Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own digimon or anything related to it. I do own some of the OCs that will appear later on and also some of the digimon designs. I intend to use all ten legendary spirits and have created designs for four extra spirits.
Note: Sorry for being so late. I am trying to make it good. Can't say myself how it turned out, of course.
Change! Ironically, it was the only constant in the world, or at least in her life. From the time of Lucymon to the day that was upon her, nothing seemed to be staying the same. Sometimes it was so subtle that you wouldn't notice it and blend in with it. Only when she would look back would she realize. Like how much the steel town had grown or how far and wide the trailmon track network had spread. It would be astonishing to look back and nostalgic but not hard to bear.
Sometimes it wasn't as easy. There would be signs, and whether you see them or not, that tide of change will ram into you, just like how it happened when Cherubimon fell apart from her and Seraphimon.
Ophanimon remembered when she was first handed the responsibility of watching over the digiworld. It wasn't easy and as smooth as history liked to present it. It never is as easy that Lucymon's fall didn't really instantly send digiworld in its next golden age. When eft owns its own, digiworld fell in a new period—though short-lived—of the chaos once again. It was a difficult time. Opahnimn knew that change was necessary for life to keep going, but that understanding didn't make it any easier.
Ophanimon might not be as wise as AncientWisetmon. Still, even she could see that they were heading toward another change, one that would shake the digiworld to its core. Seeing the ten new devices surrounding ten spirits only cemented reality.
"I have created new detectors," Cherubimon's indifferent tone echoed in the big and relatively empty chamber, "Needless to say, they are different from yours."
It hadn't even been that long since the six humans saved their world. Ophanimon thought they would have some tranquility for a while. It was too fast. The world was changing too quickly, and the truth is told, she wasn't keen on the idea of putting ten humans in danger again, "Are you sure..."
"I'd rather not wait for too long. The sooner all of these humans are ready, the better."
Yes, perhaps he was right, but Ophanimon had done this last time in desperation. If she hadn't been taken captured, she would have avoided it. Was it the right choice? She needed someone to tell her the answer. She needed someone to assure her. Seraphimon, I wish you were here. Something seeped into her thoughts that was directed at Cherubimon. She didn't know what it was, but she hated it. She bit her tongue and spoke. "How are you going to do this. We can't contact the human world as of yet."
"Spirits are a bit different than regular digimons. Of course, it is only the case when they aren't in their fleshed put form, but I can use that to my advantage. I guess their current condition ended up working in our favor after all."
"I had to call so many children last time to find the right ones last time." Ophanimon pointed out, "Don't you think it would be dangerous if..."
Cherubimon turned to her, "You are forgetting that I found the right one much more easily." He replied, perhaps able to himself, with a bit of pride, "Of course, nature helped me a bit, but I will manage something this time as well."
Ophanimon still wasn't sure about the idea. Perhaps, it was her way to close her eyes to the change that this whole situation was exacting more and more, but she wanted to argue a bit more, "I still think we should wait a bit more. Perhaps we can find another solution."
"You know that I, Seraphimon..." A heavy silence descended upon them, and Ophanimon hated it. Cherubimon lowered his eyes and turned away. She hated how the air suddenly seemed so much thicker. She hated how it was suddenly harder to breathe. She hated the scowl that had appeared on her forehead behind the mask. She hated how she wanted to yell at him. It wasn't his fault, and yet...
"I have already started the process," Cherubimon said.
"I will go...um..check on other...stuff. Yeah!" She left the chamber resenting herself more for doing this to him, but she needed her space. She wanted to be alone, but it appeared as if fate was determined to not let her be. Nefertimon had hurried to her.
"My lady, it's him." She sounded a bit uneasy.
"Him?"
"That man, Gennai!"
Ophanimon sighed. "Alright." She didn't want to see him. She remembered the first time he had approached. Even then, Ophanimon could feel like it was the first breeze of the following change. After that, Serpahimon and now the spirits. She didn't want to hear what he had to say. She had a feeling it would only make her feel worse. Yet, she couldn't just ignore him.
Gennai, or data human, was waiting for her in the garden. He wasn't huge, yet his presence seemed to cast a vast shadow. Not that size was any guarantee in digiworld. Most legendary warriors were not very giant, yet they could take much bigger foes, and so did many other digimons. But Opahnimon, despite being much more powerful, felt strangely vulnerable.
"I am sorry to intrude at such a time," Gennai spoke with a sincere smile as she descended the stone steps.
Ophanimon composed herself and approached him, "It's alright." The two started strolling.
