Chapter 2 - Pain
"Watch it, boy."
"We're the same age, Dominic."
He growled in his throat. We stared each other down. Dominic was your average rich kid. On steroids. In other words, everything I'm not. Dominic had sun-bleached blond hair that spiked up like Tai's and blue eyes with almost feminine lashes. The kind of eyes most girls swooned over.
The kind of eyes Rika likes to turn black…
Dominic customarily wore a white muscle shirt with a blood red jacket with yellow trim, white pants, and a red headband just below his hairline on his forehead.
Dominic and I had taken one look at each other and instantly decided that we didn't like each other. The tension was thick. Really thick. Kinda like a volcano.
Now we had reached eruption.
It started simple. It always does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dominic spoke as I was walking out. It was my first day here.
"Hey, new kid."
I turned.
"Yes?"
I said this evenly. Something about this kid set my senses off. BlackJyarimon's too, if the growling in my head was any indication. He looked me in the eye.
"I don't like you, new boy."
"I don't have time for this…"
I tried to push past, but some of his cronies grabbed me and forced me to stay.
"Stay out of my way and there won't be problems. Got it, new boy?"
And then with a nod to his henchmen, he left, and they followed closely after, leaving me to ponder this new situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course it was not two days later that I accidentally bumped into him again, and got myself into my present predicament.
We weren't in class. Heck, school wasn't even in session. I was just out on one of the walks I'd taken to since I'd come here.
Time to think and relax… usually.
I tried to back up, after all, physical combat is ChaosGallantmon's specialty, not mine. His goons seemed to materialize out of nowhere to latch on to me and hold me in place.
This will not go well…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple hours later I stumbled into the apartment where I lived with Ken and his family. His father was working, his mother shopping, and he himself on a date with Yolie. So the place was mine for now.
Flash
Digivolution_
BlackJyarimon Flash Digivolve to… BlackGuilmon!
BlackGuilmon was coming towards me immediately, and helped me to the bathroom.
"Takatomon, you shouldn't let them do that to you."
"Wish I could boy, wish I could."
"I could have!"
I sighed. I felt like I'd been used as a punching bag. Which, essentially, I had.
"Yes, but then people would find out about you, and they're not supposed to."
He sighed, and so did I.
Rika at least would have gone down fighting… That's it!
"BlackGuilmon, I've made a decision."
"To make me more bread?"
"No, but it's a thought. If you'll help me."
"I'd help you even if I didn't get bread Takatomon!"
I smiled.
"Thanks boy. Starting tomorrow, we do two things when I'm not in school. One: Train. Rika and Renamon trained constantly. And if we're going to be fighting alone a lot, we need to too. And number two: I have to get a job."
"Why do you need a job Takatomon?"
"To pay for your extra bread."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had just made a small mistake. I had just told Izzy where Takato came from. He was, well… ecstatic, to say the least.
"The southern quadrant? You're kidding!? I've got to meet this kid… The things I could learn… Where is he?"
Oh no.
"He's at Ken's place Izzy. And you can't learn anything from him, Azulongmon doesn't want us asking too many questions, something about tampering and a 'different way of doing things'."
"TK… No, you're right. There is such a thing as being too curious. I'd still like to meet him though. Maybe he can come to the reunion next month…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TK, Davis, and Ken caught me in the halls the next day. My face was doing a lot better. It must not have been too bad, as no one really noticed.
"Reunion!? I'm not sure TK, I mean, I'm not even one of you guys…"
Knowing me, I'll slip and say something I shouldn't…
"Oh, come on Takato. You're not a Digidestined here, but you are back home right?"
"Well, we don't call ourselves that…"
"Well you're the equivalent anyway, right? That officially makes it okay for you to be there!"
"You're not helping Davis…"
"Oh come on Takato! It'll be fun! We'll tell you all kinds of stories about the things we did! Then you can tell your stories! Oh, wait never mind…"
I thought about this for a second.
"Well… There are some stories that would be okay. I can't talk about any battles, but some of the stuff outside of battle was pretty funny."
Davis grinned and gave me a hearty slap on the back.
"That's the spirit! Come on guys, we're going to be late for class!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"DEMON'S DISASTER!"
