"This is pathetic, goggle-head!"

Chapter two: The Integrity of Devotion

By: Flamegaruru

And welcome yet again to another part of the Rukato love story I have meandering along here! Now, this one may get a little fluffy, so you have been forewarned!

Takato: *comes running in and closes the door, panting heavily*

Me: Takato, what are you doing?

Takato: SHHHH!! I'm running away from Ruki!

Me: What ticked her off this time? -_-'

Takato: I did nothing! It was you! She read the story!

Me: Oh dear.

Ruki: I know you're hiding somewhere! Come on out so I can beat you up!

Me: Denial is always the first step.

Ruki: You made me-----!

Me: Enough of this Neanderthal conversation! It is time for my extensively long disclaimer!

Disclaimer: I do not Digimon or anything associated with it. This story is entirely not true, so do not think that anything is going to come true. If you do not like the story, do not read it and please do not flame. Please R/R and enjoy!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^

Tense silences were not normal occasions for these particular teenagers. The boy nervously bit his lip and rubbed his sneaker in the cool grass as his eyes wandered throughout the sky. He was intensely nervous as the girl's violet eyes bore into his soul.

Should I tell her? The boy thought. I've wanted to for the past six years. What's making me so hesitant, nervous? He cautiously stole a glance at his companion.

The girl's heart kept beating faster, but she forced herself to keep staring at the boy, despite the occasional gust of wind blowing her red-brown hair into her face. What's taking him so long? Is he afraid of me? Or doesn't he…

A large gulp of apprehension slowly forced its way down the boy's throat as he gathered his courage. He slowly opened his tightly scrunched eyes and opened his mouth.

Seeing his amber eyes swivel to meet her violet ones, the girl's heart virtually stopped; her heart on the verge of her emotional roller coaster.

" Yes."

***************** Two nights earlier ***************************************

Sixteen year old Henry Wong whistled silently as one could whistle as Terriermon, a miniature bunny with enormous ears, flew off his ocean blue haired head.

" I'm glad you're back, Terriermon," Henry smiled as the partners entered his room.

" So am I, Henry," Terriermon replied. He looked out the window. " Hey, the two love birds are in silent monogamy."

" Terriermon, what did I just tell you about saying things like that?"

" Never do it because Rika will slap you silly," Terriermon rolled his eyes as Henry showed him a discolored bruise roughly the size of Rika's fist on his tan arm.

" I was lucky; only my first offense. Now," Henry smirked a bit. " I didn't say that we couldn't say things like that when they are together."

" But they are together."

" They just don't realize it," Henry sighed. " Ever hear of a thing called density?"

" You mean they sink together in water?" Terriermon quizzically inquired.

" Never mind," an exasperated answer escaped Henry's lips.

" Maybe they need a little help to 'see the light'," a sly grin came across the bunny's face.

" Terriermon; no."

" Momentai, Henry. It won't hurt them."

" Perhaps not, but I'd better not catch you doing something," Henry trailed off as he went to the bathroom.

A bright glint appeared in Terriermon's eyes. " You won't catch me…" ( A/N: Dun dun dunnnnn…)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Down to our Shakespearean love couple ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Down in the streets below Henry's apartment building, a couple of teenagers were walking slowly away from the mammoth complex.

An inward sigh of deep pleasure passed through Takato's body. He was blissfully happy to be with his friend, or maybe she was something more? A quick blush flew across his cheeks, thinking about it. Takato mentally chided himself for acting childishly. He ran his hand slowly through his mess of chocolate brown hair, carefully avoiding his yellow goggles.

" I'm glad we found Terriermon," Takato smiled.

" Mmmmm," came the distracted reply.

" Ooohhh…" Calumon looked down from upon Rika's head, which he had just settled himself onto, in sympathy.

" Hey, wait up a minute," Takato quickened his pace and grabbed Rika around the shoulders. "What's the matter?"

Rika jerked her head sideways, hurtling Calumon into the clouds.

" Whoaaa! That was fun!" Calumon giggled. Then, he saw something that caught his attention…

It was plain and simple. Rika did not want to look Takato in the eye. I do not want to cry, I do not want to show my weakness, were the thoughts going through her head.

