Toei, Saban, Fox Kids, and Bandai own Digimon. I do not hold rights to it, or make a red cent off it.
Warnings: Piedael, Myosuke, Taito, Jun/???, and possibly others. That's right, it's shounen/shoujo ai. Please leave if that bothers you; I won't be offended. Also please watch for rising ratings. It will be because of events, not descriptions, but note, it's not duckies and bunnies from here on in folks.
A/N: I admit it; I've totally screwed with the timeline, guys. Things here are roughly the same as in the canon till the end of 'World Tour' where canon is completely obliterated. This starts one year afterwards. I've used American ages with Japanese names. My reasons for this will become apparent as things progress. So for example, Daisuke is 14 and Michael is 17. This is for Cynthia's 'Really Weird Couples' contest.
As usual, all flames will be happily fed to my furnace. It's quite cold at this time, and fortunately they cut down on my heating expenses.
Second Comings
By ShannonL
Life had played some cruel tricks on him but this was definitely the worst. Michael hiked up the collar on his denim jacket. A chill wind was rising from the nearby Hudson River, driving shards of icy air into his chilled skin. Betamon didn't seem to mind the weather though. Then again, the Digimon didn't seem to mind anything, as long as it didn't get between a good meal or threatened his partner in some way. Bitter cold as the New York autumn's eve was, it still wasn't enough to distract Michael from his broodings.
It's just not fair!
But of course life had never been fair. Being a child of Hollywood royalty guaranteed it. Planes, cars, servants and riches could not quell the ache for a stable family, love, security and normalcy. Such things were rare jewels, widely sought but hardly found in the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown. Michael hated being caught up in the cycle of marriage, divorce and petty fights. He had seen too many courtrooms in his life already.
He had had enough.
Fame and fortune could go to hell if they wanted. He wanted out, yet there was no visible exit.
It should have been the first clue that normalcy wasn't in the game plan set out for him.
Of course nobody could have predicted what was to happen. The sky to freak out, Gorillamon to appear and start trashing everything (while he was in yet another custody hearing), the ceiling to cave in and …the whole room to explode in light… Seconds later, Michael had been pulled away to a bizarre world with only a strange device and a friendly amphibian as company. A world of secrets and revelations. One revelation that could destroy him and the few he cared about if it got out.
No…he didn't want to think about that world right now. All the memories he had locked away would come bursting out and he couldn't deal with their pain. There was enough on his plate as it was.
"Come on Betamon, let's go in." And maybe I can ignore the fact that my dad is courting yet another starlet, my mom's about to launch another court battle to bring me 'home' to merry old England, and the tabloids are gleefully putting all this out for the world to see. Hah…Riiight.
Betamon didn't miss the sour look on the young Digidestined's face. It was no use trying to get Michael out of his moods when it happened; the kid though polite about it, was as stubborn as hell. And ever since Daisuke had come to America to help return the lost Digimon to the Digiworld and the court orders had come in, those mood swings had been getting more frequent. Michael had put up a good front to everyone else, but Betamon was not fooled. He was thinking of the time he had first spent in the Digiworld. Betamon shuddered; it had not been a pleasant time for either of them. What had been revealed to Michael had rocked him to the core, though it didn't seem like such a big deal to the small Digimon. But what it involved was. Michael had warned him if this secret got out, it could get them killed or worse. They weren't very tolerant of people like him on Earth, and if they knew…it could be very bad indeed. Betamon, however, was more concerned about one person that had been involved…that first time.
"He's coming back soon…" Michael had whispered as he slept one night. Betamon had gone cold at those words. But even more so at the next. "The bats will screech, as the gates turn, and the king and the lord shall return..."
Damn, his did he wish his partner's words weren't true.
Daisuke hummed at little to himself as he tinkered with the lock on Jun's door. Behind him Veemon keep a sharp watch on the front door. You just didn't know when you were going to have unwelcome guests after all.
"Hey Veemon; pass me that screwdriver, would ya?"
"Sure Daisuke," Veemon looked puzzled as the tool in question was passed over. "Why are we doing this anyway?"
"Jun has Yamato's schedule in there somewhere. This is a mission to save his sanity. " Daisuke grinned as the bolts on the lock fell away, leaving only the locking mechanism, which quickly fell prey to Daisuke and his screwdriver. The door swung open. "Ta da, nothing to it! Now for the main objective…Veemon, do you have the disks?"
"Yeah…Are you sure Yamato and Taichi will live up to their end of the agreement? I mean they went pale and shaky at the thought of letting us lose in a candy shop with them footing the bill."
