Spirited

Chapter 4: Return and Ransom.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story, nor the places or names.
Digimon Tamers is owned by Toei Animation.Thoughts or non-vocal explanation.

"Speech"

'Quote'

Real World (En Route):

I can't believe that I'm doing this Thought Yamaki as he drove the van, that had acted as a miniature version of Hypnos while the D-reaper attacked, around another curve in the road. When did I go from being the head of Hypnos to being a chauffeur to a bunch of digital misfits and their partners, I swear that if it wasn't for the others back there I'd kill those two and dump their bodies on the side of the road. His thought directed mostly towards Kazu and Kenta, who had been nothing but an annoyance to him and most of the other passengers the entire trip.

"WILL YOU TWO BE QUIET!" Shouted Yamaki as they once again began to work on his last nerve, Guilmon who had been sleeping most of the trip woke up at Yamaki's shout sleepily asked "Mr.Yamaki, are we there yet.", "Not just yet, but we will be there in a few minutes" Under his breath he added "thankfully".

Renamon, who had ignored Kazu and Kenta's excited babbling about getting their partners back and seeing the others again, turned her thoughts back towards her partner, Rika, I hope you are alright, If anything has happened to you because I was not there to help you I would not know what to do. She sighs, remembering how she was ripped away from Rika and almost forced back into being a wild one to survive without her.

"It's about time, I don't think I could stand another ten minutes listening to those two babble on." Said Terriermon who then paused, then sighed, It's not the same, or as fun, without Henry to scold me afterwards, It was always fun to help him calm down when things were getting too tense. Lopmon, who was sitting beside Terriermon remained quite quiet as she thought about Suzie and the others, Please be alright Suzie, until I had met you all I had known was battle, manners, and my wish to serve the Sovereign. You filled my life more than anything else, you filled it with love, caring, and innocents things which I had not seen nor had and wished to protect, which I will protect

Guilmon to was thinking about his partner, but his thoughts were troubled, his feelings of joy towards towards seeing Takato were mixed with a feeling of foreboding, Something is wrong, Takato won't be there, I just know it, just as I know he would want to be if he did know. But as his stomach growled his thoughts turned, somewhat but not entirely, towards filling his belly. "I'm hungry, can we get some bread please?" He asked, hoping to fill his stomach while also calm it and himself down.

"Here you go, we packed food just in case this happened" Said Yamaki's assistant Megumi, who was sitting the back to try to keep things under control while Yamaki drove and Reika tried to help Yamaki by trying to navigate.

Megumi passed the bread around to everyone, including Yamaki and Reika, then sat back to watch the scenery, Jeri who had come along as well to help keep Kazu and Kenta under control was also thinking about the others, as well as her place in the group.

I hope that they are alright, I know how they must have felt when their partners were taken from them, but thankfully they were able to come back, that is, all except, Leomon. Maybe one day he will come back like the Digimon from the show, but until then, can I really call myself a Tamer? Am I still part of the group, or just a tag-a-long that they decided to take pity on? No, I can't think like that, not anymore, thinking like that will only make things worse, make it so that what he did was in vain after all. He said I had 'a lion's heart', I won't be the one to prove him wrong. Uh, oh, one turn like that and Gaurdromon is probably going to fall right on Kazu's head, I told him that he should probably secure him if Gaurdromon was going to shut himself down the entire trip. Jeri then quietly grabbed and held on to Gaurdromon as the van turned another corner.

MarineAngemon who had been sleeping in Kenta's pocket woke up then and poked his head out, he (she?) then made a small "Pui, Pui." sound towards his partner, trying to get his attention, "Oh, you want some bread too MarineAngemon?", MarineAngemon nodded his head in reply, "Here you go then, but be careful not to take to big of a bite and remember to chew, Okay." Said Kenta as he handed MarineAngemon a piece of his bread.

