●LoveLESS○ - Chapter 7 - The Three Flower's Cottage

"I can't take it all the way off, just so you know."

LoveLESS had her cheek pressed against the tabletop and was peering up trying to get a glimpse at the underside of Neo's Mask. "Really? That sucks. Why? Is it like bolted to your face bones or something?"

Neo swallowed then slid the mask back into place. "I don't know, maybe it's a coding thing from whoever made me. I can only slid it up a few inches so that i can eat, that's it. I guess to you it seems inconvenient but it's my norm."

"Can I remove it? I mean cause you couldn't break your cell walls but I could, so could a human or another digimon remove it?"

Neo paused and did not answer right away. "I don't know, I'd rather you not try though. Sorry I feel. . . odd about it."

"You digimon sure have a lot of mask wearing types so maybe it's just an overall masked digimon sentiment not just a you're-weirdly-programed-thing." LoveLESS sat up and rested her chin on her hand while she took a sip from her straw. "Are they still sitting there?"

With a quick glance Neo replied, "Yes, the one with the laptop keeps looking over here probably because of me."

LoveLESS spun in her seat and set her legs up on the chair beside her; taking her glass, still sipping from it, and pretended to admire the scene before her. Really, she was watching the table with her peripheral vision.

Only the dark mass of hair from the laptop involved agent could be seen; he was completely consumed by whatever he was doing. The other man, a big larged broad backed man, and the two digimon were done with their meals and seemed to be waiting on the laptop user. She turned her attention to the scenery. the green canopy of the forest spread out before her and far away in the background lingered the sandy haze of The Basin. Several other platforms housing shops, cafes, and houses were visible below them.

Setting his utensils on his plate and nodding to the waitress, whose eyes still lingered on him, that they were ready to be cleared. Tap tap. LoveLESS fingertips tapped at the table top as she spun her tablet around, still facing out at the trees. In such surroundings, and definitely with such company around them, he could not produce his own air screen to hunt for information and they were looking things up with LoveLESS tablet.

"Seem like a small operation."

"Seems like they're hanging on," LoveLESS replied. "Tons of stuff on there about the UN guys wanting to move in and take over their area. Kinda weird that there's only two guys for all the UK."

"Looks like that's all they need. A lot of information about their skills and qualifications. That seems to be why they have the authority in three towns around here. Which means for you, that even if we lose this chance for you to have fun, they shouldn't be hard to find, or lure, if we stay in their monitored areas."

LoveLESS's eyes darted to Neo's and she chewed the end of her straw. "Good point, we don't even have to rush everything, let's go get a room and start with the lesson!" After they paid their tab with the waitress, Neo making sure to give her a nice tip, they quickly navigated to an impressive hotel called The Overlook. It was located lower in the town and built into one massive trunk with windows peeking out to take advantage of the view. There room was spacious with a large picture window with a window seat encompassing one entire wall. Unlike the Inn in Line in the Dirt it even had its own bathroom.

Once settled into their room they got to work on hacking. With Neo's help, they created several macros programs she could use with shortcuts to bring about quick mischief. Some were quick change texture and solidity programs and others were removal programs so they could remove doors, bricks, and windows in the flick of some keys. Her favorite program was a graffiti program that painted cursive script with moss on solid surfaces. Smiling she flopped down on the bed to stare at the ceiling. Their room was currently branded on the ceiling with her name in several different font types.

She rolled onto her side and took a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich. Their little lesson session had rolled on into another meal time and they had gotten room service from the grand hotels restaurant. She was currently working on duplication of food. So far she was making little progress and she decided it was time for a break. LoveLESS got food to look like food, but taste like styrofoam with the texture of jello. Gag inducing. All things considered, while not benefiting to their travels, it would make a nice prank, so she didn't consult Neo on this particular hack.

As the girl strolled away with her digimon in tow, Jacob finally let out the breath he never knew he'd been holding and relaxed into his chair. From the other side of the laptop screen he saw Lunamon's begin to peek over. She had mischief in her eyes and she quickly glanced at Marcus who was also grinning and giggled at Jacob. He took looked at Marcus, then at Gullimon, then back at Lunamon. Each one he gave a deep scowl to. "Shut the hell up, the lot of you."

