Digital Destiny - Chapter one
Blake would never be able to comprehend what had transpired that night. An event that would forever change his life for the better occurred, but was the young man truly ready to adopt such immense responsibilities?
Author's ramblings
You pal Ren is happy to present you a special tale on this awesome IRAD (International Renamon Appreciation Day). I can't believe I made it just in time. Being such a big fan of Renamon myself, I felt as if this would be an opportunity to work with something a bit different. So, I thought I would try my luck with this lovely Digimon everyone loves.
As always, the format of this story is the same: character development and a growing romantic interest between two individuals to be found within. Oh, and let's not forget about the naughty scenes either, right? Haha. =3
I worked very hard to get this done for this night. Hopefully, it turned out not too bad. I'd love some feedback if you liked this one.
All right, be sure to go and thank Yawg over on FurAffinity for this awesome holiday and then, get reading, my dear fuzzies!
P.S.: Please note that I do not own this thumbnail. The full image can be seen over here: [link] and was used with the artist's permission. Additionally, the Renamon in this picture is in no way related to the Renamon in this story and should be treated as a reference only. Thank you.
Digital Destiny
Chapter one
"That was delicious, Emma. As always."
"Thank you. I'm glad you liked it, brother."
They were both completely full, very satisfied by the meal she had cooked. Blake's sister would prepare a succulent meal for both of them almost every evening without fail. He knew how to produce a few edible things, but it could never be compared to Emma's culinary genius. She would not hesitate to show off every once in a while to put emphasis on that fact. Yet, despite her occasional cockiness, she was the most caring sibling the young man could ever wish for and her kindness never failed to shine through her actions. She did seem a little bit too protective of him at times, on the other hand.
He idly twirled his fork against the empty plate laid in front of him as he thought about the near future. Next week, Emma would be moving out of the apartment both had shared for two long years. He was positive it would feel empty and sort of dull without her cheerful self around. Blake was happy for his big sister, however, since this meant she would go and live with her dear boyfriend. Despite his best efforts, Blake's sadness would unintentionally escape him. He looked away when he met Emma's tender gaze, his hint of jealousy fairly perceptible in his eyes.
"You'll be fine, don't worry," she told him, her eyes observing him.
He was not surprised that she had read his mind. He had been feeling like this ever since she had announced her near departure a few days ago and truly, it was difficult for him to conceal his saddened mood effectively. She rose up from her seat and approached him. Putting her palms onto his shoulders, she kissed his cheek and massaged him briefly. He smiled back at her and stood up as well before they would go do the dishes together.
"I'll go play some video games after this," she declared. "Would you like to join me?"
"Maybe some other time. I had a rough day at work. You go ahead and have fun, all right? I'll go have a bit of a rest."
They finished their current chore before going into their respective room. Usually, they would spend the rest of the day together, but ever since the older sibling had announced she was moving out, their usual merriness was lacking. Secretly, he wished she could stay with him, but his logic dictated otherwise. This would be the perfect occasion to show how responsible and organized he was and in fact, he would be just fine, hopefully. Perhaps he could find a lover as well and experience a different lifestyle if luck would permit it.
He reclined onto his bed and placed his hands behind his head, which was turned towards the open window on his right. He closed his eyes and let the subtle and nightly breeze take hold of him for a moment. There happened to be a dense forest located behind the apartment complex he lived in. Ever since their very first day in this residence, the siblings had found refuge in this peaceful environment whenever they felt distressed. It was also the ideal place if one needed a brief session of calming ecotherapy in the woods nearby.
The young man opted for this option after a brief instant of deliberation. Some fresh air would be beneficial. He went to his sister's room and peeked in; she was already tucked in her covers, a small console in her hands. He told her of his plan to go to the forest so she would not be surprised by his absence if she required his presence.
"I'll go take a short walk into the woods. It should do me some good, I think."
She never objected to the activity, knowing her brother needed it from time to time in order to keep sane:
"Sounds good. Stay safe, Blake."
He would take a deep breath, holding in the soothing scent of the pine forest for a moment before releasing it, feeling temporarily cleansed. The power of nature itself could be so influential; he felt as if he were becoming one with the trees as the nightly wind gently caressed his face and robbed him of his worries. The human sat on a trunk, looking zen as he interiorly wrestled with some of his torment.
