A Way Forward [Shade/Makoto]

The blue portal was met with obvious distaste by the wraithgururumon. He had entered through similar ones that had led to him being lost in various locations. But this one was far more stable than anything he had experienced thus far. Past the one from syre at the start of his journey away from his most proper home after those in the dark area.

”Interesting. The peace and old happiness radiates off of this place like a waterfall. There has been much… positivity here.”

Shade blinked up at the structure; he suddenly felt very small and very strange in front of such an old building. The mon put a hand to his head and stared up at it; his silence after the fact was strange. Even further as the mon learned that he wouldn’t have to sleep outside. He’d blink a few times and before he could say anything another figure waddled out of the front gate. A small lunamon that was a myriad of scents he didn’t recognize outside of tokis. He’d click his teeth and lean this way or that.

”...Hello aylin. What are you? Shade has never met one of you before.”

This moonclad and strange being reminded him of a few things from the dark area but none of them were good. He didn’t feel like this mon was anything like those. He’d hum a bit and look around as they were led into the building proper. His ears flicked a few times and he’d inhale deeply through his nose.

The scent of battle, the scent of pain, the scent of many giving their all for something. There was a strange sensation and even stranger still the mon could just feel it in his bones. This place was so much more than just a simple monastery. What history did it have?

The mon placed a hand to one of the walls. Staring along it and mumbling to himself as toki explained that he and his friend have done their best to restore it to its former glory. A job that they should be admired for. He’d exhale slowly and turn to the trio.

”The strength and memories here are far more than any place in the dark area that shade can think of. What happened here?”

Toki stood by and watched their initial reactions to the monastery. He glanced at Makoto and braced himself for another wave of flirting, but thankfully Aylin's arrival gave Makoto some pause. He sighed softly, but continued to listen to the two of them to speak.

Aylin smiled and swayed back and forth idly as she spoke "It's very nice to meet the both of you Shade and Makoto. While we have some others staying with us, there is still plenty of spare rooms for the two of you to make your own, as Toki said!" She said before she looked at Shade. "What am I? I'm a Lunamon. I may not share in any of my father's forms, I still strongly represent the moon as he did. Has Toki shown you his evolutions?"

Toki shook his head slightly "I haven't shown them yet, but if they would like I can give a demonstration of what forms I can take. I don't really like showing off, but sometimes I really do like taking on a Digimon's form."

Aylin blushed at Makoto's praise "Aw that's very kind of you to say! I'm not as little as I look, but I appreciate your words all the same Makoto." She bowed her head in appreciation. The motherly affection from them was different, but not unwelcome.

Toki and Aylin both paused slightly and stared at each other for a moment when Shade asked about the history here. Makoto was curious as well. Afterwards, Toki began to speak "It's not a day I look back on happily. Aylin and I were on an expedition to the Isles when we got ambushed by one of Tsusagimon's old enemies along with their entourage. We were brought here, where they made their base. They...intended to use some technology they called the Siphon to transfer the data from my body to my spirit's core. That would...effectively kill me, and revive the spirit. If it weren't for some friends and allies...I could have very well died that day. My spirit was fractured during the process, but sacrificed his remaining sentience to repair itself, allowing me a chance to use his power again."

Aylin looked away, ashamed. "They were a Charismon. They manipulated my mind and picked at my insecure need to have my father back. I betrayed Toki in a moment of weakness...but..." She stamped her foot in defiance to this gloomy mood "He never gave up on me! H-he forgave me and I owe everything to Toki! I won't...I won't let him down again."

"Again?" Toki said as he reached down to pet her head "You've never let me down. You can't blame yourself for what happened, Aylin...I was never ever disappointed in you."

Aylin shivered slightly, barely keeping it together, but she gently hugged Toki's arm affectionately for a moment before letting him stand back up. "Thank you, Toki...th-thank you." The two of them were clearly very close, almost as if Toki was a surrogate father figure for Aylin at this point.

Toki looked at Shade and Makoto again "And now the Monastery is ours as it should be. It took a long time to repair it after the battles that took place here, but it was well worth it."

As the subject of Toki's forms came up, Makoto would glance to the young man, before smiling gently. "I'd love to see your forms, though I understand if you'd rather not." They'd mention - tails swishing a bit as they added in suggestion "And... Though I'm not usually one to fight, I imagine that a friendly spar will be in order, once I've settled down?" If they are going to be traveling once more, it was likely that they'd need to be ready and able to fight once more as well; and they wouldn't be surprised, if they had gotten rusty, after being so idle and docile for so long. "If you're willing, at least, Toki dear."

