Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Digimon Trinity
Chapter: 145/ Episode 21: The Great Chase
Electricity sparked and surged across the city, stealing through miles of electrical wire. The program was guiding it as a soft, glowing light traveled along, helping the sparks grow and drawing in data. The recent battles across the city had more than enough for its needs. It was already reorganizing them for their new host. Before too long, its shape would emerge. His shape rather, and hopefully, by then, he would arrive in time to challenge destiny.
###
"What were you going to say earlier about our crests?"
Lifting an eyebrow and turned toward Rika, who regarded him with a touch of curiosity. It took him a moment to realize that she was talking about his comment back up in Guilmon's home. Feeling self-conscious as Henry and Terriermon's eyes joined hers, he ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm just not sure that we could repeat that whole thing Kazu did. Draw a crest and then scan it through our digivices."
At this, Terriermon cocked an eyebrow himself, mirroring that of his partner.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Takato?" he asked. "Because yesterday, we saw some pretty compelling evidence that says we can do that again."
"But why not the crest cards that come with the game?" Takato asked, drawing to a halt and looking at the others expectantly. "I mean, I tried it once and nothing happened. Did any of you?"
"We did…" Henry said carefully, frowning at his partner, who giggled. The half-Chinese Tamer frowned. "Terriermon…"
"Do we even want to know what the rabbitmon did?" Rika asked, crossing her arms. Henry sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.
"He…slashed the crest card while in the apartment as a prank."
"Yikes," Takato winced while Rika rolled her eyes.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised."
"Momentai!" Terriermon chirped. "It's not like it worked, and besides. I don't get much bigger than you or your dad. Well, except for the ears, but still…"
"But still is right," Henry scowled. "We had a hard enough time being able to keep you in the apartment. What would you have done if you damaged anything?"
"Well, I could move in with Guilmon."
"Really?" the crimson-scaled dinosaur asked, his eyes becoming bright all of a sudden. "Oh, Takato, can he? It'd be so nice to have someone to play with while you're at school…"
"And getting into who knows what kind of trouble," Takato sighed before looking at Rika. "What about you?"
"Yeah, I tested the cards," she said with a shrug. "They don't work for some reason."
"What's the big deal?" Terriermon asked. "They pop up when we need them and that drawn card still worked fine on its own, didn't it?"
"Well… See, this is where I'm not so sure."
"So we guessed, Gogglehead." Rika adjusted her arms and gave him a hard look, indicating for him to get to the point. Takato nodded.
"Okay, this might sound weird, but I think Calumon might have something to do with our digivolving to Ultimate."
A pall of silence fell over the group just then. Becoming uncomfortable, Takato hastily began to explain.
"You see, I started wondering after that fight in Shibuya. Right before Gargomon digivolved to Rapidmon, I saw a beam of light shooting out from an alley. And then, during the fight with Indramon…the first one when we were getting ready to digivolve, I saw that triangle thing on his forehead light up…"
"The Zero Unit."
"The… Huh?" Takato and Rika both looked up at Henry in confusion. Suddenly becoming embarrassed at being the center of attention now, Henry scratched the back of his head.
"It's from the card game," he explained. "It was in the Hyper Colosseum release."
"Yeah, I've heard of that card," Rika nodded. "I don't have it, but it's supposed to be pretty good for digivolving your digimon."
"You don't have it?" Terriermon's eyes grew wide in mock surprise. "Aren't you supposed to be some kind of super princess or something?"
"Shut up," Rika replied, narrowing her eyes. She felt suddenly and oddly unsettled by the reminder of the class difference between herself and her two fellow Tamers. "It's just never come up in any boosters I bought. Besides, it's not like I need it anyway."
"Anyway," Takato interrupted before Terriermon could press the issue. "I saw the same thing happen with Calumon when Kazu was telling me to concentrate, and he looked like he was nodding to me or something. Like he was telling me to go ahead." He scratched at his chin. "I tried talking to him about it before but…I don't think I asked the right questions because somehow he got the idea that I didn't want him around anymore."
"Words and you don't really get along, do you?" Rika asked, unfolding her arms and planting her hands on her hips. For a wonder, she felt a small, playful smile to touch her lips. She felt a flush of anxiety just then, as if unsure how such teasing would be seen, especially given their past history. An odd thing to be concerned about and her hands tightened their grip about her belt defiantly. If Takato couldn't take a joke from her under more friendly circumstances, that was his problem, not hers.
Terriermon snickered.
"Yeah, and you know all about that, don't you?" he chided, to which Rika's cheeks turned light pink in response.
"Terriermon…" Henry groaned, palming his face.
