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 9
"There was in increase in Grays, since Jun turned to one of us," Koushiro examined. "Good work, Sora!"
She waved her hands, "Ahh, I'm sure it wasn't that much."
"You got the entire cheerleading squad," Jyou smiled. "And some girls… who are very devoted to Jun."
Jun walked up to them. "Hey guys."
"Jun!" Sora chirped happily, as if they were never rivals in the first place. "Your change helped our cause a lot!"
"That's good to know," she said in an uncaring tone Sora didn't seem to catch. Sora went on next Koushiro and started to look at the graphs of the current population of Grays.
"You know I don't care much about this revolution," the new Gray mumbled to Jyou, "I'm not wanting to be a fellow partner, so don't expe--"
"You'd be more than happy to help recruit some people?" Jyou said loudly. "That's GREAT, Jun!"
The girl twitched, but then met up with the shining eyes of Sora. "Uh…"
"Yay!" the redhead held up a list, "It would be great if you could get some of them today…"
Jyou snatched the list and handed it to Jun. "It's an honor to have you amongst us! Everyone looks up to you!"
I'm going to send something venomous to you one day… she glared at him. Jyou laughed nervously.
"Oh no…" Miyako kept her eyes looking out the window towards the front of the school. "They're here."
"Who's here?" Mimi bounced up next to her Gray friend. Her eyes widened at the sight. "… Shit. Where's Sora?"
"There seems to be some trouble," Koushiro stammered as he peered out the window.
"What is it?" asked Taichi. He got up and also looked out the window. "Didn't you say that you and Takenouchi raided Alice's mansion a few days ago?"
"I don't think it's Zack's gang," the brunette's friend looked through his files about Alice. "I think… she had multiple boyfriends," he sweatdropped. "That's what her friends have said, anyway."
"They were just after her money," he sighed.
Koushiro nodded. "Yeah, I guess if they get revenge on Alice, they'll feel that they will be rewarded or something."
The Black Leader cracked his knuckles. "Well, you know I can't resist a fight…"
"I suggest you run far, far away," Juri tried to pull Sora away from the window. "It'll be safer at my middle school…"
"I can't just run away from a fight!" Sora's eyes glimmered. "Think of all the Grays we could get out of this!"
Jyou added, "And then, you should think about the bloodshed we could get out of this too. Sora, you really probably shouldn't get into this… It's very dangerous, look at all the wooden and metal bats they're holding!"
The girl refused. "Since when is Takenouchi Sora scared?"
"You're kind of twitching," Mimi observed. "You should play it safe. It wouldn't be good if you were hurt."
"But I…" Suddenly, the redheaded Gray was smacked straight into the ground. "OW!"
"You really should get out of my way," an all-familiar voice sniggered. "Letting your guard down – as usual."
"Why you!" Sora swung a fist at him, which he easily dodged. This went on for a few minutes…
"Taichi!" Koushiro had come running from a corner. "I've found you!"
"It seems so," he flinched as both he took a slap from the girl. "What is it?"
"The crowd… they're yelling for you and Sora!"
"What, why me?" Taichi loosened his grip on Sora. "Not that I mind a fight or anything."
"I think Zack was one of their gang's subdivision…" the boy explained. "Payback."
"That's very convenient," the mop-head muttered. "Guess I should get going."
Mimi pointed out the window. "You know that's certain death, right? How stupid can you get?"
"Do you know who you're talking to?" and he sent a glare that could kill. "I'm just going to – hey, let go!"
Several minutes and struggles later, Taichi was nicely tied together by a rope provided by Koushiro. He, knowing Taichi well enough to act before thinking, decided to stop his attempts. "Sorry Taichi, but I really can't let you out there. You also risk getting Sora in danger too."
"Don't think you'll get away with this, Koushiro!" the leader spat at his friend. "You trai—mmph!"
The boy had sealed his lips with a nice piece of duct tape. "Yeah, yeah, stop rambling already." He then dragged him into a classroom and tied him against the intercom pole.
"You know, even if we call the cops and have them arrested, they'll get back at us when they come back," said Miyako, rubbing her chin.
Sora leaned against the wall. "We need someone to scare them off. Permanently."
"What about Ichijouji Ken?" Mimi spoke. "His Kaiser Knuckles could easily scare those people off any day."
"Not enough…" Koushiro sighed. "We need Hikari too."
Taichi's eye twitched.
That name sounds familiar… Sora closed her eyes. Hikari…
"Ken rarely comes to school," Miyako crossed her arms. "I doubt we can get him over here in time, if he'll even come."
"I think I saw Hikari this morning," Jyou pondered. "Let's go look for her first."
As the others left, Taichi blinked at what just happened. Was I just forgotten?
A beautiful violin rhapsody could be heard as Sora walked down the hallway. Her ears led her to the door from where the sound was emanating. Her hands pushed on the door, her eyes finding a young brunette girl dancing on the floor.
