Having returned to the Matsuki bakery, using the back entrance, Takato and the others headed inside, in the kitchen, where the brunette began to gather some snacks for his guests, while Henry, Terriermon, Rika and Calumon each took a seat at a nearby table.
"I've never seen Renamon so depressed." Rika said sadly, concerned for her partner, as were the others.
"Well think about it, Renamon just Digivolved at last, only to fail against IceDevimon, allowing Guilmon to save her." Henry said, causing Terriermon to add. "She's lost her fighting spirit."
"I hope Guilmon will be able to cheer her up." Takato said, returning with a plate of bread and other snacks, which he seton the table, taking a seat beside Rika, where he gently rubbed her back reassuringly.
"I guess. Renamon is a good friend." Rika said in reply, her thoughts drifting to the first time she met Renamon.
-Flashback-
Taking solitude in her bedroom, Rika was sitting on her bed and crying.
Though she had Takato in her life, bringing her plenty of joy, as well as other friends, Kazu, Kenta and Jeri, the hole in her heart from her father leaving remained.
"Father..." Rika said solemnly, only for her sadness to change to some confusion when she noticed her computer screen turn on by itself.
Curious as to why the machine had activated without her even touching it, Rika went over and saw upon the monitor the shadowed forms of several Digimon, all towering over a shaking and frightened Renamon.
"Stop it..." Rika said quietly as she saw just how scared Renamon was, feeling empathy for the foxy Digimon, causing Rika to then shout in anger. "Stop it! Leave her alone!"
From the call, Renamon looked over and saw Rika, where she felt something inside of her, something telling her that Rika could be trusted.
And before Renamon could speak, she began to glow with a bright light and was sucked out of the screen, where she then landed on Rika's bed.
Fairly confused to see a real Digimon in her room, but believing the Digimon needed some help, Rika rushed to Renamon's side and set her hand on Renamon's back for comfort.
Renamon moaned and opened her eyes, gazing upon Rika, a little frightened as she questioned. "W... who are you? Are you going to harm me as well?"
"Harm you? Never. I don't want to see you suffer." Rika replied with a caring smile, her reply made Renamon's eyes widen as she sat up on the bed, feeling a little more relaxed.
"But why did you save me?" Renamon asked, her question caused Rika to say what was on her mind. "Because I don't want you to suffer as much as I have. And whatsmore, you are a poor fox getting tortured. I kinda have a thing for foxes."
From Rika's reply, Renamon was surprised at the red haired girl's kindness, which made Renamon smile in comfort, feeling closer to Rika, feeling as though she could trust her, which was shown as a light glowed in Rika's pocket, surprising both.
And Rika was left amazed when she reached in and pulled out a blue coloured D-Power.
"What's this?" Rika questioned, not recognizing the item, while Renamon knew exactly what it was.
"It's a D-Power." Renamon replied, before it hit her.
"That must mean… that I am your Digimon and you're my Tamer." The foxy Digimon explained, quickly showing her respect to Rika as she knelt before the red haired girl, standing on one knee and lowering her head.
"Tamer?" Rika asked, still unsure what being a Tamer meant exactly, to which Renamon got up and said. "Miss, I want to do all I can to protect you and become stronger so no one can harm you."
Rika was stunned at the vixen's words, but she smiled and put a hand to Renamon's face.
"I'd be honoured." Rika said, accepting Renamon's offer, before telling her. "My name is Rika Nonaka. And what do I call you?"
"Renamon."
-End flashback-
"Apparently those Digimon torture the weak, but I saved Renamon back then. Now she and I are partners, dedicated to get stronger and protect not only each other, but those we love and care about." Rika said addressing her story to the others, where Rika then stated with a determined tone. "And no matter what, I will never give up on her."
"Wow. What a story." Takato commented with a smile.
"I really liked it." Calumon then said, munching upon a cookie, before he pointed out with a big grin. "You all became Tamers in your own way, but it was Takato that lead you all to becoming friends."
"I guess you're right." Rika replied, smiling and agreeing with Calumon's words.
