A recent reviewer was curious as to how I got the idea for this story. What started it all?
I suppose the short explanation is that I, like many other fans, felt that TRI had some great ideas to work with but utterly disappointed in its execution. Bringing in the Original Original Chosen Children? You have my interest! "Kidnapping" the 02 kids? I mean...I literally cannot remember the feeble excuse they gave for that mess of a subplot. Mimi returning to live in Japan full time for a bunch of slice of life shenanigans? Be still my heart. Mei? ...good lord, stop trying to tell me how "cute" I'm supposed to find her and her digimon and taking precious screen time away from the original cast. A viral infection spreading through digimon instead of yet another villain of the arc? Now you have my attention.
So, in my great hubris, I decided I wanted to expand on what worked for TRI, get rid of everything I believe didn't, and then add my own personal preferences and lore ideas into the narrative.
Have I gotten in over my head? Probably! But you know what? This story has gotten me through the worst parts of 2020, and I've been having a hella great time writing it. Which is ultimately what fanfiction should be about.
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DIGIMON TRI: BALANCE
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"The moon's almost full tonight."
Ruki looked up.
Ryo was right; though a tiny sliver remained hidden in shadow, the glowing orb gradually rising over the treetops was a near perfect circle. He was being sentimental again. She half expected him to next comment on how beautiful it looked.
During the earliest days of their friendship, Ruki would never have pegged him as the type. She tolerated his continued existence in her life and he offered verbal olive branches without waxing any poetry. But that was before he'd started traveling. She'd once joked that it was easier to tolerate him in short doses, and that was why they'd gradually been getting along better. Pockets of peace sprang up in the increasingly rare moments they spent together. Initially, with the rest of the Tamers. Then, one day-completely by chance-when it was just the two of them.
That was when she first noticed the change in him. In them both. The way he spoke to her. The way she responded. The fact that his words no longer caused frustration, but carried a vastly different significance. It startled her. Caused a greater unease than she allowed herself to show. Then he was gone again, and the next time he returned, her heart had been filled with the anticipation of his next inevitable departure. The more he came back, the more likely it was she would have to watch him leave.
And, worst of all, the longer he was away, the less she wished him gone.
He was still side-eyeing her. Waiting for her to say something back.
So she did: "What, worried about werewolves?"
If he was disappointed in any way, it didn't show. He never let it.
"Actually, I've been told the one we're set to meet is particularly friendly."
It took her a moment to recognize the deliberate wordplay. Her expression flattened.
"You are nowhere near as funny as you think you are."
He flashed her (what he believed to be) a charming grin. She rolled her eyes and turned away, less she risk giving him the satisfaction of whatever reaction he was looking for this time.
From a more tactical perspective, the almost-full moon made it easier to see the area around them. Large enough to accommodate while still remaining within eye-line. Takato and Ken had spent the last several minute hovering over the beginnings of a campfire. Stones were placed in a circle around depressed earth. Dry kindling had been gathered, though it remained suspiciously flame-less, smokeless, and ember-less. Takato tried striking the flint in his hands a dozen more times before Ken finally took pity and offered him a box of matches.
Around them, logs and tree stumps served as makeshift seats. Miyako sat on one of the latter, a pile of tree nuts in her lap, They'd brought rations, but she'd insisted on foraging during periods of downtime all the same. In between feeding herself, she tossed a few of the cashews into an exhausted Guilmon's open mouth, much to the Child digimon's delight.
Ruki's stomach actually rumbled at the sight.
"Oi! Ruki-nee-chan! Ryo-senpai!"
Unfortunately, any such thoughts were immediately pushed aside when Xiaochun inexplicably appeared at the far edge of the clearing. She was running towards them at full speed, unhindered by the weight of Lopmon in her arms.
"Xiao-chan?" Ruki blinked. Then blinked again, looking to Ryo. "Remind me again why do you get to be senpai?"
He shrugged. "Probably because she likes you more."
After a moment's consideration, Ruki decided she could find no fault with his reasoning.
Xiaochun came right up to them, looking extremely proud of herself for reasons Ruki could only guess. Her presence wasn't so great a surprise as it should have been. She had a history of randomly appearing in the Digital World, though Ruki suspected that wasn't going to sway the opinions of those she'd deliberately disobeyed to get here this time.
"Does Jian know you're here?" She took care to hide any amusement at the situation behind a mask of neutrality. Neither condoning nor condemning. "Because he's not going to be happy when he finds out you snuck past Juri again."
"Oh, we are well past that now." Jian muttered, coming up behind his little sister. The crease in his forehead was deep. His expression was haunted enough that he barely spared Xiaochun a second glare.
Ruki instantly knew something else was wrong.
"What is it, Jian?"
"Nothing." The answer came a little too quickly. He avoided eye contact by looking back over his shoulder. "It's just...when you guys see him, try not to make it obvious."
