DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon, but I do own the plot, and DRAGOON.
Digimon Continuity
Quest for the Digimon
Chapter 15
Rika's Past
:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane
02:31 PM JST
Rika went into shock as the barrel of the cannon turned to her. She looked directly into its glowing hole as the blast charged up. Around her, friends went into similar shock at both her and the new attack. She heard Renamon somewhere yelling for her to get down. Her mind however was disconnected from her body. Rika had never truly feared before in her entire experience as a Tamer, but she had also never looked directly into a gun that was about to fire and blow her dead.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Renamon jumping toward her, trying to get her out of the line of fire. Renamon wouldn't make it. she realised. The blast would hit her and take her apart just like DRAGOON's did Cerberumon. She gulped at the thought. In the next second, that is going to happen.
Suddenly, a glowing energy whip wrapped itself around the barrel of the gun. As the whip tightened, she could see the inside of barrel getting squeezed inward. It pulled the cannon toward the person handling the whip. Akiyama.
Renamon hit her to the ground the instant the cannon exploded. Rika could see the bright yellowish light that erupted from the cannon, not hindered by the compression of the barrel. Ryo Akiyama was on his feet, and he pushed the Gogglehead and Brainiac into safety, before a single card flew through his D-Power's card slot so fast she would have believed that she was seeing things were it not for the fact that the effects of the card were present a split second later.
Cyberdramon flew in front of his Tamer with his hands outstretched, and a glowing energy shield materialized around the Ultimate. The shield dispersed the energy blast into harmless sparks and it disappeared.
If Cyberdramon was not mad already, he would surely be now. And now, he was beyond mad. He had just turned into Megidramon... a berserk one at that. "You. You dare attack Ryo!" It was not a question, it was a statement. Although Rika did not know much about Cyberdramon, she knew enough that by now, Tankmon was already as good as data.
Cyberdramon began to charge up energy on his claws. Rika recognised the attack, and she had only seen it used once before, on a Megadramon.
"Desolation Claw!" A beam of powerful erasing energy erupted from Cyberdramon's claws.
"Machinegun Arms! Hyper Cannon!" Tankmon fired all his weapons in an attempt to counter the Ultimate's attack. His downfall, however, was brought on by using his Hyper Cannon, whose barrel had already melted. The blast ended up blowing up in Tankmon's face, and his deletion finally arrived when the beam hit him. Less than a second later, Tankmon was no more.
Cyberdramon didn't even look to ensure his successful deletion of Tankmon. He turned next to Rika and Renamon, the aura about him blazing with the fire of insanity and rage. He pointed an unnaturally sharp claw at them. "You! It is your fault that fool attacked Ryo! I will make you pay!"
Once upon a time, she would have been amused that Cyberdramon could talk so much. Most definitely not today, when she was guilty of causing the attack on Ryo, even though it didn't hit. Being guilty in Cyberdramon's eyes meant deletion.
Renamon picked her up and pulled her to her feet. Rika barely heard her next words.
"Rika! RUN!"
Still, her feet stayed rooted in the ground, her insides screaming in protest at the accusation. She could not voice it out. If she did, she may get an even heavier charge of guilt.
Before anything else could happen, a hoarse voice exclaimed. "CYBERDRAMON! STOP!"
:. Real World - Japan, Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Towers
Main Control Room
02:32 PM JST
In the control room of the Hypnos towers, the only people around were Hypno's leader and its two main operatives. The parents were in a room just below this room, so that the leader would be free to do what he usually did without outsiders interfering. Yelling.
"GET ME A LINK WITH THE D-TERMINAL THINGS NOW!!" Yamaki thundered, its effects enhanced by the echoes of the high ceiling.
"On it, sir." Riley calmly replied. Yamaki got even angrier by her calm tone. Doesn't she know that each second wasted is one that can quite possibly kill the kids?
Tally repeated the same thing, albeit with a little tremble in her voice.
