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The light began to fade and the tamer could make out the familiar shape of the massive 9-tailed fox.

Then, a deep voice spoke.

“...Youkomon."

“What the…"

He squinted at the glowing light for a moment, before realising something was slightly off with the voice.

“...wait a minute..."

The glowing stopped, revealing a golden fox.

“...nice try, Kiyu."

The imposter stepped forward, looking a bit pleased with himself.

“I had you going for a minute."

“Yeah, not really."

“Spoilsport."

The tamer gave an exaggerated smile, having no issue with nixing Kiyu's naughtiness.

In response, the digimon wrinkled his face into a spiteful sneer.

The tamer gave a snort.

“Is that your happy face?"

“Do we have more important things to talk about?"

“Eh, not really."

“Hrmm."

Sensing his partner was getting a bit irritated, the tamer let up on the teasing.

“Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

“Well, it sounded like you actually wanted to spend some time with me."

The tamer was a bit perplexed by the unusual phrasing, but brushed it off as a post-digivolution oddity.

“Uh… yeah. It's Christmas. I thought it'd be nice to spend some time with each of you."

“And now you've got me. What are we doing?"

“The plan is, I've got a turkey to get in the oven so it's ready for lunch, and then we can hang out."

“Is it really as good as you told Ren?"

“Well… if I cook it right, it will be. Seriously, it's like chicken, but better."

“I don't know what chicken tastes like."

“Oh… right. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it then."

“So when can I try it?"

“Uh, it'll be a while yet. I gotta get it cooking."

Kiyu became somewhat disillusioned at the thought of having to wait.

“How long will that take?"

“Well, the guy at the store told me it'll probably take close to three hours to-"

“Three hours?!"

The tamer was caught off guard by the digimon's exclamation, taking a second to compose himself.

“Uh… yeah."

“But I don't wanna have to wait that long."

Unsympathetic to Kiyu's plight, the tamer gave him a flat look.

“Would you prefer a bowl of cereal?"

“No! Of course I wanna try turkey."

“So wait then."

The digimon turned away in annoyance, scowling grumpily to himself.

“Whatever."

—

In the kitchen, the tamer made short work of prepping the turkey. Having done most of it the day before, it only took some last-minute seasoning before the bird was ready to go in the oven.

“Ok. We're ready to get cooking."

Kiyu watched on moodily from the other side of the kitchen bench, gaze fixed on the raw bird.

“Are you sure I can't just eat it like that?"

The tamer chided the fox for his impatience.

“Nope. You're not eating raw turkey. And I'm definitely not eating raw turkey. It's getting cooked and you're just gonna have to wait."

The digimon laid his head on the bench in defeat, staring at the tamer with a pitiful look.

“You're so mean."

“I'm not being mean. It's just sensible to cook it."

“But why?"

“Because raw poultry is a big no-no. It'll make you sick. Or at least… it'll make me sick. I dunno, maybe a digimon could eat it raw."

“So I can eat it then."

“You really wanna risk getting sick? Like… possibly deadly sick?"

“I could handle it."

“Yeah, well… I couldn't. And since we're sharing, it's getting cooked."

The tamer made to get back to the cooking, but stopped to make one final comment.

“...and please get your face off the bench. I don't need your digidrool on my prep area."

Kiyu rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, begrudgingly lifting his head from the bench and muttering under his breath.

“You're the one who drools on everyone."

—

With the turkey cooking, the tamer turned his attention back to the digimon.

“Alright, so turkey's in the oven. Now we can do something fun."

Kiyu gave the tamer a sidelong glance.

“Well, I would offer to take you for a ride, but apparently you didn't enjoy that."

The tamer frowned, surprised by the sudden passive aggressive undertone in the digimon's voice.

“Ok, what's with the attitude?"

The big fox gave his version of a shrug.

“It's just a comment."

“No it's not. You're having a go at me."

Kiyu's response was a little heated.

“Maybe I am."

“Well, if by 'didnt enjoy it' you mean I nearly had a heart attack, then sure. And you know Ren got really upset about that, right?"

“So? That's not my fault. I didn't know how desperate he was to be a pony."

“Hey, you're the one who became a pony. And you don't have to be mean about it."

“Why not? The very first time he digivolves to me, and straight after he has a cry. It's like I'm not allowed to do anything with you in case he has a cry about it, and now you get angry with me."

“Kiyu, I'm not…"

The tamer took a deep breath. This was not how he thought Christmas would go.

“...I'm not angry with you. I just don't want you being mean. I'm trying to be fair to everyone."

“But it's not fair! Ren gets to spend the most time with you. I barely got any time."

“I… well, I can't argue with that. But I don't know what I can do about it. I mean, you guys naturally go back to him when your evolution runs out. Unless you actually separate, I don't think there's anything we can do about it, other than having you all constantly digivolving."

Staring at the ground, the digimon muttered a reply.

“Yuki knows how to do it…"

“What? Keep digivolving?"

“No. He knows how to separate us."

The tamers' expression turned skeptical.

“Really?"

