Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I'm pretty happy with this chapter and looking forward to the next one! To give just a little hint of what's to come, Matty will be much more involved in what's happening in the very near future, but until then...enjoy!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 327: Unexpected Visitor
Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Gazing into the hot flames flickering like a beacon of hope in the early evening dusk, Makiya Takaishi rubbed his mitts together before curling into himself to conserve the heat building nicely inside his thick winter coat. Truthfully, he wasn't feeling all that hopeful about his current situation, but considering the ongoing host of issues weighing heavily on his shoulders, that wasn't exactly a huge surprise. Between Matty, Sam, and DarkAngelicmon, there wasn't much room for hope.
I know what Dad would say if he could hear me now, but I can't help it. If only I could get inside their heads, things might be different.
Except that was impossible, hence the reason why he was suffering to begin with.
Why is it always so much harder to be honest with the people you love?
After leaving Dianamon's residence, the group decided it was probably best to get the bonfire going before engaging in a competitive snowball fight, and as a result dinner was served and consumed, leaving both digimon and humans alike to spend the evening however they pleased. Near the entrance to the village circle, two snow forts had been erected, and the teams using them for cover were currently engaged in a fierce battle to determine which side would rise to the occasion and claim the prestigious title of snowball fight champions. Dai and Matty were acting as team captains for the two opposing sides, leaving the younger twin with a human advantage, since he had somehow managed to snag both Sam and Ryoko for his team. That left Takara to team up with Dai while Frigimon acted as the referee, and despite the couple's disadvantage they were giving the three opposing boys a worthy challenge. Embermon and the rest of their digimon partners, along with the village digimon, were split evenly between the two teams, and watching the fight, Mickey was unable to prevent a gentle smile from turning up the corners of his mouth despite the fears plaguing his heart. On the other side of the fire, Izzy, Mina, Cody, Rosa, and their partners were going over the notes they were planning to send to Taniko and Gennai later in the evening, and to the left Mickey could see his parents and their partners, along with Ken, Yolei, Hawkmon, and Wormmon, cleaning up the remains from dinner. By the sounds of it, his parents were also making plans to sort out sleeping arrangements in the igloo, which left him alone with Halomon to dive into the tangled mess that was the inner workings of his own mind.
Sam looks so alive and carefree when he's having fun, and it's the same for Matty. I love seeing my brother smile, and the cold air just has this way of making Sam look even more attractive.
The raven-haired Digidestined's cheeks were pink from the cold, and the sparkle in his gorgeous sapphire eyes was positively radiant. Mickey was finding it extremely difficult not to stare as he sat next to Halomon on a wooden log with his chin in his hands, but luckily Sam was so involved in the snowball fight that the raven-haired Digidestined didn't appear to notice he was under surveillance.
When we were in the igloo, Sam didn't seem to mind when I moved closer to him. I have Matty to thank for that. He really is a great brother. Sometimes I don't think I deserve to have a twin like him. The fact that he still wants to help me so much even though I haven't been a very good brother lately is just so unbelievable...
"Thinking about Sam?" Halomon asked, leaning over to snuggle against his arm.
Mickey quickly pulled the little rookie into his lap, and stroking Halomon's fluffy ears, he said softly, "Both him and Matty. Is it strange that I don't want to let my brother down even though I've been causing him so much trouble?"
"I don't think it's strange," Halomon replied, quickly shaking his head in denial. "That's what being a brother is all about. I often feel like that about Celestimon, and about you too. I know it's hard cause Matty thinks so highly of you, but that's not a bad thing. You have to be careful not to fall into the same trap that caught Kara. Your friends and family don't expect you to meet the high expectations you've placed upon yourself. They just want to love you and keep you safe."
"Even Sam?"
"Especially Sam," Halomon confirmed, cuddling against his chest. "The same is true for Matty. He just wants to protect you, and at the same time he wants you and Sam to be together. Whatever he needs to do to make that happen, you know he'll follow through on it. As for Sam, I know we can't be certain he loves you the way you're hoping, but he loves you nonetheless and he'll do what he feels he has to do to keep you safe. All of that is important, and no matter how conflicted you feel inside, those should be the things you rely on to light your way forward."
Halomon...
It was a beautiful speech bursting with a sense of wisdom that Mickey hadn't expected from his digimon partner, and burying his face against the celestial rookie's soft ears, he mumbled, "You're just like Matty and Sam. You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better."
"I just wish I could keep it that way."
The statement wasn't meant to make him feel guilty, but despite that Mickey still couldn't help feeling like he had somehow let his partner down. Unable to stand the thought, he decided it was probably best to change the subject, and focusing once more on the playful group throwing snowballs at each other, he said quietly, "How are we doing with those evil digimon who followed us to the village? Have they come closer again since we talked to Dianamon?"