"HURRY UP! I WANTED IT TEN MINUTES AGO!" Of course, it was not exactly true, but he had to get them to learn a little something called urgency. "AND I ORDERED YOU TO GET ME ALL THE DATA YOU CAN FIND ON THAT SHOW! WHERE IS IT?!"
He could have sworn he heard Riley sigh. "On the way sir. I am putting it onscreen now."
Good. He mentally commented. He would however, never comment them openly. That would inflate their ego... well, not that they had it... the strict Yamaki would anyway only comment them on a good job when both worlds collide.
On the main screen, an image materialised as the Bioemerging monitoring screen disappeared. The person in the image had a rather strange hairstyle. His appearance made him look like one who was very carefree, but his eyes, they held a look that clashed with what his appearance suggested. His eyes told Yamaki, even though it was only a picture, that the man was under much stress. And if the picture alone suggested this, the guy must be in a lot of stress.
"Who's he?"
"Sir, this is the original producer of the show sir. He was the one who came up with the idea for it in the first place." Riley replied.
"No Riley." His voice carried a little irritation and frustration. "I meant, who is he."
Yamaki imagined Riley blushing at her mistake. He stifled a laugh.
"Umm... Yes sir." She pressed a few more buttons, and a line of text rolled down the screen. "Sir, his name is Taichi Kamiya, born in 1988, studied in Odaiba Elementary in 1994 to 2000..."
Upon hearing the kid's birth date, Yamaki was surprised. He had expected the person to be at least forty, with all the stress that he could see bottled in. No kid has that much stress, even if he's one of those study types or something. Of course, this did not change what his usual response would be, as every good leader knows how to hide his emotions and thoughts well.
"Get to the point Riley. Where is he living?"
Yamaki imagined Riley blushing at her mistake, and stifled a laugh.
"Umm... Yes sir." A few more clicks of the complicated keyboard that the operators... operated were heard. "Sir."
"Don't keep me in suspense, Riley. You know how I hate suspense."
"Yes sir." The screen changed to show a government profile of this Taichi person, along side with the police profile of him.
"Why are you giving me the police one, Riley?" That in itself was strange, as the government profile already had everything the police one had and more.
"Sir, strangely, the government profile has only one thing."
She pressed a button, and the entirety of the government profile turned red and was replaced by a single word: Classified.
Yamaki growled his answer and coated it with sarcasm. "Why don't you just access it then? We are not Hypnos for no reason you know."
"I have tried sir, but the access is only granted to those of the highest rank: those in charge of the state sir." the last few words came out as barely a whisper, but Yamaki heard it, and he felt as though someone had punched him.
Someone beat us to it. No wonder this guy looks so stressed out. He's as good as an outlaw in this situation. Apparently, Riley must have sensed his disappointment, for the next statement was meant to lift that disappointment.
"Sir, but according to the police records, Taichi Kamiya went missing about a year and the half ago, about the time when the second last Digimon movie was released..."
But it didn't. It made it worse. Great. They got him two years ago. We never stood a chance.
"... and I have been digging around sir, and I found this."
The image of Taichi Kamiya was replaced by that of a red-haired kid. There was no mistaking it, it was a kid. Yamaki hit the roof.
"RILEY! WHAT IS A KID DOING ON MY SCREEN?!"
Tally visibly shuttered. Riley, however, stayed as cool as a cucumber. "Sir, you didn't mind the earlier kid."
Yamaki glared at her. However powerful the glare, it failed for a few reasons: Yamaki had his sunglasses on, Riley her visor, and that she was not looking at him.
"I didn't mind the earlier kid as he at least looked old enough." Yamaki said, before increasing his volume again. "Now, WHAT IS HE DOING ON MY SCREEN?!"
He saw Riley grimace. "Sir, he is the co-producer of the show sir. In fact, he was the one who created the entire graphics, all by himself."
"What is he? A genius or something?"
"Sir, he is Koushiro Izumi, born in 1989..." She had learnt her lesson, for she did not continue on with the fella's life story and went exactly to what Yamaki needed. "...he disappeared along with the entire cast of the show ten months ago, and only reappeared just the week before last. His current whereabouts are unknown after that. His house is situated in Odaiba, where he lives with his parents."
