Previously on Digimon Frontier: Chaos Rising
Takuya tried calling his friends to hang out with him on his birthday. However, Koji and Koichi were on their way to Kyoto, Tommy's camping with his family and J.P.'s out of town. Fortunately for the birthday boy, Zoe was the only one available. It took Takuya a lot of guts, but he finally asked his best friend out on a date. Aw, how cute! Meanwhile, Bokomon and Neemon had just entered the Human World with an important mission to find the Chosen Children. Sheesh! How can they find their friends when the six of them are scattered across the country?
So, without further ado, here's chapter three!
Surprise
Zoe's POV:
I love to cook. I've been doing it since I was a little girl. It all started I was five. My mom was cooking dinner for me and my dad. Father was watching sports on television, while I was busy scribbling on some plain white pieces paper my mother gave me. One day, I had just finished one of my drawings and decided to hang it on the refrigerator. So I walked into the kitchen and was about to get one of those magnets inside one of the drawers, when I smelled something... tasty.
My mom was making some kind of pasta. I could tell because there were two pots sitting on the stove. There was a large pot that was boiling the noodles and a smaller pot that was heating up the sauce. When I first took a whiff, it smelled like a mixture of butter, cheese and little bit of black pepper. There was also a bit of garlic in there too.
When I was little, anything that smelled good would definitely taste good. It turned out that my mom was making Fettuccine Alfredo. And it was one of the best things I have ever eaten. The tenderness of the pasta combined with richness of the sauce was to die for.
The next day, I asked my mother to teach me how to make the same dish. She showed me all of the ingredients to make the Alfredo sauce. But it didn't stop there. Every evening, I join my mother in the kitchen and the two of us would cook all kinds of things together. We made pasta, pizza, lasagna, stuffed peppers, roasted vegetables and baked desserts.
It wasn't until I was nine when I started cooking for my parents. Since mom and dad were usually busy with work, I kindly volunteered to make dinner for them by the time they returned home. Okay, so some of the first stuff I made didn't taste so well. A prime example of this was when I first tried cooking hamburgers. I seasoned the meat with salt and pepper before breaking them up into patties, just like my mother taught me. After putting a little oil on a frying pan, I placed three patties on top and started cooking.
However, my biggest problem was keeping track of time. I was supposed to let it cook for at least ten minutes, but I accidently flipped the patties after five. When we ate the burgers, it tasted horrible. The meat was still raw, which made my dad got sick for days. I felt so ashamed for almost poisoning my family, I started crying.
But mom consoled me, instead of yelling at me. She told me that I will occasionally make mistakes in the kitchen and things will not always turn out how I want it to be or even taste good. However, the important thing is to learn from those mistakes. Also, mom taught me not to seek perfection, but strive for excellence. Perfection will slow me down and cause more problems, whereas excellence can take me on the path to become the best chef I can be.
Since then, all of my dishes have been superb. At least, that's what my friends and family keep telling me. I continued cooking for the people I love, even as I entered middle school.
Before I met Takuya, my mom gave me some advice, which I kept even to this day. And that advice was:
"The best way to get through a man is his stomach!"
And that's what I plan to do. I'm going to make my best dish just for Takuya. But not just as a birthday present. I want show him what I can do inside a kitchen. I want Takuya to be impressed with my cooking abilities. And maybe one day, he will ask me to cook food for him... hopefully for the rest of his life.
Oops, look at the time. I only had an hour and forty-five minutes left before I have to meet Takuya at the park. Well, I better get started on my signature dish.
To start off, I took about half of the lobster meat and chopped it finely. I also added a little bit of crushed saffron and a little bit of truffle oil to the meat before stirring. Meanwhile in one of my pots, I heated the olive oil over medium-high heat and sautéed the shallots and onions for three minutes. Next, I added the garlic and the rice in the pot.
After stirring for a minute, I added the chopped lobster meat. Before mixing the ingredients together, I added some whipping cream to lighten the texture. Next, I kept stirring until the pot was boiling. The rice should be soft, but not too mushy. It took me years to get it right, but I'm very proud of my recipe.
"What'cha cooking, sweetie?" My mom asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"Lobster Risotto." I answered as I sprinkled some salt and pepper to the rice covered with the rich, creamy sauce.
I kept stirring the mixture of ingredients until the rice was nice and tender. I took out a small spoon and tasted the dish. It was perfect. The rich flavor of the lobster really seeped through the rice. And the sauce was terrific. It has a nice, semi-powerful kick too it, making my taste buds tingle for a little bit. I'm positive that Takuya would love this dish. If he doesn't... nah, he will.
"Interesting." My mom said.
Then I noticed a huge smirk on her face.
"Alright, what's going on?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked.
"You know exactly what I mean. You cook your signature risotto only for two reasons. Either it's for a special event... or it's for someone special. So, spit it out. What's the occasion or who's the lucky guy?"
"You're crazy, mom." I answered.
Although, she does have a point. I only make this dish on Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or whenever our families have guests. However, I felt that today was special. In fact, the person who would be receiving this dish is more than special to me. I looked back at my mother with a smile on my face.
"Today's my friend's birthday. I was going to meet him in the park for a picnic. That's all."
"I see. So, you two are going out then?"
"Yeah, we're... wait, what?" I asked as my face turned shades of red.
"Oh, nothing. Heehee!" My mom giggled as she stepped out of the kitchen.
It took me a minute to regain my composure. So far, only a couple of people know about my feelings for the goggle-head. And that happens to be the twins: Koji and Koichi. Although, I didn't really tell them. More like they sort of figured it out. At school during lunch periods, the four of us would sit together and just talk about random things. But the brothers notice that I always keep my eyes on Takuya, even when he's not talking. Just only when he's not looking at me. But when he turned in my direction, I quickly look away and then blame Takuya for staring at me. While most would look at it as two best friends having another argument, Koji and Koichi saw right through me. And when they asked me about it, I told them the truth and they were delighted to hear it. Eventually, I'll tell Takuya how I feel about him. But who knows when I might get that chance?
