Everything we know is about to be tested...

Two worlds, on the edge of a knife...

Evil Digimon from the Dark Lands descend upon our freedom...

New friends and old friends...

We come together in our darkest days...

Alone we are doomed...

Together, united in a pact of justice, we stand a chance...

Digimon, Digital Monsters!

I'm just going to stop predicting which chapter is the last, because I honestly don't know. It's probably this one but who knows, really. Realizing that I have been writing sloppily and without much description or depth, I decided to slow down a bit as we hit a new arc. Anyways, some intense VeeGato coming.

Chapter 13 - Two Hearts, One Feeling

Now calm and recovering from the events of yesterday, Odaiba was quiet-unless you count the dozens of armed soldiers stationed around the epicenter of Dagomon's fall. The full moon was as high as it could be, and its light shined through the window in Tai and Kari's bedroom. Gatomon, who had just laid her soft, furry head on her side of the pillow on the bottom bunk, was still wide awake, staring at the dual rectangles of light being displayed on the floor courtesy of the moon. She thought of what had just happened no longer than five or six hours ago.

So I saved us by Digivolving to Magnadramon... I don't remember any of the battle, only losing consciousness as Salamon and regaining it later as Nyaromon.

She was trying to figure out why she was the one to save them and not Veemon or Patamon-heck even Agumon would have been better suited for such a heroic task.

Sure, she was just as equal a Digimon as any of them-she had been with them along all their journeys and had done her fair share of noble deeds. But all the trump-card, last-resort episodes of bravery were always performed by Agumon or Veemon. She was merely the backup, like the other Digimon. Nobody called her special (aside from Kari) or thought of her as anything more than what she was: a simple cat Digimon.

Maybe that light from the sky was suppose to hit Veemon...

Recalling that specific point in time, she then remembered Veemon running up to protect her as Dagomon readied his final attack.

What a great guy he is: tough, brave, loyal, compassionate, sincere, friendly, caring, gentle...

"Stupid, slow, clumsy, shy, hotheaded, awkward, piggish..."

Hey! Get out of here, other conscience! I told you, I don't want to hear you anymore!

"Too bad! Without me, you'd be six feet under enjoying a dirt nap!"

The other conscience-her "old" conscience. The one that took everything with a grain of salt and only relied on her better judgement. She then started to recall her "date" with Veemon: the way he held her hand, how he caught and held her even though it hurt him, when he handed her his jacket so she wouldn't catch a cold.

What am I thinking about? That wasn't a date, it was a meeting of friends of course! Catching up on old times!

"Looked more like you were catching up on what his eyes looked like."

Well, I hadn't seen them in a while! These things are important to know!

"How about how "warm and inviting" his hand was? You practically gushed everytime he squeezed your hand!"

It was cold and I needed warmth! I didn't want my hand to freeze. And besides, I only "gushed" because it hurt a little...

"Admit it! Although it's totally disgusting, you actually like..."

Lalalalalalalalalalalalala can't hear you, trying to sleep. Lalalalalala.

Gatomon closed her crystal-clear, blue eyes and tried to shut the voice out. But of course, then she just saw images of Veemon in her head.

Go away! I just want to sleep! Please, no more images!

"Well well well. The once fearless, powerful Gatomon is reduced to begging her own conscience to stop. You can't even come to grips with your feelings, you're hopeless!"

It was obvious there was no longer any safety in even closing her eyes and attempting to sleep. She leaped out of bed. She closed her eyes, sighed, and shook her head, trying to get rid of her untamed thoughts. As she was doing this, she heard a noise outside the bedroom. It sounded like it was coming from the kitchen.

She opened the door ever so slowly and peeked outside-nothing. As she moved to pull her head back inside the bedroom and close the door, she saw Veemon walk from the kitchen area over to the living room area in the corner of her eye.

What's he up to...

She remembered that everyone had stayed over for the night on account of the fight with Dagomon.

"Why should you care, do you want him to hold you again; make you feel "special"?"

Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!

Shaking her head again and opening the door wider, she stepped out into the hallway and slowly made her way to the end of the hallway. She clung to the right side. The hallway, as well as the rest of the kitchen/living room was completely dark, save for some light sneaking in from the balcony windows and door. She peeked her head around the wall and saw Veemon.

His oddly shaped ears moved to and fro as the wind carried them, his kinked tail twitching from left to right as unique sounds were picked out. He was holding himself up on the railing of the balcony, letting his body dangle as he watched the outside world.

