Digimon Adventure 03Chapter 3: ''Puppetmon's Return''
"Tai!" Agumon dashed towards his friend as the door opened , "What took you so long? My tea has already become cold!"
"Hold on, Agumon! I still need to bring some more crates from the car...and since I'm doing this all by myself...!" Tai hissed.
"Oops, I forgot!" Agumon closed his eyes as he scratched his head. Tai grinned.
"No kidding?" He turned back, "Come on in, Effy!" He invited her with a smile.
"Is that?!..." - "Our dear new neighbor? Sure!" Tai got embarrassed as Effy came in.
"Oh wow, so you're the one who lives here? Cool. I wondered when Ms. Collins will find a new neighbor to fill this apartment.''
''Where's your place?''
''Right there.'' Effy pointed on the next door.
"Are you serious? You're the one who's living right there?" Tai tried to look like he's totally surprised.
"Well, yes." She smiled.
"Now, that's what I call a sign from above!" Tai laughed, preying Effy didn't notice how much nerves he was.
Agumon took small steps to Effy, "Hello there! My name is Agumon and I'm Tai's digimon! I love ice cream, tea, being with my friends and watching ''Friends" when I'm not eating or napping! How about you?"
Effy blinked at first, but then she had a gentle smile tugging her lips, "Hi, Agumon! My name is Effy! I love painting, pizza and watching House when I'm not eating or napping. But I'm also a big fan of ice cream, tea and "friends" too!" She said with a wink. Agumon's cheeks dusted with blush.
"That's great!'' He couldn't control his wry smile. ''Nice to meet you! I sure hope to see you more often; you're a really nice person! And a very pretty one!"
It was Effy's turn to get embarrassed now and blush. Tai noticed this and tried to get Agumon attention. When Agumon noticed him he nodded.
"Right, I'm sorry- but my tea is waiting for me! bye!'' Agumon run his way to the living room and disappeared from their sight.
''Agumon, hah? The crest of Courage then?'' She asked. Tai flashed a mischievous smile.
''I take it you're impressed, then?'' He said. Effy laughed and turned her embarrassed look away from him.
''Well... I've never seen an Agumon before in my life, then... yes. It's quite the rare type.''
''Well, thank you!'' Tai didn't even try to sound ashamed. Effy laughed.
''Such a humble person, are you?''
''Why, thank you again! You're such a flatter!'' He said wickedly. She rolled her eyes.
''He's great, Tai.'' She finally said then. Tai's smirk quirked into a warm smile.
''Yes, I know- he's the best friend a person can ever have.'' He said, when the idea of trying to get more information from Effy came to his mind.
''Who's your digimon? You look to me like a Gabumon's person.''
Effy laughed. ''No. I'm not a Digidestined. I don't even have a digivice, not to mention a digimon.''
''But that's weird; the whole world is full with Digidestined now after Diaboromon's return!'' Tai faked another surprised expression.
''It is, right?'' Her smile turned rueful, ''Well... I guess it is different nowadays. I don't feel bad about it though... I used to, but not anymore,'' She said. ''Guess I need to find my own ways of helping people in trouble, hah? I believe there isa way for me.''
Tai knew that Effy is different, but only now he realized why. She was a real Digidestined in her soul- she wanted to help and to make a change, although she can't even fight without her own digimon. She fought in her own ways- only by herself, and to that he found himself feeling nothing but awe.
''I believe in you, Effy.'' He suddenly said.
Effy grinned as blush was coating her cheeks. ''Hey, now, don't overdo. Enough blushing for one day, please! Well, let's see how I can help you, my new neighbor!'' Effy said. Tai nodded, and closed the door.
After a half hour, Tai slide on the soft sofa. He was tired, and his mind was racing with thoughts he could not calm down. Effy was already gone, and their first encounter left him with an unfamiliar emptiness in his stomach. While her words still echoed in his mind... a familiar face appeared in front of him... in a way which, how can we put it? Left no room for any more thoughts. That's for sure.
''Hey Tai! How did it go?'' Agumon leapt over Tai's aching body by surprise, making him flinch in the place.
''Agumon!''
''Sorry!'' Agumon said sheepishly, ''Well? What's going on?''
