Sorry for the long delays between posts!
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Part 22: Love Walks On Cat's Feet
"Ah..." the doctor realized, "so that's why you freaked when Sydney attacked you. Speaking of whom... I really should feed the poor guy." On cue, a loud cat wail came from the bedroom. Natalie cringed. "Sorry about this, honey!" she called back. "Mommy's getting you something now!" She got up to go get the feline a can of tuna as an apology for locking him up for so long.
Wizardmon blinked. "Mommy? Is Sydney her child?" he asked of Nicholas, who shrugged.
"Uh... sort of," he snickered. "It's a cat lover thing among humans. She's responsible for Sydney's welfare, and sometimes such a big responsibility can scramble an otherwise normal brain."
Reappearing with tuna can in one hand and the forgotten bowl of milk in the other, Natalie stuck her tongue out at him.
Wizardmon grinned at his friends teasing manner. "I think I can empathize, being inflicted with something of the same malady with Gatomon." His expression turned pensive. "Do you think I can see your Sydney again? I promise not to get 'freaked'."
"If you want and Syd doesn't mind."
Sydney was hiding under the bed, when Natalie coaxed him out. The cat eyed both vampire and digimon warily as Natalie dumped the tuna on a small saucer for him. The cat's attention was immediately sidetracked. Smiling as her companion gobbled down the fish, the coroner held out the bowl of milk towards Wizardmon.
"Here's your chance to show you two have a common interest. Syd's a sucker for anyone who'll feed him."
"I... um..."
The bowl was unceremoniously placed into his gloved hands.
Feeling a bit intimidated, Wizardmon got down on the floor, holding the bowl on the carpet at full arm's length. Natalie tsked at him and replaced it in his lap along with Sydney. Wizardmon froze as the striped cat sniffed at his clothing.
"Nat?" Nicholas warned. Maybe Wizardmon wasn't ready for this. What if Sydney took a dislike to the digimon?
Natalie saw her friend's anxiety on his face and guessed the reason.
"Don't worry. Cats know cat people---it's an instinct. They'll be fine." She whispered to him, "Besides, I put a drop of catnip extract in the milk."
"You've the makings for a wicked woman, Miss Lambert."
She stifled a giggle. "I know."
Sure enough, after a few seconds of inspecting her new 'food dispenser', Sydney settled down to lapping up the white liquid with gusto. The magician waited until it was almost gone before he tentatively used one hand to pet the soft fur. The supple back arched under his touch, tail waving about as a strong purr was heard. Lifting her head, Sydney rubbed his cheek against the digimon's blue.
Wizardmon was ecstatic.
"He likes me?!"
"You're warm, soft and accommodating his considerable hedonistic desires. So what's not to like?" Natalie pointed out with a soft laugh. "I hope you don't mind being covered in cat hair for the rest of your stay."
After washing up and making sure all her windows were well covered against any intruding daylight, Natalie spread a sheet over her couch for Nick to sleep on. For Wizardmon she took various chair cushions and arranged them into a makeshift mattress. Sydney tried to appropriate it, but Natalie scooped him up. "Oh no you don't, Sydney. These two need their sleep, so you're coming with me."
"I hope you have a good rest," she told the digimon as she tucked him in. "This afternoon I'll drive you down to Don's---if you still wish to go?"
"I gave my word, Lady Natalie. Why would I wish not to keep it? Trust me that everything will be fine."
An unconvinced Natalie just nodded, then sidled up to Nick before he could test out his own napping accommodations.
"You know, you two are so much alike that it's beginning to scare me. Good night, Nick."
"Technically, it should be 'good day', Nat."
A tired Dr. Lambert threw him a raspberry as she retreated into her bedroom to catch a few hours of shut eye.
Turning around to face the couch, Wizardmon said. "You were right, Nick, she is a nice human. And she likes you a lot. You should live together since you complement each other so well."
De Brabant wished they could. However there was the little matter of his inner Beast wishing to drain her dry whenever they got too close. That and the fact that Lacroix would never allow him to express his love to anyone other than another vampire made him keep humans at arm's length. For all intents and purposes, she was the Juliet to his Romeo---but he didn't feel like explaining all that to the mage just now.
