Author's Note: So our heroes are entering the Digital World but before they can they must reveal their secret to their families. Will Kimiko's mother understand? Find out below.
Dedications: Thank you to the following: Ijustdon'tcare132, Dawn08, Jarski, Razmend, XshimyX, Grapejuice101, AzureLux, Black Konako, VTXD, HazardousMDragon, SPD Wolf, Utau54, Freeze47458, Danoc, Tsukiyomi Namida, SerahFalcon, Blaberous, ShiftFrame, ShikiRiian, SkywardStar, Newty01, Cushy96, Lil Blue 87, Theinzmann111, Joeykun938, Poosa-ard, Glaceon205, Chaosjuice98, Sara4433, Aacutie, Vendiche and Avalon, Cassjo, Xavex, Taiski and Lune-de-bleu 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-Three: When World's Collide
"It's so quiet now."
"I wonder how long that will last."
"It's wild how things can go back to normal so quickly."
The beating of a helicopter flew overhead. Searching and protecting the city from any more attacks from the digital monsters known as Digimon. It wasn't like they could do anything, but it was nice knowing that they were willing to try.
"Well, maybe not so normal, but not bad considering the city was so close to being wiped off the planet. That Deva was the most powerful we've ever had to face."
"We still have several others to face."
"And if we can't digivolve then we're toast."
"How do you expect us to get to the Digital World?"
"There has to be a way. I mean, our Digimon came from the Digital World somehow, therefore there has to be a way back, right?"
"Theoretically, yes."
"So, we just need to put that theory into practice, right?"
"It's not that simple, Takato, thinking about something and actually doing it are two different things."
"But, Kimiko..."
Kimiko sighed and run a hand through her blonde locks. "Look, I want to go and find Calumon just as desperately as you do, if not more, but we can't just go running blindly into a situation like this, we need a plan," she said.
"Well, I'm open to suggestions," Takato said.
"Why do you think the Digimon are out searching right now? If there is a way to cross between the worlds, they'll find it."
Takato paused. She had a point. After Vikaralamon had been destroyed, the tamers had set in motion their own plan of saving Calumon and their world from the destruction of the devas; but in order to do that they first needed to cross into the Digital World. This was why they had each parted their separate ways. The Digimon had gone in search of a gateway, and the Tamers had headed home to reassure their parents and guardians that they were all safe and unarmed.
"Are you going to be OK?" Kimiko asked. She was standing outside Takato's family business. They had each agreed to tell their parents that their Digimon were real, it was the only way to assure them that everything was OK, and to help deliver the blow that they were leaving this world for another.
Takato shrugged. "My mom is going to freak out," he said.
"At least she won't try and destroy Guilmon," Kimiko offered.
"True," Takato agreed. "But she won't even let me keep goldfish, much less a dinosaur."
"Digital Dinosaur," Kimiko teased.
Takato smiled lightly.
"You're going to be fine," Kimiko said. "It's in a mother's nature to worry. I mean, we are just kids, we can't blame them for that, and they just want us to be safe."
"I just wish they trusted us."
"They do, in their own strange way," Kimiko smiled and stepped away from her friend. "I better get going. I gotta call my Mum and let her know what's been going on. Good luck."
"You too," Takato called. He watched as Kimiko run off into the crowd and disappeared from view. He then took a deep breath and stepped into his family's bakery.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Kimiko hesitated outside of her father's door. Was he home? She expected him to be considering his workplace had just blown up. Would he be angry? If her place of work had just been destroyed she'd be angry too; but would he be angry with her? Given she was part of the source that had destroyed Hypnos.
"Kimiko,"
The blonde glanced down the hall and saw Riley standing a fair distance away. The red head eyed the teenager cautiously and approached carefully. Kimiko took a step back in alarm, prepared to run if she needed too.
"It's OK," Riley said, stopping her advancing. "He's not here."
"He's not?"
Riley shook her head. "He's on his way through," she said.
"Why are you here?" Kimiko asked.
