Net Savers

Chapter 7

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Yugi's heart was filled with butterflies for the rest of the class, retaining enough sense of self to pay attention to the lesson at hand, especially when he was called on. Aside from that, he couldn't stop thinking about the coming weekend. He, little Motou Yugi, would be showing his favored idols around town. He would pinch himself to see if he was dreaming but the yell of the sensei to wake up Jounouchi from another patented midday nap was enough to convince him this was no fever dream. It didn't help his case during literature, Yami showed exceptional proficiency in Japanese with a voice made to be anywhere but the classroom. When the last bell rang for the day, everyone began to file out and Ruby stepped to Yugi's desk. "When you're ready, you can meet us in the computer lab. I promise they are rather kind once you get to know them." Ruby spoke with a small wink and Yugi flushed from the quick gesture. The boy was becoming so obvious that others were starting to catch on. But, Yugi surmised, as long as Anzu didn't find out...

And speak of the devil. "She at it again..." Topaz mused as Anzu moved to Aqua's desk, highly disappointed when the other was nowhere to be found during the lunch period for her tour of the school. Aqua sighed as he told her as passively as he could muster that he would conduct his own tour in his free time but had another engagement to get to. "Oh! Is it a campaign?! I would love to learn how to play Monster World with you! It would allow me to show some expert skills to our resident DM." Aqua could hear the bitterness in her tone but that made him quite curious. Another DM for Monster World here in the school? Now there was someone he could relate to. Perhaps in the free time they had before their inevitable travels. But until then...

"No, not Monster World but a private engagement for Digimon World. I have some things to discuss with a personal group." he rebuffed which made the brunette girl frown, thwarted in her attempts to get closer to the other. "Ah, it must be important business then~ Don't worry! Perhaps next time!" Aqua hardly made a sound to agree or disagree, instead gathering his things to leave as quickly as he could from the excessive woman. Yugi couldn't blame him one but. The glamour of fame must be a taxing and eternal struggle when in a public setting like a public school. "Well we better get movin' too. Don't wanna leave 'em waitin'." Jounouchi hummed as he stood from his desk with the others.

As Yugi put the last notebook into his bag, the slap of a hand on his desk made him jump. Anzu's cold stare met his own with a frigid glare. "I saw you making goo goo eyes at them. I don't want to catch you even breathing in their direction or you'll be sorry." she spat venomously. And there it was, the unspoken challenge to the boys' affection. Yugi knew well of her every waking moment to spend glued at their hip and it was going to be a frustrating course of events. She would have her day for now as the semester goes along but the moment they were gone to combat their destiny things would certainly change. That alone was something he had no control over unless he chickened out to any and all advances if encouraged by his friends. "Yes, yes. I'm not here to step on any toes, just to play my game which you're making me late for. My friends are waiting..." Yugi spoke smoothly, stepping from his desk and left the classroom with Topaz. As they left, Anzu started to grow suspicious. Knowing well of the ragtag group's after school use of the computer lab to play on the server. But today, it was a different course of events.

Since Yami and Aqua's arrival, the two had stuck close to Ruby. Obviously the likely thought would be the Kaiba household was their residence during their stay thanks to the ties they had with the brunet. She wouldn't put it past them as the game enthusiasts they are to play Digimon World like many others around town, herself included. They would likely be playing right now, perhaps even be beta testers to check for bugs and any other problems in the coding. That leads into her second problem. If the three were playing now, in the computer lab, they would encounter them. The little group of nobodies. Which meant Yugi's weak charm would be exposed to Yami and Aqua.

...Which meant he would be a leg up in befriending the two, the little whelp! Acid bubbled in her stomach at the thought. She wouldn't allow such a thing to happen. Not on her watch. Gathering her remaining items to shove into her bag, Anzu was out the room in a flurry of brown locks on the way to the computer lab. At the lab itself, Ruby had entered to see it was rather lively already. Yugi or others missing from his little group weren't there yet but those that were there were getting themselves acquainted well to the prodigal players. Ryou, just a tad starry-eyed, asked Aqua a few non-invasive questions about a good campaign path for Monster World, Malik often interjecting with tales of pain and suffering of the last couple campaigns he did to help the boy. Aqua, a small light of mirth in his eyes to Malik's plight, offered advice to the white-haired teen. Indeed an animated one that Ruby never noticed before out of Ryou normally. 'Guess I shouldn't be all too surprised when Monster World is talked about.'

