Disclaimer: Digimon belongs to someone with more money than me.
Reviews!
Zero Fullbuster: Hey dude :D
Wickerstein: I'm still not convinced by how that chapter turned out, but if you liked it I'm satisfied.
Guest Hector: No plans for that, sorry.
N. Ageless: Comadreeee! I haven't forgotten you! Pero si pense que tu si de mi.
1- Yeah that's the reaction I expected from that. At first I thought of making Alluka and Nanika twins on his fantasy, but he loves them just like they are so it would have been out of character.
2-That's Canon!?
3-I'll eagerly wait for more of your comments dear Comadre.
When Maki Himegawa woke up again she thought she had a vivid dream last night after maybe a couple more cups of wine than usual. That thought was destroyed when she tried to stand and found herself tied to a chair and when she opened her mouth she found it sealed with a piece of tape. 'What-?'
"Ah, you're awake," A voice called in front of her, a man with golden eyes on a chair, his form slouched forward and his chin cupped in his hand. "Sorry about your current position, dear Maki."
'Hisoka-?!' She could barely believe it. Her former leader from her time as Digidestined all those years ago was sitting right in front of him, all grown up… and for some reason he has decided to tie her up.
"I had a bit of a long night," He explained, scratching his cheek sheepishly. "So I didn't want you making a scandal," he sat up and walked to her and grabbed the edge of her gag.
'WAIT' She tried to say, but all it came was a muffled, "MPHAI"
Hisoka ripped the tape from her mouth and she let out a brief shriek of pain, "Agh! Ah!"
"Oops, my bad," He said, still smirking as he tossed the tape aside.
Maki struggled with her bonds as she looked up at the clown. "Hisoka, it really is you?"
"Yup," The jester said as he sat down. "It is really me, in the flesh, and let me tell you I was just as surprised as you are."
"How?" She asked, stopping for a moment her struggles.
Hisoka shrugged. "Mysterious forces linked to the Digital World, nothing we didn't deal with on the days of yore."
"You said that as if we were really old," She scoffed, turning her head at the side.
"I can see the years treated you wonderfully, dear Maki," Hisoka said with a glint in his eyes.
"I'd be flattered if you hadn't break into my apartment and tied me to a chair," She said with a deadpan glare.
Hisoka chuckled and sat up from his chair. "Right, sorry about that." He walked behind her and took out one of his cards. "I had a long night, and when you pulled out the gun… what can I say? I got nervous."
He used the card to cut through the tape he used to restrain her. Maki grabbed her wrists to caress them and glared at the man as he sat down again in front of her. If she remembered all of his feats right, and if he only continued to grow, then a mere gun wouldn't even scratch him, she thought.
She narrowed her eyes at her. "It really is you, huh?"
"Indeed, dear," Hisoka said, crossing his legs on his seat.
"How?" She asked, genuinely curious as to how he could be here.
"Forces that go beyond anything I've seen before… even the Dark Masters," He told her.
At the mention of the Dark Masters she shivered, those four still had an effect on her… especially after their last battle against them.
Hisoka wouldn't usually reach into his memories for past opponents, but what could he say? The Dark Masters had left an impact on him, he couldn't deny it, and he needed to because it would help put Maki in context.
"Could you…" She cleared her throat, trying to be as professional as she could in front of this strange situation. "Could you be more specific?"
"Of course," He looked at the ceiling with his arms crossed and a furrowed brow. "I was about to enjoy myself on a fight I've been yearning to participate in for quite some time, when suddenly I find myself on a beach of grey sand and black waters. A creature there, which you could say is my benefactor, sent me to the Digital World with a task, and in exchange he will send me back to my home. He also told me about the two new generations of Digidestined… as well as their own Anomaly amongst them."
Maki nodded to herself as she listened to him. In her job after the incident in Odaiba five years ago they've been keeping tabs on individuals that might be related to that… though their data kept disappearing for some reason and could barely keep up with the investigation due to it. She knew it was related to the Digital World, but to talk out loud about something like that without evidence would get her fired and on a mad house with a straightjacket.
"So you get this target and you go back to your world?" She asked.
"Bingo," Hisoka said, winking at her. "These kids seem to have something we didn't during our time, a gate that lets them go back and forth between the Digital World and this one. So my objective could be here in your world at the moment, or hiding in the Digital where I can't sadly reach her at the moment."
"Her?" Maki raised her eyebrow again. "Your target is a girl?"
"Is someone similar to you; Homeostasis did the same thing to her body as it did with you," Hisoka explained. "Maybe that's why my benefactor wants her."
When she heard the name of Homeostasis, Maki gritted her teeth. That creature, whatever it was took her partner away from her! Daigo and the others still had their friends with them yet she lost her best friend on that day!
She stood from her chair and walked to a nearby window, trying to calm herself and wanting to continue talking to the jester. "Then what are you doing here? In my house, why not go with the others?"
Hisoka shrugged. "From what I heard most of them left the city, while Daigo is now a teacher… but you were closer and have apparently being working with the local government."
She huffed, half in annoyance half in amusement. "It isn't something grand, it was just a branch that researches unusual incidents—like the Odaiba fog and the sudden images in the sky five years ago… though that must not mean anything to you, huh?"
"No, it doesn't," Hisoka said, standing up. "But I could use your help Maki, for old time's sake. I can't read the letters on this place—good Samaritans and a map helped me find you, and I don't have a place to stay. I could use a guide as well as a host for the time being."
Maki frowned and turned around. "And what do I get from this? Over ten years later, and a so-called mission to find some girl and you expect me to just give you everything for free?"
Hisoka blinked surprised, but then he smiled. "My, my, it seems you aren't quite the scared little girl I met back then."
That got a glower from Maki and a faint blush on her cheeks at the reminder.
"I am open for bargain, what do you want? What can I offer you?" He asked, slowly getting closer.
Making grew a bit uncomfortable at the glint in Hisoka's eyes. Despite her words, she didn't truly felt she had a choice in the matter.
Still…
"If your benefactor could take you back to the Digital World… then I want to do it as well… I want to go back there to continue my research…" Then she swallowed. "Or if it, he, they or whatever can do it… then I want my partner back…"
Hisoka tilted his head and blinked before closing his eyes and nodded. "Okay, I think I can do that… but first we have to get my objective."
"… Alright," She said with a sigh. "I'll help you out, you can sleep in the couch and tomorrow you can put me to date with what's happening."
Then she jabbed a finger to his chest with a glare. "And don't go pulling stunts on me like that again, you hear?"
Hisoka raised his arms in surrender, his smile never leaving his face "Right, right."
Maki kept her glare and walked towards her room, suddenly feeling really tired. When she was out of his sight she left out a relived sigh, for some reason being near Hisoka now felt much more taxing than being near him all those years ago. Almost as if she took the wrong step then she wouldn't be able to tell it.
She shook her head and went to sleep, wondering if maybe this was truly a long and strange dream.
Hisoka watched her go and the smile never left his face. He wasn't someone to look back at the past, and hasn't thought of Maki at all during these years, but allowed himself to compare her to how she was all those years ago.
"I guess she isn't a little girl anymore…" He chuckled. "I can't say I dislike this change thought, reminds me a bit of dear Machi."
With that, he walked to the couch and decided to rest. He will have some busy days to come.
What a peculiar situation he found himself in.
Not two weeks ago did he just killed his master, Moritonio, or as he died as John Doe, a serial killer who crushed people using his Nen and his Hatsu ability, and left the circus that took him in to follow his own path.
Then a weak after that, as he walked by a shore, a large wave engulfed him and he woke up in a forest, surrounded by five children of his age. And surrounded by strange creatures calling themselves Digimon, along with a voice that gave them instructions.
"I know you must be scared and confused, but please hear me out," The voice ha said, coming from the devices strapped to the wrist of his new companions, it was fascinating. "I am Homeostasis, the being who desires stability on this world. All of you are our last hope."
