Digimon is the property of TOEI Animation, and Akiyoshi Hongo, we are just
borrowing their characters and certain situations to tell our story. Domino
and Dice are our little darlings, Hikari and mine's that is. We gain no
money from this.
Story by Hikari and Wanderer D
***
Both, Gatomon and Kari stared at the Tag in Wizardmon's hands as it shone with a pink light just by being near her.
"You mean I really am her Digimon companion?!" Gatomon asked incredously.
Wizardmon nodded. "Yes. Although you lost your memory with Myotismon's influence, I could tell it from the beginning, since you told us that you were looking for someone when we went to Jujumon's temple."
Gatomon looked up at Kari, taking a couple of steps towards her... "I remember... I was looking for someone, and I think that someone is you... no, I can feel it, deep inside... it is you, Kari!" She approached Kari and hugged her. "I had feared... after searching for so long..."
Wizardmon looked at her kindly, while Kari could only whisper. "Gatomon..."
All three turned sharply when there was the sound of the sliding glass door being thrown open. Kari gasped as her brother hurtled out onto the terrace, his eyes wide.
"Kari!" he gasped, and his eyes turned cold upon seeing Gatomon and Wizardmon. "Kari--what are you doing out here with these...these Digimon?!"
Gatomon and Wizardmon both looked at the new arrivals in surprise, what could they do? Agumon's lips pulled back in a snarl as he prepared to unleash and attack to dispel the evil Digimon upon the terrace. Domino reeled back at the sight of the other Gatomon. What was she doing here?
"Pepper Breath--poi!!" Agumon cried, sending forth a large ball of flame toward Gatomon and Wizardmon. Kari let out a yelp, unwilling to let her Digimon be torn from her now, after finding her after so long. "Gatomon--look out!" Tai gasped as he realized that the pepper breath would hit Kari, too, and lunged forward as though he could recall it with his will.
"Kari!" Gatomon shouted, and pushed her out of harm's way, receiving Agumon's pepper breath instead of her.
"Gatomon!" Wizardmon shouted as his friend smashed against the wall.
Domino winced. That had to hurt. Tai let out a startled yelp as Gatomon was slammed against the ungiving siding of the apartment, and Kari leapt toward her fallen Digimon with a wail.
"Gatomon! Gatomon, are you okay?" "I'm okay," Gatomon grunted, standing up. "The attack wasn't that powerful." Domino paused. What? What was this? She narrowed one green eye. Why did Kari care?
Agumon, on the other hand, bristled at Gatomon's remark. "Are you okay, Kari?" Gatomon asked. "I didn't push you too hard, did I?" Tai took a tentative step forward, one dark eyebrow cocked in a very perplexed expression. "Ano... would somebody care to tell me what's going on?"
Sora stepped up behind Tai, her hands clasped near her chest. "Yah, cuz last we checked, you guys fought for the other team..."
Kari smiled at Gatomon. "I'm fine, Gatomon, thanks to you..." She glanced at her brother, and almost cracked up at how confused he and Sora looked. Domino merely took a seat near the door, wrapping her tail tightly around her haunches. This was sure to be a good story... she thought darkly... Wizardmon looked at all of them sharply. "This happened because we discovered that Kari was the eight Digidestined..."
When he saw their eyes get wide, he continued. "And... Gatomon is her Digimon..." Gatomon nodded at Wizardmon's words, she looked around and couldn't help narrow her eyes a little when she saw Domino. Domino ignored her, just huffed and haughtily tossed her head. Gatomon stepped closely to Kari. "It took me a long time to find you... and I'm glad I did." Sora, Tai, Agumon, and Domino all made choking noises in tandem. "WHAT?" Domino's eyes snapped coldly toward Gatomon. "Tell me you're joking!" Wizardmon took a step forward with the false tag, and held it in front of Kari, it started shining with a soft pink light. Kari gazed at it, almost hypnotized by the soft light, and then met eyes with Tai. Tai gazed, dumbstruck, at Kari, then looked up at Wizardmon. "Demo... why...?"
"I don't understand, you guys," Sora said, "why would you bring the crest to us? Without the 8th child, the Digidestined were incomplete... if you guys work for Myotismon... then why...?" "You mean this little monster has been fighting for the wrong side the whole time?" She scoffed cruelly. "Jeez, and I thought my brother was messed up..." Gatomon glanced up at that. "What?" Wizardmon pulled out the eight Digivice and placed it in Tai's hand. "There, you can now prove it yourself." Tai blinked "I," interrupted Wizardmon. "Do not work for Myotismon. I am there only because Gatomon and Di- was there." He covered quickly, and it seemed to work but for Domino.
Domino flinched visibly, and turned a cold eye toward Wizardmon. "So you helped?" she whispered icily. "You helped that bastard corrupt my brother's heart?"
Domino's eyes only narrowed further at this.
