"Put me down, you human-size beanstalk! Let me go!"

Meet Takashi Kyoraku — known as Akuma, the Bloodlust Warrior; Myotismon's only bodyguard and protector; the master of the art of sword combat; and the most terrifying creature of the Digital World — who recently hit rock bottom of becoming Myotismon's fiancée's babysitter... scratch that, her friend.

He would've said no to his "master" only to realize how much he is getting for watching her.

Now, Takashi prayed his sensitive ears can handle the girl's shrill demands.

'My bonuses better have lots of zeros with the way I'm getting treated.'

"Put me down!" The girl continued to yell in his ear. "I can walk, you know! Put me-!" Takashi bent down and stood the girl up. Standing up, he saw the girl gaping at him.

"What?" he asked. "You said you can walk, didn't you?"

She glared. "I did...for the last thirty minutes!"

"Actually, I counted thirteen minutes and forty-five seconds."

She growled. "And you didn't bother to listen to me."

Takashi rubbed his neck. "I made a bet with myself to see how long I can handle ignoring you until we get to your room. Sadly, I lost because you were killing my ears with your banshee cry." The girl's face turned beat red. He dug is pinkie into his ear. "I think you made them bleed." He sighed. "I guess I owe myself twenty-five digi-dollars."

"I don't scream like a banshee!" she huffed. "You must feel really important being Myotismon's bodyguard. I bet the pays are extremely high. You'll do possibly anything to get your hands on them."

It was his turn to glare. "Let's get something straight here, Princess." She growled again. "You don't like me, I don't like you, that's completely obvious. I've got a job to do which I have to keep you happy like any bride would be before her wedding day. So, bare in mind and cooperate with me or I would resort to using my methods; and trust me when I say you don't want to know what they are."

The young warrior scoffed. "As if I'm afraid of you. And don't call me Princess, it's not my name."

"Why don't you tell me about it when we get to your room where I pretend I care", the tall brunet said, grabbing her arm and leading her toward their destination.

"If this is your idea of kindness, I don't want to see your example of misery."

Takashi felt his eyebrow twitching. "Are you always this annoying?"

"Are you always this rude?"

They both glared at each other. Feeling the stares of the low digimon, Takashi stopped glaring at the wrists-bound girl to look at the surrounding stares.

"Don't you all have work to do?" In fear, everyone in the hallway disappeared, except one. A young purple dragon with a white furry belly and a red diamond on his forehead backed himself to the wall. "You." The creature jumped. "Tell the chef to cook two meals and bring them to the bride's chamber. And make it snappy! I'm hungry."

The violet dragon ran as fast as it could, screaming and yelling "Don't kill me!"

He sighed. "Every frickin' time."

"Why is everyone afraid of you?" Takashi turned back to the girl. "You can't be as frightening as the Boogyman, if he ever exist."

"I have a dangerous and gruesome reputation to uphold. I can't be all innocent like magic unicorns pooping out enchanted rainbows."

"How can you be gruesome if you're as human as I am?"

"For someone who's got bite, you ask a lot of questions", he said, tightening his grip.

"And for someone who can take down a Legendary Warrior, you know how to change the subject."

On their walk, it became silent between them. As much as he enjoys it, Takashi secretly wanted to know more about her. Why was she here in the Digital World? He lives in his "home" for as long as he can remember and not once did he see any humans. Why now and how could the girl transform into a digimon?

At last, they reached a pair of dark oak doors. Takashi reached into his pockets to pull out his skeleton key only to see the opening crack of the entrance. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The familiar scent of lilac and valley flowers reached his nostrils.

"Stay behind me", he told her. He slowly pushed the left door and crept inside. Sensing the girl taking cautious steps, he gripped his sword tightly. Inside, the room was grand with a Queen-sized bed with crimson silk drapes, a well polished dresser with a mirror, a double door closet, and the opening to the bathroom. Ahead of them, a double glass doorway leading to the balcony. The hue of the afternoon sun resonated the room, giving off a golden orange glow.

