Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Seeing Red

Chapter: 16

"So let me get this straight," Rika said, leaning against the iron gate of Guilmon's former home. "You want to try dating."

"It is one of the many things I would like to try, yes," Renamon replied simply. "My Kohenkyo is becoming sufficiently advanced that, if I am able, will allow me to attend your school."

Rika felt an eye twitch at that and she looked away, doing her best to dispel the mental image of her partner dressed in the grey uniform of the Kagurazaka Girls' Academy.

Her wearing a swim suit had been bad enough, she thought with a shiver.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that you wanted to go to my school and go back to what you said earlier. You want to try dating."

Renamon cocked her head to one side, sensing the agitated confusion filtering in through their bond. "Is there something wrong with that? Digimon are capable of forming romantic relationships after all. Even marrying."

"Does that mean you want to try marrying as well?" Rika asked, crossing her arms together. Renamon furrowed her brow, half-tempted to say yes, if only to tease the girl, but the sense she received through their mental bond suggested this would not go very well.

"I have no need for anyone else but you," the vulpine digimon said finally. "But I merely wish to experiment and learn. Perhaps one day you will have children. My experience might be able to help them when they are older."

"You're not really selling the whole 'being a mother' concept, Renamon," Rika grumped, feeling even more agitated now as she found herself trying to envision such a life. Screaming brats underfoot with their toys strewn all over the floor and her own belly swollen with life inside, kicking.

If they're going to be anything like me, I'm not sure I want to deal with that. Maybe if they were more like Gogglehead…

Her thoughts paused as they brushed up against that notion, took a moment to turn it over in her thoughts, and then filed it away for future consideration.

"Anyway," Rika continued hastily. "I'm more concerned about you trying this with Henry."

"I approached him about it last night after giving it much thought. He has his reservations." Renamon swished her tail in consideration. "However, I believe he would make a far better 'date' than others I could mention and he is trustworthy. Terriermon believes it would be good for him as well to get out more."

"I can't believe that I'm hearing this," Rika groaned, pressing one palm against her forehead. "You're agreeing with the rabbit?"

"Well, maybe," Renamon smiled. "But it is true that he has had little time to get out lately."

"He's studying to get into Stanford University." Rika retracted her hand, a pensive look on her face. "He's got every reason to be cooped up in his room doing nothing but studying."

That thought got her pondering about her own university plans. She still had another year of high school left, but the future was coming up on her rapidly and it left her wondering how it would affect her, her taming and her current relationship with Takato.

"I just don't think this is a good idea," she said after a moment, clutching one fist tightly. "You saw how worked up he got just from how you looked at the beach. Renamon, he's going to have feelings." She gave her partner a pointed look. "I don't think you looking like a human is going to help that. I gave Takato enough mixed messages when we were younger to know that's just what's going to happen even if you don't mean for that to be the case."

Renamon lifted her eyebrows in surprise at the girl before smiling. "Rika… You have grown up."

Rika blinked and then looked away, embarrassed. "Not-Not as much as you think. But I've learned some things the hard way. Some of those lessons stuck."

"I will consider what you have told me," Renamon replied. "If it's any consolation, I have thought about that, as has Henry. But I will keep an eye open in case I send any 'mixed signals.'"

Rika pressed her lips together. "I still think it's a bad idea," she reiterated. "But I guess I can't stop you either. Just…don't hurt Henry, okay?" Her eyes softened and Renamon nodded solemnly.

"I will protect his feelings," the kitsune replied with a bow and Rika let out a nervous sigh, her thoughts turning to other matters; to a suspicion she now had and what the true cause of her bleeding had been.

"Anyway," Rika said, shifting in her spot, "Now that we've got that cleared up, I've been wondering something. Do you remember that dream Takato told me he had? Back when we first met him?"

"Of course," Renamon said, tilting her head to one side questioningly. Rika shifted again uncomfortably, steeling herself.

"You told me that you saw him when we fought Lynxmon. Floating in the air."

Renamon frowned slightly. "Rika, is something the matter?" she asked, sensing something in Rika's words that were just beyond her reach. The fire-haired girl scowled, feeling very much the same way.

"I don't know," she admitted. "It's probably nothing. I just had a weird dream this morning, that's all. That and Takato said something about a dream he had last night feeling a little too real."

"I did overhear that," Renamon nodded, her expression one of concern. "Could you tell me about what it was you dreamt?"