Between the tree tops, a few stars could be seen way up high, unhindered by any cloud whatsoever. He remained in this position, observing and admiring the vastness of the firmament. Somehow, the activity was very soothing, eliminating various worries and concerns within his mind. The many constellations of the Milky Way smiled upon him, their intricate designs calculated by the young man for a moment. He would one day try to learn more about the wonderful mysteries of the observable universe. It was during this precise instant of reminiscence that a curious thing happened.
A fantastically bright and rapid light flew across the forest, zigzagging between the treetops as it produced some sort of hissing as it went. It exposed itself only for an instant, but was quickly out of sight. It had disappeared as quickly as it had manifested itself. The human froze on the spot as he wondered if he was hallucinating.
A whole minute passed before the very same oddity reemerged from the shadows, yet this time, it flew even lower and was heading straight for Blake. He put his arms in front of him in a protective reflex, but rather than blast against him, the light began to circle around him, accelerating faster and faster until he could no longer keep track of the enigma that orbited him.
The man's eyes grew wider as an odd feeling began to appear within his chest. There was no pain, but a bizarre discomfort grew within as the phenomenon suddenly vanished in an immensely bright flash, which blinded him momentarily. The strange sensation then got stronger and moved to reach his right shoulder. Gradually, it descended down his arm and he began to panic as a result of the confusion this anomaly cast upon him.
Finally, just as the human grabbed his forearm, the thing made its way to his hand, where it stopped for a few seconds. He winced as the weirdness literally surged out of his palm like a violent thunderbolt of hurtfulness, causing him to let out a painful shout. Before he could recover from the detrimental infliction, a second bolt came out, rapidly followed by a third and final intense dart of lightning.
A burning sensation occurred and remained onto Blake's palm. He was shocked when he reopened his eyes, only to be blinded by the oddity that had came out of his limb. It was still there, in front of him. Rather than disappear like any source of illumination, the hurtful thunderbolt that was created remained into the air, hovering a few feet off the ground. Then, it began to expend and reveal a deep purplish coloration within. The element was surrounded by a frame of active and bolting energy. The whole spectacle was immensely illuminant compared to the darkness of the night forest and it seemed to be highly unstable just as well. It was burdensome to stare at the phenomenon, but the human's curiosity proved to be much more important than his safety during this exact moment.
Suddenly, a booming noise could be heard and an even brighter flash occurred, effectively pushing Blake into the opposite direction and causing him to fall on his back as he tripped on the trunk he sat on previously. He forced himself to cover his eyes and clenched his teeth, awaiting some sort of physical retribution from the whirling and visibly unstable anomaly. Instead, there was a loud thump, accompanied by an audible and feminine moan. Then... nothing but the most insecure silence reigned in the area, the nightmare long gone, perhaps.
Blake struggled as his vision slowly grew accustomed to the darkness once more. A mix of fear and interest dominated his mind, unsure about what had just transpired. For a moment, he thought he had just awoken from a nap or one heck of a daydreaming session, but he was convinced otherwise when his gaze would finally notice that something, or rather someone, was sprawled onto the grassy soil not too far ahead of him.
He completely halted on the spot when he saw who was there, right in front of his eyes. This familiar body type, the yellowish and white fur, those elegant sleeves.... there was not a single doubt about it. A Renamon was there, on the ground, in this world, on his planet. He wanted to say something or react appropriately, but the amazement of the appearance overwhelmed him and the pain he felt in his palm, part of his mind unwilling to even believe what he was seeing.
Slowly, he stepped forward and walked towards the motionless Digimon. He then crouched by her side and examined her, dumbfounded still. He had to slap himself twice in order to be fully convinced he was not fantasizing. Happiness would invade him in the first place, the thought of meeting a very desired idol clouding his judgment and drawing a grin on his face, but unfortunately, the positive emotions were quickly replaced by a great deal of worry. The creature was immobile after all and although she did not look hurt, she was not looking conscious.
He hesitated a few seconds and then seized the kitsune by her shoulders, lifting her upper body slightly. He listened closely and observed her torso for a moment, trying to perceive a sign that she was still breathing. A huge relief consumed him when he noticed that she was indeed alive. Thankfully , it appeared as if she had only fainted. Still, he was clueless as to what he needed to do. The human could evidently not bring her to a hospital, the poor Digimon would be treated as an alien, which would not be entirely false, but still, her appearance should remain a secret by all means. What would people think if they laid their eyes upon such a wondrous and extraordinary individual? The surprising amount of pilling responsibilities acted as a terrifying burden for Blake, the poor clueless guy was disoriented enough as it were.
In any case, he could not leave the vixen in this location. It was his duty to help her in the best of his capabilities. He let out an alleviating sigh as he recollected himself, deciding that he should firstly examine the lady before carrying her out of the woods just to be safe. He deposited her upper body back down onto the soil, removing some branches and placing a few leaves under her head to suppress any annoyance the forest ground may have caused.
He began his novice medical evaluation with her foot paws. He rotated them and mainly looked to see if any sign of trauma or blood could be spotted. Gradually, he went upwards, her feral legs showing no evident sign of wounds either. Her fur made it fairly troublesome to perceive any injury, but in all honesty, nothing serious was to be discovered on her legs. The young man blushed as his sight reached the Digimon's lush thighs. They were round and each were marked by a purplish symbol that reminded him of two circling flames. These patterns were a formality for the Renamon species, but it averred to be much more appealing because they were materialized before him. Still, they were slightly different than what he had expected to see. Perhaps were there minimalist differences in any given Renamon's markings? A viable theory, but its validity clearly not to be tested for the time being.
His examination continued and he reached her luscious, curvy hips. Their deliciousness was accentuated by how thin she was, her sides showing a lovely slenderness. It was too hard to restrain his will to touch her, feel her to see if she were warm and safe. When he did place his palm upon the central band of white fur that covered her front, he was grateful to notice she was breathing in a relaxed manner still, showing stability in her condition. No manifestation of pain or bodily discomfort existed so far, even when he gently rested his palm upon her. He then looked higher, still trying to find any sign of physical damage.
The large, typical white mane that covered her chest was present, as expected from a member of her species. He briefly admired its length and how wonderfully luxuriant it looked. White as the snow and arguably the most comfortable surface ever, it really added a lot of charm to the kitsune. It was indubitably larger and puffier than what he would have originally thought, but he did not have the time to feel clueless because of the obvious usefulness this particular part of her coat exhibited.
Partly hiding under her puffy fur, two big breasts could be seen. They were concealed by the mane in such a special manner that only her underboobs could be observed, the majority of her mounds unseen, along with her cleavage. Lifting her fur would probably expose her intimacy, but such an action was highly forbidden according to the human's morals. Still, he could not deny the fact that her bosom was highly generous, from what he could see. He gulped and shook his head, feeling light headed at the thought. Who could blame the dedicated fan?
When he arrived to her neck, he parted the white fur to see if everything looked fine. He gently held the back of her head and was about to keep on scanning, but was astonished instead as his eyes met her gaze. She was looking right at him with a weak stare, her sight set on his own. He felt a knot form inside his throat, desperately attempting to say something, anything, but to no avail. He would feel her fox paw seize his wrist while she began to close her eyes. The grip she maintained was initially sharp, but lost all of its strength as the kitsune fell back into a state of unconsciousness, a small and cryptic whisper escaping her lips as she did.
He was temporarily fazed by the event, but somehow felt as if his sense of responsibility doubled. Even though the whole event could prove to be the start of a very demanding duty, he was glad that whatever occurred this evening had happened to him and to no one else. What if the fox had materialized in the middle of the city? He dared not to think about the scenario and nodded to himself as he took the fox lady in his arms. Now, it was time to show how trustful and capable he was. He had unofficially become a Digimon tamer and he needed to prove to himself he was righteous for the title.
He had been quick in carrying the Digimon back to his apartment complex. Covered by his coat, only her legs were showing as the human opted to transport her in a piggyback fashion. She was higher in stature than he expected and in fact, she was a few inches taller than him. Fortunately for them both, the night's darkness helped immensely in being stealthy. He had been quick to move, lucky enough not to cross anyone on his way back. The bigger challenge presented itself when he reached the door leading to his home. Slowly, he opened the door and peeked in. There was not any sign of Emma anywhere. Perhaps was she still resting in her room? He hoped so with every ounce of his soul.
He tiptoed all the way across the hall and into his bedroom, the Digimon producing a quiet moan as he went. Now of all times was evidently not the moment for the mystical creature to regain her senses. He then closed the door behind him and delicately placed the fainted creature onto his bed. A long sigh escaped him as he briefly stretched and enjoyed the success of the crafty operation.
It was a lot nicer to see her here than sprawled out in the woods. She could at least be more comfortable over in this housing. He sat down on his computer chair, spinning it around in order to gaze upon the yellow fox. She looked peaceful and serene. He wished she could rest for the entire night and recuperate from her experience. Being teleported from another world must not have been the most relaxing event one could go through.
He used this precious moment to cover the Renamon with a blanket. He pulled the fabric until it covered her body, all the way to her neck and where the white mane sprouted from. He imagined this would be the better thing to do. He sat closer and grinned in delight when the Digimon turned her head in her sleep, unconsciously facing him. One thing caught his attention when he noticed the marks located under her eyes. The light in his room could permit him to see that the purplish shape were not exactly identical to the ones drawn onto the Renamon he knew so well. Rather than having two purple "W" under each optic socket, there were some kind of check marks instead. These also leaned more towards a pink coloration, when compared to the darker marks he recalled from the general depiction of her kind.
He quickly searched for some pictures on his computer before gently lifting the blanket that covered her legs. Upon a closer inspection, the symbols on her thighs also lightly differed from the norm, as he had noticed in the forest. Admittedly, these elements were clear proofs that there was a possibility that Renamon were characterized by subtle differences within their own species, just like how humans could have several skin tones, hair color and eyes, just to give out a few examples. This fascinated Blake and made him feel immensely privileged to be in the company of the particular Renamon he had stumbled upon. He wondered what sort of personality lived in her. Her species was usually noble, respectful and modest of their great power. He smiled and wished for this to ring true in his Digital guest.
The young man then exited the room and went to check on his sister. When he looked through the little crack between door and its frame, he saw that she was already asleep, a book folded and still in her hands. A good thing, he thought, since it would have been undesirable to have her wander around too much. Blake really trusted his sister, but he was unsure whether or not her reaction concerning the vixen's materialization would be positive. He was not even certain if she knew what a Renamon was in the first place and feared she might have reacted very badly, terrified even. He, himself, was well aware about many things when it came to this Digimon species and in fact, he had a fond affection towards many traits surrounding her species in general, but it was a whole different ordeal now that she was... well, real. He shut the light in her room and then closed her door completely before he went to the kitchen in order to bring back some food and water to his own bedroom.
He placed the goods on his end table and sat down with his back against the bed. Despite the troubles and problems surrounding what had happened to him tonight, Blake could not deny that he felt overjoyed deep down to have set his gaze upon such a marvelous and enigmatic being. He was not completely aware of what exactly had transpired, but a little noise behind him extracted him from his thoughts.
When he turned around to check on the creature, he was baffled to see she was looking back at him, sitting on his desk as she patiently awaited a reaction from him. How did she even slip out of bed without alerting him was too complex for him to reflect about during this precise instance.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, placing a hand on his chest. "You... You're awake!"
She kept silent and gave him a minute or two to recollect himself. She imagined it must have been quite the sudden burst of astonishment to see her on her feet. She took this opportunity to decipher what sort of person he appeared to be. She possessed a brief and hazy image of his face from their earliest meeting in the woods, but her memory was fairly hazed. She had emitted the hypothesis that she shared some sort of relation to him because of the food and water he had left for her to consume, but an explication was in order nonetheless. She spoke when he seemed ready to hear her harmonic voice.
"I have questions," she calmly declared. "But I have a greater patience."
Blake could quickly see in a single statement that the creature in his bedroom was highly intelligent and indubitably wise. In a way, he felt unintentionally diminished by her sole presence and the calm, womanly tone she used. When his eyes dared to stare into hers for a moment, he would notice her expression soften and to a certain extent, start to show kindness and understanding towards him. She had probably already figured out the circumstances of their meeting. Perhaps had she also felt the young man's emotion as well, for she unfolded her arms and leaned a little towards him to show she was interested in him and his general well-being.
"I'm g-glad to see you're doing better," he could finally say. "How are you feeling right now?"
It was difficult to see if the Digimon was smiling under her muzzle, but her amused expression did a good job in reassuring the young man.
"Tired and shaken, but I believe I should recover fairly soon. Thank you for your concern, human."
He nodded and tried not to show too much submission, disempowered by the sheer intimidation he felt as her deep blue eyes observed him without a break. Perhaps was she curious of his presence?
"Tell me, what is your name?" she asked.
"I'm Blake! It's really super really nice to really meet you finally!"
He was nervous and wanted to slap his forehead as his words seemed as if they shoved one another whilst they blurted out of his mouth, but he was extremely appreciative of this phenomenal moment nonetheless. It would be a meeting he would not forget anytime soon, comprehensively enough.
"And you're Renamon, right?"
What a stupid question. It made the kitsune smirk quietly under her vulpine muzzle and aim a tender expression towards him. She seemed a little shy, but pleased nonetheless before his enthusiasm. He imagined it might have been just as mystifying for her to make his acquaintance. Humans were exceptionally rare and perhaps inexistent in her own world, according to his limited knowledge.
"I am indeed a Renamon, as you probably already know. Nevertheless, it is pleasant to hear this from you."
She paused.
"Have you got any idea as to what might have possibly transpired?"
"I'm... not really sure what happened and I don't think I can answer all of your questions, but I'll tell you everything I know so far, Miss Renamon."
"Just Renamon will do, Blake."
He grinned and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh, I just have to make sure I treat my guest adequately, r-right? You're the Digimon Queen after all..."
She seemed to cherish the compliment and as a result, they were able to break the ice without too much trouble. Their mutual open-mindedness helped as the human began to explain and describe what had ensued earlier this night to the best of his abilities. The vixen listened attentively and placed a paw under her muzzle as a clear perplexity invaded her mind. The tale of the blinding light intrigued them both and after some deliberation, it could be concluded that the happening might have been the materialization of a portal between their respective dimensions.
Renamon could recall being blinded herself while she was still in her own world, but things had happened so quickly that she could not remember how she had been abducted and transported to Earth. The phenomenon had been tiring enough for her to faint, but she had luckily been summoned within a safe environment and by someone that averred to be somewhat familiar with the existence of her kind. This made them philosophize for a full hour about fate and if this meeting was a result of either sheer luck or pure randomness. Perhaps were there a deeper reason to this exceptional occurrence? A mystifying fact came to light when the Digimon noticed the odd marking located in the young man's hand.
"Your palm... what happened to it?" she asked.
He turned his open hand towards himself and gazed upon what had appeared during the summoning. There was a light burning feeling in that specific spot ever since he had exited the forest, but as he took a minute to properly examine his limb, he became puzzled before the sight presented to both of them. On the inside of his limb, a symbol had been somehow stamped, or perhaps burned into his skin. The strange symbol of what appeared to be dueling flames, circling together in harmony in an endless waltz could be spotted. The shape was identical to the ones present on the Renamon's thighs. In an odd, yet definitive fashion, the mark illustrated that there was, beyond a doubt, a tie between the two individuals.
"Is it hurting?"
"Not that much," he replied despite the evident discomfort he felt in his palm as he poked it with his other index finger. "I'm guessing this really makes it official, then. Are we... partners?"
She remained motionless, her stare doing the talking and observing Blake as he eventually found the answer to his pondering. She expected some sort of victory dance from his part or perhaps a joyous exclamation, but rather than immediately celebrating over the fact that the seal represented their inevitable bond, the human showed a very appreciable maturity:
"Are you okay with that, Renamon? I would like to know your take on this... this crazy thing that's happening to us right now."
His concern for her personal opinion would be enough by itself to make her decide if she willed to be his Digimon. She found that chivalrous and honorable of him, qualities she revered herself. She then kneeled before him and lowered her head as she brought a paw to her chest.
"It would be my honor to be your guardian, Tamer. I shall protect you with my life and care for you above all others."
She awaited his approval, but the overly loyal promise proved to be slightly too much for the young man.
"Re... Renamon, it's fine, please don't promise anything like that! I'm not your master, right?"
"You are," she corrected. "The mark speaks for itself and I also want it wholeheartedly."
"But... I can't accept this, I want you to be free and live a good life, Renamon."
"Blake."
Her tone was authoritarian and serious. Her eyes would penetrate him on a level that would make him stop protesting altogether. An explanation was in order for what the Digimon thought had occurred.
"Hear what I say, human. Your summoning could mean many things, but according to the legends of old, it is very well possible that you were in need of a guardian or a presence in your life in order to continue with the paths you have taken so far. In other words, the summoning might have happened because I could help you on a metaphysical level. Whether I have to offer guidance, protection or simple happiness, it would be of the greatest honor for me to fulfill my role. I am a powerful being and by your side, I shall prove to be the strongest and most-"
"Superb friend I would even need," he cut.
"Friend?" she repeated.
"Yes," he solemnly said. "I am no warrior, nor am I some sort of hero and, well, it would mean so much if you were just... there for me, Renamon. If you really must be part of my life, then I really want us to have a good bond, you know?"
She reflected upon his words for a moment, feeling a true sincerity in what he had decided. As a Digimon, it occurred to her that such a relation could be highly beneficial for their mutual understanding and it could, moreover, prove to be a source of happiness at the same time. It surely was peculiar compared to the average partnership of a tamer and Digimon, but his demand rang true in her mind. She also pondered about some of her most personal concerns of fate, destiny and purpose, but it would have to wait, for she did not wish to delay her partnership any longer.
"I accept," she told him, lowering her head gravely. "We definitely will have to work together if we want to have a better comprehension of the other and a healthy friendship shall be advantageous and valuable to our tamer and Digimon relation."
"I agree; it will be really..."
He cocked his head as she petrified, the entirety of her body immobilizing itself as her ears perked up. He was about to ask her what was wrong, but the very subtle pace of someone walking nearby made him think otherwise. The peculiar and disorganized steps immediately let him know that it was his sister who was moving about. He began to panic when the sounds became clearer; she was making her way to his room.
"Quick, under there!" he whispered as he pulled the bed covers up into the air and the kitsune jumped in without a second thought.
There was absolutely no time for any protest and the Digimon held her breath as she was completely covered and in the dark. The young man joined her and reclined next to her, his head poking out of the bed sheets. She heard his gasp as three knocks were heard on the door. She then felt him grab her tail, which had been leisurely dangling by the side of the mattress, quickly stuffing it between the two of them as the sister made her entrance.
"Hey Blake, I-"
"H-h-h-hi sis!" he nervously greeted.
"Hey, were you busy in there?"
He clenched his fists as she looked by his side, where something quite obvious had been hidden beneath the covers. He felt defeated when the young woman observed it for a moment.
"I can totally explain," he began, sweat starting to appear on his forehead.
"Oh, hey! You finally got that body pillow you were talking about."
He was invaded by the most unusual and soothing confusion he had ever experienced.
"I did," he answered with a long and relieving sigh, feeling liberated from a dangerously heavy weight on his shoulders.
"Were you... busy with it or something? You seem so tense, brother."
He hugged the "pillow" in order to eliminate any doubt the sister could have had, hearing a little surprised gasp as he did.
"Just appreciating it," he vaguely justified with the worse poker face he could produce. "V-very comfy."
She shrugged with a smile, apparently not aware of the subterfuge.
"Anyways, I'm going to a friend's house and I'll sleep over there. Might do some shopping tomorrow morning before I come back too, okay?"
"Sounds good. Have fun, Emma."
"You too," she added with a wink, closing the door behind her. "Be good," she then told him as she departed.
Every single muscle his body possessed relaxed at the same time when the door of the apartment was shut, signifying that he and the Digimon were finally alone and their secret unspoiled because of the greatest of lucks.
"Close one," he huffed as the vixen's head poked out of the covers, showing embarrassment.
"I'm honored to know I am appreciated and comfy... human."
She let out a short chuckle as he came upon the realization that he was still holding the female by the waist, quickly releasing her from his grasp and apologize for the desperate maneuver they had executed. She did not seem to mind, but the human could not show more timidity than he currently projected.
The two individuals talked for some time, gladly sharing some thoughts and opinions before the earliest hours of the next day came and brought a generous fatigue onto the two newly appointed partners. Blake, on his end, saw the highest loyalty and honor in Renamon on her take of their mystical and wondrous link. He felt that he could trust the fox lady with all of his soul, whilst on her part, the kitsune shared the same impression of him despite his clumsy and oddly modest personality. She had met him mere hours ago, but the invisible tie they possessed was more than just a possibility in her eyes. Was this her fate? Could this have been... her purpose?