" Come on, Rika, look at me," Takato begged. ERG! Takato craned his neck every which way, trying to meet her gaze, which she constantly shifted. " I'm going to get severe damage in my neck!"

Rika couldn't help but smirk a bit at Takato's tenacity.

" That's better," Takato smiled. " Now, what's eating you?"

" Nothing; I'm still here aren't I?" Rika said.

" Ha ha. It was a figure of speech."

" I was just wondering if Renamon was okay," she shrugged as if it weren't a big deal, but they both knew it wasn't.

Takato sadly peered down at her. " I know how you mean. I'm worried about Guilmon, too. I guess we just have to trust them."

" I suppose so. Besides," a confident grin played across her lips. " Renamon can handle anything."

" And why is that?' Takato skeptically asked.

Takato never got an answer. A *KCRACKBOOM* exploded from behind Rika, making her jump in fright. Takato grabbed her arms and held her protectively as he heard an all too familiar giggling…

" Terriermon! What in the name of Deva did you do?" Henry wailed as he grabbed his hair in utter shock.

Terriermon motioned down to were Takato and Rika were. " Helping them out."

" Yeah, these firecrackers of yours are fun!" Calumon wriggled with glee.

" An accomplice in crime?" Henry stood aghast. He looked out the window. " Oh my gosh…"

" Hey, Henry," Terriermon tugged at his partner's pant legs. " May I be the ring-bearer at their wedding?"

Down below the apartment, the shock was rapidly draining out of Rika and anger was setting in. She leapt out of Takato's arms.

" Why that no-good, scruffy-looking bunny…" Rika ranted as she rolled up the sleeves of her brown private school uniform.

From up above, Henry's enraged yells echoed across the street, causing bearers of cell phones to whack their phones several times against their briefcases in order to hear better.

" Terriermon! I deliberately told you not to do that! Why did you do it anyway? Calumon, what are you doing here, helping this juvenile delinquent?!"

" Momentai, Henry."

" I need aspirin."

" Oh dear, " Takato mumbled as Henry's reprimandation died down.

" I'll teach that overstuffed ball of fluff not to do that to me," Rika growled as she started marching off towards Henry's home.

" Rika! No! Stop the violence!" Takato cried as he grabbed her arms and painstakingly dragged her towards her house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Up, to our distressed Lee, erhem, I mean Henry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Uhhhh…" Henry moaned as he collapsed onto his bed, whilst Calumon jumped all over it.

" Henry, shouldn't we try to find Renamon and Guilmon?" inquired Terriermon.

" Yeah, we should, but how?" Henry pondered out loud as he sat up.

Terriermon flew onto Henry's head as they both stuck out their lower lip a bit on the right side of their mouths, furrowed their brows, and crossed their arms. Calumon blinked.

" I'll go see what's going on with Rika and Takato," he grinned as he jumped out of Henry's window and soared across the sky before Henry could stop him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Somewhere near Rika's house ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

" Would you kindly let me down, goggle-head, before I slug you across your face?" Rika strained a smile.

" Since you put it that way," Takato let go of Rika's arms, which he hadn't let go of since the incident at Henry's.

" That's better. A lot of people were thinking we were a couple," Rika quickly looked down to brush some imaginary lint off her uniform.

" And what's wrong with that?" Takato asked, getting bolder.

" I just don't want them to get the wrong impression, goggles," Rika said shortly in a voice that meant the end of that topic.

" I'm glad Henry got Terriermon back," Takato said, striking conversation again. " So that means Renamon and Guilmon shouldn't be too far away."

Rika stood staring dumbstruck at Takato.

" What?" Takato indignantly demanded.

" You actually put two pieces of a puzzle together," a still amazed Rika replied.

" Ow," Takato winced.

" Aw, goggle-head, you know I was just kidding you," Rika smiled. Takato just sighed.

The pair continued on through the city in silence. Takato pursed his lips as he cast a sidelong glance at Rika.

Six years is long enough. No more waiting. I need to tell Rika how I feel about her. Hmph. Easier thought than done, Takato smiled wryly.

