Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, nor do I own When the World's Not Ending, by Smartalec121 or any of their associated works.

Off the Beaten Path

Chapter: 14/ Fight and Flight

From within his sphere of data, Takato's mind was in another time. The present had become disjointed and removed; replaced by the past in a single instant. Instead of being northeast of the Chuo East Line, Takato was charging across a sea of red, watching as a horde of green-armored creatures, all connected to a writhing mass of crimson by many cables, tore across the landscape with the aim of ripping him and his friends to pieces.

This vision from elsewhen blurred, and the present returned to focus. The many became one; a creature that was identical to that horde, but at the same time oddly different. What this difference was, he couldn't say. Only raw, red emotion blotted out all other thought except for this enemythat stood before him. The destroyer from the past.

Horn Striker, came the thought that overwhelmed all other thoughts. One of the D-Reaper's most powerful combat agents. It's not possible, came the next thought. He felt an alarming storm of emotion building up within him like a scream. Data whirled about him and a brilliant scarlet light erupted from the center of his being. The impossibility of the D-Reaper's presence didn't matter. It was clearly there in front of him. Through their shared, merged body, Takato could tell through Guilmon's senses that this was without a doubt the real deal. He remembered the D-Reaper's scent well enough from the war. Like Guilmon, he would remember it for the rest of his life.

It needed responding to.

The light overwhelmed their united form and Gallantmon's armor began to change, shifting in color from white to a rich, deep, blood red. A dark orb emblazoned with the hazard sign materialized upon his chest plate, held in place by a golden ring. His helm became more reptilian in nature, with faux, horn-like shapes arching from his visor. His shoulder guards became more pronounced and the trim materialized a golden sheen. Ten angelic wings of blazing light burst forth from his back and in one hand materialized a double-bladed spear, replacing his lance just as his shield was by a long sword; Blutgang and Gungnir.

"Gallantmon, Crimson Mode!" Takato and Guilmon shouted as one, completing their transformation.

Gallantmon wasted no time. Shooting forth, he stabbed the Horn Striker with his spear. It made no effort to defend itself or fight back. Instead, spreading its arms wide, it almost welcomed his attack as though it were receiving the embrace of an old friend. Gallantmon's glowing blade punched through its back, raining red ichor upon the streets that promptly began to evaporate. The Horn Striker, quivering, turned its eyeless gaze up at Gallantmon. Then, with its last strength, it reached up and, to Gallantmon's shock, brushed a gentle finger against the side of the knight's helm, where his cheek would be.

"Ta…ka…to…" it said in its feminine voice, only this time, it was no longer flat and mechanical. There was deep emotion in it, warm and full of melancholy. As Gallantmon continued to watch, a soft smile forming upon its face and then the Horn Striker dissolved into nothing but sparkling light.

Gallantmon stood there, both sides of him trying to collect their thoughts. It was only by noticing Gaiomon's movement, that their attention refocused. Turning, slowly, and deliberately, the knight raised his weapons again. More flickering movement and Gallantmon caught sight of Kuzuhamon off a short distance away, Rika held tightly in her arms. A red haze fell over Takato's mind at the sight and the tips of his blades aimed at Gaiomon's digi-core.

"Let her go," he said, his tone indicating that he was not taking no for an answer.

###

Rika gazed in awe at the sight of Gallantmon in his Crimson Mode. Memory stirred in the back of her mind from that fateful day in Gyoen Park, buried but not forgotten, and from it arose the image of a crimson knight born aloft by the angelic wings.

"Beautiful…" she breathed as the radiant warmth and force emanating from the glowing knight beat upon the air. It struck her that what she was seeing here was the purest expression of Takato's being.

Yet, despite how captivated she was by this image of the knight in shining armor, something else crept into the back of her mind. Some kind of warning that, although this was without a doubt Takato at his greatest strength, it was also who he was at his most vulnerable. The thought clicked into place before she had a chance to fully grasp it. She looked the knight over as he turned toward Gaiomon. His golden eyes flickered in her direction, and that warning grew in intensity.

