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: 42/ Which More Exemplifies Loyalty?

"You start like this."

Takato watched Guilmon drop into a familiar stance, both legs bent as though he were squatting, arms outstretched. Rika looked at the dinosaur with a serious expression, absorbing what she saw and surprisingly showing no doubt at his attempt at a kata. Takato's eyes flickered over to Chou Sensei, who bore a slightly amused expression.

"Looks good, boy," Takato smiled stiffly, keeping his response short to hide his labored breathing. So did Kenta and MarineAngemon, the latter of whom spun a cartwheel in the air, giggling happily.

One person, however, held a differing opinion.

"Give me a break," huffed Suzie, crossing her arms. "You know he's not the right mon for teaching Model Girl tai chi."

"Why?" Rika asked, genuinely curious.

Guilmon dropped from his pose and his ears wilted. "Chou Sensei says I'm not the right shape."

"I don't get it."

"His body structure doesn't lend well to many of the katas," Chou Sensei clarified. "His tail especially alters his balance, which already has a very different center of gravity. It's not his fault. Tai chi is made for the human body structure in mind. There are some things he can do, but reasonably speaking, Guilmon would need a different style to make better use of his body."

Suzie chuckled devilishly just then. When all eyes turned to her, she waved a hand apologetically. "Sorry. I was just thinking about that one time we tried to get someone to teach Guilmon judo."

Guilmon sank his head down with a moan. Kenta and MarineAngemon shifted and exchanged uncomfortable expressions. Takato noticeably repressed a wince.

"You know," Kenta said, "that actually wasn't very funny. We almost got in trouble over that. Serious trouble."

"One time, one meeting," Suzie quoted defensively. "That teacher is probably still yelling for his mother. If I were you, I'd laugh it off."

MarineAngemon frowned. "Pih!" he disparaged Suzie, causing Kenta's eyes to grow wide with shock.

"MarineAngemon! That was rude!"

"Pih?"

"D-Don't just say 'momentai!'"

Suzie glared daggers at MarineAngemon.

"It's less of a big deal than whatever you're saying about me," she growled.

Rika frowned, but rather than challenging Suzie's viewpoint, she chose to shift the topic back to its original focus.

"Well, what about Renamon then?" she asked. She glanced over in the direction of her partner. Renamon leaned against a wall, Rika's Iaitō in one paw protectively. "Since you're a part of the team now, can't you teach Guilmon to fight like you do?"

"Unfortunately, my fighting style is not something that can be 'taught.' It is also built around my particular body type and abilities." She bowed apologetically to Guilmon. "I am sorry."

"Momentai," Guilmon said, waving at the kitsune. "Maybe you can help Rika instead for when you two biomerge?"

Rika and Renamon's eyes met briefly at that. The girl felt goosebumps crawl along the length of her skin. She broke their gaze and looked at Chou Sensei.

"First, I need to get some fundamentals in me. I've been doing running exercises and stretches, but I haven't been doing that for very long. And I know nothing about tai chi."

"It is good to understand your limits before choosing to exceed them," Chou Sensei nodded. "We can begin with some katas." He glanced over at Takato. The boy was massaging his ribs and he had a pained expression on his face. "Takato, why don't you take this time to meditate? Suzie can help me lead these two through their lesson."

Rika cast a concerned glance back at Takato. Despite his claims that he wasn't seriously injured, it was clear his ribs had been hurt pretty bad from the fight with Kouki.

Not to mention how the weather is making him feel, she thought, her eyes softening. Takato wordlessly nodded and then made his way over to another area of the dojo. There, he carefully sat himself down and folded his legs together. Alone.

Again, she felt a desire rise inside her to sit by his side so he wouldn't be alone. She knew however that she couldn't do that. At least, not now.

But that didn't mean Takato had to be alone.

"Renamon?"

"Yes, Rika?"

"Do you mind giving Takato some company?"

"If it's what you desire, not in the least."

