Rumiko smiled at the three girls in front of her. "No, of course I don't mind if Jeri stays for the night. I was already wondering when Rika or Renamon would invite one of their friends to stay during the night."
Jeri bowed. "Thank you, Mrs. Nonaka. I just felt that Rika might need a friend, with all that happened."
"Jeri..." Rika muttered under her breath. It was bad enough if her mother was embarrassing her. Now her friend was doing the same?
"Just call me if you need anything," her mother said as the girls put down their backpacks in Rikas room. "Oh, and how about I make you some sandwiches for the evening? I'm sure you are all very hungry after that trip."
"That would be great," Jeri smiled.
When Rumiko had left, Renamon and Jeri both looked at Rika.
"Rika... why didn't you tell her about Doumon?" Renamon asked.
Rika sighed. "Renamon... what was I supposed to say? That my paternal grandfather is one of the Seven Demon Lords of the Digital World and that he asked me not to fight him when he and his pals are going to conquer the world? Yeah, right..."
"I know that you don't want to upset your... our mother." Dang, it was still hard for Renamon to get used to the 'family' concept. "But don't you think she deserves to know the truth?"
"I'll tell her when I have to," Rika said firmly, indicating that she would like to change the subject.
Realizing this, Jeri started a new conversation: "So... where is your father right now, anyways?"
Rika sighed. That topic wasn't quite the one she would have chosen, but at least she now could be sure that her father wasn't the villainous type, after what her grandfather had told her.
"I would like to know as well," she sighed. "But I don't. I don't remember anything what happened in this reality, remember?"
"Oh..." Jeri said in an apologetic tone of voice. "I didn't think of that."
"Well, back when he was supposed to be a human, I didn't see him very often," she sighed. "He was travelling a lot... so maybe, now that he's a Digimon, he's travelling through the Digital World."
"Maybe we should ask Mom about him some time," Renamon suggested. "After all, she already knows that you don't know everything about what happened in this reality."
"I guess so..." Rika murmured.
Jeri gave her an encouraging pat on the back. "Don't worry! From what Doumon said, he's probably some heroic warrior-type who travels through the Digital World to help others. I'm sure he would love to see his family again, he just hasn't the time."
Rika chuckled. "Sounds pretty much like my father, all right." She looked at her sister and friend. "Jeri, Renamon... Thank you! I probably would have buried myself in self-pity, if it weren't for you. I'm pretty good at this."
"Well, you're very welcome!" Renamon smiled.
"What else are friends for?" Jeri grinned.
At that moment, Rumiko came back, with a plate full of sandwiches. "There you go, girls. Oh, by the way... Renamon, don't you still have homework to do?
Renamon sweatdropped. Oh crap! She had totally forgotten about that.
"Mooom..." she groaned. "I had a very long day... can't I skip them for today?"
"Oh no, young lady! Don't start like this! You have school tomorrow, and it's still pretty early in the evening. You can spend some time with Rika and her guest, but then, I want to see you sitting at your desk, writing that essay! Did I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Mom," Renamon sighed in defeat. Her mother nodded in satisfaction and closed the door as she left the room.
Jeri and Rika looked at each other and bursted out giggling.
"Poor Renamon..." Jeri said with a big grin.
"You may stop laughing now..." Renamon growled as she stood up and walked over to the desk she was sharing with Rika.
"Well, we're trying, but it is very hard not to," Rika smirked. "What kind of essay do you have to write, anyway?"
"Digimon History..." the yellow fox grumbled. "I have to write about the first Digimon settlers in the human world..."
"Maybe I can help you with that," Jeri offered. "Digimon History has always been one of my favorite subjects."
"Why don't we do it together?" Rika asked. It would be the perfect chance for her to learn more about the current relationship between humans and Digimon. "I mean, what else could we do, except for sitting and talking? Having a pillow fight?"
----
Several hours later, in the hidden excavation site, the self-proclaimed Digimon Lord Yamacus was brooding over his scientific notes. Most of his employees had already left for the night.