"Put me down," she said to Kuzuhamon. The shaman shook her head.

"I do not think that would be a good idea," she began. "The Raremon is still in play and we don't know if there are any more…"

"Let her go."

Following his echoing voice, the warmth that radiated from the Crimson Knight briefly turned up a notch in temperature and down below Rika saw Gaiomon step back a pace. The hardness in Gallantmon's voice brooked no room for argument. His tone was as hard as steel and he was angry.

"Put me down," Rika repeated. "I think Gogglehead will delete your partner if you don't do as he says."

Kuzuhamon didn't need to doubt Rika at this point. From Gallantmon's voice, she heard nothing more than hard reality. If deleting them was what it took to free Rika, he would do that. As strong as they were, without Titamon they wouldn't stand a chance against his Mode Change. Lowering herself to the ground, the shaman priestess, set Rika down, released her and then stepped back. Without missing a beat, Rika strode toward Gallantmon. Her eyes were fixed on his, seeking some sign of the boy and digimon that lay buried beneath the rage that burned within.

This is different, she thought with growing concern. This didn't surprise her of course, as she had only known the pair for about a week. Hardly enough time to see the various sides of anyone. The intensity she saw was another matter. Takato was furious and only barely restraining himself from laying into Gaiomon and Kuzuhamon because she currently stood between them.

This is personal for him, Rika realized, deliberately slowing her walk so she could buy time to sort through this puzzle. Something about Kuzuhamon holding me set him off. Was it because I was kidnapped by her before or…? She frowned, and memory tickled at her. The image of the Horn Striker caressing Gallantmon's face and speaking Takato's name came to mind. No. Even before that. That thing that took out the Raremon… It's that D-Reaper thing, I think. Or a part of it. Either way, it's the thing that killed his friends. And…I think it sounded like that Jeri girl I met.

Just like that, enough pieces fell into place and Rika came to a stop. Gallantmon blinked, surprised.

"Fancy seeing you boys here," she greeted, throwing on her best smile. "You sure got here fast. Do you do deliveries?"

Gallantmon's eyes narrowed a little, plainly unhappy with her humor. Rika reflected that it was not at all in keeping with the mood, but her heart was beating to the tune of stupid at the moment, which made it rather hard to think.

Keep it cool, she thought, gripping her bag tightly.

"Get out of the way," Gallantmon rumbled in the dual voices of Takato and Guilmon. "These two need to be dealt with."

That set off an alarm bell in Rika's mind. From the moment she met Takato – the other Takato – she had a sense that he wasn't the type to get into a fight unless he absolutely had to, and whatever tendencies toward anger he had they were slow to awaken. Her version of the boy was similar, but here it was plain, at least to her, that his experiences and pain were at war with that part of his nature and it left his control over his emotions tenuous. He was teetering on the edge, almost looking for a justification to attack without provocation.

She remembered Gyoen. If she were in his shoes, even without his experiences, she supposed it would be pretty easy to fall into that mindset.

Yet, looking over at the sobbing girl whose life had just narrowly avoided being snuffed out, cowering behind Gallantmon's massive figure, she wondered what her Takato would end up regretting if he gave into the temptation and just attacked, unleashing all the might he had at his disposal to take out not one but two Mega level digimon.

Okay. I guess we're jumping right into things…

"Takato," she began, deciding to address the human half of the equation first. "It's okay. Kuzuhamon was trying to stop me from getting here and she had her partner show up to deal with the Raremon because of me. I…" She pressed her lips together. "I was being a brat because I wanted to help you guys." Ignoring how dry her mouth felt, she adjusted her bag. "You don't need to start another fight. I think… I think they're still investigating what happened with me. I guess I worry them."

Gallantmon's fingers flexed around the hilt of his sword as if in debate about whether to use it or not. To Rika's attentive eye, she saw a faint tremor in his grasp. Then, as if the little girl's cries had finally reached his ears, the knight turned and he saw her crouched, face buried against her knees. Rika saw something stir in his golden irises and the tips of his blades lowered.

Rika breathed a sigh of relief, one that was mirrored by the shaman behind her.

