Final Genesis: After two months, I've finally updated. Of course, there are times in which I have to think up of a few ideas… and it can be difficult. Example, the result… I don't think I could tell you how often I update on my fics during a year or so. But I hope everybody has a good Christmas after all! Makes me wonder what would happen for the rest of the summer holidays!

Along with that, here are some responses for the reviewers who reviewed my first chapter so far!

JyouraKoumi: Being the first to review, I couldn't help but say thank you for that!

Dark Qiviut: Seems like you have a lot of experience on grammar and stuff. I salute you! I better remind myself to have a read at some of your fics soon!

Malcolm Yuy: Thank you very much for your review. Yes, there are times I can be late because whether I feel like it at times… oh what a palaver. But I'll see what I could try to do.

With Broken Wings: I'm very glad I decided to put up a glossary for this fic! Just so that you know, I've only been learning Japanese since Year 8, even though I'm an Australian-born-Chinese. Trouble is, I'm usually good at speaking English than most of the other languages, but since of Japanese anime, manga and food, I developed an interest in it! There's still a lot of things I have to learn about Japanese since currently, I've graduated Year 12.

Master Solo: Who would have thought I'd see your review after my Transformers fic? Thank you very much!

Oklina: Thank you very much for the review! Sure, there are a lot of questions, but they can be answered soon enough, I guarantee it! All thanks to some manga! In addition, thanks to your encouragement!

And now, the disclaimer!

I do not own the characters of Digimon 02, aka. Digimon Adventure Zero 2, it belongs to Toei Animation. Other than that, only the few new characters that appear, like Setsuna and Tsubaki, were the only ones I own. This is mainly on the Japanese version, so some of the characters would have their Japanese names.

It continues now… maybe a change in ratings…

Digimon Adventure Zero 2: White Reflection

Chapter 2: Ambience

All the while, nothing could prepare him for this. However he tried to open his eyes, his vision would somewhat have a murky, blurry feeling in them. Not only that, he felt as every bone was broken as he laid down, like every last ounce of strength was drained from him. Somehow, he almost felt like he was in one of the many worst-case scenarios yet, with a feeling of dread surrounding him.

Which Setsuna was, as his blurriness finally cleared out from his sight. Lying down, he felt like he was in a sort of shaft, with water swirling underneath him. Chilling at the coldness, he decided to escape from this place while he still can. Already, he was still shuddering at the thought of staying here, and he did not want to find out if he did. Slowly and carefully, he made his way up the shaft, manoeuvring towards the light. Setsuna half-heartedly expected light at the top… but to his surprise, he found something else.

Somehow, he ended up in a misty forest; with mist so thick he could hardly see the night sky. He could barely make out the sliver of the new moon above, and he was still trembling. Even though he was strong physically, there was no telling what might lurk in these parts. Climbing out of the well, he tried to make his way out again. If there was an open area, then he would be saved… or so he thought.

It still haunted him… why he was the target of this dimension, or whatever it was that's causing him to have these horrors in his mind. Whatever the reason, it could almost drive one's soul insane. It is also part of the things nightmares have come from, too. After minutes of brushing past various branches and the heavy mist, he thought he finally found his way out. As he strained his own eyes at the clearing… he noticed that same vision again, to his horror.

The same black seawater… why? He asked himself in shock. In front of him… that same disgusting-looking ocean was out in front of him again. For the first time, he couldn't help but shiver. He hated the sight, the smell… practically everything about it. If there were a piece of ghostly, haunting music to accompany it, it would have done more than chill Setsuna more.

His feet slowly crunching the grains of sand, he would have been tempted to drink some water to satisfy his thirst… but still he refrained himself from doing it. Time and time again, he still could not understand why he was experiencing these visions; these nightmares… and they would always haunt him still. Not again… why must I endure this?

It could be because you wanted that gift, poppet. All thanks to the contract in your left eye.

Suddenly Setsuna spun around wildly. "Who said that?"

Whoever spoke out, the former chuckled again. It has been said… those who quest or desire power would only find sorrow. Because of you poppet… let's say the price you paid was too great.

"This doesn't concern you, and it was utterly stupid for me to make that deal with you! If I had known to know the price, I would have refused your deal!"

All the better to amuse myself then. I love surprises, don't you?

"SHUT UP! To hell with your manipulation! And I'm not your poppet!"

Tell me… are you afraid of the dark? Because this dimension is everywhere, and you cannot escape it!