"I heard about Serpahimon. I am really sorry for your loss." Again he sounded sincere. There didn't seem to be any hint of deception in his tone or expressions. For a moment, Ophanimon forgot whose messenger he was last time.
"Thank you." She didn't want this topic to continue, so she chose to divert the flow of conversation. "If you don't mind me asking, what brought you to hear?"
"Other than a news and a message, perhaps I wanted some kind of personal reassurance."
"Reassurance?" They stopped. A doubtful look clouded Gennai's eyes. This man had made her unsure about many things, and he wanted reassurance from her. Life never ceases to surprise me.
"Have you ever regretted your decision? Maybe ever wondered that what you thought was right wasn't right all along." Ophanimon didn't know what suddenly brought this topic. Still, it did stir those doubts that recently plagued her, especially since spirit issues came to the forefront.
"Have I ever? Sometimes."
"I guess I can rest a bit easier if one of the three great angel digimons have doubts." It seemed to have given him some kind of solace, "Anyway, I brought a news." Ophanimon stiffened, bracing herself for what was about to come, "The core has started reassembling."
The sun shined bright upon Odaiba as a gentle breeze of May drifted through the district. Markets bustled with activity as people went about their daily lives, parks and streets cackled with childrens' laughs. It was a day as any. They haven't forgotten how their lives suddenly plunged into chaos years back and certainly won't forget how their lives will change once again hours later. One particular boy would be in the midst of it.
Koji had declared the bird's appearance as an isolated incident, or at the very least, he was determined to believe it. Koichi couldn't say he agreed. Even though there had been no sightings or reports, he hadn't been able to shake off the foreboding that it wouldn't be an isolated incident. As it had to happen, it was on that day, he didn't think about the bird once in school. The primary reason for that was the dull headache. Koichi managed to sit through his classes with relative ease. After school, the headache sharpened when he headed home with his friends from class.
"Are you alright?" The black-haired girl, Yumi, asked.
"Yeah!" Yumi stopped, looked at him with beady eyes, and crossed her arms.
"You might be a good liar, Koichi, but I saw you in class. You are certainly not alright." Her grey eyes fixed him with a steely look that clearly spoke she wasn't buying it, and he would do better not to continue this. Her usually kind face could easily take a stern look. Her short black hair held in a ponytail emphasized both sides of her. Koichi learned very early that she was a simple yet wise girl who made it more challenging to argue with her than Izumi.
"What's up?" His green-eyed blonde friend, Isamu, asked as he and Kaito hurried to join Koichi and Yumi.
"Koichi is being noble again?" Yumi replied.
"Any new problem?" The last member of the little group asked. Kaito! He had flaming red hair and eyes deeper blue than Koichi and Koji.
"I am not being noble!" Koichi replied. He just liked to keep his problems to himself. His mom was always the one who told him he was selfish for that, "It's just a mild headache."
"You should go home and rest a bit, buddy," Kaito suggested. Yumi nodded approvingly.
"And then Kaito can work his part on the project." She added.
"HUH!" Kaito exclaimed and shuddered, "On second thought, you are tough, buddy. You can deal with a minor headache, right?" Yumi whacked on the head so hard that he cried out loud.
"How do you look in the mirror and not feel disgusted!" Isamu asked.
"Disgust goes out the back door when I remember Professor Ikimoto's murderous glare. If only glares could kill. I would be six feet under by now."
Koichi chuckled at Kaito's childishness. He somewhat resembled in taking things easy. Perhaps, it was for that reason it was so easy for Koichi to befriend him. Koichi's shy nature made it difficult to make many friends. It was usually others who approached him. When he moved to Odaiba, Kaito was the first, "Okay, that is a stretch." Which really wasn't wrong, though that might be due to seeing scarier things in the digiworld. . .and he will always find his mother's sharp look scarier.
"How would you know? You've never been on the receiving end of it, but who is complaining. You being a good student keeps me at average. I am happy."
"If you tried, you might make it to the top," Yumi suggested.
"Why? Sounds like a lot of work," he clapped Koichi on the shoulder, "and he is more than happy to do it for me. Ain't you, buddy." He ducked, dodging Yumi's whack. "That hurts like hell."
"Kaito!" Yumi snapped.
"Alright. . .alright. I will try it. No need to get cranky, mother!"
"Try?" Isamu asked, one eyebrow raised. Koichi opened his mouth to say something.
"You keep quiet." She said with a pointed look, and Koichi raised his hands in surrender. A sharper wave of pain prickled his head for a moment. Koichi rubbed his forehead, "Go home, take some medicine, and a bit of rest."
