We're In Heaven
It was all going to be an ordinary day. Just hang out in Shinjuku Park, then head over to the shopping district to eat. Simple enough, we do that every weekend. What we didn't expect was a rogue Digimon to come through. They hadn't come through in three years.
You're probably wondering who I am, huh? Well, my name is Henry Wong, and my partner's name is Terriermon. He may be a sarcastic and somewhat mean bunny dog hybrid Digimon, but I know deep inside he really wanted the best for all of us. He didn't want us to be moping, and neither did she, but despite all that he's silent now. I'm glad he is. Oh, you're probably wondering why I…no. Why we're all moping. Well…
Like I said, it was an ordinary day. As ordinary as it gets being a Digimon Tamer, anyway. All ten of us, which would be Takato Matsuki, Rika Nonaka, me, Jeri Katou, Kazu Shioda, Kenta Kitagawa, Ryo Akiyama, Alice McCoy, Fayaki Kanihu, and Patilda Natsukia, were walking over to the Shinjuku Shopping district. The Digimon were walking beside, hitching a ride on, or floating above us. The sun was shining with strangely shaped clouds just floating around. Patti, Patilda's nickname, and I were arguing again. It's not that we hate each other, it's just the kind of thing best friends do. Yes, that black haired, dark brown eyed fifteen year old girl was my best friend. She was also Kenta's not so subtle crush. Lucky for him, she's completely clueless when it comes to her love life. I just wish it would've stayed that way…
"Hey Hen, Fay Fay's favorite store is coming up. Why don't you get her something?" My best friend yet worst enemy snickered, her black ponytail bouncing as she ran from me and my wrath. The friendly kind, of course. I chased her down in the store, apparently falling for her trap. I used to be able to avoid those so easily, but I guess ten years away from that girl really knocks you out of it. I had sighed and gotten Fayaki this cat ear ski cap I vaguely remember her mentioning she wanted. Fayaki has bright green eyes, almost a lime green, and real dark blue mid-back length hair. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I have a crush on Fayaki. Walking out of the store with Patti's arm linked through mine, I blushed as the others stared at the bag.
"Patti make you get her something again, Henry?" Kenta questioned, barely containing his laughter. Kenta knew Patti and I were just best friends, and that I supported him wholeheartedly in the whole dating thing. She's like my younger sister, a very annoying younger sister who doesn't really know when to be quiet on a daily basis. Like I need another one of those, so the man upstairs made this girl my best friend. I shook my head, mentally reminding myself to get this girl back when we got home. Not that I would have that chance.
"No, she made me get something for someone else." I muttered, obviously not wanting to talk about it. But did a certain pair get that little hint? No, of course not.
"Oh….Henry's getting serious, is he?" Came the voice of my partner. I glared at the bunny; we all deciding he was more like a bunny than a dog. I was about to say something when Kazu interrupted me.
"Haha! Finally! Henry's opening up to a girl! Henry's gonna-" My visor headed friend found himself on the floor. My hand holding the bag was outstretched, the bag itself swaying a bit. You can probably guess what happened, right?
"Sorry about that Jeri." I apologized to the boy's girlfriend. Yes, after a while, out knuckleheaded Kazu asked the girl out. Of course, Takato and I had no objections. It was weird, they all thought I had a crush on her. Jeri's nice and all, and she's like a sister to me, but I don't like her like that.
"That's okay Henry. You had to shut him up somehow." Yup, that just shows that my 'little sister' Jeri's mind was being contaminated by that other girl I call Patti.
"She's right. There was no other way to get him to be quiet." Our very own Digimon Queen commented, walking up to us. She had to go the bathroom, in case you were wondering. Takato came up after her, having had the urge to have water.
"…Why is Kazu on the ground?" Our resident Gogglehead – though no one but Rika calls him that – questioned.
"Henry got annoyed so he knocked him out with that bag." The girl who's arm was still linked through mine pointed to said bag, slipping away from my arm. Finally…oh. Don't tell her I said that.
"Oh." Takato nodded. I had gotten used to hitting my friends when they got annoying. Patti got me started on that, always teasing and doing things best friends do to their best friends. I guess I got too used to it and began using this little technique on my other friends. The guy ones, anyway. Jeri and Alice I don't hit because their girls – it's just a guy code that if they're not their best friend you don't hurt girls – and Rika and Fayaki I don't hit for fear of being hit back. Those girls pack a punch when they want to.
