Kaori's House - A Resummoning

After the chaos that ensued in the Arukenimon's ice-labyrinth months ago, Kaori and the two Digimon had taken a break from the Digital World. It was...not an ideal place for them to be. He had finally finished his task of earning the right to be Zee's tamer, but this only led to more complications for Illyana.

They reappeared in the back alley streets from the portal within the abandoned office warehouse Kaori had initially stumbled into the Digital World through. Though the building appeared even more damaged and graffiti-laden, it was nonetheless quiet as the human and two bat-like Rookies stepped out of the soft-orange portal. It spiraled into itself and collapsed, leaving the three in relative darkness. There was at least one monitor here that still appeared to give off some light despite clearly not being plugged in. Or even being stationed in an area with working electricity; surely the grids were not wasting power on this place.

Kaori approached the screen and carefully pressed his index finger against the screen. A part of him expected for it to go through, but the portals through monitors had been sealed for some time now. Even if things had returned to status quo regarding Zee, he was no longer in the same place as the scared yet cynical teenager that had first fallen into another world.

More than that, he had Illyana to take care of now as well. Zee's D-Arc was clipped to his belt already as he withdrew Illyana's D-3 from his pocket. It appeared as dull as these monitors, but with that faint light of potential at some far point in time.

Or so one would believe. Never had these monitors turned on again. What if that was the case with Illyana's Digivice as well?

This was not the time for discussion; they were all much too tired. Zee and Illyana had already donned their holosuits as they left the building behind them.

A few days had passed.

School seemed to be an almost useless endeavor against all he had been through in the Digital World, but it proved a nice change of pace for Kaori. Zee and Illyana spent the time exploring Shibuya on their own, and had thus far avoided any trouble. But it was clear when they were all home together that they were dancing circles around what they were all thinking of. Illyana's Digivice had not changed since that day, and Zee's remained as active as ever. They did not much feel interested in testing out the D-Arc's functions given their current state of mind.

They were both already home when he returned from school, returning to their Rookie forms to fly in through his room's open window. It was somehow less suspicious than having two strangers come in through the family's front door every day without ever appearing to leave.

"So, finished adventures early today?" he asked the two Digimon after closing the door behind him. They each appeared to be in idle conversation perched atop his rarely-used desk.

"Guess so." came Zee's equally melancholy response. She tapped her staff against the desk in a loose rhythm that she appeared to fail only seconds later.

"I think..." the DemiDevimon began, trailing off into open-mouthed silence for a moment, "I don't think my Digivice will work anymore. Not because of time, just...you've chosen Zee. That's it."

"Oh come on! Some of these tamers can have two Digimon; I've seen it before." the PetitMamon retorted, though her seemingly brash words held a strong sense of uncertainty, "This idiot probably needs two of us to make sure he-."

Illyana tapped the other Rookie with her left wing. "Zee, no. I can't do this right now. If we need time anyways...I want that time to be at home. In the Digital World."

"Past experience says we'll need to be close to reactivate Digivolution. We can go back for a bit." the human added, nodding at her idea. Maybe it needed to recharge in the Digital World? Both of the previous Digivice alterations had happened on that side of reality, after all.

"...maybe not "we". Not right now. You know, I did have my own life before running into you, Kaori. I should go back to taking care of that."

Illyana took her leave through a portal in the following days; she left not semblance of a schedule for when (or if) she would return.

Since then, things had essentially gone back to the initial status quo from over a year ago. For some time, Kaori concentrated on his more normal life aspects of school and the like while the PetitMamon took a very hands-off approach to the whole partner business; this was still awkward for her as well. Besides being terrible at expressing gratitude, she had also essentially stolen the place of someone she considered a friend. Hell, this was technically the second time she had taken Illyana's place, though the first time was out of her hands. Though the DemiDevimon had essentially removed herself from the equation, she too had a Digivice tied to Kaori.

Augh, this was ridiculous. After fighting a goddamn Ultimate and her little army - an Ultimate that was the reincarnation of an old rival, even! - how was trying to sort out this partner business the most difficult thing she had encountered since finding a tamer?!
Zee longed for the time that they just dealt with exploring the Digital World, and dealing with enemies. She had finally hit Champion at least, so they wouldn't have to run so much. And being this close to her true form of LadyDevimon, she was even more excited by the prospect of gaining power once more.

Which was why she was relieved when Illyana finally did contact them requesting help with a "situation in Snowpoint".

"Guess we can't just run from that place forever." Kaori resigned, a smile taking him by surprise as it formed along his face.

"Definitely not. This human life is just going to bore us both otherwise."