"I was actually looking for you," Riley said. "I know you were involved in the attack on the city."
"I tried to protect the city!" Kimiko snapped. "My father thinks my friends and I are involved in something dangerous, and he's right, but our Digimon are friendly, they're trying to protect the city from the bad Digimon that are bio-emerging."
Riley nodded in understanding and gestured to the apartment door, "Maybe we should talk about this inside?" she offered, holding up a key. She clicked it into the lock and twisted it until the door sprang over.
Kimiko eyed her warily and shook her head. "I just remembered," she said, stepping back again. "I left something at Rika's. It's important that I get it back."
"But it's already so late," Riley said. "Won't your friend be in bed?"
"She knows I'm coming," Kimiko said. "I already called ahead. I have to call my Mum too. If my dad asks, tell him I'm out with my friends, not that he'll care anymore. Especially since my friends destroyed Hypnos, even though we didn't, he'll still blame us."
Riley sighed. "He's just trying to keep you safe, Kimiko," she said.
"Then tell him he's going about it the wrong way," Kimiko argued. She run to the opposite end of the hallway and stopped at the fire escape. "I know my dad will never understand, but there is something that I have to do, so I'm not going to be around for a little while."
"What do you mean?" Riley asked.
Kimiko shook her head and climbed out onto the fire escape. "Amongst all the chaos earlier, a friend of mine was kidnapped, my friends and I are going to the Digital World to save him" she said.
"Kimiko, you can go to the Digital World," Riley said. "It's not possible."
"I think there is," Kimiko said. "Goodbye, Riley, look after my Dad." She started to climb down to the street below.
As Kimiko disappeared, Riley dashed to the window and stuck her head out. "Kimiko, you come back here," she called. "Please, we just want to help."
Kimiko jumped down onto the street and looked up at her father's girlfriend. "There's nothing you can do," she called back. "Only my friends and I can. I like you, Riley, but this is something we have to do alone. You never know, it may be something that finally impresses my father." She paused and the shrugged half-heartedly. "Or not. See ya."
She waved and took off running down the street.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
The next morning found Kimiko curled up under the duvet of her own bed at the house she lived at with her mother. The night before, after running away from her dad's place, she had come here to hide. She knew the ins and outs of this place better than anyone who dared come looking for, and therefore knew how to get away before being caught.
But no one had come for her. Not her father. Not Riley, and definitely not the authorities. Did that mean her father had given up chasing her? Did Riley even tell him that she had been at the apartment? If no, then why would Riley cover for her? What motive did she have for hiding her from Yamaki? Did Riley really want to help?
Kimiko shook her head and sat up, pushing back the blankets and looking around the room. She felt her heart sink at the many pictures and posters that lined the walls and tears welled in her eyes as she thought of her mother. All the times they had shared whilst she was growing up, all the adventures they had together.
"You should call her."
Kimiko gave a start and looked around. Labramon stood in the doorway, looking tired. "She'll just worry," she replied.
"Isn't that a good thing? At least someone is worried about you."
Kimiko sighed and reached for her phone. She had a few missed calls and several messages from her friends, but nothing from her mother, grandparents or her father. Skipping through her contact, Kimiko stopped on her mother's and gripped the phone tightly in her fists.
"Maybe she can't get through," Labramon suggested. There had to be a reasonable explanation as to why Sasha Akiyama had not been in contact with her daughter in the last 24 hours. "She could be worried about you; your phone call will put her at ease."
Kimiko nodded but still hesitated in dialing the number.
Labramon sighed and jumped up onto the bed. She pressed her nose to Kimiko's phone and nudged the call button. The phone sprang to life and Sasha Akiyama answered after the third ring.
"Kimiko, pumpkin, is that you?"
"Yeah, mum, it's me," Kimiko replied. She seemed almost startled by the voice but also grateful to her partner for the push she so badly needed. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, pumpkin," Sasha said. "Are you alright? You sound scared."
