Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [+O.C.s]

BLACKTENTOMON, About to Speak: ... Inter-national O.C. Chosen SHANE, +DAISUKE, KEN: ... Koushiro, smiling softly in anticipation: (Go on... it's okay. {You're Safe}) BlackTentomon, in near perfectly spoken heavy Kansai-ben {from a specific area?!}: ... HOW'S IT GOING? {How much time d'ya need???} / {What do you require (of me)}??? DAISUKE & KEN Immediately LOOKING Nearby @ Tentomon Who's Hanging Close: TENTOMON: (Don't Look At Me. I Don't Get how My World Works Either. I don't think Any of us Did.) Tentomon: (.. But at least I know MYSELF...) Koushiro, SMILING: Shane, contemplating: (... I didn't know Tentomon spoke in Kansai-ben from {certain region}.) SHANE: (I didn't exactly hear it 'SPEAK' back then... S H A N E: (It was just Roaring.) s H A N E, SENSITIVE TO NOISE: (LOUD ANGRY ROARING.) Shane: (... But it's definitely much calmer now. I should try to ask it what to do next...)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [+O.C.s]

Shane, finally catching a breath after making a wild sprint from Daisuke's place: ... Shane: ... Shane: (Crap.) I actually forgot it was Obon soon... TOO MANY People for Shane's comfort: {ABOUT} Shane: ... Shane: (OK, but I can blend in with the crowd and--) Shane: (Notices the food stalls being set up) SHANE: {Remembering. Oh. Right. Food--} Shane: ... (Wait) SHANE: (Isn't Daisuke supposed to be selling {ramen} at this kind of place soon?!!) Shane: ... (They're probably going to turn up--) SHANE: (... Takes out brand-new Digivice{?}-phone Provided By Izumi Corp. ... Tap tap tap, inputting Hikaru's address--) Shane: If I can just make it to Hikaru's place from here, Daisuke will eventually be nearby here *anyway*, (I'll figure how how to handle Ken LATER) and then-- SHANE: ... Shane: (GROAN) Shane: (...I forgot Hikaru will also {...likely} be out during Obon.)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 O.C.s

Shanes' Mon: ... SHANE: ...(FLOATING...) {FLOATING...} {Eyes Closed} SHANES' MON: (Shane.) Shane: ... {Sigh} Yeah? Shanes' Mon: ... You've been here a while... Shane: (I was resting.) Shane: Are you concerned for me? I'm fine. Shane: I have these (*holds up Taichi+Daisuke's GOGGLES*) now, so... and Koushiro-...san really upgraded them well. So I can actually SEE where I'm going now when I need to. Shanes' Mon: (It's like you've 'accomodated' yourself.) SHANE: ... (M aybe.) Shane: At the same time, the colors sometimes give me a headache. But Koushiro-san did add in an option that can dim them... but then it's harder to see the signals for "distortions". Shanes' Mon: (But at least, you can still somewhat tell them apart based on the vividness.) Shane: ... (Yeah...) Shane: ... Well, I'm up now, so... Shanes' Mon: (Where are you going from here?) Shane: I don't know. (Mostly I just wanted to "sleep".) Shanes' Mon: ... Shanes' Mon: (But you said, 'want{ED}'.) Shane: Yeah. There's people I want to see again... SHANE: ... But I know they'll wait for me where they can, so there's no major rush. Shanes' Mon: (Are you going to go back to "sleep"?) Shane: (It depends.) Are you going to be there when I open my eyes? SHANES' MON: ... (If you reach out to me.) SHANE: ... Shane: (Yeah, I know.) Guess I gotta wake up then. Shanes' Mon: (As you know, I cannot leave "the Void". But you know how "to communicate" with me.) SHANE: ... Right. (And you know how "to listen".) Shanes' Mon: (You might want to put those goggles back on.) Shane: ('Heh') Honestly, I'm surprised I got this much use out of them, but as said, they're... functional now. SHANE, ADJUSTING GOGGLES: Ready. Shanes' Mon: (Time to 'wake up'.) SHANE, SEEING Darkness ... and Signals: SHANE, OPENING EYES: (*in a bed*) ... ?? ? PATRICK (Shane's sibling): Huh, I thought I heard something...!! ! W-wait, SHANE??? SHANE, Awkwardly raising hand slowly: Um, hi PATRICK, IN AWE: You're at my place--!! ! Shane, nodding: I'm ... home? PATRICK: SHANE: ... (I'm solid.) (I'm not glitching out.) PATRICK: ... Do you still need to rest? Shane: ... Maybe a bit. But later... we can see? PATRICK: That's fine. Just... let me know when you're feeling better. (*closes door carefully*) SHANE, CHECKING GOGGLES: (Still here.) SHANE, CHECKING DIGIVICE: {STILL... Here.} Shane, sighing in relief: (I guess it'd be {REALLY} Bad if even the most powerful 'Mon in all the universe got caught up in 'that'.) SHANES' MON: (They don't Know the half of it.) SHANE: {LAUGHS} ... Hey. Shanes' Mon: (Say hi to Patrick for me.)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs Koushiro & 02 Chosen [...and some O.C.s]

