Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Digimon seasons or any of its characters. The plotline is based off a Manga titled "Penguin Brothers", which has not been licensed in America. I don't own that either.
Shades of Gray: Chapter 4
"Business?" inquired Sora. "So you're going to help us out?"
"Oh no," the sixth grader shook her head. "I'm not going to help out that easily."
Figures… a girl with a broken-hearted shirt helping us? Yeah… Sora thought sarcastically in her mind.
"This is so weird…" Takuya commented quietly.
"What is?" Izumi asked.
"We're taking orders under a girl who shouldn't have this much authority…"
Ruki snapped, "I heard that. Don't make me hurt you."
"Yes ma'am…"
Ah, this is going to take a while…
Sora came home with full determination in her mind. Tomorrow, the plan would go well under way. The mission: convert a majority of kids from both sides into Grays. By reaching a goal of three hundred students, Ruki would then pitch her team, the Tamers, into play. According to her, they could be very influential.
"I'm testing to see how well you'll do," Ruki smiled. "Since this wasn't the first attempt…"
"It wasn't the first attempt…" Sora whispered, staring at the ceiling fan. "Who started it…?"
She became worried. If the first attempt hadn't succeeded, what were the chances of succeeding this time? The Gray embraced her pillow, digging her face into comfortable warmth.
Ring! Ring!
"Hello?" the redhead rubbed her eyes.
"Are you crazy?" Jyou shouted on the other line. "You're going to change three hundred students into Grays in just a week?'
Sora winced and placed the phone five inches away from her ear. "I'm not deaf, Jyou. And yes, I am planning to do that. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll be simple to changed one hundred fifty from each school…"
"Yeah, that's what Mimi thought too."
"What?" Sora became wide-awake. She sat up quickly. "Tachikawa… Mimi?"
"She was a Gray too… You can tell she's into fashion and stuff, right?"
"Heh, yeah…"
"But there was too much pressure… and she couldn't handle all those pranks those kids did to her, so she eventually turned into a White."
So she's the one Koushiro-kun is sad about…"Alright, thanks Jyou. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Click.
Sora held a grin to her face. Tachikawa Mimi… you're my first target!
"New girl!" Taichi called in the hallway. "Stop right there!"
Sora glanced behind her shoulder. "I don't have time for you!"
The chocolate-haired boy marched towards her and slammed her into the nearest lockers. "I wouldn't repeat that if I were you."
Sora shoved him away, her crimson orbs glaring furiously at him. "I don't have time for you!"
A hand shot out and slammed her into the lockers behind her. A dent formed and her head throbbed. The locker combination lock scraped across her neck. Taichi's hand was placed neatly over her eyes and his fingers nicely fitted over her forehead. His grip tightened. "I warned you."
Sora felt her legs weakened as her head compacted. Her hands grabbed his arm in attempt for release. She gasped as she felt blood slowly strolling down her neck. The Gray did the first thing that came into her mind.
"Digging your nails won't hurt me," the Black sneered. "Now, where are you going that's more important than me?"
"I think a lot of things are more important than you," a calm voice intervened.
Sora slumped to the ground, her eyes focusing upon her savior.
"Ishida…" Taichi said with hatred. "Is this girl important to you?"
"She's nothing to me," Yamato spat. "It's fun to ruin your games."
"I'm touched you'd take the time," he retorted. "Makes me feel respected."
"Yagami-senpai!" Daisuke ran up to him, stopping him from pursuing the Gray. "The soccer team needs you."
Sora's mind went dizzy. Mimi… where are you? Sora wondered. I need to find you… She forced herself up, leaning against the lockers for support. She stumbled through the crowd, until she spotted something out of placed. Pink hair…
"Ow!" her high-pitched voice yelped. "Hey, where are you taking me?"
Sora dragged her through the crowd and went into the restroom. "Mimi, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it…?" she asked slowly, checking each stall before turning around to her.
