A/N: Written for the Digimon Flash Bingo - #386 – forgotten.
Wiped From their Minds
Wormmon recognises the boy who first appears on the monitor: the one in the green coat and goggles with wild brown hair. And he recognises the girl who comes after as well: the same hair, pinned back with a clip and in pink and yellow like she'd been two years ago. He recognises one of the two boys with her as well: the boy with the Patamon. He doesn't recognise the other though.
The next day he recognises two more, and there are two more strangers. That's five of the eight he'd seen two years ago. Five of the eight that had been a part of that faux tournament that had broken Ryo's heart – and maybe Ken's as well. Ken had changed around that time. A bit before, or a bit after. He'd been in the human world at the time, sick and alone. Wormmon had promised to look out for Ryo in his stead: Ryo who'd looked after Ken, Ryo who was Ken's only human friend.
He'd seen eight children then. Eight children who were so pure, so innocent – but they'd all been strung along, just like Ryo had. And maybe Ken had as well. Wormmon didn't know, now. And it didn't matter. What mattered was his desire to get the kind Ken back – and protect him, in all his faces, however different they were.
He saw the other three as well, over the days. Through the screen – and then, finally, face to face. They didn't remember him. They didn't remember the worm by Ryo's side. He doubted they remembered Ryo, either. That entire period of time had been wiped flawlessly from their minds.
But Wormmon remembered.