Homeostasis explained how this world was under the siege of four Digimon named the Dark Masters, twisting the land and slowly creating some sort of mountain on the form of a spiral, and telling them to move to the north where they will find a lead on their mission.
He had his hands stuffed into his pockets, while chewing one of the many packets of bungee gum he had on him. Good thing he buy a lot of them before being dragged here, his dyed blue hair done in a mop that framed his head.
He looked back with disinterest at the group accompanying him; three boys and two girls, all accompanied by one Digimon each.
One of the boys was a robust looking boy, with a white shirt and black shorts, Junpei Orimoto. At his side was a turtle looking Digimon named Kamemon.
The next was a boy who looked a few years younger than him, around ten or eleven years old, he wore a white shirt and shorts, looking rather thin and with shaggy brown hair. Yuuta Midori, and at his side a red bird resembling a penguin: Muchomon.
And the last of the boys was a boy with black hair, wearing a red shirt and brown khaki shorts, a pair of goggles dangling on his neck: Daigo Nishijima, and at his side was a green dragon named Dracomon.
As for the girls, one was tall and with black hair, wearing a pair of black thick glasses, a pink shirt, and a knee long red skirt, her name was Yui Tanaka, and at her side was a Digimon that resembled a bear, appropriately named Bearmon.
And lastly the girl lagging behind them, with short brown hair and with a white and purple spaghetti shirt and pink shorts, she was hugging close to her the Digimon accompanying her, Tapirmon. Maki Himekawa.
All of them had a device Homeostasis had named the 'Digivice' strapped to their wrists like a watch, what used did they had aside from communicating with the entity escaped him but according to the voice it was their greatest weapon.
He looked back to the front as he blew a bubble of his gum.
He was bored. For a week they've been traveling to the north as they've been told, without having any other choice, he had no theme of conversation with these children; they all attended the same school, in different courses. According to them they were in their respective homes when the Digivices just appeared on their room and latched to them, before being engulfed in light and getting dragged here.
But aside from that he found them absolutely boring. No Nen, no skills, no nothing, same with the Digimon.
He wanted to go home, if anything, to find some good use to the teachings of the now deceased Tonio.
"How much longer now?" Jumpei whined as he started dragging his feet.
"I'm sure we're almost there," Kamemon said with a smile.
"You have been saying that, ever since we arrived," Yuuta said with an eye roll. "And that was a week ago!"
"We promise this time it will be different," Muchomon reassured nervously.
The Digimon seemed to be completely certain on the words from Homeostasis, who had yet to communicate with them again ever since they arrived, which was the complete opposite with the children.
Having being forced to sleep on the floor, to look around for food, and continuously walking without knowing when to stop, it was getting on their nerves.
"Have some faith guys," Daigo said, always trying to stay positive. "How long can a forest be?"
"Long enough for us to be walking for a week," Yui said, adjusting her glasses with a sigh. "We have been keeping our patience, but this is just getting ridiculous," She said, glaring down at the Digimon at her side.
Bearmon pouted. "If I could fly I would help you I swear," He said, crossing his arms and looking aside.
Daigo sighed at the low spirits on the group and looked around for someone to back him up. He looked back to Maki, who hasn't talked much since coming here. "What do you think, Maki?"
Maki just buried her face on Tapirmon's fur, holding him like a plush and shrugged. "'Dunno…"
Daigo sighed; she's been like this ever since they arrived. He tried to look for other back up. "Emm, and what do you think, Hisoka?"
Hisoka merely shrugged, not really wanting to converse at the moment, leaving Daigo to sigh at the few words from their enigmatic friend.
Then lady luck smiled at them or at the least at Hisoka, for his boredom was about to end.
The bubblegum he was blowing popped and he took out a card from his pocket, before sending it towards the bushes. The others were surprised by this action, and then they heard a clanging sound.
Hisoka's card was sent flying back at him; he leaned to the side to dodge it as the card stab itself on a tree.
Then from the bushes something appeared, a mechanical Digimon that looked like a gear.
"A Hagurumon!" Dracomon said with a gasp.
The Hagurumon twirled his gears around. "You lot… What are you?" He asked, tilting his head. "I've never seen Digimon like you."
"Is he talking to us?" Junpei asked in confusion. "We aren't Digimon."
"Since here there's only Digimon, it is normal for this fellow to assume we are one of them," Hisoka said, surprising the group from hearing him talk so much.
"You are about to cross the territory of Lord Machinedramon," The Hagurumon said. "Anyone who comes across the territory will be sent to the great factory, where any part of them that is unproductive will be replaced with more effective machinery… You are all made out of organic data, so most of your body will be replaced."
"What is this thing talking about?" Daigo whispered harshly, weirded out by the talking gear.
"So… There's civilization nearby, if it's talking about an empire?" Yui questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Hisoka shrugged, "It is possible."
"If you are ready want to enter the empire, then that means you have to meet its standards," Hagurumon said as his eyes glowed red. "Destructive Gear!"
He launched the gears rotating around his body towards the group. Hisoka jumped out of the way easily, while the others had to duck more crudely out of the way.
Hagurumon elevated itself above them to stay out of range, the gears glowed with a dark color and spun back to continue to attack them.
The children scattered to avoid the pair of gears trying to behead them, while Hisoka landed on a tree branch. He looked up at Hagurumon and took out one of his cards. With a burst of Nen, he jumped right in front of Hagurumon and stabbed the card on its face. He flipped back and landed on a crouch.
Hagurumon bursts into data, along with his gears.
The Digidestined all observed everything that happened with wide eyes. None of them believed what they just witnessed. "Did he just take that thing on… with a card?" Daigo said in disbelief.
"Is that normal for humans, Daigo?" Dracomon asked with wide eyes, making the boy shook his head vehemently.
Hisoka stared bored at the spot where the Digimon vanished. 'If this is all these creatures can offer, then I don't know why that voice sounded so distressed. There must be something else at foot here…' He mused.
Hisoka found himself surrounded by his travelling companion, all looking at him with awe and wonder. "Dude, that was awesome!" Junpei complimented, looking up at Hisoka.
"That was… simply remarkable," Yui said, adjusting the glassed. "Are your cards made of some special alloy?"
"Man, can you teach me how to do those sick moves, huh?" Yuuta asked, grinning widely at him.
Maki didn't say anything, but was observing him with wide eyes.
"How did you do all of those things anyway?" Daigo asked.
Hisoka chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "A magician never reveals his tricks."
His response left the groups baffled, he walked pass them and gestured to follow. "We must be getting close to where Homeostasis wanted us to go," He said. "Let's get going."
The sight wasn't pretty.
They finally found civilization, but it could barely be called that. Huts and small shacks populated the area of an arid and deserted area that clashed with the green and healthy forest they just walked out from, the sand being of an ashen color, and various machines planted around to mine the area.
Behind the town was a cliff, and at the top of it some sort of factory which was releasing a black smoke from its chimneys.
They saw Digimon coming out from holes on the floor and from entrances on the mountains, carrying with them several heavy-looking materials. The Digimon were Gotsumon and Pawnchessmon of both black and white color, and hovering around the area were various Hagurumon.
"A-Are we sure this is the place?" Maki asked, for the first time opening her mouth.
Yui tapped the Digivice on her wrist and showed but showed no reaction. "This is our best guest, that or to keep on walking."
"This place looks awful to be called an Empire…" Junpei muttered.
Daigo took the lead. "Let's look around the area. I don't think those guys aren't exactly friendly," He said gesturing to the Hagurumon floating around.
Without any other plan, the group did just that. They walked towards the town, making sure to hide from the view of any of the Hagurumon to avoid another confrontation.
They tried to be as stealthy as they could, crouching and keeping their heads low and using the huts and machines to stay out of the gear's sight.
They tried really hard, until a sudden crash called their attention.
