Series Rating: PG-13. Rating changed for various reasons. Some things may at times border on an R rating, and if it's thought necessary, or it goes far enough, the rating will be bumped up.
Series Warnings: Violence; Language; Mature Themes
Pairing Types: (For those that actually find it important) Male/Female; Female/Female - Things may not be always how you think, or in the context you may expect, however...
Water fell relentlessly from the heavens upon West Shinjuku. Winds tore at anything and everything, and lightning struck with an alarming frequency. For most sane people, this would be more than enough to keep them at home, tucked safely in their beds by the time midnight rolled around.
For some, however, there wasn't much choice in the matter.
Not that the teenaged girl who didn't have that choice really cared at the moment. The violet-eyed, redheaded girl ignored the watered pounding on her and focused her attention on what stood in the street before her.
It was a creature that, for all it mattered, was quite humanoid. But it didn't take much looking at it to tell the thing was far from human… it stood well above the height that most humans did, and had scaled, blue skin. It also wielded two wooden swords.
What got her attention the most, however, wasn't the creature itself; it was the bodies littered around it.
The girl's serious, unemotional expression became fierce. She knew very well that this may have not been intentional; that the creature could just be scared and confused. She could care less about that fact, though. There was only one course of action now.
The creature seemed to realize this as well, however, and quickly ran for an alley. If it wasn't for how grave this situation now was, though, the girl would have smirked. "Idiot."
The loud sound of gunfire from the alley suddenly cut through the sound of the rain and thunder. The redhead wasn't surprised by this, and merely began walking over in that direction. The sound of fighting came from that area for a few, brief moments before there was another quick burst of gunfire and the blue-skinned creature was thrown from the alley with great force.
The monster landed just over a dozen feet from the girl, and instead of getting up, it writhed in pain, clutching its leg. The reason was quite obvious, as that limb was now had several bullet wounds, and he was losing a fair amount of blood from them.
"Wait!" a male voice shouted.
The redhead's eyes moved to the alley and saw a blue-haired young man her age coming out of it. "For what? You know very well how this works. Especially since this Yashamon has now harmed innocent bystanders. Besides…" The girl turned her back to the boy. "After what your friend's just done to him, consider it putting him out of his misery…"
She glanced back briefly. Upon seeing a flaming blue dragon, somehow defying the water cascading over it flying towards the Yashamon, she looked forward again. Ignoring the scream that followed, she reached into her pocket and retrieved a cell phone. Flipping it open, she hit a button and held it to her head.
"Sir, this is Makino. Threat neutralized," she said, and then sighed deeply. "However, you may want to get some people down here…"
Knowing her message would be understood, and that there was nothing more to say, Makino Ruki looked around to see the carnage she had turned her back on.
Or, to be exact… The carnage she wanted to turn her back on.
Digimon Tamers: Inner Demons
Realization 01- "Tamer"
By Infinity Blade
With only a few lingering, dark clouds now stationed above the city, bright rays of light eventually found their way through the darkness. The sun shone down upon West Shinjuku, giving it an entirely different look than it had adopted only a few hours ago in the darkness of the night…
Shinjuku was apart of Tokyo, Japan, easily one of the largest and most populated cities on the face of the Earth. Like any other city, everyday people woke up and went about their daily routine. Be it to go to work, school, or just to care for their children, there seemed to be nothing unusual about it at its surface. Indeed, for a majority of this city, there was nothing unusual about it…
But Shinjuku… it was different. There was something about it, something at its very core that was very different… Something that most people didn't truly realize. For their safety… for their sanity… it was best for things to be left like that.
Soon, one soul would wish that things had been left like that…
"Hm… well, lets see… if I add just a bit here…"
Sitting up against a wall, with a sketchpad propped up on his knees and a pencil in hand, was a young man. Sixteen years old, there was nothing really outright remarkable about his appearance. Like all of his male classmates, he wore a gray school uniform with a white shirt beneath his jacket. Though many in his school griped about the dull dress code, he didn't mind it, personally. He found himself blending into crowds quite often in normal gatherings; this just allowed him to do so easier at school.
