Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Seeing Red
Chapter: 11
Jeri had thought about seeing Renamon and trying to pry out her 'secret plan,' but the sight of Kazu and Guardromon down at the edge of the water – as far away from the others as they could get without losing sight of them – changed her mind. Instead, she sauntered along the warm sand, humming quietly to herself and ignoring a call from a passing group of boys. Before too long, she came within earshot of her wild friend and his mechanical, drum-built partner. Guardromon's large, loud swim trunks stood out prominently as the android held an umbrella over his head to shield his metal body from the hot sun. She giggled softly at the sight. Guardromon had a strange sense of trying to integrate into human society.
Still not as strange as Renamon's, she mused before envisioning Guardromon wearing a similar getup. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud at the mental image of the android wearing a bikini across his massive, rust-colored body, posing saucily with his arms held behind his head.
But Jeri's mind, now caught on the railroad of its current thought process, continued on.
What was it that Izzy said from the TV show about Guardromon? she thought. 'Absolutely nothing can penetrate that can of beans.'
Blushing at the direction her thoughts were turning Jeri clamped her hands over her mouth and stifled a low giggle.
Okay. Now I know I've been reading too many dirty doujinshis. I should probably take a break from them. Just…Just for a little while.
Taking a moment to gather herself, she continued to watch Kazu as he splashed through the water. Guardromon made an attempt to join him, but the boy rounded on him with a hard look in his eyes.
"Guardromon… What did I just tell you? You can't come in here! You'll rust up!"
"You needn't worry, Kazu. I had an oil bath in preparation for today. I should be fine."
"How did you have…?" Kazu gaped, then frowned at his partner in disbelief before shaking his head. "You know what? Forget it. You're still not coming in here. Why don't you build sandcastles or something? Or play volleyball?" Shading his eyes, Kazu glanced down the beach. "Looks like the others are getting a game set up."
As if the sight were giving him an ulcer, Kazu's frown deepened and turning away, he kicked at the water as it lapped about his feet. Even from this distance, Jeri felt his mood darken and her attempts to control her earlier humor became easier.
"Shouldn't you join as well, Kazu?" Guardromon asked. "I'm a bit on the slow side, after all. As my partner, you would be able to fill in my blind spots."
"That'd be a bad idea, Chumley," Kazu replied stiffly, turning his back on his partner.
"Hmmm… You're usually one for bad ideas, but I wouldn't think this is one of them."
"Eh?" Kazu rounded on his partner again indignantly. "I'm the one who… You… You're crazier than a crustacean, Guardromon! Crazier than…Jeri?"
"Now that was uncalled for," Guardromon replied, missing Kazu's surprised blink.
"That's not what he means," Jeri said, taking this moment to join in on the conversation. "Hey, Kazu. What are you silly boys doing all the way down here?"
Kazu stared at her for a moment, as if memorized by her. Jeri planted her hands on her hips, waiting for him to snap out of his reverie. Kazu did just that with a jerk of his head and turned away.
"Nothing," Kazu replied finally. Jeri sighed. He had been getting like this of late. Distancing himself from everyone whenever he became upset about something. She could understand that. It wasn't easy wanting to be around others, especially people she cared about when she had something boiling in the back of her mind. Years ago, she hid it well enough behind fake smiles when it suited her, and sometimes even now she still did. But ever since the D-Reaper captured her and forced her into being its partner to fuel its dark-digivolution, she had seen the falsehoods for the shadows that they were and how they affected her.
But just because she recognized similar shadows in Kazu's demeanor it didn't mean that she could confront them the same way. Kazu was made of different stuff after all and needed a bit more of a subtle hand.
"Well, if it's nothing, then I'm coming in to join you," she sang, splashing in beside him and making a great show of it, sending a cascade of water to slap against Kazu's thighs. The boy jerked reflexively before lifting an eyebrow at her.
"Jeri? What…?"
"Come on!" Jeri giggled. Cupping her hands, she dipped them into the water below and proceeded to splash more at him. Kazu sputtered, raising an arm to shield himself. She attacked more aggressively in response. Almost at once, she found herself in the memory of a time in the park, some summers ago, where she, Kazu and Kenta were in a public pond, splashing Guilmon in an attempt to 'make him wetter than the water.' The great dinosaur's tail proved victorious then, but they had fun all the same. Even Takato, for a time, had been able to forget about his troubles once he joined them.