"Agh!" They peeked from behind their hiding spot behind a giant drill to see what the noise was about. A Hagurumon a group of hovering over a downed Gotsumon.
"Worker number 3-409, stand up," A Hagurumon said mechanicaly.
"Please… I just want to rest…" The Gotsumon pleaded as he struggled to get up.
Another Hagurumon hovered over the poor Digimon. "Worker 3-409 has failed to obey the order, despite being a Digimon made of mineral data it is showing signs of fatigue."
"Unacceptable," The first Hagurumon said, gears spinning. "This area was picked by Lord Machinedramon himself by the characteristics of its inhabitants. Fail to meet his standards then you will be eliminated!"
And before the eyes of everyone watching, the Hagurumon looming over the Gotsumon unleashed an attack with their gears on the poor Digimon. His body unable to resist the assault and bursting into data.
The Digidestined gasped and hid behind the machinery and pressed their backs behind them, Hisoka just frowned as he did the same.
"What the heck is their problem?!" Daigo whispered harshly. "What did that poor guy do?!"
"Those guys are bad news," Bearmon said, gritting his teeth in anger.
The Hagurumon turned to the Digimon working for them. "All of the workers of mine three step forward."
The workers did so, all trembling in fear. "Due to the standard your deceased coworker showed us, it makes no sense for us to keep you under our labor if future insubordination like this will happen again. So you will be terminated in this instance."
"What!?" The sentiment was shared by both the 'workers' and the Digidestined.
Various others Hagurumon gathered and got ready to attack the Gotsumon and PawnChessmon and to keep at bay those who wanted to defend their friends. Meanwhile the Digidestined watched from behind the machine.
"This is sick…" Junpei muttered paling and looking aside.
"There's nothing we can do…" Yunpei said with resignation.
Muchomon and Kamemon looked at their partners, "For real?" Kamemon asked, only to be received by silence.
Daigo gritted his teeth, grinding them against each other in anger. "Like hell!" He said dashing forward.
"Daigo!" Both Dracomon and Maki gasped, the former following the boy.
"What is he doing?!" Yui asked.
"It seems he isn't the type to stay with his arm crossed," Hisoka said, as he grinned a bit. "I can respect that."
"Hisoka, please help him!" Tapirmon said. "Do what you did before!"
"Please!" Maki joined on her partner giving him a pleading look.
Hisoka smirked and shrugged. "Sure."
As Daigo ran towards them, a part of him told him this was a bad idea. But with all the frustration of being dragged to this world, even if he tried to remain optimistic about it, and then seeing such a cruelty, he couldn't stand to do nothing anymore.
Various Hagurumon turned to stare at him mechanically. "Intruders detected!"
Dracomon then leaped to action, fire licked around his nuzzle before he fired a medium sized fireball, "Napalm Blast!"
He nailed a punch in the face of the Hagurumon that sent them hurling to the ground.
The rest of the gear Digimon ignored their prisoners and focused on the boy and the bear, all ready to attack him.
Three cards passed by him and imbedded themselves on the face of the floating gears; they sparked before exploding into data. Daigo gasped and turned to see the one responsible, "Hisoka!"
With a tug of his fingers, the cards which were connected to his Bungee Gum, came back to his hand, "I didn't like the idea of leaving all of this to you."
"Heh, thanks man," Daigo said, giving him a light punch to the chest.
"We'll be counting on you," Dracomon said, giving him a thumb up.
The Haguruon surrounded them, by Hisoka estimation they were outnumbered two to twenty. He guessed he could take them all on since Digimon to this point didn't proved to be much of a challenge, so even without Daigo he doubted they would present a problem, but with his help or more accurately Dracomon's, they would solve this way faster than one might think.
Seeing the two boys along with Dracomon jump into action made the ones behind the machinery to jump into action as well; the first one of them being surprisingly Tapirmon, who jumped out of Maki's arms, much to her impression.
"Tapirmon?" Maki asked, looking at her partner.
Tapirmon looked at her and shrugged. "Sorry Maki, but I can't stand and watch anymore. I want to help as well!"
"Me too!" Bearmon said, receiving nods from Muchomon and Kamemon.
"But there's too many…" Yuuta said with a grimace.
Junpei pointed to the fight, where Dracomon and Hisoka fend off various Hagurumon, "They seem to be doing well by themselves, us joining them will only make it better."
"That's true…" Yui said, before nodding. "Very well then, we'll join."
"Eh?!" Maki seemed the most surprised by the idea.
"If you say so…" While not surprised, Yuuta didn't seemed to share the same enthusiasm as the others.
"But…" Maki tried to said, but everyone else charged ahead. "W-Wait!"
Once the rest of the kids and their partners joined, there wasn't much of a fight.
Bearmon got the jumped on a Hagurumon, and knocked it to the floor while his hands glowed with red energy, "Grizzly Claw!"
Kamemon tackled several of the gears to the floor and opened his mouth to unleash a water blast, "Steaming Torrent!" The blast knocked more of the mechanical Digimon, while causing them to malfunction.
Muchomon flapped his wings at a fast pace and tornados with enough strength to take the gears for a spin were formed, sending them flying away.
And from Tapirmon's Holy Ring a shining light illuminated the area, blinding the gears and leaving them open for attacks from his friends, as well as some of the slaves, whom at seeing the chance to get rid of the gears took their chance to fight for their freedom.
Sooner than any of the inhabitants of this miner town could have expected the fight was over, the gears bursting into data and marking the first victory ever for the Digidestined.
"Thank you so much for your help," One of the PawnChessmon said, while bowing to the Digidestined.
"Ahaha, it was nothing really," Daigo said bashfully, still feeling a bit of the adrenaline of just fighting a bunch of monsters to free a town… that was also full of monsters, but at least innocent ones.
"It means a lot…" One Gotsumon said. "Just a few months ago we were one of the few free towns remaining…" He looked up to the cliff where the factory rested, "Until the Metal Empire arrived."
"We already heard of those guys," Yuuta said. "One of those gear things said something along the lines of 'join or die'."
"The Metal Empire is the kingdom of one of the Dark Masters, Machinedramon," The Gotsumon explained. At hearing the name of the Dark Masters the group gave Gotsumon their full attention. "The parts of the land that he hasn't consumed yet to join into Spiral Mountain are used to gather materials for his empire… Leaving those blasted factory to send soldiers or to… Improve those who don't meet the standard."
"The more I hear about those guys, the more I want to kick them where the light doesn't reach them," Junpei said, scowling.
Hisoka eyed the factory with narrowed eyes. "If that's the case then that place might have a clue of what should we do next," He said, turning to the others. "After all, we are supposed to stop these so-called Dark Masters."
"Pfff, good luck with that pal!"
"No offense, but Digimon up to this point had hardly proved to be a challenge," Yui said fixing her glasses on her face.
"Just because you took on some Rookies doesn't mean you're ready to face a Mega!" One PawnChessmon said.
"Rookie? Mega?" Maki asked, tilting her head.
"Where have you been living? Underground?" One PawnChessmon said. "Digimon go from the stage of Baby, to In-Training, to Rookie, Champion, Ultimate and Mega. And all of the Dark Masters are Megas and have Ultimates on their ranks! That's why no one has been able to beat them!"
"You are Digimon, how come you didn't explained this to them?" A Gotsumon accused the partners of the Digidestined, who sheepishly looked away or scratched their cheeks in embarrassment.
Hisoka continued to look at the cliff with the factory in silence, before speaking. "We should still go there." Everyone turned to him. "It is the only lead we currently have to go back to our respective homes. Though, if you want I can go there by myself and inform you of what I learn."
Daigo frowned. "None of that pal! We're in this together; if you go we all go!"
"Speak for yourself," Yuuta said, stuffing his hand on his pockets.
"What?" Daigo turned, to see Yuuta, Yui and Junpei standing together. "Oh come on guys!"
