Chapter 12: You've Always Been Like This...
Mimi's quiet reminder rippled through the clearing. The children blinked, their attention shifting from the lingering adrenaline of survival to the strange, colorful creatures resting at their feet. The realization settled over them like a warm blanket—these little monsters had thrown themselves into the jaws of that massive, terrifying Kuwagamon without a single moment of hesitation. The lingering dread in their chests finally began to thaw.
Of course, the transition from surviving a monster attack to bonding with magical creatures wasn't entirely smooth for everyone.
Take Sora and Biyomon, for instance.
"Sora! I'll definitely protect you forever and ever!"
"Ahaha... thank you, Biyomon."
Sora offered a strained, slightly awkward smile. The giant pink bird was currently nuzzling against her leg, clinging to her waist with the desperate affection of a lost toddler. Honestly, if Biyomon didn't have feathers and a beak, Sora might have genuinely believed she had suddenly become a mother. It was a jarring contrast. Just minutes ago, this same bird had been blasting green fire at a giant stag beetle. Now, she was acting like an oversized, overly affectionate plush toy.
Nearby, Joe was having a completely different crisis of faith. He pushed his glasses up his nose, staring down at the white, seal-like creature flopped casually on the grass.
"Just this little guy?" Joe muttered, his voice dripping with skepticism.
Gomamon's ears twitched. He immediately sat up, crossing his small, clawed flippers. "What do you mean, 'little guy'? Joe, are you looking down on me?"
"No, no, I didn't mean that—" Joe stammered, raising his hands defensively.
"Hmph! Good. It seems I'll just have to show you my special move. Prepare to be amazed by... Marching Fishes!"
Gomamon thrust a small paw into the air. A bizarre, bubbling sound echoed through the dense, dry forest. Suddenly, a school of brightly colored, tropical fish erupted from the underbrush, swimming effortlessly through the empty air as if the forest itself were an ocean.
"What!?" Joe's jaw dropped. He stared at the floating fish in utter disbelief. "Is this really Gomamon's special move?"
Gomamon puffed out his chest, lifting his chin with immense pride. "How about it? Impressive, right?"
Joe stared at the fish for another three seconds. His expression flattened. "...I really can't tell."
The absolute deadpan delivery instantly deflated Gomamon's pride. The seal Digimon scowled, opening his mouth to argue, but a calm voice cut through the clearing before he could snap back.
"Joe, I wouldn't underestimate Gomamon's skills if I were you."
Mizuki stepped forward, his boots crunching softly against the dirt. He held up a single finger, his tone carrying the measured weight of a seasoned strategist.
"Think about the utility. 'Marching Fishes' allows him to summon and control a school of fish out of thin air. Sure, it might lack raw, explosive attack power, but in specific situations, it's an absolute lifesaver." Mizuki gestured toward the distant edge of the cliff they had nearly fallen from. "For example, when Kuwagamon cornered you all earlier. If I hadn't intervened, your only option would have been a blind jump off that precipice. In a freefall, Gomamon's fish could have formed a cushion or a bridge to break your descent."
Joe blinked, the realization slowly dawning on his face.
"Not only that," Izzy chimed in, his quick mind instantly catching Mizuki's drift. "If Gomamon can control these fish, and they can manifest even in a dry forest environment, they would be perfect for reconnaissance. They could scout ahead or swarm an enemy's face to blind and harass them."
Hearing his abilities praised by not one, but two highly analytical humans, Gomamon's bruised ego instantly recovered. He puffed his chest out even further, shooting a smug, sideways glance at his partner.
"Look at me now, Joe!"
Joe sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in defeat. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're amazing, Gomamon. Forgive me, okay?"
He scooped the proud little seal into his arms, though his brow quickly furrowed again. He looked around the dry, dusty clearing. "By the way... there's absolutely no water source around here. Where exactly did those fish come from?"
Gomamon blinked, the smugness vanishing into pure confusion. "Even if you ask me something like that, I have absolutely no idea!"
"Maybe they originate from another dimension?" Izzy muttered, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "After all, we've already crossed over into an entirely different world. The laws of physics here are clearly different."
"Is that so?" Joe and Gomamon spoke in perfect unison. They stared at Mizuki and Izzy, a deep, almost reverent awe washing over them. These two were operating on a completely different intellectual wavelength.
As the rest of the children continued to bond with their new partners, Tai suddenly stiffened. He whipped his head around, his eyes scanning the group before locking onto Mizuki.