"Hey! Come on, Jeri!" Kazu protested, taking a step back to avoid her latest splashes. "Cut it out!"
"Nope!" Jeri grinned mischievously, sending another spray of water at him, this time aimed at his face. "I came here to see all of my friends and have a good time! And right now, I want to see you. You're not getting rid of me that easily."
Kazu's emotional cloud visibly shifted and he appeared caught in debate with himself. Jeri let him have it again, square in the face this time, and the boy staggered backward, eyes blinking blearily. One look at his eyes told her all she needed to know. She had him.
"That all you got?" Kazu gasped around the rivulets running down his face. Leaning down, he swept his arms through the water. His muscles flexed and a tremendous tidal wave slammed along Jeri's waist, causing her to stagger back just as she had done to him.
"Nope," Jeri laughed. "I've got more."
And so they went, back and forth, going deeper and deeper into the water to augment their attacks while Guardromon watched.
"Ahhh… Brings a tear to my eye every time," the mechanical digimon said. Then, as if inspired by the youthful energy of his two companions, Guardromon pumped his massive fists into the air. "Make way, fair maiden and young knight! It is time for Guardromon the Just to enter the fray!"
That drew Kazu up short. "Wait! Guardromon! I told you…!"
It was too late. With a brief igniting of his engines, the android shot into the air, just high enough to stay above water and then came crashing in like a cannonball next to the two teens. A huge wave of water engulfed the pair. Before the mini-tsunami hit them, Kazu reflexively grabbed hold of Jeri by the hand and pulled him close to his chest, shielding him with his exposed back. The torrent struck him like a rock and Jeri felt Kazu's balance waver. He didn't fall though, and once it passed, he drew away from her. His shoulders rose and fell as droplets fell from his damp hair. His normally wild, happy expression was again full of worry. Jeri gazed up into his grey eyes, searching them for some sign of whatever was bothering him. But the moment given to her was just that; a moment. Soon, his gaze slid away and he turned toward the seated Guardromon, storm clouds building on his face.
"Guardromon!" he exclaimed. "Are you nuts?! I told you over and over that you shouldn't go swimming! And what was with that crazy stunt anyway? What if you had hurt Jeri doing that?"
The machine rose and bubbled in an attempt to respond. Upon finding nothing emerging from his voice speaker, he peered down at his ballooning trunks. The water came up to just over his waist. Looking back at Kazu, he bubbled again and this time, great bubbles floated up from all about him, each popping in the order of their arrival. Kazu made a disgusted face.
"Gross, dude. People go swimming in here."
Another round of bubbles seemed to agree. Planting his hands on his hips, Kazu shook his head.
"All right. All right. Let's get you out of here. Jeez, Guardromon. You're crazier than seaweed sometimes, you know that?" He tossed a look over at Jeri. "You going to be all right?"
"Y-Yeah," Jeri nodded, blushing brightly. Her eyes fell on his back, watching the rivulets tracing paths along his toned back, making his shoulder blades and spine appear almost sculpted in the sunlight. Kazu had said he had been exercising since the digimon returned all those years ago from the digital world. It seemed that he had been taking that seriously.
Easy, Jeri. Easy… she told herself, feeling her breath catch in her throat.
Seeing the way she was looking at him, Kazu snorted and looked away, easily guessing her thoughts.
"Jeri. I know I look like a nice slice of beef, but you'd be better off looking for someone finer."
"Huh?" Jeri blinked as Kazu moved, pushing against Guardromon. The android moved even more slowly and one of his feet sank into the sand as he trudged along. "What do you mean by that?"
Kazu grunted and then slammed himself into the Champion digimon. The impact, however, wound up knocking him back into the water with a splash and an aggravated cry.
"Oh, man… Guardromon. Can you get your engines going?"
There came a number of bubbles as the engines flipped up. They began to wind up, but a second later they coughed up steam. Kazu hung his head.
"Well, that's terrific," he grunted. He cast his eyes about and saw Kenta and MarineAngemon engaged in a game with Renamon. Grimacing, he looked over in the direction of Rika and Takato, finding them splashing about one another, laughing.
"Man… I'd hate to interrupt any of them right now," Kazu bemoaned. His voice came out soft and a bit melancholy. Approaching him, Jeri laid a hand on his shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze.
"Why don't we get our digivices and cards?" she suggested. She looked up at Guardromon. "Do you think you can sit tight for a minute?"
