Digimon Adventure Chronicles II: Secrets Revealed

...chapter ELEVEN ~ The Price of Humanity

“I don't believe it.” Mimi said quietly after they stepped through the doors. She watched her breath rise in the air as she spoke. “It's past noon and I think it somehow got colder.”

“Yes, it did.” Vamdemon growled, causing Ken to jump. He pushed himself closer to the boy for warmth despite his discomfort with the touch. “Which is yet another contributing factor to why the human race has something wrong with their minds. Its snowing, its COLD, and yet they huddle under little tarps to sell mundane items of triviality.”

“I wish Kari could have heard that.” Mimi said with a laugh. He glared at her. “Though I must admit, its funnier when you deny such obvious things such as being cold.” Finally they stepped under the cover of the makeshift roof and out of the snow “And these things aren't trivial.” She put her left hand on his shoulder and pointed to a spot a short distance away. “That's all hand carved wood. Tables, chairs, insignias, jewelry boxes and more, all made with the heart and soul of the carver. These things here are special because they are created with a care you can't find in factory made products.”

Vamdemon stared at her, surprised at the passion she had put into her words, then looked around clearly at the different displays. “I apologize.” He said quietly. “I did not mean to upset or offend you.”

“That's alright.” She exclaimed happily, surprising him once more. “I forgive you.” She began walking and Ken had to pull him forwards. She stopped a few feet away from the wood stall she had noted earlier. “Here's a fun spot.” She said and swept her arm over the place. “Needlepoint, embroidery, and cross stitch. These are fun to do but I never finish them when I start one.”

“Its mostly flowers...” Ken said lamely as he looked around. Mimi half glared at him.

“What's wrong with flowers?” She asked with a slight edge to her voice.

“Nothing!” Ken said defensively.

“I think flowers are nice.” Vamdemon said. Ken gave him an incredulous. “Dead serious.” He said under the boy's scrutinizing gaze. “I used to grow them a long time ago, but when I moved into that old factory I found the soil wasn't nearly as fertile.” He paused and picked up a bundled kit of fabric, thread, needle and graph. “I used to do these as well, with my mother when I was very young and prohibited from attending school.”

Mimi, who had been growing impressed with his statements, frowned. She put her hands on her hips and sent a look his way that matched Ken's. “Digimon don't go to school.”

He glared at her. “Of course they do. Every village had one around my time. How do you think digimon know human languages? Tell me you haven't noticed that some can speak while others can not...”

“Of course I noticed.” She huffed and stomped her foot. “But how do you explain Palmon? Or Angemon? Or any of the other partner digimon? I thought they were created just for us. They didn't go to school.”

Vamdemon breathed slowly as he contemplated the answer to her challenging question. Ken, Angemon, and Wormmon watched them with interest.

“The digimon that work alongside humans were selected, not created to my knowledge, though I might be mistaken when applying this to your generation.” He said carefully. “They were selected to match the traits, as well as the personality and language, of their potential partner. That's the way it was done during my time. Perhaps your digimon were made already knowing a human language.”

She was quiet for a few seconds before she spoke again. “What did your partner speak?”

He stared at her, unsure if he even wanted to remember. “German...and English...” He said slowly and placed the kit he had been holding back onto the table. Memories flashed through his head and he struggled to push to them away. “Anyway...I couldn't do one now...with just one arm.” He looked carefully at the rest of the pieces on display. His gaze fell onto one and remained for a long while.

“May I have one?” He asked quietly, still fixated on a small work.

“Sure...” She said and walked over to the woman working the stall. Together they walked back. The woman put the item in a bag and exchanged money bidding them farewell. Vamdemon took hold of the bag before Ken could and held it tightly in his grasp.

“Thanks...” He whispered uneasily. “I'll make it up to you...”

“There's no need for that.” She said kindly and gave him a reassuring smile. “Consider it a gift from a friend.” Ken nodded approvingly and pulled him forward noting the uncertainty clearly evident on his face and in his movement.

“Where's Angemon?” He asked as he was led through the crowd, surprising both Ken and Mimi. They stopped and looked around. “That's a good question.” She said, amazed that they could lose him and that Vamdemon was the first to realize he wasn't around.

“I'm sure he'll find us.” Ken said. “He can take care of himself.”

“I know, but I wanted to use his stolen money to buy food.” Vamdemon said, attitude returning slightly.

“You just ate!” Mimi said in amazement.

“Yeah, a half of an odd fish concoction.” He said defensively. “I need more than that to sustain this weakened body.”

She sighed. “You are a hypocrite on so many levels.”

“Whatever.” He groaned.

“Well, if your really hungry I can get you something.

“But you just did that!” Vamdemon argued.

“So what?” She demanded.

“So its not right for you to do so again.” He said with frustration.

“Angemon already bought you food. AND clothes. AND more food.”

“Yeah, but its not his money.” Vamdemon grumbled. “And he didn't pay for anything twice in a row.”

