A/N: This chapter was a fun discovery to find and one that I had forgotten I had already begun typing up before switching over to 'Off the Beaten Path.' Quite the morale improvement in the aftermath of my computer loss and the files it took with it.
As it's been a while since this story has been updated, I'm going to give a friendly reminder to returning readers that Yua is a character introduced in chapter 24. She attends Henry's cram school and, according to Renamon, is 'strongly attracted' to him.
Thanks goes to the color of television for proofreading. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Seeing Red
Chapter: 25
Shinjuku's shadows grew as the setting sun's last remaining sliver dipped beneath the horizon, leaving only the remaining golden glow of the sky as a reminder of its passing. Its vanishing light found Henry, Terriermon and Renamon – the last of whom remained in her human disguise – making their way down the streets to Henry's apartment building. They walked in silence, each dwelling within their own thoughts. Their impromptu 'date' had failed, in part due to Henry having not brought any money and Renamon not having any to begin with.
Henry felt Terriermon shift atop his head, indicating his discomfort with the quiet between his partner and the kitsune. They were supposed to talk, but so far, their entire trip had been done in silence.
What else is there to say though? Henry wondered. He glanced at Renamon's 'Reina' disguise and felt his cheeks warm a little. Her human face, as always, was arrestingly beautiful and her blue eyes were almost haunting in their intensity and intelligence. Sensing his gaze, she turned to look at him and offered a small, barely visible smile. His blush deepening, Henry hurriedly looked away.
It's not real, he reminded himself. That's not the real Renamon.
In his mind, he reimposed her true appearance – that of a bipedal, golden-furred fox – across her current, human form. It was strangely difficult to do so, he found. She looked real. Technically speaking, he understood it was her actual body even if this faux-human form currently covered the one she had naturally digivolved to. Yet, its present appearance was only the result of her shapeshifting ability.
Looked real. Technically speaking. Yet, despite appearances, he had to remember she wasn't human. There were considerable differences between them that even Renamon stated could not be ignored.
"You're blushing again," Renamon said next to him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Henry replied. "It's just hard to look at you sometimes."
"You are kind of intimidating, even when you're looking pretty. By human standards anyway." Terriermon giggled. "It's your eyes."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Renamon replied, a small smile touching her lips.
"It's not that," Henry frowned. "Not that you're intimidating. It's…" His blush deepened and he shook his head, unable to disentangle his thoughts.
"Nice job, Renamon," Terriermon giggled again. "You've turned him into Takatomon."
"Oh dear." A troubled expression graced the kitsune's human features and at once Henry felt his heart want to go out to her.
It's not the real her, he thought again, trying to keep his emotions under control. I mean, it is, but this look… It's only skin deep. It's not really what she looks like.
"I am sorry," Renamon said. "I see my study has already gone further then it should."
"It didn't!" Henry exclaimed, suddenly overcome with a desire to assuage her fears. At once, terrible heat prickled along his cheeks and spread across his face. With a groan, he palmed his face.
"Not quite the way you meant it, huh?"
"Terriermon…"
"I did not mean to do this to you, Henry," Renamon said, placing a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "I should have been more cautious. Perhaps if I assumed the appearance of a less attractive girl…"
"It's not that," Henry sighed, looking up at her. "I mean…" He swallowed, plainly struggling to keep his composure. "I mean, the way you look now is certainly part of…of…"
"How she's making you trip over yourself?" Terriermon offered.
"Could you be quiet, please?" Henry asked, feeling his thoughts fraying. For a wonder, Terriermon didn't respond, allowing his Tamer to collect himself and continue.
"The way you look is part of why I'm feeling…awkward," he said hesitantly. "But it's more than that. We've always been able to understand each other and talk to each other. There are things that you talk to me about that you can't with Rika."
"Or you with Terriermon," Renamon added, glancing at the long-eared Rookie. Terriermon shifted, looking uncertain, but his Tamer spoke the truth. From the moment Renamon had first sought him out after her initial breakup with Rika, the pair were able to connect to one another in a different way from their respective partners. He wondered about the digital world and its relationship with the human world. He wondered why they were chosen and whether it was true that they and their partners were made for one another. And on numerous occasions, Renamon indulged him, finding such discussion stimulating. In many ways, he reminded her of Rika's grandmother. Less mature and less wise, to be sure, but no less thoughtful of the wider world around him. It wasn't that Rika didn't possess any similar awareness, but she was often mired in the storms of her insecurities and concerns, struggling to keep up a front of control. Henry, by contrast, was more likely to take a step back and analyze what was in front of him. Not that Rika couldn't do the same thing, as she often did so during battle. It was more that by the time she did anything like that outside of fighting, it was likely too late.