Truly, the only thing that even partially stood out about him was the mess of brown hair sitting atop his head. He didn't really mind this either. To be just another face in the crowd wasn't that horrible a fate…
Matsuda Takato, in the end, was happy to just sit at the corner of this wall as he did almost every morning while awaiting school's start. Eyes focused on what he was drawing and nothing else, the entire world around him just seemed to vanish…
Pausing for a moment, he pulled his pencil away from the drawing. He looked over what he had accomplished, and nodded a bit, smiling just slightly. "Yeah… yeah, I think this will work…"
What occurred next was so quick that Takato barely had enough time to recognize what happened. So engrossed in his work as he was, he didn't notice people approaching around the corner. Normally, when people found him on this corner, they would be walking by normally and just went around him.
As fate would have it, at that single, particular moment, one person went running around the corner as fast as he could, for whatever reason. His reason was irrelevant in an instant, however, as he ran right into Takato. Takato released a cry of pain as he fell over, his sketchpad flying from his grasp. As well, his school bag was knocked over, sending most of his books and schoolwork flying from it.
The one who hit him wasn't in a much better position himself, as he went flying right into a large puddle of water.
Takato groaned as he began getting up. Before he even got up very far, someone seized him by the back of his jacket and hauled him up to his feet roughly. "You're seriously gonna regret that…"
The young man's eyes widened as he recognized the voice. It most certainly belonged to a boy in Takato's grade named Kobayashi Norio. If he was there, most certainly his brother Yasuo, older by one year, was there too. And…
The thought "oh crap" suddenly repeated itself very frequently in Takato's mind.
The brown-haired boy gasped in pain as Norio slammed him up against a wall. Takato looked at him as he shoved a hand against his shoulder to keep him in place. Norio was fairly muscular, with very short brown hair on his head. His brother Yasuo, taller and somewhat lanky with longer hair of the same color, stood behind him.
Another member of their group was there as well, but he was trying to make his presence unknown by staying behind Yasuo. But just a quick glance at him sent the anger that was rising up within Takato ever higher…
"Well, well, well…"
Takato inwardly cringed, and looked over to see the one who had tripped over him. He was a classmate named Katoki Yosuke. Whatever style his short black hair may have been in didn't really matter anymore, as it was soaking wet… along with the rest of his body. Despite this, he had a look on his face that was somewhere between a sneer and a grin.
Yosuke and those around him were well known at Takato's school. Not for anything good, though; they were seen by a majority of the school as punks. They would do what they wanted, no matter who they had to step on to do it. But no one really did anything about them, either…
"And what do you have to say for yourself?" Yosuke asked, cracking the knuckles in one hand.
"S-sorry…" Takato muttered, almost under his breath.
All humor went out of Yosuke's face as he glared at him. "Is that so? Well, whether or not you're sorry, I'm soaking wet, as is all of my stuff. And you…"
Yosuke paused and looked down. His foot was an inch from stepping on Takato's sketchpad. Grinning once more, he scooped it off the ground, staring at the picture on the page it was open to. "Heh. Still working on these shitty drawings, eh, Matsuda?"
Takato grit his teeth. "I said I was sorry… it was just an accident…"
"Eh," Yosuke shrugged and unceremoniously tossed the pad into the puddle.
Takato suddenly struggled to lash out. "Why you-!" It was a futile attempt, as Norio's grip held strong.
"Now, now, Takato-kun," Yosuke said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he clamped a hand on Takato's other shoulder, "there's no need to be like that…"
"Why can't you just leave me alone…?" Takato mumbled.
Yosuke's smile widened as his grip on Takato's shoulder tightened… so much that it started to hurt. "Now, where would be the fun in that…?"
Suddenly, the hand of the group's fourth member fell onto Yosuke's arm. "Hey. C'mon, I think he understands… we should-"
"Oh, shut up Shiota!" Yosuke exclaimed, releasing Takato's shoulder to knock the other young man away. Takato stared in surprise at the spiky-haired young man, and almost felt his anger subside for a moment.
"Hey, I was just saying, we need to get to class and all," the fourth member, Shiota Hirokazu, defended himself, "plus, is it really worth-"
"I said shut up," Yosuke growled, and then turned to face Takato. He pounded a fist into his palm, chuckling. "And screw class. I think it's time we taught Matsuda here a lesson, what do you boys think?"