Halomon slowly shook his head, and frowning, the little rookie said, "Not yet, but I have a feeling that will change once the sun almost sets completely. As soon as I notice anything though, I'll be sure to mention it to Izzy."
That was probably the best course of action, and laughing softly as Sam and Matty tackled Dai into the snow, Mickey murmured, "Our enemies do seem to like coming out after dark."
"Are you sure you don't want to join them?" Halomon asked, nodding in the direction of the snowball fight.
Mickey let out a soft sigh, and keeping his back to the fire, he said, "It's not that I don't want to. I just need a little time to myself. With the way things are now, spending a lot of time around Sam can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when he comes really close to me. Being around Matty is also stressful, and as much as I love them both dearly, I just need a little breathing space to prepare myself for another long stretch of spending time with them while trying to keep my emotions in check."
"That's fair. I only asked because I don't want you to miss out on all the fun."
"Would you like to join them? Don't let me stop you from having fun and spending time with your friends. I'll be okay on my own for a little bit."
"No, it's fine," Halomon insisted. "Celestimon and the others understand. I can always have some fun after we find your Spirit Chip. Right now, you need me and my place is with you."
At that moment, Mickey felt a deep sense of affection for his partner, and hugging the little rookie close, he whispered, "Thank you. That means a lot to me."
Sometimes I don't think I deserve you either...
Despite having opted out of the snowball fight, nobody had put up a fuss about his exemption from participating in the game. In retrospect, he had expected at least Dai to say something, but even the goggle-headed leader had somehow recognised his obvious desire to have a little time to himself. Instead, the group had seen him off with strict instructions to get some rest and a warning not to wonder off too far from the older Digidestined, whom they clearly expected to look after him while they were busy with their snowball fight. Not wanting to cause his friends any further stress, he had opted to sit by the fire in view of his parents, which he figured would satisfy their requirements.
They're all so concerned about me, and here I am making things worse by worrying myself to death over Sam and Matty...
"Staying warm?" a voice suddenly asked, the gentle words drifting through the smoke coming from the fire.
Mickey jumped at the unexpected question, and tearing his yearning gaze away from Sam's slender silhouette, he suddenly found himself locking eyes with his father. The older man had somehow managed to sneak up beside him without making much noise, and sitting atop his partner's head, Patamon said cheerfully, "Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you."
"Don't worry about it," Halomon replied before he could open his mouth. "Have you come to join us?"
Why do I have a feeling this isn't a casual visit?
Feeling a bit shy even though he was talking to his own father, Mickey said hesitantly, "Where did Ken and Yolei go?"
"They've gone with Hawkmon and Wormmon to set up our sleeping area in the igloo," the older man said mildly before taking a seat next to him on the log. "I just came over to see how you were doing. I don't want you getting frostbite from sitting stationary out here for too long."
"I'm okay. The fire's keeping me warm."
"How are your fingers and toes?" his mother asked, appearing suddenly out of the gloom with Gatomon on her heels. "Make sure you keep your face warm, too. If you get too cold it's best to head inside."
Mickey was grateful for their concern, and as his mother sat down on his other side with Gatomon in her lap, he said wearily, "I'm fine, Mom. I promise I can still feel all my body parts."
"Which twin are we talking to here?" Gatomon remarked, her whiskers twitching as she gave in the side-eye. "That sounded like a Matty comment to me."
I suppose it did. I'm usually much more diplomatic and a lot less blunt when I speak.
The thought brought a smile to his face, and turning his gaze back to the snowball fight, he said softly, "Maybe he's rubbing off on me. That might not necessarily be a bad thing."
Almost without him realising it, his amber eyes drifted from the younger twin to Sam, and reaching out to place a warm hand on his shoulder, his father said gently, "This isn't just about Matty, is it."
Huh?
Mickey immediately froze, and ripping his eyes away from Sam for a second time, he said a little too quickly, "What do you mean?"
"We know you're worried about Matty and that the two of you aren't in agreement on how best to handle finding your Spirit Chip, but I don't think even that's enough to make you withdraw inside yourself to this extent," his mother said quietly, the obvious worry in her tone forcing him to meet her eyes. "There's more to this story, and we're afraid if you don't resolve whatever's bothering you, it's going to cause you further pain down the road."
"Obviously, we don't want that for you," his father insisted, the fear in his voice echoing that of his wife's tone. "It's not like you to hide your feelings, Mickey."
"And it's definitely not like you to sit alone by yourself," Patamon added.
Mickey couldn't deny the truth of their statements, and ducking his head, he whispered, "I'm sorry."