On top of that though, they were also curious to see what Toki's forms would be like. Given Aylin being a Lunamon, and having introduced herself as the spirit's daughter, yet saying that his forms were different... Makoto wondered just what sort of forms Toki had. Was he able to become a rabbit digimon like Turueimon or Antylamon? Or was he some other form of lunar digimon? Or was he even a rarer or more unique sort of digimon altogether? All of them were possible, until they got to know him more; Toki and Shade both were quite curious, and the curiosities only continued.

However, Aylin would soon clarify herself to not be as little as she looks. And given how her father was a spirit now, which likely meant he was rather long lived... A sheepish hue would wash over Makoto, their tails slightly puffing in embarrassment. "Ah..." Letting out a similarly embarrassed chuckle, the Renamon-X would straighten up, bringing their tails around them to fix their fur, claws combing through. "I apologize, darling. I shouldn't have assumed," They'd mention to Aylin; their smile gentle and warm, even if still sheepish. "I still admire the energy and youthfulness that a young lady such as yourself has, though."

But before long, Shade would inquire about what all had happened here - which Toki and Aylin would both explain, telling of the strife and potential tragedies that went on here some time ago. It seemed that recalling it brought down Aylin's mood, and it certainly seemed that Toki had been through a lot himself - but... They had, in the end, both survived everything that had gone down that day. Though they could offer a gesture of comfort, or words of sympathy... Makoto had a feeling that they'd risk being tone deaf if they spoke up without having been there to witness it themself; and so they'd instead give Aylin and Toki both gentle pats on the shoulder in comfort.

To see Toki and Aylin both share some brief affection soon afterwards brought a smile to Makoto's face though - prompting them to comment "You two seem very close, like family; it's rather endearing to see, I must say." with a soft chuckle. No need to dwell on the bad memories, they figured; it's all in the past, after all - and much like Shade said, there was plenty of positivity and good memories to be found and made here.

However, that being said, Shade would also ask about where they'd be staying, as well as where they could get some food. Makoto would nod in agreement, mentioning "I'd enjoy getting to look around the monastery, myself; if this will be my home-away-from-home for awhile, I'd love to familiarize myself." with a smile. "It's such a beautiful place, by the way - you've both done well to repair everything and make it your own."

Shade wasn’t sure what to think of the young man and his forms; or supposedly the forms he could take. The wolf tilted his head to one side; staring at him with a curious air about it. He had to wonder what exactly they’d be; what sort of powers they had and what level of strength he could even go to.

The same could be said of Aylin and Makoto; what were their abilities like? Their powers? It made him seem a bit brooding as he thought these over; someday maybe he’d find out in terms of powers but it wasn’t entirely what he was supposed to be focused on at the moment.

”It’s very calming here.”

He’d have to admit to this fact along with that it was indeed beautiful. It was unlike the dark area, unlike the forests he had been hiding in. And very much so unlike the frozen north where everything seemed out to get you. For once he wasn’t forced to look over his shoulder at every waking moment too. It brought a little smile to the wolfs lips.

”Go ahead and show us toki. Shade doesn’t mind.”

He’d give a small nod and placed those logs next to the gate; it was much better and now all he really had to worry about was the bundle of furs that he had with him. But those were negligible. His eyes flicked from Aylin to toki and eventually rested on makoto; a hearty and comfortable rumble rolling through his throat. The idea of a spar was actually nice… Usually he wasn’t for it given that it just felt like wasted energy but. This wasn’t the case; they had ample food and a safe place to rest.

”Shade would like to watch; or perhaps even join on a later date in said spar.”

He had to think about what he wanted in all of this; uncertain how sparring would do anything but pass time for him. But he wasn’t giving that much thought as they walked forward. Bedrooms to the left; just take on and it’s yours… Then there was a library to the right but it was needing more books. Shade had never been one to read much but if he was given the opportunity…

Then toki’s room was on the second floor; overseeing a beautiful cliff side view. With a single tree? Meditation? The wolf blinked and rubbed at his chin. Another thing he wasn’t really apt for; he didn’t really go for that sort of stuff. Preferring hunting or doing something that could yield results for him physically later. His eyes traced over toki’s initial form. It was a short rabbit; one that he had never seen before. It earned a few inquisitive headtilts and he’d growl lowly.

”Shade prefers meat. Or something with a good feel to it. Fullness he thinks it’s called?”

Seeing the antylamon next however made Shade physically flinch and step back; he was fully aware of those. There were a few of the evil sorts in the dark area that were very territorial. But this one seemed a little more gentle than they; prompting shade to nod his head to them.

”Shade doesn’t really know what your first one was. Never seen it before. But there were plenty of the grumpy looking rabbit types of your… Antylamon? Though they usually had red eyes and erm… were very aggressive.”

