Yes, people, I'm still alive! Lessee.. the last update was in...SEPTEMBER?!! Why didn't anyone tell me this?! I can't say I haven't been distracted... A lot of things have happened to me, but I don't want to blame my absence on that. You guys don't want to see me whine and complain all day, do you?
Well, to avoid long delays in chapters, please feel free to threaten or rant or do whatever to get me to write! Of course, nice reviews help, too. Marvels at the unexpected reviews
But, ah... I noticed sc333 mentioned there was fluff at the beginning... That wasn't supposed to be --()... So, there will be more drama and angst and maybe even a bit of blood. Don't expect the violence to be as graphic as the Frontier fic, though.
By the way, be nice people and check out the songfic I put out on Christmas that kinda sorta goes with this fic. It's pretty pointless- and pretty lame if you ask me, since it was all written on impulse in about an hour and a half- and doesn't make much sense yet, but pretty please?
Alrighty then, on with this chapter. I hope it will be as good as the last one, which is probably the most impressive thing I've written.
Theme: Alene's last review actually reminded me of a Savage Garden song I may use later, in some way... But for now, to represent the emotions felt in this chapter, I'll be using this lovely piece from the guys of Linkin Park.
(Eh? What about the contest, you ask? Well, in order to find out about it, you'll have to look at the end of the chapter! Surely you won't scroll down there without reading some of it, ne?)
Disclaimer: Must I remind you?
Spirit, Sleeping Somewhere Cold
Chapter 7: From the Inside
The woods were dark, quiet, calm, neverminding the girl who traveled their dark paths. This girl who wandered about, clearly abandoned by all she knew. Though she was supposed to be heading towards a definite destination - unwittingly going back to Hope - she found herself just drifting between thoughts. Where to go...? No, there was no where to go. Actually, there was no reason to go anywhere; it's not like she would be accepted anywhere she went. But if she stayed here, stopped right here, wasn't there something that would accept her for what she was?
/I don't want to go back just yet./
Mitori halted her slow tread, placing her hand on the trunk of a tree. She looked upwards, not acknowledging the bright stars that shone, desperate to be seen, but instead the darkness that shrouded them. The silhouettes of the leaves above formed monsters in her eyes, demonic beings that were clawing out, in vain to the specks of light above, but eagerly towards her.
Yes, they were here.
/They've come to take me away... I should let them./ Vaguely, she thought of what would become of her. Not that she cared, but she was still curious. She had a pretty good idea of where she would be going, if they took her someplace else. They whispered that there would be no pain, nothing to disturb her, just peace, quiet, yes, relax...
Her last and clear conscious thought was that these were surely all lies, to persuade her not to resist. Not that she would, anyway. /I wonder... If hell will be scorching fire and brimstone, or cold and barren? Either way, I'm still destined for eternal torment, for all of my sins... I'll still be alone./
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Shimamon dashed as fast as her short but lithe legs could carry her through the tree limbs. Part of her was cursing herself for losing her partner; the other side was so scared that her little digital heart was pounding, louder in her ears than the wind whipping against her.
The Data-type Digimon was startled when the crunch of Mitori's footsteps stopped, but she was afraid for her when the girl didn't come into view. Shimamon knew she had not hesitated too long after Mitori left Yamato, but despite the girl's slow progress, each step took her further and further from the Digimon. Even at the speed she was traveling at, she couldn't find Mitori. What happened, she just up and disappear all of a sudden...? Shimamon gasped and almost stumbled when she was hit with what was going on.
She briefly thought of earlier, when she had felt her partner fading from her... There was something after her, and whatever it was... It had her.
/No.../
Shimamon waved her tail, slowing her down enough as she hovered in the air in mid-stride so that she could slash at the bark of a tree she was passing. She continued her rapid pace, traveling in as straight a line as she could, then abruptly stopped.
She felt a painful knot of fear form in her stomach when her golden eyes fell upon the claw marks she had made just seconds ago.
This whole time, she had been running in an illusion.
Shimamon's whole body was shaking, and her breaths were quick and uneven. "N-no...no..."
They had only met that morning, and from that moment they were supposed to be linked for the rest of their lives. As Chosen and guardian, and as friends. In such a short amount of time, Mitori had already trusted her enough to share her darkest secret, and even shed tears openly in front of her. Something she had never even done in the presence of the one dearest to her. And what had Shimamon given in exchange for a piece of the girl's damaged heart and soul?
Nothing, not even the protection she was to provide regardless of Mitori's feelings about her. The Chosen girl would not survive their first night.
The Digimon's head turned upwards as a wail tore from her throat. "MITORI!!"
Shimamon's cry was so great that at first she didn't hear the mirage crumbling around her. She ceased her wailing when a sound like that of great shards of glass shattering became evident in her ears. She opened her golden orbs to find pieces of the area around her, both the physical objects and the negative space, falling around her. The Digimon had no time to be surprised when she spotted an all too familiar figure below her.
Unable to say anything, Shimamon leapt forward. She had intended to jump onto a lower branch and make her way to the forest floor, but instead felt the sensation of slamming right into a wall. She plummeted to the ground with a painful thud, but quickly regained her feet, shaking off the pain. The Digimon charged towards her partner again, only to be thrown backwards.
Shimamon looked up, noticing Mitori's blank expression as her head was turned up, and knew she wasn't really looking at the sky. Her eyes were beginning to turn as dark as the shadows that were beginning to close in on her.
She refused to just sit by and watch hopelessly. Shimamon threw all of her small weight against the invisible barrier, then began to frantically claw at it, screaming Mitori's name.