"Would you knock it off?"Takato asked a little heatedly, earning him a surprised look from Rika and Terriermon. "I'm serious! I'm sorry I didn't bring this up earlier, but now I'm really starting to worry. What if something happens to Calumon and we can't digivolve to Ultimate? We're the only ones who can still defend the city!"
"Hold on," began Rika. "So far, we don't know anything for certain about this. Are you sure that this isn't something your brain is cooking up on its own? I mean, you do have a history of that sort of thing."
Even as she said the words though, a memory came to her and she frowned uncertainly. During the final battle with Gulfmon, hadn't she seen Calumon in front of the Mega digimon? Something had happened there and then, the next thing they knew, they digivolved to Ultimate for the first time.
That…can't be a coincidence. Can it?
"It is something to consider though," Henry said, rubbing his chin. "Maybe we should start testing this."
"I can draw up crest cards," Takato said, his face lighting up, relieved that there was at least some support – or at least consideration – about his concerns. Rika frowned and folded her arms together again.
"As long as it's not Dino-boy again," she said, remembering how she had to sing him to sleep last night. "He gets too big when he digivolves."
"Hiding is pretty hard when I'm WarGrowlmon," Guilmon agreed with a nod.
"Well, we've got to test this on somebody," Takato pointed out.
"I think I can be the appropriate subject," came Renamon's voice, materializing behind Rika. "My forms are easy to hide and are of appropriate size as well." She glanced at her partner. "Rika?"
The girl frowned once more, but nodded. Now that Takato had brought it up, she wanted to know, just to be sure.
"Right," Takato said, sounding relieved. "The Crest of Friendship then. I've got some work to do tonight."
"Make sure you stay within the lines," Terriermon quipped, to which his partner groaned.
"Terriermon…"
###
Tally tapped on her control panel and frowned beneath her visor.
"Yolei. I'm picking up an abnormal germination energy pattern. Can you confirm?"
From behind the woman, Yolei nodded and called up the data from her coworker's station. "Confirmed," she replied. "It looks like we have a bio-emergence incoming, but…the signal's strange."
Not to mention familiar, she thought. Punching in a few commands, she compared the scan with previous ones. Soon enough, she had a close match from some months ago, back when Takato's partner, Guilmon, had been created. Yet, as similar as they were, their differences couldn't have been more obvious. This new pattern was much larger, indicating a digimon of a higher level, and what was more…
"It looks like whatever it is, it's coming from this side of the dimensional barrier. But…that's…not possible."
She frowned beneath her visor, but before she could analyze further, a new signal appeared on her and Tally's scanners. A digimon attempting to bio-emerge from the digital world.
"Incoming Wild One!" Tally announced. "Contacting Takaishi now!"
###
Jeri watched as Calumon happily devoured a bread roll, the two of them smiling contentedly. She eyed him thoughtfully, not for the first time wondering why Calumon was on his own so much and why he didn't have a partner to look after him like so many digimon normally did. Takato hadn't said anything about it and indeed took Calumon's independence in stride.
I should probably ask him about that sometime, she thought, wondering if it was something he had already dealt with before she learned about Guilmon. She smiled at that thought. No doubt Takato had many adventures and just hadn't had someone who wanted to know about them before.
"Guess I'll have one too," the brown-haired girl said, digging into her bag and producing a piece of bread herself. Almost straightaway, Calumon appeared in front of her, tiny arms held out before him expectantly.
"More yummy, goody, snacky stuff?" he asked, green eyes wide and pleading. Jeri's hand paused just short of her mouth in surprise.
"You want more?" she asked, and Calumon nodded exuberantly, stretching his arms out an inch further.
"Yes, please! Thank you!"
For a moment, Calumon reminded her briefly of her younger brother, who just seemed to expect things to be handed to him because he was so little and cute. And like her brother, Calumon was right to assume he would get his way with her. He was too cute to say no to. Almost against her will, Jeri felt a new smile touch the corners of her lips and promptly handed the bag along with its remaining contents over to him. Calumon deftly snatched it from her grasp and danced about happily.
"Another treat for me!" he sang in triumph. Setting the bag down, he dug out one of the delicious creampuffs held within and took a tremendous bite out of it. Taking a bite out of her bread roll, she watched him thoughtfully.
I wonder… she began mentally before swallowing. "Could I ever…be a Tamer?"
She focused on that idea. Focused on Calumon still more as he continued to munch away at her snack. Was he truly happy being out here on his own? With no shelter? No place to be warm? How long had he been out here by himself? Had he experienced a single winter yet? What would he do for food then if he hadn't? How would he stay warm? She felt her heart reach out to him just then. If ever a digimon was in need of a Tamer – of someone who would help keep them safe and sound – it was Calumon. He was just so little.
And here he was, with her, alone.