Yasuo just grinned and nodded, while Norio's grip tightened. "We've told you to stay out of our way," the muscle-bound boy snarled.
Takato clenched his eyes shut, knowing what was about to happen…
"Let him go!"
His eyes then immediately snapped back open, and all of their heads turned in one direction towards the sound of the voice. Standing nearby, there was a girl Takato's age, with shoulder-length brown hair. Much like the boys' uniforms, her's was quite dull, with a gray top and black skirt. Her arms were crossed across her chest, and the look on her face was quite angry.
Yasuo chuckled, eyeing his younger schoolmate. "Well hello there, Juri-chan…"
Katou Juri's glare became more intense. "Leave him alone."
Juri was a classmate of Takato's. She was one of the nicest people in the school, and also always one of the first to stick up for him. She would do that for just about anyone, though...
Yosuke snickered. "Really? Oh, well, just because you say so, I guess we should leave poor, defenseless little Takato-chan alone then, shouldn't we?" He looked back at Takato, and then shrugged. "Eh. What the hell? Norio, let him go."
Norio gave him a disbelieving look for a moment, but then released him. Takato's hand immediately went to his pained shoulder, and Yosuke leaned over to get in his face.
"Hell, your ass getting saved by a girl like Katou is almost better than us beating the crap out of you," he whispered happily. "We should thank her."
With that, Takato's tormentors took their leave, most of them looking quite pleased with themselves. Lagging behind, Hirokazu cast one last glance back. Takato didn't really pay it any mind, however, and just silently began to try and get his things together.
"I just can't believe," Juri muttered as she walked over, "that Hirokazu hangs out with those… those… those…"
"Idiots?" Takato offered softly.
Juri paused briefly before kneeling down next to him. "Here, let me give you a hand…"
"I'm fine," he murmured.
Ignoring his response, she continued getting his stuff off the ground anyway. He didn't argue; he knew there would be no point in it. Soon, everything seemed to be in order, and as he looked around to make sure he wasn't missing anything, he suddenly felt her hand on top of his. He felt his entire body freeze.
"You really shouldn't let them abuse you like that," she said. Her tone was soft, but also stern to a certain degree. "If you do, they're just going to keep at it…"
Takato jerked his hand away and stood up quickly. "There's nothing I could do…"
Juri sighed, but then stopped. "Oh, wait, you missed this…"
He looked down, discovering that she was holding up a card. Instantly, he started to feel a little queasy…
She looked at the card for a moment before it seemed that realization struck her. "Oh, this is a digimon card, isn't it?"
Takato blushed heavily and took the card back. "Um, uh… yeah…" Without another word, he began to walk, but soon stopped as he reached the puddle. His sketchpad sat in it, completely drenched. Ruined.
That figures, Takato thought bitterly, but at least today can't possibly get any worse…
A man sat in a smoky room lit only by a small lamp on his desk. His eyes were locked onto several sheets of paper spread across that desk.
One entity realized…
Seven people dead…
Entity neutralized in record time…
The man took a puff of the cigarette in his mouth and shook his head. "This is getting much too frequent," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "And we're not making any headway in stopping it altogether…"
Suddenly, the phone on his desk rang. He nearly sprang up in surprise, but instead reached over and hit a button on it while he placed his cigarette in an ashtray. "Yes?"
"Sir, I think you should come up here," a female voice answered.
"May I ask why…?"
"I think we may have another Realization preparing itself," she replied, "but… we can't lock down where it is. It's… erratic. However, sir… it seems to be a Type 1."
The man's blue eyes widened in shock. "Right. Keep trying to lock it down… I'll be right there."
By the end of school that day, Takato was quite thankful it was over with. He normally didn't mind school all that much. It had actually been a quiet day once he was in the school building, as well. However, thanks to what had happened that morning, he felt his concentration shattered on… just about everything. He found himself messing up on nearly everything he did that day. Turning in the wrong pieces of homework, screwing up on school work in the classroom… The day had just started bad, and went downhill from there.
