Chapter 8 : Little Step
"Wha...?"
Ruki almost left speechless seeing a stack of three chocolate bar with a small bouquet of roses beside it. While she's not really hate the idea, she quite surprised that her own mother help a lot by choosing the good quality and brands of both items. Speaking of her mother, miss rumiko just about to go out with her colleagues for dinner and walk past ruki. The older woman quickly aware that her daughter not too fond about this little gift.
Tapping her shoulder, she quickly got her attention. "What's the matter dear? I thought you're the one who want him to stay" She said before taking a sip of water. "If he will stay with us, then he's one of us now and that means we can't treat him like an outsider. These isn't too much for request either, it just an everyday snacks, plus he ask me politely so.. there is no reason not to" She shrugs at her daughter.
Ruki shake her head, quite annoyed. "You make him watch rom-com too much with you" Reply her cold while gesturing her hand at the room that got tv in it. "He's trying to apologize, not dating her"
It cause miss rumiko to giggle, her daughter isn't wrong, this kind of 'gift' also used for that kind of things. "Well, it's his choice, and this isn't a bad choice. For a lonely digimon who seclude himself, this is a good thing. Beside, the other digimon isn't as mature as him, well he... just trust him for this one, it seems that he want to fix this himself" She grab her purse and about to leave when she turn to ruki again. "I come back very late, you know what to do"
Ruki give a nod as her mother leave the house, then sit near those chocolate and the bouquet. She already heard his plan, in fact impmon ask her first about juri's house and her routine. While she doesn't know much about it, ruki give some general schedule for a girl like her. When she want to ask juri herself, he quickly beg her not to ask juri, so ruki thought he's not ready yet. Turns out he got another things to prepare, even asking her mother first. Suddenly, renamon materialized in front of her and checking the bouquet.
"Don't do that inside the house, especially in front of mom" Her partner skill might be useful in certain situation and looks impressive, but it will surprise everyone who doesn't familiar with her. Even her own mother barely see renamon fight.
There is not much response from renamon except a nod, the vixen eyes fixated on the bouquet then take a glance at her tamer. It's easy to guess who need these flowers and chocolate but she isn't so sure about this, despite living with ruki for some years by now, she can't fully understand human inside out even when she spare some of her time to observe them. While she is the one who agree to him about this kind of gift, renamon didn't expect him to be this fast when he asked her about it few days ago.
Grabbing the bouquet, renamon show it better at her tamer. "Is this a good one?"
"Roses always been like that" Reply ruki to the vixen, frowned from that question.
Renamon shake her head. "For me, or as digimon, i find this beautiful, but this isn't for me"
Ruki chuckle from that. "Mom choose that, it's more than enough" She said with full confidence before she smirk to renamon. "Don't worry, sooner or later he'll get one for you" They rarely joking like this but ruki want to see her reaction, though renamon's expression didn't change much and she's not saying any word, she can see her ears moving up, showing some interest on that idea. She even wait for renamon to show more reaction, but it's hard to dig that up from her.
"Good, he still in your bedroom, stressed out about this" Says renamon who trying to divert the topic.
"Shut up!" In a moment impmon walk to them, joining them on dinner table. "Shut your mouth foxy, i'm not stressed out, i'm not.. i'm not stressed out" That's only make both ruki and renamon sigh, he even tried to deny this problem.
Once again ruki offer to help him talk with juri again, but he decline that. Then renamon gently tap his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Don't be scared, she would be happy to see you again" Instead of smiling or become more optimistic, impmon put his face on the table, he got no confidence on this matter. Then renamon pet his head until impmon raise his face again, this method always work every time he got a nightmare and this time isn't any different. "Then why you insisted to do this alone? Hmm?" Her question makes both impmon and ruki look at her.
After a minute or two, impmon showing some displeased or annoyed look to renamon. "Then what? She just gonna forgive me not because i earn that, can't you see yourself? You two are scary. No one can really argue your decision except that google-head, well his brain isn't that much different from his partner so.." He said with a little tilt on his head at the end. Both quickly understand what he meant and his remarks even make ruki chuckle a bit, she's not even angry from that.