Guardromon bubbled out something that sounded vaguely like a 'Yes.' Helping Kazu to his feet, the pair then left the water and began to hurry back toward their towels and bags.
"So… What was that you said back there?" Jeri ventured, passing by the volleyball game. Terriermon and Renamon were bouncing the ball back and forth; Renamon casually while Terriermon worked harder to keep on top of his game.
"I don't know," Kazu shrugged, his eyes zeroing in on Renamon. "What did I say?"
"You know. About how I could do better."
Kazu looked at her with a frown before glibly replying, "You know, with Renamon's tail still out, we never figured out what we should use as her cover story."
"Kazu…"
"I'm thinking furry. But then we'd have to explain what the tail is. I mean, some life guard might think it's a dildo and have an excuse to kick us off the…"
"Kazu!"
"What?" Kazu glanced back at Jeri and she puffed her cheeks up at him like an annoyed squirrel. They held each other's gazes for a minute, broken only when Kazu tripped over a rock.
"You deserved that for ignoring me and trying to change the conversation," Jeri said, sticking her tongue out at the boy as he recovered his balance.
"Fine, fine. Whatever." Kazu huffed.
"Why did you say what you said?"
"Forget it. I was dumb for even thinking it in the first place."
"Kazu…"
"What? Rika's right." The boy dusted himself off and resumed walking, this time with a bit more force than before. Jeri had to pick up her pace to keep up.
"Rika was right? About what?"
"About…me."
"She didn't say anything."
"She doesn't need to. I know I'm not classy. I know that my mouth has a way of getting on people's nerves." He grimaced. "I don't pussyfoot around like Chumley does. I'd much rather tell people what I think. I know that sort of thing doesn't win me a lot of good feelings. Not to mention my stupid eyes are always wandering. That's why Ayaka and me…" He trailed off in memory. "I hate it when she's right," he finished finally. "But I also hate it even more when she's wrong for the right reasons. It's…"
He scratched the side of his damp head and again cast a look over in Takato and Rika's direction. They were currently approaching the shore with Henry in tow. Clearing his throat, he began again.
"I get stuck in lala land because I'm thinking about how to get her and Chumley to realize they like one another and she thinks I'm trying to get a look at her boobs." He scrunched his face up. "Like it's my fault that they look nice on her. I…" He blushed hotly, realizing what he said out loud. Jeri gave him a bit of a hard look, but tried to restrain it for his sake. She was trying to help him and judging him too much she felt would be counterproductive to their conversation after finally getting him to talk.
Kazu was silent, waiting. Once it became clear she wasn't about to berate him for his language, he sighed.
"Anyway," he began anew as they drew up to their belongings, "that's why I said you'd be better off looking at something finer. Dropping down, Kazu began rutting through his things and produced his D-Arc and card box. Joining him at her things, Jeri produced her own cards. Though she didn't need them the way the others did anymore, she kept a deck handy as a reserve in case they were needed.
"You know…" she began, placing a hand atop Kazu's. "Rika's a lot like you."
"Me like her? Don't be gross, Jeri."
"You know what I mean. Speaks her mind. Sometimes comes off as rude even if she's just being honest. You're a lot more alike than you think and she still got Takato to like her."
Kazu scoffed, but ceded her point.
"Yeah, but she's pretty. That makes it easy to overlook her attitude. At least when it comes to Chumley."
"Do you really think that?" Jeri asked, frowning slightly as she began to feel slightly offended on her friend's behalf.
"No," Kazu admitted after only a moment. "Not really. Chumley's different from me." His expression became introspective. "Takato sees past all that stuff. It's why he and I became friends even though I'm full of warts. It's why he became friends with Impmon. He's like a guy version of you. Always ready to help out and dig a little deeper for the real person beneath it all."
His brow furrowed. "It's also why he's so annoying sometimes. Unlike you, he has a hard time seeing why someone else like you or Rika might 'like-like' him."
A bit of color touched Jeri's features, remembering her old love for the goggle-wearing boy.
"I think…he understands better than you think," she said quietly, drawing out her card box.
"Yeah… Well, I guess you know better than me," Kazu said, getting back to his feet. "But he's still pretty thickheaded. Somehow, I'm going to make it up to Rika. She can be annoyed with me all she wants, but she won't be able to say that I didn't help her with Chumley."
"Kazu… You don't really need to do anything."
Kazu grinned savagely. "Not yet. Timing is everything."