After launching the attack at the figures in the darkness, I turned and ran. I ran for my life. I ran for what seemed like forever. The landscape was dim, shadowy, and unclear. I could see definite shapes, but no details. I could hear my breathing come in quick gasps. The only other sound was the thumping of my heart, until I heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind me. I felt my chest tighten in fear. Then, a shape darted out in front of me.
A SaberLeomon?
Then, to my shock and increased fear, Jeri's voice issued from its mouth.
"You can't escape Takato…"
Another quick movement to my left, and I barely didn't bring my shield up in time to block Sakuyamon's staff.
"Give it up, Gogglehead!"
Rika.
Her voice sounded cold, merciless. Then I heard the clank of metal behind me. I didn't dare take my eyes off the two in front of me.
Probably MegaGargomon…
"He won't listen Rika. You know how he is. Stubborn and evil. Who else could create Megidramon?"
Henry sounded like he was really angry. A new voice issued from the shadows as Justimon leapt down.
"And who else would force their digimon onto its darker evolution chain? His little monster is just as bad as he is. You're a disgrace Takato!"
From somewhere inside I could feel my anger well up. Some inner voice called out to me, and I couldn't hold myself back. So I let loose, and lost myself to the anger.
"JUDECCA PRISON!"
The attack flew straight into Sakuyamon, who had not moved from her previous position, and slammed her back. I rushed Jeri in front of me.
"DEMON'S DISASTER!"
The attack slammed into her, the same as it had Rika. Then I heard a laugh from beside me. I looked to see Sakuyamon getting up, not a scratch on her.
What the…
She smirked.
"Naughty, naughty, Gogglehead."
Then, she opened her hand, and dropped my goggles to the ground. Then crushed them, grinding her heal down on to them.
"I'll do it to you next Gogglehead! Just you wait!"
I heard movement and looked sharply left, to see SaberLeomon getting back on its feet, no apparent harm done.
Crap…
"MEGA BARRAGE!"
The first few salvos slammed into my back, before I managed to dodge behind the unsuspecting Justimon. To my shock, when the dust cleared, the three of the were standing in a line, Sakuyamon and Justimon flanking MegaGargomon, and SaberLeomon pacing in front of them.
If I'm going out, I'm going out fighting!
I launched myself at them, not unleashing an attack, that would be futile, but with shield and lance raised. SaberLeomon matched my rush with its own.
"HOWLING CRUSHER!"
Not stopping to finish the job, I swatted SaberLeomon out of the air with my lance.
"SPIRIT STRIKE!"
"GARGO MISSLE!"
"VOLTAGE BLADE!"
Using Justimon's head as a kick off point, I flew at MegaGargomon, knocking the air out of him, and throwing him for a loop. I spun to meet Sakuyamon's staff with my shield, and found…
…nothing. Then, the staff slammed into my back, knocking me from my digivolution. I lay there panting, trying to catch my breath. The four gathered around me, boxing me in. Beside me, BlackGuilmon growled noticeably. Then he glowed.
Digivolution_
BlackGuilmon Warp Digivolve to… BlackMegidramon!
The dark dragon was a sight to behold, and as it appeared, there was laughter in the background. An insane cackle, dark and evil. For a moment, everyone just listened to the laughter. Then, it was a blur of motion. His razor tail slammed into SaberLeomon, piecing its chest, Jeri letting out an earth shattering scream, and burst into data, quickly being absorbed by BlackMegidramon.
Justimon, Sakuyamon, and MegaGargomon pounded futilely at his chest while BlackMegidramon swung his bladed arm, slicing Justimon in half and absorbing the excess data. BlackMegidramon looked with contempt at MegaGargomon.
"MEGIDO BLAZE!"
The attack hit Henry head on, and he and Terriermon were no more. Then, he looked down at the shocked Sakuyamon. I couldn't will myself to do anything, like the ringing laughter was my own. With unbelievable speed, Black Megidramon grabbed Sakuyamon, and began crushing her in a single hand. They struggled, even to the point that Rika and Renamon separated. I watched as they yelled and screamed, begging for mercy. Then, Renamon was first, bursting into data, quickly being sucked down by my infernal creation.
