Digimon Adventure Chronicles II: Secrets Revealed

...chapter FIFTEEN – Nightmare's Beginning

The walls were dank, wet with sweat and blood. The air was thick and pungent and carried the metallic smell through the corridors and stairwell. From the ceiling hung dozens of bats, black as night, which silently watched two figures below them. A small, white cat was struck repeatedly in a violent act of sexual perversion. Her blood splashed to the ground with each painful thrust. She didn't bother to cry out or call for help because she knew no one would go to her aid. The motions stopped suddenly, and the oppressor lowered his face to consume the mess...

Vamdemon's eyes snapped open as he hit the ground with a soft thud. He pulled himself to a sitting position and tried to slow his heart rate, dream, no...nightmare still painted vibrantly in his mind. His body felt cold, as if he were submerged in icy water, although the heater was on and the room was warm. Desperately he stared through the darkness in attempt to place where he was and wishing longingly for his previous visual acuity. Once he remembered where he was, he stood trembling and headed towards the kitchen.

The light sputtered to life with a flick of the switch, illuminating the room and Tailmon's body that was leaning over the sink. A wave of nausea fell over him as she straightened up and glared at him with her hairs on edge. With a hiss she fled back to Hikari's room and out of sight. Vamdemon let out a sigh and crossed to the sink and washed away the cold with a glass of water. Feeling slightly better, he shut the light and returned to the couch, pulling the blanket back over him.

His heart beat was still wild when he fell back to sleep.


He woke again in the same position as he had earlier, with his face pressed against the floor. He groaned and pushed himself to his knees.

“Are you alright?” Hikari asked, staring at the place he had landed. He looked up at her without answering. He stood and untangled himself from the blanket then rubbed his face wearily. He glanced at the clock, which read ten, then headed to the bathroom without a word.

Hikari shrugged and continued picking colored ribbons and bows from a box. Vamdemon re-emerged almost ten minutes later and entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, Mrs. Yagami.” He said tiredly and sat in the chair he had occupied during dinner the night before.

“Good morning!” She said pleasantly and placed a bowl in front of him. He peered at it cautiously. “Its fruit!”

“Oh...” He said and poked at it with the fork she had provided, wondering how hungry he was after the disturbing nightmare he had had. Finally he decided it was light enough to eat and proceeded to do so.

“Did you sleep well?” She asked.

“No, not really.” He said through a mouthful of strawberries.

She gave him a concerned look. “I'm sorry if you were uncomfortable.”

“No, its not like that..” He paused, wondering if he should say what was on his mind. “I had a nightmare.”

Tailmon scoffed from her position atop the refrigerator. “You don't know the meaning of the word.” She spat and she stood.

Vamdemon narrowed his eyes at her, causing her to take a step backwards. “You have no idea what you speak of, brat.” He growled softly. “You assume to know me...to know what I feel...and experience...but you know NOTHING! My lifetime far exceeds yours – you have no idea the things I've seen or what I've been through, or what has been done to me!”

“Don't make me laugh.” She said cruelly. “No one could touch you even if they wanted to.”

Vamdemon glared at her, rage boiling inside him. He stood suddenly and returned to the couch, fist clenched tightly at his side. He threw himself upon it and let out a frustrated breath. “What are you doing, brat?” He asked, anger slowly fading.

“Eh?” Hikari said, surprised he hadn't pursued the argument further. “I'm putting up Christmas decorations.”

“Christmas?” He wondered aloud.

“Yeah. Its a human religious holiday.” She said happily. Vamdemon appeared the opposite of the expression.

“Religion...is not something I like so much.” He admitted.

“I understand.” She said as she pressed a bow to the wall. “but you don't have to like it to enjoy it. Its a joyous time of giving and showing thanks and is very infectious.”

“We'll see...” He muttered. “I'll put it to the test.”

She laughed a little. “Why, can you not feel joy?”

“I doubt it.” He said glumly.

“But you had fun yesterday, didn't you?”

“Sort of.” He said, dodging the question slightly. “But that isn't the same as feeling joy...”

Hikari rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say, Myo. I'm surprised actually. You've come pretty close to out right admitting you'll be around during the holiday.”

He grunted. “Its the realistic statement to make. Doesn't mean that I'm happy about it...”

“Well, hopefully that will change.” She said kindly whilst glaring up at the tree. She turned to him. “Could you help me.”

