Xavier's New Student
A Digimon - Xmen Cross-over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Neither Digimon nor ANY of the X-related titled Comics
are mine! "Digimon" (the Anime) is the property of it's creator, Houso Miyoshi, and Toie Amination, while the dubbing rights belong to Hayim
Saban;
The X-Men, New Mutants, Generation X, and any other X-characters belong to Marvel Comics.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 02
Kathryn, Mimi, and Wizardmon teleported to a canyon in the Digital-world.
"What would my friends be doing, here?" Mim wondered, whispering to Shadowcat so as not to be overheard by the other Digi-destined. "This looks too desolate and feels too
dangerous to be good!"
"You feel it, too, Mimi-san? Good! I thought I was the only one feeling my hair stand on end. This would be the time Wolverine would tell me to keep my gaurd up and my mutant powers at the ready!"
"Hai, Katarin-sensei!" Mimi responded. "I will do as you advise!"
As Mimi, along with Shadowcat and the Wizardmon, silently came up
to the rest of the Digi-destined, they came up to Kamiya Hikari, shivering where she had sat down to stand guard outside the cave that Takeru had found to shelter the Digi-destined. Hikari slowly turned around with a weak smile.
"Ko..nni..chi-wa, Mimi-san!" Hikari said, shivering. "It.. is good..
to see you.. back wi-..." Hikari then fainted, to be caught by Mimi and Shadowcat. "Arigatou, Mimi!" Hikari managed to whisper. "Gomen.. nisai.., Katarin-sama, but, I do not.. feel.."
Suddenly, a small "patch of snow" moved to life. "Mimi-san? Wizardmon? Hikari-chan? HIKARI-CHAN!!" Gatomon ran from her camouflaged perch, on the rock at Hikari's back, and into the cave entrance. "Jyou! Koushirou! Taichi!! Something is wrong with Hikari!!!"
As if they had practiced this scenr over and over, Jyou and Koushirou were at Hikari's side, with Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Takeru, and Daisuke close behind.
"Let's get to the fire!" Taichi shouted. "My sister needs to get warm!"
"Hikari was in no condition to be on-gaurd!" Takeru said guiltily. "I should have taken her place!"
"You tried, Takeru-kun!" Jyou responded. "We all heard you!"
"Hai!" Koushirou answered, then added under his breath: "Stubbornness must be a Kamiya family-trait."
"I heard that, Koushirou." Hikari stirred weakly among her rescuers. "And you know what? *COUGH!* it's true."
"Nani?" Koushirou looked down and blushed. "Oh! Gomen nisai, Hikari-chan!"
"There is no need to apologize for the truth, Koushiro-san!" Hikari smiled. "And.. the apology is accepted."
"Huh?" Taichi looked up.
"Umm.. Err.." Koushirou figdeted. "Never mind, Taichi."
"Oniisan?" Hikari mumbled as she slid into needed rest. "We have guests."
"Nani?" Taichi responded to his sister. Then, he looked up troward Yamato.
Yamato was watching the mouth of the cave intently.
Taichi then turned his attention to the cave-entrance.
"Konnichi-wa, minna," Mimi said softly. "Will Hikari-chan be alright?"
"She needs her rest." Yamato answered Mimi. "It is good that you are here, Mimi-san!" After a couple of minutes of stunned silence, Yamato quietly spoke again: "And your friend. Come.. Katarin-san? Sit!"
As Mimi sat down just near enough to where Kari lay to hear the conversation around her, Shadowcat went to look over Hikari with a concerned eye. 'I wish Beast were here,' she thought, 'I could use a medical opinion.'
"How long has she been out in this weather?" Shadowcat asked, gesturing to Hikari.
"About six hours," Taichi answered, "ever since the storm blew up."
"Hmmm." Shadowcat mused, "And before that?"
"We had been under a hot, dry sky for five days before that", Taichi recalled.
"Not good." Then Shadowcat looked around at Hikari's companions. "You seem to be doing well, however." She turned back to look at Hikari. "What is it about you, little one?" Then, she added under her breath, "And how did you know me?"
"My sister has never really been too healthy." Taichi said dejectedly. "She's always been a bit frail. I never really thought she should have been here with us! But, Fate has said otherwise. Oh! I am Kamiya Taichi! I am Kamiya Hikari's Oniichan! And, you are?"