"Mate, I didn't say anything," Marcus said with a broad grin. He reached over and slid the laptop over to him. "Now that you're not wasting time on the computer, attempting to sneak peeks at ponytail and leather-bound, let us do some actual business." With some quick taps of the keyboard he brought up their inbox where people of the towns they monitored would send them messages with complaints or observations. They also could monitor for alterations in data but it was often easier to have the digimon keep their eyes open for them.

"Hey, we got some notes for Line in the Dirt." Jacob, who had been slouched back in his chair sat up and snatched the laptop back. Four different messages were posted in the inbox from the inhabitants of Line in the Dirt. Complaints of pranks; floor boards causing digimon to fall through them and doors sealed shut as though nailed closed. As he read the complaints aloud Gullimon and Marcus were laughing while Lunamon pouted at the 'meanness' of such pranks. He snapped the laptop closed.

"Okay, I guess we get to take a trail ride, sort all this nonsense out," he mumbled to himself as he climbed to his feet. Marcus groaned as he settled the bill. They arrived at the platform just in time to hop the train. It was a very long train ride as the strawberry blonde refused to leave Jacob's head as he gazed at the passing scenery.

They stopped in at the Saloon in question and talked to the patrons to get the more details on the hacking incident. As Jacob walked along the wooden walkway his gaze went to the Inn across the street.

"We've never seen something like this so I'm sure whoever did this is someone new, someone who breezed through town. We should check their guest book," Jacob said as Marcus came to stand at his side.

Gullimon clomped up beside his partner and pulled at his sleeve. "Well if they were breezing through wouldn't that mean they were heading to the next town?"

"Ya but which way did they go on the rails?" Marcus asked to the group.

Jacob started across the street at a quick pace with the other following behind. "Well let's check out the Inn at least and get some more information," he called behind him.

A cheerful Armadillomon greeted them with a smile. "Hey guys! Are you staying in town tonight? The shoot off is going to start at sundown, you need a room?"

"No such luck mate, we're here on business. I'm sure you heard about the pranking that went on?" Marcus asked as they approached the desk.

Confirming that he did, he happily opened up his guestbook and showed him the signature of his last two guests. Neo and LoveLESS.

"Very nice guests! Very enjoyable." With the prompting of the agents he began to describe them. "Oh LoveLESS was this short little woman with strawberry blonde hair-" At the description Jacob straightened and exchanged looks with Marcus. "And Neo was a big tall virus digimon with a golden mask and golden claws. He looked quick frightening but he was ever the gentlemen, very nice mon." They bid him thanks and quickly exited the Inn.

"Well," Marcus said as he pulled out the laptop. "I guess we know where they were headed, time to hop back to the office then jump in at Tree Top again." Because they worked for a regulatory agency, they were allowed have programs that allowed jump backs to their office from any place in the digital world. Very handy for the busy agents. The two men and their two digimon quickly jumped through the laptop, having given Armodillomon instructions to send it to them CO The Overlook in Tree Top so they could pick it up, then jumped back into Tree top.

As soon as their feet hit the ground, Jacob pulled out another laptop and brought up their data programs to search for any hacking activities. "Oh ya, heavy activity over at The Overlook." snapping the laptop closed he led the way down the platforms and do the hotel.

Marcus followed behind him and chuckled. "You all worked up because it's our job or because you'll have an excuse to talk to the girl you basically stalked at the cafe?"

Jacob glanced back to give him a death stare as he pushed his way into the hotel. After confirming with the bell hop and getting their room number they started up the stairs to their third floor room. Flanked with Marcus with Lunamon on his shoulder on one side and Gullimon on the other side he knocked loudly on the door.

"RDS, open up!"

After a pause a response came through the door. "It's unlocked!"

Jacob grasp the knob, twisted, and pushed only to find himself face planted into the door. It wouldn't move. Irritation began to grow, especially when the giggle could be heard from the other side of the door. He angrily banged on the door once more.

"Oh, is the lock sticking? I don't know what to tell you, sounds like something to see the management for."

