Myotis: Okay…let me start by apologizing for the previous chapter. I know it was short, and I should've put more effort into it. (This is why I hate myself most of the time.)
I know it isn't much of an excuse, but I've been going through some emotional problems lately along with depressive ones, and I just visited the doctor today(12/01/05) to find out what was physically hurting me when I wrote the chapter, and as it turns out I've contracted some common virus called Oste-something-or-other(I can't remember what she called it, and I can't read the handwriting. Go figure.), which is really rather painful, but temporary. But, as a way of apologizing, I'll make this chapter special in the sense that it will be longer than the others and have a lot more action in it. So…I'm really, really, really, really sorry!
Sarah: Okay, OKAY! I think get it already. Getting so upset isn't gonna help you get any better.
Myotis: Regardless, it's the truth. I am truly, very sorry. I HATE disappointing people…
Wraithmon: Not me, apparently.
Sarah: No one asked you, you dorky excuse for a phantom.
Wraithmon: What the..! Dorky! You little brat!
Sarah: Well, you are. Right, Myotis?
Myotis: Yes, but I suppose he's my dork.
Wraithmon: Grr…you two…just wait….you'll wake up frozen.
Myotis(Whispering): I wouldn't do that. She uses that flamethrower in place of a teddy bear.
Wraithmon: …Nevermind.
Myotis: Okay, time for more apologies…er, reviews…
Lady Azura: Sorry…but thanks for staying with me here. I really appreciate it.
CaliCallMePrincess: Yeah, I deserved that. You have every right to be angry with me…I'm really sorry… I promise to try harder from now on…
Myotis: Right then. Sarah, please do the honors.
Sarah: Okay. Myotis does not own Digimon. He owns only his own characters, like Ianu, Mareo, Dreadmon, FallenAngemon, Devamon the whole World of Deletion concept…the list goes on.
Myotis: Okay, then! Let's get this show on the road!
Digimon Tamers: Life's Pain and Death's Comfort
Chapter Four: The Beginning of a Spiteful Journey
"Ugh…how much longer do we have to go through this desert…? I can't stand it…"
Takato and the team had been trekking through the vast desert of the Southern Continent for hours. The heat seemed to be getting to all of them…save for Terriermon, who was sleeping on Henry's head.
"Knock off your whining, Gogglehead. You usually seem to be ready to take any kind of 'adventure' by the horns. What's with you?"
"It's just…so hot…"
Henry was staring at his D-Power with an understanding look.
"Well…this is interesting. It seems our demanding host has taken the liberty of installing new features into our D-Powers. One of them is something of a guide to the World of Deletion. This area, called The Desert of Sloth, has some strange effect on travelers. The heat from the sands causes energy to be drained twice as fast…physical or otherwise. So, he isn't thinking straight right now…I'm feeling very tired myself."
Rika displayed utter annoyance.
"What, he messed with my stuff? Ooh, he's gonna get it… But, what else is there?"
"Well, let's see…an updated Digimon databank…several maps…oh, a history section, that should be helpful…huh? 'Bestiary'? As in a book of monsters? What's that all about…?"
Rika thought back for a moment. She recalled one of the last things Ianu said to them before he left:
And do be careful…there are hostile forces at work here that are far more dangerous than the vengeful Digimon you may encounter in this world.
"…There's something that lives here other than Digimon. That's what he means."
Takato, now paying attention(and feeling a little better, as they were nearing the desert's edge), didn't quite get it.
"Okay…but what's he mean? I mean, Digimon are 'Digital Monsters', right? I mean, how bad could anything else be?"
A response came but not an answer. But, the voice seemed to come from all around them.
"Hmm…human boy, you know little."
All of them jumped immediately. This resulted in a rude awakening for Terriermon. Renamon began to stay in a rigid stance. Guilmon's viral side took over, and his eyes dilated while he growled. Rika, about dead sick of all of the surprises, was just about at her limit of patience for the day.
"Alright, whoever-the-heck-you-are, cut the drama and show yourself!"
A sigh was heard.
"…Very well, if you insist."
A small portion from all six of their shadows came together a few feet away from them. A shape began to form. A shape that looked like a well-built human shadow with bat wings, a long tail, extremely sharp claws, long, curled horns, and a two sets of bright yellow eyes, with an extra aqua colored eye above them manifested. Even stranger, the shadow was not on the ground. It was standing up.
"Greetings, guests of my Lord."
Takato, without answering(due to either confusion or fear, but who knows, maybe both.), pulled out his D-Power and pointed it at the odd being.
"Dreadmon…Group: Spirit, Level: Champion, Type: Virus, Specialty: Darkness, Techniques: Homunculus, Sin Tail, Shadow Stitch, and Dread Claw…we're in trouble, aren't we…?"
Rika got her cards ready.
"Yeah, right. He's just a Champion. We've seen tougher and taken 'em down."
Dreadmon fixed his gaze on her.
"So you wish to fight. Very well. None of the creatures here hold any challenge for me whatsoever."
Rika now had quite a smirk on her face, which made Takato and Henry worry.
"Heh, I'll take you on myself. Let's do this, you walking inkblot. Come on, Renamon!"
"I'm ready, but he seems powerful. Don't underestimate him, Rika."
"Yeah, whatever. Bring it!"
In a swift move, Dreadmon was behind Renamon, and smacked her with his tail. She began to rise, but found herself flat on the ground again, with Dreadmon's clawed foot resting on top of her.
"Pathetic. I do hope you can do better than this."
Rika was in a combined state of shock and frustration.
"Renamon, what the heck are you doing! Since when do you get beaten down so easily?"
"…Since I fight enemies that are much stronger than they look."
"Ugh! Whatever! Let's just even the odds!"
That said, Dreadmon was forced to step back as a bright light encased Renamon.
"Renamon, Digivolve to…Kyubimon!"
Dreadmon's three eyes now had a look that seemed to be surprised.
"Well! This is interesting. But does it make a difference…against this?
Homunculus!"
Small pieces of Kyubimon's shadow, three to be exact, separated from hers and came close to Dreadmon. They all took the form of Kyubimon's shadow, only much smaller…about ¼ her size.
"What are…those things? Henry, what is Rika thinking?"
"Well…the attack is called Homunculus, so I'm assuming that's what they are…Homunculi. A Homunculus is a living thing that was thought to be created through alchemy. But, why shadows…?"
"Alchemy…? Oh, the whole lead-to-gold thing… But what's he got to do with that?"
Dreadmon suddenly appeared in front of them, giving the two boys one heck of a start.
"You two. Kindly stop talking whilst I am engaged in combat. And for your information, my alchemy exceeds human limitations. Now be silent."
Terriermon popped right up into the annoyed Digimon's dark face.
"Alright, buster. Just leave us alone before I hafta get rough with ya."
Henry snatched him and put a hand over his mouth.
"Hehe…uh, just ignore him. Sorry."
Without another word, Dreadmon returned to his original position.
"Now then, my fox-like adversary, I must go. I was only here to deliver a message, but it seems I got more than I thought. I enjoyed my little…demonstration. You will find the message in the young lady's D-Power. Have fun with my little Homunculi. Farewell."
And with that, he sank into the shadow of a nearby rock and vanished. The Homunculi-Kyubimon began their assault. All three of them launched themselves at Kyubimon, but she dodged with ease, and prepared to attack.
"Foxtail Inferno!"
The flame enveloped all three of them, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished. Rika breathed a sigh of relief.
"Whew…I was almost worried there. Not bad, Kyubimon."
"He was…holding back. He hardly put any power at all in to those Homunculi duplicates of me…"
Kyubimon reverted to Renamon. She fell on one knee, exhausted from the energy-sapping effects of the Desert of Sloth.
"We…need to find one of those villages…"
Rika helped her up, and turned to Takato.
"She's right, Gogglehead. We've got to get to one before this stupid overgrown sandbox knocks us all out."
"Oh, yeah…I kinda forgot it did that. But wait a minute…Guilmon, you've been so quiet. What's wrong?"
"…So hungry…too tired…wanna eat and sleep…"
Terriermon then jumped on Henry's head to make his declaration.
"I second that notion! Now can we PLEASE got moving before this desert zonks us!"
"Alright, already! Let's go…"
So, they continued on, in the direction their D-Powers told them was South…it was a bit hard to tell. After about ten or so minutes, they found the deserts' edge, which they were all quite happy to find. Takato and Guilmon seemed to be engaged in some kind of "happy dance", while Renamon was resting and taking deep breaths, regaining her energy. Henry decided now would be a good time to speak with Rika.