It's almost like destiny, she thought. At that word, her mind flitted towards thoughts of her mother; a Digidestined. She had been destined to have a partner. Why wouldn't the same hold true for her as well?
"Maybe we…" she whispered to herself. "Calumon and me… We get along after all… Could Calumon be my partner?"
Sudden inspiration seized her and she abruptly leaned over Calumon, a smile growing on her face.
"Calumon!"
The tiny, creampuff devouring digimon turned toward her with a wide smile of his own. "Good food!"
"You like me?" Jeri asked, eyes shining bright.
"I like your food," Calumon replied.
"I like you too!" Jeri squealed, so caught up in her excitement at this acknowledgement of appreciation that she didn't quite hear the digimon properly. Standing up suddenly, she pumped her fists in front of her. Energy… That raw, childish glee surged through her. Her mind was made up! She was going to reach for her goal of helping the Tamers and keep Calumon safe!
"Then it's settled!" she declared. "Calumon? You and I are going to be partners!"
In her mind, a victorious music swelled to a crescendo, cheering her along. Not hearing this melodious tempest and completely ignorant of Jeri's intentions, Calumon looked at her in confusion.
"A-wha…?" he blinked, taken aback by her sudden boldness.
Jeri nodded, pumping her fists again at her sides, thinking she were answering his question. A little confusion was understandable, she felt. She had heard from the documentaries how there was always a bit of a transition period for the newly partnered.
Though usually for the human, she thought, but she quickly dismissed the concern. That sort of issue might be for regular people, but she was the daughter of a Digidestined! Certainly, she was destined to have a partner like Calumon! Why else would the two of them be here together?
"Say hello to your new digimon Tamer!"
Now the lightbulb in Calumon's head clicked on, and with a horrified cry, he fell backwards to the ground, eyes bulging in their sockets.
Lifting an eyebrow at this unexpected response, she looked at the In-training digimon with disappointment.
Well… I knew partnership took some getting used to, but I didn't think I'd get a reaction quite like that.
Her expression darkening like a Ms. Kamiya's would whenever Kazu failed to turn in a homework assignment, she turned away slightly and planted her hands on her hips.
"Well, is that the way you behave to your new tamer?" she asked coolly. At her tone, Calumon shot to his feet, looking terrified of disappointing her. She lifted her chin ever so slightly, just to show that she was the one in charge here and that Calumon was the one letting her down.
"You don't think I'm cool enough like Takato," she added, making sure to rub a little salt in the wound of his fear. Oh, she saw that hesitation in his eyes even as he shook his head rapidly in an attempt to dispel her words. She could tell when someone wanted to protect her feelings without being truthful.
"It's not that!" Calumon tried to explain, half in panic. She turned her head to look at him more fully, but her eyes retained their disappointed look. She could see that they penetrated the tiny digimon deeply, just as they always did with her younger brother whenever she got after him about something. Guilt, she knew, was a good way to worm the truth out of someone if they felt bad about what they did.
"Then what is it, you said you liked me, didn't you?"
Calumon twiddled his fingers together, his panic and guilt growing with every passing second as he struggled to find an acceptable response that would get him out of the fire he found himself in.
"Oh, gee…um…um… No!"
His eyes shot up briefly at that and darted away, his resolve struggling weakly beneath Jeri's withering glare. Jeri huffed inwardly.
So that's how you're going to be, huh? Well, I'm not giving up!
"Now I know I may not look like one," she began, holding up a finger as she began to lay out her argument as to why they should be partners, "but I could be a great tamer and help you with a lot! I'm not trying to scold you, and I'm not saying this just because I gave you all of my bread, but I don't think this is the way a digimon should treat his Tamer…"
A loud, nasally cry suddenly broke upon the air, interrupting the two and causing them both to look about in bewilderment. Hearing the sound of metal clanking, their eyes came to focus on a nearby manhole cover, shaking and quivering where it sat. The lid upended slightly, allowing a blast of steam to shoot skyward before slamming back down. The process repeated itself and Jeri stood there, feeling her heart banging away in her chest. Finally, with another burst of steam, the lid flew off completely, and fog poured out onto the park path.
"Oh no, oh bad, bad, oh no, oh bad..." Calumon said in a frantic voice, flapping his arms about him while his eyes grew wide with terror. He could sense the digimon that was coming; its strength and power. It wasn't going to be friendly. It wasn't interested in sharing snacks! It wasn't…
"Don't panic…" Jeri quivered, holding her hands close to her chest. "A Tamer never panics…"
Takato wouldn't… And neither would his friends. She swallowed, struggling to keep her panic down. If she truly wanted to be a Tamer and help Takato and his friends, she needed to stand strong. She needed to…
A black shadow shot out from the sewer and landed before them, eyes glowing red in the mist that billowed about the park. Jeri and Calumon gasped as the digital field began to weaken and dissipate. The manhole cover fell neatly back into place with a loud clang and the newly arrived digimon stood revealed. It was round, standing on four, spindly legs with what appeared to be wings and some kind of metal forks protruding from its back. A white, horned, rat-like head was attached to the top and it glared at both Jeri and Calumon, seemingly unhappy with their reaction.