It was over, though. All Takato truly wanted at that point was to get out of there and go straight home, just as he had to do every day…
He sighed as he walked away from the school. With my luck, something will go wrong at home…
This day was hardly an exception, however. Trouble seemed to follow Takato around like the plague. It wasn't as if he tried to attract it, he just did. All he tried to do was remain quiet, not bother anyone… and yet…
Takato shook his head. He didn't need to dwell on that. It wouldn't do him any good.
His hand fell to his pants pocket and he felt the card Juri had picked up earlier in it. Instantly, his thoughts went back to what he was trying to avoid thinking of. It wasn't hard to figure that his interests may have something to do with why he was a target…
Digimon. A franchise made up of cards, video games, and an anime, was something that had been quite popular a couple of years prior.
At least, it had been popular with children.
Despite that, it had attracted some older fans, but it wasn't something that was smart for them to advertise, as it would almost instantly attract people who would make fun of them.
At this point in time, however, Digimon was barely being kept afloat by the card game and handfuls of fans here and there. Somehow, it would somehow be even worse to be found as a fan of it then than it was in the past.
Takato's interest in it, however, didn't stem from anything childish. He didn't think so, at least. He loved art. He loved to design a variety of things, no matter what they may be… to just let his imagination run wild.
Digimon had such a wide variety of designs for its monsters that he was instantly drawn to it. He loved how despite being so many of them, they were all so different. It was so easy for him to find inspiration from all of it…
Yet it is one thing, among other things, that left him wide open to attack from his peers. To be interested in what some thought merely to be a simple child's game…
Once more that day lost in thought, Takato didn't see what was coming next. Suddenly, someone threw an arm around his shoulders. A quick glance to the side allowed him to see who it was.
Yosuke.
"Hiya," the other young man greeted, his black hair now just a mess rather than being soaked.
Takato's body instantly tensed, but he continued walking. He cast his eyes around the area; several students were around as they walked home, including Juri and a couple of her friends. The girl was looking over in their direction, but made no movements to do anything… None of Yosuke's friends were around, though.
"Wh-what do you want?" Takato asked quietly.
Yosuke smirked. "Now, now, Matsuda… why act so nervous?"
Juri's words from earlier went through Takato's mind… "You really shouldn't let them abuse you like that. If you do, they're just going to keep at it…"
But what can I do? Takato thought. …of course, if I do anything, that couldn't really make things any worse… could it?
"Why do you think?" Takato mumbled.
Yosuke's expression didn't change, and he just shook his head. "Matsuda… really. You make things even harder on yourself than they need to be…"
"Just leave me alone," Takato said, a slight growl developing in his voice. "I need to get home…"
"Oh, please, don't be such a mama's boy," Yosuke said, still grinning like an idiot.
Takato's frustration rose, balling his hands into fists. Why can't you just shut up and leave me alone?
"See, now, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones…" Yosuke continued.
Probably wants to use me as a scapegoat for something…
"And-"
"Shut up," Takato muttered, bringing his stride to a halt.
Yosuke stopped as well, his eyes locking onto Takato's as he stepped in front of him. "'Scuse me?"
"Just get out of my way so I can get home, please," Takato said as calmly as he could manage. "My Mom needs my help today, and-"
Yosuke snorted and grabbed Takato by his jacket. "Listen, asswipe, that's not a very nice way to return my hospitality."
Hospitality? Takato questioned in his head. Right. And I'm the Prime Minister of Japan.
Takato kept his eyes in line with his classmate's. "Let go of me."
"Or what?" Yosuke smiled. "You'll go crying behind your stupid bitch mother's apron?"
In an instant, something snapped within Takato's mind. He found his balled up fist driving violently into Yosuke's gut, almost as if it were possessed. As the black-haired young man fell back, Takato's other fist flew against Yosuke's face. Being taken completely off guard by the force of both blows, Yosuke was flung to the ground roughly.
Takato stood there for a few moments, taking in multiple deep breaths while he stared down at Yosuke's prone body. He then looked at his fists, and he had a sudden rush of nausea. He started to stumble back, holding his head… but then he did the only thing he could think of, despite knowing that the eyes of several students had just watched what happened.