Tai sighed, ''About what?''
''About Effy, of course!'' Agumon said. Tai rolled his eyes.
''Not very well. I'm still not sure about her connection with Kari.''
''Well, that's only the beginning! Effy is a nice person, I'm sure you will get the chance to talk to her soon and maybe realize things thoroughly!''
''Yes... she is.'' Tai admitted with a little smile, ''I'm a bit sad for her... for not having a digimon pal like all of us. I wonder if this is the reason for those kidnappers to look after her...''
''Must be hard to be all by herself... and after losing her parents...'' ,''She what?!''
''Hmm? You didn't know? Izzy told me that!'' Agumon said. ''Right before we moved here.''
Tai laid his head on the sofa again, sighs. ''Poor thing...''
''What is it, Tai? You really care about her!'' Agumon's voice was full of surprise. Tai frowned.
''Well? So what? She's having a hard time... what's so wrong about that?''
''Nothing...'' Agumon hummed. ''She is pretty too. And you had your eye on her, right?''
''O-Of course not! Agumon! Cut it out!'' Tai tried his hardest to hide his embarrassment, but Agumon saw right through it.
''You're lying! I'm your best friend, and I know that you like Effy! She's beautiful, smart, has strong eyes and she's sensitive too- she is just your cup of tea!''
''Stop with this tea talking! It's not ok!'' Tai laughed.
''By the way, would you like to drink some tea with my, Tai? It's very healthy!''
''AGUMON!''
Six months have passed since the day Tai and Agumon moved away so they will be able to protect Effy from all the dangers there were to come, but nothing has happened- and Tai was not patient.
''You just have to give it some time, Tai. Maybe Kari's kidnappers felt they needed to keep on low profile since Kari's appear. You just have to be patient.'' Joe, Izzy and Sora used to tell him when he was talking about this with them, and even though he knew they're right, he just couldn't bear the fact he's not helping Kari all this time.
In the meanwhile, he found out Effy's presence kept him... what was the word for it? Probable sane. He has found himself knocking at her door almost every day ever since the day they've met, feeling the warm growing inside his stomach by the sight of her welcoming smile.
Soon he told her he is one of the very first Digidestined from Japan. Amazed by what seemed to him such a simple fact, she asked him to share the stories he carried with him from those days. Even though the Digiworld has become a dark and dangerous place, Effy's making him tell her stories of what used to be that sunny peaceful world made him feel warm, and he talked to her with merry twinkled eyes.
How much time has passed? When that little ten years old reckless boy has become to what he is now?
At age of twenty four, after years of holding back his lost memories, he found these conversations to be precious to him.
That all until thatday.
It was Sunday's early morning hours, and Tai still snored out of his sleeping, when suddenly his phone was ringing.
''Food, more food... please, I need to eat this pie'' Agumon murmured and turned in his bed, when he abruptly fell to the floor.
''Huh? Tai?'' Agumon raised his head to the sound of the ringing phone, rubbing his forehead, ''Who's calling in times like these? It's very rude!'' Agumon rumbled as he picked up the noisy phone.
''Hello?'' He snored into the phone.
''Agumon!'' A voice tinged with panic and confusion answered. Agumon blinked.
''Hah? Izzy?! What is it, something is the matter?''
''Sure is!'' Izzy answered impatiently, ''Quick! Wake up Tai and go to the location I'm sending you now! Effy's in great danger!''
''Effy? What's going on?'' Concern was evident in the easy-going digimon's voice.
''What's going on, Agumon?'' Tai stretched on his bed, snoring loudly. Agumon turned his head to his friend, talking through his shoulder.
''Tai, it's Izzy! He says that something is wrong with Effy!''
''She's what?!'' Tai gaped. Seeming to snap out of the dream he was caught in, he jumped out of his bed, starting to get dressed, ''Ask him what happened!''
''Right!'' Agumon clenched the phone between his big palms as he spoke. Few moments after that, he returned his look to Tai.
''He says he detected some strange digimon... one of them is Puppetmon!''
Tai gritted. ''Is that so...'' He mumbled, then he dashed over the door. ''Come on, Agumon! Let's find her!''
''Wait for me, Tai!'' Agumon followed him.