Jounouchi and Diamond were already parked at their stations while Kaiser was doing a quick feeding for Betamon before he connected to the server. Ruby kept an eye on Kaiser in particular. He knew well of the other's presence and his relations to Jounouchi but he was usually never seen after school most days. That is the say never seen if Ruby himself wasn't the same with work. The redhead would hear stories about the two, both scrounging up funds from different smaller jobs for something. No one that wasn't among the group they were close to knew what or but speculations often ran rampant. Most never good in retrospect. Ruby did find himself the curious sort to such a plight but knew just as much that being invasive to the silky blonde's personal life would get him no answers at that time. "Perhaps in the future then." he hummed to himself before moving to a computer of his own. To the side Yami stood, watching the door. Only two remained missing for the count of friends he remembered when first entering the classroom and not seeing the one to clearly resemble him not among the others meant he was the last to arrive.

Scarlet hues held questions, inquiries, curiosities of the boy but he held his tongue for the moment. There was plenty of time to get acquainted with him just like the other here. They were a close-knit bunch that was certain. Not to forget that others share some interesting circumstances just like he. If the four troublemakers that he had in mind knew of such, the innocent would be eaten up. 'Hope they aren't destined like ourselves. That would be such a headache to keep in line without causing hell. Especially with Marik and Toben thrown into that mix.'

In the hall, Yugi and Topaz chatted happily of the adventure they were about to embark on, wondering about what awaited them now with the extra support. Far enough but within her sights, Anzu stormed her way behind them. She won't allow it, couldn't allow it. She will NOT let little Motou Yugi one up her with a welcoming impression! The two entered the room upon arrival and when the door slid shut, Ruby locked it with ease. If he didn't know any better, he would never suspect an annoying pest to interrupt their investigation and cause a scene for them while doing so. After all, they were the destined, they want to keep that as low brow as they possibly can. "Everyone accounted for?" Ruby announced as he looked to everyone in the computer lab. A chorus of affirmation answered the redhead and he nodded. "So before we begin, do you all have knowledge of what's happening in the server?" They all nodded aside from Kaiser who looked through the group in confusion. "Wait, something's wrong with the server?" Kaiser questioned as he looked to the others. Diamond slapped a hand to her forehead as she sent a glare Jounouchi's way. "You haven't told him!?" Jounouchi waved his hands as he fished for an excuse while Ruby chuckled a bit. Taking a step over to Kaiser, he rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Well to fill you in on what has been happening, Aurum was it?" Kaiser nodded, a faint dusting of red crossing the bridge of his nose as Ruby began to debrief on what they knew so far. Kaiser listened carefully as all was explained to him, noting the key factor of their digimon's strange behavior that led them to knowing of the chosen tamers. Looking at his digivice, he wondered if Betamon was the same as the others. The silky blonde never saw or heard anything strange in his dialogue since getting into the game yet all of his friends knew about this before him. Was he the only one out of the loop? Unable to join them in such a venture if his digimon didn't respond in kind to the coming dangers? Maybe so and that felt devastating to him. Everyone had this important quest to save not only one but two realities in a way that sounded like something from one of his favorite video games encapsulated by strange science or magic. Both Ruby and Kaiba unintentionally cracked the code to make this happen and he was missing out if his digimon didn't know about it!

As Ruby continued, Aqua saw the expression on Kaiser's face and hummed thoughtfully. When the redhead finished, he took a step from Kaiser to look to the red of the room. "Any questions?" Kaiser looked down silently. "What if...you're not one of the destined? What should we do in that case?" Kaiser inquired softly. Knowing where this was coming from, Ruby gave a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I have a good feeling about you. If your friends are destined for this journey, it would be a complete shame if you don't join them. But if by some stroke of misfortune you are unable to, we put our absence in your hands to keep others from speculating our disappearance. A very important job that would be rewarded in kind once we return but only if that case scenario is a reality."

Kaiser pondered over the thought while Yugi giggled from his spot. Kaiser didn't realize it on his own but Yugi could see it. Ruby was flirting, actually flirting! To most, anyone of the Kaiba household was always considered cold like the machinery they work with. They would never show anything beyond anger or displeasure to lower class but usually such is tagged more to the elder Kaiba than the middle Jewelstone. Ruby always appeared as a different case in terms of emotion. His face would vary in expression rarely and most know a sudden shift meant that you had beyond irritated him. But the tolerance of annoyances was a high bar to hit so that level is just as rare as seeing a genuine smile on Kaiba's face. As for the sight Yugi saw now, there was definitely something new not just with Ruby's expression but behavior. When the other finally received a nod that Kaiser would do his very best to keep their journey a secret, Ruby nodded before moving to a station of his own, just barely touching the seat when the rattle of the door behind him made them all turn. Muffled shouts came from the outside and Yugi winced, knowing full well who was likely on the other side of the door.