Koushiro: You two said you wanted to speak with me? KEN, Firmly: Yes. (*also speaking for Shane*) Inter-national O.C. Chosen Shane, Lingering A Bit Behind Ken (Only A Bit): ... Koushiro, regarding Shane: Jou-san told me Jou-san looked you over. It's very encouraging to see you seem to have "recovered" to this level... SHANE, Bit Taken Aback: Shane: ... T-Thank. You. (Only Slightly Formal, Still Not As Formal As How Koushiro Used to Say "Arigatou Gozaimas" to Everyone, but Shane will say it in the way Shane's ComfortableTM with, Only Because Its KoushiroTM) ...You're the one who helped set up "The {Improved} Network" for the Inter-national Chosen Children, aren't you? I'm on it... KOUSHIRO: ... (Yes...) Yes, I'm aware of that... SHANE: (... Oh) Koushiro: ... But it wasn't until Hikaru-san recalled your old email address in full and surname that we were finally able to "find" you in our older database logs. (Because Shane was smart enough to *not* include first name and surname or initials as part of Shane's old messaging address. And didn't even "register" {Instead; Connected via Making Message Contact with Koushiro not long post-Adventure} under "Shane", but...) SHANE: ... Yeah. My birth name is "Shinji". "Shane" is my ""Americanized"" name but... SHANE: (Likes It For A Hidden Meaning, Too) Shane: ... I go by "Shane" to anyone not Hikaru and my family. Koushiro, NODDING: ... I understand. (*Genuine!*) SHANE: ... SHANE: (I thought Koushiro would be at least a bit of hot-shot person. But Koushiro's actually really modest.) Ken: (Koushiro does take Pride in Koushiro's Skills, though...) KEN: ... Koushiro-san, we were going to ask the two BlackTailmon staying with Hikaru-san too, but we also thought to ask someone else we... *must* speak to. KOUSHIRO: Koushiro: ... I see. (to Shane also) As well, Hikaru-san's new messaging address is also in my database, and I have Hikaru-san's old one as well... it's still active, and Hikaru-san still checks it. SHANE: ... (I was a bit Concerned if Hikaru DID...) SHANE: (... I don't want what pulled ME in to "The Void" to eventually pull HIKARU IN because they KNEW Hikaru's old one was one I was actively CONTACTING...) SHANE, Not relating that Now: ... I-I see. I figured that would be the case... (but Koushiro wasn't "seeing me" enough so I couldn't get Koushiro to pull me out of The Void completely. But in a way Koushiro still Helped...) I plan to Contact Hikaru, I just... wanted to make sure I had all the facts first. DAISUKE, also lingering behind both Shane & Ken but finally speaking up: I have Hikaru's messaging address! We talk to each other almost every day!! Oh, but sometimes Hikaru is busy with classes because Hikaru still has some at night, and I'm trying to get the shop open so-- SHANE: ... Later. KEN, NODDING: First, let's talk to... Koushiro, giving a small smile: ... Yes. It doesn't always like to show itself either. But... KOUSHIRO, Calling Out Gently: ... You can show yourself now. These people are on our side. BLACKTENTOMON: . . . . . BLACKTENTOMON, Slowly Appearing From Shadows: ... EVERYONE Except Koushiro: !!!!! SHANE: (It was there the whole time?!? Could it see me EVEN way back then?!?? But why didn't it Tell Koushiro---) Koushiro, gently, to BlackTentomon: I know you're wary of speaking at *all* to others, especially about... "what happened" in "that Time". But we all deeply require your help. Including ME... BLACKTENTOMON: ..... Tentomon: (It's been many years since it's spoken to any human not Koushiro-han {and Hikaru-han and those staying with Hikaru-han, like the BlackTailmon}.) {Watching from next to Koushiro-han} (I've spoken to it a couple times... but I can understand why it's daunting...) SHANE: ... Please. (As Formally As Shane Can Manage) BLACKTENTOMON, NODDING Just Once: Koushiro: (I'm not sure what to Expect, but if it's anything like back Then...) Koushiro: (...We have a lot of Information to Cover.)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [...and some O.C.s] (And...??)

KEN: How'd you get out in time?! (From "The {Digital} Void"'s EXPLOSION?!!) Inter-national O.C. Chosen Shane: Well, I ran, but. ... I, "got pulled" back into the "stream" just in time. So I watched from above, and - it basically imploded on itself, and dispersed into Digital data. SHANE: ... Whoever made those "capsules"... didn't want them to be found without a struggle. They were likely meant to be "kept" there indefinitely. And whoever "accessed" those capsules KNOWING the tech involved... KEN: ... They were fighting for release. Shane: Because they ruined the glass from the inside, THEN disrupted this... "plan". Ken: You believe it was a "plan"? Shane: Yeah. And whoever it "was" that made the "plan" could still be active. KEN: Currently, we had been fighting the "Dark" "Digital monsters". But they had all had their corrupted data "healed" as of over 10 years ago. They're ALL on our side now... SHANE: ... And they didn't know if they had a true "leader"? KEN: ... They're innocent. (Firmly!) I genuinely believe them to be. (The majority of them...) KEN: ("Angel" and "Akuma" may know something ELSE but... we'd have to ask them...) Shane: Because. Whoever originally "set up" that place... they definitely had "malicious intent". And... SHANE: I think they meant to do "something" with "the eight" beings "trapped" in there. Eventually... KEN: ... KEN: This is just a hypothetical question, but, that place you "visited"... does the name "Dark Area" mean anything to you? SHANE, HEARD IT FROM 'MON AT TIME: ... (How Do They KNOW--) SHANE: If I said it did? But I didn't find out until much later after the fact. (Half-lying) KEN: If those "eight" were being held in the "Dark Area"... and it was by our current possible "enemy", whom we know very little about... Shane: You all don't know much, huh?... KEN, CONTINUING: And the "intention" of that "enemy" being... for those "eight" to, perhaps, either, "fall under enemy control" or even "PERISH"... Shane: Depending on whatever was the "outcome" of "holding" them prisoner... KEN: Either way, those "eight" were likely being led straight to their eventual "DEATH"s... SHANE: (Flashbacking to the panels accessed) SHANE: ... The password to access the panels was "DEATH". (It Wasn't Very Creative.) And the code... (Was set to let the capsules run indefinitely.) KEN: I'd have to ask Koushiro-san again, but... KEN: I'm pretty sure... these signs are the "CLUE"... that the enemy involved could be CALLED... SHANE: SHANE & KEN, TOGETHER: "DEATHMON". KEN: "DEATHMON" was trying to "KILL" the "EIGHT" "CHOSEN" 'Children'. Shane: So the one who "broke out" from the INSIDE... SHANE & KEN: ... "Koushiro"

