INTRODUCTION TO GOSPEL
Final Chapter
Alice
GCIM
GLOBAL CENTER FOR INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Complete and Systematic Compendium of Human Knowledge
XANADU
> Matsuki Takato_
Report Number: G-0001
Version: C-44
Date: 2032/12/24
Presented by: Matsuki Takako & Alice McCoy
Preliminary Notes: Of all the Archangels, and maybe of all the people detailed in the
XANADU database, Matsuki Takato probably is the very being with the most
information available. Despite this, there are still many holes yet to cover regarding the
impressive persona that is (or was) the First Archangel. The very first report concerning
Matsuki Takato was written by the staff of Hypnos-01, at some point during Takato’s
first days as a Digimon Tamer. While at this point he wasn’t nearly close to knowing
who he really was, he had already drawn the attention of Hypnos and its director,
Mitsuo Yamaki. XANADU’s database concerning Matsuki Takato, weighing a record
size of 2.3 Gigabytes, also includes reports written by the late Daneel Randt, the Third
Archangel, Takaishi Takeru, as well as his wife, Takaishi Hikari. More recently, the
work of updating Takato’s data rests upon the director and the vice-director of GCIM,
Matsuki Takako and Alice McCoy, respectively.
We also give the appropriate recognition to the Chioth ha Qadesh and Terriermon for
the valuable aid in acquiring information regarding Takato and his actions during the
Last Holy War
Name: Matsuki, Takato
Age at Death (Asmodeus Form): 13
Current Age: 30 (Takato’s exact age is 18; refer to File 00115413 for more info.)
Sex: Male
Current State: Married
Birthdate: 2002/09/25
> education_
Education:
-
Elementary level education completed without inconveniences, except for the
short interruption related to his first visit to the Digital World. See Gospel Data
for more info.
Related Topics: Calumon, Devas, Digital World History
- Middle School studies interrupted by “death in action”.
Related Topics: Daemon War, Ascension, Adam
- Education was never resumed.
- Since the moment of Ascension, he was through an intense training as a
preparation for Gospel. Such training focused on Digimon Analysis, heuristics,
computer science, mathematics, gymnastics, kendo, fencing, philosophy, history
of religion and cabalistic principles, and ancient languages. Aside from that, he
seemed and still seems to have no interest in finishing his studies. Considering
his identity, and what he has grown to become, we consider studying is
practically unnecessary.
Related Topics: Asagi, Nami; Randt, Daneel; McCoy, Alice
> back_
> basic 2016-2018_
Takato’s life between the Daemon War and his reunion with the Archangels and the
Digimon Tamers is probably the biggest gap in Takato’s biography. The biggest and
most reliable source of info on Takato’s activities in that time is (and will probably
always be) the interview to Alice McCoy by Takaishi Hikari for hers and her husband’s
book, Gospel. It seems Takato mostly tried to live a life as normal as possible. However,
he wouldn’t attend school or do most of the things common to boys his age. He mostly
trained in body, mind and spirit, strengthening his will for the upcoming challenges. He
also looked after the McCoy household, where he spent most of his time. Most of the
time he left the house he did so in the company of one who would become his constant
companion: Alice McCoy. Neither Takato nor Alice will give much details of whatever
happened between them in those two and a half years. Whatever it was, it was very
meaningful, and the consequences of whatever happened in that time would have strong
repercussions in the future. Namely, after Takato reunited with the Digimon Tamers
again.
> exit_
“I fear sleep, never knowing where it may lead,
A mineshaft of vague horror with no end to it.
Every window I see opens to the infinite,
And my mind, still haunted by this vertigo,
Probes and probes at the unanswering void.”
- Baudelaire, “The Abyss”.
February 2nd, 2016
3:37 A.M. (Pacific Time)
Takato woke up with a sudden gasp. His body was sweating profusely and his muscles
ached. His sleep had been anything but revitalizing. It took him a long two minutes to
stop panting, as the turmoil in his mind wouldn’t settle down. He looked up and met a
ceiling he still had to get used to.
It would soon be three and a half months since he died and was reborn. Three and a half
months away from what he had once called home. Three and a half months in a new
place he would have to call home from now on. Three months away from her.
He knew he had to get over her. He knew he had to throw away his past and look
forward to his new, supposedly “superior” existence. He just didn’t want to. It wasn’t
that easy, after all. How was he supposed to forget those feelings, those beautiful
memories? How was he supposed to throw away her smile, her tears, and her radiant
and beautiful face?
It’s not that easy…it’s not easy at all!
He tried to shake away the memories, only to remember why he had woken up in the
first place. He felt his stomach turn and his late supper got dangerously close to his
throat.
Ruki…
What is it?
I’ve been wondering…can you…can you see?
Your nightmares? Only if you want me to. With some effort, I guess I could, but I
do respect your privacy.
I understand…thank you.
Takato…you know you can talk to me if you want to.
I know, and I thank you for that…but this is something nobody should ever
see…especially not you.
Now what’s that supposed to mean?
You’re too emotional!
I am NOT!
Yes, you are.
“You know, sometimes I think I can actually hear you two talking.”
Takato found himself looking at two beautiful and cold, clear blue orbs. It hadn’t taken
him long to get used to Alice McCoy, his housemate and (in her own words) “new best
friend”. Being quite a sociable person himself, he found no problems in sharing a
bedroom and pretty much his entire new life with the American girl. Of course, it was a
tough beginning. Alice wasn’t very talkative, and she tended to do things without asking
him, like getting him to sleep in her room. Needless to say, both Takato and Alice’s
grandfather, Rob McCoy (aka Dolphin) got the scare of their lives the next morning.
At least Alice didn’t wake up wearing Takato’s shirt or something like that.
For some reason, it was Takato who had to explain the whole thing to Alice’s
grandfather, even if he didn’t understand much of it himself. It was a good thing that
with his rebirth he acquired a whole new set of abilities. He soon found out he could
speak perfect English, not the crappy Japanglish they used to teach him at school.
In any case, Mr. McCoy allowed Takato to stay. Three months later, the former member
of the Wild Bunch often thought how he could have possibly lived without Takato
before.
Alice wasn’t and never has been very experienced at housework. Mr. McCoy did try to
keep the house clean whenever he could, but his job at the University of California
didn’t give him that much time, and he didn’t trust leaving anyone else to do that job
(namely a maid). Both Alice and her grandfather were pleased to find out Takato could
do pretty much everything. He cooked, he cleaned, he washed the clothes and he kept
the refrigerator stocked with food. Takato was, at the same time, pleased to find out he
had a bank account. An “anonymous” person had created one for him, and the same
“anonymous” person—Takato correctly guessed it was Takaishi Takeru—added a
steady income of cash at regular intervals. With Takato’s money and Rob McCoy’s job,
the McCoy family (plus Takato) could live in a sparsely luxurious comfort.
Of course, we can’t forget Guilmon. Alice and her grandfather quickly agreed to let
Guilmon stay in the house. Besides, they were not in Japan, and Digimon were not a
“common” sight. Takato would not be able to walk through the streets with Guilmon by
his side anymore. That had an effect on Guilmon’s health, since such a large creature
(with such eating habits) needs space and a certain amount of exercise to remain in good
shape. Takato quickly found a solution by taking Guilmon to the Digital World on a
regular basis. On a side note, Guilmon’s presence was yet another reason Mr. McCoy
was so enthusiastic about Takato’s presence. It was his chance to study the Digimon he
had helped create so long ago. Besides, Guilmon was no ordinary Digimon specimen,
after all.
The point was; Takato was in good terms with Alice’s grandfather. The fact that he was
allowed to sleep in Alice’s room was a good proof (the fact that there weren’t more
rooms did help, though). Besides, it was not just that Takato was trusted. After all, they
were talking about Alice McCoy.
Takato soon discovered the extent of Alice’s personality. She was cold and quiet, not
very talkative at all. She cared little about others or about anything else, for that matter.
Alice was imperturbable. Nothing distracted her from whatever she had in her head.
Because Takato guessed such a quiet person probably had a lot in her mind. In a way,
Takato found Alice very similar to Rika. The main difference was that Rika was
actively cold to others, while Alice was the epitome of passivity.
Given the fact that he was going to spend who-knows-how-much time with her, Takato
tried to get her to open up to him. He had so far failed miserably. He did know that
Alice was a good girl, though, so he persevered. The fact that Alice, despite his
insistence to get her to talk to him, did not react negatively only encouraged him.
Besides, Alice was not precisely unattractive.
“Umm…hey.” Takato muttered uneasily. He still did have to get used to the sight of
Alice in her white nightgown. The girl either didn’t notice where Takato was looking or
simply did not care.
“What is it?”
“Huh?” It took Takato a while to realize she wanted to know why he was not sleeping,
like normal people do.
“You weren’t in Nonaka’s dreams again, were you?” Alice said in barely a whisper, and
Takato thought he had detected a bit of amusement.
“What? No!” Takato replied, much louder than his female companion. He was tired of
having to look up, being on a sleeping bag on the floor as he was. Alice watched him as
calmly as ever.
“What is it, then?”
Takato sighed. Alice was the last person he wanted to tell of his nightmares. “Nothing.
I’m sorry,” he said, wrapping himself in the sleeping bad and turning away to evade
Alice’s calm but piercing gaze. He could feel her watching him for what seemed like an
eternity before she moved away and went back to sleep.
Takato closed his eyes and wondered if he’d actually get to rest at all that night.
The sleeping Guilmon, in a corner of the room, tried to catch an imaginary fly with his
mouth.
Fortunately for Takato, he slept a dreamless night.
?:??
“So…how is it?”
…what?
“Not being alone.”
…not what I expected.
“You ask for too much. I did as you requested.”
…I’ll concede that.
“Then why don’t you look satisfied?”
…I guess…I guess I was expecting something else…something…
“Exciting? Exhilarating? Pleasuring? Joyful? Something that gave a meaning to your
existence?”
…yes.
“There’s no easy way to achieve that which you want so badly. I could only grant you
the potential, Alice.”
…I know. I just…I don’t really know what to do now.
“What do you want?”
I don’t want to be alone anymore.
“You aren’t alone anymore. You have a family. Again.”
Then why aren’t I happy?
“Because you want something else. When you realize what that is, you‘ll know
everything you need to know. You’ll know exactly what to do.”
…really?
“I’m positive.”
…are you sure he…he’s…?
“The one you were looking for? Yes. He’s just not aware of it yet. And neither are you.”
…
February 3rd, 2016
The hot news that day was Alice McCoy’s return to school. Pretty much the whole
classroom was in an awkward state of excitement. After all, Alice had been out of
school…pretty much out of the whole world for an astounding thirteen months.
Lauren Raleigh was no exception. She had heard Alice had returned home three months
before, but only that day she had decided to return to classes.
She remembered Alice, for they had talked quite often before her absence. Like Alice,
Lauren was an average student: not very popular and not interested in being popular, but
definitely not a loser. Like Alice, she didn’t take crap from anyone. Like Alice, she had
excellent grades, and, like Alice, she didn’t allow the bunch of plastic girls to call her
‘nerd’. It was a good thing she didn’t have a ‘nerdy’ look. She didn’t precisely have a
gorgeous body or a lovely face, but she wasn’t ugly, either. Unlike Alice, though,
Lauren was already a good way through her puberty, so she didn’t have much hopes of
growing taller and prettier. Alice seemed to be a little late on the road to maturity, and
Lauren was certain Alice would eventually become a very beautiful woman.
Lauren couldn’t recognize Alice at first. When the blonde girl entered the room, there
was a long silence, only interrupted by the teacher when he guided the newcomer to the
only seat remaining. Alice listened and walked calmly, acting almost as if she were the
only person in the room, and took her seat behind Lauren. Nobody said a word. Nobody
dared open their mouths. That girl, with the cold expression, the dead eyes and the Goth
look was not the girl they remembered.
Lauren wanted to turn her body. She wanted to turn to face her. She wanted to greet
Alice, to tell her she, as well as everyone else, was glad to have her back. And she
definitely wanted to ask her what had happened to her. She wanted to know the cause of
that transformation. But her body rejected her mind’s orders. She was, in every sense of
the word, repelled by Alice’s sheer coldness. It was as if the girl standing behind her
were the exact opposite of a black hole, something that pushed everything away.
Something unreachable.
There’s something that didn’t change, though. Alice was still as smart as ever. While
she had to get up to date in every subject, and there was a lot of material she had yet to
study, she easily assimilated the lessons and calmly answered and asked questions. Her
voice was still calm and melodious, but it now had a tinge of bitterness, as if she didn’t
enjoy the very act of speaking. Lauren was glad, though, to realize that Alice would be
back on track in no time at all.
Classes were eventually over for the morning. Almost unconsciously, Lauren turned to
look at Alice. She did notice several other students did the same. She was surprised (and
mildly amused) to notice Alice had brought her own lunch. Few students did that
nowadays. Most bought it in the cafeteria. The blonde calmly stood up, grabbed her bag
and the curious box with her lunch and tried to leave the classroom. She was, however,
blocked by a trio of smiling girls. Lauren saw that the girl’s smile was as neutral as
Alice’s gaze.
“So, what’s with the new look, Goth girl?” The girl on the left questioned rather rudely.
The other two girls didn’t bother to hide their snickering. Alice calmly walked around
the three girls and resumed his walk, only to be stopped when one of the girls held her
by gripping her right shoulder with a hand.
“Hey, we’re talking to you!”
Alice showed no signs of reaction for a few seconds. Suddenly, though, she showed
surprising strength by using her right hand to remove the grip that girl had on her
shoulder. Without further restraint, Alice quietly continued her walk outside the room.
Nobody else tried to approach Alice that day.
Lauren kept wondering why Alice had changed so much from the joyous girl she
remembered. The old Alice wasn’t precisely active (she even dared to say Alice was a
bit lazy) but she was at least talkative and friendly. Lauren could understand that the
circumstances must have dealt a terrible blow to the poor girl, but she could at least say
a word or two.
Eventually, classes were over for the day, and the students quickly grabbed their texts
and notebooks and prepared for leaving the school. Lauren couldn’t help but follow
Alice on the way out.
One person stood out among the crowd. It was not because he was just standing there at
the school gates. Many students stayed for a while to talk with their friends and make
plans. He just looked different. It wasn’t just his appearance. There was
just…something she couldn’t describe with words. Something that told her that boy was
not just any person. Despite his black clothing, it still surprised her to see Alice
approach the boy. Lauren (and a few other classmates) subtly approached the couple to
listen to the conversation.
“…what are you doing here?”
“I think that’s obvious.”
“You could wait at home.”
“…I felt like taking a walk.”
“…”
“Of course, if you don’t enjoy my company, I won’t come here anymore.”
Alice remained silent for a moment. Lauren felt she was as eager to hear Alice’s answer
as that nameless boy who could actually make Alice talk.
“…I don’t really mind.”
With that, Alice resumed her long walk home, the boy following her by her right.