"I guess you are right."
"That, I always am!" Kaito coughed, which sounded suspiciously like a laugh. Yumi's eyes were slits, "You need medicine too, Kaito?"
Kaito made a gagging sound, "Medicine is my least favorite food."
"I thought broccoli was your least favorite and spinach and anything healthy for that matter," Isamu said.
"That's not true," Kaito put his index finger on his chin, "I like mutton and beef and fish..."
Isamu and Yumi rolled their eyes, "That list is turned out to be less eyebrow-raising than his morality," Isamu muttered to Koichi. As a small laugh escaped Koichi's lips, his head throbbed in pain. He put his hand on his temple, earning a worried look from his friends. For a moment, Koichi could have sworn he saw a silhouette of wings.
"Hey, you alright?" Isamu asked.
Koichi shook his head, "I guess I should go home."
"Maybe I should come along since my place isn't far."
"No, you don't have..."
"Koichi!" Yumi interrupted in a sharp tone.
Koichi sighed, "Alright!" There was no point arguing. Yumi was stubborn and had a habit of winning arguments. Besides, arguing would only worsen his headache.
"See ya!" Isamu said, waving his hand to the other two as he and Koichi went their way.
"And I better not hear you were doing Kaito's part instead of taking rest." Yumi threatened from behind.
"HEY!" Kaito's protesting scream came as Koichi rounded the corner. Koichi and Isamu chuckled.
"So," Isamu began, "How is your mom's job going. I hope it's less troublesome than the last one."
Koichi smiled, "Yeah, it's much better." Isamu nodded.
"I know you won't really do it, but if you need anything, tell me, alright. I will have my parents pull something off."
Isamu was right, of course. Koichi had, weirdly enough, too much pride to ask anyone for anything. He has never asked for anything from even Koji. It wasn't just for Koichi's personal negative feelings toward his father, something he had never been able to rid himself of. "Thanks!" He replied regardless.
The two boys headed home talking about random stuff. Koichi's headache remained dull for most of the journey. It was when they almost reached Koichi's place that a sharper wave of pain passed through his head for a moment, and Koichi put his hand on his head.
"Hey, you alright?" Isamu asked a bit frantically.
"I have been better." Koichi was starting to get a bit bothered.
"Well, here we are," Isamu said as the two boys stopped in front of the apartment building.
Koichi's mom wasn't home from work yet, and Koichi wasn't going to disturb her by calling her even though she would be furious. She had already worried too much for him since his accident. He took medicine and went to bed.
Koichi's mom came home after an hour, and just as Koichi expected, she didn't take well him not calling immediately. "You are as bad as Koji," She admonished as she handed him a glass of murky golden drink. It was one of those traditional medicines that once his grandmother used, "No, forget that. You are worse." That was as far as she would go with words. Now it was time for her cold fury. Koichi often wondered if Koji got his cold anger from her.
"I am sorry, but I didn't want to bother you just for a headache." He said and took a gulp of the slightly bitter drink.
"Don't give me that Koichi Kimura!" She snapped, "And we are going to the doctor if the headache is still there after an hour." She left the bedroom muttering something about Koichi not being serious enough about his health as the door closed with a thud. Koichi sighed and took another gulp of the drink. Though bitter, it always helped. Koichi's headache hadn't subsided by now, and he hoped this drink would help him.
As Koichi finished the medicinal drink, his phone rang. Koichi rubbed his temple. The rng of the cell phone was hammering in his throbbing head. Koichi was usually very calm, but he had the irresistible desire to throw the phone against the wall right then. Perhaps it was his lifetime training to vale everything he had, but he resisted the urge and picked up his cell.
It was Koji.
Great! Now Koji would probe him. Koichi, try as he might, couldn't hide anything from his brother, the only person other than his mom. He had given Koji the dodge when the latter asked him to come to Shibuya because Izumi wanted to go shopping. If the call was about that once more, Koichi would gladly take this headache. No offense to her, but Koichi agreed with Takuya and Tomoki on this one. It was a pain. He picked the call, and before he could say anything, Koji's frantic voice came from the other side of the line. "Koichi, where are you!"
"Umm...at home. Why?" Koichi didn't like that tone. Usually, Koji kept his cool. Koji being in a rush and worried meant that it was past his due time for Koichi to start worrying. The thought didn't affect his headache in any way positively.
"Kanbara!" Koji growled.
"Isn't it amazing!" Takuya's cheerful voice came from the phone. Koichi's one eyebrow shot up.