Ruki was confused. "Make what obvious?"
A twig snapped. Footsteps gathered at the edge of the clearing, crunching against dried grass and dirt.
Ruki and Ryo tensed, then eased when they realized Jian was waiting expectantly.
Moonlight reflected off a pair of rounded goggles, which Taichi promptly adjusted over his eyes as he came into view. He looked back and forth a few times between the Terriermon sitting atop Wallace's head, and the one trying to look adorably innocent at Jian's ankles. Friends and allies flanked him on both sides. Twelve in all, each accompanied by at least one digimon.
Glances were exchanged between Chosen and Tamer alike. Nobody said anything. Unsure, but more hesitant than hostile.
Guilmon peeked out from behind Takato's legs. Once he caught a glimpse of Agumon, his curiosity overrode any lingering shyness. He hobbled forward. Agumon responded in kind. With dozens of curious eyes watching, the two dinosaurs met halfway, each sniffing the other for several seconds before breaking into mirroring grins. They touched paws and shared a laugh.
That was all the confirmation Taichi needed. Smirking, he pushed his goggles on top of his head and extended a hand towards the boy he assumed to be Guilmon's partner. "Yagami Taichi."
Takato was all too happy to accept, clasping it with a surprisingly equal degree of strength. "Matsuda Takato. I know this is probably going to sound weird, but it's so cool to finally meet-"
Over Taichi's shoulder, Takato noticed the final member of the Chosen's group. Tall, reserved, and quietly bringing up the rear.
Leomon.
His eyes widened. A few meters back, Ruki's jaw dropped as Ryo did a double-take. Xiaochun looked unusually nervously between them.
"That's not obvious at all," Jian muttered dryly.
Leomon was quick to notice the several pairs of eyes staring at him. An eyebrow rose in silent question.
At the same time, Hikari though she heard a voice calling her name. When she turned towards the source, a silhouetted figure rose up from behind the campfire. It stepped closer to the light, and she recognized the face of her dear friend and jogress partner.
"Miyako-san?"
"HIkari-chan!" Miyako brightened even more, sprinting towards Hikari. The younger girl barely had the time to react before Miyako's hands grasped hers, squeezing them tightly. "I can't tell you how much I've missed you!" Lost in a wave of emotion, Miyako threw any semblance of decorum aside and pulled her into a fierce hug. "I'm so sorry I missed our shopping date. You would not believe the month I've had!"
Her excitement was contagious; Hikari let out a joyous laugh as she returned the hug. She then waited patiently for Miyako to remember that they both needed to breathe. Even when they separated, their hands remained firmly grasped between them.
"It's alright, MIyako-san." She insisted in her usual gentle manner. "You have no reason to be sorry. We all figured out what happened."
"It did kinda take us a while, though," Mimi noted behind them.
Something warm and feathery nudged against Miyako's leg. She looked down and saw her digimon partner looking back with glassy eyes.
"Hawkmon..." releasing Hikari's fingers, Miyako bend down and placed a firm hand atop his head before pulling him into a hug as well. Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes. "I've missed you even more."
Daisuke placed both hands on his hips and jokingly stuck out his lower lip. "And what, did nobody miss me?"
"Maybe a little."
He jumped at the sound of Ken's voice, turning to see his own jogress partner approach. Grinning widely, the two boys reunited with arms bent, hands firmly clasping together. Wormmon climbed up and onto Daisuke's shoulder so he could jump into Ken's welcoming arms. The Child digimon nuzzled his partner's neck. Ken took in the sight of him, as well as that of his fellow friends and Chosen gathered. All faces he had missed greatly...except for one he didn't recognize.
"Who's he?" he asked Daisuke.
"Oh, right!" Daisuke stepped to the side. "I forgot you two never met. Ken, this is Wallace. Wallace, this is Ken, the best friend a guy could ever have. When he's not busy running off to alternate Dimensions without me, that is."
"D-daisuke..." Ken wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Wallace did so by extending a friendly hand. "It's nice to finally put a name to a face, Ken. Glad to meet you."
"Likewise." Ken accepted. "Forgive my curiosity, but...your accent...American?"
Wallace felt a minor case of deja vu and sighed. "Is it really that obvious?"
Closer to the ground, several of the digimon came up to were Agumon and Guilmon sat. The latter was delighted to encounter so many new friends and took pride in introducing himself. Eventually, Lopmon managed to free himself from Xiaochun's clutches and join his brother to Guilmon's right. At the same time, Lopmon went to sit beside his on Guilmon's left. Guilmon spent the next several moments alternating between them with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
"There's...four of them?"
"Just what the Digital World needs most," Ruki teased.
Terriermon and Terriermon both leaned back far enough to send her matching grins: "Moumentai!"
Wallace shot Jian an amused look. "I blame you for this, you know."
Jian buried his face in one hand and sighed.
