Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.

Though it has been a while Rei Kurenada's goals have never been more focused. He's becoming even more incredibly dangerous and is one cold cunning serial killer. But hey, maybe it's just because he's hungry? Or if he's still just messed up from his former lover Asaki's brutal murder? As time passes though I feel less and less bad for him. It's like someone feeling bad for Hitler's childhood. People make choices and rob others of the ability to make their own. Those types are the worst.


Chapter Thirty: King Yggdrasil's Influence

In the midst of the evening Rei Kurenada breathed in the sweet air of negativity. Somewhere, a shadow along the wall smelling of recreational drugs and alcohol staggered slightly, but did not collapse. A man took a sip and then exhaled a puff of smoke as it spread through the air around him before dissipating quickly.

Rei Kurenada noticed him and waved his hand. "Hey there," he smiled, much to the puzzlement of the man in front of him. Before the man could say anything, Rei placed his hand on his face and the man's shadow merged with his own, no trace of the man remaining except his torn garments.

Rei scratched the back of his neck breathing in the night sky. It was just the pick me up he needed for his return to the seed of chaos, incubating quietly in the middle of a busy office just a few blocks down from his current location.


When he arrived, the glowing monitor on the screen greeted him, Rei curious as to how the office was being used. Some fliers and signs suggested that a new supervisor position was being offered, as Rei had himself took in the previous two. There were also a couple missing posters of his two victims, possibly a third with the woman he had entreated himself with, but he paid them no mind as he took to the screen.

He placed his fingers on the keyboard going over the code in the system, following the path that the seed of chaos had taken. Accordingly it had deposited into the Dark Ocean. He fixated on the traces of viral energy and realized that though the seed itself had deposited, it had started absorbing other negative energies.

A small wry grin slowly spread across his face. Yes, the first phase had been progressing nicely. The seed of chaos even from it's position separated completely from the Digital World had started to weaken the barrier, though it had been anything but simple.

No, this could only have been accomplished with the data of Homeostasis and all the negativity that he had absorbed into himself.

Rei tapped his finger on the screen even feeling a slight air of negativity emitting from it. He breathed in deeply, Rei marveling how fragrant it seemed.

"I suppose I should pay a visit," he said desirously touching the screen as if he had brushed a cheek that was there. "...See you soon."


Through the channels Rei felt his digital body traveling navigating the port ways, Rei Kurenada following the massive viral digital data until at last he emerged, materializing on the outskirts of the digital prison from which he had been banished.

He stared in the distance curious to why he could not see his castle. He briskly made his way over towards it taking into account the lack of negative viral entity's in his domain. Even the digital skies were empty, dark and void of everything but strange looking clouds under what appeared to be a purplish light pinkish colored image, like a unique sunset had spread over the land, but without the sun.

"Most curious indeed," Rei said venturing further.


Eventually Rei arrived to where the remnants of his castle stood-or at least should have been standing. In it's place though he noticed an egg-like structure, not much bigger than the throne itself placed right where his throne should have been.

He said nothing marveling at it.

A familiar presence manifested behind him, Rei not even bothering to turn around.

"Status report," he merely demanded.

"My Lord," the familiar voice of Cthulusmon winced, "Nearly everything is gone. Aside from The seed and the viral digital energy of only the strongest digimon anything ultimate and lower has been absorbed by the seed."

"I see," Rei said wondering about it. "What about the incubating ones?"

"Since they will be mega level Digimon or greater," he said "they have been untouched. Though they are taking longer to form than other digimon."

"Of course," Rei agreed. "The transition from human flesh and blood to Digital Data into a Viral Digimon is an intense process. But the final result will be most pleasing."

"If I may ask," he said, Rei turning around, "My Lord, I dare not question your or your methods," he said, "But why would you turn the abomination of the human race into the majestic viral digital entities?"

"It is a fair question," Rei grinned walking by him placing his arm on his shoulder. "Even dung has a purpose Cthulusmon," he said. "Even if it's nothing more than fertilizer. And eventually the fertilizer will break down all on it's own without me having to lift a finger."

