Editor's note: I realize that I might have made Tomoki's brother sound like a bit...well, a lot of a jerk. I haven't seen much of him, but the bit I did see really didn't impress me. Tomoki's, what, eight? Cut him some slack already!
When all this started, I was traveling with Bokomon, Neemon, Junpei, Izumi, Takuya, and Kouji. I like Izumi, she's nice to me, even if she does still treat me like a kid. Well, I guess I am, a little. And she's really pretty too. I know Junpei feels the same way. Everyone laughs at him, but I feel a bit sorry for him. Neemon sometimes teases him about it, but Bokomon tells him to lay off.
Kouji I really looked up to for a long time. He was mean sometimes, but he reminds me of my older brother, Yukata. I think that he thinks that he's trying to toughen me up, and tell me that I won't be able to cry my way out of a fight with the bad guys here.
Takuya...Takuya's the hardest one to figure out. He seemed to be so easy going about all this, like it was some sort of game. Then he almost died. But that's when it got a lot better for everyone.
Digicross Frontier episode 17
"Rise, Angel of Winter! Yuki Angemon!"
A tale told from the point of view of Himi Tomoki
You see, that's when we got some help.
We were fighting Grottomon, when two more humans and their digimon came to this digital world. They couldn't spirit evolve like we could, but the digimon with them could evolve at will. Ryoko was the older one. She kinda fell for Kouji. Her partner was a pokemon named Sneasel. That's so cool! Back home, Sneasel was one of my favourite pokemon.
Her friend was Hiroki Hida. He had an Armadillomon, and he looked just like me. He sometimes talks about a girl he likes named Hitomi. I wish I could meet her, she sounds nice. He also practices Kendo. And he doesn't have an older brother who's always mean to him. I don't tell anyone, but sometimes I get really jealous of him.
We had some adventures, and eventually, Ryoko and Hiroki got to go home, and we got to stay with them for a while. It was neat meeting everyone, including Ash and Misty. Yukata wouldn't believe it. But they came back when Junpei, Kouji, and me got captured. They did stuff to me, stuff I don't like to think about too much. Sometimes, I dream that I'm trying to evolve into Chakmon, but I turn into Grottomon and attack everyone. I don't know if Junpei has the same dreams or not. He and Izumi have gotten a bit closer. Not that Izumi will ever admit it. Anyway, even after I got rescued, I was still feeling pretty bad...
"Tomoki? Are you alright?"
I look over. It's Hiroki who's talking. He's been really quiet lately; I can't blame him, since I did try to kill him. "Yeah?"
"Are you feeling any better?" What's annoying is that he sounds really concerned. I don't deserve it. I catch a glimpse of my D-Scanner in his back pocket. I still don't feel good about carrying it.
"Yeah. Just...can we talk about it later?"
"Sure." Why is he being so nice to me? Armadillomon's not saying anything, which is weird too. He must suspect I'll go evil again, like last time. We walk for a while, it feels weird. Maybe I can talk to some of the others.
Kouji and Ryoko are still not trying to notice each other. It's fun watching them like that. Junpei is trying to talk to Izumi, who's ignoring him. Takuya...oh, he's talking to Ryoko now.
Patamon's free, I'll talk to him. "So...what's it like?"
"Hm?"
"You know, having Seraphimon's digicode in you?"
"Oh. It's weird, to be honest. Sometimes, it feels like I can hear Seraphimon in me. Right?"
I didn't see Sneasel there. But he does that a lot. "Yes. It's like he's guiding my actions. He's certainly helped me defend Ryoko many times."
I remember hearing about that from Izumi. Ranamon was trying to kill Ryoko; Sneasel got all super-strong and really hit her hard. That's another reason I get jealous of Hiroki sometimes; Armadillomon would do anything to protect him. Maybe if I had a partner, I wouldn't have been captured.
Maybe I've been here too long. I'm starting to wonder when the next attack will come.
It was neat talking with Patamon. I wish I could become an angel like he could. All I can become now is a snowman or a big bear-monster thing. Or a giant rock monster.
