Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Seeing Red

Chapter: 10

"They sure look like they're having fun," Terriermon said, watching as Rika dove into the surf while wearing Takato's goggles. The boy was only a breath behind her and soon crashed into the water in short order, laughing loudly.

"Well, I'm glad someone is," Henry sighed, laying on his back, his legs kicking him along the length of the water. Lifting an eyebrow, Terriermon looked at him quizzically.

"What's eating you? I thought you were dying to see everyone again. You practically jumped at the chance when Jeri called you."

Aside from a low groan, Henry remained silent at this, preferring not to respond lest his partner mock him for the reasons behind his sudden discomfort. Unfortunately for him, Terriermon knew him well enough to fill in the blanks and figure it out on his own.

"Ohhh…" Terriermon's small mouth became an 'O' as comprehension dawned on him. Adjusting himself in the water, he glanced over in the direction of Renamon, still garbed in her human form. At some point, she had tossed out her public clothes in favor of the swimsuit he overheard her having purchased and was now playing volleyball with Kenta and MarineAngemon. The latter pair went back and forth, trying their utmost to keep up with the kitsune. Unfortunately, MarineAngemon was too small – not to mention missing arms and hands – to be effective and Kenta was, well, Kenta. Renamon could have run multiple laps around the city and not even be winded. Kenta had all the grace of a rock by comparison.

"She sure does 'bounce' in that form, doesn't she?"

"Terriermon…" Henry groaned in exasperation.

"Momentai! She is bouncing! I mean, just look at her go! Somersaults and leaps… She's a regular Olympic athlete!"

Against his better judgement, Henry cracked open a grey-colored eye and caught sight of the vulpine digimon as she took a casual backflip and struck the incoming volleyball back at Kenta. The boy panicked and took the ball straight to the face, knocking him backward. MarineAngemon let out a horrified cry and immediately flew over to him.

Henry let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding. Terriermon smirked knowingly.

"What? Did you think I was talking about something else?"

"You can be awful sometimes, you know that, Terriermon?"

"You only say that because you're always worried about looking inappropriate. I mean, I get that it's important to be polite and all, but don't you think that you should, I don't know, cut loose sometimes? Momentai a little? I mean, you even said so to Jeri earlier. So what's the big deal?"

Henry groaned again and turned over onto his side and began to push away.

"I probably should have stayed home and studied," he said in exasperation.

"Henry…" Terriermon protested, paddling after him. "Don't be like that! You've been nothing but glued to your seat and your computer for practically forever! It's getting so that you're getting to be kinda boring. Not to mention smelly."

"I shower every day, Terriermon."

"I know. I'm just trying to get you to talk to me. C'mon, Henry. Why are you acting so spooked for? You've been weird ever since Renamon showed up looking like a human. What's up with that?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Henry exclaimed, abruptly disappearing beneath the water's surface and swimming away. Floating there in a pair of tiny swim trunks, Terriermon folded his arms together and puffed his cheeks out.

"Well, fine! I'll just have to find out some other way about why Renamon and her digital boobies are freaking you out! Hey! Henry! I know you can hear me! Henrrryyy!"

The boy continued to swim away, seeming to be trying to put as much distance between himself and Terriermon as possible. The long-eared rabbit digimon huffed in irritation.

"Yup. That was definitely rude!" he grumbled. Suddenly aware that he was the center of attention from various, passing beachgoers out for a swim. "What?" he asked, lifting his ears up suddenly. "Can't a mon have a private conversation with his partner anymore? Momentai!"

With that, the long-eared Rookie spun about in the water and began to paddle back to shore.

Stupid Henry… What's the big deal anyway about Renamon looking like the way she does? Must be a human thing. They get so weirded out about their own bodies. People really need to momentai!

Arriving at the shore of the beach, the long-eared digimon rose up and looked up to find Guilmon standing before him. Leaning forward, the crimson-scaled reptile took a deep sniff of his digital companion.

"H-Hey! Guilmon! What gives?"

"I was just wondering if you smelled like a wet dog," he said, tapping a claw against his chin. "Takato said that you're named after a terrier, which is a type of dog."