He ran.
"Whoa!" A technician sitting before a giant screen in a large, dark chamber exclaimed.
A blonde man leaned over her chair, eyeing the readings she was getting. "What is it?"
"Its… odd," the woman muttered, "there was a sudden spike in all of the readings… unlike anything I've seen before…"
"But it didn't Realize?" the man asked.
"Negative, sir," another woman, also sitting before the screen, said.
The man drummed his fingers on the back of the chair for a moment. "I see…" He jerked his head in the direction of another technician across the chamber. "Contact Ruki. Keep her on alert."
"Yes, sir!"
He looked back to the women. "Megumi, Reika… Keep monitoring this, and tell me if you find any specific details."
"Sir!" they both chorused.
The man glanced up at the screen, fiddling with a small silver object in his hand. It was rare something made him very nervous…
He really hated that.
Click.
Having now slowed down to a walk, Takato continued on his way home. He couldn't believe what he had just done… and was in equal disbelief that he had done it so effectively.
Not that he didn't deserve it…
Everything about him right now, though, displayed his nervousness. His hands were shaking, he was breathing hard, and he kept looking behind his back every few seconds, expecting Yosuke or his friends to come up from behind and attack him…
Couldn't make things worse… yeah, right.
He knew this was just going to make his life a living hell at school… There was really no denying it… Yosuke had probably already gone back to the school, telling them how Takato assaulted him… Figuring out the way someone like him thought wasn't very difficult, Takato knew…
"Hey," a familiar voice suddenly said, and Takato's head jerked in the direction of the sound. There, he found Hirokazu leaning up against a wall, smirking slightly. "I hear you have a mean right hook."
Takato just stared, now frozen in place. "Uh… how did you get here… so quickly…?"
"Took a shortcut," he said, shrugging.
"Wh-what do you want?" Takato asked.
Hirokazu eyed him momentarily, and then grinned. "Takato, listen-"
Takato cast his eyes to the ground. "Why? It's not like we're friends…"
The other young man paused. "Takato… I'd really suggest avoiding Yosuke as best you can for awhile."
"I didn't start it!" Takato shouted, his eyes snapping back up. "I never did anything to him before that! And who are you to come and tell me something like that?"
Hirokazu looked away from him. "Just… you don't… oh, nevermind. Just watch your back, okay?"
The spiky-haired boy then pushed off the wall and started walking up the street, not bothering to send another look Takato's way.
Why should he care? Takato thought while he continued towards his home. It's not like he did before… and I don't need him to point out the obvious…
It wasn't long before he reached his house, though it didn't appear as one on the outside. A majority of the building was taken up by his family's bakery, while the rest contained minimal living quarters. A kitchen, a couple of bedrooms, a bathroom… not much, but it was all they really needed…
Upon entering through the back door, he immediately heard his mother, Mie's voice calling out to him. "Takato, is that you honey? I could really use a hand!"
"I'll be right there, Mom!" he shouted back. "Just let me go get changed!"
Takato made his way past the kitchen to the staircase that led up to the bedrooms. As he did so, he passed by a picture of his father, mother, and him, and couldn't help but sigh slightly. Every day after school, he made sure to get home as quickly as possible to help with the bakery. He had no choice but to do this, with his father, Takehiro, no longer with them…
It had been a few years since he had passed away. He had started this bakery himself, but after he was gone, Mie was determined to keep it going. She had a couple of people that came in to help her during the day, but later on she would generally need her son's assistance to keep things going properly.
Between this and school, Takato knew it didn't give him much time for a life outside those two things… but he didn't really mind. It wasn't as if he really had any outside obligations…
Click.
"Everything seems to have stabilized sir… completely."
"But it's still there?" the blonde haired man asked the technician.
"Well… yes…"
Click.
"Then there is no stability, Reika," he replied. "Not until we know what it is there for, and what it is going to do."
"Right… yes sir, Yamaki," Reika said.
He scowled at the readings they were getting. It was never like this before… not with the other two…
Click.
Takato sighed.
For a short while, at least, Takato had been able to keep his mind off of the events of that day. By keeping himself busy in the front of the bakery, handling the register and money, he was able to keep his mind from drifting. Despite the fact it did keep him from doing much of anything else, he welcomed fulfilling his responsibilities there. Other than the occasional difficult customer, he always felt better when he was at home, even if he was working.
Things went about without incident until the time came to close the shop down. Although he had no problems with helping out, he was also quite glad for this, after the day he had just experienced. All he really wanted now was to eat and head off to bed, hoping to just forget about everything in his sleep…
Unfortunately for him, he then found his mother asking him to head down to the store to pick up a couple of things. Although he didn't really want to, he complied.
As luck would have it, no sooner was he out of his home did his mind slip back to the things he didn't want to deal with…
I'm going to get creamed tomorrow if I run into any of them, he thought while he turned out of the alley behind his house and went along the sidewalk. It was cool out that night, but he couldn't see anything in the sky… clouds covered it. That'll be hard, with Katoki in my class… but… he can't do anything there, right? It's just before and after school that I have to be careful…
He just couldn't understand it. He didn't do anything that should attract such trouble… He didn't bother anyone…
So why am everyone's punching bag?
He couldn't really figure out how to go to his mother about this… He just didn't know if she would understand…
If only… if just…
Takato placed a hand over his face and let out a long breath. I just need to relax…
As he rounded the next corner, however, he froze.
"Well, well… fancy seeing you here," a voice said coolly.
Takato just stared wide-eyed at what stood before him. "Ka- Katoki…"
H-how…? That's… that's not… Why is he here?
Yosuke's dark clothing and hair would have allowed him to easily blend into the shadows if it wasn't for the lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Seems today is my lucky day, Matsuda," he grinned. "I just thought I would go out for a walk… clear my head… and something just drew me over to this area…"
Takato gulped. "Listen… I'm sorry about this afternoon…"
Yosuke chuckled. "Oh, no need to worry about that… well, there won't be after I pay you back, anyway."
Takato's instincts took over once more that day, and he went running back towards his house. Somehow, though, Yosuke wound up being faster than him, and was quickly able to snag the back of his shirt. Takato's dash was stopped immediately, and he found himself being flung into wall of a building.
"Now then, Takato-kun, allow me to teach you something," Yosuke said in a mocking tone as Takato began to stumble. Grinning all the way, he slammed a fist into Takato's stomach, eliciting a shout of pain from him. Takato would have doubled over if it wasn't for the fact that that Yosuke then grabbed a handful of his hair to keep him upright. "Namely, what happens when a little shit like you makes me the laughing stock of the whole fuckin' school!"
Yosuke pounded his fist into Takato again. And again. He was in pain… he couldn't think straight… everything was happening so suddenly. All he knew was that he was angry, and was being pushed beyond any anger he had ever felt before with each blow…
It was almost unfathomable the rage and hatred he was feeling towards this one, single human being. Everything Yosuke had ever done to him … he hadn't prompted it on purpose. But he was an easy target… he let things happen to him without fighting back… he literally was, especially at this moment, just a punching bag…
Yosuke released Takato's hair and smashed his knuckles against the side of the other boy's head. Takato didn't even scream and just fell to the ground. "Good for nothing little punk," Yosuke spat..
"S-stop… stop it…" Takato said, his voice trembling with both rage and pain.
"What's that?" Yosuke questioned, cupping a hand around his ear. "Got something to say? Huh?" He swept his foot up into Takato's side, this time bringing a shout out of him. "Do you?"
Takato stared up at Yosuke, with his ever-constant, mocking grin. He wanted to wipe that smirk off his face so badly… If I just had… something. Anything… anyone… just something to make him stop! ANYTHING!
Yosuke kicked him again, and Takato screamed. "STOP IT!"
For just a moment, everything stopped. Then, that smirk did vanish from Yosuke's face, and he found himself taking a few steps back from Takato. The brown-haired young man then felt something appear in his hand from out of nowhere. It felt… warm. Almost comforting…
Yosuke's expression, however, was turning to one of fear. Takato, despite his pain, strained himself to turn his head and see what was behind him…
In the middle of the street, an incredibly thick, but small patch of fog was rising up out of the ground. Electricity surged from it at random spots, and the streetlights around them were flickering; a few even just simply blew out.
