Author's Notes: There will be some French in here and there. Since I'm not even close to fluent, I'm not sure if I'm accurate with all translations. Be prepared. And forgive me for any errors I may make. Yes, Catherine does pronounce "V-mon" correctly. There is no "v" sound in Japanese, therefore, how Catherine says it is how it's said.
Since FF.Net is no longer sending out Author Alerts, I decided to start a mailing list, so that I can alert people when my stories are updated. In fact, you can use the mailing list to inform people when your stories are updated, too. That way, nobody's out of the loop. *g*
Warning: This is NOT going to be a Takehika. I repeat, there will be no Takehika in this fic. The main reason being, I'm not a Takehika fan; I like them as friends. That being said, there will be no Takeru romance, or Hikari romance. Their love lives will not be touched in this fic. Got it? Good.
***
Bonjour
***
Chapter 2: To See the Sights
Settling in wound up being a greater task than any of the six Japanese children had expected, particularly when it came to the time zone change. No one enjoyed waking up and feeling refreshed, only to discover it was still dark out. Regardless, they were determined to enjoy the time they had.
"Well, we should try to take in as many stops in a day as we can," stated Miyako, gazing down at the map on her bed. "Regardless of what Mr. Takaishi says, we only have a month."
"So, where should we go first?" Hikari asked, peering over her Jogress Partner's shoulder.
"Well, I was wondering if we could see the Seine today. I heard it was supposed to be gorgeous," Miyako informed her.
"A boat ride would be kinda nice," Hikari agreed, smiling. She turned to her Partner. "What do you think?"
Tailmon flicked her Holy Ringed tail in mild distaste. "Couldn't we go somewhere where there isn't water surrounding me?"
"Oh, don't be like that," Hikari encouraged, picking her up to give her a hug. "It'll be fun! I'm sure there'll be plenty of fish markets around there. You can have genuine French fish," she giggled.
"Well," relented Tailmon, reluctantly, "I guess it wouldn't kill me. Just this once."
"Then, I guess it's settled," Miyako beamed. "We'll tell the guys we're going to the Seine today."
"Do you think that's wise, Miyako-san?" Hawkmon asked from his perch on the balcony, where he'd taken an instant liking to the first day.
Miyako blinked. "What do you mean?"
"The boys will surely have their own plans," Hawkmon explained, walking into the room. "They may not agree with your own."
"Oh, really?" Miyako's golden brown eyes narrowed, one thin eyebrow twitching dangerously. "We'll just see about that."
Rightfully so, Hawkmon sweatdropped.
***
"The Seine?!" Daisuke proclaimed, obviously annoyed at the idea. "Why would we want to see some cruddy ol' river?"
"It's not a 'cruddy ol' river,' you jerk!" Miyako shot back, her knuckles wrapping lightly but insistently on the dining room table. "It's steeped in French history. And it's beautiful. And I want to see something beautiful!"
"Then how about we place a paper bag over your head?" Daisuke suggested, hotly. "Then we'll both be happy."
The only thing that saved Daisuke's eyes from being clawed out of their sockets was Ken being quick enough to pick Miyako up off her feet so she couldn't make a lunge at the shorter boy. As it was, she was struggling and threatening Daisuke's life at the top of her lungs, while Ken held firm, blushing hotly at both Miyako's rather vulgar words, and the fact that he was holding her for so long.
Finally, after going through just about every insult she could think of, Miyako relaxed and settled herself by pouting. Relieved, Ken put her back on her feet.
"So, where do you want to go?" Miyako huffed.
"Well," Takeru coughed, uncomfortably, "we thought it might be nice going to the Bastille."
This time, both girls objected.
"The Bastille?" Miyako cried. "You want to go to a prison?"
"Oh, Takeru-kun," Hikari shook her head. "I don't know... The very thought of that place gives me a bad feeling. I've heard awful stories!"
"Uh, well, we know that, Hikari-chan," Takeru rubbed the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "But it's steeped in French history, too! It'll be... educational."
"They just want to see the torture chambers," Tailmon accused under her breath.
All four boys and their Partners sweatdropped.
"Actually, prisoners at the Bastille were usually treated pretty decently," Ken informed, trying to get the girls to give in. "All the horror stories aren't really true. And there isn't a torture chamber. I don't think," he added.
The girls still frowned, obviously not wanting anything to do with a prison. Being wary to not rile the troops up again, Hawkmon cleared his throat, and sufficiently got everyone's attention.
