You know, I'm finding that I have massive issues with writing action. Which kind of sucks because this is Digimon, and it has action in every episode. Well, I'm gonna try to have action in the next few chapters, I just can't decide how. Cause I suck. Yep. I suppose, just clarify (as a graphic of the newest Digimon series with the high school uniforms shown has been released) the uniform I have the Jun and the rest in are the olive green one with the magenta skirt Jun has been seen in during some episodes. I just assumed it was her uniform, so I'm going with it. I guess Taichi and the others go to a different high school?

I also apologize for taking so long to update. I guess as a warning, I should let you guys know it might take this long in general. One, I'd like to make sure I do all my Digimon-related research and have it done well. Two, I'm a full time student with a part time job. So my life sucks. Three...there is no three. I just take a while to write action. Or I procrastinate with writing it.

To Qinlongfei, I forgot to add this in the PM, but yeah. Kaori's description was half a lazy attempt at describing a character, half a prod at the generic Anime face. I kind of plan on making a few prods at the Anime genre in here, however poorly they come across.


Episode Two: The First Foray! Buraimom's Determined Sword!

Kaori liked her sleep. If she compiled a list of her favorite things it would begin with comics and end with sleep. They'd be the only two things on the list. (Video games and candy didn't count; she needed those to live.)

So when a yellow and pink dog-thing pounced on her bed in the morning, no one should have been surprised that her first reaction was to toss the offending creature to the floor with a snarl...Which was when Kaori sobered up, realizing that the creature that had jumped on her was Labramon and shot out of bed in horror. Had she really just violently thrown Labramon, her Digimon partner, off her bed?

"I'm so sorry! Labramon, I swear I didn't mean to shove you! I mean, I did, but if I had realized it was you-" Kaori ran her fingers into Labramon's fur, rubbing the side that slammed into the floor. Labramon whined at Kaori's touch, curling into it instinctively, "Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Kaori-chan," Labramon sat up and nuzzled Kaori in the chest with her nose, "Next time I won't jump on you!" The two of them laughed quietly before getting up off the floor and walking into the living room. Kaori's father, Daiki, was in the kitchen, making breakfast (Well, that was unusual). At the sound of footsteps, Daiki turned his head from the eggs and rice he was making to greet his daughter and her partner.

"You're up early," He turned back to breakfast, "Thanks for that, Labramon."

Kaori turned from Daiki to Labramon, horror splashed across her face. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly, trying to find the right words to convey her utterly betrayed emotions, "Labramon! I thought you were my partner!" She finally bemoaned, hands in the air.

"Daiki-papa said that waking up early for school is good for you, and I only want what's good for you," Labramon's simple answer forced Kaori's mouth shut. How could she reply to that and not seem like an ass? (She couldn't.) So Kaori sat at her family's small dinner table instead and slammed her forehead on it, "I don't think hurting yourself is good for you, either." Labramon added thoughtfully. Kaori only groaned in irritation.

"...Need candy..." She grumbled and only lifted her head when a paper plate was unceremoniously dropped in front of her.

"Eat up, brat. I can't remember the last time you had a breakfast that didn't include sugar," Daiki sat across from Kaori, then pulled a chair out for Labramon to leap on, "You get some too. I don't know what Digimon eat, but I guess you can enjoy your first human breakfast today." Labramon cheered at the plate of eggs and rice set in front of her before tearing into it messily.

Kaori sighed in defeat and joined her father and partner in eating. Her eyes traveled down to her wrist where her Digivice sat and thought back to the previous day when Labramon had come into her life. Their trip into the Digital World had been mostly for exposition, Kaori had realized with a bit of relief.. There wasn't anything going on that seemed to require extra attention. So after getting to know the others (The lazy girl still couldn't remember any of their names, but she figured that they'd meet often enough for her to learn) they had all gone home.

And that was when Daiki met Labramon. After spending the last three months getting to know V-mon, Daiki was more concerned with what Labramon was supposed to eat than the fact that Kaori suddenly had a Digimon partner. Hence making breakfast; something the man hadn't done for the last few years. Kaori didn't know if she liked this sudden change very much.

