Ofuda - Japanese style charms, spells, etc. Basically a piece of paper with Chinese ideogram writing on it.
I never did understand
Why the past always ran
The present always stayed
And the future always hid
It doesn't matter now
It never mattered then
I wish you could see
'Who am I to complain about loneliness?' Kaho thought to herself. As she used to the broom to sweep the entrance of the temple. The sun was setting and the trees sighed in the wind. The rustling of leaves and the silence of the countryside were relaxing. From her vantage point at the temple she could see from miles around, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the fields of newly planted rice. Solitude at it's best. She was sixty-eight going into sixty-nine in a few more days and wondered if her grandchildren or great grandchildren would visit her sometime. Then again her relatives thought of her as some crazy coot that worshipped the rocks, trees and spirits, that belonged in a retirement home rather than a distant and ancient temple in the middle of nowhere. They didn't recognize her existence. Her husband had died ten years ago and none of the relatives came to attend the funeral. Their son died a few years before that and her daughter had disappeared off to America, never to be seen again. Kaho hadn't even seen the baby pictures of her great grandchildren yet, though she knew that they existed and were finishing college.
'I am an echo from a past that no one cares to remember,' Kaho reminded herself again. Being born in the middle of the 'Great Depression' was nothing noteworthy to remember. She was born in 1936 and could barely remember anything about it. All she remembered was everyone from the farmland below gathering around during the fall and pray for better weather next year for the planting season. Her father presided over the ceremonies and gave prayers and offerings to the Spirit world. There was always strange and wondrous people visiting during those times trying to look for the 'trigger' of their 'ascension' but then the war started and people stopped coming. Even the spirits seemed to disappear; her father was quite upset that they had all disappear. The farmers were all so busy worrying about the crops, about their sons at the battlefront and the influx of children from the cities trying to escape the Allied bombing. Even after war ended pilgrims still didn't come back and her father and mother died when in a freak accident when she became 15. She became the new 'Keeper of the Paths' at that age was left alone in the temple. She had trained all her life to take care of the temple and 'the Paths' but it was hard. Kaho had no brothers and sisters to help her and she had no choice but to quit school.
'I wish Sumeo was still around,' Kaho thought of her dead husband. She met him when she was just eighteen when he came to the temple completely by accident. A former soldier of the war, tired and in pain yet always kind and forgiving. He was fifteen years older than she was and she fell in love with him. It was his eyes that drew her to him, the eyes of kindness and profound loss. Their age difference never bothered them and yet the farmers would talk amongst themselves, scandalized by it. Always rumors and hearsay of the worst sort and it never did stop until after her son was born. And then her daughter soon after that. Her children, her precious children. The ones who hated the temple and all that it held, the ones who wanted to go to the city and never return. She and her husband let their children go for their own sake and hoped that perhaps they would return but they never did. The city took them and never gave them back. They never came home but they would occasionally send back a terse, unfeeling letter that they had gotten married and had a child or two. Kaho never understood why they hated it here and hated her.
'The past, always the past,' Kaho reminded herself and put away the broom. She could not leave the temple and Kaho knew from that moment that she was going to have a long and quiet existence until the spirits and pilgrims returned. There was no benefit from living here at the temple other than for the fact it gave Kaho unusual abilities and longevity. Perhaps it was because her children just didn't understand how special the temple really was and why they couldn't leave for somewhere more 'exciting'.
Kaho ran her hands through her hair and looked up at the sky. She was old and yet she was as strong and fast as someone who was just twenty years of age, perhaps more so, it was just too bad she didn't look young. People came and went like the days and nights it seemed. It wasn't until five years ago, when Sen finally visited in order to search for his 'trigger' to 'ascension'. It was after that that Kaho began to notice that the spirits were returning or becoming stronger again. It was as if a rebirth was happening and then two years after that Ruki came to the temple for the first time. Children at the temple, who weren't bent on damaging the vicinity, after over twenty years and the spirits coming back through 'the Paths' again. She had just meet her first one just today and the feeling of the temple's purpose became ever stronger again.
'And yet there will no one after me to take care of this place when I pass away... I was hoping perhaps Sen or Ruki would take my place but it would be selfish of me to impose something that on them,' Kaho thought to herself. Kaho walked around and began closing the doors around the temple, the wind was starting to become colder and dark clouds were in the distance. Rain was on the horizon and Kaho was worried about Ruki. The charm she had given her should be powerful enough to ward off mischievous pranks from various spirits but Kaho was not sure how effective it would be.
'That girl is too stubborn and prideful for her own good at times,' Kaho thought to herself exasperated by Ruki's often-careless decisions. Ruki would come back soon to the temple, that much was for certain but Kaho didn't exactly want to know 'how' Ruki came back. For all she knew Ruki could come back to the temple naked as jay bird because the spirits stole her clothing or Ruki's hair would be completely shaven off or any multitude of mean hearted pranks. And the enemy of Ruki's father, Yllas as Sen told Kaho once, was on the move. This was not a good time for Ruki to act stupid. In fact, it was best that Ruki return back home immediately and try and protect her family with, what did Sen call his Ruksasha friend, a digimon? Well it didn't matter if Ruki had the ability to protect her family from the threat then it would be best to return and kick Yllas's fanny around.
Kaho finished her chores for the day and went into one of the temple wards to cook some dinner for herself. But she stopped short of entering when she felt something on the wind. Turning around she looked straight a head at the forest.
"I know you're there! Don't bother to hide!" Kaho called out and reached for a hidden blade in the one of the pillars of the temple that were scattered around the temple. Supposedly it was a blessed weapon from the spiritual world and Kaho was inclined to believe it, the sword seemed to buzz with a faint power but that was besides the point. Kaho knew by legend that otherworldly spirits could not be harmed except by blessed weapons or something like that. In either case she was more than prepared if some idiot decided that a old woman living alone in a remote temple was easy pickings for a robbery.
"Hold thy hand. I am not thy enemy," a calm male voice from a bush soothingly said. The voice was trying to sound noble and such but Kaho could only roll her eyes and pick up her broom that she left leaning on the wall. She recognized that voice any where.
