Renamon padded slowly through the empty halls calmed to an almost meditative state and bored to tears. She had been trapped for only a few hours now and it was already wearing on her.
It dawned on her that she didn't know what was worse: the lack of the usual training or the fact that they had missed seven battles since lunch alone.
"More are appearing in minutes than have appeared in a month and I'm stuck here." She stopped and rested herself against the hallway wall. She wasn't at all tired but the whole situation weighed heavily on her mind.
"Jason, you know I wouldn't call unless this was super important. I need your advice." The tamer's knuckle's flashed white as she waited for a reply.
"What is problem?" A computerized voice spoke in broken Japanese. The voice was plain but thousands of miles away he listened as a frightened girl unraveled her nightmare through a translation device and he worried.
"Do you love her?" the digital voice asked. Rika was taken aback at the question.
"What do you mean?"
"When my partner needs touch, I am place. I help."
"You what?" Rika thought she understood what he meant, but he must have misspoken. Did he really mean…that?
"He loves me." A feminine voice spoke now and Rika gasped, knowing exactly what she meant.
"He…what should I do?" Rika waited on baited breath.
"Do you love her?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then you must love her."
Click
She set the receiver down and sat at the table.
"There's nothing for it." She sigh. "I'll have to take her to the cabin. Maybe then I can…think."
"It has been a while since we went there." Rika nearly jumped out of her skin as her partner spoke.
"You know, sometimes I wish you didn't do that."
"What?" She smirked slyly and turned to leave when Rika stopped her.
"Rena…mon."
"Yes Rika?" The girl looked tense perhaps even frightened. It wasn't like Rika to be afraid of anything.
"Do you…never mind." It was too blunt. It didn't feel right to ask it but now she wanted to know. It frustrated her that a simple question could make her hesitate but she held it back nonetheless.
"Does this have anything to do with the phone call?"
For a moment she considered lying but decided against it. She had never lied to Renamon and she didn't plan on starting now of all times.
"Yes."
"Is it anything I should be worried about?"
"No…Pack your things, we're taking a train to the cabin tomorrow."
"Done."
"Oh, right. We need to get you some things. It's strange. We've been partners for years and to look at the house it's like you've never even been here."
"What would I need? I sleep in your room. What food I don't catch, you give me. I don't use weapons when I fight. The truth of it is, when I'm with you I have everything I need. I-"
Rika's face was as red as Guilamon's scales. Feeling the heat in her face the girl turned away.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, you didn't…what were we talking about?"
"The cabin?"
"Oh, right." She shook her head. "We'll leave at noon so we should get there around nightfall. How much time do you think is left?"
"About two days, give or take."
"Just great." She sighed and pulled out her D-Arc. "Come over here."
Puzzled she approach Rika slowly. The device was emitting a strangely familiar beeping sound but she couldn't quite place it. "Rika, what are you doing?" A stream of light shot out of the digivice and coiled itself around Renamon's neck before she had time to react.
"I'm doing what I have to to make sure you're safe." Renamon tugged at the glowing tether but to no avail.
"But I thought we agreed you wouldn't use the leash unless absolutely necessary."
"Like I said, I'm going to make sure that you're safe." She placed the device on her wrist and I shining band wrapped itself around her arm. As it stilled, both the leash and the band dulled until they appeared no more special than something bought in a convenience store. "We'll talk more in the morning, but right now I need some sleep."
"But Rika I-"
"IN THE MORNING."
Renamon sighed knowing there was nothing she could say to change Rika's mind now. "Can I at least have the left side of the bed this time?"
"Fine."
"Thank you."