Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, not in the slightest. Okay, so, don't sue me. This is just purely for entertainment. However, the first thing, the poem belongs to me. I wrote it especially for this fanfic.
Author's Note: This is an unlikely couple, and many people will think that I'm reading too much between the lines of the series. I'm warning you, if you don't like surprises, don't read this. And whatever you do, please don't flame!!!!!!!!! Oh by the way, this is for the 03 series, though you'll know that by the characters involved in this. Also, if I get the quotes wrong, don't get mad at me. I have a bad memory!!!! Also, I'm trying to use the Japanese names throughout, and if the characters actually said their names in a quote that showed up in an episode, I changed the names there too.
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Reika's P.O.V.-It was all over; it was as simple at that. Considering everything, it was pretty damn ironic; we, the creators, had been defeated by our very own creations, but I must admit. It was our own fault in the long run. We could have peacefully coexisted with the Digimon the entire time, well, that would have actually been possible if two things had never happened. One, if the Devas had never appeared and two, if we had never accidentally opened the gate between the two worlds during the testing of the Juggernaut system. We, the ones at Hypnos, were responsible for letting the Devas through. Damn! And everything was going so well before the Juggernaut was ever created. Why did Yamaki have to go and create that monstrous machine?! Why?! But as much as it was his fault, I couldn't bring myself to blame him. But now, everything was falling apart.
~~~
"Are you abandoning your post?" he asked, clenching his fists.
The tech stopped walking, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though he would just leave without answering, but he turned around and said coldly, " No, sir. I've just decided that my life is a little more important than your cause. It seems that artificial intelligence has become too smart for its own good."
Yamaki could not reply, so he watched the tech disappear down the stairs to safety.
He looked around him at the ruins of his work, all that he had done, ruined, a failure, all destroyed by the creatures that he had set out to destroy.
The building shook again, jarring loose more vid-screen tiles from the domed roof sending them falling to the floor with ear-splitting crashes. This building was going to be gone in a matter of minutes; they all knew it, and they all knew that there was nothing that any of them could do to stop it. The Juggernaut was a time bomb waiting to go off, and it was unspoken knowledge that if anyone was in here when it did go, there was no way that they would survive. No way whatsoever.
He stood there, stone-faced, in the midst of the destruction, not moving, not even making an attempt to leave, to escape to the safety of the outside world. To him, I knew, there was no outside world. His world was here, with his work, but now it was all gone, destroyed in mere moments by the very creatures that it had been created to destroy.
~~~
I look across the roomAnd see you standing there
I hesitate for a moment
As words like water form on my lips
Please, they beg, we must hurry!
We must leave here soon!
~~~
I don't know how long I just stood there watching him. It felt to me like an eternity. There I stood, the building crumbling around me, my eyes locked on him. For several long moments, it seemed as though he wouldn't notice me, but then he looked up, and across the room, through the dust and debris, our gazes meshed for a single heart stopping moment.
~~~
Those crucial words, the warningForm on my lips, but are never spoken
But you understand what is happening
And you only shake your head in reply
Leaving the silence unbroken.
~~~
I was frozen to the spot where I stood, my heart fluttering wildly in my chest. My cheeks burned crimson; I was deadly embarrassed to be caught staring at him, my boss at that, but the feeling suddenly faded as I regained my composure. For a brief moment, it seemed as though he too had actually reacted. Through those near-opaque sunglasses he was always wearing, I thought I saw something shift in his eyes, like water under ice, but it was so fleeting that I couldn't be sure of what I had seen.
I steadied my expression, making myself appear calm, but on the inside I was frantic. Please sir! My mind screamed, come on! Don't do this! It can't end this way!
He seemed to know what I was thinking, however, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly. No.
~~~
I want to screamBut sir, you must!
But the words never leave my lipsAnd die among the debris and dust
Of broken hearts and shattered dreams~~~
Despite my panic, I managed to keep my eyes locked on his, and again, I thought I saw something shift, but this time I was certain I saw it. He looked a bit surprised, but he was probably just wondering why I was still standing here when I should have been running for my life. In fact, I wanted to ask him the same question, but considering the circumstances and what he had just been through, I held my tongue. We stared for a couple more seconds before his eyes tore themselves away from mine and moved towards the stairs, then moved back to mine.
"Go on, Reika," he said slowly and deliberately as though he had to force himself to speak the words. "Get out of here."
