"Bored, so bored..." Moaning to herself was a lone female figure, floating on a lake on her belly and poking a large bubble.
Light green skin showed she was a Digimon, with blue gauntlets adorned with a round red gem each. On each of her rather curvaceous hips was a fin, shown by her slightly revealing blue leotard. Not only that, said outfit truly showed off her allure and womanly charms, and even her bellybutton. Despite her short stature she was curvier than most girls with shapely legs hidden by blue stockings. Lastly, her head was adorned by a blue headpiece with a fish design, as well as three gems on said accessory—one on the forehead and two at the sides—, and two fins at the side instead of ears.
Looking at the sky, the bored female Digimon grumbled, her hands folded over her exposed belly and glaring at the clouds for being boringly boring and predictable, "Ranamon-sama!" she heard to her side. A tired sigh escaped her lips as ruby eyes turned to some Digimon. Each of the newcomers had gray skin, dinosaur heads with orange tufts on top, a tail instead of hindlegs and fins instead of arms.
"Yes, Bukamon?" she asked the three Digimon swimming to her, keeping only one eye open.
"We saw something weird! Something very weird!" the childish trio chirped.
"And is it pretty?" she asked, a finger to her chin, "If not, please don't bother calling me while I'm so bored."
"But you got to see it!" one exclaimed, "Yeah, you should!" another declared, "Nay, you must!" the third cheered.
Pouting rather cutely as she glared at them, Ranamon waved a hand, the water under her becoming a small throne, "You know I'm not doing anything for nothing. What could be so weird I have to see it?"
"It looks like you, but not!" one said, "Like an uglier but odd you!" a second explained, "And he's with a BlackGatomon and a Digimon we never saw before!" the third elaborated.
Tilting her head curiously, she asked, "A Digimon you don't know...?" she poked her own cheek with a finger, deep in thought, "Oh, would it be worth it? Does it look pretty or at least cute?"
"I think it's guaranteed you'd like it!" the first announced, "And the odd thing with those Digimon has cool hair!" the second remembered, "Yeah, it looks like gold!" the third recalled.
"Eh, gold hair!?" she was shocked, thinking about it as a large smile spread on her face, "Gold locks that could be sewn to make... A new dress, or bracelets, or... Oh, oh, oh, a fancy set of earrings!" her eyes started to sparkle at the ideas of what to do and get herself, "Alright, Bukamon, you did something good! Let's check this odd thing with gold hair!"
"Yay! As you say, Ranamon-sama!" The trio cheered and followed her.
As for our hero... "Wonder what had that bug so riled up..." he said as he walked through the jungle he awoke in with his feline partner walking beside him, "You said it was attacked, right? What kind of Digimon could've ticked him off so much yet make it leave with its tail between its legs?"
"Fair question, I wish I knew the answer." BlackGatomon responded cross-armed, "Perhaps it was Devimon occupying that brute's turf. It wouldn't surprise me."
"Then it's a good thing we're moving." Kitmon stated while atop Haruto's head, abusing it as his perch ever since the blond kept his goggles around his neck. "From what I've been told, it sounds like fighting the guy will be a pain. All the more reason to fight strong Digimon to become more powerful."
"And perhaps understand what happened to us, right?" Haruto asked while looking at his Digivice hanging on his right hip, attached to his pants, "Whatever that was really felt like nothing else. It was a rush, but at the same time, it drained me completely."
"I know the pain." Kitmon grumbled, "My stomach could use something, anything to digest and keep itself busy with."
Frowning, BlackGatomon turned to the two, a claw aimed at them, "Enough, you two are wasting your energies talking and fooling around. Save your breath instead of complaining and try to keep up, we're nearly there." She moved away some bushes, her two allies following closely to find a river, "At last."
"Ah, fish!" Haruto caught on quickly, racing at the shore beside her, "BlackGatomon, thanks! Now let's catch us a big one!"
A loud growling sound echoed from her stomach, making Haruto snicker, Kitmon chuckle, and the black cat blush, "Oh shush! A lady has her needs!" she glared, but she was too cute to intimidate him.
Placing Kitmon on the floor, Haruto pulled out a kunai from his pouch, "Alright, let's see if my aim's any good."
