I know this has been a long time coming, and to those following the story please forgive the delay. Things had become hectic and my passion for writing had literally took a nose dive and crashed. Thankfully though from the ashes, it has been reborn. Chapter 7 is ready to go. I hope you enjoy.
Unfortunately for the Digi-destined and everyone else enjoying the weekend, Monday soon came along bringing along a new week for them all, though for the ever excited Yolei it meant one week closer to the coming Winter Ball that she and the committee had spent so long trying to get organised. Posters decorated the walls all through the school and it seemed to be the topic of conversation for most students that were attending. Walking through the halls after the school day had finished, Yolei was going to her locker to get rid of her class books, and take out the homework she had to finish off that evening. It was a pain in the ass considering she and her sisters were planning on going to the movies that night. It looked as if that plan was down the drain. Still, going to the movies with her two sisters wasn't always a good thing. The three of them had completely different tastes. Her sisters didn't like science fiction like Yolei did. Sometimes the three would compromise and just choose a random movie, but nine times out of ten that movie was something Yolei had little interest in watching. Homework was becoming a much more appealing evening activity.
"Penny for your thoughts Yolei." The brunette haired child of light said from Yolei's left as she turned to see Kari open up her locker and put her books away and bring out her satchel bag, checking everything was in there. "I'm going to guess you're thinking about the upcoming Winter Ball or movie night with your sisters."
"Both actually, though movie night more. I have a tonne of homework and there aren't many movies I'd want. None that I'd love to see with my sisters." Yolei responded before shutting up her locker and making sure it was locked up. She slung her bag over her shoulder and made sure she had everything. "Unfortunately Ken is busy tonight so I can't ask him to come with me. I don't suppose you'd like to join me. It would certainly help."
"Sorry Yolei but I can't. I'm having dinner at T.K's tonight." Kari responded, and she saw the gleaming look on Yolei's face as she admitted that small fact about having dinner at T.K's house. She grinned widely, causing Kari to simply shake her head and chuckle. "Don't get ideas, it's just dinner."
"Sure, you say that now but what about after dinner? Will the two of you be left alone?" Yolei asked before closing up her locker and placing an arm around Kari's shoulder, bringing her in close in an almost suspicious manner, like the two were planning something major. "Dinner is done, T.K's mother… wait who's going to be there?"
"T.K's parents, Matt and Jun." Kari answered before ducking away from Yolei, letting the girl's arm drop and with another smile Kari shook her head. "There won't be a chance for us to have some alone time."
The comment caused Yolei to groan before she shook her head in amazement. Closing up her locker and slinging her school bag across her shoulder, Yolei caught up to Kari and walked side by side away from school. "I think it's going to be another night of homework for me." Yolei stated as they left the school building and out towards the front gates. Some of the remnants from the fight still remained. Rose bushes had bloomed unexpectedly in the weather and they had rooted themselves in the ground. It was a terrifying reminder of what might have happened, and since they showed up everyone was a little on edge. Even those who weren't Digidestined had grown weary of the presence of rose bushes.
The sight of the roses caused Kari to think back to the fight, and of Hana. "I wonder how she got on." Kari said though she didn't realise she had said it out loud until Yolei looked in her direction, guessing what she had been thinking.
"I heard she had a good day. The boys seem to like her."
"Yeah… wait Hana?" Kari looked to Yolei, catching her gaze before nodding her head. "Oh yeah… I didn't realise I said it out loud." Kari stated before shrugging her shoulders and looking to her digi-vice, checking the time and knowing that she would have to get home if she wanted to change. She was about to say something before they both noticed the same red haired girl walk up with a sigh on her face, and her bag slung over both shoulders. "Speak of the devil." Kari said with a smile on her face, hoping to reassure the girl as she came closer. "How was your first day Hana?"
"Okay I guess… it was a little weird though. Knowing everyone and then having to pretend that we only just met." Hana continued before shaking her head. "I hope Gennai manages to come up with a solution or I'm screwed." Hana explained seeming to shift from acting like Hana to acting like Davis, even if it was just for a few simple words. "I can't believe the amount of times I was asked to the Ball. I don't even know if I'm going yet. I've got nothing to wear!" she exclaimed before groaning and looking to Yolei and Kari. "I don't know how you do it."