"Go to sleep, Wizardmon," Nicholas sighed, and turned off the table lamp.
---------------------------
(The Past: Myotismon's castle)
"Wizardmon?"
He breathed in sharply, straightening up as she approached. He was in terrible pain and wanted nothing more than to go to bed and heal as he rested. Seeing the business-like expression Gatomon held, he knew he wasn't going to get it. So much for that thought.
"Yes, commander?"
Gatomon looked up at him with eyes hard as blue diamonds. "Lord Myotismon wishes for a report on the northern boundary defenses. You will fly me there."
Wizardmon bit back his groan of dismay, giving only a deferential nod, "As you wish."
He used his magic to fly them both to the Bakemon post, leaning against a tree in order to catch his breath as he waited for her to finish her inspection. That done and the feline apparently satisfied with what she saw, Gatomon leapt up into his arms, ready for him to take her back to the castle so that she could deliver her report.
Silently, Wizardmon rose into the air, his left arm cradling the cat safely against his chest despite the fierce stabbing pains that action was causing.
Pain or no----on no account would he drop her! And it wasn't very far now. Almost...
Wizardmon was over half-way back to the castle before the pain he'd been trying to suppress became unbearable and he suddenly lost altitude. A quick tuck and roll ensured that Gatomon was uninjured by the fall, but the same could not be said for him. He lay gasping for air where he'd hit the earth, trying get his vision to stop swirling. His rib cage felt like it was caught in a vise.
"Wizardmon---are you okay?!" Gatomon asked as she stood above him, looking for the attacker that had struck him right out of the sky.
There was no one.
"Yes… No. Not really," the mage gasped out. "Please do not be angry, just give me a minute and I will get you back to Myotismon."
Turning to face him, Gatomon noticed an additional redness on his suit that was very slowly spreading outward.
"You're bleeding," she informed him.
He was? Sludge! Hitting the ground must have undone his quick mending spell.
"Probably just a scratch. I'll take care of it after we get--- Uh… What are you doing?!"
Gatomon had his vest shoved upwards and was tugging open his jumpsuit's main zipper before the mage could stop her.
"Commander, please!" he objected.
"Be still!" she hissed at him. Soft paws caressed his skin as they pulled the yellow fabric sideways to expose a long cut and dark bruise across his ribs. The wound was bleeding--- but not dangerously so.
"You're rib is likely broken and that is a nasty gash. Why didn't you tell me that you'd been injured to such an extent that it has not even healed properly?"
"You needed a ride," he explained as she used some leaves to make him a pillow. I thought it could wait."
"And just how did you get hurt in the first place?"
"Nothing important."
"I asked you a question!"
"Merely a scuffle with Musymon."
"About?"
Darn, but she did have a tenacious spirit!
"You know how Musymon is. He didn't need a reason. Or at least, he didn't relate it to me."
"I see." Gatomon absently raked a fang over her lower lip. "Don't worry about Musymon---he will be taken care of."
"Please, Gatomon. Let me fight my own battles. I'd rather face Musymon's knife than Myotismon's displeasure. You know how he feels about digimon who don't fight."
"Okay," the feline agreed, albeit reluctantly. "But you need to rest before we go on."
He shook his head. "No. You need to give your report before dawn or Myotismon will be angry at you. I can fly." He started to prop himself up.
She pressed down on the part of his chest that was not damaged until he was flat on his back again, lightly touching the wound when he still resisted the wordless command to lie still. Wizardmon gasped at the tremor of pain she'd caused and did not try to move again.
"Alright… You win."
He lay submissively as she cleaned the wound with a clean rag from his pocket and some water from a nearby stream, taking his mind off of what she was doing by contemplating the star-filled sky showing through the trees.
Perhaps his fall was an act of serendipity after all, Wizardmon mused. Alone and without distractions or the vampire's powerful presence, he could try again to reach her buried memories.
"Gatomon…" he began softly, "Do you ever wonder… what it would be like if you'd never met Myotismon?"