Lauren watched them get farther and farther away until she finally sighed, a smile
creeping up her face.
“Well, she’s alright, after all.”
March 6th, 2016
10:15 A.M.
Alice closed her notebook with a slam. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Takato smiled. “Not really.”
Guilmon yawned in his usual corner. Alice frowned.
“Are you done cleaning?”
“Despite your lack of assistance, I have.”
“What about lunch?”
“If I cook it now it’ll only get cold.”
“…can’t you just train or something?”
“It’s Sunday, Alice-chan. Even God rests on Sundays.”
“Now what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just what I said.”
Alice sighed and returned to her homework. Takato smiled again, but this smile was
more kind than amused.
“Alice…”
“…hmm?” Alice knew that it was better to pay attention when Takato didn’t use the “chan” suffix.
“…is there really a problem if I just watch you study?”
“…it’s annoying.”
“…I see.”
Takato suddenly grabbed Alice’s math textbook and jumped on the bed to read. Alice
turned her head to look at him for an instant, but then she changed her mind and
returned to her studies.
“…”
She looked at him again thirty minutes later. He had fallen asleep. While it wasn’t much
of a surprise to see someone falling asleep when reading a math textbook, Alice was
intrigued by the look on his face and his constant movement as he slept. It seemed to be
an uneasy sleep. A nightmare, maybe?
“…Takato?”
The boy whimpered in his sleep. Alice found herself unconsciously drawn to the
sleeping boy. She moved off her desk and sat on the bed, visibly interested and
impressed by what she was witnessing.
Takato was crying.
Had Takato been awake, he would have been surprised by the amount of emotion Alice
displayed in that moment. A normal person would not have noticed the change, but
Takato would have clearly seen the slight widening of Alice’s pupils, her raised
eyebrow and the weakening and the elevated pitch of her voice as she spoke.
“Takato?” She whispered, almost as much of a whimper as his.
Takato shivered and curled into a fetal position. He actually seemed to be in pain. What
in the world was he dreaming about?
He was crying and sweating profusely. Alice hurried for a handkerchief and wiped the
sweat off his forehead. Takato was still shivering, and Alice was certain the air
conditioner had nothing to do with it. Her voice did not seem to elicit a reaction, and
neither the touch of her hand nor the handkerchief’s seemed to be noticed. Takato was
still trapped in his nightmarish world, and obviously in a state of anguish she could not
understand. Alice clenched her hands into tiny fists.
So there’s nothing I can do…again…
April 11th, 2016
1:45 P.M.
“Thank you so much, Takato. You’re really a lifesaver.”
“I’ve been called many things before, but I think ‘lifesaver’ is a first.”
It was the first time Takato visited Alice’s grandfather in his office. It was, in fact,
Takato’s first time in the University of California. In any university, as a matter of fact.
“I’m sorry, Mr. McCoy. I wouldn’t have taken so long if I knew my way around…”
“Oh, no, no, no, don’t apologize, Takato! You’ve made it with time to spare!” Rob
McCoy quickly replied while he mixed the bundle of papers Takato had brought him
with a second group of annotations.
“I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t brought this to me…I mean, Alice’s at
school…you’ll be walking her home as usual, right?”
“Yes. We do have to do some shopping on the way.”
Takato patiently waited on his seat while Rob struggled with the piles of books and
papers that filled his small cubicle. He had an important conference in fifteen minutes
and he asked Takato to take him some papers he had left in the house.
“Aha!” Rob exclaimed triumphantly when he found whatever it was he was looking for.
Takato only managed to see another bundle of papers which the older man quickly
stuffed in a folder.
“But, really, Takato, your coming to our house was truly a blessing!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far…”
“No, really…”
The change in the tone of his voice and the expression on his face told Takato that Mr.
McCoy was unusually serious.
“I might say…that your arrival was the best thing that could have happened to us.”
“Sir…”
“What Alice needs the most in someone by her side, and I can’t spend as much time
with her as I’d want.”
“I don’t think she really enjoys my company, which makes me wonder why I was sent
here in the first place.”
He had finally said it. The question that lurked in his mind since the day he arrived.
Why here? Why had his new life begun in the United States of America? And why in
the McCoy household? He guessed it was slightly advantageous to have the support of
two people he somehow knew. But, really, during the whole D-Reaper threat he had
barely caught a glimpse of Rob McCoy, and Alice’s appearance did not last fifteen
minutes. He didn’t really know anything about them.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I guess you don’t see it because you don’t know her for as
long as I do. She is thankful for your company.”
Takato sighed. “Well, would it be so hard for her to show it every once in a while?”
“She has…Alice has changed since…well, since that happened.”
“Since what?”
Rob looked at Takato with utter surprise, as if he expected any answer but that.
“She…she hasn’t told you?”
That was the other thing. Takato didn’t know a thing about the people he lived with. He
wanted to know, he believed he deserved to know, but Alice was no help at all. She
wouldn’t say a word about her life before the day they met. He didn’t even know her
birthday!
“She hasn’t told you…well, I guess it’s understandable she doesn’t want to talk of such
things…”
Takato didn’t pay any more attention to the other man’s words. He didn’t even notice
when Rob McCoy left to his conference. Takato had decided to unveil Alice’s past. He
just HAD to. Maybe then he’d understand the mystery that is Alice McCoy.
April 22, 2016
4:05 A.M.
A sneeze. Then another one. And a third one.
“Aww…”
“…what?”
“You’re so cute when you sneeze. Like a chipmunk!”
“…why are you awake at four in the morning?”
“…you woke me up with your sneezing.”
“You had another nightmare, didn’t you?”
“…”
“…Takato…”
“…good night.”
4:42 P.M.
“…are you okay?”
“…yeah.”
“What’s with you today?”
“I could ask the exact same thing. You’re unusually talkative today. And if I didn’t
know that’s impossible, I’d think you’re worried about me.”
“…”
“…”
“…Takato…I…”
“…what is it?”
“…I…just remembered we have to stop by the supermarket on the way home. We’re
running short of food.”
“…yes, ma’am.”
“…”
May 4th, 2016
3:01 P.M.
Takato’s hands were on the keyboard. His eyes were on the screen, too. But his mind
was completely disconnected from his body in that moment. He had discovered the
secret of Alice McCoy. And he wished he hadn’t.
It hadn’t been difficult. The only reason he had taken a whole month was his lack of
opportunities to escape from Alice and find a chance to go to the library. Whatever had
happened to Alice in the past seemed important, so he guessed it may have shown up in
the local newspaper. He started searching every newspaper from the day they met (the
day he died) and went backwards. After a while, he realized he only needed to search
from the day they truly met (during the D-Reaper crisis). He had to go a few months
before that to find out.
Alice’s family had perished in a car accident. Her parents and her older brother. They
were going to visit Alice’s father’s father, Rob McCoy, when it happened. Alice was the
sole survivor. Not that she fared well at all.
She had fallen into a profound coma, and was declared brain dead. She was kept alive
with machines at the will of the closest family member: Rob McCoy. Takato started
putting two and two together.
Alice, that is, the true Alice, was on a hospital bed the day they met. The Alice who had
given them the gift of evolution was obviously some sort of mental projection of the
true Alice. That explained the way she had disappeared after that.
Takato correctly guessed that the reason Alice did not wake up from the coma was
because her soul was somewhere else (the Digital World? Infinity?). However, why
hadn’t she returned to her body once she met them and fulfilled her purpose?
Dobermon.
Takato remembered. Alice had been visibly hurt by Dobermon’s sacrifice. He easily
understood why. She had just lost her family, and Dobermon was the closest thing to a
friend she had. When Dobermon left, she was alone.
Loneliness. That was the main word in the whole story. Alice had refused to return to a
world of loneliness.
However, she had woken up a few days before his death and rebirth, the day they met
again. And she had been expecting him.
That was it? Was that the reason? Had he been sent to the United States to put an end to
Alice’s loneliness?
Takato felt as if a clawed hand was tearing apart his insides. He slammed his right fist
on the desk, drawing startled and annoyed looks from everyone else in the library.
“Damn it! Damn it all! What have I been doing?”
He stood up, ignoring everyone’s looks and left the building as fast as he could without
running. Once outside, he shouted his frustration to the world.
“DAMN IT ALL!”
5:36 P.M.
Alice arrived a little late that day. She had stopped by the supermarket. That was
Takato’s job, but he had not shown up at the school gates that day. She guessed she
would have to scold him. For making her do the shopping, not for not walking her home,
of course. It took her a while to put the groceries in their correct places, or at least what
she thought were the correct places. She ignored Takato’s method of storing groceries.
She opened the door of the bedroom she shared with Takato. He was waiting for her on
the chair she sat on when she did her homework. She knew he had been waiting for her
because he was facing her; he had been watching the door. Alice took a breath to talk
but, before she could say the first word, Takato quickly stood up, walked the six feet
that separated them and tightly hugged her.
Alice’s schoolbag fell on the floor, her arms limp and her body tensed. Her eyes had
widened and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. There was also a ticklish feeling in
her chest she found disturbing. Takato was hugging her very, very tightly, almost
painfully. He held her as close to his body as humanly possible. Alice noticed his
warmth made an interesting contrast with the room’s temperature.
“What…is this about?” Alice finally asked, her voice impressively hiding her inner
turmoil. Takato finally let go of her, but he still stood in front of her, a mere half a foot
apart. They had been that close before, even closer at times. How come she found it
hard to bear it this time?
“I…I just felt like doing that,” Takato stated. “I’ll make dinner now.”
Takato left the room. Alice didn’t move an inch until she could hear his footsteps
reaching the kitchen, where he would devote himself to make what would probably be
another delicious meal (not that she had ever told him that, though). Alice sighed and
sat on the bed. Then, she noticed she was not alone in the room.
Guilmon was looking at her from his usual corner. He had his usual expression, and she
wondered what the reptile Digimon made of what had just happened.
“What is it?”
Guilmon tilted his head to the left and smiled. “Good afternoon, Alice!”
The girl sighed. Guilmon obviously found nothing unusual in a hug.
She had been an idiot, she had expected Guilmon to wickedly grin at her and come up
with some smart-ass comment; what we would expect from, let’s say, Terriermon. In a
way, she was glad Takato’s Digimon partner was the way he was. In a second, her
frustration and confusion became amusement. After all, that whole exchange was kind
of funny in a way.
“Good afternoon, Guilmon.”
“…you’re beautiful.”
Alice froze and turned her head slightly to the right. Takato was standing on the
doorframe, looking at her with absolute amazement. Alice’s surprised (and maybe a
little afraid) eyes met Takato’s look of admiration.
“What…did you just say?”
Takato’s look slowly turned into a warm, kind smile. “Your smile…you look beautiful
when you smile.”
Alice blinked twice. Had she smiled? She didn’t even notice. She hadn’t smiled in a
very long time.
“Ah…um…I came to look for today’s recipe.” Takato muttered uneasily in response to
Alice’s silence. He walked over to the desk. “I know I put it somewhere…here it is!”
Takato quickly left the room again, shooting once last glance at Alice before he left. She
hadn’t moved an inch. And she didn’t move at all for a long three minutes. When she
did, she fell on the bed, followed by a long sigh.
“What was that about?” She muttered to herself.
“You’re beautiful.”
Alice sighed again. She didn’t realize there was a half-smile on her face.
June 1st, 2016
3:04 P.M.
When he was a little and spoiled child, Matsuki Takato had always wanted a bike.
He didn’t overdo it with the money Takeru gave him. He never did, knowing that he
might need the extra money someday. However, he did not deny himself that little
pleasure.
Unfortunately, he made the mistake of taking Alice along to buy the bike.
Needless to say, she made him buy a black one.
After leaving Guilmon to watch over the house (and promising him to take him out
tomorrow), Takato took his (black) bike and went on a stroll. It wasn’t truly a
meaningless stroll, though. He was going to the University, to help Mr. McCoy at whoknows-what. The professor had grown to enjoy Takato’s assistance, and Takato’s visits
to the University of California at Berkeley had become a usual thing. However, he had
time to spare. In any other day he would be on his way back home with Alice after
meeting her at her school. Alice knew that he would not meet her today, so he could
take his time.
He traveled a square west and then south on Fulton. He turned left on Russell Avenue
only to go back north on Telegraph. He was on his way north, having just crossed
Parker and Dwight Way when he saw her. Alice was in one of the many Berkeley
Yellow Cars, and she was not alone. Takato saw two other girls with her on the back
seat, and a boy on the passenger seat. Takato easily guessed they were classmates. Of
course, he was curious to know how it came to be that Alice was in a group.
They’re going north…
The University, perhaps?
Great minds think alike!
With renewed vigor, Takato followed the cab, trying to keep a constant distance with
his bike, which was obviously no easy feat.
If Alice asks, we were doing a new training exercise: keep up with the cabbie.
Got it.
As predicted, the taxi cab stopped at the campus’ entrance. Takato wondered why they
had bothered to pay for a taxi ride. The Longfellow Magnet Middle School, where Alice
studied, was just as far from their house as it was from the university. An exploration of
Alice’s personality helped Takato realized that Alice simply wanted to spend as little
time with her classmates as possible.
The four were stopped at the entrance. The guard managed to recognize Professor
McCoy’s granddaughter, but he still asked for their IDs. Takato grinned. He might as
well make his entrance. He pedaled his way to the entrance, as calmly as if he were in a
public park.
“Good afternoon, Lou.”
“Oh, good afternoon, Takato,” the guard replied politely.
Takato couldn’t help but smirk at Alice’s dumbfounded expression. He also noticed one
of the girls, a short brunette with average looks, looked at him with an expression that
he interpreted as recognition, as weird as that might be. He guessed she must have seen
him with Alice when he walks her home.
Alice turned to the guard.
“How come Gogglehead doesn’t need an ID?”
The guard smiled at the mentioning of Takato’s infamous nickname. “He’s Professor
McCoy’s assistant.”
“I’m his granddaughter,” Alice muttered.
“But he comes almost every day.”
Alice shot daggers at Takato, who pedaled his way away from the guard and the
foursome. He was also glad to know that the other three youngsters were as amused by
Alice’s reaction as him.
As expected, they met again when the group entered Professor McCoy’s office. Takato
was, as usual, trying to create a resemblance of order in that room filled with piles of
papers and books with complicated names. The professor was in the middle of a class.
“Oh, it’s been a while, Alice-chan!” Takato exclaimed in fake surprise.
*TWACK*
Alice smacked his head with the back of her right hand.
“I missed you too, Alice-chan.”
“So that’s your new hobby, Gogglehead? Mocking me in public?”
“Not really, I still prefer making fun of you in private.”
There as a very subtle twitch on Alice’s forehead.
“Whatever. Where’s grandpa?”
“If you had bothered to check the schedule outside, you might have found out that he’s
in the middle of class. So, what can I be good for?”
“Absolutely nothing, as usual.”
“Hey, I resent that, Alice-chan!”