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [...and some O.C.s]

Ken, to Inter-national O.C. Chosen Shane: Tell me {"US"} what else you saw. {In, the "Digital" Void} Shane: ... Ken: Like those "landmarks" you mentioned. S h a n e: ... Shane, Deep sighing: ...Fine. Shane: I could only "float" ("get pulled") through, so I wasn't going along *completely* by my own will. But at the same time, once the "landmark" came into view... I WANTED to Know what it was about. Because there might have been "hints" in that place as to "what was happening to me". Ken, nodding: (Go on...) Shane, grunting a bit in frustration when remembering 'that': ... So I got "pulled" closer to the landmark, and my partner... well, "they" usually follow along with me. (I'm not sure if I should tell "this person" that my partner has *control*...) (*Doesn't*) So I had a small "idea" it was an actual landmark, I just had no idea what I'd find there. Shane, recounting further: So I entered from the digital "stream" above, but suddenly... I landed. Ken, echoing: You "landed". Shane, NODDING: There was something similar to "gravity" there, except there *wasn't*. Ken, Wheels turning in Mind: ... So, how did you "land"? Shane: I'm not completely sure... but once I "explored" further, I realized the "digital space" surrounding "that" place may have been "warped". Shane: I saw something that looked like "Mt. Fuji" but then thought, "that can't POSSIBLY be Mt. Fuji??" KEN: ... (Oh no...) Shane: But it looked *scary similar* in silhouette. So I "landed" at random, and then (stumbled around) *walked* around, looking for any "clue" - if there even *were* any. And then, I found a "hidden place" that looked like it once had PEOPLE there... KEN: Shane: - But there *wasn't* any people around - but there WAS "tech" - "DIGITAL" related "tech" from OUR world. Ken: (That's the "scrap data"... that's 'normal'...) Shane: I had seen similar before, too, but this kind... it was once FUNCTIONAL. KEN: (... Oh no.) Shane: Over half of this "area" was already in ruins. There was shattered glass in one area of the ground... And the place itself looked like it had been "abandoned". But I went up to one of the strange "technological"-like "capsules" - that looked large enough to *hold a human*. Ken: (Oh NO.) Shane: The majority of these "tech" pieces still had their 'lids' on, but some clearly had pieces that broke off over time, because that glass was on the ground too. The one I went up to, though - it had a Digital panel ON it. And because I know a "little bit" (a LOT) about coding, I could ACCESS IT. Ken: What did you find?? Shane: It looked like the panel had BEEN accessed once before... AND, whoever accessed it, LET OUT whatever was inside. As if "whoever" was in there was once "held" or "contained" in there. Or... Ken: ... "Trapped?" Shane: Yeah. The glass was *heaviest* around a capsule *across* from the one I accessed too, like it had *mostly* shattered from *that* specific "capsule". And there were *exactly SEVEN others like the one I accessed*... KEN: ... 8 in total. SHANE: ... Yeah. KEN: ... ("Eight Chosen Children") SHANE: Except ONE of them had that extra glass near it. But it TOO was in an "open" state... KEN: SHANE: So I checked *that one's* panel... and that was when I also realized the glass was removed from the INSIDE. KEN: ... (Whoever inside was trying to "escape".) Shane: So I checked the panel's logs to see if I could figure out at all what had been happened there. It had big "ERROR" recordings all over - like the capsule's functioning was interrupted from the moment the damage began, even if it had been trying to keep the "subject" contained a little longer. Shane: So ... I reasoned, the one inside "this" capsule must have "let out" or "rescued" the ones inside all seven of *the rest*. *Whoever* it was... they *had knowledge* OF coding AND "hacking" to be able to access these panels. KEN: (... It's not unusual for some "Digital" beings, but when you add in "Eight Chosen" relevancy...) SHANE: ... And. The whole place was about ready to self destruct. Or. You know. Explode KEN:

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02's Daisuke+Co. [and some O.C.s]

Takeru, Looking down at Patamon resting: ...So this person Daisuke 'met' "recently"... if I have this *all* right... might be like a "Guardian Angel"? Inter-national O.C. Chosen Shane: SHANE+DAISUKE: SHANE: (It's Not Exactly That.) Koushiro: But whom exactly are they "protecting", if so? If not {Mutual O.C. also present here in this conversation} Hikaru-san... DAISUKE, Didn't Tell Them About "Incidents" Involving Near-Death that Shane *Certainly* Saved Daisuke From: SHANE: (I *Said* It's Not Exactly That.) DAISUKE: (But they don't KNOW.) Shane: (I'm *probably* here for a specific "reason" but it's not *just* "That".) Daisuke: (Why do you keep insisting?!??) Shane: (Because it's the truth---) {To Be Continued, Maybe}

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02's Daisuke+Co. & KouTai [and some O.C.s]

