"Die!"

I couldn't see anything, but the next thing I knew I was in Mei's arms and... in my place... was a beautiful Digimon...

One I know all too well by now. 

I tried to reach out- 

"LUNO! GET UP!"

I shot awake, nearly hitting Bokomon on the head as my mind misted over. My computer lay open, data bits displayed on it while a butterfly DIM card was attached, not reacting again...

"Ugh, Bokomon! I told you not to wake me unless the DIM card reacted!" I groaned. Not again!

"I made no such promise!" He sternly crossed his arms. "I only care about your well-being, which you are obviously abusing right now!"

"Friend, are you okay?" A childish voice asked as Pumpmon climbed over from my bed to my lap. 

I rubbed my temple, whirling around away from the computer. "Ugh, I wish. I just don't get why this stupid DIM card won't react! I asked Blues, I asked Duri-sensei, heck I even went to DATS! Where the **** am I going wrong?!"

"It won't do to be this frustrated during the holiday season," Bakumon timidly pointed out as he floated beside Bokomon. "Plus you could always ask for it to be granted via this tournament-"

"No way!" I scowled. "I told you guys I wanted to do this! I don't want OR need any shortcuts!"

Pumpmon protested, "But you're not happy anymore!"

"I will once I finally get her back!" I growled, looking at the DIM card with growing frustration. ****! This was insane! "Look, just leave me alo-"

The door swung open at that exact moment, and I looked up to see a very much stern and unamused face from my adoptive dad, Akashiro Ismaya. Remdepiamon looked done as well while floating beside him. 

"You are NOT locking yourself up in your room right now," he coldly said while grabbing my violet hoodie and backpack, making me yelp as he began dragging me out. "We're on vacation, Luno! Let's have fun! Plus, Hiro is going to get in trouble now that Mei isn't around to monitor him!"

And that was a good point. My son, Amanokawa Hiro, as he preferred to be known despite the adoption, was pretty much a trouble magnet and a part of me kinda felt like he had to be watched with hawk eyes. Normally, Hoshi Mei, my surrogate sister would do that but Dad and Hiro had bought her tickets somehow to a Pokemon region so...

"I thought you and Semo-sensei were going to do that," I pointed out. "I mean, you and Hiro bought the tickets for her to go to Paldea in the first place."

"That is NOT the point. Spend some time with other human beings, Luno. Heck, even Wuliang would do and he's a dream demon!"

"Well-"

"Don't even bring up how he's from a different world! Still counts!"

But then, his footsteps slowed as his tone grew softer. "Plus... it's your birthday. Your actual one."

"December 1... huh, funny day," I remarked. "It's when I was actually born? Wasn't that also the day we met?"

"In that warehouse when you were trying to save Reiji? Yep," he chuckled. "I keep on thinking to myself... that Ko and Sayo were watching over you that time."

I went quiet at that. Dad had grown a lot happier ever since the ****ty November we had, what with the revelation of many things, such as Haavik, a psychopathic alien, surviving a death by killing an innocent man, meeting the six Digimon the elusive Creator had made to protect the Digital World (GulusGammamon and Remdepiamon were actually part of that team), and...

The truth about my dad; a former serial killer who killed DigiDestined/Chosen Children with their partners, who was stopped by my ... my birth parents, Ko and Sayo Bellucci. They were murdered by the people who would come to adopt me, the Daikis, cause the Daikis' parents had lost their partners due to my grandmother, Menoa Bellucci, grieving a loss, and had made them carry out their will of revenge.

It was... heartbreaking, and I always wondered whether my former killings had been influenced by my dad or... whether it was due to Menoa. 

My current project, Metamorphosis, was meant to help me find that and many other questions out by bringing back Eosmon, the artificial evolution to my grandmother's partner, Morphomon, who had been watching over her family until... until I got kidnapped by the Daikis and was nearly killed were it not for Eosmon taking my place. 

It was a way for me to atone, for me to stop letting others die. I had killed too much. For Ryubo-san, who was being influenced by the Sin Code of Pride, and... for... 

I shuddered, feeling the shivers go down my spine. I was a coward for not thinking about that time, right after I met Pumpmon, when I had been really, really, insane. 