"Stop acting like an idiot and talk like a normal person!" Kaho said annoyed. She picked up her broom and threw it the bush. It hit dead on and a sort of hollow sound, like wood hitting stone, was heard.
"Sheesh! You don't have to act like a bitch!" A rather indignant voice retorted. Standing up from the bush with broom in hand was a rather young looking boy who was rubbing the back of his head in pain. He had black hair and amused brown eyes. He also wore overalls with a white shirt and boots. He threw the broom back at Kaho who caught it easily. She set it down again by the wall.
"Kaoru, what are you doing here? What are you going to do this time? Write all over the statues of Inari-sama?" Kaho demanded. She didn't have time for this and most of all she wasn't sure if Kaoru would be safe here at the temple.
"Girl-hunting!" Kaoru responded with a mischievous smile. Kaho could only blink.
"What?" It was the only coherent thing that Kaho could say.
"I saw a really nice looking girl walk into the temple late last night. She past the farm and so I decided to grace you with my presence. Who is she your granddaughter?" Kaoru said in a arrogant voice. He stood proudly and smirked.
"You of all people know that my family doesn't visit me," Kaho retorted.
"Well who was she then? Oh yeah and how old?" Kaoru asked. He slicked his black hair with one hand and smiled suavely.
".... You're actually going to try and hit on her?" Kaho asked in a deadpanned voice.
"Of course! No girl can resist me!" Kaoru said in a impressive voice and posed. It was silly and Kaho could only try and massage away her migraine that Kaoru had just inspired.
"Good grief. I know for a fact that Ruki would sooner kill you then go out with you... Oh yes and I believe she's 11 years old," Kaho answered. She hoped that Kaoru would go home now, since his curiosity would probably be satisfied.
"What? 11? A cute girl like that!" Kaoru said amazed. He frowned and then clapped his hands once, smiling.
"I'm not going to like what you're going to do next, am I?" Kaho asked in a defeated. Kaoru was a good boy but sometimes his pranks, due to boredom, were a bit much.
"I'm going to look for her! I'll ask her myself!" Kaoru said proudly and proceeded to run through the forest. Kaho's eyes widened.
"Stop you idiot! You don't know what's out there right now! It can be dangerous!" Kaho shouted. Her voice didn't slow Kaoru who was soon far away from the temple. Kaho could only rub her forehead in irritation and go inside. She pulled out an ofuda and took to it a flame.
"Lords and ladies of the forest, I beseech you to protect that young fool," Kaho whispered and watched the ofuda crackle in the flame and turn green. A small sliver of energy rose into the air and dissipate. The flame and Kaho was left in the dark and waited for the spell to go into effect.
Kaoru ran through the forest while look at the ground for tracks. He had been in this forest plenty of times and knew it like the back of his hands. He soon found what he was looking for, footprints of shoes.
'Dangerous... Yeah right,' Kaoru thought to himself. He looked at the depression and noted that the person was weighted down with something and had on a pair of well used shoes. He smiled slightly and followed the foot prints without hesitation. He never noticed the tendrils of green energy behind him trying to grasp him.
******
They hadn't expected Seiko to shout at them. She stood and looked at them in annoyance. They all felt mildly embarrassed but she had a point. They were standing around and arguing like idiots. Takato reached into his pocket and took out Abaddon's business card. The bold black print was easy to read but Takato wasn't interested in that. The table with it's half eaten food and drink became the evidence of everyone's unthinking rush to see what was wrong with the D-ark. Calm had settled and everyone became silent, thinking what to say and do.
"Can you tell what's going on Renamon?" Takato asked Renamon who was silent and pensive.
"I'm going to try," Renamon answered. Her fur was mused up and half-dry, it felt uncomfortable but Renamon had lived her entire life with discomfort. This was only a minor distraction to the battle-harden digimon. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her link with Ruki to try and discover what had happened. The strain and depth of her concentration blocked everyone out and everyone waited for her to say something.
Everything was so dark and then a brilliant flash of light as Renamon delved into the connections of the Real world and Digital world. She could see the auras of the Tamers and digimon connecting to each other but Renamon was not interested in those. She looked for her link, her line to Ruki. It was a faint, feeble and tentative light that Renamon could barely see it. This light, this line was Ruki connection Renamon, but it felt so distant and different all of a sudden. It hurt Renamon physically to strain her sense like this but yet she could feel Ruki's warm aura. She was passing over building, hills, plains, cities and such. Her sense flew over the sky and she let her mind travel, following the link to Ruki. Then the light became unbearably bright, Ruki was brimming with power that Renamon had never sensed before but she was safe. There was very little discomfort now and Renamon found herself basking in Ruki's aura. Ruki was safe and yet there was tremble of uncertainty and confusion. There was no fear but surprise. The pain for stretching her sense began to reveal them, not even Ruki's aura could prevent the inevitable pain from cutting into Renamon's mind. The strain became so great that Renamon finally had no choice but cut it. Renamon eyes opened and she fell to her knees in pain and began breathing hard for her efforts.
"Renamon, are you all right?" Jen asked concerned. Everyone kept their distance from Renamon because they knew she didn't like being crowded around. She opened her eyes painfully and forced herself to stand.
"Ruki's safe... For now but she seems baffled about something," Renamon managed to say without letting the pain of her search show in her voice.
"What happened to the digimon that was attacking her then?" Takato asked.
"I don't know. She was no longer in danger though," Renamon answered. She felt very weak and wanted collapse again but refused through blind stubborn pride.
"Do you want to sit down?" Hirokazu asked. He noticed that Renamon was wobbling slightly and looked like she was in pain. He then realized his mistake but Renamon glared at him for suggesting such a thing.
"Stop looking at me like that!" Hirokazu said backing off a bit. Sighing Renamon looked away and at Takato.
"So she's safe... But what happened..." Takato asked out loud. He sat down on the floor and looked at the card in his hands. With slow deliberation he put it back into his pocket and began to think again. Ryou looked at Takato and fingered his card as well.
"That was a bit too close... She's safe for the moment, if Renamon's right, but we need to do something soon or else there might not be much left of Ruki to save," Ryou said.
