Chapter 1: The Legendary Chosen Digimon
Summary:
Kouji had gone to the Akiba Market to find the Tocanmon that had stolen their D-Scanners, not a bunch of Digimon that had saved the Digital World years before his time. He also hadn't expected to encountered two Digimon that knows his father. He certain didn't expect to learn that his father was former Chosen Child.
Chapter Text
There sure are a lot of Digimon gathering. Takuya had been walking around the Akiba Market, searching for those troublesome Tocanmon, for what felt like hours. The deeper he went into the town, the bigger the crowd got. I wonder what's going on.
In the center of the square, Takuya saw a huge stage. THE LEGENDARY CHOSEN DIGIMON was written in bold letterings on a banner just above the stage. There were several chairs on the stage as well as several water bottles and microphones. Takuya tilted his head as he gazed at the Digimon that were gathering around the stage. He never heard of the Legendary Chosen Digimon or at least he couldn't recall Bokomon ever mentioning those Digimon when he told them the various stories that were written in that book of his from time to time.
He passed by many Digimon talking among themselves. Takuya's ever-growing curiosity about what was going on had only caused him to get more confused with every Digimon he talked to. The few Digimon that he had talked to hadn't really eased his confusion. Apparently, these special Digimon were partnered to human children, like him and the others, centuries ago and had saved the Digital World countless times before and after the mysterious events revolving around the illness that turned Digimon into mindless beasts and the reboot.
After getting nothing new from the Plotmon and Bearmon he had talked to, Takuya decided to take a break to rethink his options. He sighed as he leaned against a tree, silently gazing at the crowd that was growing bigger as they waited for their speakers to arrive. "Where's Bokomon when you need him?" he wondered to himself as his gaze lingered towards the stage where two Digimon were setting up some speakers.
"Bokomon, Neamon, it's been so long! How are you guys?"
Takuya blinked as he turned his gaze in the direction of the voice. Near a water fountain, a little away from the stage and the crowd, was Bokomon and Neamon and a blue Dragon Digimon. Takuya frowned. That Digimon looked familiar. But where had he seen it before?
"Great," Neamon said with a smile. "How have you been, V-mon-sama?"
"Perfectly well. Thank you," Bokomon said with a smile of his own. Takuya blinked. Was he seeing things or did Bokomon seem... excited, severally happy and overly respectful now that he was talking to the other Child Digimon? Did they know each other? "It has been ages, V-mon-sama. I didn't realize you and the other Chosen Digimon were going to be in town today."
"Really?" V-mon asked, confused. "I sent you and Neamon a telegram that me and the others were going to be here for a week or so. Didn't you get it?" Bokomon had the decency to flush and bowed apologetically.
"My deepest apologies, V-mon-sama. I have not been home in quite some time. We have been traveling with the Chosen to stop the Evil Warriors from stealing the Digital World's DigiCode."
Takuya would have sworn he saw V-mon look...sad, disappointed even. Why would he look sad? "I see," he said with a smile, but it did not reach his eyes. "So, it's true then; more children have been chosen to save the Digital World after all this time."
"Yeah," Neamon said, excitedly, "They have the spirits of the Warrior Ten too!"
V-mon did frown this time. "The same warriors Yggdrasill created as an attempt to destroy the Human World after Homeostasis attempted to reboot both worlds?"
"Yes," Bokomon said, more hesitant this time. "The same ones. The children have their human spirits and we are currently looking for the beast spirits."
V-mon nodded but didn't seem that happy. Not that he could blame him; Takuya felt a cold chill traveling up his spine at the mere thought that the Warrior Ten (the very ones that had saved this world from Lucemon centuries ago) had once attempted to destroy their world. They had been the enemy. For once, he was glad he didn't have his D-Scanner. He wasn't sure if he could ever look at the thing the same way again.
"So," V-mon said, trying to change the subject, "Daisuke, Ken, or one of the others haven't returned to the Digital World, have they?"
Takuya froze. Now he remembered! His uncle, Motomiya Daisuke, had an old picture hanging in his study. It was of an eleven-year-old version of his uncle and a young blue dragon. It had to be the same V-mon that his uncle often called his best digital friend. There were also pictures of what he believed were other Digimon in a photo album his uncle kept near his bedside table. His other uncle, Minamoto Ken, had been in several of those pictures with a worm-like creature and another that looked like a red devil, along with the rest of his uncles' friends.
"No. I'm sorry. Only children were brought to the Digital World."
How could he not have noticed? Both of his uncles had pictures of strange creatures either in their office or study, living rooms, or bedrooms. They both had their friend's, Takaishi Takeru, complete book series Digimon Adventure that he was sure he and Kouji read and heard over a million times now.
Takuya was a moron. It was so obvious now that he actually thought about it! His uncles must have been Chosen Children back in the day when they were younger, the way they gazed at those pictures longingly and the way they acted made so much sense now. Those stories did always seem so real when Daisuke or his mother read it to them when they were younger. And then there was the way they would look so lost when they thought no one was looking...like they had lost a huge part of themselves. And they probably did.
Daisuke's eyes would always shimmer in tears whenever he gazed at one of those pictures for too long, the one where he was holding a blue blob, along with Ken, who had also been holding something with a leaf on its head. And Ken...Ken would always have that faraway look in his eyes. Sometimes it would look haunted...sometimes it would look sad...and sometimes it would look as if he had lost his best friend. It was the same look whenever he gazed at the photograph of when Kouji was a newborn because in that photo was his twin brother, Kouichi.
Takuya had never seen his uncle cry before, but he was sure he cried alone when he thought no one was looking, especially since Daisuke and his father tended to be over more often when it neared Kouji's birthday. Ken did try to be cheerful when it came to his son's birthday, sometimes he didn't succeed, but Kouji didn't seem to mind. He knew his father loved him, adored him, and tried his best to be there for him, despite his busy work schedule. But they all knew that Ken felt like he was betraying his oldest. Kouichi would never get to know how much his father loved him and wished he was alive. Ken had been devastated by his passing. If it hadn't been for Kimura, Kouichi would still be alive, healthy, and loved by the nicest and kindest person Takuya knew.
But Kouichi was gone, a fact that even depressed Kouji as much as it pained Ken. Kouichi had been taken away from them too soon. Kouji had always wondered what his own brother would have been like if he hadn't died in that fire and would sometimes become jealous of Takuya's close bond with his younger brother. But he hid it well from his father, knowing that Ken was still pained by the death of his son and blamed himself constantly for Kouichi's passing despite how stupid the reasonings were. There was no way Ken would have known that Kimura's trail would take him to an old apartment building. There was no way he would have known that the building would be burning in an inferno of flames by the time he got there.
Takuya shook his head free of those thoughts. They were leading him to a very dangerous territory. Takuya was not one to judge and hate others so quickly and to hold grudges, unlike Kouji who outright hated, loathed, his mother for abandoning them just to go off with some man that not even Ken knew about and for taking Kouichi with her. Takuya had wanted to remain hopeful that she had a reason to leave the way she did. But why would she willingly cheat on his uncle and then leave, leaving only a note behind? Takuya shook those troublesome thoughts away, again, knowing that there was no point in having those thoughts. Kouichi and Kimura had died in that fire. The officer on duty had even said, according to his father and Daisuke, that no one survived.
"It's okay," V-mon said, looking disappointed. "I know it was too much to hope for. The Digital World hasn't been the same since the reboot." Takuya began walking towards the three Digimon before he even registered where his legs were taking him.
"Yes, the reboot," Bokomon said, his eyes distant, far away to a time which was most unpleasant. "It had reset everything, even the Holy Beasts. Many of the Digimon's lives had reset to zero, I believe, and many had lost any memories they had before the reboot. The two worlds are no longer sync now, right?" V-mon's face was a mask of sadness as he nodded slowly to Bokomon.
"Lord Phelesmon had not been happy," Neamon said with a slight fearful shiver. "I remember he had been so upset when that portal appeared. What was that called, Boko-san?"
"I believe it was a distortion of some sort," Bokomon replied, still lost in his memories and unaware that Takuya was getting closer to them. Distortion?
"Oh, yes, that's it," he said with a slight smile. "He saw Alphamon, wasn't it?"
V-mon was the one who nodded. Takuya frowned, his stomach flip-flopping upon seeing the pained look on V-mon's face. "He attacked us. We never did figure out why Alphamon was so determined to kill us and our partners. But it was believed that Yggdrasill had something to do with it." Bokomon gently placed a hand on V-mon's arm, whose eyes seemed troubled and far away.
"Ken-sama and Daisuke-sama are both alive. Besides, that was centuries ago."
"I know," V-mon said shakily. "But that will never make the pain of knowing that Ken and Daisuke could have died that day any easier...It still scares me sometimes when I have nightmares of that day, wondering what would have happened if Stingmon's brother hadn't come when he did..."
Takuya's heart skipped a beat and for a moment it felt as if he had stopped breathing. His uncles could have...they had almost... No! I will not think that! They are alive and healthy and back at home waiting for us to arrive so we can start the party. Takuya cleared his throat, getting the three Digimon attention. Although, Okaasan is probably annoying Daisuke-ojisan for not knowing where her baby is by now and Otousan is probably trying to convince Ken-ojisan to go and hunt me and Kouji down for being gone for so long. Takuya's right eye twitched as he groaned. His father was so going to kill him when he got back.
"Takuya-san! Hi!" Takuya smiled at Neamon as he stood in front of the three Digimon.
"Hey, guys. Any luck on finding the Tocanmon and our D-Scanners?" he asked, not that he was in any rush to find them, now that he knew, more or less, what they had been originally created for. "And who's this?" Takuya was well aware of who this Digimon was. The Digimon looked exactly like the Digimon in his uncle's photographs and then there were the familiar goggles that were hanging around the Digimon's neck. It was an older style, compared to the ones that were out now. The goggles seemed to have gone through the test of time with its slightly shattered glass, cracked frames and faded colors. Takuya was surprised that the glass had not splintered off and cut someone. Despite the rough appearance, Takuya could tell right away that this was the same goggles that his uncle wore when Daisuke was his age
And then it dawned on him. His uncles hadn't been the only adults to have photographs of Digimon within their homes. About twice a year and on their birthdays, his uncles' close friends all come together in some sought of gathering. Takuya and Kouji had the opportunity to visit all of Ken's and Daisuke's friends' homes over the years and had even gotten to know the other kids very well. This year the gathering was supposed to be at Ken's place for the reunion, in addition to celebrating Ken's and Shinya's birthday, the same day that he and Kouji had gone to the Digital World. Now that he thought about it, all of his uncles' friends had photographs of different Digimon in their homes. And then there was the way they would talk about the Digimon, like they were real, while he and the other kids either played soccer, read one of Takeru's books, or listen to the stories the adults would discuss over. Takuya had always thought that his parents and the other adults were just making up stories to entertain the younger kids or giving Takeru ideas for his next book. He hadn't realized that they were actually reminiscing their adventures with their Digimon, their friends, the ones they had been forced to separate from for years.
"Nope," Neamon said before turning to V-mon. "Have you seen them?"
"Nope. Sorry," V-mon said much to Bokomon and Neamon disappointment. "But you should ask Stingmon. He probably has."
"Minamoto Ken-sama's partner?" Neamon asked.
Bokomon brightened in response. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that? Do you know where we can find him." If Takuya had been doubtful before about his uncles' beings Chosen Children in the past, he was definitely sure now as the conversation continued.
"With his brother most likely, but I can't tell you exactly where. There was apparently an argument or fight near Nanomon's shop not long ago. They are probably going over there now."
"Thank you so much for your help, V-mon-sama," Bokomon bowed before turning towards Neamon. "Come, we must find Stingmon-sama, quickly."
"Bokomon, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Takuya frowned a bit as he gazed at the other, his arms crossed over his chest. He didn't like that Bokomon was acting as if he wasn't there and hadn't asked him who V-mon was.
Bokomon flushed, realizing his mistake.
"I'm so sorry, Takuya-han. I didn't mean be so rude." Takuya nodded, signaling to Bokomon that he could continue. "Takuya-han, let me introduce you to V-mon-sama, the Legendary Chosen Digimon of Friendship, Courage, and Miracles. He and his friends saved our world countless times with their human partners centuries ago. And V-mon-sama this is Kanbara Takuya, the Legendary Warrior of Fire."
"It's very nice to meet you, Takuya," V-mon said with a smile as he offered his claw for him to shake. "It's always nice to meet new Chosen Children. I know the Digital World can seem like a huge and scary place and the battles can seem out of hand and endless sometimes, but chin up, you and your friends can do! I believe in you guys and if you ever need any help don't hesitate to ask."
Takuya smiled as he gripped V-mon's offered claw. V-mon no longer had that sad, disappointed, uneasy look he had before. Now he looked cheerful, hopeful, and determined, just like the spinning image of his uncle.
"It's nice to meet you too V-mon," Takuya said with a grin that only grew as he spoke to his uncle's partner. "I've heard so much about you from my uncle." This caused all the Digimon to gaze at him in shocked silence.
"Uncle?!" Bokomon and Neamon finally managed to yell, but V-mon smiled. He knew. He had known since the moment Bokomon said his name.
V-mon laughed, his smile growing just as wide as Takuya's. "Well, I knew I recognized that last name. So, Jun and Takumi really hit it off, huh?"
Takuya chuckled softly as they released their hands. "Yeah, Okaasan is a bit of a handful, though."
V-mon snickered. "She always has been. Poor Takumi." Takuya had to snicker at that as well. "So, how are Daisuke and Ken doing? They were both only kids when I last saw them."
"Daisuke-ojisan and Ken-ojisan are doing great. Daisuke-ojisan owns his own restaurant and Ken-ojisan is a police officer, same with Otousan. Although, I believe Ken-ojisan was saying something about a promotion the other day." V-mon looked genuinely happy to know that Ken and Daisuke were doing so well. "You know, I should have known who you were when I saw you."
"How's that? Do Daisuke and the other talk about us?"
Takuya nodded. "They do. Though, I admit, I didn't realize all the stories they would tell us were real until I came here. But that's not what I'm talking about." He really should have realized it sooner. Takuya smiled as V-mon gazed at him curiously. "Daisuke-ojisan's famous dish is V-mon's Surprise."
V-mon's eyes widened for a brief moment before they filled with tears. He had to wipe them away when an orange cat-like Digimon approached their small group. "There you are V-mon. We are just about to start."
"I'll be right there, Meicoomon. Tell the others I'll be there soon." The female Digimon nodded before walking back to the others. Takuya looked at the stage to see several Digimon getting on the stage. Are those the other Chosen Digimon? When V-mon returned his attention to him, he smiled. "I have to go now. Hopefully, I'll see you again after the presentation."
"You bet, buddy." V-mon smiled and walked away to join his friends. "Hey, Bokomon, can we stay for a bit before looking for Stingmon. I would like to hear about my uncles' adventures."
"Oh, a... of course..." Bokomon said, still stun that Takuya was related to one of the Legendary Heroes.
He looked at the Pandamon expectingly. The Puppet Digimon had been listening as he described the Digimon that took their D-Scanners. He seemed to recognize the description. "The description sounds like a Tocanmon." Hope welled in him. Was it possible that he had spotted the troublesome Digimon? "However," the frown on the Digimon's face made him deflate, "I have not seen them. I'm sorry."
Kouji sighed in disappointment. "It's fine," he said. "Thanks for your help. Sorry for disturbing you." Kouji turned, ready to leave the store when the Digimon spoke up again.
"Hold on. I think I might know someone who may be able to help you."
"You do?" he asked, returning his attention to the Digimon.
Pandamon nodded. "You should talk to Lord Pheslesmon. He one of the monarchs that rule over the northern part of the Digital World, including this town. He's the one that makes sure everything is running smoothly and that we are all taken cared up. You should also talk to Lord Phelesmon's brother, Stingmon. He's doesn't stay in the kingdom very much, but he visits when from time to time, overseeing the market when he has time. They are both here today, so you have a pretty good chance of finding these Tocanmon if you ask them."
Hope returned at the prospect of hearing about these Digimon. It was a long shot, but maybe, just maybe, these Digimon might have seen the Tocanmon. "Do you know where I can find them?"
"The Lord Phelesmon and Stingmon were heading towards the center of the market, last I heard. If you bare to your right and go straight, you will see a theater that tells the stories of the Legendary Heroes."
"Legendary Heroes?"
"Yes, Humans, like you, who were partnered to Digimon years before your time. If memory serves me right, all fourteen Legendary Chosen Digimon are at the market today."
Now Kouji's interest was perked. Bokomon never mentioned that other Humans saved the Digital World before them. He wondered who they were and why they weren't called as well? Those thoughts were what lingered in his mind as he bid the Digimon farewell and followed his directions. It was not long before he reached the crowded theater. Several different Digimon were packed together, listening to the tales that were being told. On the stage where ten Child Digimon and two Adult Digimon: an Agumon, a Gabumon, a Piyomon, a Palmon, a Gomamon, a Tailmon, a Patamon, a Tentomon, a Meicoomon, a V-mon, an Armadimon, and a Hawkmon.
"My partner, along with Armadimon's and Hawkmon's, were then chosen to save the Digital World from the Kaiser. The Kaiser was a Human, a Chosen who had sought to enslave the Digimon in his thirst for conquest." There were collective gasps as the V-mon spoke.
"Why would a Chosen do that?" a Penmon asked, looking sad and unnerved.
"We have not known it at the time," Tailmon spoke up, "much like me when I was under Vamdemon's influence, the Kaiser had been corrupted by the forces of darkness. Three years prior, he had been hit by Millenniumon's Dark Seed. This, in turn, corrupted him, warping his kind and gentle personality into the cruel Kaiser." Several Digimon gasped in horror. Kouji noticed several Digimon had blanched at the mention of Millenniumon and this seed. Kouji couldn't help but frown. Something about this story sounded…familiar.
"He had been completely brainwashed by not just the Dark Seed, but by our enemy Vamdemon," V-mon said in a sad tone. "My friend's partner was alone when Vamdemon began to use him for his own twisted schemes."
"What happened to the Chosen?" a Bearmon asked. "Did you save him?"
"It had taken everything to stop him," Patamon picked up the story. "But I can't say it was us who stopped him and snapped him out of whatever hold darkness had on him."
"I may have been the one to stop Chimairamon, but it was Wormmon's sacrifice to die for his partner that truly saved him in the end."
As the Chosen Digimon continued telling the stories of their adventures, Kouji felt a sense of familiarity. The stories sounded very familiar, but he couldn't figure out why? Had Bokomon been telling the stories of those Chosen Children and their Digimon and he just hadn't been paying attention?
"Ichijouji Ken-kun! Is that you?"
"Ken-chan?"
The world seemed to pause around the Warrior of Light as a trembling, shaky male voice spoke the name of his father. Kouji didn't realize what he was doing until he found himself facing the two male voices. Behind him were two Digimon. The owner of the shaky, hopeful voice was a green Insect Digimon. Next to him, was a red Digimon that reminded him of a devil. Kouji felt an odd sense of familiarity as he gazed at the two. But why? He was positive he never seen the two in his life before? And how did these two know about his father's birth surname? This was all puzzling.
Noting the obvious puzzlement on his face, the Devil Digimon frowned as yellow eyes turned to gaze at the other. "It's not him, Stingmon. I'm sorry if I got your hopes up."
The Digimon, now identified as Stingmon, slouched slightly in — what was that? Disappointment? "He's too young, Oniisan," Stingmon said with a sigh, the disappointment quite visible. "Ken-chan should be thirty-six now, I think." Stingmon gazed at the other as he said that, unaware of the cold shock that filled Kouji. Papa's thirty-six…This couldn't be the same person, could it?
"However, you do feel and look like my old partner, somewhat," the Insectoid said as he returned his focus to him, now noticing how his eyes were wide in disbelief.
"Are you sure we are talking about the same Ken, Stingmon?" Phelesmon asked, distracting Stingmon from commenting about Kouji's shock. "It could just be a coincidence that he kinda looks like him." Phelesmon did not look convinced that the Ken that was Stingmon's partner was related to the boy in front of them.
Stingmon nodded. "Ken-chan, legally changed his last him when he was adopted by the Minamotos, remember. The last time we talked, before the gates closed again, he was telling me about his therapy sessions and about this girl that has been helping him with his panic attacks and his nightmares of his father."
The world seemed to have gone deadly silent to his ears as he tried to process this new information. Even the two Digimon conversing seemed to have gone unnoticed by him. Kouji's mind seemed to have gone still in shock, his emotions blank, as he placed all the information together. It sounded unreal, yet he couldn't deny it.
Ichijouji Ken. Minamoto Ken. His father…were one and the same. His father was one of the Chosen before him. So why did he hide this part of himself from him? Why did he lie?
Papa...Why didn't you tell me? Did you think I wouldn't understand? Kouji gazed at the digivice silently. He was glad to have his D-Scanner back, he truly was. But it did nothing to the swirls of thoughts that kept invading his mind. His father had lied to him. He had kept a big part of himself from him. He thought his father trusted him...They told each other everything! His father knew about his anger and dislike towards his mother...he knew the pain that his mother had caused his father when she abandoned them. He knew about his grandfather and how horrible he had been to his father when he was so young. Those were the reasons why his father never laid a hand on him, nor raised his voice when he did something his father didn't like.
His father just knew how to get people to tell the truth without violence. His father, unlike his uncle, Takumi (who loved being the bad cop for some reason), often used his words in that soft, gentle tone of his to get people to talk, even when he was annoyed or angered. That's what made him an amazing cop and such an understanding and patient father. Kouji shuddered slightly, remembering how he and Takuya managed to anger his father. It had been Takuya's fault, of course, for getting them both into trouble. They both had vowed to never anger his father ever again. They had both learned their lesson, even if it was mostly Takuya's fault, to begin with.
But this still didn't explain why he failed to mention this major detail about himself? His father had never mentioned this Stingmon to him or that he had once been a Chosen Child in his youth, yet he felt...familiar, somehow. Like, this Digimon was someone he should have known. Kouji knew deep in his mind that he had heard about his Digimon from somewhere, but he couldn't figure out where. Kouji frowned at the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He was more confused than ever.
I don't understand. Had Papa mentioned this Digimon in passing without me realizing it? Had I read it somewhere...in Takeru-san's books, perhaps? That did make sense. Takaishi's books were a bestseller, having been sold all over the world and had even been made into various tv shows, movies, video games, card games, and even toys. But still...he felt as if his father had not trusted him enough to tell him about his partner.
With a frustrated sigh, Kouji stuffed his D-Scanner into his pocket. Everyone was talking among themselves, watching as Phelesmon, Stingmon, and some of the other Chosen Digimon assessed the damaged caused by the battle. Kouji's eyes lingered on Stingmon's back as XV-mon began telling his friend about Jun and Takumi getting together, Daisuke owning that restaurant he had mentioned when he was younger, and about Ken being a cop, while talked Stingmon's brother was inspecting the damage done caused by the battle.
"I'm sorry, Lord Phelesmon. I did not mean to cause so much damage," Tomoki said as he shifted from side to side, gazing at the Digimon nervously.
Phelesmon turned towards him, giving him a friendly smile. "Do not fret over this, young one. Petaldramon would have caused a lot more damaged if you hadn't stopped him when you did."
Takuya grinned at Tomoki. "See, I told you he wouldn't be mad. He's cool, just like Ojisan!" The others looked at each other in confusion, while the other Chosen Digimon just stared at him at the comment, studying him, putting the pieces together. They must have been told about him and Takuya being related to Ken and Daisuke.
"What you mean by that?" Junpei asked, confused. Kouji groaned. The others didn't exactly know that he and Takuya were, well, cousins. They didn't really act like it. He and Takuya were complete opposites (kind of like his father and uncle) and they didn't exactly get along very well. One would say they acted more like rivals then cousins. Takaishi Chio had mentioned that one too many times.
"Oh, right, you don't know." Takuya scratched the back of his neck, sheepishly. "Well, my uncles are Motomiya Daisuke and Minamoto Ken, who is Kouji's father by the way," Takuya added, getting a slightly shocked look from Stingmon and Phelesmon. Some of them knew at least. V-mon never did get to tell the other two Digimon since they had been too involved in the fight that had soon occurred after Takuya found them. "They and their friends were Chosen Children centuries ago, apparently. They were partnered with these guys," he said, pointing to the Chosen Digimon.
"What?!" Junpei was the one who yelled, but Tomoki and Izumi did seem surprised at the news. "You're telling me that you guys are cousins?!"
"Of course, we're cousins," Kouji scoffed at the other, his arms crossed over his chest as he narrowed his eyes at his cousin. "Ojisan's sister married Papa's older brother. Not that it's any of your business." Kouji didn't even catch the fluid movement before a Patamon was in front of his face. Kouji had to step back a bit in surprise, not expecting the small orange Child Digimon to get into his personal space.
"V-mon's right! You look so much like Ken-kun, minus the bandana of course," Patamon said, more to himself and the other Digimon then to him, just as Tailmon eyed Takuya with narrowed eyes.
"Definitely related to Daisuke. No doubt about that. Are you sure you not his son?"
"Sadly, no," Takuya said with a pout.
"Oh, come on. Jun can't possibly be that bad," XV-mon inquired with a grin, which only caused Takuya to groan in frustration. Not that he blamed him. Jun was crazy, annoying, and very irritating.
"Don't. Even. Go. There."
"Alright. Alright." XV-mon raised his hands slowly in peace as he chuckled nervously.
"But...but...but..." Junpei interrupted. "That can't be possible! Shouldn't they be like centuries years old or something?"
"The Digital World and the Human World are no longer synced," Stingmon said, his voice shaky with emotion. He must have really missed Papa. "It did at one point, but after the reboot...time runs faster here then the Real World."
"What so...that means?" Izumi inquired, nervously, unsure.
"Meaning," Hawkmon spoke up, "several weeks, months, or years here, could only be minutes or days over there."
"And vice versa, da'gya," Armadimon added, causing Tomoki, Izumi, and Junpei to gaze at each other in uncertainty. How much time had passed in their world? How long had they been missing? Kouji's heart sank. He had promised his father he would only be gone for a few hours. He had only left to get a gift, not to save some parallel world. Despite the uneasy feeling he currently had about his father's status as a former Chosen Child, Kouji would never be so cruel as to leave his father and not tell him where he was going. His father must be freaking out by now when he didn't answer his cell. Kouji had wanted to smash the digivice, hoping it would revert back to his cell phone.
"I'm sure everything is fine," Takuya said. He was being optimistic again. "Probably no time passed at all back at home. And even if it did, there really is nothing we can do until we stop Cherubimon and his gang of evil warriors." The others nodded, knowing he was right.
"It's getting late," Birdramon said as she reverted to Piyomon. "There's no point in traveling through the snow and ice at this hour. It's dangerous. You all should rest at the castle for the night and resume your journey in the morning." Piyomon turned her gaze towards Phelesmon. "If that is alright with you, Phelesmon."
Phelesmon nodded, smiling kindly at the Chick Digimon. "I don't mind. I have plenty of room at the castle."
"Castle?" Tomoki asked curiously as Izumi clapped her hands together excitedly.
"We would love to stay at your home, Lord Phelesmon. Thank you so much!"
"Please the honor is mine," Phelesmon said as he turned towards his brother. "Stingmon, take them to the castle and inform the cooks and staff we will be having a few more guests."
Kouji frowned slightly, his eyes gazing at Stingmon. He wasn't sure how he felt about being in the same space as his father's partner. There were too many unanswered questions. But Stingmon could be the key to answering these conflicting questions. But then again, what if the answers only reveal more mysteries about his father, causing a rift between them. He didn't what that. He didn't want to lose his trust in his father, nor did he want to destroy their relationship because of lies and secrets. It was all they had. They only had each other.
"Of course, Oniisan. Will you be coming late, again?"
"I don't think so. This can be fixed in the morning, but I would like to discuss some things with Nanomon."
Stingmon nodded at his brother as he turned towards them with several of the Chosen Digimon following him. "Please, this way."
Kouji sighed as he followed his cousin, his other teammates, and the group of Digimon. Who was he to deny a possible shelter? They had been traveling for so long, sleeping outside most of the time, that the prospect of having a roof over their heads and homemade meals did seem like a wonderful opportunity not to pass.
I hope I don't regret this.
Chapter 2: Partners of the Chosen
Chapter Text
"That is no excuse! Did we not have the right to know that you guys were related and related to the original Chosen no less?!" Junpei complained for the umpteenth time, his eyes narrowed at both Kouji and Takuya as they all took a seat at the incredibly large, incredibly beautiful table. The table was quite elaborate with its Victorian style design. In fact, the castle seemed to be a mixture of different eras all merged into one. It reminded him of that odd entry in one of his father's old dairies he had read a long time ago.
Kouji had felt a hint of uneasiness as he took a seat next to Izumi, with Neamon and Armadimon taking the seats to his right. Upon entering the castle, Kouji had seen several photographs. Many of the photographs displayed Phelesmon (either alone or with his brother) with other Digimon. Kouji had only briefly looked at them, but judging by the names under the photographs and the general appearance of the different Digimon, they were noblemen and noblewomen, lords and ladies, and even kings and queens.
Some of the other photographs he and the others had come across were photographs of different landscapes; they too had a short description and title under each one. Kouji hadn't recognized any of them, but there were a few that popped out to him. File Island. The Village of Beginnings. Server Continent. WWW Continent. He heard those names before, but he couldn't point his finger where. They had never gone to those places and as far as he could tell those places don't even exist, at least not anymore.
His suspicions had been confirmed when Tailmon pointed out that the reboot had deleted many of the old islands, reforming them into new ones, with ninety percent of the Digimon population reverting back to their Child or Baby forms, as a result of this reboot, or back into a Digitama. The lands were more separated now and the only way to reach these lands were by a Trailmon or by traveling over the vast ocean.
Reboot... This was not the first time he heard that word. The Digimon at the marketplace mentioned it several times, Bokomon even mentioned it while he was catching up with his friends. And then it was mentioned again. But what exactly was this reboot? Was it like rebooting a computer or something? Kouji found himself doubting that. The Digital World can't be rebooted like that. It's a living planet, just like ours. Maybe the reboot is an acronym for something, but what? And what does this have to do with Papa and his friends? How were they involved in this? Kouji sighed, deciding to let it go. All this questioning wasn't getting him anywhere. He'll just have to ask Bokomon later. He seemed to know what this reboot was about, like he had lived through it. Was that even possible?
"Junpei-kun, give it rest. We didn't exactly ask them if they were related. And Kouji-kun's right. It's not our business," Izumi said as she gazed at the food on the table. Junpei frowned from his spot next to the female warrior. Apparently, they were having a three-course meal and the cooks (Digitamamon, the couple, Mother and Father Burgamon, as they insisted to be called, and Vegimon) had already been placing the appetizers on the table when they arrived. There were several different types of gyoza, spicy edamame, chicken & scallion skewers, fried chicken, tuna poke, and shumai. Kouji was slightly surprised to see some of the dishes his father always made at home. There were his personal favorites: tsukune, spring rolls, renkon chips. And his father's personal favorites: chawanmushi with shrimp, sake-steamed clams, and miso glazed eggplant.
"How is it not our business? Their uncles," he said pointing to Takuya (who was sitting next to V-mon), "his father," he then pointed to Kouji, who scowled at him, "their partners," Junpei yelled as he pointed at the Digimon that were munching away on some food, watching the argument with a mixture of annoyance and longing, "are related to the original Chosen! Ophanimon said there were others before us! They could have helped us! They clearly know more about the Digital World then we do! They could have helped us!"
"That isn't very likely," Bokomon said as he plucked a gyoza from one of the many plates scattered across the table. Bokomon was in between Junpei and Tomiki.
"Why's that?" Tomoki asked, who had been rather quiet throughout Junpei's annoying rant. "We were brought here. Why not them?"
"He has a point," Neamon said as he stuffed a spicy edamame into his mouth, which he soon regretted afterward.
"Yes, well, as far as we know, Ophanimon was only able to contact human children to bring to the Digital World. And if any adults had taken a Trailmon to come to the Digital World, we would have heard something by now." Assuming that Ophanimon actually attempted to contact them, to begin with.
The Digimon looked at each other, each one suddenly having looks of longing and disappointment, the same one his father's partner had not long ago. It suddenly dawned on him just how close they must have been to their partner and just how much they must be missing them. Any type of news about their partner must be a blessing and if, by some divine miracle, their partners managed to find their way back to the Digital World, given the dozen or so children that must have been called just like him and the others, would have been a dream come true.
Kouji looked up from his plate that he had been picking at to gaze at the group of Digimon. But Kouji found himself, once again, gazing at one in particular: his father's partner. Stingmon sat at the head of the table. V-mon (who had devolved when they arrived at the castle) and Meicoomon sat to his left and right, respectively, beginning the long row of Humans and Digimon. From across from him were Meicoomon, Patamon, Tailmon, Hawkmon, Tentomon, Palmon, Piyomon, Gomamon, Gabumon, and Agumon. To Kouji left were Armadimon and Bokomon and to his right were Izumi, Junpei, Neamon, Tomiki, Takuya, and V-mon.
Kouji's shifted his gaze from the Digimon to his cousin. Takuya caught his gaze with a small smile. He had come to the same conclusion about these Digimon as he had, at least to some extent.
"You make it seem like Ophanimon never contacted them." Izumi gazed at Bokomon with a frown.
"It is very likely she was unable to," Bokomon said with a frown of his own. "Ophanimon has not been seen in decades. And from what Socerimon told us, it is likely she had been captured by Cherubimon. Her powers are probably limited, at best," he said in between bites.
"So, contacting us through our cells was the best she could do."
"Precisely."
Izumi frowned. "But wouldn't that mean they would have gotten a call too? They wouldn't just abandon these guys if they knew the Digital World was in danger."
"You're right about that," V-mon spoke up, a small smile on his face. "Daisuke and the others would have done everything they could to enter the Digital World if they knew it was in danger. They would never abandon us like that."
"And even if they aren't able to enter the Digital World through the TVs sets, I'm sure Koushiro-han would have found a way. He always does," Tentomon said, sure of himself. But it was obvious he was sad that the computer genius hadn't been able too, just like V-mon, Phelesmon, and Stingmon. All the Digimon were sad really and he was sure his father and the other adults were feeling the same way. No that wasn't right. From personal experience alone, Kouji knew this sadness must run deep. It was on the same level of sadness and pain that his father felt towards the death of his oldest son, Kouichi, and the betrayal of his ex. Kouji knew that look very well, especially when it came to his father. It was a look he had come to loathe.
"TVs sets?" Tomoki mumbled in confusion for a moment before his eyes went wide. "You mean like the Forest of Televisions?" Kouji frowned slightly at the memory. He had seen his father in one of those viewing portals. His father was in the kitchen with his fiancee, Motomiya Julieanne, Daisuke and Jun's half-sister. They were talking and laughing as they continued to prepare the food for the party, while his uncle, Daisuke, sneaked in presents that were for his father. With the wedding two months away, his father had forgotten all about his birthday. Though, Daisuke and Takumi wanted to keep it that way as they planned this joint birthday party. As far as his father knew, they were celebrating Shinya's birthday. Although, that was what they wanted him to think. They were all in on it. A double birthday party.
However, his father hadn't seemed that concerned that he had been gone for weeks. Could that have something to do with the time difference between the two worlds? It did make sense. His father would be near hysterical when he realized that he hadn't returned home with Takuya as he promised. And then there would be the phone calls. After five missed calls and before his father began thinking the worse his uncles, Daisuke and Takumi, would force him out of the house to hunt them down. Kouji was not entirely thrilled about that.
"Not really," Tailmon said as she popped some fish into her mouth. "There used to be TV sets all over the Digital World. We used them to come and go between the worlds as we pleased. It helped when things got really dangerous."
"Like the weird weather that occurred when Balck War Greymon destroyed the Holy Stones," Hawkmon added.
"This sounds too much like Takaishi-san's books," Kouji mumbled to himself. However, everyone heard him. Several pairs of eyes gazed at him, making him uncomfortable.
"What?" Kouji had noticed the way Patamon's eyes began tearing up as well as the looks his friends and cousin were sending his way.
"Wait, you're talking about Takeru as in Takaishi Takeru? The famous author?" Izumi asked, her eyes wide. Jumpei looked just as shocked as he pulled out a book from the pocket of his jumper. Kouji and Takuya nodded, confused.
"Takeru's an author?" Patamon asked with a teary smile. "He always said he wanted to be an author. What does he write about?"
"You guys," Takuya answered for him with a huge grin. "The book series is called Digimon Adventure." The Digimon all perked up, pausing in their quest to eat every food placed in front of them to gaze at Takuya. Kouji popped some food into his mouth to hide the curious hmm that would ultimately draw the attention back to him.
Sitting here with his father's partner and the rest of the Chosen made him wonder something about his father. Back at home, his father always made a lot of food. Don't get him wrong, Kouji loved his father's cooking more than Daisuke's (though, he could be just biased), but he and Ken weren't exactly the biggest eaters, that honor falls to Daisuke, Taichi, and even Miyako. For years Kouji had wondered about this. His father never seemed to notice this little issue, it was a habit he had developed as a child, but now, after so long, Kouji knew why. It was because of the Digimon.
"The main characters are called DigiDestined and the majority of the names and places in the books were changed, slightly. But I'm positive he was writing his and the others' adventures. They even talk about you guys a lot when they get together during the bi-yearly reunions." Patamon and the other Digimon all smiled, glad to know that their partners managed to stick together, despite growing distant before in the past.
"It was all real? Everything..." They all turned towards Junpei who was holding a book in his hands, a mixture of emotions on his face. The book was yellow and had a symbol on the cover: a single ray of light beaming down from a small sun. The title and symbol were faded from use, but he could tell it was one of Takeru's books from his book series. The Digimon nodded slowly, but they were unsure how to respond to Junpei's question.
"I never thought it was real," Junpei whispered in a mixture between awe and horror. "You died..." Patamon nodded slowly. "And you guys..." Junpei stopped speaking as he gazed at V-mon, Armadimon, Hawkmon, and Stingmon. The four Digimon didn't respond, however. Why? He couldn't be sure. Kouji hadn't read any of Takaishi's newer books in the series. He had stopped after Mummymon and Archnemon kidnap the former Digimon Emperor. There was just something about that event that felt unsettling and familiar.
"It hurt Takeru gravely when I died. I returned, but I know he never got over it. I had hoped he would find the strength to move on from this and live a happy life after we were separated again." Patamon then looked at Takuya and Kouji, torn. "He is okay, right?"
Takuya smiled. "Yeah, he is. He married Hikari-san and they have three kids together."
"I'm not that surprised. They had always been close as kids. Is Hikari a teacher?" Tailmon asked. Takuya's grin grew wide. The gossiper was more than happy to answer the Digimon's eager questions about their partners' adult lives. I guess it was bound to happen eventually, he thought silently. The Digimon hadn't seen their partners in quite some time. It was understandable that they wanted to know about their partners' adult lives now, having last seen them when they were kids. But how long had it truly been for them? Years? Decades? Centuries? Kouji glanced at his cousin, who seemed rather excited. Kouji had to admit, he was curious who was partnered to who. But he had a feeling he already knew.
"Yup," Takuya said. "She a great teacher." Tailmon smiled. "Yagami Taichi-kun and Meiko-san got married." Both Agumon and Meicoomon perked up at this.
"What is Taichi doing now?" Agumon asked.
"Mei's married?" Meicoomon said with a smile. "Does she have any kids? She said she always wanted one!" Well, he guessed they were finding out who was partnered to whom. However, as he gazed around the table, his memory of what he had read from Takeru's books came flowing back.
"Taichi-san is a United Nations diplomat," he told Agumon, who smiled broadly before turning to his friend, a smug look on his face. "Told you! I win!"
Kouji silently eyes to the two Digimon. There are only three blond's in Papa's group of friends…and only one is the oldest and best friends with Yagami-san.
Gabumon sighed in disappointment, just as the cooks came in to clear their plates and replace them with the main course. "Well, damn. I guess I owe you lunch tomorrow."
"You guys betted on each other?" Junpei asked, baffled.
"Why not?" The two said with a shrug.
"How long has this bet been going on?" He asked.
"Umm, after we got separated. I think," Agumon said, unsure. Gabumon shrugged as well. Izumi laughed, along with Tomoki, while Junpei continued to gaze at the Digimon in shock. Kouji could only shake his head in disbelief. Honestly, it was no surprise that those two were Yagami and Ishida's partners.
"And Meiko-san is a graphic designer. They have a son together," Takuya said, answering Meicoomon's question. "Izumi Koushiro-san is a researcher. I believe, he set up this research team with Takenouchi Haruhiko-san, Kido Shuu-san, and Inoue Miyako-san. Anyway, he married Mimi-san and they have two kids together." Palmon and Piyomon gazed at each other.
"I wasn't expecting that," Piyomon said.
"Neither was I," Palmon said. "What does Mimi do?"
"She's a famous chef." Palmon smiled.
"Mimi did always make the best food," Palmon said at the same time Izumi squealed: "I love Izumi-san's cooking show!"
"What about Sora?"
"And Miyako-san?"
"And Iori, da'gya?"
Takuya chuckled as each Digimon began inquiring about their partner. "Give me a minute. I'm getting to them." Takuya took a sip of his glass of water before continuing. Each Digimon and Human were hanging onto every word. All except Kouji. Kouji soon found himself retreating into his thoughts as Takuya began talking about Yamato and his wife, Sora. He never did interact with the other adults much. He knew they were his father's friends. Though, his father was the closest to Hikari, Daisuke, Takeru, Miyako, and Iori.
Kouji briefly shifted his gaze to Hawkmon, who was frowning. Looks like Takuya was telling him about Miyako's divorce with her previous husband. Kouji picked on his garlic fried rice as his thoughts traveled to his father once again. His father had never really liked the man Inoue had married five years ago. Kouji didn't remember the guy much, but he had not been very nice. Miyako never did seem happy with him. She didn't smile, became distant from her friends whenever the man was around. The man, according to his uncles and his father, had been stealing from her, cheating on her, and mentally abusing her to get what he wanted. Everyone was just glad that her current boyfriend was very nice and adored her, spoiling her sometimes.
Kouji slowly chewed on some fried shrimp. Now if only Montgomery-san had the nerve to propose.
"Wallace?" Hawkmon asked. "You mean Montgomery Wallace-san?" Kouji blinked, returning his focus to the conversation in front of him. The Digimon knew Montgomery? How was that even... Kouji groaned over his food. Don't tell me he's a Chosen too.
"Yeah." Takuya blinked. "You know him?"
"He's Lopmon and Terriermon's partner."
Takuya glanced at Kouji, who refused to look back at him. Was everyone his father knew a former Chosen or was it just a select few? Kouji groaned. He wished he hadn't met these Digimon. His head was pounding with questions, questions that only one Digimon had the answers too. But was he ready? He wasn't sure if he wanted to ask him or to find out what other mysteries his father hidden in plain sight and he had just been too naive to not notice. But there was something else too. He feared for when Takuya finally told everyone about his mother and how she broke his father's heart and ruined their family.
Before Kouji knew it, Takuya had finished talking about Miyako, Iori, and Daisuke.
"Iori-san actually works with Ken-ojisan and Otousan on their criminal cases. It amazing how well they work together."
"He doing okay then," Stingmon spoke up for the first time since Takuya began talking about the others. "I'm glad." Kouji gave him a sideways glance. Stingmon seemed lost in his thoughts, but he seemed so happy to know that the others were doing so well and that his partner was doing fine. "I was worried about him after he and the others had gotten hurt by Alphamon before the reboot. After everything that's happened, he deserves to be happy." If Stingmon could, he would have assumed the other would be smiling. But Kouji could only find himself frowning the tiniest of bit more. His father had been harmed by this Alphamon? Why? "I'm guessing Ken-chan and Kimura-san got married then?"
Takuya's smile fell just as Kouji's face darkened, his previous questions shoved to the corner of his mind. Kouji's body tensed up a bit at the mention of his mother, the one thing he had been dreading. Why did he think Stingmon would not notice the resemblance? "Well...not exactly..."
"What you mean?" Stingmon asked. "From what Ken-chan told me, they had been really close. And she seemed to care deeply for him when I met her briefly." They had, Kouji thought, knowing that was the truth. But she had broken Papa's heart.
There was a sudden gasp. Kouji froze. Had he said that out loud? Kouji finally, fully, looked at his father's partner and felt a tinge of guilt. Stingmon seemed pained, hurt that his partner had been hurt by someone close to him. That he had been hurt again and he had not been there to protect him. Stingmon stood up then with the chair following behind him with a sudden slam!
"V-mon would you mind showing them to their rooms after dinner?" V-mon had placed down the fifth teriyaki burger he had been devouring, gazing at the other in concern.
"Um, sure. But where are you going?"
"I just remembered that I have something to do." Stingmon's voice was tight. The Digimon wanted to leave, wanted to escape the truth he had just been told. He did not want to believe. He wanted to deny the truth as much as possible. He couldn't exactly do that while in the same room as his partner's son.
"But, Stingmon..."
"I will see everyone in the morning." Stingmon didn't give his friend a chance to complain or question his sudden departure. Kouji watched as Stingmon left, his food half finished, the chair laying forgotten on the floor. Kouji frowned, guilty, as he stared at his own food. He suddenly didn't feel hungry anymore, unlike his friends who had been digging into the food up until Stingmon's quick retreat.
"What just happened?" Tomoki asked, concern written all over his features as his gaze shifted between him and Takuya, wondering how an interesting, positive conversation about their predecessors had gotten so tense and dark the next.
Kouji didn't say anything. He couldn't. How can you tell someone how the one person he cared for the most had been hurt so much that he was still hurting today and refused to let go? He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, ignoring the concerned and worried looks of the Digimon, his cousin, and his friends.
"Yes, what did happen?" V-mon asked, not about Stingmon's reaction, but about the underlying cause. There was an overprotectiveness in his voice. He had been just as close to his father as Stingmon was. He could tell from the snip-bits of the conversation he overheard between Stingmon and XV-mon. The two were very close and cared about each others' partners like they were their own. It was similar to his father and Daisuke, actually. Weird.
Takuya signed. "Kimura-san," Takuya said, void of his previous excitement when he was gossiping about the adults to their partners, "she left Ojisan the day he was going to propose." The Digimon looked shocked and horrified. "From what I was told from my parents, Ojisan was coming back from Kouji's checkup. He had caught some kind of cold or something when he was younger, leaving Kouichi (Kouji's twin brother) with Kimura."
"Wait? Ken has another son?" V-mon asked. The Digimon didn't know. How could they? They hadn't seen their partners in centuries. But Kouji could not listen anymore. Thinking about his older brother seemed to hurt like a physical wound. But thinking about the nights his father would try to comfort him when he cried for his mother, for his brother that was gone, even though all his father wanted to do was cry and mourn himself, struck him to the very core. His father was in pain and still was (has been for years) and there was nothing he could do about it. And that hurt more than his own childish anger, hatred, pain and other negative feelings he currently felt. His father was pushing his own sadness, his own anger, guilt, and pain aside for him.
Kouji knew how lucky he was to have a father like that. Yet, at the same time, it pained him so much. His father had not been shown the same unconditional love, kindness, and support in his youth by his biological parents. He had to suffer and almost die to get the family and love that he truly needed, while he had it since the day he was born. Kouji knew his father was trying his best. Being a single parent had not been easy and he and Julieanne had only been officially together for three years. Despite that, Daisuke's half-sister, Julieanne, made his father truly happy and she, at times, made the sadness and pain almost non-existent. But it was not enough. The pain and sadness would always come back.
Kouji could see it in his father's smile, in his loving words and embrace, Ken was still hurting from the pain of his first born and by the betrayal of his first love. None of them would be able to properly grieve without a body to bury. The small shrine in the house was the best they could do. It helped ease the pain, but it did nothing to convince his father that it was not his fault. He blamed himself for that woman leaving him and for Kouichi's untimely death. This was why he didn't let go. He feared if he did he would be betraying Kouichi's memory.
Kouji just stared blankly at his food, feeling everyone's eyes on him. He closed his eyes as he envisioned his father, sitting right next to him, as he and Julieanne discussed the final preparations for the wedding. It was really mundane things they talk about: how the weather was going to be on that day? Did they order enough food? Was the location really okay for the wedding? Did they forget to invite anyone? And so on. Envisioning that small conversion, one he had heard every day for the past week made Kouji notice something.
He just wants everyone to be happy. That thought lingered in his mind for a moment. For as long as he'd known his father and based on the old diaries he had read in the past, his father had always put others before himself, even at the cost of pushing his own needs and feelings away. His father was kind like that.
Kouji blinked, realizing what he had to do. All his father desired was for his son, his family, and his friends to be happy and healthy. This didn't exactly help him and Takuya in their quest to find that special birthday gift that would finally put Ken at total ease, to convince him that it was okay to let go. Kouichi would not want him to keep blaming himself for his death. But his brother was dead and could not tell their father that. It was up to Kouji to do that. Kouji hadn't been sure how he would accomplish that, which was why he asked his cousin for help. But maybe he wasn't asking the right person. He needed someone who knew his father more than he knew himself. And who else knew his father the best than his own partner?
Kouji ignored the looks he got as he got up. "Thank you for the meal, but please excuse me." Kouji left in a similar matter as Stingmon, with more questions than answers, but with a new goal in mind. Kouji had walked aimlessly for a while, unsure where the other could have gone. As he turned the corner, Kouji heard: "Come on! We are going to miss all the good food!" before running into two rabbit-like Digimon: one brown with three horns and one white with one horn on his head.
"I'm so sorry!" The brown Digimon apologized for the other Digimon that had run straight into him, knocking the two of them over. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thank you," Kouji said politely as he helped the other Digimon to his feet.
"You?"
"I'm fine," the white rabbit Digimon said, slightly dazed. After the Digimon stook himself from his momentary daze, he looked at him with a blink. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to be one of those new Chosen we were hearing about?"
Before Kouji could respond, the brown Digimon hit the other with his ear. "Don't be so rude, Terriermon."
"Sorry." Terriermon rubbed his head with a grimace. The other sighed.
"I apologize for my twin. I'm Lopmon and this is Terriermon. What's your name?"
Kouji blinked. He figured they were siblings, judging by the way they acted. They reminded him of uncle and aunt, Daisuke and Jun. But he hadn't expected to meet Montgomery's partners so soon.
"Minamoto Kouji."
"Nice to meet yea," Terriermon said cheerfully, maybe a little too cheerfully. "Sorry to meet and run, but we really got to get going! Bye!" Terriermon scampered off in the direction Kouji came from, leaving his twin brother behind, who was looking exasperated.
"I apologize again for his behavior."
"It's fine. One of my uncles is the same way." Kouji smiled as he thought about all the times his father sighed every time Daisuke did something remotely stupid or dangerous.
"Still," Lopmon said, a small frown on his face as he watched his brother disappear around the corner. After a few moments of silence, the Digimon shook himself free of whatever thoughts he was having about his twin brother to give him a small smile. "Anyway, is there something I can help you will. It looks like you were searching for something."
"Was it that obvious?"
Lopmon struggled with his ears. "Not really, but I'm just more perceptive than Terriermon. Have to anyway. He's not one to think first when facing an opponent."
"I wish you luck," he said with a smile. "You're going to need it."
Kouji, not for the first time, began to wonder what it would have been like if Kouichi had still been alive. Would their relationship be similar to Terriermon and Lopmon's, Stingmon and Phelesmon's, or Daisuke and Jun's?
He guessed he would never get to know.
Lopmon smiled as well. "Don't I know it. You would think he would have more common sense." Lopmon giggled softly and Kouji couldn't help but laugh along with him. It was a good feeling, light and much better than the uncertainty that had been following him for the past couple of days ever since he came to this place.
"Lopmon, have you seen Stingmon pass by here," Kouji asked, remembering Lopmon had asked him what he was looking for.
"He was in his study within the library when we left," Lopmon said, using one of his ears to point down the hall. "Just take this hall all the way down and take the stairs to go up. The library is the fifth door to your right. Stingmon's study is at the back of the library, near the history section. You can't miss it. It has the Crest of Kindness on it."
Kouji bowed. "Thank you very much," Kouji thanked the other Digimon before making his way towards the library, where he hoped Stingmon had the answers he sought.
Stingmon had known for some time that something was wrong with his partner. He and Ken shared a strong bond, and like the others, he was able to feel his partner's emotions, like he was here next to him. Even with the gates closed and with them being worlds apart, Stingmon had been able to feel Ken's emotions. Ken was hurting. Something had been hurting him for some time now. Now he knew why.
Kimura.
Stingmon wasn't sure what Kimura did to his partner, but it was strong enough to cause Ken great pain, a pain that still lingered today. This type of pain was different from when his mother abandoned him. It was different from when Osamu was stuck by that car. It was stronger than those two combined.
With a sigh, the Insectoid returned his gaze to the photo album he had been looking through. The book was an old black leather book with the engraving of the Crest of Kindness on the cover. Stingmon had made this shortly after the gates closed, in order to fix what Oikawa's energy could not. Stingmon stopped at one of the pages that held several pictures during the time after they defeated Vamdemon. Gennai had taken so many pictures that day. Stingmon's eye lingered to one particular photograph. In this picture, his partner was smiling into the camera with Daisuke next to him. The two boys were holding him and Chibimon in their arms.
Ken had been so happy on that day. Why couldn't you stay that way? Why was there always something or someone out there to make you so very sad? Stingmon sighed as he gazed at his desk. On his desk, where several framed photographs of his friends and small knick-knacks. Stingmon's gaze lingered on the other pictures for a moment before landing on one that he had kept until the day he and Ken would be reunited again.
The photograph was of him and Phelesmon. It had been a gift that Daisuke had given Ken before he had been taken away by those horrible people. Ken had it on him when he and the others were sucked into the Digital World but had lost it after the battle with Alphamon, along with his D-3 and D-Terminal. They had found it later on, but because Himekawa had used it to open a gate to the Digital World, its circuitry had been fried beyond repair. That was why Ken got the D-Scanner as a replacement.
Stingmon had still wished that day had never happened. Ken had almost died that day. He had suffered again. And he still was. Ken's son didn't seem to like his mother, Kimura, very much, if the hash tone and hard eyes were anything to go by. He hadn't stayed to listen to Takuya's explanation of what had happened, but he knew it was bad. Whatever Kimura did to break Ken's heart, almost shattered him. Stingmon remembered that day like it had just happened yesterday. He had felt the raw emotions to the point that he had been close to tears himself and almost collapsed. And the worst part of all, he couldn't do anything to help his partner when he needed him the most. Ken had felt so alone, so guilty, so heartbroken.
