Hey, GaeaChronos here. Surprise, surprise, I'm not dead.

I'll be honest, I don't know what to say other than I forgot. I was busy since the pandemic, and in all the chaos going around, I forgot about my account, and all my stories. It didn't help that I lost interest in RWBY right when 2020 rolled around, so that happened.

Only now was I able to get some semblance of control in my life, and even then I'm not sure how long it'll last. But, I'll try to make do with what I have.

Anyways, albeit a bit late, on with Digimon Helix!

--

Chapter 5

"This is all your fault!!"

"... I..."

"If only you listened, none of this would have happened!!!"

"B-But-"

"But nothing!!! Yuu had ONE request with you! ONE!!! And you didn't listen AT ALL!!!"

"I think you've said enough."

"Not now, Junya! He needs to learn that-"

"Anko, I said ENOUGH."

My vision was blocked by Junya's body, his tattered cloak swaying in the wind. His red eyes carried a protective anger that was enough to cut off my tirade. He opened his mouth before I could say anything.

"Do you have any idea what you just did? What you said to Rai?"

It took me a second. And once everything set in, I trembled, my eyes widening.

"... I..."

Hesitantly, I peeked behind Junya, and my heart dropped.

Rai was on his knees, completely still as he stared at Junya's back. His eyes... have completely lost the light in them as tears flowed freely down his face. His lower lip trembled as he spoke in a voice that will forever haunt me to this day.

"I... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

--

I opened my eyes, and immediately squinted at the sunlight that managed to sneak in through a gap in my blinds and somehow hit my eyes right on the mark.

Groaning, I sat up from my bed, rubbing at my eyes. I walked to the bathroom and washed my face at the sink. I looked at myself through the mirror. To put it simply, I looked like a mess. My eyes have been red and puffy from all the crying.

"I'm sorry..."

... Not that I deserve to cry.

"I'm sorry..."

Not after what I've said.

"I'm sorry..."

Not after what I've done.

--

"Rai, I-"

"Anko, I think you've said enough."

I just stood there frozen as Junya picked up Rai and carried him away.

I wanted to reach out.

I wanted to tell him that I didn't mean it.

That I was just angry.

That it wasn't his fault.

But...

... I don't think I deserve to explain myself.

Not when...

I've let Yuu down.

--

"... Ah."

I didn't realize I'd been crying again.

... I really am the worst, aren't I?

I'm the villain here, and I'm the one crying.

I'm the one who lashed out, and blamed a child for something he had no control over.

I'm the one who hurt Rai.

I'm the one who just stood by, spinning my wheels as they all moved on.

... I'm the worst.

I didn't even notice that I had fallen on my knees, leaning against the bathroom wall for support as I broke down crying again.

I'm so sorry, Rai.

I'm so sorry, Junya.

... I'm so sorry, Yuu.

I let all of you down.

I... can't be around you anymore.

You all deserve someone better...

"Anko!!!"

I was snapped out of my crying fit by a familiar voice. The one who stayed by me all this time despite how terrible I am.

"... Liollmon."

It ran up to me with concern and urgency written all over its feline face.

"... Anko...! The news...!"

The news? Why, did something happen?

Before I realized it, Liollmon was already dragging me out to my living room, and sat me up, turning my face towards the TV.

"Look!!!"

At first, I didn't get what it was referring to, it was just a broadcast of the Heroes' Memorial. Then I immediately stood up when I realized it was being attacked by a Greymon.

It did cross my mind that the Greymon looked strange, but at the time, all I cared about was protecting the memorial. I knew Rai was gonna visit that day to pay respects to Yuu. He deserved to mourn. Unlike me.

I was about to reach for my Digivice when I saw a familiar head of blonde hair from the surveillance footage.

Rai!

He was charging in with a very familiar looking Coredramon. I needed to get there, but my feet wouldn't listen, keeping me in place as I watched Coredramon struggle to take on the strange Digimon.

I wanted to go.

I needed to go!

But...

Something in me was preventing me from exiting the house. A voice.

Is it really okay?

Would they even want me there?

Even if, what would I say?

My stupid words completely burned whatever bridges I had with them.

"Anko, look!"

I was yanked from my thoughts by my partner urging me to look at the screen.

My eyes widened.

