FOREWORD

I apologize for the long delay in chapter uploads. School is taking up much of my time, and I'm reconsidering rewriting each factor. I might just upload all of them soon without changing them.

This is the second factor of the first chapter, this time in Tomoki's point of view. The content during the first part of the factor is taken from the American dub of Digimon Frontier episode number 25, and does not match the original Japanese translation. I decided to leave that alone for a couple of reasons.

During the rewrite, this factor turned out to be much longer than expected. Tomoki is my favorite character for a number of reasons (when I first got into Digimon, we were the same age, so I guess that contributed), and that's probably the reason why this one turned out to be so long.

Well, enjoy the read. It'll last you long; I promise.


CHAPTER I:
Truth and Reconciliation

Chapter 1, Factor 2: "Tomoki's Confrontation"
March 8, 2003 – 5:32 AM – Himi residence, Tomoki's Bedroom

Tomoki relaxed on the large couch and stared at the TV screen. Behind him his college-bound brother Yutaka talked on the phone about something that was apparently none of Tomoki's business.

"No way dude," says his brother Yutaka to his friend over the phone. "That just wouldn't be cool."

"It's the Lobo-Warrior!" said the announcer on TV during a commercial for a robotic walker toy. "It holds the power of the universe!"

"That is so cool!" exclaims Tomoki, turning to his mom, who looks at him with a small smile. "Can I have one?" His dad turns his head to him as well.

"Sure!" said his dad amusingly. "Let's buy three…"

"For your second bedroom," his mom finished for him. They shared a short laugh.

"Oh wow, you guys are the greatest!" exclaimed Tomoki. "But I only need one I think." Both of them frowned and looked at each other.

"Hold on," said Yutaka to his friend. He covered the mouth of the phone and addressed Tomoki. "Tomoki are you dense? They were teasing you! And I'm on the phone here, could you give it a rest? I can't hear myself think."

Tomoki was taken aback. He turned back around and frowned, staring at his feet.

" I just wanted a toy; you don't have to butt in… "

"Yutaka!" said his mother. "Don't use that tone with your little brother, he's just a baby! You'll hurt his feelings!"

"She's right," added Tomoki's father in a mocking voice. "You can plot your romantic conquest just as well from the upstairs phone."

"Yeah, go upstairs," Tommy cut in threateningly. Yutaka sighed.

"Okay, fine," he says, slamming the phone back on the cradle so hard that the batteries fall out. Ignoring the mess, he walked towards the stairs…then he stopped and turned back around. "You know Tomoki, you'd be happier if you didn't always get your way."

"What do you mean?" asked Tomoki. Everyone turned to face Yutaka, Tomoki with a look of half confusion, half curiosity.

"You only think of yourself," continued Yutaka. "It must drive your friends crazy…if you have any."

"Aw, you're being phooey," retorted Tomoki. "I have lots of friends!"

"Yeah, then why are you on the couch with mom and dad?" asked Yutaka.

"'Cause I want to, wanna make something of it?" replied Tomoki angrily. Yutaka sighed, and Tomoki groaned, frowning.

"You guys aren't doing him any favors, you know," Yutaka said to his parents in a matter-of-fact tone. "You give him everything he asks for. He never has to depend on himself for anything!"

"You know that's not true!" yelled Tomoki. "I don't need you or anyone else to take care of me!" Yutaka ignored Tomoki and made for the stairs again. "You're wrong, take it back Yutaka!" He didn't reply. "You're a big meanie! I HATE YOU!!"

PLUMP.

Tomoki shook his head and got to his feet as his mind slowly returned to the real world. He looked around…no TV, no Yutaka, no parents…just him in his room, waking up as one of the many horrible memories that plagued his mind slowly faded from his memory.

Tomoki looked around his room, at the big green numbers glaring at him from out of the darkness…they read 5:32 AM . It was still early in the morning…far too early for him to be awake already, but he was used to it. He had woken up like this far too often.

He turned a nearby lamp on. The entire room shone with a warm yellowish glow, and it was easier to distinguish the location of everything in the room.

The room was somewhat small, the walls painted a pale blue color. His room had different types of furniture to match with it. His desk, a plane of extremely clear glass supported by a single black metal stand, about two yards long, was on one side of the room, with his high-tech computer and multiple pieces of random technology. The desk added a classy, futuristic yet sophisticated look to the room. His bed was a normal one, the frame made of similar metal and blue covers to accompany it, with an extremely comfortable mattress. His chest was the only wooden thing in the room, but it was painted the same blue color that the rest of the room sported to match.

His brother didn't have much taste; he designed the room, and it didn't fit too well. But it worked; it was the thought that counted.

Tomoki decided, with the plentiful amount of time he had between now and school, that he should go take a bath. Baths usually made him feel better, especially after a hard night like this one.

