My Brother
Chapter XI: Out To Lunch
...If this what being a strategist is like...
...Sun Zi had the easiest job on Earth.
Things have really quiet for the past month, I really don't like that. I've been expecting Ken to show up and do...SOMETHING for weeks now! Either he's waiting for us to drop our guard or...He's up to something big.
My "strategizing" has been limited to "attack that" and it's...pretty much not really needed. Kunemon and I...we're moral support and I'm there to share Pre-Kaiser Ken stories. The others are actually quite curious about what he was like. Nothing bad, of course. I refuse to tell any bad or embarrassing stories about my little brother, no matter how much Daisuke begs for them. Most of it has been things like how he helped me walk again (Iori was especially surprised by that one, he really...doesn't like Ken because of what he's done as The Digimon Kaiser). I showed them a picture of Ken when he was younger, the two of us together shortly after I got my cane...Miyako said Ken looked adorable at that age...And Daisuke did not like the fact that Hikari agreed. Ha ha ha!
I also spoke to Iori a bit...He read the Art of War as part of his kendo training. He's...amazingly knowledgeable on it, I-I was shocked! And, with kendo, he showed me a couple techniques for self-defense at one point. My cane makes a good bokken, I guess.
...I suppose I went into this taking "war with Ken" at face value. Half the time it's go in, take out a tower or two, have a picnic, Kunemon eats his twice weight in junk food...
...No, seriously, I once weighed him before and after eating. H-How do Digimon do that?
Koushirou did get me one of those email devices the others have. The new generation got one with their digivices (it stores their Digimentals, it seems), which I have learned are also called "D-3s" for reasons I must be constantly reminded of...Ryou Akiyama was the computer genius, not me. What the hell happened to that guy? One minute, he's Ken's friend, the next...Boom! I'm hit by a car and Ryou's never seen again...
...Which sometimes worries me that he may not have been real and my brain damage joke is...spot on, let's say. I...should really ask Ken if he remembers him at some point.
"...Osamu?"
I look up from my book. I've been doing some non-college related reading to relax. I'm on break for summer a little earlier than the others. "Yes?" Mom is standing at the door frame. It's about time for the daily Ken Update...It's getting harder and harder to explain why this is taking so long.
"...What's happening with Ken?" ...She's still the only one who knows about The Kaiser outside of the others, even though Dad is...really beside himself at this point with Ken being gone. We both agreed that Dad would...have us sent to the mental hospital if we even tried to explain this to him. And Minomon would...break his brain. All he knows is that I'm too old to play with 'worm dolls' and doesn't like that I carry one around at all.
"...It's...going slowly." No shit. Ken's been gone for almost two months, now! All I can give my Mom for an update is mostly variations of 'Ken isn't hurt, just reluctant to come home.' She's actually showing this much interest in Ken for the first time...Ever, pretty much. She did go to his room and...
...She and Dad had a talk, they both realized what they'd been doing. We all talked about it, actually. I told them, no more putting me ahead of Ken...And I expressed to them how upset I was about their TV interviews. They both...realized how upsetting that must have been for Ken and how unfair it was to him.
Also, I made it perfectly clear: I take vicodin, not "special aspirin." I told them how much Ken hated that, how he felt like they thought he was an idiot...I didn't tell Mom he took them, of course, but...He's now allowed to give them to me if I ever need them and can't get them on my own...
...I might even try to arrange for that when he gets back. Just...so he knows for sure.
"...Tell him we're sorry, the next time you see him." Mom says. "I...I guess it was all because...Osamu, when you nearly died, we...we focused on you so much because we were so scared. Even when you woke up, you came so close to dying just from your injuries. ...We...appreciated the miracle that you lived."
"I know, but...It wasn't fair to Ken," I say. "He's...really messed up because of it, Mom. This whole 'escaping to another world' thing... There, he's the greatest. No-one questions that...No-one dares to claim otherwise. He gets...the attention he misses here. He gets a world without me to overshadow him."
"Please, Osamu, try to bring him home soon." Mom's starting to tear up already...She does almost every time she asks, now. ...Two months is...too long. I really thought we could have done this quickly, get Ken home within a few weeks...
...But Ken has to want to go home, first.