Rika frowned. Again, that servitude behavior irked her. For now, however, she let it go and let Renamon attend to the boy. With an effort, she pulled her attention back to Chou Sensei.

"You're absolutely sure you want to teach us?" Rika asked. She could hear the uncertainty in her voice and from the look in the teacher's eyes, she saw he heard it as well. From the side, she saw Suzie's hands tightened, and an image of Henry flashed through her mind.

"I thought we already talked about that," Suzie scowled. Chou Sensei raised a placating hand.

"It's alright. I understood that you might have some concerns. Rest assured; there is nothing you need to be concerned about except for one thing."

"What's that?" Rika felt her heart clench. Chou Sensei gave a light chuckle.

"Only whether or not you like some ice cream afterward."

Rika's eyes went wide in bewilderment. She looked over at Suzie, Kenta, and Guilmon and saw that they were not in the least bit surprised by this question. If anything, Guilmon looked positively brighter at the suggestion. Turning back to their teacher, she saw utter sincerity – and good humor – glinting in his eyes.

"Uh, guess we'll have to see," Rika replied, not sure how to answer while also not wanting to be rude. Chou Sensei nodded, as though he expected no less.

"Then, shall we begin?"

###

Takato found he couldn't meditate as instructed. His mind kept wandering, finding topics to pick at. Worse still, his breathing felt difficult, owing to the condition of his ribs. Letting out a slow, careful breath, he decided to content himself with watching while Chou Sensei, with Guilmon and Suzie's assistance, worked with Rika and Kenta. Kenta looked awkward in his katas. This wasn't surprising in the least as Kenta rarely excelled in athletics. Takato awarded his friend points for trying though.

I was like that when I first started, he thought, remembering when Kai's grandfather tried teaching him martial arts one summer day between Deva attacks. Kazu would have made fun of him if he were here.

Takato's hands tightened reflexively, remembering Kazu and his wolfish grin. He found himself becoming all too aware of Yamaki's lighter sitting in his pocket.

He did his best to pretend he didn't hear the sound of it clinking against his housekeys. It made him want to look up and expect to see Yamaki there in the dojo, looking at him in his peculiar, cool, detached manner.

He focused his attention instead on Rika. Chou Sensei was showing her a kicking kata. Takato found himself surprised with how easily she adapted to it, as she had the others, flowing from one to the another with an almost ethereal grace.

Is it because of she does fan dancing? he wondered, following her hands while they moved through the air. He would have to ask her later. He would have to ask her a lot of things.

She's changed a lot since I first met her. His gaze moved from Rika's hands to her eyes. They certainly looked different from before. He couldn't quite explain how he could tell, but he knew it beyond a shadow of a doubt. He wanted to say she looked harder, but that didn't quite describe it. More driven perhaps. Focused. Burning even.

Warm.

His attention dropped back to her hands, remembering the feel of her touch in his own. The question, why me? crept back into his mind again.

"It just sort of happened," she had told him. "I'm not head over heels, but I do care about what happens to you. And I'd like to get to know you better. Even make you happy. I don't like seeing you sad, Takato."

He felt reluctance rise up in him again, and with it came Jeri's smiling face. He felt his heart clench in his chest. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew Yamaki's lighter. He wondered how Riley was doing. He only had to close his eyes to remember her tear-stained face. Yet, she accepted his passing and continued on.

"You knew it would come down to this one day, didn't you?" he said to the lighter softly. "How did you do it?"

"Is there a spirit in that device?" asked Renamon, causing Takato to jump in surprise at her approach.

"Wow. You're…really quiet, aren't you?"

"Apologies." Adjusting Rika's bag on her shoulder, Renamon bowed. "It was not my intention to startle you. But I was curious about that device you carry. It is Yamaki's, isn't it? Does it house his spirit?"

"I…" Takato paused. "I don't think so."

"Then why do you speak to it as if you are seeking your comrade's wisdom through it."

