Part 5 - Emotional Whirlwinds
"Okay, here's the plan. We're gonna go get tickets to get inside. Impmon, remember to act like a doll so that we don't get into trouble."
Impmon nodded. He didn't like playing doll, but we didn't have enough money for four people. We walked up to the table and purchased some tickets. Then something happened I wasn't quite expecting.
"Sign this please."
"Huh? What's this for?"
The lady behind the glass sighed.
"Last year some cosplayers got out of hand, they had a mock battle that got too rough and hurt some people. This says that you won't sue us for anything that happens to you inside."
I rolled my eyes as I looked down at the sheet.
Some people…
Then I brightened, and quickly scribbled my name, passing the other two back to Doroon and Ai. I wasn't quite sure if this was legal, given that we were only eleven, but I wasn't about to say anything either. Davis was inside, and I wanted to go hang out.
I rolled my eyes as Doroon held open the door for us when we entered, mostly because Ai was blushing furiously.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now this is the good life. Good company, good entertainment, and decent snacks.
We were in a theatre like room, which had been showing the Digimon series for the past several days apparently. I had the armrest up between Jun's seat and mine, and she was snuggled up against me, my arm around her shoulders.
I glanced over to my left at Tai, who was in a similar position with Sora, and he just smiled back before turning his attention back to the screen, which was showing the final episode, A Million Points of Light. I smiled as it showed Ken and Yolie with kids. Then it showed something so preposterous it was mind-boggling.
[And who would have ever guessed that Matt and Sora would end up married…]
Takato mentioned an epilogue, but this?!
Don't get me wrong. I like Sora. She's the sister I never had. Frankly, there used to be days I wished I could trade TK in for her. But married to her? Don't get me started about what's wrong with that picture.
I looked over quickly at Tai and her, and saw them both with dropped jaws. Tai's face quickly turned a strange greenish color, and he bolted out of the theatre, hands over his mouth while Sora continued to stare in shock, even as applause rang out during the credits. I collapsed back in my seat to ponder this development.
Tai would obviously need some sign that he and Sora were still going to be together, no matter what the stupid thing said.
I am not looking forward to this…
"Hussy!"
I looked carefully to my right at Jun, who was glaring daggers at a confused Sora. I took a careful look at the fires in her eyes, and decided to just be grateful that Bearmon had decided not to come on this trip.
"W-What…?"
Jun's eyes seemed to glow, and I developed a nervous tick in my right eye as I sat there.
"How dare you take my husband you little skank!"
I put my head in my hands and started silently sobbing as Jun leapt over me, arms reaching for Sora's throat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I smiled as I watched Mimi carefully brush her hair into place. She turned to me, doing a little spin.
"How do I look?"
I smiled.
"Simply beautiful. You look fantastic Mimi. You could never look any less."
She blushed, and kissed me on the cheek.
"Well, here goes…"
She strode out purposefully, onto a catwalk like structure as I made my way back out into the stands to watch, down to the first row, where contestant relatives sat. Mimi was participating in her own look-alike contest, something that amused us both to no end. She had an unfair advantage of course, but it wasn't like this was serious or something.
Who would believe the truth? Besides, who can look more like Mimi than Mimi?
Mimi, who was entered as a 'Mia Takabana' stood with the other contestants, waiting for the judges to announce the winner. The contestants, Mimi included, shuffled a little nervously as the judges whispered quietly among themselves. Most of the contestants were younger than Mimi, but she wasn't the oldest in the group either. In fact there were a rather large crowd of older, and by older I mean obviously not twelve.
Then, the moment of truth arrived.
"And the winner for Mimi in season one is… Cara Jenkins!"
We clapped politely, and waited for the next one.
"The winner for Mimi in zero two is… Lian Cortella!"
I smiled and clapped politely with the other people in the stands, and short Mimi a reassuring smile, and she gave it back. They motioned those of us there to support someone up onto the stage, and they held a short interview with the girls who won. I walked over to Mimi.