Yamacus couldn't concentrate. He wanted to find a way to improve the force field that was containing Belphemon, so his scientists had a bit more time, but he always had to think of Riley.
Whatever did she see in that brat DemiDevimon? He could digivolve as much as he wanted, he was still an immature brat on the inside.
Suddenly, thunderous footsteps made the cave shake, and some small pebbles fell down from the ceiling. A damped roar could be heard from the entrance of the tunnels.
Yamacus looked up from his notes for a while. 'Ah, so they're back! Finally!'
One of his guards entered the big main cave. "Sir, the Hybrid Warriors have returned."
"I know. Send their leader in."
"Right away, sir!"
Shortly after, a small, canine Digimon with blue fur entered. She was female and wore a black headband, a pair of small boxing gloves and a black vest. Around her neck, a small silver pendant that resembles a cross was dangling.
Yamacus turned around to face her. "Ah, Gaomon! Good to see you again!"
She saluted. "Sir, we have returned from the lab ruins!"
"I heard as much. Can't Ivan turn back when he's about to enter a cave or building?"
She smirked. "Sorry about that. He just feels more comfortable in that form."
Yamacus sighed. "Very well. Did you find what I asked you to bring me?"
"We sure have," Gaomon nodded and pulled out a small, strange-looking device. "It took us some time, but in the end, we found it: The Mind Control Thingy!"
"Don't call it that. It's a highly complicated, technological piece of art that only a brilliant man as your grandfather could have invented."
She shrugged. "Well, he never gave it a name, so I call it that. I always have."
"It's not a thingy!"
"Hey, everything can be a thingy!", she protested.
Yamacus decided not to argue anymore and took the Mind Control Thingy from his ally. "I assume the three of you had no trouble with your Digivolution process?"
"Nope!" She shook her head. "It all worked out just fine. I'm really glad to be able to digivolve after such a long time, I can tell you. Kouki and Ivan feel the same, I'm sure."
"Good to see you in such good spirits," Yamacus smiled. "I haven't seen you like this ever since your grandfather..."
He stopped himself when he saw the happy smile of the Rookie turning into a sad frown.
"I apologize," he said. "That was uncalled for."
"It's okay," the Hybrid sighed. "I'm trying to get used to the fact that he's dead. I mean, it has been several years since that accident... but I'm glad for what he did to me. And I'm proud to be his granddaughter."
"You should be," Yamacus nodded. "After all, he was the first man to create Human-Digimon-Hybrids. I would have never thought of creating my own army of Hybrids if your grandfather didn't give me the proper inspiration. What reminds me... did you find any of his research records?"
Gaomon shook her head. "I'm sorry... I searched through the whole lab, but you know it's completely ruined. I wouldn't wonder if his notes have been destroyed along with the laboratory."
"Dang it!" he cursed. "I was hoping to create a few Hybrid clones from that blood I extracted from you and that Kazu boy we had captured... but I have the feeling, as long as we don't find your grandfather's records, you and the other two will be the only Hybrids that aren't born naturally."
"Won't Belphemon be enough?" she asked. "Now, that you have the Mind Control Thingy, you won't have much trouble controlling him, right?"
"Yes... but I was always hoping I could leave him as a final resort."
"Don't worry too much about it... and don't stay up for too long. It's not good for your health."
Yamacus smirked as she turned around to leave. "You know, I'm very glad you are on our side. Say, did you ever toy with the idea of joining the Tamers, after the incident with Dobermon?"
She stood still. "No. Not after he sacrificed himself. I mean, he had always been able to smell that I'm not just a human. I guess that's what kept him from accepting me as a true Tamer..."
She looked back over her shoulder with a wink. "But what's past is past, right? No use mourning over what happened in the future, eh?"
Yamacus chuckled. "Maybe. I have to keep that in mind. Thanks."
"No problem, sir! Good night!"
"Good night, Alice!"
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(Posted Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:52)
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