Episode Two
Reprieve In the Night
"-Ri, -Ari, KARI!"
Kari sprung up, bonking her goggle clad forehead into the jaw of the one crouched above her.
"OW!" Tai yelped, rubbing his chin.
"I told you not to hang over like that, Tai."
Kari blinked several times as her vision refocused. I—Where…
"You okay, Kari?
Kari turned her head and found Gatomon perched next to her concernedly. It was then that Kari remembered all that had transpired over the past few hours. "I'm-okay, Gatomon," She breathed.
"Hey Kari, check this out!" Davis sat in front of Kari and presented his partner. "Veemon shrank!" He said giddily.
Veemon wriggled in Davis' hands and looked at him with a mock pout, "I already told you, my names Demiveemon now." He looked down with a visible blush painting his blue and white cheeks, "And I don't know why I dedigivolved…"
Davis placed Demiveemon on his knee and patted his head, "Aw don't worry buddy, you're still the same butt kicker from a few hours before."
"Which I'm still very curious about," Izzy said, leaning forward on his chair, "What exactly happened while you were in there?" He looked at Kari, "We couldn't get Davis to talk about it without him going into incomprehensible gibberish."
"Oh, like you were so calm after Kuwagamon attacked you guys for the first time," Davis mumbled, scratching Demiveemon's head. "I still can't believe all that stuff is true."
"You didn't believe Kuwagamon was scary?" Demiveemon asked, "Have you seen him, Davis?"
Tai sat by his sister and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "So what happened? From what we could gather, there's some sort of Digital Paladin causing trouble?"
Kari ran a hand through her hair and leaned against her brother. "It was…Crazy to say the least, all the Digimon were in some sort of trance, and the Paladin, he was terrifying and all we saw was his shadow."
"Sounds reminiscent of Devimon and his black gears," Izzy mumbled, rubbing his chin.
"Sounds worse if you ask me," Davis said, frowning. "Apparently this Paladin dude is being rather choosy with his prisoners."
"He's only imprisoning virus types," Kari explained, "And any data or vaccine types who disagree with him are brainwashed with some sort of mind control haloes."
"Haloes?" Tai's brow furrowed in deep thought.
"They're the markings of angels in most Judeo-Christian mythologies," Izzy clarified, leaning back with his fingers clasped. "Clearly this Paladin has a thing for angelic imagery."
Davis looked down at Demiveemon, "I'm lost, are you?"
"I'm just hungry," Demiveemon chirped.
"And he's just been causing havoc for the digital world with no one to stop him?" Tai asked.
"Well there is one guy," Kari replied, "His names Ken, and he's apparently been fighting the Paladin all by himself."
"One kid's been fighting this guy?" Tai gasped. "Jeez, and we had a hard time taking on our baddies with all eight of us."
"Yeah, and this guy actually goes toe to toe with the Digimon," Davis said.
Tai bit his lip. "I took a few hits from Piedmon," He mumbled.
Kari turned to Tai, "Tai, we need to contact the others, tell them about all of this. Ken needs our help!"
Tai gave her a comforting smile, "Don't worry sis, we'll get everyone, they'll want to know about their partners."
"We're going to need to send Mimi an email in America," Izzy mumbled turning to the computer, "if only my old log in information worked here."
"We'll get to work on that tomorrow," Tai said. "In the meantime, has Ken said anything in terms of what he wants to do next?"
"For one, he wants us to find two more digidestined," Davis replied. "Apparently there are two more who got these new digivices."
Izzy stood up and walked over to Davis, "Davis, was it? You mind if I see that digivice?"
"Depends on what you plan on doing with it," Davis replied, pulling the digivice behind his back.
"I simply wish to examine it," Izzy explained, "maybe check out its mechanics and inner workings."
"Check out its mechanics? You're gonna take it apart? Not a chance?!" Davis leapt up and dashed behind a row of computers.
Izzy looked taken aback before he edged towards Davis, "I assure you, I'll take the greatest care in my examina—"
"DON'T LET HIM HAVE IT, DAVIS!" DemiVeemon scrambled up Davis' arm to his shoulder, "Without your digivice I can't digivolve to Flamedramon to protect you!"
