--o--o--o--

Chapter 11

Negotiations

--o--o--o--

"Are you completely insane?" Arisimon demanded of Coyomon.

"I don't know the exact percentage, if that's what you're asking," Coyomon told her calmly, "but crazy stuff is sort of my specialty. It's a coyote thing." He cocked his head to one side. "So, what have I done now?"

"I could crush you like a bug," she said in a cold voice that scared Coyomon more than if she had screamed the words at him.

"Why would you?" he asked in an easy, conversational tone of voice, all the while keeping his hands firmly pressed against his hips to keep them from trembling. "When you think about it, I've got a lot more reasons to want you dead than the other way around. But I've had a chance to cool down and think things over. I backed you into a corner-- and that whole rock thing was defensive on your part-- you didn't even drop it on purpose-- I don't think you would have." Coyomon smiled as he lied. "My kid is just fine, so I think we ought to let bygones be bygones-- heck, you've gotten exactly what you wanted out of this whole deal-- I've never seen a more powerful digimon in my life!"

"You're unbelievable," Arisimon said, this time with a reassuring growl in her voice.

Coyomon grinned widely, "Why, thank you!"

"It wasn't a compliment."

Coyomon shrugged. "So, now that you're all big and stuff do you think--"

"Your child," Arisimon interrupted him. "I'd like to see your child."

"Oh--" Coyomon said, "--she's with Renamon and the others. I thought she'd be safer there. Still a young little thing, you know."

Arisimon swung the haft of her poleaxe into her left hand and raised it for a strike. Violet flames erupted from the blade and Coyomon began frantically calculating attack angles, trying to decide between jumping over the blade as it swung or dashing forward to get inside its range. Arisimon held the huge weapon aloft for a few long moments and then released the haft and grounded the shaft, letting the attack energy dissipate.

"Whoa!" Coyomon exhaled in relief. "Was it some thing I said?"

"I told you-- I want to see your child."

"Um-- sure-- but like I told you, she's back with the rest of the group and--" Coyomon trailed off when he saw the wicked smile on Arisimon's face and he groaned and put a hand over his face, "--and she's standing right behind me, isn't she? Damnit, Ceyamon, I told you to stay hidden!"

"But she was going to attack you!" came Ceyamon's musical voice from behind him.

"Not very obedient, is she?" Arisimon smirked. "I like that."

"Are we going to talk or are we going to fight?" Ceyamon asked cheerfully.

"Look, Kunomon," Coyomon began, "You've seen her now and you and I need to talk about some stuff, so howabout you let her--"

"It's Arisimon now, and I know just what you want to talk to me about. The answer is 'no'. Calumon is mine."

"Well, if there's no way I can convince you to release him--" Coyomon tried to make his voice sound as casual as possible, "--I guess we'll be going."

"No," Arisimon said, "No, you won't"

--o--o--o--

Some fifteen minutes after Growlmon's breathing had become slow and even, Leomon spoke again.

"This-- technique--" he began.

"It should never be used except in emergencies," Kyuubimon said, quietly but firmly interrupting him. "It transfers more than just energy and raw data. The results could be unpredictable."

Leomon was silent for a moment and then asked, "How do you know that?"

Kyuubimon said nothing.

"I'm not stupid," Leomon rumbled, "This explains a lot of things. I can see now that this is something you and Coyomon have shared-- and not just in emergencies."

Kyuubimon said nothing.

"What do you see in that clown?" Leomon kept his voice down to avoid waking the others but his irritation showed in the way he growled his words. "You're a real warrior like I am-- serious and determined-- he's-- he's a--"

Kyuubimon lifted her head from her paws and turned it to face Leomon, raising a lip up to reveal her teeth-- and said nothing.

"I don't mean to be insulting. I just don't understand--"

Kyuubimon rose to her feet and took a few steps around the fire. "What Coyomon and I share together is none of your business-- but for the sake of harmony within the team, I will make this one effort to explain it to you," she said in a voice of pure ice, leaning in to stare directly into Leomon's face. "Coyomon and I are partners just as much as Rika and I or you and Jeri but even more than that, obviously. What we share is not some casual thing for the sake of mere pleasure. It's an expression of our love for each other. The only reason I consented to even touch the outer edge of this 'technique' with you is for the safety of our team in a very dangerous situation. You can be the most 'serious and determined' warrior in the Digital Dimension for all I care-- Coyomon is my mate and you'll never equal him in my heart and I don't give a damn whether or not you understand why as long as you know it's true."