Moving closer to impmon, ruki smile to him. "Okay, you still not believing her that she really forgive you. Sure, that's fine" She grabs those gift and put it on his hands. "Now, go ask her yourself. I won't interfere" Impmon smile back and nod before making his way to juri's house. After impmon can't be seen from her house, ruki look at renamon, confused. "Well, i thought you want to see it yourself" The vixen shook her head and it seems they have the same idea. "I can't believe we let him doing that alone, but... maybe this is the best for him" She said while walking to her room, followed by renamon.
The weather tonight is surprisingly friendly compared to couple days ago, or his body is just at better condition, or both. His can't stop thinking about what's gonna happen next, he already trying to get his words ready but those preparation is lost after renamon sweet talk before. Even if she would be happy to see him again, his often nightmare still there, clouding his mind with bad thought. But one thing to be sure for now, there is gabumon to protect juri if something bad happen.
Impmon stop for a moment and shook his head. "Come on! Stop!" Frustrated by his own thought, impmon taking some deep breath. He learn from renamon about meditation, though he can't fully grasp the concept, focusing on his own breathing can help when renamon or ruki not around to calm him down. "Please, not now... not in front of her.." In the middle of that, he can sense a bio-emerging that happen very often. Usually ruki and renamon will handle some those that close to their house, this apply to every tamer that got one near their position, but some will come in pair cause not everyone is that strong. He never help on those, ruki always force him to stay cause he's not ready yet even if he just want to help, she never said that he can't but fighting another digimon with his current problem will hurt no one but himself. When he lift his head, he can see that the bio-emerging is on juri's house direction and off he go. It's not about his plan or repenting right now, she could be in grave danger.
Impmon see it still going in the narrow street after about ten minutes, this could be a dragged fight and juri might be in danger. When he can see gabumon and juri, he got a sense of relief but he also see a gekomon stand across them. With no hesitation, impmon create fireballs on each of his finger, throwing those at the gekomon direction. "Get away from her!" Yell impmon to that frog-like digimon, his anger already taking over him and he stand between them. He can see gekomon terrified and confused, making him smirk as he thought the digimon scared with the number disadvantage. Before impmon could throw another attack, his right hand grabbed by gabumon.
"Impmon! Calm down, it's not like what you think" Gabumon trying his best to prevent impmon from attacking again by holding his hands.
With the enemy still there, impmon trusting his instinct and pull his hands from gabumon. "What are you doing!? That digimon could-" His words stopped when he see to the direction of that gekomon. Juri already stand beside that gekomon, she seems to comforting the scared gekomon, everything is confusing for impmon. Why would juri trying to befriend that digimon? Even if a digimon looks tame and cute, one still muster scary power for humans, just like him.
Gabumon hold impmon's hands again, still unsure if the purple rookie really grasp the situation. "This not like what you think impmon, calm down okay, just calm.. down.. take a deep breath, everything is fine" His grip isn't that strong for now, but he will add pressure if impmon trying to attack again.
Those words stop impmon, he stare at gabumon for a moment and then looking at juri, with sigh he nod to gabumon. Now he feels very bad after his action. Impmon walk back to grab the bouquet and chocolate that lying on the ground, at least the chocolate is fine. He stand beside gabumon with while watching the gekomon goes back to digital world and the digital field dissapear, there was nothing bad to begin with but he just jump into the conclusion very quick. As juri walk to them, impmon couldn't even look at her, scared. Already learning about their past, gabumon shake impmon's body a bit and it seems to work as impmon lift his face to see her.
Presenting the bouquet and the gift box, he apologize to juri. "I'm sorry.."
The gift is a bit dirty from the snow but juri still happy to receive that. "Let's talk at my house before we catch cold" With that they change the venue first.
Years ago when d-reaper still on rampage, juri got a family problem that helped d-reaper to manipulate her, but she tried to reconcile after the event of d-reaper attack with the help from her tamer friends. At first it's rough for the girl especially after losing her mother and digimon partner, her father isn't close to her but that finally broken when he tried to save her from d-reaper, now she even accept her father's new wife as stepmother. The event of d-reaper also bring her family closer into digimon's event since she was a tamer, their ties with digimon and hypnos also goes even deeper when she met gabumon through another visit to digital world. Her broken digivice got fixed with the help of digignome, sealing their bond as new partner.