"Kari, Tai, you guys can't really be buying this bull... these guys are the bad guys..." she insisted.
The proof, however, was against her, for even as she said those words, the Digivice glowed as Kari took it in her hands.
Wizardmon looked away from Domino's eyes. "I stayed with him... and I warned him of what was happening... your brother... chose his own way."
Gatomon, was by now looking confused from Wizardmon to Domino and back. "Her brother? What are you talking about?"
Wizardmon looked a little uncomfortable. "I... only learned about that myself a few hours ago... Gatomon..."
Domino's eyes flashed. "Well, you did a fine job of persuading him against Myotismon, Merlin!" Domino snarled. "I don't care if you guys do claim to be fighting for the Digidestined's cause now, it's gonna take more than fancy words to earn my trust..." She stormed forward and locked eyes with Wizardmon. "You'd better speak the truth, my bipedal friend, else my claws will find your insides and drag them to the outsides..." She growled the last line low and fierce, so as not to frighten Kari with the threatening tone.
Then she whirled and returned to her seat by the door nonchalantly grooming one dainty forepaw
Wizardmon shook his head sadly. "You're a lot like him, you know?"
"Like who?!" Gatomon asked.
She snapped her head toward him. "Beg pardon?" she hissed.
Wizardmon ignored Gatomon for the moment, concentrating, instead in his friends' sister. "Once you set your mind on something... you're very hard to persuade otherwise... Imagine your anger, and persistence... you think I could convince you just like that that you're wrong? IF you are?"
Domino blinked. She hadn't really thought of it that way. Her eyes moved to the floor, and she said nothing, just lashed her tail.
"But still... I don't blame you for your anger. It's only a natural human feeling... and I did tell him we were perhaps more human than we'd like to admit." Wizardmon finished, dropping to one knee next to her.
Domino's eyes widened, and she blinked rapidly. "Um...wha--what are you...?"
Gatomon walked up to them. "I really don't understand all you two just said... but, we need to get the real tag and Dice back."
Domino locked eyes with Gatomon. "For once, I'll say I agree. I want my brother back."
Wizardmon nodded, then, as he stood he whispered to Domino swiftly. "Sometimes love is more powerful than you might think. Remember that."
Domino blinked again--who was this Wizardmon, anyhow?
Tai glanced at the tag in his palm. "But shouldn't we leave this with Kari?" he asked, holding it up. "She's the 8th, why did you give it to me?"
Aloud, Wizardmon said, "I think you should stay here and protect her in case someone finds out who she is, keep that Digivice away from her until we have all the elements."
Tai clenched his fist around the tag. "Don't gotta tell me twice, Mr. Wizard, I'll protect Kari no matter what!"
Kari blushed.
Wizardmon picked up Gatomon and started floating. "I'll be right back, Kari." Gatomon promised.
Kari looked concerned. "But where are you going?"
"We have to go to Myotismon's hideout. We need the real Tag for Kari." Wizardmon informed. Then they took off.
Kari leapt at the rail. "Gatomon--!" she cried, reaching an arm out after her Digimon. As the two disappeared out of sight, she recoiled slowly, reluctantly, and dropped her arms to her sides. "Be careful, Gatomon..." she whispered, and Tai took her by the shoulder.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, Kari," he said reassuringly, and Kari looked up at him. "We've seen Gatomon fight, she's stronger than you think." He grinned.
Domino scoffed again.
Sora glanced at Biyomon. "So what do we do now?"
***
"She... she's the eighth Digidestined Digimon?" Dice asked incredously.
Myotismon nodded, although in the darkness, Dice was only aware of movement. They watched as Wizardmon and Gatomon snuck into Myotismon's chamber.
They took out the small Crest of Light, and Dice gasped. There was no denying their treason now. Myotismon growled. "I think I have seen enough." He said stepping out of the illusion he had created.
Dice stayed back, watching as both his friends escaped from the room, followed closely by Myotismon.
Suddenly, rage seemed to fill him. How long had they known?! Why hadn't they told him?
Slowly, the seed of hate Myotismon had planted in him when they had talked in his castle, opened fully.
At that moment, Dice underwent a transformation. It wasn't physical, like Digivolving, but it changed him forever.
Demidevimon, still a little drunk, sensed what Myotismon had predicted then. It still surprised him, how a good Digimon could be transformed so without the need of a Black Gear.
Dice seemed to let go of his anger, but the change was made. And for a moment, Demidevimon was not really sure if that was good for them or not.
* * *
"Hey, did you see that?!" Tai asked looking at the distant explosions on the shore. "I don't like it! Gatomon and Wizardmon left in that direction."
Kari gasped. "Oh, Tai... do you think... do you think something's happened to them?"
Tai looked grimly at domino.
Domino, tho she never would have admitted it, was a little worried, too... Even if Gatomon had been their enemy... it seemed that she really did want to help them now.
She looked at Tai.
