Disclaimer: No. Fine, I don't own Digimon though I am becoming more and more convinced I do now that this story is getting into the realm of having more time invested in it than an actual season.
On one special note here we have reached a milestone I have been wanting to reach for so long. I always imagined Homeostasis and King Ygdrassil being in a sibling relationship. So for both of them to have manifested human forms and being 'sisters' there is a great sense of accomplishment reverberating through these fingertips. Though to be honest King Ygdrassil sounds like a brat. Also I have seen so many different spellings of it's name I just don't care anymore.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Preemptive Measures
The decisive battle had left a sour taste in Rei Kurenada's mouth. His world had nearly been cracked apart like a chocolate shell over ice cream, the world having been cracked asunder all over. King Ygdrassil had decimated everything. Very few digimon survived her attack, but at least she had become stabilized. And yet, somehow, it had become even more of a threat to his enemies than ever before. Even more so now that she had now become addressed as a 'she' despite being a device for his use.
In assessing the damages, Rei came across the Digital Citadel set up for the Dark Master's- the building having been ripped open from the ground up into pieces.
"King Ygdrassil," Rei sighed one hand over his eye.
"Yes?" she responded following in his shadow oblivious to her actions.
"Do you know how much Digital Data it took to create this structure?"
"Quite a lot," she said indifferently. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason," he chuckled. "It's just it's going to take quite some time to get it repaired."
"Not really," she said taking a sucker out of her pocket and popping it in her mouth. "It should probably take only a week. Maybe even less if there is no interference."
"A week?!" Piedmon shouted coming over, still covered in wounds. "I don't think I could bear such discomfort! "he lamented. "It's just too long I'm afraid young miss."
"Oh?" she said, Rei noticing a dangerous glint in her eye. "Are we complaining?"
"No, miss, I-"
"-Because you do know what I hate more than anything, right?"
"I do, but-"
"-And you do know if I hear anything like it I might just get extra hungry," she said getting even more frustrated.
"Perish the thought!" Piedmon defended himself. "I was merely expressing my frustration! I would never accuse the young lady of such!"
"I hope so," she smiled a bit cheekily. "Because I hope you don't make the same mistake as the last nightmare soldier who complained about me tearing down her quarters."
"Why? What happened to her?"
"She and I had dinner together!" she said cheerfully. "Unfortunately for her she was what was on the menu that night. Do you get what I mean?"
"Yes, absolutely!" Piedmon said bowing his head prostrate. "I will never complain young miss!"
"You mean Ygdrassil," she corrected.
"Yes Miss Ygdrassil!" Piedmon corrected himself.
"I SAID YGDRASSIL," she said even more dangerously.
Piedmon kept bowing conceding her name. "Of course, Ygdrassil. It's time that I be on my way. The other Dark Masters are expecting my safe return back at the Underground Barracks and I mustn't keep them waiting."
With that he hastily made his exit, Rei stifling a laugh.
For all the damage she had done, she sure had no problem dealing with dissenters.
"Very nice work Ygdrassil," he congratulated her. "I don't think I have had to deal with anyone since you took on a human appearance a little while ago."
"Of course," she said munching on her sucker. "By the way, when can I meet my sister?"
"In time," Rei said rubbing her head. "Until then, we will need to work really hard to get to that point."
She said nothing for a moment sitting down on a piece of rubble as if reflecting on everything.
Rei glanced at her still wondering how they got to such a point. King Ygdrassil in a way certainly looked like Homeostasis, but in many ways she did not.
She had short hair, one side just a tad longer than the other. Her hair happened to be a unique ashen gray color, her eyes a lustrous pinkish nearly magenta color. He had made for her a unique black Gothic dress-in which she insisted on a gray one and a white one as well, but she preferred the black one the best. She had a youthful face, and was not much taller than any other middle school child.
That being said, although calm she did have a pretty bad temper. Unfortunately any ultimate level or higher that got in her way became her lunch, err snack, or whatever meal she was craving. Rei decided to give her the ability to turn those meals into suckers so she had time to actually eat them, otherwise he would have lost ten digimon every hour.
He hated to admit it, but the child was a brat through and through. She had to have her own way, and worked begrudgingly all over the sake of one day meeting her sister. From the first time she had asked him up until now he had counted fifteen times she had asked it.
"Rei," she said, staring at the rubble. "If I meet my sister, then I won't cause any more trouble."
"Oh? You're aware of that fact are you?" he said curiously.
She nodded her head.
