Eiji's Secret Hideout [Private/Invite-Only]

[Eiji]

Eiji Sato
The Informer

Eiji lived in a small apartment, fit for only himself, and really the only things he needed were there; a half-stocked refrigerator, a cheap-looking table with a few comfy chairs surrounding it, a television complete with all his video game systems, and the most important thing being his desk and computer. Well, make that computers.

Eiji had recently found an old computer from the early nineties at a garage sale, being sold cheaply, and he had gladly taken the piece of equipment. After all, it was best to know your roots, and Eiji was always interested in learning from the past. It was actually a rather nice machine for it's time; it was an old Mac with a sixteen bit display and 32 colors. What was interesting to Eiji about the computer was digging into some of the old files, and finding some interesting pieces of information. The most interesting was a program simply called Biodi, which was likely a half-finished computer program, or even a video game. Whenever Eiji clicked on it, a display showed a metwork of electric lines and surfaces, almost like the inside of a computer, but whenever Eiji went into the program, it always changed. There was always a feeling that there was something more to it.

Eiji clicked on Biodi today, and simply scanned the display, keeping the program on for a few minutes, simply waiting for something, anything to happen. Finally, Eiji put his focus toward his modern computer, as he had some work to do, when after about a few minutes, he heard a voice.

"H-Help..."

Eiji jumped, as he looked around; there wasn't anyone in the house, nor were the speakers turned on with either computer; the mac didn't even have any speakers! Immediately, Eiji looked over to the computer screen, when he saw it.

A small monster made up of various Lego-like blocks was on the screen of his aged computer, but there was something far too odd about it. The sharpness and detail of the image exceeded the computer's abilities; how the hell could this be possible? The monster looked to be in beat-up shape, as it had several black burn marks and it's body slumped as if it was half-dead.

"H-help me..."

This was impossible. What the hell was going on here?! Still, Eiji couldn't help but to feel sorry for the monster, as he began shouting toward the old computer screen.

"I can help you! Just... just... come here!"

The thought was futile; after all, whatever this was... it was just a program, right? Some data? But still, the monster continued forward, facing right toward the screen. It felt as if their eyes had met for the first time, even though it was simply a monster behind a computer screen. But Eiji didn't care; there was something happening here. Something beyond the limitations of computers and data; this was something otherworldly. Something amazing.

"T-Thank you..."

The monster continued onward, as Eiji realized the old computer monitor was glowing with an odd light, as immediately, something fell into his lap. The same monster behind the screen was here, in real life. The computer shut down, as Eiji looked in awe at the monster in front of him; it was obviously hurt, bad, but something rather interesting happened. The monster made of blocks transformed into a smaller, oval-shaped monster that could actually fit into Eiji's lap rather than be too heavy for it. Still, it had similar black marks as before in it coughed up some gray smoke. It's breathing was heavy and rushed, trying to cling onto life while it could, but Eiji's mind was too occupied to care about that right now.

The signs were obvious; the fact that it had emerged from it's computer, the way it transformed from one form to another so quickly and the way it looked were a dead giveaway. This was something that Eiji had been dreaming of since the D-Reaper incident. But, even though he was sure of it, he had to ask.

"A-Are you a digimon?"

The pink digimon opened it's red eyes, as it uttered one word before closing them again.

"Yes."

[Eiji]

Eiji Sato
The Informer

The next day, Eiji had decided to take a sick day for his internship and take the day off from class. After all, this Digimon was the most important thing on his mind. Eiji had scoured the internet for information on Digimon, and how he should heal his friend, Koromon. The only information he had found was a guide on the video games, so Eiji had simply hoped that truth would come from fiction. In the games, all you really had to do was feed the monsters to replenish hit points, so Eiji figured he would try that. Immediately, he went down to the rather close convenience store and bought as much food as he could, along with some extra bandages.

The pink ball of a monster laid in Eiji's bed, the rest and some food that Eiji had given him managing to heal him a bit so his breathing was more constant. Eiji decided to bandage the Koromon, just in case, and put some medical ointment on it he had in a first aid kit. It seemed to comfort the digimon a little, but what really helped was the large amount of various snack cakes and ramen that Eiji had bought, and while they weren't exactly healthy they were all Eiji could really afford.

Finally, after about a six hour nap, the Koromon began to speak, this time with a baffling amount of energy, bouncing on the bed with a ridiculous grin on it's face.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Eiji was clearly irked, but he decided to simply chuckle it off. The digimon still wasn't completely healed, but at least he could speak to it now.

"My name's Koromon! What's yours, mister?"

