The Keystone Chronicles

Book One

Chapter Four

On Saturday, Kari was sitting outside of her apartment complex a few minutes after ten in the morning, waiting for Takeru and his family on their walk towards Fuji-Television. Listening to the weatherman's council (with Gatomon's input), she swapped out her short-attire for a tasteful, grapefruit blouse and matching khakis. She ditched her gloves. Her camera remained in her room, replaced by a gold necklace with a replica of her tag and crest. Kari had borrowed a pair of her mother's inlaid hair clips and scented herself in rosewater and lavender. She gave herself a cursory sniff, but Gatomon assured her the amount 'was just right', giving her a coy smile.

People walking the sidewalks gave her curious looks, or more accurately, at Gatomon, who perched on her shoulder. Some children called out the digimon's name, waving. Gatomon smiled and returned the gesture, sending them into gushing conversation with their parents or friends. That was a Gatomon, one would say, just like in the card game. It looked so real, spoke another. Does she work for the studio making the anime? Wow, that's so cool.

The conversations would end the same; children—even some adults—heading away to buy 'Digimon Adventure!' merchandise and booster packs. Kari felt unease. During the Digital World Tour, she encountered dozens of humans partnered to digimon, and seeing that felt good, wholesome. But it all ended after the world banded together against Malo-Myotismon, when Gennai reclaimed all but the original twelve digimon and devices, and the Aesir crept from the aftermath. Instead of elating over a real digimon, people spent countless yen on surrounding themselves in product, savoring in the imagination of what could have been.

All from the mind of Bragi, the visionary, the Aesir of arts and poems; a cultural maestro wielding addiction like a wand.

Her brooding was interrupted by a familiar voice punctuating the ambient buzzing. She looked over her shoulder and, out the corner of her eye, spotted Takeru, Matt, and their digimon striding towards her. Takeru had ditched his casual attire also, wearing a teal button up with black slacks. He wore a silver necklace with his tag and crest. The skin along his chin looked raw from an inexperienced hand shaving an already smooth face. His flaxen hair was combed into a part using just enough styling gel to set it in place.

"Sorry we're a little late," he said, "Gabumon got his horn stuck in a door again."

The squat creature sighed, rubbing his horn. "Mornings aren't my thing."

Kari smiled at them. "I just left myself, so no worries."

Matt looked further down the street. "Well, if we're done saying hi, let's get this show on the road," he said, walking away. "The sooner this is done, the sooner we can leave."

The girl cocked an eyebrow at his back and glanced at Takeru. He shook his head. "It's complicated," he began as they turned to follow. "He's working through some," Takeru hesitated for the right word, "issues."

"Like what?" She asked.

Takeru thought for a moment. Pedestrians gave them a wide berth, staring wide-eyed at the creatures accompanying them. "Matt thinks that Bragi is taking advantage of his band," he began. "They've been putting all their hours into this anime soundtrack and haven't played a real gig since the Digital World Tour. Sometimes Matt would sleep in the studio just to save time." Businesses lining the street hung banners or posters in their shop windows, 'Digimon Advenutre!' cards and accessories sold here!', they proclaimed. "While the money's good, Matt says their morale is tanking. Some of his band mates are getting sick." Takeru frowned, looking at the back of his brother's head. "A few nights ago, one of his band mates was caught by the Faceless," he paused, waiting for the crowd that had gathered for the streetlight to disperse along the crosswalk. "They beat him unconscious. I've never seen Matt so angry."

Kari looked at Matt. "That's terrible," she said.

"We had to restrain him from going outside and confronting them," Takeru continued. "This'll be the first time Matt has seen Bragi since the incident, and we're hoping he doesn't completely blow up."

"Don't worry, I'll help if it happens."

Takeru turned towards Kari. She recognized the same relief and gratitude from yesterday. "Thanks, Kari. It means a lot to me," he said.

She felt her cheeks color. It recalled the feelings from yesterday and the amused faces of her friends during their awkward talk in the bog. She pushed them aside, pushing her right hand into his left, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "I know," she replied.

The amount of people thickened. Everywhere Kari turned, she saw 'Digimon Adventure!' merchandise; on clothing donned by child and parent alike, children fanning the playing cards or huddling around open tables, and she even bought a small coffee with a sleeve advertising the anime's inaugural launch later in the month. The buzz about their digimon grew. Gatomon found refuge on Kari's shoulder. Patamon hovered above astonished heads. Only Gabumon braved through the sea of legs and oppressive onlookers, getting close enough to ogle the monster yet far enough away to escape a lunge.