"You sure you're okay?"
She smiled and shrugged.
"It was just for laughs, Izzy. I mean, I certainly hope I don't look twelve to sixteen anymore."
I looked her up and down.
"No. No you don't.
She blushed and swatted my playfully.
"Stop that!"
Then something happened that really shouldn't have.
I mean I would have had better sense than this, and I still know absolutely nothing of consequence about women.
But they did it anyways.
"And, now, the winner for Mimi in the epilogue is… Mia Takabana!"
The judges, all smiles, walked over to us. The only thing that kept me from backing away in terror is that Mimi would kill me if I did, and living was something I was very interested in.
Her hands clenched into fists.
Her eye twitched.
Then she let out a primordial scream of anger.
"I'M NINETEEN YOU IDIOTS! NINETEEN! HOW DARE YOU SAY I LOOK LIKE I'M THIRTY-ONE!!!"
Then, only my quick reflexes prevented Mimi from getting a possible murder charge, or at least assault and battery.
"NOOOOO!"
I tackled her to the floor as she leapt at the judges, hand curled like claws.
The floor was stunned. Some of the people Mimi's age a something that looked like smug satisfaction on their faces as we lay there. Mimi, under me, was blushing; probably more at our position than at her outburst. Then she wrapped her arms around me and started kissing me. I didn't understand why she did that, and I concluded that I probably didn't want to. I just went with it.
Then, just when it seemed like things couldn't get any weirder, Tai burst out of the double doors behind us. In his haste, he tripped right over us and landed face first on a grating, where he started puking his guts out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I win."
The kid across from me gaped in shock as I laid my last card down, his green hair in his eyes. I smirked as he just sat there, never taking his eyes off the cards. Then he seemed to recover a bit and looked over at me, extending his hand. Slowly.
"You played well. But I'll win the next one. I guarantee it."
I laughed.
"I was playing to win when you were still in diapers. Come back when you've actually gotten some experience."
He growled, and I narrowed my eyes. But then he snorted and rose, leaving the table. With a sharp motion of his hand, two people in black suits rose to follow him.
Rich brats… ugh…
I stood patiently through the awards ceremony, such a thing only made possible by the fact that I was savoring my victory, and received some cards that I really didn't need. I walked over to Takato when it was finished.
He just smiled at me. I grumbled a bit.
"I'll admit it felt pretty good wasting that pretty boy, but don't let it go to your head, Gogglebrain."
He just grinned, somewhat impudently, and I was forced to roll my eyes in response.
"Let's just go see how our intrepid 'vacationers' are doing, hmmm?"
He just nodded, and we left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I smiled a little to myself as I sat on the ourdoor patio of a restaurant. I had been trying to keep Jeri occupied pretty much constantly in the last few days, though I was hoping to go meet up with Takato and the digidestined sometime before they left, like when Jeri had her shift in the diner or something.
I hope Takato talks to her before he leaves. This really needs to be worked out, and the sooner the better.
"Mr. Wong."
I froze at the voice. I didn't ordinarily mind talking to Yamaki, but if he was taking the trouble to track me down when I was on a date, and not even trying the cell first, especially now, then I was about to be in serious trouble.
I am soooo glad Jeri's in the bathroom right now.
I turned and faced Yamaki, then slapped my hand over my face.
"Terrirmon, no!"
The little dog-digimon jumped down from the overhang he was leaning over, showing that he was carrying ketchup and mustard - and he had been about ready to start squirting at Yamaki. I shuddered. Yamaki just grunted his thanks. Then he carried on, without sitting down.
"Why didn't you inform me that he wasn't dead last year?"
I had no trouble understanding who 'he' was. I had already figured that Takato was the reason for this little visit. With any luck, Yamaki would be gone before Jeri got back and I would be completely in the clear. But to do that I had to work fast.
"There was no reason to, as he left again right after. We didn't really think he would come back again."
