Hiya folks…I know this took really long to come up, but a horrible tragedy struck me down in my moment of ultimate glory! I was practically finished with the chapter when something worse than even writers block happened to me! For those of you with weak hearts, skip the following sentence… My entire collection of stories…everything (including the stories I'm reading and all those that I wrote) was deleted from my computer! And I mean totally deleted! From the Recycle bin too so there's no way I can get them back!!! So please don't blame me for taking long, cause I had to re-write everything.
Anyway…I would like to tell 'Wings of Jade' that my story is not as imperfect as you say it is! First of all, when Evareámon said his brother would avenge him…I meant to say 'brothers', which implies that the rest of the Devas would get revenge. So my count of Fifteen Devas is quite correct. Secondly, Rika and Ryo don't tease each other that much and besides…if you want me to turn Rika into a 'blonde-haired-blue-eyed-wuss' then just say so, cause I just thought that just because she and Ryo are friends, doesn't mean Rika has to change the way she acts completely. I always thought her comments rather playful. I hope that answered everything and I hope you know that I don't intend on changing anything.
Right, now that that's over with…down to the next chapter…again. (sorry A/N was so long) PS to Amethyst Blizzard: You are right on the money and as of yet, the only person to have figured that out. Thanks for reading my ficJ.
Chapter Dealing with the factsRika sat back against a fallen log in the park, staring out at the lake that was shimmering peacefully in the morning sun. Her eyes drifted shut as she listened to the peaceful sounds of the park. Birds where singing softly in their nest and an occasional squirrel would scurry past her as it rummaged around for food. A sudden crunching on gravel made her eyes snap open again. She tilted her head back and sighed as one of her best friends made his way over to her.
"Hey Wildcat," he said in his usual caring tones. "Feeling any better?" He sat down beside her and a small smile dawned on her lips.
"Yeah, it's amazing how quick a healer I am," she chuckled lightly. Ryo smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, but that's not what I meant," he said gently. Rika tuned her head slightly and looked at him curiously. Then a realization dawned upon her.
"Oh," she said softly. "I…I guess I'm okay. I just want to know why I'm the Digimon Murderer." Ryo nodded his understanding. Rika sighed again and stared out over the lake. She had a hunch about why it was her and her hunches where usually right.
But that was so long ago, she thought sadly. Ryo watched her as she sat, thinking to herself. He reached over and touched her shoulder. Jumping slightly, Rika turned to him and smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, lost in my own thoughts," she said.
"Care to share them?" Ryo asked cautiously. Rika wasn't the type to tell people what was on her mind. Even Ryo, who had become closer to her than any of the Tamers, hardly ever managed to get her to open up. She glanced at him and sighed softly.
"Well, when Renamon first became my partner…I thought of Digimon as nothing more than data that was only good for battles. I searched the entire city and I killed every Digimon I could find." She paused and took a deep breath. Ryo looked at her intently; this was the first time she had ever told him about her life before she became friends with the Tamers. Sure, Takato and the others had mentioned her cold loner personality a few times before, but hearing it from Rika her self made it so much easier to believe.
"I had to be the best…the strongest. All I ever wanted was to be strong enough to beat you after I came in second to you at the Digimon Tournament. So I made Renamon fight every Digimon that Bio-emerged so that she could load their data and get stronger. When IceDevimon kidnapped me and tried to force me to be his Tamer, Goggle-head and Henry came to help me out. Renamon fought too…but just like before, I wasn't strong enough and Guilmon had to destroy him. After that I didn't want to have anything more to do with Digimon so I threw my D-power away. I suppose the Sovereign are after me because of all those Digimon that I killed." She took another deep breath and looked over the lake again. Ryo watched her carefully. He wanted to voice what he was thinking, but he couldn't find the right way to say it. He knew it wasn't her fault and he wanted to tell her that, but before he could, she spoke again.
