Shadow of Realities
I don't own Digimon and Ranma 1/2
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'Thoughts'
"talking out loud"
'-----' scene change
(V)(V) different point of view
'+' flash back
Chapter 10
He was playing poker with Fate, Kage, Dash, and Puck. They were betting so plastic chips. He looks at his cards, two fives, a King, a ten, and a four. He takes the King, ten, and four and places them on the pile. "Three cards, please." Fate hands him three cards from the deck. Dash asked for two, Kage one, and Puck three. Fate just took one. "I raise it by two blue chips." Fate says. They all checked the bet. Davis then shows his hand three fives, a nine, and an ace. Dash a pair of twos, a four, a ten, and two. Puck shows two threes, two eights, and a Queen. Fate didn't have any pairs. Kage show two Jakes, a five, a six, and an ace.
Puck grins and moves the center pile of chips toward him. It was after supper and Cass was still working. Fate had decided that she needed a break, so he thought a game of poker was a good idea. They listen to the rules and on how to play. They had found some different color chips. The colors were blue, red, black, green, and yellow, and eighty blue chips, thirty red chips, sixty black chips, ninety green chips, and a hundred yellow chips. They each got sixteen blue chips, six red chips, twelve black chips, eighteen green chips, and twenty yellow chips. They decided that red were the highest bet and yellow the cheapest.
He had two red chips, five blue chips, twenty black chips, seven green chips, and twenty-three yellow chips. Puck deals the cards and every puts a yellow chip into the betting pool. He looks and finds three Kings and two Jakes. He keeps his face the same, even though he wanted to grin. Fate opens the betting. "I up a green chip." Kage matches and ups it by two yellow chips. Dash checks the betting. He checks as well. Puck ups the betting by two black chips. Fate checks, Kage checks, Dash folds, and he up by a yellow chip. They just check his bet. Fate takes two cards, Kage takes one, he doesn't take a card, and Puck also doesn't take a card. Fate just passes on upping of the bets, Kage raises it by two yellows, and he raises by three blues, and Puck checks the bet. Fate as well. He grins as he shows his cards. "Damn, best hand tonight. I'm getting tired, could we try again some other time?" Fate asks, the guys agree and they clean up the cards and chips.
"You know, I've never had this much fun with the other gambling games. You can't raise the bets in any of the game I've ever played. I can't believe human card games could be better then Digimon's cards games. I've played Gi'Dir'om and Hiw'Pij with the best of them." Puck states before leaving to go to his bed. Fate nods as she leaves. Dash yawns, "I agree. It's odd how humans like to alter their stakes in their games. So flexible with the betting. You could fold in a middle of a game if you don't like the odds. Smart thing to have, I guess it's like war. You up the odds as you play and if you think the odd aren't worth it, you could retreat." "You know I didn't think of it that way, Dash. I'll have to remember that! Night!" The three left each other as they find their rooms.
He finishes changing into some PJs and lies on the bed. Kage joins him by making his spot on his right side. The lights dimmed and then when out. "Does your other partner play poker with you?" Surprised at the question, he answers, "No, he often plays with the other Digimon. For candy last time I checked. I've never played poker before either. Veemon and I like to play other games though. Mostly games on different systems. PS2 and other systems. It's been a while since I last saw him. I wonder what he's doing right now?" He feels depressed about that.
"You'll see him again. I think he really misses you. You also have a partner here, so cheer up. Things are looking up." He smiles at Kage's statement. "Thanks, Kage. I needed to hear that. I like you too buddy. I hope you'll come with me when I leave. I just don't want to trade one partner for the other. You're both important to me. I want both of you guys by my side. Just to let you know, I'm here for you Kage. I really want to get to know you better." With that said they both let the matter end for a time. They both soon are sleeping.
