The 2nd Digi-Phase

Cager: Hiya guys! I hope you all liked how the last chapter was a lot longer than the others. ^_^ Lots of people were complaining they were too short.

Anto the Anti-Seto: Think you made it long enough? o_O;;;

Angi the Anti-Yugi: Suck it up, Anto! Be a man!

Anto: I hate you, Angi! );p

Antea the Anti-Tea: I guess I'd better put up a disclaimer before Anto and Angi start into it again 9_9; Cager does not own Digimon or the anime kitties. She owns the plot line and her made up Digidestined and a few made up Digimon, like Anubimon. OH! And Cager isn't sure if it is truely spelt Daterimon or Daterrimon or Datirimon so don't flame her for her spelling. She already knows she sucks at it.

Takato Kitty: Please read and remew!

Ken Kitty: Yeah, and, uh, most of you won't understand this chapter but you'll just have to endure it anyway! ;p

Jouti the Anti-Joey: And, uh, Cager really doesn't know ANYTHING about kimono dancing, but she thinks the dresses are pretty ^_^; She's read a book about kabuki plays but she's unsure if they start out the same.


Chapter 12: Anubimon's Advice

"I don't understand," muttered Izzy, scanning the large room one more time. "I was sure it would be right here!" They had made it to the chamber with the green dot on the map but there was no sign of Jinji, Patamon, the Seal or Anubimon. There was an altar where Izzy had thought the Seal would be but nothing else. Just... an empty altar.
"Where's Jinji, already?" asked Charlie, apparently getting quite bored.
"He should have been here by now," said Kira looking down at her Map but the Jinji-dot was still moving towards the chamber, a bit slower than he had been when they first had set off. They had also noticed he had stopped at one point for quite a few minutes but they didn't know why.
"Look at all this Ancient Digi-Code," murmured Gomamon as he placed his paw on the side of the wall. "I'd have to say it must have been carved, at least, 5,000 years ago."
"5,000 years ago!" mused Megumi, tracing the odd symbols and figures with her finger. "Can you read it, Gomamon?"
"Not really. I can understand a few symbols but not much," he replied. "Here I see 'Lord' and 'Digidestined' and 'Crest' but I don't understand much anything else."
"Ohhh," muttered Megumi.
"Shh!" hissed Heroki, catching everyone's attention.
"What is it, Heroki?" asked Armadillomon in a quiet voice, only above a whisper. Heroki took a step towards another tunnel that led into the room.
"I hear voices...."

* * *

"Hiya, Mrs. Ichijouji!" sang out small 10 year old as he snapped a picture of her when she opened the door. "Is Jinji or Ken here?" Mrs. Ichijouji stood there for a few seconds a bit surprised at seeing their new young neighbor. She smiled and let him inside.
"I'm afraid to say Jinji is out with some friends right now but Ken is in the living room," she replied. She didn't really think such a young boy would be interested in seeing her older son but he walked straight up to Ken and greeted him with a snap of his camera. She noticed it was quite an expensive camera, not one just any parent would leave with a child but apparently he knew how to handle and take care of it so she didn't think much about it.
"Hiya, Ken! Your mom says Jinji's not home but that's alright 'cause I can play with you!" The boy snapped a picture at the completely surprised 21 year old and smiled.
"Uh, hi, Hitoshi," said Ken, a bit surprised on seeing their new neighbor he had only met a day or two before. This boy had brown hair and deep green eyes. His parents had said he was very talktive and nice but they had never mentioned his... boisterousness.
"Just call me Toshi," said the boy chuckling. "Wha'cha doin'? Watchin' the news?" Ken smiled and nodded.
"Oh, yeah, I've heard this story lots of times," explained Hitoshi as the News Anchor told of the latest theft;
"It appears the Crash Capper has struck again! This time it was at a Super Market in downtown Odaiba. It seems nothing much was stolen, just a few loaves of bread, bottles of carbonated juice and, oddly enough, a bag of Dog Chow."
"They're crazy if they think its just a regular theif," sighed Hitoshi, shaking his head.
"I agree. I mean, the theif is never seen because he's so fast and every time he strikes, he break out the glass of the front window," said Ken but he was startled when Hitoshi began to chuckle.
"Not quite the reason I say its not a regular theif," whispered Hitoshi leaning towards Ken as he lowered his voice. "I know for a fact, its not even human. Its animal."
"And how on earth did you find that out?" asked Ken, rolling his eyes in disbelief.
"Because," murmured Hitoshi, even quieter than before, "I got a picture of him."

