Two Weeks Ago
"A what?"
The Agumon looked up at his human partner. "Another world, Josh! I heard the other digimon talking about it. And the best part is that only digidestined can get there! That means-"
"It's not an option. Not unless we can all get away from him." Josh frowned. "Can you look into it?"
Agumon nodded. "Sure. I'll just-"
"No. Don't tell anyone, alright? This is my problem."
"It's -ours-" Agumon answered. "But I'll keep your secret. For now."
Digicross Episode 40
"Third Option"
Opening: Figure.09 by Linkin Park.
Note: Definitely a PG level fic here, kids. Maybe even PG-13. Mature situations, bad language, heavy social commentary, that sort of thing.
But not the good naughty stuff, sorry :-)
Johto region
Ash looked at the newcomer. "You want to move here? Well...sure, why not?"
"Yeah. Plenty of space." Brock added. "How many of those strange Pokemon are out there?"
"I'm not a Pokemon!" Agumon protested. "That," he pointed at Ash's Pikachu, "is a Pokemon. I am a digimon. Po-ke-mon," another point at Pikachu, "and di-gi-mon." finishing with a point at himself. "Do I LOOK like I walk around going 'Agu, agu' all day?"
"Enough." Josh said. "Sorry. He's...sensitive. So, your folks around?"
Ash blinked. "Well...mom's back in Pallette Town."
"Pewter City." Brock added.
"Cerulean, when they're not traipsing off all over the world." Misty sighed. "And leaving my sisters in charge of the gym."
Josh had no idea where those cities were. But they sounded very far off.
Then it hit him.
10 year old kids. On their own. In the wilderness. Without fear.
"Yeah, this place sounds great."
"There's some other of those digimon back in Kanto. What was the place?" Ash tried to remember.
"Stone Town." Brock said. "Yeah, one of those trainers was from there."
"Well. Then I think I need directions."
The rest of the day was spent with the three Pokemon trainers leading a very unsettled Josh and Agumon to the nearest town with a Pokemon center. Josh thanked them, got a world map from the nurse there (And arching an eyebrow as Brock made an utter fool of himself. Again.), and digiported home.
Human World
The laptop glowed, and Josh and Agumon exited. "Mom? I'm home."
Josh's mom ran into the hotel room. "Oh, Josh, good. We have to go."
"Why?"
Another boy, a bit younger than Josh entered the room. "That rat found us again. Kristen's upstairs packing. Hey, any luck on a place for us in the computer world?"
"Maybe. I have a lead. We'll get settled first, then I'll go check it out. Agumon? Guard."
"Woof." Agumon said. "Relax. If M...that guy shows up, I'll step on him."
The boy nodded. "Makes me almost wish he does show up."
"Jacob." their mother admonished. The boy bristled.
"No worries, Jake." Agumon promised. "He doesn't know about me yet, so if he does show up, I can surprise him." The digimon sighed. "I just wish I knew how he was following us."
2 hours later
No one had seen him come up. He jabbed a small piece of metal into the door lock, wiggled it for a few seconds, and forced the door open.
If he didn't look so annoyed, he could be described as menacing. Physically, he looked normal, tall, dark hair subtly waved where it wasn't matted down by sweat. Thick 5:00 shadow. But his demeanor, the imperceptible 'aura' that some people gave off, suggested disdain and arrogance. This was one who saw others as either useful or useless.
He scowled. The apartment was empty. And his information was supposedly accurate. Time to hit up 'cousin Kenny' and update his information.
That boy. Josh. This was clearly his doing. Of all of them, he was the only one (he believed) he hadn't fully broken down. He'd take pleasure getting rid of him.
A week later, Stone Town.
Kari Kamiya got up. She had to admit, it was nice living here. The air was a lot fresher at least. Something caught her ear, something on the edge of her hearing. Laughter.
"That's...Tai? And Davis, I think." Curious, Kari put on a dressing gown and walked down the stairs, wincing as her feet touched the cold concrete.