It worsened once they arrived on Fuji-Televisions concourse. People thronged in their dozens, drawn by booming music from speakers and the echoes of an emcee. They crowded under banners. Fuji employees handed out booster card packs to the ravenous school of children bait-balling around them. Grilling meat and heavy body odor scented the air. Holding onto Takeru's hand, Kari navigated through the mobs until coming upon the cordoned off main entrance into the television station. Matt had stormed ahead of them.

The group collected themselves in the quiet of the vestibule. Takeru took Kari's other hand, and they both smiled at each other. The digimon giggled. Before words could exchange, another familiar voice rang out from the quiet. "Takeru, you made it," Nancy Ishida said, throwing her arms around her son. She nodded towards Kari. "I was beginning to worry the crowds would've scared you off, but here you are, with a girlfriend no less."

Takeru's face turned scarlet. "She's not my girlfriend, mom. Just a friend," he countered.

"Friends don't hold hands like that," Nancy said, her smile widening. "But I'll play along. Where's your brother?"

"He already went up the elevator."

Nancy's smile vanished. "Oh no," she muttered. "Prepare for a shouting match." Takeru blundered out confusion. He and Kari exchanged glances, while Nancy walked ahead of them. Seeing their confusion, she explained. "Your father's of the same mind as your brother, so I doubt he'll stop Matt from giving Bragi a peace of his mind. But," the woman sighed, deflating into a slouch. "It's not going to phase that man."

The statement hung in the air. Nanci straightened the hem of her skirt and made sure her identification badge prominent on her lapel. When they stepped out onto the spherical observation level, guards addressed them as they approached the double doors. "This area is off limits to the public," one of them drawled through its microphone. They wore the same unnerving helmets of the faceless, but their eye lenses glowed primitive red, and their heavier, segmented armor bore the same, familiar scarlet, complete with the spear emblem stenciled on their right pauldrons.

Nacy pointed to her badge. "We're expected," she said, recoiling from the other guard leaning in.

The guard regarded her for a few heartbeats. "Bragi is expecting you, Mrs. Ishida." He intoned. He waved them through. "Let them pass." Then, speaking to no one, began signaling on the radio. "Observation post to RavenWatch. Three subjects entering observation sphere, two digimon present. Confirm count."

His conversation fell away as Kari pushed through the double doors. The spherical observation room brought back a bitter memory. She felt Gatomon's body sigh. The cat digimon's eyes were wet, but no tears came. Kari collected her friend off her shoulders and hugged her in both arms. In the center of the room, three men were boiling at each other. Reporters and guards lined the walls, the former sitting in office chairs staring wide-eyed at the exchange. Against the far wall stood a wall length television, a 'Digimon Adventure!' logo spinning on screen.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Matt demanded. His blonde hair lost its usual hold, becoming limp with sweat.

The man standing across from him shrugged. "Do? Besides paying for his hospital bill?"

"Your goons going around beating up my band mates!"

The man put his slender finger up, cutting Matt's next outburst. "First, Civil Protection is Hodr's thing. Second, your friend was stupid enough to talk a midnight walk. Third," he said, accentuating his middle finger as he counted, "Goons? I'm not some mobster, mop top."

Hiroaki spoke up next. "Doesn't his band have special privileges or something that prevents stuff like this from happening?" He said. The man's face held more creases than aged clay with eye bags dark as Gabumon's nose. "For God's sake Bragi, people are being assaulted and put in the hospital."

Bragi, the Aesir and the visionary, shook his head. "You think I'm okay with this? One of these little dip shits breaks curfew and I'm down a, a," he beckoned Matt to fill in the gap.

"Drummer," the lead singer said through seething teeth.

"A drummer," Bragi finished. "My audio schedule is completely railroaded. But, thank god the soundtrack is done." His smile caught the two off guard. "After all, that's the real crises averted, am I right?"

Matt shook. His fists clenched white. Gabumon, standing at his side, clung onto his pant leg, begging him to calm down. Hiroaki snarled, turning around, staring out the observatory windows. Takeru took a step forward, but his mother's arm stopped his advance. The woman's blue eyes were hard, speaking the language of parents Kari knew little about. Kari watched on, aghast. Without warning, Matt stormed away from Bragi, saying nothing to his mother as he passed her. Gabumon hustled after him. Hiroaki turned.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Hiroaki said.