I went to the cupboard and took out two plastic plates and a couple of plastic forks. I put three scoops of my lobster risotto on each of the plates. Next, I then sprinkled some parmesan cheese on top and added a little parsley for color. Finally, I covered both plates up with a plastic wrapper. I grabbed a brown picnic basket from the corner of the kitchen and placed the two plates inside, along with the two forks. After adding napkins to the basket, I went to the refrigerator and took out a can of grape soda. I also grabbed a can of cherry cola, Takuya's favorite drink. Lastly, I took out a medium sized blanket out of the laundry room. I folded it up and placed it inside the basket. I closed the basket and carried it under my arms. Before I left the house, I grabbed my cell phone and placed it inside my lavender purse. When I checked the clock, it read 12:45. I still had time, but I had to get going.
"See you later, mom!" I yelled.
"Have fun, sweetie." My mom said as she washed my dishes. I put on my white tennis shoes, opened the door and walked outside.
It was a ten minute walk from my house to Yoyogi Park, the place where Takuya and I decided to meet. We hung out there a lot. Not just us, but the rest of the gang as well. I don't know why, but after a while, it became our usual hangout area. It's a great place to chill, have fun, exercise, relax, and spend time with good friends or family. In other words, if you're looking to have a great time, this is the place to be.
They got bicycle rentals as well as bike paths. I remember one time, Takuya and I biked around the whole park and then rested in the middle to watch the sunset. There's also a public basketball court. On some days, the six of us either play a little pickup game or just shoot around. I'll admit that I'm not too bad of a player, but it seems like Koji and Koichi were the best out of the whole group. There's also a place for people to play music or practice martial arts. There's another area of the park where dogs can run around freely.
On the other hand, there was still that one place by the pond. I like this area, in particular, because that's where I usually spend most of my time, especially with Takuya. Sometimes we take naps underneath the trees, watched the clouds above our heads, or just watch other kids play around with their parents or pets. It's such a relaxing place.
This is where I would go to get away from any stress or depression. Everything we did there brought back so many wonderful memories. I'm happy to call this area, "Our Spot" because we spend so much time here together. However, I believe this is the first time I've celebrated Takuya's birthday at the park. So I got to make it special.
As I came to a stoplight, I started thinking about Takuya... again. I thought about the day we first met. When I first saw Takuya, he looked like your average twelve-year old boy. There was nothing special about him, at least not in the beginning anyway. In fact, we never really got along when we were together in the Digital World. But after a while, we've became best friends. And eventually, I started to develop a crush for him.
I also thought of all the hard battles we were in and the many times we barely escaped with our lives. Takuya and I fought alongside each other a lot against all kinds of evil Digimon. He and I made a pretty good team on and off the battlefield. Or at least that's what the others keep telling me. I also thought about the awkward times as well as the special moments he and I shared. A prime example of this was when the two of us were in Ophanimon's Castle. That was the moment when my feelings for that hot-headed boy changed. Even after we returned to the Human World, I still get butterflies in my stomach whenever I see him.
I've always wanted to ask Takuya how he felt about me. Either that or just tell him how I feel about him. I practiced in front of a mirror the things I would say. There were a number of times I told myself that today would be the day. But every time I see him or when he approached me, I always lose my nerve and forgot everything I was going to say to him. He looks at me while I look away and sometimes vice versa. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I still had to try.
One time, while we were still in school, I turned to Koji and Koichi for advice, since they sort of knew I had a crush on Takuya. They joked about it at first, but when they found out I was serious, they've decided to help. We tried all kinds of things, but nothing seemed to work. Homemade sweets, one-on-one study sessions, even going to Takuya's soccer games weren't enough to get his attention. Heck, the four of us went to an amusement park at night and the twins asked one of the workers to get me and Takuya on top of the Ferris Wheel during the fireworks show. It was truly romantic, and I even grabbed Takuya's hand and rested my head on his shoulder to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, Takuya was more excited about the fireworks going off, he didn't he even recognize the signs of me showing interest in him.
My latest attempt, however, turned out to pretty successful, in a sense. It took hours of planning, until we finally came up with an idea.
*Flashback*
The plan was for me to sing a song for Takuya in front of the entire school, telling him how I feel. And I came up with the perfect song too. It's called "Ten" by Jewel. She was one of my favorite artists because her voice sounded like an angel. After the brothers and I set up a time to perform, I practiced singing in front of the mirror every day. Although my voice will never be as good as Jewel's, I think I sounded pretty good. This song reminds me a lot about Takuya and how I feel about him. Regardless of how much of a thickheaded idiot he is, he's still my best friend.
During lunch, as I watched Koji and Koichi set up, I looked towards the quad to find Takuya. There were over two hundred students in the school, so it was kind of difficult to find him. I finally noticed a boy wearing gray, squared goggles walking towards me with the typical smile on his face which always brightens my day. At last, Takuya was going to watch me perform. But instead of approaching me, he made his way towards another girl sitting not far from the stage.
She was just as tall as Takuya with golden hair, blue eyes, and creamy skin. I knew this girl. She's someone I despised so much. Her name was Ayaka Miyoshi, the hottest, smartest and most popular girl in the school. Apparently, every guy was in love with her... even Takuya. I don't know what makes her so special. She may be a straight A student, but Ayaka's selfish and will manipulate others to get what she wants. And the bad news was Takuya was falling for her tricks.
