Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Diaries ❯ Present and Past ( Chapter 9 )

Dark Diaries

Entry 9 "Present and Past"

Written by Rocker Starlight

Permission given by Lord Archive

A/N ~ This chapter will contain speech in a foreign language (Japanese), as well as sign language. Sign language, as always, is shown by the [ - ] around it, and the foreign language will be shown by someone talking within < - >. Hope you enjoy this chapter. ^_^

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Erin winced, as Jyou examined his arm, sitting on the crate in Witchmon's shed. He watched as the hands pressed around his arm, checking various spots on it.

"So tell me, Erin. Are your eyes always red?" Jyou glanced up at his patient, never stopping his check up.

Erin blinked, as he finally realized what had happened. Closing his eyes, he de-fused, opening his right hand to reveal the small black coin. As the energy left his body, he grunted, wincing worse as he felt the pain in his arm shoot through him.

Jyou blinked at the sudden reaction, stopping his hands. He looked at the now amber eyes, glancing at the black coin in the boy's hand. "I take it that's what lets you change?" Continuing, he starting touching much softer, to discern the damaged muscles.

Erin's face was still wincing a little, but not as bad, as he held his arm out. "Yes." He stared at the coin, frowning slightly, trying to ignore his arm.

Letting the arm go, the Chosen of Reliability glanced at the coin in the boy's hand. "Well, I must say, from how you described the fight you were in, I'm amazed your arm is this well healed already. Digimon normally do heal faster then humans, so since you seem to turn into one, it's an open possibility that you have an accelerated healing process, at when your in a state that is closer to being part digimon. Does it hurt as bad in your other forms?"

Looking up from the coin, Erin nodded numbly. "No, actually… Before I realized I was fused, I hadn't registered the pain as bad, or that my arm could move better." He stared at the limb, quite surprised.

Smiling softly, Jyou nodded. "Try going back to how you were when we got here."

Erin nodded, clutching the coin in his hand. "Coin fusion." Opening his eyes, the soft red glow had returned. Looking at his arm, he flexed it a little, wincing slightly, but the pain not as bad as it had been.

Jyou nodded, taking a step back. "Can you turn into your digimon form?"

Looking up at the Chosen, he nodded, standing up. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his hands tightly, letting his eyes shut. "Digital Assimilation."

Jyou stared in awe as he watched the purple glow surround the American, giving way to Erin's assimilated form. The Japanese chosen was more then a little startled, seeing the Black War Greymon armor on the teenager, and stepped forward to start checking the injured arm.

Black War Humon glanced over, noticing he was standing almost eye to eye with the foreigner, glancing over as he felt the hands touching his arm again. Taking the gauntlet off with his right hand, he barely even felt any pain now when his left arm moved.

<Amazing… The damage is reduced greatly now…> Jyou spoke softly, not realizing he was talking in Japanese.

<Then, should I stay like this for awhile?> Erin asked back, his duel voices speaking Japanese perfectly.

The statement caught Jyou completely off guard. <You can speak Japanese?>

Erin tilts his head slightly. <Japa…> He paused, as the realization hit him. Not only could he understand the language, but also he was speaking it without trying. <I… I guess I can.>

Lowering the assimilated teen's arm, Jyou nodded. <I take it you have never spoken Japanese before, or taken a class?> At the teen's headshake, he nodded himself. <Another thing for Koushiro to ponder. By the way, it looks like your being in your digimon form had accelerated your healing. If you stay like this for about twenty more minutes, your body should be fully healed. Although judging from every digimon that I've met, your appetite should be very strong.> He smiled, as he took a seat on another crate.

Removing his other gauntlet and the shield on his back, Erin simply nodded, setting down on the floor. <It's normal to have the sudden surge in hunger?> His voices still speaking in Japanese.

Jyou laughed softly. <It is common. Often after evolution, or when trying to heal an especially bad injury, digimon are very hungry, to try and make up for energy being used. I take it you've had that problem too?>

Erin nodded, understanding a little more. Glancing at the door, he sighed softly. <Wonder what the girl's are up to?>

Rubbing the back of his head, Jyou laughed a little more. <Probably just relaxing. Although knowing Mimi, there's no way to know…>

**********

Jill laughed silently, as Mimi, Witchmon, and herself sat in her room, talking. While Jyou had begun examining Erin, the mute girl had taken the other two to her room, to leave the boys alone. After looking over the twelve-year-old's room for a few minutes, Mimi had gone right into asking how she had gotten on the message board. With answering questions in the middle, as well as using Witchmon as a translator, it took almost ten minutes to get through the explanation.

