Rage of the Heart

She could only stand there, more stunned by the admission of passion than the impact with that tree no so long ago. Time crawled for Renamon as she looked into the eyes of her Tamer and saw only the boundless truth and not some cover, some subterfuge, said out of fear from retaliation by Takato.

Kneeling down, Renamon faced Rika eye to eye, the only word escaping her lips was a soft \'why?\"

Rika was about to answer, but then realized that both Henry and Terriermon were listening, and despite their right to know for all they had risked, now was not the time or place. With a glance outside the park, Rika\'s gaze focused on a tall building to the right of the closer Hypos Tower.

With a nod, Renamon rstorstood and looked back over at the others gathered as Amy was slowly trying to calm Takato by explaining as best she could. Unable to meet Takato face-to-face, Renamon looked at the shadows lost in thought while Rika explained.

\"Renamon and I are going to talk. We\'ll be back soon.\"

Looking up, Takato stood hesitantly, his eyes darting back and forth between Renamon and the young woman whom he wanted so much to talk too. \"Rika...I...\" he started, but was quieted by a shake of her head. Falling still, the goggle-clad Tamer sank back to his knees, but this time flanked by both Henry and Terriermon, each trying in their own way to help Takato understand the events of the past few minutes.

With a nod of understanding, each tried to give a look of support for the minutes ahead.

Without another word Rika turned and once enveloped in Renamon\'s embrace, vanished into the shadows like a ghost.

With only the slightest hint of air displacement to announce their arrival, Renamon and Rika materialized on top of the building; dubious safety at being seen but a thtathtaking view of the city nonetheless. Seconds later, Tamer and Digimon parted as Rika walked over to the ledge, taking in the fresh air and sights she so seldom got to enjoy from this vantage point.

Renamon simply gazed at the stars, wishing that one of them would reveal why she had done what she did, and why, only now, did the guilt begin to gnaw at her...

\"Renamon...?\"

Shaken from her thoughts, the Digimon looked over at her partner and took a deep breath to calm herself before answering. \"Yes, Rika...?\"

\"Why did you think I was raped by Takato?\"

Renamon winced as the one question she truly didn\'t want to answer was now due in full......

Rika watched as Renamon collected her thoughts, wondering what kind of answer Dig Digimon would give. It was now a strange mix of feelings that filled the human; part wanting to know why Renamon had perceived Takato as a threat, the other half didn\'t want to know, lest it be a temptation to change her mind.

Torn for weeks afterwards, Rika tried to come to terms what had happened, but it was only several days ago when-in a moment of crystal clear realization-that she needed...and wanted...the goggle-headed boy in her life.

But several days cannessness many changes; just as the past few hours had forever changed Rika\'s dreams about her future. Now that she carried Takato\'s child, to change her mind would affect three lives, not just one.

Such a decision was not to be taken lightly now, if it ever was.

Renamon paused in her movements as she noticed Rika\'s hand caressing her belly, as if trying to assure herself the life within was still safe. The Digimon watched as Rika drifted off into a world of daydreams and found some comfort when a soft smile spread over her Trainer\'s face as the minutes passed.

**At least her dreams are still happy...**

Tempted to let Rika dream, Renamon considered for a moment not erinering her; letting the night pass without answering Rikaquerquery. But that moment folded quickly as Renamon knew that only the truth, told honestly and openly, could attempt to salvage what she had damaged this night.

\"Rika…?\"

Startled, the young woman looked over at Renamon, gently pushing her own thoughts into a safe corner of her mind, giving her full attention to her friend and what was about to be said.

\"I thought Takato had…taken advantage of you…because a similar incident happened to me a long time ago in the Digital world, and the parallels were to great to ignore…\".

Stunned silence filled the rooftop as the human sat there, shocked by the admission from her partner and friend. Although tempted to comfort the Digimon, Rika held her questions for now, knowing that Renamon was revealing shinghing that would never be spoken of again.

Renamon continued as she relieved that day from so long ago. \"Some time before I digivolved into this form Rika, I was Viximon, my \'in-training\' stage as you would call it. Myself and many other young Digimon found ourselves a safe place within a pack of nomadic Digimon who wondered the wastelands around Desolation Mountain….\" she paused, giving herself time to reflect...\"Our leader, so to speak, was a SaberLeomon who treated each of us fairly aith ith litylity, regardless of our power levels. For many years we wondered the plains, salvaging wver ver kind of life we could from our travels. \"

The words floated there in the open air of early morning as Rika continued to listen without comment. Her violet eyes were now seemingly elsewhere, as if Renamon\'s words were taking the young Tamer back to that time so long ago.