Riley turned her face to him. It was only to give the impression she was looking at him, as the internal part of her visor would only show her what was on the screen. "And as to your question sir," he could detect a faint amusement in her voice. "...Koushiro Izumi scored 132 on an I.Q. test."
Yamaki's jaw dropped. Silence ensued Riley's declaration.
After a long while, too long, Tally broke it. "Sir, I have a faint connection with DRAGOON's frequency in the Digital World. You have to listen to this."
:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane
02:33 PM JST
Ryo as suddenly appeared in front of Rika as his whip had. He had his hands outstretched, trying to cover as much of her and Renamon as possible with himself.
"Cyberdramon! STOP!" He yelled again.
AKIYAMA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! She mentally screamed, her mouth not responding to her brain. YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED!
Cyberdramon completely ignored his Tamer's words. Charging his claws, he sent his attack at his own Tamer.
"Desolation Claw!"
There was a gust of wind, as the Zero-Arms DRAGOON swept down right in front of Ryo to block the attacks his Digimon were launching at him.
DRAGOON was a tiny bit too late. Ryo took one of the attacks in his gut before DRAGOON got to the former... an attack that was meant for her... And she had laughed at him mere seconds before at his injury.
Her gaze fell. She did not need to look to know that Cyberdramon had ceased his attacks. She did not want to look at the damage she had caused to Ryo. She felt guilt beyond measure, her eyes began to water. The tears did not fall by sheer strength of will alone... not that it mattered.
The aura around Cyberdramon changed from rage to immediate guilt. Guilt that he had attacked his own Tamer, Rika felt that her guilt was worse... a lot worse.
So while everyone ran forth to check on Ryo, she stayed where she was, with only Renamon by her side.
"Ryo!" Takato ran forward to the older boy.
He was amazingly, still on his feet, clutching his stomach wound where his hand tried to stomp the flow of blood and data. Ryo's mouth was an upside down of a smile, but it was not due to anger. Takato noticed Rika with her head down, and Renamon with her paw on her Tamer's shoulder. It was a victory, they had defeated the Tankmon. It didn't feel like it.
Henry reached Ryo first, and placed an arm under the dirty blonde's own to steady him. Ryo collapsed into Henry, barely conscious. Takato rushed forward and draped Ryo's other arm over his shoulders, while he used his free hand to try and do what Ryo's hand had been doing.
It was a gruesome thing, the mix of blood and data left Takato sick in his stomach. He wished that he hadn't eaten so much of lunch today. Takato took a look around. Kazu and Kenta were standing where they were with open mouths, Impmon and the other Digimon were on Guilmon, trying to get a good look at Ryo's wounds. Cyberdramon was on his knees, head down just like Rika was. DRAGOON was talking about something to Henry, Takato couldn't understand what they were saying. It all seemed blurry to him.
Finally, he shook his head and cleared the mental fog clouding it. Henry turned to him with urgency written all over.
"Alright Takato, I need you to help me get Ryo into DRAGOON."
"What? Why?" was his reply.
"So that we can go home and get him a doctor."
"A doctor isn't going to be able to help with a data wound."
"There is no other choice!"
Then, Kazu came in the conversation. "Hey! We can't leave without Guardromon!" He gestured to the rest of the group. "Everyone but Guardromon is here. And I won't leave here without Guardromon!"
Takato looked back at Henry, and him to Takato. They were out of ideas.
DRAGOON overheard the conversation. "I have found a place to recuperate. I can bring the boy there first, along with a few more to tend to him. The rest can follow my signal on foot there."
Henry frowned. The same thing was going through Takato's mind. Good idea, but who's going? None of us know medical stuff.
There was a bright light, and all of them turned to it to find a humanoid Digimon emerge from it. Everyone was on their guard in an instant, but Renamon stepped forward.
"Don't worry, he is Cyberdramon, I saw him dedigivolve."
