Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of the associated franchises. I am just using them to entertain the masses with a good story. I only own the characters, plot, and other story elements that I had to create.

Chapter 8

A Gift From the Heart

Seiko's hunch was right, Rika's mother, Mukino, was waiting for them when they came home. Seiko walked up to her famous daughter and said, "Hello dear, it is nice to have you home."

Mukino nodded her head and said, "It is so good to be back, that plane trip was murder. The actual trip wasn't all that bad though, I got some new dresses for Rika to try. By the way, where is Rika?"

Seiko smiled weakly as she said, "Oh, I just took her out for a bit of last minute shopping. We really ran that mall over. She is just a bit tired. I think she has gone to her room to take a nap. Why don't we wait for her to wake up? You can tell me all about your trip while we wait."

Mukino looked at her mother closely, wondering why she was acting so strangely. She then brushed it of as nothing and said, "No thanks mom, I actually have to run to the photo studio for a last minute shoot. A models work is never done." With that Mukino grabbed her car keys off the end table, grabbed her jacket and was out the door. Seiko sighed as he watched her daughter's car pull away from the curb. She walked down the open air patio, heading for the guest bedroom.

The bedroom was next door to Rika's, but it was never used. When she opened the door Renamon was just laying Roy down on the futon that had a thin layer of dust on it. Mukino walked forward and knelt down by Roy. She turned to Renamon and said, "Go get a pair of pants and a shirt out of the closet in my room. They used to belong to Rika's father, but they should fit. I need to get him out of these bloodied clothes." Renamon nodded her head and disappeared while Mukino began to peal of Roy's shirt.

Roy's body was still very cold from his run from the Hypnos building to the mall. There were many small cuts and scratches across his chest, and the nasty gash on his shoulder was covered with burnt blood. Renamon appeared a few seconds later with the robe and a bucket of hot water with a rag. Seiko thanked Renamon and took the clothes from her while Renamon used the rag and hot water to clean off the wounds. While Renamon tended to Roy's chest wounds Seiko undid his pants and gently pulled them off with out displacing the blanket that covered Roy's lower half. Seiko had a feeling Roy would be less embraced about her doing it then Renamon. Seiko gently lifted up the covers and smiled as she saw there didn't seem to be any wounds on Roy's legs. The only thing was that his left leg look like it had swelled up a lot, and Seiko gently pushed it with a finger. Roy cringed with a bit of pain and then went back to his deep sleep. Seiko was sure of it now. At the very least Roy had a few fractures in his bone. At the worst the leg was broken.

Seiko helped Renamon bandage a few of the wounds, and then strap a few stiff sticks to Roy's leg to help it heal. When they were done Seiko checked the clock and saw it was almost 4:00 in the afternoon. She stood up and said, "Renamon, I have to go start getting dinner ready. Can you finish bandaging his shoulder?"

Renamon nodded her head and said, "Sure, go ahead Seiko." Seiko nodded a bit and left the room to start making dinner. Renamon continued to clean the last bit of burnt blood from Roy's shoulder. She knew that unless they got that burnt flesh out of the way, the wound wouldn't be able to heal. She sighed, and then disappeared for a second. When she came back she had a very small knife. She then gently began to cut a peal away the burnt skin.

While Renamon worked she began to hum the lullaby she had made up only a few nights ago. Suddenly, Renamon' hand slipped a bit and she cut deeper then she wanted to. The slight increase of pain made Roy groan a bit and open his eyes. He looked around the room, trying to figure out where he was. He then saw Renamon sitting beside him. He tried to sit up, but soon laid back down from the constant pain in his back. Renamon smiled as she said, "It's good to see you're awake, though this would have been easier on you if you were asleep."

Roy cringed a bit as Renamon continued the delicate work of cutting the burnt flesh away. Roy grunted a bit before he said, "What are you doing?"

Renamon kept her eyes on her work as she said, "I am cutting away the burnt flesh. This wound won't be able to heal unless we clear it away."

Roy looked up at the ceiling as he said, "I guess that makes sense, though it doesn't make it hurt any less. Still, thank you for helping me."

Renamon shook her head as she said, "Don't mention it. So, how come you are free that control program."

