Chapter 5: When I see an Elephantmon Fly


"Kouji do you have a minute?"

Kouji groaned to himself as he stopped packing his duffle bag and shinai for kendo practice to go see what his step-mother wanted. He stomped down the stairs with a bit more force than necessary. His step-mother, Satomi, sat at the dining room table, sipping a cup of tea.

She looked up and smiled, gesturing for him to sit.

"Will this be long? I need to get ready for kendo practice." he asked, begrudgingly taking his seat across from her.

"About that- your father and I think maybe you should take a break from kendo."

Kouji jumped back to his feet, clipping the table with his leg and nearly knocking over Satomi's tea. "What!?"

Satomi gripped her teacup and continued, "Kouji, you're barely home anymore. We think you're trying to do too much."

"And what's wrong with that? I like to be busy!"

"Your grades are slipping and your teachers are worried about you. Quite frankly, so are we."

Kouji bit back a growl, "I'm managing it just fine."

"You fell asleep at your desk twice last week."

"So?"

Satomi held her ground, "Until your grades improve and you're able to have a healthy sleep schedule, you're going to drop kendo."

"What gives you the right!" Kouji yelled

"I'm your mother-"

"Like hell you are!" Kouji turned and dashed up the stairs, grabbing his bag and shinai and stormed back down. "I'm out of here!"

"Kouji Minamoto-"

"You're not my mother, so stop acting like it!"

He bolted for the door, grabbed his shoes on the way past and slammed the door shut behind him. He practically ran two blocks before stopping to put his sneakers on.

Who the hell did she think she was? Just because his father married her it didn't mean she could just tell him what to do with his life! Kouji huffed, growling in frustration. He just wanted to scream.

He fought back the urge to do so and picked up his pace, desperately wanting to get to the dojo already. All he wanted to do was blow off some steam and forget everything. His sparring partner would be in for a hell of a match during the duels.

Kouji's fingers turned white as they clenched tightly around the strap of his bag. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? He could take care of himself just fine. He didn't need her constantly babying him all the time. His cell phone vibrated with a text message notification, snapping him from his tirade. It was from her, no doubt.

God damn it.

The boy pulled his phone out of his pocket and stared down at the notification for the message his stepmother left him. He didn't bother reading it. Reading her text would only add more fuel to the fire. Instead Kouji tore his eyes from the screen and felt relief when he saw the sign in front of the dojo just a few blocks away.

He then felt his phone buzz in his hand and saw another message from her.

His hand shook with frustration as he glossed over the notification. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Kouji could take care of himself just fine. He didn't need her hovering over him like she was… like she-

'You're not my mother, so stop acting like it!'

God… why did he have to say that? She didn't deserve that. She just- He didn't want to- He just needed… he groaned heavily and peaked at the last text she sent him.

Satomi: I'm sorry I upset you, can we talk when you get home?

Anger gave way to guilt quickly, settling uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach.

"Damn it, what the hell am I doing?" She was still worried about him even after that crap he said to her. Maybe someone at the dojo could knock some sense into that thick skull of his. Sensei Hida probably wouldn't mind taking a few whacks at him if Kouji asked him to.

'Maybe Sensei can tell me how I can apologize to her.' Kouji pondered as he stepped through the courtyard and came up to the dojo's main entrance.

He heard the familiar sounds of kiai and clashing shinai reverberate from within, a telltale sign that the duels were already underway. "Great, I'm late."

The boy pulled the sliding door open and let himself inside. He felt eyes linger on him as he entered but Kouji paid them no mind as he made a beeline to the locker room to get changed into his keikogi, hakama and bōgu gear.

"Running a little late, aren't you Minamoto?"

"Sensei!" Kouji rose quickly to his feet and turned to greet the elderly instructor with a proper bow. "I'm sorry Sensei Hida, I was-"

"At ease, my boy. I'm only teasing." Sensei Hida gestured for the boy to relax but paused, noting the tension emanating from him. "Something's bothering you."

Kouji sighed heavily at his sensei's astute observation and nodded. "Am I that easy to read, Sensei?"

