“Any news?” Carter asked as Hikaru entered the lab. “I took out a Flymon. We had no time to send it through the gate in the digital field.” Hikaru sighed as she sat down in one of Carter’s wicker chairs. “It’s happening all over again Carter. This time, in the real world.” “Uh huh,” he replied, busily typing at the keyboard, attention fully focused on the computer screen. He had shut out the conversation after the second or third word and was now working at emailing new profiles to Koushiro. Hikaru’s expression darkened as she marched over and kicked him in the ribs. “Damnit Carter, can’t you pay attention for once?!” Carter rubbed his side. “All right already,” he said cheerfully for a guy who just got kicked. “I contacted Bones. He said he’ll do some scans of the area tomorrow morning since he’s got a couple of free periods. But it’s strange,” he added, turning back to the computer. “There has been four digital fields opening. The one where you took care of that unknown digimon, the Tyrannomon, and the one at the school today was all at the same area. The school. The last one where Bones left that kid wasn’t too far away, only about a block or less.” “A point being?” she asked curiously. “Well... there must be something special about the location of the school. It could be anything but my guess is that it’s an old sacred Indian burial ground. Which means it’s a hotspot of ley lines.” Hikaru blinked at the explanation. “You’re actually using magical terms now?” “Energy is energy, either it’s from technology or magic,” Carter replied, wiggling his fingers in a magical gesture. “It’s like comparing the powers of a Q to the Enterprise D. They both function with energy.” “So what you’re saying is that we need to keep a close eye on the school. Bones isn’t going to like this. You realize he’s trying to get into classes at the U of A.” Carter made a snorting sound. “That’s almost two or three years more. He’s got plenty of time.” Hikaru then noticed something. “Where’s Penguinmon?” “Taking a bath.” On cue, the small penguin digimon walked in, wearing a bathrobe. Hikaru blinked. “Okay...” <><><> Digital Diaries : Adventures 2003 written by Shaun Garin Authorized by Lord Archive, set in his Digimon Series, Red Digivice Diaries/War Diaries <><><> File 05 : Typical Day Hikaru closed the door. “I’m home!” Her father poked his head out from the kitchen. “Hello Hikaru, supper is on the table.” “Thanks, I’m starved,” she replied. “Where’s Renamon?” “She’s cleaning up the living room. We made a deal; she helps with the cleaning, I work with the cooking, vacuuming and such.” Hikaru nodded as she hung up her school jacket. Entering the living room, she giggled at the sight of the fox digimon mashing the buttons on a Playstation Controller, a vicious smile on her face. “Okay loverboy, you’re going down!” A series of grunts as she moved wildly, jabbing buttons and rotating the analog switch. A moment later, Renamon groaned as she buried her face in her hands as the fighter on screen did a victory dance. “Aw man! And I was so close too!” Hikaru burst out into laughter as Renamon gave her a look. “What’s so funny?” “Ever since we bought the PS2, you’ve been playing DOA Hardcore for hours! Don’t you get tired of that?” Hikaru asked. “Not until I beat the final stage,” Renamon replied with a huff. “And he won’t last much longer. I’ll have his attack pattern all mapped out with a few more fights.” She then clenched her fist and smirked evilly. “Then I can get back to beating all the RPG’s we’ve bought over the past year!” Flames of triumph smoldered over her as she laughed evilly and loudly in the classic Naga the Serpent pose. Hikaru sweatdropped. “Um... okay. C’mon Renamon, supper is on the table.” “What are we having?” Renamon asked, turning off the game system with a toe. “Pasta.” Renamon smiled. “Yum.” The family sat around the table as they ate. Renamon, as per her digimon appetite, had eaten a heaping plate already and was digging in for more. Her father looked over at Hikaru and said, “So, how was school today?” “Fine actually, it was fun.” Hikaru took a drink of her milk. “Renamon said you had to fight again today,” her father remarked. Hikaru gagged and repressed her spit reflex at the comment. As she coughed, Renamon nodded. “It’s true. We had to save a girl from certain death.” Renamon said seriously. Mr. Ninomiya smiled. “Well, just keep on