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/I should have known. Looks like they wouldn't have mattered... Those feelings I had. If I had known sooner, they wouldn't have been there in the first place. Now that I do know... they don't matter. I don't think I'll ever feel the same again.../
Crystal blue took in their surroundings. Though it wasn't black, the solemnity and emptiness of the area was the same as if he was trapped in a dark realm. The paleness stretched all around him for as far as he could see, yet he didn't feel suffocated like he would if it was all dark. There was absolutely nothing here that even remotely eased him. Somehow, just because everything was white, the symbol of purity and innocence, it made him feel even more hollow... The way he had been feeling since his already broken heart had been crushed and torn out of him.
/It's snowing. That rarely happens, even when it's cold. There has to be some moisture, like tears that well up, wanting to be shed, but instead turn cold and become frozen... I didn't even notice it... I can't even feel it. Figures. I knew this would happen sooner or later. I can't feel anything. I don't want to feel anything, because... all I feel... is pain. Hurt. ...Betrayal?/
Though he wanted nothing more than to be embraced by darkness at that moment, to fade away into the shadows of sleep and forget everything, should the demons allow him such solace, he was still left in that cold, pale realm.
/It's cold, so everything freezes. It all becomes cold to all, but numb to itself. You end up... with nothing but a barren, frozen wasteland, and no amount of warmth can release this icy grip on the land... or maybe a heart... Looks like I fit in perfectly here./
/How long will you be staying?/
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Yamato gasped as he awoke with a start. Had he been dreaming? When did he fall asleep? An ominous voice was echoing through his head, but already the words were fading... Why was his heart pounding? Why was he so... cold, and shivering when the night was fairly warm?
His knees were drawn up. His arms were wrapped around them. When he woke up, he had lifted his head with a jerk, so he had been... He placed one gloved hand on his forehead after rubbing at his eyes, which grew dark and despondent. He couldn't remember what had scared him, and he wasn't surprised that he could still be scared because of the pain that tore at him anew. Like shards of ice, or rather glass, after his world shattered. After his last hope had shattered...
/Hope... does such a thing even exist for me anymore?/
Immediately, the last hope in his life came to mind. Takeru... His ototo, little brother, would always be there for him, like the little ray of sunshine that he was. There was so much Takeru did for him, and the tiny angel wasn't even aware of it. One look into those pure blue orbs and his doubts would fade instantly, and he would not think of the sky as bleak and empty but clear and bright. His otherwise dark world would light up, and in that precious moment he would truly be filled with hope, and that no matter what things could get better...
To think that "she" used to have that similar effect on him, that she could take him to a place where he could be at ease. Whereas Takeru was like a bright, sunny day, she was more of the dark, but comforting night that would forever be there to surround the cold, mysterious moon. No matter how much it waned, it would always grow back, though sometimes it would go through a phase where it would just sink into the depths of darkness all together... And that darkness was always in the night.
Sure, they were always accompanied by the stars, but they were only pinpoints of light, and so far away, at that. So the night and the moon only had each other to tell their thoughts, doubts, and troubles, neverminding the shadows that crept around them. But whatever would happen when those shadows took the moon? The night was always there, but why did it never help, and instead only further shroud the moon? Why was it always lost within those velvety blankets of blue and black...? Night was only different from the darkness because in the twilight, he knew he was never alone.
/Why does it always have to be this way? No matter what I do or don't do, I'm betrayed and abandoned by those I thought I knew, and left to fend for myself in the darkness.../
Sure, he had his ray of light, but it was a ray of sunshine. It was only bright with the radiance of the sun. Who would want or need the moon when there was the more brilliant, warm sun?
A series of piercing screams suddenly rang through his ears. His eyes shot open, becoming bright with alertness. Abandoning thoughts of the one who had abandoned him, Yamato scrambled to his feet and broke into a mad dash towards the foreboding foliage behind him. Takeru may think of Taichi as a better brother, but he wasn't here right now, and it was his duty- as it always was- to protect his brother, and anything else he cared for...
Yamato shook his head, frowning in determination and ignoring the branches and twigs that scraped at his bare arms. No. That was wrong. Only Takeru was his priority right now, and no one else. Not her, not himself, not anyone.
Not anyone...
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Soon, the effects of their bond began to take their toll on the scarlet Digimon. She had no choice but to cease struggling and instead run, lest she waste too much energy and de-evolve to a weaker form. Use her brain over her claws for once. After all, what could she do now? She was powerless against... whatever it was she was up against. There was only one thing she could do, and that was seek out what still remained for whom it was she wanted- needed- to save. Determined, and somewhat desperate, she stumbled and sometimes crawled her way through the forest, not towards the Hope of both worlds, but the frail hope of her partner. Towards the only thing- no, the only one- that the girl had enough of a heart to believe in, no matter how much it had hurt her...
And just when the shadows began to overtake her, to wrap her in those dark arms that she found herself relaxing and giving into, a different pair of hands closed around her body and lifted her into arms that weren't exactly warm, but cool, almost cold...
Shimamon wearily opened her eyes, her normally keen sight blurred from exhaustion, and was almost relieved when she looked up into those steel blue orbs...
Almost...
"Matt...!" she gasped weakly, almost not able to believe that she had the fortune to find him. "Tori! Tori, she's..." Shimamon paused, a deep fear growing inside her when Yamato didn't seem disturbed in the least. The mere mention of her name should have gotten some response out of him; a growl of anger, a flinch of hurt, something. But instead, he did nothing, like a statue. Just what was he staring off at? Like this was the time to be zoning out! Wait a second...
Those eyes of his... Though they were normally cold and hard and only warmed sometimes to the calmness of a summer day, were darker than normal; a faint veil of shadow had been closed over them, giving them a hint of deep sapphire that did not hold the sparkle of the rare gem.
What was going on? Why wasn't he worried?
"What's wrong with you?!" the Digimon suddenly rasped harshly. "Can't you feel it? Don't you know what's happening to you, to both of you? Don't pretend that you just don't care! You can't give in to this!"
When Yamato's lips did finally move, his words could hardly be heard. "How dare you..."
