I can't believe it's been a year since I first started this. Time really does fly. Thank you readers for sticking with me along this story.
IG: Thank you for always commenting on my chapters for a year. It means a lot. I also think that the Legendary Warriors were also underutilized in the show. I hope to bring more of that out as the story continues.
Now for the latest chapter: Battle between Beasts & Cover-ups
"I'll take your spirit first then move on to the other one," Cerberusmon ran to Kumamon rushing to claim his prize. It looks like he was getting two spirits today.
[Pyro Punch] Before Cerburusmon could even get close to the Ice Warrior, a fireball hit him right at the side of the head. The dog felt stunned for a moment before growling in anger. He turned toward the direction of the fireball and found Agunimon.
The Flame Warrior came out of the woods looking pretty angry. Next to him was a flaming heap of what used to be the second Fangmon. Fractal code appeared around the red wolf and automatically entered Agunimon's Digivice. Another Shiba Inu appeared, and the poor little guy ran away scared after seeing two intimidating Digimon.
"Don't even think about hurting my friend!" Agunimon said. His fists lit up in flames, and he ran at the dog to give him a pounding.
"Why don't you humans just stay down and be defeated?" Cerberusmon growled. He sent a bunch of minions and his two lieutenants to deal with the Legendary Warriors, but they were defeated instead. The dog was livid. "Fine! If you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself."
Cerberusmon sprinted at and engaged with Agunimon. Red and green flames clashed against each other as fists met claws.
With no one claiming the fractal code around Kumamon, the code retreated inside the Digivice, and the Ice Warrior transformed into Tomoki. The boy slowly stood up and saw the battle between Agunimon and Cerberusmon.
'Thank Agunimon' With their enemy preoccupied, Tomoki had an opportunity. Quickly, the boy walked until he was face-to-face with Korikakumon.
"Hey," Tomoki said cautiously. Although this was his beast spirit, the vessel was still an animal, so it was best to be safe. "You probably can't speak, but I know you can understand me. I need you to give me the beast spirit."
"Grrr," Korikakumon growled at Tomoki. There was no way he was going to give up the beast spirit. It gave him imaginable power.
"I know you've been given incredible strength from the spirit, but it's also given you stronger enemies like that dog." Although Korikakumon was only growling, Tomoki understood him. Since he was Bearer of Ice, the boy had a strong connection with the yeti and could more or less feel the emotions of the current vessel. "You won't be able to beat him. I can, but I need my spirit back from you."
"Grr," Korikakumon growled again, rejecting Tomoki. He would've shoved the boy away if the yeti could move his body.
Tomoki wasn't surprised with the rejection, since he knew why the animal wanted to keep the spirit. "It's hard, isn't it? Seeing your friends being hunted and hurt like that."
Korikakumon paused for a moment at the statement. What was this boy getting at?
"It's easy to tell after hearing the rumors and seeing you in action," Tomoki said, reading the yeti's thoughts. "You only transformed when your friends were in danger and never attacked first. You're a very peaceful and honorable animal, but the current enemy is too strong. Your strength isn't enough to protect your friends now."
Korikakumon went silent after that. As much as he hated to admit it, the boy was right. The animal didn't know much about the abilities of the beast spirit of Ice and couldn't utilize himself correctly. If he went into battle with the dog again, he would still lose.
"That's why I need my spirit back from you," Tomoki continued, his tone turning gentle. "Don't worry. I promise to defeat Cerberusmon and never let these hunters attack your home ever again."
"Grr," Korikakumon replied in a questioning manner. Could he trust the boy? How could he know if this boy really cared about the animals and their homes here?
"If I didn't care," Tomoki answered. "I wouldn't have created the ice wall earlier."
When Kumamon faced the emerald flames, he could have jumped and dodged the attack but didn't. Instead, he turned into a wall of ice and took the fire head on preventing them from going any further. Why did the Ice Warrior do that?