“Nope.” He said, watching her straight to reach the top with an expression of amusement. She sent him a pleading look, which he returned with a wicked smile. He stood again and walked over to her. “What do I do?”

“Reach up there and put this on the top.” She said happily as he gave her a confused look.

“A star on a tree...” He muttered as he reached the top without effort. “What will you freakish creatures think of next?”

“Sometimes we use angels.” She stated.

“I shouldn't have asked...” He said, falling back to the couch.

Her gaze followed his form as he fell. “What did you have a nightmare about?”

“I'm not telling you.” He said harshly, surprised the had the nerve to expect him to tell her such personal information.

Hikari frowned slightly. “Because its me...or because you don't want to think about it?”

“Both.” He said and shut his eyes. “I'm going to pretend I never imagined it.”

“Was it really that bad?” She asked, surprising something his mind created would bother him so much.

“Yes, now stop bothering me and leave me alone.” He said as he sat up and glanced into the kitchen. Tailmon was gone. Satisfied, he stood and crossed into it once more. “Sorry...” He muttered as he sat in his abandoned chair.”

“That's alright.” Yuuko told him gently. “You have good judgment and did the right thing in walking away.”

He sighed. “That's the first time I've heard that said about me.”

She appeared taken aback. “Not even by your family?”

“Digimon don't have families.” Hikari said, crossing to the sink. “They hatch from eggs at the primary village.”

Vamdemon glared at her. “Some do; I did, its just not as common since digimon in general are insufficiently fertile because of a decreased need to reproduce sexually. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen.”

“So, your parents never praised you?” Yuuko prodded, sending her daughter a smug look.

“Not really...” He said slowly. He had hoped he could have avoided the question. “I was sort of...a disappointment.”

“Koushiro said your eyes are weird.” Hikari said, remembering the boy's words. “Why's that?”

“Oh...its just a result of my heritage.” He said quietly. “I'm a huge mess of mutated genetics. I guess my evolution line is supposed to have green or yellow eyes, but mine are blue. Both of my parents were angels.”

Hikari gawked at him for a moment, then proceeded to throw a plastic cup at him. “You lier! Why can't you ever give me a straight forward answer?”

“I did!” He shrieked. “I have no reason to lie! I swear to you I speak the truth!”

She lowered another cup she had lined up to throw. “So...you're a fallen angel?”

“I didn't say that.” He said, gaze softening. “I told you , I'm a genetic mess. I have some traits of my parents species, but otherwise I was born a Vamdemon... I was considered a bad omen.”

“I see...so that's why they didn't approve.”

He nodded. “But they weren't bad people... They loved me like any parent would a child...”

“Weren't...loved..?”

“They are dead.” He said quietly. “The chosen ones of my generation destroyed the entire village.”

“I'm sorry.” She said sincerely.

“Don't be, it happened a long time ago... Digimon are born again when they die, after all. Whether or not they remember their previous lives matters not...”

“Well...” Her mother sighed. “You're going to find things are very different around here. We're a very loving, and accepting group, no matter who you a person is.”

He shook his head. “That doesn't mean I'm not a disappointment to anyone. Hikari, you probably felt sick when you saw me... Probably wondered why I wouldn't stay dead... Its what might have been easier on all of us...”

“I was...” She said softly. “But can you blame me? After everything that happened, without us understanding-”

“No, I can't.” He said. “That's the point I'm trying to make. You guys don't really want me around. Tailmon is the prime example... She's never been one to hide her feelings and certainly won't pretend she doesn't hate every inch of my being. I am honestly amazed so many of you are willing to interact with me to the point you have before I did anything to prove my worth and ease worry of treachery...”

“Like Mom said, that's the way we are. We give brand new chances to those who ask it of us, even if there isn't much proof to fall back on.”

“If you saw Etemon on the street and he asked for a chance to be redeemed, would you grant it?”

“Probably...” She said.

“What about Mugendramon?” He asked, slightly on edge. “What about PIEMON?” He growled. “you would forgive them if only they asked it of you?”

“It would have to be sincere, like with you, but yes.” She said quietly.

“Then you are a fool!” He yelled. “Do you realize how easily this mentality can doom your entire group? If the enemy knew this it would surely be used against you!”

“What are you saying that?” Hikari asked, having grown frustrated. “Should we not be trusting you?”

