Edit: 22/12/09. Fixed largely for the sake of consistency. My main focus was the introduction of Renamon/Rinny because I always felt that bit was a bit cliched and contrived, although I still like the thought of her and Terriermon together - it amuses me as long as I don't have to concern myself with the physics involved.
"Before criticizing someone you should try walking a mile in their shoes. This way, when you do criticise them, you'll be a mile away and have their shoes."
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Someone Else's Shoes – Collaboration
"I could be the one for you . . . if only you'd open your eyes . . ."
Rika's eyes remained closed as she felt herself returning to consciousness.
She could feel a bright light glaring down on her, but she wasn't quite ready to greet it yet. She just needed a few more minutes more and she'd be awake.
'Awake,' Rika thought pensively to herself. 'That means I was asleep at one point. Which means . . .'
". . . It was all a dream," she muttered to herself aloud as a small smile formed on her face. She took great comfort in her conclusion.
It was all a dream. Henry's cool attitude. Jeri's new found freedom. Takato's general absence. And 'Written in the Stars'. None of it was real. It was nothing but an illusion – some sort of twisted fantasy, or better still, a nightmare she was more than happy to wake from.
It was all just a part of her unconscious, but she'd be ok know that she was awake. She could get back to life as normal, and not have to worry about such a dreadful dream.
"I think she's coming round," she heard Jeri whisper.
"Are you sure?" another asked. The voice seemed familiar, but indefinable. Rika heard a slight shuffle of feet as the two moved closer.
'I wonder what they're doing in my room,' Rika thought to herself before she paid more attention to her unseen surroundings.
She was starting to get the feeling that they weren't in her room at all. She was lying upon something hard – something that couldn't possibly be her own bed. It felt like there was nothing at all between her and her treasured oak floors. And she was cold, which she shouldn't be unless she had thrown her covers away during the night – Rika was not at all prone to do so, and always woke up warm and cosy.
'Maybe I fell out somehow during the night,' Rika tried to reason to herself. But if so, why did the floor she was lying upon feel suspiciously like concrete?
Very slowly and cautiously she opened her violet eyes, only to be met with a bright light burning into her irises. After a few moments, her eyes were able to adjust and she was able to make out the tall ceiling to which the bright, white artificial bulbs were attached.
Next Jeri came into view, still beautifully adorned but somewhat more modestly. The see-through chiffon, full length skirt had been switched for an opaque pencil skirt that sat low on her hips, revealing just how low her neckline was prone to do. The bathing suit was now laced up about half-way, and she wore a short bolero jacket over her shoulders. Her fascinator had been switched for cocktail hat in the same colour as her suit, thus maintaining her Noir look.
Sadly, this just made things all the more clearer for Rika. She was asleep – probably fainted from shock – and now she was awake, but she was in the same place she left. None of it was a dream, instead a cruel and twisted reality.
"Are you ok now, Rika?" Jeri asked with a slight note of concern in her voice.
"I think so," Rika replied.
"Oh, Wika," called a third figure cried out dramatically, pushing Jeri aside so she could drape herself over Rika in a mockery of concern. "I was eva thso wowwied. Wasn't I, Henwy?"
Rika blinked several times in shock as she watched the young girl turn to Henry, waiting for him to make the appropriate response. The girl was much younger than the rest of them – probably only in her early teens – but it was hard to tell through the make-up caked on the young girls face. She was dressed entirely in pink, right down to her oversized pink purse in which she carried a bichon frise.
"Excessively so, Suzie," Henry replied blandly rolling his eyes at her antics and slouching nonchalantly against a nearby pole. "You were more worried than anyone else. Almost ridiculously so."
'Suzie,' Rika gasped in her mind. 'It couldn't be.' But it had to be. Everything seemed to point to this being the same little girl that would greet her chirpily whenever she went to see Henry, and talk to on the phone. The same girl that called her 'Princess Rika' just to glean a reaction from her brother and played 'Pwincess Pwetty Pwance' with Terriermon.
The same girl that adored her brother almost as much as Rika did was now glaring daggers at him momentarily, before turning back to Rika with more of that false concern flashed across her features. "Oh, Wika," Suzie continued dramatically, wrapping her arms around the woman in a crushing hold. "I'm just thso gwad you're awight."
Jeri rolled her eyes. "You do know you don't have to talk like that all the time," Jeri muttered to the young teen. "It's only for the show, Suzie, and it's even more annoying in real life."
Suzie turned briefly from Rika. "Like I don't already know that," Suzie replied almost sarcastically in an emotionless tone as she flicked her hair over her shoulder. "My publicist told me it makes me look cuter and is going to help sell my new line of clothing.
"So sthod off, Jewi," Suzie replied overly sweet, reverting to her speech impediment.
Rika couldn't believe this. Seeing her cute little honorary sister practically cursing almost sent her into another fainting fit.