It's what nearly ended our partnership, and prevented her from forming another one with Takato, the kitsune mused.
"And you consider that attractive in me?" she asked.
Henry scratched the back of his head, not certain how to answer that.
"If I say 'yes,' how would you react?"
"That depends on whether or not you say yes."
Henry couldn't believe that his face could burn so much.
"I do find it attractive," he admitted. "I just never thought of it in that way until you…" His mouth twisted, balking at the words. Renamon, however, saved him, having an idea what he was about to say.
"You never thought about me in that manner until I looked human."
"Y-Yes." He felt shame rise up in his heart. "I feel pretty awful about that."
"Don't be. You were born to be attracted to other humans. Or rather, 'evolved,' if I understand the meaning properly."
"I wouldn't think that, knowing what I know about humans on the Internet," piped in Terriermon. Renamon hummed thoughtfully in response.
"That is true," she nodded. "I must admit to being surprised about humanity's interest in me as a sexual being. It is quite contradictory to the goals of human reproduction."
Henry made a choking sound, his face flushing in embarrassment.
"I think it's your hips," Terriermon continued. "And probably the way you walk too."
Renamon raised an eyebrow. "The way I walk?"
"Sure! You kind of have a funny sway sometimes to your hips when you walk. That and your no-nonsense attitude."
"T-Terriermon…"
"Why would humans be attracted to the way I walk?"
Terriermon shrugged. "You said humans are evolved to like other humans. Evolution in the real-world doesn't seem to be all it's cracked up to be," Terriermon continued, taking no notice of his partner's hoarse whisper. "It's not like digivolution where everything's all nice and neat and you're always getting stronger. From what I've read, evolution over here is more like a mishmash of stuff thrown together that then branched down different roads to see what works and what doesn't. Maybe it's a bunch of wires getting crossed? Sometimes humans come out even weirder than normal."
"Terriermon!"
"What? Admit it, Henry! From our perspective, you guys are always weird! I don't know any digimon who thinks it would be fun to make a baby using what's basically a bunch of sewage pipes. And why do some of you use the butthole? I've seen what comes out of you when you go to the bathroom. I don't know why anyone would want to dive into that!"
As he said that, a light bulb turned on in Terriermon's mind and his eyes immediately swung over to Renamon.
"Was that what you were planning on using with Henry?"
"Can we please talk about something else?" the half-Chinese boy prompted, massaging his forehead. "I can't believe I'm even having this conversation."
"Well, maybe if you humans weren't so weird during puberty, we wouldn't. You're all over the place."
"Ours is a deeply binary existence," Renamon cut in, hoping to steer the conversation in a direction that wouldn't continuously embarrass Henry. "It is rare for any individual digimon species to have as much variation between individuals as you humans do. Indeed, it is almost unheard of."
"I'll tell you what else is unheard of. Renamon that have big boobs. Though with how much data there is of it online, I'm more surprised there aren't any by now."
Lifting a hand, she placed it atop Terriermon's head and gave him a warning squeeze, indicating that it would be best for him – and by extension, his partner – if he were to be quiet now. Again.
Terriermon promptly shut up. At least for now.
They drew up to the entrance to Henry's building. Rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment, the boy turned to the kitsune.
"Well, this looks like it's it," he said, his voice referring to more than just their imminent parting. "Sorry I can't be of more help to you."
"It's perfectly fine," Renamon smiled. "It has been quite illuminating, regardless. If it's any consolation, I don't believe anyone could have helped me with my experiment better than you. You are what I believe Rika's mother would refer to as a 'perfect gentleman.'"
"I-I…" Trailing off, Henry's cheeks darkened. Finding himself at a loss for words, he glanced away from the vulpine's blue eyes. Terriermon giggled.
"Don't worry about him," Terriermon said. "It's just a typical reaction to being embarrassed or attracted to someone."