Miyako bit back a laugh as she straightened. She took in the sight of her friends mingling. Koushiro was watching the digimon interactions with great interest. Takeru and Hikari had gone to join Daisuke in greeting Ken, who promptly blushed at something Hikari said to him. Mimi and Sora were whispering something between them that resulted in a burst of muted giggles. Taichi was busy sending Ryo odd looks. Twice, he seemed as if he intended to ask the older boy something. Twice, he gave up on the idea, shaking his head to dismiss any associated thoughts.
Then there was Iori.
She was remiss to admit she hadn't noticed him until then. He kept to himself as he always did, head bowed and shoulders hunched in an effort to make himself seem smaller than he already was. Most of his attention split between watching the digimon and waiting to see if she would acknowledge him at all.
Her joy turned bittersweet: "Oh, Iori-kun..."
Stubbornness on his part left her waiting a full three seconds before he finally darted forward, burying his head in her stomach. His arms wrapped tightly around her lower torso. It was so out of character from his usual stoic, mature nature that she held him that much closer. She stared down at the top of his head, reaching up to smooth back some of his hair. It was getting longer. Shaggier.
"I'm sorry I made you wait so long," she whispered. "I didn't mean to disappear on you like that. I promise I won't do it again."
Iori tensed.
She immediately regretted her words. Iori had lost his father at a young age. He had no biological siblings or extended relatives. Only his mother and grandfather. Family was precious to him because he knew how easily it could be lost. And Miyako was the closest he'd ever come to having a big sister. One who should have understood that such promises offered him little reassurance.
Eventually, however, he nodded. She strongly suspected he did so for her sake, but they left the subject at that.
"Ah...not to break up such tender moments of anything..." Ruki's voice abruptly cut through the din.
Conversations came to a halt.
She looked more than a little uneasy as she pointed. "Is...she supposed to be doing that?"
At some time during the Chosen's series of reunions, Hikari had gone completely still. Frozen in a single moment in time. Her face was void of any expression. Her eyes were distant, pupils restricted into tiny dots lots in a sea of brown. Her shoulders slouched, posture so relaxed, she looked as if she could start swaying on her feet at any moment.
She was also glowing.
"You do not belong in this world."
The older Chosen tensed.
Their digimon solemnly rose to their feet. Even Leomon, who had lingered near the outskirts of the clearing, stepped forward. His eyes were wide with recognition. The voice that had passed through Hikari's lips was hers, but not hers. Passive. Strong. Emotionless. Assertive. Ethereal.
"You were not summoned. You are not required. Leave now, before he is made aware of your presence and angers."
Ruki, Takato, Jian, and Xiaochun all exchanged bewildered looks.
Ryo's eyes darkened.
"Explain." Taichi stepped in front of his little sister. Echoes of a similar occurrence years before haunted his memories. He glanced to Takeru, who looked more annoyed than upset, and shook his head in reassurance. "Before who becomes aware of our presence?"
"Yggdrasil."
"Yggdrasil?" Jou echoed. "From Norse Mythology? That giant tree creature...thing?"
"He is the trees and the grass. The wind and waves. He is the ground you walk on and the sustenance you intake."
Mimi and Sora looked to one another in uncertainty. The words were intended as meaningful, yet somehow carried all the emptiness of a practiced recitation.
"Yggdrasil is the Digital World itself. It is by his will it came into being long ago. It is by his will that it shall undergo this metaphoric evolution unhindered."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Ryo cut in, voice laced heavily with sarcasm.
Hikari slowly turned to face him. Though she was several centimeters shorter than those around her, the way she looked to and directly through each of them made them feel shorter still. Except for Ryo, who didn't flinch until the full attention of the Homeostasis.
"For one who once rejected this World so completely, your persistently reoccurring presence is...interesting."
"For someone so sure the fate of Every World was at stake not too long ago, your passive submission is more than a little suspect," he shot back.
The was no response.
Instead, Hikari returned to addressing an audience otherwise captivated into silence.
"Change is never pleasant. Nor is it easy. This truth is acknowledged." Unseeing eyes looked to each of them in turn, lingering on Yamato and Taichi long enough to send a shiver of remembrance down their spines. "You were once brought to this World to preserve the balance between light and dark. This time, there is no enemy for you to fight. No battle to wage. What is meant to happen will happen. The metamorphic evolution must take place. The weak will simply return to the data from which it was first constructed, while the strong and worthy will preva-"
"NO!"
o
Hikari awoke in her own mind.
A perfect, empty replica stood before her. They were otherwise alone, surrounded by the darkened void of her deepest subconscious.
"You have grown stronger."
For a split second, one might assume Homeostasis looked impressed. Eyebrows rose and fell, though that could have been an experiment of the muscles involved.
Hikari ignored the compliment.
