Frontier 02: Rebirthing- Chapter 5: An Escape
madjack89: Howdy, guys! Prepare yourselves for this new chapter, which will reveal Dai and Hotaru's pasts! Woot!
Hotaru: Joy and rapture.
Dai: Yeah.
JP: I think that's one of the first times Dai didn't immediately say yay after you announced the new chapter.
Dai: I'm not excited about this chapter.
Takuya: Seriously Dai, your calmness is beginning to creep me out.
Dai: Sorry, let me try again. Ahem…yay.
madjack89: I can't believe it. Dai is actually harshing the mellow!
Kira: What happened to the Dai we know and love!
Kouji: I'm actually beginning to take him seriously.
madjack89: This is just too creepy! I'm just gonna start answering reviews!
Kayland Elric: Yeah, it was either Kouji or Kouichi, and I'm not shoving poor old Chief out there to be sacrificed (but Kouji's fine lol)! And he pretty much was pole dancing (episode 2 lol). Oh, they're called Yakuza? I was actually wondering what that word meant! Thanks for telling me! And I would have had chapter 4 up that Monday, but stupid fanfiction decided to crash! Grrr! Oh well, it's working now! Thanks for reviewing!
Aldamonburst: Don't worry, Dai's not dying anytime soon! Whether it happens later is yet to be determined (mua ha ha…). Hee, I may yet turn Kouji into Strabimon, just cause he's a cute little Digimon! Okay, thanks for reviewing!
GoldenDragon326: Hooray freaky telekinetic twin powers! Woot (lol)! Thanks for the review!
LadyWarGreymon: Wow, this is really thorough! These ideas are definitely better than anything I could have come up with! Thanks! And I'm definitely giving you and GreyDramon oodles of credit for them! Thanks again, and hope you keep enjoying the fic! And tacos rock!
garnettfox: Just send me what you feel like sending and I'll see what I can use! And you shall receive full credit, so once again, no worries! Thanks for reviewing!
agoodcupoftea: I'm glad my chapters have amused you! And your right, a little touch of tragedy does make things more interesting. Okay, thanks!
hazeleyedharmony: Aw, sorry your sick!
intro: No kidding.
part one: Actually, I meant the place where the Rose Morning Star and stuff was. (Sorry that that's a little confusing!)
part two: CRISPIN FREEMAN! (Yay!)
the rest: Aw, you guys care enough about Dai that you wouldn't want him to be killed off! That's awesome! Don't worry, he's not dying NOW…okay, thanks for reviewing and hope you feel better soon! (Woot, a Catholic homie, yo!)
Dawn of Glory: Yeah, depressing, but necessary. Thanks!
JewelledTears: You know, I think I've only made Adventure 02 references in the story as of yet! I should be more diverse! But yeah, JP and Tomoyo understand, and they promise not to sue. (Tomoyo: I was all ready to sue, too!) Yeah, I can't think of what disease to give Dai, so you can use your imagination a little. And as for Taru-kun, he's just the special exception that didn't go emo or crazy (read on for details). FREAKY TELEKINETIC TWIN POWERS! Okay, thanks for reviewing! (I can't answer any plot questions because I'm not ruining my plot. You'll just have to wait!)
Megmo8214: Thanks! And man, everybody loves Crispin Freeman, don't they? But he deserves it, so it's all good!
fg1fg: Wow, you'd actually willing give me something filled with sugar? No one else would be crazy enough to ever do that (lol)! But thank you anyway! And thanks for reviewing!
madjack89: Okay, let's get this chapter rolling!
Dai: Yup.
madjack89: I need a substitute Dai. Kouichi, be Dai for me!
Kouichi: Why me?
madjack89: Because it'll be funny!
Kouichi: Fine. Um…yay, let's start the chapter! I love cookies! Death Note rocks! Uh…what else is he into?
Dai: You guys don't take me seriously at all, do you?
Everyone: Heck no!
Dai: sigh
madjack89: Alright, let's start the chapter! Yay!
--
Impmon was stunned momentarily, completely shocked by what he had just heard. The kid…is dyin'? he thought, clutching a tree branch tighter for support.
It was so completely unfair. He was so young, too young to go down like that.
Suddenly a rustling of bushes and leaves caught Impmon's attention. He glanced down into the clearing just in time to see Dai disappear through the trees.
"No, kid!" Impmon hissed between his teeth. He suddenly realized that Ilsemon had anticipated a moment like this, when this kid's secret would be exposed, when he would leave his friends rather than face his past. She had wanted to take him out, get the others to seek vengeance, mess with their minds as she loved to do.
And because of Impmon, she knew exactly when the right time to strike was. She had just seen what had occurred through his mind, and right now was probably planning an attack.
Before Impmon had time to think it over, he leaped lightly through the trees, heading in the same direction that Dai had gone. In the back of his mind, he knew it would be treason to help the kid. Almost suicide.
"I don't care," he muttered, pushing those thoughts out of his mind. "That kid ain't gonna die like that! I won't let 'im!"