"Now is that any way to greet…your worst nightmare?" it barked at them angrily. Jeri's breath hitched in her throat, and then again, like a sneeze building until with a cry, she and Calumon leapt at one another and grabbed hold of the other in a tight hug. Yet, they didn't run, and the rat digimon, becoming annoyed by their lack of running, made a complaining noise at them, hoping to encourage some kind of change in their behavior that was more suitable.
Instead, Jeri cautiously peaked out from behind Calumon's head and looked at the rat digimon.
"Are you my partner, Mr. Whatever-you-are?" she timidly asked.
The rat digimon blinked, taken aback by this unexpected question.
"Wha…?" it began indignantly. "I am Kumbhiramon! A mighty Deva who serves the all-powerful Sovereign digimon! Why would I join forces with a pathetic human?"
He smirked, waiting for the expected cry from the human girl. He revealed himself to be a Deva. One of the twelve! Makuramon's reports assured him that he was something to be worried about, even by the Digidestined and Tamers! That should send her off running!
Why does she look relieved?
"Thank goodness!" Jeri beamed, grateful for this bit of information. "No offense, but you're way too bizarre! I can't tell if you're a mouse, a spider or a nutcracker! I wouldn't want to be the Tamer of a creepy digimon like you."
A what?! Creepy digimon?! A nutcracker?!
Jeri's face sobered just then, realization dawning upon her while the Deva worked through her description of him. "Wait a minute... if you're not my partner, then you must've come here to fight me and Calumon!"
Kumbhiramon's brow knotted. This…human so far proved to be nothing short of confusing in her mood swings. First fear; then gratitude; and now she was looking to pick a fight! Well, he had come here to do just that, but…
This isn't dignified, he thought. This human isn't behaving properly. She…
…suddenly thrust the tiny In-training digimon in her hands directly in front of her like a shield, her face shrinking away as though she were afraid of what she might see.
"GET HIM, CALUMON!" she commanded loudly.
Calumon's terrified pupils shrank to tiny dots as his eyes met with that of the Deva's. Kumbhiramon looked back in turn, heaving a mental sigh. This was the creature he was supposed to test? This…paltry, pathetic thing that his comrade in arms assured was such a valuable power in this world? Already it was squirming in the human's grasp and without missing a beat, it broke away and hid behind her.
At least it's strong enough to escape from humans… Kumbhiramon thought despairingly, deciding to advance now and make threatening noises. Might as well get this show on the road.
Both the human and Calumon took off suddenly at his approach, screaming loudly. Laughing now, he took off after them, grateful that things were finally going the way they should.
"Fear me, human!" he cried. "For I am the mighty Deva who will be your doom! Let the games begin!"
###
"Hmmm…" Makuramon watched as his comrade in arms chased after the human girl and Calumon. He had to admit that it wasn't the best entrance of any Deva into this world. But then, Kumbhiramon wasn't exactly what one would call a warrior and more of a trickster of sorts. Its primary role, many ages ago, had been to select candidates for the Devas and to test their faith and loyalty to the Sovereign. Afterward, he became one of their 'ghost warriors.' A stealth agent. The investigation into this Calumon necessitated one such agent, and as he himself had already been assigned the duty of observation (and could do so more subtly than the rat), the job fell to Kumbhiramon. Supposedly, this was a great honor, but upon review of the girl's reaction, Makuramon couldn't help but wonder if that were truly the case.
Seems more a humiliation, he thought. Makaaa…
###
Jeri and Calumon's screams echoed throughout the park as they broke past the tree line and into an open field. Frantically, Jeri tossed a look over her shoulder to see that Kumbhiramon was still right on their tail, hopping on his thin, spidery legs. She shot a look down at Calumon, who maintained a close pace with her, arms spread wide about him alongside his ears.
"I don't get it…" she panted, returning her attention to the path in front of her. "Why…Why don't you use a special attack on him or something? What kind of digimon are you?"
