Frontier 02: Rebirthing – Chapter 35: Snuff
madjack89: 'Sup, peeps?
Kouji: 'Sup?
madjack89: Just trying out some new terminology, eh.
Hotaru: Madjack went to Canada on vacation a couple weeks ago.
Takuya: Now she won't stop saying eh!
madjack89: You know you like it, eh!
Takuya: Grrr…
madjack89: Anyway, I bet all of you Digimon fans are just as excited as I am about THE NEW SEASON OF DIGIMON! *confetti rains down*
JP: They all look like legos.
madjack89: Just because Ballistamon looks like the lego version of Beetlemon doesn't give you the right to mock them, JP!
JP: Okay, let's try this: are Akari and Zenjirou gonna become useful anytime soon?
madjack89: Hmph.
Zoe: He's got a point. It took the rest of us at least thirty episodes to stop being useful in Frontier.
Takuya: Speak for yourself.
Zoe: *smacks Takuya*
Takuya: Ow!
madjack89: Speaking of Zenjirou, I have this crazy feeling that in the dub, his name's getting changed to Zachary. Who'd like to place money on that bet?
Kouji: Heck, if you end up being right about that, I'll call myself a pretty boy.
madjack89: Deal!
Kira: *crosses fingers* C'mon dubbers.
madjack89: Taiki's so cute, eh!
Takuya: Hey, I thought I was your favorite gogglehead!
Kouji: Looks like you've been replaced.
Takuya: *pouty face* Madjack?
madjack89: Aw, I still like you, Taki. It's just that Taiki is so…KYA!
Dai: I like Shoutmon! He reminds me of Bokomon because he's loud and doesn't shut up!
Bokomon: *sweatdrop*
Witchmon: I'm just crossing my fingers that a Witchmon finally shows up this season, even as a filler villain.
madjack89: And when's Agunimon showing up? It's about time Frontier got some credit!
Kouji: Madjack, you're gonna have to face the fact that everyone hates us.
madjack89: But you're awesome!
Kouichi: Not everyone sees it that way.
JP: Fat jerk, my ass…
madjack89: Okay, time for some reviews, then the chapter!
*break*
silver fire wolf: Aw, but I am a great babysitter! I babysit all these guys in Frontier 02, don't I? (lol) Thanks for reviewing!
13wolfsbane: Devil May Cry…that reference is lost on me. (I know what it is, but I've never played the games or seen the show.) Yay, food! (Dai: Reviews are always my favorite part of the chapter!) (Hotaru: Um, thanks for the sword, but please don't go after Takuya. It's not worth it.) (Takuya: What does that mean!) Uh oh, looks like the secrets out! Don't be mad at 13, Yin! She just got hyper! Oh well, thanks for the looong review! (lol)
Aldamonburst: Aw, it's okay, Kaito! You're adorable too, even if you become engorged with cookies! Thanks for the review! BTW, Mai does actually have cookies, Kaito. Do you like sugar cookies?
hazeleyedharmony: Guys, look who it is! (Takuya: Oh yeah, that…person. Hi.) (Kouichi: I remember you. You're that other Kouizumi fan. Well…welcome back, I guess.) Yes, welcome back! Now for some review answering!
Opening: Actually, Kokoro is a person's OC, as far as I can tell. Either that or he's from Sonic the Hedgehog. (lol) I was answering a request, so there you have it. Yay, balloons! Maybe they'll help Kouichi's depression! (Kouichi: *sigh*)
Part 1: I love writing for scenes with the (almost) entire group. Then I can be as hyper as I want! (Like with all the random references! PPP FTW!)
Part 2: No, Mai is alive and well. (Shino: And a bitch.) We'll get to that in a second, Shino.
Yay, more writing from you! Oh, I've never heard that song before. I'll give it a listen, especially since, according to your youtube videos, we seem to have a fairly similar taste in music! Alright, thank you very much for the review!
GoldenDragon326: Kouichi already has a mood control group, so I think he's good to go! (lol) Go ahead and give him a hug if you want, though! I'm sure he'd appreciate it! Hotaru doesn't particularly care about his line count, he just wanted to make you guys happier! (Hotaru: *embarrassed*) Aw, you're so cute sometimes, Taru! I can understand not remembering Mai. I only mentioned her once, and it wasn't a really big, look, here it is reference. (lol) Just know that she was Shino's friend, the chapter will tell you the rest. Yeah, I may need to get a psychiatrist in here eventually. We'll see. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Dawn of Glory: Aw, I'd be nice to YOUR OCs! (Everyone: *sigh*) Now that you mention it, I DO kind of have that stuck in my head. (Dai: I'm only gonna break, break your, break, break your heart!) (Shino: *sigh*) The wait for angst is now over! (lol) Thanks for reviewing!
Zanzibar1: Thanks! I enjoyed writing that scene!
Shadowfox94: Well, Nina did give Kouichi his Fusion Evolution, so I guess they're even! (Takuya: FTTP!) (Kouji: *glares*) Hooray for violence! (Kira: We totally kick ass, Zee!) (Zoe: I suppose…when the boys deserve it.) Hm…I guess Seiji would work. As for some romance between them…we'll see. Oh Impmon, you're so oxymoronic! (Impmon: I ain't sure if that's an insult er not…) It's not! (Impmon: 'Kay.) Okay, thanks for reviewing!
