A figure in a coat makes its way through the dark alleyways of the town, avoiding as much human contact as possible. The shadows are long and dark, perfect for hiding in, perfect save the fact that its vision pierced even the shadow. Because of this, the figure is not surprised when three men step out of where they thought they were hidden.

"Looky what we got here," one of the men leers, as he and his fellows surround the figure. "Alone, at night, and in an alley." He laughs sharply, and his companions join in. "You might as well be yelling, 'Rob me, rob me!'"

The figure lets out a sigh, as it had hoped to avoid situations like this. "I'm not in the mood for this," it says.

"Oh-ho!" the leader exclaims. "And it's a girly too. Well, well, looks like we got a double prize."

"Hey, c'mon," one of the others leers, advancing on the figure. "Let's see what you've got under that coat."

"If you insist," she replies, amusement evident in her voice. She then reaches up to her hood, and the men get their first hint that they got more than they had bargained for when they see her clawed hands. They shy away from this, but what they see when she pulls back the hood causes them to flee screaming into the night.

The figure replaces her hood with a sigh, and continues walking. Fortunately, the screams echo through the alleys, and not one single thug harasses her further, which suits her just fine.


Detective Moriyuki returns to the police station later that night, little the wiser from his talks with the families. He collapses into the seat behind his desk with a loud sigh, and puts his feet up.

"What a night, eh?" he asks nobody in particular.

"You have no idea," one of his fellow officers responds. "Got an interesting report."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Apparently, these three thugs came screaming out of the alley like all the forces of hell were after them. Ran into one of our officers and began explaining that 'it' was after them. Seems they were trying to rob some woman in a trench coat, but they got a bit of a surprise when she lowered her hood."

"That ugly?" Moriyuki laughed.

"You have no idea. Well, remember that weird creature from a week ago?"

"Yeah, how could I forget." The detective's feet slip off the desk as he puts two and two together. "You don't mean…"

"Sure do."

"Well, don't that just beat all," Moriyuki chuckles. "The damn thing kills one drug dealer, and all of a sudden every two-bit thug and punk sees it all over the place."

"Hey, any luck in the Nonaka case?" the officer asks Moriyuki.

"I wish," the detective grumbles. "No more facts than when I started. She didn't have many friends, but she didn't exactly have any enemies either. Nobody knew if she had a lover either."

"Hmm. A bust, then?"

"Well," Moriyuki said, leaning forward. "I wouldn't exactly say that. Now, mind you, I don't have anything solid. But… I'm getting the distinct impression that the two friends know a whole lot more than they're telling, especially that Matsuki kid. I'll have to keep my eye on him…"


Meanwhile, behind the shed that serves as Guilmon's home, a second service is being held for the other life lost that fateful night two weeks ago. Around a small pile of dirt, Takato, Henry and Guilmon pay their last respects to Renamon, the strong and beautiful warrior who tragically took her own life after being forced to end Rika's.

"I don't know how long I can keep this up," Takato says to Henry, head in his hands. "I just can't stand knowing but not being able to say anything. I feel like I'll explode if I don't tell someone."

"I know what you mean," Henry replies, placing his hands over his friend's. "But, really, nothing good would come of saying anything. Hell, I doubt if anybody would even believe us even if we did tell. I… I have trouble believing it myself, and I was there…"

"I suppose you're right," Takato reluctantly agrees, looking up into his friend's eyes. "But, this may never be over. They won't stop trying to find Rika's killer… And her mother…"

"I wish there was another way," Henry replies. "I really do. But, the fact is; there isn't another way. They'll think we're crazy, or even worse, guilty."

"Takato…" Guilmon growls, disrupting the conversation. "There's a Digimon coming…"

"What?" Takato asks dumbly, looking to his partner. "Oh, why now? Come on, I guess we'd better go."


A rush of fog-like particles bursts forth from the ground, spewing high into the air and spreading around the area. For those who know, it signals that another Wild One is about to materialize in the Real World. The Digital Field quickly swallows up a large section of the park downtown, but most who observe it from a distance dismiss it as simple fog.