Takashi stood in front of the bed and positioned himself for battle. On top of the bed, two shadows peaked from their spot. Twin ember irises looked at one another's; they smiled, showing their tiny fangs. They jumped up and threw themselves on the swordman.

The girl gasped at the surprised attack. Was someone brave enough to stand up to the Akuma?

Unfortunately, instead of cries of pain and agony, she heard laughter. The two shadows revealed to be twin plant creatures with flower heads. One with red and yellow petals and the other with violet and blue petals.

"We've slayed the demon!" yelled the red flower digimon.

"Now it's time to finish him off!" encouraged her sister. Takashi stood up. His bangs covering his eyes.

"Your surprise attack may have distract me, but you cannot escape my ultimate technique", he proclaimed.

The two small digimon hugged each other in fear.

The dark-haired girl widened her eyes. "Get out of there, kids!" The two digimon seem to not listen to her warning.

"Demon Art of..." He got close to the two rookie digimon. He pounced. "Tickle Fingers!" They all laughed with Takashi as he tickles them to death.

The girl became dumbfounded. Only a few moments ago, she met a lazy man who became a well-trained fighter to a disrespectful jerkface to a caring guy. 'Does he has a personality disorder or what?' she thought as a sweatdrop runs down from her head.

"Lala, Lulu, are you two teasing Takashi again?" The girl turned toward the door spotting a cactus digimon holding a baby plant digimon between her boxing glove hands.

"Aw, Mom; I don't mind", he said, "they made me feel a lot better, actually. I was in a bad mood until these princesses saved me from depression."

'So his real name is Takashi, huh?' the Warrior of Light thought.

His mother smiled before looking at the girl. "I'm Togemon, what's your n—" she stopped, seeing the girl's tied wrists. She glared at her son. "Takashi Kyoraku, is this any way to treat a guest! You will never get a girlfriend if you treat them like prisoners." Togemon started to weep at a corner. A lone spotlight flashed on her figure. "What did I deserve to have a son I raise to become such a naughty boy." The baby giggled.

"Taka's being naughty; Taka's being naughty; Taka's being naughty!" Lala and Lulu sang while running around their big brother. Takashi's face blushed.

"Mom, stop embarrassing me in front of new people; you know it's not like that! She's Myotismon's new bride. Tell her, Princess!" The girl looked away with a huff. "Oh, come on! Don't leave me hanging!"

"Hmph!"

"Takashi, can you feed Tana? She's getting fussy", Togemon suggested.

"Sure, Mom." He carefully took his baby sister. "Let's go hunt down food for our bellies, Princess Tanemon", he cooed. "Then, we go hunt food for me because baby food taste like—"

"Ahem!" Takashi looked at his mother. "Are you forgetting something?"

He tilt his head. "Did I forget to say I love you?"

"Untie this poor girl's hands, or I'll tell her your deepest secrets."

He sighed as he walks up to the girl. The brunet swordman touched her bound wrists. He whispered, "Release."

The yellow energy ropes disappeared. The girl rubbed her wrists. She did not say her thanks, rather she did not bother looking at him.

"You're welcome", he sneered. He walked out the room with Tana in hand.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be so hard on Takashi. He's really a good boy", she heard Togemon say. "Lala, can you get the old dress in the closet?" she asked the blue-flower headed digimon.

"Okay, Mama!" she exclaimed. She ran to the closet with her sister behind her yelling "Wait for me!"

"I'm still not going through with this", the girl said, not looking up from her wrists.

"I know, sweetie", Togemon reassured her, "but it wouldn't hurt to revive a masterpiece rotting in a big closet, now would we?"

"...I guess not..." The girl was not fond of dresses, judging from her disgusted expression. The twin rookies came out of the closet wheeling in a headless — as well as armless — mannequin. The dress it wore was a puffy white gown ( close to becoming yellow, in fact) with puffy short sleeves. The lower gown was bell-shaped with layers upon layers of ruffles. "You call this a masterpiece?" she said aloud.

"Now, now; it may not be much, but it's a start. All it needs is a nice bath and a lot of heart. A beautiful dress is waiting to be awaken. I can feel it!" The girl thought she saw fire burning in Togemon's eye sockets.

