Ch. 11

"You know," Takato said quietly to Jeri as they walked through the trees bordering the colorless beach. "They've been gone a long time, almost an hour. Don't you think we should go look for them"

His girlfriend shook her head gently"I've found that with these things, it's always best to let people come back to you. That way, it's their choice and it just works to our favor" her dark brown eyes closed. Breathing deeply, the only scent in that dark world reached her nose, burning charcoal.

"Hey, what's that burning smell" Takato asked, looking at Jeri to see if she'd noticed it too. The pair turned their course back towards the beach, aiming for the place where they'd left Kenta and Suzi. The pair were soon in sight, a small flame dancing in front of them. Squeals of surprise and hurt floated from them.

"Kenta! Suzi" Takato shouted, wondering what on earth was going on.

"What" Kenta called back, he sounded more peeved then anything else.

As Jeri and Takato came up to them, they were washed over with a wave of smoke and sparks. "What th"

"We tried to cook some fish we found." Suzi answered flatly, effectively cutting short any questions. "our little genius here managed to incinerate it." Jeri somehow kept a straight face for about ten seconds before collapsing to the sand and roaring with laughter. Suzi being cynical, who wouldn't find that at least a little funny"Well at least someone thinks it's amusing." The small girl grumped. Her gaze flicked over her friends, her brother wasn't with them.

Takato noticed and supplied an answer. "He hasn't come back yet, but don't worry. Anyways, I can barely breathe here, lets go wait for the others out of this smoke"

-

Henry had been wandering aimlessly since the incident with Rika and Takato, when he heard the sounds of laughter floating on the .breeze He followed the elusive sound, only to find Rika and Ryo on the beach. Ryo was sitting with Rika wrapped in his arms on his lap, laughing at things.

"Hey! Remember when Kazu ate so many cinnamon buns he had to stay home from school the next day because he was sick? I'll never forget the look on his face the next time Takato offered him one of those" He laughed, it was so nice that Rika had finally relaxed, even nicer that she had agreed to go camping with him on File Island next time he went.

"Oh, what about when Takato got his head stuck in the banister rails at your place. That was priceless" Rika smiled at the thought.

Henry leaned on a nearby tree for support, none of the memories have me… kind of… an unpleasant realization… he said something about Ryo… no, I knew about Ryo, how he felt… but this was my fantasy, my dream… I knew her long before he did… he can't know anything… not about her… He closed his eyes, trying to place himself where Ryo was. Rika laughing, over something stupid one of the others had done. Her weight against him, her hair was down, a little tangled, soft on his chin. The image was abruptly shattered when Ryo laughed so hard he almost choked.

"Oh man, I remember that! I though he was going to spontaneously combust he was so mad!"

That should be me… Henry though, she chose him though… him… he smirked, feeling his throat close. Funny how it all works, isn't it…? A detached smile came to his face; he wanted to laugh at his situation, it seemed so wrong to want to laugh when he hurt so much. He turned away from the couple on the beach, wandering dazedly past the odd stone carvings and through the dead-feeling trees. He didn't know where he was going, he just… went…

It wasn't until he found himself near the entrance to the cave he began to come back to himself. He could feel the hostility around him, it was thicker then molasses, it scared him. He was beginning to wish he had Terriermon with him, a lot.

-

A half hour or so later, Henry had found who he'd been looking most worried about finding, exactly who/what he was not looking for.

"What is this? The green Tamer? You're awfully alone, aren't you…?" The voice kept changing directions, it was behind him, in front of him, whispering in his ear, calling from behind the grey mist that had settled over the forest.

Henry spun around, keeping his weight forward, ready to run. "Why don't you come out?" He cried, head turning, eyes flicking, where are you… "Afraid for some reason?"

The black creature slid out from the mist behind the boy, not making a sound until hardly a foot behind him. "Afraid…?"

Henry whipped around, oh shit… he cleared his throat nervously, his breathing erratic and shallow. "You're the one… who are you… ?"

The sleek, matte-black creature twisted its lips up into a disturbing smile. "Do you want a name, or a background search" This creature, this being that wasn't quite a digimon or an animal, watched Henry's grey eyes as the boy tried to think straight. We're similar, this green Tamer and I, he could be an excellent ally, now that Landersmon has been taken care of. "Amazing, isn't it? How you found me."

Henry felt like he'd been sucker-punched, I came looking for him? I think not! This creature is what killed Kazu! He glared, it wasn't all that large, maybe a few inches taller then him when it stood on it's hind-paws; and yet… he was curious. "What do you mean?"

"I've taken to calling myself Tueno, and you found me through your emotions, I am empathetic, you called me to you through your discontentment. You found me." The pair stared, the only flare of colour Henry's washed-looking orange vest. Tueno spoke again: "So, what is it you came and found me for, green Tamer? We are similar, and there is something very, very wrong with you."

The boy looked down at his shoes, studying the laces. "Why would you help me? You are responsible for all of this… this death, this destruction, you are my enemy."

Tueno grinned. "You do no believe digimon are tools, you see them as… companions. They are merely… pets, servants." It raised its nose, looking down at the boy before it. "I want this all fixed, I am here to fix it. There will be no servitude, no partnerships, no domination. That silver Tamer, the one you direct your anger at now, I want him. You can help me do that, and it will benefit you."

Henry's features softened, thinking. Ryo… domination… it's talking about Cyberdramon, with the whip… "What would you be doing with him, once you had him?" Do I want Ryo gone that much? Rika… what if it hurt Rika…? What am I doing…? I can't… think… straight…

Tueno grinned, knowing it already had the Tamer under its paw. "That, is my business."

-

Rika had closed her eyes, leaning back on Ryo, her head tucked under his chin, just resting. She couldn't remember having felt quite that content for a long time. No, she could, when her father had pulled her into his lap before bed every night and read her a book, or told her a story. There's something comforting about males, she thought to herself, they're such a contrast to females, deeper, warmer, it's… hard to justify. She made a little sound, almost like a sigh.

Ryo smiled, looking down at her face, she is very pretty, he ran a hand through her hair, despite the abuse it had received over the last two days, it was still soft. The black light from the lighthouse flashed over them again. "We should probably head back Rika." He said softly.

She made a more miffed sounding sigh, snuggling a little closer to him. That was… out of character…

That was cute, Ryo smiled. "Wake up… come on, they've got to think you've killed me by now."

"Mmf." Rika mumbled, she ran her hand over her eyes, trying to wake herself up. Once functioning at least basically, she looked around. "Odd, how the lighting here stays the same no matter what time of day it is."

Ryo nodded, standing up and puling her to her feet beside him. "True, it is an odd world." Rika began pulling her red hair back into its normal spiky ponytail, only to have Ryo interrupt her. "Your hair looks good down, you know."

A crooked smile touched her lips. "Eh heh," her hands kept pulling the stray pieces back from her face. "That a hint?"

Just as she went to pull the elastic off her wrist, Ryo caught it and spun her into him. "Maybe…" He grinned impishly.

She rolled her eyes at him, letting the hair fall back around her shoulders. "I see…" She nudged the edge of his jaw with the bridge of her nose. "C'mon, the other's are probably looking for us."

-

s/k: oh! Look who did it again! I updated! In any case, no, the fic is not done, it was deleted in a re-posting accident, so the actual writing is done (the painfully bad, very confusing original) and it is being re-posted bit by bit, once it's been edited and added to, etc.
Now, we've reached the half way point! Not sure if that's good or bad, or just a random piece of information… but we have. Thanks to my reviewers! It makes me fuzzy on the inside… like I just swallowed a bunny rabbit. XD