New chapter. As always, it would be highly appreciated if you would review. I'd love feedback and critique, especially now that I have no one beta reading.

A Second Chance
Chapter 10

Taichi glanced at Takeru and stood up. Takeru stood as well, followed by a confused Hikari, still carrying her tea cup. They followed Koushiro down the stairs and through the doors that led into the Digital World. Hikari was trailing behind, taking in the scenery of the outdoors after having just gone downstairs into what would logically have been a basement.

Mimi and Willis were there, sitting in the small shack set up for basic workings. Mimi was sitting on a large stack of fertilizer, likely copied by Koushiro's duplication program. Willis was sitting in a chair, the back facing the table with Willis straddling the chair, arms resting on the back. Koushiro sat down in his own chair.

He held up one of the deletion devices. "This is the one I've been working on the most. Since Mimi only brought two, I have left the other one untouched for later duplication if something goes wrong with this one. However, my research has come to the point where I believe I have isolated the mechanism used to delete digimon and actually reversed the deletion properties. Of course, that simply wasn't enough if we were going to use Keisuke's weapons against him.

"Considering digimon have some special ability to change as they grow stronger, I looked into the process of how that might work and have come to this solution. This digivice, in theory, can cause a digimon to digivolve. These are terms we coined to differentiate from the original device and from evolution, since it's closer to a metamorphosis process and even then it's - sorry, I went off on a tangent."

"So, it still hasn't been tested then?" Taichi asked. "How are we going to know if it still won't delete a digimon even though you tinkered with it?"

"Well, that's where the difficulty comes in. It will need to be beta tested. But considering this weapon is highly dangerous to digimon in the first place, I hesitate to casually ask for volunteers. Perhaps if there was a digimon that we were fighting for our lives against, I'd have few qualms about testing it in case the deletion process was still in effect."

"Well, there aren't many digimon so far that are after our heads. The digimon that are at war with Earth are usually only concerned with fighting for control over territory. Unless we make more of a splash, anyway." Willis said. "So finding a digimon for that situation isn't common. We could have used Shellmon the other day, but Koushiro hadn't completed his work."

"So, there's still the need for a volunteer." Taichi said. He looked over at Agumon, who nodded. "What about us?"

"You?" Koushiro asked. "But Taichi, what if I made a mistake? Like I said before, everything I've done is hypothetical. Until we actually test it there's no way to know for sure."

"If we can get something that is beneficial for our cause, I'd be willing to take the risk." Taichi said. "But it's Agumon's body."

"I want to try." Agumon said. He walked over to Koushiro. "I trust Koushiro's mind. Even if I die, I'll be happy to know I helped."

"Agumon..." Koushiro sighed. "Alright."

He gave the digivice to Taichi. He stood there, looking down at the device. "How is this thing supposed to work, exactly?"

"Keisuke had some sort of mechanism that only activated when the user was in danger. I liked that idea, so I decided to keep it. We can wait for a battle."

"Why not make a battle?" Willis suggested. "Terriermon and Lopmon against Agumon."

"Hang on, would that really work?" Mimi asked. "You're friends, aren't you? Wouldn't that mean it's not really dangerous?"

"Then I'd just have to make it dangerous. I won't hold back." Willis said, looking sternly at Taichi. The atmosphere suddenly became thick. Takeru looked between the two boys. He glanced over at Hikari. She sat back silently, watching as this conversation was taking place. He wondered what she was thinking.

"That's fine with me. I want to test this thing properly. So we need to make it realistic."

Willis stood up from his seat and started for the front door of the shack. Taichi and Agumon followed. Hikari stepped forward, before running after them. Koushiro and Mimi brought up the rear with Takeru. By the time the three of them exited, the fight already started.

Taichi and Willis were already some distance away, on opposite ends of some imaginary field. Terriermon and Lopmon were both running around, trying to get past Agumon, who was standing a ways in front of Taichi. Agumon would throw a fireball at either that crossed into Taichi's zone, causing the rabbit-like digimon to fall back.

This strategy didn't last long as Lopmon made it past Agumon with Terriermon divebombing Agumon. He ran toward Taichi, who dove to the ground to dodge an attack.

