( Hey, I've decided to try something new. Meet Matt's son, a teenager with one heck of an attitude, and one thrilling destiny. You'll learn all you need to know along the way, and if you have any questions, my e-mail is yamato795@hotmail.com )
Justice of the heart
" His name, is Darien Ishida. But everyone refers to him as Garuru. And to tell you the truth I think his soul purpose in life is to make my job a living- "
" He's just a boy, Principal Gerose. Of course he's going to get into some fights; it's his first years of high school! ", his secretary cut in firmly, looking over his shoulder at the computerized file on the young man. " You must've gotten into trouble yourself, I'm sure, all boys do. It's just nature. "
" Nature or not, he has to face he consequences of his actions. He can't just go around breaking other students' noses and such it's inhuman. After this period I want him called into my office, " the balding man told her. " no exceptions. "
" Have you ever tried talking to his parents? ", Sherry Miller asked as she moved over to her own desk to take down a reminder. " I mean, surely they can- "
" Mrs. Ishida passed away a year ago, and his father can't seem to control him, or maybe he doesn't know a thing about it. I'm not sure. ", Principal Gerose interrupted leaning back in his chair with a sigh. " I've tried everything to figure this kid out, but nothing has been successful. It's like he's from a different world! "
* * *
Down to the office again. He'd lost count by now of how many times it's been. Half of them his father never even knew of, and his mother had been gone before it started. You think he would care that the whole school hated him, but honestly, Garuru didn't. He didn't need these stuck up snobs for friends, he didn't really need anyone, and he'd kept it that way for a long time now. Only his father, Yamato Ishida, was ever allowed close to him, and even then he was an arm's length away from his own son. With his hands in his jean pockets, he slowly walked down the hall, his backpack slung over his shoulder. And unlike the other outcasts of his high school, the brunette young man walked around confidently.
Sherry greeted him, kind as usual. And like always, he just blew her off. She was annoying anyway. He slowly made his way to the principal's office, finally going inside. The balding man made a gesture for him to take a seat in front of his desk. It was all routine, all done so many times before. He could've walked around this room blind. Principal Gerose didn't look happy with him, and he never was.
" You know what this is about, don't you, Darien? ", he asked him. It was the same question every time. Garuru only nodded, and kept his unsettling gaze locked on the man before him. He knew people were uncomfortable when he stared at him with his strange eyes, so he made sure to keep them in sight. Mr. Gerose cleared his throat before continuing. " Young man, we cannot have kids going around getting into fights with every other student that happens to come along. You broke Scott Hallwell's nose yesterday do you understand that? "
" He deserved it. ", Garuru stated plainly with no emotion what so ever. He then had to sneer a little. " Come on, I'm sure you would've liked to see it. "
" You're beginning to remind me of a student I once had. ", the man said shaking his head. " He would get in so many fights, and he always seemed to come out on top until one day when someone snapped his neck and killed him. "
" Now you're just being wishful. I won't get killed by any of these bubble headed jocks. I'm much better than that. ", Darien replied, his tone unreadable. He then fixed his gaze right on the principal's. " You've nothing to worry about. "
" That's where you're wrong, son. I have you to worry about, and with you around, the safety of my entire student population. ", he remarked sternly. " I'm really getting tired of seeing you four out of five days a week, Garuru. I think it's time you got your priorities straight and cleaned up your act. You're an A student, and you have a great academic record. If you could just- "
" Let people walk all over me? Let them humiliate me and get away with it? Are you joking? ", the boy exclaimed, sounding angry. He stood from his seat, his fists clenched and his eyes ablaze. " I don't think so, Principal Gerose. I won't let them get away with what they do to me, because you don't do anything about it anyway! There were five other guys there other than Scott, and none of them are down here, are they? I never throw the first punch, but I'm always the one holding the bag in the end, aren't I, Gerose? So forget your lecture, I've heard it enough times that I could recite it in my sleep. I'm outta here. "
He slammed the door behind him before the man could even blink. Rage radiating off of him, Darien Ishida ran down the hall to his locker. He threw his things inside and then threw it shut. With that done, he walked right out the front entrance of Odiba Public High School, and out into the parking lot. In minutes, he was blocks away standing in an alley, his forehead pressed against a brick wall.
' Straighten out my act? Figure out my priorities? Who does he think he is, telling me what to do? He doesn't know what it's like, no one does. He isn't alone; he's probably never been alone in his life. No one could understand. ', Garuru thought, trying to stop his hands from shaking, and hold back the tears in his eyes. ' Scott deserved what I gave him. Everyone in that school deserves whatever I give them. '
He tries not to let it get to him, but somehow, it always does. He always needs to get away, to be alone and by himself so he can break down. It seemed at times that he had no choice. He has so much to hide. He turns his Garuru-blue-stare up at the sky, tears streaming down his cheeks. The clouds above were slowly drifting by. His voice was choked up when he whispered, " Where are you when I need you? "
* * *
" You're home early. " An icy voice greeted the brunette boy as he walked into the apartment. Gabumon looked up at the young man and could only see his father in every one of his features. He had the same spiky hairstyle as his father, and the same tone of voice. He wore a red long sleeved, button down shirt and dark blue jeans. The wolf like digimon followed him into the living room.