Deeper in the clearing was the weasels' home. The animals were still inside the wooden fort shaking in fear. If Kumamon hadn't blocked the Emerald Blaze, the flames would have continued destroying the fort and anyone inside.
Although the environment would return to normal after exiting a fractal field, it didn't apply to living beings. If you died inside a fractal field, you would die for real. There would be no chance of returning to life, so even if the wooden fort returned to normal, the animals inside would be gone.
Kumamon didn't want that to happen which is why he transformed into an ice wall. He chose to save a bunch of animals stranger to him knowing full well he might lose his fighting ability but still did it anyway.
Korikakumon witnessed it all and didn't know what to say. The yeti wanted to help his brethren, but couldn't even move a muscle due to the pain. Then he witnessed this boy not only save his friends not once, but twice. A myriad of feelings stirred inside as if the beast spirit was telling him something.
"Please," Tomoki asked one more time. His hand touched the yeti's head. The touch was cold, but strong and caring. "This place isn't just important to you. It's important to all of us. There are people out there who want to protect this place and the environment too. I promise we'll do everything in our power to make sure you all can live in your homes peacefully once more. I give my oath as the Legendary Warrior of Ice!"
That was the thing that needed to be said. The yeti closed his eyes, trusting this boy. Fractal code appeared on the animal as he transformed into the relic form of the Beast Spirit of Ice. The spirit then flew and entered Tomoki's Digivice, releasing a small light.
"Thank you…" Tomoki said and closed his eyes. He could already feel the familiar energy of the beast encompassing him through the Digivice. The beast was raring to go once more.
[Execute! - Beast Spirit Evolution]
[Pyro Tornado] Still fighting, Agunimon went into a spin creating a flaming tornado and engulfing Cerberusmon in it. The dog was surprised at first and then became angry.
"You think this is going to work against me!" Cerberusmon said angrily. He didn't know why, but he had the strangest sense of deja vu, and this fiery tornado made him livid. "Tough Luck!"
[Cerberusmon Slide Evolution - Cerberusmon - Werewolf Mode] Fractal code appeared around the dog, and he transformed into someone completely different. His body was still covered with a black shell, but he stood two feet with massive weaponized dog heads in each hand.
Cerberusmon - Werewolf Mode: An ultimate, wizard-type Digimon whose Special Attacks are Inferno Divide and Mad Dog Fire. He is the humanoid, mutant form of Cerberusmon. His data was rewritten as a sturdy body with arms that have developed to crunch through the toughest material and data.
[Inferno Divide] Cerberusmon dived through the tornado to Agunimon. His armored shell persisted through most of the whirling flames. Using his gigantic wolf heads, he clamped down on the Flame Warrior's arms stopping the Pryo Tornado, and blasted him with firebombs at point-blank range.
"Aaah," Agunimon screamed in pain. Although the fire didn't affect the Legendary Warrior, the shockwaves after the detonation did.
[Cerberus Erase] Using the sharp claws on his feet, he performed a high kick then a crescent kick slashing Agunimon's torso, and kept repeating the process. The werewolf did all of this while his hands still clamped on the Flame Warrior.
"Ugh," When Cerberusmon finally let go, Agunimon couldn't take it anymore, and fractal code surrounded him transforming back into Takuya. The boy fell to the ground groaning in pain.
Cerberusmon grinned in victory. He was about to use his hand to crush the boy and acquire the flame spirit, but his sense of danger jolted him. The werewolf quickly jumped out of the way as a tomahawk axe barrelled right passed him.
"Who dares!" Cerberusmon demanded and looked to where the tomahawk came from.
In his sights was Korikakumon again, but the yeti seemed different this time around. Unlike before, he looked more intelligent and had a calm, yet ferocious presence. Like a boomerang, the tomahawk came back, and the yeti grabbed it.
"Ready for round 2 Dog," Korikakumon taunted and gripped his tomahawks. The weapons gleamed in a menacing light.
"You people don't know when to quit. Do you?" Cerberusmon growled back. His dogheads released an intimidating aura. It was as if they were telling you to bring it.