"The cuddly, cute kind who doesn't like to fight and gets cramps when he eats too much!" Calumon hastily replied, picking up the pace as the sound of Kumbhiramon's cackling voice rang out behind them. Increasing her own pace, Jeri shot down a path, but she quickly felt a cramp bite into her side. Her lungs gasped for air as they struggled to keep up with her demands, and before too long she drew up alongside a wall with small, rivulets of water running down them and into a water fountain. Her legs, finally unable to take it anymore, forced her to a halt and she leaned on her knees, panting heavily. With an effort, she looked over her shoulder and found, much to her surprise, no sign of the rat Deva anywhere in sight. The only thing digital nearby was Calumon, so tired now that his long ears now looked like wilted flower petals.
"Maybe…we lost him…" she breathed as her body shook from fear and exhaustion. Hope sprang anew in her chest and she smiled, wiping an arm across her brow.
Her hopes were dashed an instant later as Kumbhiramon splashed down into the fountain, giving a triumphant laugh. Jeri shook at the sight of the Deva, frozen in fear.
"I can't move…" she shivered. "It's been nice knowing you, Calumon."
As the Deva continued to advance however, water began to bubble up beneath him before spouting upward like a geyser. Kumbhiramon screamed as he shot into the air with such force that he crashed to the ground behind Jeri. The girl's eyes widened with surprise at this unexpected event before a smile bloomed onto her face.
"It's a miracle! I wonder what this means?"
"Maybe the fountain didn't like the way he tasted?" Calumon offered, no less surprised by their sudden good fortune. Indeed, the water spout grew and intensified, with more rapidly joining it. And what was more…a colorful arc of fractured light – a rainbow – materialized before the spouts of water, from which rose slowly at its top a great, powerfully built figure with a thick-bladed sword girted at its waist.
He was man-shaped, with a thick mane of golden hair surrounding a bestial, feline face with a solid mass of muscle about him, rippling beneath his bronze colored skin. His powerful arms were folded over his chest, revealing a number of dark scars, marring his otherwise impressive form. Jeri's heart skipped a beat at the sight and she gasped at the sight of his magnificent blue eyes as they opened to the bright daylight.
"That's…" she began before digging into her skirt's pocket. Producing her cards, she quickly fanned through them, locating the one she sought for.
"I knewit!" she cried. "It's Leomon!" She looked back up at him, her amber eyes shining as she traced her gaze along his powerful figure. "Oh, he's so big! This must be a sign!"
With a luminescent blush burning on her cheeks, Jeri's eyes softened and with a giggle, she placed a hand on her chest, feeling her burning heart pumping hard within in excitement.
"He's meant to be…my partner!"
Calumon suddenly looked up at her in surprise and confusion. "Huh?"
###
Makuramon cocked an eyebrow at this unexpected turn of events. He had hoped that one of the Tamers would arrive to defend the human girl and Calumon, and by doing so, cause the little digimon to activate its powers. The arrival of this Leomon had changed things.
Or did it? If it was true… If his suspicions were correct… Then this Calumon would invoke digivolution regardless of whether or not a Tamer was involved.
Time to show me what you can do, little one, he thought, humming to himself eagerly.
###
"You should stay out of my way!"
Broken out of his thoughts, Leomon unfolded his arms and looked down at the irritated voice that had hailed him. Spying some kind of rodent-chicken creature speeding towards him from behind a human and a small, In-training level digimon, he narrowed his eyes. Something about the three of them… The scene felt oddly familiar to him. Indeed, much about this world that he found himself in felt familiar – a shadow of a memory like a dream that is forgotten upon waking – but the human girl and her situation currently held his full attention. He sniffed the air, smelling her fear and the rodent's aggression. Yes, his suspicions were right.
"You should pick on someone your own size!" he growled at the rat as it came to a halt. "A true warrior battles only those who are strong! Only a coward fights defenseless little girls!"
Jeri clasped her hands together, squealing excitedly at this show of chivalry. Her eyes shone and her blush deepened. Oh, she couldn't believe this was happening! It couldn't be happening!
I must be dreaming! I must be dreaming! I must be dreaming!
Yet, it was all true. Every bit of it. There was simply no denying it. Leomon was here and he was rescuing her! It had to be destiny that led him here to her!
"You will pay for your impertinence, warrior!" Kumbhiramon shouted, and shifting to the side, he thrust a forked end of the metal weapon his back forward like a spear. With a great and mighty leap, he lunged into the air, aiming straight at Leomon. With a growl, Leomon fell into a defensive stance, thrusting one mighty fist out while the other latched hold of his sword hilt. Jeri felt her heart pause as sudden fear seized her.
Is he going to be all right? That's a Deva… An Ultimate! Leomon's only a Champion!
If Leomon were at all worried, he didn't show it. Instead, with a growl, he leapt off the rainbow that somehow supported his weight, sword flashing as he drew it out in one, smooth motion. There came a loud crash as metal slammed into each other and in the next moment… Kumbhiramon was sent spiraling into the sky, screaming, where he eventually fell somewhere behind the tree line, far, far away from Leomon and Jeri.
