A/N: I'm sorry that the last chapter seemed a bit boring and short. It was a prologue, but I couldn't label it as such, not until I added the second chapter. It is a bit talky in the beginning, but things do pick up. And on another note, I know that Wolfmon's American name is Lobomon as well, but he's not in relation to the character in my story. I didn't know about the name change when I began to write this story and since I prefer the Japanese names to the American, Wolfmon instead of Lobomon, the name will remain the same. With that said, I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 1: Facts and Conversations
Yamaki sighed softly as he strolled down a long, dismal corridor of Hypnos. To those around him, his gait was unhurried and seemingly leisurely, but if they had looked closer, they would have noticed him flicking the cover of his cigarette lighter open and shut, the only sign of his nervousness.
As he drew closer to a large black door, a sign bearing the word "PRIVATE" displayed prominently in its center, Yamaki hesitated. Much to his great dismay, he was wary to enter the room, having seen neither its contents nor the section of Hypnos it resided in, until this day.
And the message that he had received by phone the night before, "They wish to see you. Thirty second floor, two o'clock. No excuses," had been less than encouraging.
Sighing in frustration, Yamaki finally grasped the doorknob determinedly. This is ridiculous, he deliberated to himself. I have nothing to fear and yet here I am reluctant to open a simple door. Well this foolishness ends now. And with that final thought, Yamaki turned the knob and pushed the heavy door open.
He wasn't sure what to expect as he entered the dimly lit room. And he wasn't relieved to find the Chief Executives of Hypnos, positioned around a black table, watching him anxiously. Ignoring the cool stares of the assembled men, Yamaki calmly moved to a vacant chair and was seated. Whatever the information that was to be provided to him, he was more than ready to hear it.
"Ah, Mitsuo, so nice to see you." An older man with dark glasses and graying hair, Masaki Daitetsu the Head of Hypnos, addressed Yamaki politely. "And just yesterday Fujitaka was so quick to comment about your 'lack of respect and loyalty' to Hypnos." He continued good-naturedly. "And yet you're here, as we expected you to be." Daitetsu glanced at the other men, who nodded solemnly.
Yamaki raised an eyebrow behind his glasses. "Then it seems as though a mistake was made. The message I received left no room for a refusal." He spoke coolly.
Smiling indulgently, Daitetsu picked up a large folder and passed it to the man beside him, who continued the motion with the next and so on.
"You're probably wondering why you're here, Mitsuo and while this file explains quite a bit, it doesn't tell everything." He waited until Yamaki had received the folder and opened it to continue. "The file you are holding contains information about Operation: Dark Days, an event that took place approximately seven years ago."
He paused as Yamaki shuffled through numerous pictures of a decimated city, injured citizens and…Digimon. Some large, small, human sized and all of them bearing some indication of their Virili nature.
Staring at fallen form of a young girl, Yamaki could feel the long buried anger within him rising. This was the very reason that I joined Hypnos, he thought furiously. To keep something like this from ever occurring again.
"Not a pretty sight, as you can plainly see for yourself. While the damage done to Kyoto was extensive, luckily the casualties were mostly minimal. But the a new problem did arise for the government, how precisely was it going to prevent such an attack from happening again? And after much deliberation, a solution was reached. Publicly, the credit to the destruction in Kyoto was given to an earthquake and the monster sightings were denounced to be inducements of mass hysteria. Privately, the government-sanctioned company named Hypnos was formed."
"I know all of this information already." Yamaki interrupted irritably. "If you recall, I was there."
Daitetsu ignored his outburst. "The best and the brightest, those with strong backgrounds in computer programming were then recruited to work at Hypnos, to monitor digital activity and create the deletion programs necessary to eliminate any future threat."
"But even that wasn't enough. Digimon began appearing in our world and Yuggoth and the overly misused Shaggai," Several men glared at Yamaki, who in turn, stared back at them unflinchingly.
"Were not strong enough to deal with them. So in a restricted area of Hypnos, something new was developed. Incorporating schematics from both programs and the early protocol of D-Reaper, a weapon code-named Armageddon was created."
"Armageddon?" Yamaki repeated stunned.
Sighing, Daitetsu nodded. "Armageddon, meaning the end of the world. Since we had no way to enter the Digital World, it was useless, but with the abilities possessed by these children, these Tamers, that has changed. Once introduced into the Digital World, Armageddon will have a short delay before activating. Once it is activated, it will act as a type of bomb. All Digital data in all areas of the Digital World will be deleted, permanently."