"What's wrong, Rika?" the 'undefinable' voice from before asked with what actually seemed like genuine concern – it was the only voice that sounded even close to being sincerely worried about her well being. "You look at if you've just seen a ghost."
She turned to reply to the person, but her jaw dropped even lower at the sight she beheld. She was not prepared for what she saw, that is, for Ryo Akiyama adorned in the tightest pair of leather pants she had seen in her life, and a loose fitting orange shirt. He looked like some weird cross between a bullfighter and a bumblebee, yet at the same time he looked like the height of fashion. It was a strange mix.
She just nodded silently, not trusting her voice, and not trusting herself not to burst out suddenly with laughter.
"Come on," Jeri said, lifting Rika to her feet. "We've got the rest of the day off, and I think we should shop."
"Je-Jeri," a new voice offered nervously, every word laced with anxiety. "A-as, R-Ri-i-ka's m-man-a-ger and ag-ent, I-I r-r-real-ly f-think it wa-would b-be best f-for he-her t-to rest up f-for the rest of the day."
Jeri sighed huffily. "Fine, Takato," she sighed, sending a snooty look at a gaunt looking gentleman in a neatly pressed suit. Not a hair on his head was out of place, and if not for Jeri addressing him by his name, Rika never would have recognised him for who he was.
"You're no fun," Jeri continued, pouting sultrily at the suited man as she playfully glided her hand down his chest. Takato jumped away from her touch, giving her a frightened look.
"I-I'll g-go get R-r-rinny," he stuttered, taking the opportunity to dash away from Jeri faster than Rika would have thought possible. That really brought her back. Jeri quickly gave Rika a look that seemed to say 'see what I mean', probably referring back to their earlier conversation.
"Oh well," Jeri sighed, wrapping her arm around Ryo's waist. "I guess it's just you and me, boyfriend."
"You know I'd love to, dahling," Ryo replied flamboyantly, "but I've got a gym class in an hour that I just wouldn't miss for the world. You should see the instructor's ass. Buns. Of. Steal," he finished pointedly, almost drooling at the thought.
Rika tried to withhold a shudder.
Jeri shrugged indifferently, obviously determined to go shopping regardless of who was available to go with her. "Feel better, love," she said quickly to Rika as she said farewell by way of another set of air kisses. Without further ado, she was on her way, gesturing for Henry to call her as she left.
This induced another shudder from Rika.
"Shall we go, Miss. Rika?" an older woman asked as she approached the group. She was a yellow-blonde woman of about thirty years, with violet eyes and an almost ridiculously tall form.
Rika recognised her almost immediately. It was Renamon – her digital partner. It was the person she had hoped to see most over the past five years. Without thinking about how strange it might be, Rika threw herself at 'Rinny' and wrapped the older woman in a tight hug.
"I'm so glad to see you," she said quietly as she tightened her embrace on the woman.
Rinny blinked in surprise as she gently pushed herself away. "Are you ok, Miss. Rika?" she asked gently.
"Oh . . . uh . . . yes," Rika said uneasily as she realized that every one was staring at them.
Henry snorted obnoxiously. "Do us all a favour and get a dictionary, Nonaka," she heard Henry mutter as he pushed away from the pole he was leaned against. Rika's eyes narrowed at him as she watched his retreating figure. Gone were the longing looks of old – this thing wasn't Henry, and it wasn't worthy of them.
"The limo is this way," Rinny offered awkwardly, trying to distract Rika from her death glare. She nodded and followed the former digi-fox to the waiting limosine.
"You don't have any other appointments for today," Rinny spoke precisely as the drove along, narrating the schedule of the following days. "Tomorrow your wake up call is set for . . ."
And so it continued much along the same line until suddenly Rika stopped her mid-sentence.
"I'm sorry for before," Rika said quickly. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable . . . it's just . . . I haven't seen her in ages . . . and to see you . . ." Rika trailed off as a silent sob raked through her body, tears falling from her eyes. It had been so long since she had cried like this, especially in front of someone, but she missed Renamon so much and to see her now was like the silver lining to an other wise cloudy existence.
"I . . . it's ok," Rinny replied awkwardly, giving Rika a suspicious look.
"You're not her, are you?" Rinny asked after a moment of observing Rika. "You look like her, and you sound like her. But you're not. You're nothing like her."
"I'm not," Rika admitted, not even trying to hide the truth. If there was anyone she could trust with her secret, it was Renamon.
"Who are you then?" Rinny asked. "Where is she?"
"I don't know," Rika answered honestly. "I guess I'm her, but from somewhere else where things are different. I thought this was what I wanted, but I was so wrong," she said sadly. "I just want Henry."
Rinny gaped as Rika told her whole story, starting with the digimon and the digital world, and ending with her and Henry and how she wanted them to be more than friends.
"So in your world, there's no 'Written in the Stars', there's just you and Henry, like that?" Rinny asked in summary.
