Chapter 9: Disappearing Act
After the night that Rick and Lissa observed, the next day had come. By a miracle Takato was up early and ready for school. "Wow little brother, you did something that surprised me. Up and all ready for school." Lissa said. "Very funny. No need to make breakfast." Takato said to his mother as he and Lissa were going out the door. "We own a bakery. Its all we make!" Mrs. Matsuki said annoyed. Takato and Lissa went to see Guilmon at the Hideout before school since it was still early. "Morning Guilmon!" Takato and Lissa said. "Morning!" Guilmon said to the twins. "Guess what? When I was sleeping I felt like I disappeared was somewhere else." Guilmon said with fascination. You didn't break out again, did you?" Takato asked. "Oh wait a minute. I think he means he had a dream Takato." Lissa replied. "A dream? Like when I think of snacks?" Guilmon asked which made Takato and Lissa laugh a little. "No silly. A dream is like going to world inside your head." Takato explained. "Do you two dream?" Guilmon asked. "Everyone does." Lissa answered. "Are your dreams as boring as mine? All white and empty?" Guilmon asked. "My dreams are full of stuff. That's where I first thought you Guilmon." Takato answered.
"I must have the most boring one ever, can I paint my dream blue?" Guilmon asked. "Any color you want Guilmon." Lissa answered while giggling. "It's weird though, We never heard anyone talk about a Digimon dreaming." Takato said. "As they were walking, Guilmon's legs looked like they we're about to disappear. "Why is your face all funny?" Guilmon asked Takato and Lissa. "Your legs!" Takato yells out as he pulls Guilmon away from the area. "What's the matter, did I do something wrong?" Guilmon asked. "No, but something weird is going on." Takato said. "No kidding little brother." Lissa said.
At School, Lissa and Takato meet up with Henry and Rick before class to talk about what happened to Guilmon. "Wait, start at the beginning." Henry told Takato. "Okay, we were just walking and then I don't know it was like half of him was there and the other half was being rubbed out by an eraser." Takato said with worry. "That's really strange. I wonder why that's happening to Guilmon?" Rick wonderd. "Well, Digimon aren't of this world, maybe some of them can't last long here and get pulled back into their world or something like that. Or maybe our world eliminates them like the body gets rid of a virus." Henry theorized. This surprised Takato. "But Guilmon just got here, he cant go back to the other side." "Momentai. The world I'm from, the world your from, they're really both the same if you really think about it." Terriermon tried to reassure. "Yea, well thanks, professor, but I want him here." Takato replied. "That may not be possible Takato." Henry said in a sad tone. "What are you trying to say Henry? Do you know something? Tell me." Takato was getting worried. "I just know nothing lasts forever Takato. Nothing. I'm sorry." Henry said. "Henry, isn't that a little bit blunt? Lissa asked. "Well, this can and it will!" Takato said looking angry at Henry. After Takato ran off, Rick had another theory. "Henry weren't you kinda jumping ahead? Could you possibly think something else could be at work here?" Rick asked. "I was just trying to be real here, but maybe your right." Henry said. "Let's worry about this after our classes guys. Rick, keep an eye on Takato for me okay?" Lissa said. "Don't worry I will." Rick acknowledged.
During class, Takato was still distracted about what had almost happened to Guilmon. "What'll I do if Henry is right and Guilmon completely disappears? He can't leave me. Maybe if he digivolved he'd have enough strength to defeat whetever is trying to erase him." Takato said himself but Jeri over heard him. "Digivolve?" Jeri asked looking at Takato "Huh?" Takato looked to Jeri and she showed her fox puppet, "Bad." She said with the puppet. "Gotta watch out when you're talking to yourself Takato." Rick said in a whisper. After that little scene Ms Asaji proceeded to teach after writing on the chalkboard. "Well kids the city wants me to talk about the tunnel beneath the park that's for use when the rain causes flooding, but it seems like a pretty useless lesson to me." Ms Asaji. This caught the attention of Takato since what was happening to Guilmon was around that location.