"And what of the Digimon belonging to the Tamers?" Yamaki asked.
"There will be a chain reaction," One of the executives explained. "From the Digital World to the Real, all Digimon will be eliminated, there will be no exceptions."
Yamaki frowned. "Do you honestly believe such extreme action is necessary?"
"For too long, the Digimon have been invading Japan, or more precisely West Shinjuku, reducing the city and its people to shambles. Now is the time for action!" The executive argued. "A rampaging boar, bull and a ram, the city covered in ice, this madness must end!"
"By destroying a world that humanity helped to create?" Yamaki inquired coldly as he rose from his chair. "Months ago, I would have been the first person to agree with your decision, but things have changed. Without the help of the Tamers and their Digimon partners, D-Reaper would have eliminated the human race as we know it."
"But didn't the return of the Tamers bring D-Reaper into our world in the first place? It would have remained in the Digital World, where it was meant to stay if not for you bringing the Tamers back to our world!"
"And now you want to blame the children for our problems? You disgust me." Yamaki spoke heatedly. "The Tamers have gone through hell and back to rescue one of their friends from D-Reaper and to defeat it as well. And you want to turn your back on them. I agree that the problem with the Digimon entering our world is serious matter that must be dealt with, but not to the extents of which you've proposed."
The room was suddenly full of noise. "You traitor!" One man roared. "You'd rather protect the Digimon than humanity!"
But before Yamaki could respond, Daitetsu intervened. "Quiet!" He shouted from the table's end. Within moments, the room became silent again.
"Perhaps we were rash to bring you into this Mitsuo, but we had no choice. Daitetsu spoke softly. "We needed someone the Tamers are close to, someone that they trust. But nothing has been finalized yet. Why don't you return to your duties and then go home and think about things for a day or two? I'm sure your position will change, if you're given the time to consider what is important. You are dismissed."
"Don't count on it." Muttered Yamaki coldly as he exited the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Fujitaka was correct in his analysis of Mitsuo's loyalties." Daitetsu uttered despondently after Yamaki's departure. "He is a brilliant man, but he has allowed his emotions to be swayed."
"How unfortunate." One executive murmured callously. "Of course if he proves to be a problem, he will have to be dealt with." He fingered a small handgun in a shoulder holster pointedly.
Daitetsu nodded. "I know. But for his sake, I just hope that it won't come to that."
Whoever said that things always look better in the morning was right, Takato thought cheerfully as he noticed the clear sky and felt the crisp wind blow past him from his open bedroom window. He stared outside contentedly for a few moments more, then rose from his bed, moved to his dresser and began rummaging for his clothing and began to change.
It had been nearly a week since the Tamers' battle with Hekatemon and the return of their partners. And while things had returned to some degree of normalcy, Guilmon still had to sleep in the rebuilt shrine in West Shinjuku Park, partly due to his size and the fact that he was liable to clean out the entire refrigerator in just one sitting. But Takato still visited him and though his father had a feeling that he snuck Guilmon into his room on more than one occasion, but didn't speak of it.
Hirokazu had made a full recovery from Hekatemon's attack and returned to school, with an incredible tale to tell, along with Kenta adding in exaggerated examples of his friend's "Unbelievable heroism." Sadly, the story didn't keep Ms. Asanuma from assigning both Tamers an essay on decorum after they disrupted her class for the fourth time in one day.
Takato grinned, remembering his friend's indignant complaining. "I saved the world, get turned into a Popsicle for my trouble and now I have to write an essay? Don't I ever get a break?
Jenrya had shaken his head exasperatedly, while Juri tried to console the visor-wearing Tamer. For the last few days, Juri and Jenrya had been spending quite a bit of time together and Takato couldn't be gladder. After everything that had happened to Juri, the emotional torture by D-Reaper and Takato's admittance of his feelings towards Ruki, instead of her, she more than deserved happiness.
As he affixed his golden goggles atop of his head, Takato couldn't help but smiling. He'd been "on cloud nine," as the saying went ever sense he had returned from his visit with Ruki a few nights before.
He had been so relieved that Hekatemon's death had resuscitated both her and Hirokazu and couldn't help but see how she was doing, under the guise of bringing her Guilmon bread. And when he kissed her…Takato felt his face begin to flush at the memory.