Bragi sniffed, producing a comb and drawing it through his brown hair. "Maybe next time you'll crash my release party with problems I can actually fix," he said. Stepping forward, he whispered something between himself and Hiroaki. Whatever the words, the father's eyes blazed. Hiroaki followed his sons steps soon after. "Well then," Bragi announced to the reporters after Hiroaki's departure. "Sorry for the drama. Now we can get this official release started off nice and proper. Everyone take your seats, the presentation will begin shortly." The Aesir bowed. He strode towards Kari and the remaining Ishidas, aiming for the consoles that controlled the television. "Ah, and here's the rest of the brood," he said, regarding Nancy and Takeru. When his eyes landed on Kari, Bragi stopped. "And you are?"

"Kari Kamiya," Kari said, frowning.

The man standing before Kari appeared too picturesque. Her trained eye noticed the lighting highlighting his smooth, pointed face that framed a photogenic nose and a square, yet subtle, chin. He stood above them all, if you included his natural pompadour. He fitted into a dark purple coat with coattails, sleeves rolled up to the elbow and held in place using cuffs. His khakis snugged into worn tennis shoes. All his angles were picture worthy, which struck the amateur photographer as impossible.

Bragi's sea green eyes widened. "Oh," he said, somewhat taken aback. "Oh you're the one with—" he stopped. "Never mind," he corrected. He glanced at Takeru and back. "Well, you look tasteful, kiddo. You make him work for it. Kay, bye."

He winked at the stunned girl before striding towards the back. Kari went blank. She wanted to berate, question, and accuse him all at once, but no words came. Gatomon growled. Takeru narrowed his eyes. "What's the big idea?" he said, stepping towards the consoles. Nancy tried restraining him again, but the boy dodged her reaching hand. "You think you can just insult everyone around you?"

Bragi groaned. He rolled his neck, narrowing his gaze at Takeru. "I have this thing about wasting time, and my mother had told me I was the most honest child she's met," he said in a sarcastic note. "If you haven't noticed, I've got a million things to do and spending time slinging insults ain't one of them."

"How can you be this self-centered?!"

"I prefer the term eccentric," Bragi interjected. He typed a few things on a keyboard. The lights dimmed and the television screen pulsed a two minute countdown. "Ah!" He clapped his hands. "This is it. Years of preparation is about to pay off."

Takeru's face flashed in anger. Patamon looked on in worry. "Are you even listening? People are getting hurt and insulted because of you."

Bragi glanced up. He smiled, large and predatory, revealing manicured teeth too pristine for normal mouths. "And it's all about it pay off," he repeated. "The years getting jobbed by your dumb-ass friend erasing all my progress, paying off your parents, and Ryo—" Bragi stopped the swear from escaping his lips, "Ryo Akiyama. All of it is going to be a distant memory." Jumping from behind the console, Bragi stood before Takeru and clapped his shoulders. Patamon flapped near his partner's head, tense. "'Digimon Adventure!' is my magnum opus, kiddo. Your little adventures are going to pay me back in ways your tiny mind can't fathom, and to top it off, the show was dirt cheap to make.

"Your adventure writes itself. And the 'Destined' likenesses are all real, though," he snorted, eyeing Takeru, "the kids that came before you can't exactly object." Takeru's anger turned into confusion, but Bragi shushed him with his slender pointer. "You should ask Gennai about them next time you run into him. Other than that, I've got your brother stringing my audio and a fleet of you tiny people to throw up as much merchandise that can hold a logo. I've even got the Digimon Queen on the radar for a D-Shutter too." Bragi's eyes rolled into the back of his head and swayed. "Everything is finally working as planned." He released Takeru. Digging into his vest pockets, Bragi produced a few booster cards and shoved them into the teens empty hands. "Enjoy the show, kiddos. Spread the word, and those cards, 'cause 'Digimon Adventure!' is going to be the next, best thing."

The launch began playing. As Kari went to her seat still stunned by Bragi's demeanor, the Aesir spoke up again. "And by the way, have fun down in those tunnels, Kari. What you're about to experience will hook my sixteen and over crowd until they become my 30+ and over crowd."

OOC: This was a bit longer, but I resisted the urge of revising and kept it mostly as a rough draft. Though the relation between the Destined and the Aesir aren't well defined (that's for later), I did want to show what an Aesir was capable of while showing off the Real World's situation, as it were.

Next chapter begins the exploration into the unknown in the Digital World!