"I'm fi -"
"Oh, Kimiko, I've heard all the news that's happening in Shinjuku," Sasha interrupted, "You're grandparents and I have been so worried."
Kimiko took a deep breath. "Yeah, mum, about that," she started.
"I hope your father hasn't left you alone during the destruction? Have you seen him at all? Have you been safe?"
"I've been fine, Mum."
"Of course you have, silly me, always thinking the worst," Sasha said. "You're a smart girl, Kimi; you know how to protect yourself better than most. Anyway, baby, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
Kimiko hesitated again.
"Pumpkin?"
"Mum, you know how I feel about dad..."
"He left you again, didn't he?" Sasha said, and Kimiko could imagine her shaking her head. "Listen, I should be back in Shinjuku sometime tomorrow. I'll call you as soon as I land and I'll come pick you up straight away, you need not stay with Yamaki any longer. I'll speak with him about your arrangements to see him, but I won't leave you with him anymore if you're not happy."
Kimiko swallowed hard. She should've been happy that her mother was coming home and she wouldn't have to spend any more time at her fathers, but is that what she truly wanted? Did she really want to be taken away from her father? Was there still hope that he could be something more than a workaholic? Did she not want to see him anymore? Was she ready to give up on him? She had been a few weeks ago, but had her feelings changed again? She sighed. Unsure.
"Mum, can you please stop for a second?" Kimiko asked. "I'm glad you're coming home, I've missed you, but there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it, pumpkin?"
"Those monsters causing destruction in Shinjuku," Kimiko explained. "They're called Digimon. They're digital monsters from a world parallel outside of our own."
"Digimon? Kimiko, pumpkin, Digimon is just a TV show and a game, they aren't real," Sasha said rationally.
"They are real, Mum," Kimiko insisted. "The ones you've seen attacking the city are called Devas, and the littler ones that were fighting the bigger one, they belong to me and my friends. The only reason I have been kept safe from the bigger Digimon is because of my own -"
"Kimiko, pumpkin, you're not making a load of sense," Sasha said. "Are you sure this isn't just the fear talking?"
"I'm not scared, mum," Kimiko argued. "That puppy Grandpa bought me for me for my birthday, her name is Labramon for a reason. She's more than just my best friend, Mum, she's my partner."
There was a brief flicker of silence. "Pumpkin..." Sasha sighed.
"I'm telling you the truth, Mum," Kimiko said. "Labramon is a Digimon."
"But Digimon, they aren't -"
Kimiko sighed. "Mum, I know this is too much to take in all at once," she said. "But I need you to know the truth. I need you to understand that I am telling you this because I won't be able to show you when you come to pick me up."
"Kimiko, what are you -?""
"I may not be here tomorrow, Mum," Kimiko interrupted. "There is another friendly Digimon, his name is Calumon, and he's been abducted by the bad Digimon and it's up to me and my friends to save him... I know what you're thinking, so you don't need to say it, why can't an adult do it, right? Why does it need to be me and my friends? I can't tell you the answer to that, mostly because I don't know why; I just know that it has to be me and my friends. I love you, Mum, I promise I'll be careful and I'll come home safe... somehow."
Silence again filtered through the phone, and then Kimiko heard light sobs as her mother cried on the other end.
"Mum...?"
"I love you too, Pumpkin," Sasha said, "and I've always known you were special. I wish I could stop you, really I do, but I trust your judgement enough to let you go through with this, plus I also know you'd go anyway. I know you'll do your very best to save your friends, and I hope when you do finally return I get to meet each and every one of them. Be safe, my darling."
Tears streamed down Kimiko's cheeks as she hung up with her mother. She hiccupped and choked back a sob. She really, truly missed her mother, and wished that she could see her and hold her before venturing into the Digital World.
Labramon shuffled closer to her partner and wedged her head under Kimiko's arm. She hated seeing her friend so upset. "She trusts you," she said. "That's what matters."
"I know," Kimiko said. "I just wish I could see her before we leave."