"He makes a fair point, Izzy!" Davis pointedly agreed. "What am I supposed to do if we meet up with Rapidmon again?"
"You could tackle him again like you did earlier," Kari said, laughing as Izzy tried to circle around Davis.
"Davis tackled a digimon!?" Tai gasped. He turned away and mumbled, "I'm getting shown up by everyone today."
"Davis, I only want to examine the capabilities of this new digivice!" Izzy reasoned, lunging towards Davis' hand only to have him quickly spin out of the way.
"Your pig Latin won't work on me, you butcher!" Davis retorted, hopping over another row.
Kari giggled and stepped forward, "Alright, you two, that's enough. Davis, if it'll make you feel better, I'll lend Izzy my digivice."
Izzy stopped mid leap and looked at Kari sheepishly, "Right…That would've been the easier option."
Kari shook her head and handed Izzy her digivice with a smirk, "Honestly Davis, you're gonna need to learn to keep your cool if you're gonna be a digidestined."
"Keep cool? I'm the coolest guy in school I'll have you know!" Davis said, poking a thumb to his chest.
"Yeah, 'cause cool kids cry when they're getting stitches," Tai mumbled, rolling his eyes.
"I was eight!"
"What a strange variation," Izzy mumbled, pressing a few of the buttons. "Kari, what was the catalyst that caused your digivice's transformation?"
"Well, I had been waiting for Davis to come out of detention—"
"Detention on the first day, Davis?"
"Tai, I was framed!"
"—when a weird light came out of my digivice," Kari continued, ignoring the exchange between Tai and Davis. "Then, out of the screen came a few orbs of light, and Davis got his digivice. After that, mine changed as well and…here we are."
"Sounds rather spontaneous," Izzy said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He looked at Kari, "I know I'm asking a lot, but would you be okay with me borrowing it for the night?"
"'Okay' is a strong word," Gatomon said sardonically.
"Gatomon," Kari playfully chided. She looked back at Izzy, "That's perfectly fine Izzy, just have it back to me by after school tomorrow, Ken's expecting us."
"I'll be sure to do so," Izzy promised with a nod. "In the meantime, Tai will contact the others."
Tai perked up, "Wait, what?"
"Yes, Tai, you will contact them," Izzy stated irritably, "Let's just be grateful you don't have to look through any old yearbooks this time."
Of course he remembers that mess, Tai thought, biting his cheek.
"Well, with that squared away, why don't we head home?" Kari proposed with a clap of her hands. "I'm sure the digimon wouldn't mind a bite to eat after what happened today."
"It's literally been years for me!" Demiveemon excitedly chirped.
Davis laughed and squeezed the tiny Digimon against himself, "I'll be sure to grab some ramen supplies on the way home. You are gonna love my recipe, DemiVee!"
Kari smiled, but quickly grew concerned when a thought came to her, "Maybe it'd be best if Tai and I stopped with you…"
Tai cringed, "Agreed, Mom's fungal goulash is pretty bad fresh, but cold?" He gave a visible shiver.
Izzy placed a hand on his stomach as an unpleasant memory came over him. "Glad I'm not in your shoes…Those beef jerky shakes still haunt me," He gulped.
"Then let's get some food!" Gatomon bombastically cried with a paw in the air.
…
"Alright, be sure to keep quiet, okay, DemiVeemon?" Davis gave the little bulge below his jacket collar a pat as he turned the key to his apartment, earning a pleasant little hum in response.
Once the door was open, Davis tiptoed into the darkened kitchenette, carrying the bag of food close to his chest to hide his partner. Looks like I might be in the clear, He thought, sauntering towards his room. Once he was by his door, he looked around again. When he saw no movement, he let out a sigh and turned his doorknob.
CLICK! "Doofus!"
Davis fought the urge to curse when the light from his sister's room shone on him. "Whaddya want, Jun?" He growled, turning to face her.
Jun Motomiya smirked and leaned against the doorframe of her room, "Oh, you know, just waiting for my oh so sweet little brother." She put a finger to her chin in mock thoughtfulness, "It's weird though, I thought you were supposed to be home hours ago." She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned forward with a devious grin playing across her features, "Now, my little brother didn't get detention on the first day, did he?"