Koushiro: I could try cleaning up the picture a bit, but it might prove "difficult". It's pretty small, and... "low quality." (Showing others Again) Koushiro: We may not get as much "detail" as we hope. But based on this alone, we can "see" some obvious details already. Koushiro: They have dark (Black) hair, dark (Brown) eyes... The hair is a little "spiky" at the ends, but not overly so. (*Pointed Blinking*) It's just how it naturally falls. They're short... and small of build. Maybe somewhat wider shoulder width than {mine} the average person we'd know... Taichi: (I wonder if they played sports at all?) Daisuke, muttering to Taichi: (They said they weren't very "sporty". I think they might have ONCE though, but it's probably not "just because" of that... not like your training) Koushiro: ...And they wear all black. (*Showing*) Chosen not Koushiro: (Like a 'goth'.) Hikaru, Staring: Hikaru: It's true Shane wore black often back then, but sometimes wore blue jeans and the like too... Miyako: That's still very ("goth") like that, though!! Iori: They might stick out in a crowd in Odaiba... it'd look out of place at my residence and the dōjō too, if my family didn't "know" you all already. Daisuke: Yeah, but this was in the U.S. Hikaru: I did live there when I was younger, but we moved by the time I entered high school... that's when I met you. My old friends and some family are still there but... (*trails off*) Daisuke: (Hikaru doesn't understand why someone looking like Hikaru's long time childhood *online* 'mutual' Shane would still be tied "there" instead of "here". Hikaru might still not believe it's them...) SHANE: ... Shane: (/I'm close enough I can touch Hikaru./) Shane: (I saw Hikaru "in-between" but even now Hikaru looks a bit different...) Shane, carefully reaching a hand out, trying to gently touch at the ends of Hikaru's curly hair... suddenly half-Physical: SHANE: (!!!) (*FADES*) HIKARU: !! I Felt something?? (Just... now?) Hikari: What happened?? Hikaru: From the back, I felt "something"... TAICHI, Looking at Daisuke: DAISUKE, LOOKING BACK: (I don't think Hikaru would mind if Shane "revealed" themself now, but Hikaru might get emotional...) SHANE, Digitally floating back and higher, "out of sight": (I'm Not Going To) Wormmon, nudging Ken, noticing Tailmon staring INTENTLY at said spot: KEN: ... Ken, Looking at Daisuke: You said you actually "saw" or encountered someone like this person? Daisuke, Nervous Laughing: It's A Long Story But Hikaru: But Shane disappeared over 10 years ago... Koushiro: Do you remember any other specific details? Hikaru: Shane suddenly stopped coming to the local synagogue's services, which was suspicious even for Shane... once people there and Shane's family realized Shane was truly missing and not just "off on Shane's own", they put out a notice. But not even Shane's few family members left there could find Shane after, and the room was "spotless". I didn't find out until the news showed the report... Ken, Quiet: ...Like when I... left. Hikaru, still doesn't know Everything from when Ken was the Kaiser but had Ideas since they had some private Talks: Maybe... but there were no signs of struggle, and not even a message left... just that the computer chair was pushed back a little, and the screen was "on". But all it even showed was part of the desktop. And the Internet browser was open, but not on any page. Just the default. Like Shane was only just logging in and hadn't actually started using it yet. (We e-mailed back and forth a lot...) Koushiro: There's still a chance something to do with the Digital World happened, but... Daisuke, Didn't Tell them Shane Has A Partner: KEN, Looking at Daisuke: (We Need To Talk.) DAISUKE: (Later!!) SHANE: (...) (Oh, so that's Daisuke's other Queer-platonic Life partner.) (I recognize them now.) (They had a cool Partner 'Mon and helped Daisuke out a lot as support back then. But they're... kind of Stiff.) SHANE: (I'm {probably} going to have to keep this up for a while...)

Digi-Advs 02 O.C.s Story ~ "COF" ({Chosen} of Faith) ~ Daisuke is visiting my 02 O.C. Hikaru, {who Daisuke may have (mutual?!) starting crushes with} except meets a 'surprise visitor?' {Shane!} instead. {Exact cap of the file on my old C.D.} which has all the pages I could save, except imgs + font colors won't display until I re-create the whole site again.

In the old story Young Me accidentally spelled Michael wrong so it's 'corrected' here, lol. (I was also using "Willis" but since am correcting it to canon!"Wallace".) Thus the implication here is Shane 'knows' Michael & Wallace But is it The Case ? Dun-dun-dun... "Meanwhile with Daisuke (+Shane)" Series: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 16 / 17 (A.U. Spin-off {Dgmn x P.k.m.n}) ["To Be Continued" Someday, mAYBE...] (It's mostly crack {humor} A.U. spin-offs, 02 Chosen also show briefly in-between, Ken->Daisuke<-Hikaru as open relationships + Kou+Tai are main featured 'ship's here, but mostly in the background for now. Hikaru still exists there too, though, and does appear!)

{More details under the 'read more'!}

Shane did mention another given name here; however, I might pick a different one this time {unsure}

The precursor to the "REPEAT?_Verse" and "The Past World" (Hikaru cameos in Chs 4 + 6 of 'The Past World', it also shows a later section of what would have eventually been part of Koushiro's 'ARC' in my old story {this one}!)

by Young Me circa Pre-2k10 (to eventually be re-written in Full) Or, in which Young Me casually uses foreshadowing to conceal that my O.C. is very much a Very (Mostly) Dead One. {i.e. Shane answering the door instead of owner of the home}

... Except this may or may not have been on the site. I honesly can't remember, but if someone remembers seeing this, PLEASE let me know!