"You're wrong," she insisted. "Everything you just told them...it's all wrong." Even in her own mind space, her breathing staggered. Her chest felt tight. She thought she saw smoke emitting from her mouth, but was too taken with the dull ache in her head to properly register if she felt cold. "If Yggdrasil is truly everything to this World you claim him to be, he wouldn't do something like this."
Homeostasis did not react.
In the distance, a single drop of water echoed.
"Yggdrasil's will is not meant to be understood, Child."
Because it doesn't make sense!" Hikari shook her head. Movement that left her dizzy. She squeezed the fist over her heart until her knuckles turned white. "Our job has always been to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Why, then, are they suddenly the same creatures you are willing to let suffer so unnecessarily?"
Homeostasis allowed her the time to both finish and catch her breath.
"You are afraid."
"Yes."
"You fear what you do not know. It is natural."
Hikari's fist trembled. Her eyelids felt heavy.
"If it may offer any comfort to you, then know this: those you fear for most...your friends...your family...they are in no danger. Human kind is not susceptible to infection. As for your partners..."
Homeostasis paused – no, Froze. As if attempting to process a formerly unfinished thought.
"...you are free to provide them refuge." A compromise. "They have already proven their strength. Once the cleansing has run its course, they may return to the New World Yggdrasil will have granted us."
Hikari's eyes widened. She felt the chilled breath catch in her throat.
cleansing...
A second water drop.
"This isn't you."
For once, Homeostasis reacted. With surprise.
"This...you're not the voice who came to me when I was younger." A terrifying realization came upon her. Along with renewed determination. Her fists dropped to her sides. Her chin lifted. "You would never...someone is speaking through you, and whoever it is, I want them out of me now."
"Child..."
"I said get out!"
o
To the world around her, Hikari's mental battle lasted less than a second.
Light burst from the center of her chest. Blinding. Chosen and Tamer alike were forced to turn away, shielding their eyes. The digimon all buried their faces in the dirt. Leomon shut his eyes and turned his head just enough to avoid the worst of it.
When it faded, Hikari was left standing in its wake. She lifted her head. Blinking once with heavy lids. Taichi was in front of her. Their eyes locked, and in hers, Taichi saw relief. She smiled weakly.
"Oniichan…"
Then she collapsed.
"Hikari-chan!" Daisuke, Sora, and Miyako cried out.
Taichi went to catch her.
Takeru was a split-second faster.
Reacting on instinct, he took the girl into his arms long before she hit the ground. He lowered himself into an awkward seated position, shifting their weights until Hikari's petite form rested more comfortably across his chest. Her head tucked beneath his shoulder. As he held her, he reached up to check for any signs of fever.
Taichi knelt in front of them. "Is she...?"
"Fainted." Takeru confirmed. The thought brought him little comfort. He placed two fingers beneath her nose. "She's breathing normally. And her forehead's cool." Nor knowing what else to do, he looked to Taichi. "Whatever she did must've exhausted her completely."
Tailmon scampered over to the trio, rising to her hind legs to get a better look. Her face was grin as she looked between the two human boys for signs of how she should react. Tsukaimon came up beside her, betrayed by his own worry, but said nothing.
Wallace looked to Daisuke. "Did you guys know she could do that?"
"Are you kidding?" Daisuke mumbled back. "I don't even know what that was."
"But you do, Ryo," Ruki insisted, keeping her voice low so as to not immediately alarm any of the Chosen. Most of them remained too preoccupied with gathering around their fallen friend to notice. "I saw the look on your face. That was the Homeostasis you told us about, wasn't it?"
Ryo was heavily focused on watching Hikari. Looking for further signs of...something. He spared Ruki a glance to acknowledge her question before slowly shaking his head.
"I don't think so. At least, I hope it wasn't, or else we have an even bigger problem on our hands than we thought."
"Is it what I'm thinking?" Jian frowned.
"Only if you're thinking this whole metamorphic evolution nonsense sounded eerily similar to the D-reaper's original prime directive." Ryo affirmed. The look on each of the Tamers faces told him they were all thinking exactly that. "Which means either that poor girl was just possessed by it...or else the D-reaper's already gotten to Homeostasis. Maybe even Yggdrasil himself."
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The room was cold. The bench was colder. The ventilation fan blew freezing air across his face as he failed to nap. And if he really wanted to add onto the list of complaints, there was no light switch to turn off the harsh florescent bulb insistent on attacking his poor retina. He'd tried throwing an arm over his eyes. It was somehow even more uncomfortable than the hard metal pressed against his spine.
A hiss. The door was opening. Footsteps clacked against tiled flooring.
Daigo's first thought was to pout. "I still can't believe you had me arrested."
"It was the best chance I had of teaching you a lesson."
Silence resumed.
The fan continued to whir, and Daigo decided right there and then that anybody who ever considered such white noise relaxing was a dirty liar. When the footsteps resumed, they grew louder. He sensed Maki's presence as she took a seat on the far side of the bench. Only then did he risk a peek, fully expecting to find her her glaring or making some other face in an attempt to convey her extreme displeasure with him.
