Author's Note: So, I kinda neglected this story for a while. Sorry about that. Hope this chapter makes up for it.
Dedications: Thank you to the following: Gossamermouse101, Olivia Rodriguez 927, Animelover78861, Shadow the Ranger, mjosh marcos, TheMisfitGhoul and Fayefaith99 for adding this story to their favourites/alerts. Appreciate it.
I don't own Digimon. But I do own any original characters that are of my own design.
Title: Expect the Unexpected
Summary: Kimiko is the estranged daughter of Mitsuo Yamaki. For her fifteenth birthday she acquires the Digimon: Labramon and becomes the fourth Digimon Tamer.
Chapter Twenty: Jeri's Partner
"You're what?!"
Kimiko winched at Takato's high-pitched shriek. She had just revealed her deepest, darkest secret to him and Rika. To say they had taken it well would've been an understatement, but at least they now knew the truth. Whether they wanted anything to do with her after this was their choice.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Takato asked.
"I just did," said Kimiko.
"I mean, why didn't you tell us before?"
Kimiko looked thoughtful and shrugged. "I guess... I guess I was just protecting myself," she replied.
"From who?"
"Look, Takato," said Kimiko. "I'm not Yamaki's biggest fan either, but the fact remains that he is my dad. I'm not going to say that you can't trash talk him because I know he's not the flavour of the month, any month, but I can't deny who he is. As for not telling you? I guess that, for once in my life, I wanted to keep the few friends I had made, and not let my dad chase them away."
Takato sighed and looked at Kimiko, his eyes full of sorrow. He remembered how she had told him that making friends had never been easy for her, especially since she was so smart. Kids at school saw her as a know-it-all, and no one wanted to be upstaged by their friends in a classroom. It was humiliating. "Kimi..." he sighed.
"Don't," Kimiko said, shaking her head. "I know I lied to you, and I deserve all repercussions from that lie. I just need you to know that I am sorry and I didn't mean to hurt or upset anyone. Hurting you guys was never my intention." She glanced at Henry, but he refused to meet her gaze. She sighed and looked down at her hands. 'I'll also understand if you don't want to be friends anymore."
The silence that followed Kimiko's speech was deafening. When no one said anything, the blonde felt her heart drop into her stomach and the feeling of deep longing and guilt bubbled inside her. She was close to hysteria when she decided that now was the time to leave, before she started crying for sure.
Forcing a smile, Kimiko stepped back towards the gate of the hideout and turned away. "I guess I'll see you guys around," she said quietly. "Come on, Labramon, you too, Calumon, we're going home."
Labramon stood, stuck her snout under Calumon and tossed him into the air, the little white Digimon giggled as he sailed upwards, rolling over and started to fall down. He landed with a bounce on Labramon's back and the dog padded after her tamer.
"Wait," Rika said, reaching out to grab Kimiko's hand. "We're angry that you lied to us, yes, but that doesn't make you any less part of the team. You're still a tamer, and, believe it or not, you're still a friend."
"But -"
"Look, we all have things and have done things that we're not proud of," Rika said. "You didn't ask for Yamaki to be your father, it was just something that happened sixteen years ago, and besides, after everything you've told us about him, you've suffered enough as his daughter every year since you were born."
Kimiko nodded her eyes swimming with tears.
"This also doesn't mean that you're forgiven," Rika added. "Trust is a valuable asset, but it is easily destroyed. You kept a secret from us; Princess, a major secret, that trust is shattered now, and it'll take more than a few tears to rebuild it."
"I know," Kimiko said. "But I'm willing to work to rebuild it. I don't care how long it takes or what I have to do. You guys are my friends; I'll do anything to keep you."
Rika looked around at Takato and Henry, the latter didn't see aware of the situation, but Rika knew that he, more than any of them, wanted Kimiko to stay, he was just too stubborn to admit it out loud. Henry liked to keep a lot to himself, including his true feelings for Kimiko.
"She's right, Kimi," Takato said, smiling. "You're a part of the team, regardless of what you've said and/or done, you're one of us, and I am sure you'll regain our trust. I'd miss you too much if you walked away now."
"You're just scared to have to deal with me alone, Goggle-head," Rika teased.
Takato stuck his tongue out at her.