Ryo apparently, wasn't reassured. He pulled himself from both Henry's and Takato's arms. Then, Ryo did the last thing anyone expected... he started yelling.
"Strikedramon! What are you doing?! Who gave you permission to come out?!"
"Ryo, I..."
"Don't 'I' me Strikedramon." Ryo continued. "Digivolve or dedigivolve NOW!"
"But..."
"NO BUTS!! THAT IS AN ORDER!!"
For the first time in his life, Takato thought he heard something in Ryo's voice that he had never heard before: fear. Ryo is afraid. he realised. Just like I was when Guilmon became Megidramon... but... why?
Abruptly, a seizure seized Ryo and his knees lost their ability to support his weight. Strikedramon moved with a speed that only Renamon could match, and caught the older boy even before his knees touched the ground.
Ryo pushed his partner away, and managed to stand again. "I said NOW!"
Strikedramon's head lowered, and his words came out as a whisper. "Yes Ryo, but only after you have been treated."
If there was a look that could mix pain with anger and fear, that would be what was on Ryo's face then.
"I SAID..."
Ryo never finished his sentence, because Strikedramon's next words stunned practically everyone.
"There is a data storm approaching in five minutes. We have to hurry to that shelter."
Ryo's eyes narrowed, while Henry looked around in panic.
"Where?!" The blue haired boy asked. "How do you know?"
Ryo's eyes narrowed even further into slits. "Yes, how do you know?"
"I have been here for a while, and the data storms are based on the overload of users of the Internet in the Real World. I merely remembered the exact time."
Ryo looked like he was about to say something, but Takato himself cut in. "Well then what are we waiting for?! Let's get as many people into DRAGOON as possible and get going!"
Ryo suddenly remembered his injuries and slumped down again, all the fight within him used up.
Henry nodded. "Yes, those with fast Digimon can stay out of DRAGOON and still keep up, but the others have to go into DRAGOON. We have to risk slowing him down, but we have not much of a choice."
Strikedramon's head turned to face DRAGOON. "What is the distance from here to the shelter? What is your maximum speed with..." Strikedramon looked around. "... approximately 600kg of load?"
Takato was still working out the maths when DRAGOON replied. "There is about 20km to the target. I am a light assault unit, and my original purpose was to carry the Tamers back to the Real World, not be fast. With my new additions, I can guarantee that my minimum max speed will be 70km/h, able to last for a week. My maximum speed will be 100km/h with the load, but I will exhaust all power in ten minutes and need a recharging cycle that will last at least 6 hours... and that is presuming I will not have to enter Battle Mode."
Strikedramon nodded. "I and Kyuubimon will run, all others will take DRAGOON."
No one asked who was going to ride Kyuubimon with Rika. Everyone was afraid that she might do... something.
"Rika!... RIKA!!"
That shook her out of her guilty trance.
She looked up to see everyone staring at her. Still, guilt didn't stop her from rebuking. "What? I got something on my face or something?" She used a tone that implied that she did not expect to have anything on her face.
Everyone lost interest in her and begun boarding the side door of DRAGOON. Renamon rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she asked with concern.
Rika nodded.
"Why did you..." Renamon hesitated. "...act that way just now?"
On noticing a few heads turning, she lowered her voice. "I'll tell you later."
Renamon looked back at the other Tamers, who hastily found somewhere else to look. She then nodded and continued. "So are you going to Digivolve me?"
Rika was expressionless. "Yes." She withdrew a card from her deck and swiped it though her D-Power. "Digi-Modify. Evolution Plug-In E. Activate."
DIGIVOLUTION
"Renamon! Digivolve!..."
She glowed brightly as a sphere engulfed her, as she became four-legged and her built changed to be more agile. Her tail split into nine and the Digivolution was complete.
"... Kyuubimon!"
Rika mounted on Kyuubimon, glad that her partner at least was able to reach her Champion level. She realised with a jerk that one Digimon she did not recognise was not in DRAGOON, warming up.
"Who are you?" came the instantaneous question.
