Hey there! I'm back with another instalment I am so gonna revise this story coz damn…it's really bad o0 absolutely no form or structure and the plot is so…flighty. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?! Oh well, I'll finish it anyway I'm sure you'll all be happy to know that this chapter is dedicated almost entirely to Ryuki fluff and I've worked out what will be happening from here on and I've estimated the story to be another ten (this one included) chapters long. We're almost there . Anywho, enough rambling. On with the show. P.S I'm seriously pissed off with coz it refused to let me load my chapters!!! Stupid internet…

Chapter 24

The Man behind the Mirror

Two weeks after the attack found the Tamers having resumed their training in the safety of the Temple. The dual digivolution training had been halted after a week's worth of absolutely no progress and they had started more advanced duelling instead. Rika found that, though Ryo was physically stronger than she was, she was far faster and more agile than he, which made them an even match in a fight. She had opted to train with twin broad swords that could connect into one blade while Ryo had chosen a silver heavy blade that looked far too large for him.

Today, however, they had taken a break from training and she and Ryo were under a weeping willow beside the river in the lush forest. It was quiet and peaceful and Rika felt more relaxed than she had since this entire ordeal had started. It felt strange to be lying there, her head in his lap while he quietly read a book he'd found in the Temple, when just two weeks ago they had all very nearly died. The book held a record of the Digital World's history but Rika wasn't really listening. The warmth of the day and the peace all around them was lulling her to sleep and listening to the sound of Ryo's soft voice was only fuelling her drowsiness. She let out a gentle sigh and let her eyes drift shut.

"Rika?"

"Hmm?" She shifted slightly and turned her head to look up at him through half-open eyes.

"You're not listening to a word of this are you?" He was smirking down at her and she smiled lightly, shaking her head no.

"Sorry," she muttered sleepily, not really sorry at all. She had been listening, just not to what he had been saying.

"You want me to stop?" He asked, reaching down to untie her hair before running his fingers through it. She shook her head no and he smiled.

"Alright." He opened the book again but simply stared at the pages for a moment. She knew he was thinking about something but didn't pry; he would tell her eventually. His fingers started in her hair again and she suppressed a small smile. She never would have pegged herself to be one to enjoy being…petted, but she had to admit that it was rather nice. Her eyes started drifting as she waited for Ryo to tell her what it was he was thinking about. She found herself studying the contours of his face, memorising every detail. Why had she never noticed the small scar along his jaw line? Or the single, dark freckle that was partially hidden in his right eyebrow? She watched his furrowed brows and the light wrinkling in his nose. She was used to this expression. He always looked that way when he was really concentrating. The link they shared was providing her with an under current of his emotions and she could tell that he wasn't at all upset or worried. On the contrary he seemed quite nervous. This confused her but she kept quiet, waiting for him to speak.

It was a comfortable silence and the day had been incredible comfortable and…nice. She found she very much enjoyed simply spending time with him. Being with Ryo was calming and comfortable and he made her feel safe in a way she had never felt before. It was strange and new to her but she knew she liked it.

Shifting slightly in his lap, Rika sighed and looked up at the forest canopy above them. Rays of light were breaking through the trees at odd places, catching the river's surface and lighting the area in dim, sparkling light.

This place, in Rika's opinion, had to be the closest thing anyone could possibly come to heaven.

Feeling Ryo shift beneath her, she looked back up at him to find his eyes already trained on her. He was studying her carefully and she smiled up at him lightly. Though neither of them had said as much, Rika knew that she loved Ryo beyond words and that he loved her just as much. What she felt for him ran far too deep to be anything other than love. She could feel the under current of his emotions and knew all too well he could feel hers. It had become some unspoken secret between them. When he returned her smile, his eyes softening, she knew he was ready to tell her what it was he'd bee thinking of.

"You're beautiful," he near whispered and her smile widened ever so slightly. She'd never admit it but she loved it when he said that.

"Rika, reading this book has made me think a lot about what we're trying to do." He paused here, thinking hard about how to phrase what he wanted to say. "I remember what Vahimermon told us about the four Digimon that tried the Dual Digivolution last time and about what happened to me and I…" He paused again, but Rika knew it was for a different reason this time. She sat up and turned to him, motioning for him to continue. He was nervous. Taking a deep breath, he sat up a little straighter and looked her right in the eye.

"Vahimermon told us that the last four Digimon that tried this died from the strain. This book doesn't quite agree but it does say that they disappeared. When no one could find them it was assumed that they had died. And now, we're trying to do the same thing. We're trying to do the very thing that destroyed possibly the strongest Digimon in recorded history." She watched him closely, not really understanding what it was he was trying to say. Seeing this, Ryo shifted forward and grasped her hands in his, staring down at them as he ran his fingers over her palms. The contrast was strange. His hands were slightly roughened from his time in the Digital World while hers were impossibly soft. And yet they fit perfectly together.

When Rika squeezed his hands lightly to get his attention, he looked up at her and grinned sheepishly, realising he had been staring.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is…I'm scared." Of all the things she had thought he might say this was the most unexpected. Ryo scared? But then, she realised she knew what he meant. She had thought of the very same thing but she hadn't let herself dwell on the possibilities. She was doing what she was doing in order to survive.

"Ryo, I know that doing this is a huge risk and that we could all die trying, but if we don't do this, we'll die anyway. There's no way we could ever fight the sovereign as we are now. They're just too strong." He sighed and shifted back toward the willow's trunk, pulling her to him. She turned in his arms so that she was lying against his chest and leaned her head back. Had anyone told her that she would be so affectionate with Ryo a few weeks ago, she would have laughed at them.

But fighting for your life changed a person.

"I know," he whispered. "But I only just got you and I don't want to ever lose you. If you died…" He swallowed hard here and took another deep breath. "I love you, Rika…" Even though she had known, even though she had felt it, hearing Ryo say that lit a fire of joy in Rika's chest that burnt white hot and threatened to explode within her. She turned her head towards him and her smile was radiant. He was gazing down at her, his eyes so full of emotion that it almost overwhelmed her. Never in her life had she felt such incredible joy. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, leaning even closer when she felt his arms tighten around her.

I love you too, she thought happily, knowing that he would hear her perfectly. She could feel him smiling against her mouth and it sent shivers up her spine. When at last they separated she had shifted right around so that they were pressed chest to chest and he had his hands knotted in her hair. Her own hands were locked around his neck and she used this pull herself closer to him, tucking her head securely under his chin. That bright fire in her chest was still raging and it was leaving her feeling incredibly…bubbly. She wanted to laugh and jump and shout to the world, but she would never do something so terribly air-headed. So she satisfied herself by breathing him in and knowing that, despite what might be yet to come, he was there with her now, and he loved her.

"Rika…" she lifted her head to look at him and cocked her head slightly to one side. He smiled at her, loving that adorable little motion of hers. Clearing his throat slightly he swallowed again and she knew there was more he wanted to tell her. "I know that we haven't been together all that long and that…we're really too young but…I just wanted to promise you something…" She felt her heart skip a beat and her breath caught. Was he about to say what she thought he was? Feeling her shock he smiled down at her.

It's not what you think, Pumpkin…well not entirely anyway. She nodded for him to continue, though she was still finding it hard to breathe.

"I just want you to know that I'll never leave you…no matter what might happen. You mean more to me than I could ever say and I never want to lose that." Even though it hadn't been a direct proposal, Rika knew all to well that it had been hidden in his words. He had just promised her they would one day, if she wanted to, get married. She felt her heart would burst with this new joy. She was terrified at the very idea of marriage and yet she felt that with Ryo, it wouldn't be so scary. She loved him and she knew that he would never intentionally hurt her. She could definitely see herself spending her life with him. But for now, his promise would suffice. Smiling up at him, she leaned into him again and this time their kiss was more gentle; more loving.

The sun suddenly set and they were enveloped in darkness. But the area was softly lit with what appeared to be some sort of faerie lights. Perhaps the digital version of fireflies? Whatever they were they cast a gentle glow on the river and the rippling reflection of the water made the entire area look almost unreal in its beauty. When they separated again, Rika looked up at him and his smile sent more shivers down her spine. She found herself lying on her back in the cool grass and as she gazed up at him, knew something truly amazing was about to happen. At that moment she felt she stood sorely corrected.

This was the closest anyone could come to heaven.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"So, you've found yourself a nice little boyfriend to play with." A dark figure sat, watching the pathetic little interaction between Rika and the pretty boy she had so innocently fallen for, in a room crowded with computers.

"Pathetic." He turned off the monitor and wheeled his swivel chair to another screen. Row upon row of numbers, letters and strange symbols were streaming across the screen and he smirked evilly.

"Yes, it's working perfectly. Those useless little sovereign won't be breaking free of this code anytime soon." He moved closer to this computer and his hands flew across the keyboard, checking for even the most miniscule mistake in his 'perfect code'. Finding none, he stood from his chair and moved away from the computers. The room, which otherwise would have been utterly dark, was lit by the screens of his man computers and electronic hook ups. Moving towards a small section of the room that was not fit to burst with computers, he stood in front of what appeared to be a small shrine.

A shrine to Rika Nonaka.