"Jun, you and I both know the school called," Davis grumbled. "The question is, do mom and dad know?"
"Mmm, not yet," Jun hummed, twirling a bit of her frizzy red hair on her finger, "You know how busy they are. They sure would be disappointed if they found out though. How long were you grounded last time?'
"What do you want?" Davis asked bitingly.
Jun's smile widened and she stood straight, "I could use some extra cash for some merch. I'm going to a concert this weekend." She held her fists against her chest giddily, "And I couldn't stand leaving a Teenage Wolves concert without something to remember them by!"
Davis groaned and stomped into his room where he opened a drawer and snatched up several yen. With equal malice, he made his way back to his sister and shoved the handful of hard earned allowance into his sister's outstretched hand. "There, now buzz off!" He rumbled, dashing back to his room.
Once he was inside, he slammed the door shut and threw the bag of food to his bed with an annoyed grunt.
"She is so—I can't believe she could—I was trying to save up for that jersey and—Augh!" He ran his hand through his hair as his thoughts scrambled to a thousand obscenities he wished he could scream at his blackmailing sibling.
"Da-Ar-yoo-kay?" The bulge below his collar wiggled and Davis was reminded of the passenger beneath the zipper.
"Oh, sorry, Demivee," Davis said, unzipping the jacket.
Demiveemon's head sprung from the opening and he gazed at Davis with concerned red eyes.
"Are you okay, Davis?" He asked. "I felt your heart speed up for a sec and you started shaking a little."
Davis felt a chill of guilt grasp his chest and he gently pulled Demiveemon from his jacket, "Aw, sorry pal. I'm fine, just a little riled up by my sister being…My sister."
Demiveemon tilted his head quizzically, "What's a sister?"
Davis laughed and reached into the bag, "I like you more every second, you know that?"
He pulled out a chocolate bar and quickly unwrapped it before handing it to DemiVeemon. "Now, you wait here and snack on that, I'll be back with some more grub in a bit. Can you stay quiet for me?"
Demiveemon nodded wordlessly, too distracted by the confection that was in his arms.
Davis smiled and took the bag into his hand, "Sweetness, I'll be right back, Demiveemon."
And with that, Davis covertly opened his door, and left for the kitchen.
…
Ken let out what had to be the dozenth pained gasp he had that night as he thrusted the wooden blade towards his opponent. His muscles screamed as he backed away from a strike, but he had no intention of not getting what he had come here for.
"That's enough, boys!" A gentle, yet firm voice commanded.
Though practice would have to wait if his sensei demanded so, that much was undeniable.
So, with a quivering arm, Ken reached up and pulled the slatted helmet from his head, taking a deep breath as the cooled air of the dojo became available to him.
"Ken?"
Ken turned to face his sparring partner, a boy a few years his junior with short brown hair and olive-green eyes. "Yeah, Cody?" He panted, allowing his shoulders to sag.
Cody sized him up with a subtle frown, "Are you okay? You seem much more tired than usual, and you're already drenched in sweat."
Ken straightened his posture and offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile, "It's nothing. I just ran here 'cause I was running late."
"Your fatigue belies more than a simple run, Ken."
Ken and Cody turned to their Sensei, an old man with a bushy white mustache and a bald head.
"Has something been troubling you?" He asked.
"No, Sensei," Ken instantly replied, wishing with all his might that he wasn't panting so loud.
It was clear by the way his Sensei appraised him; calm, yet clearly taking in every detail of his beleaguered stance that told Ken he was looking right through him.
In that moment, he wished he could hop into one of the underground tunnels he had back in the Digital world.
"Ken," He began, turning from the two of them, "I understand that there are many times in one's life that one wishes to keep their internal conflicts to themselves, and in many occasions, it is a wise decision."
He came to a stop at a small cooler that was kept on the other side of the room and crouched down to it. "Other times, it serves to only weaken a person's constitution, as your issue is so clearly doing to you right now."
