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tobiasdrake · 6 months ago

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Digimon Adventure 01x18 - Piccolomon, the Fairy! / The Piximon Cometh

Previously on Digimon Adventure: What was supposed to be a lovely vacation cruise to get away from it all was ruined by undercooked poultry. Mimi and Sora were forced to skewer and roast it themselves. After filing a complaint with the manager, the kids returned to their journey.

The kids continue their march through the desert, though Taichi and Agumon immediately inform us that at least the heat isn't insufferably blazing this time.

Taichi: Nice weather we're having! Agumon: The wind feels great!

A cool breeze has blown in today, making for a nicer walk than usual. The dub gets this point backwards.

Tai: Okay, I admit a little breeze would be nice, but it's still a beautiful day! Don't you think? Agumon: Yeah, maybe for a scorpion!

Dub Tai is being relentlessly optimistic even though the weather sucks as much as ever. Even Agumon isn't having his bullshit.

While those two march ahead, the rest of the group hangs back behind them, deliberating Mimi's new Crest.

Mimi: I got a Crest, but.... Jou: We don't know how to use them. Sora: How do we raise our Digimon correctly? Yamato: Hang on. We haven't found all the Crests yet. Koushiro: That's true. We should shelve this conversation until everyone has their Crests. Taichi: HEY!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK THERE!? Agumon: HURRY UP!!! Taichi: YOU'RE GOING TO GET LEFT BEHIND!!! Takeru: We're holding a really important conference about the Digimon right now! We'll be right there, so just wait a minute, okay?

Man, Taichi just got told by an eight-year-old. Sorry, Tai, but when twelve people are in the back and you and Agumon are way out front, they aren't falling behind. You're running ahead.

The dub kicks this conversation off on a different tone, matching the tonal shift in the previous episode's ending.

Mimi: It's beautiful, isn't it, Joe? And every Crest we've found so far has been different! Joe: Yeah, but... We need to learn how to use them.... Sora: Or else our Digimon could Digivolve all messed up, right? Matt: Yeah, but none of that really matters until we find all the Crests. Izzy: Hmm, I think you're probably right about that one, Matt. Maybe the Crests' power comes from having them all! Tai: Hmm... What are they doing back there? HEY!!! WE GOTTA MOVE ON!!! IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE SOME DOWNTIME THEN WE NEED TO FIND SOME SHADE!!! T.K.: Oh, thanks, Tai! We were right in the middle of a serious Digi-conversation about the Crests and everything, and then YOU made me forget what I was saying! You be in charge of finding the shade; We'll catch up!

Even though the dub changed the weather, Tai won't need to find any shade because T.K. threw so much at him already. XD Tai just got told by an eight-year-old squared.

We see a couple shifts here based on previously altered context. Mimi loves her Crest and is excited to have it. Sora's line is altered to emphasize the risks while de-emphasizing the whole "proper care of your Digimon" thing, similar to last episode.

Suddenly, the sand beneath Taichi's feet opens up.

A huge Kuwagamon emerges from the ground, flinging both Taichi and Agumon.

(I guess he wasn't amused by Taichi's impatience either.)

Even though we've already encountered one of these, the narrator gives us a rundown all the same. Kuwagamon is an Adult-stage Virus-type Insect Digimon.

Narrator: Kuwagamon. When using his special attack Scissor Arms, the pincers on his head can slice through anything. He's far stronger than the one on File Island.

The dub seems to think this is actually the same Kuwagamon we met before.

Izzy: AHHHHHH!!! IS THAT THE SAME ONE FROM LAST TIME!?!? REALLY!?!? Palmon: It's Kuwagamon alright. There's no mistaking that ugly face! But he's sure bigger than he was the last time.

A week of flying over solid ocean with nowhere to land does spectacular things for your lats, I guess.

Agumon pelts him with a Baby Flame, but Kuwagamon shrugs it off.

Agumon: He's a lot stronger than the one on File Island!

In the dub:

Agumon: Uh, we have a big problem; This guy's much stronger than he used to be!

The rest of the group stands around watching like a bunch of useless chodes while Agumon's forced to fight alone. Gabumon yells at him to evolve, but Taichi and Agumon hesitate.

Taichi: If... If he evolves wrong this time.... Agumon: If I don't turn into Greymon.... Taichi: (races towards Agumon) AGUMOOOOOOON!!! Gomamon: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!? If he gets you with his Scissor Arms, that'll be the end for you!!!

Establishing a big part of the episode's plot, we see that Taichi and Agumon are still traumatized by the SkullGreymon event. They're afraid to even evolve at all without the certainty that it won't happen again.

In the dub:

Tai: Alright, rethinking our training program here. Oh man, I hope Agumon doesn't freak out. Agumon: What if something's wrong with me? What if I can't become Greymon? Tai: (racing towards Agumon) Agumon, stay away from his choppers! Gomamon: Ahh! Move, Agumon! Move! Move! Do something! Get back!

The first two lines aren't so clear about Tai and Agumon's trauma. Tai makes it sound like Agumon's the one with the problem, while Agumon seems physically unable to Digivolve rather than reluctant to.

Taichi tackles Agumon to the ground just as Kuwagamon's Scissor Arms snap shut overhead. Kuwagamon comes in for another swipe and--

A mysterious voice calls out "Pit Bomb" as this single shot erases Kuwagamon. The dub calls it "Pixie Bomb Seek and Destroy", which is a mouthful.

Shortly after, the kids meet their adorable savior.

While Taichi and Agumon unbury themselves from sand and disintegrated Kuwagamon ash, this little guy marches past and lets out an adorable "Pi!" with every step.

Sora: (to Taichi) You look okay. Jou: Where's Kuwagamon? Takeru: Who's that? He's weird. Digimon: PI! Hey, amateurs! Piyomon: WAUGH!!! You're Piccolomon! Mimi: (picks him up) Cute!

Pretty basic dialogue. The dub spices it up with gags.

Mimi: A powderpuff with wings! Sora: Just don't use it on your face. Joe: And where's Kuwagamon? T.K.: Oh man! Maybe that's him! Digimon: Ha! I am no enemy, nope-nope! If anything, you are your own enemies. Biyomon: Oh! I've heard of you! You're the famous Pixiemon, right? Mimi: (picks him up, impressed) You are!?

The dub cuts out his marching Pi's, instead having him hum a marching tune. We also see that here that's very verbose. Dub Piximon speaks very quickly and with peculiar mannerisms to make him odd and quirky but in a different way from the original adorable fluffball.

From here, we go into his rundown. Piccolomon is a Perfect-stage Data-type Fairy Digimon. Notably, his attack is actually "Bit Bomb" but he says "Pit" due to his verbal tic of uttering "Pi" all the time. His name is rooted in the italian word for "small". Dragon Ball fans may also recognize it as a musical instrument; Specifically, the piccolo flute, so named because it's a half-size flute.

His dub name is, of course, a play on "pixie".

Narrator: Piccolomon. A fairy Digimon who brandishes his favorite spear Fairy Tale and wields strange magic.

Since she's the one who recognized him, Biyomon handles the rundown in the dub.

Biyomon: Piximon is famous in the Digital World for his skills and training, but few have ever met him!

As soon as the rundown's finished, Piccolomon lays into the kids for being weak and useless.

Piyomon: It must have been Piccolomon who defeated Kuwagamon for us! Piccolomon: PI PI PI!! Impressed by the strength of my magic, aren't you? (jabs spear in the kids' direction) PI! You're all supposed to be the Chosen Children, aren't you? You're all so weak, I could barely stand to watch, pi. If you keep up like this, then the Tags and Crests will just go to waste, pi. Mimi: This Digimon isn't cute at all. Piccolomon: The same goes for you Digimon PI! You're slacking off PI! You aren't trying hard enough PI! You're gutless PI! Yamato: (grumpy whisper) Pi-pi-pi-pi. He's so noisy. Palmon: I hate exerting myself.... Gomamon: I didn't have any guts to begin with. Piccolomon: That's why all of you are coming with me for training, starting today! Sora: Training? Tentomon: What do you mean? Piccolomon: Especially you two over there! Taichi & Agumon: Me!? Piccolomon: (flies out of Mimi's hands) You and your Agumon win the grand prize. You'll receive intensive training from the Special Menu PI! Taichi: Special Menu!? Agumon: Intensive training!? Piccolomon: Now, follow me! (lands and starts marching) Pi pi pi pi pi pi pi pi....

Piccolomon is incredibly rude and calls them all wankers. It's almost like they're lost children or something. Who could have predicted this?

He doesn't so much invite them to come with him as take ownership of them. He's telling, not asking. These are supposed to be the heroes of legend but he finds them woefully unimpressive, so he's going to fix it.

In the dub, Biyomon continues on from her diegetic rundown.

Biyomon: His secret home is the training ground for all the great Digimon fighters! Piximon: And I've heard all about you two but so far I am NOT IMPRESSED!!! You seven are supposed to be the DigiDestined!? HA! You'd better be more careful or you'll end up DigiDinners yup-yup! Without my spears and my magic, Kuwagamon would be eating you with a side of DigiFries! Mimi: That's gross! Thanks a lot. Piximon: And that's not all! You Digimon there! You're supposed to protect the children, but half the time they're protecting you! I wanna see some guts! I wanna see some courage! Matt: (grumpy whisper) This guy reminds me of a gym teacher I once had. Palmon: He's right. We just don't have any guts. Gomamon: Aww... Don't we get points for enthusiasm? Piximon: But the news isn't all bad! Yep-yep, from now on you're all going to train with me! Sora: But why? Tentomon: Let's not go overboard, Piximon! Piximon: Especially you two guys! Tai & Agumon: Wha--!? Piximon: (flies out of Mimi's hands) You heard me! You two need lots of help and I have a special extreme training program just for you! Tai: Did I hear him right? Agumon: Sounds kind of extreme. Piximon: Yep! Follow me! (lands and starts marching, humming his marching cadence again)

His quickly spoken dialogue peppered with yep-yeps and nope-nopes are what replace the pi pi pis. Otherwise, this scene is mostly identical. The only difference here is Matt's barb. Since he can't make fun of the "pi pi pi", he drops a solid crack about gym teachers who think they're drill sergeants.

Gomamon's line is also different, but it's actually improved over the original line. "Points for enthusiasm" is a better line for him than "I don't have any guts" because. Like. What are you talking about, Gomamon? You're a rowdy thrill-seeker. You have guts for days. Jou wishes you had less guts. Remember that time you tried to fistfight him?

The kids huddle up to decide what to do from here.

Taichi: What should we do? Jou: Can we even trust that Digimon? Yamato: What's your take, Gabumon? Gabumon: He complains a lot, but he's not a bad Digimon. Palmon: I didn't see a Black Gear or Cable either. Sora: Why not give it a try? After all, we don't know how to raise our Digimon correctly. It'll be fun if we think of it like a training camp! Mimi: It may be more relaxing than wandering around.... Yamato: What do you think, Taichi? Taichi: Let's try it. It sounds interesting. Takeru: It's decided! Group: YEAH!!! Piccolomon: WHAT IS TAKING YOU SO LONG!?!? HURRY UP PIIIIIII!!!

Wouldn't count on intensive training being relaxing, Mimi. You're gonna eat those words in a few hours. Also, I'm amused by the implication that Palmon was cautiously inspecting Piccolomon during all that time Mimi was holding him.

In the dub:

Group: (unintelligible murmurs of suspicion from everyone) Mimi: I don't know about this. Joe: I have a question. Do we trust a ping-pong with wings? Tai: But he did save Agumon and me. Why would he do that if he was no good? Izzy: Precisely! He didn't have a Black Gear anywhere on him; I checked. Joe: What do you say, Biyomon? After all, you seem to know a lot about him. Biyomon: Well, it's an honor to be chosen for training by Piximon! Mimi: Sounds like a lot of work to me. Sora: He's right, though. We could use some help. Tai: How can you say that? Just cause we've nearly been eaten a hundred times...! Matt: Well, there are worse options? I mean, do we have a choice? All in favor, say aye. Group: AYE! Piximon: WOULD YOU ALL JUST HURRY UP!?!?

Having a still image of a huddle with no lip flaps moving gives them the flexibility to change who's talking around quite a bit. Joe seems to lead this discussion instead of Taichi and Yamato, though Matt comes in for the vote at the end.

Notably, it's Izzy who inspected Piximon instead of Palmon. He was also less thorough, only checking for a Black Gear and not, like... a cable sticking out of Piccolomon's butt or something? Honestly, not sure where Palmon expected to see a Black Cable.

Biyomon continues to fangirl over Piximon-sama.

And another line about "how to raise our Digimon properly" gets cut down into vagueness.

As the kids trudge through the desert, Mimi complains.

Mimi: Are we there yet!? Piccolomon: A little further PI! Palmon: 'A little further, a little further', that's all you've been saying! Piccolomon: (ten feet later) Here we are pi. This is the place pi. Sora: Here? But I don't see anything. Piccolomon: PI!!!

In the dub, more kids get in on the complaining so it's not just Mimi.

Mimi: Are we there yet!? Piximon: Just a little further! Joe: That's about the seventh time he's said that. Matt: I think he's lost. Tai: So what do we do, ask a cactus for directions!? Sora: ...ice cream... cold root beer-- Group: STOP THAT!!! Piximon: Halt! We have arrived! Sora: What are you talking about!? There isn't anything here.

The dub's so good at its banter. XD

PIccolomon casts a gibberish incantation to open the way, while Piximon calls out "Pixie Portal!" and then spends the rest of his lip flaps giggling like a madman. His spell unseals a hole in reality, leading to a tropical jungle.

Jou: WHAT!?!? Piccolomon: Nothing to fear pi. This is just the entrance through my barrier pi. Now follow me pi.

After a moment of hesitation, the kids cross through the barrier.

In the dub:

Mimi: It's a hole in the desert! Joe: Am I the only one who thinks this looks like trouble? Piximon: Actually, it's just my front door. Come on in now! Quickly, before it closes, yep-yep!

Mimi gets to chime in, while Jou's shocked reaction is changed to conscious whining.

As the kids enter the jungle, Takeru exclaims:

Takeru: (gasp) A jungle!

But most of it is just 13 seconds of looking around the jungle. Prime opportunity for the dub to add banter.

Tai: Cool! A jungle inside a desert! T.K.: I bet you've got LOTS of friends who want to play with ya! Piximon: You should have seen it when I first got it!

Not their best work. T.K.'s line doesn't seem to connect to anything and I'm not sure what Piximon even means by that. Is he trying to compare his jungle to a used car?

Suddenly, Sora hears something. The sound of a horn, like on a car or train, honking in the distance. Whipping around, she spots Etemon's trailer crossing the desert sands just outside the jungle's border where they'd been moments ago.

Sora: Hey! Behind us! Jou: What do we do now!? Piccolomon: That's Etemon's trailer pi. Jou: Ehhhhh!?!?!? Piccolomon: Nothing to worry about pi. He can't see through my barrier on the other side pi.

This is a fun bit because it's something we've glimpsed in past episodes. It's such a minor detail, I haven't even bothered to mention it. Etemon likes to honk his horn when his trailer's getting hauled around, for no apparent reason but shits and giggles. Because he may be Perfect-stage but he is an absolute mon-child.

Suddenly, his unnecessary honking is plot relevant.

The dub makes the inexplicable decision to cut the car horn from Etemon's trailer. So Sora, I guess, has a psychic premonition and that's why she turns around.

Sora: (reacting to nothing) Huh? (turns around) Heads up! BEHIND US, GUYS!!! Mimi: Oh no, it's Etemon and his trailer! Joe: Oh boy, this is bad! Piximon: And right outside the front door he is too! Joe: Huh? Piximon: Oh, don't worry about it. He isn't able to see through the barrier. He sees nothing but desert.

They add in Mimi to ID Etemon in case kids have forgotten. This, however, creates a second continuity error right alongside the lack of the horn.

The kids have never seen Etemon's trailer until now. That's why Jou had the big "EHHHHHH!?!?" reaction when Piccolomon ID'd it. He knee-jerk reacted to the strange vehicle by assuming they were in peril, and then Piccolomon's explanation upgraded that to THE MOST PERIL. So I guess Mimi's having psychic premonitions too today.

I can forgive Mimi's continuity flub. I don't think the dub team approached this show as a serialized story and were instead looking at it like an episodic cartoon, since that's what most cartoons in the 90's were like.

But removing the car horn is an incomprehensible choice to make.

Inside the trailer, repairs on the Dark Network remain underway, though they seem to have several sectors now online. Etemon, however, is throwing a hissy fit.

Etemon: HAVEN'T YOU FIXED IT YET!?!? Gazimon 1: It's being restored at an incredible rate! Gazimon 2: Please wait just a little longer! Etemon: (bouncing on chair) I can't wait anymore! Hurry up and REPAIR MY NETWORK ALREADY!!!

As someone who works in tech, I feel for these Gazimon.

The Gazimon are bolder in the dub.

Etemon: The stupid screen is still broken; What's taking so long!? Gazimon 1: We've almost got it fixed, Etemon. Gazimon 2: No need for a conniption fit! Etemon: (bouncing on chair) I'LL SHOW YOU CONNIPTION YOU INSOLENT LITTLE WORMS!!! Fix it right away; I have a show to get on!

The boldness to say that straight to an already agitated Etemon's face. Holy shit.

So the kids come to Piximon's home. A tall mountain with stairs spiraling up it, leading to the various structures.

How's that "more relaxing than walking" thing coming along, Mimi?

Jou: ...up there...? Mimi: What is that!? (crying) I don't believe it.... Koushiro: We have to climb that? Takeru: How many steps are there? Yamato: There's no use counting them. Sora: Wait, does this mean our training has already started? Piccolomon: That's right PI! Tentomon: (quietly, to himself) Hehehe, this is a piece of cake. I can just-- Piccolomon: By the way, flying is forbidden during training pi! Tentomon: Aww.... Piccolomon: Stop whining and start climbing pi!

Nice try, Tentomon, but no dice. Start walking, everybody.

In the dub:

Piximon: Alright, everybody, home we are! My house is just up these steps. Joe: We have to walk up there!? Mimi: But I didn't bring my stair-climbing sneakers! Tai: Uh, yeah... And I just remembered I'm afraid of heights! Izzy: Purely from a logical standpoint, it doesn't look very safe. Sora: Is this part of our training? Piximon: Exactly! Tentomon: (loudly, to everyone) Hey, no sweat! I'll just FLY up there! Then, before you know it, I'll be chilling by the pool while you guys are still-- Piximon: And oh, by the way, did I mention there will be no flying by anyone during all my training? Tentomon: Aww.... Piximon: Haven't you rookies learned that the easy way is sometimes a TRAP!? Now let's move out! Joe: I guess Piximon never heard of elevators....

Low blow on that last line. XD These kids do struggle with that. They walk into traps so easily.

Meanwhile, Dub Tentomon deserves to walk. The original was whispering to himself about his loophole; In the dub, he's openly gloating.

On the way up the mountain, Piccolomon motivates the kids to reach the very top by promising food when they get there. And by food, he means:

Gomamon: Hey. Where's the food? Piccolomon: You'll have to finish your next training first pi! Gomamon: (distraught) I knew it.... Piccolomon: (conjures up buckets and washrags) You'll be scrubbing all of these floors pi! Yamato: Scrubbing all of the floors!? Jou: All of them from top to bottom!? Mimi: (crying) No way! Piccolomon: (to Taichi and Agumon) You two have the Special Menu pi! Come with me pi! Taichi & Agumon: (groan) Special Menu....

This is the same in the dub but with all of the kids complaining at once upon hearing about the scrubbing such that it's hard to make out any one complaint.

Until we get to Tai and Agumon. Then they drop this gem.

Piximon: But not you, Agumon and Tai. Come now, I have a special chore for you. Tai: Great; We probably have to paint the place!

XD Yeah, probably.

The kids get to work on scrubbing the floors, with various grumbles arising.

Sora: There's no other choice. Let's get this over with. Mimi: I've never scrubbed a floor; Not even in my own house.... Piyomon: Is this really training!? Palmon: Maybe he's just using us to work as his maids! Gomamon: FOOD!!! Takeru: Tokomon, let's race to see who's faster! Tokomon: Okay! I won't lose to you! Yamato: (stops cleaning to watch his brother and smile) Takeru....

In the dub:

Mimi: The last time I scrubbed a floor was... Never! Izzy: It's a simple task, Mimi; Even you'll catch on. Matt: Is this really training or is this just Piximon's maid's day off and he doesn't like to vacuum!? T.K.: Tokomon, let's have a cleaning race! Ready, set, go! VROOM! VROOOOOOM!!! Matt: (stops cleaning to watch his brother and smiles) Ahaha....

Two key differences here, one I appreciate and one I hate. I like that they composited Piyomon and Palmon's lines into one for Matt. It feels a little weird that, in the original, all of the girls grouse while the boys mostly just get straight to work. Except Gomamon, of course, who's still mad about the food fakeout. This way, it's more even.

But also, they add a line that's just Izzy being mean to Mimi about her line from the original. Thanks, I hate it.

For the Special Menu, Piccolomon drops off Taichi and Agumon in a small, pitch-black cave. As they enter, they sink through the ground and are lost to places unknown. Training has begun.

Later that night, the group goes to sleep on the floor of a miserable looking waiting room with one chair and a couch. Jou-senpai takes the chair (perk of being the oldest, I guess) while Sora and Mimi share the couch, sleeping sitting up and leaning against each other. Everyone else piles on the floor.

But Koushiro can't sleep. Starting to get up, he spots Yamato sneaking out. Yamato shushes him, and the pair leave the room together. Once they're outside, they can talk.

Yamato: Taichi and Agumon haven't come back. Koushiro: Yeah. I wonder what happened to them?

Before they can follow that line of conversation further, Yamato and Koushiro's Tags suddenly begin to pulse.

Yamato: They're glowing! Koushiro: Yamato-san! Yamato: Our Crests must be nearby!

Following the pulsing of their Crests, Yamato and Koushiro descend the mountain. As they leave Piccolomon's home in the dead of night, Koushiro starts to get nervous.

Koushiro: Should we bring Tentomon and Gabumon with us? Yamato: No. We're safe inside the barrier. We should let them sleep.

Trusting his senpai to know best, Koushiro follows Yamato's lead. When their Tags begin to pulse again, they race off from the house, following the trail. As they go, we catch a glimpse of the ever inscrutable Piccolomon watching them leave.

Taichi and Agumon wake up on a boat, floating in a mysterious glowing body of water. Agumon wakes first, then rouses Taichi.

Taichi: Wh-Where are we!? Agumon: I don't know! I thought we were in a cave! Taichi: (stands up in the boat and calls out) HEY!!! PICCOLOMON!!!