"Listen, I'm going to find out what's happening, you guys stay here, come on Agumon!" he stated, starting towards the doors.
"Right!" Agumon shouted enthusiastically, and followed.
Domino leapt to her feet. "Tai--wait!"
She ran up behind him, grinning at his expression. "I'm coming with you."
Tai slid to a halt.
He smiled. "Sure! I'll need all the firepower I can get!"
Domino grinned. "Let's go then!"
He glanced over her shoulder. "Kari, stay safe while we're gone!"
Kari nodded. "You guys be careful!"
Tai also looked back. "Take care of her for me, Sora!"
Sora nodded, clenching her fists. "Take care, you guys, don't do anything reckless, Tai..."
As they ran out the door, Kari looked out the window to where the explosions were. "Please be safe, Gatomon..."
Soon, they left the building, running as fast as they could.
***
They arrived in time to see a thousand energy bats throwing a battered Wizardmon into the sea.
"Wizardmon!" Gatomon shouted from the beach, just as Myotismon's whip sent her sprawling.
Domino let out a yelp. "Oh no! Wizardmon! Gatomon!" she cried, and her eyes moved to Myotismon, blazing with an icy green fire. "YOU!" she roared.
Myotismon noticed them and smirked, sending thousands of bats their way as he scooped up Gatomon and held her in front of him. Domino ducked out of the way of the bats and rushed forward. "You miserable wretch, let her GO!" she cried. "What are you trying to do? What is it you want with her?"
She was a little surprised by the concern in her voice.
Myotismon laughed. "Pathetic little Gatomon..." he smiled wickedly. "The both of you... now that I have her... I don't NEED to look for the last Digidestined."
"You'll never get anything from me," Gatomon growled. "I'll die first!"
Myotismon's smile didn't waver. "We'll see."
Domino stood on the shore of the lake as the wind swirled around her. "Let her go, Myotismon, or by the Gods, I'll..." She didn't finish her sentence, rather drew up her forepaws as tho to cast an elemental spell.
With another thousand bats, Myotismon floated into the night, soon vanishing from sight.
"Damn it!" Tai shouted hoarsely.
Domino was thrown backward by the flurry of winged rats, and landed square on her back, tumbling head over heels and coming to a stop at Tai's feet.
"What do we do now, Tai?" Greymon asked, as he used one of his huge claws to help Domino up.
She quickly shoved off his help, swatting at him testily. "Curse him!" she cried, pounding the ground with her paws. "Damn him! I'll tear him apart with my bare claws!!"
"How dare he--how DARE he!?"
Tai looked up into the night, then at the sea, where there was no sign of Wizardmon. "I... don't know, Greymon. I don't know."
***
Unaware of the events taking place in Odaiba, the plane coming from the US at 11:30, had just arrived. Thankfully, it seemed just before a strange mist started covering the area.
***
Gatomon looked around the dungeon, depressed. Just as she had found what she had been looking for, that person who had escaped her for so long... she had to lose Kari and Wizardmon the same day.
Still, she had some hope. Kari was safe... would be safe as long as she didn't talk. And she had another friend here. More than a friend.
"Gatomon..." Dice voice echoed in the empty dungeon. "I'll get you out somehow."
"Dice..." She whispered.
* * *
Meanwhile, over the TV station's HQ, Myotismon smirked as his mist covered all the island of Odaiba. "Soon, the Digidestined shall be destroyed, and I will rule over both worlds."
***
Early the next morning, Sora took off to play soccer. She told Domino and Biyomon she wouldn't take long.
"Bye guys!" She whispered cheerfully, to the sleepy grunts of the two Digimon.
"Bye mom!" Sora shouted closing the door.
"Sora! Don't forget..." her mother sighed. "that girl..."
A few minutes later, the phone rang and Sora's mother picked it up. "Moshi moshi?"
"Um... hello?" a voice asked in English.
"Uh, hello." Sora's mother asked. "How may I help you?"
"Oh, thank god you speak English," The woman's voice answered. "I'm looking for my daughter, Devinne, she called me from your phone number."
Sora's mother frowned. "I don't remember a girl named Devinne... but, if she's a friend of Sora's maybe you can ask her when she comes back from soccer practice..."
"That would be great... Ms..." Devinne's mother started.
"Takenouchi." Sora's mother finished smiling. She didn't know her daughter had any foreign friends. It would be nice to meet her friend's parents. "I'll give you directions on how to get here..."
***
15 minutes later, Domino heard a familiar voice... a voice she hadn't heard in a long time...
Domino's large ears pricked up at the sound of voices out in the other room. Moving carefully, so as not to awaken Biyomon, she leapt lightly from Sora's bed to the floor and crept silently to the doorway to peer out into the hall, trying to hear.
***
Meanwhile, all of Myotismon's forces were starting to get organized, they were all disguised -badly- as humans, and this early on the weekend morning not much people were awake, so no one noticed the impressive amount of seemingly cloned people that were marching up the various buildings.