Marcus laughed and slapped Jacob on the back. "Last chance, or we're busting in the door." All he got in response was another giggle. Suddenly his foot fell through the floor and he found his whole leg had fallen through the now nonexistent floorboard he stood on. Marcus reached down and hauled up the smaller man. Jacob face began to color and he looked down to Gullimon. "Bust it down."

Marcus and Jacob backed up as Gullimon launched a fireball into the sealed door exploding it into the room. The occupants coughed as the agents slipped into the room. charred splintered pieces of wood littered the room. Kneeling on the bed was the strawberry blonde, LoveLESS, fanning the smoke from her face. Standing near the window was the tall virus digimon who was wiping dust off his chest.

"Property damage!" she choked out through coughs.

"Games over with all this bullshit!" Jacob yelled. "We're charging you with tampering with data, harassment, and hacking." He checked off the items on his fingers as he said them.

LoveLESS was not at all concerned at their entrance or the charges lobed at her. She soothed the dust from her dress and climbed off the bed. "Harassment?" she asked innocently.

Jacob fumed. "Yes, harassment of the citizens of Line in the Dirt and harassment of me with all your little tricks."

"It's okay to feel foolish, the one getting tricked always does." LoveLESS said as she slung her bag over her shoulder. "I have one more trick for guys who trashed my door."

Jacob wore a scowl. "What's that then?"

"This." With a quick glide of her fingertips on the tablet screen the large window vanished. LoveLESS turned around and grasp around Neo's neck.

Neo burst through the empty window frame with LoveLESS cradled against his chest. With on powerful pump of his crimson wings they were already 60 feet away from the building and soaring over the green canopy away from Tree Tops. LoveLESS hair was torn from it's ponytail and streamed out behind Neo. As the town recently receded in the background she cast one last look at the pair of agents. The larger man was bowled over laughing, the other looked beyond annoyed.

Slowly Neo descended to the canopy top, fanning out his wings to slow his momentum. He misjudged the severity of the situation, as they were not being chased, and the sped of his flight and instead of gliding through the limbs to the ground below he crashed through the limbs. He drew in his legs to shield LoveLESS as best as he could as he attempted to slow their crash. BAM! With one last crack of limbs they landed on the cool mossy floor. Leaves fluttered down around them and the smell of wet earth and fresh rain filled the air.

Neo's wings were bent and broken and he let out a groan as he unfolded his limbs. LoveLess sat at his side assessing the damage. In the fall her tablet had disappeared having been knocked from her grasp. Various lacerations covered his arms and legs but they were nothing when compared to those poor wings of his. As she brushed her hair from her face she found she was covered in sticky liquid, as well Neo.

"Hey!"

Both heads spun around to see three large angry-looking insect digimon advancing on them. A large gray with red marking insect digimon, the speaker, led the pack. On one side was an equally big red six limbed insect digimon with a large horn and the other a green humanoid insect with a large red tipped lance over his red shoulder.

"Eh! i'm talkin' to you, what's the big deal here busting up our party eh?" the large gray insect yelled.

Neo held out a pacifying claw. "I'm sorry I don't know what you are referring too. We kind of crashed, I didn't-"

The leader looked to his left and right followers shaking his head. "Oh, ya rights we'd believe that won't be bros? Just happened to fall out the sky right through our nectar batch, fuckin' right."

The red digimon spoke next. "Ya like we'd believe that right big brother okuwamon, we ain't saps. Right little brother?"

The green digimon met his brothers beady gazes. "Ya right megakabuterimon, I don't believe none of that crap." He brought his lance from his shoulder to rest in front of him in his hands, showing that it was that much closer to being in use. He seemed to lack the conviction in his voice that his brothers had.

The oldest, Okuwamon, slapped the youngest on the back, urging him forward. "Get at 'im Jewelbeemon!"

As Jewelbeemon approached him with his brothers in tow Neo had one concern in his mind, protecting LoveLESS. The only thing that came to mind was to toss her and hope that any landing would do less damage than rampaging digimon and that she could toss her far enough. He grabbed her with one golden claw and went to toss her only, when he thrust out his arm it disappeared. His arm was only visible up until his elbow, a faint electric discharge surrounding the area. To his amazement 50 feet away his lower arm along with LoveLESS clutched in his claw appeared, right where he was wish he could toss her. He had no time to ponder this as the youngest brother of the digimon launched at him.