But only Pump and I knew that story. Maybe Mei and Yuga but those two found info like it was no big deal. If they had, Mei probably wouldn't have told anyone. 

Even if my body count was higher than Shiramon's at this point. 

"I guess," I finally sighed as I got up. "Don't drag me, though. I have legs."

"Yeah but you don't use them."

Remdepiamon giggled at that while I blushed. "Hey!"

"Seriously, Duri does a lot more walking and he WORKS as a programmer," Bokomon snarked. 

"Boko!"

Bakumon chuckled as they watched me pick Pump up while Bokomon sat on my head. "Lazy parent hen."

"I am NOT!" I blushed. 

"Shiramon calls you one," was my dad's reply and it only served to make me blush more. Gosh! These people...

Still, we did reach the main lobby of the hotel where some of the All Stars Tournament spectators and fighters were already setting up. Light and cheery Kpop music was in the air and I could hear some people singing along to it.

https://youtu.be/6XGkkdaAabQ

"Mom!" Hiro waved us over as he and Gammamon jogged over, Gulus and Lumosmon, his girlfriend and another member of the six, following. "What took you so long? It's already 8 am!"

I laughed a bit. "Sorry about that, Hiro. How's setting up?"

"It's been a blast! We're almost done!" Another voice chirped, and we turned to see Lia Venegas and Kakogawa Ranma already filming the set-up. Both being the video directors for their respective social media channels, it did make sense, but it left me confused on where-

"LUNOOOOOOOOO!" Ah, there they were now. A close friend of mine, Ashita Kagami, former barista and currently a social media influencer named Reflectz. My nonbinary friend was with Ruri, who also had her own social media under the name Lirurun, as they joined the group. Angoramon and Shiramon, Mei's partner who was staying with us here while Mei was in Paldea for her Pokémon journey, were not far behind. 

"This is seriously awesome! A lot of people are staying over here for Christmas!" Ruri giggled. "Lots of fun we can have really!"

"It's meant as a break after November," Angoramon pointed out, but he gave Shiramon a peck on the cheek and gestured to the mistletoe above them as a reply, smirking at how much she flushed before continuing, "We start up the tournament again after the New Year right?"

"Yeah, it's also meant as a way for the worlds to interact since a lack of communication nearly ****ed us over during the fight against Haavik," Shinkawa Ichita admitted as he shimmied down the ladder, having set up some decorations for the ceiling.

Dan Kouzo, his SO, nodded in agreement as he and Drago struggled to untie some boxes. "The thing made Aruke-san realize just how much of an issue this was, so after that, stuff became open source right?"

"Pretty much, but multiversal peace is a nice thing," Dad joked. 

"No doubt about that. But the real issue is why they made the TMs stay behind here," I drily reminded him, which made Dan, Hiro, and some other voices yell, "Hey!!"

"I wasn't even going to deny it," Shin Mikado Gao protested from his position as he was helping Mikado Yuga, his and Shin Ryuenji Tasuku's son via technological advances, set up some more garlands. 

"Some people would. Your younger self, for example," Ranma laughed.

"Well, that's Suku's younger self, still in denial about being one," he retorted. "I've had to make peace with it because I had 23 years to realize that yes, we are TMs."

"When you put it that way, it sounds so sad," Tai Wuliang pointed out as he curled up on the sofa, yawning.

"It is," Shin Tasuku agreed as he walked out of the kitchen. "And he still blackmails me about it!"

"Cause you are dumb enough to think that you haven't gotten into worse messes than Otousan," Here, finally, Mikado Yuga spoke up while making a perfect landing on the sofa near his ladder. How he did it was gonna be attributed to either his instincts inherited from Shin Gao, or his smarts inherited from Shin Tasuku. "Dad, it's kinda ridiculous you know."

We all burst out laughing at that, but soon Ruri said, "But anyway, it's your birthday today, right, Mom? Happy birthday!"

"Well I never actually knew my real birthday until today," I gave my dad a stink eye and he blushed. "But yeah I guess so."

