A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Pyroclastic Flow for being the 100th reviewer of this story. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Seeing Red

Chapter: 17

Gorou Mizuno – or 'Shibumi' to his friends and colleagues – munched on a piece of Guilmon Bread as he sat in his chair, his eyes perusing over the readout on his computer screen. Yamaki had tasked him with investigating the recent energy patterns that had been spiking along Hypnos' sensors and upon seeing it he found himself more than happy to do so. The project swiftly proved to be very fascinating for him, far beyond his initial expectations.

I've never seen this before, he mused, leaning back in his chair. I never expected that the Arks would even be capable of behaving like this. Is this another part of the step toward our next evolution?

He frowned slightly. That hypothesis didn't feel quite right. Close, but not on the mark. More accurately, he reasoned, the digivices were responding to something with regards to their owners and adapting their programming accordingly. The reasons for it escaped him, but perhaps that could be remedied by simply asking the Tamers in question.

Picking up his phone, he dialed Yamaki's cell number.

"Hello? Yamaki? I believe I have figured out what's going on with that data you sent me, but I need to confirm something first. Could you contact the Tamers and have them come here?"

Shibumi blinked. "Two of them are with Janyu now? Takato and Henry. Ah, yes. Thank you." He glanced at his monitor. "I'd like to see Takato actually. And Rika. I believe this concerns them a great deal."

###

He wouldn't.

But he might.

The thoughts warred with one another in Rika's mind as she aimlessly wandered through the park. She had opted to remain relatively close to Hypnos' base of operations in the event that Takato called and filled her in on the situation with Guilmon. Save herself the time of a longer trip, she reasoned, when it came to seeing him so they could get on with their day.

Deep down however, just simply 'seeing him' wasn't all there was on her mind. Her earlier conversation with Renamon haunted her thoughts, as did the strange morning. She clenched her eyes shut and balled her hands up into tight fists.

This is so stupid, she berated herself. He wouldn't do something like that. I know he wouldn't! And so does Renamon! How could she even think he might hurt me? How can I think he might do something to me like that?

She thought back to the night when Renamon had brought back her bra, informing her that Takato had discovered them. She had asked then if he had done anything to it and Renamon had said he had done nothing of the sort she had imagined. What was more, she had said then it was a 'strange expectation' to have of him.

Rika wasn't sure which was worse in her mind. That she had doubts she didn't realize she had about the boy, or that Renamon had so swiftly developed the same after a brief interrogation of what may or may not have been a mere dream.

Rika kicked at the dirt path, her expression becoming crestfallen.

We've had each other's back for years. He's never done anything to me I didn't want him to. For goodness sake! He used to be afraid to do things I wanted him to do because he thought I'd get mad and hit him! He…still kind of is. Her expression softened. So why am I thinking like this?

The answer, she knew, was as simple as it was complicated. She was distrustful of others by nature. Between her classmates at her private school and certain members of her extended family, she had reason to be. Friends who turned out not to be friends at all but were using her because of her family's good name. Her extended family who barely acknowledged she existed until they learned she was a Tamer, at which point they saw her as just another prop for positioning. And then there were the eyes she garnered from various people as she grew and matured. The side of her that mistrusted others and the world around her was often on guard for some unforeseen betrayal or attack, silent and brooding. It was that side that had kept her hesitating for so long at starting a relationship with Takato, fearful that he might turn out to be the same.

I thought it had shut up about him once we got together, she thought, her fists shaking. I guess I was wrong.

The knowledge hurt. And hurt all the more in how the doubts continued to gnaw away at her.

Why can't I just have a normal relationship with my gogglehead without worrying like this? He's never given me a reason to doubt him before and I definitely don't think he'd do it now no matter what happened last night! So just stop worrying like this already!

Rika was interrupted from her internal argument by the buzzing of her phone. Whipping it out without even bothering to check the caller ID, she hit the reply button.

"What do you want?" she half-snarled before instantly regretting doing so. If it was Takato on the other end…

"We need you to come down to Hypnos," came the voice of Yamaki instead, sounding not the least bit perturbed by her greeting. "Shibumi has a theory about the energy disturbance from last night and he needs to speak with you and Takato about it."

