Shattered Light

By: Linkmaste

Chapter Seventeen: An Awkward Meeting

Authors Note: So, we met our little hybrid Ai finally! That means we have a certain digimon looking for her...I wonder how that's going to turn out. I didn't expect this chapter to come out like a C.S.I/L.A Noire type deal, but truthfully, I kinda dig it! You'll see what I mean when we get into the chapter.

Disclaimer: I own Lindy, Lindenmon, Ian, Azazel, Tai, Yuki, and...the Yakult Swallows? Just kidding. I don't own Digimon.

Warning: A certain lovely, 'charming', demon mega that we all know and love has a potty mouth in this chapter. You have been warned.

The journey to the Haruki residence was quick because the group needed to bring the other Ai back home urgently. The hybrid girl was running a high fever and the older hybrids and twins were sure a certain digimon was looking for her...with guns...that could kill. Ai looked excited, seeing her counter-part and kept making comments on how cool it was that she was part digimon. Mako added a few snide remarks about hoping this Ai was less annoying. A fight broke out and Ian had to pry then apart, giving one of his lectures about arguing. For the rest of the walk, the twins refused to speak to each other. Less than a day in an alternate reality, and everyone was bickering.

The Haruki house looked darker than it should be. Normally, the front porch light was on and one car would be in the driveway. No light was on, and the car was still in the driveway. A pit was in everyone's gut. It didn't take a genius to figure out something was wrong.

Finding the back up key under the rug (again), Lindy opened the front door slowly. Inside, the house was quiet. No one was home.

The house looked chaotic. Tables and chairs were over turned, as if something had knocked them aside easily. In the family room on the immediate left, the T.V was broken-with two bullet holes impaled into it. Lindy laid the sick Ai down on the couch, gently. Ian crouched to inspect the T.V. The bullet holes were exactly like his mega form's shotguns. His mind started to think. Why would he be shooting at the T.V? He never missed-especially when it came to protecting his Tamers. Ian turned to Mako,

"Keep an eye on the other Ai. I'm gunna check the house out."

"Ian..." Mako gave an uncomfortable look. Ian put an assuring hand on his Tamer's shoulder.

"I'm sure the others are fine, munchkin. Stay here."

"Ai and I will be looking around outside." Lindy walked back out with Ai in tow. The girl looked worried about where everyone else had gone.

Ian traced the broken T.V with his fingers. Looking back, he saw scratch marks along the side of the dining room wall. They were large gashes, big enough for his claws. These were for sure his claw marks that dragged into the kitchen. It was a mess. The table was broken clean in half and dishes were shattered everywhere. The family was having dinner when something happened. Counting, there were five plates. That was a good sign, everyone was accounted for at dinner. Judging from the mess of the soup, it was Yuki who cooked. It had to have been last night's dinner because it hadn't gone bad. The counter was busted into shards-like something heavy had been thrown up against it. Ian's eyes drifted to the knives. One was missing.

"What happened?" he muttered, hunching over to look at the ground. A few droplets of dried blood was on the floor. Looking at the direction they were smeared, it appeared who ever cut themselves had went upstairs. He checked on Mako and the other Ai again. They were fine. Mako was on his phone, enthralled with playing one of his games.

Climbing up the stairs, Ian thought about what could have happened. None of the front or back doors were busted open, so it wasn't a burglar. Something-or someone was let in the house. Something that made the other him change into Beelzemon, and not care about trashing the house.

Upstairs, Tai and Yuki's bedroom door was shattered-looking like someone or something had rammed the door. Oddly, the window remained shut and locked. Whatever took Tai and Yuki had to be quick, strong and able to get past him as Beelzemon.

Ian went into the twins bedroom for anymore clues. His instinct was heightened, prepared for anything. In the room, he found the knife. There was little blood on it. He felt worried for the safety of Mako, Tai, Yuki and the other Beelzemon. Where could have they all gone? Looking at a small desk, it had a few photographs taped to the wall behind it. One was an old photo of Ai, Mako and Impmon playing at the play ground. The children couldn't be older than five. They all looked happy, and even he looked like he was enjoying himself. It wasn't often he could see himself like that.