He had sent his energy to his partner through their bond, hoping it would help Ken remember he wasn't alone, that he still cared for him. It didn't work right away and it had taken a good month before he felt the worst of it ease up a bit.
It was still there though. The pain. The loneliness. The guilt.
Why Ken was still feeling these emotions was maddening, but he had an idea why. Ken had loved Kimura. Her leaving him broke him in a way. Stingmon gazed outside the window, wondering if he should visit the Forest of Televisions again. He'd gone there from time to time to check up on his partner. Half of the time Ken would be at work, with Daisuke, or with his brother. He hadn't been there in a couple of years now. But he remembered witnessing Ken with a baby once. That must have been Kouji. Funny how he hadn't recognized the boy when he saw him. Though, in his defense, it had been a very long time. How long? He couldn't remember. A decade at most.
"Excuse me?" Stingmon blinked, startled out of his thoughts as he turned towards the open door of his study. On the other side of the door was Ken's son. The boy looked just like his father and mother. He had Ken's eyes and skin tone and the way he walked and talk reminded him of his partner. The shape of the boy's eyes and mouth resembled Ken, but his nose was that of Kimura. Kouji's hair was similar to Ken's but the color was obviously Kimura. Stingmon wished he could stop thinking about her.
"Kouji-san, what are you doing here?"
Stingmon was not a fool. He saw the way the boy had been hesitant to gaze at him directly. He had been in shock to learn that Ken had been a Chosen Child. For a moment, Stingmon had thought his partner had managed to hide a huge part of himself from his son. But then he remembered that Ken would never do that. Ken would never lie, not even to his own son. The Digital World had hurt Ken, just as much as it had saved him. Ken missed him terribly. Their bond told him so. And besides, Ken had a lot of pictures of him and the others throughout his home that he was sure would be hard to hide.
"I am sorry if I offended you. I have not meant too," the boy said.
So much like Ken-chan, Stingmon thought, not at all surprised. "It is alright, Kouji-san, I was just surprised that's all." Kouji frowned as he continued to stand outside the study. Definitely like Ken-chan. "Don't be a stranger. Come and sit with me. You seem to have something on your mind."
Kouji obeyed and silently took a seat next to him on the blueberry couch. The boy was silently studying the room and the pictures he had displayed on his lap. Kouji seemed intrigued by the photographs. "I've seen those before."
Stingmon nodded, handing the boy the photo album so he could get a better look at them. The first picture Kouji gazed at was the picture taken after they defeated Vamdemon. "This was taken after we defeated Belial Vamdemon. He was a piece of work that's for sure," he said.
"Vamdemon?" Kouji asked, puzzled for a moment before gazing at him questioningly. "You mean the same Vamdemon Takeru-san mentioned in his books? The same one your friends were talking about earlier at the marketplace?"
"The same one." Stingmon was not all that surprised that Takeru mentioned them, their enemies, and all their adventures in his books. He wondered how he would react about his father being the Kaiser. "Vamdemon was truly a fiendish monster." Stingmon hated thinking about all the pain he had caused. "Vamdemon had been a threat way before Taichi and the others first encountered him." Kouji chocked a brow in response. "There were conflicting political views between him and the Holy Beasts. It had become obvious the Holy Beasts had not cared about us. They were Gods. They did not have to listen to us for we were beneath them, despite being Chosen Digimon themselves."
Kouji's mouth dropped. "Chosen Digimon?"
"Yes, at one point they had been. But, unlike the rest of us, they did not attempt to stay in contact with the rest of the Digimon they ruled over and they didn't even try to stay in contact with their partners. Once they became gods, their partners and everyone else were nothing to them. Unneeded. This line of thinking was what allowed many Digimon to turn dark, to try to remove the Holy Beasts from power."
"Vamdemon…he was one of them, wasn't he?"
"Yes, Vamdemon had always been obsessed with power. But it had gotten worse over the years." Stingmon gazed at the boy that reminded him so much of his partner. "The Holy Beasts could have put a stop to Vamdemon, to Devimon, to the Dark Masters, long before they devised their plans for control and conquest. But they didn't. Instead, they summoned children to fight their battles."
Kouji wore a tight frown on his young features, one Ken always wore when he was deeply troubled about something. "The camp…" Kouji's gazed at the picture intently, pulling what he knew of the other Chosen's adventures from Takeru's book to light.
"Yes, they were the ones who created the portal that originally summoned Taichi, Sora, Yamato, Mimi, Jo, Koushiro, and Takeru to our world."
"More like kidnapped them," Ken's son said dryly, unimpressed with the Holy Beasts' behavior. Stingmon marveled at how similar Kouji was to his father.
"Yes, I guess you are right about that."
"Clearly," he quipped. If Ken had known what the Holy Beasts' plans had been since he had been hit by the Dark Seed, he more or less would have been as annoyed and irritated as Kouji was right now.
Stingmon shook this head before continuing. "This was not the first time they attempted to summon humans to our world. I'm not sure why they thought sending Agumon and Parrotmon to Hikarigaoka and Tamachi was a good idea, considering Ken-chan and the others were so young at the time, but that was what they did. " Stingmon hated the Digimon that had almost managed to take his partner away from him. Stingmon did not regret killing the other Digimon when Homeostasis forced the two to return to the Digital World. Greymon may have reverted back into a DigiTama the moment he returned home, but it was him who delivered the final blow to that lonesome Digimon. No one touched his partner and lives. I was probably a good thing Ken had been too sickly at the time to even remember what happened.
"Tamachi? Isn't that where Papa used to live as a child?" Stingmon nodded as he flipped a few pages before landing on one of the many pictures Ken's mother had taken before Osamu's death. The picture they were currently looking at was of Ken when he was about two or three. He was sitting on Osamu's lap as the older boy fabricated a story, instead of reading the words on the picture book. "Is that Papa's brother…Osamu?" Stingmon had seen the sadness in the other's eyes as well as recognition.
"Yes, Ken loved his brother. It affected him greatly when he died." Kouji nodded in response, a sad, wistful smile on his face. Stingmon knew exactly how he felt. Ken was still haunted by his death, even if he no longer blamed himself. He knew Ken stills visited his brother's grave on the anniversary and if he couldn't he would go to the small shrine he had built within this home. Stingmon remembered being in the small room the Ichijoujis had made into a small shrine for their dead son. He had always been so sad every time he went in there. But as he got older, he used the shrine as a way to sort through his conflicting thoughts. It was a way to help him cope with pain in his life. Stingmon had witnessed this a few times through the small viewing portals in the Forest of Televisions. "His death, along with the Dark Seed and Vamdemon's influence was what drove him to become the Digimon Kaiser."
Stingmon watched the boy intently as he just gazed at the picture of his father. The boy didn't look shocked or surprised, just sad, very, very sad. "When I was younger, I used to sneak into the attic and look through Papa's old diaries when he was fast asleep. He wrote a lot of personal things in his diaries. More than half were about his fears towards his father, the pain and sadness he felt towards his mother, and how his life just seemed to be falling apart," he paused, "but what really struck me the most was this single recollection of a dream he had."
Kouji took a small breath before continuing. "The dream would often always begin with his brother leaving the room and then he would find himself in a desert with another boy called Ryo. It would then shift to him fighting a monster called Millenniumon. He would then start talking about a Dark Seed, followed by the Kaiser, and Ojisan's death. I didn't understand a lot of what he wrote at the time, still don't. Most of it was just too heartbreaking to read, but up until now, I honestly didn't remember how much of it was true…" He was quiet again as he tried to piece together his words. "He suffered a lot, didn't he?"
"Yes," Stingmon said sadly. "Ever since he was born it was foretold that he would be targeted by both sides. The Holy Beasts wanted to use him for their own agenda, especially after he got hit by the Dark Seed, and Vamdemon and many other Evil Digimon wanted to use him against the Holy Beasts and Homeostasis." Stingmon shook his head. "It's sad really. He didn't deserve all this pain. He deserves to be happy after everything he's been through."
Kouji nodded slowly as he turned the page, landing on a page that occurred during his and Ken's first adventure in the Digital World. Ken was smiling into the camera, laughing a little as Ryo attempted to take a selfie of them as he, Ken, Ryo, and V-mon stood in front of a pretty waterfall that no longer existed now. Kouji flipped the page, seeing his father a little older this time. He was roughly fourteen years old. This was taken shortly after the reboot when Ken and the others were able to sorta walk around again. The barrier that surrounded the castle had been a blessing. It had protected them all from the reboot and any lingering Digimon under Gennai's control. At the time, the other Chosen were rumored to be fighting a monster on the other side of the Digital World.
Kouji had frowned at the picture. Ken and the others were still bandaged up from the attack dealt by Alphamon. The pain had been obvious. "He's hurt." He didn't form it as a question, but Stingmon nodded anyway, knowing what the boy was wondering.
"This was taken after the reboot. Ken and the others had been sucked into the Digital World by Yggdrasill, leaving them in the middle of the desert. Me, V-mon, Hawkmon, and Armadimon had been running away from an infected Tyranomon and Dark Tyranomon." He grimaced at the memory. "One minute we were running away from them and the next we were falling through a distortion that appeared right underneath us and landing right in front of our partners." Stingmon's voice sounded far away as he spoke, only slightly aware that Kouji was staring at him sadly, curiously, as he remembered that painful day.
"We had been so happy to see them. The gates were never meant to be closed permanently. The two worlds are deeply connected to each other, but something happened." He shook his head. "Something prevented the Digital World from recovering as it should have, resulting in the gates staying close for three years." Kouji only had a puzzled look on his face. Stingmon shook his head, looking very sad. "No matter how hard I fought, no matter what level I was, I wasn't able to protect him. I wasn't strong enough." Stingmon gazed at the small picture frame on his desk. "If my brother had not come when he did, Ken, Daisuke, Miyako, and Iori would have died that day." They had been no match against a Royal Knight.
When he returned his gaze to the boy, Stingmon noticed Kouji was completely horrified. "D-died? W-who? W-why?"
"I don't know," Stingmon said and he really didn't. Alphamon was a Royal Knight, yes. But he wasn't one to follow Yggdrasill's orders faithfully. If he felt the other was unjust, he would make his opinions known and even fight the other Royal Knights if he had to. So his unexpected attack had completely blindsided them. "Alphamon is a very powerful Digimon, but he isn't known to follow Yggdrasill's orders. At the time, Yggdrasill had wanted to destroy the Human World." Stingmon shook his head, confused. "Why Alphamon helped him in his genocide plot still baffles me, even till this day."
Kouji didn't say anything. The poor boy just looked sad and even more confused then he'd been before. Stupid him. The boy clearly didn't know certain things about his father or his past. Stingmon took a deep cleansing breath before giving the boy his full attention. "But enough about me, you had your own questions, correct?"
Kouji nodded. "Yeah," he said, only to sigh a moment later. "When I learned Papa was a Chosen, I truly thought he managed to hide a big part of himself from me. We tell each other everything and I mean everything. We don't hide anything from each other."
Stingmon's spirit lifted at that. He and Ken had a similar relationship. After the Kaiser incident, he and Ken had learned they should not hide their fears and pains from each other. It was the reason why he and Ken were so close. "You two must be really close," he said. He was so happy that Ken had such a good relationship with his son.
"Yeah, we are," he said, "but this Digital World thing and Papa being a Chosen is just so confusing." Kouji looked at him. "It must be obvious that I hadn't read many of Takeru-san books, like Takuya. If I had, I would have known a bit about what happened after Papa was kidnapped by those Digimon." He paused. "I...wasn't sure how I felt about this. The thought that Papa may have broken his promise…it…hurt."
"Kouji." Stingmon hated the uncertainty in his voice. He didn't want to believe that Ken didn't tell his son about his past. That was impossible. Stingmon had seen photographs of him and the other Digimon on several tables throughout Ken's home when he and the others visited the Forest of Television from time to time. That would be hard to hide. And Takuya even mentioned that the others talked about them during their reunions and then there were Takeru's books. Hiding his past from his son was certainly impossible and even if he had, Stingmon knew Ken would not do something like that. Kouji was all Ken had now to keep him from being dragged back into the depth of darkness that still wanted to claim him.
Kouji looked at him with troubled eyes, eyes he was so used to seeing. "I have known Ken since the day he was born. I know practically everything about him. His wants. His fears. His desires. And even what he loves the most. Trust me, after everything Ken has been through, the one thing he would not do is lie to you. You are his world, Kouji. It would completely shatter him if he felt he lost you."
Kouji visibly relaxed a bit, feeling comforted with his words. "You know, you sound just like Papa."
Stingmon chucked. "Do I?" He and Ken weren't exactly the same, but they weren't that different either. He guessed it was to be expected. "I guess I haven't really noticed."
"Are all Human-Digimon partnerships like this?"
"No," he said. "You see Human-Digimon partnerships are very unique. There are partnerships in where the two are complete opposites from each other and there are those who are very similar to each other. Me and Ken are not exactly the same. We have certain aspects to our personalities that contradict with each other, but it is those difference that balances us in a sense."
"This is starting to sound like this soulmates nonsense Miyako-san always talks about."
"I guess," Stingmon said with a shrug before returning to what he had been trying to convey to Ken's son before he got sidetracked. "Like I was saying, Ken would not lie to you willingly. But please understand that there are just some things that are just too painful for him to talk about. I doubt Takeru mentioned everything that happened in the past, especially if it was made into a book for children, but just enough to convey what happened."
Kouji let out a breath he had been holding. "Stingmon, thank you," he said.
He blinked. "For what?"
"For helping me. You are right. Papa would never lie to me. But being here…hearing the things he had been through…knowing that the things they were talking about were true…" He paused, fuddling with his worlds.
"Papa's tries so hard to make sure I have a good life and that I'm happy. But, despite having the support of his friends and family, a great job, me, and his new fiancee, he's still hurting." Of course, Stingmon already knew this. Despite the distance, he knew that Ken was sad, that he was still hurting. It just pained him having it confirmed, though. "I don't want to see him hurting anymore. I can handle him being sad about his brother, every time his death anniversary comes around. But he can't seem to let go of Kimura's betrayal and Oniisan's death." Kouji gave him a very sad smile. "Papa doesn't know that I've seen him in the shrine, talking to his brother's picture. He blames himself for Oniisan's death. He believes that if he let Kouichi go, he would be betraying him or something." He sighed. "I just wish there was something I can do to help him. I hate seeing him so sad."
Stingmon hummed softly, unsure how to respond. Ken had never handled death well. Him still mourning Osamu's death was proof of that. And he didn't want to even think about Kimura and her betrayal. He wasn't sure how he felt about her. "The best you can do is be there for him," he told the young boy. "Let him know how you feel and that you are there for him. That is the best you can do right now. The pain for a loved one is not something that will go away right away, it might not go away at all, but knowing you are there for him and allowing him to just talk can ease the pain at least."
Stingmon watched as the boy remained quiet. He continued to flip through the pages, lost in this thoughts. The Insectoid Digimon allowed the boy the time to think. He certainly had a lot to think about. As the boy flipped through the pages, he heard a soft knock on the door.
"Am I interrupting something?" Stingmon looked up to see his brother.
"No, no, come in." Despite Phelesmon's calm demeanor, Stingmon could see the worried lines just above his eyes and the grim expression he wore as he took a seat on the mid-century modern blueberry armchair that rested across from them, on the opposite side of the room. He did not seem all too happy at the moment, despite the calm front he was putting on. V-mon or one of the others must have told him about Ken-chan.
Despite not being bonded to Ken for very long, he was just as protective of his partner as he was. They both cared for Ken deeply and would do anything for him. It was what Chosen Digimon do. The bond was for life and one day Ken would return to the Digital World in spirit form. It was a time they both wished for deeply, yet hoped it would not happen for a very long time.
They could feel the love and happiness filling Ken's being. Ken was happy, truly happy. He had found someone to love and hopefully one that loved him back. But the sadness and grief were still there. Death and betrayal still entrapped Ken's gentle soul. They hated that sadness and grief, but after the Digital World was rebooted, creating a portal was difficult. It took several decades on their side to gather the necessary energy in order to open a gate big enough to pass a small gift through it every year on Ken's birthday. It was the same with the others as well.
Stingmon gazed at his brother who was studying Kouji silently. The boy looked up, sensing the other's presence, and gazed back with his own silent stare. As the two gazed at each other, intently, Stingmon couldn't help but sigh. His brother had never been easy to read. He was the guarded type and knew how to hide what he was feeling, even to him. And right now he was going just that. Stingmon had no clue what was swirling in his brother's mind. He hoped it was something positive, though. He didn't want to make Kouji more uncomfortable than he already was.
After five minutes of silence, Phelesmon rested his hands on his lap as he leaned over a bit in his seat. "Tell me, Minamoto-san, how is our partner doing these days? I could sense he's very happy and deeply in love." The Fallen Angel smiled at the boy, who seemed slightly surprised. "What didn't anyone mention that Ken has two partners, not just one?"
Kouji frowned, his eyes narrowing a bit. "No, as far as I know, Papa never even mentioned either of you."
"Not surprising," Phelesmon said. "I didn't become Ken's partner until shortly before the reboot engulfed the Digital World. And Stingmon, well, he didn't always stay in his Adult form back then. He was always in one of his lower forms."
Kouji was silent, his eyes shifting to the picture of his injured father sometime after the reboot. Miyako, who had been the least injured, had taken the picture. None of them had known what was happening, nor if the other Chosen were coming to help them. Either way, the four of them had merely spent their days of recovery smiling and staying positive. Ken, Daisuke, and Iori had all been smiling in the picture. Next to that one was of all four of them and all the partnered Digimon. Phelesmon had looked rather misplaced within the group of Baby Digimon and Humans, but he'd enjoyed it nonetheless.
"Other forms?" Kouji asked, his eyes still focused on the pictures. There was something in the picture that caught his attention.
"Yes," he said. "I'm sure you are aware that we, Digimon, have many different forms." Kouji nodded. "Stingmon is currently in his Adult form, but back then, whenever he was in the Human World or with Ken and the others, he was usually in his Child form, Wormmon, or Baby form, Leafmon."
Kouji suddenly gasped, his eyes staring straight at Stingmon. There were surprise and understanding in his eyes. "Wormmon," he repeated. "Papa always mentioned that name. He mentions it a lot during the bi-yearly gathering, when he's in his office, or when he's troubled about something."
"Me and Ken had always been rather close when we first met," Stingmon said fondly, "but after he had gotten hit by the Dark Seed, it had driven us apart in a way. We became even closer after the Kaiser incident, venting to each other, even if it was for the smallest of things. I guess I became a coping mechanism for him, even when I'm not around to talk to him directly."
Kouji nodded, his lips twitching slightly into a smile before silence engulfed the room again. Kouji flipped through some more pages as Phelesmon asked Kouji some basic questions about himself. Kouji answer honestly, truthfully, and it was not long before the two got into a full on conversation. As the two talked, changing from one subject to another, Stingmon found himself drifting away from the conversation as his mind returned to his partner.
Singmon missed his partner dearly. Ken had been through so much, more than one should. He wished he could remove Ken's pain. Though, he knew that was impossible. The majority of Ken's pain and suffering were engraved into his soul, scarring him for life. But as Kouji talked about his father and his wife to be, Stingmon knew Ken would be alright. He was finally happy and that was all he ever wanted from his partner. His happiness.
Ken-chan, I am so glad you are doing okay. Stingmon picked up the photo album that Kouji abandoned on the couch as his brother began the tale of how he met Ken. The two immediately bonded over their dislike over Ken's dreadful father. Stingmon had been silently looking through his photo album when his world seemed to crash right on top of him as new information came into light.
"So that's what happened." Stingmon looked up. Both Kouji and Phelesmon's expressions were grim.
Kouji gave a curt nod, which only caused Phelesmon to curse under his breath. But for him...Stingmon wasn't sure how to explain it. The chill that he felt in that moment was beyond something he had ever felt before. It was colder than the snow here in the Digital World, colder than icebergs and colder than Ice Devimon's lethal touch. Stingmon knew he had felt this life-wrecking chill before. It was a type of chill that had the ability to destroy cities, level lands and mountains, to dry up oceans and rivers, and to bring the most purest and innocent of Digimon to the most tainted rage and despair imaginable.
Stingmon knew this feeling. He remembered it well. It was the same chill he had felt as he watched Ken's father attacked his son on that horrible day, almost killing him in the process. He hadn't felt this way in a very long time. But knowing that Ken's father had murdered his wife and had been planning on killing his son on that day…
Stingmon stood up so fast that both Kouji and Phelesmon looked up at him in both surprise and concern. He silently walked over to his desk and plucked the small blue present, wrapped in a golden ribbon, before making his way over to the open door. He had to see Ken. He had to make sure he was alright. He would not believe it until he saw it for himself.
"Stingmon, what wrong?" Phelesmon knew what was wrong. His brother knew him far too well.
Stingmon glanced over his shoulder to gaze at them. "I going to see Ken." I have too. Phelesmon nodded at his brother and stood up. But before he could say anything, Kouji spoke up, confused.
"But aren't the gates closed."
"They are," Phelesmon said. "There are really only two gates now." Kouji lifted a brow in question.
"Two? But I thought the Trailmon were the only ones with the ability to take us back home." He wasn't exactly wrong, but with how unstable the Digital World was now, getting back home through a Trailmon would be near impossible at this point.
"Yes, you are right. The Trailmon are currently the only ones with the ability to travel between the two worlds, other than the Royal Knights, but they had disbanded long ago." He grimaced slightly. "But with how unstable the Digital World is now, no thanks to Cherubimon and his warriors and the effects of the reboot, the gates are very unstable, if they are active at all." Phelesmon shook his head sadly. "And even if they manage to find an active gate, it is unclear if you would return to the same terminal you entered from…or even the same world."
Kouji froze instantly. Shock clearly on his face as understanding took over. "Are you saying that…the Trailmon could potentially take us to a different world altogether, like in another dimension?"
"There are many dimensions, Kouji," Stingmon said, "and with those other dimensions are other Digital Worlds and Earths."
Kouji was quiet for a moment as he processed that information. He took it a lot better than they thought he would. Ken's son merely gave them a small nodded and in a calm voice he asked: "Who else can open the gates?"
"Ken-chan can," Stingmon said. This caused Kouji to blink in surprise.
"He can?"
The two Digimon nodded. "Ken's digivice, along with the other Chosen that are in possession of a D-3, allows Ken to open a portal between our worlds. Although, without a TV set of sorts on our side, it would be difficult to open one. Ken-kun is the only one to open a stable portal without the use of a computer or TV set, but it takes a lot of energy to do so."
"Ken-chan had been on the verge of passing out the last time he opened a portal," Stingmon said, his gaze on the small blue present with its pink rose design.
Kouji let out a long deep sigh. "How do you plan to see him then? He back at home with the others." There was uncertainty in his voice, doubt even. Stingmon gazed at him and frowned. This conversation only seemed to create more questions than answers for the young boy, questions that only Ken had the answers too. They could easily tell Kouji everything they knew, but it wouldn't be the same. Stingmon knew this was why Kouji had reframed from asking the deep, critical questions about his father that he desperately wanted to know about. There were some things only Ken could answer. But he did not want to make Kouji feel he could not trust his own father. That was the last thing he needed. But what Kouji said next completely baffled him, yet made a deep, agonizing longing. "You're not planning on bringing him here, are you?"
Uneasiness flashed in the boy's eyes. Despite the obvious questions, the boy wanted to ask his father after learning his father's status as a Chosen, Kouji was uneasy about bringing his father to a world where he had previously been harmed. Earth was probably no better, with the reminder that his father could be up for parole in the coming years due to good behavior. Though that was very unlikely, as Kouji said, Iori was making sure the man stayed where he belonged. At the time, Ken's mother's body had not been found, they could not prove if she was alive or not or if Mr. Ichijouji had anything to do with it, but with the discovery of a dead woman's body found buried in the basement of the dreadful man's former vacation home two months ago, they now had evidence to charge the man with murder in addition to the attempted murder and child abuse he was currently serving.
Stingmon shook his head. He missed his partner dearly and he longed to see him again, but he would never put his life in danger like that. He would not open an unstable portal that could potentially kill his partner. That was out of the question, something all the Chosen vowed to never do. "I would not harm Ken like that. We do have the necessary energy to open a portal, but it would be too unstable. I would not risk Ken's life like that. I do not want to drag him into another war, even if he'll be mad at me for not doing so." Kouji nodded, slightly relieved. Although the smile the graced the boy's lips only caused him to miss Ken even more.
"He'll probably be furious with the both of us when this whole mess is over." Stingmon grimace. He was so not looking forward to Ken's lecture of displeasure when he finally found out about this.
"True," Stingmon said with a sigh before straightened. "We're going to the Forest of Televisions. Care to join us?"
Chapter 3: On the other Side
Chapter Text
"Did you really think mere children will stop me and my plans, Ophanimon?" Cherubimon leaned against the pure white wall as he studied his former comrade. Ophanimon was suspended within a prison of light, the same light she had always vowed to protect and uphold until the day she broke that vow.
"They may be children, but you, of all Digimon, should know not to underestimate the Chosen." He frowned. She wasn't wrong. After the reboot, many had only gotten fragments of their memories returned to them, while others never remembered their former lives.
He, Seraphimon, and Ophanimon had been one of the fortunate ones to retain their memories after the reboot. Rather that was a good thing or not was debatable. Cherubimon cherished his memories of his time fighting alongside the youngest of the Legendary Tamers. Those were truly exciting times. Training to get stronger, to get better, as everyone looked down on them, believing they would never be able to defeat Millenniumon and his army, even with two humans helping them… but they had proven them wrong. They had proven everyone wrong; light would always triumph over darkness.
At least until the Holy Beasts made decisions that were questionable. Decisions that caused one Tamer to run away to another reality by abandoning everything and everyone he'd loved, while the other was forced down a spiraling path of despair, pain, and darkness.
It was truly amusing how beings of light, beings who had always preached that they would protect their own from things that would destroy them, only to bring darkness in their wake instead. The Kaiser's rise was a result of the Holy Beasts causing the fatal car crash that killed the elder Ichijouji, knowing he was a threat to their plans, while slowly influencing the father to cause chaos within his own family in hopes it would force the young Tamer to want to stay in the Digital World, permanently. Cherubimon features soured a bit, knowing that they only did this because ENIAC had taken Ryo away from them; so, it was only natural that they latched onto the only Tamer they knew they could manipulate.
"Cherubimon, please, stop this madness! It's not too late to make things right." Cherubimon sharply turned his attention to her, his eyes narrowed his teeth bared in a snarl of disgust. Unknown to the Angel Beast Digimon, a pinkish aura briefly surrounded him, revealing his true form as words filled with hatred and hurt felt anger were thrown at the other.
"Make things right? What do you know about that?!" His voice dripped with sarcasm, hatred, and something else, something foreign.
The female angelic Digimon cringed. She knew exactly what he was referring to. "Cherubimon…I…" Ophanimon shook her head of whatever she was about to say and instead replied with the same old response she had been lying through her teeth for the last couple centuries. "There was nothing we could have done. Millenniumon's influence had been too strong. We would have just made it worse."
"Don't patronize me, Ophanimon!" His fist slammed against the wall, causing the room to shake violently, as his anger multiplied tenfold. "You and I both know you and Seraphimon could have pushed Millenniumon long enough for me to help him fight the Evil God, while we were his prisoners!" His voice rose with every word as the true reason for his supposed madness came into light. "You abandoned our Tamer! You had the chance to help him rid himself of Millenniumon and yet you did nothing!"
Ophanimon shook her head in denial, which only made him angrier. "He helped us when everyone thought we were nothing but a waste of space as everyone around us died. But," his voice took on a more vulnerable, almost a softer tone, one no one had heard in centuries, "he still saved us. He still believed in us and helped us to get stronger. It was because of him, we are the Digimon we are today. It was because of him that we were able to survive the war and the reboot." His voice returned to the cold, calculating tone it had been since his former allies betrayal.
"It is your fault he had been forced to suffer so much over the years." She shook her head again. "Don't deny it! By you siding with the Holy Beasts, you betrayed our Tamer! It is because of them he doesn't even remember us!" He took several deep breaths in an act to calm himself down a bit. "But that will be fixed."
Ophanimon finally spoke up. "You can't bring him to the Digital World now," she pleaded. "The barriers are far too unstable! Forcing him could potentially kill him!" Funny, it sounded like she actually cared for the Tamer. Though, Cherubimon knew that was a lie. She may have prevented him from sending a signal to the Tamer's D-Scanner to take the Trailmon to the Digital World, but he had other ways to get him here.
"How stupid do you think I am?" He snarled at her. "I knew you would intercept my signal with your message for those children." He laughed as he walked closer to her prison, making sure they were only inches apart from each other. "Did you really think I don't have allies on the other side, watching him and the other Chosen. Waiting for my command to bring him here at all costs."
Despite the helmet and armor covering her slim figure and face, he could still tell she had become completely ashen. "No," she shook her head, "you can't!"
He stepped away from her and made his way to the door. "Besides, I have one son, it is only a matter of time before I have the other." His smile caused her to shiver in — what was that… fear? "He will come to me, willing. A father will do anything for his sons, even if it means sacrificing his own freedom for theirs."
"Cherubimon, no! You can't do this! Cherubimon!" Ophanimon yelled just as he left the room of light and into the welcoming darkness. Her voice echoed throughout the hall but had disappeared the moment he left that part of the wing. He slowly made his way to the top level of the castle where his office was located, his mind swirling around the fear he heard in the angel's voice.
"She fears I will remove the Dark Seed." He shook his head. Cherubimon had no intentions of killing his Tamer. That would most certainly happen if he tried to remove the Dark Seed. Only a being of pure Darkness and Light could remove the Dark Seed without harming the vessel and that assuming the Evil God hadn't created a physical form or a bond with his vessel by now.
Cherubimon frowned as he opened the door. The room was dark with the only lighting being the moons' rays coming from the three huge open windows that reached up to his ceiling. In the middle of the room was a single table with two ball-like objects resting on it: one a crystal ball and the other a ball of Digicode.
The Digimon smiled that cruel smile of his as strips of Digicode entered the room through the right window, entering the ball of Digicode his servants had already gathered for him. Cherubimon sat on his comfy chair and watched as an image of his servants were seen within the crystal ball. They were currently complaining among each other about a certain Duskmon.
He smiled, knowing that the boy was currently spying on his twin brother, not that he knows this of course. The injury the boy had stained at the terminal in the Human World and as a result of him merging with the Spirit of Darkness, resulted in the boy getting some sort of amnesia. Cherubimon knew it was cruel for him to make the other believe that the boy's father had been taken hostage by the servants of the Holy Beasts (which included the other Chosen and any Digimon that aided them) and brainwashed by those dreadful gods.
The memories Cherubimon saw allowed him to understand the boy's situation. Thankfully, he only had to manipulate the few memories that weren't suppressed to get the boy to cooperate with him. Either way, what he saw wasn't good. As far as his Tamer knew, his son was dead, no thanks to that police officer that had orchestrated Kimura's supposed death in order to get Ken and his brother off their trail. But from what he saw, this man was truly a vile human. He was a drinker, a woman beater, and a drug addict. He was not surprised that the man died from an overdose.
From what little he saw, it made him scoff at the weak woman for cheating on his Tamer and then confessing her crimes years later to her son when the boy confronted her about it, only after being told by his grandmother that his father and younger brother were alive and not dead as he had been made to believe. That must have been what drove the child to look for his father and brother, despite his mother's pleas to leave them be, not wanting to reopen those old wounds. But the boy, no longer feeling he could trust his mother, went on a long search for his father and brother. Cherubimon assumed the child had found them, but those memories were locked for some reason. It made him wonder if something happened.
The Beast Digimon cleared his mind of those thoughts and opted to look through his crystal ball. He touched it and watched as it changed to the Forest of Televisions. Why are those Humans back there? The thought only lingered for a moment as he gazed at the image in puzzlement. As the image focused a bit more, he realized only one of the Chosen were there, the Warrior of Light, and two familiar Digimon he had not spoken to in quite some time.
"Stingmon. Phelesmon." Cherubimon gazed at the image for a moment, feeling thankful to know his friends were well. The last time he saw them was just before Lucemon went mad with power. Cherubimon turned his gaze to the single photograph he had on the wall behind him. It was taken during the war with Millenniumon. In the picture were Ryo, V-mon, Black Garurumon, Angemon, Ken, Wormman, himself, and Tailmon in the front, while the rest of the Rebellion Army were cheering or posing for the picture in the background.
He signed as he returned his attention back to his crystal ball. They had once been very close, so close that they had almost been a family. But Cherubimon had made the mistake of trusting Ophanimon and Seraphimon. The three of them had at one point been very close when they were younger, but they had grown apart over the centuries after the reboot.
"I should have listened to you, Stingmon." He hadn't realized it at the time that his former allies had been in favor of the Holy Beasts' policies and had wanted to implement them with certain modifications. They had wanted to separate the different species. Human and Beast Digimon would be together in certain areas, but overall, they would be separated either by type or by attribute.
He shook his head, scowling as he did so. There had been absolutely no compromise between the three of them. It had been one disagreement after another, with him arguing with the two Human Digimon for he knew this was not what the Chosen Digimon, nor the rest of his kind needed. They did not need those broken policies or the Digimon that had fallen to those misguided beliefs.
"Here we are." Stingmon's voice cut through the fog of rage that filled him. He returned his attention to the image in front of him. The trio had stopped in front of one of the many trees that allowed them to see the Human World. Cherubimon touched the ball, curious about who they were trying to see. On the small tree's portal was his Tamer.
The Beast Digimon was silent as he watched his Tamer, who was no longer the child he remembered, but a grown man, gently petting a small puppy as he talked to his friends at the table. The Beast Digimon found himself just staring at the image as he witnessed his Tamer safe and happy with his family. As the image shifted a bit, allowing him to see a pregnant woman with reddish-brownish hair and an older woman cooking on the stove, while the Yagami siblings, a woman he did not recognize, and an older man were sitting with Ken at the kitchen table looking through a green book, he began to wonder if he should really go on with his plans. Ken seemed to be at peace as he sat at the table with those closest to him. As he pondered this, Ken continued his back and fore conversation with Hikari and the other woman.
"Okay, how about Ahmya, Ken-kun?" The black hair woman asked as she pointed to something on the page.
Ken scrunched up his nose in disagreement, which was accompanied by the small Shiba Inu puppy giving out a small disagreeing bark. "I guess that's a no," Hikari laughed softly as she turned the page. "What about Amaterasu or Hana?"
"How about Hermione?" The pregnant woman imputed.
Ken was silent as he thought about the names, slowly turning his gaze to his puppy as she nosed the string of yarn that was hanging off the table. Blue eyes blinked at him as she tilted her heard adoringly. "It doesn't feel right," he said with a frown. "What you think, Akemi?"
"Woof-Woof. Woof," she said as she nosed his chest. It was obvious she agreed with her father. She did not like the name either, even though the name was quite beautiful. There was another bark then as another Shiba Inu puppy waltzed into the kitchen with what looked like a stuffed rabbit in its mouth.
"Looks like Daiki went into the nursery again," Hikari said as the adults gazed at the identical puppy.
This got the reddish-brown haired woman's attention as she immediately turned in the direction of the small puppy with a wooden spoon still clenched in her hand. "Daiki! How many times do I have to tell you not to go into the nursery! That isn't for you! It's for the baby!" Daiki simply gazed at the woman rather innocently before dropping the toy at her feet. The puppy barked, which only caused Ken to smile and the woman to frown in frustration.
"He wants you to play with him," Ken said with a chuckle of his own. "Or maybe he wants a certain baby to come out and play," Ken added softly.
"I don't have time to play with you," she said as she returned to her cooking. As the puppy began to whine, the Digimon's eyes began inspecting the rest of the home. Behind the Chosen a backyard door could be seen, revealing children chasing each other and adults either talking among themselves at a party table or dancing to the music that was currently blasting from somewhere outside.
"Daiki come here." Cherubimon returned his attention to his Tamer to see Ken gently petting the male puppy soothingly. The puppy returned to his previously happy self, happily enjoy himself as the petting turned into ear scratching. "Don't worry, the baby will be here soon. Just be patient."
"I did something wrong." The woman's sudden voice caused him to look at her. Cherubimon noticed the woman was grimacing as she removed the spoon from her lips.
Ken blinked, his scratch coming to a pause as he turned his attention to her. It was then as the other began getting up was when he noticed something. The first thing he noticed was the bandages wrapped around his forehead. The next thing he noticed was the way he would grimace slightly in pain as he got up and then there was the motion of him placing a hand on his right side, rubbing it gently as if trying to relieve the pain. He's injured. Cherubimon frowned at that, realizing that his Tamer was not safe in that world at all and his thoughts were only confirmed when the boy answered Stingmon and Phelsemon's concerns.
"That's Taichi-san fault," the boy said. "Yagami-san was being stupid and almost got himself killed. Papa jumped in front of some bullets to save him, just as an explosion went off in the building they were in." Any remaining doubts Cherubimon had of his plans all but disappeared. He would protect his Tamer, no matter the costs.
The image shifted again, showing Ken inspecting the pot of soup the woman had been doing. As he tasted the soup, with the woman watching him silently, Cherubimon noticed something he hadn't seen before. Ken had a silver ring band hanging on a golden chain around his neck, while the woman wore a beautiful golden engagement ring around her finger.
Before Cherubimon could even process what he was seeing, the image zoomed out to reveal what the two Digimon were doing. The two Digimon had opened a small portal and were pushing a small gift through it. "What are you two up too?
In all his years of going from one family to another, from one home to another, from one mission to another, Ken had never been so happy to be back home where he belonged. Ken knew he had been in very bad shape after the incident a month ago, resulting in him being hospitalized for over three weeks. He knew Dr. Hashimoto meant well; he had almost died after all, but Ken couldn't stand spending another day, another night, another agonizing second at the hospital, despite his instance that his ribs still needed time to heal and that he really shouldn't be moving so much. He had missed Daisuke and Miyako's silly bantering and the peacefulness and security that came with being with his friends and loved ones. It was a miracle that the others hadn't grounded him to his bedroom or the living room to rest.
Ken closed his eyes for a minute, enjoying the music blasting from outside as it changed from one station to another. Despite how annoyed everyone was getting from Daisuke and Miyako fighting over what station they should listen to on the radio next, in addition to the laughter of the children as they chased each other with Nerf guns that Daisuke had brought with him, Ken found it almost peaceful. For a moment his anxiety over his promotion, the wedding, the birth of his daughter (who should be coming any day now), and the nightmares that had been plaguing him for weeks had been put on the back burner for now.
Ken knew he was safe and that it was okay to be nervous. Ken had never gotten up to the point in his life in where he would actually be marrying the woman he loved. He hadn't even gotten as far as proposing when he was with Tsubasa. Instead, he had his heart broken and shattered. Not only had she left him, leaving a very cryptic message about leaving him for another man, but she had taken his son away from him. Her actions on that day left him with a hollow feeling in his chest. He had been deprived of the chance to see his son learn and grow and had deprived Kouji the chance to get to know his older twin brother. And now it was too late. They were both gone.
Ken opened his eyes to gaze at his fiancee. She was truly a beauty through and through. Julieanna had been born as a result of an affair between Daisuke's father and his Canadian mistress, a lesser-known model he believed she was. No one had known of said affair until after Julieanna came to Japan, searching for her father and siblings after the early passing of her mother. Despite her presence causing a terrible rift between Daisuke and Jun's parents, she had shown everyone that she was a very strong, courageous, and independent woman, as well as having the patiences (and heart) of a saint.
Over the years, she had shown him in her own way how to love and trust again and how to let go. Ken would always love Tsubasa, despite the pain she had left in her wake. She was the mother of his sons and he could never hate her for that. All Ken felt was deep, crushing sadness from both her betrayal and for forever taking his son away from him. He knew the pain would never go away; he had tried to suppress it, denying it for many years before accepting the truth that they were gone forever.
Letting go was far harder than he would have liked. It didn't exactly help that everyone, including his own son, wanted him to finally let go of the past and were giving him the space to do so. Eleven years was a very long time to hold on to old feelings of broken love, betrayal, and death. He should really move on from this, from everything that had been holding him back over the years and just get on with his life. But, would he be able to? Would Osamu want him to? Would Kouichi? Would his mother?
Just thinking about his mother just made him feel so guilty. Ken knew his father wasn't the nicest person or the greatest father, but he had never known his father to be a cold-blooded murder until his mother's remains were discovered. Ken had not expected two Tamachi Police Officers to be waiting for him within his home just as he was returning from getting his godson out of whatever trouble he had gotten himself into that day. It had truly been a shock to learn that she had been killed by his father between the time she had gotten home from work that day to the time he had returned home the next morning.
As much as he hated himself for it, he felt relieved knowing that she had not abandoned him as he had thought for so many years. It explained why he could never find her when he tried searching for her a few months after he landed a job at the Yokohama Police Department. But after thirteen years of searching, and with the knowledge that she died trying to protect him, the closure he had been hoping for never came. In fact, he felt even more sad, hurt, a tad lost, and somewhat guilty. According to the officers on the case and according to Kouji, who had admitted he had visited his grandfather at the jail a month earlier, his mother had been planning on leaving his father, which explained the half-full suitcase he saw when he got home that morning, and had been planning on taking Ken with her.
"You didn't kill her." Floating beside Julieanna was Millenniumon in his Kaiser form. Millenniumon, despite Ken's immense frustration and slight irritation, enjoyed this form over his Digimon form for the sole reason that it was easier to move around in. "That dreadful human did."
Ken gazed at the transparent fourteen-year-old version of himself, not all that happy to see the other. He and Millenniumon didn't have the best history, considering what the Digimon had made him do in the past. But a few months after the reboot, Millenniumon awoken from his forced slumber. Over the years the two of them fought day and night with Millenniumon attempting to take over his body a couple of times and with Ken desperately trying to regain his life. But as time went on, they began to talk to each other and begun to understand each other. And as the years went on they learned how to co-exist with each other, considering they would both perish if the Dark Seed were to ever be removed from his body now.
It was a truly an odd arrangement. They weren't exactly friends. They both hated each other and Millenniumon really enjoyed mocking him whenever he got the chance, but they weren't enemies either. Millenniumon had this quirk of healing his vessel and appearing whenever he was conducting interviews at the precinct or just wanting to mock the other for his own amusement. But in those rare times, Millenniumon would show up to warn him of incoming danger.
Do you always have to intrude on my thoughts? Ken questioned his former enemy as the other glanced at the soup Julieanna was trying to make, followed by his nose scrunching up in distaste and his body shuddering with a grimace.
"Yes," he replied rather smugly, turning away from the woman. "You don't seem happy to see me," he said feigning hurt. "I spent weeks healing you, protecting you from those bullets that should have killed you, by the way, and this is the thanks I get?!" Millenniumon threw his hands up in the air in mock exasperation.
Ken mentally groaned. Millenniumon was being an ass again, a smug one at that, but he did have a point. Ken hadn't thanked him yet for saving his life. But before he could do so, Julieanna cut through their unvocal conversation.
"You're thinking too hard again, darling." Ken blinked, unaware that his fingers had been tapping on the table as he stared in her general location with an absent gaze. Julieanna looked over her shoulder, her attention away from her cooking and her soon to be mother-in-law, to give him a comforting smile. "You'll come up with a name and it will be better than anything Jun and Daisuke could come up with."
This caused Hikari and Meiko to laugh softly as said siblings yelled their objections from outside, knowing full well that it was true. Jun and Daisuke hadn't decided on a name for their children until the day they were born. Ken ran his hand through his hair. "I guess you're right. I'm just not sure, though. I want it to be special, you know." The name for the baby wasn't the only thing that had been bothering him for a while now. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.
At first, he had thought it was because of the mole that was in Taichi's own security detail that had wanted him and his allies dead for their part in finalizing the Digimon Accord several years ago, but it had only gotten stronger over the weeks. Ken couldn't pinpoint what the issue could be, but he feared that this foreboding feeling he had been feeling over the last few months was due to his fiancee, his son, or his unborn daughter being in potential danger. Ken didn't want any harm to come to them. That was one of the reasons why he insisted to stay in the kitchen where he could keep a close eye on his girls, instead of napping in the next room.
"I do." Julieanna handed a spoon to Sanya, who had been working on a different dish, before walking over to him. Julieanna gently rested her arms on his knees, mindful of their puppy resting in his lap, as she gazed up at him with her big brown eyes. "And I know whatever you ultimately come up with will be special just as she will be beautiful."
Ken smiled slowly, knowing that she was right. However… "You could always help me decide on a name, you know," he said sweetly, almost questioningly. "There's so many to choose from." Julieanna blinked. Her mouth opened slightly before clapping it shut.
Ken smile fell slightly, unsure of her reaction and the amused look on Millenniumon's face didn't exactly help that much. Had he said something wrong? Ken opened his mouth to ask just that before Julieanna pulled away slightly and laughed. Ken frowned at her, feeling slightly hurt. Was her helping him pick a name for their unborn child really that hilarious?
Julieanna, upon seeing his hurt expression, calmed down and kissed him softly before he could so much as question her burst of laughter. When she pulled away, she touched his bruised cheek, tenderly. "You're so silly, darling," she said before smiling at him. "Don't you remember? You disapproved every name I suggested."
Millenniumon snickered, making small kissy noises, followed by mocking bursts of laughter. "Oh, darling, why don't we name her Amy, or Beth, or Susie," he said in a rather poor imitation of Julieanna as a form of pure mockery. Ken managed to not roll his eyes as he ignored the other, opting to keep his focus solely on his beloved instead.
Her smile soon fell, however, as she began to inspect the bandages covering the gash on his forehead that was still in the process of healing. "The doctor said you may have some memory loss. Are you sure you're okay?"
Ken lifted his hand to gently remove the small delicate hand that was touching his forehead every so slightly. "I'm fine, Julieanna, really." Ken kissed her knucks. "Just a little tired, that's all." Ken was sure Julieanna could see through his lie, just as she could see that he had been suffering from nightmares. Every night for the past three months, he had been remembering the events of his past: his Kaiser days, the final battle against Vamdemon, the war against Millenniumon, Alphamon's attack, the reboot, the death of his elder brother, Kouji and Kouichi's birth... Those dreams weren't so bad. In those dreams, he would watch them from an outside perspective with his elder brother, Osamu, watching alongside him. It was comforting having him there; it was almost as if they were making up for lost time.
But then out of nowhere the memories would fade and Osamu would scream as Ken was engulfed by a cold, sicking darkness. Ken would always find himself lost and sick to his stomach as he floats in a space shrouded in darkness. Sometimes Ken would see a strange Dragon Digimon chained to something and nothing at all, and other times he would see a boy.
The first time this happened, Ken could barely make them out. But with each night that passed, the dream would become more vivid, more real, and more terrifying than the last. After the tenth night, Ken knew the two were not a figment of his imagination. The threat they imposed were all too real.
When he was in the presence of the dragon, Ken would feel a sense of urgency as well as safety. Despite the dragon's menacing size and appearance, he was not a threat. No, the threat was the boy. The boy may look innocent and lonely as he beckoned him to come to him, to free him from the prison his partner abandoned him to. Ken felt bad for the young Digimon, wanting to help in any way he could. At least that was before he was close enough to gaze into his eyes.
What he saw caused a cold, bone-crushing chill to travel down his spine. There was nothing in the Digimon's blue eyes. His eyes were as dead and empty as the darkness that surrounded him. The dark energy he sensed on the Angelic Digimon reminded him too much of Demon and Millenniumon when he had been causing havoc in the Digimon World. The Digimon terrified him and that fear was enough to cause Millenniumon to appear by his side in his Digimon form, practically shielding him from the other. As Millenniumon mentioned one too many times, he would always come to protect his host. Ken wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
"Then you should rest." Her eyes practically pleaded with him for him to rest, even if it was just for an hour or two. Ken almost felt guilty for disappointing her.
"I will, later." Preferably when Kouji returned with his cousin from the store and maybe once everyone left. And even then, he knew he would not rest until he was sure the woman he loved and his son were safe from harm. Besides, the nagging feeling was still there and the Dragon Digimon's warning was still fresh in his mind from the nightmare he had gotten while napping in the car.
"Hmm, what do we have here?" Millenniumon promptly left the kitchen and floated somewhere into the living room.
Where are you going?
"Your rat is up to no go." Ken didn't even respond to the comment about Daiki. With the exception of Hikari and himself, the pups seemed to always know where the Evil God was and when he was up to no good. There was a mutual hate-hate relationship between the three. Millenniumon was always scheming something against those he disliked, mainly Taichi and the others, the mailman, and his neighbors and, by some divine miracle, the pups were always ambushing Millenniumon or foaling his plans in some way or form. Even when he knew they were nearby, the pups would always get the drop on him. It was beyond hilarious how the once powerful, menacing, and fearsome Digimon in the Digital World could be outsmarted by two four-month-old Shiba Inu puppies every single time.
Don't destroy anything. Despite not being in the room, Ken knew the Digimon heard him quite clearly.
"Please, do you not know who you're talking to?" He scoffed before pausing. "Never mind. Forget I said that. Hey, come back here you little rat!"
Ken promptly turned off their mental link, to avoid getting a headache from all of Millenniumon's screaming. And it was just in time too, considering Julieanna sighed in defeat at that moment. "Fine." She placed a hand on her enlarged stomach; her obvious displease was clearly visible on her beautiful features. "I can't seem to win his argument, anyway. You two are both against me."
Ken's smile grew a little bit more. "She's on my side?"
"Obviously," she said with an amused smiled.
"That's my girl!" Whatever tiredness Ken had was temporary gone as excitement and fondness crept in. "Any suggestions?"
Julieanna posed her lips in thought. "We can always go with Amy. It's short, sweet, and to the point."
Ken scrunched up his nose in disagreement. "Absolutely not. That's a horrible name for her." And to further prove his point, their daughter kicked her mother in obvious agreement, which Julieanna yelped too.
"See, this is what I'm talking about," Julieanna pointed out as she rubbed the area her daughter had kicked her. "You dislike every name I suggest for the baby." Ken groaned.
"Looks like we're doing it the old fashion way then," Hikari spoke up. They looked at her.
"What you mean?" They asked, only to see Hikari pulling out a green book out of her purse.
Ken lifted a brow. "The Complete Book of Baby Names?"
"Why did you bring that with you?" Julieanna asked.
"We had a feeling Ken-kun would be too stubborn to agree to any names you would suggest."
"We always thought you would get bored sitting here all day due to your injuries, while the rest of us was outside having a good time in the sun." Hikari gave him a warm smile. Although, he doubted the others were having a good time. They were all too worried about him dropping over in exhaustion or reopening his injuries. It was too clear to see. "Maybe this will give you some ideas for some baby clothing." Ken looked at the little pink socks he had been kitting. He was having some trouble finishing it, mainly due to the fact that he wanted to incorporate some type of unique design into it, but didn't know what.
Meiko then gave the other woman an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Ken-kun. Amy is not that great of a name."
Julieanna shrugged, not offended at all. "How many names are in there?"
"100,001, I think," Hikari said, gazing at the back of the book.
The couple's mouth dropped. "Are you serious?" Julieanna screeched, snatching the book from Hikari's hands. "There's no way there's that many names for a baby girl." Julieanna skimmed through the pages, looking more and more stressed out as she got deeper into the book. "Ugh, I feel stressed out."
Ken gently took the book from her hands and handed it back to Hikari. "Why don't you go back to cooking before it burns?" This was probably a bad idea, consider Julieanna was a horrible cook. The only thing she could make without burning was tea, fried eggs, pies, and other pastries.
"Assuming it isn't burned already," Taichi mumbled under his breath. However, they all heard what he said.
The overwhelming tension that had been present the moment his parents brought him home from the hospital early this morning seemed to intensify as Julieanna glared in Taichi's direction. "I wasn't talking to you Yagmai," she spat before spinning on her heel and walking back to the stove to commence her cooking.
Ken sighed at the tension. So much for distracting her. Ken glanced at Hikari with a frown who was looking at her brother in concern. Meiko was silently talking to him as he sulked. "Don't worry, she'll forgive you. Just give her some time and try not to anger her more than she already is." Taichi nodded as he gazed out the glass backyard doors.
Meiko gazed at them with a frown of her own. "What do we do?" could be seen clearly in her eyes as she glanced at her husband. But he and Hikari doubted there was anything more they could do to amend the peace between the two. There was certainly a rift between his loved ones and Taichi, one Ken was trying very hard to ignore. Ken's memories were very vague after the bullets had penetrated the right side of his bulletproof vest, damaging several important organs. Ken knew he had been very close to death and would have died if Millenniumon had been actively healing his vessel. But this didn't change the fact that Taichi disregarded his warnings, in favor of going to the United Nations Summit. It was that choice to disregard his warnings that did not sit well with his family members.
His parents, ever since they had adopted him and Takumi, had always been rather protective of their youngest, considering the state he and the others had been in after their abduction by Yggdrasill. Takumi was the same way. Takumi had been protective of him since day one and that protectiveness had intensified over the years. But unlike his parents, even til this day, Takumi had this overwhelming guilt that he had failed his brother by allowing him to get taken and harmed, again. This was something Takumi had never gotten over, even after talking to Stingmon and Phelesmon when they slipped through a distortion to enter the Human World when the Digital World had become far too unstable for them to stay in. Ken understood why they were upset with Taichi, but the main problem was his fiery fiancee.
Julieanne was, well, to put it nicely, acting out of fear. Everyone had been terrified, from what Daisuke had told him, when they were told that the doctors were uncertain if he would pull through. In all honesty, it was a miracle that he survived, considering how hurt he had been from not just the bullets but from the debris caused by the explosion. The doctors of all people thought he would not survive the night.
While he had been fighting for his life, a huge fight between his fiancee and Taichi had occurred at the hospital. Daisuke didn't get into details about what was said between the two, not that he needed too. He could see that Julieanne was still furious with Taichi, even if it really wasn't his fault.