"What does he need to talk to us for?" Rika asked, though a suspicion was growing in her mind as to what that energy disturbance was connected to. It seemed ridiculous, but such seemed to be her life of late.

"If you wanted simple, perhaps you should have chosen someone other than Takato," teased the memory of an earlier conversation with Renamon. Rika ground her teeth together.

"Shibumi says that he has reason to believe that involves you two specifically. We'll see you when you get here. Yamaki out."

The line went dead. Rika stared at her phone, feeling herself flush all over as the suspicion grew a little brighter. Renamon phased into view behind her, curiosity and concern flowing through their connection.

"Is everything all right, Rika?"

"Seems like things between me and Gogglehead are about to get stupidly complicated," Rika grumbled before her phone began to buzz again. She sighed. It was a number she didn't recognize. She considered answering it for the briefest of moments before opting to hang up. Whoever it was she would pick it up with her voicemail later. Pocketing her phone, she turned to her partner, a meaningful look on her face. Needing nothing more, Renamon picked the girl up into her arms and together they vanished from view.

###

Takato felt his heart clench as Rika's phone went straight to voicemail with only a single buzz. Not what he'd call a good sign.

"Rika, it's Takato," he began at the beep. "I, I need to talk to you about last night. That thing you were telling me about this morning. I think I know what happened." He leaned a hand against the wall as a wave of dizziness fell over him once more. "I'll be waiting outside Hypnos for you," he continued after mastering himself. "I just wanted to say…I'm sorry."

Closing his eyes, Takato let out a shuddering breath before finishing, "I'll see you when you get here."

With a heavy heart, he hung up and stepped back from it. He glanced over at Terriermon and Henry, both of whom were looking at him with warm concern.

"Boy, that sure sounded like you were digging yourself a grave," remarked Terriermon. "What was she telling you about this morning that's got you so worked up?"

"It's personal," Takato said with an apologetic look. "Sorry, but I don't think Rika would want me talking about it and…" His expression twisted painfully and he gripped the payphone once more as his stomach heaved. "Oh man…"

"Takato!" Henry grabbed hold of the boy as he teetered a little bit. It was then that he realized that the boy was sweating. "Hey, you should sit down. You look…" Henry stopped, taking in the boy's complexion more carefully. Pale didn't even begin to describe how Takato looked right now. It was almost as if he had come down with a serious illness.

"Seriously, what happened while we were gone?" Terriermon asked. "It was only five minutes!" The long-eared digimon turned toward his partner questioningly. "It was five minutes, right? Or three? We weren't gone that long!"

"Never mind that," Henry said, brushing his partner off. "Takato, let's get you back to Guilmon so you can sit down."

"Yeah, you look like you're about to pass out or something. That'd be pretty embarrassing to do because I'd be sure to tell her all about it."

"Terriermon…" Henry sighed. "He's not wrong though. You don't look very steady. Come on. You need…"

"No!" With an effort, Takato managed to break away from his friend. "No, I told her that I'd be waiting outside Hypnos for her. That's where I'm going to be. Where I should be!"

As Henry watched, the boy pressed a hand against his face. "Oh man… What did I do? Rika…"

"Takato!"

Becoming increasingly alarmed with Takato's state of mind, Henry grabbed hold of his friend again, this time more forcefully. Again, Takato attempted to break free, only now Henry's martial arts training took hold and he rooted himself in place. Try as Takato might, the boy couldn't break free.

"Henry, let me go! I've got to get out there!"

"Why? Takato, what's going on?"

"Yeah, seriously!" Terriermon chimed in from his spot upon Henry's shoulder. "You're really starting to freak us out here. Momentai! Whatever you did, it can't be that bad!"

At those words however, they saw Takato's expression whiten and Henry gasped in surprise. Whatever Takato thought he had done wrong it was clear that he didn't see it as simply making Rika annoyed, as tended to be the case. This was far, far worse in his mind. What that could be, he couldn't begin to guess, but he felt it serious enough

"Takato," Henry began, trying to figure out how to resolve this. "Okay. Let's wait outside for Rika together. You don't have to tell me what's going on, but at least let me make sure you get there in one piece, all right?"

He felt Terriermon stir against him, but for a wonder the rabbit-dog digimon didn't complain about the lack of answers. Clearly, Takato's condition had him worried badly enough to treat the situation more seriously.