"I had hoped that the Digital World would forgive me for my stupid mistake. I was so young and naïve back then. But I suppose what I did was unforgivable," she glanced up at Ryo and then looked back at the lake. The warm sunlight was playing across it, capturing every ripple in a soft twinkling light…so peaceful.
"None of this is your fault you know," Ryo finally managed to say. Rika looked up at him and for the first time that day, she held his gaze.
"I know that Zhuqiaomon doesn't exactly think to highly of us humans, but Azulongmon seemed to like us and so did the other Sovereign. There has to be more to this than there seems and we're gonna find out what it is…okay?" Ryo gave Rika a reassuring smile and she returned it.
"Thanks, Ryo. I suppose you're right." Ryo grinned at her cheekily.
"Of course I am. Aren't I always?" He chuckled. Rika rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh, kiss me before I kiss myself," she said sarcastically. Ryo grinned at her and they both laughed. Rika leant back into the log again, feeling like herself again.
"Hey you two!" Both Rika and Ryo turned to see Takato, Henry and Jeri walking up the hill towards them.
"Nice day huh?" Jeri smiled. She glanced at Rika and quickly averted her gaze. Rika shook her head and looked at the lake again.
"So, ready for another meeting?" Takato asked.
"Sure," Ryo said as he leant back as well. "But where are Kazu and Kenta?"
"I think they're probably still asleep," Henry said, checking his watch. Rika looked around for Renamon. She had been there a while before, but had mysteriously disappeared when Ryo had arrived.
"Renamon?" She called. Renamon materialized beside her.
"I'm right here, Rika." She said. Rika nodded and looked over at Takato and Henry.
"Where's Terriermon and Guilmon?" She asked.
"Back there," Henry said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the path. Rika listened carefully and her ears picked up the sound of Guilmon's voice.
"D'you think Takatomon brought me some peanut-butter?" He asked.
"Is that all you ever think about?" Said Terriermon's voice.
"Well, no. I think about bread a lot."
"Gee, like that's any different," Terriermon replied. They came over the hill and Guilmon ran over to Takato. Calumon, who had been riding on Guilmon's head, jumped up and glided over to Rika. He landed gently in her lap and smiled at her.
"Hello Rika, Rika," he said sweetly. Rika smiled at him and shook her head. Guilmon sniffed at Takato and smiled, a delighted growl escaping his snout.
"That nose of yours doesn't miss a thing does it, Guilmon," Takato chuckled. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a big bag of creampuffs and buns. Guilmon dug inside it and pulled out a bun. He bit into it and happily sat on the grass as he chewed at it. Calumon hopped off Rika's lap and ran to the bag. He pulled out a creampuff and ate it happily. Rika chuckled under her breath.
Nothing's changed, she smiled. Well…almost nothing. She turned to Ryo and cleared her throat. Looking away from where Terriermon and Guilmon were arguing over the last creampuff, Ryo faced Rika to see what she wanted.
"Where's Cyberdramon?" She asked. She had been wondering where he had gone to ever since the rest of the Tamers had arrived. Ryo smiled and looked up at the soft, pale blue sky.
"He's out on patrol," Ryo explained. "I'm going to fill him in on the meeting later."
"Which reminds me," Takato said as he turned to the group. "We really should discuss what we're going to do from here." The Tamers all fell silent, each at a loss for ideas. What could they really do? Other than wait that is. They couldn't go back to the Digital world and there was no way of knowing when the next Deva would Bio-emerge. To top things off, it seemed like each Deva was stronger than the last, which meant that they were going to have a hared time beating them all.
Getting thoroughly annoyed with the long silence, Rika let out a frustrated breath. The Tamers all turned to her.
"Look," she said seriously. "Now that we know that I'm the Digimon Murderer, there has to be something that we can do. After all, we were all fired up with ideas when we had no idea who we were fighting!" She turned to Henry.
"Come on Mister I'm-the-bearer-of-all-knowledge! You're the one with all the plans!" Henry stared at Rika in irritated amazement.
