Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Shepherd ❯ Chapter 1

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The Shepherd.

A Digimon-Sailormoon "what-if" crossover-fiction.

DISCLAIMER:

The The Digimon, the Digidestined, The Sailorsenshi and
their families (except for Kelly, Selena, Agamemnon, and Penelope ) are not
my property! They never were, and never will be.

The Digimon, the Digidestined, and their families are the property of
their creator, Miyoshi Houso, Toei Animation (in Japan), and Haim Saban
(in the USA).

The Sailorsenshi, their friends, and families are the Property of their
creator, Naoko Takeuchi, Kadansha Publishing and Toei Animation (in Japan),
and DiC (in USA) and CWI (in Canada).

NOTES:

Here are the "givens" in the actual Anime. In "Digimon",
Izumi Koushirou ("Izzy" in the English dubbing) is orphaned and adopted.
And in "Sailormoon", the parents of Mizuno Ami ("Amy" in the dubbing)
are divorced, and Ami lives with her mother.

I don't know if "Ayumi" is the actual name of Ami's mother
in Sailormoon or not, or if she's even named, but that's the name I've seen
in a previous fan-fic. So, that's her name, here !

shepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherd

Kelly's P.O.V.

I kept listening to the signal from the Tokyo radio-stations get
stronger as I neared my destination. I wasn't worried about getting lost.
After all, I was flying along the coast of Japan. Nor was I worried about
running out of fuel. The modified-PBY I flew was still working on the gas
I filled her up with in Petropovlovsk on the Kamchatkan coast.

I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Kelly Paul Graham, "Kelly P.",
the usually-evening disc-jockey of KNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. So, what am
I doing so far from home? Simple. I'm a shepherd, going after lost sheep.

About twenty-five years ago, while in college, I met and fell in love
with a Medical student from Tokyo, Mizuno Ayumi. After we graduated and she
started to work towards getting her American Citizenship, we decided to
marry.. some have said against my better judgement. And, within two years,
our union was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, whom Ayumi named after
her mother- "Ami".

Three years later, twins were added to our family, a boy named
"Koushirou" after one of Ayumi's maternal-uncles, and a girl, "Mimi",
named (I was told) after a maternal-aunt. Their middle names were left for
me to decide. Things seemed to go smoothely through six years of marriage.
Then, Ayumi, for some reason, decided to leave. After I fought to keep the
children with me, Ayumi agreed to shared-custody. Then, within the year,
she had moved back to Tokyo, with the children! Ami was old enough to
remember me, and I somehow knew we'd stay in touch. But Koushirou and Mimi
were a different story! The twins were only a year-old, and their hair was
as red as mine! That red hair would mark them both forever as half-breeds,
in a nation not exactly friendly to Gaijin. Ayumi, what the hell were you
thinking of?

As I thought, Ami and I were able to stay in touch, trading letters and
pictures, and later e-mails. But, the twins, as part of me feared, seemed to
be swallowed up by the Japanese earth ! After a while, Ayumi failed to
mention them in her letters. That is, when she wrote me.

However, two years after Ayumi stopped mentioning the twins, I received
a letter from her brother-in-law, Soun Izumi. In the letter, he hotly asked
me why I had turned my family aside, and let me know (to shame me, maybe?)
that he and his wife were caring for my son, since Ayumi had said she
"couldn't". After mailing Izumi-san copies of all the letters between Ayumi
and I, I thanked him for being kind enough to my son to raise him in a
family, and said I would help out however I could. And I have. Arigatou,
Kana-sama. No mention, however, was made of Mimi. And, my heart sank.

Looking back, I probably should have come to Japan earlier to retrieve
my children. After all, they are American-citizens by birth! However,
taking this step always seemed .. too hurtful. More to my children than to
me. And, early on, I felt a need to protect my children, no matter how it
made me feel. So, I remained Stateside. Until a piece of email came two
weeks ago. The title read "YOU ARE NEEDED!"

to:

Graham-sama.

You do not know me, but I am writing on behalf of your daughter and
twins. I have known your daughter for five years. And have recently met the
twins. Five years ago, you daughter saved my life. Now, I will start to
repay her by saving her heart.