"Do you want to become a Gray again?"
Her chestnut orbs held a short glimmer. "Oh, I don't know, Sora…"
The Gray pleaded. "I know you want to, Mimi! You like wearing your own style, right? That's why you complimented my outfit the first day! You don't like wearing the same thing each day, do you? Ah…"
Sora winced and bent down on her knees. Her fingers found the area on the back of her head that held dry blood.
"Oh my gosh! Sora, what happened?" Mimi gently touched the wound. "Here, let me treat that for you."
Moments later, a nice white bandage was placed on the back of Sora's neck. The pain slowly vanquished.
"Thanks," Sora smiled. "So, how bout it?"
She's persistent Mimi sighed. "But Sora, I don't want to go through all that pain and embarrassment again…"
"Okay," Sora nodded in understanding. "How about, if I round up around ten more Grays today, and then have three of them be your body guard? Eventually you'll be able to roam freely if the Gray's population increases."
The White thought for a moment. "Okay, if you get ten Grays, I'll join."
"Yes!" Sora hugged her. "Thanks so much! Now, if I could just have your signature on this piece of paper…"
"Miyako!" Koushiro called. "Hi!"
"Oh!" she bowed, "It's so nice to meet you! You're President of the Computer Club! I'm honored!"
"Ehehe," he smiled sheepishly. "How would you like to become a Gray?"
Miyako blinked. "Me?"
"Yep," he nodded. "If you sign here and become a Gray, I promise to promote you to Vice-President of the Computer Club. It'll look great on your college application…"
"Really?" her eyes flashed stars. "Thank you!" she quickly signed.
"Koushiro!" Sora called. "I got a few others… how about you?"
"I just got Miyako in," he gave a thumbs up. "That makes… a total of nine?"
"One more, and Mimi's in," Sora smiled. "I'm off to go find others!"
"Wait, what about Mimi…?" Koushiro asked, but the girl quickly ran off. "…"
Miyako inquired, "Mimi's going to be a Gray? She's so nice! And she can really sing, too!"
"I know…" he smiled. "She might be Sora's trump card."
"Heads up!"
"Huh?" Sora glanced up at the soccer ball and quickly gave it a head-butt before it smacked her.
"Oh, it's you," Daisuke glared. "I shouldn't have given you that warning."
Hmm… Sora grinned. "Hey, how about a challenge, Motomiya?"
"No way would I go against a Gray."
"Oh really? I guess you're too chicken for a soccer match…" she slowly turned away.
He grabbed her shoulder. "Wait, what's the challenge?"
"Hehe," she giggled. "Let's go, one-on-one. If I can make three goals before you, you'll agree to sign up and become a Gray."
"And what if you don't win?"
"Then… I'll see what I can do for you," she tilted her head. "Anything you're interested in."
"Wow, we already have twenty-five Grays!" Jyou pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.
"Twenty-seven, including Mimi and Daisuke," Sora added, walking in. "How about the other school?"
Koushiro smiled. "They got around fifty-three."
"Wow!" Sora blinked. "They're doing good! How'd they get so many?"
"Takuya mentioned something about having Kouji ask his fan club a favor of becoming a Gray."
"I didn't think he'd do such a thing…"
"Me neither, I guess Izumi convinced him with something…"
Mimi peeked in from behind the door. She appeared in a blue, red, and white shirt with a yellow star in the center. It's length stopped a little above her naval. Her white skirt fell down to her mid-thighs. White matching boots with red straps rolled up to her knees. "How do I look?"
"Amazing…" Koushiro whispered, almost mesmerized.
"What he said," Sora giggled. "I'm surprised your mom was able to drop you off clothes on such short notice!"
"Ah," she blushed. "It's no problem. Anyway, what did you need me for?"
"I want you to sing for your fans," Sora winked. "And then offer an autograph in exchange for becoming a Gray."
"What the hell?" Taichi nearly fell out of his chair. "What is this?"