The thought was shared by Yami who would've groaned visibly but kept the distressed sound to himself. The brunette girl would be a hassle and a half to avoid but as long as he could spend very little time in her presence, he can focus more on the presence he'd rather know a little better. Ruby motioned for them to wait a moment as he brought out his cell, sending a text to an unknown number before waiting. The room was visibly silent aside from the sound outside before it was abruptly muted and Malik shivered. "Remind me to never get on your bad side..." he muttered while Ruby chuckled. "It was just a hall monitor, no need to worry." Even when told not to, the idea of a hall monitor at your location at the press of a button from him was still a harrowing thought to the flaxen blonde as he followed suit in getting set it, each logging into the server and got their digivices hooked up to transport their digimon to the server.

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Tsukaimon yawned slightly as he sat perched in a tree in Native Forest. His tamer wanted him to try fishing again as the Seadramon he was in search of before it got its ass handed to it by the paltry little group of digimon he met before. That group still ruffled his ego as he thought back to them. If Crimson was actually around instead of taking a damn extended bathroom break (the excuse the teen gave upon the destined quad he had been following logged off) then it wouldn't have been a problem and wouldn't have been shown up by some newbie. "Ugh...damn it." he grumbled as he pumped his tiny wings and left his perch to head off to a new zone.

The tamer in question, Crimson, watched the screen and snickered. Tsukaimon was a feisty one but also knew the digimon's behavior was something different than what it once was the first couple days he started the game at Ruby's behest (since Kaiba "asking" before was more of a demand to get beta testers. He held a bit more respect and would listen to Ruby over Kaiba any day). When he came back that day, he was given a surprising earful from the tiny digimon that he nearly got owned by the Seadramon they were looking for to get to Beetle Land and was only saved thanks to a group of no names. Crimson had the thought to question how the digimon was speaking outside the dialogue he was used to before but had gotten a message from Toben a day later about his Floramon being absolutely cheesed with his headassery and teasing about something important.

That made Crimson curious and ready to prod the little digimon on it when the alert of a digimon encounter flashed on his screen with accompanying sounds and music. "Guess we'll chat about that after. Let's take on that weakling, Tsukaimon." Crimson commented with a grin as he hit the digivolve command on the screen. Back where they had left off, the group of seven consisting of Agumon, Gabumon, Veemon, Gazimon, Syakomon, Guilmon and Renamon left out the Drill Tunnel to return to Native Forest. Since Veemon had been around Gear Savannah and found nothing of great interest, they decided to head off towards the direction to see if anything would be better within the forest or canyon areas.

"So the last place Betamon left off was in Tropical Jungle as far as Kaiser told me. Did ya still wander 'round there?" Jounouchi questioned as he looked towards the silky blonde. "Hmm, last I stopped was heading towards the Ancient Dino Region. Almost had my ass handed to me by a Centarumon in Amida Forest and booked it the hell outta there." Kaiser replied. Ruby nodded as he typed the destination to Veemon who nodded. With a wave to the others, they began to head through the forest towards Coela Beach. Upon doing so, they were nearly blindsided by a flying Goburimon that was tossed into the area, indicators on its health and SP showing it was clearly in the middle of a fight.

"Holy shit, who tossed the poor thing into this zone?!" Malik nearly shouted as their "Enemy Approaching" signals went off on each monitor. Topaz questioned if they should even worry about battling as the Goburimon was already weak as it were but before a decision could be made, the roar of the other digimon echoed through the field before a roaring flame in the shape of a dragon came to hit the digimon, ending it quickly while Renamon was quick to dodge out of the way as the attack continued before fizzling out. The group looked in the direction of the attack as another stepped in. A shake of the nine tails is what met their gazes before the champion looked to them. "Veemon?" The champion near spat and Veemon perked to his name. "Must be a friend. Care to answer why you're out in this area...picking on the weak ones?" Veemon inquired with a cross of his arms. "Man, I already know where the assertive tone comes from." Came the text in the chat window and Ruby sighed. "Crimson, is that you?" Ruby typed in return as Aqua rubbed a hand over his face.

"Oh boy..." he mumbled, getting a curious glance from Yugi. Clearly the two knew him and so did Veemon when it came to matters in game. The champion grinned a bit as he stepped towards them before freezing in place. Guilmon was worriedly fretting over Renamon who tried to reassure the other that she was just fine. There was no mistaking that pelt and the sharp eyes. It was the in-training digimon he met before and she digivolved into a literal vixen, all puns intended. "Well well, if it isn't the little in-training digimon all grown up~" The champion cooed, sitting before the two and Renamon glanced to the other digimon with an errant flick of her ear. "Do I know you?" she grumbled, already annoyed with the presence of the other. The champion pardoned himself and started on his introduction while Ruby continued to speak with Crimson, asking how long he knew of the independence of his digimon. Kaiser watched the scene in slight amusement, seeing that the sentient digimon were nothing different than regular people, perhaps even similar in personality to the ones that raised and trained them. Turning to his screen as Betamon took out another Muchomon, he wondered just how he would be once he was like the others...if he was.