"Hey, are you okay?" The question snapped Kaori out of her reverie. Daiki was gazing at his daughter with a worried expression that quickly turned suspicious, "You're not faking sick or anything to play hooky, are you?" He pointed his chopsticks at Kaori accusingly, joking around to cover up his concern. Kaori gave him a weary glare.

"No way, Old Man," She pointed her own chopsticks back at him, "I'm just tired because you recruited Labramon to wake me up." Labramon beamed at Kaori innocently, "Argh, and I can't even be mad at you for listening to him." To drown out Daiki's victorious chuckles, Kaori began shoveling food in her mouth.

"I'm not old, I'll have you know," Daiki poked Kaori's forehead (Ow!) once he noticed Kaori had insulted him, "Your uncle is-"

"Nine minutes older than you, I know," Kaori interrupted, having heard this protest too many times in her life, "Ji-san likes to throw that in your face all the time." Jun and Daisuke's father, Motomiya Daichi, was Daiki's older twin. Being identical, the two spent much of their life either fighting for superiority or enjoying the mayhem their mirror appearances could ignite. (When Kaori was born, Daichi introduced her to his wife as an illegitimate lovechild. Daiki had rushed in a moment later, demanding his newborn back.)

"And when he starts getting old, I'll always be nine minutes behind, enjoying my youth," Daiki grinned lazily, stretching back in his seat and taking a smug sip of his miso soup. Kaori rolled her eyes and finished breakfast, then headed for her room to get dressed. From there, she could hear Daiki and Labramon laughing, the sounds floating down the hall and into her ears. When Kaori finished pulling on her necktie, she walked back into the living room and found her father and partner at the couch, watching morning cartoons. Labramon was fixated on the television, enraptured by the novelty of animated violence.

"Wow! Hey, Kaori-chan, do you think we could do this in real life?!" Labramon's question ignited an uneasy feeling in the pit of Kaori's stomach. She thought back to Jun's words from yesterday. 'This soon? That last mess Daisuke and the others had to go through only ended three months ago! The Digital World must have some messed up characters to need saving every few months,' Was there really a greater purpose for them becoming Chosen Children? Weren't people becoming Chosen Children left and right? That was what Daisuke had said, anyway...

"I-I don't know," Kaori responded unsurely, then grabbed her schoolbag from the kitchen counter. Labramon leapt off the couch to follow Kaori to the door.

"Are you sure I can't go with you today?" The Digimon's tail wagged hopefully. Kaori bent low to drop a palm on Labramon's head, shaking her head sadly. The uneasy feeling in her stomach settled into a heavy weight and the girl's throat stung. (Why was she ready to cry? It was the second day in a row now! This morning was getting too weird.)

"I swear," Kaori grinned hard to fight her dampening eyes, "As soon as school is over, I'll come right back home-we've gotta head to...uhhh...whatshisname...The kid with the red hair, uhh...Isobe?" Kaori's eyebrows furrowed, but she shrugged in resignation, "Anyway, that guy. The smart one. We all gotta meet up at his place. Dad's not working till I get home, so just sit tight and watch cartoons with him, okay?" Kaori stood straight then turned to the door, "Bye!" A duet of, "Bye, Kaori-chan!" followed and she was off for school.

While Jun had come to get her yesterday (an informal introduction to her high school career, of sorts), Kaori preferred walking to school by herself. It wasn't that she disliked the company. In fact, Kaori was pleasantly surprised to meet Chizuru, whom she liked very much despite their obvious differences. But the truth be told, Kaori liked having some candy and a handheld console (today it was Metroid Fusion with a grape sucker) and taking the slow path through the park to school. Solitude was necessary for worthwhile and meaningful gameplay. (It helped that there was always an ice cream lady in the park to give Kaori her morning dose of sugar if she was out of candy.)

