Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
I will say this once again because it is that important. Somehow, in some way I had forgotten to add in Chapter 20.5 to the third novel the Digital Record: Finalized called The Battle for Forgiveness. This Chapter Explains EXACTLY HOW THE EVENTS OF TRI LINE UP (forgive the caps), and if you miss it you will not only understand why the other digidestined cried for her in the next chapter, but you will also wonder why Meiko was not traumatized by said events.
Now back to your normal foot note (just kidding.). Enjoy the next chapter. I don't mean for these characters to suffer, but I tell you the truth, if you don't suffer then you don't live. Lives are made by adversity but broken by stagnation into the mundane and irrevalance. My take on it. Take for it what you will.
Chapter Three: The World is Full of Demons
It had been a long time since Rei Kurenada had seen his father. In fact, it had been so long, he started to wonder if by chance he had died or another family member got to him. He looked through pictures at him trying to recall the last time he had seen him. Rei kept looking up and down the limited pages of his father and then at pictures of his friends in their childhood.
He had recently started studying for his preparatory school coming up, but he could not decide which courses to study so he decided to take a break. All three of them, him, Hiroki, and Sarada all got into their school of their choice, so they did not see each other very often in the mornings, but they hung out a few times every week, just the three of them in the afternoons.
The last meeting, they had was watching Hiroki's baseball team, the Kanseki Exorcists, facing off against the Odaiba Tigers. Yes, he knew it was a weird name for a team, but it somehow had a bit of a charm what with how their cheering section looked as if they were intimidating exorcists. In fact, at times it looked kind of hilarious.
The clink of a baseball bat smashed a ball across the field bouncing toward the far-left side just along the fair lines.
"Yeah!" Sarada shouted, her short hair starting to grow in bouncing slightly as she cheered in a green and white striped dress and a green bow. Her sneakers also had small lace velvet green bows tied on them right above the shoelaces. Rei could not decide if that was foolish looking or just unique.
"Go Kanseki! Go Hiroki Exorcists!" She exclaimed holding a cross in one hand and a Shinto stick in the other waiving them. Rei did not think he knew which one the team stood for, but they never really made it clear either.
Rei turned towards her holding himself back from laughing. Sarada always did that. Somehow, she would get excited for the team and mix up the name of the team and Hiroki. Her also doing the exorcist cheer was also a sight to behold.
"Rei! Come on! Cheer on your team!" she exclaimed.
"N-no, I'll pass," Rei said turning his gaze away glancing down at his blue pants, maroon and white sneakers, and wanting to cover his head with his maroon shirt or at least wish he brought a baseball cap. Now that he was eight years older there was no way he would be caught dead doing something so ridiculous.
"Oh, come on!" she said pointing down. "Look Hiroki is coming to bat! Go Hiroki! Goo!" she exclaimed doing another exorcist cheer.
He glanced down noticing Hiroki, more mature and focused like an athlete. He peered up at him sporting golden copperish baseball pants and a midnight blue jersey with his white number thirteen on the back and a golden helmet with an odd, jagged symbol on it. Well, at least he thought he had looked back at him.
"You won't catch me doing something so ridiculous," he grinned, "but I will cheer. Go Hiroki! Knock that ball out of the-"
-Before he could even finish the ball had sailed into the far center bleachers, Hiroki giving him a thumbs up clearing the bases scoring two runs, the crowd going nuts, the other team in plain black and white stripes staring perplexed at the turn of events.
"Wow, Hiroki you are amazing!" Sarada shouted.
Rei Kurenada had to admit he was stunned at the level of skill Hiroki had for the game. He had a horribly accurate feel for it, so much so that if he really wanted it, Hiroki could even go to the majors. Maybe even to America.
"It's amazing," Sarada grinned calming down stopping from clapping her hands. "Hiroki is going to dedicate his life to this sport. But the way it's so intense at times, but so lax in some moments, it's so like him," she giggled. "I can't wait to see him in a major's uniform!"
"Yeah," Rei said. "That would be a dream come true for him."
"Speaking of dreams," Sarada said grabbing onto his hand, "You still haven't told us yours."
"Dreams? Me?"
"Don't you have one?" she asked. "I want to be a dentist, Hiroki wants to be a baseball player, but what do you want to be?"
"Me? I just want to be alive to even make that choice," he said.
"But you can't keep looking over your shoulder like that!" she scolded him. "That worry is only going to put you in a grave faster than someone actually doing you in like that!"
"You have a valid point," he said cupping his finger and thumb around his chin. "Well, I can't say what I want to be, but, in my spare time I have been looking around my dad's study. He has notes everywhere about computers and about possibly somehow using it and some kind of connection to access information online."
"Sounds high tech!" she said. "I'm not good with all of that. I'd rather stick to more tangible things," she said. "But it does really suit you I think," she admitted. "Rei, I don't think you've noticed it, but you've always been a dreamer."