"I just miss my sister so much. I want to meet her," she said kicking her feet up and down anxiously.
"How interesting," Rei said having a seat himself. "Why do you want to meet her so badly?"
"Because we're sisters."
"Do you have any other reason?" he insisted.
"Without her I would not have been able to function anymore. She gives me purpose. I wouldn't be alive without her."
"What would happen if you met her Ygdrassil, and you did not like her?"
"How could I not like my sister?" she contemplated. "If she's my sister there is no way I could hate her."
"You don't have any lingering feelings of hatred or ill will for her?"
"I only hate complaining and when I haven't eaten," she said sucking on her lollipop. "I don't hate Homeostasis."
Rei got up from where he sat and walked by her rubbing her head. "What a good dutiful sibling you are," he feigned masking his disdain for Homeostasis. "I'm sure your sister will have nothing but wonderful things to say about you when you meet her."
"But when will I meet her?" she asked.
"In time," he said. "Once the boundaries between the worlds are thin enough you will surely meet."
It took some time for Rei to face King Ygdrassil again. He remained locked up in his bedchamber quarters contemplating how he could use the state of Ygdrassil as leverage against Homeostasis.
The child worked for him, though he thought it might be begrudgingly now. If for whatever reason Ygdrassil wanted to side with Homeostasis it would be game over for him before he even he knew it. No, he had to find some way of poisoning her mind-even downright lie if he had to so she would grow to hate her.
He manifested in front of him with his data code everything he knew about Homeostasis and Yggdrasil. Their data had been comprised of girls that had been sacrificed to ancient digimon. But, as for as Ygdrassil all he had to go off of was very limited information about the intense emotions Homeostasis felt accumulating over the years as each girl had been sacrificed lamenting about their sibling they left behind.
He wandered about, spending some time considering everything. He declined any invitation or company of his creations deferring everyone to go through Cthulusmon.
After days on end reflecting over everything, he realized that back when he was a human he had witnessed sisterly jealousy as a Kurenada. Usually it had to do with money, but status was another thing. If for some reason King Ygdrassil felt jealous of her, then maybe she would grow to hate her. He couldn't risk dumping all of this on her at once though. He would have to let the hatred seep into her in time, over the years.
A sly smile came across his face knowing what he would have to do. He would be the messenger between the two of them...and turn King Yggdrasil's somewhat borderline innocent gray heart...completely black.
In the following days Rei met with King Ygdrassil. She apparently had been working extra hard just so she could meet her sister. Rei appreciated her efforts with a lollipop, King Ygdrassil instantly popping it in her mouth.
"I've reconstructed the data for the citadel," she said. "Is this good enough for me to meet my sister now?"
"Actually," Rei said, his hands gently landing on her shoulders. "I'm afraid I have some sad news Ygdrassil."
"Sad news? What happened?" she asked.
"I'm afraid I spoke with Homeostasis."
"You spoke with her?" she said turning around completely stopping from her normal tasks, "What did she say? Did you talk about me?"
"I did," he said realizing his cunning plan would indeed bear fruit. "She told me she is excited to meet you one day. She is working on her end to meet you to. One day the two of you will be able to have your sweet family reunion."
"Really?" she said smiling for once. "That's so wonderful! I can't wait!" she said positively beaming.
"So work hard so you can achieve your goal," Rei said slyly turning around.
"Absolutely," she acknowledged. "I'm just so happy my sister wants to meet me!"
"Yes," Rei smirked chewing on his cheek gums. "...I'm sure she truly does…"
Rei noticed Yggdrasil seemed in fine spirits as each day passed. The Dark Ocean eventually returned to it's former glory, Rei Kurenada's solitude fortress twice as grand as it had been before. The Dark Masters were pleased with their new quarters. The nightmare soldiers also displayed their praise. The unlucky ones though did not or complained. They didn't last long after brunch.
Every now and then Rei would stop by and see Ygdrassil and gave her false optimistic information. This in turn had a strange sight effect of actually thinning the barrier between the Digital World and the Dark Ocean. He knew that if that pace kept up, and he just kept training Yggdrasil, then eventually his forces could invade the Digital World.
Strangely since the incident with King Ygdrassil freaking out Homeostasis seemed almost quiet, but she had been too quiet. Usually Rei would gather some kind of intel from fallen corrupted digimon on the business of the Digital World, but lately not a single Digimon that had been reborn into the Digital World had anything they could tell him.
