I'm going to be going back over all my previous chapters and make some adjustments to them. It's hard getting back on track after leaving a story for so long. I was also going to update "Summer to Italy" but this story is a little more fun to write... but don't think I wont get to it because I will... just at a slower pace.

Also, I apologize ahead of time that this chapter is very short.

Chapter ten: We're One.

"Rika! Is that you?" Jeri's voice cried. She was running towards me, flailing her arms. "Rika!"

I stood in the middle of a forest, dumbfounded. Just my luck I ran into the others. The others whom wanted nothing to do with me. I watched as Jeri and the others came swarming towards me and I flushed. Perhaps they did miss me.

"Rika! Where is Ryo?" Takato asked, worriedly. Or not, I thought bitterly. "What happened to you?"

What happened to me? Oh! I touched my nose. "We got separated after being attacked by a Digimon," I lied. "The last I had seen, Ryo was fine."

Henry raised an eyebrow, "how exactly did you get separated?"

Scratching the side of my face, I nervously replied, "we ran into Terriormon and not long after, we were attacked by a bear with guns. We all ran for it and I hit a data stream."

"You ran into Terriormon?" Henry's face began to glow, "is he safe?"

I nodded. "He saved our butts while we ran."

"Hmm," Henry thought, "if Terriormon was helping you guys, why did you all run in a different directions?"

Damn, will he get off my case? I gritted my teeth. "Because while we were taking turns dodging bullets, we all ran away from each other without noticing. I turned back to head towards them and was sucked up by a damn data stream." I turned to Takato, "and why did you guys not want to join Ryo in finding me?"

Takato was taken back in surprise. "Well... uhh... we thou – we thought Ryo was bringing you back to us," he stuttered.

Unlikely story. "Don't lie. Is it because of Guilmon?"

Takato shook his head and my heart skipped a beat. It was obvious he didn't want to tell me the truth because he and the others either thought I wouldn't like to hear it or that I'm some kind of crazed monster that would go ballistic on them if I didn't like what I was hearing. It hurt a little to know that none of them had my back, or were concerned for my well-being, or even were remotely sympathetic for the situation I was forced upon. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew Flaremon was right and that none of them were really my friends.

"Is it because I killed Guilmon? Tell me." I pleaded. It was unlike me to plead and to plead over something as pathetic as data made degrade on my icy scale.

"Rika," Jeri began, but offered no comfort or explanation. She stood beside Takato, biting her lip.

I rubbed my eyes with my arm and nodded. "Alright, fine. I see how it is." I turned my back to them and walked away. No one followed.

The more I walked, the more I began to feel empty and alone. I trusted everyone ever since the D-Reaper and had expected they trust me, too. We all spent time together and worked as a team. If it wasn't for all of them, I wouldn't be who I am now. If it wasn't for them I would never have been to the Digital World. Suddenly, I felt rage overwhelm me. The warmth and fierce feeling of rage and of power. If it wasn't for them, Renamon would still be alive. I screamed. My scream was loud. My throat and my lungs were exhausted from the rush of my voice screeching out of my mouth, but it felt good.

You didn't listen to me, Rika. Flaremon whispered. I told you they were no good. I told you that you didn't need them. And look what happened? You found out the hard way...

I trusted them, Iargued. I trusted that they would be there for me and be my friend.

And I told you to trust no one.

Not even you?

Not even me.

xxVxx

For days and nights I wandered through the forest and villages. I avoided as much confrontation with any Digimon as possible. In the last village I had managed to steal a cloak to conceal my body within it.

Now, I had been travelling through a dense snow. Blizzards scarred the skies and the digital snow was knee deep. The snow pelted upon the grounds at such haste it was nearly impossible to see. I hacked a couple coughs and rubbed my hands over my cheeks. They burned from the wind and my hands were frozen. I completely felt exhausted, I felt ready to fall down and give up, but I had to keep going. I needed answers.

Are you going to freeze yourself to death? I heard Ryo's worried voice float swiftly through my mind. Suddenly, emptiness arose and I felt a sickness in the pit of my stomach. I missed his company and his companionship during the tough times. Why he lied to me, I don't know. Could Flaremon be right? Was Ryo really hiding so much than he cares to share? Perhaps being alone made him so independent and so nervous about trusting. I shook the thought. He trusted me...so why lie?

I draped the cloak tighter around me. Ryo Akiyama, King to a digital world that so few know about. How was it possible?

He worked hard to gain the power over the Digital World, Flaremon rendered. He fought many but lost so much in the process.

How do you know this? I asked him.

I could hear discomfort in his voice. I worked with him. I fought with him...why do you feel he's so angry when he knows you have communicated with me? He was not protecting you from me. He was protecting himself from you.

I thought for a moment. I don't understand...

Rika, Flaremon began, he knows of me and who I truly am. As of I.

Coming to realisation with how veracious this actually sounded, I felt more trust in Flaremon. What do you mean by 'he lost so many?'

His discomfort changed to sympathy. His friends, his family...his partner and his lover.

His lover? My heart sank. I bowed my head and continued through the snow with great dismay.

Yes, her body was turned into data, Flaremon explained. The girl had gotten herself caught up in such a mess.

How was she killed?

Flaremon was silent for moments. I was starting to wonder if it was he to have killed her, but his next reply had made my heart nearly jump out of my chest. My body tensed when he whispered, he killed her.

I clenched my frozen fists down at my side. I was great denial and disbelief. Young, handsome, buoyant and lighthearted Ryo Akiyama killed his lover? It was too bizarre.

Rika, I do not need you to believe me or even trust me, however, you need to finally understand that we are now one. I have no reason to lie or to harm you. I am asking you one final time to let us be together and bring down the last sovereign and the King.

I was still skeptical of his motives and did not know why he wanted to defeat Ryo. Maybe the answers will become more clear. I solemnly nodded, agreeing to help.

And then...my internal body began to change and a fiery stature engulfed my human body. My teeth thickened and fangs formed on each side of my jaw. My reflexes grew and my senses widened. I could no longer feel the cold of the digital blizzard, but instead, felt an overpowering warmth reside within me. The snow beneath my felt melted with every step.

Although my physical body was still that of a human's with an altered appearance, I had a phantom formation of being Flaremon. I was no longer the Rika Nonaka everyone grew to know. I was changed. The power overwhelmed within me and there was no longer any emptiness. Flaremon and I were finally one.

Xxxx

A/N: okay, I'm sorry I made this chapter a little rushed, but I would like to clear up that what I mean by the phantom formation is that she feels as though she is him but only in a human form. :D had to give her some fangs though -pictures how cool that'd look- anyway, hope you enjoyed this short chapter. Oh, again, I'm sorry if it's confusing you guys. I know where I'm going with this, honestly