Of Roses and Bayonets
By Kristine
Part V:
"Maiden's Kiss"
A/N: Here's part 5. Sorry about the delay, but I didn't have time to go on the computer, and I was busy working on my site. I went out camping… And also… I keep getting new ideas. I also got stuck. I hate getting stuck, especially when it comes to the best parts. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews about this sorry fic of mine!! I really really appreciate your time reading this! Oh yeah, if any of you care, I decided to keep the rating to PG-13. I was planning more 'bad' stuff, but I decided against it… =) And besides, this will be a 'tragic' fanfic. ^_~ So yeah, this will be a tearjerker (not on this part though). Jehana, this part is dedicated to you. Read her fics. They rock! Also, Jen, thanks for your support! ^_^
BTW, sorry I was feeling tired when I wrote this part, so it's my fault if something don't make sense. ^_^;; There are some parts here that is kinda like FF8 too. I just can't help it! I was inspired by that dream world thing. ^_^;;; Oh yeah, in this part, we find out who Mimi is.
DISCLAIMER: Digimon don't belong to me. The song entitled "Whenever you call" is by Mariah Carey. I just borrowed the song b/c it suits nicely with the fic. =)
~ Omniscient POV ~
"Love wandered inside
Stronger than you
Stronger than I
And now that it has begun
We cannot turn back
We can only turn into one
I won't ever be too far away to feel you
And I won't hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I'll always remember
The part of you so tender
I'll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call..."
Mimi stopped singing and looked at Tai again. After sleepwalking, she had asked Agumon to fix the door, but unfortunately he had no idea how to fix a door either. It was almost dark and Matt and the others weren't back yet from their trip. She glanced over at Tai again. Putting a hand on her throat, she swallowed. She had been singing non-stop for Tai. She did everything she could just to wake him up.
Mimi took a wet towel and put it on Tai's forehead. There was no doubt about it. She definitely knew him. But how though? She was about to open her mouth to sing again, but suddenly stopped as she felt something painful from her chest. Mimi gritted her teeth, but it was no use. She put her hand on her chest and took big gasps of air, but it was no help either. Palmon, where are you… Great just when I need her… she thought to herself. Mimi tried to stand up but only ended up back on the floor again. She tried to catch her breath for air but she lied on the ground and saw nothing but darkness.
~ Mimi ~
"Where am I?" I looked around. The room seemed very familiar. There was a stage up ahead of me, a very familiar stage. I took a step, but the room had suddenly brightened. Looking up the ceiling, there was a shimmering disco ball hanging above. "What's going on?" I asked.
"It was your own fault you were abandoned," a voice called out from behind me.
I turned around to look. It was Mistress Blossoms.
"You!" I cried as I pointed over to her accusingly. "Why! You're the one! It was your fault! Why did you do this to me?! Why am I here?!"
The Guardian of Sincerity only kept her face straight and flew above her. She touched the disco ball, and as she let go of it, it turned into a million fragments. The fragments remained floating in the air. Then it suddenly moved around her, turning into rose petals.
"You must let me help you," Mistress Blossoms said in a calm voice. "I know you probably hate me after everything I did. But… I'm just here to bring your memory back."
"M-memory?" I echoed as I stared at her in confusion.
"Correct," she answered. "Memories… your good memories that have abandoned you because of your growing hatred towards me."
I lowered my gaze on the ground. "I don't even trust you."
Mistress Blossoms descended on the ground and sat next to me. "Well, if you can't trust me, then you'll have to trust Tai. And Matt."
"I trust them both…" I replied. "But… I-I don't understand something…"
She sighed. "You don't have much time left. Only that new digidestined can save you now. That new guy, Matt…"
"He… he can save me?"
"Yes, he's a pretty good-looking rascal, ain't he?" Mistress Blossoms smiled.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, uh, whatever, but what about Tai? How can he help me?"
"Mimi!" somebody interrupted. I quickly looked around to find where the voice was coming from, but I didn't see anybody there at all. "Mimi!" the voice called out again.
~ Omniscient POV ~
She opened her hazel eyes and found herself staring into his concerned blue eyes. Matt was holding her in his arms as they were both sitting on the floor. Mimi blinked and realized it was Matt. He opened his mouth as if he was saying something, but Mimi didn't hear what he was trying to tell her.