This wasn't going to be like his previous battle with the yeti. He looked around but didn't see the other human, so the brat must've gotten his beast spirit back and Digivolved. This wasn't a simple beast anymore and shouldn't be underestimated. He had to go all out.
"Let's go then!" Cerberusmon decided to take the first attack. He closed both his wolfheads shut, punched out, and launched himself at the yeti turning himself into a canine torpedo.
Korikakumon used the hilt of his tomahawk and blocked the doghead stopping his enemy's momentum. He then used his other weapon and slashed at the humanoid dog.
Cerberusmon responded by opening his doghead and clamping on the tomahawk before it could touch him. He then released and detonated firebombs inside his doghead arms blowing the yeti back.
And so, the clash between the two beasts began. Cerberusmon punched, smashed, and fired off fireballs while Korikakumon slashed, tackled, and waved out a rush of icy wind. Neither of them let up and fought with sheer savagery. Their elemental attacks cancel each other when colliding. Although destructive they may be, both were calculative and waited for an opportunity to deal a lethal blow.
"Gotchu!" Cerberusmon found his opening. He clamped on both of Korikakumon's forearms to stop his movements. With his enemy restricted, the yeti was vulnerable to his attacks.
[Inferno Divide] Cerberusmon utilized the same tactic against Agunimon and detonated multiple firebombs at point-blank range. He was about to use Cerberus Erase as the finisher, but something felt off when his grip grabbed nothing. Korikakumon was gone.
Even when the werewolf fired off highly concentrated firebombs, his grip would still cling to his enemies. But now nothing was grabbing it. Where was Korikakumon? Cerburusmon looked around, but he saw no signs of the yeti. It wasn't until a snowflake touched him and melted on his head that he decided to look up.
Above him, the large yeti was in the air. Arms outstretched with tomahawks reflecting the sunlight. Before Cerberusmon unleashed his Inferno Divide, Korikakumon closed his eyes and focused. When he opened them again, the yeti disappeared freeing himself from the werewolf's grip, and appeared high in the air. Now it was time to use his finisher.
[Avalanche Axes] Korikakumon swung his tomahawks haphazardly, performing a lot of hand movements in the sky. It looked like he was dancing but using deadly weapons. Gravity took hold, and the yeti plummeted down ready to give his enemy a nasty haircut.
[Mad Dog Fire] There was no time to dodge, but Cerberusmon wasn't going to give up just yet. He aimed his wolf heads to the sky and fired off multiple fireballs attempting to stop the crazy tomahawk swinger.
Unfortunately, the attack did little to nothing. Korikakumon just cut through the fireballs dispelling them and kept falling. He landed right next to Cerburusmon, and the werewolf was met with a barrage of tomahawk slashes.
Korikakumon didn't hold back as he swung everywhere at the werewolf's body. Cerberusmon couldn't move due to the cutting pain from the tomahawk dual blades and just wanted it to be over. Finally, the Yeti did his double cross slash finisher and blew the werewolf back.
"It can't be… To be bested by humans in my new form… Forgive me, My Master!" Those were Cerburusmon's last words as fractal code appeared around him.
[Korikakumon - Slide Evolution - Kumamon] Korikakumon transformed back into Kumamon and stood before Cerburusmon Digivice in hand.
"For those who hurt others, may this Digivice freeze that boldness like ice and purify you," Kumamon scanned his Digivice against the werewolf's data. "Fractal Code, Digitize!"
The fractal code left Cerberusmon and entered Kumamon's Digivice. The hunter and black dog reappeared. They both lay on the ground out cold.
"Kumamon!" Takuya shouted and ran to his friend. His condition recovered long ago, and he watched the fight between Cerburusmon and Korikakumon. "You did it!"
"Yeah…" Kumamon answered, but he didn't seem too happy about it and stared at the hunter and dog.
"What's wrong?" Takuya asked. "You're not happy you got your beast spirit?"