Kimiko giggled and smiled lightly. "Don't worry, Takato, as long as I'm welcome, I'll still be here."
"You're always welcome," Rika said. "Now, can we cut the PDA? I'm getting sick."
Takato rolled his eyes and turned to Henry. He had been unusually quiet, and hadn't even jumped at the chance to defend Kimiko and tell her that she was more than welcome to stay. It wasn't like him. Normally Henry was in full support of Kimiko. "Cat got your tongue?" he teased.
"Yeah, soccer tease, what's eating you?" Rika asked.
"I'm just thinking about the Devas," Henry said.
"Really, Henry?" Takato asked. "This is starting to become an obsession."
Henry rolled his eyes. "I'm serious," he said. "Does anyone else seem to realise that they Deva's are only coming after us? What did we do to deserve this much attention?"
"The Deva's see any human with a Digimon as a problem," Kimiko said. "The only way to eliminate that problem is to do away with it. Maybe they are breaking through to do just that, but we're proving to be too much of a fighting force for them."
Rika and Takato nodded the latter pointing at Kimiko.
Henry sighed and shook his head. "That feels like the obvious choice," he said.
"Then what other choice is there?" Takato asked.
"I don't know," Henry shrugged. "I have a theory..."
"Then let's hear it," Rika said, settling down.
Takato and Kimiko also made themselves comfortable along the inside of the shelter, with Henry leaning against the wall near the side window. He was so lost in thought that he didn't seem to be aware that his friends were waiting, at least that was until he spoke.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
"Every day people go about their business," Yamaki said. "Blissfully unaware of the danger that is to come. We are their silent guardians. Their only protection against the Digital menace. But the key to controlling the Digimon lies in the code you're working on, Mr. Wong. And every second you and your team wastes brings us an hour closer to chaos."
Mr. Wong narrowed his eyes at Yamaki. "It's not as simple as copying something from the side of a cereal box," he explained. "Shabumi's code - it's encrypted and highly complex."
"Tell that to your children when their world is destroyed," Yamaki replied. "Because that's what these monsters will do if we don't stop them soon. This isn't a game like it was in your college days, Mr. Wong. If you care for your children, as I do for mine, you'll get me that code at once."
Janyru Wong sighed as Yamaki walked away. He could tell that the government official was determined in his propaganda to wipe out the Digimon, but he hadn't realised how deep the hatred went. Back in the day, Digimon were just friendly pieces of computer data, they had not been created to cause harm.
But Yamaki was sure that the Digimon were causing havoc on the city, and whilst Janyru agreed that the bigger ones that had appeared did leave a lot of destruction in their wake, there were ones out there that were not as bad. The Digimon that fought to protect the city, for example, they didn't seem at all keen on destroying Tokyo.
If only Janyru knew the true reason behind Yamaki's plan, he may have reconsidered retrieving the code so quickly.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Calumon giggled as he bounced through the bushes. He was playing hide and seek with Labramon and Kimiko, and so far was winning in the hiding department. Whilst Labramon and Kimiko were still searching for him by the lake and play park, he was with Jerri eating cream puffs.
"More yummy, goody snacky stuff?" Calumon asked, skidding to a stop in front of Jerri and looking up at her with wide, hopeful eyes.
"You want more?" Jerri asked, surprised.
"Yes, please, thank you!" Calumon chimed.
"Here you go," Jerri said, handing him the whole bag of cream puffs.
Calumon laughed excitedly and wobbled as he held the bag of goodies in his tiny hands. The bag was bigger than him, and he found it almost impossible to stay up right whilst holding it. But nothing could deter his excitement at the amount of bread rolls waiting for him inside.
I wonder... Jerri thought as she swallowed her creampuff. "Could I ever be a tamer? Could Calumon be my partner?" She leaned forward and smiled down at the little Digimon. "Calumon?"
"Good food," Calumon said, brightly.
"You like me?"
"I like your food."
"I like you too," Jerri giggled. "Then it's settled. Calumon... you and I are going to be partners."
"Ah-waa?" Calumon asked, blinking in surprise.
"Say hello to your new Digimon Tamer," Jerri said, standing straight.
Calumon choked on his cream puffs and toppled over, landing with a smack on the floor.