She felt a tug on her pants. It was the digimon name Lala. "Mama used to own her own clothe shoppe—"

"Clothes so beautiful you have to pinch yourself to see if you're not dreaming", finished her sister, Lulu. "I'm Lulu the Palmon, by the way."

"I'm Lala the Palmon. What's your name?"

"How did you know Taka?"

"How did you get kidnap?"

"Are you going to marry Mr. Pointy Teeth?"

"How long is your hair —?"

"Girls!" their mother yelled, "give her some air. She's been through enough hassle already."

The girl sighed. "I'm Koji. I've met your Taka just recently in the throne room."

Togemon crossed her arms. "How did you assume she was kidnap?" The Palmons whistled, innocently. "Did you easedrop on Myotismon's conversation again?"

"Of course not, Mama!" exclaimed Lulu.

"We were passing by and heard all of his plans with Clownface—" said Lala.

"That's all", they said in unison.

Koji shook her head. 'They sure know how to conveniently arrive at a right time.'

"How did you get kidnapped?" they asked together once more.

"I was caught off guard", Koji said, piecing her thoughts together, "All I remember was a sweet smell and everything went black. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the castle with Piedmon carrying me." Her eyes blared with a blazing determination. "I'm going to get out of here; and when I do, I will complete whatever task I came here for."

Before Lala and Lulu could question Koji even more, a knock interrupted them. The turned to see Takashi carrying two trays of food and the little Tanemon on his head, napping.

"Hey, Mom", he said, "Tana fell asleep after eating her dinner, can you take her off my head and get her on her own bed?"

"Of course, sweetheart", she said, "come along girls, we've got a dress to recreate." The two Palmon nodded and wheeled the mannequin out of the room. Togemon bowed to Koji. "It was nice meeting you, young lady." The girl returned the gesture. "Takashi, make sure you show generosity and extra kindness to our guest", she included, following her daughters.

"Anything you say, Mom." When they left the room, Takashi placed one tray on the bed and said, "So... your name is Koji."

Said girl crossed her arms. "And you were standing outside, Taka."

"Hey", he pointed, "my sisters call me Taka; nobody else but them. They had a hard time saying Takashi so they prefer Taka instead, and I like it. Anyone else who calls me other than Akuma will meet my sword an inch away from their neck."

"Oh, I'm so scared", she mocked.

His eyes narrowed. "Laugh now but when you see what I really am don't come crying to me." He walked to a disregard chair by the door.

"Can't wait..." Koji sarcastically said.

Takashi let out a tired sigh. "Look, I hate arguing, especially on an empty stomach. Let's agree that we dislike each other and move on, okay?" Instead of answering, Koji walked to her bed and sat down beside her food. "A simple yes would suffice."

"Says the guy who hits girls."

"One, I technically didn't hit you; two, you should be grateful you're still standing and breathing; and three, I beat you fair and square. Get over it!"

"Oh yes, you beat me; I should be undeniably grateful I'll be a digimon's bride who thinks he can get his way with a snap of his thin, boney fingers! So I'm sorry if I don't look overjoyed." She looked down with a depress expression. "This was not the destiny I had in mind", she muttered. However, he heard it (having enhance hearing and all).

"What destiny did you have in mind? I'm certain it doesn't involve running away from home and living here."

Noticing it was a bowl of ramen noodles along with chopsticks, the raven-haired girl pushed it away. "You wouldn't understand."

"I guess not." Takashi went and took her tray of food. "You should go to sleep. You're going to need your strength if you're going to revolt against the wedding." Without another word, she untied the curtains and closed him off from her sight. "And you said I'm rude." He sat down on his seat and ate his two meals in peace.

Inside the curtain-draped bed, Koji hugged her legs while laying her head on her knees. She let out soft sobs, quite enough for her to hear alone.

Takashi, having not eaten his first bite, sat quietly and listening to her sobs.

For once, the urge to eat was nothing more than a passing memory.

End of chapter 2.