I laid on a branch, my back pressed against a tree trunk, watching over Impmon as he snuck up on a couple.
"Fire?! I can help with that! Ba-boom!" he shouted from directly behind them, creating a large burst of flames that sent the couple scrambling away, both of them screaming in fear.
Impmon laughed, standing on top of the bench those two had been standing on.
"I'll admit, that was actually pretty funny."
Impmon choked.
"Though seeing your reaction when I spoke up is even better, in this case."
He quickly turned around, finding nobody.
"Up here."
He looked up, immediately spotting my form in the trees. "Oh, you. What do you want?"
"What makes you think I wanted anything?" I asked. "I was merely checking up on you to make sure that you weren't hurting anyone."
"Tch. I agreed to your damn rules, didn't I?" He spat.
"You did." I nodded. "And you kept your word."
"'Course I did!" He shouted. "I ain't hurting anybody."
"Indeed, you aren't." I said. "You're just pranking them." I swung out of the trees, landing on the ground in front of Impmon. "And I have no problems with that. Indeed, I actually find it quite amusing."
"What."
"Surely, you can understand what amusement means, right?" I asked, before reaching into my coat and pulling out some bread. "Here, catch."
It was only by reflex that he caught it, blinking at me before looking down at it. "What the heck is this?"
"In certain circles, Humanity calls it 'bread'." I spoke.
He scowled at me. "I know what bread is, jackass."
"Then why did you ask?"
"You- No." He cut himself off. "Why give this to me?"
"I do not eat, Impmon. I certainly have no use for it." I'd tried to refuse Guilmon when he'd given it to me, but he'd pushed it into my hands without listening to a word I'd said. I'd kept it under a Stop spell since then.
"Are you deliberately being a jerk?" He asked. Nevertheless, he took a bite out of the bread. I noticed the flicker of emotions in his Heart.
"It's too dry." Impmon complained, lying through his teeth. He took another bite a moment later, before swallowing the rest of it whole.
"I'll save you the embarrassment of calling you on that lie." I spoke. "Either way, I'm done here."
"Then leave." He said, irritably.
"Oh, I intend to. Do have a nice night, Impmon."
I vanished.
I really did have to marvel at the number of couples that were still coming here at night.
In fact, it seemed that there were even more tonight than there was last night.
What, were they coming out here to get scared?
I paused.
Oh.
Ooooh.
Alright, now it makes sense.
"Hello Guilmon." I looked to the side. "Hello Impmon."
"Hello!" Guilmon said.
"Ugh, why are you here?" Impmon asked.
"I came to visit Guilmon." I answered. Which was the truth.
That doing so would also allow me to stop you from getting him to go tonight is merely a bonus. A completely unintentional bonus.
Truly.
"Pft, I don't believe you."
"Too bad." I turned to face Guilmon. "How are you doing?"
"Good!" Guilmon cheered. "I'm eating bread."
I noticed Impmon perk up at that, however slightly.
"Want some?"
"I'll have some." Impmon said, reaching out to grab one.
I slapped his hand.
"Hey!" Impmon pulled his hand back. "What was that for?!"
"You were being impolite." I said. "Ask if you can have one, don't just take it."
"Huh?" Guilmon's head tilted to the side.
"No way!" Impmon shouted.
"Is saying 'please' so hard?" I asked.
"I'm not going to say 'please' to this idiot!" Impmon claimed. "He still thinks a Human can be his partner." Impmon spat the word out like it was poison.
"That's funny, coming from you."
I looked at him. Looked deep.
I could see the twin connections he had in his Heart and Soul, reaching out into Shinjuku. His partners, Ai and Mako, undoubtedly.
The bonds were atrophied, damaged, and weren't going to be repaired any time soon.
But it was telling, however, that they were still there.
Impmon froze, before turning towards me. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He said, his voice like steel.
Who knows, if I couldn't see his Heart, I might have even believed him.
I looked at him, letting the glow of my eyes escape my cloak once more. "Really? Well, I'm certain you'll figure it out."
Impmon glared at me. He knew full well that I didn't believe him.
"I'm leaving." He eventually said.
I gestured at the park. "By all means, go. I certainly will not stop you."
He jumped up, heading into the trees.
Guilmon let out a noise of confusion, and I turned back to him, my eyes invisible again.
"Something wrong, Guilmon?"
He looked at me, then back at where Impmon had gone.
"I'm confused." Guilmon said.
"That's perfectly fine." I nodded. "Matters such as these can be very confusing, even for those who are far more versed in such things than you."
Guilmon looked at me, an inquiring expression on his face.
"Don't worry about it." I said, patting him on the head. "You just make sure to say right here, where Takato told you to, okay?"
"Okie-dokie!" Guilmon smiled.
I lingered, trailing after Impmon, invisible and determined not to be spotted.
"Sheesh. What a jerk." Impmon muttered. "How does that jackass even know about..."
Impmon trailed off, glaring around.
He spotted a couple, and pointed his finger at them.
He stared for a moment, and then shifted his aim, pointing at their feet. "Bada boom!" A fire lit up on his finger, shooting out at their feet, generating a small, harmless explosion.
It still sent the couple running, frightened by the sudden loud noise and bright light so close to them.
Impmon smirked after then, but quickly stopped, looking around angrily.
He saw nothing.
Impmon sighed, his arm dropping to his side and his anger draining away.
"Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Impmon sat back, his arms crossed. "What the hell does that guy know, anyway?"
More than you could imagine, Impmon.
More than you could imagine.