Silence reigned in the room. Monodramon looked at his Tamer Ryou expectantly. It was then that they heard in the distant an incredible boom, even the Tamers heard it. Startled, Renamon perked her ears up and listened even more closely. Terriermon heard it as well and came to the hallway.
"What was that? There's been a huge explosion," Terriermon commented. Seiko walked over briskly to the TV and turned it on. Screen came to life and showed a young looking woman with a mike standing in the rain somewhere in Tokyo.
"A large explosion has been confirmed at the Bay area where a large rabbit-like digimon has been reported to be seen attacking the water. Details are sketch at the time but people here are panicking..." The woman went on. Jen blinked in surprise at the sight of Antylamon jumping on top of various buildings and then his cell phone rang in his pocket. He turned it on.
"This is Jen... Mom? What's going on?... Calm down. What about Lopmon?... There was a bomb!!! What are you talking about?" Jen said into the phone and listened. He became quiet and listened to his mother hasty explanation.
"Someone tried to kill us Jen! They planted a bomb at the apartment but Lopmon managed to save us!" Mayumi explained over the phone. She sounded harried and strained. Rinchei and Jaarin could be heard in the background
"Where's dad?" Jen asked. He let his thoughts run into each other trying to piece together what was going on. It only increased his confusion as he asked more questions than he received answers for in his head.
"Your father's unconscious right now."
"Unconscious?! Where are you right now?"
"I'm at Sensei's house. Come over here please."
"All right mom! See you there!" Jen turned off the phone. Everyone was staring at him and he felt quite exposed at the moment. He had no idea what to think, what to do and what to say. Terriermon approached his Tamer and looked at him.
"What's wrong Jen? Did something happen?" Terriermon asked in a quiet voice. Jen looked down at his partner and sighed.
"They got attacked with a bomb or something. I don't know what's going on but we need to go Terriermon!" Jen answered. He hung up the phone and ran out the room. Terriermon chased after Jen without so much of a backwards glance. Then his cell phone began to ring again while he was in the hallway and Jen stopped to answered it. Everyone except Renamon and Seiko went into the hallway to listen to next phone call.
"Hello?" Jen said into the phone.
"So its sounds like your okay," Impmon responded.
"Impmon?" Jen asked in baffled voice.
"So glad to know that you remember me!" Impmon spat back in a sarcastic voice. His arm was killing him and it shortened his collective patience and temper. He could still hear Makoto crying and Ai trying to comfort her little brother. It broke his heart but there was nothing he could do. Kesa was dead and nothing could change that.
"What's going on?" Jen asked ignoring the sarcasm from Impmon. Everyone watched Jen's every move and word now. Jen could have sworn he could hear crying somewhere in the background of Impmon's call.
"Maybe you can tell me what you are doing! Lopmon's on TV and every human seems to be panicking! Not only that I got attacked by anther digimon!" Impmon exploded, he was galled at the seeming ignorance that Jen was showing.
"You got attacked too?" Jen asked quickly.
"Yeah and I have a dead dog for my efforts," Impmon said and looked at the covered up body of Kesa. Lightly grasping the three bullets in his hands Impmon looked down to look at them. It might have been his imagination but the bullets looked as though they were slowly melting and fading away but Impmon decided it was a trick of his eyes. He grasped the three bullets firmly in his hands.
"Look I'm going to pass you on to Takato, okay! I have to go home and see my family," Jen hurriedly explained and threw the phone to Takato who caught it.
"What? But I don't know what's going on either!" Takato said as he caught the phone from Jen but it was all ready too late. Jen ran out the room and into the hallway with Terriermon. Without pausing to grab a umbrella or any rain gear, Jen and Terriermon ran out the door into the elements, intent on heading to where the Lee family was staying at. Takato sighed and put the cell phone to his ear.
"Hey Impmon," Takato began and frowned.
"Where did smart kid go?" Impmon demanded annoyed. It seemed like every Tamer was shafting him or something. In annoyance Impmon tightened his fist a bit harder.
"Jen's gone to his family. They got attacked too. We don't know what's going on, all we know is that Lopmon digivolved to Antylamon in Shinjuku for some reason," Takato explained. The TV in the background showed that the military had finally arrived with combat helicopters to scan where Lopmon had gone. Everyone prayed that nothing bad was going to happen.
"Well my family is just as important as well! I have two big data puddles that are currently stinking up the hallway of the house, a dead dog that's in two pieces and two traumatized Tamers that are trying to get over everything that's happened! Oh yeah and a broken window and a couple bullets from some gun that killed one of the attackers! Not too mention I'm in pain and bleeding here as well!" Impmon exploded. He really didn't mean to get mad at Takato but quite frankly he needed someone to vent his anger at. Takato just happened to be the most ideal candidate at the moment. Impmon opened his hand where the bullets were and saw that they were gone. The bullets were gone from Impmon's hand and there was no marking of their passage. It was as if they never existed at all. Impmon blinked and started to look around, trying to see if he dropped them though it was impossible seeing they were in his hand just a few seconds before.
"What?..." Takato asked not quite getting what Impmon was talking about. Then he began to think about everything. Those attacked were the family of a Tamer or Tamer's themselves. Obviously the enemy didn't care if they were young or surrounded by other defenseless people. Tamer's and digimon... Juri and Culumon. Something clicked in Takato's brain.
"Juri," Takato whispered to himself in a stark realization. Then panic ensued in his mind. He was torn between his two choices now.
"What about Juri?" Impmon asked into the phone not quite hearing what Takato said due to his frantic search for the mysterious disappeared bullets he had . Takato however didn't hear what Impmon said and tossed the phone to Hirokazu who deftly caught it.
"I have to go! Guilmon come on!" Takato said in a loud voice and barrelled straight out of the room. Guilmon, confused but eager to do anything followed after his Tamer.
"What are we going to do Takato?" Guilmon asked. Ryou shouted after the two.
"Hey! Where are you going!" Ryou asked. This was not a good thing in his mind, splitting up was the last thing that they should all consider doing if the Tamers were being attacked. Renamon came into the hallway to see Takato go.