{DO NOT Copy} {DO NOT re-post} {DO NOT re-produce under ANY Circumstances!}

{DO NOT Copy} {DO NOT re-post} (DO NOT re-produce anything on this post under ANY Circumstances)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [+O.C.s]

O.C. Shane, sitting in the kitchen of Daisuke & Kens place: ... Ken, noticing Shane's up: Ken: What's wrong? (You didn't sleep again.) Shane: Can't sleep. Sorry. Shane: I don't need a bed tonight, I'll just sleep on the couch. (Again) Ken: ... Ken: Wait here a minute. (Comes back holding a cup of warm milk) Daisuke said you like this. Shane: ... Shane: Thanks. (Takes cup) (Waiting for it to cool off because its still way too hot, but secretly grateful.) ... Ken, Knowingly: Do you want to talk about something? Shane: Not really. But... Shane: Daisuke and Hikaru... they're not... Ken: Married, no. (*Sits down across from Shane*) Hikaru-san wanted to wait and think about it, and Daisuke doesn't mind at all. Shane: ... Ken: Daisuke's {now} the type who will respect Hikaru-san's decision no matter what Hikaru-san chooses. Because Daisuke is never the type to actually pressure someone into something they don't want to do. Shane: I know that. Ken: .. That includes you, you know. Shane, sipping milk: Ken: Shane: I know Daisuke's - and you both - are giving me space. .. Thanks. Ken: It's no problem at all. Ken: Daisuke - and Hikaru-san - gave me a lot of space too. (So I want to pay the same kind of respect forward.) Shane, picking up on Hidden conext without actually in depth Context: ... Shane, has watched Ken converse with Hikaru (and Daisuke) from the Void past a certain point: ... Shane: You've been really cool to Hikaru. ..Thanks. Ken: Ken: (Well, Hikaru was good to me, but even if Hikaru wasn't...) Shane: ... You don't live in 'that' other area anymore, right? (Is it ok for me to ask...) Ken, affirmative: No. I came here to be closer to the rest of the team, (...and Daisuke) so I didn't always have to be travelling. (Every single time new enemies showed up...) Shane: ... What if you had to leave suddenly? K E N: Ken: We'd find our ways. Koushiro-san, Takeru-san, and ... Miyako-... are great at keeping us informed through The Network, and the blog. It's much easier now to stay in touch than it was around 2002, or even 2005. SHANE: ... Shane: (It didn't completely answer my question, but...) Yeah, I Know about The Network. (I used it during its "primitive" time.) But would you stay here--? KEN: Yes. SHANE: Ken: There's really no need for us to be so separated anymore, when messaging has advanced, and all of our homes are open to each other as needed, especially during emergencies. Shane: ... (But would you stay here)-- KEN: Daisuke said the the same to me. SHANE: Ken: I thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine. Shane: No, it's good... (*stands up*) I'm done with the drink, thanks. KEN: ... Again - all of our homes are open to you. SHANE: I know. KEN: And you have all of our numbers. SHANE: I know. KEN: (Shane's vulnerable without Shane's partner, and there's no telling what the Void will do to Shane's mind at any given moment when Shane's alone.) I know you like to do things on your own... but if no one else can help, call me. SHANE: Shane: (... They really mean it, huh.) Yeah, fine. (It may not be that easy, but...) Well, I'm going to (try to) sleep. (*Makes a half-show of getting ready to lie down on couch.*) KEN: (Hopefully Shane can actually get some SLEEP now. ... I hope Shane's there when we're up...)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [+O.C.s]

Shane, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling: Shane's Mon: ... Shane's Mon In Shane's Mind: (You should rest...) Shane: (I just met Hikaru again for the first time in years since that "final battle".) Shane's Mon: (Yes, and you played against Hikaru at the arcade, and Hikaru soundly defeated you. In multiple rounds.) Shane: (I don't care about that.) Shane: (I'm just glad Hikaru's actually "okay".) Shane: (When I watched from the void, I could tell Hikaru was really torn up about losing "them", even way "back then". And...) {"Me"} Shane's Mon: ... Shane: (But it's been years since. I also don't think Hikaru's completely "okay" yet...) Shane: (... But Hikaru kept going.) Shane's Mon: (And so? What are you going to do now?) Shane: ... Shane: (There are certain effects the Void had on my mind that I just can't completely erase. I could even be pulled back in.) Shane's Mon: (That's true. At the least, I'd maybe be present if you are.) Shane: (Thanks.) Shane: (But I know even you can't completely stop its effects on me.) Shane's Mon: ... Shane: (Even by tomorrow, everything could be upside down again. Even if summer "ended", the Digital Worlds' effects can continue far past there.) Shane's Mon: (That is also true. For example, events that happened near the winter rather than Spring.) Shane's Mon: (Do you have a plan?) Shane: Shane: (It depends if the void pulls me back in or not.) Shane's Mon: Shane: (Even if it does... Somehow) SHANE: (I'm going to help them all restore the Digital World's "balance". I don't know fully "how" yet, but I'm going to.) SHANE'S MON: Shane's Mon: (Either way you do so...) Shane's Mon: (I will be in the Void.) SHANE: (I know.) Shane's Mon: (My connection may be cut off in between. It is unpredictable.) Shane: (I know.) Shane's Mon: (...A good place to start might be analyzing the "Digivice" Koushiro has been modifying further.) SHANE: SHANE: (You mean---) SHANE'S MON: (It is not called the "Holy Device" for nothing.) {Fades} SHANE: ... SHANE: (... Speaking of my Digivice...) Shane: (.. I can't use it when {they're} not here.)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02's Daisuke+Co. [and some O.C.s]