--
At first, no one said anything. All they could do was stare at each other, shock and confusion mingled in their expressions. They all glanced anxiously at Hotaru, who looked like he was about to have some sort of breakdown.
"Well, this is quite a development," Witchmon suddenly said, chuckling anxiously.
Hotaru jumped as if he were just remembering that he wasn't alone in the clearing. He turned slowly, trying to keep from making eye contact with anyone. There was another moment of silence until Hotaru finally said, "I'm so sorry."
"Hey, don't sweat it, buddy," Takuya said cheerily, smiling.
"What you did in the past doesn't reflect who you are now," Kouichi added quietly, causing both Zoe and Kouji to glance anxiously at him.
Hotaru closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly contemplating something. The others held their breath as he slowly opened his eyes again. "Okay," he said quietly, taking a seat near the middle of the clearing. "I'm ready. I'll tell you guys about Dai's past…and my own."
"You really don't have to if you're not up to it," Kouji began.
Hotaru shook his head. "Like I said, I'd feel better if I told you guys everything. I don't want any more secrets."
"Alright then," JP said. "Go ahead, Hotaru."
Hotaru took a deep breath, staring at each of his friends in turn, even at the three Digimon seated in the clearing. He smiled slightly, then began his account.
"You see, what Dai told you about his parents barely scratches the surface of what's happened to us. But that is the event that set everything off. Dai, he…he was in the accident that took his parents lives. He was the only survivor."
"Called it," Takuya muttered, collecting a chocolate bar from a sullen-looking JP.
"That's when my parents decided to take him in," Hotaru continued, ignoring the chocolate exchange. "I was six at the time, and Dai was just five. But he still acted like his regular old self." Hotaru pausing, smirking at his own memory. "But I always took Dai for granted. In fact, I downright hated him until a couple years ago."
"How did you manage to hate Dai?" Zoe asked, stunned. "Not even Kouji hates him."
"Well, you see," Hotaru said, hesitating slightly before continuing. "I was…picked on as a kid, but Dai always had so many friends. I just…hated how he could be so popular with everyone, while I couldn't.
"Pretty soon, I found a way to get back at everyone that had made fun of me; I became a Yankee. And it was the stupidest mistake I ever made." Hotaru laughed bitterly, adding, "I even gained some popularity for being able to beat people up. I remember they used to call me the Firefly because of my name."
"Wait," Kira said suddenly, stopping Hotaru's explanation. "You were…he's…you were the Firefly?"
"Um, yeah," Hotaru said, slightly confused.
"Oh my god," Kira muttered, eyes lighting up. "I freaking worship you!" Kira suddenly hopped up, went over in front of Hotaru, and crouched down, staring at him intently. After a moment, she exclaimed, "Yup, it's definitely you!" before throwing her arms around him in a hug.
The others stared open-mouthed at the scene before them, Takuya's expression tinged with jealousy. "What the hell are you talking about, Kira?" Takuya asked.
Kira turned, letting go of a flustered-looking Hotaru. "I'm talking about one of the best fighters around! Hotaru, or should I say, Firefly was so great, he could probably even kick the crap out of Marcus Damon!"
-
Meanwhile, at DATS headquarters…
"Hey!" Marcus exclaimed suddenly, jumping up from his chair. "I just got a feeling that someone from another Digimon season is calling me out!"
"Let's get em, boss!" Agumon said, raising his arms determinedly. "You don't need goggles to be a good main character, just a stupidity complex!"
"God knows he has that," Thomas muttered, rolling his eyes.
-
Back in the forest…
"Ha, I knew you were a Yankee," Kouji said, smirking at Kira.
"I WAS a Yankee, but I'm not now," Kira replied, glaring sullenly at Kouji. "Besides, if I started street fighting again, Taki would probably get beat senseless every day just cause he's my boyfriend!"
Takuya grew pale as Hotaru said, "I'm not a Yankee anymore, either. Like I said, it was a stupid mistake, and it almost cost Dai his life."
"You almost killed Dai?" Tommy asked, shocked.
"No," Hotaru said quickly. "It was a boy from my class at school. I don't remember his name, I just know that he would always try to trip me every day in the hallway, so I decided to teach him a lesson. Once I started, I just…couldn't stop. Something in me just wouldn't let me stop and…I realized he wasn't breathing. I-I called an ambulance, and they managed to save him, but…I had almost killed him."
Everyone gave Hotaru sympathetic looks as he took a deep breath and continued. "That was the moment that I began to question what the hell I was doing with myself. And that's also when Dai owned up to the fact that he's more perceptive than I thought he was. I had thought my late-night activities were a secret, but Dai had figured it out.
"He said he wouldn't tell anyone…but I didn't believe him and told my 'friends' about him. They wanted to rough him around to shut him up, but I didn't want to. The next night, I froze up in the middle of beating this kid. I just…couldn't do it anymore. The others with me assumed I was going soft and decided to give me the proper Yankee farewell.
"But before they could lay a finger on me, Dai showed up and got in front of me. They…they went after him and I managed to fend them off, but Dai…he had an attack."
Hotaru paused, holding back tears that were threatening to slip down his cheeks. "I got him to a hospital, but…he told me he wanted to die, then and there."