Emma sat at the kitchen table, her mind elsewhere as she looked outside the window, observing the free world beyond as an excuse to enjoy a break from her studying. Her big calculus exam was tomorrow but as per usual, last minute preparations worked wonders for her. Procrastinating simply was part of her education, she thought. She hummed to herself and closed her eyes, trying to pull herself from the tempting thought of going outside and leaving her homework behind.
Still, despite being distracted yet again before this stressful test, a different reason was causing her to have less motivation recently. Ever since she had announced her intention to move out, her brother had been less happy. On top of that, he had begun acting very strangely since a few days. She wondered if she had done or said anything that might have hurt him. He was not allowing her inside of his room anymore, worrying her plenty.
Was he the victim of bullying at work? Had he began taking illicit substances in excess? Plenty of dark scenarios emerged in her head and the more she reflected on those spooky thoughts, the more worried she became. Being the curious and loving sister she was, an investigation was in order. With Blake working, she would have practically all day to seek the source of her brother's bizarre demeanor. That was almost a promise she made to herself.
She stood up and walked to Blake's room. Without a second thought, she opened the door and peeked inside. The room was cleaner than the usual, with the exception of a pile of plates near his desk. It seemed as if they were used very recently. There were a lot of them; too many for her brother to possibly use, for he never had been such a glutton. The human began to search for clues as to what might have caused the coldness in Blake. She opened drawers, searched under furniture and even took a peak under the bed mattress. Nothing was to be seen and the girl began to feel despair, but right then, a subtle and almost inaudible sound was heard coming from the closet.
Stepping closer, the sibling hesitated before opening the two sliding wooden doors. It was evidently impossible that something lurked within, of course, but just peeking in to see what had made the noise would not hurt, right? Her hands gripped the knobs firmly and in one quick and decided motion, she slammed the closet open, revealing quite the unexpected find.
Some sort of yellowish and otherworldly creature was standing there, in-between two vests. It was tall and her body type would have been difficult to describe in this moment of pure fear. It looked very serious despite its surprised expression. It was clothed by two purple sleeves and not much else, her vulpine and furry self well in view. It was perfectly immobile, not moving a muscle except for her tail, which wagged from one side to another peacefully. The young woman was petrified when her gaze met the kitsune's profound stare.
"Ah... hello," it calmly pronounced, only to be greeted by the loudest shriek the human could produce.
"EEEEEK! EEEEEEEEEEK!"
What a tiring day this had been. Blake never found himself upset when the end of a hard shift was finally reached. The walk home had been soothing for the most part, but as the young man got closer to his apartment, his usual stress would arise. It was difficult to keep his secret safe, especially with his sister's curiosity and concern. Sometimes, he wanted to simply tell Emma about Renamon and be over with all of the tension the situation caused, but he was not certain about how to approach the issue and how she would react to the kitsune's existence. She would probably think the Digimon was an alien of some sort. He tried to ignore the thought when he arrived home, feeling fatigued enough as it were. Her sister was speaking with someone when he stepped in the habitation. He believed she was probably on the phone with a friend.
His eyes widened when he recognized Renamon's collected and noble tone. He stood still, trying to see if he were mistaken, but upon focusing on the conversation, there was no doubt that Emma was indeed talking with the vixen. He was petrified.
"Oh, Blake! Come in!" the sibling said, having heard him close the door.
He hesitated for a few seconds, but then made his way to the kitchen where the two girls sat. Renamon sheepishly looked at Blake when they made eye contact, whilst Emma was turned around, some sort of goofy, yet triumphant smile on her lips. He made his way to them and sat at the table, his sister engaging the conversation as soon as the exasperated sigh he released ended.
"Looks like you got some explaining to do, bro," she jested, poking his leg with her toes. "You could have just told me; Rena and I are BFFs, now! Isn't that right, Rena?"
The Digimon looked down at her steaming cup of coffee and brought it to her muzzle to take a sip, excusing herself from commentating on the statement. From what the young man could tell, the two girls had the chance to socialize and get to know one another during the day after their encounter. It reassured him in a way, but he also felt an immense guilt from hiding the vixen away from his own sister when he noticed just how friendly the two girls seemed to be towards one another.
Emma was surely about to deliver him a sermon, but seeing how guilty he looked, she quickly changed her mind and rose from her seat. He felt more secure when she chose to hug him tightly instead.
"Sorry, I wasn't sure how you would react, sis," the young man said, needing to justify himself.
"It's okay, Blake. I know you did it for everybody's good."