As Henry watched, a shiver went the length of Takato's body, as if he were struggling against involving him in what was a personal affair. After a moment, the boy nodded, deciding against arguing further.

"All right," he said in resignation, running a hand through his hair. "All right. Let's go."

###

It didn't take Rika and Renamon long to arrive at Hypnos, and they were just entering the main lobby when Henry, Terriermon and an ashen-looking Takato emerged from the elevator. Rika blinked, taken aback by the boy's sickly appearance and immediately she quickened her pace, worry filling her heart.

"What's wrong with Guilmon?" she asked, missing how Henry stiffened at her approach. Takato looked a bit confused as well for half a moment. When he didn't answer right away, Rika glanced over at Henry, but the other boy looked equally perplexed. Drawing up to them, she reached out and took hold of his hand. His grip was tense and jerked at her touch, but she quickly stilled his retreat by clasping all the harder.

He's cold, she noted. Why is he so cold?

"Takato," she said, her tone softening. "What's going on?"

Meeting her gaze, she saw him take a breath to steady himself. Great storm clouds swirled within his red gaze and then seemed to clear. But, she noted, not in a way that she would have liked. Rather, he looked like a condemned man who was preparing to face his execution.

"We need to talk," he said before glancing over at Henry. The boy nodded and stepped back a few paces. Renamon materialized by his side, surprising him, but her eyes were cold and focused on Takato. As for Takato, his eyes were on the kitsune's, seeming to weigh her in his mind before nodding to her respectfully. Renamon tilted her head to one side and Rika felt as though something had passed between them that had surprised the vixen.

"All right," she began, starting to feel a little bit angry as well as frightened. "You want to fill me in on what's going through your goggleheaded brain, or do I need to guess?"

"No." Takato shook his head, and Rika felt all the weight in his words. "No guessing at all."

There was no fumbling in his words. No stammering. Rika didn't like that. It was a clear indication that whatever was going on in his head, Takato thought it was very serious.

It's got to be about this morning, she thought with quiet realization. Suddenly she found herself squeezing his hand all the more tightly. Takato grimaced.

"Do you remember how you were telling me about that dream you had?" he asked softly, looking at her and meeting her gaze. "I think it was real. I think…I think I did all that to you. Because I dreamed something similar and…"

Rika squeezed even harder, crushing his fingers in her grasp. Takato stammered to a halt, wincing.

"Ow! Rika…!"

"Stop it."

Takato blinked. "Huh?"

Rika swallowed, emotion whirling about in her. Suddenly, she felt unsure as to what to say or what to do. Takato had come to the same conclusion she had. What did that mean?

Worse. The distrustful part of herself asked if Takato was putting on an act for her.

Squeezing his hand all the tighter, she clenched her eyes shut. "I said, stop it!"

"Rika…!" began Takato, clenching his teeth against her grip. He didn't get any further than that however as Rika, rather unexpectedly, moved on impulse and, grabbing him by the shirt, drew him to her into a kiss. She pressed her lips hard against his, taking his gasp of surprise into her mouth, swallowing it as she attempted to silence her fears and doubts. She felt his hesitation; his fear and his shame. She hated it. She felt anger growing in her again, but she quickly silenced it. They didn't need this now. Neither of them did.

But, what if…? her fears rose again, only for her to bury them once more.

"Stop it," she said quietly, but fiercely, breaking their kiss. Takato gaped at her, as did Renamon, Henry and Terriermon, completely bewildered by the scene before them.

"W-What am I stopping?" Takato began, grasping for straws as he attempted to figure out what was going on.

"Not you," Rika replied, shaking her head. Cocking his head to one side and still feeling no less confused than before, Takato attempted to press onward.

"R-Rika. About what you…we dreamed…"

"Let's not talk about that for now," Rika said, giving his hand a squeeze for emphasis. "Later, okay? Later, you can babble all you want about it, but not now." Rika looked away, frowning slightly, feeling as though she were running away from the whole thing and still finding herself unable to put her doubts to rest. "Yamaki says Shibumi needs to see us about that energy business they picked up." She looked back up at him. "He says it involves us anyway, so we might be getting some answers either way."