Yamaki nodded slowly, understanding the answer, but obviously not pleased.
"And were you aware that he came back yesterday?"
"He who?"
Oh no.
Terriermon snickered and I glared down at him.
Oh lord, not now. What did I do to deserve this?
Yamaki gave her the answer without batting an eye.
"Matsuki."
Jeri just stood there for a second, and I used the time wisely. That is, I got under the table and curled into a fetal position, hands over my ears. Yamaki arched an eyebrow at me.
Then he understood.
He had unleashed the whirlwind.
Hurricane Jeri was loose.
"TAKATO, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU LITTLE @!$&!(&$ $)&*$&^$, YOU'LL WISH YOUR GRANDPARENTS HAD NEVER LOOKED AT EACH OTHER!"
Then she looked down at where I was. She stopped screaming, but the winds were still biting.
"And you knew about this didn't you?"
I just gulped. She narrowed her eyes at me.
"We'll discuss it later. He needs to be dealt with first. Yamaki, where is he?"
Yamaki looked at her, and I think he was actually frightened.
"I'm not sure I should tell you that."
Her voice came out as a hiss.
"Fine. I'll find him myself. And the both of you stay out of it."
I just gaped as she stalked off, madder than I had ever seen. I turned wearily to Yamaki.
"And that's the other reason I didn't say anything…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I turned Rika's mother's car into the driveway and we got out. The digidestined's rented van was probably a few minutes from getting here, as Mako had insisted on riding with them, dragging the other kids and Impmon along for the ride. We laughed a little as we went over to the front door and went in.
The scene inside made my mouth go dry.
There, sitting on the couch opposite Rika's mother, sat Jeri Katou. She smiled sweetly at us as Ms. Nonaka rose.
"Oh, you're home! I'm ashamed of you two, not contacting your old friend when you came back. I'm going to bed, but you three stay here and catch up on old times."
I sat on the couch where she had been, and Rika sat down right beside me. Neither of us knew quite what to expect here.
I really hope this goes okay…
"Okay, here's the plan. We're gonna go get tickets to get inside. Impmon, remember to act like a doll so that we don't get into trouble."
Impmon nodded. He didn't like playing doll, but we didn't have enough money for four people. We walked up to the table and purchased some tickets. Then something happened I wasn't quite expecting.
"Sign this please."
"Huh? What's this for?"
The lady behind the glass sighed.
"Last year some cosplayers got out of hand, they had a mock battle that got too rough and hurt some people. This says that you won't sue us for anything that happens to you inside."
I rolled my eyes as I looked down at the sheet.
Some people…
Then I brightened, and quickly scribbled my name, passing the other two back to Doroon and Ai. I wasn't quite sure if this was legal, given that we were only eleven, but I wasn't about to say anything either. Davis was inside, and I wanted to go hang out.
I rolled my eyes as Doroon held open the door for us when we entered, mostly because Ai was blushing furiously.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now this is the good life. Good company, good entertainment, and decent snacks.
We were in a theatre like room, which had been showing the Digimon series for the past several days apparently. I had the armrest up between Jun's seat and mine, and she was snuggled up against me, my arm around her shoulders.
I glanced over to my left at Tai, who was in a similar position with Sora, and he just smiled back before turning his attention back to the screen, which was showing the final episode, A Million Points of Light. I smiled as it showed Ken and Yolie with kids. Then it showed something so preposterous it was mind-boggling.
[And who would have ever guessed that Matt and Sora would end up married…]
Takato mentioned an epilogue, but this?!
Don't get me wrong. I like Sora. She's the sister I never had. Frankly, there used to be days I wished I could trade TK in for her. But married to her? Don't get me started about what's wrong with that picture.
I looked over quickly at Tai and her, and saw them both with dropped jaws. Tai's face quickly turned a strange greenish color, and he bolted out of the theatre, hands over his mouth while Sora continued to stare in shock, even as applause rang out during the credits. I collapsed back in my seat to ponder this development.