"He's just standing there, by himself! In the cold, without a jacket. What a total moron!"

Gatomon just ignored that conscience for once and began to tip toe towards the glass door. Careful consideration had to have been taken lest she awaken Davis, T.K. or Carol, each of whom had found somewhere in the living area to sleep. She found her scarf on the side table and wrapped it snugly around her neck, then continued further. When she was close enough she reached for the door handle. Her paw touched it and she gently slid it to the left. As she did, the cold air from outside rushed in and it flushed over her face-a refreshing variation from the stale, warm air inside the apartment.

He still hasn't noticed me...

Veemon was looking out into the city. He could see the distant lights of the Yakatabune boats on the water, the immense Daikanransha ferris wheel, and the Rainbow Bridge, imposing still but totally dark on account of the events a few hours ago. At times like these, Veemon felt so alone. He didn't think it was for any particular reason. Maybe now it was because of Gatomon, although this was unconfirmed. Perhaps it was just because he felt lonely. He had always loved the wind at night, especially in the winter time. Cold and refreshing, almost blowing all his troubles away with it as it flew around the air. He looked down at his hands and began to think of hours before, when Gatomon called him and they went out together.

She was so beautiful… her eyes… her ears… her cute little nose… that scarf... her soft paws...

Veemon recalled the feeling of her furry hands. They felt just like he thought they would: warm, inviting snow, something that only dreams can shape into reality.

And her fur... man, what a Digimon. It's just too bad-

He sighed and looked back up at all the lights.

There's no way that she likes me.

He thought of everything Gatomon meant to him.

I feel so drawn to her now, like I want her to be my everything! I mean what else is there for a Digimon to do when there's no more fighting? That's what we were designed to do! Live my life? Enjoy all that I've been given? None of that seems possible now without her as my special mon...

He paused, carefully thinking over what it was he was about to say to himself.

...without the mon I… "love"...

He slowly spoke the word in his mind, going over every sound and even mouthing the word, just to feel what it was like to say aloud. Deep down, he really didn't understand love. He knew that he thought she was beautiful, that she really wasn't just some little kitty cat as everyone thought. He knew that she was strong, full of goodwill, and graceful, too. And lots of other things! Most of all he realized that whenever she was around, the world to him just seemed better, regardless of the situation. He would feel more powerful when she would encourage him, and believe in himself when she did.

Veemon began to realize that these feelings weren't new at all. Everything he was now thinking about was finally put into words, but they had been there since he first laid his eyes on her. It was only now, when some measure of peace had entered his life, had it all came flowing into him clear as day.

Even with all this running around his head, he couldn't really place a definition on what he thought love was, or understand the concept any better. A particularly cold breeze now hit his face. He decided it would be best just to go back inside and stare at the lights from inside, where he wouldn't get frostbite. When he turned his head however, it was as if he was staring into a dream. In front of him, slowly closing the glass door behind her, was Gatomon. Her cute little pink scarf danced in the wind, and there was that familiar twitch and jut of her ears, and her beautiful, white and purple striped tail swayed back and forth as she now stood outside.

Oh great, so I'm dreaming again, huh...

Veemon sighed and pinched himself. Once he realized nothing was happening, he pinched himself again, harder this time. He then proceeded to pinch himself all over until he awoke, but no such time came. Gatomon hadn't realized that he knew she was there, and in an attempt to remain hidden, she slinked to the corner of the balcony. When Veemon looked up again at the door and saw nothing, he figured it really was all an apparition of his mind.

It was vivid and realistic, but just another dream.

Gatomon fought with herself, trying to decide whether or not to approach Veemon or not. It was cold and the whiskers on her face blew all over the place.

He's so close-just within arm's reach. I mean, I should talk to him about today...

"Blah blah, whatever, justify it all you want, but you know that your true desire is "his gentle touch, warm embrace, tender eyes looking upon yours".

No that's not true. We're certainly just friends. I mean, that's what I think... and I'm sure he feels the same way.

"Oh my Digigods, you're such a terrible liar! All you want to do right now is let him hold you, and deep down you know it!"

No… I mean-do I? Is that really all I want from him? A source of warmth and attention and lov...

