Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Well, at least I got a few more reviews. Where would I be without you guys? The compliments, the corrections, the death threats, all of which I so sorely need. *Sighs sentimentally* Oh, and you can kill me and my computer all you want, but we're like cockroaches- we keeeeeeep cooooomiiing baaaaaaaack.. *coughs* I'm not quite sure how the story will turn out- I'm making it up as I go along, which is how I work best, and I hope you like it. I read The Darkangel Trilogy- three of the best books I have ever read, and part of it was that it moved me to tears with the agonizing ending. As I said, enjoy!
The silence that fell upon the camp was oppressive. It was Ruki who spoke first. Bold, daring Ruki, she always spoke her mind.
"What do you mean, stolen?" she yelled angrily. Storming past her frozen friends, she marched right up to Takato and waved her hand in front of his face. "Hey, Gogglehead, (A.N. she calls him this in the dub, ((not sure about the real stuff)) and I find it cute) what's wrong with you?" Kyuubimon came to her senses and leapt down to her Tamer, nuzzling her gently. "Ruki." Ruki shoved the fox Digimon away from her. Takato looked at her, about to say something, but his attention was drawn to the red Digimon slowly making his way toward him. "Hey, who's he?" Guilmon stopped, looking as though Takato had just stabbed him. A green light washed over the camp. When it cleared, Terriermon was perched where Galgomon had stood moments earlier. He jumped down and ran toward Guilmon. Soft blue light blinded them all, and then Renamon was leaning over Guilmon, whispering in his ear. Leomon began to move toward him as well when he felt a soft tugging on his paw. Looking down he saw a terrified Juri. "Leomon?" she asked, he voice barely above a whisper. "Takato's not. Guilmon's not really. *Untamed*, is he?" The sad look on his face answered her question. She fought back tears as he gently pulled his claw away and joined the gathering of Digimon. Guilmon had been the first real Digimon she had ever met. How clearly she could recall putting that flower sticker on Guilmon's nose, laughing as he sneezed it off. And the two had been the best of friends. Takato mothered his Digimon worse then his own parents did to him. Jenrya heard a stifled sob and turned to find Juri, head in her hands. Uncomfortably he patted her shoulder. "Juri." "It's so sad," she sobbed. "Takato loved him, so much. and now he's been stripped of his memory." Jenrya sighed and pulled his hand away. He didn't know what to do, except to avoid Guilmon while they all talked. He wondered. Did Takato now remember drawing a Devimon in class, excitedly following the tracker mechanism on his Digivice to his proud new Digimon? Rescuing the black monster from Yamaki's grip? "Takato-mon?" Everyone froze as Guilmon spoke for the fist time in minutes. Jenrya thought he saw a flicker of memory in Takato's eyes as the familiar nickname was spoken, but then was sure he'd imagined it; Takato cuddled his Digivice to his chest before turning around questioningly. "Takato-mon. you were the best Tamer and the best friend. that a Digimon like me could have. And I'll help you, whenever you need it, while you're here. before you go away." Jenrya was stunned. It was true. They'd leave, after they had Callumon, and Guilmon would be left behind. *Maybe he'll Biomerge,* a little voice inside him said, but it wouldn't matter anyway, he reminded himself. Takato still wouldn't remember. "I hope you have a good life. And that Devimon takes care of you." Takato looked a little confused, like he couldn't figure out why he was saying a speech to him. Good manners seemed to compel him to bow and saw, "Uh. well, thanks." Takato's detached politeness seemed to be the final emotional blow. Guilmon turned tail and ran, faster than Jenrya had ever seen him run before. Unconsciously he began to move forward, but a persistant tugging on his shirt made him look down to see Terriermon slowly shaking his head. "Goodbye, Guilmon!" The noise jerked Jenrya out of his own thoughts. Juri had run out and was frantically waving her hand. "We love you!" She waved and waved as the rest of them stared. Waved until Guilmon had run out of sight.
