Me: Okay, I've gotten over my deal concerning Saturday's episode and I am back in the game! I don't own Digimon, nor do I own "Schism" by Tool.
Takato: Aren't you the least bit concerned about the outcome of all this?
Me: My young muse, I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't scared out of my wits about this entire thing, but I'm confident about one thing: no matter what happens, you and Rika are like Tai and Sora-meant to be, and nobody-not even a Legendary Tamer like Ryo, your good friend Jeri, or your other friend Henry, will keep the two of you apart.
Takato: (blushes) Thanks. I'm glad you've got that much confidence in us.
Me: That, and I got to pound you into the ground after reading max acorn's story. (laughs)
Takato: (groans) Don't bring that up again! I still have bruises from all those contenders.
Rika: At least I got to mend your wounds, right?
Takato: You didn't have to yell out, "more, more! He's strong; he can take it!"
Me: Ah, young love. Onward! To Frozen Phoenix, yes, Angelus' quote was from "Passion," and
I plan to add another one into a future chapter of this story as well.
Digimon Tamers: The Lost Tamer
Chapter VII-Kazu Comes Through
"Kazu-dude, you drew that thing. It's not real!" -Kenta
"Hey, Takato created Guilmon from a drawing, and he's a crummy artist!" -Kazu
"Gee, thanks a lot!" -Takato Matsuki, Out of the Blue!
At least the funeral turned out nice, right? A lot of people showed up, but none of that mattered
to Takato. After the Digimon paid their final respects to their friends, Takato took the time to say
a final farewell to his deceased wife before leaving with the others. A few days later-we think!-Jeri tried that little exorcism trick, and it worked! Takato was sent back in time, even far enough
to save Beelzemon from a fate the Virus-type didn't deserve. After that happened, Takato
explained most of what happened to Rika, who was alive and well, I might add. Now, she's gotta
round up the other Tamers, and she'd better hurry or for our Casperesque friend, history just
may repeat itself!
"Come on, kid-keep up the pace! If what you told me is true, we don't have a lot of time if we want to keep this psychedelic future from happening." Beelzemon warned while flying as fast as possible toward Takato's schoolgrounds.
"I would if I could fly like you could, but even though I'm a ghost, I still have trouble flying!" Takato retorted until the Mega Digimon sighed and grabbed him by the hand, yanking him along.
"I just got one question for you-why didn't you tell your girl the truth about what happened to you then? I mean, what's gonna happen? I-ahh! This is why time travel made no sense to me in the first place!"
Smirking, Takato nodded in agreement. "I had a hard time adjusting to it, too, even if I was calm on the outside. Anyway, I don't want to get her hopes up since I'm gonna try and keep this from happening to us at all. That includes the two of us getting...together for the rest of our lives."
"Whoa. I had no idea you cared about her that much, kid. Hang on-we'll be there in two shakes
of a Gatomon's tail."
"Don't even say it! My mother had this made for me the day after I Biomerged, so if I hear any laughter, one-liners or the tiniest hint of a joke, someone's gonna feel a world of pain where they wouldn't heal anytime soon! Are we clear on that fact?"
With a gigantic sweatdrop on the back of his head, the flesh-and-blood version of Takato stammered, "We're clear, Rika-crystal. By the way, where are Kazu, Kenta, Susie and Ryo-not that I want Ryo here, just curious."
"Didn't you ever hear about curiosity killin' the cat, kid?"
Turning with profound speed for a person his age, Takato, the other Tamers and the Digimon found themselves glaring at Beelzemon, who was just hovering there, not attacking or anything.
"I don't get it. Last time, he said this wasn't over, so why not attack now?"
"Be careful." Leomon cautioned. "This may be a trick."
A second later, Takato's spiritual form appeared beside Beelzemon, and Takato's flesh-and-blood self recognized him instantly, as did the others. Unlike Jeri, who was near tears, and Henry, who looked like he was in shock, Rika stood there passively, waiting for what was going to happen next.
"Who are you supposed to be-my clone?" Unlike anyone else, Takato saw how unnerved this situation was-who else would know but Takato Matsuki himself.