"My eyes aren't for show, you know." Sensei Hida patted the boy on the back and offered a patient smile, "Let's talk after practice shall we?"

"Yes Sensei," Kouji nodded, lowering his gaze, still deep in thought.

Sensei Hida nodded and departed to the training hall to allow Kouji the privacy to change. Kouji chastised himself and dug into his bag for his uniform when he heard something metalli clattering on the ground at his feet.

"Hmm?" He furrowed his brow and picked up a guitar pick of all things, a metal pick with a midnight blue finish. "What's this doing with my stuff?" Kouji examined the pick and caught something in light reflecting off its surface. Etched in silver on the pick's surface was the kanji for light. "When did I-"

He didn't remember buying this anywhere let alone putting it in his kendo bag. It must have been Satomi, likely one of her small gestures of good will to get him to like her. She probably forgot about it before deciding to cut him from the dojo.

Kouji huffed irritably and deposited the guitar pick back into the side pocket of his bag and stuffed it in his locker with his street clothes.

He honestly didn't know why she even bothered with little things like that. It wasn't like she could buy her way into making him like her… although, she probably only wanted to show she took an interest in his hobbies.

Kouji felt frustration bubble up again, wishing he could make up his mind already. Was he angry with her incessant attempts to intrude in his life or guilt for how vehemently resistant he was to them? He'd take either but both at the same time just led to an endless loop of nausea turning in his stomach; it certainly didn't help his temperament any. That became evident when he finally joined the others in the training hall.

Sensei Hida noted Kouji's appearance and set him up with a free senior, someone who could hopefully match the intensity the boy was sure to bring to the match.


Kouji fought hard in every bout, weathering hits by his opponents while striking hard and true at their target areas, favoring head and body blows to vent out his aggression. His breath grew ragged, his arms ached and his strength waned but he felt his anger bleed away with the sweat he broke. It'd feel good if only the guilt hadn't lingered still.

The boy found a place to rest as the final bouts carried on without him. He pulled off his helmet and fought to catch his breath but the nausea persisted. He couldn't shake off the guilt with his anger all but gone; it remained uncontested and settled in his stomach, eating him up.

'You're not my mother, so stop acting like it!'

Kouji groaned and tried desperately to banish the memory from his thoughts; the look on her face when he spat those venomous words at her only added more fuel to the fire. She looked so crushed… so heartbroken… His stomach twisted violently.

Kouji rose to his feet and made a beeline for the locker room, ignoring the odd looks he received from the other students and from Sensei Hida.

"Minamoto?"

"I'm sorry Sensei, I'm not feeling well." It was a feeble excuse but he didn't care. Kouji had to get away and get some space. He quickly changed into his street clothes and left the dojo before anyone could stop him.

The fresh air helped and yet… the boy didn't know where to go from there. The busy streets of Shibuya weren't exactly the best place to have a private moment to think. He certainly wasn't ready to go home yet either; five unread messages and two missed calls made that evidently clear.

Kouji released a pent up sigh and decided on a response.

Kouji: I'll be home later

With that, Kouji pocketed his cellphone and sought refuge at a nearby park. There were the odd few on the paved paths but Kouji knew where to go to find his privacy. He followed a familiar path through the brush and found a lonely patch of grass by the edge of a man-made lake.

The boy deposited his bags and took a seat before looking out onto the evening sun reflecting off the water's surface.

The glint of something blue caught his eye. It was the pick; it caught the light through the net of his bag's side pocket. Curious, Kouji pulled out the pick and held it in the palm of his hand. It was cool in his hand and the finish on its surface was flawless with not so much as a scratch or a blemish. "She really spared no expense, huh?"

Kouji took the pick between his fingers and strummed at the air, imagining how it would play with his guitar. It felt strangely right in his hand, like it was meant to be. He would have to play with it when he got home… where she'd be waiting for him. He groaned in frustration.

"Suppose I should just man up and apologize…" Kouji huffed and looked back out to the water when he saw a shadow zoom overhead followed by the sound of what he assumed to be a helicopter flying by. "There goes the peace and quiet."

Just as well, he needed to head home anyway. Kouji took one last look at the guitar pick in his hand before stuffing it in his pocket and grabbing his belongings.