~*~
So it was a subdued group that headed across the Digital Plane. The Tamers and their Digimon had all drawn closer together than usual. Devimon had shown them what a fragile grip each had on the other. Renamon was not more than an inch apart from her Tamer as they wandered. Her intense blue eyes scanned the area. She saw nothing bothersome. After all, she and Ruki had survived an ordeal like this before. Icedevimon had proved to be no match against the bond they shared. Guilmon and Takato had been even closer, and they had been torn apart. The thought made her turn her gaze toward that Tamer. He was walking slower than the others, intent upon his Digivice. She was startled to see how tired he looked. The strain must have been incredible. Ironically, any more attacks would be focused on him; the bond created between him and Devimon was substantially weaker than any Tamer with an original Digimon. Poor Takato. Soon, however, her thoughts were turned to her aching thirst and burning feet. They had been walking for hours, and had eaten the last of their food some time ago. So it was a welcome relief when night suddenly swept across them. Hirokazu and Kenta both fell down instantly. Neither had the strength left to complain. Slowly, the others formed a protective circle. Watches were set. The boys were set first, as they were the most prone to falling asleep. Takato was spared a watch. Hirokazu stared at his feet as Kenta clambered up onto a rock. The brunette had to poke his friend three times before he responded. After they were both properly situated, Kenta tried to spark up a languid conversation. It soon crashed, however, and both boys were left with nothing but their thoughts in the lonely night. Kenta wasn't aware of falling asleep. He wasn't even aware of being suitably drowsy. All he remembered was being insanely bored with his bland surroundings and then being awoken to a series of crashes. He snapped up his head and saw a burst of flame. "Meramon!" he heard Renamon yell. Instantly everyone was up and about, readying him or herself for the upcoming fight. The majority of the group was tense, frightened, and terrified of having their partner ripped away. "Hey, guys! I know you probably didn't get this, but when you've got a watch, it means you WATCH!" Ruki screamed at them as she rushed past. All too soon the flame Digimon was upon them. Smiling that disturbing, laced-together grin, he spread his arms in what appeared to be an attack. The entire group tensed. "Welcome, strangers!" Meramon cried. "Welcome to the Flame Village!" "Say what now?" Kenta stared, shocked. After all they'd been through, he certainly hadn't been expecting a kindly welcome. Kyuubimon approached him, snout testing the air. Then she gave a rare smile. "I've heard of this place," she said. "The Flame Village is a sort of underground welcome house for weary travelers. It's very famous, though I've never been myself." Everyone relaxed. Meramon was quick to lead them forth, through hidden tunnels and secret gates, until barren rock fell away and the awesome sight was revealed to them. "It's beautiful," Juri breathed, staring around at the quiet village. Flames light the darkened streets, casting shadows upon the stone. Strange creatures flitted from house to house, and relaxed shadows could be seen through cloth windows. "Come forth!" Meramon cried jovially. "Come forth into the Village, where all rest and are healed!" Safe in a Digivice, Devimon smiled. It would, he thought, be a perfect place to hatch.
Well, at least I got a few more reviews. Where would I be without you guys? The compliments, the corrections, the death threats, all of which I so sorely need. *Sighs sentimentally* Oh, and you can kill me and my computer all you want, but we're like cockroaches- we keeeeeeep cooooomiiing baaaaaaaack.. *coughs* I'm not quite sure how the story will turn out- I'm making it up as I go along, which is how I work best, and I hope you like it. I read The Darkangel Trilogy- three of the best books I have ever read, and part of it was that it moved me to tears with the agonizing ending. As I said, enjoy!
The silence that fell upon the camp was oppressive. It was Ruki who spoke first. Bold, daring Ruki, she always spoke her mind.
"What do you mean, stolen?" she yelled angrily. Storming past her frozen friends, she marched right up to Takato and waved her hand in front of his face. "Hey, Gogglehead, (A.N. she calls him this in the dub, ((not sure about the real stuff)) and I find it cute) what's wrong with you?" Kyuubimon came to her senses and leapt down to her Tamer, nuzzling her gently. "Ruki." Ruki shoved the fox Digimon away from her. Takato looked at her, about to say something, but his attention was drawn to the red Digimon slowly making his way toward him. "Hey, who's he?" Guilmon stopped, looking as though Takato had just stabbed him. A green light washed over the camp. When it cleared, Terriermon was perched where Galgomon had stood moments earlier. He jumped down and ran toward Guilmon. Soft blue light blinded them all, and then Renamon was leaning over Guilmon, whispering in his ear. Leomon began to move toward him as well when he felt a soft tugging on his paw. Looking down he saw a terrified Juri. "Leomon?" she asked, he voice barely above a whisper. "Takato's not. Guilmon's not really. *Untamed*, is he?" The sad look on his face answered her question. She fought back tears as he gently pulled his claw away and joined the gathering of Digimon. Guilmon had been the first real Digimon she had ever met. How clearly she could recall putting that flower sticker on Guilmon's