"It's not that. I was just thinking about the weasels," Kumamon explained. "Even if I took my spirit back and the Protector of the Forest disappeared, It won't stop the hunters. They'll keep hunting and destroying the wildlife here until they find him."
"I understand that, but what can we do?" Takuya scratched the back of his head thinking. "It's not like we can show them that Korikakumon is gone now and prove it to them." The Bearer of Flame then used his hand to protect his eyes. "Man, the wind is strong here. It could probably take down a house."
Kumamon suddenly looked at the weasels' home as a thought hit him. "Takuya! You're a genius!"
"Really! Thanks! How am I a genius?"
"C'mon! I'll tell you as we go. We have to do this while the fractal field is still up."
…
"Ugh…," The hunter began to stir. When he opened his eyes, he saw two boys he threatened earlier staring at him.
"You're awake," Takuya said. "That's a relief. For a moment, we thought we would have to call an ambulance for you."
"What happened?" The hunter asked groggily. "Where is my dog, Banzai?"
"We don't know," Tomoki shrugged feigning ignorance. "We came looking for you after finding out you escaped, but when we found you, you were on the ground out cold. Your dog's right next to you sleeping."
"Freeze!" In the middle of the conversation, Misaki came out of the woods with a taser in hand. "Hakone Park Rangers! Put your hands in the air!"
Everyone immediately put their hands up, and Misaki looked at the scene. She was surprised when she saw her ex's boyfriend's little brother and his friend.
"Tomoki? What are you and your friend doing here?" Misaki asked. "And how did you beat me here?"
"We wanted to stop the hunter from hurting more innocent animals?" Tomoki answered. "As for the other question, we just got here faster than you."
"But how? I went ahead before you two, and it's the quickest way to get here. I also would've noticed a new set of footprints on the snow even if you got ahead of me."
"We just found a different route that leads us here faster, but shouldn't we focus more on detaining the hunter?" Takuya stated, wanting to divert the subject.
Misaki stared at them suspiciously but complied. She handcuffed the hunter and called back-up for extra assistance with the dog. "Sir, you're under arrest for hunting on illegal grounds and attempted escape." She stated.
"Attempted escape?" The hunter replied, confused. "I don't know anything about escaping, All I remember is being escorted by you guys, then my dog started barking, and I blacked out."
Tomoki and Takuya looked at each other silently communicating. It looked like the hunter didn't remember anything when Cerburusmon took over. The dog must've been the Digimon's main vessel, while the hunter needed to use his werewolf form.
"It doesn't matter," Misaki said. "You still need to be punished for hunting inside a national park."
"Why does it matter?" The hunter asked, angrily. "Most of the animals here aren't even endangered!"
"But this place is an important, protected home to all the animals here," Tomoki couldn't help but speak up. "Is hunting down this Protector of the Forest really that important? He might not even be real."
"People around here have already confirmed sightings of the yeti. If me and my fellow hunters could find the creature and hunt him down, we would become rich and famous!"
"Well, feast your eyes then," Tomoki stated and pointed with his finger. "The yeti that'll make you rich and famous is right over there."
"What! Where!?" The hunter shouted and looked toward the direction where Tomoki was pointing. Misaki also looked, and their gazes turned strange. In their sights was a yeti but wasn't.
The appearance was similar to what witnesses described, but when the hunter and Misaki looked closer, they saw a bunch of wooden sticks covered in snow with small creatures running inside. This wasn't a yeti at all! This was just a weasel home made up of a lot of snow and sticks.
"That's interesting," Misaki said, pulling out her phone. She took pictures and recorded the inanimate yeti. "This proves the yeti doesn't exist here."
"But how?" The hunter asked in confusion. "I've been through this clearing before and would've noticed a huge wooden beast here."
"The wind here is particularly strong in this clearing," Tomoki answered. "The thing must've fallen due to it."
As if on cue, a strong gust of wind came and knocked the wooden structure down. The yeti look alike broke into a hundred pieces. The thing looked like a pile of wooden sticks now.