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He just couldn't sleep right now. After seeing Tai again, just reminded him of Davis, and the feeling of missing him and he just couldn't stand it. Looking up to the sky he hears something behind him. He turns to find T.K. standing there. "Worried about him, huh?" He just nods, "I can't stand it. I wish I could just talk to him, just to hear his voice again. To hear him crack some joke or just to be here. I miss his smile and his laughter. I want to know that he hasn't forgotten me." Tears trailed down his face. T.K. sits and comforts him. "Don't give up on hope, Veemon. He's out there, he hasn't forgotten about you. You two were meant to be together. Just give him time, Veemon. Takato's out there looking. You just have to keep hoping that he'll make it back safely." Veemon nods and uses his hands to wipe away his tears. "I just hope he hasn't replaced me." T.K. smiles at him and says, "He can't, what you two have is special, even if he partners up with another Digimon, he'll still have a spot in his heart for you. Davis will always be your partner as long as you want him to be. So, get some rest Veemon. You know he wouldn't want you to be depressed just cause he's not here. You can sleep with Patamon and me tonight if you want." He nods and follows T.K. to his roll. Lying on the opposite side of T.K., where Patamon wasn't laying. Soon he falls asleep.
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He was up and making breakfast. He had check up on Cass and had found her sleeping on her exam table. After placing a blanket on her, he had returned to the kitchen.
As the food almost done, Cass comes into the kitchen area. "Thanks for the blanket. I just finish the changes to some equipment." He looks at her and asks, "What kind of changes?" You know that energy tracer I made as a Gatomon? I'll be using that. Both Davis and KageVeemon will be needed to help trace the energy. They'll be knocked out, so it might be a while to get the whole points of the reality that Davis's Veemon partner is. It could take a few hours." He nods, "So, after breakfast?" She nods.
He goes back to checking on the food. She sets the table. Then she asks, "You still need an answer, huh?" He blinks and gives her a quick glance before turning back to the food. "I do, but I understand if you still want to wait, Cass. I still believe that what I said that night was true. I really do want you by my side; I want to be your life partner. I guess using the human word for it, might have been a bit much." "No I liked the sound of it. Wife, a good name for the female partner. I just don't really know if I deserve your love. I left you four days after you asked. All I left was a note. I was so scared, about the whole thing. Maybe because I knew that there was something there to begin with. Friendship is a good base for that kind of relationship. I just don't know if you still want me." He finishes with the plate and goes to give her a hug, careful of her wings. "I still want you, it's gotten stronger and I did said I'd wait. I really love you, Cass. So, does this mean that you've decided?" He whispers. She answers, "I'd be honored to be your wife." They part and when back to setting the table and getting the food ready for the others.
Fifteen minutes later, Fate walks in and looks at both then smiles knowingly. Soon Davis with the other two walk in. They say hey to the other three in the kitchen area. They sit and they begin to eat. Soon Cass speaks, "After breakfast, we'll try tracing you two's connection to Veemon." Kage looks up and asks, "What do you mean, our connection? I thought that it's Davis's connection." "You're connected too. I need to have both of you. Between you two, I'll get better readings. And don't worry, you'll both be knocked out while I'm doing this." Davis and Kage shared a look then Davis shrugs and says, "I couldn't hurt, right?" He just smiles at that.
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It was Saturday morning, and he was with Wormon and Patamon watching TV. All the humans but Izzy, Ranma, and Kasumi were doing their homework. The other Digimon were watching Ranma and BlueMeramon spar.
They were watching cartoons when he began to feel weird. He tries to shake his head, and then his hands hold his head. He gives lets out a sound of pain and he tries to run to the house. Just as he blacks out he hears Patamon and Wormon call for help.
He wakes to find himself in a forest. He gets up and looks around. He begins to walk around. Then hears a voice. "I don't think Cassandra plan this. So now what?" Then he hears a voice he hadn't hear in weeks. "I guess we just explore?" Without looking he ran and with a cry of "Davis!" He hugs his partner around his neck. "Veemon! How are you doing! I'd like you to meet Kage." He lets go and lands in front of Davis. He turns and finds himself looking at an odd Veemon. An even odder sense of already meeting the odd Veemon. He could see the same confusion on his face.