Tai would obviously need some sign that he and Sora were still going to be together, no matter what the stupid thing said.
I am not looking forward to this…
"Hussy!"
I looked carefully to my right at Jun, who was glaring daggers at a confused Sora. I took a careful look at the fires in her eyes, and decided to just be grateful that Bearmon had decided not to come on this trip.
"W-What…?"
Jun's eyes seemed to glow, and I developed a nervous tick in my right eye as I sat there.
"How dare you take my husband you little skank!"
I put my head in my hands and started silently sobbing as Jun leapt over me, arms reaching for Sora's throat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I smiled as I watched Mimi carefully brush her hair into place. She turned to me, doing a little spin.
"How do I look?"
I smiled.
"Simply beautiful. You look fantastic Mimi. You could never look any less."
She blushed, and kissed me on the cheek.
"Well, here goes…"
She strode out purposefully, onto a catwalk like structure as I made my way back out into the stands to watch, down to the first row, where contestant relatives sat. Mimi was participating in her own look-alike contest, something that amused us both to no end. She had an unfair advantage of course, but it wasn't like this was serious or something.
Who would believe the truth? Besides, who can look more like Mimi than Mimi?
Mimi, who was entered as a 'Mia Takabana' stood with the other contestants, waiting for the judges to announce the winner. The contestants, Mimi included, shuffled a little nervously as the judges whispered quietly among themselves. Most of the contestants were younger than Mimi, but she wasn't the oldest in the group either. In fact there were a rather large crowd of older, and by older I mean obviously not twelve.
Then, the moment of truth arrived.
"And the winner for Mimi in season one is… Cara Jenkins!"
We clapped politely, and waited for the next one.
"The winner for Mimi in zero two is… Lian Cortella!"
I smiled and clapped politely with the other people in the stands, and short Mimi a reassuring smile, and she gave it back. They motioned those of us there to support someone up onto the stage, and they held a short interview with the girls who won. I walked over to Mimi.
"You sure you're okay?"
She smiled and shrugged.
"It was just for laughs, Izzy. I mean, I certainly hope I don't look twelve to sixteen anymore."
I looked her up and down.
"No. No you don't.
She blushed and swatted my playfully.
"Stop that!"
Then something happened that really shouldn't have.
I mean I would have had better sense than this, and I still know absolutely nothing of consequence about women.
But they did it anyways.
"And, now, the winner for Mimi in the epilogue is… Mia Takabana!"
The judges, all smiles, walked over to us. The only thing that kept me from backing away in terror is that Mimi would kill me if I did, and living was something I was very interested in.
Her hands clenched into fists.
Her eye twitched.
Then she let out a primordial scream of anger.
"I'M NINETEEN YOU IDIOTS! NINETEEN! HOW DARE YOU SAY I LOOK LIKE I'M THIRTY-ONE!!!"
Then, only my quick reflexes prevented Mimi from getting a possible murder charge, or at least assault and battery.
"NOOOOO!"
I tackled her to the floor as she leapt at the judges, hand curled like claws.
The floor was stunned. Some of the people Mimi's age a something that looked like smug satisfaction on their faces as we lay there. Mimi, under me, was blushing; probably more at our position than at her outburst. Then she wrapped her arms around me and started kissing me. I didn't understand why she did that, and I concluded that I probably didn't want to. I just went with it.
Then, just when it seemed like things couldn't get any weirder, Tai burst out of the double doors behind us. In his haste, he tripped right over us and landed face first on a grating, where he started puking his guts out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I win."
The kid across from me gaped in shock as I laid my last card down, his green hair in his eyes. I smirked as he just sat there, never taking his eyes off the cards. Then he seemed to recover a bit and looked over at me, extending his hand. Slowly.
"You played well. But I'll win the next one. I guarantee it."
I laughed.
"I was playing to win when you were still in diapers. Come back when you've actually gotten some experience."