"Gaiomon," Kuzuhamon thought to her partner through their link. "Withdraw."

The dragon-warrior faded from view without complaint. Holding her hands out by her sides to show she meant no harm, Kuzuhamon approached the Royal Knight.

"That entity of Chaos is our common enemy," she said. "That means we have a common goal. The Sovereign believes that another version of the Chaos is slipping into our world from its own. It is probable that recent events have drawn its attention. We can help each other."

"Kuzuhamon," came Gaiomon's warning voice through the link they shared. "You are speaking for the Sovereign in matters that are above your station."

Kuzuhamon pressed her lips together, acknowledging the truth from her partner. The Sovereign had not ordered any such alliance be made with the humans, but she couldn't see a reason why they shouldn't offer it.

"We have worked together against the Chaos in the past. Why shouldn't we do so again? What do we gain by fighting the Tamers with such a powerful entity on our doorstep?"

"Nevertheless, the Sovereign might feel differently. You have said before, as Gods of Destruction, it is our duty to fight and die at the behest of the Sovereign."

"Yes, but we must also survive long enough to do our duty. Until Titamon arrives, or until another opportunity presents itself, this is the best route to defusing this situation. If the Sovereign believes I have erred, I will submit myself to their judgment."

Gaiomon fell silent and did not argue further. Kuzuhamon felt guilty for arguing with him, but in this she believed herself to be correct. They gained nothing by having a conflict with the Tamers while the threat of the Chaos remained present.

The Devas made that mistake and look where it got them, she thought. We should not make such repetitions.

Withdrawing her attention from Gaiomon, she returned to the matter in front of her. Gallantmon remained in his Crimson Mode, watching her warily, but the immediate threat of violence had receded. Rika had crossed the street and made her way over to the little girl who was still crying uncontrollably. Setting her bag down, Rika gathered the child into her arms and began to make gentle, shushing noises.

"It's okay," she said as the girl immediately clung to her. "The scary stuff is over now."

"M-Mommy! I w-want my mommy!"

"We'll find her. Don't worry. Can you tell your big sister and big gogglehead where you last saw her?"

Kuzuhamon found herself fascinated by the site of Rika offering comfort to the little girl.

Mother. Father. Grandparents. Siblings. Figures that care for others in a family and protect them. Especially those that are younger and more vulnerable.

She wondered what it must be like to hold such fragility in her arms before suddenly realizing she didn't have to wonder at all. She had held Rika. A human. A creature that was easy to harm and easy to kill. As easy as any In-training or Rookie she had to delete in the past, if not more so. And when the girl had desired to run off into danger, without regard for her own safety, she had held her back out of concern for her safety.

Am I fit to be a God of Destruction? she wondered.

###

Rika didn't know what to do. Seated on the ground, she held the girl in her arms, humming a gentle tune to her, but she still cried.

Is she crying a little bit less? she wondered uncertainly. She thought so, but the girl still cried all the same. She felt her tiny body trembling in her arms. Running a hand along her back, she continued her humming, at a loss for anything else to try. It was something her grandmother and father used to do for her when she was younger, and it worked for her then.

Except for the part that I never had to deal with nearly being crushed by a giant, rampaging sludge monster, she thought, starting to rock the girl in her arms with slow, gentle motions. The girl's cries quieted just a little bit more. Smiling a little now with relief, she continued humming.

"You have a pretty voice," observed Guilmon from the towering form of Gallantmon Crimson Mode next to them. Blushing a little, Rika looked up at him.

"Thanks, Dinoboy," she said. Sniffing, the little girl drew back and looked at Guilmon with red, scowling eyes.

"That's not a dinosaur," she said. "That's a knight." She narrowed her eyes. "With angel wings?"

"That's because he digivolved," Rika said with a light giggle, grateful that she was finally talking now. "But no matter how much he changes, he's still a Dinoboy."

"That sounds mean. Why're you calling him a Dinoboy?"

"That's because that's what I am," Guilmon replied now. "Especially after I biomerge with Takatomon."