"I will, I promise," I nod. My Nintendo DS Communicator (my nickname for that device the others have) goes off next to me. I flip it open. "...Invite to go to the Digital World for lunch in a couple hours." I look to Minomon. "Minomon! Up for lunch?" I don't really need to wake him, the word 'lunch' does that for me.
"...Lunch?" Minomon perks up. "S-Sure...When?"
"Digital World, couple hours. I'll be ready to go in a couple minutes." I type up a quick response. Another Digital World picnic...I actually really like that place when it's not breaking my brain. Which it does very, very frequently...Just, some of the things I see in there or even the digimon themselves...Really, it's...INSANE!
Mom gets up. "Have fun. It's just lunch, right?"
"Of course," I nod, she leaves after that, closing my door. I change to get ready for the trip to Odaiba.
...Probably not just lunch, I've gotten used to how these things play out...Go into the Digital World, cue Ken doing something evil (or, rather, whatever Digimon he sends after us, he hasn't made any real appearances lately), the others shout 'Digimental Up,' we win and The Digimon Kaiser would have gotten away with if it weren't for us meddling kids...
...Seriously, being a Chosen Child is pretty much wake up, go to school, save the Digital World. This "war" is...less intense than I expected, save for one or two "Kaiser Freak Out" incidents in the beginning. We just liberate territory. I have made some suggestions of strategic locations to liberate and paths to take, though, just to throw Ken off when he sends his digimon on us. Make noise in the East, attack in the West. That sort of thing...Nothing really advanced, I was amazed Ken fell for some of it...
...Actually, he probably didn't. He's...got that 'Chimaeramon' or something on his mind right now, I think. The others agree, but...We have no idea what he could be up to beyond the name. It still wouldn't surprise me if something big happens soon. Especially with the extra Digimentals popping up...Daisuke got the Digimental of Friendship during the incident with Agumon...
...Ken got a bit of a...drop on them just before that. I found out a little later that he sent a Flymon after them, even managed to almost kidnap Patamon. They thought the Flymon was, well, my partner. It wasn't until they noticed the Evil Ring...
...Ken is definitely "The Next Ichijouji Genius." He definitely has advantage over me when it comes to knowledge about Digimon and the Digital World...I'm still confusing names when it comes to the others' Digimon and their evolutions.
I wonder if I'll get a Digimental... And what Kunemon could evolve into. I can't even begin to imagine. V-mon into Fladramon made sense, little dragon to big armored flaming dragon. V-mon into Lighdramon... ...Little dragon into...ride-able lightning dragon-horse or something... ...Eh, sorta makes a little sense...Maybe...I think...
...Then again, we have a little pig-bat that turns into an angel, an armadillo that turns into a mole-beetle-robot-drill-THING and a submarine! ...I should just stop thinking when it comes to this sort of thing. You win, Digital World, you've broken Osamu Ichijouji's brain! Ken, how can you understand that place?
I finish changing and take Minomon in my arms, making sure I have my digivice, DS communicator, pills, wallet, train pass...I'm good.
I was expecting a picnic. Nope, we're at a place called "Digitamamon's Diner," not that I'm complaining at all. The food is actually really good. Just like stuff from Earth! I split a pizza with Kunemon. I offered to share with the others but...They reminded me that Kunemon would probably eat most of it. And he did. That's sort of how everyone's orders went: Digimon got the bigger portion...It was fun to see Daisuke and V-mon argue over who got the last slice of their pizza. Ha ha ha! In the end, they both had a grip on the slice...And Armadimon came between them, let's say. Ha ha ha!
I'm standing with Miyako at the register...Digitamamon is...An Egg with dinosaur-like legs and... ...A crack in his shell, I can see two yellow eyes but...
...Digimon. Are. WEIRD!
"The total is Nintey-six dollars," Digitamamon says. ...Dollars?
"What's...that in Yen?" Miyako asks.
"Ninety-six dollars," Digitamamon replies. ...This is not good...
"But...We don't..." Miyako your expression matches what I'm thinking: Oh, shit.
"So you can't pay for your meal...?" Digitamamon frowns.
"N-No! We have money! See?" Miyako opens her wallet. "Can't you take Yen?"
