[right][h3]Taito - Tokyo Prefecture – Japan
Emilia Westridge and Kokomon
9:22 AM - October 28th - 2019[/h3][/right]
[hr]

Soft morning sunlight sifted its way through the curtain in front of Emilia's balcony. The soft banter of a Japanese talk show filled the empty silence that permeated the morning, the volume high enough for noise to be heard but quiet enough to not distract. Emilia had been awake and sitting in the living room for at least an hour. After she calmed Kokomon down again yesterday, they just talked. She wasn't sure for how long, though. Kokomon kept asking questions about anything and everything until they both fell asleep on the couch. Emilia had woken up to Simon & Garfunkel playing from her phone, figured she was showing Kokomon the music she liked. Despite having spent a few hours with Kokomon the night prior, Emilia's refreshed headspace had sort of brought her back to the bizarre reality of her situation. It's no surprise that she woke up hoping all of yesterday had been a silly dream. Kokomon breathed heavily, still sleeping child-like at the other end of the couch.

Emilia scraped a spoon around the inside of an empty yogurt cup. She was now entirely in her head, a mess of thought, and likely wouldn't have been able to recall the flavor of the yogurt she ate without looking at the label. She was curled up on her couch, wrapped in a cocoon of blankets that covered all but her head and arms. Emilia's 'comfort hat' shielded the world from her worst part of her bedhead, with the rest of her light caramel hair cascading over the mound of chin-high blankets. The lightly frayed, pastel orange beanie was a gift that her father had given her before Emilia left for Japan. Emilia's father often called her 'pumpkin' or 'pumpkin-head' as a kid, which her mother picked up on as well. A nickname that, to Emilia's initially distaste, stuck. She grew to like it as 'pumpkin-head' quickly became a term of endearment. She realized immediately that the orange color was chosen on purpose and has cherished the hat since. She'd felt calmer since she put the hat on. 

Emilia's cell phone and D-Loader were sat amongst the paper, books, and dirty cups on the coffee table beside her. A white light was blinking from the D-Loader but Emilia now appeared wholly distracted, eyes barren and unchanging. She pondered the warning that she received earlier about how she was to get sucked into a foreign virtual world. She was now stuck on how to tell the school board that she wouldn't be able to make it to work, as though she'd completely accepted her fate. Though, she was more likely stunned beyond panic. Kokomon breathed heavily, sleeping child-like at the other end of the couch

Emilia tossed the yogurt cup toward the coffee table with such little strength that it couldn't make the two-foot distance and hit the floor with a clang. She groaned. When she looked down she noticed the blinking D-Loader. An ever-so-slight scowl tensed her brown, creasing the gap between the orange beanie and her sharp, blonde eyebrows. She reached for the D-Loader and, as if ready to hatch, Emilia shifted within the wall of blankets to prepare. She clicked the power button and clicked the blinking '!' on screen. A warning flashed, claiming there was another digital entity around. Immediately, Emilia was tugged out of her thoughts. She split her blanket cocoon as she reached across the couch to nudge Kokomon awake.

[color=f7976a]"Hey, Kokomon,"[/color] Emilia whispered, poking the still slightly familiar brown creature on her couch. 

Kokomon peeled its eyes open one by one [color=a0410d]"Hm..."[/color] She softly yawned.

[color=f7976a]"Kokomon, the D-Loader says there's another 'digital entity' here,"[/color] Emilia said as Kokomon properly woke up; her voice was steady. [color=f7976a]"Do you think that means there's [i]another[/i] Digimon here, in my apartment?"[/color]

Kokomon squinted. [color=a0410d]"I don't know... maybe."[/color]

Emilia closed her eyes and exhaled. [color=f7976a]"Okay."[/color] Without wasting a moment, she stood, tossing the blankets on the back of the couch. She looked at Kokomon and reached out, but she hesitated, arms suspended in the air. Kokomon grinned, which Emilia took as a positive signal to snatch up the smiling brown throw pillow. 

Cradled in one of Emilia's arms, Kokomon felt a type of warmth and protection unlike any she had before. She snuggled in closer to Emilia's chest while Emilia tip-toed about her apartment. She glanced occasionally at her D-Loader which now had a sort of radar on-screen: a red dot with circular ripples expanding outward from the dot. Emilia her and/or Kokomon were the dot and it was scanning for this supposed digital entity. Suddenly, a blip appeared on the D-Loader. Just as sudden, a [i]THUD[/i] sounded from the balcony. She looked at Kokomon, confusion pursing her lips, and spun to face the balcony. A muffled mutter came from outside.

[color=f7976a]"Hello?"[/color] Emilia held her voice steady and strong, an attempt to prevent any anxiety from seeping through. [color=f7976a]"Is there someone there?"[/color] As she walked toward the sliding door, Emilia noticed her cellphone display was a pixelated jumble of colors. She picked it up and slid the phone into her pocket. The air felt heavy like when she had encountered Kokomon last night.

[color=a0410d]"I think it's another Digimon,"[/color] Kokomon mumbled. The color in her cheeks faded slightly and Kokomon squeezed its eyes tight. [color=a0410d]"I don't feel good.."[/color]

Emilia shifted her focus from the door to Kokomon, back to the door. She drew the curtains and opened the door. Kokomon quivered its lip. A white, ferret-like being was curled up at the other end of the balcony facing away from Emilia and Kokomon. It had two arms and a golden scroll wrapped up in its translucent tail; it rubbed its white head, still muttering. 