"Well what do you want me to say?" He asked impatiently. "Do you want me to tell everyone to fight you? I'm not always full of ideas Rika, I work with what I have and at the moment, we have nothing." Rika seemed slightly offended and for a moment, she fell silent and dropped her gaze. There was another short silence.
"You know, Henry," Ryo said slowly. "That isn't entirely true." The Tamers all looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Takato asked.
"Well," Ryo started. "Before, we didn't know who the Digimon Murderer was. Now we know its Rika. And at least now, we have most of our partners back." He looked over them all and then carried on.
"I don't know why it's Rika they're after and frankly, I don't care. The Sovereign didn't seem to hate us at all, even though some of them weren't exactly very fond of us. Something must have happened to them or to the Digital World that made them angry or scared. There has to be a reason why they suddenly want Rika destroyed. Maybe that's what we should be concentrating on. Not to mention the fact that we should be protecting Rika at all costs." Rika looked up at this.
"I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much," she said stiffly. Ryo turned to look at her.
"I'm quite sure you can Wildcat, but not against the Sovereign or these new Devas. At least not on your own." Rika couldn't seem to find an answer back to this. The truth was…Ryo was right. There was no way she could ever beat them all on her own. Just like before…she just wasn't strong enough.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Kazu."
"Yeah Kenta."
"Do you remember the weatherman saying anything about any sudden storms today?"
"No. Besides, I don't need the weatherman to tell me what the weather's gonna be like."
"Well then…could you tell me why this rain-cloud is so low?"
"Uh…I don't think this is a rain-cloud Kenta…"
A deep evil laugh boomed across the park drowning out the high-pitched screams of two terrified boys.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The Tamers all froze as the high shrieking laughter echoed across the empty park. They all looked at each other in terror. Cyberdramon suddenly landed beside Ryo.
"Ryo…" he growled. Ryo turned to Rika who nodded. Glancing at the other Tamers she sighed and shook her head.
"We may not have a plan…but these things are coming here for me and I will stop them." She paused for a second, looking at them all determinately. "With or without your help."
And with that, she and Renamon ran in the direction of the laughter with Ryo and Cyberdramon close behind.
"Takato?" Guilmon said. Takato looked at his friend. They seemed to come to an unspoken agreement and without another word, they hurried after Rika and Ryo. Henry sighed in frustration.
"Come on Terriermon. We better go help them before they get themselves killed." Terriermon grinned and hopped onto Henry's shoulder.
"All right, now we're cooking! Let's go!"
"Hey! Wait for me!" Jeri ran after them towards the growing digital field.
Whipping out her sunglasses, Rika slipped them on and ran straight into the digital field. Ryo appeared beside her wearing his own black shades.
"See anything?" He asked.
"Yeah…something's coming from over there," she said, pointing out in front of her. Sure enough, two figures were running towards them.
"They look to small to be Digimon…" Ryo cocked an eyebrow at them and frowned in thought.
"They aren't Digimon…they're human!" Rika gasped. They watched as Kazu and Kenta ran as fast as they could, not even pausing when they reached Rika and Ryo. They ran right past them and out of the digital field.
"Pathetic," Rika mumbled. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she doubled over grabbing her head as if she were in pain. She fell to her knees, her face contorted with pure agony.
"Rika!" Ryo dropped down beside her and grabbed her shoulders, turning her towards him.
"Rika, what' wrong?" He asked anxiously. Rika seemed unable to hear him. Her entire body was shaking and she was breathing heavily…almost gasping for air. A bright red light enveloped her and she shivered more intensely.
"No…" she muttered.
"What?" Ryo shook her shoulders lightly. "Rika, please tell me what's happening to you!"
"No!" She shouted. "Stop it!" Before Ryo could reply, another voice echoed around them.