"We don't need an apology, Mickey," his mother murmured, her arms slipping around his body in a tight hug. "We need you to open up to us."
"We can tell you want to, but you have to reach that point on your own," his father noted, his arms going around both of them. "We would never force you to tell us anything if you're not ready, but we don't want you to forget that we're here for you when you need us. If we can help ease your struggles or put your fears to rest, we won't hesitate to do so, but in order to move forward, we need a starting point. Even if you can't bring yourself to tell us everything, even a hint or a clue is enough for us to work with. Do you think you could do that for us? We have our theories, but we don't want to assume anything."
"That wouldn't be fair to you," Gatomon pointed out, moving to sit beside her partner to allow for more cuddle room. "And I thought the Ruler of Darkness was secretive. You've been giving him a run for his money lately."
Resting comfortably in the arms of his parents, Mickey turned his gaze back to Sam, and biting his lip as the raven-haired Digidestined high-fived his brother, he found himself at a loss for words. Where did he even begin when his feelings for the good-looking boy who was supposed to be his best friend and only his friend were so precious to him?
How can I even begin to describe what's going on in my heart?
"He's a handsome boy," his father said lightly, the words cutting through the dusky gloom like a homing beacon heading right for its intended target. "There's no arguing that."
Mickey let out a loud gasp, his heart leaping into his throat, and staring wide-eyed at the older man, he somehow managed to squeak, "W-what? Who?"
"Sam," his father continued, smiling slightly. "That's who you were looking at just now, wasn't it?"
"He certainly is," his mother agreed. "Just like his dad. Of course, there's definitely a bit of Yolei involved there, and her beauty certainly has its merits."
His father laughed at that comment, and nodding in agreement, the older man said, "Definitely. Would never dream of leaving her out. Miya and Nao are proof enough of that."
Do they know? They must know. There's no way they would say something like that out of the blue without a very good reason. Do I ignore it? Do I say something?
Mickey could feel his own pulse pounding heavily in his ears, and deciding to test the waters a bit, he said carefully, "Yes, he's very handsome, but most of all, Sam is the sweetest and kindness boy I've ever met. He's almost too good to me, which is why I feel so guilty about all the stress I'm causing him."
Am I selfish for wanting him all to myself?
"Is that part of the reason why you've been acting so quiet lately?" Patamon asked, looking curious.
Sensing Halomon's supportive gaze, Mickey said as calmly as he could manage, "Partly."
"Is Sam aware of this?" his mother asked, her warm tone encouraging him to continue.
Mickey could feel his eyes welling up with emotion, and biting his lip, he whispered, "He's aware."
"Of that, but not everything?" his father suggested, the older man's tone growing suspiciously neutral.
I know Matty would never have said anything to them, but they are my parents and I'm sure they've been watching me like a hawk. If that wasn't an obvious clue, nothing is.
Resigning himself to the inevitable, Mickey said in a trembling voice, "Not everything, no."
For a moment, the only sound in the air was the crackling fire, and turning slightly to gaze into the flames, his mother said quietly, "So that's why you hesitate."
How can I not?
Mickey wasn't quite sure how to respond, and slumping in the arms of his parents, he said dully, "I never expected any of this to happen, and looking back now, I can't help but wonder how I could have been so blind. He's always been there right in front of me, so why now after all this time?"
For some reason his parents exchanged looks, and reaching out to ruffle his golden hair, his father said simply, "Sometimes that's just the way it happens. You start to get older and you see things differently than you did before. That's nothing to be ashamed of. If your feelings can change into something deeper than just friendship, that's a testament to the bond the two of you share. If he's that important to you, that's all the more reason to grow closer."
"Even if he might not feel the same?"
This time it was his mother who answered, and resting her cheek against his forehead, she said softly, "We can't speak for Sam, but neither can you. Has he told you that specifically?"
Mickey blinked, and caught off guard by the question, he said hesitantly, "No, nothing like that."
"Then what are you worrying about, silly?" Patamon asked, bouncing on his partner's golden head. "If he hasn't said anything then it means you still have a chance. I don't see any reason why you should give up unless he tells you himself he's not interested."
"Humans are a bit frustrating when it comes to logic, and apparently you're no exception," Gatomon said dryly. "Personally, I prefer a bold approach."
I...well, I guess they're not wrong. It's true Sam hasn't even remotely hinted that he doesn't want me around. Does that mean there's still hope? Maybe I can just continue trying to get closer to him?
Just the thought was enough to make his heart swell, and keeping his voice low, he said, "When did you find out about my feelings for Sam?"
"We didn't know for sure until just now," his father informed him. "We sort of suspected that might be the case a while ago, but we didn't want to assume until you said something about it yourself."
"It's the way you look at him," his mother said softly, her voice full of affection. "That's what did it for me."
