With Indramon the latest Deva to fall at the hands of the Digimon Tamers, Takato and the others were all in relief, glad they had stopped a potential disaster, as well as now knowing that the key to their Digivolution was Calumon, to which Rika made sure to keep an eye on the catalyst Digimon as she carried him in her arms.
Deciding that they had enough of fighting Devas for the day, Takato faced his friends, where he said. "Man, that was a tough one, but we managed to pull through."
"Thanks to you Calumon." He then said as he turned his attention toward the tiny white Digimon, who smiled at the attention and praise, before rubbing the back of his head.
"It was a team effort. I could only do it since you guys encouraged me." Calumon replied with modesty in his tone, glad that while he was unable to use his own fighting based techniques, he could still be part of the Tamers team.
Though she too was also glad, Rika noticed something was bothering Renamon, where the foxy Digimon was standing atop a broken street light, looking with a concerned expression.
Approaching Renamon, Rika asked. "Is something wrong, Renamon?"
Without looking away from the city, Renamon said n reply. "I worry about Impmon. After the battle against Indramon, I looked around the city, but I couldn't find him
"I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later." Rika assured, smiling as she joked. "Besides, you can't get rid of a pain like Impmon that easily."
Renamon chuckled at Rika's reply, before jumping down.
"I suppose you're right." Renamon replied as she landed before Rika, where both smiled at one another, then at Takato and Guilmon, smiling at how far they had come since the day they had met one another and felt their love for the pair was just as strong as ever.
Continuing to smile, Rika and Renamon watched as the Tamers began to part ways, with Takato and Guilmon heading toward them.
"I don't know about you guys, but after all these fights, I could use a break." Takato commented, just before he offered to Rika. "How about we do something, just the two of us?"
"You mean four?" Renamon asked, not wanting to intrude on what could be a potential date between her Tamer and her boyfriend, where Rika looked at the foxy Digimon and smiled, assuring Renamon that she and Guilmon were welcome to come along.
However, Guilmon misunderstood, which caused him to ask. "You want Henry and Jeri to join us?"
Surprised, Rika and Renamon looked at Guilmon, where the foxy Digimon was about to correct Guilmon's mistake, only for Rika to step in, smiling as she nodded and said. "I think it would be nice if they did come along. They do make a cute couple."
"And I'm sure if we encouraged them in their love, they would make a couple as wonderful as us." Renamon added, going along with Rika's idea, where she then kissed Guilmon's cheek.
Wanting to help Henry and Jeri find their love the way he had fallen for Renamon, Guilmon gave a big smile as he nodded, agreeing with his love, where he was about to head off and speak with Henry and Jeri, only for Renamon to stop him.
Guilmon was many things, but tact was not one.
"Allow us." Rika offered, before looking at her boyfriend and suggested. "Why don't you and Guilmon head back to the bakery and get us something to eat for our group date?"
"You can count on us." Takato replied, leading Guilmon away from the freeway, where the pair headed back home, while Rika and Renamon each made their way to Henry and Jeri, convincing the pair to meet them in the park, while keeping their true intentions a secret.
-Several minutes later-
Easily convincing Jeri to come with her, Rika knew that it would take a little longer for Takato and Guilmon to get to the park, allowing the Nonaka to make a small stop at her home, where she ventured into her room, allowing Jeri inside, who smiled as she took in the sights of Rika's room, noticing that amongst the furniture were pictures of Rika and Takato, going from when they were just children, all the way up to pictures of them during their dates, which Jeri found sweet and very romantic.
But what caught her eye the most were the various gifts resting on Rika's dresser, including various images and drawings of her, a couple of pieces of paper that had sweet and caring messages upon them, as well as an old Digivice, where Jeri could tell that the battery had died ages ago, but knew it held a significant spot in Rika's heart.
"This is all amazing." Jeri commented, walking into the room, where she examined a picture of Takato and Rika, one when they were kids, where the pair were sitting under a tree, with the brunette resting his left arm on Rika's shoulder, the sight made Jeri smile further and say. "I had no idea Takato could be so romantic."