Sneasel stops. He looks worried. "There's something nearby." It's weird hearing a pokemon talk. He sounds a bit like that guy from Gundam Wing, the one that wears a mask, I can't remember his name. Mom never lets me watch it...
Wait. Something's near? "Like what?" My answer comes as a big black wave that swallowed everything up. "Takuya? Izumi?" Nothing. "Hiroki? Armadillomon?"
"Typical." I spin around. I'm not sure how I'm standing, but I am. "One thing goes wrong and all you can do is whine for help."
"Y...Yukata?" How did my brother get here?
"Someone had to bail you out of this. I don't know what those four jerks that threw you in Trailmon were thinking. You're too much of a baby to be in a place like this."
Flashback: several years ago:
I was four. Yukata was...well, older. "Mommy? Can I have that?" I'm pointing to a candy bar. It's fairly cheap, and it's been a long day. "Please?" My tummy's growling...
"Not now dear. We're having dinner in an hour."
"But moooommm?"
"No way!" It's Yukata. "An hour's not that long. Besides, you just had lunch."
"Yukata!"
"Yukata, that's enough." Mom says. She sounds tired. But we always seem to fight like this. "Alright. I'll get it." Mom reaches for it.
I see Yukata. He looks really mad.
Flashback: Not quite so long ago:
I'm six now. It's the day after my birthday, and I'm playing with my new toy.
"You shouldn't be playing with that. You're too old for it!" Yukata steps over. "This is something for three year olds!"
"Give it back!" I reach forward, grabbing a leg. Yukata pulls, and the leg comes off in my hand. I start bawling. Dad comes in a few seconds later, sees what happens, and takes Yukata aside.
"He's too young for it!" I hear him say. "Aren't you always saying that he should act more mature?"
"That's enough!" Dad says. He's mad. "It's not your job to raise him, it's ours, mine and your mother's!" I hear some other bits, like 'coming out of your allowance', and 'if you even get an allowance after that'.
But I'm worried. Dad thinks I'm acting like a baby?
Present:
"Yeah. Figures that the moment I'm gone, you'll fall apart. I guess those other kids have been covering for you, eh?" Yukata sounds weird. Mean as he was, he's never been...well, like this. "Give them!"
"What?"
"Those spirits! You're not old enough to use them right!"
Somehow, that just makes me mad. "And you are?" I say back.
He's right in my face now. "Give them here!"
"Yukata, what's-"
"NO WHINING, WHERE ARE THEY?"
"Give them to him, dear." I gasp. Two more people, my mom and dad! "Yukata should have been here, he's more mature."
My head shakes. "No. I found them, and I used them!"
"But you hurt people with them!" Yukata laughs. "And Ancient Megatherimon had to bail you out. But don't worry, I know who can use them better!"
Somehow, the answer's right there, my own secret fear ever since I met him. "Hiroki?" I gasp. "But why?"
"'Cause he's everything you're not. And you know it!" Yukata's sneering now. "He's way more mature than you. He's a better fighter! I bet he never even learned how to whine!"
"He is a better son than you ever were." Mom says.
"I don't believe you." I whisper. "I won't believe it unless I hear it from him!" I hear gunfire now. It sounds like Armormon.
"Well, if you're so good, why don't you transform and save yourself, huh? Come on, do it!" Yukata taunted.
I so want to become Chakmon and wipe that smirk off his face...wait, that's what Grottomon would do.
I'm scared.
A piece of the black wall explodes, and Armormon comes through. "Tomoki!" It's Hiroki, he's come to save me! "Get away from him!"
Wait, he's aiming at my family! "Hiroki, stop! That's my family!" I see Hiroki look at me strangely. That's when mom turns and blasts Armormon with some kind of fireball. Both he and Hiroki fall. And my D-Scanner clatters out of his pocket.
Yukata walks over. "HE was carrying it? I should have guessed. You whine him into carrying it for you? That's so typical! Something happens, and you take off and let someone else take care of things for you."
He's right. All I do is run away.
"And this outworlder...really!" Yukata picks up my D-Scanner, waving it in front of me. "I bet you never told him how to use it. He must have been something, to be able to put up with all your whining and crying." He starts to say more, but he reels, like something hit him.
It's Hiroki again, holding a piece of wood. He saved me again, but I'm angry at him now for some reason. And he's mad too.
"Shut up." He's growling. "Stop saying those things about my friend." Now I'm ashamed I was mad at him.
"Well, well." Yukata says, getting up. "Pay attention, Tomoki. You could learn something from him. But don't expect to learn too much. Hey, Hiroki, think you're tough enough to take this from me?" He's waving my D-scanner again.
I remember Hiroki saying that he studied kendo. I can believe it, he looks like those samurai heroes I see on TV.
I blink and they've already moved. Hiroki's just passing by Yukata now. Something lands by my feet.
"I don't have to take it." Hiroki's saying. "I just have to get it to Tomoki."
"And then what? He can't even use it, the wimp! I-" He's cut off as Ankylomon lands on top of him. When did he digivolve again? I missed it. "Yukata!"
"Tomoki, that's not your brother!" Ankylomon seems to grimace, then my brother...picks him up?
"You're in the way, fossil." Ankylomon gets tossed aside. "And you, outworlder..." He's advancing on Hiroki now. "Maybe if I break you in half, outworlder, Tomoki will give me the spirits."
I'm charging him now, D-Scanner already activated. I can't hear what I'm saying, but I still yell as Blizzarmon's power rips into me. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
He dodges my first axe swing. "Is that any way to treat your brother? What would Mom and Dad think?"
My arm stops.
"In fact, isn't charging wildly into battle just what Grottomon would do?"
I step back.
Mom and Dad appear again. "You can't do it, Tomoki. Yukata's better than you are. He should have received the spirits."
"No! Don't listen to them!" Hiroki's trying to attack Dad. I block him, not sure who to believe. "They're just digimon trying to trick you!"
"But-"
"Fool." Yukata grins. His body shimmers, and is replaced by a giant digimon with a metal face. "You are dense if you were fooled by such a simple trick for so long. Now Death Meramon shall end you. Heat Chain!" A long metal chain whips out at Hiroki, who ducks out of the way.
I swing again, but Yukata-no, Death Meramon manages to block the attack. "Not this time, runt. I never knew that the great Blizzarmon, master of Ice, was some scared little human brat. Well? Gonna cry for your mommy now?"
"Shut UP!" I charge forward, axe swinging down. My arm shakes at it strikes something hard.
When did I close my eyes?
"Good." Death Meramon says, my axe stuck in his face plate. "Just like Grottomon would."
I step back, horrified. "No..." Everything whites out for a second, then I'm back to being Tomoki.
A kid. Just a little cry-baby who had no business being here.
There's a roar behind me. Ankylomon just tackled Death Meramon, who survived somehow. "He's using illusions!" he's roaring.
"This is real enough! HEAT CHAIN!" Ankylomon gets whipped by the chains coming from Death Meramon.
I'm scared again.
Tomoki?
"Huh? Who's there?"
TOMOKI!
Death Meramon hears me, and his chain's coming right down on top of me. I blink-
And suddenly everything's gone. Except for the giant woolly mammoth in front of me.
"Anger does not suit you, nor does it serve the spirits of Ice. Death Meramon knows this, and is using the heat of rage to weaken you."
"Anger?"
"At yourself, for failing and being captured. At everyone else for treating you like a child. At yourself again, for knowing that they are right. And at Hiroki."
"NO!" Wow. I never yelled at an ancient digimon before.
"Yes." Ancient Megatheriumon says. It's funny; he's not being mad or upset or anything. Just...relentless, is that the word? "Ice permits no dishonesty, Tomoki. Let me show you something."
Everything shimmers around me, and suddenly, I can see the others. Takuya's already evolved to Aldamon and is slicing up a giant grey dinosaur with a metal arm. "Wow."
"Indeed. You look up to him, yes?"
