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Ryan:

"Cosa?" I asked, forgetting I was speaking in Italian while speaking to him. (What?)

He cocked an eye and looked confused. I saw the look of anxiety in his eyes that mixed with the confusion. It made him look like a little boy who had just gotten lost in a supermarket, scared out of his mind. I was scared myself, well, actually horrified but basically it's the same thing.

Just worse.

I rubbed my eyes again to make sure I wasn't seeing things, which usually I didn't do unless I knew something just didn't add up in my vision. When I looked again, nothing had changed at all. He had the same look on his face, the same golden skin that gleamed off of his body, and even a green 'V' on his forehead. I was still inside the gym, at school, standing near the middle of the basketball court with the worst confused look on my face anybody could ever see.

I wanted to drop dead right there and not even care about life anymore. I felt like flipping a table, because that's what a regular person would do, right? Just flip a table out of either anger or confusion, right?

That wasn't normal?

I gripped the Digivice as tightly as I possibly could. It felt hard as steel but still as light as a regular sized cell phone. The screen hummed to life to a bright blue color while tiny numbers lined themselves along the screen and made their way down. The metal bracers were still on my arms with the same insignia with an eagle design on the top and across the metal. Surprisingly, it didn't seem to weight down my arm at all, it felt as light as a feather. The crest on my hand was exactly like the one on my bracer but had a little more detail to it, and if I had some paper I could draw it out.

Nothing had changed, and that was what scared me. I had zoned out once again and failed to notice the Veemon try to speak to me again.

"Hello?" he asked in a low, whisper-like voice. "Are you my partner?"

I looked at him blankly, what face should I give him? The same look he gave me? I had no clue! This was the golden Digimon for crying out loud! And I was the one paired with him? Me? Out of all the other strong and good-looking teens in the world, I was the one chosen to be his partner? This felt like a cruel joke that wasn't getting any funnier at all.

It was seriously starting to scare me.

My lips and throat felt dry as I try to speak. "Um...uh...I...think so." I said, studdering a little, trying to find the words. Was this what it felt like for a guy to ask a girl out? Problem was, I wasn't asking someone out, I was talking to my partner.

"Your name is...Ryan, right?" he asked, rubbing his hands over each other in a shaky manner.

I was a little shocked that he knew my name already since I hadn't even said my name in the past two minutes that I stood there. I nodded and tried to wet my lips and clear my throat, but even after that I still found it hard to speak.

I nodded. "Uh...yes?"

"My...my name is Jason, and I'm your new partner," he said, looking away while his tentacle ears laid themselves down on his head.

I felt bad for the guy, mainly because I felt like I was acting like a jerk to him. I but my tongue and sighed so softy he couldn't hear me. He was confused like me, scared like me, and was nervous like me. At least we shared something in common right out of the bat.

Still, I felt stiff.

"Um...hello, Jason," I greeted, trying not to sound like a jerk. "You're sure you're my partner?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm positive."

Great, I thought to myself.

Before out conversation went on, the entire bleachers erupted in a mass of chattering, pointing, and yelling. You can only guess who was on the topic of late now. Moi. Well, Jason and I. They didn't leave their seats but I could hearr my name bounced around a few times in a heap of gossip and chatter. I felt my cheeks go red as I clenched my fists tightly, I knew Jason was just as red as I was since I could see him rubbing his arm while looking away. Maybe he knew already what was wrong, that or he was just too shy or nervous to even wonder. I knew he didn't like it, and I was with him on that. Even the students and their partners began to whisper right next to us like we couldn't hear them already. I wanted to tell each and every one of them to shut up and forget about the whole subject until I could get things sorted out.

That would have to wait sadly.

The principle and her partner began to walk towards us, which had shut the students up in the bleachers like the blowhorn in the lunchroom. The echo of her high heels on the hard floor made it even more scary as she soon stood in front of us and told us to follow her to the office. I gulped and I felt Jason's hand grab onto mine, he felt like a little kid who didn't want to leave his mommy. I couldn't blame him either, he was newly born and he didn't understand a few things. Plus, he wasn't the only one. I could see students with their new Digimon holding their hands like they were scared as well of the principle.

Well, at least that was normal for a little kid actually.

We followed her and her Lalamon to her office a few steps behind them. Jason held onto my hand and followed me along as I led him. I looked back a few times as he looked around the school as we walked, from the way he looked he had that kid-in-a-candy-store expression for every new thing he saw. He seemed to brighten up a little from all of it, I didn't see that nervous expression I had seen earlier but I knew he was hiding it away just to look a little better.

Once we were at the front of the school, inside her office, she shut the door softly behind us. I felt like we were about to be interrogated for a crime we didn't comit. Well, unless you call getting paired with the most valued Digimon on the planet a crime, then I might have actually commited it.

Okay, I did comit that crime actually.

Her office was dimly lit with only one lamp but it showed us what the rest of the place looked like. She had a regular sized oak desk with some papers, folders, a computer, and a few filing cabinets placed along it. She had a name plate on the front of her desk that red Principle Carli.Well, at least I knew what to call her now. I saw a painting on the wall that showed a sailboat sailing through some pretty large waves that had someone's signature on the front, but I couldn't make out what it was. She had two cushioned seats placed in front of her desk, most likely for her students that came to her office. She had brown carpeted flooring with a dark green welcome mat.

She took a seat while her partner floated around her with her eyes focused on us. We took a seat in her chairs and sat there in silence for a few minutes. I could hear the ticking of the clock easily and it just made me more nervous. I had a feeling Jason was slumped backwards in his seat, trying to look away from the principle but found it hard since her glare was on the both of us at the same time.

Weirdo.

I finally decided to break the tension around the four of us after reaching the five-minute mark. It was just too quiet even though I was used to it, but I wasn't surrounded by people who were or weren't looking at me.