She was staring at the ground with the same expression she'd worn in the school courtyard.
His demeanor softened. "Yagami-chan really got to you, didn't she?"
Maki didn't answer.
He sat up, careful not to hit her with his leg when he swung it over the side.
Both their hands gripped the edge of the bench. His fingers were centimeters from hers. A twitch was all it would take. He considered if, it only to earn some kind of reaction from her. A yell. A flinch. Anything besides the empty shell of his most precious person sitting beside him.
It reminded him far too much of that day.
Everything they'd ever learned about the Digital World had told them Tapirmon's egg should've been waiting for them. It had taken more than a week's journey to reach the Village. They'd been broken and wounded, tired from battle and heartache. Not even Piemon's ultimate defeat offered solace. Only the lingering hope that Maki would be able to reunite with her partner in his new life.
Elecmon had been there to greet them. Almost as if he'd known they were coming. Sana took that as a sign the egg had already materialized.
Yet they found nothing.
They were given free reign to look. Still nothing. All the while, Elecmon remained elusive. Avoiding eye contact whenever possible. He made little effort to answer their questions or help them in their search. Daigo could never shake the notion he'd been purposely keeping something from them, though he could never prove it.
For Maki, it was as if she'd lost her partner for the second time. Daigo would never forget the sight of her collapsing to her knees in the middle of that field. She didn't cry or scream or punch the ground. She simply went numb. Crushed by the belief that Piemon...no, the Digital World had truly taken everything from her.
In those days, Daigo had been too young to know how to reassure her otherwise.
"Fourteen years old..."
Daigo straightened. "What was that?"
Again, Maki didn't respond.
She stood. Daigo remained on the bench, watching her every move. When she finally turned to face him, he was unsurprised to find she'd resumed her mask of indifference. He used to call it her business face. All professional. Stoic and in control.
"I'll get the paperwork started for your release." Even her voice sounded normal. "You'll be on probation for a while, but if you promise to behave yourself, you'll get most of your privileges back. Unfortunately, we'll still need you in the field if more digimon appear."
"I knew I could count on you, Hime-chan," he grinned.
Her reaction was exactly as he anticipated. "Don't call me that."
She spun on her heels and headed for the exit. Before she could call for the guard to open the door, however, she felt a tug on her hand. Hard enough to turn her back around. Pull her to his chest. She stiffened. More startled than anything. His breath felt hot against her ear. His heart beat out of sync with her against their chests. A hand slipped around her waist. Loose enough that she could slip away if she chose to do so.
She didn't.
"Daigo..."
"I know, Maki."
For once, he used her given name. No unwanted nicknames or childish honorifics. It was a glimpse into sincerity that left her speechless.
"I know you're never going to feel the same way about me. No matter how hard I tried to pretend otherwise." He pulled back just enough for her to see his shadowed expression. His eyes remained hidden beneath his bangs, lips twitched into an ironic smile. "But that's never going to stop me from being there for you as long as you need me. I promise you until my last breath."
Her mouth went dry.
"Why?"
"Because." He pulled her into another hug. Warm, rather than desperate. His chin came to rest upon her shoulder, if only so so wouldn't notice the single tear streaking down his cheek. "We may not be Chosen Children anymore, but you'll always be the one I chose to love."
She felt the breath leave her.
Her arms moved of their own accord. Wrapping herself around him in turn. They carried none of the warmth his did, but for a fleeting moment, Maki allowed herself to relax in his hold. Her hands gripped the back of his jacket. Her eyes closed. She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
Daigo was right. She didn't love him, but she would always need him. And knowing he would be there for her unconditionally...it was exactly the reassurance she'd needed to hear.
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"And now," Two identical voices called out in an eerily perfect sync. "The hardest test you will ever take!"
Terriermon and Terriermon threw their arms into the air dramatically. Learning inward, their paws pressed together as they started running circles around each other. Faster and faster until they were little more than a cream-colored blur. When said blur finally settled back into two distinct Terriermons, they returned to the crowd of digimon before them with mirroring smirks.
"Which Terriermon is which?"
Lopmon and Lopmon sat in the front row, wearing identical looks of confusion. Lopmon placed a paw to his mouth at the exact same time as Lopmon. They both tilted their head at the exact same angle. After a moment's consideration, Lopmon pointed to Terriermon while Lopmon pointed to Terriermon. Then, doubting themselves, they looked to one another and switched guesses. This time, Lopmon pointed to Terriermon while Lopmon pointed to Terriermon.
Guilmon darted back and forth between the four of them so many times, he made himself dizzy. Agumon and Gabumon shared a look before shrugging, while Piyomon and Palmon continued to exchange whispered guesses in a manner not dissimilar to their human partners.
