A Different Reality Part 10
by Cybra
A/N: Long time, no see! I've been teaching origami at a summer program at my church, but my sentence is now over! Unfortunately, I'm going to be gone for a week starting this Thursday at a family reunion. P Oh well…Let's see if I've still got it.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Digimon. How depressing. Also, The Art of War by Shu Tzu is a real book that I do not own either. I just read the passage from a different book. I haven't actually read The Art of War.
Voices.
Voices I'd heard before.
The same voices that had finished the process of taking away my old life.
Those voices danced in my dream, taunting me.
"No family?"
"None. His parents died in that wreck. He's lucky to be alive."
"He's perfect."
Just like normal, the voices would skip over everything else and jump to a scene during my 3 years of hell.
Pardon my language.
"I believe we can start him on that program now."
"Yes. That would be an excellent idea."
I groaned and slowly opened my eyes.
Well, I opened my eyes about halfway if you want to be picky.
I was surprised when I saw Kari smiling at me.
She'd kept her promise…
Just like my parents had kept their promises…
When they were alive, that is.
"How're you feeling?" she asked.
Without even thinking, I answered hoarsely, "Like a Greymon ran over me."
I winced at my weakness. Instead of teasing me, like I'd come to expect people to do, she handed me a glass of water to drink. I drank it down slowly, keeping my eyes on her.
Was there something in the water I should be careful of?
'Stop being so paranoid!' most of my mind screamed at me. 'You know better than that! Besides, if she was evil, she would've taken you out while you were asleep!'
After I finished, I thanked her for the water and looked around for Taichi or one of the others.
But I was mostly looking for Tentomon.
The memory of Tentomon being thrown by that evil Kabuterimon was still fresh in my memory.
I hadn't been able to get to him before the evil Kabuterimon attacked me.
As if on cue, Tentomon walked in. A bandage was wrapped around his left claw. There were also little stuck-on bandages in different spots. His bright green eyes, one of his most vulnerable spots, were fine and held a look of worry. Then, he looked relieved when he saw me awake.
I was actually ambitious enough to open my eyes all the way…to have to squint again. The light was bright in here.
Kari, somehow knowing, turned down the lighting a little while I opened my eyes slowly this time, allowing my eyes to adjust.
"Where is everybody?" I asked.
"Tai's going over the plan to destroy Puppetmon," Tentomon explained.
I couldn't help but see the frown in his green eyes.
"What's the plan?"
When Tentomon told me, I immediately tried to get up again.
Kari tried to force me down again.
"You'll hurt yourself worse!"
"I'll be fine!" I growled. "But nobody's going to be alive if we all follow this suicidal plan of your brother's!"
~*~
I heard Sora's voice say "That's a good plan" just before I walked in.
"Yeah…if you like suicide missions," I snapped.
Everyone in the room turned to face me. I was leaning heavily against Kari's shoulder…much to my chagrin.
Jyou looked like he was going to order Kari to get me back to bed, but I shot him the coldest death glare I had.
He backed down instantly.
Taichi looked at me, surprised. Then, his brown eyes grew angry.
"What do you mean by that?! It's a great plan! Besides, you haven't heard it yet!"
"Tentomon told me. It's a nice piece of work, I'll admit, but you would have to have an unlimited amount of soldiers if you wanted to work with that plan. All we have here are 16 Digimon and Digidestined." I narrowed my dark eyes. "If we go through with that plan we'll take out Puppetmon, but cost us all our lives. That and the fate of the Digiworld. The Dark Masters would still win since Machinedramon and Piedmon would still be out there."
"Oh, and I suppose that you have a plan?" he taunted.
"As a matter of fact there is a way to get inside without killing ourselves. A pair of Digimon named Deramon and Floramon at Puppetmon's mansion will let us in."
"What makes you so sure?"
"They let me in before so I could get a good look at the place. Besides, they don't like Puppetmon at all."
Yamato then asked the obvious question.
"That could work, but what would we do when we were inside?"
Before I could answer, Kari put in, "We could split up into two teams. One team could wreck havoc on the place and distract Puppetmon while the other team would get in position to attack."
I nodded in agreement. It was a desperate plan, but it would work.
I briefly wondered if she'd been given the same training I had, but dismissed the thought.
I would've seen her file when I hacked the system at the base where I'd trained.
No! Stop thinking about Earth!
I gave my mind a mental shake as the others discussed this new plan. Kari looked at me in the eye, her warm brown eyes meeting my cold dark ones.
"You think it will work?" she asked me nervously.
I nodded again. "It's a desperate plan, but it is the most logical plan. Of course, we'll have to have both our Megas where Puppetmon can see them."
Kari smiled at me, thankful that at least one person didn't doubt her idea. Tentomon walked up to me.