He growled, and I narrowed my eyes. But then he snorted and rose, leaving the table. With a sharp motion of his hand, two people in black suits rose to follow him.
Rich brats… ugh…
I stood patiently through the awards ceremony, such a thing only made possible by the fact that I was savoring my victory, and received some cards that I really didn't need. I walked over to Takato when it was finished.
He just smiled at me. I grumbled a bit.
"I'll admit it felt pretty good wasting that pretty boy, but don't let it go to your head, Gogglebrain."
He just grinned, somewhat impudently, and I was forced to roll my eyes in response.
"Let's just go see how our intrepid 'vacationers' are doing, hmmm?"
He just nodded, and we left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I smiled a little to myself as I sat on the ourdoor patio of a restaurant. I had been trying to keep Jeri occupied pretty much constantly in the last few days, though I was hoping to go meet up with Takato and the digidestined sometime before they left, like when Jeri had her shift in the diner or something.
I hope Takato talks to her before he leaves. This really needs to be worked out, and the sooner the better.
"Mr. Wong."
I froze at the voice. I didn't ordinarily mind talking to Yamaki, but if he was taking the trouble to track me down when I was on a date, and not even trying the cell first, especially now, then I was about to be in serious trouble.
I am soooo glad Jeri's in the bathroom right now.
I turned and faced Yamaki, then slapped my hand over my face.
"Terrirmon, no!"
The little dog-digimon jumped down from the overhang he was leaning over, showing that he was carrying ketchup and mustard - and he had been about ready to start squirting at Yamaki. I shuddered. Yamaki just grunted his thanks. Then he carried on, without sitting down.
"Why didn't you inform me that he wasn't dead last year?"
I had no trouble understanding who 'he' was. I had already figured that Takato was the reason for this little visit. With any luck, Yamaki would be gone before Jeri got back and I would be completely in the clear. But to do that I had to work fast.
"There was no reason to, as he left again right after. We didn't really think he would come back again."
Yamaki nodded slowly, understanding the answer, but obviously not pleased.
"And were you aware that he came back yesterday?"
"He who?"
Oh no.
Terriermon snickered and I glared down at him.
Oh lord, not now. What did I do to deserve this?
Yamaki gave her the answer without batting an eye.
"Matsuki."
Jeri just stood there for a second, and I used the time wisely. That is, I got under the table and curled into a fetal position, hands over my ears. Yamaki arched an eyebrow at me.
Then he understood.
He had unleashed the whirlwind.
Hurricane Jeri was loose.
"TAKATO, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU LITTLE @!$&!(&$ $)&*$&^$, YOU'LL WISH YOUR GRANDPARENTS HAD NEVER LOOKED AT EACH OTHER!"
Then she looked down at where I was. She stopped screaming, but the winds were still biting.
"And you knew about this didn't you?"
I just gulped. She narrowed her eyes at me.
"We'll discuss it later. He needs to be dealt with first. Yamaki, where is he?"
Yamaki looked at her, and I think he was actually frightened.
"I'm not sure I should tell you that."
Her voice came out as a hiss.
"Fine. I'll find him myself. And the both of you stay out of it."
I just gaped as she stalked off, madder than I had ever seen. I turned wearily to Yamaki.
"And that's the other reason I didn't say anything…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I turned Rika's mother's car into the driveway and we got out. The digidestined's rented van was probably a few minutes from getting here, as Mako had insisted on riding with them, dragging the other kids and Impmon along for the ride. We laughed a little as we went over to the front door and went in.
The scene inside made my mouth go dry.
There, sitting on the couch opposite Rika's mother, sat Jeri Katou. She smiled sweetly at us as Ms. Nonaka rose.
"Oh, you're home! I'm ashamed of you two, not contacting your old friend when you came back. I'm going to bed, but you three stay here and catch up on old times."
I sat on the couch where she had been, and Rika sat down right beside me. Neither of us knew quite what to expect here.
I really hope this goes okay…