DISCLAIMER: I own neither the game, original storyline or the script. I do however, own the newly edited plot and the expansion.
Digimon Continuity
Brave Tamer
Chapter 25
Jijimon of File Island
:. Real World - Japan, Shinjuku
Local Time: Unknown
Ryo's Time: 6 Days, 05:01 hrs AR
Takato felt as though his guts were sucked out of him and dumped back inside him again when he stepped through the portal.
He blinked his eyes to try and clear his blurry vision, before he noticed that he was in an alley. People walking on the main street at the mouth of the alley, oblivious to the fact that someone had just materialised into their midst. Before he could discern anymore, his partner emerged from behind him and slammed heavily into him, emitting a startled cry from him and knocking him face first to the ground.
"Guilmon!" Takato groaned.
"Oopsy, sorry Takato," Guilmon apologised.
"It's okay..." Takato said with a wry grin. "But please get off me before I-OW!!"
Unfortunately, the portal at that moment chose to eject Taichi, Daisuke and their respective Digimon into the world... and in turn, onto Guilmon and Takato.
"Oops," Taichi said. "Sorry."
"That hurt Taichi," a Koromon said, being squashed between Taichi and Daisuke's bodies.
"That doubly hurts!!" DemiVeemon exclaimed.
"And if you guys don't start getting off... I'm going to suffocate," Takato managed, though his face was already growing purple.
"Takato? Why is your face all weird?" Guilmon asked in an innocent voice.
"Get. Off," Takato choked. He began to see darkness eat at the edges of his vision... and began to see the 'light'. Ironic... if I somehow die this way after everything...
Guilmon blinked his golden orbs and simply stood up, his powerful legs lifting the load on him with a slightly strained effort while straddling Takato's body. The boy gulped in air like he had a vacuum inside that needed filling. "Thanks, Guilmon..." He said between gulps of air. "...For not standing on me..."
Guilmon tilted his head to the side, causing his entire body to shift in its delicate balance and cause gravity to pull his load onto the ground beside him. Unaware at the moment, Guilmon put a claw to his chin and asked another question. "Okay, but do you want me to?"
"NO!" came the exclamation before the dino could begin the attempt.
"Okay," Guilmon replied easily, helping his Tamer to his feet.
"Guys! Can you please get off me?!" Daisuke said, as now he was the one stuck at the bottom of the pile. Floating above in the air after the portal released him, Calumon chuckled joyfully at the scene.
"Hurray! It's fun already." At that, Calumon decided to land on top of the new pile, causing all to groan.
Hurriedly, Takato took Calumon off them and put the little white Digimon on Guilmon's head, before helping the others up.
"Man... I think that even a DigiPort is kinder than this portal," DemiVeemon said.
"That is because somehow you always land on top of the pile!!" Daisuke groaned, popping his back. "Ah... that feels better."
Taichi simply picked up Koromon and blinked at Daisuke's words. "Uh... what's a DigiPort?"
Daisuke turned to Taichi in surprise, before recalling that this version of Taichi had not reached the point in his life when travel between the Real and Digital Worlds was just a call away. "Oh, a DigiPort is... uh... a DigiPort?"
Takato palmed his forehead. "Guys, I thought we weren't supposed to be discussing aspects of each other's futures," he reminded. Well, not that they know mine... even though I know theirs pretty well.
"Right," Taichi said. "So... shopping time?"
Takato nodded.
"One problem," Daisuke began. "How do we hide someone as big as Guilmon?"
Takato blinked. He raised a finger and opened his mouth, as though he was on the verge of an important announcement. For a few seconds, he remained silent, mouth wide open while everyone stared at him. The tension was so thick that one could have cut it with a blunt knife.
"That's... going to be a problem."
The others groaned and rolled their eyes in reply.
:. ENIAC World
6 Days, 04:59 hrs AR
Meanwhile, Ryo was busy denying Karatenmon's words.
"Come on, Karatenmon. Really, let me go. I think ENIAC is likely waiting for me. He can't hold the portal to the other Digital World forever you know."