"No! Dollars only! Anything else is just paper!" ...Why are DOLLARS the dominant currency in-...For that matter, this...is the only place where currency has even come up! ...Gods, this...this...THIS WORLD, I SWEAR...!
"But...We only have Yen-"
"You can work off the bill..." Digitamamon trails off.
Iori speaks up behind us. "We could do that, but we'd be here too long. Our parents would worry."
"Then you're skipping on the bill?"
"NO! Can't you take Yen?"
"DOLLARS ONLY!"
...Gods, help us...
The door opens behind us, I hear the bell over it ring. A girl with pink hair and a blond haired boy in a green shirt enter. "Hey guys!" ...Who are these two? Wait, there's...a plant-like Digimon... ...I-I remember the picture, but... Can't place the name...
"Mimi-neechan!" Miyako smiles, turning. "What are you doing here?" ...Mimi...Oh, Mimi Tachikawa, one of the original Chosen Children... And her partner is...Plantmon-No! Palmon! That's it!
"Koushirou found a Digital Gate that opened up in America, I came to the Digital World with my friend, Michael," she steps aside. ...America? ...United States, please tell me United States! GODS I HOPE YOU ARE FROM THE UNITED STATES-...Unless...
...Digitamamon only takes Canadian Dollars...
"Nice to meet you all," Michael smiles. "Oh, Betamon, come in!" ...I have to compliment his Japanese. I know Mimi's from Japan but...Excellent, Michael!
Behind Michael a little green frog-like Digimon hops up. "Heya!" ...Betamon?
The others group around and manage to steer the conversation back to our tables. I glance to Digitamamon, he stays by his register but he's eying us to make sure we don't try to skip out on the bill...I think when he heard the word 'America' he felt a little better about getting his money.
"Where'd you meet that Digimon?" Daisuke asks.
"Michael's a Chosen Child, too," Mimi says.
"Wh-What?" Takeru says as Michael holds up a digivice, one of the older models. "How did you become a Chosen Child?"
"In 1999, I saw a Gorimon in New York and...Summer of 2001, I got this digivice and Betamon as my partner." Michael motions to Betamon, he's on the table with Kunemon, they're chatting with V-mon and Palmon.
"So, there are Chosen Children outside of Japan..." Daisuke says.
"I wonder if there are others in other countries, too, if Digimon appeared everywhere that year, didn't they?" Iori says.
"Michael's so cool..." Miyako says, Daisuke and Iori give her an odd look...The look on her face screams 'Yay! Cute boy!'
Hikari speaks up, "That was after we beat Vamdemon, Digimon started to appear around the world."
"Yeah, I remember that..." Daisuke says. "Weird..."
"Jyou asked me if I had seen a Digimon before," I say. "He mentioned the Hikarigaoka incident for him and the others...I take it this is a requirement?"
"...I guess, now that I think about it," Daisuke says. "I was one of the kids Vamdemon tried that whole 'eighth child' thing on...I had no idea what he meant, I just wanted out of there!"
"...I was on a plane when it went down after that weird aurora appeared," Iori says. "A Digimon saved us." ...Wow... ...On the near-death-o-meter, I say plane crash beats Ichijouji hood ornament by a mile... ...I really owe Ken for that one. But, crap, Iori...
"I didn't see a Digimon, but...I was sending out emails when that weird Diablomon-thing appeared on the internet," Miyako says. "Osamu, what about you?"
"Osamu?" Mimi looks to me.
I bow my head. "Osamu...Ichijouji. I'm Ken's older brother...Sorry for all the, um, Kaiser problems."
Mimi smiles, that makes me feel better. "As long as you're on our side!" She says. "So, when did you and Ken see a Digimon?"
"...I didn't see a Digimon, but... ...Well, one day," ...The Digivice incident...Gods, I sort of wanted to avoid going into this, but... "Ken and I were in our room and...A digivice just popped out of the screen. I-I had no idea what it was but... ...I wanted to study it. I...told Ken not to touch it." I sigh. "I-I hate myself for what happened after that..."
"...What do you mean? Mimi asks.