Rika was next. I watched horrified, but unable to turn away, any more than I could command BlackMegidramon to stop. BlackMegidramon stopped playing then, and gave a final squeeze, and Rika popped like a pimple, more blood than I had thought possible came pouring down. Her head landed at my feet. The head was not lifeless, as it looked up at me, hatred in its eyes. Then, without prompting, her head exploded, covering me in dripping blood.
BlackMegidramon roared, and the laughter intensified. Though I could not stop my actions, my mind shrank back internally, horrified at what had just happened. Horrified at the voice. For I now recognized it.
It was my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke with a cold sweat, breathing heavily. I leapt out of bed and ran for the bathroom, where I collapsed over the toilet and immediately vomited noisily. Ken came in.
"Takato, what's wrong!"
"Nothing, Ken. Bad dream is all. I'll be all right in a bit."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No… I'll be okay."
"All right. If you say so… But listen, I'm here if you need me."
"I know Ken. I'm going to clean up here before going back to bed."
He nodded slowly.
"Goodnight Takato…"
"Goodnight Ken."
He turned and left the bathroom.
Sorry, Ken.
I trudged back to the room, still more than a little shaken. BlackJyarimon looked at me from the tissue filled shoebox he slept in beside the bed in. There was a discolored spot in front of him.
"Takatomon! I had a bad dream! We… we…"
"Attacked the other Tamers?"
I asked this softly, not wanting to wake the room's other occupants. My black little ball nodded, his moving eyes the only indication.
"Then I got a bad tummy ache, and I threw up."
That explains the discolored patch.
"I had the same dream. Come on boy, get out of there. We'll get you some more tissues for that bed."
He hopped out and onto my shoulder. I got dressed, Black Jyarimon moving only when necessary, the little guy was shuddering. We walked into the kitchen, and I got a pad and pencil. I glanced at the clock.
About six.
'Went out to get some fresh air. Be back about seven. Takato'
"Let's go. We should be back soon."
"Right Takatomon!"
I noticed the pouring rain and got my umbrella out. We walked into the cutting rain, BlackJyarimon on my shoulder instead of in my hood. BlackJyarimon and I talked as we walked, and soon we were off the dream and on to more pleasant matters. We laughed as the rain poured onto the umbrella. Me, my digimon, and a good laugh.
Life is good.
"Watch it, boy."
"We're the same age, Dominic."
He growled in his throat. We stared each other down. Dominic was your average rich kid. On steroids. In other words, everything I'm not. Dominic had sun-bleached blond hair that spiked up like Tai's and blue eyes with almost feminine lashes. The kind of eyes most girls swooned over.
The kind of eyes Rika likes to turn black…
Dominic customarily wore a white muscle shirt with a blood red jacket with yellow trim, white pants, and a red headband just below his hairline on his forehead.
Dominic and I had taken one look at each other and instantly decided that we didn't like each other. The tension was thick. Really thick. Kinda like a volcano.
Now we had reached eruption.
It started simple. It always does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dominic spoke as I was walking out. It was my first day here.
"Hey, new kid."
I turned.
"Yes?"
I said this evenly. Something about this kid set my senses off. BlackJyarimon's too, if the growling in my head was any indication. He looked me in the eye.
"I don't like you, new boy."
"I don't have time for this…"
I tried to push past, but some of his cronies grabbed me and forced me to stay.
"Stay out of my way and there won't be problems. Got it, new boy?"
And then with a nod to his henchmen, he left, and they followed closely after, leaving me to ponder this new situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course it was not two days later that I accidentally bumped into him again, and got myself into my present predicament.
We weren't in class. Heck, school wasn't even in session. I was just out on one of the walks I'd taken to since I'd come here.
Time to think and relax… usually.
I tried to back up, after all, physical combat is ChaosGallantmon's specialty, not mine. His goons seemed to materialize out of nowhere to latch on to me and hold me in place.
This will not go well…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple hours later I stumbled into the apartment where I lived with Ken and his family. His father was working, his mother shopping, and he himself on a date with Yolie. So the place was mine for now.
Flash
Digivolution_
BlackJyarimon Flash Digivolve to… BlackGuilmon!
BlackGuilmon was coming towards me immediately, and helped me to the bathroom.
"Takatomon, you shouldn't let them do that to you."
"Wish I could boy, wish I could."
"I could have!"
I sighed. I felt like I'd been used as a punching bag. Which, essentially, I had.