"He's off to play the knight in shining armor..." Kenta answered for everyone. Takato charged out of the house and into the rain like Jen and Terriermon just a few moments before. Skidding and slipping, he began to run to the Katou family bar.
"Jeez, one moment he's all concerned about Ruki and the next he becomes completely concerned about Juri," Hirokazu muttered and put the phone to his ear.
"Where did Goggle head go?" Impmon demanded. He was definitely getting tired of being shafted to other Tamers for no apparent reason. He gave up searching for the bullets, they had all disappeared.
"Takato's, well gone..." Hirokazu explained in a lame voice.
"Gone!!! Oh wonderful! Can't I get any sympathy here for bleeding!" Impmon demanded.
"Bleed all you want! It can't be helped!" Hirokazu retorted.
Seiko turned to other news channels to see if there was any more information on what was going on, rather than the same recycled information that the stations were all repeating. Instead of finding any other channels with new information Seiko ran into reporters that were all either criticizing or condemning Digimon. They all were very harsh it seemed. The sounds of their voices could be heard from the hall.
"This just shows that the government can't control the obvious danger of..."
"The destruction of Shinjuku property caused by the dangerous digimon has sent citizens into panic and anger. Demanding that the organization Hypnos, do something about the digital..."
"The government denies that it is responsible for the digimon that was in the Shinjuku core but many analyst believe that the government is still going highly illegal digital research and that the digimon was result of..."
"Hypnos released a statement claiming complete ignorance of the situation, claiming that..."
Finally Seiko turned off the TV and sighed.
"It's amazing how much garbage is on TV and how little you learn on the news," Seiko commented. She looked at the group who were now silent. Hirokazu was busy talking but when he commented about bleeding Ryou blinked.
"Whose bleeding?" Ryou asked. Monodramon was not concerned with the situation at all and was busy staring out into the garden. MarineAngemon rested on Kenta's shoulders and watched Hirokazu.
"Impmon says he's bleeding... Right now he's ranting how there's a big mess in the hallway of his house," Hirokazu explained and held the phone away from his ear. Impmon was shouting into the phone in a tirade.
"That's strange... Digimon don't bleed," Ryou began and folded his arms for a second to think. He frowned and looked at Monodramon who recognized the look on his Tamer's face. With a nod Monodramon followed Ryou down the hallway.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Kenta asked and followed after Ryou for a few moments.
"I'm heading to Impmon's place. Tell me where he lives," Ryou said as he bent down to get his shoes on. Ryou needed to see this with his own eye's.
"He lives in Hongou, Chi-dasa 7342 Nichirin," Kenta said as he read out of a black book of phone numbers and addresses he kept in a pocket of his.
"Can I have that?" Ryou asked and pointed to the black book. Kenta looked reluctant but gave the book to the Legendary Tamer.
"Hey! You two aren't leaving me here are you?" Hirokazu shouted from the dining room. It seemed that he was too engrossed with arguing with Impmon to leave the room.
"No! Kenta's staying here! But I'm going to Hongou! Mind as well do something rather than sit around," Ryou explained. He grabbed his backpack and a umbrella. The rain was still pouring and he left the Makino house without another word with Monodramon.
"Penpa... Pi pape popo pipe?" MarineAngemon asked.
"I don't know but it's still a plan of action," Kenta answered. The two stood at the door way out and looked at the street.
"Great, just great! I wish Guardromon was here with me right now!" Hirokazu ranted and glared at the cell phone with Impmon on it.
"Hey... If Jen's and Impmon's family was attacked does that mean ours is going to be attacked as well?" Kenta asked. Hirokazu stopped frowning and went pale slightly. The gravity of the statement hit their brains and the first thing on their mind was to call home.
"Impmon! I have to hang up on you! Ryou and Monodramon's coming to your place! I gotta go!" Hirokazu shouted into the cell phone and hung up on Impmon. Without waiting another second Hirokazu phoned his house while Kenta went to the Makino house's telephone to call his house.
Impmon on the other end stared at the telephone and heard the dial tone.
"Thanks for nothing you stupid jerks..." Impmon muttered and slammed down the phone. He looked at the palm his hands and wondered where the spent bullets he had found went to. It was as if they vanished into thin air.
******
The rain hadn't stopped. Juri sat at a table soaking wet with a blanket wrapped around her and stared at the ground. She was cold but she didn't really care. She stared at the bloody spot where her father landed after he got wounded and let her mind wander a bit. The bar was empty now, her mother was with her little brother to clean him off and soothe his fears. Police officers that went upstairs and investigated what happened had pretty much ordered her family off the property. They would be leaving for a motel for the meanwhile. Her father had been taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital to be patched up and the two regular customers had gone home after giving statements to the police. Within two days maximum all the patrons of the bar would know about this incident, Juri predicted.
Culumon was fast asleep on a chair with a small blanket over it. There was a small bandage on Culumon's ear where it had been cut and Juri looked up to see that the diminutive little digimon was cute when it slept. Eyes closed and lightly snoring Juri couldn't help but make a small appreciative smile for Culumon's bravery this night. He looked so cute sleeping there exhausted.
Looking at the table she saw the three-quarter filled sake bottle and looked at it with a tantalizingly stare. Juri hands were still somewhat white with shock but they were getting their color back, but most of all Juri really wanted a good stiff drink to calm her nerves. She looked around the empty bar furtively and then back at the bottle. She would have one drink. No, she needed to have just one drink to calm her nerves. The police officers were all busy upstairs and such and no one was around to catch her drinking. Hesitantly Juri took the bottle into her hands and poured it into a cup. Then without hesitation she picked up the cup and threw back her head like a professional and drank the alcohol without gagging.
Takato ran through the rain thoroughly soaked. His hair was completely wet but he ignored it completely and forged ahead. The Katou family bar was just ahead and there was two police cruisers parked in front. Takato found his stomach tie itself into knots and forced his legs to go faster. His mind came up with innumerable theories of what had happened. Guilmon ran beside Takato just as quickly and felt cold. He sneezed mid stride and almost fell over when he tripped over something in the rain.
"I'm coming Juri," Takato said to himself.
