One-in-Two Secrets
Crashed Computer
… A Year After the Event ~ In Digital World …
The world Sasumu ended up in honestly wasn't what he expected. The world was populated mostly by creatures that called themselves Digimon. There were also people like Gennai who were human, and yet not human as the monk said. The world also contained a strange form of technology that worked on a different basis then the way technology worked in his world. While the monks didn't mind him using their technology he had to also learn said technology from the ground up.
One of the things that perked his interest was the screens attached to various pieces of technology in the real world. A person could easily see the people on the other side, but the people on the other side could not see the people watching them. Via this means one could find out things going on in the other world. Even if one wanted to do more with the other world the monks seemed to have a stance of not interfering with the other world.
Sasumu still found himself glued to the screen as he tried to find anything involving he people he left behind, and yet there was something that always bothered him.. Gennai would watch from the doorway, and sometimes he would bring the man food. At these times he would stand behind him and shake his head. "I see you've finally figured out how to pick which objects from your world you look through."
"Mostly computers, and televisions. Those seem the most apt for your screens to work on." Sasumu clicked through a news stations broadcast and saw a man with blond hair speaking to the computer. Sasumu didn't pay the large bowl of ramen any mind. "They got a new reporter."
"I know you want to find out about the people you care about. Why don't you? You now can."
"Maybe I'm a little afraid of what I'll find out. I've been gone for more then a year. There is no telling if they still consider me to be alive or not. I'm honestly still wondering if any of this is real, or if perhaps I've gone into a comma and happen to be dreaming this."
Terriormon tore into the room at the moment closely followed by his twin Digimon. "Hey! I can pinch you if you want. That tends to prove whether you are in a dream or not."
Sasumu's mouth opened to say something, but then snapped shut. Gennai tapped on his shoulder. "You know... the sooner you face what you fear, the less negative effect it is likely to have on you."
A sigh escaped the mouth of Sasumu, and he tapped the keys bringing up the home computer screen. Nothing at first appeared on the screen, but then Sasumu froze when someone entered into the frame from which he could see things. Kokomon finally stammered something out. "Wait... isn't that you?"
Sasumu leaned back in the chair. "Are you telling me I'm not myself?" The corner of his mouth began to twitch. "I mean... I'm here, but I'm there at the same time. This has to be a dream, right?"
Gennai crossed his arms. "I don't know." One hand went up to his mouth as he watched the man. A woman came onto the screen then carrying an infant, and the other Sasumu turned around.
"Yuuko... did you call."
"You know I don't want Taichi near computers."
"I think you're being a bit paranoid."
Sasumu in the Digital world placed two hands over his eyes. "Why me? Of all the things I can have missed out on..."
Gennai however placed a hand to his mouth. "Why is your wife paranoid about taking the child near a computer?"
Two brown eyes blinked as Sasumu looked at the screen. Yuuko disappeared off the screen, and the other Sasumu followed close behind. The man then came back to write an e-mail.
Akiyami-san –
I'm replying to your question in regards to how we are adjusting. At this point I honestly can't say. My wife is paranoid of the computers, but I believe you already know the reason for this. She is also over protective of our son. This likely stems from the same reason she's currently paranoid of computers. I can't say more as there is a limit to what I can say over e-mail, so I will speak to you at work.
– Yagami-san
Sasumu in the Digital World frowned. "That's not right."
"What isn't right?" Gennai leaned closer.
"I never address Ryoichi by his last name in the e-mail correspondence we have even for work. I don't use my last name either. The e-mail is to formal." Fingers hit the keyboard as Sasumu pulled up Ryoichi's computer. He saw the man on the other side. The e-mail the other Sasumu sent was received, and read. He watched as Ryoichi let out a sigh.
The sound of the door opening was heard, and then Yuuko appeared on the screen. Nothing about her was paranoid about said computers. "Why aren't you giving up on that?"
"Giving up on that?" Ryoichi turned to look at the woman. "I don't see why I should. I mean... there is still hope."
"Hope..." Yuuko crossed her arms across her chest. "With everything that's happened I wonder if that's true."
"Ah... looks like your wife is cheating on you with another man." Terriormon began to giggle.
"No..." Sasumu shook his head. "The distance between these locations is to far. The time between I saw Yuuko on the other screen, and I saw her on this screen is not enough to travel from one location to another, let alone change clothes."
As if on cue Yuuko came into the frame on the other computer. "Please... I don't like you near computers."