"Yes, but then people would find out about you, and they're not supposed to."
He sighed, and so did I.
Rika at least would have gone down fighting… That's it!
"BlackGuilmon, I've made a decision."
"To make me more bread?"
"No, but it's a thought. If you'll help me."
"I'd help you even if I didn't get bread Takatomon!"
I smiled.
"Thanks boy. Starting tomorrow, we do two things when I'm not in school. One: Train. Rika and Renamon trained constantly. And if we're going to be fighting alone a lot, we need to too. And number two: I have to get a job."
"Why do you need a job Takatomon?"
"To pay for your extra bread."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had just made a small mistake. I had just told Izzy where Takato came from. He was, well… ecstatic, to say the least.
"The southern quadrant? You're kidding!? I've got to meet this kid… The things I could learn… Where is he?"
Oh no.
"He's at Ken's place Izzy. And you can't learn anything from him, Azulongmon doesn't want us asking too many questions, something about tampering and a 'different way of doing things'."
"TK… No, you're right. There is such a thing as being too curious. I'd still like to meet him though. Maybe he can come to the reunion next month…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TK, Davis, and Ken caught me in the halls the next day. My face was doing a lot better. It must not have been too bad, as no one really noticed.
"Reunion!? I'm not sure TK, I mean, I'm not even one of you guys…"
Knowing me, I'll slip and say something I shouldn't…
"Oh, come on Takato. You're not a Digidestined here, but you are back home right?"
"Well, we don't call ourselves that…"
"Well you're the equivalent anyway, right? That officially makes it okay for you to be there!"
"You're not helping Davis…"
"Oh come on Takato! It'll be fun! We'll tell you all kinds of stories about the things we did! Then you can tell your stories! Oh, wait never mind…"
I thought about this for a second.
"Well… There are some stories that would be okay. I can't talk about any battles, but some of the stuff outside of battle was pretty funny."
Davis grinned and gave me a hearty slap on the back.
"That's the spirit! Come on guys, we're going to be late for class!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"DEMON'S DISASTER!"
After launching the attack at the figures in the darkness, I turned and ran. I ran for my life. I ran for what seemed like forever. The landscape was dim, shadowy, and unclear. I could see definite shapes, but no details. I could hear my breathing come in quick gasps. The only other sound was the thumping of my heart, until I heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind me. I felt my chest tighten in fear. Then, a shape darted out in front of me.
A SaberLeomon?
Then, to my shock and increased fear, Jeri's voice issued from its mouth.
"You can't escape Takato…"
Another quick movement to my left, and I barely didn't bring my shield up in time to block Sakuyamon's staff.
"Give it up, Gogglehead!"
Rika.
Her voice sounded cold, merciless. Then I heard the clank of metal behind me. I didn't dare take my eyes off the two in front of me.
Probably MegaGargomon…
"He won't listen Rika. You know how he is. Stubborn and evil. Who else could create Megidramon?"
Henry sounded like he was really angry. A new voice issued from the shadows as Justimon leapt down.
"And who else would force their digimon onto its darker evolution chain? His little monster is just as bad as he is. You're a disgrace Takato!"
From somewhere inside I could feel my anger well up. Some inner voice called out to me, and I couldn't hold myself back. So I let loose, and lost myself to the anger.
"JUDECCA PRISON!"
The attack flew straight into Sakuyamon, who had not moved from her previous position, and slammed her back. I rushed Jeri in front of me.
"DEMON'S DISASTER!"
The attack slammed into her, the same as it had Rika. Then I heard a laugh from beside me. I looked to see Sakuyamon getting up, not a scratch on her.
What the…
She smirked.
"Naughty, naughty, Gogglehead."
Then, she opened her hand, and dropped my goggles to the ground. Then crushed them, grinding her heal down on to them.
"I'll do it to you next Gogglehead! Just you wait!"
I heard movement and looked sharply left, to see SaberLeomon getting back on its feet, no apparent harm done.
Crap…
"MEGA BARRAGE!"
The first few salvos slammed into my back, before I managed to dodge behind the unsuspecting Justimon. To my shock, when the dust cleared, the three of the were standing in a line, Sakuyamon and Justimon flanking MegaGargomon, and SaberLeomon pacing in front of them.