"Now I understand why Jou gets stressed out from all those tests of his," Gomamon deflated. Tentomon gently patted his back in pity.
V-mon, Hawkmon, Armadillomon, and Wormmon had long stopped paying attention to any of them. They were more focused on trading the pile of berries Miyako had given them earlier. And something called granola bars, which tasted even more delicious with peanut butter and chocolate chips in them.
Patamon and Tailmon were both asleep, the former contently curled up in the latter's lap as they slumped against the tree's base.
Tsukaimon snorted. "This is stupid." He gave the declaration proper time to sink in before using his front paw to indicate towards the Terriermon on the right. "It's clearly that one."
Sora peered over Ruki's shoulder and had to bite back a laugh.
"They seem to be getting along."
Ruki absently nodded. Two decks of cards sat on the blanket to her right. She shuffled through a third, silently mouthing mental notes to herself each time a particular card surfaced. Eventually, she found what she was looking for, plucking the card out of the deck and passing it over for Sora to see.
It was a holographic Piyomon card.
Sora' face lit up as she accepted the gift with both hands. Tilting it against the glow of the campfire gave her an even better look at the artistic detail. She read the descriptions on the top and bottom. They listed evolution level, basic attacks, the effect said attacks had on an opponent, and quantitative stats indicating the card's overall strength in both offense and defense. Most importantly, it captured the joyful image of her partner down to the last feather.
"It's perfect." She looked up at the girl sitting across from her. "You can really use these to help your partners evolve?"
"Among other things." Ruki unclipped the digivice on her belt, sliding a finger across the card reader. "When we slash a particular card through here, our partners gain a temporary power boost or upgraded weapon. It can be really useful when going up against multiple opponent types, but it requires a lot of strategizing and an extensive knowledge of the game to figure out which card can best help you in a given situation." The corners of her lips twitched as she jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "Or, in his case, a bit of dumb luck."
Takato was still sitting on the edge of the campsite, out of earshot. One hand remained pressed to his ear as he spoke softly into some sort of communication device. Sora needed only catch a glimpse of his face to guess who he'd been talking to for the last half hour.
"Personally, I think those crests of yours are way more interesting." Placing the deck in her hands beside the other two, Ruki sat back. "Which trait was yours again."
"Love," Sora admitted unabashed.
Ruki's mouth twisted as she processed. "Love? Does that mean you're like the Cupid of your team, or something?"
"Not exactly."
Across the campfire, there were three other clusters that had formed. Sora's attention first drifted towards the furthest from her and Ruki. Taichi, Yamato, and Koushiro sat with Ryo, who was inspecting Taichi's goggles at every angle he could think of. Koushiro looked smug. A few meters to their right, Mimi chatted with Xiaochun. The two girls, despite their obvious age difference, protected the exact same levels of energy with their animated gestures. Jian and Jou had both resigned themselves to seldom getting a word in edgewise.
On the opposite side, Daisuke, Wallace, Miyako, Ken, Iori, and Takeru all sat on the largest blanket. Hikari remained fast asleep on the sleeping bag Jian had set out for her. While Takeru actively contributed to the group conversation, his eyes would occasionally drift downward and he would lose himself in looking for any signs of stirring.
"I can't really speak for the others," Sora began, returning to Ruki's earlier query. "But for me, my Crest is like...realizing a part of myself I hadn't known was there. Feelings I didn't know I was capable of sharing with the people around me." Her smile saddened at the earliest memories of her days as a Chosen. "For a while, I thought it had been a mistake. I didn't think I was capable of any kind of Love. You see...my mom and I...we didn't always have such a great relationship. We used to fight all the time. I was convinced she didn't care about me or what I wanted at all. It wasn't until I met Piyomon that I was able to fully understand how much she really did love me. In her own way."
Ruki averted her gaze. She understood that feeling a little too well.
"I also realized just how broad a word like Love can be," Sora turned back towards the others. "And how much power from my Crest can come from those around me. I'm sure it's the same for the others. Mimi-chan's meant to be pure of heart, but she also shines the brightest when she's acting on behalf of her friends. Koushiro-kun can only be so knowledgeable without us to share in what he's figured out. In the same way, we're all filled with such different types of love for one another constantly."
"I can see that," Ruki indicated towards Takeru, who she'd caught looking to the slumbering girl yet again.
"Okay, you went for the more obvious example." Sora giggled. Shifting her weight, she rotated on the blanket to get a proper view of Taichi's group. "Some are a little less so. Like Yamato and Taichi. You might not see if, considering how much they like pretending they hate each other, but those two have been the best of friends for years. And on top of that..." she gestured between the two boys and the younger Chosen. "...you probably heard that Hikari-chan is Taichi's little sister. But Takeru-kun is also Yamato's little brother."
Ruki blinked. "And they're okay with...?"