Mimi crossed her legs, tapping her lips softly as she thought. "So then, you don't have a digivice, but this cute little neko was with you?" Petting the cat next to her, she watched Jill quietly.

The blond nodded, smiling softly at the little cat, as she passed another message on to Witchmon.

Witchmon laughed softly, as she heard the mental comment. "She says if she is in trouble for this, she's willing to accept the punishment, since it was for Erin's health." Floating near one end of the bed, she gave the girl a soft smile. "After all, she would do anything for her 'Big brother'" she exaggerated the last words blatantly.

Mimi laughed, as she watched the mute girl whip a pillow at the digimon. "Well, I can't say how happy some of the other kids are about this, not to mention, until I tell Koushiro that you had this little kitty with you, He's probably going to be pulling his hair out, unless Ayashi can calm him down."

Jill turned her head curiously to the older chosen, giggling as the black cat began batting at Mimi's hand playfully.

Laying her cowgirl hat on the feline, watching it jump a little, Mimi smiled at the young blond. "It should be alright. Although you really shouldn't get on it again, I'm glad you did, so Jyou and I could come and visit Erin."

Jill nodded, giving a silent giggle at the cat under the hat.

Watching the two humans play with her feline companion, Witchmon smirked softly. "Jill, would you mind getting us some drinks? I'm feeling a little parched."

The mute girl smiled, nodding to her digimon friend. Standing up, Jill bowed politely, before leaving the room, not quite closing the door completely.

Witchmon glanced over, noticing Mimi was already looking at her. "Yes?"

Mimi smiled back at the digimon, before removing her hat from over the feline. "I assumed you wanted to talk to me about something? Obviously something you do not want Jill to hear."

Giving a small smirk, the witch digimon shrugged her shoulder slightly. "Actually yes. I was curious why you've been acting so careful about how you move? Your boyfriend too rough on ya?"

Laughter was the response the Chosen of Purity gave, as she heard the question. "Actually, he takes a little bit of convincing to be like that." Her smile faded a bit, giving her face a somber look. "Actually, my team in New York was in a fight recently, with a team of dark chosen. We didn't exactly win in the end, and right now I have the bruises to show for it." She shifted a little on the bed. "And one of them isn't exactly someplace comfortable."

Nodded at her answer, Witchmon reached into her cloak, a sound of rummaging coming from inside the cloth. "Now where is it… I know it's in here… Ah ha!" Pulling her large hand out, she produced a small container with a flower shape on the top. "I have one of these spare, so if you would like, you can have it. Consider it exchange for helping Erin."

Taking the small container, Mimi looked at it curiously, before looking back to the Adult digimon. "I won't take it in exchange for helping a friend. I'm more then happy I could bring Jyou to help him."

Witchmon shrugged her shoulder slightly. "Then consider it a simple gift. It's a healing salve I picked up in Witchelny, before I left. It's helped me when I've been through a scrap or two before, although the side effects can be frustrating at times…" Her cheeks actually gained a small tint to them.

Mimi quirked her brow, as she glanced suspiciously at the container in her hand. "Side effects?"

Witchmon nodded. "Yep. Another Witchmon with a slightly twisted sense of humor makes the salves. One of a couple potion recipies from a Lillymon she knew once. One of the ingredients in the salve acts as a small aphrodisiac." Grinning sheepishly, the young witch scratched the back of her head. "Considering some of the idiots I've met, I'm glad I have a broom most of the time, so I can rid myself of the problems that causes quickly."

Mimi's cheeks blushed a little, as she laughed softly. "Oh really? Anything else I should know?"

"Yep. Simple suggestion of leaving yourself a good couple hours to yourself or with your mate, when you try it. I have no idea how it might effect a human, so better to make sure you won't be interrupted for quite some time" Witchmon gave a big grin at the comment. "And if you want, let your mate use some himself, that way, if it does to you what it does too me, he can keep up with you."

Both girls laughed, as Mimi set the salve aside, adjusting one of her sleeves, and letting Witchmon get a glimpse of another bruise. Mimi looked over to the digimon, as she slide one sleeve to her wrist, rubbing at a couple smaller bruises. "So tell me why you're here? It's not often a digimon without a partner stays in the real world."