Suddenly, the door flung and slammed open and everyone turned to see Guilmon enter, panting and gasping for air as he had just ran back here.
Worried for his partner, Takato asked. "Guilmon, what's wrong? You're sweating. Did something happen?"
"Renamon... A winged Digimon kidnapped Renamon!" Guilmon let out, his words a shock to Takato and the others, mostly Rika.
"What?! Oh no! What happened?" Rika gasped in horror rising from her chair.
"Guilmon explains as best as he can. Guilmon go find Renamon to help talk to her." Guilmon said.
-Flashback-
After retreating from Shinjuku and back to the park, Renamon took shelter upon one of the branches of the trees beside the ballpark, feeling disheartened and despair.
Solemnly, she thought. 'Rika, I failed you. Why? Why is it that Guilmon and Terriermon have such power when they Digivolve, but I remain unable to fight on my own, am I really that useless?'
"Renamon!" Came a familiar voice, causing Renamon to look down and saw Guilmon.
"Oh, Guilmon. I am sorry but I am not in the mood for training you right now." She said sadly.
"Hold on. Guilmon wants to help you." Guilmon said in reply as he managed to climb up the tree and took a seat on the branch Renamon was resting upon.
"Help me? But I was too weak." Renamon pointed out, which just made Guilmon shake his head and say. "To me, you are a strong Digimon who care about others. And I know you're a kind Digimon who will never let anyone down."
Knowing Guilmon was trying to make her feel better, Renamon remained in her saddened mood as she pointed out. "But I couldn't defeat a Champion Level Digimon, even when I was a Champion myself."
"But mean IceDevimon cheated. Kyubimon is strong. You just need to believe in yourself to get better. You haven't failed Rika. Rika still believes in you, just like Guilmon does." Guilmon said in reply, his words actually reaching her.
"Does Renamon want to come back to Takatomon's?" Guilmon then offered, respecting Renamon's space, but had to tell her. "Rika and others are all there. Everyone's worried about her."
As Renamon looked at Guilmon, feeling a little better, she was about to accept, but stopped when something sprang up before them, making both look up to see what looked like a beast based Digimon, only it had a more humanoid body shape and a human face amongst its white feathers, which let out a fearsome screech at the pair.
And before either could react, the Digimon grabbed Renamon in its talons, suddenly taking off, with Renamon struggling in the Digimon's grasp.
"Renamon!" Guilmon cried out in great concern as Renamon was taken away, causing Guilmon to act.
"I'll get the others and come back to rescue you, I Promise!" The red dino Digimon called, jumping down from the tree and ran back to Takato's.
-End flashback-
After listening to what had happened to Renamon, Henry, already having an idea of the Digimon they were now up against, drew his D-Power, bringing up its image as he said. "Harpymon, it's a Digimon with a screech like nails on a chalkboard. Renamon's gonna have a tough time against its Wind Seeker attack."
Concerned, Rika questioned. "But what does Harpymon want with her?"
"We'll find out later." Takato said, facing Guilmon as he then asked. "Guilmon, you've got Renamon's scent, do you know where Harpymon took her?"
"I do. Let's get going." Guilmon replied, just as eager to save Renamon as Rika, Takato and the others.
-Back in the park-
Not too sure how long she had lost consciousness, but Renamon let out a small groan as she came too, trying to remember what had happened, before remembering the Harpymon attacking her and Guilmon.
After opening her eyes, Renamon tried to move, but found her arms and ankles bound by vines, her being tied to a tree, leaving her barely able to move.
And even though Renamon knew she could easily free herself, part of her was still in despair, still thinking she was a liability as opposed to an asset in the Digimon Tamers.
Her head remained slumped in depression, even when she heard Harpymon's call, the mythical Digimon landing before Renamon, causing Renamon to then ask. "What do you want with me? Do you plan to absorb my Data?"
"Too weak." The Harpymon said, before stating. "Use the weak as bait to get the strong!"
From Harpymon's reply, Renamon's head shot up, concern filled her eyes as she said. "Just leave my friends out of this."
"Or what?" Harpymon asked, believing Renamon not to be a threat.