She opened the door to the small rec room where Kyle sometimes slept. He wasn't home right now; he and June had gone to a movie, and had called back saying that they were staying at Davis' home (Under June's father's VERY watchful eye). Surprisingly, Davis had relented, and had come here to hang out with Tai.
"Not bad." Davis was saying, he and Tai watching a TV intently. "The animation's a bit better than back home."
"What are you watching?" Kari asked.
"Huh? Oh, hi Kari. Hope we didn't wake you."
Kari tried to wrap her head around the concept of a polite Davis, then walked over and looked at the TV. "What is that?"
"Saint Scyther." Tai replied. "I saw it on a few weeks ago."
"Saint...didn't you watch that back home?"
"That was Saint Seiya. Same idea here, but the Cloths are all based on Pokemon. It's kinda cool. But the best part is after this."
"Yeah, Tai's told me all about it!" Davis added. "You said it was totally wrong?" Tai nodded.
Then, it started. Take 'Pegasus Fantasy'. Change it to 'Pichu no Fantasy'. Sing it in a childish, slowed down style. Make all the characters super-deformed Pokemon, wearing amour.
Incredulous, Kari watched as Bronze Saint Pichu went to Gold Nurse Saint Blissey to cry about how Silver Saint Badzt Marril had stolen his lunch, and Gold Saint Houdour was tormenting Bronze Saint Togepi. It was a twisted, almost demonic 'Hamtaro no Ken' meets 'Hello Kitty'. Davis was already helpless with laughter on the floor.
"I'm leaving now. I'm going to get dressed, find Gatomon, and go very far away from here." Kari got up, and left the room, bad taste stuck in her brain.
It was a cool day. Kari had forgone her usual attire in favor of something a bit warmer; old jeans, grey cotton t-shirt, and a jacket. The only suitable footwear she could find was some old pink furry snow boots that Mimi had donated. Swallowing her pride, she put them on and went to town.
Real World, About the same time
Gail Herrera stared at the scraggly bank clerk. "You...YOU TOLD HIM!" she shrieked.
"But...he's family" Kenny whined.
Gail took out the credit card and flung it in his face. "I'm closing my account out. Now."
"But-"
"Fine. Where's the manager?"
The last thing Kenny saw was his career going out the window.
Pokemon World
It was a small cafe, not far from the restaurant where Kyle had proposed to June. Gatomon was still in the Digital World, catching up with other digimon she had not seen in some time.
There was a crunching sound in the thin layer of snow nearby. Glancing over, she saw a familiar shape. "Agumon? Tai, is that you?"
Josh faced the speaker. A young girl, dressed for the cold weather. She was cute, he noted idly. "Umm...sorry. I'm a little lost."
"It's alright, I'm new here too. I'm Kari."
Agumon glanced up. "Kari Kamiya? From Japan?" Confused, Kari nodded.
"Agumon, you sound like a fanboy or something."
"Well, she might have the ans-"
"Shhh!" Josh hissed. "Sorry, he's a bit...eccentric"
Kari smiled. "It's alright. Tai's Agumon's the same."
Josh nodded. "Yeah. I'm Josh. Actually...well, I was wandering around this world. It's really nice."
Kari nodded. "I miss Japan, but yes, this is a nice place." She looked at Josh. "Thinking of moving here?"
"That obvious?"
Kari smiled. "Well, there's no shortage of space here."
"Yeah, but I'm the only digidestined in my family, so..." He trailed off, letting Kari draw the obvious conclusion.
"No problem. Anyone can come here, as long as a digidestined brings them." He covered it well, but Kari was certain she saw his face light up for a second. There was also something in his eyes, something...an almost hunted look. "What's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing." Josh wondered if Kari could feel the wall slamming down. He didn't dare let her know why he was doing all this. "I should go. Talk to you later!"
"Josh? Wait!" Agumon said, chasing after his partner.
Kari got up from the table to follow the two. Izzy chose that moment to arrive, however. "Kari? What's wrong?"
"Izzy? Hi." Kari answered. "I think someone wants to move to this world." She glanced down the road, wondering where Josh had gotten to.
