The makeshift family decided to stop by a restaurant before returning home. Well in truth, Haru sprang the idea, Yuujin, Offmon, and Gatchmon just agreed to it. Haru chose a nice Italian restaurant as an attempt to cheer up his husband with his favorite food, pasta. It seemed to do the trick as Yuujin was laughing and smiling while they were in the restaurant. And of course, their buddy Appmon ate with them. Nobody gave Offmon and Gatchmon any questionable looks. After a decade of their misadventures with Leviathan, robots and other forms of AI had became more common than ever. Most onlookers though nothing of Gatchmon and Offmon, thinking they were odd little robots. While at the restaurant and waiting for their meals to be served, Gatchmon conducted a search for any leads of who tried to harm Haru. However, the search yielded nothing fruitful. After finishing their meal and paying for it, they headed back in the direction of their home.
The house was a two-story home and looked like every other house on their block except that it had a distinct color scheme, red roof and green colored walls. Haru unlocked the door and in went the couple and their Appmon buddies. However, much to their surprise, they were not the first entities in the house. Sitting on the living room sofa, it was none other than Rei and Hackmon.
"Rei-kun!?" Haru's voice rang out.
"Why are you in our house?" Yuujin looked a little displeased with the familiar but intrusive guests.
The grey-green haired man raised his head and looked at the pair, "I think the real question is here is how did I get in your home so easily, or the better question is how did anyone else enter your home earlier today?"
Yuujin face seemed even more displeased and could only utter, "Damn…"
Hackmon looked at Rei and said, "Rei just tell him what we found out, it's obvious he is agitated and if you push him further he could…"
"Alright," Rei replied to the draconian looking Appmon. Rei returned his attention to the married duo. "We know who raided your home and the reason for it."
"Tell us!" Yuujin demanded.
Haru went to wrap his arms in the taller man's right arm. Haru calmly whispered in his ear, "Yuujin, please relax." And with that gentle command, Yuujin began to center himself again.
Rei gave them a moment before he continued where he left off. He asked them a question, "Have you ever heard of the anti-transhuman movement?" The anti-transhuman movement is a collective of individuals who believe that with the rise of artificial intelligence, human beings will be forced to adapt to the change by adopting new sophisticated technology into their bodies. However, these people believe that this will eventually make humans lose their humanity and become something entirely different. As AI becomes more pervasive in the everyday of average human beings, the movement slowly gains followers.
"We have." Both responded. Over the years, Haru's research gained more recognition and was well received both within the scientific community and outside it. Nonetheless, when Haru began to dabble in ideas of giving robots sentience, he encountered harsh resistance, criticism, and backlash. At one conference event, someone belonging to the anti-transhumant movement tried to punch him, only for them to have their face pounded in by his intimidating looking husband.
"Well we found out from the thugs that broke into your home that they are part of this movement." Rei answered back.
"But when I conducted my search I found nothing that resembled them," Gatchmon chirped at Rei.
Hackmon answered back, "That's because they are part of a more secretive group, one that is more violent and radical. They are responsible for some recent terrorist attacks on AI labs, researchers, and other related activities. They call themselves The Society of Save Humanity or the SSH for short. It seems they are backed by powerful secular bankers and religious leaders who have a common interest in putting a halt to the advancement of AI modifications with human beings and are willingly to do whatever it takes to stop them. They have been able to cover their attacks through bribery and manipulation of the media. What's more is that they are encrypting their data with extremely powerful and expensive firewalls, it took me and Rei awhile before we could access this information. That's probably why you found nothing. And yet, we only know so little, we haven't been able to pass all their security measures. Even Leviathan wasn't this secured."
"So, tell me straight, what do they want with Haru?" Yuujin turned his gaze from Hackmon to Rei.
Rei stood up from the couch and prepared himself to deliver the unwelcome news. "It's not only Haru that's involved in this. Yuujin Shinkai and Haru Shinkai, their goal is to murder you both and your unborn child. They view you two and your child as the point of no return. They believe that your son will be the first posthuman and a harbinger for the damnation of the human race as we know it. Extinction. They are determined to kill him and his parents to prevent that from happening."
Haru and Yuujin both let out long gasps after hearing Rei's words. Yuujin immediately wrapped his arms around Haru's body and pressed Haru's head to his chest. Meanwhile, Haru was more startled by Yuujin shaking uncontrollably while holding him. Yes, the news was alarming, but his mind couldn't help him to be worried for Yuujin. Especially when his presence was usually enough to comfort him, but not this time.
Rei knew the news would alarm them, so he immediately followed up his discovery with some words of encouragement. "Of course we cannot allow that to happen. What's more is that Hajime might be targeted too, so I have to provide as much aide as I can to keep everyone safe."
Hackmon took out a small chip that he seemed to be hiding in his cape. "As a form of help, Rei and I have installed a revamped security system of your home into this chip. I will implant it in Gatchmon, and it will notify you if any suspicious activities are taking place within the perimeters of your property. They shouldn't be able to hack this one so easily like they did last time." It was a quick procedure with Hackmon using his hack abilities and tools. Gatchmon let out a few noises to show his discomfort but it was a quick and relatively painless.
Yuujin stared at Rei. "You think more attacks will be carried out and so soon!?"
"Yes. The first attack was merely a quick test. They know about your powers, but they don't know the extent of them. They sent these low-level robots to try to gauge how strong Yuujin Shinkai is. However, there is a flaw in their plan."
"They don't know about Gatchmon or the others." Haru chimes in.
