Here's the update. We're coming to a close on the first part of my 'Dark Jester' story. I'll have the last chapter up as soon as possible. It might take a few weeks, probably until the end of November. I promise to all of you that I'll focus on this over my other fanfics.
The Dark Jester
Chapter Nine
Trapped
"How can we get this Dark Jester to come out into the open?" Matt asked.
"You won't have to get him in the open." Apocalymon said, "I just need you to bring him here."
"Ok, but how?" Matt asked.
As the two engaged in a temporary truce of a discussion, Sora was thinking over what she had just done. She allied herself with her enemy to get rid of someone who's saved her many times. She's doing this just because she wants to live through the night and Matt's doing this to get rid of Saji.
"Alright then." Matt said, "But you have to swear she won't get hurt."
"You have my word." Apocalymon replied, "I only want the clown."
"What's going on Matt?" Sora asked.
"Apocalymon and I agreed on this." Matt began, "He'll let us leave for home alive and unharmed, but he wants you to lure Saji into the trap."
"What?" Sora shockingly asked, "Why me?"
"From what I noticed, Saji has a little something for you." Matt said, "Its our best chance at getting him."
"Think carfully about your choice young one." Apocalymon said, "For it may be your last."
Sora couldn't stand the fact that she was siding with the enemy in this. Saji's been responsible for the downsizing of crime and now she's going to be involved in a plot to get rid of him.
"Sora?" Matt waited for an answer, "What'll it be?"
"Thanks for taking me out Tai." Kari smiled, "Its nice to know that we can still be together. Even though you live so far away now."
"I'll be back home by next year." Tai said, "Until then, you better change Gatomon's room back to mine."
"I still have a good year." Kari replied, "I'll leave it the way it is for now."
"Tell mom and dad I said 'hi'." Tai said. He embraced his little sister in a hug, "I'll see you soon."
"Bye." Kari got inside her car and started the engine. She drove out of the parking lot and down the street.
Tai walked down the streets, with his bag around him. He still had an hour before he has to go back to school, so he decided to wander around the city. As he passed by the alleyway where he 'parked' the bike, he noticed that it was gone. He assumed that the police may have finally found it and impounded it.
Its strange to see how much Tai has changed since his nightmares became reality. Ever since he assumed the identity of the Dark Jester, he's lived a double life; one, he's Taichi Kamiya, college senior and a simple human being with a family. Two, he's Saji, the Dark Jester and a murderous vigilante, wandering in the shadows, popping out to strike at criminality. Two completely opposite traits, yet they are part of the same person. Its surprising that Tai hasn't gone insane from the split lives.
As Tai continued to walk around the streets, he felt a strange sense of evil nearby. He stopped walking and looked around for any sign of trouble. He looked down and noticed a large shadow passed oer him. He looked up and saw a small squad of black cloaked figures running along the rooftops of the large buildings.
"You really think this will attract that clown?" One of the black cloaked figures asked.
"You heard what master Apocalymon said." The leader of the squad replied, "The clown would appear at the sight of any danger. whoever he is, he just needs to see us and follow us."
The five continued to run along the rooftops of the buildings, jumping from roof to roof, flipping over and landing soundlessly.
Tai quickly ran to the alley nearby and opened his bag. Moments later, he jumped over the rooftops and followed the squad of henchmen. They looked back and noticed that the smiling look on the mask was near them.
"He's here." One of them said, "Pick up the pace."
The squad ran faster, jumping a greater distance. They made their way to the direction of the warehouse and made it there, long before Saji did. They jumped to the windows of the warehouse and broke through the window, entering the structure. Inside, Matt and Sora were inside, waiting.
"He's here." One of them said, "Its time."
"You can do this Sora." Matt said. He held her hands and brought them up to their chins. He kissed them softly, "After this, we can be together without him being a distraction."
"He's here." They said, "Hide."
Before Sora could say anything, Matt ran and hid the the darkness of the warehouse, leaving her with the black cloaked figures. Sora was hesitant at first, but she had to go with the plan if she eanted to live. As the cloaked figures surrounded her, Sora gave a terrified look and began to scream for help.
Saji was on the roof of the warehouse.
"Why would they lring me here?" Saji asked himself, "Could this be a trap?"
As soon as he heard the sound of a woman screaming he quickly got into action, "It doesn't matter. Someone's in trouble."
Saji swung down and broke through the window. Inside, he saw Sora surrounded by the cloaked figures he saw earlier and they were about to attack her. Saji unsheathed his Katana and Ninja Sword.
"Stop!" Saji yelled, "You leave that innocent one alone."
"There he is." They said, "Get him!"
The five charged at Saji and prepared to strike at him. Saji jumped up and spun around, using his swords to create a moving barrier around him. The goons didn't consider trying to attack him at the time, knowing the would be sliced and diced. Saji took this moment and unleashed a surprise. He managed to jumped high enough to reach the ceiling and he grabbed onto a bar at the top with his feet. He hung upside down on the ceiling and looked down on the five. He then released his grip on the bar and threw his two swords down towards them. Along with that, he took out his other four swords and, one by one, he threw them down. The six swords landed around the group, forcing them to huddle together.
"Time for the finishing act." As Saji came in contact with the ground, he was right in the middle of the circle of swords. Upon impact, The cracks that were made by the swords released a large explosion. The explosions shortly settled and all that was left was Saji, with the six swords sheathed on his back and the five cloaked men dead on the floor. The holes that were made from the swords emitted a small traceof smoke that was from the explosion. "That concludes tonight's performance."
"How did you do that?" Sora asked. What Saji did looked like a magic trick that would've taken a few hours for the magician to prepare, but Saji did it just now in a place he's never been to before.
"It's all magic from the Jester." Saji replied, "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine." Sora answered, "Thanks to you, again."
"Well, I did what anyone would have done." Saji said, "Well, if they knew what they were getting into."
Sora smiled softly. She felt comfortable around him. Sure, he killed occasionally, but he saved her many times, even from death. He was like her guardian angel, with swords and bombs. And even though she knew almost nothing about him, she felt as if he's been with her from the start of her life. Someone like...Tai.
"You seem to remind me of someone I know." Sora said. She looked at Saji's pale face, "Someone close to me."
Probably Matt. Tai thought to himself, "Oh really? Who might that be?"
"Uh..." Sora broke her gaze upon Saji and looked away, "You probably wouldn't know who I'm talking about." Sora had to slap herself into reality. How could Tai change from what he is to that? How could Tai live a life of being a ruthless killer and a college student?
"I guess not." Saji replied, "Tell me. How did you end up in here?"
Sora looked back to Saji. "I was with my boyfriend this afternoon. You remember Matt, right?" Saji nodded in response, "Well, those guys you killed, knocked him out and took me here." Sora wasn't really lying, she did get kidnapped and brought here, but Matt was here too, "I'm just glad you came before they did anything to me."
"I dare do all that may become a man." Saji quoted from Macbeth, yet again, but this time, Sora was prepared for it.
"Who dares do more is none." Sora finished the quote, "So poetic. I love it."
"Thank you, Sora." Saji replied. In response, Saji removed his hat and and bowed down, holding the hat to his heart.
Sora looked over to where Matt was hiding. He emerged from the shadows and looked in confusion.
What are you doing? Matt mouched out.
I can't do this. Sora replied. She shook her head to 'sign' what she meant.
Go with the plan! Matt mouthed again, Do it now.
Sora gave a look of guilt before looking back to Saji. As he brought his head back up, Saji placed his hat back on. This is it. Sora has no other choice but to go with the plan, I'm so sorry Saji. Sora thought to herself, Please forgive me for this. "You know, I never got to finish that song you sang for me the last time we met."
"That's true." Saji replied, "What do suggesting?"
"I'm past the border, I might as well go with it." Sora answered,
Past the point of no return,
no going back now
Our passion-play has now at last begun.
Sora slowly walked towards Saji. He didn't move, but in his mind, Tai was trembling. This was what he wanted, this was what he longed for. He wanted to be able to touch Sora in such a way that he could never do before.
Past all thought of right or wrong,
one final question.
How long should we two wait before we're one?
Sora slowly rested her hand on Saji's left shoulder and walked around him. As she made her way back to the front of Saji, he lifted his hand and touched her face, but she slowly backed away.
When will the blood begin to race,
the sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?