Jerri huffed and put her hands on her hips. "Well, is that the way you behave to your new tamer?" she asked.
"No."
"You don't think I'm cool enough like Takato," Jerri said. "Or compassionate enough like Kimiko?"
"No, it's not that," Calumon said, shaking his head.
"Then what is it? You said you liked me, didn't you?"
"Um...no?" Calumon said, fiddling with his fingers on both hands. He didn't want to make the situation any worse than it already was, but he also didn't want to give Jerri the idea that he wanted to be partners.
"Now, I may not look like one, but I could be a great tamer and help you with a lot," Jerri said.
Calumon cocked his head to the side and stared up at the human girl. He was about to say something when a rumble cut him off, followed by an eerie growling. The sound was coming from a drain pipe ahead of them, and when he and Jerri turned to investigate, they were met by the sight of steam exploding out from beneath the surface.
"Oh, no, oh, bad, bad, oh, no, oh, bad!" Calumon panicked, flapping his arms at his side. He wished Kimiko and Labramon were here to deal with whatever threat came out of this digital field.
"Don't panic," Jerri said, trying to coach herself to be calm. "A tamer never panics."
A ball bounced its way out of the storm drain and landed in front of both Jerri and Calumon. It was smaller than they had expected, but none less terrifying.
"Now, is that any way to greet your worst nightmare?!" the Digimon asked. He looked a rat trapped in a ball.
Terrified, Calumon jumped into Jerri's arms and clung to her tightly. The equally frightened human looked over at the Digimon and asked, "Are you my partner, Mr. Whatever-you-are?"
"I am a mighty deva," the Digimon replied. "Who serves the all-powerful sovereign Digimon! Why would I join forces with a pathetic human?!"
"Thank goodness," Jerri sighed in relief. "No offense, but you're way too bizarre. I can't tell if you're a mouse, a spider, or a nutcracker." She took a deep breath and looked down at Calumon. "Wait a minute, if you're not my partner, then that means you has come here to fight me and Calumon!" She held the Digimon in her arms out at the Deva. "Beat him, Calumon!"
"Nyahh! Ohh!" the deva screeched, taking a step forward.
Calumon stared at the Deva and quickly jumped out of Jerri's arms and floated behind her. Realising that her defence was gone, Jerri screamed and took off running, with Calumon clinging tightly to her shoulders.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Kimiko stopped in her search and lifted her head. "Did you hear that?" she asked. "It sounded like a scream."
"It sounded like Jerri," Labramon said. "You think she found Calumon? I mean, he's not a scary little guy, but he's enough to frighten you when you're least expect it."
Kimiko smiled.
"No, wait," Labramon said, raising one ear to listen better. Suddenly she bared her teeth and a growl escaped the back of her throat.
"What is it, Labramon?" Kimiko asked, stunned at the reaction. "Is it a Digimon?"
Labramon nodded, barked and charged off towards the disturbance. Kimiko frowned and looked down at her D-Power, it registered no digital field or energy signature to say there was a Digimon in the surrounding area.
"Hey, wait!" Kimiko yelled, realising that Labramon was already gone. She stuffed her D-Power back into her pocket and took off after her friend. They passed the hideout where their meeting with the others had taken place that morning, and Kimiko could see Labramon disappearing around the bend at the end of the walkway.
"Nyaah!"
"RetrieverG!"
The Deva was knocked away from Jerri and Calumon as Labramon jumped into his path. The rat growled at the sight of the dog and took a hesitant step backwards.
"Kimiko!" Jerri gasped, looking around as the blonde arrived. Calumon cheered and flew into Kimiko's arms, happy to be back in a safety net of comfort and warmth.
"What are you supposed to be?" Kimiko asked, holding up her D-Power in hopes of getting a reading on the Deva.
But the D-Power had nothing to give.
"Come on," Kimiko whined. "What's wrong with this thing?"
"Kimiko?" Labramon called. She didn't like how her tamer had gone all quiet, and she also didn't feel like turning her head to check on the humans. It would've given the Deva an opening to attack.
"I can't get anything," Kimiko said. "We're fighting blind."
Labramon sighed and growled. She hated fighting blind.
The Deva Digimon laughed and took a step forward to attack again. The blast sailed over Labramon's head as she ducked to avoid it, and it would've hit Jerri had Kimiko not pulled her down towards the ground in time.