Then for the fiftieth time that trip Kazu began to rant, "Dude, this is going to be so cool, getting the gang back together again, well almost, it's to bad Ryo had to stay behind to make sure nothing happened", he stopped as he realized that no one, not even Kenta was listening to him again. "Hey, aren't you guys excited about seeing your partners again?" He asked as he finally began to munch on his piece of bread, Terriermon answered "Of course we are, but you reminding us every five minutes kind of kills the joy, besides, it's not like they forgot about us or something, right?"

He paused but before anyone could even register what he had said Yamaki finally called out from the front the two words everybody, including himself, wanted him to say, "We're here!".

Spirit World: Takato's Pov:

What's going on? thought Takato Matsuki numbly as the Yu-bird carried him to Yubaba, it didn't really want to but what Yubaba would do to it if it failed to bring her the boy, especially when Yubaba was in such a foul mood.

Of course, Takato didn't know that so he began to try to get free, "Let go of me this instant, you won't get away with this!" shouted Takato as he struggled, the Yu-bird on the other hand just tapped his shoulder with a talon then used that same talon to point towards the increasingly distant ground.

"Okay, don't' let me go." The Yu-bird ignored Takato's remark and continued to fly towards Aburaya. Wait a second, that is the building that was making so much smoke, I wonder if that where whoever or whatever lured us here lives.

Rika and Henry's Pov:

Meanwhile, Rika and Henry followed the Yu-bird as fast as they could, "Hurry up, Einstein they're getting away." said Rika as she continued Henry by his shirt, "You do know that rushing like this might end up only making things worse." Henry replied as he tried to pick up the pace, Rika just scowled at that, "And if we don't hurry who ever took him could have done who knows what to him so I would just be quiet if I were you, got that!", the growl in Rika's voice wasn't hidden by her words, Henry could tell that this entire fiasco was rubbing Rika the wrong way, I hope whoever is behind this has life insurance because their won't be much left if whoever it is keep this up, Rika will probably tear them from limb to limb without even renamon's help.

They continued to run as the Yu-bird finally reached Aburaya.

Yubaba's Office:

Yubaba was pacing, her Yu-bird should have been back with the human by now and she was getting impatient. Where is that stupid bird, if it comes back without that human brat I'll have it stuffed and served to the guests, for free since no one would eat it otherwise. Yubaba's thought was cut short as she heard the rustle of feathers and Takato's shouts.

"Take me back, I have nothing you want so why take me here!" Shouted Takato at the Yu-bird who by now had developed a pounding headache, "That bird brought you here because I told it to, you fool boy, now why don't you come in" That voice, it's the same one that… Takato's thought was stopped mid-track as a invisible force pulled him through some doors and into a room inside the building, once he regained some orientation he saw the Yu-bird become a fly which then promptly hid itself inside his hood as he was forcefully turned to face an short old woman in a billowing dress with a long nose and large rings on her fingers.

She must be the one behind this. "What do you want with me?" asked Takato but all he got from her was a "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk" as she used her magic to pin him onto the wall, "Do children these days have any manners?", she stopped Takato from answering by sealing his mouth with a motion of her hand, just as she had with Chihiro, "As soon as you entered the spirit world I could feel your power easily and could see that the crystal was right."

Power? Spirit world? What is she talking about? I don't have any power, and what does all this have to do with a crystal? Thought Takato as he hung from the was like painting,"You see, I'm the owner of this bathhouse, the place where the spirits come to refresh and recharge themselves, but since my last apprentice quit, I needed a new one, you just happened to be the best candidate." Yubaba explained with a slight snicker, but Takato didn't notice since what she had surprised him, She wants me to be her apprentice? And what does she mean by, 'spirits' does she mean ghosts or something? Does this have something about the power I supposedly have?

Yubaba then turned away from Takato, "I'll give you some time to think things over, but in the meantime please be quiet, my little baby Boh is sleeping in the other room and I don't want anything to disturb him.", Yubaba then snapped her fingers and left her office to get things ready for when Takato's friends arrived at the front door.

