The Good Ol' Present
By: Kayeth
The twelve year old girl walking to the edge of the lake in the center of the park was pretty much unremarkable in appearance--despite the fact that there was no strange creature tailing her like all the other kids she had passed.
Her hair was shoulder-length and straight, like her mom's, but the dark red-brown color of her dad's hair. Her skin was a warm tan, making her eyes glitter like green gems on her face. She was dressed casually, T-shirt, jeans, and a windbreaker tied around her waist. Oddly enough, a pair of large white goggles hung around her neck.
Her name was Erin Motimiya, the daughter of Davis and Kat Motimiya.
Sitting on a bench not to far away, where a brother and sister. The boy was about twelve, and the girl ten.
The boy's hair was reddish-orange, contrasting sharply the green long-sleeved shirt he wore under a gray T-shirt. His jeans where worn and old, and his dark blue eyes watched his sister carefully, as if she would blow away without notice.
His name was Ryo Ishida, son of Matt and Sora Ishida.
The boy's sister, unaware of her brother's vigil or simply ignoring it, was throwing bread crumbs at the pigeons flocking around her at the promise of food. She was dressed in a green tank top, and dark blue jeans tucked into brown boots. Her hair was blond, and rather spiky, her bangs looking like they could poke your eyes out, the rest in a ponytail. Her eyes were the same as her brothers, a dark, deep blue.
Her name was Yamako Ishida, daughter of Matt and Sora Ishida.
Under a tree, about twenty feet away, was another twelve year-old, doing schoolwork. Her hair was dark blue, pulled away from her face in a low ponytail. Her eyes were a disturbing ice blue. She looked particularly severe and rather plain in a Tamachi School Uniform, not unlike the one her father had worn many years ago.
Her name was Jennifer Ichijouji, daughter of Ken and Yolei Ichijouji.
Sitting in a group on one of the docks, was a group of four kids of about the same age. Two boys, and two girls. One of the boys sat a bit apart from the rest, engrossed in the sketchpad on his lap, only occasionally adding a comment. He had a plain gray T-shirt and jeans, mushroom of light brown hair falling in his face. His eyes were black, narrowed in concentration.
His name was Natsu Kido, son of Joe and Kay Kido.
The other boy had pale blond hair, matching his equally pale skin. His eyes were blank and misted over, the color mostly obscured. He wore a black T-shirt, a hooded dark green sweater, and faded jeans.
His name was Tobias Takaishi, son of TK and Catherine Takaishi.
Speaking energetically, causing the others in the group to chuckle, even Natsu, was the first girl. Her hair--vivid purple, waist-length and pulled back in a ponytail--complemented her gold eyes. She was dressed fashionably, with a Tommy Hilfiger navy T-shirt, a high collared black vest, black jeans, and elbow-length navy gloves.
Her name was Jacqueline Ichijouji, Jennifer's twin sister and the daughter of Ken and Yolei Ichijouji.
The other girl made a remark, making all four of them laugh again. Her hair was dirty blond, cut at her chin, and her eyes were brown. She wore a green soccer jersey and jeans.
Her name was Angie Haneko, daughter of Wallace and Kari Haneko.
They were already marked. Marked by their differences.
And that mark could prove to be fatal.
Peeking out from the gilded frame was a photograph of a smiling girl with dark red eyes and long, white striped black hair. Beside it in a smaller frame was a photo of the same girl standing together with four other kids and four strange creatures. Another girl with reddish-orange hair in a high ponytail and solemn violet eyes lighted by a smile for once, standing by a creature that was taller than she was, looking much like a fox standing on its hind legs. The boy beside her had his arm around her in an almost joking manner, yellow goggles very obvious against his light brown hair. His smile was wide, and his magenta eyes bright. A tall red T-rex creature stood at his side, grinning and obviously having the time of his life.
The girl in the other picture stood by a tall boy with navy blue hair and gray-green eyes. Obviously unaware the picture was being taken, they were holding hands discreetly. Perched on the boy's shoulder was a creature with enormous ears with pale green markings on its white fur. Floating beside the girl was another creature with large ears, the tips purple, contrasting its blue-green eyes. Both of these creatures waved at the camera energetically.
Hands picked up the second picture carefully. Those hands belonged to the goggle-wearing boy from the picture, though now he didn't have any trace of his smile. His face was somber, more serious than a ten-year old's face should ever be.
"Nine years, guys." Takato Matsuda said quietly, turning to the other occupants of the room, they being the one's from the photograph. Two small details, none of them were smiling, and the smiling girl with black-and-white hair was missing.
Kurumon, the white Digimon that had been beside the missing girl, burst into tears again. The other large-eared creature, Terriermon, rushed over to comfort her, in vain.
Ruki Makino, the girl with the serious violet eyes, did not raise her eyes from her lap, her expression still somber. From where she was sitting beside Ruki, Renamon put a comforting paw on her shoulder.
Lee Jenrya did not move from the corner in which he remained hunched over, with his face in his hands. When he looked up his gray-green eyes held none of the quiet warmth from the one in the photograph as he held the girl's hand.
Takato looked at the photo in his hand once more, and set it back down as his own Digimon, Gillmon, went over to help calm Kurumon down.
Nine years ago Luna Hoshi had died. She's given her life to save her friends, without a trace of fear on her face even in the end.
But she'd doomed them with a life of her memory haunting them.
The Original Digidestined, as they were called, had not had the option of helping directly until then. They'd been held back by the strange powers of the world they now lived in, the Digital World, and those powers had warned them not to interfere, or dire consequences would follow.
In their opinion, their successors' situations had been dire enough to make them want to interfere more than once. But they had pulled through…barely.
And when they'd been given the free rein at last—they'd botched it. Badly.
One of their own was gone because of it.
To Be Continued…
Kayeth: *wipes forehead* Chapter one, is done. Two is coming soon, and I warn you, it's grim, depressing, and full of carnage. Yes, carnage.
Joe: Am I going to live through it?
Kayeth: No. Neither am I, husband dear.
Joe: Goody.
Natsu: *snorts* And I have the privelige of living.
Kayeth: *hugglz Natsu* Yup!