"You heard them," Yui said. "If one of them is there then we are not ready to face them."
"Maybe we can continue to look for other clues somewhere… safer?" Junpei proposed.
Daigo looked at them in disbelief, before huffing and stuffing his hand on his pockets, "Whatever, if you guys wanna stay fine. But I'll go!"
"M-Me too," The Digidestined turned to see Maki, looking at Daigo and Hisoka. "I wanna go there too."
"Are you sure, Maki?" Daigo asked, looking at the girl worriedly.
She looked at Tapirmon first, remembering his action when Daigo and Hisoka engaged the Hagurumon, and nodded determined to help. "Yes!"
Daigo nodded back. "Okay then."
"Very well," Hisoka said his back still to them. "Daigo, Maki and I will go to the factory in the morning; if we are no back by the night then you are free to go. For now let's sleep."
The group tensed and grimaced at the thought of some of them coming back, but they listened to the older boy and shuffled back to go to sleep with the company of the Gotsumon and PawnChessmon.
Meanwhile Hisoka stood there, observing the factory that lied at the top of the cliff. At first his gaze was neutral, analytical.
Then he grinned, his tongue working out of his lips to keeping them wet. 'So Mega Level and Ultra Level… Those sound fun to play with…'
He will lead the Digidestined, if it means to have something to play with…
When morning came, the group got into action, walking to the cliff and approaching the factory. They crouched behind some rocks near the building, and observed the entrance of it, two armored Digimon named Guardromon were standing there as guards.
"So those two are Champions?" Daigo asked Dracomon.
The Digimon shrugged. "First time I see one."
"How are we going to get past them?" Maki asked, looking nervously at the two Digimon, they reminded her of some toys Daigo has on his room.
"Leave that to me," Hisoka said, casually standing up and walking towards the two guards.
"Wha- Hisoka!" Daigo hissed, nervous of what the older boy had in mind.
The two Guardromon spotted him right away; they lifted their arms ready to fire. "Identify yourself!"
Hisoka tilted his head and searched into his pockets. He pulled out another pack of bungee gum and started chewing on it, before pointing his fingers at the two robots. "I'd appreciate if you didn't point such dangerous things at me."
The answer didn't seem to satisfy the robots, "Chaser Missile!"
The moment the two tried to fire their attacks something happened. One of the arms of each machine suddenly exploded, making them lose their aim and the remaining missiles from their good arms missing Hisoka completely, which only blew up a bubblegum as they exploded a few meters away.
The bubble popped and his grinned. 'I don't know if these beings can see Nen, but using In is always useful,' He thought. He turned around and gave the two kids an okay sign, "All clear."
Maki and Daigo, just like their partners joined Hisoka, while staring at the vanishing Digimon with wide eyes, "What happened with them?"
Hisoka shrugged. "They malfunctioned maybe," He said, as he walked towards the entrance. "Let's go."
Much to their surprise, as they approached, the door opened automatically for them. When they stepped into the building, they couldn't see anything beyond their noses; the lights were turned off and without any other source for them to see.
"What's with this?" Dracomon asked, squinting to try and see anything.
Then the lights turned on, and an automatized voice came from the speaker.
"Intruders, you are not welcomed here!" The voice said. "This area belongs to Machinedramon's Empire Machine. For trespassing such a sacred area, you will be captured death or alive to recycle your data!"
"What does he mean?" Maki asked, holding Tapirmon's hand.
Tapirmon swallowed. "More problems…"
And then, their feet were disconnected from the floor; they barely had time to react as they fell down separated deeper into the factory.
"Waaaaaah!" It was like a slide, and not an enjoyable one. They continue to go down and down, until they finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
Daigo was the first to fall, followed by Dracomon, Tapirmon and Maki, all of them falling on top of the boy, while Hisoka managed to stuck a perfect landing at their side. Daigo could only whimper in pain at the weight of his friends on top of them. "Uggggh…"
"Ah! Daigo!" Maki cried as they all got off. "Are you okay?" She asked as she helped her sit up.
"Yeah… Just a bruise…" He said, adjusting the goggles on his neck.
Hisoka looked around, the place was filled with boxes filled with one could assume were materials and minerals extracted from the mine, along with machinery with conveyer belts for assembly. What one might expect from a factory.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at the other end of the room. Three of them were bipedal creatures covered in a full armor; one of them took a step forward and brandished a knife. "In the name of the Metal Empire, the Sealsdramon squad will deal with you."
His two counterparts flanked his side brandishing their own knives. While the other two had a similar complexion to the two guards from the door, but with a silver body and some sort of dome over their heads, they took a step forward and their organic eye glowed under all of the armor.
"The Mechanorimon will collect your remaining data," The lead Sealsdramon said.
While the kids took a step back and their Digimon stood in front of them for protection, Hisoka chuckled and walked forward. "Interesting…"
"Hisoka?" Maki asked with a gasp.
"So you guys are the next level… Champion," Hisoka mused with a smile. He looked back at the two. "Maki, Daigo, find a way out of here, I can handle this."
"Are you serious?!" Daigo asked. "Come on man, we came all here together for a reason!"
"Yes, to find clues… But with them on the way I doubt we can get much answers," He explained. "So I'm leaving that job to you."
"But…!" Maki wanted to find something to say, but when she looked at those monsters at the other side, she wanted to run.
Hisoka gave her a smile and a nod. "I'll be okay," Then he looked back at the creatures in front of him. 'And I wish for you to not get in the way… I want to test by myself how strong Champions actually are…'
He wanted to know by himself what this world had to offer, and if it was as boring as the Rookies then next time he'll let them play with him too.
Daigo clenched his fist and huffed, "Fine! We'll look for some way out! Maki, you coming?!"
Maki looked between the two boys, searching for an answer, before she nodded. Not feeling like she had much of a choice.
"Allow me to give you and opening," Hisoka said as he charged forward against their enemies.
The Sealsdramon did the same, with the Mechanorimon flying with the thrusters on their backs to offer aerial support. Hisoka crossed his arms in front of him and pointed his fingers to some medium sized boxes around the room, his Bungee Gum connecting with them. He uncrossed them and the boxes were tugged, two of the Sealsdramon got struck in the head, while the third one lunged forward uncaring by his partners' state, he lunged forward with his tactical knife.
Hisoka sidestepped to dodge it; he grabbed the arm of the Digimon and glued his Bungee Gum to it. His eyes caught the two Mechanorimon about to attack Maki and Daigo as they were trying to leave, so the blue-haired boy grappled the arm of the Sealsdramon and threw the Digimon against the machine, with a surprising amount of strength.
The two Digimon crashed against each other, and Hisoka used the Bungee Gum he stuck on the arm of the armored Digimon to throw him at the second machine. This gave Maki and Daigo the opening they needed to get out of the room.
'Perfect,' Hisoka thought as he retracted his Bungee Gum.
The lead Sealsdramon recovered and glared at the door. "Mechanorimon chase after them! Don't let any of them escape!"
The Mechanorimon beeped and dashed towards the door to chase after the two children, and to prevent the third one to escape the doors closed automatically once they left.
The lead Sealsdramon turned around, while his two companions turned around to glare at the boy, only to not find anything where he once stood.
"Where'd go?" One of the Sealsdramon asked.
"He didn't go anywhere," The leader said, pulling out his knife. "He is still trapped in this room with us!"
"I don't think so…" They looked up to see Hisoka standing upside down on a building with his arms crossed and pointing a finger at them. "I think you are trapped here with me."
He tugged his arm and the third Sealsdramon was tugged upwards, while Hisoka let himself fall from the building. With momentum on his side, he swung his hostage around before releasing his Bungee Gum and making him crash against one of the metallic crates on the room.