saving people and we’ll have to sign you up with a Global Response Unit.” He laughed as Hikaru rolled her eyes, Renamon giggling along with her father. Renamon took a final bite of her bread and leaned back in her chair. “Ah, a incredible meal as always dad.” “I’m glad you like it,” he replied cheerfully. Renamon got up, stretched and dumped her plate in the sink. “I’m gonna do some buttkicking. Wanna join me?” The father grinned, a glint coming to his eye. “You’re on!” As the pair retired to the living room, Hikaru sighed, holding her head in her hands. “My dad the cartoonist and Renamon the gamer. Why do I get stuck with the weird family?” Renamon poked her head back into the kitchen. “C’mon slowpoke, we’re gonna switch off against the loser!” Hikaru laughed. “Okay, okay. Lemme clean up in here first, and then we’ll battle.” Renamon grinned as she returned to the living room. Hikaru hummed to herself as she worked at cleaning up the dining room table. <><><> Diary entry - Second Week of April It’s not over. No matter how many times I see it in my dreams, no matter how many digimon we killed in order to save both worlds, I can still see every single digimon we destroyed in order to get to Pharaohmon. Every day was a life and death situation. It was either kill or be killed. We didn’t have much choice as Pharaohmon was sending digimon after digimon at us. Coupled with the fact that none of us knew how to get home, we had to see the mission through. But I still believe, after seeing God Dramon scatter Pharaohmon’s data to the four corners of reality, I still believe it’s not over. And that thought has been looming over my head for the last three and a half years. <><><> The Bakemon rushed forth... and exploded into data. Hikaru jerked awake, her pulse racing. She gasped for a moment before looking around. She was in her room, not the digital world. Renamon yawned from her own bed, opening one eye. “Hikaru, it’s late,” she whined softly. “And I need my sleep.” “Sorry Renamon. I’ll try to keep it down.” Renamon pulled her sheets over herself as she dozed back into dreamworld. Hikaru recomposed herself. ‘Why am I dreaming about my first kill again?’ she asked herself. ‘Is it because I killed Flymon yesterday?’ “Mmm... I can eat more...” Renamon turned over onto her stomach as Hikaru smiled at her. ‘She’s so peaceful looking. She’s the sister I never had, and I never want to see her get hurt.’ Hikaru sighed, something she felt she did a lot. ‘I need rest. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out everything.’ She laid down, pulling the blankets over herself. Closing her eyes, she went to sleep. <><><> “Morning Madison,” Hikaru chirped. Madison was a brunette with soft short tan hair done up in curls. She wore large round lens glasses and wore the standard school uniform. “Morning Hikaru,” Madison greeted. Hikaru sat down in her chair, opening her pack. “So, did I miss anything yesterday?” “Well... Mr. Jamieson did a lecture. I photocopied my notes for you.” As Hikaru took the notes, Madison sighed. “You really have to stop running off like that.” She pouted. “I missed my chance to film you!” Hikaru made a mental note to hide Madison’s camera. It wasn’t that she was dangerous or anything, but she had a habit of showing up when it was least expected. “Well, it was an emergency.” “Is your digimon with you?” Madison asked in a hushed tone. “Well, either Renamon is around on the grounds... or she slept in and is playing DOA at home,” Hikaru replied with a sweatdrop. “She’s trying to beat the final fighter.” “You have one fun loving digimon.” Hikaru nodded as she unpacked her math books. “Ugh, I hate math. It’s always the first thing in the morning.” “It’s not that bad,” Madison replied, unpacking her own books. Hikaru pouted. “That’s because you’re better at it, seeing your parents are both accountants.” “I just study.” Soon, the class started as Hikaru tried to pay attention. ‘I wonder if Renamon is getting into any mischief.’ If there was one thing that Renamon loved more than video games, sweets and manga was playing pranks and getting into serious mischief. <><><> Renamon counted the money she had saved up from the allowance Hikaru’s father had insisted on giving her. She smiled to herself as she had been instantly integrated into the family since she came to live with the family during the 02 invasion. Just another daughter and apparently, Mr. Ninomiya considered her worthy of an allowance. She looked into the store, dressed in her trenchcoat and fedora, her ears and tail hidden under both articles of clothing. “At last, I have enough money,” she said to herself, opening the door. The clerk looked up. He smiled to himself. The woman was a regular customer, if a bit weird. Her face was always shadowed in that coat of hers but was rather friendly. Renamon picked up a few items as she checked her money again. Then, heading over to the cash register, she laid out the items on the counter. “I’ll take these please.” “Sure thing miss.” The man rung up the items. “Okay that’s one Magic Knight Rayearth graphic novel, two tootsie bars and a package of pocky. That comes to $22.21 all together.” Renamon handed him a fifty. “Fifty, and here is your change. Have a nice day.” He smiled at her as Renamon nodded politely. She then picked up the bag as she thanked the store owner and walked out. <><><> Renamon crossed her legs as she read through the graphic novel while sitting on the bench in the park. A low giggle came from her throat every so often as she paged through the comic. Reaching into the bag, she pulled out the box of imported pocky and took out a stick to munch on. Just then, the nearby school bell rang for it’s lunch bell. “What do you know. Lunch time.” Her stomach growled. “Hmm...” Looking around, she located a Chinese food restaurant. Grinning, she noted the sign. “All you can eat for 5 dollars. That sounds like a challenge.” Quickly checking her left over she nodded to herself. “Still got some.” Entering the restaurant, she paid and quickly heaped up her plate, ignoring the stares that she drew. Taking up some chopsticks, she began to eat. The man at the counter blinked as he caught a glimpse of Renamon’s tail. “Hey, is it just me, or does she have a tail?” he asked his co-worker. “It must be you. You’ve been working too hard,” his co-worker replied. Across the street, a digimon sat in the trees, grimacing at the sight. “It’s disgusting. A digimon lowering itself to the standards of the humans. Hell, she’s even eating like a human! Argh, it makes me sick!” “Well, it takes one to know one,” a cultured voice remarked. The first one whirled around angrily. “I do not! I am much different from that stupid Renamon in the restaurant!” “Ah yes, the Renamon. Such a pity. She is a looker now is she?” The first digimon sputtered incoherently as the second raised its clawed hand. “Come forth digital field!” <><><> Renamon felt a flash of something seconds before the window caved in. Spinning around, a tusked Mammothmon trumpeted loudly, sticking its head inside the restaurant, sending people running and screaming for the exit. “Tundra Breath!” The freezing wind froze some people in place as Renamon dodged the wind by leaping behind an overturned table. Renamon cursed as threw away her trenchcoat and fedora as she crossed her arms. “Fox Leaf Arrowhead!” she cried, leaping over the table. The multitude of energy spikes shot forth, bouncing off the armored face of the Mammothmon. Renamon grimaced. “Hikaru, I need you!” she called out, seconds before she bodychecked the Mammothmon, forcing it out of the restaurant window. <><><> Hikaru’s digivice went off as she clamped a hand over it. The teacher looked up and asked, “Miss Ninomiya, is your watch going off?” “It’s mine,” Madison said, drawing attention to herself. “Sorry Mr. Jamieson.” Hikaru thought for a moment before she started to cough violently. “I don’t feel well sir. Can I go to the infirmary?” Mr. Jamieson sighed, turning around. “Do you need someone to take you there?” “I’ll do it,” Madison volunteered. As soon as the pair had reached the ground level, Hikaru whirled on Madison. “Madison, I need you to cover for me.” “Don’t I always? Be careful out there Hikaru.” Madison said. “I will.” Hikaru ran out of the building as Madison sighed. Hikaru ran, legs pumping. She soon came across the source of the disturbance. “A digital field.” Putting on her sunglasses, she ran inside it, only to get tackled by Renamon as a Tusk Strike raced over them. “Thanks Renamon.” “No problem.” Renamon got up, helping her to her feet. He’s a perfection level digimon Hikaru. I’ll need to evolve to Taomon to beat him.” “Then that’s what you’ll need.” She pulled out a crystal flower as she concentrated a large portion of her power