"Yuuko... this is my work."
Kokomon blinked a couple of times. "Wait... how can they be on the computer screens at the same time. That's not possible."
"No... it isn't." Gennai narrowed his eyes. "Anyways..."
A sniffing sound came from the door. "Ramen. I smell ramen."
A crashing sound was heard as the big Agumon dived for the ramen noodles next to the keyboard, and sent them flying everywhere."
Sasumu blinked a couple of times as the computers began to have problems. "Agumon..."
The man's fist came down hard onto the Digimon's head as it let out a yelp.
… In the Present …
Tai could feel the water seeping through his sneakers as he continued to run away from the place that woman was. His sneakers felt nasty when he simply stood there, but as he ran the water pushed through between his toes even more. Something though made it so he simply couldn't stop running, and he didn't stop even when his breath began to hurt. What caused him to finally stop was something tackling him from behind.
The force caused the air to be knocked out of him, and his chin hit the concreate hard. His already sore palm and knee became even more scratched up. One arm pulled underneath him, and he rested his forehead. A heavy weight settled upon his backside, and a worried voice broke through the sound of the rain. "Taichi?"
"Agumon..." Tai let out a deep breath as he heard his Digimon speak. "This sucks."
"Hmm..." Agumon continued to sit on Taichi's back waiting for an answer, but no verbal response came. Instead after a few minutes Taichi twisted around so he was on his back, and he crossed his arms so they covered his eyes. "Taichi... are you crying?"
"No." Tai continued to lie on his back. "Destiny really sucks."
The Digimon blinked a couple of times. "You're not talking like yourself." The fourteen year old pulled his arms back as the rain continued to pull down. He let out a sigh as he blinked the rain drops falling into his eyes back, only to find one arm reaching up to wipe the drops away. "Are you really sure you aren't crying?"
"I'm not crying Agumon." Tai pulled himself out from underneath the Digimon into a sitting position. Agumon sat in front of the fourteen year old as the young man pulled out his hand held computer to check his e-mails. He thumbed through to a certain e-mail and opened it up. His brown eyes narrowed as he read the words in said e-mail.
"Fight destiny. ~ Ryo"
The fourteen year old pushed some buttons on the keypad and re-forwarded said e-mail to himself. "Seriously... destiny sucks."
The Digimon tilted his head as he looked at his partner. "Taicho... you're really not talking like yourself. Normally you talk about how one shouldn't fight ones destiny."
Tai closed down the small computer and flopped back to the cold ground. This time he covered his eyes with the small computer. "I'm starting to think Ryo was right."
"Oh?" Agumon placed a clawed limb over his mouth. "Ryo was right about what?"
"About fighting one's destiny. Seriously... last e-mail I got from him."
The only sound heard was the rain falling onto the ground. The Digimon finally stood up. "Taichi. We need to head on home. Kari and your parents are likely worried about you."
Tai jolted up at Agumon's comment. His mouth twisted up into a frown briefly interrupted by the gritting of teeth as the palm of his hands scraped against the cement. He brushed them against his pants in order to wipe the grit from his hands. His arms relaxed at his sides. "Home?" The fourteen year old shook his head. "I don't think I can go back there."
The yellow Digimon blinked a couple of times. "Taichi..." One clawed hand reached out to nudge Tai. "What do you mean you can't come back? They're your family. Right?"
"Family?" The fourteen year old felt a strain on his throat. The youth stood up as he slipped the computer and his hands back into his pocket. "I wonder about that." Tai carefully took in his surroundings. "Come on Agumon."
The Digimon's green eyes blinked a couple of times. "This isn't the direction to go back home."
"I know that. Don't worry." Tai continued walking towards the closest subway entrance. Agumon followed after him. The youth payed for their tickets and waited for the train. When the train arrived at the station they took a seat in one of the empty cars while Tai stared at the ceiling.
"We're heading to Shinjuko?"
"Yes..." Tai continued to look up at the ceiling. The fourteen year old pushed himself up upon arriving at the station, and the Digimon followed after him. The partially dried clothing he wore became soaked again as he began to walk to the destination. Agumon's eyebrows went down, and his jaw line twisted into a frown. Every so often the yellow Digimon would open his mouth to say something, but then think better of it.
The young Digidestioned finally reached the house he was looking for and twisted around on his feet causing gravel to crunch under his feet. The family name on the post read Akiyama.
Note: A few people may have noticed the Akiyama household isn't in Fukuoka. Why will be revealed later.