Quick author's note here – the story may come across rather confusing, I'm sure. It's intended that way. In my opinion it makes the story more suspenseful because one would want to know where the story is going and try to figure it out. So in other words, confusing equals good. Anyway, if you feel that the story isn't adding up to the first couple chapters the farther I go on with the story, drop me a comment and let me know where and if you are confused. I will be more than happy to help. Also note, I have gone back and edited a bit of the chapter 7.

And a quick thank you to Rika4Life. She has been following the story since I put it up several years ago. Glad to know you're still reading it -huge grin-.

Chapter eight: The Crest in Stone

"Rika... Rika... wake up..."

I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed them. I was on the ground looking up into the faces of Ryo, Terriormon, and AncientGreymon. I blinked.

"I see," is all AncientGreymon said before turning to leave.

I sat up and placed a hand over my chest. The touch tingled throughout my body and I cringed in pain. "What happened?"

Ryo looked at Terriormon, "you passed out."

"I passed out? Why do I feel like I'm in pain?" I asked confused. Then suddenly, deja vu hit me like a turtle on a freeway. I looked down to see the claw marks shredding through my shirt.

"Before you passed out, AncientGreymon-" Ryo began.

"-tried catching me before I fell." I finished. Ryo looked taken back. He gave a nervous nod.

I frowned. "That's not what really happened. I demand to know the truth."

AncientGreymon stopped and looked back. "Flaremon."

"Huh?" I asked.

"It was Flaremon. You, human, are carrying the spirit of the deceased Flaremon." AncientGreymon looked up into the sky. "You must leave now. Leave before it's too late. I hear them coming." With that, he disappeared into the shadows.

I looked at Ryo. "Tell me what's going on, now."

Ryo shook his head and reached into his bag, grabbing a gray hoodie. He handed it to me and I pulled it on, slipping the hood onto my head. "Come, let's get out of here and I will explain everything."

We left the village just moments later and ended up in a remote desert area, much like the one that cushioned our fall on our fist visit to the Digital World. The wind began to pick up and sand began to blow around. I upped my pace to catch up with Ryo and linked arms with him. He hesitated. "So is AncientGreymon not going to help us?"

Ryo gave me a half smile. "He sort of did. We'll talk more later. First, we need to find shelter."

I couldn't help but to feel as though Ryo was trying to avoid telling me anything more about what happened with AncientGreymon. He seemed distant and I wonder if it more so had to do with the fact he is now putting his life in danger being around me or if it was the fact I now possess some evil Digimon inside me. I shuddered to think that I was part Digimon now, if I was, and thought back to how different and more powerful I felt being one with Renamon.

Renamon... how I wished she was here with me now, helping me through this. I fought back tears.

Rika..? A voice called. I stopped walking and let go of the link between mine and Ryo's arms. Ryo stopped, too. I killed your partner, Rika. She was weak, weak like you. Join me and I can make you stronger. Join me and we can take over the Digital World.

"What's wrong?" Ryo said.

I looked around. "Nothing. I thought I heard something."

Ryo gave me a strange look. "Like what?"

"A voice." I told him. "I think I'm suffering from deja vu."

"Deja vu?" Terriormon asked.

"It's like a feeling of having experienced something similar before," Ryo explained. "And is your repeat in time hearing the voice?"

I nodded, "yes, but not just that. Earlier I felt it, too."

You need to become stronger. You don't need friends or help from those so called friends, you need me, Rika. I can help you.

The voice sounded familiar. Was it... Flaremon? "Where are you?"

Ryo and Terriormon looked quizzically at me.

I'm inside of you, Rika. We are one. Together we can make this world ours.

No, Isaid, no we are not one. Leave my body. Leave me be.

I can't do that, Rika. We need each other. We need to help each other. If you wish of me to leave then help me.

Help you how?

Kill the last Sovereign of the Digital World and kill the one they call the King. Kill them and I shall leave your body.

Who is the King?

Akiyama, Ryo.

"Ryo?" I shouted.

"Yes?"