"Do you need to sit?" he asked me quietly.
I felt Kari shift underneath my arm. I was probably hurting her shoulder.
"Sure, Tento. I could use the break."
His eyes seemed to tell me he knew my real reason, but he didn't say a word. He and Kari helped me over to a chair. I felt humiliated at showing such a weakness in front of the main group of Digidestined, but my muscles shrieked for respite. I hadn't noticed the pain since I'd been too busy talking with the group.
I listened closely to the heated conversation that was going on.
"I think Kari's got a good idea, but what if Koushiro's messin' with our heads?" Taichi hissed.
"What do you mean?" Jyou asked.
"Think about it. Koushiro hasn't exactly been the most trusting guy here. What if this is some sort of scheme to get us killed? For all we know, all those times Koushiro saved us could've been staged!" Taichi paused. "Besides, I don't like it how Kari hangs around him. He could be trouble."
I shook my head slowly. That's when I saw Kari's hands ball up into fists. I looked up in surprise as the gaze she had on her brother turned hard.
Brother and sister rivalry?
Hadn't happened before…
Unless, of course, she didn't like the way he was treating her.
'Don't like being treated like a child, eh, Kari? Neither do I.'
"I wish he would just stop doing that…" Kari muttered.
"Everybody hates being treated like a child, Kari. I don't know a single soul who does like it," I stated.
She looked at me, surprised that I knew. I tried not to show my surprise that I'd just said something similar to my thoughts aloud. Tentomon looked amused at me.
'Great. Ammo for him when we get into one of our little arguments.'
"You noticed?" she asked.
I rolled my eyes. "How could I not notice? It's so obvious, it's painful."
Kari gave a slight laugh as Gatomon giggled. I hadn't noticed that the little cat Digimon had followed us.
"I suppose I should learn to live with it. Tai's like that." Kari paused. "Koushiro?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
I answered truthfully, albeit reluctantly, "No, I don't."
"Lucky you."
I raised both my eyebrows in surprise as she laughed again.
If I hadn't had strict control over my own emotional reactions to that statement, I probably would've smiled at her little joke.
Not to mention laugh.
However, I know that my eyes smiled and laughed for me.
"All in favor say 'aye'," Taichi told the others.
"Aye!" Jyou, Yamato, Takeru, and Sora answered.
Taichi sighed. "That's four to two. Looks like we're going with this plan."
Mimi frowned, but nodded.
The group walked back towards Kari, Gatomon, Tentomon, and I. I raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"I assume that you've reached a conclusion," I stated easily.
"Yeah, we'll go with Kari's plan."
"Excellent. Now we'll have to split up the group into two teams. Taichi, no matter what, you and Yamato have to be in Team One."
"Why?!" Taichi demanded.
"The reason is because your both of your Digimon are the strongest in the group. Not to mention the only two that can go to their Mega forms. If Puppetmon sees either Wargreymon or Metal Garurumon alone, he might suspect something. Big 'might' there. You never know with Puppetmon. However, if he sees Metal Garurumon and Wargreymon together, he'll be too busy to even think about an attack coming from the back." I paused as Taichi blinked. "To quote a passage from The Art of War by Shu Tzu, 'Uproar in East, strike in West.'"
All present looked confused. They'd probably never even heard of that book.
I knew about The Art of War because it had been required reading.
That book gave some of the other people I'd lived with headaches.
To me, everything in that book made perfect sense.
"Makes sense," Yamato said, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I guess," Taichi nervously agreed.
I raised an amused eyebrow.
It's kind of fun watching that boy squirm.
~*~
All of us were in agreement to rest up for a few days. When we were at full strength, we'd set the plan into motion. Vulpesmon had offered to go with us, but we had turned him down. We put another Digimon's life at risk unless it was absolutely necessary.
Our plan would take exactly 16 people to work.
Any more, and our plan of attack would be ruined.
Any less, and we'd be history.
The odds of this plan working were 3537.96 to 1.
Of course, the odds of this plan failing were 3537.96 to 1.
We had an equal chance of winning and losing.
And yes. I did do the math.
Tentomon removed the different bandages from all over him with my help about 3 days after we joined up with the others. He worked his wings, making sure they were in perfect working order. He lifted off with ease.
"Looks like I'll be ready for the fight," he remarked.
"Prodigious."
"But will you be able to join in?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
Tentomon just shook his head as he landed again. He knew I was in one of my determined moods. There are days when there is no arguing with me over a decision. I won't listen one little bit.
Just ask Tentomon. He'll agree with me.
A hand placed itself on my shoulder. I probably jumped about 2 feet in the air before I landed on my feet. I balled up my hands into fists as I spun around, ready to defend myself in case of an attack.