Hikaru, bit earlier that day: !! I just remembered!! Chosen: ?!! Hikaru, ponderingly: Shane mentioned Shane had a younger brother. Hikaru: "Patrick", I think the name was. Taichi + Daisuke: (This is New...) Taichi: (Shane's from the U.S. {right??} so...) Hikaru: But Shane only got to mention him a few times in our e-mail exchanges. It seemed like Shane really cared about Patrick though. They didn't always "hang out" closely, but they did bond when able. Daisuke: (...So Shane is a kind guy after all.) Daisuke: (But Shane was kind before that, too...) Ken: ... (*definitely not thinking of Own family.*) Koushiro: I can look up "Patrick" in combination with "Shane" and see what I can find, but... (both are pretty common names...) Koushiro, to Hikaru: Did Shane ever reveal Shane's surname? Hikaru: It took Shane a *while* to, since we met on-line, but once we finally got more acquainted... Hikaru: (*gives surname*) Chosen: !!! Koushiro: (We should have expected this, actually.) Takeru, Looking down at Patamon: (...That kind of surname...) Miyako: Oh, Takeru-- Takeru: ?? Miyako: (I need to Speak with you after this) Takeru: ...! (What's--) Miyako: (We Need To Talk---) TAKERU: (What Did I Do---)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02's Daisuke+Co. & KouTai [and some O.C.s]

Taichi: Maybe we should continue this tomorrow... Koushiro: That's right, we have some leads, but it will take a little more research... Taichi: (I'm concerned about Koushiro overworking self again.) Koushiro: (I know a little better now, but I do have to research this.) Ken: (*leading Daisuke near the door*) Excuse us for a moment. (*Takes Daisuke out of Koushiro's office*) Daisuke. What Has Been Happening. DAISUKE: (*SWEATING*) Listen Ken I'll tell you everything as soon as we can--- KEN: Tell me everything. I may be able to research into their past to find out "what happened" too, but I'll need a better lead. (It'll also help take some of the pressure off Izumi.) KEN: (And it looks like I need to keep a closer eye on Daisuke now.) Shane: (I'm already watching out for Daisuke, but this is really out of all of your leagues.) Ken: ... Wormmon said earlier Wormmon could "feel" something "near" you. Tailmon kept looking intently in the direction too. DAISUKE+SHANE: KEN: I'd like to speak with this person. DAISUKE, Leading Ken bit further away from the door: (It's not that you can't try, but they're difficult!!) KEN: (*I* was "difficult" too.) DAISUKE: Ken, once in room next door: Please show yourself. SHANE: (*remaining Digital*) (If I don't want to talk I won't. Especially not with this person.) Daisuke: ... (They're not showing.) KEN: I see. Ken: But, since you are "attached to" *my* Queer-platonic Life partner, this might prove to be "inconveniencing". DAISUKE + SHANE: KEN: If you believe I'm letting Daisuke out of my sight from now on, you're mistaken. DAISUKE: KEN--- SHANE: ... Shane, Digitally Materializing, Looking at Daisuke: It's not like I'm *directly* involved in the things happening to Daisuke. Shane: (You KNOW This.) Daisuke: (I KNOW But Ken Is LIKE THI---) Ken: You are truly (Still?) a Chosen, aren't you? SHANE: ... SHANE: If I said I wasn't? (Was??) Daisuke: Ken, I already talked with them. Shane doesn't even want to Jogress--- Ken, Looking at Daisuke: ... Ken: Daisuke might be (mostly) unbothered, but now that we know, I'm involved. Shane: I have nothing against you either. Ken: Then answer my questions. Shane: Fine. What. Ken: You were tied to "that place" but now you're "here". With Daisuke, *IN* *Odaiba*. Why? Shane: Your guess is as good as mine. I was pulled back out of the Digital void when *Daisuke* tried opening the gate. (So.) Ken, LOOKING At Daisuke: DAISUKE: (I DIDN'T KNOW!!!) Shane: Anyway, I mostly stay "behind" only *watching* as it is, since I can't *do* muc--- SHANE, Physically wobbling in: (WAIT---) DAISUKE, reaches with free arm to steady: SHANE LOOKING AT KEN: (If *YOU* keep hanging around, *you'll* get dragged into all this TOO, *AGAIN*, Probably-) Shane, grunting in Daisuke's general direction: *Give me a minute*, I'm--- (*wobbles, GLITCHES*) KEN, Looking at Daisuke: (This is BAD.) Ken: (If this keeps up, *they'll*---) DAISUKE: (I KNOW BUT????) SHANE, Steadied: I'm ok. (*breathes out*) Yeah, I'm ok. (*glitching back out but still visible*) Shane, to Ken, VerY very Tired: (It's not like I *want* to be here trailing Daisuke, OK?) KEN: (If you think I'm just going to leave this ALONE---) DAISUKE: (YOU TWO)--- Shane: ... (Turns back to Stare at the Wall for a while) (I prefer staying quiet anyway.) Ken: I have more questions. Shane: I'll only answer what I actually *know*. Daisuke: (What IS This.) Daisuke, to Ken: (...Hey, I appreciate it, but Later, maybe, then...) Ken: ... Shane: (I'll Just Stay Over Here.) Ken: (You still have to answer my questions!) Shane: (Maybe I SHOULD have stayed in the Void---)

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02's Daisuke+Co. [and some O.C.s]