"The only dream I have," he said staring into himself, "Is escaping this world for a better one. A different one. Anything. As long as it gets me out of this family."
"You know," Sarada said, "The next time you go to our uncle's study why not bring me and Hiroki with you?"
"I'm sure you would think it's boring," he replied. "But I don't. All the numbers, zeros, ones, and even this weird looking computer, I think that it's all fascinating. Can you imagine if somehow a world existed inside different from this one? A world of opportunity and endless growth. A digital world."
"Digital world?" she said curiously. "I can't wrap my head around all of this stuff after all," she smiled nervously.
"Then don't worry about it," he replied. "You just stay the way you are Sarada. Don't change for anyone."
After the game Hiroki patted a few backs, had a good laugh or to and headed up to meet Rei and Sarada in the bleachers.
"Awesome game Hiroki!" Sarada said giving him a five. "You totally owned them!"
"More like Odaiba kitty cats," he grinned. "We crushed their spirit! And exorcised their souls!" he said grinding his fist in his hand.
The three of them stopped talking and looked away from each other. "Kind of feels like we're going our separate ways, doesn't it?" he said. "High school already, and then college," he said.
"We'll still see each other around though," Sarada said happily. "It's not as much, but we have our memories of each other to fill in the gaps."
"I know how you feel," Rei said. "After all, you guys keep me sane in an insane world."
"Loner Rei over here," Sarada smiled directing her hand towards him, "says he's interested in computers. He's going to show us his dad's study and all of the notes over there."
"Really?" Hiroki said patting him on the back. "Man, I am so relieved! You're always so paranoid and always looking around. Finally, you found something to be interested in!"
"Yeah, we're all going to his father's study on Friday, the weekend before our high school classes start!" she said. "We'll be able to see what's so interesting to him now."
"Rei's always been mostly a closed book," Hiroki said as if he was proud of that knowledge. So, it will be good to have a chance to look into his life for once."
"That's really not necessary," Rei said annoyed. "I'm just looking at notes. And studying. And-"
"-We'll make it a party!" Hiroki exclaimed. "Our party before entering high school! Congratulations to us! Right Sarada? Rei?"
"Yeah!" Sarada also exclaimed. "And I'm excited for this party to! Friday!"
Rei sighed. "Oh well. I can't fight against the two of you any day and win. Friday it is. Meet me by the front door at 2pm."
"Sounds good!" Hiroki grinned giving a thumbs up. "It's a promise!"
"Yeah!" Sarada added with just as much energy. "A promise!"
The Thursday before the party Rei Kurenada started to organize his father's notes, the papers scattered around in a more organized way so that when his friends could see the notes, they could understand more about hi- no, he meant the notes. The area needed a good dusting, and he devoted himself fully to the task, avoiding the maids so that they did not suspect him of stealing or trashing his father's place. Truthfully Rei had never worked so hard for something before even something as meaningless as cleaning. By the time it was complete he had worked himself up a good sweat and an ache in his heart from overexerting himself.
"Good," he said finishing wiping his father's desk and placing a dirty cloth in a bucket of water to the side of him to finish it. "Now I just have to wait for them to get here. Should be at least another hour."
He looked at the table reflecting on it to pass the time. Now that he thought about it, the maids today seemed more preoccupied than usual rushing back and forth, even neglecting their cleaning duties. Perhaps something had happened to one of the servants and they were just short staffed? No, it did not explain the panic.
"Young Master!" a voice shouted out running back and forth. "Young Master Rei! Rei!" the voice shouted, Rei not wanting to answer.
Immediately the door to his father's study opened and a disheveled looking maid answered it.
"Young master, you have to come with me right away."
"Is something wrong?" he said immediately getting up, his body tense.
"Don't you fret now," she said. "It's an emergency meeting in the main estate."
Rei Kurenada threw himself out of the chair hurrying over with them starting to feel a chill. He managed to wrap a long-sleeved coat about him before going with them.
"I'm on my way," he said. He turned back around hesitantly as he left.
"Hiroki. Sarada," he said to himself. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon."
Somewhere deep in his heart Rei Kurenada could not escape a foreboding feeling as he went with them. He prayed that everything would be all right, but for an emergency meeting that never usually happened unless there was a huge financial issue or worse.
Rei arrived much of the family gathered already. The family started to whisper and gossip among themselves as the speaker Goumatsu approached all of them, a hand grasped over his heart.
Rei wanted to ask everyone about what had happened, but they seemed so preoccupied with themselves as if having care for anyone else was beneath them. The meeting itself did not seem to have any value.
"Everyone," he said, "I regret to inform you all that last night, our dear family member, my adorable, adopted niece Sarada Kurenada went missing. A police report has been filed. That is all."
