I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in this story so far, even if it's not the best, I keep trying to make it an enjoyable read at least.


Chapter 7: I'll Always Be Here

Haru didn't like the idea of leaving his friends alone to fight Mio but he had to save Rei too. This was his fault. Rei hadn't even wanted to come here but he had because he had wanted to save those other idols. He didn't regret saving them but…

"Haru, stop doubting yourself," Globemon cut through him. "Remember what I said before? We can do this."

Haru exhaled. "I know but I'm really worried about both Yuujin and Rei-kun. I don't want to lose either of them. They're both precious to me, Globemon."

Globemon looked at Haru seriously. "Do you trust me, Haru?"

Haru blinked, a little taken aback by the odd question. "What kind of question is that? I've always trusted you, Globemon. You know that."

"Then trust me when I say I'll find a way to keep both Yuujin and Rei safe," Globemon said seriously. "I know how important both of them are to you. I understand Haru and I promise they're going to be fine. Yuujin's fighting back there because he wants to stay with you and the others. Because he doesn't want to be used again. He and Offmon are fighting together. So just have faith in them ok? Rei and Hackmon are strong too."

Haru sighed. He knew that was true and both Rei and Yuujin were more than capable of protecting themselves as well but seeing how scared Yuujin had been back there made his heart ache. His childhood friend deserved peace after all he had been through. Pushing this thought aside momentarily though, he smiled a small bit. "You're right, Globemon." He then looked around. "Any sign of Rei-kun and Hackmon?"

"You two tend to worry too much," Rei's voice cut in through them as a door at the end of the room they were in burst open causing Haru's heart to soar and his eyes to widen. His boyfriend looked a little disheveled and had a rather annoyed expression on his face but physically, he appeared to be perfectly fine.

"Rei-kun!" Haru rushed forward, throwing his arms around the other and pulling him close. He shivered a little. He had been so scared when he had seen the two tied up the way they were but seeing him mostly unharmed made those feelings disappear and he just wanted to hold the other forever.

"Haru?" Rei's cheeks turned pink as he wrapped his own arms around the other. "Are you ok?"

"I…I was so worried about you," Haru admitted, pulling away and looking down. "Mio, she said I had to choose to either save you or save Yuujin. And I couldn't seem to do it. I hated it. I wanted to save you but I couldn't let Yuujin go with her either. I never want to be in that kind of situation again."

Whilst back then, he had managed to hide his turmoil from Yuujin – the fact that he was being pushed to choose between two of his extremely precious people had been tough on him. He hadn't wanted to do it. He never wanted to do it – ever. The thought was enough to make him start shivering again.

"We're not going to let her hurt anyone," Rei said firmly taking Haru's hand. "Hackmon managed to break the both of us out and we're fine. Don't worry Haru. You need to stay strong though. The fight is only just starting."

Haru blinked and looked at the other. "What do you mean?"

Rei didn't reply but Hackmon spoke up.

"Let's just say we found out a lot of information," Hackmon admitted. "It was top security information too. It was why she managed to catch us but not before we backed up all the stuff we found. It'll be important in helping us find a cure to that virus which can affect human and Appmon alike."

"You can tell us later," Globemon interrupted them. "Right now, we really need to get back to the others. That virus looks dangerous. It almost got me before but I managed to resist the mind control."

"Mind control?" Haru asked, his eyes widening about the fact that his partner was almost corrupted by the virus. He was glad the other had managed to resist because he didn't think he could ever fight against Globemon.

Globemon nodded. "Yeah, she brings up our darkest insecurities and if we fall for her mind tricks and words, the virus corrupts us before we can do anything about it. But if we manage to resist them, the virus won't affect us. It's why I told the others not to pay attention to her words."

That did make sense. They really needed to find a way to get rid of this virus. Haru realized he was still holding Rei's hand and the realization that his boyfriend was safe made the green-haired boy pull the other into his arms again. His heart skipped a beat. He had always felt a special connection to Rei even when they weren't friends and it had only grown stronger as time went on.