"You never know," said Labramon. "You may get too. We haven't found the location of the portal yet. We may find it after your mother returns."
Kimiko smiled briefly and nodded. "You're right, Labramon," she said. "In the meantime, I need to get ready for school." She dried her eyes on her back of her hand and climbed out of bed. She didn't really want to go to school, but keeping up appearances was essential to throw people off their trail. If five students just suddenly disappeared the Digimon would be the least of the city's worries.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
School was uneventful.
Uneventful in the sense that nothing remotely fun happened, although Kimiko did get pulled out of class halfway through the day and told that her results from her test had returned - finally - declaring that she had passed with flying colours and would be graduating that summer.
"I thought this is what you wanted?" Henry asked, looking confused. Kimiko was sat at the base of the tree on school grounds. It was the end of the day and they were waiting for Takato and the others to get out of detention so they could head to the park.
"I know," Kimiko said. "But for some reason I feel that graduating now seems pointless. I was a different person when I agreed to take that test, I wanted to prove myself to my father and now proving myself doesn't matter anymore. I have a reason to stay in school; I have friends here, friends that I don't want to leave yet. I don't feel like wanting to go to college and having to make friends all over again."
Henry smiled faintly. The fact that Kimiko wanted to stay in school and finish with the rest of them because of him and the others made him feel happy inside. Even though they had their ups and downs, he still liked her and he didn't want her to go any more than she didn't want to leave.
"So what happens now?" Labramon asked.
"I don't know," Kimiko said. "Mr. Kurosawa said that I have a few days to decide on what I want to do, and then he's going to call my parents to the school and discuss my future options with them."
"That sounds fun," Terriermon said, dropping out of the tree.
Kimiko murmured in agreement. Both her parents in a small office discussing her future didn't sound very appealing to her.
"Hey Henry, Kimi."
Henry and Kimiko looked up at the sound of their names. Takato, Jerri, Kazu and Kenta were walking towards them from the side of the school. They each adored their backpacks on their shoulders and were walking with a sense of pride.
"Finally," Kimiko sighed, standing up. She stretched and lifted her backpack onto her shoulders just as Miss Asaji came running out of the school, yelling at them all to stop.
Catching up to her students, Miss Asaji brandished the notebooks at them. Her breathing was heavy from running but she still had enough breath to get her words out. "What do you mean you're not coming back?" she asked.
"Like we said, we've got to go the digital world," Takato explained.
"You have to do nothing of the sort," Miss Asaji said. She suddenly blinked and then looked from each one to the next. "Wait a minute; are you the children that were seen with the Digimon?"
"You talking about us?" Terriermon asked as he and Labramon walked over to join the group.
Miss Asaji took a terrified step backwards.
"They're harmless," Kimiko said, petting Labramon behind the ear and smiling as Terriermon climbed his way up onto her shoulder, ears long ears wrapping around her in a sense of warmth and comfort.
"Miss Asaji, we didn't want you to worry," Jerri said, sweetly. "We couldn't just leave without saying anything to you."
"And you don't want us around," said Kazu, hands behind his head. "We're nothing but trouble."
"Speak for yourself," Kimiko muttered.
"Is this supposed to be funny?" Miss Asaji yelled. "How do you think this makes me feel? You're all - you're my responsibility. Those creatures could be dangerous; they could have rabies, and who will take care of you? For goodness sake you're only kids. You can't even get through PE without getting hurt." She started to cry, her whole body shaking as she clutched the notebooks tightly in her hands.
Takato stepped forward. "We know you care about us, Miss Asaji," he said. "But we were meant to do this. You don't have to worry; we're going to go tell our parents right now. So we'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else until tomorrow?"
"I promise we'll be fine," Jerri said.
"And besides," said Kazu. "I'll be there to keep an eye on them."
"We're supposed to be making her feel better," Kimiko said. "Not worse."
Kazu frowned.
"You can't..." Miss Asaji said, looking from each child to the next.