TobiGB: (Everyone: …) (JP: …Well damn. I guess he's right.) It's okay, GB, I don't mind their complaining! I find it funny! As for beating up Ilsemon, they're gonna do that next arc! Thank you for the review, guys!
beybladeingninjaprincess: Of course I missed you! You're one of my reviewing buddies, after all! (Takuya: Quit copying me!) Anyway, I should invite Shino Aburame over. That would be funny…the only problem is that I hate bugs. (They're so gross!) Oh well. Poor twins and Dusky. It's not your fault that you're so awesome! Good luck with the fangirling, guys! Thanks for reviewing! (Takuya: Give my goggles back!)
garnettfox: Wow, they are kinda like the twins, though Dragramon's a little bit more hyper than Kouji. (lol) Yay Agunimon! (Even though Lobomon's my favorite Legendary Warrior, he's still cool!) Thanks for the review!
shadica: Aw, does that hug make you feel any better, Shino? (Shino: Not really…) Oh well. Anyway, is Agunimon even going to show up? I've been waiting for him, darn it! Well, thanks for the review!
Kirae-Remi: Yeah, I fix one guy's issues, then I mess up someone else in the process. (lol) Thanks for reviewing!
KeikoTakishita: (Hotaru: Sorry, but thanks for the review, anyway.) Yes indeed, Digimon girl violence! (lol) Okay, thanks for the review!
*break*
madjack89: Alright, let's get this chapter rolling! By the way, the chapter title is the name of a song. Can you guess the artist?
—
"So this is the Digital World," Mai mused, admiring the grim yet still enchanting scenery. "It's a lot darker than I thought it would be. I guess that's why they call this the Dark Continent, huh Shino? Oh, by the way, how are Nanami and the rest of your family doing?"
"This can't be real," Shino muttered, eyes shut tight, trying to block Mai out. Why was she acting so weird? No, so…normal? "This is the Digital World. You can't be here. You can't!"
Mai smirked, slowly circling Shino. "Oh, Shino. You try so hard to be logical, pushing out any thought but to finally make your mother proud of you. But this place isn't logical and your mom isn't here. You don't have to impress anyone. You're free!"
"If I'm free, what are you doing here?" Shino asked harshly, noticing that Mai was almost like a shark circling her prey. And he was the prey.
"I exist because you want me to," she replied, stopping in front of Shino. Crouching, she poked Shino's forehead. "I came from right here."
Shino slowly realized what Mai was saying. She was only here because he thought she was. This "Mai" was a figment of his imagination. A hallucination. "My god, I'm really going insane."
"Aw, don't be scared, sweetie," Mai said soothingly, brushing some hair out of Shino's frightened eyes. To distract him, she added, "This is kinda like when we met. I found you crying then, too. Remember?"
Oh yes, Shino remembered…
—
Shino rubbed his arm against his eyes, trying to dry them sufficiently so that no one would see that he'd been crying. It wasn't like Ginjiro had even really begun to insult him. All he'd said was, "You're stupid," a common argumentative phrase among second graders. But it had nonetheless struck Shino like a blow to the stomach. He heard it too much at home between his mediocre grades and fairly poor athletic performance. He did his best, but his mother…
Really Shino, sometimes I wonder how you can be so stupid!
Shino was glad he'd found this hiding place in between the school buildings, or he'd surely be caught in his moment of weakness. That was certainly all he needed.
"Hey, what're you upset for?"
Shino jumped, startled by the sudden question. Looking up, he came face to face with a girl he recognized from his class, though he'd never talked to her before. All he knew was that her name was Mai.
"Your name's Shino, isn't it?" Mai continued when Shino didn't respond, flipping a strand of black hair out of her face. "You're in my class, aren't you?"
Shino was too embarrassed to do anything but nod, eyes trained on the ground.
Noticing his embarrassment, Mai smiled brightly, sticking out her hand. "Do you maybe want to play with me, Shino? It'll be fun!"
Shino glanced shyly up at the girl, studying her sparkling blue eyes. He was instantly captivated by the sincerity he saw there. She truly wanted to comfort him. It was the most sympathy he'd ever seen a person possess…for him.
Cautiously, Shino took Mai's hand in his own. "Okay."
—
"Okay, you want to do this right," Kira said, facing Zoe and Kouichi. "Zee, remember not to give him false hopes. That'll make it worse."
"And you have to be harsh, yet soothing," Takuya added. "We don't need this whole angst-fest messing with the group dynamics."
"And NEVER EVER say 'It's not you, it's me,'" JP cautioned sternly. "Besides, you both kind of screwed up in this case, so that's a moot point."
Zoe suddenly raised her hand, halting her friends' onslaught of advice. "Guys, I think I've already had more than enough experience dumping people. You two should know," she muttered, glancing at Takuya and JP. "Though I must admit that this'll probably be much easier than getting you off my back, JP."
JP smirked. "Hey, when I see something I want, I stick with it."
"Like chocolate!" Dai suggested.
"Don't push it, Dai," JP said flatly.
"Are you sure he's out there?" Hotaru asked, gesturing toward the tunnels' entrance/exit ladder.
Both Zoe and Kouichi nodded, confident in their assumption. "It's the best way to get some peaceful emo time in," Zoe explained, recalling her own disastrous trip to the surface which had, in a way, caused this in the first place.
"Not to mention what would happen if some douchey Resistance member found him 'unguarded,'" JP muttered, annoyed for his friend. "He needed some alone time, but he didn't want to get caught. Our allies basically chased him away."
"Exactly," Zoe agreed, also ticked off by this fact. "Kouichi and I will go find him, I'll apologize fervently, and we'll bring him back. No sweat."
"Especially since Chief can kick major evil Digi-ass with that new Fusion Evolution," Kira stated, a hint of envy in her tone.
Kouichi shuffled his feet self-consciously. "I guess…"
The others gave Kouichi slightly worried glances. Though they'd kept him from drowning in his guilt-ridden depression, they knew he still needed to find the shore. "Well, I guess you two had better go find Shino before he gets himself into trouble," Takuya said, patting Kouichi's back as he left the room. The rest of the gang followed suit, Bokomon reminding Zoe and Kouichi to 'give him details when they returned.'