* * *

"So, this is the Palace of Prophesy?" asked Patamon, landing gently on Jinji's shoulder.
"Yes," answered Deterrimon as they made their way towards the chamber that held the Seal. "Every prophesy known to Digimon-kind is carved or painted on these walls."
"But what happens when all the prophesies are done with? What happens then?" asked Jinji. "There can't possibly be more room to write more!"
"Actually, Digidestined Jinji, new prophesies can occur anytime. That is why I am here. It is my job to roam the halls every day to see if anything new comes up."
"So, the prophesies just appear on the walls?"
"Yes. I know it might sound odd to one who comes from a different world, but that is how it is done." Daterrimon sighed as he looked at the walls. "The walls change constantly, at least three times a day. They have never been in the same position twice. I know. I've been here for many, many years and have not once seen the walls in any one position twice."
"How do you remember it all?" asked Patamon. Daterrimon looked up at the small Digimon with his glowing blue eyes and gave a simple reply;
"Because, the Seal would not have it anyother way." Jinji and Patamon were a bit confused about this answer. Adoles had told them the Seals were part of the Lord's power and the Lords were the Digital World but how could the Seal reason by itself?
"Here we are," said Daterrimon just as they saw the light of the chamber that held the Seal.
"Can you believe it, Patamon? We're almost there!" cheered Jinji, starting into a run. Patamon jumped off his shoulder and flew along side him while Daterrimon kept his slow, trotting pace.
"Hey, guys! I'm back!" yelled Jinji as he skidded to a stop in the middle of the room. He saw everyone was there! Kira still had her D-Terminal and D-R combined but the others seemed to be looking for something. Once he yelled he was there, they stopped what they were doing and turned to him with a smile. Then, softly, Kira's D-Terminal began to beep and a small red dot flashed next to her 'Data' option.
"What's this...?" muttered Kira, clicking the red dot as the others raced forward to meet Jinji.
"Jinji, what happened? How did you get seperated from us?" asked Charlie.
"Are you okay, Jinji? How about you, Patamon?" asked Izzy.
"How did you figure out how to work the D-Terminal and D-R? That was amazing!" gasped Heroki with a smile of approval. Jinji was just about to answer when Kira gasped, bringing everyone's attention to her.
"What is it, Kira?" asked Megumi.
"We need to get out of here!" yelled Kira. "Anubimon is coming!"
"How do you know that?" asked Veemon.
"I got something on the Data screen. Anubimon is an Ancient Beast Digimon. Mega Level. His attacks are Ancient Eye and Ankh Syrum Stare. He's coming from the same tunnel Jinji came out of!" The Digidestined immediatly began to panic and look around for something to hide behind but Jinji's thoughts came to another.
"Oh, no! Daterrimon!" gasped Jinji turning back towards the tunnel. Daterrimon was still in the tunnel!
"Who? Daterrimon?" asked Armadillomon a bit confused but Jinji didn't answer.
"DATERRIMON!" yelled Jinji as he made for the tunnel. "ANUBIMON IS COMING! WE NEED TO HIDE! PLEASE, HURRY!"
"Yeah! Get on out here, Daterrimon, before he finds you!" yelled Patamon hovering a few inches above Jinji's head. A moment later, Daterrimon appeared into the light of the chamber. Jinji and Patamon smiled, Kira and Gabumon gasped and the other Digimon just stared. Daterrimon took one step towards Jinji.
"No! I won't let you hurt my friend!" yelled Kira, pointing an accusing finger at Daterrimon. "Gabumon, give him a blast." What happened next only took a few moments to pass but it seemed like an eternity.
