A soft, sweet cloudy haze of freedom and blissful joy made for the first of a new wave of wonderful dreams from the mind of a digital golden vixen.

It is sadly cut shorter than Renamon had hoped as the pain of reality came crashing through her mind's door pulling her into the realm of waking. Yet she felt not even the slightest ill emotion. This day, oh this day, it felt so grand, so joyous!

That day she had become so unusually energetic. This day and some of the proceeding days the saw more of her work than ever. She was a mysterious being she was. She disappeared and reappeared often and her family had grown used to over the years.

Even so the amount of work she mustered had been so rapid yet so efficient it seemed super human even for being that wasn't human. She she stayed like this for the better part of three days. The others took notice.

Ruki, the human partner to Renamon of her late teens, felt a little undercut seeing all the work the vixen had managed. Her mother's light teasing did not help, but she could tell Renamon was happier than ever. No complaints from little subtleties of her actions and words showed this as well. She had much to say, about the world, nature and her mind and it peaked the curiosity of the other women that took her in as one of their own. Ruki and her grandmother Seiko had been especially burdened by her curious desire to know what caused the sudden change.

She smiled more than expected, spoke without being spoken to rather than merely sit around occasionally offering takes. She seemed more interested aiding in the family meal preparations than before.

Seiko was quick to form a theory she firmly stuck to. Ruki on the other hand kept drawing blanks. out recent memory . Her bad memories regarding her past were more subdued than recent memory.

One day Ruki would take her curiosity further. Being 100% sure her partner slept Ruki threw a blanket over the vixen who had passed out on a couch. She then crept away into her room to grab her phone. After she checked to see she was alone she went through her phone's contacts. She need someone to talk about this with. She went through her list of contacts unsure of where to start. She felt bitter moving to Ryo's name and wished she could remove him. His info only remained so as to stay in contact with every one she knew with a Digimon. Then fiddling back and forth she landed on Jenrya Lee. After staring for a moment she dismissed it. "What the hell could Lee even do about this?"

Then came Takato's name for what must have been the fifth time going over it.

Ruki was unsure about calling him. She resented growing warmer just thinking about him. Still she decided on him.

She thought about cancelling the call immediately after realising she didn't know if he was working or not. His voice would assure her he was not.

"Hey Ruki!. How ya doing? Today's my day off. After yesterday I really need it. You would not believe the insane amount of bread we had to make yesterday. It's like we had to feed an entire army or some..."

"Takato."

"Yeah, Ruki?"

Ruki moved back to peak out from her door. She saw Renamon remained in the same spot sleeping all the same. Still asleep, good. She returned to her little secluded corner of her home to continue speaking to her friend whom had wondered where she was.

"Hey Ruki are you still there?"

"Yes, Takato. I need to talk to you about something."

"Oh sure anything! What's up? I actually was about to call or text you to ask something too, but you go first."

"Oh..."

Ruki had to keep from losing herself in thought. Takato was quite the nice young man and it made her heart feel strange.

"Well its Renamon."

"Renamon? Is she hurt? Or mad or...?"

"The opposite."

"Huh.?"

"She's talkative and laughs and her work cleaning the house has tripled. Seriously, she woke up before the sun even came up and did a shit ton of work. That's why she's passed out on the couch right now."

Her friend on the other end of the phone felt a bit confused and just spoke his honest thoughts.

"That sounds great!"

"...yeah but..."

"But what Ruki? Something in her life must've made her really happy. Maybe not as happy as coming back to the Real World, but something big."

He was right. Ruki knew that but didn't have a clue what caused this.

"Yeah. I know, dumbass. Its nice to see her so happy, but I'd really like to know what it is. I just don't know how to ask her and thought I'd ask you while she's asleep."

Takato spoke initially in a voice filled with confusion.

"Wha-what? Me? How would I know? I'm not her part..."

He stopped himself from saying something potentially insulting to her. Instead accepted his current role as Ruki's aid.

"Hmm. Well actually..."

Ruki checked again to see Renamon still napping before returning to her previous spot.

"Hmm. Maybe she had a really good meal! Wait, that's stupid. I mean a lot of digimon are like that, but not her so...waitaminute..!"

She would pass on a few more minor details on Renamon's state of being to him. They pushed him towards an eventual conclusin."Hmm? Takato? Ruki asked." The odd silence and sudden gasp of the brunette man struck Ruki as peculiar.

"I think..."

The signs Renamon showed that were mentioned to Takato started to ring some familiar bells.

He remembered what life was like before his breakup with Juri, when things between them were happier. Their first date, their first kiss and the good times they had as a couple.

"That's it! Ruki I figured it out!"

"O-oh. What did you guess?"

Her male friend spoke with a great deal of confidence and felt like his theory had to be dead on. Ruki didn't know what he would say next but truth be told she'd felt he had a better idea of what the answer could be, even if it was wrong.

Takato took a deep breath. Ruki could hear it and felt herself do the same in response.

"Ruki, I think she's in love. Maybe she even already has a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend eh I don't judge, but yeah. That's what it sounds like to me."

That was not the response Ruki expected and felt like any moment her jaw was about to unhinge itself from her face and fall to the ground.

"Love?"

"Yeah, Ruki. It fits everything I know about being in love. Maybe its different for girls or digimon, I don't know but just the fact that's she's more happier and acts so much weirder than usual feels like a dead giveaway."

"In love...Takato, you are an idiot."

"Wha!? Sorry what'd I do?"

The young man's sudden defensive attitude made Ruki regret her poor choice of words

"I am sorry, Takato, I really am. Still why do you think she's in love?"

"Why not?"

"Huh?"

"Ruki, I am sure there is someone out there for everyone and that includes digimon. Maybe that's not what happened with Renamon, but it seems like the most likely thing. If it is, its beautiful. I know I still don't have that confidence back right now haha...that kinda hurts to say, actually."

Ruki didn't like the tone of Takato's voice getting lower and instinctively spoke to up to comfort him.

"Why? Takato, its been years since your thing with Juri. You were kids when you started it, for fucks sake. I'm surprised it even lasted that long. There are plenty of other girls out there(like the one you are talking to) You are nice and kinda handsome. So finding a girlfriend shouldn't be hard. You are also a man now, so man up already."

Takato's face went warm after hearing that.

"Oh, well thank you. Wait, you think I am handsome?"

"..."

Ruki's face turned far redder than Takato's. She eventually fired back in her usual brash way.

"Sh-shut up dweeb. You just needed some prep talk and I am not about to leave a friend feeling like shit."

"Oh, well. It was still really sweet of you to say, Ruki. Thank you."

Ruki's face and her body continued growing warm until eventually she could feel the heat of her own body from the palm of her hand to her head. Great, sweat.

'Why?'

"Man its a hot day today...haha"

"Ruki?"

"What? Its a fucking hot day."

Takato conceded to her point. However sudden and random it was, she had a point.

"Well yeah, it kinda is. Though a warm day is a nice change if you ask me. Oh, hey! You're not busy are you?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well..."

He paused for a bit. Takoto's sudden hesitation perked Ruki's curiosity more.

"Out with it, Takato."

"Oh, sorry! I was wondering if you wanted to hit that new arcade with me. I always wanted to see it and it would be more fun with a friend!"

"An arcade?"

"Yeah! I wanted to invite you and the others but so far everyone bailed. Hirokazu and Kenta are out with Ryo at a Digica tournament way the heck out of the province. Then there is Juri and, well, I would rather not ask her...alone, anyway..."

"Right, I understand."

"Thank you, Ruki. You and Jenrya were both on my mind at first but he said he had something important to do. He never really said what. I hope its not more studying. I know how important that is to us all, but the guy is nuts about it. Maybe its family pressure or just how close to finals we are. I dunno but one day before Finals I just want to pull him out of his room again and make him come with us somewhere. Right now I'll give the guy his space. What about you though? Wanna come with me to see it?"

Ruki's throat felt heavy and her heart would beat very intensely. Rough and tough as she was, the proposition still left her feeling weaker than she'd admit.

With all the other gone this would this would mean the two of them would be wherever the arcade is by themselves. Almost like a...

"D-d-d..."

"Huh? Uh, hey, Ruki?"

"D-d-d..."

'Date..!?'

"Umm if you are busy that's fine I guess. But hey, at least tell me if you are o..."

The momentary realisation that this opportunity could evade her Ruki's long denied feelings caused her to lash out and yell to Tokato.

"I WILL DO IT! TELL ME WHEN."

"R-Ruki!?"

Moments later Ruki would regain some of her composer and reassure Takato she was fine.

"Its fine Takato. I uh, I almost tripped! Yeah, I almost tripped when you ask me that.

'Oh man, that sounds so stupid! Agh!' Ruki wanted to punch herself for such a poor excuse. Yet to her fortune Takato still bought it.

"But anyway, I'd love to go Takato."

"Great! Thanks Ruki!"

Y-yeah. No problem."

"Alright I will be there in a half-hour."

"Yeah..."

Ruki pushed aside her repressed strange feelings to address again the reason she called Takato in the first place.

"So Takato."

"What's up?"

"I don't know when I'll ever get the chance to ask this again without her around but...do you really think that? Do you really think Renamon is in love with someone and if so who could it be?"

Ruki was asking a lot of Takato to think on, but truth be told, he wanted to know too.

"I dunno Ruki. I don't understand girls and I REALLY don't understand girl Digimon but from what you told me so far I can't think of anything else it could be. It just feels like she is exactly how I and Juri...yeah..."

"Takato"

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry."

"Its alright."

"If you say so, Takato. Still, who on Earth or the Digital World or wherever the hell else could possible charm Renamon, of all people?"

"Maybe that's her business."

Ruki was shocked to hear the near voice of her her grandmother Seiko standing not far from her. That's when she realised she'd forgotten to close her door, something Seiko would do instead.

"Wait!? Grandma!? How long have you been listening!?"

Seiko laughed while Ruki nervously covered her phone.

"Oh, not too long. I heard you yell and figured I had to check on you or wake Renamon. I chose the former and came out to hear you talking about Renamon possibly having a lover."

"Oh."

Ruki breathed a very heavy sigh of relief after hearing that. Remembering she was still in a phone conversation she hastily spoke on her phone again to end it.

"So come over whenever gotta go bye, Takato."

"Grandma, you could warn me next time."

"And miss the gossip? Not a chance!"

"Ugh."

Ruki rolled her eyes and was about to march out of her room in frustration. Yet that quickly died down as she felt that the intense vibe of curiosity from within swell up once more. It was enough to actually bring the subject of it to her grandmother directly. Now was one of the best times to with Renamon still slumbering.

"So grandma."

"Yes dear?"

"Do you think that too? That she, y'know, has a boyfriend or something?"

"Oh? Possibly. At the very least she's in love!"

"What do you mean of course?"

Seiko smiled and put a hand on Ruki's shoulder.

"Ruki, it's in her eyes."

"Her eyes?"

"Yes, Ruki. Not just in her eyes, but also in her actions. The way she hummed when helping me wash the dishes this morning and the extra work. Most of all ist her eyes. I can see a happiness I have never seen in her before.

Peace of mind, pure blissful joy, even an odd sense of freedom. It truly is a beautiful thing to see a woman fall in love, Ruki."

That was when Ruki truly started to believe Takato's theory with zero doubt.

"Grandma thats...incredible."

"Love is incredible, Ruki."

"Not that gushy stuff. Blech! Gimme a break. I meant how you described it was pretty amazing."

Seiko laughed again.

"Oh Ruki. It might seem silly, but its the truth."

"Yeah whatever. Ick."

"Ruki, please. You 'll be in your 20s before you know it. You'd think a girl your age would be more adjusted to this by now."

"If Renamon's happy I am happy. That does not mean I need any of that lovey-dovey crap in my own life. I just want to know if its really true."

"She'll tell you when she's comfortable about it."

"Yeah I guess you are right."

"Oh and Ruki."

"Yeah grandma?"

"Why are you sweaty?"

"...It's hot today."

"You have an air conditioner in your room, you know?"

"..."

The two return inside to see Renamon still asleep.

"I think we should wake up her Ruki. She's was just starting to get used to day sleep cycles and she has had a long enough rest."

Seiko had a point. So Ruki walked over to shake her partner awake.

Renamon was lost once again to another pleasant dream. Though she only caught familiar glimpses of the familiar voice and lips of certain young man mere moments before waking. The fox Digimon had returned to reality with her partner looking down at her.

"Oh, Ruki..."

Renamon simply yawned and lifted herself up

"About damn time you got up."

"I am sorry. Chores took more out of me than I thought."

"Suuuureee."

"Hmm? Ruki?"

Renamon was puzzled by how Ruki chose to speak to her. It was a teasing tone not unlike the one Renamon would occasionally use on her. Now that the tables were turned the fox didn't know what to think. Though she would soon return the favour.

"Oh nothing, Renamon. Anyway I'm heading out soon."

"Away with Takoto?" She hummed to Ruki's dismay

"I..well actually yeah I am".

Ruki's honesty caught Renamon off guard.

"He invited me to see an arcade with him, but that's it really. Its not a date or something, got it? I guess I'll try out some games."

"From what I gather arcades can be quite loud."

"Oh yeah arcades are super loud."

"Well, as you partner I do feel obliged to come, unless I can trust Takoto to..?"

"To what protect me? Ha! I'll be the one to protect his ass!"

Ruki's sudden confidence and choice of words made Renamon laugh.

"Haha that is probably true. You two should be fine."

Takato was a good man with a strong heart and Renamon trusted him.

The two needed their space every so often and perhaps Ruki would finally make another move.

Though that was hardly what thought occupied most of Renamon's mind.

Ruki could see Renamon was deep in thought over something and grew curious.

Most likely it was her mysterious lover, if that was really what had changed her. It was a being that Ruki was dying confirm the identity of, if it was really true. She could not say such a thing directly to her. Oh well it would soon be time to leave.

"So yeah, later."

"Oh!"

Renamon looked back at Ruki and felt somewhat embarrassed and ashamed. Her thoughts were primarily over her latest dream and the man who caused them all to happen, but this moment she threw all of that aside to give Ruki a quick hug.

To Ruki her actions were sudden and odd, but Ruki always welcomed hug from her.

"See you later, Ruki."

"Yeah."

"One more thing."

"Yeah, Renamon?"

Renamon smiled and closed her eyes before turning away with a few final playful words she found herself having an easier time saying. "Good luck."

Soon Takato arrived to greet the two of them and Seiko and before long he and Ruki were gone leaving Seiko to her own hobbies and Renamon to...nothing.