"It's…" Rika trailed off, her cheeks growing red. "Oh for goodness sake." She shook her head in sudden frustration. "It was another one of those dreams, okay? Only different. I don't know how, it just was." She sighed. "Maybe I'm overthinking it and it's just a coincidence. I don't know, but it felt like Takato was right there and he was-was actually…"

She hesitated, her face burning. She wasn't sure what to say more on or where to go with this line of thought. She hadn't probed Takato about his first dream about her all those years ago since Renamon confirmed that she had actually seen him floating in the digital field, watching their fight. It wasn't something she cared to think about too much and for the most part just chalked it up as another one of Takato's weird quirks. Everyone had them. But when Takato had mentioned how strangely real his dream last night had been, something had clicked with her about her own dream.

Still, was there something to it? An actual connection? A part of her doubted it, but another part wondered.

"Maybe it's just my stupid brain being influenced by Jeri's books too much," she resumed. Looking back at her partner, she caught Renamon's deepening frown. "What's that look for?"

"I'm considering that perhaps I should cancel my 'date' with Henry," the vulpine digimon replied, her tail swishing behind her. "Perhaps I should look in on Takato instead tonight."

"No," Rika said defensively at her partner's dangerous sounding tone as she went a step further with the information given to her. Suddenly becoming protective of her gogglehead, she took an unexpected step toward the kitsune. "Renamon, if there even is something going on, I doubt he even knows it's happening." She looked down, blushing. "I don't even know if there's something going on. I just… Ugh." Whirling about, she stormed down the stairs. "This is so stupid. I can't even believe that I'm thinking it!"

"If you don't, then why did you?" Renamon asked, easily following after the girl with a quick leap. Her voice had shifted, becoming inquiring and quizzical, losing the dangerous edge from before.

Rika frowned. "I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe because it sounds like the ridiculous kind of thing that would happen because the universe seems to like messing with me. With us."

She closed her eyes as she said this, remembering the feel of Takato's weight atop of her and of something pushing into her, withdrawing and then pushing in again, spreading her open. She had been vaguely aware of that in the way one is of dreams, but the feel and touch of it all had been a different matter. Certainly, her hands had felt something. His smooth skin, back muscles twitching beneath her touch she held him close just as he did her. And his kisses felt real enough. Pleasantly gentle and soft; eager to please in his explorations. And the maddening, burning swell of pleasure growing within her as his hips gently rocked against hers, causing her to thrust back even more eagerly until their rhythm dissolved into a frantic bucking.

Maybe I was just remembering the way he felt? We've been touching a bit more lately and-and it's not like I haven't had reason to have another wet dream.

She thought again about their tickle session and how it resulted in her accidently orgasming. It had been hard not thinking about that the rest of the night and had occupied her thoughts when she finally went to sleep. She cursed herself for not asking for some privacy to further discuss Takato's dream before he headed off with Henry.

Then again, knowing Terriermon, he'd find a way to eavesdrop on us, she scowled. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she fixed her partner with a hard look.

"Renamon, do you really think Takato would do something to hurt me?"

The vulpine digimon drew up beside her, her eyes introspective as she gave the question weighty consideration.

"Perhaps not knowingly," she said after a minute. "But understand, Rika, I do not take kindly to the thought of you being harmed. What you described…"

"I know what it sounds like," Rika interrupted, barely repressing a shudder. "You're thinking he took advantage of me."

"Yes." Renamon's voice was softer. "I may not know much about the details, but that is what it sounded like."

Rika's face scrunched up in disgust at the very notion that her gogglehead would do something like that. She couldn't bring herself to even believe it. After everything they had been through together over the years, watching each other's backs and protecting each other from all enemies, to even consider the possibility made her stomach recoil.

There's just no way, she thought, remembering how he refused to let go of her after she nearly tumbled to her death off the speeding Locomon; willing to risk dying with her if that's what it took to save her.

Renamon nodded, as if reading her thoughts.

"He worries about hurting you as well. You know he has reasons to be concerned."

A flash of memory came to Rika's mind and she saw her gogglehead, younger, eyes full of pure rage as he thrust his digivice to a blood-colored sky, forcing his partner to digivolve to the then-unreached Mega level in order to defeat Beelzemon, who was attempting to kill them all and had already succeeded with Leomon. Even now, Rika could still hear Jeri's horrified screams and the monstrous roar that nearly ripped the digital world apart as Guilmon transformed into the horrible creature called Megidramon.

But with it came another memory. One where Takato and Guilmon course-corrected, merging as one to become the Royal Knight digimon, Gallantmon. And when he stood victorious over the defeated Beelzemon, preparing to kill him out of vengeance for Leomon's murder…

"He stopped when Jeri told him to," Rika said, remembering how the puppet-loving girl screamed for him to stop and he course-corrected again, narrowly avoiding skewering Beelzemon at her cry. "Even when he told her that he deserved it, he stood by her choice. I don't," her hands shook as she gave her partner a glare, daring her to contradict her, "I don't think Takato would do anything to hurt me. No perhaps about it."

