Hey, long time no see. ^_^ This chapter is all plot. I just couldn't find a way to work a lemon into it, but I promise at least two in the next one. Also, thanks for all your good reviews. I also forgot to mention this takes place before the Tamers encounter the Devas. I'd like to respond to some reviewer questions so here goes. In response to a question of whether digimon can fall in love, sure they can. They have emotions, too. In fact, I seem to recall V-mon fantasizing about Tailmon in the show. In response to one review that questioned the issue of protection, that was done intentionally. It is all part of plot and characterization. That issue will be covered in the next chapter. BTW this chapter has absolutely nothing to do with the Korn album "Issues". You are probably not to far from hurting me if I don't shut up, so on with the fic.

~*~

To be a Tamer

Chapter 3: Issues

"Guilmon, wake up," Guilmon woke slowly to Takato's voice. He was still very groggy after the previous night's events. Crying himself to sleep didn't help the matter much either, "Guilmon you don't look so well. Are you alright?"

Guilmon only nodded. Takato's my friend. I have to tell him, but I can't. It's all my fault. Renamon is gone and it's all my fault. His eyes welled up with what little tears his body had left.

Takato look in the lizard's misty yellow eyes with great concern, "Guilmon, please tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

"Nothing's wrong T-takato. I'm f-fine," Guilmon declared, although his sniffling indicated he clearly was not.

"I brought you some bread rolls."

"I'm not hungry."

I don't understand. Guilmon has never kept secrets from me before. I guess I can't get mad. After all, I've never told him about Ruki. Oh no, I forgot Ruki wanted to see me, "I'll just leave them here. I have to go. I'm sorry," Takato hated to leave his partner like that, but he knew he couldn't keep Ruki waiting.

"I'm sorry, Takato," Guilmon muttered after Takato had left. He sat down and started slowly eating a bread roll.

~*~

Takato was so rushed that he bumped into Lee and Terriermon as he was turning the corner. Lee was knocked back and Terriermon fell from his perch on top of Lee's head, "Oh, sorry about that Lee-kun."

"What about me? I'm the one that got launched."

"Sorry Terriermon."

"A rogue digimon?" Jenrya questioned.

"No, I was just on my way to see Ruki." Matsuda answered, careful not to use chan

Lee raised an eyebrow. He knew Takato had told Ruki about his feelings, but didn't know how close they had become, "Ruki huh? I take it you two are getting along."

And getting it on, but he doesn't need to know that. Takato laughed silently at his thoughts, "Yeah, it turned out she liked me, too."

"I'm happy for you two."

"Thanks, but for now I really have to go," Takato turned to leave but then turned back again, "Hey wait, Terriermon you're a digimon."

"Last time I checked," the dog-bunny giggled.

"No no, what I mean is. Maybe you can help me." Terriermon looked puzzled, "Well, Guilmon is really upset about something, but he won't talk about it," Takato explained, "Would you talk to him for me?"

"Sure, happy to help."

"Thanks a lot. Well, gotta go. See you guys later."

After Takato ran off Lee turned to Terriermon, "Since when are you 'happy to help'?"

"Since a grateful Takato will probably give bread rolls in return," Terriermon smirked as Jenrya sweatdropped, "Well, time for 'Terriermon the professional psychiatrist' to earn his pay."

"Have I ever told you you're an odd little digimon?"

"Every single day," Lee slapped himself in the head as Terriermon strolled off.

~*~

"Renamon, where are you?" Ruki called into her room. She had been looking for Renamon all day long. I don't understand it. She is always around. Great, when I actually need to talk to someone she isn't around.

"Ruki-chan, your friend Takato is here." Ruki's grandmother called.

"OK," Makino called back. Oh god, how do I tell him? This is all his fault. No, it's mine, too.

"Hi Ruki. What did you want?" Ruki opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to think of the right words, "Oh, I think I know what you want," he walked over to her and kissed her on the lips.