"Oh? A friend?" Izzy asked. Kari caught the slightly worried tone in his voice, and smiled mischievously at him. "Ahh...sorry."
"It's alright. I can handle a little jealousy. But only a little." She glanced back in the direction Josh had gone, and frowned. She couldn't pick lies out like June could, but she was fairly good (in her opinion) at reading people.
"Who's chasing you?"
A few feet away, Sneasel stepped out from her cover, shimmered, and vanished. This might bear reporting to Lord Demon, she decided.
A few feet behind -her-, a ragged Phantomon briefly phased into visibility, decided the same thing and vanished to report back to his master.
Real World
Gail pulled the car into the main road leading out of town. The kids were packed already, and she knew that Josh would be able to catch up.
Kristen suddenly sat bolt upright, making a strange, engine seizing noise. "The laptop!" she half-shrieked.
Jake was about to add something, but was cut off as Gail executed a picture-perfect bootlegger reverse, threw the car into high gear, and flew back to her old apartment.
The laptop, sitting forgotten on the table, glowed, and Josh and Agumon exited. "Mom?" Josh called.
"Well, well." an adult voice called. Josh, snarling, kicked the door to the living room open. He did wave Agumon back. As far as he knew, Michael didn't know about digimon. Yet.
"What the hell are you doing here, Michael?" Josh growled. "I guess the phrase 'restraining order' is too complex for your pea-brain?"
Michael's eyes narrowed. "That's no way to talk to your dear old dad, Joshua." His voice was calm, almost gentle, but the effect was ruined by the barely-hidden mania in his eyes.
"I wouldn't know, I don't have a dad anymore." Come on, Agumon. Get through the portal.
There was a faint hiss. Michael feigned curiosity. "Now, what might you be hiding in there? You always seem to be running off somewhere." He advanced, but Josh moved to block him. "Out of the way, boy. I'm your father." He made a fist for emphasis.
"Go ahead." Josh taunted. "Who'll the cops believe? A jackass who's violating a restraining order, or a kid with a black eye?" Josh's own fists were clenched. "But just so you know, you don't get any freebies."
"Neither do you." Michael advanced. Josh pulled back, ready to swing, when the door burst open. That alone didn't stop them.
The distinctive 'click' of a .38 revolver being cocked did. "Get the hell away from my son, you sick bastard." Gail aimed the handgun at Michael.
"Why Gail, how good of you to show up. And you brought the kids. Why not put the piece down and we can talk?"
The bullet took a chunk out of the wall. "You are trespassing, violating a court order, and I just don't like you. Josh." Gail nodded to the room Josh had come out of. Somewhat shaken, Josh went back in, grabbed the laptop, and ran over. "And yes, I have a license and a permit, 'dear.' Something about being married to a sick manipulator like you makes firearms issuers all sympathetic." Josh came back, laptop in his arms, threw a final glare at Michael, and left. Gail, gun still trained on Michael, backed out of the apartment. "Don't come near us again." The door slammed shut.
Michael scowled. He'd forgotten she had taken a course on handguns. Damn in-laws.
"Come with me." Michael had a second to whirl around, wonder why a black cat was walking upright and talking to him, before he was encased in ice.
Digital World
Kari was on her way out of Primary Village when Izzy caught up. She had been out for several days that week, checking around the digital world. Tai was only slightly worried; he knew Kari could take care of herself.
Izzy knew that too. Simple, really. It was just that boy she seemed to be asking about. Not that he was jealous or anything. Horribly insecure, maybe, but -never-jealous.
"Kari?"
"Hm? Oh, hi Izzy? What are you doing here?"
"Ahh..." Izzy started, a bit nervously. "Everyone was just wondering where you were, that's all. Tai said you were off on some quest for an Agumon. Is Gatomon alright?"
Kari smiled sweetly, in that special way that said 'You really expect me to BUY that?'. "If you're that worried about me, you could come with me." she said.
"Sure!" Izzy replied, a bit too quickly.