Renamon's expression was impassive as she worked through her feelings on the matter. There was just too little actual information for either of them to work with. Perhaps it was just a matter of Rika's dreams being overly influenced as she described, but then again perhaps not. Even Takato had mentioned that whatever dream he had last night had felt a little too real. After all these years, she could agree in part that it didn't seem likely Takato would do anything to harm or upset Rika deliberately. But another part of her knew quite well that how people appeared and what they actually felt could be two entirely different things. Rika herself refused acknowledge for a long time that she cared about others, as did Impmon. Jeri had worn a false smile for who knew how long and her mask had cracked when Leomon had been murdered. Was Takato the same way? Could he have fooled them? Or fooled himself?

"He might feel differently," she said carefully. That much felt certain to her. Rika narrowed her eyes at that before looking away.

"Of course, he would," she said in agreement. "Maybe I shouldn't even bring it up the next time I see him."

At this, she felt a flash of alarm from her kitsune partner through their link, though outwardly she remained calm and stoic.

"Rika, I don't believe you should leave this alone," Renamon advised. Rika hmphed.

"I probably shouldn't, now that you mention it. I don't have a good track record of having problems go away by just ignoring them. But I don't want him freaking out if he thinks that he even accidently…"

She trailed off, her expression twisting up in pain.

"And if it happens again?" Renamon prompted, opting to follow this train of thought for the time being. "Suppose he becomes aware of it then."

Rika reached the bottom of the stairs. Her shoe bumped against a stone poking up from the dirt. She gave it a slight, irritated kick, dislodging it.

"This is so stupid," she said, a bitter tone to her voice. "He wouldn't do anything to me like that. I'm probably just being paranoid. Why can't this be simple?!" With a frustrated cry, she gave the rock a more powerful kick, sending it careening into some brush. Rika stood there, her breath coming out a little heavier. Approaching from behind, Renamon placed a gentle paw upon her shoulder, causing the girl to stiffen up in surprise before relaxing.

"I don't want you doing anything to him," the teen said, her voice even. "Not until I have this all figured out."

"And what will you do with him in the meantime?" Renamon asked. Rika stood there for a moment, fists shaking as she collected herself. Then she hmphed.

"The same thing I always do. I'll wing it."

###

"And there we go," said Janyu, finishing hooking Guilmon up to his equipment. The crimson dinosaur looked down at all the wires that were attached to him and gave them a tentative sniff.

"How are you feeling, boy?" Takato asked. Next to him, Terriermon, from atop Henry's shoulder, gave him a quizzical look.

"Why are you asking him now for? Henry's dad hasn't even done anything yet."

"Hey, can't I just be worried?"

"Be nice, Terriermon," Henry said before smiling at Guilmon. "Don't worry, Guilmon. You're in good hands."

"I know," Guilmon beamed. "I'm just testing my nose again. Everything smells okay still." He turned to Janyu. "Will this really be able to tell if my nose is all right?"

Janyu smiled at the Rookie. "Well, it should be able to tell us something," he replied. "We still have the data we recorded from you when you all returned from the digital world. I'm sure that if we cross reference how you are now to how you were then we can pinpoint anything that might have changed."

"Guilmon still hasn't told us what it is he's smelling," Terriermon observed, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Takato shifted anxiously.

"Um, does it matter?"

"Well, we're talking about the dinosaur who either sniffs out food or cheats at hide and seek."

"Hey!" Guilmon cried indignantly as Janyu fired up his equipment.

"What?" Terriermon shot back. "Admit it, Guilmon! The only reason you're the king of hide and seek is because you can always sniff out where everyone is!"

"Momentai, Terriermon," Henry laughed, giving his partner a gentle tap on the head. "Either way, it should be enough that Guilmon is smelling something that's out of the ordinary, right?"

"How out of the ordinary could it be? We live in a city! There's all kinds of weird things to smell here."

"Oh! That tickles!" Guilmon laughed suddenly, scratching at the spots where the wires were located on his body.

"Ah, please don't move or touch them," Janyu warned. "We're receiving your data now. It'll take longer if we have to adjust anything."

"Sorry."

"Now let's see…" Janyu leaned closer to his computer screen, peering over the zeroes and ones as they scrolled up. "So far everything appears to be normal. I'm not seeing anything out of the ordinary. Guilmon, would you mind telling me what you thought you smelled?"

"Ah…" Guilmon glanced up at Takato. The boy, in turn, looked over at Henry meaningfully. Takato scratched the back of his head and the other boy nodded.

"Vending machine trip," Henry said in understanding, causing Terriermon's mouth to fall open in surprise.

"Wha…?! Henry!"

"Patient confidentiality," Henry chuckled, exiting the room. "We'll be back in a few minutes."

"Ohhh… That's it, Henry! I'm totally going to tease you about Renamon now."

