Digimon Adventure Chronicles II: Secrets Revealed

...chapter TEN ~ Gifts of Friendship

Hikari had long since arrived back to where the group had entered the building. Her and Takeru stood in front of the fountain where their digimon had previously sat huddled. After having the story of the morning's events explained to them, the other children went off in their own directions.

“So you really trust him then?” Takeru asked, looking at her.

“I do, though he doesn't deserve it.” She said angrily. “No matter what I do for him he has an attitude about it.”

He chuckled, trying to ease his own tension. “Well...your the one that foiled his plans the first time we fought him.”

“Yeah, but...it's not like it was just me.” She said quietly. “We were all fighting against him, and I didn't instruct Angewomon to shoot him with an arrow. I had no idea what she was going to do.”

“Hey guys?” Ken called from his position next to Daisuke.

“Yes?” Hikari approached them, followed by Takeru.

“I was thinking...” Ken said, staring at them intently. “Earlier, we all agreed to try and treat him with care since we need information from him. I'm not worried about 'us' really, and those that dislike him know at least to pretend not to.”

“Right.” She said, unsure of where he was going.

“Before we came in here...before I knew who he was...he asked me how I made up what I had done to all of you. I think he really does regret his actions.” He told them, speaking slowly and deliberately. “But I don't think he really trusts us enough to try it, and that's why he asked when I didn't know the truth about him.” He paused, watching the bewildered faces of Hikari and Takeru. “I remember...when I joined you guys...that I didn't really trust any of you either, and I especially didn't trust myself around you. For me you all went out of your way to make me feel welcomed, and because it worked with me...I believe we need to do something that will ultimately prove that we trust him, and want to be trusted, and that we do want him around.”

“But do we?” Takeru asked, showing disdain for their old enemy.

“I do.” Ken said, eyes bearing into Takeru's. “Like I said, him and I aren't so different. I see this as an opportunity to understand his motives as well as my own. It took a long time for me to feel at ease among you, and it wasn't until each and every one of you accepted me completely that I did. So...he's already made some progress with a few of us. He seems to like Mimi, and he seems half and half with you, Hikari, however much attitude he might give you. Koushiro seems to be on his side as well.

Hikari slipped her mailer out of her pocket and started typing a message, showing agreement with his statements. She smiled a little. “You couldn't have said all that earlier when everyone was still around.”

“I'm sorry.” He laughed. “I wanted to, but I'm afraid even now I still have trouble raising my voice amongst you when we're all together like that.

“Think Iori will have a hard time with it?” Takeru asked.

“I hope not.” Ken said, a slightly worried undertone present in his voice. “No...I think he's gotten past those sort of feelings. He's a lot more accepting and understanding than he used to be.”

“Anything else I should put in here?” Kari asked, referring to the email.

“Yeah.” He said quickly. “I almost forgot. I think we all should all get him something today.” He said suddenly. “ It doesn't have to be expensive. It can be something he'll need to survive, like some strong conditioner.”

“Angemon said he was buying him clothes...so maybe that's not such a bad idea.” She said, brightening up a little. “I don't think the others will mind since it won't have to be anything too expensive, and we're all Christmas shopping anyway.”

“Don't you think that he'll see our generosity as a bribe?” Takeru asked, glancing at the two of them.

“No...” Ken said slowly. “I don't think he will. I think if Angemon brought that up himself he would make it a point to emphasize that he doesn't own anything, and that we want him to survive so we are going to help him. And if he is getting him clothes like you said, Hikari, then it wouldn't be so out of place.”

“I agree with Ken.” Daisuke said, breaking his unnatural silence. “Everyone deserves a second chance!”

Takeru stared at him. “You do know that this is like his fourth, right?”

“Same difference!”

“Alright.” Takeru sighed, giving in.. “I just hope whatever we learn from him is worth all the trouble.”

“I'm tired.” Vamdemon whined from his position against Angemon. “That was the tenth store we've been in!”

“No it wasn't.” Mimi said with a huff. “It was only the fourth, and you don't have anything to complain about, I'm carrying the bags.”

“Yeah, but I've got to try all the damned things on!” He growled. “Do you know how difficult it is trying to get a shirt over this enormous cast your doctor put on me?”

“But Angemon helped you with that.” Mimi said. “You barely had to do anything.”

