Kako Mo Ima Mo Mirai Mo Kakenukero
Mirai II: Applicant (Yamaki-shitsuchou)
I need new glasses. It's been only two years since I got this prescription, but I can barely read this computer screen. Might help if I wore more than prescription sunglasses, too. It's what I prefer and what everyone at Hypnos expects. They make me look more distant - Fewer people bother me when I'm working that way, too. I hate being interrupted when I'm working on one of my side projects.
"Yamaki-shitsuchou."
"Reika, you don't have to be so formal after hours," I say, turning in my chair. Reika's standing in the door frame to my office.
"I know, but you have official business," Reika says, bowing her head. "They're waiting in the meeting room."
"Oh, it's time already?" I look over to the clock on the wall, squinting. Almost eight. I asked them to come by for a late meeting, I have a side project that takes up most of my time during normal hours...And most after hours. "Tell them I'll-" I go into a coughing fit.
"Y-Yamaki?"
"I-ugh-I-ugh-I'm fine..." I take a few deep breaths, reaching for a desk drawer for some pills. I accidentally knock over my cane...I've needed it for the past two years. My side project is...affecting my health.
...I don't care. I have to finish it, even if it kills me. I-I owe it to them. And to atone for... ...a number of file deletions, let's say.
I take two pills with some bottled water, picking up my cane. "Just...give me a minute. Get them some tea or something, I'll be there soon."
"Right...And, Yamaki...I think they understand, you don't-"
"Reika." I look to her. "I'm doing this...for more than just them."
"R-Right. Sorry, sir," Reika bows and leaves.
...I'm going to find a way to get them back. They did so much for us and we had to sacrifice their partners... ...I thought it would just be temporary, we'd get them back in a few months...
...It's been more than ten years. I...I know more than a few of them have given up or they think I'm not even trying. Ruki, especially. I don't mind the attitude or accusations that I'm doing nothing, because... ...If it's been this long, it's like I am doing nothing. We can send messages, they're fine, but...
...I owe the Tamers. And if it kills me, I'll find a way.
I start to get up from my desk and make my way down the hallway to the meeting room.
These days, Hypnos is dedicated to monitoring the relationship between our world and the Digital World as well as keeping the network stable. We've...had a few problems and it's damned near impossible to stop a rogue digimon through our current methods...That's the other reason - The Tamers really were the best defense we had. The Digimon, thankfully, managed to solve our problems on their end, but...It would have been a lot easier before our last ditch effort against D-Reaper...We should have tried harder then, instead of now.
I don't know about the others, but Rob McCoy is doing the same I am, not as dedicated but with similar results...Nothing.
I walk into the conference room...They're sitting at one side of the table, drinking some tea. They stand up and bow.
"...Don't," I say with a cough. They sit down, I make my way to the table, there's an extra cup of tea waiting for me with a file. "...Jenrya Li, age 23. You're almost done with college, correct?"
Jenrya nods. "Yes, Yamaki-shitsu-."
"Yamaki-san, please," I say. "No need to be that formal."
"Y-Yes, Yamaki-san," he looks to his father next to him. "M-My father also taught me a lot of what he knows, from back then as well as the nature of the programs he and the others created. I also had some data left over from before, Shibumi's codes from Blue Cards and things like that."
I nod. "That's good, we've had that data, too, but I didn't know anyone outside of Hypnos had it. Janyuu, how good would you say your son is?"
"Better than I am," Janyuu says. "Thank you again for arranging this meeting."
I look over Jenrya's file, it's mostly his high school and college records and anything else related to his training with computers. I set it aside. "...This is just a formality, Janyuu. I don't even need to look at his file. When you finish college, Jenrya, I'll gladly take you on as a part of Hypnos."
"Thank you, Yamaki-san," Jenrya bows his head. "I-I want to learn more about the Digital World and to help you in any way I can."
"...I promise, Jenrya, I'm going to find a way."
