video;

[scratchitti]

[The screen comes on, like so many others, seemingly by itself. Neku can be seen in the background, in the bathroom in fact. He's in front of the mirror, hair slightly damp and not all spiked, and a toothbrush hanging from his mouth. He slathers some gel in his hands and starts spiking up his hair, pauses, tries it a different way-]

Hurry up, princess!

Shud dap!

[And the screen flickers to-

Somewhere completely different. In fact it's outside! Fellow Tokyo citizens might recognize Hachiko! Neku is there with someone else Terminal might recognize: Shiki. Plus a pink haired scary woman. Said woman offers him a chance out of a 'Game'- whatever that is. Shiki warns him away but Neku takes the chance, saying he's in even after being warned that he will be 'Erased' if he fails.]

You have one minute... to Erase that girl.

[Neku hesitates at first, seeming horrified by the idea- but the woman adds tot he pot. Claiming Shiki is a spy... and slowly Neku seems to go blank, asking her outright and in a chilly tone why she was always checking her phone. It's obvious he's buying this tale. Or at least convincing himself it's the case- so he doesn't feel bad for what he's about to do.]

What are you waiting for? Do what comes naturally. Save yourself. Screw everybody else, right?

[Shiki pleads for him to wait, but still detached and refusing to listen:]

I have to

[More static and it's back to Neku, looking confused. Gummymon bounces on screen. She had obviously been watching. She knows who Shiki is... at least the version shown. Neku's old *Partner*. She has big gooey tears in her eyes.

After all if he could do that to ONE partner, then-]

...Stupid! Stupid Neku!

[And she runs off, right out the door, leaving Neku looking horrified and even more confused with toothpaste and half applied hairgel still on his face]

Comments

video;

[heartdive]

[ yeah he might have seen that and all. but it's not the thing that Sora is going to focus on right away. after all... that's in the past. it's not who Neku is now. ]

That's a great face to show the camera.

video;

[scratchitti]

?

[Neku blinks, still kinda shell shocked. He finally spits the toothbrush out, which hits a nearby wall and leaves a splatter sorry Kaldur]

...shit.

video;

[heartdive]

You, uh... Okay over there?

video;

[scratchitti]

Been better... I should look for Terri.

[he looks worried and ashamed- he's not really sure his partner WANTS to be found righ tnow]

video;

[whitefeather]

...Another glitch, I wonder..

[Unfortunately for Neku, he's amused.]

My, my. It looks all the more brutal close up!

video; 2/2

[whitefeather]

[And. Renamon's just going to look shocked.

Re: video; 2/2

[scratchitti]

[Neku looks ashamed, though more aimed at Renamon then anything. He's... kinda used to Joshua]

You're the reason I was even there, Joshua.

[His accusation lacks any heart though- more like a resigned and practiced retort then anything else. After all, he came to accept that without Joshua's Game he'd still be... stuck]

[changelingdude]

Well...

That was unsettling.

Got any context for that dude?

[scratchitti]

...I... didn't kill her.

[Sorry man, no amount of explaining will make this look any better]

[changelingdude]

Good start. That's what I like to hear.

But...but why were you even...just why?

Easy Rita, I'm sure it's not as bad as at looks. This is Neku we're talking about here.

[strengthinkindness]

N...N-Neku...

[That's all she can manage, because she didn't know what to say. The confusion, the concern, the shock...too many emotions were flooding through her, and she wasn't sure where to start.]

[scratchitti]

...I'm sorry.

[It's all he can think to say- he has no good excuse for his actions. He was desperate? he thought she was betraying him? None really are the full truth]

[strengthinkindness]

[There were so many things she wanted to ask, so much she didn't understand. But looking at him, she only really manages one thing.]

A...A-Are you...okay...?

[video]

[headseraph]

[Shiki appears on the screen for a moment, face identical to the one in the video, and then she winces and the feed cuts off.]

[video]

[headseraph]

[Then, after a moment, Lalamon pops up on the screen. For something very cute and pink, she's got a scary aura about her.] You broke my partner and you need to come and fix it or I will come and fix your face. I may not like her, but she's what I'm stuck with and -

[There's something like a scuffle, the camera swinging around wildly, and Shiki can be heard saying I'm fine, it's fine, give me back my D-Terminal.] Don't be fooled by her lies! She was crying in the bathroom like a big digibaby!

Re: [video]

[scratchitti]

[Yike, holy shit Lalamon]

Shiki... I...


I'm coming over.

[He can't explain over the D-T, just.... no]

[Text]

[headup_stickontheice]

[It's not like the memories go away after they're broadcast; it's on the feed, which is the equivalence of a transmitted message, so Cam can still see this, even though he's spent hours trying to...calm.

So this isn't exactly what he expects, honestly.]

what?

[Yeah. There's not much else he can say.]

[Text]

[scratchitti]

[Neku responds a while later, after hunting down Terri and calming various people down... and wallowing in his own guilt]

she's okay. someone else showed up in time

[Text]

[headup_stickontheice]

why?

[Not why did someone else show up. Rather, why did you do it.]

[Video]

[innermonologues]

[ There is silence on his side for a moment. As if he were having an inner dialogue with himself over what to say. ]

[Video]

[scratchitti]

[Neku just looks back, looking lost]

[Video]

[innermonologues]

[ After all that silence. ]

Home?

[action] since, well, they're still roommates?

[acceptedburden]

[Terri reacts before Kaldur or Gizamon can say anything. Kaldur isn't sure what to say, but he's been involved in enough "mole" shenanigans and brain washing that he has to wonder if the memory is the entire story. He knows it CAN'T be and he knows what it might LOOK like out of context.

Gizamon, on the other hand.]

Wow. That was kinda harsh. I'd be running out of here too if I didn't know I could take you.

[Kaldur shakes his head at his partner before his eyes move back to Neku. They've been living together for awhile now and while it is true that it has only been a short time, Kaldur feels that he has a good enough grasp on Neku to understand that there is more to the memory and that, as he is now, it would not happen.

Besides, he had the crest of Friendship for crying out loud.]

[action]

[scratchitti]

[Neku glares at Gizamon... but his heart isn't in it]

...yeah.

[action]

[acceptedburden]

[Kaldur rises and steps over his digimon. Gizamon tenses, apparently she's more troubled than she lets on.]

Kaldur.

[Kaldur ignores her though and moves to Neku.]

I imagine there is more to that. We should get Terri before she gets the wrong idea.