"Yes. He's...he's nicer than my real brother."
"He has a younger brother of his own." I nod. I remember hearing Takuya mention him. "Recently, he felt the same as you do now. He never told you about his trip back to the real world, did he?"
"He said something happened, but...he went back?"
"He foolishly thought he could leave everything behind, pretend that what happened here never happened. Just like you're trying to do." Ancient Megatheriumon came closer. "What you suffered was terrible, but if you do not fight back, it will dominate you forever. And your brother will be right."
I thought about it. I knew he was right.
"What if I lose control?"
"I will be there."
"What if they try to...take control of me again?"
"They will not. I will show you how." My D-Scanner is buzzing now, and the two Ice spirits appear. "If you wish, you can fight the way Takuya, Izumi, and Kouji do. But it will be hard."
"Like when I become Blizzarmon?"
"Harder. TO channel the power requires focus, and no fear. DO you have something you wish to protect?"
"Protect?"
"Izumi wanted to save her friends from Piedmon. Takuya wanted to save the people he met in that alternate dimension. Kouji's only thought was to save Ryoko. What is your goal? To save Hiroki?"
"No. Not just that." I felt lighter. "I want...I want Yukata, the real Yukata to be proud of me."
"Good."
I didn't know what was happening at the time. Later I heard that, just before Death Meramon attacked me, I was sealed up inside a small cone of ice. Then it exploded out and I was an angel. Yuki Angemon, from what Hiroki told me.
"Who...HOW?" Death Meramon's stepping back, he looks scared. I raise a hand; it looks long and slender, covered by a really ornate sleeve. the back of my head feels weird. I think my hair's gotten all long.
"You will not harm anyone else, Death Meramon." Woah. That's not just me speaking. I think that's Ancient Megatheriumon too.
Hey, shouldn't I have said 'Double Spirit Evolution' or something?
"So I'll melt those silly wings off, brat. DIE!" He steps forward and spits out a big ball of blue fore at me. Us? My hand is already swinging down, deflecting the fireball.
"And I shall freeze you solid. Glacial Tomb." I sound so calm about it. It's weird. But it works, 'cause Death Meramon's locked inside.
And Ankylomon's ready. He's already jumping up and yelling "Megaton PRESS!" just as he squashes Death Meramon flat. I fly down, D-scanner already out. "Digicode scan!" I say, Death Meramon's digicode going into my D-scanner. I look up and I see Death Meramon's digiegg flying off.
I want to go after it. I want to know where those things go when we beat them.
"You will see it later, if you are lucky." It's Ancient Megatheriumon again. "But for now, we must stop Cherubimon. If we fail, even that place will be destroyed."
"Okay. And thank you." I wonder if the others talk to their spirits the way I do.
I wonder if Yuki Angemon looks weird. Ryoko and Izumi are just standing there, staring at me. I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Is something wrong?"
"Wrong?" Izumi looks stunned (Think Yue from Card captor Sakura. -ed)
"No, not really." Ryoko's adding. I back up. How do I switch back?
"Dude, you're like the uber-bishonen." I stare at Takuya. What's a bishonen?
Junpei's nodding. "I hope my Double Spirit form looks as good." Good?
"Better not let Hitomi see him." It's Armadillomon, bugging Hiroki again.
Izumi glances at Hiroki. "Hey, if Tomoki looks half that good when he grows up..."
"That's not funny!"
"Aw, come on, Junpei."
"Guys? How do I switch back? Really, how?"
Next Episode
Junpei: Alright, if Tomoki can do a double spirit evolution and look like THAT, then my form's gonna be the hottest thing anyone's ever seen!
Izumi: Hey, a girl cares about more than looks...(trails off as she sees Yuki Angemon) Because...inside...oh wow...
Ahem...Next episode:
Beast of Love's burden! Rhino Kabuterimon!
Junpei: Wh...Hey, what's the 'Rhino' bit? Wait, never mind. Orimoto Izumi, I SHALL DATE YOU!
Izumi: (sigh) Junpei no baka...