Beautiful… Sora closed her eyes, not noticing the tears falling from her eyes. It sounds familiar…
There was a click. Sora snapped out of her daze and wiped the tears away.
The girl smiled. "It's nice to see you again, Sora."
The Gray took a good look at her. "Hikari…?"
"Yeah!" she piped. "I'm happy you remember me. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Hikari's attire was not a black uniform. Instead, she donned slick black shorts with a matching electric pink tank top. Over this was a sleeveless black trench coat that fell a little below her knees.
Sora was astonished. "When did you turn Gray?"
"I was always a Gray," Hikari explained. "When I first met you, it seemed like I wore a black uniform, but it was all just regular black clothing so people wouldn't notice me. I try to avoid the crowd. I don't attend school much either."
"So… why are you here today?"
"Attendance," she sighed. "If I don't come, I won't be able to graduate."
"I see," Sora replied. "By the way, Jyou wanted to talk to you…"
A few minutes later, Sora found herself tied behind her back and on her ankle. "Hey! Why am I tied up?"
"Someone like you would probably jump into the fight," Mimi responded. "We don't want you to get hurt."
"Mm… but I need to go to the restroom!" Sora complained.
What the? Taichi twitched yet again. I need to use it too… why do they only untie her?
The girls followed Sora to the restroom in order to keep her from running away. Jyou and Koushiro had gone to talk with Hikari. Taichi was left behind, again.
Damn it… Huh?
Footsteps had been approaching the room he was tied in. The door slid open, revealing his savior.
He looked at him, helpless. His eyes widened as the boy held up a blade to him.
Jyou was down on his knees, begging for Hikari to help.
Koushiro leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he sighed at the scene.
"With your intelligence, you probably could've gotten rid of them," Hikari smirked.
"If I had time, I could've!" he snapped. "The whole school's surrounded; they can attack any time now! The only ones I could think of… were you and Ken."
"Because I'm the daughter of this family everyone fears me, isn't that why?" the girl replied. "I hate my family, and you're still asking for my help?"
"You have every right to be angry," Jyou nodded. "But I can only depend on you to help us."
"If you've come knowing all this…" Hikari grinned at Koushiro. "Would you leave a finger behind?"
Jyou twitched while Koushiro's eyes became beady, "W-What?"
Suddenly Ichijouji Ken came from behind Jyou, trapping him in a headlock. He wielded his three blades and clenched Jyou's right wrist. "It'll hurt, you know."
"How long have you been listening?" Koushiro asked.
"I've been around long enough to know the story," Ken replied. "We all know the only ones who can handle this are Hikari and me. Would you be willing to give up a finger for our help?" He sounded almost cynical. Almost.
"Fine!" Jyou exclaimed.
Hikari was taken aback.
"If one wants to seriously protect someone, they have to have this kind of commitment, right?" Jyou said firmly.
"When were you so reliable?" Ken spat. "Disgusting." And he released the boy – all fingers still attached.
Damn it, I can't escape with the windows locked… Sora pondered as she looked at the mirror. I guess it can't be helped. I'll wait till Koushiro comes back. She stepped outside, joining Mimi and the other girls who had been waiting for her.
"Here they come!" Miyako smiled. "Looks like Jyou got them to help us out."
"Excellent," Sora help up a victory sign. "So what makes Hikari our trump card?"
"Have you every heard of the Kamiya Clan?" Hikari went on without waiting for an answer. "It is one the largest Japanese female gang with members totaling over one thousand."
Sora sweatdropped. "Eh?"
"I am the daughter of the leader, Kamiya Hikaru."
"But aren't you and Taichi siblings?"
"We are, but because the Kamiya Clan is strictly female, he is not so notorious. To avoid this heir, I took my father's last name, Yagami, instead, and ran away to live elsewhere so my mother wouldn't force me into this."
Was it her apartment Taichi took me to when we got attacked…?"I am her bodyguard," Ken stepped up. "At least, Taichi asked me to look after her. Taichi helped me with a family issue, so I owe a huge favor to him. But don't get me wrong, I'm still a Gray, nothing more."
"That's why they're the only ones that can stop the gang outside," Miyako understood Jyou's motives.
"Uh, you guys?" Juri broke the conversation meekly. "Taichi's gone!"
"Don't worry, I placed a video camera in the plant pot just in case something like this happened," Koushiro shuffled through and unveiled the digital device.
Mimi hit him on the head. "That's not what matters right now! He's probably fighting outside!"
With that cue, everyone ran outside, leaving Koushiro alone to watch the evidence…
"Hello, police? I want to inform you that there is a brunette boy causing trouble in the front of Odaiba High School. Please take care of this problem immediately."
The boy placed a finger on the blinds, pushing down to see through to the fight about to begin. Yagami Taichi appeared a few minutes later. His fists were up and ready to battle.
"Thank you. After all, it is my obligation as the Student Council President to rid of all disturbances."
And he sat back in his chair, satisfied.
To Be Continued…