No answer returns to him but he does rock the boat enough to fall out so that's a reaction, at least. Agumon grabs an oar to fish him out.

Agumon: What are you doing? Taichi: Oh, be quiet. Is this really training?

Tai doesn't get to talk in the dub; Agumon eats up the screentime for both of their lines so he can chastise Tai more.

Agumon: Don't you know not to stand up in a boat!? Here, grab this.

Unfortunately, a sudden bright light in the distance appears, distracting Agumon.

Agumon: Taichi! Something's shining over there! Taichi: H-Hey! Keep looking this way!

Too late. Agumon's so distracted, he can't pull Taichi in properly. Instead, Taichi ends up pulling him out of the boat.

Surfacing, they both end up clinging to the side of the boat and lay into each other.

Taichi: Crap, Agumon! What are you doing!? Agumon: I was just trying to help you! Taichi: That's a lie, you were staring off at something else! Agumon: But the light! Taichi: Wait a second. This boat is drifting somewhere. Come on, hang tight! Agumon: Don't change the subject! To start off, Taichi, you were--

They squabble just as hard in the dub.

Tai: Now look what you did! We're both in the water! Agumon: What I did!? You were the one standing up in the boat. I was just trying to pull- Tai: Well, if you'd been watching what you were doing instead of looking at some stupid light in the distance-- Agumon: Well, if you hadn't pulled on the oar, we wouldn't be swimming like tuna in pea soup! We'd be back in the boat warm and dry! Tai: I do not swim like a tuna fish and where do you get off blaming--

I'm not sure what swimming like a tuna means but it sounds scathing. Take that, Tai!

As their boat drifts further away, the light slowly moves in. Taichi and Agumon fade away as it passes.

The following morning, the kids remaining at the house are woken up by Piccolomon banging on a metal bucket.

Mimi: What is that racket!?!? Piccolomon: Morning! How long do you plan on sleeping, PI!? Look sharp PI! Tentomon: Has anyone seen Koushiro-han? Group: (suddenly alert) Huh!? Gabumon: And Yamato! Takeru: Piccolomon, do you know where they are? Piccolomon: Those two left to find their Crests pi! Tentomon: (grumpy) Oh. So he left me behind.

So help me, if he wasn't Perfect-stage, they would probably make him eat that bucket.

In the dub:

Mimi: ...what is it? What's going on? Piximon: Rise and shine, everybody! Everybody up! Come on, people! Tentomon: Picomon(sic), do you know where Izzy went? He's not in his bed. Group: (suddenly alert) Huh!? Gabumon: And I can't find Matt! T.K.: What!? Hey, did you send my brother somewhere? Piximon: Your brother and his pal left to look for Crests about midnight. Tentomon: Ohh, I don't believe it! Why would Izzy leave me behind!?

Got another flagrant line flub here. Tentomon's actor says "Picomon" instead of "Piximon", as if starting to say Piccolomon but then realizing and snipping it off. Yet again, they just left it in and didn't shoot another take.

Realizing that three people are now missing, the girls do the only sensible thing.

They bully Jou for absolutely no reason. XD

Sora: Taichi and Agumon haven't returned since last night, and now it's Koushiro-kun and Yamato-kun. What a mystery that they keep disappearing, one after another.... Mimi: Maybe Jou-senpai is next. Jou: H-Hey, don't say weird stuff like that! P-Piccolomon might-- Gomamon: D'aww, Jou. You get scared too easily. It's fine. We can trust Piccolomon! Jou: Are you sure...? Piccolomon: Now! Time for training PI!

Savage.

While everyone's triggering Jou's neuroses on purpose for funsies, we return to Yamato and Koushiro. They've descended all the way to the jungle in search of their Crests.

Trudging through the underbrush, they discuss their own motives for pursuing these ambiguous little macguffins.

Yamato: Hey. Why do you want your Crest, Koushiro? Koushiro: Why? I want to see what Kabuterimon evolves into next, of course! How about you, Yamato-san? Yamato: I, uh... I want to improve myself! It's not only Digimon who evolve and grow stronger. I want to mature alongside them and grab hold of a part of me that's different from before.

Yamato putting off incredible senpai energy right now.

The dub expresses the same sentiments but the way they phrase it is interesting.

Matt: Why do you want to find a Crest, Izzy? Izzy: I guess it's mostly because of Kabuterimon. I would like to see which stage he will Digivolve into after that one. Isn't that the reason why you're looking for a Crest? Matt: No. I want to use the Crest to Digivolve me! Izzy: Oh? Matt: Not into a Digimon, but to make me stronger and smarter. Maybe learn something new about myself. Y'know, to reach my next level!

Matt captures the sentiment from Yamato really well. The phrase "Digivolve me" is a bit awkward, but purposely so. It's attention-grabbing and demands explanation, which he provides immediately.

Izzy, however, tries to sound smart by asking what stage Kabuterimon's going to Digivolve into which. Uh. Isn't. Really. A question. It's Perfect/Ultimate, Izzy. He's going to Digivolve to Ultimate stage. That's how the stages work. The question here is what specific Ultimate-stage Digimon he's going to become.

(It will always be confusing that the dub calls Ultimate-stage Mega and Perfect-stage Ultimate.)

Finally, they come across their destination.

Yamato: We're at the edge of the barrier. Koushiro: We came this far only to reach a dead end. (The well in the desert begins to glow) Yamato: Hey! Koushiro: The well is glowing! Our Crests must be inside it, Yamato-san! Yamato: But it's outside the barrier!

Koushiro approaches the barrier and touches it with his hand, testing whether it's a physical obstruction or not. As he slides his hand through, Dub Izzy utters:

Izzy: Hope my hand doesn't melt....

Fortunately, his hand passes through easily.

Koushiro: We can pass through! Yamato: (nods approvingly) Okay!

Yamato descends the well first, with Koushiro following behind. Before long, they're both able to find their Crests glowing along the walls.

Their Crests activate at the same time, slotting into their Tags. Five down, two to go.

It's just too bad they left the barrier.

The Dark Network is back online and fully functional. Yamato and Koushiro appear circled on Etemon's map. They've been found.

Gazimon: There's a signal in Area K-1! Etemon: What!? HEY!!! (strangles the Gazimon) WE JUST PASSED THAT PLACE!!! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEGH!!! (Etemon goes to his console once he's done throttling his technician) Etemon: Area K-1 is Tyrannomon's territory. Alright, I'll teach them a thing or two!

The dub calls it area G-3 but the dialogue is otherwise identical.

As the boys emerge from the well, they soon realize that the enemy is onto them.

It's not subtle.

(Huh, look at that. The Dark Cables really are coming out of his butt. I owe Palmon an apology.)

Koushiro and Yamato run screaming for their lives while the narrator launches into our rundown. Tyrannomon is an Adult-stage Data-type Dinosaur Digimon. Named, of course, for tyrannosaurus rex.

Of note, some sources say Tyranomon with one 'n'. This is because, in Japanese, it's Ti-ra-no-mo-n. However, that's also how the word tyrannosaurus is spelled: Ti-ra-no-sa-u-ru-su. So the intent, to me, for it to be named Tyrannomon with two 'n's is pretty clear. It's supposed to be spelled exactly like tyrannosaurus.

(The t-rex is also called 覇王竜 haou ryuu, which translates literally to Emperor Dragon or Overlord Dragon. Compositing the kanji ha meaning conquest or domination, ou meaning king, and ryuu meaning dragon. So that's pretty badass.)

Narrator: Tyrannomon. A Dinosaur Digimon well-prepared to survive in the wild. His special attack is the scorching flame Fire Breath.

Piximon handles our diegetic rundown from... wherever he is.

Piximon: Tyranomon. A huge Digimon with fire breath strong enough to cook a couple of boys like you!

Koushiro and Yamato sprint as fast as they can for the safety of the barrier. Koushiro barely makes it inside with Yamato about to follow when Tyranomon lets off a shot of Fire Breath. Unfortunately, the barrier doesn't prevent objects from passing through, so they're both caught up and thrown into the jungle by the explosion.

It also has... other consequences....

Up the mountain, Piccolomon is leading the kids in a meditation session when he hears the explosion. Everyone races outside to see to Yamato and Koushiro.

Tyrannomon enters the jungle. The tree cover hides Yamato and Koushiro, so Tyranomon opens fire blindly. Sending off projectile shots of Fire Breath into the jungle indiscriminately.

A subtle blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment I really like: Koushiro starts falling behind and calls out in fear to Yamato to wait for him.

Koushiro: P-Please wait for me, Yamato-san! Yamato: Hurry, Koushiro!

In the next shot, Yamato is leading Koushiro by the hand so they don't get separated by the huge difference in their stride. Big Brother Yamato is such a good senpai.

The dub downplays this gesture, unfortunately. We still get the shot of Matt leading Izzy by the end, but it doesn't connect the same because the dialogue to set it up is gone. Instead, we have a quip.

Izzy: Didn't I see this guy in one of my nightmares!? Matt: I wish you'd be more careful what you dream!

This doesn't segue into the handholding as directly so it's easier to overlook.

Eventually, the rest of the group finds Yamato and Koushiro, joining them in the jungle.

Gabumon: Yamato! Yamato: (releases Koushiro's hand) Gabumon? Tentomon: This is what you get for leaving me behind! Koushiro: Tentomon! Sora: Are you guys alright!?

XD Sassy Tentomon will never not be funny.

Sadly, his sass doesn't make it into the dub.

Gabumon: Matt! Izzy! Over here! Tentomon: Oh, thank goodness you're safe! T.K.: Oh, hey bro!

There's a cacophany of voices talking at once. Matt and Izzy don't respond to the crowd shouting at them. Those three lines are the ones most audible over the crowd, though T.K. sounds like he's running into Matt at the supermarket.

Fortunately, the group's all together now. Unfortunately, the Dark Network is back up and running in full. You know what that means.

Black Cables surge up through the trees so Etemon can be heard. Etemon takes to his guitar, sending out Love Serenade through the jungle and suppressing the Partner Digimon from being able to evolve. All while Tyrannomon makes his way inward, continuing to fire blindly into the jungle.

In their cave, Taichi and Agumon continue drifting through the mysterious glowing water. They've made it back in the boat, where they lie curled up together and float through memories of human buildings and structures.

Until they come across a bridge. There, they find a visual metaphor for the uncertainty and hesitation gripping Taichi's heart.

A younger Taichi is trying to ride his bicycle, but keeps falling down.

A brief cut back to the world outside shows Piccolomon sustaining a dome barrier to block Tyranomon's Fire Breath from hitting the kids. Looks like they've been made.

Taichi watches his younger self pick the bike back up, but start to cry.

Young Taichi: I can't do it. I can't ride a bicycle. Taichi: Don't give up! You can't quit just because of one or two failures. Don't be so faint-hearted. Believe in yourself. Believe it will work out this time Agumon: Taichi....

Encouraging Taichi's younger self to get back on, Taichi and Agumon hold the bike steady for him while they start running. Then they let go, allowing the young Taichi to ride the bike all by himself.

Young Taichi: I'm pedaling on my own! I can ride a bike! Taichi: I almost forgot, Agumon. I forgot that I can't lose heart. I lost my nerve because I was afraid you'd evolve into a strange Digimon again. Agumon: I felt the same way. That's why I couldn't become Greymon. But it's just like riding a bicycle! If we combine our powers, I feel like I can evolve again!

Taichi and Agumon get back in the boat, taking up the oars and paddling their way back to the others. As they paddle through the mysterious glowing plane, they start hearing the terrified screams of their friends and realize they're needed. Agumon SHINKAAAAAA!!!

During Agumon's transformation, we briefly cut to Piccolomon for a line that, though brief, explains an important detail.

Piccolomon: I can't wait for Taichi and Agumon any longer! I'll have to take care of Tyrannomon myself....

As a Perfect-stage Digimon, Piccolomon is more than capable of shutting down Tyrannomon. He's done nothing but sustain a magic barrier to protect the kids and their drained Digimon because he wants to use this as a training exercise for Taichi and Agumon.

However, at the last second before Piccolomon takes the field, it finally happens. Greymon comically flips Tyrannomon over and charges into the jungle as if he wasn't even there. Letting off blasts of Mega Flame from a distance, Greymon destroys the speakers that were blasting Love Serenade into the jungle.

Then he turns his attention back on Tyrannomon.

Greymon hoists Tyrannomon up into the air, tearing the Black Cables attached to him out of the ground and snapping them from the tension. Then he brings him down into the jungle in a crushing suplex.

We don't see the gory details, but we do see the dust of Tyrannomon degenerating rise into the air from the jungle below, signaling the end of this battle.

To prevent kids from realizing that we just fucking killed that guy, the dub adds some dialogue here. When Greymon first starts lifting Tyrannomon, Sora shouts:

Sora: Greymon's pulling the cables out!

Then, once the degeneration dust emerges from the jungle, we get:

Tai: He did it! Greymon did it! Sora: Look at the Black Cables all shattering into pieces!

What happened to Tyrannomon? Don't think about that. What's important is that Greymon destroyed the Black Cables. That is most certainly what he did, and it's what you're seeing onscreen right now.

Cut to Etemon throwing a tantrum in his trailer.

Etemon: Those children piss me off!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEGH!!!

In the dub:

Etemon: Those rotten kids beat me again! Ugh, I gotta find something easier to beat like some cardboard boxes or something!

XD If it makes you feel better, you got to throttle a Gazimon earlier. Those are way easier to beat!

Now that everyone's back, the group decides it's time to move on from Piccolomon. Quickly.

Taichi: Really. Thank you for everything. Agumon: Thank you for taking care of us. Piccolomon: Don't think your training is over yet pi. Everything in life is training pi. Work hard and never give up pi! Taichi & Agumon: Yes, sir!

Nobody else thanks Piccolomon. I don't think the rest of the team's Yelp reviews are going to be as glowing as Taichi's.

Though they do speak up in the dub.

Matt: Thank you, Piximon! We've learned a lot from you. Joe: Yeah, like how to scrub floors and starve half to death-- Mimi: Joe! That's just Joe's stomach talking. Piximon: Far from over, your training is. Remember, life itself is a training session. Learn all you can. Everyone: RIGHT!

Tai and Agumon only speak up when the camera fixes on them for their "Yes, sir!" moment. For some reason, the dub chose to put everyone else at the forefront of this scene, even though they didn't learn shit.

We close on Piccolomon watching the kids depart his magic jungle.

Piccolomon: Only you can save this world pi. Do your best, Chosen Children PI!

In the dub:

Piximon: They truly are the DigiDestined yep-yep! No doubt have I, for though they are sometimes foolish, I have seen the love in their hearts. With a little luck, they just may succeed and save our Digital World.

Hey, Piximon? Question. What part of the preceding events hinged on "the love in their hearts"? Was it when Matt and Izzy hurt their Partners' feelings by going to the well alone or was it when Sora and Mimi bullied Joe for no reason?

I think the dub is rambling off Generic Good Guy Speech again.

Assessment: With two Crests in one episode, we are ramping towards endgame. The Etemon arc is surprisingly short, lasting only 7 episodes compared to the 13 that Devimon got.

Piccolomon's episode is kind of dull. For all the talk about offering training to everyone, we only really see it with Taichi and Agumon. It feels like he's doing the Wax On Wax Off esoteric martial arts master shtick. However, the purpose of scrubbing his floors is never explained, so it kinda feels like the sharp comments about doing maid service were right.

I'm not going to be hard on literally using "riding a bicycle" for the metaphor because it was the 90's and Japan. I don't remember when that became a tired metaphor and I certainly have no idea if it ever did in Japan. Taichi and Agumon's stuff worked for me. But a lot of the other "training" felt like space filler.

Yamato and Koushiro's segment was gold, however. Their brief discussion on the way to the well, and Yamato grabbing Koushiro's hand as they fled Tyrannomon? Loved that.

The dub nails a few moments, but it's also peppered with continuity mistakes, weird lines, and inexplicable choices. And the triumphant return of adding in dialogue just to be mean to Mimi. Overall, I'd say I'm tepid on this one.

#digimon #digimon adventure #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure

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timotey · 1 year ago

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Voice: This is the entrance to death. Do you see that? Those are the memories you've lived through. Countless battles... of various kind. Ikki: I was able to live my life because I wasn't alone. Voice: You're right. But you've done enough. You can rest. Your work is done.

Kamen Rider Geats × Revice: Movie Battle Royale

This is what Ikki's mind looks like on the inside. Holy smokes 😨 Even after years of living a "happy life" as he claimed to Vice, his gosh darn mind is an inferno of heat and flames and memories of the battles he fought. Just how tired he must've been feeling this whole time if the voice of what - Death itself? his subconsciousness? - tempts him with peace should he choose death?

Because this is what his choices look like:

Death and the end of everything: serenity and light. Continued life: heat, flames, cracked earth and ashes. Die and be at peace or live on and continue suffering; even if living means returning to his beloved family, it's still shown here as the worse of these two options. Wow, if this isn't the perfect depiction of the mind of a severe depressed person.

And it clears only when he reconnects with Vice. Without Vice, it's hell for Ikki. Only Vice makes it bearable. I guess that's what makes Ikki so different from all the other Kamen Riders, why he's so strong when he's with Vice. The others can live without their devils just fine - Daiji even said that leaving your devil behind is actually not bad, it's simply a part of maturing - but Ikki needs Vice. Being without Vice means living in pain. No wonder the others don't truly get the bond between Ikki and Vice.

I wonder if it's because Ikki made a deal with Vice as a kid whereas the others actually grew up on their own. He made a deal with Vice and then forgot about him, so he locked one part of himself away, basically he grew up incomplete whereas the others grew up whole and only split as young adults. Also, it's interesting that even though Ikki was a child, his demon was an adult whereas Koushiro's - their little brother's - demon is also a child. Goodness, the psychological implications of that!

#kamen rider revice #maeda kentaro #mé

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higuchimon · 3 years ago

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[fanfic] Dads & Fathers

Yamato stared at the long, elegantly crafted sword that hadn’t existed in his hands moments before. It rested right in his hands, and while he hadn’t ever had a lesson in how to use it before, he thought he might be able to do so if he needed to.

He closed his eyes and thought hard; he didn’t want the sword there at all. He didn’t want to be Piemon’s son. He didn’t want to be able to do what he’d slowly been learning that he could do.

But the sword didn’t go anywhere and he hissed under his breath, wishing there was someone that he could talk to about this. Those other Chosen who were part Digimon, like him, none of them were like him. Between he and Jou, Koushiro, and Sora, he was the only one who was an Ultimate level no matter what.

I wish I could talk to Gabumon about this. His partner would understand the level of power he had. But Gabumon remained in the Digital World and he had no idea when, or if, he’d be able to go back there.

A familiar hand rested on his shoulder. “Where’d you get that?” His real dad, the dad who had raised him, asked.

Yamato tensed at the words. He’d been so deep in his own thoughts that he’d never even noticed the other’s arrival.

“It’s mine. Because of Piemon.” Yamato spat the words out. He’d told his dad about what happened once they’d all returned home, not wanting to keep this bubbling under his skin.

Ishida Hiroaki peered at it, then pointed to the Crest embossed on the hilt. “That’s yours, isn’t it? What did you call them? Crests?”

“That’s right.” Yamato eyed it. “The Crest of Friendship.”

Hiroaki nodded slightly, remaining quiet for a few more moments before he continued. “Are you going to need lessons in kendo?”

Yamato shook his head without a hint of hesitation. “I don’t want to learn how to use it.”

“Why not?” Hiroaki asked, voice still quiet and thoughtful. “If it’s yours, then you should know what to do with it.”

Yamato opened his mouth, then closed it again. He guessed that wasn’t entirely wrong but it still didn’t feel quite right, either. He stared down again.

“I don’t want anything to do with him,” he said at last. “It’s like admitting that he’s – part of me.” That made him slightly nauseous just to think about.

He almost expected his dad to say something to the effect of “But he is a part of you”. It would be true; it just wasn’t something he wanted to think about. He didn’t think his dad would say it, but he might.

Hiroaki didn’t. Instead, he rested one hand on the hilt, where the Crest was, and stayed silent for a few minutes before he spoke again. “The only part of him that’s a part of you is what you want. And what matters is how you use it and what you use it for, nothing else. Whatever else, you’re my son more than you’d ever be his. What does he know about you?”

Yamato thought on that one. Truth to tell, he didn’t think Piemon had ever known much about him, nor had he cared to. He knew that Yamato was his son, that he had inherited a great deal of power from him, and anything related to Yamato being a Chosen. He’d never made any effort to learn anything else at all – had never given the impression that he wanted to, or that it mattered in any sense.

But his dad knew his favorite colors and favorite food, had eaten food that Yamato had made himself, made arrangements for him and Takeru to see one another on a regular basis, and worried about him when they were in the Digital World to fight the Dark Masters. He’d easily accepted Gabumon as Yamato’s friend, as well as the other Digimon.

Hiroaki hadn’t even seemed that disturbed or surprised to find out that Yamato wasn’t entirely human. Yamato wanted to ask about that one day, but now wasn’t the time. Now he had his own issues to work through.

“He knows what he wants me to be,” Yamato said at last. “He doesn’t know who I am.” He’d been in the process of working out who he was when all of this got dumped on him in the first place. Being Piemon’s offspring hadn’t made it any easier.

But, now that he thought about it, while the others who were part Digimon might not be as strong as he was, they were still part human, part Digimon. Even Koushiro, in the sense of being a full Digimon but having been raised human. Perhaps talking with them really would help. What did he have to lose from it? They were his friends.

Hiroaki nodded before he patted the sword-hilt again. “Can someone else hold onto this? I know I’ve read about weapons that only the proper user can hold.”

“I don’t know,” Yamato admitted. “No one else has ever tried.” He’d gone out of his way to ensure that the weapons weren’t there for anyone else to try.

“Mind if I try?”

Yamato agreed, though he wasn’t at all sure of what his dad had in mind. Hiroaki picked it up, examined it for a few seconds, then turned the hilt back towards Yamato.

“What are you going to do with this?” Hiroaki asked, and the weight of the question struck Yamato like a blade to the heart.

And at the same time, he already knew the answer.

“I’m going to use it, and anything else I have, to do what he’d never do. Help people. Protect people from the likes of him.” They’d go back to the Digital World one day – they all knew it. They didn’t know when or why, but even for the ones who weren’t like him, who were full human, it was a part of them now. Their partners were there. And he didn’t doubt for a second that there would be trouble that would need to be dealt with.

Hiroaki nodded, before he shifted the hilt closer to Yamato again. Now Yamato took it back, with far more of a feeling that this was now his than it had been before. Not something he’d asked for or wanted, but his all the same, and with it came the same choice that being a Chosen brought – he could do something to help others. But it would always be up to him if he did.

