January 28^th, 2032

5:37 P.M. (Tokyo Time)

 

Nonaka Arisu greeted the guard with a subtle wave, mostly ignoring him as she walked to the elevators.

 

After the Metropolitan Government Building was destroyed for the second time, early on the year 2020, it took a long seven years to raise the new building…or buildings, to be precise. Two buildings that became known as the twin spires are the center of Tokyo’s government and the world’s knowledge. The first building was an exact copy of the previous MGBs. It was the new government building, and it fulfilled its predecessors’ purpose. The second building was much more stylized: thinner, taller and more attractive to the eye. This was the Matsuki Takato Memorial Building, in which the main headquarters of GCIM resided. Arisu always scoffed at the building’s name.

 

Arisu entered the elevator as she took an ID Card, which she swiftly slid through the card slot on the elevator’s panel. She followed that with a six-number sequence: 123021. Her birthday, written backwards. The panel responded with a beep and all the buttons lighted with clear white light. Arisu pushed the second-to-last button, which would take her to the administrative floor. It was a long way up, which gave her time to lean against the back of the elevator and think.

 

She planned to visit her Aunt Alice. Of her many Aunts (all but one unrelated), Auntie Alice was definitely her favorite, and Arisu was proud of sharing her favorite Aunt’s name. Alice did not treat her like a little girl or like the daughter of the oh-so-great Nonaka Rika. She loved Arisu because she was Arisu. Just like Alice did not love the Vessel of God, Adam Kadmon or any of the many names Takato had received. Alice loved Takato, the young man with the silly smile and infinite wisdom and kindness.

 

Arisu was glad she had inherited the best of her parents. She was ten years old, making tentative steps into a very early puberty, and she was an exact mirror of her mother at her age. The same hair, but Arisu preferred to keep it short and down, barely caressing her shoulders. The same eyes, maybe just a little bigger. Her skin was as clear as Rika’s and she was just as tall. Arisu secretly wished to become a tall woman, like her mother. She had the advantage of genes: her mother has always been tall.

 

In the mental department, Arisu had inherited her mother’s cunning and her father’s natural insight. She could easily notice things that went unnoticed by common folk, and she had solving all kinds of puzzles as a hobby. She was also told she was mature for her age, but anyone would be like her if they had to live with the former Archangels, Digimon Tamers and Omnivice Traits all the time.

 

Unfortunately, she had also inherited her mother’s ego and pride. Her reputation (more precisely, her parents’) only fed her great ego. Arisu is the kind of person who tries to do everything by herself, as well as the kind of person who thinks she can do anything. It’s not too far from the truth, though.

 

What she had not inherited was her father inability to say no, which had gotten him in so much trouble. That was, of course, a very good thing.

 

A ring announced her arrival, and the elevator stopped, the doors soon opening before her. The main floor, where the top employees of GCIM: the managers of XANADU, resided, looked more like some high-tech biological lab than an office. The walls, ceiling and floor were clean white, and the faint odor of ozone quickly reached her nostrils. The advanced technology used in this place demanded the strictest measures of protection. The main hallway was flanked by two rows of glass panels and glass doors. That way everyone could see what happened in the other rooms.

 

Most of the workers quickly noticed Arisu’s arrival and welcomed her with waving hands and words that could not pass through the soundproof glass and walls. Arisu simply nodded and bowed politely. She waved a little more effusively to Kitagawa Kenta, director of the Alpha G-Team, who waved at her and quickly turned to talk to a girl in her mid-twenties dressed in a dark blue tank top and tight blue jeans. Arisu quickly remembered that Kenta and Misaki, Jeri’s former Omnivice Trait, were currently dating.

 

She walked forward until she reached a crossroads. She pondered stopping by Aunt Takako’s office, but she quickly changed her mind, so she turned left to Alice’s office. Besides, she was eager to hear what her favorite Aunt had to tell her.

 

As usual, Alice was in front of the PC, her back turned to the door. She moved the mouse with great dexterity, moving through rows and rows of files with the ability of someone who’s done the same thing for years. Nobody knew XANADU like Alice McCoy, not even her father.

 

Arisu knocked on the glass door. Alice replied by raising her right hand and making a “come” sign. Arisu entered the room and her Aunt turned around to face her, resting her hands on the large metallic desk in front of her. Even the desk was basically a rectangle of carbon fiber with a huge, flat glass panel on it. Arisu knew it was some sort of reinforced glass that wouldn’t get scratches of break apart easily.