"Not until you see the pain you caused…not until you feel the sorrow you brought to our world. Not until…you are destroyed!" Ryo looked around, his fear and anxiety rising with every second. And then it started. It was soft at first, almost inaudible, but the screams grew louder and louder until it seemed like the very air around them was screeching in the purest form of torture.
"Listen," said the voice. "Listen to the lives you destroyed. The final cries of every Digimon you deleted. You…a mere filthy human! You had no right to destroy them. You had no right to betray your masters! We are superior to you pathetic wretches! And now, because of your insolence, you must suffer!" Rika's cries seemed to be drowned within the screams of the Digimon.
"No! Get out of my head! Please…I." She shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks. Not knowing what else to do, Ryo pulled her into a tight embrace and held her to his chest.
"Don't listen to it, Rika. It's not true! Don't listen!" He held her as tight as he could, wondering how it was possible for anyone not to listen to this earsplitting noise. Still desperately trying to cover her ears, Rika shook her head again, burying her face into his chest to try and muffle the noise even further. The voice laughed evilly.
"Yes…taste the power of the fear you created in the lives of these Digimon. Taste their pain…their death!" The rest of the Tamers stared in horror as Rika cowered against Ryo, quivering with fear and pain. With a shaking hand, Takato held out his red and gold D-Ark. The round display appeared and a pictured formed on it.
"Varunamon," he read. "Mega-level. He's an ancient virus-beast type Digimon. His special attacks are Dark Delusion and Emblem of Fate." As he read, the massive form of Varunamon emerged from the shadows of the Digital field. His skin seemed to be made of black armor; it shimmered eerily in the darkness that had spread around the area. He had long white hair, falling down to his spike-armored shoulders, in thick dread-locks. His eyes were shielded from view by a helmet that covered his entire face. It was silver-black with crimson markings snaking their way across it. His long, clawed hands were dark grey and his talons were an evil black. On his feet were deep brown boots that seemed to melt into his ripped and torn black-grey pants. His long-sleeved black jacket had a sort of fur lining around the collar and it completely covered his neck. On his right sleeve was the picture of a white skull and on the left was a strange symbol in deep red. He had four belt-like straps around each leg and two around each arm. In his one hand he held a long black staff that was topped with a grim-reaper's blade. A long dark-grey tail swished back and forth behind him and two demonic wings were folded on his back. His entire being seemed to be wrapped in an eternal blanket of evil, black darkness. Ryo stared up at him, wide eyed. Varunamon laughed again. He raised his arm and waved it through the air. Blue-white flames materialized around Rika and Ryo and danced around them mockingly.
"Murderer…murderer," they whispered menacingly. The screaming seemed to have died down a little.
"Murderer…murderer." The chanting went on.
"No…I…I'm not a murderer," Rika whimpered.
"Murderer…murderer!" The chanting became louder and louder with each word. Rika shook her head.
"No..."
"Murderer…murderer!" The flames multiplied and the song went on even louder than before.
"No…stop it!"
"Murderer…murderer!!" Renamon swiped furiously at the flames, but her paw went right through them.
"Murderer…MURDERER!" Rika was on her feet, shaking with rage and sorrow.
"I am NOT a murderer!" She shouted. The flames danced around her. Growing bigger with every note of defiance in her voice. Her D-Power started glowing brightly. Renamon was at her side now. The glow spread to Rika's hands and up her arms. Ryo was on his feet and standing with Cyberdramon. The glow was spreading across Rika's chest and up her neck, overlapping the red light that had been covering her. Takato and Henry were there now. As the glow finally covered Rika completely, she held out her D-Power.
"Now we'll see who has the last laugh. Bio-merge activate!" She yelled. A bright blue light burst from her D-Power and swallowed her. Ryo, Takato and Henry echoed her words as they Bio-merged as well. Varunamon watched in a sort of lazy stupor as Sakuyamon, Justimon, Gallantmon and Megagargomon landed in front of him. He sighed and stood at the ready.