Seven days from now, a friend of Ami-chan's with be seriously wounded
in battle. And Ami-chan will be revealed as Sailormercury of the Sailorsenshi.
And, her mother, upon learning the truth, shall disown her. She will need you
here.

You may ask how I know this. I am a Pre-Cognitive. Five years ago, the
enemies of Ami and her friends used me in their efforts to destroy the
Sailorsenshi. Thinking that this was my fate, I trapped myself into fighting
your daughter. It was Ami who taught me that what I see, although it will be
true, does not automatically guarantee a given outcome. So, now, I take what
I have seen as warnings! And, now, I am warning you for the sake of your
children. Please.. get here!

Uwada Ryu

It took one week for me to clear vacation-time with my boss, and another
three days to get the PBY readied for the trip to circle the North Pacific.
Then, it was flying time to Alaska, across the Aleutians, down Kamchatka and
the Kurils, and across Hokaiddo and southerly along the Honshu coast.

I take time to look up at Uwada's message, and the one picture I keep
of me, Ayumi, and the children. My eyes threaten to tear-up. The words of
an old country song start escaping my lips:

sovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovine

"With raindrops on my windshield, and teardrops on my steering wheel,
this lonely truck's the only thing I own.

"And in my heart I'm pining, while her old engine's whining,
with eighteen-wheels a-hummin' 'Home, Sweet Home'.

"I had a gal in Texas, she walked away and left us.
This old truck's the only thing I own.

"Sometimes I overwork her, but I never would desert her,
with eighteen-wheels a-hummin' 'Home, Sweet Home."

sovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovinesovine

I look back to the coastline. Don't worry, Ami, Koushirou, Mimi, I'm coming to
get you.

"Yokohama Seaport, this is PBY Tango-Delta-Fox-973 from Petropavlovsk!
Coming in from angle 0-2-0, I am requesting clearance to land."

"Tango-Delta-Fox-973, this is Yokohama Seaport! We have you on-screen. You
are cleared to land dockside! Welcome to Japan!"

"Arigato, Yokohama-base!"

Ami. Koushirou. Mimi. I'm coming.

Ryu's P.O.V.

I stand at the dock as his sea-plane coasts in. As the suddenly-silent
machine slows to a stop, I see the pilot step off the pantoon and on to the
pier. Even seeing him in my mind, I am unprepared for his size and the
seriousness in his face. He reminds me of a bear. I offer him my hand.
"Konnichi-wa, Graham-Sama! I am Uwada Ryu!"

The huge man, with a mixture of brownish-red and grey hairs, is taken
aback by my recognition, I am sure. But, to his credit, he recovers his senses
quickly. He offers me his hand.

"Arigatou, Uwada-san, for meeting me here! It has been a long time since I
have seen Japan. I am sure it has changed."

"It has changed, somewhat." I agree with him. "Twenty years is a long time."
"So," Graham-sama said with a slight smile and a higher tone of voice, "you
have done some research on me?"

"Hai." I respond apologeticallly. "I may predict futures, but, I cannot
understand them if watching outcomes is all I do! After I found out I would
meet the twins, Ami-chan's brother and sister, I decided to find out what I
could of their connection! I could not see all the future at once. I could
not see the link between Ami-chan and Koushirou and Mimi clearly for a year.
But, I felt there was an important connection. So, I started my research!"

"Hai." Graham-sama smiled even more. "You would make a good detective,
Uwada-sama!"

We then proceded to the Yokohama terminal.

After leaving the terimal, we take a train to Tokyo. Along the way, I
notice that Graham-sama is staring off into the distance, as if watching a
hidden scene.

"Are you alright, Sir?" I ask.

"Nani?" Graham-sama asks. "Gomen, Uwada-san! I was just.. remembering..
an old dream."

Kelly's P.O.V.

I stare off into space, remembering a dream of long ago:

I stand in what I can only guess is a throneroom. I look around me. The
decore reminds me of pictures I've seen of ancient Greek ruins. The thrones,
walls, and floor-mosaics seem Minoan. I had been wandering around the chamber,
almost in a daze, when I hear a commanding voice from the throne.

"Citizen Graham! We have a request of you!"

I turn around and start to speak, only to feel my words stick in my throat.
The King and Queen, for royalty I am sure they were, looked as if they
stepped forth from a Greek vase, or right out of Homer.