Witchmon paused as she was about to answer, before giving a soft chuckle, hearing footsteps quickly walking away from the door. 'Seems someone else saw through my excuse to talk…' "Well, I was assigned by Lord Mystimon, of Witchelny, to find a dark power source around this area of the real world. Unfortunately, I was also partnered with a pain in the rear Boogeymon, who acted like scaring humans was the only reason he came."

Mimi frowned softly. "I take it he is no longer around…?" She asked hesitantly.

Witchmon gave a quick nod. "Oh yea. Erin made quick work out of him, when the stupid demon was enough of a moron to threaten the people he lives with. Of course, then I was technically a captive… But that changed when my 'rescue party' came…" she frowned slightly, before going into the details about FlaWizarmon and Dokugumon's visit.

Mimi sighed softly, nodding. "Well, I'm glad no one was hurt. I see Jill has taken to this rather easily, but what about the other girl, Angela?"

The female digimon laughed a little more. "Oh, she's fine now. She was scared of Dokugumon, but she had good reason. But evidently, Erin told her he was watching them, and since then, she's seemed all right. She even comes out with Jill to visit me sometimes during the day."

Jill opened the door, holding three glasses of water, although a slight blush was in her cheeks. She passed the glasses around, sipping hers as she sat at her desk again, looking a little shyer then she had before.

Mimi giggled softly, noticing the girl's actions, as she took a drink of the cold liquid. "So, any guys you're interested in, Jill?"

Witchmon laughed louder, as she watched her human friend's cheeks turned a darker red, knowing the color might grow deeper quickly.

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Erin sighed softly, having shifted back to being normal again, holding the coin in his hand. The time had been spent in relative silence as teens waited patiently. He smiled softly, as he moved his left arm, a small amount of stiffness being the only reminder of the injuries of before.

Jyou gave a soft smile, as he watched the American stretch and rotate his arm. "So how long have you been here?"

Erin glanced over at his elder, shrugging slightly as he leaned back against the crate. "Eight years. My parents died in a car crash, and I got put here when none of my family could be found. I was a wreck for the first year, even bit a therapists head off…" He mumbled something under his breath.

Jyou gave a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry to hear that. But you seem fairly well now. What change it back then?"

Erin gave a cynical chuckle at the comment, before he answer. "Selene. She was another orphan, who was put here a little over a year after I first came. Ms. Klink, our caretaker, said her family had simply abandoned her, disappearing with a trace. When she first came here, I…" He shook his head slightly. "Never mind, you'll think I'm being an idiot."

Jyou smiled at the boy, slipping down to sit on the floor in front of his crate, so he was eye to eye with the brown haired teen. "Trust me, with everything I've seen since being a Chosen, it would take doing something truly deserving, to make me think someone's an idiot. And I have yet to see anyone do something that stupid, although I know a few friend who have come close in their time." Both of them laughed softly, before Kido continued. "So please, go ahead. I'd like to know."

Erin nodded, smiling a little more. "All right. Well, before Selene had come, I had a lot of trouble, like I said. I was really depressed, and I always had this painful feeling in my heart." Erin wrinkles his nose in annoyance slightly. "The quack said I was repressing my pain of my parent's death, that he could help me, if I let him. But then, he turned around, and wouldn't believe a thing I said, saying I was making it all up to cover up how I really felt."

"Well anyway, I had that pain constantly, after my parents death. Ms. Klink even took me to a doctor and gave me a check up, and they didn't find anything wrong physically. But the first time I met Selene, the pain just… well, it lessened. It became a lot more tolerable. Over her first couple of months here, I helped Ms. K whenever I could when it involved her, just wanting to be around her so the pain wasn't so bad, you know? But slowly, we started opening up to each other, and started being friends. Heh, I still remember the first true conversation we had…"

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Erin and Selene sat on a large rock, sitting in a small field near the orphanage. It was summer time, so the pair of eight-year-olds were aloud to stay out until nighttime. It was getting close though, as the sun slowly started to set into the clouds on the horizon, bathing the pair in a red light.

Selene sat with her knees to her chest, watching the sunset quietly, occasionally glancing over at her new friend. Erin's hair was cut short, almost spiky, although it was more of a mess then anything. He was even wearing the T-shirt she had pointed out the last time Ms. Klink had taken all the children to the store for clothes.