I watched unbearably as my best friend wrapped his arms around the girl. I thought he was being friendly to her. But then Ayaka whispered something in Takuya's ear, which made the goggle-head's eyes widened with interest. My heart wasn't prepared for what happened next. I saw Ayaka giving Takuya a small peck on the cheek. At that point, my blood was boiling and my head was screaming in fury. I really wanted to go up to that girl and smack the lips right off her face. Heck, I wanted to drag Takuya out of the quad and beat him to a pulp myself. But I couldn't. I stood there, frozen in place. I continued to watch Ayaka planting small kisses on Takuya's cheek and neck. And the worst part was, Takuya's actually enjoying it.
"Hey, Zoe. We're ready." Koichi said.
I could see him walking towards me in my peripheral vision, but my focus was still on Takuya. Koichi then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
He then noticed me staring blankly into space. He finally saw Ayaka Miyoshi kissing Takuya's neck.
"Well, it looks like you got some competition." said Koji as he approached me and his brother. I glared back at him.
"KOJI!" I snapped.
"You're not helping, bro." Koichi said.
"Relax, will you?" Koji chuckled. "So what if Takuya's flirting with that bubble-headed blond bimbo? Once Zoe starts singing, he'll be head over heels for her."
"Do you really think so?" I asked, hoping that Koji's right.
"Yeah." Koichi said. "You ready, Zoe?"
"I guess so." I answered.
Koji and Koichi tuned their guitars as I walked towards the microphone. I waited until the bassist, keyboardist and drummer were ready. Finally, all five band members gave me the thumbs up, signaling me that they're ready. I looked back at Takuya, who was still enjoying the kisses coming from Ayaka. I then started to notice that her kisses were slowly approaching his lips.
"I... uh..." I said. The microphone squeaked a few times before dying down.
At that point, everyone on the quad, including Takuya and Ayaka, turned their attention towards me. I stood there frozen like a rock. I never had the attention of the entire school. It felt good, but extremely nerve-racking. I finally regained my confidence to speak.
"So, uh, I'm going to sing a song for you guys. And... I would like to dedicate this song to... to, uh... *gulp*... a very special friend of mine."
Some of the students started clapping, which made me smiled a bit. I looked towards Takuya and I saw him clapping as well. He winked back at me, causing me to giggle. I looked at Ayaka, on the other hand, who was shaking her head with disbelief. Before long, the music started.
*Insert Song: Ten*
The drummer tapped his sticks together to gauge the tempo. I listened to Koji and Koichi strumming on their guitars using a G Major Key. I could also hear the kick drum pounding and the keyboards playing. We smiled at each other one last time before I grabbed the microphone. I took a deep breath and started singing the song I dedicated to Takuya.
"Whoever said that love is easy, must has never been in love;
Sometimes it's a land mine, one wrong step and it blows up;
A word... a look... lights a hidden fuse."
From that point on, I allowed the music to take control of my body. Every word that came out of my mouth was directed towards my best friend. I swayed from side to side and poured my soul into my singing.
"It's hard to see just what you have, when you're seeing red;
And it's easy to do something that you know you both will regret;
Better stop, think, count to ten before I leave."
As the music got louder, so did my voice. I felt that the more emphasis I put in the singing, the more meaning it would have. We finally reached the chorus. I looked to my right and locked on to Takuya's chocolate eyes, letting him know that these next few verses were directed towards him.
"One, I still wanna hate you;
Two, Three, I still wanna leave;
Four, searching for that door;
Five, then I look into your eyes;
Six, take a deep breathe;
Seven, take a step back;
Eight, nine, I don't know why,
We even started this fight;
By the time I get to Ten,
I'm right back in your arms again."
Koji played his heart out when we got to his solo. At the time, I was trapped within the music. I looked back at Takuya and gazed into his eyes. I started to have flashbacks of all the times we were together. From the day we first met, to the adventures in the Digital World and the unforgettable moments we shared. Takuya's jaw dropped a little bit. I believe this was the first time he's heard me sing. He looked rather impressed. Ayaka tried getting his attention, but it was no use. Takuya's focus was only on me, and it made me feel happy. Finally, Koji's solo ended and so did the flashbacks.
"Words thrown so callously like weapons when we fight;
But when they cut too deep, I wanna leave it all behind;
That I've to count to ten, before I cross that line."
"One, I still wanna hate you;
Two, Three, I still wanna leave;
Four, searching for that door;
Five, then I look into your eyes;
Six, take a deep breathe;
Seven, take a step back;
Eight, nine, I don't know why,
We even started this fight;
By the time I get to Ten,
I'm right back in your arms again."
And then, tears started to form in my eyes. I guess I was pour so much emotion out, I couldn't stop crying. I wasn't desperate, but I really wanted Takuya to know how I feel about him. And every time I see him with another girl or every day that passed without me telling him, I felt a tightness in my heart. As the tears continued to fall, I entered the bridge of the song.
"You can lose what you're not thankful for,
I don't want that to happen to you and me,
Better count my blessings..."
We were approaching the end of the song. I looked back towards Takuya and gazed deeply into his eyes. As the words flow out of my mouth, I pretend that it was just me and him, with no one else around.
"One, you still move me;
Two, three, you send chills right through me;
Four, you keep me wanted more;
Five, when I look into your eye;
Six, you're my best friend;
Seven, that will never end;
Eight, nine, I don't know why,
But thank God it happens every-time;
By the time I get to ten...
By the time I get to ten,
I can see how blessed I've been."
Koji finished off with one more solo. At the time, I couldn't stop my tears from falling. I was crying uncontrollably. I dropped on my knees, covering my face. Koji's solo has ended, followed by a soft, rhythmic flow of notes from the keyboard.
Then I felt a sudden touch on my shoulder. It was a warm sensation that made me look up. I wiped my tears away when I saw Takuya's big grin on his face. I buried my face in his chest as the music slowly fades away. I didn't hear the roar of applause coming from the students. All I could think of was the hidden message I was trying to send to Takuya, wondering, hoping and praying he would receive it. I ended the song with one last message for my best friend.