He shakes his head, bowing lower. "N-No, I-I didn't mean-"
"I know," I say. "I've been trying whatever I can to reunite you and your partners..." I also set up a little surprise for Jenrya, but...I want to catch up first. There's also a chance the surprise will turn out to be nothing. An unfortunately likely chance. "How have you been? It's been so long since we saw each other."
"I've been good," Jenrya says. "Things...more or less went back to normal after D-Reaper. I was just a normal kid again, I guess. Life is, well, normal...More or less."
"Have you kept in touch with the other Tamers?"
"Just Takato, Hirokazu, Kenta and Juri...Ruki and Ryou tend to be off on their own. Oh, and Xiaochun, obviously."
"How is Takato? Are you two still friends like before?" Those two...I haven't seen such a friendship. I'd be shocked if they weren't still friends.
Jenrya nods. "T-Takato? W-We're...friends. I-I haven't seen him in months because of college." He's...blushing?
"...Why are you so nervous?"
"N-No reason...Takato's just a friend." He gives his father a worried look.
"...Janyuu, is there something you two are keeping from me?" I ask.
"W-Well..." Janyuu glances away. "Um, it's a little complicated."
"I like puzzles," I reply. ...Takato was the one who found a temporary gate more than a decade ago...He didn't find another, did he? A stronger one? "What's going on with Takato? Anything in relation to the Digital World?"
"D-Definitely not that," Jenrya shakes his head. "Y-Yamaki-san, working for Hypnos...My private life wouldn't come up, would it? I-I mean, it won't affect my work but some might...not like it."
"Private life? It shouldn't. What about it do you think would be an issue?"
"I...Takato and I...We're...well...We're a...c-couple."
"...I see..." ...Takato Matsuda and Jenrya Li? ...Interesting. "That will not be an issue if you work here, Jenrya. Don't worry."
"Th-Thank you," Jenrya's face is bright red.
...I have to say, I did not expect this news. Not that I would have a problem with such a thing, I can understand Jenrya's hesitation to bring it up. "Can I ask how long?"
"Um, ten years this summer," Jenrya says.
"Congratulations, most relationships don't last that long. Especially ones that begin so early." I say. I stand up. "...Jenrya, I have...a little surprise for you. Come with me."
Jenrya gets up and follows me out into the hall. I stumble a bit on the way. This cane...can only do so much for me. "Y-Yamaki-san!" Jenrya helps me stand. "Are you...all right?"
"Yeah, it's nothing," I say.
"What...what happened to you?"
"I have some side projects that take up my time. You're about to see one of them." I say. "This is...not something we can do often. It takes an incredible amount of data and the programs involved put a heavy strain on the network. However, I want to show you that...I'm not giving up."
"Y-Yamaki-san...I..."
I get up and lean against the wall, coughing. "Don't...Until I finish my job, don't thank me or feel sorry for me, got it?"
Jenrya swallows and nods.
I take him into one of the labs, where we used to run the Shaggai program. There's a console with a microphone and speakers. I go to the computer next to the microphone. "Jenrya, wait there. I just need to start the programs..."
I have to hold my face close to the monitor...The network is at optimal stability for this, so the risk is smaller. I access the tracking program, this is where it's entirely hit and miss...
...Please, find him.
The progress monitor appears on the screen... Searching... Searching... Searching...
Please, just...let me do this. Just once.
...Target found. Thank the Gods...
"Jenrya, speak into the microphone." I load the recording software. "Now."
"...Hello?"
"...Jen? Is that you?"
"T-Terriermon?"
"Jen! I can't believe it! Where are you?"
"H-Hypnos, in a lab. Ya-Yamaki-san brought me here...H-How have you been?"
"We're okay...Beelzebumon and MarineAngemon keep an eye on us, they're there whenever we need help. We can take care of ourselves, though. Renamon, especially!"
"I-I can't...I can't believe I'm talking to you again." Jenrya lets out a quiet sob, he wipes his eyes with his sleeve. I had a feeling he would be tearing up during this...
...I might be.
"How are you, Jen? Is everything okay with you?"
"I-I'm great. I'm going to work for Hypnos soon, I'm...I'm going to find a way to bring you back, okay? It...It won't be much longer."
