Three years, you'd have thought I'd get something done during that time right? I'm such an idiot, I'm sorry.
Takato: Yeah well, write a good story to make up for it then.
Me: I'll see what I can do. I guess I'll start with making this chapter better. Please bear with me though, it'll take awhile, but then you guys have waited so long, a little longer won't hurt, right? looks hopeful
Rika: How pathetic... Just get on with it already.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or it's characters, though that would be nice. starts dreaming
Gogglehead's Gift
by Angel's Hazard
Chapter One: Remembrance
-Flashback-
A horde of creatures growl, like a flock of malformed raptors. Several of them use their bladed arms to slash into their victim; Blood splatters in a gruesome fountain. The scream of a young woman using the last of her strength to protect what she loved.
"Quo Vadis!" Not wanting to believe the scene in front of him, a tall figure in red and gold armor drops his arm and stares at what used to be his home for what seems like hours, the unmoving forms of two people lying not even five meters away, the home he had lived in for thirteen years a smoldering shell, and the smell of burning bread overpowering his senses, while the ones responsible disintegrated into the night sky.
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"Megagargomon, what are you waiting for! Would you use the program already! We can't hold the agents off for much longer!"
"I can't, Sakuyamon, not yet! The Mother Reaper still has Jeri and Calumon, if I use it now we lose them too!"
"Well don't look at me; I'm too busy trying to stay alive!"
Just then, a crimson blur screams past the bickering duo, effectively silencing any further argument.
"Was that… Gallantmon!"
"INVINCIBLE SWORD!"
----
The swarm of enemies that had come to a stalemate with the shamaness and giant dog-rabbit stood no chance against the enraged crimson angel. Within ten minutes of arriving, the battleground became filled with a blizzard of data particles as the remainders of the Mother Reaper's army disintegrated into the sky.
Several moments of silence fell until Sakuyamon could rouse herself to check on the ten-winged crimson digimon that appeared to be shaking as he hovered at the base of the blood-red monstrosity that was the Mother Reaper.
When she finally came within ten meters of him, she began hearing a muffled sound. When she reached out and hesitantly laid her hand on his shoulder, the pressure caused him to turn around to face her. He tentatively reached toward her cheek with his now empty hand. At the same time, he undid his facemask and revealed a visage contorted with continuous sobs, tears leaking down his formerly unseen face ceaselessly. This unexpected revelation caused her to unconsciously reach up herself, wiping her finger through his tears.
"Ta-kato…?"
His eyes snapped towards hers.
----
"Gallantmon, what are you doing!"
In contrast to Sakuyamon's distraught yell, Gallantmon looked serene, almost as if he had expected this situation that he was caught in; though how he could have been so calm, pierced through the chest by one last attack of the Mother Reaper, nobody knew.
Just before he completely disappeared, his golden eyes pierced Sakuyamon's mask, and his lips moved in a silent declaration that only she heard.
And just like that, leader of the tamers vanished into the void, the others only able to watch in stunned silence.
-End Flashback-
Rika barely noticed the crowd on the sidewalk as she strode toward an abandoned bakery. In life Takato Matsuki and his parents, Mie and Takehiro had lived in it quite peacefully, taking care of their popular shop. Half a decade later, anyone who dared glance at the residence would immediately look away, torn by the images from the end of the final battle. The dwelling they remembered from before the 'battle' was now just an empty concrete shell, not even resembling anything short of a prison cell. And the people that had lived there cruelly taken from this life by beings that had given many a person nightmares for months, even years later.
Emotions always flowed in tears when any of the Tamers came within a block of this former residence, as it reminded them of the leader they had lost in the struggle five long years ago. Knowing that his sacrifice hadn't saved his mother and father just made the experience that much more saddening. Rika had come for one of her biannual visits. Usually she talked to 'him', or just came to get comfort from the once cheery residence. No one knew this, but deeply imbedded in the young woman's heart, was a love for the goggleheaded tamer of Guilmon, the bread-loving virus digimon that had died with his tamer in the final battle with D-Reaper.
Today, something was different though. In two short weeks, Christmas Day was coming to Shinjuku, and holiday cheer was in the air. And in the abandoned bread shop, a strange sort of warmth wrapped itself around her developing figure, almost as if her best friend was standing there, enveloping her in a merry embrace. Smiling to herself, she sat next to the scarred table in the small gutted kitchen, and started "talking" to her 'Gogglehead', telling him all about her life since the last visit.
Little did Rika know, Takato was currently working on a way to the Real World, his parents resting by a brightly burning campfire in the shadows of a desert mesa. Strangely, he was in Gallantmon CM form. That's probably why it also didn't take very long for him to make his way home, Mie and Takehiro Matsuki nestled protectively in his arms…
'Just a little further Mom, Dad, I'll get us to our home in time for Christmas!
He thought to himself for a moment, thinking of the nakama he had left behind.
'I hope the others still remember me.'
----
Henry came upon his apartment after spending most of the afternoon at the Katous' bar. Like Rika, Jeri had lost a parent at a young age, and even though her step-mom was nice, she could never have accepted the woman without help from her Tamer friends. Henry blushed slightly, hoping he would get to see Jeri again. All this time, he had hidden a deep liking for the girl with the infamous sock-puppet, and when Takato revealed that his heart belonged to the Digimon Queen, the feeling just got stronger. With Christmas only a week-and-a-half away, he decided that Jeri needed something special to divert her mind from her domestic problems. Now reaching his room, he sat down at his desk and started brainstorming for the perfect gift.
A light bulb turned on.
To be continued…
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Please review.
A/N: I don't think I'm even going to include Ryo in this story. He just doesn't fit into the tamers' universe (to me anyway), so don't be surprised if all he gets is a shrug in his general direction. All the others will eventually get face time.
Also, this isn't meant to be a long story, maybe four or five chapters at most. But if you think it would be better off being longer, then go ahead and let me know okay?
nakama- comrade, a friend to the degree of being like a sibling