Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Shuffle ❯ Final Preparations ( Chapter 25 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Shuffle

Chapter Twenty-five - Final Preparations

By: Lord Archive

Digimon belongs to Toei Animation and Akiyoshi Hongo. They are used without permission or the intent of profit. All rights reserved.

--

Takeru's Journal:

The War of Machines had taken an unexpected twist when Mugen Dramon appeared on the side of the Chosen. As the former Dark Master predicted, his rebirth as a partnered digimon did not end the fighting, instead it got worse. The machine factions unified either siding with the Chosen or with Giga Dramon.

--

"I can't help but feel Hikari will be pleasantly surprised to learn you evolved," Sora commented.

"It would be nice to see her again," replied Hi-Andromon, who stood taller than he was as Andromon with brown armor completely covering his body. "Though I find it difficult to work with him."

"Working with you is not a joy for me as well," Commandramon commented.

"Can we get to the point?" Saito questioned as he shifted nervously, glancing at a table with files scattered all over it.

Sora nodded. "The semester is about to end. On Sunday a large number of us Chosen will be going to another dimension to deal with a different war."

"Hardly advisable at this time. Decreasing the power of our forces, especially with reports that Giga Dramon has evolved to Chaos Dramon," Commandramon pointed out.

"I would have to concur," Hi-Andromon reluctantly agreed.

"We can't leave Hikari and Daisuke in that other world!" Piyomon protested.

"Exactly. However the situation here means we can't go full force. We're going to have to pick who stays and who goes," Sora informed.

"Well, obviously those affected by Piemon's curse will be going," Commandramon noted. "Though I suspect you'll be leaving Yamato behind in case I become a threat."

"You're no threat!" Saito protested while moving the papers to a file cabinet.

Hi-Andromon looked over. "What are you doing, Saito?"

"You left your files out, I was putting them back," the young boy replied.

"There are other reasons to leave him behind. He's got his music career to focus on," Sora corrected. "Jyou will be staying as well. With Piyomon we have a healer. And his girlfriend wants to stay with him and would rather stay here. Sayuri and Yume have already volunteered to take their places."

"Not that two Perfection digimon can match Metal Garurumon," Commandramon pointed out.

"Yeah, but they have more vested interest in the out come of this mission," Sora returned.

Commandramon tapped a talon against his draconian chin. "You have not come to debate who is going, but to tell us. I can assume by the prominence of Ichijouji and Inoue in your chain of command that they will be staying to guide the war, else you would've had Izumi and yourself as the head of information and logistics."

Sora nodded. "Yes."

"Anyone else of note from Odaiba staying?" Commandramon questioned.

"Of the first and second teams, everyone else is going. And while Jyou and Kasumi are staying here, Ayashi will be going with Koushiro on the mission." Sora went over to Hi-Andromon's computer and called up several images. "Outside of Odaiba, we'll be bring an additional two-dozen volunteers, most notably the remaining team members from New York City, Oklahoma City, Paris and Athens."

"Not surprising when their teammates were included in the infiltration teams," Commandramon observed.

"Exactly," Sora affirmed.

"At least that leaves us with the ability to call upon some of the more powerful teams if the need arises." Hi-Andromon glanced once more towards the young boy. "What are you doing now?"

"Making sure they're in the right order," Saito replied.

"That's the third time you've gone over them," Hi-Andromon noted.

"I don't want to make a mistake," Saito returned.

"He's OCD, isn't he?" Sora commented.

"Would there be a better partner for me?" Commandramon countered.

--

"Should I come back later?" Taichi asked as he entered the Chosen command center.

"Huh?" Ken emitted as he turned around, bumping into Miyako in the process as she was leaning over him.

"Something up?" Miyako wondered.

Taichi smirked. "That was what I was wondering."

Ken shrugged. "Nothing to report as yet. Chaos Dramon is solidifying his position as the new Dark Master of Machines while we're trying to convince some of those who decided to side with us to not commit suicide or act as suicide attackers."

"Why would they want to kill themselves?" Taichi wondered.

"To be reborn as partnered digimon like Mugen Dramon," Miyako answered. "The problem is trying to force it could lead them to never be reborn."

"We'd better keep it a secret his last incarnation committed suicide to get revenge on us for killing him the first time," Taichi groused.

Miyako nodded. "Right."

"Sadly I doubt our final battle will happen before the end of the week," Ken observed. "We will have to wait for Chaos Dramon to make his move before we can deal with him. Thankfully reports are that he is living up to his name and making random decisions even if they're to achieve his goal of acquiring power for himself. The biggest threat he has is himself. Once he makes a mistake and exposes his head, we'll be sure to chop it off."