"Good. I hate complacent boyfriends." She winked, and ran off, leaving Izzy behind.
"Why did I fall for the evil digidestined?" Izzy wondered out loud, recalling Tai's warning about dating his sister.
(No, Tai's sister. Izzy doesn't even HAVE a sister. Ye gods, you readers are sick. Sick sick SICK! -ed)
Real World
"You're late." Gail said, pulling into a gas station.
"I know, but I got a lead."
"Someone in Japan will take us in?" Jake asked, a bit expectantly.
"Better. How's a different world sound?"
"Josh? Maybe you should...expand on that." Gail's voice was calm, controlled, and laced with deadly menace.
Dark Ocean
Demon regarded the whimpering human. "That's it? I was expecting something more imposing."
"I am sorry." Sneasel answered, casting a glance at Magnatar, still embedded in a control spire, twitching feebly every now and then. "I thought that he might have some connection to another digidestined we could use like Ken."
"Well, I doubt this 'Josh' would want to rescue this wretch. Throw him out. The Skull Satamon are getting hungry again."
Michael tried to say something, anything. He had, since his youth, always managed to control everyone around him, relatives, friends, everyone. He could manipulate people easily. It had been a game to him.
Now, he was totally out of his depth. He hadn't even had a chance to say anything before Demon's mental power slammed into his mind, exposing every last one of his sins for all to see. And hadn't even wasted the energy to laugh at him.
His initial rage had vanished almost instantly, as his every attempt to resist Demon's power was simply ignored. He hadn't, quite, been reduced to a gibbering mass. (Yet. -ed)
Sneasel digivolved up to Lynxmon, grabbed the man by the collar, and dragged him out.
Digital World
Kari leaned closer to hear the Yukimibotamon. "Yeah, over there." Kari glanced in the direction indicated. There was an Agumon sitting on a small rock, looking incredibly miserable.
"Wait here, please?" Kari asked Izzy.
"Uhh," Izzy tried to say.
Kari smiled, gave Izzy a light kiss, and headed over to the Agumon. "It'd be better if I don't crowd him." she whispered. Izzy nodded, and stepped back.
Agumon looked up. "Kari?"
"Hello again. Can we talk?"
"Well..."
"We just want to help Josh, that's all. I can keep any secrets, if you want to share them with us." Agumon looked torn. "Josh...he's in some kind of trouble, isn't he?" Agumon nodded. "Well, that's it then."
"Huh?" Agumon looked confused.
"Josh is in trouble, so we should go help, right?"
Agumon waved an arm. "It's not like that. This is...His father's not a nice person. Josh wants to relocate his family somewhere safe. And that world we met you on sounds perfect. But he won't rest until all of his family is moved."
"Okay." Kari said. "Like I said, we can bring everyone over. And without a digivice, no one can follow them."
Agumon shook his head. "It's not like that. Even once we get everyone else moved, Josh...I think Josh wants to go after him."
Kari frowned. This was a bit outside her experience.
Note:
If Kari Kamiya had a flaw, it was her innate tendency to assume someone was good, or had the potential to be good. Even the worst of Ken's sins could be explained as a combination of external control and misdirected anger.
In her defense, she had never met someone like Michael who was, by now, almost devoid of any goodness in his soul. Also in her defense, Agumon had not been told about the worst of Michael's crimes.
Human World
Gail leaned back in the apartment chair. The bank manager, after hearing how one of his clerks had freely given out personal information, had both had Kenney removed, and offered to put up the family in a different hotel, at the bank's expense.
"So, we really can go to...another world?" Kristen asked, a bit incredulous. "I know about the Digital World, but this place..."
"Hey, I'm there." Jake said. At Gail and Josh's glance, he shrugged. "Look, I'm tired of running, alright? We go there, set up a new home, and forget this place ever existed." Josh's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
"Well," Gail sighed, "it'd be easier than finding digimon for the rest of us. Okay, but where do we go? We can't just show up on another world with no i.d. or money. And school , what about that?"