"Takato, breakfast is ready!" Mrs. Matsuda called loudly from the kitchen below, causing Takato to snap out of his thoughts swiftly.
As much as he enjoyed thinking about that moment, the last thing he needed was to be late for school, especially after everything that had recently happened.
"I'm coming!" Takato responded with slight reluctance.
Walking to his door, he picked up his backpack from its unceremonious position on the floor, Takato stepped out from his bedroom and sighed. He was so impatient to see Ruki that afternoon, and he had a feeling it was going to be a long day…
She's doing it again, Lobomon thought crossly. Immediately after they had returned from their little reconnaissance and sightseeing mission, Erinyemon had immediately locked herself in her room. That had been days ago and he was growing impatient of waiting for her. Though room is really an understatement, Lobomon admitted silently while staring at the pulsating mass of dark matter before him.
The location of Lord Demon's servants was an abyss, a gaping hole in darkness that had been created by the Holy Beasts in their elimination of D-Reaper. And though they believed it to be closed eternally, when Demon re-entered the Digital World, he used his power to maintain the opening.
Such a feat would have been too taxing for even a Digimon of Ultimate level, but the power of Demon was limitless. Or so it was and will be once again. Feeding upon the miniscule particles that were all that remained of D-Reaper sustained him, but even that was method of preservation would soon fail. The Final Battle with the Holy Beasts had failed to destroy Demon, but he was dying nonetheless.
"Erinyemon!" Lobomon growled, "Lord Demon requires our presence without delay. Or perhaps you did not learn from your first lesson about your vanity."
"Bite me." Erinyemon retorted, finally emerging from the mass. "I know what Demon wants."
Slightly tempted to take her up on her offer, Lobomon stepped closer, his clawed paws scraping across the floor. "You should watch your tongue, Erinyemon. It's very liable to be removed." He then turned away from her suddenly and moved forward, disappearing into the darkness.
Erinyemon watched him leave and only after his exit, spat on the ground. Rip out my tongue? I love to see you try, Lobomon. Ever since their resurrection, courtesy of Lord Demon and bits of D-Reaper matter, the lupine Digimon had become the largest source of aggravation she had ever encountered. Especially after…raising her clawed hand hesitantly, Erinyemon touched the porcelain mask that hid her face. She had stolen several of them, along with mirrors from the human world. All of the mirrors had later been cracked, but the masks were precious to her.
Being trapped in oblivion after her destruction by Baihumon and absorption by Demon had been maddening. But returning to life had not come without its sacrifices. And hers had been most dear. Not that anyone had cared and when she had been slow to appear before her master, he had given her another reason to hide her face.
But Erinyemon dallied no longer and teleported before Demon, or what remained of him. She was last to appear, as his other servants were all glaring at her with spite and hatred. She ignored them and took her place with the highest of Demon's soldiers.
Lady Devimon, Piemon, and Lobomon all stared forward, their faces impassive and enraptured. And from the dark depths of the abyss, he rose. A formless mass, one whose darkness seemed never ending and whose blue eyes glowed with pure evil. The lower servants immediately hid their faces as they kneeled, tears falling from their misshapen faces. Erinyemon gazed forward, being one of Demon's lieutenants entitled her to remain standing.
"The time has come." Demon rumbled loudly. "We have captured the Maker and he will create the army that will eliminate all worlds. The Third has been found, but must remain, for I need his human alive. The Second and the First are still to be hunted and once located, killed. And now." He raised his voice. "Now it is time to procure the vessel. For my power is waning and the Beasts grow suspicious. Erinyemon, go and inform Matsuda Takato of the honor that he is to be granted."
"Lord Demon!" Lady Devimon burst out furiously.
"After her deliberate impudence-" Piemon argued.
Demon growled loudly, causing even his lieutenants to kneel. "Silence." His voice dripped with venom. "Erinyemon will go to the Matsuda boy and return with his answer. He is not to be harmed and if he is in the presence of the other Tamers, make sure they are not injured either. And If you fail me in any means Erinyemon, I will tear out your impertinent tongue and so much more, myself. The rest of you will continue the hunt and acquire the Digimon I need to delete and feed upon. Now go!" He raised one of his shapeless hands in dismissal.