"Welcome to our world." Yolei said with a small giggle before giving Hana a reassuring hug. "Why don't you come shopping with me tonight, we can find you something to wear for the ball. As you're stuck like this, we can always get you prepared for anything." Yolei suggested with a smile, the idea more appealing to her than going to the cinemas with her sisters or doing her homework (even if the latter was more important).
"I don't even know if I'm going to the ball though, I was hoping that this would be sorted out by then." Hana explained with a sigh, though if it got her away from the house then she might be willing to do it. "Let me see if Jun has any plans for tonight." She added, though when she mentioned that, Yolei and Kari glanced to one another, a little nervously. They were both wondering if Jun had told Hana anything about the coming evening. Maybe she had and Hana had forgotten it, but if she hadn't."
"Hana… Jun is having dinner at Matt's home." Kari stated, and as Hana was getting her mobile out she paused before looking to Kari, staring at her for a moment before nodding her head.
"Oh yeah she said she was going out for dinner." Hana's tone was a little less jubilant than normal, but she nodded her head again before putting her phone away. "House to myself then, I might as well make the most of it." Hana responded before smiling. "I'll see you girls tomorrow." Hana finished before waving good bye and walking from the school gates and away towards home.
Yolei and Kari simply stood there and watched. Yolei was confused, there was a sudden change of… personality. Or at least it felt like a change in personality. Kari was worried though. It almost looked as if Hana was upset at something. Maybe she didn't like to be left alone without anyone around. But she still had Demiveemon who could help out if something went wrong.
Letting out a small sigh, Kari turned to Yolei and nodded her head. "I'm going to head home. I need to get ready for tonight."
"Send me an email of how it goes, I want to hear everything Kari." Yolei responded before hugging Kari and stepping back. "I'm going to get some stuff from the store and then head home to start on my homework."
"Have fun."
"Same to you Kari." The pair shared a wave before they went their separate directions away from the school.
-X-
Darkness surrounded the chamber, broken only by the glow of runes floating in the air. They were tapped in quick succession, a code being entered without haste. Venusmon sat at her throne, manipulating the data around her towards one single goal: to control what is rightfully hers. The plan to change the blonde and capture him hadn't failed like her sisters had believed. In fact it had worked out well. They had another person to use for their plans that could be the perfect bait. They wouldn't go to the human world, soil themselves with its impurities. Instead the targets would come to them. Since learning the effects of the Conversion Ray Venusmon had been intrigued. She hadn't considered the possibility that it would change the body in more ways than one.
Data.
Data was the key to bringing their plans to fruition. Now all that remained was to program every little aspect of that and turn it to her cause. Venusmon watched as the code was spread on the front. She had created her own version of what humans called a computer. The runes acted as keys, they floated in front of her and the mirror was the perfect monitor. Venusmon could monitor the effects of the data manipulation as they happened in real time. It was just a case of making sure that the correct sequence was entered, and the prophecy would take place.
"Do you still believe that the plan would work?" a chill voice rumbled from the darkness of her chambers. Fingers froze in mid-air as Venusmon realised that she was not alone. They started to tremble, and slowly they lowered away from the runes in the air before she swept them away. Venusmon was thankful none of her sisters were present. She didn't want them to know that she was working with another Digimon outside their circle. Someone that could make or break her plans.
"Marsmon." Venusmon breathed, the voice had been a stranger to her at first but with some clarity it resolved itself and Venusmon knew where she had heard it before. It was an ominous voice, something that she didn't want to hear anytime soon, but knew that sooner or later, her erstwhile brother would appear. She had shed all ties to the Olympus 12 when she and Dianamon decided that their plans to protect the Digital World were slow acting, and not for the better of all Digimon. "Say what you have come to say and then be gone! I have no time to deal with you."
"The plan shall fail. The prophecy is incomplete. You cannot know what the rest states, so why do you still insist on seeing the plan to its fruition?" Marsmon asked as the form of a panther-man emerged from the shadows and stood behind Venusmon, looking at her through the mirror with his arms crossed. His cloak bellowed from behind and his feet were planted together. His face wasn't angry though, he was more concerned for Venusmon more than anything.
"Because unlike you and the others, Dianamon and I see that something has to be done."
"The digital world has been through its longest era of peace for as long as we can remember." Marsmon stated flatly in response before shaking his head. "You threaten that peace with your own misguided sense of duty."
