Frontier 02: Home Frontier – Chapter 8: Distractions
madjack89: Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated for a little bit. I had a writer's block. But now I think I'm ready for chapter eight!
Zoe: Yeah, you go girl!
Takuya: No! Don't encourage her! When you do that, bad things happen to me!
madjack89: Calm down, Taki. I promise Kira won't punch you again.
Takuya: Thank you!
Kira: Dang it…
madjack89: I try to please one, then I upset another…okay, it's time to answer reviews!
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Xanpluto: Yeah, I'm happy I revealed some more of Dai's character. He's one of my favorites of the characters I created! And things did happen fast in that chapter, but it's because I got all rushed because my brother wanted to get on the computer and my mom wanted me to go do something and…yeah. Thanks for reviewing!
GoldenDragon326: Ah, Kouji, Kouji, Kouji…I have some big plans for him. I also have plans for Mr. Clueless (Takuya), but they will come into play a little later, so be patient! Thanks for your review!
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madjack89: Alright, let's see what will happen next!
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—
Kouji and Kouichi continued running toward the downtown area, followed by JP, Gatomon, and Tommy. Kira and Zoe also joined up with them, but Takuya seemed to be missing. I don't want to know, thought Kouji and Kouichi, continuing on their way.
As they turned the corner, they saw that there had definitely been a fight because of all the upturned pavement and the broken street lights. But neither Shino nor the Digimon were anywhere to be seen.
"Hey, what gives?" JP exclaimed, catching up to the twins. "You said Shino needed our help!" JP turned his attention to Gatomon, flashing her an accusatory glare.
Gatomon shrugged. "I saw them here just a little while ago. Either Shino managed to win and scanned the other Digimon, or the other Digimon beat Shino and…" Gatomon didn't finish her sentence.
"And what?" said Shino, sneaking up behind them.
"Shino!" everyone exclaimed.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" said Shino, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"What happened here?" asked Kouji, gesturing at the wreckage.
Shino paused, looking down guiltily. "Well, I saw this Digimon…and I thought I could maybe take it on by myself." Everyone looked at Shino accusatorily. "But you didn't see this thing! It looked like a little kid wearing a wizard costume!" said Shino, defending himself. "But I wasn't even good enough to beat that little thing. Not after it started shooting fireballs everywhere. I guess fire and wood don't mix," Shino added, pulling up his sleeve to show a dark red burn mark on his arm.
"Shino!" said Zoe, rushing up to him. "You need to have this looked at! Here, I'll take you to the hospital," she declared, grabbing Shino's good arm and dragging him down the street.
"Wait! Stop! Hang on! That's not a good idea! Hey!" Shino yelled as she continued to drag him away.
"Well, I guess that's the end of that," said JP, walking away.
"Yeah, but that Wizardmon is still out there," said Kouji, grabbing JP by the collar.
"How do you know that's what it is?" choked JP, jerking away from Kouji's grasp.
"You couldn't tell from the description?" said Kouji, grinning smugly.
"You know, I think I see where Takuya's coming from," growled JP, shaking a fist at Kouji.
"Join the club," said Kouji angrily, walking away.
Something's bothering him, thought Kouichi, watching as Kouji walked out of sight.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go now," said Kira, walking away as well.
"Yeah, I'm leaving too," said JP, grumbling about how Kouji should take his own advice once in a while.
Kouichi and Tommy stood there for a moment, then Tommy said, "Hey, where's Takuya?"
"Gatomon's gone, too," said Kouichi, turning to see that she had disappeared.
—
Takuya grimaced, looking at his nose in the mirror of his bathroom. It didn't look so hot. Damn it, Kira, thought Takuya, washing off the dried blood. He had decided that the rest of the guys would be able to handle the Digimon while he went home and examined his nose. Luckily, his mother had gone shopping, so she hadn't seen his nose when he came in. However, he had to pay his younger brother not to tell their mother about it.
"Well, it looks better now," said Takuya, admiring his handiwork on his nose.
"Um, Takuya?" called his brother from the other room. "There's someone at the door for you."
Takuya walked to the front door to find Hotaru standing there with Daiki right behind him. "Hey there, Takuya," said Daiki feebly, waving from behind Hotaru's back.
Takuya waved back, and then glared at Hotaru. "So, I heard you quit," said Takuya, trying to remain calm.
Hotaru sighed. "Of course I did. I'm not going to risk mine or Daiki's life playing these stupid little games."
"They aren't games!" cried Takuya with much more force than was needed. Daiki flinched, while Hotaru remained calm.
"We never asked for this-"
"Neither did we," Takuya interrupted.
Hotaru continued, "I just think that this is too dangerous, mostly for Daiki."
"He's a big kid; he can take care of himself."
"You've only known him for a short time, while I've known him his whole life. Therefore, I know what's best for him."
"You're treating him like a child!"
"Since when was it our responsibility to protect people from these things?"
"We're the only defense they have!"
"Takuya, what are you yelling about?" asked his brother, Shinya, from the living room. Takuya and Hotaru ignored him and continued their argument.
