Finally, in this chapter the AU will start kicking in. I have no idea why I decided to change the story like that, but it just came to me while I was drawing. Hopefully, things should get better from here.
Also, in case anyone is confused, I am going along with most of the terms used in the original Digimon. The most obvious is that I'm referring to the gang by their Japanese names (ex: Tai - Taichi), but I'm using other things, too. For example, 'Chosen Children' rather than 'Digidestined' and 'Crest of Purity' rather than 'Crest of Sincerity'. I'm also using some Japanese terms, so if you don't understand try looking them up.
Disclaimer: Wouldn't be here if Digimon was mine.
Spirit, Sleeping Somewhere Cold
Chapter 4: Here is Gone
The Chosen Children were overjoyed when they neared the last Child, who would hopefully be the eighth Child. But their joy soon turned to apprehension when they found a group of Flymon pursuing a target that happened to be in the same direction as the last Child. Palmon, being one of three Digimon that was rested up enough to evolve, evolved into Togemon in time to take out the insectoid Digimon. They had just reached a clearing, then a cliff, when Togemon attacked.
Yamato wasn't aware of that, as he spotted the Chosen Child. What he first drew his attention was a flash of red, then time seemed to stand still as he took in the long, jet black hair, the emerald eyes....
/It can't be.... No..../
He watched in horror as Mitori fell, holding her red Digimon to her and screaming.
"TORI!!"
"Matt!" Taichi cried out in alarm, but it was too late.
The blonde-haired boy was already running towards the cliff, and in a flash of data Garurumon was there with him. Yamato jumped onto his back as the wolf-like Digimon leaped, then ran with incredible speed down the cliff-side. In mere moments he was able to catch up to the plummeting girl and kicked off the rock wall, positioning himself under Mitori so that she landed on his back with a thump. Yamato immediately put his arms around her to hold her in place.
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Mitori had not noticed that she had screamed and closed her eyes as she fell, her weightlessness making her feel ill. But when she abruptly landed onto a warm and furry surface she found herself opening her eyes to stare up into the last person she would have expected to be there. Her verdant gaze widened in recognition and shock.
Yamato tore his azure stare from her emerald, not wanting to believe she was actually there in his arms. "Hold on."
That was all he was able say as he tightened his grip on her, while Garurumon bounded down the cliff-side. Mitori finally lost her grip on reality, if this could possibly be real, and fainted into unconsciousness.
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"Tai...." Sora began as everyone had their eyes on their leader. "What happened?"
Taichi and Yamato, along with their Digimon, had pulled ahead of the others when they neared the Chosen Child, and he had been the only one to see his friend vault into the huge crevice, riding on his Digimon.
"The Chosen Child.... fell," he stated despondently.
"Nani?" Sora placed a pink-gloved hand on Taichi's arm, bringing his chocolate eyes up to look into her concerned sorrel.
Taichi was a bit too shook up to continue, so Agumon did for him.
"The Chosen Child fell over the cliff along with her Digimon, and Matt jumped right after her on Garurumon."
"The Chosen Child is a girl?" Sora asked the reptilian Digimon, recalling what Mimi had said earlier.
"Yeah."
"Tori...."
Sora turned her attention to the boy in front of her. "What did you say, Taichi?"
The brunette broke out of his trance when she used his full name. Sora only said that when she was worried. "I think that's her name. Matt said it right before he jumped."
"So, he knows who she is?" said Jyo.
"I think so," Tai answered him. He placed his hand over Sora's, gently taking her hand off of his arm but smiling at her reassuringly. He turned his attention to Takeru. "T.K., do you remember ever meeting a girl named Tori?"
The little blonde shook his head. "I don't remember that name. What does she look like?"
"All I was able to see was that she had long black hair."
Again Takeru said that he did not remember her, and Taichi sighed. "Great, this is too weird..."
"I suggest that we devise a plan of action," Koushiro said. "Are we going to after them, Tai?"
"I don't know," he sighed wearily, running a white-gloved hand through his wild hair. "We don't know if there's anything at the bottom of that drop. Biyomon and Tentomon are still weary from that battle with Myotismon, so we can't fly down there." Taichi placed his hand over his face, shielding his expression for a moment from his comrades, then removed it to reveal a beaming grin. "I wouldn't worry too much about Matt. He's strong, and so is Garurumon, so I'm sure they're fine."
"So we're just going to wait for them?" asked Mimi.
"That will be necessary, since I have to speak with all of you."
Everyone, human and Digimon, was startled and turned to the new voice. It belonged to a shadowed figure on the branch of a tree, a somewhat humanoid shadow.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Taichi demanded as he balled his fists and Agumon, along with the other Digimon, moved protectively in front of their partners.
"I am simply myself, a messenger, if you must know. You need not concern yourselves with the plight of your comrades. In order to achieve balance, they must first find themselves, and each other."
"What are you babbling about?!" Gomamon barked.
"To restore order all hearts must beat as one in resonance. That is all I can say for now."
"You're not going anywhere! Pepper Breath!"