Terriermon leaned across Kimiko's shoulder. "Come on, lady," he said. "Momenti."
"Huh?" Miss Asaji frowned.
"Momenti," Henry repeated. "It means don't worry."
Kimiko nodded. "We wouldn't be going if it weren't important," she said. "Our friend was taken, and if the bad Digimon use him to become stronger then all of this -" she gestured to the surrounding area, "won't matter; because it won't be here."
Miss Asaji stared at the blonde.
"Goodbye, Miss Asaji," Takato said. The six students bowed and turned away from their teacher. She knew that she should've stopped them, but there was nothing she could do or say to make them stay. Their minds had been made up, and she knew better than anyone how stubborn children could be.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Rika couldn't believe it. But then again, neither could Kimiko. They had searched every inch of the city looking for a portal to the digital world and all along it had been hidden beneath Guilmon's hideout. Apparently the giant dinosaur had found it while scavenging for food the night before.
"Guilmon, I don't know how you managed to get to it without a bulldozer, but I'm impressed," Henry said, complementing the dinosaur.
"Why thank you," Guilmon replied.
"Man, we are so going to party," Kazu said, excitedly.
"Can we barbecue there?" Kenta asked.
"We're there on a mission," Jerri snapped. "Uh... not fun."
Kazu and Kenta frowned.
"Hold it," Rika interrupted. "You guys don't even have partners. So why are you going again?"
"Why should you get to have all the fun?" Kazu asked, hotly. "We're coming so we can find our own partners, and you can't stop us. Right?"
"Right," Kenta agreed.
Kimiko and Rika exchanged hopeless glances. Neither one of them saw the point in Kazu and Kenta tagging along, but both knew they were powerless to stop them.
"OK, troops, we meet here tomorrow at 0600 hours," Takato said, taking charge. "We'll embark on a perilous journey into a dimension thwart with danger unknown to man, so remember to pack a toothbrush. To adventure!"
"Yeah!" the others agreed.
As the others walked away, Kimiko lingered back. Henry noticed and frowned. "Aren't you going home?" he asked.
Kimiko shook her head.
"Why not?" Henry asked. "Don't you need to call your mom?"
"Already did," Kimiko said. "I talked to her this morning before school and explained the whole situation. She was, surprisingly, OK with it."
"You told her everything?"
"Almost," Kimiko nodded.
"So, why aren't you going home?"
Kimiko sighed. "Now Hypnos has been destroyed the only place my father can hide is at home," she explained. "We're not exactly on speaking terms right now, and I don't want to see the consequences of being inadvertently involved in the destruction of Hypnos."
"You didn't destroy Hypnos," Henry assured her.
"I know," Kimiko said. "But the Digimon did, and to Dad that's good enough. I'm just going to head home; to the place I share with my Mum." She forced a smile. "I'll see you in the morning."
She started to walk away but Henry caught her hand. "The first place the authorities are going to look is your mum's place," he said. "If they catch you there, they'll take you back to your dad. If you're staying with a friend, you'll have a solid alibi, and besides, I live in your father's apartment complex."
"Thanks, Henry," said Kimiko. "But what about your parents?"
"They'll understand," Henry said, starting to walk away. "At least, my dad will."
Kimiko smiled and followed him.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Suzie stared, bug-eyed at Labramon as the shaggy blonde dog sat at the foot of the sofa. She had seen the dog before but never for this long or up close. Looking beyond Labramon, Suzie spotted Kimiko and a big smile spread across her face. "Kimi!" she squealed running around the sofa and attaching herself to the blonde's leg.
Kimiko laughed as Henry rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Hey, Suzie," Kimiko said, kneeling down so she was level with the toddler. "Whatcha doing?"
"You play with me?" Suzie asked.
"Sure, what do you wanna play?"
"Pwincess," Suzie said, excitedly. She dashed off to pull out her collection of tiara's and a sparkly blue dress. She held it up to Kimiko along with a silver tiara.