"Ken...took it out of my desk while I was out of our room and... ...I opened the door, there was this flash of light and Ken was in the middle of the floor with the digivice. ...I-I don't know why, but I was so mad at him for doing that. I told him not to touch it, I thought he did something to it and that was the cause for that light... ...I-I took it back and screamed at him. I completely lost it. I don't know why anymore, I just did. ...I think, while I was gone, he went to the Digital World. Must have been for only a few minutes, though." ...I don't...want to mention hitting my brother like I did...I'm truly ashamed of doing that... ...And it's the main reason for my reluctance to hurt him in all this. I will never hit Ken again. I-I've never forgiven myself for doing that...Or for what I said to him...
"It's possible he was there longer than that," Takeru says. "For a while, the Digital World had a different 'time' than Earth. A few minutes on Earth were years in the Digital World. He could have been gone for months, possibly." ...Seriously?
"Really?" Again, this place...is beyond weird. "Either way, though... Ken never really forgave me for that," I sigh. "I-I overreacted and...It was just before the accident. I felt so guilty over it that when I got home, I gave the digivice back to him and apolgized. It was the first thing I did when we were alone in our room. He actually threw it back to me and cried. The reason was that Ken...um...wished I was dead for it and, well, right after he thought that..." I make the hand motion of someone walking on the table with one hand and then hit that 'someone' with my other fist. "You-know-what."
"...Dude..." Michael's eyes go wide.
"Explains the cane, doesn't it?" I chuckle slightly. "I don't blame Ken for wishing I was dead, and I know it didn't cause the accident but...He thought it did, he took it really hard back then. Cue 'Digimon the MMO' and..." I shrug. "I don't know how but he got the D-3 upgrade and then, boom! Digimon Kaiser! ...I really was not the best of brothers back then," I sigh. "I'm worried I'm part of why he's The Digimon Kaiser."
"Yamato and I had our fights now and then," Takeru says. "I never...wished he was dead or anything but...Brothers fight, it's what happens. We got over it. You, um, just had some...really bad luck, I guess."
I nod. "Ken blamed himself for the accident, I blame myself for the Kaiser. Fair trade, I think."
"Osamu..." Kunemon turns to me.
"Don't worry, Kunemon, I'll fix things. And I don't hold anything against Ken for that wish. I would have wished the same after...that incident, if I were him."
There's the sound of someone clearing their throat behind us. Ah, Digitamamon, good timing...Please don't accept Canadian currency only. "The bill...?"
"Oh, um...Dollars only, right?" Michael reaches for his wallet. "I can cover you guys, don't worry."
Everyone immediately gives their thanks.
Michael goes to the register with the rest of us and pays, Mimi has to chip in a little, though...I feel really bad for this, everyone kinda does. I don't know the exchange rate, but... ...We owe Michael and Mimi big time.
Miyako, though, looks really pissed at Digitamamon.
"Hey, wait, I remember you, now..." Takeru says. "My brother and Jyou Kido worked off a debt here, you were working for Vamdemon back then, weren't you?"
"You worked for an evil Digimon?" Miyako asks. Uh...Is this really a good idea, Miyako? Takeru?
Digitamamon stammers. "I-I was...a little wild back then, but...I-I swear, after The Dark Masters were defeated, I ran an honest business! Really!"
"So you're a good guy now," Hikari says with a smile. That seems to make Digitamamon feel better.
"Keep up the good work!" Mimi adds.
Everyone else gives a nod...Save for Miyako.
"Thanks, it's...encouraging to hear that," Digitamamon says, he's...somehow managing to blush through his shell...
"Dark Masters? Koushirou told me about those guys the other day..." Miyako trails off.
"I-I don't...like thinking about those days anymore," Digitamamon says with a sigh. ...Looks like I'm not the only one who regrets the past.
...Miyako, however, looks skeptical... Um, Miyako, please tone it down a taste?
"...Somehow, I don't think everyone understands me..." Digitamamon trails off. M-Miyako, just...try not to look so annoyed right now, please. Last thing I want to do is piss off a...giant...talking...egg...
...Again, I can't believe I just thought any of that. Brain's broken and I haven't even been here for more than a couple hours...New record, Digital World! New record! Be proud!
