Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Shepherd ❯ Chapter 7

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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.

As we made it back to the street, the Digi-Destined spotted somebody.. well,
two "somebodies".

"Shimatte!" Takeru slowly hissed. "What are they doing here?!"

"Shikirenai!" Iori croaked out. "They are dead! We saw them distroyed!"

"Nani-yo?" Jyou managed to squeak out.

"They look even more lost than I am." I say, recognizing the pair.

"You know them, Papa?" Mimi Ann Asked.

"Hai. From the Digital World. I know them for Digimon."

"Naze?" Daisuke asked. "We know them, because we have had battles with them.
But, how would you know they are Digimon?"

"True, they don't look like Digimon!" I said. "But they DO look like a couple of
Digi-Destined I ounce knew."

The silence that falls on the group is thick enough to cut with a knife.

I walk on over to my Digimon-friends. "Konnichi-wa, Arukenimon! Konnichi-wa,
Mummymon! You both look like you could use a friend."

"K.. K.. Ke.. Kelly-kun?"

"Hai."

I take two suddenly-crying Digimon in my arms, as a ton of memories fill
my brain. Not only the faces they wore, but the way they moved and their voices
reminded me so much of Emmanuele and Victor.

When we finally crossed the street, I was fired at with many questions!

The number-one question seemed to run like this:

"How did The Arukenimon and The Mummymon become so human? We thought it was
a magical-spell"

Well, in a way, it was.

"The.. only way.. I can figure it," I tried to say, "Is that the bond between
Digimon and Digi-Destined is so strong that.. after.. Victor and Emmanuele were
killed, Arukenimon and Mummymon were reconfigured and took
on certain.. traits.. of Victor and Emmanuele! I guess.. we Destined and
'Mon shared so much.. some sort of remix was bound to happen.. if.. we.. ahh..."

Nothing more really needed saying. When I looked to the twins and their
friends and their Digimon, I saw Destined and 'Mon holding on to each other
for dear life! Most of the Destined, after awhile, eased up on the death-grips
and started looking at their 'Mons, as if inspecting themselves in a mirror!

"What are you seeing, Mimi?" Palmon asked in an uncertain tone.

"My imouto." I heard Mimi breathe out.

"Nani-yo, Kou.. Odell?" Tentomon asked.

"Just.. picturing something, Tentomon!" Koushirou Odell answered. "Hmm..
if you changed your eyes from green to black.."

"We'd have much the same face. Hai." I thought I heard the little insectoid
chuckle.

"Nani?" Odell (so easy to start calling my son by his middle name) asked.

"Hai. You've always wore that same questioning look on your face.. ever since we
met, I think." Tentomon lifted his head a bit.

My son hugged the bug-digimon like a life-preserver!

Kiddo Jyou and the Gomamon looked at each other for the longest time.

"Gomen nisai." Jyou smiled. "I do worry too much."

"Iyaa.." Gomamon grinned. "That's what makes you special, Jyou! You care!
Besides.. part of me has rubbed off on you! Hasn't it?"

"Hai." The two partners hugged.

Taichi climbed up into a tree for an abandoned bird's nest. Coming down,
he than placed the bird's next on top of the Agumon. Oh, Lord! But I had to
laugh at that!

"A perfect fit!" Taichi cried out.

"You think so?" Agumon smiled.

The two Partners hugged each other, laughing until they actually cried.

Suddenly, Veemon took the nest off Agumon's head.

"Hey! Give mean back my hair!"

"I will!" Veemon said. "I just need to see something!" He then turned the
nest upside-down and placed on his head.

Daisuke studied it a while, then smiled and gave the Veemon a thumb's-up!

The Patomon bent over to look Takeru in the eyes. Takeru then looked up at
his partner.

"You know, Takeru-san?" The Patomon squeaked. "We are already colored alot
alike!"

I thought I saw Ishida Yamato smile down a bit shyly at his Gabumon.

"You do look a bit like urufu!", Gabumon said.

"Coming from you, Kouyuu," Yamato smiled, "That is high-compliment!"

"I only ment it as such." Gabumon took his partner's hand.

"I always thought he lookED like urufu!" Keimei Bara-chan said with
a small smile.