Ruki closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying her lover's kiss. She would soon snap back to reality and pushed Takato away. She kept her arms on his shoulders as he looked at her curiously, "Taka-chan, we have to talk."

~*~

"C'mon Guilmon, talk to me," Terriermon said. Guilmon only rolled over and pretended to be asleep. Terriermon sighed, "Takato is really worried about you, and so am I."

"You will tell Takato."

"I won't tell him anything if you don't want me to."

"You aren't very good at keeping secrets," Guilmon said matter-of-factly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Remember that time Lee wanted you not to tell Takato about that rare card he had, or the time me, you and Culumon took that picnic lunch some people left behind, or the time…"

"Ok ok, I get your point, but I promise this time I won't tell."

Guilmon sat up. The swelling under his eyes clearly indicated he had spent a lot of time crying, "I think I hurt Renamon really bad," Terriermon's eyes widened. Guilmon took a deep breath, "She was crying I tried to help her but I think I made it worse. Then, she grabbed me and kissed me, and then we…" Guilmon's face became flushed. He looked down at the ground and found it rather hard to continue.

Terriermon was pretty sure what he was going to say. I can't believe they did that. Why him? What does she see in him? No Terriermon, don't start that. You have to help your friend, "You mated with her didn't you?"

'Mated', he had heard the word but never knew what it meant until now, "Yeah, but after that she got really sad again and ran off. I think I made her sad. She's gone and it's all my fault."

"It's not your fault, and I doubt she's gone. She is probably with Ruki right now."

"I don't believe it. I give her great advice and what do I get? Nothing. Yet, dino-boy over there gets laid just because he was in the right place at the right time," the two digimon turned to see Impmon standing in the doorway. Impmon pointed to Guilmon, "You should thank me."

Guilmon was anything but grateful though. He looked at the purple imp with the same animal-like look he got when he felt a rogue digimon's presence. He stood up and slowly began walking toward Impmon, "You made Renamon sad?"

"Hey, it's not my fault she can't take a little advice."

"You made Renamon sad," Guilmon repeated, but this time not as a question. All the while Terriermon was looking back and forth between the two like he was watching a great tennis match.

"Yeah, so maybe I did. What do you care?" Impmon declared, unaware of this energy charging in Guilmon's hands.

Guilmon stopped in his tracks. He did it. Impmon hurt Renamon. I can't let anyone hurt her because… His rage filled mind snapped as he finished his thoughts aloud, "I love her!" Impmon was taken aback and was totally unprepared for what happened next, "Rock Breaker!" Guilmon cried slamming the purple imp with his two-fisted fire punch attack. Impmon was thrown out of the stone structure and onto the sidewalk. Guilmon was far from done. He pounced on the imp with primal rage, clawing viciously at him.

Terriermon had been stunned at first. Guilmon has always appeared to be a playful naïve digimon, yet he obviously meant what he had said. If I don't do something, he is going to delete Impmon just because he cares for Renamon. Me saving Impmon, there has to be irony there somewhere. He ran over to the brawling digimon and attempted to break them up, "C'mon Guilmon stop! You're going to delete him," Guilmon didn't, either not hearing or not caring, Terriermon wasn't sure, "Alright you've left me no choice. Petit Twister!" the dog-bunny spun into a small green and white tornado. He then launched himself in between the two, breaking them apart like a wedge.

Guilmon sat up slowly, "Why'd you do that?" he asked, his voice and eyes back to their normal selves.

"You were going crazy. I had to do something."

Impmon stood up and dusted himself off, "You're both crazy as far as I'm concerned. I'm outta here," with that he leapt off.

Terriermon shook his head and turned back to Guilmon, "Did you mean what you said about loving Renamon?"

Guilmon thought for a moment, "I think so. It just kind of popped into my head and I said it. I'm really confused."

"That makes two of us."

~*~

"No way. I'm not trading it," the tall brown-haired boy better known as Shiota Hirokazu declared, pulling away his 'Offense Plug-In A' card.

"Please Hirokazu-san, you can have any one of my cards," Lee said. That card could really come in handy in a digimon encounter.