Jeri let out another cry of exaltation.
"He's amazing!" she exclaimed, bursting into a run in Leomon's direction as he landed gracefully upon the ground. "My hero!"
"Hey, wait!" Calumon cried, bouncing after her.
"Mr. Leomon?" she called as she halted behind him. The massive, lion digimon sheathed his sword and looked over his shoulder and down at her questioningly.
"What is it, kid?" he asked tersely, wondering why this human was speaking to him now. He felt a bit bad for doing so, but he admittedly wasn't certain about a great many things at the moment. How he came to this world of humans. His last memories… They were oddly vague. Fuzzy even, and seemed to lie just outside of his reach. The child distracting him wasn't helping ei…
"Wait, what did you say?"He blinked, one, feline-ear twitching as he just barely caught wind of something she was saying to him.
"You're my…partner!" she half-squeaked, half-cooed up at him, eyes seeming to swim with sunlight as she looked up at him in what appeared to be complete and utter adoration. He frowned at that.
"I'm your what?"
Jeri didn't hear his confusion or question and instead pressed on, barely able to keep her voice from cracking as her heart continued to bang away in her chest. "I'm honored to be your Tamer!"
Leomon found himself no less confused than before. "Tamer?"
"You have no idea how long I've dreamed about this!" Jeri continued, gasping for air now as her legs began to shake. Oh, she was so excited. Things like this simply didn't happen to her and now…here was the digimon of her dreams! Oh, he's so strong looking. So… So big! Oh my goodness… Those muscles!
Seeing that he wasn't going to be getting a straight answer from the girl anytime soon, Leomon glanced down at Calumon.
"You wanna clue in here, pal?" he asked. "Is this girl all right?"
"I think her brain's gone all funny," Calumon replied helpfully. At that, Jeri turned a baleful glare on him. How dare he?!
"Calumon! Stay out of this!" she seethed, wrath flaring in her chest. At her unexpectedly raised voice, Calumon's ears retreated into his head and he cowered.
"But it has…" he whimpered.
"Now where were we…?" Deeming Calumon dismissed now, Jeri returned her smitten attention up at Leomon, eyes shining excitedly. In her own mind, the atmosphere had changed. Light took on an oddly pink and orange color, with multiple bubbles, all bright blues, pinks and reds, popping around her. Hearts floated, trembling about as well. A sign of her love for this wonderful lion who now held her heart! Oh, if only he could see…
Leomon frowned. He didn't like the way she was looking at him and deeply wished she would stop. There was something in those eyes that reminded him…
…an orange cat with strange, green eyes, with X's for pupils, smiling up at him cutely…
…of something, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it was. Either way, to see this…whatever it could be called coming from this girl was unsettling. Still, there was always the chance that she had been harmed by the digimon that attacked her. Why not give her the benefit of the doubt?
"You're a strange little human," he said. "You sure you're okay?"
Jeri looked away bashfully as, in her mind, the atmosphere changed again, becoming clouds of purple and violet. Her blush grew, spreading across her cheeks and into her ears. Taking up a hand, she drew back a strand of hair and batted her eyes at him. She giggled.
"I am just fine…"
Oookay… Leomon's eye twitched at that. Something about the way she had spoken… And that eye fluttering… No. Best not to dwell on it. If she was fine, then it would be best if he took off now before things became even more awkward than they were already. This girl was definitely creeping her out. "Uh… See you around, kid," he said. With that, he turned away and dashed off. Jeri gasped, broken out of her daydream.
"Wait! We're supposed to be together!" she called frantically, breaking into a run after him. Calumon tilted his head to one side briefly before spreading his ears open, taking off after her.
And so Leomon ran. He stayed ahead of her easily, his powerful legs giving him great strides, but a quick look over his shoulder told him that she not only stayed on him, but was starting to catch up as well. He swallowed a curse and quickly considered his options. The path curved up ahead, ensuring that he would be out of her sight for a brief moment. Taking it, he disappeared just as he expected and quickly dashed into the wooded area off to the side.
He waited.
Sure enough she and the tiny digimon began to pass him by. The girl, whoever she was, continued on with a laser-like focus. He breathed a sigh of relief as she rounded the turn and disappeared from his sight. Now he could get on with figuring out what he…
"FOUND HIM!"
His eyes going wide with horror, he looked up to find that the tiny white digimon he rescued had doubled back, having no doubt sensed his presence, and spotted his massive form in the trees sticking out like a sore thumb.