***
"Yes..." the familiar voice was saying. "Imagine how shocked I was when she called out from Japan of all places!"
"Oh, dear," Sora's mother answered. "Children these days... but I wonder how the two of them managed to get all the way here?"
Domino suddenly felt ill. Mom!? she gasped inwardly. Ohhhh man! She really did come all the way to Japan... Domino suddenly felt unbearably guilty about the whole thing...
Domino cocked her ear to listen, certain that, by the time this was all over, she was going to be grounded till she was 90.
Domino could hear the uncomfortable shifting of the other person. "I'm just glad your daughter and her friends seemed to help them... she sounded a little nervous on the phone, I think she didn't know how to explain it... so, you think she might be staying with Mimi? And that my son might be with Tai Kamiya..." She stammered a little over the strange last name, "or Ishida Matt..."
By now, Biyomon had already woken up and joined Domino.
"Right," Sora's mother nodded. "I..." whatever she was about to say was cut short by a ring on the door.
"Excuse me for a moment." Sora's mother asked, standing up.
Although neither Digimon could see them, they both heard both women shout in terror. Without thinking, Biyomon jumped out and destroyed the two Bakemon that had tried to get in.
"Biyomon--!" Domino cried, startled, but nonetheless leapt out into the hall after the bird Digimon.
"Wha- wha-" Sora's mother was staring at Biyomon and Domino, while it seemed the latter's eyes would completely bulge out of their sockets.
She froze. "Uh oh..." She glanced over her shoulder to meet the baffled eyes of the humans in the next room.
She put on a big syrupy smile. "Umm... hi there..." she said weakly.
Her mother was still in shock, but Biyomon didn't really waste a second.
"Where is Sora?" she asked, and this seemed to snap both mothers out of their stupor. Biyomon looked at Mrs. Takenouchi. "Sora's at the soccer field, where she said she would be... but I fear she's in danger. I have to go to her."
Mrs. Takenouchi glanced at Domino, as if to ask, "and what's your motivation?"
Domino swallowed the lump in her throat upon seeing her mother, and took a small step toward the other woman, seemingly oblivious to Biyomon and Sora's mother.
"She... went to the football..." her voice seemed to fade... "oh no..."
Meanwhile, mom had just walked up to help the other woman up... she hadn't said anything... but she was staring at Domino, as if trying to determine something that evaded her...
"Those eyes..." she whispered...
Domino stared right back as her mother looked at her. Domino sat down primly, then, deciding there was really no tactful way to say it, she grinned toothily.
"Um... hi, Mom," she said through her teeth, then prepared for the tirade to come.
Biyomon slapped her own forehead. "Moron," she grumbled.
"... Devinne?"
A sweat drop rolled down Domino's face as she nodded. "Yeah... I... told you you wouldn't even recognize me... didn't I?" She stood up and waved her tail gracefully in the air. "Guess you weren't expecting this tho, huh?"
She frowned. "Trust me, I wasn't either..."
"I... I knew your ability to play those silly games was not human but... this is ridiculous..."
Domino made a choking noise. "M-mom!" she said with an involuntary giggle.
Domino's mother then pitched forward in an unconscious heap.
Domino leapt back to avoid being squished by her own mother, and let out a yelp as her mother's form made a rather loud thunk on the wood floor. "Mom!!" she cried.
Ms. Takenouchi looked fearfully at Biyomon. "You're not Sora... are you?"
Biyomon leapt forward and fanned her feathers over the unconscious woman's face.
Then she gazed at Mrs. Takenouchi, cross-eyed. "Me, Sora? No, I'm Biyomon, her guardian."
"..." For once, Sora's mother didn't know what to say.
Domino frowned. "Don't worry, Takenouchi-san," she said, pleased with her attention to the proper Japanese term, "we're the good guys... We won't let anything happen to Sora or any of the kids... I promise..."
Sora's mom nodded resolutely. "Then I'm going with you."
She looked at Sora's mom, then at her own mother. "No, Takenouchi-san," she said firmly, "This is not something you should get involved with...."
"Stay here,' she added with a sharp look.
Biyomon nodded. "We'll take care of Sora... you stay here, stay safe, for when we bring your daughter home..."
However, Ms Takenouchi had gathered her wits. "Listen, if we," she motioned towards Domino's mother, "stay here, we'll be captured, we'll be safer with you."
Biyomon frowned, cast a look at Domino.
Domino thought for a moment.
"I suppose you have a point," she admitted, and glanced at Biyomon. "But what about my mom?"
"She can't go anywhere like this..."
Mrs. Takenouchi picked up one of the discarded Bakemon cloaks. "If we hide under these it'll be easy to hide from them. As for your mom... we'll have to put her in a room and lock the door, I'll leave a note for her."
Domino winced. "Well, she won't like that much... but..." She grinned up at Mrs. Takenouchi... "I like the way you think..."