After classes Takato, joined by Lissa and Rick went to go see Guilmon at his hideout. "Poor Guilmon must bored out his mind." Takato said. They got to the gate and saw Calumon playing and talking to Guilmon. "Oh look its Calumon." Lissa said. "Just one more game of tag, please!" Calumon pleaded. "Hey look Takato's home!" Guilmon said happy. "So, you guy are staying out of trouble?" Takato asked. "Nope." Calumon answered. "Had a feeling that was the answer." Rick said. "Calumon, where do you hang out when you're not here? You must have a home right? Takato asked Calumon. "I can go wherever I want in the whole wide world. So I don't need to have a home, silly." Calumon answered. "Arent you… Lonely?" Takato asked Calumon but he tilts his head. "What do you mean Lonely?" "Like when you're by yourself making pictures of all kinds of cool monsters and stuff, but there's nobody around to look at your drawings with you." Takato explained. "Hm… Nope, never felt like that. Seems kinda silly." Calumon says as he hops to who knows where. "He's a cutie pie even though he can be odd at times." Lissa said. "Though its surprising he hasn't experienced loneliness. Hopefully he doesn't half to." Rick added.
At a school, Takato was asking questions about Calumon to a few girls, while another set girls was poking him with curiosity. "He's got these huge ears." "Uh-huh, there." The girl in front of Takato points in the direction in where Calumon usually goes. The trio and Guilmon head towards the area. "This must be where Calumon has been hanging out so keep your eye peeled." Takato said. "It still gonna be rather hard to track a small cute Digimon that always on the move." Rick stated. "Still can't hurt to try right?" Lissa commented.
As they were walking Guilmon started to sense something nearby and runs off to find it. "Why do we always end up chasing him?" Takato asked. "Probably the scent of a Digimon is too hard to resist." Rick said. "That's probably the answer since all our Digimon do this at least once a day." Lissa said. The group gets to a dead end and they spot a familiar kitsune Digimon. "Renamon!" Lissa and Takato say in unison. "Who were you expecting? Your mommies?" Renamon asked in a teasing way. "Very funny." Takato said in annoyed way. "I don't think I have a mommy, do I? Wait, Takato's my mommy" Guilmon said "Ah geez, Guilmon don't call me that." Takato replied. "Why not? You'd make a better mother than a tamer, the way you baby your digimon." Renamon teased. "Hey!" Takato shouted. "Enough. Why are you even here, Renamon?" Lissa asked the Kitsune Digimon. "The answer should be obvious. Now are we going to fight or are we going to flap our gums all day?" Renamon said. "Why do you wanna pound on Guilmon all the time, huh? It doesn't make any sense." Takato stated. "It would, if you weren't such a coward." Behind them was Rika herself. "If it isn't the queen herself." Rick said. "Why do you keep following me? Are you in love with me, lover boy." Rika says to Takato in teasing serious tone. "I'm not following you okay?" Takato replied to Rika. "Believe me, it is never our intention." Rick added. "Also, who would fall for a girl with your attitude?" Lissa said annoyed.
Guilmon saw both sides staring each other down. "Are you two gonna fight?" he asked. Takato pointed to himself and then Rika. "No way. We aren't gonna fight. Besides she'd totally kick my butt and she a girl." Takato stated. "As the sister figure, I try to refrain from use physical violence. Unless I'm really provoked." Lissa said. "Alright, settle down everyone. Fighting isn't always the answer. Especially not this scenario." Rick intervened. "The Cowards Credo." Rika said. "Look, maybe we all got off on the wrong foot here. I'm Takato and you're Rika right?" Takata said in a worried tone. "She already know me and Lissa from our own perspectives." Rick stated. "Yea, so what? Are you writing a book about me or are you in love me?" Rika asked in a sarcastic tone. Luckily no fighting happened.
Surprisingly, the group was at Rika's house, at least the garden part of it. "I admit I saw you in a dream awhile back, and that's what's been really bugging me because I don't know what it means. But, don't get the wrong idea, I'm not following you around cause of that, I just had some questions about digimon, okay?" Takato stated. "Alright kid, don't get your underwear all bunched up." Rika replied. "What do you mean kid? We're the same age." Takato stated. "I'm calling you kid because you don't know anything about anything. You show up talking about seeing me in a dream, do you know how weird that is?" Rika responed. "Still rude, but she's got a bit of point." Rick said. Takato understood what Rika meant by that. "I'm...I'm sorry, I just thought that...well that maybe we could work together." "We can't." Rika replied. "Rika!" a voice came from the house. Renamon grabs Guilmon pulls him behind the house to hide. "You home?" Rika's grandmother, Seiko Hata, opens the door and sees Rika, Takato, Rick and Lissa outside. "Oh, hi. Uh, I'm sorry, I'm just not used to Rika bringing friends home. What are your names?" "Takato." Takato answered. "Rick." Rick saying his name. "Lissa." Lissa replied. "They're not staying here long." Rika told her grandmother. "Why don't I make a couple snacks for the four of you? It'll only take a second to pop some cookies in the oven. How would you like them, kids?" Seiko asked. "Thanks." Takato said to Seiko. "How kind of you." Rick replied. "That's really sweet of you miss." Lissa answered. "That's okay Grandma. They are not staying." Rika said. "Well, bye. Hope you come see us again sometime." Seiko said. "Sure!" Takato. "I'll consider it." Rick answered. "Same here." Lissa replied. "You're not." Rika said. Seiko goes back inside the house closing the door. "Let go!" Guilmon says as Renamon lets him go after hiding from Seiko.