"Okay, why are Jason and I here?" I asked, crossing my arms.

She looked at me first. "Because, we must discuss your position now. You and...Jason, as his name is, are now the most important people on the planet--,"

"Clearly," I added, rolling my eyes.

"--and now you're expected to head into the army and support our troops in their fight against the Shadows," she finished, giving me a stern look from rolling my eyes.

The Shadows...they gave me the creeps whenever they came on the news. In case I forgot to mention this but, yes, we're on a losing war. The Shadows are an all-powerful force of black skinned Digimon who work under Queen Shadow Ophanimon and King Shadow Seraphimon. They're relentless, sacrificial, bold, extremely powerful, and absolutely love to see bloodshed on us.

Let me explain why they hate us so much. It started around 300 years ago during after the first president was elected to office. He had two body guards--the King and the Queen, they served to be his personal guardians and protecters. Well, eventually they soured and turned rougue. They believed that Digimon were being slaved off by humans, which that wasn't the case. Digimon were free like birds and no one used them as slaves. When Christopher Columbus came to what was later known as America, he encountered the Digimon and Native Americans that lived here. The Digimon were said to be living here for around 200 years prior to the events of the New World. They also fought in the American Revolutionary War and helped us win it with clever tactics and weapons. They also helped intimidate the English Crown and force the fleets away in numbers. We had them to thank for our independence and they became a part of our daily lives. Some of them came to live with people that colonized the first states.

This is where the King and Queen come into play. Digimon were free and never slaved off, yeah, we got that, but they didn't seem to get it. They were said to be harsh to the president and ill-tempered. Eventually, they cracked and turned into brutal murderers, killing the first president in his office. The people and Digimon didn't take lightly to that, they were set to be executed but however they weren't, not even close. They fled with parting words for our forefathers that sent chills down my spine.

_ "We will have our vengence one day! All of you humans will die!"_ the King was said to have shouted before disappearing into a black vortex and disappear with his Queen and few Digimon followers.

You can only guess how that ended up turning into an all out world war three hundred years later. They kept true to their word all right and we were paying the price.

The first contry to feel the sting of their war was China--Bejing to be precise. We had established the G.M.A.F and had the world and all it's cities connected through many chains. Luckily, our technology was able to advance quickly and we were stationed all over the planet and kept the peace. Well, our Bejing bases went silent one day and some Japan teams were sent to investigate and soon to find out they had found half the city in ruin with the streets littered with dead bodies ranging from soldiers to women to children. They soon encountered heavy resistance from the first Shadow forces on the planet, only one soldier survived and made it back to the Japan home base to relay the imformation to the rest of the bases on the planet.

They soon found out that more cities around the globe hadn't checked in with the rest of the bases. We soon got visual's of the tragic events that were happening in over a dozen places at the same time. People were being gunned down in the streets, soldiers were being torn apart, and buildings were crumbling to the ground. Countries like lower Asia and the east of Russia were falling to the Shadow forces. Fifteen years later, things only got worse from there. Russia was now almost fully under control of the Shadows, all of lower Asia had been taken by them, Japan was in a losing ground war and air war but they were holding onto their land to make sure the Shadows didn't make it past our boarders. A few countries in Europe were in the fight like Germany and Hungary, Africa was losing badly and it was only a matter of time until they reached the Americas. All that stood between them and us were Japan and Europe.

They were that close to us...but we were still far from their reach. Luckily our navy kept them at bay as well, thankfully they were pretty good shots. They, Europe, Japan, and the G.M.A.F forces scattered throughout the wolf were the only reason America was still standing.

Okay...I think I covered the war, the golden Digimon thing, and my problem. Fianlly, on with the story.

"Ryan?" Principle Carli asked me.

I had zoned out right aftert you explained to me my position now. I was too busy explaining things to even hear what she was talking about.

"Huh?" I siad plainly. "Oh, right. The army."

Her partner nodded. "Yes, once you two leave our office we will have to make a call to the G.M.A.F in Europe and have them send a squad to come pick you up for extraction."

I sighed and slumped back into my seat like Jason, who was staying surprsingly quiet the whole time. I expected him to have a hundred questions, with answers I didn't even have on me.

"I understand," I lied to them. "I know."

Truth be told, I didn't want to leave school to fight in a war. Um, exactly who did want to fight in this war honestly? No one really had a choice or say in the matter since it was either them or the planet.

"Then you must understand that you now have to fight for us," her partner explained. "Look, I understand how you must feel right now. Scared, confused, nervous--I understand it all. But you two don't have a choice not to do this. You have to do this, it's the only way we might actually win this. I'm sorry, truly I am. Sending a young man into a war with only a golden Digimon by his side seems crazy but I'm pretty sure the world has seen crazy."

That was an understatement.

I held up my hand. "I get it, I know. You don't have to leacture me on something that I know a lot about."

Principle Carli nodded. "Yes, I've read your files. I'm sorry to hear about your family, you know, losing them to the war that is. It must be hard just being an orphan, but I take it that it has made you stronger as a person, dealing with people that alienate you from regular people."

I nodded. "I've taken strength from that and made it into my own power."

"That's good."

I bit my lip. Maybe this wasn't exactly a bad thing that happened. I mean, my whole family fought in the war. Maybe it made sense that I should as well. Would I even last as long as my father? Or my mother? They surpassed everyone else, if I was even the slightest bit lucky (even though I wasn't lucky at all) then maybe I would make it through a month, give or take a week...or two.

