Chapter Eleven: Shattered Mind

It was a bright and beautiful Wednesday afternoon, and Kudo Shinichi thought his summer was off to a good start, as a matter of speaking.

There was a book signing event with an upcoming mystery author that he liked. He had been looking forward to meeting this author for weeks. So when Ran told him about going to a fancy party with Sonoko, Shinichi couldn't help but lie. He didn't want to spend hours making small talk or rubbing elbows with rich people, not when he could meet one of his favorite modern mystery writers in person. Besides, it was only a white lie. Shinichi was sure there would be no harm in it.

Although there was no harm between him and Ran, Shinichi later regretted turning down her invitation as soon as she told him about the murder case that took place. As soon as he heard the news, he gawked at her like an idiot, his mouth wide open while his spaghetti dangled out of his mouth.

"Wait, what?!" Shinichi cried, leaning over their table closer. "REALLY?! There was a case at the hotel while you were there?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER?!"

There was no hiding the glee and excitement in his tone, but instead of being amused, Ran glanced around, embarrassed to see that they were drawing attention from the other guests and a few staff members of this little establishment. "Sit down, Shinichi! And don't talk with your mouth full!" she admonished him as if one would scold an unruly child. "Honestly! Where are your manners? Finish up your plate and wipe your mouth!" she flung a cotton napkin at him and rolled her eyes before returning to her plate of pasta.

"Fine, Mom," Shinichi said sarcastically but did as he was told. "What's the matter with you? You know how much stuff like this excites me! It's thrilling!"

Ran glanced up at shot him with a poisonous look. "For your information, I'm still mad at you for ignoring my calls these past few days! And I wouldn't exactly call that case exciting and thrilling! What happened was a terrible thing! I was so shaken that I've been trying to call and tell you about it for days!" She pointer her fork at him threateningly, "When I tried calling Professor Agasa's place, he said that you were busy! What were you helping him with that you couldn't possibly call me back for three days? Don't you know how worried I was?"

Shinichi cringed from her admonishment. Pinned by her glowering eyes and feeling guilty, he mumbled the truth under his breath.

Ran raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Shinichi took a deep breath and told her the truth about going to the book signing event and barricading himself for the next three days to read his new book in peace. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to lie. I was looking forward to that event, and when you seemed so excited to go with Sonoko, I lied…a little. If I had known, I would have gone with you!"

Shinichi gulped and braced himself for another scolding. To his surprise, Ran studied him briefly, shook her head, and lowered her gaze to her plate. "You didn't have to lie over such a thing for my sake. If you didn't want to you, tell me the truth. And besides…" she stabbed a bow-shaped pasta and took a bite, "you're treating me to this lunch to make up for it, right?" She arched up an eyebrow.

Shinichi blinked and chuckled, glad that Ran had chosen a small Italian bistro for lunch and not some expensive fine-dining restaurant like the Ritz. He glanced around; the other guests already returned to their meals while the staff minded their business. It was a quaint little restaurant, most likely family-owned. The place was decorated with black and white photos of Italian cityscapes and simple furniture that reminded their guests of a quiet Italian village by the sea. Ran had wanted to try this place when she saw a review of it in a magazine.

A young blond girl about thirteen, wearing a nametag saying, "Izumi," came up to their table, holding a pitcher of cold water and a tray of someone else's order.

"Would you care for a refill?" the girl, Izumi, asked politely.

Ran smiled at her and nodded.

"None for me." Shinichi waved his hand off politely. The young girl nodded and refilled Ran's glass before moving to the following table. Shinichi would have guessed that she was the owner's daughter and was probably helping out during the lunch rush hour.

"So anyway," Shinichi began, hoping to steer the conversation back to the murder case. "What happened when you and Sonoko were there that night?"

Ran gave him a look before she took a sip of her water. "You're dying to know, aren't you? Couldn't you call Inspector Megure and ask him for the details? He and his team were called there."

"Yeah, but you said your dad discovered the body! So, did you see it, too?" Shinichi's eyes brighten, unable to contain his excitement. "Did you meet Tsujimura-sensei before he was killed? Did you notice anything that seemed suspicious? Something that would lead up to the case from your point of view?"