Kouji hung back, turning toward his brother. "You'll contact us if you come across something you guys can't handle, right?" he asked anxiously.
Kouichi smirked, holding up his D-Tector. "Yes, we'll contact you and yes, we'll be careful."
"You know I had to ask," Kouji said, smiling back. He paused, then added, "Ellie says that she's glad you're okay now and hopes that you can try not to hate Nina for what she did…even though I do."
Ignoring Kouji's last comment, Kouichi asked, "Ellie's still here?"
"Here as in inside my head," Kouji replied, pointing to his temple. "She asked if she could stay and I let her. It's better than other voices I've had in here."
"Yeah," Kouichi muttered. To change the subject, he whispered, "So, will you tell me the secret you've been keeping since the Fortune Telling village when we get back?"
Kouji eyed Kouichi suspiciously. "How do you know about that?"
Kouichi shrugged. "You seemed preoccupied then, and now that I've thought about it, you only act like that when you're keeping a secret."
Kouji sighed heavily. "Is it just me, or can we suddenly read each other's minds?"
"I guess we got more perceptive of each other when…you know," Kouichi muttered, referring to earlier. "So that means no more secrets, right?"
"Well, I suppose I'll have to tell you about that now, even though the knowledge of it doesn't seem to help prevent anything," Kouji muttered. Then, remembering who else was in the room, he glanced at Zoe, who stood off to the side, letting the twins have their moment. Smirking, he said, "Okay Zoe, he's all yours."
Zoe jumped, having been zoned out during the others' exchange. "Huh?"
Rolling his eyes, Kouji walked over to Zoe, pulling her into a quick hug. "Good luck with Shino. And be careful for all of our sakes, okay?"
Caught off guard by Kouji's sudden uncharacteristic display of emotion, Zoe just nodded, eyes wide with surprise. Chuckling to himself, Kouji turned and exited the cavern, muttering a quick "See ya" as he went. (Hey, you stole my phrase!) (Kouji: I don't see a copyright on it.) (Hmmm…)
"Well, Kouji seems to have made a full recovery," Zoe commented, glancing at Kouichi. "The question is, have you made enough of a recovery to…face Shino?"
Kouichi sighed, closing his eyes. " A little while ago, I would've chewed him up and spat him back out for what he did, but now I think I've…composed myself enough to be nice. For the both of you."
"You wouldn't have been that harsh," Zoe argued lightly, closing the distance between herself and Kouichi in a few quick strides.
Kouichi wrapped her in his arms as soon as she was close enough, hugging her tightly to his chest. "You are really overestimating my self control," he muttered, resting his head on Zoe's shoulder. "Especially concerning you."
Zoe smiled slightly, running her fingers gently through Kouichi's hair. "He's your friend, Kouichi. You'll be fine. Besides, you're not the one that hurt him."
"Stop it or I'll have to find a way to shut YOU up," Kouichi threatened, referring to her earlier slap.
"You're gonna hit a girl?" Zoe teased.
"Nope," Kouichi replied, raising his head. Before Zoe could say more, he pressed his lips firmly, almost greedily, against hers. Zoe was a bit surprised, but quickly fell into the familiar rhythm of kissing Kouichi.
After a few minutes they broke apart, both looking a bit flushed. Glancing sheepishly at Zoe, he asked, "So…how does that rate?"
Chuckling slightly, Zoe replied, "Better than Shino."
Kouichi let out the breath he'd been holding, looking somewhat pleased with himself. "At least I don't have to fight him for you," he muttered.
Zoe nodded, a somber expression crossing her face as she turned toward the ladder. "Well, let's go."
—
"Shino, why won't you just join the track team?" Mai asked, setting down her mixing bowl so that she could properly stare Shino down. "You're one of the fastest runners I've ever seen AND they've been trying to recruit you for months!"
Shino just shrugged, continuing to measure out ingredients despite the death glare Mai had pinned on him. Mai had a knack for scaring people with dirty looks, but Shino had grown accustomed to it in the four years that he'd been her friend. Another quirk he'd accepted was Mai's constant need to be doing SOMETHING, whether that meant something crazy like an extreme sport or something tame like baking cookies, which was what they were doing now. "I'd much rather be making sugar cookies with you than running around in a big circle all day," Shino retorted, dumping his ingredients in Mai's bowl.
"I'm serious," Mai said, gaze softening. "I'm sure it would be fun. Why won't you join?"
Shino lowered his head, not knowing exactly why he refused to join track. He was a fairly fast runner and, with some training, he could be a serious contender in competitions. But he wouldn't get any satisfaction from it. He knew that his father and sister would be proud of him, and Mai would be simply ecstatic. But his mother…
"There's nothing to gain from it," Shino confessed, feeling a slight pang of underconfidence course through him. Before Mai could respond, Shino quickly changed the subject. "By the way, why are we baking cookies if you don't plan on eating them afterward?"
Mai's concerned frown was replaced with a mischievous grin. "I'm going to wrap these cookies up and leave them on a certain someone's desk tomorrow at school."
"First of all, don't girls usually give treats to guys on Valentine's Day?" Shino commented dryly. "And it's not a big secret who you're giving these to, though I still don't really approve of it."
"But Kakeru is sooo cool!" Mai squealed, giggling happily. "I just have to keep trying to get his attention!"
"If you haven't gotten his attention by now, I kinda doubt you will," Shino retorted, recalling Mai's many fruitless attempts at flirting with Kakeru over the past year. Underneath the sarcasm, though, Shino was truly worried for Mai and wished that Kakeru would just give her a concrete answer as to whether he liked her or not so she could move on with her life. It wasn't fair to leave her hanging.
Mai's expression mellowed after Shino's comment. "Maybe you're right," she mumbled, turning back to her mixing bowl.