Effy gaped as he looked at her. A digimon with black, shadowy eyes, a red pointy hat and a puppet looking body. Her hands were shaking at the sight of a persistent fog, falling on the bodies of digimon and people. All caused by the actions of his huge hammer he held in his right hand.
Blood. She could smell the blood. She could sense the despair in the air, which warps her body tightly with no place to breath. They were just trying to protect her.
And as she laid down on the ground, too scared to move another inch, he looked right through her eyes. A vicious twinkle reflected in his small eyes as he burst in a sudden laughter.
''So this is the one we're looking for? Looks like a waste of time for me! Just look at her! She can't even fight!'' His laughter was too twisted, ''A Tokomon, maybe, would be a great match!''
A rumble sound was heard as another shadow approached to them. It was a tall digimon with a machine-like body and kind-small eyes which were surrounded by blue helmet. His name was Andromon.
''Let's take her to the master.'' He said monotonically. Puppetmon smirked.
''Wait with that, I want to have some fun before we go!'' He grabed Effy's head in one of his hands, pulling her hair. Effy strunggled, trying to resist his grabbing but for vain. Her terrified eyes filled with tears.
''We're going to have some fun, ya're ready for it?'' The amused smile never left his lips.
Breath caught in her lungs, she gathered all her powers to speak. ''W-who are you?! Why are you doing this to all these innocent people?! There was no point in doing that!''
Puppetmon blinked, then he burst into another madly laughter- he laughed so hard, his body fell on the floor as he held his stomach between his arms, ''This is hilarious! I can't believe it!''
Effy pouted. ''What is it you find so amusing?!''
''You!'' He pointed a cracked finger at her as he stood back on his two little feet, ''Noble, aren't you? So noble, that you're not even asking the reason for you being attacked in the first place!''
Effy flinched in her place, ''As if you'd tell, anyway.''
''Hmm? And maybe I would have! If I'd find it entertaining in a way.'' Puppetmon grinned.
Effy frowned and shove him over her. Not entirely grasping the courage that took over her, she grinned. Her voice was neither stable nor confident as she spoke, but it was loud enough to reach his ears.
''Sorry. I'm not good at putting a good show, you see? You'd find out that dragging me with you will become quite the boring journey.''
''Is that so?'' Puppetmon laughed again, ''Then... maybe we should end it right here-'' , ''Effy!''
''Hah? Tai?!'' Not entirely understanding what's going on, Effy's look turned to the familier faces.
''Effy! Stay away from them!'' Tai gasped. Effy blinked.
''Tai... Agumon...'' She gaped, ''Why are you here?''
''Well, to save you, obviously!'' Tai quipped.
Effy pouted, almost bursting into tears as she yelled, ''What kind of answer is that?! Are you out of your mind?!''
''Hah?'' Both Tai and Agumon blinked.
''I've never asked your help! I- '' , ''But, Effy, these are Puppetmon and Andromon! You can't fight them- they're terribly dangerous!''
''I... I don't care!'' She couldn't hold back her tears, ''Please... if you care for me... then leave. I don't want... to drag you too into this.''
''Effy...'' Tai murmured softly. This reminded him of Kari when she said to him to save Effy from six months ago.
''Effy... I know how you feel, but we can't turn our backs on you! The idea of you getting hurt is not acceptable by any chance! Right, Tai?!'' Agumon clenched his fists.
''Right! Effy, you don't have to worry about us, we'll be fine!'' Tai's voice was loud and clear, ''We are strong! And we'll beat the hell out of them!''
Effy narrowed her eyes in confusion, ''But... why?''
''What do you mean by asking 'why'?'' Tai frowned at that. ''Because you would have done the same if you just could, Effy.'' He said with utter honesty.
Puppetmon's giggle grew into another uncontrollable laughter.
''Have you said that you're gonna beat us?! Well, maybe you can do this with that piece of junk over there,'' He pointed at Andromon, ''But I'm not gonna let you win this! This shall be my victory!''
Tai turned to Agumon, smiling brightly, ''We'll see about that, right Agumon?''
''Right!'' He nodded.
''Alright! Come on, Agumon,'' Tai picked up his flickering digivice, ''Digivolve!''