Chapter 8: Changes

In the next Digimon village, Takato, Guilmon and the others decided to take a break, to recover their energy at the nearest hotel.

Though Takato and Guilmon had more energy, having gained further power from the monsters they had slain and devoured, noticing the more drained forms of their former teammates, and knowing their lacking energy would only slow them down, the duo agreed to take a break, as to allow Rika, Alice and their Digimon time to rest for the night.

Having ordered separate rooms, with the girls sharing a room, adjacent to their room was the room Takato and Guilmon were resting within, only the brunette was still up and polishing his revolver, leaving Guilmon time as to examine his blades, studying each weapon in terms of power and weaknesses.

However, the pair were distracted a little as the final words of IceDevimon echoed in their minds.

'As long as you two continue down this path, you will never be who you two be again. You never make friends again and you two will become bigger monsters than the ones you fought so far.'

"Bigger monsters than the ones we fought so far?" Takato questioned under his breath, sighing as things were growing intense, even for them.

"Hey... Takato...?" Guilmon spoke up, catching his Tamers' attention, before asking. "Our end goal is still the same right?"

"You bet it is. We're gonna get out of the Digital World, kill that phony Sovereign, his partner and then go home." Takato said in reply.

Relieved a little, Guilmon sighed, took a seat on Takato's bed and spoke from his gut. "Good. For a moment, I was worried. IceDevimon said something about the darkness in our souls. Is it from the monsters we killed?"

"We have killed a bunch of those monsters, and some evil Digimon, but we promised Rika that we'd only kill the monsters and not to take any innocent lives, unless they get in our way." Takato said in reply, looking back to his Digimon with a trusting smile. "So we have to..."

Finding he was unable to finish the later of his sentence, the same pain from before struck the two, this causing Takato and Guilmon to clutch their chests from the sudden intensity.

Gripping his chest, his breaths shortening, Takato questioned. "What is this pain...?"

"These two powers colliding... It's getting ridiculous... What the hell is this...?!" Guilmon managed to reply, he too clutching his chest and sharing the confusion of his Tamer.

Stumbling to their feet, considering asking Rika and Alice to check on them, Takato and Guilmon were about to exit their room, but stopped as their attention was drawn to the full body mirror set within the room.

Looking at their reflections, at the pain both continued to express, a dread grew within Takato and Guilmon, both swearing they saw a darkness amongst the reflections, a wickedness in the eyes of their reflections.

However, shaking their heads and pushing through the pain, Takato and Guilmon found the reflections seemed normal, showing no signs of darkness.

Despite feeling a little better, the pain exiting their bodies, their reflections acting normally, the pair knew better, knowing it wasn't a hallucination or a trick mirror, but something else altogether.

"There's no doubt about it. Our souls have been tainted by darkness" Guilmon let out, looking to his the Digital Hazard marking on his chest, adding with brief concern. "I can feel it. Megidramon's dwelling within me."

"We're not gonna let the darkness stop us." Takato said back, refusing to allow anything manipulate or corrupt his heart. "We must find a way to suppress the darkness and stop this other feeling from getting out."

"Trouble is, what is this other feeling inside us?" The brunette had to ask, finding it wasn't a wickedness, but it felt almost as if it was part of their past they had forgotten.

From the mixed array of feelings, Guilmon slumped on the bed, looking to the ceiling with a deep sigh. "You're right. It's like they're trying to tell us something. But I have no idea what."

"By the way, where are the girls?" The red dino Digimon then asked, a little unsure why he asked the question himself, but waited for a reply.

"In the baths. You know, I know it's hard to trust the Tamers again, but Rika and Alice are trying everything they could to aid us. I may not see them as my friends again... but I don't see them as pawns."

"I feel the same about Renamon and BlackGatomon to be honest." Guilmon admitted, he too puzzled and unclear of his feelings toward the female Digimon. "That said..."

He and Takato then took on a shared deadpanned expression as Guilmon then said. "I still have no idea as to why Renamon and BlackGatomon keep fighting all the time. Renamon was never like that before in the past, it's as if she was fighting over something with BlackGatomon."

"Yeah... that was odd..." Takato just replied, turning to look at Guilmon, where both sighed and let out. "Women..."

-Meanwhile-

Around the time Takato and Guilmon remained conflicted in their inner battles, puzzled by the feelings toward their teammates, the girls were in a more relaxed position, with Rika sitting in the steamy outside bath pool.