Jerri trembled in fear.
"Finish him, Labramon!" Kimiko said. "Digimodify, power activate!"
Labramon opened her jaws and blasted the Deva with a powerful blast of RetrieverG energy.
The rat screeched as he was thrown into the air and landed with a splash in the fountain. He stood up, shook himself off, and started back towards Labramon.
"Why won't he quit?" Jerri asked, hiding behind Kimiko.
"It's not what they do," Kimiko replied, glaring heatedly at the Deva Digimon. She reached for another card as the Deva took another step towards Labramon, but before he could attack the fountain exploded upwards, taking the Deva by surprise. He was launched high into the air again, landing with another splash in the shallower waters.
Jerri blinked and peered around Kimiko. "What happened?" she asked.
"Maybe the fountain didn't like the way he tasted?" Calumon suggested.
"I think it's a little more than that," Labramon said, lifting her head to the top of the fountain. "Look..."
"Oh," Calumon breathed as a rainbow started to form. But it wasn't the rainbow that had caught Labramon's attention; it was the figure rising out of its peak.
"Is that...?" Jerri squeaked.
Kimiko held up her D-Power, and this time managed to get a reading. "It's Leomon," she said.
"Oh! This must be a sign!" Jerri said, jumping out from behind Kimiko and staring up at Leomon with a dreamy-eyed expression. "He's meant to be... my partner!"
"Huh, what?" Kimiko and Labramon asked, looking back at Jerri. Had they heard that right?
Annoyed at being attacked from behind, the Deva scurried across the fountain and glared up at Leomon. "You should get out of my way," he said.
"You should pick on someone your own size," Leomon responded. "A true warrior battles those who are strong. Only a coward fights defenseless little girls'."
"Hey, who you calling defenseless?" Kimiko asked, annoyed.
The Deva glowered. "You will pay for your interference, warrior!" he shrieked. He jumped into the air and aimed his three-pointed arm along his back at the champion Digimon.
Jerri panicked.
But Leomon was ready. He waited until the Deva had got close enough before unleashing his sword from his waist. There was a loud clang of metal and, with a twist of his wrist, Leomon tossed the Deva aside.
"Yeow!" the Deva yelled as he was flung through the air, and disappeared from sight.
"My hero!" Jerri cheered excitedly, rushing across the path towards Leomon. She stopped short and looked up at the Digimon with a faint blush. "Mr. Leomon?"
"What is it, kid?" Leomon asked.
"You're my... partner."
"I'm your what?" Leomon asked, confused.
"I'm honored to be your tamer."
"Tamer?"
"You have no idea how long I've dreamed about this."
Leomon blinked and looked behind her at Kimiko. "You got any idea what she's talking about, kid?" she asked.
"I think her brains gone all funny," Calumon said, his ears dropping.
"Calumon," Kimiko groaned.
"Well it has," Calumon said, snuggling further into Kimiko's arms.
Kimiko sighed and shook her head. "Hey, Jerri, I don't think Leomon's your partner," she called.
"If he's not, why did he appear to help me?" Jerri asked.
"Uh, because he could sense there was trouble and we needed help?"
"You don't think I can be a Tamer, do you?" Jerri asked turning on the spot and stomping her foot at Kimiko. It was a little childish, she would admit, but she needed a way to get her point across.
Kimiko shook her head. "No, it's not that," she said. "It's just..."
"Stay out of this, Kimiko," Jerri said, turning back to Leomon. "Now, where we?"
Leomon stared, perplexed at Jerri. "You're a strange little human. You sure you're OK?" he asked.
"I'm just fine," Jerri said, dreamily.
Leomon's eye twitched and he turned his back on Jerri. "Uh, see you round, kid," he said, starting to walk away.
"Wait," Jerri called, giving chase. "We're supposed to be together."
"Uh-oh," Labramon said. "Uh, Kimiko, shouldn't we do something?"
Kimiko sighed and set Calumon down on Labramon's back. "You follow them," she said. "Make sure Jerri doesn't get hurt again."
"What are you going to do?" Labramon asked.
"I'm gonna call Takato and the others, see if they can get down to the park and we can figure out what's going on together," Kimiko said.
