Chapter 35: Humangemon's Farewell

"Hi ho, la de da, do re me, ho hey hey" I goofily glided across the kitchen floor back in my house while my dad watched with a single eyebrow raised. Jennifer and I had flown back first thing in the morning after… ahem… well… yeah.

"Well, somebody's in an awfully good mood this morning." He poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter. The only people that knew about my change were Angela, the other Digidestined, and my parents. It had been really awkward at first, but they usually treated me like they always had, although my dad had convinced Angela that 'hard labor' was a good form of training.

"Good morning, good morning, it's a wonderful day ha ha!" I mocked the song my parents would sing off-key to get me out of bed when I was younger and laughed. "It is a beautiful day, isn't it? The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it's already eighty friggin degrees… man, it's a great day to alive. Oh yeah."

"James, if I didn't know better…" He stopped and looked at his coffee, took a sip, and just shook his head. "James, should I keep talking or just walk away from a potentially aggravating situation?"

"Don't worry dad; I'm not drugged up or anything so you can chill." I glanced at the clock and waltzed out the door to the back yard. "Well, I've got some work to do. See ya later sensei!"

"Teenagers…"

"Humangemon, over here." Angela called to me and I flew over.

"Stop calling me that." I landed on the grass and looked down. "Damn, how'd we miss that spot?" A deep valley between two peaks was still black and dead. I focused light into my hands and blasted the ground, healing it as fast as I could. When I was done, I flew back up to the peak that Angela stood upon. We were overlooking a deep valley somewhere in Europe. I had flown and Angela had her own Mekanorimon for transportation.

"Okay then… James, there is something I need to tell you." I landed and brushed my gloved hands together, little bits of dirt and grass falling from them.

"What now? Listen to the wind? Flow, not focus?"

"No, it isn't about your training; it is about why you are training."

"Yeah, I've been wondering about why you're making me learn all these things." I stretched my wings and floated on my back in the air, a little trick that I had come to love. I could lie back like I was in a hammock whenever I wanted.

"The worlds are finally beginning to pull back apart." Angela looked out over the valley that I had just fixed. Wind blew her ponytail over her shoulder and she threw it back.

"Yeah… so? Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yes, for most." She turned and looked at me. "James, data can't survive independently in a physical form in this world."

"So what, you'll have to go back to the Digital World? I'll make it on my own."

"No James, I mean WE will have to go back." I dropped out of the air and landed on my back.

"What do you mean?"

"I've been telling you and trying to get it into your dense head that you aren't human, that you're a digimon now. When the worlds separate, you'll be drawn back into the Digital World… permanently."

"You're lying."

"I'm afraid not Humangemon."

"Quit calling me that!" Tears welled up in my eyes. I had to leave? I had to abandon everything I had ever known?

"Retaining your human name will only make it harder on you when you leave." I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked at the Digi-Agent. I couldn't help but hate her for keeping her cool.

"How long do I have until the worlds separate?"

"Well, they have already begun." I looked away and began to breathe faster. "It's been months since Armageddamon was defeated and nothing is holding them back anymore. I'd assume that any data still physically in this world will be drawn back soon."

"How soon!?" I was getting frustrated. I wanted to know how much longer I had in the real world.

"I don't know… maybe about a week? Possibly a few days. We won't know until it actually happens." I sat down and let my face fall into my hands. I didn't want to go. "I'm sorry Humangemon, but you have to go. When the worlds get far enough apart you'll be pulled there automatically. Besides, we need you in the Digital World."

"Why?" My voice was muffled by my gloves.

"Because the digi-gods are gone and you are their replacement. Remember what Azulongmon said to you before he gave you his data? That he was passing his tasks on to you?"

"Yeah…" I sniffled.

"Well, his tasks were to look over the Digital World. That's your job now."

"But I don't want that job." I stood up and looked away.

"You don't have a choice." Her voice became more firm. "It is your destiny."

"Screw destiny." I finally ticked Angela off.

"Quit acting like a child and grow up!" Her voice seemed to echo off the walls of the valley and I was a bit taken aback. "For one that has faced the greatest of all evils and saved existence, you sure are a baby!" I exhaled and sat back down.