After she had snapped her fingers Takato found he could move his lips again but she had left before he could as any questions, he now looked around at Yubaba's office, on the other side of the room was Yubaba's desk, her (head) henchmen who were sleeping, and the curtain door to Boh's room, to his left was the patio doors he had been brought in through and to his right were the doors that Yubaba had left through.

He struggled against the magical bonds that held him to the wall but couldn't budge, then he saw the curtains across the room move.

"Is mama gone?" asked a child like voice from behind the curtains, "Yes she's gone" answered Takato relaxing slightly at the voices innocence, He kind of reminds me of Guilmon thought Takato, "You're Boh aren't you?" Takato asked, now calmer then he had been, "Yes, mama doesn't let Boh play or go on adventures, when she is around she does everything she can to make sure I don't get hurt, so I can't go on any adventures or play with anyone." Replied Boh, who was still behind the curtain door, "If you want I'll play with you Boh, but you mother has me stuck to the wall so it might not be that fun."

That is when Boh finally stepped out from behind his curtain door, and now that he had gotten a good look at Boh Takato thought Whoa, little is kind of an understatement, Boh isn't like Guilmon, he's more like Growlmon than anyone else I know.

Looking at Takato's face Boh asked "Your not scared of me? Why is that?" Takato, surprisingly not fazed by the question answered, "I'm not scared Boh because I have a friends who bigger than you are, and probably just as strong".

Then Takato asked, "So what game do you want to play Boh?" Boh simply replied "Hide and seek, but since your stuck one the wall I will stick something out for you to see okay?" Takato, having no idea how this was going to work went along with it, "Sure, that sounds fine."

As he finished the Yu-bird(fly) flew out from his hood, Boh then transformed into a large, chubby, mouse with white fur and a long tail, the Boh mouse then signaled Takato to close his eyes, Takato did so and the game began.

Aburaya Entrance:

Henry was panting heavily, he definitely wasn't out of shape but after running through the forest, then across a large field with only a small break between at breakneck speeds wasn't something he was used to, at least not since the Digimon left. But he didn't have time to think about it since Rika was still almost dragging him by his shirt towards the big building that strange bird flew into, Now that I think about it, that building looks a lot like an old Bathhouse, this must be one of those old abandoned theme parks I heard about, but then again, if it was abandoned then there wouldn't be smoke from any of the buildings. This definitely where that bird took Takato, or at least a place where we can find out where to go, only if Rika stops to ask that is. Henry's thoughts stopped once they reached the edge of the park (village), Rika on the other hand was having thoughts of her own, ones Henry had no clue about.

If that gogglehead has gone and gotten himself injured by the time I get there I'll kill him, no one but ME gets away with hurting him without my permission. Then as they rounded the last corner to Aburaya, Yubaba's toads ambushed them and tried to capture them, three of them grabbed Henry and were able to subdue him, Rika on the other hand kept running right through the mob of toads and even managed to knock one over the edge of the bridge. Rika stormed her way through the toads punching some in the face while kicking others in various places.

She ran right through the baths to the elevators where Lyn was just stepping out, as soon Lyn got out of the elevator Rika pushed her to the side as she got in with a quick "Get out of my way!", Rika then slammed the lever to the elevator up and the doors closed.

After a long wait to get to the top, an impatient Rika turned to the front doors to Yubaba's rooms, she braced herself then rammed through the first door, just as it opened for her. Rika stumbled but didn't fall, she watched as the other doors opened, as they did she quickly ran through them with only one thought on her mind, I'm going to find you Gogglehead then whoever is behind this is so going to pay.

Rika quickly reached the final door, inside the room she could hear counting, but the voice was too muffled for her to hear that it was Takato's. Rika backed up then ran at the door, when she hit it the door broke and she crashed to the floor. The sudden crash startled the Boh (mouse), the Yu-bird (fly), and Takato who was still pinned to the wall. When he turned his head to see what caused the crash he soon saw Rika who was just getting up, and a slightly steamed Yubaba standing behind her.