Meanwhile in the bar, the familiar bitter taste of smooth alcohol greeted Juri's mouth and she put the cup back down on the table. Waiting for a few moments, she let the alcohol hit her brain and the warmth spread from her stomach and outwards. It felt nice and Juri looked at the bottle again debating whether she should have another drink. She saw no reason not to have another drink, she had drank more alcohol in one sitting than this. Juri therefore reached for the bottle and poured it into the cup again. She picked up the cup again and brought to her lips and threw down the drink like she did before without a problem. She then had a third and then a fourth drink.
'One more time...' Juri promised herself and poured another drink into the cup. She was about to drink it again but the door to the bar burst open revealing a thoroughly soaked Takato and Guilmon.
"Juri!" Takato said out loud and blinked. He saw Juri with a bottle of sake in one hand and a filled cup with another that was about reach her mouth. Juri quickly put down the bottle and cup onto the table but managed to wake Culumon up.
"Hmm? Something wrong, culu?" Culumon asked sleepily. He got up and rubbed his eyes to get some sleep out.
"Nothing Culumon," Juri said quickly and blushed in embarrassment. Takato came into the bar wet with Guilmon.
"Um, Juri why were you drinking?" Takato asked curiously. He came to the table and looked at Juri who was blushing.
"I just needed a drink, that's all," Juri explained. Culumon however noticed that the bottle was not three-quarters full anymore. In fact now it was one-third full and Juri breath smelt a bit like sake.
"Juri, culu? How much did you drink? There was three-fourth's a bottle left last time I looked," Culumon pointed out. Juri blushed in embarrassment even more and giggled slightly.
"So it was Culumon...So it was," Juri answered, nodding happily. Takato went up to her and took the bottle away and capped it. Juri could only pout while Takato kneeled down and went eye level with her.
"Juri... What happened?" Takato asked softly. His voice was full of concern and compassion. Juri breath got caught in her throat when she looked at him straight in the eye. He looked so caring and loving, the hidden crazed look he had was no where to be seen. He seemed like the boy he once was two years ago, the one that was completely fanatical about digimon and drew them while in class. There was no pain of loss in his eyes, no realization of how close he was to losing his friends to death or anything heavy on his soul. It seemed like a step back to a time before. Before Juri could answer, someone came down the stairs to the main bar area. It was a police officer who was surprised to see Takato near Juri but most of all he was surprised to see Guilmon.
"Oh crap! It's a digimon! Ogura! Takamura! Get down here!" The police officer shouted and pulled his gun on Guilmon. Guilmon jumped around in surprise and tried to see where the digimon was, then realized the police officer was talking about him.
"Um... Are you talking about me? I'm not a digimon! I'm Guilmon, nice to meet you," Guilmon said in a polite voice. His tail wagged like a dog and looked at Takato confused.
"No wait! It's all right! He's a friend!" Takato said stepping in front of the police officer's gun with his arms widespread. The sake bottle was still in his hand but he forgot all about it.
"Oh no, culu," Culumon stated and got on his feet with his eyes wide. The police officer noticed Culumon standing up.
"Oh God! The stuffed animal just talked!" Police officer stated panicked. He pointed his gun at Culumon but Juri grabbed Culumon and held him in her arms. Meanwhile two more police officers barrelled down the stairs and held their guns out. Juri's mother and a now cleaned off Masahiko came out from a door to see the stand off. Guilmon was behind Takato while Juri protected Culumon.
"Get out of the way kid! You got a monster behind you," the police officer ordered. He kept his gun trained on Guilmon.
"I won't! Guilmon's done nothing wrong! You have no right!" Takato answered back. Juri could see the hidden side come out from Takato's eyes. It was somewhat crazed and desperate now. He could not accept losing another friend and would gladly give his life away for Guilmon's sake. Juri got up from her seat and backed away from the police officers towards Takato and the exit.
"Stop where you are!" The police officer ordered.
"We'll just leave! Come on Guilmon!" Takato said and turned around. He grabbed Juri by the hand took her out the door. They all ran out the door and into the rain. Juri's mother walked to the door and stood in front of it, blocking the police officers way before they could give chase.
"You are in the way ma'am!" The police officer said in a exasperated voice. Masahiko stood in the main bar room afraid of the potentially explosive situation.
"I'm not in the way. I won't let you take those digimon away. They are completely innocent. Shame on you for pulling your gun out on children!" Mrs. Katou scolded the three men.
"I'm sorry ma'am. We're ordered to take any digimon as a severe threat to public safety," the police officer explained.
"They are not dangerous! Culumon's the most harmless digimon in the world!" Masahiko exploded. He came right next to his mother by the doorway and stood by her side. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Who in the world could imagine Culumon as a severe threat to public safety. Now if they regarded the ugly digimon that attacked him tonight, then he would understand.
"Ma'am, if you don't move out of the way. I'll have you arrested for obstruction of justice," the police officer politely informed Mrs. Katou. She however ignored the warning and implied threat.
"I will not move," she said in a even voice. She extended her arms and grasped the sides of the door.
"All right men... We'll take the back door," the police officer said after a few seconds of consideration. The three police officers turned around and went through the bar's kitchen and went through the door out there. Juri's mother relaxed and looked weary. Masahiko could only look up to his mother with his eyes.
"Is Juri and Culumon going to be all right?" Masahiko asked.
"I don't know... But Matsuda-san is with him, so it should be all right," Mrs. Katou said to her son. She gathered Masahiko into her arms and hugged him. It was insane and all but Mrs. Katou couldn't help but feel that the fact that Juri used to be a tamer was somehow related to attack on Masahiko.
Juri and Takato with Culumon and Guilmon ran through the rain blindly. They weren't sure where they were heading but all agreed that they had to get away from the police and hide their digimon. Locations to hide themselves were numerous but without realizing it, they all choose one and were running to the park. The rain beat down on them, but Takato barely noticed it and kept on running with Juri's hand in his. Juri could barely keep up but managed to match Takato's pace. Takato ran ahead of her with the sake bottle still in his other hand. They ran into the park and down the tree lined path to Guilmon's old 'house' in the greenery. They charged up the steps without pausing and threw open the iron gates of the place. The inside was still dry and the portal to the digital world was still there, still under the place and could be reached via a hole dug many months ago by Guilmon.