"Kathryn Pryde, at your service!" Shadowcat bowed respectfully. "And I think you already know my associates? Tachikawa Mimi and.."
"'And'?" Taichi asked quizzically.
"Komban-wa, Kamiya-sama!" Wizardmon came out from behind Shadowcat, offering a hand of friendship.
"Wizardmo..?" Taichi started to ask when his jaw dropped. "You're alive? How did you.. When did you..?" He stared wide-eyed at the digimon everyone had last seen as a ghost. "Does Hikari know? Does Gatomon know?" Taichi slowly sat down. "Wizardmon's alive!", he whispered.
"Does Hikari know?" Answered Wizardmon. "Probably! Does Gatomon know? Most definitely!"
Kathryn took a seat next to Taichi and Hikari. She then took out Professor Xavier's journal and a pencil. After checking to see if Hikari was breathing regularly, she turned again to Taichi. "I need to ask some questions, Kamiya Taichi! May I?"
"Go right ahead, Pryde-Sama!" Taichi bowed.
"What is going on here?" Miyako asked Daisuke. "I know that Hikari is ill, and I see Mimi and the Wizardmom are here! But who is the woman with Mimi?"
"I have no idea, Miyako." Daisuke said. "She looks a bit familiar, though! But from where have I seen her?"
"Can she fit into why we are here?" Iori asked. "I have felt a bit odd since we same here this time."
"How have you been, Mimi-chan?" Jyou asked as Mimi came to a far wall of the cave.
"I have been well, Jyou-kun. Domo arigatou!"
"You look very nice, Mimi!" Koushirou said, smiling. "Black and yellow? But I remember pink being your color!"
"It always has been, Koushirou-kun! And the school uniform is blue and yellow." Mimi ran her fingers through her hair. "Pink has always marked me off."
"Hai." Jyou slowly smiled. "So, the pink hair is not a recent change?"
"Iie. My hair was always pink. My mother just thought dying it auburn would help me fit in."
"So," Koushirou asked, "how is life among the X-Men?"
"You.." Mimi answered slowly, "know about the X-Men, Koushirou?"
"It took me a while to figure out where you were in America, Mimi!" Koushirou smiled. "Once Jyou and I had e-mail from you, we started to deduce your e-mail address. We both got interested when the address turned out to be an Institute for Higher Learning!"
"Once we narrowed you down to Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," Jyou grinned reassuringly, "it was not hard for me to figure out why you went there."
"You, Jyou-kun?" Mim asked hesitently.
"Hai." Jyou smiled."But before we go on, we have a friend here who hasn't seen you in a while, Mimi-san! Say 'Hello', to her, please?"
Mimi smiled down to the small plant-digimon sitting by the spring coming out of the cavern-floor.
"Komban-wa, Tanemon! I wondered why I did not sense you here! It releaves me to see you are still alive!"
"Just barely", the seedling whispered. "There is little water here.. and.. not much food!" Then she smiled. "But.. I will be better.. now that you are here!" She then crawled into Mimi's arms. "I'm so tired.. want to sleep..."
"She has been up gaurding us ever seen we found each other." Jyou said with a faint smile. "She deserves sleep, and whatever food we can find."
"True." Mimi thought for a bit. "We'll have to remedy that later. Katarin-Sensei and I may be able to get something here.. in a while." She then turned to Koushirou. "Kou-kun? Can we travel between worlds through
your internet-access with the Pineapple?"
"Hai, Mimi-chan!" Koushirou smiled. "When will you need it?"
"I can not tell. It depends on Katarin-sensei's next move- and Wizardmon's!"
"So, is Wizardmon Katarin-sama's Digimon?" Jyou asked.
"Hai." Mimi responded. "Wizardmon says they are here because of us."
"That..", Koushirou said slowly, "seems to go with a theory I've had lately. Almost as soon as we came to the Digital-World this time!"
"Nani?" Mimi asked.
"Hai." Koushirou spoke in a quiet tone. "I came to this thought
because of your e-mails- and Jyou."
"Nani-yo? Jyou-kun?"
"Hai." Jyou slowly removed his gloves, something Mimi couldn't remember
him doing before.
Gomamon slowly watched in shock as one, then two, perfectly-webbed hands came out of the gloves. "Jyou?" He asked in awe. "Kiddo-san?"
"Something we share in common, Gomamon!" Jyou softly chuckled. "We are both built for the water!"
