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Description
"Mom?" Ruki hesitated at the door. Her mother fussed over a misplaced hair with a brush.

"What is it, Ruki?" she answered. The stubborn follicle was clearly a major disaster.

"I just wondered... if you had time--"

"I'm very busy! I have a shoot this afternoon and my hair's a mess. God, I look like a tramp!"

Ruki held back her reply. As always, her mother looked radiant and beautiful. "It's okay. It's not important," she mumbled. She turned to walk away. "I just wanted to ask about a dress."

A loud crash accompanied a screech from her mother. The hairbrush hit the floor and various exotic beauty products sprayed across the room as she wheeled around and nearly jumped on her daughter. "You want to ask me about dressing up?"

Ruki felt a wave of nausea. She ignored the reaction and explained. "I... just want to look pretty. You know... just so I know. Not for anything, or anything, n' that. Oh, this is stupid."

"No! No, no, Ruki darling. Of course you do. We'll go out shopping right away. It'll be wonderful fun!"

"I thought you had a shoot?"

Ruki's mom waved a manicured hand dismissively. "It's cancelled. This is much more important!"

Ruki tried to hide the dread in her soul. "Great."

~---~

Mom, shut up! thought Ruki as the constant excited chatter washed over her. She lost count of the number of dresses she tried on. She lost count of the number of stores she visited.

"Oh! This is divine," her mom gushed. "I adore the lace work. I wonder if it's European?"

"Does it matter?" It was impossible to repress an exasperated sigh as her mom fussed over the pink ribbon that held the dress tight across her back.

"Of course it matters, darling! We must insist on a known designer. My daughter won't be roaming around in just any ol' dress."

Ruki examined herself in the long mirror adorning the change room wall. Her reflection surprised the Digimon Tamer. "Wow, this is kinda nice."

"Now, all you need is a matching hat. Oh, then we must find some new shoes. What about makeup? What do you have at home?"

"Mom! I don't wear--"

Screams from outside the change room cut Ruki's reply. Yelling and voices intermingled, but the source of the panic was clear. "A giant yellow monster!"

"It just appeared. Run!"

"Watch out, it'll tear you apart!"

Ruki frowned at the screams. Grabbing her Digivice, she ran out the changing area and into the now deserted store. Dozens of eyes peered through the glass frontage of the designer shop. Every terrified gaze focused on the yellow fox Digimon sprawled across the floor.

"Renamon! You have to stay invisible. Wake up!" she yelled. Anger turned to concern as her partner failed to respond. "Renamon? What's wrong?"

Ruki knelt down next to her friend and placed a hand on her arm. She gasped in shock as she felt the fox quivering. The Digimon opened an eye, but her deep blue iris failed to focus. Her feeble voice was nearly unintelligible.

"Ruki, help me!"

~---~

"I'm sorry, but there's little I can do," explained the doctor. Ruki watched as her grandmother offered the concerned physician tea. Taking a freshly poured cup, he continued. "While Digimon are organic in their makeup, they're not like you and I. They have a data component that somehow binds proteins together. They don't have D.N.A. like us. Honestly, I don't understand her anatomy."

Renamon gave another groan of pain. Her lean frame quaked as the mystery ailment assaulted her. Sprawled on Ruki's bed, her huge feet hung over the low futon. Ruki's grip on her partner's paw never wavered, even though the yellow fox seemed oblivious to her presence.

Tears welled in Ruki's eyes. "She's in agony!"

"Doctor, can you give her something for the pain?" enquired her mother.

The physician shook his head. "I couldn't guess at a dosage. Even what type of painkiller might be effective on a creature who can withstand the kind of punishment Digimon tolerate in battle. As I said, there's little I can do."

The clang of the doorbell interrupted the explanation. "Excuse me," offered Grandma, as she departed to answer the signal.

Rumiko moved to kneel next to her daughter. "We'll do everything we can. I've said before Renamon is part of our family, and nothing has changed. We'll find a way to help her."

All eyes turned as the door opened and Takato, Jen, Terriermon, Guilmon and Jen's father entered. All three young Tamers now knelt by the prostrate fox.

Terriermon sat on Guilmon's head, both peering over the shoulders of the new arrivals. Jen's father bowed to the doctor and asked, "Doctor, have you administered any treatments?"

"No. I've read thesis on the makeup of Digimon, but this needs a specialist who understands the bio-merge process. Understands how these creatures exist, in this world."

"Can you help her, dad?" asked Jen. Ruki could hear the concern in her friend's voice.

"My speciality is digital coding. I understand her code, perhaps even track down what's going on, but I've no idea how to extract it. We need someone who knows the bio-merge process. Who's studied the Digimon evolution since I helped code them, and understands how their organic forms operate in the real world."