O.C. 'Mon, in clear Hebrew: "BE NOT AFRAID", I AM--- International O.C. Chosen Shane, Floating, ALSO in clear Hebrew: Cut out the theatrics, I KNOW I'M "Like That" right now--- O.C. 'Mon, Who Might Also Just Be Messing With Partner Because: (I don't "always" say it.) Shane: (I Know) (even if others don't) Shane: (but Come On) My head feels like it's splitting already... O.C. 'Mon, Following: You're in "The Void" again. (I'm surprised you can even "feel" anything right now.) Shane: I KNOW. I'm trying to GET OUT Again. ("Look, Its probably A Sensory Thing. Maybe its Digital Stimuli, who knows, but I Sure Don--") O.C. 'Mon: While I could help you, it would require- Shane: The possible destruction of the Worlds if Hashem actually gets involved. I Know. LOOK I'll Just (*FLOATS*) (*Floats More*)-- (*Floaaats*) Shane: This is ridiculous... O.C. 'Mon: May I ask "what happened" This Time? Shane, Exhausted Floating backwards: I pushed "someone" out of the way of a moving truck. O.C. 'Mon: "Someone". ("Not {O.C.} Hikaru"?) Shane: (I still can't reach Hikaru, So) O.C. 'Mon: You'd need that "Someone", if not someone Else, to establish a connection that could "bring you back" to your connection to your specific "Earth" from the Digital realm. Perhaps, by--- DAISUKE, SHOUTING: DIGITAL GATE OPEN!! DAISUKE: DIGITAL GATE OPEN DAISUKE: *DIGITAL GATE OPEN!!!!* Daisuke: Why won't it worK--- SHANE: Shane: (I guess I should have expected this but---) O.C. 'Mon: There is the "connection" you need. If I am not of need, I will see you "later". Shane: right. Later-- (*Digital form getting pulled through the Void*) (*EXPLETIVES---*) DAISUKE: (WHOA) Shane, "Digitally" laid out across Daisuke's lap as if Shane would be normally, in Japanese: Do you always "panic" like that when these things Happen??? Shane, in Mind: (It saved my "life" just now that Daisuke Tried, though.) Shane, Tiredly: What if you hadn't been able to establish the connection and "something ELSE" happe- DAISUKE, Who Totally Didn't Try The Exact Same Thing When Hikari Went Missing Back Then: LOOK you're here *NOW* SO--- (Wait, you knew Japanese??!?--) (I spoke English the WHOLE time except at the start--) Shane: (Wait until Daisuke realizes I AND my Partner 'Mon also know Hebrew.) Shane: (Ugh) (I Am) ... (How do I 'sit up'.) DAISUKE: Uh, so (*shifts... away*) Maybe I can?-- (*holds out hand???*) Shane: (I'm supposed to be Digital---) (*reaches*) DAISUKE+SHANE: SHANE, SEMI-PHYSICAL: (WHAT...) DAISUKE: WAIT, I should-- (*TAKES OUT DIGIVICE*) SHANE, AUTOMATICALLY: It won't WOrK--- DAISUKE: (*SNAPS on Cell-Digivice*) But I gotta get this to Koushiro and Ken!!-- {AND "Hikaru-chan"} SHANE, GLITCHING WorSE: (*SIGH*) Daisuke: ... Its blurry. Daisuke: But you're half-here in frONT OF Me--- Shane: That's the best you'll get at this-- (*wobbles in and out Digitally while half-falling*) SHANE: (*EXPLETIVES---*) Shane: Is that really the first thing you do?!?? Daisuke: (But they'll NEED IT---) VMON: DAISUKE SHANE: (*Fades*) VMON, Distressed for being Late to help: DAISUKE, WHAT HAPPEN--- DAISUKE: (I HAVEN'T TOLD VMON) Um, well-- Vmon: Who were you talking to?!??! Daisuke: UM (*shows... pic*) Pic: (*is low quality 90s-esque .jpg AF*) VMON: ... (*Suspicious Looks @ Daisuke*) Why is it so blurry?!?? DAISUKE: Listen, Vmon, I'm OK, Its a Long Story, we HAVE to get this to Koushiro--- (*SENDS*) SHANE, Trying Very Hard To Not Phase In Physically or make self Obvious to nearby Humans: (Why.) {To Be Continued, Maybe}

Meawhile with DigiAdvs 02's Daisuke+Co. [and some O.C.s]