"And you still can't swim?" Gomamon finally was able to respond.
"My Kaasan and Niisans made me promise never to go near the water", Jyou answered.
Gomamon , Tentomon, and Tanemon sat there perplexed. Mimi and Koushirou looked on sympathetically.
"Dad is a rabid Anti-Mutant. Mom is always afraid of him learning of what I am! And, she has always been afraid my body would react to water and give me away!"
"But, when we went up against Megaseadramon in Odaiba, you could have DROWNED, Jyou!" Gomamon retorted. "What if I had not been able to GET to you?"
"I could very well have died! I panicked, forgetting I can manipulate water somewhat." Jyou illustrated this by dipping his fingertips into the spring. As he concentrated, the water gathered up his webbed fingers and gathered in his palm, then grew into a small blob.
He then took a sip from the blob. "Of course, Takeru-san and I still could have drowned in a watery blob just as easily as I could have ridden it to the surface for air!" Jyou's serious blue eyes looked down at Gomamon. "Arigatou, Gomamon, for being there for us!" Jyou smiled.
Gomamon's face returned the smile. "Glad Zudomon could help! After all, what are friends for?"
"Anyway," Koushirou said after the demonstration, "when it became evident that you were a mutant, Mimi-san, I started wondering if that is what made you and Jyou-san candidates to be Digi-destined! If struck me as more than coensidence that Jyou-san's partner happens to be a water-type digimon! After we were brought here this time, I started forming a hypothesis that ALL of the Digi-destined are mutants! Unfortunately, it is STILL only a theory, as I have no way of finding out of a certainty who is a mutant and who is not! Although I am getting clues as to Hikari-chan and I!"
"You, Koushirou-kun?" Mimi asked.
"Hai!" Koushirou answered. "I have had a strange feeling for a week before we entered the Digital-World this time! And, as we passed through the foothills coming to this cavern, I felt a strange force between the land and I- as though my body was pulling at, or being pulled to, certain of the rocks."
"And now?" Mimi quizzed the young man.
"I feel less drawn," Koushirou answered, "but I still feel it. I have been careful with my laptop, lest whatever is affecting me affects it!"
"Hmmm.." Mimi contemplated this a bit, then pulled a small gadget from around her neck and off her head. "Does anyone have a pinlight?"
"Here you go, Mimi-chan!" Koushirou smiled. "One pinlight, high-beam!" He turned
it on to demonstrate his words.
"Arigatou, Kou-kun!" Mimi then shone the light on the small, watch-like "pendant", which revealed itself to be a compass!
After a couple of hushes "Ahhhh!"s and "Ohhhh!"s from the boys, Jyou spoke up:
"Do you always come this prepared for the Digital-World, Mimi-san?"
"That's what that first trip here taught me!" Mimi said with a smile, which grew sadder. "That, and Tousan and Kaasan worrying bout me being alone in a hostile-world."
Mimi then slowly started walking around Koushirou in a circle. "Hmmm! This is interesting. Koushirou? You said the 'pull' on you has weakened somewhat since you've got to the cavern?"
"Hai."
"What is it, Mimi?" Jyou asked.
"Look at this, Jyou.." Mimi began walking back towards Jyou. "When I am here, I can read 'Magnetic-North' on the compass, although there's still a slight waver in the needle. But watch as we move closer to Koushirou-kun.." They moved closer to their friend, and the needle started moving in his direction. "And, now, as we circle Koushirou, turning the compass to keep 'North' where it should be.." The needle kept pointing toward Koushirou. "Of course, this is just a crude test! Demo.. what can we safely guess from this?"
"So.. Taichi-kun? Hikari-chan has been in ill-health periodically since the age of five?" Kathryn was busy between listening to Kamiya Taichi, reading Xavier's journal, and jotting down side- and footnotes in that same journal.
"Hai." Taichi responded sadly. "I have always been afraid she would die, either at home or here!" He then looked sadly at his sister. "Hitorribocchi. Then, I would be alone."
Sora watched Taichi and Hikari with sadness.
Kathryn read Xavier's notes under the heading "KAMIYA."
"August 23, 1996. I have just finished my examinations of the Kamiya children and of their parents. It is apparent that not only young Taichi, but also Hikari-chan, is a mutant. They both hold the X-Factor in their genetic code, while neither parent holds it, though there's little doubt thry hold the components for it. Taichi and Hikari are very lucky to have such caring parents. There is little doubt I shall be dealing with the Kamiya clan again."