"Bio…merge?" The little girl cocked her head in utter confusion. "Who's Takatomon?"

Gallantmon's eyes shifted and for half a second it looked like Takato was about to come to the fore. Upon locking eyes with Rika however, his gaze changed again and he appeared to recede, leaving Guilmon at the front of the conversation.

"Oh. It's like digivolving, only I combine with my Tamer, Takatomon. Oh! I meant Takato, not Takatomon. I sometimes forget that he's not a mon."

The little girl scrunched her face up. "Your voice is funny."

"That's because he's a very funny digimon," Rika grinned. "And so is 'Takatomon.' That's okay though, isn't it?"

The girl gazed up at Gallantmon in deep thought for a moment before nodding.

"I guess. He looks like an angel and a knight and he sounds funny. I saw you on the news once. You're like a guardian angel."

"Yeah." Rika beamed at Gallantmon. "Yeah, they are. He and all his friends are. But sometimes, even guardian angels need help too."

"Like prayers?"

"Sure. Every little bit helps."

Clasping her hands together, the little girl bowed her head politely. "T-Thank you, Dinoboy and Takatomon."

"Awww… You're welcome," replied Guilmon. Rika cocked her head at Takato's continuing silence. For the moment, she let it go.

At least the kid stopped crying, she thought. She bounced back pretty fast. I guess all it takes is a digimon with a funny voice and all's right with the world.

The little girl hiccupped. Rika patted her on the back.

Casting her gaze about, she took in the scene around them. The unconscious Raremon was surrounded by Hypnos' recovery crew and was to be airlifted to wherever they took digimon in order to send them back to the digital world. Kuzuhamon stood on the other side of the street, having not moved from that spot since the battle ended, attentive to everything around her. Rika felt the shaman's eyes on her especially. Her stomach twisted a little, unsure why she was such a focus for her.

The sound of metal clinking pulled at her attention. Turning, she saw the head of Hypnos approaching.

"Takato," he greeted. His gaze hung on Gallantmon for a moment before turning to Rika. "Ms. Nonaka. How's the child?"

Rika adjusted her hold on the little girl, who was now clinging a little tighter once again. She had been clingy since her rescue and no one could separate her from her current 'guardian.'

"Well, let's just ask her." Putting on a warm smile, Rika turned to face the little girl. "Hey. Are you feeling better?"

The girl peered at Yamaki suspiciously. Her eyes focused on his lighter as he flicked it open and closed. Seeing this, the man immediately stilled his habit.

"Smoking's bad for you," she scolded him. "My mommy says so. She also says you shouldn't drink either."

Yamaki frowned behind his sunglasses and for a moment he appeared uncertain as to how to respond to the dressing down the child gave him. His thumb rested on the lid of his lighter, aching to flick the lid open.

"Hm," he began finally. "Could you tell us your name so we can contact your mother?"

The girl glared daggers at him and tightened her hold about Rika. The fire-haired girl grunted a little.

"You're a stranger. I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

"It's okay," Rika interceded. "He's been helping me and he's helping our knight keep the city safe.

The girl looked back and forth between Rika and Yamaki, wrestling in indecision. Finally, she said quietly, "Kei Kobayashi."

"That's a nice name," Guilmon said.

"Okay, Kei." Smiling again, Rika drew Kei back and looked her right in the eye. "That guy's name is Yamaki. He's going to help you find your mom." Her eyes flickered over to the man and gave him a hard look. The man, to his credit, didn't even so much as flinch or flick his lighter open.

"Of course." Yamaki motioned an agent over and introduced them to Kei. After a bit of coaching, the little girl finally disentangled herself from Rika and allowed herself to be led away. Rika watched her go, her expression flattening in thought.

"That was the same girl I saved in the Other World," she said, waving goodbye. Her expression flattened. "That's twice now that she almost died to a Raremon."

Yamaki's lighter clicked open at that. "Odd coincidence. Was there anything about the other version of her that we should know about?" he asked. Rika shrugged.

"Only that her mom was with her then. Other than that, she just seemed like a regular kid. Why?"