 

“How did you know it was me?” Arisu immediately asked. Alice smiled.

 

“I didn’t really know, but only you come here without sending me an e-mail first, and you are always welcome here. Besides, I kind of suspected you’d be showing up around here today, especially after that message you sent me.”

 

“So…” Arisu continued while she sat on a comfortable cushioned blue chair in front of the desk. “…can you tell me?”

 

Alice paused for a moment before answering. Arisu could actually hear the blonde’s gear turning.

 

“…why don’t you ask your mother?”

 

“Because it’s embarrassing!” Arisu quickly replied, at the same time she blushed a faint pink. Alice sighed.

 

“What makes you think it’s any easier for me?”

 

Arisu paused for a second. She mentally kicked herself for not seeing that coming. “I…I’m sorry.”

 

“I know. But, really, you made me remember some really painful things, Arisu-chan.”

 

Arisu nodded. When it came to the topic of Matsuki Takato, Alice McCoy was the expert. She had, after all, seen sides of him even Rika ignored.

 

“Well, Arisu, since the damage is done, I might as well give you your answers. But first let me ask you something.”

 

“Shoot.”

 

“I happened to hear a while ago that your teacher asked you to read Gospel. Is that right?”

 

“Who tells you those things?”

 

“I’m the Vice-Director of GCIM, Arisu. My job is to know things. But if you really want to know, your mother told me.”

 

Arisu sighed. It was true. It had taken the teachers at Kagayaki Shinzou long enough but, at long last, they had included Gospel in the list of books their students should read. It was understandable. Gospel was the most important event (or group of events) in modern history.

 

She had even felt her classmates’ gazes on her in that moment. They obviously expected her to know everything there’s to know about Gospel, being who she was. And she did know a lot about Gospel, of course. It was hard not to, considering that it’s the main topic of most conversations during “family” reunions. They were even called “Gospel Reunions”, for God’s sake! At least Luna-san, who happened to be her teacher, had been a little more conceding.

 

“I don’t think you actually need to read it, Arisu-chan, but I can’t treat you in a preferential way only because you already know enough about Gospel.”

 

She had nothing against those reunions. It was great to have the whole group together. And the Gospel anecdotes were always interesting (they never seemed to run out of them). The notorious absent was always DC, though. She guessed Auntie Takako had something to do (more like everything to do) with it. Arisu only knew the tenth Archangel from pictures Auntie Takako had shown her.

 

Despite everything she may or may not know about Gospel, Arisu had never read the Takaishi couple’s masterpiece. There was a copy in her house’s library, of course, and Arisu had felt the urge to read it a few times, but she had never touched it. She did not even know what was on the cover. The house’s copy didn’t help, since mom had bound it in fine leather.

 

“So, Arisu, are you going to read it?”

 

Arisu shrugged. “Well, now I HAVE to.”

 

“Good. Then let me give you this.”

 

Alice looked for something in the shelves above the computer. It was, of course, the book. Arisu had always been amazed by the sheer size of that thing. She only knew of one book with more pages than Gospel, and that was the Holy Bible. And she guessed there were many things left unsaid in that book, “Gospel”.

 

“We already have a copy at home, Auntie.”

 

“Yes, but this is my copy.”

 

Arisu frowned and opened a random page. That was enough for her to understand the true meaning of Alice’s words. The pages were filled with handwritten annotations, underlines sentences and side notes.

 

“Arisu-chan. I was nothing but an observant. No matter how much I wanted to, I just couldn’t do anything but watch. I didn’t have the power to help Takato. That’s why I’m giving you this. While everyone else just did their part, I watched their actions from an objective view. I remember words and actions some of them don’t even remember saying or doing. And more importantly, I was the person closest to your father at that time. I know aspects of Gospel most have no idea about.”

 

Arisu scanned the pages. There was knowledge in there no one else had seen. That book condensed Alice’s memories, her feelings and regrets.

 

“Are you sure you want me to read this?”

 

“You of all people should read this.”

 

Arisu looked at the golden-haired woman with silent gratitude. It was because of things like this that she liked Aunt Alice so much. There was an invisible connection between them, just like there had been one with Takato. But why did Arisu think in the past tense, when she could clearly see the glow in Alice’s eyes?

 

In spite of everything, Alice still loved Matsuki Takato. She would always love him, no matter the distance.

 

“Thank you, Auntie Alice.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

 

7:56 P.M.

 

The large table was filled with Aunt Jeri’s delicious food. Of course, “large table” was an understatement. With the amount of people that sometimes gathered together for dinner in that house, “colossal” would be a more appropriate door.