Sora's mom smiled.
Together, the three of them disguised themselves as Bakemon and went in search of Sora.
Story by Hikari and Wanderer D
***
Both, Gatomon and Kari stared at the Tag in Wizardmon's hands as it shone with a pink light just by being near her.
"You mean I really am her Digimon companion?!" Gatomon asked incredously.
Wizardmon nodded. "Yes. Although you lost your memory with Myotismon's influence, I could tell it from the beginning, since you told us that you were looking for someone when we went to Jujumon's temple."
Gatomon looked up at Kari, taking a couple of steps towards her... "I remember... I was looking for someone, and I think that someone is you... no, I can feel it, deep inside... it is you, Kari!" She approached Kari and hugged her. "I had feared... after searching for so long..."
Wizardmon looked at her kindly, while Kari could only whisper. "Gatomon..."
All three turned sharply when there was the sound of the sliding glass door being thrown open. Kari gasped as her brother hurtled out onto the terrace, his eyes wide.
"Kari!" he gasped, and his eyes turned cold upon seeing Gatomon and Wizardmon. "Kari--what are you doing out here with these...these Digimon?!"
Gatomon and Wizardmon both looked at the new arrivals in surprise, what could they do? Agumon's lips pulled back in a snarl as he prepared to unleash and attack to dispel the evil Digimon upon the terrace. Domino reeled back at the sight of the other Gatomon. What was she doing here?
"Pepper Breath--poi!!" Agumon cried, sending forth a large ball of flame toward Gatomon and Wizardmon. Kari let out a yelp, unwilling to let her Digimon be torn from her now, after finding her after so long. "Gatomon--look out!" Tai gasped as he realized that the pepper breath would hit Kari, too, and lunged forward as though he could recall it with his will.
"Kari!" Gatomon shouted, and pushed her out of harm's way, receiving Agumon's pepper breath instead of her.
"Gatomon!" Wizardmon shouted as his friend smashed against the wall.
Domino winced. That had to hurt. Tai let out a startled yelp as Gatomon was slammed against the ungiving siding of the apartment, and Kari leapt toward her fallen Digimon with a wail.
"Gatomon! Gatomon, are you okay?" "I'm okay," Gatomon grunted, standing up. "The attack wasn't that powerful." Domino paused. What? What was this? She narrowed one green eye. Why did Kari care?
Agumon, on the other hand, bristled at Gatomon's remark. "Are you okay, Kari?" Gatomon asked. "I didn't push you too hard, did I?" Tai took a tentative step forward, one dark eyebrow cocked in a very perplexed expression. "Ano... would somebody care to tell me what's going on?"
Sora stepped up behind Tai, her hands clasped near her chest. "Yah, cuz last we checked, you guys fought for the other team..."
Kari smiled at Gatomon. "I'm fine, Gatomon, thanks to you..." She glanced at her brother, and almost cracked up at how confused he and Sora looked. Domino merely took a seat near the door, wrapping her tail tightly around her haunches. This was sure to be a good story... she thought darkly... Wizardmon looked at all of them sharply. "This happened because we discovered that Kari was the eight Digidestined..."
When he saw their eyes get wide, he continued. "And... Gatomon is her Digimon..." Gatomon nodded at Wizardmon's words, she looked around and couldn't help narrow her eyes a little when she saw Domino. Domino ignored her, just huffed and haughtily tossed her head. Gatomon stepped closely to Kari. "It took me a long time to find you... and I'm glad I did." Sora, Tai, Agumon, and Domino all made choking noises in tandem. "WHAT?" Domino's eyes snapped coldly toward Gatomon. "Tell me you're joking!" Wizardmon took a step forward with the false tag, and held it in front of Kari, it started shining with a soft pink light. Kari gazed at it, almost hypnotized by the soft light, and then met eyes with Tai. Tai gazed, dumbstruck, at Kari, then looked up at Wizardmon. "Demo... why...?"
"I don't understand, you guys," Sora said, "why would you bring the crest to us? Without the 8th child, the Digidestined were incomplete... if you guys work for Myotismon... then why...?" "You mean this little monster has been fighting for the wrong side the whole time?" She scoffed cruelly. "Jeez, and I thought my brother was messed up..." Gatomon glanced up at that. "What?" Wizardmon pulled out the eight Digivice and placed it in Tai's hand. "There, you can now prove it yourself." Tai blinked "I," interrupted Wizardmon. "Do not work for Myotismon. I am there only because Gatomon and Di- was there." He covered quickly, and it seemed to work but for Domino.
Domino flinched visibly, and turned a cold eye toward Wizardmon. "So you helped?" she whispered icily. "You helped that bastard corrupt my brother's heart?"
Domino's eyes only narrowed further at this.
"Kari, Tai, you guys can't really be buying this bull... these guys are the bad guys..." she insisted.
The proof, however, was against her, for even as she said those words, the Digivice glowed as Kari took it in her hands.
