Spirited

Chapter 1: Journey to a meeting.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story, nor the places or names.
Digimon Tamers is owned by Toei Animation.
Thoughts or non-vocal explanation.

"Speech"

'Quote'

Tamers' Pov:

Takato: it's been a months since the D-reaper was defeated and our partners sent to the digital world, things at first quieted down but that quickly changed when Rika's, Henry's, and my parents decided to move. All of our parents thought that our partners could never return, and they wanted us to move on with our lives and not be distracted by our memories of our partners. Of course, we on the other hand wanted to constantly be reminded and remember our partners, to bad that they didn't care about that but at least they all decided to move to the same neighborhood so that things would be easier for us. That is the only redeeming thing about their decisions, except for the fact that if (when) our partners return Yamaki, Kazu, Kenta, Jeri, and even Ryo will know where we are and take our partners to our new homes.

Not that any of that is going to shorten this trip at all…

As if to prove his point Rika hit the limit of her exasperation at that point, "Would anyone in this van MIND telling me when we will get there?" Takato just continued his thoughts Our parents had decided to rent a van to help with the move, my parents would take the van, me, Henry, Rika, and Suzie, while Rika's mother, Grandmother, and Henry's father help the movers find the right houses and most of our stuff setup before we got there.

Mr. Matsuki answered Rika first, hoping to prevent the others from joining in, "We'll be there in a few minutes so hold your horses." Rika on the other hand just made grunting sound, "I at least hope that these people card battle or know something about Digimon or I'm really going to lose it out here."

Henry, normally the one of the smarter tamers tried to give Rika a better point of view, "It could be worse you know" Rika just turned to him and glared, "How Einstein?"

Henry just continued to look at the wall of the van opposite him, "First of all, our families could have made us leave or cards and tamer gear with the others, or move us to completely different parts of the world"

Takato brought his knees up to his chin and rested his head on them, "I hope Guilmon is alright, if anything has happened to him…" Rika, in a rare display of her less hostile side, comforted the depressed tamer "Don't start getting down on yourself Takato, I'm sure dinoboy and Renamon and the others are alright."

Suzie, the youngest tamer there, in her child-like lisp spoke her own thoughts "I miss Terriermon, and Wopmon" Henry put a hand on his sister's shoulder to comfort her as well "I miss Terriermon too Suzie, heh, you know, Terriermon would probably say 'Momentai' right now."

With that all the tamers smiled, Takato put his legs down and leaned back into his chair "Thanks you guys." Rika, her smile turning into one of her classic smirks, turned to the goggled tamer, "For what gogglehead, we're all feeling pretty down right now and we are friends right? Isn't that what friends are suppose to do?"

Takato's smile widened, Wow, Rika really has opened up now, but I still would want to be near anyone who insults her or Renamon without having a first aid kit handy.

They all laughed a little then quieted down as they settled back into their seats completely, Mrs. Matsuki turned to look at the tamers, a smile on her face, "That's much better, you kids have been brooding all trip, and it's good to see a smile on your faces."

It was true, all of them, even Rika, were smiling, but those happy smiles were nothing compared to the ones they had when Mr. Matsuki told them all what they wanted to hear, "And just in time to because were here."

Chihiro's Family Pov:

Chihiro looked out of the window of her blue house, Looks like the new neighbors have arrived, or at least one of them since three families were moving into the neighborhood, one next door, and two next them across the street. Watching them reminds me of when we first got to the house a few months ago. The stuff the movers had put in was all dusty and the had food spoiled, which isn't that unexpected when you just spent a few days to weeks in the spirit world, though Mom and Dad don't remember any of it since they were pigs the entire time, though even with them not remembering they do seem to be avoiding pork lately. Chihiro chuckles as she thought that to herself.

Chihiro's Dad looks up from the Chess game he was playing "What's so funny Chihiro?" Chihiro, smiling, just turned back to the window and watched as 3 children about her age got out of the van "Nothing", her father just shakes his head.

Chihiro's mother called up from the kitchen downstairs, "Chihiro could you get your friend Kohaku and your father down here, supper is ready." Chihiro leaves the window, and goes to the door of the room then calls down to her mother, "Okay Mom"

Chihiro remembered the time Kohaku arrived at her home as she turned from the door, Kohaku moved in soon after he got out of the Spirit World, I was kind of funny actually…

FLASHBACK: (Months Ago)

A chime rings through the house, Chihiro's mother who was in the kitchen as she prepared the nights meal, turned to Chihiro, "Chihiro could you get the door please?" Chihiro started for the front door, "Yes Mom", before she realized something and turned around, Wait, that chime wasn't for the front door, but who could be in the backyard, the gate is locked.

Chihiro's mother turned as Chihiro hurried by her, "Chihiro?", she watched as Chihiro opened the door and called out, "Who are… KOHAKU IT'S YOU!", before running out into the back yard. There in the yard was Kohaku, in his dragon form, in one claw he was holding a small bouquet of flowers, Chihiro didn't even notice them, she just ran to Kohaku and hugged him with all her might.

That is when her parents decided to see what was going on…

Chihiro's mother came out first, wondering who Kohaku was and why her daughter was so overjoyed to see him "Chihiro what is….", and froze in her tracks when she did see him, she saw the strange scene in front of her and drops the plastic plate in her hands, letting it clatter against the porch below.

Chihiro's father followed her mother out, carrying the paper he was reading, "What's going dear I heard….", the paper soon followed the plate. Kohaku who had been too stunned by Chihiro's actions to notice her parents watching switches too his human form, smiling.

Kohaku smiled at Chihiro, who was holding him as if he would disappear if she let go, "Chihiro, I'm sorry that I took so long but Yubaba had me stay a while after you left to help her pay for some of the damages No-Face made, I brought you a bouquet to help say I'm sorry."

Chihiro brought her tear streaked face up to Kohaku, her smile quite prominent, "Kohaku, you didn't need to, I understand, I was just worried that Yubaba had decided to not let you go free at all." Chihiro's parents who had just received a shock that they may never recover from finally found the courage to speak.

Chihiro's father was the first to speak, "Um, Chihiro would you like to introduce us to your friend?" His voice shaking due to the shock. Kohaku's face quickly turned serious, he bowed as he spoke, "Excuse me, my name is Kohaku, I meet your daughter a few days ago."

Chihiro's mother looked at Kohaku incredulously, "I don't remember that", Kohaku walked over to her parents "Let me help you", and placed his fingers on their foreheads.

Kohaku used his magic to return Chihiro's parents memories of their time in the Spirit World, including their time as pigs, shock crossed the face of Chihiro's mother "Chihiro, I can't believe I did that to you." Chihiro's father on the other hand had different feelings towards the event, "I can't believe I was a PIG!"

END FLASHBACK

Chihiro turned to her father and Kohaku, "Come on Dad, Kohaku, Supper is ready" Kohaku made one last move before getting up, winning "Coming Chihiro", Chihiro's father just looked at the pieces for as seconds before following them out.

They quickly walked down stairs but as they reached the table…

…The front doorbell rang.

Chihiro's mother turn from the table after she put down the last plate, "It must be the new neighbors, come on we should all greet them."

Both Groups' Pov:

They all got back up and walked to the front door, when Chihiro's mother opened the door, Mr. Wong (Henry's Dad), Takato's parents, and Rika's grandmother and mother were all standing on the other side, along with their children. Mr. Matsuki offered his hand in greeting, "Hello, I am Mr. Matsuki were your new neighbors, and these are some friends of ours who are moving in across the street." Mr. Matsuki shook her hand and then pointed to Janyu/

Mr. Wong also shook Chihiro's mother's hand "Hello, I'm Mr. Wong this is my son Henry and my daughter Suzie, we're the only ones here to say hello since my wife and the rest of my family are helping to get the house ready."

Rika's mother waved slightly, "My name is Mrs. Nonaka, and this is my mother…" pointing to Rika's grandmother, "Hello" then to Rika, "… and my daughter, Rika." Rika just grunted. Kohaku just looked at the tamers warily, That girl Rika is definitely not like Chihiro, and there is something about her and the others that just seems… …Unnatural.

Chihiro's mother waved them all inside, "Why don't you come inside, we can talk in the kitchen and the kids can talk in the study." The study in Chihiro's home was on the second floor, in fact it was the room Chihiro, her father and Kohaku were in before supper. The study had bookshelves and books everywhere, along with other items and furniture, including a chessboard that Chihiro's father and Kohaku were playing on earlier.

Chihiro, turned around as everyone entered the study, "Oh, my parents forgot to introduce me, my name is Chihiro, and this is Kohaku, he lives with us right now."

Henry's face took on a thoughtful look as something tugged at the back of his mind, Kohaku, I've heard that name before somewhere but I don't remember where.

Takato, smiled openly and like his father had done with Chihiro's mother, offered his hand to Kohaku in greeting, "My name is Takato, these are my friends Henry, and Rika." Kohaku accepted "Hello", now Kohaku trying to be polite offers his hand to Henry, and Rika in turn, when he got to Rika though she hesitated to take his hand, but then did, and in the process tried to crush it. Rika suppressed a scowl as she did, I really don't like this guy, he is to much like Ryo for his own good, as for that girl, and I think I can stand her if I can stand Jeri.

When Kohaku finally got his hand returned to him from Rika's iron grip, some thoughts passed through his mind, This girl is very strong for a human, she actually made my hand hurt. When I first felt her aura I wasn't sure if she was human or not but now that I am up close to her and those others I can tell that they are human, but something is definitely different about them.

At the same time Takato was having similar but opposite thoughts as Kohaku about Kohaku There is something about that Kohaku that makes me feel that he is hiding something, that he isn't what he seems, kind of like when I first saw Makuramon in human form but that was because he looked so strange, Kohaku definitely looks more human than Makuramon but he feels even less human.

Henry also noticed something about Takato's new neighbors but couldn't find the source, Something is not right here, I don't know what it is but it just doesn't feel right, and why is my attention always drawn to that girl's , Chihiro's, hair band, something isn't right here but I don't know what.

Chihiro felt the tension in the room build steadily after the introductions, and it was that tension that put her most on edge, Everybody is looking at each other strangely, even that kid who seems to be very even headed seems to be weirded out. Could Kohaku's magic or my hair band be disturbing them somehow, but how could that be true, they would have to have magic of there own or be spirits themselves. Hey, what are those things one there belts, they look like toys but I can just tell that there not somehow…

After the long silence that had formed while everyone was examining the others, Chihiro was the first to speak up. "Um, I don't want to be rude but I was wondering what those things are on your belts." pointing to the D-Arks on Rika's belt

Rika quickly turned to hide the D-Ark, and snapped a harsh reply, "That is none of your business."

Takato quickly tried to diffuse the situation, "What I think Rika is trying to say is that they're just games we got before we moved here."

Neither Chihiro nor Kohaku bought that, For some reason they really don't want to talk about those things on their belts are, what are they hiding. were Chihiro's thoughts, Kohaku's moved along similar lines Those devices, they are what are giving me that feeling, whatever they are they seem to be connected to those children.

Kohaku then turned to Rika to make his thoughts about Rika's reply clear, "You shouldn't talk to Chihiro that way you know." Henry, like Takato had done, attempted to diffuse the situation, "Could you guys please calm down, we really shouldn't fight" Then from down the stairs Henry's father called, "Henry, Rika, Takato were leaving now and Takato's father is going to make us some bread quickly at his house before we go home to eat."

Henry took this chance to end that uncomfortable situation, answering his father "Coming Dad", and taking his fellow tamers down the stairs, with that the tamers left Chihiro's home, leaving everybody with more questions than answers.

Chihiro's Family Pov:

Still in the study Chihiro and Kohaku were discussing the new neighbors, Chihiro watched them from the study window as they left, " I wonder what those things on their belts were, I never saw anything like them before."

Kohaku joined her at the window and watched the three tamers began to discuss something, the goggled one looking up at the window, "Neither have I, and if you hadn't drawn attention to them I might not have noticed them, but whatever they are they seem somehow connected to them and make them feel unnatural to me."

Chihiro's face to a slightly serious tone, "Do you think that they are spirits Kohaku?" Kohaku just shook his head, "No, but we should still be careful with them around, there just isn't something right about them." Meanwhile those they were discussing were also discussing them…

Tamers' Pov:

Henry voiced his concerns once the parents were far enough ahead and the door behind them closed, "There just isn't something right about them." Takato looked up at the window above, "I know, there was something about that Kohaku that just didn't feel, human, like he wasn't what he seems."

Rika scoffed, "Huh, funny I thought he was like Ryo, maybe that is what you're feeling." Takato brought his gaze back down to the ex-digimon queen, "I'm serious Rika."

Henry just shook his head and shrugged, "Well whatever it is we should be careful, Yamaki and the Monster Makers did a good job covering up the Digimon attacks and the D-reaper, but I we all agreed that it was best that the fewer people who know about Digimon and the Digital World, the better."

Takato smiled at his friend's advice, then turned towards his house, "Your right Henry, but we should get moving, you don't want your Guilmon bread to get cold do you?" And with that they ran to Takato's new home, just as the sun set….

END CHAPTER 1