At hearing Jeri's words, Rika smiled as she rummaged through her closet and commented. "I feel so lucky to have him in my life."
And keeping her smile hidden as she kept her head in the closet, Rika then asked slyly. "So what about you, Jeri? Do you have a certain someone in your life you like?"
From Rika's sudden question, Jeri blushed a little, stammering as she tried to speak. "Well... I... I think Henry is really sweet... and..."
"And we like him. We want him to date us." Jeri then said though her puppet, embarrassing the brunette that she had let her feelings slip as she quickly covered her right hand with her left, causing her to mumble as if the puppet was trying to speak against the hand holding its mouth shut.
At Jeri's words, her embarrassment and how she was fighting against her puppet, Rika couldn't hold back her laughter, finding Jeri's embarrassment a little funny.
But focusing and trying to be a friend to her, Rika spoke up.
"It's alright, Jeri. I already knew you had a crush on Henry, which is why I really called you over." The Nonaka informed, moved away from her dresser, revealing the red haired Tamer was now holding a white dress and a pair of elegant looking red heeled shoes, which she handed to Jeri and smiled at her as she offered.
"Take these." Rika said, handing Jeri the dress and the shoes, where the Nonaka then went on and added. I know you like your current dress, but I know you'll look beautiful in this."
At Rika's kindness, though grateful respecting Rika, Jeri had to make sure Rika was willing to share such clothing with her, where the brunette asked. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I don't wear a lot of dresses, and I know those heels with look amazing on you." Rika replied, continuing to encourage Jeri, where she set her hand on the brunette's back, guiding her to Rika's bathroom, where the redhead offered. "You can change in here."
"Thank you, Rika. Thank you for letting me use one of your dresses." Jeri said with a gratefulness in her voice as she faced the red haired Tamer and give her a hug, where her insecurities took over a little as she confessed. "I just hope I look half as beautiful as you."
"Jeri, you are a very beautiful girl, you just need to believe it yourself." Rika replied, breaking te hug with the brunette and gently pushed her into the bathroom, where she heard Jeri lock the door behind her, leaving Rika sitting on her bed as she waited for Jeri's return.
Patiently waiting for Jeri to change, Rika smiled as she heard a knock out the front of her room, before looking over and seeing Renamon slide the door open, entering the bedroom with a handful of beauty products that Rika had used in a few of her modeling photos.
Setting the items on Rika's dresser, Renamon rested herself against the end of a chair as she asked. "So how is it going with Jeri?"
At Renamon's question, Rika smiled as she heard the door to the bathroom unlock, watching as it slowly slid open.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Rika then asked in reply, where she and Renamon watched as Jeri slowly opened the door, shy about her appearance as she kept her hands behind her back, her eyes drifting downward to the floor.
But slowly rising her head and seeing the looks Rika and Renamon were giving her, the brunette felt a little better, where a small smile appeared on her face.
"Wow. Jeri, you look amazing." Rika said with a sincerity, continuing to fill the brunette with confidence.
"There is just one last thing we need to do before we head off to meet your dream date." The Nonaka then informed, where she took Jeri's hand and guided her to the seat adjacent to the dresser, where Jeri got a good look of herself in the dresser's mirror, feeling more attractive than she had beforehand.
But as amazed as she was at her new appearance, she was still curious as to what Rika had in mind, which caused the brunette to ask. "And what will that be?"
"We just need to add the final touches to make you truly shine." Rika replied, giving Jeri no time to react as the red haired Tamer grabbed a hair brush, moved behind Jeri and began to run it down her brown locks, just as Renamon offered her assistance, where the foxy Digimon showed she had learnt more than how to fight when being partnered to Rika as she grabbed the bottle of nail polish, knelt beside Jeri's feet, lifting up her right and started to run the thin brush along the brunette's toes, leaving her toenails a stunning shade of color pink.