I watched as Yamato turned a sunset-red!

"Yamato-kare!" Taichi and Augumon slyly hissed out.

Bara-chan tried to hide her own blush.

"At least Keimei-chan has more manners and grace to Jun-chan!" Sora
said just under her breath.

"That really shouldn't be hard to do, though, Sora-chan!" The Byomon
said.

The Gatomon suddenly pulled the tips of Hikari's hair up and out.
"Nani-yo, Gatomon?" Hikari asked.

"Just wondering what I would look like," Gatomon answered, "with brown tips."
Destined and Mon hugged. A natural pose, I thought, and one you couldn't
break with a crowbar!

"What are you looking at, Hawkmon?" Miyako asked.

"Nani?" The Hawkmon asked, startled out of his thoughts. "Ah! Gomen nisai,
Mi-chan! I was just.. wondering how I would look.. in violet! Of course, it
would not be a complete copy."

"Iyaa, it.. NANI??" This time, it was Miyako's turn to be startled! But, to
her credit- I hope- she recovered quickly enough, huggging the eagle-digimon
tightly.

Ken just stood there, Wormon in his arms protectively. Somehow, I got the
feeling that if anything had happened to Ichijouji-Sama in the Digital World,
if death ha claimed him there, Wormon would have been reconfigured perfectly
into the Ichijouji-mold!

And I think the same thing of another silent-pair. Hida Iori and Armadimon
do seem more alike the more I look at them- shadows of each other.

"A bit like us?" I look down at Wizardmon who just spoke. And, I smile.

Yeah, alot like us!

Our group having grown by two, we went on down to the market. Since I seem
to be the reason for the market-detoure, I tell Yamato to just buy however-much
he thinks he'll need and I'll buy it. Then, I double the amount of everything he
buys! Hey! I know some things he doesn't. I know how my sister and I can eat!
And- well- Katarzina warned me of Usagi.

As we exit the market, to the gaping mouths of several Digi-Destined,
I heard Katarzina speaking:

"Daddy? Aunt Selena? We have company."

I handed some bags to Selena so I can see what might be worrying my daughter,
and I see them. I recognized three of the girls as being from Hikawa Jinji with
my daughter and Usagi. The other four woman I do not recognize.. althought the
looks on some of their faces tells me I may not really want to meet them!

Usagi starts off the introductions.

"Kelly-san? You have already met Aino Minako, Hino Rei, and Kino Makoto?
And these are Tomoe Hotaru, Ten'ou Haruka and Kaioh Michiru, and Meioh
Setsuna!"

"Konnichi-wa, Senshi!" I smile and bow.

"SAILORVENUS!!" Bara squealed.. and dive-bombed Minako in about three
seconds! "I am you GREATEST fan!!"

"So!" Amanda said. "They are Sailorsenshi, too?"

"Hai." Katarzina sighed. Somehow, I got a feeling my daughter wasn't wanting
this to happen.

"How do they know about us?" Tem'ou-.. chan?.. seemed to growl out.

Then, there was Kaioh Michiru.

Usaully, I don't instantly dislike people. It's not a nice feeling. But,
this woman was able to set-off my "hate"-button! And all she had to do was
STAND THERE ! She just stood there, looking at us as if we'd just committed
capitol-murder or high-treason.

Real-friendly bunch, these older Senshi! I suddenly found myself wanting
to take them with me on the way back home and drop them out over the middle
of the Pacific!

"Ami-chan! Are you really going to leave us?" Makoto asked in a disbelieving
tone (much like the one I used for weeks after Ayumi left), "You cannot
leave us! I cannot allow you to leave us!"

"I cannot leave?" Ami blinked in shock, "You won't allow it? When did
Usagi die and leave you in charge?"

"Well, I.. errrrr.." I thought I heard the voice of a Yuri in the spotlights.
"what I mean is.. ahh..."

"Senshi hood-ornament!" Selena giggled out in a whisper.

"Yeah", I nodded.

"Well," Rei said apologetically, "you are our brains, Ami-chan!"

"Arigatou, Rei-chan!" Ami said trying to smoothe things over. "But, I have
family in America I have not seen in long time!"