Takato blinked. "Oh. Oh." He scratched the side of his head, at a loss for words. A rarity for the often fumble-mouthed boy who held her heart. Giving her hand a squeeze now, he nodded.

"Okay," he said quietly. "We'll figure this out. Together."

###

"I don't suppose you'd mind telling us what that was all about," Terriermon said as the small group made their way over toward the elevators. Renamon glanced at the long-eared Rookie from out of the corner of her eye. She cocked an ear, awaiting his partner's predictable reaction. Oddly enough, it didn't come. Seeing this, Henry nodded to her.

"We were pretty worried," Henry admitted. "Takato wasn't in very good shape."

"Yeah! He was stumbling all over the place! Well, not like that's anything new, but he was way worse than usual! And he was looking like he was about to throw up! He was in a bad way."

Renamon glanced away, turning her attention toward the troubled teen in question. Although he and Rika held one another's hands, she could sense his confusion and concern, mingled with a powerful, almost overwhelming anxiety that left his nerves frayed. She could see in his gate the trembling that undoubtedly upset his balance as it had the rest of him. But above it all, there was concern directed toward Rika. She glanced down at their clasped hands. Though his trembled ever so slightly – barely noticeable except to her trained eye – he appeared to be attempting to give comfort. To provide a shield for her against whatever they were to learn from Shibumi.

She felt a twinge of guilt. His scent and body language revealed far more truths than his words ever could.

"I cannot say," she replied. "This is a personal matter between them. I believe it would be best to leave it that way."

At that, Henry frowned. "Renamon…"

"I understand that this is hard for you," Renamon replied before he could continue. "It is hard enough for me to say it. But I have already been quickto judgment when I should not have been." She paused before amending, "If Rika allows, I will speak about it to you later, but for now, let it be."

Henry pressed his lips together as Takato and Rika arrived at the elevator and hit the call button. After the distressing scene with Takato, he didn't like being left out of the loop like this. It struck him that he had been that way for far too often, though more by his own choice than not. He had let Takato and Rika's growing feelings for one another slip by him because of that. Yet, here he was, being told to sit back as he had done for some months now while events unfolded around him.

Still, he couldn't deny Renamon's request. This was a private affair between Takato and Rika, no matter how much he desired to be allowed into their inner circle. Their relationship was different now from what it had been previously.

Feeling as though something more was amiss, he glanced at Terriermon.

"You're awfully quiet," he observed. Terriermon tapped his chin, his round, black eyes full of worry.

"The whole thing looks pretty serious. I kind of thought some tact was called for."

Henry looked at him with raised eyebrows, honestly surprised. "You've learned tact?"

"What? Why does that surprise you?"

"Because you and tact go together about as well as oil on water," Rika hmphed, the elevator doors dinging open. "Did you get replaced by an alien or something?"

Terriermon shrugged as they filed on in.

"Momentai! If it'll make you feel any better, I can say I can get it out of Guilmon later."

Rika rolled her eyes as the doors began to close.

"Oh, for goodness sake…"

###

"This sequence of code is Arc data," Shibumi said to the three Tamers and Yamaki after they had gathered into the meeting room. Shibumi had a computer facing them and a finger indicating the information he was talking about. "It's the same as what's used for your digivices. Specifically, your digivices, Takato and Rika."

"Ours?" Takato voiced in surprise as the pair exchanged glances. Their hands were still clasped about one another and had been that way since meeting up in the lobby. Shibumi nodded.

"And you can tell that how?" Rika asked, scowling slightly. Shibumi gave a light laugh.

"Well, back when we were building a separate arc for you so you could retrieve your partners from the digital world, we studied your digivices so it would help us track you. Your digivices have evolved a little beyond what the original code was and each one is unique. When Yamaki had me look at what was causing the energy germination, I recognized the data."

Rika shifted in her seat, looking obviously uncomfortable. "Okay. So, our digivices are doing something weird. What is it?"

As if I don't already know, she thought with a sinking feeling.

"The germination energy pattern is consistent with a previous incident that occurred," Shibumi said, clicking on the computer's mousepad and changing to a different screen. "It's different, but it's much like this one that occurred about five years ago. According to Hypnos' records, this coincides with the time that Guilmon was born."