"What?" At least he was finally responding, but this was wrong...
"How dare you tell me what I should or should not do? What I can and cannot? It's not like it matters either way. Like my choices... like my wishes really matter. They never have."
"Yamato!" Why?! Why was he saying this?! Why now of all times, when he was in fact the only one who could make a difference?
"Anyway, I have no reason to do anything. She... brought this on herself. It's only what she deserves. It's not like I'm the one who gives out divine punishment."
"How can you?! How can you just sit by and let everything fall apart? Don't you understand? You're the only one!"
"The only what? Failure? Different? It's always me, isn't it? The one always hurting everyone, the one who gets the blame..."
"No! You're the only one that matters! To her! Your brother! Your partner! Please, don't give in! Yamato, please, do something! I beg of-"
Shimamon just heard the scream of names, Yamato's and hers. She never saw those shadows until it was too late.
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This lust... This terrible hunger... So strong...
It was so close... What they craved for with dangerous ardor... Their addiction that they would not do without once they had it.
And when it was finally in their possession, they would never let it go. This that they would destroy and massacre for...
/This... isn't right./
No, no... Why so confused? Is this not the way it is to be? Was it not what they desired, what they could not deny? They were starved, and wanted desperately to feed on this... from...
/No...!/
...him...
At once, the shadows released from her body and mind, leaving her thoughts clear, and leaving her terrified of what was to come... What was to happen? It was almost too much to bear, and she felt as though she were moving in a dream... Everything was moving so fast, but she seemed so slow, so incapable to stop it.
She could just make out her partner's voice... Pleading? With who? Him.
His voice was soft, quiet, distant... Unattached.
She realized this a moment too late. She turned around, reached out to them, all too slowly...
Mitori was sure she had a look of terror on her face, and she was sure she had screamed their names...
"Matt, Shimamon!"
...his name....
"YAMATO!!"
...before her world seemed to erupt in brilliant white around her, then all was black, sweet darkness with the absence of whispering shadows, again...
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The little monster saw this moment as the delicate calm that always came before the storm. And what a storm that was to be, already making him tense because he had no way of knowing when it would strike. How the monster longed for how it was before, when he was aware of challenges and could prepare to meet them head-on, instead of this suspenseful wait. How he longed for just being able to relax again, if only for a moment, instead of being alert of what was bound to come, like awaiting the first drop of rain.
How he just wished that this was a peaceful calm moment, and not the quiet before the storm.
Gabumon sighed as he looked over the sleeping children. His dark chocolate eyes held all the warmth of a loving mentor looking over his students, and yet also the weariness of an old, wise man with too many worries and secrets on his mind. It was the ever optimistic Digimon at his side, the Guardian of Hope, who sought to ease these worries, if only a little, with a simple question.
"Do you think we should tell them when they wake up?"
"No," the reptile Digimon answered softly. His gentle eyes roamed from Yamato -his ever tortured, yet ever passionate and dedicated partner, who was up against so much- to Takeru -ah, he seemed so peaceful, despite how worn he must be, that beaming little smile even as he slept- and last to Mitori - that dear, poor girl, just how would she fare in the battle that was sure to come, when she couldn't even face herself?
Gabumon repeated, "No. They already have the threat of Myotismon and the eighth Child to worry about; I do not wish to bother them with even more troubles." Really, he didn't want to shatter the fragile bonds that still held these children together, the bonds that tied them even now as they rested. The dark-haired girl was unknowingly holding Hope close to her, who was content as he lay between her and his protective brother who, though he most likely meant to keep his younger sibling close, was holding onto the girl as well.
Gabumon did not want to risk breaking this frail hold they still had on each other, especially when he wasn't even sure of what had happened; only one being did, and he would tell them what should be told when it was most appropriate. "When the time comes, "the Guardian of Friendship said aloud, "I'm sure he will come again to tell all, or at least, what he believes they should know."
"Okay, "Patamon sighed, for once sounding more weary and older than his youthful disposition betrayed. "What about Shimamon?"
At the mention of the usually boisterous Digimon, Gabumon looked down at her, where she was partially cradled in his lap. Shimamon had been resting a bit fitfully for a while, but a few moments ago she had become suspiciously still. When he looked down, he found the feline Digimon fully awake, her ochroid gaze directed towards the slumbering Chosen. Wordlessly, she crawled out of his lap and, on all fours, headed straight to Mitori. Shimamon circled around from her feet until she was at the girl's head, where she sat down. She looked back at Gabumon and Patamon, and, despite the wretched look in those normally bright, alert eyes, she shook her head.
Gabumon nodded slightly, clearly understanding the scarlet Digimon's message; though she desperately needed to know what exactly happened to her partner and the two boys, she didn't want to be told what horrors had unfolded. Not yet, at least.
Shimamon returned her saddened gaze to the girl in front in of her, and for a moment Gabumon thought that tears would spill for perhaps the first time from those large golden orbs, they were glistening so. But Shimamon managed to refrain, and lowered her head enough to nuzzle the girl's hair with an affection that was almost heart-breaking before settling down and curling up in that spot near her partner.
Once more, a great sigh released itself from the fur-wearing reptile Digimon, and a silent, smaller one from the mammal Digimon by him. Two pairs of eyes, one a burnished, reddish-brown and the other a clear, pure blue, turned to the dusky sky that was beginning to brighten. The waking sun was already starting to warm those beneath it, chilled from the absence of the long-dead fire.
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Warmth...
Yes, it was the soothing warmth that brought her unwillingly from the arms of Sleep, where she had wanted to stay in sweet, solitary bliss. But this warmth...it was so close to her...just what was she holding onto?
This warmth that she held so close to her was comforting, so comforting that she was glad she left the unfathomable world of sleep to linger in the calm state between consciousness and slumber... but the same couldn't be said for what was holding onto her.