Rai was commanding a Digimon.

He had a Digivice.

Rai... had become the first DigiDestined in the last five years.

"... No...!"

This... This was not good.

Yuu's fear was coming true.

I let him down. Again.

Rai was now getting involved in the mess we started, but couldn't finish.

Because we screwed up, the Digital World had chosen him to finish the job.

I already hurt him, now he's gonna suffer the same fate as us...!

...

... No.

I can still do something...!

Biting my lip, I turned to my Liollmon, who nodded, immediately understanding the situation.

I rushed to my room for a quick change, and grabbed my Digivice from my nightstand.

I exited my house and locked the door, rushing out into the neighborhood.

...My feet still remember where to go. Good.

I needed to get to Rai's house.

Even if he'll end up hating me...

No, he probably already does.

But that won't stop me anymore...!

I have to separate him from that Digivice...!

Rai... Doesn't deserve what we all went through as DigiDestined!

I'm sorry for letting you down, Yuu, but I won't let that happen again!

I'll keep this promise, at the very least.

"I... really don't want Rai to be involved in all this DigiDestined stuff. So, An, could you promise me this?"

Yuu... I swear I'll never break a promise again!

"If Rai ever gets a Digivice, could you... make sure he doesn't get involved in all the world-saving stuff? This is gonna be our little secret."

Rai... I'll make sure you won't get involved in what we failed in!

It's the least you deserve!

--

Meanwhile, somewhere in the outskirts of town...

"Hngh..."

With a groan, I sat up from the ground I was laying down on.

I was sore all over, and I felt like rocks were poking at my back.

... Oh, cause they were.

Stretching, I sat up, observing the surrounding area.

Yup. This definitely didn't look like home.

Either that portal dropped us off somewhere else in the world, or we were able to travel to a new one.

I'd have to check with Reina to-

Reina!!!

I looked around the unfamiliar grassland, trying to find any trace of my sister, or any one of my friends for that matter!

I took a step forward, my foot immediately landing on something soft.

"Ow..."

I looked down to find my foot pressing down on the belly of my sister, who was laying on the grass with a pained expression.

"Reina! I am so sorry! Are you okay?"

I immediately help my sister up as she clutched her stomach.

"... I really am glad I skipped lunch before we jumped, otherwise I'd have just met it again..."

I chuckled at her comment, muttering apologies.

"A-Anyway, have you seen anyone? Like Shinji, or Luna? Maybe Hachi?"

Reina simply shook her head.

"I only woke up when you stepped on me..."

"You guys sure are noisy as usual, huh?"

I turned to the familiar voice to find another familiar face.

"Luna!"

I rush to her, Reina in tow.

"Are you okay? Where's everyone else?"

Luna, seeming unamused, placed a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow at me.

"... Really? That's how you treat your girlfriend? Not even a hug, just an 'Are you okay?' and immediately brush me off before I could reply?"

"S-Sorry! I'm still new to the whole 'boyfriend' thing. But I am glad to see you look okay. How do you feel, though?"

She turned away, a light blush on her cheeks.

"Well, that's a bit better, I guess. A-And, yes, I am fine. As for everyone else..."

"Masato!!!"

A voice had me turning to my left when a large feathered object crashed into me at full force, tackling me to the ground.

"R-Raptormon, calm down a bit! I'm glad to see you safe, too, buddy!"

Raptormon. My partner Digimon. According to the encyclopedia we found, they were made from the updated information of dinosaurs, hence the more feathered appearance.

Seeing my partner made Reina perk up, her pain completely forgotten.

"Raptormon! Then that means... Kudamon is safe too, right?!"

My partner nodded excitedly.

"Mm! They're all taking care of everyone else! We all landed so close to each other, so I went to look for you three!"

Good.

Looks like the gang made it safely.

Now, once we're gathered...

We'll put an end to Helixmon and his schemes once and for all, making sure the other worlds don't end up like ours.

--

So, Raptormon was an original Digimon I made years ago when designing Masato. Masato was supposed to be the protagonist, but I wasn't able to put enough content into his story, so I decided to turn them into supporting characters.

... Yeah, there's gonna be a lot of characters here.

And that's about it for now! I wish I had more to say, but right now, I'm still trying to find a reason to live.

GaeaChronos is out. Peace!