Terriermon's ears rose up at the same time that Renamon and Yamaki's brows did the same.

"The digital world is all about communication and communication is about bringing things in touch," Shibumi explained. "When we were designing the original Arks, we wanted to make it easier for humans to communicate with one another and their digimon partners."

"Oh yeah," Takato said, perking up a little. "You said that they were supposed to connect data or something. And…" Takato blinked and then blushed. "…and to bring like-pairs together."

"Just like the animals on Noah's Ark," Shibumi nodded, smiling at Takato for having remembered their long-ago conversation in the digital world. Rika glanced between them, frowning slightly as she digested this. "But like I told you then, even I'm not sure about everything they can do. This energy pattern is unique and seems to be a result of your two digivices working in tandem with one another like they're attempting to build something like what happened when Guilmon was created, but there's nothing there. Yet."

Rika and Takato's hands squeezed about one another. Takato glanced over at the girl, but she frowned at the table's surface in thought.

"Could this have anything to do with the two of us being in a relationship?" Rika asked, her cheeks coloring darkly.

Silence fell over the room. Shibumi looked stumped at first, but then he turned his gaze up to the ceiling, considering her words.

"It could be," he said. "I haven't considered that the digivices might also work to form a function between two humans connected to them as well as having a romantic relationship with one another. This…changes things considerably."

"Terrific," Rika tsked sarcastically, all too aware of Takato's sympathetic eyes on her. At that, Renamon got up from her seat and placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. The boy looked up at her questioningly before remembering what the vulpine digimon had said earlier about the need for Rika and Takato's privacy. Gathering up Terriermon, he started for the door.

"Henry?" Yamaki asked, raising an eyebrow at the boy's departure.

"If this has something to do with their relationship, it might be a good idea for it to stay here," he said awkwardly. He looked down at his partner. "Terriermon?"

"Hey, you don't see me complaining, do you?"

"Well, you usually do…"

"I said this seems pretty important earlier, didn't I? Momentai! It'll be more fun to imagine it anyway."

"Should have known there was a reason you weren't protesting," Henry sighed, exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

Yamaki frowned, flicking his lighter open as he considered the two teens. After a moment, he flicked the lighter closed.

"As long as there's no threat, then this won't leave the room," he agreed. "But this will be important to consider with regards to the other Tamers, especially if more should appear as well. Shibumi? What's your analysis of the situation?"

"There's no end to the possibilities," Shibumi replied. "This is completely new territory." He turned to Takato and Rika. "I hate to pry, but what can you tell me about your experiences?"

"Um…" Takato glanced over at Rika, his eyes requesting permission. Rika shifted uneasily.

"We've had…dreams recently."

"Dreams?" Shibumi raised an eyebrow.

"They aren't just dreams," Takato admitted, blushing. "They feel real. Like, we're in separate places, but in the same place as the other?"

"Could you elaborate?" Shibumi asked, his tone suggesting puzzlement. Again, the two teens looked uncomfortable. Silence reigned and Yamaki flicked his lighter open. The click sounded loud in the room.

"Takato. Rika." The lighter flicked shut. "We would like to help, but we can't if you don't help us to understand."

More silence followed for some seconds until Takato gave Rika's hand a soft squeeze.

"Something like it happened before," Takato began hesitantly. "On the day Guilmon was born. I had a dream about Rika. I was in my bed, but I was also floating in the air above…I don't know? A freeway or something. Anyway, it was raining and cold. I remember my hands going numb from the rain and Rika and Renamon were below me and fighting a Lynxmon."

"I saw him there," Renamon supplied, folding her arms together. "I can confirm that this happened. He appeared almost like what I believe you humans refer to as a ghost."

"Interesting…" Shibumi ran a finger over his beard. "It sounds as though Takato's digivice was making him aware of Rika's activities. Possibly an attempt to communicate or perhaps, given your current relationship," He smiled at them, "to draw him to her. I wonder…" He glanced down, his eyes moving about as he ran a few thoughts speedily through his head. "Was there a digital field present?"

"Rika?"

"I don't remember," she replied, shaking her head. The battle with Lynxmon barely registered to her. As far as she was concerned, it was just another battle and not one worth remembering. "Maybe."

"There was one, yes," Renamon acknowledged, her memory on the matter a little better.