The hand resting limply on her waist brought her almost fully into awareness. She wanted to stir, to rid herself of this foreign hand, but suddenly something quite opposite from the blessed warmth bid her to keep still, freezing any sudden urges...
That chill... the intensity of this coldness...
She could feel that cold stare bore straight through her, like shards of ice that seeped into her mind, body, soul, heart, slowly and painfully. And it was slight at first, but eventually she could feel that hand on her tighten, harder and harder... And just when she thought she would wince from the unmerciful clasp, it ceased. With a jerk that hand released her, and she could feel that chilling glare waver for a moment. That hand left her, and when it briefly came into contact with her bare arm she could feel that the hand itself wasn't exactly cold, but it wasn't quite warm either. It was covered up, concealing any sensation that came from what was underneath that covering.
That hand left her as did that glare, and once that chill was gone she became aware of more things around her. The warmth of the sun of her face and of whatever she was holding. The crisp rustle of a light breeze playing through the leaves of the trees around her. The sigh of the grass beneath and all around her, and something or someone disturbing them with some sort of movement. Then the cushioned footsteps of someone walking away, before she gave in to Sleep's beckoning once more.
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"To-ri..."
The mentioned girl groaned, in protest to the gentle voice that was pulling her from the solace of Sleep's embrace. A small, cool hand gently touched her cheek, and the gesture caused her to willingly come into full awareness. Opening her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of a new day and the promise of bright, blue skies that were reflected in two large, round orbs of the same color.
There was a small twinge of pain in her heart and a sudden want in the back of her mind; for a moment, she had wanted to be greeted with the chill that would ward off this warmth she did not deserve.
Regardless, she couldn't let her despair show in front of Takeru. After what she had done to his older brother... she did not wish to let the happiness in this little boy dim for even a second.
So, she appeared and acted sleepy as she groggily said, "T.K.?"
"Yep." He closed his eyes momentarily as he laughed quietly, and when he opened them again there was a genuine fondness in his smile and, somehow, a deep wisdom in his eyes. "Tori, I'm glad you're here. Really. So, don't go anywhere."
Mitori now was fully awake, her eyes wide. Takeru seemed different for a moment, and his words... What did he mean?
She opened her mouth to say something, but that playful innocence returned to Takeru, and with another little giggle he rolled out of her embrace.
"Today's gonna be great," he said as he sat up and stretched. "We'll find the others again, all of us!" The little blonde looked down at Mitori, where she still looked up at him with bewilderment. He smiled again for her. "Don't worry, I'll go get Matt. The sooner we find the others, the better!"
Mitori watched as Takeru scampered off to rouse and greet Patamon, who was snoozing by a tree. Her eyes went out of focus for a moment as another pang of guilt hit her for some reason. Her mind was a little cloudy; for odd reasons, she couldn't remember getting back to the little campsite last night. She could only recall what had happened before, and whatever happened afterwards left her feeling horribly full of remorse. What else had she done? Why was she not upset, but even more depressed?
Sighing tiredly, she decided to push this cloud away and let it linger at the back of her mind for later. Another problem was arising, and she felt she could handle it since it wasn't so personal; this problem involved the rest of the kids Yamato had told her about, and it wasn't like she was really a part of them.
She didn't necessarily wish to join them, but her arrival could be linked to whatever they were here for. And anyway...
Mitori noticed Patamon was now perched on Takeru's green hat. The little blonde looked back at her and gave a wave before he hurried off to retrieve his brother.
Takeru would be terribly disappointed if she didn't tag along. For his sake, if no one else's, she would go with them. She was never enthusiastic about being with groups of people- and if her suspicions were right, they each had a Digimon, too- but she would have to deal with it. Who knows, it may not be so bad...
Hmm... Now that she thought of it, two names had stuck with her. Taichi and Sora. They sounded oddly familiar...
With a sigh that came out more as a quiet groan, she moved her head up in the beginning of a stretch. Only it came into contact with a furry but firm mound with enough force to extract a muffled but aggravated growl from said mound.
"Shimamon! I didn't know you there. I'm sor-"
"Ah, don' sweat it," the Digimon grumbled. "At least you've got your energy back an' all."
Mitori was quiet, not sure what to say to that comment. Shimamon raised her head and yawned, her sharp teeth exposed as she opened her mouth wide. Her eyes directed towards where she had heard Takeru leave, knowing who he was headed towards.
Shimamon's voice was little softer as she asked, "You ready to go?"
"... Yeah," came the equally quiet reply. "Just let me lay here for a while longer."
The Data-type Digimon knew that answer truly meant, "No, I don't really want to go where I'm not needed or wanted, but if you want to just up and leave them then sure, I'm with you. I just wanna sit tight for a sec and wallow in my misery." Her Guardian instinct told her that there was no way she would allow her partner to just give up on herself so easily. So an idea popped into her head that would allow her to rouse Mitori mentally and physically, without looking too sympathetic.
Right now, the raven-haired girl needed an up-and-at-'em attitude from her loyal, if slightly daft, confidant. Shimamon bent her nose down towards Mitori's hair.
"Hey! What the-?! Stop gnawing on my head!"
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Gabumon had to struggle to not reveal how disturbed he was to find his partner back at this particular spot. He couldn't help but wonder what compelled the blonde to return here, what it was in his subconscious that silently told him something had happened here. And what was going through his mind, as he leaned against that tree? His gloved hands were stuffed casually into his jeans pockets, and his face was stony as ever, but his eyes were emanating a storm of negative emotions so intense that a shudder ran down the Digimon's spine.
Tentatively, he called out to him. "Yamato..." No response. Gabumon sighed, then frowned slightly. "Matt, you can't carry on like this-"
"Sure I can," Yamato abruptly snapped, nearly flinching from his own tone or the hurt look he thought he may have received from his partner. "Sorry, Gabumon, it's just... well, you know..."
