The Past was a Dream (That I can't Let Go Of)

Venus knew that money can't buy everything, and that some things you would have to fight for.

And this was one of those times where she would have to fight. The human-turned-digimon regarded her with contempt that could be felt in the air, as sparks were crackling around her. Esyra's flash of lightning and crack of thunder had gotten the attention of the entire lobby, even though only the people close to the conversation caught what was actually going on.

But it was no big deal. She can take the heat. No, you can't. This is damn scary. That woman has powers you don't have. You don't stand a chance.

While no one was looking, Kekoa had somehow pulled over another table and four comfortable chairs, an entire fresh pot of tea brewed and ready to serve. "Hey, bruddahs. Take things slowly and talk it out. Let the tea do the work to calm you down."

Venus expected for Esyra to become vindictive, however, the sparks slowly resided. Her expression, however, did not soften. "I think we all need answers. And Kekoa is correct. We need to talk." She sat down at the table and Kekoa gladly switched to that table to serve her tea, leaving Isaac and Ciela just looking across their table at them. Ciela blinked and just reached for a biscuit from the center of the table. "I guess this is something for them to figure out."

"Y-yeah." Isaac nervously reached for the teapot for more tea. "Phew...that's one big mess that I'm glad I'm not part of."

"I'd like to know what's going on though."

The two jumped and looked over to see Wayne, whom they never actually met.

"Sorry. I'm an...old friend of Razor's, you can say. I'll just...help myself to some of this, if that's okay."

No one objected as he pulled out a chair to occupy where Kekoa was previously sitting and poured himself a helping. His partner Joan quietly apologized for the intrusion and climbed into the other chair to at least speak with the other occupants and get them to be comfortable with Wayne's sudden appearance. Oliver, however, had temporarily left Oshi back at the Lobby Bar, to go ask his flat mate Wayne what was going on.

The entire lobby buzzed for a moment, confused about what was happening, but soon it died down. However, Venus knew that speculation was a dangerous thing. Too bad the damage was already done...but that was the least of her worries right now. She sat down opposite of Esyra, thus forcing Razor to reluctantly make his way to the seat between the women and opposite of Kekoa, whom handed him a cup of tea also.

"Thanks..." Razor muttered as he slumped into the chair, looking distraught.

"Okay, bruddahs, let's just start from the beginning, so that everyone understands each other. How about our new young lady give her side of the story first?"

She sighed. "Yes, well...as you know, I just arrived here. But prior to that, I was...just a student, in what you would call the 'Real World.' Well, there's more than that but I wasn't remotely aware that other worlds existed or anything. Regardless...

"I went to the same boarding school as Razor." She paused there to see if there were any reaction. Esyra just nodded slowly and Razor appeared to be contemplative. She continued: "And we were together." She took another sip of tea and then took a deep breath. "Roughly at the end of high school, he suddenly...disappeared. No word, no letter, no contact. There were searches performed, but no one found him, and no one found any indication of a kidnapping or that he prepared to leave. But I see now what happened was that he went to completely different world." She stopped there and waited for further questions or comments.

Esyra placed her tea down and asked Razor: "Have you ever visited the other world in the past three years?"

"...Briefly. But I had little reason to go back there. Not anymore, at least...I couldn't remember much of what I did since I was eight. Somewhere in between there, there's a whole big blank of experiences from being in the Digital World and even the Real World. When I found my way back to the Digital World and met most of the partners I have now, I started to remember some of my experiences, just enough to know what to do next. I...never did consider or remember much of my life or the people I knew in the Real World..."

Kekoa refilled Esyra and Venus's tea. Razor had barely touched his at all. "Hey now, brah, it’s okay. Do you remember why you're missing important memories?"

He sighed and tensed, his fists clenched. "I don't remember everything. I know but there's no guarantee that what I know is the real cause. I..." He stood up. "I'm sorry, I have to go think."

"Wait!"

"Razor!"

Both Venus and Esyra meant to go after him but seeing each other stood up, they stopped and let him walk away.

Venus immediately directed her frustration at Esyra. "Just because he doesn't remember me doens't mean I love him any less, no matter how much time has passed. If you mean to take him from me, you're going to have another thing coming."

"And if I do take him from you?" Esyra taunted.

"What's mine is mine." I don't want to live without him now that I know he's not just a fragment of my dream-like past.

Esyra simply smiled and replied, almost with pity in here voice: "I don't intend to lose any more of my life. Thank you for the tea, Kekoa. It's getting late, and I'm going to retreat back to my complex."

Briefly, Venus couldn't believe that she had competition for love. Test scores? Tournaments? Yes, she could deal with those, but how could it be that when things got personal, there is someone else in the way?

But perhaps the more pressing issue was that he doesn't remember her anymore...and she can't admit to herself how much that hurt.

Behind her, she didn't even notice that her digiegg wobbled slightly.