He just had more tools now to do it with.

With a flick of his hand the sword vanished, and he got to his feet. “I’m going to make dinner,” he told his dad, who nodded, anticipation in his eyes. Yamato headed for the kitchen, a soft satisfaction in his chest that hadn’t been there an hour ago.

Piemon might have sired him, but it would always be Ishida Hiroaki who was his dad.

The End

Notes: Yamato, Jou, Sora, Ken, and Daisuke all refer to their Digimon parents as “sire” or something to that effect. They’re not parents, even if they raise them. Miyako and Koushiro don’t have that problem, but that will be addressed later. Also, this will probably be referred to when I get around to rewriting “One of Those Days”.

#yamatoishidaweek2022 #fanfic #higuchimon writes #digimon #digimon adventure #ishida yamato #ishida hiroaki #au: breeds

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izumiyagami14 · 3 years ago

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overthinking

enlightenmonth // [day 9-12] past or future Summary: After receiving an offer for the job of her dreams, Hikari has too much on her mind. She needs to talk to someone to…

A dimly lit phone screen engulfed Hikari’s pale face as she let out a defeated sigh. The chirping from the crickets outside wasn’t the only thing keeping her up. For the first time in a long time, she had too much on her mind.

On her phone showed an email with the subject titled: “Kindergarten Teaching Position Offered!” Of course, at first she was excited to be offered her first job in the field she just graduated from, but now, all the different scenarios played in her head, causing her stomach to turn.

She needed to talk to someone.

She scrolled through her contacts, desperately trying to find someone, anyone to talk to.

Taichi? He’s alseep.

Takeru? He’s on a vacation with his brother before he starts his career.

Sora? She’s busy with her career.

Mimi? She probably wouldn’t understand her overthinking.

Who would understand what she is going through?

Hikari kept scrolling until she landed on a familiar name on her list. She hesitated for a second before pressing the dial button.

The phone rang twice before the call was picked up.

“Hello?”

She exhaled in relief. “Hey, Koushiro.”

“Everything alright?” His voice sounded tired but full of concern.

“Yeah, yeah. Everything is good... To be honest, I didn’t think you were going to pick up…”

“I’m always up at this time.” Concerned tone turned to defeated as a pause settled in. “Are you sure you’re okay, Hikari?”

She inhaled deeply. He always knew when something was up. “Actually, can you come over? I really need someone to talk to.”

Without hesitation, he responded, “I’ll be over in ten.”

In seven minutes, Hikari’s phone buzzed next to her pillow. A text filled the screen from the man she was waiting for with one word: Balcony. She replied with a simple okay and tiptoed to the balcony, careful not to wake her brother and her parents. She unlocked the door latch.

As she slowly opened the sliding screen door, the late summer breeze brushed her skin. She cautiously walked over to the edge of the balcony and looked down. Koushiro stood there hands in his pockets in the pale moonlight, giving Hikari a soft smile. She returned the smile and waved. “Give me a minute. I just need to plan my escape route,” she whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

“Roger that,” he nodded.

She quietly walked back inside, put on her shoes and grabbed the nearest throw blanket. As she made it to the front door, she hesitated on grabbing her hoodie from her room. She shook her head, deciding against it as she might wake someone up, grabbed her keys, and slowly closed the door behind her, careful not to make a sound.

Hikari ran down the stairs and walked over to Koushiro. “Thanks for coming,” she huffed, out of breath.

“Of course. Did you have any place in mind to talk?” Koushiro asked, looking down at her.

“We can just sit on the roof of the complex, if that’s okay with you,” she replied.

“That’s alright with me,” he agreed and the two started their route.

For it being 2:14 in the morning, the summer cicadas sang in the crisp night air, filling in the holes of silence casted between the two. As they made their way up the complex’s stairs to the rooftop, the evening night had a slight chill, causing Hikari to shiver for a brief second. Once at the top, she walked over to a clear spot and laid out the blanket for the two to sit on. She sat down with her legs stretched forward and patted the empty spot next to her, indicating for him to join.

“So,” Koushiro started as he sat down, knees up for his elbows to rest on them. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

There was a lingering pause. She kept her head facing toward her feet in front of her, unable to answer his question. “How are you doing? Are you liking your new career job?”

Her answering his question with a question caught him off guard. “Uh, it’s going well… Besides working late every night and the occasional all-nighters, it’s going… great.” His tone said otherwise. “How about you? You just graduated from college, so are you looking for jobs right away?”

“Yeah, I might…” she stiffly responded, leaning backward on her hands and keeping her eyes away from his. She wanted to bring up her pending email, but couldn’t.

“Hikari, are you okay?” He asked, looking down at her. He always knew when something was up.

“Yeah, I’ve just been… thinking a lot,” she responded, gazing out into the distance and trying her best to dodge his eyes.

“What about, if I might ask?” He asked, studying the girl next to him as the gears turned in his head.

“Do you ever think about our childhood?”

He was taken a little aback by her next question, still positive that this isn’t the main topic in her mind. “All the time,” he eventually responded.

She smiled softly. “Even though we were the Digidestined-“

“And still are.” He lightly added.

She giggled and nodded at his response. She looked up at the night sky to gather her thoughts. “Yes, and still are. And even though we basically had the weight of the world on our shoulders, some of us never really realized it until later. We were only kids. Our only worries were about the small things. Like what to wear to school and who would we sit with at lunch.”

Koushiro continued to look at Hikari, determined to find the underlying meaning to their discussion. Even though he couldn’t really relate to where her part of the conversation was going because he always realized their overgrown, overwhelming responsibility, he continued to listen. “That is correct…”

She let out a sigh as she continued. “As we continue to grow older, our life choices are getting bigger… Our future is closely approaching.” And I’m terrified. “And sometimes… I wish it would slow down and go back to the way things were.”

Koushiro looked up and let out a similar sigh. “I understand that bit. I wish I had more time, too.”

Another breeze of chilly night air rushed through, causing chills to run through Hikari’s body. Before he realized what he was doing, Koushiro slowly took off his flannel jacket and lightly placed it on the girl’s shoulders.

“Thank you,” she whispered with a genuine smile.

“Anytime.”

They continued to sit on the blanket as a comfortable silence hovered over the two. Koushiro was busy analyzing her questions, actions, and nonverbal cues and trying to figure out the real reason she wanted to talk. She mentioned my career, changed the subject about her future, and bought up the past. What could it be?

There was a slight discomfort in Hikari’s breath when she finally asked, “Do you think-“

“All the time. I’m a great thinker, you know,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it” she giggled and tried again. “Do you think-“

“Yes, I do.”

Hikari gave him a quick nudge with her shoulder, causing him to go a little off balance. “Will you quit that? I’m trying to ask you something serious, Koushiro.”

“My apologies. Ask away,” he replied once he fixed his posture.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He joked again.

“Do you think,” she started, but paused to figure out how to word the next part. “Do you think I’ll be a good teacher?”

Koushiro twisted his head at her in disbelief. “What makes you ask that?”

She continued to look down. “I don’t know. I’ve just been… thinking…”

Koushiro dropped his shoulders when the realization of her actions rang in his head. “Hikari, what was it you really wanted to talk about?”

She exhaled sharply, unable to move around the dilemma anymore. “I was just offered a job for teaching Kindergarten.”

He smiled, his mind guessing right. “That’s prodigious! Are you going to accept it?”

She nodded her head, looking off into the distance. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll probably take it.”

Koushiro sensed her uneasy aura from the hesitation from her voice. “Hikari, are you sure you’re okay?”

And just with those simple words, Hikari’s thoughts exploded inside of her and gushed out. “I’m just so worried I’m going to fail! I’ve wanted to do this my whole life! And now that it’s finally here, I’m terrified that it might not be what I was hoping it would! What if the kids hate me! What if I’m unable to manage the classroom! What if I can’t teach math! What if…-“

Koushiro’s eyes popped out of his head at her outbursts and instinctively reached out to her. The two were now entangled in one another, Hikari’s head on Koushiro’s chest with his arms securely around her.

They remained like that for a few long minutes before Koushiro gathered his thoughts to speak. “Hikari, it’s going to be fine. You can’t think like this. It’s going to consume you. It’s going to suffocate you.” He whispered to her, thinking about all the times he was alone like this. This can’t happen to her.

“I’m just so worried…” she breathed into his shirt with her face buried into his chest. His scent started to comfort her. “I’m sorry. I’m probably just overthinking everything. I don’t need to burden you with this.”

“You’re not being a burden. No one should go these thoughts alone…” Koushiro brought her head under his chin and thought about what to say next. He needed to choose his next words carefully. “The future is always uncertain, and that’s okay. One thing that is certain is that you will be a great teacher.”

Her sniffled and pulled away to meet his gaze. “You really think so?”

“I know so. The absolute best. Take the job, Hikari. It’ll be worth it in the end.”

After a couple minutes of calming her breath, she nodded and let out a shaky exhale “Okay, I will.” She placed her head on his shoulder. He placed his elbows back on his knees and resumed his previous spot.

The two continued to sit together under the moonlight and a comfortable silence. Koushiro could still hear the the gears turning in her head when she asked, “What if a student is having difficulty reading?”

“Then you’ll think of some strategies to help with that.”

“What if a student gets gets sick?”

“Then you’ll be able to take care of them.”

“What if a child gets sees a spider and freaks out so much that they run out of the classroom and out of the school and down the street..”

Koushiro laughed at her over exaggerating thoughts, continuing to stare off in the distance. “You’re starting to sound like me.”

“Let’s talk about it. What goes on through your mind?” She whispered, sending chills down his spine.

The dark blue and purple hues from the slowly rising sun started to send a warm welcome to the new day. He wanted to continue and talk to Hikari every day if he could, but now was not the time.

“We’ll talk about me another day. Let’s get you to bed. You need to rest.” Koushiro whispered back to her.

The two slowly stood up and Koushiro grabbed the blanket from underneath and handed it to Hikari. She started to take off his jacket, but he held a hand up to stop her. “I’ll come back tomorrow to pick it up.”

They walked down the stairs and stopped by the front door of the Yagami residence. The comfortable silence landed between the two again. Their evening talk was coming to an end, but neither of them wanted it to.

“Thank you again for coming,” Hikari admitted. “You didn’t have to come, you know...”

Koushiro shrugged. “I know, but I wanted to. If you ever need to talk, I’m always here to lend an ear.”

Hikari took a step toward him and placed a hand on his cheek. She felt him shiver at the touch, but didn’t know if it was from her hand or if it was from the cold, crisp evening air. “Same goes for you, too. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. We’ll talk about you another night.”

Even though she was struggling tonight with her thoughts and her future, she always had time to care for others. That’s how he knew she would be the greatest teacher ever.

He nodded and unknowingly leaned into her hand. “Let me know how your first day goes, okay?”

“I will,” she said with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.

He felt his face heat up and he froze in his place. Instead of saying what was going through his genius mind, he silently watched her turn around and locate her keys in her pockets. As she turned the key and slowly opened the front door, he started to turn toward home.

“Hey, Koushiro?” Her angelic voice stopped him dead in his tracks and he turned back to her.

“Hmm?”

She gave him a soft smile that made his heart flutter. “Take care of yourself.”

He returned the smile, hands in his pockets. “Same goes for you, too.”

#koukari #enlightenmonth #koushiro izumi #hikari yagami

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ahiddenpath · 3 years ago

Note

Thanks for the Tri response, what do you think of Kizuna?

Well, I can only answer based on the novel. I bought the film, but I still haven't watched it! But I'll try to answer as best I can below the cut. Again, the novel had stuff I love and stuff I didn't, but I think my reaction to this one was a bit more true middle-of-the-road than Tri.

Spoilers for Kizuna.

I want to start by saying that I think my reception of the Kizuna plot was impacted by the state of the world when it was released, which is... continuing today, as I type this. I'm referring to the pandemic, of course. I pre-purchased my tickets for a March Kizuna screening in theaters; it was the first social event that fell through because of the pandemic for me. It's been a difficult period for everyone, and I was not- and still am not- really emotionally equipped to watch Taichi and Yamato lose their partners. I'd rather just leave it for now.

Kizuna is one of those stories where I didn't really enjoy the plot... But I find it inspiring in terms of what I would like to do with the ideas presented. It's amazing fic fodder, and you know I love that!

I do think that, coming off of Tri, where an adult Chosen who lost her partner ends up betraying the Chosen and involving them in her trauma stemming from that loss... Well, it was kind of like... Didn't we... Just... Do this? I have to mentally separate Kizuna from Tri to circumvent that tension, and that's not normally... how sequels work?

As you might know, I was also concerned about Kizuna sort of... demonizing adulthood by showing that the Chosen cannot have their partners as adults, because they've "lost their potential." In reality, adulthood is where your potential begins- you gain agency and go into the world to build your life.

On the surface, that demonization does seem to be what happened- but I don't think that's actually what went down. Taichi and Yamato fight so that the Chosen can experience adulthood and keep growing, instead of locking themselves in Menoa's world of endless childhood with the digimon. So, yay, our heroes think adulthood=good! But then, they lose their partners anyway; adulthood=bad??? But again, signs point to the epilogue still being applicable, so eventually, they will reunite with their partners. It's also directly stated at the end of the novel ("Wait for me! I promise to come for you!").

I think that the novelization didn't really explain the logic behind all of this. Did the kids actually lose their partners because adults cannot sustain a digimon partner? Or was Menoa mistaken? She clearly never figured out how to reverse the loss of her partner, so it's totally possible that she misunderstood the whole situation! And 02 makes the argument that digimon partners will come to everyone when they believe in themselves and follow their true path. We see some of the Chosen struggling with their paths during Kizuna, so maybe, when they find the courage to be true to their wants and dreams, their partners will return.

(For more on this, explained far better and with receipts, check out this wonderful post by Shihalyfie).

I love this interpretations of Kizuna ("be true to self=digimon partner")! But that... kind of... seems like an important thing to leave up to audience interpretation/nuance/reliance on the audience remembering those lines from a show that aired in 2002. Are we not going to talk about that stuff within Kizuna itself, if it's applicable? Obviously, I love Digimon Adventure and 02, but I don't do routine rewatches. It's easy to forget stuff. Or is the fact that "be true to self=digimon partner" isn't directly mentioned within the Kizuna novel enough evidence to suggest that it isn't applicable to the vanishing partner situation? I'm not saying that books have to explicitly explain everything to audiences, but... A little help, please? It's especially difficult to catch subtle nuances in translated works, so I think non-Japanese readers also have that hurdle to contend with.

I'm sure many folks felt upset, and maybe even betrayed, when Agumon and Gabumon vanished. And I get it, I do, even if we know they will return at some point. Like I said, it's something I frankly don't want to watch, but I'm fine with it intellectually (ie, in writing), mostly because it sets up a chance for fanfic writers to explore why they really vanished, and how the Chosen will reunite. Talk about an opportunity for character growth (gimme gimme gimme, lol!!!!).

And that's where I swing around to being happy again. Do you know what happens when canon content leaves stuff open to interpretation? YOU GUESSED IT, FANFIC FANFIC FANFIC! And you can still use canon setting without contradicting anything, awwwwwww yissssssssss. I'm planning a pre-and-post Kizuna fic that I think will really be amazing. I found some concepts of Kizuna really engaging/emotionally charged/exciting, even if I wasn't fully happy with/clear on the execution.

The novel also has this super wonderful scene with Koushiro telling Tentomon a story about candles that I really loved ;_; It was lovely. And seeing the 02 kids thriving and being so happy?! Wonderful. The overall characterization was solid, too, with lots of Chosen proactiveness (my fave!).

I think there was a lot to like in Kizuna, even if I'm not clear on a hugely important plot point (what exactly caused the partners to vanish).

Also, Yamato in glasses!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am dead. And also an impartial and level-headed reviewer of media, lol! Thanks for the ask! I hope this was a useful response, I feel like I blathered about nothing xD

Oh, as a final note, I did think it was annoying that Kizuna pushed the importance of growing and looking forward, not behind... And then Toei immediately rebooted Adventure. I understand that the reboot is likely meant to spread Adventure to the next generation, but... Hey, maybe you should take your own advice, Toei, and try something new???? No????? xD xD xD

#kizuna reaction #hidden's take on kizuna

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noctisfishing · 4 years ago

Text

That’s All He Wrote

Rating: T

Pairing: Sorato

Summary: An admirer makes himself known to Sora when she finds a note in her locker one day. As she takes her two best friends along to help solve this mystery, she hopes for one of them to notice that she has already solved it.

Prompts:

- music to my ears - something that is pleasant or gratifying to hear or discover. In today’s prompt, incorporate the phrase. (200 words) [ Write Your Melody Prompts by me! ]

- “I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.” - You've Got Mail [ Famous Movie & TV Romantic Quotes Prompts by @renchan7 ]

Notes: Those quotes made me crave something fluffy and sappy, AND I wanted to combine a prompt from my own list. Both of these prompts were chosen randomly, and I got a combo to send my heart a-flutter.

Also this one-shot ended up being more than 10x my suggested wordcount (basically, not 200 words but upwards of 2.8K lol) so hope you enjoy. :D

~*~*~*~*~*~

When Sora opened her locker at the end of school one day, she noticed from the corner of her eye that something fell out of it.

"Oh - Sora, you dropped something," said Taichi, who bent down to pick it up just as she turned to do it herself.

She observed it with him as he held it between his fingers. A small piece of lined paper, folded a few times.

"Huh," she said. Seeing the quizzical stare in his eyes told her that Taichi was just as curious as she was. She took the piece of paper from his hand and unfolded it.

As she read the words on the note, she felt as though her heart stopped.

"Ah, well, look what we have here!" Taichi began. "You've got a secret admi-"

"Shh!" she hissed at him. "Don't talk so loud!" She looked around the locker room, paranoid that other students caught Taichi's words, but saw that no one else was paying attention. That didn't stop the heat flushing on her cheeks. "Do you know who did this?!" was her next adamant question.

Taichi leaned back a little, as though he was intimidated. "N-no, I don't! I'm just as clueless as you are!"

And Sora believed him.

But not completely. She shut her locker and walked away, processing what she had just witnessed. Taichi followed right behind her.

"Wait up, Sora!"

Sora walked hurriedly through the hallway, hearing a few students greet her but she was too focused on her own thoughts to answer. It wasn't until she heard her name once more when she realized that she was fast approaching someone and she was just about to collide.

"Whoa!" he said with his palms up.

Sora gasped as she halted, merely inches away from crashing into Yamato.

"Hey, Yamato!" she said with her voice unnaturally higher. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."

"Deep thinking and power walking are not a good mix," Yamato replied, looking as though he hid his laughter behind his smile.

"Sora! Geez." Taichi appeared in a huff. "That note really got you, didn't it?"

"A note?" Yamato asked.

If her cheeks were pink, Sora wondered if the burn made them redder. She was suddenly hesitant to scold Taichi for mentioning it so freely.

"I found a note in my locker just now."

"Oh…" Yamato kept his eyes on Sora. "Should we be concerned?"

"What do you mean?" Taichi asked.

"Was it a good note, or a bad one?"

"I think that depends on how Sora feels about it."

Sora's voice seemed to be caught in her throat just as the two boys turned to face her.

"It's… none of your business." Sora turned away from them.

Taichi let out a sigh. "We're not going to get an answer from her."

"Maybe it's something she wants to figure out on her own," said Yamato. "If we need to be concerned, she'll probably tell us somehow."

The three of them walked to the front gate together, where they all would go their separate ways. Taichi was the first to walk ahead.

"Are you going to be okay?" Yamato asked.

"I think I will be," Sora replied. She smiled at him as she noticed his concern, then she remembered his question from earlier about the note. "You don't have to worry about it, Yamato. If anything, I thought it was a good note."

When they said their goodbyes and headed in different directions, Sora turned around to look back at Yamato. The way he stared at her and smiled at her comment made her wonder how much of a concern it all truly was to him.

With the note still in her hand, Sora set off towards her way home, smiling to herself.

~*~*~*~*~*~

On the next day, Sora had invited Taichi to help her find the mystery admirer after school. With eagerness, he said yes without another thought.

"Does this mean you've counted me out as your secret admirer?" he asked.

"I think you'd rather show up to my locker with flowers," she replied. "Besides, I could actually read the handwriting compared to your squiggles."

"Huh. Fair points. Want me to ask around? I could get the soccer club to investigate."

Sora shot Taichi a look. "I really don't want this to be broadcasted to the whole school, Taichi. I'm thinking we should ask our friends first."

Sora had also invited Yamato later in the school day, despite the fact that it was a day in the week that he usually spent time with his band. Somehow, she knew he would still come along with her and Taichi.

"I'm sure Yamato would've written out song lyrics if it was him," Taichi wondered aloud as the three of them walked out of school together.

"I'm sure that I wouldn't," Yamato retorted.

Sora agreed. "I'm sure you would make Yamato write out song lyrics for your note if you did it, Taichi," she added.

"You're probably right." Yamato laughed as Taichi frowned.

Sora had considered herself lucky that both Taichi and Yamato followed her pursuit without any objections. Their first stop was a visit to Takeru, whose eyes lit up the moment he saw Yamato.

"I'm surprised you haven't asked Mimi first," said Takeru after Sora filled him in.

"Well," Sora said, holding her hands together. "I texted her, and she said she'd ask around. She hasn't gotten back to me yet."

"Hmm, well, I could totally make a wild guess! ...But it might be completely wrong." Takeru added, and Sora took notice of the shift in tone between his two sentences before he smiled cheerfully. "I'll make some tea and bring out the snacks!"

Takeru headed for the kitchen and Yamato followed behind him.

"It's been a while since we've seen Takeru, huh?" Taichi asked Sora.

"Yeah, it has," she replied.

Sora looked toward the kitchen where she caught Yamato's grimace towards Takeru, who must have been teasing him from the look of his cheeky smile. When they both returned to Taichi and Sora at the table, they brought some cookies and a tray with cups and a pot of white orange blossom tea, which Sora knew to be Yamato's favorite.

After making a quick stop to the convenience store, their next visit was to Jou's apartment, and Jou quirked his brow in confusion at the three of them when he answered his door.

"Brought you some pick-me-ups for studying!" Sora said with a smile and raising the bag of goodies in front of her.

"Oh…" said Jou with a tinge of exasperation. "Well, come in. You can drop the snacks on the table."

"Got an exam coming up, Jou?" Yamato asked.

"There's always an exam coming up. I don't know how long I've been studying..."

Sora watched Jou sigh and run his hand through his hair that had been longer than when she saw him last. His eyes had dark circles underneath. In normal cases, he would be fretting about tomorrow's deadline and scolding one of them as a result of his anxiety.