"N-No! We understand you!" Mimi says, quickly. She turns to Miyako. "Right?"
"Um...Y-Yeah!" Miyako...catches on, I think.
"And it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, anyway. Just...believe in yourself!" Takeru adds. Excellent damage control. Though, I'm sure he's being sincere...And I admit, I know where he's coming from with regretting the past, so...Digitamamon's not bad.
"As long as I believe in myself..." Digitamamon thinks. "...You're right! Thank you!" ...No, thank the Gods. I don't want to be washing dishes. Though I'm sure Kunemon would love the scraps left by other customers. He loves take out. I once snuck some food under the table for him when my family went out to eat at a restaurant a few weeks ago...
...My Dad did not like it when he saw I brought my "stupid worm doll" with me to the restaurant. "Osamu, you're too old for plush toys! Grow up!" Minomon really bothers him for some reason. I told him Minomon was a gift from Ken that reminded me of him, that was why I was carrying him around, for good luck and in hopes Ken would come home soon (Mom vouched for me, though I felt bad playing Ken's "runaway" status like that). So Dad didn't throw Minomon into a dumpster like he wanted to. Close one... ...Why is he so against plushies? Granted, I'm fifteen and much too old to carry one around but...I love my little Worm-plush-that's-not-really-a-plush-but-a-talking-data-based-lifeform-from-another-dimension! Why can't he...?
Michael starts to compliment Mimi after the bill is paid up, there's a loud crash outside...
...Ah, Ken, I was wondering when you'd show up! You missed lunch...And knowing you and your general evilness, you would have had some counterfeit cash for us to pay with! ...Or just dined and dashed, leaving us with the bill. Actually, that sounds more Kaiser-ish now that I think about it...
...Hopefully, it's him this time. I really...don't like his absence at all.
We hurry outside, the crashes are coming from near the lake...
...And out comes a gorilla was some sort of cannon for an arm...
...Okay, Digital World, you broke my brain twice! In one day! Within mere minutes of the first brain breakage! I'm so proud of you! NOW STOP DOING IT!
"G-Gorimon!" Michael shouts.
"Friend from New York?" I ask, tuning to Michael.
Michael nods.
"...One question: Did he climb the Empire State Building?" I ask.
"Actually, yes, he did," Michael nods. ...Wow. I-I...I was joking... ...No points for originality to you, Gorimon.
"It's got an evil spiral!" Daisuke shouts. "I-I thought those were just for ultimate level Digimon..."
"Ken must have a ton of them now, if he's using them on champions..." Iori trails off. Great, he controls Digimon without a Dark Towe-...Wait...Without a Dark Tower...?
"Kunemon?" I turn to my partner.
"Betamon!" Michael does the same...Great minds think alike!
"LOOK OUT!" Daisuke screams.
Michael and I turn, Gorimon's...aiming its arm cannon at us... ...Not. Good.
It fires off a laser blast. "CRAP!" I shout. Something charges past me...D-Digitamamon?
Digitamamon leaps into the air and...takes the full force of the attack...The poor egg is shot off into the air, taking off part of diner's roof with him! ...Digitamamon... Wow... Th-Thank you...Please be okay after that.
"V-mon!" Daisuke shouts.
"Let me handle this one," Michael says. "Betamon!" ...I'll let the pros handle this one. I...I want to check on something...
"...I'll go check on Digitamamon, see if he's...all right," I say, turning to Daisuke. He gives me a nod. I 'hurry' off as fast as I can in the direction Digitamamon flew off. Kunemon follows behind me.
"...Why are you heading off?" Kunemon asks. "I thought we'd help Betamon!"
"I want to know if Ken's near by..." I say. "And, also, I am worried about Digitamamon." I say, trying to keep up my pace. Limps make that hard but...Hey, that egg just took a laser blast for me, a little pain for me is nothing compared to that! Wait...
...That egg...just took...a laser blast...for me...
...THREE TIMES DIGITAL WORLD! NEW. FREAKING. RECORD!
Kunemon get fairly far out into the forest behind the diner when I hear Digitamamon's voice...
"Destroy...Chosen...Children..."
...I get the strangest feeling Ken's involved with his sudden desire to kill us.