As Renamon lowered Jeri's right foot, working on the left, Rika continued combing Jeri's hair, only to stop for a moment as she set her left hand on the hair braid set on the left side of Jeri's head, removing it and allowing all of Jeri's hair to fall freely down her back.
Finished polishing the last toenail, Renamon looked up at Jeri, smiled and said with a caring and sincere tone. "You look divine."
"Thank you, Renamon." Jeri replied with a smile, only to freeze up as she felt Rika place her hands on her face, forcing her head back to gaze at the mirror.
"Please hold still." Rika said with some command in her voice, setting down the hairbrush and picking up liner of pink eyeshadow, where the Nonaka obscured Jeri's sight from the mirror as she got in front of the brunette and stated as she drew out the brush. "We still have a few more touches to complete before we can go."
Softly cupping Jeri's chin with her left hand, Rika brought the eyeshadow brush toward Jeri's left eye.
"Please close your eyes." She said, smiling as Jeri complied and closed her eyes, where the brunette then felt Rika gently run the eyeshadow brush along and above her left eyelid with a graceful and gentleness.
"I have to admit, pink is not my colour, but on you, it looks perfect." Rika commented with a continued smile as she moved onto Jeri's right, applying the eyeshadow with the continued care she had demonstrated beforehand.
Keeping her eyes closed, there was part of Jeri that felt a little weird to have all this done to her, but she also felt special, she felt as though her friends were trying to cast out the hidden beauty they knew she had, which caused Jeri to sigh happily and relax in the chair, allowing Rika to finish up with the eyeshadow and move onto the last section, where Jeri then felt Rika run lipstick softly along her lips, while feeling Renamon applying nail polish to her fingers, to which Renamon had to slip off Jeri's puppet in order to get at her right hand.
Rolling up the lipstick, Rika and Renamon both smiled as they finished, backing away and allowing Jeri full access to the mirror's image before her.
Impressed at their work, Rika smiled as she stated."Wow. Henry will be speechless when he sees you, Jeri."
Agreeing with Rika, Renamon nodded and asked with curiousness and some excitement. "Are You ready to see how you look?"
Jeri nodded to Renamon's question as she slowly opened her eyes, her vision filled with the sight of a beautiful young woman staring at her, before realizing it was her reflection, causing her to blush, look at Rika and question as she pointed at the reflection. "Is that really me?"
From Jeri's surprise, Rika smiled and nodded, causing Jeri to smile back, before jumping from her seat and embracing Rika in a great hug.
"Thank you, Rika. Thank you, Renamon." She said, continuing to embrace the red haired Tamer, where Jeri then added. "You two have a real talent with beauty."
"Well, after all the modelling jobs you do, you tend to learn some of their tricks." Rika replied, smiling as she hugged Jeri back, glad to see how happy the brunette was with her new appearance.
"And after your Tamer orders you to make her up for her date, you eventually get the hang of it." Renamon added, remembering times in the past Rika had commanded Renamon to pretty her up before her dates with Takato, which embarrassed Rika a little at Renamon revealing a more secret moment of her past, but quickly got over it.
"Now, what do you say we head off and see how Henry reacts to the new you?" Rika then asked, her question causing Jeri to grin with confidence and say. "Lead the way."
-Meanwhile, at the Matsuki Bakery-
While Rika was helping Jeri getting ready for the date, Takato and Guilmon had made it back to home, where Takato left Guilmon in the alley way to avoid any unwanted tension or fright upon his family, allowing the brunette to head inside, where he retrieved what he could for the date, smiling as he seemed luck was on his side, having retrieved a blanket and a basket, which he used to stow away some of the delicacies that the bakery produced freshly each day, as well as a few drinks.
However, as Takato headed for the backdoor, about to leave, the voice of his mother calling him stopped the brunette, causing Takato to turn and saw his mother, clad in an apron, where she asked. "And where do you think you are going?"
"I was planning on heading to the park." Takato replied, before he informed. "I have a date with Rika."