Taichi nodded. "Chaos Dramon may make some quick decisions, but he's obviously no fool. He certainly played us trying to find Mugen Dramon."

"Exactly," Ken agreed. "I've set the digimon loyal to us to hold Chaos Dramon's troops in check, with machine digimon voluntarily making up the front line, with other allied digimon or Chosen added to the ranks to make sure that when Chaos Dramon makes his move, we'll know about it immediately."

"I see that everything is under control," Taichi noted. "I was stopping by to make sure you were ready to be in full command once the Xuanwumon mission starts."

"Yep!" Miyako cheered. "We've got this covered. You just have to worry about getting cured and bringing back Hikari and the others."

As if to confirm her words Hawkmon appeared on one of the computer monitors. "Nothing to report." It was quickly followed by Wormmon, and then other partnered digimon, children, or allied digimon largely saying the same thing. Only Ogremon reported anything different, when he announced, "I'm bored."

--

"Hey, chibi-bro," Jun teased.

Iori glared at her. "Hi."

"Staying for dinner?" Jun wondered.

Iori nodded.

Jun pouted. "You know you can talk."

Iori shrugged. "What is there to say?"

"You never had a problem flapping your lips about nothing before," Jun groused.

Iori smirked. "How could you tell? You never let me get a word in as you blabbered about anything and everything."

"There you are." Jun smiled at him. "It's annoying knowing you're my brother but not seeing it."

"I'm not Daisuke," Iori retorted. "Not with this body. I've told you that before."

"Is it wrong I want my annoying little brother back?" Jun shot at him.

"No, but I don't know if you'll get that wish," Iori replied.

"What? Is Sayuri putting out for you as well?" Jun demanded.

Iori scowled. "You knew Hikari was sleeping with... him?"

Jun folded her arms. "I got blamed for the condoms in the trash."

Iori clenched his fists. "So he didn't lie."

"But why would you want to stay this way?" Jun questioned harshly.

"I honestly don't know if I want to stay or change. I haven't made my decision yet," Iori snapped at her.

"My brother wouldn't be thinking this shit over, he'd just do it," Jun pointed out.

"You don't know your little brother as well as you think," Iori countered. "Part of my issue is Hikari. Part of me still loves her. Changing back will hurt her, forcing her to choose. I don't think I'd win that fight. And just being part of it could cause me to loose Sayuri as she would be hurt as well."

"It's not right for you to be someone else!" Jun protested. "You shouldn't worry about the girls and be selfish. This is your life, not theirs!"

"Staying would be the selfish part," Iori shot back.

"How do you figure?" Jun angrily asked.

"Sure switching back means I'd remember making love to Hikari, but that wasn't me she was with and it would be just a memory. There would be no telling when I would personally experience sex." Iori looked her straight in the eyes. "Staying as I am now... being with Sayuri may only be a matter of time."

"Dinner is ready," Mrs. Motomiya announced. "And son... I understand the decision to switch you boys back is on your shoulders. Whatever you decide, you're still my son."

"But he's not Daisuke like this!" Jun yelled.

"It's his life, he should make the choice that's best for him," Mrs. Motomiya told her firmly.

Jun pulled at her hair. "It shouldn't even be a choice!"

--

Mrs. Wataru frowned seeing her daughter curled up on the couch. "Is something wrong, dear?"

Sayuri looked up. "Mom... I... I'm going to be going away for a while."

"Has the war with those machines gotten worse?" Mrs. Wataru fretted.

Sayuri shook her head. "There's something else that must be done. Almost a year ago, a digimon cursed some of the first Chosen. I'm going with them to help get the cure. It can't be delayed because of the War of Machines since we've sent advanced scouts and at the very least need to bring them back."

"Is this going to be more dangerous?" Mrs. Wataru questioned.

Sayuri shrugged. "We may be walking into another war. I can't say if I'll be gone for days or months as we may have to put an end to their fighting to release the one with the power to lift the curse."

Mrs. Wataru frowned. "There's something you're not telling me."

Sayuri pressed her face against her knees. "Iori... Iori is one of those cursed... If he gets cured... he won't be the same person anymore. He could live as he is now. I know he can. I know it's selfish to want him to stay the way he is. That he's not living the life he should have."

Mrs. Wataru hugged her daughter lightly. "What is this curse? Why would curing it make him stop loving you?"

"The evil digimon switched their souls. He put them through an evil trial to be cured. Iori was among the ones who failed before they were forced to kill the digimon," Sayuri related. "To be cured, he would go back to his original body." She began to cry. "The person he was before... was in love with someone else. If he changes back... his love for her will return. And he won't be the same. Could I put up with a boyfriend that's ADD? Always jumping from one thing to the next?"