"Very okay." Her eyes softened. "Taichi and Takeru-kun were friends even before he met Hikari-chan. When Takeru-kun was little, he used to talk about how he sometimes wished Taichi was his big brother too. And Yamato adores Hikari-chan so much, I once overheard him tell her how sorry he was she has to put up with Taichi every day."
Ruki snorted, already picturing in her mind how such an exchange would have fared.
Sora's smile widened. It was one thing to be amused by the antics of her dearest friends, but another to witness them being newly experienced by an objective outsider.
Then she noticed Ruki wince. It was subtle, and had Sora not been watching her reactions, she might not have caught it. It was also the second time Ruki made that face, complete with the same discreet way her hand went to her stomach. Putting pressure directly on her lower left side.
Sora recognized the signs immediate, and knew exactly what to do.
"Ne, Mimi-chan?"
"Hmm?" Partway around the fireside, Mimi cut herself off mid-sentence to respond.
Sora discreetly jerked her head towards Ruki. It was all the hint Mimi needed. She nodded once, then reached for her bag. It was sitting in the space between her and Jou. She shuffled through its contents before finding what she was looking for at the very bottom. A small bottle emerged, which was promptly tossed Sora's way without further question.
When Sora passed it along, Rukiinstantly recognized the label. It was, strangely enough, the exact same kind of Ibuprofen she usually took.
"T-thanks." Her cheeks turned a color that could easily have been blamed on the heat from the flames.
Sora winked.
Ryo witnessed the entire exchange from behind Taichi's goggles. The screen was both inactive and freshly polished, giving him a clear view. Enough to leave him with a moderate degree of confusion. He turned back, pulling the goggles off his head so he could return them.
"What do you think that was about?"
Taichi and Yamato immediately shrugged: "Ask Takeru."
Xiaochun was similarly curious. She watched Ruki pop something from the bottle into her mouth, then take a huge swig of water. She and Sora exchanged words Xiaochun couldn't hear over the roar of the fire and several other conversations surrounding them. It was like watching some Older Teen secret she was yet to be in on.
"What did you give her?" she tried asking Mimi.
Mimi was instantly dismissive. "Something you hopefully won't need for another few years. Unless..." Second-guessing herself, she quickly re-sized Xiaochun up and down. "Actually, how old are you?"
"Twelve!" Xiaochun was all too happy to admit. "But I'll be thirteen soon. And I've been a Tamer since I was seven and training since even before then AND I can fight better than half the older Tamers. So you don't need to worry about me, Mimi-san. I promise I can hold my own."
"Well, I'm convinced," Mimi laughed. "You remind me a little of Iori-kun. He's your age and studies martial arts too."
If possible, Xiaochun perked up even further. "Really?"
"Easy, Xiao-chan," Ryo cut in from the adjacent blanket. He'd had no intention of eavesdropping, but their voices projected a little too strongly. He caught Jian's eye and smirked. "Better watch out, before your sister causes and Inter-Dimensional incident, Jian."
"As if you could stop her any better than I could," Jian smirked right back. He peered down at Xiaochun teasingly. "Of course, if she had stayed behind like she was told, she could have kept herself busy beating up Hirokazu instead."
Xiaochun stuck her tongue out at the both of them.
Mimi cackled.
o
Drip...
o
Hikari woke up.
She inhaled sharply. Her lungs felt heavy. Her eyelids fluttered open. Blurred lights peppered across a darkened sky filled her vision. She tried to sit up, and was immediately hit with a wave of vertigo.
"Hikari-chan!" She heard a voice call to her. Takeru. He was near.
Across the campfire, Taichi moved to get up. Yamato yanked him right back down by the hem of his shirt. Before Taichi could offer any protest, Yamato held a finger to his lips and shook his head. He jerked it towards his brother, and Taichi immediately understood.
Takeru had risen as far as his knees by the time he reached Hikari's side. At first, he lingered back. Watching her intently. She was breathing heavily-no, it was more like she was struggling to catch her breath. Not caring who or how many were watching, he reached out and placed his hands on her upper arms in an attempt to steady her.
"...water..." she gasped.
Ruki was quick to reach for a bottle, but Hikari shook her head.
Takeru frowned. "You don't want..." An unpleasant memory three years gone came to mind. His eyes widened. "Are you trying to say you heard water?"
She nodded.
Takeru felt an unpleasant trickle down his spine. He resisted the urge to shudder, instead closing his eyes and steadying himself with a deep breath. He leaned in until Hikari would feel the tickle of his bangs against her forehead, whispering something too soft for anyone's ears but hers. She shook her head. His hands came up from her arms to cup the sides of her cheeks. In turn, hers came up to rest over his. This time, whatever he said earned him a weak nod.
Realization struck Miyako. Her jaw visibly dropped. She'd had her suspicions, but she'd had suspicions about them for the last three years that seldom amounted to anything. Until now, when there was no denying it. To be certain, she searched the crowd for Mimi, gesturing in lieu of asking directly. When Mimi nodded, she fell back against the blanket in amazement.