Mickey couldn't say he was surprised, and twisting his gloved hands together, he mumbled, "And you're...okay with everything?"
His father raised an eyebrow at that, and holding him even closer, the older man said firmly, "Not a question you even need to ask. You're a loving person, Mickey. All we've ever wanted is for you to love somebody who is deserving of that love and loves you back just as much. I can think of no one who fits that description better than Sam. That being said, your mother and I are fully aware there's no guarantee Sam will return your feelings, and if it comes to that we trust that he will never abandon you and do what he can to mitigate the heartache I know you'll experience as much as he is able to. At the end of the day, what's most important is that the two of you stick together. That is a must, regardless of the outcome."
"Whether as a friend or partner, there is one thing that will never change," his mother said firmly, gazing straight into his eyes. "You are Sam's light, and nothing can ever take that away from you. I think, even now, he understands that just as much as your father and I do."
Mom...Dad...
Unable to hold in his emotions anymore, Mickey felt his eyes fill with tears, and hugging both parents as tightly as he could, he whispered, "That's why I need to be strong. For both Sam and Matty."
"Does Matty know?" his father asked, returning the hug.
Mickey nodded, and laughing through his tears, he said, "Of course, as I'm sure you've already guessed. Matty's been so amazing and supportive. I don't know what I would have done without him over the last few days."
"Matty and Celestimon want Sam and Mickey to be together just as much as I do," Halomon announced. "Sam's not making it easy, though. He's being just as secretive about his feelings as Mickey."
"Halomon!"
"I would think that's a good thing, wouldn't you?" Patamon joked.
Mickey hadn't even thought of that, but before a blush could fully form on his face, his father said quietly, "That's good. I'm glad to hear that."
Huh?
The change in tone was enough to catch Mickey's attention, and uncertain of if he should bring it up at all, he said slowly, "You're both still really worried about Matty, aren't you."
"We know the kind of lengths he would go to for you," his mother sighed, her eyes growing dark. "And truthfully, we can't blame him for that. We just wish...the two of you could come to an understanding and meet somewhere in the middle."
"I promised both of you I would protect Matty, and I haven't forgotten that promise. I will keep him safe no matter what."
"Which makes us worry even more," his father informed him. "Don't misunderstand us, that's not a bad goal to have and we've always stressed the importance of looking out for your siblings, but at the same time we don't want you to do anything that's going to put your life at risk unless it becomes absolutely necessarily. Matty wouldn't want that, and neither do we."
"Not only that, but we know now just how strongly you feel about Sam, and there's no getting around the fact that your feelings are going to affect your mental state," his mother warned. "That along with Matty is a lot for one person to experience all at once, which is why we want to stress that you're not alone and that you can come to us or anybody here if you need to talk. I don't want to believe it, but I think even you realise just how difficult it's going to be to overcome the insecurities festering in your heart in order to activate your Spirit Chip."
"Which is important, but not as important as you looking after yourself for you and not just for the Spirit Chip," his father finished. "Does that make sense?"
Mickey nodded, and giving his father another hug and his mother's hand a quick squeeze, he said softly, "It does. I'm sorry, I just..."
"Can you promise us just one thing?" his mother asked, taking his face in her hands.
Feeling confused, Mickey said, "What's that?"
"Don't give up on Sam. I know it's hard, but please try. Give him a chance to give you an answer before you give up on yourself. That's all I ask."
They seem so confident in Sam. I can tell how much they love him. Does that mean they think I have a chance?
Mickey felt his throat close up, and unble to refuse, he whispered, "I'll try."
I have to for my own sake...
Looking somewhat relieved, his father gently let go of him before saying, "Just remember you have our support in this, and I'm sure Ken and Yolei would feel the same. You already know Matty does, and that alone should be enough to do what you need to do."
I wonder...is that true? If Ken and Yolei somehow did manage to discover the truth about my feelings, would they support me in my efforts to love their son?
"Speaking of Ken and Yolei, we should probably go help them finish up," his mother sighed, also getting to her feet. "How about you, Mickey? Are you going to be okay here by yourself or did you want to come with us?"
Out the corner of his eye, Mickey spotted Dai and the others heading towards him with a small group of village digimon, and shaking his head, he said "I think I'll stay here. Looks like the snowball fight has ended so I won't be alone."
"Okay, if you're sure," his father replied, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Make sure you get some rest and don't stay out here too long."
His mother also gave him a kiss before setting off with his father and their partners, and waiting patiently for Dai's group to approach, he said curiously, "What do you think, Halomon?"
"I think your parents are amazing, and I knew they would support you," Halomon responded. "I also happen to agree with them. It's too early to give up on Sam, and you need to be more logical in your approach to dealing with Matty."