"Mimi?" Matt repeated.
Mimi sat up and looked away from Matt's worried gaze. "I'm fine…" she whispered. Palmon walked up to her. "Really, I'm fine, Palmon…" she repeated.
Palmon tried to smile. "Well, I'm glad, but Mimi… about Tai…"
"Yes?"
"We've found a way to cure him," Matt answered for her.
Mimi quickly jumped up and turned to him. "Really?! What is it?! How do we wake him up?"
"Mistress Blossoms said that a kiss from a girl could bring him back to consciousness," Gabumon told her.
"What?" Mimi replied. "Really?"
"Yeah," Palmon said.
"Oh…" Mimi blushed and glanced over to Tai's sleeping body before turning back to them. "A-are you sure?"
"That's what she told us," Gabumon added.
Agumon walked up to Mimi. "Well, it looks like it's up to you…"
"Me?" Mimi looked over to Matt who was avoiding her gaze. He just stood there staring at nothing. Then she looked back at Agumon. "I… do I have to? I mean… now?"
"I'm afraid it's the only way, Mimi." Gabumon told her.
Mimi gave Matt another quick look before she finally walked up to Tai. She stared at him for a moment. Tai lied there and didn't look like he wanted to wake up any sooner. Mimi continued to stare at him and couldn't help but realized how sexy his lips looked like. His lips looked so kissable, and she'd bet that any girl would want to touch those lips of his. She shook her head. No! She had to stop thinking like this. But then again, she knew, in her heart, that there was something about him. There was something so familiar about him, and just the way he lied on that bed so innocently…
"Mimi…" Matt whispered as he had slowly came up behind her.
She looked almost startled when she heard Matt's voice. "Y-yeah?"
"Uh… never mind…" he replied.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Matt answered, walking back to stand by the wall.
She turned back to Tai again, trying her best to keep her mind off about Matt. Well, this is it. I gotta do this. For Tai. For Agumon. For Matt… and for everyone else…she thought, taking a deep breath. And for myself…she silently added as she slowly bent over to him. As Mimi felt the soft touch of his lips, she trembled in surprised. There was something… really very familiar about that feeling. Mimi remained sitting there for a while as she tried to recall what was so familiar about his touch. Mimi was still staring blankly at a distance when a soft moan nearly made her jump up. Turning to look, she finally saw him. The sight of him nearly took her breath away.
Tai squinted and focused his chocolate brown eyes as he looked up at Mimi. He rubbed his eyes, trying to see if he was still dreaming. "Mimi?" he whispered.
"T-Tai?" Mimi answered gently.
Tai sat up and stroked Mimi's face. This girl… she's…
"Ahem."
They both turned to look. Matt was standing there, his arms crossed over his chest. He gave them a rather irritated look. "Excuse me." He said sharply.
"Matt," Tai said, seeing him for the first time as he released his hand from Mimi's face. "Hey, what happened?"
"It's a long story," Matt replied in a sharp tone. "Glad you're okay though."
"Tai," Agumon came up to him. "You must be hungry…"
Mimi rose to her feet suddenly getting an idea. "Right… um, I'll go downstairs and fix you something… I-I'll be back."
Mimi stared down at the sink, thinking about Tai for a moment. It felt good to see him awake. She had been pretty curious on what he really looked like. She then remembered her dream about Mistress Blossoms earlier. She found it pretty odd. She had never dreamed about the Guardian of Sincerity for a very long time. It had been a very long time ever since she dreamt about her the last time. Probably about… four years ago, was it? She wasn't sure, but she definitely knew that she did dream about her before. What did the Guardian mean about her forgotten memories?
"Mimi?" Palmon spoke softly behind her.
She quickly turned around in surprised and sighed in relief. "I'm sorry, Palmon. You startled me…"
"You all right?" she asked, coming up to her.
"I…"
"Did you have another seizure?" Palmon looked concerned.
"I recovered quickly though," Mimi answered. "How are the boys?"
"They're just catching up," Palmon said. "Are you sure you're all right? You looked kinda shocked when Tai woke up."
"I'm okay," Mimi said turning away. She opened up one of the cupboards and took out four glasses, and placed them down on the counter. I have this weird feeling whenever I'm around Tai… I just don't understand it. "The Guardian…" she whispered.