"I think we'll be safe here," Takato said in a wheezing voice and let go of Juri's hand which he had held on to for the entire run. He was leaned on the wall to catch his breath while Juri sat on the cold ground tired with Culumon in her arms. She was out of breath herself and concentrated on calming down her heart.
"I never expected the police to try and do that," Juri managed to say. Takato heard and lifted his arm up to see that he was still holding the capped sake bottle in his hand.
"... Neither did I... But why were they there?" Takato asked facing Juri who cradled a wet Culumon who got out of her arms to shake the water out of his fur. Takato then noticed the bandage on Culumon's ear and was immediately baffled.
"... Masahiko... My little brother... He got attacked by a digimon. Culumon tried to protect him but it was too strong," Juri explained. She didn't reveal all the details because of her fear of Abaddon fulfilling his threat. Juri was in no position to protect her little brother if Abaddon heard of her telling Takato of his involvement.
"It was scary, culu. He hit me but I'm all right. Juri fixed me right up!" Culumon proclaimed and came to Juri who began to shiver from the cold. Takato realized that they both needed to find dry clothing. He put the sake bottle in his hand down on the ground and went up to Juri.
"It was horrible... I thought I was going to lose them both in the attack. I... I attacked the digimon with a knife and stabbed in the back... It bled black data," Juri said faintly. The memory of the black viscous liquid from Kumon onto her hand was something she rather not remember. Takato kneeled down and gently placed his hands on hers.
"It's all right Juri... You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Takato said in a soothing voice. He however was angry over it. Who or what would attack Juri and her family of all people? She had suffered enough and didn't need any more things to come and ruin her life. Then Ruki, wherever she was, attacked or at least was confronted by a digimon. Impmon calling to report that he had been attacked and his family harmed. And finally Jen and his family was attacked mysteriously. The mysterious string of attacks only had one thing in common. There was a digimon or they were tamers and the enemy obviously didn't care about casualties or deaths. Takato's blood boiled and felt his hand reach down into his pocket for the business card that Abaddon had given him. Something needed to be done and it needed to done now.
"Abaddon, I need to see you!" Takato said as he ripped up the business card. The silence of the room became apparent and the wind could be heard whistling as rain pitter-pattered outside.
"So you have called for me?" Abaddon's voice rolled out into the air. Takato turned around and looked around the room. Finally in one corner of the darken 'house' a pair of glowing eyes could be seen. One blue and one green glowed and stared at Takato.
"I want to make a deal! We're being attacked," Takato explained curtly. The sooner this was done with, the better. Takato could feel the uncomfortable aura that Abaddon was radiating. Abaddon simply smiled ever so slightly and looked at Juri with glimmering eyes. Juri turned away and Takato noticed Abaddon staring at her and stepped in Abaddon's view.
"Ah, yes the attacks that are happening on your families. What do you want me to do specifically?" Abaddon asked in a business tone. Takato felt irritated and uncomfortable with the situation. Why was Abaddon staring at Juri like that? Moreover how did Abaddon know about the attacks? The question seemed rather stupid since Abaddon seemed to know exactly what was going on. Not that Abaddon would tell him or anyone for free.
"I want to know who is attacking us and where Ruki is," Takato explained. Abaddon remained silent for a few seconds. His eyes glowing in the darkness like a cat and let the silence stretch before breaking it.
"That is all? Don't you want the attacks to be prevented? I could do that and there would only be an slight increase in the price," Abaddon pointed out. He said it slowly as considering all his options and counter suits if Takato said something else.
"I'll consider if I know what the price of the deal is," Takato answered back. Abaddon paused for a moment and reached into his trench coat to pull out a piece of paper.
"The price of deal is only three things. One, I receive in the future a favor from you specifically. Second, you and your fellow Tamers will not interfere in my business for one month. That means you cannot attack me or my partners or employees, etc. Thirdly, I require that you sign this agreement to verify your willingness to this deal," Abaddon smoothly explained. He lifted the paper up to allow Takato to see it.
"That's all?" Takato asked suspiciously. Abaddon simply nodded and gave Juri a rather nasty smile.
"Yes, that's all unless you want me to do more for you," Abaddon answered. Takato felt like wiping Abaddon's smile off his face but resisted. Takato had no idea why Abaddon was looking at Juri in such a way. Juri didn't look at Abaddon in the face and that made Takato's budding paranoia go into new heights.
"What if I break the agreements you told me?" Takato asked. Abaddon seemed to smile at the question.
"I get to kill one of your loved ones. I'll be nice and let you decide which one I get to kill first," Abaddon said. Takato felt disgusted and glared at Abaddon.
"Are you threatening me? How do I know that you're not the one whose planning all the attacks on us?" Takato asked back pointedly. Abaddon could only smile and remain silent to Takato's question.
"So do we have a deal?" Abaddon asked innocently. He decided answering Takato's question would reveal too much of what he knew and would drive Takato insane.
"No!" Takato shouted. Juri stood up besides Takato and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Lives hang in the balance... It all depends on your answer. I'll ask again. Do we have a deal?"
Takato found himself unable to answer. The price didn't seem all to high and yet there was something about the entire thing that just didn't make him feel comfortable. Information was vital to their problem, they were completely blind and Abaddon was their only source of information.
"I'll accept but I have to tell you I don't like you one little bit," Takato muttered and glared at Abaddon.
"Whether you like me or not, Mr. Matsude is none of my business," Abaddon replied and threw the paper to Takato where it hung in mid air. A pen suddenly appeared at Takato's side. It surprised Takato who glared at the piece of paper before taking the pen and signing along the dotted lines of the agreement. After signing the paper it spilt into two separate parts. One flew back to Abaddon who neatly put it back into his trench coat and the other remained where Takato was standing.
"That bit of the agreement is yours. It is time for my end of the bargain," Abaddon began. Takato took the signed paper into his hands and held it. The rain outside began to subside a bit.
"Well?"