The other photo was more recent. Beelzemon was sitting down on the couch with Mako, playing a videogame. Judging by the mega's face, Ian guessed his counterpart was losing. Beside Mako was Ai-except she looked around five or six in the photo. Mako had looked more his age, being eleven. Ai had a sweet smile on her face, but Ian couldn't escape the notion that she was depressed. Ian couldn't blame her. An eleven year old girl stuck in the body of a five year old? It was cruel. At least he and Lindy were teens when it happened. Still sucked a lot, but not as bad as she has it.

Ian wasn't paying attention to his surroundings while looking at the photos. It was a deadly mistake. The click of a gun in his ear made Ian's blood run cold. He knew that gun. Hell, he carried it. Berenjena was positioned at the hybrid's head and a deep, rumbling, Brooklyn accent spoke to Ian,

"Don't move-or I'll swear to fuckin' God, I'll blow ya brains out."

Scenario: Ian had a pissed off (understandably), gun wielding, mega counter-part. He was standing directly behind him-ready to redecorate the twins' bedroom with Ian himself.

Outcomes?

Ian get's his brains blown out trying to change...or, he could talk to Beelzemon. It was a strange concept. He would be convincing himself to let himself live.

Well, here goes nothing he thought. Raising his hands up above his head, Ian spoke,

"Easy big guy, I ain't lookin' for trouble."

Ian was grabbed violently and spun around to meet his other self. Ruby red eyes bore straight at him, suspiciously.

"Never heard anyone but me talk like that-who are ya?"

God, do I really sound that different, Ian thought annoyed.

"Ian."

"Ian...that's a fuckin' stupid name. Think I'll call ya...'Shrimp'. Now, ya gunna tell me where Ai and Mako are and maybe I'll consider just breakin' your legs." Beelzemon growled, looming over Ian. He had to admit, he could be pretty fucking scary when he wanted to be.

Guys, Beelzemon is here-get to where Mako and the other Ai are! Ian thought quickly but no one heard him. Lindy and Ai were too far away. Cursing, he only had one choice. Tell him where Ai was.

"Ai is downstairs with Mako. How about ya put Berenjena away and we can talk one on one, huh?" Ian kept his body rigid-the gun pointed at him made his heart beat faster and faster. For a split second, he thought Beelzemon was going to pull the trigger. His face twisted into a combination of surprise and fury.

"...How do ya know that name?" snarled Beelzemon, picking up Ian with his one claw hand and lifting him off the ground. Ian grunted,

"Put me down and I'll tell ya."

"Nah, I got a better idea." The mega threw Ian across the room. With a yelp, Ian smacked his head hard against the wall, and crumpled to the ground.

"I'll be back, Shrimp. Don't go anywhere." Beelzemon went downstairs to the couch where Mako was playing on his phone and Ai was asleep, looking flushed from her fever.

"Mako!" Beelzemon cried, and spun him around. "Ya alright, munchkin?!"

"Uh, yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Mako raised an eyebrow and put his phone away.

"Never mind-get ya sister and let's go. We'll get Ai some medicine at Jeri's-"

Mako looked very confused and stopped the mega.

"Wait, what about Lindy and our Ai?"

"What are ya talkin' about-" Beelzemon stopped as the front door busted open. A woman with an awful haircut and a girl with long brown hair in a braid rushed inside, looking mad. Needless to say, he was confused and pulled out his guns.

"Just who the fuck-"

"MAKO! Get away from him-that's the other Beelzemon!" Lindy shouted and dashed forward. Mako's D-Arc whined and shined brightly.

HYBRID WARP DIGIVOULTION

"Lindy hybrid warp digivolve to...Lindenmon!"

Lindenmon had the surprise and knocked Beelzemon across the room and into the dining cabinet. Plates and glasses shattered on his head, repeatedly. Lindenmon let her Hands of Fate loose, pinning the mega biker to the ground.