Kunemon and I duck behind a tree. Digitamamon charges past us, back towards the Diner. "...Crap, I think there's an evil spiral involved here," I say, looking to Kunemon. "Evolve to Flymon and warn the others, okay?" I reach for my Digivice, holding it up. "I'll meet you back at the diner. Be careful, okay?"
"Right!" Kunemon gives me a nod and starts to glow. He evolves into Flymon and takes off at full speed...After that first flight we took, I'm perfectly comfortable with Flymon now. ...I-I actually really like flying with him and he offers to carry me a lot if he's still Flymon after a battle. I appreciate it and repay him with food at home.
...Though, he knows I'm still afraid of bugs, just not him. An incident with a spider on my keyboard last week confirmed that. I-I really hate spiders, more than most other bugs.
I continue looking around, I'm curious as to whether or not Ken is here personally...
I hear rustling in some bushes up head. "...Ken?"
"...Osamu?" I recognize that voice.
"Wormmon? You can come out, I'm alone." I say.
Wormmon crawls out from behind his hiding spot, he gives me a bow. "Good to see you again."
"Were you the one who dropped off that Evil Spiral?"
Wormmon looks away, sadly. "...I'm sorry."
"...Why did you do it?" I'm...surprised by this, but... ...I think I know Wormmon's answer.
"...It's...what would make Ken-chan happy." I thought so. "So, I did it for him," Wormmon looks...incredibly guilty for doing Ken's dirty work. "I-I...I want Ken-chan to be happy again, like before."
"...Before? Wormmon, um, how did you...meet Ken?"
"He came to the Digital World...He, Ryou and I went on an adventure together." ...Ryou?
"Ryou Akiyama?" ...Ryou was a chosen child? I thought he was just that computer nerd Ken met online...
Wormmon nods. "...Ken-chan...He was really young back then and...really kind, too. Then, when he came back to the Digital World, he... ...He was acting like The Kaiser."
"Was he...always like this or was it gradual?"
"He's gotten more and more like The Digimon Kaiser and less and less like...Ken-chan," Wormmon says. "I-I'm afraid, Osamu."
"Why?"
"Ken-chan's...I-I can't tell you because...I don't really know much about it but, he's been working on something. And...He doesn't eat or sleep that much anymore...I don't like that. It's because of what he's doing." Chimaeramon, I'm guessing. "He's...getting worse."
"...I see. And any mention of me?"
"...Nothing good," Wormmon shakes his head. "Except the few times he talks in his sleep...He apologizes a lot...He says 'it's my fault' a lot, too. H-He doesn't hate you, Osamu...I know it!"
"I know. And, what he's dreaming about, it's not his fault," I reply, I know exactly what Ken's dreaming about. "How is he getting worse?"
"He's scarier...I feel something dark about him."
"...Dark? What do you mean?"
"There's something really scary about him, I-I get chills sometimes," Wormmon replies, I see tears welling in his eyes. "I-I want to help Ken-chan...I want him to be happy again, like before."
"I want the same, Wormmon...I want the same so badly," I sigh. "I'm going to head back to the others, if they caught us talking..." I trail off. "I'll try to think of a way to help him. Good luck on your end, Wormmon. I think...we could work together, actually, now that I think about it."
"I think so, too," Wormmon nods. "Anything to help Ken-chan."
I nod. "Anything. Thanks again, Wormmon. If we meet again, there are a few things I'd like to ask you about."
"Thank you, I hope we see each other again...And Ken-chan is with us, instead of The Digimon Kaiser." Wormmon bows his head, he turns and hurries off. I turn and limp back to the diner, I hope Flymon and the others are okay...And that Digitamamon isn't hurt too badly in the attempt to get off the Evil Spiral.
...Evil spiral...
...Dark...
...At first, I figured this was Ken...Roleplaying, let's say. The spirals and rings did evil things, of course, but...I figured evil was just a name. But, Wormmon's use of the word 'Dark.'
I wonder, if this is...To use a video game example, games have "elements" like fire, water, lightning and things like that. Two common ones are "Dark" and "Holy." Given just the nature of the Digital World, I wonder if "Dark" is an actual force within this world, there is actually an evil energy or presence that can exist and influence or possess...