"Ugh, I hate X Parasites," Kaori muttered into the GBA when she reached Odaiba High School's gates and felt the wind pick up around her as someone ran past. She perked her head up in time to see a boy with obnoxiously huge hair racing down the sidewalk, in the direction of the Odaiba Middle School. He turned around mid-stride, to glance at Kaori with mild recognition on his face. The boy gave a short wave without slowing his race to school. Kaori waved back halfheartedly once his back was turned (mentally cursing her awkward and slow reactions). She'd seen him before, yesterday at the park with all the others. He was Daisuke's friend, Kaori was sure of it (Digimon aside, Kaori may have recognized the unique hair at one of Daisuke's birthday parties a year or two back). She stared at the boy as he shrank in the distance, trying to remember what his name was. "Oh, I can never remember anyone's name," Kaori laughed to herself before resuming her game. Unfortunately, having forgotten to pause when the bushy-haired boy ran past, Kaori found that she got a game over. "Shit! I forgot to save!" With an annoyed huff, Kaori shut her GBA and marched into the building. There was no point trying to redo her progress now.

"Kaori!" Aiko's voice rolled past Kaori. Literally, as the second year student still thought hallways were a suitable substitute for skate parks. Kaori raised her hand to greet him back, thankfully making it before he turned his head. 'Score!' Her mind cheered at the small victory and she chased after him to catch up. Which was hard, when the person being chased had transport Kaori did not.

"Aiko! Wait up!" Athleticism must have come from Jun and Daisuke's mother, the girl concluded when she felt fatigued after ten seconds of running. So when Aiko stopped to allow Kaori to catch up, he had to wait for her to crawl over, wheezing in pain. "That...was...the worst." The words came between loud huffs. Chuckling the whole way, Aiko helped Kaori to her feet and (once again) began straightening out her collar.

"Y'know, I don't see how it's so hard for you to just...I don't know. Iron your clothes." Aiko sounded more like a parent than a classmate, Kaori couldn't help but think as he straightened out her tie, "I've done this before school every day now."

"We've only been in school for two days."

"Two for two, Kaori. Two for two."


"FREEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOM!" Nothing was going to ruin Kaori's mood. Class was over (she'd only been smacked with no more than three rulers for sleeping in class) and Labramon and video games were on the horizon!

"If you think you're going home for fun, you should know that I asked Daisuke to pick up Labramon. We're all meeting at Izumi-san's place." Jun stood before Kaori, arms crossed in stern amusement. She laughed when Kaori's face fell instantly, "Come on," Jun urged, "you know you don't want Labramon to see you disappointed. She'll get the wrong idea."

"Yeah, you're right." Kaori allowed Jun to drag her by the collar to Izumi's home, still thinking of all the video games she was missing out on. After days of picking up shifts at Daiki's bar, Kaori finally had the money for Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and was going to pick it up today. Kaori could feel her dreams of being a war leader slipping from her fingers. With a broken heart, Kaori returned to her Gameboy. Metroid would have to do for now. Maybe the morning's lost work could be remade now.

As she and Jun made their way to the Izumi household, the others caught up to them. (Kaori made sure to gag all too audibly when Shuu greeted Jun with a kiss.) It seemed that with the exception of Fanbeemon, the other Digimon were already waiting for them.

"So who went to pick up Dorumon?" Chizuru inquired, walking backwards in front of Aiko. Though Chizuru was taller than any of the other girls, Aiko still towered over her. Each of his steps forward required Chizuru to take four steps backwards.

"It was Hida-san," Aiko explained without any further comment. It took a few moments to deduce which person 'Hida-san' was, but when she did Kaori found it odd that the little boy would have gone to a stranger's home. But she'd seen odder things in the last twenty-four hours to think hard about it. Thinking was for people who got paid to do it, anyway, and Kaori wasn't getting paid at all.

In the corner of her eye, Kaori could see the contemplative expression on Chizuru's face and knew she was thinking in a similar vein. Kaori waited for the continued investigation, but Chizuru kept her mouth shut, save for a tiny yelp when Aiko stepped on the blonde's toe accidentally, sending her to the ground.

"I keep telling you not to walk like that, Zuru-chan," Momoe chided, already at her sister's aid before Aiko even knelt down to help, "You could get really hurt one day." A kind of tired groan one could only make if they'd heard the same lecture countless times came in response.