"Yeah, but I'm also part rabbit," Terriermon said, shaking himself off. "Either way, there's no way I'm going to smell like a wet dog. I'm a digimon." He paused. "Do I?"

"No, not really. You smell like a wet digimon. I was just wondering. I wonder about a lot of things sometimes."

"Hmmm…" Terriermon glanced down the end of the beach over at where Renamon was presently helping Kenta back to his feet. "Ever wonder what's going on with Renamon there? That's a new look for her."

"Yeah, a little," Guilmon nodded. "I think she's doing it for Rika."

Terriermon raised an eyebrow at this. "Doing it for Rika? What for? Is she trying to make her jealous by making Takato look at her or something? Because that failed spectacularly."

"No." Guilmon shook his head. "I don't think it's that. I think…" He paused, then looked at Terriermon. After a moment, he looked away. "I've probably said too much. Takato and Rika like their privacy."

"I… What?! Guilmon!" Terriermon's mouth swelled into one giant 'O' now in shock at the reptile's sudden lapse into secrecy. "What do you mean by that? Is there something going on with those two?"

"I'm probably not supposed to say anything," Guilmon said, turning away.

"Heyyy… C'mon! Guilmon! Tell me! Are they together now? What base did they get to? Guilmon…"

"Sorry, Terriermon. A secret is a secret"

"Yeah, but were you told to keep it a secret?"

Guilmon paused at that. "No…" he admitted hesitantly. "But I still shouldn't without Takato or Rika's permission."

Terriermon clenched his tiny paws into tight fists. "What is with everyone today?!"

Guilmon patted the Rookie helpfully. "Momentai?"

"I… Geh! Guilmon! That's my line!"

"Why don't we go play with Renamon? They look like they're having a lot of fun over there."

Terriermon huffed. "More like Renamon's the only one having fun today. Well, maybe she'll fill me on what's going on."

"I don't think she'll do that," Guilmon replied, shaking his head. "Can't we just have fun?"

Terriermon began to reply when he drew up short. He felt it. A slight ping in the back of his mind that always signaled to him the beginnings of an idea. A small grin slowly drew across his face and his dark eyes shone in the sunlight.

"Oh… I think I will after all," he said, starting in the direction of Renamon.

He strolled on over to the kitsune and came to a halt, watching as she looked over a blushing Kenta, checking him for any injuries. His glasses were slightly bent at the frames, but otherwise appeared perfectly serviceable without a single crack in the lenses.

"You seem like you'll be fine," Renamon said, giving Kenta's cheek a gentle pat with her hand. "My apologies though. I was certain that you would be able to get that one."

"N-No worries," Kenta stammered out, adjusting his bent glasses. "I…um…I'm sorry for not being very good at this. Maybe it'd be better if you played with someone more your speed?"

Renamon allowed a small smile to cross her radiant features. "Perhaps. But then again, it's not likely that I'll be able to find such a partner anytime soon. I think you might benefit from some training. If you would like, I can help you with that. It might be…beneficial to you in the future."

She glanced around them meaningfully, taking note of the number of girls about Kenta's age who looked on him the way one would look at a puppy that had been cruelly mistreated. Blushing even more deeply, Kenta swallowed nervously and looked over at MarineAngemon.

"W-What do you think, buddy?"

"Pihpihpuh," the tiny, pink fairy nodded, looking at Renamon with an expression that could only suggest agreement. Kenta smiled nervously back at Renamon.

"Well, if you're sure about it…"

"I see no reason not to, and as I said, it might be beneficial to you." She tossed the ball into the air and deftly caught it between her hands. "Shall we start over?"

"Okay," Kenta said, climbing back to his feet with a bit more determination. He frowned and adjusted his glasses. "This is going to be kind of hard…"

"Would you like a partner to help cover your blind spots?" Terriermon asked, stepping in and planting his tiny paws on his hips. "I pack a little more punch and I bet together we could whip her booty!"

"Puh?" MarineAngemon asked, lifting a tiny eyebrow.

"Kenta? Translation please?"

"He's just wondering if that's a good idea," Kenta replied, taking off his glasses and testing the bent frame to see if he could put it back to something approaching normal. He squinted and drew them up close to get a better look. "Man… Mom's going to kill me for this."