The Digimon watched her partner for a moment, finding strength in her company, before continuing down the dark roads of a memory she swore to never tread again.

\"One evening, some time after nightfall, those of us still awake heard sounds that could only have been of SaberLeomon engaged in terrible battle. After waking the others, we rushed to find him, only to arrive too late as he had defeated his opponent and was in the process of downloading his data.\"

\"Renamon…?\" came the soft question as Rika spoke for the first time in long minutes. \"Who was he fighting….?\"

Sadly the Digimon shook her head. \"I do not know Rika. Perhaps if I /had/ known, I could have done something to prevent what was to come next.\"

Rika cocked her head slightly, listening intently but said nothing to let Renamon find her own pace before continuing.

\"After that battle some of us noticed…changes… in our friend. His temper was much shorter; his patient nonexistent. Rather than laugh with us by the nighttime fire, he would pace and brood in the darkness away from seemseemingly in conversation with himself. Then, one day, he asked me to patrol with him.\"

Again the fox Digimon paused, but now her arms were wrapped tightly around her body, as if to protect her from the nightmare about to be revealed. Rika wanted to help defended her friend from the tides of memory about to wash over her, but the Tamer knew this battle was for Renamon alone.

She didn\'t have to like it though.

\"I learned that night the download had turned him partially Viral. The mood swings and arguments with himself were the two halves of him at war, each trying to maintain control. He attacked me, his Viral side in control as he ri...ripped chunks of data from ody.ody. I felt betrayed Rika; betrayed by someone who I had called a friend. And yet, he would as easily delete me as he would his most hated enemy. I fought back as best I could, but he was simply too powerful...\".

Rika stood shakily, body simply numb from the horrible play-by-play of that night so long ago. She wanted to comfort her friend; to chase such a horrible image away. But she had to know...\"How...?\" she asked softly, her voice barely audible over the rusting breeze.

\"Something inside of me Rika happened. I was so mad at him for betraying me, and myself for being so weak that I swore that I would never let anyone hurt me or those I choose to care about again. There was this light and I was suddenly Renamon.\"

Turning, Renamon looked back up at the night sky as she neared the end of her story. \"We fought for another hour Rika, each blow being mimicked by the other until at the very final moment, the good SaberLeomon he use to be broke through and held himself back to let me do what needed be done.\"

\"You...killed him...?\" she asked in the softest voice Renamon had ever come from her.

\"No, I gave him a warriors death. However, the others did not see him attack me, nor were they aware of his Viral infection. The truth, in their eyes, was that I killed their friend and I paid the price in being exiled. On that day I promised that I would never give up trying, no matter the foe and I would protect those I care for no matter the cost...\" and with that Renamon finished and closed the door on that part of her history once more. Thuth uth was open for Rika to see, and the fox Digimon could now only wait for judgment

Rika sat there, at first stunned by what have been reveled, but as the moments passed she began to see Renamon\'s point of view. Takato, like her former friend, infected by the evil of the Digital world when Takato\'s rage created Megidramon. The bruise on her cheek which could have easily been a result of that rage being set loose. The icy distance between her and Takato after being rescued, both too afraid to make the first move to heal their troubled spirits. And now, with his child growing inside her....

\"I understand Renamon.\"

The Digimon still didn\'t turn around, unwilling to show Rika the fear she held in her eyes.

\"But understanding isn\'t forgiveness...\"

Wincing, the fox could only nod as the tears began to fall as thoughts of loosing Rika\'s friendship forever began to fill her mind.

\"And right now, I can\'t forgive you for what you did...until you forgive yourself.\"

Renamon jerked around and looked at her Tamer, as if unsure as to what had just been said. Hesitantly, Renamon went to walk over to her friend, but stopped, unsure of so many things right now. Her words and thoughts were a jumbled mess with no real response coming to her mind.

Seeing the confusion her partner was in, Rika walked over and in no uncertain terms grabbed her friend in a powerful hug, forcing away all the fears and doubts that now plagued the Digimon. The Tamer buried herself in the golden fur as Renamon\'s paws and arms slid around her and they each shared a moment of pure joy, simply being cared for by the other.