"I see." Mrs. Wataru pouted. "You're going on a mission to cure your boyfriend yet it is one you hope that fails for him."

"He still has a choice. They're letting him decide. The one in his body is happy with the way things are, and the one who was Iori is fine either way. The one who is least happy with the situation is the Iori that's my boyfriend." Sayuri almost sobbed. "I want to give him every reason to stay as he is. Yet the one thing that I could do to convince him... is something I shouldn't do. If... if I got pregnant, I'd have to keep the baby. And what would happen if that failed? After switching back two people would remember having sex with me, and neither of them would be my boyfriend as he wouldn't exist as I know him anymore."

Mrs. Wataru held the girl tighter. She hated how her daughter was needed to fight, that she had a serious boyfriend in fifth grade. Her attempts to protect the girl had blown up in her face. What could she do? What should she say? She did NOT want her daughter to risk destroying her life for love or war.

In the end, Sayuri cried herself dry, while her mother said nothing. Neither giving nor denying permission to be with her boyfriend.

--

Takeru looked up as Yume's mother and older brother came back from shopping. He motioned for them to be quiet as his girlfriend had fallen asleep while leaning on him.

Kensuke scowled at his classmate and hissed, "You should be going after Yagami, not my little sister."

"Now, son, you know your sister's happiness is what is important and she wasn't this happy even before her accident," Mrs. Togashi admonished.

Kensuke glared at his mother. "Then why has she been getting so upset the past couple weeks.

Takeru sighed and spoke softly, "It's because she's afraid that after the next mission I won't be the same person I am now."

Mrs. Togashi frowned. "The one you two will be going on for at least a couple weeks?"

Takeru nodded. "The reason for the mission isn't to stop a war... it's to fix a curse."

"What curse?" Kensuke demanded.

"A powerful and thankfully destroyed digimon switched the bodies of some of the Chosen," Mrs. Togashi told her son. "That is not truly Takaishi Takeru sitting with your sister, but Hida Iori."

"Huh? Wha?" Kensuke emitted.

"The reason why Hikari picked Daisuke was because the real Takeru's soul is in his body," Takeru added.

"So are you saying when you two come back, you'll be someone else?" Kensuke asked.

"Maybe. Daisuke, Iori and myself have grown accustom to these bodies. We have yet to decide if we really want to stay this way or change back. If it was not for the issues of the other two who remained switched, we would likely not be going, at least not yet." Takeru stroked Yume's hair. "She's afraid that if I change back, our relationship won't be the same. I know that I'll still love her... but returning to being Iori would change some things. I would likely want to take things slower and be more reserved."

"Then by all means, switch back," Kensuke growled. "She shouldn't be with someone your age."

"I'm not the one pushing the relationship further," Takeru returned.

If a glare could kill, Takeru would be dead.

--

Sora tickled her daughter. "Take good care of her."

Mrs. Yagami smirked. "As if I'd do anything less for my granddaughter."

"I'll help!" Poyomon promised.

"We have no doubt about that," Taichi replied. "It's time to go."

Sora nodded. "Daddy will be back, I promise."

"And so will Mommy," Taichi vowed.

Sora reluctantly walked out of the bedroom she once used as Taichi, then out of the apartment she once called home.

"If you want to cry, go ahead," Taichi told her.

"I'm not going to cry. I will be back as her father," Sora promised.

"Yet if Hikari wasn't waiting for us, you would be the one asking to wait," Taichi observed.

"I know Mom will take care of her, but she's my daughter. She may need me," Sora returned.

Taichi hugged her from behind. "I feel the same way. She may need her father. While it may seem we're doing this for us, we're also doing it for her. She needs her real father and mother, not this mess."

Sora nodded. "Preaching to the choir. Let's go. Hikari is waiting."

--

Sayuri was glad to be walking to Koushiro's home with Iori. This may be the last time they would be functionally alone.

Psychemon gave her partner a push. "Just tell him already."

Iori raised an eyebrow. "Tell me what?"

Sayuri looked away. "There's no point in rehashing my vote. You know I want you to stay as you are now."

Iori nodded.

"I've been debating something... something that I would've likely to regretted doing as much as I'm regretting not having done it," Sayuri admitted.

Iori pouted at her. "You know I would've turn you down for sex."

"I realize that, but I almost tried anyway," Sayuri replied.

"A lot better than you ever got with Hikari," V-mon chirped.

"I didn't want to be with you and then have you switch back. I hardly wanted two guys remember having sex with me," Sayuri added.

"I would've rejected it because I'd feel forced to stay this way so that wouldn't happen," Iori returned.

"I know. But still there was the risk." Sayuri gazed at the boy intently. "There is still one thing I can do. A promise I can give you. If you come home as Iori... I will make love to you then."

