Prolouge: Looking At The Past With A Looking Glass

 

                                                     ********************

 

Five Years Ago
 

"No!"  a small child with chestnut brown hair, cried out in despair as he lost yet another card game to another boy who had brown hair but wore a visor and yet another handful of his cards as well.

 
“Can we play again Kazu?” The brown haired child begged, more than a little eager at the chance to win some of his cards back. “Please?”

 

“Aw, come on Takato! That’s the third match I’ve won!” the boy known as Hirokazu protested. “Beside, you barely have any cards left!”

 

It was true, Takato had very few cards left, most of them being lost to Hirokazu in games, but he wanted to play, if Hirokazu and him battled just one last time, maybe he could win… Maybe get back his cards… Right now they sat in a small pile beside both Hirokazu and who was watching on the sidelines. “Please?” He asked again, “Just one more game?”

 

Hirokazu sighed, and shook his head, he may have been in Kindergarten, but he wasn’t as naïve as Takato. He knew that if he battled him again, that Takato would lose; he’d make sure of it. Takato was an amateur, really. He had no skill whatsoever when it came to the digimon card game, and it didn’t help that he acted more like a wimp than anything.

 

Usually, he would have usually jumped at the chance to win some more cards, but Takato had very few good ones left. That’s why he made his next bet, “Fine, Takato,” He spoke, a smirk planted on his face, “I’ll play you another game, but if I win, you give me ALL you cards, got it?”


To the side of Hirokazu sat another boy, he wore glasses and had green hair, and although he knew what would happen he said nothing. Sure he liked the card game, but he rarely played it. He had very few friends around here, and Takato and Hirokazu were the only ones that liked digimon. He would have played with them, but after a while the games were predictable. With Takato, he knew he could win, mostly because Takato was a poor player, and with Hirokazu… Well he had won a few games, but had learned that Hirokazu sometimes cheated if he didn’t like the way the game was going. He didn’t want to lose all his cards.

 

He prayed to the gods that Takato wasn’t stupid enough to accept this unfair bet. Sure Takato had very few good cards left, but his whole deck?! Even Takato should have been able to see it for the scam it was. Hirokazu hadn’t even told him what he’d get if he actually won!

 

Sadly, whatever gods were listening at this time of day, never replied.

 

“Fine!” Takato replied angrily, he may have been a little naïve, but even he knew Hirokazu was being unfair. “But this time, I’ll win!”

 

Hirokazu only smirked again.

 

Takato set his cards on the ground, and he watched as the other boy did the same.

 

Hirokazu’s first digimon was the ancient child dragon digimon; Veemon, Takato’s first digimon was the Pseudo-wolf digimon; Gabumon.

They both set their rookies down in front of them, and began to play...

 

                                             ******************************

 

It was raining now, and as Takato walked down the street, thunder boomed overhead. It was almost impossible to tell he was crying, as the rainwater dripping down his face mixed in with his tears.

 

He lost.

 

Still, he couldn’t believe it. He had been doing so well at first; winning the first two games they played, easily. It almost seemed as if Hirokazu was letting him win! But, he knew it have been too good to be true… Hirokazu had made a killer comeback, winning the next three games in a row. Takato no longer had his cards with him, because Hirokazu owned those now.

 

He tried to get them back of course, trying everything from begging him, to accusing him of cheating.  Hirokazu was angry with him, of course. He had called him a sore loser, and it didn’t help that Takato hated-

 

“Takato?”

 

He looked up sharply to see who had spoke. She had beautiful chestnut brown hair and wore a small green dress, to the boy named Takato she was one of his best friends in the whole wide world.... her name was Katou Juri.

 

“Oh, hi Juri-chan.” Juri could tell something was wrong. They might not have been best friends but she ALWAYS knew when something was wrong. She looked at him with a questioning glaze.

 

Even at age eight she was loving, caring, kind, sweet, and many other things that just made her, well, Juri.

 

He shook he head, tears still dripping down his face, “Don’t worry about it, it’s not important.”

 

She was soaked as she was, though she really didn’t seem to mind. 'A girl who loved the world and everything in it' Takato thought. She smiled, “Okay, but I wanna show you something.” She had something about her that told him she was excited. She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him behind her. “Come on!”  He didn’t reply, but just followed.

 

Finally she stopped, a store in front of both of them, and pointed at something in the window.

 

“Bark! Digivice!” Juri’s puppet spoke out for her. It was a toy digivice, obviously new in stock! And he goggled at it. “Whoa… Cool…” Takato spoke out loud. “How’d you find out about this Juri?” He turned to her.

