Rise of the Mechanical Digimon

As the group returned to their work station, Midori patted Alejandro on the shoulder saying, "Don't worry about your mech not being able to transform. Neku's can't either. Besides, I'm sure it will at some point."

"Good to see Midori in positive spirits," Neil said, resting his hand against something, soon realizing it was Mato's breast as his eyes went wide, a vein forming on the side of her head as she predictably punched him in the cheek.

Neku simply smiled and said, "Good to have things back to normal..." suddenly passing out as the others stared in shock, Yomaki blinking and asking, "What happened?"

"I think he took too much damage from that shock to Worm-Chan while protecting Midorin," Mato replied as she picked up Neku, carrying him somewhere to rest.

"Dammit," Yomaki sighed, "Well, anyway, give him this when he comes to," handing Mato an envelope along with another addressed to her.

"Wait, is it already pay day?" Neil asked as Yomaki handed him an envelope saying, "Yep," Neil looking at the paycheck and saying, "And yet we don't get more for protecting the city. Typical."

Mato nodded and smiled, saying, "Thank you," walking away from the area.

Seeing that Mato was going to be watching over Neku, Neil said, "Uh... how about I help you watch Neku?" his cheeks going red as Yomaki stated, "That's probably a good idea. I mean, the next two days are off for you anyway."

"Wait..." Kotaha said, her eyes going wide as she turned to the woman asking, "We get a break?"

"Um, yeah," Yomaki replied, "What? You think jobs don't have weekends too? The idea is to work from Tuesday to Saturday then take Sunday and Monday off. By federal law, we can't have you working more than 40 hours a week."

"Well..." Kotaha replied, "I used to work in a hospital and, well, nurses and doctors don't usually get days off," Alejandro shrugging his shoulders and making no big deal of it.

"But what'll I do during that time?" Kotaha asked. This was a whole new experience for her. A day off from work, let alone two in a row?

"How about spending time with your fiance?" Midori suggested, "I may not see much of a benefit from spending my life with a man, but clearly you get some pleasure from it. I think you two should enjoy yourselves, Kotaha."

"That's actually not a bad idea," Neil replied, shrugging, "granted he's not busy during the next couple of days."

Kotaha smiled and replied, "Alright, I'll ask him, but he's the CEO of the company he works at, so it might be hard getting him to clear his planner for two days."

And with that, everyone was off work. Mato drove Neku to her house, Neku in the back seat and Neil next to Mato as always, the boy thinking, 'I'm sharing Mato with him again. Is this God's punishment for me leaving my family?'

Meanwhile, Midori invited Alejandro to take a ride with her home. This was another shocking turn of events: Midori was happy to have a man sharing a vehicle with her.

While this sudden turn of events made no sense to the Spanish man, he gladly accepted her offer, his heart racing all the while. There was no way he's question something this miraculous.

Midori had Alejandro behind her in the seat as she said, "Now, look, I don't normally do this for a guy. If you shift your hands so they're touching my breasts or my vagina or anything like that, I am going to hurl you into the next light pole I see."

Alejandro's eyes widened with horror as he replied, "Y-you're joking, right? Do I seem that perverted to you?"

"Well, you did lower my pants once," the woman replied, Alejandro sighing, "You don't know me. That was merely an accident caused by a bad landing. I'd never violate a woman. It's dishonourable."

"Right," Midori replied, rolling her eyes as a light smile formed, the woman continuing along her way.

While driving, Mato turned to Neil and asked, "Are you regretting not being here for your friend?"

"Huh?" Neil asked, then realized she was assuming he was headed home before replying, "Hey, I want to help you watch over Neku. I'm not letting you do this alone. Neku's my friend too."

Neku suddenly started moaning, "Ugh... mom... dad..." Mato staring at him in confusion. What was he babbling about now?

Neil looked back and blinked as the two pulled up in front of Neku's house, Neil shrugging and saying, "Well, we'd probably better carry him to bed."