Roy chuckled a bit as he said, "I think it was that little ball of your data. After you left I decided to take a chance and I ate it. The next day Yamachi made me create that digimon who I was fighting with in the mall. After I was finished he ordered that digimon to destroy me, but in doing so he activated a part of the control program that little ball of data must have altered. When he attacked me something the program called self preservation protocols kicked in. It went through three different options, and when the situation didn't fit any of the three options it uninstalled itself, and freed me."

Renamon nodded as she finished with one side of the wound and began on the other as she said, "Well, I am glad to hear that you are free of that program. I'll say you make a better friend then an enemy."

Roy grunted a bit a Renamon pulled away a piece of burnt flesh. He then chuckled and said, "Is that the only reason you are happy to see me free of that control program."

Renamon stopped a bit and looked at Roy's face before she shook her head and continued her work. She cut the last piece of burnt flesh away as she said, "There are other reasons, but I think it's time you got some sleep and let these wounds heal." Renamon gathered up all the medical supplies and shifted into the shadows. Roy looked up at the ceiling. He had to admit. Now that Renamon was done cutting the burnt flesh away, his shoulder felt a bit better. Roy stretched a second, wondering why his tail bone hurt so much. He then assumed he had hurt it in the fight with Night Sword, and let himself fall back to sleep.

Outside the room Rika and Seiko were starting to set their dinner on the table when Mukino, Rika's mother, came home from her last minute photo shoot. Before they all sat down for dinner Seiko whispered to Rika that Mukino needed to know about Renamon.

Rika wasn't sure how Mukino would take it, but she agreed with her grandmother. Mukino was setting out some plates when Rika came up behind her and said, "Mom, I need to tell you something."

Mukino turned around with a kind smile as she said, "What is it dear."

Rika paused a second, and then was able to mumble out, "Well…:

Mukino suddenly got a worried look on her face. She didn't like the way Rika was acting. She suddenly got down to Rika's level and said, "Rika, what is it. Is someone mistreating you, have you been taken advantage of."

Rika stepped back, shocked her mother would think something like that, but she quickly cleared her head and said, "Don't worry, its nothing like that."

Mukino let out a relieved sigh and then said, "Well then, what is it Rika?"

Rika choked on her words a second before she said, "Well, you know how I have been disappearing on occasion and coming back. Well, I have been getting into fights, and not fights like you would expect. You see, a few weeks ago I got this thing." Rika held up her digivice as she said, "It makes me a digimon tamer. I have been fighting digimon that have appeared in this world."

Mukino had her hand up to her mouth. She was shaking as she said, "Rika, is this what you want to tell me. That you have been purposefully putting yourself in danger to get some kicks."

Rika stepped back as she spat in anger, "Of course not. I am doing it because I am trying to become the best digimon tamer ever, and to do that Renamon has to fight other digimon. That was my reason at first, but now it is to stop those same creatures from hurting innocent people."

Mukino was beginning to get annoyed as she said, "So, what exactly do you want to tell me about?"

Rika grunted a bit as she called out, "Renamon". In an instant Renamon appeared from the shadows into the room. Mukino turned to her and stood up as she looked over Renamon. She began to back up in fear as she said, "It's a kitsune." Then, while she was backing away from Renamon she tripped over her own two feet and fell backward. She then began to slide away from Renamon when she bumped into something. She looked up and saw her mother, Seiko, standing over her smiling as she said, "Come on dear. Get of the floor before you ruin that nice dress." Mukino got up and continued to look at Renamon with a worried look on her face as she said, "Mother, why aren't you afraid of that thing. You were the one who told me all those stories about what Kitsunes do to people."

Seiko nodded her head as she said, "Yes, but this is also the creature that saved your daughters life that day at the bank, and her name is Renamon."

Mukino looked at her mother as she said, "How can you be sure she isn't just trying to get close to you, me, or Rika."

Seiko shrugged her shoulders as she said, "I have no evidence to prove it, but she has been Rika's silent guardian for several weeks now. I have also gotten to know Renamon, and I personally think she has no intention of hurting anybody that doesn't pose a threat to Rika or herself."