"What about your family, here?" Minako asked, after she dis-entangled
herself from the twisted-pile that was herself and Bara-chan.

The next sound I heard, my children in perfect unison, shattered my heart.

"What family here?"

Minako looked like she was about to say something, when Bara-chan spoke:

"I feel.. Sailorvenus.. that you should hold your tongue", Bara-chan spoke
just loud enough that I barely heard her, "until you have heard the entire
story."

Wise-girl, this Keimei Bara-san! Aino Minako should listen to her. Heck..
ALL the Senshi should listen to her!

"Us, Ami-chan..", Usagi said worriedly, "I think that's who Minako means."

"Hai..", my daughter cried. "I know who they mean, Usagi. But.. YOU have
seen haw I have been the past week! Shingo told me you he thought my Hahai
sounded cold! And, you have just met my Ojisan! I want.. I NEED.. to be with
my Chichi.. for a little while?"

"For how LONG, Ami-chan?" Makoto asked.

"I.. do not know.. Makoto. I do not know."

Before war broke out between America and Japan again, I turned back to
Ishida Yamato. "Yama-san! Do you think we can make lunch stretch out to feed
seven more people?"

"Can that be eight more people?" A man's voice seemed to come from in back
of us.

"Hai?" Yamato said quizzically. "We have enough. Who are you?"

"Watashi wa Chiba Mamoru!" A young man with a tuxedo, cape, tophat, cane, and two
more grocery-sacks said. "I am a friend of Usagi-chan's!"

"You are welcomed to come along, then, Chiba-Sama!" Yamato said.

"Arigatou!" Chiba-Sama said as he handed Usagi an apple.

"Then it is settled!" Usagi said, grinning. "And, you will be on your best
behavior!" Usagi looked at the Outersenshi, "Or else."

"'Or else..'?" Michiru asked.

"I let Ami-chan's Chichi have his wish granted!" CRUNCH!

Did the Princess just read my mind?

Our group now added to by eight, we start heading toward the Ishida-apartment.

Mimi's P.O.V.

As we start to walk again to Yama-kun's apartment, I step closer to my Father.
My Chichi, I had often wondered about him. My life had not been the living-Hell
that my brother's was.. or, my Aneue's.. and, for that, I thank whatever God
has watched over me! Yuriko-obaasan and Akikaze-otoosan have always been
protective and encouraging to me! Somtimes, I thought, too protective! But
then, there have been others. It has always been easy for me to be picked-out
by others.. and picked-upon. As Koushirou.. 'ODELL'.. says of himself, I bear
the mark of Gaijin. That has made me an easy target! Although the remarks
were always made under someone's breath, and the snickers were low, I still
heard them. And they hurt! I have tried, many times, to hide the hurt.. from
my family and friends.. but it is so hard. And so tiring.

Just before we went into the Digital-World the first time, I remembered
receiving the torn photograph that I now know came from my aneue! That is
why I carried my laptop with me.. though, unlike Kou.. Odell's Pineapple,
few of the other's saw mine.. except for Odell.

Chin.. I am starting to think of my brother and I as Gaijin, but it is hard to get
used to our names! "Anne" .. it means "kohitsuji", I think! Okashii.. I have never
thought of myself as kohitsuji.. I have never been wabi.. binbouyuguri.. have I?

Anyway.. Odell.. and me were finally able to compare our pictures between the
fights and losing each other! I saw him staring at the image of a torn photograph
on the Pineaple's screen, and was shocked to realize how much like mine it was!
After that time, we spent every possible minute looking over our puzzle, and
trying to figure out who sent it to us!

Even in the Digital-World, among friends, we were picked on.. a little. But, I
guess we did spend too much tine in front of the Pineapple! But, the teasing would
get to us.. Taichi-teinousha always trying to see what we were talking about.. and
almost damaging the Pineapple in the process! Then, hearing the Reckless-Wonder
calling us "Hentai" who found "dirty pictures" to look at while we were supposed
to fight got to be too much! Odell and me hid our treasure.. while I tried to calm
myself enough to keep from punching Kamiya-kun out! Fortunately, that did not
last long time.