"I'd chose you all over again..."
*End of Flashback*
The stoplight finally turned green. I woke up from the memory and walked down the street. Sometimes, I wondered if Takuya ever stop to think about the meaning of that song I sang for him some time ago. I would think so, or maybe his head's too thick. But the most important part was I tried. Now, all I had to do was wait patiently for him to make his move. Hopefully he will.
As I continue to walk with the picnic basket around my arm, I started whistling that song again. It wasn't just relaxing when I listen to it. This song has a special meaning, a hidden message of undying affection, that nothing can destroy a special bond two best friends have with each other. When I think of this song, I think of the one person I care about more than anyone else. The person who annoy me with his quirky jokes, yet make me smile with his adorable laugh. I'm talking about...
"Well, fancy seeing you here" Someone said.
When I heard Takuya's voice, I almost dropped the picnic basket. I regained my balanced and smiled at my best friend. There he stood with a black hat covering his dark brown hair. He looked at me with those chocolate eyes, causing me to blush for a little bit. He was wearing a red t-shirt with a fire breathing dragon on the front. He also wore a black, unzipped, hoodless jacket with red and white lines running down his sleeves. He also had a pair of jeans and red shoes on.
"Hey, birthday boy!" I grinned.
"Hey yourself! What'cha got in there?" He asked.
"You'll see. It's a surprise."
"So that's your gift? Lunch?"
"Yes. And, if you're a good boy, there'll be another gift for you."
"Oh, really?" He asked, before the sound of his stomach growling took over. He looked back at me with his signature grin. "Sorry, hehe!"
"Did you eat your brain again, Takuya? Because your stomach is thinking." I sighed.
"Yeah, whatever. Come on, let's go!" He said, grabbing my other hand, forcing my cheeks to turn a shade of red. I couldn't help but smile.
Hand in hand, we ran down the street, around the corner and out of the city. We arrived at the park a minute later. It was a Saturday, so it was no surprise that Yoyogi Park was full of people. I saw kids running on the fields flying kites, catching frisbees or baseballs with their parents. I looked back at Takuya and smiled.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's head on over to our spot." I said.
Normal POV:
Somewhere, in a dark alley a few minutes away from the park, laid a couple of trash cans filled up with all kinds of garbage. A small black cat leaped onto one of the garbage can lids. It sat down and started licking its fur. Suddenly, the cat heard a noise.
"BANG! BANG!" yelled one of the trash cans.
After letting out a fierce scream, the cat ran out of the alleyway. The lid on one of the garbage bins sprung up out of the can and landed on the solid concrete. Bokomon climbed out of the silver container and dropped to the ground, landing with a thud. He was panting heavily and covered in dirt and garbage. Apparently, they needed a place to hide after one of the humans spotted two tiny monsters roaming the city. They had to lay low for at least an hour until the coast was clear.
"I had no idea the Human World was such a cruel place." Bokomon said. He wiped the muck off of his body and removed a banana peel off of his head.
"Mmmm! Mmmm!" someone said. Bokomon looked up at the second garbage can and noticed two legs sticking out.
"Hold on, Neemon! I'll get you out!" He said as he got back on top of the garbage bin.
He grabbed the yellow rabbit's two legs and pulled as hard as he could. He pulled with all of his might, but Neemon appears to be buried deep in the garbage. Finally, after a good heave, he managed to pull his friend out as the two of them landed hard on the ground. The pair of Digimon laid on the street, still a dizzy and tired. Neemon was the first to get to his feet.
"What'd you do that for, Bokomon?"
"What are you talking about, you big doofus?"
"They got food inside those giant container thingies. I was enjoying a nice tasty meal. They got cheeseburgers, red apples, and..." Bokomon took out his green book and slammed it hard on top of Neemon's head. The yellow rabbit held his head and struggled to fight the dizziness.
"Hey, look! I can see stars. And it's not even night time!"
"Oh, never mind." Bokomon sighed. "Come on, Neemon, we have to find the others." The two Digimon walked out of the dark alleyway behind them. They hid behind a couple of bushes to make sure the coast is clear.
"Exactly why are we hiding like this again?" Neemon asked, causing Bokomon to smack his forehead.
"For the last time, Neemon, we're in the Human World now! There are no Digimon residing in this world. Look around you. We're completely surrounded by humans."
"Oh, I see."
"I just can't imagine what would happen if we exposed ourselves to these unintelligent creatures. People will start screaming, panicking and before you know it, you got the entire city hunting us down."
"Ah, now I get it."
"I sure hope so. Now, come on. We must find our friends. They are the only ones that can save the Digital World."
"But where can they be? We searched high and low, in and out, near and far, but still no sign of them."
"Have faith, my friend. They'll turn up eventually."
"How can you be so sure of something so unsure?"
"Because I know they will! We will find our friends, Neemon. We just have to believe! Believe that we will find them, or they will find us."
"Ah, believe!"
"Yes. Now, let's go! Time is of the essence!"
Once when there were no humans in sight, the two Digimon sprang out of the bushes and onto the street. However, they did not see the traffic light above them had, all of the sudden, changed. And little did they know, there were a number of cars lined up side by side with each other.
When the light flashed green, the cars drove as fast as they could through the intersection, where Bokomon and Neemon appeared to be trapped in. They scattered in all different directions, dodging and trying to avoid all of the cars coming their way. They had a few close calls as well, but were lucky that not a single car hit one of them. The two Digimon made it to the other side of the road, but barely. They ran as fast they could towards a nearby bush. There, they rest to catch their breath. Both of them were wheezing and huffing for air.
"Let's not... do that... again." Bokomon said.