Daisuke inserted one of the floppies into the disk drive of Jun's computer. Where are you…where would she put you? Hmmmmm….Ah hah. This is gold. Matt's schedule, phone numbers, acquaintances, places that he haunts, passwords, the works. You've outdone yourself this time Jun. And you don't listen when I tell you; you would make a good detective. He smirked, and copied the information to the disk. Pity you couldn't find a different subject. But a deal's a deal.
"Daisuke!"
"Yeah, Veemon?"
"Are you sure this is worth it?" The small blue dragon was looking anxiously at the door. No telling when Daisuke's parents…or even worse…Jun…could arrive and blow the whole thing sky high.
"Veemon." The redhead chuckled a bit. "Those two will do anything to insure that they get their cuddle time. Besides…" He bent down to whisper conspiratorially in Veemon's ear, "Jun's not all that interested in Yamato anymore. A certain Inoue has caught her eye, and I have it, from very reliable sources by the way, that that Inoue likes her back. This brings us to disk 2."
Daisuke held up the disk like it was a trophy and displayed it for Veemon to see. "This little baby has everything Jun needs to pursue that Inoue. Not that she wouldn't have gotten the information herself, but I can't pass up such a good opportunity for a little matchmaking. This way all parties are happy. Taichi and Yamato will have peace of mind, Jun will have a girlfriend, and we will have candy!" He uploaded the new files, deleted the old and grabbed his disks. "Let's get out of here. This room is way to pink and frilly for my taste, and I think I hear the candy store calling my name!"
He paused in mid-step as an interesting idea wormed its way into his head. "Hey Veemon, think we should do this more often? I mean this Cupid matchmaking thing could be real fun!"
Veemon shook his head as a flock of screeching bats flew past the window, "Daisuke, sometimes you scare me, you really do."
Daisuke shrugged carelessly, "I scare myself. Now help me get the lock back on…I just saw Jun drive up."
"WHAT!"
It had been one of those days all around. The type where strange things happen and the very air seems charged with the promise of dark and unnatural events. It was simply the perfect day for the traveler disembarking off the plane. His blue eyes glittered as he raked his eyes over the Japanese landscape. It was so good to be back.
Walking in the streets was like walking in a dream. Nothing had changed, not really. It was all the same as it had been four years ago. He had been a different man or more accurately mon then, so cocky and arrogant. That had been before those children had sent him careening into hiding, his entire body bruised and broken. He brushed the gold hair out of his eyes; it had become long and bothersome over the years he'd spent in exile. Must get it cut. I want my beloved and my enemies to know me for who and what I am.
The sky above him turned a cold tone of iron. Yes, the city hadn't changed at all since his reign. It seemed to be calling to him, but that cry was drowned out by one much stronger. The Digital World was beckoning to him and he could not resist its call. Yet he was trapped in a world that cold and foreign, that screamed out in its madness for the order only he could bring. But his beloved could fix that. He was one of the few people able to bridge gaps between the worlds. That was not saying it was his only talent however. With him at his side, both realms could be cleansed of the light that had poisoned them and be returned to healing, all encompassing, perfect night. With his Digidestined love, everything would be right again.
Above him, his faithful companions heralded his arrival as they screeched and dove through the streets on leathery wings.
Beware, they seemed to say, for the demon lord is back.
The top of what remained of Spiral Mountain had decayed over the years. No Digimon would dare climb the towering height, for it was said that the evil forces that the Digidestined had battled all those years still haunted it in some way. For the Digimon that had gotten the closest to the mount, they had returned reporting terrifying tales. Strange lights and wisps of flame had surrounded the top on those darkest of nights, the sound of laughter and the screams of a womon had echoed from it. But no one could completely believe in the truth of those tales, for the Digimon that returned were half mad with fright. All that could be confirmed that the mountain was evil in some way. Evil enough, that even the Digimon Emperor, with all his power, didn't dare touch it.
But if any had tried, they would have seen their worst fears confirmed. The golden gate that had sealed off the true Dark Emperor had begun to crack.
"Heeeey sooon. Come ovvvveeer here. I have something tooooo show you." Right away Michael could tell his father was drunk or stoned; or probably both. A loud giggle was heard coming from the same room. Damn, Mel's over too. And from the sound of it, she's just as wasted as Dad! Not that he had anything against Mel; she was a lot nicer to him then a lot of his dad's girlfriends. When she was sober of course. When she wasn't sober…well, that could be a different story.
Betamon waited at the door, while Michael walked into the darkened room slowly. Even after flying Michael and Daisuke halfway up the continent with both their Digimon in tow while a major group of Digimon were rampaging across America and Southern Canada, he was still completely oblivious to Betamon's, or for that matter, any Digimon's presence.
"Dad," Michael began slowly, cautiously, "you know you're not supposed to drink or do any drugs. You remember what the courts said…"
"Michael," The tall blonde said, completely ignoring what his son had just said, "How you feel about a trip down to Spain. Barcelona is nice this time of year."
