A young girl with waist length, dirty blonde hair and blue tinted hazel eyes was sitting against the trunk of a tree, breathing in the fresh summer air. 'Camp won't be that bad…it's better than staying bored at home…' Her black tank top had a silver flame design that sometimes shined in the light, and her tight black Capri's were easy to run in when she played soccer or basketball, sometimes baseball. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pocket knife, and started chipping away at a fallen tree branch when snow started falling from the sky. 'Huh? It's summer, so why's it snowing?' The supervisors told them to get inside because a blizzard was coming, so she walked inside, hands in her pockets, and looked out the window as the snow swirled around. When it stopped, she shrugged, grabbing a black sweater her mother had made her pack, and went outside to see a friend of hers, Ayaka Hasegawa, making a small snowman. "Hey, Kimiko! Help me find some stones for his eyes!"
Kimiko wasn't the most social person, and stayed in her hard iron shell most of the time, staying silent and independent. Ayaka, on the other hand, was social and dependant, and the most fun loving person she knew. She picked up a small pebble, and walked over, noticing her dark blue t-shirt and jeans, along with the dark blue sweater she had over. Kimiko sighed, looking at the sky, and noticed a strange light. "What's wrong, Kimi?" Ayaka questioned, following her friends gaze. They both stared at a strange light in the sky, and the other kids noticed this strange phenomenon in the sky as well. "It looks like the Aurora." Ayaka whispered, astounded. Kimiko nodded, still watching the rainbow colors draped across the sky, when nine lights appeared in the sky. "What's that?"
Ayaka shaded her eyes, and noticed the lights were getting closer. Her eyes widened with shock, and she shouted, "Watch out!" the small meteor like objects smashed into the floor in front of each child, sending dirt and snow into the air. "Are you okay?" Ayaka questioned Kimiko, who had fallen backwards from the impact. Kimiko nodded her head, and stared, shocked at the small rainbow bubble that came up from the hole. She grabbed it, as did all the others, and looked at it curiously. "It looks like a little computer…" Ayaka said, looking at her own. Kimiko looked up, seeing a strange gateway, and her eyes widened momentarily before everyone was sucked in.
Kimiko woke up in what looked like a rainforest, and sat up, looking around to see a small little yellow ball with little legs, pointy ears, and a white-tipped fox tail. She looked at the creature curiously, and it looked at her with expectant blue eyes. "Welcome to the Digital World, Kimiko! I'm your partner, Viximon." Kimiko's eyes widened, and she asked, "You can talk? How do you know me?" "I've been waiting for you…" Kimiko walked over to the small creature, and picked her up. She heard a voice calling her name, and stood up, following the sound, Viximon at her heels, and soon found Ayaka, who had a red little ball with a long tail, dragon-wing ears, and short little legs. "Kimiko! I've been looking for you!" Ayaka noticed Kimiko's curious gaze at the creature at her side, and said, "This is Gigimon. He's my partner, or so he says." By this time, Ayaka was used to Kimiko's non-talkative nature, and merely looked at Viximon. "I'm Viximon. I'm Kimiko's partner." Ayaka nodded, still not completely used to them talking, and they both heard a cry.
They both followed it, to see a boy from camp with a small pink head with strange ears, and Kimiko remembered him from soccer. Ayaka smiled, saying, "Hey, Tai! I see you have your own little friend!" he seemed surprised that they were there, and said, "Oh, hey…" he looked at the little creatures at their heels, and Ayaka said, "We have our own, too. Mine is Gigimon, Kimiko's is Viximon." Tai nodded, still a little confused, when another boy came around, with a strange little pink creature. "Oh, hey guys." "Hi, Izzy! You've got a new friend, too?" he nodded, and the creature said, proud, "I'm Motimon!" the little pink head said, "And I'm Koromon!" Tai said, looking around, "I'm going to take a look around…" he climbed up a tree, Koromon right behind him, and Kimiko sat down, Viximon instantly in her lap, when a strange buzzing reached her ears. 'What's that sound?' she looked in the sky, and saw a strange bug creature going to attack Tai. 'Darn it!' she was on her feet in a moment, and saw Tai and Koromon fall out of the tree.