"Um, so listen...what I wanted to ask you was whether or not digimon turn back into data? I mean do they ever just disappear and go back to their own world?" Takato asked Rika. "Of course." Rika quickly replied. "That was quick to answer." Rick commented. "Not like you defeated Vilemon, but you know for no good reason?" Takato followed up. "Digimon are just data anyway, so… probably." Rika said following with her previous answer. "Doesn't that… make you sad at all?" Takato wondered. Rika was looking at Renamon almost rethinking her answer. Rick and Lissa would notice that slight pause from Rika. They spot it, but would mention it until after this little "hangout".
Later that night, the group was leaving Rika's house. "Ow! Stop pushing!" Guilmon says to Renamon. "Move faster then." Renamon replied. "Well thanks, Rika., it's not everyday you get to meet your "dream girl". Hm hm, sorry I just couldn't resist." Takato joked. Rick just shook his head at the joke. "Yea, lets refrain from using that joke ever again little brother." Lissa replied. The group was about to walk home until Rika stopped them for a quick sec. "Hey!" They turn around. "You mention that dream again, and I'll send you to dream land for good!" Rika said as she kicks the air and then walks back to her home. "Sheesh, she can't take a joke?" Takato said. "She better watch where she aims those threats at." Lissa says in a serious tone. "Easy Lissa, its not worth the hassle." Rick says to Lissa to keep at ease.
The group was walking Guilmon back to his hideout. "Rika's a barrel of laughs, huh?" Takato asked. "If you mean fury as laughs then I would believe it." Rick said. "She just lucky I'm able to restrain myself from doing something rash to her." Lissa commented. "What about Renamon? Her idea of a joke is to punch me in the funny bone." Guilmon said after discussing about Rika. "Man, I was hoping that Rika would have more answers for me, something that would make this problem go away." Takato said. "In truth, I don't think she would even know about Digimon except in the games." Rick commented. "I've always loved digimon and I've always thought it would be cool to have a real one of my very own and then like magic you appeared, and everything was great, but now I'm not even sure if you're going to be able to stay with me or not, Guilmon. I guess I thought if I could learn more about digimon I'd be able to stop whatever's trying to erase you. I'm scared everyone." Takato was really nervous of what could happen to Guilmon. "You know what? Calumon told me that being scared is pointless, it's kind of like trying to ice skate on sausages." Guilmon responded. "That's… an interesting way to put it Guilmon." Lissa replied. "I guess you're right, Guilmon, but I just wanna spend as much time with you as possible, you know?" Takato said. "Yeah." Guilmon says as Takato laughs. Rick and Lissa smile at this warm moment. "Hey, let's do something really fun tomorrow. We could play tag until we dropped or eat until we can't move." Guilmon says as he was walking ahead of the group.
As Guilmon was walking his body started to disappear again shocking Takato, Lissa and Rick. "Is this what was happening before to Guilmon?" Rick asked worried. "Why now of all times?" Lissa asking worriedly. "Guilmon!" Takato shouted. "I feel weird. I must be dreaming again, right?" Guilmon said. "I don't think you're dreaming this time Guilmon.." Lissa said. "Everything is fading…" Guilmon as his body starts to fade even more. "No, don't go Guilmon!" Takato said as he goes to hug Guilmon. "You have to hang on. There so much we haven't got to do!" Takato started to tear up. "I'll do my best to stay here." As Guilmon said this he disappeared completely. "Please don't leave me. Guilmon!" Takato yelled. "I can't believe he's gone…" Lissa said. "This just can be possible. Not when there fun adventures just started.." Rick said in a sad tone. Takato was crying a bit, but suddenly his D-Ark started to beep. He takes out his D-Ark which show's Guilmon's signal on the compass. "That's Guilmon's signal. He's not gone!" Takato said to Rick and Lissa. "If he's not gone, then where could he be?" Rick asks. Takato was looking at the compass on his D-ark which is pointing to the tunnel next to them. "His signal is coming from the tunnel. Though before we go, we're going to need some help."