"As you wish, my Lord." The four lieutenants of Demon replied monotonously. Erinyemon gave her fellow lieutenants one last smug look and vanished.
Walking home from school was usually the highlight of Ruki's day. And after suffering through numerous classes and idiots alike, the school bell was always a welcome signal, granting her the freedom that she deserved, as well as needed.
Ruki walked home hurriedly, not wanting any more people than necessary to see her in her uniform. It wasn't as bad, as far as most uniforms went, but after Rumiko had once commented that she looked "darling," in it, she wasn't taking any chances.
As she passed under the familiar cherry blossom trees, Ruki immediately felt Renamon's tranquil presence appear directly above her.
"How was your day?" The Child Digimon inquired mildly.
Ruki shrugged. "Normal. Boring. During Lunch I would have killed for a Wild One to show up, at least that way I would have had a reason to take off."
Renamon smiled slightly. "Well, at least you have the rest of the evening to do what you want to. Although," She stopped speaking, as though listening to something that Ruki couldn't hear.
Watching her with concern, Ruki raised an eyebrow.
"Something wrong?"
Shaking her head is if to clear it, Renamon sighed. "No, there's nothing wrong, although we do seem to have company." The vulpine Digimon indicated two familiar forms in the distance that were running to meet them.
Rolling her eyes in half-hearted exasperation, Ruki sighed. "It's Takato. I should've known."
Takato hadn't planned upon meeting Ruki until after he had brought Guilmon his food and had gotten him settled. Bit strangely enough, his partner had wanted to go deeper into the park, saying that he sensed something. And even if that something didn't pertain to a Digimon, Takato wasn't taking any chances.
Finally catching up to Ruki, the goggled Tamer gasped lightly, his chest still straining and heart pumping rapidly, though not just from running.
Guilmon watched his partner curiously. He'd seen Takato behave strangely on numerous occasions, but never like this. Parts of his face were of a light pink color and even his hands seemed to be sweating.
Maybe Takato will explain it later, the Child Digimon thought as his attention was quickly captured by the sight of numerous multi-colored butterflies and wandering a short distance away.
But once the two Tamers were, finally "alone," Takato couldn't help but feel nervous.
"So…" He began hesitantly. "Um, how are you?"
"I'm-" Ruki commenced before she was abruptly interrupted.
"Well if it isn't the young lovers." A voice purred seductively from above.
As Ruki's eyes wandered around the park intensely, searching for the voice's source, Takato looked to his partner, whose golden eyes were glowing with feral strength.
"Guilmon, what is it?" Takato asked worriedly.
The saurian digimon snarled in response. "There's a Digimon here Takato, a bad one."
"But where?" Renamon muttered distractedly, her senses at their highest as she mentally prepared for any form of attack.
Ruki's eyes narrowed in frustration as she grasped her D-Arc tightly. "This whole villain whispering from the shadows bit is getting old."
That elicited laughter from the hidden foe. "Now, now Ruki-chan, you shouldn't be so mean."
"What did you call me?" Ruki snarled, clenching her fist threateningly. Takato placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her, but she shrugged it away.
A sudden explosion before them caused both Tamers to fall backward and cover their faces at the burst of smoke that accompanied the blast. The smoke swirled in a tight cyclone, before dispersing and revealing the enemy Digimon to the Tamers.
The figure was clad in a mixture of black leather and gray armor, with two black, avian wings folded around her shoulders. Metallic talons that dotted her fingers and the ends of her elbows, glinted brightly in the afternoon sun. A strange white mask hid her face completely, and yet froze it into a ghastly smile, one that sent chills up Takato's spine.
Both Tamers held their D-Arcs, waiting for this new Digimon's information to appear and Ruki sighed with discuss, when nothing materialized. "This thing's useless." She muttered angrily.
"Not really." The new Digimon countered. "I just happen to be very special. The name's Erinyemon and though it's none of your business Ruki-chan, I'm a Virus type, Perfect level."
"In a few seconds, you'll be history." Ruki growled while searching through her cards. Using her method teleportation, Renamon appeared beside her, loathing burning upon her normally neutral face.
Staring at Erinyemon warily, Takato shuddered slightly. Something about this Digimon is really weird. "What do you want?"
Erinyemon laughed again and extended one of her hands. "Blazing Rings!" Numerous red rings suddenly emerged and floated behind her. "Silly Takato, I thought it was obvious." She gestured forward and the rings followed her command, launching towards Renamon rapidly.
