Digimon Adventure Chapter 19: Scars of the Past

By Bluestar076

Hello everyone! Bluestar here with a new chapter! How is your summer doing? Mine is giving some satisfactions here and there. I've started to run and lose weight, I've finally found new concentration for writing my stories and finally, after three years, this story had finally received its first review! YAAAAY! I really thank ZenoZen (Who's also following my Fate story) for this. Thank you, Zeno! I hope you'll like the rest of the story!

As for today's chapter, this one will be focused more on one of the protagonists! And we'll also see her backstory! I've prepared some intriguing scenes for this one and I hope that you'll like it! This chapter had gone through several changes, but overall, I think it went still pretty well! Maybe it became one of my favorites! So let's not waste more time and as always, enjoy!

Note: I do not own Digimon. All rights and characters belong to Bandai and Toei Animation. Also, this is a fantasy story. All references to real people, groups, places, laws, names and marks are completely casual.


Chapter 19: Scars of the Past

Yatsura Hida was born on 17th September of 2019 in the city of San Francisco. His father was Iori Hida, one of the group of Chosen Children in 2002, while her mother was Teto Hidori(later called Teto Hida), a notable Japanese stylist.

Ever since childhood, Yatsura had a good and normal life thanks to her parents' jobs. Iori Hida was a lawyer, a work he chose to get since he wanted to follow the footsteps of his deceased father (Who was a policeman). His sense of justice ended up being inherited in Yatsura as well, who didn't stand against bad or unforgivable actions.

"Ok, dad! I'm going now!" Yatsura said before heading to school. "Ok! Take care" Iori said from his car before leaving.

Even in school, Yatsura had an overall nice life. She had high grades and many trustable friends. Even the bullies didn't want to annoy her because they were afraid of his father's job. For her, life was simple, but with lots of satisfaction. Even though there was something that she didn't like at all.

"Oh! Teacher! I know the answer! I know the answer!" Yatsura said loudly to her teacher one day. "Urusei Yatsura! Lower your voice!" The teacher replied.

"Eh? WUAAAAAAH!" The little girl started to cry, making the teacher feel sorry. "Oh, I did it again? Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!" The woman said. Even her classmates tried to comfort the little girl.

A thing Yatsura never liked was her name, which was seemingly normal, since It meant 'they' in Japanese. But she would always ended up crying or feeling bad when they made a joke to make her lower her voice or shut her up.

Her name actually came from a popular manga and anime series from the 80s called 'Urusei Yatsura'. It was her mother that gave her the name 'Yatsura', since she liked the show as a child. But that same show would have become a terrible catchphrase for the little girl. Yatsura had the defect of always speaking loud and too much, and the other people, in order to make her lower voice usually told her 'Urusei Yatsura' (Which technically means 'shut up Yatsura') as a joke that cited the famous series. This was a thing that terribly annoyed Yatsura every time, but at the same time…she accepted it since she could understand why they made that joke, so it wasn't a thing that emotionally hurt her and as such, the little girl had always a happy mood, but still, it was something that always annoyed her.

In short, Yatsura couldn't be happier for the life she had. Especially for two dear friends for her. The first one was her Digimon partner Upamon, who would have lately become a Veemon and then ExVeemon. Her partner was almost always there, even in school, always ready to comfort her. And the second one was a human, another girl.

"Yatsura! I'm here!" She said while waving her hand. This was Maki Katsuragi. A girl with long black hair and red eyes, and Yatsura's best friend. "Maki! You've waited for me again!" The young girl said, all happy to see her friend. "Of course! Best friends never leave each other, right?" Maki asked. "Right!" Yatsura replied before holding her hand and starting to walk along with her.

Yatsura and Maki were one of the most adorable couple of friends someone could ever see. They were like a plate of pasta and tomato sauce. They were used to do most things together and helped each other when needed. It was almost like they were sisters, even if that wasn't the type.

One evening, the two girls were having a picnic under a tree with Upamon, who was sleeping near the food basket. A normal day like others. "Hmmmm! So good! Your mom is the best at cooking, Maki!" Yatsura said after eating a small sandwich. "Mama would be happy to hear that! So, how are you doing at school?" Maki then asked. In that moment, the other little girl made a frown and looked elsewhere. "They always make that stupid joke of my name! It's just so annoying!" She complained.

"Aw, come on, don't say this! It's just a funny joke! You don't have to take it so seriously! I don't think they intend to make fun of you!" Maki said, but Yatsura seemed to be convinced of her words. "It's not fair! There can't be any jokes of your name, and I think they should start calling you Maki Roll!" She said.

"Hey!" Maki answered back. Some seconds of silence…and then the two of them started to laugh. Even in jokes and unpleasant things, those two girls still shared a grand friendship. "I'm glad you're here, Maki. We'll be friends forever right?" Yatsura then asked. "Yes! Forever!" Maki answered back, before she held her friend's pinky, as a sign of promise.

With a loving family, a trustable Digimon as a partner, and the best friend she could ever have, Yatsura could spend her childhood and her early teenage years in happiness. Maybe she was one of the happiest girls in the world. If anyone would have asked her how could she have all that happiness, the girl would have probably answered that…it was pure luck. But she was glad to have that luck. Questions like life or future never crossed her mind, probably because she was happy the way she was. Even though…she, too, had some flaws. She was…kinda paranoic.

One day, when she was 15 years old, she accidentally clashed with an older woman, making her purse fall to the floor. "O-Oh! I-I'm sorry! I didn't see you! I-Is something broken? Maybe I shattered your phone? Or perhaps I ruined your purse!? Please forgive me!" Yatsura exclaimed in panic. "No no, don't worry…it's all right. See?" The woman answered. "O-Oh…glad to see it…eheheh…" Yatsura said while scratching the back of her head. "Calm down, I'm not mad. Just watch where you're going next time." The woman concluded before leaving.

Maybe…it was because she lived with so much happiness that even the smallest error made her panic. She got used to see everything positive that seeing a negative event was something unknown to her, something…scary.

"Yatsura! Did something happen?" In that moment, Maki arrived and noticed her friend having a pale face. "N-Nothing in particular. I just…clashed with someone. It's alright…" Yatsura replied. "And you're agitated for that? Come on! It happens…you just need to be careful! The beach is close! Let's go!" Her friend told her. It didn't take so much to get Yatsura back in good spirits. As long that someone dear to her told her that she was fine, she could be satisfied with little.

The two friends reached the beach and looked at the sun going down while its light was reflected on the sea. "Aaaah! It's so beautiful…" Yatsura commented. "I've always wanted to see this type of sight at least one time. And now I've finally got the chance!" Maki added.

"And you had a great idea, Maki! We've been friends for so long now…and every day we can get to discover something new together." The other girl said. In that moment, even ExVeemon, Yatsura's partner, came out from her Digivice. "That's the good point of friendship, isn't it?" He spoke.

"Woah, I didn't expect you to be here, ExVeemon!" Maki spoke with a giggle. "He's my partner after all, even though he won't stop calling me master for some reason…but I guess he's right! I'm so glad to have both of you as friends!" Yatsura added before hugging both Maki and ExVeemon. "Aww, you're so cute when you act like this!" Maki said.

The three of them stood there, looking at the sunset for some minutes in silence, enjoying the panorama of the beach and the sound of the waves. "…Say, Yatsura, you're now on the second year of high school, right? I know for sure that your grades are high, so I'm certain you'll graduate with no problems!" Maki then said, wanting to break the ice. "But I'm curious…once you finish school…what do you want to do?" She then asked. Yatsura wanted to give an answer…but she soon realized that…

"I…I actually never thought of it…I mean…I have a lot of passions but…this thought actually never crossed my mind…aw man, I hope I won't end up like those grown-ups that still live at their parents' house that don't do nothing and play videogames all day!" She spoke. "Come on, master! You won't end like that! Plus, you suck at videogames…" ExVeemon told her. "Gee, thanks, ExVeemon…" His partner said with a sceptic face.

"Oh! I didn't expect that answer. But I guess it's natural. Not everyone can already have a job they wish to do. But…in my opinion…I think you would be pretty good…at doing a job where you help the others." Maki then said her opinion, which surprised Yatsura. "Help…people?" She asked.

"Yes. Even if you are paranoic, you still can be a reliable person that can bring smiles on the others faces. It's my opinion, and you may do something completely different, but…I think you'd be fantastic on it!" Maki replied.

Those words made Yatsura think a lot about it. Helping people? Really? Was that something…she could do? She never saw herself doing that kind of stuff, plus, she thought she may have been too skinny for this. So hearing Maki, her closest friend, saying something like that…surprised her. Was there really something special in her that made Maki say that?

"Hmmm…maybe I'll think about it. And who knows, maybe one day I'll help you!" Yatsura then said, joking about it. "And what about you Maki? Is there a job you dream to do once you'll graduate?" She then fairly asked.

"Me? Oh well…i actually…wanted to become a chief. As you know, I'm a great fan of Mimi Tachikawa, every time I see her on TV I go crazy for the plates she does! That's why I've started to really appreciate cooking, and I hope to become like her someday!" Maki replied.

"Really? That's wonderful, Maki! I actually got to know her, since my father is a good friend of her. And knowing you, I'm sure that you'll be able to become like her one day!" Yatsura replied.

"Thank you…sometimes…I really am grateful to have you as a friend…" Maki said with appreciation. This made Yatsura smile as well. "…Me too, Maki." She replied.

This made her think of beautiful things. Maybe…one day while she was working, she would have stopped by a famous restaurant owned by Maki and the two would have chatted about their works. Yatsura was certain…that her friendship would have continued for many years, becoming stronger and stronger, thanks to the connection that there was between the two of them.

But…she had to know that…even a person full of joy…would have eventually met a terrible despair.

A year after that discussion, Yatsura and Maki were hanging around in a shopping center. It was night, and the center was full of people. Since it would have been a normal day, Yatsura decided to leave ExVeemon back to the Digital World, since she thought that at least, for one night, there wouldn't have been any type of problems. For the two girls, in the end, it was a day like the others.

"Maaan…I really wanted that jacket…too bad it was expensive." Yatsura said, feeling sad for a jacket she saw on display. "I know, but that's how it works…many fancy clothes cost that ton of money…" Maki answered. "That's not fair! Once I'll finish school, I'll find a work that will give me that amount of money!" Yatsura complained before feeling some disturbance on her blander. "Oh oh…"

"What?" Maki asked. "I have to go to the bathroom…can you wait here?" Yatsura asked. "Of course. See you later!" Her friend answered.

"Thank you." Yatsura replied before going towards the bathroom. It was a simple separation…but…she couldn't know what would have happened next…

After she did her things in the bathroom, the young Chosen Child washed her hands and was ready to leave. "Eheh! It was fun today as well! Now we should find a restaurant and have dinner and then the night will be-" She was going to say something, but she interrupted herself when she heard something from the outside. "…-over…?"

It seemed to be…the sound…of a large boom. "W-What…was that?" She wondered. Her body started to tremble, as the pressure started to raise. For a moment…she didn't want to come out from that bathroom…but she also knew that she couldn't stay in there forever…so, after taking a deep breath…she opened the door…and saw with her eyes what happened.

Chaos.

She could see that there was a good portion of the floor was somehow destroyed by something. There were a lot of flames and smoke and the people inside the center were running away filled with fear. Yatsura immediately got caught by the same sense of panic that everyone had in that moment. "O-Oh…Oh no…OH DEAR LORD!" She shouted.

When she saw the security of the center, the first thing she thought was to run towards them and ask what was going on. "E-Excuse me! What happened!?" She asked. She could see that the security men were evacuating the place. "A bomb exploded on this floor! We think there might be other ones in the center! You must leave too!" One of them answered.

"A-A BOMB!? Oh god…uhm, h-have you seen a girl with long black hair and red eyes!? I fear she could still be here!" Yatsura then asked, worried about Maki's sake, but the security men denied. "O-Ok! Let me search her! Then I'll immediately leave!" The girl said before running away. "NO! WAIT!" The security men tried to stop her, but Yatsura was already focused on searching her friend.

She was in total panic, but she couldn't afford to the thought that her friend might be in danger. She then heard another explosion, probably coming from the upper floors, but she didn't care. All that she wanted…was to see her friend.

And after some time…she found her. "YATSURA!" Suddenly Maki called her out. Once she heard her voice, she turned around and immediately ran towards her. "MAKI! LET'S GET OUT OF-" She was going to take her, but suddenly…someone, a man hit Maki on the back with an iron bar before running away "AGH!" Maki fainted for that. "MAKI!" Yatsura shouted. In that moment, she got caught by a terrible sense of anger and started to chase the man that hit her. She may have been not that brave, but she was really fast, and was able to reach and grab the man that hit her friend. "ACK!" The man fell to the ground.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, ASSHOLE!" She shouted. She then noticed that the man was actually wearing a mask, and had some sort of device in his hands. "G-GH! GET OFF ME, STUPID BITCH!" The man tried to get free, but with no effort. "No…don't tell me that you're the one who did this!?" She asked. "YEAH SO WHAT!?" The man protested. But Yatsura didn't want to hear any of that, so she knocked him out with a punch and then stood up. "Call the security!" She said to some other people before running back to Maki.

When she came back, she could see that her friend was still unconscious, and there was a large puddle of blood under her. "MAKI!" She shouted. She then touched her wrist to see if there were any pulsations. Luckily for her, Maki was still breathing. "Oh, thank God…don't worry, I'll get you out of here." Yatsura said before carrying her out of her place.

A few hours later, that terrible situation came to an end. Luckily, the police were able to catch the responsible for the attack and defuse the bombs. It turned out that there were a group of burglars that tried to take all the money inside of the center and the man who hit Maki and got caught by Yatsura was the leader. After Yatsura knocked him out, the rest of that crew got easily caught. But the girl didn't want to know all the story, at least not now. All that she wanted…was to be there…for her friend.