Soon enough, Midori pulled up in front of Alejandro's house and said, "Well, you take advice pretty well for an attractive man, Allen," before laughing and taking off on her motorbike, Alejandro letting down a sweat drop and saying, "Allen... that's even worse than being called Al..."

But while riding home, she couldn't believe what she had just said. Had those words really come from her mouth?

Neil and Mato carried Neku into his house all the way to his bed as Neil snapped his back into place saying, "That was harder than lifting a stage top."

Mato blinked and asked, "You really think that?" Neil replying, "To be fair, though, we did have to carry him a much farther distance, which I'm not used to. I really hope he wakes up soon."

As Neku lay in his bed, Neil decided it might be best to give the boy peace and quiet. While certainly good advice, Neil also had other intentions behind this suggestion.

"Hey, Mato," he said, sitting on a couch downstairs, "Can I ask you something?" Mato smiling and replying, "Fire away."

"What do you think of Neku?" the boy asked, scratching the back of his neck before adding, "I mean, in what way do you see him as a friend?"

"I think of him as a good friend," Mato replied with another sweet smile before adding, "Why do you ask?"

"No particular reason," Neil replied, his cheeks turning red, "Just... curious," Mato grinning wickedly and asking, "Are you jealous?" poking Neil's shoulder.

"You gotta stop that mind-reading thing," Neil said with a sigh, then stated, "Well, I'm kind of afraid he might be taking you away from me," folding his arms and looking down, adding, "I must come across as a child right now," Mato looking with concern and replying, "Don't think that way, Neil-Chan."

"I know I shouldn't," Neil replied, "I mean, Neku's my friend too. Petty jealousy is not a good thing to have towards friends."

Meanwhile, Kotaha approached Luchi back home and said, "Hey, Hun, I need to ask you something..." Luchi cutting in and asking, "Remember the test? The results came in."

Kotaha blinked and forgot what she was going to say, asking, "What is it?" Luchi replying, "It's A-A-A Plus," Kotaha breathless. She was going to have a baby, something she'd always dreamed of.

Luchi nodded and smiled as Kotaha gave him a hug. She then remembered what she'd come to him for, Luchi gladly agreeing. After all, this was a time for the two to celebrate.

Meanwhile, back at the enemy base, Aku sat in his chair with his eyes wide open, bags under them as he clung to his knees, a look of guilt in his expression.

"Sir, are you still moping about that?" Morrigan asked as Jason replied, "It hasn't even been a day yet. Give him some time to recover."

At that moment, a pair of twin girls wearing revealing tube pink tube tops and blue mini-skirts, Stacy and Prima, Stacy having blue hair and Prima having red, entered as Prima asked, "Say, Aku, would you just like us to help you out?"

"We'd be ever most honoured," Stacy replied, both giving the man puppy-dog eyes as Aku looked up briefly and muttered, "Oh, yeah, sure... whatever..."

Morrigan glared at the two, feeling rather jealous they'd been chosen to go and fight. Although unbeknownst to her, a man loomed in the shadows, watching her from a corner and keeping his wide eyes on her.

Meanwhile, Neku's body was twitching as he started to have a horrible nightmare. In his dream, he was eight years old and currently crossing the street, not noticing a car headed right towards him.

Suddenly, an older woman, his mother to be exact, shoved him out of the way as the car ran into her, Neku letting down tears and yelling, "MOMMY!"

The dream soon cut to later at a hospital months later as Neku stared at his father lying in one of the beds. The doctor rested a hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "I'm afraid this is fate," Neku remarking, "What do you mean by that?"

"His illness was too fatal to cure," the doctor replied as Neku bit his lip shouting, "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!" letting down tears.

Suddenly, Neku's eyes shot open, the man waking up as he breathed heavily. He had hoped to have forgotten those horrible events from his childhood.

Neil and Mato entered to check up on him when they noticed he was up, Mato asking, "Neku-Chan, are you okay?" Neku nodding lightly as Neil said, "Well, I guess that means we can go to our own houses," Neku nodding and saying, "He's right, Mato. I want to be alone right now anyway," Mato nodding reluctantly and taking her leave.

As Neil entered the car along with Mato, he blinked and said, "Gee, that seemed rather abrupt. He didn't even thank us for watching over him. I hope he really is okay."

The day had been long and soon, nightfall came. It was one day before the true start to everyone's weekend, but would the weekend be enjoyed?

As morning came, Mato called up Neku, the man answered as she squeaked, "Nee, Neku-Chan, you wanna hang out today?" Neku replying, "No, I'm fine," Mato replying, "You sure?" Neku sighing, "Yes..." Mato stating, "Well, if you're certain," hanging up and thinking maybe she could call Neil up. She did not wish to be bored today.

Neil had woken up and was laying on the couch, blinking while thinking, 'I need to do something. What could I do with Mato today? It's usually her doing things for me.'

Then an idea came to Neil. What was one thing he seldom ever did? Spend more than 100 dollars a week. Sure, this was simply to save up for his college fund, but he had more than enough to spare and now with him having to save lives, it wasn't as if he could leave the company he worked for even if he wanted to.

At that moment, the boy whipped out his cellphone when ironically, it started ringing, the boy blinking and clicking the talk button then saying, "Hello?"

"Neil-Chan," Mato replied with a smile, "Neku said he can't hang out for some reason. Do you wanna do something?"

Neil's eyes sparkled as he said, "Sure, why not? Anything special you wanna do?" Mato replying, "I wanna go shopping," Neil agreeing happily to this before hanging up and squealing, "I guess we're going to the mall today!"

All the while, Midori was riding through town with no real reason when she saw a familiar face. She stopped, her eyes going wide as she asked, "Yae, is that you?"

A young woman who looked quite similar to Midori only with black hair and darker skin turned to face the girl, a smile forming on her face as Midori got off of her bike, the two embracing one-another as the other woman exclaimed, "Midori! Oh my god, it's been so long since you moved! How have you been?"

"Fine," the woman replied, "Just landed myself a job at some center for holding events and stuff. How about you?"

"Well, my work isn't nearly as exciting," Yae replied, "My boss has actually been under the weather as of late. Something about the loss of a family member or something." Midori blinked, thinking this rather ironic but decided it was nothing.

Kotaha was walking through town, deep in thought. Was this really the best time to be pregnant?

At that moment, Midori was walking her cycle along the sidewalk, talking to Yae, Yae saying, "I still can't believe you actually went out and bought yourself a motorcycle. If mom saw you with that, she would flip!"

"Well, screw her then," Midori replied with a smug grin, "I'm an adult now."

At that moment, Midori saw Kotaha walking the streets and waved at the woman shouting, "Hi, Kotaha!" Yae asking, "A friend of yours?" Midori nodding and replying, "She works at the same place I do."

Kotaha worked up a small smile, doing her best to hide her stress. After all, she didn't want her best friend to worry.

Midori placed her hands against her hips saying, "Gee, that was rather... brief..." then signalled Yae to follow, the two approaching Kotaha as Midori said, "Hey, uh... this is my sister, Yae."

Kotaha smiled and said, "Hi, I'm Kotaha," bowing her head in respect.

Yae shook Kotaha's hand and said, "So... Midori tells me you work together," Midori replying, "Well, she works in a different division," Kotaha nodding with a brighter smile.

Midori grinned and added, "She's also getting married soon," Yae gasping and saying, "Oh my god, this is big news! Is he nice?"

Kotaha nodded and replied, "Of course, though we may be bonded forever now."

Midori grinned wickedly and said, "Oh, ho, ho, holding out on us, are ya?" Course, she was joking and had no idea how right she was, Kotaha's face going white.

Seeing Kotaha's expression, Midori blinked as she said, "Oh, you don't actually mean..." Yae asking, "What? What are you talking about?"

Kotaha sighed and showed the two her shopping bag, the bag full of products for taking care of babies. The answer was obvious now.

Midori's eyes widened as she smiled and said, "Well, congratulations. It's a good thing you're getting married soon, eh?"

"But won't that also mean she can't work for 9 months?" Yae asked as Midori replied, "Her job is cooking. It's not exactly the hardest of work."

Neku walked by as Midori turned to him and explained, "That's the guy who attracts just about every female," as Yae said, "He's cute."

Neku simply gave a light wave to them before heading along his way, clearly distracted by his headphones. Seeing the boy wandering off, Midori sighed, shaking her head and saying, "Don't bother trying to talk to him. He's not exactly the most social one around."

"Does that mean I won't stand a chance with him?" Yae asked, a street performer beating a set of drums next to her as the woman said, "That wasn't meant to be a joke."

While at the mall, Mato smiled at Neil and asked, "So, what do you think?" Neil replying, "Well, it's nice to be out of the house with my best friend in the whole world," Mato smiling sweetly before asking, "Nee, wanna go to the arcade?"

Neil's eyes sparkled as he said, "I love you..." then realizing what he said, he regained his composure saying, "As a really awesome friend, of course," coughing briefly.

While Mato played a shooter, Neil was in the middle of playing Marvel vs. Capcom 2 while thinking of something he could actually treat Mato to. Each one had paid for his/her own tokens.

After a while, he asked, "So, what else do you wanna do?" Mato's stomach growling as she blushed and replied, "Maybe lunch," Neil thinking this was perfect.

And so the two headed to the food court, Neil paying for both their meals as he thought, 'Yes! I did something for Mato!'

Mato smiled while asking, "Aren't you glad to be here?"

Neil nodded and took a sip of coke. Meanwhile, just moments away from the city, two butterfly-like mechs were set up as Stacy sighed, "This is boring! When do we get to attack?"

Prima smiled and said, "Patience. We need to be ready."

Meanwhile, at the enemy base, the stranger continued to watch Morrigan. As Morrigan sat on a couch, deciding to watch TV to pass the time seeing as Aku was a nervous wreck, her eye twitching as she turned around and snapped, "OKAY, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU! SHOW YOURSELF!"

The man exited the shadows, revealing himself to be an older man with red eyes and long black hair saying, "I'm Rayleigh. I believe I can be of use."

Morrigan groaned and said, "Leave me alone. I'm perfectly fine on my own. How come I've never seen you around here, anyway?"

Rayleigh plucked one of Morrigan's hairs off her head, the woman scowling as he swallowed the hair, transforming into her. He grinned and nodded his head.

Morrigan freaked out, backing up as she breathed heavily, the woman gulping before asking, "What the fuck are you?"

"As I said, I am Rayleigh," the man replied as Morrigan remarked, "I said WHAT are you, not WHO, you fucking idiot!" Rayleigh sighing, "Language woman. Anyway, I am a shape-shifter. If I swallow human DNA, I can take on that form at any given time. Does this frighten you?"

Morrigan grinned and said, "I could turn you into the authorities. Something like you shouldn't exist. However, I am actually interested now."

Rayleigh nodded as Morrigan let out a sigh and asked, "So, what do you have in mind, exactly? How are you going to help me?"

"What do you think?" he remarked, "I'll take the form of a child and get to know them. After I gain their trust, I'll find the most easily forgotten and kidnap him or her without the others knowing. After that, I'll take the person's place and destroy the whole team."

"Wow, you're pure evil," Morrigan replied, a grin on her face, "I don't think even Aku would have thought up something like that."

At that very moment in town, the Butterfly-like robots piloted b Stacy and Prima appeared, people screaming in terror as the butterflies started pulling out big straws, sucking electricity from the town as Prima said, "Oh, this is such music to my ears," Stacy shouting, "Who cares! I'm just glad we're doing something!"

Seeing this, Yae gasped as Midori turned to her saying, "Uh... we'd probably better go now. I'll try to hold them off, Yae. You leave."

"But Midori..." Yae said, but couldn't finish her statement. But why?