Ken gulped as he watched his Sensei reach into the cooler. In his mind, he was cycling through a thousand excuses should his master or Cody press the matter further.
"Luckily for you, I have found the perfect remedy for the ailment that is afflicting you…"
His Sensei stood back up and whirled around to present the item he had acquired.
"PRUNE JUICE!" He exclaimed, holding out a pouch. "This will put you right back into fighting shape, I guarantee it!"
Ken had to resist falling over, both from the shock and the relief.
Next to him, Cody chuckled, "Grandpa, you think prune juice solves everything."
Mr. Hida took a seat on the mat and held his hand out to the spots in front of him, "You can't fault natural perfection, Cody, especially when it comes in such a convenient drinkable pouch like this one. Now come and join me, boys!"
Cody looked over at Ken with a bemused smirk, "You know he won't take no for an answer, right?"
Ken shook his head with the first genuine laugh he had had that night and stepped forward with Cody, "I've been here training with him just as much as you, haven't I?"
The three of them sat together upon the tatami floors, calmly partaking in the thankfully palatable refreshment given to them. Ken even had to admit that he actually was feeling a little better after drinking half of the fruity concoction. That, paired with the soothing presences of Cody and Sensei Hida proved wondrous in spiriting his anxieties away.
He was calm. Thank the stars he was calm.
Too bad that calm was instantly shattered by the sound of the door opening and a familiar voice chiming through the air.
"Hey everybody!" Ken's heart skipped several beats and his neck jolted his sights onto the person walking through the door.
Yolei Inoue smiled warmly at Ken as she stepped into the room. "Oh good, you guys are taking a break," She said. "I always hate to interrupt you guys mid-session."
Mr. Hida let out a laugh, "No fear, Miss Inoue! We were simply taking a respite with some prune juice to alleviate Ken's problems."
Ken jolted when his mind took note of the possible connotation that could come with his Sensei's words. "I-I was just tired!" He explained, his hands waving around, "I've had a long day! I was rehydrating! I swear!"
Yolei laughed in response and took a seat in between Ken and Cody. "Don't worry about it, Ken," She said, brushing a lock of her purple hair behind her ear. "I get it."
Ken seriously hoped that his cheeks weren't as red as they felt.
Mr. Hida let the three of them converse with one another for a while after that, thankfully having more than prune juice for them to partake in.
I should grab a pear flavored one for Wormmon for back home, Ken thought when the last of his apple juice was sipped. It may not have been prune juice, but he did feel better.
"Ken, you've been tired a lot these days," Yolei remarked. She tilted her head to get a closer look at him, "Are you okay? You look pale."
Damn, Ken thought. He forced his shoulders to straighten so he didn't appear so fatigued. I really need to stop skipping meals!
"Yeah, Ken." Cody leaned forward himself, an equally concerned expression marring his face. "What's been bothering you? You can tell us!"
Ken wished he could, more than anything. Cody and Yolei were dear friends of his, cherished since Mr. Hida took him into his tutelage, since his folks moved into their shared apartment building, since—
Since Sam… He thought, biting his lip.
Of course he wanted to tell them. They were his friends. But even if they believed him, where could he even start?
"Guys, I'm fine," He insisted, his hands raising up placatingly. "I've just been burning the candle at both ends with school stuff. You know how tough my school is. It's pretty cutthroat."
"Ugh!" Yolei groused with a roll of her eyes. "I can't stand how tough that school is on you. I wish you could just go to ours."
Ken chuckled, "Me too. It sure could save on commute time."
"And then we could hang out more often!" Cody added.
"Yeah, and we could get some decent food in you," Yolei said. She smirked, "Or at least the best food we could get you from my family's convenience store."
Ken smiled, both in part to the thought of spending time with his friends, and the thought of tasty treats, "I'd like that."
"Alright, boys!" Mr. Hida called out to them. "One more set before we end our lesson for tonight!"
"Yes, Sensei!" Both boys replied whilst leaping to their feet.
…
"You sure you don't want to hang out with us at my place, Ken?" Cody asked as they stepped onto the elevator. "My mom's making brownies."