The fox shuddered and let out a throttled cry. Ruki felt despair at her partner's suffering and the tears flowed. "Renamon..." she whimpered, the call choking in her throat.

Ruki felt his touch. The warmth of his hand as Takato reached across and gently held her arm. His touch besieged the feelings of helplessness that surrounded her. She wished for more. For a hug, and the chance to expel her pain on his shoulder. The young girl longed to release her fear and bathe in his compassion.

Ruki lifted her head and dared to stare into his eyes as he spoke. "Don't worry, Ruki. We'll find a way. Renamon's the strongest Digimon I've ever seen. She won't give up, and neither will we."

Terriermon agreed, in his own way. "She's the stubbornest, that's for sure."

"Terriermon!" chastised Jen.

"Well, she is."

Ruki smiled and moved to get up. Takato released her arm as she rose. Wiping the tears from her face, Ruki steeled her voice. "So am I. I'm not giving up."

Takato stood. "That's the spirit! Now all we need is a plan."

Jen stood and rested a hand on Guilmon's head. "What about Digivolving? If Renamon Digivolved into Kyubimon, could that cure her?"

Jen's dad agreed. "Possibility. The new data infused when Digivolving may correct whatever is causing Renamon's suffering."

Ruki picked up her Digivice. "It's worth a try." Taking an unmarked blue card from her belt pouch, she gave the card a well-practiced spin between her fingers. Her voice held firm, as she recited the familiar accompaniment to the ritual. "Card-Slash!" she yelled, as the card sparked through her Digivice. "Digievolution activate!"

Renamon's only response was a twitch as another pain spike racked her body. Her eyes partially opened, and the Tamers gasped in shock at her gaze. Her eyes seemed almost milky white, with just a hint of light blue alluding to their normally fierce radiance. Guilmon leaned forward to sniff the fox and asked with child-like innocence. "Takato, is Renamon dying?"

Ruki dropped to her knees and grasped Renamon's paw. Rubbing the Digimon's head, she summoned all her strength as she reassured the fox. "Renamon, I don't know if you can hear me, but don't you dare give up. We'll find a way to help you. Don't you leave me. You hear? I won't let you!"

Jen turned to his father. "Dad, what about Mitsuo Yamaki? He might know."

Janyu agreed with his son. "The tests Mitsuo did on bio-merged Digimon certainly gave him a deeper understanding of their anatomy and makeup than any other person in the world. If anyone could discover what's happening to Renamon, he could."

Ruki felt fear at the suggestion. "He also killed the test subjects. No! He hates Digimon. He can't be trusted."

"Good afternoon, Janyu," interrupted a new voice from the doorway.

Jen's dad turned in surprise. "Mitsuo! We didn't expect to see you."

Ruki's stomach lurched. She leaned across, as if to defend Renamon from a sudden attack. "What are you doing here? Is this something you've done?"

Mitsuo removed his dark glasses. "I understand you might think that. But, no. I assure you, this is nothing to do with Hypnos. I'm here because I've got Riley working overtime to cover up the appearance of your creature. When a large yellow fox monster appears in an uptown dress store, it makes news."

Jen, Takato, Guilmon and Terriermon all asked in unison, "Dress store?"

Ruki snapped back. "I was with mom."

Mitsuo continued. "I used to think Digimon were nothing but a threat and clumps of unintelligent data. I know better now. Even if Hypnos has kept your role in saving our world quiet, I know how much we owe to you and your Digimon. If I can help, I will."

Janyu agreed. "Mitsuo is the best there is on biological emergence."

The doctor bowed to Ruki's mom. "Rumiko, there is nothing I can do here, I'll take my leave." Before turning, he addressed Ruki. "Good luck. I hope your Digimon gets better soon."

"Can you help her?" Ruki asked Mitsuo.

The director of Hypnos knelt next to the unresponsive fox. "Tell me what happened. Was she injured in a battle?"

Ruki shook her head. "No. My Digivice would have picked up any other Digimon. She just collapsed without warning."

Mitsuo turned to Jen's father. "Janyu, we better call in the Wild Bunch. At the very least, we'll need you and Shibumi. We'll scan the creature at Hypnos and try and discover what's causing the biological distress."

Ruki grabbed Renamon's arm. "You're not taking her away!"

Mitsuo kept an even tone. "We have to. The equipment we need to scan her is at Hypnos. It's too big to transport. There's no choice."

Ruki's mom interrupted. "You'll never move her. I practically had to beg to get the ambulance to take her home. They'll not turn up if you call. They're scared silly of Renamon."

Mitsuo smirked. "It's not a problem. We can move Digimon ourselves. We'll have her safely in our examination chamber within an hour."

Takato added his own support. "Ruki, it's the only way. He's promised not to hurt her."

Ruki watched as another pain spike rocked her partner's body, the fox's chest heaved with whatever was tearing her apart. "Whatever. Just do it."

Description
"Mom?" Ruki hesitated at the door. Her mother fussed over a misplaced hair with a brush.

"What is it, Ruki?" she answered. The stubborn follicle was clearly a major disaster.

"I just wondered... if you had time--"

"I'm very busy! I have a shoot this afternoon and my hair's a mess. God, I look like a tramp!"

Ruki held back her reply. As always, her mother looked radiant and beautiful. "It's okay. It's not important," she mumbled. She turned to walk away. "I just wanted to ask about a dress."

A loud crash accompanied a screech from her mother. The hairbrush hit the floor and various exotic beauty products sprayed across the room as she wheeled around and nearly jumped on her daughter. "You want to ask me about dressing up?"

Ruki felt a wave of nausea. She ignored the reaction and explained. "I... just want to look pretty. You know... just so I know. Not for anything, or anything, n' that. Oh, this is stupid."

"No! No, no, Ruki darling. Of course you do. We'll go out shopping right away. It'll be wonderful fun!"

"I thought you had a shoot?"

Ruki's mom waved a manicured hand dismissively. "It's cancelled. This is much more important!"

Ruki tried to hide the dread in her soul. "Great."

~---~

Mom, shut up! thought Ruki as the constant excited chatter washed over her. She lost count of the number of dresses she tried on. She lost count of the number of stores she visited.

"Oh! This is divine," her mom gushed. "I adore the lace work. I wonder if it's European?"

"Does it matter?" It was impossible to repress an exasperated sigh as her mom fussed over the pink ribbon that held the dress tight across her back.

"Of course it matters, darling! We must insist on a known designer. My daughter won't be roaming around in just any ol' dress."

Ruki examined herself in the long mirror adorning the change room wall. Her reflection surprised the Digimon Tamer. "Wow, this is kinda nice."

"Now, all you need is a matching hat. Oh, then we must find some new shoes. What about makeup? What do you have at home?"

"Mom! I don't wear--"

Screams from outside the change room cut Ruki's reply. Yelling and voices intermingled, but the source of the panic was clear. "A giant yellow monster!"

"It just appeared. Run!"

"Watch out, it'll tear you apart!"

Ruki frowned at the screams. Grabbing her Digivice, she ran out the changing area and into the now deserted store. Dozens of eyes peered through the glass frontage of the designer shop. Every terrified gaze focused on the yellow fox Digimon sprawled across the floor.

"Renamon! You have to stay invisible. Wake up!" she yelled. Anger turned to concern as her partner failed to respond. "Renamon? What's wrong?"

Ruki knelt down next to her friend and placed a hand on her arm. She gasped in shock as she felt the fox quivering. The Digimon opened an eye, but her deep blue iris failed to focus. Her feeble voice was nearly unintelligible.

"Ruki, help me!"

~---~

"I'm sorry, but there's little I can do," explained the doctor. Ruki watched as her grandmother offered the concerned physician tea. Taking a freshly poured cup, he continued. "While Digimon are organic in their makeup, they're not like you and I. They have a data component that somehow binds proteins together. They don't have D.N.A. like us. Honestly, I don't understand her anatomy."

Renamon gave another groan of pain. Her lean frame quaked as the mystery ailment assaulted her. Sprawled on Ruki's bed, her huge feet hung over the low futon. Ruki's grip on her partner's paw never wavered, even though the yellow fox seemed oblivious to her presence.

Tears welled in Ruki's eyes. "She's in agony!"

"Doctor, can you give her something for the pain?" enquired her mother.

The physician shook his head. "I couldn't guess at a dosage. Even what type of painkiller might be effective on a creature who can withstand the kind of punishment Digimon tolerate in battle. As I said, there's little I can do."

The clang of the doorbell interrupted the explanation. "Excuse me," offered Grandma, as she departed to answer the signal.

Rumiko moved to kneel next to her daughter. "We'll do everything we can. I've said before Renamon is part of our family, and nothing has changed. We'll find a way to help her."

All eyes turned as the door opened and Takato, Jen, Terriermon, Guilmon and Jen's father entered. All three young Tamers now knelt by the prostrate fox.

Terriermon sat on Guilmon's head, both peering over the shoulders of the new arrivals. Jen's father bowed to the doctor and asked, "Doctor, have you administered any treatments?"

"No. I've read thesis on the makeup of Digimon, but this needs a specialist who understands the bio-merge process. Understands how these creatures exist, in this world."

"Can you help her, dad?" asked Jen. Ruki could hear the concern in her friend's voice.

"My speciality is digital coding. I understand her code, perhaps even track down what's going on, but I've no idea how to extract it. We need someone who knows the bio-merge process. Who's studied the Digimon evolution since I helped code them, and understands how their organic forms operate in the real world."

The fox shuddered and let out a throttled cry. Ruki felt despair at her partner's suffering and the tears flowed. "Renamon..." she whimpered, the call choking in her throat.

Ruki felt his touch. The warmth of his hand as Takato reached across and gently held her arm. His touch besieged the feelings of helplessness that surrounded her. She wished for more. For a hug, and the chance to expel her pain on his shoulder. The young girl longed to release her fear and bathe in his compassion.

Ruki lifted her head and dared to stare into his eyes as he spoke. "Don't worry, Ruki. We'll find a way. Renamon's the strongest Digimon I've ever seen. She won't give up, and neither will we."

Terriermon agreed, in his own way. "She's the stubbornest, that's for sure."

"Terriermon!" chastised Jen.

"Well, she is."

Ruki smiled and moved to get up. Takato released her arm as she rose. Wiping the tears from her face, Ruki steeled her voice. "So am I. I'm not giving up."

Takato stood. "That's the spirit! Now all we need is a plan."

Jen stood and rested a hand on Guilmon's head. "What about Digivolving? If Renamon Digivolved into Kyubimon, could that cure her?"

Jen's dad agreed. "Possibility. The new data infused when Digivolving may correct whatever is causing Renamon's suffering."

Ruki picked up her Digivice. "It's worth a try." Taking an unmarked blue card from her belt pouch, she gave the card a well-practiced spin between her fingers. Her voice held firm, as she recited the familiar accompaniment to the ritual. "Card-Slash!" she yelled, as the card sparked through her Digivice. "Digievolution activate!"

Renamon's only response was a twitch as another pain spike racked her body. Her eyes partially opened, and the Tamers gasped in shock at her gaze. Her eyes seemed almost milky white, with just a hint of light blue alluding to their normally fierce radiance. Guilmon leaned forward to sniff the fox and asked with child-like innocence. "Takato, is Renamon dying?"

Ruki dropped to her knees and grasped Renamon's paw. Rubbing the Digimon's head, she summoned all her strength as she reassured the fox. "Renamon, I don't know if you can hear me, but don't you dare give up. We'll find a way to help you. Don't you leave me. You hear? I won't let you!"

Jen turned to his father. "Dad, what about Mitsuo Yamaki? He might know."

Janyu agreed with his son. "The tests Mitsuo did on bio-merged Digimon certainly gave him a deeper understanding of their anatomy and makeup than any other person in the world. If anyone could discover what's happening to Renamon, he could."

Ruki felt fear at the suggestion. "He also killed the test subjects. No! He hates Digimon. He can't be trusted."

"Good afternoon, Janyu," interrupted a new voice from the doorway.

Jen's dad turned in surprise. "Mitsuo! We didn't expect to see you."

Ruki's stomach lurched. She leaned across, as if to defend Renamon from a sudden attack. "What are you doing here? Is this something you've done?"

Mitsuo removed his dark glasses. "I understand you might think that. But, no. I assure you, this is nothing to do with Hypnos. I'm here because I've got Riley working overtime to cover up the appearance of your creature. When a large yellow fox monster appears in an uptown dress store, it makes news."

Jen, Takato, Guilmon and Terriermon all asked in unison, "Dress store?"

Ruki snapped back. "I was with mom."

Mitsuo continued. "I used to think Digimon were nothing but a threat and clumps of unintelligent data. I know better now. Even if Hypnos has kept your role in saving our world quiet, I know how much we owe to you and your Digimon. If I can help, I will."

Janyu agreed. "Mitsuo is the best there is on biological emergence."

The doctor bowed to Ruki's mom. "Rumiko, there is nothing I can do here, I'll take my leave." Before turning, he addressed Ruki. "Good luck. I hope your Digimon gets better soon."

"Can you help her?" Ruki asked Mitsuo.

The director of Hypnos knelt next to the unresponsive fox. "Tell me what happened. Was she injured in a battle?"

Ruki shook her head. "No. My Digivice would have picked up any other Digimon. She just collapsed without warning."

Mitsuo turned to Jen's father. "Janyu, we better call in the Wild Bunch. At the very least, we'll need you and Shibumi. We'll scan the creature at Hypnos and try and discover what's causing the biological distress."

Ruki grabbed Renamon's arm. "You're not taking her away!"

Mitsuo kept an even tone. "We have to. The equipment we need to scan her is at Hypnos. It's too big to transport. There's no choice."

Ruki's mom interrupted. "You'll never move her. I practically had to beg to get the ambulance to take her home. They'll not turn up if you call. They're scared silly of Renamon."

Mitsuo smirked. "It's not a problem. We can move Digimon ourselves. We'll have her safely in our examination chamber within an hour."

Takato added his own support. "Ruki, it's the only way. He's promised not to hurt her."

Ruki watched as another pain spike rocked her partner's body, the fox's chest heaved with whatever was tearing her apart. "Whatever. Just do it."