"It's just something humans do sometimes." Takato shrugged. "I guess I am trying to talk to Yamaki or something. But… I don't know. It must seem silly, huh?"

"No. Only curious. I have found that humans will imbue items with unusual traits."

"Uh, like what?" Takato cocked an eyebrow. He didn't know where this conversation was going, but he figured it best to humor Rika's partner than continue to wallow in his depression.

"Rika's mirror," Renamon said, unshouldering Rika's bag. Carefully, she unzipped it and drew out the aluminum blade.

"Um, don't you mean Rika's sword?"

"It is not how Kayoko described it before giving it to her. As I said, humans will imbue items with unusual traits. I understand that some of your stories have mirrors represent truth for instance. Kayoko stated her 'mirror' reflected some truth about herself. As Rika's partner, I am curious what truth this shows about her."

The kitsune's eyes fell on Takato. The boy found himself shivering beneath her intimidating gaze.

"What do you think?" the kitsune asked.

"I don't know," Takato admitted. "I don't know enough about her. I wish I did."

"I am certain you will have plenty of opportunities," Renamon said. Takato looked up at her with wide eyes.

"T-That…!" he stammered out, his face starting to flush. Renamon cocked her head to one side. Understanding then dawned in her eyes.

"I appear to have erred in conveying my meaning. I apologize."

"It's…It's alright." Takato winced suddenly and he placed a hand against his chest. He shivered, but continued the breathing exercises he had been taught at the hospital. Renamon's tail slashed through the air as she continued to watch him. Feeling self-conscious, he shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh, is everything all right?"

"I would ask the same question as you, though the answer is rather obvious. How serious are your injuries?"

"Not too bad," Takato replied truthfully. "Just…hurts a l-little, you know? Especially when I breathe."

As a cracked rib will, he added mentally. He offered Renamon a reassuring smile, but he couldn't tell what the kitsune thought. She continued to look at him with her piercing blue eyes.

"I see," she said. "Rika is concerned about you. I would be neglectful in my duties to her as her partner – and to you as an ally – if I did not see to your health. Should you require assistance, you need only ask."

Takato scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward upon hearing this. The issue with Rika's feelings for him aside, it hadn't been all that long ago that he and Renamon's now dead comrade crossed blades with one another.

"Um… Thanks," he said. It felt like the only thing to say. Feeling even more awkward, he hastily asked, "H-How are you doing? I mean, you used to work for Zhuqiaomon and your friend…"

Folding her legs underneath her, Renamon sat down in front of Takato.

"It is a transition," she said. "Rika has expressed similar concerns, but I have found things to be…clearer. I suppose that is how I can describe it. I hope that through my actions I can reassure you of that."

Takato's hands balled up into tight fists.

"But…your friend…"

"I miss him," Renamon said, and she squeezed her paw around Rika's sword. "But this is the path I have chosen, and the one he wanted for himself as well. His fate was his choice and he knew what it entailed. That is why he requested that I load his data once he died, so that he may remain a part of me, and the swords passed down to him would not be lost."

"You…loaded his data?"

"At his request, yes," Renamon nodded. "It is not something I normally do anymore. Not since I became Kuzuhamon. It is strange. Even before then, at a certain point loading the data of my opponents began to feel pointless. And then, after the light from the Keeper – from Calumon – washed over me, it felt even more so. Was it this way with your partner?"

"I…" Takato dropped his eyes before nodding. "Yeah. I mean, when Henry and I first started, Guilmon would sometimes load digimon. Henry didn't like doing that and told Terriermon not to. I was never really sure why, but it just became something we just stopped doing. Like…" He scratched the side of his head. "I don't know. I don't think we ever talked about stopping. We just did after a while. I think after we had our first fight with a Deva. That was when Guilmon first digivolved to Ultimate."

"Interesting. Is it because of his relationship with you?"

"I don't know. What did you feel when you first digivolved because of Rika?"