"In that case, it almost sounds like between the digivice and the digital field, Takato's mind came close to bio-emerging into the digital field on its own. A digital field is caused by the reorganization of particles in the atmosphere to produce false proteins after all, so it's possible it could happen…"

"So, I did do it," Takato whispered in a hushed voice as he squeezed Rika's hand. Rika winced at the guilty tone in his voice, knowing full well he wasn't just talking about that long-ago dream of his.

"But there was no digital field last night when we…" Rika began, only to grind to a halt as she realized what she was about to say. She looked between Yamaki and Shibumi and she blushed. "Well, there was no digital field," she amended hurriedly.

"It might have dissipated," Shibumi replied, starting to get an idea as to where they were going now. "Your minds have a close connection to your physical selves after all, so you can't very well leave them. With that in mind, your digivices might only have been able to produce so much in order to create the sense that you were there and maybe even affect things around you…"

Shibumi blinked as something clicked into place. "Oh. Oh, I see."

Rika's eyes snapped up to him defensively. "You see? See what?! You mind cluing us in here for a change instead of talking vaguely?"

Shibumi offered the girl an awkward smile while Yamaki flicked his lighter open, looking back and forth between them, trying to determine what was going on.

"It sounds as though your digivices are detecting your feelings for one another and are attempting to respond to them appropriately by bringing you closer together," Shibumi explained, red now touching his cheeks. He gave an embarrassed laugh. "If that's the case, then I think I know how to help you with it. I'll need your digivices so I can determine the appropriate code…"

"Will this have any effect on the energy pattern in the digital world?"

"I don't know," Shibumi admitted. "Like I said, this is entirely new terrain. I'll know a little bit more after I've seen their digivices, but from here on out, it's more of a learning experience for us." He looked at Takato and Rika meaningfully. "All of us."

###

Digiviceless, Rika and Takato exited Hypnos alongside Henry, Terriermon and Renamon and Guilmon. Rika and Takato still held onto one another's hands, though their expressions were distant. Not even Guilmon could draw his partner out of his thoughts

"I'll let the others know to be on standby tonight in case a Wild One comes through," Henry said, trying to be helpful. He received little more than the barest of nods from Takato and a grunt from Rika. Henry sighed. While he didn't know what transpired in the room after he left, it was clear that it affected them deeply.

"If there's anything I can do…" he began, only for Renamon to place a paw on his shoulder. Turning to her, he saw her shake her head.

"Right," he said, sighing again.

"I take it that this means the two of you will have to reschedule your date?" Terriermon asked. The vulpine digimon gave Henry a regretful look.

"I am sorry," she said.

"Hold on," Rika interrupted, coming out of her thoughts. "You don't have to put your plans on hold because of us. We still have some things to sort out between us." She gave Takato's hand a squeeze, causing him to turn toward her with a surprised look.

Renamon cocked her head to one side at her partner. She tested the girl's feelings through their mental link. They felt genuine, but she couldn't help but feel a little bit of doubt. "Rika, are you sure?"

"I feel like that's my line," Takato chimed in, bunching up his eyebrows. Rika gave him a hard look, but the boy didn't whither under it. A tense moment passed between them before Rika finally looked away.

"As sure as I can be about anything," Rika admitted with a heavy breath. "Look, just go have fun, or at least try to or something. I just want to be alone with Takato for a bit."

"Does that mean that I can't be there?" Guilmon asked. He had no idea what had gone on since his partner left and never returned with the snacks he had promised, but it was clear from the way they smelled that things weren't right. The scent of discomfort, confusion and even fear was strong between them, yet it was all tangled together with their love for one another. He felt that at a time like this he should be by his partner's side to help him sort things out.

"I'm afraid that's how it has to be, boy," Takato said apologetically, giving his partner's head a pat.

"Ohhh… You'll tell me what it is that has you two so upset? And bring snacks for me to eat too?"

Takato gave his partner a sad smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah. That's a promise. Think you can get home all right?"

"Yeah," Guilmon nodded. "But where are you going?"

Takato turned toward the fire-haired girl next to him. "That depends on Rika."

Rika closed her eyes, thinking on it before giving him a tug.

"My place," she said. "And after that, we'll see where things go from there."

10