"I'll go back in a few days and check it out. The people there are pretty decent, by the looks of it."
"Really?" Kristen asked.
"There are 10 year olds running around in the wilderness without any fear of being attacked or kidnapped." Josh replied, dead serious. "The first day I was there, three of them offered to lead me to the nearest town, and showed me around."
Even Gail looked startled. "That...that would be paradise, compared to what's happening here."
Dark Ocean
Michael had expected the impact to kill him. Lynxmon had tossed him off the ledge of the castle, aimed in the general direction of a large group of screaming Skull Satamon. Having never seen a digimon before, Michael had assumed that he was now in Hell.
That was when the grey ghost had appeared, the one holding the scythe and wearing an eyeball around it's 'neck'. It had grabbed Michael, and the two had teleported somewhere else.
Murmuxmon looked at the small human, barely conscious. "Well? What should I do with Demon's reject, then?"
"He had a connection to a digidestined. And his soul, while weak and pathetic, seemed kin to yours, great master."
Murmuxmon frowned. This Phantomon, itself a reject from Demon's forces, wasn't the brightest digimon around. On the other hand, he needed every bit of help he could get. Especially if he planned on facing Demon's true form again. "Well, then. Let's see what he knows." Murmuxmon motioned to Phantomon, who hovered over the human and started probing his mind.
"Hmm. This could be useful." Murmuxmon mused.
Pokemon World"Usually, he contacts me." Agumon explained. "He's pretty tight-lipped. I don't think he really trusts anyone outside his family."
Kari nodded. "Well, when he calls again, let me know, alright? I can help get his family through the digiport, if that's what they want."
"I know he won't say this, Kari, but thank you. I think this would mean a lot to him. Should I let him know?"
Kari thought for a second, then shook her head. "I don't think he'd appreciate it."
"What about him?" Agumon nodded to Izzy.
"He can keep a secret. None of the other digidestined will know, I promise."
"Are you sure? I mean, Josh can be pretty stubborn. He's really into the whole 'this is my problem and no one else's' thing."
Kari smiled. "I can bring him around. I met him once already, remember?"
"Okay." Agumon seemed worried, but said nothing else. "I'll let you know." Kari nodded, and backed off.
She waled over to Izzy. "Kari? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. Izzy? Could you...not tell anyone about this? Just wait a few days?"
"Why?"
"It's...it's personal." Kari did chuckle a bit at Izzy's concerned expression. "I'll be fine, Izzy. I just have to help a friend move his family, that's all." Izzy nodded, but still looked uneasy. "I mean, it's not like I'd run off with him to some remote mountain resort or something," she added, deadpan.
"No, of course not," Izzy replied quickly. Then he calmed down a bit. "Kari. Just be careful, alright?"
"I'll be fine" she replied, smiling.
Real World
Gail listened to everything Josh said, stopping him every few minutes to clarify a point. "And you're sure Michael can't follow us?"
Josh shrugged. "Unless he gets a digivice, which I doubt." Gail's eyes narrowed. "I can't see him getting a digimon partner."
"What about that one guy? Ken?" Kristen asked, remembering the stories Agumon had told him.
"I think he was being controlled. Probably had some sort of deep seated mental problem."
"Not like anyone here..." Jake whispered. Kristen reached out and smacked him. Gail reprimanded both of them, but her heart wasn't in it.
"Anyway..." Josh growled, "why don't we get everything together and head over there?"
"Just like that?" Jake asked, startled.
"Yeah. I'm tired of running. I'd feel better if I knew you were all safe."
"I'll feel better when we're all safe." Gail corrected. "Alright. I'll start getting everything packed up. Oh, money?"
"I'll check in a few days. Maybe they have an exchange rate or something."
Gail sighed. "Well, maybe we can trade something in when we get there."
Dark Ocean
Murmuxmon stepped back, regarding the now less than human puppet. "Now then. Bring me your son. Understand?"
"Yes."
Murmuxmon leaned closer. "Yes, what?"
"Yes, Murmuxmon, my lord and..." Michael seemed to struggle.