Once the ambulances came by, Yatsura immediately went on the one that grabbed Maki, and came to the hospital.

Due to the attack, she got from that man, Maki had a terrible blood loss, and so, she needed an urgent recovery. Even Yatsura and her parents came by once they've heard of what happened.

Yatsura was there…waiting to hear results. Her heart was now full of fear…sorrow…sadness. She trembled, her eyes were soaked in tears, she held her parents' hands as tight as she could. She sweared, she begged, she prayed for God to make sure that nothing terrible happened. "Please…please…pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasePLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!" She spoke.

"Yatsura! Calm down!" Her mother, Teto, tried to calm her down, but the girl couldn't stop feeling in panic. "HOW CAN I STAY CALM!? SHE COULD DIE FROM ONE MOMENT OR ANOTHER! AND…AND…it's all because of me…" She shouted.

"No, No Yatsura! Don't say things like this! You couldn't know what would have happened!" Iori's partner, Armadimon, tried to reassure her as well. "Yeah, Armadimon is right. You don't have to worry, darling…I'm sure the doctors are doing their best…" Iori added.

The girl didn't know what to say at this point. She was…too scared to even say anything. The fear of losing Maki forever was so great that the only thing she could do…was to sob…and hope for the best…even if she still felt the fault.

She, her parents, and Maki's ones…had to wait a long while before hearing any answer…the wait was terrible…and then…the news arrived.

As soon as the nurse came out of the operation room, everyone raised their head, wanting to know the answer, which was…this.

"The girl is safe." The nurse simply spoke with a smile.

Soon, tears of joy fell from all those people that hoped for the best. Luckily, it seemed that their prayers were listened. Even Yatsura could have a little smile again, as she sobbed much heavier than any other. She didn't know if it was luck or anything else. But she didn't care. For her, hearing that Maki was still alive…was enough.

"She needs to stay at the hospital for some days. She's resting now." The nurse continued. "I see…in that case, let's leave her for now. Let's go home." Teto said to her daughter, who nodded.

The next day…the first thing Yatsura did after school was to go at hospital. the She wanted to see her friend again at all costs. She was still worried for her sake, also because…she couldn't sleep well that night. The girl was still tormented by a strong sense of guilt. Even her schoolmates, and even her partner ExVeemon, noticed that she was feeling more grim than usual. The only thing that would have let her feel better was to see Maki again.

And so, around 10.00 A.M of the morning, Yatsura could enter inside Maki's room, and see her. The girl was simply sitting on her bed, looking at the window. The young Chosen Child could see that she had a bandage around her head, which made her sadder.

Maki turned around and saw her. "Yatsura! I didn't expect you to come!" She said with her usual smile. The other girl couldn't hold herself and hugged her, with the face wet of tears yet again. "O-Oh, Maki…I'm…I'm so happy to see you again…" She spoke.

Her friend couldn't do anything else but smile and hug her back. "Me too…really…" She spoke.

"So…how are you feeling?" Yatsura then asked after the hug. "Are you still…feeling sick?" She added. "No, don't worry. Apart from some dizziness, I'm feeling better." Maki answered before having a deep sigh. "Man…yesterday was sure a great scare for everyone, right?" She then asked.

That question made Yatsura lower her head. "…Yes. Especially for me…i…oh, dammit!" She exclaimed before putting her head on the bed while her body started to tremble. This, of course, alarmed Maki. "H-Hey! Are you ok?" She asked.

"It's all my fault…IT'S ALL MY FAULT IF YOU'RE IN THIS STATE, MAKI! I-If…if I didn't leave to go to the bathroom…now you wouldn't be here…you wouldn't have almost died…I could have protected you from that criminal…and everyone would have been like nothing happened…am…am I really that stupid, Maki!? Am I really that reckless!?" Yatsura explained.

"Urusei Yatsura! Dear lord! Listen…you don't have to beat yourself up for this. Yatsura…it wasn't your fault…really…you just had to go to the bathroom…you couldn't know what would have happened in that moment. You were just a victim…like the others." Maki said, trying to calm down by using the joke the girl always heard ever since she was born. "Plus…I've heard what you've did from my parents. Not only you knocked down that guy that caused the attack, but…you also carried me outside the center. So…it's kinda weird hearing you say it was your fault if I'm here when you're the same person that helped me!" She added.

Yatsura stood in silence, bewildered by hearing those words. "I…I really appreciate what you did for me yesterday…you…helped me to feel better. To hear that you had done this much just to make sure I would continue to live…makes me the happiest person in the world…i…I really thank you, Yatsura…i…I really love you so much…" She said with a smile of deep gratitude.

Now, after that, not only Yatsura's face was wet from tears, but she was also losing mucus from her nose. "M-MAKI! YOU'LL BREAK ME DOWN!" She spoke. "Uhm…there are tissues here. Maybe you should use one of them." Maki told her with a giggle. "Oh…right…" The other girl replied before cleaning herself up with a tissue. "I…I don't know if I can feel like you do. I just…just didn't want to lose you. Hey…Maki…" She added.

"Yes, Yatsura?" Maki said.

"Do you…still think I would be good at protecting others?" Yatsura asked. This made Maki laugh a little bit. "H-Hey I'm serious!" Yatsura complained.

"No don't worry! I'm just happy….to hear you ask that. For me…yes…my opinion didn't change. I think you would do a great job. And I've had proof of it yesterday." Maki answered. This…at least made her Yatsura feeling better.

"…Thanks Maki. You're a true friend." She said with a smile, while ExVeemon looked at them outside the room, smiling as well.

Despite everything ended up in a good note, and Maki was able to fully recover from that injury, Yatsura…didn't change that much unfortunately. The attack that occurred at the shopping center, still left her a deep scar in her heart. You could say that it was a deep trauma that she would have remembered for all her life.

After that, she started to become more cautious…and more paranoic than she'd already been. And this of course, caused her to hear the joke she hated so much more often and…this caused her to not have much friends, apart from Maki.

But…at the same time…despite being a more pessimistic person…she…also started to improve herself. Because in the end…what she was able to do that night…also gave her some hope in her heart. Maybe…she wasn't that bad after all, even if she continued to make mistakes. So yeah, she remained the paranoic girl she always had been…but at the same time…she kept on trying to become a better person.

Plus…that opinion that Maki told her…started to become curiosity. Maybe…doing a job that involves protecting other people…wouldn't have been so bad after all. So, after she graduated from school, she tried to get inside the police, but she failed the admission text. And while this demoralized her a little bit…she still continued to find a similar job. Maybe…something would have come out in the future…maybe…she would have done something…to be proud of.


It was night in the city of San Francisco, around 18.30 P.M. The sun already went down, and many lights inside the buildings were already turned on. But one house still had them turned off. That was because, inside of it…a young detective was facing a terrible situation.

Yatsura was locked in her house. Her whole body was trembling, and her head was sweating. Due to an inconsideration, she put herself in one of the most dangerous situations she could ever end up in. Something that would have brought her sake…at high risk.

She was on her couch with a blanket on her head…while she looked at her TV while holding a controller.

"Agh…goddammit…why do I always end up playing games like Resident Evil? I should stop playing these horror games! Then I can't sleep at night! I already have that heart dive; I can't also have nightmares about these sorts of games!" She exclaimed. Even though…she always asked why, despite being so scared of them…she kept on playing. Right now, she was moving the main character in a dark hallway. There weren't zombies or monsters to fight. Only a road of darkness in front of her, and the only sound that could be heard were drops of water falling to the ground.

"Please, don't make a giant monster appear at this point…if I hear a sudden sound my heart would-" She feared that a jumpscare would have appeared from one moment to another…and just when she was going to say that…a song could be heard in her house.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Yatsura shouted out in panic, making ExVeemon coming out from her Digivice. This was showed by the fact that for a moment, the girl was surrounded by a blue aura, from which the blue dragon appeared.

"Yatsura! Is there something wrong!?" ExVeemon asked alarmed. The Chosen Child quickly put the game in pause and looked around her…only to see that someone was calling her on the phone. "O-Oh! It was the phone! Oh God…I've released a shout for nothing…" She said, feeling embarrassed. ExVeemon on the other hand had a sceptic face for what just happened. When she looked at her smartphone, she could see that it was Kyoko that was calling her. "O-Oh! I need to answer!" She then answered to the call. "Uhm…hello?"

"Good evening, Yatsura. I hope I'm not of a disturb to you. But I hope you remember that you have to be here in 30 minutes, right? It seems that we have news from Mister Koushiro!" Kyoko asked from the other side.

"Really? Then I'll be right away! Just give me some time to take the dinner!" Yatsura answered. "Eheh! Glad to hear that! Then we'll see you in a half hour!" Kyoko said before closing the call. "What did she say?" ExVeemon asked. "She said that maybe we have a clue! Let's hurry up!" His partner said, feeling happy for the good news.

After she changed her clothes and turned off the game, she and ExVeemon left the house and started to go towards the Cheshire Cat Agency for another day of work. Until now, the thirteen young detectives and their Digimon were able to make good results, but they still felt like Saiba Rei was still a step forward for them. Now, they had six USB keys that served to go inside the dark barrier that surrounded the government skyscraper, so there were still seven missing. With that said, everyone did their best to track down the remaining mercenaries that were working for the CEO of the Rei Corporation. Maybe this new information they got from Koushiro Izumi would have helped them.

Yatsura was coming closer to the agency while holding a bag of paper, with her dinner inside. "Man…sure that thing makes me hungry…" ExVeemon commented. "Don't worry! I can give you some of them when we arrive!" His partner said. "Oh dear...I almost forgot that we had the night shift today…I usually don't like them, but this time I have to be grateful for that, since I was getting scared to death for that game…" She added.

"Then why do you play them if they scare you?" ExVeemon fairly asked. "Because they have a wonderful story! Sure, the Resident Evil timeline is complicated, but they always have a good story to tell! My favorite always remains the third one!" Yatsura answered. "Don't make me remember it, master…when you saw the Nemesis for the first time, you ran to the bathroom and stood there for at least three hours…" The blue dragon then remembered another one of Yatsura's embarrassing episodes related to their discussion.

"H-HEY, I WAS SCARED!" The girl shouted. "Dammit…you still remember that…"

"I couldn't remember a reaction like that…oh hey! We arrived!" ExVeemon then noticed that they were in front of the Cheshire Cat Agency. Since it was night, the lights were already turned on. "It's amazing how you can change the subject so quickly, ExVeemon…" Yatsura said with an annoyed tone before opening the door.

When they entered, it was just like every other regular day at the agency. In fact, they could already hear someone complaining.

"Dammit! Stupid machine! You better work or you'll have to face the wrath of a hammer! And I'm sure you don't like hammers!"

"Wow…I've just entered, and I already hear someone in a bad mood…man this surely is the Cheshire Cat Agency…" Yatsura commented. "And that's not a good thing…"

"Oh! Welcome, Yatsura! You've arrived just in time!" In that moment, Rikka and Leppamon came by and saluted their friends. "Hey Rikka! Uhm…what's happening exactly?" Yatsura then asked.

"Aria can't make the coffee machine work. She's complaining about it for around five minutes." Kasai, who was sitting on the couch eating pickles, answered for her. "And she's starting to get annoying. Good grief…"

"I can understand her, actually…without that, I can't make my coffees! And to think that I just came up with a new recipe…" Kyoko added after entering. What she said made all the members inside the room shiver with fear, since they knew well of what she was capable of. "O-Oh…w-what a…shame…" Yatsura said, trying to hide her irony.

"Oh well…guess you'll pass this time." Kyoko said resigned. In that moment, even Tsuna passed by. "Oh, Tsuna! Good timing! It seems that the coffee machine has some problems. Can you see if you can fix it?" The leader of the Cheshire Cat Agency then asked. "Oh, for fuck's sake, again!? It's already the third time that junk has a problem this week! It must be broken!" Tsuna complained.

"Please, Tsuna. You know Aria can be unbearable if she can't have her coffee…" Kasai asked, making the other detective snort. "Fine…and to think I was going to start a new case…at least Miss Aria will be satisfied." He said before leaving.

"It's been a few days since she's starting to call her 'Miss Aria'…" Yatsura noticed. "Who knows…maybe something has been born inside of him!" Rekka tried to guess.

"Oh…I see…" Yatsura simply spoke. "…Master?" ExVeemon asked. "No, it's nothing!" His partner quickly answered. In that moment, Veedramon noticed the bag she was carrying. "Hey! You've got something from Mc Donald's! Alright! Do you have some for me?" He asked hopeful.

"Uhm…no. This is my dinner." Yatsura simply replied. "Ah gee…I've tried. Can I have another pickle?" Veedramon then asked to her partner, who gave him another pickle.

"So…you've said that there was actually good news for tonight. What's about it?" Yatsura then asked. "Oh, right! You still need to see it. Follow me!" Rikka told her. The two of them then moved to Rikka's room, where the other Chosen Child saw three people that she didn't expected.

Koushiro Izumi, Shiro Kido and Norn Mikihara were all looking at a computer, seeming very focused on something before looking up and noticing the two detectives. "Oh, good evening Yatsura! Happy to see you too!" Koushiro said with a smile.

"Mister Koushiro! Why are you here?" Yatsura asked. "They are the help, Yatsura!" Rikka answered with a smile.

"Yes. After what I've done, I thought it would have been only fair to help you out for this case! I may have 48 years old but I'm still a Chosen Child! Plus…it's what every good parent would do…right?" Koushiro replied, looking at RIkka, who made a sweet smile. "Aw, you're so cute, Koushiro!" His partner, Tentomon commented.

"Yup yup! He's right! That's also the reason why I'm here! I couldn't just leave my precious child Chikara alone while he faces such criminals! So, I came here as well to give a hand!" Shiro said. "I'VE HEARD YOU, GODDAMMIT!" Chikara shouted from the room next door.