BlackGatomon's eyes widened, "What're you doing with that?"
"I'm going to nail any fish I see and catch it as quickly as possible." He told her like it was the most common thing in the world, "I used to do it back home to get free fish for dinner whenever I was out of cash... Old fart Sarutobi would get so mad, though." His grip on the kunai loosened, "That old fart... I bet he's mad at me right now..."
Sensing his negativity, BlackGatomon frowned, Can't have him lose his spirit like that, he'd be of no use to me. she put on her best smile, "And I'd wager with you he'd be happy to see you regardless." A small grin graced her lips, "If anything, a parent's worry for their child can be measured by how angry they get when said spawn of theirs is in danger."
"Yeah, if you're lost, he must be pulling out his hair. All you have to do is return and say you're sorry." Kitmon cheered, knowing what BlackGatomon's intentions were and sharing them.
"I hope so..." he whispered, but his mind returned to the important matter at hand when his guts grumbled in dissatisfaction from the lack of food. "Ugh, I'll think it over after some sashimi."
"How do you plan to catch them?" BlackGatomon asked, "It's not like they'll willingly place themselves for you, and if you do hit them, the current could make them drift away."
Of course he didn't think that far ahead, "Uh... What do you suggest?"
Palming her face, she sighed, "I am actually unsurprised about this development." Looking at the water and cringing when her stomach twisted from hunger, she answered his question, "I'll try to make them jump. Once they're airborne, nail them to a tree. I'll try to line them up for you, but it'll depend on your aim regardless."
Nodding, he prepared his kunai as BlackGatomon jumped into the water, splashing everywhere and making three fishes jump. Quickly pulling out two more kunais, Haruto threw them at his dinner. He hit one dead on the head, though nailed it to the floor on the other side of the river, the second on a tree with a blade in its torso and the third was hit on the tail against the same tree. It made him feel confident, so he repeated the action. A good cleaning, a brand-new kunai he had never used to cut the fish, and a fire made with dry branches and two rocks to create the spark that lit some leaves, and the trio had their meal cooking.
"That smells good." Haruto whispered while fighting back the urge to drool.
Kitmon wasn't as controlled, "Finally I got to taste good cooking." He mumbled to himself with a puddle of his saliva under him.
BlackGatomon frowned, "Don't rush it, the herbs I applied will give them flavor, but it'll take time..." her stomach rumbled, "So be strong..."
Gulping to keep himself from salivating like his fur ball partner, Haruto asked, "How do you know so much about cooking?"
"I've had my chances to learn." was her answer, "Proper things a lady has to know, but I think you could learn how to be a more cult, well-educated individual."
"If it means I get to taste your cooking, then yeah, sign me up!" he cheered, pumping a fist.
Biting back a sigh, the black Digimon looked up at the sky, cross-armed, "So childish... Is he really...?" she went quiet, closing her eyes, "No matter."
"Anything wrong, Black-chan?" the boy asked.
BlackGatomon's face grew hot and red, from anger, "What? How can you be so informal to me after I saved your life?"
"But isn't that what guys are supposed to do with girls they like? Try to be close to them?" he asked rather innocently, grinning at the end, "Since you've been so good to me despite your attitude being too much of a spoiled princess, I have really grown to like you."
Grumbling, the Digimon held her face with a claw, "This child will be the end of me..."
Kitmon talked to her, "Forgive him, he hasn't had anyone show this much kindness to him."
That surprised her, almost as much as Haruto, "Uh... Oi, w-what do you mean, Kitmon?"
"Just a guess..." he lied, obviously, "You're too obvious... Yeah, too obvious. Being so cheerful even if she's cold shows you don't get much affection..." he hated himself when noting he was bringing down the mood.
"I see... Guess I really try too hard, huh?" rubbing the back of his head, the boy took a deep breath, "Listen, you're smart, I can see that. So, um, can you do me a solid? Let's not talk about this, ok? And I'll try hard not to talk about anything you don't like. I'll even refrain from being too chummy with BlackGatomon. Deal?"
Pain was seen in his eyes, making BlackGatomon realize he had gone through a lot of emotional scarring. Loneliness, anger, sorrow, it was all there but forced back with a goofy grin.