"Or this!" Takato called as he slashed his a Power Card through his D-Power, increasing Guilmon's energy.
"Pyro Sphere!" Guilmon announced spitting out a great blast of flame, which struck Harpymon, making her screech at the pain as the inferno collided with her being.
But recovering from the attack, Harpymon glared at Guilmon and the others.
"You going to pay for damage my beautiful feathers! Wind Seeker!" The mythical Digimon screamed out slashing her wings downward, casting a downfall of wind that tore through the ground, forcing Guilmon and Terriermon to leap aside, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Rising to his feet, Terriermon looked back at Rika.
"Rika, try and free Renamon, while we try to keep this overstuffed turkey busy." The small beast Digimon said, charging into battle alongside Guilmon, while Rika nodded, complying with Terriermon's order, before she and Calumon ran over to Renamon and tried to pull off the vines holding her.
As Rika and Calumon did their best to break the bindings holding Renamon against the tree Takato and Henry did what they could to support their partners, both using their Digimon Cards not only to try and get the upper hand on Harpymon, but also to look out for one another.
However, even working as a team, Guilmon and Terriermon were still Rookies, allowing Harpymon to overpower the pair, knocking away Terriermon with its wing, before grasping Guilmon's throat with her taloned foot and slammed him into the ground.
"Guilmon!" Takato called out in shock and utter concern, looking through a handful of his Digimon Cards, but found none were of much use in the current situation.
"Guilmon can't quit. Guilmon must save Renamon!" Guilmon groaned as Harpymon kept one talon around his throat, while using the other to slash at him, scaring his body over and over.
Seeing Guilmon in trouble, Rika decided to act fast.
"Renamon, Guilmon's in trouble! You have to help him!" Rika called to Renamon, trying to break the yellow furred vixen out of her depression.
"Rika... I can't. I'll be no match for Harpymon, just as I was no match for IceDevimon." Renamon replied sadly, still in doubt of herself.
"You're wrong! I know you have great power in you. You need us to help you grow stronger! You need us. I need you." Rika said back, her tone full of hope and faith.
Renamon still looked saddened, her head remaining slumped until Rika then grabbed Renamon by her cheeks, lifting her head and pointing out with a more serious voice. "Take a look! Guilmon's fighting so hard to rescue you, he's putting himself in danger because he love you. He may not know it yet but he loves you. Take a look!"
Looking at Harpymon, Renamon saw the mythical Digimon had Guilmon pinned to the floor, with the Hazard Digimon suffering from several cuts to his body and his arms.
He was badly hurt, but looking at Guilmon, Renamon could see a dedication in his eyes, as if he was refusing to accept defeat, not until he was sure Renamon was free from any potential harm.
"Love?" Renamon asked herself, just as the realisation that Guilmon cared about her, more than a friend came obvious to her, before she saw Harpymon raise her talon ready to finish Guilmon off .
For the first time, she got angry at seeing the one she cherished so much in her heart was about to be deleted.
The memories of her kissing him on the forehead when his Hazard powers went out of control on their first meeting, them training together, him standing up to Impmon, waking up in the warm embrace of Growlmon and her talk with her embodiment of love in her subconscious, and him rescuing her from Icedevimon's ice prison quickly played in her mind, causing her to then yell in great concern. "Guilmon!"
From Renamon's call, her emotions being released, it triggered Rika's D-Power, which glowed with a powerful light, as did the gem on Calumon's forehead.
"Renamon Digivolve to..." Renamon began to say, allowing her fur to peel off, revealing her mainframe, where her body then changed, transforming to her Champion form, where she called in a strong and determined voice. "Kyubimon!"
As she Digivolved, the vines holding her were ripped off with ease, before Kyubimon shot forward with a great burst of speed, headbutting Harpymon before the mythical Digimon could finish off Guilmon.
"Kyubimon!" Takato said in relief, glad to see the foxy Digimon back in action.