"Dig in, don't be shy" Said juri to impmon, she serve three warm milk after they come to her house. "Don't worry, they asleep and my dad won't be home for work tonight" Impmon didn't come in from the front door, juri already agree to ruki about hiding him and they will do that until impmon himself wish to comes out.
While juri clean the bouquet and change her clothes that got dirty from the snow, gabumon keep impmon company, sitting beside him. "Come on, it's not your fault" Gabumon take a sip of his cup of warm milk, hoping this will help impmon not to feel awkward and rude since he drink first. But impmon still reluctant to get it and choose to wait juri.
Since juri take a long time, impmon start talking to gabumon, not just to know him better but also trying to push this awkward feelings away. "You like it here?" He said while looking at her room.
"Of course! why wouldn't i?" Gabumon so stocked but quickly cover his mouth, he almost forget that it's already late night, juri's mother and brother already asleep. He then start talking but not as loud as before. "I only heard human this human that save both worlds with their digimon partner, i never thought i got a human partner myself"
Watching gabumon excited about it, impmon want to hear more, especially about the digital world again. Since he seclude himself, he never once go back to that place again. "How did you meet her?"
"Well, she and her friends travel to see the four holy sovereign. Then-"
Before gabumon could even start his story, juri comes in wearing a pyjamas, like ready to sleep. The teen girl aware that gabumon stop when she comes in and pat his head. "I want to hear it too fluff~" She giggle a bit, then turn to see impmon, he looks so shy. "It's going to turn cold, come on" This time, impmon feels obligated to do it so he drink half of it. It's warm and sweet, he likes it but he's too nervous to actually enjoying it.
Looking at the two, gabumon know where this is going. "Juri, should i-"
"No. Stay." Impmon cut them before juri could reply him. "I... want you to know as well" He said calmly. "Cause you are her partner, you should know this"
They move to bed, juri and impmon sit face to face while gabumon a bit back from juri, giving them some space. Juri let impmon have the first word but he doesn't say anything after minute or two, he's too nervous and scared. Not much option for juri, at least not much that cross her thought right now. She knew impmon want to talk about their past already but it seems that impmon himself isn't fully ready for this. While she want to comfort him by saying some words, that could make he feel his effort discounted, she knew he doesn't want anyone to feek sorry for him. Everyone who knows him can see that after talking with him.
After about five to ten awkward minutes, impmon start talking as he feel like he's making them wait too long. He bow down his head a bit to juri. "Juri, i.. am sorry... I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that i.. killed leomon" To speak out that digimon name is very hard, but he need to say that, all of this start to spiraled down when he plunged his claw into leomon's body. "I absorb his data after killed him, I won't sugarcoat that. If i can, i want gabumon to take it from me. But i..."
Juri and gabumon eyes widen when they hear that, she then move closer to hug impmon, only for a moment before letting go. "It's enough, i forgive you a long time ago. I just regretted not to check that sewer sooner" When she smile, he can tell it is a genuine one.
Impmon almost in tears but some part of his pride is still there to keep him composed. "Thank you juri, thank you" Though she already said that on the sewers and not just once, he still almost can't believe it. But this is not enough for impmon, this won't fix anything he's done before. "Juri, about his power i want him to-"
"No." Reply Juri short and firm, her expression slightly changed but she still smiling. "Keep his data, i trust you with it. Last time you used that, you almost saved-You used that for good deed! For a good deed, that's all that matter" Her tongue almost slipped and mention his fail again, this could end up like the time in the sewer again so she quickly trying to move past it. "Everyone know you like playing with fire, so his power is more suitable for you" She says, hoping this enough for him to accept that power.
Impmon nod, if juri okay with it then he won't push this idea too far, maybe he talk about this with her again when juri changed her mind. But either way he won't pressure the girl, watching leomon's power might bring bad memories as well. "Then... what now? I never expect it goes so fast like this" The nervous is almost gone but he still puzzled to choose the right topic.