Rika quickly peered up at Takato. Enough is enough. I've been denying the inevitable. It had to happen sooner or later. A sigh of defeat escaped her lips. I've grown fond of goggle-head. I really should tell him how I feel, but I don't want to lose our friendship…

" Rika! Come on in! Your mother wants you to go to another photo shoot!" Rika's grandmother beckoned to her from the porch as they came to Rika's house.

" Unnnhh…" Rika moaned. " Takato, take me with you!" She begged as she ~swooned~ into his arms. (A/N: Okay, she's acting!)

" Sure," Takato hastily replied.

" I was kidding goggle-head," Rika laughed as she lightly snapped his goggles.

" Come on, Rika. Kiss your boyfriend and get a move on," Rika's grandmother leaned against the gate and tapped her foot.

" K-k-k-kiss? B-b-b-b-b-boyfriend??" Takato stuttered as his face glowed a lovely shade of red.

" Excuse my blubbering companion, grandma. He was just leaving. Bye Takato," Rika said as she quickly ushered her grandma inside the gates and shut them.

From inside the gates, Takato could still hear the women's voices.

" What a nice boy. Hasn't he been here before?"

" Yes, grandma, he has."

" You two are such a nice couple."

" Grandma!"

" If you two aren't a couple, then why are you blushing?"

" Auuuugh!"

Outside the Nonaka residence, Takato grinned as if he won the jackpot. Putting his hands in his uniform's pockets, he walked away, whistling a merry tune.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next afternoon at the park ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" So, Henry, why'd you want us to meet here after school?' Takato asked as he walked up to his friends.

" I found Guilmon and Renamon," was the simple reply.

" What?" Takato exclaimed while Rika just stood there, wonderstruck by the news.

" Ahem," Terriermon coughed from on top of Henry's head.

" Yeah, Terriermon helped a bit."

" AHEM!"

" Okay, okay, he helped a lot!" Henry snapped, exasperated.

" How'd you find them?" Rika spoke up.

" Well," Henry began, but Terriermon interrupted.

" It all started when I was messing around with Henry's Digimon game. While playing, I found a map…"

" Yeah, and that map showed the entire digital world," a peeved Henry chipped in.

" That's when I discovered two little blips that were Guilmon and Renamon," Terriermon's chest proudly puffed out.

" I downloaded the data onto my D-arc so now when we go to the digital gate, we'll be transported to where Guilmon and Renamon are," Henry finished with a flourish.

Meanwhile, Takato and Rika stood there, blinking. Calumon had nested on Rika's head and was sitting there, thunderstruck about Henry and Terriermon's lecture.

" What are we waiting for?" Rika demanded. " Get a move on, boys!" she said and marched to the good ol' digital gate.

" Onward, ho!" Takato merrily cried and raced off to catch up with Rika.

Henry just rolled his eyes and walked towards his friends, stopping momentarily to tell Terriermon to stop singing " Bella Notte."

Using the same procedure as yesterday, the trio put on their protective eye-ware, and held their D-Arcs up between the two oak trees. A wave of magnificence color engulfed them and teleported them to the Digital world.

Takato gulped hard as his stomach lurched on the journey to a different world. Same ride, different place, but still the same nausea. He irritably clamped his jaw shut to keep down his lunch. A hard crash onto his pelvis told him he had solid ground and was now in the digital world. He furiously blinked to get his mind free of the cobwebs. Admist the confusion swirling in his head, Takato saw Rika and Henry shakily stand up and wander aimlessly. Wobbling, Takato got up, very disorientated.

Henry looked around. The terrain was like something out of a haunted house setting; there was even a queer house a little off in the distance. He looked up. Full moon, huh? This bears an uncanny resemblance to a horror film, he thought ironically.

" Okay, genius," Rika said, finally gaining her correct equilibrium. " Where are Renamon and Guilmon?"

" Uhm…" Henry looked at his D-Arc.

Rika was impatiently tapping her foot when she felt something. Something a little, phantasmal. Ugh, why did it get so cold all of a sudden? She disgustedly thought as she shivered as an eerie breeze blew across her entire body.

Terriermon and the tag-along Calumon leapt onto Henry in an effort to keep themselves warm, thus calling him to fall onto the ground. While Henry tried in vain to get the Digimon dislodged from him, Takato wrinkled his brows.

