Digital Monsters: Back In Action
By Charles Xavier
Hajime Mashite
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TokyoAirport
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"Konnichiwa…watashi no namae wa Eddie Valiant desu." Eddie's nose was stuck on the phrasebook the Lieutenant had given him back in Hollywood. Even when he walked out of the airport, he couldn't keep his eyes off the pages. He was taking his friend's advice to learn as fast as he could, but he hadn't been able to take in as much Japanese as he had hoped. All he was able to say so far were only a few short phrases like 'doozo yoroshiku' and 'hajime mashite'. It gave him quite a worry.
"Still learning, Eddie?" The Lieutenant asked. He knew he was having great difficulty getting his grip on the language.
"It's impossible. How can people speak this kind of stuff?" Eddie replied, a little stressed out.
"Don't get yourself all tense, pal. If nobody understands a word you're saying, I'll fill it in for you. I learned Japanese when I was a kid."
Eddie, relieved by his words, put away his phrasebook and shoved it in his jacket pocket.
"So, what are we waiting for here?"
"A friend of mine is supposed to meet me around here." The Lieutenant said, looking at his watch on his wrist. "It's bang on time. He should be here any minute now."
Eddie looked around and saw nothing but noisy cars driving by and chatty Japanese people walking past them. But then, something caught his eye when he looked across the car park area; beside a black limousine car, stood a tall animated man dressed all in black. He looked over at him and the Lieutenant, tipping down his black sunglasses he wore so he could get a good look at them. Seeing who they were, he left his position and approached them.
"(Ah, Mr. Santino.)" He spoke out to them as he came closer. "(It is our most extreme pleasure to see you again. Welcome back to Japan.)" He bowed at the Lieutenant and shook his hand. "(I also see that you have brought a friend along with you this time. How do you do?)"
It was hard for Eddie to understand anything he was saying. Yet he sounded very polite and friendly to him, so it was necessary to say something nice back to him.
"Um…" Eddie took out his phrasebook and rushed through the pages trying to find the right sentence. "Watashi wa Eddie Valiant desu. America jin desu. Hajime mashite."
Due to Eddie's atrocious Japanese tongue, the man found it most hard to distinguish what he was actually saying. He frowned and gave a look at the Lieutenant.
"(Oh, please excuse my friend Eddie Valiant. He just started learning Japanese the day we left America.)" The Lieutenant said to him. The man laughed delightfully as if he had just heard a funny joke.
"That is quite all right, Mr. Santino. I am sure Mr. Valiant here will feel better if we spoke in English. After all, it is a great necessity for every Toei worker to speak fluent English if he were to work there."
Eddie was now the one frowning. Somehow he had the feeling that he wouldn't be needing his phrasebook for much longer.
"It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Valiant. My name is Yamaki, and I apologize if I had caused you any misunderstandings just now." He bowed at him and shook hands. "Please forgive me."
"Um, no problem." Eddie replied sincerely.
"Ah, you are most kind, Mr. Valiant. If you and Mr. Santino could follow me to the car, we can be on our way to the Toei Animation studio."
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Author's Note: Ack! Another short chapter, and it wasn't even that funny! (Dodges flying tomatoes) Gomen nasai, I've just been trying relax during this last month of summer (sigh). So that's the reason why this part had to be cut so short. But I promise you, expect to see more Digimon characters making amusing appearances next, because…
Next Chapter: The Crime Scene.
BTW: Any Digimon (or kids, grown ups etc) you'd like to see in particular?