"Why don't you sit this one out then?" Terriermon suggested, rotating his shoulders. "I've got a proposition for Renamon anyways."

"Oh?" the kitsune asked, her tail swishing behind her. "And that would be…?"

"You're up to something," Terriermon said. "And I want to know what. So, how about it? You and me. Right here. Right now. If I win, you tell me what's going on."

"And if I win?" Renamon asked, hefting the volleyball thoughtfully.

"Then you get Guilmon's bread tomorrow."

"Hey!" Guilmon cried out in horror. "Terriermon! Don't be mean!"

"If you want me to battle you in this manner," Renamon began with amusement, "then you should put something on the line that is your own and not someone else's."

"I know. I know. I was just kidding. Sheesh! Momentai!" The long-eared rabbit tapped his chin thoughtfully. "What could I give you though?"

"Why don't I decide?" Renamon offered, her blue eyes glinting. Terriermon scowled.

"Why should I hand you a blank check?"

"How badly do you want to know what I'm 'up to'?" Renamon asked, tossing the volleyball into the air. Terriermon's scowl deepened in response. Normally, such a risky gamble was not something he would consider, yet everything about Renamon's behavior today made him itch. Why was she being so provocative? Why was she appearing human? And why was Henry freaking out about it?

Are those two having secret meetups or something and she's using this look to have mess with him? It struck him as a rather preposterous notion. Henry barely made time for anything after all. Unless…this was all a part of a plan on Renamon's part to lure him away from his computer and get him to spend more time with everyone. An even more preposterous idea, but he couldn't figure it out. Unless this was all some kind of distraction like Guimon seemed to suggest – and he didn't think that such was the case as Guilmon could be rather weird – he couldn't think what else it could be. Rika didn't even know what was going on, and one would think she'd be aware of what her partner was doing. Especially if it were to her benefit.

Unless Renamon didn't want Rika to know.

The itch grew.

"Fine," he said. "Let's do it."

Renamon bowed. "As you wish."

###

Takato chased after Rika as they swam, trying to catch her. Why she wanted him to do so he didn't know, but she had taken his goggles – stealing them right off his head no less! – as a means of 'encouragement.' Clearly, she wanted him to chase her and wasn't taking no for an answer.

Well, when in Rome, Takato grinned, breaking above the waterline to get a view of her course before diving back down below. Seeing without his goggles was a bit difficult, but doable as the water was clear and clean. So, he pursued her, following the course of her feet as they wove around people and out into the deep end. He pushed hard, doing his best to keep up with her. She moved gracefully, somehow managing to stay ahead of him, yet always staying just near enough to make him think he had a chance.

That, he found, lit a fire within him. With a competitive growl forming in his chest, he threw everything he had into one final push and reached out and snatched hold of her ankle. He heard a noise emanating from Rika – a squawk of laughter and surprise dulled by the water – followed by bubbles as she whirled about, grinning at him. He grinned back and together they rose up from the water. Rika lifted his goggles from her eyes and drew up to him. Takato felt heat rushing into his face at her proximity. Now he found himself becoming aware – all too aware – of how much skin she was showing off. He hastily locked his eyes with hers and mentally commanded them to hold themselves there; to ignore the temptation for them to drop down to the soft swell of her breasts that all but called for them to have a look and explore their hidden mysteries.

"Took you long enough," she chuckled. Takato gave a light laugh.

"Well, you're always telling me that I'm late," he answered. "Didn't want to break the streak."

"I didn't know being late was a streak you wanted to be known for," the girl smirked back. Her eyes danced playfully. "Are you trying to lose to me on purpose?"

"Of course not," Takato protested, though his own tone was as playful as Rika's. "It's hard to keep up with someone as amazing as you, you know."

Rika giggled and drew closer. "You're such a dork," she said, her face hovering within inches of his now. Takato felt the heat in his face grow in intensity, leaving him feeling as though he were drowning in it. He felt his mind wander a little, its mooring loosening a little at her proximity. His hand drifted up to her side, brushing along her hip and coming to rest upon her back. He felt her shudder in surprise and, coming back to himself, he jerked his touch away from her, as if shocked.