We got into a ten minute discussion on a few things, Jason saying very little to nothing at all at certain times. I think he felt out of place during this whole ordeal. He just stayed as quiet as a mouse and sat there patiently with barely any imput. He must've felt like an outsider, and I could sympathize with him. I felt bad, maybe I wasn't acting like a jerk now but I was acting like a terrible partner to him by not giving him enough attention now. Great, I had to guess that he really hated me or just didn't know how to talk to me because I've barely talked to him.

Then, I remembered something.

"Principle Carli?" I asked. "Aren't new partner Digimon supposed to go to a certain class to quickly learn about, um, certain things?"

She gasped and covered her mouth. "Oh, yes! Shoot! The class is called P.D.U 101, its in room 021! He should be there already!"

Suddenly, Jason sat forward. "I...think I can find my way there. Thank you very much, miss." He quickly stood up from his seat and made his way out but not before turning around and speaking again. "I'll...wait for you after school, Ryan."

With that, he left.

Once my visit to Principle Carli's office was done, I was allowed to go back to my classes. Well, actually go to lunch really. She kept me in her office for nearly an hour, asking me all sorts of weird and personal questions. I made sure to keep a few things too secret for her to hear. When I got to lunch, I tried to sit beside my friends, who sat with their newly unified partners. Well, tried at least. Jason had found me on the way and stayed close by as we made our way, once inside the room conversations died so quickly it felt like I had just entered a graveyard. We grabbed our lunches and made our way over to my friend's table where they ahd two seats already saved for us. Good, right? Wrong. The lunchroom was nearly quiet, save for the sound of students eating their lunches and occasional glaces made towards us. I felt like a million people were staring at us and I knew they were whispering crap behind my back, thinking I didn't even notice them or their talking.

Idiots.

At least I sat next to Alexander and his new partner Kuros--a Kudamon who wrapped himself around Alexander's neck like a scarf. They and the rest of the table were the only ones that didn't seem to be giving me strange looks, just whisper me questions about Jason and I. At least they told me, unlike the rest of the school behind my back. Jason seemed to be getting better with speech, for he was talking more than he did an hour ago. Whenever someone asked him something, he answered them best he could but still sounding shy and unsure of himself. Some of the girls found it cute and adorable since their partners acted the same way but Jason was more shy than they acted but I was glad for the guy that he was actually talking and not just sitting their quiet and lifeless, acting as if he didn't want to be here.

I was glad Alexander was here with his partner, else I'm sure I would've lost my mind to craziness. Kuros was just like Alexander in every way possible--reasuring, smart, easy going, calm, cool, collected, quick thinking, and nice. He was the only one who could seem to get Jason to speak whenever Jason himself wasn't listening when someone was trying to get his attention.

Once the bell sounded, I had to separate from Jason since he had his own P.D.U classes and I had my own to deal with. The day passed by quickly for some reason, maybe it was just my paranoia or something.

Or maybe I was turning into the Mad Hatter.

I turned in all my work, sat through some boring (weirdly quiet) classes, and wondered why the day was slipping away. I knew I was getting weird looks from across the room from the other students in the classroom. I could guess a few things they were staring at: my bracers that I couldn't seem to get off, the new tattoo on my hand, and the fact that I was partnered with the only golden Digimon in the world and now we were both destined to save our world.

Take your pick, I'm sure any one of the three are right.

I was kinda glad and kinda sad at the end of the day. Reasons being was because this would be my last day of school until I joined the military. Second reason, the reason I was happy, was because I wouldn't get any weird looks from others anymore this day...well, until I get to the orphanage that is.

Crap...I forgot about the orphanage. Nicholas...Robyn...they're sure to flip a table or blow a gasket after hearing that I had been partnered to Jason. Nicholas would, no doubt, cry himself to death and I would have to find some way to soothe him over and keep him from crying himself to death. Robyn might be a little harder, she loved me like an older brother and I treated her like my little sister back...I'm sure she would cry like Nicholas and beg me not to go.

Not like I had a choice.

Once the last bell rang, I nearly jumoed out of my seat but I remained composed and fast-walked out of the room, darting my eyes from one door to the next trying to find Jason so we could leave. I was accompanied by Alexander and Kuros who walked next to me, though I was soon joined by Thomas who stayed really close to me and rubbed his arm and shot me glances from the side of his face. I was glad it was just us, not a huge group (though I did need them at times) with the rest of the others.

I worried a little bit, he usually met me outside my classes, but how I knew he knew my classes was beyond me. But he was usually at my classes after each one, however he wasn't outside my last class. It had me a little worried.

And I had every reason to be.

"What's going on ahead?" Kuros asked while directing onward towards the end of the hallway, towards the crowd of students.

I gulped. "How about...we go and find out?" I asked them, hoping that it was just another stupid fight between two guys who loved the same girl of something along those stupid lines.

We walked on, me a little quicker than the others. I gulped and squeezed myself through the crowd of students. I pushed them out of the way gently just to see what was going on. My heart sunk like the Titanic once I saw what was going on.

Connor and his partner, an Impmon, were pushing Jason around like he was a new kid who was their new play toy. I saw them laughing at him as he tried to run away, only to be grabbed by his tail and pulled away from the crowd of the students. I was able to see a few tears streaming from his eyes as he sobbed.

I balled my fists and felt my anger return to me after a long time of being dormant for a long time. I gritted my teeth and pushed the few students in front of me out of the way then stormed towards Connor and his partner.

He was too busy pushing Jason around to even notice me. I tapped his shoulder, which finally got his attention. He stopped pushing and said something that I couldn't hear before turning around to meet my face. Right after we made eye contact, I pulled my fist back but only to thrust it forward, connecting it against his face which caused him to fall to the ground with a thud. I stood there with my jaw clenched and my fist still balled, watching as I saw a thin trail of blood fall from Connor's nose. He looked dazed and completely out of it, which gave me the perfect opportunity to grab Jason and pull him along the hallway in the opposite direction that led out the school.