"The Ghost of Christmas yet-to-come." the spirit replied with a sheepish grin. "And as for the clone, he's been taken care of. Look, you're about to do something, and the consequences of your actions will be your fault alone. I can stop it from ever occurring if you'll let me."
Narrowing his gaze, Takato and Henry-who'd stepped forward-asked, "How?"
"Trust me."
For a moment, Takato feared this wouldn't work, that everything he'd just been through was for
nothing. Yet once more, he proved himself wrong by taking a chance. Takato's flesh-and-blood
half reached out a hand toward his spiritual half and the two hands crisscrossed a second later.
Takato's fingers instantly passed right through his skin.
Once again, two souls merged as one in the body of the leader of the Digimon Tamers. Memories of the nightmarish future and the days to come the young boy had lived in so briefly, clashed with the mind of a Takato who had yet to experience any of it. Overwhelmed, saddened by the multiple losses endured during the war and the pain when he'd lost Rika forced Takato to his knees in silent agony. Shaking, the Tamer struggled to absorb all this information, but found that it wasn't that hard because he'd already been through it once before. With a worried look just now crossing her face, Rika stepped forward on Takato's other side.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be." Takato replied while accepting her help back up. "Impmon, make sure Kazu and the others are actually on their way here!"
Grunting audibly, Beelzemon flew off a second later.
"As I was saying..." Henry interjected, once it appeared that Takato would be all right. "I got a call from Yamaki last night, and he sounded as worried as he was the day we were attacked by that gigantic Pig Deva-a massive amount of energy is being collected from a focal point beyond the Digital World and is making its way here!"
Words...the exact same words uttered before, and Takato knew he had to play along, for the moment.
"What? You mean-to the Real World?"
"How'd you put it to Beelzemon? 'In a nutshell-yeah.'" Terriermon quipped.
"Terriermon-now really isn't the time for this!"
"Hello!" Rika's heated response broke up Terriermon and Henry's quarrel-a little early, Takato noted-so she asked, "The last thing you just said to us: the energy is heading to our world?"
"If Yamaki's right, the energy being collected isn't the problem-its the amount. Someone with power levels reading off the chart would be extremely strong." Henry warned, his tone taking on a worried state.
"How high a level would it have to be?"
Takato wasn't showing it, but he was getting even more worried now than he was the first time he'd gone through this. It seemed like the team was repeating the same motions over again.
"Not completely!" Takato thought to himself. "The others are on their way, and this time, I've got the one weapon that should defeat Daemon for good!"
"When's this being, or whoever's supposed to be sucking up the energy coming through?" Takato spoke up.
"Yamaki really didn't say. A few hours, a couple weeks..."
"LOOK OUT!" Takato suddenly screamed as he grabbed Rika and covered her with his body the second the others had been blasted back toward the ground in pain as numerous bolts of energy connected at that time on the spot they were all standing at.
"...or the next day, which technically, would be today."
I know the pieces fit, 'cause I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smoldering, fundamental differing
Pure intention, juxtaposed will set two lovers' souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes-testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so we cannot see to reach an
end-crippling our communication
"Remind me again why Impmon had to wake us up at whatever time it was on our clocks?!" Kazu griped impatiently while struggling to keep up with Guardromon, Kenta, MarineAngemon, Ryo and Cyberdramon.
"According to Rika, Takato needed you to draw some sort of new Modify card for him before we left-did you draw it?"
"'Did I draw it?' I didn't even have time to eat breakfast, and you're telling me Chumly wanted me to draw him a card? Who does he think I am-Harry Potter?"
"You didn't draw the card." Ryo concluded grimly. "Rika's gonna hate you even more for this. She was very adamant about that card being made."
"Like I care what Takato's girl wants done. What I care about is-what the heck is that?!"
Kazu, Kenta, Ryo and the Digimon all observed what the others were seeing at the school-an extremely powerful Digimon.
"It can't be!"
"I think it is."
"Finally-my ultimate opponent!" Seconds later, Cyberdramon growled defiantly while flying off!
"Cyberdramon, wait! He looks powerful-maybe even too powerful for you to handle!"