"Coincidences and the digital world concern me." Yamaki clicked his lighter closed. "I'll detail someone to check in on her later just to be on the safe side." He glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Kuzuhamon. "And her?"

"She says she wants to help," Takato now spoke up from Gallantmon. "I don't know if we can trust her."

"But why?" This from Guilmon. "She saved Rika, didn't she? She said she was sorry for Gaiomon attacking us and that he wasn't supposed to do what he did. And we do need help against the D-Reaper if it's coming to attack us from another world."

Takato fell silent and Rika could see the subtle shift in his eyes indicating the boy's quiet doubts. Turning, she looked at Kuzuhamon with a slight frown. There remained a great deal that she didn't know about the digital world and the powers that moved and shaped it, but she couldn't entirely disagree with Takato. Still, she couldn't deny the danger that the D-Reaper posed to either world. She saw snatches of its affects on the news after having to flee with her family out of the city. Even today, the most she knew about it was that it came close to destroying the world. That would normally be enough to bring enemies together.

Still…

"In games of cutthroat players can still make alliances against a common enemy, but that doesn't mean you can't trust them not to turn on you at the first opportunity," she said. "I'd give her the benefit of the doubt at least as far as the D-Reaper remains a threat."

"Very astute," Yamaki agreed. "I'll open dialogue with her and see if we can expand that to her superior. I'll have a neutral location set up." He frowned beneath his sunglasses. "It might be a good idea to have you all return to your homes, so that in the event that she or her associates do end up turning on us, you won't all be gathered in one location and easy to destroy." He glanced up at Gallantmon. "We'll have arrangements made. In the meantime, you should go to school. We have things under control here."

"She's a Mega," Takato said from the knight. The light in his wings flared ominously. Rika felt her hackles rise. Again, she couldn't disagree with him. A Mega was after all very powerful, but there was something in his tone that felt off.

"Takato, we have the situation under control," Yamaki said. "As of this moment, we're opening dialogue. Nothing more."

Rika watched as Gallantmon's gauntleted hands drew tight, causing metal to click.

"But how do you know that this isn't some kind of trick?!" Takato's voice came out forced, like he was struggling with something. Rika looked at the knight with alarm. The light in his wings pulsated again and the hazard sign on his chest began to gleam brightly.

Yamaki met Takato's gaze levelly. Before he could say anything though, Rika reached out and laid a hand on Gallantmon's leg.

"Easy there, Gogglehead," she said, softly stroking the smooth, red metal. "You sound like you're about to have a stroke or something." She gave him a challenging, yet placating smile. "Why don't you let him explain himself first, okay?"

Gallantmon looked down at her before looking back at Yamaki.

"Sorry," Takato said. "I just don't know how we can trust Kuzuhamon."

"I understand your concerns," Yamaki said, offering Rika a grateful nod. "Of the two digimon, this one has so far been the least adversarial and most peaceful. It's possible that she is preparing a trap, but it's also possible she is seeking aid against a potential incursion by an alternate version of the D-Reaper. We'll work to be ready for whichever one it is, but for now I want to approach her with the intention of peace. Call it a leap of faith for now. That's something you taught me once, and we have been well rewarded for that faith in the past."

Rika watched as Gallantmon visibly struggled with Yamaki's decision. She traced her thumb along his leg armor, not in the least bit sure if he could feel her trying to comfort him. She continued however, just in case he did. After a moment, Gallantmon – or rather Takato – relented.

"All right," he said with a hesitant nod. He shot Kuzuhamon a hard look before glancing back at Yamaki. "Keep us in the loop?"

"You have my word," Yamaki nodded.

"Great," Rika said. Breathing a sigh of relief, she withdrew her hand. "Now that that's settled, I'll catch you all later."

"Would you like us to take you to school?" Guilmon asked. "You're late, right?"

"Huh?" Rika lifted an eyebrow at the giant, red knight, plainly sharing Takato's bafflement.

"Guilmon, what do you mean? Are you talking about…flying her to her school?"