"And you, Norn? Why are you here?" The young detective asked. "I'm here to help too. I know some hacking skills. Plus, I've wanted to see you again." The blonde girl replied. "Especially Aisu." She added in a low voice.

"These three together actually make a good help for us! My father Koushiro is one of the greatest informatics we known, so he could help us with his knowledge on the computer research, while Norn can help with the hacking, like she said. Even Mistress Shiro can help!" Rikka explained.

"And what does she do?" ExVeemon asked. In that moment, Shiro made a smirk and put on some glasses before speaking. "I'm actually a member of the spy department of San Francisco, so searching for people is something I do with ease!"

"Woah! Chikara's mom is a spy? Wow…maybe his attachment to the militia is something genetic…" Yatsura said.

"The three of us are now searching together through the web a way to track down the mercenaries you've encountered this far. As information, we're taking the description you gave after your encounters with them in the past. If we have luck, we may find something!" Koushiro added.

"Yeah…this may help us greatly in stopping Saiba Rei's ambitions! Wait…..WHAT IF THE POWER GOES OUT!? WE WOULD LOSE OUR PROGRESSES AND WE WOULD GO BACK TO ZERO AND-"In that moment, Yatsura had another one of her panic and started to freak out. Until, of course…

"URUSEI YATSURA!" The others in the room shouted at her. "…Waaaaah! Come on! This is getting old!" The girl complained.

"Anyways…you don't have to worry about that. You should know that we take notes of every thing we do in the agency. Plus, I'm sure my dad saves them in his Cloud account!" Rikka then reassured her. "Hmm…now that I think of it…we should start to eat, even if Kasai started without us…it's better for us to have some energy before starting cases." Leppamon then suggested.

"Man…you Digimon always know when to feel hungry…" Yatsura commented before turning on the three that were working on the computer. "Uhm…do you guys want to come with us?" She then offered.

"Oh, don't worry, Yatsura! I'll eat when I come back at home, so I'm fine!" Koushiro answered. "Uhm…maybe you should at least have a bite of something…you often tend to exaggerate…" Tentomon told him, not so convinced of his answer.

"Yeah…mom tells me that you often have the circles because you work too much on the computer…" Rikka added. "Oh, I've got used to that! I can be fine with three hours of sleeping! Eehehhe…eheh…ehm…" Koushiro insisted.

An embarrassing silence followed.

Five seconds later, Koushiro was in the dining table, eating with Shiro, Norn and all the detectives of the agency. "Wow…I didn't know you actually had a place where to eat all together." He spoke.

"Since we often have turns that coincide with lunch and dinner times, I thought that the other members would have felt better if they could have some minutes to eat in tranquility, so I've took a large table to make everyone eat their meals." Kyoko explained. "In this agency, food break matters!" DORUgamon added.

"And that's the better part!" All Digimon in the room said in unison, making their partners facepalm.

While Norn stood near Aisu, Shiro was sitting near her son, who tried to eat his dinner without getting embarrassed by the presence of her mother. But knowing Shiro, this wasn't the case. "Oh! So, you've started to eat tomatoes? You used to hate them when you were a kid." She noticed.

"Mom, I've started to eat them since I was 12 years old! There's no need to mention that!" Chikara exclaimed, feeling more embarrassed. "Oh, come on! You don't need to act like this if your mother remembers a sweet memory!" Shiro said while still having a happy tone. "I don't know how you can find it that sweet…" The son said in disagreement while his partner Leomon kept an eye on him.

"I can understand him a little bit…even I would be extremely embarrassed if my mother was here like the last time…" Yatsura thought.

"Phew…finally I have my coffee…thank you, Tsuna…I cannot think without it…" Aria then said. "Oh, so you're like Sasuke when he doesn't have his pickles?" Gladimon asked while his human partner was, what a coincidence, eating some pickles from a jar. "They are my precious food!" Sasuke commented.

Overall, everyone was having a nice and calm dinner, and this made Kyoko have a small breath of relief. "They all seem relaxed…that's good! And here I've thought that the situation would have put a lot of pressure…" She spoke. "You were this afraid?" DORUgamon asked. "Well, yes. It's true that we are making progresses, but maybe after that our parents knew the truth and seeing how Saiba Rei is still able to go on, the others could have been more insecure or concerned, so I'm glad to see that this is not the case!" His human partner replied.

"With a group like this is hard to see someone scared. Well…except for Yatsura." DORUgamon commented. "I'VE HEARD YOU!" Yatsura shouted while eating some fries. "And it's not that I'm insecure! Just a little bit paranoic! That's all!" She then tried to justify herself, but everyone soon started to whisper between themselves. "H-Hey! What are you doing!?"

"Eheh…I've already seen this scene in the past…" Koushiro said. What Yatsura said and the others' reaction made him remember of a night he had with the others back in 2005. "But…hey, it's normal to be paranoic! Even your father sometimes concerned too much!" He added.

"Thank you, Mister Koushiro…at least you take my side…" Yatsura said. "Even I get paranoic…although it does not seem." Norn commented while eating a piece of salad with Aisu. "With that face it's almost unrealistic seeing you like that…what makes you feel so concerned?" Aisu asked.

"Well…when I'm out and I'm about to lose the daily episode of Big Bang Theory…" Norn replied. "Wait…they're still airing it?" Rina asked. "Of course! It's a comedy classic that everyone should know! I usually watch it when Rina goes to bed! You have fine tastes!" Kabuterimon answered, with Norn making a little bow for appreciation. "If you want, we can all watch a marathon someday. Don't you agree, Aisu?" The girl then proposed, making the detective blush. "Y-You do like teasing me, eh?" She replied.

"Hmmm…I didn't know she and Norn were so close. Good grief…at least she has someone to talk with rather than me." Kasai thought, while keeping on eating pickles.

The dinner continued like this for a little bit, until everyone finished. "Phew…I'm full...these hamburgers always fill my belly…" Yatsura said while standing up.

"Ok, everyone! Dinner's time is over! Get back to work!" Chikara then said to everyone with his usual tone that the others never appreciated. "Yeeee…" They spoke. "DON'T MAKE COMPLAINS AS ALWAYS!" Chikara protested.

"Man…he's always the same…was Jou like this, too?" Shiro asked to Koushiro. "Well, he did use to look over us back to our first journey to the Digital World…but he surely wasn't like Chikara!" The older Chosen Children answered. "Yup! He felt some duty since he was the oldest." Tentomon added.

"I see…well Jou is usually calm…and to think that Chikara was so shy when he was a kid…" Shiro commented.

"When this will all be over, we should go for an aperitive, don't you think?" Rikka proposed. "HELL YEAH! I'm up for some beer!" Rina answered excited, while Kabuterimon got worried. "Oh no…she gets drunk very easily…it would be a disaster…" He thought.

"Oh, Kyoko! Is there something I can help with?" Yatsura then asked to her boss. "Hmmm…now that I think of it, can you please check the e-mails of the agency while I update the case board?" The other girl replied.

"Hm-Hm! Leave it to me!" Yatsura accepted the job with a smile.

And so, Iori's daughter was sitting on her room while using the computer and checking the E-mails. In addition to the phone calls and the costumers that directly headed to their location for help, the Cheshire Cat Agency also had an e-mail address, so that those in danger could communicate with them even with the use of the internet. Usually, there were many e-mails to read, so they took one person to check the unread ones. Even though, among the various help requests, there were even the advertising one that they had to discard.

"You seem pretty active this evening, Yatsura!" ExVeemon noticed while cleaning the room. "I feel energetic these days…maybe it's because everything is going fine! And since we've arrived at this point, I want to contribute as well. I mean…it's what a Chosen Child would say, right?" The girl replied. "Yeah! Seeing you so optimistic for once makes me happy, master! I remember when we've joined the agency two months ago, when you still were so scared that you couldn't even hold papers…well, you still are like this, but I can already see some change!" ExVeemon noticed.

"Gee, do you really have to remember that?" Yatsura asked with a sceptic face. "But…you are right after all…maybe it's because I'm here with people I know…or maybe Kasai made me braver…gosh…I don't know either why I'm changing…well…as long as I start to go to the right direction…I don't care…" She then added. "I'm just saying that…i want to change for real this time, that's all."

"I see…" ExVeemon simply said. In that moment, He and Yatsura could hear the door opening and when they turned around, they could see Kouta and BaoHackmon. "Hm? Kouta? Is there something wrong?" The girl asked.

"Kyoko has called you for something." Kouta simply said. "She waits you at her office!" BaoHackmon added before the two of them left. "Man…short and concise as always…" Yatsura commented. "Well, I had just finished ordering the e-mails so I can go. I wonder what happened."

After some minutes, Yatsura reached Kyoko's office, where the leader of the Cheshire Cat Agency was standing alongside Koushiro, Norn and Shiro. "You called, Kyoko?" Yatsura asked.

"Ah, there you are Yatsura! Since you are energetic tonight, I've got another job right for you!" Kyoko replied. "It seems that the first night of our new strategy is a success! Thanks to their efforts, we've been able to track down one of the mercenaries we've faced before!" She added while pointing at others three with a satisfied smile.

"Really? And who?" Yatsura asked, surprised. "It's this girl called Yuuko Chitose." Koushiro replied. "You've faced her in the past right?" Norn answered.

"That's right. She was a girl that helped Saiba Rei in order to help her mother, who has a problem with her legs. She faced Tsuna some week ago." Kyoko said. "Right…and Tsuna and Coredramon were able to defeat both her and her Digimon. If it wasn't for Nui's sudden arrival, he would have caught her." Yatsura added.

"Nice to see that you remember! Thanks to the informations we had, we were able to track her movements! Apparently, she's in a backwater town in the Prince Server of the Digital World in this moment." Shiro replied. "And you know what must be done! Stop her and see if we can find something useful from her!" Kyoko added.

"You can count on us, boss!" ExVeemon answered. "But…what if she esca-" Yatsura was going to say something, but she got interrupted immediately. "Urusei Yatsura! Don't ruin everything, come on!" Kyoko exclaimed.

"B-But at least let me finish! Sigh…nevermind…I'm ready for this mission!" Yatsura replied. "Good luck as always." Norn told her with a smile. "I'm sure you'll find out something, like your father always did." Koushiro added. "Kick her butt!" Shiro said. "I've also wanted to ask you if you could get more information about her. It's clear that she's not evil unlike the other mercenaries, so it's our duty to open her eyes and help her in case!

"Thanks. I'm heading to my room to use the computer!" Yatsura said before leaving Kyoko's office. "I'm counting on you!" Her leader told her.

Back at her room, Yatsura was about to point her Digivice to dive in the Digital World…but then she remembered something to do before that. "Oh right! I…almost forgot." She spoke. ExVeemon didn't know what she meant by that until he saw her taking her smartphone. "Oh, I see…but…shouldn't you do that after we've accomplished our mission?" He suggested.

"You know that she goes at bed early, so It's better for me to call her now." Yatsura answered while waiting. The phone ringed for some seconds…until another voice could be heard.

"Hello?"

"Maki! It's me, Yatsura! I just called to hear you as always!" Yatsura said with a smile. She used to call her friend Maki often. Ever since she started cooking school and Yatsura had started working, they've started to see each other less than before. But this didn't prevent them to hear each other when it was possible.

"Yatsura! You've remembered to call me again! Aw, you're so nice!" Maki said, from the other side.

"Eheh! It's what a good friend would do, right? How are you doing?" Yatsura asked. "Fine as always, even today I've learnt something new from the cooking school. What about you? What are you doing right now?" Maki answered.

"Well…it's actually…something I still didn't tell you yet. You see…I've actually found a job." The Chosen Child replied, shocking ExVeemon. "She still didn't tell her!?" He thought.

A moment of silence followed. Yatsura thought that her friend left. "Uhm…hel-"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?" Maki suddenly shouted, almost breaking an eardrum at Yatsura. "This is the first time I've heard her yell like this-" The Chosen Child thought. "Hey, calm down! Why did you suddenly act like this?" She then asked.

"HOW COULD I ACT DIFFERENTLY!? We've been friends since we were little kid and I still haven't heard that you got a job! How long have you been working?" Maki answered.

"Well…around three months." Yatsura simply replied. "Three months!? Why didn't you say anything?" Maki asked. "I've wanted to give you a surprise! I've wanted to reveal you this earlier, but I've been busy. Sorry again…" The other girl said.

"And what job is that?" Maki then asked. "Well…it's a-" Yatsura would have wanted to tell her the answer. But then in that moment…

Chikara entered in her room…and looked at her confused. "Yatsura? What are you doing here!? You have a case to do!" He exclaimed. "C-Chikara! I was just making a phone call, I'm moving right away!" Yatsura was trying to explain, but she knew that with someone like Chikara was useless.

"GO TO WORK!"

"AH! S-SORRY MAKI, I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER TIME!" Yatsura exclaimed in panic before closing the call with Maki. She then quickly grabbed the Digivice and pointed it at the computer in order to dive in the Digital World.

Maki, who was standing in her house in the meantime, remained confused by Yatsura's sudden closure. "What…happened right now?" She wondered.

"I can't believe she was ignoring her duty!" Chikara commented. "Well, it was just a phone call..." Leomon told him. "Leomon, if there's one thing, I'm always certain, is that every minute in work is precious and should be used wisely!" Chikara stood still on his opinion.

"Now you're exaggerating…" Leomon commented while looking at his partner with a sceptic face.


The town where Yuuko was hiding wasn't that famous in the Digital World. It was situated in the Prince Server, but unlike the other cities in the continent, this was much smaller, even smaller than the traverse town. It was situated in the middle of a rocky area and the buildings were similar to those that were built back in the 19th century. They were also small and built-in simple marble. The wind was strong enough to raise some dust from the rocky ground. It was a simple place, but there still were some Digimon that lived there, mostly Digimon from Primary-Level to the Adult-Level.

Recently, in that city, various cases of disappearing Digimon started to rise. And maybe the reason…was for someone that was wandering through those empty streets.