"If you would challenge me, then you only prove to me of your ignorance. I was going to make this quick…but now I am going to destroy you one by one! And you…" he pointed at Sakuyamon. "You will watch your friends suffer!"
"The only one that's going to suffer here is you!" Raising her staff, Sakuyamon raced forward. With a simple flick of his arm, Varunamon sent Sakuyamon flying back into Justimon. He caught her and helped her onto her feet.
"You okay?" He asked worriedly. Shaking him off, Sakuyamon stood up and growled angrily.
"Come on," Justimon said. "Let's take him out…together!"
"Right!" Gallantmon raised his hand and it morphed into a huge lance.
"Lightning Joust!" A huge ball of blue electricity formed at the tip. Stepping back slightly, Gallantmon threw his arm forward and the attack hurtled towards Varunamon.
"Mega Barrage!" Guns opened all over Megagargomon's body and hundreds of missiles erupted from them.
"Thunder Clap!" Justimon slapped his hand to the ground and a stream of electricity shot towards Varunamon's feet.
"Amethyst Wind!" A vicious wind swirled from Sakuyamon's body; in it were thousands of sharp, light purple petals. The four attacks all hit Varunamon dead on and they exploded in a stream of white light. The Tamers all cried out in victory.
"Alright! That was easier than I thought it'd be!" Gallantmon said happily.
"Yeah!" Megagargomon agreed.
"Don't celebrate quite yet," said a deep voice. They all turned and gasped. Varunamon stood in the midst of all the smoke from the explosion…with not a scratch on him.
"What! This isn't possible! We…we all hit him straight on!" Sakuyamon said in shock. Varunamon laughed.
"You didn't think that those puny attacks would hurt me, did you?" He chuckled. "You really are pathetic fools." He raised his staff and drew a huge pentagram in the air. At each point of the star, a symbol identical to the one on his left shoulder, materialized in inky crimson lines. In the center, a larger symbol formed and it started glowing brightly.
"Emblem of Fate!" He called. The symbols on the star points were drawn into the center one and it glowed more fiercely. From the middle of the symbol, a tiny dot of white appeared and it grew larger and larger until it filled the entire pentagram. The light exploded out of the symbol and flew at the Tamers. As it hit them, it caused another explosion, this one more powerful than the one before. The light faded and the dust cleared…to reveal all of the Tamers lying on the ground. They struggled slowly to their feet and looked up at Varunamon in horror. He was much stronger than any of the Devas they had fought yet. Shaking with the effort of staying on her feet, Sakuyamon raised her staff again.
"Rika stop!" Ryo cried from within Justimon. "He's too strong!"
"You're going to get yourself killed!" Henry called. Ignoring their protests, Sakuyamon face Varunamon.
"Y…you will not harm my friends w…while I still draw breath!" She glowed brightly and her wounds seemed to heal themselves. The light around her spread and covered the entire area. It showered over the Tamers, healing their wounds and restoring their strength. Varunamon tried desperately to shield himself from it.
"What's this?!" He shouted. Sakuyamon swiped her staff through the air.
"You will feel the pain of the twin blades! Of beauty…" a long curving stream of gold formed in the air. "…And truth!" Another stream of golden light formed in the air. They formed a double lined circle around Sakuyamon. It grew and passed though Varunamon. He yelled in pain as the light passed through him.
"Now!" Sakuyamon called.
"Right! Everyone! Attack him together!" Gallantmon shouted. He moved his shield in front of his body. The triangles started lighting up one by one.
"Shield of the Just!" A massive, red beam burst from his shield and tore up the ground as it soared across the battlefield.
"Gargo-Missiles!" The two huge missiles on Megagargomon's shoulders shot out and flew at him. The solemn looking rabbit-like faces smiled as they flew at Varunamon.