"I want to talk about your nightmare first" Reply juri.
Impmon eyes widen and look away from juri, ashamed of himself. For a moment he wonder how she knew that. "You two talk a lot huh?" While he knows that ruki and juri obviously talking to each other, he's not expecting one of it is about his nightmare. "Am i that pathetic? I'm sorry if it's bothering you"
Grabbing his hands, juri trying to get his full attention again, patting his hands until impmon looking back at her. "It's a problem and we need to solve it, you don't need to be ashamed from that. I know how nightmare can be haunt you all the time, i know that from experiencing it myself" Juri doesn't need to say why she got that, cause it's a mixed of her mother and leomon death. Leomon death also the reason of his nightmare but the different perspective making it difficult to make an approach from there. "I want you to know that renamon just want to help you when she told ruki and me, so don't mad at her okay" To her surprise impmon nod and smile to her, she start to wonder if mentioning renamon rather a good thing than she initially expected.
"I'm fine, i swear, ya don't need to worry about that" Despite his best try to act strong, both juri and gabumon can see that there still a doubt from impmon himself. After failing to act tough, impmon sigh and spill his worries. " ButJuri.. i still scared that it happen again, just like in my nightmare. That's why i come to you to get some peace" Tears can be seen in the corner of his eyes, but he quickly wipe it off. "Renamon and Ruki always there for me but i know i need more help, so i come here. You may said that you forgive me but i can't just believe it like that, not when i did nothing to fix the problem that i caused"
When they watch impmon almost in tears, gabumon move closer while juri just watch him. It seems that gabumon got the same feeling as her when he stroke impmon's back, trying to ease up the purple imp. "Okay impmon, if you insist on fix that, tell me what you want to do" Juri already acknowledge his effort to saved her years ago, even using leomon's technique in desperation. She just play along to comfort him right now, if it can help impmon then it's a win-win for everyone.
Impmon finally showing some relief after talking about his nightmare. "I... don't know.. i don't even digivolve for some time and you got him to protect you. But i'll try my best if you need me. Can i ask one more thing? No, i mean.. some?" He says with awkward chuckle. "Can i come here, like.. to play or just chat maybe?"
"Chat? You still can't believe that i forgive you?" Ask her back, frowned by his question.
Impmon shake his head. "No, i just bored and renamon looks worried about me even though she's not saying much. I just thinking if i come to your place then she less worried about me" He then tilt his head to gabumon and smile "He's not even start his story to me as well, i want to know what's changed in digital world and this world"
Juri rarely seen gabumon excited like this, she know these two will get along well. "Anytime you like, but i suggest to ask ruki first. If you still want to hide of course" She get up to pick the gift from impmon, it's a little red box and she got three bar of chocolate. "Where did you get this impmon? It's not a cheap one either"
"Really? I ask for help, i'm not stealing these snacks juri" He glad that juri just giggle and believe his words so he doesn't even need to say it's from miss makino. "Is it a bad one?"
Juri only pointing at gabumon, the rookie already eat one of it and currently tying to open the second. "It's so sweet!" Gabumon clearly likes it so impmon didn't need to ask her again. This scene also remind him of guilmon, if he need to feed him then a dozen of gift boxes wouldn't be enough. Maybe he will meet the red reptile soon enough, but his nightmare might say otherwise.
Looking at the clock, impmon bid farewell for today, juri need some rest and he also need it himself. He leave via window on her room and stand on a branch before leaving. "Goodnight juri"
"Goodnight impmon, be careful on the way okay"
On the way home, impmon quite surprised that renamon wasn't following him, especially when she always look after him since he live with her. He stop for a moment and sigh. "Now she's not even..." Looking at the sky, he started to wonder why he act like that. But he quickly push that thought aside for now, starting to think about what's he gonna do for tomorrow. Talking with juri lift a lot of the cloud in his mind, but the extra space now filled with curiosity, how much did he miss when he live by himself? There still a lot of things he didn't understand, but he know there are friends that can help him. "Yeah, i should ask him first, where's the fun if i ask her~" Impmon already set his next plan.