She stopped mid-thought and shook her head again. Gatomon furrowed her brow. It was time to act. She walked forward slowly, step by little step, towards Veemon. Getting to the point where she was right behind him, she could feel his body heat on her fur. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, slowly wrapping her small paws around his chest.

So warm. His skin is soft yet the muscle underneath is so hard… it's all so simple, and yet it feels so right...

She lay her head on his back, the furry tingle of ears and whiskers rubbing Veemon. He realized he was having yet another dream, this one almost feeling real.

"Another dream, huh," he said aloud, sadly.

Gatomon's eyes opened up and she realized that he thought she was a dream.

"A… dream?" she replied with a quiver in her voice, half from her feelings and half from the temperature.

He let his arms fall from the railing and slipped down to the balcony. He turned around and snapped at the apparent dream Gatomon, brushing her off with his hand.

"Don't try and toy with me, I know you're really just a figment of my imagination! Or maybe some dark Digispell cast by Dagomon before he got deleted! I know that Gatomon doesn't like me, that we're just acquaintances! Why do you have to tease me with all these life-like dreams of her!"

Tears welled up in Veemon's eyes and he looked away, trying to stop himself from crying. Gatomon was also on the verge of crying as she realized he, too, was thinking about her nonstop. It was unclear to her what to do next but she knew it would need to be drastic for him to believe she was real. She stepped forward again, only this time she forcibly turned him around. Veemon raised a brow.

Strange dream… now it even seems like it is moving me.

Looking into his eyes, on a pure, wild instinct she did not really understand, Gatomon leaned forward and kissed Veemon on the lips. She closed her eyes and tightened her grip on his shoulders. He was wide eyed, unable to think or react. But eventually, without caring if it was all real or not, he wrapped his arms around Gatomon's soft, furry body and closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling.

Moments passed and the embrace continued, neither drastically moving or risking ending their joy prematurely. Both were happy to finally have the other in their embrace, they were happy just to have that feeling, not even worrying about who they truly were to each other. Veemon finally accepted that the Gatomon before him was the real one, and the two slowly opened their eyes and pulled themselves away slightly. They both burned bright red, but held on for a while, exploring each other's eyes. Neither cared about the wind, or the lights, or the city. All that mattered was each other.

After a while, Veemon picked up Gatomon and placed her gently on the railing. He hopped up and sat down alongside her, his feet dangling over the edge. He then picked her up again and placed her in his lap.

"Veemon..." was all Gatomon managed to say until he began to stroke her fur. She closed her eyes as he started on her face, than slowly made his way down her neck, her chest, her soft belly, and ran his hands down her thighs. She opened her eyes again and realized that she was purring. The sound calmed Veemon and he rested his hands on her ankles. Both could feel the other's frantic heartbeat. He closed his eyes once again and kissed her neck.

She is real! I can't believe it! I really just... cannot… I mean really!?

Gatomon placed her small white paws on top of his strong, larger blue hands. Leaning her head back so it was adjacent to his, the two touched noses. They both blushed again as they kissed once more, just a peck though. For the rest of the night, they let their passion take over and explored each others bodies several times. Hours passed, and not even the cold temperatures or sudden fall of snow could divert the pleasure. Their combined body heat was enough to stave off the chill.

As morning verged on the horizon, Veemon, whose legs had become stiff and which had fallen asleep some time ago, picked Gatomon up and placed her to his side. The two looked at each other one final time before letting their hands come together and watching the morning sun rise. Gatomon laid her head on his right shoulder. It felt like it didn't matter what happened now, because they had shown each other how they feel, and had shared such a loving night. Evil could descend upon them right now, and they would feel confident that together they could still conquer it. And they always had their friend, too, no matter what.

Even though neither of them really knew if they were in love with the one beside them, they did know that that mon was very special. For another few minutes, they continued to stare out into the rising ball of light that was greeting them, and saying goodbye to their former selves and realizing that today dawned a new day. They had no idea what was beyond that horizon, but they were ready to face it together.

There, to make up for a whole twelve chapters and minimum VeeGato, I diverted a whole chapter to it.

[UPDATE NOVEMBER 2017] The story of VGP will be continued in VGP: The Hounds of Astamon! It may or may not already be uploaded, depending on when you read this; check my profile to see! I realize, too, that this first story is not super well written in terms of detail and pacing, but you can expect better quality for both of those in the next stories! Thanks for reading!

Also this chapter was edited for grammar and spelling and such. The older chapters will remain untouched though.