Ken shook his head, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I appreciate the offer, Cody," He said amicably, his inner eye summoning the image of Wormmon in his room for a fraction of a second. "But I really gotta get some schoolwork done."
"Oh, pshaw!" Yolei huffed, crossing her arms as the elevator began to take them up. "How much work does this special 'gifted' school of yours have to give you? They already know you're smart, do they have to try and squash you with homework all the time?"
Ken turned towards Yolei. "Well, you know what my school says. We're the spores of tomorrow."
"That just makes you sound like a bunch of mushrooms," Cody remarked.
"Still," Yolei said, "I wish you got to take a break every now and again. They're running you ragged." She leaned forward so she could get an angled look at Ken, "Promise me you'll take it easy soon, Ken. Please?"
Ken bit his cheek, knowing full well that he couldn't realistically guarantee that promise, "I'll do my best."
The chime of the elevator signaled that they had arrived to the first of their two destinations.
"Well, at least try to catch up with us quicker tomorrow," Yolei said, stepping out into the hallway with Cody.
"Yeah," Cody said, turning back to Ken, "I'm sure all that work you're doing is important, but time with your friends is important too, right?"
Ken nodded, his smile smaller, but no less genuine. "Right," He agreed.
"Bye, Ken," Yolei and Cody said as the elevator doors began to close.
"Bye, you two," Ken said, nodding at them just before the doors closed completely.
Yolei and Cody stood by the elevator a moment longer after Ken left, staring at the metal door in a vain hope that it would open again and their friend would come out, ready to spend just a little more time with them.
"D'ya think he'll actually get to hang out with us soon?" Yolei asked as she and Cody turned to make their way down the hallway.
"I sure hope so," Cody replied, his shoulders falling.
"I just wish we could help him with all that junk he's dealing with," Yolei said, balling a fist to her chest, "I don't care what it is, I just wanna help him."
Cody nodded, "Me, too."
And unbeknownst to them, their wish to support their friend materialized, for within their bags, a pair of subtle, unnoticed gleams, one red, one yellow glowed and then dimmed with an appearance of a device that would enable them to do so.
…
"Mmmmm!" Gatomon chomped happily on the pork bun that was currently gracing her tastebuds, her gloved paw pressing against her cheek as she chewed.
"I assume you approve, Gatomon?" Kari giggled between bites of her croquette.
Gatomon nodded and shoved the other half of the pork bun between her lips. "MmHMM!" She hummed between chews. Oh man, this sure beats the rations I've had to put up with! Guilmon would be wolfing these down if he were here!
Kari meanwhile couldn't help but grin at the adorable sight. How could she not? Even if Gatomon wasn't the cutest thing in the world (which to her she very much was), she was too beyond filled with joy at being with her beloved partner again.
Three years had gone by since she'd last seen Gatomon; three long years which she felt like a piece of her heart was off in another world, with the only remnant of their connection being the previously inactive digivice she had faithfully carried with her day after day.
Ah drat, She thought, bringing a finger to wipe at her suddenly misty eye. Pull it together, Kari!
Thunk-Thunk!
Kari went for her blanket. "Who is it?" She asked, her hands ready to throw the blanket over Gatomon.
"Kari, if I was Mom or Dad, do you think I'd bother with knocking?"
Kari let out a sigh of relief and let the blanket fall, "Come in, Tai."
The door opened, and from the sliver slid in Tai, with a steamy bowl of instant ramen in his hands. Cheap as it was in terms of quality, it was still preferable to his mother's cooking.
"Hey there, you two," He greeted, shutting the door behind him and leaning against the wall. "Having fun catching up?"
"The best," Kari said, gazing fondly at Gatomon as she shoved another pork bun down her gullet.
Tai tore the lid off the ramen cup, dipping his chopsticks into the noodle-ey concoction with practiced ease. "That's good," He said, his tone betraying the trouble he felt and the question he wanted to ask.
Gatomon swallowed the pork bun with an audible gulp. "Tai, I promise you that you don't have to worry. Agumon's fine! He's safe and sound in one of our underground bases with some great friends of mine."
Tai's expression only fell further, "Underground? Now I feel even worse about not being there. Agumon loves sunlight."