"What?!" Takuya, JP, and Bokomon cried at the same time.
"Why?" Shino asked, trying to sound calmer than he felt.
"His…parents," Hotaru answered softly. "He blames himself for what happened to them. You see…when they had their accident…they had been taking him to a checkup and…he had an attack. They lost focus and ran right into a truck." Hotaru paused again, desperately trying not to cry.
"Dai said that sometimes, he feels so depressed about his parents that he just…loses his will to live. I guess it's trauma or something, but…that's why I keep such a close eye on him. So he doesn't do anything stupid to himself, and so nothing else happens to him. That's why…"
"It makes sense now," Takuya muttered to himself. "You didn't want Dai involved with us because you didn't want anything bad to happen. I'm…sorry I was so hard on you."
"It's okay," Hotaru croaked, breath catching in his throat. "You didn't know."
"Damn," Kouji muttered, looking up at Hotaru. "You two really have had it rough."
"I guess," Hotaru replied, shrugging. "Dai was the first friend I really ever had, but now he hates me…"
"I'm sure that's not true," Zoe said, giving Hotaru a comforting smile. "He just needs a little time alone, and then I'm sure he'll be fine."
"We should try to find him, though," Kouichi added. "A lot could happen to him out by himself."
--
Dai sank to his knees, unable to run any farther. He was breathing hard and he involuntarily lifted his hand to his heart, expecting an attack. When nothing came, he sighed, but whether it was from relief or disappointment he couldn't tell.
He lifted his head and took in his surroundings, noticing a small stream not far from where he sat. His legs shook slightly as he got up, but he made his way over to the stream and sat on its bank.
He leaned forward and stared at his reflection in the clear water. One the outside, he still looked normal, despite his red-rimmed eyes. But he knew that nothing about him would be normal now.
"They know now," he muttered bitterly to his reflection, eyes narrowing. "It can't ever be the same!"
He slapped the water with his hand, causing his reflection to fade into ripples. He leaned back from the water's edge, glaring angrily at the moons in the sky.
"This was supposed to be an escape from all that!" he yelled, feeling exasperated. "They weren't supposed to find out! We were supposed to have an adventure, and save the world, and be heroes, and…and…"
Dai's voice caught in his throat as tears streamed down his face, falling to his lap. "And now I can't ever face them again," he added quietly, wiping his eyes with the back of his arm. "I'm not strong enough…"
"Kid!" Dai turned just in time to see Impmon leap from the trees, landing clumsily in front of Dai.
"Impmon? What are you doing here?" Dai asked, getting up and trying to hide the fact that he'd been crying.
"No use beatin' around the bush," Impmon said, glancing left and right anxiously. "I was ordered by Ilsemon to follow ya, but now I wanna help ya, so jus' trust me for now!"
"Okay," Dai said, not even pausing to consider Impmon's request before agreeing.
Impmon fell over (anime style), exasperated by Dai's instant trust. "Ya don't take me seriously at all, do ya kid?" he asked sarcastically, clenching his teeth.
"Well, I don't consider you a bad guy," Dai replied. "Take it as a compliment!"
"Yeah, whateva," Impmon mumbled, getting back to business. "Anyway, yer in trouble, kid. Ilsemon's sendin' a Digimon here ta take ya out while yer separated from yer friends, jus' ta mess wit' em!"
Dai paused, thinking about what Impmon had said. "How did she know I was separated from them?" he asked.
"Because o' me," Impmon muttered, glancing guiltily at his feet. "She sees what I see and knows what I know. That's why yer in trouble, kid. But…" he paused for a moment, clenching his fists, "…I ain't lettin' ya die!"
"How touching." Both Dai and Impmon's eyes widened, recognizing the voice coming from behind them.
They both turned as the figure stepped out from the cover of the trees, swords gleaming. The figure's expression turned smug at the fear that crossed the others' faces.
"Glad to see you remember me," Duskmon said, raising his sword. "Unfortunately, you won't be around much longer to enjoy my company."
--
madjack89: Well, there you have it! This chapter's a little shorter than the others, but I think it works!
Hotaru: Wow, I really am getting to talk a lot more.
Dai: Yay Taru-kun!
JP: Dude, what are you, bi-polar?!
Dai: What do you mean?
Takuya: You were all depressed and crap in the beginning commentary, and now you're all happy again!
Dai: Well…actually, I was trying to get pity chocolate, but then I remembered what happened last chapter, so I decided I could do without!
Everyone: …
Kouji: You really are an evil little mastermind, aren't you?
Dai: I wouldn't say evil.
Zoe: How about too smart for your own good?
Dai: That works!
Kouichi: Dai, you are just…wow.
Tommy: So Duskmon came back, huh?
madjack89: Yup, and it only took him till chapter five!
Impmon: What about me?! It only took me till chapter four!
madjack89: Did you hear something, Tommy?
Tommy: Nope.
Impmon: Argh, screw you!
madjack89: Alright, see ya everyone!
(BTW, I'm taking a trip to New York City next weekend, so wish me luck!)