Kimiko helped Suzie into the dress and set the tiara carefully amongst her chestnut locks. "Princess Suzie," she declared. "Your public waits." She held the little girls' hand and walked her around the sofa, lifting her lightly and perching her on the cushions. "What's your first decree, M'lady?"
Suzie giggled and carefully stood up. "I want to ride the pony," she said, pointing at Labramon.
"She's not a pony, Suzie," Henry sighed.
"Aw, come on, Henry, use your imagination," Kimiko said. "Labramon?"
Labramon stood alongside the sofa and allowed Suzie to climb onto her back. She trusted the small child to not pull at her fur, and was careful enough to not let her slide off her sides. But no matter how much she trusted her partner, Kimiko held Suzie and walked alongside her as Labramon paced around the room.
Mrs. Wong stuck her head into the living room to announce dinner would be ready soon, and smiled as she saw Kimiko playing with her daughter. Mrs. Wong was the first person to admit that she had been surprised when Henry had first brought Kimiko home, but the more she got to know the young girl, the more she liked her.
"Thanks, Mom," Henry said and his mother disappeared back into the kitchen.
"You know you have to tell her, don't you?" Kimiko asked, as Labramon returned Suzie to the sofa. The blonde lifted the toddler into the air and carefully set her down again. "You can ride Labramon again later, Suzie, there's something we need to tell you."
Suzie looked wide-eyed at Kimiko and then at Henry as he joined Kimiko in front of the sofa.
"Are you sure we should tell her?" Henry asked. "She's just a baby."
"We're not going to be here for some time, Henry," Kimiko said. "Who knows how long it's going to take us to find Calumon. She deserves to know that her big brother isn't going to be around, she might worry and become scared, you don't want that, do you?"
Henry sighed and looked down at his sister. She was already looking scared and confused, and they hadn't told her anything yet. What if she didn't understand? What if she freaked out? He didn't want to upset her.
Kimiko squeezed Henry's hand, startling him. He felt better explaining the situation with her beside him; it made him feel at ease.
"OK," Henry sighed, linking his fingers around Kimiko's and holding her hand firmly. It was the first time they had held hands as friends, and it made his heart jolt slightly in his chest. He could get used to it, if he were ever brave enough to admit his true feelings. "Suzie, Kimiko and I are going on a trip tomorrow."
"A trip," Suzie cried out, excitedly. "What fun? One day I'll be a big girl and go on trips with my friends too."
"Yeah," Henry said. "But there is something else you should know."
"What's that?" Suzie asked.
Terriermon jumped up onto Labramon's back and waved his ear at Suzie. "Yep, I'm not a doll, Suzie," he said. "I'm a lean, mean, Digi-machine, not princess pwetty pants."
Labramon snorted.
"Although that does have a ring to it," Terriermon added. "Try not to miss us too much when we're gone, OK?"
Suzie gasped and looked from Terriermon to Henry, and then to Kimiko to Labramon.
Kimiko smiled as she saw the small cogs inside Suzie's head turning. "Yeah, Suzie, Labramon's more than just a dog," she said, nodding. "She's a Digimon too."
Labramon lifted her head. "Hey, Suzie," she barked.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Suzie," Henry apologised. "Look, I sent Dad an email, but it's a surprise, so don't tell anyone before we leave, OK?"
"We're going stealth," said Terriermon. "Like shadows."
"TERRIERMON!" Suzie squealed, launching herself at the bunny.
Kimiko gasped and rushed to catch her before she could fall off the side of the sofa, but Labramon was faster and nabbed the toddler by the back of her dress with her teeth, lifted her up and set her back on the sofa. All the while Suzie clutched Terriermon tightly in her arms.
Henry laughed nervously as he watched his little sister almost smother his partner in a hug, and turned to Kimiko. "Now what do I do?" he asked.
"Leave her alone," Kimiko said.
"I need him... alive."
Kimiko rolled her eyes. "She's a kid, Henry, she'll get bored eventually and leave him alone," she said.