The Digimon looked back at her with... a glare? She didn't have enough time to identify it before the Digimon looked away toward a direction that DRAGOON was flying.
"My name is Strikedramon, and I am Ryo's partner's Champion form."
She did not have time to be further surprised, for Kyuubimon suddenly launched forward, and Rika had to duck and stay close to her partner to avoid getting blown away.
Strikedramon kept up with Kyuubimon easily, whose speed was kept down by Rika's weight.
Strikedramon and Kyuubimon appeared to have a silent competition. At times, Strikedramon would lead ahead, and Kyuubimon would increase her speed to be nose to nose with the former. Sometimes it was vice-versa.
She smiled at the match, then deciding that she would help Kyuubimon. With difficulty, she drew another card and swiped it through her D-Power, careful to keep a tight grip on Kyuubimon's fur and her D-Power.
"Digi-Modify! High Speed Plug-In B! Activate!"
Kyuubimon abruptly increased in speed, pinning Rika to her back. The fox easily took the lead. Any emotion of contentment that she felt then was cut short when data streams started to close in.
Ahead, she saw DRAGOON land at the base of a rock formation that looked like an abandoned satellite dish. It was ruins compared to the last time Rika saw it. And it was the only one left of the entire lot. Others were just... craters and slumps of rock. Proof of the battle against the D-Reaper was present here.
Kyuubimon and Strikedramon ignored all, and ran top speed toward the rock in which DRAGOON had landed. There was a data stream right behind them, closing in with each passing second. She could see some of her friends gesturing for her to hurry.
Strikedramon finally demonstrated the full capabilities of his speed. While Kyuubimon was already exhausted, Strikedramon still seemed to be in tip top shape. He looked as though he was just beginning. He ran forward faster than Kyuubimon could ever manage with Rika mounted, and at a speed that Kyuubimon could only barely match without her.
The distance between the cave entrance and Kyuubimon appeared to extend, stretching. It now seemed impossible to make it. Kyuubimon made one last jump, covering the impossible distance and entering the mouth of the cave within the rock as the data steam swept harmlessly past and over.
She lay with her back on the ground, having being launched off Kyuubimon when the latter landed. Her breath came in short bursts, and her vision blurry from knocking her head. A face looked down on her in concern. She was about to push it away when her vision focused and she recognised Renamon's face.
Rika relaxed and let exhaustion take her.
:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane, Cave
DRAGOON
02:46 PM JST
Ryo kept his happiness that Strikedramon made it to himself.
He still was not sure. Strikedramon had his arch enemy and true partner's intelligence, and still had that loyalty to him. But still, he was uncertain whether or not Millenniummon was still inside one of Monodramon's forms.
It unsettled him beyond anything else, to think that his partner had part of his old enemy within him. That his partner could turn on him at any instant. That was why he preferred not to let Cyberdramon access any other forms. Ryo learnt to handle Cyberdramon instead, rather than risk the chance of Monodramon turning into Millenniummon.
Monodramon's appearance when they entered the Arc was unexpected, but it allowed Ryo to be certain of Monodramon's innocence and that he was free of Millenniummon's interference.
Cyberdramon had a few bad points, but nothing that Ryo couldn't handle.
Strikedramon worried Ryo most, for he had most of Millenniummon's characteristics and is the one that Millenniummon would most likely prefer to possess.
Despite the jogress being successful, there was always a fear of Millenniummon still in control. This fear lead to more and now, this.
He watched as Strikedramon leaned against the wall, an accurate imitation of Renamon when she was resting. Ryo tried to look at the positive side, that Strikedramon was still as fast as Ryo remembered, but it further added to his suspicions and never-ending dread.
Ryo decided that he would just... observe for now, and save his judgments for later... if there was a later.
:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane, Cave
08:29 PM JST
Rika sighed as she leaned against a wall of the cave. By an unspoken consent, all had decided to take a nap until the data storm passed.
Ryo's wounds were... painfully sealed up by Guilmon in DRAGOON. Ryo had demanded that Impmon burn his skin back together to stop the bleeding. Impmon himself was sick, such that even now he was still puking.