"Don't get all depressed, Mai," Shino said gently, wanting to cheer her up. "That guy's no good for you, anyway. I mean, what kind of guy just ignores a girl who very obviously has a crush on him? At the very least, he should let you know how he feels. Heck, if it were me, I'd take you on a date and see how it went."
"You would?" Mai instantly perked up, staring at Shino intently.
"Well, yeah, hypothetically," Shino said slowly, confused by the look Mai was giving him.
Mai lowered her eyes for a moment, seemingly pondering something. Then she raised her head and blurted, "Shino, will you eat my cookies?"
Shino raised his eyebrow slowly. "Um…sure."
"That's not what I meant," Mai muttered, glancing between her feet and Shino. He wasn't completely sure, but Shino thought he heard Mai whisper, "You're too nice…"
"Mai, is there something you want to ask me?" Shino asked, growing concerned.
Mai nodded slightly, finally looking Shino in the eye again. "Shino, will you…go on a date with me?"
—
"Stop it!" Shino shouted, voice breaking with hysterics. He'd been pacing back and forth for the past ten minutes, desperately trying to get rid of his delusion. But as hard as he tried, she wouldn't leave.
"You shouldn't get this worked up, Shino," Mai cautioned sternly, following behind him as he paced. "It's bad for you."
"Get the hell away from me!" Shino suddenly turned on his heel, meaning to shove Mai down with his outstretched arm. However, his arm passed right through her as if she were a ghost. A past ghost.
Smiling slightly, Mai muttered, "You don't want me to get hurt. You love me."
"Loved you," Shino corrected, letting himself be drawn slightly into the illusion. "That was before you tore my heart out and ripped it to shreds."
"Like that other girl, Zoe?" Mai said, smirking darkly.
"Leave her out of it!" Shino exclaimed, feeling a fresh wave of pain course through him.
"Oh, so you can be mad at me but not her?" Mai asked skeptically. "Face it, Shino; we both betrayed you. The saying 'nice guys finish last' doesn't even begin to describe you. You're like a tissue. We use you, then we dispose of you when your usefulness ends."
Shino bit his lip, Mai's words finally getting to him. He was exactly like a tissue, only he'd never be thrown away. Others would just keep using him and using him until he was completely used up and dead inside. His mother had known this all along. She must have known; it would explain her aloofness concerning him. She'd never been proud of him. She'd had a reason to.
Hand shaking slightly, Shino reached into his pocket, feeling his D-Tector nestled inside. Even Digimon were using him to fight their battles. With sudden insight, Shino realized that everything had gone from bad to worse since he'd gotten his D-Tector. And bad had been bad enough…
—
"Thank you!" Shino said politely to the very helpful (though very nosy) flower saleswoman, exiting the shop with a bouquet of lilacs. Mai's favorite flower. (Fun fact: I'm allergic to lilacs! You'll see why that's ironic in a second.)
Shino smiled slightly, thinking of his friend turned girlfriend. He remembered what he'd thought when Mai had first proposed going on a date. It won't work out. It'll ruin our friendship. I don't feel that way about her.
How wrong he'd been. From the very first date, Shino had quickly realized the deeper, more intimate feelings he'd harbored for Mai all along. Her raven black hair, her penetrating blue eyes, her impulsive behavior; it all made his heart flutter.
Gripping his flower bundle tighter, he picked up the pace, anxious to see Mai again. It was nearly their one year anniversary, and Mai had asked Shino to meet her near the pond in the park tonight for a surprise. Shino had gotten the flowers as a little surprise of his own, but he knew that they'd pale in comparison next to Mai's plan. No matter what she had in store, just being with her was special enough for Shino.
Without conscious effort, Shino had taken off at a sprint toward the park, probably ruining the flowers in the process. Oh well. It was the thought that counted, and Mai would love them regardless.
Thanks to his natural fast-paced running ability, Shino made it through the park gates at least five minutes faster than he would have walking. Just a quick jog to the pond, and…
Shino stopped dead in his tracks. It took his brain a few seconds to process what he was seeing, it made so little sense. But there they were, standing on the bank of the pond, light from the setting sun silhouetting their entwined figures. Mai, always so beautiful, so loyal, was kissing someone else.
Without thinking, Shino dropped the now-petalless lilacs, rushing at the one kissing HIS Mai. Catching the boy by surprise, Shino shoved him to the ground, nearly causing his to fall into the pond.
"Shino!" Mai exclaimed, surprised.
"Bastard…" Shino muttered, glare fixed firmly on the boy in front of him. Upon further inspection, Shino realized that he recognized this boy from his class. It was Kakeru. Mai's old crush.
Fists clenching, Shino growled, "Stay away from Mai. After all the times you ignored her, how dare you do this. You bastard!"
"Chill, man," Kakeru said quickly, pushing himself back to his feet. "She kissed me first."
Shino's breath momentarily caught in his throat. "You're lying…"
"He's not, Shino," Mai confessed quietly. "I kissed him because I wanted to."
For a moment, Shino froze, struck by Mai's icy words. Then he slowly turned toward her, hoping desperately that he could find something in her eyes that would disprove what she'd just said. But all he saw in her blue gaze was pity and regret.
"Oh," Shino said flatly, lowering his head. "I see."
"I'm so sorry, Shino, I didn't mean for it to end like this," Mai continued, sounding truly apologetic. "I was actually already planning to break it off with you tonight. I've…led you on too long."
"Led me on?" Shino asked numbly, a hollow pit slowly forming inside his chest.
"Shino…I'm so sorry," Mai repeated, close to tears now. "I wanted Kakeru so badly. I was willing to try anything to finally get him to notice me. Then I read in some magazine that guys want girls that are hard to get. Unattainable."
Shino felt the rip in his chest tearing painfully as he put two and two together. "You used me…to make Kakeru jealous?"
