Renamon and Reppamon sat down at the table, while Guardromon gave them their menus. The robot coughed. "Um... would you like something to drink?"
"I'd like some water, please," Renamon said.
Reppamon chuckled. "Just water? Waiter, please bring us the best wine your house has to offer."
"W-well, certainly, but... are you sure? I m-mean, the price is pretty..."
Guardromon caught the stern glance of his boss and swallowed. "Um, right away, sir!" And he left the pair alone.
"You didn't have to do that," Renamon said with a nervous blush. "I haven't drunk alcohol before, you know..."
"Relax, it's delicious," Reppamon said. "Try it. As for the steep price, don't worry, I can afford it. You are invited, remember?" He leaned across the table and smiled at her. "I'm so glad you actually came... so I want to make it up to you by making this into the best evening of your life."
"I... I'm not sure if I deserve that..." Renamon muttered. "Besides, I'm still so young..."
"You are pretty mature for your age," Reppamon protested. "And your mother clearly stated that you are old enough. Besides, I'm just still a Rookie at our special squad..."
"What?" Renamon was confused. "That's not true, you are clearly a Champion!"
Reppamon laughed. "No, I don't mean it like that. I meant to say that I am just a newbie. Sure, I am your father's partner, but... actually, I am feeling more like his assistant... the mission with Myotismon was the first big task they gave me... and even then your father didn't approve of it." He sighed and looked down. "I guess he still thinks that I am still wet behind the ears."
"That's not true," Renamon insisted. "I've seen you fight, you are clearly an opponent your enemies have to watch out. And you are much mature than I am! Rika's... I mean, Rika's and my father never came for a visit before... not often, anyways... and every time I see him, the only thing I hear from him is: 'You are not old enough to fight other Digimon'."
Reppamon smirked. "Looks like we have the same problem, huh? But let'S talk about something else. I want you to enjoy this evening." He took the menu and Renamon did the same. "Hmmm, the liver pate looks fine..."
Shortly afterwards, Guardromon arrived and brought the wine. He offered it to them in his bulky, metal hand. "Here you are," he said. "Château Digital, the best red wine from the Digital World, made of the finest grapes growing on the vineyards in Ebonwumon's Domain." He poured the wine into two fine glasses. "May I take your orders?" he then asked in a nervous, but professional voice.
Renamon looked at the menu. "Oh, I guess I'll just take a salad..."
"Just a salad?" Reppamon chuckled. "Rena, you are my guest. You can order anything from the menu, and you just choose a simple salad?" He looked at Guardromon. "We take the liver pate for two persons, with the cream and the herb sauce. And as a starter, two Gourmand Bouillons, please."
"Certainly, sir!" Guardromon nodded. Renamon started to feel like her own opinion didn't matter. But then again, she kinda liked the way how Reppamon ordered the finest drinks and food, just for her.
She looked down at her wine. "I've never drunk stuff like this before..." she murmured.
Reppamon took his glass with his front paw. "Well, there's a first time for everything, right? And if you don't like it, I tell the waiter to bring you some water. Deal?"
She smirked. "Deal."
They raised their glasses to their lips. Reppamon smiled. "To the best evening... for the most beautiful Digimon I have met in my life."
Renamon blushed. Together, they took a sip from the wine. The taste was unusual, but not unpleasant. Actually, she found herself taking another sip.
"That... tastes nice," she admitted.
Reppamon smirked. "See? I knew you'd like it. But be careful not to drink the whole bottle - your mother's going to kill me if I bring her daughter back home drunk."
Renamon laughed. Slowly, her nervousness faded away and she really started to enjoy herself immensely. Especially after they started eating. The food was delicious, the wine was exquisite and she was in the company of a handsome, polite and charming, male Digimon. What else could she ask for?
She was surprised when she asked herself that question. Up until now, she had dedicated her whole life to fighting Digimon, so could become stronger, and to protect her Tamer (turned sister). But ever since she had become a part of Rika's family, she felt... accepted. Not just by Rika, by this whole society of humans and Digimon. True, this society was partly created by the powers of the RPG Maker, but...
Right now, she was having fun. She felt relaxed. She felt happy. And, most important of all, she felt LOVED.
She felt that Reppamon had fallen in love with her, even if she didn't know where that feeling came from. But did she love him in return? He was a nice guy, true, but she was a fighter, not a lover. What did she know about these feelings?
After their meal, Renamon put down the fork and sighed. "This was the best meal I ever had in my life," she admitted.
Reppamon smirked. "I knew it. Do you want a dessert?"
Renamon smiled and shook her head. "No, thank you! I am stuffed... it was delicious, but I can't eat a single thing anymore."
"No problem!" Reppamon said. "Waiter, the bill, please!"
"Certainly, sir!" Guardromon said. He brought the dirty dishes into the kitchen and returned with their bill. "Here you are, sir!" He gave Renamon a wink.
Renamon was sure that for a while, Reppamon's eyes bulged out when he saw the bill, but then he sighed and paid. He even gave Guardromon a generous tip.
"Thank you, sir!" Guardromon smiled. "Have a nice evening!" He gave Renamon the thumbs up and left them.
Reppamon led her outside. It was a pleasant, cool evening. He looked at her. "Do you want to go home right now or do you think your mother would allow it if I invite you for a small walk in the park? It's not too late, and..." He laughed. "I definitely know that you don't have to be afraid of muggers."
"I guess a small after-dinner-walk would be nice," Renamon admitted. "And to get home, I'd have to go through the park anyways..."
"Nonsense, I would have ordered a taxi, of course!" Reppamon said. Again, Renamon had to blush. All that attention and generosity... she wasn't used to it. She looked down at herself. Was she really that attractive to male Digimon? Especially in this restricting dress?