Sure, Takato was cold, but it just wasn't from the weather. An ominous, dark presence seemed to hover about them. This is getting way too freaky… " Rika! Behind you!"

Rika, startled, quickly looked up in wonder as to why Takato had called her name, but a pair of icy arms enveloped her in their frigid grasp. I know this Digimon…she angrily thought as her steamy breath exhaled quicker.

" Ice Devimon!" Rika hissed with loathing.

" That's right, my Tamer," was his venomous answer.

Takato looked at Ice Devimon in horror; he was holding Rika in his arms. While she was struggling valiantly, the Digimon would not relent on his iron grip. " Fallen Angel Digimon…" Takato whispered under his breath.

" What do you want with me this time, you stalker?" Rika demanded.

" I see you still have your temper," Ice Devimon replied.

" Spit it out! What have you done with Renamon and Guilmon?" Rika continued to viciously thrash about.

" They have become a lovely addition to my collection," Ice Devimon maliciously sneered as Rika burst free of his grasp. She backed up to her friends.

" No," Rika whispered. " They can't be…"

" Terriermon! Go!" Henry cried as his partner rushed to fight Ice Devimon. Unbeknownst to everyone, Calumon slipped away in the shadows…

" Bunny blast!" A ball of green energy burst towards Ice Devimon, but he simply unfurled his gigantic wings and took flight, Terriermon hot on his heels.

Takato's breaths came in ragged gasps. Guilmon, my best friend…he can't be gone…Takato looked up to the fight in the air. He saw Terriermon wearing out and slowing down. Ice Devimon's playing with him, just like he did with Guilmon…Takato's body shook with rage as he slowly balled his fingers into fists.

Rika refused to believe Ice Devimon. It's not true; Renamon wouldn't let that stunted slime-ball beat her. She glanced at Takato and was appalled to see him shaking with anger.

" Takato! You don't believe what that sleaze-bag said about our friends, do you?" Her eyes widened.

" And why should I not?" He asked.

" Because he's a lying scum of a Digimon!" Rika said, frustrated.

" You're right," Takato sighed, unballing his fists. He looked to where the fight was in the air, and only saw Henry holding an injured Terriermon. " Hey, where's Ice Devimon?" Takato uncertainly looked up and he and Rika were blown backwards by an enormous gust of wind created by Ice Devimon's wings.

" Now, you will become my Tamer!" Ice Devimon cried maniacally as he thrust his arm towards Rika.

" Diamond storm!"

A precise attack to Ice Devimon's back sent his arm back to side, recoiling in shock.

" Renamon!" Rika cried joyously.

The yellow Fox Digimon stood, her body in an attacking position behind Ice Devimon. Calumon was excitedly hopping around beside her.

" Diamond storm!" More sharp diamonds were hurtled towards Ice Devimon's middle and he quickly leapt into the air to avoid being hit.

Takato and Rika sat up. Takato saw Ice Devimon looping around in the air, heading towards them. Hmmm…I saw T.K. do this to Kari…he though and put his arm out protectively in front of Rika. " Get out of the way!" Takato shouted and pushed Rika to her left as Ice Devimon swooped down and grabbed Takato and soared through the air to an eerie looking house.

Henry rolled his eyes in annoyance. " This really is turning into a classic horror film!"

" Come, on!" Rika propelled herself off the ground. " We have to get Takato!" She finished and raced off towards the house with Renamon and the others trailing not too far behind.

Meanwhile, Takato was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground deep within the basement of the house. A pair of yellow eyes gleamed in the dark. Takato timidly scooted away from the eyes, but they kept following him. Oh, great! I'm going to be eaten by a werewolf! He closed his eyes in dread.

" Takatomon!" The creature bounded from the shadows and bowled him over.

" Guilmon!?" Takato said incredulously.

" Do you have any bread for me?"

" When we get back home, you can have all the bread you want!" Takato smiled whole-heartedly and hugged his best friend so hard, he thought his eyes would pop out.

" What makes you think you're going to be going back home?"

Takato and Guilmon whirled around to see Ice Devimon hovering by the door. He lowered himself to the ground and circled the room until they were face to face.

" What do you want with me?" Takato demanded.