"How did you do that?!" cried Beelzemon, struggling to grab his shotgun. Lindenmon had the upper hand. She narrowed her eyes and brandished her fangs,

"Where's Ian? What did you do with him?"

Beelzemon had to think for a moment before he remembered throwing that guy into the wall. He struggled, not giving up.

"Shrimp? He's upstairs. Now, let me go ya white pixie so I can beat the shit outta ya!"

"Don't you remember me?" Lindenmon asked, cocking her head to the side. Her hands were slipping, she felt herself start to get tired. Beelzemon let out a grunt.

"I think I would remember a 'mon like yourself-OW! Easy-I said I don't know!"

"Lindy! It's me, Lindy! The crazy girl you gave a drink to when I tried to explain where I came from and I choked on it." Lindenmon panted, feeling herself drain completely. The battle at the Expo, changing into Hopemon, and now this was too much for her in one day. With a groan, she had changed back into her rookie Impmon form. Ai and Mako both gasped, rushing to their partner's aide.

"Lindy?" Beelzemon's voice changed. The faint memory of a blonde girl breaking into the house, saying she was a hybrid, choking on the whiskey had flashed through his mind. Was this really that Lindy? He slowly got up and walked over to the almost passed out digimon guns still raised. Ai and Mako both frowned and stepped between the mega.

"Don't you dare hurt her." Ai growled. Mako pointed a finger,

"If we find a scratch on Ian, you'll be so sorry!"

Beelzemon was utterly flummoxed. There he was, tackled by a woman who changed into a digimon, who changed back into a dark blue copy cat of his rookie form, and now his Tamer Mako was defending her from him, with a girl that almost looked like she was his twin...

Oh.

"Don't tell me." Beelzemon put away his gun and leaned against the wall. "This is the other Mako and Ai, ain't it?"

"Yeah, from my reality." Lindy picked herself up slowly and threw her arms out to gesture herself with an exhausted grin. She looked tired. "I told you I was a hybrid."

"Yeah, ya did say that..." Beelzemon trailed off, looking at his Tamer on the couch. He went over and felt her furry forehead.

"Fuck, she's burnin' up-listen, I gotta go. She's sick and my Mako is still missing-"

"Missing? What happened?" Lindy demanded. "How do you lose not one but both of our Tamers?"

Beelzemon gave a look.

"Our Tamers?"

"Ai and Mako are my Tamers, now where is the other Mako?" Lindy repeated.

"Listen, it ain't none of your business! Your-er-Tamers, are standing there lookin' like they wanna bite my face off."

"We might consider it if Ian's hurt." Mako threatened. Ai stepped past the mega, shouting for Ian.

"What? I'm here!" Ian ran down the stairs, almost hitting Ai. He gripped her shoulders and looked relieved.

"Are you or Mako hurt?"

Ai shook her head. "Lindy is tired. She used up all her energy."

"That sounds about right. Where is big, bad and ugly? I got a bone to pick with him."

"Right here." Beelzemon called out, holding digimon Ai, in his arms. "Ya got a hard head, Shrimp!"

"Okay, call me 'Shrimp' one more time." Ian growled He could feel himself itching to change. Mako put a himself in front of the two.

"Now, you two don't argue. We're going to Jeri's and we're going to figure out what happened."

"We?" Beelzemon scoffed, making a face. "No, you guys can do whatever. I got my own problems to worry about-"

"We can help you find your Mako." Ai said. "After all, its not like you don't know us. Plus, Lindy and Ian can help your partner out."

"How?"

"They controlled their hybrid powers, maybe they can teach Ai the same."

Lindy and Ian looked at each other alarmed. They didn't know how to control the curse! It was a sheer luck the Ancient Ones helped them control it.

"Now, wait Ai-"

"HOLD ON!" Beelzemon roared. He turned back to Ian.

"Now, I know she can change, but who the hell are ya supposed to be?"