His grin faded and his eyes came to rest on their two friends. He gave a low whistle at her top. "Man. That's a crystal-clear message, don't you think? How the heck could Chumley miss that?"
"Kazu…" Jeri thumped his ankle, causing the boy to yelp.
"Ow! Hey, you're just jealous that I never tried helping you out!"
"Am not!" Jeri stuck her tongue out at him. "Besides, you knew better back then. Think better this time. I mean it."
"Spoilsport," Kazu grumbled, limping back in the direction of the waterlogged Guardromon. "I'm just trying to look out for my friends."
"I know." Jeri looked at him kindly. "But…maybe they can work it out themselves?" She offered Kazu a smile, hoping he would get it through his thick skull. She promised Rika she wouldn't say anything about her relationship with Takato. She wondered if she should anyway. Rika had left her with a way to do so, but…her friend could be an intensely private person. Even more so when she was with Takato.
She didn't want to violate that privacy.
Kazu grunted again. "Still a spoilsport," he said. "I'm getting Guardromon out of the water with or without you. You do whatever you want."
"Now who's being a spoilsport?" Jeri jested. Hurrying over to him, she looped an arm about his and proceeded to drag him after her.
"Ah! Hey! Jeri, I ain't one of your sockpuppets!"
"Yeah, but you're pokey," She giggled, remembering a time when her two friends literally dragged her into the park to help find Takato. "Besides, I'm sure Guardromon wants to see us sometime today."
Kazu shook his head. "You're crazier than a catfish, Jeri. Good thing you're ten times as cute."
"Kazu!" Jeri laughed, blushing brightly. With renewed strength, she forcibly yanked Kazu after her.
###
Rika let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding when she saw Jeri depart, towing Kazu behind her.
"Everything all right, Rika?" Takato asked, having heard her sigh.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied before looking over at Henry, who was massaging his leg. He stood on it stiffly and it was clear that the limb still bothered him. "How about you?"
"I'll manage," the dark-haired boy replied with a smile that didn't fool her in the least. Henry hid his feelings better than Takato, but she was too well practiced at spotting falsehoods to be fooled by him.
"Yeah, sure," she said. "Maybe you should take it easy for a little while."
"No, really, I'm fine," Henry insisted. "Besides, I need to go check on Terriermon." He gestured with his head the direction of their digimon partners. Following his gaze, Rika saw Renamon and Terriermon caught in a volleyball match. Terriermon was dashing about, spinning in midair, catching every one of Renamon's serves and sending it back her way. The kitsune caught each return with almost casual ease and punched it right back at the rabbit-dog digimon.
Consequently, they were gathering a crowd.
"He never does anything small, does he?" Takato asked, scratching the back of his head. Rika snorted.
"I think it's because he's compensating for being so short. That way he's impossible to ignore."
"Either way, I'd better go and make sure that he hasn't made Renamon upset or anything," Henry said, starting off in the direction of the game. His walk was stiff, but he appeared to be loosening with each step.
"Hopefully he doesn't break a leg next," Takato said under his breath. Rika gave him a hard look.
"Don't even joke about that," she said. "With our luck, it might come true."
"Can't argue with you there," Takato chuckled. Unwinding her scrunchy from about his wrist, he held it out for the girl to take. "Trade you."
Rika glanced at her scrunchy and with a smirk, she pulled his goggles off her head and quickly made the exchange. Grabbing a fistful of hair, she brought it up and tied it back into her usual ponytail. It was a bit difficult, given how waterlogged her hair was, but doable.
"So…uh… What do you want to do now?" Takato asked, strapping his goggles back onto his head. "Do you want to join them or…?"
"I really ought to get some suntan lotion on before doing anything else," Rika said. As soon as she said that, she remembered Jeri's earlier teasing and at once scowled, feeling the heat from her blush and the sun beating along on her pale skin. Hesitation lanced through her, fearful of what Takato might think if she asked and what might happen if he were seen rubbing lotion along her back.
This is what I bought these things for, she thought, glaring angrily at her two-piece swimsuit. The exposed portion of her bosom stared back at her, as if asking her what she was just standing around for.
"Rika? Why are you just standing there? Are you all right?"
Rika jumped as Takato's voiced question timed perfectly with her thoughts, making her believe for half a second that her chest had actually spoken to her. And in Takato's voice no less! In her mind's eye, she envisioned the boy abruptly appearing in her top, shrunken down and nestled between her breasts. Her face promptly erupted with red and she barely restrained a frustrated groan at the direction her thoughts were going.