'Nineteen-ninety-six!' thought Kathryn. 'We thought the Professor
just went to Japan to check-up on Yashida Shiro-san! I can only guess that Sunfire was watching out for mutants in Japan! But he has enough to worry about battling cancer.'
Kathryn kept reading:
"Of young Taichi, I can tell little. Unfortunately, we are less able to break the code of mutated-DNA than the rest of the world is at breaking normal human-DNA. But, There seem to be hints- simularities between the codes of Taichi and Yashida Shiro! But, while their are tantalizing pieces of the puzzle, they are only pieces.
"Of young Hikari, however, I am of a more certainty! And of a sadness. I know I am feeling some sort of energy about her, even at this young age! And, the energy is techionic. The same energies I have felt and registered from Illyanna Rasputina back at the school. This saddens me, because they seem to be draining the young girl. She seems to be sickened physically by the drain, where Illyanna seems to be draining in spirit! But the end may be the same. I only hope Hikari-chan can survive long enough so we can help her."
Kathryn wrote updates on Hikari, then closed the journal and put it away. She then looked over Hikari and whispered a prayer.
"So, Hikari! That is how you knew me."
"Excuse me, Katarin-sama," Taichi bowed, "but, the book you were writing in looked oddly familiar! May I see it? Onegai?"
"Oh?" Shadowcat reacted. "Ah! Gomen nisai, Taichi-san!" She pulled the book again from her bag. "Here it is! You may see it!"
Taichi stared intently at the juornal, turning it over and over again. "I have seen this before, years ago, I think." He then noticed the name on the from cover. "'Charles Xavier'? This is his diary!" Taichi looked up at Kathryn. "Are you one of his pupils? Are you an X-Man?"
"Hai, Taichi-San!" Kathryn said softly.
"She is the 'Shadowcat', Taichi!" Yamato spoke just loud enough for Taichi and Kathryn to hear. "So! Another of the 'Destined' is a mutant?"
"'Another'?" Taichi gulped. "How many are there, Yamato? And how do you know about them?"
"I know, Taichi.." Yamato said with a sad smile. 'Becauce I am one of them.'
Taichi Kamiya blicked a few times in Yamato's direction.
"Did I just.. hear.. you.. in my head, Yama-kun?"
'Hai.'
"You're..?"
'A Mutant? Hai. A Telepath.'
"Does that scare you, Tai-kun?" Yamato asked, a touch of fear in his voice.
"Iie!" Taichi answered. "Should it?"
"Iie." Yamato answered, a growing ease in his voice. "It is good that we are all friends, Taichi!" Yamato's blue eyes still showed the fear and sadness that had earlier invaded him. "For we will surely need each other
in the days to come."
"I will never be scared of you, Yamato, or of Hikari!" He stroked his sister's face.
'I shall be too busy being scared for you.' Taichi said to himself.
"Mimi-san?" Shadowcat called out. "I want you to stay by Hikari-chan!"
Mimi came back to the fire. "Hai, Katarin-Sensei!"
"Please, pardon me for asking, Katarin-sama," Taichi bowed, "but, why do you want Mimi-chan to stay with my Imouto?"
"Because, Taichi-san," Shadowcat explained, "Tachikawa Mimi-san is an empath and a teleporter! She has to 'find' a person to anchor to before she can teleport. That is how we came here! And that is how she will get Hikari-chan and herself back, whenever your sister's mutant-power finally emerges. If I read the Professor's notes correctly.. Hikari's a Chrono-porter.. a time-traveler!" Shadowcat looked to Mimi. "Do you understand what I want you to do, Mimi?"
"Hai, Sensei!" Mimi answered.
"Good!" Shadowcat smiled, then opened Xavier's journal again. "Now, are.. Ishida Yamato, Takaishi Takeru, Izumi Kuoshirou, Jyou Kiddo, and.. Takenouchi Sora here?"
"Hai!" Jyou spoke up. "We are here."
"Halleluia!" Shadowcat cried out in relief, almost laughing. "That means you are all safe as of now! And that, maybe, the Professor can keep the promise he made to your families!"
"Our.. families?" Sora managed to stutter out.
Before Shadowcat could continue, a voice came from the mouth of the cave.
"Tachikawa-Sama! What are YOU doing here? This trap was not meant for you to fall into!"