It wasn't obvious? Ian simply looked at Beelzemon, wondering if sometimes he was this stupid. The looks, the accent, the relation...none of it was clicking into the digimon's head. Changing into his own Beelzemon form, Ai and Mako almost had to save the sick Ai from being dropped.

"What?" smirked the new Beelzemon. "No smart ass remark, hot shot?"

The other Beelzemon went quiet for a minute, just staring at his counterpart. Finally, he went into the kitchen and mumbled under his breath,

"I need a fucking drink..."

Jeri's house was still the same as the group knew in the other world. Homey, larger than their house and full of good food. A small shrine of Leomon was near the back gate, and wind chimes were stationed around the house. However, the garden looked unkempt and the grass grew wild. Answering the door, Jeri was not quite expecting two Beelzemon's, hybrid Ai, a pair of eleven year old twins, and a passed out dark blue Impmon to stare back at her.

Jeri bombarded the more familiar Beelzemon with questions as the mega gently tucked his Ai into bed and let her sleep. He would lecture her in the morning. The mega retold his part of the story, flying by the house and seeing someone (Ian) in the bedroom. Afterwards, Jeri went to the other Beelzemon.

"I'll make us all some tea and we can talk. I'm sure you guys have some questions."

The hybrid Beelzemon nodded and changed back into his rookie form. Impmon looked wearily at his counterpart.

"Ya not changin' back?

"I'm good, Shrimp."

Rolling his eyes and making a noise, Impmon went to Ai and Mako who was carrying a tired Lindy. Her eyes fluttered open for a few seconds but she fell back asleep.

"That teleporting trick really knocked her out, huh?" Impmon asked.

"I'll go put her on the couch." Mako laid her to rest on the couch and drew a blanket over her. He smiled at his one partner, wondering how many times she did the same for him as a child.

Impmon lingered, staring at his girlfriend. He felt his hand tugged by Ai who gave a look.

"C'mon-she'll be fine. Let's go to the kitchen. Beelzemon and Jeri are there."

Two mugs of hot chocolate were settled down in front of the twins. It smelled delicious and even had soft marshmallows on top. The two said thanks and drank happily. Jeri smiled,

"Impmon, would you like some tea?

"Nah just water thanks, Jer." Impmon bit his tongue and tried to ignore the scowl on Beelzemon's face. He forgot this wasn't the same Jeri as he knew. They even looked different. This Jeri had cropped, brown hair and looked thinner than his Jeri. She looked much more tired too.

"So, why are y'all here?" Beelzemon asked, narrowing his eyes. He was leaning against the kitchen wall with a keen expression, "I thought meeting Lindy from your world was just a one time deal."

"This guy named Azazel tried recruitin' us for his little revenge plot." Impmon darkened at the mere mention of him. "We told him to buzz off and now he sent us here."

Jeri stopped what she was doing and looked at Beelzemon. The mega went quiet, staring at the table as if he was trying to burn a hole through it.

"This guy..." Beelzemon clenched his fists. "Did he look human but felt totally off the weird and messed up radar?"

"Yeah-" Impmon wasn't prepared for Beelzemon to storm off-cursing out to the backyard. Ai and Mako jumped and nearly knocked over their drinks. Jeri sighed and turned on the stove.

"Just let him be. He's still mad about Mako and the parents going missing."

"Can you tell us what happened?" Ai asked.

Jeri folded the dish towel and plucked a glass from the shelf.

"Last night, they were all having dinner when Azazel showed up. He literally appeared out of nowhere," She went over to the sink and filled the glass with water. "He offered Ai the chance to control her powers if she could help him vanquish his old friends." Jeri set the water down for Impmon. "Obviously, she said no and that's when Azazel took Yuki and Tai away. Beelzemon tried to fend him off and let the kids run over here. But, Mako never made it." Jeri sat down holding a hand to her head. She looked so exhausted. "Ai got a cold from the rain last night, but insisted in going out to search for Mako. I guess that's when she ran into you guys."

"Azazel must've wanted Ai as well.." Impmon shook his head. "He's probably responsible for her change, too."