I was followed by Alexander and Kuros with Thomas behind me. I gripped Jason's wrist tightly but not so tight it hurt him. From behind me, I could hear some shouting and some yelling, followed by my name and some angry strudents charging at me. I gulped and sighed, running as fast as I could, pushing the double doors outward while running down the pathway towards the buses. Thankfully, I knew that they were about to depart in the next few seconds so I had a little time left to get on.

I jumped on the bus with Jason, Thomas and Alexander and Kuros right behind us. We looked out the windows to see the group of students--mainly Connor and his partner surrounded by his goonies and their partners flipping me the bird before storming off back to the school. I knew I had just pissed off the richest guy in the entire school and that might come back to bite me in the butt later, but right now I didn't care about anythinf related to Connor.

My priority was Jason.

The bus driver began to drive on as I set Jason in a leather seat, he sniffled and had his eyes closed. I could tell he had been crying because he didn't want to make eye contact with me, and I couldn't blame for not wanting to. I wanted to beat Connor and his partner into a coma for making Jason feel this way but I really wanted to tell those students, who stood around them and egged them on, off.

"Jason?" I asked him while kneeling. "You okay, man?"

He barely made contact with me before shaking his head. "No...those two guys hurt me."

I sighed and rubbed his arm. "I'm sorry to hear that, Jason. Those two hate me to death but why do they hate you?"

I heard him gulp as he looked at me for the first time. I knew it, his eyes were red and he looked like he had just been crying. Alexander, Kuros and Thomas sat in seats near us to hear Jason out.

"Well..." he began. "His partner, who was named Henry, and I had the same class together. He sat beside me and was pushing me around even during class. He started calling me names like 'outsider' or 'freak' or 'golden abomination'. Even during class he shoved me in the back, called me those stupid names, and made me feel like a total loser." He paused and sighed. "Once class was over, I was leaving when he pushed me out in the hallway. I was really mad and pushed him back, but I pushed him against the lockers and made him hit his head.

"Things only went worse from there, I'm afriad. His partner was closeby and saw me push him. I think that made both of them mad--,"

"You think?" I cut him off.

"--and his partner came up from behind me and held me down while Henry punched my stomach, which really hurt. They pulled me back onto my feet and began to push me around, sometimes throwing me against the lockers like I did to Henry but I was crying and sobbing while they did but they didn't care. That's when you came and..."

I held up my hand. "I understand, Jason." I sighed and sat next to him, wrapping my arm around his shoulder while rubbing his arm. "I'm sorry, Connor is just a hard-headed bully who hates two things: people who don't have money and those who stand up against him. He hates me because of both, but I can understand why he hates you now. Just pay him no mind, hopefully you won't be seeing anymore of those two by tomorrow."

He looked away and murmured something that I heard. It caught me off guard but it also amazed me at the same time because it was so out of nowehere.

"Cazzo odiarli," he said in Italian. (I fucking hate them.)

It did catch me by shock for a few reasons. He showed no signs of speaking Italian for the first few seconds we met or when we spent time with each other. I don't think they taught random Digimon Italian during their first classes. Lastly, I don't recall even speaking that language to him.

I didn't even ask him, instead I just sat there and rubbed his shoulder gently. He looked like he needed a little comfort, and it was my responsibility as his partner to make sure he felt welcome. I could feel a few eyes on us, mostly Alexander, Kuros, and Thomas who just watched us from their seats.

Kuros hopped from Alexander's shoulder and jumped from seat to seat to speak to Jason. "Hey, I understand how you must feel, Jason. It's never easy on someone's first day, as far as I've seen and been told by Alexander. You can't let those two bullies get inside your head, that only makes your pain and frustration even worse and you won't be able to think straight. Trust me, Jason, put them in the backburner and move on from their insults--you're better than what they give you credit for. You've been chosen to defend this planet from the Shadows with a very intelligent, strong-willed, and passionate partner who will stand by your side until the death. You must have more faith in yourself, Jason, courage and strength will get you far but pain and sadness will get you nowhere except down. Do you understand?"

I'm not sure if my mouth dropped but I know Jason's did. He sat there, his mouth agape, from Kuros' long speech just at a loss for words at the smart Digimon. Even I was surprised by how well that sounded, fact was I couldn't have said it any better myself (not like I could even come up with saying that to Jason) other than he could. Jason looked to be in a sort of paralyzed state of out-of-words freezing.

After about two minutes of waiting, he finally replied. "T-thanks...Kuros. That helps me a lot, thank you. I should be stronger, I do need to forget about them and just focus on the future. I can't thank you enough."

He just nodded. "I only speak the truth, Jason. If you ever in need of a friend you can trust, I'm always with you." Kuros smiled the hopped back over to Alexander's shoulder and wrapped around his neck again.

He looked over at Kuros then at me, he seemed a little unsure for some reason. "Ryan, can I trust you too?"

I found that question to hurt me a little. I wasn't trustworthy? I don't remember lying about anything to him or my friends about anything that was really seriously, well unless you call saying you made an 'A' on a test when you really made a 'B' serious. But I was trusting.

I nodded, slowly. "Of course, Jason. You're my partner, I fully trust you." I gave him a smile and patted his shoulder.

He made the effort and smiled at me but I could tell he was still a little unsure about himself, or maybe even about me. It wasn't irritating but it kinda made me feel worse about today, I was glad he was my partner and I didn't really have many regrets but I was about to head into a war and put my life on the line and maybe never see my friends again.

That was the only part that sucked.

Most of the bus ride was quiet, mainly because the students aboard didn't want to say anything to us because I was with Jason. Well, at least something was going my way for once this day. We arrived at the orphanage shortly after the ride, which sucked because Alexander and Kuros were explaining the economics to Jason who just sat there with his mouth agape and his face blank. I really wish I had a camera, because even that moment was way too good to pass up even if he was my partner.