Vamdemon glared at her and his face scrunched up in obvious discomfort. “I would have preferred him not to.”

“You didn't get very far when I let you try it yourself.” Angemon said with a smile.

“Shut up.” Vamdemon muttered. “That's not the point.”

“And besides, if you did it yourself then this whole thing would have taken even longer.” She said. “You wanted to get done quickly didn't you?”

“That wasn't quickly.” He said with frustration. “We were in those stores for hours!”

“Two and a half!.” She huffed. “And for your information, that's a record for me!”

He stared at her in amazement, seemingly shocked into silence. In the distance, she could see Ken approaching them at last. She waved at him as he arrived. “You're late.”

“I know, but I did call and let you know.” He said with a smile. “But I apologize. Daisuke got a little more into the whole caroling thing than I thought he would, then we still had our main shopping to do.”

“Then Ken left him with all the bags and came here.” Wormmon chirped from the smirking boy's shoulder.

“Shame on you.” She said with a friendly glare and struggled to lift the bundles in her arms high. “Do you know how heavy these things can get?”

“Yes.” He replied and his smirk grew wider. “I made quite a point of it when I left him.” He turned to Vamdemon. “You look a lot better than you did before.”

“I made him eat.” Angemon said. “It's amazing what a little food can do for a weakened immune system.”

“Definitely.” He nodded. “Are you guys done?”

“Yes.” Vamdemon said sharply. “We are done. I refuse entry into any further stores containing clothing.”

Ken laughed lightly. “What would you like to do then?”

Vamdemon blinked in surprise. “I have a choice?”

“Certainly.” Ken said and Wormmon nodded his head happily.

“I would like to rest then.” Vamdemon said and shifted more weight against Angemon. “I was achy to begin with, and it wasn't easy or comfortable to move around my arm or abdomen. It doesn't have to be for long...”

“Alright.” Angemon said. “That sounds reasonable. I'm hungry. We can eat while he rests.”

Mimi agreed and they began to head towards a restaurant.

“Are you going to steal from this next place as well?” Vamdemon asked Angemon. His question garnered confused looks from Ken and Mimi.

“I don't think so. I'm not sure it works with the more expensive cases.” He said, a smile tugging at his lips and ignoring the two walking beside him. “There's the 'employee' discount though. It won't cost as much. Are you going to have anything?”

“No.” Vamdemon said stubbornly.

“We'll see about that.” Mimi said with a smile. She looked around as they walked, trying to find a decent place to eat. Finally they found one and entered to the stares of many already seated. A man approached them and led them to a booth against the wall. Vamdemon slid in first so that his hurt arm would be against the wall with Angemon beside him and Ken across from him. Mimi sat last across from Angemon.

Vamdemon slouched slightly in his seat to alleviate the main in his abdomen and shut his eyes. They each ordered drinks and began to talk as the man left to fill them.

“Did you have a chance to get what you are going to get?” Ken asked Mimi. She shook her head and glanced towards Vamdemon, who was leaning to his right a bit.

“I haven't had the chance.” She said. “We've only been in the clothing stores so far. You have, I'm sure.”

“Yeah. Did it first thing with Daisuke. We had a lot of shopping to do anyway.” Ken said and smiled. “And I didn't leave him with the stuff simply to be mean. We can't have him seeing what he's getting, right?”

She laughed a little. “Of course, that would ruin the surprise.”

The waiter returned with three drinks and took down what they would be eating. With a swift nod he walked away.

“He must be really exhausted.” Ken said, watching Vamdemon's body finally capsize to the side and fall against Angemon.

Mimi nodded. “I like it when he's sleeping, he looks much more at ease than when he's awake... I think he's filled up too many emotions to be calm.”

“It depends when you catch him, I think.” Angemon said, turning his head slightly to look at him. “He was alright with me for most of the time before you arrived, Mimi. It's a group thing, I'm sure, because from what I've heard he was pretty comfortable with you this morning.”

“Yeah, he was.” She admitted. “I'm still a little surprised about that. He said it was because I treated him with sincerity.”

“And that's why I think its so important that we do this for him.” Ken said. “That we all give him something. We just need to figure out when to get it to him so that he knows we are doing it without malice.”

“I can't believe that we have to fight again...” Mimi said sadly, staring at the table. “I thought that when you guys beat him again we were done, and now another creature has appeared to cause trouble.”

