Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Shepherd ❯ Chapter 8

[ A - All Readers ]


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

Jyou's P.O.V.

"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?"

It was like watching our reunion with Arukenimon and Mummymon, again, only
the roles are reversed! It is Yamato's and Takeru's hahai and chichi who are
crying and needing support. And, I cannot say I blame them.

I do not what to know what I what have done had Gomamon died.

Soon, things are settled, again.. or, as Koushirou's and Mimi's father has
said, "For the time being." Yamato and Bare went into the kitchen and,
somehow, soon came out with drinks and snacks. Meanwhile, Graham-Sama and
Yamato's and Takeru's parents were discussing the Digital World.

"It seemed to me, even after we left," Natsumi said in a quivering voice,
"that the.. Digital realm.. always demanded a high-price.. from it's
visitors!"

"Hostages", Shigeru said bitterly, "are not visitors."

Takeru hung his head sadly at what his father had said.

I had to admit- at least to myself- Ishida-Sama was probably right! Even
though Gomamon is my best friend.. and even though the Digital-World brought
me my closest human-friendships.. I often felt we were trapped there! And..
only after we had defeated the Apokolimon.. were we allowed to leave! And,
then, we had to leave our Digimon.. our "shadows".. our "other selves" behind!
I always thought it was never fair! But, then, what in life is fair? We just
had to live through it.

Sure. We were later reunited.. and have not parted since. But still.. it
is just unfair.

I notice the Senshi are still quiet. Or, should I say, more quiet? I think
they are finally realising what Sailormoon already understood! The time for
wounding has come and gone. Let the time for healing begin.

Soon, we hear another knock at the door! And, shortly afterward, Sora is
in the protective arms of her mother!

Sora's P.O.V.

Even after we fought the Myotismon, and I realised how much my hahai really
loved and cared about me, I still saw my world as secure! Even when we were
told that we would never see our digimon again, I knew I still had hahai! Now,
as I stand here, trying to make sense of what I just heard, I realize that what
I thought was the safety of my world is fastly falling apart! And, I hang onto
hahai for dear life! I start crying and apologizing to hahai, although I am
sure everyone present must think I am bakayarou. But, I do not care,
anymore!

All this time.. I thought I was the only one hurting! I never thought of
hahai hurting! But, then, I guess she never let her hurt show. She must have
thought she had to be strong.. for me. Even though I love my ojisan, I always
felt.. alone.. because chichi was not there! And, now that I know why.. it
hurts even more! Thinking that I was abandoned because chichi did not love
me was bad enough! But.. knowing we were not together, because someone else
decided we must be apart? I feel like someone just stabbed me!

I look at hahai. Even through my own tears, I can see she is crying, also.
I hear her whisper one word.. a name:

"Gennai."

She knows.

Kami! I can't even think of how alone hahai must have been! First, with not
knowing where I was, and, then, knowing where I was! She must have been
frightened! Hahai often said I was the only family she had left in this world!
Now, I know what she meant. How she must have missed Gennai.. Chichi!
How I am beginning to hate the Digital World! I am glad that Byomon decided
to stay with me.. I NEVER want to return to that place!

"Hahai? Hold me? Onegai?"

Bara's P.O.V.

I Was helping Yamato in the kitchen when I heard crying in the meeting-room.
Even in tears, I recognized Sora's voice! As I look out into the room, I see
Sora trying to hide in the arms of her mother! As she continued to cry, I saw
her Digimon, Byomon, Mimi and Palmon, and Koushirou and Tentomon gather in a
protective ring around the daughter and mother.

I guess I was standing a bit too long to notice Yamato leave the kitchen,
because I saw him head out to his front-door after whispering to Takeru! Well,
my father always said I was a bit too inquisitive for my own good! That's how
I found out about the Digimon. So, I followed Yamato out to the hall of his
apartment and up the stairs!

I followed Yama-kun to the roof where I saw him sitting on the edge,
playing his harmonica rather mournfully.

"Hi" I said, walking cautiously onto
the roof. He stopped playing. I sat down next to him. "What are you doing?"
I asked.

"Thinking" He replied.

"About what?"

"Oh.. nothing"

Yeah, right. I've only seen him like this once in my lifetime and that was
when his parents divorced. "Something is... Takeru?... Taichi?...or... your
parents?"

He screeched to a halt on the harmonica.

I jumped! Yamato is loveable, and loving in his way, but her can be scary
at times! Often, without meaning to be.

"Nani-yo?" He asked.

"It is your parents." I slyly said.

"Not exactly.. but.. part of it" Yamato responded.

"So what is the other part?" I asked.

