon walked off in the opposite direction from the where the other digidestined had gone.