"Misguided?" Venusmon swept herself up from her throne before turning on Marsmon, her fists clenched and ready. Despite her attacks being used to pacify her enemies, she will have no problems taking on Marsmon and fighting him if it means that she can carry on. "You call them misguided? I prefer to see them as a possibility. Yes, something could happen. The plan could fail and you can say you were right. But I would discover that they fail from doing something, rather than just remaining inactive and doing nothing!" Venusmon hissed before watching as Marsmon shook his head and turned his back on the Digimon.
"Pathetic." He muttered and started to walk back towards the shadows. "I shall not try and stop you today, but if you persist with this plan then the others shall not be so lenient." He finished and before Venusmon could say another word he disappeared into the shadows and was gone.
Venusmon was trembling at that point. If Marsmon could enter her sanctuary then the others could bring the walls crashing down on her without breaking a sweat. Maybe she… no. Venusmon was going to continue with the plan. She wasn't going to back down. She had done too much to stop now and she had with the others by her side they would succeed. They just needed to make sure it went according to plan. Nothing could stop them, nothing will stop them.
Returning to her throne and the console; the data she was manipulating was looking back at her. She finished it off. This was all that remained. Everything else was just falling into place.
"They won't stop me Olive." Venusmon said to the dove sitting above the mirror, looking down and watching her. "I won't allow them to."
-X-
Back in the real world; Hana was working at her desk on the homework given. One of the good things about starting over at school as a new person meant that there was less homework. Teachers were willing to be lenient to help a student catch up with the criteria that was on offer. Hana had made good progress though. With three pieces done and another two to finish then there wasn't much left to do.
For her first day, it had been a little strange. As she had said to Kari and Yolei; Hana had encountered people that she knew quite well and yet had to pretend that they had only just met. More than once Hana had almost blown her cover by revealing something that had been said to Davis in secret. It had been difficult, but not impossible to cope. Now that the day was done, Hana was able to at least try and relax. She had changed out of her uniform, and into one of Jun's old dresses. It was again blue. The skirt had reached down to her knees and the dress had long sleeves that helped in the cold night. She had a pair of thick leggings on, and her slippers as well. Taking a break from the work for school, Hana sat back and looked towards the pair of goggles that were given to her when she first entered the digital world as Davis. They still kept their sheen and took pride of place on the desk. Picking them up, Hana looked at them with a curious eye. As they were the goggles wouldn't stay on her head, but with a bit of adjustment they'd fit. Starting to fiddle around with the straps, Hana smiled and managed to get them fitting snuggly against her forehead. Remembering what Malise had said in regards to wearing the goggles, even as a girl, Hana turned her computer on. Malise showed her a few fashion ideas and while she had never really taken much interest, Hana did want something of her former life. Something that would help her move on if the worse should come. The goggles had been with Davis since the beginning, and Hana felt they could help her out in much the same way. It was a small piece of something natural that would help her through a very unnatural time.
"Hey Hana, what are you doing?" Demiveemon said from the bed, looking through a magazine about soccer that he had found underneath the bed.
"Just looking for something Malise showed me." Hana answered as the computer was fully awake and the internet available to access. She typed in everything she could remember about the styles and fashion, though they were a little vague. Hana wished she had Malise close by so she could ask. Maybe they'd have to go shopping one day to find what she needed in person. As she continued her search, Hana paused as an email alert flashed up, though the sender was unknown. The subject title was particularly ominous:
"I know your secret."
Hana was a little unnerved, but she didn't let it get to her too much. Thinking that it might have been a joke sent by Yolei to keep herself from getting bored Hana opened it, hoping that there would be a good joke. As soon as it flashed up there was a continuous beeping noise. "What on earth?" Hana asked before she froze. She froze, and as Demiveemon looked to the screen, he became frozen as well. Neither could move, both just sat at the screen as if in a trance.
The beeping eventually stopped, but by then the damage had been done. Little did Hana or Demiveemon know, this was just the beginning.
-X-
After finishing her homework, Yolei had decided to go and see if Hana wanted some company and decided to take a few essentials. She had invited Mimi, but she was seeing Joe that evening. It seemed everyone was having dinner that night. If Ken wasn't busy then Yolei probably would have been spending time with him and his parents or vice versa. It was just one of those things, though odd that it was happening on a Monday evening. Yolei had always considered them to be better suited for a Friday or Saturday, but everyone was different and she wasn't going to dwell on it too much.
Walking up the steps to Davis' apartment; Yolei had a bag of snacks in one hand, her backpack filled with DVD's to watch over her shoulder, and she was holding Poromon under her other arm who was fidgeting, trying to get free.
