My name is Rina. Kawashina Rina. I was your average girl once upon a time. I went to school, I hung out with friends, I half-assed my way through classes, cause college-entrance exams ain't worth stressing. Not like I had any big plans after high school anyway. Good luck telling my mom that, though, jeez...
On one fateful day, when I was fooling around on my sapotama trying to vent, out came this strange cat creature. Mikemon. She was the cutest thing in the whole world. I was ready to die! I didn't even care how or why she came out of my sapotama. She said she was a digimon and that she was born from my heart. Whatever that means.
I found out later that she needed e-pulse to survive. All in all, it was the same as raising a regular cat. Because of that, it wasn't an issue taking her out in public...or so I thought....
In hindsight, I was so haphazard with how I showed off Mikemon, to the store clerks, to my friends at school, I mean, everyone liked her. I even showed her off to my mom...a mistake I regret till this day.
I actually hid Mikemon from mom at first, but I ran out of ways to explain the cat dander and scratch marks on the fridge. Maybe if Mikemon just didn't show that she could talk, things would've turned out differently? Maybe not...
My mom and dad work for the Ministry and actually had prior knowledge of digimon. She was also keenly aware of what the Ministry did with any and all wild digimon.
Long story short, I took Mikemon and ran before they could show up. Mikemon was precious to me, and I couldn't let them take her. Unfortunately, things only got worse after that. I started running into more and more digimon after I ran away from home. Then people with their own digimon. Cleaners, they were called. Mikemon had a bounty on her, apparently.
For awhile me and Mikemon did alright fending off these bounty hunters. Then one day we were ambushed by some guys in green uniforms. It looked like the end. We were both captured. I thought maybe I was going to jail, but I wasn't that lucky. Before I really knew what was going on, Mikemon and I found ourselves in this fighting ring. Rounds and rounds of digimon versus digimon. All the bastards spectating getting their thrills.
Mikemon fought harder for me than she ever had. Our only freedom was fighting in that damn bright, loud ring. After a win it was back to the cell for us. That was our life for a while....
I found out that everyone who lost...didn't get a second chance. The humans, anyway. The way these bastards operate, I feel like they hang on to the digimon more than anything else.
Then this smug-looking creep came one day in the most gaudy, trashy sheen job I had ever seen, but I knew him. Of him. Klay Arslan. Some rich philanthropist from the Shangri-La eggs. He worked for World Union. Where the other half live. The creep wanted to congratulate the remaining fighters on a 'job well done' and that the winners would have a place among his special unit Tactics as their prize.
LIKE HE WAS DOING US ANY FAVORS!!! I DIDN'T ASK TO BE HERE!
Mikemon hissed at that man colliding with the cell doors. If this damn cell wasn't draining my e-pulse, I'd set Mikemon on him to tear him apart!!! This was all his fault!!!
After he came by, all I could think about was how I wanted to break free and let Mikemon out of this hellhole. One of those smug guards told me that even if we got out of these cells, there would be no escape because we were in a mirror world. I didn't have a real understanding of it at the time, but basically, to get out on our own would require the power of an ultimate-level digimon that could carve a path out of this dimension.
A power that was out of my reach...until it wasn't. I was slotted into a 3 way fight that would give us the opportunity to escape. I could feel it. So did Mikemon.
It was at this moment that I met two of the greatest friends I would ever have after I broke out. Shindo Toji and his at the time dual partners Exveemon and Stingmon. Then Khan. No other name to note. His partner digimon was this dual-wielding samurai bird. Buraimon.
There was just something that clicked between the three of us once we were in that ring. Like looking into two mirrors. They wanted out just as much as I did. Wanted to stick it to that greasy creep Klay, and all his thugs. Those damned pricks who kept cheering from the sidelines, comfy and safe. Toji had this look on his face that told me he was at his limit. He told me later that it was because he saw Klay face-to-face. Khan didn't look as desperate. He looked determined. So determined, it beamed off of him like sunlight.
We had enough, and we pumped every last ounce of e-pulse we could into our sapotama's. Each of the digimon evolved into their ultimate stage.
Amazingly Exveemon and Stingmon fused together into one form. Dinobeemon. That bipedal bug looked vicious for someone who had their face behind a mask.
Khan's Buraimon evolved into Grademon. The dual-wielding swordsman with sleek golden armor and an aura most suffocating. I could feel a foul energy from his swords now.
Then Mikemon digivolved. This new form Bastemon was not what I was expecting. Bastemon was an exotic cat girl of the highest degree with leopard fur. Her red hair, her jewlery and bangles served to give a fierce disposition. The thin face veil gave her an allure I would've died to have. Mikemon was the cutest thing in the world to me, but Bastemon was the most gorgeous. I loved it!