"No way…," The hunter said, looking at the pile stunned, but he still didn't want to believe it. "That still doesn't explain why the Protector of the Forest was seen by many witnesses at different locations."
"Hang on," Takuya said. "Give it a moment."
Soon after, weasels popped out of the wooden pile and grabbed a stick with their teeth. They gathered at a different spot of the clearing, placed the stick at a specific place, and repeated the process. After a few minutes, two towers started to form which looked a lot like the legs of the yeti. Snow was already starting to cover the sticks making them look like white fur.
"Extraordinary," Misaki said in wonder. As an environmentalist, seeing wild animals doing something amazing was like experiencing one of the seven wonders of the world. She was still recording everything. "The weasels are like artists. They must be using the image of the yeti to scare away bigger animals and people. Really ingenious!"
"While we waited for the hunter and dog to wake, we saw the weasels finished making the head of the yeti," Tomoki explained. "Weaker winds blew past earlier making the structure topple a bit. The winds must also be what probably caused the witnesses who saw the yeti be knocked out. "
"And the weasels had to move from different places in order to find the best area against the wind," Misaki concluded, understanding the whole picture. "What incredible little creatures."
"I can't believe it…," The hunter fell to his knees. "All this time. This was what we were hunting? The Protector of the Forest really wasn't real?"
"Even if he was, you and your friends still shouldn't be hunting at this national park anyway," Misaki reprimanded. "Your actions are destroying the environment here."
"We were just hunting a few animals and testing our luck," The hunter replied, defending himself. "It doesn't matter."
"DOESN'T MATTER?!" Tomoki spoke up, practically shouting. "Of course, it matters. The wildlife here is an important part of our ecosystem in Japan. Your actions are ruining it."
"Is it really that serious? It's only a couple of us hunting in a forest."
"If everyone thought like that, our forest would turn into a wasteland with the animals near extinction in a couple of decades," Tomoki stated.
"So what?" The hunter replied snarkily. "I'll probably be dead by the time that happens."
"True," Tomoki admitted. "But your daughter won't be."
The hunter looked at him strangely. "How did you know…?"
"Your pendant," Tomoki pointed to the necklace around the hunter's neck. "It was open, and there was you with a happy little girl. I assumed she was your daughter."
"…She is," The hunter said as he touched his pendant. It was open, and he quickly closed it. "You really think my actions will make life difficult for my child?"
"It's not absolute, but it's a big possibility. We live off this environment and the more resources we use, the less there will be for future generations to use unless managed properly."
"But hunting is a part of my hobby and livelihood. I can't just give it up."
"I'm not asking you to give it up," Tomoki reiterated. "I'm asking you to respect the rules and don't hunt in a protected area."
There were always going to be people hunting, and Tomoki couldn't do much about that. But he could do something protecting what's important that could resonate with others and lessen the aftereffects.
"Why do you care so much about the little animals anyway?" The hunter asked. "It can't just be about protecting the little people."
"Because even little animals have lives too," Tomoki looked at the weasels' home. His face softened. "With families that love them."
The hunter, Misaki, and Takuya followed Tomoki's gate of the animals' home and saw a hole. Inside were a bunch of baby and adolescent weasels all curled up together. They were all keeping each other ach warm from the cold. The mother was running around them dropping nuts and berries she found to make sure her children were fed.
Their life was hard, but they were trying. The best part was the little guys didn't look sad. They looked happy and content. The onlookers didn't know why, but there was something beautiful about it.
"Huh…," The hunter uttered. It was the only word he said. What the man just witnessed gave him a lot to think about.
Shortly, reinforcement arrived and secured the hunter and dog. They were ready to escort them and leave the clearing when the hunter stopped.
"Keep moving," One of the rangers ordered.
"I will," The hunter answered. "But first, I need to say something first." He then turned his attention to Tomoki.
