The sky outside was steel blue. Only a few puffy white clouds were visible and the sun was still high spreading her warmth over the earth. It was really a shame to be stuck inside on such a wonderful day.
Ryo sighed but eventually turned his attention form the world outside his window back to his homework. Math. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn't imagine anything being as boring as those endless lines and columns of numbers. Honestly, he would never be able to understand why people would waste their time with this stuff and even enjoy it.
But that didn't matter. There was no use complaining about it and he knew that. After spending almost a whole year in the Digi-world he had missed a lot at school and now he had much work to get done.
But he couldn't help it. He wasn't a person who stayed inside all day brooding over some old, dusty books. No, he had to get out there and explore the world himself. Of course, you could find almost everything in books but that's not what he was looking for. He had to see things with his own eyes. When he'll be old there would still be enough time to read but would he also be in the condition to go out there and to discover the world? Yes, perhaps he was a dreamer, so what? Was there a rule that you have to forget about your dreams when you grow up? Well, if there actually was one he didn't care. He had to get out! That's what he really wanted and nobody would stop him!
His parents wouldn't be too happy but he was old enough to make some decisions on his own and to deal with the consequences whatever they might be.
He jumped to his feet knocking the chair he had been sitting on over and turned to his bed. Waiting for a few seconds he just watched the small purple creature on it happily bouncing up and down. A small sad smile formed on his lips. Sometimes he wished for his digimon partner to be always like that. It would make life so much easier.
But also so much more boring the voice in the back of his head reminded him. He knew it and he had to admit it, he would miss his current life and all the things he had seen and everything that still was to come. All those possibilities were definitely worth a few troubles. And most importantly Monodramon was not only his partner but also his friend. One of the few he had. But that was the price he had to pay for this life. He never really stayed long enough in one place to make friends. He had to accept that if he wanted to live his dreams. Nothing was really perfect but he could still try to make the best of it and that he would do.
"MonoDramon, we're going out ", he informed the small dragon digimon.
"Where are we going? Are the others going to come with us? Are we going back to the Digi-world?"
Ryo couldn't help but smiling at the nosey little digimon. It was really hard to believe that this little thing could turn into the merciless warrior, which CyberDramon was.
"I don't know where we are going. We'll know it when we are there. And I don't think that the others would want to come along. They are back in their normal lives and I think it wouldn't be wise to ask them. We should give them some time. Maybe they will come after us when they are ready."
"I hope they will! I miss Guilmon and the others. They are so much fun to play with and Guilmon's human always brings that bread I like so much!" Monodramon exclaimed.
Ryo thought about leaving a letter for his parents as they left the house but decided against it. What should he write anyway? He had no idea where he was going or when he would be back and only telling them that he was out would be pretty stupid. That was plain obvious anyway.
* * *
His jacket tied around his waist and MonoDramon marching beside him Ryo entered the park in West Shinjuku. Many people were enjoying the quietness of the small park and only a few glanced curiously at the young boy and the small purple dragon at his side. It was like a small peaceful world of it's own between all those skyscrapers and the noisy streets. It was late afternoon but the sun was not even half way down and the air was dry and warm but he had still taken is jacket with him. You could never know what was going to happen around the next corner. He had learned that during his traveling around.
Concentrating on the singing birds and the children's bright voices from the near playground he closed his eyes for a few moments while he kept walking. Yes, he was slowly becoming an adult but part of him was still a child and he wanted to keep that part as long as possible.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he bumped into something. He opened his eyes while rubbing his sore forehead with his hand. A girl about his age was sitting on the path at his feet. She had light blonde hair, which was pulled into two pigtails, and she wore a black dress and long black stockings. When she looked up at him he immediately noticed her eyes. They were bright blue. Very much like the sky overhead but still they seemed to be empty and utterly sad. She looked a little familiar but he had no idea if or where he could have met her before so shrugged the thought of and decided to help her up.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't watching were I was going. It's my fault," he tried to explain while offering her is hand.
"It's ok. I wasn't watching either," she answered while getting to her feet and totally ignoring the boy's hand.
The girls voice was soft and barely above a whisper. Ryo had to concentrate fully on her if he didn't want to miss something.
She was on her feet again and Ryo noticed how she was staring at MonoDramon. Maybe she hadn't seen a real digimon before. But whatever it was he felt that he should at least try to explain it to her.