The impact hit Rei Kurenada, standing speechless at the words. He tried to bring them out, panicking, but felt as if his voice had all but vanished. He noticed to the side a couple of ladies pretending like they were crying, but literally could hear through their facades.
The insidious poisonous whispers trickled into his ears, talk of the interest added onto Goumatsu's share of the estate. He swallowed heavily. Yes, Sarada just turned 13 years old literally a few months ago. And with Goumatsu being her guardian if anything happened to her, that meant he would pocket the money!
His anger exploded rising infuriated. "What have you done?!" he shouted, all eyes turning towards him. "What have you done with Sarada you bastard?!"
"Hey, what's this about?" he said, his eyes turning away. "I have no idea what you're talking about Rei."
"Liar!" he exclaimed. "Your own niece was kidnapped! You don't seem the slightest bit upset! Where did you take her!" he asked. "Where are you holding her captive?!"
"How could you insinuate this about your uncle!" another one of his aunt's said.
"That's no way to speak to the speaker of the family!" an elderly man added. "Shame on you! Oh this generation!" he lamented.
Rei Kurenada looked around him, all eyes looking at him like an outsider, or someone to be used as soon as the opportunity arose. Their eyes saw through him judging him, slight smirks ever so visibly like ghosts appearing and disappearing manifesting on their faces.
"No," he said thinking fast. He looked around for anyone to actually look like they would listen to him, but they wouldn't.
"No, I'm not the one at fault!" he protested, but his words felt as if they were engulfed in a tide of self-righteous, selfish dirty wealth and greed.
"That's enough!" Goumatsu shouted. "I do admit," he said, "I would benefit greatly if something did happen to my cute niece Sarada," he said, Rei wanting to puke from hearing his uncle describe her that way. "However, I have already notified the authorities and filed a missing person's report. I pray that our dear Sarada comes back safe!" he exclaimed. "This family misses her terribly so!"
All of a sudden, the jarring hatred geared towards him turned into adoration for Goumatsu.
"What a wonderful tribute!" an older woman exclaimed.
"Such a powerful statement! Worthy of the speaker of the Kurenada family!" another middle-aged man answered.
"If you say so Goumatsu then we believe you!" an even younger man said.
Rei turned towards them and then back towards Goumatsu who seemed elated by the praise.
All of his energy and zeal he had for demanding an answered vanished. He wanted to say something, but even existing in that environment felt like he was being choked to death.
"It hurts," he said loosening his collar and starting to scratch his neck. He had started to develop this odd sensation their ever since his mother passed away. At times he felt he could not breathe through his nose or mouth, so somehow, he had thought if he could just scratch his throat enough it would open a hole for air to escape. And now it just became a habit.
He wanted to leave and started making his way through the crowd when four police officers burst through the door exasperated.
"What seems to be the problem officers?" Goumatsu Kurenada asked.
They looked at each other and shook their heads.
"We regret to inform you like this," the officer said. "But we found Sarada Kurenada's body."
Rei lurched forward, images of his dear cousin swarming his mind. He had warned her so many times to be careful. Especially around this man, her guardian. So many times. He thought if he had told her enough, she would take it seriously, but now, he did not know what to think.
Immediately he tried to grasp onto someone to keep himself standing, but someone pulled away and he fell forward having no more strength. He collapsed, images of the recently deceased Sarada swarming his mind.
Three days later. That's how much time it took for Rei Kurenada to recover, him still sitting in a hospital bed. Sarada Kurenada's funeral arrangements had already been planned. He sat in his bed stunned with disbelief after everything that had happened. Just a few days ago he was going to show her and Hiroki his father's study. He was going to open up to his friends and be closer with them before they all went their own separate ways. But now, Sarada, she wouldn't have that opportunity.
No sooner had he thought this that the doors opened and a gentleman in a london fog coat and almost detective-ish cap entered in, him holding the cap on his head. He sat down in a chair opposite Rei studying him.
"What do you want?" he asked holding his head. "I never said I wanted any visitors."
"But you didn't say you didn't, now, did you?" the detective asked pulling out a pocket notebook.
"How could I? I've been passed out for days," he grimaced holding his head enduring a terrible headache. "You're annoying."
The gentleman laughed. Now that he actually could see him, he had course reddish hair, a goatee, and witty sharp amber eyes. "Well then, maybe this will snap you out of your anti-socialness," he said. He tapped a pen onto his notebook.
"Where were you the night of Sarada Kurenada's death?"
Rei stared looking down at his bed. "That's right," he said. "I thought I had been having a terrible nightmare, but it's really true isn't it? My cousin Sarada Kurenada is dead," he said, staring up at him.
The detective nodded. "I heard you had the quite the shock. Passed out after hearing the news. Typically, not something a suspect does."
"You suspect me?" he said.
"Well, you and your buddy Hiroki were pretty close with her I hear," he said. "Did anything seem out of the ordinary the last time you met her?"