As of right now, the two were not on speaking terms, even when in the same room. As much as Ken hated it, he understood why Julieanne was so angry, so livid and hostile towards Taichi. Ken had been working with other law enforcement and Taichi's security detail for about three months, trying to hunt down the group of terrorists that had been threatening to kill the Ambassadors, Prime Ministers, and other diplomats the weeks before the United Nations Summit. However, no one had expected a mole within their own ranks. Despite his insistence for Taichi to remain in the hotel where it was safe, he along with the Chinese and Russian diplomats sneaked out of the hotel behind his back and went to the summit anyway, not knowing that one of the Special Agents that was tasked with protecting them was the mole this whole time. Not only had Taichi put his own life at risk but also his, the other diplomats, and so many others at the Summit.
But, Ken couldn't blame Taichi for that. If he were in Taichi's position, he probably would have done the same thing. Besides, Taichi, as one of the two leaders of their group, would do anything in his power to protect his friends, especially their Digimon friends. That was what the summit was about. Ever since the gate closed for the third time, leaving them with a hollow feeling in their chests as they were forced to part from their partners again, they knew something was wrong with the Digital World. When Meicoomon restored the memories of their Digimon friends that rested within her and when the others finally put a stop to her, the virus should have left the Digital World, restoring what the reboot failed to do. But it wasn't until ten years later did they realize what was happening between the two worlds.
Yggdrasill's main plan for the reboot, according to Millenniunmon, was to transfer the remaining Digimon that were not affected by the virus to its newly created Digital World and then to completely destroy the original Digital World and the Human World in order to stabilize it. It was a chilling thought to think about, one he had never really voiced out loud, but it made sense. The cryptic message Alphamon had said to him as he loomed over his injured body, pouring a portion of his own data into him, forcing the Evil God to sleep before Gennai made his way over to him.
"It is not my intention to harm you, Tamer," Alphamon said as his data traveled into his body, "but Yggdrasill can't see past its own corrupted will. My Lord is out of my reach now and Homeostasis is too blind to listen to reason. I must do what is necessary to make sure you and your friends are ready for the day the Digital World falls. I know you do not understand now and may feel that I attacked you for no reason," he paused upon seeing him starting to lose consciousness, "but you will and when that day comes, Ouryumon will be there to guide you to your destiny."
Ken hadn't mentioned the message to anyone, not even to Daisuke. But with the way things were going, could this be what Alphamon was talking about? Ken knew for a fact that the Knight Digimon had only been trying to protect them, to warn them of his Lord's plans. Yggdrasill had not cared about their lives, nor the lives of his Knights, apparently. The god would have sacrificed them if it meant preserving its objective. Having Gennai taking the Dark Seed from him had been its plan, knowing that it would have killed him. The Knight's sudden attack, he realized, was his way of protecting him from such a fate. In a way, Ken owed the Digimon his life.
But that wasn't the concerning part. Oh, no. The fact that two Digital World existed now was very concerning. Digimon from this other unstable Digital World was slipping through the barriers, making it difficult to control. The different governments from around the world had already created DATS, with the help of Wallace and other Chosen from around the world, and others like it to control this problem. Many governments wanted to destroy the Digital World to end this madness as they put it, but they were unmatched against Taichi. The government had no say against a Chosen and his allies who fought for the Digimon's rights.
Ken glanced at Taichi in concern. How long could he keep this up? They didn't exactly have their Digimon with them to take care of this current problem. What would happen if they did try to take action? They couldn't stop them. They were powerless, and that agitated him and the others the most.
"Woof?" Ken glanced down to see Akemi pawing at the yarn that was hanging off the table. He smiled.
"You're so silly." He gently scratched behind her right ear.
"Woof!"
"So," Ken said as he glanced at the book. "Are there any good names?"
Hikari nodded. "Yeah, several." She opened the book and Ken could tell right away that the book was Hikari's, judging by the little handwritten notes coating the side and bottom of the page. "We'll read a couple out and you tell us if you like it or not."
"Okay." The two women got to work looking through the green book, scouring for the perfect baby girl name Ken could possibly approve for his unborn daughter. Hikari and Meiko threw a few names at him. However, he declined each one. None of them felt right.
"Okay, how about Ahmya, Ken-kun?" Meiko lifted up her gaze from the page she read from.
Nope, not in a million years. Ken scrunched up his nose in disagreement, showing his dislike of the name. "I guess that's a no," Hikari laughed softly as she turned the page. "What about Amaterasu or Hana?"
"How about Hermione?" Julieanna piped in. Ken looked down at Akemi, unsure. All the names were nice and would be wonderful names for his daughter, but they weren't calling out to him like Kouji and Kouichi's names had when he and Tsubasa decided on them months before they were born. "It doesn't feel right." He frowned deeply in thought. Akemi, who had been trying to knock the small unfinished sock to the floor, gazed up at him in total adoration. "What you think, Akemi?"
"Woof-Woof. Woof." Ken smiled slightly as she nosed his chest gently. The twins were certainly doing a lot better now than they had been four months ago. Ken had found the two newborns abandoned in a cold damp box in one of the alleyways near the dojo he, Julieanna, and Iori co-ran together.
On that day, ten years ago, his former college roommate and dear friend went on an expedition to the unstable Digital World and never returned. He was presumed dead after being missing for ten years and his research had been taken over by the government. As upsetting as it was, Ken knew he was not dead. But without a way to get into this other Digital World, there was no way of rescuing his dear friend from whatever trouble he may have gotten himself into.
His disappearance had caused a great deal of strain and distress for his lovely wife and kids. As his godson got more and more rebellious over the years, his sister and mother grew depressed and doubtful of his return as the anniversary came around. Ken knew he could allow his friend's family to fall apart in his absence. He had made a promise after all. Ken had tried his best to help them out as best as he could.
On the day of the anniversary, Ken and Julieanna had decided to take them out on a family outing to distract them. The children greatly enjoyed themselves as they played through one of the many carnival booths and rides Ken had taken them to. For the rest of the day, they had spent some time at the dojo, considering Masaru had been itching for a fight all day and Kouji had been more than happy to accept the other's challenge. The two boys had sparred for several hours before it was time to go home.
As they were leaving, Ken heard small desperate cries for help. Ken didn't cast his loved ones a single thought as he ran into the cold and dark alleyway. In a small cramped box, completely soaked from the rain, were two newborn puppies. Ken couldn't be sure how long they had been out in the cold rain, toss aside like they were trash. But what Ken did know was that they had been abandoned and would have died if Ken had not decided to go to the dojo that day. Rather it was fate or not that drawn him to the puppies that night, Ken was so glad that he did. Not only had he saved their lives, but he now had new children to add to his ever-growing family.
"Arf-arf!"
"Get back here!" Ken looked up to see Daiki waltzing into the kitchen with a stuffed rabbit in his mouth and a very disheveled Kaiser hot on his tail. Ken blinked, confused, as he took in Millenniumon's appearance. Millenniumon's spiky hair was more untamed and wild than usual as if he had just lost a fight, his blue, gray and white jumpsuit was disheveled and slightly out of place, and his yellow sunglasses with purple lenses were nowhere in sight.
Ken raised a delicate brow at Millenniumon as he came to an abrupt halt. He had to keep a firm hand on Akemi to make sure she didn't attack Millenniumon. I'm not even going to ask.
"That might be for the best," he replied just as everyone took notice of the small puppy.
Hikari and Meiko smiled at each other, greatly amused. Ken couldn't figure out if it was because of Millenniumon appearance or because of Daiki getting into the nursery again. "Looks like Daiki went into the nursery again," Hikari said, laugher edging in her voice. However, not everyone was amused.
"Daiki!" Julieanna's eyes were blazing in disapproval as she turned on her heel to face their mischievous son. "How many times do I have to tell you not to go into the nursery!" The wooden spoon still clenched in her hand did not intimidate him at all. In fact, it just convinced him to up his puppy charm. "That isn't for you! It's for the baby!" Daiki gazed up at Julieanna with his big blue innocent eyes before dropping the toy at her feet. He barked playfully at her, wanting to be played with. This failed to get a smile from Julieanna.
"He wants you to play with him," Ken said with a chuckle of his own, still keeping a firm grip on Akemi, who began growl at a certain Digimon. "Or maybe he wants a certain baby to come out and play," Ken added softly. Although, Julieanna didn't hear that part.
"I don't have time to play with you," she said as she returned to her cooking. Daiki's tail faltered and his little ears pinched just a bit as he gazed at his mother mournfully. He had failed to get his mother to play with him or to give him any sort of positive attention.
Ken gazed at the puppy sympathetic as he began to whine. From what he observed over the last four months and from what Masaru and his best friend (who had been minding the house for him and silently watching over Julieanna while he had been gone) would inform him from time to time of how Julieanna would seem to favor Akemi over Daiki to the point of ignoring the small puppy and only acknowledging him when he resulted to bad behavior to get her attention.
"Daiki come here." Daiki made his way over to him, his ear still pinched and his tail still down. Ken gently ran his fingers through his soft fur, calming him down. Once the puppy was happy with the attention he was getting, he then began to scratch behind his ears. "Don't worry, the baby will be here soon. Just be patient." He barked happily. "I'll talk to mommy. Don't worry," he added very, very softly so that no one could hear him over the noise.
"I did something wrong." Ken's hand stilled for a moment as he lifted his gaze to his beloved. In all honest, Daisuke should have been the one to cook, but Julieanna had been very insistent. She believed that it was the wife's job to care for the husband and that meant taking care of the kids, doing all the housework, and all the cooking (which she wasn't too good at). Ken didn't want to discourage her; she just wanted to find her place in this world like everyone else.
But Ken wasn't one for tradition. His parents had been very traditional, with his mother doing all the housework, cooking, caring for him and Osamu, and working a very demanding job and his father working and then coming home, expecting the house to be clean, meals freshly made, and children that are obedient, behaved, and excelling at everything they did. It was no wonder the marriage was falling apart even before Osamu's death.
Ken didn't want that for his family. He didn't want them to feel they had to strive for these over barring, unrealistic expectations that he had felt when he was younger. The pressure was just too much. Hence, why Ken preferred working things out as a family. If Kouji had a problem or an issue, he was more than welcome to voice his opinion and Ken had made it clear to Julieanna that they were supposed to work together on caring for their family and their home. She was not supposed to put everything on her shoulders, no matter what her books said.
"What you mean?" He asked as he saw Sanya glancing away from one of his mother's cookbooks (that the social worker was able to save for him) to the pot of miso soup they were preparing. Julieanna had decided she wanted to cook something special, something that showed how much she loved him and appreciated him not dying on her. She knew making the old family recipe, passed down to him by his deceased mother, would relax him and ease his mind of the storm his father was brewing.
Ken mentally grimaced. Wallace had been too kind to answer the phone when he failed to pick it up quick enough. Ever since his mother's remains had been found and after Kouji had made the mistake to visit his grandfather several months ago, his father had been calling non-stop. His father had already confessed to his crimes, yet he thought it was a wonderful idea to torment and intimidate his son from testifying once again against him.
Ken had not spoken, nor seen him in years and had no intentions of doing so before the trail. His father had destroyed his life. He took his mother away from him and had even tried to kill him just because he reminded the elder man of her. The last time he'd spoken to him, Ken had made it clear he had not wanted to speak to him nor have anything to do with him and that had been several years ago. Hearing his voice just brought very bad memories, memories he had been trying so hard to keep at bay. It had only made his resolve to stand up to his father harder to keep intact when he learned that his father had murdered his mother.
But Ken knew he could do this. He was stronger. He was happier. He had a beautiful woman to spend the rest of his life with and a wonderful son and daughter to love and cherish for all time. He would be damned to allow his father to get in the way of his happiness. Ken might not be ready to face his father just yet, but, thankfully, he had wonderful friends willing to protect him and defend him on his behalf.
That reminded him, he would have to ask Wallace what his father wanted this time. Ken would have answered the call himself and gave the other a piece of his mind, but he had been seconds away from a panic attack when his father called, which was why Wallace snatched the phone and took it somewhere within the house. Ken had no idea where he went, nor when he was going to return to the party, but Ken was already dreading it. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what his father wanted this time. But being the annoying psychologist that he was, Wallace was going to tell him rather he liked it or not.
"I took out all the right ingredients for you before you started."
His fiancee was frowning deeply into the broth that she had been trying to make. "I know, but it still tastes… off."
"Off?" Sanya said, her brows raised slightly, as she glanced over her shoulder. "Did you mis-measure one of the ingredients?" Julieanne's shoulders sagged, clearly unsure what she did wrong. She had seen him make the soup enough times to know the exact measurements of each ingredient.
"I'm not sure. I thought I did," she said as she placed the spoon on the counter.
"You should have just let Daisuke cook when he volunteered to help." As right as Taichi's comment was, given the only thing Julieanne could make was tea and some pastries and fried eggs, Julieanne still went rigged.
"I wasn't asking you, Yagami!" Her eyes seemed to blaze with unseen anger that she had yet to release.
"Guys, please don't fight." Taichi snapped his mouth shut, cutting off whatever snarky comment he was about to reply in retaliation. However, the two continued to stare heatedly at each other. Ken shook his head as he gazed tiredly at them. Despite what he had been telling everyone, he was beyond exhausted. The trip from the hospital to the safety of his home, combined with his already tired mind from all the nightmares from countless sleepless night, had completely drained him. He probably should have taken the others' advice to get some rest, but that was before he felt the tension in his own home.
Ken looked at his fiancee with a small frown. Ken may have risked his own life by taking the bullets that were meant for Taichi, but he would never blame him for that. Everyone had been upset that he had been so reckless, but no one yelled or blamed him for what happened. He was just doing what he thought was right at the time. Truth be told, they were bound to get hurt or attack in their line of work, but that was not enough for his fiancee. She was livid that no one was blaming Taichi for his actions, nor had anyone yelled or criticized him for it. And that, he knew, hurt his fiery fiancee worst of all. She had almost lost the man she loved with all her heart and she was determined to protect her love the best way she knew how.
But at what cost?
Julieanne was pissed at Taichi for putting the both of them in danger and very close to getting them killed. Taichi felt guilty for what happened, considering he had only been doing what he had thought was right at the time. However, the amount of blame and anger being directed towards him might be uncalled for.
The two were far too stubborn to simple talk and work things out with each other. Ken was sure, if given the chance to tell Taichi off, colorful words of anger, fear, and mistrust would fly between the two of them, eventually resulting into a heated fight that would certainly add to the stress he was currently under. Ken didn't really need that right now; besides, his painkillers were wearing off.
Silently, Ken turned his gaze to Millenniumon, who had given up tormenting the twins for now, and was now gazing at the two adults with a mixture of exasperation, disgust, and irritation. "Children. I am surrounded by idiotic children." Ken resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Although, Hikari didn't. In fact, she snorted softly at how her brother was reacting and the irony of her former enemy's reaction.
"I'm not sure who the child is: Niisan and Julieanne or the one who looks and acts like a child." Ken smiled at her, knowing she was referring to Millenniumon taking his appearance and acting like a mere child as he commences war against the twins. However, Millenniumon did not appreciate the comment.
"How dare you compare me to them, Insect? I am nothing like these idiots!" He all but screamed before stomping out of the kitchen. They blinked as they watched the Kaiser in all his sadistic glory leaving to conjure up his next scheme. Upon his departure, the twins blinked.
"Wolf-wolf-wolf," she spoke to her brother before jumping off Ken's lap.
"Arf-arf," Daiki replied before the two puppies scampered after the pissed off Digimon. But not before snatching the stuffed rabbit before Ken could stop them. Great, now he had to wrestle the toy away from them before they tore it to pieces, again. Just perfect.
"What's going on in there?" Ken smiled as his best friend yelled from outside. Daisuke sure had perfect timing.
"Nothing!" Julieanne snapped back as she continued to glare at Taichi. Daisuke snorted.
"Doesn't sound like nothing!" Daisuke yelled back, a chuckle leaving his voice as Jun chirped in.
"You two better not be fighting." Her tone was almost reprimanding. "You two promised to behave!"
"WE'RE NOT FIGHTING!" They bristled as they glared out the sliding door where the two siblings could be heard laughing.
Hikari shook her head. "It wouldn't be Daisuke-kun if he doesn't put his two sense in." Meiko nodded just as the doorbell rang.
Everyone looked in the direction of the living room. "Did Wallace lock himself out?" He asked, puzzled.
"Who knows?" Taichi said as he got up, turning his gaze away from the woman in front of him. Taichi made his way over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder just as he moved his foot from the chair he had it resting on. "You relax. I'll open the door for him." And then he, too, disappeared into the living.
Ken watched Taichi until he couldn't see him anymore, feeling a sense of uselessness crept in. He knew everyone was just looking out for him. Millenniumon may have managed to heal his extreme injuries and had cut his recovery time in half, but he was still sore and in a bit a pain. Due to his doctor's insistence, he was supposed to be taking it easy for the next couple of day, giving his body and feet the time it needed to heal.
Ken gazed at the black walking shoe on left foot with a sense of loathing. Ken hated having this thing on. The walking shoe was supposed to help him walk while also giving his ankle the support it needed. However, the injury was still very swollen and tender to the touch. Just the slightest movement caused a painful shock up and down his spine.
Ken grimaced as he rubbed the tender part of his leg. Ken was hopeful that the thing would come off before the wedding with the way Millenniumon was healing him. But his doctor was saying it was unlikely, which really bothered him and frustrated him to no end.
"We'll see about that," he growled, intruding in his thoughts again.
"Are you alright?" Hikari had noticed his small wince of pain. "Are you in pain?" Hikari stared into his eyes and slowly over his body, trying to decipher if the painkillers were wearing off or not. "Do you need me to grab your painkiller from the bathroom?"
"No." He shook his head. "I'm fine." Ken got up then, wincing slightly at the pain that it caused.
"KEN! What are doing? The doctor said you shouldn't be moving around!" Ken gazed at Julieanne with a tender smile that would put her at ease. "We are going to fix the soup," he said as he rubbed his injured side.
"We are?" Julieanne gazed at him in utter flabbergastment, until she realized Ken was pushing his discomfort and pain for her. "No, darling, you don't have to…," she paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "I mean, I can figure it out. It's sweet of you, but you really shouldn't be straining yourself for me. You really should be resting."
Ken stood in front of her and gently took her hands into his. "Julieanne, I appreciate what are doing for me, I really do, but…"
"I'm a complete mess," she said, surprising him. "I can't even make your Mama's personal recipe without messing it up." Julieanne removed her eyes from him to look at their hands. "We are getting married." There was a great deal of fondness in her voice as if she was still in disbelief that Ken wanted to marry her. "But," her voice went so very soft, desperate even in her want to please him, and her face turned grim and sad at the same time, "how am I supposed to be the perfect wife, like Hikari-chan and Meiko-chan, if I can't even get this right. I'm a hot mess at cooking. I'm clumsy and I can't even clean the house right." She sighed as she rested her head against his chest. "You deserve someone better than me."
"Oh, Julieanne." Ken took a small step back, using his hand to gently lift up her face so she could look into his. "You really need to stop reading those books and listening to those online friends of yours. If I wanted a perfect wife, don't you think I would have married someone like Miyako-chan." She blinked.
"I guess." Ken whipped away a few droplets of tears from her cheek. "You are perfect just the way you are."
"Even if I can't cook right or that I'm always ruining the laundry or that I keep breaking the china?"
He nodded in reassurance. "Of course. I love you, flaws and all."
Julieanne closed her eyes for a moment, taking in Ken soothing warmth before opening them again to smile up at him. "You always know what to say to make me feel better. How did I get so lucky to get the perfect man?"
"Practice," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I had plenty of that." She looked at him with a knowing sadness. It was pretty common knowledge by now that Osamu and Ryo practically raised him before they both left him behind to fend for himself. When they were younger, Osamu had to grow up fast in order to raise his younger brother when their parents were too busy arguing with each other or too busy ignoring each other. It especially got more stressful for his brother when their parents realized the attention that came with having a prodigy son. When he died, Ken had to fend for himself. Ryo had disappeared a few months later, leaving Ken utterly alone. When Millenniumon used Ken's own hidden talents against him, unknowing making his parents realized they had another son that was also a genius.
Ken silently forced the depressing memories of his past away. He couldn't change the past, just his future. "Come, let's see if we can fix this soup." With Julieanne by his side, they made their way over to the stove where the soup was silently simmering.
The first thing Ken took in was the ingredients he had pulled out earlier, along with three of his mother's cookbooks that could be saved before his father attempted to burn the apartment to the ground, were scattered across the marble countertop. Within a large bowl, set aside and temporarily forgotten, were a variety of meats, vegetables, and noodles for the soup along with the other dishes his mother was cooking up.
Ken gazed at the broth. The color and consistency were slightly off. It wasn't smooth as it could be. It was red and kinda clumpy, a sign that Julieanne may have not put enough of something or may have put too much of an ingredient or put one at the wrong time.
Ken hummed slightly, which Julieanne noticed and took as a sign of her failure. "I forgot something, didn't?"
Ken gave her a soft smile, one that showed that he too was unsure. "Hard to tell. Let me try it." Julieanne handed him the spoon, allowing Ken to scoop some of the broth to taste it. Julieanne watched him intently as he swirled the liquid in his mouth, going through all the ingredient in his mind and comparing it to the broth Julieanne had made. Ken could definitely see why Julieanne said it tasted off. "You put too much lemongrass and garlic cloves," he paused, "not enough miso paste and soy sauce. You also put the miso paste too soon, that's why it's so clumpy."
"I knew it," Julieanne sighed loudly, gaining the attention of a certain brother. "I don't know why I even try?"
"Are we having problems in here?" Daisuke poked his head through the open door and smiled teasingly at her. Ken lifted a brow, slightly amused and slight exasperated, fully for the main reason that the two siblings would get into a fight any minute now. The fights weren't as bad as the ones Daisuke had with Jun, but the arguing tended to last anywhere from ten minutes to several hours, which would certainly cause a headache for him since the painkillers were wearing off.
"No!" Julieanne straightened her slumped shoulders, pretending she had not just destroyed the base for the soup. "I just burned myself that all." That was a lie; they all knew that, but Ken was not going to call her out on it. He didn't want a fight today, especially since it's his nephew's birthday. If there was going to be a fight, then it was going to be over what presents Shinya should open up first. But that won't happen until Kouji and Takuya got back.
Daisuke rolled his eyes, disbelievingly at his sister. "You're a worse liar than Jun," he pointed out, just as Jun yelled "Hey!" from the party table outside. Daisuke didn't turn to Jun as he smiled smugly, yet teasingly at his sister. "You really should just stick to modeling and singing."
Julieanne's tone grew defensive. "Are you saying I can't cook for my family?"
Ken signed as the two began to argue and spat colorful words at each other. With a shake of his head, he looked at what ingredients were left on the counter, followed by what he had left in his cabinets. He frowned. I don't have enough to redo the soup. Ken instinctively pulled out his phone and began sending a text to his son, adding to the list he had asked the boys to get for him. However, something was not right.
Unable to send? He tried sending it again, but he got the same message after waiting a minute or two. What's going…? Before Ken could finish that thought the twins rushed into the kitchen with a ribbon, which was attached to a small present, was held in their mouths. Ken blinked as they stopped in front of him.
"What do you two have there?"
"Woof-woof!"
"Arf!"
Ken slowly bent down to pick up the small present. "Looks like you forget a present, Daisuke."
Daisuke laughed nervously, looking at his sister as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "What you mean, Ken? I don't know what you're talking about." Ken gazed at his best friend with a disbelieving look as he got to his feet.
"Don't lie to me, Daisuke," his voice turned accusing, hurt even, as his narrowed gaze went from the siblings to his parents, to Hikari and Meiko, and back to Daisuke, "I know you and Oniisan were sneaking presents outside while my back was turned. All of you were in on it, weren't you?" Everyone froze, even Meiko and Hikari were looking at each other nervously. Ken could not understand what the big deal was. Why was everyone trying to hide Shinya's presents from him? Did they think he would not approve of it or something?
Ken glanced at present in his hand just as the twin scampered away again. It was small about the side of his palm, maybe slightly bigger. The wrapping was blue and the design on it looked… familiar. Actually, it almost looked like the one he had gotten on his birthday last year and all the years before that.
Ken froze immediately. "Ken?" Ken ignored Daisuke and Hikari as they tried to get his attention. He silently grabbed the tag that was attached to the present. Just like the previous presents he had gotten in the past, his name was written in black ink in Wormmon's handwriting.
Tears filled Ken's eyes. Wormmon… even when we are apart you are looking out for me… but why would send me this? It's not my…
Ken's head snapped up as he gazed at his friends, understanding creeping in, as the tears threatened to fall. "For me? They were for me?" He leaned against the counter heavily just as Miyako, Iori, and Takeru walked in, looking just as guilty and concern as Hikari and Daisuke must be feeling for their part in the deception. How can I forget my own birthday?
"We're sorry, Ken," Hikari said, looking guilty. "We didn't mean to make you feel that we were lying and hiding things from you."
Daisuke ran his hand through his hair, giving his half-sister a quick reassuring glance. "We just wanted to surprise you on your birthday. You didn't exactly celebrate it last year." He's right. He'd been in the hospital last year as a result of faulty wiring in their apartment complex.
"You were also away on an assignment the year before that," Iori added.
"And got food poisoning the year before," Miyako said with a sly glance toward Julieanne, who immediately grew defensive. "I'm surprised you're even allowing her to cook for you again, Ken."
"I said I was sorry!"
Miyako laughed. "Girl, relax, I'm just kidding. You really need to lighten up." Julieanne relaxed a bit but now looked a bit embarrassed.
"Right, sorry."
Miyako's laughter did not cease and seemed to only lighten the mood as Julieanne puffed up in defiance. "What we are trying to say is that," Takeru spoke up, "you've been under a lot of stress lately. The wedding is in a couple of months and your daughter is coming any day now…"
"Thank god," Daisuke interrupted, "maybe Masaru and Kouji would stop calling me every time Julieanne gets into one of her moods." This earned him an elbow in the ribs from Miyako and a disapproving side glance from Iori.
"That isn't very nice, Daisuke-kun."
"Do you always have to be so mean to your sister?" Miyako hissed at him. "I get she can be a bit much, but come on! She's pregnant! Of course, she's going to be screaming and ranting for Ken every time he's away from her."
Ken blinked and rubbed his eyes to clear them, raising a brow a second later, only to see Julieanne turning a bright crimson.
"I'm jealous actually," Miyako said to Julieanne, now a bit disappointed. "I wished Ken had shown me the same amount of love and attention he shows you. You're really lucky to earn his love." This really caught the two of them off guard. Ken didn't love Miyako the way she had loved him in the past. He merely saw her as a very good friend. It was probably his rejection that caused her to get involved with that abusive asshole. Ken couldn't even say his name without getting pissed off, again.
"You're a really good guy, Ken." Ken could feel the tears starting to fall, hearing the sincerity in his dear friend's voice. "You pretty much went through hell and back," she said referring his past and over the course of the last couple of months, "and it's only going to get harder from here." She walked over to him and place a hand on his wet cheek. "We will always support you any way we can, even if we can't make the pain go away." She gently rubbed the tears away from his cheek. "We wanted to make this year special, to remind you that you're not alone, that you're greatly loved." She then gave him one of her signature smiles. "Can you really blame us for trying?"
Ken closed his eyes for a moment, trying to stop his raging emotions. When he opened them, he smiled. "Thank you." After placing the present on the counter, he pulled her into a hug and she hugged him back. "I love you guys." It was not long before the other joined in on the hug.
"We love you too."
"Do I get to join in on the hug?" Miyako pulled away to see her man leaning against the archway. Judging by the look on his face, he had been standing there for a while.
"How long have you been standing there?" Miyako asked.
He shrugged. "A few seconds after Taichi-kun left to answer the door." He said with a grin as he placed the house phone on the receiver on the counter. "You don't have to worry about him. He won't be bothering you anymore if he doesn't want harassment added to his charges."
"What did you do?" Ken asked, relief threating to overcome him.
"I called in a few favors."
"Must be nice being an FBI Agent," the siblings snorted.
His grinned widened. "It does have its perks." Miyako beamed at her boyfriend before jumped into his open arms.
"You're the best!"
"I'm so glad you think so," he said getting a kiss from Miyako.
Both Julieanne and Daisuke rolled their eyes, giving each other wicked looks. It was pretty obvious that Julieanne didn't care for Wallace very much, much like how Daisuke hadn't liked him when they first met in America. Wallace was a really nice guy and treated Miyako wonderfully. He was also his unofficial therapist when his old one retired. However, there was just something about Wallace's personality that always sets the siblings off. Not even Jun gets as vocal and violet as Daisuke and Julieanne gets when Wallace gets into one of his teasing, flirtatious moods. Ken frowned at the siblings, who noticed his "don't start" stare. They both gazed at him sheepishly as if they had done nothing wrong. Liar.
"GODFATHER! GODFATHER!" Ken jumped, surprised, as Chicka came running down the hall with Taichi close behind. The nine-year-old was beyond pale, several strands of hair were coming out of her ponytails, and her clothes were slightly torn as she came to a complete stop in front of them. "Please come quick!"
"Oh my god, Chicka! What happened?" Ken rushed over to his goddaughter who was breathing heavily, favoring her right leg as the other was badly scrapped and blooding slightly.
"We were attacked by those guys that Oniisan got into a fight with a few months back!" She grabbed his hand, attempting to pull him down the hallway that led out the front door. "Please come! Masaru needs our help!" Ken didn't allow himself to hesitate or to question Chicka about what was going on as the two of them rushed down the hall. Ken's pain was almost nonexistent as adrenaline kicked in, allowing him to run as if he had not just gotten out of the hospital from fatal wounds several hours ago.
"Ken! Wait up!" Ken didn't spare Daisuke a glance as he made his way towards the living room and out the door. Ken only paused for a brief second to grab his firearm from the safe he kept hidden behind a picture in the living room. He had a feeling he was going to need it.
As he reached outside, Ken saw Millenniumon looking in the distance with a troubled look on his face.
"They're coming." Ken probably would have questioned what he was talking if he hadn't spotted Masaru running down the street with an Agumon (he had not seen since the war) and a DATS Agent and her Digimon from the other Digital World running close behind them.
Duskmon hid in the shadows, silently watching, silently spying, on the Chosen as he traveled through the forest with his two Digimon companions. He had no ill feelings towards the Humans and Digimon, personally, that the others complained about. They were simply servants of the loathsome Holy Beasts. The same monsters that brainwashed his father. Duskmon hated not knowing where those vile Digimon were. They were still breathing, still alive, still plotting there return to power. They were the reason his father did not remember him, nor his master, nor the other Digimon that once served under the great Tamer.
From what he had learned from Lord Cherubimon, his father had once been one of the great Legendary Tamers that saved the Digital World long ago before the Holy Beasts destroyed everything. The monsters had brainwashed his father, used him as their slave to reshape the Digital World in their image. But, oh, they didn't stop there. They made him forget everything he once stood for, made him believe he was a brainless Chosen. But what really hurt was that they brainwashed him into believing this boy, this Kouji, was his son and not him. And then there were these other feelings of pain and rage he could not identify, could not place.
Duskmon destroyed a passing Digimon as he watched with vengeful, hateful, calculating eyes. He wanted to hate his human for taking his place. He wanted to strangle him for taking his father away. But he couldn't, at least not yet. The mission came first. He must watch them. He must learn their strengths and weakness. And when the time was right, when the pieces were in place, he would crush them.
Duskmon followed his enemies, watching them as they looked into one of the many portals that allowed them to view the Human World. They watched as his father interacted with his captors. He was completely unaware of the injustice placed upon him. Duskmon felt horrible for not being able to help his father. He so desperately wanted to. Duskmon desperately wanted to help him remember the great Tamer he had once been and to be able to remember all the wonderful things he had done for the Digimon during that time. He wanted him to remember who his true enemies and friends were and...Duskmon wanted his father to remember him.
Duskmon felt sadness knowing his father was lost to him right now. Duskmon only had a few memories of his father. His first memory was of his father holding him, calling him Kouichi, loving him as a father should. His father was so very warm and so very kind. He was home and safety. Something happened between that time and now. His next memory was of him watching his father from a distance. His father was at a park with Kouji. The two of them were walking an elder looking dog, while a woman sat on a picnic table. For some reason, there was an intense amount of jealousy. Duskmon couldn't understand why though. He couldn't remember and then there was the woman. Duskmon knew he lived with a woman. He couldn't see her, but he knew she stirred a wave of deep anger within him. Why? He couldn't remember.
Duskmon placed a hand to his forehead, weaving the memories to go away. He remembered so very little and what he did remember brought nothing but sadness and anger. He hated this Kouji. He was keeping his father prisoner without him even knowing he had a son. But that was okay. With his new form, he would finally save his father from the Holy Beasts' servants. Cherubimon had a plan.
Despite being forced to collect the Digital World's Digicode, he dreamed of the day he would be reunited with his father and that day was coming very soon. That was why he continued to spy for his master and gaining the materials he needed to weaken the gates. When the time was right, their allies will bring his father here and then Cherubimon will be able to undo the damaged those vile Digimon and their allies had caused. Patience. He just had to be patient, no matter how hard it was.
"What are you doing?" Duskmon looked up to see Pico Devimon resting on one of the branches above him. The little Digimon had been following him since they ran into each other in one of the villages he had been sent to. Despite his cruel and unkind ways of trying to rid himself of this pest, the little Digimon continued to follow, continued to attempt to befriend him. There was something about this Digimon that felt off. But he couldn't place his finger on it.
"Watching." He didn't say anymore.
"The Chosen and your father's partners?"
"What?" Duskmon looked at him questioningly. "But I thought his partner was Wormmon."
"Well," the annoying Digimon spoke thoughtfully, "they both evolve from Wormmon. Stingmon is Ichijouji-san main partner, while Lord Phelesmon became his partner shortly before the reboot."
Duskmon narrowed his eyes at the Digimon. Why did it feel like the other knew his father personally? Was that even possible? Only a few Digimon regained their memories after the reboot from what he had been told. "You knew him, didn't you?"
He tilted his head to suggest his utter cluelessness. However, there was an unreadable glint in his eyes. "I don't know. Do I?"
He scoffed at the idiot. There was no way this fool knew his father. "I don't know why I even bother. You're useless." He returned his attention to his enemies only to see them walking this way.
"I'd hide if I were you," Pico Devimon warned him. There was something in his voice that he couldn't place, someone who was older, wiser. No, that couldn't be it. "You're pretty visible right now."
Duskmon, realizing the pest was right, reinforced his shadows to conceal him. You are so stupid, Duskmon. Get yourself together.
"Kouji-san, where are you going?" The human stopped right in front of him, looking around his surrounds. The boy's eyes trailed from tree to tree, branch to branch, darkness to endless darkness. Had he spotted him?
"I…," he said, slightly out of breath. "I thought I say something." The two Digimon stopped behind him, slightly on guard, slightly in concern.
"There's a lot of Digimon in this forest," Phelesmon said. "Could it have been one of them?"
The Human frowned, his arms crossed as his eyes, unknowingly, landed on him. "I'm not sure." The boy was so close. Duskmon could reach out and strangle him. He could kill him and no one would be the wiser. But he didn't. Instead, he stood frozen in place as he stared into the other's eyes.
Why? The childish voice of a very younger version of himself spoke up from the depths of his mind. Why do we have to live here? Doesn't Papa love us? The mean man is gone. As he stared into those eyes, Duskmon felt like he was looking into a mirror as the voice of a long-forgotten memory disappeared before he could grasp onto it.
"Maybe." The boy lifted up his hand. He was inches away from touching him, from finding him. He should attack; he should do something...
"Hi, there!" Duskmon stiffened as Pico Devimon called down to them. "Nice night, isn't it?" What is he doing?!
"Well, hello there, Pico Devimon," Stingmon said politely. The other two looked up, their attention no longer on him. "It is. Perfect night for a scroll." The Digimon nodded in agreement as he fluttered down onto a lower branch.
"I know, right?" Pico Devimon secretly moved his wing, gesturing him to hide somewhere else. He did exactly that, by moving behind a different tree, away from the three.
"Did you make that noise?" Kouji asked, questioningly.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I was just having some dinner," he lied. "Didn't mean to scare you." He held his half-eaten pear and took another bite out of it.
The boy blinked as he lowered his arm. However, he was still on the defensive, still unsure of his Digimon. Duskmon held his breath, trying very hard not to make a sound. "Uh, you didn't scare us." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What are you doing here by yourself? It's dangerous with Cherubimon's allies running around."
"They don't come around here," he said in reassurance. "Besides, this is my home. I am not going to let other Digimon scare me and my friends away." He smiled as he took another bite out of his pear. "Yes, I am by myself right now, but that's okay. I can enjoy my dinner and movie all by myself," he said gesturing to the viewing portals. "I like watching the teacher girl, especially when its story time. I like stories."
Duskmon noticed the glint again. Duskmon wasn't sure what girl he was talking about, but he had a feeling it was one of the Chosen girls. When they first met, the little Digimon mentioned a girl once and a Tailmon he had once been friends with. Duskmon didn't believe him, of course, as it was a story being told by the Chosen Digimon. Duskmon did have his doubts though. He knew more then he was letting on. And his suspicions seemed to be confirmed by the look the Digimon shared. "We should be leaving now," Phelesmon said, his gaze unreadable.
"Oh, leaving so soon?"
"I'm afraid so. We must get back home." Stingmon nodded, apologetically. "Have a good night." The Digimon began walking away, but not before Kouji's gaze traveled along the trees and darkness one last time before following the two fleeting pair. Duskmon continued to watch the three until they stopped at the end of the path. Phelesmon lifted up a hand and with a flick of his wrist, a portal appeared. On the other side was a huge room within a beautiful castle. The three entered the portal and then they were gone.
It was several minutes before Pico Devimon spoke. "Coast is clear. You can come out now." Duskmon exited out of the shadows, still staring at where the fleeting pair went. That had been too close for comfort. Pico Devimon fluttered over to him. "You froze." He didn't form it as a question, but he still nodded anyway. "Why?"
"I don't know." Duskmon walked over to the portal that showed his father. His father looked so very happy as he interacted with his so-called friends. But he knew it was all a lie. It was a very good lie, considering he couldn't tell the untruthfulness in their voices as they spoke. Duskmon sighed as he rested his head on the tree. "Papa…I promise I will save you, even if I have to risk my own life to do it."
Chapter 4: Coincidental Meeting
Notes:
And here we go the next chapter. This honestly took a while to do with all the ideas I wanted to put into this chapter. To not make it too long, I ended up splitting up some scenes and ended up moving it to the next chapter. That may or may not be out within the next coming months or so.
For those who are not up to date, I have written another story for this universe. A Father's Love has a bit more background story that takes place after the Trials of Kindness. It is not necessary to read to understand this story, but I do recommend it as it establishes certain elements for this one.
With that said, please enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Thank you.
Chapter Text
"Locking up, Raptor-1 was very unwise, Satsuma." Kudamon glanced at him from his position on his shoulder, looking both understanding, yet disapproving. "I told you he would not give you any information with his General not around. There are many Digimon who are very loyal to the Tamers long after the war and will only respond to either him or Ryo-san."
Yes, the war against Millenniumon. A truly devastating war from what he understood from the training seminars. Many Digimon had died and many more could have if it weren't for the Legendary Tamers. Millenniumon would have destroyed this reality if it weren't for them. Yet, he had still made the conscious choice to betray his friend, his former partner.
"You should have called the Chosen or at least Minamoto-san last month when Agumon appeared. And now it's too late." The alarms continued to go off, creating a ringing in his ears, and the red light engulfing the room created an eerie presence to his conflicted mind. "He would have understood your latest mistake and lack of judgment if you had just called."
Rentarou frowned, knowing that the little Digimon was right. Ken was a forgiving person, for the most part. Ken only spoke to him on official business, other than that he rarely talked to him. Rentarou had thought he had been doing the right thing when he heard the Chosen was harboring a Digimon all those years ago. He was wrong and deserved the Chosen's wrath.
Kudamon curled around him slightly, resting comfortably on his shoulder. "I hope you are prepared for the consequences when the Tamer finds out about this."
He groaned before turning his gaze to the screens in front of him. An uneasy feeling came over him as he saw Yoshino on the video feed about to trespass on one of the few private restricted communities of the Chosen Providence.
"Yoshino, return to headquarters. Do not engage the boy and Raptor-1."
"Negative, Captain. I can catch up to them." They watched as Yoshino got out of her car to follow the fleeting pair that entered through the tall black gates. The boy, Masaru, opened the gate with ease and pushed the other inside. However, he forgot to close the gate all the way in his haste to get away from Yoshino, who was hot on his tail.
"Captain," Miki spoke up. "Director Hashiba is on the line."
Oh, dear. He was in trouble now.
He had never been one to run from a fight or from bullies in general. Even at a young age, Masaru had to protect himself in a world that was cruel to those who were different. He had been teased quite often weeks after his father left for what he called the greatest mystery known to man and never returned. Many believe he had abandoned them for another, leaving his poor mother and children behind.
But he knew deep down his father was not like that, would never do that. From what little he remembered of his father, and of the way his Godfather talked about him, he was an honest man, a loving father, and a faithful husband. He would do anything for his children and wife. He refused to believe the lies that his father abandoned them, his career, his friends, his life…
But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into years, it had become difficult to stay hopeful. He was fortunate to have his Godfather for support and guidance. Ken kept him level headed with his wisdom.
Giving into hatred through violence would not solve the problem, it would only cause more violence. Hateful people will always talk hatefully because they are afraid of the unknown and — Ken didn't exactly agree with him on this — but these people were generally stupid and single-minded anyway, considering they have nothing better to do than to harass him, his Godfather, and his friends.
Masaru hadn't known what a Digimon was until he met Agumon. Masaru remembered loving the stories of the DigiDestined and their adventures. He just hadn't realized they were real. Yes, he saw the pictures and heard the way the adults would talk about their partners, but — damn, he was an idiot. How could he not put two and two together?
"Digimon loving freaks!" He hadn't known the meaning of those words until Agumon found him and sister being attacked by five members of the Anti-Digimon group. He hadn't understood why Ken and the others created DATS, continued to fight the Anti-Digimon groups that still harassed them today, and then there was the memory of a white creature he and Kouji used to play with.
Yuki…
Masaru took a sharp left to hide behind some tall bushes and trees near one of the neighboring house within the gated community. The DATS agent ran right past them, allowing them to get a breather. The teenager frowned as he wiped the blood off his brow that was starting to go into his eyes. He winced, realizing that he was a bloody mess. His dress shirt (that his mother made him wear for the party) was ripped in several places, and his dress pants were stained with blood. His arms were all scratched up from the wooden sticks that the five adults had been using and his fists hurt quite a bit, too. He was sure he was bruised up all over too for taking the brunt of the attacks. He was not going to allow those assholes to harm his sister. However, Ken was so going to freak when he saw him.
"I think we lost her for now."
"What a relief? I thought we'd never ditch them," Agumon said and then he remembered what the dino said earlier before the DATS agent began chasing them downtown.
"Tell me, Agumon. How do you know my Godfather?"
"He's my General," he said with pride. "I was one of many in his army as he and Ryo-san fought against Millenniumon and his forces in the war back in the day. It was a tough battle. Half of the time, it felt like we would lose to that the Evil God. He was always getting the upper hand, destroying towns, turning Digimon against us, and even separating us from one half of the Digital World to the other."
"Millenniumon?" That name sounded familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"I'm not surprised you don't know of him. Not many do after the reboot. In a way, it's a blessing. He's not a Digimon you would want to face. Many lives were lost because of that monster. It is something many don't like to think about."
"Does Godfather still think about it?"
"I believe he does," said Agumon. "All he ever wanted was for the Digimon to live in peace like we used to before the Holy Beasts took over." He shook his head. "It's hard being hopeful sometimes when it seems like everyone is against you, trying to hinder you from doing what is right."
Masaru's closed his eyes and frowned. He remembered the stories Takeru made over the years. And the memories… memories of the countless stories Ken had told him of his adventure in the Digital World, and his own interactions with Yukimi Botamon as they grew up together with Kouji and Takuya did confirm some things.
A) Ken had known of Digimon his whole life and would do anything to protect them even from those Anti-Digimon groups and those ten times his size.
B) His involvement in the war meant he really did know Agumon; and had suffered a lot because of it; and
C) his very tense relationship with the Captain of DATS (or lack thereof) and his non-vocal hostility to the DATS agents that think they can do whatever they want around and against the Chosen made a lot more sense now.
Masaru checked over the bush to see were their chasers were. They were looking in the other direction. They would resume their chase once they saw them. "Godfather is in the house on the next block. Think we can outrun them a little longer."
Agumon smirked. "They don't stand a chance. The General won't be too happy to see them, eh?"
"You're right." Masaru gave his own smirk. "Then let's show them why they picked the wrong team to mess with."
Agumon smirked once more, a blaze burning in his eyes that matched his own as the two of them left their hiding spot.
"Yoshino, they're over there!" The chase resumed once more, but Masaru was not going to stop just because a pretty girl asked him too. The teenager and the Digimon ran down the block, passing several perplexed/semi-annoyed adults on the way. All of them seemed surprised to see him with an Agumon, yet they were not freaking out for seeing a Digimon for the first time. No, that was not right, they had seen a Digimon before because they must have had a Digimon partner as well. Did everyone in this community have or had a Digimon at one point?
"This way, Agumon!" They took a sharp right onto the block.
"Hey, you! Stop!" Masaru grinded his teeth together as the girl and her plant creature ran after them. They were getting too close as he almost stumbled due to Agumon's two left feet. He heaved at the pain from his fight with those jerks earlier before this DATS agent found them.
Have to keep going. Almost there. Masaru repeated that in his head over and over again, knowing that the two of them would be safe once they got to Ken's place. And then the house was in view.
As he got closer to the house, he saw his Godfather exiting the house with his weapon in hand, worried and on guard. Not far from him was his sister, who was standing slightly behind him.
"Masaru!" Chika waved towards him, gesturing him to the door. "Come on! This way!"
Masaru pumped more speed onto his legs and ran more than had had ever ran before. With Agumon claws held tightly in his own, Masaru pushed forward, bypassing his Godfather with a small respectful "Sensai" and crashed right into Taichi and Daisuke, who had been close behind Ken. Masaru let a groan as the three of them fell to the floor of the living room. As his body reminded him of the pain that encased his body, the teenager saw Julieanna, Hikari, and Miyako looming over him, looking just as worried as his own mother would have been if she hadn't had to work today.
"Oh, my god! Masaru what happened?" Julieanna did not look too happy to see all the blood staining his new dress attire.
This is the worst.
"You're trespassing, Agent Fujieda."
Yoshino cringed at Minamoto's cold glare. She realized she had entered the private community without gaining prior permission from one of the founders first. And the boy… Minamoto did not seem too pleased that they were chasing down the boy and Raptor-1. The boy must be a relative, she realized, making her current situation all the more worse.
"Yes, sir, we are."
"We meant no disrespect, Your Majesty." Majesty? What's that all about?
Yoshino glanced at Lalamon, who was floating next to her, her eyes down as she bowed respectfully to the Chosen in front of her. They were legends to the Digimon and quite frankly she looked up to them, despite the chaos many Anti-Digimon groups have caused over the years. They deserved to live in peace after everything they've gone through to protect both worlds.
"Then why did you pass through the gate without permission?" The man never once raised his voice, but she still shivered at the coldness in it. He was not happy. "Don't you realize I can have your badge stripped from you and you demoted to nothing more than a janitor?"
"I understand, sir," Yoshino responded automatically, noticing he never once threatened to take her Digimon away from her, nor threatened to throw her in jail as Kanbara tended to do.
He still saw her as a child and he may not be far off. She just turned eighteen, legally an adult in the system, but still very much a child to others. And to the Chosen, she was a child, merely trying to find her path in a world where Digimon were still feared and hated.
Peace. All they wanted was peace.
"Then why?" He asked again, the coldness still visible as she met his eyes, but the lines around them seemed soft, wise even, understanding. He already knew.
"I was merely following orders, Minamoto-sama."
The softness was now gone. "So Satsuma ordered you to imprison Agumon at DATS for well over a month and then have you to go after my Godson and my lieutenant when he escaped, knowing full well of the consequences!"
She flinched. "It wasn't like that!" Lalamon jumped in to protect her partner from this misunderstanding, but shrank under his glare. Despite his rather frail appearance, he was still really scary when angered.
"Lalamon," Lalamon glanced at her, "it's okay. You don't have to protect me. He has every right to be mad."
She returned her gaze to the Chosen, noticing some of the other adult Chosen had followed after him, but chose to stay within the house, allowing Minamoto to handle the situation. She swallowed her nerves before she continued, despite her captain's warnings.
"As a member of DATS, it is my duty to represent you and the other Chosen. I swore to protect the Digimon, even if separating them from the people that had been manipulated by and bonded to, hurts me inside. Returning every Digimon that passes through the portals and keeping Digimon contact with the public to a minimal until peace can finally be established between the two worlds."
She shook her head, sadly, looking very guilty. "I haven't been doing a good job of keeping the peace. I should have called the moment I found Agumon."
"Why didn't you?" Hida asked. His eyes weren't as cold as Minamoto's, but the way his eyes pierced through her soul was very unnerving.
"I thought he was just another wild Digimon, until he began talking about you at DATS headquarters. The Captain wanted to prove his claims before contacting you. What was supposed to be an hour interview turned into days, then weeks, and then a month." She twirled a finger around a lock a hair.
"When he escaped, he ended up in an area where some of the members of the Anti-Digimon groups typically ambush civilians at. I was tasked to bring him back. When I caught up to him, your Godson and Raptor-1 were fighting five grown men. I didn't know what to think."
Minamoto frowned at her as he glanced at Hida, unsure what to think. "That explains the injuries," Inoue said from inside the house.
"Ow, Miyako-san that hurts!"
"Oh, quit being a baby and let me patch you up!"
Agumon laughed from somewhere inside. "You are no better, Agumon," Takaishi spoke after her best friend, making the Digimon yelp as she cleaned his wounds, she suspected.
"Chika, daringly," a pretty brown-eyes woman appeared behind her soon-to-be-husband, "why don't you come inside and let me check your injuries? I'm sure the boys can handle this."
The little girl, Chika, seemed reluctant to leave her Godfather's side, in his rather fragile state. "It's okay, Chika." Minamoto's gaze was soft and fatherly kind. "Go with Julieanna." He winked at her. "Do me a favor and knock some sense into your brother? He can really be a hard head sometimes."
She smiled. "Will do, Godfather!" When they disappeared inside, the sharp gaze returned, the softness was gone once more.
"Those men Masaru and Agumon were fighting were members of the Anti-Digimon group. From what Chika told me, they attacked them. Knowing Agumon, he jumped in when he saw them in danger."
Yoshino nodded. "And the two must have ran, knowing that you were after Agumon," Hida added.
"Although, I am sure Masaru thought you were going to arrest him. He's been into eight fights already within the last three months." Minamoto shook his head, looking a tad annoyed at his Godson. "He means well, but he doesn't learn."
"What a mess we got here, heh Ken?" Motomiya said as he leaned against the door, taking Chika's spot.
Minamoto sighed deeply, allowing all the protectiveness, anger, and frustration to leave his body. The man that was in front of her now was no longer enraged by her presence, no longer on the verge of casting her off his property with the warning of stripping her of her badge, of her dream. He was calmer now. He was still a bit on edge, still protective of his own; although, that was more due to his worry for the two injured children inside.
As he addressed her and Lalamon once more, she was reminded why his trait was kindness. "Fujieda-san, would you and Lalamon like to come inside?"
"I really shouldn't. I've already caused enough trouble."
"Nonsense," he said dismissively. "Masaru certainly does a lot worse. Trust me." Minamoto smiled at her as he leaned against the door frame to mask the exhaustion and pain. "Truthfully, I am really not supposed to be on my feet for too long after my accident."
Motomiya snorted at that but said nothing more when Hida elbowed him in the ribs. Minamoto ignored the two as he spoke to her as a father would to his daughter. "I don't like to bring my work into my home, but given the circumstances, I will make an exception. Don't get me wrong. I do not approve of Satsuma's deceit and lies, nor of his methods of handling the wild Digimon that had been appearing lately."
Yoshino merely nodded, not wishing to interrupt. "You have much to learn about the Digimon you swore to protect and," he added, "I believe what Agumon has to say will be very beneficial."
Relieved she was not going to be turned away, she smiled slightly and bowed. "Yes, thank you, sir."
His eyes softened as he stepped aside to allow her to enter. She and Lalamon walked slowly behind him, noticing his slow movements as he tried to shift his weight to his good leg. He was trying very hard to hide his pain and discomfort. He was trying very hard to make her feel welcomed in a space she intruded on. Why?
As soon as she entered the living room, she could tell she was not welcomed. The boy, Masaru, was very unpleased with his pursuers being allowed within, what he must consider, his sanctuary. Raptor-1 seemed unfazed by her appearance but stood in front of the two siblings protectively. He was looking over their shoulder at something with a fierce expression, one of disbelief and anger. Yoshino glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing.
Down the hall that led to the kitchen and the backyard were the other adults and children. The children had all paused in their play as they were ushered inside the house. The radio that had been filling the space with music and life was turned off. Everyone was entering the room now. All twelve Japanese Chosen were here, the American Chosen, Wallace Montgomery, one of the Dark Seed Chosen, Noriko Kawada, their respective significant other, family members, and their children.
She swallowed the rising bile in the back of her throat as the children filled up the remaining space on the sofa, while the adults stood nearby. Izumi, Ishida, and Yagami were bringing in chairs from the kitchen and outside for the adults to sit on, while the others looked on in both confusion and alarm as they took in the two Digimon within the home.
This truly was the worst.
"What is she doing here?" Masaru's voice cut into the already thick tension.
She bit her lip, unsure of the hostility in his voice. He, as the oldest, was protecting the younger children. They were all so young, with the majority being under nine years of age. Some of the Chosen also seemed a bit unhappy to see her.
"Masaru, Agent Fujieda is our guest. She is here to hear Lieutenant Agumon's report before returning to DATS." Masaru opened his mouth to protect, but his words came up short when both his sister and father figure gave him a steely look. "You will treat our guest with respect and will not get into another fight. Do I make myself clear?"
He shrank, slightly. "Yes, sir."
Minamoto smiled brightly. "Wonderful. Hikari-chan, Fujieda-san, come with me." Just then two puppies scampered down the stairs and skidded to a stop in front of their father. They gave a playful little bark, as if they had not been caught doing something they were not supposed to, before scampering away towards their next victim.