The other Tamers looked like they had turned into ghosts. Their faces were pale, and they all avoided looking at Ryo.
Ryo's face was just a grimace of pain. She admired the tolerance of pain that Ryo had developed during his time in the Digital World. Renamon finally came over.
"Rika, are you going to..."
"Yes." Renamon needn't continue. "I just need some time."
Renamon obliged. She remained patient while Rika composed herself.
"Renamon..." her voice was now a whisper. "... you know I... well... hate Ryo, right?"
Renamon inclined her head. "It was... obvious."
"Do you know... why?"
Renamon did her version of a frown. "Because he won the tournament?"
Rika shook her head slowly. "No... that was only part the reason..."
Renamon's eyes went wide.
Rika continued. "It happened a long time ago Renamon, but I still remember it as clearly as if it happened yesterday."
A Rika Nonaka that was only four years old followed her father into an ally, where he had brought her many times before. It was a shortcut back home. Rika was skipping along, after a particularly happy day at the fun fair.
"Did you enjoy yourself, Rika?" her father asked.
"Yes, Daddy."
"Good." he replied.
Suddenly, a fog materialized around them, too quickly to be natural.
"That's weird." Her father said. "Stay close Rika, you don't want to get lost." She hugged herself to her father's leg.
"Yes, Daddy." she said with fear. A laugh of menace echoed around the walls of the ally. Her father hugged her closer.
"Who's there?!"
"Ha, ha, ha. Humans. Perfect for my next meal."
"Meal?" A white devil-like monster appeared in front of her father. He started to back away. A bright light appeared in the fog, and from it, two beings emerged.
"Where are we?" the taller of the two asked.
"I don't know." replied the shorter one.
The devil monster turned to the newcomers. "Who are you? How dare you interrupt my meal?"
"Meal?" the shorter one repeated. "Oh boy! I want to eat too!"
"Ha! Go catch yourself your own human."
The taller one stopped in his tracks when he was turning back into the light. "Human?"
"You are stupid, aren't you?" The devil monster said. "Yes. Human."
The shorter one now spoke. "You eat humans?!"
Her father whispered for her to back away, and run when he said so.
"YES! IS THERE A PROBLEM?!" the devil lost his temper.
The tall one now fully turned around. "I have a problem. With you eating humans."
"What are you going to do about it? Attack me? You are just a human." The tall one stepped into the light and the shadow that had covered his face lifted. The tall one was a boy, no more than twelve. He had dirty blonde hair and a serious face. The short one appeared as well, shown to be a tiny dragon with sharp claws. Rika backed away, while her father choked as the devil abruptly grabbed his neck. The devil looked at her father's face. "Don't think you can escape from me that easily now, can you?"
The boy's eyes widened before narrowing again. "Put him down, IceDevimon."
The monster known as IceDevimon smiled. "Fine." he replied.
Her father was flung into the wall and IceDevimon lunged at the boy. The blonde took a device from his belt and swiped a card through a card slot there. A shield appeared around the boy and the dragon and IceDevimon bounced off it. A light shone and from the shield emerged the dragon, except he was as tall as the boy now and was glowing with a blue flame.
"Strike Fang!" The dragon hit IceDevimon and sent the devil to the wall, where he found Rika's unconscious father.
"Urgh..." IceDevimon growled. "You are strong, but not strong enough..." He picked up Rika's father. "... after I've consumed this human!"
The boy appeared shocked. "NO!"
Her father gave one last cry. "Run! NOW! RUN!"
In an instant, her father disappeared, becoming small pieces and entering IceDevimon. Her mouth was open in a wordless cry. That attracted the devil to her. "We shall fight after I have finished with the girl!"
The boy jumped in front of her, shielding her with himself. "I WON"T LET YOU!"
The devil smiled again. "Then I shall consume you as well."
The dragon appeared so fast that no one saw him and slammed into IceDevimon with a full body flame tackle.
