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 10

An Interesting Christmas Eve

The ambulance dropped Rika, Seiko, and Mukino off at the house. It was barley 4:00 when they walked through the front gate. Seiko lead Rika inside Mukino waited by the gate for Renamon. She came leaping over the top of the fence and landed beside Mukino. Mukino and Renamon walked silently up to the house and into the living room where Seiko and Rika were sitting on the couch.

Thanks to Roy, Rika didn't need to go to the hospital. The ambulance staff was able to prevent any effects that might have been brought about by the freezing water, except one. Rika was rolled up in the heaviest blanket Seiko could find, and she was still shivering. Though her body temperature was in a safe range, the ambulance driver said that she would need another hour to get completely warmed up. Seiko looked at Rika, who turned and gave her a weak smile. Seiko returned the smile, just thankful that Rika was alive, and well. She looked up as Mukino and Renamon entered the room. Mukino took Seiko's place as she stood up to make some nice hot soup for dinner. Renamon took a seat by Rika and said, "Are you feeling alright Rika?"

Rika shivered hard before she said, "I am freezing, but I suppose it could be worse."

Renamon nodded her head as she said, "I'm just glad Roy was able to save you. If he hadn't been there, you might be in the hospital right now."

Rika nodded as she pulled the blanket tighter around her body. A few minutes later Seiko came into the living room carrying a few bowls of soup. It was just simple chicken noodle soup from a can, but Rika enjoyed the warmth she got when it went down her throat. The four of them ate in silence until Mukino looked up at the clock and saw it was 4:45. She turned to Seiko and asked, "Where is Roy? He disappeared before we left the park."

Renamon looked up from her soup as she said, "I saw him walking down the street, heading for the house as I rode on the roof of the ambulance. He should be here by now."

Mukino nodded as she said, "Your right, it wasn't that long of walk from here to there. I wonder where he is."

Seiko had been looking out the window when she said, "I don't think we have to worry. There is a light on in the guest room, and I saw Roy stick his head out to catch a peak at use before disappearing back inside.

Mukino smiled as she said, "Well, I am glad he is alright. We have to remember that he was in that water to, even if it wasn't for very long."

Renamon nodded as she turned her head to look out the nearby window. She could see a shadow pacing against the wall of the rooms. She wondered what was making Roy pace like that, but she then turned back to her soup and decided it could wait until she was done eating.

Inside the room, Roy was wearing a hole in the floor with his constant pacing. The events of only an hour earlier were replaying in his head. He had been in that freezing water, and had been trying to swim down fast enough to grab a hold of Rika and pull her back to the surface. He was beginning to catch up on her, but the freezing temperatures had begun to take their toll. Had been slowing down, and he was losing the feeling in his arms and legs. He could feel his heart beat in his head, it was slowing down. Finally, it skipped a beat. In that time, something began to surge through his body, a warm series of waves that originated from almost every cell of his body. The beat of the waves began to get in tune with his heart beat as it began to beat with a renewed vigor. That is when he heard the ripping sound. A pain surged for a mere moment at the base of his spine, and then it was gone. He began to have a better feeling for the water around his legs, like it was running through the hair on his head. Finally, as the surging waves of energy began to die, his kick felt different. He suddenly had more power, but his legs seemed to be bending at new, unnatural angles.

He scratched his head as he sat down on the futon and let his legs rest straight out in front of him. He had returned to the house a few minutes after the ambulance, and had come straight to the guest room. His first action was to make sure his newest appendage, his sapphire blue tail, was real. He proved that quickly by taking it firmly in his hand and giving it a yank. He soon regretted the action because it almost made him cry out in pain. Roy thought that was the extent of what had happened until he went to change into some warm clothes. He had already changed his shirt and had mindlessly taken his pants and boxers off with out looking down. He was walking by the body mirror in the room when he noticed the mass of blue. He thought it was his tail until he had tried to put on the new pair of pants. He looked down to make putting them on easier, and then saw that the tail wasn't the only thing that had become different. He dropped the pants and his eyes widened as he saw everything from his waist down was covered in a short thick fur. From his waist to his right below his knee caps was the dark sapphire blue that was on his tail and from below the knee caps down to his feet was snow white fur.