"Right! BLUE BLASTER!" shouted out Gabumon letting out a stream of blue ice. Jinji wasn't sure what was happening but he knew one thing for sure, he didn't want anything to happen to his new friend.
"No! Don't hurt Daterrimon!" cried Jinji, throwing his arms around the lanky Digimon's neck, trying to put himself between Daterrimon and the Blue Blaster. Patamon gasped when he saw it heading straight towards Jinji and knew there was only one thing he could do to prevent him from getting hurt. Patamon flew in front of Jinji and Daterrimon, the Blue Blaster hitting him head on. Gabumon gasped when he saw what he had done. Kira's mouth gaped open in shock. Jinji, who had braced himself for a hit that never came, slowly turned around.
"PATAMON!" wailed Jinji when he saw the body of his injured partner. Patamon wasn't hurt enough to break down into Data dust but he was extremly weak. Jinji went to the side of his little Digimon and picked him up. All the while, no one said a word. Jinji sat there, sobbing for quite a few moments before Daterrimon made his way over to sit next to Jinji.
"Digidestined Jinji," said Daterrimon, waiting patiently until he got the attention of the small, blue eyed boy, "why is it that when we were alone in the tunnel, you were afraid for your own life when I spoke of Anubimon but you were afraid for my life when there was immediate danger?" Jinji stopped sobbing and tried to focus on the question just asked of him.
"I... I don't know how to answer," replied Jinji shaking his head. Everything had happened so fast. He just couldn't take it all in.
"That was not quite the answer I would expect from you, young Jinji, but I suspect you are a bit too shocked to give me a proper answer," said Daterrimon with a slight chuckle. "The answer is this: though you were afraid for your own life, you placed the life of another above your own. That makes you noble, just as your Digimon was noble enough to put your life before his."
"I just didn't want anyone to get hurt," muttered Jinji, his eyes breaking out into new tears, "but even that didn't work. Patamon is hurt."
"But you rushed to his side to be with him when you found he had been injured. You have not known him for more than a few days, correct? Yet, you still value him as a friend you have know for over many years. That makes you loving.
"As I said before-You are a very innocent and loving, Digidestined Jinji. I, Anubimon, would never destroy a child of the Light." Jinji gasped.
"A-anubimon?" gasped Jinji, feeling a slight tinge of fear creep into him.
"You have nothing to fear, young Ichijouji. I am very pleased in the way you acted. I am also very pleased to know you have been chosen to be the leader of the Digidestined, the Servant of the Digital World." Anubimon smiled at the young Digidestined and placed a paw on Jinji's hand. "Now, set down your little Patamon and I will heal him." Jinji did as he was told, now feeling complete and entire trust in the Digimon that stood before him. Anubimon's eyes slowly began to glow a light pink and so did Patamon.
"ANKH SYRUM STARE...," muttered Anubimon. Patamon was completely engulfed in pink light, then a bright flash of gold. No one seemed to breath but everyone felt something true and comforting in the light. Then, Patamon sat up. The light began to fade. Once it faded entirely, Patamon turned to Jinji and smiled.
"Jinji, how can you cry at a time like this?" asked Patamon, his bright blue eyes sparkling. "I've never felt this good in my life!"

* * *

One hour later...