"So, you mean to tell me you have them created as sacrifices?"

Rei paused for a moment walking over to his throne. He snapped his fingers conjuring up a new makeshift throne and sat on it. "Whether fertilizer, Homeostasis, digimon or viral digimon or anything else, I will use all of them how I see fit."

"Indeed," Cthulusmon said walking behind his throne. "Any digimon that is fed to this being should be considered grateful to be part of your glorious designs," he noted. "But what does this being actually do besides absorb Viral Digimon?"

"To put it simply," he said looking up at him, "It saps away Digital Data, viral or otherwise."

"Ah I see," Cthulusmon noticed. "That must be why only a few digimon remain."

"Correct. We are already into the second phase right now of the Yggdrasil System. You may have not been able to see it from here, but the real world and digital world are starting to blend together. Instances of Digimon appearing, fighting, and vanishing have thrown the Earth into a bit of a frenzy, but they are being trained to eventually accept such creatures."

"Fascinating. But what now? Surely the Yggdrasil System is not merely satisfied with the data here."

"You're right about that one!" Rei chuckled. "She's quite a glutton! I imagine right now though you can't see it she is pulling towards her particles of garbage data from the Digital World little by little. In fact, what she does not do with the data she takes there she is expanding our borders," he said. "Though you may not see it as it's built particle by particle."

Rei paused as he stared out at it. "The real fun will start soon. Once she is ready and has had her fill she will blossom and infect the Digital World with a deadly virus."

"A deadly virus? Won't Homeostasis become suspicious of this?"

"No," he grinned maliciously. "It's not the kind of virus that can be noticed. It's, how shall I put it? Psychological."

"I'm afraid I don't follow."

"Think of it like this Cthulusmon. If you can infect your enemy so that they work for you when everyone else thinks that they are making decisions based off of their own judgment you can weaken the other enemies and eventually sweep them in one brutal attack."

"Brainwashing then?"

"Ah, you are getting in the right direction, but nothing as inelegant as that. No, it's more akin to them convincing themselves of a problem by the way they think. They will sense something as wrong, become averse to the Digital World and then will slowly lose their minds giving into darkness becoming the antithesis to themselves. It is actually quite terrifying," he sneered.

He rested his hands on his chin leaning forward. "And the best part is Homeostasis and the Digital Creator won't be able to do a thing about it. Even though I am the one to blame, they will not be able to pinpoint the source of evil. And if they can't do that, what do you think they will do as things get worse and worse twisting the very fabric of the Digital World itself?"

"Hmm," Cthulusmon mused. "I imagine Homeostasis won't interfere like last time even though she nearly had us. She wouldn't want to walk into any of your traps. Maybe she will send a strong Digimon?"

"Perhaps," Rei said, "But I think she's going to draw an old play from her playbook. In fact," he chuckled, "I'm kind of counting on it."

"Counting on what?"

"For her to send THEM," he smirked. "And maybe one of them will survive long enough to release the chains of my power. I don't intend to let viral digital entities do the ground work forever, but it will keep me entertained."

"My Lord, I fail to understand. Are you talking about another champion of Homeostasis?"

"Not just one," he said staring intensely ahead of himself. "But many more. A team effort to take out a threat to the Digital World. You might even call it their destiny."

"Children of Destiny?" Cthulusmon inquired.

"More than that," he said. "Chosen Children to fulfill a special role that only they can fulfill. Children much like Akama Akajirou. Strong, resolute, and ultimately my puppet for me to manipulate; Little Puppets that Homeostasis thinks she controls when really I hold the strings," he said clenching his fingers like tensed up claws in the air in front of him.

"And when I so desire it...they will fall apart in front of me. Children of Sacrifice. Pathetic Children. Children Fated to Perish by my hand at the hour of my choosing. They are Pitiful Children. They are," he paused, the words flowing from his lips in a surreal manner as if he had unleashed a powerful prophecy into all worlds…

"…The Digidestined…"


Days passed to years as slowly everything changed. Mankind became accommodated by the notion of outsiders to another world, but still they were not ready for them. Whispers and rumors from the highest echelons of power of the governments infected the cultures of the world with the notion of other beings one day coming to another world.