"I apologize to you too, Rena. I did not know if things would work out and all."
The vulpine being nodded in understanding and remained silent.
"So," Blake continued, "guess you girls got to bump into each other earlier today? How did that... go, exactly?"
He was answered by a hearty laugh from his sister, who then went on to describe in which manner the two females had first met. As she explained the tale, everyone seemed to loosen up and get rid of a major amount of stress. Despite the terrifying and highly awkward first moments Renamon and Emma had shared, the young man was relieved to see that it was true that the two of them had quickly became friends. It was a pleasure for the kitsune to tell her mysterious tale and everything she knew about her species and the likes to such a curious and avid listener.
Emma then faced her brother, scolding him in a loosened, yet serious fashion:
"That's not how you should treat your pet, you know? You kept her hidden in your room all week, what sort of caretaker are you?"
The young man willfully accepted the criticism, even if he could see his sister did not completely comprehend the bond he and Renamon shared. He glanced at the vixen, seeking answers. She had nothing for him. Perhaps it would be better to keep the situation as it were; mentioning the mark in his palm would probably worry Emma more than anything else. Blake felt that the Renamon had previously thought about the very same thing.
"You keep your shoes on and take Rena out for a walk right now, okay? Now, go!"
He let out a chuckle and shrugged; there was no way out of this. He was about to take the order lightly, but right then, the Digimon's large and foxy tail began to wag, showing she possessed a peculiar interest in the obligatory activity. He shared a smile with the vulpine creature under the watchful stare of his sister. The digital being then leaned towards the human as he motioned her to get closer. He whispered a few words to her ear and before the other sibling could ask what the mischief was about, the yellowish lady lifted Blake off the ground, only to disappear into thin air, leaving absolutely no trace of their presence. Needless to say, the girl was bewildered by what she had noticed, enough to keep her stunned on her seat, her mouth gaping open in disbelief.
The two individuals materialized on the edge of the woods, taking a few seconds to giggle as they imagined what possible reaction Emma would have had. For a powerful creature such as Renamon, travelling at an outstanding speed was no issue and in fact, it ensured she would remain hidden from plain sight when she moved from one location to another. Unfortunately, the dramatic change in equilibrium was always enough to cause a certain dizziness in the tamer; this time was no different.
"Woah..." he emitted as he was put onto his feet, leaning from one side to the next and waving his arms in an unfruitful attempt to stabilize his body. The Renamon intervened by holding the man's shoulders, but in an unexpected loss of balance, he simply bashed against her form, clinging desperately into some sort of nuzzling position. He found his renewed stability a few seconds later, looking up at the Digimon as he pulled away from her with a small blush on his face.
"Th-there we go," he pronounced.
"Welcome back," the creature replied with a timid smirk.
"It must feel nice to finally see something else than my room all day, uh?"
"It is not like that, Blake."
"Still, I'm really sorry Renamon. I have been a terrible host by keeping you hidden like that."
"I completely understand, Blake, and your fears were valid. Thankfully, your sister reacted well to my existence, in the end. This has been quite the unexpected adventure so far, but I do believe I would have done the same if I were to be in your shoes."
"Thanks," he bowed.
"You room is indubitably comfy, if I may add."
He glanced back at her, eyes glistening under the occasional moving spots of sunlight that pierced throughout the high leaves of the forest.
"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
The Digimon cocked her head and was soon imitated by the human, who had this apologetic expression on his face. For some reason, he looked absolutely adorable during this precise moment. She felt an inexplicable urge to seize both of his hands and tell him everything was fine, but had a stronger will not to do so. She also felt the hasty impulsion of asking him for an irrevocable care towards her to excuse himself, but this was also reduced to mere daydreaming instead. What was precisely going on in her mind made her ponder as she worded out her request:
"If you could simply... treat me well, then I would say we would be even, tamer. Not that you were not doing so in the first place, naturally."
He smiled wide and gave off the impression he wanted to give the vixen a warm hug, but something was keeping him from doing so. Therefore, he put an encouraging palm on her shoulder instead.
"You're so loyal..."
There was a compassion in his voice she had rarely perceived since their very first encounter. Added with the light glistening in his eyes, Renamon felt empowered by the emotions she sensed in her master. She hoped he would soon dare to investigate the growing fondness she possessed for him just as well, for it might just have been reciprocal...