"Lord and?" Murmuxmon asked softly, making a gesture.
"Lord and...master."
"Such resistance. After all this time, I thought you'd have wanted to see what it's like to be on the receiving end. I suppose I could have been nice and wiped your mind, but I find rage to be an excellent motivator. Don't you agree?"
"Yes. Master." that last was dragged out of the human.
"Hmph. I suppose that boy might even thank me for what I've done. Perhaps I could entice him using you as bait."
"Whatever your will." Michael raged at the total control Murmuxmon held over him, but could do nothing.
"You bore me. Go, bring your son to me." Murmuxmon waved a hand, and Michael vanished.
Two days later
I'm not jealous or anything like that, Izzy told himself. I'm just doing what Tai would do, if he knew about this. After killing me for letting Kari talk me into this. Kari was a good distance away, sitting with Josh's Agumon. They both seemed to be deep in conversation. "Anything?"
Beside him, Gatomon shook her head. "I can't make out a lot, they're being quiet." Suddenly, Kari stood up, gasp reaching the two from even that distance. She then turned and ran for the nearest digiport. "Come on!" Gatomon said, taking off. Izzy ran as well.
"What's gotten into her?" Izzy panted, struggling to keep up.
"She's as bad as Tai." Gatomon sighed. "Always charging off, convinced that she has to save everyone."
"I never noticed that."
"Well, you didn't have to rein her in before. But, seeing as you're dating her now, I figure you should be warned." Gatomon caught up to Agumon just as he was about to go through. "Wait up!"
Agumon stopped. "Wh...oh, you're Kari's partner, right?"
"Both of us are, actually." Gatomon added. Izzy pointedly said nothing. "Where is she going?"
"To Josh's place to bring his family over. I have to go find Josh, he's on the other world, looking for a place for them to live."
"But...why was she so upset?" Gatomon asked.
Agumon sighed. "Well...Josh's father isn't...you see...he's not..."
Izzy gasped, seeing where this was going (and wondering if he could ever get that telepathic again). "Josh's father...abuse?" Gatomon spun around, horrified. "YOU LET KARI GO TO-"
"No!" Agumon replied. "Michael doesn't even know where the family is right now! Just me and Josh! Kari's going to go there, explain everything to them, and bring them over. What could go wrong?"
Gatomon and Izzy shared a look. They knew better than to answer that.
The digiport flared open,and the three stepped out. It was a small computer store in a shopping mall. They had already drawn a crowd.
Izzy didn't waste time. "Excuse me. Did you see a girl, about age eleven, wearing a pink shirt and yellow shorts a few minutes ago?"
"Uhh..well..."
"This is urgent!" Izzy said.
"I did!" a girl said. "She wanted to find a place on the edge of town. I told her which bus to get."
"Which one?" Gatomon asked.
"The number 12 going to...oh, wow! A talking cat! Was she, like, Sailor Moon or something?"
"Which way?" Izzy repeated, rapidly losing patience.
"East." the girl answered. "That way."
"Good. Come on!" Izzy said, running out the exit. As he ran, he took a small ball off of his belt. "Tentomon!" he called, hurling the object.
Gatomon stopped. "You put Tentomon in a pokeball?" she asked.
"He wanted to see what it was like."
"A little cozy, to be honest." the insect replied. "Need a lift?"
"Yes, east. And hurry!" With a cry and a flash, Tentomon digivolved to Kabuterimon, let Izzy and Gatomon climb on, and took off.
Kari got off the bus, spotted the correct building, and knocked several times on the door to the apartment. A large man walked up. "What?"
Kari smiled, and spoke in her cheeriest tone. "Hi, my name's Kari Kamiya, I'm a friend of the Herreras. Are they in? Room 3102."
The manager scowled at the young Japanese girl, decided she was no threat, and let her in. "Third floor, turn left. Cause any trouble and I'll have you in juvie."
"Thank you!" Kari answered, heading for the elevator.
Kari knocked on the door. No answer. "Hello? My name's Kari, I'm a friend of Josh's! Anyone home?" She knocked again, then tried the door.