Sighing as she slid out of her towel, exposing her naked form to the inviting conditions of the bathhouse, Rika slid in the waters, only to sigh, feeling troubled a little herself, still haunted by IceDevimon's dark words toward Takato.

"Are you ok, Rika?" She then heard Alice ask, this causing Rika to look over, finding the blonde slowly approaching, before removing the towel provided to her as she too slid into the water.

"Yeah... I'm just concerned about Takato." Rika confessed, before going on, expressing further emotion in her tone. "I don't really want him treating us as baggage because we have a traitor in our ranks, but I can't ignore my Gogglehead. I'm afraid of what will happen to him if his heart does wind up darkened as IceDevimon said."

"Then it's up to us to save him and Guilmon." Alice said in reply, expressing a sincere and caring side to her as she put a hand on Rika's right shoulder, which left Rika a little uncomfortable to the interaction, as well as having the naked blonde so close to her.

But knowing Alice was trying to comfort her, Rika did what she could to relax.

"Like you, I think I also harbour feelings for Takato, the old Takato. I mean he can still be a bad ass fighter, but he could return his true personality. That hardcore mean personality dosen't suit him in my case." Alice said, surprising Rika, not only to Alice knowing of Rika's feelings, but to the blonde admitting her own.

"You've got a point." Rika replied, turning to Alice as to take a moment as to admire her developed body and added with a growing slyness "Besides... I wouldn't' mind sharing him with you. We have to find a way to make sure Takato does not live a empty life."

Finding a comfort in their conversation, Rika and Alice felt a little better, before the familiar voice belonging to Renamon to ask. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Come on in, Renamon. The water..." Rika began to say, before she and Alice froze up, both blushing deeply to see Renamon walk in, revealing her naked form, showing off her large breasts, her belly button and her exposed pussy.

"Renamon!" Rika cried out, freaking out further. "Haven't you heard of decency? Where's your towel!?"

"Before my body underwent these alterations, I've come to accustomed to ignoring modesty. Besides, most Digimon don't really wearing clothing. My body is used to being in this state." Renamon said in reply as she cupped her breasts and let them bounce a little, this causing Rika and Alice to blush deeper to the foxy Digimon's antics.

"You know, compared to our bodies, our Digimon, especially Renamon, has us beat." Rika whispered, her comment causing Alice to nod in reply.

"And I see you've taken a liking to your new body." The blonde haired Tamer went on, admiring Renamon and her clear confidence, before taking notice of her partner, seeing BlackGatomon approaching the warm waters, showing her without a towel and revealing her own naked form, with the dark furred feline having a similar seductive build in her body, looking almost as irresistible as Renamon.

However, seeing BlackGatomon looking away from Renamon and the others, she seemed reluctant as to hop in the waters.

Concerned a little, Alice asked. "BlackGatomon, are you ok?"

"You should know cats dislike water." BlackGatomon said in reply, not minding being naked in front of her Tamer and their friends, but the thought of getting water on her fur left an uneasiness stirring within BlackGatomon.

"And that's one reason why foxes are superior to cats. They don't fear a little thing such as water." Renamon let out, her tone mocking BlackGatomon once again, igniting the cat Digimon's anger.

"I'LL SHOW YOU SUPERIOR!" BlackGatomon hissed as she leapt at Renamon, tackling the foxy Digimon into the bath with a huge splash, and splashing Rika and Alice in the progress.

Annoyed by the returned rivalry between their partners, Rika and Alice looked on, seeing BlackGatomon had a firm hold upon Renamon's head, keeping her paws pressed down as she tried to drown the vixen.

"You're only saying that because you want what I want!" BlackGatomon let out, her anger growing as she kept her paws in place. "You had your chance to get him, but you wasted that shot. Now he's up for grabs, and the new flesh gets a chance!"

Despite the position she was in, applying pressure to keep Renamon down, BlackGatomon was thrown off guard as she felt Renamon's tail wrap around her left ankle and drag her down, this allowing Renamon to resurface and to set her own paws on BlackGatomon's body, holding her under the heated waters as she tried to drown BlackGatomon.

"He has no interest in a black furball! So back off already! You won't steal him from me!" Renamon snarled angrily, taking note of BlackGatomon's paws flailing out of the water, trying to grip into her arms and pull herself out.