"Blazing Ice!" Taichi yelled in surprise when Lopmon's ice breath shrouded his arm, freezing it. He scrambled to his feet, holding his arm. Agumon rushed to Taichi's side, headbutting Lopmon away from him. Terriermon jumped from behind Agumon, using his head for leverage. Lopmon jumped as well.

"Double Typhoon!" Together, the twins started spinning, creating a massive tornado. Taichi fell to the ground, digging his fingers into the dirt as his body started lifting off the ground. Agumon fared better despite his smaller body, his claws anchoring him securely.

"Ah!" Taichi lost his grip, and was sucked into the tornado. A light shone from inside the tornado, and a harsh sound beeped repeatedly.

"I feel strange." Agumon said, as he began to glow. "Agumon digivolve to..."

"Greymon." In Agumon's place stood a massive orange and blue-striped dinosaur. He had a mask over his face with three horns, one on each side of his head, and one at the end of his nose. Easily, this larger digimon reached into the tornado, gripping Taichi and pulled him out. Immediately, Terriermon and Lopmon ceased, and stood in awe at the larger digimon in front of them.

Takeru barely paid attention as the familiar feeling of sickness overtook him. His body ran hot and cold at the same time, and his hands were shaking. Images he was now somewhat familiar with seeing flashed in his mind. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Patamon was doing about as well as him.

"Takeru? Are you okay?" He could hear Hikari to his left, but she felt distant.

Takeru grunted. "I-I'm fine. I just need water."

He somehow managed to pick Patamon up off the ground without spilling his guts before Hikari directed him back inside the shack. He sat down on a chair and leaned over, resting his chest on his legs, and let his head dangle. Hikari wordlessly placed a glass on the table. Takeru didn't touch it.

"What happened?" She sat down in the chair beside him. Takeru shook his head.

"I don't know." He slowly sat up, still not feeling well, but his mouth was dry. He took the glass and gulped down the water. The others came back into the shack, crowding around him. Annoyed, Takeru placed the glass next to Patamon for him to finish, and glared at Taichi and Willis.

"Where the hell do you two get off risking Agumon's life like that?" Takeru growled. Both men took a surprised step back.

"We wouldn't have done it if we weren't sure, Takeru." Willis said, trying to calm the boy down.

"That's not good enough! Koushiro said he wasn't sure! Yet you did it anyway!"

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" Taichi said, brows knotting together. "Agumon's just fine!"

"That's not the point!" Takeru slammed his fist on the table. He whirled around, storming out of the shack and ran back to the breach. Patamon, getting a little colour back in his cheeks, flew after Takeru.

They rode the train together, back to Odaiba. Takeru had to stop a few times in order to get through a weak spot in the barriers, but by now he was knowledgeable of the weak points thanks to Willis. He was silent, even as he snuck Patamon in his backpack to his apartment, saying a dull hello to his mother before dropping onto his bed.

Patamon crawled out of the backpack, and fluttered to land beside Takeru's head.

"I know. I shouldn't have snapped at them like that." Takeru said, sighing as he turned his head away from Patamon. "I don't know what came over me. I don't know why I keep feeling sick like this."

"I felt sick, too." Patamon said. "I don't know why. Maybe because I'd been in danger like that before."

Takeru turned his head back toward Patamon. "You have?"

"I was deleted before, by a human." Patamon said lowly.

Takeru sat up, folding his legs on the bed. "When was this?"

"It was a long time ago. I barely remember it. I can't even remember what level I was, or what I was doing. All I can see are flashes of memory. A human's face here and there. But that's all."

"I see flashes too." Takeru said, holding his head in his hand. "Bright lights in my eyes, blinding me. I see a few faces, maybe a military uniform or two. The smell of wet dirt, and flashes of orange. For some reason it makes me want to throw up. I don't know why. I don't remember anything like this before."

He fell backwards onto his bed, letting his feet rest on his pillow. "Those deletion devices are dangerous. Lots of digimon are going to get destroyed in droves."

"I know. It will make confrontations with the military more dangerous than ever." Patamon said.

