Welcome back to my saga. Anyway, first things first, the customary:
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Digimon, but I do own all OCs in this story. Okay, got that? Good.
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. Right, now let's continue the story
DIMENSIONS
BOOK ONE
Links
By Blazing Chaos
CHAPTER 2
You've Got Some Convincing To Do
REAL WORLD
Wong Residence, West Shinjuku Apartment Complex 10B
19:53 JST
Henry quickly ascended the stairs to his front door. As much as he would have liked to dawdle so he could think and consider what he would say, that could potentially jeopardise their chances of leaving the next day, since the Hypnos boss, Yamaki, and the monster makers, would both probably be asleep by then. Arriving at the front door, he remembered something Rika had said earlier.
"If you haven't been keeping score, it was Janyuu's idea to let us lose the Digimon in the first place."
He winced at the thought, and he started to think it was true. His dad did actually already know that they would lose the Digimon, and yet he lied to them by not telling them. For a few weeks afterwards, he had held his father in resentment, and he knew that his father felt he had done wrong too. Eventually, his father had asked for forgiveness, and Henry had agreed. But…what Rika said and the prospect of the Digimon returning had brought all that bitterness back. And now, he was going to try and convince his father, the one who had been so upset that his children had been allowed to be involved in this dangerous and life-threatening game due to his college project, that they should get their Digimon back. He could hear Terriermon trying to reassure him now.
"Momentai"
Henry sighed. If this didn't work, then he'd likely never hear that word from his partner again. He turned the key in the lock and opened the door.
"Hi Henwy. Where were yuw? Yuw said yuwd be back at eight o'cwock so yuw could hewlp me wiwh Princess Prewerty Pants on one of my Dolls."
"I was seeing my friends Suzie"
"Owh, the angwy kid and the mean one"
"I'm not angry!!"
Henry could hear the words now clear as day. He chuckled quietly to himself. This caught his father's attention.
"Oh hi son, how were your friends?"
"Oh, they were fine. Dad…we need to talk."
Janyuu Wong frowned.
"…so you see, we can't go back to save them without assistance, it'd be sui…a dangerous mission."
"I see. So what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to contact Hypnos and the Monster Makers and arrange us some support."
Janyuu looked at Henry for a few seconds.
"Alright then. But you have to promise me you'll be careful."
"I will Dad."
"I mean it, seriously. You won't have any defence to help you until you find one of your partners. This is far more risky than last time."
"I know"
"Okay son. Now, let's see. Its 21:00 hours. Shibumi normally reserves this time for watching Doctor Who, but he owes me for me not taking his favourite mouse during a poker game back in '84…"
Janyuu picked up the handset of the phone.
"Yep, my father is a geek."
Nonaka Residence, East Shinjuku
19:54 JST
"Hi Grandma, I'm home"
"Oh, hi dear. Later than normal I see, anything interesting happen?" replied Seiko Hata, working on the computer.
"For once, something did. Is mum home?"
"No, she's doing a late photo shoot."
"Perfect"
"Did you just say perfect? I thought you two were getting along better now"
"That's not the reason why this time."
"Well what is it then dear?"
"Well…Tak…Gogglehead…discovered something…"
"A sense of fashion perhaps?"
"I knew you had it in you Grandma" Rika replied happily. Both laughed for a short while.
"So, what did he actually discover?"
"A portal to the digital world."
Seiko nearly spat out her tea when she heard that.
"But…didn't Janyuu say…"
"Yes…he did. But it's back…somehow, not too sure, and me, Gogglehead and Brainiac plan to go back and retrieve all of our Digimon."
"I see, and I presume you want permission."
Rika nodded. Seiko sighed and returned to her computer.
"So…can I go?"
"You'll need to ask your mother on that one. I know what you're doing here; you're trying to avoid her because you know she'll overreact. I'm not bailing you out this time."
"But Grandma…"
"No buts. You've got to learn to face up to your problems for once Young Lady."
"Fine…" resigned Rika, biting her lip. She hated it when Seiko called her 'Young Lady'; it reminded her of Rumiko, her mother. "So when will she get back then?"
"Around 11pm"
Rika groaned. "Well, then I'll need advice on what to say then."
"I'll be happy to help.
Matsuki Residence, West Shinjuku
19:55 JST
When Takato arrived back at the bakery, he found his mother packing the last of the equipment away.
"Oh hi dear, did you see your friends?" asked Mie Matsuki inquisitively.
"…oh…Yeah, I did" answered Takato, finally coming out of a trance from staring at the wall.
"What's the matter son?" asked his father from the back of the bakery.
"Well…I've got to tell you something…"
Mie and Takehiro looked at each other. Takato felt uneasy, and saw a knowing glance between the two. He decided to break the silence.