The instant Takato helped Rika back up, the two of them gazed upward at the Digimon before them and clasped each other's hands tightly. Daemon was still as terrifying to Takato now as he'd been in that transformed future, and still in those same clothes.
"Welcome back, Daemon. Pleased to see you again." Takato said calmly, a tiny grin on his face.
The Mega Digimon's stance took on a reserved nature, but remained upright.
"You know who I am? Excellent. That should make my task more easier. I would've been here sooner, but I had to collect quite a lot of energy from the previous battles you'd been in, and having to absorb the data from your clones' bodies, the Digimon's clones' and even his clone's body-" Daemon pointed at Guilmon, whose eyes were dilated the instant the blast had occurred, "-saved you some serious time and prevented you from sending any Digimon after us, I've heard this all before, so now it's time for us to go." Takato interrupted, a determined look on his face.
With something that could've been shock on his face, Daemon recollected himself and responded, "All I really came here for was the soul of your clone's body."
Knowing that he was speaking the truth, Takato replied, "Oh, that's easy, 'cause he's at where we're gonna send you-gone."
"So, in other words, we don't have what you want. You can just leave now before we have to pound you into the ground." Rika declared, stepping in front of Takato protectively and glaring at Daemon.
Daemon's response hadn't been what the Tamers had expected, except for Takato, who'd gone through this before-he started laughing out loud.
"You truly think you can defeat me in battle-with Digimon like these?! You must be joking!"
I know the pieces fit, 'cause I watched them tumble down
No fault, none to blame-it doesn't mean I don't desire to point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over
To bring the pieces back together-rediscover communication!
Biomerge Digivolution!
"BIOMERGE, ACTIVATE!" Takato, Rika, Henry and Jeri demanded, the four friends immediately transforming into data once more and merging with their respective Digimon.
"Guilmon Biomerge to...GALLANTMON!!!"
"Renamon Biomerge to...SAKUYAMON!!!"
"Terriermon Biomerge to...MEGAGARGOMON!!!"
"Leomon Biomerge to...SABERLEOMON!!!"
"I'm impressed. Maybe you'll be able to give me a better fight than the DigiDestined ever could."
Narrowing his eyes within his protective sphere, Takato used full power seconds after hearing those same words over once again as did the other Tamers, striking Daemon with precision and causing that same explosion to occur.
"Way to go, guys-you showed him a one-two-three punch ticket outta here!" Calumon cheered from below, his ears extended in glee. Takato felt his eyes tear up at hearing the In-Training Digimon's voice again and was reminded of the way he would die in the future if he didn't stop Daemon from doing what he was going to do to Henry in a few minutes.
"Hey, Chumly! What's goin' on? Is there something you need our help with?"
"Henwy, why'd you have that angwy kid's friend call over? Lopmon and I were playing, 'Hide fwom Pwincess Pwetty Pants!'"
Inside his sphere, Henry facefaulted in surprise as Susie and Lopmon appeared next to the others, then anger as MegaGargomon suddenly turned and glared at Gallantmon and Sakuyamon.
"You had Rika wake Susie up and get her over here?! I told you I didn't want her in the middle of this!"
Angered, Sakuyamon stepped in between Gallantmon and MegaGargomon, speaking clearly in Rika's voice.
"Takato said we would need the whole team for this, and as much as I would want your sister out of harm's way, as long as she has that Digivice, she's a Tamer too! So get over it and quit trying to blame Takato for this!"
The echoing, booming laughter heard by the entire Tamer team and by everyone within a five-mile radius caused all action to cease. The dust cleared away, leaving Daemon revealed, but just as before-without a single scratch on his body, save for a mark left by the combined attacks!
"Very cute-the Tamers think they can defeat me without even blinking. As a dreaded and feared foe once said to you, 'allow me to show you what a Digimon of TRUE power can do! Evil Inferno!!"
A ball of fiery light appeared in Daemon's hands and started to grow bigger and bigger. Seconds before it would've exploded, he hurled it forward. BLAM! Gallantmon planted his feet and barely managed to avoid getting blasted back to the ground like the others had been.
"Guys, are you okay-?"