“Yeah. He was trying to figure out a way before you even met him. It has something to do with the digivice. That's why he changed it."

“So what, he was just waiting to spring this the next time you digivolved into him?"

Kiyu stuttered, realising he'd unintentionally dobbed in his doppelganger. He looked away bashfully.

“Uhhh… not… not exactly. He was gonna talk to you about it first…"

“Well then, we'll have lots to talk about this afternoon."

Kiyu picked up on the sarcastic tone in the tamer's voice and his ears pinned back apprehensively.

“Are you upset again?"

Once again, the tamer gave a sigh.

“I'm not upset. I just wish someone would've told me you were thinking about it. Like… last time we talked about this, you said you didn't really care about separating, right?"

“Well… yeah. But it's not what I expected."

“Being stuck with the others?"

The big digimon nodded solemnly.

“I didn't realise what it would be like when I wasn't the one in control."

He stared at the ground forlornly, before adding an extra comment.

“...it sucks."

The tamer moved around the kitchen bench and placed a hand on Kiyu's shoulder, before gently petting to try and comfort him.

“I'm sorry you feel like you're not getting a fair go."

Despite his efforts to soothe the digimon, the fox shrugged him off, turning to give a challenging stare.

“Are you?"

The tamer was taken aback by Kiyu refusing his affections, however he was even more confused by the bitter followup question.

“What do you mean? Of course I am. I don't want you feeling like that."

“But you told Ren he didn't have to digivolve if he didn't want to."

“I… did…"

It took him a minute to realise where the conversation was going, but eventually the penny dropped.

If Ren decided never to digivolve again, it would have serious implications for both of his larger counterparts. In hindsight, it was quite a significant consequence and the tamer really hadn't given it much consideration.

“Aww, crap."

Before he could admit to his short-sightedness, Kiyu beat him to it. The digimon's tone once again became somewhat hostile and his eyes narrowed into a glare.

“So you were just going to let him leave me trapped inside him forever?"

The tamer stammered at the accusation.

“I… uh… well… no. I didn't think it would be… you know… forever. Just until I could help Ren get comfortable with it. I just… I didn't think it through properly, ok?"

“You were just thinking about him."

“He was upset, Kiyu. I was trying to help him."

“Well I'm upset now."

“Well, what do you want me to do about it?"

“I want you to treat me like I'm your partner!"

“You are my partner!"

“Then why does it feel like I'm just an afterthought?!"

“I don't know!"

The tamer threw his hands around emphatically as he spoke. He had to take a few controlled breaths to manage his frustration, not wanting the matter to devolve into a shouting match.

He moved over to the dining table and pulled out a chair. Flopping down with a frustrated huff, he glanced back over his shoulder towards Kiyu.

“...you're right, ok? I have been favouring Ren. I just…I'm making this up as I go. Trying to manage three people trapped in one body… I don't know how to do that. So if I'm not doing a good job, don't just get upset. Let's talk about it."

“I didn't have a chance to talk about it."

The digimon's terse tone made certain the tamer was aware of the foolishness of his suggestion.

“Oh… yeah, ok. I guess that's a bit tricky."

The fox glared, unimpressed with his conundrum being trivialised, but he remained silent and allowed the tamer to continue.

“...look, I get why you're upset. But I also don't think I've just been ignoring that you exist. Like today. I convinced Ren to digivolve so you could have a turn, right?"

Kiyu was still disgruntled as he responded, although his hostility had faded slightly. His tone was now more begrudging than angry.

“I know. I'm not trying to make problems. I'm just… frustrated. The day Ren figured out how to digivolve properly… it was nice. Like, racing home with you on my back, snuggling on the bed… and you made me food. Even watching those stupid movies."

Kiyu's face had brightened as he reminisced, but it quickly faded into a dejected frown as he continued.

“...but then the next day I was back to Ren and it was like you completely forgot about me."

Again the tamer felt the urge to reach out and comfort the digimon, but decided against it after Kiyu's previous reaction.

“Look, I promise I didn't forget about you. I just… I guess I still haven't quite got my head around the whole three separate digimon thing. It's like… when Ren's around, he's my digimon. But I definitely didn't forget about you, ok?"

Despite the tamer's assurances, the digimon didn't look entirely convinced.

“I guess… if you say so."

“I do. Anyway, look… it's your turn now, so we can do whatever you want."

A familiar indecisiveness plagued the fox, leading the tamer to prompt him for suggestions.

“...any ideas?"

“I… dunno."

“Seriously? You were all fired up about getting a fair go but you don't know what you want to do?"

The question drew a sharp glare from the digimon.

“Yeah, I don't know! I just… I wanna get more time with you."

The rather vulnerable admission once again caught the tamer off guard.

“Oh. Really?"

“Yeah. I told you. I… I liked having you close to me."

“You did, and I like hanging out with you, too. Hopefully the others feel like that too."

“They do, but it's… different for me."

“Hmm? How so?"

The digimon moved over and sat down next to the tamer, shyly meeting his gaze.

“Well… you're all I know."