"Maybe we should talk about this in the lounge" he finally said.
"So, what have you got to tell us?" asked Takehiro.
"Well, you see. You remember when we went to the digital world, we went via a portal. Well, we thought it had gone when D-Reaper was destroyed, but it survived. And…I want to go with Henry and Rika to get our Digimon back."
Mie stared off into space for a short while, contemplating. She finally spoke. "I knew this day would come."
"…so…can I go?"
"We'll talk about it Son and we'll tell you in the morning" replied his father, to which Takato replied with a defeated nod. The words "We'll talk about it" always had this effect; there was a big chance he wouldn't get to go.
"Okay then Dad…I'm going to bed now." Takato said.
"But it's only 9 o'clock."
"Yes, but it's been a long day and I'm tired." Takato said, as he took his coat off and put it on the hook. He walked up to his room, opened the door and walked in, lightly slamming it behind me. He laid back on the bed, and made a decision that was completely unlike him.
"I'm going…even if they say I can't."
Takato prepared for bed, and listened to the sounds of talking…nay…arguing from downstairs. He sighed and settled into bed
Nonaka Residence, East Shinjuku
23:07 JST
"What's keeping her?" moaned Rika, lying back on the settee watching television.
"I'm not sure dear," replied her Grandma. "Maybe she's caught in traffic?"
The phone rang. Seiko walked over and answered it.
"Hello, Nonaka Residence…oh, hi dear…oh, that's good…oh…so…uh-huh…well, Rika wanted to talk to you about…okay then, take care of yourself Honey, and I'll see you tomorrow…" Seiko placed the phone back on the base, and turned to Rika. Rika looked into her eyes and knew. She stood up and walked into her room. Seiko heard the sliding door slam, sighed and sat down on one of the chairs.
"Oh Rumiko, why do you keep putting your career ahead of your family?"
Rika lay back on her futon and stared up at the ceiling.
'Figures. All it takes is a handsome face or an overnight modelling shoot and she stays in a hotel all night. Like I care.'
But to herself, Rika knew the truth. She did care, and it was painful. She closed her eyes and thought.
'I wish Gogglehead were here, he'd always say something really reassuring…that I'd probably just blow off with an insult…'
Rika sighed. She stood up and made a decision. She pulled a backpack out of a wardrobe, and began to pack clothes and equipment into it. Sliding the door away gently, she slipped out of her room. She crept down the corridor, making sure that no-one was watching. She walked into the kitchen and began to pack supplies into her bag.
Meanwhile, Seiko listened from her bedroom. She sighed and laid down for a resigned sleep.
Rika returned to her room, and changed into her night clothes. Lying down, she placed the headphones of her MP3 player on her ears. She set the alarm, and lay down to sleep.
'I wish you were here Renamon'
Wong Residence, West Shinjuku Apartment Complex 10B
23:15 JST
Henry lay back on the sofa. His father had been talking on the phone for the last few hours. He silently hoped that everything could be okay, but his rationale told him something was up.
"…okay then…yes, we'll discuss it tomorrow, and they can go on…hey, give that back"
Janyuu tried to get the phone back from Henry, but failed. Henry then mentally sighed, before talking in a way that was unlike him but much like some of his friends.
"Yamaki, we are going to the Digital World tomorrow, and if you don't back us up, we'll go it alone. Got that? Good." Henry said, slamming the receiver down on the handset, before retiring to his room. Janyuu watched with a sense of amazement, but mentally agreed.
'Good luck Son'
Nonaka Residence, East Shinjuku
08:30 JST
19th October 2007
beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…beep
Rika unconsciously heard the noise and awoke from her slumber. She got up and quietly changed into her usual attire. She picked up her backpack and slipped it over her shoulders. Once again gently opening the sliding door, she once again crept down the corridor. She looked into her grandma's bedroom to check she was still asleep, and walked outside the back of her house round to the front entrance. She walked away down the stone walled streets, with one destination in mind.
Seiko Hata, lying down in her room, heard it all. She made a decision and picked up a bedside handset.
"Hello, this is Rumiko Non…"
"Rumiko, if you care at all about your daughter, you'll get back here this instant."
"But…"
It was too late. Seiko had slammed down the receiver
Matsuki Residence, West Shinjuku
08:45 JST
Takato awoke from his sleep. He looked around his room. He changed into his usual attire and walked to the door. He looked around the hallway, but shook his head and returned to his room. He threw some supplies and clothes into a bag, and opened his balcony door. Looking down at the sloped roof below, and the alleyway below that, he climbed over the balcony onto the roof. He carefully climbed down onto the alleyway below. He looked up at the balcony, and turned to head away from the bakery, walking down the alleyway and into the street, heading towards the park
08:54 JST
"Takato, Takato…I've made breakfast for you. Takato? Takato?!" Mie Matsuki shouted through the door in increasing panic. She opened the door and looked around at the open drawers, the open door and the general untidy nature of his room. She turned around and ran back into their room.
"Takehiro, wake up."
"…give me just 5 more minutes…tired…"
"Takato's run away."
"What?!" Takehiro sat up with a start. He stood up and got changed silently.
"What are we going to do?" quizzed his wife.
"We're going to call the other parents…and then we're going down to the park
Wong Residence, West Shinjuku Apartment Complex 10B
08:57 JST
"Hello, Wong Residence" Janyuu said picking up the phone.
"Hello, it's Takehiro Matsuki."
"Oh, hello…"
"Is Henry still there?"
"Yes he is, do you wish to speak to him?"
"No…but…Takato's run away, and we think we know where he's going"
Janyuu turned to see Henry watching from the doorway.
"I see…beep…hold on, I've got a call on the other line."
"Okay."
"Hello, Wong Residence"
"Hello, its Seiko, Rika's grandmother."
"Hello. Shall I presume that Rika has run away?"
"Yes, how did you guess?"
"Takato has done the same."
"Okay then, we'll meet you and Takato's parents at the park, okay?"
"Okay, bye…beep…hello Takehiro. I want you to meet us and Rika's parents at the park."
"Okay then"
"Bye." Janyuu said. He paused, before dialing another number. "Hello, Yamaki…I need you to get down to the park with whatever equipment the kids will need in the Digital World…okay, bye."
Janyuu placed the receiver on the hook. He turned to Henry.
"Henry, put whatever you'll need in a bag. We have five minutes before we need to get out of here, and I need to wake your mother."
"Good luck" joked Henry. In response Janyuu grinned, and they both went about with what they had to do
Shinjuku Park, Guilmon's Hideout
09:20 JST
A lone Rika Nonaka walked towards the hideout. Around her, the park was beginning to wake up for its Saturday routine. Children started to play on the swings, run around like madmen and do the random things that only children do. Rika stared at a father pushing his daughter on the swing and sighed. She walked up the steps into the hideout, and sat down on the hard floor, leaning back against the concrete wall.
She thought about what she was about to do. She was going to risk her life in order to rescue her Digimon, and the Digimon of her friends. Then she remembered what she had done to do so. She had crept out of her house and lied to her grandma. She knew that Takato would disagree. Thinking of Takato, where was he? Unless his parents had said no, he'd be here by now. Even if they said no, she doubted it'd make any difference; Takato is one of those people who follows and idea through despite it being completely hopeless. Rika chuckled at the thought and blushed slightly. She stared into the hole in the floor. The static noise had begun to drive her insane, and she would've happily gone through the portal now were it not for the risks. She may be stubborn, but she knew that that was far too risky to attempt.
Her D-Arc was removed from her pocket. She looked at the screen, and gladly noticed the lack of static. However, this reminded her of Jeri, and her loss of Leomon. Rika knew that she couldn't live without Rena…well, maybe she could, since she had been for the last few weeks. But knowing that your partner is dead, and that there is no way of getting them back…that struck fear into the heart of Rika, and that was something that took a lot.
Suddenly, she noticed her hair ruffling.
"Oops…" Takato said, realising that his plan had been foiled by the simple fact that a hairband doesn't ping back in the same way as a pair of Goggles. He moved back in fear as Rika stared at him. Staring at Rika with her hair down, he couldn't help but think that she was beautiful. However, his twisted mind didn't let him just think that. "…erm…you look…good…"
TWACK
Ah Takato. So much pain he has endured during the course of their adventures. Takato rubbed his cheek as Rika tied up her hair back into its usual ponytail, while blushing bright red, which thankfully for her Takato failed to notice.
"Oww…well, I almost got revenge."
"You'll never best me Takato, and don't even try." Rika replied.
'Is she…smiling?' Takato thought. He shook the idea off.
"So…how long do you think it will be until Henry gets here?" Takato finally asked, as the long silence ended.
"Soon enough hopefully. I hope he managed to convince Hypnos to give us what we need."
They both sat back, side by side against the back wall of the hideout. Nothing was said, since both were in deep thought.
'This is such an annoying situation. Must…stop…blushing. Must…stop…blushing. Look at me, I'm like a lovestruck idiot. Come on Rika, say something, say something, say something…'
'Is Rika…blushing? Nah, must be imagining it again. When will Henry get here, I want to get going. Maybe I should tell Rika about the diary entry…but…we don't have a computer, and I can't exactly go home."
Takato felt the memory stick in his pocket. He sighed.