It was more than a few minutes later when Rika looked up at Renamon with tear stained cheeks. \"Promise me you\'ll try?\" she asked softly.

Renamon nodded hesitantly before looking at her partner, finally speaking in a soft, broken tone. \"I will try Rika, for you. But...\"

\"But you are not sure what Takato will feel?\"

At that, Renamon nodded.

\"Then there is only one way to find out Renamon...\" suggested the Tamer as her gaze fell onto the park.

With only a slight hint of air rushing to where they once stood, nothing was left to mark their preseas tas the first hints of sunlight erupted across the sky...

\"So, you became involved with Renamon shortly after she rescued you from some muggers?\" clarified Henry as Dr. Mizuno smiled in agreement.

\"That\'s righnry.nry. Apparently she and Rika had some slight falling out due to a Digimolledlled IceDevimon...?\" and with that she paused, looking at the young Tamer to see if her name usage was correct. With a nod from Henry, Amy nodded then continued...\"It seems that Renamon had taken to patrolling areas further away than she normally ventured into, and one night she saw my situation. With no thought about her own welfare, she jumped in and quite possibly saved my life. Afterwards we returned to my clinic, where I bandaged up the deeper cuts and scrapes. A few nights later she dropped by to see how I was, and thus began our weekly conversations.\"

\"I wonder why Renamon never told us...?\" mused Terriermon as he climbed up on Henry\'s head, taking his usual place.

\"You know how private she is Terriermon. I doubt even Rika knew about their friendship until tonight...\"
Lo
Looking at his partner\'s upside- down expression, the Digimon only replied with a soft \'uh humm..\" before his ears raised up on their own, a sure sign he heard...or felt...somthing familiar.

Seconds later Rika and Renamon shimmered back into realionlyonly several feet from where they had departed but an hour ago. Strained silence filled the glade as each player in this game tried to figure out what was to happen next.

It was Renamon, after a reassuring glancem hem her Trainer, that broke through the stillness of the group and walked over towards Henry and Terriermon, easily noticing the latter tensing slightly more with each step.

\"Henry?\"

\"Yea Renamon?\" asked the young Tamer quietly as Terriermon listened atop his partner\'s shoulders.

\"You and Terriermon risked yourselves to keep me from making a terrible mistake, and in my anger I did not listen to your words. All I can offer is an apology and a promise that such migmengments will not happen again.\"

Blinking, the pair looked at each other before Henry gave her a gentle smile. \"I understand Renamon. Sometimes, no matter how much we try, our emotions run away with us. It doesn\'t make us more or less of a good person or Digimon, but rather what we learn from it. The main thing is you now realize that Takato was innocent.\"

Renamon nodded, then slightly bowed before Henry; a sign she respected his wisdom and as a formal apology for what she had put him through. The young human blinked, shocked for a moment at the compliment, but responded in the same fashion as if to help Renamon close the door on this night so she...and them...could move forward.

It was only as she stood once more did the Digimon spot Takato\'s silhouette leaning against a lone picnic table several feet away. Henry and Terriermon\'s gaze followed her as all present knew what was...what /had to/ ...happen next.

With slow and as non-threatening motions as possible, Renamon began the walk over towards to Takako. The Digimon paused however when she realized that her one form was casting more shadows than comfort allowed. With a soft glance, she looked over at the trio and asked in a respectful tone...\"Doctor Mizuno..Henry, Terriermon; could I have a moment with Takato...alone?\"

The three looked at each other, then towards Rika who nodded her approval. With a gentle grace the three departed, leaving Renamon alone with the young Tamer who she had held in such contempt so few hours ago.

Takato shivered as he felt Renamon\'s gaze upon him once more. He knew now-with Henry\'s help-that Renamon was upset about what had happened between him and R How However, he loved the young woman with all his heart, and he would not back down from anyone--Renamon included-- to defend those feelings. Summoning all his courage, the goggle-clad Tamer was determined to hold his ground. Meeting her powerful gaze with his own, Takato held back /any/ sign of fear.

To Renamon, he might has well hbeenbeen holding a sign that said; \'Please don\'t rip me to shreds..\'

\"Takato?\"

\"Y..yea Renamon?\" he stuttered, hating himself for it.