The winds suddenly became turbulent, swirling angrily as the helicopter descended from high above the treetops and hovering just mere inches over the lake and agitating the water.

"What the hell?!" Kouji braced himself against the winds as they threatened to knock him off his feet. What were these idiots thinking by bringing a helicopter down in a public place like this? The boy growled and squinted through the wind and water only to be confused by what he saw. "Is that… an elephant?"

It looked like an elephant, its hide white and wearing strange blue armor. On either side of its head were large turbines, spinning furiously and keeping the beast airborne over the water. It was the strangest thing Kouji had ever seen but there it was.

As Kouji stared at the elephant in bewilderment, it stared back at him and the faint glow coming from his pocket. It wasted no time, barely giving Kouji a chance to react before attacking. "Tusk Missile!"

Kouji dropped to the ground a hair's breadth away from being impaled as the elephant's red tusks shot out from its mouth and zoomed overhead. He couldn't waste time processing what just happened when the elephant charged forward. He quickly rolled out of the way and avoided the heavy stomp of its armored feet.

The elephant then swung its heavy trunk at the boy, smashing through the trees he attempted to use as cover. The human proved to be rather agile much to its displeasure. It threw its trunk back and trumpeted before turning its turbines to the boy. "Turbine Wave!"

Kouji didn't stand a chance when the winds were let loose from the elephant's ear turbines threw him into the air like a ragdoll before he fell back to the ground. He tried to mitigate the damage from the fall but tumbled painfully into a battered heap. He struggled to find his footing to get back up before the elephant's next attack.

The elephant went for another charge.

He couldn't get away in time. Kouji couldn't find the strength to stand up or even try to roll away again. The beast would crush him. "Damn it…" he grit his teeth in frustration as dread settled in with every heavy stomp the elephant made in his direction.

A bright light burst forth, catching both the boy and the elephant by surprise. The beast reared up, blinded by the light while Kouji struggled to find the source until he noticed it was coming from him or his pants pocket.

Kouji reached in and pulled out that guitar pick. It shined brightly in his hands, illuminating the evening sky with its blue glow. "What the…"

He felt a presence loom over him and met the crimson gaze of a lupine figure. It stood over him, tall and radiant with its arms crossed. 'What do you intend to do?' it seemed to ask with its body language as it waited patiently for the boy's response.

Kouji met the stranger's red gaze and rose to his feet. 'Fight.' He intended to fight. The grief and pain that settled within him faded away leaving only new strength to grow in its place.

The shining figure stood by Kouji's side as they approached the angry elephant, becoming one warrior as the lustrous blue light shattered.

Elephantmon felt the presence of the new warrior in the human's place and retaliated, firing another barrage of its tusks at him. "Tusk Missile!"

"Lobo Kendo!" Kouji drew one of his silver handles, igniting the beam saber blade and slicing through the missiles with one fluid slash. He gave the saber a few test swings, getting used to how light it was in his hand before returning his attention to the elephant Digimon.

With its tusk missiles proving to be less than effective against the wolf warrior Elephantmon opted to charge, lifting off the ground with its turbines to hasten its charge.

Kouji felt Sensei Hida's training and new instinct bleed together as he sidestepped the digimon's stampede and caught its left legs with a sharp slash of his saber. "Tch," the blade didn't cut deep enough to leave a lasting wound; Elephantmon's hide was too thick to cut through with a single pass.

He didn't have long to linger on it when Elephantmon made another pass at him, picking up more speed with the force generated from its turbine ears.

Kouji dodge rolled out of the way of the next charge and zeroed in on those turbines. If he could immobilize them then the fight would turn in his favor. A direct attack with the saber was too dangerous however, he'd likely get trampled if he made another attempt to slash at it in the next pass. But he had another weapon aside from his sabers.

The lupine warrior took aim, raising the laser strapped to his left arm and taking aim with the muzzle.

Elephantmon turned back around and charged again, zooming straight towards Kouji with its head bowed down to ram him.

'Good,' the swordsman steadied his aim while charging his shot. A fully charged shot should do the trick. He blocked everything else out as he settled on aiming at the left turbine and listened only to the rising hum of his laser charging. 'One shot Minamoto. Don't screw it up.'