This conflict between Renamon and BlackGatomon only escalated as the two began to tussle and brawl, expressing a growing rage, jealousy and resentment as they tried to fall their rival.

"Ok! I've had enough!" Rika finally snapped, a feeling she and Alice shared as the duo grabbed their partners by the tails and separated the pair, distancing Renamon and BlackGatomon as to ensure the pair stopped fight, at least for a few minutes.

"Renamon, you'v been fighting BlackGatomon since we first met!" Rika let out, continuing to express her anger, before taking a more leading role as a Tamer, commanding. It's time you two made up! Don't make us use energy whips to keep you two in line!"

"Rika's right. We're all on the same side here." Alice spoke up, expressing her own anger. "What's causing you two to acting like this?"

"It's because she's trying to steal Guilmon from me!" Renamon and BlackGatomon yelled simultaneously, their replies causing each to glare at the other, while surprising Rika and Alice a little, stunned their longing for Guilmon was driving the pair to act so crazy and beastly toward one another.

And though Rika and Alice were a little unsure of where their inspiration came from next, the Tamers brought their hands down and along Renamon and BlackGatomon's exposed rears, slapping their butts, which made both Digimon gasp at the sudden and surprising action.

"Naughty girls like you should be punished for that." Alice said as she and Rika continued in their actions, continuing to run their hands along Renamon and BlackGatomon's butts, finding the punishment was enough to calm the pair down.

"You mean your whole squabble was over Guilmon?! You both are fighting for something as ridiculous as that?" Rika questioned crossly.

"What's wrong with you two?" Alice followed up, understanding the conflict a little better, but still believed their growing violence for Guilmon's attention was getting out of control.

Thinking for a moment, Alice smiled as an idea came to mind, with the blonde suggesting. "If you both have feelings for him, why not share it?"

"Share?" Both Digimon asked in surprise, before the Tamers let go of their tails and allowed the pair to stand up properly.

"Why not? Alice and I talked about our feelings for Takato. We both love Takato, and we only want to see Takato happy in the end." Rika said as she and Alice slid and relaxed themselves back into the water.

"Is that allowed? A guy can have two girls?" Renamon found herself asking, still unfamiliar with human mating rituals, a feeling BlackGatomon shared as she too was both puzzled and intrigued as they slide into the water themselves.

"Of course. A guy could have a harem of his own females, and he'll still love them with all his heart. We want to help Takato, to save him. We don't mind his goal to defeat the evil human and corrupt Sovereign and go home, but we want to help awaken the true Takato within him. The kind and caring and courageous Takato we knew and fell in love with." Alice said in reply.

"We don't mind Takato being kick ass and hardcore, but we'd like to see him as the always caring and trusting side we've known for years." Rika added in reply, expressing a furthered sincerity in her voice as she then said. "We want to be there for him."

"Whoa. That is so pure... so caring..." BlackGatomon let out.

"I must admit. I was fascinated by Guilmon's strength and his body. And I wish to learn more about him." The dark furred feline went on, hearing many great qualities toward the Digital Hazard Digimon, qualities she knew would lead to her falling in love with him.

"I'm sure Renamon can help you with that." Rika offered with a smile, before turning as to face Renamon and say with some command in her voice. "Go on. Show BlackGatomon how you view Guilmon and what you think of him now."

Blushing to Rika's words, but keeping her focus, Renamon thought along the qualities that left her desiring Guilmon as a mate, before telling BlackGatomon. "Compared to Impmon and Cyberdramon, Guilmon is the most kindest and honest Digimon you'll ever meet. He is kind, strong and courageous. We started out as rivals, but we became allies afterwards."

"And let's not forget that in the past he worshipped the ground you walked on." Rika added slyly, teasing Renamon a little, which earned another blush from Renamon, who then looked to the skylight, allowing her to gaze upon the night's sky, and to resume in her thoughts.

"In the past he was childish, always caring for Takato and having an obsessive love with bread, but he's changed... and not just because of his new form and his personality." Renamon admitted, sighing almost dreamily as she added. "I admire his shiny, crimson scales, his amazing chest, his new set of a six pack and his thick tail."

With Renamon expressing her feelings, her tail wagged at the thought of Guilmon's tail wrapping around her own, at the thought of Guilmon's body atop of hers', looking ready to take her.