Groggily, I led Jason out the bus doors and said my final goodbyes to Thomas (who looked like he was about to break down and cry), Alexander and Kuros. A few seconds later, the bus drove off down the road and left Jason and I standing alone. I sighed, wishing I still had those three by my side.

I turned my head to the orphanage and gulped, today was about to get even worse once I went down the rabbit's hole...which I had dug myself. No doubt in my mind Nicholas, Robyn, and a few of the kids from the orphanage were waiting on the bottom floor just to see me and my new partner. Yeah, I wonder if they would still be happy to see him after they see his skin...

With a quick idea, I began to take off my jacket then handed it to Jason. "Here, put it on, hood too. Wait here for a few minutes while I settle everyone down, okay?"

He nodded and began to put on my jacket which barely fit him, he put the hood on and stood there. I couldn't see his face but his hands, feet, and legs were visible which really didn't help out much but he was shirtless for the whole day so it was better than just wearing black soccer shorts on while he walked inside.

Sighing, I turned and walked towards the front door like Steve from Minecraft. My heart was beating like crazy and I knew I could feel sweat trickle down my forehead. Did I want to go in there? Hell, no! But I knew it was the best thing rather than turn into James Bond and try to climb the building to get into my room. Then I would have another problem, getting through the window. Sure, just let me pull out a glass laser cutter and make a circle wide enough for me to fit...oh, yeah, that's right, I don't have one.

I was just going to have to take this like a man.

Once I was at the front door, I really felt like melting like a popsicle in the heat. Instead, I pushed it in and walked forward. Just like I thought, I saw my little brother and sister standing with a few of the orphanage kids which made my stomach do a 720 which was pretty much worse.

Nicholas was the first one to see me (as usual) and then burst into a full out sprint and jumped into my arms like always. He did this every day and yet I still never really prepared for it, mainly because I always had a million things on my mind every day. Today, well, I had a very good excuse not to be ready.

At least I kept my balance this time and held him in my arms for a few moments before my knees buckled as he took me down. Well, at least I gave it a try.

I felt him kiss my cheek, his tail nearly thumping the floor under us. I had to let go of him, lest I lay on top of him and I really did not want to give him the wrong idea.

"Easy, easy, Nicholas," I said, trying to pry him from my body which was easy once I began to tickle his chin. "There."

I stood up and wiped the dust from my shirt. Robyn came over and shook my hand respectfully, I stuck my tongue out at Nicholas who just mimicked me and crossed his arms.

"Welcome home, Ryan," she said as she patted my head. "How was school?"

"Fine, for the most part," I replied, looking a little more nervous than I actually wanted to look.

She smiled. "You look off, something eating you?" she asked while cocking an eye and looking at me.

I looked at her, then Nicholas, then at the small group of kids. I didn't want to deal with over a dozen people at once (even though I loved them), I needed it to be as minimal as possible to lessen the damage. But I knew the news was not going to be easy to smooth over even with only two people.

"Wait, where's your partner? Isn't today the day you were supposed to get unified?" Robyn asked, looking around at the room.

"He's, uh, waiting outside," I said, looking away from them still stiff as a board.

"Then bring him inside!" Nicholas said, smiling. "I wanna see what my cute Ryan got paired up with."

I gulped. "Well, he's a Veemon--,"

"Oh! Yay! My species!" Nicholas jumped and smiled brightly. I saw Robyn roll her eyes and stick her tongue out from behind him.

"--and he's nice, very shy, nervous but does care about others," I said as truthfully as I could.

"Well? Where is the guy? We wanna see him!" Robyn smiled and exclaimed, throwing her arms out.

I gulped again, a few drops of sweat falling from my head. How was I going to break the news to them so soon? There was no way I could prepare them for what's to come in just a few short words, but I couldn't just keep Jason or these two waiting either for much longer, lest they get a little antsy and start demanding. Stalling had gone out the window and now all I could do was just bring Jason in and smooth things over before everything got worse all too quick, knowing my luck.

"S-sure, gimme a sec," I stuttered while failing not to look nervous in front of them. Great job, idiota, why not just tell them Jason is the golden Digimon right now and get it over with? I thought.

I went back outside to make sure Jason was still waiting, he was still where I had left him. In fact, I don't even think he moved a muscle since I left him. He looked as stiff as a statue and didn't move at all, except only to breathe. Was he trying to act perfect or obedient or something? He wasn't a dog, and I really didn't expect that much out of him other than be his usual self. But he was acting weirder as time went on, he looked up at me but said nothing.

"Jason," I knelt down to his level even though his was two feet smaller than I was. "Why are you acting so strict and hard on yourself?"

He looked at me and stammered. "I just...w-wanna be good enough f-for you, Ryan. I've heard g-great stories about you a-and I don't feel like I'm c-close to your level."

I sighed. "Trust me Jason, you're an equal to me. You don't have to act obedient, tough on yourself, and hard; you can loosen up a little, just be a fun-loving, caring, carefree partner and people will like you better. You're my partner, I'm gonna love you no matter what, man, but please just quit the tough personality."

He nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."

I smiled. "No 'sir' just Ryan or Ry."

He nodded. "Okay, Ryan."

I smiled back, seems I finally broke through to him. "Come on, I have some more friends I want you to meet."

"Am I gonna hurt them too?"

I sighed. "Yeah, but don't worry about it, okay? You can feel bad, but stay positive and happy." I patted his head and led him inside.

He nodded. "Yes, s...Ryan."

