I don't own digimon.

Date 21

The last birthday present of Ren Tobari

Compared to the last trip here, the view was slightly different for Airu and Ren.

The scenery was still exactly the same, but the two were now viewing it from somewhere slightly higher. The only difference seemed to be seeing the tops and bottoms of roofs. Which I guess is an advantage? It seems more like a disadvantage here.

"So where exactly are we going?" Ren inquired, watching Airu take a deep breath.

"My mom, who is a chosen or something, got a summons from this queen of dolls person." the trapper explained, Cho giving a nod. But not too vigorously. She didn't want to drop her 'Sugar'. Especially since how hard it is to pick it up when you spill a bit.

Sachiko shot her wife a glance. While that was a dark way to take that remark, it was far from being in good taste.

Sorry. I didn't intend for it to come across like that.

"Apology accepted." Cho remarked, her attention returning to what was ahead of her. "So we have to take little Ryouma here with us. That way, she'll be out of our hair."

Ren gave a nod. Though, you did forget the part about me being joined by my wife to narrate this.

"That's nice to know."

Why thank you, I think? I'm not used to being complimented. Especially like this.

Silence followed on our heroes part, with them mostly focusing in on their surroundings rather than the narrator's latest comment.

"So, how much farther to this queen of dolls chick?" Ren remarked and watched Ryouma take a deep breath. Carefully, she made her way over and jumped aboard the bomber. A bit climbing followed. Onto Ren's head, of course. Because you know, that's a perfect seat for her. Not.

"Just a little bit farther, 'your highness'." the doll joked and just avoided a near swipe from Ren. Though, it did get everyone nearby a full look at the opera gloves he had probably bought yesterday. "Are you a prince or a princess?"

Her answer was a growl. Whether it was a prince growl or a princess growl remained to be seen. I'm leaning towards the latter, while my wife is more of the former.

"Get off of me." Ren snarled and took a second swipe at the doll. His accuracy was even worse this time around, hitting his own partner in the process. "Sorry Yasyamon."

Yasyamon let out a groan as he picked Ren off his body. A bit of turning around followed, with the bomber finding himself face-to-face with his partner.

"Hey… I'm alright." Ryouma announced as Yasyamon shot him a glance. While he appreciated the care the photographer gave him, it came with moments like this. Royalty probably had to deal with this on a daily basis, right? This wasn't some way to take advantage of the bomber's naivety for the sake of dress-up.

I feel like the actual answer to that question is kind of obvious.

Yasyamon shot the sky a glance.

Fine then. We won't say it then. Bitch.

The photographer shook their head, carefully reorienting Ren in the process. While pissed, at least they were holding themselves together. I don't think any of them would want to deal with him like that.

"Understood." Ryouma answered and felt herself get placed back on Yasyamon's head.

While they were doing that, a question seemed to form in Airu's head. It was a simple one, but one that kind of needed to be asked anyway. It the face all the other questions she had, it seemed a little sil-

There are no such things as silly questions, Sachiko. Sure, you might not get the best answers, but that shouldn't force you to not ask it. Understood?

Understood.

Airu cleared her throat, sort of understanding our tirade for once.

"Ren, can I ask you something?" Airu remarked and watched Ren attempt to focus on her.

"Shoot."

"How did you and Yasyamon even meet?" she inquired as the bomber took a deep breath. After, he let a smile kind show on his face and followed it up with a giggle.

"You first." the bomber countered, getting a groan in return. Then it shifted into a smile on the trapper's face. So I guess she was expecting that.

"Cho fell through my bedroom window and stumbled into a trap I had placed." the trapper explained and got a groan from her partner. "What?"

"I think you're forgetting something." Cho remarked and carefully shook her girlfriend about. "You know…"

She flashed a wink. I guess she went for the obvious option. Smart woman.

"And we sort of fell in love." Airu remarked and waited for the inevitable response. But to her surprise, no such reaction seemed to come. Even Ryouma had chosen to keep her mouth shut for once. "We're dating at the moment."

"Good for you two." Ren remarked and took a deep breath, making a quick gaze to Yasyamon right after. Yasyamon just nods. "This whole thing started on my sixteenth birthday…"

.