"Wait a second, Mizuki," Tai called out, his voice tight with sudden anxiety. "You said all of us DigiDestined would get a Digivice and a partner, right?"
"That's the general rule, yes."
"Then why is Kari still alone?" Tai pointed toward his younger sister. "She has a Digivice too, doesn't she?"
The clearing fell silent. Every eye turned toward the small girl standing near the edge of the group. Kari merely offered a soft, reassuring smile, shaking her head gently. She stepped closer to Tai, her body language making it clear she didn't mind the lack of a monster companion. For her, simply being by her brother's side was enough to keep the fear at bay.
Mizuki sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he recalled the convoluted mechanics of this world's underlying plot. "Regarding Kari's partner, Tai... is there a possibility that the entity who orchestrated all this simply... accidentally lost her partner?"
"Huh? Lost!?" Tai's voice cracked, his protective instincts flaring into outright anger. "What the hell is that guy doing?!"
The thought of his little sister being left defenseless in a hostile world made Tai's blood boil. "He's completely unreliable!"
The sentiment echoed silently among the rest of the children. Whoever had dragged them into this nightmare hadn't given them a single word of warning, no instructions, and had even managed to lose a little girl's protector. If Mizuki hadn't shown up when he did, they would all be dead at the bottom of a river right now.
Matt, who had been leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, let out a quiet breath. The lingering hostility and wariness in his eyes whenever he looked at Mizuki finally dissolved. Comparison really was the ultimate judge. Compared to the unseen, incompetent mastermind who threw them into a death trap, Mizuki was a saint. He had arrived in the nick of time, fought off a monster, and patiently guided them through the chaos.
Mizuki felt the collective weight of their grateful stares. He paused, reading the room, and let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.
"You're giving me too much credit," he said, his voice lowering to a calm, serious register. "I'm not as selfless as you think. The reason I stepped in to help you... is because I had something to gain from it."
"Something to gain?" Tai echoed, blinking in surprise.
"That's right." Mizuki turned his gaze toward the tall, imposing figure standing silently at his side. "It's about my partner, LadyDevimon."
The children's eyes shifted to the dark, winged Digimon. Despite her intimidating appearance, she stood perfectly still, her gaze fixed on Mizuki.
"During a brutal battle in the past, she suffered severe, lingering injuries," Mizuki explained, his tone softening with an undercurrent of deep affection. "To heal that kind of core damage, she requires a massive influx of pure data. And your Digivices happened to be the perfect source."
He didn't sugarcoat it, laying the truth bare before them.
"When your Digivices glowed earlier, they scattered a tremendous amount of residual data. BlackGatomon collected it. That energy was exactly what she needed to stabilize her physical condition and allow her to finally reclaim her Ultimate level strength." Mizuki offered a small, genuine smile. "So, rather than saying I'm helping you out of the goodness of my heart, it's more accurate to say I'm just repaying a debt."
"Mizu..."
LadyDevimon's voice was barely a whisper. Beneath her dark mask, a sharp pang of guilt twisted in her chest. Her crimson eyes lowered to the ground.
In her mind, the blame rested entirely on her own shoulders. If she hadn't been so arrogant, so careless back then, Devimon would never have found the opening to land that devastating sneak attack. Because of her weakness, Mizuki had been forced to rely on the strength of these human children. He had to scheme and calculate, all to fix her mistakes.
She was the one who met him first. She was supposed to be his sword, his protector. Yet, time and time again, he was the one taking care of her.
The thought made her sick with frustration. LadyDevimon's long, clawed fingers curled inward, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles popped.
Suddenly, a familiar, steady warmth enveloped her trembling hand.
She flinched slightly, looking down. Mizuki had closed the distance between them. His hand was wrapped firmly around her clenched fist, his thumb gently brushing against her pale skin.
She looked up, meeting his gaze.
'...'
There it was. That exact same look.
His eyes were impossibly gentle, carrying not a single ounce of blame or regret. It was a gaze that saw straight through her dark exterior, straight through her guilt, and offered nothing but absolute acceptance.
He was always like this. Silently bearing the weight, silently taking care of her. He understood her completely. He cherished her.
The dark, self-deprecating thoughts melted away, replaced by a fierce, burning devotion. I want to help you, she thought, her crimson eyes softening. More. More than anyone else.
Slowly, LadyDevimon uncurled her fists. She turned her hand over, her long fingers sliding against his, and intertwined them tightly. She held onto his warmth, refusing to ever let go.
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