"We'll see each other again soon. Moumantai."
"I-I need to know, for Takato, h-how's Guilmon?"
"Great, he misses Guilmon bread almost as much as Takato. And Jen, he REALLY misses Guilmon bread."
"I-I'll eat a couple from the bakery for him. Tell him it's the Matsuda's best seller. Everyone eats it, they can't make enough. And that Takato's doing well, he misses Guilmon a lot."
"I will, Jen. He'll be happy to hear it."
"Jenrya, I'm sorry, but...You'll need to wrap it up, the network can only take so much." I say.
"T-Terriermon, I need to go. But...Please be safe and...I'll see you again one day. I promise."
"I'll be waiting, Jen! See you real soon!"
"S-See you...real soon..."
I end the communication link and save the recording.
Jenrya turns to me, he has tears running down his cheeks. "Th-Thank you, Yamaki-san."
"...After you start working here, I'll...see if I can arrange a meeting with Guilmon for Takato. Call it an early wedding present." I say, getting up. I start to the door. Jenrya stops me...With a hug.
"I-I'm sorry." He says.
"...For what?"
"W-We all...We didn't know you were doing so much for us...I'm sorry I doubted you. Ever."
"Don't be. If you're not back with your partners, then I haven't done anything for you." I say. "We'll find a way."
"Thank you." Jenrya lets me go.
"We'll talk more after you graduate...Should be soon, right?"
Jenrya nods. "In a couple months...Takato, too."
I start to the door. "I'll see you again soon, then. Someone will show you out, I have some work I need to get done."
"Thank you again..."
I keep walking, more or less. Without turning, I say, "Don't mention it."
I make my way down the hall back to my office. Reika's waiting for me.
"Did you make contact?" She asks.
"One of the few times I've ever been so lucky," I say, going to my chair. "We'll be doing it again soon."
"Wh-What? It's a huge strain, Yamaki, are you sure?"
"For Takato, with Guilmon...I told Jenrya it would be an early wedding present."
"Oh, Takato and Juri are tying the knot?"
I turn to Reika, shaking my head. "No, Takato and Jenrya. Eventually."
...I cannot help but laugh at the look on her face.
Ori's Notes:
I wanted to do a little more with Yamaki. Originally, he appeared for a couple paragraphs in a later chapter. That and I wanted to cover something with the mons.
A quick note: Yamaki-shitsuchou. Shitsuchou is his title, it means something along the lines of "Department Leader."
This was...interesting to write, especially Jianliang and Terriermon's conversation.
...Damn it, this whole fic is giving me an idea for... ...No, no, NO! I am NOT making a Tamers sequel from a freakin' slash fic, DAMN IT! No! It's...no! I've LEARNED from the past! I'm not doing it! You can't make me, Muse! You can't!
...What's that Muse? ...Oh, wow, that...That is...That idea is good, Muse. Using Lianjie-NO! STOP IT! Bad Muse! Bad!
Nope, not doin' it!
...As tempting as it is...
...Shibumi...
Taiki's Notes:
I can honestly say I did not expect Yamaki to show up in this. At all. Especially after he said Janyuu was straight this time around.
I may have teared up when Jen and Terriermon spoke. The ending to Tamers did sort of depress me when I found out about that whole "sixth movie never happened" thing. And Adventure after Ori gave me his BelialVamdemon theory (we all read that rant, didn't we?).
Poor Yamaki. Ori, why did you have to wreck his health? Honestly! You just like handing out canes don't you? I know you're doing it to Osamu, too, in that other fic you're toying with! Ori! You be nice to the Ichijouji boy! Well, actually, you let him survive the car accident which means you are being nice by giving him a bad limp. As weird as that sounds. Um, scratch that, then. Give him a cane. Two, even.
And did anyone else get an ominous chill from the word "Shibumi?" I-I think Ori's, um, contemplating something weird. That can go either way, good or not good. Well, not good for the characters, at least. Good for those who edit his work, like me.
I can only wonder what's going through that twisted mind of his.
-Taiki Matsuki