"When did they-? Oh, Kaiya-chan definitely owes me that 2000 yen now."
Then she noticed Daisuke.
He was staring even more intently than she had been. A few years ago, Miyako would have delighted in the sight of reality finally smacking that boy right in his face. Unfortunately, time had matured her to the point where she actually felt a pang of sympathy. Wincing in awkward, she looked to Ken.
Fortunately, the boy had already realized the situation and placed a concerned hand on Daisuke's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Okay?" Daisuke turned to his best friend. And grinned. "Are you serious? I'll remind you, I figured them out on literally day one. Which means I knew before anybody, including Takeru. Which means I finally beat him."
He pumped a fist in self-declared victory.
Wallace, Iori, and Miyako all exchanged doubtful glances.
Ken felt a beat of sweat form on his brow. "Maybe...we should let him have this one."
Takeru pulled back, allowing HIkari to finally lift her head. Her breathing had eased, her vision clear enough to look out across the campsite. She recognized every face, digimon and human alike. She remembered enough not to feel alarmed when two sets of Terriermons and Lopmons came into view. Everyone was watching her closely. Nobody was saying anything. Takeru still had one of her hands in his. She held it as tightly as when they'd been trapped on Piemon's rope.
"Hikari." Taichi called to her. "Do you...remember what happened?"
She nodded. "Every word."
"Did you believe any of it?" Ryo asked.
Hikari looked to him for a moment before slowly shaking her head.
"But how?" It was Sora's turn to voice her curiosity. "What made this time different from before?"
Hikari's grip on Takeru's hand strengthened. He saw her lips press together, then twitch. She was chewing on herself. A habit she displayed whenever she felt anxious but didn't want to let anyone know how badly. He wasn't even sure she knew that he knew.
"I...woke up," she tried to explain. "Inside my own head. I don't know how. It just happened. I remember...it was dark. Like the sky is now." her gaze drifted upward. "But there were no stars. I...think I was cold. I wasn't alone. It spoke to me. I think it was trying to reason with me. Only I knew it didn't make sense...and there was water dripping somewhere nearby...and I..."
She trailed off.
Takeru couldn't stand it any longer. Hikari was upset. He hated seeing her so upset. Now he understood why she'd been so out of breath when she first woke up. She'd felt like she was drowning in her own mind.
"You know," he began. "I just realized something." There was a deliberate shift in tone as he tilted his head far enough to catch Hikari's eye. Just long enough to wink at her. "We're all awake and gathered around this amazing campfire in the middle of the night..."
Yamato was the first to catch on. He blanched.
"...which means it's the perfect opportunity to tell a few ghost stories!"
The group collectively blinked their silence.
"Is he serious?" Ruki looked to Sora, who was already doing her best to contain her laughter.
"Judging by the look on Yamato's face, he's afraid so."
"Think of it as a team building exercise," Takeru stated without any audible hint of irony. "Now, if only we had a flashlight..."
Jou let out a cough before reaching into his bag. His was notably larger than Mimi's, but the torch light was sitting right on top of his change of clothing, next to the box of adhesive bandages. He pulled it out, sheepishly holding it up for the group to see.
Mimi rolled her eyes. "Of course you do." She took it from him and tossed it in Takeru's direction. "Catch!"
After a few collective shrugs, resignations, and blatant ignoring of Yamato's not-so-subtle attempts at protest, most of the group moved closer to the campfire. Mimi came over to sit on Sora's other side. Takato, having finally ended his call with Juri, rejoined Jian on his blanket. Iori remained oblivious to the speculative looks Xiaochun kept sending him, much to Miyako's ongoing delight. Even the digimon settled down from their game to see what their partners were up to.
The flashlight turned on. Takeru held it under his chin, casing his face in an eerie shadow.
"The story I'm about to tell you begins in a woods not dissimilar to this one-"
"Oh, come on!" Miyako exclaimed, lightly shoving him by the arm. "I thought you were supposed to be acing your writing class. You're really going to start off with something that cliché?"
Unfazed by the criticism, Takeru shined the light in her direction.
"Think you could do better?"
"Actually..." Wallace spoke up. "If you don't mind...I do have a story I could share with everyone."
"Sold!" Miyako exclaimed, grabbing the flashlight from Taker's hands and shoving it into Wallace's.
Takeru feigned a pout at the loss of storyteller status. He was promptly rewarded with a gentle pat on the arm from Hikari. Her fingers then discreetly trailed down his arm before interlacing with his, and Takeru decided he didn't mind that much after all. They sat back and waited for Wallace to settle himself into the spotlight.
Wallace held the flashlight in the same manner as Takeru had, with the same effect. His eyes flickered back and forth, surveying his audience.
"In America, we have a lot of stories shared throughout the countryside, but only one has ever truly shaken me to my core..."