He looked down below the school and saw a crowd assembling before the platform. Mimi stood in the center, with a microphone placed in her hands. "Hello everyone!"
"She's gorgeous!" a girl exclaimed.
A boy whistled. "You're hot!"
"Is she going to sing?"
"I heard she has such a beautiful voice!"
"Hey!" Mimi winked. "How about a song for all you people?"
The crowd cheered, and Taichi stared blankly with his mouth opened. What is this? he thought. His eyes unveiled a few Grays in the crowd, amongst the Whites and the Blacks. They weren't fighting… just paying attention to the Tachikawa girl. And they were against her when she was a Gray…
Yagami Taichi didn't like it one bit.
"I hope you liked my song…" the singer said timidly.
The boys nearly melted.
"You're so awesome!"
"Hey, I have an idea," Mimi said innocently. "Does anyone want an autograph? A handshake? A… kiss?"
"A kiss?" Koushiro nearly choked on his water. "When was this part of the plan?"
Sora sweatdropped. "I'm sure she means nothing of it."
"Hey, I want a kiss!" a boy shouted.
"Alrighty," she said in a low voice. "But there's a catch. I need you all to sign this paper and…"
The hoard rushed to the paper, nearly biting it off her fingers.
"You'll all become Grays," she smiled, pecking the boy on the cheek. "Isn't this such a good deal?"
The boys nodded feverishly.
"Oh boy…" Koushiro sighed.
"Koushiro!" Taichi demanded. "What's going on here?"
"Well, you see…"
"We're turning the tables," Sora filled in. "I'm converting all of yours and Yamato's people into Grays."
"And I didn't know of this because…"
"Because it's worth it to see your reaction," she stuck her tongue out.
Taichi's eyes widened. "That face…"
"Huh? What face?"
"Is this a challenge?" Yamato inquired from behind. He leaned against the rail coolly, his cerulean eyes gazing down amongst the event. "You're very impressive."
A student sat in the library researching the student database run by the Computer Club. Everyone had been too preoccupied with the little 'concert' Sora had brought up.
Yagami Taichi, Leader of the Blacks. Hair and eye color are chestnut brown, and his skin is fairly tanned. Age is seventeen years old. Proclaimed Captain of the Odaiba High School Soccer Team. His attitude is short and stubborn, but can hold his temper at certain times. He likes to play rough and is strict about deserving respect. He has always grown up in Tokyo.
Ishida Yamato, Leader of the Whites. Hair is blonde and eyes an amazing hue of blue. Age is also seventeen years old. Leader singer and guitarist in his band, "The Teenage Wolves." Also somewhat involved and high ranked in the Odaiba High School Swimming Team. He keeps to himself, and is quite protective of people at times. He, too, has lived here since he was born.
Takenouchi Sora, the fairly new girl amongst the Grays. Hair is auburn, and eyes a mysterious tone of crimson. Age is sixteen. Ranked as one of the best soccer players amongst the school and also one of the most athletic. She is quick-minded and stubborn, but is able to control her temper. She has traveled to many places, most previously Paris, France. Her hometown is unknown.
"Hometown is unknown?" the person inquired. "But she's from here!"
"Calm down," the girl next to him whispered. "We'll find out what happened to her."
"I hope so."
"A challenge sounds good," Sora said confidently. "If I am able to change half this school's population into Grays, you'll both agree to stand up on stage, burn your uniforms, and shake hands proposing the segregation is dead and that you have surrendered your power."
Taichi's chocolate eyes glared at Yamato, and then rolled over to Sora. "Then if you lose, you will leave this place and never return."
"Give me two months," the redhead met on with the glare. "And we'll see the outcome."
"Fine," Taichi extended his hand. "I'm game."
"Me too," Sora reached out and shook his hand, and then turned to Yamato. "How about it?"
He nodded silently, extending his arm to shake her hand. "Deal."
To Be Continued...