Better not mention his injury, Gatomon thought with a pout. She licked the inside of her cheek, thinking of what could be done to help the two of them. Agumon was essentially a sibling in his own right to her after all. A closer bond sort of came with the territory when your partners were siblings.
"Why don't we bring him something tomorrow when we go to the Digital world ourselves?" Kari suggested. "That way, he'll be happy to see you, and he'll get tasty food to boot!"
Tai bit his cheek, "That sounds pretty good." He looked up at Kari and Gatomon following a great slurp of his noodles, the clouding worry in his eyes remaining stubbornly strong. "I—Izzy and I managed to get a hold of most of the old crew."
Kari perked up, "Oh, that's good. How are they?"
"Eh, y'know, Mimi insisted on telling us all about this new shopping center that went up in New York, Joe threw a hissy fit over us interrupting his study session, and Sora had to be the one to calm them both down when we broke the news to them."
Kari snickered and took another bite of her croquette, "That definitely sounds like them." She looked over at Tai, still in the middle of chewing when she asked her next question.
"Did—Did you hear anything about TK? Like from Matt?" She tried to hide her interest in the matter, but only wound up sounding rather demure, much to her chagrin.
"I got a hold of Matt," Tai replied. He rolled his eyes, "That took an extra bit of time. He apparently didn't hear the phone ringing because he was practicing with his band. Can you believe it? Our friends need us and he's off strumming a guitar! And you should hear what he named his band. The Teenage W—"
"Um, Tai?" Kari cut through his rant. "Did you hear anything about TK?"
Tai jolted and slurped up another noodle, "Oh, right, sorry. Izzy and I couldn't get a hold of him, but Matt said he'll try to himself. Apparently he's been really busy over in his neck of the woods. I forget where he lives exactly, Tamachi, was it?"
Tamachi… Kari bit her cheek, Isn't that just across the river? She tapped her fingers along the top of her bed, Maybe I could go visit him.
"Everyone seems just as concerned about it as we are," Tai went on. "So hopefully we can get together soon. Though Mimi has to look up flight times to get here first…"
"Let's just hope that it's sooner rather than later," Gatomon said. "Because we need all the help we can get, that and Gomamon has been going on and on about how he's living for the day to tell Joe his new material."
"Well, I'm just happy I get to see Agumon tomorrow," Tai murmured whilst slurping the last of his noodles. Once they were past his lips, his fist clenched around his chopsticks, "That, and I can't wait to put my shoe right upside that so-called Paladin's head."
Gatomon's ears flattened and her gaze fell, "I wouldn't suggest being your usual self around this guy, Tai. He's not like anything we've ever faced before."
"Does no one remember how I stood by Wargreymon and actually took hits from Piedmon?!" Tai groused. "If I can deal with that, then what makes this walking tin-can so different?"
Gatomon let out a breath and looked up at the two of them.
"He's human."
…
Ken heaved a sigh of relief when his front door allowed him passage into his apartment and the balmy Spring air surrendered against the cool, crisp artificiality of the air conditioner.
"I'm home!" He announced, his hand locking the door behind him.
"Oh, Ken, welcome home!" He was immediately greeted by his mother coming out into the hallway from the living room. "How are you, sweetheart?"
Ken put on his best smile, trying to hide his exhaustion from her, "I'm good, mom. Just tired after a long day."
"Oh, I bet!" Mrs. Ichijouji gushed. She pinched the front of his shirt, frowning when she saw just how skinny he was. "Especially with how fast you're becoming skin and bones! Do I need to start packing you two lunches?"
Ken offered a chuckle, "What can I say? I've been busy."
Busy was right, how else would you refer to spending your days afterschool leading a resistance?
"Well, luckily, I've made a very big dinner that should put you right as rain," Mrs. Ichijouji said.
That sounded amazing, positively heavenly to Ken's empty stomach.
But he had to think of Wormmon as well.
"Would you mind if I take it in my room though?" He asked. "I should really get a head start on my studies."
Mrs. Ichijouji frowned, "Oh, but you work so hard already. I probably shouldn't be saying this, but don't you wanna just relax for a bit first?"