"So, you never really stole the Seal?" asked Charlie, slightly skeptical.
"No. I just kept it safe," replied Anubimon, who now sat on the altar which they now knew was Anubimon's bed. "It has been my duty to keep it safe until the Digidestined came. Then I was to let them have it, so that they may be able to bring all the Seals together and save the Digital World."
"Then, why didn't you just come on out and give it to us instead of making us find our way with the D-R's and D-Terminals?" asked Eriko. Anubimon turned to the young boy before replying.
"I simply wanted to see if you were smart enough to make it out through the lybrinth alive."
"And had we not made it through the lybrinth?" asked Charlie with an edge in his voice. Anubimon's eyes glowed slightly brighter than before.
"Then you were not worthy of being Digidestined," replied Anubimon. This comment made Izzy jump to his feet.
"What do you mean?" demanded Izzy. "Then, had we not figured out how to use the D-Terminals and D-Rs correctly, you would just have let us parish?" Anubimon looked to Izzy, his eyes flashing momentarily, then turned away, apparently refusing to answer the question. Izzy sighed and shook his head. "They're only children."
"That," snapped Anubimon, jumping to his feet, "is where you are wrong, Digidestined Koushiro. They are not 'only children', they are Digidestined. I knew they would find their way through this obstical eventually... even if some of them turned back. As I recall, Digidestined Koushiro, you also were once known as being part of a group of 'only children'." Izzy frowned at this. He frowned though he knew it was true. He had actually been one of the younger children when they first started off on their adventure in the Digital World. He had no more room to argue.
"Now, then," said Anubimon, getting the other's attention once again, "it is time I gave you some information, along with the Seal." Anubimon sat up and scanned the small group as if it were a large crowd and making sure he had all of their undivided attention. "For the next several months, or years(depending on how long it takes you to retrive all the Seals), you will be going up against many strong Digimon. Most of them shall be of the Ultimate level, rarely Mega. I know most of the Digimon very well. Very well, indeed. The next Seal you go after, I suggest, is the one held by Struthiomon."
"What's a Struthiomon?" asked Megumi.
"Just check the Data Screen," replied Kira. Megumi pulled out her D-Terminal and jammed her D-R into the side. She entered the Data Screen and looked up Struthiomon.
"Hmm, it says here he's an Ultimate level Digimon also known as the feathered knight. Huh! He kinda looks like a Ostrige with armored plates on him!" announced Megumi. "It also says his attacks are Feather Shower and Knightly Radiance."
"Why do you think we should go after him first?" asked Hiroki.
"His Knightly Radiance sure sounds tough," muttered Armadillomon.
"Well, I think you should go to him first because... Struthiomon is rather stupid," replied Anubimon. This statement shocked the Digidestined. He knew what they were thinking. "How is a stupid Digimon like Struthiomon able to steal one of the Seals of Protection? I am unsure, myself, though I do believe he paid his way to it."
"How childish!" laughed Charlie in a mocking voice. "That Digimon must be pretty pithetic."
"Even so, I would not take Struthiomon lightly," warned Anubimon sharply. "He is still Ultimate, though I am Mega. I may have nothing to fear... but you humans, in your frail bodies, with Rookies as your partner may not have it quite so easy." The Digidestined understood Anubimon's point.
"I'd never let anything happen to Charlie," insisted Palmon.
"Same with me and Eriko!" said Veemon.
"Yes, yes. I know, you were all chosen to be the partners of the Digidestined for your loyalty and the light in your hearts, but you must still take caution. Digidestined have been known to lose their Digimon through brave, wonderful acts of loyalty. It is a dangerous task that has been set on your shoulders."