I was extremely shocked to see Yamato standing there.
Of course, that was the understatement of the millennia.
I took deep breaths, trying to stop the flow of adrenaline coursing through my veins. If I'd been that careless outside, I wouldn't have had time to jump.
I lowered my fists. Yamato hadn't moved since he'd been more than a little bewildered at my reaction. I slowed down my breathing in order to slow down my rapidly pounding heart.
"A little warning. You never sneak up on me. Next time, I might not be able to stop myself."
Yamato looked confused, but nodded. I calmed down and looked at him expectantly.
You see, my reaction has long since become automatic.
The reason?
I would've been dead a long time ago if it hadn't become automatic.
That includes the last 3 years that I had been on Earth.
"Kari asked me to help find you. Dinner's ready."
I nodded in understanding.
I had found this little niche on Piximon's training grounds by a fortunate accident. Outside of this little place, I was surrounded by people who wanted to ask questions that I didn't want to answer. Here, however, I could be alone.
Away from the prying questions of the others'.
Away from the knowing eyes of Kari when I avoid answering a question.
She always seems to know when I do that…
Tentomon and I followed Yamato back towards the dining area. I still walked with a slight limp, but it was getting better.
Puppetmon was in for the fight of his life.
I'd make sure of that.
~*~
I no longer slept in Kari's bed. Instead, I slept with Tentomon on the balcony. There were a couple of futons set out for us. Neither one of us could get used to willingly sleep inside a building with a large amount of people overnight.
Of course, I was still getting used to the switch between being on my own for 16 digi-years with nobody but Tentomon to staying with a group of other humans and their Digimon.
I narrowed my eyes as I gazed at the stars.
I hate Fate.
I heard a faint step off to my right, like someone was trying to be quiet. I looked up to see Kari slip out of the large doors separating the balcony from the bedroom.
"What are you doing up?" I asked.
"I can't sleep. Agumon's snoring is keeping me awake."
'Why do I not believe you?'
I exchanged a glance with Tentomon. He seemed to smile knowingly as he shuffled out of his futon and laid down next to me. I hadn't asked him to move or anything, but he'd done it anyway.
"It's a little cooler out here anyway. It might be better than that hot room," Tentomon offered.
Kari looked a little surprised, then smiled in thanks. It was that strange smile of hers that I could tell meant happiness…but it was a little different than the smiles she gave the others.
"Thank you, Tentomon. You don't mind, do you, Koushiro?"
I waved for her to take Tentomon's bed. She laid down, and neither of us said a word for a few moments.
Finally, I had to ask what had been bugging me for the past 3 days.
"Kari…do you still have that locket?"
"Of course." She pulled it out to show me. "I don't ever take it off." Her eyes met mine. "Whose locket was it?"
I swallowed. Hard.
"It's personal," I answered evasively.
"I understand."
Kari didn't say anything for several minutes.
That's when she said, "Goodnight, Koushiro. Pleasant dreams."
I blinked, then answered, "G'night, Kari."
She fell asleep quickly after that.
I gazed up at the glittering night sky once more.
I was still watching the stars as I fell asleep.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Alas, this may be the last part I write before I have to go on this lovely trip to meet relatives I didn't know I had. I'm so happy I could scream. :::waits for everyone to stop sweatdropping::: Also, I'm going to be writing a little side-story on my trip. It'll have to be written with good old fashioned pencil and paper, but it shall be written. Then it'll take a bit to type it up. Fun…This little side story will be titled "A Different Reality - Koushiro's Story". :::watches as Kyra, Kelly Moon, and a few others start to drool::: Just thought I'd tease you guys. maniacal laughter
Kudos to…
Kyra: Finish "Past, Present, and Future"! I'm begging you!!! That and "Gem Warriors"! Oh, yeah. Thanks for your never-ending support!!!
Her Royal Weirdness: I gave you spoilers. I shouldn't have done that. Well, thanks for letting me bounce ideas off of you!
Kelly Moon: :::squeeze::: You're so squishy! ^.^ Okay, thanks for being a fellow Izzy fan! Not to mention convincing me not to stop doing my other series with Junpuu!
Izzy: My muse! I bow before you!!!
Shameless promos…
Kyra's Fanfic Archive: Home of the most original page names! -.-;;; Kidding, Kyra…However, I've asked you all this before, SUBMIT TO THIS SITE!
World Under Ours: A cool site done by Her Royal Weirdness! Home of many good yaoi/yuri fanfics! Yes, folks, I do like to read them.
The Crest of Knowledge: Raise your hand if you love Izzy shrines! :::raises her hand::: One of the best Izzy shrines out there! Submit, all Izzy lovers!