A slightly younger Ren Tobari opens their eyes.

Carefully, they get out of their and heads to the closet. After looking over their options, they went for their nicest garment of the bunch. Sure, it was not something they entirely cared for, but it was something they were willing to grin and bear it. Especially on such a grand day as this one.

"Perfect." they thought and began to skip their way down the hall. Of course, they made sure to make some faces to whoever they may pass on by. Since you know, it was their special day and they had a bit more leanway this time around than normal
But the moment that they reached the end of the hallway, everything in this unknown seemed to shift. An unknown cold seem to hang over this room, but with no draft to speak of.

Reluctantly, Ren tries to pull the door open, fighting against it with all their strength. At first, it would seem that the door would be the victor in this battle. But Ren refused to let go. And eventually, they managed to push on through. Though, if they knew what awaited them on the other side, would they have gone through the trouble.

Inside, everything one would ever need for a birthday party had been included. You know, streamers, the obligatory 'happy birthday' message with big colorful and pretty letters, a cake, a large pile of presents. But to top it all off, Ren's parents were laying in a pool of their own blood. And on closer inspection, it would appear that the perpetrator was striking their most stoic pose as possible.

"Who are you?" they call out, but get no answer. Instead, they focus in on the person itself. Who was strangely dressed to look a lot like Airu. Only older and more like a barbie doll for Except they had a knife for some reason.
"Me?" the figure remarked and just casually drops the knife into one of the bodies. "I'm just a maid, your highness."
Her response seemed to catch their target by surprise, especially when they walked over and placed their hands around Ren's neck.

"My, what a beautiful neck you have there." the woman explained, licking her lips for some reason. ""Now be a good little teenager and just d-"

But Ren broke away, flinging a lit candle that was conveniently placed by someone. Which was quite nice of this unknown stranger. After, they turned around and slammed the door behind them.

What followed, was a run back from down the hall back to their room. A million different thoughts seemed to run through their head, none of which giving them the greatest of thoughts to be thinking at that moment. Though, I wouldn't blame them. Everyone reacts to seeing someone they cared about in a different way, which sometimes makes this sort of mess that much harder on them in the long run

"I can do this." they thought as their hands reached for the doorknob. Compared to the last door, this one seemed already defeated, as if someone had taken the time to kick it's ass in beforehand. While nice, it did little to sooth Ren's nerves. It probably made them even more afraid of what awaited them on the other side. Carefully, they pushed the door open and let their room welcome them in.

Compared to the room they had just left, everything in here had been left in the same general spots from the day before. Before they had a chance to maybe get some more sleep and maybe try and form a gameplan, the flash of a camera flooded his vision.

"Hey!" Ren shouted as their vision cleared, revealing a gray-skinned humanoid with a mask-like face. A pair of yellow eyes stared out towards the person, while a head of red hair serves to provide some level of contrast. His outfit consisted of just a pair of light grey cargo pants and a top made up of green tubing. Wooden bracers hung over their arms, with a pair of bokken hung to their pants. A camera sat in one hand, while a note sat in the other.

Ren casually made their way over, getting handed the note by this unknown thing.

Ren,

Happy Birthday. We're sorry that you are probably receiving this post of our demise, but it couldn't be helped. Yasyamon will serve as your protector until the time comes to return.

Love,

Mom & Dad

Tears began to roll down Ren's face, getting a pat from their partner in return. It doesn't really help. Just makes it all hurt just a bit more.

"I will always be there for you, my little princess." Yasyamon whispered, letting his gaze fall on Ren.

.

"Huh." Airu remarked as the shop came into view. "I'm sorry that I'm not the one you're looking for."

Ren looked over to her. While he probably wanted to ask the trapper about something, he held back for now.

"It's alright." the bomber answered, his gaze finally setting on a spot ahead. Which served as the perfect opportunity to just relax on this weird and wild trip.

"We're just about here." Ryouma remarked, only for a bullet to ring out. "Now what?"

In front of them, a chameleon approached.

"Your highness, it's been awhile."

On our next date: A steed for a supposed princess.