I sighed, but not with pain just with a little more comfort. With a little effort, I finally broke through to the little guy. Still, I wondered why he was trying to stay tough? Was it really because of me? He didn't have much to live up to, fact was I'm sure he was already on my level. I just wanted him to ease up a little, have a little more...faith in himself as a golden Digimon Veemon.

We walked back in through the front doors, Robyn and Nicholas waiting patiently inside as they seemed to be talking to each other. Any conversation they had sparked in my absence soon died out once I walked back into the lobby with Jason right beside me. The hood was still over his head so they couldn't really tell he was gold.

Not unless they looked lower.

We stopped a few feet in front of them, I'm not if it was Jason or me who was shaking but I made a sound assumption that it was probably both of us. I looked down and saw his hands shaking a little, I felt bad for the little guy and patted his shoulder to help reassure him better. I heard him sigh, relieving a little as he placed his hands inside the jacket's pockets. Those two seemed to be inspecting him, checking to make sure he was either perfect to be my partner or not worthy to be partnered to me. I didn't judge them, they usually did this when I made a new friend.

Robyn was the first to nod. "He looks fit, nice, and well-mannered." She honestly said, making him seem like a dog whom was well fed and exercised every day.

Jason gulped. "Um, who are you? My name is Jason." He had spoken without even looking up at Robyn and Nicholas.

Nicholas cocked an eye but smiled. "Pleasure to meet you Jason, my name is Nicholas and this here is Robyn. We're close friends to Ryan so you can rest easy, we won't kill you."

That didn't seem to help, he just kept looking down.

"Jason's a little shy around new people," I explained with a sigh. "With the limited time I still have here, he might not be able to warm up to you guys just yet."

They turned their gaze from Jason to me and cocked their eyes just like Nicholas had. That was my plan, get their eyes off Jason and revert their gaze to me. It seemed to lessen Jason's tension a little but now I had two pairs of eyes focused on nothing but me and the next things I said.

It wasn't a perfect plan, shut up.

"What do you mean by 'limited time', Ryan?" Robyn said, walking forward a little.

I looked them both dead in the eyes then sighed, it pained me to look them square in the eyes. I was about to slam them with some hard information that was about to break even my heart. Nicholas and Robyn were probably the only people I trusted with the bottom of my heart, and now I was about to hurt them.

I sighed again. "Jason, take off the hood, please."

I looked away as he did and heard the hood fall over his shoulders, there was a loud enough gasp for me to hear. Dead silence filled the room afterwards. No one said a thing for a few minutes and the only thing to help break the silence during those minutes was the occasional horn blare of a car driving by.

"Ryan...is that...?" Nicholas squeaked while he spoke hoarsely.

I nodded, closing my eyes. "Yeah, golden skin."

Another minute of dreadful silence.

"He's....really your partner?" Robyn spoke in a whisper.

"Yes."

Another minute.

Nicholas broke the tension in the room. He was the first to start balling out as tears began to stream down his face and drop onto the floor. He fell into my chest and began to cry softly, letting the tears soak into my shirt. He held on tightly, sniffing and sobbing as he shook. Robyn followed suit but didn't cry as loud as Nicholas, she let the tears fall from her face but she sniffled and sobbed quietly. She wrapped her arms around the both of us and cried into my shoulder (even though she was a foot taller) as I stood there trying to pat their backs. Hell, I'm sure no pat on the back could help them out at this point and I'm sure I had just cemented myself into the hole I had dug myself.

Like I said, it wasn't a perfect plan.

All the while, Jason waited silently next to me but had taken a few steps back to let Robyn and Nicholas have room to hug me. He felt out of place, that much I knew, and I knew also that he did not want to be here. But he stayed, maybe because he didn't want to leave my side. He said close to nothing but just stood there and rubbed his arm. All the while, I was being squeezed so tightly that I was losing air pretty much every second and I was squeaking much like Nicholas.

"A...air...need...air..." I gasped as I patted their back in warning.

They finally noticed and let me go, in which I took a huge gulp of air that quickly filled my lungs and gave me the voice to speak. I coughed a little but otherwise I was fine (at least they didn't crush my ribs) for the moment.

"Listen..." I said, my voice a little raspy. "I know Jason is the golden Digimon and I accept him as my partner. I know this also means I'm going to have to leave and join the military in the war, maybe put my life on the lone more times than I can actually stand for, but I will do it. Listen to me, I know this is difficult for you two to take in, I already had to deal with a pretty horrible day at school after my union so bear with me, please?" I looked them in the eyes as they locked we me, I saw the redness in both Digimon's eyes which just killed me inside. "I need you both to be strong and bear with me with this whole thing, okay?" I took Robyn's left paw and Nicholas's right hand. "I love you both as the brother and sister I never had, and I cannot thank either of you enough for giving me the love and care I learned to find again after my parents' deaths. Thank you both, I just need you both to keep your hopes alive and spirits higher than the sky for me, hope for the best and never dwell on the worst. You two are very strong and I know you can keep the peace here while I am gone." I said as I moved over and hugged them both tightly, rubbing their backs gently with smooth care.

"I will come back, I swear, and I don't care if I've lost a body limb I will be coming home once this is over. I don't know how long I'll be gone but this war will end and peace will come back to Earth, you have my word on that. Look at Jason, he's the perfect partner for me and I'm glad to have him by my side throughout all of this." I gestured to Jason who had attained a slight red blush over his golden face. "He nice, kind, caring and will help me in this whole thing, I know it. You need to trust us and never lose faith in him or I. So do you to trust me?"

They had cried and sobbed through my entire speech but made sure to keep their eyes locked with mine the whole time. I don't think I had ever said anything like that in my entire life but it felt good. I saw the tears stay in their eyes as they wiped their faces with their sleeves.

I loved these two, they were a true blessing to have as friends and I was going to look forward to seeing them again once I came home.