A Digimon - Xmen Cross-over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Neither Digimon nor ANY of the X-related titled Comics
are mine! "Digimon" (the Anime) is the property of it's creator, Houso Miyoshi, and Toie Amination, while the dubbing rights belong to Hayim
Saban;
The X-Men, New Mutants, Generation X, and any other X-characters belong to Marvel Comics.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 02
Kathryn, Mimi, and Wizardmon teleported to a canyon in the Digital-world.
"What would my friends be doing, here?" Mim wondered, whispering to Shadowcat so as not to be overheard by the other Digi-destined. "This looks too desolate and feels too
dangerous to be good!"
"You feel it, too, Mimi-san? Good! I thought I was the only one feeling my hair stand on end. This would be the time Wolverine would tell me to keep my gaurd up and my mutant powers at the ready!"
"Hai, Katarin-sensei!" Mimi responded. "I will do as you advise!"
As Mimi, along with Shadowcat and the Wizardmon, silently came up
to the rest of the Digi-destined, they came up to Kamiya Hikari, shivering where she had sat down to stand guard outside the cave that Takeru had found to shelter the Digi-destined. Hikari slowly turned around with a weak smile.
"Ko..nni..chi-wa, Mimi-san!" Hikari said, shivering. "It.. is good..
to see you.. back wi-..." Hikari then fainted, to be caught by Mimi and Shadowcat. "Arigatou, Mimi!" Hikari managed to whisper. "Gomen.. nisai.., Katarin-sama, but, I do not.. feel.."
Suddenly, a small "patch of snow" moved to life. "Mimi-san? Wizardmon? Hikari-chan? HIKARI-CHAN!!" Gatomon ran from her camouflaged perch, on the rock at Hikari's back, and into the cave entrance. "Jyou! Koushirou! Taichi!! Something is wrong with Hikari!!!"
As if they had practiced this scenr over and over, Jyou and Koushirou were at Hikari's side, with Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Takeru, and Daisuke close behind.
"Let's get to the fire!" Taichi shouted. "My sister needs to get warm!"
"Hikari was in no condition to be on-gaurd!" Takeru said guiltily. "I should have taken her place!"
"You tried, Takeru-kun!" Jyou responded. "We all heard you!"
"Hai!" Koushirou answered, then added under his breath: "Stubbornness must be a Kamiya family-trait."
"I heard that, Koushirou." Hikari stirred weakly among her rescuers. "And you know what? *COUGH!* it's true."
"Nani?" Koushirou looked down and blushed. "Oh! Gomen nisai, Hikari-chan!"
"There is no need to apologize for the truth, Koushiro-san!" Hikari smiled. "And.. the apology is accepted."
"Huh?" Taichi looked up.
"Umm.. Err.." Koushirou figdeted. "Never mind, Taichi."
"Oniisan?" Hikari mumbled as she slid into needed rest. "We have guests."
"Nani?" Taichi responded to his sister. Then, he looked up troward Yamato.
Yamato was watching the mouth of the cave intently.
Taichi then turned his attention to the cave-entrance.
"Konnichi-wa, minna," Mimi said softly. "Will Hikari-chan be alright?"
"She needs her rest." Yamato answered Mimi. "It is good that you are here, Mimi-san!" After a couple of minutes of stunned silence, Yamato quietly spoke again: "And your friend. Come.. Katarin-san? Sit!"
As Mimi sat down just near enough to where Kari lay to hear the conversation around her, Shadowcat went to look over Hikari with a concerned eye. 'I wish Beast were here,' she thought, 'I could use a medical opinion.'
"How long has she been out in this weather?" Shadowcat asked, gesturing to Hikari.
"About six hours," Taichi answered, "ever since the storm blew up."
"Hmmm." Shadowcat mused, "And before that?"
"We had been under a hot, dry sky for five days before that", Taichi recalled.
"Not good." Then Shadowcat looked around at Hikari's companions. "You seem to be doing well, however." She turned back to look at Hikari. "What is it about you, little one?" Then, she added under her breath, "And how did you know me?"
"My sister has never really been too healthy." Taichi said dejectedly. "She's always been a bit frail. I never really thought she should have been here with us! But, Fate has said otherwise. Oh! I am Kamiya Taichi! I am Kamiya Hikari's Oniichan! And, you are?"