"We know that," said Gabumon, "but we're still going to try our best to protect them. If all else fails, we'll still be reconfigured."
"That may be so," said Izzy, catching everyone's attention, "but I've seen Digidestined who've never looked the same after their Digimon as been destroyed." The Digidestined grabbed their Digimon and hugged them tightly as Izzy carried on. "I, myself, have never lost Tentomon in a fight and I still pray I never will. I never want to know that pain...." Izzy voice kinda cracked there and Tentomon flew over and let Izzy wrap him up in his arms. 'Oh! Tentomon, I never want you to Digi-Phase!'
"That is the risk, that must be chanced," said Anubimon, almost reverently. He then turned to Charlie and raised his large paw towards him. "Child of Sincerity, come to me."
"Who?" asked Charlie looking around. Palmon nudged him gently, surprising him. "Me?"
"Come to me," repeated Anubimon, his paw still extended. Timidly, Charlie stepped forward until he was right in front of Anubimon. The Digimon gently placed his paw over Charlie's heart and it began to glow a soft blue, like Anubimon's eyes. Charlie sucked in his breath fast when he felt a slight chill rush through him. Anubimon removed his paw and looked into Charlie's eyes.
"Charlie... Digidestined Charlie, you should not hold back on your feelings as you do, or they will over-power you and swallow you up. Learn to love and show love to more than just Palmon and do not fear the reaction you may recieve from others." Charlie looked at Anubimon quizically, as if he didn't understand. Anubimon apparently didn't think he would either. "Do not worry, Digidestined Charlie. You may not understand now, but you will... someday." Charlie stepped back to Palmon and wrapped his arms around her, his mind still lost as it pondered over what Anubimon had said. 'My feelings? Swallowing me up? Fear of reaction?'
"Now," Anubimon turned to the rest of them and did the same as he did to Charlie, "come to me, Child of Friendship.... Kira, oh Digidestined Kira, you have much trust in you, but that can also be a bad thing. You should learn to limit your trust, or it shall be used against you.
"Child of Reliability.... Digidestined Megumi, do not give more than you have. If you do, you may lose everything, including the ones you love. Try not to get in over you head.
"Child of Determination.... Young Digidestined Eriko, you strive for great knowledge but those around you push you down. Never give in but don't become over-excessive or you may forget the most important thing of all-How to love.
"Child of Honor.... Digidestined Heroki, I know how you wish to gain acknowledgement and friendship from those around you but if you keep such untrust around you and such secrets from your brother and sister Digidestined, you may never gain theirs." Last, Anubimon turned to Jinji. He seemed to look upon the young boy sadly, as if he pitied him, but they did not understand why.
"Jinji Ichijouji, stand before me," ordered Anubimon in a firm, yet soft voice. Jinji, a little surprised by how the Mega had addressed him, felt akward as he walked his way up towards the altar. Jinji stood before Anubimon with his head held high to look into his eyes. Anubimon carefully reached out to touch his paw to Jinji's chest as he had the others but when he barely touched, he pulled back slightly, as if giving it a second thought. He finally made up his mind and placed his paw directly over Jinji's heart. Unlike the other times he had done this, his paw gently began to glow a soft pink, like his Ankh Syrum Stare. Jinji felt a wave of warmth wrap around him and he felt as if he had fallen into a dream. Jinji sighed and bowed his head as the relaxing warmth engulfed him.
After a few moments, Anubimon removed his paw and called to Jinji but he wasn't listening. He was at full peace, entierly centered. Anubimon lifted his paw to Jinji's chin and tilted his head up to look into his eyes. Jinji stood there for a few minutes in that position before opening his eyes to acknowledge Anubimon. Anubimon drew close to Jinji until his face was less than an inch away from Jinji's. When he spoke, his voice was so soft and barely even a whisper. No one but Jinji and Anubimon knew what he said.