"I'm not going to stop hunting," The hunter told the Bearer of Ice explicitly. "But I understand your views. I have never seen animals do that before. Thank you. For showing me this and everything else."
The hunter slightly bowed to him. He didn't know why, but in the past few hours, the man felt like he was being somewhat controlled. No matter what he did, he couldn't break out. It wasn't until the appearance of these two boys did something changed, and he's never been more relieved offering his gratitude.
Tomoki looked at this hunter and smiled. "Just don't hunt too much and not in a national forest anymore. That's all I ask."
"I'll keep it in mind," With that, the hunter let the park rangers escort him out of the forest.
"You and your friend really shouldn't have involved yourselves in park ranger's matters," Misaki said. She and another ranger stayed behind to question the bystanders. Misaki talked to Tomoki while the other questioned Takuya a few feet away. The woman didn't have to question Tomoki much since she already knew most of the story but stayed to check up on him.
"Will that hunter and his friends be alright?" Tomoki asked with concern. "They won't get too much of a harsh punishment, will they?"
"No," Misaki assured. "Since they are first-time offenders and no one got seriously injured, they'll probably have to do time for community service. Honestly, your words had more of an effect than community service will ever do. No wonder you're running for student council president."
"Haha, I just did what I thought was right," Tomoki scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "And expressed my opinion."
"It was good," Misaki admitted. "But reckless! You have to be more careful. I don't want to tell your brother that you got shot in the woods."
"I'm sorry," Tomoki apologized. "I hoped I didn't hinder you on the job."
"Actually, you were a huge help. If it wasn't for you pointing out the weasels' home, we wouldn't have found the true identity of the Protector of the Forest. With the video evidence, this will put the rumors to rest lessening my workload. I owe you a favor."
"I'm just glad I could do my part in helping the environment," Tomoki stated, thankful. "As for that favor, could I use it right now?"
"If it is within my power," Misaki said. "What do you need?"
"I just want you to answer a question," Tomoki answered. His expression was awkward. "Why did you umm… break up with my brother back then?"
The atmosphere between them went silent. Misaki paused for a moment at the question and then looked elsewhere trying to figure out what to say. Tomoki just waited for her to respond. He knew he shouldn't get involved between two people's private and love life, but he had to know. Yutaka was his brother, and Misaki was an amazing girl. What led to their breakup?
"You really want to know, huh," Misaki finally said. "How much did he tell you?"
"Not much," Tomoki answered. "All he told me and my parents is that you broke up with him out of the blue and didn't go into detail."
"Well, he was right for me breaking up with him," Misaki admitted. "But I wouldn't say it was out of the blue."
"What exactly happened?" Tomoki inquired. "If you don't mind me asking."
Misaki really didn't want to recall the breakup. Dating Yutaka was one of the best things in her life, and breaking up hurt even though she was the one who did it. But she knew Tomoki. He was a kind-hearted boy. The break-up must've hurt him in some way too and so, she told him.
It happened when Misaki and Yutaka were starting first-year classes for their master's degrees. For Misaki's class on Environmental Studies and Sustainability, she had to come up with a big environmental project that could help the world and execute it.
Misaki spent days prepping on her project. She had the perfect idea and planned on utilizing it. The girl was giddy with excitement. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned.
Whenever Misaki tried to talk to potential investors or even people out on the street, they would just ignore her and keep moving. The worst ones rejected her harshly telling her to get lost. It was disheartening. There were so many things that could be done in just a few minutes, but no one listened. One person even cussed her out and told her to just eat a veggie burger if helping the environment is so important.
"Ouch," Tomoki commented. "Does being vegetarian even have anything to do with being an environmentalist?"
"It doesn't," Misaki answered. She wasn't a vegetarian herself. "That guy was just a prick. Luckily, it was only an assignment, and the teacher knew that most of our on-site projects would end up in failure. He didn't tell us, because he wanted us to know what we were getting into when communicating with strangers about environmental preservation."
"I get that," Tomoki understood the logic. It was always good to have some experience before tackling the real thing. "But how does this involve my brother?"