Wizardmon looked away from Domino's eyes. "I stayed with him... and I warned him of what was happening... your brother... chose his own way."
Gatomon, was by now looking confused from Wizardmon to Domino and back. "Her brother? What are you talking about?"
Wizardmon looked a little uncomfortable. "I... only learned about that myself a few hours ago... Gatomon..."
Domino's eyes flashed. "Well, you did a fine job of persuading him against Myotismon, Merlin!" Domino snarled. "I don't care if you guys do claim to be fighting for the Digidestined's cause now, it's gonna take more than fancy words to earn my trust..." She stormed forward and locked eyes with Wizardmon. "You'd better speak the truth, my bipedal friend, else my claws will find your insides and drag them to the outsides..." She growled the last line low and fierce, so as not to frighten Kari with the threatening tone.
Then she whirled and returned to her seat by the door nonchalantly grooming one dainty forepaw
Wizardmon shook his head sadly. "You're a lot like him, you know?"
"Like who?!" Gatomon asked.
She snapped her head toward him. "Beg pardon?" she hissed.
Wizardmon ignored Gatomon for the moment, concentrating, instead in his friends' sister. "Once you set your mind on something... you're very hard to persuade otherwise... Imagine your anger, and persistence... you think I could convince you just like that that you're wrong? IF you are?"
Domino blinked. She hadn't really thought of it that way. Her eyes moved to the floor, and she said nothing, just lashed her tail.
"But still... I don't blame you for your anger. It's only a natural human feeling... and I did tell him we were perhaps more human than we'd like to admit." Wizardmon finished, dropping to one knee next to her.
Domino's eyes widened, and she blinked rapidly. "Um...wha--what are you...?"
Gatomon walked up to them. "I really don't understand all you two just said... but, we need to get the real tag and Dice back."
Domino locked eyes with Gatomon. "For once, I'll say I agree. I want my brother back."
Wizardmon nodded, then, as he stood he whispered to Domino swiftly. "Sometimes love is more powerful than you might think. Remember that."
Domino blinked again--who was this Wizardmon, anyhow?
Tai glanced at the tag in his palm. "But shouldn't we leave this with Kari?" he asked, holding it up. "She's the 8th, why did you give it to me?"
Aloud, Wizardmon said, "I think you should stay here and protect her in case someone finds out who she is, keep that Digivice away from her until we have all the elements."
Tai clenched his fist around the tag. "Don't gotta tell me twice, Mr. Wizard, I'll protect Kari no matter what!"
Kari blushed.
Wizardmon picked up Gatomon and started floating. "I'll be right back, Kari." Gatomon promised.
Kari looked concerned. "But where are you going?"
"We have to go to Myotismon's hideout. We need the real Tag for Kari." Wizardmon informed. Then they took off.
Kari leapt at the rail. "Gatomon--!" she cried, reaching an arm out after her Digimon. As the two disappeared out of sight, she recoiled slowly, reluctantly, and dropped her arms to her sides. "Be careful, Gatomon..." she whispered, and Tai took her by the shoulder.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, Kari," he said reassuringly, and Kari looked up at him. "We've seen Gatomon fight, she's stronger than you think." He grinned.
Domino scoffed again.
Sora glanced at Biyomon. "So what do we do now?"
***
"She... she's the eighth Digidestined Digimon?" Dice asked incredously.
Myotismon nodded, although in the darkness, Dice was only aware of movement. They watched as Wizardmon and Gatomon snuck into Myotismon's chamber.
They took out the small Crest of Light, and Dice gasped. There was no denying their treason now. Myotismon growled. "I think I have seen enough." He said stepping out of the illusion he had created.
Dice stayed back, watching as both his friends escaped from the room, followed closely by Myotismon.
Suddenly, rage seemed to fill him. How long had they known?! Why hadn't they told him?
Slowly, the seed of hate Myotismon had planted in him when they had talked in his castle, opened fully.
At that moment, Dice underwent a transformation. It wasn't physical, like Digivolving, but it changed him forever.
Demidevimon, still a little drunk, sensed what Myotismon had predicted then. It still surprised him, how a good Digimon could be transformed so without the need of a Black Gear.
Dice seemed to let go of his anger, but the change was made. And for a moment, Demidevimon was not really sure if that was good for them or not.
* * *
"Hey, did you see that?!" Tai asked looking at the distant explosions on the shore. "I don't like it! Gatomon and Wizardmon left in that direction."
Kari gasped. "Oh, Tai... do you think... do you think something's happened to them?"
Tai looked grimly at domino.
Domino, tho she never would have admitted it, was a little worried, too... Even if Gatomon had been their enemy... it seemed that she really did want to help them now.
She looked at Tai.
"Listen, I'm going to find out what's happening, you guys stay here, come on Agumon!" he stated, starting towards the doors.
"Right!" Agumon shouted enthusiastically, and followed.