She turned to the other two and exchanged looks of worry.

"Hey, Jou, why don't I make you some tea?" Sora asked.

"I'm good. I've had so much already but I can't seem to stay awake."

"Then, why don't we walk this way." Sora took Jou by his shoulders and led him to his room. "When's your next exam?"

"It's in a few days, but I need all the study time I can get."

They reached his room, and Sora saw his desk cluttered with loose papers and an open textbook.

"You've studied enough for now." Sora sat him on his bed.

"I need… to study…"

At the touch of her shoulder, Sora turned and saw Yamato holding the textbook in front of her. Sharing a look with him, she understood and took the book to give to Jou, just as she got him to lay down in his bed.

"You can study while laying down, right?" Sora asked. "It's more relaxing that way."

Jou didn't protest. He lay against his pillow with the open book next to him, and it only took a few moments before he drifted off to sleep.

Their final visit was to Koushiro, whom they also brought snacks and his favorite bottled tea. His greeting was chipper but he had a distant look in his eyes, and when he let the three of them into his apartment, he led them to his room, where he returned to his computer chair, grabbed his mouse and began to click.

"What are you working on, Kou?" Yamato asked, hovering over Koushiro's shoulder.

Sora and Taichi hovered at his other side, but Sora couldn't make sense of what Koushiro was telling Yamato, who seemed to catch on to every word. She still watched and listened out of politeness, but caught wind of Koushiro's stomach growling which caused him to stop talking.

"Well, we brought snacks!" Sora said with a grin.

"Ooh, I needed a break, anyway," Koushiro replied. He thanked Sora for the food and tea, and he swiveled his chair away from the computer to continue chatting with the three of them. The longer their conversations went on, the more Sora noticed Koushiro's eyes gradually appearing less distant.

The sky was darkening as they left Koushiro's apartment and headed home.

"Well, we didn't find out who your secret admirer was after all that," Taichi quipped. "Has Mimi gotten back to you, Sora?"

"Not yet."

"We didn't even get to ask Jou or Koushiro about it."

Sora didn't respond, and turned to glance at Yamato, who was looking ahead. She knew that Taichi was following along and wouldn't press any further for questions, but she wondered what Yamato had been thinking. When she looked ahead, she could tell that Yamato was looking back.

After they said goodnight to Taichi at his building, Yamato turned to her.

"I can walk you home, if you want," he said.

"Aren't you already late for your band's rehearsal?" she asked.

"They can start practice without me."

Sora broke her gaze from his eyes to keep him from seeing her blush. She started walking a few steps ahead of him, and she went over the whole day in her head, including the plan she devised and knowing exactly how it would go. How surprising it was for everything to fall into place, even until that moment.

And at that moment, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

"It's a shame we didn't solve the mystery, isn't it?" Sora asked Yamato behind her.

"You don't seem too sad about it," he said.

"You'd think I would be. We spent a whole afternoon with three guys who didn't give us any clues."

"That's because they're the last three you would expect to have the answers to something like this."

Sora stopped walking, and her lips curled into a smile. Maybe he caught on to her plan, after all.

"I'm guessing you want to know why?" she asked.

"That would be my first question," he replied.

She continued to walk, knowing that he would continue following behind her. "Taichi's been complaining to us about how Koushiro never wants to hang out, and you've always mentioned whatever it was he likes to work on. I'm sure we'd all agree he needed a reminder of what other humans looked like."

Yamato chuckled. "Yeah. And what about Jou?"

"The other day, when Teacher mentioned exams, you told me you wondered how Jou was doing, and we all know how intense he can get when he studies."

Sora slowed to a stop and turned to face Yamato this time.

"And you always talk about how you never get to see Takeru, since you've been so busy with school work and your band."

A flash in his eyes told Sora that the dots were connecting.

"Are you saying that you planned all of this out for me?"

"I've been wanting to check in on them anyway, but I knew you've been wanting to see them, too. Especially Takeru."

Yamato stared at her with surprise. Then, he let out a soft laugh, walking a few steps closer to her. "I shouldn't be surprised. This was supposed to be for you. But you made it all about our friends. And, about me…"

Sora noticed Yamato look to the side as his face turned a tinge of pink, which forced a giggle out of her.

"...I shouldn't be surprised that Taichi didn't pick up on anything, either," Yamato added with a mutter. ""But, that brings me to my second question. Did any of this relate to solving your mystery at all?"

"I think we both know the answer to that, Yamato. I've already solved it."

Yamato's eyes returned to Sora's gaze, and her heart seemed to skip a beat.

"Tell me what you know," he said.

"Okay." Sora took a deep breath and exhaled. It was now or never. "Do you remember when Taichi seemed to think that song lyrics would give it away? Well… I think I know better."

Sora reached into her pocket and took out the folded note, held between her thumb and forefinger.

"This note was only three words," she continued, walking closer to Yamato. "There's a lot that goes into a note like this. It's hard to convey how someone feels when there are a lot of emotions. A few lines of a song might capture those emotions and reach another's heart, but why write a verse when three short words express more than enough?"

She lowered her hand, fixing her eyes on his as he watched and listened to her intently. She didn't expect him to respond; still, her heartbeat was quickening.

"I lied about waiting to hear from Mimi, by the way. You really can't get past her. And, I'm pretty sure Takeru would have been right on the money if someone didn't give him a look of death…"

Yamato's furtive glance to the side made Sora hopeful, and she kept going. "Mimi said his name, and Takeru was about to say it - the one person I've been meaning to ask, but I already know it's him. At least… 50% sure."

That was when Yamato scrunched his brows. "Why are you only half sure?"

"There's half of me that feels like I've known him for a long time. I know that when he wants something, he'll go for it. But he's going to have his doubts so he won't face it straight on. He won't be too melodramatic by hinting at it in a song, so he'll settle for sneaking a message into her locker."

"And what about the other half?"

Sora lowered her head, her eyes toward the ground.

"I have my own doubts. It almost seems too good to be true. How his note to me tells me exactly how I feel for him. I'd feel like a fool if I asked him about the words on the note and found out that it wasn't him, after all."

"So... why don't you ask me, Sora?"

A touch of his finger lifted her chin to meet his eyes. His blue eyes that glistened as he searched hers while he waited for her to ask him.

"What did you write to me, Yamato?" she asked in a whisper, her heart pounding in her chest.

And there, after a moment's pause, his gaze transfixed, he uttered the words that she had been wanting to hear:

"I love you."

Watching his lips move, hearing him say those words was music to her ears. She stared back at him with wonder.

"So it was you, after all." Sora suddenly stopped caring about the heat on her cheeks as her words cemented her realization. The light sting of tears crept onto her lids as she felt his hands hold her cheeks gently. "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly."

She laughed, overjoyed and relieved that it was him. When he laughed along with her, she could tell felt the exact same way, knowing that his secret was out.

"Does this take away the 50%?" Yamato asked, looking back in adoration and brushing his thumb on her cheek.

"It does," she said as she placed her hand on his.

"I know you mentioned it… but I wanna hear you say it, too, Sora."

The note was gone from Sora's hands. She must have let it slip for the light evening breeze to carry it away. Just three words - that's all he wrote, but those words were all she wanted to hear, and at that moment, they were all she wanted to say.

"I love you, too," she said, her hand reaching Yamato's cheek. Then, in that moment, she caught the glint of tears on his eyes and the warm smile on his lips before he leaned forward, pulling her closer until their lips finally met for a kiss.

#digimon fanfiction #sorato #ishida yamato #takenouchi sora #prompt fics #noctiswriting #write your melody #melody no. 4 #famousromanticquotesprompts #sorato fanfiction

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lightchildofthespring · 4 years ago

Text

This fic takes place in the universe of Digimon Adventure Psi (or Digimon Adventure 2020) and shows how Koushiro met Tentomon. I'm using my hc that Koushiro was a bit old when his biological parents died.

Alone in the world

Koushiro recognized that landscape immediately. He had seen those colorful forms and sparks when he first had contact with the network space, back when Taichi had gone there for the first time. However, the older boy was nowhere nearby. Koushiro found himself alone in that world.

“Taichi-san!” Koushiro called, wandering through that strange place. A cold wind sent chills down his neck. “Taichi-san, where are you?” he insisted, getting increasingly desperate. “Please, answer me! Taichi-san!”

Was he really alone there?

A sensation he had tried to bury for years was reemerging. Once again he could hear, in the back of his mind, the whispers from those people, who were too sure a grieving child couldn't listen to them during his parents' ceremony.

“That poor helpless kid!”

“It's so sad!”

“He has no family anymore.”

“He's all alone now.”

“Alone in the world.”

Koushiro was surprised when he saw the teardrops falling on his tablet. He was clutching the object against his chest, as if afraid of losing it. The boy knew he had done that many times before. Maybe that was a silly fear, but it was still overwhelming. It probably lingered from that great loss he once suffered.

He wiped his tears with the back of a hand and faced forward. Koushiro wasn't a helpless child. Taichi had told him that he had been helpful, that he had been useful. He had to believe in his friend's words. Koushiro just needed to keep his calm and think. There had to be something he could do.

“It's going to be alright,” the boy told himself.

“Of course it is! Don't worry!” a voice suddenly said behind him, startling the child.

Koushiro turned around quickly and saw a huge ladybug hovering a couple of meters away from him. The insect was staring at the child.

“Hi, there! I'm Tentomon!” the monster greeted. “I saw you and thought you were lost. So, I'm here to help!”

“Tentomon...?” Koushiro repeated that name in low voice, studying the other. “Are you a digimon...?”

“Yes, of course I am!” Tentomon confirmed. “What are you? You don't look like a digimon.”

“I'm a human being, I came from a different world. My name is Izumi Koushiro, nice to meet you!” Koushiro introduced himself, bowing slightly.

“Izumi Koushiro-han...” Tentomon said, “Izumi-han... Koushiro-han! That's it! Koushiro-han sounds better! I'm going to call you that!”

The boy was about to say that the digimon didn't need to address him with a honorific, but a question made its way to his lips before he could think it through:

“Is that Kansai dialect?”

“What is Kansai, Koushiro-han?”

“Ehr... never mind that...” the boy muttered, trying to come up with a theory for the monster to talk like that without ever being in Japan. Then, another concern rose in his mind, which led him to begin to ask:

“Excuse me, uhm... Tentomon-san...? Have you seen-”

“I don't like the sound of that at all!” Tentomon interrupted. “Don't call me with 'san,' please!”

“S-Sorry!” Koushiro hurried to say. “If you don't like 'san'... should I call you 'Tentomon-kun,' then?”

“That sounds even worse!” Tentomon complained. “Just call me by my name alone.”

Koushiro felt blood rushing to his face. When talking to someone, he always used a honorific. To drop it, especially with someone he had just met, felt too audacious for him. However, he couldn't insist on using honorifics if doing that upset the other.

“If that's what you want, then I'll respect your wishes, Tentomon,” Koushiro said in low voice. Hopefully, he would soon get used to calling him that and stop feeling awkward about the lack of honorific.

“Thank you, Koushiro-han!” Tentomon exclaimed.

“You don't have to use honorifics with me,” Koushiro told him.

“But I really want to call you 'Koushiro-han,' and you said you would respect my wishes!” Tentomon contested.

Koushiro thought that he couldn't argue with that kind of logic. The boy felt it was unfair that he had to drop honorifics while Tentomon wasn't willing to do it, but decided that it was best to let that slide.

“So, Koushiro-han, you were looking for someone, right?” Tentomon asked.

“Yes! I'm looking for another human being!” Koushiro confirmed. “His name is Yagami Taichi-san. He's taller than me and has big brown hair. Have you seen him?”

“I haven't seen anyone around, besides you,” Tentomon told him. “I could help you to look for him. This Taichi-han is older than you, right?”

“Yes, how did you know?” the boy asked.

“It was just wishful thinking, actually,” Tentomon said. “I was worried when I saw a little kid like you all alone, so I hoped that there was someone out there to take care of you.”

“T-That's not...” Koushiro mumbled, shaking with embarrassment. “Taichi-san doesn't take care of me!”

“Does he treat you badly?” Tentomon had a worried voice.

“No, of course not!” Koushiro denied. “He's a wonderful person! Taichi-san is kind and encouraging! The way he smiles at you... and his way of talking that makes you feel...”

the boy lost himself in his memories of his friend and had to be taken back to reality by Tentomon.

“He sounds like a good friend who takes care of you!” the digimon exclaimed.

“I-It's not like that! I mean, Taichi-san has done a lot for me and many other people... he does amazing things... but I helped him too, he told me that I helped him! I got to be useful... I wasn't just...”

Fragments from his past echoed in his mind. He remembered the day he had met Mr. And Mrs. Izumi. Back then, how fiercely was he clutching that tablet against his chest?

“You don't have to be scared, Koushiro. You don't need to worry about anything.”

“We will take care of you now.”

Koushiro felt his eyes getting warm as those memories returned, but refused to cry. Crying had never helped him, it had never returned anything he had lost. It would be just bothersome for other people if he were to cry in front of them.

“Then, you take care of each other! That's how friends should be!” Tentomon said, excitedly.

Koushiro was taken aback by that statement, but wasn't bothered by it. The idea that he was capable of doing something for the sake of others filled his heart with joy.

“Say, Koushiro-han, what's that thing that you're holding?” Tentomon asked, pointing to the tablet that Koushiro had in his arms.

“It's a tablet that I can also use as a computer,” Koushiro explained. “I use it to analyze data and it helps me to communicate...”

Only then the boy realized that he could've contacted Taichi a long time ago and felt like the dumbest person alive.

“I... I can actually talk to Taichi-san and ask where he is...” Koushiro muttered, embarrassed, “I had forgotten about it...”

“You can talk to him? That's great!” Tentomon sounded excited. “After you talk to him, I can take you to where your friend is.”

“You don't have to go through that much trouble because of me,” Koushiro tried to dissuade the digimon. He didn't know how far away Taichi was or how long it would take to find him. It wasn't fair to inconvenience Tentomon that way.

“Don't worry, it's not like I have anything better to do, anyway!” Tentomon assured him. “Besides, I like talking to you. It's going to be a fun trip because I enjoy your company!”

“You... enjoy my company...?” Koushiro asked, in disbelief. The boy tried to remember if anyone had ever said such a thing to him before.

“You sound like a very intelligent person and you're also very polite. You seem to care very much for other people, which I find admirable,” Tentomon told him. “I like you a lot already, Koushiro-han!”

The sensation born from that statement was warmer than what he felt when he was able to be useful to someone. I'm not a bother... I'm not bothering him... Koushiro thought. He couldn't begin to describe the deep happiness that was engulfing him.

Koushiro found a spot to sit and then contacted Taichi. He was surprised to see that Sora from the summer camp was with the other boy, but was glad that his friend wasn't alone.

Then, Koushiro realized that the other kids couldn't be alone because they had digimon with them. He wondered if Tentomon could be to him what Agumon was to Taichi. Koushiro felt that was an audacious thought. Tentomon was probably just a nice digimon willing to help him out of kindness. It wouldn't be the first time he found people like that. However, Koushiro wished that wasn't the case.

Like he had done when he lost his parents, Koushiro wished he didn't have to be alone in that big and strange world.

#digimon adventure 2020 #digimon adventure psi #digimon adventure:#koushiro izumi #izumi koushiro #izumi koshiro #koshiro izumi #izumi koushirou #koushirou izumi

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uniarycode · 4 years ago

Text

Takari Week, Day 3- Digital World Visit

The discovery of an old memorial sets Takeru and Hikari on a not-so-happy trip down memory lane. Set about a month after the end of 02. Written as part of @takariweek

It had been sent in good faith.

Ken couldn’t possibly have known, no one would have told him. And Daisuke would never have sent it to her, if he’d been smart enough to collect the dots.

“Beware, poop monsters may be nearby” attached was a picture displaying a crude statue of sorts, rocks piled together to create the vague facsimile of ‘digital sludge’.

Or at least, that’s what she had been going for, when she was eight.

Ken wouldn’t have known that.

Daisuke wouldn’t have either, not explicitly. She had only said she’d made a shrine to the Numemon, there was no need to explain what it looked like.

It should have been reformatted anyway.

Iori had chimed in with some wisdom about how most Digimon didn’t want a fight, and that any conflict at all should be avoided.

Miyako was muttering about meeting with Mimi later, and not wanting to go smelling like poop.

There was no more reason for them to know than Daisuke.

And if she was being fair, the lingering odor of digital sludge was not something anyone wanted to deal with for the rest of the day.

The point of it was to smell, to identify an aggressor to other Digimon, and if nothing else it would annoy an attacking Digimon. There was a host of Digimon that relied on the sludge as a defense, as they were too weak to scare off even lower level attackers.

No, not weak, she scolded herself. They were never weak. They were simply not suited to combat.

A ping notified her of a message from Takeru: “Do you need to talk?”

She typed a single world in response “Yes”

***

It was risky to go anywhere in the digital world without your jogress partner. Most Digimon would not stake their lives on a fight, and the appearance of a perfect level would be able to scare off even more powerful attackers. There was no evidence that Tailmon or Angemon could evolve if needed, and less that Aqualimon or Ankylomon could.

Both she and Takeru tended to be a bit conservative in these matters, so when they requested to pair up, it was taken seriously.

Iori had been understanding, but Miyako looked a little hurt. It wasn’t that the older girl was insufficient or inept, it was just easier to talk about this with someone who already knew.

Someone who had been there.

Pegasmon and Nefertimon flew in silence after the tradeoff. Even with just the two of them and their partners, Hikari was unsure what to say. Nefertimon suggested they head to the memorial, and the group had quietly departed.

It was odd: a grassy meadow, between two trees, with a river flowing a few feet away. It was nothing like the wasteland she’d first constructed the memorial in. A less attached observer may even claim it was the statue that tarnished the otherwise picturesque landscape.

Hikari would be too kind to correct them.

“It shouldn’t be here.” She said.

“I know.” Takeru answered calmly.

“Why wasn’t it reformatted?” she asked, the question directed as much at the wind as at her companions.

“I don’t know.” Takeru responded.

She waited for a few minutes, still trying to get her emotions in check. “Do you think they were able to be reborn?” she asked.

“I do.”

“Why? If this wasn’t reformatted properly, then why would anything else? How do you know they are okay?” she accused.

“I don’t.” he responded “But Whamon, Leomon, and Piccolomon were. There’s no reason they wouldn’t have been either.”

She felt a small comfort at that. Admittedly she’d never met Leomon the first time, and had only a brief encounter with Piccolomon. Still they had by all accounts died, and then come back.

“The digital world is not like your world.” Tailmon said, “Forests, lakes, even mountains can be destroyed in a particularly fierce fight, and they are rebuilt within months. Perhaps this monument is part of the code now.”

“So it will be here forever?” she asked wistfully.

“Maybe.” Tailmon responded.

There was a break, as she collected her thoughts.

“Do you think, do you think they regret it?” Hikari asked. “That they hate me?”

“No.” Takeru said, wrapping his arms around her. “It was their choice, and it was Mungendramon who did it. If anything, I think they’d thank you.”

“Thank me? For getting them killed?”

“For freeing them.” Takeru clarified. “For giving them the ability to fight back.”

She felt tears begin to pool in her eyes. “I still dream about it sometimes, all those Numemon rushing in and then vanishing in a flash.” She closed her eyes, letting darkness console her.

“Sometimes the dream ends there, sometimes, it goes further. Agumon doesn’t evolve. I just watch as he takes you out one by one. First Taichi and Agumon, then Sora and Biyomon, then Koushiro and Tentomon, and finally you. All of you. Until I’m the only one left.”

A soft squeeze reassured her of Takeru’s presence, as Tailmon began to brush against her leg. “It’s fine.” Takeru said, “I’m here, we’re here. And he isn’t.”

“I know. He can’t hurt us anymore. None of them can. But that doesn’t stop the dreams.” She cracked a sad smile. “Pretty lame, huh.”

“No!” Patamon cried out. “Not lame! It’s cool. Like a battle scar.”

The flying hamster’s enthusiastic denial forced her to open her eyes, show her not only his serious face, but Takeru’s face, which was wracked with torment.

“You too?” she asked incredulously. It shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise, given what they’d all went through. And yet, Takeru had always seemed so calm to her, so brave. Especially three years ago.

“Some nights.” He admitted quietly. “Not Mungendramon normally, but others.”

“Who?” she asked. She regretted the word as soon as it left her tongue. It somehow seemed too intimate to ask.

If Takeru shared her opinion, he didn’t show it. “Devimon mostly.” Hikari nodded in understanding, she hadn’t heard the full story herself, but had overheard enough rushed conversations to piece it together. “But others too,” he continued, “playing hide and go seek in Pinochimon’s mansion. Endlessly running away in Piemon’s castle.”

“And also,” he paused, studying her face. “When Vamdemon took over the city.”

She let out an involuntary shutter at the name, and Tailmon’s hair began to stand on end.

“I thought so.” Takeru said sadly, pulling her close once more.

It took a few minutes for her to rally enough nerve to speak, but takeru merely held her patently.

“It’s been getting worse. Ever since, you know.” She couldn’t say it, but it should have been obvious. “He just doesn’t seem to die. No matter what we do, no matter what prophecies we fulfil. He just keeps coming back, stronger than before.”

“Third time’s the charm.” Takeru offered a paltry attempt at cheering her up.

“I’m being serious.” She scolded “We barely beat him last time, and Tailmon, Patamon, all of them, they split into all their evolutions, and then every chosen in the world came together. If he were to come back stronger, how could we top that?”

“I don’t know, but we would.” Takeru replied.

“You’re just saying that.” She pouted.

“I’m not. It’s based on history. We’ve fought foe after foe, each more powerful than the last. And in the end, we always win. And if Vamdemon or Devimon, or any of them come back, we’ll beat them again no matter what.”

She held him tighter, as if she could absorb his optimism though osmosis alone.

They stood like that for a few minutes, finding comfort in each other’s arms, not caring what might happen if one of the others found them and misinterpreted the situation.

“We should say a prayer.” Takeru said suddenly, breaking them out of the moment. “Right now. We’ll pray for the Numemon. Since we’re already here, it’s the least we can do.”

“I thought you said you thought they were alive.” She asked meekly.

“I do. You can offer prayers for the living too, Hikari. Most of my prayers are sent to those around me.” Takeru said, turning her around. “We can pray that they are happy and healthy, wherever they are now.”

She knelt in front of the memorial alongside Takeru, as he began his prayer. Somehow it seemed so much smaller than it had three and a half years ago, when she’d first made it.

And yet, that wasn’t the only thing that had changed.

