Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Digimon
Chapter 10
A Family Gained
Jesse got up before anybody else. The morning was covered with dark clouds that threatened a storm, but Jesse could sense the local spirits of nature were still mourning the death of Mukino and Seiko. He had gotten dressed in some blue jeans and a black shirt he had been given by Kagome. He headed down the steps of the shrine and toward Rika's house. He arrived a few minutes later, and he knocked gently on the front gate. He waited a few minutes when the sound of the lock being released struck his ears. The gate opened slowly and Renamon appeared behind it. It was evident she had been crying, but Jesse decided not to mention it. He walked in and said, "So, how is Rika doing?"
Renamon turned to look at Rika's bedroom door as she said, "She and I spent most of the night crying. She just got to sleep a few hours ago."
Jesse nodded his head and said, "It's good to see that she isn't trying to bottle up all these emotions. Now, let's head to the kitchen. I can make you some tea and talk to you about the reason I have come here this morning." Renamon nodded her head and led Jesse to the kitchen. He used his magic to quickly brew a cup of tea and he poured Renamon a cup of the southing liquid. Renamon took a sip and felt it take a bit of the weight on her heart away. Jesse and Renamon sat in silence for a few second before he said, "Renamon, I need to talk to you about Rika."
Renamon took a sip of her tea and then asked, "What is it Jesse."
Jesse sighed as he said, "I talked with Yamachi. As of right now the only place Rika can go is to an orphanage. Now, I don't want to see that happen, so I am wondering if you would be interested in something."
Renamon gave a quizzical look as she asked, "What is it?"
Jesse replied, "Yamachi can use his connections in government to make sure Rika inherits everything Mukino and Seiko owned. That includes this house, but he can only do that if we can find someone that is willing to become Rika's legal guarding before 5:00 today. If we can't find someone by then the government will take away much of what Seiko and Mukino left Rika away. Here is my proposal. I dug through my spell books all night and I finally found the spell I was thinking of. It is a spell that will give you another form, a human looking form. This will allow you to become Rika's legal guardian, and Yamachi has already assured me that he can get you a job at Hypnos so you can support Rika. What do you think?"
Renamon finished her tea and after a few silent minutes. Jesse could she that Renamon was both thrilled with the news, but was worried about something. Renamon finally said, "I could not stand Rika being in an orphanage, but all I know is fighting. I have none of the skills needed to raise anybody. I just know how to take care of myself. I barley even know how to cook. All I know about I learned from watching Rika's grandmother cook something one time. I just don't think I could support her like she deserves to be."
Jesse shook his head and said, "Renamon, trust me in this one fact. What ever you can offer is better then she would get at an orphanage. Besides, she knows you. She knows you don't have all the skills you need right now, but they will come with time. Even though she can be cold sometimes, I believe Rika will be understanding and thankful of what you can offer her. So, what will it be? Here with you or at an orphanage with who knows what?"
Renamon sighed a bit as several thoughts passes through her mind. Finally she looked up at Jesse and with a calm voice said, "All right. I think I will do as you suggest, and become Rika's legal guardian. There is the only condition. I will ask Rika about it first. If she would rather take her chances at the orphanage the deal is off."
Jesse nodded his head and said, "That sounds fair, since it is Rika's future we are talking about, but you should do one thing. Wait till about noon and then wake her up. She needs her rest, and I think it best she decides after a few more hours of sleep. Tell her about my plan and then call Kagome with Rika's answer. I need to talk to one other person. I expect your answer around 12:30." Renamon nodded her head and promised she would call Kagome with Rika's answer. Jesse thanked Renamon and after a few silent seconds he stood up and left the house. Renamon remained for several minutes afterward, lost in thought about what she should say to Rika.
Jesse returned to the shrine and contemplated his next move. The mourning passed in a in a sorrowful way until Jesse was able to get alone with Sesshomaru for a few minutes. He told him about what he was planning to do with Rika and Renamon, and then said, "Sesshomaru, after a few days I will go and talk to Renamon again. I will tell her that with Yamachi's help we can make you a resident of of this city in this era, and we can also make you and Renamon the legal guardians of Rin and Rika."
Sesshomaru was quite for a few minutes before he said, "I would be willing to do that, but only after we have avenged Rika's mother and grandmother by destroying Naraku."
Jesse nodded his head and said, "I understand. If you go anywhere I ask you to be back here by 12:30. I am expecting Renamon to call around then." Sesshomaru nodded his head and went about his business while Jesse went back inside Kagome's house to begin creating the magic powder he would need to use when he gave Renamon the ability to disguise herself as a human.
Back at the Rika's house, Renamon finally got up the nerve to knock on Rika's door. There was the sound of some rustling, but Rika never came to open the door. Renamon knocked on the door again and said, "Rika, can I come in? I need to talk to you."
After Rika didn't respond for a second time Renamon cracked the door and saw Rika was laying on her futon, her face buried in her pillow. Renamon walked over and knelt down beside Rika as she said, "Rika, I know you want to cry, but I need to ask you something."
Rika turned her head enough so that Renamon knew she was listening, but so her eyes, which showed the evidence of shedding many tears, were still hidden in her pillow. Renamon was quite for a few seconds before she said, "Rika, I have talked with Jesse. He told me that right now we have two options. One is to let you go to an orphanage and let your future ride on a hope and a prayer. The second is he can give me the ability to disguise myself as a human, and become you legal guardian. I am willing to take on the responsibility. I'm just wondering what you would like Rika."
Rika raised herself slowly out of the pillow and she sat on her knees looking up at Renamon. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she had done, but suddenly a glimmer of joy showed through the sorrow filled eyes and Rika gave Renamon a tight hug as she said, "Don't leave me Renamon, I couldn't stand losing you with mom and grandma."
Renamon returned Rika's embrace as she said, "I promise Rika I will never leave you if I can help it. So, do you want me to become your legal guardian."
Rika nodded her head as she said, "Yes, but I will never call you my legal guardian. It will always be either my friend, or my step-mom."
Renamon smiled at Rika's emotion filled words as she hugged Rika tighter. After that Rika was willing to get out of her room and eat a bit of lunch. Unfortunately Renamon had little knowledge of cooking, but if she was going to be Rika's step-mom she would have to learn, and fast.
12:30 rolled around and Renamon did as she promised and called Jesse with Rika's answer. Jesse was happy to hear Rika had agreed, and he promptly called Yamachi and asked him to be at Rika's house at 2:00. As planned Jesse and Yamachi were at Rika's house around 2:00, and Yamachi had a pile of papers with him. Renamon let them into the courtyard and Jesse saw that Rika was beginning to look like her old self, though the wounds to her soul would take much longer to heal. He quickly cast his spell by sprinkling Renamon with some very fine silver dust and then chanting some very complex words. In a second the dust melted into Renamon's skin and Jesse finished the spell.
Jesse smiled as he said, "Now, the spell is activated by a word. I have set the word that will return you to this form as Renamon, but what should we name your human form."
Rika spoke up as she said, "How about just Rena."
Jesse thought about it a second before he said, "That will do." Jesse chanted a few more words and then smiled as he said, "Alright, trying saying Rena with the mental intent of transforming."
Renamon nodded her head and said, "Rena". Her body glowed for a few seconds and then the light dimmed. Instead of a digimon, Renamon was now a thin white woman. She had blonde hair that reached down to her waist and she was wearing some purple running shoes, blue jeans, and a yellow shirt with a ying-yang symbol on the chest. Renamon's human form was a thin, yet muscular frame. Through all her changes, Renamon's eyes were still their beautiful blue color
Renamon went over to the pond in the house's court yard and looked herself over. She then returned to the group as she said, "I am quite happy with this form Jesse. I believe it will suffice."
Jesse nodded and then said, "Now remember, to return to your digimon form you just have to say Renamon and think about returning to this form. It takes the spoken word and the mind set for the spell to work. This will keep you from accidentally transforming in the middle of a crowd. So, do you have it?"
Renamon nodded and said, "Renamon." In another quick glow of light she was back to her old self, a pure digital monster. Over the next two hours Yamachi and Jesse helped Renamon fill out the necessary forms to make everything legal. Though the forms were time consuming, they were necessary. They were basically creating every form and certificate Renamon would ever need from a birth certificate to a high school diploma.
Once they were done Yamachi left quickly to get the forms to a friend of his in the governments records archive. Jesse was about to leave as well before he turned and smiled as he said, "Oh, let me be the first to say congratulations. Mrs. Rena Kitsune is now the legal guardian of Mrs. Rika Nonaka, and it can't be any better." With that Jesse left the house and began the walk back to the Higorashi Shrine. Renamon smiled at Rika before she said, "All right, I guess the first thing is we are going to raid the kitchen for every cookbook we can find. I need to learn how to cook, and fast if we are going to keep from starving from lack of food or getting fat from eating take out all the time."
Rika shook her head a little at Renamon's logic and followed her into the kitchen where they would begin the long task of teaching Renamon the necessary skills to take care of Rika. Rika didn't care though. No one could replace her mother and grandmother, but at least she didn't have to lose Renamon as well.