Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ South Digimon Diaries ❯ Therapy Session ( Chapter 13 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

South Digimon Diaries

The story of the Digi-Destined from Argentina.

By Persona

Disclaimer: Digimon belongs to TOEI and Akiyoshi Hongo, and used without

consent.

The Diaries Universe belongs to Lord Archive, and is used with consent. All

rights reserved.

Okay now, on with the story.

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Chapter 13: Therapy session.

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Dr. Martin Rojas was in his office, waiting for his next appointment to arrive.

But he knew that his next appointment wouldn't be coming from the door like all

the rest.

Not indeed. He had already turned on his computer on his desk, and pointed the

monitor in the other direction so it would face the other side of the desk. That

way David wouldn't appear on his desk, like it had happened the first time.

David Albornoz... he was probably one of the most incredible cases in his whole

career as a therapist. Not a single book in the world would have helped him

solve this case.

He had started giving David therapy sessions as a favor to his niece, Julia, but

now he was doing it for the sake of doing it. It was a challenge. Never in his

life would Dr. Rojas even think that a person would have as much issues as

David. And especially not as young as he was.

And him living in another dimension of some sort didn't help things. He didn't

believe it until he had seen David coming out of his computer for the first

session, and with that walking-candlestic, Candmon, that was always with him.

He had had a general idea of what had happened to David from talking with Julia

before his first session. But after Dr. Rojas talked to David he found out that

it was much worse.

Davd had so many traumas that he was sure that it would take a long time for him

to be completely mentally cured, if he ever gets cured completely that is.

David's main issue was that he had a severe case of the "border" syndrome. In

which a subject is so far into a lifestyle that would turn a person insane, that

he manages to see his reality in a different way just so he can survive.

David was being cured of this problem already before he came to see him.

Apparently what had caused it in the first place was being away from other human

contact for three years, and during that time he had no choice but to kill or be

killed. He saw himself as nothing more than a killing machine, and as such he

managed to almost completely erase his emotions. Seeing Julia in an almost

regular basis has helped David start to see himself more like a human, and not

just a killing machine. He was in his road to recovery on this, it will be slow,

but he will eventually be cured.

Unfortunately, that was only one of David's many problems.

When he went into the Digital World he was just about to enter puberty, he was

starting to develop as a person. But he was taken away from a normal lifestyle,

and was forced into a complete different one. Away from any other human, his

only sentient companies were the Digimon. And so, he started to see himself more

like a Digimon than a person. Fortunately, that was not completely, David had

shown in the tests that he doesn't see himself as a Digimon, but he doesn't see

himself as a 'human being' either. He seems more comfortable being around

Digimon than around people. Except for Julia, he doesn't like talking to other

persons. He didn't talk much during the first session, it wasn't till the second

session that he was more open up, and it was only because Julia told him to be

more open up.

This problem will be more difficult to work out since David hasn't even realized

he has this problem yet, and is in denial about it.

This problem is dragging more secondary problems that have, over the years,

settled into David's way of thinking as 'natural'.

For example, David had a severe anger management disorder. Dr. Rojas could say

that at first David focused it on everything that he labeled as "wrong" or

"bad", but it is easy to say that now it is focused more in what happens to

Julia. He sees himself as her protector.

The next issue is probably the only one that was starting to develop before he

went in the Digital World, but was only completed after it happened. Being the

son of a very young marriage, he always saw himself as a burden for his parents,

that he was keeping them form happiness. This made him get used to feeling pain

and guilt, and this only increased after he went to the Digital World. He has

gotten so used to feeling pain of any kind, physical and emotional, that he

actually feels guilty when someone else has to suffer. He actually wants to feel

pain, both physical and emotional, if that would keep others form suffering said

pain.

David also suffered form what could be called the "outcast" syndrome. He has

been so far away from other human beings, that he has forgotten proper behavior

in a society of people. This was probably the easiest issue to solve, its just a

matter of him re-learning proper manners and behaviors. Of course that it would

be impossible unless the other issues are solved first.

Finally, he has a terrible fear of the "normal" world. So far he has only agreed

to come back from the Digital World only for the therapy sessions. And even

then, he only stays in the office, coming out of the computer on the desk trough

one of those "Digiport" things as he called them. Dr. Rojas was not entirely

sure why David doesn't want to return to the normal world in a more regular

basis. It could be either because he's afraid to face again all the harshness

that he has lived during his youth, or that he has gotten so used to the Digital

World that he feels more at ease living there. Then again, there was the

possibility that the problem was actually a combination of both things.