He turned off the light, and quickly his eyes adjusted to the darkness as he opened the door. Outside in the hall it was nearly pitch black. Tomoki stepped outside—without fear, like before—and slowly walked to the bathroom, just down the hall.

He opened it, turned on the light, and quietly shut the door. He walked up to the large mirror on the wall and squinted at his reflection. His brown, silky hair was badly ruffled and he had the slightly unhealthy look of a person who had grown very little in a long time. His year-old pale blue pajamas were slightly too small, and much of his skin was revealed, but his hygiene was still well-kept and his skin was clear and smooth as usual.

Tomoki took off his sleeping robes and undergarments and turned on the faucet in the tub, setting it to warm and plugging up the drainage pipe. He watched as the tub slowly filled up, then he shut off the faucet. Putting his finger on the rippling surface of the water, he tested the water…perfect. He slowly stepped inside and lie down, head just above the surface, the water licking at his chin and surrounding his body.

The silence and the water comforted Tomoki. He loved water…like always. Even in the small bathroom he felt comfortable.

He looked at his own body. His skin was slightly dark…he had been going outside too often…and he sported a barely visible tan-line at his waist and around his legs, just below his thighs. Outside was a wonderful place…but sometimes it got lonely. Something he was definitely used to.

His mind began to drown in memories…memories that he never wanted to discard from his mind as long as he lived…

His pale white skin …the spongy, green armor …his bearlike stature… …it all was a part of Kumamon, the Legendary Warrior of Ice. And he had once been that amazing little bear.

His last transformation into another being, an animal with strange powers…was a year ago. Unfortunately, ever since then, the alternate world he had explored and loved, as well as the ones that had accompanied him there, was a thing of the past. A thing…a memory…that Tomoki never could repeat.

- - - - -

Tomoki silently walked home from school. On his way through the park, he stopped at a playground and sat down on the swings. It was a quiet afternoon, the laughter of children echoing through the air…

As well as a cry for help.

Tomoki stood up and looked around. He ran towards the sound, and bursting through the wall of bushes, saw two bullies beating up a kid his age, someone he recognized from his class as Justin, a lonely kid who always chose a far seat in the back of the room, and sat alone at a table during lunch. He was being pushed around…

"Give me your money!" the taller bully said.

"I don't have any money!" said Justin in fright, backing away from the bullies. The taller one pushed Justin to the ground.

"What do you have?" the shorter one asked.

"I don't have anything but my school stuff!" he replied, shaking. He attempted to get up, but they pushed him back down.

"C'mon, we took you in earlier this morning, and you didn't give us anything!" the shorter one said. "We told you to get us something by the end of school and you don't have anything!"

"I…I didn't have time!" he said, amidst a wave of tears. He looked on in fright, and was about to run away when he thought about the incident with Vritamon.

"I know you won't hurt me if you knew I was your friend!" he heard his own voice echo in his mind. Tomoki nodded his head and reluctantly forced himself to walk up to the three.

"Hmm…what does this one want?" asked one of them, noticing Tomoki.

"Let him go…" muttered Tomoki.

"Huh…? Did you hear him?"

"I said, let him go!!" yelled Tomoki, running forward and throwing a punch at one of them, taking him by surprise and knocking him to the ground.

"What the—"

"Get out of here Justin!!" ordered Tomoki, facing the other bully.

"A…all right!" he replied, scrambling to his feet and dashing away from the area.

"Heh, you wanna take us on?" asked the bully.

Tomoki had realized that he had just taken one of them down, and obviously the other wasn't happy.

"You obviously have no idea who you're up against, do you?" he growled, bearing his uneven teeth. "Only reason why you got him down was because he was off his guard."

Slowly the other one got up.

"Pretty strong for a kid…" he grumbled, favoring his stomach. "Somehow that doesn't seem possible. It's like…he's not even human."

The two boys moved closer. Tomoki took a step back.

"What, scared?" taunted one of them.

There was a pause.

"No, I'm not," said Tomoki, with an obvious sign of uneasiness in his voice. It didn't look like there was any way out of this one.

"Then c'mere and fight!"

Tomoki glanced around…no one was watching him; everyone was still busy playing around and paying no attention.

"What're you standin' around for, kid? C'mon!!"

He pounced at Tomoki, who jumped out of the way. He smashed his nose into the sand.

Tomoki burst into a run. Looking behind, he saw the other bully in hot pursuit, the first slowly getting to his feet. He faced forward and ran faster, hurdling over a row of low bushes, between a crowd of partiers, along the sidewalk…

But the others soon caught up to him.