"It's a shame half of us aren't here, though," Kiyoshiro sighed. "I was hoping to challenge Parker-san to a rematch. And we could spend more time together."

He wasn't wrong. The Tournament also involved various timelines. The Ace timeline, which Wuliang was representing, was a future timeline to the Present timeline that Shin Tasuku's younger self was representing. They, the Legendary Heroes, the Appli Drivers and the original Youkai Watch Holders had gone home to celebrate Christmas, which was a shame since the original Keita was a member of the TM trio with Hiro and Dan and all TMs had been ordered to STAY PUT on Cho-Taiyo Island, the venue of the tournament and our current location.

"And also so everyone would have celebrated it with us," Kagami agreed.

"Nah, birthdays aren't a big deal." I shook my head. "I don't mind if we don't celebr-"

I froze as I felt it. The dark aura was wafting off some people in the room as their eyes zeroed in on me.

Ichita muttered, "R. I. P. Akashiro Luno-san. You will be missed."

"WHAT. DO YOU MEAN. BIRTHDAYS AREN'T A BIG DEAL." Mika's eyes were as cold as icebergs.

"YOU ARE NOT FORGOING YOUR BIRTHDAY. THAT IS. FINAL," Aoi snarled.

I gulped, but thankfully Hiro, bless his soul, saved me from being mauled by their partners. "Why don't we have Mom solve a case on Lirurun then? We can set up the birthday party while she solves it!"

And that immediately put a smile on their faces.

"Hiro, you are a lifesaver when you're not a Trouble Magnet," I said with a serious face.

"HEY!" He pouted.

The others burst out laughing again, and Ruri offered, "Ooh ooh, what about this  case?"

She showed me a new one that seemed to be getting worse, so I took her phone and read it with my partners and, surprisingly, Dan and Hiro.

I keep on hearing a bell in my ear when I'm in the park. I don't know why, but everyone around me claims they can't hear it and... And I heard that if you hear it a certain amount of time, you could... be eaten... Please, I'm scared... Please help, Lirurun...

"That sounds pretty scary," Dan shuddered.

"We should probably investigate, though," Hiro agreed.

"Take the TMs with you, Luno. I'm sure they'll come in handy in finding the cause. Plus, I worry Danny Boy is gonna mess things up," Wynton Styles solemnly said from the same couch Wuliang was on.

"Hey!! I don't mess up decorations THAT badly."

"D. Lia's birthday party nearly got us yelled at  because of your poor colour coordination skills."

".... True."

"So it'll be Hiro, Dan, me, Shin Gao-san, Shin Tasuku-san, Shin Ayumi-san, Shin Tamamo-san, and Yuga?" I blinked.

"Not Ayumi and Mamo-nii. Ayumi is probably off with Yunbae on a date and all that, and Mamo-nii has dragged Anastasia off somewhere," Shin Tasuku shrugged.

"Free interactions! Yay! Friends!" Pumpmon giggled.

I chuckled as I patted him on the head. "Alright. I'll go gear up and you guys should too."

The others blinked at me.

"What exactly WOULD we gear up with?" Yuga pointed out.

"Ah, kinda simple," I answered, getting my backpack and pulling out my equipment; a digital taser Blues had helped me reformat to work on creatures like Digimon, 2 flashlights, and a standard kit for detectives, which I hooked onto my belt.

"I... Don't know how that is considered simple," Dan muttered.

"It is how it is, Dan," Hiro solemnly answered.

I rolled my eyes. What drama queens. "Let's get going then."

"Can we Buddyfight anyone there?" Yuga asked, eyes bright as the thought of Buddyfighting in a different world seemed to enter his mind.

"Not sure. Buddyfight cards only began circulating recently," Hiro said. "So it'll take a while."

Here, the entire Mikado family pouted, even Shin Tasuku, and I snorted. "You TMs are a riot. I have my hands full I see."

"Yes, you do," Dad solemnly answered, and was promptly given a "HEY!!!"

But we all laughed at this, and I thought to myself, 'Maybe this month will be normal...'

Oh if only I knew what awaited me...

+ SPIRITUAL DIGILEMMA +

"So you can't stop hearing the bells?" Hiro asked.