Dr. Rojas was taken out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. That was not

good. He always locked the door to his office when he gave sessions to David so

nobody would see him come in and out of the computer's monitor. But he couldn't

use that as an excuse for keeping the door locked. And David was sure to arrive

at any minute now. He had to get rid of whoever was behind the door, fast.

Dr. Rojas stood up from his desk and quickly walked to the door.

"Who is it? I'm really busy right now." he said trough the door, hoping that it

would be enough to make whoever was at the other side of the door go away.

The answer that he got completely shocked him.

"Dr. Rojas, it's me David. I'm here for this week's session." the voice coming

from the other side of the door was David's, no doubt about it.

But that couldn't be! David never showed up from another place that wasn't the

computer! Quickly, Dr. Rojas unlocked the door and opened to make sure that it

was David at the other side of the door.

As he opened the door, he could see that, in fact, it was David and Julia

standing behind the door. Neither of them had their Digimon with them. Candmon

had accompanied David only on his first session, and then left since Dr. Rojas

said that he had to talk alone with David.

"David... you are actually here, and you didn't come out of my computer."

commented Dr. Rojas.

David nodded, "I know... it's not like I have a choice. The Digital World is not

safe for me right now."

Dr. Rojas nodded, "Okay, why don't you take a seat and we'll talk about it." he

looked up at Julia, "Julia, if you don't mind staying at the waiting room, you

can stay."

Julia nodded, she had planned on staying. She had to walk David back home.

Dr. Rojas closed the door of his office as David walked inside.

**************************

An hour later, David and Dr. Rojas walked out of the office. Seeing them, Julia

dropped the old magazine she was reading and walked towards them.

"Okay David, ready to go home?" asked Julia.

"Actually," said Dr. Rojas, "Julia, I would like to have a talk with you before

you leave."

Julia was surprised at this, but soon dismissed it and nodded, "Okay."

"David, you don't mind waiting out here for a minute, right?" asked Dr. Rojas.

David shook his head, "No, that's okay."

Dr. Rojas nodded, and closed the door of his office as Julia walked in. So the

two of them could have a private conversation.

"So uncle, what did you wanted to talk about?" asked Julia.

"It's about David." answered Dr. Rojas.

Julia remained silent, waiting for her uncle to continue.

"You see, David has been afraid of coming to the real world for a long time now.

And it's not because he feels safer in the Digital Wolrd than here. It's because

he's afraid of what the real world reminds him of." Dr. Rojas explained.

Julia nodded, "I see... but why are you telling me this uncle?"

"Because I need you to do something for him." replied Dr. Rojas, "I want you to

help him take as much experience from this forced stay in the real world as you

can. He only remembers bad things form the real world, I need you to help him

remind him of the good things as well. Make him realize that this is not the

horrible place he thinks it is. Can you do that Julia."

"I'll... I'll try. If you think it'll help him."

"It will." replied Dr. Rojas.

Julia nodded and smiled, "Then I'll do it."

****************************

A while later, Julia and David were walking back to Julia's house. Slowly since

David had a hurt ankle.

"So, what did you and your uncle talked about back there?" inquired David.

"Oh, nothing important." replied Julia, doing her best to appear casual. Then

she turned to look at David, "So, what do you want to do when we get back?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked David.

"Well, you didn't think you were going to just do chores all day and then go to

sleep, right?" asked Julia.

"Actually, I was." replied David.

"Well, you're wrong David Albornoz. You are now a guest in my house, and I'm

going to make sure that you have the time of your life!"

"Julia, you don't have to, really. I don't want to be a bother."

"Oh, but I WANT to do it. It's no bother at all." replied Julia.

"Okay... if you say so."

"Good. So, answer the question, what would you like to do?" Julia asked again.

David tough for a while, then answered. "Well, there's something that I've been

just DYING to know."

"Ask way."

"Well, I became I went to the Digital World in mid September of 1999."

"Yes, you told me before... so, what is it that you wanted to know?" inquired

Julia, not sure where David was trying to go with this.

"So, I wasn't here to see the Rugby World Cup, which started in October. Could

you tell me how it went?"

Julia smiled, this was just the kind of things her uncle told her that David

should experience. "Actually, the Pumas totally kicked ass."

David's eyes opened wide. "Really?"

"Oh yeah. The first match was against the home team, Wales. And they lost. But

then they played against Samoa and Japan, and they won both of them."

"The Pumas beat Samoa!? Alright! Those dirty bastards deserves it." David now

sported a huge smile, and Julia couldn't help but smile as well. "I can't

believe the Pumas actually qualified for the second round. They never did that

before."