" It's not you I'm after, foolish one," the sinister Digimon snickered.

Takato rolled his eyes in exasperation. " Would you just leave Rika alone? What is your problem?"

" I do have a problem; and she is the solution."

Takato's eyes widened in fright as the vile Digimon laughed.

********************* Rika and Renamon **********************************

" Renamon! We need to get there faster!" Rika called to her friend.

" Wait!" Henry panted as he slowed down with Terriermon's extra weight. Calumon flew ahead with Rika and Renamon. " It could be a trap! Be careful!" His voice trailed off as Renamon picked Rika up and darted across the open field towards the foreboding house.

Henry pursed his lips and started walking quickly towards the house, checking every now and then on Terriermon's condition.

Within seconds, Rika, Calumon, and Renamon appeared at the front door of the house. Rika kicked it open. That pathetic excuse of a Digimon is going to despise the day he met me! She thought angrily.

" Where shall we begin looking, Rika?" Renamon's deep voice asked.

" The basement. All evil guys go there. They should start a club or something," Rika sarcastically said as the trio started searching the house for the stairs to the basement.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Takato and Guilmon ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

" Rika doesn't have a heart of ice like you do!" Takato fervently argued with Ice Devimon, buying his friends more time to come help them.

" And what makes you think that?" Ice Devimon sneered. " No one cares for her, just like no one does to me and that makes us perfect partners."

" That's not true!" Takato replied vehemently.

" How do you know?"

Takato opened his mouth. How do I know? " Her family cares about her!"

" And you don't?" Ice Devimon slyly retaliated.

" Of course I care for her!" Takato snapped. He paused a moment. " I love her," he finished quietly.

Guilmon started to sniff the air furiously. He whipped his head to the doorway. Takato looked at where Guilmon's snout was pointing to, and let out a gasp of surprise.

Rika stood in the doorway, gaping straight at Takato. " Is this true, Takato?" She tentatively asked.

" Who cares!" Ice Devimon roared. " I will have you to be my Tamer, no matter what!" He snarled.

" Hey, Ice-head," Renamon's voice rang out. Ice Devimon turned to see her and Guilmon standing side by side. " You need a life. Diamond storm!" " Pyro sphere!"

Renamon's and Guilmon's attacks merged and hit Ice Devimon square on.

" Nooooo!" He cried as his data dissolved.

A profuse silence covered the entire room as Rika continued to stare at Takato in wonder.

He loves me? Could it be true? Goggle-head? And me? Rika bit her lip from letting her emotions get the best of her.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, Takato nervously thought as Rika continued to stare. I wouldn't have said that if I knew she was there! But, his conscience nagged. You were planning on telling her anyway. Besides, that's how you feel. Realization dawned upon Takato and he calmed down. He started to stare back at Rika.

" Takato…" Rika started, but Calumon starting shouting. " What is it?" Rika looked at her minute companion.

" Henry and Terriermon re here! Now we all can play!" Calumon bounced off the walls, literally, and landing on Guilmon's head. The two started playing a little game while an exhausted Henry staggered into the room.

" Sorry…Terriermon was knocked out for a bit…out of shape…" Henry wheezed as he clutched the doorframe for support. " We'd better get back to the real world before any other Digimon gets the insane notion to attack us."

" Okay," Takato agreed and got up. The friends all walked out of the house in silence, Henry contemplating why Rika and Takato were suddenly so tense.

Obscured within the house's shadows, unnaturally white fangs glistened. The eyes glinted with an intense longing look. " I will get you princess, just you wait…"

********************************************************** **************

** Hey! The chapter's not done! Rika's house after they returned from the Digital world*

Rika and Renamon sat serenely at the back of Rika's house.

" Renamon, where were you, before Calumon rescued you?" Rika asked.

" Well, I do not quite remember the whole story of how we were captured," Renamon began. " One afternoon, a dark shadow covered the skies and we heard somewhat of a sinister laughter. Calumon started getting very nervous, for some odd reason," Renamon frowned. " Then there was total blackness. A dark wave overtook all of us and we passed out. The next time I woke up, I was in a cage where Calumon rescued me."

" What about Ice Devimon?" Rika inquired.