"I'm just scared I guess.." That was the first time I have heard him say
that- ever! I got a look of shock on my face.

"About?" I pried.

"Well.. just... What if I get married and I get a divorce like my parents
did." He practically said it at lightning speed.

"Just because your parents got a divorce, theres no guarantee that you
will! Your father and mother spoke as if they were under a curse? Well, maybe
it is. Maybe it was Fate. And, maybe, it is Fate for you to break that curse!
You have to run your life on what you believe." I flicked a piece of ebony
hair out of my face. "Anything else?" I asked.

"Iyaa...Arigatou nissai", He replied.

Yamato walked back inside. He rushed back out, picked up his harmonica
and kissed me lightly on the cheek. "Come on, Bara!" Then he rushed back in
again.

We went back to join the rest of the Dinner-Party.

When we got back to the apartment, I saw a large mountain of food in the
middle of the living-room floor! I have never, ever, seen such an amount of
food in my life! I doubt I could have imagined such a feast in Paradise!!

"Gomen nisai, Niisan!" Takeru grinned nervously when he saw Yamato and I.
"But, the table.. could not hold all the food?"

"Goshinpainaku, itouto!" Yamato smiled.

The circle of friends - the three groups of Digi-destineds - were talking
of their adventures and laughing.. a sure sign of Friendship, the most-precious
of God's gifts to man! There were a few tears among the smiles, truly, but
the Destineds were able to speak of joys and sorrows as never before!

Soon- don't ask me how- we had destroyed the mountain of food, and Mummymon
had asked Yamato if he could borrow his guitar! Soon, we were listening to the
most-beautiful voice I've heard- besides Yamato, of course- singing to the
saddest of Gypsie and Russian songs. I looked around. Koushirou's and Mimi's
father, Graham Kelly-Sama, Yamato's and Takeru's parents, and Sora's mother,
Takenouchi Michiko, were wearing smiles, even through their tears!

"Mummymon? Shigeru?" Kelly-Sama asked. "Would you two care to join a friend
in a troika?"

Soon, the apartment was living with the sounds of Russian folk-dances and
music! Yama-kun and I were soon cought up in the dance!!

It is good to have friends such as these!

Too soon.. the dinner was over.

Kelly's P.O.V.

After dinner, we walked Sora and Michiko back home to their flower-shop.
Michiko had offered us a drive back to Juuban, which everyone but Selena
accepted. My imouto said she's find her way back home. That worried me, but
I was in no mood to argue.. let alone fight. I had a feeling I'd have enough
of that tomorrow.

Besides, my children and I had decided to form a gaurd around the
Takenouchis. With Michiko still a bit upset from remembering Gennai, and Sora
concerned about Michiko, neither mother nor daughter was paying that much
attention to where they were going! And, well, I was told Odaiba seemed to
turn "unfriendly" at night.

I just wished Selena hadn't disappeared like she did!

As we managed to move closer to the flower-shop, Michiko and Sora seemed
to tense up. So did Odell and Annie. I started looking around, as did Katarzina,
not knowing quIte what to expect. Soon, Michiko answered my questions:

"Gomen.. nisai, Kelly-Niisan! Goshinpainaku! It is just.. ususally.. the
Gurentai are.. 'protecting' their territories at this hour.. and..."

"'Gangs of young toughs', eh?" I look at Michiko increduously. "And you
tell ME not to worry? Don't you remember that Gennai asked ME to watch over
you as long as I could, before we came back here? That's the ONLY reason I
was BAKA rnough to let Ayumi have her way and come BACK here!"

I saw Michiko wilt like a daisy.. and, immediately cursed myself for saying
something without thinking! Michiko is STILL missing Gennai too much to be
reminded of their seperation! They always seemed an odd-couple to me.. the
girl who talked about her family as if they were her anchors to life, and that
boy, who never mentioned having anyone to care about.. or who cared about
him.. back at home! But.. odd-couple though they seemed.. they always seemed
to fit together: He was her Samurai, she was his Tenshi. And, between them,
they seemed to have produced a Shigutenshi! It was she who spoke next:

"Goshinpainaku, Graham-Sama! We are together, now.. Hahai is safe!"

"That she is, Sora-chan!" I smile. "That she is."

"You do not know HOW safe, Graham-Daimyo!"

At the sound of the gruff voice, I can not help but grin! I am sure
Michiko heard it. She must have. I hear a slight gasp from Sora, probably from
recognition. I also hear similar gasps from Mimi Ann and Koushirou Odell. And,
I am sure, Ami Katarzina and Usagi are probably wondering what is going on!
I nod toward the gargoyle at the flower-shop's corner.

I'm sure this is why the Gurentai are not prowling tonight!