"Rika, listen. I know you and Renamon are a powerful team, but you really shouldn't have done that. Dreadmon is clearly far more powerful than any other Champion Digimon we've seen. He didn't even use any special techniques, and Renamon almost didn't stand a chance. I'm surprised you didn't use your cards, because they-"
"Aw, shut it already! I get it, okay? Just leave me alone…"
"Rika…"
Without another word, Rika turned away and walked over to Renamon.
"Geez, Henry. You should've told her to moumantai."
"Actually, Terriermon, I don't feel like being hurt today, thank you very much."
Rika, now standing next to a slowly-dozing-off Renamon, looked through the options in her D-Power. She found the message Dreadmon was sent to deliver.
Hello, Miss Nonaka. I am sending you this message solely because you actually seem to be competent, save for Terriermon's Tamer…Henry, was it? Anyway…If I had to choose, you seem more sensible. Unlike the other one…Takato, I believe, I do not feel such disgust in your presence. Now, to the point: The other forces I spoke of are what many beings call "Monsters." They are very dangerous, and although I do not care for what happens to the other two (save for the fact that I need their Types), I do not wish for any ill will to befall you. In your D-Power there is a Bestiary that will automatically, without fail, tell you anything you wish to know about any monster you encounter…Use it well. Perhaps, in time, I shall discover why you are the sole being other than my little brother and my partner Dreadmon that I have any compassion for whatsoever…though I do not blame you for not feeling the same way, I hope you will in the future. It's strange…I have such difficulty expressing how I feel, but not to you. Well, I wish you a safe journey. Good-bye…
She felt herself blushing again. He was being NICE to her? Friendly, even. He, who had not shown even the slightest amount of kindness, was being friendly with her. Hoping she would be well. Saying he felt at ease around her. Hoping that she would forgive him, in a way. Was he really so bad…? What was going on here? But wait…he has a little brother? She didn't see THAT one coming. And Dreadmon was his partner. Figures. They act almost exactly alike, it seemed. But…is it possible…did he 'like' her? At this thought, her heart began to race, and she felt a strange happiness.
What's happening to me…?
She then felt Renamon's thoughts.
Rika. This is what I was talking about.
Renamon…I think I need help…
Hmm…you are undeniably skilled in battle, but it seems that when it comes to the heart, you're quite inexperienced.
I know…don't rub it in. How did this happen?
Well…it seemed to start when you saw him. Physical attractiveness is usually always the trigger.
Okay, yeah, so he's good-looking. I admit that. But that alone shouldn't do it!
Precisely. There must be something about him that draws you to him. Think hard, Rika. What is it about Ianu that makes you feel this way towards him?
…
…Rika?
…I…I think it's who he is. He seems so cold, but I can tell by his eyes…he's lonely. He seems so sad…like he's the only person alive. There's…something else. Despite how cold and well, flat-out mean he acts, he seems to just want to avoid his loneliness. I wouldn't be surprised if his brother and Dreadmon are the only friends he's ever had. I just don't know…maybe it's because I know how he feels that I'm drawn to him. And…he just doesn't really seem like the type to purposely cause so much trouble for the sole reason of hurting someone. I think the reason he acts so hateful…is that someone hurt him. Worse than most people have been hurt.
It's rare to see you so caring, Rika. I am surprised, but I think I understand. But you must realize: As far as we can tell, he is an enemy. He clearly doesn't give a Chuumon's tail about Takato and Henry, and might let them die without a second thought.
…Maybe. But for now, Renamon, we have to find that village. You need your rest, and I do too.
You're right. Let's go then.
Ending their mental conversation, the two joined the others and the six of them headed further South, where the map showed a small village, and the compass pointed. All of them had so much thinking to do. Takato, trying to sort it all out. Henry, trying to see what Ianu's true motives were, and wondering of the mysterious Dreadmon, and Rika still trying to understand her emotions. Soon enough, they would receive their answers, and find more questions.
Myotis: And that's it. I really hope this makes up for my laziness. Again, I'm really sorry. I really do hope you'll continue to review, and tell me how you feel about this story. It's really all that's giving me a reason to continue, aside from enjoying it. Thanks so much for reading! Oh, and out of curiosity, what do you think of the characters I've created? Ianu and Dreadmon in particular. Thanks again! I should have chapter 5 up in a while.