Izumi Koushiro's bedroom was immaculate-or 'immaculate' seemed to be the room's natural state. When seventeen people and their Digimon partners tried to cram into one space, cleanliness veered towards impossibility. Jun rubbed her temples irritably, wondering just why did everyone have to come today? As it were, only Ichijouji, Takenouchi, the younger of the Yagami siblings, both Ishida brothers, and their partners crammed around the doorway. Leaving twelve people and their Digimon specifically in the room itself. Great.

"So, Izumi, why are we all stuffed in here?" Jun decided to begin business (as it were), by cutting over the medium-loud lull everyone was making in a loud, commandeering tone. Everyone hushed up, as Jun stood from her seat on the ground, "We all met yesterday. Remember? I don't know why everyone has to be here again." She took in Izumi's small bedroom (noticing how everyone was sort of piled on top of one another to fit) and sniffed, "In such a small space, at that."

"No, not everyone is in here!" Dracomon countered obliviously, "There's a bunch of people in the living room too!"

"That wasn't supposed to be taken literally," Chizuru rubbed Dracomon's head behind the horns to calm the reptilian creature down, "But Jun-san has a point. If we are going to the Digital World today-for exposition (again)-why is everyone here?" To answer her question, Izumi pointed to the desktop before him. On the screen was a grid of the Digital World.

"I know these aren't prime conditions, Inoue-san, but I've been observing the Digital World," Izumi gestured to the map, pointing at spots on the grid that continued to warp, the lines swaying back and forth compared to other, stable grids, "There's been an unusual coalescence of Digimon in these areas, I have no idea why. I decided it would be in the best interest for everyone to discuss this matter at once-rather than have to rehash the details more than once."

"I've been scouting for Koushiro-han, and I can confirm that these Digimon seem to be unifying under a faction of sorts." Izumi's partner added.

"That brings us back to the original point: Why didn't you tell us yesterday?" Jun continued, "If this is the reason we became Chosen Children, why did you wait?"

"Ahh, we didn't want to throw you in headfirst in the same way we were, to be honest," Taichi explained easily, "It might have been overwhelming. Only Koushiro and I knew all of this until just now." There was a silent, sweeping murmur as everyone took the information in.

"Also," A soft male voice piped up from the hallway, "we wanted to examine exactly why you six became Chosen Children." It was Ichijouji. "It's obvious, but you guys are all older than we are-barring Jyou-san. In fact, calling you 'children' would be, for lack of a better term, stupid."

"I've been wondering the same thing," Shuu agreed and Jun could see the cogs in his head turning again. Shuu had that inquisitive expression on his face, the one he had when presented with a new puzzle. (Jun found it to be a point of pride whenever Shuu would look at her with that face.) "I was also wondering why our Digivices happen to be different from everyone else's." He held up the machine clamped to his wrist, "Even the younger children who are now getting partners have the same model as Daisuke-san and the rest."

Jun looked down to the Digivice she wore, her gaze traveling past it towards Hyokomon. He seemed to be in deep thought, eyes closed and wings touching at the tips. The question had been on everyone's mind. Why them? Why not younger people? Why not actual children? Hyokomon opened his eyes and looked up at Jun. Though he remained staunchly against emotional displays, Hyokomon leaned into Jun's legs comfortingly. 'Yeah,' Jun realized, 'I shouldn't think that way. If it had been younger children, they would be Hyokomon's partner-not me,'

"I don't think it matters," Jun voiced her thoughts aloud, "The fact remains that we're here right now and there's something going on in the Digital World that should be looked at and handled if it actually is a problem." She held up her Digivice triumphantly, "So why are we discussing this? We can do this later. There's always time to talk. Let's go!"

Taichi also stood up at Jun's words. He looked at her, almost challengingly. Jun cocked an eyebrow at the younger boy, who grinned in response, holding his hands up in peace. "She's right. Talk is cheap. Koushiro, let's get moving. We're wasting daylight!" The room filled with antsy energy, anticipation rearing it's way for adventure.

"I think a few of us should still stay back and cover tactics. Shuu-san, I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter, but I think it'd be best if you went to the Digital World as well," Koushiro requested over his booting the Digital Gate, "We can go over this when you get back."