"Poor Kazu." Alice spoke quietly. She became a good friend after the whole Locomon fiasco. Apparently, she went to Rika's school, but with Rika being anti social at that time, she never noticed. We also found out Dolphin was her grandfather. Weird, huh?
"Well….you know he had it coming. I swear, it's like he has a daily hit quota." Ryo added. The Digimon King stopped running off and disappearing on us now. He's grown pretty close to Alice, and Patti says it's safe to believe he has a crush on her. Kazu and Alice are pretty close too, though. But since Kazu's dating Jeri, Ryo has no 'competition'.
"You've got a point there." Kenta muttered, kneeling next to his friend. He began poking the face down on the floor boy. "Hey. Kazu. Get up. Let us know you're alive."
"As much as we don't really want you to….." Patti muttered jokingly. She's gotten more sarcastic over the last ten years. She had come for a visit since it's their summer vacation in America. It's summer vacation for us here too, so it all works out. This is the first time in a while that I've seen her.
"Hey! I know full well one of you wants me alive!" Kazu exclaimed, face rising from the concrete and hand pointing at Patti.
"That would be who?"
"Jeri!"
"Me?"
"Yes you."
"Hmm….well…."
"Jeri!" The look on Kazu face was priceless. We all fell to the floor laughing. Some of us held out stomach trying to stop the pain of laughing too hard, others just embraced the side pain that came with hard laughter. All of us were crying because of it. Jeri wiped her eyes and let go of her stomach as she breathed in shakily.
"Kazu, you know I'm joking." Said boy looked really relieved to hear those words. Her sat up and hugged Jeri, exclaiming random things.
"Thanks Jeri! I knew you'd support me!" Jeri blushed at the contact but hugged him nonetheless. It's strange how the usually abrasive Kazu told his crush how he felt before the rest of us did. Are you wondering about who Takato likes? Well…who's the only girl left? Don't say she's not a girl.
"Alright. Are we done with this little love fest?" Yeah. Always speaks up when you think of her.
"Uhh…guys. Rika's getting kind of impatient." Takato muttered, fearing for Kazu's safety. Rika wouldn't hurt Jeri, the two had become close friends. Kazu on the other hand…
"Yes sir." Kazu obeyed, heeding Takato's unspoken – bluntly, anyway – command, pulling away from Jeri. It's best to not get on a girl's bad side if they're hungry, especially when that girl is Rika –
"Come on! Let's get going! I'm hungry." – Or Patti. I almost forgot about the bag when she dragged me, but I remembered just in time. Maybe I can use this when I confess! Yeah…no. Patti leading, we all ended up at a Chinese-Japanese restaurant. Kind of weird and somewhat ironic to me, seeing as I'm half Chinese-half Japanese. Patti dragged me in, causing glances to be thrown our way. I heard one comment.
"She's got him on a leash."
I frowned at that and got up, dusting myself off. She let go of me and spoke to the waiter, saying that they had ten people. Lucky for us, the Digimon had already eaten and were back at the park. Why'd we send them there? Don't know, but I had a feeling it was a huge mistake.
We walked around the restaurant as the waiter led us to out table. It was right next to the window, showing a great view of the shopping district. Near the window was a big empty area, where fountains sprung up from the ground. They had those installed a while ago; water fountains with colored lights beneath them. Why was this here while there was another actual fountain? It was there so kids could run through and cool off, something you couldn't do in the other fountain. We planned on doing that. Everything was normal from there, order, feel like we're waiting for so long that the minutes feel like hours, surprisingly get our food quickly, eat while talking. Nothing out of the ordinary. It's what happened after we left the building that everything went downhill.