"Takuya, I Know we had very different views on a lot of things, but I highly doubt either of us will find headache exciting." Something that Koji was panicking about and Takuya was delighted with. Koichi frowned. It was clear as day where this was going.
"You and your sense of humor. Eh. . .forget about it. Look outside or something. It should be near your place. You will be speechless. . .hey!"
"As the idiot just said," Koji spoke.
"Outside!" Now that Takuya mentioned it, there was some kind of commotion going on. He hadn't registered it thanks to his headache, and if he was sincere, he wanted to forget about it, heed Yumi's advice, and get some rest. Yet, he couldn't just ignore it. "Alright." He was on his feet when the door swung open as his mom barged in.
"Koichi!"
"Mom!" Her face was pale, and she looked hysterical. She grabbed his shoulders.
"Don't go outside no matter what. You hear me! Don' you dare! Did you get it? It has started again." She shook him.
"Mom. . .mom, calm down. Just take a breath." She stopped shaking him and took a deep breath. "Alright. I. . .I won't." She nodded and then finally seemed to notice the cell phone.
"Is it Koji?"
"Err. . .yeah."
"Let me talk." It wasn't a request, and Koichi handed her the cell phone.
While his mom made it clear to Koji that he wasn't supposed to stay out, Koichi approached the window and pulled the curtains. His eyes widened as a black and orange swirling disc came into view. No wonder mom is going frantic. He could imagine a bizarre, otherworldly being appearing out of it, screaming and causing havoc. He had firsthand witnessed the chaos that could ensue. Though not very hopeful, he hoped that this would also be the talk of the past the next day, just like that bird as everything went to normal once more.
A gentle hand touched Koichi's shoulder as his mom stepped beside him. "Do as I said, alright." It wasn't an order but a request. Koichi had never heard her making a request to him. As she looked at him, he turned to her. There was something in her eye that he might have seen only a handful of times before digimons appeared years back. Fear! One of the few times she was like that was on his grandmother's deathbed or the time when he saw her at the doorstep of his hospital room. During digimos' terror, he saw that emotion more often than not. "I already lost mom. I almost lost you once. I. . .I can't go through the same thing again. What would I do if. . ."
"I understand." She looked into his eyes and, after a moment, nodded. He did understand. If there was any lie, she was the only one other than Koji who would have caught him.
"How is your headache?"
He had almost forgotten about that, and he wished she wouldn't have asked as the pain suddenly;y hit him like a brick. "It will get better."
"Tell me if you need something!" She handed him the phone back and then left. She waited for her to go then put the phone back to his ear.
"Hey,"
"Thanks a lot, brother. Mom made it very clear how she would finally approach my side of the family if I didn't listen to her." Koji berated, "Though, I suppose it wouldn't be too bad."
"Koji!" Koichi didn't want his tome to become sharp, but that was one subject he was in no mood to approach. At least not with this headache anyway.
"Anyway, I guess you have already figured but could you, you know, check it out. Look, I know. . ."
"Okay." He didn't really mean it, and he didn't like defying his mom, but he couldn't really refuse Koji. Besides, he only had to take a look.
"Oh. Well. . .talk to you later."
"I know you are excited, and I am too," Junpei turned to Takuya as they were running toward the vortex. "And we can't just leave the vortex, but what are we going to do now that we are getting there."
Takuya scratched the back of his head, "Never thought that far ahead." The was snort from behind, and Takuya didn't have to look who it was.
"Have you ever about anything?" Koji asked.
"Yeah. About what would happen if I gave a brick in your mouth. Prospect was tempting, I will tell you that." All jokes aside, though, Junpei does have a point. Takuya glanced at the vortex of twisting colors. What if digimons appeared. I can't do anything without Agnimon. It was at this point that a blackness crept into his sight. He shook his head, and his vision came back in focus. What was that?
"So, how is it, Tomoki?" Izumi asked as Tomoki put his phone back in his pocket.
"Told me to stay put, but they are fine. Nothing has happened yet." Tomoki replied.
"Let's just hope it will stay that way. If a digimon appeared, it would cause too much damage," Koji replied, just like the ray of optimism that he was.
"Thanks a lot for the mood uplift!" Tomoki replied in a sarcastic tone.
Takuya had also gotten a call from home. His parents told him to stay in the shelter. His mom had sure he knew that he would be grounded the rest of his life if she found out that he walked right into danger.
"He does have a point!" Junpei said and then, for some reason, shook his head. Takuya raised his eyebrow. Something told him that Junpei felt the same.