When she had first constructed the monument, it was in a wasteland tarnished with darkness. Made on a world warped and mutilated by the Dark masters, and then reduced to one quarter of its size as the Dark masters died out. A monument to some outcast Digimon, who had met their end valiantly, but seemingly vainly, against a far more powerful oppressor.

But now it sat in this green meadow, framed by a pair of trees, with the calming sound of a nearby river flowing past. The oppressor was long gone. And those memorialized remained, living lives full of joy and happiness.

A testament to the peace they had all worked for.

Takeru finished his prayer and turned to her. His face turned first to confusion, before it began to light up.

“What?” she asked, looking away from his gaze.

“You’re smiling.” He said simply, it’s infectious.

She almost didn’t believe it, even walked over to the river to see a grin reflected on her face. And not a sad smile, or a somber grin, but a warm, gentle smile.

She turned back to Takeru, “Better?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She said nodding. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.” He said, as he began to collect their stuff.

“Do you think we could mark this place down somehow?” she asked. “I think I might want to return sometime.”

“I’m sure we could. I’ll ask Koushiro.”

She smiled, not looking away from the monument as Tailmon and Patamon became Nefertimon and Pegasmon and flew off.

From that day on, she had one less nightmare to worry about.

#Takari week #Takari #takeru takaishi #hikari yagami #digimon #it's only Tuesday and I've already caught up to my buffer #might get a bit touch and go from here on out

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afaithy · 5 years ago

Note

Number 3 with a Taichi/Koushiro friendship pairing? 💚

Ok, this story turned out a little silly. So quick details. As usual, the story takes place inside my Digi-verse :3. Taichi is a littly goofier than usual due to stress and probably the medication. So forgive him lol (?)

Koushiro has a lot of patience, to be fair.

Hope you like it!

SEND MORE ASKS HERE _____________________________________________________________

I may be stupid, but I’m not an idiot

“Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.”

― J.K. Rowling

Taichi had been having a bad day. It had all started when he realized that he had accidentally marked the deadline for his anthropology work on the wrong date, which meant that he had less than 6 hours to finish and send the document to his tutor. To make matters worse, his computer was under maintenance, and he had a bad cold.

It was curious, and extremely tragic, how something as simple as writing a wrong date could cause such apocalyptic results, but there was not much that Taichi could do about it. Hikari, seeing how miserable her brother was, agreed to lend him her laptop so that he could finish his work calmly. The girl wasn't going to need it anyway, since she had plans with Takeru that day, and she wouldn’t be back until late afternoon that day.

This was how Taichi, made a cocoon of blankets, with a cold compress on his forehead, and a dripping nose, had ended up sitting in the living room armchair, desperately typing about the development of civilization and the evolution of social consciousness based on use of the digital humanities. Agumon watched him curiously from a corner of the room, but Taichi was on Takeru mode, and did not notice the digimon concerned look.

“There!” Taichi roared triumphantly “Now all I need is to sen….what? Oh nono….nonono….don’t do this to me now!”

“What’s wrong Taichi?”

“From all days for the internet to fail….why now?”

Taichi took the laptop and started maneuvering around the room trying to get a wifi signal. The boy was so desperate that he began to try the most ridiculous positions possible; from the table in the living room to the inside of the shower, but no matter how much he stood on his tip toes or how much he bent down, the connection was too unstable to send the mail.

“I told Hikari we needed a new router!” Taichi growled “Come on damn it! I have 10 minutes to send this or I lose the credits!”

Taichi continued chasing after the wifi signal until he finally got a full signal and the mail went out. The boy let out a triumphant cry.

“Taichi! Be careful!” Agumon screeched.

In the middle of his search for a wifi signal, Taichi had barely been conscient of where he’d walked into. He was standing dangerously close to the balcony railing, with one feet on a stool and barely keeping the balance with the laptop in his hand. The sudden realization of this unnatural position made Taichi lose his balance a fall off. Luckily for him, agumon managed to stop his fall, but the laptop was not that lucky. It landed on the floor with a loud thud.

There was small pause, while both Taichi and Agumon stared at the fallen device with horror.

“Oh no,no….” Taichi said, horrified “Hikari is gonna kill me.”

Taichi picked the laptop and began to check it. It wasn’t broken, at least not as far he could see. The screen wasn’t even scratched , but the hit had turned it off, so he tried turning it back on.

Taichi held his air as the screen lit up, but then, it went into a blue screen and turned off again. He tried once more, and it happened again. Hikari was SO going to kill him.

His day couldn't get worse.

“Ok...keep calm…” he told himself “It’s not a big deal, we need help. It might be fixable. Koushiro! Oh yeah...I need Koushiro...now!”

Taichi took the laptop and without even bothering to change his clothes, he sprinted out of the apartment. He was lucky that Koushiro lived one floor above. Mrs. Izumi was very surprised to see him knocking desperately on their door and after the boy had given her a pretty desperate greeting, she had told him that Koushiro was in his room. Taichi thanked the confused woman and ran into the room, causing Koushiro to fall from his chair in surprise.

“Taichi-san! What are you doing here?” Koushiro cried.

“Koushiro...this is an emergency….you might be my only hope right now; no, scratch that, you might be my only chance of survival! Is that Mimi?”

Koushiro's cheeks went bright red and he quickly rushed to turn off his screen. Taichi watched the black screen stunned and then he shook his head.

“ Forget it. This is more important.” Taichi saId “ I screwed up.”

“ I should be surprised, but strangely, I am not.” Koushiro sighed “ what did you tell Sora.san this time?”

“What? No, I didn’t tell her anything.” “Ok, then what did you do to Sora-san?”

“Why are you assuming I did something to her?” “Because most of the time you get this panicky is because you messed up with her.”

“ Not true...well, at least not this time! No, this is worse…” Taichi said, putting down Hikari’s laptop on the table “I broke Hikari’s laptop.”

“Again?”

“What do you mean “again”? I’ve never broken her laptop!”

“Well there was that time when we were on middle school….”

“Ah! That doesn’t count...How was I supposed to know that book would fall over there?” Taichi said, shaking his head “No, for real...I don’t know what’s wrong with it and she’s gonna kill me if she finds out. Hell, I think not even Takeru might be able to save me this time…”

“Fine, I’ll take a look. “ Koushiro sighed “What exactly happened?”

Koushiro tried turning on the laptop, but just like Taichi, the device turned on, showed a blue screen and then went off again. Sighing, Koushiro opened his cabinet and took out a small tool kit and began working on the laptop. “It’s a long story…” Taichi said, walking around the the room like a restless lion “ The summary is, I wrote my reports deadline wrongly, so it turns out I had to hand it in today by noon, and my computer is on the store for maintenance, so I had no computer and had to use Hikari’s to finish, but hell when I had like 15 min for the deadline, I couldn’t get wifi signal to send it, so I had to look around the apartment to see where I had enough signal to send it and happens that the balcony gets full service, anyway...I tripped and the laptop fell.”

“From the balcony?”

“Hell, no! If so there would be no laptop. I fell to the ground.” “RIght….” “It’s all the router’s fault. The signal is so bad.”

“Did you even consider using your phone’s hotspot? Or perhaps that Lan collection instead of walking around the apartment?”

“The what?”

“Never mind…” Koushiro sighed “I think I might have an idea of what’s wrong, but it is going to take me awhile. What time does Hikari come home?”

“In about two hours…” Taichi said, looking at the clock “but no problem. I have a plan.”

“YOu do?”

“Yeah!” Taichi said, taking out his phone “I’m texting Takeru. I’ll lift his curfew for this time, so he can distract Hikari and get her home later....”

“You do know, Takeru is a poor liar and Hikari is actually pretty sharp. She will suspect something is up…”

“She’s with Takeru. He can kiss her or something and she’ll forget about it.”

“I thought you weren’t pleased with your sister getting kissed by any boys, Takeru included.”

“Priorities Koushiro. I hate the idea, I truly do...but sacrifices are required for my survival.” “You’re overreacting…” Koushiro laughed “I doubt Hikari would kill you.”

“You had no idea how she gets when she’s really angry.” Taichi said, rolling his eyes “So...why exactly were you seeing Mimi’s photos when I came in.”

Koushiro dropped the screwdriver and then let out a painful groan when he accidentally got a little electrocuted with the laptop’s static.

“I wasn’t!” he replied, blushing “Not ...strictly willingly. Mimi-san borrowed my tablet and when I got it back, I was notified that the memory was full. So I was going through the files to see what she had done to saturate my 1TB memory card.”

“Ahhhh...and what was it?” “Mimi-san seems to enjoy selfies.”

“She took selfies with your tablet?” Taichi smirked “That’s a message, you know?”

“A message?”

“Yup” Taichi nodded “She’s sending you an invitation. Believe, I know about this things.”

“Right, and that would explain your current status with Sora-san…”

“Hey, things with Sora are complicated ok.”

“How complicated could it be. Everyone knows you two are into each other.”

“Pff, of course not.”

“Right, that is why you made all that fuss when she was dating that...what was his name again? Yotaro?”

“Ryutaro...and for the record, the guy was a douche. He wasn't good enough for her.”

“Yeah, well, shouldn’t you do something about it?”

“I did, didn’t I? Sora wasn’t too happy about it though.”

“I didn’t mean that…” Koushiro rolled his eyes and said, “ I meant, ask her out.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. Everyone knows she went out with that guy to make you jealous.”

“No way. Sora would kick my butt if I even brought it up.”

“How do you know? My sources say that you might have a good chance.”

“Your sources, huh?” Taichi smirked “Is Mimi telling you all the gossip now?”

“That’s...out of the subject.”

“Riiight. Returning the question, then. When are you going to do something about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“You two have been sending smoke signs to each other since highschool. Aren’t you going to do something about it?”

“Smoke signs?”

“Yeah, you are even more obvious than Takeru and Hikari, and those two beat you at it.”

“That’s different. Mimi-san and I are just friends.”

“Aha...that’s what Takeru said, you know?”

Koushiro gave Taichi an irritated glare, but the older kid smirked.

“Taichi-san...if you keep distracting me, I won’t be able to fix this.”

“Ok, ok...sorry.” Taichi answered, raising his hand in a peaceful gesture “so...what’s wrong with it?”

“Good news, it isn’t unfixable. “Koushiro replied “the fal messed up with some of the RAM memory components, so I’ll just have to check it and put it back together.”

“What’s the bad news?”

“I’m not sure if I might have the spare pieces here.”

“Well, I guess it could be worse.”

“Yeah, well….” Koushiro sighed “next time, do me a favor, Taichi.”

“What?”

“Don’t drop the computer.”

“Of course I won’t. I might be stupid, but not an idiot….”

“Sometimes you make me wonder….”

“It was an accident!”

“Yeah, I’m sure it was.” Koushiro laughed “You’re lucky I can fix it.” “Yeah, I’m lucky to have you as a friend. I am so grateful that I could kiss you.”

“I’ll rather not.”

“Right...How about I ask Mimi to do it instead?”

“Taichi-san…”

Taichi smirked. He was lucky to have friends like Koushiro, there was no doubt about that.

============================================================

I don’t ship them (Unless I you count BROTP’s as shipping) but I am pretty sure this is how Taichi was feeling at the time Lol

#digimon #digimon 2020 #taichi yagami #Koushiro Izumi #brotp #prompts #writiing #my drabbles

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digimonadventuretimelines · 5 years ago

Text

[17 - Lullaby for Zebra • Elise’s Sweet Song •]

“You, you will go there and destroy the factory which manufactures devices for the Chosen Children. If you fail… You won’t want to know.”

Those words echoed in the black furred digimon. He had nothing to lose, nothing to gain either. He was a machine, or he believed to. However, he was organic digimon. A wolf. And his master’s orders were clear.

Destroy the digivice factory. Probably giving Izumi Koushiro the biggest headache if said mission is accomplished.

But it was raining in the human world. It was also dark, and he couldn’t see anything than a flash of light till it hit him. Luckly, his body was strong enough and he survived. The car and its passengers also were fine, just shocked and scared of that lupine digimon. The couple’s Labramon and Plotmon barked furiously at the irresponsible digimon.

Those ones… Why were they yelling at him? It doesn’t matter… He got hurt with the accident, his paw was sprained and he wished he didn’t break it.

He walked till a park and hide himself inside one of those giant turtle-shaped “shelters” with slides and remained there for the rest of the night.

At the morning…

“Where you watching the stream, Elise?” Mitsuki voice was heard by the mysterious digimon, “Some things happened during it…”

“Oh, don’t worry Mitsuki” a girl at the same age as Mirai -- blond hair with bangs and hair looking like the 14yo Yamato, and green eyes wearing a cute sky blue dress -- responded to Mitsuki. Her voice was so sweet and gentle… “I was watching it, but the same moment you got interrupted I got lost. Actually, something came from the screen of my laptop.”

“Something?” he blinked, then took his digivice from his pocket “Like this?”

“Yes! But mine is… Blue.”

“Oh…”

“Oh… a furred paw!” a child in the park, closer to where the cousins Mitsuki and Elise where, had found something cute and tried to poke it with a stick. They were all playfully with no malicious intent, but the lupine digimon roared and scared the children.

All those cries interrupted Mitsuki and Elise’s talk, catching their attention. Mitsuki approached from the group of children younger than him and his cousin.

“What’s wrong?”

They didn’t say anything, and just pointed at the pelt. Elise stood on an average distance and looked at the black fur.

“Oh a digimon...” she knelt to see it better “It’s a… Gabumon with a black pelt.”

“It’s okay” Mitsuki talked to the kids “I think it just got scared, we can handle it from here. Go play in another place please?”

The kids nodded and left; Mitsuki approached from Elise “Do you think something happened to be hidden there?”

“Hmm… It was raining last night. Maybe got lost or hurt…?” she kept going, approaching from the digimon “Hey little one? Are you hurt?”

“Be careful…”

The digimon growled, but she didn’t give up. Elise then started to hum a song, and that made the digimon reveal himself. As said previously by the girl, it was a Gabumon, but not a regular one -- it was a subspecies, BlackGabumon.

“Seems hurt” Mitsuki observed the digimon, “Little bud, did you get hurt?”

“...” BlackGabumon didn’t reply.

“Maybe we should call Mr. Kido?” Elise mused, but the mysterious Gabumon lied his head on Elise’s lap “Huh?”

“I think he liked you” Mitsuki chuckled, “Try to ask where it hurts, I will call Mr. Kido to take a look--”

“No,” Elise interrupted him, “He wouldn’t let anyone else approach from him. I can take care of this.”

“I’m not sure if it is a good idea…”

“Let’s get something for him to eat. I heard a belly noise.”

“Fine fine…”

“More children got digivices!?” Daichi exclaimed, Hoshi nodded in response “But but how??”

“They were watching Mitsuki’s stream.”

“This seems a problem” Natsu frowned “I mean, in the past it was a big deal because non-Chosen had fear about the digimon… But now…”

“That seems the opposite of a problem” Sting intervened “This means a Chosen in our actual days won’t need to hide their digimon like before.”

“I understand that! The problem now is that you all are mercenary Chosen Children.”

“What?” Hoshi eyes widened “What do you mean, Natsu?”

“Um, means you’re not on Koushiro’s list. Means you’re like, unregistered Chosen Children. Since with the growth of the number of Chosen Children in the past… The Twelve created a contact list and then, an organization which works undercover to prevent more cases of DigiChosen being taunted by evil forces, such as the Digimon Kaiser’s case.”

“You didn’t tell me about that” Daichi squinted his eyes at her.

“I was about to tell you later” and Natsu responded by a shrug “Anyway, That registered list is important to keep in touch and to make sure no one is being used by evil guys.”

“That didn’t work at all…” Ulforce shrugged. Daichi stared at him and he quailed.

“Ok, but how many people were watching Mitsuki’s stream?” the boy asked.

“Let me see,” Hoshi began to count “Mirai, Mike, Reika, Jin… I think Elise too?”

“Five people... Counting with Kiyoko, Eiji, you and me… 10 kids with a digivice. This means it’s a reasonable number. Excluding the unknown child, we have ten kids with ten digimon partners. But, with Brave Tamer we have 11 D-TimeRune holders...”

“We’re back!” Elise smiled, then stood by BlackGabumon’s side “I brought you some snacks. There was a DigiNoir store around. Here, eat it.”

The digimon gently took the DigiNoir box and opened it. He quietly replied “... Thank you.”

“Huh, what’s going on Mitsukiii?” Pit asked.

“Elise found a digimon” he took the digivice to let his partner see the scene.

“Oh! A Gabumon! But… Is it OK?”

“Of course it is” Elise giggled “He looks like a Zebra. Black and white. Can I call you by Zebra, Gabumon?”

“... Ok.”

“H-hey we don’t know if he’s partnered with someone, Elise…”

“... No” Zebra answered.

“Oh he talked with you…” Pit blinked.

“That’s an improvement…”

“Where did you get hurt? Should I call a doctor for you?” Elise asked, looking at one of Zebra’s paws.

“... No” then he showed the injured paw to Elise “this one.”

“Oh…” he took the digimon’s paw with caution “It’s okay I will talk with a friend, his dad is a digimon doctor. He will tell me what to do so you can heal your paw.”

“... Ok.”

Elise then took her phone and took a photo of her new friend’s paw. Also scanned it with an app created for the purpose of collecting data and information about the digimon’s health. On the next day, she went to see doctor Kido and request for his help. Joe admired the girl’s kind act and examined the data.

“Your friend will be fine, it was just a sprained paw. No broken or dislocated issues.”

“Oh thank you, dr. Kido” she sighed and her muscles relaxed. That a relief.

“I will write the procedures to help you heal his paw.”

“Oh okay.”

She took the paper with the instructions and went back to Zebra’s whereabouts with the medicine. Mitsuki thought it would’ve been a hard task… But apparently that BlackGabumon was feeling safe with Elise around. Mitsuki wondered why, and what had happened to Zebra’s paw in the first place. With no answers from the digimon, he went on a investigative mission by requesting Mirai’s eyes on the cameras around the town.

“I don’t know what you’re looking for” Mirai swirled her office chair to look at Mitsuki in the eye “but On that rainy night something came from the portal on the Sector W. And as you can see...”

She zoomed in the lupine shadow popping out of the Digital Gate. It was a Garurumon? The image was not very good due to the ambient light and the rain also messed with the colors. But Mirai is a computer genius: She ripped the video off the database, and edited it to show the details they couldn’t not see by the light and rain. It wasn’t a flawless edit, but they could see it better: A Garurumon with black fur came out of the portal.

“Do you think… This is the same digimon from the park?” Mitsuki frowned, he didn’t know what to do or what to think of “Is it dangerous?”

“Hmm… That Garurumon appears on this other camera here, and he got hit by a car. Don’t worry, no one got critically hurt. If this is one of the refugees digimon… Lupinmon’s troops will come after him.”

“... Could you tell Daichi about it please? I will warn Elise, she needs to know.”

“Hold on, you keep Elise protected and I will keep you in touch in case of something coming after the Gabumon.”

Mitsuki nodded, and he left in a hurry. Mirai frowned, then looked at the screen and saw Brave Tamer’s chat icon blinking.

“So, what should we do about it” Eiji asked Kiyoko, his eyes paying attention at her and her walking from here to there “You said that mr. Motomiya is a digimon now?”

“I can’t think straight now! Why is it happening to my family!? And to my friends!?”

“Please stay calm”

“I can’t Eiji! My dad is being called a THREAT! My dad, the most beloved person who always cares about the others and encourages them to break their limits… Is against us! I’m not sure if Mr. Yagami won’t… Won’t condemn him.”

Deep down, Eiji had concerns as well. His uncle was one of the closest friends of Daisuke, so he believed Taichi wouldn’t do something terrible like treating Daisuke as a traitor. But Kiyoko had all rights to be concerned and skeptical about it.

All he could do was gently accept her feelings towards the situation.

“Taichi won’t do that” Miyako was present in the room alongside the digimon, Daichi, Hoshi and Natsu “He knows your dad is not doing it on purpose.”

Kiyoko ran to Miyako’s arms, hugging her mother tightly. Miyako smiled and patted the girl’s hair. The grip around her waist has loosen at the first instance Kiyoko felt her mother’s hand on her head.

“Don’t worry.”

“May I ask what should we do?” Eiji calmly repeated his question, now expecting a different response.

Daichi rested his chin on his hand, “We need to… Keep preventing my brainwashed dad to commit a terrible mistake. Meanwhile I… Uh, I will go researching how to save him.”

Days has passed. Zebra, the mysterious BlackGabumon decided to stay with that girl in that world. However…

“Why is he taking too much time to return!?”

The shadow punched the wall, fist clenched. The tension of that action made some of the scouts step back, glancing at him with fear in their faces.

“What? Why are you looking at me, you pack of imbeciles!?” he gritted his teeth “Go back to work!”

They panicked and returned to their usual activities. A greenish Kunemon subspecies -- Dokunemon -- approached from him.

“What now?”

“The eyes of the forest said Lupinmon was breaking your control again.”

“I am aware of it, I can read my victim’s mind. He’s stubborn and strong, and that one name going through his head… That kid is a problem.”

“Kid…?”

That kid… The new Chosen Child.

“What are you thinking of?”

Magnamon caught him staring at his own reflex on the lake, next to the facilities of the army. Something went off in his opinion that he couldn’t tell the loyal knight… Because he had no idea how to.

“It’s nothin’, don’t worry.”

“Are you sure?”

“... The man and the kid… They seemed familiar to me.”

Magnamon did not respond, only kept his eyes lying on Lupinmon and quietly heard him.

“What is this feeling? Why I… I want to help them find this ‘important person’ he meant?”

“I don’t know… But we need to do something.”

“Let’s do it then, find that human-- Argh!”

“Master, what’s going on-- Ugh!”

Flying in the air and gesturing hands to show who was inducing pain to Daisuke and Vee, a humanoid digimon with human face, but his mask had resembles of Stingmon. It wore a suit, flashing moth wings moved to keep him hovering over the duo’s heads.

“Ah, I see you’ve been questioning stuff again. There’s no reason to ask yourself about said feelings. You’re a soldier. You and Magnamon serve this cause.”

That headache kept them unable to respond, all they were doing was growling and hearing that humanoid moth-like digimon speaking inside their minds.

“You poor beings are alive to serve me. So keep loyal to me and I will keep you two alive, or else...”

Daisuke and Magnamon’s eyes glowed in red, just like the time the Digimon Kaiser had control over the digimon once. Once the pain vanished, they looked up and in a very mechanical way.

“Yes, master Papillonmon.”

Papillonmon smirked, with the Dokunemon chuckling at the scene.

#datl text chapter #daichi arc phase 1

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ladyanatui · 5 years ago

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The Hickey *A Daiken Fic*

During one of the group's bi-weekly movie nights, the Chosen Children can't help but notice the very obvious hickey on Ken's neck.