"We should destroy them." Takeru said, staring at his ceiling. "If we could find a way to get in there, and destroy their stock before they can send them out... It might not do much, but at least they can be delayed. Maybe we can even destroy Keisuke's notes."

"That won't make Mimi very happy." Patamon said. "She still cares for her father, and I'm guessing he spent a lot of time and effort into making them."

Takeru frowned. "Even so... They were still made to kill."

There was a knock at Takeru's door. Patamon scrambled under the bed and Takeru sat up. The door opened, and Takeru's father walked in. His eyes widened.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

"I was talking with your mother. You looked so upset when you came home, I guess you didn't see me in the kitchen, or see my shoes at the door."

"I'm sorry." Takeru murmured. He moved over when his dad walked in, and the older man sat down beside Takeru.

"You look pale. Is everything alright?" Takeru looked down at the floor.

"I don't know." Takeru said. "I thought I was. But there was a fight and I lashed out. I felt sick."

"Was it a digimon fight?" Hiroaki asked softly. Takeru looked up at him.

"How did you know?" His father adjusted himself on the bed.

"Well, it has to do with something that happened eight years ago. We didn't think you'd remember."

"Eight years ago?"

"You were attacked by a digimon." Takeru stared at his father, unsure how to take this. He was attacked by a digimon? He wouldn't have been much older than eight. Why wouldn't he remember something like that? Takeru's eyes fell to the bed.

"I was?" He asked finally.

"Almost killed." His father said, running his hand through his short hair. "It's actually the reason why I quit my old job. I didn't want my family in danger."

"What happened?"

"We lost sight of you. Normally you'd go off to play with that little Yagami girl, but you weren't outside, and you weren't at her house. So we searched for you. We searched for over an hour and there wasn't any sign.

"Things were chaotic. We just started the war with digimon officially not even two years ago. We didn't know what to do, so we called the newly created Digimon Eradication Unit. Our fears were right. You were being attacked by a digimon. You were outside the save zone, in a trench left over from the destruction."

Takeru listened to his father's words, closing his eyes as he concentrated on the flashes of memory. Slowly, they grew from being segmented. He could see his father's face clearly. It was twisted into an expression of anger and worry. He slid down the trench, muddying his clothes. The military personnel were behind him, setting up bright lights. Takeru was huddled toward the back of the trench, covered from head to toe in mud. He held his hand out to his father, but it wasn't reaching out.

"What... what kind of digimon had me?" Takeru asked slowly. Though he was sure he already knew the answer.

"A Patamon."

Takeru felt sick, and leaned over. His father called out to him, placing a hand on his back. But he ignored it. He was being dragged away by his father, kicking and screaming, reaching out for the small orange digimon. He watched with wide eyes as the military closed over the tiny form, and Patamon's screams. Takeru could see the tiny pixels explode and scatter, dissolving into the wind as Patamon was deleted.

"It still affects you." Hiroaki murmured. "That's why your mother and I were talking. She says you've been acting different lately. Maybe coming back to Odaiba, where there are more attacks, did something to affect you subconsciously. We think it's best if you get over your trauma. I'm signing you up for the Junior Division."

He stayed there, curled up and concentrated on his breathing. His father kept calling to him and it was all Takeru could do to lift his arm up to show him he was alright. He could never tell him. He could never say that he wasn't nearly killed; that he and Patamon had been friends. He stayed there, curled up and concentrated on his breathing.

Hiroaki stood up, giving Takeru's shoulder a light squeeze and left him. Takeru didn't move until he was sure he heard the door close. Patamon crawled out from under the bed, his face pale.

"We... we were friends." Takeru whispered. "They murdered you right in front of me."

"I remember now." Patamon said. "You would often come outside the safe zone to play with me. I didn't think I'd ever have any memories from before I was deleted."

Takeru scooped up Patamon and held him close to his chest. He forgot on purpose. Maybe it was why he stayed that day, reuniting with Patamon like that. Things were starting to make sense, falling into place.

"You're not really going to join the military, are you Takeru?" Patamon asked. "What if they make you fight?"

"I don't want to join." Takeru said. "But if dad thinks that will make me better, I might not have any choice. But I can use it to our advantage."