"Rika, look out!" yelled Takato as he tried to warn her but Yubaba was too quick, Yubaba used her magic to pin Rika to the wall right beside Takato as some of her toads brought in a tied and gagged Henry. Yubaba's henchmen (heads), rolled themselves over to her and began to make bobbling sounds, Boh and the Yu-bird, who had hid under a nearby cushion, got out from underneath it. The Yu-bird then flew Boh up to Takato and both quickly hid in his hood, wanting to see what would happen while also not wanting to get caught or punished for playing around.

Yubaba quickly zipped Rika's lips then began to speak, "Things would have been easier for you and me if you had smarter friends you know, now I have to deal with them…" Takato interrupts Yubaba, trying to defend his friends, "They are not stupid you witch, they are great friends I would do anything for them."

At this Yubaba just smirked, "You really should learn some manners you know, all of you." The last statement was directed just as much to Takato and his friends as to her employee's who were standing by the door, "Don't all of you have some work to do?" asked Yubaba in feigned innocence, the toads just quickly replied with "Yes, Mam" before quickly running out of the room, with that Yubaba continued, "Usually, I deal with uninvited guests by turning them into pigs or some other animal…" she paused as everyone but the hiding Boh and Yu-bird gasped at her words, "… but I'll make a deal with you boy, become my apprentice, and I will let your friends go once they pay off their debts to me from the damages they caused, or you refuse and I turn you into a bunch of little piglets!" Yubaba then demonstrates this by starting to turn one of her 'heads' into a large pig, the two heads beside it move away as the newly formed pig squeals, then is turned back into a head, "So boy, what's your choice, I'll give you ten more seconds to decide. 10…"

Thoughts raced through Takato's mind I can't let her do that to Rika or Henry, but what about mom and dad, and Guilmon, should I abandon them, can I abandon any of them, Rika and Henry to be pigs or break my promise to Guilmon permanently and probably never see my parents again, what should I do?...

"…9…"

Rika's mind was also spinning with thoughts, No way, I can be a pig, what would my mother or even Renamon say? But I also can't leave Takato here with this witch, who knows what she would do to him, besides she probably never let him go. No he has more to lose saying yes to that witch then I do him saying no, he should escape, get out of here, he has probably a better chance of finding a way to help us than he does helping himself get free. It's not worth it Takato, were not worth it, just say NO

"…8…"

Henry on the other hand, thought his mind was also a blur with thoughts, wasn't thinking about Takato, Rika, or himself. I hope Dad, Suzie and the other are all right because it looks like they will have to do without me for at least a little while, guess you are going to have both Lopmon and Terriermon now Suzie, keep yourself out of trouble for me.

"…7…"

Takato nervously looked around the room, at Henry, at Rika, even at Yubaba, trying find something to help him decide, he didn't find a thing.

"…6…"

Rika tugged and struggled at her invisible bonds, trying to break free and break the witch before her.

"…5…"

Henry let out a short resigned sigh, and got comfortable for his possible end.

"…4…"

The Yu-bird and Boh looked at each other then from behind Takato's head at Yubaba, trying to decide weather or not she lying or telling the horrid truth about what she would do.

"…3…"

Sweat rolled down the side of Takato's head his breathing getting tight with the tension building in the air, his fate and that of his friends rested on his decision, and he had to make the right one.

"…2…"

Sorry mom, dad, and especially you Guilmon it looks like I'll have to break my promise, but I can't let her harm my friends. In his mind, he saw Guilmon slip away again, this time he thought, truly forever.

"…1…"

"STOP, I'll do it, I'll be your apprentice." Said Takato as he hung his head low because of what he had done, Rika turned to Takato and the only thing see could think was Takato….

End Chapter 4