“As long as there exists good there will exist evil.” Angemon said. “Its the way of the world. That is why there were chosen humans before your group as well as after. So long as good creatures exist there will be ones that want to manipulate them. At least this in this case...” He paused, and shifted his wings so that they fell over Vamdemon like a blanket, “We have warning of it. Whatever did this to him didn't intend for us to find out about it. Myotismon is probably believed to be dead, and we are though to be unaware of the coming danger.”

“Its amazing how things fit together sometimes.” Ken said. “I mean...Kari just happened to glance at him and then chased him on a mere hunch. If she hadn't, we wouldn't have any warning of whatever this digimon is planning.”

“We've learned a lot from him as well. I think there is far more to him than he lets on. I hope that we can learn those secrets in addition to finding out about our new enemy, because something from his past seems to be troubling him greatly.”

“Do you think it has something to do with that crest?” Mimi asked. Ken and Angemon stared at her in confusion. “Wait, you guys weren't there... He has a crest... Koushiro says whoever had it died a long time ago.”

“But is it actually his?” Ken wondered. “Or did it belong to someone else?”

“Koushiro seemed to think it did belong to him, which would mean...”

“He is a chosen digimon.” Angemon said, slightly amazed. “Incredible. The mysteries keep growing with him don't they. I wonder what happened that he turned on his own.”

“Maybe he is like me.” Ken said quietly. “Maybe he was being controlled by someone.”

“I think that is the case...with the way he talks about his past...” Mimi said, trailing off as the waiter returned once more bearing their meals. They ate their food mostly in silence. Ken finished his entire dish with Wormmon's help. Mimi finished most of hers, and Angemon finished only half.

“It was your idea to come here and you don't even finish it?” She laughed.

Angemon just smiled lightly. He shifted slightly and shook Vamdemon's sleeping form. He let out a growl and opened his eyes to glare at the angel. “Did you have a nice rest?” He asked pleasantly and pushed Vamdemon back to a sitting position. He blinked a few times, attempting to grasp with a groggy mind where he was and why he was so comfortable against Angemon's body.

“...yes.” He said slowly, finally waking. He glanced across the table and at what was left on the plates. He reached towards Angemon's glass of water and finished it off in a few gulps. Then he reached forward once more and took a large bite out of the half sandwich that was on the plate.

“I thought you said you weren't hungry.” Angemon said with amusement.

“I lied.” Vamdemon said through a mouthful of tuna fish.

“Ah.” Mimi said, stifling a laugh. “You predicted that then.”

“I certainly did.” Angemon said and received a fresh glare.

“I blame you if I get sick again.” Vamdemon said as he finished off the last bits of bread.

“I'm not forcing you to eat. I am absolved of responsibility as to what happens to you from here on after.”

“Whatever.” Vamdemon growled and shifted in place. “What now? Are we done with this wretched place yet?”

“No.” Ken said and glanced at his watch. “We still have another two hours before we're supposed to meet back at the fountain to head for the movie...”

“Ah...forgot about that.” Vamdemon grumbled and let out a defeated sigh. “Well then...where must we go next?”

“Oh!” Mimi exclaimed. “There's a craft fair outside! We can go there.” Vamdemon stared at her with a disbelieving look.

“Sounds alright to me.” Ken said and looked at Vamdemon. “Don't worry. It's all hand made stuff so its not that bad.

“Let's go then...” Angemon said, sliding out of the booth and then reaching back to pull Vamdemon out. “Ken, take him for me, I have to pay the bill.”

“Okay...” He said and Vamdemon shifted to him. “How much do we need to give you?”

Angemon smiled and glanced at Vamdemon. “Don't worry about it, it isn't much.”

“Three meals and beverages...” Mimi said, “That's got to be at least thirty... You won't take...any-” But he had already walked away.

“Trying to steal again, I'm sure.” Vamdemon said roughly. “He's incredibly corrupt for a creature thats supposed to represent justice.”

Ken watched him with slight surprise but it quickly disappeared. “I won't press it.” He said, and pulled Vamdemon to the entrance of the restaurant. “Sometimes its better not to know in these sorts of situations.”

Angemon returned with Mimi and they started walking towards the exit that would lead to the parking lot with the fair. It was snowing once more.