Ran almost choked on her water. Composing herself, she glared at him. "Shinichi, I swear you are so insensitive sometime!"

"What? I told you that stuff like this gets me going!"

Urgh, Sonoko was right. The only kind of scene that Shinichi is ever interested in is a crime scene! Ran thought bitterly. Still, she couldn't deny that she did enjoy seeing Shinichi's eyes light up like a child. That doesn't mean she was going to let him off the hook.

"No, I didn't see the body! I was busy trying to help calm the parents of that poor boy who got shot!" she huffed indignantly. "Oh, it was awful, Shinichi! He didn't deserve it! He was there at the wrong place and at the wrong time! I still remember how distraught his twin looked, and his parents were frantic." She lowered her glass and her gaze to the table. "He looked so sweet and kind, too…"

Shinichi realized what a jerk he had been. Ran was one of the kindest and caring people he knew. Of course, she would empathize with those who are suffering. This boy sounded like an unlucky victim in the case and could provide the most significant clues in solving the crime. If Shinichi wanted to make headway, he'll have to appeal to Ran's good-hearted nature and get her to tell him as much as she could. After this, I'll contact the Inspector and see what else he has to say to me, Shinichi thought.

"I'm sorry, Ran, you're right. I'll…try to be more empathetic," Shinichi said earnestly. "So, what can you remember about this boy?"

There was a pause between them; the only sounds were the distant chatter of the other guests and the clinking of utensils on plates. The young waitress passed their table again, asking how their food tasted. Ran thanked her, asked for the dessert menu, and watched her walk off.

"Well, his name is Kouichi, and I think he's not much older than that girl…"

As Kouichi lay against his pillow to rest, he waited for the anti-depressant medication to kick in and carry him away to a peaceful sleep. But his mind wouldn't be at ease, not with the day he had. How could he when only a few hours ago, he had woken up to a white room filled with strangers?

Kouichi…they told him his name was Kimura Kouichi and that he had been comatose for three days after getting hurt in an incident.

Kouichi… he thought to himself. It was strange to have a name that felt foreign and familiar. Still, it was his, and he was starting to get used to being referred by it. But Kouichi wasn't used to all the looks everyone was giving him. From the moment he opened his eyes, everyone was thrilled to see him, but as soon as he spoke those three words, their excitement turned to disbelief and despair.

Kouichi didn't like any of it. They made him feel like something was wrong with him, like he was a broken doll with a shattered mind.

Lying still and taking steady breaths, Kouichi could hear the faint sound of conversations between his parents and doctors from beyond the door. He wanted to sit up and hear better, but he was too tired, his eyelids too heavy.

"Kazato-sensei, how bad is it?" said a man's voice. Kouichi recognized it as his father's.

A male doctor, not the beautiful woman who had helped re-stitched his wound earlier, replied. "It's too soon for me to say, Minamoto-san. But I can confirm that your son does have amnesia, specifically what kind is difficult for me to say—"

"But you're the expert in this field!" Kousei retorted.

A woman's voice spoke. It was his mother, Tomoko. "But earlier, you said things seemed to be in order, sensei. What of those questions you've asked him during your interview."

"A brain injury isn't like a broken bone, Kimura-san," Kazato-sensei replied. "The human brain is perhaps the most complex organ in our bodies, and therefore less predictable. But rest assured, the questions I've asked Kouichi during the interview do show some good signs—"

"Such as?" His father pressed.

"Do you mean he'll regain his memories?" another woman's voice spoke. It was his other mother…She said she was his stepmother, right? What was her name again? Satomi? Kouichi could hear the hope in her voice.

"Again, it's too early for me to say," Kazato-sensei replied calmly. "But according to my assessments, Kouichi-kun answered all of my questions perfectly, showing that he has the mental capability to function on a regular basis."

"Does this mean he'll be able to come home soon?" his mother asked.

"Yes, but for now, Kouichi should stay here so that we can monitor his condition," Kazato-sensei replied.

"There now, Kousei. It's all right," said Satomi. "At least Kouichi's awake. We thought for sure his coma would last longer."