The children squealed with joy as the puppies jumped the elder teen. "Hey, stop that!" Masaru's screams awoken an older-looking dog. She lifted her green eyes to glance at the troublesome duo.
Minamoto shook his head and smiled as the fully grow Shibu Inu made her way over to her master, rubbing her head affectionately on his offered hand before returning her gaze to the puppies in motherly disapproval.
"Go easy on them, Emiko. They're still young." The other did not look convinced. "Watch them for me. I'll be back."
Emiko barked before walking away to reprimand the pups.
The walk up the stairs was almost as painful as the metal bullets that had pierced through his chest, the snapping of bones, and the licking of flames. He closed his eyes for a moment as he allowed the medicine to reopen his lungs.
Ugg. What in the world was he thinking when he decided to have a modern two-story house built instead of a ranch house? Granted, he hated the very concept of a ranch style home and Julieanna hated the idea of having something too closed in and small for their growing family. Despite how open the original design of the home would have been, he hated the idea of being trapped without a way to escape if something were to happen. A ranch house would have been too open, too exposed if someone somehow managed to break in again. He also couldn't have a separate office, one away from the main living area, with a ranch house. The two-floor modern home was the only thing he and Julieanna could agree on.
Ken sat on his bed and sighed. At least a ranch house wouldn't have given him this much pain as the stairs currently did. Maybe he really should reevaluate his decision, just a bit.
"Are you okay, Your Majesty?" Lalamon asked as she floated next to him, while Yoshino studied the pictures he had on his dresser.
"I'm fine. Stairs… aren't my best friend today." He smiled weakly as he took a sip of water that he always kept on his nightstand. "Guess I'll be sleeping on the sofa until I'm a bit more healed up."
"Julieanna will never allow that," Hikari said as she reentered the room with his pain medication. "She would much rather stop you from beating up her ex, then have you sleep on the sofa."
"I guess." Ken took the medicine, trying his best not to show his obvious hatred for the man. The man was a coward and Ken would have taken pride in putting him in an arena with three Dark Tyranomon, a Devimon, and a Piemon as they tortured him in the fight to the death. And if that didn't work he would have fed him to a Deltamon as he and Millenniumon laughed in his misery.
Ken first met him while he had been staying at Julieanna's mansion. The huge mansion was about four stories high, had a huge yard, a library, a kitchen, a dining room, a breakfast room, and many other rooms Julieanna had yet to fix. The mansion had a lot of character and really had that 20s feel to it. Ken had learned just how much Julieanna loved renovating old houses. Ken would have loved staying there with his sons, but Julieanna's ex ruined that.
The man had been an old boyfriend with black shaggy hair and dull gray eyes, a typical street thug. The man's personality was just as bad as he looked. He took great joy in belittling strong women, beating them, humiliating them, until they had no choice but to become the property he wanted them to be.
Ken hated the pain in those brown orbs when he mentioned Julieanna's mother being his boss' former prostitute and her short time being one. Ken hated the guy for trying to force her into taking these jobs. He hated the way the guy insulted her, degraded her, acting as if he owned her, like she was a piece of property for him to use as he saw fit.
She tried to refuse. She had given up that life the moment one of her customers gave her the opportunity she needed to make it big in the modeling industry. But the guy stalked her at her workplace, threatened her on the phone and mail, and even had the nerve to hit her in front of him.
Ken had put a stop to that so fast that the guy hadn't known where to turn when he was there to protect her. The ex hadn't made a threatening move in several months now; a confrontation was inevitable he was certain. A guy like that was not going to let his property go so easily. Ken was determined to protect Julieanna. She can protest and scream and even hate him all she wants, but she must be crazy to think Ken was going to stand aside and watch this guy walk all over her. Hell, no! The guy wanted war, fine! Ken will fight with everything he had and more. He was well prepared for this war and was going to win.
"Are these your partners?" Yoshino held a photograph in her hand. The photo within it was one of many taken way before he had met Wormmon and his brother. The one she held showed Stingmon and Phelesmon standing in front of a huge castle, to their left was a path that led to the Akiba Market.
"Yeah, that's Stingmon and his brother, Phelesmon."
"The castle is beautiful. Where is it at?" There were other pictures there, ones of landscapes within Oasis City and other areas within WWW Continent.
"Oasis City. It's one of three kingdoms located on WWW Continent." Ken got up and walked over to stand next to the young DATS Agent. "Oasis City is such a beautiful city, and its oasis is breathtaking. The whole island of WWW is beautiful, actually. I had only been there a few times when I was younger, but I could understand why my partners loved it so much. It did not have the violence that File Island and Server had, instead Digimon of all types lived there in harmony. You wouldn't expect to find a Vaccine and Virus getting along so easily, but on WWW they are." He smiled. "It truly is a utopia." His smile faltered slightly. "At least, until the reboot."
No one said anything as they glanced at the other pictures. Wormmon had sent him many over the years. Many were of landscapes and pictures of the brothers before the reboot and others were current pictures of all the Digimon within the castle's massive dining room and a ballroom. There were pictures of himself and Leafmon when he was younger, a group picture of him and the others after the defeat of Vamdemon, and a group picture of himself, Kouji, Masaru, Yuki, and Suguru before he went to the Digital World and never came back.
"Oasis City… I was born there once… before the reboot." Ken and Hikari glanced at each other as they watched Lalamon's reaction. It was very difficult to gauge her expression as she studied the photos. Unlike a Digimon like Palmon, Lalamon's facial features were very simplistic, showing next to nothing, otherwise emotionless. Despite showing so very little emotion, the two Chosen knew what she must be feeling. "But, you two already knew this, Your Majesties." Yoshino, who looked rather surprised, said nothing.
"You and Gaomon were part of Phelesmon's royal staff and the Pawn Chessmon twins were members of the Chessmon Empire," Ken explained to the two. "From what I was told the four of you had been sent out to investigate a distress call Elecmon had sent out, but never returned."
"Do you remember what happened now?" Hikari asked, gently. The only reason they had been keeping an eye on the four Digimon, instead of approaching them, was for the sole reason that they didn't remember.
"Just the Kaiser," she said. "He looked like you, walked liked you, but the way he talked and acted was not you."
"Dark Gennai." He grimaced. The real Gennai had been severely injured, trapped in some sort of a pod when Taichi found him. He has been unreachable ever since he returned to the Digital World. Was he still alive? Had he healed up after his injuries? Had Dark Gennai gotten to him again? They had no idea.
She nodded. "He had been attacking the village," she recalled. "He did something to us, but I can't remember what." Ken only frowned.
"We never did stop him," Hikari said, worried. "He could come back after all this time. And if he does, we have no way of stopping him."
"We'll stop him," Yoshino said. Ken looked at her, uncertain.
"No offense, Fujieda-san, but you and Lalamon are no match against Dark Gennai right now. You haven't faced many powerful Digimon, which is fine for now, and your teamwork can use a bit of work, but I'm afraid you and Lalamon need to be able to evolve into Perfect or Ultimate in order to fight against both Dark Gennai and Yggdrasill's forces." Yoshino frowned slightly at him.
"I understand your concerns, but we have to try," Yoshino said. "With Norstein-san away on a mission, it's just us."
"Then maybe you should have some help," Ken said as he turned around to walk towards his closet.
"What you mean?"
Instead of answering, Ken pulled out a box where the two Digivice iCs rested for many years. Ken pulled the two devices out of the box.
"Ken are you sure about this? I thought you wanted to wait until they were a little older."
"No, I'm not Hikari," he said, not lifting his eyes to his friend. "We were all so young when we were dragged into the Digital World. No eight-year-old, nor eleven-year-old should be dragged into someone else's war, trying to survive in a world that just wanted us dead." He sighed. "I just wanted Kouji, Masaru, Takuya, and Chika to live a normal life, one without the constant threat of the Digital World and their twisted views. I just wanted to protect them just a little bit longer, but I don't think that's possible anymore."
"What you mean?"
Ken finally did look at her, knowing brown orbs were studying him. "Don't act like you haven't felt the tip in the balance. Both Digital Worlds are suffering; whatever it threating our partners and the other world is going to come here, it is only a matter of time. And," he added, "I have a bad feeling that's were Kouji and Takuya are now."
"What you mean by that?" Yoshino asked, frantically. "Is something coming?" But before Ken could answer the alarms, he and Koushiro had set up to alert them if a Digital Gate were to open up within a twenty-mile radius of the community, went off.
"Warning! Warning! Digital Rift Detected!"
Everyone was quiet as Bokomon finished telling them the true story of the Legendary Warriors. Not the heroes that defeated the powerful Lucemon — was Lucemon even the bad guy? — but the ones that were created to destroy both worlds, to finish what Ordinemon started. The moments of that battle were not mentioned in the Digimon Adventure book series, then again why would something so gruesome be mentioned in a book for children.
Izumi stared at her D-Scanner, unsure how to feel. They evolved into the very Digimon that once served a God that did not care who lived or who died. They had at one point been the enemies of their predecessors, the nightmare of their dreams.
Did this make them any better than Cherubimon's Evil Warriors?
"Bokomon, why did the gates close again?"
"I can not say," the old man Digimon said. "The virus had almost completely torn the Digital World to its core and the reboot merely caused chaos." He gently ran a claw on the smooth surface of the blue egg. "However, Yggdrasill's creation of its Digital World could have something to do with it. The balance is greatly tipped, causing all three worlds to be thrown into some sort of imbalance."
"Can two Digital Worlds really exist?" Junpei asked. "Wouldn't one overthrow the other?"
Bokomon frowned. "It's hard to say. The world Yggdrasill created was always unstable. But with the way things are going now, and with the Digital World just as unstable, I can't say how this is affecting the Human World. There was never supposed to be two Digital Worlds tired to one world."
No one said anything as they took in what Bokomon said. If one true Digital World was to exist, what effects were two worlds causing their world? What would happen when both worlds become equally unstable? Would that truly break the barriers between the worlds or would something truly worse happen?
Why are there so many questions? Izumi ran her hand through her blonde locks, confusion, and dread filling her.
"What do we do?" Tomoki asked, his face uncertain. "The only way to stop anything worse from happening is to save this Digital World, right?"
"You are correct, my boy," said the Digimon.
"So… the only way to do that is to go to the Rose Morning Star." He smiled sadly. "The Warriors may have been created to do bad things, but I don't think it makes them bad guys. They tried to amend the bad they did when they tried to restore peace long ago."
"You're right," Izumi said with a smile. "I don't know how I feel about the Digimon I am bonded to once being evil, but I believe in her. We will defeat Cherubimon and once we do that, I think we should talk to your uncles and the other Chosen to do something about this other world."
Takuya nodded, silently, his eyes still on the door. Izumi frowned. "Maybe we should go and find Kouji. He's been gone a while." But before anyone could comment, several shouts were heard.
"Stingmon! Lord Phelsemon! There you guys are! You need to come quick!" That was Tailmon.
"What's going on?" Kouji asked when Stingmon didn't. Takuya was the first to get to the door to see his cousin, Stingmon, Lord Phelsemon, Tailmon and V-mon in the hallway.
"A Digital Gate has opened up in the Real World," V-mon yelled, frantically. "The location seems to be where Daisuke and the other's live!"
"One of the Monitamon in the area reported back that three of Cherubimon's followers went through the portal," Tailmon added, uneasily. A cold sinking feeling filled her, one filled with dread and fear. Izumi glanced at Takuya and Kouji to see the color draining from their faces and their eyes widening as their gazes slowly turned towards Stingmon. Izumi hesitantly shifted her own gaze to the insect Digimon.
Stingmon's relax posture had gone through a 360-degree turn. He was stiff and almost unresponsive to his brother's calming touch. His claws were twitching slightly, his wings were tight against his back, and his eyes were wide, yet far, far away. The only hint of emotion that she could decipher was the raw fear in his voice before he took off running.
"Ken…"
The Holy Beasts thought tricking the Digimon into thinking he had been corrupted by power and had become ruthless, after bringing the peace they failed to do, would fix their little problem. They were wrong.
He was a Digimon of the great divine and the diabolic. He thrived on the dark energy that constantly surrounded him. He controlled it, used it as he saw fit. It did not affect him as it would a normal Digimon. However, without his seal, he was trapped here, very slowly losing his sense of self, his humanity to the darkness within him.
He should have killed the Holy Beasts when he had the chance! But no, he granted them mercy when they had been reverted to mere babies. He was so stupid for letting them go! Lucemon silently seethed, showing no emotion as he stared into the endless darkness. But then… what good would their deaths have caused?
Lucemon glanced at his hand to see a small picture within a small locket. Ken… The picture of the boy he saw as a son stared back at him, reminding him that he was not judge and executor; reminding him that despite all the bad things they have done, despite all the pain they caused, even the misguided needed a second chance. If Lucemon had killed them that day, that would not have stopped the war. The Devas may be gone, but their followers were not. They would have created a rebellion sooner or later without the King and Queen here to stop it. The Legendary Warriors, believing he was the threat of all threats, would have still attacked to restore misguided peace.
Lucemon closed his eyes as he felt a small tremor from the Digital World's core, another part of the Digital World had been scanned by one of Cherubimon's servants.
"The Digital World is suffering," Huanglongmon's voice spoke into the darkness. Lucemon chose to not voice his comment. Lucemon may have whispered ideas into the Beast Angel's head, but the damage, the anger, the hate was all him. He did not need Lucemon to see just how corrupt the Digital World still was. The virus still existed within the Dark Area, the reboot just made it impossible to see now.
Lucemon could feel the virus traveling around him and his companion, filling the space with negative energy more potent than the darkness floating within. "The virus is getting stronger."
Soon or later, Lucemon would lose his mind to the virus. When he talked telepathically to his son, the virus would take over. To Ken, he would appear cold, maybe even cruel. He would say things, lies, that he would normally not say. He would seem dangerous. Ken was afraid of him, forcing Millenniumon to come to his defense. The Evil God, however, knew who he was and of his close relationship to the Tamer he protected. He knew of the virus, yet he chose not to relay this information to the other. Hmm… I wonder why?
Huanglongmon looked around, his red eyes looking unsure. "Are you sure about this?" he asked. "Taking the Digicode is making the Digital World more unbalanced than it already is."
"It's the only way and you know it. The Digital World was never right after the reboot. At least this way, it can properly reset once I get the necessary energy I need for the spell." The longer they stayed here, the greater the chance of them losing their minds to the virus. "Do you want to give Dark Gennai the upper hand of controlling us?"
Using the Digital World's Digicode was the only way to free them of this prison. It was very time consuming, yes, and it was destroying the Digital World piece by piece, but it would all be worth it in the end. The Digital World was already unbalanced and damaged. Two Digital Worlds cannot live in the same plain and attached to the same Real World without eventually shattering the barriers that kept them apart. The only way to fix this problem was to destroy the other world Yggdrasill created, along with this one, without destroying the thin barriers between the Digital and Real World. Recreating the Digital World would not be difficult, he just needed the energy of his King and the Queen. They were the key to salvation.
"No," he said with a sigh, "I had told Gennai trying to save his twin brother was pointless the moment he began following Yggdrasill, but he never listens to me." Yes, the two had at one point been human, having been teleported here by accident. Their deaths should not have happened. When he and the other Demon Lords had still been ruling the Digital World, they had been planning on sending them back home. However, at some point during the night, Lord Knightmon had come and killed them mercilessly. The two young adults may have been reborn as Digital Entities years later, but they were never the same: one sought for peace for both the Human and Digital World, while the other sought to destroy it.
"But," he added, "there are other ways of getting free from the Dark Area. We can use one of my cores to summon the Chosen. It is risky, however. I cannot guarantee they will not end up in enemy's territory. And I would not be able to protect them if the other Holy Beasts or even the Royal Knights find them before their partners do. They will feel me using my core the moment I use it."
Lucemon frowned. Could he really risk that? No, he couldn't. If they did go that route then the Holy Beasts might get wind of it. They were still connected to the dragon. No, they would have to allow Cherubimon to handle this for now. But Lucemon had ill feelings towards the Warrior of Steel. He was up to no good, that he was certain.
"Guess we just have to trust Cherubimon for the time being."
"Is that wise?" Blue eyes that had been staring at the endless darkness turned to the golden dragon that had been his companion for countless centuries. The Dark Area had never been this empty, lifeless prison of hell. It had once been a whole separate world under the deep waters of the Net Ocean with treacherous mountains, drylands, and lava all over the place. But with the core of the Digital World corrupted by both the virus and the reboot, the Dark Area had become nothing but an orb of darkness and the Digital World only a shadow of itself.
"He isn't exactly stable. The virus has been dormant for so long until now. It's affecting him even more now. And even if he does manage to bring the Tamer here, and convince him to help free us, there is a chance he might suppress his memories, brainwash him, as he did with the boy."
"Then it's a good thing, I have an ally.
The apartment was rather small and in great need of renovation. Cracks, going from big to small, were all over the walls throughout the apartment and big water stains were visible on the walls of the living room and kitchen, starting from the ceiling from somewhere upstairs and making its way down. The heating wasn't all that great, if they got heating at all, and the floor creaked whenever he walked on it.
Kouichi didn't particularly like his new home. The apartment was much too small for two people. The single room in the apartment was about half the size of the walk-in closet his mother had at their previous home. The bathroom was rather small, not big enough to put much in, and the kitchen looked old and on the verge of falling apart. Old looking cabinets seem to be broken as black tape was used to hold them in place on the wall. Underneath the cabinets was an old-looking stove. Across from it was a small fridge and a microwave. The floor of the kitchen was a mismatch of tiles with some missing from the odd-looking pattern.
The five-year-old looked around his room with a small frown. He was happy to not be with his mother's former boyfriend anymore, but their new living arrangements were much to be desired. The few people that lived in this rundown apartment weren't exactly nice, except for the strange homeless man outside the complex. Kouichi, not for the first, wondered why they weren't living with his father. Based on the few pieces of information he managed to pry from his mother, Ken Minamoto seemed like the father he always wanted: loving, kind, protective. Why wouldn't his mother want to be with him? He seemed to be a lot nicer than the Mean Man. Or better yet, why not live with grandma? She was a bit further away, but they would have been able to make the trip.
Kouichi sighed as he glanced at a transparent form of a lion-man, sitting on this futon in the middle of the room. "What you think Lowee, should we ask Kaasan again?"
"It wouldn't hurt," the lion said. "She did promise."
"Okay!" Kouichi left the room with his friend close behind him. Kouichi entered the living room, only seeing an old-looking sofa that his mother slept on, a small coffee table, and a small tv. The previous owners were so nice to leave these here for them.
"Okaasan?"
"Over here, Kouichi," her tired voice could be heard from the kitchen. Kouichi smiled as he skipped over to the kitchen. Tsubasa Kimura was a very kind and loving mother when she wasn't being secretive. Despite his young age, he knew his mother was ill. She was thin, too thin to be considered healthy. Her fair skin was a pasty white, her dark blue eyes looked more than a little tire, and she seemed to always be in some sort of pain.
"Did you put away your toy, Kouichi?" She was unpacking the last of the boxes.
"Yes." His smile was big and bright. "Can we see Papa now?"
She sighed. It was an annoyed type of sigh. She did that a lot whenever he brought up his father. He had asked her nonstop the moment he found a photograph of his parents when they were younger about two years ago. Kouichi wanted to know more about his father, wanted to understand why his parents weren't together anymore. They looked so happy, so in love. What happened between them? Why did Papa leave them…?
"I'm sorry my darling, now's not a good time, maybe next time." Next time. That's all she ever said. Next time. Next time. Next time. He had been asking for two years now. When was next time going to be today?
"Why not? You haven't even tried asking him."
His mother pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyes closing as she tried to control her temper. "Kouichi, please, just go to your room."
"No! I want to see Papa!"
"Kouichi…" She took a deep breath, but her annoyance was clearly heard. Lowee placed a calming hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"All you say is next time! Tanji-san is not here. He's can't stop us from contacting Papa! Why won't you let him see me?"
She slammed the pan she had been pull out of the box onto the counter. "Damn it, Kouichi! Ken-kun isn't ever coming back!"
"Why not?! You haven't even tried!"
"Because I killed him!" His mother quickly covered her mouth, shock at what she said. She had not meant to say that. S-she… killed him? Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes and began to fall down his cheeks. "Kouichi I…" This mother bent down to comfort him with her lies, but he would not let her. How could he when she was the reason he did not have a father? "Kouichi! Kouichi, wait!"
Kouichi did not stop as his mother called out to him. He ran. Why? Why? Why? Why? The tears continued to fall as Kouichi closed the door to his bedroom with his friend's help and pressed his back to it. The tears continued to fall. His best friend sat next to him on the floor, placing a comforting hand on his head.
"I'm sorry, Kouichi. I truly am. I'm sure he's in a better place now."
Kouichi just sobbed. The pain was just too much. He had not known his mother at all and his father was gone, gone forever. Unknown to the little boy, the small crest resting within a golden tag his father had gifted him with when he was just a baby began to glow.
"Kouichi, look."
Amethyst orbs blinked to see the small pink crest glowing brightly before a light burst out of it, creating the form of a man in his early to mid-twenties standing in front of him with a gentle smile on his face, around his neck was a familiar looking golden tag. He looked so much like the boy in the photo, only older.
"Kouichi, my son."
He gasped. "Papa? Is that you?" Kouichi reached out a hand, but quickly pulled it back when his hand just went through his father.
"If you are seeing this, then we have somehow been separated."
"It's a hologram."
Kouichi looked at his friend, puzzled. "Holo-gram?"
"I had always hoped to bring you to the Digital World myself, to show you and your brother the beauty of it and all of its wonders." Brother? He had a brother? "The Digital World is such a wonderful place, Kouichi, despite how it may look now and how the Digimon might treat you for being my son." Digital World? "I love his world with all my heart, Kouichi, and I hope you see the beauty in it as well as you go on your adventure." The hologram then looked very sad, almost as if he was about to cry, but held back.
"I sure I've said this to you before, my dear son, but you must be careful. The Gods are still out there and those that serve them may use you to get to me. That… that is my greatest fear. I love you boys so much. I don't want you boys to get hurt because of me. I don't want you to fall victim to the pain and loneliness I had fallen to when I was your age," the hologram said with a sigh, his eyes shining with tears. "I don't want to lose you. You are my world, Kouichi. I love you so very much. Nothing will stop me from protecting you and your brother."
Kouichi's bottom lip trembled. "I love you too, Papa."
"I know I can't stop this. There will be those who will seek to destroy the balance once more. There will always be those who will use the powers of darkness for their own personal gain or...to use it to try to destroy the Light," he said with a small frown. "I suspected someone will try to summon you and other children to stop the chaos currently harming the Digital World. I... just pray that I am with you, guiding you, helping you... If I am not, if something happens to me," he touched the tag around his neck, "I hope you will find the information I have provided within my crest helpful as it guides you on your journey." Kouichi touched the pink crest, wondering what his father meant.
"What kind of information, Papa?"
"I have created a special guide with everything you will need to know about the Digital World, information I wish I had when I was first summoned to this world, answers to any questions you may have, and a copy of my memories." His eyes widened. Papa's memories? "In addition to this information, if I am near, my crest will act as a homing beacon, leading you back to me."
"DUSKMON!" Duskmon opened one eye as Ranamon stood angrily in front of him, trying to get his attention for who knows how long. "Well, it's about time," she huffed with one hand on her hip. "What are you doing? You're supposed to be helping me find that no good for nothing Mercuremon!" He frowned at her as the other yelled.
He closed his eyes once more. "It's called meditation, Ranamon." Aegiomon had actually been the one to suggest it. Meditating helped soothe the anger seeing Kouji caused and the loneliness he felt with the knowledge that his father was so out of his reach. It also helped him focus on the memories that were trying to force its way into his mind. Memories of his life with the woman, his mother, were starting to become clearer with every breath he took. But the memories of his father and his supposed brother were fuzzy and unreachable and then there were the memories that felt wrong...like they were altered, not real. Maybe he should ask Aegiomon about that. "You should try it sometime. It might help you control your Beast Spirit."
It was Ranamon's turn to frown. "You really think so?"
"Our Beast Spirits require the individual to have a great deal of focus and to keep that focus while in that form. Meditation helps by finding a way to contain that focus."
Ranamon nodded. "How do I do that?" She asked.
"First find a place you know you will be able to sit for a long period of time. That could be the hideout, a cave, or even a forest like this one. Once that is done, focus on a single thought, your own breathing, or an object of your choice. Keep focusing on that one thought or object until all conflicting emotions or wondering thoughts disappear like air. That is the most difficult part, but once you do this, you will have a complete self-awareness, which is what you need to completely control your Beast Spirit."
Ranamon continued to frown as she just stared at him. She was thinking about what he said. "I'll try it. If it can help me gain control of my Beast Spirit against the Holy Beasts' brats, I'll try anything." She paused for a brief moment before continuing. "What happens if I am not able to do it? Is there another option?"
"Practice," he replied, opening his eyes once more. Well, that was kind of a stupid question. One can not get better without practice.
She sighed, impatient as always. "I was afraid you were going to say that."
"Well, look what we have here? Two lost sheep in my web." The two Digimon jumped as a man in a black robe appeared from out of nowhere. Duskmon narrowed his eyes at the unknown man. He looked familiar and that voice, that cruel smile, those empty eyes...it... it reminded him of someone. Someone he would rather not remember, nor face ever again.
"What do you want, Gennai?" Ranamon snarled at him. "You aren't wanted here!" The name didn't ring any bells, but that face...that voice...
"My, my, my dear Ranamon. No need for hostility. I did not come all this way to fuck my favorite little slut today," familiar cold eyes bored into his as he frowned coldly. "I came for Ichijouji's bastard son."
Duskmon froze. No. It can't be. He's dead. How is it possible for his mother's former boyfriend to be alive? Fear kept him rooted to the ground, preventing him from helping his comrade as voices...voices from the past, his memories tried to reenter his mind. But he could not see them, could not remember. Something was stopping them from fully forming, from giving him the clarity he needed. Then he heard the screams of his mother and the man in front of him.
"How dare you call me that?" Using the moister in the air around them, Ranamon attacked with a fiery vengeance. Small pointed needles came charging at Gennai at amazing speed and deadly accuracy. "I am not yours," Ranamon growled audibly as charged at him with a water whip in hand, "nor will I ever be!" Gennai dodged the female's attacks, but Ranamon managed to get a good punch in, causing the other to yelp as Ranamon punched him in the face and then his injured side, where she knew Grottemon said he hit him a month back.
While the man was dazed, she continued to attack, but she had not expected the man to recover so quickly. Ranamon was suddenly struggling to breathe as a hand was wrapped tightly around her throat as her back was slammed against a tree. "What's wrong, Ranamon?" Seeing his comrade in danger, snapped him out of his fearful trance. He could figure out what was preventing him from remembering later. Right now, his friend needed him. "I thought you liked it when I fucked you senseless." He licked her cheek, causing the other to kick her feet out in disgust.
"Get your dirty hands off me, creep!"
"Pico Devimon!"
"I'm on it!" Pico Devimon flew out of the tree from where he had been hiding in. "Pico Darts!" Gennai jumped away from Ranamon to avoid the dart.
"Ghost Evening!" Duskmon swung his sword and managed to get a good hit at the other's side. Gennai grimaced in pain as the sword cut through his robe and drew some blood.
"Stupid boy! For that, I am going to torture dear daddy," he hissed, making Duskmon's blood run cold. "I am going to make him suffer, or better yet, I think I'll just break him." His laugh sent a frightening chill down his spine. "There's more than one way to break a man as strong as him."
Duskmon did not hesitate in attacking this time. A pool of anger and fear swirled in the pit of his stomach, causing him to lash out.
Ranamon and Pico Devimon were right behind him, attacking as one unit. "Pico Dart!"
"Rain Stream!"
"Death Gaze!"
Gennai dodged their attacks with ease, not caring that his robe had little rips in them. Duskmon had been hoping to get an upper hand as they managed to corner the man he hated so much, but he had been wrong. He had only been playing them. Gennai, who seemed to have been struggling against them, suddenly grab Ranamon fist with strength and agility he should not have and throw her back. Ranamon first crashed right into Pico Devimon, who was completely caught off guard, and then the two collide right into him. Duskmon was flown back a good several feet, while the other two landed in a crumble hep on the ground not far from him.
He groaned softly as he tried to get up, but was stopped in his tracks as a sudden bright light engulfed his vision and then came pain. It felt like a cold knife was tearing at his armor, and piercing through his soul. Duskmon couldn't stop the scream that left him as the sensation got more intense, more painful, and just as he thought it was going to continue...it stopped.
He opened his eyes, not realizing when he had closed them, and gazed into emotionless indigo eyes. Gennai smiled cruelly at him as he held a white orb in one hand and in the other...
"Stupid boy, did you really think you could take me on? Not even your father was that stupid." His eyes crackled in malice, noting the shock coursing throughout his body as he saw his Human Spirit in the humanoid's other hand. His grin grew. "You won't be needing this anymore."
Kouichi could only watch in horror as his spirit was absorbed into the white orb. His mouth felt dry as Gennai knelt in front of him, his eyes twinkled in malice and something else, something he could not pinpoint, and then his form changed. The eleven-year-old now gazed at himself.
His doppelganger's lips lifted into a tight smile as he gazed at him with a rather uncomfortable look. He shivered. That smile did not look right on his face. There was no delight, no happiness, no compassion, just resentment, and hate. And his eyes... How, how was it possible for one person's eyes to look so empty, so emotionless, almost predatory? "Now that you are in no position to attack me, I think it's time you and I have a little chat."
"Why?" Kouichi narrowed his eyes, his hand silently reaching for a long, jagged stick that was behind him. "So you can hurt my father?" He used the stick to knock his doppelganger off his feet. "Never!"
Kouichi pounced, punching the other with all the anger that was still pouring out of him. Whatever Gennai wanted with his father, he knew he had to stop it. Gennai wanted to hurt his father, to break him, that much was clear. Why else would he take his spirit and change his physical form?
Gennai stopped his fist and pushed him off him. Kouichi soon found himself flying once more, crashing right into Ranamon, who had just gotten to her feet to help him.
"Fuck, get off me," she groaned as he dazedly got off her, not noticing his doppelganger changing into Duskmon and charging right at them. "Kouichi, watch out!"
A human boy, whose lower body seemed to be fused with a goat, was suddenly in front of Duskmon. The boy had snow-white hair and the brightest brown eyes he had ever seen, mixed with a hint of green. On the Digimon's goat limbs was a rather simple looking leg armor attacked to a loincloth and on his hands were white work gloves. He may not look strong appearance-wise, but from experience, he knew the Digimon was stronger than most Digimon his age. "Stun Beat Blow!" The Digimon's arms sparked with electricity. He punched this doppelganger with an array of punches that were so fast that they couldn't keep up with it. Within minutes, the impostor was dazed and unable to keep his form as the half-goat boy sent him flying into one of the trees, breaking the trees in his path in half.
"Kouichi! Ranamon! Pico Devimon!" The Digimon turned his attention to them. "Hurry, to the portal before he wakes up." They did not question the Adult Digimon as they got to their feet and ran. The portal was not far, thankfully, as they retreated to the other's home within the Forest of Gods. As the portal closed behind them, they found themselves standing in front of a huge white mansion with a lake to its right and a garden to its left. In the far distance, Kouichi could make what he assumed the tall, oversized castle of the Chessmon Empire.
"Are you three alright?" The Digimon asked much to his relief.
"Yes, we're fine. Thank you for saving us, Yuki."
Chapter 5: Darkness Awakening
Chapter Text
"Again Star!" Blades of winds cut through the air around Agumon, knocking him back and forth.
Masaru stared at the giant, bird-like creature that came out of a massive portal in the sky. "Agumon!" Agumon landed in front of him, a bit dazed but otherwise uninjured.
"I'm okay," he said as he got to his feet, standing in front of him and his sister, who refused to go into the underground bunker with the other kids.
"What is that?" Chika asked, frightened.
"Cockatrimon," Agumon said. "He's an Adult-level Digimon, packs quite a punch too. Normally, I can take him on, but he's a lot stronger than usual."
"I should better hope so. He wouldn't be one of Lord Cherubimon's soldiers if he weren't." Not far from the strange portal were three other Digimon. A faceless Digimon covered in green armor and mirrors, a Digimon clad in pink armor, holding a single rose, and a Digimon with dragon-like wings, dressed in all whitish-blue armor. The Digimon in pink laughed as it studied them. "Agumon, it had been such a long time. I have not seen you since the war."
"Funny, Lord Knightmon, I don't recall ever seeing you, nor the others, when Millenniumon had been threatening the Digital World," Agumon growled as he stood protectively in front of them. "Masaru, Chika, you two need to get inside."
"No, we will not leave you alone with those guys!" Chika protested.
"You don't understand! They are Ultimate-level Digimon. I won't be able to take them on and protect you at the same time!"
"Oh, that's so cute, Dynasmon," Lord Knightmon'a voice was filled with mockery and malice. "He thinks he can take us on." The other Digimon laughed.
"Laughable," Dynasmon said, which only irritated Masaru even more.
"We didn't come here to fight you. We merely came for the King and Queen." Masaru could practically feel the Digimon's intense gaze on him, regarding him silently. "Hand over Ken Ichijouji and Hikari Yagami, and we promise no one will get hurt, much."
"We will never hand over the General and the Chosen to the likes of you," Agumon spat.
"And if we don't?" Masaru asked; his hands were balled into fists, ready to fight. He didn't know what this king and queen nonsense was all about, but he would never hand his godfather or one of his friends over to some creepy flamboyant guy in pink armor.
"Then we kill you, simple as that." Chika clung to his side, her body trembling. The guy meant it. In fact, that was what he wanted. Masaru protectively placed a hand on his sister's head. "Go to the bunker, Chika. I'll handle this." She shook her head stubbornly. He couldn't say she was not his sister. Although, Ken would not be very pleased about putting themselves in danger yet again.
"W-what do you want with them?" Chika asked, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"That isn't something you will have to worry about," the mirror Digimon said. "You'll be dead soon enough." An icy chill ran down his spine, threateningly, causing Agumon to growl at them. He would always protect his General, no matter the cost. Masaru looked down and saw Agumon looking back at him, and nodded. It was fighting time.
"Like hell, we will let you take Ken and Hikari-chan away." Daisuke was the first to exit the house, followed by Takumi and the DATS Agent. Ken, Hikari, and Julieanna were not far behind.
"You want them; you'll have to get through us first," the DATS Agent yelled as she held a strange device in one hand while the other was engulfed in some kind of pink particle-like energy. "Let's go, Lalamon! Digisoul Charge!"
"Memories are very precious, don't you think, my friends?" Kouichi frowned as he followed the half-goat, half-boy Digimon into his home. The enormous white mansion that resided deep within the Forest of Gods but beyond the borders of the Chessmon Empire was made of some kind of white stone. The mansion had two levels. The main level had a dining room with paneled walls, a living room with an oversized stone fireplace, a huge library, a kitchen, and some kind of training room. A white foyer with a golden-trimmed staircase that led to the second level, where all the master suites with dual bathrooms and closets resided.
He may not have all of his memories, but he even treasured the few he remembered. Or at least he thought they were the real ones. The memories of the man that Yuki called Dark Gennai—the ghost, the not-real Gennai, the imposter—brought forth an array of conflicting emotions.
Now that he had time to think things over, the man, Gennai, seemed a bit too young to be the police officer that had been dating his mother all those years ago. Tanji had been in his late forties when he died, while this Gennai seemed to be in his twenties. It was almost as if the two were copies of each other, but that was impossible. There was no way they were the same person, yet the empty eyes, the cruel smile, and the way he talked and moved were far too similar to be a coincidence.
Kouichi didn't particularly like this odd coincidence. He knew deep down they were not the same person, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only part of the mystery. It was very unlikely they were the same person, but what about clones? Lord Cherubimon had been experimenting with clones over the past several weeks but did not get the desired results. All the subjects were mindless. They didn't obey, nor disobey, and they all died within hours of each other.
Cloning wasn't impossible that Kouichi was sure of, but could the dead officer really be a perfect clone of this Gennai person? Was that even possible?
He groaned softly, unsure if he wanted to know the answer to that question. Many of his memories were very vague at best. He remembered his friend, Loweemon. They had been together way before he could even walk. He knew he was a Digimon, but had lost his body long ago during some type of war. Kouichi could remember vividly the adventures they would go on while his mother was at work, and the stories Lowee would tell him when his mother wanted him out of her sight for the night.
Kouichi loved hearing his stories, especially the ones about his father. The stories of his father, fellow Tamer, Akiyama Ryo, their Digimon, V-mon, and Wormmon, and how they created the Tamers United Forces during the war against the evil Millenniumon were astounding. Kouichi could remember every story and every moment he experienced with his dear friend with utmost clarity.
The memories of his father were also very clear. Kouichi would spend hours asking the hologram questions about his father's life. What was he like? What were his hobbies and favorite pastime as a child? How did his parents meet? What was his first adventure in the Digital World like? Did he have scary nightmares of the angel boy too?
There was only so much a hologram could answer. So many questions about his father's past were locked away under a special key. He had no idea what that key was, but he was sure Kouji did. He had taken his place, had stolen his father's love from him. He had to get rid of him, but how? Lord Cherubimon wanted him alive.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Yuki had once mentioned to be wary of Cherubimon. He was not the noble warrior he once had been in the long, distant past. But that did not make an ounce of sense. Lord Cherubimon was his ally, his friend. He was the reason he and Loweemon could fight together against the Holy Beasts' evil Chosen.
But Loweemon hasn't spoken to him since the day Lord Cherubimon gave them the Human Spirit of Darkness. Loweemon hasn't appeared in his spirit form in a while, actually.
Kouichi gently touched the tag and crest that hung on a silver chain around his neck. Was Loweemon still mad at him for what he said back on Earth? Was he still mad at him for not approaching his father sooner? For ignoring his concerns when they met Cherubimon in the dark void? For accepting the Human Spirit of Darkness, despite the strange negative aura they sensed around it.
I'm so sorry, Lowee. Loweemon was gone now, trapped within the strange orb that Gennai had. Alone.
What was he going to do? What could he do?
I can't stand idly by and do nothing, that's for sure. He let out a small sigh, his thumb gently brushing the small crest. Maybe he should ask his father for advice.
"Oh, yes, very much," Pico Devimon chirped. "Though, it sucks remembering the bad ones. Dying kinda sucks."
"Ugh, tell me about it," Ranamon complained as she walked next to him, nudging him every so often when he began to follow behind the group. Kouichi glanced at the female Digimon. Ranamon wasn't the cruel, sadistic Digimon he first met when he came to this world. Her personality had gone through a complete 360-degree turn the moment she got blasted by his father's crest when she tried to take it from him after finding out he was a human.
Kouichi wasn't sure why she continued to pretend to be the bratty, cruel Digimon she had been before they met. Ever since that day, she would lie, willingly going behind Cherubimon and their allies' backs when they grew suspicious of their whereabouts.
She still continued to help their comrades to gather the Digicode. Unlike their comrades and some of their master's other soldiers, she was one of the few aware of the damage that the Digital World was currently in. She was aware that the virus had corrupted the Digital World's core. Taking the digicode from each sector of the Digital World and purifying it was the only way, even if the Chosen Digimon disagreed with her. That was why they needed his father.
Cherubimon never explained how they would purify the digicode, nor how his father was supposed to help them with that. However, he suspected Ranamon knew about Lord Cherubimon's plans but was staying quiet for some reason. He had asked her one time, but she had only grown quiet and nervous when Mercuremon suddenly walked in on their conversation.
"We do not question Lord Cherubimon's orders. You'd be wise to remember that," was what he said before going on his secret mission that he refused to tell anyone about.
"Yes, indeed," Aegiomon said with a smile as he led them to a set of stairs he had not seen before. The two warriors and the small Virus Digimon followed silently behind Aegiomon, listening to him as he talked, uncertain how this would help them with their current dilemma. "I don't have any memories of my life before the reboot, just the pain of a claw and red eyes." Ranamon's body tensed briefly before relaxing into that calm, cheerful facade. "But the memories after my birth are what I cherish. I was born in the World of Darkness, you know? It's not a bad place once you get used to all the shades of gray and lack of color."
"I've never heard of that place." Kouichi glanced at Aegiomon curiously. Why did that name sound so familiar? To his knowledge, there wasn't any island with that name, nor was it one of the original islands before the supposed reboot further damaged this world.
"Not many have. The island was once part of the Digital World before the Holy Beasts tore it apart ages ago, sending it and the Demon Lords to another dimension. The Holy Beasts are very good at manipulating others, not as good as Lord Lucemon, of course. Though, the Demon Lord never tried to bend others to his whim."
"Demon Lords?" Ranamon's lips thinned for a moment. "Do you mean the Seven Great Demon Lords? The ones from myth?" Kouichi's brow rose.
"They are no myth. They are very much real, much like you and I."
"Who are the Demon Lords?" Kouichi asked.
Ranamon remained quiet for a long moment as she contemplated on answering his question or not. Noticing that the female Digimon had stopped moving, causing the other two Digimon to stop as well. Yuki glanced at her with a slight frown as well.
"Ranamon is something wrong?" Aegiomon placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know he will not blame you for sealing him away."
What?
She sighed, her eyes turned towards her hands. She was deeply troubled by a past she just refused to talk about, a past all the Legendary Warriors declined to talk about. "I don't know about that."
"Ranamon?" When Ranamon finally lifted her gaze, Kouichi felt a sudden uneasiness. There was nothing but an unwavering amount of sadness and guilt in those amber-colored eyes.
"The Demon Lords were way before my time. As you may recall, I was created during the height of an unnecessary war between Yggdrasill and Homeostasis."
"You fought against the Holy Beasts' Chosen."
"In a way, yes," the female warrior said. Although, the tone in her voice seemed strained, sad even. Kouichi could hear the guilt and pain in her voice, but also mockery. Mockery at herself. "We had not known the damage we were causing both worlds at the time. We knew something was wrong, but we did not listen to them. Yggdrasill was our creator, our God." Her voice cracked a bit at the end. "Our purpose was to serve his will. That's what we were created for." She paused and shook her head, wanting to rid herself of those thoughts. "When the Chosen defeated us. Yggdrasill vanished, as did the other Royal Knights that served it." She shook her head in disgust. "Yggdrasill cast us aside like we were nothing! We were just tools until we were of no use to it!" She went quiet again, saddened, pained.
She sighed. "I… we… didn't know what to do. The Digital World was out of balance and damaged due to the reboot. No one has seen the Holy Beasts in ages. There was so much confusion, so much anger, and chaos." She frowned as she stared at her hands once more. "No one trusted us. And why would they? We were helping a God that had wanted to destroy them for some unknown reason, and when its plan didn't work, it abandoned them, abandoned us. We deserve the anger, the hate. I guess you can say that we lost ourselves for a time. We had no purpose. We had no proper home, no friends, despite being Digimon."
"What did you do?"
She smiled sadly at him. "As a wise Digimon once told me: the mistakes we make are only obstacles we have to experience and overcome in order to find our true sense of self. They do not define us, but merely guide us, teach us of what's truly important." She placed a hand over her heart and smiled slightly at him. "I needed to find my purpose, so I separated from the others and traveled to this library in the middle of a desert."
Kouichi blinked. A desert?
"I've spent months reading everything I could find. And then, one day, I found an ancient book detailing a time before the Holy Beasts came to power. According to the text, the Digital World back then, before it was split into separate islands, was vast and chaotic. Beast and Human Digimon were fighting in a world where Virus and Holy Digimon hated each other. It truly was an ugly war. Even the Royal Knights couldn't stop it until Lucemon, Leviamon, Demon, Belphemon, Barbamon, Beelzebumon, Lilithmon, Bastemon, Phelesmon, Holy Angemon, King Chessmon, and Queen Chessmon came together to put an end to this war." She paused, remembering what she had learned long ago.
"From what I can gather, the Demon Lords were a group of supposedly seven of the most powerful and strongest Demon-type Digimon to ever exist in the Digital World," explained Ranamon. "But there isn't much information about them, other than the fact that they fought against the Royal Knights when they tried to commit genocide on behalf of their god on more than one occasion."
Kouichi scrunched up his nose. "Sounds like they don't get along very well."
"And for a good reason. Each of the Demon Lords possesses the ability to destroy the Digital World and remake it in their own image," Pico Devimon said with a slight shudder. "Scary if you think about it." The tone in his voice made Kouichi's pause. It was almost as if he had known them personally, but that wasn't possible. Pico Devimon had never left his home of the somewhat isolated forest until they met. He even admitted he had just evolved from the place of his birth not long before they met. None of this was adding up.
"True, but they wouldn't be the original rulers of the Digital World if they weren't," said Aegiomon as they resumed walking. "Despite their menacing appearances and personalities, they are very friendly Digimon. They kept me alive until your father found me."
"You knew my Papa?"
"Yes," the soft smile on his face and the fondness in his voice suggested that he enjoyed his time in the human world. "The World of Darkness wasn't an ideal place for a baby Digimon. While I'm sure it was far safer than the Digital World, it was very lonely, not being with others your age, not having a parent figure when you're scared. When he stumbled upon my little cottage, I wasn't afraid anymore. He took me away from that dark world; he saved me from my loneliness. He raised me and treated me like I was his own child. I remember the time when he scolded me along with Kouji, Takuya, and Masaru when we played ball in the house." The Digimon laughed. "I have never seen him so mad before. It was scary."
"Scarier than Vamdemon?" Pico Devimon asked. A chuckle left his lips.
"Definitely."
Despite the smiles and waves of laughter being passed around from Digimon to Digimon, Kouichi couldn't bring himself to smile and laugh with them at the fond memories. The name of the boy that had taken his place in his father's heart caused another spark of jealousy to fill the hate within the depth of his soul.
"So, why did you leave?" Pico Devimon inquired. "The Chosen seemed to care about you very much."
Aegiomon sudden stop resulted in Ranamon and Pico Devimon colliding right into him. "Hey, why you…?" Ranamon started, but her words caught in her throat at the sight of Aegiomon. His features turned dark as he stared blankly at the stone-covered wall, seemingly lost in thought. His hands clenched and unclenched into fists. His body stiffened as he tried to hold back the bolts of electricity that were sprung forth by his conflicted emotions.
"I didn't." Kouichi and Pico Devimon glanced at each other in uncertainty. "They took me away from him."
Kouichi shivered, not liking the dangerous tone in his voice. "Who are 'they' Yuki?"
"The Humans." A sudden coldness seeped into his body. He was human. Aegiomon glanced over his shoulder. Brown eye gazed into amethyst. "You are nothing like them, Kouichi."
"But…"
"You are your father's son. You have the power to restore balance and protect the Virus Digimon that has been alienated and labeled as evil by the rest of their kind for centuries. You can do anything you put your mind to, young warrior. But you must be mindful of those who wish to use you for their own agenda. Never trust Gennai or his counterparts, the Holy Beasts, those who preach about the light, and never trust the scientist and his agents," he said.
"I once thought that all humans were kind, benevolent beings like your father and his girlfriend. I believed in the good they were trying to accomplish with their organization. But I was wrong. Evil will always rear its ugly head in the most unlikely of places."
"Did they hurt my father?"
"In many ways, I believe they have. They had barged into his home, threatened him and the children in his care, and had taken me away by the order of someone close to him." Kouichi's hands tightened as he envisioned his father surrounded by men in black suits. "Those agents had flashed a strange device on them. I didn't know what it was at the time. Only that it made Ken and the other children fall asleep." He took a deep breath to hold back his anger. "It wasn't until later that I realized those devices were meant to erase memories of all Digimon interaction."
Kouichi's eyes widened. "Papa doesn't remember you?"
"I'm afraid not. But I found a book about a flower that could restore memories."
"The White Memory Rose!" Ranamon gasped. "Lord Cherubimon has an entire garden of those at the castle. That's the reason you agreed to work for Lord Cherubumon, isn't it?"
He nodded. "I couldn't care less what Mercuremon and the others do. Helping the man that raised and cared for me was the only reason I've entertained Cherubimon for as long as I did." He paused. "But Lord Cherubimon is playing a dangerous game by allowing those kids into the Digital World."
"How so?" Kouichi asked.
"While yes, purifying the Digital World would eliminate what remains of the virus. But collecting so much in such a short amount of time is causing more harm than good."
"Is that why he needs my father?" The Warrior of Darkness asked.
"Yes, the Tamer has the ability to restore the Digital World to what it used to be. While it would be beneficial to have both the King and Queen, only one is really needed."
Kouichi frowned. "Then why are they trying to stop us from collecting the Digital World's Digicode? Don't they understand we're trying to save the Digital World?" Kouichi bristled. He hated the Chosen. Not only had they stopped Lord Cherubimon from directly contacting his father and preventing them from collecting the Digital World's Digicode. But now, Lord Cherubimon had to find a way to bring his father here by other means. The Digital World was crying. Why couldn't they understand that?
Kouichi took in a breath and let it out slowly. He couldn't stand the Chosen, nor the boy that had taken his place in his father's life. Kouji had his father's love and affection. He had it since the beginning, while Kouichi didn't. Ken didn't even know he was alive and well, desperate to be reunited with him.
"What do we do?" he asked. "There has to be a way to help him."
"And that is the problem we are currently facing," Ranamon said with a sigh, one hand resting on her hip. "The King is needed to purify the Digital World's Digicode, but that stupid angel had somehow interfered and brought children to stop us."
"We have one more problem," Aegiomon said with a grim expression on his features.
"What's that?" Devi Picomon asked.
"It's best if you see for yourself." As the group resumed their way down the long passage of steps, Kouichi allowed his curiosity to get the best of him. The moment he opened his mouth, he instantly regretted it.
Aegiomon had no problem reflecting a little bit about his life with his father before he was taken away by those DATS agents. As the Digimon talked, he began to wish he had been there to be held by the man he could only watch from a distance. Jealousy and anger that he was all too familiar with returned to his soul, fueling the already existing hated that dwelled within.
What would he give to have one precious memory of him with his father? He wanted to be in Kouji's place. He wanted to go on lengthy walks to the park with him. He wanted to have an actual conversation with him without pretending he was someone else on the phone. He wanted to be acknowledged by him, to have him go to his chess tournaments, to see him smile in pride at his wins. He wanted him to love him, to know that he was alive, that he existed. He didn't want to be on the sidelines anymore!
The Digimon stopped at the bottom step suddenly. The staircase opened up to an enormous room. On the far right wall, the two warriors and the small virus noticed a huge, circular machine attached to some kind of computer. Aegiomon walked to the computer and began typing something on it. Kouichi and Ranamon glanced at each other in puzzlement. What was he doing?
"What's this?" Pico Devimon asked as he fluttered to the other Digimon.
"A dimensional portal?"
"A portal? Why do you need a portal?" Ranamon asked, a frown gracing her features.
He didn't turn to them as he activated the strange machine. "The Royal Knights are on the move." A thick, unpleasant silence filled the room as the machine was turned on; swirls of green energy revealed what was on the other side.
"Papa…" Kouichi stared at the image of his father as he kneeled next to a young girl, who was clinging to who he assumed was his father's girlfriend and the Chosen of Light. He was talking to her silently, handing her something he could not make out. While this was going on, two men were restraining a boy, preventing him from leaving the protection of a force field that surrounded all the homes in the area.
Outside the barrier, Agumon and Sunflowmon were fighting an overgrown chicken. Somehow they managed to cause a great deal of damage to the other Digimon. The Royal Knights, Kouichi noted with a sense of suspicion, were floating close to the portal that was hovering in midair. At first, they were watching the battle, but then they turned their attention to the force field, and then they just disappeared from his view altogether. Mercuremon had vanished within his mirrors as soon as the fight started.
Kouichi narrowed his eyes as he searched for his comrade, knowing Ranamon was doing the same. He didn't trust the other to save his own skin. He was often doing things behind Lord Cherubimon's back, behind all their backs.
"Petra Fire!"
"Sunshine Beam!"
"Baby Flame!" Suddenly, Mercuremon appeared in front of Cockatrimon, before Agumon and Sunflowmon could finish him off, absorbing all of their attacks. His smile was the only indication that the two Digimon were done for.
"Offset Reflector!" A mixture of fire and beams of light came out of his mirror and headed straight for the two Digimon.
"Agumon!"
"Sunflowmon! Watch out!" But it was too late; the attacks were much stronger and faster than the naked eye. They slammed into the two defending Digimon before they could even think of dodging. Agumon and Sunflowermon were thrown back, bypassing the barrier through some black misty aura and crashing near his father's sakura tree. The tree was surprisingly unharmed as the mist gently cushioned their fall, placing them on the ground with the utmost care before disappearing back into the ground. The moment they were placed on the ground, the plant Digimon reverted back to her child form. Neither of them moved; neither said a word.
"No, Lalamon!" The girl was frozen for a moment, covering her mouth to hold back a sob, before she ran to her partner, pulling the plant-like Digimon into her arms.
"Agumon!" The two siblings ran to the fallen dinosaur Digimon. His father and the other adults were not far behind.
"Is that really all you got?" Mercuremon sneered at the unmoving Digimon, looking down on them, before turning his attention to the Tamer with only mild respect. "I expected better from your pitiful warriors, Tamer. After all your sacrifices, is this really how they repay you?" Mercuremon was mocking his father now, trying to bait him on. Instead, his father merely stared back at him with a blank expression, a frown firmly on his features.
At the lack of response, the Warrior of Steel smiled, taking his father's silence as agreement.
"You are legendary among the Digimon. No one expected a mere child to even come close to uniting almost all the Digimon the way you did during the war. Not even the gods have come close to the length you've accomplished."
"Is he flattering him?" Ranamon sounded utterly baffled by what was spilling out of his lips.
A flicker of uneasiness entered his eyes. "Seems that way," Pico Devimon said, flapping his wing in a nervous gesture towards Aegiomon, who seemed more than a little worried as he trained his gaze on his adopted father.
"I must say you intrigue me," Mercuremon continued, his nonexistent eyes trained on the other.
"Is that so?" Ken's brow arched slightly, his voice never raising, nor lowering.
Despite the lack of facial features to gauge his emotions, Mercuremon's smile only intensified the foreboding feeling in his chest. "Why, of course? You are quite an interesting specimen I would love to study. I can understand why my master is very fond of you."