Elephantmon drew closer. Instinct screamed at Kouji to get out of the way but he stood his ground, keeping a steady breath to calm his racing heart and keep his aim steady.

The beast digimon's angry glare promised bloody murder, now mere moments away from steamrolling the warrior when the humming of Kouji's laser reached its limit.

"Howling Laser!" He took his shot and fired into the turbine's propeller dead center.

The blast violently blew out the turbine, veering Elephantmon's charge off its course and crippling its ability to fly. It tried desperately to right itself but Elephantmon came crashing into the ground and colliding with the trees around them. It struggled to rise back to its feet. It stubbornly turned to face the warrior, ready to take a final stand against him.

Kouji responded in kind, taking a firm grip of his saber with both hands and approached Elephantmon for one last bout.

Elephantmon struck first, swinging its heavy trunk at the lupine warrior with all the strength it could muster.

The swordsman's blade intercepted the attack, burning and cutting all the way through as he tightened his grip and held strong, letting the force of Elephantmon's attack do the work for him in severing its trunk.

Elephantmon threw its head back, bellowing in agony, providing Kouji the opportunity to finish the fight. He closed the distance between them and thrust his saber's blade through the beast's unprotected throat.

The beast went slack almost toppling on top of the warrior before shattering into fragments of broken light carried away by the wind.

Kouji huffed weakly and deactivated his saber. He stared down at the weapon in his hand before looking himself over, finally finding the opportunity to take it all in. "What happened to me?"

How did he know how to fight like that? He could chalk part of it up to his kendo training but the rest of it, knowing how to use the laser on his left arm, seemed so intuitive yet so alien. Just what was he now? And for that matter, what the hell was that thing he fought?

He had too many questions yet nothing gave him a clear answer. He could only hope that somewhere along the line something would make sense of all this nonsense.


"Kouji, you have a moment?" Kosei Minamoto intruded into his son's room and found the boy at his computer with his guitar in hand.

Kouji gave his father a sideways glance and answered with a nod. "What's up, Dad?"

"Well, we haven't seen you in a while since you took a break from kendo and well, Satomi and I were wondering if you'd like to come join us for a movie." Kosei offered as he approached and glanced at what his son had on his screen.

'So another peace offering,' Kouji figured. They probably thought he was still mad about making him drop kendo. Admittedly, it irked him a little but Kouji had other priorities so the break was honestly well timed. Kouji spent his time studying the new device he had in his possession once he reverted back to his human form. It meant isolating himself in his room frequently under the guise of studying but Satomi seemed to take it as a sign he was avoiding them. Even after his apology for his outburst things were tense in the Minamoto residence, something his stepmother tried to remedy with these gestures of family time.

"Maybe some other time," Kouji gestured to the livestream on his computer. "I'm watching J-League and I don't want to miss the first game."

"Oh, I didn't know you watched soccer."

He didn't but it seemed a good enough excuse for now to get some more time to figure out the device hidden in his desk drawer. "Someone I know is a big fan and got me to check it out."

"I see… well, maybe we can try again tomorrow- what in the world?"

Kouji followed his father's gaze back to his computer and nearly dropped his guitar when he saw a giant blue and yellow bird descend upon the field and wrought havoc in the stadium with thunder and lightning.

"What the hell is that thing?" Kosei watched in horror as pandemonium descended upon the masses in the stands.

They watched as the bird attacked the stands when the flames spewed forth and the video feed was cut. Kouji could make out a bright red light shining through the flames and a blurred figure emerging from the flames. It felt eerily similar to his experience just a few days prior. Clearly, there was much more to this than he could hope to expect.


The stage is set, and players are in place. Now, the real fun can begin.


Hey everyone, sorry this chapter was a whole week late. Life stuff just gets in the way sometimes but with that being said here we are with Kouji to round out the last of the original five. I'm happy with how things turned out with Kouji's character struggles and his fight with Elephantmon. We also threw in a little something for 02 fans out there who'll recognize the cameo.

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and please be sure to leave a review to tell us your thoughts and critiques.

Until next time, later.