Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Don't sue I'm poor.

Chapter two: Dawning admiration

Shin snapped awake. It was always the same. A dream that never ended or began, one that he couldn't remember even though he knew that it held answers to his most important questions. After a moment the boy became aware of a pair of eyes watching him, turning to their source he found Renamon.

"Wait don't tell me let me guess. Rika told you to kill me in my sleep so no one would know her secrets but I woke up as you got here foiling you with my crinkly sharp edges of justice" Shin stated with an awkward laugh as Renamon's static expression left him with the impression that she didn't understand the joke or hadn't found it funny.

"I need to speak with you." Renamon stated flatly.

Shin looked around for BT who for whatever reason always had his watch on in the mornings. "Its five thirty Shin. Look at the clock on the wall" BT piped up knowing what his partner wanted then proceeded back to dreamland.

Shin blinked and looked at the clock. "Your clock's a liar there's no such thing as five thirty AM." He announced rolling back to his sleeping position.

"I'm quite sure there is" Renamon stated flatly.

"Not in MY universe there isn't" Shin stated defiantly.

Renamon sighed missing the comedic undertones of the boy's statement and decided to leave when he sprang up to his feet teetering a bit from a lack of spatial awareness caused by a clear lack of sleep.

"Hey hold up" Shin paused clearing his head a bit. "You aren't the type to pull a person out of bed at this hour. So this has to be important. Alright Renamon lets uh…sit yeah that's it we'll sit down and you tell me what you'd like to talk about" Shin stated absently motioning to the couch.

Renamon took a seat. Though Shin wasn't sure if she had just moved or teleported the four or so feet. Staggering slightly Shin was unaware that Rika had silently come down the stairs as he took a seat.

Rika nodded to Renamon who turned to the absent minded blue eyed tamer "So,. I assume Digimon is rather popular in your world as well. Right?" the fox Digimon asked.

Shin pulled goggles off the top of his bag and pointed unable to find the word yes. Both Renamon and Rika took that as a yes though Shin was still unaware that the red haired girl was standing behind him.

"I see. Then of course there would be fans that do work based on it just like in this world. Am I correct?" Renamon questioned. 'Rika was right loss of sleep makes a person more talkative' she thought waiting for his answer.

Shin was slightly confused. "Uh, yeah of course there is. They have websites and all sorts of things for many popular works, art and fiction are no exception…Why?"

"Merely trying not to look foolish for when I ask my important question" Renamon replied coolly.

Shin would have suspected Renamon having other motives if he had been more clear headed but he wasn't so he decided to take her at her word. "Uh…ok yeah sure er ask…ask away" he motioned oddly with his hands that Renamon judged to mean continue.

"You're a Fan of Digimon to be sure. But do you write fiction like other fans do?" the vulpine Digimon asked raising an eye brow.

"er…what? You mean like stories and stuff? I've read some of em and I help out by posting reviews about grammar and characterization but I don't write them" Shin stated still trying to shake the cob webs from his brain.

"But you read them?" The purple gloved Ninja asked.

Shin nodded.

"What kinds of stories?" Renamon asked the poor half asleep tamer.

"Adventure stuff mostly though sometimes…" Shin trailed off gazing at the ceiling.

Renamon glanced at the boy. "Sometimes…" she stated nudging the boy's thoughts back on her track.

"Every so often I get this itch, a twitch of sorts and I go look up another kind of story. Something that tugs on the heart strings and makes me feel warm. I guess it's just a left over impulse from when I learned that world isn't all sunshine and happy endings. And maybe now that I stand here in this place perhaps it is unrealistic to think that a happy ending is possible. I'm not like Takato or Henry or even that puffed up fluke of a legendary tamer Ryo. I'm just some screwed up kid with alcoholic father who beats me cause he's poor. I'm no superman like Takato is." Shin's admission made Rika step back slightly and Renamon to frown.

"Superman…I remember the story but then does that make him your hero?" The vulpine Digimon asked.

"I wouldn't be running round with a pair of Goggles strapped to my head if he wasn't. Takato isn't just a regular protagonist. He really is a modern Knight Renamon. Not as Gallantmon but just himself. He's polite, kind, loyal and honest, not to mention chivalrous. I…at least that's why I think he's a hero anyway" Shin shook his head laughing a little as he finished.

"I see…" Renamon replied glancing over at Rika who now had a slight crimson adorning her cheeks. "I can't say you're wrong…"

"Were you aware that a now crimson queen of Digimon was standing behind you?" BT piped up after having woken up.

Shin twitched and spun to see Rika frozen in place. A kind of feeling built inside him as he looked between partner and Tamer. It wasn't anger exactly but an odd unhappy feeling for sure. "Come on BT get a move on we have things to do" Shin stated trying unsuccessfully to level his voice to an even tone instead of an angry one.

BT looked to Rika and then sadly to Renamon as if disappointed in the fox. "Ok…I knew coming back here was a bad idea" he mumbled.

Rika knew she had obviously offended and hurt him but something inside her kept her from speaking as the two left. 'I…damn it! Why does this always happen?' the violet eyed girl thought looking to her partner who seemed to feel the same.

End of chapter two…to be continued.