"And who would that be?" The Chosen of Light inquired.
The Warrior of Steel smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He regarded the female Chosen with his non-existent cold eyes. "Not that it matters. You two will meet him soon enough." Neither of them reacted to the comment.
The other Chosen scoffed. "And what makes you think they will go with you?" The leader of the Chosen questioned with a frown of his own.
"You have no one else to protect you," he said matter-of-factly. "You don't stand a chance without those pathic Digimon you call partners; none of you do." The sound he made as he laughed made his skin crawl. How could a laugh sound so awful? "You might as well surrender now. Unless you really don't care about what happens to your sons."
Sons? Father and son stiffened simultaneously as they gazed at the Digimon in part suspicion, part fear.
Kouichi could not tell what his father was thinking as he gazed at the Digimon coldly. Kouichi had seen the subtle twitch of his father's hands and the flicker of fear that had entered his eyes for the briefest of moments before it was covered up and replaced with something else. Kouichi couldn't be sure, but he would have sworn he saw his father's eyes turn a deep red as a black misty aura surrounded his father's hands as a transparent form of a mutated monster appeared behind him, looming over him with his canon pointed straight at the offending Digimon.
Wait? That wasn't right. Red eyes? Monster?
His father's eyes were nowhere near that shade of bright red. And this monster… who was he? Was he a friend of his father's, much like Loweemon was to him, or was he just a figure of his imagination?
Kouichi rubbed his eyes. He had to be seeing things. Yeah, that was the only explanation. The trick of the light…
A small sigh of relief soon escaped him upon seeing his father's eyes, not that unsettling red color, but amethyst instead. His relief was short-lived, however, when his father finally spoke.
"Threatening me is not wise." The flat, emotionless tone in his voice was very unsettling.
This caused Mercuremon to pause as he studied the Tamer. The two stared at each other, impassively. After some time, Mercuremon's smiled creepily, his cockiness returning. "This is going to be interesting?"
Kouichi couldn't look anymore. He turned his gaze away. Kouichi wasn't sure what Mercuremon was planning as he stood outside the barrier, simply watching and taunting. But after observing him from a distance, he had a pretty good idea of what this plan was.
He's not going to bring Papa to Lord Cherubimon. No, he would torture him first, hurt him for days. Then, he would try to break him until he was a mindless puppet for him to control. And if that didn't work, would he… would he kill him?
I…
"Mercuremon has no intention of letting them go unharmed." Yuki's words stung, causing his mind to go blink with fear. "And the Royal Knights… I don't believe they are serving Cheribumon's faithfully. The Royal Knights are only loyal to Yggdrasill. They would kill their own allies in the name of their God." He shook his head.
"I don't know what Lord Cheribumon was thinking."
I have to do something, but what? I don't have my Human Spirit anymore.
Then Aegiomon turned towards him, his back resting against the thick metal of the control panel. "He is in grave danger," he said. "I have a plan to save him, his girlfriend, and his unborn daughter."
Kouichi's eyes widened slightly, his mind going blank once more. A sister? I-I have a sister…
"What type of plan?" Pico Devimon asked, oblivious to the thousands of questions swirling in his mind.
"I can open a portal to the Human World and save the Tamer and his small family. However, he will just fight us without the flower."
"I'll return to the castle and retrieve the flower," Ranamon volunteered. "Lord Cheribumon will be in his bedchambers all evening."
"What about us?" He and Pico Devimon asked.
"Kouichi, while Pico Devimon isn't your partner, you will be able to help him evolve because of your relation to his partner. I could use your help getting Ken and Julieanna to safety." Aegiomon handed him a rosy pink and white D-3.
He felt an instant connection to the owner as he held the device in his hands. He was suddenly overwhelmed by the emotions of a female. Most of the words that appeared in his mind didn't make sense. They didn't sound like words at all.
The words of the Royal Knights echoed around the room, forcing them to shift their attention from their conversation to the portal. His blood ran cold as he saw the Royal Knights directly above his father, silently watching him.
And he heard it. Mama… Papa… scared.
His hands tightened around the digivice as his eyes focused on his father. Despite not having his Digimon to fight alongside him, he was not giving up. The fear that had been overcoming his senses disappeared and was replaced with a new sense of determination.
"I will do anything to save my father. Just tell me what I have to do."
Aegiomon smiled. "Excellent." He then changed into a different form. His entire body turned black with a red crystal on his chest. His horns grew long, almost unnatural, and a mean-looking scythe protruded from his back with two smaller scythes equipped to his forearms. He was menacing, scary even. "Then listen good, Warriors. We don't have a minute to waste."
"Well, damn; that babbling idiot was right. Lord Knightmon is such a girl."
Ken glanced at the goggle-less Kaiser, who was floating next to him. His red eyes were piercing through the barrier and at the Royal Knights that had decided to grace them with their presence.
You don't give him enough credit. They weren't around when you attacked the Digimon World. They stayed in that gigantic tree somewhere on Folder, only coming out when their God needed something to be done.
Millenniumon scowled at him. "Why the fuck would I give him that type of ammo?"
Ken really wanted to roll his eyes. Ever since his Digimon family found out that the Evil God was no longer trapped in his cage, they had been fighting tooth and nail ever since, mainly Beelzebumon and Demon, which Ken could understand. However, this rivalry was so stupid and childish. The two Demon Lords hated Millenniumon like there was no tomorrow, and Millenniumon thought very poorly of them, as well as saying a long list of words that should never be repeated. Ken couldn't count how many times he had to leave in the middle of the night to resolve the bloody battle Millenniumon had started because he doesn't know how to keep his damn trap shut.
You were the one to start the fight, Ken reminded him. He wouldn't need the use of blackmail or Demon's magic if you had only listened to me.
"Oh, please, Ichijouji! Beelzebumon has more screws loose than you do." He threw his arms up in exasperation. "He and that asshole Demon were trying to separate us the moment they realized I wasn't locked up, remember! You would have died if I hadn't intervened. I did what I had to do to protect you, my host. You are no good to me dead."
Ah, and there it was again, the host thing. Ken wasn't sure how he felt about sharing a body with an enemy he once hated and despised. He was not on a murderous rampage anymore, thankfully, but he still was sadistic, cruel, and maybe a tad psychotic. Beelzebumon had warned him the Evil God would stab him in the back when he wasn't expecting it, but Ken wasn't so sure.
Millenniumon wasn't a bad guy once he removed the hate and loneliness from the Digimon's dark soul. He kept the pups on their toes and he watched over him and his family while they slept. He was the perfect guardian angel and dare he say friend.
Maybe that was going too far. Millenniumon was no Daisuke. He wasn't nearly as protective as Ryo or Osamu, but he protected him in his own way. He protected him from the nightmares that plague him almost nightly. He protected him while he was undercover, torturing their targets mentally when he thought Ken was asleep. His methods might be cruel at times, but he wasn't completely bad. He had changed a lot over the years. He cared, which would be very surprising to Wormmon, and they do work pretty well together.
"Ugh, metal face talks too much. Was I that cringey?"
Ken sighed as he glanced at the unknown Digimon that Millenniumon was now complaining about. Ken had no intention of giving himself up to that freak, and he was sure Hikari wasn't planning on that either. They both had so much to lose. Their loved ones. Their children. Their friends. They would not jeopardize their safety.
But something about this Digimon made him uneasy. This Digimon with his featureless face and mirror body reminded him of the Digimon that had been created to destroy the human world after the others had destroyed Ordinemon. It reminded him of Ancient Wisemon.
Ken shivered slightly, unnoticed by anyone but Millenniumon. Ken could still remember the screams of the others as Omegamon fell, his white wings torn from his back and data leaving from the opened wounds on his body. Ken had not liked sending his partners into battle, while he and the others were being rushed to the hospital. But even when he had been asleep, he could still see the battle through his partner's eyes. He could see the damage being done to them. He could feel it. They could have died, and it would have been his fault.
Ken wasn't sure how it had happened, but somehow he had managed to activate his crests, giving both his partners the ability to evolve to Ultimate. And he wasn't the only one.
"Where the fuck did they go?" Millenniumon was glancing around wildly. The Royal Knight had disappeared at some point during the battle when they had been distracted.
Oh, dear. This is not good.
"No, shit, sherlock!"
Ken didn't even bother to comment with his own snarky remark. Millenniumon…
"I know! I know! I'm going!" He paused then, looking at him with a rare, reassuring smile. "Your boy is fine. Don't fret about him too much. He's strong, just like his father."
His doubleganger disappeared from his sight, causing a significant ache in his chest as the Evil God left this plane. The painful weight on his chest lifted somewhat; grateful for the reassurance. Kouji… please be careful.
Ken took in a small breath to ground himself. He had to keep their uninvited guests busy until Millenniumon returned with the others.
Please hurry. He could only hope Milleniumon would get to them in time. He had a bad feeling things were about to get bad really fast.
"Nii-chan… is Agumon okay?" Ken turned his back to the Digimon staring at him and made his way over to the two fallen Digimon. Lalamon was being held in Yoshino's arms, while Masaru was just kneeling in front of his partner, his hair shielding his face. "Onii-chan…?"
"Agumon…"
Ken kneeled next to his godchildren. Ken placed two fingers on the Digimon's neck. He had a steady pulse, and he was still breathing.
"Is he okay, Godfather?" Chika asked.
Ken smiled. "He'll be just fine, Chika. He's just knocked out."
Chika frowned, not all too convinced. "Are you sure? He doesn't look okay."
Ken's features, despite the danger they were in, grew soft and gentle. "Chika, darling. Me and Agumon have been through many battles in the past. Believe me, they were no walk in the park. Me and Ryo-san spent many months in the Digital World training the Digimon to fight against Millenniumon's minions back in the day and they were ten times stronger and far more deadlier than those two. Trust me, it's going to take more than a blast to take Agumon down."
This wasn't the first time Ken talked about the war. Takeru had interviewed him so many times for his upcoming novel that he was sure everyone was getting sick of hearing the same story over and over again. But Chika, who always seemed to be listening to their stories a bit more closely than the other children, was drawn even closer to him. It was almost as if she was afraid of something, afraid of what was to come.
"I believe you, but," her gaze turned towards her brother, who had not moved from his kneeling position in front of Agumon, "don't fight him. Wormmon is not here to help you." Masaru's hands trembled.
"I don't need Wormmon to fight a bully," Ken said, his gaze turning towards Hikari and Julieanna. Hikari nodded with a nervous smile, while Julieanna stubbornly refused to budge.
"Chika, why don't we go inside? We'll let the boys handle this." Chika nodded as she slowly shifted away from him and towards Hikari. "Fujieda-san come with me. We'll take Lalamon to Joe. He'll fix her up in no time."
"Okay." The agent followed Hikari inside, her partner held in her arms. Julieanna, Takumi, Masaru, and himself were all that remained. Ken would have felt better if Julieanna went into the safety of the bunker, but he didn't have time to argue with her right now.
"Masaru, come inside. Agumon will be fine. Joe will inspect his injuries."
Masaru finally lifted his head, allowing Ken to see the inferno blazing deep within those orbs. "He hurt Agumon. I'm not going to allow that punk to think it's okay to hurt my friends and threaten my family!"
Ken frowned, not entirely happy, nor thrilled about where Masaru's mindset was going. If he didn't say something now, the boy was going to get himself killed. "And what are you going to do? Punch him?" Ken didn't particularly like raising his voice to his own children—and Ken did consider Masaru and Chika as one of his own—but this was the only way to get through to the boy. "He'll disappear before you can even land a punch. How are you going to help Agumon if he kills you?!"
Masaru's mouth gaped open as he tried to protest, but none came out. He had no words, for he knew Ken was right. Fighting like this was not the answer, at least not without help, that is. "You are so stubborn and reckless. Why can't you get that fighting is not always the answer? I understand that you are only defending yourself, but you always take it a step too far!"
Masaru's shoulders fell, flinching slightly at his words. "Godfather… I…" Masaru turned his gaze down, not wanting to look him in the eyes anymore.
He sighed, allowing his voice to soften once more. "But your heart is in the right place."
Masaru's head snapped up. "What?"
"Masaru, as much as I want to keep you kids safe, I know I can't. The Digital World is an enormous place and is far more dangerous than ours, now more than ever." Ken ignored the Digimon behind them as he tried to punch the force field. "Fighting is not always the answer, but in times like this, it is the only option."
Masaru glanced at him and then at Agumon, who was still unconscious. "Me and Agumon had been through countless battles together. He is among the few Digimon I had the honor of training during the war. His skills are vast and he truly has a heart of gold." Ken placed an orange Digivce iC in the boy's palm. "A great evil is coming and I'm afraid this is one threat I can not protect you from, but with Agumon by your side, you two will be just fine."
Masaru looked at him, his eyes big and wide. Julieanna shifted closer to him, lacing her fingers with his. "What you mean? You can't be thinking of giving yourself up to that creep!"
"As if," Ken said, slightly offended at the thought. "If I were still eleven, or maybe fourteen, I may have considered the thought, but there is much at stack now. Besides, the others would kill me if I did." Daisuke snorted at that.
"Miyako, maybe, once she's done yelling at me for letting you out of my sight, especially in your present condition. Hikari, Jun, and your parents, most likely. But me, never. I would be tagging along with you, just like our little adventure to the World of Darkness."
"Me too," Julieanna chimed in, while his brother frowned.
"You are not going anywhere without me. Not this time."
Ken smiled, not for the first time relieved to have people that loved and cared for him; people he could rely on to always have his back. "What do we do then? Ugly's still banging over there." Masaru was oblivious of his digivice glowing slightly.
"We fight."
"How? Agumon's…"
"Masaru a digivice will only react to its owner." Masaru looked at his digivice, only then noticing that it was glowing.
"Digivice?" The way the boy looked at him reminded Ken of his missing friend. A familiar ache filled his chest. "Why are you giving this to me?" Ken tried his best to hide the pain that encased his soul.
"All Chosen and Tamers have one," he said with a tilt of his head. "Silly boy, you have one because Agumon is your partner." He has been waiting a very long time for you.
Masaru's eyes widened. "Then, I can help Agumon?"
They nodded. "The D3's are kinda different from the iCs," Daisuke said, "but they all require energy or Digisoul to evolve our partners."
"Digisoul?"
"From my understanding, the iCs require you to manifest your energy physically to charge it. Once you do that, you can make Agumon evolve."
Masaru looked at the digivice and smiled. "How do I manifest my Digisoul?"
"Do what you do best, Masaru," Ken said as he stood up with Julieanna's help. Masaru's smile grew wide and more determined than he had ever been. "Go, I'll cover you."
"Right!" He punched his fist into the palm of his hand. "It's fighting time!" And then he was off.
Ken trained his gaze on the laughing Digimon Masaru was now charging at. He was going to make him eat his own words.
Ken closed his eyes for a moment to focus on the unseen energy around him as well as within. He could feel the gentle tug of the dark, fluid energy around him, tugging at his soul, beckoning him forward as they allowed him to see everything around him through a veil of darkness. When he was younger, he would often feel overwhelmed by this feeling the darkness would continuously feed him. But after mastering his abilities, and coming to terms with himself, he felt nothing but warmth and comfort. He would have to be quick, though. He would not be able to do this for very long in his current condition, unfortunately.
Ken opened his eyes as he manifested a black misty-like aura around his right hand. The black mist swirled around his hand like a playful puppy. The others noticed it right away with wide eyes. This would be the first time he actually manifested something outside the World of Darkness. Demon and Barbamon would be proud.
"Everyone get behind me." The three did not protest as they moved behind him, but their gazes were completely on him, watching his every move. Ken ignored their gazes and instead glared coldly at the Digimon that felt all too familiar. The ground began to rumble and shake as the dark energy underneath him shifted and moved, creating the chains that he desired.
"Do you really think you stand a chance against me, Tamer? You are helpless without your partners!"
"Is that so?" His voice took on a dark and dangerous tone, one he had not used since his kaiser days. Julieanna shifted closer to him as the shadows began to move fluidly around them. "Then I hope you are good at dodging." Suddenly, black chains erupted from the ground. Just as before, the chains moved in accordance to Ken's own will. The chains, he realized, were not as strong as the ones he used against Millenniumon all those years ago before he saved the Evil God from his own hate. He was still hurt and not at full strength, but that was okay. He just needed to keep the Digimon distracted long enough for Masaru to get within range.
"He's fast," Julieanna said as the Digimon dodged once more.
"Is that all you got? I thought the great Tamer was stronger than that." Ken ignored the jab and instead glanced at his godchild. Masaru had been using the chains to his advantage, using them to get high in the air. Ken smirked when Masaru was positioned behind the elusive Digimon.
"You really shouldn't underestimate your opponents." The Digimon frowned, not noticing the boy behind him.
"This is for Agumon, you freak!" The Digimon spun around, only for Masaru's fist to hit him right in the face.
"Aha!" The Digimon screamed as he tumbled backward from the attack and crashed to the ground.
"Alright! You got him!" Daisuke cheered.
"Way to go!" Julieanna cheered as the siblings chapped each other, but the battle was far from over.
"Pity, Mercuremon was defeated so easily and by a human no less." Ken looked up to see the two Royal Knights directly above them. Power was engulfing one of them as they finished powering up an attack.
"I told you we should have just left him to deal with those brats, Lord Knightmon. That's all he's good for." Brats?
"He wanted to prove himself." Lord Knightmon shrugged. "Oh well, time to finish this. The Master is waiting."
"Right." A cold chill ran down his spine. If that attack hit, it could very well kill all of them and the rest of Japan. Hundreds of thousands of lives would be lost… He couldn't let that happen.
"Ken," Julieanna pressed her trembling body closer to him, "will-will it hold?" Ken hated the fear in her voice, hated the helplessness the Digimon purposely caused. He held Julieanna's hand, giving it a small squeeze. He would protect her with everything he had.
"Dragon Collider!"
What he did next was merely by instinct. Ken summoned a green magic circle that was strikingly similar to Alphamon's. The magical circle appeared five or six feet under the force field, creating a barrier that surround them and the house in a magical green glow. Ken was unsure if the barrier would hold, but he was determined to protect his loved one, even at the extent of his own life.
"Everyone get down!" The attack came fast, faster than anyone expected. Energy in the form of a phantom dragon collided onto the force field causing a light so bright and so destructive that he was sure, if weren't for the force field taking the brunt of the attack, his friends, his family, his fellow Chosen, and their children would all be dead.
Ken stood his ground as everyone was thrown back by the Royal Knight's attack as it temporarily disabled the force field and began colliding onto the green circle he had protecting them. Ken groaned as he fought against the weight of Dynasmon's raw power with his own, desperately trying to keep everyone safe, despite his own body's demand for rest. His energy was depleting fast with every ounce of energy he poured into his defense, but that was the least of his worries.
In the distance, Mercuremon managed to regain his bearings and was now angrily making his way towards Masaru with Cockatrimon charging towards the boy. Masaru was in the middle of the street, looking in his direction as his fist glowed with orange Digisoul. Ken could see Masaru's fear, the fear of losing the only remaining father figure he had left.
Ken gasped, "Masaru! Get out of there!" Masaru jumped out of Cockatrimon's raging path and headed straight for Mercuremon. Mercuremon, annoyed with Cockatrimon getting in his way, destroyed the mindless beast. Masaru angrily glared at the Digimon before he charged.
"General, what?" Agumon had finally woken up.
"Agumon, get to Masaru! Now!"
"But…" Agumon heard the strain in his voice as he held back Dynasmon's attack. He could already feel his strength leaving him.
"That's an order!"
"Yes, sir!" Agumon shot to his feet and ran towards the enraged boy, who was now dodging Mercuremon's calculating attacks. This was not good.
"Baby Flame!" Mercuremon lifted up a mirror to absorb the attack. The fireball disappeared in an instant and was reflected back at him. Agumon dodged the attack with relative ease and continued an onslaught of fireballs. With Mercuremon distracted, Masaru managed to get a good punch, sending the Digimon flying into the portal he came from.
Ken let out a relieved sigh. Masaru was safe, and he was grateful for that. It could have been a lot worse without Agumon around to protect him. But the victory was short-lived as Lord Knightmon began punching the barrier. Ken gasped as he felt the immense drain. If he hadn't been so hurt and utterly exhausted, he would have been able to handle these two ultimates with no problem. But that was not the case. The fact that he was still hurt, left him in a very vulnerable position.
The barrier wavered for a moment, and then the sound of cracks was heard. The spider-like cracks grew with each punch and the invisible shock waves caused by the combined attacks sliced into his body like little knives, causing him to collapse, completely and utterly exhausted.
"Ken!" Julieanna was the first to reach his side. Breathing suddenly became very difficult. Damn, now was not the time for his asthma to act up. Unable to get back on his feet, Julieanna eased him into a sitting position. "Are you okay?"
"I…think…so," he wheezed as Julieanna grabbed his inhaler from his back pocket.
"Julieanna, you need to get inside," he wheezed out as darkness slowly crept up the corners of his vision. No, he couldn't pass out now. Not now.
The barrier would not hold, and once it was down, the Royal Knight would not hesitate to attack. He feared for Julieanna's safety above all else. He couldn't protect her and their unborn daughter. He knew that, and that thought killed him inside.
"Not without you!" Daisuke and Tamuki stood in front of them, weapons in hand, as the barrier crumbled and disappeared. Ken was not all too concerned about Daisuke taking his police-issued firearm. He had taught both Daisuke and Julieanna how to use one in case of an emergency, but the two preferred other methods of protection.
"Guys, I would really love to watch the two of you argue, but now's not the time," Daisuke interjected tensely as he pointed the weapon at Lord Knightmon.
"Oh, please. Do you really think your puny weapons will stop me?" As if to prove his point, he knocked the weapons out of their hands with ease; the weapons scattered to the floor in front of them.
Lord Knightmon gripped both of their wrists and leaned in close. If they could see the Digimon's face, the Royal Knight's features would be twisted in malice and rage as he glared down at them. "You two are in my way." Without warning, a portal appeared next to the Digimon. On the other side of the portal was a dark forest he did not recognize. In the distance, a strange dark pink light could be seen in the night sky. It may have been his imagination, but it almost looked like a rose. "Goodbye."
Ken's mouth felt dry as he watched helplessly as the two men were held in mid-air. The two struggled to free themselves from the Digimon's tight grasp, but the Digimon was too strong. "Daisuke! Neesan!"
Before the Royal Knight could toss them like two rag dolls into the portal, Ken felt Millenniumon returning to his side and with that his family.
"Darkness Claw!"
"Mega Flame!"
"Nazar Nail!"
"Flame Inferno!"
Lord Knightmon jumped back, and the two men plummeted to the ground in front of him and Julieanna, before he could be hit by the three Demon Lords' attacks, while Dynasmon deflected the huge fireball coming in his direction. Masaru, who was riding a charging Geo Greymon, was heading head first into danger without any consideration for his own safety, yet again.
"Demon Lords," he sneered at his former friend, and Beelzebumon sneered right back.
"Lord Knightmon, you have some nerve going after my brother." Beelzebumon positioned his body firmly in front of the four humans.
"Clearly you haven't learned anything since the last we met," Lilithmon commented with a sigh. "Pity someone as pretty as you can be so stupid and gullible. You of all 'mon should know not to trust a god."
"Why you…?" Lord Knightmon continued to sneer at three Demon Lords, offended by their mere presence before an intense aerial battle occurred between Demon Lords and the lone Royal Knight. Beelzebumon pulled out his cherished shotguns and began shooting at Dynasmon, momentarily distracting the other from the charging dino.
"This is not going to end well," Julieanna said as she helped her brother to his feet. Daisuke winced as he got to his feet, just as the force field went back up.
"About time," Daisuke mumbled under his breath.
He and Millenniumon sighed.
"Double Impact!"
"Hang on, Masaru! This is going to be rough! Horn Impulse!" Ken stiffened. What was his lieutenant doing?
"Ichijouji, whatever you're going to do, you better do it now. Those two are going to get themselves killed."
"No! Masaru! Geo Greymon, stay back!" But it was already too late. Dynasmon grabbed Geo Greymon's horns with a single hand before the other could stop himself. The sudden change in motion caused Masaru to be jostled off his partner's head and into Dynasmon's open palm.
No…
"You really should have listened, boy." Masaru glared at the Digimon defiantly.
Geo Greymon struggled in the Digimon grasp, only to be picked up by the horns with relative ease. Time seemed to freeze as Ken watched his lieutenant being tossed like a ragged doll high into the air. With this left hand now free, the Royal Knight raised his palm toward Geo Greymon. His palm was glowing with the same blueish-white energy as before. If that attack hits, Geo Greymon could very well be deleted from this existence.
No…
Millenniumon suddenly stepped into his view, blocking the horror that was slowly developing in front of him. Ken completely missed Beelzebumon attempting to tackle the Royal Knight before he could release his attack onto the defenseless Digimon.
Horrified amethyst stared into worried red.
"You know he won't be able to save him alone. I know we have our differences, but I think we should…"
But Barbamon said…
"In your current state and without mastering the Sin of Wrath, you could very well end up in another coma again or lose control." Millenniumon glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as Dynasmon caught Beelzebumon's wrist with the hand he had been charging up.
"Now's our chance!" Ken took a deep breath, slowly getting to his feet. He could feel his brother, best friend, and betrothed eyes on him, fearing for his well-being. He knew they would drag him into the house to join the others in the safety of the bunker. But he couldn't allow that. His godchild was in danger. His son was in danger. Everyone was in danger.
Ken released the fear that had been building inside since he left the hospital. Millenniumon was right. If he did nothing, his godson could get seriously hurt, killed even. Granted, his godson was always coming home with some sort of injury of his own doing, but this was something completely different.
"Come on, we need to get you inside," came his brother's concerned voice, but he refused to listen as Masaru screamed at the Royal Knight to let him go.
Masaru… The fear returned tenfold, causing the shadows around him to move and shiver in anticipation. He could hear them whispering in the tongue of the Digital World. The shadows moved closer to him, wrapping around him like a protective blanket. Julieanna grabbed the back of his shirt, fearing what he was planning on doing.
"No." His voice was no longer his as his body glowed with the respective Crown of Sins.
From the door, Hikari and Takeru stood frozen in place the moment they heard Millenniumon mixed with his own, unaware of two puppies slipping by them.
"Millenniummon!" Takeru… please forgive me for not telling you the whole truth.
"Millenniummon, no! Ken-kun won't be able to handle that much energy in his current state!" Hikari… I'm sorry. I have to protect Masaru and Kouji.
Before his friends could stop him, he and Millenniumon teleported out of the barrier and in front of the Royal Knight.
"What?!" He glared at the Royal Knight, the Sin Crowns of Sloth, Gluttony, and Greed glowed brightly on his arm. In his right hand, Ken held a thin black sword made of pure darkness.
"Let." Millenniumon's voice could be heard, mixed with his own as the dark aura traveled from Ken's body to the sword. "Him. Go!" As they swung the sword, the Royal Knight was hit by a powerful shock wave that had to be going faster than the speed of light and stronger than Omegamon's Garuru Cannon.
Dynasmon didn't have time to react to the attack. One minute he was there and the next he was back somewhere in the Digital World.
"Beelzebumon!"
"I'm on it!" The Demon Lord dived forward, catching Geo Greymon before he hit the ground, while Ken teleported to Masaru.
"Godfather?" Ken merely sighed as he held Masaru in his arms. He was going to get gray hairs before this day was over. "Wha!"
Ken gently placed his godson on the ground within the safety of the shield before he collapsed to his knees, feeling weak and exhausted. Julieanna and the twins were the first by his side, making sure he and Masaru were alright. Masaru mumbled something to her, but he felt too far away to grasp what she was saying. He didn't even notice the twins nosing his palm in reassurance. Julieanna looked worried as she first inspected Masaru, who must have been unharmed since they both turned their attention toward him.
"Ken, you're bleeding!" Ken looked down, realizing she was right. The right side of his chest, where he had been shot, was now starting to stain his shirt. The stitches must have reopened when he swung his sword at Dynasmon. He hadn't even noticed.
"Ken! Julieanna! Masaru! Watch out!" Julieanna and Masaru's heads snapped up, reacting too late as two Digimon suddenly appeared within the force field.
Despite the twins going on the defensive to protect their parents, the Mage Digimon surrounded Masaru, Julieanna, and the twins in a magical-infused bubble, while a black scorpion-like Digimon picked him up. Ken grunted weakly as he rested his head on the Digimon's chest. The Digimon glowing red eyes studied him. He must have been seeing things, but the Digimon seemed to be frowning as he noticed his injuries.
"Wizarmon, w-what are you doing?" Ken began to slip in and out of consciousness as Hikari confronted the Digimon that was holding his fiancée, godson, and pups prisoner. "Let them go!"
Julieanna growled under her breath as she slammed her fists against the orange and yellow force field. "Let me out!" She glared at the Digimon, making her demands clear as she shifted her eyes every so often to her betrothed. Ken's shirt was starting to turn red as he bleed out. No… please hang on. Please don't die.
"I'm afraid that is not possible." Masaru, who had been trying to calm the pups down, and Julieanna froze as the Digimon that held Ken spoke. The voice was much deeper than when he was a baby and he had taken on a much scarier and menacing appearance. But by the way, he was holding Ken and the worry she saw in his single mechanic eye made her lower her fist.
It couldn't be. Those agents took you away from us, was her first thought. Followed by: Yuki, do you hate us for being unable to save you?
"I am sorry, Hikari. I wish there was another way." He lifted up his staff with his other hand, aiming towards the ground. "Blink Breeze!"
Julieanna could only scream as the others scattered as a smokescreen of dust, dirt, and grass covered the Digimon's escape.
"No," came Lord Knightmon's fury. "I will burn you to the pit of hell, you traitors!"
Julieanna looked at Yuki and Wizarmon as they slipped through a portal and entered some kind of basement filled with machinery. Once the portal closed behind them, Wizarmon release the magical ball, freeing the two of them. Masaru passed the twins to her before standing in front of her protectively; something he always did when Ken was away on an assignment.
But Ken was here, and he was…
"What happened to Papa?" They froze from the familiar, yet unfamiliar voice. They turned to the voice to see Kouji dressed in a completely different outfit and with shorter hair running to the two Digimon.
"His wounds reopened, Kouji," Masaru answered, his eyes studying the boy that seemed all too familiar with the two Digimon that kidnapped them. The boy frowned at the name, much to Masaru's confusion. "What is going on? Where is Takuya?" He turned his gaze to the Digimon, in slight distrust. "And why are you with them?"
Masaru paused as Julieanna place a hand on his shoulder, followed by placing the pups in his strong, capable arms. Julieanna walked around him, much to his dislike, and stood in front of the boy. The boy just stared at her in uncertainty. She placed a hand on his cheek, gently wiping away the grime that had collected there. She smiled in slight disbelief, followed by acceptance.
"You are not Kouji are you?" she asked, not waiting for an answer as a single tear fell down her own cheeks. "Your father was so heartbroken when you were taken away. There wasn't a minute that had gone by when he wasn't thinking about you." She paused, noticing the boy was just staring at her. It made her wonder, if he was alive, then so was she.
"It was difficult to keep him positive most days. He isn't as depressed now as he was before, but he isn't himself when your birthday comes around." The boy's eyes widened slightly as he soaked in the woman's words. He glanced at his father, watching as Wizarmon attempted to heal his wounds. The Digimon frowned.
"They said I was dead," he said, anger in his voice. Julieanna nodded, unable to contain her happiness as she pulled the boy into a hug, wanting to remove the anger and hatred she sensed was filling the boy's heart.
"Eleven years is a very long time to be apart," she said. "Ken would be so happy to see you, Kouichi."
Chapter 6: Stolen Memories
Chapter Text
No, this can't be happening.
"Stingmon, come back!" His father's partner ran out of the room. His own eyes shimmered with tears as V-mon and Meicoomon ran after him.
Papa… Kouji couldn't stop the ache that suddenly emerged from his parents' and unborn sister's unexpected capture. He rested his forehead on the cold tile floor as his hand clenched the tag and crest that dangled from around his neck. Mama…
The Digimon that had been identified by a Nanomon as Lord Knightmon, one of the thirteen members of the Royal Knights, screamed at the Demon Lords as someone foiled his mission of capturing the Tamer. Kouji shivered as he heard his uncle calling out to the Digimon called Beelzebumon. Beelzebumon, who had been tasked with rescuing an Agumon, said something that had caused his head to hurt.
"Was that Yuki?"
"Yuki?" Daisuke asked, confusion in his voice. Something wasn't right about his question. "That name sounds familiar, but I can't place my finger on it."
"It's because of those DATS agents," Hikari answered after getting over the shock of getting betrayed by one of their friends. "They made you all forget about Yuki. Me, Julieanna, and Ken are the only ones who remember the little darling. We had always hoped we would find him one day. But with the gates to Yggdrasill's Digital World so unstable and with Suguru disappearance, we had all agreed it was unwise to enter that world."
The adults' conversation and the separate conversation among the Digimon in the control room seemed to fade away as the name returned memories that had been taken from him.
"Yuki! Yuki!"
"Quiet, Yuki. Papa will hear us." The little Digimon snuggled on his head, his mouth shut for the moment as they tiptoed down the hallway of Julieanna's mansion. His father had long retired to his own room for a short nap after travelling several hours to America on that noisy airplane.
Kouji figured he and Yuki should get some rest. None of them got any decent sleep on the plane, except for Julieanna. She must have been used to all that noise and the strange people that kept staring at his parents.
While Julieanna slept through the entire flight, his father stayed alert and guarded. He was surly, just as exhausted as they were. Then again, he had been agitated even before Julieanna asked him to come along to America with her for this magazine photoshoot. He shivered, remembering thier cold stares and harsh whispers. He couldn't understand why others were expressing so much animosity towards them. His parents were truly the kindest of people.
"Yuki?" Kouji looked at his brother, realizing he was thinking about the same thing.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," he whispered, a slight yawn edging into his voice. He shook it away, much too excited to explore America to sleep and too worried about his father to allow his mind to be put at ease. "Papa is always here to protect us."
It's our first time in America as a family. We should be exploring and laughing at Mama's American jokes as she shows us around the place of her birth. Yet he's so sad. He hides it, but I know something is troubling him. Kouji frowned as he walked down the hall. He was agitated when Mama mentioned that guy's name. Was the person a bad guy? Had he tried to hurt Mama before? That would explain his behavior, but it didn't explain why his father had been insistent on upping security.
The mansion seemed pretty safe from what he could tell. It had tall gates surrounding the property and people in uniforms walking every inch of the mansion grounds.
"What could scare Papa so much that he wants more people at Mama's home, Yuki?"
"Yuki?" Yukimi Botamon whispered as they hid under a table. A woman in a maid outfit walked past them with a tray of food, heading in the direction of his father's room.
"I don't know, Yuki. You think Papa is okay?" The Digimon was silent as they slowly made their way down the hall, hiding every so often when someone passed by.
"Ken, you should really get some rest." Mama?
Kouji paused outside the slightly ajar door, peeking through the crack to see that was happening.
His father was sitting on the bed, his legs pulled towards his chest as Julieanna gazed at him worriedly. "I know… I just…"
"I know," she said when his father seemed unable to finish his thoughts. "I know it feels like Kouichi is gone forever. But he will always be here." Julieanna gently touched Ken's chest. He seemed so sad, nothing like the smile and laughter he had been showing them earlier. "You will see him again one day.
"I know," Ken took a shuddering breath. "It's just…" Julieanna pulled Ken into a hug, rubbing his back as the tears began to fall once more.
"Everything will be okay. Don't blame yourself for Kouichi's death. No one wants you to be this sad." Julieanna closed her eyes, trying her best to be strong when Ken couldn't be.
Kouji wasn't sure how long the two sat there hugging each other as his father cried. "Yuki? What should we do?" His brother's eyes remained on their father, uncertain about what they should do to help their distressed father. So the two waited until their father was calm enough to pull away from the comforting hug.
Julieanna grabbed one of the tissues she had on the bedside table and gentle wiped away his tear stained cheek. "Sorry," he finally said, a bit more calmer.
"No, no, it's fine," she smiled. "Come on, let's get some rest before we take Kouji to the amusement park for his birthday."
Tears welled in his eyes as the memory disappeared. How… how could he forget something like that? It felt like a complete betrayal to the brother he had grown up with. Was the other mad at them for being forgotten? Was that why he captured his father? What would he do to him and his mother?
Kouji head shot up, not realizing when Tayuka had kneeled next to him, rubbing his back as he too remembered the missing member of their family. Takuya tore his eyes away from the monitor to gaze at his cousin.
"You remembered Yuki too, didn't you?" Kouji nodded, not trusting his voice. "Do yea think he's working for Cherubimon, too? He looks so mad." Kouji shivered. He had been thinking the same thing and for his father's own safety, he could only hope Yuki would not try to hurt him. Several strands of hair fell in front of his eyes. Please Yuki, don't hurt Papa… I can't lose him…
"You will not lose him, Kouji." Kouji shifted his eyes over Bokomon's shoulder as the transparent spirit of Lobomon gazed at him with concern. "Your father is a very strong man. If he can survive being shot at, having his heart broken, and almost being taken over by Millenniumon's hatred fueled spirit, then he can certainly handle two Digimon."
Ever since he was a child, Kouji had always thought Lobomon was just his imaginary friend. The stories he told him couldn't have been real. He had only been telling him bedtime stories when his father couldn't be there and watched over him when his father had been working two jobs before Julieanna made him quit. And the stories of his past seemed too farfetched to be real. There was no way Lobomon had at one point tried to kill his father and his friends when they had been young. Right?
Those stories you told me… they were real, weren't they?
The Digimon of Light nodded. "Yes, Kouji. I have never once lied to you," he said. But that does not change my actions of the past, nor will it prevent me from protecting you and your parents." He shrugged stiffly. "Even if your father is still wary of me," he added in an uncertain voice.
Wait, Papa can see you?
"Stingmon, wait up!" Stingmon ignored his friends as he rushed out of the castle, not caring where he ended up.
"Stingmon, please slow down," Meicoomon yelled, hot on his heel. "There's still time to save him!"
Stingmon stopped, not noticing a menacing Digimon watching them from the shadows. "How? You saw how easily Wizarmon and that other Digimon captured them!"
His mind reeled back to when Ken had been very young and terribly ill. While no one blamed him for Ken getting infected by the Dark Seed, he did. He had allowed his partner to get hurt. He had failed to stop Gennai from separating them. He had failed to help his friend when the Dark Seed had taken over. He had seen the signs, and he had done nothing. And he was doing it again. Ken was in trouble, dying in the arms of the enemy, and here he was, being a coward and running away from his problems.
"Ken was right. I am a failure," he said, laughing bitterly.
"No, you're not, Stingmon," V-mon said. "Ken has never called you a failure! He would never say such things."
"Maybe not now. He is far too kind and modest to say such things. But he used to…"
"Stingmon, Ken wasn't himself!" V-mon reminded him. None of them liked to think of how badly they had failed Ken as a result of their inaction to remove the Dark Seed before Millenniumon had placed his hold on him. "He wouldn't have harmed anyone if it wasn't for Millenniumon!"
"That doesn't make it less true!"
Before the argument could escalate any further, a dark and sadistic voice interrupted them, with an array of dark energy blasts coming straight for them.
"Geist Abend!"
Stingmon fell to his knees as he shielded his friends from the attack. He winced as lasers burned his lower back and wings.
"Stingmon!"
"I'm ok." He managed to hold back the pain from edging into his voice. He couldn't afford to show weakness in the presence of their enemy, whoever he was.
Laughter roared from the attacker as he continued to fire lasers, one after the other. Stingmon ignored the burning sensation traveling across his back as he slowly turned to glare at his attacker. The assailant was without a doubt one of Cherubimon's minions: the Warrior of Darkness.
Unlike his brother, who had known his partner since birth, Phelesmon hadn't had that luxury. He had only gotten the chance to interact with the Chosen of Kindness when he had been recovering in his home. And even then, the conversations had been lighthearted and solemn. He hadn't truly experienced what being a Chosen Digimon was until today.
The sudden crushing feeling in his chest, and the swirls of emotions that were not his own, was a strange and overwhelming experience. The Fallen Angel Digimon closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to sift through the array of emotions, the conversations that were continuing on without him, and the warm presence that had been a burning flame for so many years was quickly starting to fade.
His left-clawed hand tightened around his trident, while the other gripped his chest.
This feeling…
His brother and the other Chosen Digimon would often express the strange emptiness that would fill their souls whenever they were away from their partners for too long or the soul-wracking pain that would follow whenever one of the children had been injured or close to death.
Is this what Stingmon had been feeling for all these years? Taking a slow breath, he opened his eyes, gazing at the fight that was continuing on in the human world.
Within the last couple of years, he would always find his younger brother in the library, looking over old photos and documents of the past. There would be times where he would cry himself to sleep, whispering Ken's name over and over again.
Phelesmon had brushed it off, assuming his brother just missed his partner, his brother. All the Chosen Digimon did. It was only natural after being ripped away from them once again after so many years.
How long, Stingmon? He shifted his gaze to where his brother had been standing not long ago. Have you felt all the times' Ken had almost died? How long have you known and why haven't you told me?
With another exhale and inhale, he straightened and focused on the task at hand. Being a spy within the enemy's stronghold was no easy task. No one would suspect Pico Devimon, a clueless and naïve bat, to be the former servant of Vamdemon and the alley of the Chosen. Cherubimon was too consumed with the remanence of the virus and his plans to even notice. The real problem was Mercuremon and the Royal Knights.
Mercuremon had become too suspicious, but not enough to cause a scene or outright attack his agent. However…
What are you doing, Wizarmon? This was not part of the plan.
The mage had not hesitated in restraining the humans before covering their escape. He hadn't wanted to believe Wizarmon had gone rogue, but what else could it be then?
"Spiral Masquerade!" Lord Knightmon attempted to tackle Lilithmon to the ground with the intent to shatter her Digicore, but a portal had suddenly opened revealing Leviamon emerging from the depths of the World of Darkness' ocean, his mouth wide open.
Lord Knightmon twisted his body, managing to barely miss sharp teeth. The Royal Knight hovered above the dark ocean, screaming as Barbamon closed the portal from within.
Demon let a groan, not too happy to have the most insane and sadistic of the Royal Knights in his domain.
"That will not hold the Royal Knight for very long, Lord Phelesmon-sama," Tentomon said as he fluttered in front of the monitors.
"I know," he sighed, unsure how the former rulers of the Digital World will keep the enemy at bay without their leader.
Glancing at one of his servants, who had been typing away on the computer, searching for any sight of a portal opening up. "Nanomon, try widening the search to beyond the Rose Morning Star and Forest of Gods."
"Yes, Lord Phelesmon," Nanomon said, widening the search.
"Wizarmon, why?" Tailmon sounded like she couldn't decide if she wanted to cry or rip the other into shreds. From the corner of his eye, he saw Patamon, Hawkmon, and Armadimon trying to comfort their friend. Meanwhile, the rest of the Chosen Digimon continued to stare at the screens in disbelief. He couldn't really blame them.
Their partners could have been killed, and they would have been unable to do anything about it. Phelesmon sighed, his breath hitching as the children said something that caught his interest.
Yuki?
He turned to the children, a slight frown on his features. "Minamoto-san, Kanbara-san, who is Yuki?"
Before the boys could say anything, Gizamon rushed into the control room, carrying a phone on its head. "Lord Phelesmon! Incoming call from Lady Bastemon from the Light Area."
"Lady Bastemon what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Oh, Phelesmon, you charmer," Bastemon giggled from the other line. "I thought I call and let you know we have located Ophanimon's castle." Phelesmon remained silent, waiting for her to continue. "It is as we feared. Lady Ophanimon has been captured by Cherubimon. But I did get some interesting intel from Nefertimon."
"What type of intel?" He asked, getting the others' attention. He held up a clawed finger to silence them when one of them tried to ask a question.
"The reason the Digital World is the way it is, is because the virus is not gone. The reboot merely made it difficult to see."
Well, that was not good. "I see," he said.
"In fact, it is concentrated in the center of the Digital World: the Dark Area."
"The Dark Area," he repeated the words, uncertain where Bastemon was going on with this. "What does this have to do with the King and Queen and the Holy Beasts?"
"Lord Lucemon and Huanglongmon are the only ones strong enough to fix the Digital World without draining the life force of the King and Queen. We have looked everywhere in the Digital World, except in one place."
He sucked in a breath, fear settling in his gut. "The Dark Area, but if they had been there this whole time, then…"
"They could very well be completely infected by the virus," she said, her tone turning grim. "I don't know about Cherubimon, but this must be the Royal Knights' goal. They are merely finishing what their god had started."
"Fools!" Thunder traveled against the dark purple sky as the Beast Angel Digimon glared at his crystal ball. "All they had to do was retrieve them! I needed them alive!"
He might have misplaced his trust in those Royal Knights. They could have very well harmed his Tamer and now he was taken by a traitor. Cherubimon snarled, unhappy with the turn of events. "I should have sent Duskmon instead of those fools."
A father would do anything for their children, even offer his own freedom, his own life for theirs. A cruel smile graced his features. Yes, the traitor might have him for now, but that didn't mean this was the end of his plans. He still had a few tricks up his sleeves.
He turned to glare at his misguide warrior. Ranamon struggled in her binds, glaring at him as he held the flower that she had tried to steal. Dark energy completely encased the delicate flower, tampering with its memory healing properties. The pink petals and green leaves turned a bright blue before returning to its natural color.
"Ranamon," he said, approaching her. "You shall make sure everyone eats this, including the traitor."
"Never! I will never betray my friends."
"You don't have a choice," he said. "You will do exactly as I say, my Warrior of Water."
"No!" Ranamon could do nothing but scream as Cherubimon's dark virus infused energy encased her, corrupting her Digicore once more.
One by one, her memories of her past and the precious memories she had with Kouichi and Yuki slowly slipped through her fingers. Tears fell down her cheeks as she tried to fight off the poisonous words of darkness. But she felt herself falling through the dark void of nothingness, until all she could hear, all she could see, was her master, Lord Cherubimon, and his path to save the Digital World from the evil Chosen of Light.
But as she felt herself falling, she suddenly felt a warm presence. Looking to her right, she noticed another Digimon floating within the abyss.
Loweemon? Her thoughts echoed around them as the other placed a warm hand on her cheek, while the other grabbed the dark chains that were restraining her arms to her sides.
"Do not forget what you are fighting for. The virus has long since corrupted his mind. We must not allow Kouichi's father to fall to the same fate."
"He's too strong," she admitted. "He will strick us down the moment he realizes we are out of his control."
"Then you must work among the shadows." She looked at him, confused.
"What you mean?"
"Cherubimon can not see us while we are here, but we are free to wonder however we please." Ranamon's eyes widened as he led her out of the dark abyss. "I am unable to communicate with Kouichi and help him, but I was able to lead him to Yuki and guide Agumon to the human world."
Light fluttered her vision as she found herself in an infirmity. Laying on a white bed, covered in blue sheets, was the Tamer. Ken Minamoto lay motionless on the bed, completely unaware of his undeceased son sitting by his side and of the dangers he was in.
Chapter 7: Shackling Memories Part 1
Chapter Text
Out of all the places I’d end up in, it just had to be the Dark Area! Ken sighed, his hands resting on his hips as he tried to take stock of their current situation. For some weird reason, he’d always found himself back here, running from an enemy that always remained out of sight but had no problem hunting them down and breaking them to the point of exhaustion and confusion.
He should consider himself lucky though. It could be worse. He could be in an unimaginable amount of pain while trying to hide from said enemy. He could be bleeding to death or having an asthma attack while alone somewhere. He could be trapped in a burning building again or shot or…
Yeah, anything was probably better than that.
Maybe being temporarily separated from his body wasn’t all that bad. He no longer felt the pain that traveled up and down his spine with each movement he took. His lungs also didn’t feel tight, like he was breathing through a straw or constantly out of breath, nor did he feel like he was dying. Which was great considering the way they got here was still kinda… blurry, and there was also the fact that he was starting to forget things the longer he stayed in this twisted realm. That was concerning, more than he was willing to admit, but Ken didn’t have time to worry about himself right now, not when Millenniumon was completely out of it.
“Why?” His double ganger was huddled in the corner of the room, rocking himself back and forth as he mumbled about something. “Why him? What not me? Why? Not again. Come back. Come back.”
“Hey, it’ll be okay, Millenniummon? We’ll figure a way out of here.” His double ganger remained unaffected by his words. “Millenniummon…? Can you hear me?”
The evil god was not doing okay. He had been mumbling under his breath for several hours now. Ken had tried speaking to him before, but nothing seemed to snap him out of this panicked illusion he’d found himself in. It was unnerving to see him like this.
It had taken years to get to where they are now. Millenniummon was still sadistic and cruel at times, but he had mellowed out a lot over the years after coming to terms with each other. Although, the leaps he had to go through to get to that point made him realize why he never told the others. He wouldn’t hear the end of it if he so much as mentioned his soul almost shattering and Millenniumon in the same sentence. He rubbed the back of his neck. Daisuke and Miyako wouldn’t let him out of their sight and he wasn’t quite ready for the interrogation. Wallace was the only one who knew everything that happened between the two of them. He was sure Hikari figured it out on her own but was choosing to stay silent for his sake.
Despite all the power and manipulation that monster caused, he couldn’t push the other away. He couldn’t abandon him when he had no one to turn to. In all honesty, he and Millenniumon were much too alike. Two gentle souls, forced to endure the pain and darkness pushed upon them by those who were supposed to be above such things. If it hadn’t been for Milleenniumon, the Holy Beasts’ seal would have never been broken, and the past he had cherished with Lucemon and the other would have never been brought to light.
The Holy Beasts’ had locked away so many precious memories of his childhood. He had forgotten the Demon Lords that raised him, his friend Ryo, Agumon, V-mon, and all the other Digimon he had befriended and trained during the war. He had forgotten Bokomon and Neamon and so many others. He was glad to have all those memories back. Up until that point, he had felt empty, hollow even. Ken had always felt a piece of him was missing, but he never understood why.
Ken frowned in thought. It had something to do with Kami and his shattered memories. That he was sure of, but there were just too many unanswered questions to piece the missing link. The first time he had attempted to search for these answers was when Lucemon and Demon told him stories of their epic adventures in the Digital World way before the Royal Knights blindly followed Yggdraills’ twisted orders.
While the tales of Lord Knightmon getting blasted across the Digital World were always amusing, there was another that piqued his interest: the Dark Area and the Creation. From his understanding, the Dark Area was originally where all life began, the spirit according to Barbamon. When the soul was stable and mature enough to leave that realm it would transition to the physical realm. This world had no name, but many had referred to it as Digital Prime or Witchelny depending on who he’d asked.
The story of creation was an interesting topic he would love to pick Millenniuimon’s brain on, if he would just stop avoiding his questions. According to the Demon Lords the original gods that created their world came in pairs: one of light and one of darkness. The Gods of Light existed in the physical realm, while the Gods of Darkness existed in the realm of the shadows.
The Dark Area… it must have been Kami’s home at one point, but how did he leave and why?
There was no way of asking Kami directly as his memories were scattered, mixed with hundreds of other memories Ken has been getting over the years, and asking Millenniumon was like pulling teeth. He was hiding something, but the look of regret and unbearable sadness always made him stop from pushing the evil god any further. Asking Beelzebumon or any of the others was also out of the question. They never once mentioned Kami whenever they talked about the ancient days. They couldn’t even answer his questions when he asked. It was always that confused, “Kami? Who’s that?” It was almost as if Kami’s life, the connections he made, his loved ones, and his entire being had been wiped out from existence. Ken could only imagine how devastating that must have been.
Way before he had come to learn the fragmented spirit’s name and the pieces of history he was able to recall, Ken had always felt this heaviness in the pit of his soul. He knew they were connected, but he hadn’t truly understood how deep that connection was until a few years ago. Kami was the other half of his soul. Ken felt whole when he was near him, but then reality hits and then an overwhelming confusion settles in.
Kami barely remembered anything before the final moment of his death. This maiden he always talks about with such fondness in his voice, he could barely remember her name, let alone what she looked like and his beloved children… They were nothing more than faint silhouettes and muttered voices. Ken was at a complete loss. Kami’s memories were scattered, fragmented at best, making it difficult to help him sift through the hundreds of thousands of memories they have received since Ken had been four.
He could still feel the phantom pains and heart-wrecking memories of all the reincarnations after Kami’s death, but even Millenniumon confirmed something was not right. Kami hadn’t walked this realm since his soul shattered eons ago, scattering across the two worlds. The Kami he had gotten to know since his childhood had been in a dormant-like state until Ken’s birth. There was no way these memories were his.
Ken sighed, a longing in his voice. “I wish there was someone I could talk to about this.”
Kami was still incomplete. Fragments of his soul were still missing, preventing them from filling in the missing pieces. Ken hated how broken their memories were. There was no way of knowing what was theirs and what wasn’t and being in the Dark Area wasn’t really helping. Ken knew without even asking that this place had once been Kami’s eternal home and prison. He had spent his entire existence here. He had a pretty good idea why he kept being dragged to this place almost every other week. However, something about this place felt off. It felt unstable, twisted even.
The creatures that lived in this world were extremely dangerous. Ken was sure he would have been consumed long ago if Millenniumon and Anubimon hadn’t put aside their difference to save him. Ken shivered at the memory. He didn’t know what they wanted with him, nor did Kami. They were ancient beings, unable to feel anything but death. What was he going to do if one of those things found him again? Anubimon had to be on one of the upper levels of the Dark Area and then there was that creature.
Ken didn’t know what it was. It was old, older than the other creatures they had come across thus far. And for some reason, it seemed to enjoy torturing him with these twisted games. Ken had been fortunate to escape unharmed, his memories intact for the most part. He was only alive because of Millenniumon’s persistence and his twisted reasonings for protecting his vessel.
His gaze shifted back to the Evil God’s shaking form. Millenniumon didn’t like talking about his past. He preferred insulting others and making his enemies as miserable as possible. And yet, he was the first to confirm the existence of Kami and the world’s recreation. Millenniumon refused to talk about the gods’ genocide and the war that caused the original world to collapse, but he did mention something of importance: the convergence. During the genocide of the gods, the two realms became unbalanced and started to overlap.