/Do I really? I know you're hurt, stressed, struggling with the problems of the Digital World and your own inner turmoil, but how do I know what's truly going through your mind? What you are feeling in your heart? You hide so much from me, Yamato, no matter how much I care for you. I don't know why you feel so betrayed when you're surrounded by so many who love you. Or is that it?/
"It's kinda weird," Yamato suddenly snapped, bringing Gabumon out of his brief reverie. "It seems that so many problems come up just because of false signals or kept secrets... Why is that no one is ever true to anyone? Humans aren't as pure-hearted as everyone thinks. Even the ones you think are the most remarkable beings you've ever met turn out being cruel..."
Before the Digimon could say anything in response to the boy's spoken thoughts, those cold, steel blue eyes turned to him. "Gabumon, don't be like them. You're different, and I don't mean just because you're a Digimon. You're so much more than that; you have a good soul. So, please, tell me... What happened here last night? ...What did she do?"
Gabumon wanted to drive this horrible anger from Yamato, that dripped acidly like the poison from a snake's fang when he said 'she'. "Matt, you should probably know that despite what you may think, I would never lie to you. I'm your friend, your Guardian, and I have no reason or will to ever deceive your feelings. But, I can't tell you what happened." Gabumon made sure he was looking Yamato in the eyes, disregarding the fact that it looked like he was staring into cold depths that turned his insides cold, to let him know that was telling the truth as he said this next thing. "I don't really understand what happened myself. But you must understand, she had nothing to do with it. None of it was Mitori's fault."
His eyes had flashed when Gabumon said her name. Was any of 'it' still having an effect on him? If that was the case, then was only one thing that could drive this from him...
"'Nii-san!"
Hope.
Takeru's faint call seemed to bring some of the light back into Yamato's eyes. The blonde looked directly at the striped Digimon, and a shadow of a smile passed over his fair features.
"Guess we can't be dreary around him, huh?"
"Matt..."
"Cheer up, Gabumon. I just needed a break. I won't waste anymore time on this. There are more important things to worry about, ne?"
/Waste? More important things? Matt, I wish you wouldn't act like this doesn't matter, because I know this is tearing you apart./
Before Gabumon could voice his worries, a rustling in the near underbrush announced Takeru's arrival. As he saw Yamato turn towards were his little brother's small frame emerged, a smile on his lips just for his sake, perhaps.
"Hey. Morning, squirt," Yamato casually greeted, though his pale brows rose slightly in surprise when his brother cried his name and rushed to embrace him, burying his face in his green shirt. "T.K.? Something wrong?"
Those tiny shoulders rose in a sigh, but Takeru was grinning, brightly as ever, when he looked up at his brother. "Nope! Nothin's wrong. Things are just gonna get better, especially when we get back to Tai and Sora and everyone else. C'mon!" He unwrapped his arms from around Yamato and tugged on his hand. "Let's get back to Tori, then we'll all go!"
Gabumon noticed how Yamato had hesitated when his brother mentioned that girl.
"Are you sure about that, T.K.?" the older blonde asked quietly, his eyes darkening a bit once again.
"Huh?" Even stranger was Takeru's hesitation, as he blinked his large cerulean orbs up at his brother. "Of course! She and Shimamon are waiting for us. We can't stay here..." Strange, how he had stressed the word 'here'. Yamato must have noticed too, and his eyes brightened once more as a blonde brow arched in curiosity. "So, what are we waiting for?"
Takeru pulled on Yamato's hand again, and this time the older boy complied, allowing himself to be tugged along. With another sigh, Gabumon followed.
Patamon, who was hovering along by Gabumon, stated quietly, "It seems T.K. isn't the only one who doesn't remember what happened, either."
"What about Tori?"
There was a brief pause before Patamon responded, "She...I... I'm not sure. I could feel that there was something bothering her, but I can't be sure if she knew exactly what had happened."
Gabumon nodded, understanding. His eyes fell upon the two blondes in front of him; the shorter blonde's whimsical chatter he could feel was beginning to lighten the taller blonde's mood. /I guess...we can only hope that this will all resolve quickly./
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He could admit, his mood was better, but he could be sure it wouldn't be good or pleasant for a while.
Yamato went along with Takeru quietly, allowing his brother to drive his troubles from his mind, if only for a while. He seemed awfully... chipper this morning, even for him, and he wondered if there was something his brother was trying to make up for.
/But... that's just not like Takeru. It's probably just me, as usual. My 'happiness' was given and taken from me so quickly that I guess I'm beginning to forget what true happiness is. For T.K., it's being with people and getting along. No wonder he wants to get back to everyone else. Then, he won't have to put up with me./
Yamato's eyes narrowed as the clearing he was approaching, and its inhabitants, came into view. Immediately his deep ire began to bubble up inside him, but he stubbornly pushed it down.
/Can't act like that in front of him. And anyway, there's no need to get upset over nothing./
Still, he couldn't stop the pang of hurt that sliced through him when his eyes fell upon the dark-haired person in the middle of the clearing.
/Strange... This pain that I've been used to for so long... Why does it feel so alien now? What, am I supposed to feel nothing, or something?/
Why was she looking up at the sky? What would be her expression, if he could see it? There wasn't much he could see, after all, with her back turned to him.
/Guess that's all I'll be seeing of her from now on. Her back./
"Whatsa matter with you?" her scarlet Digimon partner, Shimamon, asked from beside her. They must have just finished gathering their things and scattering the remains of the fire. He could tell the digital cat had actually just been watching the girl for a while. Her anxiety was pretty obvious, but the girl was too distracted to notice.
Why was the Guardian worried? And why was her partner distracted?
/Thinking about something? Bit too late to be regretful, hon'./
"Yo. Tori?" Shimamon was pretty good at masking the worry in her tone.