 

She just shrugged, “I just saw it in the shop window one day.”

 

It was now his turn to grab her by the arm, and Takato pulled her into the store. Five minutes later, both of them were out again, and Takato held a  dark blue Digivice in his hand. It had cost a lot, but it was worth it.

 

He stared down at it. This Digivice wasn’t just some piece of plastic, as he had learned from the shop owner. This was meant for V.R. battles, or Virtual Reality battles, as he had found out. His new digimon was a Koromon, and as he had also learned, he gained levels every time he fought battles. Takato was determined to make him the best, no matter what it took. He clenched the toy tightly in his hand.

 

By the time Takato looked up, Juri was half way down the street. “Bye Takato-kun!” She called over her shoulder. “Bye!” Takato called back to her.

 

She sure knew how to cheer people up…

 

                                                                    *********************

 

For the next few weeks, Takato spent his time drawing (which was something he kept doing, even after getting the Digivice) and carried his Digivice around everywhere. Because it was new, it became popular with almost everyone at school, and some of the older kids, even tried to buy it off of him. But he wouldn’t sell it for anything. He fought battles with his Agumon (it had evolved just a little while ago), against other people at lunch hour, trained it during school time, when he was suppose to be listening to his teacher, and it even came to the point where Takato started playing it at the dinner table.

 

“Takato put that thing away!” His mother yelled at him. “I’ve told you three times already in the last week alone, I don’t want to see that thing at the dinner table!”

 

“But mom!” Takato protested.

 

His father jumped in. “What can it hurt honey? It’s just a toy!” He finished, trying to keep the peace in the family, and help out his son as well.

 

Unfortunately, this only worsened the situation. “Just a toy!? Takehiro, we’re eating dinner like a family, so we should at least act like a family!” She turned to Takato again, “Takato, put that toy in your pocket, until we’ve finished dinner.” She ordered.

 

Takato pouted, but agreed, slipping the Digivice into his pant pocket.

 

Dinner was quite, no one spoke, and Takato thought it better that way. Both of his parents were grumpy, he could tell that much, and he thought/hoped, that if he kept his mouth shut, dinner would pass quickly and he would be able to go upstairs and train Agumon.

 

Suddenly three small beeps came from Takato’s pocket, and both his mother, and father, looked up from their meal.

 

Slowly Takato reached into is pocket, and withdrew the Digivice. The colorful screen was flashing now, “Oh yeah!” He cried out happily, much to his parent’s annoyance. “He’s evolving! AGUMON EVOLVE TO GREYMON!” The screen flashed once more and a Greymon replaced the original Agumon that had been there before.

 

But it didn’t matter now; his mother had had enough of this. “Takato, go to your room.” Takato could tell from his mother’s soft, hard voice, and clenched teeth, that she was angry. Very angry.

 

Takato spoke almost as softly as his mother had, but this time, not from anger. “Yes mom.” He got up, ran up the stairs, and into his room.

                                                                 *****************************

In his room, Takato could still hear the voices of his parents.

 

He could hear his father, “What was that for?” He sounded calm, cool, collect, but to people who knew him well, this was a sign of him trying to hide his anger.

 

He could hear his mother as well, “What was that for….what was that for!?” “Takehiro, he needs to start growing up, and taking reasonability! He can’t keep acting like a little kid!”

 

His father spoke again, anger laced through his words now, “But he is a little kid, our little boy! We can’t just give that up so easily!”

 

“Takehiro,” Takato could hear his mother’s voice was softer now, “to me he will always be our little boy, always.” She repeated, “But he just needs to know right from wrong, it’s the key to growing up.”

 

The youngest of the Matsuda clan heard his father; Takehiro let out a deep sigh,. “Are we going to talk to him?”

 

“Yes,” He heard his mother; Mie reply, “You know we have too.”

 

Another sigh came from his father…. “Yes, I know.”
 
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Takato waited, where they going to come up and talk to him know? He hated long lectures, but he knew he couldn’t avoid it… His parents always tried to make sure he understood what he did wrong and that he wasn’t to do it again. He still didn’t like them though.

 

Still he waited, were they coming or not? Suddenly there was a sharp knock, and Takato guessed it was the front door.

 

He heard his father say, “I’ll get it.” And his mother didn’t reply. Maybe she nodded? He didn’t know.

 

The front door was opened, Takato knew that much, but wasn’t so sure of what happen next, as he stood, waiting by his door.