Jewelbeemon slashed out with his lance. Neo rolled out-of-the-way and clambered to a kneeling position where he lashed out with his claw, "Stun Claw!", nailing the green digimon in the side and sending him flying several feet where he lay sprawled on the mossy ground apparently successfully stunned.

Enraged that this interloper would actually attempt to defend himself, the brothers launch out in a rage. Big brother came at him first attempting to catch him in his pincher claws. "Double Scissor Claw!"

Neo managed to escape his grasp only to be hit completely unprotected by the middle brother's attack. "Horn buster!" Bam! An electric blast of energy hit Neo square in the chest and launched him backward into the trunk of a large oak, cracking it. Groaning Neo hopped to his feet, adrenaline now flowing freely and launched a retaliatory attack at the middle brother. Ducking low he maneuvered around the large bulky brothers and launched out his claw at the middle brothers unprotected flank. "Guilty claw!" This sent the red digimon in a thick grove of underbrush to the sound of cracking limbs and crushed foliage.

By this time the youngest was back on his feet and he swung out an armored forearm at Neo nailing him against his entire right side and sending him flying in another direction. This time Neo was not quick enough in his recovery and got nailed right into the oldest brothers scissor attack. He let out a scream as his midsection was given a painful crush and raked at the brothers eyes with his golden claws to try and loosen his grip. Okuwamon cried out, raise Neo above his head and tossed him like a sack of potatoes.

Breath and blood flew from his mouth and the crimson liquid dripped down the bottom of his golden mask as his back slammed back into the ground. His wings were now blissfully numb but the pain was replaced by stabbing pain in his side from what must have been broken ribs and throbbing in his lower right wrist where it was twisted in an unnatural way.

"Hey! Y'all better knock that off!"

Neo strained his neck to the right to see a small fairy-winged digimon glide into view, her arms spread wide, floating between Neo and the imposing digimon. LoveLESS stumbled into view from behind a trunk and ran to his side while the digimon were held at bay. By the look on her face, his injuries must have looked even worse than they felt.

"It'll be ok right? I mean you guys heal up fast, like devolve and revolve and you're fine right?" The words were rushed out as she surveyed the damage.

Neo choked out a pained laugh and closed his eyes. "If... If I were a normal digimon, yes."

"And you're not, ugh..." As the two talked, the new comer scolded the insect digimons in a shrill commanding voice and sent them off before coming to rest at Neo's other side. Even though they were shooed off the group could be heard complaining loudly about the whole situation.

"Are you the waitress from the cafe?"

Neo cracked open his middle set of eyes to see it was indeed the little fairy digimon Lilymon. Concern was clear in her eyes as she too took in the damage. "Why aren't you healing?"

"I am healing..." Neo said through a pained voice. "I cannot devolve and revolve. Normally if a digimon is hurt severely they return to their original egg state. I don't have an egg state, I don't even have any devolution stages and not a mega level evolution. . . I was created not 'born' in the digital world sense..."After his explanation he closed his eyes again and relaxed against the cool but now blood spattered forest floor.

"What does that mean if you were to be fatally wounded?" LoveLESS asked.

"Heh, well it would be fatal wouldn't it? I suffer from the fate of all you humans, mortality. I will heal, am healing right now but I don't heal as fast as a normal digimon..."

"Okay, okay, stop talking. It sounds like each words you say is further shredding your trachea." LoveLESS said as she rested a hand on his arm. She turned to address Lilymon. "Thank you, thank you so much..."

Lilymon turned from the wreck that was Neo and gave LoveLESS a small smile. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that. Their called the bug brothers and they like to be jerks, especially the eldest is very aggressive. Because we all live here together in his area of the forest so we try to be civil and keep the peace. We have set boundaries for them and talked to them about their tempers but I guess..." she glanced at Neo. "They need more scolding..."

"We?"

"Oh, me and my sisters, Rose and Orchid. We live in a cottage just at the edge of this grove of trees. I was on my way home when I luckily came across you two." She tentatively touched Neo's other arm. "I can't leave you here, you two need to come to the cottage."