"Renamon!" Ruki shouted as the rings drew close to the vulpine Digimon. Leaping gracefully into the air, Renamon avoided their grasp and smirked as they crashed into the tree and shattered.
"Fox Leaf Arrowhead!" She then shouted, crossing her arms before her and sending several glowing crystals flying at Erinyemon. Unfurling her wings, the Virili Digimon dodged the attack and flew into the cherry blossom tree above.
"Ooh, good trick, foxy." Erinyemon said grunting. "But I can do a few myself. Blazing Rings!" She snapped her fingers and more rings materialized, this time heading directly for Takato. The goggled Tamer could only stare blankly as they came closer, until Ruki roughly shoved him out of harm's way.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed Goggle-head?" She asked, concern clearly evident as she glaring at him. "Well, are you?" Takato blinked at her with confusion, feeling as though he was in some type of daze. "Ruki, I'm…" He trailed off distractedly. But when he noticed the glowing rings behind her, his face paled "Look out!"
Turning quickly, eyes widening, Ruki glanced at the oncoming weapons before shifting to the battle that raged between Renamon and Erinyemon. Both Digimon were jumping from branch to branch of the tree, attacking and defending each other at different intervals. I have to help Renamon, Ruki thought determinedly.
Filling his mouth with burning flames, Guilmon finally released his attack. "Fireball!" He roared, incinerating the offending rings. But neither he nor Ruki noticed two forgotten rings floating behind them and cried out in pain as they encircled them.
"Ruki, Guilmon!" Takato shouted anxiously as he ran to the fallen Tamer and his partner, though he hesitated to touch either of them. The rings continued to glow around both of them and as Guilmon struggled against his, a pillar of fire erupted from within it, hiding him completely from sight for second. When the flames died away, an unconscious and charred Guilmon was all that was left behind.
Ruki continued to thrash about and gasped when she felt her energy ebbing away. Her eyes became glazed as she stared forward mutely.
Takato reached for her, but the sound of Renamon's body hitting the ground stopped him. Her body, like Ruki and Guilmon's was delimited by a glowing ring.
"Uh-uh-uh, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Erinyemon wheezed breathlessly, obviously weakened from her battle. "You wouldn't want the your girlfriend to do her impression of a matchstick, would you?"
Takato stood and glared at Erinyemon. "Why are you doing this?" He questioned furiously.
Staggering forward, Erinyemon re-set her wings. "Vessel of rebirth, destruction incarnate, Lord Demon does beseech you." She spoke with odd formality. "But I think we should go somewhere private, away from this…distraction." She held her clawed hand out to the perplexed Tamer.
Her response startled Takato, causing his fury to melt away and be replaced by a strange kind of awe. He couldn't help but stare at the bizarre digimon, the one who had hurt the girl that he loved and his partner. Normally the deep protectiveness that Takato felt for those he cared about would have caused him to try and help his friends, but it was as if he were rooted to the ground.
Erinyemon growled deeply in her throat, sounding truly inhuman, as she waited. "I don't have all day, Takato. It's a very simple choice. Stay and watch Ruki-chan get flambéed or leave and find out what Lord Demon wants with you. Choose!"
Knowing that his decision was precisely what Ruki or Guilmon wouldn't want him to do, Takato looked at them apologetically. I'm sorry, he thought, forlornly as he reached for Erinyemon's outstretched hand. The Perfect Digimon said nothing, but harshly clasped his hand and with a shimmer of dark light, she and Takato vanished.
And just because I feel badly about making you all wait so long, here is a short preview of Into the Darkness-Chapter 2: Old Wounds.
"…Then face the truth. It is your fault this is happening Takato!" Erinyemon accused. "Within you is the power to devastate worlds! Your fury, unmolested, unrestrained, drew Demon from the darkness and the chaos that you created provided him with an entrance to the Digital World."
"But how-?" Takato interrupted Erinyemon desperately, though deeply dreading her response.
Erinyemon stared at him scathingly. "You lost control, creating Megidramon and nearly destroying everything that you held dear. Due to Demon's weakness, his acolytes, myself included, have massacred hundreds of digimon to sate his needs. Refuse Demon, Takato and we will pour out the blood of humanity like a crimson flood upon your world. Everyone you love and know and even those you don't, will suffer and it will be because of you."