The boy who was twice her height gestured the way that they had come from. "Through there, Strikedramon! Hurry! Before he can hurt anyone else!" Strikedramon grabbed the ice devil and jumped into the light.
The boy turned around and squatted, facing her. "Are you alright?" he asked. She nodded her head, unable to speak. He let out a sigh of relief and walked to the source of the light. The boy turned back and gave an apologetic look at her. "I'm... sorry."
With that, he entered the light and it disappeared. With his absence, the fog lifted and it was as though nothing had happened, nothing except her father was nowhere to be seen. Four year old Rika began to cry.
Rika sighed as tears began to gather in her eyes. Renamon was sad herself.
Finally, after an eternity of silence from the two and snoring from Guilmon, Renamon spoke. "So..." her voice was a whisper as well, not to prevent awakening the others, but because she could not find the strength to make it go any louder. "... your father... died at the hands of a Digimon?"
Rika nodded. "IceDevimon."
Renamon instantly flared. Now she wished beyond anything that Guilmon was not the one who deleted IceDevimon but her, and she wanted to make it slow and painful, and keep repeating the process until she was satisfied.
"So, you think that that boy is... Ryo?"
Rika shook her head. "Renamon, I know it isn't Ryo. It happened over six years ago. If it was Ryo, he would be eighteen by now."
"What did your mother or grandmother say when you told them."
Rika's head dropped. "My mother told me never to tell lies again and that Dad had left them for another girl. Grandma seemed to believe me, but I think that she doubted me too."
No wonder she hates her mother so much.
"Then why did you tell me that story if it wasn't Ryo." The instant Renamon said it, she regretted it. She should have not been blunt.
Rika didn't seem to mind. "Because... Ryo looks so much like him. Even their partners are the same. Sometimes, I forget the age difference and think that they are the same person. I from that day on really hated blonde people, as it always reminded me of that guy."
Renamon frowned. "But he saved you."
Rika blew her top. "NO HE DID NOT! HE CAUSED DAD TO DIE! IF HE DID NOT COME, DAD MAY STILL BE ALIVE!!"
Renamon looked around nervously, but all the Tamers were deep sleepers, not one of them came out to check. "Okay, Rika."
Rika's head fell again. "That is why I laughed at Ryo just now. You see, I've always wanted to hurt Ryo, make him pay for something he didn't do. But... I don't want to hurt him. He is... my friend..."
Renamon could have fainted. Declaring Ryo her friend was the last thing she expected Rika Nonaka to do.
"... and all the things he had done, to try and get me out of the house. He was company, when no one wanted to come, he came alone. I... have always kind of expected him. He was someone to yell at, to vent my frustrations on... But still, I can't help but blame him for that boy. So, when he was hurt by Tankmon, I was so happy that I couldn't compress it..."
She looked even guiltier. "And I am not even right to hate the boy even. He had saved me, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to meet you, Renamon." She gave Renamon a warm smile. "So... I was completely wrong to have laughed at Ryo."
Once upon a time, Rika would never have admitted to making such a mistake, and find any way to shift the blame. She had changed... for the better. Renamon decided that it was enough. She pushed Rika to relax and lean on the wall. The redhead obliged.
"Rest, Rika. I understand."
"Thank you, Renamon." Rika hesitated. "You don't..."
"No one blames you, Rika. No one."
Rika nodded, her eyelids drooped, and she fell asleep.
That was rather interesting, wouldn't you say?
So people, I think that this should have justified Rika's... laughing act. As for those reading Brave Tamer as well, don't worry. I'll include this scene... at some point. Also, major spoiler! I am showing you guys part of Aftermath of 02 here. And how 02 and Tamers join. Not bad huh?
Also, I have finally introduced Strikedramon! Monodramon's Champion form, that only I have ever truly explored on. There will be more frequent appearance of him compared to the others from now on, but...
Thanks to the following for reviewing.
erinsgirl
Maskmon'
Anon
Matt Lans
I hope that you guys will review again and tell me what you think. As well as all those who are reading.