Rei decided to take a step back and attack this insight of a preeminent attack from the other side. He left King Yggdrasil in Cthulusmon's care, stocked up on a bunch of suckers for her, and then came back through the portal he first went through to think things over.
Upon Rei's return, the world had certainly changed in terms of technology. He glanced out the second story window overlooking the city. Buildings and electronic billboards darted the landscape where normal billboards used to be seen. The computer's had updated to in the office, all except this one. He waded his way through some protective charms that suggested the computer/area had been cursed. Of course that was all due to himself, but no one else would ever know that.
It was late at night, the streetlights beckoning him to go into the serene atmosphere of a bar. He had the house special having no idea what it was, interested women giving him shifty glances. Rei drained his beverage licking his lips after. It was just what he needed for dinner...before the sweet dessert of an easy woman or two.
In the morning the light seemed more welcoming. Rei never had hangovers, a special perk of his digitization. However Homeostasis more than anything gave him an otherworldly headache, the kind that was 'possessive bread.'.
His 'Migraine', irritated him just knowing out there Homeostasis was surely planning something. And, like before, Rei had no idea how to handle such a front. Perhaps she too had been waiting for the walls to thin to unleash an all out attack and destroy the Dark Ocean for good. After all, wasn't that the result of what happened with Himekawa and the others?
He paused for a moment remembering the eyes of the poor destitute girl having had her digimon sacrificed. He knew such eyes, for he used to have them; Those eyes so helpless as everything is torn away from you and you can't do a thing about it. Surely such humans would serve his purpose even more than those of Homeostasis. Especially when-
In an instant Rei glanced up at the ceiling having realized how he could completely flip the script on whatever Homeostasis had planned for him. "Of course," he grinned placing both hands over his face. "How could I have missed it? It's way easier than I could have imagined!"
Immediately he wasted no time and set out at once using the computers to reach The Watchers of the Periphery. Through the portals he navigated his way until at last he arrived at the main base.
A man sat brazenly at a table going over documents, his stern expression showing a forthright personality. It had been awhile since Rei had been among the Watchers of the Periphery. Frankly, he didn't even know if anyone in that organization recognized him anymore.
"Who are you?" The man said stopping with his pen.
"Just an old family friend," Rei said walking up to him casually.
"If you are using the portals surely you could only be Rei Kurenada," he said gruffly. "I know who you are."
"I would think then you would show me a sign of praise wouldn't you?" Rei said sitting down at his desk and propping both feet up. "It's not like any of that matters."
"Then why are you here?" he asked. "I am quite busy as you can see."
"Quite defiant," Rei said tongue in cheek staring up at the ceiling. "I'm sure you know. It' the only reason I would come back here since the organization has turned on me and sided with my mortal enemy."
"In order to protect this world we sided with the white enchantress," he said. "To us she is a goddess, and you are a devil."
"I'm offended!" Rei snickered holding his stomach. "A devil?" he said, his anger starting to build up within himself. "Me?!" he said barely able to be contend. "How dare you?!" he shouted, his entertainment turning into a rage and transforming into a horrendous demonic creature.
"If you want to see a devil, then just take a good look at your so called gods," he growled. "Everything they do is to keep your race in subjugation and bliss never fully able to move beyond the shell of humanity. You will perish in elderly homes with your little pets," he smirked. "It would be a fitting end to such a pitiful race, but I won't let it end so nicely."
Surprisingly, the man flinched, but stood his ground. "I'm not afraid of a monster," he said. "You will not use me like you have so many."
"Then surely you have been inspired by Fujiwara," he said clenching his claws. "A fool of a man to deny eternity for the sake of his flimsy pride."
"It is all a man has," Hikuro declared.
Rei stared at him a bit oddly, but then started chuckling reverting back to his usual form. "You say that, but, you are quite the family man aren't you?"
"You leave them out of this," he growled. "My family has nothing to do with your machinations."
"Then you better cooperate," Rei said walking forward to a picture, taking a manufactured claw, and gently sliding it down the middle splitting a picture of his daughter in two.
"I refuse to!" he said determined. "After everything you have done I will not allow you to make this organization go out of control again. We won't go back to how things used to be!"
Rei Kurenada took a step back and turned around. "I commend you for your misplaced courage," he grinned. "It takes a lot of guts to do that. Not many have lived for what you've done."
"I have done nothing but what's right," Hikuro declared.
"Really? In that case I'll have to punish you for what you've done," he said holding out his hand.