When we left for America- my obasan, otoosan, and me- I thought we eould meet
Chichi! But we never did. Whoever was watching over us kept us away from Chichi!
But, Kou.. Odell and me kept in touch.And, now, here we are.. my chichi, brother,
aneue, and me! I am glad we are together.. it, somehow, makes the hurts of the
past run away!

Soon, we are at Yama-kun's apartment.

"Make yourselves comfortable!" Yamato said.

Soon, Yamato and Takeru were in the kitchen. We were ready to help with the
preparation, but Yama-kun and Takeru ordered everyone out of the cooking-area.
So, we started trying to make ourselves comfortable! I have never thought of myself
as being Ninjou.. that is, empathic.. but I somehow felt that "comfortable", was
the last thing we would be! Ever since meeting the other Sailorsenshi at the
market, I could see that my aneue was upset. What they commanded.. What they
DEMANDED.. of her was something they should not even have ASKED! I look to
Makoto-Sama.. with nothing but contempt! If she hurts ane like that again.. she
will find the price VERY high!

I then look to the other reason for the tension in the room, Arukenimon and
Mummymon! Takeru, Hikari, and the younger-Digi-Destined know these Digimon
better than I. And, they are showing more than a little suspision! But.. my chichi
knows these two better than any of us.. and his eyes hold a sadness.. and his gentle
touch speaks more than any kind words could ever say! How much has Papa seen?
How much had hurt him?

The next words that catch my ear hurt me.. as much as they hurt Ami Katherine,
if she heard them.. and send me into a rage:

"Maybe it would be best for everyone concerned if Setsuna mind-wiped the whole
bunch, Michiru?"

"Hai. Then, we could get back to what all of us should be doing, Haruka. The
Crystal Millenium needs the Princess, and the Princess needs Mercury."

I turn around reflexively, just to see tears form in Katherine's eyes. She had
heard.

I spin around to the two I heard speaking. "Yoshi! Docchi Haruka? Docchi
Michiru?"

"Tadaima. I am Haruka." The short-haired blonde said.

"I am Michiru." her sea-haired partner said.

"Domo arigatou." I bowed..

Then, I kicked.

Thud!!

Thump!!

Haruka lay jack-knifed on the floor from where I threw my heel into her
stomache, just below her diaphragm! Michiru was lying over Haruka, trying to
get a breath of air after I kicked all of her's out of her lungs! With any
luck, I broke a few ribs, too!

"NANI-YO??" Makoto screeched, then came after me with claws bared. "NOBODY
treats the SENSHI that way!!"

"I just did, Senshi!" I spoke low, going into a stance that would best receive
the tall girl's charge. "If you want some of the same, hitogoroshi, I would
suggest we go outside." I was set to put her on the floor, HARD, when what I
had just called her hit her harder than my body could have!

"'Hitogo..ro..shi'?"

I motion toward my niisan. "You would help Haruka and Michiru condemn my
sister to death!! For, she would have died. You are no better than they! Keiri!"

I take a look at my friends. The Digimon and the Destined are stunned..
except for Kou.. Odell. Even Palmon seems to be shocked! Then I look to
Arukenimon and Mummymon. They are in tears. Usagi-chan is looking after
Katherine.

"Gomen." I whisper through beginning tears. "I..."

"Goshinpainuko, Mimi-Sama!" I look up.

Hida Iori-kun stands up straight, his face set-firm. He wears a look more-
serious than I remember his having since I have met him. When he next speaks,
the words come out measured, as if he is trying desperately to hold something
back!

"I must speak."

Iori's's P.O.V.

I can not believe what I am hearing! I don't want to believe it! From all
I have ever heard of them, the Sailorsenshi were supposed to fight for justice!
But.. what I, and Ami and Mimi, and probably everyone else in the room, has just
heard is possible the biggest INJUSTICE anyone's ever thought of doing!
I act in the only I can right now.