Aw, nuts… he thought before his ears pricked up. His eyes rose away from the tiny digimon and found the girl charging at him, her breath coming out rapidly as she pumped her arms up and down with frantic fervor, pushing herself to go as fast as possible before she lost him! And her eyes… Leomon's mouth fell open as his blue ones met her amber. Focused. Determined. Those were the eyes of someone bound and determined to get what they wanted, come hell or high water. The eyes of a demon.
"Aw, nuts!" he shouted, crashing through the brush in an effort to escape the crazed girl.
He dashed through the wooded area, his eyes darting about in an attempt to find some means of escape or, if failing that, some place he could hide. Leaping off a hill-like protrusion in the ground, he landed before a set of stairs. Curious about them, he paused to look over his shoulder, and there found a concrete hut with an iron gate. He considered it thoughtfully. It didn't look like much, but it could shelter him. If he stayed quiet and shielded his presence, perhaps he could go unnoticed. The girl was so focused that she didn't take much notice of her surroundings.
If I can fool the digimon that's with her…
He heard the sounds of twigs snapping and he darted into the hut swiftly. There was no time to further debate the merits of this shelter or the thinness of his plan. He could only hope.
Doing his best to squeeze into the main entrance without causing the gate to squeak had been difficult, but once inside, he found plenty of room. Holding his breath, he stood there and waited. Sure enough, the girl came charging down the hill and down the stairs without missing a beat. That left only the digimon as he came bounding after her.
Please don't notice me. Please don't notice me.
Calumon paused in place and looked directly into the hut's entrance where he stood. Cupping his tiny hands around his mouth, he took a great lungful of air.
"HE'S HE-!" he began, but Calumon didn't get very far, as Leomon rushed out of the hut, snatched hold of him with his massive, muscular hand, and darted back into the hut.
"Be quiet!" he growled softly as Calumon struggled and squirmed within his grasp. He cursed mentally. Digimon this young… They always did this! Get them going with something they think is a game and they ruin everything! Just like what happened before when he went to help the Digidestined and Meicoomon…
He blinked. Who?
Before he could parse out that thought any further, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention and he looked up, expecting the worst, only to find a young, brown-haired boy wearing yellow-rimmed goggles running up the steps with a red dinosaur digimon following closely behind.
"Tai?" The name fell out his mouth before he even knew it was there, and he twitched. His grip loosened and Calumon flew out of his hand with an excited cry of greeting toward the red dinosaur, seeming to forget that he had been held hostage just a second ago.
"Calumon!" Takato greeted in surprise as the tiny-white digimon flung itself at his partner. Today was a day for strange greetings. Jeri, for instance, had raced by him without so much as a hello, seeming to be frantically searching for someone.
Could it have been Calumon? he wondered, his eyes zeroing in on the figure hiding inside Guilmon's home. It looked like Calumon had just escaped him. Who…?
The figure stepped into the light and Takato froze in sudden awe.
"Leomon…" he breathed while Guilmon looked up from Calumon and at the great lion warrior questioningly. The digimon looked strong. And more, he sensed something…good about him. Like there was nothing at all to worry about where he was concerned. Many digimon he fought in the past didn't give him that sense. They were often looking for battle. Taking out his digivice, Takato quickly scanned the warrior.
"Champion level. His bravery is matched by his Fist of the Beast King attack." Frowning slightly, he looked up at Leomon accusingly. "Hey, picking on Calumon isn't very brave!"
Leomon groaned mentally. This was just not his day.
"You just don't understand, kid!" he began, trying to placate him in the hopes that he could explain that he hadn't been bullying that little digimon. This boy didn't look like much, but he recognized the fire that burned within his eyes.
Within short order, he was proven right.
"Well I think I do!" Takato declared, whipping out a red-ringed device that caused Leomon to cock an ear in recognition. He remembered…a light, burning him. Cleansing him…
"Prepare to fight!"
Those words brought Leomon out of his thoughts and he focused once more on the child before him.
"You've got to be kidding."
"We can take you, right Guilmon?"
"We?" Leomon blinked. This child was planning on fighting him alongside the digimon? That…couldn't have been right. His ears had to be playing tricks on him.
"Uh…huh?" Guilmon looked over at Takato uncertainly, but before he could say anything, Takato turned to face him, a desperate look on his face.
"Come on, boy, go get him!"
Guilmon blinked twice in confusion before tossing Calumon over his shoulder. He didn't really understand what was going on. Leomon didn't smell like a threat, but Takato was certain that he had been bullying Calumon. Surely, his partner knew what he was talking about, and he trusted him. Getting into a crouch, he let out a threatening growl.
Leomon sighed and fell into a combat stance. "I don't want to fight you, but it seems you've left me no choice."