"Desire. Desire for the strength to protect what she cared about."

"I felt the same way with Suzie."

Turning, Renamon found Lopmon approaching them. The former Deva came to a stop and then prostrated herself before Renamon. The kitsune's back went rigid at this unexpected display.

"Why… Why are you bowing to me?"

Lopmon rose back up. "I wanted to pay my respects to you, as one former servant of the Sovereign to another. I wanted to do so earlier, but there simply hasn't been an opportunity for it. And Suzie… She doesn't like it when I'm formal."

"I…am not worthy of such respect," Renamon frowned. Internally, she felt an emotion squirm inside her. Like a serpent long dormant now roused to wakefulness, it came to the fore of her mind. Before she knew it, she spoke her thoughts aloud.

"I have betrayed my oaths to the Sovereign,"she said. Her eyes shifted over to Rika. She wondered what her partnership meant to Rika; whether she could be relied upon. "Oath breakers deserve nothing."

"You and the Sovereign betrayed a trust. And now you would kill a valiant warrior who honored his. What are my oaths worth to a master who doesn't value his own?!"

The memory washed over her. Easy words made in anger, but was it really so simple? The Sovereign saw things differently from their mountainous position. Did the Sovereign's breaking his promise justify her doing the same? What did that say about her?

Is that who I am? Someone who breaks trust when that trust is no longer convenient? Titamon had been correct to suspect that my sympathies lay with the humans and hide information from me. Perhaps I was merely looking for an excuse to leave the Sovereign's service.

"I felt much the same way, once," Lopmon said, breaking Renamon's train of thought. She turned to Takato. "You remember. When I tried to continue my duties guarding the South Gate, even though the Sovereign had stripped me of my power?"

"I do," Takato nodded.

"I desired to carry on my duties. In some ways, I hoped that the Sovereign would see my actions as repentance and take me back in. But I was wrong. For the Sovereign, there is no forgiveness for the loss of trust."

"Yes," Renamon nodded.

"Yeah," Takato agreed. Renamon heard a note in his voice she hadn't before.

"You have experienced betrayal before," she said. "I heard about Beelzemon. You understand what I mean."

"I…" Something shifted in Takato's eyes. Memory from the last time he saw Beelzemon was after Jeri asked that he be spared flickered in his mind.

"I am nothing now," had been his final words before the Demon Lord departed, vanishing into thin air.

"I can't forgive him," Takato said, and Renamon could hear the ghosts of his anger, like a distant thunderclap. "We offered him friendship and he threw it back in our faces for power. He… He murdered Leomon. Zhuqiaomon… He was just trying to protect the digital world. Impmon didn't care about any of that. He sold everyone out."

"The Sovereign still desired to do so, in spite of his actions," Renamon said. "I know you feel differently, as the opposing side, but I have found myself becoming uncertain about my actions. I fear that I am an unreliable ally."

"I disagree," said Lopmon, and Renamon turned back toward her.

"I-I do as well," chimed in Takato. "I mean, yeah, I'm kind of biased since we were fighting and, you know. I'm in favor of my side, but you said Zhuqiaomon made a promise and he didn't hold to it."

If only things were that simple, thought Renamon. She turned back to Lopmon. "How did you overcome this feeling?"

"I don't know if I could say that I did, but one of our creators, Gorou Mizuno, said once that we digimon and humans each have a counterpart that we are created for. When Suzie was first endangered by my compatriot, Makuramon, I defended her without thinking. We are bound to one another through our partnership; through a bond greater than any verbal oath we might make." Her black eyes locked with Renamon's azure ones. "Was it not the same for you when you first met Rika?"

Renamon thought back to when she first sighted Rika. She hadn't seemed like much, running across the shrine grounds as she did in the direction of Takato and Gaiomon, and in most circumstances she doubt she would have even noticed her. Yet, something about her had caught her attention and held it.