Sweat began to pour down my face and my heart began racing. Ryo is the king? King of what? The Digital World? I can't kill him. He's my friend. I wiped the sleeve of the hoodie over my forehead. "I'm... err... not feeling very well," I lied.

"We'll find shelter soon," he said. "Then you can rest."

I suddenly began to feel dizzy and wanted to lie down right in the sand. The heat in the Digital World became unbearable and I pulled off the hoodie. "How far until we find any shelter?" I tied the hoodie around my waist, forgetting about my shirt being ripped. "I need to sit down."

Kill him...

No. Why do I need to kill him? He's my friend.

He's in our way to being more powerful. Don't you want to feel more superior than him? I know what happened Rika, I can see into your memories. Akiyama was always more successful. Isn't that why you resented him?

I never resented him, I argued. Never...

You did. Your jealousy and hatred of losing to him caused you to resent him.

That's not true. He's my friend. All the Tamers are. And Renamon is, too.

She was nothing to you.

She's everything to me.

But she's not around...

"Shut up!" I bellowed.

"Is it the voice again, Rika?" Ryo asked. He pulled me into his arms and laid my head on his shoulder.

I gave Ryo a quick squeeze until I began growing hotter. "Yes." I let go of him and stepped back.

Taking my hand in his, Ryo continued walking through the desert. "We need to find shelter, the day is almost over."

I found it to be odd that Ryo gave me such a sympathetic, yet friendly, hug but not question what the voice had said. I wondered if he some how knew what was really going on. I glanced toward him. "Why wont you talk to me now?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, not looking at me.

I scowled. "You're avoiding my questions and barely speaking at all. It's not like you."

Ryo smirked, "how would you know if it's not like me or not? You never speak to me."

"I do so."

He shook his head, "no. We barely talk, you know that. And whatever few words we have exchanged in the past was always something sarcastic or hurtful."

"Then why do you even bother?"

"Bother with what?"

My heart began to race so fast I felt sick. Why was I even asking? I swallowed. "With me."

Before Ryo could reply, Terriormon spoke up. "You know I'm still here, right? But never mind, who cares what the rabbit has to say, even though I was going to mention there's a large fissure in the rocks over there." He pointed to the right of us and sure enough there were two large rock walls separated several acres from one another. "Maybe we can find a cave or something in there."

"Maybe," Ryo said. He let go of my hand and headed in the direction Terriormon pointed out.

Terriormon jumped off Ryo's head and onto mine. I dropped my pace behind Ryo to several feet away, not wanting to be near him. "Momentai."

"Huh?"

Terriormon giggled. "You're stressing too much, Rika. You need to relax."

I frowned. "I can't. I'm confused and a little... hurt."

Terriormon patted my head, "it'll all be OK soon."

xxVxx

We entered into the fissure and walked several miles before coming to a dead end. To our surprise, a huge stone wall bearing some kind of symbol blocked our path. I stared up at the large design. The carvings in the stone looked to be some kind of sun with a lame dress. I laughed at my description and at how stupid the carving looked.

"What's so funny?" Terriormon asked.

"Nothing," I lied.

Ryo placed a hand on the carving and traced what he could reach of it. Balling his hand into a fist, he put it down at his side. "The Crest of Hope."

"The Crest of Hope?" How would he know? I wondered.

"Yes, it's an ancient Digital World hieroglyph. It was said that many Digital years, or eras, ago, this Crest would illuminate and allow passage to those who were worthy of entering. It was very rare for one to get through. I'm just wondering now if it's possible for us to pass." Ryo proclaimed.

I touched the wall. "What's on the other side?"

"Well," Ryo began, "it could lead us out of the desert, or into more desert area. To be honest, I'm not sure. I've only ever heard of this. Never knew it really existed."

Terriormon poked it with his ears, "so how do you know of it?"

Ryo shrugged, "I know a lot of things about the Digital World. I spent quite a bit of time here, if you do recall." He stroked his chin, "I guess it's a dead end. Let's set up camp here for the night and turn back in the morning."

xxVxx

Rika..? Rika..? Your digivice, Rika... Use your D-Power...

"Rika..?"

My eyes shot open, "yeah?"