"Why not?" Guilmon asked. "It should be close by, shouldn't it? I can find it real easy at this level. No problemo!" The dinosaur giggled. "That's Spanish for 'no problem.'"

"Sure," Rika chuckled. She was plenty sure she was going to arrive late regardless of whether or not Gallantmon flew her to school, but the idea appealed to her, if only because of the impact it would have on her classmates.

They could use a good freakout, she thought devilishly.

Yamaki tilted his head at the pair. His lighter flicked open with a metal click.

"Whatever you do, don't make a scene," he said before turning toward Kuzuhamon. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Right." Gallantmon turned toward Rika. "Uh, are you sure about this?"

"I'm more surprised that you're not arguing with it, Gogglehead," Rika grinned back. "And," her smile melted away, "not being mad at me for even being here in the first place."

Gallantmon held her gaze.

"Actually, I am angry," he said. He dropped down to one knee in front of her. For a fraction of an instant, Rika had the crazy image in her mind that Takato was about to propose to her in knight form. She swiftly banished the thought.

"I figured," she said. "I'm not sorry though. I'm tired of saying sorry for how I feel, and I want to help you guys."

Takato sighed. They had been over this particular topic enough times before that there didn't seem to be anything else to talk about. Regardless of how he felt about the danger she put herself in, she was going to show up for bio-emergences. There really wasn't anything he could say to dissuade her from that, no matter how much he wished for her not to be there.

If something happens to her…

He stopped that thought before it could go further. He didn't want to remember. At least, not until later.

Instead, he held out his hand to Rika. She raised an eyebrow at it at first, and then reaching out, she took hold of his forefinger and climbed into his palm. With great care, Gallantmon brought his other hand around and cupped her against his chest.

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, Gogglehead," she said, adjusting herself in her unusual seat. "I trust you. I trust both of you."

With a mighty flap of his wings, Gallantmon took to the air and the city abruptly shrank beneath them until the roads became thin spiderwebs and buildings pebbles. Rika's breath caught in her throat as a rush of terror and awe mingled together. She had never seen the city from this view before and it took her completely by surprise. Her grip on Gallantmon's fingers tightened but excitement began to overwhelm her initial fear.

"This… This is…" she began, only to find herself at a loss for words. They hung there in the air, Gallantmon turning about as Guilmon used his heightened senses to pinpoint the direction they needed to go. Then, as if catching the scent he was looking for, he turned and together they swooped down. Rika's heart leapt, but she bit down on a scream of surprise. Buildings that had looked so small and tiny now loomed large. With each flap of his wings, they moved faster and faster. Wind whipped at her hair as the world became a blur of grey and green until, finally, they drew up at the closed, main gate of her school. Flying over it without a second thought, Gallantmon landed in the middle of the schoolyard. Touching down, he knelt and allowed Rika to hop out of his grasp.

"Wow…" Rika staggered at first, but managed to regain her footing. Turning, she looked at Gallantmon and found herself smiling brilliantly at her two friends. A brilliant blush bloomed on her face as gold met violet. Brushing aside a strand of hair, she laughed.

"Thanks," she said. "That was… Well, that's definitely one way of making an entrance."

Gallantmon looked at the school with concern. Crowds of students were gathering at the windows.

"Are things going to be okay?" he asked, remembering that Yamaki had asked for them not to make a scene.

"I'm not going to complain," Rika smirked. She opened her mouth to say something else, but found she couldn't say anything more than, "Catch you later?"

Gallantmon held her gaze for a moment before nodding, as though with great reluctance. With nothing more to be said between them, the Royal Knight took to the air once more and then was gone.

Quiet fell around Rika as she gazed up at the sky where Gallantmon had vanished. She wasn't sure about how she felt about today. She still wasn't a Tamer. Takato still didn't want her to be one, and she hadn't made any impact on events in so far as she could tell except to comfort a little girl.

All she knew for sure was that she didn't regret trying.

"Hey! Nonaka! What the hell was with that entrance?!"

Rika grinned at Kayoko's yell from their classroom window. A second later, her cellphone buzzed as well, signaling Toshiko messaging her with equal fervor. Turning, she began to march toward the school.