...It's a theory but, if Wormmon says Ken is getting "darker," I wonder if he means that... ...in the sense he's becoming more "evil" and gives off...
...A dark aura...
...Like that dream...
...Ken had a dark aura in my dream, the one I had after the accident... ...I know there's more to this. Is it possible Ken has some sort of "evil" within him? ...Is he possessed?
...This gives me something to think about back on Earth.
I had gotten back just as...Wow...
Miyako got a Digimental. Hakwmon armor evolved into "Shurimon." A plant-ninja...thing. Digitamamon was saved just as I got there. Flymon tipped off the others, thankfully. Kunemon was happy to see me, I had him in my hair again...He didn't miss me as much as that time I was captured, but...He missed me in those ten minutes I was gone.
We said goodbye to Michael and Mimi and returned to Earth shortly after. We're all gathered in the computer room at the school.
"What a day..." Daisuke says, rolling his eyes. "Can't go one day without Ken, can we?"
I shrug. "He hasn't made any appearances lately, I think he's up to something big. Takeru, you told the others about what we saw that day, right? When you and Pegasmon picked me up?"
Takeru nods. "Ken's base, yeah."
"I'm...thinking we might want to consider attacking it. Ken went from a little unstable to...quiet. I don't like that." I say. We haven't considered this until now because of how many Dark Towers and, we're sure, enslaved guards there are around it but...Given our number of Digimentals and how we can take on even ultimate level Digimon with them, I think now's the time we at least talk about it.
"I agree, but one problem," Takeru says. "The base is gone."
"What?"
"Koushirou told me the other day, Tentomon scouted out the area and...There's just a giant crater where it used to be," Takeru says. "He's on the lookout for...anything else like it but, we don't know at this point."
Ken's words come back to me, disc one or disc two? ...The base can move, obviously. "...Interesting, The Kaiser can move his base. So, if we find it again, we have to strike fast."
"Anything Ken can't do?" Miyako rolls her eyes. "A moving base, evil spirals that don't need a Dark Tower..." At this point, Dark Towers are more of a symbol of a controlled territory. "...We gotta figure out a way to end this."
"Agreed," I nod. ...Chimaeramon. I know what a Chimaera is, so adding -mon to the end of that word and knowing Ken's...off and on moments as the Kaiser or Ken Ichijouji, let's say, as well as Wormmon's worries...
...Something big is going to go down soon. ...And I'm worried Ken might overpower us. He loved playing the cool villain before, now he's...the villain scheming in silence. ...Yeah, this has me worried.
"We'll figure something out, 'til then we just try to liberate territories and free any Digimon under his control, I guess," Daisuke says. "And, hey, if Ken's busy with something it makes doing that easier for us." ...In theory, Daisuke.
"Either way, break is coming up and we won't be able to use the computer lab for a while," Iori says. ...Yeah, it's almost August. "I'm more worried about what'll happen when he can go unopposed." ...That will be an issue. The Digital Gate on Ken's PC is out...Koushirou tried, Ken's made it impossible for him to change the exit point and, quite frankly, with or without that trap still in place, we expect to be warped into a lava pit or the bottom of the ocean or something nasty like that.
We all go our separate ways, I head back to Tamachi with Minomon. I eat dinner in my room, a new habit started so Minomon can be fed easier...I guess part of Dad's problem with Minomon was rleated to the fact I kept taking "my doll" to dinner and "pretending" to feed him (I swear, i thought I had been more subtle about that). Mom's actually trying to give him nutrients instead of just junk food, too...I don't think Minomon knows the difference, food is food and wasabi is the devil's condiment.
I give Minomon a couple extra pieces of tonkatsu. "Thanks!" He inhales them, more or less.
"...We might go off on our own for a bit," I say.
"What?"
"Don't tell the others this but I spoke to Wormmon today...He's worried about Ken and 'darkness.' ...Does 'darkness' mean anything to you?"
"Darkness is bad," Minomon says. "There's things made of darkness in the Digital World...Scary things." ...So, Darkness is a force within the Digital World.
"I have a plan, when the others make their big move on Ken's base...You and I are going on a mission of our own. I warn you, it will be dangerous."