"Yes, I am aware." Renamon's brow furrowed slightly at her digital companion. "Even we do that." She turned back toward Henry. "May I be allowed one, small indulgence for my studies before you turn in?"
"I… S-Sure?" Henry's eyes snapped back up to Renamon. He appeared uncertain about allowing further development on this matter, but he couldn't help not wanting to disappoint her either.
As-As long as it's small, he told himself, thinking about her earlier concerns about sexual relations and how it would affect their friendship.
Renamon drew up closely to Henry, her blue eyes focused on his grey ones. Close up, they no longer appeared as intense or intimidating, leaving him to wonder why he thought them difficult to look at. Her gaze held a deep respect for him, and a deep gratitude for his assistance. Her hand fell upon his shoulder and though he could feel the bone-crushing grip in her fingers, he felt no fear that such strength would be used against him. Her eyes told him he need never fear harm from her and that her heart held only her care and friendship toward him.
Her eyes… He was losing himself in them. They reminded him of the night sky. So dark and full of mystery. He felt himself getting lost in them, and consequently, nearly missed it when her human-lips graced the corner of his mouth with a gentle kiss. Henry blinked, taken aback while Renamon withdrew, her eyes thoughtful. Terriermon's mouth was a giant 'O' shape and, for a wonder, found itself with nothing to say.
"R-Renamon…" he began, his voice coming out in a harsh whisper. Renamon's fingers rose to her lips before she turned her attention back to him.
"Sorry. Too much?"
"I…" Henry shook himself, and for a brief moment, found some clarity. "It was certainly…different."
"Hmmm…" Renamon frowned. "Perhaps it was too much of an indulgence." She bowed apologetically to Henry. "I am sorry."
"No! No, it's alright! I just… Um, c-could I get back to you on this? I… Terriermon? Could you…?"
"Huh?" Terriermon jerked to attention. He looked up at his partner in confusion for a moment before seeing the pleading look on his face. It took him a second to register what the teen wanted. "Oh! Uh, momentai?"
"Momentai," he nodded in agreement before looking back at Renamon. "Take it easy."
Renamon gazed into his eyes in concern, but she could already see that Henry felt more concern for her than for whatever impact her unexpected kiss might have had on him. She again bowed to him.
"Good night, Henry," she said. "Sleep well, and thank you again for your assistance."
With that, she abruptly vanished from view, leaving Henry and Terriermon alone with the ghost of her kiss lingering in their memories.
"Sleep well, huh?" Terriermon began after a moment's pause. "If she wanted you to sleep well, maybe she should have insisted on trying the mattress dance after all. There's no other way you're getting any sleep tonight."
"Terriermon…" Henry groaned, drawing a hand over his face in exasperation.
"What?" the long-eared dog-rabbit exclaimed. "Momentai!"
###
Renamon, now back in her regular digimon form, vaulted through the city. The cool wind of the night air caressed her fur and soothed the blush on her face while she replayed the memory of her kiss with Henry.
So… That is what Rika feels when she kisses Takato. Or, perhaps, it's better because of her attraction to him?
She didn't know what to think, to be honest. She didn't desire any other form of partnership than the one she had with Rika. Yet, she couldn't deny that the kiss she shared with Henry had been interesting. In a way, it reminded her of when she first biomerged with Rika, but different. In what way, she couldn't be sure yet. She would need to speak of it further. With Rika for certain, but perhaps with Seiko as well? Or perhaps even Rumiko. She would need time to process the experience.
Landing atop a roof, she cast her gaze up at the moon, losing herself again in the memory of the kiss. The press of flesh against flesh. What did it accomplish that made humans desire it so? The act of sex made sense. It encouraged procreation. Kissing though? She found it difficult to understand.
It wasn't unpleasant, she thought. Again, her claws went to her lips. In fact, it felt nice. Perhaps the niceness by itself is enough? Like something similar to a hug, but between lovers?
She found herself desiring to try it again, if only to learn how it could feel that way.
No. I've done enough. I have no wish to cause Henry further difficulties than I have already. I…
She stiffened abruptly and the fur on her back bristled with alarm. A sudden sense of anger pounded against her senses. Trying not to appear alarmed, she panned about, her eyes surveying her surroundings.