"Actually, you have a date with your homework." Yoshie Matsuki said in reply, glad that her son had a girlfriend, but didn't want him to fall back in his studies.
"C'mon, mum. Rika is waiting for me, and my homework isn't going to get mad if I miss it." Takato pointed out, causing his mother to sigh at her son.
"Fine. But if you spend all your time in the park and with Rika, you'll wind up working there." She replied, sounding fairly frustrated, but Takato took it as a yes.
"Ok, thanks." Takato called, quickly rushing out the backdoor, where he gave off a frustrated sigh himself.
"Man, she must have graduated with a major in nagging and a minor in yelling." The brunette thought aloud, knowing his mother was trying to look out for him, but he had bigger things to think about than a few pages of homework.
Looking around and seeing it was clear, Takato gave a nod as he began to head down the alleyway, smiling as Guilmon then jumped down from one of the fire escapes, joining him as the two made their way through the backstreets to avoid being spotted, where the Tamer and his Digimon headed off for the park.
-Several minutes later-
Arriving at the park with Rika and Renamon, Jeri smiled as the duo lead her to a more secluded area, heading deeper in the forested area, until they saw a picnic basket resting on a blanket, which caused Jeri to smile and comment. "Takato really came through."
"The only question now is where is he?" Renamon asked, curious to the location of the Tamer and of Guilmon.
While wondering that as well, as if on cue, Rika's phone gave off a beeping sound, indicating she had a massage, where she withdrew the device from her pocket and saw that it was Takato who had left the message.
Rika, do not reveal it is me. I know we were going to have our date with Henry and Jeri, but along the way I had an idea. What if we gave Henry and Jeri some privacy, just the two of them? Just make up an excuse to leave then head north, that is where we are hiding and where we can observe the couple, and offer some assistance in helping them realize their feelings.
-Love you forever, Takato.
At reading the message, Rika smiled from Takato's idea and how romantic it was.
Curious, Jeri asked. "So who was calling you?"
"It was my mother." Rika lied, before continuing in her lie as she told Jeri. "She says she needs me to head home and finish with a few chores I forgot to do."
"Can't you just return to them at a later time?" Renamon asked, not getting the hint.
"I don't think you understand how urgent this really is. If we don't leave now, it could be a real Hazard." Rika replied, emphasizing the last word, which brought Renamon up to speed.
"I see." Renamon said as she smiled and nodded, understanding what her Tamer was saying, understanding the Hazard was a remark toward Guilmon, where the vixen then faced Jeri and apologized. "Apologies for our abruptness, but we must go."
"How long will you be?" Jeri asked, not minding being alone, but didn't want to wait around for too long.
"We'll be back as soon as possible." Rika replied, smiling as she offered. "Until then, why don't you help yourself to a snack?"
As Jeri took a seat upon the blanket, opening the basket to see all the varieties of foods and treats like Takato had brought along, Rika and Renamon
Quickly headed off, turning away and rushing from the path they took, before making a sharp turn right and began crawling behind a line of shrubs until they saw Takato and Guilmon watching from the distance.
"Hey there. Glad to see you got my message." Takato whispered, smiling at Rika as he said. "And you did an amazing job with Jeri. She looks beautiful."
"But not as beautiful as you." He added with a sincerity in his voice as he looked upon his red haired girlfriend, warming Rika's heart at his compliments, before she sat beside the brunette and whispered. "So what's the plan?"
"Right now, we just watch and see how Jeri and Henry will react to each other." Takato replied, smiling as he held up his Digimon Cards and added. "And if need be, we can give them a little 'push'."
"I like the way you think." Rika replied with a grin as she withdrew a handful of Takato's Digimon Cards, looking to see they weren't as powerful as the ones he usually carried on his person, but Rika could see Takato had planned ahead for the date.
"And it seems the man of the hour has arrived." Renamon informed, her words causing Takato and Rika to peek through the shrubs, where they saw Henry approaching Jeri, causing the brunette to blush a little at seeing her unknowing date, while Henry blushed himself at seeing Jeri's new outfit.