Emilia adjusted her orange beanie and looked at the D-Loader again. There was no information available about the creature on her balcony. [color=f7976a]"Hey."[/color]

The white creature jumped with a surprised wail. Kokomon followed suit, burrowing her face between Emilia's arm and chest.

[color=fff79a]"W-who are you?"[/color] it questioned in a panicked shout. Its voice was nasally and loud; abrasive and piercing. [color=fff79a]"Oh no- where am I?"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"I'm Emilia, and this is Kokomon,"[/color] Emilia replied. A commanding tone accentuated her voice. [color=f7976a]"You're in Taito, Japan. Who are you?"[/color]

The white creature glanced over the balcony and back to Emilia. [color=fff79a]"Of course!"[/color] it exclaimed before muttering, [color=fff79a]"Ugh, lost again..."[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Who are you?"[/color] Emilia repeated, much more aggressive this time.

[color=fff79a]"Ah- my name is Wisp. I'm a Kudamon!"[/color] it squealed. [color=fff79a]"I'm looking for someone and I have to deliver a message. I don't want to fight!"[/color]

The D-Loader beeped in Emilia's hand and repeated the name [i]Kudamon[/i]. [color=fff79a]"We don't want to fight you, Wisp, was it?"[/color] Emilia paused, half-confused, and looked at Kokomon who was clearly incapable of combat, [color=f7976a]"why would we fight you?"[/color]

Wisp sighed. [color=fff79a]"'Cause everybody always wants to fight where I'm from."[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Well don't worry, we're not going to hurt you. You can come inside, we might be able to help each other out,"[/color] Emilia gestured to the door. Kokomon peered down at Wisp and sniffled. She stepped through the door again and Wisp followed, floating in the air. [color=f7976a]"Do you happen to know where or what Server Illiad is?"[/color]

Wisp's yellow eyes widened. [color=fff79a]"That's where I'm from,"[/color] he shouted, [color=fff79a]"that's the digital continent I'm from."[/color]

[color=f7976a]"I might be able to take you there with me,"[/color] Emilia paused, calculating her words. As a child, she learned to withhold the truth when the truth wasn't necessary, or even to lie a little when appropriate. [color=f7976a]"Kokomon and I are going to Illiad for the first time tomorrow."[/color] It sounded beyond surreal, but it was as though Emilia accepted it. She had been craving for a change, for something to sweep her away from the monotony of her current life; she wanted to explore. She was hoping to start writing a memoir in Japan, but nothing ever came of it, and this might have been the event to change that. Emilia was looking forward to the unknown reality ahead. 

[color=fff79a]"Wonderful!"[/color] Wisp clapped his hands.

Emilia set Kokomon, who was listening intently, on the couch. Kokomon seemed more comfortable but her fur was standing on end, likely from the electric waves in the air from whatever anomaly sent Wisp to the real world. The D-Loader was letting out a faint beeping. [color=f7976a]"Would we be able to travel with you when we get to Illiad?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"I suppose I can try. I'm supposed to be sending this scroll to the Wolf Tyrant from the Wilds province,"[/color] Wisp revealed, unprompted. He shook his head knowing he wouldn't be able to deliver the scroll in time. [color=fff79a]"I'm a messenger, you see."[/color]

He was young, Emilia now figured, and she hoped to be able to influence the small creature. [color=f7976a]"Perfect. We can help you. You protect us, and we'll protect you,"[/color] she said with sincere confidence, [color=f7976a]"we'll need help and so will you."[/color]

Wisp nodded. He wasn't hard to convince. [color=fff79a]"Yes, absolutely."[/color]

Emilia smiled and Kokomon perked up. [color=f7976a]"Great. You'll have to wait here with us, though."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"I guess I have no choice,"[/color] Wisp stretched out his stubby arms, [color=fff79a]"I'm sort of tired anywho."[/color]

Emilia wandered to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Her confidence had boosted since she had awoken; she was wholly excited at the prospect of change. [color=f7976a]"What's happening where you're from? In Illiad?"[/color] she asked. Kokomon sat on the couch, listening intently.

Wisp peeked from the couch into the kitchen. [color=fff79a]"Colonies are fighting for territory; Digimon are always fighting these days. What kind of Digimon are you?"[/color] Wisp asked Emilia.

Emilia chuckled. [color=f7976a]"Oh- no, I'm a person- a human. Not a Digimon. You two are the first Digimon I've ever met."[/color]

Wisp curled his lip. [color=fff79a]"Not a Digimon? I really am far from home..."[/color] 

[color=f7976a]"I hope we won't have to fight..."[/color] Emilia mumbled. She looked over at Kokomon, confident that Kokomon wouldn't be able to hold her own if they were forced to fight. 

Kokomon pouted, feeling intensely inadequate, and spit some bubbles in front of herself. She was terrified of leaving Emilia's apartment. She had no idea what was beyond her current reality and she pushed the growing fear of getting separated from Emilia away. The worst part was that she knew she would have trouble defending herself, which meant she wouldn't be able to protect Emilia, and that thought upset her the most.

[color=fff79a]"You're bound to fight at some point,"[/color] Wisp warned, [color=fff79a]"but I'm sure you'll both get stronger."[/color]

[color=f7976a]"I hope so."[/color] Emilia poured herself a coffee. [color=f7976a]"What else should we know about Illiad?"[/color]

Wisp rolled his eyes to the side and scratched his chin. There were numerous dangers he could've mentioned and he seemed deep in thought, almost as if he were worried about what to say, but he was actually blanking entirely. A light shone in his eyes and, in a gasp, he said: [color=fff79a]"I'm hungry!"[/color]