 

A large portion of Tokyo was destroyed with the Metropolitan Government Building on 2020, when Gallantmon X and Takako fought the Sixth Chimera. Both the former Nonaka house and the apartment building where Takato lived had been destroyed in that battle. When Tokyo was rebuilt, the apartment building became the new residence of the Nonaka family. However, Rika had insisted in building the new house to look similar to the old one. Of course, this one was going to be much bigger. In the end, it became more of a conglomerate of several similar houses. One was occupied by Henry, Jeri and Misaki, with a smaller extension that belonged to Tai and Shinobu. The second house was occupied by Alice, Ruki, Takako and Luna, with a spare room that housed Astaroth whenever she visited. A third house belonged to Nonaka Rumiko and her mother, Hata Seiko. Arisu lived in the fourth and larger house, the one house comprising mostly vacant rooms that were filled with Tamers, Digi-Destined and other friends whenever there was a “Gospel Reunion”.

 

A large garden with stone walkways linked the four houses, clustered from the rest of the city by a huge white wall. The garden, of course, belonged to the Digimon: Rika’s Renamon, Alice’s Dobermon X, and Jeri’s Elecmon X. Surprisingly enough, Arisu did not have a Digimon partner. There weren’t any more Tamers, anyway.

 

There was no longer a reason for Digimon to team up with humans.

 

But, the table. It was shaped like an inverted U. Arisu sat in the middle, flanked by Alice on the left. To Alice’s left, around the outer side of the table, sat Takako, Luna, Maria, Misaki and that night’s guest, Kitagawa Kenta, invited by Misaki, of course. Ruki, Henry, Jeri, Rumiko and Seiko sat on the other arm of the table, by Arisu’s right. On “Gospel Reunions” they moved the table to the garden and attached several extensions to it, which easily allowed the whole group of Tamers, Digi-Destined and friends to eat together. The Digimon ate from the table with the humans, taking places around the inner side of the table.

 

They were having dinner quite late that night. Maria, Misaki and Kenta were talking about Misaki’s plans after she finished her college studies. It seemed that Maria had touched the subject of marriage, because Kenta was choking on whatever he was chewing when Maria spoke. Misaki delicately patted his back while she blushed with a notorious crimson. Arisu noticed that Elecmon said something, and Henry quickly punched his head. The little Digimon groaned and Arisu’s grandmother and great-grandmother laughed heartily. Jeri smiled at her husband and her Digimon. Arisu (gladly) noticed that Jeri had taken off the eye patch that usually covered her left eye. That was good; Arisu had never liked that stupid thing. Takako ate silently, her gaze devoid of any expression. At least it was better than her fake smile.

 

Takako wasn’t very talkative since the Day of Revelation, it seemed. Arisu appeared to be the only person Takako bothered to talk to. She also talked with Alice, but the American woman always had to force the conversation. Takako didn’t even try to get close to the others, not even to her former Omnivice Trait, Luna. The long-haired girl ate in utmost quietness, oblivious to the world around her. She looked a lot like Takako, but Arisu knew better. Unlike Luna, Takako was well aware of everything that happened around her, even if she didn’t really care. Ruki quietly listened to Henry and Jeri’s conversation, even if she wasn’t really part of it.

 

Arisu suddenly remembered her unfinished conversation with Alice.

 

“Aunt Alice…”

 

“Yes?” Alice replied after swallowing a mouthful of rice.

 

“You didn’t answer my question.”

 

Arisu could actually see Alice’s gaze getting colder. “Now’s not the time or the place to discuss that, Arisu.”

 

Nobody seemed to have noticed the short exchange of words, except for Takako of course. Arisu found herself trapped in Takako’s empty gaze, and she felt like a moth in a spider’s web. However, Takako simply half-smiled at her and returned to the meal in front of her.

 

Arisu released the breath she had held for the last ten seconds.

 

 

11:46 P.M.

 

Arisu had secluded herself in her room right after dinner, to finally get started with the cursed book. She was reading about Digimon classification when the door of her room slid open.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“…may I?”

 

It was Auntie Takako. “…can’t sleep, auntie?”

 

“Mm-hmm.” The little girl replied as she closed the door behind her. “Can I…stay here for while?”

 

Takako’s sad smile pulled a string in Arisu’s heart. “Sure.”

 

Takako jumped on the bed and quickly wrapped herself in the bed sheets. In Arisu’s eyes, Takako had never looked so small and frail. Were all her nights like this one?