"That's not a problem at all," Shuu agreed, "I'd like for Ichijouji-san to stay as well-"

"Pfft, the brainiacs already sniffed each other out," Kaori snickered to Labramon, Daisuke, and V-mon under her breath. The four of them erupted into short giggles until Jun elbowed Kaori in the side. ("Ow!" "Maybe we shouldn't make Jun-Jun angry, Kaori-chan.." "...Maybe. Maybe."

"The six of us will go, for sure." Jun clenched her fist, "Let's see what we're capable of, right?"

"Alright! I'm coming with you, Nee-san!" Daisuke launched himself off the floor with gusto. Following his lead, so did Miyako and Iori.

"You two can't go without me, I won't allow it!" Miyako punched the air.

"I'd like to come along as well," Iori added, wriggling in his seat nervously. His verdant eyes roved over the room, seeking approval. They landed on Aiko shortly-Jun noticed that they had their eyes shared exactly the same shade of green-before looking away as soon as the other boy noticed. Aiko's eyebrows furrowed suspiciously, but he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"No one is stopping you, Hida-san." Aiko seemed to be unable to even look at Iori, which did and didn't surprise Jun much. From what she could gather of Aiko in the last two days he was incredibly shy (when Kaori introduced him to her yesterday, Aiko seemed unable to talk for a good three minutes). But why would someone so much younger than him cause so much discomfort? Perhaps Aiko was shyer than she initially thought.

Iori, however, seemed crestfallen by Aiko's surface-positive answer. He covered it up as well as he could, but the boy was only nine. Iori was a child, and children were pretty transparent. Jun couldn't help but sympathise with the kid. If Iori wanted to impress someone, Aiko surely shot him down (however unintentionally) with that answer.

"Arrgh, can we not talk about this and just go already?" Chizuru groaned, "I'm gonna go ahead without you guys if you keep talking about going and not doing it." And that was exactly what she did, aiming her Digivice at the screen. One bright light later, Chizuru and Dracomon were on the other side of the computer screen, "We're waiting!"

"Guess that decides it for us, huh?" Aiko shrugged mildly and he and Dorumon followed Chizuru and Dracomon into the Digital World.

"I guess it does." Kaori confirmed.


"So where's the problem area?" Jun asked into Daisuke's Digivice. Yesterday, it had become apparent that her own model wasn't capable of communication, so it was probably a good thing Daisuke had tagged along.

"If you walk north into the forest ahead of you, you should find the settlement where all the conflict is happening." Izumi's static-y voice blared directions, so that's where Jun went, everyone following behind her.

"Jun-san, what will we do when we arrive?" Hyokomon asked, practicing his kiais as they marched on, "I don't doubt there will be hostility, if this faction is as large enough as it seems. Violence tends to emerge in a mob."

"Lets just see if there will be a problem, and we'll decide it then," Jun patted Hyokomon squarely on the head, interrupting a kiai and making the stoic bird squawk loudly. Hyokomon shot Jun a dirty glare. Jun grinned back at Hyokomon brightly, then marched ahead of him. Without protest, Hyokomon moved ahead of Jun protectively, much like the samurai he seemed to emulate so well.

When everyone reached the Digimon settlement, Kaori motioned for everyone to hide behind some bushes and spy. They peered their heads over the leaves, trying to listen in on the current discussion.

"What if she's right? What if the order of the Digital World has been put out of balance?" A green bloblike Digimon cried out amongst the worried murmurs.

"I've heard about what she does to Digimon who don't agree with her!" One of the frog-trumpeter Digimon dragged a finger across his throat, "And she's done something to Primary Village! None of them are coming back!"

"Primary Village?" Izumi echoed through the collective D-3s.

"What's Primary Village?" Shuu hissed into the D-3, trying not to be heard.

"It's where Digimon who die come back," Labramon explained solemnly. Jun focused her attention back on the gathering before her. If Labramon was distressed, something tampering with Primary Village must have been a high offense. The Digimon conference only seemed to get more agitated, as it was becoming clear two sides were forming.

"I don't know about you, but I don't like the thought of getting deleted! I think we should join her side!"

"What?! No! We should defend ourselves! There are more of us than there are of her supporters!"

"And we don't see those supporters disappearing, now do we!"