And yet, despite the starry eyed wonder Rei knew all of that would be lost once they had a taste of the monstrosity that could only be compared to the Kaiju monsters that the world had been entertaining. Except, this time it would be so real they could literally feel their flesh turn to dust as they take their last breaths. That's what Rei Kurenada was hoping really.

Leaving Cthulusmon to watch over the growing seed of chaos Rei returned to Earth using his eyes and ears of both groups to see if they could locate a 'digimon' in the real world. Rei knew of course that if he could find the digimon then surely a human would be matched up to it just as Akama had been matched up to Courtmon as well as how he had been matched up with Skamon.

Despite his efforts and tracking sources Rei was unsuccessful at finding one despite making up a rumor that one had been found and would use it to achieve the organizations' goal of combining both Worlds. He wondered about how Homeostasis would find a child to match up with the digimon- that is, if he could even find it. But he knew that if he found one, then the other would not be too far away.

He considered what the qualifications would be for a child to be chosen, but with no qualification guideline he was basically stuck. He spent days on end considering the situation moving from different environment settings from a restaurant even to an active volcano agonizing about it in a calm matter, yet still the answer eluded him.


One day he decided to stop thinking about it and just meditate sitting down on a bench in the rain frustrated with himself late at night. Perhaps a late night snack would help him? Or maybe there was something he just might not have considered. Or-"

He glanced up hearing brisk footsteps approach him from the corner of his eye. A lady soot in front of him with a serious and somber expression on her face, but she was lovely to look upon with her chiseled features

She curiously held out an umbrella towards him. "You're going to catch a cold," she said indifferently holding out an umbrella. Rei Kurenada ignored her just wanting her to go away, but she had a strange resoluteness in her eyes that seemed somewhat charming, much like his former lover.

The rain soaked his head as he let her image toy with his memories. A small smile crossed his face with his bittersweet memories as she tried to to talk with him.

"I may not know your circumstances, but if you don't keep moving you will lose everything. Take advantage of what little kindness the world offers you."

Rei Kurenada upon those words snickered a bit and instead of grabbing her handkerchief grabbed her slender wrist.

"And what pray tell would bring a beautiful lady such as yourself out here on a chilly rainy light at this?"

She didn't even flinch much to his puzzlement.

"Work," she simply replied.

"Ah, so you're just getting off then?"

"Of course."

Rei let go and stretched a bit. He walked forward lifting his head in the rain. Though he could barely feel anything it did feel refreshing. With that he smiled coyly.

"If you're so prolific about work you'll miss out on all of the sensual things this life has to offer."

The lady stared at him a bit incredulously, but on edge. "Are you hitting on me?" she questioned.

"You can call it that if you want," Rei chuckled.

Her demeanor seemed to relax as she sat down on the bench placing her hands in her lap. "I have a daughter," she stated plainly.

"You do?" Rei smirked. "Then that's just proof of someone claiming you for your beauty and mind as all men are wanton to do."

"You're mistaken," she swallowed. "I'm not married anymore."

"Really?" Rei snickered a bit delighted for such a chance counter.

"Then, pardon me for saying so, but would you like to go get something to drink?

She didn't say anything for a moment turning her head to the side.

"My daughter is waiting for me at home."

"But that didn't answer my question," Rei countered. "So you must be thinking about it," he said studying her. "How about if I escort you back home?"

She glanced up at him and then back starring down with barely a curve from her mouth. "I don't care."


As they walked Rei Kurenada marveled at such a late hour how she had little to no concern with her wellbeing or of any dangers that might lurk in the shadowy corners of the dimly lit streets. With how so little life she seemed to emanate he wondered if perhaps the middle aged woman could be depressed.

"You're pretty amazing," Rei said glancing down at her. "Most people would be scared to walk at late night with a stranger such as myself."

She didn't turn towards him, but her eyes looked lost in her own little world.