"You should go back to Shinjuku, you know," Izumi suggested to the younger boy. Tomoki looked unsure as he glanced at the vortex.
"You sure you will be alright if something happens?" It raised a few eyebrows. Takuya exchanged quizzical glances with Izumi, Junpei, and Koji.
"We are not that helpless," Junpei told Tomoki in an offended tone.
"And, what difference one more person will make if no one can spirit evolve," Koji added.
"You go back." Takuya added, putting a hand on Tomoki's shoulder, "We will handle things here." Tomoki nodded a moment later.
"Alright, see ya!"
Takuya crossed his arms as Tomoki disappeared in the panic and chaos of the district and spoke his curiosity. "When did he. . ."
"It's called growing up, Takuya," Koji replied, "Of course, you will have to experience it to know it. Unfortunately, not everyone does."
Takuya smirked, "I guess that explains why you are still a stranger to your class, I guess." Koji glared daggers at him but had no response for that.
"Don't start now," Izumi said.
"Guys, is it just me, or does anyone else feel like we are being watched?" Junpei asked, "Look toward the blue van on Takuya's left." Takuya looked from the corner of his eye at the window glass of a white car behind the van just before they turned a corner. There was indeed someone but whoever it was, had a hoodie.
"Should we go after him?" Izumi asked.
"We can't barge on him, or he might deny the whole thing," Koji said.
"Really?" Takuya asked, "Because he is the only one who seems comfortable in all this panic." He blinked and rubbed his eyes as blackness swept over him once more. What's wrong with me today.
"Still, let's keep on our guard."
"Maybe we should split up," Takuya suggested, "That way, we will cover more area." The group stopped at a junction.
"Would it be safe if someone really is watching us?" Izumi asked.
"Well, we will know if he is following someone specifically," Junpei replied. "And if it's really just one, as it appears to be, he won't be able to follow all of us. But I agree. It is dangerous."
"All of us can at least fight a human," Takuya replied, "I mean if it came to that. Stop looking at me like that," He added, annoyed, as they gave him worried looks, "I am not going to go for fist, right of the bat."
"Maybe we should go in pairs," Koji suggested.
"Alright. Izumi and I will go to the left." Takuya replied and took off as Izumi called from behind to wait up.
A colossal quadrupedal creature rushed past him. Its cry of war reverberated in his head. No! Koichi shook his head. It was just a truck.
His head ached in agony as he raced through the crowd as fast as he could. The troop marched on. No! No! They are just a few people who dared to get closer to the vortex. As for him, every step was hard. The air resounded with sirens as police cars dashed past him. His head throbbed in even more agony by the siren.
As he got closer, the panicking crowd became thicker. Not all were daring enough to get closer. Many were running away in panic. Koichi saw a woman dragging two boys through masses. "Will you two hurry up?" She yelled at the kids as the two had difficulty keeping up with their mother. Koichi's mother's word echoed in his head. He had heard those exact words in hospital.
"They told me your heart stopped." She said, holding him in a crushing embrace. Even the fact that her other son, whom she hadn't met in almost a decade, was there, wasn't registered. Koichi could never get that face of her out of his head. A culmination of fear and relief. He wanted none of it. He didn't want any part of a war. He knew firsthand that death was very much a real possibility. Yet, he wasn't able to refuse his friends. Only Koji knew his heart, and Koichi wasn't ready to disclose it to others. He didn't want their disappointment at his lack of enthusiasm.
His headache made it exceptionally harder to reach the vortex as it was getting worse with every step, and the strange vision became frequent as well. He saw a silhouette of a child with multiple wings. Didn't need to think much on that one. The face that had haunted his dreams as much as a black-armored warrior who carried two blood-red swords.
Koichi shook his head and glanced at the weird black and orange vortex. It was a bit creepy, honestly. Of course, the medicinal drink did nothing. Whatever it is, it has something to do with that vortex. At this point, he saw the most foreboding of all the visions, and his feet stopped with a startle. Strands of fractal code wrapped around a golden armored dragon digimon and seeped in it. What followed was a massive explosion in a place he knew too well.
The continent of darkness.
How he knew it, he didn't know and didn't care. What disturbed him was those strands of fractal code. Somehow, he knew, they didn't belong to that dragon-like digimon. He didn't want any part of any—most likely—war; he was intrigued now—even if just a bit. He just hoped it was who he thought it was as a memory came to the surface. The night he saw that bird, something had woken him out of his sleep, and it wasn't Takuya's call. Please don't let it be. . . His head exploded in pain as if an iron jaw was crushing his skull. He squinted as a tear escaped his eye.
