A/N: Greetings to all people! This is the last as in the very last of the Finalle Trilogy "Wishful Thinking of Hope". I greatly appreciate those who reviewed my story! Can't go on without you guys! Anyway, can't keep you waiting (or reading) too long this part. Let's go on with the story shall we? ^_^
Dedication: To all the reviewers of my story, you guys are the best! Well this is the last part of the story, so hope I'll see you guys again.
Wishful Thinking of Hope
Chapter 10:
The Wishing Tree
Subtitled: Kageru Dies…
Rating: PG-13
Dark Strider
Patamon groaned as he landed on the soft ground, what the hell was that thing?
Something sure didn't want him to follow Kageru, but what…or who?
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
"PATAMON!" Takeru knelt down beside his digimon.
"Ta…Takeru…I lost him, something…knocked me away from…from his trail." Patamon groaned.
"Well come on, I've got a score to settle." Takeru got up, Patamon flew above him.
"Can you digivolve into Angemon?" Takeru asked. Patamon nod.
PATAMON DIGIVOLVE TO…ANGEMON!!!
"What are we supposed to do now?" Angemon asked.
"Let's see, I can see footprints on the floor. That's it! They're Kageru's! Let's go follow them!" Takeru ran, following the footprints with Angemon flying after him.
Kageru reached a small room behind a mountain.
"Argh!" He groaned. The world is spinning before him. "Damn. I feel dizzy." Then he took a glance around the room.
The room was circular in shape. The tiled floors reflected the rays of light shooting down from the holes up the ceiling.
There was a box behind the room.
Struggling, Kageru forced his way to the box and opened it. Inside was a candle holder with two candles, an incense stick nearly used up, a vase and a matchbox.
Kageru lit up the incense then the two candles on the candle holder. Then he knelt down beside the box.
Please, may Yami be able read the letter and do what it says. For it might be known as my last will. Please…
Then Kageru stood up. He's coming…
Takeru stopped when he reached a boulder blocking an entrance to the inside of the mountain.
"The footprints stop here." Takeru said.
"Then that must mean he's inside the mountain." Angemon raised his hand. "HAND OF FATE!"
The boulder crumpled to dust. "There's gotta be a better way inside." Takeru groaned.
"Well this IS the better way rather than to find some stupid lock or something." Angemon flew inside, Takeru shrugged and followed.
The passageway lead to a room, and Takeru spotted Kageru nearby, at the end or the room.
"KAGERU!" Takeru gasped. "Angemon you stay outside, where you've seen the boulder and stay there. This is my fight Angemon."
The angel digimon stopped to say something yet set it aside and flew away, trusting the young lad.
"So you've finally arrived. Kageru whispered. "I know that I am weakening. And probably my life will come to an end soon BUT I can't allow myself to die unless you and I will fight till the end and that one of us will win."
"Kageru if you're weak then why don't you just set aside your pride and rest?" Takeru asked.
"I have no time for that." Kageru replied.
"Well I don't have time to fight those who can't fight to their full capacity!" Takeru said.
"This fight is important to me." Kageru sighed. "If I can't even fight with you, what else do I need to do?"
Takeru sighed then said. "All right but this WILL be the last!"
Kageru flashed a smile. Takeru said. "Let's do it."
kawaita kaze ga fuku
machi wa kogoete-iru
ikutsu no kisetsu ga sotto oto mo naku
sugisatta no darou
A dry breeze is blowing
The city is getting cold
I wonder how many seasons have passed
Without even a sound?
Takeru attacked Kageru who avoided him. Kageru jumped up and shouted. "DARK VIPER!"
A black snake emerged out of nowhere and went after Takeru. Takeru managed to avoid it. "HOLY WHIP!"
Then another snake, golden this time, charged after the black one and both clashed and vanished.
Kageru raised his hand and a black energy ball hurled its way towards Takeru.
Blood spilled on the floor, Takeru groaned as a deep wound emerged from his shoulder. Kageru watched, awaiting his next move.
Then suddenly Takeru shouted. "GOLDEN CHAIN!"
A golden chain like whip with a blade went after Kageru, who avoided it at first. Then Takeru pulled the chain back to him and the blade pierced Kageru's behind. Kageru choked blood out of his mouth as he grabbed the whip and crushed the energy whip and it vanished.
Kageru glared. He's getting better already.
Takeru sighed. I don't know if I can win against him now.
Takeru then jumped up and shouted "HOLY WING'S BEAM!" And a golden beam shot towards Kageru. Kageru managed to avoid it but escaped with a scar on his face.
Kageru mumbled something and a sword appeared and he dashed towards Takeru. Takeru quickly brought out his sword too and CLANG! Both swords clashed.
Kageru went on attacking furiously while Takeru tried to block every blow.
Holy, he' good! Takeru nearly fell after the last blow.
Kageru backed away from him. Takeru could see anger…and sorrow in his eyes.
"Kageru…" Takeru choked the blood of his mouth. "Kageru listen to me…"
But Kageru heard nothing and attacked him. Takeru was sent sprawling to the cave wall.
I have to tell him…I have to reach him… He's not supposed to be like this… Takeru struggled. "Kageru listen to me…"
Kageru didn't stop and attacked him again. Takeru was hit and went to the opposite direction.
This time Takeru was angry. Kageru poised to strike again when Takeru shouted. "KAGERU WILL YOU STOP YOUR PATHETIC STRIKING AND LISTEN TO ME FOR A DAMN MINUTE, THEN YOU CAN BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF ME AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE!!!" Then, Kageru somehow paused and blinked. "Uh did you just say something?"
"Like LISTEN TO ME 'k?!" Takeru coughed. "Why do you want to fight me anyway? What's your goal, and what's the use of being a God?"
"Those are not one of your concerns." Kageru replied.
"Will you just answer it the proper way?!" Takeru groaned.
"And why should I?" Kageru shot back.
"So that I can get to the bottom of this case and probably straighten a few questions on my head." Takeru replied.
"I just want to be a GOD because I wanna be powerful, and by fighting you I can prove myself that I am worthy to be one." Kageru replied.
"Really? I don't believe you…" Takeru's eyes lowered.
"Will you stop chatting already?!" Kageru leapt towards Takeru.
This time Takeru avoided him, and the fight went on.
yukikau hito wa mina
omoi nimotsu seotte
tooku ni yureru kagerou no naka ni
ashita wo mitsukeru
All of the people coming and going
bear heavy burdens,
searching for tomorrow
within the heat haze wavering in the distance
SeraKibou led Hikari towards the hallway.
"There, I can see them!" SeraKibou pointed a small group heading west.
"How'd you know they're here?" Hikari asked.
"Instinct?" SeraKibou grinned.
"Yeah right." Hikari rolled her eyes.
"Anyway…HEY PEOPLE!!! PEOPLE OVER HERE!!!" SeraKibou shouted and waved his arms over the air.
"HEY, stop being a freak will you!" Hikari groaned. "HEY GET DOWN ALREADY! THEY CAN ALREADY SEE YOU! HEY!!!"
"Hey look that's Kibou over there…" Jyou noticed the waving boy. "And he's got someone with him."
"Kibou!" Wish shouted.
"Hey niichan! Hey nechan!" SeraKibou waved.
"NIICHAN!" Hikari shouted.
"Hikari? HIKARI!" Taichi gasped.
"Hey, there's Hikari!" Sora pointed.
"SeraKibou!" Neon sobbed as everyone came running.
"May I suggest using an oxygen mask?" SeraKibou grinned.
"What for?" Hikari asked.
"You'll see…" SeraKibou pointed the crowd approaching and gave them a group hug.
"Uh I think I can use the oxygen mask now!" Hikari gasped for air.
"People, we're here now, we're here now so stop hugging coz it's FOR REAL so LET GO NOW PLEASE or else I'll die because of you guys!!!" SeraKibou choked.
Takeru was bleeding already yet he was still standing. Kageru admired his determination. What's keeping him up like this?
"Kageru you've got to stop! Listen, you're not supposed to be like this…" Takeru groaned.
"Shut up!" Kageru raised his sword.
"Kageru listen to me! Nothing will happen if you'll ever be a God! It'll just drive you even farther away from those you care for!" Takeru reasoned out.
"I don't care for anybody!" Kageru growled.
"Stop being a lousy liar, will you?!" Takeru felt his blood boil.
"No, you shut up!!!" Kageru attacked Takeru.
Takeru's body glowed and he raised his sword and it plunged itself deeply down Kageru's chest.
"ACK!" Kageru groaned as he fell down.
"No! NO! NOOOOO!!!!" Takeru gasped as he bent down towards Kageru. Oh God no, what have I done?! Oh no…
kono te wo koboreochiru
suna no you na kanjou
ano toki mune ni sasatta
kotoba ga fui ni uzuku kedo
Feelings like sand
falling through my hands...
Back then, the words that pierced my heart
suddenly started to throb with pain, but...
Then the floor glowed a blue light…and the stone wall creaked open revealing a short tree with golden leaves and sparkling roots. On its branch held only one fruit.
"What's that?" Takeru gasped.
"The…wi-wishing…tree…" Kageru groaned weakly.
"Don't talk too much you baka!" Takeru said.
"I'm not dying ok!" Kageru got up and groaned.
"When will you stop being so cold?!" Takeru groaned as he stood up.
"Well if you're trying to soften me up it'll not work! Nothing has ever soften me up…" Kageru growled.
"Except Yusuke." Takeru finished.
Kageru looked at him with shock. "How did you…"
"I know I can never be Yusuke but I can do what he can do if you'd let me. What'll happen if you die? Are you happy about leaving Yusuke alone? Or Yami alone?!" Takeru shot at Kageru.
"You…you know too much…" Kageru gasped.
"Thank you." Takeru grinned.
"Look, will you shut up?! I don't care about them anymore! I hate Yusuke for leaving me alone! I hate the whole world for being so cold to me!" Kageru groaned.
"Don't say that." Takeru said.
"SHUT UP! I don't need them, I only need myself! I can live without love or friendship, without hope or light! I can fend the world off them! I don't need them!" Kageru screamed.
"But you need this…" Takeru frowned…
SMACK!
Kageru's cheek grew red due to Takeru's slap.
"KAGERU WILL YOU STOP LYING TO YOURSELF! YOU NEED SOMEONE, EVERYONE NEEDS A SPECIAL SOMEONE! IF YOU DON'T LOVE YOUR NIICHAN, THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL WAITING HIM TO BE BACK TO YOU?! AND THE WORLD DIDN'T BECOME COLD TO YOU; YOU SHUT YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE WORLD!!! AND YOUR NIICHAN WILL NOT BE HERE TO BRING YOU TO THE WORLD OF LIGHT! YOU HAVE TO HELP YOURSELF!!! SO SNAP OUT OF THIS SHIT, KAGERU!!!" Takeru panted from shouting aloud.
"Takeru, I…" Kageru gasped at the other man's words, his heart was filled with confusion. Takeru seemed to have smack some sense onto him. "Takeru, I don't know."
"Please Kageru, it's those three bakemonos, they're using you. I know you want to go back to your girl, and to your niichan. That's why stop being so foolish, because being a God won't make them happy if you'd die trying to defeat me." Takeru said gently.
Kageru smiled freely, realizing his true destiny. "Thanks, I needed that slap."
hatenai yoru wo kazoe nagara
jibun no kakera sagashite-ita
ushinau hodo ni kono omoi ga
tashika ni natte'ku
ima nara , kitto aruite yukeru doko made
I've searched for pieces of myself,
counting the endless nights all the while.
These feelings are becoming so certain
I almost lost myself.
Right now, without fail, I will walk forward, however far
Then the celing started to crack and FLASH! The three demons appeared.
"Well, Master Kageru, you seemed to have forgotten that enemies are solely enemies and not friends to talk to." Lust growled.
"Yeah, and I think I know who the real enemies are now…" Kageru growled.
"Yippe! What's this now? Master's turning against us?" Glutton sneered.
"I'm amazed you've got a thinking head Glutton!" Kageru shot back.
"After all that we did for you, how dare you turn your back on us?!" Covet frowned.
"What you did for me was to turn me away from the world of light! You guys were using me!" Kageru shouted.
"I'm not going to stand for this any longer." Lust snapped his finger and hundreds of demons appeared.
"Takeru, go to the Wishing Tree now!" Kageru shouted.
"Demo…"
"JUST GO!" Kageru stood at the center of the circle.
Takeru nod and went towards the tree.
Kageru mumbled a few words and a blue light shot out from the floor.
"Nani!!!" Lust gasped.
"If you happened to know, I've been meditating here for weeks now and I've discovered something rather interesting: this floor is actually a portal to an abyss. This was built to protect the Wishing Tree from demons such as you. I've received dreams about this floor and the abyss, and the unsealing incantations: this abyss is calling me to do something. Now that I've unsealed it from the curse that it can never be used on it 5000 years ago, I'll send you to hell here. Thanks to a helpful slap, I've realized what this abyss wants: to seal all evil trying to corrupt the Wishing Tree!" Kageru shouted and the floor turned into a black warp. And all the demons came flowing towards the warp.
"Damn, if we can't kill you then we'll take you with us!" Lust lunged after Kageru along with Covet and Glutton.
"NO! KAGERU!" Takeru gasped, pushing Kageru away from the warp and was tackled down.
doushite kono sora wa
konna ni hiroi no darou
sakende mite mo koe ni naranakute
namida ga afureta
I wonder why is the sky
So vast?
Even though I tried to yell, my voice didn't come
And the tears poured out.
"TAKERU YOU BAKA!" Kageru gasped.
"You're nuts, aren't you? You should've let him die instead." Lust snickered.
"Shut up!" Takeru shot back.
"No Takeru! I've got to get you out of there!" Kageru rushed towards the portal.
"No, just wish on the Wishing Tree now. Please Kageru, wish that you and your niichan will be together again. Go on now Kageru." Takeru groaned.
"No! You defeated me! I don't have the right to wish on it!" Kageru collapsed to tears. "I don't want to keep on loosing everything!"
"Kageru!!!" Takeru groaned.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Kageru's body glowed and the golden and purple scrolls appeared and paralyzed the three demons.
Kageru crawled towards Takeru weakly and grabbed his hand. Soon Takeru was out of the warp.
As Takeru rushed out of the warp, the three demons too were free and lunged after Takeru yet Kageru pushed them back to the warp. "And stay there!" Kageru growled.
But Kageru too was being sucked away.
"NOOO!!!!" Takeru gasped.
jiyuu ni kaze kitte
tori-tachi wa doko e yuku no?
sugoshita jikan no you ni
onaji basho ni modorenai
I wonder where the birds are flying off to,
As they freely slice through the wind?
One can't return to the same place
As it once was in days gone by.
"Now my friend, it's you turn to wish." Kageru said sadly. "As for me, I have to make sure these three will not escape again to do evil. I'm sorry."
"That's nonsense! You don't need to be with them! You can be free!" Takeru wept.
"Nope, these three because of their magic can be set free if I can't be sealed without them. I've seen that in the dream too." Kageru smiled. "I must die now, for it is destined."
"Kageru, oh why you? I was the one who was trapped there earlier!" Takeru shot back.
"You're a being way too pure to be sealed away. I can't bear to see you taken away. I'm not needed anyway…" Kageru whispered.
"NO! That's a lie! Yusuke, Yami, they all need you! They want you back Kageru. Please come back to them. They love you…" Takeru groaned.
"I know, yet many need you more. I think it's better this way." A tear slid down Kageru's cheek. "Takeru listen to me, no matter what happens if you want to save something, you've got to make sacrifices. And if you want others to be happy, sometimes you have to sacrifice you own happiness. But no matter how painful all this may seem, there is always a comfort waiting in the end…
"No matter what, Takeru, you must let go of everything slipping away. I know it's hard to let go but if you do, you're doing it not only for yourself but for others too…" Kageru, along with the three struggling demons, disappeared into the warp.
"Kageru…" Takeru bit his lip and turned to the Wishing Tree, its fruit fallen down.
Takeru picked it up. His heart embed with only one wish: "Please, don't let Kageru die…"
And a warm light surrounded the room. A voice can be heard echoing around the hallway.
"Takaishi Takeru, Master of Hope,
I have heard your wish yet I cannot give what you ask, for he that you speak of is within the abyss defending me. Yet I can reverse the spell a little: He is not dead, for he is only sealed away to eternal sleep. When the time comes that he is in need he shall rise and never again return to the abyss.
As for you now, you are to depart…"
A bright light shook the area and Takeru felt the wind carry him away to the entrance.
kono mama yume wo akiramete mo
takanaru kodou osae kirenai
itsuka wa kitto chikadzukitai
ano kumo no takasa
mou ichido kokoro ni tsubasa hiroge tabidatou e
Even if I give up my dream like this,
I won't suppress my soaring heartbeat.
Someday, I want to reach
As high as those clouds.
I'll spread wide the wings in my heart and journey once again
"TAKERU!" Angemon shouted.
"A-Angemon!" Takeru gasped.
"Why…is Kageru…" Angemon noticed the child's tear stained face.
"Yeah… And I've got a wish." Takeru said.
"What is it?" Angemon asked.
"Hmmm…SECRET!" Takeru laughed.
"Hidoi!" Angemon groaned.
"Well, wishes are supposed to be secret anyway. Now let's go back to the others." Takeru grinned.
"Yeah, bet they're worried sick." Angemon de-digivolved to Patamon. "Race you!"
"No fair! You have wings!" Takeru dashed after him.
After a while…
"Hey I can see them…" Patamon pointed the other Digidestines.
"Hey I can see them too. HEY GUYS!" Takeru called.
"WE'RE UP HERE!" Patamon joined in.
"Hey look someone's calling us." Koushirou said.
"It's…batpig!" SeraKibou joked. "HEY BATPIG! YOHOO!"
"Batpig yourself!" Patamon stuck out his tongue.
"Hey, it's Takeru!" Hikari said.
"Hey mina-san! Sorry about making you guys worry too much!" Takeru waved, watching the group approach and give him (you guessed it) a group hug.
"PATAMON!" Takeru choked.
"What?" Patamon asked.
"DIGIVOLVE NOW!!!" Takeru gasped.
"Why?" Patamon wondered.
"JUST BE ANYTHING AND GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" Takeru groaned.
"Eh?" Patamon glanced curiously.
"PATAMON!!!!!" Takeru screamed. "HEY GUYS STOP IT I'M ALIVE NOW! GUYS!"
After a few minutes…
"How do we get out of here?!" Hikari groaned.
"Hmm, there must be a portal here or something that got us here first so…" Koushiro guessed.
"Yeah genius like 'How do we know where the portal is?'" Taichi frowned.
"Uhm…" Koushiro was out of answers.
"Well, maybe there's a portal in that weird castle we've been once." SeraKibou suggested.
"How's a portal going to be inside that spooky castle?" Takeru asked.
"It might be a room or a box or something else." SeraKibou answered.
"And how are we going to find out where the portal is?" Yamato asked.
"If your digivices react on something, then that's it." SeraKibou said.
"OK, let's try it!" Miyako grinned.
"Fine then let's go. And may I suggest no splitting up please." Hikari asked.
The group searched almost every room until they arrived at an old large room with a mosaiced flooring.
Much like the room Kageru and I fought for the last time… Takeru thought. But it looks a little more familiar…
Then Takeru's digivice was ringing…and everyone else's.
"This is it." Aoi guessed.
"The portal." Neon finished.
"Well then let's go." Taichi brought out his digivice and everyone else followed him.
And the room was filled with a golden light…
PLOP!
Everyone landed in a strange room.
"Where are we?" Hikari coughed.
"We're…in the theaters?" Daisuke pointed the familiar seats and the huge screen and the large oak doors on each side.
"We're back!" Jyou cheered.
"Hey, where's Wish and the others?" Takeru noticed that they were gone.
"Maybe they went back to their own world too…" Yamato smiled.
"Hmm, at least we're back in our world now too." Takeru grinned.
"Argh! I'm so tired. See you guys in the morning!" Taichi yawned.
"Bye!" From there, everyone split up back to their own homes.
As Takeru walked back home, he heard a voice behind him. Takeru turned yet there was no one. Then the voice spoke again…
"I know it's hard to let go but if you do, you're doing it not only for yourself but for others too…"
Takeru smiled to himself. "I'll be seeing you someday Kageru…"
And then a shooting star made way down the heavens. Takeru grinned and made a wish. May everything be OK from now on…
And that was a wish that would surely come true…right?
kanarazu tadoritsukeru hazu
kono mama yume wo akiramete mo
takanaru kodou osae kirenai
itsuka wa kitto chikadzukitai
ano kumo no takasa
mou ichido kokoro ni tsubasa hiroge tabidatou
hatenai yoru wo kazoe nagara
jibun no kakera sagashite-ita
ushinau hodo ni kono omoi ga
tashika ni natte'ku
ima nara kitto aruite yukeru doko made mo
I will reach it, without fail.
Even if I give up my dream like this,
I won't suppress my soaring heartbeat.
Someday, I want to reach
As high as those clouds.
I'll spread wide the wings in my heart and journey once again
I've searched for pieces of myself,
Counting the endless nights all the while.
These feelings are becoming so certain
I almost lost myself.
Right now, without fail, I will walk forward, however far.
~Fin~
A/N: And that's all folks. ^_^
Well that is the last part of the tale Wishful Thinking of Hope. Hope you folks enjoyed it. And I'm in for a VERY long break. But be at good cheer folks. Anyway, is it sappy? Great? Or good but needs a few more adjustments? Do you wanna have a sequel for this one? I'd like to hear from you guys so RxR for me please!
Thanks for all the reviews. Goodbye.
PS: The song up there is titled ALONE from Gensomaden Saiyuki, and the arrangements I made a few changes so hope you enjoyed the song and the fic and bye-bye! (for now…)
~Darkhopemisstress@yahoo.com~