Patamon curled up in Takeru's arms, but his expression told Takeru he wasn't so sure.

"I promise, I'll try everything I can to keep from going. I think what we're doing is much more productive."

He let Patamon spend the night, pulling him behind the pillow and against the corner of the wall where his mother couldn't see. It was unlikely she'd come in, but he didn't want to take the chance. He laid in bed, watching Patamon sleep and thinking about the memories that newly surfaced in his mind. He wondered how many other children were like him. Willis was one, and he knew now that he and the American were more alike than ever. They were both somewhat lucky. But how many people were found out and their friends destroyed?

He'd apologize to Taichi and the others tomorrow. The reversed deletion device worked. The digivice. A tool to help channel their energies to make digimon digivolve. That and the delevices brought a whole new level to the war. An uneasy feeling sat in Takeru's stomach. He had to make sure he kept up.

Takeru let Patamon fly out the window early in the morning. While it was still risky, it would be better than taking him to school. Daisuke was there, as well as many other people. At least this way Patamon mostly had to worry about sonar. If he kept to the water, he could make it out of Odaiba to the less heavily guarded inland sections.

To his surprise, Hikari was standing in the entrance. She was dressed for school, while Takeru still had on his pajamas. Takeru bit his lip, avoiding eye contact with Hikari as he slowly walked toward her.

"Hikari... I- what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to make sure you're alright. You were really upset yesterday."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. I wasn't really thinking." Takeru gave an apologetic smile. "I plan on apologizing to everyone after school. I'll tell them everything."

Hikari cocked her head to the side. "You know why you lashed out like that?"

"Yeah." He looked around, searching for his mother. She was in her room, but Takeru still didn't want to risk it. "I'll talk to you about it on the way to school. Do you want to sit down?"

He directed Hikari to the living room, and she waited as he scrambled for his uniform and got something quickly to eat. He stopped to check himself in the mirror, flattening his hair as he chewed on a piece of toast.

He swallowed the last of his breakfast, and walked Hikari out of the apartment. They walked slowly, and Takeru told her in a low voice exactly what happened last night. Hikari had a grave expression on her face.

"So your dad thinks you should join the military because of that incident? What will you do about Patamon and your group?"

"I don't know." Takeru sighed. "I'll talk to him tonight and try to convince him to drop it. Patamon will likely tell the others when he gets back."

"He'll be alright, flying on his own?"

"Yeah, I think so. We know some secrets to getting around the city unharmed." Takeru said "Willis said it's harder every time they upgrade the shields, though."

Hikari nodded. "I'm not sure about everything, Takeru. But I talked more with my brother after you left. I think that he's doing something good. Your hearts are in the right place. Can I come visit occasionally?"

"Yeah!" Takeru smiled, his heart thumping. "You can help us out."

"Maybe I'll find my own partner." Hikari said softly. "But I guess that means I'd have to fight, too."

"You don't have to." Takeru said. "We'll all understand if you don't. Mimi hasn't fought with us yet."

"I think I might want to fight, if I bond with a digimon." Hikari said. "Because I couldn't stand doing the bare minimum for them. I just... hope no one at the school finds out that I am starting to follow Taichi."

"Nevermind about them." Takeru said. "All that matters is what we're doing. But I promise you, Hikari, we won't do anything to compromise you."

She smiled. "Thanks."

They reached the gates, and Takeru saw Daisuke was waiting at the entrance, his arms folded across his chest and a glare directed straight at Takeru. He groaned.

"Here's trouble." He muttered.

"Trouble?" Hikari looked over at Daisuke. "Daisuke's trouble?"

"Looks like he's going to be." Takeru said, and stopped in front of Daisuke, who straightened his posture to look authoritative. "I thought we got through th-"

"So, you actually went and did it." Daisuke said, still not looking all that pleased. Takeru blinked.

"Did what?"

"Don't be dumb! You actually signed up for the military. I don't know how but apparently you have the right qualifications to be accepted."

Takeru and Hikari exchanged surprised looks. "What? I never signed up!"

"Yeah? Well, your name is on the list for my division. Apparently Keisuke Tachikawa is going to be personally supervising you, too. Heck if I know why."