 

Arisu already knew that Takako’s existence was nothing but a pretension. She knew that Takako was nothing but a pale shadow that fed on Matsuki Takato’s radiance. Without Takato by her side, she could be as good as dead. And she was already dying from the inside.

 

Takako was a disturbing person, but Arisu did not blame her. Takako had done nothing but work for her brother’s future, a future in which he was happy, and she was by his side. But she got nothing for all that work. She was alone, like Alice, like Ruki, like her mother. Like Arisu herself.

 

Arisu did not feel like reading the book anymore. She already knew it didn’t have a happy ending.

 

She put the book aside on the low table next to her alarm clock and focused on the little girl next to her, Takato’s sister. It was hard to accept the fact that the tiny creature next to her was actually Takato’s older sister. It was funny in so many ways.

 

“Was that ‘Gospel’?” Takako asked with a weak voice. Arisu nodded.

 

“I don’t like it. It doesn’t do enough justice to onii-chan.”

 

Arisu chuckled. “To you, nothing does.”

 

“You say that because you never met him. You don’t know how wonderful he was.”

 

“You speak as if he was dead or something, you know he’s-“

 

Arisu couldn’t finish the sentence. Takako’s face had shifted to the demented gaze of a madman. It was distorted with boundless anger and her wide-eyed stare was like a clawed hand that ripped apart what was left of Takako’s psyche and plummeted what was left of her to a void of horrid dementia. Arisu started to wonder if it was safe to stay in that room.

 

“That thing is not my brother.”

 

Arisu sighed sadly. That thing…the one that had, in Takako’s mind, taken her brother away. That thing was the main cause of debate during “Gospel Reunions”. The Digimon agreed that it had been necessary; that it was the purpose of Gospel. But some Tamers and Digi-Destined still feel used and manipulated. Nobody liked the idea of their lives not being under their own control, and that was precisely what Gospel had shown them. They had been like marionettes in the grand play of the Last Holy War. Some of them, like Alice, Takako, Ruki and the Takaishi couple didn’t give a damn about Gospel. That was over, they had succeeded, and there was no point in complaining about something that had turned out just fine. To them, the true matter was, of course, Takato.

 

Arisu remembered that on one occasion someone (Ichijouji Ken, she believed) has asked her opinion. Her words had pretty much summarized everything.

 

“…I have no father.”

 

She remembered that Takako had burst out in tears after that.

 

“Arisu-chan…sometimes I wonder if I did something wrong. That maybe, if I…”

 

“It wouldn’t have changed anything, auntie. It was meant to happen…”

 

“But, but! It wasn’t supposed to be like this! We were supposed to win, and we would be happy! Together!” Takako cried as she shed the first tears.

 

Arisu remembered something Uncle Takeru had told her once. “There’s no victory without sacrifice.” But she wondered, what was the point of winning, if the sacrifices were so immense? Those who lived had to bear with scars that would never fade; and those who died…

 

Arisu wanted a family, a happy family. Not the fake pretense of a family she currently had. Her mother spent her days overworking herself, and the free time she had she spent it in the Digital World, looking for that thing. She wanted her mother! She wanted her mother’s friends! She was tired of living with Henry and Jeri, who hid their frustration behind the mask of a happy marriage. She was tired of living with Ruki and Luna, whose lives seemed empty and without a purpose. She was tired of living with Alice, who devoted herself to GCIM to drown herself in the joyful memories of the past. And she was very tired of living with the obsessive psycho next to her!

 

But that was just wishful thinking, right? And maybe she was being too harsh with them. It’s not like they were a bundle of psychiatric failures.

 

Maybe Alice was right. If the present sucked, maybe she should just drug herself with the memories of their past.

 

“Auntie Takako…”

“Hmm?”

“You still owe me a story.”

 

Takako’s drowsiness disappeared in an instant. She never missed a chance to remember the “good times”.

 

“What do you want me to talk about?”

 

Arisu waded through her memories for a while, looking for an episode of Gospel that would calm her bad mood. And maybe remove the demented look on Takako’s face.

 

“Hmm…well, why don’t you tell me about the time when you arrived here?”

 

Takako’s eyes glowed. For a while, Takako would become the lovely angel who had clung to her onii-chan’s arms in utmost bliss.

 

“Sure! It was, you know, during the Kyoto Crisis that took place during summer of 2018. But before talking about me, we have to talk about onii-chan. He was the first to arrive to Kyoto and, as I’m sure you know, he wasn’t alone…”

 

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