"I thought you were too tired to fly Poromon." Yolei said while trying to keep herself steady despite the in-training Digimon's movements. Poromon was getting restless and in the end Yolei moved her arm out so he could fly around, and it looked as if he was glad to be out of there. "I'll remember this the next time you're too tired to do anything."
"Sorry Yolei, but you know some people still don't like the idea of Digimon." Poromon commented, and Yolei had to agree to the comment. Despite the change in the world, some people still didn't mix with Digimon. It was sad to think that after everything that happened there was still some distrust between the two groups. Of course some Digimon had been the cause of some destruction in the world, but humans were no better.
"I know, hopefully in the future things will be better." Yolei commented before smiling to her partner and walking towards the Motomiya apartment. "I hope Hana likes the surprise." Yolei said, changing the topic of conversation to stop the mood becoming more melancholy.
"I'm sure she will. Davis always used to and despite the gender swap she's still the same." Poromon responded with a smile on its face. Yolei returned the smile, though it wasn't as hopeful as Poromon's. Yolei had noticed that Hana wasn't as confident as she could be. Maybe it was just because of the transition from male to female, but even so it shouldn't have taken that much out of the girl.
Stopping outside of the apartment door, Yolei was about to knock until she heard her Digivice ping. Fishing it from her jacket pocket, she looked at it, finding that there was a portal opening, and it was coming from inside the apartment itself. "Not good." Yolei breathed before knocking on the door, hoping that Hana would answer the door and it would just be a false alarm, a glitch, anything that meant Hana wasn't going to the digital world alone. After a few moments, Yolei knocked on the door again, before stepping back and looking through one of the windows to the side. The lights were still on, but there was no movement. The Digivice still in her hand, Yolei checked it again before looking to Poromon. "No good, the portal has gone. We need to get the others." Said Yolei as she put her Digivice away and took out her phone. Jun was at T.K's house, and she had a key. The same with Kari and T.K and they'd be able to help the most.
"Who are you calling? Izzy? Joe?" Poromon asked as Yolei took her time going through the list of numbers.
"They'll be next on the list, and though Mimi won't like us interrupting her and Joe's evening, this is an emergency. We need to get hold of Jun, and though I don't have her number, I do have T.K's number. Jun's going to be there." Yolei explained before finding the number and holding it to her ear.
-X-
At the Takaishi residence, dinner had just finished and everyone was in good moods. The chatting between friends, partners and the three couples (though one being unofficial) were having a wonderful time together. The smell of cooked pork and rice was circulating around the apartment building and it was quite an inviting smell for anyone walking by, despite the fact it was a private matter.
Around the table, T.K, dressed in a black long sleeve shirt and pair of black trousers was sitting next to Kari who had dressed in a pair of fitted jeans, a pink blouse and black jumper. Matt was in similar attire to T.K though with a white shirt and black jacket was next to Jun who was dressed in a blue jumper dress with long sleeves to keep herself warm. Nancy and Hiroaki had come from work and didn't have a lot of time to change, but no one seemed to mind at that point. They were enjoying the evening and having a wonderful time.
"That was a fantastic meal Ms Takaishi." Kari commented as she put her knife and fork down. The meal was chicken parmagan and there were empty plates all around the dinner table. Wiping her mouth of the sauce she looked to T.K and the others, smiling. The Digimon partners were all eating in T.K's bedroom, having their own dinner and keeping out of the way of the others for the evening.
"I'm glad you liked it Kari." She responded before picking up some of the plates along with Hiroaki before taking them to the kitchen and preparing them to be washed up at a later time. "We have sundaes for desert." She added before Hiroaki added the other plate into the sink and stepped back before gathering the items for the sundaes. The phone started to ring at that point though nothing thought anything of it. Nancy went to get it, she laughed at a joke while on her way.
"Good evening, Takaishi residence… oh hello Yolei. Yes they're both here, would you like to speak to her? Okay I'll get her." Nancy paused, a confused look on her face as she looked to the table, directly to Jun. The four of them were all looking to the phone as soon as Yolei was mentioned. "Jun, it's Yolei. She'd like to speak to you." Nancy commented, holding out the phone for Jun when she got up from the table.
"Hello." Jun was a little worried. Yolei must have known that she was having dinner and so this should only be an emergency. "Hold on… what do you mean a bright light… oh my." The last part was said in a gasp as Yolei explained everything that had happened.
