General Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of its characters. Their use in the following work of fan fiction is for entertainment purposes only.
[AN: If one can call a written piece more than 2,700 words long a prelude, this is a prelude to what will be another multi-chapter "Cody Christmas Story". The FFN pen name Thisisfunwhattooksolong, was kind enough to provide me with a writing prompt. What you read here builds toward addressing that prompt in full (I promise). It's just that in "positioning" Cody into the suggested situation, I found myself faced with a lot of, "Well, he would do this and then he'd do that" – and soon enough that becomes, "This reads like a chapter by itself." Be advised, like "Sinners Reconciled" this one will take an emotional turn because of who Cody encounters while he's out and about. We'll see how it goes. A Merry Christmas Season to one and all, and a Happy Near Year for 2023! Enjoy! – BMillsWrites]
We Traverse Afar
Chapter 1: Prelude – 'Tis The Reason?
Cody Hida sighed quietly before leaving his room to dutifully respond to his Mom's announcement of a morning phone call for him. His sigh had nothing to do with any hesitancy about helping with any task that Minako Hida might give him. His Mom sometimes affectionately suggested that his helpful inclination made him the "Helping Champion of the World – or at least the Japanese Nine Year-Old Division." Cody always blushed when she did. Still his honesty reminded him that making her – and Grandpa Hida, of course – so happy by being helpful brought a lot of self-satisfaction with it. The boy's sigh to himself was just the realization of adding to a surprising collection during the Christmas holiday break from school. That collection was phone calls for him, and now the total increased to three.
The first two calls had come from Ms. Mina Isan, who Cody had met as an associate producer for the Little Mr. Odaiba Contest. She'd been his contact during that contest, and the young Hida valued her ongoing friendship far more than the title and trophy he had won. Mina-san's first call had been to recruit Cody on short notice into a Christmas special for local television. Her second call had insistently invited him to be part of promoting that special at the Comfort Cottage – where Cody had started the life-long process of dealing with the grief from his Dad's sudden and wrongful death. The pleasant look on his Mom's face had Cody wondering if this third call was also from Mina-san. Minako Hida guessed what her son suspected. "It's not Mina this time," she paused while still holding the phone. She made a victorious mental note of the fleeting look of disappointment that actually wavered the usual the matter-of-factness on Cody's face. That was progress in the young mother's gently slow approach toward helping her traumatically mature, dutiful, but innocently stubborn son recover the legitimate wonder and joy of his own childhood. "It's one of your computer club friends that I've heard you mention, Kari Kamiya, – and yes, you can go with them," his Mom mysteriously permitted while handing him the phone's receiver, before leaving the living room for the kitchen.
"This is Cody Hida speaking, uhm I mean hello, Kari." The youngster's initial formality was reflexive – and a way to be polite while trying to mentally recalculate. His Mom's reference to his "computer club" – Cody's only acceptable substitute for describing the Digidestined – had him thinking pleasantly of conversing with Joe, Izzy, TK, or even tolerably with Davis. Of all the Digidestined girls, Yolei would be the most obvious to summon him. Still, there had been the hint that Kari was not alone, and maybe everyone was urgently needed. "Is something wrong for the computer club?" Cody asked carefully, sure that Moms heard a lot even if they didn't mean to, that's just something Moms did.
The girl on the other end of the phone was as bright and assertive as always. "Hey there, Cody! There's nothing Digi to worry about right now. Since you're asking though, I was talking to TK this morning, and I think it would be terrific to get the two of you together and celebrate that Angemon and Ankylomon finally got to DNA Digivolve into Shakkoumon the other day. That celebration has to include you, right?"
Since Kari was using a topic he'd brought up first to draw him into something that was related but unkown, the youngest Digidestined thought how his older best friend Yolei had likely shared certain "Cody lessons" with Kari. He'd have to discuss that with Yolei later. For now, he couldn't deny the immediate logic that stemmed from his role in Shakkoumon's emergence. "It makes sense that it would, but are you saying that you want to host a celebration for just me and TK? That doesn't seem fair, we should celebrate that now all our partners can get together that way," Cody determined.