"You are being attacked by a being called "Yllas". An ancient, if insane, being that absorbs the souls of others to try and become god. It believes that Ruki is the 'essence' it needs to take itself to the next plain. It seems to feel that you are in it's way thus it's trying to eliminate you and your friends.... Next question is on Makino Ruki. She's staying near Hikawa forest. There's a temple nearby around that area. I'll give you a map," Abaddon smoothly. He took out a map from his trench coat and gave it Takato who unravelled it to see a detailed map of the route needed to be taken.
"That's all?" Takato asked. Abaddon walked past Takato and Juri to the gate out of Guilmon's house. The rain had finally stopped and Abaddon paused to look up into the cloudy sky.
"What else did you expect Mr. Matsuda? I did my half of the bargain, I told you what is attacking you and where Makino Ruki is. That is all that you required me to do," Abaddon stated and pushed the gate open let himself out. In the open air Abaddon faded into the darkness, leaving the group silent.
"... Come on... Let's go to Ruki's place and get changed. We'll tell everyone what we've done..." Takato said and held Juri's hands. There was a sort of defeated voice that quivered in Takato's voice. He didn't want to deal with Abaddon but the information given was desperately needed, he just hoped that they never had to run into Abaddon again.
***(Prior to that)***
Jen was getting soaked as he ran through the rain. His shirt and pants stuck to his body like a second skin and Terriermon's fur was becoming increasingly heavy.
"Why are you on my head instead of running besides me?" Jen asked annoyed. Terriermon's weight seemed to multiplied the longer Jen ran in the rain.
"Well everyone's panicking about digimon around the city and all, so I thought it would be best if I pretend to be a stuffed animal," Terriermon explained. The street they were on was completely empty, not to mention Terriermon knew they were in a fairly secluded part of the city. Terriermon really didn't feel like running and decided to let Jen do the leg work.
Jen muttered in annoyance and kept on running in the rain. He had not forgotten his vow to buy Terriermon frilly clothing for Shuichon to play with. Barrelling straight ahead without stopping, Jen was so focused on his destination that he failed to take into account on how to stop. Seeing Sensei's house, he pushed the speed of his run and then tried to stop quickly at the door. Normally on dry ground, Jen's shoes would grip the street well enough to stop but since it was wet they slipped. Jen and Terriermon's eyes widened as they began sliding the street and into a wall that had some garbage cans. Jen hit the wall face first as did Terriermon and they both began to slid down in a daze and into the knocked over garbage cans they accidentally upset as they crashed.
"Nice going Jen," Terriermon said in a slightly sick voice.
"Shut up..." Jen said in a nasal voice and gripped his nose. Luckily it wasn't broken but it hurt like the dickens.
"Jian Liang?" A man's voice asked confused. Jen turned around and saw Sensei Wong standing there with a umbrella right at the entrance of the house. It seemed that he had been waiting there for awhile and saw what had happened.
"Sensei," Jen said in a ridiculous nasal voice. He wrinkled his face in disbelief and just nodded to avoid sounding even more ridiculous.
"Come in, your father just woke up," Sensei Wong said and opened the door for Jen to come in. Terriermon followed in but before entering he shook his fur like a dog to get water out of it. Terriermon did surprisingly well and Jen blinked. Terriermon noted that look on his face and glared back.
"Don't you dare make any sort of jokes about that!" Terriermon said in a testy voice and came inside the house, damp but otherwise a lot drier than he would have been. Jen shrugged and sneezed as he came into the house. He was soaked and his older sister Jaarin stood in the hallway with two towels for the two.
"Here you go you two. You better come in here soon, mom's going a bit nuts..." Jaarin said in a slightly tired voice.
"That time of month?" Terriermon said jokingly. Jen could only glare at Terriermon since talking would only reveal he's nasal voice to his older sister.
"... More like it's happening all over again.... Your turn to teach Shuichon the facts of life Jen," Jaarin answered jokingly. Jen's eyes widened and made a slight strangled noise. Terriermon however just didn't get what Jaarin was talking about or why Jen looked rather pale.
"Gak... You have got to be kidding me! What was dad thinking?" Jen said in a strangled nasal voice. Jaarin blinked and began giggling at the sound of Jen's voice.
"I heard that!" Janyuu called from a room within the house. He had just gotten up and noticed that he had a splitting headache, not mention he had a bandage wrapped around his head. Then he remembered something very urgent and went over to a pile of bags. He was busy looking at the bags of Chinese food that he had bought at Paolin and saw what he had feared. The egg fuumai in spicy black bean sauce had gone cold. His wife took that moment to walk into the room he was in and saw him awake.
"Janyuu! Thank god you're all right!" Mayumi said in a loud voice and went up to hug him. She began sobbing and held her husband in a rather uncomfortable position. His hands were above his head and held the egg fuumai up. Janyuu couldn't lower his arms because his wife was in the way.
"It's all right Mayumi... Could you back off a bit?" Janyuu asked. Mayumi misunderstood what Janyuu meant however.
"Back off a bit?" Mayumi said angrily and let go of Janyuu. Normally she wouldn't be so hysterical but pregnancy, almost losing her life due to an attack and getting kicked out of their apartment was a bit much for her take.
"No... That's not what I meant!... I mean... I bought you, your favorite dish, egg fuumai but it went cold," Janyuu explained apologetically. Mayumi's angry face disappeared in a flash and she began instead to start tearing up. Janyuu felt helpless and watched two solitary tears fall from his wife's face. His hands were still above his head.
"I don't care about the egg fuumai, you stupid idiot!" Mayumi said and hugged her husband again. Janyuu was surprised and lost his grip on the food he had in his hands. The egg fuumai dropped onto the floor and before Janyuu could say anything else, his wife kissed him passionately on the lips. Janyuu slowly lowered his arms and kissed his wife back. They probably would have gone further but Terriermon, Jen and Sensei Wong however walked in on the two.
"Aye Carumba!" Terriermon mouthed and went bug-eyed by the sight.
"Ah... Janyuu..." Sensei Wong coughed lightly while Jen simply blushed at the sight. Mayumi and Janyuu disentangled themselves.