Hikuro blocked his arms over his body. "Do your worst!" he shouted. "But not one bone in my body will ever submit to your-"
Before he could say anything Rei waved his hand towards him, and then a light disappeared through the ceiling and vanishing.
"What did you do?" he asked. "What did you do Rei Kurenada?!"
"I've cursed your only daughter," he cooed. "She's now a target for any digimon wanting to sink their teeth into a human," he grinned. "I heard little girls are quite the delicacy."
"You fiend!" he shouted. "No! Not Meiko!"
"You should have been more obedient," he said. "From here on out, who knows what shadows within the organization will go after you. One way or another if you give me the code or not it will go how I want it to," he smiled closing his eyes. "It always does."
Hikuro stood up paralyzed at what had been done, then collapsing back in his chair. "No," he groaned, tears pouring down his face. "Not Meiko. Please! Not my daughter!"
"Too bad," Rei said blowing air. "Although she is a target though, I'm sure I could keep her safe...in exchange for a different favor."
"Name it," Hikuro responded intensely. "I would do anything for her-even give my life!"
Rei held up both hands to calm the man down. "Take it easy," he chuckled. "I would never ask you to do something as ridiculous as throw your life away," he grinned. "No, I have a much better use for you."
"I already turned you down for giving you the code," he grimaced. "Asides from removal what more could you possibly want from me?"
"Oh, it's nothing much," Rei said studying him. "All I want you to do is create...a scholarship program under the new subdivision of the organization, The Bureau of Protected Information…and I have the perfect recruits I want you scouting for vital positions..."
"But why?" he asked.
"To achieve our goal," he smiled. "Peace is not a bad thing, except when you have any enemies on the battlefield. If you are my ally you or your family are not my enemy. It certainly turns out well for you doesn't it Hikuro?"
Hikuro straightened the glasses on his face and sat down, his knuckles bared red from grasping them so hard. "If it's just that then I will set up a scholarship program for you," he said. "However, you cannot lay one hand upon them or my daughter. And you must protect her, is that clear?"
"I suppose it will do," he said walking by him snickering viciously. "But just remember Hikuro, if you choose to be the servant of Homeostasis, you better be prepared to be used completely. Both you, and your assets."
"What are you talking about?" he asked confused.
"I think you'll find out in time," he said toying with him. "You might want to get those assets in the bureau's protection," he grinned. "Farewell Hikuro. And never forget this one thing: The shadow of Apotheoseia shall always haunt you."
With that, Rei left the bewildered man in shock, having completed instilling the fear of Rei Kurenada in him.
Not soon after Rei had dealt with Hikuro Mochizuki, he happened to simply wander through the organization, bewildered faces not even recognizing him. They all seemed like content righteous fools wallowing in a sense of blessed fortuitous circumstances. Homeostasis sure had them lined up for the slaughter.
As he walked by he stopped, noticing one of them did not seem so chipper, with blue-greenish daggers in his eyes seemingly believing himself as beyond the others, his similar blue-green hair very telling like his own. He couldn't have been more than thirty. And he was a handsome devil much like himself. Rei seemed to almost feel a kindred spirit with him.
"Why, hello," Rei said starting to follow after him.
The man started to quicken his pace, Rei letting him go as far as he wanted to. He took a shortcut through a computer to the man's personal one by following his negativity manifesting in front of him.
The man stared up shocked and in awe.
"I don't believe it!" he exclaimed. "What a divine revelation! I am in the presence of the founder, Lord Rei Kurenada!"
"You recognize me?" he said. "And as the founder no less?"
"Of course I do," he said determined. "I have vowed my whole life to restore the former glory of the organization."
"Is that right?" Rei said coyly walking and then appearing behind him. "Says the fool who is a spy for Apotheoseia."
The man instantly got up, used the chair as leverage and backed away, but slipping on his hand and tumbling into a wall.
"That wasn't very much blood lust," Rei said amused. "But you still caught onto it. Bravo, you pass," he said clapping.
The man stared at him on edge. "Thank you," he said falling prostrate bowing in front of him. "The fools in the Watchers of the Periphery have grown too lax. They are going against your wishes. You never wanted to keep the worlds apart. You wanted to merge them together. It is treason for what is being done!" he shouted.
"As a follower of Apotheoseia I see your dilemma friend," he said walking up to him and putting his foot on his head. "You're loyalty is ultimately to me. Not any organization. Even if I did create both of them," he said removing the boot over his head.
The man stared at him a bit bewildered.
"What is your name?" Rei asked.
"Hisashi," he confessed. "I am Hisashi...Kuremasu."