Seeing the main entrance and all that it had to offer the wolf mon shifted, looking around and tugging at one of the mats. He didn’t really know what these things were made out of. He looked really curious about them and glanced up at Toki as he spoke again.

”Shade is used to wall carvings, furs and making nests of sorts. This is a huge improvement for him. It will take much time for Shade to figure out anything that could improve on this but he will tell Toki friend when he thinks of them.”

The next digivolution made Shade’s jaw drop just ever so slightly; there was the floating peaceful form of ZenCherubimon. He could feel the energy from it and it made him just a touch nervous. Shifting from one foot to the other; many times when he ran into digimon of mega or above he ran. There was no question of it. He had never been that strong or at least he hadn’t been during his actual accessible memory.

”...Very powerful. Dangerous. In the wilds Toki friend would be unquestionably in control of his own turf.”

Shade shivered a bit and after the last digivolution shade had to physically distance himself from toki. By at least a good twenty feet. Even going so far as to try to stop him from hiding behind a wall or something. He’d grit his teeth and have to smooth down his fur. Such strength! Even though the other was definitely a gentle giant the strength of the one in front of him made shade question his own quite a few times over.

”. . .”

Hearing that this was the form that his mentor took made shade wonder how exactly all of this truly went down. What sort of memories and emotions must have been shared during that. He’d grit his teeth and slowly follow after the pair. His discomfort was physically apparent as every part of him screamed not to follow.

”...A very strange way of thinking. But shade… understands that.”

He sounded a bit pained saying these, but was it because he was uncomfortable? Or was there something more to it. He even was avoiding looking at toki for the moment. Having to try to deal with his bundle of instincts which was the reason he was still alive trying to force him to act irrationally.

”...This place is great so far. But shade has to wonder why he’s never heard about it till now? Sure he's been... out of what one could call the loop but even in the dark area we heard whispers of strange locations or powerful places.”

Toki gave a small nod to Shade "The calming tranquility the monastery offers is one of my favorite aspects of it. I want people to feel at ease and safe here. If their minds can be at ease for even a moment, it has done its job admirably." He said as he placed a hand on one of the pillars. "This place was a home for Tsusagimon and his students for a long time. I hope to bring those days back for a new generation of humans and Digimon."

It seemed even Shade wanted to participate in the possible sparring match, to which Toki smiled encouragingly "When the time comes, it should be enjoyable." His mannerism and voice were somehow more calming than normal. Some of Tsusagimon's personality and teachings were passed on to Toki, but he had long since stopped worrying over his identity. He was Toki, but he was also partially Tsusagimon. At this point, he was okay with that. It saved his life and the lives of others on multiple occasions.

His returned his focus to the conversation of food as he chuckled "Oh dear, listen to me ramble. I'll have a variety of food prepared for dinner so everyone will be able to eat their fill."

He frowned slightly at Shade's description "The Antylamon you describe are the Virus variant. Mine is Data. My first form is known as Turuiemon, the usual Champion form of the normally Ultimate Antylamon. There's a unique...duality to the Antylamon line. A duality that Tsusagimon apparently embraced with the creation of ZenCherubimon."

Shade was clearly intimidated by Toki's stronger forms. Intimidating wasn't a word he liked to use to describe himself, but he couldn't control how others viewed him. While he viewed himself as a peaceful person, the aura of strength he gave off could easily be off-putting. "I apologize, Shade. If you would like, I will revert to my human self if it would be more comfortable for you."

Makoto's worry about taking advantage of Toki's hospitality didn't go unnoticed "If there's anything you wish to do, then I'm sure we have plenty of ingredients to make a nice dessert! Please do not feel obligated to do so, but I'm sure your assistance, however you wish to provide it, will be appreciated." He bowed his head "As for the library, I would be interested in having anthropological studies on the various Digimon cultures...arrange them with humanity's anthropology as a way to compare, contrast, and understand each other."

Even Makoto was slightly pressured at the sight and presence of Tsusagimon. He did his best to give the two of them the gentlest smile he could before he guided them to center of the main room. He picked up four cushions from a drawer and placed them in a square pattern at the center under the moonlight. He and Aylin knelt down on two cushions and invited them to sit on the other two "Our stages matter not. We're all equal here and I will not allow anyone to say otherwise. The both of you are as valued and precious as anyone else."

Aylin chimed in "That's been a long standing belief of myself, Toki, and father. A Mega, or even Super Mega is as equal as a Rookie in the grand scheme of things. At least, in our point of view. Character is what matters."

As Shade squeezed back, Makoto would nod in understanding and attempt to offer him another smile of sympathy - although it was clear that it was a hair strained, with the pressure of Toki's presence as a Super Mega. His signal was powerful - just as powerful as one might expect someone of his stature to be - and though Tsusagimon's tranquil demeanor helped in Makoto remaining calm, it still made their fur stand on end slightly at the sheer disparity in their strengths.