Mukino looked at Renamon for a second, before she straightened up, walked up to Renamon, and help out her hand as she said, "Hello, I am Mukino Nonaka."

Renamon nodded and smiled a bit as she took Mukino's hand. As she shook it she said, "It is a pleasure to finally be introduced to you Mrs. Nonaka."

Mukino smiled as she lowered her hand and said, "You can call me Mukino, I am guessing that you have been Rika's friend long enough that it would be alright."

Renamon bowed slight, showing her respect to Mukino. Rika smiled, happy that Renamon could now have a bit more freedom about the house. Seiko was smiling to, happy that her daughter had made the right decision about Renamon. Seiko then cleared her throat as she said, "Now, let's start eating. Here we are talking while dinner is getting cold." Mukino nodded her head and started walking toward the kitchen to grab one more place setting for Renamon while Seiko and Rika sat down. Renamon waited for Mukino to return before she took a seat and the four ladies at their first of many dinners together.

After they were finished eating Mukino took Renamon into the living room, hoping to learn a little more about her daughter's guardian. Rika took her present she had purchased at the antique shop and the necklace her grandmother bought to wrap them in up in some wrapping paper so they could be put under the tree. It was tradition for the Nonaka family to put the tree up the Christmas Eve, and then let it stay until the 27th when they would take it down. While all this was going on, Seiko took a plate full of food down to Roy.

When she came in Roy was sitting up, rubbing the wound on his left shoulder. He smiled when she came in and said, "Thank the heavens, I'm starving." Seiko smiled as she handed the plate and eating utensils to Roy. He thanked her again and began to enjoy the warm meal. While he ate Seiko looked at his chest, and noticed most of the wounds that were there earlier were healed. She then shrugged it off, remembering that he had healed from a gun shot wound in three days.

Roy noticed Seiko was staring at him while he ate, and after swallowing his mouth full he said, "Can I ask what is so interesting?"

Seiko smiled weakly as she said, "Sorry, I was just noticing how fast your chest healed up."

Roy looked down and nodded his head as he said, "I guess your right." Roy then shrugged his shoulders and continued his meal. Seiko smiled as Roy finished the last of the dinner and complimented her on a very delicious meal. He stretched as he asked, "What was the date again."

Seiko stood up as she said, "It's the 23rd, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve."

Roy rubbed his shoulder as he said, "Really, it's that close to Christmas. This whole thing with the control program has made hour feel like a month."

Seiko smiled as she said, "Well, at least you can rest easy now."

Roy nodded his head, and watched as Seiko opened the door. Suddenly, he got an idea he couldn't resist and he called after Seiko as he said, "Seiko, do you guys have any fire wood, or something like that."

Seiko thought for a second before she said, "We use to have a wood stove before my daughter put in an electric furnace. I think there are still a few logs beside the house."

Roy smiled as he said, "Could I bother you to bring me one of those logs and a knife of some sorts."

Seiko smiled as she said, "Of course, I'll have Renamon bring my old camping pocket knife and one of the logs when she is done talking to Mukino, my daughter."

Roy nodded his head as he said, "Thank you Seiko, I owe you one."

Seiko nodded as she closed the door behind her. Roy laid back on his pillow and continued to rub his shoulder. The rest of his body was fine. The only things that were bothering him was the pain in his tailbone, his shoulder, and the fact his legs felt numb. He could still move his toes, so that meant he wasn't paralyzed. Roy just guessed it was some thing that happened during his fight with Night Sword.

It was around 8:00 when Roy heard a knock on the door and Renamon came in. She was carrying a log about the size of her head and a green pocket knife. Roy sat up when she came in and said, "Well, I guess things went well with Rika's mother."

Renamon nodded her head as she handed Roy the wood and the knife. She was about to leave when her curiosity got the better of her and she asked, "I am sorry, but are you going to do with a piece of wood and a knife?"

Roy smiled as he said, "I was going to carve it into something, but what I will carve it into is a mystery. I just start carving and my hands kind of guide themselves."

Renamon shook her head at the slightly corny comment and Roy gave Renamon a questioning look as he said, "Hey, don't knock it until you see my work. After I'm done, I will accept any and all criticism, but none before."