Patti exited last, closing the door behind her. All of our D-Arcs beeped, signaling a biomerge. Oh yeah, Jeri's D-Arc began acting up again, which proved that Leomon was alive. When out Digimon came back two and a half years ago, he was there too. There was also a green and brown Falcomon, a small black and red Dalmatian looking Digimon called DemiBermon, and a lunar rabbit Digimon called Lunamon. Those three became Fayaki, Alice, and Patti's partners, respectively. DemiBermon was, apparently, Dobermon's rookie form. We were all happy for Alice and Jeri, they got their partners back. At that same time we welcomed two new friends into our 'special' family. But we didn't know it, since we didn't know those two back then. It was only a week ago I saw and they met Patti, and it was only this year we met Fayaki in school. We all looked at each other with either a surprised, excited, and wondering look. Patti's rainbow-rimmed black D-Arc got the first lock on the Digimon. But there were three. Alice's silver-rimmed black D-Arc picked up the second Digimon's signal, and Fayaki's white medium purple-rimmed D-Arc picked up the final Digimon's information.
"Devidramon. Champion Level Virus Type Digimon. Watch out, because if this little devil wants to get you he's got four attacks to do it! Crimson Claw, Dead Eyes, Dark Gale, and Black Bite." Patti read from her D-Arc, glancing up at the dark looking, four red eyed creature. The four of his tattered looking bat wings flapped, pushing him up into the sky.
"IceDevimon. Same nasty type, same nasty level. This fallen angel had a knack for being a sadistic mass murderer! If he wants you dead, his Frozen Claw, Avalanche Claw, Tundra Freeze, or Evil Wing just might to the trick." Alice exclaimed, looking up at the silvery, frozen looking bat creature. His huge, white, tattered wings flapped, creating an eerily cold atmosphere.
"Gorillamon. Same ugly type as the others, but a Data Digimon. This big guy's got a cannon for an arm! His attacks are Energy Cannon, Power Lifter, and something called Tarzan Yell. Eh, not too sure if I want to hear that." Fayaki mumbled, reading her D-Arc. The white-furred cannon-armed gorilla Digimon roared – if that was even possible for a gorilla – and glared at the Tamers.
Takato, Rika, and I nearly froze at the sight of the Digimon we faced early on in our adventures. Glancing back, the looks on our faces were strangely determined, with a hint of wanting revenge in Rika's eyes. I could see why. I think the others realized what this meant, that we wanted to fight. Well, not really wanted, but felt like we needed to. One problem. None of us had our Digimon with us.
"I knew it was a mistake." I muttered, co-leading the group towards the park. The three champion level Digimon were following us, two flying and one running. They were causing major destruction to out city, but we needed our Digimon. Unluckily for us, Kazu just had to get on their nerves, hence why we're running for our lives.
"Kazu. I'm going to kill you if those three don't get to it first!" Patti yelled, running faster. The other residents of Shinjuku had fled the area, but some were still around, mostly hiding. The park was so close, just a little further…
"Energy Cannon!" Gorillamon took another shot at us. Figured he would have to get a shot in sometime, because it hit the area in front of us. The actual attack didn't hurt us, but the whole impact of it caused us to fall backwards onto the cement. IceDevimon and Devidramon took the chance to fire.
"Tundra Freeze!"
"Dark Gale!" We practically flew to the cover behind trees, benches, anything. The attacks hit the objects, leaving us rather safe. I heard Patti mutter from the other side of the alley the two of us were hiding in, behind dumpsters.
"Sheesh, didn't know they had the brains to do something like that." I felt some sweat roll down my head as I looked somewhat embarrassed by what she said. Was that all she could really think about? Sheesh.
"Energy Cannon!" My momentary lapse of focus was pushed away as I heard the attack. The blacktop area between the two sides of the alley – and technically, Patti and me – was covered by an explosion of energy. I pulled my arm over my eyes, shielding them from the light that came with such an explosion.
Where are the Digimon? Well, they're at the park, along with everyone else except us two. We were stupid enough to run into an alley when the park was right across the street. Now we were trapped. They were preoccupied with the other biomerged Digimon. Why were there so many today, after being so calm for three years? We didn't know. At least, not yet.
Sensing a break in their attacks, I motioned to Patti that we make a run for it. I noticed her ponytail bob with her nod, and we both silently counted to five. Why? I'm not sure, but now that I think back on it…
One…
The others were starting to have to use their Champion levels. The Digimon were beginning to deplete faster, but there were still too many.
Two….
Terriermon and Lunamon noticed us in the alley, and began to run for us.
