Takato was going to spend the night at Henry's house. He was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. Henry went out to the living room. He had just finished saying goodnight to Susie, and was going to get the doll that she had left in the living room. As he walked past the tree, he stepped on something hard. He bent to pick it up.

It was Rika's necklace.

◄♦►

"Hi Grandma, we're home."

"Hello Rika. How was your party?"

"It was…"

"Goodness, Rika, don't make me wait anymore. What's in the bag?" Rika's mother was getting impatient.

"Go on, show us dear," urged Rika's grandma, shooting disapproving glances at her daughter.

"It's the Christmas presents I got from my friends," Rika said, pulling them out one by one and showing them to her mother and grandmother. She pulled out the scrapbook and showed them some pictures, including the little Polaroid shot they had taken at the party. She looked around.

"Where's Henry's gift? It must be in here."

Rika rummaged through the back, but it was empty.

"I must've put it on," she mumbled, feeling around her neck for a chain. Nothing.

"What can't you find, Honey?" asked her mom.

"My Christmas present from Henry, it's gone! I must've dropped it!"

"What was it?"

"Sort of a necklace."

"What do you mean, sort of?"

"It was my old dog tags."

"Oh…" her mother stormed away.

"I think she was hoping for diamonds when you said 'necklace,'" her grandma whispered. "Why did he give you your dog tags?"

"He had fixed them up, put them on a new chain, had them made into an inscribed locket," Rika explained. "He had put and lot of time and thought into my gift, and I lost it before I got home. This is awful."

"Don't' worry dear, we'll go look for them in the morning. Now get some sleep."

"Alright. Goodnight, Grandma."

Rika walked into her room, yawning, but once the door shut, she got down to business. Changing her clothes, she grabbed a jacket and called for Renamon. Together they ran through the garden and disappeared into the night.

◄♦►

"Hey Takato?"

"What is it, Henry?"

"Um, I have a confession."

"Yes, what is it?"

"You see, it was my idea to get you and Jeri underneath the mistletoe. It wasn't an accident that Jeri went under."

"You mean that you asked her to do it? It really wasn't an accident?"

"Um-hmm."

"She went under on purpose?"

"Yeah."

"She agreed to it?"

"Yes, already! You're really mad now, aren't you Takato. Takato?"

Takato was looking at the wall, shaking.

"Whoa, are you okay?"

Henry scrambled around to look at him. He wasn't mad…

He was laughing!

"What's so funny? I don't see what's so humorous, Takato."

"This is great!" Takato burst out.

"Wh-ha-hat?"

"She agreed, she did it on purpose, it wasn't an accident! Haha!" Takato leaped up and jumped around the room. Henry grinned as he watched his friend rejoice.

"I'm glad to see you're taking this so well, but…seriously, Takato, would you stop jumping around! I'm trying to tell you something!"

Takato stopped and turned. "Then tell!"

"It's, well, I have to confess that I was a little selfish. I know that you like Jeri and Rika, but I didn't want Rika to do it, because, because…"

"Because you like Rika," Takato finished. "I know, I know. Don't try to deny it Henry."

"But, how…?"

"Ah, ah, ah, that would be telling!"

◄♦►

"Anything yet, Rika?"

"No, how about you?"

"Nothing."

"Let's split up and keep searching."

"Alright. I'll see you soon."

Renamon zipped away into the darkness. Rika bent to search again. She tried to suppress waves of guilt and fear. She had broken her promise to Henry, she had sent Renamon out alone, and she was unprotected. Icedevimon could come for her. Maybe she should call Renamon back. No, she had faced him down before, she could do it again. Besides, she wouldn't want any of her friends getting hurt again. Resolutely, she kept searching. She knew that he was coming. Still, she didn't panic, not even when cold hands were laid upon her shoulders…