Despite the fact that he had just been told off by his partner, Mickey couldn't helping smiling in amusement, and as Dai plopped down on the wooden log beside him, he said pleasantly, "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, but now I'm exhausted," the goggle-headed leader complained, the sparkle in his dark eyes betraying his words. "Have a good rest?"
Mickey nodded, and trying not to react as Sam sat down on his other side, he said lightly, "I did."
"Was that Mom and Dad leaving just now?" Matty asked, looking suspicious as he dropped down into the snow with Ryoko and Takara on either side.
The younger twin was sitting directly in front of him, and knowing he'd never hear the end of it unless he came up with some sort of an answer, he said as convincingly as he could manage, "Yes, they were just checking in on me to see if I was okay."
"And are you?" Matty demanded, looking him up and down.
Mickey quickly gave his twin a reassuring pat on the knee, and keeping his voice level, he said, "For now. So, who won the game?"
"You weren't even watching?" Ryoko snorted, raising his eyebrows.
"I was until Mom and Dad showed up. It was only the end I missed."
"My team did, naturally," Dai boasted, raising a fist in victory. "Let's be real here. Nobody can beat Kara."
The entire group was quick to echo the goggle-headed leader's sentiments, and looking both embarrassed and pleased with herself, Kara said, "Sorry, sometimes I'm a little too competitive!"
"Don't be sorry," Sam laughed. "That's why we love you."
There was a chorus of agreement, and as Frigimon moved off to see what Izzy's group was up to, the raven-haired Digidestined suddenly leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Did you mean what you said to Matty?"
He doesn't seem that suspicious of me talking to my parents...
Mickey blushed as Sam's warm breath tickled his neck, and speaking honestly, he said softly, "I did mean it. I do actually feel a little better. Maybe not a lot, but definitely a little."
"Better than nothing," the raven-haired Digidestined sighed, moving to put an arm around his shoulders. "Seriously, at this point I'll take what I can get."
The warmth of that touch was enough to make his skin tingle all over, and unable to look at the other boy, Mickey mumbled, "I don't mind giving you more."
"Meaning what?" Sam asked slowly, his sapphire gaze growing darker with obvious emotion.
More of me.
Before he could respond, one of the two remaining Icemon came forward, and looking happy, the little digimon said, "That was loads of fun!"
"I know," the second Icemon agreed. "It's been a long time since we've had this much excitement in the village."
"Or this many visitors all on one day," the first Icemon added.
Something about that statement caught Mickey's attention, and grabbing Sam's wrist in a tight grip, he said nervously, "What do you mean by that? Have you had other visitors come to the village today besides us?"
That's what the Icemon made it sound like, but who else besides us would be venturing all the way out here other than our enemies...
The two Icemon beamed at each other, and looking to the single remaining BlueMeramon, who was standing with two PawnChessmon and a Luminamon, the second Icemon said, "Yeah! We had a nice digimon come visit us earlier. She said she was a traveller and seemed really interested in exploring the Northern Hemisphere. Asked lots of questions about it."
Almost immediately, Mickey could feel his instincts screaming at him that something wasn't right, and glancing at Sam, whose expression mirrored his own, he said slowly, "What kind of questions?"
A random traveller coming all the way out here to this remote village? The chances of that are highly unlikely. Who, other than ourselves and our enemies, would be interested in visiting this place and learning about the Northern Hemisphere?
The truth was, they had no idea how many of his servants the Ruler of Darkness had enlisted to steal the Spirit Chip of Innocence. In fact, the only one they could be sure of was DarkAngelicmon, since Halomon and Celestimon could sense the fallen angel's presence somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. Even YukiOnnamon wasn't a given. The fact alone that they were being stalked by two unknown celestial digimon was proof enough of that. With BlackWidowmon, Jestermon, and Spritemon out of the picture, surely there had to be at least a couple of replacements to fulfill the vacant positions?
Like the two evil angels who are following us. Could the so-called traveller have been one of them?
There was only one way to find out, and setting his first question aside for the moment, Mickey quickly deferred to his brother, since it was clear the younger twin was thinking the exact same thing he was.
And he's not the only one.
The whole group had obviously come to the same conclusions about the mysterious traveller, and not wanting to raise suspicion or upset the village digimon, Matty said casually, "What did the traveller look like? Do you know her name and what kind of digimon she was?"
The first PawnChessmon quickly shook his head, and dropping down to sit on the snow with his fellow chess piece, he said, "Sorry, we're not sure about her name, and now that I think about it, I don't believe she ever offered it. She definitely wasn't the type of digimon we would normally see in the Northern Hemisphere."