Yuuko Chitose was standing behind one of those simple and almost empty houses, looking at the current situation of the city. She could notice that most of the Digimon were inside their houses and only a few of them were outside. "There's almost no one outside…better this way…" She commented.

"They're probably scared for that story of the missing. Why do you think this is happening?" GeoGreymon asked from her Digivice. "You probably know who is the responsible behind this. The missing is probably the work of his Digimon." Yuuko answered. A sense of tension could be felt from her tone. It seemed that there was something that made her feel quite uncomfortable.

"You're ok, Yuuko? You seem…concerned." GeoGreymon asked. "What? No…it's an impression of yours. I'm perfectly fine. As long as he's with us, there's nothing we should fear." Yuuko replied, sounding like she wanted to end the discussion right there. "We just need to follow our routine. We scare the Digimon with your presence and you do the rest. Understood?"

"Yeah, I know." GeoGreymon simply replied. "Good now we- uh!? What!?" Yuuko was going to enter in action…but in that moment she saw something that caught her by surprise. It was Yatsura. She was coming closer to the city with her partner ExVeemon. "What is it?" Yuuko's Digimon asked.

"I know her…she's a detective from the Cheshire Cat Agency!" The girl replied. "What!? This is absurd! How could they know of us!?" GeoGreymon exclaimed. "I-I don't know! Could it be that they are starting to answer back from our attacks!? Dammit…she's a person I really didn't want to see!" Yuuko said. The last thing she'd expected was to see a detective following her. Not because she was an enemy, but more because…she didn't want to remember what happened last time…

"WHY, WHY, WHY!? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?" Tsuna's words echoed through her mind, giving her a terrible headache. "NGH! No…no…i…I can do this…I can't have another moment like that…" She said to herself.

"Yuuko…are you sure you want to continue?" GeoGreymon asked. "Yes. For now, let's find a way to catch them by surprise." She replied. After her meeting with Tsuna, she started to think seriously about what she wanted to do. She knew from the beginning that this path was wrong but…she felt like she was with her backs to the wall. Her father wouldn't have listened, and she couldn't find a job easily…this made her feel that this was the only choice. "…Let's go." She concluded before leaving.

Meanwhile Yatsura and ExVeemon gave a first look at the city. "Man…it almost looks like we're in a western film." The Chosen Child commented. "It makes me think of that place where Sasuke was attacked some time ago."

"Hmmm…at least there are only a few houses, so that Yuuko girl shouldn't be that far. Where do we start looking, Yatsura?" ExVeemon asked. "From the inhabitants of course. Maybe they know something." Yatsura replied before noticing…that…no one was outside.

Even a bale of hay could be seen jumping.

"Where's…everybody actually?" The girl wondered. "It's not that late, so it's improbable that they are already asleep…"

"Maybe they are inside their houses?" ExVeemon tried to guess. Since it was the most plausible explanation, they've started to knock at the houses one by one. But with the first one, the first strange cases started to rise.

Yatsura tried to knock at the first door…but no one answered. The girl tried a second time to knock, and this time she even spoke. "Uhm…excuse me? I'm a detective from the Cheshire Cat Agency! I've come to ask a few things!"

…No answer.

"They're not answering…uhm…could you please look at the windows, ExVeemon?" The girl asked to her partner. The blue dragon tried to give a look, but unfortunately, they were covered by the dampers. "They're closed." He spoke.

But Yatsura didn't end it there…she looked around the building, hoping to find something. Until she discovered a bizarre, yet interesting fact.

Somehow…the door wasn't locked. So, it was possible to get in. The young detective was confused. Why shut everything except the door? This was something she definitely didn't like, as she started to have a bad feeling. But probably, she would have found something inside that house.

She slowly put her hand on the doorknob…and opened the house.

Much like she expected…there wasn't anybody. "It's empty…" She simply said. When she looked around, she could see that there was a couch and a simple table with just one chair. But all the objects were messed up. When she came closer to the couch, she could notice a large cut on it, showing some of the wool it was made of. "A cut…I think that the owner of this house was attacked. But…I need to discover who attacked them…it's almost probable that it was GeoGreymon but…I can't ignore other possibilities." The girl said to herself while trying to reason.

"Hey! Look here." ExVeemon then called her out to let her see something that he discovered on the table. There were some drops of blood. "Seeing the state of this house and these drops of blood make me think that there probably was a fight in here, master." The Digimon commented.

"Right…it makes sense. The owner of this house was probably trying to protect themselves from someone. That would explain everything closed...aside from the door, from where the criminal came out. Still…we need to figure out who did this, how they've entered here and what did they do with the victim." Yatsura replied.

"Master…since we're searching for her, it's probable that we're talking about Yuuko and GeoGreymon." ExVeemon told her. "I know that too, but…aw, dammit. I can't get out of this…feeling that there's something more." Yatsura answered back.

"Hey, don't worry! I believe you, calm down! If it can help you, we can search for other clues." The Digimon said after seeing that her partner was starting to get agitated. "Right, sorry…I was starting to freak out as always…let's go." Yatsura answered.

"Don't worry…I can understand that, master. I'm here in case you need me, alright?" ExVeemon said. The girl simply nodded and after that, they left the house, but not before Yatsura gave a last look at it.

The detective then passed to another house and tried to knock on it. After a few seconds, this time, a Digimon opened, by Yatsura's surprise. It was an animal Digimon with a blue fur that stood on four legs. His front legs had red gloves made of iron with large claws. He even had a crescent on his front. When this Digimon came by, he widened his eyes. "AH! A human!?" He exclaimed.

"No no, please, don't be scared! We're not going to harm you! My name is Yatsura Hida. I'm a detective from the Cheshire Cat Agency of San Francisco. Me and my Digimon partner are here on a case." Yatsura told him, trying to calm him down. "His reaction is curious…" ExVeemon thought.

"A detective? Phew…thank God…I was worried. Uhm…sorry about that. My name is Gryzmon. Is there…anything I can help you with?" He then asked.

"Well…before coming here, we went towards that house. But we've noticed that despite being empty, the door was open. When we've investigated it, we could see a giant mess inside. Do you perhaps know what happened to the owner?" The young detective asked.

"Oh, so Digitamamon disappeared too, uh? Man, this is getting worse…" Gryzmon noticed, hinting at something. "Can you please explain?" ExVeemon asked. "You see, a couple of days ago, a strange phenomenon started to happen in this town. Around this time, a dense fog starts to appear and lasts for at least twenty minutes. Once it disappears…some Digimon are gone as well. You've probably noticed that there are no Digimon outside the town. Well…this is the reason." The bear Digimon explained.

Yatsura thought of it carefully. A mist that is followed by the disappearance of Digimon…it was probably the work of an enemy that was playing with them. "Do you see something when this happens?" She demanded. "No…I usually close everything…I'm too scared to see what it is." The Digimon answered.

"I can understand you…thanks for the cooperation anyways. I'll see if I can find out the truth about this." Yatsura added. "You're welcome! Good luck for anything." Gryzmon told them.

After that visit, Yatsura and ExVeemon were standing in the middle of the city. "Master, maybe we are starting to have some hints of what is happening here." ExVeemon told her partner. "I was thinking the same…if this is the work of Saiba Rei's mercenaries, then the Digimon are getting kidnapped. Kumo and Tsuna gave us the proof the other day with those two mercenaries they've met, they're kidnapping Digimon to steal their energy for something. But…a mist that lasts for twenty minutes would be…something unusual for a Digimon like GeoGreymon." Yatsura explained.

"Hmmm…maybe Yuuko brought some smoke bombs?" ExVeemon tried to guess. "Maybe…but I don't know If the smoke caused by a bomb can last that much…. perhaps…." Yatsura then thought of something that could be a solution, but she wasn't so sure of it.

"Hm? Perhaps what?" The blue dragon asked. "Nah…it was just a silly conclusion. We still need confirm. For now, let's find more clues." The girl simply concluded. "What if she was right? She should tell it…" ExVeemon thought.

They then went to a third house where they found a Sea Homon, a Digimon that, like the name suggested, resembled a Seahorse with an armor on his body, two wings and a plume on his head. They've asked him a few questions about the fog and the missing Digimon and he gave his answer. "Oh yes, I know it well! Some of the Digimon that disappeared were good friends of mine! I still wonder what happened to them…"

"And do you see something in that mist?" Yatsura asked. Since she couldn't take nothing from Gryzmon with that question, she hoped for a different reply. "Hmmm…now that you make me think of it…yes, I've spotted something last time the fog appeared…it was…two silhouettes. One was…one of a human with long hair…and the other was of…a tall Digimon that stood on two legs." Sea Homon told them

With that, Yatsura and ExVeemon's expressions started to become more serious. They knew the two he was talking about. "Yuuko and GeoGreymon…" The girl thought. "Thank you for the cooperation. Have a nice evening." She then said before she and ExVeemon left. "They seem to know something…I hope they set this right…" Sea Homon commented.

Before going in action, they decided to search for clues in one last house. They've met a small Child-Level Digimon named Gammamon. He was a Digimon that resembled a triceratops with a white skin, yellow eyes, a pair of small wings and two horns on his head. "Oh right…I see that bad fog every night! Mom tells me to not come out when it comes, and I listen to her! It scares me a lot!" He spoke.

"What a good boy! And tell me, do you see or hear something when the mist is here?" Yatsura asked. "Hmmm…I…actually hear screams of anguish from other Digimon. They scare me a lot and make me scream as well." Gammamon replied with a sad and scared tone. "I can't resist, he's too cute!" the girl thought. "Don't worry, we'll see who is making all this mess! And…since you've been a good boy…" She then said while taking something from her pocket. It was a bag of M&M's with chocolate. Gammamon looked at the pocket with awe while ExVeemon made a mortified face. "These are yours!" Yatsura said.

"YAY! Thank you, kind lady!" Gammamon replied while taking the pocket and starting to eat the snacks. And with that, the two turned back at the center of the town.

"Did you see that small Digimon? He was ADORABLE! I would have cuddled him a thousand times!" Yatsura commented Gammamon's look, before noticing that his partner was trembling. "Uh? What's wrong, ExVeemon?"

"YATSURA! YOU HAD M&M'S WITH CHOCOLATE AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!? I COULD HAVE A CHOCOLATE SNACK AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING! YOU'RE A SHITTY PARTNER!" ExVeemon suddenly freaked out with fountain of tears in his eyes.

"Come on, ExVeemon! We've had dinner 10 minutes ago! It was just a reward for a little-" Yatsura was going to give her motivation, but her partner didn't let her finish. "URUSEI YATSURA! YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE M&M'S! I CONSIDER THIS A TOTAL ECLIPSE OF HEART!"

"WUAAAH! Now you make this stupid joke too!? I thought I could trust you! Fine I'll buy you another pack later!" Yatsura cried out. "No wait…AAAAAAH! We can't lose time like this! We need to focus on searching Yuuko!"

"Right…now that we have enough clues, we can start to look around." ExVeemon answered. "We know that the fog will appear soon, Yuuko and GeoGreymon are in this zone and that screams of agonizing Digimon can be heard. Still…I think that there's something missing despite having all these clues…like…that one missing piece that would give everything a sense." Yatsura said. "…And maybe I know how to do that." She added with a serious stare.

"Time to go after them?" ExVeemon asked. "Correct, ExVeemon. Let's do this." His partner concluded.

And thus, after everything was gathered, Yatsura and ExVeemon started to wander around the town in order to find Yuuko and GeoGreymon. Since the town was small, there weren't many places to check. Apart from a few houses where the Digimon lived in, there were only a small bar, a smithy and a damaged building that looked like a church.

They first decided to check the remaining houses that they didn't visit, and only in one of them there still were Digimon. The rest of them were empty and were in the same conditions of the first house they've inspected. In one of them, they could even notice some cuts on the ceiling. Those, too, were long, like those of a claw.

They then entered inside the bar, which simply had some tables and the counter. "Man…now this really look like a western movie…" Yatsura commented. She and ExVeemon gave a look, but the structure didn't seem to show anything particular to be seen. "It seems that this is one of the few places that wasn't damaged by them." The young detective commented. "The only two places left are the smithy and that church-like building." ExVeemon told her. "Hmmm…let's check the smithy first." Yatsura answered.

And they did so. The door for the smithy was open…but everything was completely dark, and they couldn't see much. This made Yatsura move her feet carefully while slowly going inside the place. Everything seemed normal, but it was that same normality that put some pression on the Chosen Child. Her gaze was fixed, her breath was a little bit heavier, and a single drop of sweat came down from her head. Yet…she felt something…

Was it fear? Was it anxiety?

No. It was certainty.

"…ExVeemon…" She simply spoke. "Get ready." "Uh? What do you mean?" ExVeemon asked. In that moment, Yatsura took something from her pocket. A sparkle. She quickly turned it on and threw it at her right. Suddenly, the light emitted by that, showed something unexpected for ExVeemon.

"Dammit!" Yuuko was there, pointing a knife at Yatsura's throat, with GeoGreymon behind her. The detective grabbed her hand and pushed the knife away. "AH-HA! I knew you were there, Yuuko Chitose!" She said, feeling satisfied for her idea.

"How did you notice that I was here!? You couldn't see anything, and I wasn't even making the slightest noise! It was impossible for you to discover my position!" Yuuko asked, still bewildered. "The solution is actually simple. It was thanks to your partner, GeoGreymon if I realized you were hiding in here!" Yatsura replied.

"What? Me?" The dinosaur Digimon asked. "That's right. I've noticed it when I've came closer to the entrance of this smity. I've started to feel a strange smell, something that looked like…a breath that covered the entire room. But my partner ExVeemon couldn't have a breath like that, so my only deduction was that it was your Digimon that could have made all that smell! I've predicted that you would have hidden in places where I couldn't see you, so I've decided to bring something with me to make light, these sparkles.