"Haru," Rei managed to say over Hackmon and Globemon's chuckling. "I'm fine, really." His voice was strained as if trying to sound his normal self but his cheeks were bright red and Haru resisted the urge to kiss the embarrassed look off the other's face. This was really not the time for that though. They had to make sure there would be a time for it by making sure Mio didn't succeed with her plans for anything. The others needed them too and he wanted to be there for Yuujin too. His mother was a dangerous woman. Although not wanting to, he hesitantly pulled away.

"Yeah," Haru murmured softly. "I just wanted to reassure myself that you were. Let's go."


Astra hoped that Haru and Rei would get back soon because Mio was much too strong. She had created gargoyle-like creatures that were made from the virus she was spreading and their Appmon were losing badly against them. He and Eri had tried to evolve Entermon and Oujamon to their God Grade forms but for some reason, it wasn't working. This was not going in their favour.

"Shutmon!" Yuujin's voice cut through as he looked ready to rush forward and check on his partner but Eri's voice stopped him.

"Yuujin!" Eri chided. "Stay back! You're the one in the most danger right now so please don't rush in."

"But Shutmon…" Yuujin began and Astra sighed. He couldn't say he didn't understand. They all had such precious bonds with their Buddies that the thought of losing them was not one any of them wanted to entertain.

"I understand," Astra said to Yuujin in a slightly more gentle tone of voice than Eri. "But if you get captured, how hard Shutmon is fighting will all be for nothing and none of us want that, especially Shutmon. He wants to protect you. He doesn't want your Mom to hurt you and neither do any of us." That said, his own heart jumped in his throat as he saw Entermon hit the wall roughly and turn back into Musimon. He bit his lower lip, hurrying to his partner's side. "Musimon! Are you okay?"

Musimon coughed. "Astra…that virus is really bad news…I don't know how long we can resist it."

"Hang in there, Oujamon!" Eri cried out. "I'm sure Haru and Rei will be back soon to help. Try to hold up until then."

"Give up," Mio said, almost humming through the evil glint in her steely eyes. "You can't win. This is stronger than the L-virus because it's modified from it. You can't win. Just give me Yuujin and I'll spare your lives."

Shutmon slowly staggered back to his feet and Astra was astounded at the fact that he had not turned back into Offmon yet. His injuries were a lot worse than Musimon's were and he should have become Offmon a long time ago.

"Shutmon…" Yuujin murmured, biting his lower lip and it was obvious he was struggling not to rush forward but Astra was glad that the other boy listened to him in this matter.

"I won't stop fighting for Yuujin," Shutmon said shakily. "You've hurt him so much. You're a horrible person. I hope you realise you won't get away with what you did last time and you won't do it again. Yuujin, stay back. We can win. It won't be easy but I know we can win."

Astra cradled Musimon in his arms protectively as he got up, hurrying over to stand by Yuujin's side, placing a hand on his arm. "Hang in there Yuujin. Believe in your Buddy. He really wants to defend you, I can totally feel that right now so let him ok? Don't try to stop him."

Yuujin hesitated but then nodded in agreement finally.

"It seems like I'm going to have to up the stakes a little huh?" Mio said sounding more bored than anything and this sent a nervous chill down Astra's spine. He didn't want to think about what this woman could be planning but it couldn't be good. She moved forward as Shutmon managed to knock one of her creatures down. "Do you honestly believe you can win, Shutmon? Don't you remember back then? Yuujin was under my complete control and you couldn't do anything. Remember those feelings. Remember that pain that you felt. It's going to happen again. I'm going to capture Yuujin right now. I'm going to take him away from you. I'm going to reprogram him to become your enemy and all you'll be able to do is watch."

Shutmon shivered as the haunted memories returned to him. One minute, Yuujin had been so happy talking to Haru about how their future was going to be and the next, he had been a totally different person. From inside Leviathan, he had heard it. Yuujin was pleading that he didn't want to hurt Haru. He had wanted to find a way out to save his Buddy but he had been helpless. He had not been able to do anything to save his friend. He had been unable to fight. Was it really going to happen again? Was Yuujin going to be taken in front of his very eyes? He could feel his strength weakening and it was all he could not to pass out. No, he didn't want to lose Yuujin. He could feel the darkness beginning to envelop. The voices telling him to give into it. Maybe he should allow himself to lose control. Maybe then…maybe then he can keep Mio away from Yuujin. Maybe then he can protect his Buddy from being hurt like this.