It was also this unbalanced that threw the world into total chaos. With the death of the gods, their creations lost the abilities the ancient gods had blessed them with. They were normal and powerless, especially when up against the creatures Millenniumon dubbed the Twisted Ones. It was a fitting name. They were power-hungry, emotionless beings. It was nearly impossible to tell what they used to be. Their bodies were melty or ink-like and only showed their yellowish or red orbs when hunting their prey. Their claws and teeth were rigged and sharp, and… their strength was unheard of.
The mere thought of those creatures made his heart drop and a sickening feeling weighed heavily on his gut. Kami’s gentle reassurance and Millenniumon’s promise to protect him behind his cold indifference didn’t help the uneasiness and overwhelming fear he felt, especially when the waves of an ancient tongue sliced into his soul every time he closed his eyes. How was he expected to stay strong when Millenniumon couldn’t hear those sharp, sinister voices masked behind a childish voice?
“Kami-mama, why are you hiding from us? There’s no need to run, no need to hide…”
“We only want to play.”
“It has been so long since you last played with us. Don’t you like us anymore?”
“Why did you trap us here?!”
An uneasiness filled his stomach once more, just like all the other times they accused him of trapping them here. He had no memory of ever meeting them, nor creating them during his time as the Kaiser and Kami didn’t seem to recognize them either. There was a possibility that these creatures were one of the many that had been created during the genocide and sealed away when Kami recreated the world. The resentment was probably warranted. They had been trapped here for eons, left behind, forgotten as the rest of the world moved on from ancient times and evolved to a more modern era.
These soulless creatures, the Twisted Ones, had been abandoned, tossed aside, by their creators. They had every right to be furious at the man they perceived to be their father. But did he really deserve their twisted insults and harsh words just because he was the reincarnation of their father? Did Kami, who might not even be the god that created them back then?
Ken closed his eyes, shaking the ugly voices and dark thoughts away. Millenniumon would have certainly yelled at him again for listening to their lies. Millenniumon had not failed to remind him that the transgressions of his previous lives were not his to bare. They had lived their lives, now it was time to live his. Ken smiled softly. Who would have thought the big bad Composite God was such a softie at heart?
Kami certainly would have had a good chuckle if he had been here.
“Hikari… how could you do this? Why did you betray him? Why did you betray us?” Ken jumped surprised by the sudden burst of anger coming from his double ganger. Millenniumon rarely allowed himself to give in to his emotions. The Chosen just left the other alone when his mood became unbearable, boarding uncontrollable. The evil god had always been distant and aloof, but Kami seemed to be the only one willing to chase after him when he suddenly got into one of his moods and disappeared for hours at a time. Ken couldn’t figure out the relationship between the two, but it was obvious they had some sort of history.
“He was your shadow and you treated him like trash!” Shadow? Ken frowned at his double ganger, uncertain what to do. The last time he had been this mad was when he had been assisting Kami in piecing together one of his fragmented memories. The memory they had restored was merely a glimpse of an interaction between him and several other Digimon. It seemed like a precious, loving moment but then it shifted showing Yggdrasill injured and saying something they couldn’t quite catch.
It was that sudden shift, the moment where memories that didn’t belong to Kami took form, that set Millenniumon off.
“What the hell is he doing? Why the fuck is he giving you guys his memories? The coward!”
“Millenniumon who are you talking about?”
Ken had never seen Millenniumon that angry on someone’s behalf before, but it did beg the question of who his double-ganger kept mumbling threats about. And these memories…it was enough to give him a massive headache and night terrors for weeks on end, followed by a hollow, empty feeling he couldn’t place.
Hikari? And then there was that name again. This wasn’t the first time Millenniumon brought that name up. He would grow tense and furious whenever Ken inquired about it, and then the threats would soon follow. Judging by Millenniumon’s recent behavior and with the little information he was able to gather over the years, Ken could only assume that Kami was one of the Shadow Gods. Ken ponders that for a moment. It made sense, given the current state of this place. Kami was the last of the Gods, it was no wonder those creatures kept going after them. But it didn’t explain everything.
Ken knew he was grasping at straws. Kami didn’t recognize the name and always had that distant look in his eyes whenever he brought it up. His eyes would lose that golden hue as he struggled to remember a part of his life that must have been extremely painful. Ken refused to push his other half when he was struggling to piece himself back together after being dormant for so long, but these memories and his Hikari… They were connected somehow.
If only he could get Millenniumon to open up somehow. Fat chance of that happening.
Ken shook his head sadly at the thought. He knew all too well the pain of being alone and the misguided expectations of others. Even with Osamu around, Ken had always felt like he didn’t belong. His mother was a sweetheart, but she never stood up against her husband until it was already too late, and when he lost everything he just found himself in that swirl of loneliness and emptyness.
Despite all of that Ken knew in the end he would be alright. He had people like Daisuke, Julieanna, Miyako, and Takumi after all. And yet he wouldn’t dare to tell them about those dreams. All those screams, the haunted looks, and the pain that wrecked his body as he felt their bodies slowly being torn apart… He didn’t want to relive those dreadful memories day after day, let alone talk about them. He had come so close to completely losing his mind so many times in the past and yet he wouldn’t wish these traumatizing memories on anyone.
Not his best friend…
Not his overprotective brother, his fiancee, or any of his other friends…
And his counterpart, a mere nine-year-old child was out of the question.
Ken frowned distastefully at the mere thought of the little boy getting these memories. That was the last thing he wanted. It was bad enough that the other was living in a world where there was a genocidal war between the Holy Alliance and Virus Court. He had been frightened for the child when he had been teleported there years ago. All he could do was hope the Demon Lords, Mummymon, and Archnemon were doing okay. Speaking of this counterpart, he hadn’t spoken to the child in well over a month now. The last time they’d talked extensively was when he had been in a coma.
Despite the circumstances, he enjoyed talking to the other. His counterpart recently talked his ear off about all the cool things his parents had gotten him when they’d returned from their secret mission. In addition to all the pranks and other troubles, he and Beelzebumon had gotten into. Ken couldn’t help but smile as the child told him with great enthusiasm how they sneaked into Demon’s room and redecorated his bookshelf and walls with new coloring books and drawings. And by some miracle, the big bad Demon Lord didn’t blow up like a balloon. Ken highly doubted that and he was pretty sure Beelzebumon got yelled at for that, but Ken knew better than to say anything. The innocent sparkle in his eyes, the way he’d jump up and down in his seat as he told him one crazy story after another, reminded him too much of his youth before it had been shattered. While he had lost his innocence and his childish joy way before his counterpart, Ken was unwilling to be the one to take it away from him. He was too young to be forced into a war he was not ready for and he could only hope it stayed that way until he was more mature and older.
No child should ever feel the pain and loneliness he’d felt when he first got them. What child wouldn’t be traumatized as they relived their final moments? And what child wouldn’t be heartbroken after losing their parent?
Ken glanced at Millenniumon as he whimpered more words he couldn’t make out, concern eating at him. The two of them had gotten to know each other pretty well over the years. Ken didn’t like to pry into the others’ thoughts or memories, but there had been plenty of times in which he had no choice but to see the evil god’s memories in order to help him, and… what he saw, he didn’t like.
Many of Millenniumon’s childhood memories were scattered and blurry, almost as if he was trying to hide from them. It was hard to determine who was in those memories as most were blurry silhouettes, but Ken had a pretty good idea of what had happened.
Way before the Holy Beasts came into power and started their path of genocide, there had been tension between those of the virus and vaccine. While there wasn’t any outright bloodshed, there was isolation and discrimination on a variety of levels. The Virus Digimon had always been looked down upon by those who felt they had higher values and pathways to greatness. This division brought the Demon Lords and the other nobles together to form their own kingdom and to strive for some sort of peace. For a period of time, it had worked; but Millenniumon never forgot their words nor the isolation that was forced upon him as he advanced within the Demon Lord’s army. Ken wasn’t sure what had transpired between him and his siblings after Kami’s death, but it must have been bad if the blurry images of them disappearing one after the other, their backs to him. Everything after that was nothing but feelings…
Abandonment.
Hurt.
Rage.
Betrayal.
Guilt.
Ken’s heart went out to the Composite God. No one deserved that type of pain, that type of isolation. It would make anyone mad and… if he was being honest, he could have ended up the same way if the others hadn’t come to the Digital World when they did. He wished things could have turned out differently. It would have been nice if Hikari and Takura remembered him back then, to attempt to help him from the start instead of seeing him as just another enemy to defeat as the Holy Beast wanted.
But what’s done was done. He couldn’t change the past and neither could Millennuiumon… well, he could but Ken really hoped he didn’t have that mindset anymore after everything they had been through. With the exception of Hikari, Ken knew for a fact the others would lose it if they found out he had almost shattered his soul by removing the hatred that had manifested in that other world. Millenniumon had caused them all nothing but pain and suffering and he was the reason for becoming the Kaiser and for the attempt on his life all those years ago.
When he reflected on all the pain and suffering the other caused, Ken realized none of that mattered. Millenniumon was a child who had lost his parent and a rejected Chosen Digimon. He had been mistreated, abandoned, and betrayed over and over again. When something attacked him at the castle, causing him and Millenniumon to be temporally separated, Ken felt the pain. Millenniumon’s pain. They had been together for so long that being separated now would have destroyed them both. The overwhelming hatred that surrounded Millenniumon’s heart for countless centuries had been the only thing keeping Ken alive.
What he did had been risky and even Beelzebumon had yet to stop mentioning how stupid he had been for taking that thing head-on alone. But he had to at least try to help him. They needed each other, not just to survive but to learn and grow. In order to move past the trauma that had been holding him back, Ken faced the shadowy darkness of hate.
Ken, for his part, didn’t really remember the fight. All he remembered were red eyes surrounding him as they created illusions of all his fears and past traumas, trying their best to shatter his fragile soul. Somehow he managed to chase the thing away, making sure it never returned. The next thing he knew Millennoumon was staring at him as the darkness lifted, leaving the two of them in a familiar meadow with a single bench under a massive tree. On that day, for the first time in years, they talked, not as enemies, but as comrades, friends…
It had been a new beginning.
He wasn’t going to say it was easy. Millenniumon seemed very knowledgeable about the past and seemed to know things that the Chosen of Kindness couldn’t really grasp. It was odd really, he would spend most of his time staring at the walls covered in Ancient Digimoji. Ken couldn’t make sense of most of it and to be honest he really didn’t want to. It would just be too messy anyway, but that didn’t stop Millenniumon from wandering the halls outside their soul room. In that hallway, were so many doors, memories of the past. Millenniumon had made sure to lock away the memories he and Kami were not ready to face, especially the ones of the screaming Digimon. The Ken from the other dimension has been leaving his soul room more and more lately and neither one of them wanted him to stumble onto an unpleasant memory.
Despite that Ken knew something was on Millenniumon’s mind. The way he acted around the others and the pups was pretty typical for him nowadays, but there were times when he would disappear and just stare at the wall with tears rolling down his cheeks. Both counterparts tried talking to the Evil God, but he would just brush off their concerns. It was so frustrating. He sighed, running a hand through his purplish-blueish locks. It was just something they needed to work on he guessed. His double ganger would come to him when he was ready. Ken glanced at the wall he had been staring at over the last couple of hours and the door of the cavern that had disappeared shortly after someone had knocked him out.
Something is not right here. When Wizarmon and that other Digimon had been escaping through a portal back to the Digital World, he had felt an ungodly amount of pain that felt all too familiar. It reminded him of the time before the Demon Lords gave him their crests to remove the seal that had been repressing his memories and sucking the life out of him if he dared to remember. It was the same type of magic, only this time it had been directed not at him per se but towards the Digimon it was meant to keep out.
Ken had always wondered why Beelzebumon or the others never attempted to return to the Digital World on their own when they clearly could do so. Now it all made sense.
So the Holy Beasts had a seal in place connected to their crests, he thought with a long sigh. Well, that explains why they could never return. Ken placed a hand on his chest. The pain had been less than desirable. In his weakened state, he had felt every nerve screaming in agony and he had heard the whisper of something dark, familiar even, mocking them as something cold and sharp tangled around their souls like a viper, yanking them out of his body and pulling them into an endless dark void.
“Millenniumon, we haven’t been on his level of the Dark Area before.” Determining where they ended up, hadn’t really been that hard. The Dark Area was a cold place, filled with twisted, frightening-looking Digimon—the Twisted Ones as Millenniumon often refers to them as—that shouldn’t exist. This place always made him feel uneasy with its multitude of levels and strange aura. His soul recognized this endless, multi-layered void as a place that had once been his home, but no longer. Even as Millenniumon aimlessly led them through the empty forest in hopes of finding some kind of shelter or an escape to one of the upper levels, he could still feel the oppressive air of the hunt. Something was hunting them and they were the prey.
Ken shivered, still feeling the coldness seeping into his bones as the shadow swayed back and forth, almost as if waiting for one of them to lower their guard. Whatever was hunting them this time was close and he feared he was powerless to stop it. The Dark Area was a dangerous place, and with Millenniumon lost to his thoughts and unable to hear him, it was hard to say what could happen.
Ken shook himself, trying to refocus on the problem at hand. Something was here, something bad, and it was hunting the both of them down. It was frustrating not knowing. Millenniumon clearly saw something after he changed into his Digimon form and began to take air. But for the life of him, he couldn’t remember what that thing could be. The Dark Area was a pretty dark and gloomy place to begin with and trying to see anything without a good light source was difficult at best. Unfortunately for them, Millenniumon was the only one able to see in the dark, even with his digivice giving him some form of light.
Whatever he saw must have been hiding in the shadows. Ken hated the thought the moment it entered his mind. There were too many uncertainties, leaving Ken unsure of who to trust. If he couldn’t trust his own eyes and instincts then the chances of them escaping this place was looking pretty bleak.
He couldn’t be certain what Millenniumon saw from within the endless shadows, but he had a feeling it must have been some type of Digimon, whatever remained of it anyway. When Millenniumon was suddenly blindsided, causing him to crash near some kind of odd-looking cave, Ken knew whatever had been hunting them had gone on the offensive. He wished he had gotten a good look at their attacker, but instincts had taken over at that point. Before the dust and debris settled the Chosen dragged the injured and dazed digital god into the damp cavern of a suspicious-looking cave. The sound of footsteps echoed all around them until he stumbled into a cavern that seemed to be fairly hidden from the rest. He had let his guard down too soon, however, as within seconds something had hit the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.
When he finally regained consciousness, he noticed the door was gone. There had been nothing but a thick wall and hanging on it was a small lantern that lit the room. In the corner of the room was Millenniumon, who had been in the corner of the room, rocking himself back and forth as he mumbled something he couldn’t understand. Ken had tried talking to him, to ask him what was wrong. But his concerned, comforting words fell on deaf ears.
This is all my fault. We wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for me. With nothing left to do and with Millenniumon out of commission, he had opted to inspect the room. He’d figured there must be some kind of hidden mechanism to open the door. But overall the cave looked pretty normal. It had high walls and ceilings that were sharp in certain areas, but smooth in others. The only odd thing he noticed was Ancient Digimoji on the walls, referring to the Digimon of the past and the genocide of the gods, and a Digimental he found short after waking up. Wait a minute. Genocide of the Gods? That was something Millenniumon refused to talk about.
Before he could take the time to analyze the text, he felt something sharp touch the back of his neck. He spun around just in time to see a shadow of darkness floating in-between him and Millenniumon. Millenniumon snapped out of whatever trance he had been in as hundreds of swirling red eyes opened from within that darkness.
“Mi-Mi-Millenniumon… what…?” Ken could barely hear his own words. The shakiness of his voice was only amplified by the paralyzing fear he felt.
“Ke-e-ch…” A whisper of a familiar voice entered the room, trying in vain to calm the numbness that had quickly traveled from the tip of his neck down his arms and then to the bottom of his feet.
“Ichijouji!” Millenniumon sounded far away for some reason as he felt his legs give out from under him. The darkness had quickly snuffed out the light, leaving little room for him to run or hide.
“No! Ke-”
“As fun, as this was, I bore of your son’s interference. Don’t you agree?” Ken trembled, fear edging into his core as eyes surrounded him. “I want to play some more, Kami.” A laugh shouldn’t be so chilling as hundreds, maybe thousands of eyes began to glow. Was this it? Was he a goner? No… Ken felt tears in his eyes. He didn’t want to die like this. There were still so many things he wanted to do, needed to do. He couldn’t leave his family and children behind. Not like this.
And just as before, before he was completely engulfed in darkness, his memories becoming foggy and nonexistent, he screamed.
“Wormmon! Help!”
“Wizarmon are you insane!” A variant of Bearmon adorned with a lab coat, surgical mask, gloves, blue and brownish-orange bandages on his left arm, and a stethoscope around his neck. “You could have killed yourself!” The Demon Man Digimon grunted at the brown bear as he was forced to sit in a chair on the other side of the room. It had been years, decades even since he last attempted to heal someone, let alone in this form.
Wizarmon briefly glanced at Kouichi before returning his attention to the Digimon in front of him. “I couldn’t let the Tamer die.” The words came out weaker than he expected, gaining Kouichi’s attention immediately. He frowned at him, his brows lifting ever so slightly. Now that the boy didn’t have the corrupted spirit, he was back to his old self, kind and sweet… just like his father.
Medical Bearmon clicked his tongue as he forced a vial of some blueish liquid down his throat. “This will heal up the cracks that formed on your DigiCore. No magic or physical activity for the next 24 hours and make sure to eat something. You’re very pale.” As the liquid burned down his parched throat, Agumon Hakase briefly turned his attention to them. He could see the approval of his actions and the worry in his dark green eyes.
“Well, you did a good job, gya. I’ll give you that much.” Agumon Hakase said as he went through the motion of looking over the Tamer’s vitals. He adjusted the clear mask so it was a bit more comfortable over his mouth and nose, and Aegiomon placed a damp cloth on his forehead.
“Although, there are more injuries than I first anticipated.” He flipped the page, a frown growing on his features. “Scarring around the lungs, swelling around the brain and ankle, bruising around the wound on his chest and legs, severe burns, fractures around his ankle…” The Digimon paused as he lifted his gaze to the Tamer’s fiancée.
“Ken had a couple of close calls over the years,” Julieanna elaborated as one of the puppies fidgeted in her lap. The older teen, Masaru, stood behind her chair, tending to the other puppy that wanted to be free of his confines. “His latest one was work-related.” She bit her lip, unsure what to say to the other. “He got caught in an explosion and gunfire when attempting to save Yagami-kun. He was severely hurt, in a coma, and on life support for several months. The doctors didn’t think he would make it.”
The reptile Digimon scuffed at that. “They clearly don’t know the Tamer that well, nor how to do their job properly either.”
“Will he be okay?” Julieanna’s voice came out soft, hopeful even.
“Don’t you worry, miss. Your husband will be just fine.” The genius didn’t give anyone the chance to correct him as he continued with his rambling. “Thanks to Wizarmon, he’s no longer in any immediate danger. However, it wasn’t enough to heal his wounds completely. It is critical he gets plenty of rest. The swelling around his brain is quite large and will cause significant damage if we don’t get it down.”
Julieanna nodded. “Could that affect his memory? The doctors back at home mentioned that he has gaps in his memories and any more could end up being permanent.”
The Digimon looked disgusted at that. “What kind of doctors are you talking to? With the right medicine and lots of rest, I can get the swelling down in a matter of days, maybe less. He will have some memory loss at first, partial amnesia if we are lucky, but it will return once his body has the proper time to rest and reboot so to speak.”
Julieanna let out a sigh of relief, tears were bright in her eyes as she glanced at her fiancé. “I’m so relieved. Ken hasn’t been sleeping well over the last couple of months and… he’s been showing signs of memory loss due to the incident, I… I feared it would get worse.”
Agumon Hakase nodded his head in understanding. “His memories will return in due time, for now, I suggest putting him into a medical state coma. This way his body will have the time to heal, while we focus on healing his other injuries.”
Julieanna grateful for the Digimon, nodded. “If you feel this is for the best then okay. I trust you. What about Ken’s other injuries? With the exception of the burns and his ankle, the scarring on his lungs happened years ago. It’s not curable.” The Digimon pulled out a syringe filled with the same color liquid that Medical Bearmon gave Wizarmon and injected it into Ken’s IV. “This is a mixture of my own recipe, made from the finest healing plants and herbs in the Digital World. It’s a powerful painkiller so he’ll be able to rest easy as the medicine works to heal any internal injuries he has. However…” he frowned for a moment, looking more than a little troubled.
“Why am I getting a ‘but’ in that sentence?” The teen interrupted the tense conversation, a frown on his features.
“Well, under normal circumstances, this should be enough to heal an Adult-level Digimon. But his injuries are more severe than I first anticipated. He’s going to need a much higher dose. I didn’t make enough under such short notice.”
“The medicine will help him rest easy and provide him with pain relief,” Medical Bearmon said, trying to reassure the Tamer’s family.
“But don’t you worry,” Agumon said with a smile. “We will be going out to get more ingredients for his medicine. This will cure the scarring, the bone fractures, and anything else the human doctors may have missed. I will also be making a cream to put on his burns. In the meantime, the Tamer needs to rest.”
“So are you saying that Ken will be completely healed? The scarring on his lungs, the burns, everything?” The two Digimon nodded. Julieanna sat in her chair in stunned silence for a long time before the tears finally began to fall. The young pup looked up at her mother as the tears landed on her fur. “That’s wonderful news. Thank you.”
Stingmon knew this feeling all too well. The rising panic, the fear, the nervous thoughts, the sense of dread… this was the curse and delight of being a Chosen Digimon. Many Digimon would never get the chance to experience the partnership between a human and a Digimon. They would never get to know the overwhelming emotions that would invade their nerves and thoughts when their human partners’ emotions reached them.
Those who were fortunate enough to work with a Tamer back then during the war could feel the human’s emotions as a Tamer helped them evolve at the height of battle, but they didn’t last and were mild and brief at best. Those feelings would go away as quickly as they came, but for a Chosen Digimon, it was intense and never truly went away.
His brother had once asked him about the bond between a Chosen and their partner Digimon, but he could never explain it in words. The connection he and Ken shared was different compared to the others. Why? It was… hard to describe into words and even harder to explain to others. Stingmon never had the need to explain things to his partner, at least not vocally. He already knew, already had an answer to his unspoken questions.
And yet… there was one thing he wished desperately wasn’t true and never dared to ask— Ken’s connection to Kami and the old ways. Stingmon never questioned Ken’s strange ability to recreate the Digimentals, nor his ability to read Ancient Digimoji. Yet, his connection to the Ancient Guardians who swore an oath to protect the Gods of the Shadows eons ago left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Kami’s entire existence had been nothing but a cruel joke. Out of all the Gods, Kami’s endless kindness and empathy were why many of the Digimon today retained their free will and humanity. He was the reason why they existed today. It was that lack of empathy that caused all the other gods’ creations to turn on them in the end.
Stingmon didn’t pity those gods in the slightest. For all the pain they put Kami through, they all deserved to cease to exist… to be forgotten from the world. If only he had done more to help him.
Since his creation, the Dark Area has been his home for countless decades. Kami spent the vast majority of his timeless existence painstakingly creating his darling creations. With great care, he made sure each and every one of them was perfect both inside and out and was well-versed in the world they would one day be born into. This perfectionism and endless love often resulted in him being an endless target by the other gods. While they focused on creating as much as they could to keep up with the Light Gods’ unreasonable demands, Kami took his time, creating a lot slower than the rest of them. Maybe that was why Hikari had been so animated to belittle their loving creator and to make him feel isolated and alone.
They should have done something. They wanted to do something to protect Kami’s gentle soul, but Tukaimon would always stop them and instead call for the Dark Area’s Maiden. When she was around, it was like their venomous words and harsh glares didn’t touch him. He smiled more when she was around.
The beautiful and graceful maiden was Kami’s shield, his sword, and his anchor. It was thanks to her they were even able to drag their creator’s soul out of the Dark Area before he too disappeared forever. He didn’t particularly like that they had to use the damaged body Hikari left behind, but what more could they do? Kami didn’t have a body of his own and he needed one in order to survive outside the Dark Area.
But none of that mattered… because in the end, he had to watch the being that created him, that raised him, die in his arms.
“No, no. Kami-mama, please stay with me!” The ugly gashes he had sustained from Vamdemon’s pets had yet to heal. The poison had started slow at first, but now the strange purple veins covered half of his body. They had spent weeks, traveling from one place to another in search of an antidote to this poison.
“I’m…sorry,” came a weak voice as the insectoid struggled to make sense of what was happening. Why was the antidote not working? “This is all my fault. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for me.”
“No, that’s not true, mama! You mean everything to us. If going into Vamdemon’s domain in hopes of finding the cure for your illness is what we had to do then so be it. We knew the risks. We were prepared for the worst.” It was thanks to those human children that they were able to evolve into these higher forms. The children were able to use these egg-like objects that Kami and the Maiden had created over the month to help fight against Vamdemon and those creatures from the fog.
“I know,” tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. “I just wish I could have done more. All I ever wanted was for you kids to live in a world where you didn’t have to worry about being attacked or consumed by this fog. I just wanted what was best for you, but I guess it wasn’t enough.”
“Mama, we are happy wherever you are. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the Dark Area, a random cave, or in the middle of the forest. We are alive because of you. We are able to see beyond the endless shadows because we have you.” The young Digimon didn’t know what else to say to make his parent feel better. He was getting worse by the minute and that truly scared him to his core. “Please save your strength. I’ll find a way out of this fog and once we do we’ll go to that oasis you like so much.”
He continued the slow mundane task of trying to heal Kami’s wounds in silence, but he became all too aware of the voices that surrounded them. Many were the voices of the fallen, those who had lost their way and turned their backs to the gods. Kami being the last of the gods closed his eyes to their cries. It was already too late to help them. They had made their choice long ago.
The insectoid glanced out into the fog. It was growing thicker by the minute and at this point seemed endless. It was unsettling. He had no idea which direction the forest was at, nor where the others were. Was it supposed to be behind him? Or maybe in front of him? Gee, he couldn’t tell anymore. He stiffened, eyes narrowed, as he vaguely heard the voices of his siblings calling out to them and the sharp sound of the Maiden’s sword. She sounded so far away and yet all around him at the same time. What was going on?
“The Dark Area and the Physical Realm were made by the essence of the Gods.” Kami’s weak voice suddenly broke through his thoughts. “Both realms would have been stable and lived on for eternity, but without the Light Gods, both realms would eventually collapse and consume each other. All life would cease to exist.” The man grew weaker with each word he spoke and the light in his golden orbs was quickly growing dull and lifeless.
He wasn’t sure where his creator was getting at. “But they are all gone now and Hikari…”
“Hikari was my other half. I was his shadow and without him to stabilize this world… A God of the Shaodw was never meant to leave the Dark Area, nor maintain both worlds alone. It took everything I had to prevent the two worlds from consuming each other.”
Consume? He gasped as he frantically looked around. “But if the Dark Area is consuming this world, then what will happen to us? And what about the others? They are still out there. I’m sure they are looking for as we speak.”
“Lost…” He closed his eyes again. It was only then he noticed the spider-like cracks spreading across his body. His body was…
“NO! Please don’t go! Stay with me, please.”
“I’m sorry, my child, my time is up. I can not hold this form anymore.”
“No…” The God of the Shadows placed a small object in the insectoid’s trembling hands. “What this?”
“You and your siblings and the humans you’ve bonded with have so much to learn, so much to live for. I am sad I won’t be around to watch you kids grow up.”
He looked at the small object, noticing the softness of the pink petals of the delicate-looking flower and the strange writing that was on them. “Wait, isn’t this one of the Digimentals?”
“It is and this one belongs to you. This Digimental has the last of our life force… use it to create a new world and to seal the Dark Area.”
“A new world?” Tears were rolling down his face. This couldn’t be happening. Was he really…
“Promise me you kids will stay together even when I’m gone.”
“I promise, please…” He couldn’t hold back his tears as his creator’s eyes fell shut for a final time, a small smile on his face, as his body, his soul, shattered in front of him.
And then he was alone.
Holding onto the last remains of his mother, his creator, his tears falling on the small flower he made a promise. “Kami, I promise. I don’t care how long it takes. I will find you again… just wait for me.”
The Digimental of Kindness. Stingmon knew one day Kami would return, but due to his soul shattering, he had taken longer than he hoped. Kami’s soul wouldn’t be complete though. A shard of his soul resided in the Digimental. It always reacted to Ken’s emotions, no matter where he was in the world. He wondered what would happen if Ken ever picked it up. Would the memories of the past return? Would he remember his death or their cruelty? Would he remember the promise Stingmon had failed to keep?
Maybe it was best if he didn’t remember. It wasn’t like anyone else did anyway. V-mon, Hawkmon, Armadimon… none of them seemed to remember their beloved creator and Millenniumon… Stingmon wasn’t sure what happened between the time the fog engulfed them and the time of his rebirth. But seeing Miellenniumon all set on destroying the ideal world Kami had wanted for them…
He didn’t know what to make of him. Should he be mad at the other for everything he did to them? Yes, absolutely. He had more than one occasion, put his beloved partner’s life in grave danger. But he couldn’t find it in his heart to hate the evil god. Millenniumon was his elder brother, even if he had lost all memories of him. It hurt having been forgotten, but not all of it was bad. He had Ken.
Stingmon did his best to ignore the emotions flowing through him. When he finally reunited with his beloved creator, he knew things would be different. He had made a promise to protect him when they finally reunited. He just hadn’t expected things to be complicated.
The first time they met wasn’t exactly in the Digital World but in his dreams. Ken had been a newborn, so he doubted his partner even remembered this, but he remembered the grand halls and the royal-like structures that led to his soul room. Stingmon remembered seeing Ken with another. Stingmon remembered tearing up, stopping a few feet away from a man who was powerful, ancient, and familiar. His golden eyes softened as creator and son finally reunited.
“My child, you have grown so much over the decades. I am so very proud of you.” Stingmon remembered the familiar warmth whenever his creator was near. His loving smile, innocent joy. It was him. It was Kami and yet he was different. He wasn’t whole.“I hate to place this burden on you but Homeostasis and Yggdrasill can not be trusted. We are not whole.” His words caused a shiver down his spine as he held the sleeping child. “Just like Vamdemon they will stop at nothing until they get what they want. I can feel it. I fear of what horrors they will put him through, or the pain and suffering he will be forced to face in the future.”
Ken-chan, we have been through so much together. The Holy Beast. Your parents. The Dark Spore. Alphamon… I can’t run away from my problem anymore and let others do it for me. Even now as XV-mon and Meicrackmon fought Duskmon, the insectoid stared at the specter standing in front of him as Ken’s emotions continued to slam into him. It was a comforting sight, knowing that pieces of Ken and Kami’s collective soul were almost whole. He looked healthy and not as transparent as he was the last time he saw the fragmented spirit.
Kami? What’s happening?
“We don’t have time for your meaningless questions, you need to come with us to save your partner.” Red eyes that didn’t belong on a fourteen-year-old version of his partner glared at him, looking more than a little arrogant and worried. Millenniumon had always been a thorn in his side for ages. He was the reason he couldn’t communicate with his partner like they used to. Ever since he got hit by that Dark Seed, the connection they shared had been kinda rocky. He hadn’t been able to enter Ken’s dreams, nor his soul room in a very long time.
“He is right. There is too much to explain, but Ken is in grave danger if we do not return to the Dark Area,” the specter said with a frown gracing his features.
The Dark Area? Why would Ken be there?
“Shit, Meicrackmon watch out!” Stingmon, despite the numbness that had been coursing throughout his body for the duration of the fight, was able to look up just in time to see Duskmon suddenly disappearing and reappearing behind the Vaccine Beast Man. Beams of red collided with the Digimon sending her flying down to the ground. XV-mon rushed forward just in time to catch her, but not before being attacked by Duskmon’s tornado. The two skidded to the ground and devolved instantly.
V-mon groaned. “You okay, Mei.”
“Yeah, I think so. Why we devolved?” Duskmon might be cunning with numbing paralyzing abilities, but he wasn’t exactly powerful. He didn’t seem to have any significant control over his abilities and something about him just felt off compared to their last meeting.
“Shit, well, this isn’t good.” Stingmon glanced at Millenniumon, noticing what he was staring at. Not far from their location was the faded appearance of a black obelisk.
“No, how is this possible?” V-mon took notice of his shock and of the Dark Tower in the distance. V-mon stood there baffled. How was this even possible? Those things had been destroyed for decades and even if they’d managed to miss a few the reboot would have erased its data along with all the other original continents, islands, and structures. None of this made any sense. Only Ken, Millenniumon, and Archnemon had the knowledge to rebuild them and two of them were technically dead.
“Crossfire!”
“Saint Air!”
“Heaven’s Knuckle!”
A wave of relief washed over them as a flaming tornado and a beam of light caused the dark Digimon to jump back. It sure had taken the others a long time to come to their aid. With the strange fog growing thicker with each passing minute, he feared that the past was starting to repeat.
“Well it’s about time you guys got here. We were sitting ducks out here.” Stingmon ignored his friend’s comment as Angewomon and Aquilamon fluttered to their side, inspecting their injuries. She frowned at the trio as Angemon, Shutumon, Agnimon, and Ankylomon went straight for the enemy.
“Sorry. We would have come sooner, but some strange fog suddenly appeared. The citizens are going into a frenzy saying they saw red eyes and twisted-looking monsters.”
“Red eyes?” V-mon spoke up, worry edging into his voice. “The only red eyes we’ve seen is this guy, but…” He trailed off unsure how to bring up the topic of the Dark Tower and the familiar sensation washing over them when it appeared. Then again the others had a flicker of recognition on their features so maybe there was no need to say anything.
“Well isn’t this interesting,” Duskmon’s cold, mocking voice echoed around them as the dark fog grew in size, making it almost impossible to see if it weren’t for Angewomon and Angemon’s sudden glow and the Dark Tower flickering in and out of reality. “This world is so unstable that the Dark Area is starting to seep through again. Excellent!” His laugh was menacing and cold. It struck a coldness into his heart as he felt more of Ken’s emotions through their bond. He was scared, really, really scared. “I didn’t think it would be this easy to separate Ichijouji’s soul from his body and trap him in the Dark Area.”
Stingmon barely acknowledged the collective gasps from his friends and the children. The fury and fear that filled his body, that filled his soul, reminded him of that time. His gaze turned toward Millenniumon, who was surprisingly glaring at Duskmon. There was a protectiveness in his red orbs that the insectoid was certain was not a mistake. The evil god, his former enemy, cared about his partner. Did he remember their creator?
“Light Suit!” Stingmon returned his attention in front of him just in time to see Kouji break through the thick fog and make a dash toward his dark counterpart. His entire body was enveloped in some form of light energy, which took the shape of a biting wolf’s head. Duskmon still laughing, raised his sword and collided with the other. The two struggled trying to get one up over the other.
“Well, well, well. Looks like Ichijouji’s other brat is here as well. Good.” Stingmon frowned at that, wondering what he meant by that. “Now that Millenniumon isn’t there to protect your father from my allies, I wonder how long he will last. Will the twisted creatures of the Dark Area completely consume his soul?” The two exchanged blows one after the other, not even paying attention to Takuya and V-mon’s collective agreement that they would save Ken before that even happened. But the stalemate between the two opposing warriors continued on with neither one letting up until Duskmon disappeared into the darkness, avoiding Wolfmon’s attack.
“You coward! Get back here!” The Digimon just laughed at them.
“You have no idea of the things that exist in that world. The twisted monsters, abominations of the old that would tear weaklings like you limb from limb. That pest of a god and those damn Demon Lords had gotten in our way for the better part of the last thirty-two years.” A seeping cold filled his soul.
Thirty-two years? No, this couldn’t be true. He had to be lying to distract them from the task at hand. Duskmon or whoever he was wasn’t going to make him doubt his beloved partner. Besides Ken had been through so much over the years, more than a single person should. It would only be natural for him to close himself off about certain moments of his life and not want to talk or relive them. But that does beg the question: why? Why hadn’t he noticed the danger when they had been together for a good part of his childhood? Before getting separated, Stingmon had been by his partner’s side every day. Ken had never mentioned getting taken by another world other than the World of Darkness.
Stingmon shifted his gaze around the dark fog in suspicion. Even if the other was telling the truth and Ken had been hunted and dragged into the Dark Area time and time again, Stingmon would have sensed his frantic emotions. He would have felt Ken’s overwhelming fear, anxiety, nervousness, and uncertainty through their bond back then.
“But the Tamer is alone now, helpless… without his protectors.” Stingmon jumped. Duskmon’s voice was everywhere. Behind him. Next to him. In front of him. He was everywhere. He was taunting them… taunting him. “Even if by some miracle he manages to survive against the twisted ones, Shademon will just pick at his memories one by one, twisting it, devouring it, shattering it, until there is nothing left to save. He won’t remember any of you. Not his brat. Not his beloved pest. Not even himself.”
“No!” Suddenly, a familiar pastel pink light radiated from around Wolfmon’s neck causing the Warrior of Darkness to shrink back as the light shammed into him, forcing him to retreat.
Wolfmon fell to his knees and devolved. Emotions he normally kept hidden spilled over with the knowledge that his father, the one person he cherished the most was in the hands of the enemy and in grave danger. Takuya walked over to his cousin, equally upset, and pulled him into a hug. Izumi walked over to her two friends to join in on the hug. The three children were oblivious to the crest flickering on and off.
“We’ll bring him back. I will not stop until your parents and Masaru are safe with us.” Izumi nodded in agreement, piping in her own words of encouragement.
“He’s right,” V-mon spoke up, his expression pretty grave as he looked around. “Whether we have our partners or not, Ken is our number one priority. Your journey to the Rose Morning Star can wait. The Dark Area is an extremely dangerous place. No one really knows who lives there, nor what happens to any Digimon that finds themselves there. If Ken really is there, we need to get him out.”
“V-mon, what you are saying is an impossible task,” Angewomon said, her hands engulfed in a golden hue as she continued to heal Stingmon’s back. “None of us have the ability to enter that realm without dying ourselves. Just because it’s physically located in the center of the Digital World now, doesn’t mean it’s small or easy to get into. We don’t know what these Twisted Ones are, nor what part of the Dark Area Ken’s in. Wondering aimlessly will only get us killed or infected, especially now that we know the virus is concentrated there.”
“We are also in a bind,” Angemon said. “The fog is growing thicker and those Dark Towers are still affecting us. If we get any closer we might devolve back to our child forms.”
“All the more reason to find a way into that realm,” V-mon interjected stubbornly. “If you’re afraid that’s fine, but as long as Ken is trapped there we need to act now!”
“He right,” the specter said, a grave expression on his features. “Time is not on our side.”
Millenniumon opened his mouth to retort something but was shut into silence as the Crest of Forgiveness, reacting to something, glowed once more. “Papa…” Kouji’s hand rested over the glowing crest as it grew blinding. The light engulfed the child’s body before expanding in every direction. Everyone shielded their eyes as the light traveled over them, chasing the fog and the Dark Towers away from their reality, and filling them with a familiar warmth that couldn’t be described into words.
Ken-chan… From within the light, Stingmon realized they were in an unfamiliar forest. The trees were twisted and unnatural and the sky above them was dark and endless. In the distance were massive obelisks and other structures he couldn’t recall seeing before in his youth. He got a bad feeling as he looked around, noticing how the shadows were moving and shifting unnaturally.
The familiarity of this place told him that he had indeed been transported back to the place of his birth, but at the same time, it did not feel like home. It looked different, felt different, it was tainted, corrupted.
“Stingmon where are we?” Stingmon wasn’t sure what to tell the boy. It was just the two of them in his strange-looking forest. Could Ken be sending them a message through his crest?
“I’m not sure. This place could be the Dark Area, but not really.”
Kouji looked at him for a moment, confusion creasing his brows. “What do you mean? Is this like an illusion or something?”
“That depends on your definition, child. The Dark Area does not exist in the physical realm, yet due to the reboot, it does. But it doesn’t follow the rules that other worlds are forced to abide by, nor does it follow the flow of time. Time is abstract.”
Kouji jumped surprised by the familiar voice. Spinning around on his heel, the boy’s eyes widened as his gaze shifted from him to the two spirits standing behind them. Wait, can he see them?
“Who are…?”
“I am merely a fragment of what once was, Warrior of Light. A guide for your father until he is ready to face his destiny. I was a friend when he was lonely and scared, a doorway and protector of the ancient past, as well as a reflection of what we used to be.”
“Destiny? Reflection?” Kouji’s voice was soft, unsure. He couldn’t blame him. He too was uncertain what this destiny foretold. It was as mysterious as the wind.
“My time in this realm has long since been forgotten, but you may call me Yami Kami or just Kami if you will.” He turned his gaze over to his creations. “I have missed you, my dear children. You both have done well in my absence.” Millenniumon averted his gaze, unable to meet his creator’s gentle gaze. Was that shame he saw?
“Did you create the Digimon?”
“I have created many in my lifetime, but that is a story for any other time. One I’m sure your father would love to hear. Come we don’t have much time,” the specter said as he gestured to something in front of him. “The crest that your father gave you is a part of him. It will lead you to him. Since the barrier between the Digital World, Physical Realm, and the Dark Area is unstable, we have been transported to where the barrier is the weakest. We will see what has passed before standing before the gate to the Dark Area.”
Millenniumon just glanced at him, wanting to say something, but held back. The forest around them shifted as images started to appear. “Millenniumon we’ve been walking in circles for hours. Maybe we should try a different path this time.” Walking behind them was his partner and the Digimon Kaiser. The two seemed to be walking in some kind of forest surrounded by the same thick fog that currently surround them. “This is the fifth time we’ve passed this tree.” Ken had pointed to a tree with a crescent moon carved into it.”
“Papa!” Despite knowing it was a memory of sorts, Ken’s son reached out for his father. Stingmon couldn’t place into words the anguish that appeared on the boy’s face as his hand went through him. “…”
Stingmon gently placed a hand on the boy’s back. “Don’t worry. No matter what happens we will bring Ken-chan home. We just need to understand where he’s at.”
The boy nodded as the space around them changed. This time they were in the air watching in absolute horror as some shadow-like creature emerged from the surrounding shadows of the trees and attacked Millenniumon as he hovered in the air with Ken on his shoulder. The attack came so quick and so fast that the Evil God was unable to deflect the attack and then they were free falling.
“Millenniumon, wake up! Millenniumon!” The shadow’s eyes opened as they fell, revealing red obs that sent a sinking feeling through his chest. It was dangerous and evil, a hunter eyeing its prey.
Millenniumon frowned as he noticed the creature heading straight for Ken. “Wait, I don’t remember this!” The frightening creature sprung forth towards the Tamer. From its shadowy body, sharp claws emerged. Its eyes never left its prey as it sought to grab the one person it wanted. But all they heard was a shriek of pain as Ken summoned a force field around them.
“Millenniumon, wake up! Millenniumon!” And then they were blinded by dust and debris as the two collided onto the ground. Their surroundings changed once more as Ken emerged from the dust, with an unconscious Kaiser over his shoulder, bolting into a nearby cave. The creature that had been chasing them disappeared into the surrounding darkness. Stingmon had a sinking feeling as the vision changed once more to find the two trapped in some kind of cavern.
“Ken…” Ken was cornered, his back against a wall as the shadows expanded, separating him and Millenniumon. Within seconds, Ken disappeared into the darkness and all they heard was his screams.
“Wormmon!” The fear, the raging emotions…this must have been the moment Ken had gotten captured. His legs gave out from under him, causing Kouji to jump. He couldn’t find it in himself to say anything to the boy, nor soothe his troubled gaze. Why? Why does this always happen? All he ever did was wait around, hoping he was okay and would one day come back to him in one piece. But what if he didn’t this time around? What if he was too late and lost him forever?
“Will…will he be okay, Mummymon?” Stingmon blinked, upon hearing Ken’s voice. He sounded younger though. The vision that was now being shown to them brought them to a very lit-up cave. In the distance, Stingmon could vaguely make out the sound of a waterfall and other voices. The passage of time seemed to have passed slightly faster now from the last vision, considering Ken was pretty banged up as he lay unconscious on some kind of makeshift bed. Near his side was Mummymon, the nine-year-old boy, and an Alraumon.
Mummymon had paused in his treatment to turn his attention to the young boy. The younger version of his partner seemed upset and very close to tears, not even the other Digimon’s comforting words seemed to be helping. “He’ll be just fine, my lord. Ichijouji-san just needs to rest right now. Thankfully, his soul isn’t as badly damaged as I first feared, but I will feel a lot better once we get him back to his body.”
“How do we do that?” Alraumon asked, a small frown forming on her features. “None of us made a dent on those things. We are lucky to make it out of there alive.”
“He mentioned something about a portal on one of the upper levels of the Dark Area,” the young boy said with a small sniffle.
“Maybe that’s where that abomination of a god ended up.” Millenniumon puffed out his chest as Archnemon entered the room with a bowl of water. Giggling behind her was a Bancho Mamemon and a Liollmon who returned with various types of food and plants.
“Now, now Achnemon. There is no need to be mean to a fellow virus that is not here to take your insults.” Piemon suddenly appeared behind her, causing the spider woman to jump. “Besides, whether we like it or not, Little Lord’s counterpart needs Millenniumon to escape this realm.”
“Piemon if the situation wasn’t so dire I would clobber you right now!”
Mummymon sighed as he took the bowl of water and plants from his colleagues and proceeded to cut them up and mix them into some paste. Stingmon could only assume it was some kind of medicine. The insectoid was eternally grateful, but as the bickering continued for several minutes, he couldn’t help but wonder. He frowned slightly. With the way they spoke and acted with each other and the other Digimon around them, they reminded him of…
“Mummymon and Archnemon were never meant to exist in your world. They are where they belong now, even if it’s filled with conflict.” Stingmon glanced at Kami then. What was that supposed to mean?
“What were you two thinking?!” Stingmon and Kouji cringed upon hearing the furious tone in Ken’s normally gentle, kind voice. “Why would you just let him walk right into the portal, knowing how dangerous the Dark Area is? I told you to keep him away from here! It’s not safe!”
Despite his rather fragile appearance, Ken still somehow had the energy to glare heatedly at Archnemon and Mummymon. The two Digimon in question shifted uncomfortably, while Piemon just snickered near the door. The clown just struggled as Ken’s glowing orbs turned towards him. Wait, glowing? The Digimon of Kindness blinked, hoping it was just his imagination, but it wasn’t. Ken’s eyes were indeed glowing a golden hue and so were the markings clearly visible on his arms.
Where did he get those?
“Don’t look at me,” Piemon said, amusement in his voice, “they were the ones to open the portal. I just followed along, knowing they were going over their heads again.” The two adults groaned, knowing Piemon was right and that Ken had plenty to say. And he probably would have if the nine-year-old and the other children hadn’t gotten in front of the other’s glaring path.
“Please don’t be mad at them. They only came when you told me you were in danger.” Whatever anger Ken had at the three Digimon died down for now, making him look tired and drained. It was a miracle he was able to stay conscious.
“But I didn’t call you,” he said with a frown.
“You didn’t have to,” the lion child said, his ears pinched. “He felt it. He just knew that something bad was attacking you, trying to harm you. When he told us what he saw we went straight to Mummymon and well…”
“The two of you share a bond, one stronger than any of us can understand,” Piemon added, his tone turning serious. “When you accidentally came to our dimension, we knew you were someone we could rely on, that also needed to be protected. You helped answer our questions about raising a human baby and even helped us when Little Lord suddenly disappeared one night.” Piemon for the first time seemed disturbed. “We had no idea that so Digimon would betray our Lords so quickly and attempt to offer the child over to our enemies. None of us would have been able to find him in time without you.”
“What you did was amazing Ichijouji,” Achnemon said lightly. She removed her purple shades, revealing amber orbs. “I don’t understand what this Kami nonsense is about, but it clearly connects the two of you somehow. I know I have done many horrible things to you and your friends in the past. I want to make up for it.” She gestured to herself and Mummymon. “That’s why when our lord came to us, we knew we didn’t have much time to act.”
“We weren’t fast enough to stop him,” Mummymon said glancing at their Ken. The little boy looked close to tears. Seeing that caused his core to squeeze tightly in his chest. He hated it when Ken cried.
“Are you mad at me?” Ken exhaled deeply and just like that the marks and his eyes stopped glowing.
“No, I’m not mad,” Ken said, giving the little boy a soft smile. “I’m grateful for the rescue. I wasn’t sure what would have happened if you guys hadn’t shown up when you did. Doesn’t mean I like it though.” The three children and Bancho Mamemon looked sheepish.
“Of course you don’t. This place is nothing like home,” Bancho Mamemon said as their lord climbed on the bed to give his counterpart a hug.
“That’s because it’s not. This Dark Area from my understanding used to be connected to a world that has long since been corrupted and destroyed eons ago. It existed when the world was recreated, but only succeeded in corrupting and isolating monstrous beings that have lost their humanity.”
“Assuming they had one, to begin with,” Alraumon and Liollmon commented under their breath.
“It’s impossible to say what they used to be, but at this point, they are beyond dangerous and don’t function like normal Digimon. They are what Millenniumon called the Twisted Ones. They are very dangerous creatures that seem to have the ability to change their appearance at will and mimic others. They are kinda like the Lost Ones, but they don’t seem to have a mind of their own.” Ken rested his hand on the boy’s head, noticing how he was trembling slightly.
“Scary…”
“That’s why I told you to stay away. Up to this point, they’ve only been toying with me and Millenniumon. But with you guys now here, they might become hostile, and,” Ken paused for a moment before continuing, “I’m not in the best shape to deal with them right now. For the time being, we should be safe. The Twisted Ones don’t seem to like light very much.”
Despite the tense situation, Archnemon asked what they all must have been thinking. “Where is that annoying god anyway? He never leaves your side.”
Ken let out a long sigh, knowing she was picking on the other again. “Millenniumon isn’t that bad Archenmon. Yes, he has his moods, but he’s doing his best with all things considered.” Said god blinked, looking almost touched that Ken believed in him that much.
The woman just scuffed. “He’s just as annoying as that pathic partner of yours. He can’t even enter a cave without freaking out.”
“I’ll show that bug how annoying I am,” Stingmon mumbled under his breath as Ken just sighed, not saying anything.
“Can we please get back on track?” Mummymon asked, not wanting the two to start fighting again. “I get those creatures are dangerous. Even with Piemon, none of us did any significant damage to them. We are certainly in trouble if we run into them again, but Archnemon is right. Millenniumon has never left your side for more than a few hours ever since you removed the hatred that surround his core. Where is he?”
Stingmon froze, forgetting Archnemon’s rude comment. Ken did what?
“I don’t know,” he softly with a shrug. “This shadow thing with red eyes attacked me and separated us.” Ken shivered slightly. “He’s probably still trapped in that cave or hopefully managed to get to the portal, which was where I was heading before I got cornered, but this place…” He paused, trying to convey whatever was on his troubled mind. “I’m not sure if you’re aware but the Dark Area has many levels. Each level has its own environment and Twisted Ones that are just as dangerous as the one before it. You can literally be walking for hours, days even, and only end up walking in a big circle without realizing it. Time is very abstract as well. Days here, it barely a second back at home, if at all.”
“Shit,” was all Bancho Mamemon said as he and the others looked at each other.
“Scary.” All eyes shifted to the little boy hugging his counterpart a little bit tighter. The boy was clearly distressed as his eyes sparkled with tears once more. Stingmon chest ached at that. He hated this. While he was surprised to see Archnemon and Mummymon alive again after they had been killed and devoured by Belial Vamdemon all those years ago, he couldn’t stop the guilt, nor the pain in his chest. It hurt knowing that his partner, his best friend, couldn’t confine in him, to help him when he needed it. He had to rely on his former enemies to survive in a hostile environment all on his own.
“I know they are,” Ken spoke in a calm tone to the child. “They scare me too,” Ken sounded even more vulnerable than he had been a second ago. “I can’t say what they must have been back then before they lost their way. But as far as I am concerned, trying to reason with them is out of the question. Believe me, I’ve tried. This is why I told you to never step foot in this world. Those things no longer have a soul. They will try to trick you lower your guard and if you do…”
Everyone was silent, looking extremely nervous. They entered its world without knowing what they were getting into. This was bad.
“Is that why you told me to never go through that door whenever I asked?” Ken nodded.
“There are things in those rooms that we do not wish you to see,” Ken’s eyes narrowed slightly as he shifted his gaze to the three lieutenants. “They are unpleasant.”
“Are they bad nightmares?” The child asked, unaware of how close to the mark he was.
“I’m not sure,” Ken lied to the child. Stingmon frowned. He was hiding something, but what? “Millenniumon’s been locking many things in those rooms. With everything going on, I haven’t really been keeping up with what he’s been doing. Now if I can actually get him to answer my questions, then it would be a different conversation.”
The child had posed his lips in thought. “What we get big brother…” Before he could finish his train of thought, Archnemon interrupted with a snort.
“Sounds like you know more than you’re letting on.” They never got to hear Ken’s response as the vision slowly faded away leaving them with more questions than answers.
Hikari, why don’t you ever fight back?
Since the beginning of time, the two had always co-existed and lived with one another in harmony. They were halves of the same soul after all, bringing life to a world that had at one point been void of said life, soundless, formless, and empty. Hikari Kami and Yami Kami had always been together. Just like all the ancient gods before them, they helped in the creation of life. The world they created had once been a gorgeous place. The gods and their creations once lived in peace as they learned to continue nurturing the land, care for the young, and eventually form relationships. There had been so many smiles and laughter from their children over the decades. However, at some point over the last decade, something changed. He didn’t notice the change at first, but some of the humans stopped smiling, stopping seeking their help and guidance. They started acting cold, not just to their gods but to their own kind. Their creations had turned a blind eye to their creators and then the screams began.
“Hi-Hikari…” If only he had foreseen the dangers his other half would face in the physical realm, he would have tried harder to convince him not to go into that region. He wouldn’t be trying so desperately to create Alphamon, Yggdrasill, and Belphemon so quickly, in hopes of saving his other half’s life.
“Kami-mama, stop! You’re hurting yourself!” Leafmon, at least his formless spirit anyway, floated with him in this endless void and he wasn’t the only one.
“Mama, you’ll disappear at this rate?” Tukaimon voice echoed around him as he, Chibimon, Upamon, and Pururumon joined their sibling. They all surrounded him, trying to get him to stop what must have been a suicide mission.
