The last light [Nol]

Indeed - somehow, Mikemon had managed to get Holly a decent night's sleep. But for it to crop up on this day, their evening would come up a little short - though, honestly, Syre couldn't help but give a little bit of a chuckle. The sun had set and K wanted to squeeze all of those things in those last few hours?

It... it made perfect sense. With a sigh of her own, she'd lean back and let her back slide down the wall, until she was sitting down on the floor. Mikemon gave a short nod to the fox. "I'll treat you to a nice back-rub and massage before we get some sleep. Syre, you don't mind turning in a little early?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine... we can do some cooking in the morning!"

Mikemon gave a nod, and the three would set off for the night.

---

Day Five. 8AM.

Syre was already awake for an hour, and was helping K get a nice breakfast of eggs and sausage going in the kitchen, the black cat finding that she had a bit more of a handle on what was going on here after being taught how to fry a fish. Mikemon found himself looking at some notes opposite Holly, the cat shaking his head as he tapped at the paper.

"No, see, you don't have to make it that complicated. If you try to deflect a certain data signal, its too broad - I took the amethyst and blocked out everything in the A2 to A7 range. Its not like you really have to worry about where the Gotsumon are when they're sleeping, you know?" He was speaking broadly - about how the amethyst would block nearly all signals of 'animate' or 'golem' type Digimon, as well as his own orb and Jade. Though, really, it was more a technical curiosity than anything else. "If I just blocked A3, the gem would have to be nearly three times as big, and how would you sleep wearing that?"

Syre would be concerned, but honestly, this wasn't the first time that fried eggs turned into scrambled ones in this house. Sometimes, eggs simply didn't do what you wanted them to do! But the BlackGatomon took it in stride, adding a little bit of milk to the pan before giving them a light whip, helping to fluff up the impromptu scrambled eggs.

"To think I haven't even done this before..." The cat gave an embarrassed chuckle, the amateur chef working under the close watch of her mother, giving her access to the pan to add just a bit of green pepper and garnish to give it a little bit of excitement. "But this is nice. I don't quite think I'd have Holly's energy to dive right into the books first thing in the morning..."

Mikemon smirked, waving that comment off as he sketched the design into Holly's notes. "Just remember to keep it close to your bed. No need to dull your senses when you're out on a mission or even out on the town. Mm..." The cat gave a short sniff in the air. The eggs were just about done. "More importantly, you got your appetite back from yesterday?"

"I'll try, mom!"

And that was really all she could do! But, honestly, Syre was doing quite well handling herself in the kitchen. No burns, decently scrambled eggs, and even the right amount of salt tossed in the pan. It was a nice activity in the morning to get the blood flowing right, though she still marveled at her sister's near endless amounts of energy.

Energy that Mikemon was now indulging Holly in, now that she was well rested and awake! Giving the notebook back to Holly, the doctor gave a nod, chuckling himself. "Well, I don't know if we have a busload, but-"

"Alright, come and get it!"

"We should have enough!"

After all, K usually made enough for the strong, growing family - it was amazing how a seeming mountain of eggs could vanish in front of three hungry cats and a fox! That morning went on without a hitch, the sisters joking with each-other, Mikemon giving a smile as he complimented Syre on her cooking, everyone having just the right amount - and when all was said and done, Syre would slip off with Holly upstairs to just hang out for a bit, at the doctor's direction.

Because - unfortunately - Mikemon and K had to talk about tomorrow. Just as 9:30 rolled around, the doctor gave a sigh, and gave K a small pad of paper. In it were her directions for the day:

No food after noon. No liquids after 10:00 PM. No Digivolving past rookie - and, unfortunately, he recommended that she spend a good part of the day in the Library, for observation.

"..." The time was growing close, and at that realization, Mikemon gave a sigh, shaking his head.

"... More than anything in the world, I love you, K. This week has been grand - and I know over the past few that you haven't felt too many ill effects. But past day 7 or 8, your condition will rapidly worsen. I'm... I'm glad your last few days with us could be spent with a smile."

It definitely slammed home. Not just for K, but for the doctor - and honestly, for the kids and everyone else who knew her. That message had been sent what seemed like ages ago, K saying her final farewells to the world, and in less than twenty-four hours time, the Renamon would go under the knife.

For a surgery that would expunge the Wisemon's data from her core.

"That's right - you'll have roughly ten hours after the surgery, and if I had to guess, only six or seven of them will be good ones." The doctor gave a sigh - accepting that hug, nuzzling right up to the Renamon's neck. "I wish I had an eternity with you, of course... as it stands..."

He gave a sigh, once more shaking his head, just trying to clear his thoughts. "I want there to be as little shock tomorrow as possible - so I'll explain it in brief. About a half hour before the surgery, you'll receive an injection of a powerful data stabilizer. Essentially, your core will feel as perfect as its ever been, simply radiating energy rather than simply rotating as it does normally. It will hold your data still, and allow me to operate with accuracy."

"The effects of that drug will persist - as I've said - for six or seven hours. Even after you come to, you might not feel that anything is wrong. But once your core starts to spin again..."

He bit his lip. "It'll just unravel."

It was definitely a bit of an awkward air, hearing Mikemon speak of the fox's end in such a professional matter. Even if it was her choice, it was difficult to remove the sense that it was going to be his cation that hastened the death of his love... but at this stage, it was the only option he had.

This was the only way to ensure that blight never returned to the world.

K took the news as well as she could, even thanking the doctor for her efforts - and at her request, Mikemon gave a nod. "Its not selfish at all. The last thing you will see in this world is my smiling face, hand-in-hand as I see you off to the end. It will hurt... but if I did anything else, I don't think I could really forgive myself."

The cat gave a sigh, running his own hand down her back - chuckling only at her last remark. "I'm glad too." He gave a grin. "And off-putting as I was the first time, I'm glad I took the chance."

"Well, none of us have really had perfect lives..."

The Mikemon shook his head, feeling that hand rest on his cheek. There were a few things that he wish he had the chance to do, and considering their full lives, there were definitely a few things they would have rather skipped on... including this one that weighed heavy on the Renamon's heart, the attack on the library. Hearing that, Mikemon gave a nod, biting his lip as he returned his thoughts to that memory.

"... Not just the attack on the Library, but the incident back at my old office back in Whitewater too. I saw you - a trapped fox in the clutches of an evil man, desperately calling for help. You didn't make the best decisions. Heck, you even lied to me about being with the Wisemon, over his threats against Syre's egg. If anything, I think I wished you thought I was more capable, that I would know how to protect both you and her."

He gave a sigh.

And then he just said it.

"But I forgive you. For all of it."

"We all make mistakes, some bigger than others. Don't forget, you're talking to a former demon lord, of all things."

Mikemon stuck out his tongue at that, stifling a chuckle before he nuzzled right up against that kissing muzzle. Time was running short for her, and their time together was winding down... how did she want to spend that last half day? What else was there to do? Hearing the fox's last words, Mikemon let out a small sigh.

"Garlond and Joseph have been a great help thus far. That Renamon managed to finalize all of the paperwork, your few assets are sorted out, and the Knights are in good hands... I guess there is one thing you might want to do."

Taking out his D-Terminal, Mikemon gave a look down at the Knights chat - just a looker account that he had, being K's husband.

"But only if you want to write something for your own memorial."