“No ‘Alice-chan’ me, Gogglehead!”
Takato smirked at Alice’s classmates’ reaction. That was obviously the longest
exchange of words they had heard from Alice.
“So, don’t you think it’s time for some introductions, Alice-chan?” Takato insisted,
putting more emphasis on the ‘-chan’.
Alice groaned. “You just had to ask…okay, you three, this is Idiot. Idiot, these three
are…what were your names again?”
Cue facefault.
“You’ve got to be kidding!” The brunette from before exclaimed. “We’re your
classmates, for Pete’s sake!”
Takato chuckled. “You can’t tell when she’s joking, huh?”
The brunette gagged. “Joking? Is Alice McCoy capable of that!?”
Takato smiled and shrugged. “I was surprised when I found out, too.”
Alice showed her famous half-smile. “Lauren, Maria and Jonathan, respectively.”
Takato nodded. “Pleased to meet you. I guess I’m Idiot.”
“Oh, clam up, Takato,” Alice muttered as she took a seat. Takato quickly gathered seats
for the other three, with the unexpected result of him ending up without a seat,
something he (correctly) guessed Alice had been aware of since the beginning.
“There are no seats left for you, Takato,” Alice stated; amusement plain on her face.
“Too bad grandpa’s got such a small office.”
Takato grinned. “Well, I could always take your seat.”
“That would be very rude of you.”
“You could always sit on my lap, I wouldn’t mind.”
If Alice’s three classmates had been drinking something, they’d have created a shower
of liquid all over the room. Alice, on the other side, seemed to take Takato’s suggestion
with her usual passivity, something Takato was starting to grow fond of. It only made
their conversations even more interesting.
“As practical as that suggestion might be, I’m pretty sure this chair is much more
comfortable than your lap, Takato.”
Takato returned Alice’s challenging look with his trademark grin. “You’ll never know
unless you try.”
“I don’t feel like standing up.”
“You’ve been seated for like, the whole day. I’m sure your legs could use some
stretching.”
“We had to walk a little to get here.”
“Not enough. That can’t be good for your health, Alice-chan.”
“And since when did you become such a worrywart, Gogglehead?”
“That’s what best friends are for. Because, well, you said we were best friends.”
“Something I’m regretting as we speak.”
For the other three, it was like watching a tennis match. Lauren was the only one who
managed to say something at the end of it all.
“You two are such a funny couple!”
Takato smirked. “Did you hear that, Alice-chan? Now we’re a couple.”
“Bite me.”
“That can be done.”
Alice had no answer for that, as she was left as stunned as the other three. Takato
openly showed his victory smirk.
Takato 1 – Alice-chan 0. Man, those four words work wonders!
Congratulations, Goggles!
Now, knock it off, you!
July 23rd, 2016
7:40 P.M.
It was days like this one Alice found the most enjoyable: peaceful, quiet, with good
weather and, as usual, the perennial company of Matsuki Takato. She didn’t worry
about school or homework in days like this one. It was only her, Takato next to her and
the sunset they were enjoying together.
She had to admit she enjoyed going on these bike trips with Takato. She simply took the
seat and held tightly while she let Takato take her wherever he pleased. This time he
had chosen the San Francisco Bay. The Aquatic Park and the I-80 highway were behind
them. The endless sea was in front of them. Alice wondered what Takato could have in
his head as he watched the waves. Was he thinking about his home country, on the other
side of the ocean? About the people he had left behind: his family, his friends, and the
girl he loved?
Takato’s deep, sorrowful look shook Alice to the core. It was in moments like this when
she could see the full extent of Takato’s personality: there was a lot hidden under the
silly Gogglehead with the silly grin and the annoying jokes. Alice knew Matsuki Takato
was incredibly mature for his age. That amalgam of apparently opposite qualities Alice
found deeply interesting.
Alice had to admit it: this boy Goddramon had sent her was quite interesting.
All of a sudden, Takato grabbed a notebook and a pencil out of nowhere and started
drawing. Alice knew Takato enjoyed drawing. She had seen him doing so several times.
She had never seen any of Takato’s “work”, though.
Alice’s frown only got more and more noticeable as Takato progressed with his drawing.
When he was done, Alice shook her head.
“You completely killed the moment, Takato.”
“Huh?”
“Beautiful sunset, peaceful scenery, a lovely girl like me by your side…and you draw
an ADR.”
“I was with you until ‘lovely girl’.”
*TWACK*
“You know, those karate chops of yours are going to be the end of me.”
“There’s something very wrong with you.”
Alice looked at the Agent D-Reaper Takato had drawn. It was the most common and
also the weakest one. She remembered it by its main features: a pair of wings with a
crimson eye on each wing. That and the notorious cord that connected it to the main
body of D-Reaper.
“I call it ‘Searcher’,” Takato explained. “I remember someone saying that was pretty
much what it did: gathering information. They were very weak.”
“And your point is…” Alice retorted matter-of-factly. She couldn’t believe Takato had
been thinking about D-Reaper all this time.
“I was wondering if I could put D-Reaper’s abilities to a good use.”
“And you had to come all the way here to tell me that.”
“Not really. I just thought you’d like the view.”
“Sometimes I can’t tell what’s in your mind,” Alice concluded, utterly defeated. Takato
smiled.
“Regardless of how I behave or the things I say, I’m very conscious of what I am and
what I’m supposed to do, Alice.”
Alice looked at Takato’s subtle smile, which was his way to hide just how serious he
was in that moment.
“I have to become stronger, more intelligent, and more cunning. I have the potential to
do whatever I want, but idling around won’t take me anywhere. It might not look like it,
but I haven’t wasted a day.”
Takato patted his Ruby Omnivice.
“Ruki has developed a program that allows me to create new Modify Cards. I plan to
create D-Reaper Cards.”
“Hmm…excuse my ignorance, but I don’t think you can create something out of
nowhere.”
“Very true, Alice. Of course, I’d need D-Reaper’s data if I wanted to finish this little
project of mine.”
“And just where do you plan to get that? Let me remind you that you destroyed DReaper.”
“Actually, the credit goes to Henry. Anyway, the point is, I don’t need to. I already have
D-Reaper’s data. In fact, I’ve had it for quite a long time.”
Alice didn’t say a word. She was obviously expecting him to explain himself.
“At one point during the whole Nightmare conflict, I hacked into Hypnos’ main server
with Ruki. There I downloaded most of its data. Among other things I found a very
complete Digimon database, detailed physical and psychological reports of the Digimon
Tamers, including myself, and lots of data concerning D-Reaper.”
“It won’t take me more than a week to create my D-Reaper battle deck.”
“Well, I’ll admit I’m impressed.”
“Thank you, that’s very nice of you.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“I’ll try not to keep my hopes up.”
No more words were said for another half an hour, when the sun finally disappeared
behind the horizon and the sky turned dark. The two youngsters watched the beautiful
sunset in silence, at peace with themselves and with each other. Moments like those
they enjoyed the most, even more than the fights.
September 25th, 2016
4:53 P.M. (Standard Digital Word Time)
“Takato, I’m not precisely an expert, but if this is your idea of a date, well…”
“Shut up, Alice.”
In the distance, they could only see pandemonium. Despite the time, the Digimon city
they could see in the distance was clouded by an aura of eternal night, like a large blot
of darkness in the landscape. However, the city was now lighted by flames. A building
collapsed with a loud rumble, raising a cloud of dust and smoke. The sounds of the riot
could be heard from where Takato, Guilmon and Alice stood. They could also see
Digimon leaving the city, trying to escape the violence. But there were those who
chased after them, to kill them and claim their data. This was the case with the two
Digimon who were rapidly approaching them.
Ruki…
Witchmon, a Demon Digimon of the Champion Level, Data-Type. Let me be the
first to say that she’s quite weak, even for a Champion. Her special attacks are
Aquari Pressure and Baru Luna Gate. The one behind her should be familiar to
you.
“Arukenimon, a Demon Beast Digimon of Ultimate Level, Virus-Type. Her special
attacks are…hmm…”
Predation Spider and Spider Thread.
“Yeah…thanks, Ruki.”
“You still have lots to learn, Takato.”
“Oh, I want to see YOU memorizing every Digimon attack!”
“…I don’t need to.”
“Well, neither do I!”
“Takato…” Guilmon tugged at Takato’s shirt.
“Oh, yeah, the Digimon. Thank you, Guilmon. I should be able to handle it.”
Takato stepped forward a few steps, extending his right arm. “Eden’s Blade.”
His hand glowed at it changed its shape to become a long sword the size of his arm. The
sword looked plain, save for the Digi-Code engraved all over the blade, which, to the
knowledgeable, spelled the word “judgment”. Finally, the sword was sheathed in flames.
Alice raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“And you’re the one who’s supposed to look after me.”
4:55 P.M.
Nix ran for her life. She knew something like this would eventually happen. She hadn’t
been prepared for it, nonetheless.
She guessed it was truly impossible. A city of demons and ghosts that lived in peace? It
was too good to be true.
She had escaped to that place, after been rejected everywhere else. She was rejected by
others for being a demon, and she was rejected by demons for being a Data-Type. She
had found peace in Necropolis, for a while, that is. It didn’t take her long to realize that
city was as immersed in a web of intrigue as it could be possible.
SkullSatamon had been a problem since he arrived. It did not take him long to create an
undercover criminal organization in a formerly peaceful and crimeless city. At first he
sent his minions to do some simple robbery and intimidation, while he slowly gathered
more and more followers. Who would have thought that his intentions were not to gain
economical and political control of the city as a crime lord?
What he did was much more macabre. When he considered he had gathered enough
followers, he killed those of Ultimate Level, gaining enough data to reach Mega Level.
After evolving to Ghoulmon, he roused his remaining followers in a coup d’état. The
last thing she had heard before leaving the city was that Ghoulmon had invaded
Phelesmon’s residence.
She wondered if Pheslesmon had already been deleted. If that was the case, Necropolis
was lost.
In any case, she would just resume her life somewhere else. She was used to having to
leave places, just not in the middle of a battle. The last thing she had expected was
being forced to run from a demented Arukenimon intent on taking her data. Not like she
had much data in the first place.
So she ran for her life. Behind her, the crazed Ultimate Digimon chased after her. In
front of her, what could be her last hope of salvation: a big reptile Digimon she had
never seen before but was not likely to be an Ultimate (hence had no chance of killing
her pursuer), and…two humans?
It all happened in a flash. The male human –not the Digimon– covered the distance that
separated them in the blink of an eye. Before she could react or even try to stop (not that
she planned to), he leapt above her and attacked the spider Digimon with his sword-arm.
There was a moment of utter silence, and then Arukenimon howled in pain, her body
jerked backwards and downward by the force of the human’s slash. The boy took the
chance to leap on Arukenimon’s body, and with a clean slice separated her head from
the rest of her body. Five seconds later, the human was absorbing Arukenimon’s
data…absorbing Arukenimon’s data?
“Hot damn! You are…you are…the Omni-Tamer!”
The boy in black looked at her. “Ara, I’ll never get used to being a celebrity.”
“Oh, for the Sovereigns!” Nix exclaimed. “I can’t believe it’s really you! Just wait until
I tell my friends, they’ll be so jealous! Oh, wait, I don’t have any friends. But, damn,
this is so cool! I had heard rumors that you could even absorb Digimon data, but I
couldn’t believe it until I saw it!”
Takato sweatdropped. “Well, I couldn’t do that before…I just recently became more
Digital that human. Anyway, are you okay?”
As a response to those words, Takato found himself smashed against a pair of big,
round, soft and bouncy breasts.
“Of course I’m okay! Gosh, the Omni-Tamer! The Omni-Tamer saved me! My hero,
my savior, my everything!”
Takato sweatdropped even more. Alright…
We got ourselves a lively one here…
Alice cleared her throat. “This might be a good moment to find out what’s going on
over there.”
“Great idea,” Takato mumbled.
“Hey, that tickles!”
Takato groaned.
“Haha, you did it again!”
“…”
A few minutes later, Takato and Alice had been informed of the whole situation.
“Okay…so, what are we waiting for?”
“Say again?”
“Well, we just have to deal with this Ghoulmon, right?”
Witchmon eyes widened in admiration. “You can do that?”
“Someone has to, right? Might as well do it myself.”
Takato had not walked one step when he felt a presence right behind him, a presence
whose existence was confirmed by Alice’s gasp. He turned around to face the
newcomer, well aware that such an action wouldn’t be much of a difference. He had
been caught completely off-guard.
“Your data is mine, Omni-Tamer!” The hostile Phantomon exclaimed triumphantly as
he raised his scythe to deal the lethal blow.
“Takato!” He heard both Alice and Guilmon exclaim at the same time. Guilmon was too
far, and a Pyro Cluster would take too long; and Alice, well…there wasn’t much she
could have possibly done, even with time to spare.
Phantomon sliced, and Takato waited for the pain. With some luck, it wouldn’t be lethal.
Witchmon felt to the ground in front of him, her chest completely pierced by the mighty
scythe. Takato dealt with the shock just long enough to raise his arm and slice
Phantomon in half with his Eden’s Blade before he could strike again. His fury lasted as
long as he took to destroy the ghost Digimon.
“Witchmon!” Takato exclaimed as he kneeled by her side. Guilmon approached, too,
but Alice remained where she stood, her expression as unreadable as ever. It was in
moments like these when Takato wished she were a little less cold.
“Heh…this is the last time I try to play heroine…well, of course it’s the last time…”
“Oh, idiot! I could have parried it!”
Witchmon sighed weakly. “You’re…not helping…and…I can…tell you’re lying.”
Takato wasn’t crying, but he could feel a great sadness welling up within him. It wasn’t
the first time someone gave his or her life for him. The joyous laughter of a certain
group of merry Lilymon and a certain Rosemon flooded his mind with the gentleness of
a thousand bee stings. What was the point of coming back to life to save the world if he
couldn’t even save a single Digimon?
“Do you want to live?” Takato muttered.
Witchmon had closed her eyes to wait for the inevitable, but something in Takato’s
voice elicited a reaction. She opened her eyes and saw a completely different person.
The face that looked at her irradiated power and wisdom beyond imagination, but at the
same time she could feel a kindness that overwhelmed her. Witchmon closed her eyes
again. After seeing that wonderful face she could definitely die in peace.
Alice had noticed the change in Takato’s voice, too. From a distance, she could also see
Takato’s face. Of course, she knew a little more.
She knew that she was looking at Adam Kadmon, the perfect existence. The boy in front
of her was the one meant to become the Primum Mobile.
“Of course I want to…live, you little…idiot…”
“Then swear allegiance to me. Become my Digimon partner, and I will save you.”
Takato could hear Alice’s gasp behind him. He didn’t care. Witchmon had opened her
eyes again. Her big clear blue eyes stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and
newfound hope. An amused Takato thought that, their obviously different personalities
aside, Alice and this Witchmon were very much alike.