"So…you've found them thanks to GeoGreymon's breath?" ExVeemon asked, confused. "Yes…I know, I find it disgusting as well!" Yatsura commented while covering her nose. "It's not my fault! I drool a lot so I need to grit my teeth!" GeoGreymon protested.

"Enough of this! Even if you discovered is, this won't change the outcome! Since you're here, I must stop you at all costs! I cannot allow you to interfere after we've done so much work!" Yuuko proclaimed while GeoGreymon was ready to attack.

"Wait, Yuuko! You don't have to do this! We've heard your story from Tsuna, we know that you don't want to do this!" Yatsura tried to let her reason, and after hearing that, the other girl made a surprised face. "Tsuna? He…told you? Is he ok?" She asked with clear concern.

"Yes! I know him better than anyone! It will take much more than what your friend did to kill him! See? You're worried as well. Saiba Rei may have told you the truth about money, but I know you can't believe what he's making you do! You still have the chance to forget all about this! We can help if you ask!" Yatsura then tried to convince her. She remembered what Kyoko had told her, but even she could see that Yuuko was not the person she seemed after hearing Tsuna's story.

For Yuuko, this was like a déjà vu. It would have probably ended up in a similar way with Tsuna. But now, her friend Nui wasn't there, so she could give the answer she wanted. Even though…she didn't know what answer to give.

Was this really the right thing to do? Maybe she was wrong after all. Even if she did it to help her mother, she was harming innocent Digimon after all…

But then…

"Are you kidding me!? Mom could be paralyzed for the rest of her life, and you decided to not help her!? You literally have millions of monies, and you decide to ignore her!? Your own wife!?"

"That's enough, Yuuko! We are facing a problem of sales. I must do whatever it takes to make the company survive! I won't hear any of your complaints!"

"GRRR! NO!" Yuuko exclaimed before revealing another knife and attempting to stab Yatsura, who jumped back. "Yuuko!" The detective exclaimed.

"I…I wish I could change road. But it's too late at this point! This is my only road, and if it means that I'll even murder people then so be it!" Yuuko said as she got ready to fight.

"Man…at this point she won't listen. I have no choice but to use the old way…take her down and bring her with me!" Yatsura thought while getting ready as well.

Even ExVeemon and GeoGreymon looked at each other with gazes of challenge. "I guess that you won't listen as well, right?" ExVeemon asked. "As Yuuko's partner, I have to be there for her." GeoGreymon simply replied. "I got it. Then I'll take down you as well, biiiiitch!" The blue dragon concluded before throwing himself at GeoGreymon and therefore officially starting the battle.

"TSEAH!" The blue dragon attacked GeoGreymon with an headbutt on his chest, which made him recoil. The giant dinosaur immediately gritted his teeth and threw ExVeemon away with a tail attack. "Out of my way!"

"GAH!" ExVeemon ended up clashing with a building that crumbled down. When he opened his eyes, he could see that GeoGreymon was already charging towards him with his horns. "Horn Impulse!" Before he could stab him, ExVeemon quickly opened his arms and blocked him, but GeoGreymon continued his charge, making the blue dragon struggle. "GRRRRRRR!"

"Don't think you can stop me, small boy!" GeoGreymon taunted him. But he widened his eyes when he saw that the X on ExVeemon started to shine. "Oh, you're sure about that? X-Laser!" The other Digimon shot a beam from that point that made GeoGreymon recoil again. ExVeemon took the chance and ran towards GeoGreymon while his hands started to be surrounded in small electric shockwaves before attacking him with a combo of melee attacks. "Combination" ATATATATATATATATATATA!"

"GH! Mega Flame!" In order to get rid of him, GeoGreymon shot a burst of flames that blasted ExVeemon away, making him roar with pain. Yatsura's Digimon had some burns on his body, but he could still fight, as he tried to stand up. "G-Gh…" In that moment, GeoGreymon smashed him back to the ground with his large paw. "Stay down!" He shouted before throwing him away with a kick. "AGH!" The blue dragon rolled a few feet before stopping and looking at his enemy while breathing heavily. "He's well exposed, but he's strong as well…I need to find a way to make him unable to counterattack!"

Meanwhile Yuuko was trying to stab Yatsura with the other knife, but the detective was able to dodge all her attacks and throw away the weapon once again. She then took her wrist and slammed her to the ground. "I may be careless but I'm still a detective! I know how to deal with people like you!" Yatsura said before receiving a kick on her face by Yuuko. "OUCH!"

"No time for words!" Yuuko answered before throwing a punch on her belly. "BLARGH!" The detective spit some blood from her mouth before holding the point where she was attacked. Yuuko took advantage of that and started to run away. "H-HEY! COME BACK, COWARD!" Yatsura shouted while chasing her.

While running, Yuuko reached a building, and when she turned around, she could see that Yatsura was ready to give a punch on her face, so she ran on the building and jumped up in the moment Yatsura delivered the blow, making her hit the wall. Yuuko then proceeded with a dive kick, but the detective jumped back in time. "Ouch…my hand hurts!" Yatsura commented while shaking her hand for the pain. "Dammit…for not being a real mercenary, you have some good moves…" She then commented.

"Yeah…just what I need to get rid of you!" Yuuko replied before trying to punch Yatsura again, but when this happened, Yatsura was trying to attack her with a fist as well, so the two girls ended up getting hit at the same time. "I've had enough of you!" Yuuko then tried to kick her, but Yatsura lowered her head and punched her on the belly, stunning her. "GH!"

Yatsura then proceeded with an elbow attack on her chest and then with a head butt, which made Yuuko fall to the ground and breath heavily. "Come on, Yuuko! You know you can't take me! Give up!" Yatsura tried to make her reason a second time. The girl looked at the detective from below. The detective was standing still, ready for possible counterattacks while the moon illuminated her. Yuuko knew that she was right. Despite all the attempts she could do, Yatsura was stronger than her, since she was prepared for melee combats as a detective. But still, Yuuko didn't give up, since she knew that she could still count on one last move. So, she made Yatsura trip by hitting her legs and started to run away.

"Agh! Dammit! You can count only on cheap moves like this!? Come back here!" Yatsura shouted before standing up and chasing her again.

"Hearty Shatter!" ExVeemon on the other hand was flying above GeoGreymon and attacked him with his shoulder. "Horn Impulse!" GeoGreymon answered by stabbing that same shoulder with one of his horns. He then threw him away and noticed that her partner was running away from Yatsura. "Uh!? Yuuko!" He tried to reach her, but the blue dragon appeared in front of him fast as an eel. "Hey, don't think you have taken me down yet!" He exclaimed.

"When will you learn that you have to GET OUT!? Mega Flame!" As he started to get annoyed, GeoGreymon released another burst of flames. Since he already saw it, ExVeemon knew how to dodge it, so he flew up again, and this time, he started to spin while hitting the enemy with both of his arms. "Spinning Lariat!"

GeoGreymon got attacked repeatedly by ExVeemon, who looked like a series of missles aimed at him. His behavior of him sounded strange, but he kept the calm while getting attacked. ExVeemon could notice that he was gritting his teeth. He first thought that it was for endure the pain, but then he noticed some flames come out from his mouth, and it was in that moment that he knew that the one in danger was actually him, and not ExVeemon. "Oh no!"

"Mega Burst!" After concentrating the Mega Flame in his mouth, GeoGreymon released the attack on the blue dragon after concentrating it on his mouth. The result was a giant explosion of fire that swallowed ExVeemon. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

After he was finally able to get rid of him, GeoGreymon started to chase Yatsura in order to protect Yuuko. "Yuuko! I'm coming!" He said while running. In that moment, he could see that a large light was starting to shine behind him. When he turned around, he saw with horror that ExVeemon was standing up while the X on his chest was shining brightly. "What!? You're still alive even after the Mega Burst!?" He asked.

"I'm sorry…but just like you, I also need to protect my master no matter what! S-H-I-T! TAKE THIS! X-LASER!" Full of resolute, ExVeemon shot a beam from his chest much stronger than the one who shot before, which fully hit GeoGreymon, making him fly against the church-like building. "GeoGreymon!" Yuuko exclaimed before going inside the structure.

In the meantime, ExVeemon reached her partner. "Are you ok?" Yatsura asked. "Yeah…kinda." The Digimon replied. "They're both seriously injured so they shouldn't go that far." The girl then said while looking at the building.

"So, all we need to do is…to check out this thing…it's the only building we haven't check yet, right?" ExVeemon asked. "Yeah…although…it's kinda creepy…" Yatsura commented. "Come on, Master, what could possibly go wrong?" Her partner told her. But this only made Yatsura look at him with a sceptic stare. "Wow, congratulations for bringing bad luck…ah, who cares. Let's go." She said before entering inside the building. "What? What did I say?" ExVeemon wondered before following her.

Much like the outside, the inside of the building was pretty messed up. Most of the beams fell, the furniture was broken and even the wall was going to crumble down one day or another. Somehow, there was a single chandelier that illuminated the room. "Man…look at all this mess…" Yatsura commented.

"And they're not here…do you think they're hiding again?" ExVeemon asked. "No, it's highly improbable. They know that it wouldn't work once I've discovered how to deal with that. But still…the question is…where they could ever be?" Yatsura replied while looking around. But it took no time for the answer to come, as the two of them started to hear someone breathing heavily. "Uh? Yuuko?" Yatsura asked.

It was indeed Yuuko. The girl was coming closer…but the detective widened her eyes as she noticed an horrifying fact.

The girl…was bleeding a lot…and had a long cut that came from near her neck to her belly. "Gh…AGH!"

"H-Holy shit! Yuuko! What happened to you!?" Yatsura exclaimed while seeing her enemy fall to the ground. Even GeoGreymon arrived and fell as well, severely injured. "G-GH! Y-Yatsura…Hida…you need…to get out of here! If you stay, you'll die!" Yuuko told her with a tone of horror and absolute despair. Yatsura gave a better look at the cut she had on her body and noticed it. The cut was similar to the one they saw in the houses of the town. "T-That cut…who did this to you?" She asked.

"I…I thought that it would have been easy…but I would have never expected that…he…would betray me…" Yuuko simply answered. Suddenly…Yatsura's earlier thought became founded. She thought of the eventuality, but she wasn't convinced at first…but now she had the confirm of it. And that…was what made her feel more pressure.

"He? Who's he? Who you're talking about?" ExVeemon asked. But it was Yatsura who gave the answer. "So…I was actually right. Yuuko wasn't the only one that attacked the Digimon here…" She said before turning around. "There's actually…another one…who's also…the responsible of the mist…"

"P-Please…get out of here!" Yuuko begged while another figure came behind her. Yatsura made some step backwards while seeing it. It was…the face of an older woman that was similar to Yuuko…but the thing that shocked the young detective was that…the face was attached on Yuuko's back, as if it was slowly coming out from her.

"You abandoned me, Yuuko…how could you abandon your own mother? Now I'll stay like this FOREVER!" The face said. "NononononononononoNONONONONO! STOP IT! STOP! YOU'RE NOT REAL! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Yuuko freaked out. In her shout, all the despair caused by the event that changed her life could be felt.

"That's her mother…? I…I don't understand…!" Yatsura commented. "Something like that can't be real! That face is coming from her, like some sort of monster!" ExVeemon added.

Then…it happened.

Inside the building…a deep mist started to appear, making everything almost concealed. "T-The mist! They're clo-" Yatsura was going to advise her partner, but stopped herself when she felt something that she touched with her foot. When she turned around…she saw…something familiar.

Some rulers, some pencils…and a pencil case. "What…? I…I remember them…those are...my items that I used…back in high school…what are they doing here?" Yatsura wondered.

"I-I don't know! I don't like how this is going!" ExVeemon said, starting to get agitated as well. Indeed, what was happening was the main question at this point. Those items…and Yuuko's mother's face appear suddenly. Both elements were related to Yatsura and Yuuko's life.

Then…from one of the beams, something small jumped. When Yatsura looked up, she could notice that…it was a grasshopper. "A…grasshopper? In the Digital World? What does that-" The girl was wondering how did it ended up there…until she remembered of one time…where a grasshopper jumped on her face when she was six years old. This translated in…another memory. "No…no, this cannot be!" She exclaimed before holding the gun and shooting at the grasshopper, which exploded in some sort of liquid matter. "That grasshopper…what happened to her!?" ExVeemon asked.

"I…I don't know! It's all happening so quickly that I don't understand!" Yatsura replied. "Sigmund Freud was the first one that theorized that in our mind there is a place where the memories we erase end up. A zone where they remain but get erased at the same time. That was only one of the spots…where our brain organizes the memories of our lives." A male voice suddenly expected.

Yatsura felt his heart stop for a second. It was a voice completely new for her, which could mean only one thing…that he…was the second one. She slowly turned around…and saw him.

A tall man with white hair and ruby red yes wearing a black uniform under a large white jacket, white trousers and golden boots. Somehow, the sight of this man made Yatsura have a shiver of fear for a second. A man that could show villainy by just looking at him. "Y-You're…another mercenary of Saiba Rei?" She asked.

"Correct, Yatsura Hida. The name's Ludwig Everglow. And for a while, I've been put in charge to take care of the Digimon that lived here in this city." The man replied, presenting himself. "Alongside that girl of course. But…I've could already notice some sign of distrust in her heart, especially after she met your friend. It's clear that she's having second thoughts, so the only plausible solution is to…take her down." He added, referring to Yuuko with a grin.

"You would kill an ally!? Are you serious!?" ExVeemon exclaimed. "Don't you think it's natural? It's probable that even mister Rei wouldn't want a traitor among his workers. I'm just doing what it's more convenient for both him and me. Plus…now that you're both inside this fog, it's impossible for you to take me down. You're now in my domain." Ludwig replied.

"So…I was right…the fog is your doing…" Yatsura said, now that she had the confirm. In that moment, Ludwing was surrounded by a red aura, and from it, came out a skeletal Digimon with electric arms, a red electric globe instead of the legs and a cape surrounding his body. This Digimon was also holding a scythe made of energy on his hands. "To be more precise, is the work of my Digimon, Metal Fantomon.