Renamon smiled slightly as she said, "Very well, but don't stay up to late. I want to change your bandages tomorrow morning, and I tend to wake up pretty early."

Roy chuckled as he said, "Trust me. You could do it while I am asleep and I probably wouldn't notice. I mean, I was ready to sleep through your quick little burn surgery."

Renamon nodded her head and said, "Ah, but if I hadn't waken you up, we wouldn't of had that nice little chat."

Roy crossed his arms as he said, "You mean like the one we are having right now."

Renamon nodded her head and said, "Yes, but now it is time you got some rest. Rome wasn't built in a day, and you're lucky you are such a fast healer."

Roy shrugged his arms in defeat and bid Renamon good night before she left the room. Roy checked the clock on the wall and saw it was about 8:15. He picked the log of wood up and the knife and began to carve. When he started, he was taking very large chunks of wood off until he got down to a block of wood that was a little over 8 inches high and a base of 5 inches by 5 inches. It was 8:45 when he began to actual carve a figure out of the wood. He continued to carve until around 11:00 at night. He smiled as he set the new carving. He was glad he had finished it. He did his best to collect all the small shavings of wood and the saw dust that had accumulated on the blanket. He then pulled the small trash bin over and dumped all the carvings by products into the bin. He stretched as he rubbed his legs. As he was carving his legs had gone from feeling numb to feeling utterly strange, and he didn't know why. He scratched them through the blanket that had been their since he had first woken up, and then decided to go to sleep.

In the morning, the snow storm had calmed down quite a bit. It had changed from a terrible blizzard to a gentle snow fall, which was just enough to keep the current blanket of snow over the city fresh. Renamon was up at 5:00 that morning. Like most days, she was easily the first one up, and after doing her usual morning stretches and her lap around the neighboring area, she stopped in on Roy. He was still sound a sleep when she came in. Renamon silently shut the door, and walked over to where Roy was laying. She had some fresh bandages and medicine with her, and she set them down on the wooden floor without making the slightest noise. Renamon smiled when she saw Roy sleeping there. She had to admit, this guy was kind of handsome. She quickly stopped that train of though and began to change the bandage. As she unwrapped the current bandage with the softest of touch she could, looked at Roy's face. He was sleeping soundly, as if there wasn't a wound to hurt. Renamon paused from her mission enough to brush a few strands of hair off of Roy's face. She then continued to un-wrap the bandages, but kept her eyes on Roy's head. She felt the last of the bandage slip off, and she smiled as Roy had yet to even cringe while she was changing the bandages out. She then looked at the exposed shoulder for the first time, and was a bit surprised. The wound was gone, and there wasn't even a scar.

Wondering what the heck was going on she slid around the futon to Roy's left leg. Seiko had said that Roy's left leg had been terribly swollen. Renamon gently folded back the futon enough to see just Roy's left leg, and she gently prodded it with her paw. It felt completely normal, like it had never been hurt. Renamon shook her head, humans weren't supposed to heal this fast. Even Roy, who seemed to have an accelerated healing rate, would need at least a week before he could put any weigh on the bad leg, but here it had healed in a day. Renamon was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Roy stir and sit up. He yawned and then noticed Renamon sitting there examining his leg. He smiled as he waited for Renamon to realize he had woken up.

Renamon was so lost in thought, that she hadn't noticed Roy sit up. Finally, it took Roy moving his toes a bit before Renamon looked up toward the top of the futon and saw Roy sitting their, watching her, with a smile on his face. Renamon sat perfectly still, wondering what Roy would do. After a few moments of quite he shook his head and asked, "What are you doing anyway?"

Renamon began to rub the back of her head as she said, "Well, I was checking your shoulder and if you'll notice, the wound is gone."

Roy turned his head and looked at his shoulder, and Renamon was right. The wound was gone. Even if it was there should have been some scaring, but there wasn't a single sign that the wound was ever there. He then looked at Renamon and asked, "That still doesn't explain why you were poking me in the leg."

Renamon was beginning to blush, embarrassed she had been caught in a situation like this, but she kept her composure as she said, "Seiko said that your leg was terribly swollen yesterday, and I decided to see if it had healed like your shoulder. It has."

