A/N: The Deja Vu will be explained later. Trust me :D

Chapter nine: Betrayal?

I huffed and heaved until my breath came back and called out into the dark, "Ryo? Terriormon? You here?"

"Yes, now get off of me," Terriormon squeaked.

I felt around the immediate area and touched a wall. Using it for balance, I tried not to step on Terriormon as I stood. "Are you around here, Ryo?" I asked. When I didn't get a reply, my heart sunk. "Ryo?" I used the wall as a guide and began slowly walking. "There has to be some kind of light in here..."

"I think I've found one," Terriormon said.

I heard a click and was temporarily blinded by the light. Blinking, I looked to see Terriormon beside a wall with his paw over a hieroglyph. "How did you know that was a light? For all you knew, it could have been a spike trap or something."

Terriormon shrugged. "It worked, didn't it?"

I looked over to where the entrance was and seen Ryo laying limply on his back. I shrieked and ran over to him. "Ryo?" Dropping down beside him, I lifted his head onto my lap and placed a hand on his chest. Three tiny bullet holes pierced through his shirt and into his skin. Tears began rolling down my eyes, "Ryo!"

Terriormon joined me and placed a paw over his mouth. "He's still kicking."

"He's dying," I cried. "I killed him."

Ryo stirred. "No you didn't," he moaned. "But I think I'm going to die from seeing you so sappy."

Angry, but relieved, I slapped him playfully across the face. "How dare you play dead!"

He laughed, "I'm sorry. If it's any recollection, I am in serious pain. Not dying, though."

I rolled my eyes, "only you would find something amusing out of this. Well, I'm not taking care of you."

"Ouch, Pumpkin. I guess I can die then." He frowned.

"Fine. What would I care?" I pouted, then smiled seeing Ryo's reaction. "I'm kidding. I would care a little." Touching his shirt again, I asked, "so what are we going to do about your injuries?"

Ryo shrugged. "I'm in pain, but the wounds will heal. It's the Digital World afterall."

"So are we going to get going or what?" Terriormon asked.

"Right," Ryo said, standing up. "We should get going. I guess we just follow this path out of here. But first, I want to take a look at the heiroglyphs." With his hand over his chest, he observed them for several moments before uttering, "interesting."

"What's interesting?" Terriormon queried. "Are you able to read these?"

Ryo nodded, "yes. I find it remarkable that such hieroglyphs would be found in a place like this."

"What does it say?"

"I'm surprised you can't read it," I told Terriormon. "I mean, you are a Digimon afterall. Isn't this Digital Language or something?"

"No," Ryo explained. "It's an ancient Digital writing, much like the Crest of Hope. Speaking of which, how did the passage open?"

"It had something to do with my D-Power," I mused. "I guess I'm just awesome enough to have opened it."

Terriormon snorted, "right. And I'm a Sovereign. Now, can we please get going. This place gives me a weird feeling."

We all agreed and walked down the path. Ryo read more hieroglyphs as we passed, making incoherent notes.

After a short walk, we reached the end of the tunnel. The light was bright in the Digital World and data streams disseminated the distance. To the right of us, a colossal upside-down pyramid settled in the sand. I was in awe to see such a massive pyramid be resting upside-down. But then again, it's the Digital World. Should anything surprise me?

We started travelling through the sand and eventually passed the pyramid. I wondered to myself what was actually in there and was curious enough to want to explore. Unfortunately, Ryo couldn't be bothered with it.

It's nothing.

And how do you know that?

Flaremon growled. Because I know everything that has every happened in the Digital World.

So you know about the ancient hieroglyphs! I exclaimed.

Of course I do! Flaremon snapped. And that fool, Akiyama, knows a lot more than what he's telling you. He's hiding secrets, Rika. What kind of friend does that?

Maybe he's not telling me for a reason, I defended. And besides, what kind of things is he not telling me? He's lived in the Digital World for several months so he probably picked up being able to read the hieroglyphs while he was here.

Several months? Maybe you should learn more of your little friend before you consider getting all lovey-dovey with him!

What I do with him is none of your business! I barked.

Then perhaps you shall find it interesting to know that Akiyama has been here for more than several months. He has been a part of this Digital World for seven years. Flaremon informed me.

Seven years? What..? No! Why would he hide such a thing from all of us, I wondered. What has he been doing here for seven years?

Do you not listen? He is the King of the Digital World. He has the power to change it and has the power to control it and all that resides within it.

If that's true, then why are you inside me? Couldn't he just take you out? Why do we need to find the Sovereign if Ryo is more powerful? The more I talked with Flaremon the more confused I began to feel. None of what was happening was making sense. Somehow, and for some reason, I began to trust Flaremon and started losing trust and faith in Ryo. Is there a reason Ryo hasn't explained anything? Or was he purposely trying not to?

I cannot answer your questions. However, one thing is clear: we need to work together, Rika. You and I can become stronger. We can take down the King and the Sovereign and reign this world ourselves. It's time you realize that there is more than what meets the eye. Trust no one.

"You, who. Rika? Are you still with us?" Terriormon spoke, cutting into my deep thought and conversation with Flaremon.

"Uh... yeah." I suddenly began feeling a little suspicious of Ryo and his motives. What are the real reasons he wants to travel with me? To protect me? From who? "Hey, Ryo?"