"S-Sorry," he stammered out, missing her blink once more in surprise at his reaction. "I…ah…I didn't mean…"

Rika shut him up by grabbing hold of him by the shoulders and pressing against him. Her lips, soft and warm, stole over his mouth and she let out a low moan, encouraging him to respond in kind. His hand resettled itself against her bare skin and began to slowly massage it. Within his swim trunks, he felt his penis spring to life, growing hard and pushing against the fabric. Pressing its hardness against Rika's belly. As if sensing this, Rika's hands dropped down to his waistline and, gripping tightly, pulled him against her. His penis buzzed pleasantly, quite enjoying the contact and desiring more.

"W-Whoa…" he gasped, withdrawing from their kiss.

"Y-You okay?" Rika asked. Both of their minds were swimming with heat that the water could not yet dispel. Takato took a moment to gather himself before nodding.

"Y-Yeah!" he said a little quickly. "Just… I don't know. You seemed a little into it there."

"So did you," Rika smirked, running her hands along his sides as they bobbed in the water together. For a moment, neither of them said anything more and Takato gazed at her, seeing drops of water falling from her bangs, tracing their way down her face. Her eyes, deep violet, shone with anxiety and playfulness and…something else. Something he couldn't quite identify. Her touch spoke to him though. Her fingers holding tight, as if nervous, yet were eager to explore and did so, if sparingly, creeping along his back muscles, feeling out the muscles that lay beneath the skin. Yet, she was tense, speaking of her nerves in a way that she would never admit to. His expression softened at this and he kissed the top of her head.

"Has anyone told you how beautiful you are?" he asked quietly, his tone comforting. Rika giggled, but a nervous titter lay behind it.

"Quite a bit," she answered, putting on a brave front. "But it sounds best when you're the one saying it. Well, you and Renamon."

Takato gave a light laugh. He found himself becoming aware of the people swimming around them, but floating here, holding Rika, he also found that he didn't care. Holding her close to him and feeling her heart beating against his… A part of him wanted this moment to never end. His hands rose up along her back and eventually cupped the back of her head just below her ponytail. She sighed contentedly as he again kissed the top of her head.

"I love you, Rika," he said softly, finding himself surprised by how calm he sounded. She tensed against him at that, but only for a moment before relaxing.

"Jeez… You're such a gogglehead," she giggled. "But…I love you too."

Takato felt as though a great weight had rolled off his shoulders and a great swell of light grew brighter within him. All his earlier concerns and anxieties seemed to vanish before it. He didn't want to ever let go now, even though he knew that they would have to sooner or later.

Sometimes you've got to know when to let go, he remembered advice from his father, in a not-too-distant past. Rika didn't seem interested in doing just that anytime soon, content with resting against him, humming softly…

Humming… Humming! He laughed again and the musical note immediately cut off.

"What?"

Awww nuts…

"N-Nothing."

Her grip about his waist tightened as if she were a school teacher about to deliver a punishment to a troublesome student.

"Takato… That wasn't nothing."

He felt the heat in her face go up and he realized she knew she had been caught.

"You're right," he admitted. "I was just thinking about how pretty you sounded just now. I'm not in trouble for that, am I?"

"Hmmm…" Rika hummed to a different tune, appearing to consider this. "No." Pushing up, she lightly bumped her forehead against his. "But maybe next time try not to hide compliments from me, okay? You're allowed to give them."

"N-No problem," Takato grinned. For a second, he was back in the flood tunnel they traversed in their youth in their first, long ago adventure. The time he first took notice of her new shirt. She confronted him about it and had inadvertently given him permission then to comment positively on it. It had been an awkward moment for the both of them. So young and unsure about the other. They had changed a lot since then, but in many ways, they were still the same. Still awkwardly trying to feel out the other person and understand them better.

Rika's hands rubbed along his sides and he felt her frown against him. "You're starting to shiver," she said. "We'd better get back to shore."

"Awww…" His face fell. In spite of his best efforts, they were going to have to part sooner than he would have liked.

