+ DOREDORE ADVENTURE PART I +

+ Introducing the DoreDore Crew +

+ Chapter Seven +

Hikari kept her composure as she led Hagu and his men through the cave tunnel. She felt her discomfort as she wore the heavy fabric of her blue dress, she felt dirty all over from treading through the dirt and mud, and her sore cheek only served as a reminder that Hagu would most likely kill her as soon as she showed him the treasure.

The cave walls were bare, save for the torches that were lit along the walls that ignited as soon as the cave door opened, along with mounds of stalactites and stalagmites along either side of the tunnels. Hikari was unarmed, and as far as she knew, any forms of weaponry were on the belts of the pirates that held her and Daisuke captive. The only way to get out of this, she figured, was to attack them head on.

She wondered what Taichi would do at a time like this.

"Hey, Hagu," said the pirate Gazi holding Hikari's bound hands. "Do you think Saru and the others are handling it out there?"

"They better be!" Hagu said with a guffaw. "I would be causing a ruckus on the damn DoreDore ship with them if it wasn't for the gold."

Hikari gasped. The DoreDore? But that meant-

"What about Kuma?" asked the fourth pirate Nume.

"Kuma's out there with the boys rioting through the town!" Hagu continued. "I have no doubt they're having fun dealing wreaking havoc on the weakling townspeople. The poor, good-for-nothing, pieces of tr-"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence, if I were you," Daisuke said suddenly, and Hikari was stopped by the pirates abruptly. She turned to look at Daisuke, whose eyes were narrowed at the pirates now glaring at him.

"What did you say, boy?" Hagu said with a low growl.

"Don't listen to him!" Hikari spat quickly. "He's got nothing important to say, anyway! I thought you wanted the treasure - let's get this over with!"

Hagu turned to her with a smirk and let out a sound of approval. "How considerate of you, Lady Hikari."

Just as Hikari intended, the pirates drew their attention away from Daisuke then as they moved forward. She met his eyes, which she couldn't read. Then, she saw his hand twitch behind him, and...

His hands...the rope was gone?

"What happened to getting this over with?" said Gazi who pulled at Hikari's wrists. "All these googly eyes between you two lovebirds is making me sick!"

"He's not-!" Hikari stammered as she noticed Daisuke look away, his cheeks turning pink. She turned to face ahead and continued walking ahead, feeling heat rising in her own cheeks.

Covered by the shadows of the stalagmites, Taichi and Yamato followed Hagu's men closely behind, crouched down from sight. For the most part, Hikari appeared to be alive and feisty as ever, even with her face and dress smudged with dirt, and her face shining an odd red.

Taichi clenched his teeth the moment he noticed that, but kept himself from acting recklessly. The crew looked strong, Hagu being the biggest and strongest of them all, but he knew that both his and Yamato's strength and wits about them could take them on. His mind continued to race when Hikari stopped the group in front of the large steel doors, built right into the cave walls. In the center of the doors was a five-spoke handle, along with a dial placed diagonally above.

Any moment now, Hikari would be pushed towards the vault, forced to turn the dial with the code, and, who knew what hell would transpire next. Even as he and Yamato rushed toward the cave and at that moment, he was waiting on the right moment to strike, especially when it was five large pirates against the two to save his sister and the marine boy - 'Daisuke,' he heard his sister say - the two being him, Yamato, and -

"Get your filthy hands off of her!" a voice echoed through the tunnel, and Taichi turned to see a new light approaching.

"Son of a…" Yamato said, and as the figure passed with a torch in one hand, his sword in the other, Taichi looked on in disbelief.

"Takeru?!" Hikari said in surprise.

"That little…!" Yamato lunged forward, and Taichi immediately grabbed his arm to hold him back.

"We're not going to just barge in, Yamato!" Taichi hissed. "They'll kill us!"

"Not if I kill him first!"

"Yamato!" Taichi commanded, his voice in a harsh whisper and his eyes fiery. "Not yet!"

"Takeru! Stay back!" Hikari pleaded, causing both Yamato and Taichi to let their anger subside and turn back to the scene before them. Takeru threw his torch to the side and held his sword up with both hands gripping the hilt, his second sword hanging on his waist.

Hagu laughed. "Aww, how precious - looks like you've got two admirers, Lady Hikari."

Two of Hagu's men with free hands held up their own swords as they stood face to face with Takeru.

"Take one more step, boy, and who knows what'll happen to your lady friend," said one of them.

"Takeru!" Hikari cried again, and Hagu grabbed the collar of her dress.

"Silence, you little wench!" Hagu sneered.

Yamato looked to Taichi, who finally conceded to the situation. All the men and Hikari before them were not looking in their direction, meaning they could both jump out in surprise, and take down at least two in an instant, and then fight against the rest.