"And it sure did work," Kakeru said, slinging his arm over Mai's shoulders. "She was never as alluring as when her hand was in yours. And now that I've had a taste of the wine, I want the whole bottle, if you catch my drift."
Shino just nodded, feeling choked up. It was as if someone were gripping his throat, cutting off his air supply. He could barely breathe.
"Oh Shino, I didn't mean for this to happen!" Mai cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I didn't ask him to come here. He followed me. All I wanted to do tonight was tell you the truth and let you hate me as much as you wanted. I didn't mean to hurt you like this."
"Yeah, sorry man," Kakeru added, though he didn't sound like he meant it.
Everything that Mai had said was finally sinking in, though Shino wished he could push it back out. Mai had betrayed him. She'd used him. But worst of all, she'd been his friend.
Suddenly, Shino felt the need to run. He couldn't face Mai anymore. Even thinking her name left bile in his throat. But he had to say something. Something that would hurt Mai as much as she hurt him. He no longer cared that she'd been his friend. He wanted her to suffer.
"Goodbye, Mai," he said simply. Then he turned and ran. Past the pond, past the park gates, down the road. Everything passed by in a blur. But he couldn't run from the pain. That stayed with him.
Suddenly Shino was lying on the ground. Smiling bitterly, he realized that he'd tripped and fallen. Oh well. The ground was as good a place as any to sulk. So he closed his eyes and let the pain consume him.
Until he heard a sharp thunk on the ground in front of him. Opening his eyes, he saw a green and brown Game Boy-like device lying next to him. (Note: Shino's D-Tector wasn't originally partially green, but I'm changing it because trees are green, too. Yeah…IGNORE ME!) He sat up quickly, wondering who had dropped the quirky device. But no one was around.
Staring down at the device, he found that he wanted to pick it up. He knew it couldn't be his, but…he felt that it was. So, tentatively, he reached out and grabbed his D-Tector.
—
"Shino!"
Shino jumped, startled out of his flashback by a sudden shout coming from the trees. Realizing he recognized the voice, he turned sharply on his heel, coming face to face with Wizardmon. (Well, technically Shino has to look down because he's taller, but you know what I mean.)
Shino actually breathed a sigh of relief, glad to be in the presence of another corporeal being. He couldn't see Mai flitting around, so he supposed that Wizardmon had broken the illusion. Momentarily. "Looks like you succeeded, Wizardmon," he said, chuckling bitterly. "You drove me insane. Good job."
"Oh, shut up, comrade," Wizardmon snapped, rolling his eyes. "You're not insane. Not yet, anyway. Now calm down and get the hell back to your stupid friends. Then you'll be fine."
Confused, Shino cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you here to…off me?"
"As in kill you?" Wizardmon asked, sounding slightly incredulous. "Well, the thought's certainly crossed my mind, but it would probably do more damage than it's worth."
Now Shino was thoroughly perplexed. "I'd think my death would be beneficial for you. One less Legendary Warrior to worry about."
"Do you want me to kill you? Wait, don't answer that," Wizardmon muttered, sighing in frustration. "Look, I really don't have time to explain this. Please just go back to your friends."
Shino bit his lip, glancing down. "I can't go back. Not when she looks at me like that, like it's all her fault. She doesn't even know about…" Shino trailed off, Mai's illusion momentarily flashing across his vision. He flinched involuntarily and, much to his surprise, so did Wizardmon.
Shaking off the panic in his eyes, Wizardmon grumbled, "You won't make this easy, so I suppose I'll have to explain the situation. You remember Gaomon, right?"
"As if I could forget what you did to him?" Shino retorted bitterly, stung by the memory.
"I really did screw you up. Stupid karma," Wizardmon mumbled to himself. Looking up, he continued, "If you remember him, you'll remember what he said about the damn mark I put on you, about how it would affect me, too, working so hard to drive you crazy because I wanted to prove what a badass I could be. I knew it was a bad idea to get you to kiss her… "
"Obviously, he was wrong," Shino growled, glaring with unconcealed loathing at the wizard Digimon. "I'm seeing freakin' illusions that are one-uping me, and here you stand, cool as a cucumber."
"Do I really look 'cool as a cucumber' to you!" Wizardmon exclaimed, voice cracking slightly. At that moment, Shino began to see through Wizardmon's carefully maintained façade, down to the Digimon he really was. That Digimon DID look troubled, eyes bloodshot and overall appearance more disheveled than usual for a Wizardmon. Shino had never seen Wizardmon like this. Yes, he'd seen him lose his cool, but only out of anger or frustration. Now it was different. It was like he was…cracking. Pulling apart at the seams. Completely losing what he'd worked so hard to form.
"What the hell?" Shino asked slowly, unnerved by the sudden surge of…concern he'd felt for his enemy. "Why is this happening? How could you not know that this would happen!"
"Will you calm down for two seconds!" Wizardmon shouted back, breathing heavily. "You and your hormones! I swear, every little thing is like a battering ram to my skull. I can't take it anymore! And don't get me started with the freaking girls pulling away at your damn heartstrings. Bitches through and through. But I can't blame them, because I helped all this drama escalate! I did all of this to myself! Everything! Ever since I killed Se—"
"Shino, is that you?"
Shino froze, recognizing Zoe's voice coming from somewhere behind him, drifting through the trees. Panicd swept through him when he heard rustling in the bushes, followed by, to his slight surprise, two sets of footfalls. Who had accompanied Zoe? Actually, if wasn't that hard to guess who else would want to see him…
Shino turned, meaning to tell Wizardmon to leave. The last thing he needed was to explain the Digimon's presence to the others. But Wizardmon was already gone.