"It seems to be there's an easy solution to this," he said. "We can simply go to both. We do have the entire day, after all. We'll just go to the nearest one first."
"Well," Miyako nodded, "that seems all right."
"Works for me," Daisuke shrugged.
"Well, that's good," Ken said, relieved no one was about to throw punches again. He turned to Takeru. "So, we're do we go first?"
When Takeru noticed everyone was suddenly focusing on him, he put his hands up. "Actually," the blonde scratched his head, sheepishly, "I'm not sure. I really don't know France that well."
"Then we're just going to have to find your Grandfather," said Hikari.
"Um, if you can find him," Takeru gulped. "He usually is a morning person. Does all his errands as early as possible so he can ride around the rest of the day. He might not be here."
"How can we see anything then?" Miyako demanded with a justified pout.
As if she heard the question, Catherine walked into the room, Floramon beside her. "Bonjour!" she greeted, sweetly. "M. Takaishi wanted me to show you any sights you wished to see today. O... kay?" Her smile faded and morphed into a curious little "o," blue eyes widening slightly as they focused on V-mon. "C'est qui, cette type?"
"Um... " Daisuke blinked, not understanding what she said, but clearly understanding what she meant. "This is V-mon. You met him as Chibimon yesterday."
"Oh!" Catherine exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "Bwee-mon."
"Hmm," Floramon looked appreciatively at the now-evolved Child digimon, before placing out her hand to him, expectantly. "Enchanté de faire la connaissance de vous."
"Huh?" V-mon stared at her hand, confused. Finally, he grabbed hold of it and shook it enthusiastically. "Nice to meet ya."
"Quoi?" Floramon took her hand back, looking at V-mon like he had grown an extra head.
"What?" V-mon blinked red eyes. "Uh, did I do something wrong?"
Catherine giggled. "It's okay. So," she looked up at her fellow Chosen, "where are we going today?"
"The Seine and the Bastille," said Takeru.
Catherine's delicate eyebrows raised so much they were hidden by her bangs. "Zee... Zee Bastille?"
***
"So, zis," Catherine said, gesturing in front of her, "is zee Bastille!"
"It... It is?" Daisuke twitched. "Where's the rest of it?"
It would seem like a ridiculous question to ask about a famous fortress... Except that the fortress wasn't exactly... fortress-like anymore. As a matter of fact, the Chosen and the Partners stood on the grass of Square Galli, in front of a very pretty flower bed that had, dead center, a circle of stones. On this tiny tower of squared rocks, was a gray plaque glinting dully in the morning sun.
"Ah, zis is what's left of zee Bastille," Catherine explained, smiling as best she could at their shocked faces. "On zee fourteenth of July, 1789, French citizens stormed zee chastel Saint Antoine, freeing zee last seven prisoners, and killing zee Marquis de Launey, `oo was in charge, as well as `is guards."
"There... There were only seven prisoners left?" Takeru twitched along with Daisuke. "That's it?"
"Oui," Catherine nodded, sweetly. "Most of zee prisoners were let go before zen, and zee ones `oo were still zere were actually allowed to take care of zemselves. Zere was one prisoner `oo begged for zee revolutionists to free `im, zough," she added, and all the boys perked up. "Zey did free `im, and even carried `im zoo zee streets."
"Really?" Iori asked, while Miyako rolled her eyes at his enthusiasm.
"`Owever," Catherine sighed, "zee man was insane, and zought `e was Julius Caesar, and `is followers `ad come to rescue `im."
The boys nearly fell over, while Miyako, Hikari, Tailmon and Hawkmon did their best to not look too embarrassed by being in their company.
"Most of zee Bastille was destroyed soon after zee storming of zee prison," Catherine continued, cheerfully. "Zee stones you see `ere are what is left of it. In fact, zis isn't zee original place of zee Bastille. Zat is a few `undred meters away."
"I don't believe it," Takeru moaned.
"What a let down," Daisuke agreed.
Ken, meanwhile, studied the plaque, Wormmon by his feet.
"What does it say, Ken-chan?" the small digimon asked.
"I'm not sure," Ken admitted. "I'm afraid my oral French is better than my written." He turned to Catherine. "Can you read the plaque for me?"
"Sure," she chirped. Without even looking, she quoted, "`Remains Of
Zee Foundations / Of Zee Bastille / Zee Liberty Tower / Discovered
In 1899 / And Transported To Zis Location.'" When the group all stared
at her, she blushed. "Well, I am French!
"So," she shook her hands, as if to brush the whole thing aside, "zee
Seine is next, oui?"