"Never met him?" she frowned, "Why would I think about that?"
"I don't know. I was just thinking about my past and how it might have been different if I'd been somewhere else and that made me think about you as well. For instance, what if we had met in a desert town?"
"A desert town?" Gatomon's laugh was loaded with sarcasm. "That sounds like fun. Lots of sun and sand and windstorms." She looked thoughtful as she repeated the last word to herself. "You know, it's funny… but I can almost see you---"
"Gatomon!"
The digital cat hissed as she recognized her master's voice calling for her. She was about to respond when she remembered Wizardmon. *Bleeding* Wizardmon.
"I'll draw him away," Gatomon reassured him as she quickly threw a few leafy branches over him for camouflage.
Wizardmon listened from beneath his cover as she loped away, but she didn't get very far before Myotismon was landing before her. He perked up his ears to hear what was said.
"GATOMON! Why didn't you answer?" the vampire asked as she leapt out to greet him.
"My lord," the Vaccine bowed, "we were ambushed by a… kwagumon. Wizardmon was injured fighting it off."
"I smell blood… it carries the essence of the Data wizard," the vampire said in an impatient tone. "Where is your companion, commander? Why is he not with you?"
"I left him behind." Gatomon shrugged as Wizardmon's fate was of no great consequence to her. "He couldn't fly until his wounds healed and staying with him would delay my report to you. The blood you smell is indeed his." She looked at her paws, making a gesture of distaste with her tongue. "I must have not cleaned it off of myself very well."
"And your report?"
"Northern border is quiet, sir. Shall I go back and fetch the wizard or send the Bakemon with a pallet?"
"Neither."
"Sir?"
"Go back to the castle and make sure DemiDevimon is not getting into any mischief. I will be returning shortly."
There was the sound of Gatomon moving away and then a long silence.
Wondering if it was safe to move, Wizardmon quietly shifted some of the vegetation aside.
Myotismon was there smiling down at him with his bared fangs.
"Good Evening, Wizardmon."
Wizaarrrdmooonnn…
Wizaarddddmoooonnn…
_________________________
TBC
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Part 22: Love Walks On Cat's Feet
"Ah..." the doctor realized, "so that's why you freaked when Sydney attacked you. Speaking of whom... I really should feed the poor guy." On cue, a loud cat wail came from the bedroom. Natalie cringed. "Sorry about this, honey!" she called back. "Mommy's getting you something now!" She got up to go get the feline a can of tuna as an apology for locking him up for so long.
Wizardmon blinked. "Mommy? Is Sydney her child?" he asked of Nicholas, who shrugged.
"Uh... sort of," he snickered. "It's a cat lover thing among humans. She's responsible for Sydney's welfare, and sometimes such a big responsibility can scramble an otherwise normal brain."
Reappearing with tuna can in one hand and the forgotten bowl of milk in the other, Natalie stuck her tongue out at him.
Wizardmon grinned at his friends teasing manner. "I think I can empathize, being inflicted with something of the same malady with Gatomon." His expression turned pensive. "Do you think I can see your Sydney again? I promise not to get 'freaked'."
"If you want and Syd doesn't mind."
Sydney was hiding under the bed, when Natalie coaxed him out. The cat eyed both vampire and digimon warily as Natalie dumped the tuna on a small saucer for him. The cat's attention was immediately sidetracked. Smiling as her companion gobbled down the fish, the coroner held out the bowl of milk towards Wizardmon.
"Here's your chance to show you two have a common interest. Syd's a sucker for anyone who'll feed him."
"I... um..."
The bowl was unceremoniously placed into his gloved hands.
Feeling a bit intimidated, Wizardmon got down on the floor, holding the bowl on the carpet at full arm's length. Natalie tsked at him and replaced it in his lap along with Sydney. Wizardmon froze as the striped cat sniffed at his clothing.
"Nat?" Nicholas warned. Maybe Wizardmon wasn't ready for this. What if Sydney took a dislike to the digimon?
Natalie saw her friend's anxiety on his face and guessed the reason.
"Don't worry. Cats know cat people---it's an instinct. They'll be fine." She whispered to him, "Besides, I put a drop of catnip extract in the milk."