"Indeed, he's lucky. Most patients stay comatose much longer than three days. But even though he's awake, the swelling in his brain remains and can cause some impairment, such as confusion and memory loss," said Watsuki-sensei.

"And in some cases, patients may exhibit things such as erratic mood swings or worse, develop a violent temper," Kazato-sensei added. "In any case, we've scheduled an M.R.I. scan for Kouichi tomorrow morning. After that, we'll see how he fares, and I can update you on his condition."

"Sounds good, sensei. Thank you so much for your help," said Tomoko.

"Kousei, why don't you and Tomoko stay here for the night with Kouichi?" Satomi suggested.

"But what about Kouji?"

"I can take him home and bring him back tomorrow morning. From the looks of it, I think he and his friends would also want to pay Kouichi a visit."

"Well, all right then…"

Kouichi heard no more as his mind began to fade into the darkness. His medication was kicking in, and its effect was powerful. "Kouji…" he mumbled under his breath. That was the boy's name who had frightened him when he'd first opened his eyes. As he drifted off to sleep, Kouichi remembered how Kouji, with his blue eyes, looked at him…with such joy and happiness at first…then shock…then anger…then regret…and then…

…Kouichi couldn't remember anymore as sleep finally claimed him…

Kouji was drowning. The sea roiled like a beast, tossing him back and forth as though he was a ragdoll. He struggled to stay afloat, but every time his head broke the water's surface, a giant wave crashed down on him, plummeting him down further into its depth. Kouji tried to kick his legs and move his arms, but it was useless. The darkness was pulling him under.

Down…down…down…until he could no longer see the light from the storm reflected above.

Kouji knew he should be dead by now. His strength should have gone at this depth, and the water filled his lungs. Yet, he could sense himself floating.

This isn't real…Kouji thought. Am I dreaming?

"Yes, Kouji."

Kouji opened his eyes but saw nothing but darkness. That voice… sounded and felt familiar.

Who's there? Kouji thought again.

"It's me. You know who I am," the voice replied. "Find me. I've always been by your side."

Kouji didn't know how to respond to this, but something inside of him knew that he should follow it. Closing his eyes, he pictured the owner of that voice. In his mind, he could see a humanoid figure, almost like a knight clad in white and purple armor with a helmet shaped like a wolf.

Lobomon! The name came so quickly to him as though it was his own, and in a way, it had been. He and Lobomon were the same being, the Legendary Warrior of Light.

The symbol of the Warrior on his shoulder armor lit up, and in response, light penetrated through Kouji's eyelids. His eyes snapped open, and he saw a door illuminating before him. There was little time for Kouji to react. He knew he had to go through it to reach his friend. Kicking his legs and moving his arms, Kouji swam through the water and plunged straight into the portal…

…and came out of a crystalline lake.

Gasping for air, Kouji glanced around and found himself sitting on the lake's edge in a field of flowers. A familiar white castle with green turrets and spires was not too far in the distance. It looked like it was pulled straight out of a fairy tale book. I'm…I'm at Ophanimon's castle…Kouji realized. Sitting up, he wondered how he had come to be here. The last thing he remembered was falling asleep in his bed alone. I must have fallen asleep, he decided.

"Hello, Kouji."

He looked up to see Lobomon greeting him with a smile. Kouji blinked in disbelief. Lobomon chuckled at this and extended a hand for him to take.

"Long time no see," Lobomon said, pulling the boy up on his feet.

Kouji glanced at his surroundings with a mixture of awe and perplexity. The castle, the field of flowers, and the lake and the trees—he could see them as clear as day, but it still felt so unreal. He glanced back at Lobomon. "How am I here?" he asked. He narrowed his eyes, and his tone became more demanding and defiant as he said, "How did I get here? I didn't take a Trailmon! The last thing I remembered was falling asleep in my bed! So is any of this real?" he waved a hand at the beautiful scenery, "or an illusion like some childish dream?"

Lobomon gave him a thoughtful look but did not flinch from his abrasive tone. "Yes, this is a dream, but that doesn't mean it's not real."

Kouji arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means that you are only here spiritually," said a deep, raspy voice from behind.