"As much as I love a nice and friendly passing of words, we got work to do. Our tamers here can't hog the lab overnight." Monodramon spoke as they arrived into the area with the use of an Autopilot, pressing on with Strabimon following. Crimson tsked on his end before seeing text from Yami that it would be best for him to tag along as the more help they had, the more they could investigate. "Sure, sure...but I want something in return. The name of Renamon's tamer." Diamond bristled a little as she snorted. She questioned if she really had to and Yami waved it off, telling the other that he could get a name if he helped, the other digimon following as Renamon stepped around the champion, tail slapping him in the face upon passing.

He shook his head from it but the vexed gesture was received as a welcome to try again and was quick to follow, slowly digivolving back as Tsukaimon caught up with the others. The sizable group crossed over the bridge and got into the jungle, eventually spotting the lone Betamon taking out another Muchomon before turning to see the group. "Betamon, there you are!" Agumon called cheerfully with a wave. There was silence for a moment as the group moved over to the small digimon and Kaiser bit his lip as Agumon began to speak to him. He didn't speak but he nodded to show that he understood, motioning for the others to follow as he began heading back in the direction of Amida Forest. "Looks like you're in the green, Kaiser!" Topaz cheered as the group continued on their way, reaching the Amida Forest with ease and Tsukaimon was the first to flutter ahead, puffing out his chest as he told them he'd head in first to see what awaited them. He did it as a gesture to prove his strength to Renamon who hardly gave him a second glance as he flew straight in. Ruby had little time to warn the digimon of the coded puzzle before a whistle of a projectile came flying at the digimon, making him yelp as he was thrown back to the start where they stood and a bit of health missing.

"Yikes! What just happened!?" Ryou asked in horror as he looked back to Ruby, the redhead explaining quickly of the puzzle that laid within the walls, the very same that Kaiser ran into when he was there before. Within the game, Strabimon scratched his chin before giving a nod, stepping over the fallen digimon to run through the puzzle himself. It only took one glance for Aqua to figure out how the puzzle was set to work and found the right door that would take them into the new area plus a few items along the way.

Ruby chuckled as Crimson gave a mass of expletives that would rather be called key smash in the chat window as the other easily one-upped him in skill. "I essentially already have the area registered in my game so for now, how about we agree to split up. Half take a walk through the Ancient Dino Region; the other half take a walk through the Great Canyon. The area isn't far from where we are now." Ruby offered and the others nodded, planning amongst themselves where they wanted to go. Coming to a consensus, Yugi, Diamond, Malik, Yami and Jounouchi decided to head for the Great Canyon while Kaiser, Ryou, Ruby, Topaz and Aqua headed on into the Ancient Dino Region. "Hey, what about me?! What am I, rotted sirloin?!" Tsukaimon huffed angrily as he watched the digimon get into their groups. "If I'm gonna help with anything, I'm tagging along with the vixen."

"That's my boy~" Crimson praised. Even if he didn't know what the tamer for Renamon looked like, he still believed in his heart it was a woman just as fine as the digimon she picked out. With all this "destined" stuff and the investigation going before the so-called trip into the server itself, he was bound to meet her eventually. If she's anything as he imagined, he had to prepare his best game to charm her as they clearly were not in the same region in real life, a computer screen the only thing separating the two. Diamond rolled her eyes but hardly made any sort of argument to Tsukaimon tagging with them, the digimon giving their fond farewells before splitting off, Gabumon leading his group out from the forest while Strabimon headed into the ancient zone of dinosaur digimon. As they split away from each other, a figure stood from higher ground, a peculiar digimon that was a part of the projectile that had knocked Tsukaimon clear from his flight into the area. Normally a peaceful sort that was coded to bar entry unless one knew how the path worked, the slow grind of something in the back of the digimon urged it to do much more than guard the entry point to the new area.

"I...have to destroy the destined. They shall never get to the dark lord..." Centarumon spoke almost robotically, another grind of the black gear set into his back forcing him to move, leaping from his perch. On stable ground, the champion went to follow after Strabimon's group into the Ancient Dino Region; a sight overlooked by the tamers as they played on their separate screens overseeing their digimon partners.

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Zypher: a reminder that i used to play the original Digimon World way back when and i remember how much Amida Forest in game used to annoy me. had to at least channel that frustration into Tsukaimon cause damn, recruiting Centarumon to the city was a hassle because he really does gun you down if you mess up the puzzle lol. anyways, falling a bit behind but still working to get a leg up on these bad boys. might take a small uploading break to crank out a few more chapters between this and Twilight Rising -as TR is getting close to where i stopped and that big important story chunk is slowly coming upon me- so gonna put some major focus towards that. anywho hoped ya enjoyed and i shall be back with some more~