" I didn't feel like staying at school today. ", Darien stated, sinking into his seat on the couch. He was sure that the digimon couldn't tell he'd broken down just an hour before in an alley not far away. " Is Dad at work? "
" Yes, he said he wouldn't be home until around seven. He said if you wanted dinner earlier than that he could come home sooner. ", the digital creature told him. " Is there something wrong, Darien? Is that why you're not in school? "
It was a sincere question, and Garuru knew it. The digimon sitting next to him was his namesake, sort of. His nickname had come from his champion level, and the boy had always felt a strange connection to him. Problem was, he'd never felt like exploring that bond. It seemed too risky. For a moment, he just stared back at him, unsure of how he should answer. He just knew it wouldn't be the truth.
" It doesn't matter. ", the brunette boy insisted, turning his gaze away from him. He then sighed. " I just want to do something that won't let me think, that'll take my mind off of everything. That I could do something that runs on instinct. "
" I have an idea, follow me. ", Gabumon retorted suddenly, running to the bedroom and then to the front door. " Come on, I'll show you. "
Looking confused, Darien went with him, throwing on his jacket as he left. They headed to the park about four blocks away. There wasn't anyone there really, all the other kids in town were still in school, and all the adults seemed to be at work. The digital monster took him to the edge of the park, where it went out into the woods and into a deep forest. Garuru didn't understand.
" What are we doing here? ", he demanded confused.
" Hold this, and say ' Digievolve'. ", the rookie level told him, handing him a device he normally saw attached to his father's belt. He looked at it in his hands, knowing what it was capable of, and the power it contained.
" If that's what you want. ", he mumbled, and then held it up high above his head. His voice was suddenly strong and echoing when he said, " Digievolve! "
Gabumon digievolves to…… Garurumon!
The white wolf stood before him now, the bluish stripes in his fur reminding him of the color of his own eyes. He stood amazed and unable to speak. He knew that only his father had been able to make the wolf like digimon transform, yet he was a champion now when seconds before he'd been a rookie.
" How…. Why…. " The words just wouldn't come. He didn't understand what was going on even though he felt he should. He just stared at the creature.
" Hop on, Darien, and I'll take you for a ride. ", Garurumon grinned at him, jerking his head towards his back. Darien stood there, motionless, and didn't blink. It was almost like he was in a trance. The wolf felt he needed to urge him just a little more. " It's safe, Darien, I promise. Your father used to do this all the time. "
Hesitantly, Garuru climbed onto the creature's back as if he were going to ride a horse. His fingers dug into the wolf's fur, trying to keep his balance. He grit his teeth, still unsure, but he refused to let it show, his father had told him stories about stuff like this. With a soft howl, Garurumon began to run.
At first, he was uneasy. The ride was bumpy, and he rocked back and forth uncontrollably. But he held on, unwilling to give up so easily on something he'd always tried to imagine. After a moment, a strange feeling came over him. It took him a moment to realize what it was he felt. Darien was happy. There was a thrill in this insane ride through low branches and fallen trees, a rush that he couldn't begin to describe. There was something inside of him that seemed to grow and become a whirlwind of joy and excitement in his smile. He let out a cheer as his companion leapt over a fallen tree and land gracefully like a feather.
The digital monster grinned to himself. It wasn't often that he got to cheer the young man up. Garuru was a distant person at home, almost alien to them since he'd lost his mother. It was rare to see him truly smile and hear him laugh. But when he did it was as if he was a little boy running around acting innocent as a newborn baby. It warmed Garurumon's heart to be able to do this for him, and that's why he'd been able to digievolve. He'd known it was possible, well, not really.
" Why haven't we done this before? ", Darien laughed as his friend was galloping through the woods at a remarkable speed. " This is so cool! "
" I've been saving it for a special occasion. ", Garurumon lied in the same tone of voice. He kept up the pace, not even getting tired. If there was something in his way, he avoided it with all the grace of an angel. " I figured today was perfect. "
Garuru saw right through it, but he didn't really care. The rush he was experiencing was nothing he'd ever felt before, and he was enjoying it too much to think of anything else really. He just wanted to keep going forever, onward and always forward never slowing down. This was something the boy wanted to never end, even though he knew that it was a foolish, and impossible, wish.
' I don't know why, but I feel so free, so at peace. I've never felt so happy, not since mom died. ', the young man thought to himself. ' Nothing could possibly ruin- '
" Ah! " Something grabbed him around the waist yanking him off the white wolf. He was thrown to the ground, rolling over dry leaves and branches. He had the wind knocked out of him, but he noticed the thick green vine wrapped around him. It was what had grabbed him, and what was now lifting him into the air.
" Garurumon! ", the brunette boy screamed, struggling against the plant's grip on him. He was trying his hardest, but the vine was surprisingly strong. It had him tightly, and then there was another one creeping up on him hidden in the underbrush on the ground. Abruptly it leapt out of the grass, wrapping around his hands to keep them behind his back. His teeth were grit and he was trying to tear their grip from him, but it didn't seem to be working.