Staring at Jeri, Henry continued to blush, finding it near impossible to speak as he stared at the brunette, but finally managed to pull a few words together.
"Jeri... umm... you look…beautiful..." He managed to say, blushing red as if he was was about to pop.
"Thank you... You look good yourself..." Jeri replied, blushing herself, but a little more in control, as Jeri pat the blanket beside where she was sitting, offering the spot to Henry.
Not wanting to seem rude, Henry quickly sat, moving his body closer to Jeri's, which caused their heart rates to increase, just before the blue haired boy looked around and asked. "So where's everyone else?"
"Rika and Renamon had to go home to carry out a few chores. As for Takato and Guilmon, I have no idea what's keeping them." Jeri replied, giving off a small smile as she moved a little closer to Henry and informed. "Looks like it's just the two of us."
With Jeri's reply, Henry continued to blush, his body getting hotter with the beautiful brunette so close to him, while Takato, Rika and their Digimon watched with smiles.
"Looks like things are coming along nicely." rika commented, only for Takato to say. "But at this rate, they'll be in their twenties before their first kiss."
"Then what do you say we speed things up?" Takato suggested, withdrawing one of his Digimon Cards, which had SnowAgumon's image upon the Card.
"Digi-Modify! Agumon's Icy Wind activate!" The brunette called, keeping his voice at a minimum as he slashed the Car through his D-Power, giving the effects to Guilmon as his maw was replaced from a blazing breath to a snowy wind.
Pointing at Henry and Jeri, Takato whispered. "You know what to do, boy."
From his Tamer's words, Guilmon nodded as he released the icy winds from his maw, focusing as he greatly reduced the power of the attack, where it blew around Jeri, not only causing her dress to move gracefully in the wind, but it sent a small shiver through her body.
"Did it just get cooler around here or is it just me?" Jeri asked, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to keep herself warm, stopping when she felt Henry's hands on her, looking to see him slide off his jacket and wrap it around her.
"Thank you." She said, blushing at the kindness Henry was showing, but also at seeing him in just a black t-shirt, noticing his more developed build, causing Takato, Rika, Guilmon and Renamon to smile at the couple.
"Let me try." Rika then said, preparing her D-Power and a Digimon Card that had Ankylomon's image upon it, running the Card through her D-Power.
"Digi-Modify! Ankylomon's Tail activate!" The redhead then called softly, the effects of the Card digitizing Renamon's tail and replacing it with a spiked reptilian tail that had a spiked ball at the end.
Getting the idea herself, Renamon smiled as she turned her tail toward the direction of henry and Jeri, brought up the tail and slammed it down with a powerful smash, causing a shockwave to fill the area, catching the pair by surprise as both felt the ground rumbling beneath them, causing Jeri and Henry to fall, where both blushed deeply, not only from the blue haired boy falling on top of Jeri, but their lips met in an accidental kiss.
Blushing more than he had beforehand, Henry quickly pulled himself off of Jeri and moved back.
"I'm so sorry..." Henry apologized, where he tried to explain himself. "I didn't mean to do that... I mean it was nice, but I would never..."
"It's alright..." Jeri interrupted, blushing herself as she moved into a sitting position.
And her blush remained as she then asked. "Can you... can you kiss me again...?"
From Jeri's question, Henry continued to blush, unsure if he had heard Jeri correctly, but it was confirmed as the brunette, moved closer and admitted. "It... it was really nice..."
As if acting on her own, Jeri caught Henry by surprise as she took over and kissed him herself, the action causing Henry's face to flush, before a pleasant warmth spread through him, causing the blue haired boy to act on instinct over logic as he wrapped his arms around Jeri, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her back.
With Henry and Jeri locked in their kiss, showing their obvious feelings/love for each other, it made the couples watching smile themselves.
"Looks like you two managed to help bring Henry and Jeri together." Renamon commented, smiling as she embraced Guilmon, wrapping her arms around the red dino Digimon from behind and nuzzled her face against his cheek.