Leomon blinked at her. "I apologize, Kyuubimon. You are quite correct. It is none of my concern."

Kyuubimon returned to her place on the other side of the fire and lay down again.

After a few moments, Leomon gathered the courage to speak again. "I just want you to know that I admire you greatly-- and if things were otherwise--" he turned to look at Kyuubimon but she had rested her head on her forelegs, closed her eyes, and was pretending to be asleep.

--o--o--o--

"So, do you have to put energy into your weapon or does it have a supply of its own?" Ceyamon asked curiously. "What happens if you drop it? Does it go away when you de-digivolve?" Coyomon was trying to stop his daughter's flood of questions with frantic hand gestures but she was too absorbed in evaluating Arisimon's capabilities.

"Is your armor chrome digizoid? Why does it come in different colors anyway?"

"Ceyamon, please!" Coyomon finally said in exasperation.

Ceyamon stopped and cocked her head at her father. "But you said I should learn as much as possible about my opponents. Ooh, that reminds me," she continued, turning back to Arisimon, "do you have any particular weak spots or vulnerabilities?"

Arisimon turned her massive head to Coyomon. "She's never been brutally beaten, has she?" It may have been her attempt at a joke but there were some areas that Coyomon's sense of humor didn't stretch to.

"You'll have to kill me first." He said quietly.

"A nice appetizer before the main meal?" Arisimon sneered.

"You might just choke on me." Coyomon retorted.

Ceyamon looked back and forth between them uncertainly. "So-- are we going to fight or eat? Father says eating is lots of fun but I've never tried it. I hope we can find some doughnuts because he says they're really good but it would be okay if we had something else because--"

"Ceyamon." Coyomon's tone of voice stopped her chatter immediately. "I will try to delay her as long as possible. You run as fast as you can-- find your mother and the rest. This is the last thing I'll ever ask of you, so please, please do as I say."

"Wait," Arisimon commanded. "You may yet survive this night, Coyomon."

"I don't give a damn about me, just as long as you don't touch my daughter!"

"'Daughter'--" Arisimon repeated, "--that's a human concept. Your emotions weaken you as always and yet--" She knelt on one knee, placed her poleaxe on the ground, and bent her head until it was just above Coyomon's. "--you have killed devas, the mightiest of Zhuqiaomon's servants."

"'Possible Choking Hazard'" he quipped.

"Perhaps you irritated them to death." Arisimon growled.

"Was that a joke?" Coyomon grinned, "Maybe there's hope for you after all!"

"There is more than hope--" Arisimon said seriously, "--there is certainty."

"You lost me."

"Look at me!" Arisimon commanded, "What other digimon is as powerful?"

"None I've ever met," Coyomon admitted, "but there are probably a few. The Sovereigns, I guess--" His eyes widened in sudden comprehension, "Oh!"

"Not as stupid as you'd like other people to think, are you?"

"Holy, freakin' Tesla! You're going to go up against the Sovereigns?"

" Zhuqiaomon first." Arisimon's grin was frightening, "I have a score to settle with him. I gave him my loyalty freely and he gave me to Chatsuramon like I was an object."

"Well--" Coyomon said uncertainly, "--good luck with that, I guess."

"Luck is for fools. Zhuqiaomon has his devas-- and I want my own band of warriors at my back."

Coyomon opened his mouth and then shut it again. He looked down at the sand for a long moment. Ceyamon, puzzled, took in a breath to speak but he held up a hand to silence her and she said nothing, but took a few steps to stand close behind him. Arisimon waited patiently and finally Coyomon spoke.

"You have no plans to conquer the real world?"

"Why should I want to rule a world full of pathetic, weak humans when I can have all this?" Arisimon sneered and stood, opening her arms wide to indicate not just the Iron Desert but all of the Digital Dimension. " Zhuqiaomon's ambition is insane."

"And if I refuse?"

"All that stands in my way will be destroyed." Arisimon said. "If you will not join me, I will have to consider you an enemy-- and that--" her voice softened for an instant, "--that would be regrettable. Make the wise choice for once in your life."

"I don't understand," Ceyamon said quietly, as she lightly placed a hand on Coyomon's shoulder.

Coyomon placed one of his own hands on top of hers, reassuringly. "It's okay, sweetie." he said, "Daddy's gonna be a deva."