Takato gasped in shock as he found out what had happened. He truly was changing history, because Sakuyamon, MegaGargomon and SaberLeomon had deDigivolved once they'd hit the ground! Calumon yelped in surprise, fear and sadness as his ears retracted.
"Oh, no...what is Takato gonna do now? It's not like he can Digivolve any higher than Mega."
The poetry that comes from the squaring off between and the circling is worth it-finding beauty
in the dissonance!
"Rika-are you all right?" Gallantmon asked, the voices of Takato and Guilmon speaking at that instant.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just take him down."
Noticing that Daemon wasn't attacking him while his guard was down, Gallantmon turned toward Kazu.
"Kazu, did you make that card for me like Rika asked?"
Laughing loudly while scratching the back of his head, Kazu stammered, "That's a funny thing, Takato. You caught me at a bad time when your girl woke me up a few minutes ago, so I kinda-"
"You didn't make the card?!" Takato's voice shrilled out loud and clear a second later! "Just great! Now what are we gonna do?"
"The only thing you can do for them now, Tamer, is die first. EVIL INFERNO!!"
Takato barely had time to turn before he was blasted by an extremely gigantic ball of fire!
Screaming in agony, Gallantmon deDigivolved into Takato and Guilmon, the Rookie Digimon
striking the ground next to the others; Takato flying a few meters past them!
There was a time that the pieces fit, but I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smoldering, strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know the dangers of our second-guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow and strengthen our communication!
For several heartbeats, Takato assumed Daemon's blast had killed him, and filed that away within his mind. That suggestion was taken away as his vision cleared and he saw Rika above him, her hair down for once and a worried look on her face, Kazu right by her side saying something-he figured it was an apology or something similar to that. At that moment, a bright light blinded him and he shut his eyes. The second he reopened his eyes, Kazu was holding up a card in his hand that looked painfully familiar to Takato.
"Did you see that, Takato? I just summoned a Modify card without even wanting it for myself! I think this is the one you wanted me to make for you."
Forcing himself up, Takato ignored the numerous amounts of pain that felt like needles in the back of his head and plucked the card from Kazu's hand.
"Thanks, Kazu-I knew you'd come through for me, pal!"
"What card is that, Takato?" Rika asked gently, making sure he didn't hurt himself even further.
Smiling with ease, the Tamer placed the card on the top of his deck and replied casually, "You'll see, Rika-you'll see."
Flying in at that moment, Beelzemon took in the scene and eyed Takato, Rika and Kazu some meters away.
"Hey, kid! Is everything okay now?"
"Not...yet, but it will be." Making sure Guilmon was all right, Takato focused his attention back on Daemon, his eyes narrowed and blazing with fire at the same time.
"Okay, Daemon-you wanna take on a Tamer and absorb his soul? Try me."
That hadn't been a response any of the Tamers-or Beelzemon-had expected Takato to say!
"Takato, are you serious? You wouldn't survive a second against Daemon!" Henry objected.
"Has being with Rika finally caused your mind to melt, Takato? Just use-"
Quickly hushing Kazu up, Takato stared at Daemon's fiery-like eyes.
"Just you and me, Daemon. Me-and my cards."
Grinning evilly, Daemon responded, "Deal. But without your partner to back you up, I'm afraid you will only be the first to fall as I start my new empire."
"Oh-I think I could surprise you."
Cold...cold...cold....
Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion...
Slowly walking forward, ignoring the protests of the others, including Rika and Guilmon, Takato patiently edged his way upward until he was toe-to-toe with Daemon.
"I'll even let you make the first move." Takato advised. "But you'd better make it a good one."
"My first move will be my last move." the Mega Digimon chuckled evilly.
"You're right about that."
"Time to say, 'goodbye,' Tamer. Evil Inferno!!"
At that second, Takato whipped out his newest Modify card and swiped it.
"Digimodify! Sword of Courage, activate!"
WHAM! Rika struggled against Renamon and Ryo's hold as Takato was engulfed in a fiery
explosion that almost the entire world could hear! Guilmon was held back too, but by Leomon
and Cyberdramon.
Between supposed lovers! Between supposed brothers!
The explosion faded away to reveal Takato, completely unscathed from the attack and floating in the air holding the Sword of Courage in his right hand and his scabbard in his left.
"Funny-the card never changed into the Sword before. Why would it do that now?"
"Takato!" Making sure Daemon wasn't going to make a move first, Takato turned around to see the excited faces of his friends, including Rika and Guilmon who looked as if they would cry tears of joy.
"I'm okay, guys! See-no wounds, although I don't get how that happened."
Quickly, Henry pulled out his D-Power and scanned the Sword.
"Guys, I think we've got some serious firepower on our side! This is the Sword of Courage, a Hybrid-type weapon that can protect the user of the card from any attack, can also defeat any Digimon from In-Training to Mega and can grant the user of the card flight abilities!"
Grinning, Takato replied, "In other words..."
"...Hybrid's a higher level than Mega!" Kazu cheered while slapping Kenta a high-five. "Who's da man? Who's da man? Huh? Who's da man?"
Shivering slightly while turning to face Daemon, Takato remembered those words spoken once before, the echoes of a future that now would never be.
"Time to say goodbye, Daemon!" Takato swiftly flew toward Daemon, the golden part of the Sword of Courage swishing loudly as he engaged his enemy. Laughing, the Mega Digimon simply held out his hands and stopped Takato from coming any further.
"You honestly thought you would defeat me with a toy such as this?"
"Actually-yeah, I did." Focusing on everything he'd just gone through, seeing the future horribly changed and being granted a second chance to change everything, Takato, the Tamers and the Digimon watched as the hilt exploded in brilliant lights of red and blue before exploding in blasts of colored streaks hitting Daemon and causing him to burst out in an overload of energy once again. Floating above the ground, Takato smiled as he and the others observed the data Daemon had collected being absorbed by everyone-Guilmon, Renamon, Terriermon, Leomon, Guardromon, MarineAngemon, Lopmon, Cyberdramon and even Beelzemon and Calumon!
"That's how the pieces are supposed to fit." Takato whispered before smiling broadly at his
overjoyed girlfriend who recomposed herself and grinned in response to the glorious victory
they'd accomplished...together.
I know the pieces fit, I know the pieces fit, I know the pieces fit, I know the pieces fit, I know the
pieces fit, I know the pieces fit, I know the pieces fit, I know the pieces fit! (song continues; ends
abruptly)
Knees weakened from the extremity of the battle fought during mid-morning, Takato stumbled a bit before falling into his girlfriend's outstretched arms.
"You did a good job, Gogglehead."
Shaking his head gingerly, Takato replied, "We did a good job. You guys were all up there with me, even if you weren't literally up there in the air."
Rika shrugged at that response before leaning down and kissing Takato for a job well done.
"Hey-where's my kiss? If it weren't for me, Takato would probably be at Death's door right now!" Kazu interjected grimly.
Eyeing him with a steely gaze, Rika simply ignored Kazu's "outburst" and steadied Takato even as the sword changed back into his Modify card and the scabbard changed into his Digivice.
"There's a lot you'll have to tell us, you know." Rika whispered into the Tamer's ear.
"Hmm."
"Like why were we all supposed to be here and we didn't help out that much at all against this guy."
"That's easy." Takato mumbled back. "Even though you weren't physically helping out, you all were helping out by caring for me, giving me your strength that I needed to pull through. It wasn't because of the Sword that I was protected-it was because of you guys by being there, all of you, human and Digimon, that was the main reason and the only reason that I wasn't hurt by Daemon's attack."
Feeling her cheeks grow slightly hot, Rika knew her boyfriend was drifting off to sleep, so she murmured, "I love you, Takato." against his ear.
Smiling lightly, Takato responded, "I love you too, Rika." even as he dozed off within Rika's protective arms. Unbeknownst to any of the Tamers, something else had followed Daemon in through those many bolts of energy-a tiny glob of something that looked like dough. The only problem with it was that it was steadily growing bigger because of the residue data the Digimon hadn't been able to absorb.
Uh-oh! Looks like trouble just followed the Tamers into town, and they have no idea about it! What's gonna happen now, even though Takato's back from his time-travel experience? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!