into the crystal. “Renamon evolve!” Renamon exploded into light and a grid pattern as she resolved into the nine tailed digimon. “Kyubimon!” "Kyubimon super-evolve!" Kyubimon then leapt high into the air as she curled up, power building within her chest. Then, with a tremendous flare of energy, she stretched out her limbs, the limbs turning more human as clothing stretched out from her chest, covering her body. A black hat appeared on her head as she tilted it, cocking her thumb and finger shaped like a gun, winking as she landed on the ground. "Taomon!" Taomon raced forth, ducking another Tusk Strike as she hurled several wards at the Mammothmon. “Fox Seal Paper!” The wards adhered to the Mammothmon as it cried out, frozen in place. Hikaru raised her D3 and called out, “Digiport open!” The portal opened up behind the Mammothmon as she called out, “Taomon! Force it back!” “Buddhist Brush Brandish!” A energy strike slammed the Mammothmon back through the gates and into the frozen tundra that lay behind them. The gates disappeared and the fog lifted to reveal a large gaping hole in the restaurant, and some very confused defrosted citizens. Hikaru grabbed Taomon’s jacket and hat, hissing, “I’ll see you tonight. I’m supposed to be in the infirmary!” Taomon nodded and phased out, holding her jacket and hat. The two digimon watched from afar. The first one groaned. “Man, that chosen kid is gonna ruin everything!” “Yes it does seem that way,” the second said. “How can you be so calm?! All the times we’ve opened digital fields, they’ve been stopping our forces from entering the real world!” “Patience is a virtue,” the first on quoted wisely. “I hate waiting.” <><><> “So you don’t know where they came from?” Hikaru asked as Renamon lounged on the couch, reading her manga. “Not a clue,” Renamon replied. “I was just eating, minding my own business and pow! Mammothmon explodes through the window!” Hikaru sighed. “Just one more thing for Carter to add to the puzzle.” “I wouldn’t get too upset over it,” Renamon replied. “We can handle it.” “That’s the thing Renamon.” Renamon lowered her manga to look at her partner. “If there are so many chosen and digi-destined all over the world like Carter says, then why are we the only ones who are getting attacked? It’s strange, isn’t it.” “Think small, get big,” Renamon quoted. “Whoever is pulling strings will show up eventually. And when they do, POW! We’ll show em.” Hikaru had to smile at that. “You’re right. Just like that.” <><><> Diary Entry - Second Week of April I wish I had Renamon’s enthusiasm. She’s so carefree and yet, has a serious side which she displays in battle. I still believe it’s not over, considering the fact that we’re the only ones being attacked. Carter posted a message on the board describing the fields. No one else has ever seen a field before. We’re the only ones who have. Smaller things play off the bigger events. That does seem to be the point of this whole exercise. If there is something bigger coming, then we should be ready for it. <><><> Renamon’s Journal Hikaru worries too much. But I understand what she’s worrying about. Ever since leaving the digital world four years ago, she was trying to be a normal girl. It worked for the most part. But I could always see the lost parts of her innocence, floating around like some sort of fractured segments of her personality, like it was not a part of her anymore. Then, I came into her life again and we’ve been living together for almost half a year. She’s still a child, no matter how many times she kills. Her eyes and maturity may say she’s an adult, but beyond that, she’s still a child, just waiting to reclaim some lost childhood fun. I guess that’s why I goof off so much. I’m trying to live her childhood for her. But I wonder, is it the right thing to do? <><><> Authors notes : More character development. Whee. This was another important part of the story. If I didn’t show Hikaru and Renamon at their normal day, it would have made things a whole lot harder in the long run. Renamon likes to go out and shop. She wears a trenchcoat and fedora and is ignored most of the time. Much more relaxed and fun loving than the Renamon of Tamers. Coming next - Digital Adventures 2003 Episode 6 : Fallen Ice A digital field opens once again. But this time, the one who opened it cannot control the digimon he summoned as it holds a dear friend in peril.