"ENIAC will know that I am doing this for your own good," Karatenmon continued, ignoring his protests. When Ryo tried to leave, Karatenmon simply stepped in front of him and blocked his way.
"Karatenmon. What's wrong with you? I'm fine."
"You mean what's wrong with you? As far as I know, 'fine' is not the word I'd use to describe you at the moment. 'Lost' may be a better one."
Ryo blinked. "'Lost'?" Ryo asked with mock surprise. "I don't see how that describes me."
Karatenmon nodded. "That's the problem. You don't."
Ryo sighed in exasperation. "Stop speaking in riddles, Karatenmon. I think my head hurts enough as it is already."
"You want me to get to the point?" Karatenmon inquired. Ryo nodded in reply. "Alright then. Let me summarize your situation. Your body is strange to you. You mind is strange to you. They are like foreign things to you that don't fit like a key to its lock... that don't fit like it's supposed to. You don't know why your body's feeling half of what its feeling when you near someone that you just met that has next to no significance to you." At that, Ryo's mouth turned into a slight grimace. How was it that Karatenmon knew what he was feeling? "You get feelings of longing and dread when you see your world. You feel like everyone knows more about you than you do. You feel-"
"Karatenmon, please get to the point," Ryo said in a calm that belittled how he truly felt on the inside. Truth was, he was extremely shaken, too much so to be able to take much more of how much Karatenmon's words were too true for his liking.
He gave a small smile under his beak. "In other words," Karatenmon paused dramatically. "The mind forgets, but the body remembers."
"Huh?" Both Ryo and Monodramon said at the same time.
"That means that even though you don't remember a thing, your body still reacts to whatever links you have to your past. Take the Human World for example. Even though you don't recall ever living in it, you still feel its call, its pull. The same applies to other things, like maybe Taichi, Daisuke and Takato," Karatenmon explained.
"Okay... then how do you know these things?" Monodramon asked. "No offence, Karatenmon, but I don't think that you have lost your memory before."
"None taken, Monodramon," Karatenmon replied. "But what you said is true. I haven't lost my memory in any way before. However, there is someone who has knowledge of these things. It took me a while to remember him."
Ryo's curiosity was aroused. "Who might that be?"
"An old Digimon that goes by the name of Jijimon. And mind you, he is literally old. He originated from File Island before a time vortex sucked him here, just like it did all of us."
File Island? The name tugged at his memory, but the feeling faded as soon as it came, leaving Ryo no chance to analyse it. "How does he know the effects of memory loss? Did he lose his before too?"
"Yes... and no."
"Huh?" came the confused reply again.
"You see," Karatenmon elaborated. "If Jijimon ever lost his memory before, he doesn't recall it. But one thing's for sure. He knows of the effects because of a certain mushroom that when eaten causes one to lose his memories. Jijimon has seen many such cases and thus knows of its symptoms." Karatenmon suddenly grimaced after he said the last word while Ryo looked away. So... my loss of memory is duplicated elsewhere before... and if it is like a condition...
"Then is there a cure for it?"
Karatenmon put a claw to his chin. "Hmm... that I do not know. But perhaps we can pay Jijimon a visit and ask."
Ryo's face involuntarily spread itself into a wide grin, despite his best efforts to conceal the excitement that suddenly burst in him, filling his entire body with enthusiasm of the like he never recalled feeling before. Though there was the possibility that it might just be a false hope, Ryo grabbed on to it like a drowning man to a floating piece of straw.
Finally, he gave up trying to contain his joy, and allowed hope to steep deep into him.
:. Real World - Japan, Shinjuku
Local Time: Unknown
Ryo's Time: 6 Days, 05:01 hrs AR
"Uh guys... is it just me or is everyone looking at us?"
"No, Taichi, it's just you."
"Oh good... because I can't help but notice everyone's looking at us!"
"Calm down, Taichi. It is pretty normal... I think," Takato said.