_ If_ I came home that is.

"Can you two promise me one thing?" I asked.

They looked me in the eyes and nodded.

_ "Abbiate fede_ che tornerò." I said. (Have faith that I will return.)

They looked at me, then at each other, then back at me. With a whimper and sniffle, they nodded and sighed.

_ "Ci impegniamo_ ad avere fede," they replied. (We promise to have faith.)

I smiled weakly and held them tight in my arms. I looked over at Jason, who was standing alone, and beckoned him to join me. He was hesitant at first but walked over and wrapped his arms around my body. I felt much better--better than I felt after second period actually--like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.

I had something to look forward to when I came home.

Ghosts usually don't let me sleep, found this out tonight.

After I had calmed down Robyn and Nicholas from all the drama that I had started on the bottom floor. We went up to my room and sat down and talked for a bit, they mostly talked to Jason, just an extra precaution I guess to test if he had the guts to go into a war and not choke. He talked with a little less tension and apprehension and spoke truthfully. I saw him relax as well and calm down just a little, finally. We shared a few laughs with each other to brighten up the mood, hell, I even had Jason laugh a few times which made me feel even better. He sounded more cheery and happy, I even saw a smile on his face while we talked.

Mission completed, got Jason to laugh and smile. Bonus!

Once the sun ahd set, we went down to the mess hall and ate dinner before we had to take showers and go to bed. I let Jason shower before me so he could wait in the room. Once I came back I fished out some clothes that the orphanage had laid out for me when he had arrived in my room when I had first came up here to talk to Nicholas and Robyn. They were just white clothes basically, white T-shirt and white sweat pants Jason's size (with white boxers, duh). I let Jason have the bed while I slept on the groun on an inflatable mattress that was meant for him but I let him sleep comfy tonight after everthing I put him through today. There was no telling when those soldiers were coming to pick us up but i just shut my eyes and went off to sleep.

• • •

"Are we there yet?" a teen with a Australian accent spoke.

From up front, another voice spoke even with the loud engine that ran through the truck. He sounded like a teenager as well but his accent was more English, most likely from England or some place from the UK. He had turned his head to look at the Brazilian teen and sighed. It was dark outside, pretty much expected from staying up all night flying to the U.S. and then a late night drive to a certain orphanage they were sent to, mainly to grab the new recruit.

"Not yet," the English teen spoke.

The Australian kid slumped in his seat and sighed, he didn't seem like he wanted to sleep but he did have dark rings around his eyes which said he must've been sleepy from exhaustion. The Gabumon who was sleeping next to him just lightly breathed and leaned against the Aussie for support, muttering something in his sleep.

"Easy, Michael," a girl spoke now, her voice was hinted with a slight French accent that warmed the room. "You can't rush Travis, it's this stupid truck that's making it take so long. If we had updated, we would be closer." She seemed to direct the words at someone in the room.

The driver named Travis just shrugged. "Sorry, we were rushed and I couldn't put in an acquisition for a better model. Hopefully, she'll get us there and back without any problems. Ease up on me, Piper."

The girl named Piper just sighed and slumped in her seat as well, her Gaomon partner sitting next to her had his arms folded and was sleeping soundly, rubbing the side of his head against the girl's shoulder. She just scratched behind his ears and heard a slight rumble from the dog, it sounded like a pleasuring one.

"So this hunk-of-junk can't go any faster? Told you it needed to be scraped," the Aussie spoke again, this time waking another person in the large truck.

"Michael, we're all trying to sleep," he spoke with a heavy Canadian accent. He also had his arms folded while a Guilmon next to him was deeply asleep while his arms were wrapped around the guy's right arm.

Michael just sighed again. "Sorry, just getting anxious. Anyone know who this guy is again?"

There was a sound coming from one of the darker corners of the truck. Papers could be heard flipping and sliding as someone pulled out something that looked like a light brown folder that read 'CLASSIFIED' on the front in big red bold letters.

"Ryan Destin Masters," a girl spoke with an easy Russian speech. "Italian-American, born in North America. Age fifteen, straight A Honor Roll student, goes to Luther County High school. His parents served in the 115th Special Ops Platoon, grand-parents from both sides served as marines, while aunt and uncles from both trees worked in the navy. He's an orphan due to the death of his entire family and is partnered to Jason Master's--a golden Veemon who just so happens to be the same golden Digimon said forth in the prophecy."

The one called Michael just cocked his left eye. "Thanks for the biography, Mina. Someone overachieved a little."

There was just a grunt from the girl, a Gatomon resting between her legs while the Digimon purred softly in its sleep. The girl just sounded as cold as ice, her voice was solid and cold with each word. She could easily be mistaken for a cruel person due to her personality and her tone in which she spoke. The girl sitting next to the Russian accent girl took the folder from the cold-voiced female and began to read it over carefully.

"He looks kinda hot actually," she spoke, her accent lightly German with a hint of American thrown in.

"I have to teach you a lesson each day, do I not?" she spoke coldly, ignoring the other girl as she took the folder back. "He is a soldier, we can't have him caught up in useless drama of a relationship."

Another voice huffed from the corner and seemed to look at the Russian girl from the dark area. She gulped a little and sighed.

"Except us, Jun," she explained.

A grunt came from the corner then died away.

The Aussie stuck his tongue out and sighed. "How much longer?"

"Half an hour, Michael."

• • •

I couldn't sleep, and that was actually pretty usual.

I woke up groggily and all drowsy, my mind still trying to make sense of the blurry things I was waking up to. All I could see was darkness at first but after a few seconds of adjusting my sight, I saw that I was still in my room. I could hear the light breathing of Jason from my bed which told me he was still asleep, deep sleep that I soon found out with a loud grunt and jerk of his head.