AO3 | FF.Net

A few notes...

Okay, this old post of Sweet Affectionate Moments made me want to write a bunch of one-shots with my OTP(s). At this point, I haven’t decided on writing any ships other than Daiken because Daiken is my ultimate OTP of all fandoms ever, and it doesn’t get nearly enough love. This is to the prompt: A Love Bite.

Most of these will be fluffy because, as much as I love darkness and angst, too many Daiken/Kensuke fics are super angsty. And frankly, if anyone in this world deserves fluff in their life, it’s Ken Ichijouji.

Seriously.

Just look at my baby...

"Hai, hai…"

Daisuke's booming voice filters into the apartment the moment Takeru lets him in. They pause in the entryway for coat removal, and I flash Miyako a smile over the peninsula counter, but she's already rolling her eyes under her large glasses.

"Oh, hey, I brought you guys some ramen. This is a new recipe…"

I look up, beaming, when they come into the kitchen. "Hi, Daisuke," I say, pausing before grabbing the next box of Pretz. "Hi…"

Takeru slides behind me to slide the couple boxes of ramen into the fridge, and Daisuke pauses at the peninsula corner with a confident grin that assures me nothing is wrong.

I frown anyway.

Because for the first time since we started these movie nights, Daisuke arrived alone.

Ever since we started these bi-weekly gatherings after Miyako returned from Spain, he has Ken in tow, the taller, quieter boy on his heels, the soft smile he always sports around Daisuke firmly in place. We switch off locations—usually between mine and Takeru's apartment and Ken's, as everyone else has a roommate like Miyako or still lives at home like Iori—and even when Ken hosts, Daisuke is the first there. No matter how early Takeru and I arrive, he's already there, relaxing on Ken's couch or stealing Ken's food like he owns the place. But that's just Daisuke's way.

Oddly perceptive for once, Daisuke scratches his neck as he says, "I just came from dinner with Jun," by way of explanation.

"Oh," I say, then smile. "How is she?"

Honestly, the most impressive part is how mature he's become in regards to his sister. They still bicker and fight, mind you, but they can also sit down for a family dinner without trying to murder each other. Occasionally, the Motomiyas are even sweet.

Right now is not one of those times, though.

Daisuke groans and buries his face in his hand. "She spent the entire time talking about her wedding. Shuu-san only proposed last month, but she's had everything planned since she was six." He peers up at me through spread fingers. "They've been arguing about how realistic her plans are."

I nod as Takeru slides over to my side and wraps an arm around my waist. "Hai, Shuu-san doesn't strike me as the type to want a big wedding." I tear open the Pretz box and pour the contents into the serving bowl in front of me.

Miyako's hand stretches across the counter to grab a couple of the pretzel sticks. "Will Ken not be here?"

I chuckle. Miyako is ever the blunt one.

"Some university assignment," Daisuke says. He shakes his head, though not in answer to her question. "He said he'd be here, though. Shouldn't be too hard to finish quickly. For a genius."

Takeru laughs, his side shaking against mine. "Ken hasn't been a genius in years."

Most of Ken's intelligence was exponentially expanded by the Dark Seed, but even still, he's one of the most intelligent Chosen Children. I can never decide who comes out first between him, Miyako, and Koushiro.

But the dark look that crosses Daisuke's usually warm eyes says he has fundamental disagreements with Takeru's statement.

Another knock sounds at the door, and Takeru presses a kiss to my hair before slipping from the kitchen.

I flash a smile. "Why don't you guys pick out a movie while I grab us drinks?"

Without argument, Daisuke and Miyako push away from the counter, and I go over the snacks one last time to make sure I haven't forgotten anything before opening the fridge.

No, the argument doesn't start until Daisuke and Miyako are actually in the living room, trying to agree on a movie.

They never could agree on anything.

Takeru emerges from the entryway with Iori, and per usual, Iori offers me a small smile. "Thanks for hosting again," he says, inclining his head.

I grin. "We love having you guys over."

A sharp yell comes from the living room.

"Yeah," Takeru says after a chuckle, "after all, it's so quiet without company."

The intense look that crosses Iori's face says he'd prefer the quiet, but he happily accepts a drink before heading into the living room as well.

"Should we wait for Ken?" I ask, shooting an apprehensive look at Takeru.

He steps closer and presses a kiss to my lips. "You know Daisuke's going to insist we do."

I sigh. "And the moment Ken arrives and sees that we waited for him, he's going to apologize until someone convinces him to stop."

Takeru snorts.

He knows as well as I do that that someone will be Daisuke. Those two boys were practically inseparable at eleven, and nearly eight years later, that hasn't changed in the slightest. If there's anyone who isn't afraid to tell Ken to shut his self-deprecating trap and accept our friendship with open arms, it's Daisuke.

Even still, there's no sign of Ken for at least twenty minutes.

Not that that slows down Daisuke and Miyako's arguing. Or how much the rest of us want a pair of earplugs.

I frown when I check the clock again.

Perhaps he lost track of time while working on his assignment. Ken can, at times, be a perfectionist.

But right when Takeru is about to make his third attempt to stop the bickering, there's someone at the door.

I move quickly, eager to get away from the yelling and to make sure it's actually Ken.

When I open the door, he stands on the stoop, his hands deep in his jacket pockets and his face buried in the silky gray scarf—which is wrapped around his neck at least three times. It can't possibly be that cold outside.

"Hey, Ken, you're just in time." I step aside so he can come in. "We were just about to strangle Daisuke and Miyako and pick our own movie."

Ken laughs, but it sounds strangled, and for a moment, he hovers outside the door. Is he trying to decide between coming inside and bolting?

"Come on in," I say slowly.

At last, he steps over the threshold, but he's jittery, his movements uneven. This is more flustered and uncomfortable than he's been around the rest of us in eight years.

The mass of scarf at his neck probably doesn't help with that either.

I slide the door shut and press him in a short hug, hoping I can reassure him, help set him at ease. "Come on, Ken. Get comfortable."

"Right." He nods stiffly, and slowly, he unzips his jacket and hangs it by the door. He hesitates a long moment then, one hand clutching the scarf at his throat, and then he uncoils it enough that it's no longer suffocating but keeps it firmly around his neck.

"We've got snacks out," I say in a quiet voice. "You hungry? Thirsty? What do you want to drink?"

In the living room, the rising voices echo through the apartment.

Ken follows me toward the group. "Maybe some coconut water?" he suggests in a quiet voice.

I nod.

But any further conversation halts the moment the living room comes into view.

"Keeeeeennn!" Daisuke's high-pitched whine fills the air—equal parts amusing and annoying. "Thank god you're here. I need someone on my side, dammit."

Almost immediately, Ken relaxes enough to roll his eyes. "What are the options this time, Motomiya?"

A frown tugs at my lips as I turn and open the fridge to grab a coconut water.

We've all graduated high school now—well, aside from Iori, who's a junior this year—and Ken and Daisuke have been best friends practically forever now. But the only times I've heard Ken call Daisuke by his first name were overheard snippets of private conversation. Any time they're in a public or group setting, it's always Motomiya this and Motomiya that. Even after eight years.

True to form, Daisuke launches into a speech about the mecha movie he chose, all wild gesticulations and upbeat voice, while Miyako huffs behind him, her foot tapping angrily against the floor.

I draw Ken's attention as I set his coconut water on the small table by the couch, but after a grateful smile, his attention darts back to Daisuke's enthusiastic face.

Finally, Miyako can't hold herself back anymore.

"No no no!" she nearly screams, stabbing her finger at Daisuke wildly. "We watched one of your stupid action flicks last time, and I want to watch something fun this time. Something that doesn't end with half the supporting cast dying!"

Daisuke scoffs, barely glancing at her. "Bullshit. You just want to watch a movie where the biggest problem is some generic chick can't decide between her best friend and the cool guy in the leather jacket."

Miyako's gasp is as dramatic as they come. "I'll have you know this is a comedy, and it's cute, and it doesn't even have a love triangle, thank you!"

But he grimaces, turning to her fully. "It's cute?" He casts a glance over his shoulder toward Ken, begging him to join the fray.

His best friend's amusement takes the shape of a serene smile, and Ken considers patiently. "You know, Miyako's right," he says after a moment of silence overtakes the room. "We watched an action movie at our last movie night. Perhaps it's time to choose another genre."

Miyako squeals and launches herself toward the player. In seconds, she pulls out the disk and slips it in.

"Traitor." Daisuke crosses his arms over his chest and glares at his best friend like a petulant child.

Takeru, leaning against the couch armrest, stifles his chuckles, and I slap his knee to keep him quiet.

Ken sends Daisuke a soft smile—one that seems to say, Calm down. You know I'm right.

For a moment, it seems to work.

Daisuke's face settles into an irritable though resigned scowl, and Miyako joins Iori at the other end of the couch, a victorious smirk on her face as she snatches up the remote. She and Iori share quiet conspiratorial whispers and little snickers.

"Thank god that's over," Takeru murmurs, and he leans forward to grab his drink and drops onto the couch beside Miyako—leaving just enough space for me to snuggle into his side.

But even as the disk loads in the machine and cycles through quiet logos and copyright warnings, Daisuke and Ken are still standing in the middle of the room, blocking the television, having some sort of silent stand-off.

Then, Daisuke cocks his head. "Why're you still wearing your scarf?"

The tension in the room quickly rears its head, and I freeze before I can join the others on the couch.

Ken opens and closes his mouth like a fish, desperate for air.

When he receives no response, Daisuke leans closer with a frown. "Take it off."

"N-no…" Ken stutters, stumbling back a step. "I like it. I want to wear it."

Daisuke just shakes his head and waves away his best friend's excuses. "Take it off, Ken. You look ridiculous wearing that in here."

"No," he insists, shaking his head.

With a scowl, Daisuke crosses the distance between them and tugs at the gray scarf. "Stop being weird. If you're not going to take it off, I will."

"Motomiya…"

The word is a warning, quiet but firm, but Daisuke blazes right past it, untangling the massive scarf, and Ken does nothing to prevent him.

When at last the scarf's out of the way, crumpled into a bundle in Daisuke's arms, it's apparent why Ken didn't want to take off the protective material. His face, pale as always, flushes at the sudden attention, but the pink of his cheeks is nothing compared to the harsh red-brown bruise on his neck, just above the collarbone.

The room is silent.

Until, finally, the disk reaches the menu and starts blasting upbeat pop music into the living room.

Miyako fumbles with the remote to turn down the volume.

The spell's broken.

Daisuke leans closer, a smirk on his lips. "Say, Ichijouji, how'd you get that huge hickey?"

If possible, Ken's flush deepens.

"What have you been doing in your free time?" Daisuke's smirk turns particularly devious. "Who have you been doing?"

Despite the awkward and uncomfortable air to the room, I can't help but wonder too.

In our eight years of friendship, Ken's never had more than a date or two here and there, and none of them turned into anything more. Honestly, he's never seemed particularly interested in anyone, and he's never talked about potential partners the way the rest of us have.

Behind me, Takeru sighs and sits up straighter. "Come on, Daisuke. Don't be mean."

He proceeds as if he hasn't heard a word: "Because it looks like whoever gave you that hickey wants to get to know you better. If you know what I mean." The smirk hasn't disappeared yet, and there are no signs it will soon. "Come on, Ken. You know you can tell me…"

That strikes me as odd.

After so long, it's hard to imagine Ken and Daisuke keeping secrets from each other. Like always, Daisuke's an open book, and he inevitably weasels all of Ken's secrets out into the open��at least between the two of them. Really, by now, Ken knows better than to try to keep secrets from Daisuke. He said as much at our last movie night at his apartment.

But the amused way Daisuke speaks says this doesn't bother him. Strange.

"How long has this been going on?" Daisuke says through a grin. "How long have you been sneaking around and keeping them to yourself?"

Ah.

He's teasing him.

Daisuke knows exactly who Ken's new lover is, and he's teasing his best friend just for the hell of it. Because he knows Ken hasn't gotten up the nerve to tell the rest of us he's seeing someone yet.

"Motomiya," Ken tries again, but his voice quivers.

"They must really like you if they want to mark the great Ichijouji Ken for all the world to see. They must not want to keep your little tryst a secret anymore. Can you imagine how jealous all the girls will be when they learn you're already sharing your bed?" Daisuke says, his words taunting now. "Or were you just so caught up in the heat of the moment that you didn't even realize until the morning? Is he that good?"

My breath hitches.

He.

That's all it takes for Ken to regain his ground and his composure. "No," he snaps, pushing Daisuke away, "he's an ass who doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut. And he cares far more about his pride than the fact that his boyfriend wasn't ready to tell the world yet."

Daisuke scowls and chucks the gray scarf at the floor. "I distinctly remember you saying you didn't want to hide it anymore."

"We agreed to tell them together."

"We're together right now!"

Holy shit.

My legs give way, and I collapse onto the edge of the couch beside Takeru. I don't have to look at the other three to know they're sporting equally shocked looks.

"This is not how it was supposed to go," Ken says, still irritated, but his voice lowers. "We were going to tell them. Using words. In a normal conversation. Not for you to just drop it while bragging about your sexual prowess."

Daisuke grins again. "Yeah, but come on…"

Ken rolls his eyes. "Really, you're a child."

"That would be pedophilia."

His best friend—no, boyfriend—only sighs.

"Come on, Ken," Daisuke says, finally dropping his bravado and his frustration, and steps closer. "You were going to back out again. Just like last time." He reaches for Ken's hand and threads their fingers together when there's no protest. "If I'm proud or bragging, it's because you're completely out of my league. I know how lucky I am, and I don't want to hide. I don't want to hide how I feel about you."

Ken's blush is back again, but this time, it's accompanied by a pleased smile. "I'm not out of your league, Daisuke. Stop thinking like that."

Daisuke only smiles and squeezes his hand. "You wanna try again?"

He gives a short nod.

With a determined sharpness in his eyes, Daisuke turns to us, tugging Ken close and tucking him under his arm. "Hey, guys…"

"Hi?" Takeru murmurs uncertainly.

On his other side, Miyako releases a strangled greeting, indecipherable.

"We're together," Daisuke says, his words firm and final, leaving no room for argument. "A couple."

"We've been together for two and a half months," Ken adds, his voice softer, uncertain, his eyes unable to meet ours. "We've been…I've been trying to work up to telling you for a while now."

But Daisuke squeezes him again. "We," he corrects.

Ken meets his gaze, then nods. "We."

For a long moment, they stare at each other in silence.

Then, the couch starts shaking as Takeru bursts into laughter, bending forward to bury his face in his hands, laughing uncontrollably.

We turns to him sharply, and I lay a hand on his shoulder with a frown.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Takeru says, forcing the words through his laughter. "I'm not laughing at you guys, I promise. This is just so uncomfortable." As his chuckles faded, he pushes himself up to look at them again and says, "Seriously, though, I'm really happy for you two."

At the other end of the couch, Iori clears his throat. "Yes. Congratulations."

Between the two boys, Miyako straightens and finally manages to get her voice back. "When did this happen? How the hell did this happen? Tell us everything!"

And I simply smile at the two best friends turned boyfriends as Daisuke launches into an overzealous explanation of how their relationship changed. As always, his hand movements are wild and exaggerated, though one side is decidedly tamer than the other. Because he refuses to release Ken's hand.

Every once in a while, Ken shoots him a sharp look, a warning to keep Daisuke on point—perhaps a warning to veer away from certain details.

Probably details pertaining to Daisuke's supposed sexual prowess. Not that Ken disagreed with that assessment. Actually, Ken was the one who used the phrase in the first place.

I fight to keep the grimace off my face.

Best not to dwell on that thought too long.

#fanfiction #digimon #daisuke motomiya #ken ichijouji #tumblr prompt #fanfic #fluff #not enough daiken in the world dammit #hikari yagami #takeru takaishi #miyako inoue #takari #digimon 02 #digimon fanfiction #digi fic #my fanfiction #daiken #anatui #anatui writes

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twinfanfics · 5 years ago

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The tale of the three head beast. The marching fishes (21/22)

WE ARE BACK!!

Fandom: Digimon GoT au.

Charaters: All the choosen children from Adventure, 02, Tamer and sometimes Frontier.

Ships: Taiyama, Joumi, Daiken, Takary, TakatoxYuri, RikaxRyo …

Second part of the tale of the three head beast series, you can read the first part The chosen children Here and here, or look for the tag 3t3hb on this blog.

Resume: Three years had pased since Taichi won the hand of princess Sora and both get crowned King and Queen of the living land, now they must faced the duty of the monarchs, but the King is must worried about cover his affair with the royal guard. The war started on the Honest Island, does the King Joe would manage it?. Mean while at the other side of the sea Takato and Ruki stronger their forces.

And you can read all past chapters of the marching fishes in the links below or in AO3

ACT 1. ESCENE 1: THE RAIN

ACT 1. ESCENE 2: THE WILL

ACT 1. ESCENE 3: THE TRIP

ACT 1. ESCENE 4:THE SON

ACT 2. SCENE 1: THE ARRIVAL

ACT 2. SCENE 2: BROTHERHOOD

ACT 2. SCENE 3: MOTHER | **warning suicide attempt**

ACT 2. SCENE 4: THE BATTLE OF THE IKKAKU ISLAND

ACT 3. SCENE 1: THE INTERROGATION

ACT 3. ESCENE 2: DELIVERY

ACT 3. ESCENE 3: RED DRESS

ACT 4. ESCENE 1:TRIAL

ACT 4. ESCENE 2: THE SAINT QUEEN

ACT 4. ESCENE 3:THE SPY

ACT 4. ESCENE 4: INTRUDERS

ACT 4: SCENE 5: THE BROKEN SWORD

ACT 5: SCENE 1: THE WIDOW

ACT 5: SCENE 2: WELCOME HOME

ACT 5 : SCENE 3: FAITH

ACT 5: SCENE 4: LIONHEART

ACT 5: SCENE 5: THE PRICE TO PARADISE

One day past, and then another, and another, and another.

All he want was to back to normality, back to the long days haunting on the forest and the short nights on the arms of his lover.

But all he get from Yamato was silence, coldness, indifference, sometimes even fear.

At the begining Taichi thought that he only needed time, a few nights to cry over his lost friend, that at some point the both would talk about it, but that time never came.

And everyday that past the air felt thicker between them, he want to scream and run and fight, but they put him against an enemy he would never beat, a bigger obstacule than Yamato´s bitterners

His sister talked and whispered and sang, always the same nonsense, Hikari continues all day every day, she join him for breakfast and dinner, she walked him around the halls of the castle and in the meetings with the council; and when she was not there, Koushiro was, and when they disappear and he finally could breath it was night, and he was left alone on his room with his wife.

And Yamato guarded the room

And Sora looked at him demanding something that he refuse to give

And everything he could think about was Yamato outside the room

And the woman inside the room grew impatient, but also proud; she wasn´t going to beg and he wasn´t going to bend.

In the morning Hikari was waiting for him outside the room, and Yamato looked at the floor and Taichi died for explain him that nothing happened, that he never touch her as he had touch him, but his little sister smile at him, and the routine begins again.

Days and nights, thoughts that what could be tormented him, he should stay on the island for the execution of Iory and Ken; he should never come back for the war; sometimes he wonder if it was bad luck that Kouji stroke that arrow...

“What a wonderful moon” Hikari exclaim when the same cheerful voice, maybe a little bit cheerful that the usual “you should rest, go to bed earlier tonight”

As if he want that, between the eyes of the lights and the lies of the crown it was the Kingdom, if something allowed him not to drown was his duty, his work, the only vow that he hadn't broken, so he devoted himself, he worked late, hardly and constand.

“ If you need rest go to your room” he smiled stacking a pile of papers that could totally wait until next morning “ This is important Hikari” He lied, in the corner of his eye it was Yamato, of course, silence Yamato guarding the door in the room when only he and his sister where, if only, if this time she would let them alone

“Is not as important brother, you know...” a little red appear on her sister cheeks “this moon is a powerful augury, this night could be the night”

“The night?”

“You know…” It was not the presence of his sister what bothered him, sometimes he felt that Hikari did not exist anymore, they had somehow replaced the sweet girl who was scared of the shadows, the annoying young woman who scolded him about his manners, who joked, who laughed, for one more of them, an endless recital of light proverbs, a tool for their scams “because it such a beautiful full moon” she mamble

“ the moon?” but behind her rosy cheeks Taichi somehow saw a glimpse of his little sister “ should I let my work because of the moon?”

“Brother!” Hikari was there “You may not know, but the moon is a light vessel, its dictade the fluctuations of the soul, enlight the spirit, especially those from women” she avoided his eyes “and I don't ask you to quit your job, just to focus on one of greater importance”

Taichi late a minute to catch up on her words “What you want Kari?”

“Is not about what a i want brother! is more about what I know” she lowered her voice Was she trying to prevent Yamato from listening to them?

“I dont think you know as much as you think”

“I have been studying the texts, I have looked at the stars, I have prayed every day since your return, I have ..." she stuttered "I have monitored the fluctuations in the queen's body, believe me, toning must be the night” the knight at the door turn around

He stand up, livid in anger and shame “you have no right!”

“Brother!”

“Dont you dare!” he feels the rage burning his skin “Dont call me brother when you act like nothing more that a priest!”

“I only want the best for you!”

“The best for me? is this the best for me? did I look like the best I had been? HOW?! How you have time for stars and book and prayers when you are watching me all day?!”

“I´m not…”

“Yes you are! Do you think i don´t know? that I´m stupid?! You are here talking about trues and life and you lie and kill”

“I never…”

“You are killing me Hikari, don´t you see? all this pat that your light draw end with my death” he laughs, sitting again “ you are just like the rest of them, are you still my sister Hikari? are something of you still there?”

“What do you mean? of course im your sister”

“Then talk to me, ask me if I want any of this, act as if you care when I´m suffering!”

“Of course I care! but brother you must know, suffering is how we gains forgiveness, sacrifice will give us the eternal paradise, is the only way for The Light to enter in our souls “ the words of a priest, Hikari spoke with such a devotion, Taichi was sure she believes every single line “Only through suffering can we atone our sins”

“what do you know about my sins?”

she said nothing but her eyes move to the door

“Live me alone sister” His voice drop a shadow between them

“I cant…I have orders ”

“orders from who? You are nothing more than a lady of the court”

“I´m a sister of The Light!”

“No you are not! you are a tool! a pretty face that they train to recitate old passage! They haven't even let you give the votes!, did you know why? “ he stand up “because you are the princess of the mountains, you are the key to our parents titles and everything than you are doing to me sister, they are gonna force on you too! and I remind you I'm still the damn King of all the living land and I command you to leave me alone!”