Rika nodded. "I know it seems strange to think given your Henry, but if you saw him in my world, you'd understand how easy it is to fall for him," Rika explained with a sad, whimsical look on her face. "He's so smart, and kind, and he always puts others first. He really is perfect."
"I guess he means a lot to you," Rinny nodded thoughtfully.
Rika nodded. "Well, what about you?" she asked, forcing cheer into her voice. "You got anyone special."
Rinny blushed as she realized a commonality between Rika's story and her own life. "Just my husband," she said, trying to keep her tone casual. "Terry."
"No," Rika gaped, a true smile pulling onto her lips. "Not the bunny-dog. I thought you two hated each other."
"So did I," Rinny said with a laugh. "He was always so mean to me. He used to go out of his way to embarrass me in front of other guys, but it turns out that was his way of showing that he loved me."
"So you married Terriermon," Rika mused. "Sorry, Terrence Monet."
"And we have a son," Rinny said quietly. "Gulliver."
"Redhead?" Rika asked, to which Rinny nodded with a painful look. "Loves peanut butter? A little on the slow side?"
"Oi, that's my son you're talking about," Rinny said defensively.
"Sorry," Rika laughed. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just the Guilmon I remember used to be a bit gullible."
"I suppose he is," Rinny admitted in defeat. "And Terry just loves to take advantage of it. You wouldn't believe the tricks he'll play on his own son."
Rika laughed again. "I'm sorry, I just can't get past the fact that you and Terriermon are an item."
"It's not the same," Rinny argued.
"Does he use the word 'momentai' as the answer to all of life's problems?" Rika asked seriously.
"Maybe," Rinny sulked.
"Then it's the same Terriermon, and you're the same Renamon, and you two are an item," Rika exclaimed joyously.
"I'm glad you're happy," Rinny said warmly. "It must be because of what I am to you in your world, but I feel so obliged towards you. As though it were my duty to protect you from all harm."
"Must be," Rika answered quietly before the two lapsed into silence.
Rika used the silence to take stock of everything she learnt that day.
First, there was Henry: the class A jerk. Her sweet and caring, compassionate and wise Henry was nothing more in this world than an arrogant, misogynistic prick who didn't give a damn about anyone or anything. His whole attitude bespoke of superiority and a desire to simply squash anything that got in his way.
Then there was Jeri: Queen of the fashionista's and a modern day woman. The Jeri she knew was sweet, reliable and reserved. She was a shy girl who wouldn't even dare to make a move on a boy who she knew was in love with her until he acted first. This Jeri was a woman who knew what she wanted and went for it without reservation. She wasn't tied down by her emotions, and she was a flourishing social butterfly draped in a style all her own.
Next came Takato: the bundle of nerves. The Takato she knew exuded confidence – except when it came to Jeri – and was never seen without a smile on his face. He was sure of himself and had a carefree nature. That nature was completely gone from what Rika had seen. He was so anxious, barely able to get a word out without stuttering and shying away from any form of personal contact. He was suffering, and it made Rika sad to think of him this way.
Ryo was a surprise. He was a womanizer and flirt and a complete jerk most of the time, and that hadn't really changed all that much except for the fact that he now applied his flirting skills to the same gender. He looked almost as fashionable as Jeri, although in a stereotypically gay way.
Finally, Suzie: the pre-teen drama queen. Her wonderful, cheerful honorary little sister Suzie had become this little monster treating people like things that could be used to get her to where she wanted. Her little show of concern had been nothing but that – a show, although for what purpose, Rika would never know. The gentle naivety Rika always saw when she looked at Suzie was replaced with someone jaded and wise to the dark ways of the world, and she wondered what had happened to make her such a pessimist.
Renamon truly was the only silver lining in this world. Even though she wasn't the same, the ex-digi-fox brought a comfort to Rika that she was grateful for. She didn't know how much longer she could have withstood this world without it.
"We're here," Rinny said, jarring Rika from her thoughts.
Rika nodded, waiting patiently as the driver opened her door and revealed a large Victorian style mansion complete with cobblestone walkways and immaculate gardens. Rika didn't know how she was going to survive in such a place.
"The locks are voice activate, so no worries there," Rinny whispered, making sure nobody heard as she walked her boss to the front door. "You don't generally call your staff by their names, but just in case the butler is named Halstead and the head maid Delores. Your bedroom is on the third floor in the left wing. There's nobody here but you."
"Thank you," Rika said quietly.
Rinny nodded. "Everything will be ok, just get some rest. You'll see." And with that the car drove away, taking her only ally with it.
~ to be continued ~
Aren't I good? I even included a summary of the new characters for your enjoyment and worked it in as though it were part of the story. This is the last of the re-writes, so from this point forward it's all from scratch. I hope to have new chapter up by the end of the week, so watch out for it.
Notes:
Um . . . don't think there is anything in this one. I guess if I think of something I'll add it later.
Next chapter: Flight of the Concordes