Closing her eyes, she gave him her answer, "Black-chan is fine..."
"Huh?" he brought up his head, not having realized he had let it hang low.
Crossing her arms, the feline spoke firmer and louder, "You can use that nickname if you're fond of me, I won't mind. After all, I need you, and we are partners."
Just like that, his grin was back, "Alright, Black-chan, I'll still do my best to keep my part of the deal, though!"
A grin spread on her face, slightly dark but amused, He's so easy to please, it makes this easier. But seeing him happy... it's almost nostalgic... memories of a distant past flashed before her eyes.
Just as quickly, they ended when the sound of geysers shooting into the sky alerted them of someone's presence. Turning, they saw Ranamon ten feet above their heads, sitting on one of those geysers with her legs crossed, a hand propping her chin, and a bored expression on her face. Examining the three before her, she merely lets the water lower her and then remain at eye level with the trio. Both Digimon seemed to be at least interesting specimens of their species, though the smaller one didn't spark her interest. When her eyes landed on the one with golden hair, though...
"Bukamon..." she started and her three followers popped their heads out of the water.
"Yes, Ranamon-sama?" they asked.
"Ranamon? She's a Digimon too?" Haruto asked, confused due to her humanoid appearance.
"I am, yes." She then turned to the three small Digimon who worshipped her, "And these three disappointed me."
"Huh?" all three Bukamon asked.
Enraged at their response, she aimed a finger at Haruto and snapped, "I thought you said gold hair, not golden hair! There's a difference, you three dimwits!"
Bukamon 1, 2 and 3 hung their heads low, "Forgive us, Ranamon-sama, but his hair looked like it." They said in unison.
Palming her face, the green-skinned Digimon groaned, "Not only that, what even is that thing!? It's not cute at all or pretty! Don't you know!? I need pretty things to stop being bored, and if I get them I will sing at least a couple songs for you!"
"B-But we tried!" Bukamon 1 cried, "We really looked everywhere on the island!" tears leaked down Bukamon 2's face, "But there aren't any new pretty things!" Bukamon 3 sobbed.
"Well, sorry don't cut it!" she pouted, aiming a finger at them, "And here I went through all this trouble to make a grand entrance." She puffed her cheeks, her arms crossed while her eyes looked away from the three who took her to Haruto, like a spoiled girl, "Honestly, I want to see something pretty for once in this boring island. At least—"
"Cut it out." that shut her up and made her turn to Haruto.
"Ara?" she asked, dumbfounded at his outburst.
"I said cut it out, you little brat!" he shouted despite being a good four inches shorter than her.
"What?" she was taken aback, hands up to her chest while the Bukamon covered their mouths with their fins. Even Kitmon and BlackGatomon were stunned into silence.
"I've kept my mouth shut so far, but enough is enough." He told her firmly.
"Wh-What is this? You intend to scold me?" Ranamon's shock grew, but she showed no anger, just surprise.
"You wanna be a spoiled little princess who gets her way by throwing around her talents, fine. Be my guest." Dramatically, he aimed a finger at her. "But treating those that try hard like they're below you when you do little to nothing to get where you are is so like someone I despise!" Sasuke Uchiha sneezed, "And me? I can relate to those three! Trying their best but failing, yet still wanting to win to get someone to give them some acknowledgement!"
"W-Wow..." the Bukamon were touched, to say the least.
Ranamon stepped back, trembling slightly, flabbergasted, "Are you seriously treating me like this? Can't you see—"
"I don't care." He answered firmly, staring her in the eye, "I'd rather face whatever you throw at me than let you belittle those three for trying."
"Y-You..." she bit her lower lip.
Boldly stepping forward, he faced her without fear, "Ranamon, this will be a lesson you won't forget."
And then, tears, "Uah..." her eyes welled up, "Waaaah! I'm sorryyyy!" she bawled.
"W-What did you do!?" the Bukamon and even Kitmon yelled at him.
"H-How would I know—No, wait, she deserves this!" Haruto tried to remain firm while Ranamon kept sobbing.
BlackGatomon rubbed her face with a paw, "Nothing can be simple with this boy as my partner... The sooner I accept that, the better."