"Looks that way." Takato replied, setting his Digimon Cards and his D-Power aside, where he faced Rika, held his hand out and offered. "Since Henry and Jeri seem so happy, what do you say we see a movie instead, give the lovebirds some privacy?"
Taking Takato's hand, Rika smiled as she wrapped herself around the right side of her boyfriend, stood by his side and said. "That sounds wonderful."
While Takato lead Rika off, Guilmon looked at Renamon with some curiousness.
"What should we do?" He asked, knowing they couldn't get into the movie theater without being spotted and causing a panic.
However, Renamon already had plans for her and her dino boyfriend where she slid her tail around Guilmon's and lead him away from Henry and Jeri, where the foxy Digimon offered. "How about we train? There is still a lot I want to teach you."
A little unsure what Renamon was thinking, but glad to spend more time with just her, Guilmon smiled, copying Takato's actions on Rika as he pulled Renamon close to his body, allowing her to rest her head on his as they too headed off, leaving Henry and Jeri all alone.
With Takato, Rika, Guilmon and Renamon on their own respective dates, Henry and Jeri continued in their kiss, before the pair parted their lips for air and looked at one another with nothing but love.
"Oh, Henry..." Jeri let out, losing herself to the romantic moment. "I've waited so long for this, to be with you..."
"Really?" Henry asked, fairly surprised, before he had to question. "I would've thought I wasn't your type. What made you so interested in me?"
"You are very smart, so sweet and caring." Jeri said in reply, recalling how friendly Henry was toward her the first time they had met , before the brunette cupped Henry's right cheek and added. "Not to mention you are very cute."
Unable to help herself as she gazed at Henry's face, Jeri moved closer, about to close the gap between the pair with another kiss, only to stop when the sound of bushes rustling filled their ears.
Facing the direction of the noises, while a little bothered to be interrupted, remaining in her usual polite mood, Jeri asked. "Takato, Rika, is that you?"
However, Henry and Jeri were taken by surprise as a small shadowed figure leapt from the bushes, landing before them, where they took in its appearance, which looked like a four legged rat that was clad in a metallic sphere and had a pair of wings cast in the back.
At seeing the creature, fear filled Jeri, where she questioned. "Who or what is that thing?"
"I am an all mighty Deva of the Digimon Sovereign, I am Kumbhiramon." The Digimon declared, grinning dastardly at Henry and Jeri.
"And what do you want with us?" Jeri then asked, still fearful, which caused Henry to move before Jeri, protecting her just in case things got ugly.
"What I want is to follow my Master's orders, to dispose of those humans who enslave Digimon, meaning you." Kumbhiramon said in reply as he glared at Henry.
"You want me? Then bring it on." Henry said back, spreading his arms out protectively as he added. "Just leave Jeri out of this."
"Sorry, but as far as I can see it, she's as big a problem as you. Even if she doesn't use a Digimon to carry out her orders, she still is a wretched human, which means she has to go!" Kumbhiramon called as he then lunged at Henry, slamming himself into the blue haired boy and knocking him down.
"Henry!" Jeri called in concern as he was pushed into her arms, knocking the pair down, before Henry got to his feet, remaining before Jeri, making sure to keep her protected.
"I will not let you hurt her." Henry said, trying to look for a form of defence, before looking at the basket, confusing Kumbhiramon as he watched Henry empty the contents and grasp the basket's handle in his hands.
'Not exactly what I was thinking, but it will have to do.' He thought, moving to one of his Kendo stances as her prepared to face Kumbhiramon.
"Haha, do you actually think that you can beat me with a basket, you weak human?" Kumbhiramon laughed, only to be silenced as Henry slammed the basket down upon Kumbhiramon's head, smashing through and causing the rat Deva to start to stumble around, for the structure of his body was preventing him from pulling it off.
"That was easier than expected." Jeri commented, watching as Kumbhiramon let out muffled yells though the basket that obscured his head, where the brunette asked. "Are all the Devas this weird and easy to hit?"