She shook and tremble, her little body looked like it would broke

“Yes your majesty” a little bow, not a single tear “ I must inform you that the queen is waiting for you on your chamber” she walk out, not before calling Yamato to follow her, finally leaving him alone.

And felt alone indeed, not Hikari or Yamato turn back to looked at him when they walk away, he knew he had lost his sister, it was not sudden; slowly the claws of The Light had dragged her for years until they took control of her entire body, there was nothing he could do to get her back, but Yamato …

Taichi leaves his study and walked with the head up and stop in front of the door with no guards, sacrifice would bring him paradise.

Sora was sitting near to the window, holding a book she wasn't reading, it wasn´t even midnight when her husband appear.

“You are late” you stupid, stupid man

“I know” she didn't expect him to talk back, he never did, He took so long but finally walked until her and took her hand, one knee on the floor “I need to know, did you want a son? is really your wish or is a mandate of The Light?”

She move with confusion, only Taichi ever ask for what she want

“I want a heir, I don't want the legacy of my father to died with me” he expect sincerity “and I… I wish for a baby, I want to be a mother it has nothing to do with The Light”

“ fine, then I'm gonna need your word”

“My word?” she was used to be ignore by him, but this? Taichi suddenly care and for onces she was completely lost

“Yes, the promise that you won't kill me as soon as you have a heir”

“I would never do that!” she rush and dear heaven he touch her shoulder; he had no right, when was the last time anyone touch her? was that his fear? that was what was holding him back? a hope that she thought dead blooms

“Promise me that you won't let them kill him” a stupid woman for a stupid man “Promise me….”

“And what about the promises you made to me? what about your lies? how you dare to ask me for anything!”

“You need it to be my son” who was that men? why the sudden confidence? “promise me that you won't let them kill him” he repeat “promise me that Yamato would be alright” the audacy

She thought in refuse, but only the fools fight a battle already lost.

“You have my word” she didn't need his heart anyway, she only needs his body, his touch, his hands, his strong arms took her and carried to their bed “But you must never lie to me again”

That's smile, he closed his eyes and stroked her skin, what a horrible way to be a gentleman, if only she care, if only they had not already passed the point of no return.

She undress herself, he do the same.

If it was a defeat, she hope every failure in life feels that good

#the tale of the three head beast #the marching fishes #digimon fanfiction #digimon GoT au #taichi yagami #hikari yagami #Sora Takenouchi

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higuchimon · 3 years ago

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[fanfic] Making A Move

The Chosen didn’t often have the opportunity to get together. Try as they might, the perils of growing up meant not always having time for certain things. But there were times when they put in the effort, and said times weren’t always ones where the fate of two worlds were at stake.

Daisuke tucked the last of the food into the picnic basket and did a quick double check to be sure that he’d not missed anything. Ken glanced over his shoulder.

“Are those your mother’s cakes?” There was a definite hint of greediness in his tone at the sight of them, and Daisuke lightly tapped Ken’s hand to keep him away from them.

“You can have some later, after the fireworks,” Daisuke promised. His mom had made certain there were enough of them for everyone, but if someone didn’t keep an eye on Ken, Daisuke wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d all vanished.

Ken pulled his hand back, a brief smile flashing across his lips. “Are we ready?”

“I think so.” Daisuke ran over everything in his head. Everyone was bringing their own basket – more or less. Taichi and Yamato were going to share one, as were Koushiro and Miyako. Hikari and Sora had also made sharing plans. Daisuke wasn’t sure what the others’ plans were, but he figured he’d see once they were all on the beach together.

He checked one more time for the extra food, then shot a quick look to where V-mon sat not that far away, eyes round with hunger and greed, far more so than Ken.

“You’ll get your share later.” Daisuke waved a finger at him and V-mon grumbled. “You’re going to get sick if you keep stuffing yourself.”

“I would not!” V-mon declared, mildly offended at the very suggestion. Daisuke just looked at him. They’d found out the hard way that V-mon’s stomach didn’t always react well with some of the food he loved the most.

Ken chuckled a little. Daisuke shot him a mildly annoyed look, but one that softened within seconds. He was so used to seeing Ken in his school uniform that seeing him dressed now in shorts and a regular shirt and sandals still took him by surprise. Sometimes he thought he caught Ken staring at him too.

It made him wonder sometimes if he should – no, if he said anything, it wasn’t the right time. So many times he’d felt the words tingling on his lips and yet held them back. He trusted Ken would always be his friend, and the chance of adding a fresh new dimension to that teased so hard at him.

And he refused every time, holding himself back. He would always be Ken’s friend. He wasn’t going to do anything to lose that, ever. But he knew he’d have to make a choice, and that choice could be closer than he thought.

With everything packed up, they headed out for their destination – one of the secluded beaches. As time passed, Digimon were more and more accepted and more and more people gained partners of their own. So their own partners stayed with them more, and were included on this trip.

Mimi was the first one there, it seemed, and had already spread out what she’d brought with her and Palmon. She greeted them with a cheerful wave and Daisuke returned it, taking the chance to practice a little of his English.

Soon everyone else showed up, carrying their baskets, their partners with them, chatting among themselves. Takeru had the fireworks, but no one wanted them to be set off until after the sun went down.

Daisuke stretched out next to Ken, his head tilted back, staring up at the gleaming stars that glittered overhead. V-mon and Wormmon were curled around each other, V-mon’s stomach rounded with everything he’d stuffed into himself. Daisuke shook his head a bit.

“He’s out like a light,” he reported, and Ken chuckled. Wormmon also didn’t move, deeply sleeping. Ken ran his hand gently over his partner’s head.

Daisuke tilted his head a little and could see the others. Taichi and Agumon were in a deep conversation, though they were a little too far away for him to hear what they were talking about. Yamato sat with his back to one of the cliffs, Gabumon by his side, fingering his guitar in a melody that meshed with the sound of the surf and the wind.

Koushiro and Miyako were talking about something that probably involved computers, since they were staring at a laptop. At least that was what Daisuke guessed they were talking about. Jou and Iori were also talking, but the sound of waves covered it up neatly. They were all more or less in their own little worlds, and Daisuke kind of liked it that way.

Since he was in his own little world with Ken.

He tracked the stars across the sky, not really thinking about anything, but enjoying being here. Ken was so close to him. Daisuke could feel the warmth of his presence.

“Ken…” Daisuke murmured, feeling that maybe now might be the time. He wasn’t sure of how to shape the words, but he’d always been rather fond of just charging ahead regardless. If Ken didn’t feel the same, then that would be all right.

“All right, everyone!” Takeru waved one hand from where he’d been busy setting up the fireworks. “Time to get these going!”

Daisuke groaned, slamming his head against the sand for a few seconds. Ken blinked at him, clearly confused.

“Daisuke? Are you all right?”

As much as he wanted otherwise, Daisuke wasn’t sure if he could say what he wanted to say.

Who cares. Might as well take a chance. Won’t be the worst one I’ve ever done.

Daisuke didn’t answer. At least not with words. He reached over, rested his hands on Ken’s shoulders, and just as the first fireworks took off, exploding into the night sky, kissed Ken full on the lips.

It was everything he’d ever hoped it would be. And what made it better was when Ken started to kiss back. He tasted of the cakes they’d shared and his hands slipped around Daisuke’s back, their breath sliding together until Daisuke wasn’t sure if he could breathe without him.

He also wasn’t sure if he wanted to.

The End

Notes: I’m tempted to write something that focuses more on those cakes. But not now.

#fanfic #higuchimon writes #daikenweek2022 #digimon adventure 02 #daisuke x ken #ken x daisuke #series: in the cycle

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ladyofthecastleproject · 6 years ago

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[Angel of Miracle] 309 - What Fills You With Determination?

“Say WHAT?!” - Jun screamed on the phone - “Are you sure?! I can’t do that, my mom would kill me if she discover Daisuke is out of her range! He had a hard time to convince her to go visit our grandparents in America alone last year and to go on a trip this year!”

“I know, but he told me to say that…” - Taichi wasn’t happy with her screaming at him - “Because he’s in another world. Look, I know he does not want to make your parents and you worried, so this is why I’m planning to go there with the others.”

“I will go too.”

“No, you stay here and tell Miyako-chan’s sisters to please give us some help. We won’t take too much time. Also there’s Iori’s and Ichijouji’s families… I will call them later. Please whatever you think, do NOT try to dive into the Digital Gate alone. I know you’re older than us, but you need to hear me. I’m your senpai when it’s about digimon business.”

“Oh, senpai?” - she was being sarcastic now - “Right, Yagami-senpai. I will do what you want, but tell Kido-senpai I want a date with his oldest brother!”

“A-are you serious?!”

“Definitely~♥”

She hung up; at the Yagami household, Taichi was staring at the phone.

“That girl will end up doing something stupid” - he sighed.

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“Did you tell them?” - Yamato asked Taichi, once all the group were reunited in Koushiro’s room again.

“Yes… Jou, Motomiya-senpai said she wants a date with your big brother.”

“W-what?!”

“That’s not the right time for that!” - Sora interrupted them, like an angry mother - “Our plan is go to the Digital World and try to find a gate to that other world, isn’t it?”

“You were telling me to trust in the kids” - Taichi frowned - “Why the sudden change? Are you… Worried?”

“It’s not like I don’t trust them. It’s that I want to keep the gate open for their return!”

“So are we going or not?!” - Mimi snorted - “We need to decide!”

“We need to give them support, and this is why I want to… To go” - Sora answered.

“Yes, she’s worrying like a true mom” - Taichi nodded his head, arms crossed, eyes closed, a smirk…

“T-Taichi!!” - she blushed.

“Maybe we should go” - said Mimi - “We can at least keep the Digital World safe until they come back.”

“Safe from what?” - Jou questioned her - “The Digital world is safer than before. Oikawa-san’s seal… It restored it, if I remember correctly.”

“Actually not” - Koushiro interrupted them - “Gennai-san said there’s still stuff to be done. The Black War Greymon issue caused a great damage to the Digital World. The Holy Stones won’t grow that fast. The time Ichijouji-kun was the Kaiser, he unbalanced the Digital World with innumerous Dark Towers. The Digital World is far away from being ‘safe’ from the evil.”

“So… Are we still needed?” - Jou said it with a quiet voice.

“Yes, we are.”

“... We’re going” - Taichi announced - “We already talked to everyone’s families, Koushiro and Jou--”

“-senpai, please.”

“-- And Jou will stay here keeping the gate opened. The rest will come with me, we’re opening this gate to this unknown world and save the kids.”

“Will you ever call me by ‘senpai’ at least ONCE?!”

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“I have to go back,” - Diomedes announced - “There’s too much to be done, so please contact me once you’re ready, Warlock.”

“I understand…” - the little brother couldn’t keep him for a long time - “the kingdom needs you… And you’re the one responsible for the relationships of our allies.”

“Wow, he doesn’t look like Izumi-senpai at all” - Miyako whispered to Hikari and Takeru - “Izumi-senpai has social anxiety by what I noticed. Him being at the computer club was a big surprise to me, I’ve only talked to him by e-mail before.”

“Can we gather all the cores we got and focus on the missing ones?” - Dai asked - “Like, no one needs to stay with us if we have the cores. I think Helios and prince Diomedes have royal affairs to deal with.”

“True…” - the mage wondered - “I didn’t read anything about needing all cores to be activated. Before we get separated, we should do that.”

Everyone agreed, then they concentrated on their power, let themselves be guided by their aether and again the cores appeared in front of them. The only one who didn’t do that was Daisuke, because for an unknown reason he couldn’t do that.

Still… Daisuke felt upset with himself about it. Why? Why didn’t my core appear? Do I have a crest? And all the doubts invaded his thoughts. Warlock them muttered some strange words to the Chosen Children, but understandable for the others (and Daisuke too, but his case was he couldn’t translate it to the kids). After saying them, the cores went directly to Lance’s star pendant.

“Is it done?” - Diomedes asked - “I need to return now, I apologize.”

“We’re done for now” - Warlock said - “all the cores are with Lance now.”

“Including ours?” - Iori wondered.

“Not at all” - Takeru said - “Look at your hands. They’re still here…!”

“I think the enchantment just picked the ones from this world” - the wizard mused - “This never happened before, I mean having more cores than needed.”

“What do you mean?”

“Means you have more than needed, but it doesn’t matter… You’re unable to complete the requirements.”

A voice echoed in the room. Dai ran to the entrance of the castle, with the rest coming after him. There, they found…!!

“The Black Tailmon returned!” - Vee blinked.

“You will never finish it, Lance Duskstella. This world is fated to be engulfed by the darkness. No new life of yours will be able to save it. You and your outsider fellows will die here.”

“T-that’s a creepy thing to s-say…!” - Miyako was panicked.

“That’s strange…” - The mage bit his lips - “We never had a cat monster before.”

“What?!” - Dai and Vee were shocked - “So, she does not belong to the castle?!”

“No. And she must be…” - Warlock stared at the foe - “... Pandora.”

“EEEH?!”

“Hmph, I knew he would recognize me” - Black Tailmon smirked - “Not bad for Dragon Who’s great grandson.”

“She is the evil witch?!” - the 2-Top duo couldn’t believe that. Neither Lia.

“Rebecca… Aren’t you Rebecca?” - she was in denial.

“Tsk tsk, you should’ve realized that all was a lie. I was keeping an eye on you… Because I saw a shard of your brother in this world, wandering and waiting for something. I knew he was about to come back someday. Humans are like monsters, they reborn. But differently from the monsters, they become differently from the past life.”

“If you’re the evil witch, I gonna…” - Daisuke clenched his fists - “defeat you!!”

“What? You think you have the power to beat me?” - she laughed next - “You never learned enough spells to do that. You even have the requirements for Dragon Who’s sealing spell. What will you do? Use your outsider friends and their monsters to fight me? I’m invincible!”

“You have no idea how strong we are” - Hikari shouted - “Daisuke-kun and I were willing to save this world, and we all here want it.”

“I agree with Hikari-san” - Ken added - “We are strong together, we’re going to beat you!”

“I see… You must be the ones from the other world to have the same cores from those people. I will give you a warning: Lance Duskstella was a bad person, he is. And he will be your ruin.”

“QUIT LYING!” - Takeru shouted - “We heard Lance-san’s story, and Daisuke-kun did a lot of good things. Don’t try to convince us he’s not a good person, or that he never had redemption!”

“Hmph, such brats…!” - Pandora changed her form to a woman and she released a wave against them. A black mist. Poisonous clouds.

Suddenly… the Chosen Children and Pandora had disappeared.

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“Everyone!!” - Daisuke called them - “Are you okay??”

“... Why are we still here?” - Miyako appeared behind him, her eyes darker than before - “If is Lance-san’s fault, why are we doing it? Daisuke can’t do anything by himself??”

“M-Miyako, that’s not true! Well not entirely…!!”

“Daisuke-san always gives us headaches.” - Same goes to Iori’s - “Now we’re trapped here.”

“H-Hey… I’m not--”

“Why does make Daisuke-kun the leader anyway?” – and Takeru’s - “He has no skills to lead a team. All he does is to boss around, to yell at me, to cause troubles…”

“B-But I thought--”

“Daisuke never was a tough rival” - Ken’s eyes were dark, but he also smirked - “He was nothing but an insect. He only beat me because he had luck, if he had used his skills he should’ve been my slave.”

“K-Ken-- I…!!”

“If he hadn’t said my name to Lia-san,” - Hikari’s eyes were as well - “I could’ve been far away from this stupid world! It’s all his fault!”

“It is… my fault?”

“See? Even your ‘friends’ think that about you” - Pandora was right in front him - “They were lying to you ALL THE TIME. They didn’t stay because of you, but because you obliged them to!”

“... No.”

V-mon, Hawkmon, Armadimon, Patamon,Tailmon and Wormmon appeared and tried to attack the witch, but they had been repelled by her. They fell in front the goggle boy.

“It doesn’t matter what they say, Daisuke!” - Tailmon said - “They’re not saying the truth!” “Takeru wouldn’t never say that!” - Patamon added. “Neither Kenchan!” - Wormmon gave him a serious gaze

“Miyako-san admires your bravery and loyalty, Daisuke-san.” - Hawkmon confessed - “That’s all she told me once” “Iori likes you, besides him being a little strict. But he surely likes you and was missing your lead, dagya.”

“Daisuke!” - V-mon grabbed the boy’s hand - “Even if we get corrupted… Even if we say lies to you… You know the truth! You truly know we’re here because we wanted, because we want to help! And Because you’re our friend before our group’s leader!”

“They’re lying!”

“THIS IS NOT A LIE!” – the digimon shouted and they tried to hit her again.

“... They wanted to stay because of me, they wanted to help because of me…!!”

Daisuke’s eyes were shining in red crimson now. He summoned the glaive and dashed against Pandora. The digimon got repelled again, but they keep trying.

“They wanted… To save this world because of me!!”

He slashed her, but a forcefield was protecting the witch.

“THERE’S NO WAY TO CONVINCE ME THEY DO NOT LIKE ME!!”

“Give up, Daisuke” - Ken said. “You’re done for” - Miyako chirped. “It’s over” - Hikari laughed. “Accept it, idiot” - Iori mocked him. “You’re a sore loser” - Takeru smirked.

“GUYS… OPEN YOUR EYES!” - Daisuke shouted - “YOU’VE BEEN FORCED TO SAY THOSE!! SHE’S MESSING WITH YOUR HEADS!! FIGHT IT!!”

“Kenchan, open your eyes!” “Miyako-san, fight it please!” “Hikari… You’re stronger than that witch, you know that!” “Iori!! Please stop it, dagya!” “Takeruu, don’t let her win!!”

“She won’t win because we’re united!!” - Vee roared - “Right, guys?!” “YEAH!”

“I’m impressed… Those monsters are stronger than my master’s power.”

“Your master?” - V-mon frowned - “Sorcerymon said the same… D-Daisuke, she’s not the real enemy! She might be corrupted just like everyone else…!!”

“Corrupted or not, I won’t allow her play with my friends!! Or with the people of this world…!” - He kept slashing the barrier - “At least we need to purify her just like Iori did with Sorcerymon!! But without Iori… We can’t do that…!”

“Don’t say we can’t! Where’s your courage? You were determined to save this world, you can’t give up now…!!”

“I am… I am determined and I will fight until I win! Because that’s what my heart tells me to do!!”

A explosion of light threw Pandora away from them, and dissolved the mist. Little by little, the Chosen Children recovered their light. Confused, they just glanced at Daisuke and him consumed by a crimson aura. They also were “back” to Warlock’s garden.

“Is that…!!” - Lia gasped, once she saw them all. “The Core of Determination…” - Warlock commented - “... Has finally awakened.”

#arc 3: angel of miracle

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jokessho · 7 years ago

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[Update] Seven plus one Chapter 3

Yo! Thank you all for the feedback and likes and patience! Here’s chapter 3, please try to enjoy :)

FFN

AO3

Yamato inhaled deeply through his nose, letting his body wake up at its own pace. There was no rush to turn off the alarm before it woke Taichi up, since it was a Saturday.

Yamato opened his eyes when he felt Taichi’s arm slip from around his waist as Taichi turned to face the wall. Ever since that first night—four nights ago, now, Yamato mused—he had gotten more comfortable with the idea of sharing a bed with another person. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he seemed to sleep better with Taichi next to him. He vaguely recalled having read somewhere that men slept more soundly if they were snuggling with someone.

Yamato’s face reddened.

Not that he and Taichi were snuggling! They were just sharing a bed with their limbs occasionally—accidentally—tangling around the other. Not very often, Yamato assured himself.

Shaking his head clear of those thoughts, Yamato edged his feet off the bed and sat up.

“Getting up already?”

Yamato started at the voice behind him. He turned to look at the sleepy brunet still cuddled under the duvet.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” Yamato asked in lieu of answering.

“Nah.” Taichi said, throwing the covers off himself and stretching his arms above his head. “I was just waking up, too. I thought you’d have a bit more of a lie-in, though, since you don’t have school.”

Yamato shrugged, standing. “Yeah, but I’m not sleepy anymore, and some of the others have work and we agreed to have breakfast together, right?”

“Right.” Taichi swung himself to sit upright on the bed. “But Sora will be the first to leave and that won’t be until ten. What time is it, anyway?” Taichi scanned the floor for his mobile, though Yamato already had his in his hand.

Yamato frowned at his phone. “It’s already eight thirty.”

“You mean ‘only,’ right?”

“No, no.” Yamato replied, distracted by the sound of the shower running upstairs. “Sora’s already up and getting ready. I should get started on breakfast.”

Taichi rolled his eyes, though his brain was already conjuring up a mischievous plan. Slyly, he reached out to snag one of Yamato’s wrists, bodily pulling the blond onto the bed.

“Hey!” Yamato yelped, landing heavily, face first, on Taichi.

Taichi grunted from the impact, but then chuckled. “Guess I didn’t think this through.” He wheezed out.

Yamato hid his chuckle in Taichi’s shoulder before rolling off to the side. “Serves you right.”

“Guess so.” Taichi acquiesced before the two lapsed into silence.

The sun was streaming in through the thin curtain, though, in the late-September morning, it wasn’t glaringly bright.

The males contemplated the ceiling in silence, neither really thinking much. They were content to just lie there, not doing anything and not feeling the need to.

A quiet knock on the door snapped both out of their stupor.

“Guys?” Sora poked her head in cautiously. “Oh, you are up.” She opened the door a bit wider. “I thought I heard sounds from here. Anyway,” she looked directly at Yamato. “I just wanted to let you know that I can take care of the cooking this morning.”

“What?” Yamato sat up. “No, no, it’s fine; I can do it, since I’m up.”

Sora frowned. “But you’ve been cooking every day and you’ll continue to do so. I can do breakfasts at weekends.”

“Both?” Yamato offered a compromise.

Sora eyed him for a bit before smiling. “Okay.” She started moving out of the room. “I’ll get some stuff set up and you can join me whenever.” She caught Yamato’s nod before the door closed.

Yamato stood again, moving away from the bed lest Taichi try pulling him in again. Not that the bed wasn’t comfortable or that it hadn’t been nice to just be, but there was breakfast to be made.

“I’ll go for a quick shower whilst you two are busy cooking.” Taichi announced, bouncing off the bed.

“Shotgun!” Yamato called, racing out before Taichi had even straightened fully.

“Hey!” Taichi ran after Yamato, only to have the bathroom door slam and lock in his face. Taichi stuck his tongue out at the piece of wood, then slunk back into his room to dig for clothes.

Yamato walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later, still in his borrowed night clothes, but with a cleaner face and teeth. He smirked at Taichi as they passed in the corridor, only to get a playful slap on the arm from the brunet.