Agumon's fiery attack sped towards the shadow, but the mysterious being simply side-stepped and avoided the ball of fire with ease.
"I foresee you will cause me unnecessary difficulty. Very well then." The figure held one hand up, palm facing the Chosen Children. He made swift movements with it that were almost too fast to be seen, then brought both hands together with all fingers entwined except for the extended forefingers. A thin strand of light outlined its body, and the glow could be seen clearly by the group of children and Digimon.
"He's up to something, be on guard!" Taichi warned everyone. "Agumon!"
"I'm on it!"
The lizard-like Digimon was ready to evolve, but never got the chance.
"Warp Hole!"
The figure held out his hands to the group, palms outstretched and thumbs connected. A series of black balls of enveloped the children and their Digimon.
"What's--ah!" Takeru cried out in alarm as the orbs lifted off the ground, carrying him and everyone else with them.
Taichi's protective instincts took over as he grabbed Sora, who had been trapped with him along with their Digimon, and held her to him tightly as his field of vision went white, then black.
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"..... is her."
"Aa."
"What will you do when she wakes up?"
"I.... I don't know."
Mitori of course recognized one of the voices she heard, and instantly tried to wake up, to escape this horrid dream, to discover she was already awake. She remembered what had happened. Miaomon had evolved to Shimamon to protect her from a Flymon, but more appeared and they were sent over a cliff. She vaguely remembered seeing somebody emerge from the forest, but clearly recalled the boy who was just a few feet from her.... Wait, Shimamon! What had happened to her Digimon?!
Although she was worried, Mitori remained calm, grateful that she was lying on her side and her back was to Yamato. He couldn't see the myriad of emotions that flickered across her face. She patiently waited and listened to Yamato and, whom she had guessed to be, his Digimon.
"So how is she doing?"
"Okay, I guess. Do you know what Digimon this is, Gabumon?"
/So, Shimamon's still out cold..../
"I believe that is a Shimamon, a rather rare Digimon. I hear they're pretty reclusive, like most cat Digimon, and they have a very competitive and violent streak."
"So, she likes to fight, ne? I guess she tried to protect Tori, poor thing.... I think she's coming to."
Shimamon stirred, then groaned. "Anyone get the name of that Monochromon?" The feline Digimon opened one golden eye and looked up into the face of the one who was holding her in his lap. /So, another human./ "Your name."
Yamato was a bit surprised that Shimamon wasn't startled to see him, but it showed in his eyes for only a second. "Ishida Yamato. Just call me Matt. That's Gabumon." He indicated his Digimon with a nod of his head.
Shimamon turned her head, opening both ochroid eyes, and raised a paw to the reptilian Digimon. "Yo."
"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
"Hai, hai, whatevah...... Where's Tori?"
"She's resting over there," Gabumon said, looking over to the girl. He ignored Shimamon's rudeness, figuring she was just worried about her partner, and added, "She passed out not long after I caught you two."
Shimamon crawled out of Yamato's lap and padded over to her partner, then sat down on her haunches.
Mitori shut her eyes. /What's she up to?/
"How long has she been out?" Shimamon asked.
Yamato answered, "About ten minutes."
"Uh huh...." The red Digimon gazed at the girl a moment longer, then raised a paw and whacked Mitori over the head.
The girl immediately sat up, an artery pulsing angrily on her forehead. "What the hell, Shimamon?!"
"I knew ya were awake, so there's no use fakin'."
"Well, if you knew I was awake then why didn't you just say something?!"
"I've had a bad urge to smack ya ever since I evolved."
"You....!"
A large bead of sweat rolled down Gabumon's forehead as he watched the exchange between human and Digimon. /They're worse than Jyo and Gomamon!/
Yamato was bemused with his own thoughts. /Tori.... she's never acted that way with me. But she's so relaxed with a monster she's just met. Was it really all an act?/
"Ano, sumimasen...."
"WHAT?!" Both Mitori and Shimamon snapped, ceasing their quarrel and turning towards Gabumon.
The red glow of anger disappeared from Mitori's eyes as she blinked and remembered where she was and who she was with. She wanted to delay talking to him as long as she could.
"Um, konnichiwa. Who are you?"
"I'm Gabumon, Matt's partner. I had evolved to Garurumon to rescue you and Shimamon when you fell off the cliff. I'm pleased to meet you, Tori."
"How...." She halted the obvious question. There was no use faking anymore. "He told you about me, didn't he?"
"You know what my name is, so use it," Yamato said in an acrimonious tone. Though his words were harsh, when Mitori turned her face to his she found his expression unreadable. "It's been a while, Kamichi."
Even though she expected him to be hostile to her if they ever did meet again, Mitori's insides still turned cold when he said that. Yamato had referred to her by her surname; she knew he was pissed at her.
Well, if that was the way it was going to be, then so be it. She put on her mask, and answered in an equally emotionless tone, "Likewise, Ishida."
For no particular reason, the two children simply stared at one another. It was strange because neither wanted to look at the other, to see the other's look of hurt, betrayal, rage, and something else both refused to name. But they couldn't tear their gaze from each other, and each knew that deep down....