"Huh?" The Digimon's tactics had worked, and now the girl glanced down at her partner. "Yeah? What is it?"
"What's up with you? You 'specting the sky to fall on you, or what?"
"...I dunno." She looked back up at the vast blue. "I just didn't expect it to be so... clear."
"Hey! Tori! Shimamon!" Takeru announced, cheerful as ever, when he came into hearing distance of the two. "We're back!"
The girl couldn't hide her brief look of surprise when she turned towards the voice. Takeru released Yamato's hand and raced towards the unnamed Chosen Child and Guardian. Yamato merely placed his other hand to join its partner in their respectful jeans pockets, refusing to look directly at anything at the moment. He could feel those emerald eyes had fallen and lingered on him for a brief instant.
/Don't bother. You're not going to find anything here./
"All ready to go, T.K.?" he heard her ask, and out of the corner of his eye he could see her playfully adjust his brother's green hat. He could never be fooled by that false enthusiasm.
"Yep! What about you?"
/Real happy to be with her, huh, Takeru?/
"Yeah. If no one needs a snack for breakfast or anything..."
"No. Let's go already," Yamato finally said, his eyes closed as he strolled passed the two, then stopped. He sensed that hesitation... She was confused.
/Yeah, right. Like I'm going to act like you expect me to. You weren't prepared for this, were you? Just like I wasn't prepared for you to stick that knife in my back, which you admitted was the same one that pierced my heart all those years ago./
"Matt's right!" Takeru was always the one to break the tension and lighten the mood, wasn't he? "We have to get back to everyone. We're so much stronger when we're together. Come on!"
"Um, r-right," Mitori stuttered as Takeru tugged on her hand. She called back over her shoulder, "Shimamon...?"
Mildly curious as to why she had trailed off, he glanced over his shoulder to see that their three Digimon partners had been conversing over something quietly. The crimson Digimon had an agitated and somewhat troubled expression on her face that turned into annoyance when she looked at her partner.
"Yeah, what?"
"Why do you look so-"
The Digimon didn't give the girl a chance to finish her inquiry. "I'm kinda peeved, thass all," Shimamon snapped. "Here we are, on a bright, sunny day, an' I should be snoozin' on a nice, cozy limb. Instead, I'm here with a buncha stinky ningen, about to go find even more stinky ningen, and we're all supposed to save the world. Ya think I'm 'posed to feel dandy knowing that?"
He stole a brief glimpse of the raven-haired girl, seeing her pout and knit her brows in mock irritation. "It's for a good cause, so you should feel honored. And we're not stinky!" she added, shifting her black backpack on her shoulders as if something was making her uncomfortable.
"You're right," Shimamon said as she walked past her partner, paws on little hips. "Not all ningen are stinky, just you!"
"Oi! Take that back!" He could just imagine a vein pulsing angrily on her head.
Takeru and Patamon laughed at the duo's antics. Gabumon was silent. Yamato didn't want to guess why, as he closed his eyes to avoid looking at him, and just sighed. The two continued their mock argument, their voices beginning to fade into trees as they departed after Shimamon, Takeru and Mitori hand-in-hand and Patamon hovering by them.
"Matt..." Gabumon inquired softly, at his side suddenly.
Yamato didn't say anything, but he slowly lifted his left hand from his pocket and placed it gently on the Digimon's head, careful to be wary of the golden horn. At hearing his brother call for him, the blonde retracted his hand, returning it to its resting place, and followed after the little angel's voice. Gabumon lingered behind, probably just looking at him with those ever worried, compassionate dark brown orbs, before joining him.
/Oh, Gabumon. I told you, there's no need to worry about something that's not important./
(((())))
They had actually wandered for quite a while, with Takeru conversing quietly with Mitori or any of the Digimon, maybe sensing his brother needed to think to himself, before Yamato even thought of if they were headed in the right direction. Not wanting to disturb the intense discussion Shimamon and Gabumon were having on the importance of a Digimon's modesty - that had started when the cat Digimon simply asked why Gabumon always wore his Garurumon fur-coat - Yamato silently unhooked his Digivice from his belt-loop. Holding it in front of him, he immediately could see the small, red dots that indicated the locations of all of the Chosen Children.
/Okay, so they're all back together, and-/
"Oh!" Takeru suddenly exclaimed, breaking through his thoughts and stopping Gabumon and Shimamon's conversation. "We'll be meeting up the others real soon!"
A blonde brow arched in pure amazement when Yamato looked up at his brother. Takeru wasn't looking at his Digivice, so how did he know?
Sure enough, though, the voices of Taichi and Jyo could faintly be heard. Yamato glanced at Shimamon, whom he was sure had heard the group long before him. Her indigo ears were perked up, and her head was cocked to the side curiously. Odd... Just what was she hearing?
"Alright!" Takeru eagerly pulled on Mitori's hand. "Come on, they're just right over there! .... Tori? Daijobu?"
She didn't answer him, and Yamato understood why as he hooked his Digivice back onto his pants. /She's always been pretty much antisocial, like me./ He pushed that thought away as soon as it had come. No need to dwell on the past that never was. /It was all a lie, so I can't say it really existed, can I?/
Judging from how Shimamon was looking at her strangely, and how Gabumon and Patamon exchanged a look, Mitori must have zoned out for a moment. Only such an action could prompt Takeru to say what he said next.
"There's nothing to worry about, Tori. They'll love you!"
Yamato was glad no one noticed how he flinched, and he felt that Mitori had too, less conspicuously, probably.
"Ikuzo!" Takeru urged gleefully, either unaware of or ignoring the effect those words had on those around him. He was able to get Mitori to join him as he led her out of the woods to the clearing of a field. Shimamon and Patamon dashed and fluttered after them, and Gabumon looked back at Yamato.
