Digital Redemption: Sasuke's Awakening

CH.008 – O Partner, Where Art Thou? (Part One)

Written by Wolf's Honour

Songs I listened to while writing:

Future ft. The Weeknd – Low Life

Shizzy VI – Naruflow

Travis Scott ft. The Weeknd – Pray 4 Love

Rihanna ft Drake – Work

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Digimon. Naruto is owned and licensed by Masashi Kishimoto, Viz Media, TV Tokyo and Aniplex. Digimon is owned and licensed by Toei Animation and Creative Commons. Please support the official releases.

Sasuke hated school.

He had came upon the realization on his very first day of attending, but never had he hated it on such a level as he did now. He hated the sheer simplicity of it; the subjects were completely irrelevant to his life as a shinobi and offered very, very miniscule knowledge that he found useful. The students who he attended with were just as bad. Their innocence spawned from their naive ignorance to reality irritated him immensely. How they were in need of a reality check. And yet despite that all, there was something he hated more than anything about 'educational' center…

"Do you need help with your notes, Uchiha-kun?"

"How did you get hurt? I heard rumors but..."

"You look so cool in your cast by the way!"

"And really cute!"

"Ah! Minami you're so bold!"

It appeared that whether he was in his world or this one, he had to deal with the parasitic presence of fan girls who knew nothing about him.

From the moment he had stepped onto the school grounds and dispensed the perfume-ridden love letters from his school locker into the trash (which thankfully numbered three), Sasuke had been effectively ambushed by the young girls. One of them had bumped into him at the school entrance. She had immediately blushed upon making eye contact with him and practically whispered as she asked if he was alright upon glancing at his cast. As usual, he had said nothing and proceeded to his classroom, too much in a bad mood to register the possibility that said girl had friends. It had only dawned on him when he had arrived in his homeroom but by then it was too late. By the time he sat down at his desk, several girls whom he'd never met before had come and swarmed around his desk, asking him the same stupid question and coming up with their own conclusions without him so much as uttering a single word.

Such conclusions being from him getting hurt during a martial arts spar to being jumped by a group of jealous schoolboys from another class. All of them were ridiculous and outright insulting to Sasuke, and he wouldn't explain to them why either.

Tuning them out, Sasuke mentally scolded himself for making the decision to follow on Gaomon's suggestion to come to school. He had been perfectly fine the last two days, despite becoming slightly stir crazy from the lack of physical activity and being cooped up on his apartment. Since defeating Veedramon, there hadn't been any Wild Ones attempting to bio-emerge into the Real World from the Digital World. Due to his injuries he sustained that were still healing, Sasuke had initially welcomed the break from his duties in the Special Response Team. However, that relief quickly had been replaced with boredom as he had far too much time on his hands. Normally he would use it to train himself or Gaomon, or work on his Chakra Flow and Change techniques for the Chidori, but with his arm in the state it was in molding chakra was out of his reach for a time. So to help pass time, he had worked on new combinations with modify cards while overseeing Gaomon's individual training yet it did little to ease his boredom and annoyance at himself.

What's more, Gaomon had become incredibly distant the last two days.

His furry companion had been the one to suggest that Sasuke go to school today as a change of pace from their activities the last two days. The suggestion had been far too tempting than it should have been.

"Is it true that you were hit by a semi-truck?" A brunette that far too physically close for his comfort asked.

Another girl tilted her head in confusion at the brunette's question. "I thought he had been jumped by a bunch of delinquent boys from another school."

A girl with three pig tails snorted. "Yeah right. Like a bunch of idiot boys could hurt Uchiha-kun. Haven't you heard that he's a martial artist from Osaka?"

"No way?! Are you, Uchiha-kun? That is so cool!"

Now his annoyance had shifted into frustration. Though he'd never admit it allowed, it somewhat amazed him how quickly they accepted their own conclusions as fact from one-sided conversation. He had never once talked about himself to anyone and already rumors had started about him. He had half a mind to dismiss their rubbish but he honestly couldn't bring himself to care. So long as his cover wasn't blown, they could say whatever they wanted.

When the first bell rang, signaling students to go to there classrooms, Sasuke turned his head and gazed outside from the window on his left as the girls said their farewells and either left the class or returned to their seats. By the time the second one had rung, the class door opened and Mr. Tomino came walking inside. "Alright settle down now." He said, and the class went silent. He went to his desk and took attendance. Eventually he came upon his name.

