Little Surprises [Ryouta]

Well, that was rather sudden for her taste, but she guess that's fine. Isana sipped her drink elegantly while sending a glance at Ryouta that tells him to take a break. Of course the young man immediately do it, grateful for her sensitivity. Explanation can be asked later. Rather than that, she's more interested as of why Suzuran is here and not Ayaka of all people.

"My sweet time should be taken as long as it could, especially when we have been spared from Dark Area's harsh ground. Alas, your comment about my clothes only bring it to a point that I've actually died twice. It wasn't fun. Disregarding all of those,I've been well, o daughter. I see that yourself has gotten into a rather interesting arrangement. A lie I shall not spoke this time... I actually expected Ayaka instead of you. The girl herself has changed... Like, very changed. She's no longer the girl that seem would cry a lot. However I have no idea whether it's destiny's ill humor or not that she's partnered with you, exact opposite of the motherly Ayaka. Whether that will be good for her growth or not, we shall see. Still, it's a pleasure to see you here nonetheless."

Isana gently brushed some of her white locks away.

"...Well, then, daughter. Mind telling me what's going on? I need as much information as possible, of course. All for the sake of.... ah, curiosity."

"Why I'm here, you ask? Even though you heard it from the boy himself? I'm his employee and he's my employer, simple as that... and truth to be said, when I looked at the note left by Yuu, I know this would gone downhill, so I'm here to see whether they need my intervention or not. But looks like it's not really needed at the present so instead I'm here, drinking tea. Arrangement that I meant is that you being partnered, though. If there's someone I think is partnered among my daughters, you would enter one of the less likely. I didn't say least because I know fate is such a fickle mistress. It love to see people in strange arrangement."

She sipped her tea more, but chuckled at Suzuran's answer.

"Indeed, and it's not a bad one either. While I'm expecting Ayaka, it's more to inevitability if she's here, because she's partnered to that girl before you, so by nature I'm expecting Ayaka. However, when my expectation is overturned, that is not a problem the slightest. I'd rather see my daughter, no matter how much she called me old fogey rather than any stranger. Also, I've been with them longer, I know how... what does those human says in their french? Fucked up? their relationship is. The girl is often easily hurt, the boy is denser than any digizoid. Match made so awfully bad that it hurts you can say. Yet so sickeningly sweet that you can't help but to look at them warmly. Now that's not what I'm asking. What I'm asking is what happened until you returned here to the real world."

"Despite your face is even I can say your heart already looking at my action in contempt," Isana commented, chuckling. "There's nothing wrong in you to think that I have no pride, but even so this old mother of yours will always say that this and that is unrelated thing. Professional wise, not even us can survive purely without give-and-take relationship... however, I'm not doing this professionally. If I want to do just that, I'd rather work for a bit, get some seed and roll from there. It's that the human interests me. Why your sister ties herself so much to a human? Why would she painstakingly ties herself to a human who would cry a lot? Even to me, it's illogical. Motherly instinct? We are not so motherly as other species if one can say. In itself, your sister is an enigma, truly like my sister. I can't help but to want to feel that for myself, so I offered my service to the boy. Although rather than my service, should I say that it's just formalities? In the end I can't even treat him like my superior when he's so much like a child being lost! All in all, it was a fun journey."

She chuckled at Suzuran's answer. "Yes, arrogant daughter of mine, such is your nature, to what human would say 'not giving any fucks'. In some way, I used to be like that also, hence I'm not too worried about it the slightest. Also, daughter, I'm not asking something that foolish. I'm asking what happened from when you hatched until this point, and if you know what happened to your sister and her retainer. Who was she called? Penny?"

"Those are mine words indeed, Daughter, but I also spoke of what your heart says. Presumptuous as you might say, I'm still your mother, and while I have no idea of what inside of your heart, I can guess it from our shared time together. A reason for that is also something that I know, but unfortunately, your unwillingness to accept something out of your logic will not bridge our different ideals, hence rendering any arguments moot. You think of your ideal as fact, thus unwilling to test it. When it's tested, 99% you would most likely paid no heed to those opposing arguments. Listening was never one of your best point due to that, isn't it?"

Though, she laughed at her reply.