“…of course. If you…heal me, I’ll…I’ll gladly give…my entire self to you….much
better than not having a purpose…”
Takato smiled. “A great decision. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Ruki…
Witchmon selected as Digimon Partner.
Takato gently put the palm of his right hand on the space between Witchmon’s breasts
and closed his eyes. Alice and Guilmon were witnesses to the appearance of the Digital
Hazard symbol on the ground. They stood like that, unmoving, both watching Takato
and Witchmon, who remained just as still, for a minute or two, until the Digital Hazard
symbol receded. Takato lifted his hand and stood up.
“Try standing up, now.”
Nix noticed she could easily stand up. A second later, she was jumping and shouting all
over the place.
“This is awesome! Great! Incredible! I feel better than ever!”
“Of course. You have been infused with the Hazard. Like Guilmon, you now must have
a Hazard mark somewhere on your body.”
“Really? I wonder…”
Takato’s eyes grew the size of tennis balls when Witchmon began to take off her clothes,
checking every square inch of her skin for the Hazard sign. Takato suddenly felt Alice’s
mighty grip forcing him to look away. Wisely, Takato turned to face the Goth girl. The
expression on her face he could easily read this time.
“Now why are you angry?”
“…nothing.”
“Oh! Here it is!” Nix exclaimed excitedly.
“That’s great. Could you please put your clothes back on?”
“Ah? Sure!”
Takato didn’t turn until Witchmon spoke again.
“There. So…you’re my Tamer now, huh? The name’s Nix, so please look after me from
now on!”
Takato raised an eyebrow. “Nix? It’s not very often I find a Digimon with a name. Oh,
anyway, I’m Matsuki Takato. Please to meet you too. This is my partner Guilmon.”
“Hello!”
Nix patted Guilmon’s head. “So you’re a Rookie? How cute! A little big, though.”
“Ahem!”
“Oh, yes!” Takato clasped his hands together. “The brat behind me…”
*TWACK!*
“…the lovely little girl behind me…”
*TWACK!* *POW!*
“…the living goddess, incarnation of beauty and rightful owner of my very existence
behind me…”
*TWACK!* *POW!* *SMACK!*
“…she’s Alice.”
5:19 P.M.
“Atomic…Blaster!”
WarGrowlmon T easily opened a path between the swarm of Digimon that stood in
front of them, allowing Takato, Alice and Nix to make a run for it. Those who dared
attempt a strike became prey of WarGrowlmon’s and Takato’s blades. Nix did not
intervene in the fighting, following Takato’s instructions to save her strength for later.
“Digi-Modify! ADR-03, ‘Pendulum Feet’!”
Takato’s arm changed into ADR-03’s pendulum-shaped sickle.
“Shadow Sickle!”
Takato’s hand extended and stretched like rubber, gaining extra reach for his attack,
allowing him to slice a trio of Vilemon ten feet away like a knife through butter. Takato
dispelled the card’s effect and his arm changed back to the Eden’s Blade.
“Well, this one works,” Takato stated, showing his ADR-03 card to Alice, who returned
Takato’s smile with a half-smile of her own. Witchmon absorbed the Vilemon’s data,
this also being Takato’s order.
That was how they eventually reached Phelesmon’s residence. Takato stood before the
entrance.
“WarGrowlmon, you stay outside and take care of anyone who tries to get inside here.
It’s not like you can enter in that form, anyway.”
“Okay!”
“Alice, I take it you’re coming with me.”
“I won’t answer that question.”
“Nix, we’re bio-merging.”
“And that would be…”
Takato chuckled. “Fusing our bodies, minds and spirits to reach Mega level.”
“I thought that came after the third date.”
“…”
“Touché.”
“Shut up, Alice.”
Bio-merging Protocols Activated.
“Well, let’s see what comes up of this!”
“H-Hey! This feels really weird! Oh…oh crap, it feels GREAT!”
MATRIX EVOLUTION
Bio-merge Activate.
“Witchmon, digivolve to…Gallantmon!”
The holy knight Digimon stood in front of Alice. Alice blinked once, then a few more
times. Then, she voiced Takato’s thoughts.
“This is…disappointing in so many ways…”
Takato sweatdropped. Nix’s words were the icing on the cake.
“Umm…did I do something wrong?”
5:27 P.M.
Gallantmon, with Alice in his arms, dashed through the many passages of Phelesmon’s
tower. Takato guessed the Ultimate Digimon would be in the top floor with Ghoulmon.
They are always in the top floor. Surprisingly enough, their way up had been noticeable
devoid of enemies. In fact, they had yet to see the first Digimon inside. That wouldn’t
last much longer.
Enemy Digimon in the next floor!
About time…
As they climbed the next set of stairs, a line of Phantomon obstructed the path. Takato
easily understood this one the only line of defense that separated them from Ghoulmon.
Well, the easier the better. A little too easy, though…
Well, they did not expect outsider interference, especially not from the oh-somighty-Omni-Tamer.
You know, I do try to be modest!
Gallantmon didn’t stop. He rushed forward to meet the Ultimates.
“Alice-chan, do you dislike heights?”
“Why are you asking me…oh, no! You’re not doing…wait, Takato!”
Gallantmon threw Alice light body over the Phantomon right before tearing them apart
with his lance. Once behind the remaining enemies, Gallantmon grabbed Alice in midfall with his left hand, the right hand busy charging power for the next attack.
“Lightning Joust!”
The line of pure energy pierced through the remaining Phantomon and made a hole the
size of MegaGargomon on the wall behind them. Gallantmon quickly absorbed their
data and resumed his run to the top.
“Don’t. Do that. Ever. Again.”
“Aww…I found it quite amusing. I’ll call it the ‘Toss Alice and Blast Away’ combo.”
*TWACK!*
“Ow…”
“You should think it twice before using those karate chops on a metal armor.”
They finally reached the stairs that reached the top floor. Gallantmon finally stopped
and delicately dropped Alice on the floor.
“Well, if you’re coming, you’re coming on foot from now on.”
“Don’t expect me to pout.”
“I’m not that optimistic.”
Gallantmon climbed the stairs in two steps, Alice following him at her own pace (that
being very slowly). Gallantmon’s appearance took the two other Digimon in that room
by surprise, halting their battle indefinitely.
Ghoulmon is a small Digimon, especially for a Mega. His small and gray potato-shaped
body featured one large eye and a row of black spikes on the top. He also had a pair of
tiny orange bat wings, and two arms that ended in three sharp black claws and a single
eye between them. He stood on two gray legs that ended in a pair of sharp-looking
talons.
Ghoulmon was clearly superior, but the fact that Phelesmon, regardless of how battered
he looked, had actually managed to stay alive all that time made Takato quickly
acknowledge the Ultimate Digimon’s skill.
“A holy knight!” Ghoulmon spat. “Came to intrude in my city?”
“So it’s now ‘your’ city? I beg to differ, and Pheslesmon probably agrees with me,”
Gallantmon replied at the same time Takato slashed some cards for WarGrowlmon, who
was steadily running out of energy. The battle seemed to be getting rough out there. He
needed to end this quickly.
“Disappear, holy knight! Death Arrow!” Ghoulmon howled before launching a bolt of
evil energy from his left hand, which Gallantmon blocked with the Aegis.
“It’s good to know you’re so eager to fight, because I’m in a hurry. Lightning Joust!”
Ghoulmon barely managed to dodge the fast attack, and the battle was on. While the
two Mega Digimon went at each other with great intensity, Alice crossed the room
oblivious to the clash of powers around her and stood before Phelesmon. Alice bowed
elegantly, like a noble princess of a realm far away.
“Do not be worried, Lord Pheslesmon. Let him handle things now.”
Phelesmon was a powerful and important Ultimate Digimon, who ruled over an entire
realm of digital monsters. Yet in that moment he felt incredibly inferior to the human
girl in front of him.
“…human? What are you doing here?”
“Saving your city, it seems.”
Alice turned to finally look at the battle.
“Shield of the Just!”
Ghoulmon took flight with his small black wings, easily dodging Gallantmon’s energy
beam.
“Oh, come on…even I could dodge that thing…”
“Shut up, Alice.”
“Explosion Eye!”
“Damn it!”
Takato, too busy arguing with Alice to react, felt the full blunt of Ghoulmon’s special
technique. Takato felt his insides twist and burn, as if his whole body were about to
explode. However, the final explosion was just external, and Gallantmon flew a good
distance before being stopped by a wall.
“Death Arrow!”
Ghoulmon wasn’t stupid. Not giving Takato the time he needed to stand up, Gallantmon
was easy prey to the Demon’s strongest technique. Gallantmon could feel the wall
breaking behind him and his armor heating by the flow of dark energy that didn’t cease.
Alice and Phelesmon could only watch while Takato groaned in pain, as his body took
dangerous amounts of negative energy.
“So, human, you’re with him, aren’t you? Then go help him!” Phelesmon, in his
ignorance, suggested.
“…”
“…you can’t…then why are you here? You’re just a burden.”
“SHUT UP!”
Phelesmon took a second to realize that the voice which had shouted at him was a
male’s. Gallantmon was slowly standing up, despite the fact that he was still taking
Ghoulmon’s Death Arrow straight in the middle of his chest.
“Disappear at once, Holy Knight! Explosion Eye!”
Gallantmon disappeared in a cloud of dust and smoke, which faded to reveal a huge gap
in used to be a beautiful marble wall. But Gallantmon still stood, visibly harmed, but
still looking strong.
“Alice-chan…Alice-chan is anything but a burden!”
“Death Arrow!”
“Hah!” Gallantmon interposed his shield, effectively blocking the powerful beam. Still
taking Ghoulmon’s power, Gallantmon charged at the smaller Mega Digimon, who was
too focused on trying to break Gallantmon’s shield that didn’t bother to move away.
Big mistake.
Gallantmon rammed the Demon Digimon, slamming him against the wall behind.
Ghoulmon’s last sight was the golden triangles on the Aegis, shining a painfully bright
golden.
“Could you dodge this, Alice-chan?”
Max Charger, activate! Devil Chip, activate! Offense Plug-In N, activate!
“Shield of the Just!”
Few Digimon could possibly stand Gallantmon’s technique at point-blank, especially
after such a power boost. Gallantmon de-evolved after absorbing Ghoulmon’s data.
Witchmon was on all fours, gasping and panting in utter exhaustion. Takato had his
hands on his knees, just as tired.
“We won’t do that sort of reckless fighting again, Nix.”
“…good to hear that.”
“Hmm, well that’s pretty nice and everything, but…did you have to destroy the whole
place in the process?”
“What are you talking about, Alice-chan? The building’s just fi-” A loud rumbling and
shaking stopped Takato in mid-sentence. The two holes in the walls and the impact
dealt by Gallantmon’s final attack had altered the very structure of the building.
“…forget it. Nix, take your broom and get Alice-chan out of here.”
“But what about-“
“Just do it!”
Alice didn’t take her eyes off Takato while Witchmon roughly grabbed her and the two
flew away via broom, Phelesmon flying close behind.
Ruki, where’s Guilmon?
The Digimon retreated after the building started to collapse. Guilmon has deevolved and is hiding.
Smart guy, that Guilmon. Pillar of Light, activate!
A light pillar descended from the sky and swallowed Takato, only to drop him safely
outside the collapsing building next to Nix and Alice.
“Takato-sama! You’re alright!”
“Well, duh.”
Takato looked at her blonde companion. Was that relief on her face? Damn her and her
lack of expressions.
“Takato!” Guilmon cried from a distance, chased by a trio of Dokugumon. Takato
summoned his Eden’s Blade, whose flames looked diminished, a reflection of Takato’s
exhaustion. That unexpected Death Arrow had hurt more than he had thought. It seemed
the attack’s vile energy had some long-term effects he’d had to deal with later.
Takato was ready to fight, but Phelesmon stood in front of him.
“Ghoulmon has fallen and was deleted! Surrender now and you won’t suffer the same
fate!”
8:00 P.M.
Takato, Alice, Guilmon and Nix stood on Necropolis’ Main Gate. Having saved the city
from the clutches of a decadent ruler, Takato was a hero and savior to the whole
population. Even those who had joined Ghoulmon had soon repented after being
granted forgiveness. Takato and Alice had been invited to stay for the night and
celebrate, but Takato had been quick to reject the offer. His argument was that he was
tired, and he was late for making lunch (a comment that puzzled more than one), but
there was something else in his mind at the moment. But first he had to say goodbye to
his new partner, for a while.
“Should…Shouldn’t I go with you, Takato-sama?”
“Nah, that’s not necessary, Nix. Right now Necropolis needs you the most. The time
will come when you’ll have to come with me to the Real World, so you should enjoy a
peaceful life in this city while you can.”
Nix nodded. “Thank you very much, Takato-sama. I…I owe you so much…”
“Don’t mention it, Nix. Let’s be good friends from now on, okay?”
“Of course, Takato-sama!”
“We’ll be in touch. See ya!”
Takato turned away and left the city, followed by Alice and Guilmon. When they were
outside of hearing distance, Takato looked at Alice. There was a barely noticeable
frown on her face, and her head was slightly inclined downwards. Those simple details
confirmed Takato’s suspicion.
“I get it.”
“…what?”
“I now know why you were angry a few hours ago when we met Nix.”
“…I wasn’t angry.”
“You denial just confirms it, Alice-chan. At first I though it had been because of Nix
taking off her clothes, but you wouldn’t get angry over something like that.”
“…”
“You were angry because I brought her back to life.”
Silence.
“…she should have died.”
“Why?”
“She was defeated; hence she had to be deleted. It’s the way of the Digital World.”
“That’s true. The death of Digimon and their absorption by other Digimon is how this
world maintains its balance. It’s one way, I mean.”
“Then why did you…?”
“Because I swore nobody else would have to die for my sake.”
“…it’s against the balance…”
“…and I’m supposed to work for the balance, aren’t I? Well, I’ll admit you got me there.
It was a selfish act from my part. But I’d do it again if I had to. But this isn’t about Nix
and me bringing her back to life, right, Alice?”
“…”
“This is about Dobermon.”
“…”
“Nobody gave Dobermon a chance to live. He was meant to die since the very
beginning. If he couldn’t choose life over death, why should others have the right to
make that choice?”
“…”
“…so it’s Silent Alice this time. Whatever.”
October 4th, 2016
?:?? A.M. (Pacific Time)
The same dream again. Dream? He meant nightmare.
They had begun a mere month after his arrival to the United States. It was the same
dream, showing up uninvited at least two times a week. It was the same dream, but he
could swear he noticed something new every time. Single details, like a corpse filled
with maggots when it had always been clean and freshly killed. And there were more
crosses every time. He was sure of that.
It took place in Shinjuku, the place he once had called home. He stood, alone, in the
middle of a street he recognized. He had to cross that street on the way to his elementary
school every day. He stood alone, watching a post-apocalyptic scene.