.... they had missed those emerald or crystal blue eyes.
Shimamon and Gabumon in unison looked from one human to the other, then at each other.
"Should we smack some sense into 'em?"
"I'm sure we could find a more peaceful way to resolve this."
They both turned to their respective partners.
"Matt...."
"Tori, girl...."
The two finally exploded, jumping to their feet. Gabumon was worried that from their stances that they were going to fight, which they did, but not with fists.
"How could you just leave me there like that?! Did our time together mean nothing at all?!"
"You act as if it was all my fault!"
"What, so I did everything?"
"You came to me! I didn't want to get to know you because I knew this would happen!"
"If you had just told me none of this would be necessary! Did you have no faith in me at all?" The blazing inferno of rage in Yamato's eyes died down at those words, leaving a blue sea of sorrow. "Did you really not trust me? Were you just using me to ease your own loneliness?"
"I...! ....I...." Mitori choked on her words. That wasn't the truth at all, but how could she tell him? Why was she suddenly so afraid? Would she be alone again? She closed her eyes, only to snap them open with fierce determination. She couldn't show her weakness now! "That's not it at all, if you would just--"
"No! I don't have to listen to a word you have to say!" The fury was flickering again in his eyes, bright even in the dim light of their surroundings. "How do I know you won't tell me another lie? Damn it!" Yamato shut his eyes and shook his head, and when he opened them again Mitori could see he was on the verge of tears. "I trusted you! I believed in you when you lost all hope! And I thought you did the same for me! But when you abandoned me, without a word, I.... I was crushed.
You were the only person I trusted with all my heart and soul, and when you practically disappeared, all my feelings for you, all my expectations for us...."
The tears were flowing freely, like water from the wall of ice Yamato had built around himself. He hung his head and squeezed his eyes shut. He mentally berated himself for pouring out his heart to the last person he ever wanted to again.
From the darkest part of his soul, a faint whisper he was scarcely aware of, he hoped the tears would cause her as much pain and suffering as she had caused him....
Mitori was speechless. Never had the boy in front of her expressed such thoughts to her, in such a passion. That was the only word she could think of to describe Yamato right now. Those passionate words, those passionate tears, those passionate eyes....
She stepped forward, passing a wordless Shimamon and a silent Gabumon, until she was in front of the boy who had haunted her dreams and thoughts for months. This cycle of hurt...
Yamato almost flinched when a cool hand suddenly touched his cheek. He raised his now slightly red eyes as Mitori's hand brushed at his tears, and would have searched her eyes for an explanation had she not bowed her head, resting both of her hands on his shoulders.
"I was wrong." Her voice was so quiet that he had to strain to hear her. "I thought that if I just left without a good-bye, you would be so mad at me you would just forget about it. But now I see that I've only caused you more pain. I won't ask for forgiveness, but I just hope you understand...."
Her grip tightened on his shoulders, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably. "I didn't count on us ever meeting again. I didn't know what to say or do, I've never had to say good-bye to someone so important. I.... never wanted to hurt you, and I never used you for my own selfish needs. I wanted you to forget me, but at the same time I didn't want to be forgotten. So I thought you would think of me only with anger. I.... I can't explain any better. I don't know what to say..."
"Then don't say anything." When Mitori looked up questioningly, Yamato gently placed his hands on her arms. "I can tell from your words, and, yes, in your eyes too, that you mean every word you say. Wakatta."
The two didn't say anything else for a few moments, though their Digimon finally voiced their thoughts to each other.
"I've never seen Matt quite like this before. It's different from the way he talks about T.K."
"T.K.? Sounds like a guy. Is Matt bi?"
"No, no, no!" Gabumon was a bit appalled at Shimamon's question, so he made himself clear. "That's short for Takeru, his ototo."
"Hmph! Well, I've had enough of this mushy crap. I hope they don't kiss or something," Shimamon snorted, shuddering at the thought.
Mitori smiled at Yamato. "Arigato, Yama-kun." /For understanding me./
Yamato was a bit puzzled at the pet name- it sounded familiar- but responded automatically, "Anytime, Ri-chan."
/This cycle of hurt.... has to end./
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All together now...
1....
2....
3!
Awwwwwwwwww!!
Okay, okay, 'nuff with that. Like I've said, things are about to get pretty AU. As for the 'mysterious shadow'.... Don't fret, kiddos, he'll be revealed soon enough.
Oh, here's a short glossary for any Japanese terms I've used:
-kun - Used after a guy's name to show affection
-chan - female equivalent of -kun
nani - what
sumimasen - excuse me
ano - the Japanese way of saying "um"
ne - a verbal question mark
aa, hai - yes
wakatta - I understand
ototo- little brother (Gabumon and the other Digimon don't really know Japanese, but they are able to pick up on some terms and sometimes use them). little sister would be "imouto"
baka - idiot
oi - hey
konnichiwa - hello
I'll add more as they come along.
Comments, anyone?