I tried shutting my eyes and going back to bed but my body denied any rights to true sleep, as always. I'm not sure if I had a slight case of insomnia or the fact that my body didn't allow me to sleep for one true night. It was next to impossible.

Which made it my Mission Impossible.

I stood up and yawned, stretching my arms. I groaned and felt a few bones pop in my back, not the best thing I ever slept on but it was still a bed so I was still happy. Never tried the inflato-mat, it didn't get my back in knots at least so I felt good. I stood up and stretched my aching joints back into place, if I could still walk then it qualified as a nice night of rest despite waking up at 6:10 in the morning. School was going to start in about an hour and half but I couldn't go back actually, I had to wait for a squad to come and pick us and take Jason and me to the army.

I felt like I could use a nice walk just to let my body wake up, so I walked out and shut the door wearing nearly the same clothes as Jason, plain white T shirt and white sweat pants. I took a look outside in the hallway, for some reason the lights above were dimly lit but offered enough light to see. There was only one switch in the hallway and the lights were never usually like this, never in my ten years of living here did it get this dim in this hallway.

My eye caught something down the hall, it could've just been a trick of the mind but...I think it was a shadow. Not a Shadow trooper, just a regular shadow. I cocked an eye, my shadow was right under me, and there was one just floating near the elevator. My first thought was ghost but I wasn't one to believe in the supernatural, let alone that there could be ghosts in the world. But, this was new, and I had lived here for a very long time and I had never encountered this.

I saw it move a clawed finger at me and beckon me to come forward. It then began to flow backwards and dissolve into the elevator doors, then it disappeared into thin air.

I swore it was just my imagination or something, but I felt way too awake to be dreaming about all of this. I rubbed my eyes then stared at the elevator. Something told me to follow the shadow, like I was supposed to follow it.

Cursing at myself, I walked slowly towards the elevator. Two options waited for me: the elevator could either collapse and fall and crash on the bottom floor and kill me or my soul was about to be reaped by the Grim Reaper. I was more leaning to the first option, not even believing in the Grim Reaper. It seemed a little silly to even believe that kind of stuff but then again, weird has happened in the past two days and I fully expected something else weird hit me like a ton of bricks.

As I neared the elevator, the doors slid open quickly. Yep, definitely weird all right. Not like I can turn back now, I felt like I had passed the point of no return, so I just sucked it all up and walked in. Once inside, the doors automatically shut which sent a shiver of fear down my spine. The elevator began to go down, slowly at least which told me I wasn't about to go crashing into the bottom floor. I'd rather not die just after I made nice with my partner, too much hard work well spent.

I waited patiently, no clue what floor I was going to stop on but it felt like one of the lower ones, for I soon stopped and waited as the doors slid open once more. Well, didn't die, but I realized I was on the bottom floor of the orphanage. I took a few steps out and once I exited, the doors shut from behind me. I gulped then looked ahead and saw two figures standing in the orphanage doorway.

I recognized one of them for it was the founder of the orphanage, Mrs. Jessica Emerson. She was the founder next to her husband and pretty much the only other two people that actually paid attention to me just because no one had picked me for ten years. They mostly felt sorry for me, but that was it.

She wore only a blue robe and talked with someone who looked my age. He had short blonde hair, was in her late twenties, and was tiny.

The guy on the other hand was definitely my age, maybe a year older. He looked like a G.M.A.F soldier for sure. He wore the standard marine uniform: blue camouflage pants, a tight navy blue shirt with a blue leather chest and stomach guard over the shirt, black combat boots, and blue gloves with the finger tips cut off. The G.M.A.F insignia--an eagle holding a sword in the left claw and a shield in the right claw, under the eagle was G.M.A.F with the words right under the letters--along with a patch on his shoulder. The patch had to yellow lines on top of each other with two stars, it told me that he was a sergeant major.

I gulped and shuddered a little. My luck, they were here already. The principle wasn't kidding when she said they would be here by tomorrow, but she didn't say tomorrow-early-in-the-freaking-morning! I underestimated the military once more and it killed me just a little on the inside.

Mrs. Emerson turned to my direction and noticed me. I saw her look at me then back at the teen standing in the doorway. She beckoned me over and I didn't hesitate, I walked over to her and the guy, who I could see much better in a little more light. He had short blonde hair for sure, but I also noticed a white scar across his face, it went from his right cheek, across his nose, to the top of his left eyebrow. His eyes were dark gray and reminded me of storm clouds ready to start shooting lighting everywhere. He didn't look cruel or anything, just a little tough.

"Ryan," Mrs. Emerson said. "This is sergeant major Travis Rose, he's part of the squad that's come to pick you and Jason up."

I looked at her then back at him. He didn't look bad at all, he looked like a handsome and strong guy. Surely, he could get me to wherever they were taking me without harm.

But I was wrong in the future of course.

"Correct, but you can just call me Travis, Ryan," he held out his hand.

I hesitated then took his palm. "Sure thing, just call me Ryan."

"Attention!" he ordered.

I jumped and stood stiffly as a tree. Next thing I knew, Travis was already laughed loudly and it was that laughter that soon filled the room. I still stood at attention like he told me but I may have slumped and maybe jumped a little.

"Easy, man, just pulling your leg," he chuckled.

I slumped and sighed. "I already like you."

He smiled. "Which is my job. Now, we need to get going soon because the sun's about to rise and we need to be gone before then. If you have any personal belongings, use this." He picked up a green bag and tossed it to me. "Grab any clothes, items, or any other things that have value to you because we aren't turning around once we hit the road. Get your partner too, we set out in twenty minutes. Then you get to meet the squad."

"Squad?" I asked.

"Yeah, the one I hope you're leading in a few months. Squad 14."