"Eiji. Eiji Sato."

"That's a really weird name! There's not a single -mon in there! So I'm guessing you're a human, right? I've never actually spoken to a human before!"

The Koromon, despite his wounds, kept a constant high energy. It was a little annoying, to be honest, but Eiji simply gritted his teeth through it. The Koromon sat in the bed, seemingly waiting for something, like it knew that there were questions coming. Well, he was right.

"So, how did you get hurt?"

"Well, I found myself wandering into this really weird area that people said could bring me to the Human World. So I ended up walking through this weird area when a stronger digimon attacked me, for no reason at all, but I managed to get away just before he destroyed me. And then I heard your voice, and a weird square portal appeared so I walked into it and now I'm here!"

It wasn't the oddest of stories, but what weirded Eiji out was how happily the Koromon told the story.

"Why did you want to come to the human world?"

"To get stronger."

The Koromon stated this simply and matter-of-factly, as if it was obvious. Eiji simply sighed at the monster.

"Thanks for healing and feeding me, but there's just one problem on my mind... how come I'm not ToyAgumon anymore? I can't remember how to Digivolve back, and that's the only way I can be strong!"

Eiji simply shrugged.

"It beats me, but I'll be right back, I have to cash last week's check. Stay put, okay?"

The Koromon nodded, as Eiji walked out the door. Thirty minutes later, when Eiji came back, the Digimon was gone.

[Eiji]

Eiji Sato
The Informer

Two days passed and Eiji made no effort to look for the Koromon, and while he denied it, he was actually worried for the guy. Would he ever see the Koromon, or any other Digimon again? Eiji didn't know, but it wasn't as if he could put up "Missing Digimon" signs around Shinjuku. Finally, after a long day of work, Eiji entered his apartment late one night to see the Koromon, yet again, on his bed. He had kept the door unlocked, which wasn't a wise decision but he had half-hoped that he would come back. But this time, the Koromon yet again looked like it had been beat up, as it gave a weak smile toward the human.

"Heeey, Eiji!"

The energy in his voice was diminished, as Eiji went over to the digimon, frusturated and worried all at the same time. Immediately, he grabbed some bandages and some food, wrapping the bandages around the small wounds and feeding some more snack cakes to the Digimon. The Digimon didn't speak for a while, and neither did Eiji, only the sound of the Digimon chewing filled the room.

"Thanks again, Eiji, you're my hero."

Eiji remained silent, trying to think of something, anything to say. So he just said the first thing on his mind.

"Why? Why did you go out there and get hurt again! You weren't even completely healed and you already got into a fight? How stupid are you? Nobody who's healing should ever do something like that! You're lucky I even helped you again after doing this!"

Eiji's words dug into Koromon like knives, as it frowned. Another moment of quiet filled the room, until Koromon began whimpering and tears began flooding it's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Eiji! I'm sorry I did that! It's just... I'm so weak. I need to get stronger and digivolve again, so I can stand a chance against these strong guys! I've been weak all my life, and I've just always wanted to get strong. I thought that if I did things right and defeated a digimon, I could digivolve again! But... but I don't think. I just charge in, thinking I can take anything on, thinking I can take on the world! You're right, I'm sorry..."

The Koromon continued to whimper, and Eiji simply sat there, feeling sorry for it. If there was only a way he could help it out...

"Listen," said Eiji. "You are strong. I'm willing to bet that you're stronger than I am, and you've got guts just charging into battle like that. But what you're missing is strategy and quick thinking, finding ways to take on bigger enemies and using their weaknesses against them. If you really want to get stronger, I can help you become a better fighter. And I swear that I'll make you one of the most powerful digimon yet."

The Koromon's tears and whimpers stopped as Eiji's speech continued, as his mouth formed a wide, happy smile.

"You really mean it?!"

Eiji smirked, and nodded.

"You betcha. You'll be the strongest digimon in no time at all."

Koromon began to cry a bit again, but this time they were tears of joy.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Eiji offered his hand, and the Koromon accepted, using one of it's ears to grasp his friend's hand. Immediately, something began to shine, as the old computer and the Koromon began to glow with the same radiant energy that the screen Koromon had come out of had before.

The computer began to grow somaller and the Koromon began to grow bigger, as Eiji realized that it was a blocky, muti-colored hand that was grasping his now. Eiji was face to face with ToyAgumon, as they ended their handshake.

The ToyAgumon looked at both of it's hands in awe, as he humped for joy yet again, enjoying it's return to it's old form, as Eiji looked over toawrd the desk.

Where his computer once was was a device, with a single word on it;

Welcome.