"You are a Tamer."
Ryo was cut off by her simple statement before he could even get started. He was a little surprised that she knew about the Tamers but didn't give it a second thought. At least he wouldn't have to explain the whole thing to her.
"That's right. My name's Ryo and that's my digimon MonoDramon."
"Hi! I'm MonoDramon! What's your name?" the little dragon called out. He watched her with big eyes before he went on.
"You look strange. Do you have a digimon partner too?"
At the last question the girls expression darkened. Ryo noticed that and decided it was time to stop his little friend.
"I'm sorry, if he said something wrong. He's just so nosy and doesn't know when he has to stop."
Her eyes were still fixed on MonoDramon when she answered in the same soft voice:
"It's ok. Now to you: Alice, I know and No."
The digimon looked at her quizzically then at his Tamer and back at her again.
Ryo chuckled a little but began to explain it to his clueless friend:
"Your answers. You asked her some questions and she answered them."
The boy turned back to her only to find her watching him carefully. It seemed like she was debating something with herself but he never got the chance to give it more thought because she began to speak again:
"I would like to ask you some questions. About the Digi-world. You have been there, I suppose."
He nodded silently.
"Then, will you help me?"
"That depends on what you are asking from me. I would like to know a little more about you and why you are interested in the Digi-world before I give you an answer."
Alice hesitated a moment but finally nodded her head in agreement.
"I guess I can tell you some things but you'll have to answer my questions as well even if you don't like them." He flashed her a grin but was only met by her calm face and her sad blue eyes.
He decided it would be best to get to know her a little better before deciding what he was going to do. She didn't look like she wanted to do any harm she only seemed to be entirely lost. But then again Ken had also been a kind and innocent child and as far as he knew he seemed to have turned out to be a bigger threat than most evil digimon could ever be. But Ken was out of his reach now and it didn't help worrying about things he had no influence on. Yet, he still felt sorry for him.
But other important things had to be taken care of now and he had to make sure that this girl didn't bring new dangers upon both worlds.
"Let's sit down on the bench over there. I think we have a few things to talk about."
Without waiting for her reply he began walking towards a green metal bench close to the playground.
* * *
Ryo was the first one to ask a question after they had been sitting for a while without talking:
"Okay. You first. Why do want me to tell you about the Digi-world?"
Alice kept her eyes on the children on the playground like she had been doing since they had reached the bench while answering:
"I want to go there. I'm searching for a lost friend."
Again Ryo felt like he should know her but at the same time he was sure that they had never met before. After seeing how she had reacted to MonoDramon's questions he was sure she wouldn't like the next one but he continued anyway:
"You are searching for a digimon, right? Was it your partner?"
As he had expected her face darkened but she managed to keep her voice at the same soft and even level as before:
"Don't get me wrong but it really doesn't concern you whom I'm searching for."
He didn't agree with her on that point but he would let it pass for now. Obviously she wasn't ready to tell him more and he knew better than to press on.
"Well, that's good enough for me. You are lucky. I'm in the mood for some traveling today. Let's go."
He jumped to his feet and grinned expectantly at her.
At first she only stared at him unbelievingly but then she got up too.
"Very well. I thought you would just tell me the things I need to know but I take what I can get. I'm ready, show me the way."
"Just follow me."
So they took off towards the cave where Guilmon had been hiding and towards the gateway to the Digi-world.
* * *
I still haven't got much time but I was in writing mood today! I'm going to finish this fic no matter what. But again I can't tell when I'll be able to update again. Sorry!
Obviously I left some questions unanswered. Let's see what I can do for you guys:
@Shiroi Taiyou: Doesn't change anything at all. Some years have passed and they are only a little older. The age difference between the Digidestined (e.g. Tai 17, Kari 14) stays the same.
@Happy Hobbes EclipseS: Yeah, I know that. I see it that way (at least in this story): Let's pretend she knows about Leomon (her Grandfather told her). Life hasn't been easy on Alice (there will be more about her and her past in the next chapters, I think) and in her opinion nobody could ever understand how much she suffers (just like most depressed people ^__^) so in her eyes fate is much harder on her than on Juri.
Should there be more questions tell me. I'll try my best to answer them. (Maybe in the next chapter, or in a review or later in the story. It depends.)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I hope you'll do it again.
So R&R!!!