This wasn't the biggest surprise as he looked down at his feet. He looked at them now as he sat on the futon, his new tail swishing behind him as he thought. His feet had become paws, and they were exactly like Renamon's if only a little bigger. His legs were also built different now. He now walked on the balls of his feet, and his legs had a similar structure to that of a fox, a dog, or of Renamon's. He laid back on the futon, and tried to discern the cause of this change. He closed his eyes, and began to think about everything strange that had happened to him recently. It was a long list, but it had to be one of the things on the list.

As he ran down each item on the list he gave each on a considered amount of thought. Some were impossible, some were improbable, and others were highly probable, but not one of them really stuck out in his mind as the likely cause. He stood up again and began to pace the room, hoping the movement would help relieve some of this anxious energy. As he walked the bottom of his tail swung back and forth gently. Roy's thoughts kept breaking away and going to the annoying feeling of that tail moving as he walked. He knew he would either get rid of the blasted thing, or get used to it. Either or, he would have to deal with the annoyance until later.

Roy had just finished going through the list when the clock struck 5:30. He flopped down on the futon in aggravation, and felt his tail began to move back and forth, a sure fired sign he was in no mood to be bothered. He had to have missed something. Some little item, one candle in the black abyss that would show him the cause of all this. As he sat there, he began to think back to Hypnos, but this couldn't be Yamachi's doing. He had said he wouldn't be able to control a digimon, and Roy could tell that if anything, his lower half was that of a digimon. Then were did it come from.

At that moment, the obvious fact hit Roy like a ton of bricks. The ball of Renamon's data. The one he had eaten in hopes it could free him from Yamachi's grasp. He looked at his lower half, he had noticed it earlier, but the fact truly supported his newest theory. His lower half looked like Renamon's lower half, and it was only different in a few small details. Roy rubbed his head. Why hadn't he seen it sooner? He had eaten that ball of Renamon's data, and it had altered the Control Program so he would be freed from it, but it had done more. By that time, that raw data Yamachi had pumped into him had been completely integrated into every part of his body. The data from Renamon must have been waiting for a moment when the data that was apart of his body was beginning to fail. The cold water was making his cells shut down, and such the program in the data was beginning to crash. Renamon's data must have reacted to that, and upgraded the program so it could survive the new conditions. To do that, it had to change his physical form to something stronger, and what is stronger then the body of its source data, Renamon's body.

Roy sighed as he buried his head in the futon's pillow. He wished it was all just a bad dream. That he would go to sleep and wake up with his old body back, but he knew better. If yanking on his new tail like that didn't wake him up, a pinch wasn't going to do it. Roy laid there for several minutes, letting his mind adjust to his new body. Roy was about to fall asleep when he heard foot steps coming down the patio. He quickly turned over so he was laying flat on his back, grabbed the top blanket of the futon, and pulled it up to his head. He then made sure his tail wasn't sticking out from underneath the blanket, and waited as the door opened. Seiko came walking in with a smile on her face a small bowl of chicken soup, what was left after she, Mukino, Renamon, and Rika had there fill of it. She walked over and knelt down beside his head as she set the soup on the very short end table, the one perfectly sized for a futon. She then smiled, and he returned it with a weak one.

The pair sat in silence until Seiko stood up. She turned to leave, but before she left she said, "Roy, I just want to thank you. We owe you so much. You have saved the lives of both Rika and Renamon. We could never truly repay you."

Roy's face displayed a feeling of disbelief as Seiko began to leave the room. He didn't even realize what he had done. He had saved Rika from either drowning or freezing to death. He lifted up the blanket and took a look at his new tail. He twitched a bit as he stared at it, and then he tried to move it on his own. He smiled as he used his tail to wave at himself a bit, thankful that he still had full control of his body. He looked up to see Seiko about to close the door when she said, "oh, one more thing. If you feel up to it, you can come join us in the living room. We usually watch a couple Christmas movies to help bring in the Christmas spirit."