The three of them had some troubles at first of how to hide Guilmon, but Takato finally settled it when he found a discarded cardboard box, the perfect disguise for Guilmon which he had used in the past... or rather not-so-perfect. The remaining In-Training Digimon (DemiVeemon, Koromon and Calumon) simply perched themselves on their respective partner's heads, with Calumon on Takato's and they set off for the nearest card shop. Takato reasoned that whenever ENIAC had sent them, it would likely still be in a time when Digimon would still be merchandise... of sorts. So, toy versions of the Digimon wouldn't attract so much attention. The only qualm that Takato had was that he looked a little... childish.
Strange how when I am in a group that is fighting a legendary Dark God to save the world... I'm still able to walk in the streets as though nothing had happened.
Takato took a good look around. He recognised this area. He knew where to find a nearby card shop. He had been situated in front of the cardboard box that held Guilmon, while Taichi and Daisuke 'stood guard' at the sides. Daisuke and Taichi were simply following him and keeping silent, giving Takato the impression that he was leading them... which he was.
But still, it's weird that I am actually leading Taichi and Daisuke...
"You guys must look pretty weird," commented DemiVeemon from Daisuke's head a while after Takato's comment. Daisuke stiffened and tried to warn DemiVeemon about not talking and looking around. However, the little fella paid Daisuke no heed. "Three guys wearing goggles guarding a cardboard box that doesn't act like a cardboard box having strange stuffed animals on their heads walking down the streets in the middle of the day..." Finally, DemiVeemon took a deep breath. "I don't see how this can look normal."
"That must be the most he has ever said in one breath," Daisuke said with a slight tremble in his voice, with his eyes still darting around. But whether it was to make sure that no one had noticed DemiVeemon talking or whether to confirm DemiVeemon's words, Takato did not know.
Takato also suddenly wished that he could just duck in some hole. When DemiVeemon put it that way... How did I think that this would work in the first place?!
"Never mind, guys. I think we have a bigger problem on our hands... or our heads," Taichi said. Takato turned around to glance at Taichi only to see the latter watching him. Then, Takato realised that it was Calumon he was looking at. The white Digimon was bouncing up and down on his head, gawking at everything he could. Squeals were heard from girls saying how cute he was. Takato groaned and pulled Calumon into his arms, hoping to get the hyperactive Digimon to be less 'active'. Now, Takato mimicked Daisuke's actions, making the three of them look even more out of place in the busy street.
"No, I don't think Calumon can be considered a problem compared to another one..." Takato said, suddenly coming to a halt and causing the cardboard box to crash noisily onto him. The entire 'contingent' stopped as well to see what was wrong.
"What is it?" Koromon asked in curiosity.
Takato swallowed and turned himself fully to face his friends. "We don't have any money..."
Daisuke's jaw simply dropped while Taichi stared at him blankly. "No money?..." Taichi asked for confirmation.
"No money..." Takato repeated in a monotone. How could he have been so stupid?! Of course they needed money for supplies! Oh man... how are we going to go back and tell ENIAC that we didn't get anything because we had no money?
"What's money, Takato?" Guilmon's muffled voice asked from inside the cardboard box.
:. ENIAC World
6 Days, 05:10 hrs AR
The trio made their way to particular hexagonal platform that was situated a little further from the location of the 'village' of sorts. Ryo was already wondering who was this 'Jijimon'. As he did, his D-Power unexpectedly emitted a series of beeps and clicks. Ryo took it out only to find that a hologram of a Digimon had materialised from the screen. It showed an impossibly old Digimon that used a staff that had a paw on top. The strange thing was that the staff looked exactly like the one he was using. A single word showed at the bottom of the screen. He struggled to read it, trying to use the buried knowledge of how to read. Then, his brain clicked and he recognised the characters to form a single word: Jijimon. He let out a gasp.
"What?" Monodramon inquired, looking in on what Ryo was looking at.
"Of course! I remember now!" He held up the staff with a paw, an exact replica of the one in the hologram, which he was using as a makeshift walking stick. "Deramon said that a Jijimon had leant me his staff to help me..."