The arguments bounced back and forth, as the Digimon continued to struggle amongst themselves. They only seemed to get angrier with each piercing interjection, panicking with every shout and some of the Digimon switching sides multiple times. The two factions gradually solidified within moments-

"Ruby Eye!" A booming voice shot through the noise, sending a red laser into the center of the crowd (scattering all Digimon involved) and sweeping through the bushes where everyone was hiding.

"Get out of the way!" Momoe cried out, tackling Chizuru to the ground and out of the blast.

"Who was that!?" The same voice was now pointed in Momoe's direction, footsteps getting gradually closer. Jun, panicking, stared Momoe down, urging her not to move, as if stillness would erase her presence. Even from a distance, Jun could see the pupils of Chizuru and Momoe's amber eyes. "I said, who was that?" The voice repeated itself, evidently annoyed.

"Daisuke, do something!" Jun pleaded to her brother, pulling on his arm.

"I'm trying! V-mon, why aren't you evolving?" Daisuke was shaking V-mon and looking to Miyako and Iori, who could not seem to get their Digimon to evolve as well.

"I don't know!" V-mon cried out, pointing at Daisuke's D-3. The light in it had gone out, as had the light in Miyako and Iori's D-3s as well. Jun felt her insides grow cold. She didn't know what to do, there was danger, and there would be dying, and redredredredred-

"Ruby Eye!"

The bushes that had been hiding everyone were reduced to ash instantly, with a tall red Digimon standing before them. It loomed over everyone, then leaned down into Jun's face, its long nose nearly poking her in the face. With hot, stinking breath, it licked its teeth, "Those who don't follow the master must be destroyed." Without warning, he took the long trident in its hand and lifted Hyokomon into the air, "You look tasty, little chicken,"

"Hyokomon!" Jun screeched and ran into the Digimon in sheer instinct. The demonic-looking creature didn't bat an eyelid as he swatted Jun away and into the ground. Hyokomon, seeing his partner injured, struggled against his bonds further. Jun moaned against the dirt, Shuu racing to help her up.

"You will not touch her!" He cried, but was unable to get free, "Karatakewari!" But Hyokomon's blade could not reach up to the Digimon.

"That's Boogiemon, an Adult level Digimon! One of you will have to evolve!" Izumi must have deduced whom this freakish red creature was. Jun had no idea what any of it meant, but Hyokomon was in danger and she had to get up. Shrugging off Shuu's hands, Jun sprinted towards Boogiemon again, against the cries of her companions.

"Nee-san, what the hell are you doing?!" Kaori screeched, "Labramon, help her!" Labramon leaped into action, rousing the other Digimon to follow pursuit.

"Dash Metal!" Dorumon, the fastest, sent repeated blasts at the arm Boogiemon was holding the trident with, but the attack was shrugged off and Boogiemon kicked Jun away once more. Jun, who had been been been biting her lip without realizing it chomped down hard enough to draw blood.

"Ruby Eye!" This time, the sweeping laser blasted everyone away, save Jun who had already been too low to be hit.

"Stupid humans. You should stay down." Boogiemon spat at Jun contemptuously. Jun could feel her anger boiling, or it was her ribs screaming out in pain, but she stood up again, grabbing at her sides. "I think if I eat your friend, you'll stop your helpless struggle." Hyokomon began squirming with renewed vigor. His eye's met Jun's, and she could feel Hyokomon's helplessness.

Jun was helpless. She could see everyone lying on the ground behind her, trying to huddle together and help each other up. Aiko was over by Shuu, trying to heave the older man on his shoulder-a bright red stain was dripping down the side of Shuu's head, and Fanbeemon was frantically trying to figure out what the substance was and why Shuu wasn't stirring. Iori and Kaori were trying to shield Chizuru and Momoe, who had already been knocked down by the last blast. And Daisuke. Oh god, Daisuke. Daisuke and V-mon were to Jun's left, obviously unconscious. V-mon was behind Daisuke, taking the brunt of the blast, but there seemed to be something wrong with the boy's arm. Elbows don't bend out, do they?