Time to get this day started, she thought.

###

Gallantmon turned in the air as he flew now in the direction of Takato's own school. The knight's mind was a mess of emotion and conflict. Kuzuhamon and Yamaki, talking to one another without backup. Rika continuing to desire being a Tamer and putting herself in danger to do so. None of it made sense and yet at the same time it did. At least for Rika, it did. It was, after all, only four years ago that he was in her shoes. And so were Kazu, Kenta and Jeri.

Why does she want to risk herself like that knowing what might happen? he wondered, dropping down low to Gyoen where the signs of his battle with Gaiomon remained. Even after a week, there remained some areas that bore the scars of fire and destruction. Passing it by, it was so easy for him to see why Henry wanted so very badly to avoid fighting.

But we can't get away from it either, Takato thought from within his data sphere. If we didn't fight, the D-Reaper would have killed us all! Gaiomon… Was he right when he said that all there is to life is fighting?

He found that he had no answer. He didn't like that. The whole day had been nothing but questions without answers. Like the presence of that D-Reaper agent, and its strange behavior. He had thought about it on and off since deleting it. It was a Horn Striker. A part of the D-Reaper and one of its combat agents. Yet, when he attacked it, it hadn't fought back.

What was more, now that he thought about it, it hadn't even had a cable connecting it to anything.

"Ta…ka…to…" He remembered it saying as it touched the side of his face. Something about the way it spoke to him, sounded almost as if it were happy to see him.

It's from another dimension, one part of him said, while another reminded him of the duplicate of Jeri he briefly traveled on a train with, believing himself to be escorting the actual Jeri home. It was capable of acting then and it had used his feelings for Jeri against him once as well. Perhaps this version was doing so again?

He wanted to scream and thrash against it all. Why?! Why can't it all just end?!

"Takato…" began Guilmon now in a low, strained voice, breaking him out of his thoughts. "I don't know how much longer we can hold our Crimson Mode. I feel like we're about to burst."

There lay a pleading undercurrent in the dinosaur's voice and Takato felt a ping of regret for having held the form for so long. Clinging tightly to the power of their Crimson Mode, he set them down in the park and then, with a loud gasp, released their merged form. Takato and Guilmon both collapsed to the ground. Their breaths came out in chaotic, heaving pants and Takato felt his muscles groaning as he tried to move. A sign of just how far they had pushed their limits.

"That… That was dumb of me," he whispered. "I'm sorry, boy. I didn't…didn't mean to let…to let…"

"Momentai, Takatomon," Guilmon said in an exhausted voice. Lifting a claw, he brought it to rest against Takato's shoulder. "Momentai."

Guilmon was out like a light and was soon snoring. Takato didn't have the heart to wake him up. So he lay there, gazing up at the sky, berating himself for being so careless and self-centered with his feelings.

I've got to do better than this, he thought. I can't keep doing this to everyone around me. I… Huh?

A shadow fell over him as the sun was blocked by a lithe, feminine figure wearing a long, olive-green dress. A girl, around his age. Though her face was currently obscured by the sun, he sensed something familiar about her.

"Um, hi?" he began tentatively. "You're probably wondering why we're just lying around out here…"

Silently, the girl knelt down and a smooth, warm hand brushed against his forehead. Her thumb stroked along his skin gently, almost lovingly. Takato felt his exhaustion suddenly grow stronger and it became a struggle for him to keep his eyelids from closing.

"W-Wha…?" he began. He lifted a hand up to try and pull the girl's arm away, but she clasped hold of it. Fingers intertwined around one another and all at once Takato felt calm fall over him. The girl shifted and Takato caught sight of a pair of familiar, amber-colored eyes framed by beautiful, shoulder-length brown hair with a single, small lock tied off on one side.

"Jeri?" his voice came out as a confused whisper. The girl's smile was the last thing he saw as his eyes surrendered to his growing exhaustion.

"Sleep, Takato," she said softly. "You need your rest."

Oblivion then crushed his exhausted mind in one swift, final blow.

10