"And you call me stupid." Neemon said. Bokomon was about to slap the rabbit's face, but decided not to. He was too tired after that little incident on the street.
"At this rate, we'll never find them." said the yellow rabbit.
"Well, do you have any better ideas?" Bokomon asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Really?" said Bokomon with a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh yeah. I got a brilliant plan right here in my head. It's foolproof, I tell you."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but what is it?"
"How about if we..." He paused. "... ask one of the humans if they have seen our friends?" Bokomon stared blankly at the witless Digimon. He then grabbed his green book and instead of slamming it on Neemon, he smacked it hard against his own forehead, giving him a serious migraine. He soon recovered a minute later and leered at his buddy.
"That's got to be one of the most ridiculous ideas I have ever heard!"
"Ridiculous? How can you call my plan ridiculous when none of your plans had worked at all?"
"Because mine's at least make sense, you idiot!"
"Mine does too."
"No it doesn't! I can think of two reasons why your plan's not going to work!"
"Really? Then tell me."
"Very well then. First of all, besides Takuya and the others, humans have never seen a Digimon in their life nor have any knowledge that Digimon exist. If we do try to communicate with these humans, the reactions would be as expected. They would respond with fear in their minds, which will only result in violence. That's why we've been running and hiding throughout the city!"
"Uh-huh."
"Secondly, even if we did find some human that could help us, how would they know who our friends are?" Bokomon pointed to a small boy a yard away. "Say we asked that boy, 'Excuse me, young man, but have you seen Takuya, Zoe, Koji or any one of our friends?' It's stupid, Neemon! What are the chances of some random person in the Human World knowing where the Chosen Children are located?"
"We won't know until we try." Neemon answered.
"For the last time, Neemon, it will NEVER work!" Bokomon yelled. "WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE! IT CANNOT BE DONE AND WILL NOT BE DONE! THAT'S IT, OKAY? END OF DISCUSSION! SHEESH!"
"Wow, Bokomon. I didn't know you could yell that loud."
"Oh, just shut up, will you?"
"Okay then." Neemon smiled. "I'll tell you what. I'll ask one person if they know where our friends are. Just one person. If he or she knows, then that's great..."
"And if they don't..." Bokomon asked.
"... Why are you asking me? You're the genius. I can't think of everything you know."
"Never mind. Just forget it."
"Already taken care of, hehe!"
"So, may I ask, which random human are you going to ask for help?"
"Well... how about..." Neemon looked through the crowd of people walking in all different directions. There were so many humans to choose from, he didn't know where to start. Finally, he pointed his hand out in front. "Her!"
"Who?" Bokomon asked.
"That girl over there!"
"There are a plenty of girls here, stupid. Which one?"
"The one with the purple hat!" Neemon says.
Bokomon finally saw the blonde haired girl Neemon was talking about. She did have a purple hat, as well as a purple t-shirt, a black sleeveless jacket and short shorts. She also had a picnic basket around one of her arms.
"Her?" He asked. He then burst into laughter. "Haha! Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You got to be kidding me, Neemon. Like she would know where our friends would be. Might as well ask her if she got any food in that basket." Bokomon then noticed that the girl wasn't alone. There was another guy walking with her.
"Oh, and on top of that, let's ask him too if he has seen our..."
But Bokomon stopped talking when he got a good look at the boy. Something about him seemed familiar. It's like he's seen him before, but where? Bokomon studied the boy for a little bit. He noticed the hair, the eyes, the outfit and that hat. But then, Bokomon noticed the small, silver, squared goggles on the boy's head. Bokomon's eyes widened.
"That's him!" He said. "It's him, Neemon! It's him! It's Takuya, the Legendary Warrior of Fire himself!" He then looked back at the young woman. Soon, it all fell into place.
"And that girl next to Takuya is the Legendary Warrior of Wind! That's Zoe! WE DID IT, NEEMON! WE FOUND THEM! COME ON, LET'S GO!" He said as he took off in running into the park.
"Hehe, told you so." Neemon chuckled.
The mutant-like Digimon ran as fast as he could towards the two teenagers. However, getting to them wasn't easy. The park was filled with a large number of humans. Some of these people brought along their pet dogs with them to the park. One of the dogs saw the strange creature. After letting out a few loud barks, he raced towards the Digimon. When Bokomon heard a barking noise coming from behind him, he turned around and his eyes widened at what he saw.
"Oh dear..." Bokomon gasped when he caught a glimpse of the giant Bull Terrier chasing him. All of the sudden, he took off and ran as fast as his little legs can carry him. He looked back to see that the dog wasn't far behind him. The more he ran, the closer the Bull Terrier got to him.
"Grrrrrr! Bark! Bark!" growled the mutt.
"Get away! GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU NASTY THING!" Bokomon cried.
Bokomon ran through the playground, across the basketball courts, around a few trees and dove into the pond. The dog sniffed at the water for a little bit before walking away. Bokomon walked out of the pond, all drenched and soaked. He wiped some of the water off of his face and made his way to a nearby tree. He then collapsed and fell on his chest, panting and gasping for air. The chase he had with the dog left the Digimon dazed and exhausted. He was on the verge of falling asleep.
"I hate this place!" thought the Digimon.
Suddenly, a large shadow covered the area. Before Bokomon can look up to see what's going on, a giant picnic basket landed on top of the poor creature's back.
"Well, here we are." Takuya said as he took the picnic basket out of Zoe's arms and set it on the ground.
"Yep." Zoe agreed. She unfolded the blanket and placed it on the ground nicely. She took a seat next to Takuya. "So, where are the others?"
"They're not coming." Takuya answered.
"Why not?"
"Well, it's more like they couldn't make it. You see, everyone's busy this summer. Koji and Koichi are flying to Kyoto, Tommy's camping with his family, and as you mentioned before, J.P. is in Hawaii."
"Oh, I see. So I guess it's just me and you then?"
"Sure seems like it." Takuya smiled, which allowed Zoe to let out a soft, yet relaxing giggle. "Is that alright with you?"
"Sure, it is. Being around you guys does make me happy, but I have much more fun when I'm with you."
"Really? And why's that then, may I ask?"
"You're my best friend, silly!"
"Yeah, I know. Still, I wish Koji and the others were here."
"Well, this gives us some time to catch up with each other. I mean, it's been a long time since we last hung out, right?"
"What do you mean? Last time we hung out was a couple of weeks ago. Remember? You and I took Shinya to the aquarium."
"Of course, I remember."
"Yeah, and Shinya wanted to see the sharks, and the turtles and the eels. Man, he had such a great time there."
"Yep. So did I." Zoe smiled. "Oh, by the way..." Zoe reached for the picnic basket next to her and opened it up. She took out a beautifully wrapped present. She looked at Takuya nervously. With her hands still shaking, she held out the gift in front of him.
"What's this?" Takuya asked.
"It's your birthday present." Zoe said, while blushing.
"Zoe..."
"I...I... I hope you like it. I didn't know what to get you... so I..." Takuya looked back at Zoe and then at the present. A huge smile appeared on his face as he happily took the present from her.
"Aw, Zoe, you didn't have to!"
"But I wanted to. You're my best friend, Takuya, and you deserve something special. After all, you only turn fourteen once in your life."
"Yeah, that is true. Good point, though. I gotta say, nice work on the wrapping."
"Grazie!" The girl stifled a giggle. "Gift wrapping is one of my talents. If you ask me, the outside of a present is just as important as..." But before Zoe could finish her sentence, Takuya started ripping the wrapping paper off the box. The blonde haired girl shook her head and sighed.
"Oh, never mind." She thought to herself.
Once the wrapping paper was removed, Takuya stared at a white box on his lap. He took the lid off the box and looked inside. He saw three things in the cubic container. He first pulled a medium sized t-shirt. It was black with a bluish 'F' in the middle, surrounded by red and orange flames. On the back, the shirt had the text, 'FIRE' also written in flames. The goggle-head put the shirt on, and it was a perfect fit. He then took it off, put the shirt down next to him and smiled back at Zoe.
"Wow, that is so cool! Thanks, Z!"
He took out the second gift out of the box. In his hand were two tickets to a soccer game featuring the best players from Japan taking on the United States. Takuya, with his jaw dropped, was speechless. Soccer was his favorite sport. He loved watching the game as much as playing it. He slowly turned his attention towards Zoe, still trying to find the words to say.
"Well?" She asked.
"Zoe... I... how... how did you...?" Takuya stuttered.
"Let's just say, I know a guy, who knows a guy, who is also a big time soccer fan."
"Gosh! Thanks, Zoe! This is awesome! But, um... you gave me two tickets!"
"I know. I just thought you would like to take someone with you to the game. It sure beats going all by yourself. You can ask your little brother if he wants to come, or maybe Tommy. He loves soccer just as much as you do and..."
"How about you come with me, instead?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. It'll be fun. Besides, I know how much you love soccer. Why not come with me?"
"Oh, Takuya. Are you serious?"
"I insist. What do you say?"
"Well..." She placed a hand on her chin and looked up at the sky, pretending to ponder. "... I have to think about it first."
"Oh, come on, Zoe. I..." Takuya was interrupted by a soft giggle coming from his best friend.
"I'm just kidding, silly boy. Of course I'll come!"
"Awesome! You're the greatest, Z. For a second there, I thought you were going to say no."
"So what if I did?" She giggled.
"Well... I..."
"Hehe! You're adorable, Takuya!"
"Haven't heard that one before."
"By the way, there are still one more thing inside. Have a look."
Takuya placed the two tickets in his pockets. He looked inside the white box and took out a white envelope. He opened the envelope and took out the birthday card. He opened up the card and started reading.
"Dear Takuya,
Happy birthday to you. It's that time of year again, another candle on your birthday cake. But it's so much more than that. It's another year of wonderful memories. Moments of giggles, sly smiles and inside jokes. So many great memories too. Sure, there were some road bumps along the way. We also had our share of fights and arguments; some good ones in fact. But just think how boring it would be if we hadn't. You and I would never be able to make up with each other. Alright, I'm kidding... well... sort of.
When you blow out your candles, I hope you make a great wish. Not just a simple, common wish everyone makes on their birthday, but a special, meaningful wish that has significant meaning and value to you. I hope it comes true beyond your wildest dreams. I want nothing but good things for you. I will always be there for you when you need me. After all, you are my best friend. I look in your eyes each day and nothing makes me happier than seeing that huge smile on your face. I am so lucky to have you as my best friend.
We have so many more birthdays to celebrate. More dreams to make a reality, and more memories to scrapbook in your albums. My dream has already come true. I get to spend my entire life with you. So, thank you for making my birthday wishes come true and I really hope yours do too. Happy birthday, Takuya.
Love,
Zoe"
Zoe felt slightly embarrassed when Takuya got to the word "love." She wanted to use the word "from," but she felt that the word was too generic. At least "love" has some significant meaning, even though Takuya's kinda dense on that topic.
The birthday boy finally noticed the last birthday present from Zoe.
It was a pendant necklace. Takuya looked at the pendent and noticed something. It had the Symbol of Fire on the front. But when he turned it around, it had the Spirit of Wind on the back. He smiled back at Zoe. Tears were forming in his eyes. He then gave the teenage girl the biggest hug ever. However, he failed to notice the flushed cheeks on his friend's face.
"Oh, Zoe! Thank you so much! This is the best birthday present ever."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it."
"Liked it? I LOVE IT!" Takuya exclaimed.
