(Untitled)

[arc_saver]

Who: Fate Testarossa, Jiro Takagi, partners
What: A proposal
When: 1-7-2010
Where: Royal Base

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[fightersaim]

As Jiro walked towards Fate's office, he took note of how odd it was he wasn't being held in handcuffs. Or, really, monitored on the way there... Certainly, he couldn't escape on his own from this base ANYWAY... especially without a partner.

Though Jiro had been held for some months, partly upon his own insistence, Terriermon had been released a long time ago. Jiro hadn't heard anything from him, but well suspected that he had returned to his gambling habits in Neon City. Not something he much liked, but... such as it was. Jiro didn't want that Digimon feeling obligation towards him.

Taking a breath, he knocked on the door lightly before entering.

"You wanted to see me, ma'am...?"

[arc_saver]

Fate looked up, closing the file that she'd been reading. His file, as it turned out.

"Jiro-san. Sit down," she said. "We have much to discuss..."

[fightersaim]

Jiro eyed her uneasily, but took his seat.

"...okay. Cut to the chase, then," he said, somewhat abruptly. "I don't want to waste your time."

He wasn't saying that to be smart, nor was it in a tone that implied as such; he genuinely meant that.

[arc_saver]

Fate stared at him for several long moments before closing her eyes.

"Very well then. I have determined that it is no longer suitable to keep you detained. However..."

She opened them, staring at him with half-lidded eyes. "I want to make something clear. Your past vendettas... exploring them will be to the detriment of the people who are your REAL enemies."

[fightersaim]

Jiro balled up his fists as his hands rested on his legs.

Yes, she had a point. That, of course, did not mean those feelings had subsided... they hadn't, but at the same time...

"It's not as if I can really do anything about them, anyhow, ma'am. My world is a long way away from here."

[arc_saver]

"Of course. And I'm not going to force you to reconcile with your former comrades or their alternates either."

She then crossed her arms, and stood up.

"However, I WOULD like to direct you towards being more productive... for all sides. If you'll let me, that is."

[fightersaim]

Jiro let out a long breath. He couldn't deny he still had training and skills that would be useful to people. But he also knew he was still a liability... the Bio Hybridization process had done things to his mind. Just as it had done to Yuma, and though he had suffered less direct trauma while under that influence than her...

"And you think you can trust me with that?"

[arc_saver]

"..."

She sat back. "Let me tell you a story, Jiro-san. About a girl who was used to commit several terrible crimes, all due to her mother's wishes. And even though the attempt to earn people's trust was long, and difficult, all she needed was a chance to earn that..."

She shook her head. "Do I trust you completely? No. But I see you as a troubled young man who will either redeem himself or go further down the path of darkness. And no one will be able to achieve the former if we simply throw you away."

[fightersaim]

Jiro closed his eyes, bowing his head. "...I see. And I suppose Daimon Sayu and Hayase Manami have given you ample information, regardless..."

He had a pretty good suspicion of just what she meant, but... he chose not to pry.

[arc_saver]

"They did. But then, this all also begins with you, Jiro-san."

She closed her eyes.

"But before I let you make your decision... I think you should consider the difference between revenge and avenging someone. Revenge is nothing but anger, but avenging... you make up for that loss, that tragedy by moving forward and honoring their memory. And putting a stop to evil, not for what happened in the past, but for the future that person will not be able to forge."

[fightersaim]

Jiro had, really, had a lot of time to think about things over the past several months. And he DIDN'T want to just sit there, wallowing in his own self pity... but he didn't know how to really put another foot forward, either.

"...so what do you want me to do, then? Precisely."

[arc_saver]

"... You will be a part of the investigation team," said Fate. "Working on... more discreet projects than the rest of the squad. Sort of... a more 'off the record' type of activity."

[fightersaim]

Jiro's eyes opened, but they stayed narrowed. Some time ago, such a prospect of the kind of job she was implying may have bothered him.

Now? Not much of what he could do with his own hands did bother him.

"...I see. Anything else?"

[arc_saver]

Fate stared at him for a moment.

"Keep in mind, I have read your file. Putting you towards this is not only playing to your strengths, but as well as allowing you to come to grips with the situations that led you to where you are today..."

She joined her hands in front of her.

"As well as allowing you to get closer to the ones you should be fighting against. The choice is yours, though."

[fightersaim]

He continued to stare at her.

...really, he had no other path in this world. Or any other. At home, he would be a criminal, and locked away.

Here, at least...

"I accept," he said, quietly. "But I'll need to ask one thing of you... My ... partner here, Terriermon, was released. I don't, honestly, know if he'll want to do something like this, but... I would like someone to go to Neon City with me to track him down, and at least see what his opinion is."

And, moreover, he honestly felt a pang of guilt towards the Digimon, and wanted to make sure he hadn't lost his fur, and wasn't wasting away in a gutter somewhere.

[arc_saver]

"... Very well," said Fate, nodding. "I will go with you there personally, to retrieve your partner."