I found excuses to stay and observe her, she thought, rolling Lopmon's words through her mind, testing them against her heart. Perhaps I found my true Sovereign when I saw her? I could not betray her when ordered to do so. Perhaps, the Sovereign understood this as well.

She sighed mentally. It felt too convenient an argument to sooth her conscience.

A digimon lies best when they believe their own falsehoods. How can I at once say that I have no regrets becoming Rika's partner when I so easily betray my oaths?

She looked down at Rika's sword, held tightly in her paw.

What would Rika's mirror show me about my truth?

She thought about how she felt firm in her resolve defending Rika and her family from IceBeelzemon. It came to her as naturally as breathing. She didn't even think about it.

Yet, I have failed in that. She remembered Seiko, lying in a pool of her own blood. A victim of IceBeelzemon. My weakness exposes me. I am unworthy of Rika's trust.

The buzzing of Takato's phone broke her concentration. Looking up, she saw the boy tug his cellphone out of his pocket.

"Uh, Takato here. What's up?"

Renamon's ears twitched, catching the response to the boy's question. His eyes growing wide, he nodded anxiously.

"Okay. We'll be there." He hung up.

"It is time to end this," Renamon said. Takato nodded. Gritting his teeth, he clambered to his feet. Renamon could hear the quiet hiss of air he drew in pain. He didn't let it stop him though, and he quickly made his way over to the others.

"S-Sorry," he said, hastily bowing to Chou Sensei. "We've got to go. Hypnos called. They've found IceBeelzemon."

"Understood." Chou Sensei bowed to all of the Tamers, who returned it. "Take care of yourselves."

"We will," Takato nodded. He then turned toward the others. "We'd better make a run for it if we want to get there in time. They said they found him hiding at the flood tunnels."

"Hold on," interrupted Rika. "Are you even up for running with your ribs the way they are?"

"I'll…" Takato caught himself. "Okay, it won't be easy."

Rika drew out a card from her deck box, whereupon it quickly took on a blue sheen.

"Let's make things easy then," she said.

###

Renamon, now in her Ultimate form of Doumon, flew swiftly over the city. Her barrier spell easily held all the Tamers inside its confines. Kenta, standing at the edge, adjusted his glasses as he watched the buildings streak beneath them.

"MarineAngemon could have done this," he said, more to himself than anyone else. Suzie, who stood next to him, heard the self-admonishing tone in his voice.

"Yeah, but not as fast," she said, elbowing him in the side. "Plus, we've got way more space."

"It's not a competition," chimed in Rika, giving Kenta a sympathetic glance. "Each of us has areas we're strong in and others we're not so good at." Reaching out, she placed a companionable hand on Kenta's shoulder. "But that's why we have the rest of us to support us, right?"

"Yeah," Kenta nodded reluctantly.

"We're arriving," Doumon announced, dropping the group down to the ground where a number of black vans and Hypnos agents were gathered. Upon landing, Doumon dismissed her barrier. One of the agents, a light-haired man wearing a black hat, approached them. Recognizing him, Takato stepped forward.

"What's the situation?"

"The main entrances to the tunnels are frozen shut," the man replied. "So far, we have been unable to gain entry. One of our agents suffered severe injury upon trying the gain access and no one can touch the doors even with gloves."

With a gesture, he indicated the Tamers follow him. They did, and upon reaching the doors, they immediately saw the danger the cold posed. On the main entrance, was frozen, ragged meat shaped like a hand. Takato drew in a sharp breath and Rika's hand immediately went to her own throat, remembering IceBeelzemon's grip.

"That poor man," Guilmon shivered. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He has been delivered to the hospital and will receive the utmost care," the agent said, giving Guilmon an appreciative nod.

"You can feel it all the way from here," Kenta said, noting his breath coming out in puffs. In spite of the rain and relatively cool temperatures for June, the temperature was otherwise quite warm save for where they stood. He wrapped his arms around himself. "Like walking into a freezer."

"And Calumon's in there," Takato said, tightening one fist.

"Along with a number of other digimon, yes," replied the agent.

"Okay." Takato took out his digivice and turned toward Guilmon. "Let's biomerge and break it down."

"Hold on," Rika interjected. "Is that a good idea? I mean, these are flood tunnels. If the weather takes a turn for the worst, won't wrecking this place cause problems?"

"She is right, Takato," said Guilmon. "Gallantmon would be too much power for this."

"What about using a modify card?" suggested Kenta. "Digmon's Dig Drill should be good enough, and MarineAngemon can fix anything the cold does to our digimon. Right buddy?"

"Pih!" the tiny fairy nodded.

"I can do the digging," volunteered Lopmon. "With my size, it's better to minimize the amount of damage to the entrance so it can be more easily repaired."

Takato considered it for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Okay. But Guilmon and I will still biomerge just in case IceBeelzemon decides to make a fight out of it."

Lopmon glanced up at her partner. "Suzie?"

"Got it," the girl nodded. Drawing out a card, she then slashed it through the slot on her digivice. "Digi-modify! Digmon's Dig Drill activate!"

Bright lights formed over Lopmon's head and she lifted her ears up to mingle them together. At once, the tips of her ears shifted and altered, morphing a pair of thick, spiked, drills on them. Dashing forward, she slammed them into the flood tunnel's gate and bore down on its surface. Behind her, Takato raised his digivice skyward and a flash later, Gallantmon loomed behind her, shield at the ready. Lopmon continued, making swift work of the door and soon enough she carved out a hole large enough for her to walk through. She jumped back as soon as the first deadly gust of chilled air touched her fur.

"C-Cold…" she shivered. "Suzie?"

"Digi-modify!" Suzie called, slashing another card. "Heat activate!"

"Thank you." Lopmon went back to work, carving out an even larger hole, this time for humans to enter. Upon finishing, she again pulled back, her teeth chattering violently.

"So, what happens now?" Kenta asked, adjusting his glasses. In answer, MarineAngemon flew on through the hole. "H-Hey!" Kenta gasped. "Wait!"

"Pihpih!" came the echoing reply from within.

"Kenta, use your digivice to see what he's seeing," Gallantmon suggested. Kenta quickly scrambled to produce his digivice. A holographic circle rose up from over the screen, revealing MarineAngemon's perspective. The tunnels were dimly lit, but well enough for them to see by. Icicles ruled the ceiling of the tunnels, and within each of them was a digimon, frozen in a moment of pure terror and agony.

Seeing this, Rika felt her nails bite into the palms of her hands.

Monster, she thought angrily as MarineAngemon located Calumon. "What is with this creep? Why'd he go after Calumon like this?"

"It doesn't matter why he did it," said Gallantmon. "We're going to stop him."

Yet, as MarineAngemon continued to traverse the tunnel, they found no sign of their icy quarry. Only his victims.

"Calumon…" Rika heard Gallantmon growl. Looking up, she saw the Royal Knight trembling violently. Her hand twitched, wanting to comfort him, but something held her back. As she continued to watch, Gallantmon closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, and the tremors in his body quieted.

"Okay," he said shakily upon opening his eyes again. "How do we get them out of there?"

###

Masahiko glared at passersby as he made his way down the street, led along by the grip of Ai's hand about his as she and her brother, Mako, took him to the grocery store. He strode on the side of the walk closest to the buildings while Ai made sure that she remained between him and any potential source of traffic from the street. Already, a part of him regretted asking for their help. Ai's holding his hand had a lot to do with that. She wasn't his sister nor his mother, but she behaved as though she were.

I'm not a baby anymore! he thought fiercely, glowering at where their hands connected to one another. The temptation to tear his fingers loose from her became nearly overwhelming. He didn't try though. She and her brother did agree to help him get food for Coronamon after all. He went to them first for just that.