Unlocked? I thought they were trying to hide out. Curious, she opened the door and entered.
Izzy scowled at his digivice, then at the ground as it shot past below them. "Are we near?" Kabuterimon asked.
"I think so." Izzy answered, wishing with all his heart he had a D-3 instead of the small silver rectangle he now held. He'd kill for a good map function right now.
"She'll be fine." Gatomon said, more to herself than anyone else.
"I know." Izzy replied anyway. After all, Kari had faced down Myotismon, the Dark Masters, Ken, Demon, countless evil digimon.
She had to be fine.
Kari had all of five seconds to realize that the Herreras were all out, and that there was a large piece of shattered glass where the patio door had been.. Then the man Kari assumed was this Michael that Agumon was talking about had grabbed her.
"Where is he?" Michael demanded, hand clamped viselike on Kari's shoulder.
"Who?" Kari asked, trying not to sound scared. In truth, this human had her more terrified than any of the digimon she had faced.
"My son, Josh. Or Gail. Jake. Kristen. WHERE?"
"You're hurting me!"
"Oh, I'll do more than that, little girl." Michael sneered. "Josh would vanish for days on end, then the rest of the family seemed to follow him. And I think you know something about it. Now talk!" He held her D-3 under her nose. "He had something like this. Is this how you keep in touch?" He sneered again. "You don't seem like his type."
Her fear managed to translate itself into anger. "I'm just trying to get him and his family away from you, you sick pervert!" she half-shouted. It ended with a wince as Michael tightened his grip further.
"How noble. Well, I suppose if I can't have them back...I could replace them, eh?" His head shot forward, almost hitting Kari's. She missed the splintering noise that proceeded it. She did notice the slackening of the grip on her shoulder. Michael stood up, turned to face the newcomer.
"Get the hell away from her." Izzy growled, broken chair in his hands.
Pokemon world.
Agumon fairly tore out of the digiport, wild-eyed. "Josh? JOSH!"
By some miracle, Josh was headed back to the digital port himself, pleased that he had managed to find a place to move everyone. Everyone in Stone Town seemed more than willing to help. "Agumon? What-" He stopped. He had seen that look before...
Eight months ago...
Josh tore through the portal, winced as he felt his ankle twist slightly, and looked into the living room of his home of 10 years.
Michael, fist clenched, ending bit of a shout coming from his lips, stood over his mother. Josh's hand fell on a metal item; a fireplace poker, he found out later, and he charged his dad, screaming.
Seven months...
"You, sir, shall be remanded to a minimum security penitentiary for a period of five months."
Michael snarled at the judge. "That little punk attacked ME!"
"After you tried to kill mom." Josh replied hotly.
"That a challenge? Oh, I am going to ENJOY BREAKING YOU, YOU LITTLE-"
"ENOUGH!" the judge roared. "Bailiff, take him away!"
Josh and Michael glared at each other. Both knew that this wasn't over.
Present
"I'm ending this. Now."
Real World
Izzy still gripped one chair leg in his hand, staring at Michael. "Well," the older man said, "I suppose you're some sort of knight in shining amour? Walk away, she's already tossed you over for my insolent son."
Snarling, Izzy ran forward; Michael snatched the chair leg from his hands, grabbed his arm, and tossed him aside. He keeled over a second later as Gatomon buried a fist in his gut. Incredulous, Michale looked at the digimon, not sure what he was seeing.
Gatomon got a glance at Kari, saw her holding her shoulder. With a shriek, she jumped forward, claws extended. Michael reared back, but still received two long, jagged cuts to his face. Michael screamed back, and managed to back-hand Gatomon. Tentomon was still outside; Izzy had told him to find the rest of Josh's family.
Everyone missed the hissing noise the digiport made. And no one noticed when Josh entered the room a second later.
It took Josh about 2 seconds to analyze the situation. Michael was grappling with some redheaded kid. The girl he had met in Stone Town a short while back was lying against the wall, clutching her shoulder. And there was a weird looking white cat lying by her.