"We just got lucky." Henry said in reply, grabbing Jeri's hand and quickly ran off with her, wanting to ensure the safety of the brunette as they ran for it.
Drawing his cell phone as they fled Kumbhiramon, Henry began to dial Takato, hoping to call for some back up.
"C'mon, Takato. Answer it." He groaned, continuing to escort Jeri to safety, only to stop when he felt Jeri's weight shifting to the ground, causing Henry to look down and saw the brunette had fallen.
Concerned, Henry asked. "Jeri, are you alright?"
"I think I hurt my ankle." Jeri replied, rubbing her left leg, finding it hurt to touch found it and difficult to stand up, feeling as though she was weighing Henry down.
"There you are!" Both heard Kumbhiramon call, looking ahead to see the rat Deva approaching them, his head freed from its basket prison.
"You might have gotten in a cheap hit, but you won't get me again." The rat Deva then declared, moving closer and closer to Henry and Jeri, hiding his rage from the humiliation he had endured, but was looking forward to making the humans pay.
"Henry, run for it. I am just slowing you down." Jeri suddenly said, her words causing an expression of shock to appear on Henry's face. "You still have a chance to escape."
"Sorry, but I'm not going anywhere." Henry said back, pulling Jeri up and hoisting her arm around his body, where he told her. "I won't leave you just to keep myself ahead."
"How sweet." Kumbhiramon mocked, getting the attention of Henry and Jeri, giving off a sinister grin as he said. "Looks like I'll just have destroy the both of you in one hit."
Charging at Henry and Jeri once again, about to attack, Kumbhiramon came to a sudden halt as a blast of energy shot out and just before the rat Deva, sending him back, leaving Henry and Jeri in awe, not only at the attack, but also where both saw a familiar Digimon land before them.
"Leomon!" Jeri called, overjoyed to see the lion Digimon once again, where she set her hand on her chest and thought. 'I knew it. Fate has lead Leomon back to me. This is proof that he is meant to by my partner.'
While Henry and Jeri were glad to see Leomon once again, Kumbhiramon was further irritated.
"You should watch who you fight." The rat Deva declared.
"You should pick on someone your own size." Leomon said back, drawing his blade as he stood before Henry and Jeri, where he declared. "A true warrior battles those who are strong, only a coward fights defenceless little girls."
"Henry?" Leomon then called, turning his head and looking at Henry, where he said with pride within the blue haired boy. "I saw you face this fiend not too long ago. You showed bravery against this foe, you ever prepared to stick by her side despite the chance to flee. You are a true hero."
"Thanks, but I really didn't do much." Henry replied modestly, which caused Kumbhiramon to yell. "Hey! Did we forget, we are in the middle of a battle!?"
After his outburst, Kumbhiramon readied the double ended claw blade attached to his back, charging at Leomon as he prepared to stab through the Champion Level Digimon.
But Leomon's strength and speed seemed more than a match for Kumbhiramon, where Leomon drew his blade, holding each other in a stalemate as Leomon's sword clashed against Kumbhiramon's Treasure Pestle.
Keeping Kumbhiramon at bay, Leomon looked over at the humans, where he requested. "Jeri, with your permission, I wish to finish off this rodent in order to protect you and your boyfriend."
"Go right ahead. Knock some manners into that bully!" Jeri said with a determined grin on her face, watching as Leomon gathered energy in his right hand, before attacking.
"Fist of the Beast King!" Leomon called with a great and powerful voice, slamming his energy imbuled fist into Kumbhiramon, knocking the rat Deva down and caused him to crash along the ground, rolling away several feet, amazing Jeri at the strength Leomon showed.
"How dare you strike me!" Kumbhiramon yelled as he got back to his feet and resumed to combat Leomon.
"Let's see how you like this, you overgrown alley cat. Deva Clone!" Kumbhiramon then called as he produced five copies of himself that circled around Leomon, putting him at a disadvantage.