"Should I say that I wasted my time too hoping that you would at least give more than those overly glossed synopsis? O daughter of mine, you're truly true to your character. Boorish as it might be, you always have to make it a thousand times more unimportant than any rock on the roadside! Should I say this amuses me more than it should? Either way, I have heard about Yuu. The fair lady used to be a male, interestingly. I need to ask her what made her like that. Oh, but that's not important for now. Tell me more about this foolish humanoid Digimon you spoke of."

She of course laughed harder. "Ah, amusing as always, my child. Very well, very well, each to their own. None can bend how tree grows unless with enough force. More than enough and they will break. Unfortunately we plant Digimons won't take breaking kindly, so I'll refrain from saying more. However, I'll just say, sometime listening to moronic statement can be source of humor, ufufufu."

Yet at the next sentence, her laughter broke harder. "You... YOU!? AFRAID!? I never heard something as hilarious as that for a while now! Honestly, what is that person thinking, scaring you!? I think your sister might be better target for that, you're another level entirely! Ah, never before I had such nice laughter like this! Oh my, this might prove to be more hilarious than that birdbrain! Ahhh... speaking of which, though, I think you missed the point. If the Digital World could change something then it's not exactly as silent or sleepy as we thought. There are still thrill out there. One that awaits to be unearthed. However, I thin this is difference in taste. Because you know, I enjoy the idyllic life more than the danger infested one, although I admit, at times world just tossed that to us when we're least expecting it."

"So calm before storm, is it?" Isana questioned, seem to be interested, yet at the same time pretty much already expecting it. "While I hope that this interlude will last longer, I'm actually hoping more that storm this time will not be some... prank sort.." her voice trailed off at the last part. "...Like a certain aves who seem to be so keen on his plan for world domination and defeating a certain big breasted butch of a woman... I can't believe those are natural. Or those a certain thing that happened in the plains. Those storms felt like prank. Just appear to destroy and suddenly vanish without trace... and gives no chance for those participating in bettering themselves."

She leaned forward now, as if telling Suzuran that she should pay attention now. "...I might ramble, but the last part is important for your partner, child. If you wish to know more about your sister's past, or that girl's past, going to the network plains might be your best bet. However, I doubt at this point the child is dear to you. Still, she's dear to me. I'll trust her safety to you, Suzuran."

She pulled back right after. "Plan is it? I'm just trying to get the blockhead and the amnesiac girl to be together again. Just that... other than that, I'm tempted to regain my power. My evolution stage seem to be... how to say, different this time around, child. I wish to grow stronger to support my longtime contractor."

"A bud pretending to be tree will also be killed by other trees," Isana remarked "unless some miracle happened. However, we're not talking about miracle, do we? We're talking about grandeur and people who unaware of their place. It's painful for me to say this, but an old tree I am, worse than bud. Dying I am, thus my data unable to recover as fast as yours. You two have it easier than this old woman. That's why until the time is right, I shall not participate in anything other than building power. Still, amusingly I wonder if there will be a time where I'll find someone who have the power but act as if they're a bud?"

She snorted when Suzuran commented about all her relationship with Mana. "Nothing personal, instead something specieswide, is it? Blessed thou art not with human's sympathy or empathy, something like that? While you might say that it's a waste to sympathize or empathize with them, I wonder will you be able to say the same later on? Well, whatever, your single minded way of dealing thing is needed to balance your sister's overthinking way anyway..."

Isana gently swept any hair that obscuring her vision to the back.

"...I'm reassured, Suzuran. You might not want to hear this, but thank you nonetheless."

Though all that solemn mood broken by her laughter at her daughter's transparent show of disgust.

"Now, now, it's a joke. A joke it was, yet it's a privilege given to old people. Only those who are old enough can talk like this. But you know, Suzuran, certainly you know how bad your sister is with romance. I'm afraid that bad luck is a bit contagious... but never I've seen that girl happier than with that boy. That's why I probably wanted them to end up together again..."

But then she put down her cup of tea. "Still, I'll let them sort it out by themselves. I guess it's a fine time to test their love now, if that exist, obviously. Now, Suzuran, do you have any other thing to address? Unfortunately, I'm going to return to Digital World if there is nothing. Me and the boy need to attend to something important."