Roy looked up at her as he asked, "Really, that does sound like a good way to pass the time. If I feel up to it, I will come and join you ladies." Seiko nodded her head as she closed the door and walked back down the hall to the living room, where Mukino and Rika had already started the first movie. Roy made sure Seiko was gone before he got out from underneath the covers. He could now see the entire extent of what had happened. He was basically cut in half. From the waist down was digimon, and from the waist up was human, what he was born as. Strangely, when Roy looked his lower half, his thoughts were different. A few moments earlier, he had wished none of this had ever happened. Now, it was different. Seiko's few words had opened his eyes. In a few short days he had met four good people. Seiko, a kind old woman who knows exactly what to say. Mukino, a mother who it trying her best and that is all anybody can ask. Rika, an independent girl, who has a good heart under her icy exterior, and finally Renamon. Not a human, but more honorable and kind then most of the people Roy had come across in his life time. She had a way of making you feel safe, even if you don't know she is there. Roy smiled as he thought about the vixen digimon, and when he had first saw her.

She had risked her own life for Rika's, and then he had risked his to save her. Roy shook his head as he looked down at his blue furry legs. In the course of three days he had meet four people who cared about that fact he might be hurt, or something might be wrong. Roy thought about the many potential parents that had passed him by at the orphanage because of one thing or another. His mind then floated to what Seiko had said. He had saved two lives since he first seen Renamon.

Roy stood up and walked over to the mirror. He looked at his reflection and smiled and said in a low tone, "You know what. If this is the price for saving Rika and Renamon's lives, then I accept it." He looked at his image as a simple, but powerful thought began to cross his mind. Even if he had the choice to do it all over again, he would do it again. If having blue furry legs is enough to make sure Rika lives to see another sunrise, it is well worth it, and Renamon. She may be older, but can still see the youthful fire in her eyes, and she deserves to be there with Rika through the good and bad parts of her life. Besides, such beauty would be a shame to waste.

Roy shook his head and put a hand to his head. Where did that come from, and why would it come to him at all. He had to admit, Renamon was beautiful, but why would that pop into his head without any cause. Roy shrugged it off, guessing it was side affect of having his fine new pair of legs. Roy stretched, and looked at the clock. The time was about 6:30, and it had to have been only a few minutes since Seiko left. They couldn't be very far into there Christmas movie marathon. He smiled as he began to imagine there reactions. Roy took one final look into the mirror, and then turned. He walked over to the small dresser drawers and dug through them a bit. Seiko had put some clothes in them, but Roy search through them and found what he was looking for. He pulled out a pair of blue denim shorts that were the perfect size. He guessed that Rika's father had been about the same size as him, but soon disregarded the fact as nothing important. As Roy looked at the shorts, he thought about it a second, and then using the knife he had carved the statue with he cut a whole in the pants for his tail. Roy put the pants on. Having to take extra care to make sure the tail went through the newly created hole. Roy smiled as he looked in the mirror again. Now matter how much he changed, he would not go anywhere with out pants or shorts on, and pants would defeat the purpose of giving the girls one heck of a surprise. He walked toward the door, and gently opened it. He could barely feel the cold air through the fur on his legs as he stepped out onto the porch.

He looked around the open area. The sun was just beginning to disappear behind the skyscrapers of the city, and darkness was just starting to settle in. He loved this time of day. It just seemed so calm, as if the city became as calm as a forest. He then turned and walked down the patio. He was amazed. His new feet weren't making a sound as he walked down the patio. He was to the door that led to the living room before he knew it. He silently peaked in and smiled as he saw the four ladies sitting there.

They had moved the furniture around a bit to make room for five people. They must have been hoping Roy would join them. They way it stood was the TV where it had always been, but in front of it was the couch, and the chair that was usually was just to the right of the couch was gone. In its place was a couch built for two. The three person couch and the two person couch closed the area off a bit, and made the whole scene look so inviting and cozy. Rika, Mukino, and Seiko were sitting on the couch while Renamon was by herself on the couch built for two. Roy chuckled as he remembered that a couch like that was commonly called a love seat because couples like to sit together on couches like that.

Roy sighed, and then soon regretted doing it. Renamon, with her keen ears, had heard the sigh and turned to see him sticking his head around the corner of the door. She smiled slightly as she said, "Well, look who has come to join us."