The sky was blood red with the occasional tinge of orange. It seemed as if the sky were
in fast-forward motion, because he could see the clouds pass over him at great speed.
The buildings were nothing but rubble and ruins. The pavement was cracked and
extremely irregular, as if the most powerful earthquake had torn it apart once and again.
The lampposts were either bent or simply utterly destroyed. There were shattered glass
and chunks of concrete everywhere, some as small as a flea and some the size of a
sports car. He swallowed the scenery and then he walked down the empty street. He
didn’t really want to walk. After being through the same dream over and over for
months he knew what to expect. But he still walked. It was simply the way the dream
went.
He walked, not very excited with the idea of reaching the crossroad, for he knew what
he’d see there. But he still turned left, and there they were.
Corpses.
Hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of them. People of all races, ages and
genders lay dead on the streets of Shinjuku. It was as if the population of the whole
world had been poured on that city. Takato walked, mostly ignoring them, but it was
hard not to set eyes upon their expressions of horror and agony, their last moments of
life frozen in a cacophony of utter terror. Takato tried to ignore their faces, but each one
made a deeper wound in his mind. He tried to ignore their bodies, mutilated,
disemboweled, torn apart and scattered on the bloody streets, but each corpse was a
needle piercing through Takato’s sensitive psyche.
It was even worse when he recognized them. Every once in a while he saw a familiar
face: the guy who sold him Digimon cards, the family who ran a rival bakery, boys and
girls he had seen at school, Ken Sagara, Minami and his cousin Kyo, or even a random
passerby he had once seen on the streets and whose face he had unconsciously
memorized. They were all there, their perennial muteness almost accusing him of not
being able to save them.
He walked, and the first crosses appeared. The dream had picked those people he
actually knew and cared about and prepared a special punishment just for them. They
were crucified, their punishment for having a relevant place in Takato’s heart. The first
time he had had this dream, it had ended right here. That was a long time ago, though.
He’d have to deal with it now, and with whatever the dream had in store for him at the
end.
The first victims were the Hypnos crew, lined up in two rows before him, a row on each
side. He walked between them, trying to evade their dead glances, but it was impossible.
The dream would force him to take a good look to each and every single once of them.
He looked at Yamaki, Riley and Talley, all three of them naked and stabbed
uncountable times. Skeletal vultures were having a feast with their flesh. Takato finally
looked away when one of the undead birds plucked and swallowed Yamaki’s left eye.
His dream had once ended at this point, but this time he was forced to move on. The
next were the Wild Bunch, minus Janyuu (there was a special place for him later). He
strolled past them rather quickly, a consequence perhaps of the fact that he only knew
them by face and name. And there wasn’t much to see, anyway. It seemed the
scavenging undead beasts had done a quick job of devouring them. The exception was,
of course, Mr. Rob McCoy. It seemed the beasts had left him for last. While his waist
down was nothing but gnawed bones, his upper body was rather intact and complete,
save for the putrefaction and the fact that he already had had his eyes gouged out.
He reached a T-shaped intersection. In the middle stood Shibumi’s cross. He was
surprisingly intact. But that was because he was still alive. His stillness would make
anyone believe otherwise, but Takato knew. He knew because he was aware of what
would happen next.
As if on cue, the street under the cross cracked and collapse under the pressure of a
geyser of lava. Shibumi opened his eyes in the last moment, and his eyes met Takato’s
an instant before he was consumed by the lava. He screamed in indescribable agony for
two or three seconds, and then there was silence. Takato simply walked away before the
lava got him, too.
He turned left, well aware that he was approaching what he had come to call the
“parents section”. Before him, randomly scattered throughout the street, stood the many
crosses of the Tamers’ families. After the whole D-Reaper thing, he had many chances
to meet everyone’s parents, or at least those he didn’t really know, like Ryo’s or
Henry’s (before that he had only met Janyuu and Suzie). The families were not even
clustered together; the arrangement was completely random. And Janyuu was indeed
here, two yards to the left of Rika’s grandmother and three yards in front of Jeri’s father.
He quickly found his parents, the only ones who stood relatively close to each other. His
mother was right next to Rika’s. His father was two yards to the left, his neck broken
and his twisted face “looking” at Henry’s older sister.
He took a long time passing through that place, because the streets were especially
difficult to navigate there. That forced him to spend more time than he wanted to watch
the corpses. He eventually left them behind. All that was left was them.
He reached the park, the place where he had experienced so many incredible memories.
Some were good, some weren’t as good, but they were all important. But the park was
no more. It had become a short mound, a cluster of dirt and soil littered with corpses.
On the top stood their crosses. Reluctantly, with the ever-growing urge to throw up and
then join them in death, Takato began to climb his way up. Using the corpses’ limbs and
torsos as footing he made his way up. As he climbed, the cold sensation that always
preceded his awakening began to stir up within his chest. It was very uncomfortable, but
he was very glad he’d wake up soon.
They were all there, crucified after being victims of the worst tortures imaginable. They
were Takato’s precious friends, and they had paid the price. Their naked bodies were
barely recognizable under the many cuts, the stabs and the charred skin. Jeri’s left eye
was missing. Hirokazu seemed like all his bones were broken and twisted in impossible
angles. The girls had had it worse, it seemed, for they had the obvious signs of forced
sexual intrusion. Ryo’s legs had been cut off at mid-thigh. Takato looked away, or at
least he tried to. The dream usually reached an end here, so he guessed the new part
would come right about…now.
A body stirred weakly. Takato immediately turned, even if he really didn’t want to. But
there was no other option. He looked.
Of course, it was her. She was strong, she had always being strong. Who but her could
survive Armageddon itself?
Takato looked up as Rika slowly opened her eyes. They looked at each other for a long
time, or at least it seemed like it. Rika was struggling to keep her eyes open, and she
also seemed to be struggling to recognize him. Takato simply stood there, watching,
waiting for a reaction.
Her eyes eventually got brighter, as the light of recognition reached her. And then she
smiled.
It was the smile she used just for him. That beautiful, wonderful smile he had once
cherished as the greatest treasure.
Takato loved that smile, it was beautiful beyond words. He should have felt an
incredible joy, but a very different feeling overwhelmed him in that moment. His heart
boiled with inexplicable anger. His mind didn’t understand this reaction, but the dream
followed a script of its own. He looked in his pocket for something he had never known
he had until that moment. A knife. Takato understood what was about to happen, and
his mind screamed.
But the dream had a script of its own.
Takato lunged at the girl he supposedly loved, burying the blade all the way to the hilt
in her flesh. Blood poured out, and Takato attacked again, and again, and again,
incessantly and relentlessly. Takato’s mind screamed with each stab, twist and pull of
the knife, while his heart was consumed with anger he didn’t know he had. Takato
looked up at his victim as he stabbed for the twenty-seventh time.
She was still smiling.
3:48 A.M.
Takato opened his eyes, swollen, injected with blood and pouring tears as if there were
no tomorrow. His chest hurt, and he felt as if he were about to explode. His heart was
beating incredibly fast, and his body shook in utter terror. He was sweating and
breathing was difficult.
He tried to shake the image out of his mind, but it was impossible, it had been too much,
and he was starting to doubt he could handle these nightmares. He wanted to cry, he
wanted to shout and cry his pain and anguish until his lungs burst out, but he couldn’t
do that.
“Takato…”
Takato inched his head to the right and met Guilmon’s worried expression. He had
woken up Guilmon, that couldn’t be a good thing.
“Did I wake you up, Guil?”
“It’s amazing you didn’t wake up Grandpa.”
Takato unconsciously turned left to face Alice, and he regretted it the moment he did it.
Despite the darkness, Alice quickly noticed Takato’s tear-stained face, as well as the
sweat and the labored breathing.
“Takato…”
“It’s okay, just a silly nightmare.”
“They happen too often to be ‘silly nightmares’, Takato. They’ve become a problem.”
“Well, I guess interrupting your beauty sleep is a problem…”
“Takato, I’m serious here. I’m supposed to look after you, but you’re not helping.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to look after me. Maybe I don’t need you looking after me.”
Takato could swear Alice’s expression changed for an instant. Did she look
disappointed, maybe, or was it sadness?
“…”
“Good night, Alice. You too go to sleep, Guilmon,” Takato finally said, putting an end
to the conversation by closing his eyes and feigning that he was trying to sleep again.
He knew that wouldn’t be possible that night.
October 19th, 2016
12:01 P.M. (Standard Digital World Time)
“I’ll say it again: you take me to the weirdest places…”
“Not funny at all, Alice.”
The Great Southern Gate stood mighty before them. Guilmon sniffed the air uneasily.
He didn’t like that place. It was to be expected.
Alice had not talked to Takato for a while after the whole Necropolis incident. Takato
just let her be. He was well aware that the truth usually hurt. Eventually, Alice realized
she couldn’t remain in silent treatment forever, especially when the person you’re trying
to ignore is almost permanently by your side. And there was another thing she didn’t
dare say.
She missed talking.
“So, what are we doing here?”
“Celebrating a very special day.”
“Really? What are we celebrating, party boy?”
“Our first anniversary.”
Takato calmly walked the bridge that would take them to Zhuqiaomon’s lair. Guilmon
followed him, and Alice did too when she noticed she was being left behind. It had
taken her a while to realize it had been exactly a year. A year before, Takato had killed
Daemon and died himself. A year before, Takato and Alice had started their new lives
together.
It was a long walk from the Gate to Zhuqiaomon’s lair. Alice had insisted on finding out
what they were doing there one more time, but Takato’s refusal to answer made her
desist. She was anything but an insistent person.
“What brings you here, Omni-Tamer?” The holy bird Digimon’s voice boomed from
the main chamber, even from a distance.
Takato didn’t answer until they were in front of the colossal bird. Alice had to admit she
was impressed by the Digimon Sovereign. The fact that Takato could remain so calm
and confident in his presence was just as impressive. Of course, Takato did not see
Zhuqiaomon as a superior being. It was a conversation between equals. And maybe that
was an understatement, too.
“Ah, the usual, I guess. I’m here in search of some answers.”
“Well then, speak quickly.”
Takato smiled.
“Thank you. I only have one question. In fact, it’s more of a petition.”
“I said speak quickly, Omni-Tamer.”
“It’d be so much better if you just called me Takato…anyway, the thing is, would you
mind if I revived Dobermon?”
Takato was not surprised by Alice’s gasp behind him. Zhuqiaomon shook his head.
“That is impossible. You and the other Tamers absorbed his data.”
“We could easily recover Leomon’s data from Impmon.”
“Even yet, you’d have to recover the data absorbed by the other two Tamers and rebuild
it the proper way.”
“That would be the case if we had actually absorbed Dobermon’s data.”
By the sudden pause Takato could tell Zhuqiaomon was intrigued. “Explain yourself.”
“What we absorbed was the additional data you infused him with, the data that allowed
us to bio-merge in our world,” Takato explained. “Dobermon’s data wasn’t absorbed, it
just faded away in West Shinjuku, and it has remained there for almost two years…until
recently, without Alice noticing, I went to Japan and recovered it.”
“That you did WHAT? When did you do that?”
“While you were at school.”
“Takato! You know you can’t-“
“Oh, chill off, Alice-chan. Nobody saw me…I think.”
“You THINK?”
“Ahem, anyway, the point is, I have Dobermon’s data. I don’t think I managed to gather
the whole thing, but I can fill the gaps with my own power.”
“You mean the Hazard.”
“Yes, Zhuqiaomon, I mean that which we have come to call the Hazard.”
“…you can do that yourself, Omni-Tamer. That Digimon who stands by your side is
living proof of that. Why did you come to me?”
“Well, creating life has never been an easy thing. I was wondering if you were up to
giving me a little help.”
“…do I even have a choice?”
Takato smirked.
“Well, considering what happened last time, I was hoping you’d be a bit
more…acquiescent.”
“…so be it.”
One of the Sovereign Digi-Cores descended until it was at Takato’s reach.
“Would that be enough, Omni-Tamer?”
“More than enough.”
Alice couldn’t believe what she saw. Who was this boy, who made even the Sovereigns
obey him? Goddramon never told her anything about Takato’s purpose or his future.
What little she knew she got it from Takato himself. And it wasn’t really much.
Takato’s left hand started to glow, until a sphere of data the size of a pumpkin emerged
and floated in front of him. It reminded Alice of those rolling balls of data that were so
common in the Digital World wasteland. Takato pushed the sphere until it entered the
Digi-Core, where it began to pulsate like a human heart. Takato took a card from his
jacket’s pocket.
“Digi-Modify…Dobermon.”
Then he put his right hand on the Digi-Core and closed his eyes. The light from the
Digi-Core became so powerful and bright that both Alice and Zhuqiaomon had to close
their eyes. That’s why they could not see how the Digi-Core began to ascend, leaving
Dobermon’s data behind but still linked to it by thin tendrils of data. The tendrils looked
damaged and incomplete, as if they had been half-eaten by rodents. Takato worked on
those tendrils with the ability and delicateness of a weaver, filling the missing pieces
with his own data and coupling his data with the original data with a precision of
nanometers. Alice wouldn’t have been able to notice the swift and precise movements
of Takato’s fingers as he worked in his “surgery”.
The whole thing didn’t take a minute. When Takato was done, the light reached its apex
and then quickly disappeared as the sphere that was Dobermon’s data took shape. The
two front legs appeared first, soon followed by two hind legs. The sphere became long
and thin in the shape of a large dog’s torso, and the petite vestige of a tail protruded
from the rear. Long scythe-like claws emerged from the ends of the legs and a
dangerous spiked collar took shape around his neck.
When Alice opened his eyes, Dobermon was fully formed. He was looking at Takato.
“Tamer Matsuki Takato.”
“Good to see you remember me, Dobermon.”
“How…why?”
“How, you ask? Well, it’s kind of complicated. As for why, that would be because you
deserve it. But you shouldn’t be talking to me right now, should you?”
It was then when Dobermon noticed the other human behind Takato.
“Alice…”
Alice blinked, trying her best to delay the inevitable. Takato shook his head. “Now’s not
the time to act strong, Alice-chan.”
Alice walked a few steps, until she was in front of the Beast Digimon. She could feel his
presence, his existence. But she still couldn’t believe it. She extended her right hand
until it touched Dobermon’s forehead. She could felt his short, thick fur and its softness
as she slid her hand backwards. She touched his ears and lowered her hand to his
muzzle. Dobermon allowed her to touch him, as if he were aware of just how much she
needed to do that.
Alice finally fell on her knees, both hands on the side of Dobermon’s head. Her hands
shook and she couldn’t control her own actions and words.
Takato had said she was allowed to act weak, right?
“Dobermon…”
Finally, she wrapped her arms around the large Digimon. “Dobermon…” She muttered
between sobs.
Takato sighed in satisfaction and looked up at the Sovereign. “See, Zhuqs? Isn’t this
worth the trouble?”
The holy bird Digimon didn’t answer.