"Kathryn Pryde, at your service!" Shadowcat bowed respectfully. "And I think you already know my associates? Tachikawa Mimi and.."
"'And'?" Taichi asked quizzically.
"Komban-wa, Kamiya-sama!" Wizardmon came out from behind Shadowcat, offering a hand of friendship.
"Wizardmo..?" Taichi started to ask when his jaw dropped. "You're alive? How did you.. When did you..?" He stared wide-eyed at the digimon everyone had last seen as a ghost. "Does Hikari know? Does Gatomon know?" Taichi slowly sat down. "Wizardmon's alive!", he whispered.
"Does Hikari know?" Answered Wizardmon. "Probably! Does Gatomon know? Most definitely!"
Kathryn took a seat next to Taichi and Hikari. She then took out Professor Xavier's journal and a pencil. After checking to see if Hikari was breathing regularly, she turned again to Taichi. "I need to ask some questions, Kamiya Taichi! May I?"
"Go right ahead, Pryde-Sama!" Taichi bowed.
"What is going on here?" Miyako asked Daisuke. "I know that Hikari is ill, and I see Mimi and the Wizardmom are here! But who is the woman with Mimi?"
"I have no idea, Miyako." Daisuke said. "She looks a bit familiar, though! But from where have I seen her?"
"Can she fit into why we are here?" Iori asked. "I have felt a bit odd since we same here this time."
"How have you been, Mimi-chan?" Jyou asked as Mimi came to a far wall of the cave.
"I have been well, Jyou-kun. Domo arigatou!"
"You look very nice, Mimi!" Koushirou said, smiling. "Black and yellow? But I remember pink being your color!"
"It always has been, Koushirou-kun! And the school uniform is blue and yellow." Mimi ran her fingers through her hair. "Pink has always marked me off."
"Hai." Jyou slowly smiled. "So, the pink hair is not a recent change?"
"Iie. My hair was always pink. My mother just thought dying it auburn would help me fit in."
"So," Koushirou asked, "how is life among the X-Men?"
"You.." Mimi answered slowly, "know about the X-Men, Koushirou?"
"It took me a while to figure out where you were in America, Mimi!" Koushirou smiled. "Once Jyou and I had e-mail from you, we started to deduce your e-mail address. We both got interested when the address turned out to be an Institute for Higher Learning!"
"Once we narrowed you down to Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," Jyou grinned reassuringly, "it was not hard for me to figure out why you went there."
"You, Jyou-kun?" Mim asked hesitently.
"Hai." Jyou smiled."But before we go on, we have a friend here who hasn't seen you in a while, Mimi-san! Say 'Hello', to her, please?"
Mimi smiled down to the small plant-digimon sitting by the spring coming out of the cavern-floor.
"Komban-wa, Tanemon! I wondered why I did not sense you here! It releaves me to see you are still alive!"
"Just barely", the seedling whispered. "There is little water here.. and.. not much food!" Then she smiled. "But.. I will be better.. now that you are here!" She then crawled into Mimi's arms. "I'm so tired.. want to sleep..."
"She has been up gaurding us ever seen we found each other." Jyou said with a faint smile. "She deserves sleep, and whatever food we can find."
"True." Mimi thought for a bit. "We'll have to remedy that later. Katarin-Sensei and I may be able to get something here.. in a while." She then turned to Koushirou. "Kou-kun? Can we travel between worlds through
your internet-access with the Pineapple?"
"Hai, Mimi-chan!" Koushirou smiled. "When will you need it?"
"I can not tell. It depends on Katarin-sensei's next move- and Wizardmon's!"
"So, is Wizardmon Katarin-sama's Digimon?" Jyou asked.
"Hai." Mimi responded. "Wizardmon says they are here because of us."
"That..", Koushirou said slowly, "seems to go with a theory I've had lately. Almost as soon as we came to the Digital-World this time!"
"Nani?" Mimi asked.
"Hai." Koushirou spoke in a quiet tone. "I came to this thought
because of your e-mails- and Jyou."
"Nani-yo? Jyou-kun?"
"Hai." Jyou slowly removed his gloves, something Mimi couldn't remember
him doing before.
Gomamon slowly watched in shock as one, then two, perfectly-webbed hands came out of the gloves. "Jyou?" He asked in awe. "Kiddo-san?"
"Something we share in common, Gomamon!" Jyou softly chuckled. "We are both built for the water!"