Seconds later, Zoe burst through the trees, followed more slowly by Kouichi. Shino tried to relax his suddenly tensed muscles so that his friends wouldn't be hurt by the tension he felt being around them now, but their expressions told him that he was unsuccessful.
Figuring he'd better start conversation before they did, Shino muttered, "You look like you're feeling better, Kouichi. I'm glad." He really had been worried about Kouichi and was relieved to see him looking less depressed, despite his anxiety about his friend's reaction to…what had occurred.
"And you look like you're feeling worse," Kouichi replied, concern practically tangible in the air around him.
Shino smiled faintly, realizing he must look crazier than he originally thought. "Do I?" he asked, trying not to sound bitter.
During his exchange with Kouichi, Shino could feel Zoe's gaze burning a hole through him. He knew he had to face her eventually, so he shifted his gaze toward her. What he saw made him gasp.
"What?" Zoe jumped, startled by Shino's gasp. She turned her head left and right, but Shino knew she'd never see Mai standing next to her, examining her critically.
"A blonde?" Mai stated, raising an eyebrow at Shino. "C'mon! We both know you don't like blondes. But of course she's 'different,' right?"
Shino's eyes widened in fear. He was still seeing Mai even with his friends around. But…what if they were an illusion, too? And what about Wizardmon? Was he so far gone that he couldn't trust what was real or fake anymore?
"Oh Shino, I'm so sorry," Zoe apologized, misinterpreting his horrified expression as directed at her. "I just…I was so scared. That's no excuse, but I thought I was going to lose Kouichi. I couldn't lose him again. I know that it wasn't right to take advantage of you, and I feel horrible about it, even if I did it out of desperation. But…I knew I had to break your heart eventually, and that scared me, too. So I used your affection, like some slut."
"Got that right!" Mai chirped happily.
Kouichi grabbed Zoe's hand, squeezing it gently. This small gesture sent a jolt of jealousy through Shino. Why bother fighting the illusions anymore? They were all he had left, so he might as well indulge them.
"What is it about him, anyway?" Shino asked slowly, hands balling into fists. "Maybe it's the fact that he was here first. Maybe a walk on the dark side is better than…splinters. God, my element's lame!"
"I like trees," Mai stated.
"Shino, I don't understand," Zoe said, eyes wide with confusion. "You're acting so…weird."
"He's comparing himself to me," Kouichi said quietly. "And don't sell yourself short; Arbormon's pretty powerful."
"Compared to you, he's not," Shino grumbled, arms trembling. "I pale in comparison to you, so calm, so collected, so damn kind. Of course she'd pick you over me. I was on the rebound, anyway…"
"That's it!" Mai exclaimed, pounding her fist into her other hand. "No wonder you latched onto this girl so quickly! You were lonely!"
Shino hadn't considered that before, but it did make sense. "No wonder…"
"You're not making sense, Shino," Zoe muttered, frightened by the far-off look in Shino's eye. "Look at me!"
Shino looked, for once allowing all of his buried emotions to show on his face. What was the harm if this was an illusion? "I guess I should come out and say this, though I think you already know at this point. I love you, Zoe. I know you don't feel the same, but I can't help it. Seeing you with Kouichi, I can't help but feel inferior because I know I had a shot with you, and I know I blew it. And…I'm not sorry I kissed you, Zoe. I'm sorry that Kouichi found out about it."
"Whoa!" Mai exclaimed, stunned by Shino's last statement. "I think you got a few extra balls along with that Warrior spirit!"
Zoe was shocked as well, giving Kouichi the chance to cut in. "You know, up until this point, I've been restraining myself from completely going off on you because you look so miserable," he began, face expressionless. "But hearing you say that, I'm not all that mad anymore, though I probably should be. I kind of…sympathize with you. There was a time when I thought she'd pick you over me, after all."
Zoe glanced at Kouichi questioningly. She hadn't heard that story before. Shino just smirked. "So you aren't gonna go all avenging Edward Cullen on my Jacob-y ass?" he asked sarcastically.
"A Twilight reference?" Kouichi said flatly. (Well, you are kinda pale.) "I don't sparkle, though." (Good point!)
"Well, since you're not planning on killing me," Shino began, grabbing Zoe's arm, "I suppose I can get away with one more hug before I slip away entirely." Then he pulled Zoe forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
To Zoe, the hug felt desperate. "What do you mean, slip away?" she asked quietly, pushing gently out of Shino's embrace.
"It means you sent him over the edge, Barbie!" Mai accused, unheard by all but Shino.
Smirking, Shino muttered, "You should know. It's illusions like you that I'll be lost in, but you seem so damn real that I don't care anymore. So long, rational thought!"
"Shino, stop!" Zoe cried, shoving Shino back before he could get his arms around her again. Stung by the hurt in Shino's eyes, she continued gently, "Shino, why are you acting like this? It's crazy."
"Newsflash: I'm crazy!" Shino shouted, losing his patience. "Why are you being so difficult? You're not a very good illusion."
"Illusion?" Zoe repeated, confused. "I'm right here, Shino! How would you be able to hug me if I were an illusion?"
"I have a vivid imagination," Shino replied, smiling slightly. "You feel real, though."
"Don't I get a hug?" Mai asked, pouting.
"Wait your turn, Mai," Shino grumbled, glaring at Mai. Couldn't she butt out for once?
"Who are you talking to?" Kouichi suddenly asked, stepping forward. "Who's Mai?"
"A character from Yu-gi-oh," Shino bit back sarcastically. Why was everyone ruining his moment?
"I'm serious, Shino," Kouichi pressed.
"Oh, looks like Kouichi's going Nancy Drew," Shino continued his teasing, noticing Kouichi's thoughtful look. (Wow, haven't used that joke in awhile!)
"Seriously, Shino, who are you talking to?" Zoe asked, glancing right through Mai. "No one else is here but you, me, and Kouichi."
"I'm not sure he realizes that, Zo," Kouichi said slowly, staring at Shino's wild, bloodshot eyes. "He's seeing…someone over there, someone he knows isn't real. By that logic, I guess he thinks we're not real, either."
"He's seeing things?" Zoe muttered, concern replacing her annoyance. "Oh my god…"
"Please don't get that guilty look on your face," Shino pleaded, not even wanting to see fake Zoe upset. "It's not your fault. I mean, rejection from you sucks, but not enough to drive me nuts."
"Then why is this happening?" Zoe asked curiously.
Shino bit his lip, glancing between his two friends. If they were just illusions, why were they asking so many questions? Mai certainly seemed to know everything. Maybe…they really were real. Well, whether they were real or not, he couldn't tell them the true reason for his diminished state of mind. The thought made him feel sick with betrayal. Perhaps he could tell them a partial version of the truth.
"Mai." Shino glanced at fake Mai, realizing the story of their disasterous relationship would suffice to distract the others from the real issue, which they'd probably figure out if this inquiry continued. He didn't particularly want to tell the tale, but it was better than the alternative. They already knew about the mark thanks to Witchmon, and it wouldn't take much to put two and two together. He'd be a traitor to them. "She was this girl I used to be friends with."
"Friends?" Mai repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Shino ignored her and continued his story, keeping it as brief as possible. Of course, Zoe was still horror-stricken by the end.
"Oh no," she muttered, wide eyes shining with guilt. "I screwed up bigger than I thought. I'm as bad as Mai."
"Hey!" Mai exclaimed, insulted.
"No, what you did definitely rates lower than what she did on the whore-bitch meter." Realizing his mistake too late, Shino added, "Not that you're a whore-bitch! Heck, I probably shouldn't have called Mai one, either."
"Jerk." Shino was beginning to notice that Mai's voice was getting fainter and her body was fading away, bit by bit. Zoe and Kouichi weren't.
"You called her a whore-bitch?" Kouichi stated incredulously, stifling a bemused chuckle.
"She was dissing you guys," Shino explained. "She asked why I'd started hanging out with 'that group of weirdos,' so I said I'd rather hang out with you guys than a whore-bitch like her. She slapped me then ran off crying."
"I hope your cheek still stings!" Mai's voice was barely above a whisper now.
"Yeah, that might have been a little harsh," Kouichi agreed mildly.
"Stop joking around, guys!" Zoe shouted, eyes beginning to tear up. "This isn't funny. None of this is funny!"
"I know, Zoe," Kouichi said, smile fading. "There is something that I need to say to Shino." Taking a calming breath, he continued, "Wow, I guess I understand you better now. You always seemed like you were keeping something or other from us, and it's kind of a relief to know what's been bothering you. That makes this whole situation a lot…easier to accept and forget about.
"And yeah, that means no jealous rampage." Here Kouichi paused, lowered his voice. "Just don't kiss her again. If you do…I can't forgive you."
Shino sighed. "I know, and I won't. Heck, at this point I'm beginning to wonder whether girls are even worth it."
"Oh god, I've poisoned his faith in women!" Zoe cried.
"Zoe, it's fine," Kouichi and Shino said simultaneously.
"I was joking," Shino added, glancing at Kouichi. He'd decided that Kouichi was real from what he'd said. And heck, if he were hallucinating, why would Kouichi even be there? By this logic, Zoe was real as well. If that was true, then he needed one last thing before he would be able to give up on Zoe. Forever.
"Kouichi," he began hesitantly. "Could I maybe get one more hug, please?"
Kouichi's eyes widened slightly, as if he were shocked that Shino had asked his permission just to hug Zoe. Glancing down he thought guiltily, I never wanted to do this to him. Why can't he be happy, too? Then, taking a deep breath, he looked up, putting a slight smile on his face. "I won't stop you."
Misinterpreting Kouichi's edginess as suppressed jealousy, Shino quickly turned to Zoe, who still seemed a bit upset. "You shouldn't forgive me," Zoe mumbled, staring at her feet. "I thought you never would after the look you gave me when I'd…"
She didn't finish, but Shino knew she meant the glare he'd given her right after she'd kissed him. It had only lasted for a moment (until the emptiness had set in) but for that one moment, he'd hated her. And he felt awful about it. "Is that why you're so upset?" he asked. "Because you think I hate you?"
"You should hate me," Zoe replied, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "I've been making you miserable all this time."
"Zoe, you shouldn't feel guilty because you don't love me like you do Kouichi," Shino said firmly, gripping Zoe's shoulders. "I'll be fine. Maybe, someday, I'll find someone else out there for me. I don't know if I'll ever stop loving you, but I'll always be your friend. Sound good?"
Zoe nodded, raising her head to meet Shino's gaze. Frowning she realized she had to look up slightly to do so. "Since when were you taller than me?" she asked, pouting.
Shino straightened up and realized that he could indeed see the top of Zoe's head. "Huh, I guess I had a growth spurt or something."
"Geez, you guys are all gonna get taller than me," Zoe mumbled, burying her head in Shino's chest. "Stupid guys."
Despite the tears now dampening Shino's shirt, he pressed Zoe tighter against him, soaking in her every detail. No, he couldn't stop loving Zoe. Unlike Mai, she'd come to fix things. She'd come despite her fear, like a real friend, because she cared about him. And Kouichi had as well, even though he probably felt like curling up in a corner and avoiding everyone out of sheer guilt. And then there was the rest of the gang, probably waiting impatiently back in the tunnels for his return.
Maybe this D-Tector isn't such a bad luck charm after all, Shino thought reflectively. After all, this thing had given him friends when he'd really needed some, and they were better friends than he could've asked for. They made me happy again.