When we all locked eyes, Khan asked if we were all thinking the same thing. Revenge on our minds and e-pulse running, we turned all our bitterness and sorrows on our surroundings. It was satisfying watching Grademon slice up the guards and their digimon like they were nothing.
Dinobeemon's vicious precision was a damming contrast to how he behaved as separate Stingmon and Exveemon. A welcome one. Toji shouted for them to bring out Klay as he set out Dinobeemon on his rampage.
As for me, I was half expecting some big flashy attack once Bastemon beared her claws, but instead she danced. Her powers were more subtle; the guards were entranced and hypnotized, and gladly did as she asked. Once they handed over all the cell keys and a handy map. I happily let Bastemon drink them dry. Of their e-pulse and their blood. Whatever was enough for her to leave them empty, dead husks. After everything they put us through it was the least they deserved. Bastards.
We set free every prisoner in sight. I had no intention of leaving anyone else behind in this hell. To my shock, though, some refused to leave. There were people here on purpose!? Of course, for a prized position under Klay's personal army. I almost ordered Bastemon to put them out of their misery, but they weren't worth it. Everyone was free to stay or go.
Those who fled with us, me and Bastemon lead back to Khan. Grademon opened a rift out of this mirror world. As the other captives filed in, I heard Toji shouting bloody murder for Klay as Dinobeemon rampaged at everything he could reach.
I wanted that bearded bastard just as much as he did, but it was obvious that creep wasn't here. Khan said as much. We were free to leave, and it was time to leave. I remember Toji gritting his teeth, and for a second, I thought angry tears were trying to spill out of his eyes. I wouldn't find out why at this time.
Reluctantly, Toji called Dinobeemon to heel as he retreated to the rift with us. Leaving only the few dedicated left to being Klay's attack dogs. They didn't matter; what mattered was that we were finally free.
Before those guys kidnapped me I was on the run with Mikemon. I have no idea how long it's been since then. How long it had been since I breathed outside that damn mirror world. The other freed captives scrambled on the knees in tears, realizing their hard-earned freedom had come at last. No more fighting for the entertainment of others with their digimon.
My first thought was to get these people to the authorities and back to their families, but I realized that if I went with them, I might be back to where I started. Digimon weren't fully public to the masses as of yet, and the Ministry's policy on digimon didn't change. After everything me and Bastemon had been through I wouldn't abandon her now. Going back to my mom sure wasn't an option...
There was this big dramatic moment where me, Toji, and Khan just vibed and drifted in unison together. We just ran with it and now we're living in this old place that we basically have to build back up from scratch. It couldn't be more perfect.
When we needed money, we started looking for jobs, and I landed a job working as a hostess at this Cabaret in town. Bastemon works there with me; she casts glamours over herself to make everyone else see her as a human. Together we're the top girls raking in pay days out the ass like we own the place!
I talk the talk, and Bastemon's dances her ever so subtle dance, serving drinks to the patrons. They've tipped half their paychecks before their jaws hit the ground. If any of the girls need a quick payday, all they have to do is give the signal, and BAstemon will dance right over with the customer's order, making use of every curve of her body to mesmerize them.
We've become pretty popular among our coworkers to say the least. We bring in so much business, some of the customers even suggest we take our show to Shangri-la. That there we could reach our full potential. Like hell I would put on a show for those bastards! I'll pass thanks. Then again...That bastard Klay was a likely resident among the upper echelon in Shangri-la. I would hunt him down one day, but not yet...not without Khan and Toji at her side.
As things stand right now, Bastemon and I live with Toji and Khan along with Dinobeemon and Grademon, in the same place. Not to brag, but I am the breadwinner among our group. I get more cash than I know what to do with it, so I don't mind spreading it among my beloved friends. I hardly rub it in their faces.
Khan suggested becoming official cleaners to get some heat off of us, but I passed on it. Cleaners were the ones who kidnapped me and Bastemon to begin with. Even if they were Klays. I wouldn't hate Khan or Toji for becoming one, though. As long as I played it smart, I wouldn't need to become a cleaner to stay safe. What's more, I didn't want my parents to find me on the registry.
Toji passed on becoming one too, but said he would help Khan with bounties as needed. Up until a few days ago, we could've been paired up in a death match back in the underground arena, but destiny guided us here together. One thing was for sure: each of us had a great reason to destroy Klay Arslan and all he held dear. It was enough I wanted revenge for myself, but I wanted to get it for all three of us now.