The blonde managed a grin at the Digimon. "Once more into the fray, ne?" This caused a sigh to come from Gabumon, and whether it was one of relief or defeat Yamato wasn't sure. He merely shook his head and chuckled softly, then went to join his brother and company at the woods' exit. Gabumon said nothing further.
/Right now, I'm Ishida Yamato, the Child of Friendship. ....Even if he's not my true self, I have to act like him./
"Matt! Come on!" Takeru had suddenly reemerged. Yamato was touched that his brother had come back for him after his hesitation, and he let the Child of Hope take his hand and lead him to the field that lay just outside the forest.
Yamato noticed just how bright and clear this day was when Takeru led him from the shadows of the forest into the sunlight. The skies of the DigiWorld were an endless, welcoming ocean of soft blue with only the faintest wisps of white, fluffy clouds. The intense sun wasn't too overbearing, and its radiance poured over the verdant waves of the meadow. It also gave even more light to the jovial scene below its rays.
It was clear that the reunited Chosen Children and Guardians were beyond happiness at being together again, maybe with the exception of the recently discovered Guardian of the unnamed Child. Shimamon had a rather irritable and somewhat worried look from the attention she was receiving from Agumon, Tentomon, and the other Digimon, plus the condition of her partner. The other children were smiling, and some laughing, at the scene before them. Mimi had taken Mitori by both hands and was twirling around with her.
Strange; why was she so happy to see someone she had never met before?
"Tai! Here he is!" Takeru said merrily, racing over to the brunette.
Yamato couldn't help but smile when his eyes met those of Taichi. He raised his hand in greeting as he made his way towards him and the rest of the group. "Yo."
The leader returned the grin. "Hey. Good to see you, man." Taichi didn't have to say anything for Yamato to know how relieved Taichi was to see him. Despite their frequent conflicting ideas, the two knew they had some unseen bond. Their opposite attitudes attracted each other just as much as they repelled. Yamato could say it was respect and friendship that tied them close, but somehow it ran deeper than that. Whatever it was they shared, Yamato was content to have it.
"Matt!" Sora exclaimed when she noticed him.
"And Gabumon, too!" Biyomon added.
"Are all of you all right?" Jyo asked, concerned as ever.
"Yeah, we're all fine," Yamato said, stopping by Taichi and placing a hand on Takeru's cap. "Never better, right, T.K.?"
"Yep!" his little brother chirped, then turned to Jyo. "See, Jyo? Everything's fine."
Jyo sighed notably, causing Yamato's brows to raise slightly. Jyo was always one to fret- which was a great blessing to the group, if aggravating at times- but he seemed especially apprehensive. Just what had him so worried?
"Anyway," Yamato drawled, "what's up with Mimi?" he said, indicating her with a nod of his head.
"Mimi!" Sora cried, noticing that Mimi's antics were causing Mitori to look queasy.
"Yes?" the strawberry blonde replied, releasing her hold on Mitori, causing the darker haired girl to whirl around on her own before collapsing on the ground. The thud seemed to make Mimi realize just what she had done. "Oh! Gomen! Daijobu?"
Shimamon, suddenly at Mitori's side, jumped onto her chest and lightly tapped her face with her paw. "Tori? Tori! Speak t' me!"
"Nice going, Mimi!" Tentomon said with mock anger. "Just kill the girl before we know her, why doncha?"
Sora ignored the insect Digimon's comment and went to aid the girl. "Hey - Tori, is it? - are you okay?"
Finally, Mitori's eyes came back into focus, and she shook her head to help get her bearings. She looked first at Sora, who was helping her sit up, then slowly her eyes went to the smiling and caring faces of all the children and monsters around her...
And her eyes fell on Yamato, and for the first time that day, they looked at each other fully. Why she had bothered looking to him escaped Yamato, but in any case she would not find whatever it was she was looking for. His eyes met her, and he made sure he betrayed nothing. No hostility, no buried hurt. He was just passive, and again he saw that brief confusion flicker in her eyes.
It was okay to act this way, calm and cool, as if nothing was wrong. It was the way he had always acted around the other kids, and if he changed suddenly, it would only cause unnecessary and distracting suspicions. They all had bigger things to worry about; what were his personal problems compared to the fates of two worlds? Sure, everyone had seen him angered and annoyed on occasion, but not much else. Even if they were his... friends, more or less, he would not allow himself to show anything else at this time.
So, if she saw anything at all, it was only calm indifference, and nothing more.
Yet, after he was sure he saw utter defeat in her eyes, she just smiled. Not necessarily at him, but still, a grin broke out on her face.
"Yeah," she said after a moment, after her eyes met the strong, assuring gaze of Shimamon, at her side opposite of Sora. "I'm fine."
With the assistance of the red-haired girl, Mitori got to her feet. Once more, her emerald gaze traveled over the odd group before her. Her brow knit, and she bit her lower lip as if uncertain of something. "Ano..."
"Hey, there's nothing to be worried about," Taichi said politely, his chocolate eyes as warm as his words.
"You're among friends!" Agumon said proudly.
"Yeah! We won't bite!"
"Much!" Gomamon added to Palmon's comment.
Mitori seemed assured by their words. She calmly folded her hands in front of her and bowed formally.
"Konnichiwa, minna. Kamichi Mitori desu ka."
She had a smile on her face when she stood back up.
"Please treat me well!"
(((())))
"Well, this is interesting," said Koushiro, after analyzing all he heard.
Mitori's story only had minor differences from their own. Waking up with a Digivice? Immediately he had asked if there any indication that something peculiar was going on, such as a dream or something. She had said no such thing had occured after a brief pause. He was sure something had happened, but she looked bothered by it, so he didn't pursue the matter any further. The first thing he wanted to do was gain her trust, so he didn't want to ruin that with pestering questions. Upon arriving at the DigiWorld (nicely prepared, he noted), she had met her Digimon partner, who at the time was at her In-Training level, the same level their Digimon had been at. They had fed and rested, so Miaomon had been able to evolve to Shimamon when they were attacked by Flymon. Then, well, everyone knew what had happened next, and both Yamato and Mitori were reluctant to give details. He would have to ask their Digimon about it later.