 

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Takehiro walked towards the front door, wondering who would be knocking on their door at this time of night. Really it wasn’t that late, but still, people knew that they should have been eating dinner around this time. He guessed it to be one of Takato’s friends, but ruled that out quickly.

 

For the last few weeks Takato’s small group of friends seemed to shrink even smaller. Juri was one of the few people now who even bothered to visit Takato, and he hadn’t heard from her in a while. Mie had heard that her mother had died, and he wondered if she had even bothered to tell Takato yet.

 

He put that thought into the back of his mind, he’d ask Mie about it later. Still… If it wasn’t one of Takato’s friends then who was it?

 

He opened the door, and was not expecting what he saw.

 

A tall, pale, man stood in front of him, his features hidden by the shadows of the night. Takehiro didn’t known why, but the man gave him the creeps.

 

“Takehiro?” Mie called from the kitchen, “Who is it?”

 

He didn’t get the chance to reply, when the man at the door spoke for him, “That is none of your concern.” He stated. “Matsuda Takato lives here does he not?”

 

Takehiro frowned, “Why do you ask? He’s not in trouble is he?”

 

The stranger put on a grin that sent shivers down Takehiro’s spine. “Oh, he is in trouble… Might I have a word with him?”

 

Mie had now stepped out of the kitchen, she seemed to get the same vibe off the man that he did, because she shook her head in protest.

 

He turned back to the man, “I’m sorry, he’s not home… Now if you don’t mind-” He was cut off by a swift blow to the gut.

 

The stranger proceeded to walk into the house.

 

Takehiro quickly recovered and got to his feet, grabbing the man by the shoulder. “What are you doing in my house? Answer me.”

 

The man turned, looking at him with an unfazed expression, a mask showing over his eyes, blond bangs on his forehead.

 

“Answer me!” He shouted this time.

 

“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, this is not of your concern!” With his last words, Takehiro was thrown into the wall. He did not attempt to get up.

 

Mie, who had been slowly edging towards the kitchen again, watched in horror as her husband hit the wall and then sank to the floor.

 

“Takehiro!” She ran towards him. She didn’t get very far.

 

A hand grasped itself around her neck. It felt like ice.

 

Despite her fears she forced her gaze up to see who was holding her... it was the stranger who threw her husband...

 

"Where is Matsuda Takato?"

 

She gasped for breath. “I don’t know!”

 

He tightened his grip on her neck. “You’re lying.”

 

Takehiro was now awake, and he groaned.

 

Mie’s eyes flickered from the man holding her, to her husband, and back again.

 

Both of them saw the moment.

 

                                                      ***********************

 

I heard something hit a wall downstairs, and hushed voice… Something wasn’t right... I could feel it in my bones. But what was going on down there?

 

Unconsciously I picked up my prototype card and stuffed it in my pocket. It had been something I had been working on for a while… A new digimon, I was planning on eventually sending it to the card company, but still hadn’t gotten the stamps to do so.

 

I slowly opened my bedroom door, watching from the top of the stairs.

 

The man looked from the one man on the floor, and then to the one he held by the neck. Was that mom? My eyes widened, and that was dad lying on the floor! I felt like crying but held back.

 

But no… That wasn’t a man… He was far to pale and- a digimon? Was he really a digimon? I tried to remember his name, I would have looked through my cards for his name but remembered I didn’t have them anymore…

 

Vamemon? Vedemon? Vamdemon! Takato remembered now, Hirokazu had once used that card before, and beaten Takato horribly with it. First he had used a Picodevimon, a child level that could have been easily beaten by Takato’s Shellmon. But then he had evolved it using a Win Ratio 70%, card to Vamdemon. Then the next turn he used a Power up on Vamdemon...Takato’s Shellmon had been toasted after being hit with the suped up ‘Air Raid’.

 

It was about to happen again by the looks of things.... He was about to lose everything to another Vamdemon....

 

                                           ********************************

 

Takehiro woke up, the pain of his entire body making him feel weak and almost sick to his stomach. But Mie’s neck was still being grasped by the stranger, he force himself upwards, his feet almost gave way from the dizziness he felt, but he leaned on the wall for support.

 

"LET GO OF HER" He shouted, yet the stranger ignored him only asking one question...  "Where is your child, tell me and I will let her go.... Don’t, and... You know what will happen."

 

A smirk appeared on the ghostly face of the Vamdemon as he watched the pathetic human try and decide... "I will give you five seconds to tell me or she will die.”

“5” He watched Takehiro in amusement.

“4” Takehiro didn’t know what to do!

“3” The seconds seemed to go by faster and faster.

“2” Vamdemon paused for a breath…

“1” The ghostly smirk was back.