"It's a shame there's no fireplace poker around, dad." Josh growled.
Michael stopped, glanced at Josh. "So, these are who you've been hanging around with. You never introduce me to your friends anymore, boy."
"I'll introduce you...to your undertaker." Josh replied with the last bit of rational thought in his mind. That bit left a few seconds later as he charged Michael.
"Hello? Josh's family?" Tentomon called, flying around. "You here? HELLO?"
"Over here!" someone whispered. Curious, Tentomon flew over. "You're one of those digimon things, right?" a girl's voice asked.
"Yes." Tentomon answered. "My name's Tentomon. Are you Josh's sister?"
"You know Josh?" Kristen asked.
"Yes. Come on, we have to get you out of here!"
"But...he's back in..."
If Tentomon had human eyes, they would have widened. "Kari's in there...and Izzy!"
Jake shot up. "He's not hurting anyone else. Come on!"
Josh's initial rush of anger had given away to surprise; Michael was easily overpowering him. "Well? Is this all your rage has to offer? Feel better with a fireplace poker?" With a grunt, he shoved Josh away. "I'm feeling a lot of anger right now. Mind if I vent on you for a while?" Josh didn't reply, instead kneeing Michael. He backed up, then head butted the man, right on the nose. Josh backed up, then stared, stunned as the bloody nose he had just given Michael healed itself. "I guess deals with the devil do pay off." he mused, grabbing Josh by the face and shoving him away.
"What are you?"
"Kari..." Gatomon whispered, just coming to. "He...he smells like the Dark Ocean and...Demon..."
Josh heard that. "Nothing new there. I knew you were too much of a wuss to do anything on your own."
"Shut up."
"I mean, you always got off on making other people do what you wanted. I can't believe how long it took me to realize how pathetic you are."
"SHUT UP!" Michael roared, lunging forward. His speed caught Josh off guard, being struck on the chin. Josh spun around and fell down, staggered by the force of the blow. "I'll finish you, then I'll find the rest of my family, and take care of them too! Well? Are you still laughing?" He bent down, and grabbed Josh by the back of his shirt collar. "I can't hear you!"
"Michael!" a woman's voice called. Michael turned around, and saw Gail, Jake, and Kristen.
"Ha ha." Jake snarled. "Do it!"
"SUPER SHOCKER!" Tentomon yelled, firing an electrical blast. It struck Michael square in the chest, shook him violently for a second, then dropped him on the ground.
"Tentomon?" Izzy groaned, getting up.
"Izzy! I was so worried about you!" Tentomon flew to the arms of his partner.
Izzy looked up, still a bit woozy. "You...attacked him."
Tentomon shrugged. "He attacked you. I don't see a problem."
"I...Kari!" Izzy got up, and made his way over to Kari. "Kari? Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Kari said quietly.
"It's over." Gail said quietly. "Tentomon told us about Stone Town. And I'm tired of this place. Let's get our things and go."
"It's not done." Josh said. "We can't leave him here."
"Yeah, and the police will believe us when we say a giant beetle flew over and attacked him with a lightning bolt." Kristen glared at Josh. "It's over. Leave him."
"So he can go after someone else?" He glanced at Kari. "We should make sure that he never does this again."
Gail was about to ask what Josh meant by that when a wave of foulness filled the room. "Touching." Murmuxmon said. "But I'm not done with him. Or you, either." The undead digimon waved a hand, and the entire Herrera family vanished. "Don't worry, I'm not one of Demon's stoolies. But I do plan to replace him. Keep that in mind, if you plan a rescue." Murmuxmon vanished, laughing softly.
To be continued!
Next time:
Seeing the potential power inside of Josh, Murmuxmon manipulates him and Michael into a final battle. Now the rest of Josh's family must try to save him from Michael, Murmuxmon, and himself. And who is the strange digimon that offers help to them? Can they trust a digimon who has spent his life in the Dark Ocean? Next time, on Digicross, Episode 41:
'Force 3! Socramon!'