"Have you ever kissed someone?"

Erin blinked as the quiet girl spoke, tilting his head curiously. "Kissed my mom sometimes."

The oriental girl giggled softly at the answer, still speaking in a soft tone. "No silly. I dun mean your mom and dad. I mean like a girl."

The boy wrinkled his nose slightly. "Eww, why would I wanna do that?"

Selene gave a cute pout. "What's wrong with it? Your mom was a girl, after all."

"Yea, but that's different." Erin turned slightly, facing the girl, and sitting Indian style. "She was my mom." He sounded as if it were a simple answer.

Sighing softly, Selene laid her head on her knees, still facing the boy. "Well, what's wrong with kissing a girl though?" Her hair fell in her face slightly, although she didn't seem to notice it.

Erin tilted his head again, still curiously looking at the girl. "I dun know… some of the boys at school had said girl's have cooties, and you could get 'em if you let a girl kiss you."

Selene arched her brow slightly. "Were these the same boys who also ran around, trying to pull girl's pants down and peek at their undies?" She gave a small sigh of exasperation as she saw the boy nod. "Well, do you think girls have cooties?"

Erin looked into the girl's ice blue eyes, staring a minute, before he shrugged slightly. "Probably not. Why ya askin' anyway?"

Selene gave a soft smile, as she sat up straight, turning to face the young boy, before they both heard the voice of their caretaker, calling for them to come home. She pouted slightly, as they slipped off the rock, starting to walk back in the dusk light. "You really wanna know, Erin?" She asked as they walked away from the rock.

Erin looked at the girl, wondering why her cheeks were red. Maybe she had a fever? "Yea, why were ya askin' if I ever kissed anyone?"

Selene giggled, stopping in front of the boy to halt him, and smiling sweetly. "Just wanted to know if I'd be your first." Before the boy could say anything, she leaned forward, kissing him softly on the lips. As she leaned back, her cheeks a little darker, while Erin rubbed his arm at his lips.

The pair of kids quickly started running for the orphanage after that, Selene in the lead and giggling for the first time since she had come to the orphanage, with a fussy Erin tailing behind her.

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Erin's cheeks were a little red, as he touched his lips. "It wasn't until a couple years ago, that I realized she was my first kiss. Although I did get even, making Ms. K think Selene had a fever since her cheeks were so red, and getting her stuck to her room for an entire day because of it. Of course, I honestly thought she had a fever, at the time…" He laughed softly at the memory.

Jyou was laughing a little himself, as he listened to the boy reminisce about his past. It seemed like Erin had a similar relationship to Takeru and Hikari, at least in the point of being very close at such a young age. "So, would it be ok if we met her? I know Mimi would love to."

Erin's smile faded, his expression going melancholy at the question. "She's not here anymore… She was adopted in May, by a family in California." His head drooped slightly, as his depression washed over him again.

Jyou rubbed the back of his head, as he watched Erin's mood drop. "Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something painful…"

Erin looked up, giving a weak smile. "No problem. It's not your fault, after all. Besides, I still keep in touch by e-mail, when she has time to respond."

Jyou nodded, deciding to let the subject drop. He glanced at the door, arching a brow, thinking he heard a small noise. He stood up, motioning for Erin to be quiet when the teen looked at him, before tiptoeing over to the door. As he swung it open quickly, Mimi, Jill, and Witchmon all fell into the room, with Witchmon's cat sitting on top of the pile.

The Chosen of Reliability arched his brow slightly at the sight, while Erin simply blinked in surprised. The trio of girls all seemed to be blushing slightly, as they stood up. Witchmon walking to one of the back corners and hung her hat and cloak, trying to ignore the blush in her cheeks completely. Jill looked down in embarrassment, standing a little behind the older girl, while Mimi gave a sheepish grin.

"Sorry… We were coming to see what you boys were up to, but when we heard you reminiscing, we didn't want to interrupt." She let her hand graze Jyou's, as she walked over to Erin, kissing him softly on the forehead. "And I think it's sweet you still remember your first kiss." She smiled a bit more, as she watched the teen blush worse then all of the girls. "And I would bet money she still remembers it too." She winked, as she walked back to her boyfriend, slipping her arm around his.

"Well, since I don't think were needed anymore, want to head back and try and salvage our date?" She smiled sweetly at the other Chosen.