The area was lit by many little candles, revealing news paper clippings, photos, what appeared to be a hand made doll and a Digimon card deck identical to her own. In the very centre of this shrine stood a television set. Moving towards this the figure lifted a cassette to a small VCR placed on top of the television and slipped it in. The television flickered to life and a recording of a Digimon Battle Championships appeared on the screen. It appeared to be one from three years ago, when Rika had been fourteen and an Ice Queen. She was battling a young, brown haired boy that appeared to be perhaps a year or two older than her. He seemed utterly transfixed by her and wasn't paying any attention to the game. When it came to his turn and he continued to stare at her she would snap at him to play or pay attention and he would make a move just so that he could get back to watching her. The figure growled irritably and shook his head.

"That little vixen doesn't even know what she does to people. But it won't matter for long. I'm not going to let her keep doing it." He moved away from the shine, leaving the recording running. He moved towards the door to the room and when he reached it, turned back to look at the first computer. He glared at the sight or Rika and her pretty boy going at it and snorted in disgust; soon.

Soon she wouldn't be able to defile her innocence and beauty like that. Soon, she would be preserved from all the sins of life. Soon, he would know that he had done his part to save her from herself and the evils of the world.

Soon.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

When Ryo woke it was morning and the sun had risen around them. His sleep addled mind tried hard to process why he was outside and why there seemed to be some sort of near weightless presence lying across his chest; but the answers were not forthcoming. Frowning, he blinked once, twice and then shook his head lightly. This movement, however, caused the soft weight lying on his chest to shift and let out a small, sleepy moan. Curious, he looked down and his eyes widened at what he saw.

Rika was lying snuggled up against his side, her head resting on his shoulder, half tucked under his chin. Her arm was lying across his chest and she was sleeping peacefully, a light smile playing at her lips. He could see light bite marks on her shoulders and neck and, now that he was more awake, he could feel the slight burning of his back where he knew she had scratched him.

He remembered all to well what had happened.

Flushing lightly at the memory but grinning like an idiot, he sighed contentedly and pulled her slightly closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Last night had been a really long night…but God had he enjoyed every second! His grin widening, Ryo rested his head against hers and relaxed, listening to the sound of the waking forest around them. It was still very early and he knew they were in no danger of being caught but the idea that they might made him feel a little too exposed. They hadn't intended to stay out all night so they had never brought anything to use as cover. This, of course, meant that they were lying under a tree, curled around each other with absolutely nothing hidden from any possible 'passers by'. If any of the Tamers did decide to come find them, they would get quite the eye full. Smirking lightly at this Ryo lifted his head as much as he could a looked down at the Goddess beneath him. He could find no better word to describe her. To him she truly was a Goddess.

She shifted again and he lay back down. He could tell she was waking up and he was sorry she was. He could've lain their for ever with her sleeping peacefully at his side. But her eyes flickered lightly before opening and she stifled a yawn by biting her lip. Stretching lightly she sighed and curled deeper against him.

"Morning," she said thickly and it sent a shiver up his spine.

"Morning." She moved a little away from him so that she could look him in the eye and gave him a shy smile. Ryo really liked that smile.

"How're you feeling?" He asked concernedly. He knew that he had hurt her and he was worried she might still be in pain.

"I'm alright." Her voice was husky from sleep (and overuse, he thought impishly) and he was finding it hard not to grab her all over again. He reached up and brushed his fingers through her hair, to calm himself just as much as to just touch her. He still found it hard to believe that they had done what they had. A shiver run through her body and he hugged her closer.

"Cold?" She nodded lightly.

"Yeah, a little." He grinned at this; she had good reason to be cold.

"Maybe we should get dressed…" She glanced up at him, a flush creeping across her cheeks and she smiled.

"Yeah, maybe." Neither of them moved. Rika yawned again, unable to stop herself this time and sighed as she shifted even closer to him. Things would be different between them now, but she didn't mind at all. She didn't regret what they had done for a second and she could feel that he didn't either.

Well of course he wouldn't, she thought wryly. He's a guy.

Hey, I resent that comment, Ryo said, smirking down at her. Rika chuckled and shook her head.

"Hey." She looked up at him and he smiled, leaning down to press a light kiss to her lips. "We really should get dressed."

Spoil sport, she thought with a mock pout. They moved apart and Rika flushed when she realised she didn't know where half her clothes were. Grinning lightly at this she glanced over to Ryo, who seemed to be searching for his boxers.

Oh yes, things would be very different now.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Well, that's that  Hope you liked it. I'm happy with this chapter. It came out just as I intended. Hope you guys got my few innuendos… XP You finally got to take a look at the real antagonist and his motives. I hope the whole fic is making more sense now…doubt it though  Stay tuned for the next instalment.

Cheers, gotta study for a test sighs in defeat

Thanks for the reviews and thanks to Forlorn Melody for her ever helpful critique. Your awesome girl!!

Luv you all!!!

Bye!