Jun could feel the blood pounding through her ears and she could taste it on her lips, but it was nothing compared to the need she had to see this end. One wobbling foot after the other, Jun made her way to Boogiemon. He watched Jun approach with smug interest, knowing Jun couldn't really do anything.

"You stubborn girl! Stop this now!" Hyokomon was screaming himself hoarse, begging Jun to turn away.

"No, let her." Boogiemon drew Hyokomon closer, eyes beginning to glow red. "Let the human see how pointless it is to fight the master's wishes. She will restore order to the Digital World."

Jun had no idea what the master's 'order' was, but she wasn't about to let Hyokomon suffer for it, "NO, I WON"T!" she roared and a high pitched sound wailed out of her Digivice. Boogiemon flinched from the light it emitted, dropping Hyokomon, who had also begun to glow in turn. "Hyokomon!" Jun cried out, half in relief and half in shock.

"Hyokomon, evolve, Buraimon!"

When the light faded, a tall manlike bird stood where Hyokomon had been. He drew his sword, aiming it directly at Boogiemon's neck. "I am Buraimon," He almost sounded bored, as if Boogiemon were now a child's plaything, "And you are never going to harm Jun-san again," Boogiemon blinked, and in that moment, Buraimon had sliced the trident on the ground in half. "You are going to go back to your master, and tell her that there will always be those rallied against her." The point of his sword gently touched Boogiemon's neck.

"And if I don't?" Boogiemon grinned carelessly.

"I have no problem killing you to protect my ward." Buraimon answered simply, "Tsubame Nimai Gaeshi." Boogiemon's left horn tumbled off, falling to the ground in a splash of data. No one had seen Buraimon move his arm. "It will grow back. I don't think the rest of your head will. Now go." Boogiemon didn't need to be told twice. He turned tail, and with a flap of his wings, was off. With Boogiemon gone, Buraimon turned to Jun and knelt down, devolving back into Hyokomon as he did so. "Are you badly injured, Jun-san?"

"No, I think the others should be looked at fir-" Jun stopped midsentence, when she turned and saw everyone was already on their feet. They looked dirty, but strangely unhurt. "Huh?" Jun was confounded. Kaori beamed, pointing at Labramon proudly.

"Whaddya know? Labramon's a white mage! Now let's get you fixed up, Nee-san."

"Kaori-chan, what's a white mage?"

"Oh. My. God. I have so much to teach you, Labramon."


Aiko fell out of Izumi's laptop headfirst and straight onto Chizuru, who forced him off immediately only to find Dorumon landing on her as a replacement. He lifted Dorumon off Chizuru, then helped her to her feet. Aiko put Dorumon back on the ground in time to see the girl with the pink bird with a horrified look on her face. Clearly, this wasn't what she was expecting to see when everyone returned.

"What happened? You guys look terrible!" The girl cried out, rushing to help everyone out of Izumi's bedroom and towards the living room, where the younger Chosen Children seemed to be. When everyone converged in the Izumi living room, the details were quickly hashed out.

"The light went out in your D-3s, but not in your Digivices?" The smart kid with blue hair asked.

"Yeah, it was really weird. The three of our Digimon wouldn't evolve!" Chizuru's younger sister slammed a fist into her hand in frustration, "We couldn't do anything!" The blue haired kid, Izumi, and Shuu began to talk amongst themselves. Aiko, tall as he was, stood and peered over their shoulders, peeking at Izumi fiddle with his, the kid's, and Shuu's Digivices. He plugged them into his laptop, one by one, typing away furiously.

"This is strange. Your Digivices, seem to be slowing down my laptop." Izumi tapped at his keyboard, closing the portal and a few windows to try and speed his laptop up. "If I were to go by computer mechanics alone, I'd have to say your Digivices are an older model than even mine. But that makes no sense..."

Aiko decided Izumi's rambles weren't going to be worth listening to until the younger boy came to a certain decision. He leaned into Dorumon, and let out a yawn. They'd only been in the Digital World for two hours but Aiko was exhausted. Apparently, Labramon could heal physical wounds but not the fatigue that came from them.

"Are you tired? Should we go home?" Dorumon asked from Aiko's side, "I'm tired too...let's go home."

"Now that you mention it," Bearmon chimed in, "I'm hungry too. Momoe, let's go home!" Momoe nodded in agreement.

"They've got a point," She said, "We're all tired out from what happened. You guys can speculate on your own, but I'm going to take my sisters home." Chizuru seemed to agree. Aiko remembered that Chizuru and Momoe had been more badly injured than he today; they must have been so much more tired than he was. "Goodnight, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Jun-chan, keep me updated on what you guys figure is going on?" Jun nodded silently. She was cradling a sleeping Hyokomon in her lap, the only way her crotchety Digimon would let her show affection. Momoe and Bearmon, Chizuru, and Dracomon, and their younger sister and her partner bowed politely, then walked out the front door.

Aiko let out a small sigh in relief. 'I don't think they know I live in the same complex,' He thought to himself, 'If I did, they'd probably want to know where I live.' Aiko's eyes roved over to where Iori was. The little boy noticed, and Aiko indicated for the door.

"I'm going to take this kid home. It's getting dark and I'm sure his mom won't want him out any later." Aiko stood up, Iori following suit.

"I live in the same apartment complex as Iori, would you rather I took him home?" A blonde kid with a yellow batpig on his head offered kindly. Aiko grimaced inwardly and smiled outwardly. He tried to think up a quick answer.

"It's alright, Takeru. I'm tired and so is Nomura-san. You can stay here and discuss, we'll head home." Iori gathered Upamon into his arms, "I appreciate you walking me home, Nomura-san." Iori locked onto Aiko dead in the eyes with a challenging look. Aiko only rolled his in response.

"Don't worry about it. Let's go." Bidding everyone a good night and only bowing when he noticed Iori bowing, Aiko grabbed his skateboard and headed out the door with Dorumon and Iori trailing after him.

He and Iori walked in silence, as they headed to Iori's apartment building. Aiko thought he should say something, but every time he opened his mouth, he snapped it shut as soon as the kid noticed. The building wasn't far from where Izumi lived and within five minutes, Aiko could see the building come into view just around a corner.

"You didn't have to walk me home, Aiko-san. I can go home myself. I've done it before." Iori broke the silence, startling Aiko with the use of his name. It felt weird leaving Iori's mouth.

"I don't think your jii-san would like it all that much if I didn't, though." Aiko responded back, absentmindedly turning one of the skateboard's wheels with his finger.

"He knows I walk home alone, too. And I have Upamon." Though Iori was muttering under his breath and actively trying to piss Aiko off, he ignored the younger boy blithely. At seventeen, Aiko was too damn old to let a nine-year-old needle him like this.

The rest of their walk went without any communication until they reached the Hida residence. Iori opened the door, calling out, "I'm home!" Upamon bounded out of Iori's hands and onto the couch where Fumiko Hida sat, greeting her son with a smile. Her green eyes moved from Iori to Aiko, who was still standing in the doorway awkwardly with a skateboard in arm and Dorumon at his heels.

"Aren't you going to come inside, Aiko? There's some dinner for you and Dorumon on the table." The smile on Fumiko's face was falling away gradually. Iori turned to Aiko expectantly, but the teen shook his head. He ignored the stricken expression on Fumiko's face, it was easier for Aiko to say the things he would that way.

"No. I'll-I'll be home later." Aiko stammered. He'd have begun backpedaling out of the hallway if it weren't for Dorumon who was standing just behind him.

"You said that last night," Fumiko's brow furrowed, "and by the time I'd gone to bed, you still weren't here." Fumiko sat up, approaching the door, "You're going to have to spend time with us. We're your family, too." A hand (That Aiko barely registered as attached to Fumiko) reached for Aiko's shoulder, but he turned so fast Fumiko wouldn't have been able to react and ran down the hall, Dorumon following him faithfully. "Aiko!" Fumiko yelled, not caring who heard her.

But Aiko kept running.


Draaaama. And batpig. I love calling Patamon 'batpig'. I might do it more often, though if the characters learn everyone's names, I don't see how I can keep using it. Boo. I'll figure something out, hopefully.

Anyway, read, review. Y'all know the skinny. I hope my first attempt at action is...decent. If I'm any good at writing, maybe I'll get better as this series goes on. O_o