Contrary to what those in the physical realm believed, life started in this realm. The Shadows created the souls. They nurture them and give them their humanity, before being sent to the physical realm for their other halves to create their bodies.
But ever since his kidnapping and imprisonment, his other half, Hikari Kami, had been creating bodies at a rapid rate, way before he had the time to create their souls. It was so draining every time he created one life after the other. Despite being realms apart, he could feel his pain, his sadness, and his life slowly slipping from his grasp. He hated being unable to leave this realm. He hated that he was the last of the ancient gods.
He wasn’t sure, who started his war, but it had been horrifying to watch their creations turn on them. One by one the Light Gods’ were slaughtered in that realm, causing their dark counterparts to disappear forever. He had heard their screams, heard their cries, all this senseless murder, all this death, all this misery… what was the point of it?
He and Hikari were the last. He had been in the hands of some of the human monks, trying to escape the slaughter when he got injured and regressed into a child, unable to remember who he was. But they were all dead and Hikari would be too if he didn’t hurry.
He closed his eyes, unable to contain the sadness and fear that was crushing him. “I have to…” Suddenly the comforting presence that swirled in this vast darkness came to his aid once again, trying to give him the strength he needed to finish the job. She had always been with him since the day he awakened in this realm, maybe even before that. Despite how lonely and dark it seemed at times, this vast darkness, the Dark Area, was home.
I’m sorry. I’m afraid this might be our last time. The entity whispered words only he could hear. She had always been with him. She would always greet him every time he opened his eyes, and every time he closed them, she would remind him of their dream to one day escape this endless darkness. It saddened him that the end was near and in his final moments he regretted he couldn’t do more. The little ones would never get to see the sun, never feel the grass under their toes, nor know what it’s like to not be a shadow. And as for the entity, it saddened him that he couldn’t provide her a better life outside the Dark Area. No one deserved to be alone.
“Kami-mama!”
He couldn’t remember when he had collapsed, nor when Alphamon had moved to catch him, to hold him, to reassure him that all would be fine. Before the three left to be born in the physical realm, Alphamon had handed him over to someone else. The arms he’d lay in were thin and slender as they wrapped around his middle, keeping him grounded against a female chest as pain coursing throughout his body.
“We’re too late,” his voice sounded muffled and far away as it echoed around in the darkness. “Hikari’s dying.” Despite this distance, despite the feeling of his form breaking apart, he heard Hikari’s last words, heard his last wishes and hopes as he drew his last breath and died.
“Mama!” The children all surrounded him, unable to understand what was happening. “What’s happening?”
“It’s okay. Don’t be scared, children,” came the woman’s voice. As he closed his eyes, unable to hear her words anymore, he found himself falling further into the darkness. In the distance, he saw a door that was wide open, revealing…
“Hikari!”
He tried to reach out, tried to comfort the other as they disappeared from reality, but then the door slammed shut in front of his eyes. His very being shuddered as their souls, once one entity in different plains of existence, separated, unable to communicate with one another. His arm fell to his side as he studied the door. The doorknob had refused to budge as he tried to pull the door open and banged on it, trying to do everything in his power to get to Hikari, his other half, but his efforts were in vain.
I’m alone… He fell to his knees, feeling the words strike his heart. Why are you always pushing me away? Have I failed you as your shadow? Do you really hate me that much? Hikari had always been rather distant, cruel even. He only ever acknowledged or spoke to him when they worked together to create their little ones, and even then he was quick to mock them. When they had some downtime, Hikari would close their connection, preventing him from communicating with the other. He had done his best to hide the pain and loneliness Light God’s cold, hurtful, and often distant demeanor caused.
This didn’t go unnoticed by the Shadow Gods who constantly belittled him. They were all gone now and he was alone. He closed his eyes, allowing the tears to fall. Why was he always alone in the end? Why was he always treated so horribly? What had he done to be hated by everyone?
“Kami-mama!” His eyes snapped open then not expecting Leafmon’s voice to enter this space.
“Kami-mama!” Kami looked behind him to see another door brimming with light. It was so bright, so warm, so inviting. He walked towards it, hesitantly. What if this was a trick? What if it was only staying open until he got close enough for it to slam in his face again?
“Please wake up, Kami. The darkness doesn’t have to be your prison any longer. We can change that. We all can start a new life together, but you must wake up.” It took him a long time to register all the voices that were suddenly entering the suffocating vast darkness, calling out to him, beckoning him to enter the light.
While many of the voices calling out to him were his children, there were a few that he didn’t recognize. “Please Kami wake up,” came a female’s voice. She sounded young, maybe mid-teens. “Pururumon and the others have been so worried about you ever since they saved us from those monsters. We’ve done all we could, but they need you. We need you.”
As he listened to their voices, he took a small step closer to the door. Hearing that his children had put their little lives in danger for someone else, sent fear to his very core. But what really pulled at his core was the maiden he had spent his entire existence with. With her by his side, the darkness had always been his eternal home and endless prison since the cosmos’ infancy. But this time it was different…something was changing. It was almost like he wasn’t allowed in its space anymore. It wanted him to move on to something else and that was truly frightening.
“They’re right. The world is a scary place, but that doesn’t mean you should lose hope. You just have to find the courage to face it.” Suddenly he heard a young male voice. “You can’t disappear. Chibimon and the others need you.” As the voice said that name, Chibimon’s voice became loud and clear as the light engulfed him, chasing the darkness away, blinding him until he found himself… somewhere else.
For the first time since the beginning, he could feel something soft under his fingertips as he laid on what he assumed the beings of the physical realm called a bed. The room he found himself in wasn’t really big. It was kinda dark with its smooth surface and high beams that ran across the ceiling and some of the walls of the cavern. On the other side of the room, three figures were sitting on makeshift chairs, seemingly trying to comfort his children. They all jumped when his little ones pulled themselves out of their warm embraces and sprung forth toward his bedside.
“Mama, you’re awake! You’re finally awake!” Kami felt the dragon’s small warm body pressed against his chest and Leafmon, Upamon, and Pururumon weren’t that far behind. Tukaimon opted to stay perched on the beam above them, silently watching his siblings and the humans they have taken a liking to from a distance.
“Mama,” cried the voices of his children, but he couldn’t do much in his state. What was going on? This was clearly not the Dark Area. Everything was too solid, too real. His eyes shifted a bit as he noticed a maiden in silvery armor, beautiful blue wings attached to her back, and a helmet that gave the appearance of a majestic butterfly. She smiled making his eyes widen in surprise.
“I’m glad you’re finally awake. You’ve been asleep for a very long time. After Alphamon and the others left this realm to go after Hikari Kami, it has been in chaos ever since. Lately, Vamdemon has been building an army and attacking all that gets in his way. But that is nothing you have to worry about right now.” Her voice was just as soothing as when they were in the vast darkness. “You just concentrate on healing, Kami. Let me handle everything.”
He weakly opened his mouth, but found it hard to speak. But he hadn’t needed to, she already knew. The beautiful maiden slowly removed her helmet, revealing brown orbs and long flowing brown locks. “My name is Hudiemon, but to you, my liege, you may call me Julieanna, Divine Maiden of the Shadows.”
Julieanna… The name repeated in his mind softly, leaving a calming effect as the voices of his children seemed to drown everything out: the fear of being forgotten and alone, the soul-wrenching pain Hikari’s abandonment left in the pit of his soul, and the strange feeling that something was just not right. As he feared the sound of shaking could be heard, followed by the distinct sound of battle.
“Shit, they found us,” the human with brown spiky hair said as he jumped to his feet just then Leomon X stormed into the room, a grim expression on his feature.
“Vamdemon’s troops have breached the outer walls of the hideout. We must hurry and evacuate to our secondary location.”
“Secondary?” One of the female humans asked as the Maiden quickly came to his bedside and picked him up. He felt his body relax instantly as he laid his head on her shoulder.
“Yes, we knew the soul of a god would catch the attention of the Twisted Ones. It was only a matter of time before they found us. Now that Kami’s soul has found his body it will be easier to lay low.”
His mind drifted in and out of consciousness, barely noticing the change of environment and the passing of other humans and monsters as the group rushed out of the room and towards a different part of the cavern. The sounds of battle grew fainter and fainter as the group descended underground. Hours must have come and gone before they came to a stop. Kami in his weakened state opened his eyes just in time to see two familiar souls he had created centuries ago.
“Lucemon, Beelzebumon, we don’t have much time. They are coming.” The two Demon Lords were standing in front of a massive skeletal gate. The angelic boy gazed at him with concerned blue orbs.
“We felt his presence all the way from down here. It wouldn’t be surprising that every Digimon and Twisted One across Witchelny felt Kami’s soul being pulled out of the Dark Area.”
“It is the first time he’s ever left that realm,” Beelzebumon added, his arms tensed against his chest. “Hopefully, he can adjust.”
“He’ll be fine,” Lucemon reassured, his hand resting on the door. “Barbamon and the others are waiting inside. We have prepared some medication ahead of time.”
“And food and rooms for the rest of you,” Beelzebumon as he placed his hand on the door. The Crowns of the Seven Deadly Sins glowed brightly on the massive door before it opened, revealing a portal of swirling colors. One by one they entered the gate with Lucemon and Beelzebumon being the last before the doors closed shut behind them.
“Ichijouji! Ichijouji! Wake up!” Amethyst orbs brimming with tears shot open. Utter confusion was all he felt as he tried to make sense of the overwhelming memory. It was different compared to the others. Oftentimes, he would remember the lives that had met their tragic end, and other times he would be in some kind of garden talking to a woman who Kami called the Maiden. But this memory… it felt like one of many he and Kami had been slowly trying to piece together after they came in contact with a memory shard. None of them truly made sense, they just made the confusion even more pronounced, but this dream…this memory felt real.
Normally, when he had those dreams, he would watch from a distance, almost like an outsider looking in. Only this time, he saw through Kami’s eyes, felt his pain in that moment, and relived his confusion and doubts. It was…
“Are you alright?” Archnemon still had her hands gently on his shoulders. She had stopped shaking them some time ago, only to realize he wasn’t entirely there. A thumb gently began to wipe away the tears that were streaming down his cheeks. “That must have been some nightmare. I’ve been trying to wake you for the past fifteen minutes.”
Ken didn’t say anything for a long while as he tried to collect himself. “It wasn’t a nightmare. At least, I don’t think it is.”
Archnemon frowned as she helped him get into a sitting position. It didn’t take long to realize that Mummymon and Piemon had left at some point during the night. All the children were thankfully still fast asleep and even Bancho Mamemon seemed to have crashed after returning from his guard post. It must be Mummymon’s turn, but where did that clown run off to?
“It’s Mummymon’s turn to watch the entrance and Piemon was saying something about the artificial Digimon we created earlier, but I wasn’t really paying attention. Since we are safe for the time being, he went to investigate the rest of this cave in case we run into trouble.” Ken nodded as he wiped away the rest of the tears that collected on his cheeks. He wasn’t sure why, but this room they were in felt familiar. “Do you want to talk about it this time?”
Ken hesitated. This wasn’t the first time Archnemon found herself trying to wake him up from a pretty bad dream. It ended up becoming an annoying habit of hers over the years, but one he appreciated very much.
She sighed. “Whatever it is, you’re afraid, aren’t you? You’ve been avoiding the topic for months now. I know a lot has been going on, especially with the discovery of your mother’s body and the situation with your children, but you don’t have to carry the problems of the world on your shoulders. Just because we are dimensions away doesn’t mean we can’t be there for you. I am more than capable of creating a portal to your world and locking you in a room until you spill everything,” the words came out a bit bitter, harsh even, but eased up at the end, “but I haven’t. I know that would only close you off more, especially with the children always around.”
Archnemon removed her glasses, resting them on the bed next to her. “I hate seeing you like this. You are hurting and I have no idea how to help you. Lord Lucemon is worried about you, did you know that? He’s afraid he did something to upset you.” That caused Ken to raise his brows in surprise. “We might be worlds apart and can’t afford to see each other every day like we want to, but we care about you too. We want to protect you. I don’t know what is causing you to push us away. Whatever it is, it must be dangerous. It is enough to make you afraid, but you have to let us try.”
It was hard to maintain eye contact with the Spider Queen without sinking back in guilt. She was right to worry about him. For years he had to face the pull and the creatures of the Dark Area alone. It was only within the last couple of years that Millenniumon started to get involved. The Dark Area, the Twisted Ones, and the strange creature with the red eyes were frightening. There had been so many times in which Ken thought he wouldn’t make it back and yet, with his friends by his side, he was able to resist the pull on most days. When he couldn’t resist that nagging pull Millenniumon would drag him out of that nightmarish realm. It worked for a while. He would go weeks without having to deal with those twisted monsters or those horrible voices thanks to the self-proclaimed evil god’s interference. However, that was before the accident and however long he’d been in that coma.
He hated to admit it, but maybe Millenniumon was right. Those Dark Area creatures had been getting smarter with their attacks lately. It was hard to resist when he didn’t have the strength to open his eyes. Ken knew his vulnerable state was the reason why they’d been stuck here initially and now they were separated.
“Do you know why I keep getting pulled into this place?”
Archnemon tilted her head a bit, looking somewhat relieved that Ken was opening up a bit. “You were pretty vague about it earlier, but it seems like this place used to be connected to the Digital World at some point, much like the World of Darkness.”
“You are half right.” She raised a brow at that. “I don’t know enough of the past to understand what is true and what was covered up by the Holy Beasts.” Ken ran his hand through his hair nervously. “What I’ve managed to piece together isn’t very helpful. It would just make the situation more confusing than it already is.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
Ken sighed. “We’ll okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Archenemon nodded and simply waited for him to begin his explanation. Where should he begin? “The Dark Area wasn’t always like this: twisted, unnatural, a collision of different realities. It used to be the home of the gods that created the two realms. It was peaceful, lively I guess you could say.”
“Gods? What type of Gods?”
“The Dark Area was the home of the Shadow Gods, while the Gods of the Light lived in the Digital World. Well, it wasn’t called the Digital World back then, but you get the point. These Ancient Gods were a pair, they were halves of the same soul that existed in different plans of existence. The Shadows created the souls, and the Lights created the bodies. Now the Twisted Ones are creatures of the old. They are creatures that were born without a soul or those who have lost it at some point between their creation and when the two realities collapsed.”
“I’m following so far. What does this have to do with you or this Kami person?”
“There was a war.”
“What type of war?”
“I’m not sure,” Ken responded, his features puzzled. “A lot of what he’s shown me is pretty vague and not straightforward. I don’t understand most of it and it’s a touchy subject for Millenniumon,” Ken let out a long sigh, which only earned him a snort from the female Digimon. “All I can say is that there was a war, maybe a disagreement among the gods or some form of coup d’état which resulted in their creations turning on them. I’ve been dubbing it the God Genocide for the past couple of months, but it’s been difficult to get any information on the topic.”
“That’s a reasonable conclusion, so that means Kami was the last of the gods then. I remember Mastemon mentioning the original world was gone and was replaced with a new one. This could have set this realm to become unbalanced.” She tapped her knee in thought. “And the virus… isn’t really helping our cause. I can feel the virus pulsing all around this place… it’s not normal.”
“She’s probably talking about Witchelny. Although, it is referred to as Digital Prime in some of the texts I’ve read. I did a little bit of research in the past and from my understanding, Witchelny used to be the home to many magical Humans and Digimon. But when the Light Gods were killed, and the Shadow Gods slowly began disappearing as a result the Dark Area began to overlap and eventually consumed the other world. This is why the Dark Area looks like a mismatch of different places.
“And what about Kami?” Archnemon asked, noticing he had gone quiet as he tried to figure out what to say next. She placed a hand on his knee, he hadn’t noticed had been jumping slightly. Her brows were furrowed slight in worry. “Did he show you something?” Judging by his reaction, it had to be bad.
“A memory,” he paused again. “I relived one of his memories when all the Gods were being killed.”
“What?” Archnemon looked at him in utter bafflement, keeping her voice barely above a whisper to avoid waking the children.
“Archnemon, Kami is my past life. It’s just that he’s more like a fragmented spirit now if you want to be technical.”
“Your past life? Ichijouji that doesn’t make any sense,” Archnemon, sharp as always, picked up on what had been bothering him for some time now. “How? That shouldn’t be possible. You and Kami shouldn’t be acting independently, if that is what you are saying. And besides, not even Mastemon can see that far back.”
Ken was silent, unsure how to place his confusion into words. He knew she wasn’t going to understand. She hadn’t been there to see what he saw. She wasn’t a confused spirit wandering around. She didn’t have to deal with all these memories. “Well…” What should he do? “Maybe it’s better if I show you.” This was probably a bad idea. They were safe now, but that shadow creature could be anywhere. They could be attacked at any moment.
“Show me what?” Instead of answering, Ken lifted up his hand, palm out in front of him. Archnemon eyed the crescent moon birthmark curiously, confusion clearly on her features until it started to glow softly.
“Is that,” her breath hitched as a small familiar orb materialized in his hand, “a digicore?” Unlike other digicores, this one was small, being a fraction of the size of Qinglongmon’s digicore. Half of the digicore was smooth to the touch and as white as a freshly made pearl. It was what one would expect from an undamaged digicore, but the other half, well…
“In my dream, all the gods had disappeared from the Dark Area. The only ones that remained were Kami and the souls of his children that remained.” Ken couldn’t stop the overwhelming sadness he felt whenever he saw one of Kami’s memories. Kami always had this lingering sadness around him, full of regret and longing. Ken didn’t know much about Kami’s past beyond what they were able to piece together, but he knew what it was like to feel so utterly alone and rejected by those around them. “His other half had been captured and forced to create bodies faster than Kami could create souls. It was draining the both of them.”
“Bodies,” Archnemon interrupted softly, her eyes glued to the digicore as she pondered over his words. “But wouldn’t they be soulless?” He gave her a solemn nod. They would, wouldn’t they? It would explain their endless pursuit and bleak outlook on everything. “That’s not good. I’m assuming he died not long after that. There’s no way he was about to keep that up forever.”
“Kami felt his life slipping and as a last effort to save him, he pushed himself to create Alphamon, Yggdrasill, and Belphemon.” Amber orbs widened, knowing how Ken felt about Alphamon and Yggdraisll. “Kami was too late. The Light God died and Kami started to disappear.”
“Is that why the other half of this digicore is badly cracked and missing pieces?”
“No, his soul shattered at some point after he was pulled out of the Dark Area. During this time, the two worlds began to overlap. I don’t think the Dark Area consumed the world right away, given that Kami does seem to have memories of his time on Witchenly.” Ken grew silent once more as he stared at the digicore. There were still so many pieces missing and he feared what memories he would see when he found them. “When he disappeared, I’m not too sure where he ended up. It looks like he was still in the Dark Area, but it wasn’t right.”
“Not right? In what way?”
“There was this obsessive feeling like he wasn’t wanted anymore. It’s hard to pinpoint what most of these feelings were, but there was a door.”
That got her attention. “A door?”
“Fate was cruel. He was on the other side.” Ken closed his eyes, trying his best to hold back the anger and utter disappointment he felt. “All he ever wanted was to help his other half, even if Hikari treated him so poorly. But in the end, Hikari rejected his shadow, severing their link completely.” Ken wasn’t sure how he felt about this Hikari Kami. It was no wonder Kami blocked him out of his memories, Hikari had been nothing but cruel. It was clear now that his counterpart must be the current reincarnation of Hikari, his soul wasn’t incomplete as far as he could tell and he didn’t sense the other spirit either. That had to be a blessing in disguise.
“I can understand why you are so conflicted right now. It must be difficult trying to put up a front when you are being torn in so many different directions at once.” Archnemon glanced at him sadly as his hand returned to his lap, causing the digicore to disappear. “Have you told anyone about this?”
“No, not really. It’s not really easy to talk about and I haven’t even touched the surface of the issue.” A delicate brow raised ever so slightly. “The thing is I don’t know how or why Kami’s soul shattered in the first place. That’s an issue in itself. I know something bad happened to him, and in all honesty, I don’t blame him for being afraid. I wouldn’t want to look for the other pieces of my soul either if all I remember is the bad.” He wasn’t sure how the other would handle being so badly betrayed and belittled all the time. If he was struggling to contain his emotions, he couldn’t imagine how the Digital God would react. Maybe it was best that he and Millenniumon keep those memories away for now.
“Wait a minute,” Archnemon’s features tightened as she scanned his nervous features. “Have you been searching for these shards on your own?”
“Not exactly,” he said weakly. “I’ve kinda been finding them by accident.” Accident or not, the Spider Queen was not amused by the prospect of Ken searching for a deceased god’s spirit shards and dealing with his memories all alone, the good and the bad. Not only was that incredibly stupid, but dangerous if he didn’t know how to handle the intense memories. How was his mind still intact?
“When the gods died,” Ken said, changing the subject, “Kami and the others were able to travel to the other side. I’m assuming at this point the world was slowly being corrupted with no one to maintain the two worlds. Kami’s death must have been the driving factor that resulted in the Digital World being remade into the world it is today. There also seem to be some barriers in place. I could only assume it was due to what happened in the past.”
“I spent a great deal of time in the Digital World after I was created by Oikawa. I don’t recall any of the Digimon, nor the humans mentioning Kami.”
“Sounds like this was the price for remaking the worlds.” The two of them looked up to see Mummymon walking in. Piemon must have taken over his post. “I’m assuming the history of Kami and the other gods were erased from existence.” When Ken didn’t answer, he sighed. “That’s really sad.”
“Yeah…” Mummymon took a seat next to him, a comforting hand on his back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. Piemon said you were going to need me.”
“No, it’s okay. How much did you hear?”
“Enough,” he said. “We can discuss about that memory shard later.” Mummymon had that ‘you can’t avoid me this time’ look again. The Chosen of Kindness groaned. Mummymon had been pestering him ever since he found out about the Digicore several years ago. He was so annoying. “I am curious about the shattered soul thing. Where are they then?”
“Well, that’s a bit complicated. You see when his soul shattered it kinda scattered across the different worlds. Kami’s consciousness remained in this dormant-like state as half of his soul reformed into me. The other half became a variety of different objects.”
“Objects you say. Hmm.” Mummymon scratched under his chin, his gaze staring at the ceiling absently as he thought about something. “ I do recall you having a nightmare shortly after you found that strange plushie.” Ken remembered that. He wasn’t sure what had caused a portal to open on his computer that day, but he had found a glitchy butterfly plushie when he had left Demon’s Castle in search of Masaru in the other Digital World.
“What are you guys talking about?”
“Do you remember when Ichijouji suddenly left the castle one night without Beelzebumon?”
“Well, yeah. He had been in the infirmary recovering from his injuries.” She narrowed her eyes for a moment. “Wait a minute. You and Lord Beelzebumon had also been missing.”
“Lord Beelzebumon caught up to us once we reached Server and I tagged along knowing how now dangerous it was. I know I mentioned it back then, but we both knew Ichijouji wasn’t going to listen to reason. He was already ticked off by Demon’s behavior, on top of the fact that Lord Ken had been ill from his milk allergy. I wasn’t really surprised that he left without telling anyone.”
Ken pouted a bit as he got a particular look from the female digimon. It probably wasn’t one of his best ideas, but it was the only one he had at the moment. “In my defense, I didn’t trust any of you.” Ken’s words felt like a knife that cut into both of the Digimon’s hearts. “It isn’t exactly easy to forget the faces of those who used to be my enemies. Some of you guys had a pretty negative view, which was not ideal for raising a child. That’s not even including Demon and his rude behavior. He’s lucky I didn’t destroy his digicore for that stunt he tried to pull back then.”
Both digimon had beads of sweat starting to form on their brow. “Yeah, good thing Beelzebumon and Lord Beelzebumon intervened when they did.”
“You really did a number on the castle though,” Archnemon added. It had been years since that incident and Ken had yet to forgive the Demon Lord of Wrath. He wasn’t sure if he ever would. He had selfishly risked the lives of his children, and the young lord as well. That wasn’t something he could simply ignore and forget.
“So about the plushie,” Mummymon coughed, hoping to alleviate the agitation he was sure the brief conversation about a certain Demon Lord caused. “That was a memory shard wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was. Unlike the memory I just dreamed about, the memory from the plushie was pretty brief. The only thing I could really make out was that this Maiden and Kami were pretty close. But on the bright side, I learned that her name is Huddiemon and she’s the Divine Maiden of the Shadow. I believe she might be the original entity of the Dark Area.”
The two digimon looked at each other in surprise. “That’s interesting. There is so much we don’t know about this place, but that might explain why you keep being dragged here and why your soul is incomplete.”
“How so?” Archnemon asked. “I’m still confused about that part.”
Mummymon returned his gaze to him. “Maybe it’s better if you explain this. I might just make this conversation even more confusing.”
“Archnemon, due to Kami’s soul still being incomplete his memories are all over the place. They are fractured, which makes things already confusing. Doesn’t really help that he’s afraid to hunt them down on his own, especially with those other memories.”
“What other memories?” She frowned, not liking the hesitation and sadness in his voice.
“Do you remember how you died?”
“Kinda, I don’t really remember Belial Vamdemon all too well. Bits and pieces really, but I know Mummymon remembers everything.”
Ken nodded. He did, did he? “Now take that and multiply it by hundreds of thousands of innocent lives mixed in with pieces of memories you know are yours.”
She gasped, eyes widening at her two companions. Mummymon simply sighed, while Ken turned his gaze toward his counterpart. The child was still sleeping peacefully, surrounded by his close friends. He was lucky to be free of such torment. “When I was four, before I accidentally sent myself to the World of Darkness, I started getting so many memories at once. I remembered seeing their childhoods, their families, their loved ones, their dreams… They were happy, at least until they died,” his voice broken at the end, unable to contain his emotions. “Their lives were cut short and each one was just as bad as the last. Millenniumon’s been locking those memories away for some time now.”
Ken’s fingers unconsciously twisted the edges of his loose nightshirt. “Even with the bad memories locked away, I don’t know what to do about Kami’s memories. They are too much. I don’t want him to be sad again,” he said softly. “As for what they look like, the fragments here took the form of the Dark Digimentals.”
“So the rest must be in the Digital World, but what form did they take?” Mummymon wasn’t sure how to answer Archnemon’s question.
“Ichijouji, I understand why you haven’t told your friends about this. It’s a tricky situation, but why haven’t you told Wormmon or one of the Demon Lords,” Mummymon was gentle as he spoke, knowing this was a touchy subject. “They’ve proven that they would do anything to protect you. They are Kami’s guardians after all.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust them,” Ken said as he hugged himself, closing his eyes for a moment. There was a reason he hadn’t wanted to talk about this. “But them coming here would be a problem.”
“What?”
“You need to understand all life used to originate here.” When Ken opened his eyes, they saw the wall crumble. The sadness and the pain they saw were raw, heartwrecking. “Millenniumon is a special case, but Wormmon, V-mon, Hawkmon, and Armidimon were created here. Hikari never made their bodies.”
“Does it really matter how they were created?” Mummymon asked. Before Ken could respond a small blue transparent butterfly, followed by a familiar voice echoed around them.
“The little ones are Divine Warriors of the Shadows, they will not fall so easily.”
His brows furrowed. That voice…it almost sounded like…
Suddenly, a soft blue glow surrounded the small butterfly. The light expanded across the room and into the hallway. The light was so comforting and bright that the children were awakened by it. In the butterfly’s place was an elegant woman dressed in butterfly-like armor. He couldn’t see her face from under her helmet, but everything from her hair to the way she spoke reminded him of…
She smiled as his eyes widened in recognition. “Julieanna?”
“My liege. I have been excepting you.” She reached out a hand towards him. “This level of the Dark Area is infested with feral Twisted Ones, corrupted by the virus. I will guide you to the portal.”
“Are you sure we can trust her?” Archnemon quickly took a position in between them. Her amber orbs were narrowed slits as she eyed the other female suspiciously. Mummymon, meanwhile, glanced around the room, noticing how the dark shadows had been chased away by the light and were instead replaced by butterflies. There had to be a dozen of them now. “She could be that shadow creature from before.” Three of the butterflies had left the room and headed in the direction of the front exit.
“I understand you might have questions,” the Maiden of the Shadows said, her comforting aura never wavering, but there was an urgency in her voice. “But time is not on our side. Shademon is on the hunt and he will not stop until the Core of God is his.”
Chapter 8: Shackling Memories Part 2
Summary:
Masaru learns a shocking revelation about his Godfather's status as the reincarnation of the Digimon's long forgotten God, Kami, and the possibility of his father still being alive. Distressed, Masaru joins Kouichi in the infirmary. The two boys share a heart-to-heart as they watch over Ken's still body. Back on Earth, the Chosen Children learn about Yuki, the baby Digimon who had been taken away from them by DATS shortly after Satsuma was appointed Captain of the organization, and Ken's true identity. Amidst the tension, Yoshino points out a strange fog and the Chosen witness something truly horrifying.
Chapter Text
“It’s because of those DATS agents. They made you all forget about Yuki.” Those words echoed in his head over and over again as he tried to process the sudden memories that were invading his mind. Miyako and Iori hovered over his shoulder as they all stared at the picture and the corresponding messages Daisuke didn’t remember writing to the Chosen of Light back then. But there it was, as plain as day, an old photo of Ken, his sister Julieanna, and a small ball of white fluff sleeping on an old-looking sofa. Daisuke closed his eyes for a moment, suddenly remembering the hopelessness in Ken’s eyes as he flickered right in front of him. It was so similar to how Hikari had disappeared when she had been unable to fight the World of Darkness’ call. While he had long since apologized, the guilt of his failure—for ignoring the signs, for practically abandoning his best friend when he had needed him the most—had never truly gone away.
Ken’s sudden suicide attempt had been a major wake-up call. Seeing his brother void of life, hopeless, filled with that same darkness that had claimed his soul once before… He never wanted to make that mistake again. They had almost lost Ken that day, and Kouji had nearly lost his father. He had sworn to do better as a leader, as a friend, and as a family. Ken was his family, his friend, someone he had sworn to protect.
And now they were in the same desperate situation, with Ken hurt, lost, and possibly dying. His gaze focused on Hikari’s D-Terminal once more. He could clearly see the bandages wrapped tightly around his wrists and the dark circles under his eyes. Kimura had done a number on him back then, but in that moment, he had, for the first time in a while, looked peaceful… and then the digimon that Ken had adopted and had been a stable of this family had been ripped away from him.
His chest tightened as he scanned through the messages again and stopped when he started talking about Millenniumon. Knowing that monster, who had caused Ken so much pain, was free and out and about again… He didn’t like it, but he was sure Ken had his reasons for not saying anything. Well, Hikari seemed to know more than what she was letting on, and he was certain Wallace knew as well, probably more than Hikari. However, asking the FBI agent wouldn’t help them with this dilemma either. He would give them that patient confidentiality excuse again.
He let out a long sigh. I don’t know what you’re dealing with, but I’m glad you’re not alone this time.
Despite what everyone thought, Ken doesn’t tell him everything. They were best friends, sure, even brothers, but Ken was entitled to his privacy. He would have to cook Wallace one of his best ramen dishes one of these days. He had really stepped up and helped Ken when he really didn’t need to. Ken tried not to show it, but he had been super anxious when his therapist of over twenty years retired. When Wallace heard of this, he flew over to Japan the next day, pulled Ken aside for a much-needed conversation, and he had been Ken’s off-the-books therapist ever since. They really did owe him.
“What do we do now?” He barely registered Miyako’s voice as her attention shifted to the pool of blood that had dripped onto the grass when Ken's stitches reopened. “As much as I want to rush to DATS and give Satsuma a piece of my mind and demand some answers, saving Ken is our top priority. I thought that getting Ken out of that hospital was the best idea. Those doctors didn’t give me a good vibe, but now I wonder if we made the right choice. I mean, Jo had to pull some strings just to get him out of there before he was even healed up. Ken should have at least been safe at home, but…”
Iori placed a calming hand on her shoulder. “It’ll be okay. We’ll figure something out. We just—” Before Iori could continue his train of thought, Wallace and Noriko were at the front door, weapons raised.
“Are you guys okay?” The two scanned the area, only to frown when they noticed the tense and gloomy atmosphere. No Ken. No Royal Knights. No Portal.
“Damn it, Wallace! We’re too late. Let’s just hope that Yuki isn’t seeking revenge after all this time.” Noriko let out a long, frustrated sigh as she returned her firearm to its holster. “We saw everything from the security cams. Koushiro is trying to find a way to open a portal as we speak, but it might take some time without Ken’s digivice.”
We don’t have time, a single thought invaded his mind.
“You can’t find it?” Hikari asked the other detective. “Ken usually keeps his stuff in his safe.”
“It’s not there. I checked. Checked his bedroom too.”
“I checked the garage where he keeps his motorcycle. But that’s missing too,” Wallace added, his fingers running through blond locks.
Beelzebumon frowned, not looking all too surprised. “I wouldn’t worry about Behemoth too much. As a safety precaution, Ken keeps his D-Tector and Digivice Burst within Behemoth inner console compartment. He’s very likely heading to Ken’s location as we speak.”
A collective sigh left their lips. “Well, I guess that’s a good thing,” Miyako said as she rubbed her forehead. “I do have a question.” Her gaze shifted to Wallace and Noriko. “Did you two know about Yuki, or are they coming back to you as well?” She winced slightly at the pressure he was sure she was getting along her temples.
“I wasn’t in Japan when all this went down. I’m considering it a blessing that they never came after me. Not that they would, considering I outrank all of them and would give them hell if they tried.”
“I wouldn’t call it a blessing,” Noriko said with a frown, “but the Dark Spore, even if it’s just a weaker copy of the original, negates the effects of the memory suppression devices. Ken is also my partner, so it’s easier for him to open up to me, especially when we are out on assignment.”
“Well, that’s nice to know,” she muttered under her breath. “So, what’s the plan then? Tracking Ken is going to be a little difficult without his crests or digivices. And that, assuming Koushiro is able to create a stable connection.”
“That’s if he’s in the Digital World.” Everyone turned their eyes to Demon, confusion reflected in each of their orbs. A strange black fog started forming near the edges of the gate. It was subtle, barely noticeable if the Digimon hadn’t been glancing at it with guarded eyes.
“What do you mean?”
Red orbs shifted to his companions. “You felt it, right?”
“Unfortunately,” Lilithmon, her brown knitted together in silent worry. “Ken has always been able to open gates to the Digital World, not just our own. The same goes for his ability to create and recreate the digimentals and crests. That surge of energy is alarming,” she mumbled softly under her breath.
“You know I have been wondering about that,” Iori spoke up. His hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a small tag and crest. The crest within was yellow, mixed with a tint of orange, and its symbol was a pair of scales—the Crest of Justice.
“So have I,” Miyako did the same, her gaze lingered on the Crest of Compassion that rested securely within her yellowish tag. “I couldn’t care less about the Royal Knights. They are clearly continuing Yggdrasill's works, but the situation with Millenniumon is news to me. I thought he was supposed to be locked up.”
“It’s a little complicated to explain,” said Hikari as she glanced at Iori and Miyako. “There is so much I wish I could tell you guys, but it is not my story to tell, and we really don’t have the time. I will tell you this much: Ken has a very strong connection to the Digital World. He… he’s able to do things, experience things that would break a normal man. The things I can do when under Homostasis weak possession are nothing when compared to the things Ken can do. Now, as for your question about Millenniumon… I’m not clear on the details, and I highly doubt Ken remembers, but Taichi mentioned seeing something when Ken-kun shielded him from the explosion and the men who had been firing at him. Everything happened so fast, but he swore he saw red eyes within the smoke.” She rubbed the back of her neck as she continued her story. “You all know it was a miracle that Ken survived his injuries. Under normal circumstances, a normal man would have died before reaching the hospital.”
“So, Millenniumon manifested in our world in order to save him,” Daisuke mused out loud.
“Yeah, from my understanding anyway. However, Ken’s always healed a lot faster than most. And besides,” she added as an afterthought, “I’ve been seeing him for a while now. He mainly wanders around the house, trying to avoid the pups’ constant attacks. It is quite amusing."
Daisuke closed the D-Terminal, returning it to his friend. Well, this changed things... not by much, but it did give him a better idea of the situation. “Well, if Millenniumon is protecting Ken now, then I really should thank him.” His friends looked at him, their eyes wide with disbelief.
“Daisuke, you can’t be serious! This is Millenniumon we are talking about.”
“Everyone deserves a second chance, and might I remind you that it was the Digimon that failed to inform us that Ken was being possessed in the first place. Things could have gone a lot differently if we had known.” Miyako frowned at him, but nodded, allowing him to continue. “Ken didn’t deserve all that hate. I really don’t blame him for keeping this from us. Ken and Millenniumon have a fairly lengthy history, and there are plenty we don’t know about that evil god. If Ken wants to help him, then I think we should let him. As for Yuki, I don’t think he’ll hurt his father.” As a matter of fact, I get the feeling he was trying to save him from someone who outranks the Royal Knights.
An awkward silence filled the air some more. It was one thing to have secrets. Ken was a detective after all. Daisuke was sure his brother kept a lot inside, not because he didn’t want to tell him, but because he couldn’t. There were some things better left unsaid. And yet, knowing that he was dealing with something big and he couldn’t confide in the friends he cherished like family, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. And then there was Millenniumon—Daisuke didn’t trust the Digimon. He had done a lot of horrible things to both Ken and the Digimon, and he was sure the other had seen just as much over the centuries. The fact that he chose to stick by Ken, to protect his former enemy, must mean something. It could very well be a trap. He could be waiting for Ken to lower his guard again. But he had heard the monster’s voice, felt the determination, the raw, unweavering loyalty to protect what Ken cherished the most. He couldn’t be all bad, right?
“You know what Ken-kun said makes a lot more sense now.” Standing just in front of the forcefield was Takeru, who had been silently talking to a dejected Takumi and a worried Agumon.
“Are you talking about the day when you were interviewing him for your book?” Takeru didn’t turn to look at his wife, but he gave a slight nod.
“Yeah, it was when the topic of Akiyama and Millenniumon came up. Ken had mentioned some things I never used in the novel, but I always found it odd.”
“Odd? In what way?” Miyako asked, glancing in Iori’s direction.
“When they were together, Millenniumon would give this appearance that Ken was nothing more than an obstacle to his greater goal: to convince his destined partner to join his side. Which we all know didn’t happen. It’s obvious that Millenniumon treated Ken pretty coldly and would do anything to break him down, but he said things that Ken never quite understood.” The other were silent, worry creasing their brows.
“Did he call Ken ‘Kami’ by any chance?” Daisuke blinked, confused. Wait, Kami? As in a God?
Takeru finally turned to his wife. “Yeah, among other things. Ken didn’t get that much into specifics, but he mentioned that Millenniumon would call him all sorts of names and would accuse him of abandoning his creations after his death, or why it took him so long to come back. And it only got worse when he had been recreating the Digimental of Darkness, which was said to connect them to Millenniumon’s inner soul at the time.” The Chosen of Hope let out a sigh. “I really wish we had Wormmon. He was there and could clear up a lot of things, especially with Ken’s memory issue.”
Saying that Ken had a memory issue was a bit of a stretch. Ken had a photographic memory and could remember details that a normal person would forget in a couple of hours. With the Holy Beasts’ seal removed, Ken regained a lot of his memories, but there were still some gray areas. Ken couldn’t remember what happened to Ryo after they defeated Millenniumon, and then there was the time the duo of Kindness ended up in some twisted black world. Ken was never able to fully explain what that place was, only that he felt fragmented, unsure. Daisuke wondered if that was the side effect of the Dark Spore.
“That’s interesting,” said Iori. “I wonder what the connection could be? Ken-kun had to be what, eight…nine, at the time. And based on what we know of Millenniumon, he’s been around several centuries at this point.”
“Oh, that’s easy. Millenniumon’s one of the original creations before the collapse of the original world. In other words, he has been around since the creation of the Digital World, before it was the Digital World.” Up until now, Agumon had been suspiciously quiet throughout the entire conversation. “He isn’t the only one, either. Wormmon, V-mon, Armadimon, Hawkmon, and even Tailmon and Patamon were Kami’s children before his soul shattered.”
“What?!”
A cold sweat coated his furrowed brow as his hand trembled slightly around the cup of hot tea he pressed against his lips. The tea had a rather mild fruity taste as it burned its way down his throat and into his turning stomach. Why couldn’t all of this be a bad dream? Maybe if he pinched himself again, the Digimon attack, his Godfather’s lifeblood coating his shirt, hell, even this whole conversation of the virus, Cherubimon, and his warriors destroying this world could turn out to be a bad dream.
But it wasn’t a bad dream…
It was real, all too real. Agumon. Those Royal Knights. The current state of not just this world, but the other… What would happen if both worlds collapsed? How much would it affect their world, if it did at all? The Digimon seemed certain it would be catastrophic, and so did…
His thoughts stilled for a moment as he thought about the boy who reminded him so much of Ken. Kouichi… How?
While the adults never said so vocally, he, Takuya, and Kouji knew Kouichi’s death had been weighing heavily on Ken’s mind for some time now. The crushing sadness and guilt were oftentimes so unbearably that Ken would lock himself in that shrine of his for hours and hours until Daisuke, Takumi, and occasionally his own father would drag him out.
But… how was it even possible? How did Kouichi survive if that really was him? Julieanna seemed to believe so. But if that’s the case, then…
Is she alive, too?
Much like Kouji, Masaru wasn’t a big fan of Kimura after her abandonment all those years ago. Masaru liked to think he was a pretty reasonable person, but he could not find it in himself to accept, let alone forgive, what was anything but cruel. The damage she caused to those close to her and all the heartbreaks her actions caused were unforgivable.
While he had very vague memories of his childhood, he did recall meeting Ken and Kimura after they returned from the hospital. He remembered the love they had for each other as they told him stories while they cared for their boys. They seemed like the perfect family. At least…until that day. Ken had been pretty distant the months after Kimura just left him and Kouji. The single father had seemed so lonely, so heartbroken, despite how kind and loving he was. He never truly understood how someone could be so cruel. He was going to give Kimura a piece of his mind if he ever saw her.
The thought didn’t comfort him as much as he thought it would. He sighed into his hot tea, unsure what to do. Everything was just a hot mess. He wasn’t sure how to approach Kouichi, let alone how to deal with the issues that were currently affecting this world and, to an extent, their own. The young Daimon was not one to step away from a fight, but right now…
Godfather, I could really use some advice right now.
Placing the cup down, he shifted his gaze to Julieanna’s intense, worried face. “The virus? I thought the reboot fixed that. At least that’s what Ken and the others told me anyway.” Julieanna mumbled under her breath with a small frown, her finger twisting the engagement ring slightly on her finger. “Then again, they have been more focused on the recent Digimon sightings coming from Yggdrasill’s Digital World and recent disappearances.” She sighed softly. “Things haven’t improved much over the years. The others and D.A.T.S. have been having a tough time keeping things out of the public eye, well, the ones that aren’t fucking things up anyway.”
What do we do? Do we help them, or should we not get involved? We don’t exactly have Agumon. But I can’t just stay here and do nothing, not with Godfather injured and in a coma and Julieanna pregnant with their child.
Masaru stared at the device Ken had given him. A Tamer, huh? Masaru didn’t want to say he was naive, but in this situation, he kinda was. He wasn’t a leader like Taichi and Daisuke. He wasn’t levelheaded like Takeru, Hikari, or Iori. Much to Ken’s dismay, he had a bad habit of talking with his fists over any logical sense. And he wasn’t smart like Ken, Miyako, or Koushiro. He was just Masaru, the clumsy guy who couldn’t seem to get his life in order if it didn’t involve his fists. Hell, he didn’t even know the first thing about the Digital World, other than the stories Takeru wrote and from what the others reminisced on when they were together.
Well, yeah. The other kids looked up to him, and he had been looking after Kouji and Takuya since they were young. He made all the tough decisions when the going got tough, but that didn’t make him a good leader. They were a team, but did it really matter now?
“Masaru, he’s so still…” Kouji’s words that day at the hospital still weighed heavily on his mind. They had all felt the overwhelming fear when they saw the news of the UN Summit. The sound of guns blazing, the police rushing in to get everyone to safety, and then the fire. No one knew for hours what was going on until they got the call hours later from Noriko, who had been working with Ken on their protection detail. It was a relief that the summit had been set in Japan this year; he couldn’t imagine the stress it would have caused if it had been scheduled in China or even the United States.
He could have died.
That one thought was what started all the arguments, anger, and fear that fueled the adults’ words as Ken lay in that hospital bed, fighting for his life. The three of them—Kouji, Takuya, and himself—had all sneaked past the nurses to visit the injured man. Ken had looked so vulnerable. Thick bandages had been wrapped around his body, covering the wounds and burn marks that were there. There were a variety of wires and tubes attached to his body—he couldn’t remember what they were for, though—but what made his whole world turn upside down was the large, long tubing in his mouth. The sound of the life support machine was the only thing that filled the silent room, the only thing keeping Ken alive as that doctor delivered the bad news to their parents and loved ones.
He remembered just standing there as Kouji gently held his father’s hand, mindful of the IVs and wiring that were there. Neither one of them knew what to say to their worried friend. His condition had been so very grim and fragile. Ken had been unable to breathe on his own, and his wounds had been so severe. The bulletproof vest did nothing to stop the bullets that had damaged so many of his vital organs. He had been bleeding internally before Taichi and some of the other diplomats and officers were able to get him to the closest hospital.
No one thought he would survive.
“Do you think…?” Before Takuya could finish, Masaru had already asked himself the same question. Despite everything, no matter how grim a situation might seem, doubt and giving up were never an option.
“He’ll be okay. No matter how bad things look, Godfather will pull through.”
“How do you know?” Kouji’s voice had sounded so broken for a moment, tears shimmering in his eyes. Despite that cool, calm, collected, and aloof front the young Minamoto always put on in public, the oldest of the Daimon siblings saw through the mask. He couldn’t hide his true feelings, not to them, not to the people he cared about most.
“Because Ken is the strongest person we know. He spends his life helping people. The weak. The poor. Those who can’t protect themselves from the cruelty that exists outside our front door. He fights to protect us all. It isn’t easy, and he knows that. He will always have a target on his back, but that doesn’t stop him from doing what is right.
“He will survive, Kouji, Takuya, because he’s a hero. And heroes don’t give up! But even heroes need help sometimes… We need to believe in him, just as much as he believes in us.”
That right. I need to believe he will pull through. Masaru closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of his words. I need to believe that I can protect everyone when Godfather can’t. I need to believe that Agumon and I will see each other again. No! We will see each other again! We will stop whoever this Cherubimon guy is and put a stop to him! We are the ultimate team! Nothing will get in our way!
Masaru pushed the negative thoughts aside as a new resolve entered his soul. I will not allow anyone to harm Godfather. I will protect you, Julieanna, your kid, and… Koui… His thoughts stilled for a moment. Has it really been eleven years?
Eleven years without a father. Eleven years of being lied to. You must be really angry and confused. It reminded him of when he had been separated from Ken, Kouji, and Yuki all those years ago. The memory of that day was so clear now, like it had just happened mere hours ago.
“Godfather, I’m scared.” During that time, he had been so angry at what everyone had been saying about his father. Daimon Suguru would never abandon this family. He was an honorable man. A great husband and father. Yet his mother had grown depressed, and the rumors continued even as the government attempted to take over his research before Koushiro and Taichi could put a stop to it.
Ken had done so much to help them. He would always pick him up from school and watch over him when his mother was unable to. And it just so happened on one of those days, something weird happened.
He could vaguely remember the cave he had been hiding within when his Godfather’s laptop started going on the fritz. Beelzebumon had been sulking within Ken’s digivice after getting into yet another fight with Demon. Ken had been talking to the Digimon softly, trying to get him to see some sort of reason, but then something happened.
They had all been in the living room of Ken’s small apartment. While Ken had been distracted with Beelzebumon, Masaru had been showing Kouji and Yuki this new game his uncle had gotten him on Ken’s laptop when it started to make a strange noise, followed by strange writing covering the entire screen. He, Kouji, and Yuki had looked on with childish confusion and awe. This had never happened before. But Ken, upon noticing what was happening, froze almost instantly. Masaru could still remember the way his eyes widened and the way his face lost almost all of its color before he was running toward them, trying to pull them away.
“Kouji! Masaru! Yuki! Get away from there!” He had never seen his Godfather that terrified before, as they all were covered by a white light.
The next thing he remembered was Ken’s voice, screaming at him to take his hand as they fell through some kind of colorful space that made his head spin, and then he was gone. He had been alone, alone in a dark cave where monsters were attacking one another outside his hiding place. That had to be one of the few times he had wished for his father to come to his rescue.
Masaru closed his eyes as the puzzle pieces filled his head, clearing what should have only been a fragmented dream. Had that been the Digital World? Or was it something else? He did recall meeting some guy called Mummymon, but everything was so confusing. From what he remembered, the Digimon over there didn’t mention anything about this King and Queen nonsense. They said something else…right?
He frowned, unsure of the pieces that were filling his mind, clashing with one another, as the three talked.
“And that’s the situation right now.”
Masaru picked up a fried egg and slowly began to munch on it. So this world is unstable, that much he understood, and it seemed it all started with this reboot. But what does that have to do with Ken and Hikari? It doesn’t make sense.
There were a lot of things that didn’t make sense to the young Daimon. Those strange Digimon, the reboot, and then there was Wizarmon. He seemed like a smart guy, but there was something off about him. Why did it feel like he was hiding something?
Two small paws tugged at his pants, causing him to look down. The twins looked up at him with pinched ears. His heart clenched. This is all your fault, a voice, his voice, whispered into his ears once more. Picking up another egg, he tore it into small pieces and gave it to the pups. As he watched them eat, he couldn’t stop the guilt that decided to return, to mock him for his actions, to remind him of how much he failed to protect his family.
Godfather…
While riding Geo Greymon may not have been a good idea, he hadn’t really thought about the consequences until Ken accidentally reopened his wounds in an attempt to save him and Agumon. The sight of him bleeding out, shifting between consciousness and unconsciousness, and Geo Greymon being thrown high in the air by that Royal Knight would forever be engraved in his mind.
How could you be so stupid, boy? The voice of his inner demons mocked him. He told you to run, did he not?
Masaru picked up the tea once more and decided to drain the rest of it down, wanting to push the guilt as far away as he could. Why do I always mess things up so badly? He sighed, not noticing the pups nuzzling his leg in comfort. They always seemed to know when he was down.
“So that’s why those Digimon were there,” Julieanna said as she frowned at the two Digimon, “but I don’t understand what this has to do with Ken or even Hikari-chan. I understand the Digital World is still damaged from the reboot, but they have nothing to do with it. Don’t you guys have your own gods or something to handle this mess?”
“Depends on your definition of god,” Wizarmon said as he paused to take a sip of his tea. Thankfully, the other seemed to have regained some of his strength after using almost all of it to heal Ken from the worst of his injuries.
“Huh?”
“It’s a little difficult to explain, but I’m assuming you have some knowledge of our kind.”
She nodded. “I’ve never been to the Digital World, nor do I have a partnership with a Digimon, but I have some knowledge thanks to the others. I understand you guys have different forms.”
“That is correct. A Digimon has many different forms it can turn into throughout its lifespan. What they turn into and when really depends on their environment and circumstances. It’s not uncommon for a Digimon to reach its ultimate form, but it’s rarer than you think. It’s even more rare for those to reach god-like status or forms beyond ultimate.”
“What did that even mean?” Masaru asked, confused.
“Let me give you an example: Yggdrasill is the host computer that ran our world back in the day. They never intervened or got involved in our affairs, but they had the Royal Knights to enact on its will on what it believed was right and wrong and how it wanted the Digital World to be run.”
“Their will seems pretty corrupted to me, if we are considering what it did back then,” Julieanna snarked a reply as she remembered the stories.
Wizarmon nodded, not denying her words. “Now, unlike the host computer, we have Digimon, whose forms are considered god-like. They aren’t gods, but close enough.”
“Like Millenniumon?” Julieanna asked, much to the mage’s surprise.
“Why yes, but how do you…”
“Ken’s mentioned him a couple of times, especially since he…”
At that point, Masaru began to tune out the conversation, unable to follow what the adults were talking about. He returned his attention to the puppies, who had returned to giving him those sad, teary eyes. He gave them another piece of egg, hoping that would satisfy them for now. That was, until he mentioned Kami. He blinked, brows furrowing for a moment. He heard that name before, but where?
“You see, Kami is a bit of a mystery. There are ancient texts that talk about the creation of the Digital World, but most of what remained of the ancient past is long gone. It is unclear who Kami is, but it is rumored that his protectors remain, protecting his soul until the world needs him again.”
“Did something happen to him?” Wizarmon looked sad then.
“I’m afraid his story is lost to time. There is no record of his existence, nor what happened to him. It is believed that the Demon Lords, Deathmon, and the Vortex Warriors were said to be the protectors of God, but no one has seen them in ages.”
Julieanna perked up at that. “That’s not true. We see them all the time. They are in the World of Darkness, but they seem to be unable to return to the Digital World.” She glanced at her adopted son. “It’s where we found Yuki.”
The boy smiled. “How are Barbamon and the others? I was surprised to see them in the Real World. I wasn’t aware they had the ability to cross over.”
“As well as they can be,” Julieanna couldn’t stop the laugh that left her lips. “Beelzebumon and Demon still argue like children, and Barbamon is always locked up in his study doing who knows what.”
“Have they found a way to break whatever is keeping them out of the Digital World?”
She shook her head. “From my understanding, there is some seal around the barrier that prevents them from entering after Lucemon was captured long ago. Ken understands it better than I do, but it has something to do with their crests. Even with Ken in possession of them, they still can’t enter for some weird reason.”
“Hmmm, interesting,” Wizarmon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That is something we can look into at a later time. It would be nice to have the Demon Lords back, but we should return to pressing matters.”
“He’s right,” Aegiomon replied before returning his gaze to the other Digimon. “I have been hearing different stories from the other Digimon. I don’t know where the stories of the King and Queen came from, but I believe it has something to do with God.”
“According to rumors, the Demon Lords failed to protect God and his Maiden, which resulted in their banishment by the Holy Beasts when they started the Vaccine and Virus War. It is unclear what happened to them, but it is believed they would one day return to restore the Digital World to what it used to be,” Wizarmon said as he addressed Julieanna and Marasu once more. “It is believed that Ken and Hikari are the reincarnations of these ancient entities, the King and Queen, God and the Maiden. According to the text, only they can restore the Digital World to its natural state.”