"Thunder Blade!" A blade sprang from Justimon's arm and he whipped it through the air. A massive volt of electricity lashed through the air and joined Gallantmon's attack. Just as the combination of Gallantmon and Justimon's attacks hit Varunamon, Megagargomon's missiles exploded directly in his face. He yelled in pain again and fell to one knee. He was covered in injuries and his jacket was in rags. His helmet had chunks missing from it and one of his eyes was exposed. The iris was completely white.
"He…he's blind!" Sakuyamon said in shock. Varunamon stood up and dusted himself off. He chuckled lightly as he did.
"Very observant of you. However that will not save you. I may be blind but I will always know where you are. I hear your every move. It is impossible to defeat me!" He lifted his arms to the skies and his staff hovered above him.
"Dark Delusion!" His staff spun in the air, faster and faster until it was nothing but a blur. There was a flash and then a dark, midnight blue veil started spreading from it.
"Don't let it touch you!" Gallantmon called to the others. Sakuyamon swiped her staff through the air again, forming the double lined circle again. It revolved around the Tamers and tore through the inky veil as it approached them.
"Everyone, make as much noise as you can! Confuse him!" Megagargomon shouted. Amidst all the screams of the Digimon Rika had killed before, Gallantmon ran circles around Varunamon, dragging his lance across the tar and creating a high pitched screeching noise. Almost like nails being dragged across a chalkboard. Megagargomon shot missile after missile at Varunamon, some colliding and others missing. Each one made a shrill whistling sound as they flew.
"You…you think I won't be able to hear you through this?" Varunamon shouted. He spun around just in time to raise his staff and lock weapons with Justimon. Sparks flew around them, their faces mere inches apart. The power between them was flowing, becoming intensely hot. Thrusting his arm forward, Varunamon pushed Justimon away and sent him skidding across the gravel. Justimon dug his feet into the ground and he slowed to an almost immediate stop. Thinking he had relieved himself of the threat, Varunamon turned away to listen for the other Tamers. The noise they were making was becoming hard to ignore. He suddenly felt to sharp blows to his back and neck.
Sakuyamon and Justimon had attacked him in his disorientated sate and he cried in pain, falling to his knees.
"Ok, attack him now!" Henry shouted.
"Shield of the Just!"
"Thunder Clap!"
"Amethyst Wind!"
"Gargo-Missiles!" Varunamon swiped his clawed hands through Sakuyamon's attacks, but wasn't fast enough to stop the others. The three attacks combined into one unstoppable force and as they hit Varunamon, they burst into a fiery dome around him.
"By destroying me…you have only proven my master right. You truly are…a murderer!" The light cleared and they saw the last of Varunamon's data disappear. The four Tamers returned to their separate forms and stood by their Digimon. Rika however stood alone in the center of the battlefield. The once beautiful park was now torn apart. Trees had been uprooted, small stands and benches torched.
Her shaking knees gave way beneath her and Rika slipped to the ground. Her arms hung limply at her sides as she stared straight ahead. Shoulders heaving faintly, she fell forward, holding herself up with just her hands and knees. Her fingers, spread flat on the ground, drew in and her hands balled into fists. She was shivering slightly as she breathed in the dusty air. Ryo took a step towards her and knelt down beside her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. She jerked it form his grasp and turned her face away from him.
"He was right…" she whispered. "I…I killed him after all." Not waiting to let Ryo or anyone else say anything, Rika stood up and, holding her arms in a defensive self-hug, she walked silently out of the park, her D-Power lying on the hard, cold tar.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N- Hello. Me again! So, did you like my chapter? I got kinda creeped out when I was writing the description of Varunamon. I sorta pictured him like a black biker thing, only different…you know what I'm saying? Anywho, I hope you like it…oh yeah! I just remembered. To all of you who are reading (and enjoying) my story…thank you SO much. Your reviews make it so much more fun to write this!! And I'm sure most of you are gonna hate me in the next chapter…but to bad! I won't say why though…you'll have to review and then wait and see! Ha ha ha!!
Cheers!!