"No," he said shaking his head. "But detective I am not sure you are aware of the family practice in secret."
"I just migrated to around these parts," he said. "Do fill me in."
Rei Kurenada nodded his head. He explained the situation to him, about the turning into a young man or woman and the allocated funds and the whole right of guardianship or parenthood acquiring of those funds if something were to happen.
"That would definitely give a motive," he said. "And you really suspect Goumatsu Kurenada?"
"It's either him or someone working with him," he grimaced. "In fact, I can't present you any proof of this. But I know him. That man would slit his own mother's throat if it would add to his wealth."
The detective kept jotting down notes.
"That about does it," he said putting his pen in his inner coat pocket. "This is about the only lead we have so far. Everyone else aside from your pal Hiroki has been giving creepy vague answers. Truthfully this is one of the most disturbing cases I have seen yet. Though, I have done my research on the deaths in this family so far in the last ten years.
"11 missing persons. 8 Murders. 22 accidents. 37 natural deaths 20 of which are highly questionable. I am well aware," Rei Kurenada said folding his hands. "That being said, if you can solve this mystery then this will certainly reopen all those other cases," he warned. "I doubt Goumatsu will appreciate your efforts."
"Kid, in my line of work it's as dirty as it gets," he said turning towards him and offering his business card. "But I didn't become a detective to be bought out. You got to come into this business swinging and clawing, and biting, and scratching ready to defend yourself at every turn. I intend to retire swinging," he grinned.
Rei Kurenada nodded his head reading the card. "Inoku Todoroki? You remind me of Hiroki," he mused. "But," he said frowning, "this is so frustrating. As one of her best friends I need to know," he said, "How did she die?"
"Are you sure you want to know that?" he said stopping in the doorway turning around. "I could just walk out of here and stop you from having recurring nightmares about this your whole life."
Rei Kurenada grinned. "My whole life is a recurring nightmare. What more is one more minute? I am already in Hell. I just hope you don't get dragged down with me."
The detective seemed to pause as if contemplating an answer. "All right then," he said. "Sarada Kurenada was found a few miles up the road from here in Kotori Lake. Swelling marks were around her throat. Asphyxiation is never the prettiest way to go," he said.
Rei Kurenada paused and just closed his eyes. The detective's footstep exited the room, Kurenada screaming inside of himself about everything that had happened.
Eventually he opened his eyes again, pushing down all the memories of Sarada into his heart. He could not console himself anymore. But at least now he could see a glimmer of hope for justice. Cops had been by his place before, but a lot of times investigations got swept under the rug and officials were bribed. In fact, this was how anyone knew to avoid this family as much as possible. Business partners were too scared to leave. Other partners were tricked and coerced and were forced into long term contracts. It could only explain the explosive growth of finances over the years.
Rei Kurenada sighed. "But at least there is one decent cop in this world," he said. "Surely there will be justice delivered. This whole house of cards will come down upon that bastard Goumatsu. It has to!"
Three days later Rei Kurenada was still in the hospital. He had almost recovered from a bout of pneumonia and was set to be released later that day. Unfortunately, his father was still out, but he had been notified of what happened at the very least. Maybe things would finally take a turn for the better after the hard week.
A nurse went into his room and brought in a grapefruit for him as requested with a glass of water. Something about the bitter astringency overpowering the sweetness calmed his nerves and he never could get enough water. As he dipped a spoon into the succulent bowl of natural sweetness, he noticed her bend down to him.
"I brought this over to you," she said handing him a newspaper. "You looked bored, so I wanted to get you something. You should read page six," she said covering her mouth. "He was such a good man," she said starting to tear and rushing out of the room.
Rei Kurenada started shaking hesitantly. He flipped open the newspaper to page six and stared mouth agape. 'Recently transferred detective's police car explodes on the way to headquarters.' He stared on and read the article as best as he could without giving him a migraine.
He sighed out doing his best to control his breathing. No good. He grabbed his glass of water and very slowly started guzzling it and closed his eyes. It was too good to be true. The kind, rough detective who stuck to his guns conveniently happened to die in an explosion on his way back to headquarters. Apparently, the cause of the accident was a leaking gas line that ignited just as the car had been started. That started however only a mile down from the police station. This meant that instead of driving directly there, the detective had to make a stop, and from there something must have happened.
He started tearing, his tears staining the paper. Sarada was gone. Justice, unserved. The investigation had ended with a warning to anyone else taking the case and Rei knew it. No one would touch it with a ten-foot pole now.
He listlessly looked up at the ceiling as if pleading for an answer for an intervention. Something had to stop. The family had to be taken down no matter what. And the only hope of that happening from an adult side had been engulfed in flames.
He hung his head, his arm hanging down over the railing dropping the newspaper.
"It's not fair," he despaired, the cruelty of it all having dried his tears. "It's just not fair."