"Uchiha Sasuke..." Mr. Tomino called out, almost lazily.

"...Here." Sasuke responded, earning a look of attention from the math teacher.

"Ah, Uchiha. I didn't believe we'd see you this week after the call your guardian had made regarding your arm." The teacher's words made Sasuke turn away from the window. A call from his guardian?

"What call?" He asked/thought aloud.

"I received a call from your guardian about the accident you had two days ago and was told you'd be unable to attend school for a couple weeks." Tomino explained. "However, I am glad to see that your injuries weren't as bad as she made them out to be."

She?

As his teacher continued to take attendance, Sasuke sat in confusion. There was only one she that the teacher would be referring to as his guardian… but why would she bother calling on his behalf? He hadn't heard so much as a word from the rosette in the last two days, let alone see her at Hypnos. He thought he had dealt with her meddling so why had she…

Does it even matter? He suddenly thought to himself. She's just doing her job.

Satisfied with his own answer, he turned back to window and stared out into the city of Shunjuku.

(* * *)

Riley's eyes slowly opened as she heard a ringing noise which woke her from her slumber. It took her mind but a moment to realize that the source of the noise was coming from her cell phone lying atop her nightstand in front of her eyes on the left side of her Queen-sized bed.

She released a frustrated sigh.

"Dammit."

Rising slightly in her bed, the rosette reached for the phone and answered without glancing at her touch screen. "Riley here."

"HEY GIRL! WHAT ARE YOU UP -"

A press of a button ended the call instantly and Riley put the phone back on the nightstand. However, before she could lie back down in her bed, her cell rang once again. She answered once more.

"Yes?"

"You didn't have to hang up on me, y'know." Yui said. "That was so rude of you to do!"

"Its almost 9:00 am Yui," Riley pointed out to her friend in an annoyed tone, aggravated by her antics. "And I don't have to start my shift for another ten hours. So unless you have an urgent reason to be calling me I'm going to sleep for a few more hours."

"Jeez, why does it always have to be about work with you? Can't I call to see how my friend is and talk about topics unrelated to-"

"Yui..." Riley sighed.

"Fine, Ms. Workaholic. Director Yamaki is having a general meeting with all essential staff at 1500 hours."

"Essential staff?" Riley thought aloud.

"Yep, so that means you, Tally and that Sasuke kid are going to be having a delightful conversation with our boss today."

The mention of Sasuke's name had caused her to cringe slightly, the memory of what happened two nights ago fresh on her mind. She could still see the boy's crimson eyes glaring at her even now. "Do you have an idea on what its about?" Riley asked.

"No clue to be honest," Yui replied. "The director wasn't keen on giving me any details."

Figures, Riley thought. Leave it to Mitsuo to keep everything in the dark. "Thank you for the heads up, Yui."

"No worries, Riley. Just doing my job!"

Riley smiled at her friend's change of tone. "Is there anything else?"

"Actually..."

And like that Riley's smile faded. Oh no.

"I was wondering if you were doing okay. I mean, I know what Sasuke-san said the other night shook you up a little."

Riley was genuinely surprised at how she had cringed again when Yui mentioned his name again, and why it hurt to think about it. What's wrong with me?

"Riley?" Yui echoed her name after a short pause. The rosette shook off the feeling.

"I'm fine, Yui." She lied. "It was no big deal, really. You know how teenagers are and all that."

"Yeah but..."

"Really," Riley said more firmly. "I'm okay. I'll see you at work." Before her friend could protest against her reassurance she pressed the end call button and stared into her phone's screen. She stared even after the back lighting went out, and after what felt like minutes placed her phone back on the nightstand and released a sigh.

She didn't like lying to her friends. Sometimes she would to avoid getting drawn into things she didn't particularly enjoy. Times like this though, she found it was easier to lie about the fact that a thirteen year old boy had affected her in such a way rather than to admit it aloud.

The truth was that Sasuke's outburst in Yui's infirmary the other night was still bothering. What was more bothersome was that she didn't know why it was.

Don't ever speak to me like your my mother, because you're not!

Sasuke's anger-filled voice echoed in her mind. Get it together Riley. Throwing her comforter off, Riley swung her legs over the bedside and stood up, deciding that a shower would help get her mind off that night. She walked over to the balcony glass door and pulled the long curtains aside to let the morning sunlight through. Her eyes squinted for a moment as they adjusted to the sudden light. She had a large studio apartment, modestly decorated and giving her a grand view of Shinjuku at night. In the morning, the sun lit her apartment well enough like it did now, though she did have lamps located throughout the space.

"Uh..."

Riley blinked and looked down.

Standing outside her glass door was Sasuke's Digimon, Gaomon. His gloved paw was up in a gesture that seemed he was about to knock, and he wore a surprised expression.

Due to her nightwear… or lack of it.

They stood still for another moment before Gaomon reached behind his head and gave a nervous smile.

"Uh… Hiya."

(* * *)

Sitting at her desk inside her class, Rika looked out through the window again as her thoughts wondered to the events two nights ago, to the question that lingered.

Why? Why did he protect me again?

He had made it clear where they stood, and she had made it even clearer that she had intended to defeat both him and his Gaomon. So when he has pushed her into Renamon's protective arms as his Digimon went rampant and tried to claw her down, taking the hit in her place, Rika was left completely dumbfounded.

She didn't need saving. She could take care of herself. Ever since she was a child, Rika had required very little from her mother or grandmother, and she learned early on how to defend herself. Shinjuku wasn't exactly a paradise and her time as a Tamer had exposed her to even greater dangers. Despite having been utterly terrified, she had gone after BlackGaogamon with Sasuke's knife to keep him away from Renamon. She had stabbed Sasuke's Digimon. So why on earth did he take the hit for her?

Another question that left her perplexed was why she had gone after BlackGaogamon in Renamon's defense. Digimon were nothing but data. Those were the exact words she had given Takato when he had sought her out yesterday, but as she thought more on it… she found herself having second thoughts.

If they were more than just data, then why had Sasuke's Gaomon started crying?

Then there was Guilmon and Terriermon…

And Renamon.

Rika felt a bubble of doubt form in the pit of her stomach with each passing second of time that passed. Were Digimon really just data? Sure they did burst into data, and they were loaded by other Digimon to become stronger but they also felt emotions, they were hungry, they could laugh, smile and even cry.

Rika narrowed her eyes.

Digimon are nothing but data, Rika reinforced in her mind. And Sasuke didn't protect me either, or like the last time. He was the reason why his Digimon went feral in the first place!

In her mind the events of the other night replayed again, from when she and Renamon arrived to when Sasuke had his Gaomon digivolve into its Champion Form.

His Digimon can Dark Digivolve, which means if I went against him with Renamon as she is now… we'd lose. Frowning at the deduction, Rika ran more of the night through her head. He can't control his Digimon at Champion level, which makes it even more dangerous to fight. She was reminded of her encounter with Gargomon and his rampage. So that means… that Renamon needs to Digivolve.

Rika's hand curled into a fist around her pencil as she feigned taking notes. Throughout their time together, Renamon hadn't been able to Digivolve once and despite their numerous victories, they had gotten no closer to achieving her next stage of evolution.

"Renamon." She whispered.

Rika felt a pull. Everything around her slowed to a complete stop. Her classmates who were texting behind their textbooks, the teacher who was writing on the whiteboard, the birds outside the window. Then everything around her phased into a much dark color, and she found herself sitting alone in a temporal dimension of nothingness

This was the fade as Renamon called it, something skin to limbo. The yellow fox digimon appeared instantly before her. "Yes Rika?"

"I don't understand." Rika started. "Are you trying to make me look bad?"

"Why would I want that? I only wish to make you happy."

"Then what's your problem? Why haven't you Digivolved yet?"

Renamon blinked. "I'm just… waiting. That's all."

Rika looked up at her partner, annoyed. "What do you mean by that, huh?" She was met by her partner's hesitant silence. "Well?"

"Its… difficult to explain."

Rika's pencil snapped in two in her hand. "I'm not going to sit around waiting forever til you feel like Digivolving. Whatever the problem is, sort it out."

Renamon dipped her head and closed her eyes. "I… am sorry to disappoint you, but Rika..."

"Enough." Rika turned her head away from her and stared into nothingness. "I'm tired of losing to them and I'm done with excuses."

"I… understand."

When time returned to normalcy, Rika glanced to find Renamon gone, and then found herself staring back out through the window to the birds just landing on the tree branch. She would find a way to make Renamon Digivolve. And when I do, Rika thought, I'll pay your Digimon back for what it did to mine, Sasuke. Because If I don't… then I won't ever be the best.

Yet even with her new found resolve, the bubble of doubt in her stomach hadn't disappeared.

(* * *)

Riley placed the green tea done done on the coffee table. "Here you go," she said. "I hope you don't mind sitting on the floor."

Gaomon rubbed his stinging cheek courtesy of the rosette as he grasped the jade cup. "It's okay. You don't want fur on your furniture."

Riley smiled. After dressing in something more appropriate, she had made both of them some caffeinated herbal green tea, as an apology to Gaomon for smacking him across the face and also to help wake her up completely. She took her cup and sipped, then studied the Digimon in front of her as he drank his down like water. She didn't really see the digital creature often, and when she did he was always with Sasuke and didn't really speak. Without the bandanna or boxing gloves, he'd look like an overly large-headed dog that could blend in rather well. Even thought she worked from behind her keyboard, Riley did see visuals of Wild Ones whenever the tracers locked onto them. Some of them looked rather harmless, others were like dinosaurs brought back to life.

Gaomon was of the former... as he was now. Before, when she had first seen him, he had been his Champion form, BlackGaogamon, and the sight had chilled her to her core. It was hard for her to fathom how such a nice, fluffy being could turn into such a monstrous creature.

"This is really good," Gaomon said with a sigh. "Better than the stuff Sasuke makes."

"Thanks." Riley held her cup with both hands. "How is he doing?"

Gaomon looked up to her. "Huh?"

"Sasuke, I mean... How is his arm?"

His expression fell at the mention of his Tamer's name. He dipped his head some and averted his gaze. "It's okay, I think. He's just been a bit stir crazy and bored from the lack of Digimon coming through."

"Ah, I see." Riley sighed in relief. Another benefit from the quiet days was the fact that Sasuke was given time to rest and focus on healing up his arm. A thought suddenly popped up in her mind. "Where is he, by the way?"

"He went to school today." Gaomon responded.

Riley's eyes widened. "He did? Sasuke?"

Gaomon nodded. "I thought he could use time away from Hypnos so I suggested it to him last night."

That shocked her. Since his recruitment into Hypnos, Sasuke had avoided going to primary school unless she pestered him into going, which was often til most recently. She had even called the school ahead of time to inform them of his injury and absences. "I'm... surprised."

The dog digimon shrugged. "It was that or sit in the flat all day again. At least this way he had an excuse to be out and it gave me a chance to come and see you."

"See me?" Riley narrowed her eyes slightly. "Come to think of it, how did you know where I lived?"

Gaomon gulped and looked at her sheepishly. "Well... to be honest, I kinda followed you here last night."

"You did."

"Yeah..."

Ignoring the red flags she got to give him the benefit of the doubt, Riley immediately asked him why. "Because I wanted to talk to you without Sasuke around, and I can't really talk to any of you at Hypnos because of that Yamaki jerk."

Leaning back in her couch, Riley settled in for what was going to be a long and uncomfortable conversation with Sasuke's Digimon partner. "And what is it that you wanted to talk with me about?" She asked calmly. "Why me specifically?"

Nodding, Gaomon looked up at her with a more serious, and fearful, expression. He gathered his thoughts as best he could. "Sasuke may not say it, but he really does trust you and I can sense that you really care about him."

That caught the rosette's attention, and she wondered briefly if her face was flushed by the Digimon's response. She wouldn't have guess that at all, especially by his outburst. "I... see... Then what is it?" She asked, trying to understand Gaomon's reasons for being at her flat.

Gaomon was silent for a moment, hesitating. "I thought you should know... how Sasuke got hurt that night."

Riley frowned. "How did he get hurt?"

It took him but a moment to answer her question.

"I did it." Gaomon said. "I was the one who fractured his arm."

Author's Note: Yeah, I know its short, shorter than normal, but trust me on this when I say that you won't be disappointed in the next chapter. I've been playing a lot of Persona 4 Golden and the new Digimon game, so I was delayed with the new chapter. In fact, I'm playing with the idea of incorporating some of the Cyber Sleuth team into this.

Just leave your thoughts and let me know how you felt about the chapter. In other words…

Review. Favorite. Follow.

(***)

Wolf's Honour