It's been seven years since the digimon returned to their own world, New enemies rise against the tamers, but the bond between one digimon and his tamer goes deeper than anyone could have guessed, and such a bond always leaves it's mark...
The hand opened and shut in slumber. He slept on peacefully, unaware of the world as he turned over. His hand reached into the darkness and pulled his digivice to his chest. It settled clearly over his heart. Light erupted from the small screen. His outline blurred underneath his blanket. Small bits of static ran across his form obscuring his identity. He felt nothing as the near-nightly event ended. The screen continued to illuminate the room for several minutes before fading.
"Jeri! Henry! Wait up!" His quick movements quickly ate up the distance between them. He nearly collapsed from the force he'd exerted catching up to his friends.
"Running late again Takato?" Henry smiled.
Takato put his hand behind his head in embarrassment. "Heheh, My alarm didn't go off. What'd I miss?"
"Nothing much, Professor Hikari just outlined everything we need to know for the final."
Takato nearly fainted when he heard what Jeri said. That was when Henry held up a small tape recorder.
"Is that what I think it is Henry?" He hoped his friend had the foresight to record the lesson.
"Yep, you owe me one." He tossed the tape over to his friend. He didn't manage to duck the bone crushing hug.
"Excuse me, but I'm the only one who gets to hug him."
Takato got off his friend. "Sorry Jeri, but he just saved my backside again."
Takato shifted his shirt to the side as he went to put the tape in his pocket. What was revealed was something that Henry didn't want to see.
"Takato." The way he said it clearly outlined the irritation in his voice.
"Yeah Henry?"
"Why are you carrying your digivice? We talked about this. They're not coming back. Hypnos sealed the digital world away. You can't keep pretending there's a way to see Guilmon."
Takato's voice started to turn icy. "Who said I am? Guilmon was my friend, and this reminds me of him. I thought the rest of you would understand, but apparently you don't.
Jeri looked over at him. In the years since their adventures she'd lost quite a bit of the naivete she'd always shown. But her optimistic personality still remained intact. "We understand, we do. But it's over Takato. Remembering is all well and good, but you've got to move on. You can't keep doing this."
"I'm fine. Now you listen to me. Guilmon and the rest changed our lives forever. If it wasn't for them we'd be very different people. Don't forget that it's because of them you met your boyfriend here. We wouldn't have met Henry or Rika. Before this I barely spoke to you. We're friends because of the digimon, and I won't forget that."
Takato stared at them for a second. "Thanks for the tape. I'll see you later." He turned on his heel and walked away from two of the best friends he'd ever had.
Acting like they never existed. Makes me sick. They were our friends and they barely acknowledge they existed. They weren't just our friends they were a part of us.
He sat down on a small bench as he let his anger play itself out.
They saved us. We all put our lives on the line to save Earth from the D-reaper. But nobody ever talks about it. We just keep it inside, we ignore our past. They act like they want to forget.
"I don't want to forget!"
"What are you talking about goggle head?"
He turned his head in the direction of the voice. "Rika?"
She stepped towards him. It almost seemed as if she appeared from the shadows. A trait she'd most likely copied from Renamon. "Yeah. Now care to explain that little outburst?"
"Just venting. I had a little run in with Henry and Jeri."
"Let me guess. You got going on the subject of digimon again, and as usual, they said it was time to move on and now you're angry at them. Is that about right?"
Takato huddled there miserably. "Yeah. It's one thing if they want to forget about it, but they shouldn't try to make me do the same. It was too important for me to ever forget."
"I know what you mean."
Takato looked at her in surprise. "You do?"
"Well, yeah. Without Renamon I wouldn't have met any of you guys. I've made friends and I don't want to give that up. If I forget, I lose everything I've gained because of her. I lose everything that I've become since then."
Takato was simply amazed. He and Rika had actually had a serious conversation. That in itself was enough reason to stay, but he felt the familiar prick that always accompanied the thought of her. "Thanks Rika. I'll see you later, I've got a class."
For many students the first year of college can be stressful and nerve racking. But it can also make for great excuses to leave.
Rika stared after the disappearing figure. Lately Takato had been running off to class whenever they started talking. "Since when did he become a bookworm?" Rika got up and walked in the other direction.