"Hence why we're not sure what type of digimon she was," the second PawnChessmon finished. "I don't think I've ever seen her species before."
"Can you tell us what she looked like?" Takara asked, repeating Matty's first question.
This time it was BlueMeramon who spoke, and settling himself on the snow just behind Ryoko and Alopemon, the fiery digimon said, "She was definitely a beast digimon, a feline like Gatomon but larger. I would say by the look of her she was probably an ultimate level digimon. She was quite pleasant and soft-spoken, and she did seem genuinely curious about the Northern Hemisphere."
A feline digimon?
That caught Mickey off guard, since he had fully expected BlueMeramon to announce that the traveller was a celestial digimon, and feeling baffled, he turned to Ryoko, who shrugged his shoulders in bewilderment. Clearly, the others were just as surprised as him, and to his left, Embermon scratched his head in confusion before saying, "What kind of questions did she ask?"
"She seemed pretty interested in the history of the Northern Hemisphere," Luminamon informed them, bouncing happily on the icy ground before settling into Ryoko's lap. "She asked if there were any records of what the land was like during the Age of Light and the Age of Darkness. She also seemed interested in the geography of the continent."
"She was definitely curious about whether or not this particular continent had ever been heavily affected by the Powers of Darkness, or if there were any rumours about any digimon who live in the Northern Hemisphere being affected by the darkness," the first Icemon finished.
"And are there?" Dovemon asked, anxiously ruffling her feathers.
The little bird digimon was curled comfortably against Takara's side, and shaking his head, the second Icemon said, "Not that we're aware of. Although..."
"Although what?" Celestimon echoed, his green eyes growing wide with nervous anticipation.
"In the past, we have had several digimon from our village pass by the Glacial Waterfalls in their travels, and all of them have said the area makes them feel uncomfortable. There's nothing obvious that sticks out as the cause, but that place definitely gives off that kind of vibe. In fact, that's the main reason why nobody's ever ventured too far in before, so we don't really have an answer as to why it feels that way. It does seem to come from the heart of the area, though, if that means anything."
"Did you tell all of this to the feline digimon who came to visit you?" Alopemon asked, his tone indicating that might have been a bad idea.
"Sure," the first PawnChessmon said cheerfully, completely oblivious to the little fox digimon's obvious distrust of the outsider who had boldly entered the village. "She kind of gave off the impression that she was a researcher or a historian."
I'm not so sure about that...
Mickey felt Sam shift in his tight grip, and giving the raven-haired Digidestined a worried look, he received an equally worried gaze in return. Clearly they were on the same page, and looking anxious, Glowmon said, "Does Dianamon know about all of this?"
"Now that you mention it, I don't think anyone ever thought to tell her," BlueMeramon replied, sounding a bit sheepish. "Do you think we should?"
"Yes," Halomon interrupted, his deep blue eyes immediately darting towards the village exit. "But first, I think Izzy needs to hear all of this. We should probably call him over."
Something about the little rookie's expression immediately caught Mickey's attention, and giving his partner a quick squeeze, he said, "Those two angel digimon are back again, aren't they."
"They are. It's just like before. They're trying to intimidate us by instilling fear in our hearts."
"Particularly yours," Sam murmured, the ominous words cutting through the crackling embers of the fire with almost painful intensity.
Mickey knew the warning was directed at him and not at Halomon, and as the group fell silent, he felt Sam's wrist slip free from his grasp only to be replaced by a soft touch of slender fingers. Without even thinking about it, he gave those warm fingers a tight squeeze, and frowning, Celestimon said, "If you count DarkAngelicmon, whom we know is somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, that's at least three enemies on our tail. How many more can there be? Three fallen angels and...who else?"
It was a question nobody wanted to answer, and climbing to his feet, Matty said in an unusually neutral tone, "Let me go get Izzy and the others."
Before anybody could respond, the younger twin rounded the fire to approach the group that was sitting further away, and feeling apprehensive, Mickey watched his brother go with a sense of dread in his heart. It wasn't like Matty to hide his emotions, and uncertain of what to make of the younger twin's calm tone and lack of expression, he quickly found himself resorting to blind panic. Matty was definitely thinking something, but what could it be?
"He's afraid," Sam said bluntly, leaning over to whisper in his ear. "For you, obviously."
"But I.."
"You can't blame him. I feel the same. Forget being afraid, I'm positively terrified."
Mickey let out a soft gasp, and unable to look at the raven-haired Digidestined, he mumbled, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Sam insisted. "It's not your fault, but even so, it's obvious what's happening. A group of fallen angel digimon, the Powers of Darkness...everything about the actions of our enemies is geared directly towards coming after you, and if this feline digimon is associated with them, that only confirms what I think even more."