"Takato." Her voice was stern, brooking no argument from him. But Takato wasn't yet ready to leave the water. His hand drew up to her ponytail and, with speed that would have impressed Renamon, slid her hair scrunchy off, causing her damp hair to spill down to her shoulders. Takato drew back, awestruck at the way she just seemed to change so much every time her hair was down. She seemed equally stunned, but not so much that she couldn't start recovering first.

"Give it back, Takato," she said, holding out her hand, her eyes narrowing and growing hard.

Snapping back to attention, Takato flashed her a grin and slipped her scrunchy along his wrist for safekeeping.

"Nope."

"Takato." Her tone was flat now. Flat and warning. "Give. It. Back."

"All's fair in love and war," he said, quoting her. "Catch me if you can."

With that, he dove away, beginning to swim swiftly away. Rika let out a warrior's yell and immediately gave chase, splashing after him. She moved gracefully and quickly caught him before he could get too far. Takato however wasn't willing to surrender her scrunchy just yet and twisted in midswim, attempting to slip free. They squirmed and rolled about one another, the pair of them sputtering and gasping for air. Rika shook her head, trying to clear her vision as her hair plastered across her eyes.

"Gogglehead! When I get my hands on you…" she began, half-blind from wet hair. Taking pity on her, Takato swam up to her and cleared the rest of it from her eyes.

"I don't know," he began. "It kind of looks like I got you now."

Rika glowered playfully and clamped her hands about his hands.

"Not what it looks like to me, Gogglehead," she said, her fingers finding her scrunchy. "Now that I've got you. Time for you to pay up now."

Takato opened his mouth to respond, but a noise caused him to stiffen in alert. Rika cocked her head to one side, confused by his sudden behavior before she became alert as well, having now heard the same sound.

The sound of someone in trouble.

As one, their eyes fell upon a figure splashing in the water. One that was all too familiar.

"Henry!" Takato exclaimed, breaking away from Rika and splashing into the water. Rika was by his side instantly, the two of them keeping pace with ease. Gone was the playing and in its place was the business of being a Tamer. Saving someone in danger. Together, they quickly swam up to Henry. The boy was struggling, his teeth clenching painfully together.

"Henry! Henry, what's wrong?!" Takato gasped as they rose from the water.

"C-Cramp!" Henry rasped, his body writhing, trapped in instinctive indecision; wanting to curl up about his leg where the muscle had seized up and the need to distribute his bodyweight so as to stay afloat.

"I got you!" Takato said, taking hold of him and rolling onto his back.

"Hold on," Rika said. "Takato…"

"It's okay," he quickly said. "I got some lifeguard training when I was vacationing at Kai's. Easy, Henry. I've got you."

"M-My leg…" Henry panted.

"Hang on," Rika said, taking hold of her friend's leg. She searched out for the clenching muscle and, upon finding it, pressed her hand against it while carefully stretching his leg out. Henry's eyes went bug-wide and his mouth gaped open, but Rika massaged the spot, smoothing out the rebellious limb until, finally, Henry went limp.

"He's all set," Rika said, retracting her hands. Takato nodded and began to carefully swim their friend back to shore.

"Where's Terriermon?" Rika asked worriedly. Normally she didn't much like knowing where the annoying rabbit-digimon was, but after seeing Henry alone and having been in danger of drowning, she felt afraid that a digimon had attacked while they were alone and isolated. She cast a look over at Renamon and found herself relieved upon seeing her, not looking the least bit concerned. She certainly hadn't detected any digimon nearby.

"H-He's fine," Henry said. "I-I saw him swimming back to shore."

"I think I see him, Rika," Takato chimed in. "He's…playing with Renamon I think."

Rika zeroed in on her partner. Sure enough, there he was, playing a game of volleyball. Rika hmphed, but smiled in relief all the same.

"All right," she said. "You'd better get ready for an earful, Henry. I'm going to make sure he annoys you for being all the way out here by yourself and getting yourself in trouble. You're lucky we were nearby."

Henry let out a relieved laugh. "No arguments here," he replied. "Thanks, you guys. I…I think I can manage it from here."

"Hey, don't mention it," Takato said as Henry began to disentangle himself from his grasp. "Are you sure you're going to be all right?"

Henry glanced over in the direction of their digimon, his expression thoughtful for a moment before answering.

"I hope so," he said, a note of doubt in his voice.

8