Normally, nobody would be in such a far-off section of the park, but one figure is there to witness the event, a figure in a long trench coat. She barely flinches as the blast of the final surge passes through the cloud and the Digimon fully bioemerges.

"Well," it says once it is stable. "I didn't expect to find prey so soon."

She looks the newcomer up and down, noting especially its twin bokken, a pair of wooden swords that cut as if they were stronger than steel. Even if it weren't for the Digimon's trademark weapons, she recognizes it easily as a Yasyamon. She sighs loudly. "You're not even worth my time."

Yasyamon seethes as she turns her back on him, and he steps forward threateningly. "What? You dare take me so lightly?"

"The others are more than a match for you." She turns her head to the side to see Takato, Guilmon and Henry rushing onto the scene. "Ahh, here they are now. I must be leaving."

Yasyamon trembles with rage as the figure nonchalantly walks away. "How dare you… How dare you! Double Strike!" Raising his twin bokken above his head, he slices down in a blur, sending twin shockwaves towards the figures retreating back.

"Look out!" Takato cries. His look of panic quickly turns to one of shock, as the attack passes through the empty air where the figure had been. Everything seems to move in slow motion to Takato as the figure deftly flips backwards, avoiding the attacks and landing behind Yasyamon.

Shocked by the sudden movement, the armored Champion brings up one sword and attempts a spinning slash to the figure's neck. One of the figure's hands, however, catches the turning arm, while the other punches easily through Yasyamon's chest.

Yasyamon's mouth opens, but no sound comes out as his body dissolves back into the data that had formed it. The data quickly dissipates as if it had never actually been there, leaving nothing but the figure.

"Who…" Takato begins, but his mind flashes to the display of acrobatics that the figure had displayed. "No, what are you?"

The figure turns her head to regard Takato, but he only catches shadowy glimpses of what's under the hood. "I am nothing," the figure answers simply before leaping back into the night, denying any attempt to discover its identity.

"Damn," Takato curses. "Did you manage to see anything, Henry?"

"No," the blue-haired boy responds. "But… it almost feels like I know whoever it was…"


Quite some distance away, the figure in the trench coat crouches in an alley, examining the clawed hand she used to defeat the Yasyamon. "Damn it all," she curses softly, flexing her hand into a fist. "I have to be more careful. If they find out who I am, things would only get worse. And that…" she says, trailing off as she stands up, "that… is what I hate the most!"

With a cry of rage, she punches the solid brick of the nearby building, reducing a section of the wall to small chunks and a small cloud of dust. Her fist still amidst the broken bricks, she leans forward, breathing heavily, eyes wide and wild.

"You must not give in to your anger, child," a voice admonishes, causing the figure to whirl around. "It is the surest path towards darkness."

Shocked that she did not detect anybody's approach, the figure collects itself and is just about to flee back into the night when she gets her first good look at just who is coming. He is man, tall and slender, cloaked in a long, dark coat, with a face almost more suited for a hunting dog than a human being. Even so, his appearance would be nothing spectacular, were it not for the fact that the falling rain does not touch him.

"M-my lord!" the figure says quickly, dropping to one knee out of reverence. "Forgive me."

"Rise," the man commands firmly. "I have no need for such gestures, nor do they suit one such as you."

The figure rises quickly, but still keeps her face pointed to the ground. "You have come to check on me?"

"As you say," he answers, inclining his head slightly. "I can not say as I am pleased."

"My lord?"

"You are too attached to your old world. Bear in mind that, no matter what comes of all this, it is forever behind you."

"I… I know that," the figure says softly. "But, seeing them all again… and not letting them see me… It just… I-it… it hurts!" She squeezes her eyes shut trying to keep her tears in, but they begin to slip past her defenses.

The man silently slips forward, drawing the figure into a comforting embrace, arms and coat folding around her body. Hot tears run down her cheeks, the only moisture touching the man's shoulder.

"I can feel your anguish, my child," the man says softly. "But the harsh truth is that you must bear it… For the sake of both of your souls…"