\"I will not attempt to apologize for my behavior towards you.\"

She watched as his eyes widened like saucers, but the Digimon continued...\"I threatened an ally, and even worse I was about to do something that could have destroyed a fam....a circle of friends who mean more to me than anything else on this or the Digital world. For what I thought, and believed, of you I do not deserve your forgiveness. All I ask that whatever hatred or anger you possess for me that you do not put it upon Rika; she tried to stop me, but in my rage I failed to listen.\"

The Tamer stood there for a long moment, a million thoughts cascading through his young mind as he tried to sort out all the pieces of the puzzle that had been...almost literally at one point...shoved down his throat. But now, upon seeing the look on Renamon\'s face and hearing the sas ins in her voice, all Takato could do is look at the Digimon and try to ease her pain.

\"Uhm...Remanom, I\'m not going to pretend I wasn\'t really scared when you grabbed me, but I think I understand that you thought I hurt Rika, and I guess...well, I\'d kinda go all freaky if someone tried to hurt her too. But, I want you to know that I really /really/ care for her Renamon, and if I ever do hurt her, then I deserve whatever punishment I get.\"

At that Renamon blinked, surprised by the maturity she saw in his eyes. It was then, at that moment, she realized that whatever happened in that cave; whatever decision came to pass that turned them from friends to lovers, might never be fully known. But the effects-Rika more open and happy, Takato more confident and mature, were easy to see.

A flash of movement caught her attention and the Digimon looked down to see Takato\'s outstretched hand. Taken off-guard by the offering, Renamon hesitantly put forth her own right paw and reached forward. After a moment, each shook as both human and Digimon put the night behind them, their respective feelings for one special young woman more important than anything else.

A sigh of relief seemed to fill the air as Amy and the others slowly walked over, each more than grateful to put this night behind them. After a few more minutes of debating what to tell their families, each Tamer and their Digimon paired off to return home with a almost-true-but-not-quite cover story. It was only then that Rika and Takato caught the others\' eye and the two drifted together.

\"Uhm..Rika...?\"

\"Yea?\"

\"Do you think that maybe we could...erm....\"

\"Could what?\" prompted the young woman, amazed at how embarrassed the young man could get over asking her out, considering all they had faced since becoming Tamers.

\"You wanna...grab an ice cream sundae after school tomorrow and...you know...talk for a little while?\" hesitantly asked the young man as the fingers of his right hand intertwined with her left.

Smiling at the blush that began to fill Takato\'s cheeks, Rika squeezed his hand back slightly. After shooting the spying Terriermon a look that promised slow death if the floppy-eared Digimon said anything about her holding Takato\'s hand to anyone not currently in the know she admitted...\"I\'d like that Takato...\" before catching a look from Amy as a reminder that /some/ things were still unresolved. Her smile faded slightly, but not enough to alarm Takato as she suggested a slight addendum.
\"...but there\'s this new place close to where Dr. Mizuno works, and maybe afterwards we can stop by and you can get to know her. She\'s really interested in Digimon and I\'m sure she\'d love to hear about some stories of you and Guilmon\'s adventures...\".

Laughing, Takato nodded his head. \"Sure...okay! But I bet there\'s a lot more inteing ing stuff to talk about than me..!\" and with that he laughed softly as Rika joined in.

\"Oh, I\'m sure something wiop uop up.....\" she added, the smile on her face turning from soft to catlike, as if a feline who just got the prize canary at a bird show.

For the rest of the walk home, Takato couldn\'t quite figure out why Rika had such a weird look on her face.

Epilog

\"Takato...?\"

\"Takato, are you okay...?\" asked Rika, the worry clear in her voice.

\"Takato, can you hear me?\" asked Dr. Mizuno as she took out a small penlight and tested the young man\'s visual acuity.

The world seemed to suddenly freeze as the words finally registered in his young brain. But, they /couldn\'t/ have meant what they did...
Did they?
No. He simply misunderstood; too many ice cream sundaes was the real problem here.
Still, nothing that a nap couldn\'t solve....
Rika would understand.....
She was nice like that.

\"Rika, watch out. I believe's g's going to.....\"

*THUD!*

The trio of ladies-Renamon, Amy Mizuno, and Rika-stared at the fainted form of Takato, the young man blissfully out like a light for a few minutes at least. Quiet filled the room until Renamon glanced over at her partner.

\"At least he\'s taking it well...\" the Digimon offered hopefully as the start of a broad grin tugged at the corners of her mouth.


FIN