"I am Agammemnon," the King introduced himself, "my queen is Hyppolita."
They then bowed themselve toward me. "We must ask a special favor of you."

"Of me, Your Majesties?" I ask in a stunned voice.

"Yes, of you, Bard!" King Agammemnon answered. "Over a thousand years ago,
we lost our daughter, the Princess Ami of Mercury, to evil forces fighting
the ancient Kingdom of our Family of Planets. The Princess died upon your
moon, Earthman, defending the heiress to the throne of your Moon. But, the
last magicks of the Lunan Queen, Serenity, captured the spirits of her
daughter and her defenders and sent them into the great stream of Chronos
to live again. Our daughter's time has come, and we request a worthy
Fosterer to raise our daughter in love! Her way will be hard enough once
her fate is measured. Of this we know."

"Are you certain, Your Majesties?" I ask with a sudden stammer. "Of your
choice? I am just a humble teacher! I have not much to offer a princess."

"You have enough, Warrior-Bard." Agammemnon said.

"But, you must be warned, Mortal!" Queen Hyppolita cautioned. "Though you
have enough now, should you aid us, what you do have shall be taken away! For
a time." The queen then smiled toward me. "But, we will aide you where it is
allowed. Your son and daughter shall be safe."

"Thank you, your Majesty!" I bow as best I can. "I shall try my best!"
Then , what the queen says hits me like a splash of cold water. "A son? And..
daughter?"

"Yes, Warrior-Bard!" The King exclaimed. "Twins your wife shall bear you!
As payment for your kindness to us, and as companions for the Warrior-Princess
of the Waters!"

I bade the Monarchs a goodbye and politely withdrew myself. And then I
woke up.

As Ami, Koushirou, and Mimi grew the short time we were together, and after
Ayumi and I divorced and she returned to Japan, I often pondered that dream,
and it's implications.

"Are you well?" Uwada Ryu-san asked.

"Nani? Hai, Ryu-kun!" I reply, jolted back to reality. "Why do you ask?"

"You have been strangely silent ever since we exited the Yokohama terminus!" Ryu
replied. "Are you regretting coming here?"

Uwada looked at me with a bit of apprehension. He cares for my daughter.
I cannot help but like this young man.

"Regret, Uwada-san? A little." I answer honestly. "I do not regret anything
before now. I do not regret coming here to claim my children! I claim only
what is mine! But, I do regret .. how it will end. How it MUST end! Ami,
Koushirou, and Mimi will be hurt, more than they have been already!"

"Their hurt will pass, Graham-sama!" Ryu then turned away a little. "As for..
Ayumi-san..."

Yes. As for Ayumi-chan...

Soon, a taxi takes us into the Juuban District of Tokyo.

"So.. this is where Ami has found refuge!" I muse. "My daughter has friends
here?"

"Hai! Since the accident that sent her friend and leader to the hospital and
costs the Senshi their cover, Ami has found a welcome home with her leader's
family!" Ryu replies. "But, we do not go there, yet! We go to Hikawa Ginja."

"Ahhh!" I recognize the name. "A Shinto shrine? Perhaps associated with the
Sailorsenshi? Or one of them? The Senshi of Fire, mayhap?"

"You have done a bit of research!" Ryu turned toward me.

"A bit." I smile. I may not have done much else in college, but research was
always a favorite activity of mine!

As we make it up the steps to the Ginja, my mind goes through what seem to
be a million possibilities at once. It had been months since I received any
mail from Ami- perhaps as long as a year. A thought came through my mind:
would my daughter ( yes, MY daughter, not Agamemnon's) recognize me? Would
she want anything to do with me? Or will her mother's actions sour any feelings
she has for her human-parents?

Her human parents.. her human father. Yes, I know Agamemnon was her father
before I was. But, I am her father NOW ! And how DARE Ayumi mess that relation-
ship up ? And destroy any chance at a family Koushirou and Mimi
had! I still love her, but I may wind up breaking my wife's neck !!

To calm myself down, I reassuringly reach in my backpack for my Bible. I
may have family links to the land of Shinto, and may be fostering a
demi-goddess, but the faith of my fathers is still strong within me!