Takato calls Henry's house phone which Suzie answers. "Hello, Hello. Hello." Suzie says to Takato. "Stop saying hello and put Henry on. Please?" Takato says. "Its some angry kid. For Henry!" Suzie called for her brother. "Hey Suzie, its Emily's big brother Rick if you can hear me." Rick said. "Oh, hey Rick!" Suzie said hearing her best friend's brother's voice. Takato explained what had happened to Guilmon and decided to help out the group. The next choice of help did not please Lissa though. "Do we have to ask for her help? You guys know how she is." Lissa informed the boys. "I don't like it as much as you do Lissa, but she's the only we can ask." Rick replied. They knock on Rika's house door. Rika answered the door and wasn't too surprised at all. "Ugh, great." Rika said. "I'm not as much happy about it as you" Lissa said sarcastically.
After getting Rika and Renamon, the group went back to where the tunnel was. "This is it you guys. This is where Guilmon disappeared." Takato said to everyone. They were walking towards the tunnel until suddenly the same effect was happening to Renamon. "Rika." Renamon called out to her. "Its happening to Renamon too!" Takato says in surprise. "Don't move." Rika tells Renamon. "Terriemon." Henry called his partner. Terriermon jumps onto the wall. "Check it out." He tells them as part of his ear was starting to disappear. "Its happening to Terriermon as well." Rick spotted. "Whatever is causing this, it only seems to affect the Digimon. Renamon, you need to leave before you start to disappear too." Henry says to Renamon. Renamon just stared at Henry. "Its okay, you can go." Rika says. Renamon vanishes away from the area. "I suppose you want me to go too." Terriermon says he heads away from the area. "Don't worry we know what to do." Dracomon said. "We'll vacate the area lickety-split." Palmon added as both her and Dracomon vacate to safe area away from the tunnel. "Don't order my Digimon around, got it? Renamon is mine." Rika snapped at Henry. "I'm just trying to keep them out of danger." Henry replied. "Why bother? Digimon are just data. Who cares if they disappear?" Rika said. "You did not just say that just now!" Lissa snapped. "Come on now guys lets not-" Rick was about to speak, but was cut off by Takato. "Be quiet! I don't care what you say. Guilmon is my friend and I'll everything in my power to get him back. With or with you." Takato said while looking at Rika. Henry's D-ark started to beep. "I'm getting a signal. Let's go and find Guilmon." Everyone except Rika was heading toward the tunnel. ""Let's go and find Guilmon." Waste of time." Rika says mockingly while looking at her D-ark's compass.
Takato, Henry, Rick and Lissa enter the tunnel about to begin their search for Guilmon. "Why don't they make tunnels that are not dark and scary?" Takato asked. "No idea Takato." Rick replied. As the four of them were about to walk, a door opens from behind them. It was Rika who decided to join after all. "Hey, Rika! You decided to come! That's Awesome!" Takato said. Rika wasn't amused. "Uh, you know whatever." Takato said. "A tamer never runs away from danger." Rika said. "Typical Ice Queen response." Lissa said. "Yea, right. Enough. Let's go find Guilmon." Henry said to the group. "Um, is it kind of scary down here guys?" Takato asked. "A little, but I think I've seen scarier than this." Rick commented. "Oh brother." Rika said annoyed at the conversation.
After walking a while, the group had one more small conversation. "How is this stupid tunnel anway?" Rika asked. "Our teacher said it goes into the next town." Takato answered. "That's so stupid." Rika commented. "Heh, so you say." Henry retorted. "I mean it can be convenient for something." Rick commented. "Most definitely for transporting packages or something." Lissa added. "It's too bad they don't have one of those people movers, you know like at the airport, that'd come in handy about now, don't cha think?" Takato said. "It's not funny, you know, I don't wanna walk all the way to the next town just to find your little friend." Rika said annoyed. "Well if it makes you feel any better Rika, the tunnel might flood and we could all swim there." Henry said joking which made Lissa giggle. "Good one Henry." "It's just my luck to be stuck down here with a couple comedians." Rika said as Takato's D-Ark started beeping. "Would you guys can it? Look." "Forget the digivice, take a look at that!" Henry says as he points to a white energy field. "What is that thing?" Rick asked. "No idea, but it looks like trouble." Lissa commented.
The group approached the white energy field. "Guilmon has to be inside that thing. I know he is. Guilmon!" Takato tried to call out to his Digimon partner. "Don't be stupid, how could you possibly know that?" Rika asked. "I don't know how, I just feel he's in there." Takato said. As the conversation was going on, Takato's digivice started to glow and it shot out a beam. The same thing happened to Rick's, Lissa's , Henry's and Rika's Digivices. "What's going on?" Takato asked. "Our Digivices connect us to our Digimon. Maybe we can use them somehow." Henry said and then pointed his D-ark towards the field. Takato, Rika, Lissa and Rick do the same which causes the field to open. "It opened!" Henry said. "Guilmon! Hold on, I'm coming." Takato yells out as he puts on his goggles entering the field. "Hey! Wait!" Henry called out following Takato with his green sunglasses. "Stupid." Rika follows them into the field with her blue sunglasses on. Rick does the curtesy gesture to Lissa. "Ladies first." "How kind of you." Lissa giggles as she puts on her pink sunglasses and goes inside the field. Rick follows behind Lissa while having his Black Sunglasses on.
After they all entered the energy field, they all started to float around. Everyone was screaming a little bit. "Maybe the digital world from the TV show is real and were in it." Henry said as he floated. "I'll admit, it's pretty weird in here." Rick commented. "Guilmon. I think I see him." Takato said as he started swim through the field. "Cool, this is how I fly in my dreams." He added. "Wait up!" Henry called out. "You and your dreams." Rika commented. "Hey slow down little brother!" Lissa said to her brother. "Wait for us!" Rick called out to catch up to the others. "There he is! Guilmon, wake up!" Takato called out to his partner Digimon. "Right now? Five more minutes." Guilmon answered sleepily.
As things were going smoothly, the area was staring to be deleted around them. "What's happening?" Takato asked. "Look! Its being erased!" Rika informed the group. "Guilmon's in trouble if this deletion complete." Lissa said. "I won't reach him in time. Everyone help me." Takato said to everyone. All together they gave Takato the boost of speed he needed to save Guilmon from deletion. Takato and Guilmon embrace a hug. "I thought I was gonna lose you for sure." As the reunion was happening Guilmon started to glow and a path was forming. "He's created a road for us!" Henry said. "You okay?" Takato asked Guilmon. "Skating on sausages." Guilmon replied. "Uh, little brother glad you got Guilmon back, but we should save this reunion after we get out of here!" Lissa informed. "No kidding, let hurry before we are erased!" Henry said.
The group managed to escape from being deleted. They regrouped at the park with their rescue mission a success. "I never would have gotten Guilmon back without your help, I don't know how to thank you guys." Takato said being grateful to everyone. "That's easy, just say thank you." Guilmon said. "Momentai!" Terrieirmon said. "The little one didn't even do anything." Renamon said. "Well neither did you." Terriermon replied back to Renamon. "Sad to say we were kind of useless for that rescue" Dracomon said. "There's always next time though." Palmon added. "Look at you blubbering over data." Rika said as she walks away and Renamon vanishes away from the area. "I swear, that attitude is gonna get her nowhere." Lissa commented. "No kidding there." Rick added. From far away a voice called out. "Takato! Lissa!" It was Mr. Matsuki calling out for there kids and with him was Mrs. Matsuki. "We bought more Ice Cream!" "That could only be our parents." Takato said. "We really must have worried them." Lissa said. "I'll take the long way home. See you in your room later." Palmon said as she took off. "You were really brave, you know that?" Henry complemented Takato. "Yeah, first time for everything." Takato said. "Well, something tells me you'd better get used to it." Henry said as runs on home with Terriermon. "You were brave too, you know." Takato said to Guilmon. "That's because of you." Guilmon replied to Takato. Takato smiles at Guilmon. "Well, we'll see you tomorrow Guilmon. We'll bring Ice cream next time." Takato said as runs off to meet his parents. "Takato's really starting to grow more mature now." Lissa said. "He really is. Though it doesn't mean you can't still help grow more." Rick said to Lissa. "Can't argue with that. Well, have good night, Rick. You too, Dracomon." Lissa says this as runs to catch up with her brother. "Good night, Lissa! Well lets go home ourselves buddy." Rick said to Dracomon. "Yea, maybe I get something to eat too." Dracomon replied.