" I really do not know about what his purpose was," Renamon admitted. " I believe he was there to guard us, to make sure we didn't escape."

" Oh," Rika nodded in agreement. " Either way, it's good to have you back."

" It's quite odd to be seeing you so happy," Renamon stated. " This has nothing to do with Takato, by any chance, does it?"

Rika blushed and looked at the ground.

" I see that my being away has dramatically changed your personality," Renamon quipped. " Do you feel the same?"

" Huh?" Rika quizzically looked at her partner.

" When he said he loved you, do you feel the same way?"

" What makes you think he meant it?" Rika said.

" Why don't you find out for yourself?" A small smile appeared on her furry face. " He's outside the door. I think I'll go see Guilmon and Calumon," Renamon said and disappeared.

" I need to ask her how she does that," Rika said to herself as she went to greet Takato.

Outside Rika's house, Takato shifted his weight in anticipation. What's taking her so long?

" Yes, goggle-head?" Rika smirked up at him as she opened her door.

" May I talk to you?" Takato asked.

" Sure," Rika raised her eyebrow at him and led him out back to where she and Renamon were previously in conversation.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Uh-oh ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Renamon turned up at Guilmon's abandoned shed to fin that it wasn't abandoned after all. Henry and the rest of the Digimon were there, tapping their feet in impatience.

" What took you so long?" Guilmon asked, Calumon perched atop his head.

" I was just talking with Rika," Renamon smoothly said. " Now what's this all about?"

" I was bullied by them," Henry jerked his finger towards the rest of the Digimon. " For us to go on a little mission."

" And that mission would be?" Renamon persisted.

Henry gave a defeated sigh. " Spying on Rika and Takato."

Renamon looked at him skeptically. " You do remember that spying requires patience and complete and utter silence?"

" I know what you mean. Yet, we're doing it anyway."

" We'd better hurry, then," Renamon headed towards Rika's house, the other following in suit.

********************* Back to Rika and Takato ******************************

Takato rubbed his sneaker in the cool grass. It was a pleasant evening, and he would've enjoyed it more if Rika weren't gazing so intently at him.

" Goggle-head, I have a question for you."

" Hopefully I have an answer," Takato nervously joked.

" Back in the house, did you really mean it, when you said you loved me?" Rika know turned her whole body so that she was directly facing him.

Takato took a few calming breaths and Rika did the same, although unknown to each other. Takato slowly brought his amber eyes to meet Rika's cool violet ones.

" Yes."

Rika's pupils contracted as she fought hard to keep her face expressionless. So goggle-head really feels that way about me. Well well…

" Listen, Rika, I totally understand if you don't feel the same," Takato said. " I just don't want to lose our friendship or anything like that…" he trailed off as Rika started to grin at him. " What?" He nervously stammered.

Rika's eyes were playful as she grinned even more and scooted a little closer to Takato. " You know you won't lose me friendship, goggles," she quietly said and snapped his goggles ever so slightly.

Takato gazed at her in wonder. " So that means…?"

" Obviously," Rika smiled under the full moon. " People kind of change over time, Takato."

" I'll say; you call me your friend and now you call me Takato. This is just becoming weird," Takato started to smile.

" Maybe I'll make it three weird things in one day," Rika whispered as Takato moved closer to her.

They were now face to face, their eyes locked onto the others.

" I love you, too, Takato," Rika murmured as their faces continued to get closer.

Takato felt his heart going a little faster as they got a little closer to each other. They stopped, faces only centimeters apart. For a brief moment, their eyes locked and they shared a complete understanding that only two destined people could have.

They both closed their eyes and spread their lips apart and they meet in a soft, passionate kiss. A feeling of relief was flooding through both of them as they deepened the kiss. Finally, they slowly parted their lips and moved a few inches apart.

So, Rika thought. This must be what true love feels like.

Takato sat, there, dazed. Who'd have ever thought that Rika and I would be together? This…feeling is unlike any other I've felt before; I like it. I like it a whole lot, Takato concluded as he smiled at Rika who immediately smiled back.

" See, Henry, I told you," a voice triumphantly rang out from nearby trees.

" Guilmon, does it look like they were trying to eat each other?"

" Now I'm hungry."