S-Stupid! You've been around Gogglehead too long if you're imagining things like that!
She had delayed long enough and now the sun was getting to her. She had to act now!
"I'm fine!" she replied with a little more force than intended, causing her lover to blink in surprise. Feeling as though she were losing control of the situation, she snatched Takato by the wrist and proceeded to drag him in the direction of their things.
"Whoa!" Takato stumbled after her, a nervous smile on his face as he tried to figure out what was going on that set her off. "Hey, is something wrong? I didn't make you mad for taking your hair tie off, did I? Rika…"
Rika's mind was in a whirl as she fought to figure out what to do next. The answer was obvious to her as they approached their towels, and it seemed to her that she was committing to it even before she knew she was doing so. Her heart though hammered rapidly in her chest, clearly indicating that it was not ready for this.
T-Tough, she told her anxious heart. We're doing this. We…I need to get this out of the way! All in or all out, remember? I'm…I'm not backing down!
"I'm…going to need you to help me with something," she said, dropping his wrist as they reached her towel. Dropping down, she rummaged through her bag and produced her bottle of suntan lotion. With hands that shook ever so slightly, she popped open the top and squeezed out a small stream of white cream into her hands. Turning, she tossed the bottle over to the boy, who was now blushing a little as comprehension dawned on his face.
"Oh… Oh! Um… Right. Where…Where do you want it?"
"My back," Rika replied stiffly, turning away so as to hide her blush from her lover-boy. Her mind raced, trying to keep a hold of the situation. Trying to stay in control! To distract herself, she began to rub the lotion along her arms.
What am I supposed to do next? She thought briefly of Ryo and how she would accuse him of trying to use his sex appeal to get things done, even though she felt it didn't suit him at all. Should she try to do something like that here? For that matter, how was she supposed to do that?
I'm already practically naked. Isn't…Isn't that enough?
She thought back to the train and how Renamon had arched her back. Should she try something like that as well? That would elicit his usual reaction. The reaction she loved to see when she got him flustered. That would help her get back on track. Help her regain control of the situation and…
She felt him settle awkwardly behind her. She grew stiff at his presence and swallowed nervously.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked. Rika bit her lower lip.
"You know how easily I burn up, Gogglehead. And Renamon's a little busy right now to help me with my backside." Composing herself, she looked at him over her shoulder. Her playful smirk easily hid the nervousness she felt drumming away inside her. "Besides," she continued, "isn't this what boyfriends are supposed to do for their girlfriends?"
Takato gave her a dopy, if uncertain grin.
"Well, I'd like to be the perfect boyfriend for you," he replied. His hands, slick with lotion, brushed along her sides and Rika drew in a sudden breath at their touch. He was gentle and cautious. His hands slid up along her back, stopping beneath her bikini before gliding back down, slipping into the crook of her back where her spine was. It felt…nice. Not what she had expected, but nice all the same.
Rika realized she had ceased putting the lotion on herself. Hurriedly, she finished up her arms.
What…What else am I supposed to do? she wondered, not wanting things to end just yet. There had to be something else!
Takato's palm cupped a bit of muscle along her side where her ribs began. Rika felt herself shudder as he pressed into her skin, rubbing the suntan lotion against it; trying to get as much of it on her as he could.
Rika arched her back against his touch, her flushed face growing even warmer.
Yeah… I…I don't want this to end yet.
She remembered now one thing she had seen couples do when helping to apply sunscreen to one another. Something she had forgotten in her anxiety.
She moved now to fix that.
###
Takato's brain was misfiring.
He still didn't know how he was functioning right now. Rika's asking him to do her back while she took care of her front was causing all kinds of brain cells and nerve endings to spark and flash in stunned amazement. Yet a part of him managed to hold it all together despite the fact that he knew he should be something of a gibbering mess right now.
"What does your dream boy do for you?"
That thought. That memory kept him going though. Over the course of days since his wet dream, Takato had wondered with the kind of desperation that came with drowning how to be the perfect lover for Rika. Whatever she asked from him, he wanted to be at his best for her. Even if it was something as simple as help her put on suntan lotion.
He couldn't help but swallow as he watched his hand slide along her skin, drifting just above the top of her rear and up along her side. His fingers shivered as did she, and he suddenly worried that he made a misstep.
"Rika?" he asked, only to be surprised as she arched back against him. The fire-haired girl's hand took hold of him by the wrist. He felt the tension in her grip and the slight tremor that accompanied it. The air felt thick with heat between them. He swallowed, only to find no saliva in his mouth.