"Yes," Karatenmon said with a smile. "That is the same Jijimon that we are going to see."
All of a sudden, Jijimon was no longer a faceless Digimon that he didn't know. Even before he met the said Digimon, Jijimon was already helping him, even though it was something as small as lending his staff. But by the looks of it, this exceptionally old Digimon looked like he relied heavily on the staff to help him stand even. It must have been a great sacrifice. Ryo's admiration for the Digimon rose another level.
"Then I must not forget to thank him," Ryo said, looking at the staff in his hand. "And not to mention return this to him."
"No, you shouldn't," Karatenmon said. "He leant it to you until you can recover. I think it best for you to keep it for now first."
Ryo blinked, before a smile lit his face. "Well, I must still thank him then…" Then he grimly added, "And find out this cure."
"Yes… if there is one," Monodramon said doubtfully. It was clear that Monodramon thought that if there were a cure, ENIAC would surely have recommended it at once. So, chances were that a cure was unlikely.
But that was not going to stop Ryo.
Soon, they reached the platform and Ryo studied the crystal tower carefully. I would never know how they know which tower houses what.
"Well, then… what are we waiting for?"
With that, they walked into the light of the crystal. Ryo felt the disorientating sensation of being pulled apart and placed back together again, and after a routine check to make sure everything was in the right place, Ryo studied the area.
It clearly held the hexagonal property that all the rooms within the towers did, but was, as usual, bigger on the inside than the outside. A strange property, but convenient if one wanted to save space. However, what surprised Ryo was that the room was not connected to any other of the towers.
Seated right in front of him at one corner was Jijimon himself, looking exactly like how he looked like on the D-Power's hologram, only lacking his staff, which was currently in Ryo's possession. The white hair and beard had completely obstructed view of the Digimon's face. The attire that Jijimon wore were made of rags, looking more like a beggar than a wise Digimon.
Of course, looks could be deceiving.
"Good day, Jijimon," Karatenmon greeted.
Jijimon simply stared at thin air, neither acknowledging nor showing any sign that he had heard. Ryo got jumpy, needing to resist the urge to walk up and wave his hand in front of the old guy to make sure he wasn't dead. Which is stupid really, because if he really is dead he would be merely floating data.
Finally, after what seemed like an age, Jijimon finally answered. "Not good day at all, my feathery friend… or was it swordy friend? No matter, these are not good days at all."
A dark look clouded Karatenmon's face. "Indeed. These are dark days," he said. Then, his face lit up slightly. "I have brought you, Ryo Akiyama. He wants to know of-"
"Roy Ayakima?" Jijimon interrupted. "Who is that?"
"Ryo Akiyama," Karatenmon corrected. The latter then sent Ryo an apologetic look. Ryo shrugged. Karatenmon turned back to Jijimon.
"Ah… the Akiyama boy… or was it Roy? No matter, why do you seek an old geezer like me?"
Ryo blinked. "I… uh… just wanted to thank you for lending me your staff."
"Plank me?" Jijimon asked. "What kind of bad boy are you that you would plank an old geezer like myself?"
Ryo wanted to slap his forehead… and slap Jijimon as well. Of course, he didn't. "No, thank you!!"
"Thank me?" Jijimon said, finally getting it correct. "What for?"
That urge to slap something was really, really great now. "For LENDING me your STAFF!!" Ryo shouted.
"No need to yell," Jijimon said, wincing slightly. "I can hear just fine."
Ryo allowed his shoulders to sag and rolled his eyes. Sure you can… "Sorry."
Silence filled the room for a few moments before Jijimon tilted his head to the side. "What did you want to thank me for again?"
Ryo finally slapped his palm on his forehead. I give up…
Alright guys. Sorry for the late chapter, but expect further updates to be... delayed.
Now, thanks to Kitsurumenokitsune, Matt Lans and jdogno1 for reviewing. Thanks a lot guys. I must not forget my Beta Reader Crazyeight. Thanks.
Well, now I have finally introduced Jijimon. A little... frustrating, isn't he?