Inter-national Chosen Shane, Chinhanding @ Daisuke, Literally (in Digital-esque Form): So, tell me about your - Shane, Pausing: Well, only if you want -- Shane: Your Queer-platonic Poly-cule. DAISUKE: (*SIGH*) Shane: I was genuinely curious, but-- Daisuke: No, it's fine, Just Daisuke, Thinking: ...Well, Ken happened "later". A bit "later". Shane: right. Daisuke: But we weren't "in" this... "partnership" yet. Daisuke: Things didn't actually *start* happening more until high school. But right before, I was on-again, off-again with... Shane: It wasn't {Mutual O.C.} Hikaru, right? Daisuke: No, but, Hikari-chan. SHANE, Eyebrows raising: "Hikari"-chan. Shane: (Wait, now that I recall, I do think Hikaru said the name "Hikari" some times too. So they're the one who looked close to Hikaru... or Hikaru looked close to them. But Hikaru's very different too.) Daisuke: Yeah. Taichi's little sibling. But we're in the same grade and always sat by each other early on so... Shane: You genuinely "fell" for Hikari. Daisuke: Yeah. (Wait) You're not giving Hikari an honorific, either?!? Shane, Casually moving on: So you fell for Hikari and then also met Ken? DAISUKE: HEY, you *should* be using -chan for-- Shane: Koushiro doesn't. Technically (Koushiro uses -san even for Hikari.) Daisuke: *Koushiro* is *Koushiro*!! YOU-- (You're not even using -san!!!) Shane: When I meet Hikari I'll give what we feel is appropriate. (Maybe) Shane, Casually moving on: I "saw" a small bit involving "Ken" but it wasn't a lot. Just that "Ken" often looked pretty shell-shocked back there when things got "bad". But you also mentioned Ken was "doing better lately". Daisuke: Ye ahhh. Ken . Improved. A Lot Shane: "Improved"-- Daisuke: It's Ken's business, Ken's taking care of it. Anyway, Ken joined about halfway through the year '02 later on. By about the end of summer. And we, well, a lot of Things Happened and now our partners can "Jogress Evolution". Shane: I never heard of that... it didn't exist when I *was* a Chosen. Daisuke: Daisuke: (Yeah, it really didn't. {"Technically?"} Taichi and the rest had heard of it, but only very recently before Ken and I did.) It's when two 'Mons combine because their partners' hearts become one-- Shane: Shane: ... (Quiet) Shane: I don't like that. Daisuke, SHOCK MOMENT: Huh? Shane, Digitally floating backwards: I don't need to "combine" my "heart" with another person's to "Evolve". I'm fine as "we" (implying partner) Are. Daisuke: ...But if you don't want to... there has to be other ways to Evolve, right? Koushiro's been researching some other -- "methods" lately, too. They've just been harder to "reach", for us, but. Shane: If it was another "method" I wouldn't mind. I just like being "Like This". Daisuke: ... Even if "Hikaru" was your partner? Shane: Shane, snorting: Hikaru has all Hikaru's friends to Jogress with. If Hikaru wanted. (...And *you* if there can be more than one.) We were "close", but... I hadn't seen Hikaru in years. Since you all graduated University, even longer. Daisuke: ... (I don't think Hikaru would mind... and *I wouldn't*--?? but. Wait did I just think tha-) So, you mean it when you say you're fine "like this". Shane: Yeah.(*floats*) I seem to be having trouble fixing "this" as it is. Daisuke: We're going to fix that, you know-- Shane: Yeah, now that *I* contacted Koushiro (via Ken) for you. Daisuke: I mean I am, too!! Shane: But even if I WAS "human" again-- Daisuke: OK, OK, I believe you. You're... Daisuke: But, well... Hikaru was also more "recently". I didn't even meet Hikaru until the middle of high school, and that was in *winter*. Well, aside from when I 'first' met Hikaru *way* back when, but that was *different*, I didn't *know* then-- Shane: We can talk more about *that* later. Daisuke: Shane: So you're in a poly-cule with Ken, Hikaru, and Hikari? Daisuke: Uh, well, "it's complicated"-- Shane: (Genuinely did not Predict) There's more?? DAISUKE: (When do I tell Shane about Miyako also having on-again, off-again flings with both Takeru and Ken???) Ummmm Its A Long Story Shane: I'm here all night.

Meanwhile with Digi-02's Daisuke+Co. [and some O.C.s]

Daisuke, watching O.C.: Inter-national Chosen O.C. Shane, lazing: Daisuke: ... You DID have an actual "partner", right? Like, 'digita'--- SHANE: I did, but they're "not here" right now. DAISUKE: Shane: Shane: They're protecting the Digital "void" you re-met me in "back then", so you won't be able to "see them" for a while. Daisuke: (Oh.) Daisuke: But like, their LOOK?... Shane: ... Shane: They're 'technically' like an 'angel'. DAISUKE: SHANE: But Not Like {"Takeru"'s??} 'Angel'. D A I S U K E: Shane: So you probably won't get to "see" them in action any time soon. They might even "look" Different to you. Specifically- Shane: (Their form reflects whatever the person in mind would *like* to "see" and would thus have the "ability" of any such form.) Daisuke, Not Knowing Context: OK but you're saying they DON'T Look Like Angemon{s}??? Shane, Affirming: Not Like Angemon{s}. DAISUKE: I want to meet them someday!! Shane: (No you don't, you'd be "dead" again.) Daisuke: But uh, then, how do they "act" like...? Shane: Kind of "like me". Kind of "not". Daisuke: Shane: They have some "better points". Maybe rubbed off from {Mutual O.C.} Hikaru. I don't really. Daisuke: ... Daisuke: I don't think so-- SHANE: Shane: (Don't just say it just to say it.) Daisuke: No, I MEAN--- Shane: What. Daisuke: Well, I was visiting a kinda-unfamiliar place for the first time in a While, and you still hung out with me. And talked a little bit about {Mutual O.C.s} Hikaru and Hikaru's friends with me when I didn't know a lot, and didn't know Hikaru *well* Yet, so that made it less "awkward". And you weren't... "bugging me" back then too. Shane: I was observing. Daisuke: Daisuke: But what we talked about--- Shane: That was legitimate. Daisuke: (Knew it.) That's what I MEAN though. Shane: But I'm "here", so that means I probably haven't really reached my "potential" or whatever that other person told you all back then. Daisuke: But even Koushiro thinks that's not exactly what she meant. Shane: Then what does it "mean", how our 'Digital' partners "reflect" 'ourselves' then? Daisuke: ... You know... (Good question.) But when I talk to Vmon I feel like I'm almost talking to 'another' "myself" at some times... Shane: Well, I've "talked" with mine, but so-called "Angel" ones can be a little "much" all around. Daisuke: (Yeah, I Get It.) You should still show me your partner sometime though!!! Shane: (Daisuke rEALLY Doesn't Get It.) Shane: ... Shane: Maybe Someday. DAISUKE: DAISUKE: Great!! I'll look forward to meeting them!! Shane: (I'm going to have to "look out" for Daisuke for a while, then.)