He landed safely on the floor and turned to see the other two pointing his guns at him. He put his arms in front of him as he fired and stretched them to put a wall of his bungee gum in front of him, making a wall of it that caught the bullets before they could reach them. They continued to uselessly fire as he dashed forward, when he was close enough to one of them he dropped the barrier and grabbed the muzzle of his gun and delivered a punch to his gut with forty percent of his aura in it.
The Sealsdramon buckled in pain. Hisoka noticed how the other one was ready to fire and pushed his partner against him. When the Sealsdramon tried to push him away they found themselves stuck against each other, something Hisoka took advantage of as he gave them a spinning back kick that sent them crashing against some barrels.
The first Sealsdramon he took down got back to his feet and observed how his teammates got easily defeated. 'Who in the world is this brat?! We need something better… Or someone...' He thought, pressing a finger to his ear, "Lieutenant …"
"I'm seeing everything," The lieutenant responded. "I'll be there in a second. If you need assistance right away, the crates hold bigger weapons thought to be used on the upgrading of weaker Digimon. Use some."
He cut off the connection and the Sealsdramon did as told, he jumped to one of the bigger crates and cut it open with his knife, revealing a bunch of bigger weapons. He grabbed a rocket launcher and spotted his teammates fighting with the kid at the other side of the room.
He was ready to jump in, when he heard the door opening. He turned around and saw the Lieutenant. A green Digimon with metal parts sticking out of his body. He jumped down the crate and joined the Ultimate. "Lieutenant Boltmon."
"Situation?" He asked in a cold voice.
"My partners are fighting one of the intruders, two of them escaped, the Mechanorimon are chasing after them."
"Good. Keep yourself hidden and use our armament to good use," He said, as he moved towards the battle, "Await for my signal."
Things were looking good for Hisoka during the fight. The two Sealsdramon were having a hard time combating him, as they continued to be stuck with each other, courtesy of a piece of his Bungee Gum Hisoka put on one of them when he struck his gut.
'Release,' He ordered with amusement, so they could fight on equal grounds. They've been lasting longer than Rookies that's for sure.
Once the two got separated they turned to fire at Hisoka with their weapons. The boy acted fast and grabbed a barrel before tossing it at them, one of them crouched but the other got hit. Hisoka closed the distance between them and the one who crouched tried to fire at him, Hisoka zigzagged until he was between them, he grabbed their heads and butted them against each other.
He punched the one to his right in the gut, while striking the one to his left with a hood. He gave the one to his right a kick to the face that knocked him to the ground and then focused solely to the one standing. Again the Digimon tried to fire at him, but Hisoka crouched and grabbed his arm to twist it and force him to let go of his weapon.
He struck him hard and fast, hitting sensitive points such as his face and gut at fast speed. He kicked him away and then used his Bungee Gum on his feet so with a tug he fell down, leaving Hisoka with the chance to stomp his stomach and kick him away against a crate. Then cards were thrown and stabbed the body of the Digimon, making it burst to data.
Hisoka kept a neutral face as he did so, but then he noticed a shadow looming over him and dodged to the side to avoid a giant fist that almost smashed him.
Hisoka jumped back and narrowed his eyes before smirking. "You must be the lieutenant; I can tell you are stronger than these people."
"I don't know who you think you are, but you will be punished for trespassing Machinedramon's territory," Boltmon growled while brandishing his tomahawk.
Behind Hisoka the Sealsdramon who called the lieutenant was aiming the weapon ready to fire at the boy.
Hisoka and Boltmon circled around each other, ready to engage against their opponent, when a yell came from behind the boy. Hisoka turned and grabbed the remaining Sealsdramon as he tried to attack him with his tactical knife; he spun around and threw it against a crate. Said crate was the one were the Sealsdramon with the weapon was aiming.
"Shit!" The Sealsdramon cursed as he fired the weapon.
Hisoka was ready. He moved out of the way and avoided the explosion, the Sealsdramon fired again, and Hisoka jumped and connected his Bungee Gum to his missile, he spun it around and threw it at the crate, straight at the Sealsdramon with the weapon, who could only gasp before getting hit by the projectile.
There was an explosion upon the impact, and the Sealsdramon was sent flying through the air. Hisoka landed on top of the crate and sent a string of his gum to the air-bone Digimon, whom upon being connected by the substance was pulled back towards the boy. With a swift movement with his card, Hisoka cut the Digimon's neck and the soldier burst into data.
Hisoka smirked, satisfied with his kill and jumped off the crate right next to the remaining Sealsdramon, who suffered the same fate as his partners as he got stabbed in the head by a card by an already disinterested Hisoka.
Boltmon was openly gapping at the feat the boy pulled, before growling in anger. 'Damn brat… He won't be smiling for much longer! I sent a signal to the masters' base, they will arrive soon!'
"What a disappointment," Hisoka said, catching Boltmon by surprise. "It seem fighting Champions isn't as entertaining as I thought it would be. Lieutenant… Please don't be a disappointment too~"
Boltmon growled and smashed his tomahawk against the floor, cracking it and sending a wave of energy towards Hisoka. The boy jumped and dodged it, and lifted his hand to connect a strand of Bungee Gum to the ceiling.
The Digimon jumped and struck him with his tomahawk, Hisoka crossed his arms over his body to defend himself. He was sent crashing to the floor, where he winced at the hit. Boltmon went to stomp at the boy, and Hisoka raised his hands to stop his boots from pressing against his gut.
He smirked. 'Gotcha…'
He pushed the Digimon and rolled out of the way. He jumped back to his feet and stood in front of the Digimon with a smirk. "You lose."
"What are you talking about, brat?!" Boltmon asked, gripping his tomahawk tighter.
Hisoka raised a finger and snapped, "Bungee Gum, contract."
As if a trap has been sprang, Boltmon lost his footing and got himself hanging upside down on the ceiling. His boots stuck with Bungee Gum that was connected to the ceiling, "What the heck!?"
Hisoka jumped, with a card on his hands and smirked. His yellow eyes looking straight into Boltmon's, and sending shivers to his spine, "What a shame, you were a disappointment too."
With a swift movement, Boltmon's head got cut off his body and a second later burst into data.
Hisoka landed on the floor and exhaled. Despite being always on the lead on the fight, he was still getting used to using Bungee Gum so fluidly. It took a toll on him… but nothing training can't fix.
That's when the clapping came.
"Magnificent, outstanding, encore!"
Hisoka turned around to see a figure standing on one of the crates. Dressed like a clown, with a face resembling a mask with one half black and the other white, and with four swords on his back.
Hisoka could already tell this was an interesting fellow.
"Ho~ so you were watching my spectacle?" Hisoka asked, "Had I known I would have put more of a show."
"I received a signal that someone was invading one of Machinedramon's territories," The mysterious Digimon explained. "And imagine my surprise when I see you, a human, go toe to toe against three Champions and an Ultimate!"
"So you know what a human is…" Hisoka mused and tilted his head. "Are you one of the Dark Masters?"
"In the flesh, Piedmon at your service," The clown said, giving a bow. "And you are a human, may I know your name."
"Hisoka, Hisoka Morrow," He presented himself. "So, now what are you going to do, mister Dark Master? Are you going to fight me too?" He asked with eagerness in his voice.
He might be tired from using Bungee Gum, but a challenge like this. He couldn't pass it out. And it would be a step forward into going home. How lucky~
Piedmon hummed and chuckled. "My, my, eager one aren't you. Can't say I dislike that. I won't deny I'm not curious about how I fair against you," He said, his hand falling to his side. "But at the same time, I am curious to see what more you can do. Grow little human, you and your friends as well as those Digimon that accompany you! Show me what else you can do, how much more you can do. And when you reach me… Then it'll be a pleasure to destroy you~"
Hisoka gave him a challenging smirk. "Same to you~"
Piedmon threw a cloth into the air that fell on him. The cloth lit on fire and turned to ash, leaving no trace of him. It was clearly not a suicide, just a flashy way to disappear.