"What do you mean?"

"Azazel was the digi-gnome that granted Lindy her wish to save me and my wish to save her." Impmon closed his eyes and changed into his human form. Jeri sprung out of her chair in surprise. He opened his eyes, "Problem was that I got cursed for almost six years with Lindy. Human in the day-"

"-digimon at night." Jeri finished, carefully walking over to Ian and touched his face. Ian changed back into Impmon and Jeri retreated her hand.

"So, how do you control it?"

"When we had to face this freak named UltimateChaosmon-a long story-" Impmon said quickly. "We gave up our human forms to save our Takato from being killed." Impmon fiddled with his glass of water. "Then these weirdos in brown cloaks kind of just set things right-"

Jeri slammed a hand down, interrupting the hybrid. Ai and Mako saw that Jeri had become angry and her golden eyes narrowed.

"How come you get to change back? How come that poor girl is stuck with that curse still? Do you have any idea what is it like for Ai?" The woman took the tea kettle off the stove and pour the hot water-not caring it splashed on the counter. "Night after night, she changes-no way for her to control it. No sleepovers, no normal school since she can't age and now, she is getting hassled by this-this-'Azazel' bastard!" Jeri slammed the kettle back on the stove.

This was a very different side of Jeri that the twins never saw. Their Jeri never got angry or threw things around. The Jeri that they knew, gave them hugs and spared her digimon cards with them, or took them out to the movies when Impmon and Lindy wanted some alone time. This Jeri let out a few tears and they dribbled down her face. Ai and Mako looked at each other then climbed out of their seats. Hugging the crying woman, Ai spoke softly,

"We'll make sure your Ai get's better."

"Yeah, we'll make things get right Jeri, don't cry."

Jeri sniffed.

"Ai...Mako..."

Beelzemon came back inside still pissed. He only glanced at the crying Jeri before sitting down. Ai and Mako hugged the mega too-promising the same thing. The mega flinched at first but relaxed and gave a little smirk. Impmon thought that it was strange to see his Tamers hugging another version of him.

"Well, I guess we could use the help-but I ain't got a clue how to find this guy. He disappeared faster than a Bakemon. "

"We'll figure it out in the morning." Jeri put a hand on Beelzemon's shoulder tenderly. She calmed down and appeared just exhausted more than anything. "You three are welcome to spend the night-my parents are on vacation and my brother is away at school."

"And Lindy too?" Ai asked hopeful. Jeri gave a slight hesitation but Beelzemon nodded his head.

"It's okay, Jer. She ain't like the other one. Let her stay too."

"And...she is welcome too." Jeri let out a puff of air. "I apologize for-"

"Ya ain't got nothin' to be sorry 'bout Jer." Beelzemon said. "It ain't been easy here..."

"We're sorry about Takato and Guilmon too." Ai looked down. "I know you really liked him Jeri..."

"It's alright Ai. I...I'm coping with it." Jeri put a hand to her heart. "I know Takato would have wanted me to be happy and move on."

"Where is everyone? Henry, Rika, Suzie..." Mako trailed off at the pink haired Tamer's name. A fear struck deep in him with the notion that Suzie and Lopmon perished as well. Could they have died too in this reality?

"Tsh, the bunny and braniac left with chocolate bunny and princess back to China...wherever that is. The cream puff went missing when the A.D.A first struck...we tried lookin' for him, but he's gone."

Beelzemon looked miserable when he said that, so Jeri took over.

"Rika, Renamon, Kenta, MarineAngemon, Ryo and Cyberdramon all tried fighting the A.D.A for a number of years. Plan after plan, tactics and secret groups-trying to recruit more Tamers but the A.D.A had this huge raid on their hide out and arrested Kenta and MarineAngemon. I think Ryo and Cyberdramon left after that...I'm not sure where. Rika was devastated. She really liked him, but never told him how she felt. I feel so bad for her... "

"And Kazu and Gaurdomon?" Ai asked.

"Gaurdomon got deleted...Kazu disappeared after that. No ones seen him for months." Beelzemon spoke taking over for Jeri. The ex-Tamer glared at him, "We tried lookin' for him Jer, he ain't gunna come out 'till he wants to."

"Still, we are missing too many people. We need to try to stay together." Jeri retorted.

"This world get's more depressing by the minute." Impmon grumbled. Gaurdomon wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, but he was a good digimon. Admirable and courageous-if not a little clumsy. Kazu must have been distraught from that. "Anything good actually happens here?"

Beelzemon and Jeri paused, thinking of something. Jeri raised her eyebrows,

"Well, the Yakult Swallows are doing pretty well this year..."

After tea and hot chocolate, everyone got settled in for the night. Ai and Mako borrowed large t-shirts from Jeri to sleep in and bunked together in Jeri's brother's bedroom. Impmon kept to the couch with a sleeping Lindy. He brushed a gloved hand across her face and gazed at her. At least she wasn't alone in this reality this time...

"So you two, huh?" Impmon jumped and looked at his counterpart, leaning on the door frame, arms crossed. His face showed curiosity more than contempt. It looked like his counterpart clicked in that he and Lindy were together.

"Ya got a problem with me and toots?" challenged the hybrid. He was not going to let himself trash talk their relationship. He loved Lindy and that was it. Plain and simple.

"Even if I did, would it matter? You look like ya got your heart set on her. That would explain how weird she acted when she first met me. She knows our secret?"

"Yeah, and she forgave us." Impmon's voice changed. Beelzemon gazed his eyes down at him.

"And the munchkins?"

Impmon lowered his eyes and said nothing. Watching the hybrid fidget with his bandana, Beelzemon sighed.

"Ya gotta tell 'em sooner or later, Shrimp."

"Well, yeah? How about you, smart-ass?

"Found out a few weeks ago while me and Jer were talkin'. Took 'em a few days, but they came around."

The two just stood there, staring at each other. Each were picking apart the other, wondering how much of them were alike and how much of them was different. It was unspoken, but they agreed to some kind of understanding that Impmon had his significant differences and Beelzemon had his. But, deep down there was one thing that made them complete copies of each other.

"Forgive ya self yet?" Impmon asked.

"Hell nah. You?"

A pause.

"...No."

Beelzemon made a grunt and left to the back of the house where he slept. Of that night, that was the last conversation held in the Katou house.

Author's Note: Oh boy! That was fun, huh? I made this conversation between Impmon (hybrid) and Beelzemon (the alternate reality one) and it's important. They are pretty different and had significant changes about them. One was that Impmon became a hybrid and got a taste of what it's like being human, and falling in love. Beelzemon never had that hence the more colder and angrier side of him (plus all that's happened in that reality). Both of them care for the fact that Mako and the parents are taken/missing so, they're going to play nice for now.

So, I told you Jeri has a part in this story! I told you! Yes, we will see her more often now in this part. She lost Leomon, and now Takato and Guilmon so she's a little more darker, and more bitter. But, you can see that she trusts Beelzemon and actually cares for Ai and Mako. Oh, and for Lindy seeming almost too weak in this chapter-you have to think she battled Impmon, changed into a mega, changed back into human, changed into Hopemon-teleported three plus herself, changed back into human, and then tried to battle Beelzemon (a mega) as her mega form all in ONE day. Yeah, I don't care how powerful you are-that's exhausting.

What do you think of my new nickname of 'Shrimp' for Impmon? Don't worry, most of the story you will know who is who. Beelzemon will never stray from his form, I will address hybrid Ai as...well, hybrid Ai. Impmon will stay the same as Impmon and Mako will make his appearance again next chapter, and we will see where he was taken to after Azazel kidnapped him.

I don't know if ANYONE got the Yakult Swallows joke here...okay-no you didn't. Basically, they are Shinjuku's pro baseball team and they did very well in the summer of 2011 (when this story takes place). You see? I research-I do my homework!

Sorry for the long Author's Note. See you Sunday!