V-mon snickered. "She's not going to make it easy for you."

Iori frowned at her. "I kind of figured something like that would happen. It's not an easy decision for me. It affects so many people one way or the other. I have a plan to help me come to a decision. I don't want to say anything about it in case it's not an option."

Sayuri pulled him into a kiss. "Remember, if you switch back... we'll be back to square one. I would have to learn who you are then... and I may not like you as much."

Iori hugged her tightly. "I know."

V-mon glanced over. "That give you any ideas?"

Psychemon cocked her head, pulled him close and kissed him for all her worth.

V-mon was now laying on the ground with wide eyes. "Wow..."

"Thought that would've been better," Psychemon commented.

"Hey, now! That was my first kiss!" V-mon protested.

"Mine as well," Psychemon returned. "Not sure if I want a second one from you." She then started to run down the street.

"I'll do better. I promise!" V-mon chased after her.

Iori and Sayuri shared amused looks before following their digimon.

--

The first through the portal was Taichi and War Greymon along with most of the other Odaiba Chosen. They found vast fields dominating the landscape with an area ahead of them to the left of scorched Earth and craters and huge chasms.

A couple minutes later a pillar of light erupted and members of the Paris team appeared as it faded. Over the next ten minutes two more pillars followed and all the volunteers arrived.

"At least we didn't get a warm welcome," Yume noted, thankful to be standing on her feet and this dimension did not seem different from the Digital World.

"You may have spoken too soon!" Iori called out in warning.

Koushiro pulled out his laptop to scan the giant flying digimon that was coming straight for them. "He's huge. He's not even in range yet."

"Safe bet that's an Ultimate," Taichi observed.

"Ultimate dragon," War Greymon sneered. "One good hit and he's through."

"In range now," Koushiro announced as the scan began for the humongous serpentine purple dragon. "Holy Dramon, vaccine, virus buster..." Koushiro read off.

"Obviously on the side of the angel digimon," Sayuri noted. "May not be a threat."

"Can't be sure of that," Sora returned.

Koushiro's eyes widen. "Digital code confirmed! That's Hikari's Tailmon! And she's bringing the infiltration teams. Well, most of them. Not detecting Mimi's or Catherine's digimon."

Ayashi repeated what was said in English for those who did not know Japanese.

Holy Dramon came to a landing and Hikari was to first to slide off the back of the dragon. She broke into a run and almost tackled Taichi and Sora as she hugged them. She was not alone in the exuberant greeting of teammates, friends and family.

"What took you all so long?" Rick asked, holding his sister tightly.

Daisuke shook his head. "I doubt they spent the last year in the Digital World. Time moved faster for us, didn't it?"

"Year?" Sora asked.

"We've been here for 372 days," Patamon informed.

Lisa pouted as she tried to pry herself out of Rick's clutches. "You've haven't been gone two months. It's only the end of July."

Taichi frowned. "What happened?"

"Where's Catherine?" one of the Paris members questioned.

Hikari giggled sheepishly. "It's a long story, obviously. Mimi and Catherine are fine, they stayed behind to protect our home."

Holy Dramon had devolved down into Plotmon. "Hate being this young." She shook her head. "Anyway to sum things up. The angel and demon digimon were led into the war by one and the same digimon. We were able to reveal that everything was his fault and destroyed him over there about a month ago." She motioned toward the devastated landscape.

Ayashi let out a sigh of relief. "So the war is over."

"Hardly," Plotmon groused. "Decades of war and hate do not go away over night. The resulting ceasefire lasted three days. Attempts to negotiate peace has not gone smoothly."

"At least they're making attempts," Hikari added with a hopeful tone.

"So Xuanwumon is still sealed," Sora commented with dread.

"He is still sealed." Daisuke then smirked. "His high priest, however, is not and has the ability to switch souls. And it does work on humans."

Taichi's eyes widened. "You had it tested?!"

"I wanted to make sure it was safe," Hikari replied sheepishly.

Daisuke folded his arms. "And she's a pervert."

Hikari blushed. "DAISUKE!"

Sora glared death at the young couple. "Did not need to know that."

"So the power can be used more than once," Iori observed.

"It can be used once per day," Plotmon corrected. "It takes time to recharge it."

Iori nodded. "Good. Then there's something I want to suggest to Takeru and Daisuke. I still haven't come to a decision about this. I want to switch back now, so I can think about this as myself. Then in a week, before our memories begin to bleed, we will make our choice to live this way or the way we were born."

"I think that would be for the best," Takeru agreed.

Daisuke looked at Hikari, who nodded to him. "All right, but I doubt in a week I'll change my mind."

--