"I'm glad you do." The two continued to stare at each other. Silence took over the area once again. Only noise that could be heard was the sound of the wind whistling against their faces. Finally, Takuya decided to break the ice.
"So, what was that song you were whistling a while back?" Zoe froze at the question. It took her a while to finally answer.
"Takuya, you... you don't remember...that song I sang in front of the whole school back in eighth grade?"
"Oh, yeah! That's right! I remember that song! It's one of your favorites, right?" Takuya said.
"I also remember you said you dedicated that song to, and I quote, 'a very special friend of yours,' am I right?" Zoe couldn't help but blush. This was her chance. This could be the opening she needed to confess to Takuya her true feelings toward him, though she was a bit nervous.
"Y... Y... Yes, that's right." She answered nervously.
"That's great, Z! So tell me..." Zoe's heart was pounding like a drum, not to mention increasing in speed. She was sweating profusely and her muscles were starting were getting a little tense. "Who's the lucky guy you were talking about?"
"Oh, Takuya." Zoe sighed with disappointment. "You mean to say you don't know?"
"Nope, not really. Sorry, hehe, forgive me for being clueless." Takuya laughed while scratching the back of his head.
"Like always?"
"Hey, come on! You can't expect me to be perfect!"
"You're hopeless, Takuya. You know that, right?"
"Says you. Please, Zoe. Tell me who this guy is."
"No."
"Come on!"
"I said 'no.'"
"Please? I really want to know."
"Forget it, Takuya! I'm not gonna tell you, okay? Jeez, can it already!"
"Well, if you're not going to tell me, would you at least tell me a little bit about him? I mean, what's he like? What are his interests, hobbies, etc.?"
"You really wanna know?"
"Uh-huh!" Takuya answered, giving the blonde haired girl a huge grin.
"Alright, fine." Zoe sighed.
"Where do I begin? Well, he's nice, kind, very friendly, and really sweet. He's athletic, like you, very charismatic and full of energy. Sure, he can be an idiot sometimes, but he's a lot smarter than most people think. He can be stubborn occasionally, but he's also really funny. He does have a tendency to act without thinking most of the time, but honestly, his friends would have been lost without him... I would've been lost without him."
Zoe sighed as she turned and gazed into Takuya's chocolate-colored eyes.
"He's an awesome person. He's nothing short of amazing. Thoughtful... and considerate. He's makes me laugh with his stupid jokes and unique personality. Sure, he acts like a moron sometimes. But that's one of the reasons why I like him so much. He's always there for me, even in my toughest times. All he needs to do is say one word, place his warm hand on my shoulder, gaze deeply into my eyes or tightly embrace me and all of my tears would disappear. He's not only cute, but charming as well. He's everything to me, and I hope someday..."
Zoe drew closer towards the boy staring deeper into his eyes.
"... I'm everything to him."
"Zoe..." Takuya gasped.
"Yes, Takuya?" Zoe whispered. She slowly closed her eyes, waiting for her lips to make contact with his. She inches toward them, getting closer... closer... closer...
"That's awesome!" Takuya smiled as he got up from the ground, subconsciously avoiding the blond haired girl's kiss. Zoe opened her eyes and looked back at the boy. She sighed disappointingly as another opportunity slipped through her hands.
"I'm happy for you. He seems like really cool guy. I would love to meet him someday."
"Oh, Takuya..." Zoe said to herself. "You're such an idiot. What do I have to do to get through that thick-headed skull of yours?"
"Looks like somebody's in love!" Takuya laughed jokingly.
"Shut up! That wasn't funny, Takuya!"
"Aww, come on, Zoe? What's wrong? Just can't wait to give your special someone a 'kissy kissy?'"
"You have no idea..." Zoe said to herself.
"Zoe's in love! Zoe's in love!" Takuya laughed childishly as he danced around his best friend like a jester.
"TAKUYA!"
"I'm just kidding! Jeez, lighten up a bit, Zoe."
"Hmph!" Zoe crossed her arms together and turned away from the boy with the goggles on his head.
"What's his name, by the way?" Takuya asked, causing Zoe's face to turn red again.
"H... H... His name?" Zoe asked, looking back.
"Yeah! Come on, Zoe. How can you be in love without knowing the guy's name?"
"I do know his name... it's just that..."
"Alright then, tell me. Please?"
"Fine..." Zoe sighed in a sarcastic tone. The answer caught Takuya by surprised.
"Really?"
"No!"
"Come on, Zoe! Please? I really want to know. Who knows? I could hook you guys up or something." Zoe looked at him, feeling both embarrassed and nervous.
As much as she wanted to say, "It's you, Takuya" she just couldn't do it. The pressure was starting to overcome her. However, when she saw Takuya's signature smile, most of the tension inside her body vanished. She sighed one more time with her heart banging like a drum.
"Oh, alright. But you must promise me you'll never mention this to anyone. Are we clear?"
"Crystal!" Takuya said.
"Okay." She said. Here it goes. The moment she has been waiting for. She reached the point where there's no turning back. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak…
"Grrrrrr." Zoe paused and looked back at Takuya. He was scratching the back of his head.
"Hehe, sorry. That was my stomach." He laughed. Zoe smiled and a soft giggle escaped her mouth.
"That's okay. You are getting kind of hungry. Why don't we eat first, okay?"
"Sounds good to me."
Zoe smiled as she shifted her body towards the picnic basket. She was still mad at herself for not having the courage to tell. Then again, she knew there will be other opportunities to tell him. She opened the basket and looked inside for the lobster risotto she made for Takuya.
"Eek!" She screamed as she sprang back to her feet and hid behind the teenaged boy.
"Zoe, what's wrong?" Takuya asked.
"There... there's something... in the basket." She gulped. Takuya looks back at the basket as he and Zoe slowly approach it. He opened up the basket again and looked inside. A small smile appeared on his face.