Ken laughed, genuinely this time, "I'll take a breather tomorrow, I promise. I'm meeting some new people I met today for something after school."
Mrs. Ichijouji lit up a little more at that, "Oh, new friends! That's wonderful, sweetheart! Oh, okay, you can have dinner in your room. But I'm sending you with double helpings, understood?"
Ken smiled, also sincerely, "That sounds great. Thanks, Mom."
He knew Wormmon would appreciate that as well.
…
Kari bit her pencil, leaving several teeth marks along the wood as she tried to focus on the math homework in her lap.
She wasn't doing the best job at it. How could she? After a day like she had? One where she had gone to a place she found herself dreaming day in and day out to visit again, reunited with her dearest friend from both worlds, gotten to hold her in her arms again at long last? It was a day she had been hoping to experience for every second of the past three years!
Yet, she couldn't be happy, not really anyway, because—
For as happy as she was to see Gatomon again, she couldn't get the state the Digital world had fallen into out of her mind.
Sure, when she and Davis had initially arrived into the Digital world, she marveled in nostalgic wonder at the beauteous pigmentation of the alternate world, her heart giddy with the possibility of reuniting with her beloved partner Digimon.
But as she and Davis journeyed through the forest, Kari began to notice the eerie silence that pervaded it. No Digimon could be heard rustling about, no insects chirped amongst the trees (though that might've been a good thing considering what Tai had once told her about Kuwagamon), there was even a complete lack of wind.
Everything was still, far too still.
The squiggling feeling in her gut only wriggled more uncomfortably when she and Davis came upon the rubble that laid about the area where they found the digimentals. Sure the Digital world was known for having odd landmarks (heck, she had to warn Davis not to try any of the vending machines they found in the forest beforehand), but an area that was clearly and deliberately damaged like that area activated the need for greater caution in Kari's mind.
Following their meeting with Veemon, and the assistance of the Digimental of Light, the three of them came upon the town that it led them too.
The uncanny chill that had been slowly building up within her spread from her stomach to her fingers when she saw the town.
No activity whatsoever; no digi-bakers making bread in the empty bakery window, no digi-merchants manning the empty stalls that lined the street, not even a digi-jogger or two getting their daily exercises.
What is going on here? Kari had thought at the time.
And that's when the Gotsumon appeared.
Just a few seconds of watching their robotic zealotry was enough to summon a sheen of cold sweat into Kari's palms. The way they ran like wind-up toys, the way their physical forms seemed duller, diluted in appearance, the listless and false enthusiasm in their eyes, it was so abundantly obvious that something was very wrong with the golem-like beings.
Of course, had she not noticed any of those attributes, she definitely would have noticed the bright rings, the halos floating above their heads.
She had long associated halos as badges of undeniable goodness, but despite the beauty of the rings that hung over the Gotsumon's heads, Kari sensed the maliciousness beneath the searing light they exuded right away. Whatever was wrong with the Digimon, the halos were the cause.
And she found herself wondering where they had come from.
Her curiosity did not last long, as her climactic reunion with Gatomon came not long after, and with that also came the meeting with Rapidmon—
And the shadowy image of the Digital Paladin upon the floating screen that accompanied him.
Kari instantly put two-and-two together. That person, that person as Gatomon had informed her and Tai, was the cause of the stagnated state she had seen in the Digital world that day.
Kari was aghast when Gatomon had told her and Tai that the Paladin was human. How could that be? Only they, the Digidestined, the ones chosen to protect the Digital world could go there, right? How could anyone of ill intent get past the borders between worlds?
How can there be a person who sees the Digital world and want to hurt it so badly? She thought, her teeth clenching around the pencil harder.
"Mrrrmm, yes Mister Cashier-Person, I would like another pork bun…" It was only by the grace of Gatomon talking in her sleep that Kari was able to wrench herself from her thoughts in favor of looking down at her.
Gatomon smiled as she snoozed away against Kari's side, her tail flicking back and forth lazily as she partook in a dreamland feast.
"Mmm, d'ya mind giving me some extras to take back home?" Gatomon asked. "Impmon and Guilmon would love to try these."
