Digimon Adventure Chronicles II: Secrets Revealed

...chapter FOUR ~ Transportation

Koushiro glanced at Hikari, growing a little impatient. She was already a good way into her conversation, but at ten minutes in length it was taking a bit too long for his liking. At one point she had almost dropped the phone, recoiling from Jyou's scream of shock even he could hear from his position a few feet from her. Finally she closed the phone together and turned towards him.

“Well?” He asked.

“He’s coming here in his car; he’s going to pick us up.”

“That’s great!” Koushiro exclaimed, happiness evident in his voice. “How long will he be?”

“Just a few minutes.” She said, leaning on the wall beside him. “By the way, he has a visitor so we need to stay really quiet about who we are transporting.”

“Why is that?” Koushiro asked. “Can't Jyou just tell whoever to stay out of the way?”

“Well,” She started, “I'm not sure she would appreciate those words spoken to her, and if Jyou reacted so strongly at the mention of Myotismon’s name, then imagine how Mimi would.”

Koushiro grimaced at the revelation of Jyou's guest. “I didn’t know she was there, not that I'm not glad she's around...”

“I knew she was in, but I didn't know where she was staying.” Hikari admitted. “ Do you think we’ll make it to the mall?” She glanced at her watch and back at Koushiro. “We only have two hours left.”

'Is that seriously the only thing she's worried about right now?' Koushiro thought. “We'll get there in the end Kari, but I don't think it will be on time unless you head home.”

She grinned sheepishly, knowing there were other matters to be concerned with. “I'd better call Tai in a little bit too and let him know I won't be back...so he can go without me.”

They were silent until bright lights lit the alleyway, signifying Jyou had finally arrived. He stepped out of the car door and slowly made his way to their position. He stared at the bundle for a long time before let out an frustrated sigh.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He groaned. “It’s so....wrong....no...so -”

“Save if for later and help us.” Koushiro said, interrupting him. “Kari, grab his feet like I said before. Jyou, get the door open.” He did, waiting as Koushiro and Hikari, who positioned herself as far away as possible while still keeping a strong grip where she was supposed to, lifted the body and brought it forwards.

“You know,” Koushiro spoke, in midst of transportation, “He has blue eyes.”

“What does that have to do with anything” Jyou muttered. “I never noticed, I don't usually make a note of remembering my enemy's eye color.”

“Oh I did.” Koushiro said, depositing the mass into the car. “And it’s rather peculiar, don’t you think? Most of his species would have green.”

“Really.” Jyou muttered, not paying much attention. “You know what Koushiro? I really don't think it matters much! I think you take things too seriously. You know, over-analyze the small stuff.” He stepped back and returned to the drivers door.

“Kari, do you mind sitting in back?” Koushiro asked, though it wasn’t really a question.

“Yes!” She screeched yet again. “Yes I mind, Izzy, HE'S back there!”

“I know Kari, but I need to talk to Jyou about some things. There's nothing to worry about anyway. He can't hurt you.”

“I know.” She whispered, getting into the car and squishing herself as far away as she could. “But it's creepy.”

The car jerked forward. Koushiro watched Jyou for a while, thinking of how to start the conversation and keep his attention, which he knew he had lost earlier. Jyou had a stern look on his face, as if he wanted nothing to do with the entire situation, doing it only out of loyalty to his friends.

“What a day huh.” Koushiro started.

“Oh yeah.” He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. “ I’m supposed to be able to see all my friends again for the first time in who knows how long and I’m forced to treat someone - something - I would rather see dead. The only reason I’m even going to do it is because its a doctor’s job to treat anyone that is put in his care, regardless of how heartless or evil that individual is.”

“I understand Jyou.” He said reassuringly. “I only want him fixed up so we can get some important information out of him. Speaking of...” He turned around awkwardly in his seat. “Kari, could you get that crest.”

“Why can't we leave him alone?” She snapped, not wanting to disturb the body.

“Do you think it’s better in his hands? If you can get it I might be able to trace who it belongs to.” He paused, glancing the shocked expression on the driver's face. “We did the same thing for you.”

“All right...” She said reluctantly, unhappy that he was trying to guilt her into doing his bidding. She leaned over and slowly inched her hand into the pocket he had stuffed the object into. He twitched slightly at her touch, causing her to jerk her hand away with crest inside. She looked at it momentarily before handing it to Koushiro, who studied it as well, though with more scrutiny.

The crest was a purple-black color, sort of like Ken’s, but much more dark. The design was rather plain, a raised crescent moon and a tear or raindrop shape overlapping it towards the bottom center. He wondered what could it represent and who could it possibly belong to.

“Another crest.” Jyou said incredulously. His earlier shock was replaced with annoyance. “This day just gets better and better.”

“It does! This is a great discovery. Relax, you’ll still be able to see everyone today, Jyou.” Koushiro said. “He should only take a few minutes to fix. A sling for his arm and a few blankets should do. ”

“What happened to him anyway?” Jyou asked, annoyance coming to be replaced with worry. He was finally switching into medical mode. The car came to a halt and he stepped out.