"Sorry, I don't want any of those. Heck, I already have most of them."

Fine, if a rogue digimon ever attacks you, don't come running to Terriermon or I for help. Jenrya laughed silently, having no intention of ever making good on the threat, "OK then. Just keep it," Hirokazu smiled triumphantly.

Takato walked up behind the two. He spoke as if he were very distracted, "Hi, Hirokazu, hi Lee-kun."

"Hey Takato what's up with you lately. I mean we haven't card battled in a few weeks. Did you finely get sick of losing," the ever-arrogant Hirokazu smirked.

"No, I've just been ah busy. Say Lee-kun, could I talk to you for a minute?"

"It's not like I'm getting anywhere here," Lee remarked. Hirokazu only smirked. Lee stood up and turned to face Takato. He was rather shocked to see that Takato's face was a ghostly shade of white, "What's wrong?" Takato started walking and motioned for Lee to follow.

"Fine I know when I'm not wanted! I'll just go find Kenta! At least he isn't too chicken to battle me!" Hirokazu sarcastically yelled after the two.

The two Tamers walked for a little while. Takato kept muttering softly, "Problem. I have a problem. Problems aren't good. Nope, definitely not."

Jenrya finally spoke up, "You look like you just saw a ghost. What on earth is bothering you?"

"I have a problem. I small, little, not-so small, really big, MAJOR problem."

"What could possibly be that bad?"

Takato looked at Lee with a gaze that filled the blue/black haired boy with worry and fear, "I might be a father."

~*~

Renamon slipped silently toward Ruki's room. By now, her guilt had nearly eaten her alive. She had to tell someone. Ruki was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, "Ruki?"

The redhead snapped to attention, "Renamon, where the hell have you been? I've been looking all over for you," Ruki looked closely at Renamon's face, "Have you been crying? I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell it's just that…"

"No," the yellow fox interrupted, "it is not you. I have done something terrible."

Ruki forgot her own problems for the moment, "What is it?"

"I-I raped Guilmon. I am not worthy of being your or anyone else's Digimon. I will fully understand if you want me to leave."

Raped, did she say raped? I can't even imagine her doing something like that, but I can't imagine her lying either. No, I just can't accept that, "You're not joking are you?" Renamon shook her head and turned to leave, "No, don't leave. I don't want rid of you."

"But I have failed you. You deserve a better digimon."

"Don't be so sure," Ruki said softly. This earned her a puzzled look from Renamon, "Renamon, I have a confession of my own. I may be pregnant."

"That is good isn't it?"

"Maybe for a digimon, but I'm too young to be a mother."

"I do not understand. If you do not want to become a mother, why have you been mating with Takato?"

Ruki started sobbing into her hands, "Because I'm stupid. I'm just stupid,"

Renamon felt she had to do something, so she hugged Ruki close to her. Ruki continued crying into Renamon's yellow/white fur, "You are no such thing. You will figure something out. You are the most intelligent human I know."

A teary eyed Ruki looked up at a face. Not the face of her digimon, but the face of her best friend, "Thanks Renamon, but this time I don't know if I will. I just don't know."

~*~

Translate-O-Matic:

Ruki=Rika

Lee=Henry

Hirokazu=Kazu

San=Mr./Mrs./Miss

Chan=a title given to close friend, or family member.

Kun=Title used between boys who are close friends, or used by a girl to a boy who is a close friend (non-boyfriend)

~*~

Author's Notes: I know I know, I have to stop ending on such sad notes. If you were wondering, Lee used Kun with Hirokazu because he is not as close of friends with him as Takato is. I am also going to get Juri into the next chapter. Thanks in advance for all your good reviews. Please R&R, I want to know if you guys still like this, because if you don't there isn't any point in continuing it. Don't flame me because I won't bother to read them. However, like any writer, I want to improve my skills so if you have any constructive criticism, feel free to submit it.

Signed as always,

The §upreme Øverlord of Ðarkness