"What if someone gets hurt?" asked Hotaru.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, but you can't tell Daiki what he can and can't do!"
"I'm not backing out without Daiki!"
"Why, huh? Why is it that both you and Daiki have to take the cowardly way out?"
"Because I can't watch him suffer again!"
Takuya paused as Hotaru glared at him with pure hatred in his eyes, his words still ringing in the air. Then he abruptly turned around, dragging Daiki along with him. Daiki gave Takuya one last reassuring smile, and then they were gone.
"Watch him suffer again," muttered Takuya, thinking of what Daiki had said before. Is there more to that story than he's telling us?
"Takuya, since when were you friends with a giant and a midget?" asked Shinya.
—
Zoe and Shino both walked quickly out of the hospital, making sure they weren't seen. Once they were a safe distance away, Zoe said, "Shino, why didn't you tell me that your mother is a doctor?"
"I tried, but you didn't give me a chance. See why I didn't want to come here?"
"She would freak out, wouldn't she?"
"Trust me, she would do more than freak out."
Zoe and Shino chuckled at the thought. "Zoe, you sure are assertive, aren't you?" stated Shino, smiling at Zoe.
"Well, I have to be, considering how many of my friends are guys."
"How many of your friends are girls?" asked Shino, innocently curious.
Zoe paused, smiling sadly. "One."
Shino looked shocked. "But…that…Kira…is…" he stuttered.
Zoe smiled. "I'm not all that popular at my school. Kira and I are usually just ignored by everyone."
Shino stared at her, concern evident in his eyes. I wonder if the others know about this, he thought.
"I know what you're thinking, but please don't tell the guys!" pleaded Zoe. "I don't want them to worry about me. They always overdo things!"
Shino paused, and then sighed. "Okay, I won't tell them," he said in defeat.
"Thank you, Shino," said Zoe, giving him a hug.
"Um, hey Zoe." Zoe turned to see Kouichi standing there, shifting his feet awkwardly.
"Hey there, Kouichi!" she exclaimed, pushing Shino away gently but firmly. "I was just glad that his burn wasn't serious, right Shino?" She turned around, winking in Shino's direction.
Shino sighed. "Right, Zoe." Zoe smiled, glad that she had kept her secret safe.
"So, what brings you here, Kouichi?" asked Zoe, turning to face Kouichi.
"Um, I live this way," Kouichi replied.
Zoe paused, and then laughed, realizing she had known that already. "Sorry, I'm a little scatter brained right now," she said sheepishly.
"Well, I have to get home," said Shino, walking the opposite way.
"I think I'll go too. See you later, Kouichi!" Zoe waved as she followed Shino down the street.
Kouichi waved, smiling. When she rounded the corner though, his eyes clouded as he remembered the scene he had walked in upon.
"What were they really doing?" he muttered to himself, imagining several possibilities. He grimaced for a moment, and then calmed himself down. "No," he said to himself, continuing on his way down the street. "Shino is my friend, and I won't hurt him. If Zoe ends up with him, then good for them."
—
A pair of eyes stared at Kouichi from a nearby alley as he walked away. The eyes belonged to a Digimon that looked at Kouichi expectantly. "He's perfect," he muttered happily, chuckling to himself.
"Wizardmon!" The Digimon turned at the sound of Gatomon's angry voice behind him.
Wizardmon chuckled. "You're mad at me, aren't you? That's why you brought the warrior brats."
"You were supposed to keep a low profile and not draw attention to yourself!" hissed Gatomon.
Wizardmon smiled. "And weren't YOU supposed to keep an eye on the brats at all times?"
"Well, unlike YOU, I can't keep an eye on all of them at once," fumed Gatomon.
Wizardmon smiled, holding up his wand. Suddenly, three copies of Wizardmon surrounded Gatomon. Gatomon growled threateningly as Wizardmon stepped up to her, still smiling. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter anymore. I've found the perfect target for my little attack," Wizardmon whispered in Gatomon's ear.
Gatomon's ears twitched slightly. "That's just dandy," she said darkly. They both chuckled, and then Wizardmon waved his wand, getting rid of the clones.
"I'll need some time to prepare, so make sure you distract them long enough for me," said Wizardmon, disappearing from sight. Gatomon stood there, a worried expression playing on her face.
"Kouichi," she said softly, leaping lightly down the street, the same direction that Kouichi had gone. "What can I do?"
—
madjack89: Well, there it is! How'd you like it?
Shino: Well, I'm in the story again, so I have no complaints!
Daiki: And we sure are getting a lot of character development!
Kouji: …It's gonna happen soon, isn't it?
madjack89: I'm afraid so, Kouji. But don't fret! The next chapter will focus on getting Hotaru back in the group, with a little help from Gatomon.
Takuya: Why Gatomon?
madjack89: Because.
Takuya: …
madjack89: Alright, I'll see you later!
Kouichi: Remember to R&R!
Zoe: And have a good day! Or evening! Or…whatever!