"You've the makings for a wicked woman, Miss Lambert."
She stifled a giggle. "I know."
Sure enough, after a few seconds of inspecting her new 'food dispenser', Sydney settled down to lapping up the white liquid with gusto. The magician waited until it was almost gone before he tentatively used one hand to pet the soft fur. The supple back arched under his touch, tail waving about as a strong purr was heard. Lifting her head, Sydney rubbed his cheek against the digimon's blue.
Wizardmon was ecstatic.
"He likes me?!"
"You're warm, soft and accommodating his considerable hedonistic desires. So what's not to like?" Natalie pointed out with a soft laugh. "I hope you don't mind being covered in cat hair for the rest of your stay."
After washing up and making sure all her windows were well covered against any intruding daylight, Natalie spread a sheet over her couch for Nick to sleep on. For Wizardmon she took various chair cushions and arranged them into a makeshift mattress. Sydney tried to appropriate it, but Natalie scooped him up. "Oh no you don't, Sydney. These two need their sleep, so you're coming with me."
"I hope you have a good rest," she told the digimon as she tucked him in. "This afternoon I'll drive you down to Don's---if you still wish to go?"
"I gave my word, Lady Natalie. Why would I wish not to keep it? Trust me that everything will be fine."
An unconvinced Natalie just nodded, then sidled up to Nick before he could test out his own napping accommodations.
"You know, you two are so much alike that it's beginning to scare me. Good night, Nick."
"Technically, it should be 'good day', Nat."
A tired Dr. Lambert threw him a raspberry as she retreated into her bedroom to catch a few hours of shut eye.
Turning around to face the couch, Wizardmon said. "You were right, Nick, she is a nice human. And she likes you a lot. You should live together since you complement each other so well."
De Brabant wished they could. However there was the little matter of his inner Beast wishing to drain her dry whenever they got too close. That and the fact that Lacroix would never allow him to express his love to anyone other than another vampire made him keep humans at arm's length. For all intents and purposes, she was the Juliet to his Romeo---but he didn't feel like explaining all that to the mage just now.
"Go to sleep, Wizardmon," Nicholas sighed, and turned off the table lamp.
---------------------------
(The Past: Myotismon's castle)
"Wizardmon?"
He breathed in sharply, straightening up as she approached. He was in terrible pain and wanted nothing more than to go to bed and heal as he rested. Seeing the business-like expression Gatomon held, he knew he wasn't going to get it. So much for that thought.
"Yes, commander?"
Gatomon looked up at him with eyes hard as blue diamonds. "Lord Myotismon wishes for a report on the northern boundary defenses. You will fly me there."
Wizardmon bit back his groan of dismay, giving only a deferential nod, "As you wish."
He used his magic to fly them both to the Bakemon post, leaning against a tree in order to catch his breath as he waited for her to finish her inspection. That done and the feline apparently satisfied with what she saw, Gatomon leapt up into his arms, ready for him to take her back to the castle so that she could deliver her report.
Silently, Wizardmon rose into the air, his left arm cradling the cat safely against his chest despite the fierce stabbing pains that action was causing.
Pain or no----on no account would he drop her! And it wasn't very far now. Almost...
Wizardmon was over half-way back to the castle before the pain he'd been trying to suppress became unbearable and he suddenly lost altitude. A quick tuck and roll ensured that Gatomon was uninjured by the fall, but the same could not be said for him. He lay gasping for air where he'd hit the earth, trying get his vision to stop swirling. His rib cage felt like it was caught in a vise.
"Wizardmon---are you okay?!" Gatomon asked as she stood above him, looking for the attacker that had struck him right out of the sky.
There was no one.
"Yes… No. Not really," the mage gasped out. "Please do not be angry, just give me a minute and I will get you back to Myotismon."
Turning to face him, Gatomon noticed an additional redness on his suit that was very slowly spreading outward.
"You're bleeding," she informed him.
He was? Sludge! Hitting the ground must have undone his quick mending spell.
"Probably just a scratch. I'll take care of it after we get--- Uh… What are you doing?!"