"Actually, Cody, that's not a problem. Davis has really been reaching out to Ken – and I know that bothers you – I'm just saying it's improving Paildramon. Yolei and I can girl-talk,..." this revelation was interrupted by her own giggle before Kari continued, "... and that's helping Sylphymon. Think of it this way, I want to help you and TK see each other better because I'm the Child of Light. I can help you understand TK, and I think I can help TK understand you too, if you'll just spend a little time with us both. I have to do some shopping today, but that gives us the perfect opportunity because the Mall has this cozy dine-in sweets shop – and it's having Free Hot Cocoa Day. All you have to do is come with us, and be yourself. I know I can count on you to do that as a favor for me today because you're the Child of Reliability." She had prepared for a number of reactions to the invitation. She could still hear the small boy breathing in the deepest calming breaths that rasps allowed. It was time to seal the deal, "I'll meet you and TK outside your building just after lunch time, so be sure to save room for dessert. Oh, by the way, it was great talking to your Mom before you got to the phone. Thanks in advance for joining us today, and tell your Mom thanks from me for letting you come. Bye, Cody, but see you soon!" There was a click and a dial tone, but no Kari. Cody Hida hung up the phone knowing that good manners prevented calling her back to politely decline. More practically, he thought doing so might not be the riskiest thing he'd done – even lately – but, he probably shouldn't chance it.
In took surprisingly little negotiation to convince Upamon not to come along to so public a place. In fact – because the boy's thorough detailing included the sweets shop setting – the only negotiation done involved the nature and size of the treat that Cody would be obligated to bring home for his partner. Other than that, Upamon assessed the work necessary for improved DNA Digivolving with frank innocence, "That's a problem for you and TK, Cody, not me and Patamon. Work it out with TK while Patamon and me stay out of the way."
Cody tried to appreciate Upamon's bluntness without sting because it was so much like his own being matter-of-fact about things. Processing it that way meant asking questions and dealing with the answers. "What makes it so easy for you and Patamon then, Upamon?"
"Well …," the yellow Digimon began obviously, "For one thing, we're Digimon, becoming a new form is what we do. You know, Cody, I don't lose myself by going from Ankylomon to Shakkoumon, and neither does Patamon from Angemon. We're just sharing what we truly are – and that sharing makes us Shakkoumon. That's harder for humans anyway, but I know why it's been really hard for you with TK."
"Yes," Cody agreed, "We've talked about that before, it's TK's anger. When that comes out, it's like he lets it override everything else. I just don't understand that."
Upamon rarely needed to disagree with his young human partner – much less challenge him – but this time the Digimon knew better. "But Cody, I think you do understand his anger. I think it reminds you of the anger that you have. I think you're worried that your part of sharing anger with TK means that you have to let the anger take over. You and TK need to talk about that. At least, that's what I think."
The young Hida picked up Upamon and held him high to better ponder together. In the Digimon's round black eyes, the boy saw his own expression – part bemused by Upamon's repetitive over-thoughtfulness and part troubled by self-disappointment. "You've certainly thought a lot about my problem, but I haven't thought enough about it. Maybe trying to save the last Destiny Stone was special and I'm not ordinarily a good match with TK. You're right though, I don't want to be angry or let anger decide what I do. TK's anger is strong … and so is mine. What if that combined anger is too strong for the both of us? We might harm you and Patamon. We might make you harm other Digimon!"
"Cody, what I think you don't understand is how strong you are, because you're extra-extraordinary that way," Upamon exhorted. "Anger can add itself up any old way it wants to – you're the calm that TK doesn't always keep. Your calm will turn his anger into focus, and his focus will help you be sure that Shakkoumon does right things. Just think about it, please."
Cody Hida sat Upamon down on the boy's bed, then stepped back and bowed, "I don't know what to say Upamon, except thank you for your wisdom, and I promise that I will think about it. Only, why do I get the idea that Patamon is having this same kind of talk with TK? "
"Because you're also really smart." Upamon praised, then asked, "Is it almost lunch time?" When Cody affirmed that lunch was soon, Upamon asserted, "Good. Thinking really makes me hungry. Now I'm thinking about everything that makes me hungry … think how hungry I am just thinking about everything that makes me hungry, so let's eat soon – please."
"Upamon..." The youngster rasped in happier exasperation, knowing that his Digimon partner was back to business as usual.
Lunchtime brought even more affirmation for Cody's outing from Grandpa Hida as the two set the table. The boy knew all about the good mannerly form of going when invited by friends. He was also seriously prepared to improve whatever new activity in his recently-joined club partnered him with the older Takaishi boy. Beyond that, the older Hida framed the opportunity in the upcoming holiday. "Consider this as practice in letting your spirit walk abroad among others, let it travel far and wide."
Cody bowed politely, "I will Grandpa, I promise. Thank you very much. … Grandpa, you know that advice comes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, right?"
"If you are asking if I am familiar with that work, Grandson, the answer is yes. If you're asking if I knew the author in person, the answer is that I'm not that old." The senior Hida chuckled at his own joke, which as he hoped, lightened the boy's approach to their conversation because Cody smiled. "As you know, Cody, wisdom respects wisdom. In this case, the way Mr. Dickens put it is more timely for you today than I could be. I hope I do him honor by repeating his words."