"Huh?"
Mimi knelt down and looked right at her digimon companion. "I had this dream about her. It's weird. It was the first time I've ever had a dream about Mistress Blossoms." She made a sour face as she mentioned her name. Mistress Blossoms. Just who thought of that kind of name anyway? It was a stupid name.
"What did you dream about?" Palmon asked.
It wasn't really dream, was it? It was so real. Mimi felt as if she were really there with the Guardian. And her presence was just too close. And Mimi could still feel her the Guardian's voice. It was definitely more than a dream. Somehow she had to find the meaning of that dream, but how? Mimi placed a hand on her forehead and closed her eyes. An image of a boy with spiky red hair appeared on her mind. What was his name again? He wasn't that tall. He was too short, and he always carried this pineapple laptop with him. Who was he? Was this guy the answer to her dream? Could he tell the meaning of her dream?
"Mimi, are you all right?" Palmon squealed.
She quickly looked up at her digimon. "I'm okay…" she whispered. She still looked a little daze. Who was that boy?
"I think we had better start supper," Palmon suggested, still looking a little worried. "We still have to go back to the Guardian's place…"
Palmon then began explaining to her about the Guardian's request for them to go back to her place. Mimi wasn't really paying any attention. She just couldn't get her mind off about her strange dream, Tai, and that boy with a pineapple laptop. Whoever he was. Mimi rose to her feet, thinking for a while. "All right…" she whispered at no one in particular.
Tai looked out the window and stared at the stars. The sky was beautiful, but somehow he just couldn't recognize some of the constellations that he was familiar of.
"You know what, Matt, I had the strangest dream ever…" Tai began as he closed the window with its laced curtain. He walked back and sat on his bed, looking at Matt. "I don't know why, but it felt so real."
Matt studied Tai's expression for a moment. "A dream? What's it about?" he asked.
Tai took out his crest of courage and stared at it. "She mentioned something about my crest of courage… but I don't remember it clearly."
Matt looked surprised at what he heard, but pretended as if everything was fine. He can't be having that same dream! "You were just too tired…" he suggested lamely.
"Mimi was also in my dream," Tai continued. "She was singing to me this beautiful song. But I don't remember seeing her in my dream…"
Matt sighed. "Tai, it was just a dream." He reminded his friend firmly. "Oh yeah, don't forget. First thing tomorrow, we're going back with Mimi to see the Guardian of Sincerity. Make sure you get some rest."
"I'm not sleepy," Tai said. After all, he was asleep the whole day.
Agumon walked up to Tai. "Hey, we should go downstairs and eat. Mimi and Palmon are waiting."
Tai, who are you? How come whenever you're around me, I get this weird sensation? I can't explain it…Mimi was sitting with Palmon. In front of her was her dinner that she had not touched yet. She was staring blankly, deep in thought, when Matt and Tai with their digimon, came in to the dining room. Matt seemed to noticed Mimi's odd expression that he quickly ran up beside her.
"Mimi, are you all right?!" Matt asked. He was so sudden that Mimi looked at him in shocked. It was almost as if Matt was trying to get to her first before Tai did.
"Matt…" she whispered, still looking dazed.
"Mimi, you okay?" Matt said.
She blinked, staring at him with an odd expression on her face. Mimi then noticed Tai behind him and looked at him for the longest time.
"Hey! So are we gonna eat or what?!" Tai exclaimed, gently rubbing his stomach. "I'm starved!"
Mimi stood up, grabbed a plate of food, walked up to Tai, and gave it to him. "There… I made it myself!"
Tai frowned as he stared at Mimi's so-called special gourmet. It was scrambled eggs, topped with… maple syrup? And to make it worst, there was a… cherry on top? Tai looked up at Matt who also looked like he was about to puke. They both looked at each other and tried to hold in their laughter.
"Try it!" Mimi squealed at Tai.
"Uh, yeah, s-sure…" Tai replied hesitantly. He reluctantly took the fork and swallowed a piece. Matt just covered his mouth with his hand. He then smiled. "Hey! That was good!" he said, giving Mimi a big smile.
She slightly blushed and turned to Matt.
"Uh, I-I'm… I m-mean…" Matt stammered. Damn, how am I gonna get out of this mess? "Uh, I prefer mine with salsa! S-sorry!"