"Come on, Z." He laughed. "It's just a little rabbit." He said. Takuya examined the little creature again and noticed something strange about the animal. Since when do rabbits wear clothes? "A rabbit... wearing red pants." He said. The critter turned his head at the two teenagers. His mouth was stuffed with the risotto Zoe made earlier.
"Hello there!" The rabbit smiled, causing both humans to gasp and step back a bit.
"A talking rabbit in red pants." Takuya said.
"Wait a minute..." The goggle-headed boy took a good long look at the rabbit. It's like he's seen this creature before, he just doesn't remember where or when he saw it. He kept pondering and pondering. Finally, it all came back to him and everything started clicking in.
"Neemon?" The boy asked. It didn't take long for the rabbit to react. He swallowed the rice in his mouth, smiled and waved back at the boy.
"Yep, that's me!" The Digimon grinned.
"Neemon? NEEMON!" Takuya smiled as he reached inside the picnic basket and took out the yellow creature. He gave the Digimon and great big squeeze.
"Oh, Neemon! It's so good to see you again! Hey, Zoe! Look! It's Neemon!"
"Neemon?" Zoe asked. She waited for Takuya to turn around to reveal what was in the basket. She noticed the boy carrying the yellow rabbit dressed in long red pants. A huge smiled appeared on the teenage girl's face.
"Oh my goodness! NEEMON!" She exclaimed as she to embraced the creature.
"Yep, it's me. Hello, strange human creatures." Neemon said, while cuddling inside Takuya's and Zoe's arms.
"Neemon, don't you recognize us? " Takuya asked. "It's me, Takuya! Remember, your friend back in the Digital World?"
"Oh, yeah! I remember!" Neemon shouted with joy. He looked back at the blonde haired girl. "And you must be... uh... wait a minute... Izumi?" he asked. Once again, Zoe giggled back at the Digimon.
"Close. It's Zoe." She said.
"Zoe! Oh, yeah. Hehe, my bad." Neemon laughed. Takuya and Zoe laughed along with their friend from the Digital World. A few seconds later, their laughter came to a halt.
"Hold on a second. I thought the gate to the Digital World was shut tight." Takuya said. He then followed with a string of questions. "How'd you get here in the first place? What are you doing here in the Human World? Where's..."
"Easy, Takuya." said Zoe. "One question at a time. After all, this is Neemon you're talking to."
"Yeah, you're right." Takuya apologized as he lets out another sigh. "I'll start off with this. What are you doing..." He paused. Takuya looked around the area, searching for something.
"Say, where is Bokomon?"
"Bokomon?" Neemon asked.
"Yeah, your friend from the Digital World." Zoe said. "You know, the Digimon with the pink elastic waistband?"
"I'm here..." A deep voice said. Takuya and Zoe staggered to their feet. They scouted the area, in search of their other friend.
"Bokomon, is that you?" Takuya asked. He waited for a few moments, yet still there was no answer.
"Bokomon, where are you?" Neemon said playfully.
"I'm right here..." The voice spoke again.
"Where?" Zoe asked as she approached the picnic basket.
"I'M UNDERNEATH THE BASKET, YOU SIMPLETONS! NOW HURRY UP AND GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Bokomon screamed. Zoe lifted up the basket off the ground. Low and behold, there was Bokomon all covered in dirt, lying flat on his stomach. The mutant-like Digimon got up to his feet and wiped himself off.
"Woo, that was close. May the Digital Gods be praised. For a moment there, I thought I was never gonna see the light of day again." Bokomon said, gasping for air.
"BOKOMON!" Takuya shouted. The Digimon looked up to see the boy smiling back at him. Tears filled his eyes as he jumped up and dove straight into Takuya's arms.
"Oh, Takuya!" Bokomon cried. "Takuya, my boy! I never thought I'd see you again!"
"It's good to see you too, buddy." Takuya said. He too had tears forming in his eyes, but he held them back... at least for now.
"Bokomon?" called Zoe. The Digimon turned towards his left and saw a beautiful teenage girl standing in front of him. He noticed tears were cascading down her face.
"Zoe!" Bokomon yelled as he dove out of Takuya's arms and into Zoe's. The girl caught the little Digimon and gave him a great big hug.
"Oh, Bokomon, I missed you so much." Zoe cried.
"And I missed you too, Zoe." He said. He wiped off the tears off Zoe's face. "My, my! Look at you! You're all grown up now!"
"Awww, thank you Bokomon." She smiled, embracing the Digimon one last time.
"So, Bokomon, how'd you and Neemon managed to get to the Human World?" Takuya asked.
Bokomon looked back at the boy. The smile that was on his face had completely vanished. It was then replaced by a giant frown. Bokomon's eyes began to water and it wasn't long before he started crying again.
"Oh, Takuya! It was horrible!" He screamed. "It was horrible! There were explosions and destruction, and the Digital World is in… it's in... I... I... I can't say it! Lady Ophanimon, she... she said..."
"Bokomon, calm down!" Takuya ordered. The Digimon froze in his tracks and stumbled to the floor. The tears stopped falling, but his face was still wet and messed up.
"It's alright, Bokomon." Zoe said as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Tell us exactly what happened." For a few moments, Bokomon hasn't said a word. Silence filled the area. Takuya and Zoe looked at each other, feeling both confused and worried. Finally, Bokomon took a deep breath, gazed at his friends and said,
"THE DIGITAL WORLD IS UNDER ATTACK!"
Author's Notes: So, that's chapter three.
Now that they've received the news, who's attacking the Digital World this time? Can Takuya and Zoe make it in time? And what challenges await our two warriors? These questions will be answered in the next chapter. Stay tuned to find out what happens on the next Digimon Frontier: Chaos Rising.
*Don't forget to review!*