Here's a short story that's kinda funny to keep you occupado (Spanish for occupied) until my next episode/chapter…I may do more, that's why it's labeled 1. It's when Kidd was just a Rookie still, and Loaño's five.

Side Story 1:

Garurumon's Task

"Now, Garurumon, you know what you have to do?" the tall, red-haired green-eyed human asked me. I flicked my long black-striped tail impatiently.

"Yes, I do, Mr. Ishida. Loaño's to be in bed by nine, eating by seven thirty, dressed by eight…"

"You've got it backwards. Dressed by eight AM, eating by seven thirty PM, and in bed by nine PM." He repeated, emphasizing the time of day.

I blinked impatiently. "Anything else? Like, when she breathes, or when she goes to the toilet?"

"No, just remember, Thomas is coming over. You know him, right? Don't bite, please."

"Fine, so long as he doesn't pet too hard, like last time." I pointed out, referring to the time when I first met Thomas. The boy was so enthused about meeting a gigantic black-and-periwinkle-wolf that he pet me a bit too hard, and I snapped. Thankfully, I didn't bite. Or, BIG lawsuit. Also, his mother was the forgive-and-forget type of person. Not his dad or grandma though. (Thank whoever that they weren't there!)

"Bye, I'll take care of everything." I promised. How hard would it be, taking care of a five-year-old girl who liked to call me 'Waddy' instead of Garurumon?

I was convinced that it wouldn't be that hard. I mean, how demanding can they be? You feed them, clothe them, and make sure that they don't smear poop on everything.

Yes, I am a bit overconfident, aren't I? Well, that's about to be tested to its limit, lemme tell you!

NNNNN

"Waddy?" the little blonde-haired girl asked. She blinked blue-green eyes at me curiously. "Will you read me Mawly and Me?"

"No." I told her. "That story's getting to you too much in the rub-off area. Plus, it's inappropriate for a child your age. Bad words."

"Really?" she cocked her head in wonder. "the only words Daddy tells me not to repeat are sh-…"

I flicked my tail in front of her mouth. "Finish that sentence, I dare you."

"Its hard to do when you have your stinky tail in my mouth, Waddy!" she muttered through my fur.

"Yes, well, don't say those words, alright?" I warned. "Or 'Waddy'll' get pissed." I was bristling.

"OHHHHHHHHHH!! YOU SAID THE 'P' WORD!! I'M GONNA TELL DADDY!!" Loaño screeched.

"Hey, hey, keep it low!" I growled.

"Then get me my breakfast!"

Oh great, blackmail. People, if you're wise, never say a bad word in front of a five year old Loaño! She knows what they are!!

Snorting, I grabbed her cereal box in my mouth and balanced her spoon on the bridge of my nose. I twined my tail around the milk jug too. It was quite the sight. I set the spread out on the coffee table in front of the couch in the living room where Loaño sat.

"Thanks…" she said. "But, no bowl?"

Sighing, I returned to the kitchen and tried to figure out a way for me to grab a bowl. I stared at the cabinet for at least a half-hour.

The doorbell rang.

"Oh, Waddy, can I get it?" Loaño asked from in the living room, where the front door was located. I sniffed, it was just the Norsteins.

"Alright, but open it slowly and carefully, Lo." I warned, and saw the little girl scamper to the door and click the locks. She twisted the doorknob and open swung to door. It revealed a pair of blonde-haired people with cloudy blue eyes. I sauntered into the living room as Loaño let them in.

"Hello," I bowed my head to Mrs. Norstein.

"Hello, Garurumon. I see that Kammito and Molly left you with Loaño. How's that going?" she asked, letting little Thomas loose to play.

"Fine so far, can you do me a favor?" I began. "Can you reach the cereal bowls? Because I don't want Loaño eating out of the box."

"Okay, Garurumon." She patted my head and quickly walked into the kitchen to retrieve the bowl. She came out quickly, and, two bowls in hand, fixed both Loaño and Thomas some cereal.

Feeling embarrassed that I was just a quadruped with no thumbs; I turned the TV on to Saturday morning cartoons. With my nose. HAH, beat that, Mrs. Norstein!

"Bye Thomas, see you later." She kissed Thomas on his forehead and the little boy waved goodbye.

"Okay, whaddaya wanna do?" I asked them after she left. The two blondes looked at each other, then at me with a devilish smile.

"HORSY!!" they shouted, dive-bombing me. Scared for my life, I slid (Literally, I slid) out of the room and up the stairs. The soft pounding of feet told me that the twin devils were right behind, non-stop. I was too big to hide under covers…yet small enough to hide in a closet, perfect! But whose was the big question. Both the parents and the child had one, but the parents was bigger.

I dived for their room. I flipped open the door with my nose, and scrambled into the dark space. Using my tail, I shut the door; praying they wouldn't find me, I waited.

"Gururumon?" it was Thomas. Great, he tries my name, and gets the name of a completely different subspecies of Garurumon! What next? Dogmon?

"Come out, Gururumon…come out, come out!" perfect, he was in the room. I dug my nails into the floor of the closet, praying he wouldn't hear.

"Come on, if you come out we won't play horsy…" he promised.

Okay, that was as good as I was going to get. I opened the door a crack, and was dive-bombed again. Liar!

"C'mon Lo! I got him!" he announced. I growled and thought of snapping, but hey, they were five, why not let them enjoy it?

NNNNN

Okay, this was……okay…

I was lying on my belly, Loaño and Thomas curled up sleeping and using me as a pillow. It was nearing eight o'clock. The time when Thomas's mother usually came to pick him up.

I slapped my tongue on the boy's calm, peaceful face. He opened his cloudy blue eyes and shoved Loaño awake.

The car door slammed and Mrs. Norstein rang the doorbell. Thomas answered, all ready to go.

"Bye, Lo." He said, giving her a hug.

"Bye Thom." She responded, waving as they left. She returned to her position by me.

"Are you my partner?" she asked. I had briefly closed my eyes, and now I opened them. "Or, are you just here till Daddy can take you home?"

I licked her cheek. "Of course I'm your partner, Loaño. You saved my life, and I can't thank you enough for it. I wouldn't be here if Mr. Ishida and Mr. Daimon hadn't taken me when I was dying."

"You had my picky though…" I laughed, which was a small rumbling sound deep in my chest. She called Pictures Picky. Five year olds…what can you do?

"Yes, I did. A very special digimon gave me that 'picky' of you." I answered softly.

"Will you be here forever? Will you be my friend forever, like Thomas?" she asked.

"'Course kiddo. No matter what." I laid my head on the floor.

"Thanks, Garurumon…" she murmured, falling to sleep on my belly again. I looked up at the ceiling, imagining the skies of the Digital World, my home. It wasn't my home…this was. Here, with this crazy kid.

"Thank you, AA." I murmured.

Awww, they use Garurumon/Kidd as a horse…