Someone is watching me. Extending her senses, she probed carefully. Yet she found no other presence. Already, the feelings of anger and being watched were rapidly fading.
Perhaps I drew an eye from someone passing by a window? Her ears twitched and her tail slashed the air in agitation. She cast about the rows of windows from the surrounding buildings, but she saw nothing to indicate anyone looking in her direction. She cocked her head, analyzing what she remembered of the sensation. It almost felt like a digimon. This didn't surprise her. Wild digimon of sufficiently low level or small size could easily escape detection, especially if they didn't cause a fuss. But that didn't mean they didn't desire to fight and load data, or see other digimon as a threat.
Whoever or whatever it might have been, it seems to be more interested in hiding than confronting me.
She hoped that this wouldn't be another situation like IceDevimon. Just in case, she would take the more scenic route home. Needing no further encouragement, she set her thoughts about her kiss with Henry aside and resumed her journey.
Across from the building the kitsune vacated, a pair of blue eyes followed her lithe form. Their owner, Yua, stepped into the moonlight. Crouching at the rooftops edge, she made a low, growling noise at Renamon.
"If you've hurt Henry…" she snarled under her breath, but she stopped herself short to keep her presence from being detected again. A chill wind blew over her, causing her midnight-black hair to sway like serpentine shadows in the moonlight. Then she faded from view, disappearing into the shadows of the night.
###
Morning found Rika emerging from the bathroom. Her eyebrows were knotted in distaste while, behind her temples, came a faint throb of pain. She sniffed the air and her lips twisted in disgust before closing the door behind her.
Yeah. I'm definitely not letting Takato do me in the butt, she thought. Especially not after what I just flushed down.
Rika's 'girls' night' with her mother had been an illuminating experience in more ways than one. An experience she felt she didn't want a repeat of, at least when it came to alcohol. With awkward steps, she made her way to the kitchen. Her mother sat at the table, drinking some coffee. Renamon sat across from her, a bowl of miso soup in her hands.
"Morning, Rika," she greeted. Seeing her daughter's gait, she raised an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"
"I'll be fine," Rika grunted. "But I won't be drinking wine again."
Rumiko at first looked confused, and then understanding bloomed bright in her mind. Blushing, she gave an embarrassed laugh. "Oops. Sorry. I probably should have warned you about that."
"A warning would have definitely been nice," Rika hmphed. She opened up a cupboard and produced a glass. "I feel like I just tangled with a KingSukamon."
Rumiko glanced over at Renamon questioningly. "Do I even want to know what that is?"
"Perhaps it's best you never do," Renamon said before taking a sip from her bowl.
Rika filled up her glass with some water. "Let's just leave it at a bad experience, okay?" She chucked down the water in one, quick gulp. "Stupid wine… Why would anyone want to drink that stuff if it makes them do that?!"
"Should we wait on the photoshoot?" Rumiko asked. "If you're not up for it…"
"I'm fine!" Rika filled up her glass again and drank that too. "I just need to walk it off. I'll have plenty of opportunity for that." She squirmed in discomfort. "If this is another rough part of adulthood, count me out of it. It's not worth it."
"Oh, Rika," Rumiko laughed. "Don't be so melodramatic. It couldn't have been that bad."
"Mom, I left a horror show in the bathroom."
"Well, I do hope you flushed it down at least."
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't," Rika fumed. "When are we leaving for the fashion shoot?" she then asked, opting to change the subject.
"Whenever you're ready and able," Rumiko replied. She looked at her daughter with concern. "Are you sure you're up for it?"
"For goodness sake, I just want to get this over with." Grumbling, Rika stormed off to her room to change. Rumiko's eyes tracked her behind her coffee cup. Setting her bowl down, Renamon got to her feet.
"I'll look in on her," she said. She then bowed politely to Rumiko before fading from view. A moment later, there came sound of her bowl clinking in the dishwasher. Rumiko took a second to take another sip from her coffee before withdrawing her cellphone.
###
"Stupid wine," Renamon heard Rika grumbling upon reappearing in the girl's room. Already she was halfway dressed, clearly wanting to get the day done and over with. "Stupid fashion shoot. Why'd I even bother agreeing to this in the first place?"