Reaching toward his side, his hand fell on the hilt of his sword. Clenching his teeth, he prepared to draw it out of his sheath while his two opponents raised their fists, ready to come charging in. The world about them seemed to hold its breath…
"THERE YOU ARE!" came the sudden and unexpected – and to Leomon, quite frightening – call. The world let out the breath it had been holding and Takato and Guilmon turned to find Jeri merrily running up the steps, a wide smile on her face.
"Jeri?" Takato asked as she stepped past them and through the gate of Guilmon's home. Twirling about, she held out a hand, presenting Leomon to her friends.
"I want you both to meet my partner, Mr. Leomon!"
Takato's mouth fell open at that in surprise. "Um…" he began, completely at a loss for words. "Wow, really?
"Looks like I'm a Tamer, just like you!" Jeri chirped happily. "Pretty neat, huh?"
Takato, still trying to process this latest bombshell of information, looked back and forth between Leomon and Jeri. The two couldn't have been more opposite if one tried. Leomon, a powerfully built, ginormous Champion with fists as wide as a car door and Jeri… A tiny girl scarcely into her teens and rail thin.
And I thought Guilmon was huge for a partner digimon…
"Well, I guess congratulations are in order?" he asked hesitantly. At this, Leomon abruptly stormed forward, looking more than a little annoyed.
"Now hold on, kid!"
Takato instinctively straightened his back at Leomon's commanding voice. "Sir, yes sir," he said quickly, as though he were a drill sergeant.
"All I've been hearing about is partners and tamers," Leomon explained. "I don't know what those are, but let's just get one thing straight! I'm a lone warrior. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way it's going to stay. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir, crystal," Takato answered quickly. "But…um…" He trailed off hesitantly, and seeing this, Leomon frowned darkly.
"But what?"
"Does that mean Jeri's not your partner, Mr. Leomon?"
Leomon sighed. "Call me Leomon, and for the last time, I don't know what that means!"
At that, Jeri twirled towards him, happiness sparkling on her face.
"I'll tell you what it means!"
"Huh?" Nervously, the lion digimon glanced towards her, almost afraid of what he would see.
"Leomon…" she cooed at him, eyes soft and half-lidded. In his mind's eye, he saw what she did whenever she looked at him now. What he felt she had to be thinking whenever she turned that smitten look at him. A pink atmosphere surrounded by brightly colored bubbles and hearts popping about her in rapid succession. Instinctively, he staggered back.
"Please stop doing that!" he snarled desperately. Jeri however did not appear the least bit intimidated by him. Indeed, she was steadily advancing on him, hands clasped together. She had a look in her eyes that told him she wanted to swoon into his chest, grab hold and never let go.
"Partners are inseparable," she declared, only confirming his horror-filled suspicions. "Just like you and I will be!"
Something snapped in Leomon at that and he dashed away, attempting to escape her gaze. "I don't think so!" he shouted, crashing into the brush. Jeri didn't even pause for a second, and quickly gave chase after him, giggling madly.
"But wait!" she called. "That's just the beginning!"
Takato, Guilmon and Calumon stood there, watching as the pair disappeared into the depths of the park, completely confused by what they had just witnessed. After a moment, the trio collectively let out a single word to best summarize their thoughts.
"Oookaaay…"
"That was fun," Takato began, starting to get his mental feet back under him. Looking up at him, Guilmon appeared in awe of the scene of the tiny girl chasing after the ten-foot tall lion warrior.
"Jeri sure can run fast."
"Uh-huh," Calumon nodded. "She's been chasing him all day."
"All day?" Takato started, surprised by that. He looked off in the direction that Jeri and Leomon disappeared into and groaned. "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. She's always been kind of intense."
Shaking his head, he looked at Guilmon. "Ah… What should we do?"
"Ask Henry for advice," Guilmon replied. "I've never seen a human scare a digimon before. I don't know what to do about that."
"Yeah, me neither." Takato folded his arms together and nodded to himself. "Yeah, calling Henry sounds like a good idea. Man, I hope this doesn't bother him…"
Starting down the stairs, Guilmon took one last look over his shoulder, where came a heavy crash, followed by Leomon begging Jeri to stop chasing him.
"Takato? What did Jeri mean when she said being inseparable was just the beginning? I get the feeling she was talking about something else than being a Tamer. It kind of reminds me a little of what Terriermon talks about whenever he makes fun of you and Rika."
Takato groaned, blushing profusely at that.
"N-Never mind," he stammered out. "Just help me find a payphone."
Yet, try as he might, he couldn't get out of his head the image that Guilmon had unwittingly conjured of Jeri, wearing a wedding gown, standing next to Leomon, who bore a rather dashing – and large – wedding suit. He groaned inwardly.
Mom's right. My imagination can be a curse!
14