That caused Setsuna to drop to his knees. The unknown being's voice was starting to become unbearable, and he was only on the thin line between insanity and sanity. He's only tricking me, this is a trick, this is a trick, this is a trick…

Considering you were the lost little boy you are at the moment, I'd thought I'd tempt you an offer you can refuse. Push your morals down a bit… now's your chance to make your life easier. You crave the easier life to escape the pain. I'll let you decide… whether to join me, or surrender to the darkness in your heart. Which do you choose?

Standing up, Setsuna could only growl out, "Neither is accepted, or achieved," He knew that hard work could not be achieved without sacrifice, remembering an old war saying. "Didn't they ever teach you that you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs first?"

I'll let you have some time to decide. In the meantime… why don't you look at what remains of the prize you have given me?

For the moment, the white-haired boy refused to look in the direction the being mentioned. Instead, his eyes bulged out in a combination of shock and fury, and his cat pupils have widened in horror. Setsuna was now fighting the urge to hyperventilate at he saw what could be one of the most gruesome scenes in his very life.

The Dark Ocean's water seemed to almost lower itself in low tide… only to go way past that level. As the white-haired boy watched, he noticed numerous holes on the surface. However, he did not know what they were there for. Until now. As he looked around, he saw what looked like multiple pikes appearing in place. Setsuna did not want to want to know what would happen next, as he was intending on running away from this accursed ocean. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not get his feet to move. What shocked him next would be in his mind for the rest of his life.

Impaled on each pike, was a body, a reminiscent of Vlad the Impaler. Each of them bloodied, partially decomposed, and with blank faces staring out as if evil possessed them. And it was not only men… women and children were also on it as well. It was a nightmare image, something that a ten-year-old would not be able to handle as a sign of trauma. Whoever was showing Setsuna this was enjoying not only one of the most horrific scenes in history, but watching the poor boy squirm.

Setsuna was almost on the verge of breakdown at this rate. The Dark Ocean, the disembodied voice, and worst of all, the gruesome scene in his mind. He wanted to be back in his own bed, but his mind refused to shift. And when he saw what was on the first two poles…

He screamed… and woke up with a gasp.

With his eyes snapping open, Setsuna woke up, dripping in cold sweat. He was so terrified that he could not even think of going back to sleep. What a nightmare, he thought, it was practically too real. Why the hell did this dream come again? Why?

Slowly sitting back up, he looked around. It only took a second to realise that he was back in his own room. Frustrated, he covered his left eye with his left hand. Why must I be haunted of my past? The accursed contract… I should have never made that deal with that demon in the first place!

Growling in both frustration and anger, he needed to find a way to calm himself after a nightmare like that. He could not watch TV at the moment, which would wake up Tsubaki in the process. Late-night movies aren't Setsuna's kind of hobby. A few gulps of water would be able to settle things, he thought to himself, as he got out of bed, carefully not to disturb Dorimon from his sleep.

But even though he drank a few glasses of water, he still couldn't get rid of the image in his mind. Disillusioned, he began washing his glass, only to crush it at the last second. This is because of the first contract, is it? He shouted in his own mind, ignoring his newly made wounds. Why must I always be haunted by it? Not even water could settle me now…

He could not even think of what would happen next. As he placed the broken pieces of the glass in the bin, he proceeded to bandaging his right hand. But there, he stopped. He couldn't rest his hand just yet. If he was to deal with the situation here, he could do with gaining more confidence. And so… he was thinking of training on top of the apartment building, maybe to settle his own nerves at the moment. At the rate Setsuna was stressing, it would be like the movie, The Ring, all over again, even though he hasn't seen it.

His amber eyes glowing, he decided to train by himself. In a strange fashion, his left pupil turned into a bloodlike crimson. As he carried the keys with him, he failed to notice Dorimon peeking from behind the door, a look of worry.

Those eyes… I hope Setsuna-kun doesn't do anything foolish.

He arrived at the rooftop, still irritated by the fact the dream came back to haunt him. He wasn't a bit of an insomniac, but since his parents' deaths he wasn't much of a good sleeper since of his dreams. There were only a few occasions that happened when he was able to sleep peacefully, but that would be also because of the second contract.

His second contract. That would be a contract in which he became Dorimon's partner. At that time, a few months after that terrible incident, he was all by himself in an alley near his Uncle and Aunt's place, in his lonesome condition. He was depressed because after what happened, he was shifted to various relatives. They were usually fighting because after what happened to their siblings… it all fell apart. If it was as they never cared about Setsuna at all. Martial arts were the only method to settle his own tortured soul.

