The tamers.
They'd stopped the D-reaper. They'd continued to fight even when it seemed hopeless. It was happy when it saw that most of them had lost the feelings that had bonded them to their digimon.
He'll be a problem. He's still connected. He might be able to call one back.
He couldn't help thinking about how the strongest had yet to let go of the past. I must destroy him before I can begin my plans.
He smiled.
Two chairs sat unoccupied in the chamber. It had once been for the tracking of wild ones. Uncontrolled digimon that had emerged into the real world. Yamaki walked out of the room as the door closed behind him.
Rika is going to kill me. She's going to find out I lied and then I'm going to die.
His skilled hands kneaded the dough beneath them. Clumps of dough started flying through the air, they were caught by his father.
Both headed for the sink as the bread started to bake. The sink sent small amounts of flour down the drain as they washed.
The older man stared thoughtfully at the sink. "Takato."
"Yeah Dad?"
He took a breath to steady himself. "Have you thought about your future? After college I mean. You really need to think about it. You haven't even picked a major yet."
Takato turned to look at his father. "I've been thinking. Maybe I'll try and become a game designer. You know, create a game and let other people bring it to life."
"Sounds good. But, Your mom and I are kind of worried. You're almost nineteen and you don't go out. You never do anything. It's not healthy."
"Hey, I hang out with my friends plenty. I just have to do it during school." He started to walk away.
"Takato. I'm talking about dating."
He halted in his tracks. "What?"
"You're not a bad looking kid. So why aren't you seeing anyone?"
Takato turned to face his father. "I guess I just haven't found anyone I'm interested in."
He stepped over to his son and stood face to face with him. "Really? What about Rika?"
Takato backed away. "What about Rika?" He felt his cheeks flood with heat as he said this. His father pulled away and looked smugly at him.
"If you like her so much why haven't you asked her out?"
"Me? Like Rika? It's nothing like that. She's just a friend."
The feminine voice behind him startled him into turning around. "Then why are you blushing?"
"Ahh! Mom. Don't do that."
"Well. Are you going to answer me?" His mother crossed her arms across her chest.
"Maybe because I don't like being grilled about something that's none of your business."
"So you admit that you like her."
"Dad! Stop it. Rika's one of my best friends. That's all."
Even if she is the most beautiful girl I know. His cheeks reddened in response to this thought.
Takato stripped off the apron he was wearing and grabbed a red jacket from a coat rack near the door. He made his way into the cool night air as he pulled on his jacket. He didn't notice that the street seemed to be emptier than usual. Shadows spread across the street in patterns that could make soldiers quake in fear. He noticed nothing as he made his way down the sidewalk into the deepening twilight. His mind remained on the girl who had invaded his mind a bit more with each rising of the sun. He was too occupied with these thoughts as his luck changed and he ran into the subject of his thoughts.
"Rika! Hi. What are you doing out here, in the dark, at almost eleven at night?" Had they met under one of the street lights that lined the road, the red color his face had become might have aroused Rika's suspicions. But for once luck was on his side as she answered.
"Walking. What's it to you goggle-head?"
"Just asking. And would you stop calling me that? I haven't worn those in years."
"Just because you don't wear them doesn't make you any less of a goggle-head. I can't believe you used to think that looked cool."
"Give me a break, I was twelve! So what if I was a fashion disaster? Tai and Davis wore them."
"They were cartoon characters. It didn't matter."
"So what? Lots of kids thought they looked cool at the time. And most of them didn't have digimon." A haunted look dulled his eyes as he said this. Few realized just how hard it had been for him to lose Guilmon. They'd been through so much together that their separation had caused him an almost physical pain. I miss him so much. Will I ever see him again? I wonder if he's okay. Are they still together, or have they gone different ways?
" you listening to me? Takato. Takato!"
"Huh? What did you say?" He silently cursed himself for having let his thoughts wander.
"What's wrong with you? You looked like you were miles away."
Takato collapsed on a bench that was sitting close by. "I was just wondering if Guilmon and the others are okay. If they're still traveling together or if they've settled down. I wish I knew."
"You're not the only one." Rika sat down next to him. "I wonder if Renamon is happy. She was always so closed off. She was my friend but she never really let me in. I hope she's happy. She deserves to be."
"We all do. We've dealt with more than anyone should have to deal with. We saved the world and here we are sitting around on a bench in the middle of the night. How messed up is that?"
"Pretty pathetic. We've done more for the world than anyone else and now we're just, normal. It's like everybody's just forgetting, that they don't remember anything about what happened. It's not right."
"Maybe it's better that way. Maybe we're just not ready. We were almost destroyed by the D-reaper and what happens. The wars, gangs, and everything just keep on coming. Nothing seems to be able to snap the cycle of violence we've trapped ourselves in. Maybe it would have been better if we lost."
His head was rocked by the hand that slammed into his face.
"Don't say that! Nothing can get better if we give up. You think Guilmon would want you to give up? Things get better. It doesn't happen overnight, but it will happen."
"Heheh, thanks Rika. I guess I got a few issues to work through." Takato felt blessed that Rika couldn't see that after her hand print had faded his face was still red.
The two sat by each other for several minutes with the stifling silence surrounding them. It was broken by the young man. "I had a dream about you."
Rika jolted when he said that. "I really don't want to hear this."
"Not like that. It's was so long ago. It was before we met, before I'd even seen you. I can't remember much but you seemed to be in trouble. I still don't understand why I had it, but I did. I saw you."
"Tell me you're kidding."
"I'm not. It was like the day before I met you. I can't stress how weird it was when I ran into you." Takato leaned back on the bench before starting to get up. "Hey Rika, I have to get going, but, would you like to go see a movie on Saturday?"
Rika blinked in surprise. Did he just ask me out? He did. The goggle-head just asked me out on a date. She felt her cheeks flush. "Uh, okay. I guess it could be fun."
"Ye-yeah, i-it's a date. No! I mean it's not a date, it's a, uh..."
"Takato, It's a date, and I said yes, so shut up while you're still ahead. See you on Saturday." She got up and started to walk into the darkness. Rika was rather surprised to find herself looking forward to going out with Takato.