Well, there was one time when she had been admired by a male Digimon... but she had tried to forget that certain event. Vajramon only had admired her power, nothing else. And he had been an unscrupulous brute, unlike Reppamon, who was a true gentleman.
While they were strolling through the park, she looked up at the moon and sighed.
'This... feeling in my chest?' she wondered. 'I never felt it before... but... it feels nice.' She sighed. 'Am I really falling in love? After just one date?'
"It's really a nice evening," Reppamon said. "Don't you agree?"
"Reppamon..." Renamon said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, my love?"
She blushed. He had called her his 'love'...
She shook her head. "Reppamon, I... you are a nice guy, and I really loved this evening... but... there's something I have to ask you."
He looked at her expectantly. "Yes?"
She wanted to ask him if he was certain about his feelings. If she could trust him. If they could do this again some time. But, for some reason... she couldn't bring herself to ask him that.
Instead, she asked: "Is it true that my father and the rest of your team are searching for Barbamon?"
Reppamon looked surprised and disappointed. He certainly did not expect that kind of question, just now. He sighed. "Well... it is true, but... I was told not to give away any classified information."
"I see..." Renamon murmured. She wanted to hit herself. Why did she have to bring up this stupid subject? "It's just that... Takato's mother told him she was helping your unit, and Takato called Rika after he heard it..."
Reppamon snickered. "Looks like we can't keep a secret from your little gang, huh? Well, maybe it's better that you know something is going on... as long as you stay out of it."
Now it was Renamon who felt a bit of disappointment. "Why?" she wondered. "You know I am a good fighter. I can even digivolve to the Ultra Level..."
"That is true," Reppamon admitted. "But, you know... we still have to follow the law. And I hate to say it, but your father's right when he says that legally, you and your sister are still minors."
Renamon turned her look away from him. "Is that what I am to you?" she asked. "Just a minor?"
Reppamon looked appalled. "I... I didn't mean it like that, Renamon!" he said. "Believe me, if there is someone who believes in your abilities such as your sister does, it's me. I saw how you and Rika defeated Myotismon all by yourselves. You even digivolved into Sakuyamon... I was so impressed! But still... I can't let you get involved with this. I'd like to, but I can't!"
"Why?" Renamon asked bitterly. "Because we are only the second generation of Digital Champions? Because we are Hybrids? Because we are CHILDREN?"
'Renamon is aa Hybrid?' Reppamon wondered. He ignored that for now. "Renamon, please, listen to me! It's too dangerous! I could never..."
"Too dangerous?" Renamon snapped. "For those who beat D-Reaper?"
"B-but I could never..." Reppamon stuttered.
"I should have known..." she whispered. A tear was running down her furry face. "You are just like... like my father!" She jumped up into the treetops and vanished from his sight.
Reppamon was tempted to follow her, but somehow, he was frozen to the spot. "I could never... never bear the thought that something... would happen to you," he murmured.
He didn't know for how long he stayed there, just staring at the spot where Renamon had vanished, before he turned around and went back home.
"Are you... are you certain about this, Dad?" Rika wondered.
Her father, who was sitting across her, next to her mother, nodded. "Yes. I was against it, but... I can't ignore orders from my Sovereign." He sighed. "My superiors at the Digimon Squad will be hopping mad when they hear about this, but I have to do this. Rika... Azulongmon wants you to help us with our search."
"All of a sudden?" Rumiko wondered. "Why?"
"Yeah, why?" Rika asked. "Takato's Mom said we aren't allowed to help."
"That's because Mie didn't talk to... I mean... she didn't know about it. I will inform her and the others later, but..." He looked at his younger daughter's face. "I wanted you to be the first ones to know it."
"Dad..." Rika murmured. Could it be that he finally had a change of heart?
They all looked up in surprise when suddenly, they heard a loud noise coming from Rika's and Renamon's room.
"What's that?" Taomon asked.
"I think Sis has come home!" Rika smiled and ran back to her room.
Rumiko smiled. "That girl... I simply can't teach her to use doors. Oh well, as long as she had a good time with Reppamon..."
Taomon paled. "Reppamon?" he gasped. "With MY daughter?"
Rika wanted to enter the room, when she heard soft sobbing. She froze. That was more than unusual. Renamon never sobbed. "R-renamon?" She softly knocked. "Can I come in?"
Renamon replied with a muffled "Sure..." and Rika entered, closing the door behind her.
She sat down next to her distraught sister. Renamon was lying on her bed, her beautiful dress was lying on the floor, in the corner of the room.
"What happened?" Rika asked in a comforting voice.
"Oh, nothing!" Renamon sobbed. "I just had the most wonderful evening in my life."
Rika blinked. "What?"
"And then... that JERK of a Digimon had to destroy it!" Renamon cried.
Rika stroked her sister's fur, but when her thoughts went to Reppamon, an icy grimace appeared on her face. The next time she met that four-legged jerk, she would have a word with him...
Outside of the room, Taomon took his ear away from the door and snarled. "Reppamon..." he growled. "What did that boy do to my daughter?"
Inside his dark cage, BioCalumon snickered with glee. "Excellent..." he whispered. "There's nothing more satisfying than destroying a young couple's happiness..."
True, it was a bit risky when he changed the course of the game's story... but all he had to do was to put a certain thought into Renamon's head when she wanted to ask Reppamon for his feelings. Which led to the question she asked him. Everything else just happened naturally.
Bio grinned. "Emotions are so easily manipulated," he chuckled. "And hearts are so fragile... yes, I will make every single one of them suffer for the problems they are causing."
He then thought back to Kei. "As for you, my dear little plant... your pain will be the worst of them all. And I will enjoy it... oh yes, how I will enjoy it..."
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(Posted Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:05)
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