With that…everything became clearer when it came to the cuts she had seen. "So, it was his scythe…not GeoGreymon's claws!" Yatsura said.

"I guess that I've told enough, even if taking you down will only be a matter of minutes…enjoy your mental hell while you still can, eheheh…" Ludwig concluded before disappearing in the mist. "Hey! Where did he go!?" ExVeemon exclaimed while he and Yatsura looked around.

"In order to live on, people need to sacrifice. Just like you, young girl…are you ready for what comes next?" Metal Fantomon suddenly said before making his scythe rotate. "Dammit! Here he comes! X-Laser!" As an answer, ExVeemon shot a beam from his chest, but the reaper Digimon disappeared before the attack could hit him. "What, Him too!?" ExVeemon said. Metal Fantomon immediately appeared behind him and attacked him on the back with his scythe. "Soul Predator!"

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Not only ExVeemon felt pain for the cut, but he could also feel an electric shockwave on the spot he got attacked. "DAMM YOU! COMBINATION!" ExVeemon then tried to attack the enemy repeatedly with a barrage of punches, but Metal Fantomon used his scythe to block all of them and then counterattack with a strong parry attack. "Didn't I tell you? In our territory, there's nothing to do other than feel the weight of your sacrifices and sins." Metal Fantomon spoke.

"EXVEEMON!" Yatsura shouted. "Eheheheheeh! How does that feel to be in a situation like this?" Ludwing asked, reappearing behind Yatsura. "YOU BASTARD!" The young detective tried to attack him with a punch, but Ludwing swiftly moved to the right and stabbed her with a scalpel. "BLARGH!"

"With time, I've got completely used to this scene. There were many people who got trapped in this fog and felt the most terrible despair caused by themselves! Even hearing screams of sorrow had become part of my routine at this point." The mercenary said.

"G-GH…What do you mean…?" Yatsura asked. "I don't know…why don't you ask yourself?" Ludwing concluded before disappearing again. The Chosen Child held her chest, which was already losing blood. She gritted her teeth and breathed heavily. The situation for her was critical, but she couldn't give in right now. Everything made perfect sense now. The fog…was Metal Fantomon's work. The screaming Digimon…were for the still unclear effect of the fog. Yuuko only cooperated with him, but everything…was Ludwing's plan. Now that she discovered the truth, she had to bring it to an end.

Or at least…that was what she thought at first…

She suddenly felt a noise of iron, like something falling. "Anf…anf…anf…what…was that?" She wondered. When she turned around…she widened her eyes. Her face became pale…her heart started to beat faster…her hands started to tremble…and the temperature of her body started to degree…

It was an iron bar…an item…she knew too well…for it was the item of a scar…she didn't want re-open. "N-No…that iron bar…" She simply spoke.

"It is exactly what you think…Yatsura." A voice suddenly said. A voice too familiar for her. Yatsura started to feel a terrible sense of nausea and tachycardia. She wanted to scream, faint, but somehow…she didn't. She just looked…at what, or…who…came out from some debris.

"M-Maki…? Maki, is that...really you?" The detective said, now filled with pure and genuine fear. The sight of her best friend made her feel like she was in the deepest circle of hell. Maki was exactly like she remembers…except for the blood that came down from her head. The girl started to crawl towards Yatsura, who didn't step backwards. At this rate, her mind was so unstable that the least she could do was to watch.

"I'm glad that you remember of me, Yatsura…I'm very glad!" Maki said as she came closer and closer. "O-Of course I remember you! You're my…best friend…right? We're friends…right?" Yatsura asked, sounding like she was asking for forgiveness. "Friend…? Friend!? FRIEND!? You…call me friend after what I've been through for your fault!? YOU LEFT ME ALONE THAT NIGHT! I'VE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF YOU! IF YOU WERE THERE…NOTHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!" Maki replied, showing a distorted voice while getting in front of Yatsura and grabbing her face with both her hands. "N-NO! WAIT! I'M SORRY! I…DIDN'T MEAN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN! You know how I care for you!" Yatsura shouted.

"YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A LIAR! IF YOU REALLY CARED, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!" Maki answered, standing still on her opinion. She then grabbed the iron bar and started to attack the detective with it, again and again. Yatsura's head was now almost entirely soaked with blood, while she kept on receiving the pain. "No…No…This is all a nightmare, isn't it? It's just a fucking nightmare! It's just like the ability of Molock Papilion's Digimon right? It must be like that! These are just hallucinations…THEY MUST BE HALLUCINATIONS! NOTHING OF THIS IS REAL! IT'S JUST A MENTAL TRIP! I JUST NEED TO OPEN MY EYES AND…No NO NO NO! NOTHING IT'S HAPPENING!" Yatsura was starting to lose her sanity. This enemy was the worse she could ever meet. If it was Kasai, Kyoko or other detectives of the agency, maybe things would have gone differently, but Yatsura was a girl that could be scared easily and a girl that regretted most of the things that happened for the past. So, for her…a situation like this…was just a situation…of pure despair…

"I didn't know…things would have evolved like this…you were right Yatsura! You were right! I'm sorry…" Yuuko said while the face of her mother continued to torment her.

"You don't get it right? This is the effect of Metal Fantomon's mist!" Ludwig exclaimed while looking at Yatsura. "This mist shows to the victim all of their regretful or terrifying memories in order to mentally destroy them!" Metal Fantomon added while attacking ExVeemon again. "GAAAAH!"

"Humans must sacrifice in order to live on…that day…you sacrificed your friendship with that girl…and now you're paying the consequences! The only thing you can do is to lie down and DIE!" Ludwig exclaimed.

"AH…AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Sorrow, pain, terror, defeat, and despair. All these emotions were inside that one shout, perhaps the loudest shout she had made in her life. "I'M SORRY! I'M NOT A BAD PERSON! I DON'T WANT TO ABBANDON YOU! I DON'T WANT TO ABBANDON ANYONE! I JUST-" Yatsura tried every type of justification. But nothing.

"URUSEI YATSURA! IF YOU CAN'T PROTECT YOUR BEST FRIEND, YOU CANNOT DEFEND ANYONE!" Maki said while continuing to attack her with the iron bar.

"YATSURA! YOU NEED TO ANSWER- GAAAAAAAAAAH!" ExVeemon told her before getting attacked by Metal Fantomon again.

"…How can I answer to this? It's…evident, right? It's over…this is the last minute of my life. To be killed by my best friend…this is the worst thing that could ever happen to me. Even if…she said that it wasn't my fault…I'm sorry Kyoko…I'm sorry Kasai…I'm sorry ExVeemon…I'm sorry everyone! I…couldn't do it…maybe I wasn't fit enough to be a detective…but at least…I wish I could have told Maki…that I was a detective…" Yatsura…was ready to feel defeated…until…she remembered something.

"Wait…i…I still didn't tell her…"

She remembered that she couldn't tell her friend that she became a detective because of Chikara. In that moment…she started to think. "N-No…wait…she…wouldn't want to see me in this state…she would want me to…answer…right? No…not only her…I, too, want to answer…just like I told her…that time…"

She remembered of one time…where she and Maki hung around in a museum some time before Yatsura became a detective and when they both graduated from high school. One of the items exposed was a vase of the ancient Greece representing the most famous hero of that time. "Did you ever hear the myth of Heracles?" Yatsura asked.

"Of course! We've studied it after all! The legend of the demi-god that passed through twelve trials to become immortal and clean himself from his mistakes." Maki replied.

"The truth is that…I've always admired the figure of Hercules ever since I was a little girl. Despite everything…he tried to move forward…and bring the burden of his mistake on his shoulder. The opposite of what I am…" Yatsura then spoke. "When you said to me that you would have seen me in a job where I would have helped the others…it made me remember of Hercules…ever since then…I always wanted to try to become like him! Not like a hero but…"

"Like someone that can do anything. Like the song says…go the distance, right?" Maki tried to guess. The phrase was followed by a small laugh. "Yes…something like that…many people have their dreams…and…that is mine…to be someone that can go to distance, and a person that you and the others can count on!" She spoke.

"So, when I said that thing, I was actually right! That's good to hear!" Maki answered. "Yes…indeed. I…I want to try it!" The other girl replied feeling more convinced.

Back to the present…Yatsura made a smile. "Yes…after that discussion…if she hears that I became a detective she would probably overflow of happiness…" She spoke. "Do a job where I could help the others…not only helped them…it…helped me…dammit…I'm an idiot…how…how could I forget that?" She spoke.

"What?" Maki asked. Suddenly, Yatsura turned around and shot at her with the gun. "GAH! Y-YATSURA! YOU…SHOT AT YOUR BEST FRIEND! H-HOW COULD YOU…!?" Maki exclaimed.

"Shut up…you're not Maki…just a stupid memory…" Yatsura said while that vision slowly disappeared. She then stood up.

"What is happening? She…answered?" Ludwig asked. The girl turned on him…and the mercenary could saw them…the eyes of the killer in the detective. "Ah! So, she…she opened her eyes!" He spoke.

"…You think that play with people's memories is funny, right? But perhaps you didn't understand a thing…there are something that you shouldn't rise up from the brain of others…because they might become a fatal error for you!" Yatsura said to him.

"Oh? It's that what you think? You really talk like some anime hero right now. Even if you say things like that, there won't be something like the power of friendship to help you out. As I told you…in my domain, you are a weakling!" Ludwing stated, as another memory rise, the kidnapper that attacked Maki that day. But when that memory tried to attack Yatsura, she simply shot at him, making him disappear. "Wait…what!?"

"You really think that I would fall for that again? Even in your defense there is a breach! Your Digimon creates this mist based on memories that torment the victim, but if the victim decides to move on, the mist can't do anything! In order words, you hurt people through their past, so your weak point is the future!" Yatsura exclaimed.

"AH! F-Future!? What nonsense are you saying all of a sudden!? You're more cliché than I thought!" Ludwig said, starting to show signs of concern. "Maybe, but you can't deny that this is the truth! For a moment…because of your fear I almost forgot why I was in the detective agency in the first place. I…I wanted to become a better person. I want to live! AND I WON'T LET YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT LIKE I'M SOME TOY! I've decided…I'm done acting like this! I'm serious this time! I will start to do my part in a good way! For Kyoko, Kasai, Maki and all of my friends! I'VE DECIDED TO USE MY LIFE IN A BETTER WAY!" Yatsura countered.

"Shut up! Don't you see the state you're in? You can't have something like a life anymore!" The mercenary said while trying to finish her with the scalpel, but Yatsura immediately blocked him and hit him with her knee.

"BLARGH!" Ludwing fell to the ground and looked at her. "I don't get it! This is not what I expected! This reaction is absolutely unnatural!"

"It's so sad to hear you say these things…you speak of psychology and human terror with nonchalance, but you yourself clearly don't know how a person can think or feel, right? Therefore…LET ME SHOW YOU HOW HUMANITY WORKS! I'LL DO IT FOR ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUSTS IN ME FOR THIS MISSION!" Yatsura said with resolution.

"Y-Yatsura…" Yuuko spoke while looking at her. "Nonsense. It's time for you to disappear as-" Metal Fantomon appeared behind the detective and tried to finish her, but suddenly, he got hit by ExVeemon's X Laser. "Agh! What!?"

"M-Master…you're feeling better!" ExVeemon said, happy to see her partner. "ExVeemon! I'm…sorry if you're in this state…I'll pay you back with three packets of M&M's! I promise!" Yatsura told him. "That's more than enough! Now…how about we take down these hoes?" The Digimon answered. The two of them then looked at Ludwing and his partner.

"You played not only with me and my memories of Maki, but also with the memories of Yuuko's mother and the memories of many Digimon! I don't consider myself a heroine of justice, just someone that does what she wants to do. AND WHAT I WANT TO DO IS FINISH YOU OFF AND LET YOU FEEL THE SAME HELL WE FELT!" She shouted. "I WON'T LET YOU PLAY WITH MY FEELINGS EVER AGAIN!"

In that moment…a light shined…when Yatsura looked down…she could see…that the light came from the Digivice. "My…Digivice?"

"No, it can't be!" Ludwig exclaimed. "Yatsura!" ExVeemon added. "YES! FINALLY, IT'S YOUR TURN NOW! ALL RIGHT! LET'S GOOO!" She said before using her Digivice…making the miracle possible…once again.

The light surrounded ExVeemon…as he started to change form.

"EXVEEEMON! SUPER EVOLUTION!"

ExVeemon became a Digimon clad in a black and green armor and a red mask. His two wings were replaced by four smaller ones, and two small cannons appeared from on his legs. It was a form that Yatsura actually knew well.

"PAILDRAMON!"

"Paildramon? I thought an ExVeemon could achieve that form only through the Joggress Evolution with a Stingmon…oh who cares! ExVeemon made it…he finally reached the Perfect-Level…" Yatsura said with tears of joy.

The newly evolved Digimon looked at Metal Fantomon with a gaze of challenge. "Very well, time to take you down, beeetch!" With that, he started to wrap the wires on his punches that started to wrap around Metal Fantomon's body. "Wire Punch!"

"What!?" The spectral Digimon tried to squirm, but he was completely immobilized, as Paildramon flew towards him at high speed and gave him a powerful punch on his face, which cracked. "GAH!"

"Desperado Blaster!" Paildramon then put his hands on the two organic guns around his waist and started to shoot several energy waves at the enemy Digimon. "That's enough!" Suddenly, Metal Fantomon was able to break the wires that hold him blocked and tried to cut the dragon Digimon in half with his scythe. "Soul Predator!" Paildramon put his arms in front of him so that he could defend, but he could notice that Metal Fantomon was about to put more strength in his attacks. With that in mind, Paildramon flew backwards and shot from his cannons again, with Metal Fantomon blocking the waves with his scythe.