The brown-haired girl nodded, watching her younger sister play in the grass with Gammamon and Pumpmon as she said, "It started in Koen Park... I've been hearing it every time I'm in a park, and... I heard rumours that... if I hear them more than eight times... I could..."

She began shaking. "I-It's already reached eight times for me... I-I'm scared... my mom usually works and leaves me and my sister at home... Yuna... Yuna needs me..."  

"It's okay, take your time," I gently took her hands onto mine. "We will solve this case, I promise." 

"I... I... Thank you," tears began falling down her cheeks as she sobbed. I just gave her a gentle hug to help her get it all out before she had to go home. 

Once she and her younger sister left, Hiro promising to bring Gammamon over to their house (apparently Kiyoshiro had helped the young child before), Hiro turned to me and asked, "What do you think, Mom?"

"Well, it's too vague to be able to tell. With the worlds being open source now, it could be a Youkai, a Monster, an Appmon, a Bakugan, or a Digimon," I answered, looking at the trees around. "We need to be careful here. Whichever it is, this case is hurting people and we need to solve it." 

"Usually cases take a while to be solved, but we do have to celebrate Luno's birthday, so we should try to cover all our bases," Gulus agreed. "Lumos and I will take the Digimon route." 

"I'll compile up the locations of those who got caught up and were never heard from again. It should be relatively easy since I have a bigger database to work with," Shin Tasuku offered. 

"I'll help Dad," Yuga added. "Otousan can keep an eye on Dan if needed."

"I will decidedly ignore that jab," Dan snarked. "I'm going to check out the parks and see if we can find anything weird."

"Take Hiro with you. You'll need someone with a VR Digivice," I said. "I'll go with my partners to look for connections between the victims and hopefully predict the next victim. Meet up back here tonight if possible."

"Got it." They all nodded, and we soon split up. 

As we walked to the police station for the database, I couldn't help but look at the DIM card, sighing at how it was still unresponsive. I would have to ask Duri-san again, huh...? 

"You know, I don't get why you're trying so hard..." Bokomon finally spoke up. "I know that it's guilt, but... something tells me there's another reason."

"It's nothing, Boko." I waved it off. "I just... I really feel bad for what happened before Pump's death." 

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth. Mei hadn't figured out why I had so much money in the first place to buy so much, to dedicate to various expenditures throughout our time together. She definitely didn't like not knowing, but... perhaps it was for the best. 

After all, I knew how rotten, how much of an excuse of a detective I had been beforehand. 

"You sure?" Bakumon asked, looking worried. 

I felt ire right off, and snapped slightly, "It's none of your business, you know. What's in the past is in the past. It's done."

I couldn't wash those digi-bits off my conscience, but at least I could make amends somehow... right? 

"Friend..." Pumpmon frowned, but soon we reached the police station and I headed for my desk, where I powered it on and did a search for potential missing victims. 

One thing I immediately noticed about it was how it seemed like they all were last seen near forest parks. One even reported how the victims seemed... blank. 

"Could they have been hypnotised?" Bakumon asked. "It seems pretty reminiscent of that." 

"Hm, that I am unsure of, but..." Bokomon sighed. "Too little information. However, the tree part could be... Perhaps, it might just be..."

"What's up?" I blinked. 

"I was having a talk with Amano some time ago, and he mentioned something called... the silverbell tree," he said. "Late spring shrubs, but... they look awfully like bells don't you think?"

"Hold on, do you have a scientific name?" I opened up the browser. 

"Halesia, if my memory serves me correctly. It is also known as the snowdrop tree." 

I quickly typed down Halesia and snowdrop tree, and immediately found something interesting. 

My eyes widened. "Boko, you genius! These delicate white flowers do look like bells! And in our city, there is an open conservatory where they are located! Kitamachi Park!" 

"Let's check up on our victims! See if they went there!" Pumpmon urged. 

The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. Our victims... oh, Pump, I wish I hadn't dragged you down the dark path I had before your death. 

Still, I managed to pull up profiles of all our victims, and all their social media pictures... 

I quickly called Shin Tasuku, "I think we found our connection! They all went to Kitamachi Park!" 