"If that's like I hope you're honored when I share all the wisdom that you teach me, Grandpa, then of course he would be." Cody affirmed.
Grandpa Hida nodded approvingly, and made one necessary correction, "Then it is our wisdom that you are sharing, Cody. Holding it by heart in your memory, and using it where you believe it will help makes it yours as well as mine, so you are sharing something of yourself. True openness means both finding such opportunities and letting them find you, that's all. This evening, before we begin kendo practice, please tell me the reason that you were at the Mall this afternoon."
"We've talked about that already, haven't we Grandpa? Friends invited me and I need to work some things out with my friend TK." Cody reminded, but obediently added, "Of course, I'll tell you again before kendo if that's what you want."
"What we have discussed, Cody, are your reasons for going. They may or may not be related to the reason you were there." Grandpa advised, "Now let's finish here and have lunch. Your mother has prepared something light for you so that you can enjoy your celebration later. As for me, any meal prepared for me by someone else is already a celebration, so no need for me to hold back." More humor, to the same effect as before – ensuring that Cody's light lunch was still heavier than his thoughts leading up to meeting his friends.
So it was that Cody Hida, sufficiently bundled in his appropriately dark blue winter coat with its warm lamb's wool collar, joined TK Takaishi in their apartment building's elevator for the short ride down to the lobby, and out to meet Kari. The older boy cheerfully smiled, and effusively thanked Cody for agreeing to come on short notice (which, TK was learning, typically meant less than 24 hours when Cody was involved). The younger boy was quietly, politely deferential, insisting that he was honored to be invited by older friends. Each also knew that the other was anticipating meeting Kari. TK smiled about the sincere chivalry that Cody showed to older girls who weren't as close to him as Yolei, just because they were girls. For his part, Cody sympathized with TK in the way that one sympathizes with an ill friend. Kari, just because she was a girl, brought out in TK the same awkwardness that effected Yolei around certain boys.
As soon as the two boys exited their building's lobby TK was glancing around suspiciously at the surrounding landscaping.
"TK?" Cody asked, "Is something wrong? We came out to make sure that Kari wouldn't have to wait for us – that would've been impolite, of course. With the distance and direction involved in her coming here, I'm pretty sure that she isn't going to hide behind the bushes, or jump out from them."
"Huh, oh. Sorry about that, Cody. No, nothing's wrong. I'm just hoping it stays that way. It's not Kari I was scanning for. It's Davis," TK admitted.
"Davis? Was he invited too, because I can still go see if Yolei …," Cody began.
"Davis wasn't invited. Kari just wants it to be us – the three of us, I mean." The older boy specified with increasing awkwardness.
Cody shrugged. The "love sickness" complication among the older Digidestined of his group was definitely something to avoid. Fortunately, the Child of Light came promptly into view, and the Child of Hope forgot all about looking at anything else as she approached. The younger Child of Knowledge sighed, but the suddenly mushy expression on TK's face was better than suspicious glances at the foliage. TK and Kari greeted each other brightly, and when Kari thanked the blonde boy for agreeing to her plan she did it by taking hold of his hands and giggling, "Thanks TK. I really appreciate working this in with my shopping trip."
"No problem, Kari. This is going to be fun!" TK quickly assured.
Even as TK replied, Kari looked Cody's way. With a second giggle at TK, she turned and bent down slightly to greet and thank the smaller boy. "Thank you too Cody. TK and I promise not to get so carried away like that the whole time – and we'll all try to find the best, most consistent connection between you two as DNA Digivolving partners, right, TK?"
"Yes, absolutely," TK affirmed. "After all, that's the reason for us to be there today, right Cody?"
"Actually TK," the smaller boy noted mildly and bowed. "Thanks to Kari and you, I have my reasons for going. Grandpa Hida says that my reason for being there will be different. I won't know what that reason is until I'm there."
"How wise," Kari complimented.
"It sounds mysterious, alright." TK shared Kari's complimentary tone.
"Well then, let's get to the bus stop and get this mysterious, better-connecting Christmas shopping trip on the road." Kari exhorted.
Cody Hida politely decided not to say that he'd begun the journey as soon as he had stepped out of his apartment, simply accepting that now it was a journey joined. As journeys tended to do, this one continued as it had begun – with a single step. Their particular step toward the bus stop just happened to be accompanied by Kari's giggle, TK's laugh, and one of Cody's mildest shrugs.