If I'm going out, I'm going out fighting!
I launched myself at them, not unleashing an attack, that would be futile, but with shield and lance raised. SaberLeomon matched my rush with its own.
"HOWLING CRUSHER!"
Not stopping to finish the job, I swatted SaberLeomon out of the air with my lance.
"SPIRIT STRIKE!"
"GARGO MISSLE!"
"VOLTAGE BLADE!"
Using Justimon's head as a kick off point, I flew at MegaGargomon, knocking the air out of him, and throwing him for a loop. I spun to meet Sakuyamon's staff with my shield, and found…
…nothing. Then, the staff slammed into my back, knocking me from my digivolution. I lay there panting, trying to catch my breath. The four gathered around me, boxing me in. Beside me, BlackGuilmon growled noticeably. Then he glowed.
Digivolution_
BlackGuilmon Warp Digivolve to… BlackMegidramon!
The dark dragon was a sight to behold, and as it appeared, there was laughter in the background. An insane cackle, dark and evil. For a moment, everyone just listened to the laughter. Then, it was a blur of motion. His razor tail slammed into SaberLeomon, piecing its chest, Jeri letting out an earth shattering scream, and burst into data, quickly being absorbed by BlackMegidramon.
Justimon, Sakuyamon, and MegaGargomon pounded futilely at his chest while BlackMegidramon swung his bladed arm, slicing Justimon in half and absorbing the excess data. BlackMegidramon looked with contempt at MegaGargomon.
"MEGIDO BLAZE!"
The attack hit Henry head on, and he and Terriermon were no more. Then, he looked down at the shocked Sakuyamon. I couldn't will myself to do anything, like the ringing laughter was my own. With unbelievable speed, Black Megidramon grabbed Sakuyamon, and began crushing her in a single hand. They struggled, even to the point that Rika and Renamon separated. I watched as they yelled and screamed, begging for mercy. Then, Renamon was first, bursting into data, quickly being sucked down by my infernal creation.
Rika was next. I watched horrified, but unable to turn away, any more than I could command BlackMegidramon to stop. BlackMegidramon stopped playing then, and gave a final squeeze, and Rika popped like a pimple, more blood than I had thought possible came pouring down. Her head landed at my feet. The head was not lifeless, as it looked up at me, hatred in its eyes. Then, without prompting, her head exploded, covering me in dripping blood.
BlackMegidramon roared, and the laughter intensified. Though I could not stop my actions, my mind shrank back internally, horrified at what had just happened. Horrified at the voice. For I now recognized it.
It was my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke with a cold sweat, breathing heavily. I leapt out of bed and ran for the bathroom, where I collapsed over the toilet and immediately vomited noisily. Ken came in.
"Takato, what's wrong!"
"Nothing, Ken. Bad dream is all. I'll be all right in a bit."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No… I'll be okay."
"All right. If you say so… But listen, I'm here if you need me."
"I know Ken. I'm going to clean up here before going back to bed."
He nodded slowly.
"Goodnight Takato…"
"Goodnight Ken."
He turned and left the bathroom.
Sorry, Ken.
I trudged back to the room, still more than a little shaken. BlackJyarimon looked at me from the tissue filled shoebox he slept in beside the bed in. There was a discolored spot in front of him.
"Takatomon! I had a bad dream! We… we…"
"Attacked the other Tamers?"
I asked this softly, not wanting to wake the room's other occupants. My black little ball nodded, his moving eyes the only indication.
"Then I got a bad tummy ache, and I threw up."
That explains the discolored patch.
"I had the same dream. Come on boy, get out of there. We'll get you some more tissues for that bed."
He hopped out and onto my shoulder. I got dressed, Black Jyarimon moving only when necessary, the little guy was shuddering. We walked into the kitchen, and I got a pad and pencil. I glanced at the clock.
About six.
'Went out to get some fresh air. Be back about seven. Takato'
"Let's go. We should be back soon."
"Right Takatomon!"
I noticed the pouring rain and got my umbrella out. We walked into the cutting rain, BlackJyarimon on my shoulder instead of in my hood. BlackJyarimon and I talked as we walked, and soon we were off the dream and on to more pleasant matters. We laughed as the rain poured onto the umbrella. Me, my digimon, and a good laugh.
Life is good.