nose, laughing as he sneezed it off. And the two had been the best of friends. Takato mothered his Digimon worse then his own parents did to him. Jenrya heard a stifled sob and turned to find Juri, head in her hands. Uncomfortably he patted her shoulder. "Juri." "It's so sad," she sobbed. "Takato loved him, so much. and now he's been stripped of his memory." Jenrya sighed and pulled his hand away. He didn't know what to do, except to avoid Guilmon while they all talked. He wondered. Did Takato now remember drawing a Devimon in class, excitedly following the tracker mechanism on his Digivice to his proud new Digimon? Rescuing the black monster from Yamaki's grip? "Takato-mon?" Everyone froze as Guilmon spoke for the fist time in minutes. Jenrya thought he saw a flicker of memory in Takato's eyes as the familiar nickname was spoken, but then was sure he'd imagined it; Takato cuddled his Digivice to his chest before turning around questioningly. "Takato-mon. you were the best Tamer and the best friend. that a Digimon like me could have. And I'll help you, whenever you need it, while you're here. before you go away." Jenrya was stunned. It was true. They'd leave, after they had Callumon, and Guilmon would be left behind. *Maybe he'll Biomerge,* a little voice inside him said, but it wouldn't matter anyway, he reminded himself. Takato still wouldn't remember. "I hope you have a good life. And that Devimon takes care of you." Takato looked a little confused, like he couldn't figure out why he was saying a speech to him. Good manners seemed to compel him to bow and saw, "Uh. well, thanks." Takato's detached politeness seemed to be the final emotional blow. Guilmon turned tail and ran, faster than Jenrya had ever seen him run before. Unconsciously he began to move forward, but a persistant tugging on his shirt made him look down to see Terriermon slowly shaking his head. "Goodbye, Guilmon!" The noise jerked Jenrya out of his own thoughts. Juri had run out and was frantically waving her hand. "We love you!" She waved and waved as the rest of them stared. Waved until Guilmon had run out of sight.
~*~
So it was a subdued group that headed across the Digital Plane. The Tamers and their Digimon had all drawn closer together than usual. Devimon had shown them what a fragile grip each had on the other. Renamon was not more than an inch apart from her Tamer as they wandered. Her intense blue eyes scanned the area. She saw nothing bothersome. After all, she and Ruki had survived an ordeal like this before. Icedevimon had proved to be no match against the bond they shared. Guilmon and Takato had been even closer, and they had been torn apart. The thought made her turn her gaze toward that Tamer. He was walking slower than the others, intent upon his Digivice. She was startled to see how tired he looked. The strain must have been incredible. Ironically, any more attacks would be focused on him; the bond created between him and Devimon was substantially weaker than any Tamer with an original Digimon. Poor Takato. Soon, however, her thoughts were turned to her aching thirst and burning feet. They had been walking for hours, and had eaten the last of their food some time ago. So it was a welcome relief when night suddenly swept across them. Hirokazu and Kenta both fell down instantly. Neither had the strength left to complain. Slowly, the others formed a protective circle. Watches were set. The boys were set first, as they were the most prone to falling asleep. Takato was spared a watch. Hirokazu stared at his feet as Kenta clambered up onto a rock. The brunette had to poke his friend three times before he responded. After they were both properly situated, Kenta tried to spark up a languid conversation. It soon crashed, however, and both boys were left with nothing but their thoughts in the lonely night. Kenta wasn't aware of falling asleep. He wasn't even aware of being suitably drowsy. All he remembered was being insanely bored with his bland surroundings and then being awoken to a series of crashes. He snapped up his head and saw a burst of flame. "Meramon!" he heard Renamon yell. Instantly everyone was up and about, readying him or herself for the upcoming fight. The majority of the group was tense, frightened, and terrified of having their partner ripped away. "Hey, guys! I know you probably didn't get this, but when you've got a watch, it means you WATCH!" Ruki screamed at them as she rushed past. All too soon the flame Digimon was upon them. Smiling that disturbing, laced-together grin, he spread his arms in what appeared to be an attack. The entire group tensed. "Welcome, strangers!" Meramon cried. "Welcome to the Flame Village!" "Say what now?" Kenta stared, shocked. After all they'd been through, he certainly hadn't been expecting a kindly welcome. Kyuubimon approached him, snout testing the air. Then she gave a rare smile. "I've heard of this place," she said. "The Flame Village is a sort of underground welcome house for weary travelers. It's very famous, though I've never been myself." Everyone relaxed. Meramon was quick to lead them forth, through hidden tunnels and secret gates, until barren rock fell away and the awesome sight was revealed to them. "It's beautiful," Juri breathed, staring around at the quiet village. Flames light the darkened streets, casting shadows upon the stone. Strange creatures flitted from house to house, and relaxed shadows could be seen through cloth windows. "Come forth!" Meramon cried jovially. "Come forth into the Village, where all rest and are healed!" Safe in a Digivice, Devimon smiled. It would, he thought, be a perfect place to hatch.