Julia knew that David was going to be dancing with joy when he heard the next

thing "Actually, the Pumas also won the second round and qualified for the

quarterfinals."

David looked at Julia in disbelief, "You are not kidding are you?"

"Why would I?"

"Who did we play against?" asked David.

"Ireland."

"Ireland!? The Pumas beat Irealnd!?" David exclaimed in disbelief.

"They sure did."

David smiled for a while, then his smiled turned upside down. Julia noticed

this, "David? What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"

"Yes, I'm happy. I'm very happy... I just wish I could have been here to see

it." replied David.

Julia smiled at him, "What if I told you that you can?"

"Huh?"

"Didn't I tell you? My dad is a Big Rugby fan. He recorded all of the Pumas'

games on tapes. Once we get back you can watch them as much as you want."

explained Julia.

"Really? Well, let's go! I can't wait to get back!" David hurried his pace as

much as he could, considering he had an injured leg.

Julia smiled at David. She was very happy for him. This was just what her uncle

had talked about. Thinsg were definitely looking up for the Digi-Destined.

To be continued...

**************************

Author notes:

Maybe David's response to the Pumas' performance might seem a little exaggerated

for you, but believe me, it's not.

Like I said in the author notes of Chapter 11, sport events are a VERY important

part of Argentina's national identity.

I have said this before, but I'll repeat it. The Pumas is the name of

Argentina's national Rugby team.

Everything that Julia told David about the Pumas's performance in the Rugby

World Cup of 1999 is true of course. In case you were wondering, Argentina did

not make it past the quarterfinals in the world cup. They lost against France, a

country considered as a world power in Rugby.

As for why David called the players of Samoa "dirty bastards" that has an

explanation. Samoa is famous in the world of Rugby for always having teams that

play too rough and downright dirty. Samoa has also become kind of Argentina's

nemesis in the last world cups, since by some strange twist of fate, they always

ended up in the same group as us, and they always eliminated us. The World Cup

of 1999 was different, hence why David was so happy to hear that the Pumas

defeated Samoa.

Now, I'm going to use this author notes section to explain a little more about

Argentina's society:

Argentineans have actually four meals a day. Breakfast and lunch is at the same

time as any other country, although Argentineans' eat a much lighter breakfast.

(You'll never see an Argentinean eat bacon with eggs early in the morning.)

Dinner would be the first difference. When I was living in Indiana, I noticed

how people ate dinner at 6 or 7 in the afternoon.

That is WAY too early of us. In Argentina we eat dinner at about 9, and at some

cases at 10. This leaves one last meal, which is located between lunch and

dinner, called merienda. I have tried to find a translation for it, but I didn't

find one. The closest one could be what the British call Tea Time.

But we don't drink tea (well, most people don't) you usually eat toast with

jelly with a glass of milk. There's also another drink for this time that most

foreign people misjudge when they see it: Mate.

Mate could be considered as an 'upside down tea' instead of putting some herbs

in a cup of boiling water, you pour some boiling water in a cup full of crushed

leaves. The leaves come from a plant that as far as I know can only be found in

South America, and people refer to it with the same name as the drink, in other

words Mate Plants. To drink it you have to put a special metallic "straw" in the

cup, the straw has a filter at one end, so to keep the herbs from entering it,

and allowing the person to drink the boiling water, filled with the herbal

taste. Everyone drinks it a different way. Personally, I like it with LOTS of

sugar, since it's very sour for me to drink it alone.

The reason why it's misjudged by foreign people is because they think is some

kind of drug. They always make questions like, "Is this legal?" or "Is it safe?"

We usually hide it, but we fell terribly offended by this sort of questions.

According to people, the food is one of the best features about Argentina. Every

time they make a survey with tourists from all over the world, they ask them

what they liked the most about Argentina and they almost always answer: The

food.

The most popular food in Argentina would be meat. You just CAN'T be a vegetarian

in Argentina. For those of you that follow basketball, I remember that they once

did an interview on TV to Manu Ginobili, and when they asked him what he missed

the most, he said meat. (Actually, he said that he could get meat in the US, but

that there's nothing like Argentinean meat.) And this guy is living in TEXAS!

We eat meat about four or five times a week. And not just little pieces, I mean

HUGE juicy ones. Argentina produces so much meat that has enough to feed its

entire population, and still have enough left to export. We eat every part of a

cow, and I do mean every part. Except for the skin, the bones, the eyes and the

reproductive system, we eat everything else: The brains, the livers, the

stomachs, well, you get the idea.

- Persona -