Rika and Mukino turned and gave Roy some gentle smiles before returning to the movie. Renamon motioned for him to come in, but Roy hung back a second. He sighed again, guessing it was to late now, and he walked out from behind the door. To say the least, Renamon's eyes bulged to twice their size and she sat there in silence as she looked at Roy's new legs and tail. Seiko noticed Renamon was starring at something, and followed her gaze until she saw for herself why she was staring. Rika and Mukino were soon clued into what the big deal was, and the whole group was silent for a few seconds. Seiko was the one who broke the silence saying, "Roy, please tell me those are just very elaborate pants."

Roy shook his head as he moved his tail, and swished it around a bit to prove it was real. Rika was on her feet in a second as she said, "How did this happen?"

Roy tried to sound as unconcerned as he could as he said, "Well, isn't that the million dollar question."

Mukino was staring silently as Rika walked around the couch and got a full look at the changes that had befallen Roy. Rika just stared in disbelief. How could something like this happen? It was impossible. How could a human have the legs of a digimon and not be some Frankenstein monster. Roy was watching the confusion build up in Rika's eyes. He knew he had better say something before Rika, or anybody else began to make the wrong assumptions. He took a breath and walked over to Rika. When he was a bit closer he smiled and said, "Now, don't start thinking to wrong thing. There is no way any of you could have prevented this."

Rika looked up at Roy, who stood a bit taller then the digimon tamer. She then looked away as she said, "How can you be so calm, have you seen your legs, and that tail."

Roy shook his head, knowing Rika was going to blame herself if he didn't say something. He knelt down to her eye level. He then chuckled as he said, "Rika, I know this is no one else's but my own fault for one reason. I made a series of decisions, and if I could I would make them again. For, if I had chosen differently, I would not have had the chance to get to know you, Renamon, Seiko, or Mukino. It started the day at the bank, when I decided to stand up and protect a yellow furry creature that had risked her life for a young girl's. If I hadn't acted, Renamon might have been killed that day. Also, if I had chosen to sit on the edge of the frozen lake while you sank deeper and deeper, you might not be standing here right now. So, again I say it, if I had to the last few days to relive, I would probably live them the same way."

Rika looked at Roy straight in the eyes, and could see no hint of anguish or hate for what had happened. She shook her head as she said, "But how can you justify to yourself that having those furry legs and tail is all right."

Roy put a hand on Rika's shoulder as he said, "It is simple Rika. I gained these new legs of mine by helping you and Renamon, and if I hadn't one or both of you might be dead. So, I think it is an even trade. Your lives for a slight change from my waist down."

Rika looked at Roy's legs another few second before she nodded her head and said, "All right, I guess I have no right to be upset about what ever this is if you can deal with it while keeping a happy look on your face."

Roy nodded as he stood up and said, "Now that's better. Beside, I can already think of one advantage to having a tail."

Rika scoffed a bit as she asked, "Really, what's that?"

Roy grinned a bit as he said, "Why, it's this." Roy then quickly lifted his tail up and with gentle precision he gave Rika a face full of fur. Rika brushed his tail away and laughed a bit as it tickled her chin. Roy nodded as he said, "Now, I thought you were going to watch some movies."

Seiko nodded her head and said, "Why, I do believe your right. We better get to that."

Roy nodded his head as Rika went back to her seat and Roy walked over to the only empty seat, next to Renamon. He looked at her a second before he asked, "My dear Renamon, would that seat be taken."

Renamon shook her head at Roy's unquenchable need to be a bit silly. Renamon finally nodded her head and said, "Nobody is sitting there." Roy smiled as he sat down and gave a reassuring nod to Renamon whose gaze had drifted to his tale. Finally, Seiko got the movie going again, and the five enjoyed the movie as a light snow began to fall again.

The five of them watched two movies over the course of time. One was a Christmas special that was on a normal TV channel. The other was a tape, and the closest thing to a favorite movie Rika had. It was the Nightmare before Christmas. Roy hadn't watched the movie in ages, and was kind of fond of it himself. The movie was about over, the final scene between the main character, Jack Skelinton, and the living rag doll Sally was playing.

As the romantic song played, Renamon felt an unusual pressure on her paw, which was resting beside her leg. She looked over just barely, and saw Roy had rested his hand on hers. Renamon blushed slightly, and decided to let the small gesture go unnoticed. The movie ended and it was 9:30 at night. The snow outside continued to fall as Mukino, Seiko, and Rika headed off to bed. Roy and Renamon decided to stay up for a bit. Roy walked out onto the patio that went all around the house, and watched the snow fall gently on the ground. He was thinking about the whole Christmas seasonin general. About the Christmases back at the orphanage when it dawned on him like a ton of bricks. During the movies something had been tugging at his mind, and he now remembered what. He had something to do at the orphanage. Ever since he was 13 the orphanage manager, Mrs. Starshine had him buy the Christmas presents, hide them, and put them at the foot of each orphans bed the night before. With out thinking about it, Roy ran into the guest room. He picked up the light saber that had saved him from Night Sword, knowing that digimon hunter was still out hunting for him.

Roy made sure Renamon was no where to be seen before he darted out, his new legs carrying him faster then he had ever run. As he run, he scanned his surroundings and listened for the slightest hint that someone was going to attack him. He knew he was being hunted, but he didn't know where the hunter, Night Sword, was and where he would be.

Renamon had seen Roy leave, and being curious she followed him. She easily kept out of his sight as she moved through the shadows of the world. She followed him until he reached the orphanage

Roy stood in front of the orphanage. He saw that all the lights were off, but he knew some of the kids would still be awake, to anxious to fall asleep. He began to walk up to the front door, and then realized that he no longer had a key to the place. He thought about his different options a second, and then saw the balcony that lead into the houses attic. It was his only option, but how would he get up there. Roy then looked down at his new legs, and decided to give it a try. He bent down as low as he could and thought about the jump for several seconds before he made the great leap.

Roy was surprised by the force, and was almost thrown off balance, but he quickly regained it and with the lightness of a feather, he landed on the balcony. He gently played with the doors old lock, and got it open with ease. He disappeared inside the attic, and began to rummage through the many boxes, bringing out all the presents he had gotten. There were roughly thirty, and he wished he had someone to help him.

As if on cue, Roy heard the door to the balcony open, and he spun around to see Renamon standing there. She gave him a questioning look as she asked, "What are you doing?"

Roy shrugged as he said, "What, I have a responsibility. These are the presents for the orphans, and I have to get them down stairs with out being caught. If I am caught two things will happen, one a single kid will wake up all the others because he realizes it's me, or just sees someone with a tail messing around with his present and start screaming to high heaven."

Renamon shook her head and walked over to the pile of thirty presents. She picked up a few and then turned to head for the stairs that lead down to the rest of the house. When Roy didn't follow her she turned around and whispered, "Well, are you coming or what?"

Roy snapped out back to reality and silently grabbed a few presents to carry. The pair tip toed down the stairs, and into the room that housed the girls. Roy did a quick scan, and found that every body was asleep. Before they went in Roy warned Renamon about the location of some loose boards that would creak very loudly if they were stepped on. Renamon nodded her understanding and the pair began the stealthy process. In thirty minutes, they had only two more presents to place. Roy was placing on at the foot of one kid's bed while Renamon read the card for the last one. She then realized that none of the presents were for Roy.

Roy took the gift from Renamon and set it at the foot of the last bed before they both left in silence, and went back up to the attic. Once they were up there Roy opened the door to the balcony silently, and the pair left the stuffy attic to the fresh air on the balcony. Roy was about to jump down when Renamon said, "Roy, I was wondering about something."

Roy turned and said, "What is it Renamon?"

Renamon rubbed the back of her neck as she said, "Well, when did you buy these presents?"

Roy thought a second before he said, "The first week in December, why?"

Renamon walked up beside him as she asked, "Well, then why wasn't there one for you?"

Roy looked a little surprised, and then chuckled as he said, "You know, I didn't even think about it. I just went out with the money Mrs. Starshine gave me on day, and I had enough to buy presents for everybody but one. I just guess I couldn't bring myself to choose one of the younger orphans who still had a belief in Santa Clause. So, I didn't by myself anything. I guess that's kind of silly isn't it."

Renamon shook her head as she said, "It is anything, but that." Renamon and Roy looked out over the cityscape, the lights of the city making it look like the stars of the sky had come to earth for one night. Roy and Renamon stood close to each other, enjoying the scene. Suddenly, Roy felt something strange, and he looked back just a second to notice his tail and Renamon's had wrapped around each other. Roy didn't know why, but he just disregarded it and turned back to continue gazing over the city.

Renamon, on the other hand, knew exactly what her tail was doing. It just felt so nice to be around Roy. She felt safer when he was around. She turned to look at him, and found that view much more beautiful then the one of the city at night. The city lights danced in his eyes and he looked over the city, the cares of years, more specifically the last few days, melting away. Roy finally noticed Renamon's stare, and said, "What, is there something on my face?"

Renamon shook her head as she said, "No, I was just thinking how handsome you look right now."

Roy was a little surprised, but he soon replied, "Well, I have to admit you are quite beautiful right now, but then again, you are always so graceful and beautiful."

Renamon scoffed as she said, "Yeah, grace and beauty will get you a burger at restaurant after you pay money for it. You have a true heart of gold. You gave up getting yourself a present so all the kids here could have one. You didn't mind the fact that in saving Rika's life and my life that you had to give up your human legs. You even did what I thought was impossible. The day I came with Rika and Seiko to the hospital to see you, you treated me like I was human. Like seeing a yellow talking fox walking on two legs was nothing that important. All I am good for is fighting."

Roy shook his head as he said, "Now who is cutting themselves short. You are good for much more then that Renamon. You have the ability to make someone feel safe, with out even saying a word. It is through your fighting ability that you can protect Rika, and the city from the digimon who seek to cause destruction. I consider myself truly lucky to have had the chance to get to know you so well."

Renamon blushed slightly as Roy motioned toward there tails which were twisted around each other several times. Renamon undid her tail from Roy's and they stood in silence for a few moments before Roy asked, "I have been wondering, why did you kiss me those two times before. On the cheek when I was still under Yamachi's control and on the lips when I gave you that wooden statue."

Renamon blushed a little more. Thanking the fact her yellow fur hid most of it from Roy's kind gaze. She finally was able to answer, "Well, at Hypnos you just seemed to be so sad. You were truly torn up that you almost killed me, even though it really wasn't you. I was afraid you thought I would never forgive you, so I kissed you on the cheek to prove to you everything would be alright."

Roy nodded his head and said, "Then what about later. There was no danger, if anything I was in danger of having a scar on my shoulder and nothing more."

Renamon fidgeted a little as she said, "Well, I was just so touched. Nobody had ever given me anything like that, and it looked like you had put so much effort into it. I just felt that such efforts should be rewarded. Also, I was pretty happy to know that you were going to be fine. I mean, if you were well enough to carve that thing you had to be on your way to making a full recovery from the attack."

Roy smiled as he moved close to Renamon and said, "Dear, I don't know what it is, but I feel so much better when you are near. You brighten up my life, and make the whole world seem much better then it is. You are so beautiful you make a rose look like a weed. How else can I say it? Ever since I met you, I can't imagine living without you."

Renamon was at the point of crying out. All this time, something had been eating in the back of her mind. When Roy was in the hospital, what ever it was kept telling her to go check on him, and make sure he was alright. When she got his call out for help, it had been pushing her to scour the city for him. When he was recovering from his fight with Night Sword, it had told her to stay by his side. Finally, when he dove into the icy lake water, it kept telling her to break the ice that was around her feet and save them both. Before she had met Roy, the nagging feeling only appeared when Rika was in danger, and during those instances she knew why it was eating at her mind. She is Rika's digimon partner, and it is her job to protect her. Then, why was it making her worry about Roy. Why did it feel that if something were to happen to him, she wouldn't know what to do?

Renamon finally realized something, she had feelings for Roy, and they were more then just feelings shared between friends. Something about Roy seemed so right to her, and she couldn't deny it any more. After those long moments of silence she was able to say, "Roy, I…Well, I…" She was cursing herself. She had fought ultimate and it was easier then making her mouth work as it should. She finally was able to say in a slow tone, "Roy, I realize that I feel the same way. When ever you were hurt or in danger, something in the back of my mind made me worry about you almost endlessly."

Roy smiled as he put his arm around arms shoulder and they looked over the city. Roy smiled as he motioned behind them. Renamon turned her head, and saw that there tails had once again wrapped around each other. Roy smiled as he said, "Maybe we should follow that example." With that Roy wrapped his arms tight around Renamon's waist. She just smiled as her head rested on his shoulder, and they enjoyed the feel of the other against their skin.