Rei nods at Haru. "Exactly, nor do they know the true extent of Yuujin Shinkai's powers, such as his ability to fly or create force fields. The more information they don't have on us, the less chance they have on surprising us with a well formulated assault."
"But that might be taking unneeded risks. It might be necessary next time for me to not hold back."
"Then do it. If that happens, we will come up with a backup plan. I doubt the next attack won't be anything you cannot handle, but if not, you have the Appmon to aide you. I have told you everything I know, once I find out more I'll inform you two right away. Let's go Hackmon." Rei motions Hackmon to leave the Shinkai home.
The two begin to walk out, but before that Hackmon speaks up, "If you need us, call us right away."
Without missing a beat, Haru tells them, "Thank you Rei-kun and Hackmon for all the help."
"Yes, thank you." Yuujin bows a little to them.
Rei raised his hand and made a dismissive gesture with it. "Think nothing of it. I cannot let anything happen to the Shinkai family. Eri, Ai and Hajime would kill me if anything happened to either of you three and I rather not leave my son to grow up without his father."
Both Haru and Yuujin nervously laughed at his comment, but they understood the weight of Rei's words. Ai and Eri were not women to mess with, and Hajime could be vicious if he wanted to be.
With some final goodbyes, Rei and Hackmon left the Shinkai residence and headed back to Rei's house where his wife and son were waiting for him.
It was midnight at the Shinkai house. One would surmise that the house should be silent, but this was not the case. The noise that swept through the house did not go unnoticed by Offmon. But even without the disturbance, Offmon couldn't sleep. The events of earlier that day continued to play out in his mind. His "parents," particularly his buddy, had gone through a lot. He worried immensely about Yuujin and Haru and now the familiar noises that came from Haru and Yuujin's bedroom were louder than usual. Gatchmon previously explained it to him that it was just their buddies "performing a human act of love that no else can watch or join." Offmon sometimes wondered if they were withholding information about it because they thought he was too innocent or naïve, but he also realized that maybe it is best if he tried not to involve himself in the private affairs of his "parents." Nonetheless, the unordinary level of volume and shaking from the room after such a hectic day made him paranoid. He decided to consult Gatchmon.
"Um… Gatchmon." Offmon said while gently shaking the sleeping Search App. Gatchmon first pulled his little blanket closer to him and tried to ignore Offmon but his shaking was persistent.
Gatchmon used his claw hand to rub his eyelids. "Uh what is going on… Offmon?" Gatchmon eyes slowly adjusted.
"Um… I'm sorry to wake you up but I'm worried about Yuujin and Haru ofuu-" the Offline App replied while nervously rubbing his hands together.
"Why did someone get inside the house?" Gatchmon immediately sprung out of his little bed. "How is that possible? Rei's security system should have alerted me if that happened."
"Oh, um no, it's not that, it's just Haru and Yuujin's room is making more sound than normal."
"Offmon we have been over this, they are just having some of their "lovey dovey" activity, go back to sleep." The feline looking Appmon went back to lying down on his bed and covered himself with his blanket.
But Offmon wasn't satisfied with that answer. "But I can't shake the feeling that it might be something else"
Gatchmon yet again left his bed. "Ugh, ok fine, let's go find out, but if they get mad at us, I'm pinning the blame on you." Gatchmon emphasized his words by point his clawed hand at pointed it directly at Offmon.
"Ok ofuu."
As they walked down the corridor and neared their Buddy humans' room, it seemed as if the earlier ruckus had come to halt. They walked slowly until they reached the door of the room and both Appmon put their ears to the door and tried to hear what was happening inside.
The couple finished their passionate session on their bed right when their Appmon buddies began to listen in on their conversation. Haru slowly adjusted himself so that he could lie on top of Yuujin with his head pressed sideways on Yuujin's chest.
Haru was the first one to break the silence. "Um… Yuujin what's got into you, you were a little bit more aggressive… and you were shaking a lot while we were having… sex." Haru face turned beat red after saying the word sex. Even though he and Yuujin hadn't been virgins since they were 17, Haru still couldn't help it and blushed whenever he said that word to Yuujin.
The redhead looked away from his lover and began to speak, "I'm sorry Haru. I just cannot get over what Rei said, I cannot lose you Haru. I just can't, not you nor our baby." Yuujin's voice began to break.
"Yuujin it's going to be okay, nothing is going to happen to me or our child," Haru said this while gently rubbing his finger on Yuujin's left pec.
"But how can you say that so confidently!?" Yuujin turned to look straight at Haru.
Haru smiled gently at Yuujin and lifted his head . Because I have you, Gatchmon, Offmon, and our friends to protect us. Believe in yourself and them. I do."
Yuujin gently reaches for Haru's left hand and places the palm of it to touch the palm of his right hand. "Haru even though you gave me a body that is bigger and more muscular than you, you are still stronger than me."
Haru shakes his head. "Yuujin, you are not any weaker than I am. We are equals. I am only strong because I have you. We both give each other strength, that's why we are so compatible, we complete each other."
Yuujin was at lost for words. Haru always knew the right words to say to him or anyone else for that matter. "You are my hero Haru. I love you now and forever." Yuujin felt he could never stress those words enough to his beloved.
"And I love you too Yuujin, always." Haru moves his head to signal to Yuujin that he wants a kiss. Both Yuujin and Haru position themselves to give each other a nice gentle kiss.
A/N: Sorry for the delay. This by the way is a beta. I'll try to fix the grammar and spelling errors later this week or the next. Hope you enjoy.