"Don't listen to her, Shutmon!" Haru's voice pierced through the air and breaking the barrier of darkness that had begun to form around him as he realized what Mio had been trying to do.

"Haru! Rei!" Yuujin said happy to see them both as Globemon and Revivemon landed beside them as well.

"Are you guys alright?" Haru asked, voice strained with anxiety as he looked from Yuujin to everyone else.

"Depends on your definition of alright," Eri said, who was now holding a worn out Dokamon in her arms. "She's too strong, Haru and that virus is making her even stronger."

"We can't access our God-Grade Appmons either," Astra added as well. "If we could, we could totally feel our way through this battle. Hajime-kun hasn't contacted us since we got in here either or he could guide us to getting those forms back somehow."

"I don't think he can contact us," Rei mused, more to himself than anyone else as Yuujin slowly approached Shutmon. Shutmon wanted to shout at his Buddy to go back but he felt as if his voice had gotten caught in his throat. He knew Yuujin only wanted to help him and didn't blame the other for wanting to try but it was too dangerous. He felt physically too ill to say anything because he had almost given himself over to the control of the virus to try and protect Yuujin.

"Yuujin!" Haru grasped his friend's arm, pulling him back. "Please stop being so reckless."

"But Shutmon…" Yuujin murmured. "Mother tried to get into his head. I just want to help him somehow if I can do it."

"I'm…I'm fine Yuujin," Shutmon finally managed which wasn't exactly true but anything to get Yuujin to keep his distance from his mother.

"Shutmon," Haru said gently. "Take some rest. Revivemon and Globemon can create a diversion enough for all of us to get out of here."

"Are we running away?" Yuujin asked him.

"No," Haru returned. "We're just retreating for now to come up with a much better plan then this one."

"No," Shutmon growled out strongly. "She's going to harm Yuujin! I won't let that happen again! I'll rip her to pieces before she lays a hand on him!"

"We're not gonna just let her Shutmon," Globemon promised, having blocked the others from an oncoming attack of hers. "We're going to fight back as much as we can."

"Shutmon, the others are right," Yuujin said kindly. "Besides, you and the others stopped her from kidnapping me this time and we managed to save the idols and Rei. Let's just take that as our victory for now and accept it as it is."

Shutmon heard Yuujin's gentle words and they seemed to have an almost calming effect on him and he felt the rage he had felt previously wash away. As the rage washed away, his strength left him and he changed back to Offmon and moved back to Yuujin's side who picked him up gently.

"Are you okay offu?" Offmon asked him, leaning against his chest. He could feel Yuujin's heartbeat which was a lot calmer than it had been which meant he felt safer now.

"How sweet," Mio said humming again. "You may have won this fight and stopped me from taking Yuujin this time but don't get cocky." Her gaze stopped at Yuujin for a moment before she quickly moved forward before anyone could blink and gently caressed his cheek in an extremely possessive manner. "My son…you will belong to me. I'm just giving you time to say goodbye."

Yuujin shuddered at her touch, scurrying back as fast as he could. "Don't touch me!"

Mio giggled at that. "Oh did that bother you? This is just the beginning, my son." She then vanished.

"That was almost too easy," Rei said suspiciously, eying the place that Mio had vanished from.

"She's definitely planning something," Yuujin said clutching Offmon close and the little Appmon hugged his partner gently.

"Don't worry offu," Offmon said gently, trying to reassure him. "I promise I won't let her get you offu."

"I won't let her get you either," Haru added, sending his best friend a reassuring smile, leaning his head against Rei's shoulder. "Let's get out of here and make a plan shall we?"

There was a chorus of 'yes' from the room and they all headed back to the bookshop.