"Salsa? And egss?" Tai echoed.
"Yeah! It's my own special recipe!" Matt laughed.
They're both weird, Mimi thought. "Come on, Matt. You're a guest in my house, so go on and try my Maple Egg."
"I think I'll pass," Matt said.
"Please Matt?" Mimi begged, giving her this puppy dog eyes that he simply couldn't resist. So he accepted her offer.
Matt looked like he was about to throw up. "Ugh… water?" he choked out. That was the most disgusting thing he has ever tasted.
"What's the matter?" Mimi asked.
Tai burst out laughing. "You didn't like it?!"
Matt coughed. Before he could spit the whole thing, Mimi quickly handed him a glass of water. He quickly took it and emptied out the glass in three seconds. "Whoa…" he muttered, placing the empty glass on the table.
"I think we should call it a night," Matt suggested.
"Already?" Tai replied. "The party was just starting!"
Mimi stared at herself in the mirror as she combed her long silky hair. She put her brush back down and remembered Tai. She was wearing her pink pajamas. And as she stared longer in the mirror, she thought that she could see Tai staring back at her.
"Mimi, it's late, aren't you gonna go to bed yet?" Palmon asked behind her.
She looked at her. "Yeah, I'm there…" Mimi got up and walked up to her bed covered completely with clean pink sheets. "I don't want to sleep yet…"
"Why not?"
Mimi lowered her gaze as she thought about Mistress Blossoms again. "I'm scared, Palmon…"
"What's the matter?" Palmon frowned.
"Uh, I'm afraid to wake up. What if I wake up in another place? What if I wake up and then I'm gone?" Mimi replied, shaking her head. "I'm scared. Please… Palmon, I don't want to go in that dream world again. I-I'm scared…"
"I-I don't know what you mean…"
Mimi blinked back tears. "I'm really… really scared… All I want is to wake up in this bed. I don't want to get zapped into another weird world."
"Mimi… you have to get some rest…" Palmon reminded her.
"Please let me wake up in this bed," Mimi whispered, ignoring her digimon.
"Mimi…"
She got up again and walked up to the door. "I'm gonna go for a walk, Palmon. You stay here. I need to be alone…"
"You sure you're gonna be all right?" Palmon asked.
"Yeah, don't worry," Mimi answered before she closed the door behind her.
Mimi found herself out in the balcony where the cool night air felt fresh against her pale face. She knew that she shouldn't be outside because she was sick, but she just couldn't sleep. She didn't want to sleep. She just couldn't face the Guardian of Sincerity. But why? She was scared. It was true that she couldn't really remember everything. But Mistress Blossoms only wanted to bring her memory back. What else? The Guardian just wanted to help her.
Sighing, she held her digivice. She couldn't even remember how she had got a hold of it. When was it? Only the digidestined had the power to work with the digivice. Could it be that she too was a digidestined? But how? She lived here in the Digiworld her whole life. And besides only humans could pass for a digidestined. She wasn't even human. Or was she?
No. I'm not human. I'm just digital…Mimi thought. Just an information… a forgotten information. That's what I am…I'm nothing like those digimon. I've no attributes. Nothing at all. I can't digivolve… nothing. It's because I'm just an unimportant data.
She felt her tears streaming down her cheeks. Then why did she have a digivice? And how could she make Palmon digivolve?
"No!" Mimi cried as she lowered herself on the ground, sobbing. "No!" She panted and suddenly had a hard time catching her own breath. She took deep breaths every second but it was no use. Mimi noticed her arm slowly disappearing and then it reappeared again. Seeing it only made her cry more. "No… I-I can't disappear yet…! N-not yet! I can't die yet!" she cried.
"Huh? Mimi?"
Mimi didn't have time to see who it was. She fell on the ground, her eyes shutting. But Tai quickly ran up to help her up.
"Mimi! Speak up!" Tai called out to her.
"T-Tai…" Mimi whispered.
"Mimi!"
"A… forgotten data…" she moaned, her voice barely audible. "I'm… forgotten…"
He gasped when he heard that. Tai held Mimi tightly in his arms. My dream…he recalled.
A/N: Sorry I had to make this quick, but I don't wanna miss the Teen choice awards. I'm still taping it, not that any of you guys care anyway. Oh well, please review! =)
--Kristine