Startled, Kouji turned to meet Löwemon, who seemed to have appeared out of the shadow of a tree. The Warrior of Darkness is the tallest of all the Legendary Warriors in their humanoid form. Clad in black and gold armor with lion motifs, he struck an impressive and intimidating figure.

"Hello, Kouji. It's good to see you again, although I wished it was under better circumstances." Löwemon sounded worn and tired, but he still gave Kouji a warm and gentle smile from behind his mask. Kouji nodded in silence. Glancing between them, he realized they had new scratches on their armor, as though they had recently emerged from a battle.

"What happened to you?" Kouji asked.

"Duskmon," Lobomon replied darkly. "A remnant of him is still out there."

At the mere mention of the name, Kouji froze and felt as though he had been shot. "Duskmon…but that's not…" he turned to Löwemon, "that's not possible! You're here! How is…" a dark thought crossed his mind, "…does any of this have to do with my brother? Why he's in the hospital?! And why he can't remember me or anyone who cares about him?! TELL ME!"

Löwemon and Lobomon exchanged sad glances. It was all Kouji needed to confirm his theory. He could feel his heart brimming with anxiety and anger. Hot tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Kouji," Lobomon said. "We tried to help your brother. We tried to warn him! But somehow, Duskmon slipped through our grasp and slipped into your world. We don't know how, but he designed things in such a way that put your brother in danger."

Lobomon's words were like a slap in the face. Before the Minamoto family attended the unveiling party, Kouichi told Kouji about his visits to the Digital World. He had told him about seeing Löwemon in his dreams and visiting places like here and Seraphimon's castle. At first glance, this seemed like a sweet and joyful adventure, but when he dreamt of Löwemon warning him of Duskmon's possible return that would have put him in danger, he was silent and worried. When he heard this, Kouji tried to brush it off and convinced Kouichi that the dream meant nothing.

I'm such an idiot! Kouji thought bitterly and began to shake. He should have known better! He should have had more consideration for Kouichi's worries! A dreadful thought crossed his mind. It's my fault…if I had listened to Nii-san, he wouldn't have been shot…he wouldn't have been in a coma…he would have still remembered me…

As if reading his thoughts, Löwemon shook his head. "No. What happened to Kouichi wasn't your fault, but ours."

Lobomon nodded as he tightened his grip on Kouji's shoulder. "We should have done better to warn you both. We should have done more to stop Duskmon before his lingering spirit escaped into your world."

"And we should have been there quicker to stop Duskmon when he found Kouichi in the void between our worlds—"

At this, Kouji narrowed his eyes at Löwemon. "What do you mean? Was Duskmon responsible for my brother's amnesia?" he demanded, unable to hide his growing fury.

"No, but that won't stop Duskmon from trying to go after him again," Löwemon said.

"I couldn't stop him," Lobomon seethed through his teeth. "That bastard slipped through my fingers."

Kouji studied them both and understood why they looked battle-worn. Still, he couldn't comprehend any of this. How was any of this possible? How could Duskmon be back? How and why did he go after Kouichi? Was it revenge? Kouji sighed and matched the Warriors' gazes. These last few days had been hellish for him, and he'd be damn if he didn't get some answers right now.

Straightening himself, Kouji said in a low and steady voice, "I don't know what's going on, but please, you need to tell me everything from the beginning. Kouichi doesn't remember me—he doesn't recognize us—and I need to know if there's a way to help him."

Lobomon and Löwemon exchanged glances and nodded. Löwemon pointed to the castle. "It'd be better for you to hear it from Ophanimon and the other Angel Digimon as well."

"There's a lot you need to know but not much time. But we better do it quick before you wake up again," Lobomon said. He placed a hand on Kouji's back as they headed towards Ophanimon's castle.

To be continued…

Author's note: I'm so sorry for the delay. This chapter was originally supposed to be done back in March, but I had a family emergency and had to put a lot of projects on hold. Life is hectic for me.

Yes, Kouji finally made it into the Digital World, albeit through dreams! And Shinichi and Ran are back! Writing their scene was challenging. And yes, they are having lunch at Izumi's family's restaurant. She even made a little cameo! Dr. Kazato Kyosuke is a character from the 4th Detective Conan movie. He also analyzed Ran's condition when she suffered from amnesia in said movie.