"It's now or never, Yamato," Taichi said, and Yamato nodded. "On my count of three, then."

Taichi held one finger up to count, mouthing the number "one," and Yamato moved his hand to his hilt. At "two," Yamato was at the end were the stalagmite tapered off, ready to lurch forward. He didn't hear "three," but just as he was about to take the leap -

Taichi's laugh rang throughout the cave, and Yamato halted in his place of cover.

"Who the hell is that?" Hagu asked, everyone else turning in confusion to see the big-haired pirate captain standing in the center for all to see, with his large, odd spectacles strapped over his hair, his hands balled into fists at his sides, wearing a big grin, just for Hikari.

"Taichi?" Takeru asked, brows furrowed.

"Taichi..." Yamato groaned, hitting his palm against his face.

"Taichi!" Hikari exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him.

"Well, well, well," Hagu said. "If it isn't the wannabe king of pirates himself. Come to rescue your sister?"

"What kind of brother would I be?" Taichi asked, moving forward in large strides one step at a time towards the group. "Now, why don't we be civil and settle this like gentlemen? Let these three young ones go. The real fight is with me."

Hagu bellowed. "Ha! Like gentlemen? Are you mad?" He drew his sword and waltzed towards Taichi, who eyed the other four henchmen closing in on him and Takeru, leaving Hikari and Daisuke behind. Just as he intended. "Don't you realize what we are? We are pirates!"

Taichi met eyes with Daisuke further back, then to Takeru in front of him, and then Yamato, who was ready to pounce from the hiding spot. When Taichi's eyes ended up on Hagu again, his lips curled into a smirk.

"I tried," Taichi said, unsheathing his sword, throwing it against Hagu who blocked right away. Daisuke immediately grabbed Hikari to unwrap the rope on her wrists. Takeru swung at the pirate Nume who jumped back to dodge, and Yamato jumped high through the stalagmite and ran, carrying his two swords in his hands.

Suka lunged toward Taichi who threw a kick at him, sending him flying back and falling onto the ground.

I thought this was a swordfight?" Hagu said.

"Anything's fair game in a fight against pirates," said Taichi as they began their fight sword to sword.

As soon as the Daisuke loosened the rope free from Hikari's wrists, Hikari lunged forward to run to Taichi. Daisuke threw his arms around her waist from behind her to hold her back. She definitely was stronger than she appeared.

"Taichi needs help!" Hikari said desperately.

"Don't do it, Hikari!" Daisuke exclaimed. "You'd be foolish to go unarmed!"

"I can fight with my bare hands if I have to!"

"Hikari, please!" Daisuke held her back with all his might. "Don't you realize Hagu doesn't care about anything else other than your family gold? He's going to kill everyone here, even you!"

That was when Hikari finally stopped.

"I know," she said, her voice lowering. She fell back against Daisuke's chest as he held her, her eyes lowered to the ground.

"Are you really going to give him the gold?"

"I am." Hikari stood up and walked away from Daisuke's grasp, then turned to face him, her expression worried but determined. "I'd do anything to protect the people of this town, and the ones I love."

Daisuke looked at her in awe. "You're incredible…" Then, his eyes focused as he stared into her eyes. "I won't let him hurt you, Hikari. He'll have to go through me before he even tries to lay a hand on you."

Hikari furrowed her brows, staring back in confusion at first. But she realized then, he was being serious. Her lips curled into a smile. "Don't sell yourself short, Daisuke," she said. "You're better than you think."

"Die, you fool!" shouted a voice, and Hikari and Daisuke snapped their heads toward the swordfights, where one of the pirates laughed as he and two others approached Takeru.

As Yamato arrived, Takeru was already in the middle of the fight against, Nume, Gazi, and Chuu. He stood back and watched as he watched Takeru force his sword in front of him at light speed with each blocked attack, whirling around and swinging back. It impressed Yamato to see his younger brother take on three opponents at once and making it look easy.

Takeru knocked Gazi and Nume down without a hitch, leaving one more pirate to tackle. Yamato dropped his arm to his side holding his sword at his hilt, astonished as he watched Takeru. He almost put his sword back into his sheath before he saw Chuu throw a punch into Takeru's stomach. Takeru flew back with the wind knocked out of him as Chuu laughed aloud. Just as Chuu made his swing, Takeru rolled on the ground to dodge, then threw his sword up to guard from Chuu's.

"You're a quick one, aren't you?" Chuu said with a smirk.

"Don't underestimate me!" Takeru replied angrily, swinging back and jumping away. Yamato put his sword back in his sheath and crossed his arms as he leaned against a cave wall. He watched Chuu run forward, appearing annoyed as he pointed his sword. Takeru blocked him again, his face in full concentration. Then, Chuu cried out in frustration, throwing one more swing the Takeru fought back, causing Chuu to collapse to the ground unconscious.