"I was just like you once," she replied. "After my husband left me, took all of our savings, and then got himself killed getting drunk and cavorting with various women I was left all alone to raise our daughter. And me, a woman who was just a plain and simple house wife had to provide for my family. And I had hardly ever known what it meant to work in a career focused field."

"I see. You've worked hard haven't you?" Rei encouraged her.

She nodded her head. "I did what I needed to. With my high standards I had for myself the only thing I could be qualified for was a grocery clerk or work meaningless evening jobs. My grandmother watched my child for awhile until she passed, but then I set up my daughter with daily activities to do."

"How old is she now?"

"Four."

"You leave your daughter alone?"

She nodded her head.

"Isn't that cold of you? What if something happened to her?"

"She is a smart girl. She follows my activities I have laid out for her. And she receives my daily parental affections when I return."

Rei found the whole thing laughable and chuckled to himself.

"What is so entertaining to you?" she asked.

"You sound just like a computer."

The comment frazzled her slightly.

"Even so I have to do what I must," she said plainly "That child waits for me eagerly at home, but sometimes work has me running late so she is asleep when I get back."

Rei grinned and then hid his smile just as quickly. "If you took one night off and lived your life with reckless abandon for the evening would you do it? One night's worth of releasing all of that pent up frustration. Pouring out all of your desires over succulent dishes, wine, and a passionate evening."

She stopped as they walked staring out into the rain before nodding her head. "It couldn't do any more damage, could it?" she wondered aloud, Rei anticipating a wonderful time.


After a pleasant dinner with wine, and a succulent frolic in the night torn evening draped with waves of sheets Rei could not help but noticed she started to relax.

Naked in bed, he turned over where her slender frame had been before, but she was already up getting dressed.

"How was it?" he asked curiously, flecks of Asaki's image crossing his mind thinking about her.

She didn't respond and finished getting dressed. She took out a comb from her pocket and started brushing it.

"I would like to see you again," she said still not even smiling or showing signs of happiness.

Rei noticed her take out her phone staring at pictures of a child.

"I wouldn't mind," Rei replied getting up and walking behind her. He breathed warmly in her ear placing his neck resting over her shoulder.

"Your daughter?"

"Yes."

"She is quite cute. Are you worried she will resent you when she's older?" Rei teased.

"No," she replied nonchalantly. "Because Tapiermon is with her."

At that moment Rei completely forgot this night was supposed to be merely for his entertainment.

"Tapiermon?" he said inquisitively controlling the inflection in his voice as best as he could. "Who is that?"

"A friend of hers."

"Could I meet her?"

"It's too soon," she replied sharply. "Look at me cavorting with a stranger I just met. I'm truly a pathetic woman," she smiled sadly. "But maybe things will be better from now on. Maybe you can fill in the gaps of depression in my life that I had been trying to forget."

"I see," Rei said no longer in the mood. "But you made one careless mistake my dear."

"Mistake?"

"You went off with a handsome stranger all on your own," he said wrapping his hand around her shoulder.

"But you seemed nice," she said resting her head against his hand. I'm usually a good judge of character."

"Is that what you think?" he said curiously. "You think because you work long hours, you're a good judge of character? I will tell you then," he admitted. "I'm not what you would call a 'good' man he said taking his hand and grabbing her face.

"What are you doing?" she groaned in pain.

"I'm merely finishing up this meal I had been enjoying," he said plainly. "Dinner and wine and excellent conversation were the appetizer, the passionate kisses and envelopment of your flesh against mine was the entree, but now comes my favorite part," he grinned. "Dessert, the part where I take all that festering negativity building up within you all these years and turn your flesh into my viral data."

"N-no," she groaned. "You can't. I have to get back to her."

"Then take me there," he said. "Take me to her friend 'Tapiermon'.

With that she yelled out punching against him to no avail, Rei merely taking in her pathetic attempts to defend herself. She seemed quite desperate, but equally as pathetic as all the others in his eyes.

"I see then," he said. "You made your choice. You won't tell me no matter what," he said sighing. "Very well. Dessert only lasts so long," he smiled. "So, thank you for the meal," he chuckled, the woman screaming out as her body became transformed into viral digital data and Rei absorbed it into himself.