Domino leapt to her feet. "Tai--wait!"
She ran up behind him, grinning at his expression. "I'm coming with you."
Tai slid to a halt.
He smiled. "Sure! I'll need all the firepower I can get!"
Domino grinned. "Let's go then!"
He glanced over her shoulder. "Kari, stay safe while we're gone!"
Kari nodded. "You guys be careful!"
Tai also looked back. "Take care of her for me, Sora!"
Sora nodded, clenching her fists. "Take care, you guys, don't do anything reckless, Tai..."
As they ran out the door, Kari looked out the window to where the explosions were. "Please be safe, Gatomon..."
Soon, they left the building, running as fast as they could.
***
They arrived in time to see a thousand energy bats throwing a battered Wizardmon into the sea.
"Wizardmon!" Gatomon shouted from the beach, just as Myotismon's whip sent her sprawling.
Domino let out a yelp. "Oh no! Wizardmon! Gatomon!" she cried, and her eyes moved to Myotismon, blazing with an icy green fire. "YOU!" she roared.
Myotismon noticed them and smirked, sending thousands of bats their way as he scooped up Gatomon and held her in front of him. Domino ducked out of the way of the bats and rushed forward. "You miserable wretch, let her GO!" she cried. "What are you trying to do? What is it you want with her?"
She was a little surprised by the concern in her voice.
Myotismon laughed. "Pathetic little Gatomon..." he smiled wickedly. "The both of you... now that I have her... I don't NEED to look for the last Digidestined."
"You'll never get anything from me," Gatomon growled. "I'll die first!"
Myotismon's smile didn't waver. "We'll see."
Domino stood on the shore of the lake as the wind swirled around her. "Let her go, Myotismon, or by the Gods, I'll..." She didn't finish her sentence, rather drew up her forepaws as tho to cast an elemental spell.
With another thousand bats, Myotismon floated into the night, soon vanishing from sight.
"Damn it!" Tai shouted hoarsely.
Domino was thrown backward by the flurry of winged rats, and landed square on her back, tumbling head over heels and coming to a stop at Tai's feet.
"What do we do now, Tai?" Greymon asked, as he used one of his huge claws to help Domino up.
She quickly shoved off his help, swatting at him testily. "Curse him!" she cried, pounding the ground with her paws. "Damn him! I'll tear him apart with my bare claws!!"
"How dare he--how DARE he!?"
Tai looked up into the night, then at the sea, where there was no sign of Wizardmon. "I... don't know, Greymon. I don't know."
***
Unaware of the events taking place in Odaiba, the plane coming from the US at 11:30, had just arrived. Thankfully, it seemed just before a strange mist started covering the area.
***
Gatomon looked around the dungeon, depressed. Just as she had found what she had been looking for, that person who had escaped her for so long... she had to lose Kari and Wizardmon the same day.
Still, she had some hope. Kari was safe... would be safe as long as she didn't talk. And she had another friend here. More than a friend.
"Gatomon..." Dice voice echoed in the empty dungeon. "I'll get you out somehow."
"Dice..." She whispered.
* * *
Meanwhile, over the TV station's HQ, Myotismon smirked as his mist covered all the island of Odaiba. "Soon, the Digidestined shall be destroyed, and I will rule over both worlds."
***
Early the next morning, Sora took off to play soccer. She told Domino and Biyomon she wouldn't take long.
"Bye guys!" She whispered cheerfully, to the sleepy grunts of the two Digimon.
"Bye mom!" Sora shouted closing the door.
"Sora! Don't forget..." her mother sighed. "that girl..."
A few minutes later, the phone rang and Sora's mother picked it up. "Moshi moshi?"
"Um... hello?" a voice asked in English.
"Uh, hello." Sora's mother asked. "How may I help you?"
"Oh, thank god you speak English," The woman's voice answered. "I'm looking for my daughter, Devinne, she called me from your phone number."
Sora's mother frowned. "I don't remember a girl named Devinne... but, if she's a friend of Sora's maybe you can ask her when she comes back from soccer practice..."
"That would be great... Ms..." Devinne's mother started.
"Takenouchi." Sora's mother finished smiling. She didn't know her daughter had any foreign friends. It would be nice to meet her friend's parents. "I'll give you directions on how to get here..."
***
15 minutes later, Domino heard a familiar voice... a voice she hadn't heard in a long time...
Domino's large ears pricked up at the sound of voices out in the other room. Moving carefully, so as not to awaken Biyomon, she leapt lightly from Sora's bed to the floor and crept silently to the doorway to peer out into the hall, trying to hear.
***
Meanwhile, all of Myotismon's forces were starting to get organized, they were all disguised -badly- as humans, and this early on the weekend morning not much people were awake, so no one noticed the impressive amount of seemingly cloned people that were marching up the various buildings.
***
"Yes..." the familiar voice was saying. "Imagine how shocked I was when she called out from Japan of all places!"