No! I wouldn't…couldn't leave him here! He was going to die if I did, but if I didn't leave soon…
The building resonated with the high pitched whine of the Juggernaut. It had almost reached full power by now, and it was going to blow any second. We had to escape now! But he wasn't moving, not an inch. I started towards him, but stopped before I had even taken my first step. He had ordered me to leave. Ordered me! Damn. As much as I worried about him, I had to take care of myself, first and foremost. Dammit! If only we had more time!
I looked back towards him, the anguish growing in my heart but kept my voice neutral and said. " Goodbye, sir," before vanishing down the stairs to safety.
For some reason, some part of me actually believed he would follow me, but I knew he wouldn't. It wasn't long before I reached safety, and it wasn't long after that that everything fell apart, and my heart along with my dreams went up in flames.
~~~
Yamaki's P.O.V.-She had waited. She had actually stayed behind, though I can't flatter myself by saying that she had waited for me. She probably just wanted to make sure that everyone had gotten out all right. After all, she'd always been more concerned about others rather than herself, but I'm afraid that she'll never know how much I admired her for that. Well, now it was too late to say anything except to tell her to get out of here. I couldn't let her die here with me. I…no, feelings have no place here and now. All that matters is that she gets out of here. I can't let her…don't want her to die. If I'm going to do one thing right in my life, it's to save her. I won't let her stay. I see the look in her eyes, and I know she'd stay until the bitter end. I have to do something to ensure her safety, so I ordered her to save herself. She hesitated for a brief moment before saying goodbye and running down the stairs.
Now I was here in this building all by myself, awaiting my own demise. Life can be so cruel sometimes. I didn't even see the point in living anymore. I couldn't make a difference then, not even when I had all this technology, resources and people at my disposal. What hope do I have now that it's all gone?
The dreadful whine of the Juggernaut grew louder and louder, growing to its unbearable peak. I knew that the time was drawing near, but the knowledge didn't even phase me. I just kept thinking back on that look she was giving me before she left. I saw the worry in her expression though she tried to keep it hidden.
She was worried about me! The knowledge hit me hard. God, imagine what this would do to her! My God! I've been such a fool! I looked towards the stairs, only to find that they had been blocked by debris. Damn! It's too late! Looking around desperately, I saw no other exit, but suddenly, an idea occurred to me. I just hope it's not too late!
I was just about to execute my plan, when all hell broke loose.
~~~
Reika's P.O.V.-~~~
Crumbling to dust before my eyesHe and his dreams vanish in an instant
And no one sheds a tear but I
Beneath the dark and gloomy skies~~~
It had only been a matter of seconds after I ran out of the building, almost stumbling over several large pieces of debris, that all hell broke loose. What remained of the building collapsed in a cloud of dust, disappearing into nothingness before my very eyes. I looked back towards where I had just come out from only moments before, half-expecting to see Yamaki run out right after me, but when no one came out, my eyes widened in shock as I gasped audibly.
No! I was starting back towards the door when a tech grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back towards him.
" Reika! Stop!" he exclaimed. " If you go back in there, you'll die too!"
" I have to!" I screamed as I struggled in his grasp. " Yamaki will die if someone doesn't!"
" Stop it!"
I did stop for a second as I said quietly. " Are you saying we give up on him?"
" No! That's not what I'm saying!" He paused. " Listen! Even he wouldn't condemn someone else to a death like this. Even he would agree it's futile! That place is gonna blow any minute! We have to save ourselves." He turned me towards him and looked me directly in my eyes. " Trust me. It's what he'd want."
"How would you know that?" I hissed.
" Let's just say that I know for a fact."
I stiffened somewhat then relaxed. I sighed softly before acquiescing.
" Good," he said as he released me. " Now let's get to a hospital. If one's still standing that is." He turned and ran towards where the others were standing, but I remained where I was. Just as I had started back towards the entrance, my plans went up in smoke. Literally.
The entire Juggernaut system must have exploded. That was the only thing that could cause an inferno that big that quickly. The entire mound of rubble that had once been the Hypnos buildings was engulfed in a spectacular fireball that glowed a fatal orange in the afternoon sun. The heat radiating from it was unbearable and I was forced to retreat to a far safer distance.