"It happened near the deadline of the project?" Misaki explained. They went on their usual date, and Yutaka noticed his girlfriend's depressed face asking her what was wrong. Misaki poured everything out to him not leaving a single detail out. When she got to the end, Yutaka was silent before finally saying something.
"What did you expect to happen?" Yutaka asked rhetorically. "You can't reach people with those kinds of ideas and expect them to follow."
Misaki went into the deep end and fumed. She spent weeks on this project and got rejected by many people feeling extremely dejected. Now her boyfriend was saying the same thing. She didn't expect him to support her, but how could he agree with those rude mongrels? It was hurtful.
Her sad emotions changed into anger. Before Yutaka could say anything more, she stood up and broke up with him running away in angry tears. She never looked back.
"And that's how we broke up," Misaki finished. "He never called me back after that."
"Oh big brother…," Tomoki shook his head in disappointment. How could his brother say something so rude? No wonder why they broke up. "That is something my brother would say, but not in the context you think it is."
"What do you mean?" Misaki inquired.
"Yutaka probably said those words, because he really cared about you."
"Caring?" Misaki looked at Tomoki incredulously. "You called what he said to me caring?"
"He could have worded it a little better," Tomoki admitted. "But yes, he was probably looking out for you."
"You're gonna have to explain it to me,"
"When you told me about your project and execution plans, it felt like you were pushing me onto something unknown. Yutaka and the people you talked to during the project probably felt the same way creating an aversion to you."
"But preserving the environment is important!"
"And I agree," Tomoki stated. "But other people don't share the same ideas. Would you be comfortable if a complete stranger came up to you and told you about something that might not affect them in their lifetime?"
Misaki paused at that. She hated to admit it, but Tomoki had a point. "So what are you trying to tell me then?" She asked. "That I should give up?"
"I didn't say that," Tomoki clarified. "For an extremely long-term goal like environmental preservation, you're gonna need a more creative approach. If you want people to listen to you and lend a hand with the environment, you'll have to find a way that they will have no choice but to listen and/or convenient for them. It is probably what my brother was trying to convey to you."
"Huh… I never thought about it like that," Misaki contemplated. During the project, she only stuck to the facts and told them about the harm, but she never showed them with action. Maybe that was why her initial approach didn't work. "But if Yutaka wanted me to see it differently, why didn't he just say so?"
"Because my brother can never be direct," Tomoki answered and sighed. The Bearer of Ice loved his brother, but he wished the older boy wasn't so cryptic all the time. Whenever Yutaka wanted to teach him an important lesson, he said it in the vaguest ways.
It took Tomoki a while just to decipher the meaning. The first time when he finally understood his brother's words, he was almost killed by an asura-type Digimon with three heads and four arms.
Although solving Yutaku's cryptic words made the lesson more meaningful, it also caused problems. Some people could take it the wrong way. A great example was this: his girlfriend breaking up with him.
"You really think that's what Yutaka meant when he said those words to me back then?" Misaki asked.
"I'm sure," Tomoki answered. "Trust me. I've lived with him for years. I know how he talks. If he said something like that to you, it means he really cares about you."
Misaki smiled. Her gaze turned gentle, but then she shook her head. "It doesn't matter now," She said depressingly. "The break up was a long time ago. He probably forgot about me by now."
Tomoki witnessed all of Misaki's expressions. He could see that the girl still had feelings for his big brother. He also knew Yutaka still had feelings for her as well. It was time to activate the meddlings of a little brother.
"He hasn't," Tomoki said. "He's been so busy with college that he hasn't had time for another girlfriend. He's also always been thinking about you."
"Really!" Misaki's eyes lit up then dimmed down. "But is it appropriate to call him? We ended things on really bad terms."
"It's fine," Tomoki said. His meddling was taking effect. "If you communicate with him properly, you'll get the answer you're looking for. You just have to take the first step. My brother will be ecstatic to hear from you again."