Dobermon allowed himself to be hugged while Alice poured her soul out.
You did it again, Takato.
What do you mean?
You just have to do it, don’t you? You won’t be satisfied until you put an end to
their sadness, will you?
…is that a bad thing?
That’s not what I meant, silly! You’ve done something wonderful today.
…thank you.
So I guess the next step is you falling in love with her and making her fall in love
with you, right?
RUKI!
Takato waited until Alice seemed to calm down.
“Happy anniversary, Alice-chan.”
Alice turned to face him, and Takato’s heart leapt for a moment. For the first time ever,
Takato could see Alice’s true and most honest smile. He was frozen in place at the sight.
It was, in lack of a more powerful word, radiant. It was so beautiful, so powerful, and so
concise…in Takato’s mind, it was as if Alice had condensed every single positive
feeling in the world and molded it in the shape of a smile. There was a happiness that
words could not describe implied in that smile.
Takato quickly understood she was not just smiling for Dobermon’s return.
12:10 P.M.
Alice lived in a world of loneliness, and she only blamed herself for it. She had hated
herself for surviving the accident that killed her family. She had rejected life and chosen
an eternal sleep. Then she was given a Digimon friend, and she was happy again…for a
while.
Dobermon died, too, and she was alone again. She had heard that her brother had
protected her with his body, probably as nothing but a reflex. Dobermon had died to
help the Tamers defeat D-Reaper.
Why did everyone have to die for others? Some had to die so that others could live. She
knew it was the way of things, and she hated it. If she was going to lose everything dear
to her, what was the point of living in the first place? She had been nothing but a burden.
She had done nothing for her family before the accident. There was nothing she could
have done to save them. If she returned, what could she possibly do? What would
change? It would be even worse, because her family would not be there.
And then, Goddramon had offered her a new chance at life. He had promised her a
meaning. He had promised her happiness. He sent her Matsuki Takato. And this boy
said different things.
“Because I swore nobody else would have to die for my sake.”
“Alice-chan…Alice-chan is anything but a burden!”
“Your smile…you look beautiful when you smile.”
She was not sure if she could find true happiness with this person, but she at least knew
this person wanted her to be happy. To such extent that he had actually brought
Dobermon back to her. Maybe, just maybe, she could give life another chance. After all,
in that moment, in that precise moment, she was completely happy. And she made sure
to let Takato know that.
“Happy anniversary, Alice-chan.”
That’s why she had smiled for him. The biggest, brightest smile Alice McCoy could
muster. A smile like none she had ever shown, not even to her parents, her brother or
her former friends at school. Takato was still annoying, childish, and immature and
some other things she didn’t remember at the moment, but…
He makes my days worth living them.
That’s why she smiled a smile just for him.
“Happy anniversary, Takato.”
Alice said those simple words, and Takato felt an overwhelming urge to hug that girl.
He shook those forbidden thoughts away and simply smiled back.
“Let’s go home, Alice, Dobermon.”
“Yes,” both girl and Digimon answered together. Alice let go a quiet chuckle and
Takato felt he was going to die of an overdose of cuteness.
Oh, dear Lord…
I hate to say I told you but I…
Don’t finish that sentence!
December 26th, 2016
10:18 A.M. (Pacific Time)
Alice walked through the forest trail, but her mind was elsewhere. Two days before
Christmas, when she had been invited by Lauren and the others to go camping at Tilden
Regional Park, she had accepted with little thought. She had given Takato a chance, so
why not give her classmates a chance, too? Some would say she was actually eager to
do it. She was definitely getting soft. And she didn’t mind at all.
But then, Takato disappeared on Christmas’ Eve. There wasn’t even a note, or a
warning. She woke up on the 25th, and he was not there.
She never imagined it would be such a shock to her. Christmas went down the drain, for
starters. She spent the day locked in her room, shaking on the bed while Dobermon
assured her once and again that it was not her fault, that Takato probably had something
important to do. But what could be more important than…
She had wondered if Takato had gone to Japan. But that could not be the case; Takato
had promised her he wouldn’t go there again. He said he had no more reasons to go to
until “everything started”, whatever that meant.
In the end, her grandfather had convinced her to go camping. He said maybe Takato
would be back when she returned, and then he would be the one missing her. Alice spat
back a few things about her not missing Takato, and then she went camping.
They arrived to the camping site, which seemed to be deserted. The better for them.
Jonathan began to set up the tents while Maria got the grill ready. Alice saw Lauren
leave to check the nearby creek they would go to swim in later. And then, Alice was left
with nothing to do. She knew nothing about camping or cooking, after all. That day she
was really a burden. And she could not possibly care less. That changed when she heard
Lauren’s voice from behind a line of tall tree.
“Takato!”
“Oh, Miss Lauren! A late merry Christmas to you!”
“You know I don’t like it when you call me ‘miss’.”
“As you wish, Miss Lauren.”
“Now you’re just making fun of me!”
Alice covered the distance to the creek in record time. He was there, indeed. Takato was
before her, and he was shirtless.
Alice quickly noticed he hadn’t lied when he said he hadn’t wasted his time. He indeed
looked in much better shape than before they met. But that wasn’t the matter at hand.
“Takato…”
“Oh…Alice-chan! A late merry Christmas to you, too!”
Alice fell on her knees, and Takato gasped.
Is she…is she crying?
You really did it this time, Goggles.
Oh…Oh God, what have I done!?
8:03 P.M.
After excusing himself to Lauren and the others, Takato had taken Alice to his own tent,
on the other side of the creek. Alice had slept peacefully for almost ten hours;
something that indicated Takato that Alice had not slept at all since he left. Alice
usually slept no more than six or seven hours.
“Alice, why?”
“I thought…I was alone again.”
“Oh, you’re awake.”
Takato delicately put Alice’s head on his lap.
“You silly. I’d never do that.”
“Then why did you…?”
“I guess I just wanted to do something on Christmas.”
“But…but, we did prepare something…”
“…really?”
“Yeah…I…helped…baking cake...”
“Really…another reason for being here, I guess.”
“…idiot.”
Takato offered a mild chuckle and smile; an offer of peace.
“I’m sorry; I just thought you wouldn’t do anything, like last year.”
“…last year was different.”
“Alice…”
“…you should have left a message. Grandpa was worried…I felt…alone…”
“Alice…I know, I’m sorry.”
Alice smiled and something cracked within Takato. “…where’s Guilmon?”
“Outside. He hid the very moment he sniffed your friends.”
“They’re not…” She didn’t finish the sentence.
“Where’s Dobermon?”
“…looking after the house, which is what you’re supposed to do.”
“Haa…sorry.”
Alice slowly lifted her left hand until it rested on Takato’s right cheek. “It’s
okay…you’re here now.”
Takato’s eyes widened and his pupils contracted. No…
“A-Alice…I…I need to look for Guilmon…I’ll be right back.”
“Sure…” Alice muttered sleepily, closing her eyes and dropping her hand.
Takato ran away from that tent as far as his legs let him, which was pretty fast. He
reached the creek and dumped his head inside. He didn’t raise his head until his lungs
demanded air and his skin started to turn blue. He gasped and looked at his hands. He
was shaking, and it wasn’t because of the cold water.
Takato, what’s wrong?
This…this cannot be happening! Not here, not now! Not her!
T-Takato, you’re starting to worry me! What’s the matter?
I…no…
Takato, you’re crying!? What’s…?
…Ruki…I think I’m in love.
January 30th, 2017
8:21 P.M. (Pacific Time)
Alice worked on her homework after another of Takato’s delicious dinners. Guilmon
was sprawled on the bed, snoring loudly. Takato was sitting on the floor, in the corner
to Alice’s left, busy with the finishing touches of a drawing. He shot cautious glances at
Alice every ten seconds or so until he realized he was being stupid and moved to the
bed, his back turned to Alice.
Takato…
Hmmm?
Remind me what the problem is.
What?
So you are in love with Alice. You tend to fall for girls with serious psychological
antecedents. Nothing new there. And the problem is…?
Well, duh! I can’t be in love with Alice!
Why?
Why? WHY? Don’t you remember? Red hair, violet eyes, fiery look, an ego the size of
Manhattan, remember that?
So what about Rika?
That I can’t fall for two girls at the same time! Then I’d be like those manga dudes who
have five girls all over him and take decades to pick one! Don’t you know how much I
hate those guys? Life doesn’t work that way!
Well, we can always look for a third option…Jeri’s taken…how about Suzie?
She’s my best friend’s little sister! And that would make me a lolicon!
Hmm…well, that sister of yours isn’t really your sister…
That would make me an incestuous lolicon!
Damn…then how about one of Alice’s classmates?
Ruki, I’m trying to be serious here!
Ruki sighed.
I still don’t really get what the problem is.
Ruki, this was precisely the reason I came here in the first place. I can’t afford to get all
lovey-dovey with a girl now! If I could do that I’d have stayed with Rika in the first
place!
Well, I guess…you two were very lovey-dovey in the Secret Garden…
…yeah…anyway, the thing is, I can’t fall in love with Alice!
Two things. First, you ARE already in love with her. Second, you weren’t supposed
to be exposed to feelings WITH the Digimon Tamers, particularly Nonaka Rika.
…
Oh, there’s a third…
What?
“What are you doing?”
Too late. Good luck.
His conversation with Ruki had left him open to be surprised. Alice had quietly moved
over to the bed, and now stood behind him, leaning against his back. Takato had never
been so painfully conscious of the feel of her breasts against his back, her hair barely
touching his neck and her voice tickling his right ear.
“Is that a Digimon?” Alice insisted, referring to Takato’s picture. Takato felt like dying
in that precise moment.
“Ah, umm…yes…but could you please get off me? You’re getting heavy.”
*TWACK*
“Idiot.”
Takato blissfully took the karate chop. “Yeeeeees.”
Alice moved to the opposite side of the bed. “Move it, Guilmon.”
The dinosaur groaned but obediently jumped off the bed and curled on his usual corner.
Dobermon opened one eye, only to close it when he recognized the red shape that
slumped next to him. Alice sat on the bed and invited Takato to join her. Takato gulped
and did as suggested. Alice obviously waited for him to talk, so he indulged her.
“Well, I have two Digimon partners, Guilmon and Nix. One Virus and One Data. So I
figured I might as well make the complete set.”
“A Vaccine?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm…” Alice muttered as she leaned to take a better look at the picture. Takato
groaned inwardly. Ruki chuckled. Despite of Takato’s inner turmoil, she could not deny
it was very entertaining.
“Can you really do it? A new Digimon, I mean.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time. If that age-old D-Ark of mine could do it, then I guess
Ruki should have little trouble, right?”
Of course!
“You heard her…well, you didn’t.”
“That’s incredible…” Alice said with honest admiration as she leaned on Takato’s
shoulder. She found it awkwardly hard. That was, of course, a consequence of Takato’s
body stiffening.
“…so…what does this Digimon do?”
“I…I haven’t gotten that far. I’ll draw, and then I’ll think.”
“So you’ll draw the evolved forms now.”
“I…I guess…I was about to do that.”
“May…May I watch?”
“What about your-“
“…homework? Would I be here if I weren’t done?”
“…I guess.”
“Then shush and get to work.”
Something in Alice’s expression told Takato she was really looking forward to this. He
just could not understand why.
“Don’t expect too much. It’s just me drawing, stopping to think for a long time and the
occasional erasing.”
“…I’m easily satisfied.”
Takato gulped.
Now, don’t think it over too much, mister…
I do not!
“…that’s a blatant lie.”
Alice didn’t respond, obviously expecting Takato to get to work. And he indulged her.
When he had created Guilmon, he had intended to draw a dragon Digimon. It had at
some point become a dinosaur. It was different from what he had intended, but it was
his, and he had liked it because of that. Then, Guilmon came to life, and after getting to
know him, Takato had liked him more and more. Now he was creating another Digimon,
and he was back to the draconic motive.
Once again, he had failed. His new Digimon was not very dragon-like. Takato had
shrugged to himself and guessed he would work on that in the evolved forms.
The new Digimon stood on its hind legs, just like Guilmon. He was also powerfully
built, like Guilmon. In a way, this Digimon was similar to Guilmon. However, this one
had a pale yellow color. He was also much shorter, barely above Takato’s knees; that’s
how he had conceived it. At some point, Takato came up with the idea of adding a
samurai feel to it, so he clad his new Digimon in o-yoroi, the great armor of samurais.
Of course, it was incomplete, only including the sode (the large rectangular pads that
cover the shoulders), black metal gauntlets with bronze trimming and a kabuto helmet.
In addition, his back, all the way to the tip of its tail, was protected with black spiked
plating. His legs end in three short but sharp claws. He had green eyes and a large ruby
on top of his helmet. A dark brown ponytail came out from the back of the helmet.
Takato still had to come up with a name.
Ryuumon? Nah, too simple…oh, whatever.
The Champion form Takato drew next was even less draconic. Alice was not sure if it
was a cat with a dragon’s body or a dragon with a lizard’s body. In any case, this
Digimon was much longer than taller, being quadruped and all. Unlike its previous form,
this one was fully armored: chest, shoulders, neck, back, tail, legs and head. He had a
longer neck and a longer tail, which helped to its lizard-like appearance. This Digimon
would be a vaccine, and it would be friendly, kind, and he would also be loyal like a
samurai.
Takato remembered Henry taught him to play shogi. It was an interesting game, and he
enjoyed it. However, for some reason, Takato’s strategies only worked in Digimon
battles, so his first steps in shogi were rather clumsy and sad. In any case, Takato
decided he would use shogi to name his new Digimon. He scribbled down a name on
the paper next to the drawing.
“GinRyuumon,” Alice muttered. Her Japanese was just as good as Takato’s English.
He had intended to use the western conception of dragons for his new Digimon. He
liked the idea of dragons as big, quadruped reptilian cats. Because that’s what they were.
But he soon changed his mind and moved to the classic eastern concept of long snakeshaped dragons with short arms and beards and maybe even little horns. He removed the
samurai armor or, to be more precise, blended it with the skin. The upper skin was
blackish with silver scales, while the bottom was red with thin bronze stripes.
Takato conceived this Digimon as huge. Not Azulongmon-huge, but at least
Magnadramon-huge. And that’s a lot for an Ultimate Digimon. Takato made the barbs
and horns metallic and very solid, to the point of them looking more like spikes. He had
two pairs of horns and three spikes on both sides of his head. And he held a DigiCore in
each of his front paws. Yes, two DigiCores. An orange sphere and an emerald green
sphere.
Takato learned how to make DigiCores in a sudden burst of inspiration four months
before. He had not used of his “home-made” DigiCores to revive Dobermon because he
was not sure if such a dose of that which is called the “Digital Hazard” would not do
more harm than good. He still could not control the Hazard as delicately as he wished
he could. Takato finished his drawing—he didn’t really color them, but he already
pictured the colors in his mind—and wrote a name.
“HishaRyuumon,” Alice muttered almost inaudibly.