"Alright," Labramon said, bounding off after Jerri. "Good luck," she called back, before disappearing.
"Yeah, thanks," Kimiko said with a sigh. She fished her phone out of her pocket and called Takato first. His mother answered and told Kimiko that he was already out with his friends. Kimiko thanked her for her time, and hung up, deciding to call Henry instead.
The phone rang and rang, before it was answered by an older female's voice. Kimiko recognised it as Henry's older sister and quickly asked for the boy she had called for. Kimiko heard Jaarin giggling as she called for her little brother.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hey, Henry," Kimiko said, awkwardly.
"Kimiko?"
"I know I'm the last person you want to talk to right now, but I have a situation that I need a little help with."
"OK. What's the problem?"
"Well, Jerri is sort of chasing Leomon through the park," Kimiko explained.
"Leomon?"
"Yeah. I don't know where he came from, or why, there was no digital field, he just appeared," Kimiko asked quickly. "But that's not the problem. Jerri seems to think that Leomon's her new partner and she's his tamer."
"Jerri, a tamer? Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure."
"Is she 100% sure that he's her partner?"
"Well, I would ask her," said Kimiko. "But she's run off after him."
"She's chasing him, right now?"
"Yes! Are you gonna come down and help me or not?"
Henry sighed. "Alright. I'll be right there," he said.
The line went dead and Kimiko quickly searched her contacts for Rika's number. She may as well have let Rika know of the situation too. She was already on thin ice with the Tamers; the last thing she wanted to do was anger Rika and push her away for good.
"Hey, Princess, what's up?"
"How fast can you get to the park?"
"Why? What's the emergency?"
"Jerri seems to think that she's a tamer now, and she's chasing Leomon all over the place."
"Jerri, a tamer? That just isn't possible."
"I tried to tell her that," Kimiko said. "She didn't seem to like the idea."
"How can she be sure?" Rika asked. "Does she have a Digivice?"
"Last I checked, no."
"No Digivice? She obviously not a tamer. She's delusional," Rika huffed. "Oh, whatever. I'm coming right down."
"OK. If you see Takato, fill him in and bring him with you, please? He's not at home."
"Got it."
The line went dead and Kimiko stared at the screen of her phone for a few seconds. She knew she had done the right thing in calling her friends, and understood that in doing so she was on her way to regaining their trust, but why did she feel so guilty? Maybe it was because she had left out the part where she had fought a Deva.
Well, too late to call 'em back now, Kimiko thought. She'd just have to either play dumb later when the Deva returned, if he returned, or play it safe.
Shaking her head, Kimiko quickened her pace and started running. She had to find Jeri and the others before the others showed up.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Jeri screamed as she run out of the trees.
She had come across Takato and Guilmon in her quest to make Leomon her partner, and that wasn't all. She had just chased the champion level Digimon into the trees when he had been attacked by the rat Deva.
With the force of a brick wall, the Deva managed to shove Leomon out of the trees, skidding him across the dirt path as they locked weapons with one another.
"Huh!" Takato gasped, looking up as the Deva fell to the floor. He landed on his four paws and faced off against Leomon. The size difference was hard to miss, but the Rat Deva seemed determined in destroying Leomon for whatever reasons. "Who or what is that?" he asked.
"He's been chasing me," Jeri said. "He says he's a Deva!"
"A Deva? You're kidding!" Takato said, holding up his D-power. If the rat was in fact a Deva then he should've been able to get data on him. "Looks like whoever put him together lost the manual. Wait; here we go - Kumbhiramon - Deva Digimon, Ultimate Level. His Deva Clone Attack makes him six times the trouble."
The sound of footsteps caused Takato to look over his shoulder. He sighed in relief as he saw Kimiko and Henry running towards him.
"Where've you guys been?" Takato asked.
"Us, where've you been?" Kimiko asked. "I called and your mom said you were out."
"I was. Why did you call?"
"To tell you about this," Kimiko said, pointing to the problem, "and them," she pointed at Jerri and Leomon. "Rika's also on her way."
Takato nodded and looked back at the situation at hand.
"This doesn't make any sense," Henry said. "What's Leomon doing here if he's not Jeri's partner."
"I don't know, but I'm not asking him," Terriermon said.