"Oh, dear," Sora's mother answered. "Children these days... but I wonder how the two of them managed to get all the way here?"
Domino suddenly felt ill. Mom!? she gasped inwardly. Ohhhh man! She really did come all the way to Japan... Domino suddenly felt unbearably guilty about the whole thing...
Domino cocked her ear to listen, certain that, by the time this was all over, she was going to be grounded till she was 90.
Domino could hear the uncomfortable shifting of the other person. "I'm just glad your daughter and her friends seemed to help them... she sounded a little nervous on the phone, I think she didn't know how to explain it... so, you think she might be staying with Mimi? And that my son might be with Tai Kamiya..." She stammered a little over the strange last name, "or Ishida Matt..."
By now, Biyomon had already woken up and joined Domino.
"Right," Sora's mother nodded. "I..." whatever she was about to say was cut short by a ring on the door.
"Excuse me for a moment." Sora's mother asked, standing up.
Although neither Digimon could see them, they both heard both women shout in terror. Without thinking, Biyomon jumped out and destroyed the two Bakemon that had tried to get in.
"Biyomon--!" Domino cried, startled, but nonetheless leapt out into the hall after the bird Digimon.
"Wha- wha-" Sora's mother was staring at Biyomon and Domino, while it seemed the latter's eyes would completely bulge out of their sockets.
She froze. "Uh oh..." She glanced over her shoulder to meet the baffled eyes of the humans in the next room.
She put on a big syrupy smile. "Umm... hi there..." she said weakly.
Her mother was still in shock, but Biyomon didn't really waste a second.
"Where is Sora?" she asked, and this seemed to snap both mothers out of their stupor. Biyomon looked at Mrs. Takenouchi. "Sora's at the soccer field, where she said she would be... but I fear she's in danger. I have to go to her."
Mrs. Takenouchi glanced at Domino, as if to ask, "and what's your motivation?"
Domino swallowed the lump in her throat upon seeing her mother, and took a small step toward the other woman, seemingly oblivious to Biyomon and Sora's mother.
"She... went to the football..." her voice seemed to fade... "oh no..."
Meanwhile, mom had just walked up to help the other woman up... she hadn't said anything... but she was staring at Domino, as if trying to determine something that evaded her...
"Those eyes..." she whispered...
Domino stared right back as her mother looked at her. Domino sat down primly, then, deciding there was really no tactful way to say it, she grinned toothily.
"Um... hi, Mom," she said through her teeth, then prepared for the tirade to come.
Biyomon slapped her own forehead. "Moron," she grumbled.
"... Devinne?"
A sweat drop rolled down Domino's face as she nodded. "Yeah... I... told you you wouldn't even recognize me... didn't I?" She stood up and waved her tail gracefully in the air. "Guess you weren't expecting this tho, huh?"
She frowned. "Trust me, I wasn't either..."
"I... I knew your ability to play those silly games was not human but... this is ridiculous..."
Domino made a choking noise. "M-mom!" she said with an involuntary giggle.
Domino's mother then pitched forward in an unconscious heap.
Domino leapt back to avoid being squished by her own mother, and let out a yelp as her mother's form made a rather loud thunk on the wood floor. "Mom!!" she cried.
Ms. Takenouchi looked fearfully at Biyomon. "You're not Sora... are you?"
Biyomon leapt forward and fanned her feathers over the unconscious woman's face.
Then she gazed at Mrs. Takenouchi, cross-eyed. "Me, Sora? No, I'm Biyomon, her guardian."
"..." For once, Sora's mother didn't know what to say.
Domino frowned. "Don't worry, Takenouchi-san," she said, pleased with her attention to the proper Japanese term, "we're the good guys... We won't let anything happen to Sora or any of the kids... I promise..."
Sora's mom nodded resolutely. "Then I'm going with you."
She looked at Sora's mom, then at her own mother. "No, Takenouchi-san," she said firmly, "This is not something you should get involved with...."
"Stay here,' she added with a sharp look.
Biyomon nodded. "We'll take care of Sora... you stay here, stay safe, for when we bring your daughter home..."
However, Ms Takenouchi had gathered her wits. "Listen, if we," she motioned towards Domino's mother, "stay here, we'll be captured, we'll be safer with you."
Biyomon frowned, cast a look at Domino.
Domino thought for a moment.
"I suppose you have a point," she admitted, and glanced at Biyomon. "But what about my mom?"
"She can't go anywhere like this..."
Mrs. Takenouchi picked up one of the discarded Bakemon cloaks. "If we hide under these it'll be easy to hide from them. As for your mom... we'll have to put her in a room and lock the door, I'll leave a note for her."
Domino winced. "Well, she won't like that much... but..." She grinned up at Mrs. Takenouchi... "I like the way you think..."
Sora's mom smiled.
Together, the three of them disguised themselves as Bakemon and went in search of Sora.