She ran forward, catching Tai, while Koromon hit the ground rather hard, landing on Viximon. "Wow…good catch…" she didn't know why, but her cheeks grew flushed, and she helped him up as the creature came back. "It's Kuwagamon! Run!" Kuwagamon swooped down again, nearly taking Ayaka with him if she hadn't moved out of the way. "Follow me!" Motimon shouted, and they followed him. He fazed through a tree, and most of them hesitated, but Kimiko grabbed Ayaka and Tai by their hands, pulling them in, Izzy right behind them. Kimiko shielded Viximon, who was on her lap, and was unconsciously holding Tai's hand. Soon, Kuwagamon's roars died away, and Kimiko sat up, seeing Ayaka hugging Gigimon tight. When Kimiko noticed she was still holding Tai's hand, she let go, her face a brilliant scarlet, and looked away. A girl's voice called them outside, and Kimiko remembered her from soccer camp. "Hey, Sora! You've got one, too?" Ayaka said enthusiastically, looking at the pink creature at Sora's side.
"This is Yokomon, my own personal something-or-other." Kimiko nodded, holding Viximon in her arms, and turned to see another little creature. "Hi. My name's Tokomon!" Kimiko nodded, when Tokomon turned to the bushes, shouting, "Hey, T.K.! Over here!" That's when a little kid, probably T.K., ran up to the small little creature, hugging it, as an older boy ran after him. "Hey, Matt! You've got one too, huh?" He nodded, and the creature under his arm said, "I'm Tsunomon." Before anything else could be said, there was a scream, and they all turned to see an older boy running towards them, panting, when a Digimon appeared on his shoulder. As he freaked out, Kimiko shook her head in annoyance, when the boy, Joe, shouted, "What are these creatures!?!" They all jumped to the ground, getting in a little group before saying, in unison, "We're Digimon! Digital Monsters!" Everyone else was trying to make sense of everything. 'Digimon…' Kimiko was snapped from her thoughts when Tai started introducing everyone. "This is Ayaka, she's a hyperactive person, but she's a good friend." Ayaka nodded, saying, "I'm not that bad, though…" "And this un-talkative girl is Kimiko…actually, I don't really know anything about her besides her name…" He scratched the back of his head, and Ayaka said, "She doesn't talk much…" Sora asked, "What happened to that other girl?
The one with the pink hat?" "Mimi? I don't know…" Soon, Mimi's scream echoed through the trees, and they headed towards it, and soon saw her narrowly escape Kuwagamon's jaws. Mimi fell to her knees, as the others reached her. "You okay?" Viximon went over to Mimi's Digimon, asking, "Are you okay, Tanemon?" she nodded, when Kuwagamon started back towards them. They started running again, but came up to a dead end cliff, and Tai checked for a way down. There wasn't one. That's when Kuwagamon bashed through the trees, and swooped down at them, barely missing. As they stood up again, Kuwagamon did a U-turn and came at them again.
Kimiko's body shook as Viximon jumped at him with Koromon, using Killing Stone.
"Viximon!!" Everyone was surprised. They'd never heard her speak, let alone as loudly as she had when Viximon and Koromon were knocked away as the other Digimon jumped to fight Kuwagamon. They were all knocked to the ground as Kuwagamon crash landed in the trees. 'Viximon…' Kimiko was by her side in a moment, holding her gently, and looked around to see Ayaka holding Gigimon tightly. Kuwagamon came out of the trees, and everyone ran to the very edge of the cliff, holding their injured Digimon in their arms. "We need to fight…" Kimiko looked down at Viximon in surprise. "It's the only way…we need to stand and fight!" Viximon started to struggle, but Kimiko's grip was like iron, though she was shaking badly. "I don't want you to fight…" she whispered, but Viximon wrenched her hold loose, and joined the charge with the other Digimon. 'Viximon!' "Viximon, stop!!"
Beams of rainbow colored light struck each Digimon, and they glowed a bright white before Digivolving: Koromon became Agumon, Yokomon became Biyomon, Bukamon became Gomamon, Tsunomon became Gabumon, Tokomon became Patamon, Tanemon became Palmon, Motimon became Tentomon, Viximon became Renamon, and Gigimon became Guilmon. Renamon used Diamond Storm while Guilmon used Pyro Sphere. Kuwagamon was moving backwards, and everyone attacked at once, Guilmon using Rock Breaker and Renamon using Power Paw. Kuwagamon fell through the trees, supposedly defeated, and the Digimon turned to face their astonished partners.
Guilmon ran to Ayaka, knocking her over, and licked her cheek. "Guilmon…Guilmon!" Ayaka hugged him around the neck, and Kimiko could see the same childishness inside both of them. Renamon landed beside Kimiko, who looked up at her in wonder. Before Kimiko could think of anything to say, Kuwagamon appeared, and stabbed his large teeth into the cliff. As the rock fell, Kimiko grabbed onto Ayaka, closing her eyes, when Renamon caught her, jumping off the rocks that were falling around them. Ayaka was still holding onto Guilmon's neck, trying not to scream.
When Gomamon and Joe hit the water, Gomamon used Marching Fishes, making a raft for everyone else to land on. When Ayaka and Guilmon hit the raft, she rubbed her head, saying, "Well, it could have been worse…" Renamon landed lightly on the raft, setting Kimiko down, when the rocks struck the water, making the water rocky and dangerous. Kimiko grabbed onto the raft as hard as she could, while Ayaka held T.K. down as well, making sure he didn't fly away. When they finally reached shore, everyone laid down, too tired to walk at the moment, and Ayaka turned to Guilmon, asking, "Why'd you get bigger, anyway?" "We Digivolved." He said simply, making Ayaka tilt her head to the side in a questioning way. "You…Digivolved? So that's when you get bigger and stronger…?"
Kimiko nodded, looking at all of the Digimon. "We can't do it alone…in order to do it, we needed to share your energy." Kimiko looked up at Renamon, thinking through it all, when Tai said, "We should keep walking. I saw the ocean, so maybe there's a boat there or something…" everyone followed him silently, and Ayaka said, "Actually, what are we gonna do if there IS a boat?" "Go home." Tai answered simply. "I have a feeling we're not on earth, so we can't just go on a boat and expect to be home." Soon, her and Tai were in a fight, and Kimiko pulled them apart, giving them both serious looks before Renamon said, "We're almost to the beach." Gomamon agreed, and the fight was forgotten as they reached the beach. A ringing reached Kimiko's ears, and she followed it, followed by the others, and found ten telephone booths, each ringing. Most of them ran to one, but Kimiko hung back, not really feeling inclined to call anyone, but she eventually went into one, picking up the phone gingerly.
She put in her aunt's phone number, and held it to her ear. It rang a couple times before a woman's voice said, "When you hear the beep, it will be 14 and 13 wrenches." She looked at the phone strangely, hanging it up, and turned to Renamon, shaking her head. As Joe kept trying each phone, everyone else sat on the sand. Kimiko put her hair up into a ponytail, tying her sweater around her hips, and Ayaka sat next to her, Guilmon lying next to her, sleeping like a baby. "Kimi, what do you think of all this?" Kimiko looked at Renamon, who was sitting next to her, looking at the ocean, and said, softly, "I feel like this is where we're meant to be right now…that there's something we need to do here that we can't do anywhere else…"
Ayaka felt that Kimiko was talking in riddles, but knew that her friend wasn't going to say anything else. Kimiko's stomach growled, and she wrapped her arms around her stomach, smiling sheepishly. Izzy said, "I think we should take a break for lunch…who has something to eat?" Ayaka rummaged her pockets, saying, "All I've got is a compass, a small notebook, and a pencil." Kimiko took out her pocket knife, her black gloves, and a hacky sack. "I don't have anything either…" Kimiko said softly, not wanting to really be heard.
Kimiko looked out at the ocean with her Digimon, her eyes and mind wandering when she noticed something. She stared at it, and Ayaka noticed. Once she noticed what it was, Ayaka pointed, saying, "Joe has the emergency food!" Everyone perked, and turned to look. Joe eventually brought the bag over, and started splitting it up for them. Kimiko was bored, and saw Tai and Agumon eating some food they swiped. She couldn't help the amused smile that spread across her lips, and when she saw Joe finally notice that Tai and Agumon were eating, the moment was priceless. "What do you think you're doing?" "Eating…what does it look like?" "You people drive me crazy!!" She couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up in her chest and escaped her lips, making everyone look at her, surprised. Her laughter was pure and sweet, like the tinkling of silver bells, it was something only Ayaka had seen before, but it had been years ago.
Kimiko noticed the stares, and blushed slightly, asking, "Why are you guys staring?" T.K. smiled saying, "You look better when you're happy. Why don't you smile more often?" "…No reason…" they could tell she was opening up now, and was more willing to talk. "So…Kimiko…what do you usually do with your free time?" Sora questioned, just trying to help coax some information out of this mysterious girl. "I usually play sports…or carve something out of wood…nothing much…" her voice was quiet, but everyone was listening intently, catching every word. "So…what do you like…?" "I actually prefer this world…it's really beautiful…and I feel more…free here…" "Don't you miss your mom and dad?" T.K. questioned innocently, and her eyes widened slightly before she looked away. Everyone saw her retreat back into her silent shell, and they had no idea why…was it because of her parents? What could it be? Renamon perked, hearing something, and said, "Shellmon's coming."
A burst of water sprang out of the sand, blasting the telephone booths into the air, and letting them smash into the ground before Shellmon drilled his way to the surface. Renamon stood, and jumped forward, trying to use Power Paw, but the move failed, giving Shellmon the chance to grab her with his strange green tentacles and throw her. "Renamon!!" Kimiko caught her, but she fell backwards from the force, landing hard on the sand. Joe started climbing up the rock face behind, but Shellmon blasted water at it, knocking him down. Agumon was the only one strong enough to fight, but he couldn't do this alone. Tai ran in, grabbing a metal beam from a smashed telephone booth, and started hitting Shellmon's shell with it. Kimiko ran over to him, saying, "Don't do it, Tai!"
She grabbed his hand, about to pull him away, when a green tentacle grabbed Tai, dragging him into the air. Kimiko refused to let go, and was whipped around in the air until her hold was wrenched loose, and she flew away. "Kimiko!!!" Tai's Digivice started glowing, and so did Agumon. Agumon Digivolved to Greymon, and knocked Shellmon off balance, making him release Tai. Greymon caught both Tai and Kimiko, setting them on the ground, before fighting off Shellmon.
When Shellmon flew into the ocean, Greymon Dedigivolved to Agumon, and Tai ran to his side. Kimiko stood up, and went over to Renamon and Ayaka. They gave food to all of the Digimon, and everyone agreed that once they were done eating that they should keep walking. They were walking along a cliff, and Tai almost fell over the edge, if Agumon hadn't caught hold of him. Kimiko smiled, but it was gone the next moment when two Monochromon appeared, blocking off their escape routes. 'Darn!' Kimiko looked around, and grabbed Ayaka by the arm, pulling her and Tai behind a large boulder, and the others followed behind them quickly. They soon ran from the fighting Digimon, and were soon walking through the forest again. "We need a break…" Ayaka said, sighing as she leaned on Guilmon. "I'll check for a place to stay for the night." Tentomon said, flying up. He came back down a few moments later, saying, "There's a small lake up ahead that would be good." Kimiko nodded, stretching her cramped leg before continuing walking.
When they got there, Kimiko stretched her arms above her head, yawning, when she saw something on the lake. She turned to see it more clearly, when the trolley's lights came on. She looked at it curiously, while the others ran over to the small bridge of land connecting the land platform the trolley was on to the land. Kimiko soon followed them, and found the trolley was empty. 'Why is it empty?' she walked inside, looking around with the others, and sat down. The seats were comfortable, and they agreed to sleep there for the night.
As everyone went off to get food, Kimiko looked at what looked like a watermelon, and lifted it back to where the fire was, thinking of a way to open it. "Let me do it." Kimiko looked up at her partner, and nodded. Renamon used Power Paw, slashing the melon open, and Kimiko lifted the pieces to the others, taking one for herself. After eating a big dinner, everyone started talking, though since Kimiko was starting to nod off, she hardly noticed. It was when Tai and Matt got into a fight that she woke up again. "Stop fighting, you two!" she shouted, pushing them apart.
She glared at both of them, saying, "I don't care what you two were fighting about, but I'm ending it…NOW!!" It was strangely quiet, and Kimiko calmed down a bit, saying, "Let's just choose people to take watch and go to sleep…" Everyone agreed, and the first watch was Tai. Kimiko sat in the trolley, wondering why her heavy eyelids wouldn't close, and looked outside, seeing the fire Tai had made with Agumon. She didn't notice Matt leave the trolley and go to the shore, but she felt a cold breeze send goose bumps up her arm. 'Maybe I should go outside…' she got up, careful not to wake anyone up, and walked over to the fire. Tai seemed a bit startled when she sat down next to him. "Oh…hey, Kimiko…" she nodded, whispering, "Hi…" there was an uncomfortable silence as she stared at the fire.
"Kimiko…I've been wondering…why don't you talk about your parents?" it took her a couple moments to think of a reply. "…I prefer not to…" "Why? Don't you like your parents?" "No…that's not it…" she was silent a moment, thinking of whether to tell him or not, and sighed, saying, "Promise you won't tell…" He nodded warily, and she looked at the fire, saying, "My parents are…gone…we went to the bank one day when I was little…it was robbed, and they started shooting everybody…my parents made sure I got away…but…" a sob wracked her chest and throat remembering it as clear as day, tears welling up in her eyes. "They were shot…they were dead before they hit the ground…" a tear slid down her cheek. "So now…I'm scared of loud noises…and fighting…" a second tear followed the first, and she looked away, not noticing Renamon was sitting on the trolley car, and had heard every word. "Kimiko…" she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, and she looked at Tai in confusion. "It's okay to cry…" she was surprised at his sudden maturity, and it grew more when he wiped her tears away.
She felt the sadness drain away, replaced with a new feeling she'd never known before. She didn't know why, but her cheeks grew hot, and she couldn't make eye contact. Meanwhile, inside the trolley, everyone was still awake, trying to understand why Kimiko didn't talk about her parents, and everyone turned to a lightly sleeping Ayaka and Guilmon.
Sora shook her awake, and quieted her protest, saying, "We need to ask you something…" Ayaka rubbed the sleep from her eyes, sitting up from her Guilmon pillow, and asked, "What do you guys need to ask me?" Everyone was silent until Mimi asked, "Why doesn't Kimiko talk about her parents?" it was silent, and Ayaka was fully awake, looking at the ground. "I'm not sure if I should tell you…" she looked up at their expectant eyes, and sighed, saying, "But since we'll be here a while…" Everyone sat around her, and she seemed guilty as she said, "Remember that bank robbery a few years ago? The one that was all over the news?" Everyone nodded except T.K., so she continued. "Kimiko was there with her parents on that day…they were killed…but they managed to get her out…" her eyes glazed over with memory. "She was a sweet kid before it happened…but she was shy…and it took her a while to really open up to people…I was starting to get through to her before it happened…but…afterwards…she closed up again and hardly ever talks…and I haven't heard her laugh since she was little…"
She looked up at them, sadness in her eyes. "I've learned to read her expressions…but I still can't tell what she's thinking…I'm really worried about her…she stays with her aunt, and she's not the nicest person…she never lets Kimiko do anything…and never lets her talk…that's why she never talks anymore…because her aunt wouldn't listen to her…or let her cry…" She could see the sadness in everyone's eyes, and she said, quickly, "But don't tell her! She'll be mad at me if she finds out!" "Why would she be mad at you? She seems nice enough…" Izzy said, looking out the window at her and Tai. "She doesn't like people knowing about her parents…so I swore not to tell…" Everyone nodded, swearing to stay quiet, when Guilmon said, "But we shouldn't hold it against her that she doesn't talk much…" "But why does she only open up to us when she laughs or smiles?" T.K. questioned innocently, Patamon on his head. "I don't know everything about her…" Anyway…back outside. Tai used his free hand to poke the fire, the embers flying into the air. That's when there was a powerful jerk, like the ground was moving, and Kimiko looked up to see a huge sea dragon Digimon appear, looking angry. Renamon appeared beside Kimiko, saying, "It's Seadramon."
Kimiko stood up, but fell over when the ground was being pulled across the lake. Renamon was about to attack, but Kimiko grabbed her hand, whispering, "Don't fight…" The others had already gotten out of the trolley, and what must have been Seadramon's tail came off of the platform, and he turned towards them. Guilmon shot a Pyro Sphere, distracting him, while Renamon got out of Kimiko's grasp and used Diamond Storm. Seadramon knocked Renamon away, and Kimiko ran to her partner. That's when she heard a splash, and turned to see T.K. had fallen into the water, with Ayaka pulling him and Gomamon back up.
She saw Matt in the water with Gabumon, who was soon knocked onto the small island as Matt was squeezed in Seadramon's iron grip. "Oh no…" Ayaka turned to Guilmon, saying, "Do something! At this rate, he'll…!" "I'm not strong enough to fight him…Gabumon, what about you?" Gabumon looked at Seadramon, determination showing in his eyes as he started glowing, making Ayaka shield her eyes.
He Digivolved to Garurumon, and slashed at Seadramon's tail, making Matt fall onto the island. "Are you okay?" Ayaka questioned, making sure he was okay before seeing Garurumon defeat Seadramon and Dedigivolve to Gabumon. They all ended up at the shore by morning, and Kimiko was exhausted. She felt cold, and ended up sleeping in someone's arms...though she wasn't really sure who it was…Tai looked down at Kimiko, smiling softly, and eventually went to sleep, holding her close…