" Do you not know the meaning of silence?" an exasperated hiss added to the voices.

" This is a complete and total failure," another voice came.

Rika and Takato curiously looked up at the tree to the source of the familiar voices.

The last voice sounded again. " What else could possibly go wrong…!" A sickening crack sounded and Rika and Takato scrambled to get out of the way as Henry and the Digimon came crashing down to the ground.

" What do you think you're doing, spying on us?" Rika ordered, her hands on her hips.

" Well, you see," Henry stammered as he blushed a bit.

" Hey," Guilmon said and pointed to Shinjuku Park. " A digital field!"

" Looks like its back to the good old times," Takato said fondly.

" Oh brother," Rika rolled her eyes as they all set off to the park.

************** This chapter will end, eventually ******************************

The Tamers and their Digimon showed up at the park in confusion.

" Where's the Digimon?" Guilmon asked to no one in particular.

Renamon was darting through the trees and her keen eyes spotted a large, black shape on the ground. " There!"

Everyone hurried to the shape. Henry held out his D-Arc.

" Whoa!" Henry exclaimed. " Black War Greymon, mega-level Digimon, virus type. That Terra destroyer attack could wipe out this entire forest!"

" Hey," Rika said, kneeling down next to the giant Digimon. " He's hurt."

" Of course he is; I hurt him," an ominous voice echoed throughout the forest, sending chills down everyone's spine.

Takato whipped his head around the forest. " Show yourself!" He commanded.

The Black War Greymon wearily opened his eyes to see Rika's face peering down, full of concern. " What, do you want…?" He managed to gasp out.

" We just want to help," Rika said.

" I suggest you stay away from him; he's my slave," the eerie voice came out again.

" I can't just leave him!" Rika looked to Takato and Henry for support, who nodded in agreement.

" You haven't changed a bit, Princess," the creepy voice sounded closer this time.

" What do you mean Princess?" Rika warily asked.

" Calumon, you haven't told them? Tsk tsk, for shame," the voice reeked with evil.

Calumon started shivering in fear on Guilmon's head.

" Hey, leave him alone! He has nothing to do with this!" Takato angrily cried.

" Ah, but he does, young Prince," the voice now had hatred behind its words.

" What have you got against Takato?" Rika demanded.

" All in due, time," the voice said as a figure stepped out of the shadows.

" Hey," Henry stated. " You look like Myotismon!"

" Indeed, but I am not as weak as that fool," the Digimon waved his hand.

Truly, he did look like Myotismon, Takato realized. He had the same fuschia eyes and pointed fangs, but his appearance did differ. He was draped entirely in black and his mask had more of a feathery appearance at the ends instead of Myotismon's batlike ones. At the base of his neck, a huge silver cape flowed about freely around him.

" But I have no time to spend with the likes of you," the Digimon sneered in Takato's direction. " I'll just pick up what I came for and be gone," he smiled maliciously.

" Not if we can help it," Takato stubbornly said as the Digimon prepared themselves for a fight.

" Leave them out of this; just take me and go," Black War Greymon coughed.

The Digimon looked down at the mega Digimon. " But it is not you I am after," he grinned and looked straight at Rika.

" What is it with you freaky Digimon and me?" Rika sarcastically cried.

" Leave her alone!" Takato boiled with rage.

" That is something I cannot do," the Digimon cackled. He spread out his arms. " Darkness shadow!" He cried and a huge, black shadow surrounded all of them, throwing them off their feet, or, in Rika's case, made them fall backwards.

Takato struggled to get things in focus when he heard Rika scream. He looked up to see the evil Digimon wave a hand in front of her face and knock her out. He slowly rose into the air where a digital gate appeared and he disappeared within it.

His body starting to shake with convulsions, Takato could barely believe his eyes. He suddenly regained control of his limbs and he leapt to his feet, staring at the spot where Rika had disappeared.

" RIKAAAA!!!!!" Takato's cries echoed into the night.

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How's that for a cliffhanger? Jeez! This chapter is long! Please R/R! Thanks for your support, faithful readers! This chapter is dedicated to you!

~Flamegaruru~

Look for the next installment:

The Liberation of Rika Nonaka

Coming, January, 2002