"I believe it had something to do with loving your mother," Renamon offered, leaning against a nearby support column on the wall. Rika threw on her day shirt.
"Love sure makes people do stupid things." She snatched up her belt.
"Do you regret it then?"
Rika frowned while tugging her belt through the looks on her jeans. "No," she admitted. "I just wish it didn't make things so complicated." She buckled her belt on and then patted herself down. She narrowed her eyes and then looked about her. Locating her digivice, card box, and cellphone on her dresser by her photo of Takato and Henry, she went over to them. "I'm behaving like a child, aren't I?"
"Perhaps just a little," Renamon agreed. "If it helps, I'm sure you'll be made to look quite beautiful. It is, for me, the one silver lining to these little outings to your mother's workplace."
Rika blushed furiously at her partner's words, knowing she couldn't argue with her and at the same time not wanting to. Renamon was one of the reasons why she agreed to such things in the first place. After everything she did for her, she deserved to enjoy seeing her in a different light every once in a while.
Absently, she wondered what Takato would think seeing her in the getups they put her in.
He'd probably think I'd look nice too. Her blush deepened and began to creep into her ears. Hurriedly, she turned away to keep her partner from seeing it.
"As long as Impmon doesn't make a mess of things again like he did that one time."
"I'm quite sure he learned his lesson," Renamon chuckled. "Rest assured, I won't let anyone disturb you while you're wearing your finest clothes."
"I wonder what I'm going to be wearing." Rika adjusted her digivice to make sure it sat well on her belt. "I didn't think to ask. Hopefully nothing that makes me itch. I don't care how pretty Mom's workplace makes me; I'm not spending the whole day trying not to scratch myself because it'll 'ruin the shoot.'" Satisfied with her appearance, she left her room. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
After rejoining her mother, the trio headed off together. Renamon stuck to the shadows instead of making use of her kohenkyo. Rumiko chatted idly about various things, to which Rika only half-paid attention as much of it involved fashion or shopping. She didn't find her mother's characteristic noisiness unpleasant though. If anything, the outing made for a fine distraction from all the other things on her mind, leaving her to feel like things were almost normal again. Thoughts about her current, complicated relationship with Takato, their digi-egg, sex and having children were now far from her mind. The warm summer sun shone down on them, but not oppressively so. It felt like an almost perfect day, and one that she would like to share with Takato once the fashion shoot ended.
They finally arrived at Alamanda and quickly went inside, Renamon materializing alongside them. There, they met up with Sugai, who greeted her with the same, warm, honest smile he always did. The man held no grudges for the incident in her childhood where she knocked over a cameraman and ran out on her camera test. He worked in the industry long enough to have seen it all, and with Renamon in tow, he saw more than most people in his field. He bowed politely to all three of them and after a quick exchange of pleasantries, ushered them to where Rika would be working.
"We'll be having you showcasing our upcoming spring lineup of wedding dresses," Sugai explained. He glanced at Rika, who did her best to suppress her horror. "Is that alright with you?"
This can't just be a coincidence. She frowned slightly in her mother's direction, accusing her of setting this up just to make her squirm. Rumiko merely raised an eyebrow questioningly at her.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
Rika drew in a deep breath and looked over at Renamon. She didn't need their connection to know her partner, in spite of her cool, expressionless face, was already curious about how she would look in a wedding dress.
Could she really take that reality away from her?
"No, everything's fine," Rika replied. "Let's get this show on the road."
Sugai nodded. "You'll also be working with a partner in some scenes."
Rika grimaced. "As long as he keeps his hands to himself and I don't have to talk to him anymore than I have to, I don't care." She glanced around curiously. "Where are…?"
Her eyes froze on a young man standing on the other end of the room wearing a gentleman's wedding suit. Perfectly dark was his skin and his perfect, dark hair swept back as though it were blown that way by the wind. When he smiled, dazzlingly bright teeth complimented his friendly, blue eyes. When he looked up, he spotted her.
"Hey, Wild Cat," Ryo Akiyama greeted. "When they said they found a replacement for my partner, I didn't think you would be the one to volunteer. Great to see you again!"
Rika's mouth twitched in agitation. It struck her that the day's 'perfection' had been nothing more than a cover to give her a false sense of security. The universe truly did have it out for her after all.
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