Chapter 32: Raziel mystery

Ryo looked around and saw the Babel tower once again. It was just as Raziel predicted, Millenniumon must have seen everything, or he was Raziel who did this to hide who he really was. Ryo wasn't sure if Millenniumon was disguised as Raziel or not, but Monodramon clearly told him that it wasn't a human because of his smell. As he waited for the dark god to come, he thought back about Raziel.

He knew that he had a few mysteries about himself. One example was his origin, which Raziel claimed that he didn't really know. That made him doubt it was Millenniumon because he always had an answer. Although, he was also smart and good at mind game. He could be him and at the same time, not be him. Ryo sighted, over-thinking this was leading him nowhere and he had no time for that anymore. He felt the ground shaking as Millenniumon sat by his side. They said nothing for a few seconds before one of them started talking.

"The other chosen children aren't back yet Ryo," Millenniumon commented about the chosen children situation.

"No. They need more time to go there and come back," Ryo replied.

"That's what I figure. You did well Ryo. I watched the entire fight against the Eraser," Millenniumon told his partner.

Ryo knew he should start with this before moving to Raziel subject: "It wasn't as easy as it sound. The Eraser was much more resilient than normal adult digimon. Devimon wasn't able to endure that much himself before losing the fight. He's also stronger than I thought. It was teamwork that allowed us to defeat him."

"True. That mindless eraser couldn't handle the three digimons fighting him at the same time. Strikedramon wasn't the most useful here," Millenniumon commented.

"That's because he could only reach the adult form for now Millenniumon," Ryo said as he frowned at the dark god.

Millenniumon took it as a warning not to try and insult Monodramon. He already has a bond with Monodramon at that level. He is close enough with Monodramon to defend him. Grrr...Well played Monodramon. I won't let you maintain this average. I'll have the strongest bond with Ryo because he is my destined partner. He replied, against his will: "My...apologies," the dark dragon felt his stomach turning upside down inside of him. "It is true that he is only an adult and I spoke from the perspective of a god."

"Since you were watching, what are your thoughts about it?" Ryo asked.

"One thing I've noticed is that the Eraser took the form of what he erased in the desert. I think he erased the part of the desert to have a physical form, even if it is a hollow physical form," Millenniumon replied, happily sharing his knowledge to his partner.

"I understand. Maybe it is why it is harder to defeat it than usual digimon. It's not really alive like you and me," Ryo said after thinking about it.

"It's also not alive like the machine digimon. Machine digimon have a core like flesh digimon, but the Eraser...I don't think they have a core," Millenniumon told his partner.

"Maybe," Ryo said looking at the body on the shoulder of the flesh digimon, the Mugendramon part. Millenniumon was a digimon that have a flesh body made of combined digimon with a mechanical digimon part made of different machine digimon. He knew what he was talking about. "Anything else about the Eraser?"

"The rest...You already see it and it is self-explanatory. Just defeat them to restore what they destroy."

"That's right. I know that already."

"Now. Let's move on to the reason I called you here Ryo. There is a lot Raziel said that I am also asking now. Monodramon noticed something about Raziel."

"I heard about it. It was interesting to hear what Monodramon was thinking, because I couldn't smell Raziel. He was too far away and was outside my range when he walked away. Monodramon said that he smelt like a digimon. I won't what the smell is. Maybe I could recognise it, by I didn't. That's all I can say for now, but it got me interested." Millenniumon answered before Ryo asked a question about it.

"So you weren't able to confirm it?" Ryo said.

Millenniumon shook his head negatively and replied: "No. I wasn't close enough. The smell isn't extremely powerful and even if my nose is good, it isn't enough. I wonder if Raziel was trying to hide that he's a digimon from me. I have a lot of knowledge and I could find out."

Ryo looked at Millenniumon and wondered agreed about that face. He just wondered if Millenniumon was Raziel in disguise.

"There is one thing I'm happy about. It's that Raziel said that I am now your source of information's about the Eraser digimon. I am surprise that Raziel had contact with the Will of the Digital world, but glad that the contact I have is stronger than him. It must be because I'm more powerful than him," Millenniumon chuckled at that fact.

"Yeah. He won't be here to guide me anymore because of that. It was nice to talk to him. He came a few times to explain things to me as complicated as you," Ryo replied. He looked at his partner and said in his mind: Maybe Raziel said that because you were him, but since we can communicate in the dream, you don't need to use this subterfuge anymore, if you are doing it.

"The bad thing is that we are never going to find out who he really is," Millenniumon replied and grunted.

"That's right," Ryo said looking at Millenniumon suspiciously.

Millenniumon looked at his partner and saw him looking at him in a way he disliked. He wondered why Ryo was looking at him that way: "What is it Ryo?"

"I am wondering who Raziel is and from my knowledge, I thought of a possibility. Raziel said that he doesn't know how he came here, so I asked myself why. I think I have an answer," Ryo told the dark god.

Millenniumon wasn't sure where he was going with it and asked: "What is that possibility Ryo?"

"The possibility is that it could be someone who tried to get close to me when he couldn't," Ryo started, waiting for Millenniumon to understand what he meant that way.

"Get to the point Ryo," Millenniumon asked.

"I think I'm talking to Raziel right now," Ryo replied looking at his amber eyes.

Millenniumon looked at his partner without any reaction. He thought about what he said and once the information's got into his mind, he smirked.

"I got it right Millenniumon?" Ryo asked the dark god.

Millenniumon smirk turned into a chuckled before turning into a loud laugh. He continued laughing for a few seconds before calming down: "You are serious right?"

"Yes," Ryo replied.

Millenniumon laughed once again and replied: "That's rich! I have a lot of power...But I don't have the power to change form like that," the dark god calmed down and looked at his partner. He picked him once again and put him on his palm. He raised it to his face and said: "If I could, I would have done it to be by your side and talk more to you Ryo."

"Are you telling me the true?"

"Of course I'm telling the true Ryo. I never lied to you and I have no reason to lie now. I want you to trust me and lying isn't a way to obtain your trust. It would have been easier if I was Raziel, but it's not the case here."

"So we both don't know who he really is," Ryo said to himself.

The dark god smiled at his partner and said: "We might be able to solve it one day. If we know who Raziel is, it could be useful. He isn't an enemy, but knowing who he is will reveal if he had any other intentions. I wonder which digimon he is, if it is the case. He would be a powerful digimon to enter in contact with the Will of the Digital world."

Ryo thought about it and it was a good thing that Raziel didn't have any bad intention. He looked at Millenniumon and wondered if it was a good thing that he was powerful too. Raziel told him that Millenniumon was one of the three types of darkness digimon, but he wasn't sure yet. Even now, he didn't know. The dark god was still in between, it depend toward who he communicated. He was kind for him, but merciless for his enemies and the other chosen children. He controlled himself just for him.

"I don't know why Raziel was supporting me if you ask. I thought no one would support our bond," Millenniumon commented.

"I don't know why he said that. That's why I thought it was you."

"I can understand why. Hehe...But he isn't someone from the darkness, but from the light. I don't understand why," Millenniumon said confused.

They said nothing for a while until Ryo talked once again: "Millenniumon. Raziel told me something that is bothering me."

The dark god watched his partner for a second. He wondered if Ryo was about to share something with him. He smiled within himself. Joy often led to disappointment for Millenniumon.

"Why do you desire so much for me to be your partner? I'm a human and you should consider me more of a nuisance than a partner," Ryo told him.

Millenniumon had a flash when the image of the Ryo of his original world appeared in his mind. He saw himself raising his claw and tried to reach his partner, but never reached it. He remembered that he was so close, yet, so far and out of range because fate never happened. It was a broken bond where he was thrown away, even if the Monodramon of that world tried to cheer him up. That didn't help as a child digimon took pity of his core.

He came to this world because he wanted to have a partner, someone he could share his thought and shared a bond. Deep down, he wanted what the chosen children had. After all: "You only realise what's important after you lost it."

"What?" Ryo said.

Millenniumon realised he said that out loud. He thought of an excuse and decided to say: "I'll explain it one day. My reasons aren't...believable if I explain them now Ryo. I want to tell you everything. One thing is sure Ryo, you aren't a nuisance and never will be," he said as he moved Ryo closer to his face: "Fate is a gift for me Ryo. I will not lose it. You are the one I want." My beloved. He finished in his mind.

"You want fate to become true no matter what."

"Because you are important to me Ryo."

Ryo turned away and looked at the Babel tower: "Why do I believe you?"

"Because you are a smart boy who can make the difference between the true and the lie."

Ryo nodded.

"You know Ryo. I think we should stop meeting that way. We are always talking about serious stuff like the Eraser or mystery like Raziel," Millenniumon suddenly said: "We never had moment to just talk together like you and Monodramon." It is the best moment to form a bond after all. Not through serious stuff.

"Maybe," Ryo replied unsure to talk more casually to Millenniumon who was his enemy, yet, kind toward him.

The dark god put his partner on the ground by his side and said: "Ryo. There is still a few minutes before the day come. Do you have anything to say outside of the serious stuff?"

"No," Ryo replied. He didn't know how to be casual with the dark god and also when he said it suddenly like that.

"Let's just be together until the day come," Millenniumon replied.

They did that. Millenniumon looked at Ryo and knew he had to bit his patience if he wanted Ryo to be his partner. He had to communicate with Ryo about more casual stuff than only problems. All will come in due time, my beloved.

AC: This is the end of chapter 32.

Chapter 33: Test of Strength.