Takeru dropped his arms to his side and heaved a sigh.

"Takeru!" Yamato called suddenly. Chuu still twitched on the ground, but Nume, Gazi, and even Suka were steps away from Takeru, all of them ready to strike a blow.

That was when Takeru turned to face them with not one, but both of his swords forming an 'X' in front of him, and Yamato smirked at this pleasant surprise. When Takeru pushed the three pirates back, Yamato predicted Takeru's moves as he watched along. Takeru ducked as the first and second attack swings missed his head. Then, he whirled and slashed, directly hitting Gazi and square in his chest. He jumped to dodge Nume's sword swing, and held his sword up to block Suka's attack. With a shout, Nume and Suka ran toward Takeru from opposite sides, and Takeru whirled around with his swords, everyone striking at the same time.

Takeru held his stance as he held his swords at his sides, the end of his shirt flying up against the pirates rushing past, but Yamato didn't see any slashes. Instead, he saw Nume and Suka both behind Takeru, their swords dropped to the ground, followed by their bodies collapsing next to them.

"I wonder where you learned those moves," Yamato said coolly, approaching Takeru as he returned both his swords onto their sheaths on his belt.

"I learned by watching you, Nii-san," replied Takeru, staring down at all four of Hagu's henchmen, sprawled and unconscious on the ground.

"I expected no less than impressive."

"This doesn't change the fact that I still hate you."

"Takeru…" Yamato held his hand out, about to touch Takeru's shoulder from behind, when the clanging of swords from afar quickly approached them.

"Get out of the way!" cried Taichi, and Takeru and Yamato jumped away in opposite directions as Taichi and Hagu fought with their swords. Hagu dueled really well with a sword, Taichi found, as his own attacks were quickly met with aggressive strikes, causing him to jump away. But he also found how easy it was to irritate Hagu, especially when Taichi jumped furtively out of sight, which confused Hagu many a time and had his turn his head left to right. By the time he found Taichi, he was met with a big grin followed by a flick at the nose.

"You'll never fool me!" Taichi added boastfully as he swung his sword to and fro against Hagu. At this point, Hagu growled and threw his sword, but with a forceful swing, Taichi knocked it out of Hagu's hand, and Hagu stopped with widened eyes. "Checkmate… 'mate."

Then, Hagu's downturned lips turned upward. "I wouldn't be too sure about that, Goggle Boy," he said.

In a flash, Hagu drew a pistol, pointing it straight at Taichi. Immediately surrounding them, Yamato and Takeru drew their swords, pointing them at Hagu, and Hikari screamed.

"Any of you try anything funny, and I'll shoot!" Hagu added.

"That's cheating!" Taichi said with a frown.

"Like you said," Hagu continued, baring his teeth. "Anything's fair game in a fight against pirates." Then, he turned to Hikari. "What's keeping you, lass? Open the vault!"

"No!" Hikari shouted, tears streaming down at the sight of her brother at gunpoint. "Don't shoot him! I'll give you the gold, but let him live! Shoot me instead!"

"Hikari!" both Daisuke and Takeru shouted frantically. Taichi widened his eyes at the sound of his sister sacrificing herself for him. If he could, he would stop this moment in time just to hold her and tell her it would all be okay in the end.

But looking past the glinting gold tooth in Hagu's mouth in the corner of his eye, he noticed movement in the shadows behind the stalagmites. He couldn't believe his eyes, but the longer he looked, the more he realized what he was looking at.

A silhouette of a womanly figure…

It really was all going to be okay in the end.

Taichi closed his eyes and smiled. "Hikari-chan. Open the vault."

"Taichi-nii…" Hikari's tears kept flowing. "What about you?"

"Trust me." Taichi opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Just open it."

Hikari looked to him in disbelief. She turned to Yamato who gave her a nod, then to Takeru, who looked just as worried as she did. Daisuke placed his hand on her shoulder in comfort, and Hikari decided then that she had to trust her brother. As she walked toward the vault, Daisuke looked down on the ground, noticing that the rope that he unbound Hikari from was nowhere to be seen.

After hearing the sounds of pushing buttons, and a long creak at the turn of the vault wheel, Hikari pulled the lever, and the vault door opened, revealing large stacks of gold inside.

"My turn to say it," Hagu said with a sinister smile. "Checkmate."

And with that, Hagu pulled the trigger.


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Author's Note: Hello. You've reached the second to last chapter of "DoreDore Part I". I haven't been around for what seemed to be a long time, and it's great to be back and posting again, I've missed it. Anyway, thanks for reading. And thanks for the reviews and the follows, and the faves, and the LOVE. Please leave a review after the tone, and I'll get back to you by posting the last chapter, as soon as... sooner than you know it!

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