"And you still can't swim?" Gomamon finally was able to respond.
"My Kaasan and Niisans made me promise never to go near the water", Jyou answered.
Gomamon , Tentomon, and Tanemon sat there perplexed. Mimi and Koushirou looked on sympathetically.
"Dad is a rabid Anti-Mutant. Mom is always afraid of him learning of what I am! And, she has always been afraid my body would react to water and give me away!"
"But, when we went up against Megaseadramon in Odaiba, you could have DROWNED, Jyou!" Gomamon retorted. "What if I had not been able to GET to you?"
"I could very well have died! I panicked, forgetting I can manipulate water somewhat." Jyou illustrated this by dipping his fingertips into the spring. As he concentrated, the water gathered up his webbed fingers and gathered in his palm, then grew into a small blob.
He then took a sip from the blob. "Of course, Takeru-san and I still could have drowned in a watery blob just as easily as I could have ridden it to the surface for air!" Jyou's serious blue eyes looked down at Gomamon. "Arigatou, Gomamon, for being there for us!" Jyou smiled.
Gomamon's face returned the smile. "Glad Zudomon could help! After all, what are friends for?"
"Anyway," Koushirou said after the demonstration, "when it became evident that you were a mutant, Mimi-san, I started wondering if that is what made you and Jyou-san candidates to be Digi-destined! If struck me as more than coensidence that Jyou-san's partner happens to be a water-type digimon! After we were brought here this time, I started forming a hypothesis that ALL of the Digi-destined are mutants! Unfortunately, it is STILL only a theory, as I have no way of finding out of a certainty who is a mutant and who is not! Although I am getting clues as to Hikari-chan and I!"
"You, Koushirou-kun?" Mimi asked.
"Hai!" Koushirou answered. "I have had a strange feeling for a week before we entered the Digital-World this time! And, as we passed through the foothills coming to this cavern, I felt a strange force between the land and I- as though my body was pulling at, or being pulled to, certain of the rocks."
"And now?" Mimi quizzed the young man.
"I feel less drawn," Koushirou answered, "but I still feel it. I have been careful with my laptop, lest whatever is affecting me affects it!"
"Hmmm.." Mimi contemplated this a bit, then pulled a small gadget from around her neck and off her head. "Does anyone have a pinlight?"
"Here you go, Mimi-chan!" Koushirou smiled. "One pinlight, high-beam!" He turned
it on to demonstrate his words.
"Arigatou, Kou-kun!" Mimi then shone the light on the small, watch-like "pendant", which revealed itself to be a compass!
After a couple of hushes "Ahhhh!"s and "Ohhhh!"s from the boys, Jyou spoke up:
"Do you always come this prepared for the Digital-World, Mimi-san?"
"That's what that first trip here taught me!" Mimi said with a smile, which grew sadder. "That, and Tousan and Kaasan worrying bout me being alone in a hostile-world."
Mimi then slowly started walking around Koushirou in a circle. "Hmmm! This is interesting. Koushirou? You said the 'pull' on you has weakened somewhat since you've got to the cavern?"
"Hai."
"What is it, Mimi?" Jyou asked.
"Look at this, Jyou.." Mimi began walking back towards Jyou. "When I am here, I can read 'Magnetic-North' on the compass, although there's still a slight waver in the needle. But watch as we move closer to Koushirou-kun.." They moved closer to their friend, and the needle started moving in his direction. "And, now, as we circle Koushirou, turning the compass to keep 'North' where it should be.." The needle kept pointing toward Koushirou. "Of course, this is just a crude test! Demo.. what can we safely guess from this?"
"So.. Taichi-kun? Hikari-chan has been in ill-health periodically since the age of five?" Kathryn was busy between listening to Kamiya Taichi, reading Xavier's journal, and jotting down side- and footnotes in that same journal.
"Hai." Taichi responded sadly. "I have always been afraid she would die, either at home or here!" He then looked sadly at his sister. "Hitorribocchi. Then, I would be alone."
Sora watched Taichi and Hikari with sadness.
Kathryn read Xavier's notes under the heading "KAMIYA."
"August 23, 1996. I have just finished my examinations of the Kamiya children and of their parents. It is apparent that not only young Taichi, but also Hikari-chan, is a mutant. They both hold the X-Factor in their genetic code, while neither parent holds it, though there's little doubt thry hold the components for it. Taichi and Hikari are very lucky to have such caring parents. There is little doubt I shall be dealing with the Kamiya clan again."