Mel didn't seem too pleased with that announcement. "Ren," she whined, punching him in the ribs, "You said this trip was going to just be with me. I don't to have your son chaperoning us while we're on a romantic getaway!" She then flopped back on the couch, glazed eyes rolling back into her head as she did so. It seemed like she had passed out.
Ren opened his mouth to object, but Michael raised one hand to stop him. "Go have fun with her Dad. I'll be fine here. Really…"he added hastily. Ren nodded dazedly and slumped back on the couch himself, nearly dropping his whiskey glass. He hadn't even noticed the condition of his lover. Michael sighed and left.
He informed the butler, a proper man of about fifty, that his father and girlfriend would need the hangover remedies and that he would be going out to vent for a while. The butler simply nodded. It wasn't surprising to the butler, not at all. It had happened too many times already.
"Hey, give that to me!"
Daisuke dove out of the way, as Taichi leapt towards him. "You haven't lived up to your end of the deal yet! I had to break into Jun's room for this and Veemon and I nearly got caught in the process. Now you said that you two would pay for all the candy that Veemon and I could carry and we're waiting. Unless…"
"Unless what?" Yamato eyed the disk clenched tightly in Daisuke's hand. All of Jun's gathered secrets about him lay there. When Daisuke had shown him what was on it, he couldn't have believed his eyes. How did she get it all? It made him wonder for a moment if Daisuke and Jun came from a family of spies or secret agents or something. They had the uncanny knack of finding anything or anyone they chose. But that didn't matter now....It was so close…freedom from worry that the redhead could blackmail him into another date. Now if Daisuke would just hand the damned disk over…
Not that I'd never do this, but... "I'll…I'll…I'll give this disk straight back to Jun. Then nobody will ever be able find this thing ever again."
Apparently this struck a chord within the two young men, as their faces went pure white with horror.
"You wou-wouldn't." Taichi sputtered.
Daisuke folded his arms and eyed them steadily, "Try me" he said smoothly, hoping that no sign of his deception would show through.
"Fine," Yamato spat, "This is blackmail you know."
"No it isn't. You two came to us. Remember?" Hey it was true.
"Yeah, you promised us candy if we were to do this for you! You can't back out now. You owe us!" Veemon broke in.
"Alright! Alright!" Taichi threw up his hands in frustration. "We'll take you! We'll take you!"
Veemon and Daisuke looked at each other for a long time and then both slowly grinned. "Excellent."
A short time later, Daisuke and Veemon skipped down the alley behind their apartment, arms full of bags of candy and identical smirks on their faces. Taichi and Yamato lagged behind, looking mournfully at their wallets and at the disk that had caused it all.
Daisuke stopped at the rear entrance and carefully put down his hard earned reward. "Well this is our stop. It's been a pleasure doing business with you two."
Taichi glowered at the redhead. "You know Daisuke…you sure are evil. Has anybody ever told you that?"
"Maybe once or twice." Daisuke grinned to himself. "Isn't it worth it though? No more worrying about interrupted cuddle time. To me, this is a small price to pay."
"You are evil." Yamato said in awe. "The old Daisuke wouldn't have done this."
"Well I learned from the best." Smirking Daisuke opened the door and placed all the candy inside. "See ya later guys."
Taichi and Yamato stared at each other long after both Daisuke and Veemon had gone. "What does he mean by the best? Who? Us?"
"Michael! Has the bag made you mad or something? Michael? Michael!"
"…"
"Gee Michael; I hate it when you're this way. Talk to me and stop hitting the stupid bag."
"Fine…" And with that Michael sank to the floor exhausted. If any stranger had saw them, Betamon reasoned, nobody would be able to recognize them. Michael had drawn his shoulder length blonde hair into a severe ponytail and covered the entire thing with a bandanna. He had changed into his workout clothes, a white ribbed t-shirt and a pair of cutoff jeans. He looked no different then any other member of the small, seedy gym they were frequenting at this moment. Which was good in a way; Michael had no desire to be found at the present.
"This is so screwed up." Michael yelled quietly as he jumped up to hit the bag again. "He promised me that he wouldn't drink or do those crazy drugs, he promised. Then he goes off and does it anyway!"
Betamon sighed from his hiding place in the rack of weights. He's hitting the bag again. Darn. At least he's talking though. Thank the Digiworld for small miracles. Michael had let the anger build up inside. Again. He had always had a temper like that. The rage kept piling on till he exploded unexpectedly at someone or something. Like the bag at Leo's Gym. He never did know how to let it out healthily. Good thing he has enough sense to take it where it doesn't hurt anyone. Well most of the time. The few times it had gotten loose before Michael could release it safely, had resulted in some nasty schoolyard fights, or so Michael had told him that first time in the Digiworld. Betamon had rarely seen Michael like that though. But when he had, it was scary. Like now.
"I'm going to be taken away, I know it. I'm going to be shuttled off to London to live with Mom and her family." Michael was absolutely seething. His mother would like nothing better than to take him away to hurt his father. Her sister and brother cared little about their nephew, except for the fact he brought in large sums of money that was supposed to be used for child support. Even though he was an alcoholic and a drug addict, his father seemed to care a little a more about his son. At least here he didn't have to worry about Betamon being shot if they found out about him.
Bam, Bam, Bam. Each punch only seemed to increase the rage burning inside his heart. "You know what I wish Betamon? I wish…"
The digivice clipped neatly on the back of Michael's shorts began to softly glow.
The entire golden gate on Spiral Mountain began to shake. Cracks upon cracks began to form, light pouring from them…
Betamon clenched his teeth. Something was stirring in the Digiworld, something familiar. The sense of it penetrated his very bones.
He knew this evil. He was coming back.
"MICHAEL!"
Laughter began to ring from the derelict gate. Soft at first, then increasing in both volume and chilling intensity. From behind the shattered seal at the very middle of the gate, a pair of crimson eyes appeared, watching – waiting.
The traveler raised his head and laughed. And here he thought this already had been a perfect day. He could sense the changes in the Digiworld even though he had been barred from it, and from what he could feel, he liked.
Well, this makes the game a lot more interesting, now doesn't it.
"I wish…"
Veemon shot up from where he was lying on Daisuke's bed. His partner in crime had fallen fast asleep after consuming his share of the candy. Something was wrong. And it wasn't his stomachache.
"I wish…that I could have what I lost."
"Michael! NOOO!"
The digivice shrieked as it let out a blinding flash of light.
Michael, what have you done!
The golden gate splintered into thousands of pieces, disintegrating as they were blown away by the wind. For a moment the mountain fell silent, the wind dying down around the solitary figure. Then it was business as usual on Spiral Mountain, and the winds howled once more.
A hard smile curled on his crimson lips, "Thank you Michaemon, my Michael." The smile became soft in a moment of remembrance, and then hardened again, "I promised you the story wasn't over, didn't I. I think it's time we resume where we left off."
Michael blinked as he stopped in mid-swing. "What happened? Did a light bulb blow or something?" From the looks of the other patrons, he guessed that was what they were assuming as well. He scratched his head. For some reason the rage had evaporated as quickly as it had came. He felt…real strange. Then another more pressing question came to mind. What exactly had he been doing for the last few minutes? For some strange reason his memory had gone blank just after he entered the gym. Well except for that bright flash anyway. Maybe he had somehow hit his head on something? "But I don't feel any lump," he mused out loud as he rubbed his head. This was bizarre, real bizarre. He shrugged and put it out of his mind.
"Betamon, we'd better be getting back. Betamon?"
No answer.
"Betamon?" Michael called softly, looking around to see where he could be hiding. "Betamon?" Where was the little guy?
He at last found him under a nearby rack of barbells. "Betamon!" he hissed, shaking his partner and hoping that the others would keep minding their own business. Nothing happened. His large eyes were glazed over with shock. "Wake up!" He had to get him out of here.
A short while later they were outside in the freezing air. Michael shivered, partially from the chill, and partially in concern for his partner. What had happened in there? He cradled his partner in his arms, and hoped he would soon snap out of it. Finally Betamon began to blink.
"Michael…?"
"Betamon…" Michael's voice cracked in concern. "What happened to you in there?"
"You don't know?"
"I can't remember anything." He hugged Betamon closer. "All I know is I feel real weird, empty. All my anger's gone." He sat up horrified. "Did I do something to you?"
"No…"
"Then what happened?" Betamon shivered. Michael blanched. He had to have done something, but what? "Betamon, what did I do?"
"You remember that first time we were in the Digiworld…"
"Kinda…" Not that he wanted to remember. He had lost something important to him there and it hurt to think about it.
"Do you remember when you masqueraded as Michaemon in the kingdom of Musyamon?"
Michael's eyes darkened to the colour of cobalt. "Yes…but I don't like to. To remember hurts… I've tried to erase the whole thing from my mind. What are you getting at?" He did not like where this was going.
Betamon opened, and closed his mouth. This was going to hurt Michael, no matter what he said. Might as well be blunt.
"He's back."
To be continued….
Anybody confused yet? Explanations coming next chapter as we get a history lesson (or two) and Piedmon and Myotismon will come into the story full force. Expect the chapters to be longer (for all that introspective goodness) so you might have to wait a little bit. I expect this will take three or four chapters to get everything sorted out to my degree of satisfaction. Till I see you guys next time then…Ja ne.