"Jen!" Janyuu managed to say and looked down at the floor at the mess the egg fuumai made on Sensei Wong's floor.
"Did you get mom pregnant again?" Jen asked and felt glad that his voice no longer sounded so nasally. Terriermon however upon the word 'pregnant' gagged. Staring at Mayumi with frightened eyes, Terriermon slowly approached Mayumi and poked her gently in the stomach. He noted that it was distended a bit. Jen however grabbed Terriermon away.
"So... They told you?" Janyuu asked. He laughed weakly but was rather embarrassed.
"Holy... crap... WE'RE DOOMED! I DON'T WANT ANY MORE LITTLE KIDS PLAYING WITH ME! TELL ME THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!!" Terriermon began hyperventilating and looking at Mayumi with wild eyes. He struggled in Jen's grip but Jen held fast.
"Yeah, I heard. Why aren't you at the apartment if the bomb didn't blow up there?" Jen asked as he struggled with Terriermon.
"... Oh... That... We got kicked out by the landlord. We have a week to remove our things from the apartment. On the bright side this is the perfect excuse to go find a bigger place to live in," Mayumi explained as she kept her eyes on Terriermon.
"WHAT!" Janyuu and Jen said both at the same time.
"Why?" Janyuu and Jen asked at the same time. The two men looked at each other unsure. This was shocking news to them and it wasn't exactly welcomed. Terriermon slipped out of Jen's grasp and ran into a closet laughing maniacally where everyone could hear muffled giggling, screaming and otherwise less than sane rants and such. Sensei Wong blinked and the rest of the Lee family came to the room wondering what the shouting was about. Reika was with her child Katsuyo in her arms, also came to the room to listen. She had decided to stay with the Lee's for the moment since Yamaki had headed straight for Hypnos.
"Well, first of all people reported in Lopmon and second the landlord panicked so he evicted us," Mayumi tried to explain in a soothing voice.
"Don't worry Janyuu. You're welcomed to stay here as long as you need to until you find a new place to live," Sensei Wong explained. His serene voice was a stark contrast to the muffled voice of Terriermon.
"Today class we are going to learn something called 'protection during sexual intercourse'. Now can anyone tell me why people should take care to wear protection? No one knows? Well it's because the woman won't get pregnant and sic even more children on Terriermon who will now spend the rest of his life in a closet for the next ten years!" Terriermon shouted from the closet though it was muffled. Reika rolled her eyes, went up to the closet and opened the door where Terriermon was hiding under a jacket and shuddering.
"Do you want to play with the rabbit Katsuyo?" Reika asked her son cutely. Katsuyo looked fairly disturbed at the sight of Terriermon ranting and shaking and shook his head to say no to his mother. No matter what people said about Katsuyo, they have to remember that he is an unusually smart baby and there was no way he was going near an obviously crazy digimon, no matter how cute and cuddly it looked. Terriermon however didn't see Katsuyo shake his head to say no and only heard what Reika said. Turning around quickly he ran through Reika's legs and ran into the bathroom. An audible click could be heard as he locked the door and sound of a shower could be heard running.
"Great... Is it a boy or a girl?" Jen asked his mother trying to ignore Terriermon's actions.
"I'm hoping for one of each," Mayumi said idly. Jen however blinked and then it hit him.
"You're going to have twins!?.... Dad I hope you find a really big house with lots of room then," Jen said as he rubbed his forehead. Terriermon in the bathroom heard the comment of twins and began singing in the shower.
"Never ran from the truth or hid from the past. But baby you drive me mad. Alone in the corner, far from the window. I still see you haunting these dreams of mine. You make go crazy, you make me go psycho. But know what I will never break you faith!" Terriermon sang out loud. It sounded rather hysterical then silence. The shower was turned off and the sound of cloth swishing around could be heard. The door unlocked and Terriermon walked out calmly and in silence. Jen just waited and Terriermon climbed up on Jen's head. He remained there a bit shell shocked it seemed and laid on Jen's head in silence. Dried, clean and strangely disturbing, everyone was silent themselves. The blank look on Terriermon's face simply unnerved everyone including Shuichon and Katsuyo.
"... I think he went catatonic Jen," Rinchei commented. Katsuyo in his mother's arms, was near Terriermon and frowned. He reached over and petted Terriermon on the head lightly, like a cat who was about to bite his hands off.
"Um... Terriermon?... Terriermon?" Jen asked in a curious voice. There was no response and Terriermon stared straight ahead with a small demented little smile.
"Look on the bright side... Lopmon has to suffer as well..." Jen said with a weak laugh. Katsuyo cocked his head to the side and looked at Terriermon in the eye. Terriermon couldn't help but notice how similar Katsuyo and Abaddon were, the only difference was that Katsuyo had blue eyes and brown hair rather than one green and one blue eyes and blond hair. The similarity in fact caused Terriermon to stir a bit.
"I still can't believe you managed to divest CLM of his virginity... How long did it take?" Terriermon asked. Reika could only blush while Jen cringed. Katsuyo pulled his hands away from Terriermon when he spoke.
"What kind of question is that?" Jen said embarrassed. Terriermon became more and more convinced there was a connection between Yamaki and Abaddon.
"Hey... Can you tell me Yamaki has an illegitimate child out there? Who else has he gotten jiggy with?" Terriermon asked in a serious voice. The mental lapse into a coma was forgotten.
"What? CLM?" Reika could only say blinking.
"What are you talking about Terriermon?" Jen asked annoyed.
"Cigarette lighter man... Look at Katsuyo, Jen... Doesn't he remind you of a certain trench coat wearing, creepy, card carrying kid?" Terriermon asked and went up to Katsuyo who looked baffled as to why the two were looking at him.
"Why are you asking something like that?" Reika asked. Jen looked at Katsuyo closely and had to admit that there was a uncanny physical resemblance between Katsuyo, Yamaki and Abaddon.
"Now that you mention it... He does look sort of like Abaddon..." Jen admitted.
"Abaddon? Whose Abaddon?" Janyuu asked his son. Everyone waited for Jen to explain. Jen could only frown and sigh.
"This is going to take awhile to explain..." Jen began.