"Komban-wa, Ogremon." I bow respectfully. "Any.. Gurentai.. around here,
tonight?"

"Hai. We met. Demo- they do not stay around to talk heheheh!."

Hmmm.. I wonder why?

Suddenly, Michiko burst out of the trance she had to be in, for being so
quiet, and ran crying into the arms of the Orgemon!

"I have MISSED you so MUCH, Ogremon! I have been so scared.. for Sora..
for me.. for..." Michiko then broke-down and cried, shaking violently as
the years of loneliness and far took their toll.

"Hush, hush! I am here now, Michi-chan!" Ogremon softly cradled and
caressed his old partner. "Quiet.. all will be well. Gennai was finally able
to send me to watch over you.. and Sora! I.. am sure.. the Byomon would not
mind the help! He asked me to watch over you both.. since.. he cannot. His..
body.. has adjusted too well to the Digital World, he would not survive long
here. So, he asked me to come. Not that he HAD to ask heehee! I was ready
to fight The Leomon to come here.. to my family!"

I heard laughter escaping from Michiko and Sora, and I breathed a sigh of
relief. 'All will be well, Gennai!' I smiled. 'The hard part is over.'

"You will leave for Juuban, shortly, Kelly-kun!" Michiko bowed. "But, first,
let us have some tea!"

Soon, we were huddled in the kitchen, drinking home-grown green tea!
Even though they have little to spare, Michiko is a most-gracious hostess.
And the tea is superb! I have little doubt that the leaves for this drink
came from the best cared-for plant in all of Japan!!

"It is good to see friends again!" Michiko smiled. "How long will you stay
in Nippom, Kelly-san?"

"Just as long as it takes me to fill out the documents to get my children
back home, Michiko!" I reply. "And," I sigh, "to see if I can't get Selena out
of any trouble she may get into over here."

Wizardmon chuckled. He'd obviously been around my sister long enough to
understand my worries.

I could just picture Selena in some Japanese prison.

"Family is very important to you, Oniisan!" Michiko said as she held onto Sora
after refilling our teacups.

"When all is said and done, Michi-chan," I answer, "family is all we really
have!"

"Hai." Michiko grew silent for a minute, as if trying to choose her words.
"What of.. Ayumi?"

"Ayumi cut herself from this family when she disowned my children! If she
can take back my children, she can take me back." I said quietly. "The choice
is hers." I look up from my tea. "Michiko? Watch over her.. Ayumi.. when you
can! Onegai?"

"Hai." Michiko smiled. "Would you care for some coffee before you leave
for America? I remembered how much you drank of it in the Digital World!"

"Coffee? Hai.. Of course!!" I looked around. "You.. have some?"

"I grow a few trees.. for special times."

"Is there anything you can't grow, Michi-imouto?"

"Only what I will not grow.. Kelly-Daimyo!" Michiko bowed. "Come! We must
return you to Juuban!!"

As we entered the Juuban District of Tokyo, I became a bit.. uneasy!
It was, as if someone where watcing us.. or for us...

Wizardmon senced it, too.

"Michiko. Pull over." I lightly touched her shoulder. "I think we will
walk from here."

"Demo.. it is still ten kilometers from my house!"

"Hai.. I know. Tentomon? Palmon? Be an extra set of eyes and ears as the
children walk home!" Having said that, I- and Wizardmon- walk over to a lonely
tree on the side of the road.

As me neared the tree, I thought I.. felt.. a presence. There was no other
was to describe it, as it wasn't anything I really saw, heard, smelled, or
touched. And I couldn't have tasted it.. my mouth was like cotton!

Only one being ever made me this jumpy.

"Picodevimon! What are you doing here?! Last I heard.. you were dim-sum!!"

Behind me, I heard gasps of recognition. I figured, right there, that
Anne, Odell, and Sora were as surprised to see the Bowling Ball as I was!

"Do not remind me of that, Graham-Sama!" Picodevimon pleaded. "Onegai?
I STILL have nightmares from that time!"

"Alright, Pico!" I smile. "I will relent! Besides.. if you are back in the
World of the Living, that probably means you are here to try to keep your
Mistress safe. Although, protecting Mizuno Ayumi-san may proove tricky..
as she seems to have forgotten a few things..."

"So I have learned, Graham-Sama, after I saw my partner pass by here an
hour ago.. only to be followed, five minutes later, by a woman.. who looked
MUCH like you.. who was cursing Ayumi!"

"'A woman who looked much like me'?"

Hot- and cold-waves washed over my body as I saw visions of Japanese-
prisons pass before my eyes!

"SONOFABITCH!! Pico! In what direction did they go?!"

shepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherdshepherd