Ruki entered her bedroom, and let loose the groan she'd held onto all day. All of this stupid day. The stupidest day in all the sixteen years she'd lived.
And given she knew people like Takato, Jenrya, and Ryo...
"I knew it was a bad idea... I said it was a bad idea, didn't I? Such a stupid outcome to all this... Such a stupid day!"
She looked around the room.
"And Renamon isn't even in here meaning I'm talking to myself."
"I'm here, culu!"
"Yes, but you're an idiot... And why are you here?! Don't you live with Juri?!"
Culumon walked out from under Ruki's bed.
"I was playing hide and seek with Guilmon!"
"...When did you start?"
The tiny Digimon pondered this.
"About three weeks ago?"
"And you've been hiding there the whole time?"
The Digimon nodded.
Ruki stared.
Not sure what to do, Culumon nodded again.
"So, um... What's the problem culu?"
Ruki sighed. Maybe explaining to someone who was as stupid as the events that had taken place would help, and odds were that Takato was trying to help his idiot Digimon find the other idiot Digimon.
"Well, the main problem is I'm surrounded by idiots. Except Renamon. Well, usually. One time she mistook sake for water. "
Ruki adopted a thousand yard stare.
"She chased her tail for nine hours."
Culumon digested this, and decided to nod.
"So Renamon got drunk?"
"What? Oh, no, not recently. It was my mother." The human clarified.
"Your mother got drunk?"
"Uh, no. Not quite. It all began about a week ago..."
"Ooh, a flashback, culu!"
"Yes, a flashback, now shut up and listen already."
Culumon nodded.
"Stop it, I haven't even started!"
"Sorry, Culu..."
"Okay, so, it was about a week ago. Mother was determined to try and get some family bonding done for some reason, since she had some time off from her modelling jobs. And I still can't figure out two things. Why she picked this, and how she knew Renamon could help out."
"Hypnosis?" Ruki said, about a week ago.
"You don't have to remind me it was a week ago culu!"
"Whoops."
"Hypnosis?" Ruki said.
"Don't start over! That's just padding out the word count!"
"What? Ugh, fine, I'll move on."
"Yes! Hypnosis, 'Learn the Sub concious truths of your loved ones'! Using this book we can find out our true personalties and how we relate to each other! I know I'm sometimes kind of controlling as a mother..." Rumiko said, but was cut off.
"Um, actually, as mothers go you're not really controlling as such. More like kind of demanding. And not understanding me. Or yourself."
"Exactly!"
Ruki groaned, wondering why she'd said something that stupid.
"...Even I know what you said was stupid. And why are you talking about yourself third person?"
"S-shut up! Alright? I was surprised and confused!"
"Or you're an idiot..."
"Bite me! OW, I didn't mean literally! Do you want to hear this story or not?! If you do stop interrupting and nitpicking! And I'm sticking to third person okay? It pleases Ruki to speak of herself in the third person! And stop going cuckoo!"
"Uh, okay, well, I guess we don't need it because now we understand each other? You have misconceptions about me, I have misconceptions about you, let's ignore the book and... I dunno, you go to the beach and I'll play videogames or something?"
Rumiko seemed to ponder this.
"We could both go!"
Ruki groaned.
"Yes, we both go. I can pick out some nice swimsuits... You really should start wearing two-pieces now, you're old enough to want the boys to stare a little..."
"They stare at me enough in a one piece, thanks!"
"...Or we could just use this book?"
"Fine. But how? Hypnotism is complicated! It's not going to work fast..."
"I thought of this. Your Digimon, Renamon. Why not let her use something from a card? Digi-modify, was it?"
Ruki's jaw dropped open.
"Buh?" She managed.
"So surely there's something that would help out there?"
"...Buh?"
"So Renamon used a Gatomon card for Cat's Eye Hypnosis?"
Ruki's eyes narrowed.
"How do you know it wasn't another Digimon with hypnotism powers? Like a Chamelonmon or a Halsemon?"
"Because Gatomon's the obvious one, culu! Oh, and those two suck in the card game so I doubt you'd have them!"
Ruki sighed.
"Okay, it was a Gatomon card. But I collect the others too, even the useless ones! Like Culumon!"
The small digimon shook its head.
"There's no card of me! Don't be silly culu!"
"...Okay, good point. And you'd actually be useful since you can force evolution and all... Uh, where was I?"
"I think you were going to skip to the bit where the hypnotism happened."
"Right."
"So, I eventually managed to find Renamon and get her to help out."
"Um, what's the plan here?" The vulpine Digimon asked.
"Well, Renamon, I want you to first hypnotise me, then Ruki will ask me questions! Then the same for Ruki and I ask her questions, before as a trust exercise we make each other have triggers to allow us to put each other back in the trance! Oh, but the triggers can only last two weeks! They wear off after that. Can you do that?"
"...Can you?" Ruki whispered.
The fox gave a shrug.
"I can try, but a real Gatomon would be better."
"Oh, good idea! Let's go to the Digital World! Or better yet, let's go to that other dimension we were in! That girl there had a Gatomon..."
"Other dimension?" Rumiko asked.
"Long story. Ruki met a boy there."
"...I just thought he was cute even if he did wear goggles. Is that a crime?"
"Well, that's nice and all, but maybe we can get to the point?" Rumiko dismissed all concerns of other universes and Digital Worlds and such things.
"Sure. Do you have the card, Ruki?"
The human girl waved the card.
"Kinda weird to hear you call yourself 'the human girl' culu. It could mean Juri for all I know..."
"It's not Juri, it's me, you fool!"
"Okay, let's do this then."
Ruki swiped the card, and Renamon felt herself gain the ability to use the Gatomon's Cats Eye Hypnosis.
She stared into Rumiko's eyes, her own now swirling. The older human female wobbled slightly as her eyes began to swirl.
Renamon did not speak with her mouth, but instead spoke with her mind directly into the mind of the human...
"How do you know this?"
"She did it to me later! Besides, I'm an omniscient narrator here!"
"Whatever, culu."
...Her voice was like a gentle whisper, yet loud enough to block out everything else.
"Sleep. Sleep now. Let your mind sleep. Slip away into unconscious, leave only your subliminal mind..."
And like that, Rumiko was under.
"Kind of an anti-climax. Couldn't you embellish it a little?"
"That's what it was like with me but if you insist..."
Rumiko did not slip under right away.
"What... Why should... Oh... The book... But I don't want to..."
"But you must... Must sleep. It's for Ruki. It's for your idea. You want to bond with each other, don't you? Want to share everything? She'll do it for you.... You trust her, don't you?"
"Yesss... Yes, I trust my daughter..."
"Then... Sleep... Sleep and answer her every question..."
All this took place in their heads, time stretching out. In the outside world, it was a mere few seconds for the swirls in Rumiko's eyes to freeze in place, and then her eyes to turn blank.
And like that, Rumiko was under.
"Better, you little critic?"
"Yeah. You might want to fictionalise your own though."
"So... Ruki, you ask questions now?"
"Uh... Yeah. But I have no idea what to ask her."
"Maybe ask her why she started modelling?"
"Okay... Uh... Why did you start modelling?"
Rumiko seemed to pause for a moment.
"It was... your father... He said I should... when we were..."
"Uh, it's okay! Stop!" Ruki said quickly.
"Um, why make her stop?"
"It's kind of a sore point. I could see it in how she was acting that even hypnotised she didn't want to speak about... my father. But she didn't stop. Even though she looked like she wanted to."
"...he said I was prettier than any other girl. Prettier than the girls that did modelling, inside and out. He was the only one who ever saw past how I looked and at my personality..."
"Um... Okay..."
"He said I was beautiful. My hair was perfect, my skin flawless... a perfect match for how kind he thought I was. How loving he thought I was. He made me believe in myself as more than just a pretty face..."
Ruki let her mother finish before she spoke again
"Um, so... What was the most fun time you had modelling?"
Rumiko visibly brightened up.
"That time when I convinced you to come with me. When you modelled with me. I really felt I was your mother then..."
"Ugh, all this is doing is being painful... Okay, last question. If you could change one thing about me what would it be?"
"...I wish you'd wear your hair down more. It frames your face so well. It's a waste to keep such lovely hair done up like a firey pineapple..."
Culumon stared for a minute.
"...You're wearing your hair down."
"Uh, yeah. It's.... It's actually much easier like this. I'll explain later. Anyway, we woke her up and it was my turn..."
"So, Ruki.... What do you really..."
"Hey! Where's your hypnotisey bit?!"
"Ugh, fine!"
Rumiko awoke, and blinked.
"Oh. That wasn't as fun as I hoped..."
"Uh, no. Um, it's my turn now?" Ruki said.
"Oh, yes. If you're sure."
"...You did it."
The card was swiped again, and Renamon stared at her tamer. Her eyes swirled, and soon, so did Ruki's. In their minds, they spoke, as outside it ended in a flash.
"Sleep. Sleep now. Let your mind sleep. Slip away into unconscious, leave only your subliminal mind... but not too much..."
"Yes... I'll... What? No, Renamon, stop cheating!"
"...She really did that, culu?!"
"Yes. She stopped right after that and I went straight under, so the next part is made up since you want more embellishment..."
"Fine. Sleep then. Sleep and go deep. Let only the subconcious guide you. Let yourself answer every question from your mother truthfully..."
"I will... answer..."
"So, anyway, I answered all her questions. We then redid it and added triggers for trust. We'd say a phrase, then a command or request, and the other would have to obey...."
"And what did she ask you culu?"
"Ugh, fine..."
"Ruki... What do you really think of dresses?"
"I... I... I like them sometimes! But I don't like them all the time!"
"I see... Why do you enjoy the card game so much?"
"I'm good at it. It's something I really understand and know. I enjoy the competitions..."
Rumiko nodded.
"What did you think of that time we both modelled together?"
"I... I used to think it was stupid. But now I know how much it meant to you I'm not sure anymore..."
"Okay. Let's wake her up and get the next part done?"
"So that was the triggers coming up?"
"Yeah, it was meant to be a trust exercise. We'd never use them. We were never supposed to use them. It was something about how to show the true trust of the family unit you gave power over each other."
"...That sounds kind of stupid, culu."
"I know. And that's what led to today being so stupid..."
"The triggers were supposed to be just for us. She'd say 'darling daughter' and I'd say 'mother dearest'. But today,Juri was over and we were explaining it... Come to think of it she wondered if you were here. I should let her know... She seemed a little worried"
"But Guilmon will find me!"
"She can keep a secret."
"Hypnosis?" Juri asked
"Yes! It was quite eye opening! And the trust exercise has worked out great!" Rumiko beamed.
The mother sat at a table in the kitchen, while her daughter and her friend stood to speak with her.
"Uh, hypnotism is... Well, fake."
"Oh? Ruki, would you mind demonstrating?" Rumiko decided to counter the scepticism.
"Um... Okay, mother dearest, please fetch a glass of water..."
And she did so.
"Okay, so... How do I know that wasn't a joke?"
"Well, I think I know how... Mother dearest, tell me to do something I'd not normally do."
"Darling daughter, please go put on a very frilly dress... And don't blame me for that one, you did have to say the trigger telling me..."
"I know! It's to prove a point..." Ruki said as she left.
Juri watched in amazement.
"...Wow. That seems dangerous. What if someone else abused the trigger phrase?"
"Oh, come on, Juri, it's harmless. I bet if you say it, nothing will happen! It's all a trust thing between me and Ruki!"
"Uh, okay... so, if I say something like mother dearest, please take off your clothes and think you're still wearing them, you wouldn't... HOLY CRAP!"
Culumon stared.
"She actually did?!"
"Yes! She took all her clothes off!"
"Wow. And you came back with the dress..."
"Uh... well..."
"Wait. You haven't been in here since this morning, culu...."
"Ruki! You mother... I managed to activate that trigger and she's taking her clothes off!" Juri said frantically, grabbing Ruki by the arm and dragging her back.
"Make her stop!" Juri said.
Ruki blinked.
"Why did you tell her to do that? And I really need to go put that dress on..."
Juri held firm even as Ruki tried to free her arm.
"Just tell her to put them back on!"
"Put what back on, Juri?" Rumiko pondered, now sitting at the table stark-naked.
"Your clothes! Ah! Mother dearest, put your clothes back on!"
"...I have them on already."
"Great. Watch her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. And when I'm back with this dress don't think you got away with this...."
"B-but it was an accident! Uh, darling daughter, please have mercy?!"
Ruki blinked.
"Weird. I don't feel compelled to obey you at all. Now, I've got a dress to put on, then we're going to think of how to fix this. Before your boyfriend shows up and sees my mother naked."
"Oh crap... I forgot he was coming here!" Juri shrieked, releasing Ruki in her panic.
"I wondered what that scream was, culu. Wait, your mother's still out there?"
"Yes. And I still need to put a dress on. But apparently since I had to stop and tell you this story I could put it off! So, how do you feel about playing some Street Fighter or something?! Because I really don't want to put on a frilly dress!" Ruki said, almost desperately.
Culumon blinked.
"Wait... Takato is coming... That means...."
There was a knock at the window of Ruki's room.
A red dinosaur stood there.
"Found you! I win!" Guilmon said.
Culumon stared.
"But if he's here, culu, then..."
"MRS MAKINO NO, DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR!"
Ruki sighed.
"Well, it's her own fault. Now I have to kill her boyfriend for staring at my mother."
She said this as she pulled on a very pink and very frilly dress.
Presently, an embarrassed older woman sat, now wearing clothing again. Two younger women, one utterly mortified, the other in a pink dress and looking rather indifferent, sat at the table with her.
A young man sat with tissue paper stuffed up his nose and an icepack on his head.
"Are you sure you're okay, Takato? You did seem to get a... nasty shock."
"Uh, it's okay, Mrs Makino, it was just... a surprise."
"Choose what you say very carefully, goggles."
Juri moaned.
"The nosebleed I get... Covering your eyes when you saw her, I get... but why did you have to faint when you saw Ruki in the dress?!"
"Choose what you say very carefully..."
The boy nervously laughed, or tried to.
"It was... it was a surprise too..."
"Hopefully not on the same level as the other one?" Ruki said icily.
"Um, no. Not reall... uh, I mean... You look good in a dress but uh, I think Juri would look better?"
The three females stared.
"Was that the right thing to say?"
"Nice try." Ruki groaned.
"You spoiled it at the end, Takato."
"Oh, be kind, girls, he's trying his best. Honestly, I don't see what the fuss is about. I'm a model. I should really tell you about the times I modelled nude..."
All three others in the room promptly plugged their ears, and Takato closed his eyes just in case.
Even as the tissues in his nose seemed to start to leak a little more of his nosebleed...