SPOILERS!!!!
FRAGMENTS/END OF TSURU HIGH TIMELINE!!!!
Various bits... some have been aired before, I think, but I'll include them for context.
Everything copyright 2002 Sameshima Shuzumi.
Except for the Tamers, their 'mon, and concepts.
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The black object in his hand was something Henry hadn't seen in years.
Grimly, Janyuu closed his fist over the D-arc. "I found it in your room. I assume it's yours."
Jenrya crossed the room in a heartbeat. He put his hands on the device. "It's not mine."
"But... why did it emerge here? For us to find it?"
Jen forced himself not to look at Ryo. "Maybe my room's a weak spot in reality, since Terriermon bio-emerged from there. Here, you try."
As Ryo took the device, Janyuu frowned at the table. "How do you know it's not yours?"
"I just do. Besides, it's not green."
"Don't think this is mine either." Ryo gave it back to Jen.
"Really?" Jen exchanged looks with his lover. So it wasn't time for him to go. Yet.
"We have to find out who it belongs to."
"Wait a minute! Where are you going? That should be turned in to Hypnos."
Jenrya was pushing Ryo towards the door, the D-arc firmly in his grasp. Ryo almost looked apologetic. Jenrya turned to his father, gesturing to Ryo to keep moving. "Dad. What will they do with it? Take it apart? Trust us."
~~~~~
"I know what this is." Ryo's fingers ran over the engravings on the device.
"You do? I mean, hey of course you do-"
"'Kazu!" Juri squeezed around Takato.
"Well what is it, hotshot?" Ruki said, leaning back.
Ryo closed his eyes. "Give me a second." When he opened them, he began to punch the D-arc's controls, even though there was no power.
"Ah... is it supposed to not do anything?" Takato peered at the lifeless screen.
"Power of belief, Takato," Ryo murmured, deep in concentration... or recollection.
The D-arc sprang to life. "Wooohoo!" "Sugoi, Ryo." "Why is it doing that?"
Ryo turned in the office chair to show them. The compass arrows were spiraling in opposite directions, one slightly faster than a clock's second hand, the other slower. It occurred to Lee that the thing was thoroughly lost.
"This is not a normal D-arc," Ryo said. "I'm not sure what to call it, but I remember what it's used for. It's kind of an invitation."
"To what?" Ruki said.
"To one's destiny."
Lee shot up. "I thought you said it wasn't yours!" The others were startled.
Ryo waved him down. "It's not. I just recognize it. It's a summoning from the Digimon Gods to the one child worthy to take on their greatest adversary."
"Whaaat? Are you saying that Tamer has to go up against Apocalymon or something?" 'Kazu was on the edge of his seat.
"Nope." Ryo twirled the device in his hand, a glum smile on his face. "Whoever gets this isn't a Tamer. Or Digidestined. They'll switch digimon whenever they need to, but they'll never have a real partner."
Lee's eyes were on the eerie rotation of the arrows. "Ryo, wouldn't their enemy be Millenniumon?"
"It was that way for me every time. Who knows, maybe it's something new."
"So... it's not any of us?" said Takato.
Juri shook her head. "We all have designated partners. We can't get another one."
Ryo frowned. "What bothers me is that there's no contact from a digimon, or one of the gods, or even Gennai. They can't be expecting this kid to go in completely blind."
"Maybe they've already met the digimon and they've lost the D-arc," Ruki said.
"Maybe." He flipped through the arrows. "Show me the digimon coordinated with this device's owner."
The familiar round analysis screen popped up. With a cry Ruki was on her feet. "No!"
Dobermon. Champion Vaccine, Beast type. Special attacks: Grau Realm / Schwarz Strahl.
The arrows continued to spin in opposite directions.
~~~~~
"Ryo..."
He turned to Lee, wondering at the growing alarm coming from his love. "What..."
"Your eyes are changing color," Lee said evenly.
Ryo got up and snapped the window shade up. Reflected in against the Shinjuku skyline, he watched his brilliant blue irises smoking into rich brown. "I... I don't know. I think it used to be... like this..."
"What's happening, Ryo."
He turned his unearthly gaze on Lee, jaw working. He didn't know.