"Yes!" both Hikari and Miyako declared.
"Ah, good," Catherine smiled. "Zee Seine is so beautiful zis time of year!"
"Told ya," Miyako muttered.
***
"What do you mean the boats don't allow digimon?" Daisuke demanded, angrily.
"I'm sorry, Die-skay," Catherine apologized, as the boat driver behind her looked annoyed and perplexed by the strange sound of the Japanese language. "Zey will not allow zee digimon on zis boat. Zey `af to use zee boat over zere," she pointed a little bit away, to a boat docked next to the tour boat.
Obviously, it used to be a running tour boat for humans itself, painted white with blue and gold trim like it's younger counterpart. However, the model was older, and the paint was slightly chipping in places.
"That's ridiculous!" Daisuke yelled. "It looks like it's about to fall apart!"
"I demand to see my lawyer!" pouted V-mon.
"Come on, Daisuke-kun," Hikari said, hushedly, embarrassed at the crowd the loud boy was creating. "It's not that bad. And, it is better than back home. They won't let digimon on any of the tours at all!"
"Hmph!" Daisuke grunted, crossing his arms.
"Hmph!" V-mon repeated, mimicking his Partner in an act of solidarity.
"Oh, for the love of... " Miyako shook her head at the Chosen and his digimon, both standing firm, arms crossed and pouting.
The flower digimon at Catherine's side looked at the pair, and began to giggle, delighted. "Mignon, mignon!" she cooed, fluttering her eyes at V-mon.
For blatant reasons, V-mon looked befuddled at her.
Floramon pulled on Catherine's skirt, pointing at V-mon with her other hand. "Il est mignon," she declared with a laugh.
Catherine looked at the confused dragon digimon, then at his just as confused partner, who was scratching his cherry brown hair, nervously. "Son Partenaire n'est pas mauvais aussi, non plus," the blonde giggled.
"Eh?" V-mon muttered.
"Eh?" Daisuke repeated, one eye twitching.
Both the French girl and her Partner erupted into a fit of giggles.
Both the Japanese boy and his Partner sweatdropped.
Ken, who had a relative understanding of what the blonde and her digimon had said, chuckled. "We might as well just take the two different boats," he said. "We'll all arrive at the same place, anyway. And it might be nice for the digimon to meet other digimon, instead of being with us the whole trip," he patted Wormmon's head, affectionately.
"Ah, I guess," Daisuke sighed, defeated.
"Oh," V-mon whined a bit, kicking dirt.
"Well, let's go!" Miyako smiled, excited to finally be on her way to seeing the Seine. She turned to her Partner. "Now, you be good."
"Funny," the bird murmured, blue eyes darting between his Chosen and Ken. "I was going to tell you the same thing."
Miyako blushed.
"Zee seats in zee boats only `ave room for two," Catherine translated what the boat driver was telling her, now that they were finally making their way on.
"Oh, Bwee-mon!" Floramon giggled, grabbing the blue digimon by his arm, and nearly dragging the stuttering guy to their boat, before promptly sitting them both in a seat together. The flower digimon continued to giggle, as the dragon digimon simply looked at her, clueless.
"I guess we should partner up," Miyako said, slowly edging towards Ken, trying to be inconspicuous.
Then, Hikari inadvertently burst her bubble. "But we have an odd number. One of us will have to be alone."
"Well, I'll sit alone," Ken volunteered, innocently. "I don't mind."
"What?" Miyako's hand thrust underneath her trembling chin. "B-but, Ken-kun... "
He turned to her, and smiled. "It's okay, Miyako-san. Really, I don't mind."
"But, b-but... "
"Die-skay, you can sit wiz me," Catherine offered, tapping the seat next to her.
"Um, okay," he shrugged, not understanding quite why she giggled when he looked at her.
"Here, Iori," Hikari said, allowing him to get the seat next to the boat's edge. "It's a better view. And," she opened her digital camera, "I'll get the best shots of you to take home!"
Iori smiled. "Thanks. I'm sure my mom and grandpa will love that."
Meanwhile, Miyako was still muttering, knowing she had already lost the battle. "B-but I thought we... I... It's just... "
"Let it go, Miyako-san," Takeru sat her down, so he had the aisle seat. "I'm not Ken, but I'll keep you company," he smiled, warmly.
Slowly, she turned to him with deadpan expression. "Takeru, there are certain times when certain things should not be said. You just said one of those certain things at one of those certain times."
Takeru sweatdropped.
Next Chapter: One Way, or Another