He was in a daydream when somehow, as if by fate, an old computer reactivated at a nearby dumpster. When it did, that was when the purple Digimon, currently as DORUmon, somehow popped out, wounded and battle-damaged. Normally Setsuna would have shown hatred for monsters especially after that contract. But inside, somehow, sympathy whelmed inside his heart, as he saw the condition DORUmon was in. Suffering amnesia and dying, he was in need of help. And that was how their partnership began.

The thought still flashed in his mind, as Setsuna began his kata training. Even though he started learning karate about three years ago, he somehow became a sort of prodigy, even matching his childhood friend Yuzuriha in a way, and at gym class. From reading various books about martial arts, to practising some of the styles himself, he was a quick learner. Most of the styles were Kung fu, jujitsu, and various unarmed styles. But because he mainly practised karate, this was his main style. Even so, he was still irritated at why he became so good at the different martial arts, and his left eye was still crimson. Even though I became so good, a prodigy even, not as famous as Ichijouji Ken though, the price for obtaining it was too great. That first contract… why did I make that deal in the first place, and in my sleep no doubt? It pisses me off!

His punches and kicks became even more furious every time he thought of his decision. Minutes passed as he continued trying to shake that feeling in his mind. Blinded in his own anger, he even punched and kicked the wall at the same spot repeatedly, as if he was punching the contractor who offered him the virtuoso skills in the first place. His knuckles were now bleeding, but he didn't care.

Now about a total of thirty minutes have passed. Setsuna collapsed on the ground, worn out from the strenuous practise. Now it seemed as he was eating his own words he told Tsubaki at dinner that very night. You look a lot better when you're not trying too hard, and being overly stressed, he told her. But then, how could he rest until the many spirits are in peace? Speaking of peace, the white-haired boy remembered Asato-sensei's words when he and Tsubaki once came over for a visit, to offer the boy lessons in Odaiba. Setsuna could never forget those words his soon-to-be sensei told him.

'The Way is not meant as a way of fighting. It is a path on which you travel to find your own inner peace and harmony. It is yours to seek and find,' as quoted from the late Ohtsuka Hironori.

These words were etched inside the boy's own soul. If he was to finally put his demons to rest, then he must face the darkness within. For too long he was haunted by the contract, which seemed like a curse to him. There were even more memories that he kept locked away at times too, and it was also like he was continually accepting difficulties. How he wished Yuzuriha was there with him to help, but there are some lessons that Setsuna would have to learn independently. It isn't just physical pain I have to endure. The inner pain must be erased too… but how?

He checked out his face in a pocket mirror. Thanks to the lamppost on the apartment roof, Setsuna was able to see his face clearly. His left eye was slowly changing back to its normal amber colour, which was the way he liked it instead of his feral state. He wasn't so sure how the children in his class would react considering what happened in the past. Checking the time on his Digivice, he saw that it was about 2:46am. Now that he was done with his nighttime training, the cat-eyed boy proceeded to returning to his room. Although he didn't want to sleep as the result of the dream, he has to in order for his first day at Odaiba elementary.

Careful not to awaken Tsubaki and Dorimon, he slowly applied antiseptic to his bleeding knuckles and bandaging them soon after. As soon as after he drank up another glass of water (without breaking it of course), he changed himself in a new set of pyjamas, considering he trained practically non-stop. Already, he was feeling the affects of sleep once again. After he climbed back into his own bed (while trying hard not to disturb Dorimon at the same time), he decided on a little bit of meditation to help his nerves a bit. He would need all the rest necessary for tomorrow as much as possible. After all, he has to expect the unexpected, now that his demons still circled around him in his dream. In his silent prayer, if there were many people who would probably fall victim to the darkness, then he knew he would not be alone.

At some point, he let sleep take his toll.

To be continued…

FG: So far, here's the hint that Setsuna-kun's past would not be a pleasant one. When the third chapter comes, hopefully, the past would be explained or something, soon. Seems like the episode, 'Call of the Dagomon' would be my template.

The trip to China was okay, if not for some of the relatives. However, there are some that are okay too. Hopefully, Grandma would be watching over us… she was a good caretaker…

One more thing to add: The glossary once again!

Kata – A word probably meaning martial arts.

In the meantime, like I've mentioned before, I hope you've enjoyed Christmas! Still, have fun once again!

This is Final Genesis, signing out!

P.S: Read and Review!