“Meaning?” He interrupted, not liking where this was going.
“Meaning their energies are needed to restore the Digital World to its original state. But there is the risk of their life force being completely drained if Cherubimon continues with his plans.”
Masaru felt his fists tighten at the mere thought of anyone going after Ken and Hikari. Ken was barely able to protect himself right now, and even if he was able to restore the Digital World, he was in no physical or mental state to do so. That could kill him! The thought sent a shiver down his spine. No, he would not allow that to happen. He'd stop Cheribimon with his own hands if he had to.
“But there is an issue with that belief,” Wizarmon continued. “While Hikari might seem to have heightened senses when it comes to the forces of darkness and has a strong connection to the forces of light, she doesn’t have the ability to open gates without a D3 or some outside force to open it first, or even show the unique abilities that Ken has. In fact, the only time she shows these abilities is when Homeostasis controls her from time to time.”
“Gates? Abilities?” Masaru hadn’t meant to interrupt, but the words came out before he could stop himself. All this was quite baffling, and he couldn’t make heads or tails of this.
The Digimon nodded, understanding of his confusion. “Ken had always been able to create digital gates, not just to our world, but to the World of Darkness as well. I’m not sure if he’s able to open up portals to other worlds, but that wouldn’t surprise me in the least. Additionally, he’s able to create and recreate Digimentals and use the darkness at will, which was very helpful during the war against Millenniumon centuries ago.”
“Hmm,” Julieanna glanced at her tea in thought. “Now that I think about it, that does explain why Ken knows Ancient Digimoji, and I’ve seen him recreate the crests for the others and even enchanting them with some kind of spell Barbamon taught him.”
“Really?” Wizarmon and Aegiomon glanced at each other. “He remade the crests?” Wizarmon gently scratched the back of his neck. “I wonder why?”
“Not sure. He wouldn’t really give me a straight answer when I asked.” Julieanna sighed at that. “All he would say was that one day they would be needed when the balance shifted.”
“I believe it’s safe to say that the balance has been shifted for some time now,” Aegiomon said with a small frown. “Things are definitely not good with two Digital Worlds and a tyrant that is beyond saving at this point.” He tapped his finger on the table absently. “But that does beg the question: if Ken truly is the king that everyone believes, then who is this queen?”
Wizarmon’s body language had suddenly changed then. He seemed older, far older than he was letting on, and… for some odd reason, Masaru got the impression that he had at one point lived beyond the time of the Demon Lords and the other rulers that the others briefly touched on during the course of their conversation. “Wizarmon?” Masaru had noticed the way his striking green eyes, which looked a little too haunted, shifted from Julieanna’s direction to his own. “You aren’t from this world or even this era, are you?”
Both Julieanna and Aegiomon stiffened, looking at the two of them in shock. Wizarmon let out a sigh of — What was that? Acceptance? Relief? And what’s with that haunted look that seemed to grow in intensity with each second that passed?
“You are very insightful, young Tamer. You and Agumon may someday surpass your predecessors.” Wizarmon linked his fingers in front of him, his gaze unreadable. “But you are correct. I am not from this world, at least not originally. You see, many know me to be Lord Phelesmon’s loyal servant, one of the leaders of his royal guard, and a former servant of Barbamon, but…” He lifted one of his hands and summoned an array of magic that started to show images. “That is not the whole truth. You see, there is a part of my life that I have sworn to never speak of again.” He glanced at Julieanna. “For yours and Ken-kun’s sake, I have kept silent…not even Lord Phelesmon knows the truth.”
“What do you mean?” Julieanna spoke up, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Wizarmon closed his eyes as he retold an unbelievable tale, and as he did so, the magical swirls of light created pictures for them. “Long ago, before either of our words were created, the universe was a dark and shadowy place. This realm was known as the Dark Area. It was a place of darkness, shadows, and powerful magic, magic you could only dream of. Living in that realm were the Gods of the Shadows. There used to be hundreds of them, and together with their Light counterparts, they created the first world. This world was called Witchelny. Together, the Gods nurtured the land and created the first Digimon and Humans to live in that world, teaching them everything they needed to know to survive.”
When the Digimon opened his eyes, his throat went dry. An overwhelming sadness and horror crossed his features, almost as if he were reliving a terrible dream. “For a time, there was peace, but it did not last. You see, the Gods of the Light and the Gods of the Shadows were a pair. They were part of one soul, despite their separation. The Gods of the Light could only exist in the physical realm, while the Gods of the Shadows could only exist in the realm of the Shadows. And this is where the problem lies,” he said as he gauged their expressions, making sure they were still keeping up.
“When the war happened, a human called the Emperor, out of pure hatred and jealousy, waged war against the Digimon at the time and their creators. The battle was long and ugly. We had tried so hard to protect our creators and those caught in the crossfire, but one by one, they all fell. It wasn’t long until only Hikari Kami remained.”
Hikari Kami? I’ve heard that name before… Images of several scary monsters filled his mind as he, Yuki, and Kouji sat at a huge table, which was filled to the brim with food. At the table, Ken and Beelzebumon were talking to another Beelzebumon and Lucemon.
“Me and a few others tried to get Kami to safety, knowing that if he died, Yami Kami would disappear, forever. Determined to keep him safe, I transformed an injured Kami into a child and placed him in the care of the monks. I didn’t expect him to lose his memories, but it was all I could do to prevent him from dying from his injuries.”
“What happened?” The goat boy asked when Wizarmon grew silent once more.
“They still caught him in the end and used him to create hundreds of Digimon. Yami couldn’t keep up, and so every creation Hikari made was soulless and uncontrollable. They only desired death and the thrill of the fight. In the end, they both almost disappeared.”
“But he didn’t die.” Masaru, surprised, looked at Julieanna. There was a strange golden hue in her eyes and a strange tone that sounded almost ancient, fierce, and heartbroken. And her posture, there was something different about it. Her relaxed posture was gone, and in its place was that of a proud warrior. “Yami needed a new life, one where he wasn’t destined to die. I couldn’t allow him and the little ones to disappear, so with the help of the Demon Lords, I created a body for them.” Her expression turned grim. “I did not expect Hikari to be such a coward. It is no wonder, Kami is unable to remember that part of his life. I can’t imagine what will happen when the two halves finally face each other.”
Yami? Hikari? The two halves facing each other? What did all of this mean? This was certainly not Julieanna speaking, that he was sure of. Could she have been possessed then? Could it be like that one time in Takeru’s books when something possessed Hikari? “Who are you?”
“I go by many, young human. I am Julieanna. Hudiemon. The Maiden of the Shadows. The Guardian of Kami. The Keeper of the Dark Area.”
“Kami? So Godfather is really…?”
She smiled then. “Kami has lived a long life of love and sorrow. Even before I pulled him from the Dark Area, I had always vowed to protect him, yet someone was always there to steal him from me. When his soul shattered, I collected what I could and reformed his body, and transformed other parts of his soul into objects I knew Ken would be able to find. Ken and Julieanna are not aware of who they are. Ken has an idea. He knows he and Kami are one and the same, but it is nothing compared to the truth.” She closed her eyes for a moment, looking wistful and sad even. “I had dreamed of the day when we could laugh and smile again, just like before. But the cost... It is so great. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I allowed him to suffer once more in this lifetime. But darkness is looming, and they both must be ready.”
“Ready, for what?” Wizarmon interrupted. “Is there something bigger than Cherubimon?”
“The Yggdrasill that exists in this realm is not Yggdrasill, but Homeros that Kami created long ago. Homeros was a child who looked up to its creator and valued free will. But when Kami died, the Dark Area consumed this world, tainting Homeros’ core. Knowing this, the Holy Beasts sent their agent, Gennai, to change the host computer programming and have the ruler turn on the Olympus Twelve. They were imprisoned and separated as a result.”
“Wait, I thought Homeros existed in another server,” Wizarmon was puzzled by the Maiden’s explanation.
“Time is not on our side. The corrupted Homeros will act soon. We must act fast if we are to save Daimon Suguru, Huanglongmon, and Lucemon.”
Masaru stiffened at the name of his father. “Wait, do you know where he is? Is he okay?” Unfortunately, before the spirit could say anything, Julieanna’s body trembled in shock, slumping over slightly until both of her elbows were resting on the table with her head resting on her palms. “J-Julieanna?” Masaru placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Julieanna shifted so she could glance at him. The golden hue that was there before was gone. “What were we talking about? I think I must have spaced out.”
Masaru leaned back a bit, slightly disappointed. The only one that could have given him any sort of answers was gone, and there was no way that spirit would come back anytime soon. Man, I had so many questions.
“Masaru?” He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond.
“We were trying to figure out how we should introduce Kouichi to Papa.” Aegiomon lied as he crossed his arms. “He was in a pretty dark place when Kimura dumped him and, judging by Kouichi’s appearance in the Digital World, the years of depression that came from Kouichi’s death…”
“He might not take it well,” Julieanna finished, remembering all the obstacles they had to go through to get up to this point. “And that’s not even mentioning the emotional toll he’ll be in when he sees you.” Julieanna gave the Digimon a watery smile. “He was devastated when we lost you. It took me, Miyako, and Hikari everything we had to get him not to fall into another pit of depression again.”
As the conversation continued on without him, Masaru found his mind wandering, falling, reverting to those depressing thoughts again. The last place he’d ever thought he’d end up was a parallel world. Well, to be fair, it wasn’t by choice by any means, nor his fault…kinda, maybe. He may have convinced Geo Greymon to charge at the Royal Knight, but how was he supposed to know that Digimon would be able to stop his partner with one hand and throw him up in the air?
Yuki and Wizarmon, for lack of better words, kidnapped them, even if it was to save their hides. If those two Royal Knights managed to take down the force field the first time, what would stop them from doing it again? And this time, Godfather wouldn’t be able to protect them, not in his state anyway.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing Ken was in the room above, hooked up to some kind of machine, supplying him with medicine to help him breathe easier and to help with the swelling. Ken was stable for now. He was going to need lots of rest for his injuries to properly heal, which was something he hadn’t had for some time now. Masaru frowned slightly, remembering how exhausted he looked when he visited the hospital the other day. He doubted the other got any decent sleep, and he wasn’t even counting all the times he and Kouji noticed him wide awake in his office instead of resting.
Hmm, something is clearly bothering him. I wish I knew what it was. But knowing him, the other wasn’t going to say anything until he was ready. What a pain. Then again, his own father had been the same way. He wasn’t one to speak his mind very much when he was busy or distracted by something. Daimon Suguru rarely talked about his work around his wife and children, but when around his best friend, there was no shutting him up. The two could talk for hours in their own little bubble, talking about things none of the children would be able to understand. And then there was the day of the expedition.
Masaru could still remember the warmth of the sun, the squishiness of the snow underneath his boots, and the grim expressions that were permanent on both Ken’s and his mother's features. While Daimon Sayuri had returned to the house silently with Chika in her arms, Ken had remained outside with him and Kouji to give the two adults some privacy. The conversations had been tense and quick, but with the promise of returning in a week and of newfound discovery, left little room to argue.
So why didn’t you come back? And where are you? Masaru’s thoughts were soon interrupted as he picked up bits and pieces of the others’ conversation.
“Yuki, darling, as much as I am so happy to have you back, don’t you think this kidnapping was a bit much?” Julieanna asked as she picked up a rice ball from her plate. From across the table, he noticed Wizarmon was doing the same.
“I do apologize about that, Mama,” Aegiomon said as he placed another sugar cube into his tea. “We didn’t have much time to act. Cherubimon has been spying on you guys for some time now and has spies everywhere. The moment I found out he recruited two of the Royal Knights, I knew we had to act fast.”
“I’ll be honest, Yuki, I am a bit relieved to know that you weren’t trying to hurt us like we feared after…”
Aegiomon gave her a soft smile. “It wasn’t your fault, so please don’t blame yourselves. The both of you were completely outnumbered by those DATS agents. I just wish I could have gotten in contact with you sooner, to warn you before it came to this.”
“Why didn’t you?” He did his best to hold back the overwhelming guilt he felt. “Would have been nice to have the heads up? I mean, meeting Agumon was great and all, but those guys—” he grumbled under his breath as Aegiomon gave him a small chuckle.
“You haven’t changed much, Masaru.”
“You have,” he deadpanned, “I can’t call you a puff ball anymore.” He crossed his arms across his chest, a smirk still managing to appear on his features, however. “And how did you end up here, of all places? Not all my memories are back yet, but I do remember someone taking you away.” He frowned. “I don’t understand why Godfather’s own organization would go after him.” Aegiomon froze in place, his smile falling just a bit as he gazed at the two of them.
Julieanna glanced at him for a moment, worry edging into her features. “Ken is one of the founders, but he doesn’t run its day-to-day operations, at least not yet anyway.” Yet? Was he going to? “That is why Yagami and the others appointed Hashiba-san as the director to oversee the agents’ activities and report back to them. You see, the current captain of DATS is Satsuma Rentarou.” Masaru grimaced at that.
“Never met the guy, but it’s clear Godfather doesn’t like him. He barely talks to the guy, and when they are in the same room… well…it’s kinda tense and uncomfortable.”
“He’s the reason I was taken away and why your memories were suppressed.”
Masaru’s gaze shifted between Julieanna and Aegiomon. “What?”
“It’s true. Me, Ken, and Hikari were the only ones to remember everything. Everyone else had their memories suppressed.” She was quiet for a moment, knowing Yuki would not know the events that had led before this. “You see, after the gates closed, there really wasn’t any Digimon activity in our world, but that didn’t stop the fear that existed. Fear is a very powerful thing, Masaru. This fear of the Digimon and the unknown is why there are Anti-Digimon groups that harass and attack Ken and other Tamers or Chosen like him daily. This was why they created DATS, as there were so many governments that wanted to destroy the Digital World. Still do, actually, especially with all the Digimon sightings going on.”
The Digimon were quite shocked to hear this, but Julieanna continued on with her story. “Yushima, Satsuma, and Ken all used to work together. I wouldn’t say they were friends, but they got along. Ken and Satsuma were partners at one point as well until he betrayed him and was transferred to their sister location.”
“What happened? What did Satsuma-san do?”
“He brought supposed investigators to the police station—if you can really call them that—where they unlawfully arrested Ken and attempted to interrogate him for several hours. I’m pretty sure they were trying to get information out of him about you guys,” she glanced at the two Digimon in front of her. “And to add insult to injury, Satsuma-san got the stupid idea that Ken was harboring a Digimon and had Yuki taken away from us, and attempted to have everyone’s memories erased. Ken had not been happy when he woke up to find you gone. But it was too late when the boys got there. I’m surprised the man still has a job after that. Ken is far too nice sometimes, especially when he knows he is being wronged.”
Everyone stood there in stunned silence, trying to process the events that led to Yuki’s absence in their lives and the realization of what was happening in the human world. “Yuki, what happened after they sent you away? Did you end up in this world, or…?”
Aegiomon shook his head. “I ended up in Yggdrasill’s Digital World. It’s as unstable as you all think it is. Digimon are at each other’s throats, there isn’t much food, and the Royal Knights that are there do nothing… It’s just chaos.” He sighed. “I am grateful to have been found by Bancho Leomon. He helped me get stronger in that strange world, and after a couple of years, he and Mercurymon created his portal for me. He said I was needed here, and here I am.”
“A Bancho Leomon?” he asked before the Digimon remembered something.
“Oh, he did give me something.” Everyone blinked, and much to his and Julieanna’s surprise Aegiomon pulled out a set of dog tags from one of the bookcases behind him.
“No way,” Julieanna gently took the necklace from the goat-like Digimon, a mixture of emotions on her features. “I don’t believe it. Ken gave this to Suguru-kun before he left on that expedition. Where did he find it?”
“I’m not sure,” Aegiomon said. “He said a human gave it to him and that I should give it to you,” he said, glancing in Masaru’s direction.
Masaru took the dog tag necklace out of Julieanna’s gentle hands and held it in his own. Tears slowly stun his eyes. “Otousan …” The spirit had mentioned his father being alive, but did this mean that…? Was he…? Had he been in the Digital World all this time?
“Masaru…” Julieanna, so loving and compassionate like his own mother, placed a warm hand on his shoulder. “Everything will be okay. We’ll find him.” She gently moved her hand over his. “He’s alive somewhere in that other world. I know he is. We just have to believe he is holding on, waiting for us to find him.”
Masaru only sighed and stood up. He wasn’t so sure about that. If he had been to that other Digital World, the one that was more unstable than this one, what chance did he have of survival? And even if he did survive, why hadn’t he attempted to contact or return home? Maybe he couldn’t or maybe he didn’t want to…
“I…I hope so.” He turned to leave, only for the pups to whine, and Julieanna’s delicate hand loosely grabbed his arm.
“Masaru…” The teenager heard the tightness in her voice, but as much as he wanted to reassure her that he was fine and that he wasn’t going to do anything rash, he didn’t have the strength to do so. “I’m going to join Kouichi upstairs and see how Godfather is doing.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he left without a word.
The room was deadly silent, with only the soft breathing of his father filling the room and the beeping of the machine he was hooked up to. Kouichi silently pushed a strand of hair out of his father’s face before returning the cool cloth to his forehead. It had been several hours since the others left the room, leaving him alone to fester in his conflicted memories.
“Papa…” A long sigh left his lips, allowing his hand to return to his lap. He shifted in his chair, unsure what to think of their situation. His father’s crest had been glowing ever since Wizarmon left to recover his strength. It was a relief that his father was no longer in any danger, but he was still in a very weakened state. Hearing the extent of his injuries had been, well… overwhelming. He remembered visiting him at the hospital, and overhearing their conversations, but…
“Don’t worry, Masaru, Kouichi. Agumon said Ken will be fine. He just needs to rest, that’s all,” was what Motomiya-san said as she tucked a warm blanket around him, making sure he was comfortable, before leaving to join the others downstairs. It was what he needed right now. He understood that much. His father’s injuries seemed quite severe, but that didn’t stop the onslaught of memories that were now returning to him. As he held the softly glowing crest, he could feel a warmth breaking through the dark fog that had been hanging over his head for some time now.
Leaning back in his chair, the young Warrior of Darkness sighed once more. This isn’t how I wanted our first meeting to go.
For so long, he had dreamed of being reunited with his father. While most of his memories were fuzzy and kinda contradicted with others, the memories of his father were very clear. He had wanted to talk to him, to tell him how much he had missed him and that he was alive and well, and right here! But something had always gotten in the way.
His mother. Her abusive boyfriend. Kouji… and himself.
He closed his eyes, wishing for the unwanted memories to disappear. After he learned the truth about his parents' crumbling relationship and his twin brother from his grandmother, Kouichi had made it his mission to find them, to reconnect with them. It wasn’t right that they all had been lied to. As far as he knew, they thought he had died and had been mourning his supposed death for the better half of the last eleven years. It made his stomach turn with the knowledge of how cruel his mother had been to his father. She had left her loyal lover, separated him from his father and brother, and the note she left…
He shook his head, not wanting to think about it. He didn’t want to feel the anger, the hate right now. He should be happy, relieved even, but…he wasn’t, not really. Everything was just so confusing. He had been distancing himself from his mother for some time now, opting to spend his time with his grandmother or with the new American transfer student he’d befriended several months ago. Despite barely knowing him and only knowing a fraction of his situation, Emily had been more than happy to help him locate his father and twin brother. And it just so happened that Emily’s cousin, Thoma Norstein, worked at DATS and knew Ken Minamoto pretty well. Thoma, surprisingly, hadn’t questioned his younger cousin when she asked for his sensei’s number. He handed the information over to them pretty easily, with the only condition that they explain everything to him when he returned to Japan within the next couple of weeks. That was going to be a fun conversation.
“We’ll deal with that bridge when it comes,” Emily’s voice echoed into his head as his hand tightened around the small crest. “Now, why don’t you try calling him?”
That was how everything started. The first couple of phone calls hadn’t really worked out in his favor. His father had been out of the house for days at a time over the last couple of months, and when he finally heard his father’s voice…
He froze. He had wanted to tell his father about him so badly, but fear held him back. Was he really willing to destroy the happy family his father had managed to create after the betrayal of the first? Was he willing to reopen old wounds? Unwilling to break through the doubts, and much to Emily’s disappointment, he pretended to be someone else, a classmate of his brother, and lied. His father was none the wiser.
Visiting his home hadn’t been any better. He opted to watch his family members at a distance, but by doing so, he had unwillingly allowed jealousy and anger to enter his heart. He didn’t want to hate his brother, but the feelings were too strong. He had everything. His father’s love, a loving mother who paid attention to him, a comfortable, livable home, and others who knew of his existence. It had become so hard to keep up the lies, but thankfully, he had Emily by his side.
But then he saw the UN news and the unknown fate of his father. He had spent days crying, fearing for the life of the father he never got to know, before Emily finally convinced him to visit the hospital. The first time he visited had been nerve-wracking. All of his father’s friends and loved ones had been there, arguing in the waiting area. No one noticed them entering the hospital to find his father’s room. It must have been fate that his father had been in the same room that his grandmother used to stay in, so finding it had been fairly easy. He just hadn’t expected to find his brother and two others with him, nor had he meant to overhear their conversation.
Papa… Things hadn’t been the same since his mother found out about him visiting the hospital. She had been more aggressive lately, more angry. He gently touched his arm. The bruising had healed significantly since he woke up in the Digital World, but it did nothing to the guilt he felt. Not only was Loweemon not talking to him, but he had no idea if Emily ever made it to the underground train station. Please be okay.
“You okay?” Kouichi jumped, noticing Masaru leaning against the doorway. Wizarmon had done an amazing job of changing the teen’s bloody and torn clothes into a comfortable white shirt and a pair of jeans, but something was off. The other was currently holding what looked like a chain, and a troubled look edged into his features.
“No, not really.” The teen nodded as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked in.
“Yeah, me either.” Masaru took a seat next to him and just silently watched his godfather’s sleeping form. “When I was a kid, my father used to be around.” Kouichi glanced at the other, brows furrowed a bit. “He was a great guy. He used to take me to Ken’s place, his lab, and to other cool places all the time. I wouldn’t say he’s as fun as Godfather and Daisuke, or even Taichi-san, but he was a good father in his own way.”
“What happened to him?” Kouichi had a horrible feeling that something bad must have happened, judging by how he held those dog tags.
“I don’t know.” The pain in his voice was hard to stomach. Did he lose him? “Kouji and my sister were young at the time, but my parents had gotten into a heated fight about going on his grand expedition. It was on Christmas, so of course Kaa-san wasn’t exactly happy about that, and neither was Ken.” Masaru stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. “It was only recently that I learned that this expedition was to travel to this other Digital World. Godfather had given my father some items to help him on the trip. I don’t know the details, but something bad happened. Everyone who went on the expedition returned, all but my father.”
Kouichi’s heart sank as the teen’s pain-filled eyes returned to him. “For years I had to live with others thinking that my father was so unfaithful, that he’d willingly abandoned us for someone else or even died.” His lips thinned for a moment as he gently rubbed his thumb against the markings on the metal plate of the tags. “So, trust me, I know what it feels like to have everyone against you. To have your father ripped away from you, only to be left with doubts. But that hasn’t stopped me from believing in the impossible, and you shouldn’t either.”
How was he able to stay so positive despite everything? The young Kimura returned his gaze to the crest, a frown on his features. “Despite having Lowee and Kaa-san, I couldn’t stop the feeling of loneliness and fear that filled me every day. Most days, I found myself huddled in my room, hiding from the man Kaa-san betrayed Papa with. He wasn’t a nice man.” From the corner of his eye, he saw the teen stiffen.
“Did he hurt you?”
Kouichi shook his head. “Not physically. His anger was always toward Kaa-san, but Lowee was always there to protect me. But…” His voice trailed off, unsure what he should or shouldn’t say to the other.
The hatred. The anger. The frustration. The overwhelming sadness… It was unbearable. Whenever he closed his eyes, he couldn’t escape the dark room as his mother yelled at him. Sometimes a man, the one who looked like that Gennai guy, would be there, mocking his mother for being so weak, often hitting and abusing her, and in turn, she would turn on her son.
“She changed… He changed her…” He rubbed his arm absently, unaware of drawing the older teen’s sharp gaze to the still-healing bruise.
Kouichi could still remember the bruises that he received over the years. Loweemon would always stand in front of him, trying desperately to protect him from both his enraged mother and her twisted, abusive boyfriend, but there was only so much he could do in his spiritual form. And when the man one day passed away suddenly, it was just the three of them once again. But this time around, the once-tight relationship he had with his mother, shattered on that day all those years ago, just like how she shattered his father’s whole world.
As he grew older, the anger, the rage, the darkness would just grow, creating a rift between them. Kouichi could barely speak two words to her without feeling such negative emotions, and thus, he chose to stay away. While he still cared about his mother and loved her as a son should, he couldn’t stand to look at her, let alone be in the same complex as her. It was one of the reasons why he had been so happy when he learned about the existence of his father and brother, something he had been denied all his life.
“Do you…”
“Hmm?” Whatever murderous plan Masaru had at that moment was temporarily diverted as Kouichi’s soft voice became hesitant. Kouichi’s eyes were once more on his father’s still form.
“Do you think he can hear me? I mean…” His hands twisted and untwisted the fabric of his green open button-up shirt in his anxiety. “For years, Okaa-san had made it seem that Papa left, and only stayed away because of that man. It wasn’t until after the man was out of the picture that she started to change her story, and I had believed her.” He hugged himself, the guilt and shame rearing their ugly head. “For a long time, I had believed Papa was dead, and I never knew Kouichi existed until recently.” He sighed, finally turning to face the other. “I know I should feel happy, relieved even, but I don’t. I just feel…”
“Confused?” Masaru suggested helpfully, as he picked up on Kouichi’s line of thinking. “Angry? Hurt?”
Kouichi just nodded, gaining a sigh in response. “Jealous.” That caught Masaru by surprise.
“Jealous?”
Kouichi averted his eyes for a moment, feeling unsure. “I was shocked when Grandmother told me about Papa and Kouichi. For so long, I only had his hologram and my friend to help me get through the day. But waking up every day, watching my neighbors and classmates laugh, have long conversations, and even hugging their fathers, left an emptiness I can’t even begin to describe. But when I learned of Papa, it was like a dream. Seeing him in person, to reunite with the father I thought I lost…it was all I ever wanted.” His gaze fell to his lap, tears softly shimmering. “I…”
“You went looking for him, didn’t you?”
“Yeah,” Kouichi replied, doing his best to hold back his sobs. “I couldn’t bring myself to approach him, though. They looked so happy—” without me. The last part went unsaid, but he had a feeling Masaru picked up on what must be going on in his head.
An awkward silence fell between them as the older teen just watched him, waiting for him to continue. When Kouichi offered nothing else to the sad story, he suddenly heard a slight creak as Masaru leaned back in his chair. “Now's a better time than any, don’t you think?”
He looked up, the tears on the verge of spilling. “What-what you mean? He’s in a coma.”
“Listen here, Kouichi. Godfather has been mourning your death for years, and even now, after all these years, he is still trying to heal and find some form of peace from the wounding pain your mother caused.” Kouichi flinched at that. “No matter the distance, no matter how many times I made him mad, a father’s love is unconditional. His love has no bounds, I promise you that.” Masaru smiled brightly at him. “He stepped in when my father disappeared and has been helping in raising me and my sister ever since. He truly is a kind and compassionate person at his core. No matter what happens, I know he will be thrilled to have you back in his life.”
“But how do I…”
“Approach him? Eleven years is a long time to be separate, don’t you think?” Masaru repeated Julieanna’s question from earlier. “You, Godfather, and Kouji had all suffered, but I think it’s time for you guys to rekindle the time that was stolen and finally find peace.”
Kouichi was silent for a long moment, thinking over Masaru’s words. He was right. Eleven years of pain, of loneliness, of hate, of the desire to be with the loved ones he had been denied since birth… Something needed to change, and he needed to be the one to make the first move. “What should I do?”
"Why don’t you try talking to him? Tell him how you feel. Who knows, maybe he’ll hear you.”
Kouichi returned his attention to his father. He was as still as ever, and nothing seemed to change as they sat in front of the bed watching, waiting, hoping. He swallowed nervously, but with Masaru nearby, giving him silent support, the Kimura boy found it a bit easier to talk this time around.
“Papa… I wanted to meet you for so long.” His voice trembled as he held his father’s hand. His father lay motionless as his chest rose and fell with each breath he took, still unaware of his presence. “Okaa-san told me you died a long time ago.” Kouichi closed his eyes, unable to hide the tears that fell. There were so many emotions, and so many questions he wanted to ask, but he knew now was not the time. “I have been so angry and so jealous for a very long time.”
Unknown to the two boys, silently listening to their conversation, was the spiritual form of a lion man and his female companion.
From within the shadows, the two Digimon watched the sorrowful exchange between the two children. The bitter taste of regret and the wish to do more filled his mouth. He had been powerless back then. The tension between the Humans and the Digimon had grown to unimaginable heights as the virus spread rapidly across the Digital World. Several of the Royal Knights (mainly Sleipmon, JESmon, Dukemon, and Alphamon) had not agreed with Yggdrasill’s will and had either gone their separate ways or deviated from their God’s will.
“The Holy Beasts had messed with Homeros’ programming and had given him a twisted, corrupted version of Yggdrasill’s personality,” was what Alphamon told him before he attacked the four children he brought to the Digital World. “It’s nearly impossible to fix what has been damaged. All we can do now is place the breadcrumb for Kami’s eventual return. For now, just watch from the shadows and learn.”
Even till this day, Loweemon had never understood the Royal Knight’s cryptic messages. He rarely interacted with the other Royal Knights besides JESmon, and when he wasn’t with the other, no one really knew where he disappeared to. He had tried looking for the Royal Knight once, but that had only gotten him disapproving looks and snarky comments from the others. Unlike Kouji and Kouichi, who were brothers, he and Wolfmon were not. He had been cold back then, maybe even heartless.
I wonder if that was what the virus did once the DigiCore was fully affected. It was a chilling thought, especially knowing where Lucemon and Huanglongmon were. He had seen traces of that corruption from his sweet partner whenever he took on that form.
“Do you remember the day of our creation?” Loweemon’s gaze remained fixated on the Chosen of Kindness’ still form. He had to protect both of them, somehow.
Ranamon, who had been biting her lower lip as she silently watched her human companion, blinked at his question. Troubled eyes turned in his direction. Her expression turned sour, revealing the regret she still felt after all these years. “Yeah, how could I forget?” Her lips twitched down a bit, shuddering as she recalled a disturbing memory. “You and Wolfmon were the last to be created, so you may not know this, but the Royal Knights and Dark Gennai had hunted down over a dozen Gennai clones and innocent Digimon for their digicores. “The god,” she said with a sneer in her voice, “sacrificed them to create us. For a long time, all I heard were screams. It was unbearable.”
She hugged herself. Red orbs softened as she watched the father and son. “I don’t hear the voices anymore, but sometimes I wish I did. We did so many bad things. I know most of it wasn’t our fault, but it doesn’t shake off the guilt of all the lives we ruined. The voices were mean, but at least they snapped me out of his control for the most part.”
“The voices of the old aren’t something you should take lightly.” The two warriors jumped at the new voice. On the other side of the room, invisible to the humans, was the frightening, one yellow-eyed Demon Lord with white skin, red demonic wings, and sharp claws. “They can not be trusted.”
“Deathmon,” Ranamon’s voice was barely above a whisper.
The silent Digimon remained where it was, never leaving the Chosen’s side. Deathmon’s words echoed around them as it spoke in a voice that was deep, calm, and frightening all at the same time. “The voices are nothing more than faded ghosts of the distant past. They are despair, envy, treachery… They are the tainted ones, the souls that betrayed gods, doomed to live forever in the Dark Area with only their regrets and endless hunger to haunt their dreams. But they are the least of your worries.”
“What do you mean?” Loweemon asked, sensing something was amiss.
“Ken Ichijouji-Minamoto and his protector Tukaimon have been pulled out of this reality by Shademon, Eyemon, and the Twisted Ones under their control. Kami has gone on ahead to find Stingmon and the Warrior of Light to guide them to the Dark Area. It would be wise for the two of you to go as well. The Twisted Ones will not take kindly to Stingmon returning to the place of his birth.”
“Wait, are you saying his soul is in the Dark Area?” Ranamon asked, her hand resting on her forehead in exasperation. He pitied her, knowing this must be a lot to take in. Deathmon’s presence only confirms his suspicions of Ken being the reincarnation of Kami. Maybe that was why Alphamon gave the other the Alpha inForce. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to the Dark Area, and from what I hear, it’s a maze run by twisted creatures that used to be Digimon and is protected by Anubimon and Grand Dracumon. I want to help Kouichi’s father as much as you do, but how do we find him, let alone get into the Dark Area?”
“I can open a portal to the Dark Area for you,” Deathmon offered. “As for finding him, well, just follow the light.”
Wizarmon… Why? It had been well over a decade since she had last seen the Demon Man Digimon. The Chosen of Light would always respect the wizard for everything he did for her. He protected her and Tailmon from Vamdemon, not once but twice. He helped them save Ken when he’d been under the Dark Spores’ control. He helped them when Tailmon had lost herself in that Dark Jogress evolution. He had died for them, and even as a transparent spirit, he had continued to help them over and over again.
So why? Why would he help Yuki take Ken, Julieanna, and Masaru away from them? Was there a much bigger threat that even Ken was unaware of? Could it have something to do with the Dark Area Ken mentioned to her the other day, or could it be due to those strange feelings they’ve been having lately? Could the past that the Maiden warned her of be coming to pass?
“Hikari?” Hikari barely heard Miyako’s whisper. She was too lost in her own thoughts to even care what was going on around her. The moment Takaru and Takumi brought her into the living room, all hell broke loose. Koushiro and the others had seen the entire battle and exchange from the security system Ken had installed in the underground bunker. It wasn’t really new that Ken traveled back and forth between their world and the World of Darkness. He even brought Kouji, Masaru, and Yuki there several times before the whole Satsuma situation.
Ken had always acted as the mediator between Beelzebumon and Demon, which wasn’t anything surprising. The two were just as bad as Taichi and Yamato on a good day. It probably helped that he had such a strong connection to the powers of darkness that, in turn, the Demon Lords had been teaching him how to control the extra abilities he received from the Crowns of the Seven Deadly Sins. Her brother and his friends seemed to have forgotten that little detail, though, and it probably didn’t help that they picked up traces of Millenniumon way before she rushed out to stop them.
“I don’t know Miyako. I only know as much as Ken does, and that isn’t very much,” she whispered back. “Kami’s memories are fragmented for lack of a better term, which does really help Ken all too much, and asking Millenniumon is like pulling teeth. He knows something, but he’s been dodging our questions for some time now.”
“Typical Digimon,” Miyako murmured under her breath, her fingers drumming the armrest of the sofa restlessly as she returned her attention to the irritated Demon Lords.
“So annoying,” came Noriko’s irritated voice from next to her. Hikari glanced at her other two friends, who were sitting on the four-seated blue sofa along with her and Miyako. Miyako and Wallace were sitting on the ends, with her and Noriko seated in the middle. She frowned slightly, noticing their features were hard and unreadable as the others kept interrupting the Demon Lords as they attempted to explain the situation. Across from them, leaning on the wall, were Taichi and Yamato. Sora was sitting next to Koushiro and Meiko, who had been pretty quiet through the entire exchange. Koushiro would glance over at them every so often, with a small frown, but continued with his work. Meiko was doing her best not to yell at her husband for his rudeness as she attempted to jot down as much information as she could for Koushiro. Hikari sighed softly. She was grateful Ken’s adoptive parents convinced Takumi to help them mind the children, while Takaru and Iori tried (unsuccessfully) to calm the chaos that Taichi unsurprisingly started. Takumi surely would have blown a fuse right about now.
“Alright! That’s enough! All of you!” All went silent as the Demon Lords yelled from their perch on the blanket-covered coffee table.
“I am quite disappointed in all of you.” Black Tailmon’s piercing golden orbs shifted from one person to another. “This is not the time to be arguing among ourselves. I would have thought after everything, you all would have had a little more faith in your friends, no matter how things looked.”
Daisuke, who had been gazing out the window, talking quietly to Yoshino and Agumon privately, finally cut through the tense atmosphere of fear and mistrust. “We all have secrets,” Daisuke said, surprisingly calm as he turned to face them. “Ken’s been through a lot over the past couple of years, and it’s honestly a miracle he’s still able to trust at all.” Dark brown orbs landed on his seniors with a great deal of disapproval. Taichi and, to an extent, Yamato had matured a lot since they were kids. He doesn’t lose his cool that often anymore. Although Millenniumon had always been a sore spot, especially for Taichi, who had spent a great amount of time with Akiyama and Ken during the war. “Ken is my brother, my best friend. He was always there to listen to me when I was in a bad mood or when I was crushed when I got rejected over and over again.” Hikari’s heart squeezed. Daisuke laughed it off now, but he had been pretty down and had avoided her for three months after she rejected his love confession. He had always been a brother to her and not someone she thought she could be romantically involved with.
“What I’m trying to say is, I have always been pretty open about my problems, even if I gave off a completely different vibe in public. But Ken isn’t me. He had always been pretty closed off from the start. It wasn’t easy to convince him that it was okay to open up to me about his problems. Even now, I know something is bothering him.” He glanced at her then. “Has been for a while now, right Hikari-chan?”
She sighed. “Yeah, he hasn’t gotten over losing Kouichi’s death. I don’t think he ever will, even if we did find a body.” And that’s not even including the nightmares and fragmented memories he has to deal with on the daily.
“The wedding and the baby are a good distraction,” Jun added as she entered the living room with refreshments, with Jo and Mimi right behind her. “But wounds like that take time to heal, and he has a lot of them.”
“Yeah,” came Daisuke’s sad voice. “The whole situation with Kimura was hard for him. He rarely talks about it, not that I blame him. It’s a touchy subject, and I’m sure he wants to move on from it, but he hasn’t found the courage to do so. I’m sure Ken had his reasons for not saying certain things. Millenniumon is just as much a touchy subject as Kimura and Osamu are. And this whole situation with him being the reincarnation of the Digimon’s long forgotten god and that our partners were his last creations before his soul somehow shattered—well, I wouldn’t want to talk about that either. That just feels like a can of worms just waiting to happen.” He looked in her direction. “I can only imagine how overwhelming all this must be for him. I know we are going to have a long talk when all of this is over, but for now I’m glad he had you guys watching out for him and helping him through all of this.”
Hikari smiled, comforted by the thought that Daisuke would always have her back. Though to be honest, she confronted Ken first after seeing him talking to two spirits and a third hiding in the shadows. She had been shocked at first to see Ken reprimanding Millenniumon as he would his own child. But after privately conversing with a spirit that called herself the Huddiemon, she understood the need for secrecy and the potential danger Ken would be in if others found out.
I can’t imagine being the reincarnation of a god and still having to help the other regain their memories. He’s so overwhelmed right now. I wish I could have done more to ease his burden.
“I didn’t really give him a choice,” Noriko responded, her features still unreadable. “But that’s beside the point. Ken-kun isn’t obligated to tell you guys anything.” The detective’s eyes were like steel as she shifted her gaze from Yamato to Taichi, and then to Sora. “It’s bad enough we have to deal with these damn Anti-Digimon groups and constantly looking over our shoulders if one of our own allies is going to stab us in the back. He doesn’t need another target on his back.”
“There are more dangerous things out there,” Wallace said cryptically, “and you guys don’t even realize it.”
“Then why didn’t you guys say anything?” Taichi’s hand flew out in front of him, clearly agitated by the whole situation. “Ken-kun, I understand. He’s going through a lot right now. The last thing I want to do is make it worse, but you two—” He pointed at them, accusingly. “You could have said something, instead of dodging our questions!”
“You know, he’d always feared you’d one day turn on him again,” Wallace spoke up, his voice almost accusing, after shooting down numerous questions for the better part of the last half hour. Hikari’s heart stilled for a fraction. Did Ken really still think that, even after all this time? “You know I’m under patient confidentiality, and yet you still tried to get me to answer your questions.” The subtle anger in the voice was clearly heard, but the FBI Agent was trying very hard to keep his anger in check. “As Noriko said, he doesn’t have to tell you anything, and my hands are tied. I would never break Ken’s trust like that, and for the record, what good would it do in mentioning that Ken’s was a god, one that isn’t even fully whole, might I add. He can barely remember the event of his previous life, and that’s not even discussing Kami’s fragmented memories.”
A silence that was thick and unsettling filled the room once more. The ghost of regret fluttered around the room, making it feel suffocating and uncomfortable the longer they remained seated, unmoving. Her hand immediately rested on her crest that dangled on the thin chain around her neck. She couldn’t just sit here and listen to the back-and-forth arguing. They needed a plan once Koushiro opened the gate to the Digital World. Ken’s life was in danger, and they needed to act. They needed to do something other than this.
“Sorry to interrupt, but does this danger have something to do with that strange fog?” Yoshino shoved her hands into her pockets, a nervous habit she realized, as the girl glanced around the room, uncertain if she should intervene or not. “I’ve noticed you’ve been glancing back every so often, even before you guys came into the house.” The three Demon Lords looked impressed.
“Well, you are very perceptive, child. I can see why Ken’s been keeping a close eye on you and Norstein-san.” The female DATS agent looked a bit bashful, yet honored, that someone she looked up to was keeping a close eye on her. “That is no normal fog,” said Black Tailmon, her tail pointing to the window. “It is a sign that the barrier that was supposed to separate the three worlds is weakening.”
“Weakening?” Yoshino looked at her partner. A silent question passed between them. “Do you mean like the Digimon that keeps materializing from Yggdrasill’s Digital World?”
“Not exactly. The Dark Area existed long before Yddgrasill created that other Digital World. It’s considered a bad omen to see the fog,” said Patamon. “Although I’m not going to deny that Yddgrasill’s Digital World is contributing to the destabilization of the barrier. I don’t believe it’s a direct factor. Something else is likely at play.”
“A bad omen, you say,” Iori mused to himself. “I’ve noticed the force field hasn’t deactivated since that fog rolled in, and it’s been growing thicker since then.” He was right. With the exception of the Demon Lords, Agumon, and Lalamon, there weren’t any Digimon or digital gates nearby that would have caused the security system to continue running in protective mode. In fact, the little light on the wall that was normally a dull green was still flashing a bright red. Was there something in the fog?
The Demon Lord, Demon—who was currently a variation of a Patamon with azure orbs and a patch of purple on top of his head—fluttered over to the window. Azure orbs glared out the window in silence, searching.
“Is there something out there?” Daisuke asked, dark brown orbs also searching. “The force field for the other houses hasn’t gone down either.”
“Not in the sense that you are all thinking of,” he said as he landed on Agumon’s head, his arms crossed. “It’s still in the early stage, but for the Dark Area to be bleeding into this world again and so soon…”
The dino Digimon groaned. “You think both Digital Worlds are unstable.”
“It’s a possibility.”
“Demon? What do you mean by ‘again’?” Hikari stood up, walking over to the window as well. The fog was a darkish grey that stretched several miles. She could barely see the other homes of their friends. The only pigment of color she was able to make out was the bright fluorescent light of the force fields. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly as she saw something familiar flicker from within the gray, foreboding fog. She leaned forward a bit, only vaguely aware of her crest starting to glow. Wait a minute. Is that…?
For the briefest of moments, she saw twisted-looking trees that were an unnatural shade of gray. They were withered, split, and oddly familiar. It was a stark contrast to the overly gray fog that surrounded it. It reminded her of the World of Darkness, with its colorless environment and washed-out blacks and grays. Not far from one of the trees were four humanoid shapes. They were fuzzy, blurry at first, but as they got closer to the house, Hikari gasped.
Stopping in front of a cluster of trees that led deeper into the mysterious and dense forest was Ken. He was just as washed-out as the rest of the environment, making it clear that he wasn’t in the Digital World. Ken wasn’t limping for someone who had a pretty bad ankle fracture, and she couldn’t see any lingering pain on his otherwise exhausted face. Peering into the dark forest was a young boy with short blue hair, maybe around the age of eight or nine, dressed in a simple long-sleeve button-up shirt and a pair of jeans. Next to the two was an elegant and beautiful butterfly-like woman, clad in dazzling armor and a Lilymon variation wearing a tokko-fuku. The two females looked out into the horizon, their features set in worry.
“Do you think we lost them?” The voice that sounded identical to their Ken when he had been younger echoed loud and clear in her head. Her hand clenched over her crest, knowing that what they were seeing was no accident or some trick.
“I think so…” Ken looked wearily behind him. “I don’t like how we got separated from the others. The Dark Area is extremely dangerous and unpredictable.”
“I remember hearing an explosion behind us. It’s very likely they ended up on a different part of this level. Should we proceed with the original plan of heading to those clusters of Dark Towers?”
“That might be for the best,” Huddiemon addressed the group. “With Shademon and the Twisted One on the hunt, it would be unwise to stick around here for too long. The quicker we find the next portal, the better our chances are of escaping this realm.”
“You mean Anubimon, right?”
Ken gave his counterpart a soft smile. “Yeah, I’ve never been able to leave this place without Millenniumon’s help. And with us separated, well… our only shot is to find either Anubimon or Grand Dracumon. Grand Dracumon is closer, but he isn’t the easiest to talk to, especially when he’s mad—” Ken raised a delicate brow, knowing the question that was about to leave the boy’s lips. “—and he’s always mad.”
The boy snorted. “Sounds like Demon.”
Daisuke smirked, chuckling lightly. “He’s not wrong. Demon could learn to ease up on that attitude of his once in a while.” Ken was about to make a similar comment when a loud, growling howl interrupted the light conversation. A cold shiver traveled down her spine. Whatever monster that howl belonged to sounded close, and it did not sound friendly.
“Shit, it’s coming." Ken blanched, his voice barely above a whisper as he guided everyone into a hiding tree. “Quick! Hide!” Ken grabbed the boy’s hand and disappeared into the tree just in time to avoid a monstrous creature, coming straight out of a horror movie. The two-headed wolf-like creature was an abomination of limbs merged into one horrifying body. Its body was something she could only describe as a silky black, and inky-like, with a mismatch of limbs protruding from all sides of its body. Its paws were sharp knives, twisted at an odd angle. The heads of the beast were mismatched and unportaionalized. One of the heads was missing an ear, while the other seemed to be missing half of its upper face. Both heads had a single glowing red eye and a mouth that was split in half, revealing its row of sharp teeth ready to tear into its victims.
“What the hell is that?” Daisuke yelped in surprise as Miyako yanked him away from the window. Her face was ashen pale, her brown orbs were big and wide. One of her shaky hands touched the glass of the window, while the other was holding her crest. Turning around, Hikari noticed her other friends and husband were just as pale, shaken to the core.
The Crest of Light, the Crest of Hope, the Crest of Fate, the Crest of Miracles, the Crest of Justice, and the Crest of Compassion were all glowing, reacting to the threat that currently looms over the Chosen of Kindness’ head.
“That’s a Twisted One,” Black Tailmon said, visibly shaken, as she jumped off the table and scampered over to the window with Impmon right at her heel. “They are the soulless creations that were sealed away in the Dark Area. Many used to be normal humans and digimon before the Genocide of the Gods; now they are nothing more than vicious, mindless beasts. They are extremely dangerous creatures, no longer human, no longer, digimon… just a monster hunting its prey.” Her blood went cold. She couldn’t recall Ken ever mentioning this.
“Those creatures didn’t always exist. The Light and Shadow Gods maintained the balance in a way. As long as there was a Light and a Shadow God, the two realms would not cross paths. But when the Gods began to be wiped out by the creations they created, it caused a ripple effect. Many got consumed by their own greed and need for power, while others, unknowingly, merged with forces out of their control.” Impmon looked out the window, his eyes haunted. “This fog and those creatures first appeared just before we pulled Kami out of Dark Area and placed him into a body we created for him.”
“It wasn’t exactly easy,” Patamon commented under his breath, azure eye orbs narrowing into slits as his gaze landed on their glowing crests. “Kami’s spirit was extremely powerful; not just any body would do. We were pressed for time, so we used the body Hikari left behind, but we were not prepared for the complications.”
“What type of complications?” Takeru asked, his voice shaking ever so slightly. This part of Ken’s past life was completely new to her. Ken only remembered bits and pieces, and even then, most of it was a foggy maze he hadn’t been able to make sense of. The Chosen of Kindness had been at a loss on what to do, given that even the fragmented soul of Kami couldn’t recall most of his life. I need to keep it together… for Ken’s sake.
“We assumed the two gods would be capable, but we overlooked the fact that Kami was much more powerful than he let on.” Black Tailmon’s tail swung back in fourth in her distress. The monster had begun to sniff the air, its terrifying growl a mixture of chalk and a wild animal attempting to pick up the scent of its prey. “His soul was pretty much overpowering his body, resulting in him being constantly weak and sick. We had to be extremely cautious when moving him, and it didn’t really help that the world was infected by the soulless creatures that remained.”
“He still had a smile, though, even with the knowledge that any moment could be his last. He cherished Wormmon and the others and the human children that bond with them,” he glanced at Daisuke, Iori, Miyako, Takeru, Wallace, and her. “There’s a reason you six could activate the Digimentals and why they are reacting to the current threat. Kami treated your ancestors like his own children and helped them, trained them to fight in a world that was tainted with so much evil.”
“Our ancestors?” Miyako was the first to speak, tears in her eyes. “That explains the weird reaction Hawkmon gave me when we first met. He seemed shocked to see me, like we had seen each other before, but with different clothing and mannerisms.” The others mumbled their strange initial interactions with their partners. The puzzle pieces were finally starting to fit together.
Hikari released the breath she hadn’t realised she had been holding. The monster had gotten dangerously close to the hiding tree the small group had been hiding within, but had since wandered deeper into the forest. It's attention averted to something else in the distance for the time being. “How did Kami die?”
“Without a Light God, Kami had to stabilize both worlds on his own. That put a huge strain on his Digicore, causing it to crack little by little,” the Demon Lord of Wrath said after an extended moment of silence. “With each crack he got, more and more of the Dark Area overlapped with ours, and the more of those creatures appeared. Barbamon was able to create a cure and managed to keep him stabilized for a good couple of months until we ran out of ingredients.”
They all stiffen in alarm. If the fog was the initial warning that the Dark Area was starting to overlap, did that mean…?
“We had gotten word from one of our allies in a neighboring town that they were able to create a temporary supply for Kami, as well as a box of healing flowers that Barbamon needed for his next batch,” Impmon continued, his expression rather grave. “While everyone had been resting for the night, V-mon, Hawkmon, Armidilimon, and their respective partners went on their own to get the cure and other supplies. Tukaimon had been the first to notice their absence about an hour or two later, so he went after them.
“While they were gone, the camp was ambushed by Vamdemon’s army of Evilmon and Pico Devimon. Kami got caught in the crossfire and ended up getting poisoned. His health quickly deteriorated over the weeks, with these purple veins slowly and painfully covering his body, damaging his DigiCore even more.”
“Did you say black veins?” Taichi interrupted. “As in like the virus that corrupted the Digimon back then?”
“I’m surprised you picked it up before the geniuses over there,” came the Demon Lord of Wrath’s snarky comment, causing Koushiro, Meiko, and Miyako to roll their eyes in exasperation. “Yes, this was the virus’s original form. It had always existed in the Dark Area, but it had been remotified by Vamdemon back then to specifically harm a god. The little ones, specifically the humans, had been horrified when they returned to help push back Vamdemon's forces. I can’t tell you how emotional V-mon, Hawkmon, and Armadimon were to find their creator injured. Nothing Barbarmon created worked, and the cures we had for his Digicore had become less effective over time due to the virus. It was then that Vamdemon sent one of his bats with a message. He had a cure for the virus, but he wanted a favor in return.”
“This sounds like a trap.” Hikari heard Iori whisper to Takeru as the Demon Lord continued. The Chosen of Light returned her focus to the endless fog. The cool glass felt cool under her fingertips, which was alarming, considering it was supposed to be a warm Saturday morning. An unsettling feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as fear quickly edged into the depths of her soul.
“Vamdemon wanted help with dealing with some Twisted Ones that broke into one of the towns under his domain. It was obviously a trap, risky even, but Kami’s life was at stake, and we couldn’t take that chance.”
“It took us a couple of days to get to the coordinates Vamdemon gave us, only to find it overrun with those creatures and the strange fog growing thicker the deeper we traveled. We didn’t know it at the time, but getting this supposed cure was pointless. Kami, in his weakened state, couldn’t maintain the two worlds anymore,” Black Tailmon picked up the story. “A dark, endless fog eventually covered everything, separating us from Kami and Stingmon. As the Dark Area consumed the world, Kami gave his son the last of his essence to remake everything: a world for the humans, a world for the digimon, and a power that would seal away the creatures of the old within the Dark Area forever, never to touch the other two worlds. Only Stingmon truly knows Kami’s final moments, but we all felt his passing as his Digicore shattered and scattered across the realm.”
The feline Digmon let out a long sigh. The guilt of this tragedy and their failure to protect their creator weighed heavily on their souls. “There is no denying that Ken is Kami. Before his soul completely vanished, we helped the Maiden collect most of his soul and sent it to the human world for him to be reborn. The rest of his fragmented soul was transformed into items, artifacts we knew Ken would be able to find when the time came. We wanted Ken to live a normal life. We wanted him to be safe, away from the world and the very darkness that had taken him away from us. I guess it was only a matter of time.”
Silence.
What more could be said in a situation like this? She had so many questions, so many things she wanted to know, but none of them felt appropriate. The Dark Area. Their ancestors. Their Digimon. It was obvious that meeting Ken at the soccer game or fighting him in the Digital World was no coincidence. They were connected. They all were, which just made Ken’s situation all the more heartbreaking.
The past should have remained buried, a secret never to see the light of day. But it was all in the open now, and she guessed there was only one question that needed to be answered. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t just sit around and watch those monsters hunt down our friend and eventually consume our world.” She turned around to face her friends. Her decision made.
Takeru.
Daisuke.
Iori.
Miyako.
Wallace.
Despite the threat hovering over them, none of them was willing to give in without a fight. They all held their glowing crests, their gazes fixated on the battle and dangers ahead. There was no turning back the moment they set foot into that foreboding fog. “I’m going to the Dark Area. Are you coming with me?”