"What's up, Princess?" He beamed.

Walking side by side with him, I glanced over. "Why are we going to Baihumon?"

Ryo's lip curled. "I told you why. Have you been talking to Flaremon again?"

"No," I lied. "I was wondering because what if Flaremon decides to attack and kill the last Sovereign?"

"We already went over this. If Flaremon attacks, Baihumon will take him down again. Besides, Flaremon would be weak given that he was killed once before."

I hesitated for a second, thinking. "Yeah, but if Baihumon attacks Flaremon, isn't that considered attacking me? To kill Flaremon I would have to be killed too, right?"

Terriormon looked at me baffled. "She's got a point, Ryo."

Hitting a nerve, Ryo scolded both Terriormon and I. "Have I not made myself clear? I already told you that I wouldn't let anything happen to you, Rika. You need to stop talking to Flaremon. He is messing with your mind. Ignore him!"

"I can't ignore him," I argued. "And from what he's been telling me, it's pretty hard to trust you anymore."

Ryo stopped walking and grabbed a hold of the front of my shirt. His face was twisted in rage. "He's saying anything for you to side with him," he spat. "You need to stop listening to him before you turn against all of us."

"Then stop hiding everything from us!" My anger was equal to his. I began to shake from nervous and uncontrollable rage. "Why didn't you tell us you were the King of the Digital World for seven years? You told us you were here for several months."

Ryo gripped my shirt even tighter, slightly cutting off my air. "Damn you, where did you learn that? Was it Flaremon? He's going to let you hear everything you want to hear to get you to turn on us. I'm disgusted that you're even considering what he pulls out of his ass to be true."

"Stop fighting, you two!" Terriormon cried. "We're supposed to be working together, not fighting each other."

"Tell that to Rika. She's the one siding with the bad guy here." Ryo snarled.

I scowled. "You're the one that's been lying and avoiding answering my questions."

Striking another nerve, Ryo raised a fist and swung at me. His fist made contact on my face so hard I swore he broke my nose. He let go of my shirt and I fell to my knees. Blood poured out like a faucet and tears streamed down my eyes.

"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" A male voice boomed.

I looked up and seen Ryo in shock still standing with his fist risen and his hand clutched where he had my shirt.

"Well? Did I?"

Ryo nodded solemnly. I could tell he was breathing pretty heavily. He looked down at me with great sorrow in his eyes, but never spoke a word.

I felt an arm hug around my shoulder and a cloth was placed in front of my face. "Are you okay," a female voice asked, concerned. "You're bleeding pretty bad. I hope your nose isn't broken." I glanced toward her and thanked her. She was wearing a blue had and a bright yellow top. Her blue jeans were torn up in a few spots here and there and she wore pink gloves on her hands. "I'm Sora. Pleasure to meet you."

Helping me stand up, she pointed to her male friend. He was a tall and handsome guy with blond hair and wearing a green top. He was face to face with Ryo, ready for a fight. "That's my friend, Matt. And these are our partners, Biyomon and Gabumon." She acknowledged the pink bird-like Digimon and the chubby wolf-like Digimon with a yellow horn sticking out of its head.

"So, Ryo," Matt began, "we haven't seen you in a couple years and this is what you've turned into?"

"Matt, please. Don't go looking for another fight. Can't you see they've been through enough?" Sora pleaded.

"Fine, but don't you think I'm going to forget about you hitting a girl, Ryo." Matt said, poking him in the chest. "I mean it."

xxVxx

Sora sat beside me during the lookout that evening. Ryo had decided it be best to have two on guard throughout the night. Probably because he doesn't want me taking off, I thought.

"So how do you know Ryo?" Sora asked.

"Challenged him in card battle and ran into him a year ago in the Digital World," I replied. "You?"

Sora leaned back and looked into the Digital night sky. "I met him here in the Digital World a couple years ago."

"Exactly how long ago?" I asked.

"Four years ago."

I frowned. "When you met him four years ago, how long had he been in the Digital World?"

"Hm. I think he told us three years. I'm not sure though. Why do you ask?"

So Flaremon was right...

I told you as much, Rika. Now do you believe me?

"No reason." I stretched and stood up, wiping the sand from my bottom. "I need to use the lady's cactus. I'll be back."

"Don't be gone too long, in case Ryo wakes up."

What a shame, I thought. What could he possibly do if he found out I went to the bathroom? My faith and trust in Ryo had degraded because of the events from earlier. And now, finding out he lied again, it hurt to know just how little he cared about us. About me.

I walked behind a cactus and peeked around the edge. Sora was looking into the fire and the others sleeping soundly feet away. I seized my open opportunity and chance to part and ran. I ran as fast as I could for as long as I could, not stopping until my sides ached in pain. I neared a data stream and looked back.

Well Flaremon, I sighed. This is it. You and I are going to figure this out together. Stepping into a data stream, I instantly regretted parting with the others.

A/N: I hope you readers don't feel as though I'm ruining the story by adding in other characters. I feel that by doing so, it's going to create more turns of events. Also, I apologize for the terrible writing. The only time I get to write is at 2-3am, lol. Anyway, enjoy. Don't forget to review. New chapter up in a few days.