Hisoka felt his desires to fight growing. His fist were clenched until they started to bleed as his whole frame trembled, he couldn't wipe the grin on his face as he felt the blood pumping… especially on a certain private part.
'Keep calm! Keep calm!' He thought to himself. 'I'll wait for that moment anxiously, Piedmon; where I can destroy you… not only to go home, but to prove my strength over you!'
He walked out of the room through the now unlocked door, determined to find Daigo and Maki.
And if he was lucky, to find any other Champion to momentarily satisfy his needs.
They got separated. Goddamn it they got separated.
It happened so fast. They were running from the mechanical Digimon, and suddenly they found a path that split into two, he went right and Maki went left.
His path lead him to another part of the factory, mechanical parts were hanging on the ceiling, such as robotic arms and helmets. What were they purpose, Daigo didn't wanted to know about them.
He and Dracomon hid behind one of the machines, and they could hear the Mechanorimon entering. Daigo gritted his teeth and cursed, "Damnit!"
"Daigo…What do we do?" Dracomon asked as he peeked from the corner of their hiding spot.
Daigo chewed his inner cheek. They couldn't hide forever, and they needed to reunite with Maki and Hisoka, the Mechanorimon was too close to the door, and looking around for any clues of where they were hiding.
'At this rate, we won't be able to gather with Maki, and who knows if Hisoka came out of his fight unscathed… or if he is… dead' He thought, worrying for his two friends and dreading what might have happened to them. He looked down and frowned, feeling frustration for having to hide like this, for running away and leaving Hisoka and Maki on their own. He had to do something, he wanted to do something.
So with that in mind, there was only one solution in Daigo's mind. "We have to take it out."
"Really? Can we do it?" Dracomon asked.
"Of course we can," Daigo said, inwardly adding an 'I think.' He shook his head and nodded to his partner. "Are you with me buddy?"
"Sure!" Dracomon said, nodding to his partner.
The two of them emerged from their hiding spot with a cry of war, ready to do something against the robotic menace. The Mechanorimon turned around and the orb on its center glowed before unleashing an energy blast that impacted against the floor and sent them flying back.
Daigo bounced painfully in the floor, with Dracomon landing a few meters away from him. The Mechanorimon took a step forward, ready to seize this opportunity; it charged another blast, the orb on its chest shining brightly.
Daigo tried to stand up, but the bruises made it a painful endeavor. Dracomon cracked one eye open and saw what was about to happen, at seeing the danger his partner found himself in he got back to his feet and dashed to his side, "DAIGO!"
That's when Mechanorimon fired, and when the Digivice on Daigo's wrist started glowing.
"Dracomon Digivoles to… Coredramon!"
Where once stood a tiny dragon, now stood a far bigger reptile with blue scales, a red horn on his nose, and far bigger wings, his red eyes glaring at the robot, Daigo for his part just admire the new form of his partner, who had taken the force of the blast for him and didn't seemed to possess a scratch on him.
"Coredramon…" Daigo muttered.
The dragon roared and flew towards the machine. Mechanorimon stretched his arms to attack him, swinging them like chains, but Coredramon swiftly dodged them until he reached his opponent. Mechanorimon retrieved his claws and crossed them over his body as Coredramon slammed his powerful tail against it.
Mechanorimon skidded along the floor, and once it stopped it raised his hands to catch the incoming Coredramon. The two grappling against each other for supremacy on this battle, all while Daigo observed from the sidelines with wide eyes.
Mechanorimon gathered energy again to fire point blank at its opponent, but Coredramon was faster and opened his mouth where blue flames licked, "Blue Flare Breath!"
The Mechanorimon received the flare head on, which caused its orb to malfunction and to detonate on its face, causing it to stumble back with smoke and sparks coming out from within, chance that was taken by Coredramon to slam his tail against it that sent it crashing against a wall.
The blue flames flickered to life once again around the dragon's mouth, "Blue Flare Breath!"
The torrent of blue fire engulfed the Mechanorimon completely and caused it to burst into data, finally being putting an end to the fight and the chasing.
Daigo sat up with an awestruck look on his face. "That was the greatest thing I've ever see!" He said, running up to him.
"I know right?!" Coredramon said, his tail swinging behind him and an excited grin on his face.
"Since when can you do this, man?" Daigo asked as he observed his partner's new form.
"Since… now, I think," Coredramon responded, showing a toothy grin. "This is my own Champion form!"
"Oh man, wait until the others see yo—" He froze, when Coredramon glowed and shrank back to Dracomon, "Err…What happened to you?"
Dracomon lowered his head and scratched his cheek. "I think it is something temporal…"
Daigo blinked and then looked down at his Digivice. "So this is what it does…" He muttered. "Well, now we have an ace up our sleeves!"
"Yeah!"
"C'mon," Daigo said as he walked out of the room. "Let's look for Hisoka and Maki."
Dracomon nodded and the two left the storage room, for the first time having unlocked the power of Digivolution.
It was too much, just too much.
Maki was hidden on a corner of one of the many rooms inside of the factory. This one had carts meant for the transportation of pieces and crates.
The girl kept her head hidden in her legs, her arms circled around them. Tapirmon was peeking from behind nervously, hoping that there was no signal of their chaser on the room.
He sighed as he turned to the girl. "It seems we lost it, we're safe!"
Maki didn't responded, still hiding her face on her legs. Tapirmon frowned and hovered over her with worry on his eyes, "Maki?"
The girl shifted, turning her head in a fashion that kept it hidden on her legs while also turning away from the Digimon. Tapirmon's frown deepened even further in worry for his partner, "Maki, what's wrong?"
That was the wrong thing to ask.
"What's wrong?" She asked, in a low tone, her hands gripping around her legs. "'What's wrong?'" She finally faced him, and he flinched back at the angry expression she wore, as well as the tears running down her face, "EVERYTHING'S WRONG!"
Tapirmon floated back with a surprised expression at the girl's outburst. She uncurled from her position and glared at the Digimon. "Everything is wrong! Absolutely everything! I was about to just… just go to sleep when I was suddenly here! When this… this thing appeared!" She said, gripping the Digivice on her wrist. "And suddenly I'm here, away from my parents, my home, my other friends, even school! And now we are being chased by a… a robot!" She curled herself again, hiding her face on her knees. And in a much weaker tone she mumbled, "I volunteered to come here because I really thought we could find a clue to go home, because I wanted to help too after Hisoka and Daigo helped the town… But this is the worst… I just wanna go home, I hate it here."
Tapirmon blinked and lowered his head. He had just known Maki for barely a week, and in that time she had barely said a word to him. And now he guessed he knew why, she hated this world, his world and for good reason he guessed. The other humans had always seemed the same way, except for Daigo and Hisoka, but maybe they were just hiding it.
Before he could say anything else, they heard heavy footsteps entering the room. The Mechanorimon that was chasing them had arrived and was using his orb to illuminate the room and find a clue of their whereabouts.
Maki flinched when she saw it entering and looked down in fear. "What now?"
Tapirmon lowered his gaze as well. This looked bad, really bad. He couldn't do the same thing he did with the Hagurumon, and the others weren't there to help him out on that.
He looked back at Maki, who was shrinking in fear as the steps of the Mechanorimon grew closer and closer.
Tapirmon's face hardened in determination, he was Maki's partner. He had the duty to protect her no matter what.
"Maki, run," He told her, making her look at her. "I'll hold it off and then you run."
"What?" Maki asked, looking aghast; first Hisoka, now him.
"I… I know you hate my world and what is happening… But I'm glad it did," Tapirmon said, as he got out from his hiding spot, the Mechanorimon turning and glaring at him, "Because I got to finally meet you, Maki!"
And with that, he charged forward, consequences be damned if he could buy Maki time so she could get away, gather with the others and go back to her home.
"Tapirmon!" Maki called out, wanting to reach out for him.
If he faced that thing he could get hurt or… or worse!