"Guilmon, Guilmon, are you alright?" Kyubimon asked nuzzling Guilmon's face with her muzzle making the Hazard Digimon groan a little as he slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
"Guilmon ok. Guilmon happy to see Renamon got her fighting spirit back." Guilmon said in reply, smiling at Kyubimon, who smiled back.
But remembering there was still a wild Digimon that needed to be taken care of, Kyubimon then turned and glared at Harpymon, took a stand against the mythical Digimon and said "How dare you hurt him, the one who I cherish, the one I hold deep in my heart."
"You're going to pay for what you have done! Tail Fox Inferno!" Kyubimon then announced, setting all nine of her tails ablaze with a sphere of blue flame that she then threw at Harpymon, giving Harpymon no time to fight back, counter or avoid the attack.
All harpymon could do was let out another agonized screech as Kyubimon's fireballs bombarded and greatly injured her.
"We've got that winged freak on the ropes." Rika said, drawing two Digimon Cards and went on to say. "Now to finish this!"
"Digi-Modify! Speed activate!" Rika called slashing her Card through her D-power, quickly following up as she then announced. "Power activate!"
With the effects of both Digimon Cards activated, Kyubimon felt her overall speed and power increase.
Now knowing there was no way she could lose, the yellow furred vixen leapt up, curled into a ball as she was enveloped in blue flames and yelled. "Dragon Wheel!"
Releasing the flames from her body, taking the form of a huge dragon, it went straight through Harpymon, causing her to yell and screech in pain as she was finally deleted.
And watching the Data particles that used to be Harpymon, Kyubimon left them alone, still glaring before she realised what she had done.
"Kyubimon, you did it!" Rika cheered as she hugged Kyubimon's muzzle.
Kyubimon was stunned at first, but then felt overjoyed, continuing to remain in her good mood as she then said. "I did it? I did it! I won! I won as a Champion! Rika, thank you. I owe it all to you. And I don't need to absorb any other Digimon data. I need my Tamer's power to make me more powerful."
From Kyubimon's words, as well as seeing her back to her old self, Takato smiled, just before he and Henry helped Guilmon up, while the Digital Field disappeared, to which Kyubimon then reverted back to Renamon, rushed over to Guilmon and hugged him.
"Guilmon... thank you..." She said happily, which made Guilmon smile and return the hug, not exactly sure why Renamon was thanking him, but he was glad to see her smile, as well as taking the time to enjoy the foxy Digimon embrace him.
"I am just glad things are back to normal between us." Henry then commented as he picked up Terriermon and put him on his shoulder, taking his leave and heading back home with Calumon joining them.
And though both knew it was getting late Rika and Takato remained behind to talk to their Digimon.
Speaking first as she picked up on Rika's scent on Takato's, Renamon asked. "So you two are a couple now?"
"I can only say congratulations and wish you the best of luck on your new relationship." The yellow furred vixen then said, her words made Takato and Rika smile.
"Thank you, and I am overjoyed you're not in despair anymore." Rika replied, wrapping her arms around Renamon and saying softly. "I am glad to have you back."
"Yeah. So what say we call it a day and head back home and meet up tomorrow?" Takato then suggested, it being a school night and certain his parents would be worrying about him sooner or later.
"Wait a second..." Renamon said as she turned to Guilmon, who looked at Renamon with an innocent curiosity.
"Guilmon, since our Tamers have become boyfriend and girlfriend now, do you think we should as well?" Renamon asked. "Do you want us to become a couple?"
"Mmm… if Renamon helps Guilmon control his powers and help Guilmon become more smarter and mature through more training, then yes." Guilmon replied with a smile, which made Renamon smile, happy to hear Guilmon's reply.
With their Digimon in a relationship, Takato and Rika smiled at this and were about to head back home, Rika offering Guilmon to stay at her place, partly because she was certain her home would be more welcoming than an old shed, but namely so Renamon and Guilmon could remain close to one another.
But before either Digimon left, Guilmon and Renamon turned to look at each other with a smile on their faces.
'Now I know how I feel. I do love you.' Guilmon and Renamon both thought at the same time, admitting their feelings to themselves, and hoping one day, they'd be able to say it to the Digimon that had captivated their heart.