Neo shook his head slightly. "No, I said I'll heal. Just let us know where I can lay and bleed so as not to upset the bugs and we'll be fine. You've done so much already." Grunting with the effort and with one girl on each side he pushed himself to a standing position.

"You're kidding right? We'll gratefully accept. Please pardon any blood we get on your floor." LoveLESS said with forced sarcasm. Lily could see the concern that blanketed her face.

"So stubborn," she murmured. "Besides, I have to take care of my ample tippers if I'm going to make a living huh?" Lily joked as she slipped an arm around Neo's back. Her attempt to lighten the mood garnished a small chuckle from Neo.

Slowly and carefully the two helped Neo stumble his way out of the cluster of trees. A small thatched cottage unfolded into view. Unlike a typical fairytale cottage it was narrow and three stories tall with several balconies and large open doors. The stories were stacked lopsidedly like tiers on a wedding cake and got progressively smaller as they rose from the ground. Flowers grew in clusters from the various roofs and a sign above the large entrance door declared the cottage to be "Three Flower's Cottage." Lily called out to her sisters and two lillymon fluttered out from the second story balcony. All though all the digimons were identical one had a rose tucked in her hair and the other an orchid. Their mouths dropped open and Rose covered her mouth in shock. Without even demanding an explanation they rushed to Lily and Love's side and helped them get Neo into their cottage where he promptly collapsed on his stomach in their first story guest bed. As LoveLESS attended to Neo Lily explained things to her sisters.

LoveLESS bunched up a pillow and eased it under Neo's chin so he could be comfortable, his horns made it impossible to for his head to rest on it's side. Neo let out a relieved sigh and relaxed into mattress. Gingerly she lifted up his forearm and examined his twisted and disfigured wrist. "Do I need to set this? Do you even know how much help you need to heal?"

With his eyes still closed Neo replied. "I don't really know. I just know I'll heal faster than a human would. I don't think cleaning the wounds, putting bones back into place, and re-aligning things would hinder my healing." LoveLESS cringed at the imagery as the sisters re-entered the room. Rose was close to weeping at the sight of the battered Neo, Orchid looked livid and ready to fight the bugs, and Lily was the picture of calm and went to sit next to Love.

Gently she patted his shoulder and smiled. "We'll clean you up, get you on the right track to healing."

Neo eyes met Lily and tired and worn as he was, you got the feel we was grinning under the golden metal. "I tipped you well to be nice, but looks like you're really going to earn it huh?"

Lily giggle and blushed. Quickly the girls got things together and helped clean his wounds and Orchid realigned his wrist to the near vomiting of the other girls. Rose quickly set it while Orchid turned her attention to the bones of his wings; forcing things into place. Neo bore the rough treatments well enough, letting only the occasional groan out as he gripped the bedspread beneath him with his uninjured hand. Lily mixed up a salve with different flowers and plants and she and Love slathered the tattered remains of his wings membranes.

Sighing, Neo quickly fell asleep after the cares; a mix of exhaustion and pain overcoming him. The girls retreated from the room into the living room where LoveLESS collapsed into a large arm chair. She ran her hand shakily through her wind whipped hair. Tiredness started to overtake her and she felt shaky. Suddenly she jumped up, her tablet! It was still somewhere on the forest floor. Lily approached her and pushed her gently but firmly back into the chair and knelt before her and offered her a gentle smile. The fairy digimon reassured her that they'd find her computer for her and not to worry. She took LoveLESS's hands in her own and gave them a squeeze of reassurance. Knowing she wouldn't want to be far Neo, Lily and her sisters furnished her with a pillow and blanket and she quickly curled up in the armchair and fell asleep.

A/N - This chapter came in spurts, one part written, another part written, then woven together. Hence why it's so long. I could have flushed out more part of the story, but like I said it was already getting so long I decided not too. I already have a piece written for the next chapter as well that i have to work my self down too. Sorry it's been a little bit! Lots of working, I'm hoping to at least do a chapter a month. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, let me know what you think! Would you have liked me to flesh out some more of this chapter or was it long enough lol.

New digimon in this chapter - Bug brothers (order of age) Okuwamon, Megakabuterimon, and Jewelbeemon. Flower sisters (all lillymon) Rose, Lily, and Orchid.