When she said she didn't like it here, in the Digital World, she meant it, but that didn't meant she wanted Tapirmon to suffer or to get hurt. He wasn't responsible for this, and he has been giving her silent comfort for her in this past week despite everything. He shouldn't get hurt just because of what she said, he couldn't!
"Tapirmon!" She cried out, running out of her hiding space to try and stop her partner.
And that's when her Digivice glowed.
"Tapirmon Digivolves to… Boarmon!"
Tapirmon's form and force grew, and turned into that of a fiery boar with a mane of flames. The beam that the Mechanorimon fired did nothing to the charging Digimon, who rammed his tusks on the armored figure of the android.
Mechanorimon got slammed against the wall, and Boarmon took his chance as energy gathered on his nose, "Nose Blaster!" And it was released on a blast of fire.
The Mechanorimon crossed its arms over its body to defend against the hit; upon impact an explosion took place, which covered the entirety of the mechanical Digimon.
Maki stared in awe at the feat her changed partner accomplished and looked at the Digivice strapped to her wrist, which was the responsible for his change, "Tap… Boarmon?"
Boarmon turned and walked up to her, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he did so, "Are you okay, Maki?"
Maki blinked before giving him an honest smile and walking forward to him, placing a hand on his forehead to caress him, "Yes, thank you."
Boarmon's face brightened at the praise, smiling behind his tusks and nodding, "No problem."
Yet it was too soon to celebrate.
From the smoke a hand shot forward and slammed on the boar's side, sending him crashing against one of the carts. Maki gasped in shock and turned to see a heavily burnt Mechanorimon emerging from the smoke. The girl flinched at the sight, her eyes shifting to where her partner was recovering from the blow. She scowled and ran straight to him, getting between him and the machine.
"M-Maki, run!" Boarmon gasped out, fighting the dizziness from the blow.
"No!" She said backing up until she bumped into his body. "Not without you!"
Boarmon's gaze softened. "Maki…"
The Mechanorimon's red orb started glowing, and Maki was second guessing her decision of staying, but then she looked back at her partner, who has risked his life to protect her, and felt that at least staying with him was the least she could do. She closed her eyes and gave her back to the machine so she could hug the body of her partner, and braced herself for what could happen.
… Yet nothing came.
Maki waited a few seconds, but the attack never came. She opened her eyes and turned to see the Mechanorimon sparking and smoke coming out from it before exploding into particles of data.
And as the data dissipated, it revealed the form of Hisoka standing there, with a card on his hands, and his mop of blue hair covering his eyes.
He gave a sigh and smiled, while muttering under his breath for only himself to hear. "I feel better now~"
Maki looked up at the boy with wide eyes, before her face split into a relieved smile, "Hisoka, you're okay!" She said; glad to see he came out okay from that room.
Hisoka blinked, snapping out of his musings and looking up to see Maki and Boarmon. "Hey there Maki… And that fellow over there is…?"
Before she could respond, Boarmon's form glowed and reverted back to a tired Tapirmon. "Urggg, I'm tired…"
Maki looked back at the Digimon and smiled before scooping him into her arms, "Thank you, Tapirmon."
Tapirmon chuckled and scratched the back of his head, "It was nothing."
Hisoka just had his eyes wide open at the change that came from Tapirmon. He cleared his throat and walked to the two, "So, it seems I missed quite a few things. But it is good to see the two of you are safe."
"Same to you," She said with a smile, before frowning again. "Is Daigo with you?"
He shook his head, "No, I haven't seen him since we split up."
The worry came back to Maki again at knowing Daigo was still unaccounted for, until a yell came from behind, "Oiii!"
The two turned, and just like that, any remaining worries they might have vanished and turned to see Daigo and Dracomon running up to them, with smiles that showed sheer relief of seeing them unharmed. "Finally found you guys!"
"We only had to follow the sounds of explosions!" Dracomon added with a smile.
Hisoka smirked and placed a hand on his hips, "Our tour here is almost over there, we can continue to scout the place since I don't think we'll run into any more troubles now. But first, could you tell me, Maki, what happened to your partner?"
Daigo blinked and looked at Maki, "What does he mean?"
Maki shrugged. "I don't really know how to explain it, one moment Tapirmon was just like he was and then… he changed."
"So you too?!" Dracomon asked in surprised. "The same happened to me!"
Daigo nodded, "Yeah, that's how we got rid of that robot chasing us!"
Hisoka looked between the two with intrigue on their eyes. "And do you know how exactly that happened?"
"Not… really," Maki said, but she looked at the Digivice on her wrist. "This thing suddenly glowed and then Tapirmon changed."
Daigo nodded and pointed to his Digivice too, "Yeah! Same here!"
Hisoka hummed as he looked at the devices and then at the Digimon. 'So that thing made them change form… According to what we know that might have turned them into Champions to fight against the threat, like a defense mechanism. So that's what Homeostasis meant when she referred to the Digivices as our greatest weapon… If we could learn how to call that power forward willingly then our worries lessen, more so if we take the others in consideration… That brings the question, how farther can they evolve? Could they reach the level of the Dark Masters?'
The thought certainly made him feel butterflies on his stomach. But he had to focus; to attack his current allies would be detrimental if he wants to go back to his world. And besides it wasn't a certainty that they could reach that level.
And if they did and could reach a level like Piedmon's, who just by his presence could tell was someone of great power then well… He will wait.
Wait until the threat of the Dark Masters was gone.
Wait until they reach that level in the first place.
Wait until a way home was open.
He could wait… He had to wait.
And if his needs overpowered him, well… there were Digimon out there who could help in calming him down. But he couldn't let the kids watch him do it, at least not on innocents like the habitants of the town, otherwise they might doubt his role on the group, they were naïve like that.
He will play it carefully for now. Very, very carefully, if he wanted things to go his way and get to enjoy his time here at its fullest, to engage more fascinating creatures and keeping his word to the leader of their enemies.
He exhaled and turned to them. "Very well then, we can discuss this discovery with the others when we get out of here," He told the group. "But let's continue to explore, look for clues, and this time let's not get separated. I can assume that just by this first ordeal we are all tired."
No one could really disagree with that, specially the Digimon, whom were drained after going through their first Digievolution to the Champion level.
With nothing else to add, the group walked out of the room, determined to find anything else that could put them on the right path to continue on this strange journey.
Their scouting around the factory bear no fruits however, they found other Mechanorimons but these seemed to be turned off and didn't react to their presence even once. They only found room after room full of crates and mechanical pieces, nothing that could lead them in the right direction; in the end they had no other choice but to go back to the town.
They were received by the relieved faces of their friends and the looks of disbelief of the Digimon of the mine, completely bluffed by the fact that they came out of it alive.
Shortly after their arrival they all gathered around a bonfire and eat the meat-tasting fruits served by the townspeople.
"I see," Yui said as she cleaned her glasses with the hem of her skirt. "So there was no luck in there, right?"
"As expected," Yuuta muttered as he bit on an apple that tasted like chicken.
Junpei elbowed him on the ribs, earning him a glare. "Don't be like that; at least they came back without a scratch!"
"And I wouldn't say it was completely fruitless," Hisoka said as he continued to cooked a banana that was oddly smelling like pork chops. "We did learn about the true use of the Digivices."
"I can't believe you guys evolved!" Muchomon said, looking at the two with awe. "How did it felt?"
"Strange…" Dracomon said, scratching his chin and looking up in thought.
Tapirmon perked up. "But awesome at the same time!"
"We just need to learn how to do it," Daigo said as he took a bite from a pineapple that smelled like beef. "And then teach it to you guys, and so those Dark Masters won't have a chance!"
"From what you told us you evolved into Champions, the Dark Masters are Megas," Yui said, frowning and looking down. "Even with all four of us it still seems like a big task."