He was taken down with a hard tackle, the bully pouncing onto him and smashing him into the ground. Punch after punch, Tomoki slowly began to lose consciousness. His vision was blurred by his own tears, everything flashing red each time he was hit. He could barely hear, barely see, barely feel anything except the blunt pain from each and every attack thrown at him…

The attacks stopped. His body ached, pain piercing at him from every direction. He heard screaming, a series of smacking noises, then all of a sudden he was lifted off the ground…

Soon after, he blacked out.

Tomoki slowly opened his eyes, his vision still blurred. He couldn't see anything, but he thought he heard a familiar voice echo through his mind…

"Tomoki, wake up kid…"

He rubbed his eyes clear, and found that he was staring straight into the chubby face of a teenage boy.

"Junpei?"

"Yep, that's right," said his rescuer, Junpei, who moved back. His face had been five inches away from Tomoki…too close for comfort. Tomoki himself was lying against the wall of a wooden gate between two neighborhood houses.

"Ow…" muttered Tomoki, nursing his arm, which he saw had been bandaged. The pain in his body, though still there, wasn't so powerful, and Tomoki managed to put it off his mind for the time being.

"You okay?" asked Junpei

"Yeah, I'm fine…what happened?"

"Well, I was on my way to the candy store," said Junpei "While passing through the park, I saw two guys tackle a kid and start beating him up. Well, I ran over, realized it was you by the big goofy hat, and took care of them for you. Then I got you out of there as fast as I could."

"Wow…thanks, Junpei," muttered Tomoki.

"No time for that," said Junpei, stripping a candy bar of its wrappers and handing it to Tomoki. "Go on, eat it, it's creamy milk chocolate."

Tomoki took a bite. It tasted good, and seemed to warm Tomoki a bit on the inside.

"So, it's been some time," said Junpei, standing up. He held out his hand and helped Tomoki to his feet.

"Yeah, it has…" agreed Tomoki.

"What's been goin' on lately?" asked Junpei

"Eh…nothing much, I guess," said Tomoki. "It's great to see you again."

"Yeah, well you should be glad I came here at the right time," Junpei replied humorously.

"Hey, have you heard from Takuya or anyone else lately?" asked Tomoki

"No, I still don't know what school they go to," he replied grimly. "I really want to know how it's been going on with them," he sighed, then he added, "You've grown taller."

"I know, but not by much," Tomoki replied. "Just about four inches."

"That's not bad, really," Junpei commented. "Otherwise, you haven't changed much. You still wear that outfit, I see."

"You still wear yours."

"It fit me, I couldn't find anything else."

"I bet I know why," said Tomoki, chuckling.

"Yeah…hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"

"Relax, I'm kidding."

Tomoki unlocked the door to his house. His mother was already home. Junpei and he walked into the kitchen, where his mother was currently cooking.

"Hi mom," he said.

"Oh, hello Tomoki," she replied. "I ran into one of your friends today, it was Justin and he…oh my." She had turned around and noticed the bruises and cuts on Tomoki's legs and arms, and also Tomoki's face, which was wet with tears. "Tomoki, dear, what happened to you?"

"I got beaten up after school, but Junpei came by and saved me," he answered.

"Oh!" she said, and she abandoned the frying pan and ran over to hug Tomoki. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, mom, I'm fine." She let go, and she looked at Junpei

"Thank you for helping Tomoki," she said. "I don't think we've met."

"Oh, my name is Junpei."

"Well it's nice to know that someone wants to help Tomoki when he needs it. You walked him all the way home?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

"Thank you, young man," she began, and Junpei chuckled.

"It's alright, nothing much."

"Well all right then," she said, returning to the frying pan. "If you're okay Tomoki, then I guess I don't have much to worry about. And how old are you…er…Junpei?"

"I'm thirteen, ma'am."

"You're friends with a teenager?" she said with a hearty tone. "Well that's a surprise. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Oh, that would be great!" Junpei said, but then he stopped himself. "I mean, that would be very nice, but my mom at home is also cooking dinner."

"Of course," said Tomoki's mom. "Well it's been nice meeting you, Junpei."

"Hey Tomoki, if you want to know my online chat name, it's ChocoNetB12. I'll be on tomorrow night, at around seven. Okay?"

"Okay," Tomoki replied. "I'll see you online! Thanks again Junpei!" Junpei waved and closed the door, and Tomoki went to lock it. He sighed. It was great to see Junpei again after this entire year.


AUTHOR'S NOTES

The last two factors had the characters exchanging screen names at the end. I'm guessing some of you are thinking by now that probably the next factor will be a chatroom sequence. True. Only problem is that doesn't allow that, so I don't know where I'm gonna go with the next factor. I might have to rewrite it...

And yes, I know you all love Junpei's screen name. Okay, maybe not, but I was running low on gas (metaphorically speaking).