 

*Snap*


Mie’s eyes were opened wide in shock, though she gazed at nothing...

 

Vamdemon let go of her and she fell.... Lifeless as a doll.

 

                                           ****************************

 

Vamdemon continued to smirk… He was listening for anything that would give up the location of the child…

 

Takehiro was shocked, it was like he couldn’t speak, couldn’t breath, he was completely lost in his own world…

 

With Takato… There was stunned silence. He didn’t cry… Tears just wouldn’t come. He wanted to hurt Vamdemon though… He wanted to hurt him so badly that he would scream in both terror and agony, and make up for what he had done to his mother. She still lay there, eyes wide open, dead.

 

But he couldn’t hurt Vamdemon… That’s what tore him apart the most… He couldn’t make him pay. Only because he was a kid… A helpless little kid… That’s when the tears finally came; they fell like the rain had just a few hours before. He just sat there and cried silently to himself…

 

That’s when a small sob escaped.

 

Vamdemon immediately locked his eyes on the small boy sitting by the stairs, his smirk bigger than before. He’d found his target. Takato looked up, tears still there, but fire in his eyes. He wouldn’t be afraid… He told himself. He wouldn’t be afraid… He whipped tears from his eyes, and Vamdemon watched him stand up, Digivice in hand.

 

                                                     ***************************

 

Takehiro saw what was happening.... He wouldn’t let Mie's death be in vain. With speed he never knew he had he threw himself in front of Vamdemon and Takato... He wouldn’t let that beast get his son...

 

Vamdemon only smirked "So you wish to throw you life away, fine by me... NIGHT RAID"

 

A wave of bats hit Takehiro, and suddenly it felt as if he was being ripped apart. Each bat started to devour him piece by piece. He was in incredible pain but he wouldn’t cry out... He wouldn’t run in fear.

 

Swatting some bats aside he tried to run at Vamdemon… His last thoughts, "I’m sorry Takato, I hope you can make it alone…" He was completely devoured before his first steps.

 

***********************

 

Vamdemon shook his head in amusement. “Such pathetic creatures you humans are… You’re weak, and burn with emotions most digimon have never even thought of, nor need, love, hope, light, dreams.” He frowned, before looking to Takato who was shaking with rage, and other suppressed emotions. He was smirking again. “Now to come what I came for.”

 

Takato stared back into Vamdemon’s face, tears were falling again, but he was glaring… With a look that promised pain.

 

He felt something inside him, bottled up like the anger he felt, he knew he couldn’t hold either of these things much longer so… He let it all go. That’s when a faint red aura began to form around Takato; it was what had been bottled up before. His anger, his hate, his thirst for revenge, his power. His hair suddenly turned a ghostly silver, and Takato was driven by instincts he never knew he had. The Digivice in one hand, he used to the other to reach into his pocket, and grabbed his prototype card, his Guilmon card.

 

The card seemed to have a mind of it’s own as it launched itself out of his hand and started to spiral, revolving around Takato, faster, and faster each time. But after it’s fifth rotation it suddenly stopped in front of him.

 

As he grew older, Takato would remember this moment, wondering how his power had come to him, and what it’s real purpose was, for good or evil. But at the time Takato cared about nothing other than his main goal, to destroy Vamdemon.

 

Suddenly his eyes flashed white, as did the card in front of him as it was bathed in the light. That when the bright light began to grow big, and the card seemed to expand and mold into something new. Afterwards both the glow of the card and Takato’s eyes died down, what was left in it’s place was a digimon…

 
The creature blinked as the light dimmed and his shape was revealed...

The first thing that came to mind when the light vanished from the creatures body was a dinosaur, because that’s exactly what he looked like. He was red in color, with a white belly that seemed to have the black marking of some unknown sign. He also had a black strip on each arm and leg, and one on his tail to match.


Takato knew the second the creature had emerged from the blinding light who it was... Guilmon. The only question he had was exactly HOW he got there.

 

He didn’t know how it had happened, and at the moment he didn’t care, all he wanted was Vamdemon gone. “Guilmon!” He shouted to his newfound partner. “Go!”


                                     ****************************


Unbeknownst him AND Guilmon, they were both were surrounded by a faint red aura. Guilmon seemed to sense both Takato’s hurt and anger, and used this to increase his power. With a ferocious growl he lunged at Vamdemon
 

Before, the Virus had watched in faint amusement and then slight worry as Takato released his rage, but now as Guilmon attacked Vamdemon was forced to defend himself, and shouted out, “BLOODY STREAM!”