Suddenly, Shino realized something. While he'd been lost in his pondering, Mai had completely disappeared. She was gone, and he felt like this had been the closure he'd so desperately needed. Now he could move on in more ways than one. "Sorry for growing, Zee."
Kouichi smiled slightly then, glancing at me, inquired, "So, time for a new arc?" (Hang on, there's still one little scene left!) "What else is there to cover this arc?" (Forget about Nina?) "Yes, actually." (*sigh*)
—
~It was horrible, Dusky!~ Nina cried, tears streaming down her face. At least, it sounded like she was crying to Duskmon. He couldn't be sure. He couldn't physically see her, after all.
"Kouichi was too much for you." Duskmon didn't say it like a question. If he knew one thing about Kouichi, it was that his will was powerful.
Nina smirked. ~He did put up quite a fight, even after I'd liberated him. Every time he struck one of his 'friends,' he'd rebel against me ten times harder. It was all I could do to keep him contained.
~But why?~ Nina asked, sounding genuinely curious. ~Why doesn't he want to be my kitty? Why does he hate me? Why…?~
Duskmon shrugged, though he knew the answer. Atonement. It was the same as always. Kouichi wanted to prove that he was worthy of the title Legendary Warrior of Darkness without having to rely on Nina for power. Duskmon could understand the feeling.
~I know why,~ Nina suddenly growled, sounding fierce now. ~It's because of his stupid puppy of a brother. He corrupted my kitty and drove me away. He's MY kitty! I don't care if they're twins! That's just a useless human title.~
"Not for them," Duskmon muttered. "Those two are stuck together like glue."
~Then we have to unstick them, and the only way to do that is to kill that stupid puppy,~ Nina said, attempting an evil chuckle, though it sounded more bubbly than evil. ~Not to mention I'll be getting revenge on Ellie for interfering.~
"Yeah," Duskmon mumbled half-heartedly.
~Dusky?~ Nina said curiously, sounding worried. ~Are you okay?~
No, Duskmon didn't think he was okay. Renamon had left about ten minutes ago, promising that she would return after she'd reported back with Ilsemon. Surprisingly, Duskmon felt a slight…ache in his chest from her absence. It was hard deciphering these new emotions, but Duskmon just assumed it was natural to feel a bit empty when a friend left you. Right?
Those had been his thoughts when Nina had carrined straight into Duskmon's mind, shocking away all other feelings but surprise. He hadn't thought Nina would ever come back after she'd reached her goal, not that he'd expected her to complete her more far-reaching plans. Not with Kouichi's help, at least. If he'd actually killed Kouji, Kouichi would be in no condition to do anything anymore. Nina didn't understand this, but Duskmon did.
Though Duskmopn felt a bit sorry for Nina, her failed plans were the least of his problems. He'd assumed that his damned conscience was weighing on his mind because Nina had left, taking with her his shield of indifference. But her return hadn't helped a thing. Duskmon could still feel a cloud of guilt enshrouding him, choking him with its intensity. Nina couldn't save him now. He was on his own.
But there was still Renamon. In her presence, he felt…good. Better than he'd ever felt.
~Dusky, are you blushing?~ Nina asked slowly, noticing Duskmon's reddening cheeks.
"Of course not!" Duskmon snapped, coming back to the present. Changing the subject, he asked, "So, what's the new plan?"
Nina giggled. ~I knew you'd be on board for a new strategy! Actually, I do have an idea forming, but for it to work, you need to make sure Ilsemon doesn't kill any of kitty's little friends.~
"She won't kill them," Duskmon reassured. "They're too much 'fun' for her to get rid of."
~She does enjoy her torture,~ Nina muttered thoughtfully. ~Well, a little mind-numbing pain probably wouldn't kill any of those kids at this point. Just go find Ilsemon and tell her to stage a full scale attack, one that'll bring all those little Warriors out at once. I'm confident that Ilsemon can defeat and capture them, but remind her not to get too carried away with her little mind games and drive any of them off the edge. That would put a dent in my plan!~
"And what exactly is your plan?" Duskmon asked, in the back of his mind wondering when Renamon would finally return. Oh god, he was becoming obsessed…
Nina laughed gleefully. ~I don't know why I didn't think of it before! If kitty doesn't want his friends hurt, then they don't have to be! All I need to do is liberate them as well, then have them kill Kouji!~
—
madjack89: Uh oh, looks like the gang's got more troubles to come, eh!
Gotsumon: A full scale attack? Crap, we're not ready!
Witchmon: Then we'll just get ready! After all, we're in your capable hands!
Gotsumon: Thanks, Witchmon! You're a good friend!
Witchmon: …DAMN IT!
Shino: Yeah…anyway, looks like I'm all better now. Sorry for worrying you guys.
Takuya: What I want to know is what the hell was up with Wizardmon? And who's Se?
Kouji: He obviously didn't finish saying the name, idiot.
Takuya: Hey!
Kouji: I have to make a comeback and act like a bigger asshole than normal to make up for the past few chapters or my fangirls will be very displeased…you dumbass.
Takuya: Grrr…
Zoe: Well, looks like the twin saga's finally come to a close.
Kouji and Kouichi: Thank god…
Kira: So what's gonna happen next, Madjack?
madjack89: Well Kira, in the next arc, the Resistance and Ilsemon's forces shall clash in a raging battle! Meanwhile, you guys will finally come face to face with Ilsemon! Will you win? Will you lose? Will Akari ever get over missing Marine Day?
JP: I swear, if Xros Wars boots us out of your favorite anime spot…
madjack89: Oh no, that won't happen. You guys are too awesome!
Takuya: We are pretty awesome!
Kouji: Cocky idiot.
Takuya: Shut up, Kouji!
madjack89: See ya later, guys! And remember, Taiki's ADORAB LE!