"We need to talk," Ryo whispered, slumping down beside me. He heaved a sigh. "Back at the village, Crimson Dragon Village, when we were talking to AncientGreymon, what happened to you was the cause of him. He knew from the moment we went to the village that Flaremon was a part of you. You didn't pass out, you were knocked unconscious."

I sat up. "Why?"

Ryo scratched his head, "we're being hunted."

"By who?"

"By Digimon who are against Flaremon." He said.

He's lying, Rika... We're alone with him. Kill him.

I shook my head. "So where are we heading to now?"

"To find Baihumon . We need his help to get Flaremon out of you."

Kill him... Kill him now...

If I kill him now, I won't be able to find the last Sovereign and then would probably be killed by the one

of the ones hunting us. I said. Wait... what? Why did I just say that? I don't want to kill Ryo. "I don't think we should hunt for the last Sovereign. What if Flaremon tries to kill him?"

"If Baihumon has killed him once, he can kill him again." Ryo said certainly. "And to be honest, I'm not too concerned on what will happen if we meet with Baihumon. I'm more concerned about you."

I lowered my head. "I'm concerned about you and Terriormon," I admitted. "What if I kill you two?"

Ryo smiled, "then it's inevitable." He scooted closer to me and placed an arm around my waist, drawing me into his chest.

"Ryo? What did AncientGreymon mean about you being the King?" I asked, nervously. I didn't know why I felt so nervous all of sudden. What happened to my confident self? Was I becoming too attached to Ryo? I couldn't help but to admit to having small feelings for him. Of course I cared about him because he was my friend, but I never pictured us to be much more. I felt my body growing hotter with every thought about him. My heart began to race and my face flushed. I snuggled closer into his body in hopes he wouldn't notice.

"I believe that some how the Digital World is connected to ours and the events of years ago made this world believe I'm some kind of king." He explained. "You know, the card battles? But then again, if the Digimon believed that, they probably also believe you're my queen."

I snorted, "yeah right. Who would ever believe that?"

"I would." He rubbed his hands along my spine causing me to shiver. Slowly, he began moving his hand up my back and over my shoulder before placing his forefinger under my chin, lifting my head. He inched his face closer to mine and finally we kissed. It was long and passionate. I could feel his heart beat simultaneously with mine. The sparks and the fiery passion created a dynamic moment. I felt closer to him than I could have ever imagined. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to get closer and explore the temptations arising inside of me. I clutched onto his shirt, kissing back until finally we broke free.

Breathing heavily, Ryo smiled at me in a way he's never looked at me before. The compassion and love his eyes showed made my body tingle with every moment we gazed into each others' eyes. "So you never answered my question," I breathed.

"Oh? What question was that?"

I blushed. "Why do you even bother with me?"

Ryo was about to reply but yet again we were interrupted. I scowled.

"They're coming!" Terriormon shouted. "I can smell them." He was up at our side and ready to run.

Letting go of me, Ryo gave me an apologetic look before standing up and grabbing the bags. I followed suit and, too, got up, preparing to run. "Let's go."

"Not so fast, young humans," a Digimon called. "I've been looking for you."

The Digimon stepped closer to us. His body was that of a bear with razor sharp claws and a gun on his right arm. I reached down and unlatched my D-Power from my belt loop. The image of the bearlike Digimon illuminated into a hallo-graphic form radiating off of the screen. Unfortunately, there was an error reading the data. I sweat dropped.

Ryo, Terriormon, and myself stepped back farther and farther until we hit the wall containing the Crest of Hope. We had no where to run and no power to fight.

"This is it, young humans, and small Digimon. Say your prayers." The bearlike Digimon lifted his arm, aiming his guns toward us. "Rodeo Bullet!"

Use your D-Power, you fool!

How?

Use it on the door.

What door?

"The Crest!" Flaremon and I shouted. I slammed my D-Power into the Crest of Hope. A shower of blinding white light came from the Crest as the rock began dissolving. Unable to see, I fell backwards onto the floor behind me, knocking the wind out of my body. In moments the light was gone and I was in complete darkness.