"He's answering back…" Yatsura noticed. "Of course!" Ludwig answered, making the detective turn on him. "To be honest, I'm quite thrilled with the current situation! This is the first time I see someone find a way to get out of our psychological torture! You were able to break the calculations I've used for years. And this makes me even more curious. In what way I can make you possibly fall in terrible despair!? What will you sacrifice in order to prevail from this horrendous situation!? I can't wait to see!" He added while holding his face with his hands with a distorted, yet satisfied face.

"You've gone completely nuts by now! Don't think you can get away with what you've made me go through, asshole!" Yatsura answered, now even more angry.

"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT, MY PRECIOUS EXPERIMENT! KEHAHAHAHAAHAAAH!" Now that he had found a different subject to play with, Ludwing had lost his mind. His calm and gentle composure was replaced with a psychotic one, showing the side of a maniacal person that wanted to see how people could suffer. He ran towards her with a scalpel on his hands. Yatsura didn't hesitate to block him and throw him on the ground. "That's enough, you freak!" She exclaimed. But in that moment, Ludwig grabbed her from the ankle and looked at her even more delighted. "YES! THAT'S THE REACTION I EXPECT! MORE! I WANT TO SEE MORE!" He shouted. Despite being full of courage and resolve at this point, Yatsura was a little bit creeped by him. "GET OUT!" She exclaimed before pushing him away with a kick. Ludwig didn't hesitate to stand up and walk towards the detective, who shot at him at the shoulder. The mercenary looked at his bleeding shoulder and smirked. "Come on, is that all? I know you can do better!" He commented. Yatsura gritted her teeth. "He's totally insane…I need to take him out immediately!"

"Grave Scream!" Meanwhile, Metal Fantomon made his scythe release a scream in order to stun Paildramon, who had to cover his ears for the noise. "NGHHH!"

"Soul Predator!" Metal Fantomon took advantage of the situation and stabbed him with his scythe. But Paildramon, unexpectedly grabbed the scythe. "D-Don't think you can take me out this easily!" He exclaimed. He then closed his hand to a fist and punched the scythe. "OWATTAAAAAAAAAA!" With that, the scythe suddenly broke in two, shocking Metal Fantomon. "I-Impossible! How were you able to break a metal like that!?" He exclaimed. "We, Digimon of the Chesire Cat Agency train to get ready to take out every type of enemy! Your nightmares have gone long enough! Elemental Bolt!" He then charged energy from both of his blasters before releasing a bolt of electricity up on the ceiling. The bolt converted in an explosion that dissipated almost entirely the fog. Paildramon then ended up the job by using his wings.

In that moment, Ludwig noticed it and widened his eyes. "T-The fog!" He exclaimed. "Now this isn't your territory anymore! GET READY! ELEMENTAL BOLT!" Paildramon shouted before shooting the same attack this time at Metal Fantomon, who got hit and went down. "GAAAH!"

"Hey! It's true! The fog must have some sort of buff effect on Metal Fantomon, if the fog disappears, then he becomes weaker!" Yatsura realized. "It won't change anything, little girl! I'LL STILL SEE YOUR EXPRESSION OF HORROR, NO MATTER WHAT!" Ludwig shouted before trying to stab Yatsura on the throat with another scalpel. "Don't you get it!? I WON'T GIVE YOU THAT SATISFACTION! NO ONE WILL AGAIN!" The Chosen Child answered before counterattacking. In the end, she lowered her head in order to avoid the attack and stabbed him on the chest with her bare hand. "BLARGH!" The mercenary spit blood with a bewildered face.

Metal Fantomon noticed it and tried to go towards his partner. "LUDWIG!"

"PAILDRAMON! NOW!" Yatsura shouted. Paildramon didn't lose any time. He pointed his two organic guns at Metal Fantomon and shot, ending that diabolical duo once and for all. "DESPERADO BLASTER!" He shot without hesitation, delivering his battle cry along with her partner. "ATATATATATAATTATATAATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA! OWATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Metal Fantomon got attacked several times on his back, and the shots reached even his partner. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAH! H-How!? Y-You should be afraid of the sacrifices…!" Metal Fantomon exclaimed before disappearing in data.

"AH…AH…AGH!" Even Ludwig had his back full of holes…and then he fell to the ground, with Yatsura that was catching her breath. She still looked at him with caution, since she suspected that he could still have jumped at her from one moment to next. Ludwing's expression changed once more…now in a scared and grieving one. "I…I cannot move…I want to answer again but…I can't…is this really…the grasp of…death?" He spoke while tears came down from his eyes. "So…this was the sacrifice I made for delivering all that despair towards those Digimon…my own life…now I understand…how they felt…it's so…terrible…" He added.

"Wait! Where did you-" Yatsura was going to ask something…but she soon noticed that Ludwig wasn't moving anymore…or even…breathe. "…He's…dead." She said before making a sigh. She, much like the other detectives of the agency, didn't like to finish their enemies…but unfortunately this couldn't have been avoided. At least she knew that the city was now free, and his past victims could rest in peace now.

Yatsura then turned around and saw his partner, who got surrounded by a golden light and reverted to ExVeemon. "Did you see me, master? I finally evolved! I was so cool!" He spoke. "I totally agree! You were so awesome with those organic cannons! And…I was the one…who made it possible…" Yatsura answered. "It feels so nice to see this goal after 10 years…" She spoke. "I know…thank you, master. Perhaps this will make you feel better!" The blue dragon told him. "Well i…just remembered that before dying…there are still things that I want to do. That was what made me answer." The Chosen Child answered. "And…somehow…this makes me feel…optimistic! Eheh…wow! I…really thought positive…it's really strange coming from me!"

After that discussion, they then checked Ludwig's pockets to see if there was something…and in one of them, there was something important for the agency. "Another USB key! With this, we have seven of them! Now that everything was over, they put their attention back to their original purpose: Yuuko.

She was injured…but still alive. She looked at the battle in silence, and when everything was over, the vision of her mother left her. Yatsura came closer to her and looked at her in silence for some minutes.

"…I guess…you'll take me with you." Yuuko simply spoke. "Well…that is the intention, indeed…" Yatsura simply replied. "…You can go on…it's not that I can do much at this point…not after…what I just saw…" the other girl said. "Don't worry…we don't want to hurt you or your partner. We just want to talk to you." Yatsura told her with a reassuring smile. And with that, the case was over. After telling at the Digimon of the village what happened and promising to bring the other inhabitants back…Yatsura and Yuuko used a TV to return to the real world.


Back at the agency, everyone was surprised to see that Yatsura brought Yuuko with her. And slowly, the detective told her companions what happened, including ExVeemon's evolution, not before the two girls were treated with bandages and patches.

"I see…man that must have been tough for you." Kyoko commented. "To think that there were actually two of Saiba Rei's henchmen inside that village…and we didn't even know of his existence." Rikka added. "We didn't have data of that Ludwig Everglow, so we couldn't know where he was." Koushiro told her daughter.

"What's important now is that Yatsura was able to defeat that guy." Kasai spoke before turning on Yuuko. "And most importantly, she brought a person we've been looking for." Yuuko looked down, feeling a little bit overwhelmed.

"Hmmm…perhaps we should let her breathe a bit. I think we're scaring her." Kumo advised the others. "Don't worry, we won't lay a finger on you!" Shoutmon assured. "Still…there are many things that we need to know." Kouta told her.

"But let's start gradually. First of all…is it true that you are not a real mercenary? And if not, how did Saiba Rei found you?" Kyoko asked.

"…No. I'm not a mercenary…you see…I was searching for a job for a while by now…and one day, I've found this offer of the Rei Corporation. They said that the CEO was searching for some intimate personal confidants. I thought that it would have been a normal job. But then…Saiba Rei told me what this was really about. I was insecure of this, and I knew that it wasn't absolutely a good thing but…I really needed money…so…I've joined him." Yuuko explained.

"So, he also tried to find common people to work for him…" Leppamon said. "That would explain his request to my father…" Rikka added. "…And to Aleksi and Sigmund." Kumo spoke.

"And what about Nui? Was she like you?" Rina asked. "She's a dear friend of mine…she joined as well because she saw that I wasn't in a really good state…I know she may seem off…but she's nice to me." Yuuko answered before turning on Kasai. "She…told me that you defeated her." She added. Kasai simply nodded.

"So, you were…depressed judging from what you said. I suppose that's for your mother, right?" Aisu asked. Hearing that question made Yuuko feel sadder. "…Yes. You…probably know of the Real Chitose Estate. My father is the founder and the CEO of it. Well…in recent times the estate was having a crisis because sales weren't going well. Because of that…he started to be more focused on his own job rather than his family. I've started to spent time…only with my mom and my Digimon GeoGreymon. And then…it happened. My mother got run over by a car…and got severely injured on her legs. When she was hospitalized…they told us that unless there would have been an operation…she would have become paraplegic…and she couldn't have used her legs for the rest of her lives."

"And your father doesn't want to pay the operation, right?" Tsuna promptly asked, annoyed. "…Yes. When I've talked with him…he said that the future of his estate was more important at the moment…I just…couldn't stand it…it pissed me off…" Yuuko answered. Her hand started to tremble…but in that moment…Yatsura came by…and held her. "Uh?"

"That…must have been pretty selfish…right? Because of him, you were force to feel that burden on your shoulders. I know exactly how you feel…even I almost lost a person dear to me…but…I think you know now what you tried to do wasn't exactly the best. You saw it for yourself…it's clear that they are just using you as a tool." The detective said.

"Yatsura is right. Sometimes…rage makes us do wrong choices." Rikka added. "But…perhaps you're not too late to remedy. Because you were lucky enough to get around us!" Kyoko told her with a smile.

"What…do you mean?" Yuuko asked. "You surely did some terrible things, so an easy forgiveness is not on our policy. But…if you prove that you can change…then we can start to have a revaluation of you. Consider it…a forced labor." Chikara replied.

"…Say…Yuuko…let me talk to your father one of these days. It's not fair that you and your mother can't have a normal life because of him. I'll make sure he'll listen to him! I'll promise!" Yatsura told her.

"Is it me…or Yatsura seems more motivated than usual?" Norn asked at Kouta. "Hmmm…this seems the case." The boy replied.

After some seconds of silence…Yuuko hugged Yatsura. "T-Thank you...you…you would really do this to me?" She asked. "Absolutely. It's true that I am…how can I say it…a pussy? Gosh I'm terrible…but…It's clear that you don't have evil intentions like the others. You just…wanted to help your mother. And you need help too. That's what a detective would do, right?" Yatsura replied.

"Yup! I was in a terrible situation, too, but thanks to these guys, I was able to regain happiness and that's why I'm here! You can trust us absolutely!" Aria added.

"But…if I follow your words…they might see me as a traitor and they could get rid of me." Yuuko fairly pointed. "We won't let them do that. You're a civilian, just like the rest of this city. It's our duty do defend you." Aisu said before coming closer. "First of all…we need to know some things from you. Do you know what Saiba Rei is actually planning to do?" Kasai asked.

"Hmmm…I do know something…but not everything…" Yuuko replied. "Don't worry for that! Every question for us can be important." Strikedramon said.

"Eheh…right! You are detectives after all…" Yuuko said, feeling now already happier. "So…judging from what I've seen…Saiba Rei is basically kidnapping Digimon to steal their energy. In his office, there is a secret room with many capsules that hold Digimon inside. Even the Digimon we and Ludwig attacked…we've brought them all there. And it seems that…he's using their energy to create something called the 'Perfect Cube'." She then started to explain.

"The Perfect Cube? What's that?" Toriko asked. "It's an energy storage created by using the energy of those Digimon. He seems to make his Digimon absorb it. Judging from what I've heard…if his Digimon should absorb it…he could become extremely powerful." Yuuko replied.

"This means that our mission also includes preventing the creation of this cube." Kouta asked. "By the way! Did you know who is his Digimon partner? We know something…but his identity is still unknown." BaoHackmon then asked.

"Honestly…I don't know either. He's always covered in shadows, so his form is unrecognizable." Yuuko said. All detectives made a smalls sigh. "Well…at least we know something more now." Aisu said. "I would say some precious information, as we now know something more about what Saiba Rei is planning to do, even if there's still something missing. So...thank you, Yuuko Chitose." Kasai said, making a genuine smile, an action she rarely does. She then noticed that everyone looked at her with eyes wide open, so she turned on her usual expression. "…What's with those looks?" She asked.

"Nothing…" Everyone said. "Tsk. Good grief." The girl concluded before fixing her hat. "I should be the one thanking you…I…don't deserve all of this…not after what I've done." Yuuko said.

"True…but we are people who like to give second chances." Kyoko replied. "…In that case…I should do two things…" The former mercenary said before looking at Tsuna. The two of them looked at each other in silence for some seconds…and then the girl kneeled down…and put her hands and her head on the floor, surprising everyone. "O-Ohi, what are you doing?" Tsuna asked.

"I'm…terribly sorry for treating you in that way that day…I don't expect to be forgiven…I just want to make you know that I am sorry!" Yuuko said.

Tsuna felt lost for a second. It was the first time someone apologized to him like that, so he really didn't know how to react. So…he decided to act as usual, like he does better. "Tch. I'm not someone for formalities like that! I need to see if you really are sorry! Because I'm still mad for what you've done!" He spoke.

"Got it! I'll do the possible!" Yuuko quickly said as she stood up. Everyone made a sceptic face after that. "She seems to feel guilty…" Kumo thought.

"And…the second thing is…this." Yuuko then said before giving something to Yatsura. "This is my USB key…I've heard that you were taking them one by one so…I think this can help you."

"That's so great! Thank you, Yuuko!" Aria thanked her. "With this, we have 8 of them! We are getting closer to our goal!" Tsuna added.

"So…what am I going to do, now?" Yuuko asked. "For now, just go home. You surely need some rest after what happened to you today. If something troubles you, call us!" Kyoko replied. "Plus, I'll make sure that your phone number won't be reachable from them. I'm a pretty skilled hacker, so a work like this is a piece of cake." Rikka added.