"I was just about to say the same thing," He said. "I texted Gao already, and Hiro will tell Gulus over the Digivice. How do we get there?"

"It isn't that hard! Kitamachi Park is right beside the park where we met Rokuro Lily!" 

"WHAT?! Alright, alright, okay then! I'll see you there!" 

"Same!" I ended the call, hurriedly closing my PC and running out. 

If I had stayed a bit longer, perhaps I could have realised the DIM card was glowing a bit in my pocket; a clear sign of what was to come. 

Once I was outside, I quickly had Boko evolve to Wisemon, and we all got on as we rushed to the park. 

"Mom!" I nearly jumped and turned to see Dan, Hiro and Shin Gao on Gankoomon X as Hiro yelled, "We saw Lily-san heading towards the park! We need to hurry!" 

"What?!" My eyes widened. That was bad! "Did you see any Digimon around!?" 

"That's the weird part! We couldn't see any Digimon!" Dan said. "Hiro couldn't even see anything!" 

Hiro couldn't see anything!? Either this Digimon was elusive as heck, or it's not a Digimon. Bakugan couldn't have hidden that well. Appmon I could see but... I had a feeling it wasn't. It felt like a Digimon, yet... something about this entire case weirded me out. What it was, I didn't know yet. 

"Let's head to Kitamachi then decide what to do once Shin Tasuku-san and Yuga make it there," I decided. 

"Alright... I really hope we can save her in time," Hiro said, frowning all the way. 

"Let's focus on the now instead of what-ifs. Trust me, I learnt the hard way that the what-ifs only hold you back." Shin Gao placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I... guess you have a point," Hiro smiled slightly. "Thanks, Shin Gao-san." 

"No problem!" he smiled back. 

My grip tightened slightly at this. I was... jealous of this interaction... But... why? 

I shook my head. No time to think about that! I had to focus!

We soon landed at the entrance of the huge indoor park, and Shin Tasuku and Yuga joined us riding on Jack. It was a miracle no one had noticed them, but then again, Aruke-san had given us a thing to make Buddy monsters and Bakugan invisible, so he could have used that. Huh, someone should tell him they worked.

"She went in?" Yuga asked with a frown as Garga came out of his card in his SD form.

Shin Gao nodded, Shin Batzz doing the same as Garga. "Dan saw her walking in the direction of the park. We need to stop her somehow." 

"I think we're already too late, though," Gulus spoke up as he and Lumos arrived as well, gesturing to something that made my stomach drop; the glass doors had been open... 

"Who... Who opened it...?" I asked quietly. 

"Most probably the Digimon," Hiro's eyes narrowed while Gammamon returned back to normal. "Gulus?"

He nodded. "Ah." 

"Baku, Boko, Pump, be on your guard," I added, grabbing my flashlight. "We're going in." 

With that unspoken agreement, we headed into the dark park. Dan and Shin Tasuku used their phones to help illuminate as well, but the inside of the park was quiet. TOO quiet. I remembered visiting this place for a case before and it was the afternoon as well, so this was definitely when the forest sounds usually came to life.

"... here..." 

We all froze. That voice!

"... help... stay... way..."

"Kehehehheheheeheh~" a new voice echoed in the park as it giggled. "Awww, why so scared? You're safe here!" 

Then Yuga barely dodged some sort of miasma aimed at him, and I screamed, "SCATTER!" 

"Hold on, that voice!" Bokomon's eyes widened. "GUYS, STOP! THIS IS-" 

Gulus snarled as more miasma came in. "DESDEMONA!!!" 

"Sun Crescent Star!" Lumosmon called out. 

The good news? It brightened the place up. 

The bad news? There were TWO Digimon. And one of them was... was stuck to the other, looking very much shocked.

"W-What the ****?!" Shin Gao gasped. 

"Pinochimon!" Bokomon looked surprised as well. "I didn't expect to see you again! What the heck is going on here!?"

"Bokomon, get out of here!" the voice from before came from the Pinochimon. It wasn't teasing anymore, but it looked terrified. "Entmon is going to- Dryad Stinger!" 

