Digimon Adventure Chronicles II: Secrets Revealed

...chapter SIXTEEN – Musically Emotive

“Worthless.” A dark voice stated harshly. The sound reverberated against the stone walls and through Vamdemon's ears. “Absolutely worthless! I should kill you where you stand for your incompetence.”

“I'm sorry, master.” He said quietly, forcing himself to hide the contempt he was feeling for the creature towering above him.

The creature chuckled slightly. “But I should have known. You weren't even strong enough to protect that wretch of a boy you called your partner!”

Vamdemon's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fist. The creature's lips twisted into a wicked smile and a clawed hand extended forwards, grabbing at his waist, digging into his flesh, and throwing him into the air. Another hand reached forwards and caught him at the neck. It drew him further up still as he struggled to breath, then...

Nothing.

The dark room dissolved and a feeling of great peace washed over him as his slumber grew dreamless.
__

He didn't realize that his surroundings were different until three teenagers carrying guitars walked by the couch he was laid upon. He sat up and stared wildly around the room, fearful of what might have happened. His gaze fell upon Takeru, who was sitting at a computer and typing while music sounded from the next room.

“Hope, where am I?” Vamdemon asked, unnerved by the unfamiliar place and slightly uncomfortable around the boy. Takeru stared at him, at first unresponsive at the way he was addressed.

“My brothers.” He said and turned back to the screen.

“...how did I get here?” Vamdemon wondered with confusion.

Takeru didn't look back as he answered. “Me and Matt picked your stuff up. We couldn't wake you, so Angemon hoisted you over his shoulder and flew you over.”

Vamdemon sat motionless as he noticed the odd sensation of his heart skipping a beat. “...is he here?”

“No, and I have no idea where he might be. He didn't tell me where he went off to. Never does, actually.”

“Oh...” Vamdemon said dumbly as he stood, stretched, and wandered over to Takeru's position.

“Mimi says 'hi'.” Takeru stated with monotone. Vamdemon stared at him.

“She's here?”

“No, but I'm talking to her on the computer.” Takeru explained as Vamdemon squinted at the screen, which was scrolling with tiny text that he could barely make out with his faulty, human eyes. An image of a large, pink heart was displayed beside her name.

“Eww.” He said and made a face as he took in the image. Takeru laughed slightly and typed again. “Tell her to change that hideous thing.” A few moments later the picture was replaced with lips contorted into the shape of a kiss. Vamdemon blinked and promptly walked away. Takeru laughed louder.

“I'm hungry, Takeru.” Vamdemon complained quietly, using the boy's name in hopes of getting what he desired.

“So?” Was the sarcastic reply. “Go make something to eat.”

“...I don't know how.”

Takeru swiveled his chair around and stared incredulously at him. “Are you serious?”

Vamdemon stared back. “Child, I was a vampire. I put holes into living creatures and drank their blood. I don't have the slightest idea how to make the cold stuff in the white box edible.”

Takeru sighed. “Fair enough. I'll tell Matt, he's the cook of the family.” He stood and disappeared into the room. The music stopped. A few seconds later he returned with his brother.

“Hey. What's up?” He asked, causing Vamdemon gave him a blank look. “Oh yeah, sorry.” Yamato said with a laugh. “TK said that you're hungry.”

“Yes.” Vamdemon said. “Quite. Feed me.”

“Okay, Audrey.” Yamato replied and rolled his eyes, heading towards the kitchen.

“...what?!” Vamdemon wondered, growing more confused still after waking in unfamiliar surroundings.

“It's from a movie.” Takeru said. “Maybe we'll watch it later.”

“But movies are too long.” Vamdemon complained, eyes following Takeru's body as he sat back in his chair. “That one yesterday was almost three hours!”

“Most movies aren't that long, and just so you know, that was a musical. There's a big difference. This one I was talking about is a movie adaption, so its shorter.”

“Yeah, okay.” Vamdemon said and rolled his eyes, believing the boy was lying and wanted him to be miserable.

“Okay, ready!” Yamato said, returning with a number of plates filled with rice, beans, and beef. He walked through the room and right back into the one he was in before. Vamdemon stared after him with an offended look. “Why don't you follow me, Myotismon.”