He yawned a moment stretching out. "I suppose that delicacy's daughter might have made for a future good meal or better yet a lead in my quest," he said licking his lips. "It's a shame I never found out, but, if she really said 'Tapiermon' was her friend, then maybe Homeostasis just might be moving."


It took Rei some time to find it. In fact, he had to dig through the woman's information to even get her name: Asahi Himekawa as well as her address. He rolled his eyes considering how similar their names were together and Asaki and Asahi's personalities. He sighed out wondering how he could have manipulated himself like that but finished up his business.

Rei did not wait long leaving the hotel in a proper state as he ventured out into the morning, parents starting to walk with their kids to school, but it was not like Asahi would have done so.

Rei could feel his grin spreading across his face as he walked closer and closer to her daughter's home. He approached a typical home with a fence and a well-kept yard. He walked up the steps and rang the door, typical footsteps briskly walking over and opening it.

Rei smiled courteously. "Hello there," he said. "I was here to see Asahi Himekawa, is she home?"

"Asahi?" a woman said a bit concerned. "Asahi. Do we know an Asahi dear?" she asked, a well-built man in his forties said walking over.

"Don't you remember? Asahi was the name of the previous owner's wife," he said placing one hand on his shoulder. "Sorry about that," the man half apologized. "We bought this property a couple of years ago. I guess she never updated her address."

Rei Kurenada clenched his teeth. "No," he smiled irritated. "I suppose not."

As Rei Kurenada bid them farewell he scolded himself.

"Of course, with a woman of that mindset why would I think she would keep her information updated?"

Her phone did not have much on it either except her phone number for work and the home phone. He remembered she worked for Shikadago Grocery Store, but not much else.


It took a little while to get all the information he needed. The grocery store had been confused why Asahi did not report for work for the last couple of days, but thankfully after-hours Rei easily snuck into their database and found her address which had a different address than the one on her license. It had to be the most up to date. And he would be paying her daughter a visit very soon.


He eventually found the home he had researched with little difficulty. He approached the home in the midst of the day wondering if by chance he would find the girl herself or if it would be another dead end.

He knocked once on the door, but there was no answer. He tried again a few more tries ringing the doorbell, but noticed the lights inside were off and as if the place had not been used in days.

"This is not going the way I expected," he grimaced. "Perhaps she went to live with another relative? It shouldn't be too hard to track them down," he said, his finger on his chin.

"Excuse me!" a voice called out from a window next door.

"Hello there!" Rei smiled. "I had some business with Asahi Himekawa. Is she around?"

"Himekawa?!" the man shouted. "She's currently missing right now!"

"Missing?"

"She went out one night from work and hasn't been seen since."

"But what about her daughter?" Rei questioned.

"Her daughter was taken by child services."

"Child services? Isn't that taking it a bit too far?"

"They found out apparently she was keeping her four-year-old at home with no supervision and she has no living relatives. I feel bad for the kid, but maybe this is for the best you know?"

"I understand," Rei said, his eye twitching. "Thank you for telling me."

"Take care!" the man said closing the window.

Rei turned around biting the tip of his finger. "I don't make mistakes," he leered, "But her emotional state was just too appetizing for me to pass up."

He paused for a moment glancing around at the houses around him just starting to realize just how much of a lead he let get away from him.

The only names he got out of the fortunate encounter was 'Himekawa' and 'Tapiermon.'

"I'm sure there will be others," he said walking away. "The Yggdrasil system is nearly in full effect. One day Homeostasis and the Digital Creator will make their choices about selecting a Digidestined for what's happening to the Digital World. And yet I won't know a thing about it until their deceased data information comes streaming over to my domain."

He glanced up at the sky, the wind flowing towards the clouds, Rei's viral data streaming with it.

"Fine," he grinned. "You keep your piece. I have all the data from the Digimon Sovereign and Homeostasis. Right when you think you will corner me that's when I will strike…" he said still masking his irritation,

"...No matter how many more years I have to wait."