Watching as Leomon did his best to defend against the six Kumbhiramon that now fought him, concern filled Henry and Jeri.
"This is bad. With six against one, the odds are against Leomon." Henry pointed out, frustration filling him as he said. "I wish Terriermon was here to help."
"It'll be alright." Jeri then said, moving forward as she took a more confident stance and drew her D-Power.
"Leomon, you might not think of me as your Tamer, but please allow me to share my strength with you." The brunette said with a continued determination in her voice, drawing out one of her Digimon Cards and prepared to show Leomon her strength.
"Digi-Modify! Power activate!" Jeri announced, slashing the energy Card through her D-Power, filling Leomon with further strength, where he found it easier to smack away the Kumbhiramon attacking him.
But even with the power added to him, Leomon found the Kumbhiramon group a continued pain in the neck as they attacked from all angles.
"Jeri, you need to think more strategically." Henry informed, handing the brunette a Digimon Card of his own, which had the image of Dokugumon upon it, which gave Jeri an idea.
Taking Henry's Card into her possession, Henry expected Jeri to use his Card, but saw the brunette withdraw a second Card alongside his.
"Thank you, Henry." Jeri said, before stating as she readied her Digimon Card. "You just gave me a great idea."
"Digi-Modify! Dokugumon's Poison Thread activate!" The brunette then called, running her Card through her D-Power, taking the Kumbhiramon by surprise when lines of web shot from Leomon's fist, binding around them and trapping the Devas.
"Let us go!" One of the Kumbhiramon yelled, causing a secondary to state. "You cannot treat us this way!"
"You had this coming the second you chose to attack us." Jeri spoke up, drawing out Henry's Digimon Card as she stated. "Now it's time for you to pay the price."
"Digi-Modify! Snimon: Twin Sickles activate!" She called with a great might in her voice, one Leomon actually felt as he watched Jeri run the Card through her D-Power, where the effects of the Card replaced Leomon's arms with a set of scythe-like blades, surprising him a little at the change in his appearance.
"Leomon, use that power thanks to Henry's and combine it with your energy." Jeri said with some command in her voice, causing Leomon to nod as he complied with Jeri's orders.
Concentrating his energy, both sickles were surrounded with auras of light orange energy, which Leomon then brought down with a powerful roar, slashing his arms down and releasing all the power in an X formation, striking at Kumbhiramon and the Deva clones, causing all six Kumbhiramon to cry out as they were defeated, the clones vanishing just before the real rat Deva gave a final cry as he was defeated, amazing Henry at how resourceful Jeri had become.
And with Kumbhiramon gone, Leomon relaxed himself, his arms returning to normal as he approached Henry and Jeri, where he declared. "It is done. Kumbhiramon won't bother you again."
"Thank you for giving me your strength." He then said as he faced Jeri, sounding most grateful, which caused Jeri to smile and say in reply. "It wasn't just me, we all worked as a team to take down Kumbhiramon."
From Jeri's reply, Leomon nodded, before surprising her and Henry as he knelt on one knee and said. "You are right. Jeri, you have grown since we last met. I can see the strength you now hold, and can see that together, we will do great things to protect our friends."
Not too sure what she was hearing, jeri had to ask. "You mean you...?"
Leomon nodded.
"Yes. Jeri Katou, I devote my services to you as your partner. I will be your sword, so long as you are my Tamer." The lion Digimon said in reply, filling Jeri with joy.
"Oh, Leomon!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Leomon, hugging him, which left Leomon a little surprised at Jeri's outburst of emotion.
But looking at Henry, seeing the blue haired boy smile and motion with his arms in a circular motion, Leomon then copied Henry's actions as he moved his arms around Jeri, hugging her back.
However, as happy as the Tamers were at having Leomon now part of their team, the mood changed when the ground began to shake violently, causing Henry to question. "What is that?"
From the question, Leomon noticed a disruption in the city, where he commented. "I'm not exactly sure, but I think our little Deva problem just grew."