Then, something began to take shape, and the fog began to dissipate… Takato could only watch in amazement at what emerged…
It looked like… a demon. It was small, humanoid, and covered in purple fur. It hand a scarlet glove on each, three-fingered hand, and a scarf of the same color. Its white face held a toothy grin, and its eyes were green. Lastly, on its chest there was a yellow smiley face, and there was a small tail coming out of the creature's back.
That… that's…
"Wh… what the hell is that?" Yosuke screamed. It was no surprise that the dark haired boy suddenly started to run at that point.
"Aw, what's the matter?" the demon's scratchy voice laughed, taking a long leap over Takato's body. "Don't tell me you're afraid of lil ol' me!
The demon looked at the ground, seeing Yosuke's still-burning cigarette having fallen to it. "Heh. Like fire, do ya…?" He thrust a gloved hand out. "Then have some of mine! SUMMON!" A small hole in the ground just… appeared before him. "FLAME!"
A fireball soared out of the hole, and immediately flew through the air towards Yosuke. The young man only turned his head in time to notice it just before it struck him. He screamed at the top of his lungs as flames engulfed his entire body, and he fell to the ground, rolling around wildly.
The demon snickered as the hole vanished and he snapped his fingers. "Badaboom, sucker."
Much to the demon's displeasure, however, he heard a rumbling above, followed quickly by the sky suddenly opening up and releasing a barrage of water. "…the hell?" he grumbled, glancing at Yosuke as the rain started to extinguish the just-started fire. "Crap. Just when I was havin' fun…"
Takato could only stare as the sudden rain beat down on him. From the smoke rising off of Yosuke's twitching body, to the small demon standing right in front of him…
He felt the thing in his hand again, and looked down at it. It was a small, silver device with a screen on it. Around the screen was a purple strip, and there were also two buttons and a strap of the same color. "What the…"
The demon turned to face him, still smiling. As he did so, a holographic display appeared on the device, showing the creature… and his name.
"Impmon…"
-To Be Continued
Notes: Now, I'm sure I know what most of you are thinking… and no, I am NOT smoking anything. The idea for this comes from the people behind Digimon itself. Whether or not THEY smoked anything a few times during the production of the entire series is another question. :P
So, I know it will be asked. "Why is Impmon Takato's partner here?" Please direct your attention to the following address: The web page of Chiaki J. Konaka, one of the primary minds behind Digimon Tamers. Find the Digimon Tamers section (easiest way to do it is through the English site map). To be specific, the English version of the "About Characters" section on the Tamers page. By looking at Impmon's entry, you will see that one of the original intentions before Konaka came on board was to have Impmon as the main character's Digimon.
Well… ever since I read that, the concept has planted a seed in my mind. I've been wanting to write a Digimon Tamers AU for awhile, but I had to find something… right. Something that would be different enough to be worth it. From that one, single concept that could have been… I've been able to build this whole series.
The most difficult task of creating an AU is keeping the characters recognizable. As someone who values characterization, I can say that I will try my hardest to do that right here. You may notice certain bits of characterization that don't seem right in this first chapter, but… well, I just can't explain everything at once, or else I'll wind up sacrificing proper characterization. You'll see what I mean. Or at least, I hope so.
I should note, though, that not everything I do here is for the reasons one may automatically assume. I can't really expand on that much, so just take it as it is.
Oh… and the rain suddenly breaking out at the end wasn't a coincidence, also. If you paid attention, you should have some idea as to why. And yes, I know that one of Impmon's lines is dub-inspired, but I just couldn't resist for that one part. :p
I'm also not sure when I'll be able to continue this, what with some other series I have going on, but I definitely will. I have so many things I want to do with this to not follow up on it soon…
As well, just a small thing… From now on, instead of cluttering up my author's notes with replies to reviews, for any review where there's a need for a response, that response will go You may also once in awhile find previews for upcoming stories there.
So, before I end this long-winded author's note, which hopefully shouldn't be the case in future installments… Comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated. Especially here, as I'm looking forward to reactions to various things in this series.
Next: Realization 02- "Partner"