"You clearly don't know my sister."
"Loosen up," Kimiko said, nudging him. "This could've been a lot worse."
Henry sighed, realising she was right.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
The next morning Henry and Kimiko met with the others at the hideout. Rika was already there with Renamon and Guilmon, and Jerri, Leomon, Kazu and Kenta weren't that far behind. The only one not present was Takato.
"Here they come," Labramon barked as she picked up the scent of the rest of their group. As soon as they were near enough, Rika zeroed in on Kazu's backup and rolled her eyes.
"We're only planning on being gone a few days," she said. "What did you pack, Kazu, you're whole room?"
"Eh, lighten up," Kazu said.
"Hey, guys, where's Takato?" Jerri asked, noticing the absence of their friend.
"I don't know," Guilmon said. "Maybe he's playing hide and seek."
"Or maybe he just slept late," Rika said, annoyed.
Kimiko bit back a laugh as she jumped up onto the wall outside of the hideout. She wouldn't have put it past Takato to have slept late; he wasn't exactly the most punctual of the whole group. Thankfully he hadn't slept late, and was only running behind the others due to the enormous backpack full of food on his shoulders.
"Here comes the cavalry," Takato called, running down the path towards his friends. He wielded the flag he had created for the team with a few additional pictures embroided on the side.
Kazu frowned as he spotted the flag. "What the heck is that?" he asked.
"I think it's us," Kenta said, stating the obvious.
"I'm not that ugly," Kazu implored.
"It's a Tamers flag," Takato declared.
"Not this again," Kimiko sighed.
"I think it's wonderful," Jerri said.
Takato blushed. "Aw, thanks," he grinned.
"Wonderful?" Kazu repeated. "I got no nose."
The others laughed as Kazu pouted and grumbled about Takato's drawing.
Suddenly Labramon started to snarl, her attention drifted away from the tamers and towards the hideout. Her muzzle drew back, revealing her canines.
Kimiko frowned. "Labramon, what is it? What's wrong?" she asked.
"Is it another Digimon?" Kenta asked.
"I hope not," said Takato.
The bush outside of the hideout rustled and the Tamers looked up, shocked to see Mitsuo Yamaki stepped out in front of them.
Kimiko took a hesitant step backwards. "Dad...?" she gasped.
"What do you want?" Henry asked, stepping in front of Kimiko and shielding her from her father. A notion that didn't go amiss by Yamaki.
"So," Yamaki said, hands in his pockets, "are you kids taking off?"
"You come to try and stop us?" Takato asked. "Because you can't. We've all got permission to leave."
"Not all of you," Yamaki said, looking to his daughter. He shook his head.
"I have permission," Kimiko replied. "I spoke to Mum yesterday. I told her everything, about them -" she pointed to her friends, "about her -" she pointed at Labramon, "the only thing I didn't tell her about was you; I thought maybe you'd prefer to do that yourself. But she gave me permission, so I knew I didn't need to ask you, so you can't stop me."
Yamaki sighed and nodded. "You're right," he said. "But I still can't let you leave... at least not without this." He tossed her a black box, complete with a stylus.
Kimiko caught it quickly and turned it over in her hands, staring at the LED screen and then looking up at her father. "A com device?" she asked. "Why are you giving us this?"
"How else are we supposed to keep in touch?" Yamaki asked, removing his sunglasses.
"I, uh, I don't understand..." Kimiko stammered, confused. What did this mean?
Yamaki sighed. "I know we've got a long way to go towards a stable relationship, Kimiko," he admitted. "But this is my olive branch to you, to all of you, if there is anything you need, this will patch you straight through to me, and I'll do everything I can to get you what you ask."
Despite her earlier feelings towards her father, Kimiko couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips. "Thanks, Dad," she said.
Yamaki nodded. "Now, go get 'em," he said.
The others nodded and started their long journey into the hideout, down the rocky tunnel and through the portal into the Digital World.
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Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated 05th August, 2016 at 02:58pm