“I don't have much of a choice if you're holding my lunch hostage.” He said as he tentatively entered the room and four new sets of eyes focused on him.

“Rad hair, dude!” One of the guys exclaimed and leaned forward for a closer look. Vamdemon jumped and took a step backwards.

“Stop it guys, you're scaring him.” Yamato said as he pushed a plate into Vamdemon's arms. “Kari said you didn't know I had a band, so I thought I would let you listen.”

Vamdemon looked around at the equipment. “Do you know Who?”

The guys stared at him. “What?”

“The Who, you dolts.” Yamato sighed. “And you call yourselves rock fans... How do you even know them anyway?”

“The radio.” Vamdemon said, now staring at Yamato as if he were stupid. “It works the same way in the digital world, you know. We got it all as it was first being aired.”

“You're that old?” Yamato said with surprise.

“Even older, actually.” Vamdemon said as he fell to the floor and sat cross legged on the ground.

“You don't look so old.” A second guy muttered.

“He was a vampire, Rick, they don't age.”

“Yes I did.” Vamdemon said stubbornly and through a mouthful of food. “It just kind of stopped after a while.”

“Whatever, man, same thing, and I can't just play any song. We have to have practice it.”

“Then you can't call yourself a musician. You should be able to play by ear anything you desire.”

“Yeah, but with a little practice. I can play stuff by ear, but it won't always be the right key and stuff.” Yamato thrust a guitar in his direction. “You do it then.”

“I can't play anything with one arm, idiot.” Vamdemon growled and wiggled the injured arm for good measure.

“Sing then, its the same principal.”

Vamdemon stared at him. “No.”

“Aargh, you're impossible.” Yamato muttered. “Whatever. Come on guys, we need to practice.”
...
“So what did you think?” Yamato asked. “We're no Who, but...”

“I enjoyed it.” He admitted.

“Why wouldn't you sing before? Can't follow you're own advice, or do you think you aren't good enough.”

“I didn't want to in front of your friends.”

“Embarrassed?”

“Sort of...”

Yamato laughed. “Sing for me now, then, since they all left. I promise I won't tease you; everyone starts somewhere.”

Vamdemon sighed and sat up straight. “Play.” Yamato picked up the guitar and obliged.
...
“Who's in there?” Angemon wondered as he entered the door to the house and heard the music from the next room.

“Yamato and Myotismon.” Takeru said lazily. He was laying across the couch and his eyes were closed.

“Just them?”

“Yeah, why?” One eye opened slightly and glanced at his partner.

Angemon said nothing, but moved closer to the door that housed the source of the music. “He's singing...”

“I know.” Takeru said and yawned. “Matt sings all the time.”

Angemon shook his head slowly. “No...it's Myotismon. He's singing.”

Takeru rose an eyebrow and listened closer. The voice was deep and definitely did not belong to his brother. The words were rich and nearly perfectly in tune. Takeru sat up. “What do you know...”

“He's very good.” Angemon said quietly as the music came to an end. “His voice holds a surprising amount of emotion for a creature we once thought had none.”

“Yeah.” Takeru unwillingly admitted.

“I'm glad he's enjoying himself. He felt quite miserable last night and apparently during the morning as well. This is just what he needed.”
...
“I hate you.” Yamato said grumpily and he put away his guitar. “You wouldn't sing because you were embarrassed, but your even better than I am! Damn vampires, being perfect at everything they do!”

“Its not because of that.” Vamdemon said quietly in his defence. “ I had to practice a lot. No one is born good...and I guess embarrassed is the wrong word. More like...uncomfortable around strangers.”

“Humble, maybe.” Yamato suggested.

“...me?” Vamdemon asked unbelievingly.

“Yeah.” Yamato said with a laugh. “Is that surprising? You are very different here than you were on the battlefield.”

“They are very different settings...and these are very different circumstances.”

“That's true...”

“Are we going to watch that movie?” Vamdemon asked.

“What movie?”

“Takeru said we would watch a movie about Audrey.”

Yamato paused in though for a few seconds. “Oh! I know what you're talking about. You want to watch it now? Its late...”

“So?”

Yamato rolled his eyes. “Alright, we'll watch it.” Vamdemon smirked, having won, and they stood and exited the door.