Roy smiled and chuckled as he said, "Relax Renamon, its all right. I understand you were just curious. I can understand, but could you cover my leg back up. It is kind of cold this morning."

Renamon nodded her head and replaced the blanket as she said, "I wasn't curious."

Roy raised an eyebrow as he said, "Then what made you look?"

Renamon turned to him and said, "Well, I was just a little worried, but I guess I was worried about nothing." Renamon stood up and grabbed the medical supplies as she headed toward the door. As Renamon walked away Roy remembered the carving and reached under his pillow. He pulled out the small wooden statue and then said, "Renamon, wait a second."

Renamon turned and saw that Roy was holding something behind his back. He smiled as he said, "Today is Christmas Eve, isn't it?"

Renamon nodded her head and said, "Yeah."

Roy continued to smile as he said, "Well, come here and close your eyes." Renamon rolled her eyes, but decided that there was no harm in it. She walked over, knelt down beside Roy, and closed her eyes. While here eyes were closed Roy gently picked up her paw and set the carving into it. He then smiled as he said, "Okay, go ahead and open them."

Renamon did as she was asked, and her first instinct was to look down and see what was in her hand. She was suddenly at a loss for words when she saw what was in her hand. It was a little wood statue or her. It was about 8 inches tall, and stood on round, flat, base. Renamon was amazed, it was a perfect likeness. It wasn't painted, but the light lines that covered it help different parts stand out. She could see the yin & yang symbols on the armguards, the swirls on the legs, and even the eyes in the sockets. The statue was in a standing position, but not a combat stance. It gave the impression that it was walking in safe area. The same way she had began to walk around the house, now that she didn't have to hide. The last detail Renamon noticed that a small smile was gracing the lips of the statue. It wasn't a big grin like someone had when they were laughing. It was just a simple smile, like she was just in a good mood and enjoying the day.

Renamon looked up at Roy and asked, "Did you carve this out of that log I brought you.

Roy was beginning to blush as he nodded his head. Renamon looked back at the wooden figurine, and turned it over in her hands. That is when she noticed something was etched on the bottom of the base. She turned the whole thing upside down to get a good view of it, and read the inscription:

To a dear friend,
You were a beacon of hope in my darkest hour
Thank You,
Roy

It had been inscribed in plane lettering. No fancy cursive or other decorations to make it look special. It was just that message, but Renamon was still touched by it. Renamon felt her eyes watering up. She didn't know why, but she didn't brush them away. She turned to Roy whose face was a solid shade of red. Renamon shook her head as she said, "Thank You."

Roy just shrugged as he said, "Just consider it an early Christmas present."

Renamon could tell he was just using that as an excuse, but she didn't care. She smiled a very heart warming smile before she said, "No, this is very special Roy. Thank you."

Roy's face was getting a deeper shade of red by the second. He rubbed the back of his neck as he said, "Well, you're welcome Renamon. I am glad you like it."

Renamon slid closer to Roy, who was looking away from her, trying to hide his red face. He suddenly felt her hand on his shoulder and he turned his head and looked straight at her. Renamon just continued to smile as she leaned in, ever so slowly, and planted one quick kiss on Roy's lips. Roy was, once again, stiff as a stone. Renamon got up, carrying the figuring gently in her right hand, and left the room. It wasn't until ten minutes after Renamon left did Roy finally break out of his mental freeze. She had done it again, and this time it was on the lips. He turned and looked at the door and felt a smile cross his face as he said to himself, "My god, she must be an angle. For nothing on this mortal world could be so beautiful, strong, and could have captured my heart so easily." Roy just smiled as he checked the clock and saw it was 6:00. He suddenly felt really sleepy, and he drifted back off to sleep.

Renamon walked down the patio, and was going to go into Rika's room when she decided she wanted to get a little drink of water. She continued to walk down the covered patio until she reached the kitchen/dinning room. She set the little figurine down on a bookcase that was beside the door and got a little water from the sink. She was there and gone in a few seconds, the only sign that she had been there was a glass in the sink and the little wooden statue that remained on the edge of the bookcase.