Takato yawned loudly. “Well, that’s it. I’ll leave the details for later.”
“Hmm? No Mega?”
“I don’t get to choose my bio-merged form, Alice.”
Takato looked down at the girl leaning against his right arm. She looked up at him with
a sleepy look that Takato somehow found incredibly sensual, with the blurry eyes and
the loose hair and everything.
Oh, so you’ve reached the ‘I love everything about you’ phase. In record time, I
may add.
How can you tell those things?
Hormone testing.
Neat…I mean, Ruki!
“A-A-A-Are y-you sleepy, Alice-chan?”
“…not really,” Alice said, followed by a long yawn. Takato found it within himself to
manage a nervous smile. Alice looked down, hiding the faint blush on her cheeks.
“Not sleepy at all. I told you.”
“It’s not your fault…it’s been a rough day.”
“Sure, right, of course. Sorry.”
“I’m telling you it’s anything but your fault.” Alice looked back up, with that faint smile
of hers. Maybe it was the closeness or the shady illumination, but Takato truly felt he’d
probably believe anything she said in that moment.
Damn, you’re serious.
This is what I’ve been trying to tell you…
Takato felt like crying. He did manage to find an easy way out, though.
“Well, if you’re tired, go to bed early today. I feel like sleeping, too.”
“Sure.”
Takato was wrapped tight in his sleeping bag in record time.
April 1st, 2017
7:11 P.M. (Pacific Time)
In the beginning, nobody understood when Lauren stated she was making a thematic
party. Everybody (but Alice) knew what a thematic party was, but nobody understood
why. Lauren said she just felt like it, and everybody said no more. Then, they asked her
what the topic would be, and there was a massive facefault when she said she had no
idea.
The answer came when she looked at Takato meeting with Alice at the school gate.
Takato knew something would go terribly wrong the moment he noticed how intently
Lauren stared at him.
Lauren finally decided it would be a Japanese-styled party, and everybody sighed,
Takato included. He just knew she would just exhibit him as some sort of freak of
nature.
The night of the party had eventually arrived, and Takato, by checking his Omnivice,
realized they were late. Not that he was very eager to watch how Alice’s classmates tore
apart his culture and country beyond recognition, though. Little did he know that he was
about to deal with another (much more serious) problem.
Takato quickly climbed the stairs and knocked on Alice’s and his room before opening
the door.
“Alice-chan, how long do you plan to take-!”
“Umm…I was just planning to ask you…how I am supposed to put this on.”
Alice was naked, her front barely covered by the kimono she held with her hands. If she
was embarrassed by Takato’s sudden entrance then she was the greatest actress alive.
“Ah…uh…A-Al…”
*PZZT!*
Thank you! Takato told his Omnivice as he finally spun around and turned his back to
Alice.
“A-Alice! Put your clothes on, PLEASE!”
“That’s why I’m asking you how you put this on…” Alice replied softly, shifting her
kimono with uncertainty.
“I’ll help you, so just…wrap it around your body; you can do that, right?”
Takato sighed in uncertain relief when he heard the sounds of cloth brushing against
skin.
You do know how to put on a kimono, don’t you?
Actually, I do, but that’s not the problem here!
“So, what now?”
Takato sighed and, with his eyes closed, moved behind Alice and began to work on her
garment with unease.
Watch where you’re touching…
I know!
Alice waited impassively, seemingly unaffected by Takato’s delicate touch. The truth
was a little different. For the first time ever, Alice was experiencing an unusual
awkwardness with Takato’s closeness. But she was good at hiding it. There was no way
in hell she’d let him notice her quickened breath and beating, or the way his breath on
her neck sent a shiver down her spine. She noticed the care and thought he put into
every single move of his hand, obviously with the intention of not touching more than
he was supposed to. A perfect gentleman.
Alice ignored that it was not Takato being gentlemanly, it was simple survival instinct.
The blonde noticed Takato was working on her right side and then leaned to the other
side, intending to help him. Takato did not expect that sudden move, though, and
immediately moved his hand to make up for it. The consequences were as expected.
Takato’s hand ended up somewhere else.
Man, you ARE a creature of habits, aren’t you, Gogglehead?
Go to hell.
The room was silent for a long moment, the two people in it perfectly still, Takato’s
right hand softly touching Alice’s rear. Takato could not help but feel just how soft and
smooth the kimono’s cloth felt as it slid on Alice’s curves. He knew Alice would not
break his nose like Rika, but aside from that he did not know what to expect.
“…are you done, Takato?” Alice finally asked.
“Uhh…uh…mmm…”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
The girl moved a step forward, ending Takato’s contact. She swiftly turned to face him
and bowed.
“Thank you very much.”
Then she suddenly rushed out of the room. Takato shook his head. He could not believe
what he had just seen.
She was blushing, too.
Takato…
Hmm?
She’s out of the room.
Hmm…
You can have your nosebleed now if you want.
…oh…right.
Takato’s nose exploded and he passed out on the bedroom’s floor. Dobermon, who
quietly slept under the bed, opened one eye, only to close it when he recognized Takato.
He did not really do much in that house.
May 29th, 2017
?:?? A.M.
The dream, again.
He stood on a pile of corpses, looking at his fallen Tamers. He could have described
their wounds with scientific detail after looking at them so many times. For months, the
nightmare had ended the exact same way, with him repeatedly stabbing Rika, while she
looked at him with a smiling face.
It seemed the nightmare would finally change this time, though. He had not killed Rika
yet. He had just stared at them for a long time. He was looking at them and beyond
them, where the latest addition to the nightmare could be seen.
The Tamers were bleeding profusely; in fact, they had bled far beyond what a normal
human could possibly bleed. Torrents of blood flowed out of their many wounds,
gathering in a river of blood that streamed down the mound and farther away. Takato
followed the stream from the right, watching it as it gained strength and speed. It
reached a limit and then steadily began to diminish both its speed and its width. Takato
looked ahead and realized they had reached a lake of blood.
He could not see the other side, but he guessed there had to be one. He wished there was
one, for he knew that the lake had been formed with the blood of the world’s human
population. The lake was dead still, since there was no wind to create waves in the first
place, and he was not sure a lake of blood could have waves. He was glad there were
none, he did not know if could handle such a sight.
He then saw the island in the lake. A thin bridge of land linked it to the shore, and
Takato used it. After another two minutes of walking, Takato reached the island, and the
lone cross that stood tall in its center. It was a black cross and, unlike the others, did not
seem to be made of wood but of pitch black obsidian. Takato could not say he did not
expect it. In fact, he had been wondering when this would happen.
He gazed sadly at Alice’s cold, dead eyes. And suddenly, he realized he could not move.
He was paralyzed, unable to take his eyes off the girl. Not even when she spontaneously
combusted in an explosion of black flames that slowly consumed her skin, her muscles
and her bones. She remained silent through the whole thing, and somehow her silence
was even worse than if he had heard her screams of agony.
Takato looked at the cross long after Alice had been completely consumed. The he
realized that, while he was still paralyzed, he could move his mouth.
“What now? What do you expect me to say now? What is the meaning of all this?”
The answer was pain, pain as nothing he had ever experienced before, pain that would
not even allow him to scream, for it was so intense that his whole body had stopped
functioning. He slowly managed to look down, where a small hand protruded from his
chest, holding his still beating heart.
All of a sudden, his eyes were filled with images. The sins and trials of humanity passed
before his eyes like a movie in fast-forward, showering him with light and the horrid
display of the darkest side of humanity. His pupils dilated at the sight of people
marching to be executed one by one, of men being buried alive, of mothers smothering
their children to end their cries of hunger, of children watching their mothers die and
mothers watching their children die, of men in uniforms picking names at random and
hunting the chosen like wild animals, of men kidnapping, torturing, raping and then
vilely murdering little children for some sick pleasure, of people stepping on their loved
ones for money and power…endless sins marked human history, the history of those he
intended to save.
“So…are they really worth it?” The voice of his murderer echoed faintly in his left ear.
Overcome by agony and grief, Takato slowly turned to face his killer.
And he saw…
4:22 A.M.
Alice woke up startled, her sleep interrupted by sudden yelling. It had been so sudden
and so quick that she still was not sure it had happened. The uncertainty ended when a
dark shape rose from beyond her bed and clumsily moved to a corner.
“…Takato?” Alice muttered still half-asleep while she turned on the light. Light bathed
the room at the same time Takato slumped on the corner, sobbing and shaking
uncontrollably. He dropped his head and covered it with his arms.
“Takato!” Alice exclaimed, now fully awake, as she stood up and walked to him.
Alice’s words had finally startled Guilmon, who first of all sniffed around, looking for
anything out of place. Only then did he use his tired eyes to look for his Tamer.
Simultaneously, Ryuudamon materialized from out of nowhere and stood between
Guilmon and Takato, giving enough space for Alice to move. Somehow he knew this
was something better handled by the human girl. It had not taken him long after his
birth to notice the powerful connection between his Tamer and the girl named Alice.
Dobermon slid from under the bed and, after stretching his body a little, stood besides
his dearest friend.
Alice tried to reach Takato with her right hand, but Takato cringed and tried to back
away, ignoring the wall that prevented him from doing so. Guilmon had already stood
up and was also approaching cautiously, aware that there was something wrong with his
Tamer. Ryuudamon stopped him before he tried to get closer. Eye contact was enough
for the two Digimon to reach some sort of silent agreement.
The two Digimon disappeared at once. Ryuudamon vanished in thin air and Guilmon
was swallowed by his own shadow. That he had learned from Daemon, whose data it
seemed he had partially absorbed. Dobermon noticed the two Digimon’s actions and
quietly returned to his place under the bed. If Takato’s partners did not think they were
necessary, then neither was he. But he would watch, that’s for sure.
Alice fell on her knees in front of Takato, who whimpered when he noticed the
closeness of this presence.
“Takato…”
Slowly, Takato raised his head. Alice could not stop from gasping. His eyes, injected in
blood, were not really looking at her. They were looking far beyond her. Whatever it
was Takato was seeing in that moment, it was terrifying beyond comprehension.
In that moment, something cracked within Alice.
“Takato!” She exclaimed as she wrapped him in her arms…or at least she tried, because
Takato, fighting demons she could not see, weakly tried to move away from her. Alice,
with strength she did not know she had, pulled Takato and threw him to the bed, where
she soon followed him and held him tight in her arms before he tried to escape.
Dobermon could not help but come out from under the bed again and look at Alice’s
actions.
For some reason she did not care about, Takato’s struggle finished the moment she
hugged him. For two long minutes, there was nothing but her breath and his quiet sobs.
Alice fixed her eyes on Takato’s, waiting for him to look at her and not at the horrid
images that flooded his mind. It took another three minutes for the sobbing to stop.
Takato looked at her, his mouth half-open, as if he were trying to understand his
situation.
“A…Alice…?”
Alice wasn’t sure when she had started crying.
“I’m here…I’ll always be here…”
Those words were everything Takato needed. Burying his face in her chest, Takato
cried. He cried loudly, like he hadn’t cried in a very long time. Alice cried much more
quietly, for somehow she could feel Takato’s pain being poured out with his tears. She
had finally realized that there was a young man who had endured something beyond
her: something painful and terribly powerful that would probably overwhelm a lesser
man.
She had finally understood, and she hated herself for her selfishness.
This was the person Goddramon had sent her, the one he had promised her. The one just
for her.
But first, you have to find the one who needs you as much as you need him.
“Him? The one who…needs me. The one…I must be with?”
The one…just for you.
“The one…just for me…where?”
It’s your destiny…he’ll come to you.
Yes, Goddramon had said that. Takato was not here just for her. Takato was here
because he, too, needed her.
From the beginning, she was supposed to give, so that she would receive. It was so
simple, yet it had eluded her cold heart for so long.
So, she let him cry, and he cried until he fell asleep. And even then, she didn’t let go of
him. She wrapped the two with her blanket and, still holding him against her chest,
joined him in blissful sleep. Dobermon stood watch over them like a loyal hound, seated
by the bed. While Alice’s sleep was blissful, Takato’s was dreamless.
That was the last night Takato slept in a sleeping bag.
That was the last night Takato had nightmares.
August 5th, 2017
12:26 P.M. (Pacific Time)
“Rock Breaker β!”
Takato quickly evaded Guilmon’s technique, well-aware that its evolved form was a
two-stage attack. Guilmon’s powerful claws cracked apart the ground, raising countless
tiny pieces of dirt, which changed into tiny, sharp and hardened needles in mid-air and
streaked at great speed towards Takato.
“Genbu’s Shield!”
Takato’s force barrier, formed in front of his right hand, easily blocked Guilmon’s tiny
missiles.
“Touhenshi!”
Takato quickly had to create a second barrier with his left hand to block Ryuudamon’s
headbutt. That left him vulnerable to Nix’s attack. Fortunately, Nix only whacked him
on his head with her broom. While it did hurt, his Blue Dragon Aura did more damage
to her.
“Kyaaah!” Nix cried as she was repelled by the blue electricity that surrounded Takato.
The Tamer paused their training to add a little bit of his wisdom.
“Nix, Guilmon and Ryuudamon created a gap in my defenses, and you pretty much
blew it. You’re not made for melee combat, at least not when you’re Witchmon. You
should have used Baru Luna Gate.”
“Aww…” Nix groaned while she rubbed her head where she had hit when she fell. “No
fair! That Blue Dragon Aura hurts like the dickens!”
“That’s what it’s supposed to do,” Alice stated from a distance, while she slowly
caressed Dobermon’s head on her lap. “You should be thankful that it’s a Data-Type
attack.”
“You’re not helping, Alice-sama!”
Alice didn’t respond. She had been surprised the first time Nix had called her “Alicesama”. It meant Nix treated her with the same respect she treated her own Tamer. It also
meant Nix acknowledged there was some bond between her and Takato. Alice
wondered whether Nix understood the nature of that bond more than Alice herself.
“Iaijin!” Ryuudamon resumed the attack, opening his mouth to reveal the long blade of
a katana aimed at Takato’s throat. Takato bent his body backwards to evade it, showing
his approval to Ryuudamon with a smile. Alice understood what that smile meant.
Ryuudamon, being the fastest of the three, was the obvious choice to begin an attack
because he had the greatest chance of surprising the opponent. Guilmon leapt over
Takato in a very raptor-like way.
“Rock Breaker β!”
“Genbu’s Shield!”
Genbu’s Shield could do more than create a shield of force. It could not only stop
enemy attacks, but repel them, too. It did it by means of a shockwave of force. It was
this shockwave that stopped Guilmon in mid-jump and blasted him upwards, well past
Nix, who seemed to be preparing an attack of her own. Takato was still bent backwards,
his eyes looking upwards to the sky. He tried to move his body upwards, but
Ryuudamon wouldn’t allow it.
Takato didn’t have time to summon another shockwave, so he only blocked
Ryuudamon’s iaijin with the barrier.
“Pyro Cluster!”
Guilmon had fired his powerful fireball from the sky. Guilmon’s second attack had
evolved, too. He could now scatter the fireball in a way similar to a cluster bomb, hence
the name. Ryuudamon quickly leapt out of the way and Takato found himself blocking
a rain of flame tongues. The Tamer realized their plan to keep him in that uncomfortable
position from which he couldn’t counterattack. Not that knowing the plan helped him
find a way out, though.
“Aquari Pressure!”
Ah, so that’s it…
Nix’s technique basically created a spherical high-density energy core that would inflict
a powerful force on the object or creature it touched, according to Nix’s will. It could be
directed outwards, working just like Takato’s force shockwave. Or it could also work
inwards, like a black hole. In that case, the target would be encased within the dark
energy core. Nix launched the energy ball at him, and it was blocked by his shield, but
Takato immediately felt the effects of the Aquari Pressure’s repelling force. Its sheer
strength forced him to bend his knees until he was face up on the ground, pushed
against it by the sphere. In other words, he was trapped.
They got you here…
Yeah, they got me…unless…
“Uh…well done, everyone!” Takato exclaimed in honest admiration. The three
Digimon smiled at each other for a job well done.
“Eden’s Gate!”
The three Digimon gasped. Eden’s Gate was Takato’s only long-range technique. The
three waited for the blast that would probably knock them out for good…which never
came.
“Uh…forget it, you got me.”
Five minutes later, Guilmon, Ryuudamon and Nix were enjoying the natural wonders of
Tilden Regional Park. Alice and Takato were sitting under a tree.
“Why didn’t it work, Takato?”
“Lack of energy.”
Alice didn’t respond, and Takato easily understood she wanted more details.
“As you might know, most of my techniques are passive, as in, they’re continuously
active or they aren’t controlled by my will. The Red Sparrow Flame activates whenever
I receive a wound, the Blue Dragon Aura activates whenever I’m attacked in melee and
the White Tiger Aura is always active. Genbu’s Shield is a purely defensive move. My
only true attack techniques are the Eden’s Triad: Eden’s Blade, Eden’s Light and Eden’s
Gate, which are pretty much different forms of the same thing. Eden’s Blade is closerange, Eden’s Light is middle-range and Eden’s Gate is long-range, Eden’s Blade being
the strongest and Eden’s Gate being the weakest.”
Alice nodded. She already knew all that.
“Unlike most other Digimon, who call upon their inner energies to summon their
powers, I spend all my energy to hold my passive powers, which are almost
continuously active. To use my offensive techniques I need to rely on a different source.
In the Digital World I have practically an infinite amount of scattered data I can work
with, manipulating it and reshaping it to create my special attacks. This conscious
manipulation and transmutation of data is what has been improperly called ‘Digital
Hazard’. The name was appropriate at the time, since it wasn’t controllable then and it
often produced regrettable results. In any case, the thing is, I have little trouble using
my techniques in the Digital World, where I have more than enough data to work with.
In the Real World things are completely different. In the cities, I can use the electricity
that flows through the power lines or the noise waves produced by many electronic and
electric appliances.”
“How does that work?” Alice insisted, greatly intrigued by this insight into Takato’s
modus vivendi.
“Hmm…for example, do you know how MP3 compression works?”
“…that old format? It removed all unnecessary digital data without altering the quality
of the sound, at least not in a way the human ear could notice. By that means it reduced
the size of the audio file.”
“Very good!” Takato exclaimed, patting Alice’s head. The girl replied with something
that was half purr and half groan.
“Well, I do a similar thing. I take unnecessary frequency components of every signal
that roams wherever I am and leave the rest so that the original signal isn’t altered in a
substantial way. I absorb energy from cell phones, microwave ovens, radios, computers,
TVs, everything.”
“So, out here in the forest you don’t have much from which to take energy.”
“Precisely. My only sources of energy here are the long-range AM waves from
California’s few remaining radio stations, our cell phones, and you.”
“Me?”
“Every human radiates infrared energy…body heat.”
“Oh, so you feed on my body heat…” Alice said, more to herself. However, there was
something in her tone of voice that made Takato blush.
October 18th, 2017
9:11 P.M. (Pacific Time)
“So, what is it between you and Takato?”
Takato had stopped on his tracks when he heard that question. Unconsciously, as an act
of simple reflexes, he stopped on the other side of the door and pressed his ear against it.
He knew it was not very proper of him, but he just could not stop himself. He was
surprised Ruki had not complained at all, but he guessed she was probably as intrigued
as him.
He easily recognized Lauren’s voice as that of the one who asked the question. Lauren
and Maria were staying over that night. Takato had intended to enter the bedroom for a
minute to get something he would have to take to the living room, where he would be
sleeping that night. It was obvious that he could not sleep on the bed with Alice’s
friends there. He wondered if the nightmare would return that night, without Alice’s
comforting company. He shuddered at the thought, and he quickly put it aside and
focused on the situation at hand.
“What is it about what?”
Takato’s improved hearing easily detected Lauren’s sigh. “Are you two an item or
what?”
“An …item?”
Takato could feel his cheeks getting warmer, but he was also quite amused. It was
obvious Alice didn’t understand Lauren’s simple slang. But, well, that was Alice.
“A couple! Boyfriend and girlfriend! Lovers!”
“Oh…”
“Oh…” she says.
Cute, isn’t she?
Takato wished he could see their faces, or at least Alice’s face.
“Ha! You’re blushing!”
Heh, thanks to Lauren, you don’t need to!
“I’m not.”
“Of course you are…I think. She’s blushing, right, Maria?”
“Ah! Umm…I’m not sure.”
“I’m not blushing, Lauren. Blushing is an expression of embarrassment, and I’m not in
the very least embarrassed by my relationship with Takato.”
“Oh…so there is a relationship!”
“Of course.”
“Ooohhh!” Both of Alice’s classmates exclaimed simultaneously, followed by a fit of
girlish giggling. Takato couldn’t believe his ears. Not that Alice’s words said too much.
He still was not very sure of what Alice thought of, well, them.
“So…has he kissed you?”
Takato almost facefaulted and revealed his presence.
“Our relationship exists beyond the futilities of common romance.”
“Now what the hell is that supposed to mean!?”
You know, I was about to ask the same thing.
“It’s…hard to explain.”
“Whatever, just answer me this: do you like him?”
“…”
While Alice’s answer was simple, Takato went beyond the words and focused on the
subtleties of her voice. With those subtleties, he easily made a picture in his mind of
what happened inside that room. He could see it with frightening clarity: Alice’s face
slightly inclined downwards, her hands clasped together on her lap, the tone of voice
that implied that she was speaking not for the two girls in front of her, but for herself.
“He is…an important person. A very important person…to me.”
There was a long silence. Maria, quiet but wise as always, chose to change the topic.
“So, what are we doing tomorrow?”
Takato could feel Alice looking up again. “Tomorrow?”
“Of course!” Lauren exclaimed excitedly. “We should do something tomorrow, too!
Like, I don’t know, check out the mall or-“
“That is not possible.”
“Huh?”
“I cannot join you tomorrow. I’ll be busy tomorrow.”
“How come?” Lauren inquired.
“…it’s our anniversary.”
Takato was frozen in shock. She actually remembered it. She had actually looked
forward to it.
He sighed sadly. It was decided. There was only one thing he could do now.
October 19th, 2017
6:23 A.M. (Pacific Time)
Despite the fact that she had gone to bed quite late, she woke up early that morning. She
did not really have much of a sleep, anyway. She had not realized she was used to
Takato’s warmth.
Their bed had felt uncomfortably cold and big that night. She would have Takato on
that bed with her the coming evening; that was a sure thing.
She exited the bedroom quietly. She didn’t want to wake up Lauren and Maria. She
knew Dobermon would notice, there was no way she could possibly move silently
enough for him not to notice her.
She walked down the stairs, to the living room where Takato had slept that night. She
wondered if Takato had slept as uncomfortably as her.
A part of her wished that was the case.
A quick look at the dining room showed her that breakfast was ready. Her grandfather
hadn’t woken up yet. She guessed he only had to work in the afternoon that day. There
were no signs of Takato in the dining room or the kitchen. She approached the food,
wrapped with plastic. She frowned. It was cold. Takato must have had prepared it a
while ago already. Why would he make breakfast that early?
With the growing certainty that there was something wrong, she rushed to the living
room. It was empty. There were no signs of someone having spent the night in that
room. There was nothing unusual about it…
…on the table. Alice slowly approached the center table and with shaking hands picked
up the white piece of paper. She read the words on the paper, written in English.
“I’m sorry, but I must leave.
There’s nothing else for me here.
At least nothing else I can claim.
Staying any longer would be a mistake,
A mistake I don’t plan to repeat.
Thank you for everything, Alice.
Please extend my thanks to your grandfather
And say goodbye to him for me.
Say goodbye to Lauren-san, Marian-san and Jonathan-san for me, too.
Dobermon, too, of course.
He’ll take good care of you.
I’m sorry about this, really.
I’m sorry I didn’t even say goodbye.
But my last goodbye was just too painful,
And I don’t think I could handle another one like that.
I’m sorry, Alice, but I must leave.
I must leave, but I’ll always watch over you.
In the rainy days or when the sun shines,
When the leaves fall or when the flowers bloom.
I must leave you, Alice, but I’ll always be watching you,
Because I love you very, very much.”
Alice read the letter over and over, as if reading it several times would give her the
answers she needed. She didn’t notice when she dropped the paper.
She didn’t even notice her scream.
6:56 P.M.
Her grandfather had quickly made Lauren and Maria leave the house, so that Alice
could lock herself in her room and cry. The only exception was Dobermon, but he might
as well not even exist in the first place. At least Alice did not even seem to be aware of
his presence.
Alice had cried for a very long time. She had eventually stopped. Dobermon wondered
if she had just run out of tears. But the tears had been replaced by uncontrollable
shaking. And that worried him a lot more. He tried talking to Alice, but her mind didn’t
seem to be aware of her surroundings. She was in a world of her own. A world of
loneliness.
He’s gone.
Pain.
He’s gone.
Pain.
He’s gone.
Pain.
He’s gone.
More pain.
He’s gone.
Every time she repeated the words in her head, her chest hurt as if it had been stabbed
by a rusted dagger.
I’m alone…again.
“Look for him!”
It wasn’t Goddramon this time. Her own voice was answering. Maybe it was that thing
people call “conscience”. Maybe she was just going crazy.
He’s gone…
“Look for him! Find him! Answer him!”
…he could be anywhere…he might be already in Japan…
“You won’t know until you go out there and look for him!”
But…he left me…he doesn’t want to be here anymore…he doesn’t want to be with me…
“Are you stupid? He left because he WANTS to be with you!”
…leave me alone…let me sleep again…I’m sleepy…
“NO!”
9:44 P.M.
Takato sat on the grassy ground of People’s Park. His back rested on a tree.
Guilmon and Ryuudamon slept a few yards away. He thanked his partners for being so
conscious. They somehow knew he preferred solitude at the moment, and they decided
to keep their distance. Ruki was a completely different case, though.
Are you sure about this?
…if I waited to be sure before doing anything, I wouldn’t have done anything in my life.
I’ll take that as a no.
The park was awkwardly empty that night. There wasn’t a soul nearby and the closest
presences he could notice were on Haste Street and Dwight Way. Considering the fact
that he was practically in the very center of the park, that meant there wasn’t a single
soul in the park with him. It was as if the entire universe avoided him that night.
He didn’t complain. He wanted to be alone for a while.
So, what now?
…back to Japan, I guess. We’ll remain hidden for the time being, renting an apartment
with the money in the bank account…
“Takato!”
He instinctively looked up, kicking himself mentally for doing it.
Alice…
…I’ll be in idle mode.
Alice was there, a good thirty yards away from him, her body only visible thanks to the
artificial lights behind her. Her black dress was wrinkled, which told him she had been
running for a while. She was also sweating and breathing heavily, which only confirmed
his conclusion. Dobermon was not with her, and that was surprising by itself.
“Takato!” She yelled again. Her voice was strained and a little high-pitched. She had
been crying. She was still crying. Every conclusion Takato reached was like the hand of
his nightmare, clutching his heart and tearing it apart. In the end he only caused more
pain. In the end, no matter what he did, it always seemed to be wrong.
“Takato!”
“Alice, I-“
“I like you!”
Takato stopped in mid-sentence. Alice would speak more in that night that in her entire
life before that day.
“I like you! So please don’t leave me alone!”
Takato slowly stood up, his eyes dilated as he looked the lovely girl in the distance.
Guilmon and Ryuudamon had subtly disappeared.
“I like you! So please don’t leave me!”
Takato moved a step forward. Alice was begging him, pleading to him. She needed him.
He knew that already, but he had still abandoned her.
He couldn’t have been more certain. Everything he did always turned out to be the
wrong decision. But the mistake wasn’t getting close to Alice, it was leaving her.
“I like you!” Alice repeated.
This was a mistake he could still correct.
“Alice!” Takato finally spoke.
“I like you!” Alice replied. Takato sighed happily and smiled.
“You…already know my feelings.”
And Alice ran to his waiting arms.
Takato almost fell backwards after Alice’s leap.
“I like you! I like you! I like you! I like you! I like you!” Alice repeated over and over.
Takato just held her, and allowed her to say it for as long as she needed to. Alice was
making up for all the times she should have said it before.
“Alice…”
“I like you! Takato, I like you a lot!”
“I’m not leaving anymore…I won’t leave again…”
“Takato!”
“Don’t cry anymore, Alice…I promise…I’ll always…”
10:40 P.M.
They had been like that for a while already. After Alice had stopped crying, they had sat
together at the base of the tree, enjoying Berkeley’s night scenery together. Neither had
said a word, and that was the idea.
It was moments like this they enjoyed the most. And they finally understood why.
It was because they said nothing that they could say what they needed to say.
We are together.
So, they had stayed like there, in silence, holding hands. Alice’s head rested on Takato’s
right shoulder. Takato knew she was falling asleep, and in a certain way, he envied her.
He had so many thoughts in his head that he doubted he would have a decent sleep that
night. He would be without sleep for two days in a row.
They would be going back home soon. Once there they would (supposedly) sleep like
they had slept for the past few months: in each other’s arms: Alice seeking warmth and
company and Takato seeking a dreamless sleep. But this time it would be different. He
didn’t know yet what that meant, but they would find out.
And there were also the words in his head. The words he wanted to say, but was not
sure it was right to say them, but Takato, regardless of the many mistakes his actions
had led him to, always followed his heart. He always followed the voice in his head that
told him that was the right thing to do. And this time, regardless of how ridiculous,
irresponsible, outrageous and outright stupid the idea sounded, he just knew it had to be
done. Of course, the outcome didn’t depend on him. That, in a way, was a good thing.
“Alice…”
“…hmm?”
“…marry me.”
“…hmm.”
END OF BOOK 0.