"By the way…would you like to bring you home? My car is here, so I can give you a ride." Koushiro then proposed. "That's so kind of you, Koushiro!" Tentomon added.

That made Yuuko blush. "You're all so…kind to me…thank you, really." She spoke. "We're the Cheshire Cat Agency. Our policy is to make people have a normal life as our main duty. Don't forget this." Kumo told her.

"That's right! Now that I think of it, it's closing time, so we should leave now. Good job at everyone, as always! But especially at you Yatsura! You did a wonderful job today! And I reaaaaaaally mean it!" Kyoko then told to everyone. "You don't have to emphasize the word 'really', though…" DORUgamon told her. "DORUGAMON!" The leader shouted at her.

"K-Kyoko! You'll make me cry!" Yatsura said. "Uhm…your mascara is melting…" Veedramon noticed.

"You don't say anything, mistress Shiro?" Rina asked, noticing that Shiro didn't say anything. "Oh, it's not that important…it's so nice to hear you talk!" Shiro replied.

And thus, everyone left the agency, and the detectives were ready to come back home. "Good night to everyone! See you tomorrow!" Kyoko told everyone.

"Good night!"

"Have a safe journey, ok? I hope you'll get better. In case, I can bring you out to some place I know well and make you have a good time!" Yatsura told to Yuuko, who was ready to go with Koushiro.

"Yeah…right…again…thank you for everything. So…good night!" Yuuko replied, before going inside. Yatsura waved her hand with a smile before the car left. When she turned around, she could see Kyoko closing the agency with the keys. "Oh, you're still here?" She asked.

"Well…I was wondering if I could walk with you." Yatsura proposed. "Oh! Didn't expect you to ask me this! But of course!" Her leader said happy.

With that, the two of them started to walk together through the streets of the city while the pale moon shined down. "You know, Yatsura…I've seen something in you tonight." The leader of the agency suddenly said. "Uh? What?" The other girl asked.

"An improvement. I've noticed that you were strongly motivated on your job more than the usual. Not only you've accomplished your job, but you also brought back two USB keys, made your partner reach the Perfect-Level and even gave some moral support to that girl! I would have never expected you to make a step forward and help her with her family issues!" Kyoko explained. "Well, she seemed pretty much depressed with all the stuff she had been to. It made me sad to see her in that state. She…looked a lot like me in that moment. And nobody should feel as sad and pessimistic as I am!" Yatsura replied.

"Awwww, well, in my opinion, you're not that depressed. Well, you are still pessimistic, but tonight I could see that you made a deep change in your personality. What made you go forward in that hard situation?" Her leader asked. Yatsura looked down and touched her chest with her hand…"Well…it was just that…I didn't want to die. Not before having done many things. Plus…there are people that wouldn't want to see me in that state so…I've done it also for them. I…I think I just started to have more guts." She answered.

"That, my friend, is a good thing. And…I'm very glad to see that this agency is helping you grow up. You should really be proud of what you were able to do today, just like I am." Kyoko told her. "K-Kyoko! You're…proud of me?" Yatsura asked.

"Of course! Both as your leader and as your friend. Do I have to repeat myself?" Kyoko answered with a smile. Yatsura looked at her in silence for a few seconds…then…tears started to come down like waterfalls and mucus came down from her nose. "WUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! KYOKO! YOU PLAY WITH MY FEELINGS! I-I'm…so happy to hear that!" She exclaimed before hugging her.

"Urusei Yatsura, come on!" Kyoko commented, not expecting that. "Er, right! You will wake up someone at this hour!" ExVeemon added. "I-I can't resist…I'm just so happy…even Kasai gave me such tender words when we made that mission together…I'm…just so happy to see that my work is acknowledged…thank you Kyoko…thank you so much…" Yatsura said while having her head on Kyoko's chest. "Awww…what a tender heart…you're welcome. What I say is honest, really! Do you remember when I've proposed you to join the agency?" The leader then asked.

"Y-Yes…I remember well…" Yatsura answered…while memories started to pass through her mind…

Three months earlier…it was the middle of December, the snow was falling down, and the city of San Francisco was already in the mood of Christmas, the most beloved and important holiday.

Yatsura was having a walk while wearing a heavy coat and having her face almost hidden by a red scarf. She kept on walking while having a melancholic face. She wasn't upset by something, but ever since the incident on that shopping center and after seeing Maki in that way…she simply became more pessimistic. And in that moment…she heard a scream.

"HELP! STOP THAT THIEF!" When Yatsura looked up, she could see that a man with black hair was running away with a small box on his hands. He was going in the direction where Yatsura was standing. "O-Oh God, a thief!?" She was panicked at first, but then the robbed one added something. "That was the Christmas present I've bought for my girlfriend! I can't lose it like that!"

"A…Christmas present?" Yatsura spoke. In that moment…she didn't know why…but her body started to move, so that she could be in front of the thief and block him. When she heard that guy say that thing, she thought that…it wasn't fair that he would have lost a gift he would have given to a person he cared because of someone who didn't want to earn honestly. So, she put herself in front of the thief and made a large shout. "STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!" Then, when the thief was coming closer, she delivered a punch strong enough to make him faint.

Everyone was looking at her in that moment. "Did…did I just knocked out a man? Oh my God! I didn't know I would have actually done it a second time! Am…am I that strong?" She said, still bewildered by what she had just done. "Oh…right…" She then came closer to the robbed guy. "I think…this is yours." She said before giving him the pocket. "Oh…thank you so much, you saved me! May God bless you and have a merry Christmas." The guy said before leaving.

Yatsura looked at him while he went away with a smile on her face, feeling better for him. And in that moment…a familiar voice called her.

"Wow, Yatsura! I didn't know you had such strength!"

"Uh?" When Yatsura turned around, she could see a familiar blonde girl: Kyoko, who was holding a coffee on her hand. "Kyoko!? How long have you been there?" She asked still surprised.

"For a couple of minutes, enough to see you stop that thief! You really surprised me!" Kyoko replied. "O-Oh please…it's nothing…well…glad to see that you are fine…merry Christmas." The other girl said before starting to leave. She thought that they didn't have anything else to say…but she was wrong.

"Hey wait! You leave like that?" Kyoko called her. "You…want to talk with me?" Yatsura asked. But of course! After seeing you doing that action it's only natural that I want to talk with you more!" The other girl answered back. "I wanted to ask you something in particular about what happened…why, you…decided to stop that thief?"

"Why?" Yatsura thought for some seconds before giving an answer…then…she replied by trying to be as spontaneous as possible. "Well…it's just that seeing that person being robbed for something he bought for his girlfriend…wasn't fair, especially in a period like this! A gift is still a gift. It is something that you do to make the others happy! And everyone deserves to be happy, even people like me! To think that poor guy couldn't have given her girlfriend that present because of someone that wanted an easy life just made me mad! And I just stopped with that punched because I could have continued! Oh…oh dear…I…said too much, perhaps?"

Kyoko made a small laugh. "Hey, that's not funny!" Yatsura complained. "Don't worry! It's just that seeing you express feelings in that way surprised me. But…I could clearly see the message that you wanted to deliver me. You do care a lot about other people, don't you?" She asked.

"W-Well…is…is it wrong?" Yatsura wondered. "Not at all. I'm glad to see this part of your personality, Yatsura! Perhaps you should show it off more often! Plus…it's the type of person like you that I am looking for." Kyoko replied.

"What? What…do you mean?" Yatsura asked. "Yatsura…you recently graduated from high school, right? That means that you're searching for a job." Kyoko then started.

"Well…yes. I've been looking for it for at least seven months by now…why that?" The other Chosen Child asked. "What if I told you…that I could give you a special offer? It's clear that you tend to defend others, even if you're not that brave but…I can see something in you. And with the right solution…I think you could do great things and evolve just like a Digimon." Kyoko said before showing at her a paper of admission. "You see…I've been running a detective agency for almost a year now and we're at 10 members at the moment. Since you do like be there for others, what do you think? Would you like to join in? Perhaps it will help you with your problems!" She then made the offer.

Yatsura was bewildered. Really? A person like her…was offered for a job like that? Was it really possible? Was it happening for real? Why her of all people? At first, her pessimistic way of thinking was going to make her decline the offer but…she then imagined…what would have been the outcome…it has been a while since she was able to talk with someone normally without being in paranoia. Maybe…with this…she would have started to get to know more people. Maybe…even get some friends. Maybe…it was possible for her to change after all. And most importantly…she thought about Maki's words.

"In my opinion…I think you would be pretty good…at doing a job where you help the others…"

She even thought…of her own words…

"Do you…still think I would be good at protecting others? Yes…something like that…many people have their dreams…and…that is mine…to be someone that can go to distance, and a person that you and the others can count on!"

And in that moment…she thought of Hercules, the figure she always idolized ever since she was a little child.

"You see that, Yatsura? That is Hercules, a Greek hero who went against every type of challenge to become a hero!" Her father, Iori told her once. "Really? That's so cool! I want to become like him one day!"

All that…made her decide their choice. This was maybe the only time she could have an offer like that, so…

"…I-I-I-I…"

"Uhm…you don't need to-" Kyoko was going to say something, but Yatsura stopped her. "No, it's fine! I accept…to be honest…I've been searching for a way to do a job where I could help the others actively…"

"Oh! What a twist! So, you could say that this was your lucky day, right?" Kyoko told her. "YES! Absolutely…" Yatsura answered with sudden tears from her eyes. "I-I-I know that I'm weak! But…I'll try to do my best! I promise! I want to become like Hercules! I want to change!" She said, showing a strong force of will.

"Very nice! Then welcome aboard, Yatsura Hida! Welcome to the Cheshire Cat Agency!" Her new leader said with a thumb up. "Oh right and…thank you…for giving me this offer." Yatsura concluded.

"Heh. You're welcome. How about we go take a coffee, now?" Kyoko then offered. "Yes!" The other girl replied. And with that, Yatsura started her new career…a career that would have shown deep changes to her.

Back to the present…

"That day, you were still extremely shy and concerned for everything. But when I saw you give a punch to that thief…I saw the same thing I saw in everyone else that joined the agency! And I'm glad to see that my reasoning was not wrong." Kyoko said.

"Yes…I think i…understand what you mean…even Kasai told me that…" Yatsura replied.

"Yatsura!"

In that moment, a familiar voice called out the detective, making her turn around. And she was surprised to see that it was Maki who called her and was coming closer. "Maki!"

"I was just passing by, and I've seen you- OH MY GOD! What happened to you!? What are all those bandages!?" Maki exclaimed.

"Well…this is part of my job actually…this had been a really bizarre day…" Yatsura replied. In that moment…she came closer and hugged her best friend. "Uh? Yatsura…are you ok?" Maki asked.

"Yes…it's just that…after today…I just needed some comfort directly from you…" Yatsura replied. She was clearly still traumatized for Metal Fantomon's vision. "I…don't understand what happened but…a hug is still a hug after all!" Maki answered before hugging her back.

"Let's just say she had to deal with a questionable person." Kyoko said. In that moment, Maki noticed her. "Oh…sorry…I didn't see you…I'm Maki Katsuragi, a friend of Yatsura! Nice to meet you!" She then presented herself.

"Oh, don't worry! Yatsura told me about you. I'm Kyoko Ishida! I'm her boss if you ask." Kyoko replied. "Her boss? Oh…that makes me think…you still didn't tell me what is that new job of yours…" Maki then turned on her friend.

"Oh, right…I think…you'll be really happy to hear it…I've…wanted to show you for a while by now…" Yatsura replied…before showing something to Maki…

A badge.

"A…badge?" Maki asked.

"Maki…I've became a detective. I…help people as a job." Yatsura told her the truth. "And she's really good at it!"

"You…followed my suggestion? Really?" Maki asked. "Well…yes. And I've also…followed my wish to change." Yatsura simply replied.

"Y-Yatsura…i…I can't believe it…" Just like Yatsura, even Maki showed to be a crybaby, as tears started to fall down. "H-Hey! Don't cry now!"

"URUSEI YATSURA! It's just that…I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU! I still remember how heartbroken you were from that accident! And now I see that you became a detective and help the others! I couldn't be prouder of you! I…I'm happy to have you as a friend! My best friend!" Maki shouted.

"D-DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT! YOU'LL MAKE ME CRY AGAIN AND MY EYES ARE STARTING TO BURN!" Yatsura countered.

"Ok…ok…I'll stop right now. But, really…congratulations…" Maki told her. "Well…maybe one of these days…I can bring you to show the agency." Yatsura answered.

"Awww, you're so cute together! You remind me of Aisu and Norn!" Kyoko commented. "HEY!" Both Yatsura and Maki shouted.

"Come on, I'm joking! Now we should really go home. Are we ready to go, then?" Kyoko then asked. Yatsura and Maki looked at each other with a smile. "Indeed!"

And with that…the three of them started to walk together…as friends. "Maki…"

"Yes, Yatsura?" Maki asked. "Thank you for still sticking with me for all these years!" Yatsura said with a genuine smile. A smile that for once…didn't show fear or hesitation. "Eheh! You're welcome! We're besties after all! We'll stay together like this…right?" Maki replied.

"Your next line will be 'Absolutely yes!'" Kyoko predicted what Yatsura would have said. "Absolutely yes! K-KYOKO!" Yatsura exclaimed. She maid a grunt at first…but at this point…she didn't care. Because now…she just wanted to be happy. Even if she was dragged into a terrible situation of despair…she found her way to stand still and get out of it. Yatsura Hida couldn't have been happier than now. She made her partner reach the Perfect-Level, she got two USB keys and most importantly…she helped other people, even an enemy. This was the greatest change she could ever have for now.

For her…it was already a sparkle of hope. A sparkle that maybe…would have become bigger, as the tides of the Saiba case were slowly starting to be tip over.