“Then I'll do it.” Ken said with amusement. 'He's going to explode later with everyone giving him something at once if he's so upset over this.'

Vamdemon thought for a moment. “that is acceptable...” He paused. “But only once for you. I don't want to be any more of a burden than I've already been.”

“Please.” Ken said and led him forward once more. “I don't feel burdened at all and I'm sure Mimi doesn't either. We're both having fun!”

“Fine.” He sighed, and was led through a number of stall including pizza, Chinese, knishes, and Zeppolies.

“You said you were hungry.” Mimi commented. “We've passed almost everything and you've said nothing. What person doesn't like at least pizza?”

“People who aren't meant to be people.” He said with annoyance and stopped in front of a stand that had a large yellow creature painted on it. “Please don't tell me that humans eat bees.”

“Of course not.” Mimi said, and approached the cart. “Its a honey stand! How about some honey glazed chicken?”

“Fine.” He said with annoyance. “But only because I'm tired of looking.

She smiled and walked to the window to place the order while Ken literally dragged Vamdemon over to the shelf of candy.

“But your getting the food, you can't get this too!”

“But its the same place, it counts as one purchase.”

“But-”

“No! I'm doing this and there's nothing you can do to stop me.”

Vamdemon gave him a dirty look and began to think of a way to convince the boy who was picking up bag after bag not to buy the candy. Without warning, a hand reached out from behind the two and clasped around his shoulder, causing Vamdemon to jump and dearly drop the sweets Ken had forced into his arm. “Stop being difficult.” He was told.

“You damned angel!” He yelled, turning around. “Your lucky I'm injured or else-”

“You wouldn't stand a chance.” Angemon said calmly and with a very amused smile.

“You want to test that theory?” Vamdemon challenged. “When I'm better we'll fight and I'll show you just how powerful I am!”

“Alright. I'll be looking forward to it.”

Vamdemon growled and pulled away from Ken. He limped over to the angel and pushed the bags into his arms. “Buy these.” He demanded. Angemon gazed downwards at with a disapproving look. “...please?” He added, and the look vanished.

“Well since you asked so nicely.” Angemon said, smiling once more.

“Hey!” Ken said, feeling slightly offended. “No way, I was going to buy those for you!”

“Nope. Angemon the swindler is.” Vamdemon stated, not quite meeting the boy's gaze. “Besides, your buying the chicken.”

“But-”

“In that case I must definitely get these.” Angemon said. “We have to split up the spending so its fair. Plus I have a particular weakness for sweets... I don't mind.”

Ken was going to argue but decided against it, choosing instead to rejoin Mimi at the window of the stall.

“Thanks...” Vamdemon said quietly. “He claims he doesn't mind but it just doesn't feel right to me.”

“Because of what you made him do?”

“Yes...”

“You're going to have to get used to it eventually, you know.” Angemon said softly. “They genuinely want to help you, and Ken especially BECAUSE of what you did to him. He wants to give you the chance he was given.”

Vamdemon said nothing as Angemon led him forward and paid for the candy. Ken gave the bowl of steaming chicken to Angemon.. They began walking as Vamdemon began to eat.

“Where did you go off to anyway?” He asked though a mouthful of food.

“That isn't your concern, really.” Angemon said and took a piece of chicken.

“Hey! Thief!” Vamdemon growled, but was unable to do anything because of the bags on his arms.

“I'm hungry too you know. I was only able to eat half my meal because you were being stubborn with your bodily requirements. I'm glad thats coming to an end.”

“Fine.” He grumbled. Angemon took more.

“Its good.” He said, a clearly pleased expression on his face.

“Its alright.” Vamdemon said, unwilling to admit he enjoyed the sweet taste as well. The bowl was empty by the time they reached the edge of the tarps. He tossed the bowl into a trash can and they proceeded towards the doors they had exited from earlier. At that point many things happened at once.

Mimi had gone ahead and was already through the doors. Ken had stopped in the street and had bent over to pick up something he had dropped. Vamdemon and Angemon had stopped midway to wait, with Angemon staring after Mimi. Vamdemon heard a faint noise in the distance and turned his head to see a car that lost control down the road. His eyes quickly traced the line the car would make and found it matched with Ken's position.

He had acted before the decision to registered in his mind. He wrenched himself out of the tight grip Angemon had held around his waist and ran as fast as his weakened legs would carry him. Without a word he threw himself at the boy who had just stood up and had a smile on his face. Ken and Wormmon were knocked a few feet away to a patch of snow covered grass as Vamdemon was struck by the vehicle. Upon impact a faint light erupted from his body, which rolled up the windshield and was thrown into the air. The glow faded as he crashed back to the ground. A long distance away the car had come to a stop. The driver, a middle aged woman, had stepped out. Her eyes, along with Ken's, Angemon's, and Wormmon's were all fixated on Vamdemon's still form.