Jyou laughed softly, nodding. "Sounds like a plan." He turned back to Erin. "Mind showing us where the computer is again?"

Erin laughed softly, as he stood up. "Sure." He walked to the doorway, turning his head slightly. "Night, Witchmon."

Jill waved as the four started heading out, while Mimi gave the digimon a wink. "Thanks for the salve too. I'll see if I can find out if it works for humans too." All three girls laughed at the slight double meaning, while Erin and Jyou both exchanged confused looks, giving a shrug as they decided not to even ask.

As they walked into the house, Erin lead the small group past the living room quickly, hearing the TV on, meaning someone was still awake. As they walked into Ms. Klink's office, the teen blinked as he saw the Digimon CD Mimi had given him sitting in its case, with a small note attacked to it.

'Erin, even if it doesn't have anything on it, please take your disc out the next time you use the computer.' The note was signed Ms. Klink.

After reading the note, Erin glanced back at Jill, arching his brow, as he watched the young girl try and hide behind the couple. Shaking his head softly, he moved the mouse, bringing the computer out of screen saver mode, and putting the CD back in.

Jyou stepped forward, as Erin moved to the side, signing himself into his account. After leaving a post, on the now long number of responses to Jill's original post, saying everything was taken care of now, he sent an e-mail to Koushiro, explaining what had happened, as Mimi filled in the blanks for him.

Sending the e-mail off, Jyou looked over, seeing Jill standing next to Erin now, as they waited patiently. "Well, it's been a pleasure to meet you both. I hope we can talk again under more normal circumstances next time."

Mimi smiled, walking over to the pair, bowing politely to each of them. "And remember to e-mail us sometime, Erin! You're a friend, and it helps to know what's going on with friends, you know?" She smiles sweetly. "And besides, if you don't, I'll have to bring some of my team with me, and make you join a simple game of Truth and Dare." She placed her cowgirl hat on, smiling sweetly.

Erin and Jill exchanged a confused look, as Jyou laughed nervously, patting Mimi's shoulder. "Come on, its time to go." Mimi gave a playful pout, as she stepped backwards, while Jyou opened the digi-port program. After typing in where they had originally been, the pair waved, soon disappearing in another flash of light.

Erin looked down at the blushing blond, ruffling her hair playfully. He chuckled, closing the program and getting his disc, shutting the computer down finally. "Don't worry about it, alright Jill?" He smiled softly at the girl, as she glanced up at him.

[Really? You are not upset?] She moved her hands slowly, still nervous about this.

Standing up, Erin answered her by wrapping his arms around her and giving her a tender hug. As the younger girl began hugging him back, her stroked her hair softly. "I was a little, but I'm not anymore. After all, it all worked out in the end. But that doesn't mean you're allowed to go on there anymore." Leaving one arm around her shoulder, he slowly started walking Jill out of the office. "I doubt Koushiro would be happy with that, since he's the guy who runs it."

Jill giggled silently, hugging Erin a little tighter around the waist, as he walked her to her room. As they stood at the doorway, Jill slipped out of the hug slightly, looking up at him, before pulling her hands free to speak. [Do you think sister is all right, big brother?]

Erin gave the girl a gentle smile, rubbing the top of her head softly. "I hope so. I think she would have said if something was wrong, in her e-mails though. Right?"

The mute girl nodded, giving a full smile again. Wrapping her arms around Erin's neck, she pulled his head towards her as she leaned up, giving him a soft kiss on the lips. Pulling back, she covered her mouth, giggling harder, although the lack of sound made it look a little different. [Good night!] Jill slipped into her room, shutting the door quickly.

Erin stared at the door, completely in shock, as his finger touched his lips again. Rubbing his head, he gave himself a small laugh, remembering what Jill had said about watching him for Selene, as he walked to his room.

At the end of the hallway, Brian watched the younger boy walk to his own room, glaring at him. Walking back downstairs, the jock went to the telephone in the kitchen, dialing a number he had seen on TV just the other day. "Hello? Yes, I'd like to speak with someone in charge please?"

*********

Floramon ~ Well, seems someone is quite active in the late hours. But with his day of relaxing in, and his arm healed, is Erin truly read for the challenges ahead of him? Find out next time, in Dark Diaries!

A/N ~ Curious about the Dark Seed Chosen fighting the New York team? Well head over to Lord Archive's section of stories, his new story Dark Seed Chosen will explain what happened to Mimi.