“What did Taichi do?” Asked an amused voice as Yamato entered the kitchen.

“Huh?” Yamato blinked at Sora. She had thrown on her red apron and had apparently just finished putting the rice into the cooker.

“You looked amused by something, so I’m asking what Taichi did.” She clarified, moving to the fridge.

“Oh.” Yamato made a mental note to try to reply in more than one syllable words or sounds from now on. Sora seemed to let it go, though, as she laughed and muttered something about ‘boys.’

Smiling, Yamato grabbed his own apron and started helping Sora with the eggs and vegetables.

They worked in silence for a minute before Sora spoke: “We haven’t really told you about ourselves, have we?” Yamato’s attention snapped to her, eyes wide. “I mean, general things like how old we are and where we’re from.”

“You don’t have to…”

Sora grinned. “It’s not like you’re forcing it out of me.” Her face softened. “I want you to get to know me better. Do we want miso soup?”

Yamato was taken aback by the abrupt change in the topic, but then he shook his head in reply.

“My favourite colour’s red.” Sora said, changing topics abruptly again, as she put the packets of instant soup back into the cupboard.

Yamato wasn’t sure if he should reply by stating his favourite colour. Did he even have one anymore? He had in the past, before his life filled with worries and stress.

“I grew up on the outskirts of town.” Sora continued, not waiting for Yamato’s favourite colour. “My mother runs a flower business there, with greenhouses and huge gardens and all. She’s the fourth generation of daughters to take over the business. As you heard, I didn’t want to do that, so I ran away. I was 16 at the time, and that was six years ago.”

“Your mother didn’t come looking for you?”

Sora shook her head, checking on the rice. “I have a cousin who was more than willing to take over, so I’m not a huge loss to my mother or aunt. And I’m happy here.” Sora turned to smile at Yamato. “I’m happy with my current life.”

Yamato smiled at the eggs, uncertain about meeting such genuine joy he knew the mahogany eyes held.

Sora busied herself with the condiments for a while. “As a bartender, I get to hear so many stories from my customers. Some bitch about their days or bosses or spouses, but others—generally the older ones—give valuable life advice.” Sora turned her full attention to Yamato. “The most valuable can be summarised by: have a close group of friends to share your troubles and smiles with.”

“Seems simple.” Yamato mumbled, still keeping his eyes on the eggs even though they were fine on their own.

“It sure does, but getting there is where most people run into trouble.”

“Morning!” Jou called, walking in to the kitchen.

“Good morning.” The cooks replied in unison.

“Food’s almost ready, so go wake up the others, please.” Sora said, as the rice cooker’s setting clicked from ‘cook’ to ‘warm’.

“Sure.” Jou nodded, heading back out.

“Do I get food yet?” Taichi asked, walking into the kitchen whilst towelling his hair dry.

“Huh, so that’s how. Interesting.” Yamato commented, glancing at Taichi from the corner of his eye before turning to pull out plates.

Taichi lowered the towel around his neck. He waited a few seconds then rolled his eyes and sighed. “Elaborate!”

“Taichi, don’t yell.” Sora scolded, unplugging the rice cooker and taking it to the coffee table in the living room. Chuckling, Yamato followed with the plates and utensils.

“Yamato...” Taichi whined, in a much quieter voice than before.

Returning to the kitchen, Yamato grabbed the eggs and vegetables. “I had been wondering how you get your hair to stick out all over, but I guess that method of drying it answers that question.”

Taichi stuck his tongue out at the blond’s back, tailing him into the living room.

“The faucet in the second bathroom upstairs is doing that thing again.” Meiko announced, ushering Koushiro and Hikari into the living room. “Jou and Mimi are fixing it, which is why it’s taking them so long.”

“What thing?” Yamato asked.

Meiko opened her mouth to answer, only to blush and change her words hurriedly: “Oh, sorry everyone: good morning!” Everyone laughed, Meiko joining in after a second.

“Morning.” Yamato replied, echoed by the others. “What thing?”

“The tap is kind of loose at times and squirts water from the base.”

“Oh.” Yamato frowned. It didn’t sound too good.

“It’s okay.” Sora assured, starting to spoon rice onto Koushiro’s plate. “Jou and Mimi are amazing at tag-teaming the fix.”

“Yes, we are!” Mimi announced, stopping to raise one arm into a bicep flex and grabbing said bicep with her hand. She winked before moving further in with Jou in tow. “The food looks great.” She pecked Meiko on the cheek and gave Hikari a one-armed squeeze in greeting.

Once everyone had served themselves and settled onto the floor, Sora asked about everyone’s plans. Herself, Jou, and Mimi would be working, but everyone else had the day off.

“We’re going shopping; Yamato needs stuff.” Taichi informed through a mouthful of food. Sora gave him a disapproving look, but acknowledged his answer with a nod.

“I don’t, really…” Yamato frowned at his food. “I can manage until I get access to my money in half a year.”

“So you have some money?” Jou asked.

“Well, yeah, but when I left… I guess Natsuko—my mother—froze or blocked my account or something like that. I tried getting some money out earlier, but the card was refused. My—” He swallowed heavily. “My father has a savings account set up for me. It was supposed to be for university, but…”

“It’s alright!” Taichi said, grinning. “I’ll provide for you until then.” This caused Yamato to blush and everyone else to snort into their food.

“How’s the job-hunting going?” Mimi asked Taichi, recovering from his previous statement.

“Alright.” Taichi replied, chewing thoughtfully before elaborating: “I’ll hear back from the park maintenance position next week. Has your boss said anything?” Taichi turned his attention to Jou at the last part.

Jou pushed his glasses up his nose and licked his lips. “Actually, he did ask me about you and your work ethic. I did put in a good word for you, since I do know you’re dedicated to your job. He looked like he was seriously contemplating it.”

Sora smiled. “That sounds promising.”

A grin spread across Taichi’s face as well. “Yeah, I would actually prefer that one, since winter as a park employee could get cold.”

Hikari sighed. “I wish I was old enough to work…”

“Don’t worry.” Mimi said brightly, placing a hand on the younger brunette’s shoulder. “You’ll be 15 in a few months’ time, so you can start looking for work then.”

“I don’t know…” Taichi started, but was interrupted by a glare from his sister. “I mean, you might want to think about education first. You don’t really want to be stuck in dead-end jobs like me for the rest of your life.”

“Education requires money, though, which is something we don’t have.” Hikari countered quietly but firmly. She reached out to start clearing away the empty plates.

“Unless you’re being home-schooled.” Yamato noted, passing his plate into Taichi’s outstretched hand. “I could start teaching you and Koushiro a few things at home, if you’d like.”

All movement stopped and everyone’s eyes turned to the blond. Yamato shifted uncomfortably in the silence and spotlight, but it was thankfully broken by Hikari’s bright:

“Really? You’d honestly be willing to home-school me?”

Yamato shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. “If you want, I’d be happy to.”

“Okay!” Hikari’s grin widened and her brown eyes sparkled. “We’ll need to buy some notebooks and pencils.”

“I’ll give you some money for that.” Sora smiled as Jou nodded his agreement.

Mimi and Meiko exchanged nods. “We’ll chip in, too.”

“Thanks, everyone.” Hikari said.

“Right.” Taichi stood, pile of plates in his hands. “Now that that’s settled, who’s helping me with dishes?”

“I will.” Meiko volunteered, also standing and grabbing the rice cooker and pan from the table.

With Taichi and Meiko doing the dishes, Sora and Jou went to get dressed for work. Yamato, Hikari, and Koushiro occupied the three showers; the downstairs one, the shared one upstairs, and the master bedroom’s en suite.

About half an hour later, everyone was gathered in the foyer, putting on shoes and jackets.

“Sora needs to leave now and I’ll be walking with her, so make sure to lock up properly, okay?” Jou said, holding the door open for his girlfriend.

“Oh, damn, that reminds me.” Taichi turned, almost knocking into Yamato, who was standing behind him on one foot, trying to pull a shoe onto the other foot, whilst avoiding Mimi who was throwing a coat around her shoulders. “Yamato remember to remind me to get you a copy of the key.”

“If I remember to.” Yamato replied, distracted.

Echoes of ‘bye’ rang out as Jou and Sora left.

“It’s cute that he’s still walking her to work.” Hikari noted, dressed in a thin light pink jacket.

Mimi snorted. “Oh, please, they haven’t been going out that long; of course he’s ‘still’ walking her to work. Honeymoon phase.” She winked at the younger girl, opening the door and stepping out.

The rest of the group followed her out, noting the cool autumn breeze.

“How long have they been together?” Yamato asked, walking with Taichi to the gate.

“About a year, now.” Mimi answered from behind them, followed by the two youngest.

“Only?”

“Jou only joined us three years ago.” Taichi clarified. He held the gate open as everyone filed through.

“Oh.” Yamato was about to say more, though he wasn’t sure what. Thankfully, he was spared the need to think of something.

“Right,” Mimi said, looking down the street. “I have some errands to run before I have to get to work, so you all enjoy shopping.”

Another chorus of ‘bye’s sounded as the group split again.

“It’s quite a long walk to the city centre, but we usually avoid taking buses if we can.” Taichi explained, leading the way down the street in the opposite direction to Yamato’s school.

Yamato nodded, knowing their money situation. Though, had they had the money to spare, Yamato would have preferred to walk anyway; the weather was good and it was relaxing listening to Taichi chatter on about mundane things, with Meiko or Hikari making an occasional comment. Koushiro, as usual, stayed silent, hand secured tightly in Hikari’s.

Yamato had really missed having a normal life; hanging out with friends and not having to worry about anything. His father’s lung cancer diagnosis had come two years ago and, since then, Yamato had been constantly stressed. He had pushed away most of his friends from school, only two close ones remaining now.

Yamato snapped out of his thoughts at an elbow to his arm. Blue eyes met brown.

“Alright?” Taichi asked quietly, mindful of the girls talking behind them.

An affirmation got stuck in his throat, so Yamato just nodded. He swallowed and added: “Just thinking.”

“Don’t.” Taichi smiled, nudging him again. “Life’s a lot simpler if you don’t dwell on things too much.”

Yamato rolled his eyes, a smile forcing itself onto his face. “I don’t know if I should be taking advice from the likes of you…”

“Hey.” Taichi threw a playful glare at the blond, before both burst out laughing. The girls and Koushiro gave the pair weird looks, but neither teen could explain why, exactly, they were laughing, so they didn’t.

“So we’re going for clothes, mainly?” Meiko asked, picking up her pace to join the boys at the front.

“Yeah, some everyday clothes and then winter stuff. Seriously, though, Yamato.” Taichi said, turning to the blond. “How were you planning on surviving winter with what you have?”

Yamato frowned at his feet. “I was planning on getting a job, remember? And it’s not like I really thought the whole thing through…”

“That’s understandable.” Meiko assured, preventing Taichi from picking a fight. “Sora said something along the same lines when she ran away—that it’s not something you really plan on doing, necessarily.”

“Jou had it all planned.” Taichi noted.

Meiko threw him a look. “But he’s Jou.”

Taichi chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t really plan my escape all the way through, either.”

“And you had more than yourself to worry about.” Hikari reminded cheekily.

Taichi stopped, letting Hikari and Koushiro catch up. He threw an arm around his sister’s neck, giving her a gentle noogie. “Oh hush, you.” Hikari giggled and squirmed out of his hold, moving to Koushiro’s other side, using him as a shield.

Meiko chuckled at the siblings’ antics, then turned to Yamato. “I feel a bit bad for you; Jou was able to move out of Taichi’s room and into Sora’s, but we don’t really have any spare beds left for you to move to when you get annoyed with Taichi.”

“Hey!” Taichi barked. He shoved his hands into his cargo trouser’s pockets and pouted. For all of a few seconds.

“So you and Jou were roommates?” Yamato asked as Taichi got over his pouting and joined the front again, walking next to Yamato.

“Yeah.” Taichi threw Meiko a look, past Yamato. “You should have felt bad for me, you know. And now you should feel bad for Sora having to put up with him.”

Yamato rolled his eyes at Taichi’s statement, then he frowned and bit his lip, glancing at Meiko out of the corner of his eye. “Wha—I know it’s a bit rude to ask, but… What if things don’t work out between them?”

Meiko smiled reassuringly. “Then Hikari and Jou will swap rooms; it won’t be a problem. Besides, Sora and Jou seem to get along well enough and they won’t get tired of seeing each other because they’re both working most of the time, and sharing a room is about the only time they have to spend together.”

Yamato nodded. “Do you mind me asking how long you and Mimi have been together?”

“Oh, I don’t mind.” Meiko shook her head, dark hair flapping around. “It’s been 12 years now; since our late teens. It wasn’t easy moving in together almost immediately, but we worked through our differences whenever we had them.”

“Try to avoid getting on the wrong side of Mimi.” Taichi commented. Yamato had almost forgotten he was there. He threw a glance over his shoulder, to make sure the two youngest were still with them. They were. “She’s great most of the time, but can get very bitchy very quickly, if you say or do the wrong thing.”

“And what are some of these wrong things?” Yamato asked him as Meiko covered up a chuckle with a cough.

Taichi shrugged. “I don’t know; it varies.”

“Great.” Yamato mumbled flatly.

“Don’t worry; Mimi’s not easy to annoy.” Meiko reassured him. “Even though Taichi makes it look very easy.”

Taichi leaned forward so he could see Meiko on Yamato’s other side. He stuck his tongue out at her and she retaliated in kind. Taichi grinned, then looked forward again.

A few minutes later had Taichi grabbing Yamato’s wrist and taking off at a run, dragging the surprised blond behind him.

“There’s the store!” Taichi announced, picking up his pace.

“Taichi, wait!” Yamato stumbled, balance off from the pulling and surprise take-off.

“No waiting—now.”

“But we have to wait for the others, too.” Yamato finally managed to get his feet under him properly—only to crash into Taichi’s back as the other stopped abruptly. “Ow.”

“Sorry.” Taichi muttered, turning to look at the rest of their group. “Hurry up, guys!”

Whilst they were waiting, Yamato took time to inspect their surroundings. They were standing on a busy road, surrounded by tall buildings, as was typical of most Japanese cities. A few smaller streets ran off from the main road. In one corner stood a large building with a yellow sign reading ‘TreFac Style.’ Treasure Factory was a chain of thrift stores—cheap and with a huge selection.

“Let’s go in, then.” Taichi said, snapping Yamato out of his inspection. The others had caught up and were now leading the way into the store. Taichi leaned closer to whisper to Yamato: “It’s lucky we have Meiko with us. Her and Sora are really good at finding the best clothes here and they have great fashion sense. Mimi does too, but she tends to forget that she’s shopping for someone other than herself. Jou refuses to come, claiming he gets anxiety attacks from how full it is.”

Upon entering the store, Yamato could only blink at how crammed full the place indeed was. True to Taichi’s words, Meiko seemed to know what she was doing, as she was eagerly waving Yamato over. Hikari and Koushiro had rushed off somewhere, probably to the small school supply section in the back.

“Do you have a specific style of clothing, or can I pick whatever?” Meiko asked as Yamato and Taichi got within hearing range.

Taichi answered before Yamato could: “Pick whatever you think he’ll look good in.” He turned to Yamato with a grin. “Trust her.” Meiko nodded in agreement. Yamato shrugged in reply, never having really cared about what he wore, other than just looking presentable.

Meiko grinned, diving into the muddle of clothing. Taichi spent most of his time looking for the most ridiculous clothes he could find and trying to slip them into Yamato’s ‘to try on’ pile. At first, the blond would just roll his eyes and put the clothes back on their racks. However, after the third trip to the changing booth, he let Taichi slip a hideous Hawaii shirt into his pile and he didn’t put it back.

“Taichi!” Meiko yelled as Yamato walked out in the brightly coloured garment. Taichi, on the other hand, had burst out laughing, clapping his hands. Yamato was laughing, but his face was also coloured in embarrassment as he retreated back into the booth.

Meiko shook her head in a disappointed manner as Yamato walked out in his normal clothes. Then the three continued browsing, Meiko piling even more clothes into Yamato’s arms. The blond wasn’t sure how she found them all so quickly.

“Taichi, you put that down.” Meiko warned, eyes narrowed at the brunet holding a purple wig. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye. “Yamato!” The yell startled the blond so that he dropped a black, glittery vest. “I can’t believe this: you too? Don’t encourage him!”

Chuckling, the teenagers let up the game of finding the most ridiculous clothes or accessories. They still continued to point out some of the weirder garments they chanced upon, but no longer sought them out. Or tired them on, as was Yamato’s case.

Almost two hours later, the group of five were out of the store, carrying three bags of clothing. Most were for Yamato, but the others had managed to find some good deals, too. Hikari was clutching a cylindrical, fabric pencil case in her hand. The case was a bit battered, but Hikari had fallen in love with the picture on it: it was of a strange-looking cat, mostly white, with yellow gloves and an abnormally long tail. Taichi had tried insisting that dinosaurs were cooler, but, with a lifetime of practise, the young girl had skilfully ignored him.

“Are you two hungry?” Meiko asked the two youngest.

“I am.” Taichi informed her, eyes flying to a smaller side-street, where he knew good food stalls to be. Meiko ignored him.

“No.” Hikari shook her head, mimicked by Koushiro. “But I need to use the restroom.”

“Of course.” Meiko smiled, opening the bag she was carrying. “Pop the pencil case in here and we’ll leave the stuff with the boys.” Hikari did so and Meiko handed the bag to Taichi. The girls then left to search for the nearest public bathroom.

“I’ll go grab a snack.” Taichi said, itching to run off to the nearest food stall—one of his favourites in this part of the city. “You want anything?” He asked Yamato, who shook his head. “’Kay, I’ll be right back.” And he was off.

Yamato stood on the side of the street, a bag hanging from each hand. He shifted from one foot to the other and glanced at the boy standing on his right. They were alone.

“Um, I never really properly introduced myself to you, did I?” Yamato asked Koushiro. “My name’s Yamato Ishida. I’m 17 and in my final year of high school.”

No acknowledgement.

“How old are you?”

Koushiro watched a mother pushing a stroller past them, but did nothing to indicate he had even realised Yamato was speaking to him.

“I know Hikari’s 14. Are you the same age, Koushiro?”

Still no answer.

“What’s your favourite colour?”

Nothing.

Yamato sighed, looking around the street that was getting more crowded as the morning turned to noon. “Koushiro?” Yamato tried again, but still the boy didn’t even acknowledge the name. “I promised to teach Hikari some maths and other subjects. Would you be interested in learning, too?”

Koushiro’s silent treatment was really starting to sting. Yamato knew the boy had problems socialising—even with Taichi—but it still hurt. More so when Koushiro immediately acknowledged Taichi upon his return. The boy didn’t say anything, no, but his eyes found Taichi and his posture relaxed a fraction.

“The girls aren’t back yet?” Taichi asked once he was within hearing range. Yamato shook his head in reply and Taichi shrugged, offering Koushiro one of the skewered fishcakes he had bought. Koushiro shook his head, so Taichi made the same offer to Yamato. Yamato, too, shook his head and Taichi shrugged, biting off a corner.

“Um.” The three males turned to look at Meiko, who had just returned with Hikari. “We were thinking that it might be best to take the bus back, since we have so much stuff to carry and we’ve been walking so much.”

Taichi shrugged, dropping his now-empty skewer into the nearest bin. “I don’t mind either way.”

“Maybe the three of you could take the bags home on the bus and Taichi and I will walk?” Yamato tried, knowing that saving even the few hundred yen of his and Taichi’s bus fares would help.

“You sure?” Meiko asked, taking the bags from Yamato’s hands. The blond nodded and Meiko smiled. “Okay. We’ll see you two at home, then.” Waving their goodbyes, the trio started towards the nearest bus stop.

“See ya.” Taichi said, not really caring whether they heard. He bit into another fishcake and offered the last one to Yamato again. “You’ll need the energy. Or something. I got it for you, anyway, so…” Yamato took it, turning away to hide the happiness in his eyes.

The two walked and ate in leisurely silence, making their way through the busy streets. It wasn’t until they turned onto a less crowded road that Taichi spoke:

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” Yamato snapped out of his stupor. He took a few moments to blink at the ground he had been staring at. He chewed on the wooden skewer, thinking back and realising he had no idea what he’d been thinking about.

“What’s wrong?” Taichi repeated, since Yamato wasn’t speaking. “I mean, not now, but earlier you looked like something was bothering you. What was it? Something I can help with?”

Yamato frowned, still not looking at his companion. “Earlier, when?” He asked, skewer hanging out of the side of his mouth.

“When I went to get a snack. I came back and you seemed a bit down. Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?”

“Oh.”

Taichi frowned as they walked along. He had already learned that Yamato was shit at elaborating, but this was worse than shit. “Seriously, did someone say something to you? Who was it?” Taichi looked over his shoulder, as if they were still on the same street or as if the person would announce themselves.

“No one said anything to me.” Yamato mumbled, eyes still glued to the asphalt.

Taichi’s head whipped back to the blond. “Then what happened?”

Yamato lifted a shoulder in an indifferent shrug. “That’s just it.”

The brunet stopped, head cocked to the side. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means just that.” Yamato replied, slowing to let Taichi catch up again.

Letting out a huge sigh, Taichi draped himself over Yamato from behind. “Will you stop being so cryptic!” Taichi whined, swinging Yamato back and forth bodily.

“Taichi, stop.” Yamato snapped, pulling at the arms wrapped around his chest. “You’re being an idiot in public—stop.”

Taichi let go, moving to walk next to Yamato. “Explain, then, and I won’t do it again.”

Yamato rolled his eyes at the threat, though he relented as he didn’t want a repeat of earlier. “I mean that Koushiro wasn’t talking to me at all, even though I asked him something and tried to talk.” Realising he sounded rude, Yamato hurriedly added: “I know that he has trouble socialising, but I just thought that he might at least answer one question or something. It’s not really a big deal, but I just wanted to try talking to him for a bit.”

Through Yamato’s rambling, Taichi had kept a contemplative look on his face and when he spoke, it was with clear deliberation: “He doesn’t talk a lot normally, but even less so when we’re out in public. It’s not just you; he hasn’t said a word to me either—ever—when we’ve been out. He might reply with one-word answers if Hikari asks him something, but sometimes even she gets the silent treatment when we’re out.” Taichi smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry about it.”

Yamato nodded, though he wasn’t convinced; Koushiro hadn’t even acknowledged him. He started at the feeling of another hand in his. He met with a pair of brown eyes as the hand gave a squeeze. “Give it time.”

#fic #fic update #seven plus one #taiyama #jyoura #joura #meimi #update #why is this so difficult every single time???

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