" Darien, hold on! ", Garurumon cried as he jumped at where the plants held him. The vines pulled him out of the way of the digital monster, and higher into the air where he would be out of his reach. Garuru couldn't help but be a little scared, he had no idea what was going on, or how plants could be attacking them.
' I don't get this, what's going on? I've never heard of violent vegetation before, I mean, not in the real world. ', the boy thought in a panic. 'I'm just glad that Garurumon is here and at a higher level than rookie! '
" Howling-urgh! " A vine clamped around his muzzle, stopping him from firing. Right after, four other tentacle-like plants wrapped around his legs to keep him from attacking again. They held him tightly on the ground, forcing him to stay still and out of their way, rendering him helpless. Garuru was having a hard time trying not to scream, or even keeping his thoughts in check. He could suddenly see a vine heading for him, slithering down the trail they'd followed at a remarkable speed. It leapt into the air going straight for his head. He cringed expecting a blow.
One never came. It went for the thing attached to his hip. He let out a gasp, watching it as the vine began to squeeze his father's digivice. The boy's eyes went wide in horror as he shook his head in disbelief. " Nooooo! "
There was nothing he could do. The device was destroyed, crushed by the strange plants. There seemed to be an explosion as the screen of the tiny object burst, and Darien was thrown to the ground. On the way down his head hit a rock, and the young man fell unconscious near the broken digivice.
* * *
" …..and then it just grabbed your digivice off of my belt and smashed it, Dad. I swear that plant knew what it wanted! ", Garuru tried to explain to his father. He and Gabumon had come home to find Yamato waiting impatiently for them to arrive and tell where they had been. " I was surprised when it let us go! "
" That explains why you were in the park, but not why you weren't in school, Darien. I got a call from your principal saying you walked out today. That's the third time this month! ", the former bearer of Friendship retorted, sounding a little angry. " What's going on, Garuru? What's going on at school? "
" I don't need Principal Gerose telling me what to do, okay? It's not like anybody cared that I was gone for the rest of the day. I can make up anything I missed. ", his son remarked, moving towards the living room.
" That's not my point. ", Matt sighed, trying his best to keep his cool. His son was so hard to handle at times. " This never used to happen before. "
" Before what, Dad? Before Mom died? You know you can say it. I'm not so naïve to know that she isn't coming back. She's gone, Dad, and that's not why everything turns out the way it does. ", the brunette boy shot back, glaring at him. He then started to head to his room. " Sometimes I wonder if you went with her. "
He'd slammed his bedroom door shut, declaring the conversation over, at least for now. Matt let out a frustrated groan as he sat down on the coach, head in his hands, unable to contain his emotions any longer.
" This is my fault, Matt. I shouldn't have taken him anywhere when I knew he should've been in school. I should've called you and told you where he was and that he was safe. ", Gabumon implied putting a hand on his shoulder.
" No, that's not it. It's just…. Ever since his mother passed away, Darien's been different. It's like he hates everyone. ", the former Digidestined whispered softly, hiding his eyes from his furry companion. " Even me. "
That's when the phone rang. It took a minute for Yamato to wipe his eyes and head over to the kitchen where the cordless was hung up. After a moment, and about three rings, he finally picked up. " Hello, Ishida residence, can I help you? "
" Matt, it's me, Tai. I know it been a while, but there's something up. Sora and I were just attacked! ", the familiar voice on the other line said without even giving a proper greeting. " This plant thing broke into our apartments and destroyed our digivices by smashing them! And I just got word from TK, Kari, Joe, Izzy, Mimi, Davis, Yolei, and Cody. All of theirs are busted too 'cause of some plant thing! I think yours is the only one left now, Matt! "
" It would've been, Tai, if when Garuru took Gabumon out today the same kind of thing happened to him. ", the blonde man replied shaking his head. " I hope you weren't counting on anything, mine's already gone since this afternoon. "
" Oh, man, now I'm really worried. What are we gonna do if there's some evil creature getting ready for a battle and we can't fight it? ", the former bearer of Courage implied sounding a little worried. " What are we gonna do? "
" I don't know. ", Matt told him honestly. " I really don't know, Tai. But what can we do? We have no idea what we could be up against, or even if we're just being paranoid about the whole thing. We'll just have to wait, and see what's next. "
* * *
" Just when I think he's going to understand….. just when I thought I could tell him…. I just can't. But that's always how it's been. And I can tell by that look in his eyes that he knows that there's something wrong, but I just can't tell him. ", Darien said to himself as he changed from his usual out fit to his red hooded sweatshirt, with black fleece vest over it, and a pair of deep blue jeans. " But I can make up for what I did today. I'm gonna find out what that thing was that destroyed his digivice, and I'm gonna make it pay for what it did. "
With that, the young man slipped out his bedroom window and was hit by the chilling breeze. After pulling on his thin black gloves, he climbed down the fire escape and disappeared into the dark of the night alone. "
To be continued:
( So you know, Darien is MY character, so if you'd like to use him, ask me first please! Anyway, thank you for reading this, I hope you liked it and will review! )