"Not so fast! Gate Card, Set!" Dan quickly set up a Drome. "Let's do thi-" 

"No! I need to save Pinochimon!" Bokomon protested. 

"You know him!?" I yelled. 

"He was a friend of mine who was reformed from the Dark Masters! We traveled together before I came to the human world!" he said. "How did you even get stuck to that Entmon!" 

"We- Blasted Disaster!" Wait hold on...

I barely dodged the miasma, but it seemed like Hiro had caught on as well. "You're stuck to that Digimon!?" 

"Someone fused us! I don't know who but it hurts! I hate this! I don't want this!" 

Entmon roared as the Digimon lunged at us again, but I grabbed a Core, remembering how to do this from the one time Wrath got hold of the Wrath Sin Code. "Pump, evolution time!"

The Core glowed light purple before I threw it. "NoblePumpmon let's go!" 

"You got it Luno! Trick or Tre-"

"Byakusai!" 

"Alright!!" 

Hold on wh-

Two daggers embedded themselves into the Digimon, making it and Pinochimon scream in pain as it fell over. 

My eyes widened, watching the two dissolve into Digi-bits, numbness seeping into my bones. 

I KNEW that voice...! 

But he... he... He was supposed to be in jail!

"Well, well, looks like you really are useless after all, Luno. What a useless Sacrifice you are."

"YOU!" Hiro spun around, eyes burning in anger while Bokomon's face morphed into a snarl. 

"You're!" Gulus looked angry as well. "You were Luno's adoptive brother when she was with the Daikis!" 

"Daiki Akira," he coolly smirked. Right beside him, a Digimon I hadn't met before smirked at Hiro. "Looks like you couldn't escape my race!~" 

"SISTERMON CIEL!" he looked angrier now than ever before. I had to assume he had history with her, but... my main focus was on the Digimon standing beside the eight cloaked figures behind Akira. 

No... no!!! It can't be!

"So, you can still sleep at night, you MURDERER?" one of them snarled. "After you murdered us for money? For cash?!" 

"W-Wait what are you talking about?" Shin Gao asked, turning to me. "Luno, what...?" 

"Oh, you didn't know?" Akira chuckled. "I thought you would come clean to them by now. But that was too much to be expected from you. Oh well, I suppose that the data's out of the bag, now, isn't it?"

His next words froze me over, made Bokomon, Bakumon and everyone else turn to NoblePumpmon and me with shock.

"Luno started killing Digimon for money. Why else do you think that he had lots of money?"

I felt a lump form in my throat. He was deadnaming me now. Misgendering me on purpose, but...

"Luno, P-Pump, i-it can't be true right?" Dan was shaking. "You didn't... You didn't..."

"I..." I fell to my knees. No point in denying it... It was out now.

"I... I did..." 

Everyone stared at me, Bokomon and Bakumon the most betrayed I had seen them.

"Aww, don't worry, the whole truth isn't even that juicy," Akira laughed. "We're going to CRUSH you. You are going to pay for everything you put me through. For getting in the way of my vision. Team Perfectio will utterly rip your pathetic team Lirurun apart." 

"Perfectio...?" Hiro repeated. 

"The nine of us will destroy you all, so keep an eye out," Sistermon Ciel smirked. "Because December is about to become a horror month! Will you be able to keep up with us?~" 

"I highly doubt it," Akira agreed. "But do await our reveal video! I can't wait to see you all learn the truth about him!" 

With that, a bright light suddenly erupted, and we all instinctively covered our eyes, but when we opened them, they were... gone.

I... What happened after was a blur. I felt something under my hands as I sensed the others walking away from me to find Lily-san, but when I looked at it...

Through my tears, I could see a pair of silver bells with stars on them. 

I remembered what Lily-san had said. About... About the ringing of bells. Had Entmon rung the bells? 

Or... was there something else I didn't know here? Was there something more... Malicious afoot? 

I didn't know, but all I knew was this.

December was about to become a month from **** itself.

venusaura owns Hoshi Mei, Amanokawa Blues, Remdempiamon, Lumosmon, and Shiramon. She's an awesome person!