Yamato considered himself to be a fairly patient guy. With Taichi's reckless and Joe's nervous tendencies, though both rare these days, he was sure he ranked pretty high on the scale of calmness. All that said, even he was starting to get a bit agitated in the current predicament.
Black and orange colors were twisting and merging with no clear boundaries. It was so weird and foreboding, and the very sight of it put Yamato on edge. He couldn't imagine anything good coming out of it and felt on edge for not being able to do anything. "And if something dangerous appeared here. . ." Yamato glanced around. Man, woman, and children were running away frantically, pushing others out of the way; memories of digimons must still be fresh in their minds. Yamato rushed and helped an old to his feet. "Come on."
"Thank you!" The old man replied in a weak voice. Yamato walked the elderly to a nearby alley, but that was all he could do. He had to keep an eye on the vortex. He rushed back into the thickets of panic. He pushed his way to get closer to the portal.
"YAMATO!" The blonde stopped hearing Sora's voice as the girl made her way to him. "Anything yet?"
"No!" Honestly, he was glad for it. "You?"Yamato cursed himself for such a stupid question. She would have told me if there was something.
"No!" The two made their way closer to the vortex. What would they do when they got there or when a digimon appeared? Yamato had no clue. As of now, only Koshiro could do something, which he probably was doing somewhere with Taichi.
"It has been like this for quite a while?" Sora asked, disturbed by the fact that nothing had happened. He could understand why. The vortex would probably be even more unfamiliar if something didn't create it to get here. Very likely, dangerous. This was just one. There was one in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Tamachi each. Luckily Joe and Iori were in Shinjuku earlier. Miyoko had gone to Tamachi to meet Ken. When Ken told them about anomalous readings, Daisuke and Takeru left for Shibuya: half an hour before the vortex. Once again, what would they do if a digimon appeared? The odds were stacked against them.
"Had a call from Mimi." Sora said, "She is worried. Said that she will get here soon."
"It will be good to have everyone if digimons appeared again." Hopefully, we all will also have our partners along.
Sora stopped, "Is that Hikari?" Yamato followed her gaze.
"Yeah." Something was off, though. Hikari was just standing there staring at the vortex. Yamato and Sora ran to the younger girl. The brunette was pale and appeared to be shaken.
"Hikari"" Sora called, grabbing her shoulder. It seemed to break her out of her stupor.
"Sora'san!" Hikari gasped.
"You alright?" Yamato asked.
"I. . ." Hikari glanced at the vortex, "Yeah, it's nothing really. Just a bit worried." Even Yamato could tell she was lying but decided not to push her for now. Sora seemed to agree, but she did wrap an arm around the younger girl's shoulder. "We should get closer."
"Why don't yo. . ." Sora broke off as an ear-splitting beep came from somewhere. Not from anywhere but from Hiakri's D3. The younger girl fetched out the device. Its screen flashed in red and black so fast that Yamato feared it might get burned. "Again!"
"I don't know why?" Hikari replied.
"I will call, Koshiro!" Sora said, taking out her cell phone. Yamato got a call on his at the same time. " it's Takeru."
"You think?" Hikari asked.
The blonde answered the call, "Is your D3 acting up as well?" He asked right away.
"As well"" Takeru said, "You mean. . ."
"It's Hikari."
"Oh. Well, It's me and Daisuke both? Wait. . .Daisuke just talked to Iori. His isn't doing anything."
"I see. Sora just called Koshiro. We will tell you if anything comes up. How are things over there?"
"Nothing much yet."
"Alright. Call if something happened. See you."
"Alright, bye!"
"Koshiro and Taichi are coming over here," Sora said as Yamato put his cell back. Yamato nodded. Until the two would come, they started helping people who were almost getting trampled in the panic. It didn't take Taichi and Koshiro long.
"You alright?" Taichi asked Hikari wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"I will be fine." The brunette boy stared at her, "We can talk later."
"Any idea what we will do if digimon appeared?" Yamato voiced his concern as the redhead worked on D3.
Apparently, that was the last thing anyone wanted to discuss. There was an unsure exchange of glances. The already tense atmosphere in the alley they had chosen to observe the vortex got even thicker. It was Koshiro who spoke and pulled them out of this suffocating silence.
"I don't think we need to worry about that." The redhead said as he raised his eyes. Yamato exchanged a surprised glance with Taichi. The brunette's face was already dawning relaxation. Yamato felt the same way. Questioning could come later. If Koshiro said it, he must have ensured, and there was a ninety-five percent chance he was right.