Rika released him and drew away.
"You…You still need to get the rest of my back," she said, laying herself down on her towel. Reaching behind her, muscles tense, she loosened her bikini and drew the ends apart. Takato's eyes grew wide, seeing the slight side swell of her breasts just past her arms. His body, caught up in the intensity of the moment, promptly forgot how to breathe.
Rika peaked at him from over her shoulder.
"T-Takato?" she prompted shakily. Her heart was beating so loud she barely heard her question. Yet, he snapped back to attention and hastily yanked his eyes up over to hers.
"S-Sorry," he stammered out. Grabbing the suntan lotion, he lifted it back up. Rika watched him as he nearly dropped the bottle. His face was a portrait of deep crimson, almost mirroring that of his partner's color and drowning his red eyes. It was plain to her that he was…unsettled. Not a good sign, but also an opportunity for her.
"Don't…Don't be," she said encouragingly. "This is what couples do, isn't it? Don't…Don't be afraid to go lower too. Okay? I…I trust you with my back. My back and…and everything else."
The bottle made a sudden, loud, squelching sound as he squeezed a little too hard at her words. Rika felt her heart flutter a little, enjoying what she saw.
Cute, came the thought that she insisted on denying to herself.
Trust… She…trusts me. Takato's eyes flickered back towards hers. His anxieties hung there in front of him, but seeing the way she looked at him, despite her exposure and vulnerability, the trust she held for him in her eyes, he felt his resolve harden. Shifting, he drew over her, his legs slipping about hers. He ran the lotion into his hands and, leaning forward, pressed them against her bare shoulders and proceeded to resume his work. Pressing the cream against her skin, he worked his way down, slick fingers gliding along her shoulder blades and mingling with the work he had done previously.
He glanced down at her derriere, the top of which remained still mostly devoid of lotion in his caution around that particular area.
"Don't be afraid to go lower too."
I've got to be my best for her, he thought, ignoring the angry, throbbing pulse of his erection in his trunks. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and resumed his work.
###
Terriermon was breathing hard while Renamon might as well have been taking an afternoon stroll.
"You seem tired, Terriermon," Renamon said softly. "Why don't we take a break?"
"I'm…I'm just getting warmed up!" the long-eared rabbit replied harshly. He wasn't going to lose this one!
But how? She's got a lead on me. A weirdly small one. I get the feeling she's just goofing around. I'm sweating like a dog here and she hasn't even broken one yet.
He frowned as he watched her heft the volleyball in her hands, her azure eyes fixated on him. He was going to have to do something drastic to stop her next move. She was up to something! He could feel it in his digital bones. He knew how good she was when it came to athletics. While he himself wasn't a slouch by any means, his shorter limbs put him at a clear disadvantage.
I should have been losing much more than this, he thought. It's like she's trying to keep things going as long as possible. But why? What's the point?
The vulpine digimon placed her human foot forward and he shifted in response, getting ready for her serve. He wondered briefly if he should try signaling to Henry to slash him a modify card. Something to get his speed up or at least his stamina.
No time now, he thought. Here she comes!
The ball launched through the air as though it were shot out of a cannon. Rising up in the air, Terriermon made his move. Extending his ears, he began to spin like a corkscrew. The air began to whip up violently around him.
"Terrier Tornado!" he shouted, the wind slashing about and catching the volleyball in their grasp. He spun faster and faster and rapidly ejected the ball from his miniature twister, launching it to the other side of their makeshift court. Landing on his feet, he took a deep breath to steady himself, trying to get a feel for his surroundings and Renamon's response.
Except…Renamon wasn't there in front of him like he thought she would be. Instead, he saw a vast swath of beach and people. Amidst the crowd, his black, beady eyes zeroed in on two in particular, drawn to some familiar, fiery hair tied back into a tight ponytail.
There lay Rika Nonaka, lying on her front with her bikini off and Takato seated on top of her, running his hands along her back until they came to her hips.
What are they doing? Are they…? On a public beach?!
"Terriermon!" came Henry's shout.
Oh. He's probably upset because I used an attack with all these people around.
"Momentai, Henry!" he responded. "I knew what I was doing! I…"
"No! Look out!"
What?
The volleyball crashed into the back of Terriermon's head, planting him face first into the hot sand. All further thought and questions were obliterated by sudden darkness.
10