“A few things. Kari and I were chasing him. First he got into a fight with one of the construction workers and then he slipped on some ice and crashed into a wall. I think he broke his arm, because after that he wouldn’t use it, and yelled at Kari when she tried to touch it.”

“Which arm?”

Koushiro looked to Hikari, who was attempting to pull Vamdemon from the car. “The left one I think. I see some bruising there and on his neck as well.”

“During the fight the other man tried to strangle him.” She said shuddering a bit.

Joe furrowed his brows. “Wonderful.” He turned and walked to the door, unlocking it and moving a clasp to keep it open. Then he entered and sought out the other inhabitants.

Koushiro rolled his eyes and went to Hikari’s aid. He once again grabbed Vamdemon under the arms and lifted, nodding to Kari to take his feet. They slowly carried him through the door Jyou had propped open. Gomamon approached from a room inside and stared after them as they carried the body into the kitchen and put in on the table.

“What's going on?” He asked curiously. “I didn't know we were going to have another guest.”

“I’ve got a patient, so stay out of the way if you can, okay buddy?” Jyou said, not wanting to involve the small digimon, who looked slightly hurt. He reconsidered his method. “Hey, you can help me if you want. Try to keep Mimi in the living room for me.” Jyou instructed.

He was instantly satisfied, and Gomamon bounded out of the room at his word, happy to do his partners bidding.

Jyou let out a relieved breath and reached into a cupboard for his medical supplies. He set them onto a chair and moved to the creature on the table to begin the examination. He checked his skin for any strange bruises before focusing on the arm It was extremely swollen and discolored, even though the events causing it occurred only a few minutes ago. ‘He must have hit this really hard.’ He thought, “It's definitely broken.' He slid a syringe inside the shoulder of the hurt arm and drew a vial of blood. After putting it in the basket on the chair he turned around.

“What’s wrong with it?” Hikari asked.

“Broken, and severely at that. Hold his arm up for me so I can wrap it.”

Hikari walked over and reluctantly held up the arm as told. It twitched at her touch again and she almost dropped the body part back to the table.

“That’s odd... That’s the second time he’s done that. It’s almost like my very touch hurts him.” She whispered.

“That doesn’t seem so impossible.” Jyou said, glaring at her for almost damaging him further. “You’re the child of light, maybe it burns him”

“I don’t think so.” Koushiro said. “He’s as close to human as he’ll ever get right now, and he’s been running about in a good amount of sun, which leads me to believe that any pain something holy would have caused him wouldn't effect him in his current state.

“As close to human? What are you talking about?” Jyou asked incredulously, finally finishing the wrap. The arm was almost unbendable.

“What I mean is...” Koushiro started, remembering Jyou wasn’t there for the previous conversation, “He’s not a digimon right now. Something happened to make the digital attributes leave him, and since his shape and data was already so similar to ours, he became human.”

“Wouldn’t he just become a vampire...” Jyou asked quietly, moving the examination onto his neck.

“I thought it would happen that way but it seems not. It makes sense though. Vampires don't exist here on this planet. I think he does have a few lingering traits of what he was, but the human ones stand out much more distinctly.”

“I see.” Jyou said. “And what did you say happened here?”

“He got into a fight.” Hikari said, “And someone tried to choke him.”

“There isn’t much I can do here...” He muttered. “I guess I can give some pain killers or muscle relaxants, but I’m not sure how well his body will handle it.”

“He should be fine. Even if he’s not, it’s no big deal. He’s the enemy after all.” Koushiro said, getting up from a chair. “Where do you keep your blankets?”

“They are in the closet in the hall.” A new voice said from the doorway. They all looked at where it originated to find Mimi leaning against the door frame. Beside her was Gomamon, whose face held an apologetic look.

“What happened to him, guys?” She asked sympathetically. Apparently she hadn't made the connection. Hikari breathed a sigh of relief.

“A lot of bad stuff.” Jyou said, hoping to abate her curiosity. “Could you get some of those blankets we were talking about and set up a spot for him on the couch please?”

“Sure!” She said happily, glad to be of some help.

“That was close...” Hikari said when she left. Jyou nodded in acknowledgment of the statement.

“So what now?” Koushiro asked. “Put him wherever Mimi sets up a spot?”

“Yes, but not right away.” Jyou said. “I’m going to have to give him a change of clothes...whatever he's got on now is filthy. There's no way I could leave it on him and live with myself.”

“Eww.” Kari muttered, getting up and walking out of the room. “I'm going to help Mimi instead.

Jyou and Koushiro laughed, allowing themselves to relax a little bit. Jyou disappeared through the doorway momentarily and re-emerged with a fresh set of clothes. With Koushiro's help he redressed him.

“He should be awakening soon.” Jyou said after administering a series of medicines. “We should move him now.”

They carried him to the couch and placed the blankets over the body. They left the room with Hikari, leaving Mimi alone with Vamdemon. She watched him for a long time, ignoring the movie playing on the television she had previously been so interested in.

Twenty minutes flew by as she gazed at his form. She had such a strong sense of familiarity towards him that she just couldn't place. She sighed as she watched the unconscious man's face contort in unease and pain. His life must be a nightmare.