I thought DarkAngelicmon and the others were only here to steal my Spirit Chip, but...is it possible there's another reason why they wanted to come to the Northern Hemisphere? That feline digimon definitely seemed interested in the Powers of Darkness. Is she looking for something, and if she is, is it something the Ruler of Darkness needs or wants to know?
There was no way to tell for sure, and not wanting to get ahead of himself, Mickey said quietly, "I don't think it's a good idea to jump to conclusions just yet. She might not have anything to do with DarkAngelicmon and the Ruler of Darkness at all. Let's wait to hear what Izzy has to say first before we make any assumptions."
Sam's response was to let out a deep sigh, and grumbling to himself, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "Fine, but regardless I'm not taking any chances with you. And don't try to talk me out of it. You'll be fighting a losing battle if you try."
Mickey didn't have the strength to argue, and feeling suddenly shy, he said hesitantly, "I wasn't going to. When it comes to me, I've learned better than to try to change your mind."
Especially if it means you'll stay by my side.
Something about his words seemed to catch Sam's attention, and sapphire eyes glittering in the light of the fire, the raven-haired Digidestined moved closer to rest their foreheads together and whispered, "Do you want me to change my mind?"
I...wait...Are we even talking about the same thing anymore?
Though their friends were sitting all around them, Sam didn't seem at all concerned about how close they were leaning towards one another, and blushing as the raven-haired Digidestined's warm breath ghosted across his cheeks, Mickey had to concentrate very hard in order to prevent his pulse from racing into overdrive. At the moment, their faces were only inches apart, and struggling to breath, he managed to choke out, "I never said that."
Before Sam could reply, Matty returned with Izzy, Mina, Rosa, Cody, Frigimon, and four rookie digimon in tow, and making himself comfortable on the log next to Daichi, the computer expert said pleasantly, "Matty's just informed me there's been some interesting developments."
"I hope you don't mind rehashing the same story again?" Mina asked, settling herself next to Izzy. "We'll make sure to tell Ken and the others before we retire for the evening."
Thankfully, the village digimon were happy to oblige, and as Izzy tapped furiously on his laptop, the village digimon proceeded to describe their encounter with the mysterious feline digimon for a second time that evening. The group fell silent as their story came to an end, and turning to Frigimon, Tentomon said slowly, "You said earlier that you'd been to the Glacial Waterfalls before. Did you ever get that sensation of feeling uncomfortable when you were in the area?"
It took Frigimon a moment to answer and when he did his tone of voice was thoughtful. "Yes, but at the time I figured it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. I have been known on occasion to get a little ahead of myself. Truthfully, I hadn't given it much thought until just now."
"What do you think about all of this, Izzy?" Cody asked.
The dark-haired man was sitting next to his wife with their partners behind Matty, and pausing for a moment, the computer expert said slowly, "I will admit I find the timing of this digimon's visit a little too convenient. Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if they're somehow involved with the Ruler of Darkness."
"The Ruler of Darkness?" BlueMeramon asked, looking suddenly worried. "We've heard rumours about him. Did we do something bad?"
"Don't you worry about that," Rosa replied, attempting to reassure the fiery digimon. "We don't know if the Ruler of Darkness is involved or not, and even if he was, I don't think it would matter. If our enemies are that determined to gather information to use against us, they would find a way to get what they want even without your help."
"That's true," Gotsumon agreed. "I doubt they're going to let anything stand in their way on that front."
Mickey felt inclined to agree, but at the same time he was having some trouble focusing on the conversation at hand. Even though they had pulled apart the moment Matty returned with the adults, he could still feel Sam's intense gaze watching him closely. It was a little unnerving, since he had no idea what those sapphire eyes were trying to convey, and taking extra care to keep his own eyes averted, he said slowly, "There's no denying what's done is done, but...that being said, what are we supposed to do now?"
"I'm mostly interested in knowing just what exactly that feline digimon was most interested in learning," Izzy replied. "She obviously had a reason for asking those specific questions, and if it does have anything to do with us, it would be good to know ahead of time in order to prepare ourselves for tomorrow's journey. I don't think there's anything we can do about it right now, but I will send this info along to Taniko and Gennai with everything else I need to inform them of and see if they have any ideas. Gennai might have more information we can use, which might give us a better clue as to the identity of this feline digimon and what her main goal is."
"You mean you don't have any theories of your own yet?" Armadillomon joked.
Izzy smiled at that, and shaking his head, the computer expert said, "I do, actually, but I'd like to run those ideas past Gennai and Taniko first to get their input before I say anything. If, of course, everyone is okay with that."
"Not like we have much of a choice," Matty grumbled. "And what about the two celestial digimon who are watching us again?"