Shade, similarly, seemed to be well intimidated and ready to get away, and they honestly couldn't blame him. It was good to hear that Toki would be willing to devolve, for their sakes, though.

The subject of desserts coming up next, however, would prompt Makoto to perk up a bit; ears pricked. "Welll~ I am a bit of a confectioner - although I imagine you're thinking more of baked goods than candy, when you say dessert." They'd muse with a chuckle, tails swishing, before continuing "I'd be happy to whip something up for all of us, though." With that, Makoto would glance between the three - Toki, Aylin, and Shade - and ask them all "Are there any particular requests or preferences, as far as sweeter foods go? I'm pretty good with baked goods as well~"

Making sweets like candy was Makoto's personal preference - they've always found it quite easy to make in bulk, and candy is easier to share with others on the go than it was to share, say, cake or pie. But baking was a nice hobby as well, even if sometimes a bit messy. Perhaps they could do something like a sheet cake, depending on what the others request? They'd have to see what all the kitchen has to offer...

... Although one thing was for sure; those living in this monastery would need to be prepared, for all the sweets Makoto would be making for them!

As they made their way into the main room proper, Toki would bring out cushions for them to sit upon - which Makoto would smile and nod to the young man in appreciation, kneeling on a cushion as well. Were Aylin not here, and were Makoto feeling bold, they might've attempted to sit closer to Shade or Toki - but for now, they'd behave.

Instead, they'd listen curiously as Toki and Aylin spoke up about their beliefs, regarding how all are equal regardless of stages. Shade, too, would speak up in response to speak his own thoughts over these beliefs - to which Makoto smiled gently; patting his knee in an encouraging fashion, when he showed a brief moment of uncertainty.

Before long though, they would speak up as well - mentioning "I agree. Stages don't dictate our worth as living beings." with a gentle nod. "Our attributes and fields shouldn't affect one's worth, either - be they Virus or Vaccine."

Though, that being said... There was an inherent imbalance in power, that one couldn't deny, even if rookies and megas have the same worth. Makoto wouldn't voice this, though; as it was something that even they weren't entirely sure on, and it didn't strike Makoto as being relevant to the conversation. Things like this were complicated, after all; and it was clear that Toki's intentions were good, as far as they were concerned.

Shade returned the smile that makoto gave him; though it was strained for the moment it’d ease up when toki shifted down to his human self. Seeming to agree for the moment and even adding that he shouldn’t stay to that form for longer than he needed to. Which meant to shade that he needed… Well to work on that. Or at least that there was still things that such a strong individual still had to work on in general. Something that made shade think of his own strength for a moment.

”Thank you.”

Was all that he really could say to that; he’d turn his attention to makoto as they spoke about the deserts. Did he have any preferences? The wraithgururumon scratched at his nose; there were the demidevidrops that he enjoyed; a particular spicy candy that was all the rage among virus types and was also something people loved back in the dark area.

”Shade is a fan of the spicy demidevidrops. He isn’t sure what they’re called on the mainland though.”

Shade’s eyes flicked to toki and he’d furrow his brow; strength did afford a lot of things to various people and it was something that shaped the world one way or another. While he agreed that there was more than just physical strength his way of thinking was very difficult to change.

But hearing both makoto’s input as well as toki’s made the large wolf sit there in silence. Reflecting on what they brought to the table so to speak. Shade blinked when he felt that hand on his knee and he’d shoot a small smile at makoto.

With more being said shade couldn’t help but wonder quietly to himself if he had misused his power at any point. Pausing at the entrance of the kitchen for a few moments. It was something he admitted to himself that he had done; he had used his own abilities to carve out many a location for himself and had used it to feast upon various emotions or memories of rookie mons while in the dark area. Was it something that he regretted?

Not really. Which bothered him far less than he felt that it should have. The wolf looked about the kitchen, prodding different bits of equipment; checking the various pots and pans… measuring implements. The wraithgururumon didn’t recognize the numbers that were on the sides of them… and with such a large refrigerated area the wolf couldn’t help but pick through that as well.

Eventually he’d settle at the stove and microwave, inspecting them and even playing around with the buttons on the microwave that would beep at him. A brow raising slowly; his place in whitewater had something similar but it had a bunch of timers on it instead. And the stove was just the sort you’d expect from a one bedroom bachelors apartment…

”Funny beeping box and strange looking big heat box. What do all these numbers mean? Shade has never seen either...”

To also be fair, shade’s way of cooking required an open flame. A stick and some meat… In which he would go so far as to muss around with the stove, squinting at it as it didn’t seem to do what he was hoping...