When Ryu-kun and I reach the gates of the Ginja, I ring the bells announcing our
arrival. Soon, we see the Shrine's caretaker approach.

"Konnichi-wa, Oniisan!" I bow to the old man, "May two weary travelers ask
the kindness of a place to rest?"

"Hai!" The old caretaker says. Than he recognizes Ryu-kun. "Ah! Uwada-san!
You are one of my grand-daughter's friends! She and her girlfriends are having a
study-session! Do you wish to see her? Or Ami-chan?"

The way he asked his questions, and the uncomfortable way young Uwada-san
takes it, leads me to believe the old man's a Hentai.

I just shake my head slowly and sigh. Ayumi always told me that was the
exact reason why she left Japan in the first place, vowing never to return!
That, and the fact Ayumi told me she had no close-relatives, always made me
wonder why she returned. Then, I heard from her sister and brother-in-law.
Live and learn, Kelly! Live and learn.

After the caretaker invited us in, Ryu-san and I looked about for a spot
to rest. After we saw an inviting tree, we sat down and enjoyed the afternoon
breezes. Then, I took out my Bible from my backpack. This was definitely not
a Christian church, or even a Jewish synagogue. However, I had felt a need
ever since I left Petropavlovsk to commune with my God. And I feel that need
even more now! Most of me was sure that I was doing the right thing by coming
to Japan, but a small part of me was worried of what the outcome might be-
how those I love would fare: Ami, Koushirou, and Ayumi. Yes. Even though she
walked out of my life, and took my children with her, I still love Ayumi. And
I know I always will.

I opened my Bible to the Book of Ecclesiastes:

"What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
"One One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh;
but the earth abideth for ever."

And, a couple of chapters down-

"To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
"A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck upthat which is planted;
"A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
"A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance".

I stop and ponder. When all is said and done, one's family is all God
gives you besides the days of your life. And my days have been long and lonely
without that other gift God gave me. It is right that I am here!

I wake from my contemplation just in time to see five girls exit one
of the Shrine buildings.I recognize Ami right away, but study the other four
to jog my memory of what I had learned earlier. So... these young women are
the Sailorsenshi !

I see the caretaker motion our way. Ami's grown into quite a young lady.
And quite helpful, too! The one she is helping to get around must be
Sailormoon.. buns, ponytails, and all! She looks just like her mother.

I've met her, lately, in my dreams. I can understand why Agammemnon and
Hyppolita show an interest in a broken-down disk-jockey. After all, we
share a daughter ! But why should Serenity show enough concern to talk
to me ? I soon found out:

I awake in a dream.. in some old ruins. It reminds me of pictures of
Medieval ruins in Britian. It seems the blackest of nights, but, oddly,
there is enough light for me to see by. I look up to view the sky through
the roofless ceiling, and see the bluish orb of the Earth.

"It is beautiful, is it not?"

I turn around swiftly to find the owner of the question standing about
two feet from me. She's a bueatiful woman who looks like she should come
up just to my chest. She wears her silver hair in two ponytails that seem to
just touch the floor. These tails seem to root themselves into a couple of
buns at the corners of her head.

"I am Serenity VII, of the Regia Lunaria! And, I can understand why my
daughter loves the Earth so much!"

"Hai." I speak gently: "Agammemnon and Hyppolita have told me much about
your daughter, Your Majesty. They say she has your gentleness. And, that
Princess Ami was- is- not only her protector, but also her friend. She,
obviuosly, has a great heart! Ami has received a gift most-precious!"

I see a small smile wash over Serenity's face. "Arigatou. It is my daughter who
has received the gift, Kelly-sama! Ami has been most-fortunate in who her family
is!"

"I hope so, Your Majesty!" I look sadly up to Earth. "I hope so."
"I will help reunite your family, as I am able." Serenity must see the
little-lost-puppy-look on my face. "It is the least I can do.. to repay your
kindness to the King and Queen of Mercury.. and to me".

"Konnichi-wa, honored visitor!" A voice wakes me from my memories.

I snap back to the present when I hear a young lady speak to me. I look
up to see the young lady who spoke to me, dressed is what I can only say are
the robes of a Shinto priestess.

And I see someone else.

And she sees me.

"Daddyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!"

shepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherd