Author's Note Yes, yes, my dears. If you haven't noticed - go log on to any Tamers Episode Guide site and search for Episode 36 "The Battle Within". Either that or you go to and search under Tamers, and then go to Character Profile (mind you, check the English version of the site). Then you'll understand what crap I'm talking about for the second half of the chapter.
Chapter 3: I See What You Don't
Reika struggled to get out of bed. 8.49 am. Oh no, she was late for work. Yamaki would probably take 10% off her pay for that. She grumbled. What did she ever do to deserve such a horrible boss? Not that Yamaki really mistreated her or anything, but in a word that really fits well, he is eccentric.
Yamaki joined Hypnos a long time ago - around the time the Wild Bunch started their projects. She counted, it was around 13 years ago. She was his neighbour, and was the first to help him. Megumi came a few years later, when Reika met her in college.
Come to think of it, she didn't exactly hate Yamaki. She just couldn't stand the way he acted at times.
"Alice, did you ever hate me?" Mr McCoy asked her. Alice looked away for a second. I never wanted to, but you forced me to, she thought. "Answer me," he said.
"My feelings were long gone... Ever since he died," she answered. Mr McCoy choked back his tears. It seemed that he could cry at a great occasion like this.
"I'm sorry, Alice. I never knew that..." At this, Alice got back to her usual self.
"That's what you always say! You always think that others would like you to manipulate them. You're selfish, greedy and incorrigible!" Alice screamed. Mr McCoy got up and slapped her on the face.
"I forbid you to speak to me in that manner!" Make me. I lost everything the day Father died. Tears were rolling down her pale, ghastly face. The dim light of the study made her seem like a wax figure, with neither life nor expression.
Silence. Mr McCoy turned his chair, so that the two were facing back-to-back. Only half an hour later, did he speak again. "I admit, I was wrong to force Aaron into doing things that he didn't like. But did you think I wanted him to die?"
Alice sniggered. "You were aware that he hated you, and his drawings. Yet, you forced him to do things that he hated to. When he died, I became his double. You made me do everything that he was supposed to."
"But-"
"Dobermon sacrificed himself to help the Tamers. You know you shouldn't have done that. Father created Dobermon especially for me - He was mine." Alice clutched at her brooch so tightly that her fingers bled. She could have run out of the room any second now.
"Aren't you selfish yourself, then?" Mr McCoy said, in a gentler and kinder tone, "After all, Dobermon sacrificed himself, to save the world."
"But Father killed himself - for you. All his life, his entire life, he had been your slave." At last, Mr McCoy cried, but he made sure Alice didn't see it. He felt as if he had lost two of his dearest family at the same time - Aaron and Alice. The two were so similar, both in their rebukings and argument.
He knew neither of them enjoyed creating digimon and looking after their projects, but they must, in order not to let Shibumi and Janyu control everything.
"At the end of the day, aren't I just your tool, to eliminate Shibumi, Janyu and Yamaki?"
Megumi saw Reika running to the office.
"Gee, you're late again," Megumi told her.
"I know, don't remind me. Where's Yamaki?" She asked.
"Don't worry - He's not here yet."
"What? I'm already half an hour late!"
"Oh please, Yamaki's always late. It's just unfair of him to deduct our pays for being late, while he can get away with it."
"I can't be bothered. Have you got Rob McCoy's letter?"
"Yes. It's on Yamaki's desk."
"Good. It's all about Millennium's data and power." Reika sounded rather anxious.
"Sounds serious to me. Wanna go out for lunch together?"
"I don't think I've got the time."
"I know you're going on a diet, but it's not healthy to skip meals."
"Who says that I am?" The two then heard a cough. Yamaki was here.
"Good morning," the two said. Yamaki didn't seem to take a look at them and Megumi frowned. She thought that he could have at least shown some basic courtesy to his subordinates. Yamaki called Reika into his office.
"Good morning, Sir," Reika greeted.
Yamaki didn't look up. "Take a seat."
"What in the world is wrong with you?" Reika was extremely pissed.
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't return my calls and you hung up the phone on me."
"The point is?" Yamaki continued reading Mr McCoy's letter.
"Fine," she said, exasperated. "Rob McCoy would want you to calculate the chances of the Millennium returning at all."
No answer. "You're not trying to pick an argument, are you?" Reika questioned.
"I'm not. I just want you to know that we have serious business at hand," Yamaki finally said, plainly.
"Is work all that you care about?" No reaction.
"Reika, help me look for Rosa," he said. Reika's brows furrowed.
"Why the sudden feeling to?"
"I just feel like it, and you have no right to question me in that way."
"I get it. If you really hate me so, then just tell me straight in the face!"
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Reika left and slammed the door so hard that Megumi suspected something amiss. Reika noticed her expression, and prayed that she didn't know anything.