"What's that?"
"What's what?"
"You just touched something in your pocket."
"Erm…its nothing…nothing at all."
"Sure it is…" replied Rika. Takato stood up and looked out at the park. Rika smirked, stood up and grabbed Takato with one hand round his chest, blocking his movement of his arms as well. In his surprise, she reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the Memory Stick. She let go of Takato and looked at him with a bemused expression.
"Geez Takato, it's just a memory stick, why's it worth hiding?"
"Erm, no reason…no reason…"
Rika glared at Takato and there was a long silence.
'Why won't he tell me? What's so significant about the memory stick?'
'Come on luck, you owe me…break the silence…break the silence…come on, I need a miracle.'
Fate has a sick sense of humour.
"Hey Takato"
"Oh, hi Henry" Takato called out to his friend who had arrived. Rika sighed, she wasn't going to get her answer now. "Looking forward to our adven…"
"Young Man, you have some explaining to do." Interrupted Janyuu, who Takato hadn't noticed was with Henry. Takato gulped.
"Why should he?"
'Huh…was that Rika?'
"For god's sake, we're just going to get back our Digimon that you let us lose." Rika said angrily. Takato watched Janyuu wince when he heard a mention of what he had done.
"Rika, he's probably just here to help."
"Yeah sure, help us get to the digital world…what kind of fool do you take me for? Mine and Takato's parents have rung you, haven't they?"
Rika glared at Janyuu for a short while.
"I knew it…I'm going" Rika said, before climbing into the hole.
"What?! Rika, don't, please wait…" Takato pleaded. Rika continued relentlessly. A new voice interrupted.
"Honey, please just wait a second"
The voice made Rika stop. She backed out of the hole and looked at the source of the voice, her mother, Rumiko Nonaka.
"Can we just…talk…"
"No…" Rika replied harshly. "…because you don't understand me."
"Rika…please…just…talk to her…" Takato asked, putting his hand on her shoulder. Rika was surprised, she really didn't expect Takato to plead with her like that, and definitely not to put his hand on her shoulder. But, she couldn't drop her composure simply because of that. Rika pushed Takato's hand off her shoulder.
"No, I won't. She'll just tell me no. Regardless, she's never bothered to be there when I want to talk, why should I have to do the opposite?"
Rika turned to directly face her mother.
"I hate you." she said coldly, before diving into the hole and into the portal, much to everyone's shock. Rumiko burst into tears and was comforted by her mother.
"Takato, are you there?" Takato heard a familiar voice call.
"Just wait a second" he heard another voice call.
Mie and Takehiro Matsuki arrived at the scene.
"Mum, Dad, I'm going and that's that. If you don't support me, I'll go it alone."
"You can go Son. We just…wanted to say goodbye, and good luck." said Takehiro.
"Thanks" replied Takato, before hugging his mother and father. "I'll be sure to be careful." He headed towards the hole.
"Wait…please" he heard Seiko say. He turned to face her and Rumiko.
"Please…you've got to promise that she gets back safe and sound, I couldn't stand losing her" Rumiko said while on the edge of tears.
"I promise" replied Takato, before crawling into the hole. There was a flash of light. Henry turned to leave.
"Wait a second, I have something to give you…" said a new voice. Henry turned to face Yamaki. Yamaki held out four identical devices. "We call these Digital Navigators, or D-Navs for short, despite my objection to nicknames. They are based on the Nav you used last time, but they are improved so they should work all the time. They can communicate both with Hypnos here on Earth, and with each other in the Digital World. They also have a tracking screen to keep track of each other."
"Thanks…wait a sec, why are there four?"
"Because I'm coming too" said a new voice. Henry turned to see Ryo Akiyama.
"Oh, hey Ryo. Are you sure that's wise? Rika is already emotional enough, she won't want to see you."
"Well tough. You need someone who knows the Digital World, and I'll be that someone."
"Fine," replied Henry. Ryo dived into the portal.
"Good luck son," said Janyuu. Henry hugged him and then headed into the portal himself.
'What are we getting ourselves into?' Henry thought.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Well, now, after a lot of emotional examination, we're heading into the first arc of this saga. That's not to say that there won't be emotions in the next bit, I'd be crazy not to have them, but there'll also be more action.
Read and review, but constructive only, and again, no criticising my choice of couplings, I'm not going to change it. Also, since I only publish a chapter once the next one is complete, the reviews help a lot to improve what I've already written.
Next time…
How will Rika react when Takato talks to her about what she said to her mother? How will she react to Ryo? Will the D-Navs work? And, most importantly, will they find any of their Digimon?
Find out in 'The New And Reformatted Digital World', Chapter 3 of Dimensions Book One: Links.