Chapter Nine – The Rush of Battle (Akari V)

When she had the brainpower, time, and sanity, Akari was definitely going to contemplate the sheer amount of crap thrown around in that whole conversation. For now, however, she was going to focus on getting out of here, and with a hostage to boot.

There really was no point in leaving Nene over there, she apparently had a brother (one bloodthirsty, stupid brat to boot, if her brothers even got close to being like him, she was going to get her parents to send them off to boarding school. Not risking any of that.) and he didn't seem to understand what he was doing.

That explained why she was here at least and with Bagra, even after what they did.

Akari didn't feel bad about it. But- "Dorulumon, spin to the right!"

The wolf did so, drill tail slamming hard into the nearest blue dragon thing that was more teeth than dinosaur dragon. It squeaked, knocking into its brethren and toppling them like dominos. Akari took that opportunity to give a firm yank on Nene's hand. The older girl looked at her, slightly down and eyes strangely too big. Akari felt a rush of warmth in her throat and fought to drown it out.

"Come on," she said. "I think we'd better stick together and not die."

Because that brother of hers had still decided murder was the best option and she hadn't exactly talked him out of it. Or maybe couldn't. Imagine that family argument.

She watched the war on Nene's face and then yanked her onto Dorulumon's back anyway. Nene let out a yelp of pain and Akari felt a horrible twinge go down her arm. Whatever, she'd feel more guilty out of the line of fire. Dorulumon galloped away, Shoutmon threw a fireball into the grass, causing it to start to smoke and burn with heat.

"Let go," Nene muttered, starting to tug. Akari forced herself to tighten her grip on that thin wrist.

"Nope," Akari debated sinking her nails into Nene's wrist to prove the point, but that would do no one any good. And all she wanted to do was snatch her up and run but so long as Kiriha was letting his MetalGreymon rain lasers, there was no time to impress how strong she wasn' on her.

Nene looked back, heart in her mouth. She searched for her brother and only saw a purple and white shroud wrap around his whimpering form and disappear.

She cursed and at the sound of her words, Sparrowmon acted.

Not against Xros Heart mind you. Their heart had already been wavering to that. They had saved Nene once upon a time and a debt had to be properly paid back, but against Blue Flare, who may have helped, but also immensely got in Nene's way.

And Akari could only guess about the brother. She could never imagine her family doing this. She could never imagine her best friend thinking that. He'd lost his mind because of a kid dying because he happened to listen to them and keep walking. That did not seem like what Amano Yuu was doing.

But then, she'd have to ask later-

"Shoutmon," she shouted as Sparrowmon went careening down hard enough to smack Metal Greymon back a good six meters. "Can you guys like, not hit us?!" Nene was trying to free her hand again. Akari gave up on being nice about it and smacked her in the throat. It hurt like hell the second after she did it but it gave her enough time to haul Nene onto Dorulumon so they could get back far enough to open a path to another Zone.

"You're taller than me," he said with a scowl. "I've got a range you know."

Akari managed to get them both up and steady. "Do me a favor and expand it."

As she said that, Kiriha cursed loudly because Zenjirou had gotten through his troops behind Ballistamon and managed to slice his coat and shirt open with the Star Sword and draw blood.

"Retreat, Zenjirou!" she shouted, but he was already doing it, dodging Kiriha's attempts at fists flying and MetalGreymon suddenly realizing how out of place he was in a battle of small things and attempting to separate into the midst of it.

Then Sparrowmon crashed into him. This time, they weren't as lucky as the first time. Metalgreymon caught them with their one hand and threw them to the ground. He stomped a large foot on their wings. Sparrowmon screamed rage. Any attempt at firing their lasers only hit more encroaching minions.

Kiriha leaped back, raising his Xros Loader. "Xros Open!"

Nene grit her teeth as the two of them glowed, separating mid-jump. "Sparrowmon!"

The jet darted away towards her and back to the Xros Loader. Akari made to grab her wrist again, chest still aching a little. Nene looked her right in the eye and her stomach dropped to her knees.

"I'm going to trust you know what you're doing," she said quietly. "Just this once."

That should not have sounded as positive as it did right now to her ears. Akari, however, evened her expression out and nodded. "Right," she said. "Zone Open!"

The red Xros Loader was all too happy to oblige and Ballistamon threw Zenjirou bodily to their side as the Digimon were sucked in.

Soon, they were all falling into a sea of green. Akari wanted to smile. She really did. They had a hostage, they had an ally. They had… something.

She wasn't sure what to call Nene at this point. But they would make use of her. And soon, once the meteor fell…

She was that much closer to saving her sworn best friend.

Just a little longer, Taiki, I promise.


Zenjirou eyed both Akari and Nene with concern over the sparking fire. He rubbed his hand, having gotten a Gaozmon to the arm and a freshly dislocated shoulder when Ballistamon had thrown him. Cutemon was trying to heal it, but the arm remained stubborn and swollen and red.

Nene suddenly appeared behind him, and his world went white in pain.

"God, bring them all down on us," Akari said when Zenjirou stopped groaning as loudly.

Nene made a face. "My apologies. He should be easier to heal now."

Akari regarded her. Then she pursed her lips together. "Right. Thanks."

"We have a truce, after all."

Nene's words were careful but Akari took them all the same. At least this time, feeling each other's pain was a benefit rather than a curse.

They could only hope.