"Leomon's a hero! Leomon's a hero!" Calumon chanted, bouncing up and down on Labramon's back. "The Devas don't got nothing! Cause rat face is a zero! Yay!"
Kumbhiramon snarled as he and Leomon continued to circle one another. "You're about to be outnumbered, you oversized alley cat!" he screeched. "Deva Clone!" Suddenly there were six other Deva Digimon surrounding Leomon, each one as exactly the same as the last.
"Uh!" the tamers gasped.
One-by-one, the clones jumped at Leomon, slashing at him with their weaponized arm. But Leomon held them at bay with a simple flick of his sword.
"Leomon!" Jeri gasped, trying to get at her partner.
Takato held up his arm, holding her back. "Stay back," he warned her. "It's safe."
Jeri shook her head. "No!" she said, defiantly. "Quick! Give me your Digivice!"
Takato hesitated and then handed it over.
Jeri nodded and drew a card from her deck. She swiped it through Takato's D-Power and held it out towards Leomon. "Digimodify!" she cried. But nothing happened. She tried again, but to no avail. With glassy eyes, Jeri handed Takato back his D-Power and stared down at her deck of Digimon cards. "Guess I'm not Leomon's tamer... after all," she sniffled.
"There's too many of them!" Labramon snarled, darting forward. Calumon tumbled off his back and landed at Guilmon's feet with a bounce. "Kimiko, I can't do this alone!"
"Right behind you!" Kimiko called, running after her partner. "Digimodify! Digivolution activate!"
"Here we go!" Calumon shouted, the triangle on his head glowing a bright red.
Digivolution.
"Labramon, digivolve too... Seasarmon!"
As one of the Deva clones jumped at Leomon found behind, it was knocked off course by Seasarmon swooping in from above. With his back covered, Leomon felt safer glancing around at the kids, to make sure each of them were alright. He didn't know why, but he felt somewhat responsible for their safety right now. However, he didn't expect to see Jeri on her knees crying. "She's crying."
"She's upset, yeah," Seasarmon said, holding off another Deva Clone.
"Then this one's for her," Leomon said, picking up his sword.
"Glad to have you with us," Seasarmon said, rising into the air. "Tee Dia!" she called, showering each of the clones with countless golden arrows.
"Fist of the beast king!" Leomon yelled. The two attacks hit the Deva Clones, shattering the replicates and leaving only the original to be dealt with.
Angered that the Deva had attacked and put both Kimiko and Calumon, not to mention Jeri at risk of being injured, Seasarmon darted forward and head-butted him into the air. The clone yelled as he was thrown sky-high and fell back towards the ground.
But before he could complete the crash landing, Leomon pierced him with his sword and he disappeared, his data particles scattering through space and time.
"My work here is done," Leomon said, replacing his sword in the sheath on his waist. He glanced back at Jeri, who was still crying. "I should go before her tears make me stay. Goodbye, Jeri," he whispered, turning his back and departing.
Takato sighed and looked back at his friend from school. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. The pain of knowing that she wasn't Leomon's tamer was too great for her to understand. "Please, just leave me alone!" she cried.
"I'm sorry, Jeri," Henry apologised. "Come on, Terriermon."
Terriermon sighed and run off after his partner. "Momenti, Jeri, Momenti," he said, jumping up onto Henry's shoulders.
"It's so sad!" Guilmon cried, running off up the steps and into his hideout. "I can't watch!"
"Oh, Guilmon, wait!" Takato called, chasing after him.
Kimiko hesitated beside Jeri. She didn't know what to do or say, but she knew that she couldn't leave the girl in the middle of the park all night. But she could also understand Jeri's need to be alone. The idea that you weren't supposed to be something you thought you were hurt, but it wasn't that Jeri wasn't destined to be a Tamer, maybe she was... just not with Leomon.
"Jeri?" Kimiko said, making herself known as she crouched down beside the brunette. "I'm sorry for the way things turned out. It's not that I don't think you're worthy enough to be a tamer, if anything I think you'd make a good one. But you shouldn't give up. If you're meant to be a tamer. Then it will happen... one day."
Jeri didn't respond or even acknowledge that she had heard Kimiko.
But Kimiko didn't need her too.
Copyrighted ©
Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated Thursday, 12 November 2015 at 5:17pm