Kari smirked and reached down to gently scratch Gatomon between her ears.
For all the unease she felt, nothing could diminish the unbridled joy she felt in being with Gatomon once again. With her by her side, any fear of the situation before them seemed no more dangerous than a day of her mother's home cooking.
It doesn't matter why this is happening, Kari decided, the chill in her heart giving away to loving warmth. Because together, Gatomon, we can take on anything.
…
Davis smirked as he watched Demiveemon down his third bowl of ramen, his little gullet letting out a surprisingly loud slurping sound when one considered how little he was. "I'm guessing you like the grub, eh, DemiVee?" He chuckled.
Demiveemon kicked his stubby little legs as the last of the broth disappeared past his throat and he lowered the bowl to beam at Davis. "Davis, this is the best food I've ever had in my life!" He declared, the whites of his cheeks growing rosy as he smiled up at his partner.
Davis would be lying through his teeth if he said the little Digimon's words didn't warm his heart, so much so that he had to resist taking him against his chest in a tight embrace. "Aww, thanks, bud," He said, leaning back on the balls of his hands. "I'm glad you approve. I tried extra hard to make it tasty for you."
"Well you did a great job!" Demiveemon gushed. "I feel like I could digivolve three times over if you needed me too!"
Davis chuckled and looked over at his desk on the opposite end of his room, frowning when he saw the neon red numbers of his digital clock showing that it was nearly eleven. "Well, as awesome as it would be to see that Flamedramon guy again, I don't think it'd be a very good idea for you to turn into him. Explaining you to my parents would be hard as is, never mind if you were an awesome fire guy."
He stood up and took the empty bowl from Demiveemon, going to set it on the desk, "For now, we should get some shut-eye. Kari probably wants us up bright and early tomorrow, after all."
Demiveemon let out a great yawn at the mention of sleep. "That sounds good too," He mumbled, his little jester ears drooping with sudden fatigue. He drowsily looked around the bedroom, "Where do I sleep?" He asked.
Davis jolted, "Oh, right. I didn't think of that…" He looked around the bedroom, as if another bed would magically sprout up outta nowhere.
Hey, he had just gone to another world that day, at that point, it felt like anything could happen.
Unfortunately, no such additional bedding appeared.
"Well…" Davis briefly entertained the idea of taking a bunch of his clothes and lumping them together into a bed on his desk, but the fact that most of his clothes currently made their home in his laundry hamper deterred that idea straightaway. "You okay with maybe sharing my bed with me?" He asked. "I've got another pillow you can use."
Demiveemon perked up significantly, "Yeah! That sounds great!"
Davis couldn't help but smile again. "Alright then, let's get settled."
Davis made quick work of getting their bed ready, plucking Demiveemon off of it so he could brush aside the balled-up blankets into some sort of coverage. He then took the second pillow on his bed and turned it sideways, creating a makeshift mattress for Demiveemon himself.
"Alright, DemiVee," He said, placing the little Digimon on the pillow and taking a spot in the bed by him. "This has been a really awesome day, but we got a brand new one to get ready for. Time to snooze!"
Demiveemon giggled and fell on his side against the pillow, "Time to snooze!"
The light was flicked off a second later, and Davis fell alongside Demiveemon, facing him on his side and immediately feeling his eyelids grow heavy.
"Davish," Demiveemon murmured, his voice slurred by the oncoming hand of the sandmon.
Davis forced one of his eyes to remain open, "Mmm?"
"I'm so glad you're my partner," Demiveemon whispered. He settled against the pillow more, falling ever closer to dreamland. "You were worth all that waiting."
Davis gulped, his heart going molten at his partner's words.
He hadn't even contemplated the possibility of someone like Demiveemon existing that morning, yet in the short time that he had known him since meeting him just a few hours before, he had come to feel like this being, this Digimon, was a part of his heart that he couldn't live without.
Because they were partners, friends for life.
AN: Looks like the pieces are slowly coming to place. What's gonna happen next? You'll just have to stick around, dear readers. And remember, reviews and feedback are the lifeblood of a writer and are always greatly appreciated.
Manegie, out!