“Trusting me to do what? I've told you nigh nothing but that I didn't want to fight. You should have forced the knowledge of your enemy out of me in case I was sent to bait you into a trap!”

“We aren't like that.” Hikari said sternly. “Unless we have to be... You aren't lying to us or leading us down a road we shouldn't be on. I can tell you really don't mean any harm...and even if I didn't, everyone deserves a chance. If they took that chance and messed up that would be different... Tailmon had very little to prove that she wanted to be on our side, but we trusted her anyway. If we hadn't we couldn't have beaten you.”

Vamdemon narrowed his eyes at the memory. “That traitorous wretch.” He spat. “Ungrateful excuse for a digimon!”

“Stop it.” Hikari demanded.

“Why should I when I speak the truth?” He said with a rising voice. “She's a lying little brat! I took her in when she was on the brink of death! Weak from malnutrition and fighting wild digimon, I gave her shelter when no others would! When to do so would be considered treason! I gave her food and water; a home! I trained her so that she could survive and fight on her own, evolve on her own! Punishment was fair and given where merited, and she dares say I abused her! She dares blame me for scars she wouldn't let heal!”

Hikari watched his trembling form with fear and wonder. He claimed he had no reason to lie, but his temper seemed to correlate with her partner's account of events. “But why did you punish her for looking at you a certain way? You claim that was justified?”

He stared at her without speaking for a few seconds. “Why...” He whispered. Because its what got me into trouble during my lifetime. That look of defiance...of hatred for the powers in place...caused me immeasurable grief, helped along the death of my partner, and brought upon centuries of pain and suffering thereafter... Hikari...I looked after Tailmon as if she were my child. If she turned that look upon a demon like my master was she wouldn't have survived the encounter. I wanted her to stay safe...to stay pure...and the only way to do that was to beat it out of her.” He finished, voice low once more and full of emotion.

Tailmon had approached the doorway ans crouched behind the divider, just out of sight. He ears were flattened as she remembered a visitor in the castle she was never allowed to see, a visitor she was locked away from, and the pain in the vampire's step during the following nights.

“I knew what she was.” He said lightly. “I knew her evolution line, having grown up amongst angels, and I knew she was the partner of the bearer of light. I knew her egg had fallen in my territory... I was supposed to kill her if I found her, but I couldn't do it; an action which led to my defeat as well as the fall of the dark masters. I do not blame her for taking her rightful place by your side, but I resent that she twists me into such a brutal monster.”

“Have you ever said these things to her?” Hikari asked.

“How could I?” He wondered. “It would have jeopardized her life even further...”

“So maybe she just didn't understand. How could she without knowing your motives?”

“I doubt she would have believed me anyway.” He said, anger completely gone. He pulled the tag and crest from his pocket and looked at it strangely.

“Did it get hot again?” She asked.

“Yeah.” He said quietly. “I don't understand... It's been dormant for so long... Why does it react so suddenly now after being silent for so many years?”

“How many times has it done that now?”

“Four.” He said without thinking to strongly. “Yesterday when I put you against the wall,” He glanced at her hand. “Then again when I was hit by the car. This morning it when I woke from my nightmare and just now.”

“I thought it had something to do with me...” She said, slightly relieved.

He shook his head slightly. “It just seems that way because you are the best at angering me.”

“I see...” She said as she finished washing the dishes she had approached the sink to do in the first place. “We're taking you to Matt's later.”

“Wonderful.” He muttered, unhappy at having to pack up and switch places of inhabitant every night. “Yuuko, would you please unbraid this?”

“Of course, dear.” She said and leaned behind him. She pulled the tie at the bottom away and wove her fingers through his hair so that it hung loose once more. That amount of curl it had taken on reduces its length slightly.

“Thanks...” He said, shaking his head so it hung more naturally.

“The curls make you look more demonic.” Hikari said lightly. Vamdemon rolled his eyes and stood, heading back to his couch. “I knew something was up about you.” She said as her and Miko, who seemed disappointed his walking toy was gone, followed him. “I was just saying last night how much like Angemon you looked when you were by his side.”

“Well now you know why.” He said, unhappy she was watching him the night before.

He sat and condensed his belongings as best he could before lying down again. The cat joined him, laying on his chest, and he fell asleep to the soft sound of the cat's purr.