"It's just that," I took a deep breath, "I'm never going to see any of my friends or my family again." I thought to myself. "Or Jennifer…"

"I know it is hard but the pain will fade." She patted me on the back like she was my mom. "You'll get used to it." I looked at the ground and kicked a rock off the edge of the cliff to the valley.

"Jennifer!" I yelled up at her bedroom window. "Jennifer! Wake up!" It was around nine o'clock and the full moon lit up Jennifer's backyard. I picked up a small rock and threw it up at the window. I underestimated my own strength and broke it. I could hear Jennifer jump and yell from inside, shocked.

"AHHH! What the hell!?"

"Sorry! I'll fix it! I swear!" I focused and the data around the window rearranged, fixing it in seconds. "See!" Jennifer walked over to the bedroom window and opened it. She leaned out and looked down at me, since there was no screen on it.

"What are you doing down there? Come on up, my dad's out of town!" She smiled and waved at me to come in.

"But it's more romantic like this!"

"What?" She leaned on the edge and looked back down at me. "What's more romantic?"

"This…" I pulled out a guitar. "I've been practicing."

"That's so sweet." Jennifer spoke softly.

"I spent hours trying to find the right song to say what I want to say and finally found it." I strummed the guitar a little and started playing. "My voice is a little deep for this but…"

"I'm not a perfect person
As many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know…"

"I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you!!!"

As I played through the song, Jennifer just leaned on the windowsill smiling. I looked up at her, in a mix of joy and sorrow.

"I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear…"

I began to focus as I played and sung, causing the music to echo off of nothing.

"I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is You!
And the reason is You!!
And the reason is You!!!
And the reason is YOU!!!"

I began to wake up the neighbors and they looked out their windows to see what was going on. I felt on top of the world as I sang ever stronger.

"I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know…"

"I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you!"

"I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you…"

I stretched the last note out for what seemed like forever and when I stopped I looked to the window, not exactly knowing what to expect.

"James… that was beautiful…"

"I mean every word." Jennifer looked like she was about to swoon, but then her intelligence got the best of her.

"Wait… what do you mean every word?" She looked at me.

"I have to go Jen."

"Go where?" I just looked down at the ground. I built up my courage and choked out an answer.

"To the Digital World. The worlds are splitting and I'm… just data in the wind."

"Don't be silly." Her eyes lit up in relief. "You are not. You're the same James we've always known." She cut herself off. "Well… almost."

"I'm afraid he isn't being silly Jennifer." Angela was standing by the corner of the house, arms crossed, surprising both of us. She always seemed to come in at the worst time. "He's a digimon now and as all digimon must do, he will be returned to the Digital World once the worlds are separate." She looked up. "Which I'm afraid is now." I quickly turned and looked at Angela. I stood up straight.

"You're kidding me." My heart began to beat faster. "I thought I still had tons of time! I haven't even said goodbye to the others! Or Mom and Dad!"

"I'm sorry Huma…"

"MY NAME IS JAMES DAMNIT!!!" I threw down the guitar and screamed at Angela. "THE WORLDS CAN WAIT, I'M NOT DONE YET!!!"

"Don't worry about it James." I turned and looked back to Jennifer. She looked depressed. "I'll… explain everything to them."

"Jen…" The ground began to rumble as a rift opened in the sky. I could feel a light pulling sensation and I fought against it. Angela let herself get lifted to it. Tears began to run down Jennifer's face. "I don't want to leave everybody though. I don't want to leave… well… you." I still felt nervous about telling her things like that, but I didn't know why.

"Don't worry about me. I'll get by. I just want you to promise me something." The pulling became intense and I was pulled into the air. I flapped my wings against the rift and held onto Jennifer's windowsill as I passed it.

"What?"

"Don't forget about me." The pulling was insane and I struggled to stay. I finally decided now or never. I grabbed hold of Jennifer and kissed her one last time, for as long as I could. I was finally pulled away and looked down at a somewhat shocked Jennifer.

"I won't." We were both in tears. She watched as I was quickly pulled toward the massive rift that split the sky. As I neared the rift I screamed out a few last words. "I'll be back someday!!!"

Someday… one day…

And well… that's my story.