"Well, maybe we can make them evolve to Mega too?" Maki proposed. "I mean, it's like growing up. First they're kids, then teens, then adults, so… If we can make them grow into adults then we can make them grow into… what would a Mega be? A gramps?" She asked, trailing off a bit.
"That doesn't sound so farfetched Maki," Hisoka said, having already thought of that back in the factory. "The question is how…"
"With time and experience."
Everyone jumped at the sudden voice, and the Digidestined all looked down to their wrists which was emanating a multicolored glow.
"Well, well what a surprise, Homeostasis," Hisoka said, looking over Maki's shoulder to observed the Digivice closely. "Long time since we heard from you."
"Indeed it has, Anomaly," The entity responded. "And I am sorry for that, but with the influence of the Dark Masters I am barely capable of interacting with this world."
"Anomaly?" Hisoka and Maki questioned, while everyone else tilted their head at the strange title.
"Since Hisoka does not possess a partner, but rather his unique abilities I don't believe the title of Digidestined fits him as well as for the rest of you," Homeostasis explained. "Anomaly seems like an apt title, since everything from him from his skills to his precedence is different from you."
"Well I'll take it as a compliment," Hisoka said with a grin.
"Hey, Homeostasis, what do we do now?" Daigo asked. "How can we beat the Dark Masters since we just learned what these things do?" He said, tapping the screen of the Digivice.
"I am glad you learned of the power of the Digivice," Homeostasis said with a relieved tone. "And I know the task seems hard, but you out of millions were chosen because I believe you can bring out the potential of your partners. The only indications I can give you is to continue exploring our world and to gain experience so you can access the power of Digievolution and can stand on the same ground as them."
"So continue to walk around aimlessly?" Yuuta asked with a frown.
"If your biggest worry is the effect your disappearance might have on your world and closer ones then allow me to alleviate that worry. Due to the Dark Master's influence the time on both worlds is suffering a time dilation, while you have spent a week here, no time has passed in your worlds."
Gasp rang out through the group and even Hisoka's eyes widened. "Is that even possible?" Yui asked.
"Well… We are eating fruit that taste like meat," Junpei pointed out, raising his stick. "I suppose everything is possible at this point."
"I must advise caution however," The entity continued. "While the Dark Masters have yet to recognize you as a threat, actions like the one you've taken today might put you under their radar. So please, be careful."
"That makes sense," Daigo grimaced. "Explains why the big guys hadn't come for us yet."
Hisoka had to hide the amusement on his eyes.
"I don't know when I'll be communicating with you again," Homeostasis said. "My influence on this world grows weaker as the Dark Masters' grows stronger. So while you continue to grow, I hope the Anomaly will keep you safe."
"Me?" Hisoka asked, tilting his head and pointing to himself.
"Yes. I've seen what you can be capable of Hisoka; you took down a dangerous man, who was committing awful acts back in your world with abilities similar to yours. You could go toe to toe with lieutenants of the Dark Masters and make sure the Digidestined are safe while their full potential blossoms. It is why I choose you, for your Nen abilities and your action back in your world."
Hisoka had to hide his surprise. Homeostasis chose him because he took down Moritonio, or rather John Doe?
Well, what do you know? The twist of life he supposed.
Hisoka noticed the stares of awe from his companions and just gave a humble nod with his head. "I'll do what I can."
"I appreciate it," Homeostasis said with a tone of gratitude, "Digidestined, Anomaly best of luck and thank you."
With that the connection was gone, and all of the Digivices dimmed out.
"Well, that was a thing," Yuuta said with a blink.
"At least our parents won't flip if they notice we're gone," Junpei said.
"And in the meantime we have to find out how to reach the Dark Master's power," Yui said with a soft sigh. "While is a more clear objective, it is still quite ambiguous."
"But we can do it!" Bearmon said with a jump of excitement. "We can all Digievolve!"
"I wonder in what I will turn…" Kamemon mused.
"It might sound hard, but hey we basically have our own personal bodyguard on Hisoka!" Daigo said, slinging an arm around the boy's shoulder. "Dude, you sure you can do it?"
"If the lieutenants are all like the one from the factory then sure," Hisoka said with a shrug and an arrogant smile.
"Say Hisoka, what did you do for Homeostasis to choose you?" Maki asked, "Something about stopping a man?"
"A serial killer on the town I was staying for a time," Hisoka responded without missing a beat, "He was capable of the same skills as me and I faced him. Obviously, I came out top."
"Damn, that's so cool!" Daigo gasped out.
All around him, the Digidestined look at him with newfound respect and admiration. Hisoka just felt amused at their reaction, considering said killer used to be his master, and he didn't kill him out of a sense of justice or rightfulness.
Moritonio simply didn't have anything else to offer him.
Maki smiled. "Then with Hisoka on our side we won't have to worry," She turned to Tapirmon with a smile. "Tapirmon, are you up for it?"
"To evolve again?" Tapirmon asked before smiling. "Sure! Anything for you Maki!"
The girl smiled and hugged the Digimon; the others watched her with curious glances.
"Is it me or is Maki more animated than usual?" Junpei asked.
Yuuta shrugged, "Better than to sulk all the time."
While the kids all chatted and thought about their next step, Hisoka felt himself smiling with excitement. The lieutenant and that group of Champions were a disappointing entertainment, but the Dark Masters? Just the presence of Piemon set the bar of what to expect from the other three, and it shook him to the core with excitement.
'And then…' His gaze fell on the Digimon accompanying them. 'If they grow and surpasses them then they could make interesting playthings… But for now I'll wait I suppose.'
On the next day the inhabitants of the town gave them various supplies and some cloaks that would protect them from the harsh weathers from the world. Hisoka wrapped his around his shoulders and put his hood on, it wasn't his style of fashion but it would do.
He would admit something thought: he was wrong.
He won't be bored anymore~
His eyes opened and he rubbed them to get rid of the crust in them as he hummed in thought. 'A dream huh…' With his life suddenly involved again with the Digital World then he supposed it wasn't that surprising.
He looked at a clock to the side and saw that it was still early and his suspicions were confirmed when a groggily Maki came out of her room, dressed on a simple shirt and sweatpants. She was rubbing one of her eyes when she noticed his presence and he smiled. "Good morning."
She blinked. "You are still here…" She muttered.
"I told you I don't exactly have where to stay," He said, leaning back on the couch. "Why so surprised."
She opened her mouth to respond before sighing and shaking her head. "For nothing…"
Hisoka shrugged, leaving the conversation at that. But then a ring from the door called their attention.
"Can you take that?" Maki asked. "I am not presentable," Without waiting for a response she went back to her room.
"Right, right," He said, sitting up and walking to the door.
He opened and regarded the person with a fake smile. "Good morning, what is your business with Miss Himegawa?"
"None whatsoever, it is more with you my good sir."
"Hoh?" Hisoka said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think we've met before, have we?"
"You are right. In fact, I do not know you're name. So please, allow me to present myself," He said, extending his hand. "My name is Yukio Oikawa, a pleasure."
A/N: And with that we end the mini arc of Down Memory Lane.
We visit Hisoka's first adventure with the Digidestined, why he was chosen, and his relationship with everything around the Digital World both good and bad.
I hope you liked it. And if you did leave a review.
Yui, Yuuta and Junpei are not technically OC's since we saw snippets of the first Digidestined on the Tri's flashback, but we don't know anything about them aside from their partners.
I know Daigo's cannon partner is Bearmon, but since the leader of the group or the ones with goggles have dragon partners I decided to make Daigo fit that standart. And since the last guardian standing is Azulongmon well… seemed more fitting.
Aside from the flashback of the first Digidestined I haven't watched tri and have no plans of doing it, but I did researched a bit for Maki and I hope I nailed her character.
If I didn't then… I'll have to watch Tri.
So that's it for now. We'll go back to Cannon next episode and hopefully wrap the Temples Arc once and for all.
Favorite and Review!