'Nineteen-ninety-six!' thought Kathryn. 'We thought the Professor
just went to Japan to check-up on Yashida Shiro-san! I can only guess that Sunfire was watching out for mutants in Japan! But he has enough to worry about battling cancer.'
Kathryn kept reading:
"Of young Taichi, I can tell little. Unfortunately, we are less able to break the code of mutated-DNA than the rest of the world is at breaking normal human-DNA. But, There seem to be hints- simularities between the codes of Taichi and Yashida Shiro! But, while their are tantalizing pieces of the puzzle, they are only pieces.
"Of young Hikari, however, I am of a more certainty! And of a sadness. I know I am feeling some sort of energy about her, even at this young age! And, the energy is techionic. The same energies I have felt and registered from Illyanna Rasputina back at the school. This saddens me, because they seem to be draining the young girl. She seems to be sickened physically by the drain, where Illyanna seems to be draining in spirit! But the end may be the same. I only hope Hikari-chan can survive long enough so we can help her."
Kathryn wrote updates on Hikari, then closed the journal and put it away. She then looked over Hikari and whispered a prayer.
"So, Hikari! That is how you knew me."
"Excuse me, Katarin-sama," Taichi bowed, "but, the book you were writing in looked oddly familiar! May I see it? Onegai?"
"Oh?" Shadowcat reacted. "Ah! Gomen nisai, Taichi-san!" She pulled the book again from her bag. "Here it is! You may see it!"
Taichi stared intently at the juornal, turning it over and over again. "I have seen this before, years ago, I think." He then noticed the name on the from cover. "'Charles Xavier'? This is his diary!" Taichi looked up at Kathryn. "Are you one of his pupils? Are you an X-Man?"
"Hai, Taichi-San!" Kathryn said softly.
"She is the 'Shadowcat', Taichi!" Yamato spoke just loud enough for Taichi and Kathryn to hear. "So! Another of the 'Destined' is a mutant?"
"'Another'?" Taichi gulped. "How many are there, Yamato? And how do you know about them?"
"I know, Taichi.." Yamato said with a sad smile. 'Becauce I am one of them.'
Taichi Kamiya blicked a few times in Yamato's direction.
"Did I just.. hear.. you.. in my head, Yama-kun?"
'Hai.'
"You're..?"
'A Mutant? Hai. A Telepath.'
"Does that scare you, Tai-kun?" Yamato asked, a touch of fear in his voice.
"Iie!" Taichi answered. "Should it?"
"Iie." Yamato answered, a growing ease in his voice. "It is good that we are all friends, Taichi!" Yamato's blue eyes still showed the fear and sadness that had earlier invaded him. "For we will surely need each other
in the days to come."
"I will never be scared of you, Yamato, or of Hikari!" He stroked his sister's face.
'I shall be too busy being scared for you.' Taichi said to himself.
"Mimi-san?" Shadowcat called out. "I want you to stay by Hikari-chan!"
Mimi came back to the fire. "Hai, Katarin-Sensei!"
"Please, pardon me for asking, Katarin-sama," Taichi bowed, "but, why do you want Mimi-chan to stay with my Imouto?"
"Because, Taichi-san," Shadowcat explained, "Tachikawa Mimi-san is an empath and a teleporter! She has to 'find' a person to anchor to before she can teleport. That is how we came here! And that is how she will get Hikari-chan and herself back, whenever your sister's mutant-power finally emerges. If I read the Professor's notes correctly.. Hikari's a Chrono-porter.. a time-traveler!" Shadowcat looked to Mimi. "Do you understand what I want you to do, Mimi?"
"Hai, Sensei!" Mimi answered.
"Good!" Shadowcat smiled, then opened Xavier's journal again. "Now, are.. Ishida Yamato, Takaishi Takeru, Izumi Kuoshirou, Jyou Kiddo, and.. Takenouchi Sora here?"
"Hai!" Jyou spoke up. "We are here."
"Halleluia!" Shadowcat cried out in relief, almost laughing. "That means you are all safe as of now! And that, maybe, the Professor can keep the promise he made to your families!"
"Our.. families?" Sora managed to stutter out.
Before Shadowcat could continue, a voice came from the mouth of the cave.
"Tachikawa-Sama! What are YOU doing here? This trap was not meant for you to fall into!"