"But, may I ask you a question?" a soft, inquisitive voice said, causing the maroon-haired boy to raise his head from inputting all this information in his laptop.
"Sure, go ahead, Tori," Koushiro answered. After the introduction, he had mentioned there was no need to be so formal. There weren't in class, after all, so they began to address each other by their nicknames.
"Well, actually, I have a few questions. Like, who summoned us here? What is it we need to save the world from? And why were all of you separated yesterday?"
"Hmm..." That was a lot to ask, and Koushiro wasn't sure where to start. Mitori, being an unexpected new addition to the group, needed to know all that had happened thus far. But, there was a new problem arising, with her arrival and the recent encounter with that... that stranger.
"That's a good question, Izzy." Yamato's solemn voice broke through the Child of Knowledge's brief muse. "Why were you guys all separated all of a sudden? We found T.K. in a tree, after all."
"Well, something unexpected happened," Koushiro sighed. "I guess first you need to be filled in on what's happened first, but..."
"I understand." Sora suddenly said, standing up from the circle the children and Digimon had formed. "Go ahead and tell him what's up, Izzy. I'll fill in Tori on everything else."
After the Child of Love led the other girl off to the side, accompanied by their Digimon, Koushiro turned to Yamato. "Matt, not long after your little stunt, we were encountered by... a Digimon, I think, who mentioned something about restoring order, and left many questions unanswered. He - I believe it was a he - used some sort of warping spell that divided us into three groups."
"And left T.K. alone, unprotected," Yamato accused dangerously.
Koushiro frowned, undaunted by the older boy's show of anger. "We had no way of controlling that! And anyway, T.K.'s safe now, and that's what matters, right?"
"Hey!" Takeru pouted. "I'm not a little kid! I would have been fine!"
"I don't know, T.K., there wasn't much you could do when you were hanging by your pants," Gabumon stated.
"Aw, you didn't have to mention that, Gabumon!"
Patamon laughed softly, and many eyebrows raised as the others probably pictured just what that must have looked like. Jyo, though, stayed focused on the matter at hand.
"We were all worried, Matt," the eldest Child said somberly, bringing everyone's attention back to the current issue, "so none of us were prepared for what had happened. Right now, we need to think of how we're going to handle the possible threat of someone else other than Myotismon. Maybe we don't have to worry too much, since we've found the eighth Child-"
"No," Yamato interjected. "She's not the eighth Child. But that's the least of our problems."
Taichi gave Yamato a slightly surprised glance that the blonde boy didn't notice, or if he did he just ignored it. Koushiro opened his mouth to ask Yamato of how he was sure Mitori wasn't the eighth Child, but was interrupted by Biyomon's urgent voice.
"Everyone! Come quick!"
"Whatever has got your feathers in a bunch, Biyomon?" Tentomon asked.
"We aren't under attack by yet another mysterious foe, are we?" Jyo, sarcastic as ever.
"No! Just... Come look at this!" With that the little pink bird fluttered off towards Sora, Mitori, and Shimamon, and after exchanging a few questioning glances, everyone else rose to follow.
"Just a sec, Matt," Taichi said, stopping him by placing a hand on Yamato's shoulder. Koushiro looked back at them, uncertain about confronting another possible danger without either of their unspoken leaders. Taichi nodded at the shorter boy. "Go on ahead, Izzy, and you too, Agumon. We'll be there in a minute."
Koushiro was still a little worried, especially from the glare Yamato was giving Taichi, but nevertheless he went on jogging after the others with his laptop clutched against his chest.
The other children and Digimon were with the other two girls and their partners, and all were speechless. Koushiro understood why, when he caught up to them, and a gasp escaped from him.
Before them was what looked like a chasm filled with mist that stretched out into the horizon. Rising out of the mystic haze like a lost city from a dream were the tops of several buildings. They were partially obscured by the low, silvery cloud, but from the looks of it the designs varied from ancient pagodas to medieval and gothic castles and even Roman temples. The sight was truly breathtaking, not just from its mysterious beauty...
...but because it had not been there before.
"Hey, what's up with every..." Yamato's approaching voice trailed off as he too noticed the sight. Koushiro was too entranced to bother seeing what his expression was, but Taichi's he didn't have to see to guess what it looked it.
"Wha... What the hell?!"
Their leader's exclamation was the last thing Koushiro heard clearly before his vision began to grow hazy, like the mist before him. He could just make out the voices of the alarmed Digimon. Maybe they had sensed they weren't alone, but their words were muddy... unintelligible...
And somehow he was calm, like a baby being patted to sleep, so he didn't object when everything faded into that lovely white mist, when he became unconscious....
But for one boy, when the world around him began to turn white, something in his mind screamed in... what? Fear? Protest?
What was it about that white realm that made him dread going back there...?
((((((()))))))
Whew! Wasn't that long? I guess with me delaying so long, I had ample time to add whatever I wanted. I'm liking the direction this fic is headed in. It's getting so much better than the beginning.
Sorry there was no action! But as you can see, the AU that I said would be here in earlier Author Notes has arrived! I don't mean a totally alternate universe, though. Really, I've sort of added a plot that runs alongside the Myotismon and eighth Child one. You'll just have to see how everything turns out.
As for that contest... The Fallen Ones is holding a friendly challenge. It's pretty simple; write a one-shot from the POV of certain Digimon. Check the site for details, and for a good example of what we're looking for, check out Alene's Garden of Stone. We're still waiting for entries!
As long as I know I have fans out there, you can expect the next chapter (or maybe two!) next month!