"What do you mean?" Hikari asked as the pale from her face subsided a bit.
"These portals are too unstable." He turned the laptop and showed the screen. There was a graph with a violently fluctuating curve. "I highly doubt a digimon would pass through and not have the whole thing collapse on itself."
"That's one problem less," Sora exclaimed as she took a breath of relief.
"Then what is this all about?" Yamato asked, gazing back at the ominous vortex. "Also, what's up with D3?"
"Well. . ."
"Look up there!" Sora snapped. Yamato followed her gaze. There was a black orb that came out of the vortex.
Hikari was once again shaken, "It's so. . ."
"Koshiro, I thought you said. . ." Taichi was cut off by Koshiro.
"It's not a digimon!"
"It's moving!" Sora pointed out as the orb streaked off.
"It's going the same way." Koshiro gasped.
"What?" Yamato asked.
Koshiro handed the D3s back, closed his laptop and out in his bag, and fetched out a tablet. "Follow me."
"Takuya, I have wanted to ask this; do you feel your vision going black sometimes?" Izumi asked. Takuya stopped.
"You too?"
"Not just me. But I think others too." She put her forefinger on her chin, "We can ask Koichi."
"Koichi said he was having headaches, but I didn't have any, so I am not sure if it's related." Then again, when has he ever been like the rest of us. "Maybe it's the same, just his version."
"What do you think it's all about?"
"I am not sure, but maybe. . ." He wanted to say it so badly, but what if it's not the case.
Izumi removed her cap, "Takuya's, is it me it's suddenly getting hotter?"
"HEY, GET DOWN!" A male voice screamed. Takuya and Izumi exchanged glances and then turned to the blonde boy who had shouted.
"BEHIND YOU!" The brunette, boy, companion of blonde shouted. The pair was running toward Takuya and Izumi. The latter two snapped around. Takuya's eyes widened as a ball of fire overtook his vision.
The headache was excruciating. Koichi needed to get away from the crowd, the chattering, the whispers, and sirens. He couldn't deal with this anymore. He just couldn't.
Koichi stumbled into an alley. One hand on the left side of his head and the other on the wall for support. He walked on and got deeper into the maze of alleys until the cries of panicking crowd were far behind. He slumped down against a wall under the shade of a small tree. He held this throbbing head. "Why is this. . ." Something was coming! There was a pressure, slowly building, from above, and. . .it's getting dark or is it just my headache. Wait! From above! His eyes snapped toward the sky.
Koichi's eyes widened as his lips fell open. It was a black jet heading straight toward him. For a moment, he just stared. Then sense kicked in as pain in his head just skyrocketed. It gave him a chance to act, though. "I have to move. I have. . ." He pulled himself to his feet, "I won't be in time!" His hands shot up defensively to hold it. It was stupid to try something like this, but it was instinctive, and he couldn't think of anything else. The headache was making thinking easier, either. So he felt it in his hands. A cold pressure. It pushed his flat against the wall, and the blackness took over.
It was like in a snap. As if a dam was broken, giving way to the river. The river of relief flooded through his head down his body. Koichi couldn't remember the last time he felt so relaxed. He was almost tempted to keep his eyes shut, afraid that if he opened them, the pain would return. A resounding roar shook him to his core and forced him to open his eyes, though. He blinked, not believing where he was. It couldn't be possible. It just couldn't be. He was supposed to be in a narrow alleyway, not in the savannah, or at least it appeared to be the savannah. It was supposed to be bright, not the dead of the night. Koichi looked around, trying to take in everything and get over his shook. Vast plains of grass stretched as far as eyes could reach. A lonely tree stood a few paces away, and a lonely figure was sleeping under its branches. Koichi blinked once more. It wasn't just any figure; it was a person. He appeared calm as if there wouldn't be any dangerous beasts around. "Maybe I should check on him. Excuse me!" He took a step forward.
Koichi's eyes snapped open. He slumped down against the wall. "A dream?" But, even he knew that could just be a dream. Maybe it was because of the weight in his hand. A wight, he was so familiar with. A wight he wanted to avoid feeling, and yet he couldn't. Koichi glanced at the black device in his right hand. A weird blend of nostalgia, a bit of happiness, and a bit of disappointment rushed through him. He couldn't stay there to sort out his feelings, though. He could hear voices approaching. A few of those who had seen the black jet would definitely be curious enough to see. "I better take my leave."
He pulled himself to his feet and took off.