As I did, I heard a large rumbling sound and felt the ground tremor under my feet. Just as I looked up, I heard a deafening roar come from behind me and saw the rubble engulfed in a dome of unearthly white light. The energy mushroomed up towards the blackening sky before disappearing all together. For a moment, I stood there dumbfounded, wondering what had just happened, when it suddenly came to me.
Instantly I took off to where the others were standing, trying to get as far away from the site as possible. Mentally, I was counting down. Five…four…three…two… Before I could even finish, a deadly shockwave exploded with a silent fury.
I was thrown forwards a good ten feet and landed painfully on the ground with a heavy thud. My left shoulder seared with a fiery pain, and I was sure that I had broken it. My right ankle that I had sprained badly as I was thrown was already starting to swell. I tried to push myself to my feet, but was forced back to the ground by the waves of debris that were flying past me. The force of the shockwave had turned normally innocuous objects into deadly projectiles. Several large pieces of brick collided painfully with my midsection knocking the wind out of me. One piece collided with the back of my head, making me see stars, but thankfully not knocking me out, because if it had, I surely would've gotten skewered by a metal pole. I was able to roll out of its way despite the excruciating pain in my shoulder and the intense force that had me all but pinned to the ground. The smaller pieces of debris cut my skin like knives, leaving my face and hands sore and bloodied.
About five minutes later, the shockwave had died down, and things had become all but deathly still except for the far off rumbling sound and the clouds of rising smoke far off in the distance that indicated that those kids were still fighting the giant pig Digimon that had appeared.
I was finally able to sit up without the danger of being decapitated by flying debris. As I did so, excruciating pain racked every fiber of my being, both physical and emotional. When I was finally upright, I clutched at my sore shoulder as I looked around.
The entire plane around me was cluttered with substantial pieces of debris. Where the building had once been was now nothing more than a smoking crater and the memories, the ghosts of what once had been. A thick layer of dust, about one inch thick, laid over everything within a mile radius, including me. It seemed I had breathed a good amount in, and after coughing and gasping for air for a couple of seconds I was able to breathe again. For what seemed to me several minutes, I sat there, dazed and confused, so confused that I had almost forgotten about him, and I probably would have if a GhostWind didn't remind me.
A cold wind suddenly howled through the debris causing the dust to rise in large billowing clouds that threatened to suffocate me. I closed my eyes and waited for it to pass. It only lasted a matter of seconds, then it was over. I looked around again, still stunned from the initial onslaught, but as I looked around, my eyes caught sight of something shining in the dirt at my feet, something metallic, something I hadn't seen before. It must have been buried in the dust. At first, I didn't know what it was, but as I gently brushed the dirt away with my hand, it became painfully obvious what it was. Tears began to well in my eyes, but I refused to let then fall. How I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. Not here, not now. I'd cry later. I picked it up slowly, rubbing my fingers along its edges, feeling it, testing it to make certain it and the dreadful truth were in fact real. The metal was cold against my skin, and I winced as it pressed against the many cuts on my hand. Sure enough, I recognized the object in my palm though it was dust-covered, bloodstained, and battered. It had a large dent in it, and a hairline crack running the full length of one edge, not to mention the numerous scratches on it, but I still recognized it. I would have recognized it anywhere. In my bleeding hands, I held Yamaki's silver lighter.
No, I thought, no, it can't be! It just can't be! He's alive! He just has to be!
The tears I had been trying to hold back earlier, now slipped out. I just couldn't hold them in any longer. He was dead. He was dead. There was no way he could have survived that explosion. Dammit! I never should have listened to him! I should have gone back and dragged him out of the building with me no matter how much he protested! Now he was dead, and it was all my fault!
Threatening storm clouds were gathering in the sky, promising rain. It started as a light drizzle and eventually grew into a full-fledged downpour. In addition to all that had already happened to me today, I was now thoroughly soaked. I laughed a bitter laugh to myself. With my luck, I was probably going to catch pneumonia too. I didn't care though. The minute I realized he was dead, I gave up caring. I sat there in the rain battered, bruised, and broken, crying my heart out, and I didn't care who saw me, if anyone did that is. I just couldn't contain it any longer. If I did, I was sure I would go insane. There I sat in the middle of the rain, a crying, wounded soul, and I released all of my pain and my anguish in one single, heartbreaking cry.
"YAMAKI!!"
~~~
Though the dust may yet still rise
Hope will long live on.
I can only hope that we,
Will meet again at some new day's dawn
Beneath brighter, friendlier skies.