Don't be rude, Masahiko, he berated himself. Just put up with it until it's over.

He then grated his teeth in irritation.

But I don't want to put up with it! This is stupid! I've gone down to the store by myself before! I don't need any help getting there!

"So, what kind of digimon do you have?" Mako asked. Her sister shot him an admonishing look.

"Mako! Don't you think we should be asking what his digimon wants?" She then gave Masahiko a sweet, kindly smile. Masahiko felt his heart tremble a little at the sight. Something about her expression reminded him of his departed sister. He hastily looked away to avoid the rush of memories threatening to come forth.

"Sugary stuff," he muttered. "Candy and bread."

"Impmon liked bread too," Mako said aloud, to which Masahiko lifted an eyebrow.

"Impmon?"

"He was our digimon when we were your age," Ai said. "Well, actually we were a little bit older." Her expression fell. "He left us because we fought a lot."

"We didn't get along when we were younger. Fought over everything, including Impmon. So, he ran away. We haven't seen him since then."

"Oh…" Masahiko dropped his gaze. His thoughts trailed to Coronamon, wondering how he'd feel if she left him suddenly. They didn't know each other for very long, but she was nice and fun to be around.

And she ran to save me from the monster in the dark, he thought. Heat rose up in his face, remembering how angry and humiliated he had been, peeing himself over how scared he had been. That flame reemerged thinking about it, but now it split in twain; one side for being seen in such a compromising position, while on the other he hated himself for pushing her away when she wanted to help him. Since then, it felt like he would come home and she would be gone because he made her hate him.

"I don't want her to leave," he said aloud, and he found himself tightening his grip around Ai's hand. The taller girl smiled down at him.

"Don't worry. We'll help make sure she stays. We have experience with this kind of thing now."

"Yeah!" Mako crowed excitedly. "We've got your back!"

Masahiko felt himself relax a little at that. Not by much, but just enough to coax a small smile from him.

Maybe they aren't such weirdos after all.

A sudden chill ran through him just then and his breath came out in a visible puff.

"Whoa!" Mako began in surprise. "Who turned down the thermostat?"

An icy frost materialized on the building beside them and a great, clawed arm erupted from it. It snatched Masahiko by the arm and with a powerful yank, pulled him toward the frost wall. He gave a startled cry that was quickly stifled by another claw clamping down around his mouth.

"Masahiko!" Ai yelled, falling to the ground. Her hand slipped out of his, but she was already on the move before his fingers left hers. With lightning fast reflexes she snatched hold of Masahiko by his ankle and held firm. Mako was quickly by her side, joining his strength with hers. All about them, people shouted in surprise.

"Help me!" Ai screamed over her shoulder, trying to pull the younger boy away from the attacking monstrosity. Adults moved to join them, but the frigid claws pulled again, this time with even greater force. Masahiko screamed around the hand covering his mouth as Ai and Mako's grip on him abruptly vanished. The June sun winked out of existence and cold closed completely around him.

How long he remained in that frigid blackness, he didn't know, but before too long a chill, blue light began to emerge, illuminating a frozen waste of ice all around him. His arms clung tightly about him as heat began to be sucked out of his small body.

"It's so cold!" he gasped, starting to shake. Terrified tears began to stream out of his eyes, only to solidify almost immediately. "Mom! Coronamon!" he cried out. Huddling closer to himself, he continued in a quieter voice, "Jeri…"

"No need to worry," spoke up a smooth, casual voice. "I hear it becomes quite warm just before the freezing. You won't have to worry about anything. I plan to give you everything you'll ever want."

Looking up, Masahiko's eyes bulged in terror as a pair of red eyes gleamed at him from the dark. Their owners stepped forth into the blue light, revealing a creature with a white leather jacket, a metallic, rat-like tail, and long, clawed arms.

"It's a little sooner than I would like," IceBeelzemon smirked. "But I promise, you won't have to worry about a thing again."

10