Misaki smiled at the thought of Yutaka being excited. "I know what you're doing." She said. "You want me and Yutaka to get back together again."
"Is it working?" Tomoki asked, not denying it.
"...Yes," Misaki admitted. "But don't get your hopes up. You might be wrong."
"Maybe I am, but I want you both to face your feelings for each other with everything out in the open." Tomoki grinned. The meddling worked. "And also talk to other people you know about these problems," He added. "If I knew my brother said that to you causing the breakup, I would've told you both this earlier, saving us a lot of time."
"I got it," Misaki laughed. "I'll have a proper talk with Yutaka after I get off work."
Misaki didn't want to say it out loud, but she was excited to speak to Yutaka again. She missed him, and if what Tomoki said was true, then maybe there was a chance to make up. The park ranger was hopeful.
"Why don't we end the conversation here," Misaki stated. "My team still has to do a lot of paperwork after this, and you still need to get out of this forest."
Along with her coworker, Misaki escorted Tomoki and Takuya back to the trail. This time, there were no problems, and they safely made it to the edge of the winter forest. The park rangers gave them a stern reminder not to go off trail again and said their farewells.
"Thanks for escorting us back," Tomoki said, waving Misaki goodbye. "I promise not to trespass without good reason, but you have to call my brother!"
"I'll think about it," Misaki responded, not letting the boy get the full satisfaction of his meddling. She then stopped feeling the surroundings. "Strange, why does everything feel warmer now?"
Tomoki and Takuya shared a look and grinned. Without Korikakumon or the Frigimon inside the fractal field, there was nothing to keep things cold. Slowly, warmth would melt the snow, and the forest would return to normal.
"Looks like your plan worked," Takuya said to Tomoki once the park rangers were gone.
"That it did," Before exiting the fractal field, Tomoki needed to make sure that the Protector of the Forest was a myth. Transforming into Korikakumon, he came up with the makeshift wooden structure idea and communicated with all the weasels on how to make it. At first, the little guys were confused by the suggestions, but luckily the weasel who used to be Korikakumon understood them and executed it. The others followed suit with the yeti as the mold.
Good thing time freezes inside a fractal field because it took a while training wild animals to build a wooden structure of a yeti with just sticks. When Korikakumon transformed back into Tomoki leaving the fractal field. The weasels got to work and made the wooden yeti within an hour. Snow fell on the thing all over during the process causing it to look like a perfect replica of the Beast Warrior of Ice.
When the hunter woke and Misaki appeared, everything went according to plan. With the video evidence that she took along with plenty of witnesses, the myth of the Protector of the Forest would truly become just a myth. The news would spread, and hunters would stop invading the national park.
"I made a promise after all," Tomoki said and looked in the distance.
In his sight was the same white-furred weasel who used to be Korikakumon. He must've followed them all the way here. The little guy looked at Tomoki with kindness and bowed his head thanking him. Without the hunters, he and his family could now live in peace. The residual energy from the Beast Spirit of Ice finally left him and his fur turned brown. With everything said and done, the weasel ran back into the forest to return to his family.
'Thank you for holding on to my beast spirit.' Tomoki thought happily. 'Live your life to the fullest, Little guy,' He turned to Takuya and said. "Alright, I got my beast spirit. Now it's your turn."
"Yeah…" Takuya replied. "I just hope it won't be too crazy getting it."
"I highly doubt that."
Tomoki and Takuya then turned to look at a mountain in the distance. They weren't done with this national park just yet.
Tomoki got his beast spirit! Yay! I wonder what else they need to do in Hakone National Park? Unfortunately, it won't happen next chapter. While Takuya and Tomoki are traveling to their next destination, we're moving on to the next pair! Who will it be? To find out, tune in next time on Digimon Frontier 2: Fractal Fusion!
From now on at the end of future chapters, I will be adding the preview title for the next one. To give guys a little tidbit on what might happen next and let your predictions go wild.
Preview: Sukomobanare Island