 

Suddenly a sharp, red whip of crimson light came at Guilmon and slashed across his right eye. He cried out in pain as he was thrown backwards, and a large red cut lie where the attack had hit him.

Takato suddenly felt a small jolt of pain towards his own right eye but he ignored it and ran over to Guilmon, kneeling at his guardians side and looking at the deep, red, cut.

 

“Are you okay Guilmon?”

 

The digimon was already getting to his feet. “Fine, Takatomon.” He answered.

 

Takato wanted to ask Guilmon how he knew his name, and why he’d added the ‘mon’, but thought better of it.

 

“Guilmon?” He asked tentatively.

 

“Yeah?” He answered, cocking his head to one side.

 

The scared little kid was back again, “We can beat him right?”

 

“Of course,” Guilmon tried to comfort his partner. “But we have to work together.”

 

Takato stood as well, “I’ll do my best.”

 

Vamdemon smirked, “Very touching indeed,” He spoke with sarcasm. “But if you don’t mind I’d like to get on with this.”

 

“Fine by me!” Takato and Guilmon spoke in unison, now the aura around them had turned a dark blue.

 

“NIGHT RAID!”

 

Guilmon dove through the bats, and the ones that did come close to hitting him, flew away quickly to avoid hitting the blue aura, they seemed almost afraid of it. And Guilmon found it almost easy to get to Vamdemon, where he shouted, “FIRE BALL!” The attack hit Vamdemon directly in the stomach and was forced backwards.

 

Now different emotions appeared on his face, he looked almost afraid. Almost. He covered it up with another smirk. “Well it seems your powers are stronger than I originally thought…” He seemed to think about this for a moment, and both Takato and Guilmon watched him closely. “But, no matter” He finished. “I must leave, but I promise you I will return, and by that time I hope you will have learned to harness this power of yours.”

 

The anger was back with Takato now, “You’re not going anywhere! Get him Guilmon!”  Guilmon lunged at the spot where Vamdemon had been, but it was too late, he was gone…

 

The danger now passed, Takato seemed to lose his newfound strength, and he collapsed.

 

“Takatomon!” Guilmon ran to his fallen partner.

 

“Don’t worry about me…” Takato grunted as he pulled himself into a sitting position on the floor. “I’ll be just fine.” But no, as Takato looked around him, he knew he would not be fine…  His mother’s dead body still lay just outside the kitchen, and there was a small stain of blood where his father had last stood.

 

He could never be fine after this.

 

“Takatomon?”

 

Takato didn’t bother to ask what he wanted, “We’re leaving Guilmon.” He stated quietly. The tears were starting again, and he knew he had to leave this place.

 

“Huh?”

 

“We can’t stay here Guilmon. What if Vamdemon decides to come back? Besides even if he didn’t show up again they’d find you, and I don’t want that to happen. Now stay right here, okay?”

 

Not waiting for him to answer he ran up the stairs to grab some things. Taking his green backpack out of the closet he stuff a few things into it. An old sweater, a teddy, a picture of his parents, and… His Digivice. Doing this he noticed something he hadn’t before. The Digivice didn’t look like some toy anymore; it was real, just like the ones he’d seen on the TV show. But there was one small difference between the two… Instead of being a light blue, this Digivice was pitch black. He didn’t bother wondering about it, just shoving it in his backpack with the rest of his stuff.

 

He met Guilmon at the bottom of the stairs again. And avoiding glances at his mother who was still staring out into nothingness, he opened the front door; both Guilmon and him ready to leave this sight behind. They were going now, hopefully never to return.

 

Takato glanced into the house one last time before closing the door behind him. He dropped his bags and he turned around and bowed praying that his parents would find piece. Then Takato picked up the bags and began to walk away….

 

As he reached the end of the street he turned around one last time to look at his house\bakery….

 

 “Good-bye Mom, Good bye Dad” He whispered.

 
                                                  **************************

 

----Present Time---
 

Takato stared at the old house in front of him, Guilmon hiding in the shadows behind him. They were back, after five years they had finally gained the courage to come back… No, he corrected himself, I, gained the courage to come back. Guilmon had it to begin with, he wasn’t afraid of some dumb house.

 

Takato shook his head sadly, just looking at the house brought back memories, things he had tried to forget a long time ago and failed, now those memories were strengthened and it didn’t give Takato a good feeling. He wished he were anywhere but here at the moment.

 

Things had been relatively good the past five years, but he had a feeling that, that was all going to change. Sadly, for better or for worse, he didn’t know.


 
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  Home                                                                                                                                                             Chapter One