Three…
The three main Digimon we were fighting realized the two little Digimon, so IceDevimon and Devidramon begin to fight with them.
Four….
The others were winning, but only against the Rookie levels that had come through to help the three Champions. Two were fighting Patti and my partners, the other we didn't know where he was.
Five!
Patti and I began our run to the park, sidestepping the dumpsters and running, expecting to see data flying and our Digimon fighting.
What we didn't expect was a speeding car…with no driver.
Gorillamon had pushed that stupid car towards us, with only one intention. Kill a Tamer, any Tamer. I just wish it had been me. I also wish we could've just counted to three and not five.
One scream was heard over everything. I was always more in shape than Patti, but I suddenly wished I wasn't. I turned around and everything was just all…slow motion like. I wasn't sure of what exactly happened, all I was sure of was that one second we were running and the next my best friend was down on the floor, bleeding badly. The car kept rolling down the hill, where it hit a tree and slowed to a stop after it crashed through it.
Everyone else turned around too, all just staring at the girl still convulsing on the ground, moaning and groaning. She was clutching her stomach…no. Only Kenta and I ran towards her, the other brought back to reality as the Digimon attacked more. It was only the Rookies, the Champions had a satisfied look on their faces. They must have been saying something, but I wasn't paying attention. I moved her hands away from her stomach and noticed her wound had opened up again. Somehow she was still breathing, I was happy for that at the time. But I – along with Kenta, I'm sure – noticed the light in her dark brown eyes slowly fade away.
"No…Not now." I heard Kenta mutter, but I also knew as well as he did there wasn't anything we could do. Somehow she held on until the Champions escaped and the Rookies were gone. I don't know how, but she did. Everyone gather around, staring at the girl whose had was in Kenta's lap. I was on her other side, stroking her hair. Her ponytail had become undone somehow. I'm not sure how. Already it was losing its softness. It never had shine, Patti didn't know how to make that happen. I looked down to notice her pale lips curl up into a smile. Tears threatened to fall from my silver eyes. I looked up to see everyone else the same, some more than others.
"I love you guys. I may have just met you or just seen you again a week ago, but I know we're all like one happy family." She spoke softly, eyes staring up at the shining blue sky. It began to lightly rain – one of her favorite kinds of weather – but there were no clouds. "You know, that's pretty cool." She muttered, smiling. I knew what she meant, she always wanted to see it rain without clouds. She got her wish in her dying moment. "Don't cry. I really never got why people cried when someone died. You just have to look on the bright side of things! They're in a better place now, and they wouldn't want you moping around. Sure, they wouldn't want you to forget them, either, but they'd want for you to move on in your life. And just think about it, now that I'm going to be physically gone, the only ones left to annoy you are Terriermon and Kazu." She smiled again, noticing everyone else doing the same. Rika obviously tried to hide the tears, the two had grown pretty close and planned on pranking Kazu and Terriermon, though everyone else was included in the prank. It was just mainly on those two. Yeah, I knew about that prank. Jeri's tears were already falling as Kazu hugged her from behind, burying his head in her hair to avoid people seeing him cry. Ryo hid his own face in Alice's hair, her silently crying into his chest. Takato simply hugged Rika as she buried her head in his neck. I saw his tears fall on her head. Patti smiled again. "Come on you guys! You aren't acting like yourselves. Why aren't you happy?"
"Should we be happy a good friend of ours is dying?" Kenta muttered, looking down at the girl in his lap. I smiled weakly. I remember us talking about the whole subject two days ago, when she told me her great aunt died.
"I mean, no offense, but I don't get why people are so sad when someone dies." Patti mentioned as she came in from the my kitchen, drinking from her glass of water.
"Well, because that person isn't with them anymore, I guess." I answered, looking up from the TV. I was sitting on the couch, remote control in my lifted hand.
She sighed and jumped over the couch, sitting next to me. "That's not true though. I mean, they're always with you in your heart. Plus, they wouldn't want you moping forever."
"I guess you have a point. But still. It's pretty hard. It's not like you didn't cry."
"No. I did. But that's just part of the whole process!" She had lifted her cup to the ceiling, as if toasting to it. I looked at her like she was insane, which she was. Sometimes.
"Process?"
"Yeah! The process of accepting."
"Accepting?"
"Yeah! I mean, accept that they're gone now. But also accept that they're happier where they are now."
"Happier?"
"Yes! Now will you stop repeating what I say?"
"Repeating?" I asked, only to get on her nerves. That probably wasn't a good idea, because all she did was throw her water in my face. Now how could I forget that she had that?
After I had changed out of my wet shirt, we were sitting on the couch again, watching Digimon Adventure.
"Hey Henry?"
"Yeah?"
"If I die before you, I demand that you throw a party."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you all to be moping when I've moved on to a better place. I mean, if I was allowed to organize my own funeral and funeral party, I'd make it mandatory to wear color, not black. And mandatory to throw a party."
"And why again?"
"Well, why not?"
"Give me a reason."
"Okay. I'd much rather be looking down upon all of you when you're in colors, not black. I mean, who ever thought of wearing black to a funeral? That just makes it way more sad than it needs to be. Plus, once again, you should be happy for me."
"Hmm…Okay, deal. But you have to have a part of the bargain."
"Okay then, what?"
"You save a spot for all of us in your house up there, because you know we won't get our own house."
"…Fine. But I'm picking what goes in the HUGE backyard!"
"Fine, but I get to pick the colors."
"Grrr…fine." We shook hands on it, showing how we would hold up our ends.
I came back to reality when I realized Patti began talking again. "Well, kind of." She muttered softly, staring at her hands. I'm amazed she lasted this long, but hey. It's Patti. Anything is possible with her. Even slamming a revolving door.
"Huh?" The other asked all at the same time. Fayaki's arms found her way around my neck, and she buried her head in the back of it. I felt her tears slide down, which made me look around. Everyone else was crying, I was the only one who wasn't.
"Well, I'll be moving on to a better place, you know? And I'll always stay with you, in your guys' hearts, as corny as it sounds." She laughed, but began coughing. It's the final minutes.
"She's right. We should be glad she's moved on. Like she said, all that's left now to annoy us are Kazu and Terriermon." I muttered, smiling at her. The tears finally began to fall as I looked down at her. My hand was still stroking her hair.
"Ye-Yeah." Jeri stuttered, eyes closed. Our tears were beginning to slow down, mine much less because of already knowing where this was going, and I had to agree with her.
"You know I'm right." Patti spoke arrogantly, smiling.
"Yeah." We all chorused, smiling shakily. I noticed her eyes begin to close.
"By the way, Kenny?"
"Yeah?" Kenta asked. He grew accustomed to being called Kenny by Patti. I knew that when she was gone he wouldn't let anyone call him that anymore.
"I started liking you when I met you." Well, she was always blunt…
"Huh?" Kenta asked, eyes wide. The others' eyes were the same, but I just smiled.
"Yeah."
"Well, that's good."
"Huh?" It was her turn to be confused.
"I like you too."
"That's cool." She smiled as Kenta kissed her. Her head weakly turned towards me. "Wong?"
"Yeah, Natsukia?"
"…Be sure to throw me a great party."
I felt a smiled tug at my lips. "Yeah."
"And remember!"
"Colors?"
"Yeah. I'll begin the preparations up there."
"You better. But remember, I'm picking the colors."
"Yeah yeah. Like I'll leave everything white."
"Fine. You can paint it, but when I get up there it's going to be repainted!"
"Okay. Oh, by the way. Here." She handed me a bag, some kind of shopping bag from...oh. I must have dropped it at some point.
"Oh. Thanks."
"You're welcome. Give that to her, and maybe I won't paint the house until you get there." After our long talk and a laugh, her dark brown eyes closed.
So now all of you know why we're all here at a cemetery, crying. Like Patti asked, I made sure everyone wore their signature color. Takato in red, Rika in blue, me in green, Jeri in gold, Kazu in brown, Kenta in…sadly…some kind of pink, Ryo in dark blue, and Fayaki in medium purple. Alice had to wear silver, seeing as she couldn't wear black. By the way, back to the Kenta thing, I'll bet, no, I know that Patti's laughing it up right up there. I know Kenta does too, because I heard him mutter something.
"I hope she's happy, making me wear pink..."
Oh, don't worry Kenta. I'm sure she is. I could almost hear her laughter…