"Anything to help you and save the Digital World and Ken from The Digimon Kaiser!" Minomon does the closest he can to standing up straight like a soldier...And he falls into his rice bowl. "Augh...!" He looks up to me, covered in rice.
"Thanks, Minomon. I'll do my best to keep you safe...It, hopefully, won't involve fighting. I know you're strong but...Ken's stronger, unfortunately."
"A lot stronger... But not smarter!"
"...Depends," I nod with a chuckle. I don't want to claim to be the smarter Ichijouji...Even if I was trying to actually be humble, at this point it's up for debate which of us is smarter. We'll see how Ken reacts to my plan and find out for sure.
"What do you mean?"
"Ken knows a lot more about The Digital World than I do, for one." I say. "So, he's smarter in that regard...But there are subjects in which I'm smarter than he is. All in all, I think we're evenly matched. It comes down to who makes the boldest move."
"You'll do that!"
"I hope so," I smile again. "We'll save Ken, Minomon. And you and Wormmon can hang out together here...Wait... ...Minomon, when Ken first saw you, he thought you were Wormmon, right?"
Minomon nods.
"...Does this mean Wormmon evolves from Minomon as well?"
"Yeah, Minomon is the in-training for a lot of insect Digimon. Dokunemon, too!" ...Dokunemon?
I never thought I'd do this but...My turn. "...Whazzat?"
"A green Kunemon!" ...That's it?.
I nod. "We'll have to tie a ribbon on you or something to tell you and Wormmon apart," I say.
"Blue, please!"
"It's a promise."
We finish eating, I do some assignments at the computer while Minomon sleeps on my bed...
...Two Minomon...
...We're going to need to triple our food budget...
Ori's Notes:
I wanted to cover the Shurimon episode because of the "how everyone encountered Digimon" scene. And for the talk with Wormmon. I know, the whole "Osamu goes off and does his own thing" idea might not be all that good but...I'd rather not novelize an episode of 02 and just give Osamu's commentary, like in the restaurant scenes.
I also have to add, Mimi kinda pisses me off in this episode. You know how it ends with Sukamon and Chuumon showing up and asking Mimi on a date (in the subs, not sure about the dub)? And she punches them across the lake?
...That, I don't like. Why? ...Mimi, you remember the little mouse THAT TOOK A DAGGER IN THE HEART FOR YOU? Huh? Remember? Piemon? He points to you, saying, "You die now!" Dagger comes out of his sleeve, clown throws it at you, Chuumon sacrifices himself to save you? And that is how you thank him? Punching him and his buddy across the lake? ...Granted, I am in no way a fan of Sukamon, but Chuumon deserved better than that.
And, here's the thing: The little mouse's dying words in the Japanese version of Adventure?
"Mimi, when I'm reborn...Please date me..." ...Okay, a little random, but hey, Chuumon thought she was cute, obviously. His last words were a compliment to Mimi. Mimi, I know, you wouldn't really go after a mouse but...Split a sundae with him or something, make him feel a little loved? Make him happy? Show a little gratitude over the fact he took a dagger in the heart for you?
Seriously, Mimi, not cool...Just...Not cool. ...If it was just Sukamon at the end of that episode, I'd agree but...Not cool, Chuumon died for you! ...Granted, he exists in a world where death isn't exactly permanent but...HE DIED FOR YOU ONCE!
Next chapter begins the endgame chapters...Dun, dun, dun! Who will be the one to say Checkmate? The Digimon Kaiser or Osamu? ...Or...Neither...Instead...The winner would be...
...THE DARK MASTERS!
...No, not The Dark Masters...But it'd be awesome if they'd show up! ...Maybe.
Taiki's Notes:
And we have another successful rant from Ori, bravo! But, I agree, that is a bit cold of Mimi. I felt so bad for Chuumon when he died in that episode.
Mr. Ichijouji shouldn't complain about Osamu playing with plushes that talk back (and eat triple their weight in junk food), poor Minomon! And what could Osamu be planning? Ori, are you up to something there? That's never good! Well, never good for the characters, at least (Ori is horribly mean to his favorite characters at times - Just ask Takato and Kenta!). But good for the readers, I think!
-Taiki Matsuki