“Whaddya mean?"

The fox gave a sigh.

“It's… tricky to explain. I mean like… in my mind, I've always had a tamer. Ren and Yuki… they didn't always have you."

“Right. But they do now, so how's that different?"

“It… it just is. I mean… if something happened…"

“Like what?"

“Well… to you."

The tamer gave an indignant look.

“Nothing's going to happen to me. Why are you even thinking about that?"

“I'm not! I'm just saying, if something did happen… Yuki and Ren know what that's like. I don't. I wouldn't know what to do without a tamer. I…"

The fox looked away for a moment, before turning back and speaking softly.

“...I need you."

The tamer fell silent, uncertain how to respond to the apparent reliance Kiyu had on him. He had always thought digimon were quite capable of looking after themselves, but it seemed this wasn't quite the case.

“I, uh… I didn't realise it was such a big deal for you."

Once again, Kiyu looked away.

“It… I guess it is. That's sorta why I got grumpy. It feels like… it feels like this is a one-sided partnership. I need you… but you… I don't think you need me."

“Kiyu…"

Kiyu's expression had perked up, some part of him hoping the tamer would prove him wrong.

“Do you?"

“I… I…"

As the tamer faltered, the digimon's expression slowly fell.

“...I… I don't think… I can't answer that honestly and not upset you."

“So basically, you don't."

“No, I-"

“I knew it."

The tamer held his hands up to halt Kiyu's loathing.

“No, hang on. Let me finish. What I mean is… how do I put this? I think it's a bit of a yes and no."

The fox tilted his head in confusion.

“What? That doesn't make sense."

“Ok, it's like… alright, imagine we weren't partners. My life, it would be like before I had a digimon partner. I was going along just fine, right?"

“I dunno…"

“Well, I was. I had my job, I was making some money, it was ok. So in that sense, no I didn't need a digimon partner."

The digimon's expression fell but the tamer kept talking before he could complain.

“...now let me explain before you go moping. If you consider my life now that I've got you…well… three digimon partners, I think it's fair to say it's gotten a whole lot more interesting. I've made some new friends, I got involved in a digimon battle and I went on a little adventure to the police station. None of that would've happened if I didn't have you guys for partners, right?"

“I… I guess so…"

“It's funny, looking back now… I was just going through my life not really accomplishing anything. Just floating along. From one perspective, I needed someone to come along and rock the boat a bit. And you guys… uh, you definitely rocked it."

“In… in a good way?"

“Yeah, I think so. There might've been a little rocky patch here or there, but overall it was good. And now, I feel like I have more of a reason to get up each day. At the least I can look forward to being woken up by a cheeky fox. So from that perspective, I do need you guys. You make my life better."

He gave the digimon a little nudge.

“..is that a fair answer?"

Kiyu looked up at him, his expression still slightly sullen.

“I guess… but I still feel like I haven't really contributed much. You could just have Ren and I wouldn't matter."

The tamer gave a sigh.

“Well, then that's my fault, isn't it. If I haven't even given you a chance to make a contribution, I'm the one to blame for that."

He looked to the digimon, not seeing a noticeable change in Kiyu's demeanour.

“...I'm sorry if I'm doing a crap job of being a tamer."

The digimon met his gaze.

“I don't think you're a bad tamer. And I get that it's hard trying to keep three digimon happy. I just want to be the best partner I can be. And I don't want to be stuck in a void like Yuki's been."

The tamer stared down at the ground solemnly.

“No, I don't want that for you either. For any of you."

He let out a long, tense breath.

“...maybe it is best if you guys separate. Then this wouldn't be an issue."

“You're thinking about letting Yuki go through with it?"

“Maybe. It kinda depends on what exactly he plans to do."

The tamer realised Kiyu was shifting around nervously and looking slightly concerned.

“...you're not comfortable with his plan, are you?"

“I dunno. I guess, uh… not entirely. I don't really get what he's trying to do. I just know bits and pieces."

“So it sounds like I need to figure out what he actually plans to do."

“Yeah. I'd be more comfortable if you knew what it involved."

The tamer gave a soft nod of understanding, appreciating it was a big deal that needed more consideration.

“So… if it turns out it is possible, would you definitely want to separate?"

“I… I think I would."

“You're absolutely sure? I don't know if there's any going back if we try to go through with this."

Kiyu took a moment to consider.

“I'd get to spend more time with you… right?"

“Err… maybe? Like, you'd be around the whole time, but so would the others. So you wouldn't be trapped, but-"

The fox interrupted before the tamer could finish.

“Then I'm sure."

“Even if you have to share the attention?"

Kiyu thought the notion over again, before giving a resolute nod.

“I can live with it."

The tamer remained silent for a moment, searching for any hesitation in the digimon's answer. When he seemed satisfied, he continued.

“Alright. I'll talk to Yuki later today and see what he's figured out so we can have a proper think about it, alright?"

The digimon perked up.

“Yeah?"

“Yeah. We'll work it out. All of us together."

Kiyu's expression brightened at the prospect.