"Young Jinji, you are destined for great things. Great, wonderful things," whispered Anubimon. Jinji smiled and lazily let his eyelids drop halfway over his eyes. Anubimon removed his paw and Jinji walked back to Patamon, stroking his short fur in thought.
"What was all that about?" inquired Izzy, raising an eyebrow. Anubimon ignored him and jumped down from the altar.
"It is time to give you the Seal of Protection," said Anubimon turning to the altar. "Please, stand back Digidestined." The Digidestined and Digimon walked back to the wall and watched as Anubimon's eyes began to glow a deep blue. Beams of light shot from his eyes and began to form into a strange triangle shape above the altar. The Digidestined and Digimon were greatful Anubimon had them stand back now because pressure from the light seemed to be pushing them flat against the walls behind them. Suddenly, there was a flash of light that left them blind for a few moments, but their eyes finally cleared to see the Seal, floating safely over the altar. It was quite big and triangular. It was a light shade of green and it seemed to have part of a turtle carved into it.
"As I said before," started Anubimon turning back to the Digidestined as his eyes returned to their normal color, "this is only a weaker base-Seal, but it shall still prove to be of great help to you."
"Its so... big!" muttered Megumi, her mouth gaping open.
"You said it," agreed Gomamon as he slid out of her arms to get a closer look.
"Man! How on earth are we supposed to carry something that big!?" exclaimed Charlie swinging his arms around.
"Simple," replied Anubimon. "You shall carry them in your D-Terminals. Megumi, hold up your D-R." Megumi looked at him for a second then did as she was told. A bright light shot from her D-R screen and coated the Seal, then sucked it into her D-R! She gasped as a digitalized picture of it appeared on her D-Terminal screen.
"See? Its-" started Anubimon but he interrupted by a small beeping sound that came from Megumi's D-Terminal. "What is that?"
"I-I don't know," answered Megumi as she clicked the small bright light that appeared. It led her to an option that read 'Power-Up!'
"Huh? Power-Up?" said Izzy, leaning over the young girl to get a good look.
"Ahh! That must be the option that allows you to summon the Seal's power!" exclaimed Heroki.
"But why did Megumi get to have the first Seal? I wanted it!" yelled Charlie.
"Yours will come in due time, Digidestined Charlie," replied Anubimon reguarding the young boy with a flick of his paw.
"This is so cool!" exclaimed Kira, starting to get excited.
"Children, I have one last thing to say," announced Anubimon, drawing their attention one again back to him. "Even if you no longer have a Seal to find here, I will be keep the Palace of Prophesy open for you as a sort of Digidestined Sanctuary. You will be able to come here anytime you need to find shelter in the Digital World. The prophesies and I shall protect you. I would like you to bring any new Digidestined you find to me so I may bless them and give them some of my power as I have to you."
"You mean, that's what you-" started Eriko but Anubimon stopped him with a wave of his paw.
"I wish you luck." The Digidestined took that as a hint and began to leave but Anubimon's voice rang out once again to stop them, or at least, one of them. "Digidestined Jinji!" Jinji stopped and turned back to Anubimon who trotted on up to him. Anubimon stood up on his haunches and placed his paw once again over Jinji's heart. The bright pink light came again and Jinji fell to his knees so he could look into Anubimon's eyes.
"Hey! What are you...," started Patamon but he stopped when he saw Jinji smile.
"Never forget who you are, Jinji. I am counting on you," murmured Anubimon softly.
"Don't worry, Anubimon," said Jinji, reassuring the Mega level Digimon. "I'll make you proud of me."