"Tease him about Renamon?" Janyu asked, arching an eyebrow as the boy closed the door behind him. His gaze then turned to fall on Takato, who simply shrugged.

"Um, so, about what Guilmon smelled… He said he thought it was Rika, but she wasn't there."

"And it was a new smell, like she had just been there," Guilmon chimed in.

"I…see." Janyu frowned, returning back to his computer monitor. "Well, so far the data is coming back clean. It'll be a little while longer until we can actually be sure, but everything looks normal."

Takato frowned slightly. "That doesn't make sense."

"Well, it's like I said," Janyu replied. "It's still too early to know for sure."

"How long until you do?" Takato asked.

"I'd say about an hour to do a complete analysis." Janyu closed his eyes thoughtfully. "I suppose it could go faster if I could access Guilmon's memory files, but…"

"You can do that?" Takato and Guilmon both said at the same time, both plainly surprised by this revelation.

"In a way," Janyu said carefully. "We've been expanding our research into how digimon operate and even thought about creating backup copies of your partner digimon using their memories in case any are destroyed. But we haven't had many opportunities to put our research into practice. Terriermon allowed me to access his memories once, so we have some experience."

"And it…didn't hurt him at all?" Takato asked hesitantly. Janyu grimaced.

"He complained about having a headache. It's why I wouldn't try it without your permission. Memories are delicate files with digimon it seems."

Takato and Guilmon both exchanged looks; Takato's one of concern and Guilmon one of complete trust and acceptance of whatever his partner chose to do.

"Nothing bad can happen to me as long as you're with me," Guilmon smiled, reading his partner's anxiety. Takato smiled nervously back.

"I guess," Takato replied. "But there's no harm in waiting, right? Besides, maybe you were wrong about what you smelled?"

"Hmmm… I guess that could be it. But Renamon says that my nose has never been wrong before and she's never been wrong either. So why would she now?"

"I think it would be best to finish with the current test before doing anything else," Janyu said. "There's plenty of time to decide on what to do."

Takato breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, I guess that settles it. Um, it's okay if Guilmon has something to eat while we wait, right? There won't be anything weird like extra data messing up the scan or whatever?"

"No," Janyu laughed, knowing quite well the bottomless pits digimon could be. "The equipment has allowed for that."

"Okay." Takato turned to Guilmon. "I'll go get something for you, boy. You be good for Janyu until I get back, all right?"

"Can I have something with chocolate and peanut butter?" Guilmon asked, a wire falling in front of one face."

"Sure," Takato smiled.

The boy left the room and breathed a heavy sigh, feeling the anxiety piling on him. He hated waiting and not being able to do anything about it. But what was there for him to do other than be company for Guilmon? Not that he minded being company, but he wished he could do more to help him.

Maybe I should try and get into computer programming, he thought, making his way down the hall. Maybe then I could help him out more. I wonder if Henry would be willing to teach me a few things.

He pressed his lips together, deciding that might be a bad idea. Henry had enough on his plate trying to get into Stanford. Showing him the basics of computers would only eat up his already scarce time. He would have to figure it out for himself.

"I just hope that whatever's going on with Guilmon, it's nothing bad," he mused aloud, rolling the whole thing over in his mind once more. The whole thing sounded off.

Why would something make Guilmon think that he smells Rika in my room? It doesn't make any sense. What if there isn't something wrong with Guilmon? What then?

He furrowed his brow, thinking back on his earlier conversation with Rika before Henry's arrival.

She had said something about a dream of hers feeling real. And the one I had last night…

Takato froze in place, feeling himself grow cold at the implications. All at once, his mind went back to the very first time he dreamt of Rika, back before they had ever met or knew the other existed. That dream had felt so real then. He remembered the cold from the rain and how it had made his hand numb despite how he hadn't even been in the night's storm. He wavered in place, his vision swimming.

Did I…Did I dream…? And it actually happened?!

Takato's hand slapped against the wall, catching himself before he fell over. His vision snapped back to normal and he found himself panting. The enormity of the implications hit him like a truck and he felt his stomach heave, attempting to reject the thought. He fought it down however, forcing himself to confront the possibility. His heart hammered in his chest and he felt cold sweat standing out upon his skin.

Could it have happened? Did I dream about doing that to her and it…it…

He swallowed a lump in his throat and it took with it a sting of hot acid.

"Oh man, please tell me that I didn't… That I…"

"Whoa. Takatomon. You don't look so good."

Looking up at the source of the voice, Takato found Henry and Terriermon returning, bearing candy bars in their hands. Terriermon was currently munching on one of them, his round, black eyes full of concern. Steeling his resolve, Takato recovered his balance.

"A phone," he stammered out. "I need to call Rika! Now!"

7