But making sure not to get ahead of herself, Renamon shook her head a little, looking back to BlackGatomon and adding. "But there is one thing I've missed the most: his large, golden innocent eyes. They held so much care and warmth, but now his eyes just hold a clear anger and coldness. How I long to see his golden innocent eyes again."

"Don't worry, Renamon. We'll find a way to bring Guilmon back to the light, and then his innocent golden eyes will return." Rika assured, feeling empathy for her partner as there were similarities in qualities with Takato.

Though glad to express her feelings, knowing she held Rika and Alice's support, looking to BlackGatomon, seeing the feline a little distracted, Renamon let out with some impatience. "Please tell me you want Guilmon as more than a play thing?"

"Of course not. I saw how strong and attractive he is. I mightn't have known him for as long as you, but in my heart, I know I want to be with him." BlackGatomon said in reply. "But seeing how he was like before as you told me, it would be awesome to see him not act so distant all the time. I wish to aid you and get this innocent side to Guilmon back, but I'm not exact sure how to do it."

"Then why not help each other?" Alice suggested, keeping an encouraging smile as she added. "You two are like sisters once you get to know each other."

"Sisters?" BlackGatomon asked as she gazed at Renamon, who nodded in reply and said. "Renamon, would you ok if we shared Guilmon? I mean Rika and Alice have agree to share Takato as their mate, so maybe we should at least try it."

"I guess we could try it out, as long Guilmon love us both afterwards." Renamon said in reply, raising her tail from the water and toward BlackGatomon, asking with a sincerity. "Sisters?"

BlackGatomon smiled to Renamon's offer, to her kindness, where she slid her tail from the waters herself and wrapped it around Renamon's for a tailshake.

"Finally... that feud is over." Alice let out in small relief, glad to see Renamon and BlackGatomon seemed happier now.

"Now come on. Let's check on Takato and Guilmon" Rika suggested as she and Alice grab their towels, set them around their naked bodies and headed out, leaving Renamon and BlackGatomon alone for a moment, before the Digimon followed, only their boobs and butts wobbled at each step as they left the area still naked.

-A few hours later-

After rejoining Takato and Guilmon, but not before Rika and Alice hurried to their room as to change into something more appealing and eye catching, the Tamers, Renamon and BlackGatomon entered Takato and Guilmon's room, all playing it cool as they approached the boys.

"Takato, Guilmon, are you ok?" Alice questioned, her voice causing Takato and Guilmon to choose not to care and say back. "We need to know where the next crystal is, so we can then return home."

"The next temple should be near the Sovereigns' old place. But due to the remaining energies surrounding the Sovereigns' domain, only two people can enter at a time." BlackGatomon informed.

"So that means Takato and I will go in alone. You four can wait outside." Guilmon said bluntly, getting no complaints from Takato, who too kept a remaining distance.

"We saw how you do in tough conflicts, but we wish to accompany you if necessary." Alice replied, still knowing Takato and Guilmon remained distant due to the traitor, but she wanted to be there for the duo.

"Then once we've finished resting, we head out straight away." Takato said as he and Guilmon headed out of the apartment as to grab some food.

"Wait, Takato!" Rika called out, wanting a word with him, to which Takato stopped and asked. "What is it now?"

"I know I wasn't there when you two needed us the most so these words may not mean anything to you but I'll just say them anyway. Takato, I will continue my promise to you but I do not want your life to be a empty one. And it will be if you forget how to care for other people. I like the old Gogglehead back. The kind and generous Takato. You can keep your bad ass style, but you should learn how to care and trust us again." Rika said back, standing up to Takato.

"That goes from us. We both wish to help you, Guilmon. I know you cannot trust us completely, but I still hold my promise to keep you safe and I don't want to see you lonely anymore. I like to see the kind and cheerful Guilmon I know before. You can still do your kick ass style but I would love to see you trusting and caring us again. And I don't want to see you suffer anymore." Renamon added.

Though picking up on a mixed array of emotions amongst Rika and Renamon, Takato and Guilmon remained silent as if troubled by those words.

"I doubt I would return to the old Takato again. But... I will take your words to heart... for now" Takato said in reply, followed by Guilmon, who added. "I won't return to that bread munching kid again. However, I will take your words to heart, but that's all."

That said, Takato and Guilmon left the bedroom, leaving Rika, Alice, Renamon and BlackGatomon in silence, but in their hearts, the four felt further determination, determined as to do whatever it took to get the Takato and Guilmon they cherished back in their lives.