* * *

Izzy groaned as he drove down the street towards the theater. He had SUCH a throbbing headache! He needed something to calm him. Something... relaxing. All that Anubimon had said had distressed him. Tentomon slept soundly in the passenger seat.
'Would he really have allowed us to die in there had Jinji not found map on the D-Rs and D-Terminals?' Izzy asked himself as he slowed at a traffic light. 'Are all the Digimon that hold the Seals Ultimate level? That seems to be a bit hard for a bunch of Rookies.' The traffic light changed to green and Izzy continued towards his destination.
'Anubimon sure doesn't seem concerned with what happens to the Digidestined, only what happens to the Digital World... but, then again, Digidestined don't always have the pleasure of thinking about themselves.' Izzy sighed but he brightened when he pulled into the theater parking lot. 'Enough about Anubimon. This is a night for me!'
Izzy didn't know when it happened but one day, he found he had a taste for the art of kimono-dancing. Not that he ever danced. He was never graceful and it was mostly meant for girls, anyway. He just loved to watch! He smiled to himself as he locked up his car and made his way into the theater. He had one particular favorite among the dancers here and he had pledged that one day he would make himself known to her, not that he thought he had a chance with her at all. Still, a guy could dream....
He took his seat on one vacant pillow and waited for the dancers. This night was always the night the youth and their instructor would come out to perform. It happened only once a week and Izzy came every time he could. He enjoyed watching the girls as they improved, he always found himself feeling fatherly pride for all of them, but who he really sought was the instructor. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she was his favorite.
Then, the wooden block clappers smacked together twice to signal the beginning of the dance, just like it had done for hundreds, thousands of years before. The theaters of the old Japanese arts like to keep to tradition. The music of samisens began to fill the room as the girls walked, single file, on tempo, across the stage, their instructor leading. Izzy leaded forward slightly to get a better view of her.
The leader's name was Hiroyashi Kazuko. The girls referred to her as Hiroyashi-san. She had soft, short brown hair that curled under around her face(though she had it tied back in a traditional style when dancing). Her eyes were also a soft brown and, oddly for a Japanese person, they were actually quite round, big and bright. She had a beautiful voice(Izzy knew this because, on rare occasions, she had done singing performances) and her dancing skills matched it perfectly. Everything about her was perfect, as far as Izzy was concerned. She was beautiful, and even her outfit was beautiful--A light pink kimono with white embroidery. Izzy wondered if her skin was fine and soft without the powdery white makeup all over her face. Izzy noticed she had no ring on her left ring-finger. He wondered if she that meant she had taken it off due to tradition or if she was really available. He prayed for the latter.
Then the girls began dancing. They danced fluidly, almost soundlessly in their silky kimonos. Each girl knew her place, knew every step and was beat-perfect. Most of the time, there was an extremely hard part one would have to dance and usually it was the instructor who took the job. This time, the main attraction was one of the girls. She was quite tall, apparently she had learned much. She was about 13 years old with long black hair(usually it was straight down but she had to keep it up during dances--tradition!) and deep blue eyes. Her face was devoid of all expression as she danced, her dark blue kimono with silver lining silently mimicking her movements. She was perfect with every step, every graceful gesture--that all changed in a split second and Izzy saw why.
One of the floor boards on the slightly raised stage was loose, apparently having been knocked up during another dance or possible even during last night's play. When the girl raised her foot to the dance, her toes got caught against the board and she lost her balance. Her expressionless face coarsed with surprised as she tripped and fell into two other dancing girls. Izzy gasped, as did many of the other audiance members, as the girls fell, shrieking in surprise when the other had knocked into them. The music stopped, the dancers that were left standing had stopped and the audience was know on full alert.
The girls that had been knocked down pulled themselves back up to their feet and glared down at the one who had messed up their beautiful dance and now their kimonos. The blue eyed dancer just stayed where she was, sitting on the stage, her face expressionless but her eyes on the floor. The instructor was furious.
"Rena! Do you see what you have done?" demanded Ms. Hiroyashi in an outraged tone. "The dance is ruined! Absolutely ruined! What do you have to say for yourself?" The girl on the floor, Rena, looked as if she was about to cry, then forced her face to show no emotion. That was her only defense and Izzy knew it.
"I know why she fell!" shouted Izzy, standing up. Everyone turned and looked to him. He felt like he was burning up under their eyes. The instructor looked surprised with his interruption, Rena looked furious. Izzy now knew she didn't want anyone coming to her rescue, but there was no turning back now. "That floorboard is uneven with the rest of them. It was loose and she tripped over it. It was not her fault, it was the theater's manager's fault for over-looking it." Now the instructor was furious.
"You've no right to say whose fault it is. Rena must learn to take responsibility for her own mistakes," snapped Kazuko and she flicked her hand at him. It took him a few moments to realize she was indicating for him to leave. Izzy felt miserable. Just as he turned to go, he saw Rena running out the back door.
Once Izzy made it out of the theater he felt for sure he had lost it all. She had looked so angry with him for speaking up in the girl's defense. It truely wasn't Rena's fault but Kazuko was a strick teacher and instructor. Mistakes were not to be made during HER performances. Izzy began to make his way to his car, when his thoughts returned once again to the little kimono dancer Rena. She had run out the back door... into the dark alley. That was no place for a little girl to be. Izzy turned and began to make his way to the back of the building. Once back there, he saw Rena sittind down on the ground, he knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on them. She was actually sobbing on them and that made Izzy upset too.
"I'm sorry," said Izzy, surprising her. She looked up at him, trying to see who he was in the dim alley lights, then glared at him once she recognized him.
"What do you want?" she demanded with a huff.
"I... I just wanted to make sure you were-"
"Alright?" asked Rena with a large amount of sarcastic disbelief. She laughed bitterly and glared up at him. "Do you know what you did in there? You made it look as if it wasn't my fault!" Izzy stared down at her, his mouth agap.
"Bu-but It wasn't your fault! That floorboard! It was sticking up, straight out of the ground!" She smirked at his confusion.
"And do you think that was that way by accident?" Izzy gasped at the idea of her actually... deliberatly, pulling the floorboard loose. She laughed at his look of confusion. "Yep! I did it on purpose! I wanted her to fire me from this stupid dance school! But now that you've made it look like it was her fault I'll never-"
"Whoa, whoa!" yelled Izzy, holding up his hand to stop her. "I NEVER meant for it to look like Ms. Hiroyashi's fault!" She looked up at him suspisiously.
"You said it was the managers fault. Hiroyashi-san is the manager." She smiled when she noticed he had now found his mistake. But then, her smile faded as she watched him change, quite drastically actually. A look of total and complete dismay filled his face and he began to cry and he leaned back against the theater wall. He put his hands up to cover his face and he slid to the ground, sobbing.
"Now, what am I to do?" he sobbed sadly. "Now I'll never get back in to see her. She hates me! She hates me!"
"What are you talking about?" asked Rena as she cocked an eyebrow. "Hiroyashi-san was only upset you pointed out a flaw in herself. Its not like she'll remember what you look like, so you'll be able to get back in to-" but she stopped when she noticed her comment only made him cry more.
"She'll NEVER notice me now! At least, she'll never want to!" he cried bitterly for himself. He didn't understand it! Why did the only woman in the world who had touched his heart be the one to never give him a second glance? Why did it have to be her? Why her?
"You like... Hiroyashi-san?" asked Rena in an almost appalled voice. Izzy took his hand away from his face, for only the briefest moment so he could answer.
"Actually... I... I think I may... love her." He fell back into tear at the very thought of her. Rena watched this rather short and extrememly odd man cry for the one woman in the world she wouldn't have even thought had any admirers. He didn't cry about her, he cried for her! He wanted her and he wanted her badly. Rena frowned.
"I... I'm sorry she hasn't noticed you yet," muttered Rena and then a sudden realization hit her. "I've noticed you a lot! You come nearly every time our troupe dances and every time Hiroyashi-san has a singing performance!" Izzy nodded but continued to sob. She felt sorry for him now. It was her fault he would never get her to noticed him. He didn't seem to bad, even if he had blown her cover. He was doing it for the good, she just wanted to get out. Maybe she still could but his problems still wouldn't be fixed... unless....
"Hey! Maybe I could help you!" said Rena, grabbing his attention. "I could tell her she had a secret admirer and tell her you wished to meet her! I'll tell her the place and you can go on a sort of blind date!"
"But she hates me! She'll stomp off right after she sees who I am," mumbled Izzy through his hands. Rena shook her head.
"Actually, I don't think she saw you correctly. I don't think she'd recognize you out in broad daylight, in contrast to the dim lights of the theater." She smiled at him when he looked up. "Who knows? We could give it a try."
"But, what about you?" asked Izzy. "What do you want in return?"
"In return?" she asked, thinking for a moment. She smiled and replied. "In return, you'll have to promise me the next time I 'accidentally' trip and muss up the dance, don't come to my rescue. I think I'll take the news that I've been dropped from the troupe just fine."

To be continued....