"Kuremasu?" Rei said wondering about it. He stared into his eyes, recognizing something was off about them.
"Is that a lie?" he asked dangerously.
"It is not. But I do have another last name. A name that gives me right as the successor of my bloodline."
Rei stared at him a bit amazed. "Don't tell me," he snickered. "It's too perfect," he laughed holding his sides. "Are you a Kurenada?"
"The very same," he said proudly. "The blood that flows through these veins will see our bloodline return to glory," he said. "We will no longer be in the shadows. We will dominate this world just like before."
"You do know why you fell did you not?" Rei inquired.
"No," he replied instantly. "I was never told."
"It's because they were corrupt beyond all reasoning. So you know what I did?"
"What did you do?" he implored.
"I SLAUGHTERED THEM."
The man instantly backed up against the wall having glanced into Rei's terrifying eyes.
"Not much room left I'm afraid," he said holding out his hand. He put it in front of his face. "Do you see this?" he asked. "Think of It as a flesh mangler converting your body into sustenance for me. If you obey my every command you can have your wish. But, if you rebel no one will have ever had any evidence you vanished. It is a most painful way to go, but I do need some way to sustain myself."
The man groaned in agony as Rei made him feel the sensation of a current sucking at his physical frame. "I swear," he groaned.
"You'll have to commit louder than that," Rei smiled. "I don't quite believe you yet."
"I swear!" Hisashi shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Good," Rei said retreating his hand. "Then, let me just say welcome to the fold." he said stretching out his other one as Hisashi grabbed it. He nearly wanted to tear his own arm off of him for doing so, but, that would have to wait.
"Now that you understand your place I will support you in your mission," he said taking out a super special vial he had been working on.
"What is this?" he questioned. "Is this the blessing those of Apotheoseia spoke about? I thought few were worthy for this amazing gift!"
"No, it's not the same as that," Rei corrected him. "This is far more beneficial for you."
"And how's that?"
"Because, that is a virus. Once you inject it into yourself any digimon that attacks you will become under your control."
"A digimon? No one has seen the real thing except the illusions in the clouds signaling your influence and eventual return my Lord," he acknowledged.
"Precisely. But you will have no need to fear humans or digimon. You will be like myself, within limits of course. And you will become powerful. My right hand man," he half lied.
"I don't deserve such a blessing," he said instantly stabbing it to himself. "But for my noble mission I will do whatever you ask of me."
"That's good," Rei agreed. "Then, as your first order I want you to keep a close eye on the current head of the Watcher of the Periphery Hikuro Mochizuki."
"Mochizuki? I despise that man!" he groaned. "Above anyone else here, he is the spearhead warring against your original commands! He is a heretic!" he scowled.
"Well, I'm sure you know," Rei said, "A certain little birdie that no longer can fly told me that the White Enchantress gives the Leaders of the Watchers of the Periphery a special code. I want you to make that man suffer with the powers I've given you so he will eventually reveal it," he said. "I'm sure if you do your research you'll find he has a particular weakness."
Hisashi groaned, a strange sensation flowing through him as Rei observed him experience Euphoria.
"With this power," he grinned, "I will do whatever you ask."
"That's what I like to hear," Rei smiled. "Punish the heretic, but let me warn you he will not fall so easily even with torture. I want you to head to the Izaiya shrine first naturally in Izaiya," he chuckled. "Form a contract with the god of the land. And when you do, that deity will become a chaotic god that will devour Hikuro's daughter. It just might be what he needs to get him to his senses," he chuckled.
"I will not let you down my Lord," he said bowing his head. "I am destined for greatness. I will not fail you."
"Very well," Rei said. "Then as long as you understand, you may do as you please," he grinned.
He walked away from the man still determinedly respectful of him. As soon as he was out of sight, he twitched his lips slightly and then grabbed his arm that touched Hisashi's hand and ripped it out spraying data everywhere. In a matter of moments it grew back, Rei pleased he no longer needed to disinfect himself from the bacteria known as mankind.
He wandered over to what appeared to be the main hall of the Watchers of the Periphery. He recognized the pictures of the Leaders of the Watchers on the Walls, some who he had been quite fond of. But even then they were at the end of the day squirming maggots that needed to be stepped on.
He sat down on a comfy leather chair overlooking the pictures as if on a throne on the earth.
"I'm ready for you," he said leaning forward, one hand on his cheek resting his elbow on the arm of the chair. "It's time to make your move...Homeostasis."