"As I said before, I figured this would happen. I still don't think it's anything to worry about just yet, but I do ask that Celestimon and Halomon continue checking in with me, especially if they can feel those two digimon coming closer to the village."
"Are we going to be attacked?" one of the Icemon asked, looking confused.
"I doubt it," Candlemon snorted, looking amused. "But even so, you lot had best go tell Dianamon about the feline digimon."
"I'll also speak to her just in case she has anymore insight on the matter that I can pass onto Gennai and Taniko," Izzy informed the group before getting to his feet and turning to address his wife. "Would you mind telling Yolei and the others what's going on?"
"Not at all," Mina responded, accepting her husband's hand as he pulled her to her feet. "Now that the sun is setting, it's starting to get quite cold out here. We should all probably head indoors for the evening."
"And if anybody wants to use the hot springs, now's your chance," Rosa added. "Besides, we wouldn't want Yolei to storm out here with demands for homework, bath time, and bedtime, now would we?"
Mickey winced at that, and getting the message, he said sheepishly, "Give us a moment to put out the fire and we'll head inside."
He's still watching me. I wonder what he's thinking...
There was no way to know, and as the adults, their partners, and the village digimon headed for Dianamon's igloo, Dai and Ryoko quickly moved to put out the fire. Mickey was slower to get up, and catching his arm, Sam said quietly, "Are you worried?"
I'm already frightened, Sam. What's one more added fear?
It was a strong thought, and knowing it was probably best to keep his true feelings to himself for the time being, he said quietly, "I'm anxious about this new digimon we have to deal with, but the two angels concern me more. I really don't know what to think anymore, which is why I'm trying not to worry about it too much until Izzy can dig up some more information."
Besides, it's hard to focus when I can't stop thinking about you...
Sam was silent for a moment, and then tugging gently on his arm, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "Come on, let's head inside. It might do you some good if you went to bed early tonight."
Not if you're going to be sleeping anywhere near me.
Flustered by the thought, Mickey blushed before turning his face away, and catching Matty's raised eyebrow before lowering his nervous gaze to the icy ground, he mumbled, "I doubt any of us are going to be getting much sleep tonight."
After all, there was still one other thing weighing on his mind, and that was his father's story about what happened in the past with Devimon.
He hasn't said anything yet, but I know it's weighing on his mind, too. I wonder when he'll bring it up again...
"Promise me you'll at least try," Sam sighed, pulling him forward as they fell in behind the rest of the group heading back towards the igloo.
Somehow, Mickey managed a shy smile, and hesitantly reaching out to put a hand on the raven-haired Digidestined's shoulder, he said honestly, "I'll try."
But only if you promise to stay close to me...
Though Sam didn't respond, that intense look was back in his eyes, and gazing at each other, Mickey felt his heart flutter in his chest. At that moment, it took all of his willpower not to step forward and pull the raven-haired Digidestined into a fierce embrace, but that wasn't the most intriguing thing about what was happening between them. Strangely enough, it almost looked as if Sam felt the same, and keeping his tone suspiciously neutral, the raven-haired Digidestined said mildly, "Care to answer my earlier question?"
Mickey immediately felt his face turn pink, and trying not to stammer, he decided to throw caution to the wind and whispered, "More of myself and what's in my heart."
In response, Sam slowly nodded, and refusing to break eye contact, the raven-haired Digidestined said in an exquisitely low tone, "That'll do for now."
Huh?
Mickey blinked, but before he could respond, Sam raced off with Glowmon to join Dai and Kara at the front of the group.
Watching them go, Halomon said happily, "I bet he wanted to give you a hug."
That can't be true...or can it?
Feeling embarrassed, Mickey chose not to respond, and catching up with his brother and Celestimon, he let out a moan and said, "I'm...very confused."
"Don't be," Matty responded, sounding amused. "Just roll with it and see what happens."
That comment alone was enough to convince Mickey that his brother had seen everything, and blushing furiously, he muttered, "Easy for you to say. I don't think my heart can take this."
"It can," the younger twin reassured him. "On the plus side, nothing about his attitude was negative. After what he just said there, I'd say you have a good chance."
Matty...
Unable to speak, Mickey simply gave his twin a quick hug before burying his face in his hands, and letting out a deep breath, he took a moment to collect himself before continuing on.
If Matty thought so then maybe there really was something more to Sam's behaviour, but how could he be absolutely sure that was the case?
I can't be, no matter how Sam behaves. The only way I'll ever know for certain is to confront him about it...
And now that they had another possible threat to worry about, it was becoming even more apparent that he should say something before attempting to find his Spirit Chip. Or in other words, he needed to act before the darkness had a chance to destroy any hope he had of saving their relationship once the truth finally came out...