Koichi turned a few corners and then made his way toward the main street. "I better go back on checking up that vo. . .what the!" Koichi stopped with a halt, not seeing the vortex in the sky, "I am sure I should be able to see it from here. Is it gone?" He would have felt relief at the prospect if not for the weight in his pocket. "I should tell others about. . ." He again halted in his steps as some teenagers appeared from around the corner. There was also a lot of beeping sound. The redhead, who held a tablet, stopped, glanced up at him, glanced at the tabled, and then back. "Can I help you?"
"Koshiro?" The brunette boy behind the redhead asked.
"It's him." The redhead spoke, staring at Koichi. The four pairs of eyes turned to him; a blond, blue-eyed boy, an orange-haired girl, and a brunette red-eyed girl. Koichi's gaze shifted from one to the other. Something was off, and he was ready to take off. He was never the one for pointless confrontation.
"Are you sure?" The blonde boy asked.
"It's just a boy." The orange-haired girl added.
"Positive. I don't know what this boy's deal is, but it's him." The redhead, Koshiro, replied. Okay., it was getting a bit too far. They were talking as if Koichi had committed some crime. The brunette, the red-eyed girl, stared at him for a moment and then spoke.
"Wait, I think I have seen you."
"You have?" The brunette-haired boy asked. Now that she mentioned it, Koichi had a feeling he had seen her too.
The brunette girl nodded, "I think in school. He might be in a different section or class. Do you go to Odaiba Junior High School?"
"I. . ."
"YO! Digidestines!" The four teenagers well stoic still for a moment and then snapped around to gaze at the caller, "or is it legendary warrior or should I say both." Koichi gasped as a chill went down his spine. Legendary warrior.! Who would know such a thing here? He snapped his eyes up at the tree; right above him. Someone was sitting in its branches, his face covered. There was another figure. Short and also thoroughly covered. Is that a child?
"Look at their faces, Kuro. It looks like someone just spilled their digibeans." The short figure said. The boy Koshiro glanced at his tablet.
"What is it, Koshiro?" The orange-haired girl asked.
"That's a digimon. I am sure."
Digimon! Koichi snapped his gaze at the redhead. How does he. . .they. . .it should be impossible. Of course, people had seen digimons, but how did someone know what they were. Who are these people?
"A digimon?" The brunette girl asked.
"I wonder." The guy, Kuro, said, "Hey, Koichi. You make a fool out of these guys, or you haven't yet gotten to the part where they question you?"
"Who are you?" The blonde boy demanded.
"That would have to wait, but if you guys want to put a general idea, let's see. You can say I am," Kuro took a moment and then snapped his fingers, "I know, the nemesis." Suddenly his voice was deep.
"Don't you dare hurt anyone, especially Hikari!" The brunette boy snapped as his face contorted his rage.
"Oh, don't worry, Taichi. I have no intentions of hurting the princess. . ."
"Don't call me that!" Hikari snapped in an annoyed tone.
Taichi and the rest of his friends exchanged confused glances. Kuro appeared to be rubbing his chin, "yet, I mean! I can't make any promises. If you guys tried to hurt me. . ."
"Considering his annoying personality, it's shouldn't take long." The short one added.
"Will you shut it? I am trying to make an impression here." Kuro exclaimed. "So, where was I? Oh yeah, If you tried, I will end up doing just that."
"What do you want then?" The orange-haired girl asked.
"Huh. Oh, I almost forgot about it." He removed a bag from his shoulder and started rummaging in it, "It should be here. Where did I put it." The whole group, including Koichi, exchanged confused glances. "Dammit, where did it go!" He took a steel lunch box, "Nope." He fetched out some kind of device with wore, "Nope." Then a black box, "Nope."
"Is he serious?" The blonde asked. It appeared that Kuro's companion digimon was also in disbelief as it started mocking the guy.
"You kidding me! Don't tell me you lost it. Tou will lose his mind with us."
"Shut up and let me find it," Kuro yelled, "Aaha. Here it is," he fetched out some kind of silver square box and started doing something with it, "Let's see. Turn small one to 3, the big one to 5. There! I got a gift for you guys."
"A gift?" Koshiro asked.
"Here, try not to drop it." The device hit the earth with a metallic sound, and Kuro grabbed his head, screaming, "NO!"
"You idiot!" The short one exclaimed, "What if it exp. . .oh, right. That's what it's supposed to do."
"Right. I forgot!"
Koichi snapped his eyes to it. There was white zero on a small screen, a blinding white flash.
"EVERYONE RUN. NOW!" Taichi shouted