"I must speak. Sailorsenshi! It is not my place to pass judgement on you.. I
leave that to Sailormoon! BUT! What some of you have just spoken of doing would
cause MUCH more HARM than good! We have heard you mention wiping our minds of
these memories! I am sure that can be done. But, it would be foolish to do so!
It is true that then, as you say, you can 'get back' to what you 'should be
doing'. Hai. And.. This Crystal Millenium you have mentioned, I am certain,
is a wonderful place, if Usagi-chan is part of it! And, I am also sure, that
Usagi-chan will have need of Graham Ami-Sama! BUT! What sort of a Ami-Sama will
Usagi have use of? Will she be a happy, healthy Ami, who can be filled with
light and love and can help to spread these gifts? Or will she be wounded and
bleeding, dark, filled with only pain, and the questions of what could have been?"

I gesture toward a crying Ami, in the arms of her chichi and Usagi. Then,
I probably put myself in harm's way with my next action.. but it feels only
natural to need to get in front of the opposition! I step in front of Haruka
and Michiru.

"Only you can answer that!"

Jyou's P.O.V.

No wonder Iori was chosen the next Digi-Destined of Reliability!
I look toward The two Senshi, Ten'ou-Sama and Kaioh-Sama! Kaioh Michiru-
san looked as if she is in shock.. as if someone had splashed her with
ice-water..

and Ten'ou Haruka looks rather uncomfortable! Maybe, even, a bit ill.
I look to Mimi.. Anne.. who is shaking more than a little now. She worries
for her Niisan! That I can tell. "Anne"- a simple name- and lovely! Much like
Mimi Anne herself! She is "Sincerity"! She does not hide things well.. but,
then, she does not try to! I am glad she chose me to love.. if only, now, for
a little while! I must be there.. for her. I WILL be there for her!

"You speak with great passion, little one," Kaioh-Sama begins to answer
condenscendingly to Hida-san, "but you do not know of what you speak.
We would never.."

"Do not lie to him, Michiru!" Usagi-Sama seems suddenly aggitated!

"But.. Hime..", Michiru sputters. "we are only.."

"Doing as we have always done.." The Princess answers, "but no more!"

"Not if you expect to LIVE to the 'Crystal Millenium'!" Arukenimon spoke.
Then, I notice that she had shifted back to her Digimon-form!

"And what can YOU DO, Kaijuu?!" Haruka asked contemptuously.

"Have you ever been bitten by a spider, Ten'ou-Sama?" Graham-Sama asked-
as I suddenly felt a queasiness. "The bite is a corrosive-poison. It liquifies the
insides of a spider's prey.. makes it easier to digest. When I was in the
Digital-World, and Arukenimon was on our side, that is just what her
'Vemon-Mist' did! It would start to DISSOLVE our enemies! She was Kamikaze
to our friends.."

"And a living-nightmare to our enemies!" A voice from the front-hallway said,
"So! You should ask yourself this, Senshi.. 'Which one am I?'!"

"CHICHI!" Yamato and Takeru cried out. We are all older, but- I would swear
on-oath that I hear and see the last four years years roll away from Takeru and
Yamato!

"Konnichi-wa, Shigeru!" Graham-sama smiled and shook Ishida-Sama's hand.
"It is good to see you again!"

"As it gladdens my heart to see you, Oniisan!" Ishida-Sama hugged Graham-
Sama tightly. "You are here to gather your joji to you?"
"Hai." Graham-Sama replied. "The washi are not quite ready to leave the nest..
I shall be with them.. for them.. until they are."

"It makes me breathe easier to hear someone will be!" A woman's voice called
out."Ayumi has proven herself kuraimake!"

Takaishi Natsumi-san then looked around the room, surprised and ashamed at
speaking in such a manner in front of Ayumi's husband and children. "Gomen
nisai!" Takaishi-Sama hung her head and whispered. "I should not have spoken
in such a way!"

"It has been said before..", Graham-sama sighed, "many times. With good reason."

"You better damned-well BELIEVE 'With good reason'! Mizuno Ayumi was NEVER
worthy of the title of 'Mother'!" Graham-sama's Imouto spat out.

"Shigeru? Natsumi?" Graham-sama made the introductions. "This is my Imouto,
Selena Graham!" Graham-Sama then continued with introducing the Senshi-
in-between commentary by Ishida-Sama and Selena-san!

Then he came to Arukenimon and Mummymon.

"And, I think you may remember Mummymon and Arukenimon?"

shepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherd