I rushed forwards, taking advantage of the fact that Gargomon was facing away from me to get as close as I could without him noticing.

Unsuccessfully, apparently, as he quickly turned around, his arm sweeping across, which would have knocked me away in much the same manner as it had Guilmon.

But I would be having none of that.

My left hand came up, pushing Gargomon's arm above me, sailing clean over my head, while my right hand reached out and stopped his other arm, arresting his spin and leaving me inside of his guard. I shoulder-charged him, using my suddenly-increased weight to my advantage, hitting him in the sternum and sending him stumbling back.

He didn't fall over, but neither did he recover quick enough to stop Renamon from drop-kicking him, her foot smashing into the side of Gargomon's head. I saw the rage in her Heart, and didn't begrudge her for it.

Gargomon, again, didn't fall over, stumbling to his right as he tried to recover. He might have been better served if he had fallen.

Guilmon rushed in, his body low, and almost parallel to the ground, a look in his eyes that reminded me of a predator. But Guilmon was no mindless beast, he was much more than that.

He crashed into Gargomon, hard and fast enough that he physically launched the both of them into the air, sending Gargomon headfirst into the wall.

Hopefully that'll knock some sense into him.

Gargomon didn't get back up, nor did he start firing his guns, so I temporarily considered the threat over. He wasn't going to be getting up with Guilmon on top of him, either way.

I looked over to Rika, who continued to stare where Gargomon had been, her form shaking in fear, her Heart still caught in the grips of terror.

And in that moment, she reminded me so much of Sasuke.

God damn it.

I walked over, kneeling in front of her, wrapping her in a hug, gently beginning to pat her on the back. She didn't seem to notice, still shivering, still looking straight ahead at nothing.

I'd never thought I'd be comforting a ten year old after a close call with death. It wasn't, I decided, a feeling that I liked.

"You four," I began, addressing Takato, Guilmon, Henry and Gargomon. "You should leave. There is no doubt that this battle would have attracted attention. Renamon, come here, your Tamer needs you."

I saw the apprehension in her Heart, but she began to walk over anyway.

Cautious, but I didn't blame her for that. I held out my hand, touching her wrist.

My eyes closed.

"Calumon," I began, letting no one else hear me. "You should probably leave. You don't want to be discovered here."

And with that, I teleported, taking Renamon and Rika with me.

Renamon sprung away the second we teleported, undoubtedly spooked by the sudden change in location, but I didn't really care about that.

"She came very close to death today." I started. "Are you aware of the kinds of effects that can have on the psyche of a young girl, Renamon?"

Rika, I noticed, didn't even twitch. She still stood stationary, still shuddering, still staring.

Still terrified.

"I... am not fully aware." Renamon admitted, slowly beginning to make her way closer. "Who are you?"

"A good question." I nodded. "One with many answers. You do not need to know all of them, but you may know that I am someone with a vested interest in the wellbeing of the Tamers. Rika included."

At the sound of her name, she twitched, her eyes darting around. I felt the terror in her Heart slowly, slowly begin to fade.

I hugged her closer, offering what comfort I could give.

"Rika..."

Rika's eyes darted towards Renamon. I didn't miss Renamon's flinch.

"It is okay, Rika. You are alright. Nothing can harm you while we're here." I began to rub circles on her back, catching the flinch that Rika gave when I did. "You're safe, Rika."

Rika slowly took a shaky breath. Her shivering began to abate as she began to take deep, calming breaths.

In, out. In, out. In, out.

Slowly, I began to pull away from her, unwrapping her from my hug, gently drawing away. She twitched, slightly, when the cool air brushed against her, but that was it.

Quietly, I knelt in front of her, my hands on her shoulders, gently kneading them. "Are you alright?"

It took a few seconds, but she nodded, swallowing loud enough for me to hear.

I nodded letting go of her, drawing up to my full height- over twice Rika's own size, even taller than Renamon.

"Wh-who are you?" She asked, only barely audible.

"A good question. One with many answers." I spoke, repeating what I had said to Renamon. "For now, I simply someone with a vested interest in making sure that the Tamer's wellbeing remains as such."

I stepped back, noting how Renamon was instantly standing behind Rika, ready to defend her.

The protectiveness and loyalty was rather inspiring, actually. Misguided, at the moment, but that was understandable.

"But that isn't something that should concern you. Not today, at the very least. You, dear girl, have had a long day and trying day. You shouldn't be worried about little old me, you should be at home, resting and recovering."

I turned around, beginning to walk away.

"Take care of yourself, Rika. And Renamon? Take care of her."

And with that, I vanished.

What is it that had changed?

It was a good question.

Gargomon hadn't hesitated. He'd reacted much quicker and much more effectively than he had in Tamers proper.

Why? What was the difference between here and canon?

The only thing that came to mind was my interactions with Calumon, but Calumon had only been tangentially related in this matter. He'd been there. And that's pretty much it, he'd hadn't interacted with anybody, he hadn't involved himself more, he'd had exactly the same impact on the situation here as he did in canon.

None at all.

So what was the difference? Where was the point of divergence?

Rika had very nearly died, and I don't even know what had provoked that change.

Up on top of a skyscraper, I leaned back against a pole, silent and invisible.

My eyes closed as I slumped, feeling the currents of Darkness in this World, my sight opening up to view the countless Hearts that lay around.

I traced Calumon's Heart in an instant, then Rika's and Renamon's a moment later, then Takato's and Guilmon's, and finally Henry's and Terriermon's.

The first was in the park; the second and third stationary, but close; the fourth and fifth also in the park, the latter of whom was asleep; the sixth and seventh together with another.

My eyes opened, and I stared up into the sky. Reddish clouds greeted me, the evening sun casting Shinjuku into twilight.

A beautiful sight, to be certain.

My eyes closed, and I felt the Darkness of the World again, flowing around me, with me, against me, through me.

It was a peaceful feeling.

I kept a part of my attention on those Hearts, just in case.

In the meantime, I wondered why things had gone different.