"Kage? I thought Digimon don't go by names?" He asks confused. "It's short for KageVeemon. Where I'm from nicknames are commonplace among Digimon. So, just call me Kage." He nods then turns to look at Davis. "You need a hair cut. Your hair's longer." He states to his partner. Davis laughs. "Sorry, but I didn't know. To many things going on. Kage's also my partner, Vee." He turns to Kage and blinks. "Your also his partner? How?" "We just agree to it. He needed a partner and I just wanted out of the cell." He blinks and just stares. "You wanted to travel via shadows, Kage. And you need to bond with a human. You're still around though." He watches, as Kage looks somewhere else.
He finds a log and sits on it. "So what's been going on with you then?" Davis sits down and begins to tell the story.
(V)(V)(V)
He just couldn't look at either Davis or Vee, the nickname Davis had used. He listens with half an ear to what's being said. He's occupied with his thoughts. 'Why am I here? It's not like they need me around. Once Davis gets back, he won't need me. I know he said that he didn't want to trade one mon for the other, but what would I do for him? Do I even know what I want? Do I really want to become the third wheel? Why can't I just leave? I really don't know why I can't just be happy and just leave with him. Why do I see this as a tempary partnership? Can't I see myself with him? I think I do want to be his partner and I do want a place to call home. I wonder if it's because once I'm with his friends I'll feel out of place. I really do like to explore ruins for treasure. I could even see Davis and Vee with Dash, Puck, and me on a hunt. I don't even know if we could even do that.'
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turns to find himself looking into red eyes. He see worry in them. "You ok? You didn't answer when we called your name." He blinks and turns to look to see Davis looking worried as well. "Sorry, I just had a lot to think about." He watches and Davis nods. "Don't worry! We're here if you want to talk about it." He hears Vee say. "Thanks, I guess. I just got a lot to think about. I just need to sort through it by myself." "Well I'm certain that Davis's will be there for you! And I don't mind having a brother!" "Brother?" "Yip! We're kind of like twins. We look a lot a like! Just can't wait to see you outside of this dream place!" He blinks and smiles weakly. "Thanks."
As they finish, the land scrape fades and he finds himself waking.
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He finds himself waking and he opens his eyes. He finds Kari looking down on him. "You alright? You're been out for five hours. Don't move to much." He blinks and stops trying to get up. He turns his head to find the others looking at him. He smiles weakly and says, "I saw Davis. He's in this reality with some friends. He even partnered up with a KageVeemon." Rika says, "Never heard of that Digimon. Have any of you?" They all shake their heads. Izzy asks, "What did he look like?" He thinks and then answers. "He lookes like me but different colors. He's black where I'm blue, light blue where I'm white. He eyes are yellow and the V mark on his forehead is red. He also can travel vai shadows." Renamon raises an eyebrow at that bit of information.
"So he's safe?" Ken asks. "Yip, a Butterflymon by the name of Cassandra was tracing the energy connections between Davis, Kage, and me. I'll tell you what he told me." They listen really carefully as he begins to tell them what Davis told him.
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He watches as they stir. Cass has finish taking out the CDs. Puck had the packs and Fate was defending the lab. Cass now has all the information needed to send Davis back. "What's going on?" Davis asks. "We're under attack by lots of Ogremon, Fugamon, Goblimon, and twelve Endigomon. We're leaving this reality and setting up the lab somewhere else. Here's you robe Davis. Quickly, Cass has active the package system. Soon this lab will be small enough to carry away. Ready? Go, come on!"
They're out of the lab and the count down finishes and the whole thing changes it shape and begins to get smaller. He aids Fate and Puck in battle. He hopes that they can get out of this soon. There's more Digimon coming. Soon he hears Cass call out to them to walk through the portal.
"GO! Get out of here! I'll hold them off! I'll be fine, you two need to protect Cassandra and him. So get out of here!" Fate finishes and he looks at the portal and then back at her. Then runs for the portal, Puck joining him.
They find themselves in a meadow. Cass put the lab into his pack and they look around. "You think she's ok?" Puck asks. "She knew what she was doing. She'll be fine." He says. Everyone nods; they just couldn't see Davis nod though. His face covered by the robe. "So where are we?" "Alumet 84. It's an ok reality. Let find a rock outlet to set the lab back up." Cass states and she begins to float north. They follow her.
To be continued …