Gatomon had his vest shoved upwards and was tugging open his jumpsuit's main zipper before the mage could stop her.
"Commander, please!" he objected.
"Be still!" she hissed at him. Soft paws caressed his skin as they pulled the yellow fabric sideways to expose a long cut and dark bruise across his ribs. The wound was bleeding--- but not dangerously so.
"You're rib is likely broken and that is a nasty gash. Why didn't you tell me that you'd been injured to such an extent that it has not even healed properly?"
"You needed a ride," he explained as she used some leaves to make him a pillow. I thought it could wait."
"And just how did you get hurt in the first place?"
"Nothing important."
"I asked you a question!"
"Merely a scuffle with Musymon."
"About?"
Darn, but she did have a tenacious spirit!
"You know how Musymon is. He didn't need a reason. Or at least, he didn't relate it to me."
"I see." Gatomon absently raked a fang over her lower lip. "Don't worry about Musymon---he will be taken care of."
"Please, Gatomon. Let me fight my own battles. I'd rather face Musymon's knife than Myotismon's displeasure. You know how he feels about digimon who don't fight."
"Okay," the feline agreed, albeit reluctantly. "But you need to rest before we go on."
He shook his head. "No. You need to give your report before dawn or Myotismon will be angry at you. I can fly." He started to prop himself up.
She pressed down on the part of his chest that was not damaged until he was flat on his back again, lightly touching the wound when he still resisted the wordless command to lie still. Wizardmon gasped at the tremor of pain she'd caused and did not try to move again.
"Alright… You win."
He lay submissively as she cleaned the wound with a clean rag from his pocket and some water from a nearby stream, taking his mind off of what she was doing by contemplating the star-filled sky showing through the trees.
Perhaps his fall was an act of serendipity after all, Wizardmon mused. Alone and without distractions or the vampire's powerful presence, he could try again to reach her buried memories.
"Gatomon…" he began softly, "Do you ever wonder… what it would be like if you'd never met Myotismon?"
"Never met him?" she frowned, "Why would I think about that?"
"I don't know. I was just thinking about my past and how it might have been different if I'd been somewhere else and that made me think about you as well. For instance, what if we had met in a desert town?"
"A desert town?" Gatomon's laugh was loaded with sarcasm. "That sounds like fun. Lots of sun and sand and windstorms." She looked thoughtful as she repeated the last word to herself. "You know, it's funny… but I can almost see you---"
"Gatomon!"
The digital cat hissed as she recognized her master's voice calling for her. She was about to respond when she remembered Wizardmon. *Bleeding* Wizardmon.
"I'll draw him away," Gatomon reassured him as she quickly threw a few leafy branches over him for camouflage.
Wizardmon listened from beneath his cover as she loped away, but she didn't get very far before Myotismon was landing before her. He perked up his ears to hear what was said.
"GATOMON! Why didn't you answer?" the vampire asked as she leapt out to greet him.
"My lord," the Vaccine bowed, "we were ambushed by a… kwagumon. Wizardmon was injured fighting it off."
"I smell blood… it carries the essence of the Data wizard," the vampire said in an impatient tone. "Where is your companion, commander? Why is he not with you?"
"I left him behind." Gatomon shrugged as Wizardmon's fate was of no great consequence to her. "He couldn't fly until his wounds healed and staying with him would delay my report to you. The blood you smell is indeed his." She looked at her paws, making a gesture of distaste with her tongue. "I must have not cleaned it off of myself very well."
"And your report?"
"Northern border is quiet, sir. Shall I go back and fetch the wizard or send the Bakemon with a pallet?"
"Neither."
"Sir?"
"Go back to the castle and make sure DemiDevimon is not getting into any mischief. I will be returning shortly."
There was the sound of Gatomon moving away and then a long silence.
Wondering if it was safe to move, Wizardmon quietly shifted some of the vegetation aside.
Myotismon was there smiling down at him with his bared fangs.
"Good Evening, Wizardmon."
Wizaarrrdmooonnn…
Wizaarddddmoooonnn…
_________________________
TBC