Saji boldy stood up. He slowly walked forwards, towards Sora and she did the same. The two slowly came closer to eachother as they prepared for the last part.
Past the point of no return,
the final threshold.
The bridge is crossed,
so stand and watch it burn.
We've passed the point of no return.
Their hands touched and they held eachother's soft hands and looked at eachother in the eyes. Sora slowly spun around and rested her back on Saji. She still had his hands in hers and closed her eyes in the soft moment they had. Saji slowly released his grip on Sora's hands and rested his leather gloved hands on her body. He placed his hands on her soft stomach and sora responded to the touch by placing her hands over his. With her hands to guide him, Saji brought his left hand up and brought it to hold her right shoulder, crossing over her chest. Saji then rested his chin on Sora's left shoulder as she slightly tilted her head towards the right, allowing him to rest his chin there.
As the two were in eachother's embrace, a tear came from under the black and white mask. These were not the tears of a clown, but the tears of a pure human. Tai was in tears, this is what he wanted, but he knew Matt was still the last hindrance. He couldn't do this, Matt's his best friend, but Sora's the one he loves. He wanted to released his hold on her, but the temptation forced him to go further. With the sound of his sorrow in his voice, he sang;
Say you'll share with me,
one love, one lifetime.
Lead me, save me from my solitude.
Sora began to here the sadness in his voice, but didn't understand why it was there. If Saji had a loving feeling for her, why is he crying about it?
Say you want me with you,
here, beside you.
Sora turned around to looked at Saji. He held onto her hands and brought them closely to his face. Sora began to feeling the wetness of his tears coming from under the mask.
Anywhere you go,
let me go too.
Love me. That's all I ask of...
Before the vast word came out of his lips, he heard the sound of crashing. He quickly looked over to where it came from and saw a large mass of black cloaked figures. Saji reached for his swords and pulled out two. He held the rapier in one hand and the dao in the other.
"Where did these fools come from?" Saji asked himself.
"I brought them here." A voice from beyond them said.
"Apocalymon." Saji growled, "I should have known."
"Of course." Apocalymon said, as he walked forward, towards Saji, "A man like you should know better."
"I made you run, I can do it again." Saji ran towards Apocalymon, but the all cloaked figures pulled out their own swords and blocked the way. Saji flipped over the first batch and was caught in the middle of them all. He spun around, slicing at them as he was spinning. One of the cloaked figures lunged his sword at Saji, but missed him. Saji retaliated by throwing his rapier. The blade pierced the cloaked minion right through the head and the figure dropped to the floor. Saji continued to slice at the minions of Apocalymon, but it seemed that for every one he killed, three took it's place. Saji held nothing back, relying on pure instincts, and the voice of the clown, Tai fought them off as best he could.
"Cowards!" Apocalymon yelled, "Hundreds of you lose to one?"
They all continued to try and land one blow on Saji, but this proved to be near impossible. Saji's movement gave them unexpected surprises and apparently, their death. Saji fought off with only the dao in his hands, holding it tightly in his grip, Saji fought them off with ease. The enemies gathered together to attempt a strike that would possibly put the clown off balance. Several of them moved towards Saji in a synchronized motion and all together, struck at Saji. Saji blocked the slash with his dao, but the immense pressure of the many swords caused the dao to snap. Saji threw the handle at them and pulled out his katana and ninja sword. He swung the two japanese blades around and sliced at the cloaked fighters, slicing their flesh and killing them in one blow. The use of his two swords was short lived when they attempted to perform another 'powerhouse slash' at Saji, but Saji was prepared for this. As several of them gathered for the attack, Saji used his swords and split the group apart into two. He then pulled his swords back and stabbed at them,. The blades pierced the one in front and traveled through them and reached the clacked one behind and continued to go through. Saji kept pushing the blades forward and pushed them to the wall and stabbed the swords to it, pinning them all to the wall. Saji grabbed his cape and tied a knot in the middle of the cape and at the end and tossed it back, He then unsheathed his Tai Chi sword and lunged a the remainging foes.
"How can one defeat an army with such ease?!" Apocalymon asked. He went over to Matt and grabbed him by the throat, "What is he?!"
"How the hell should I know?" Matt asked, "I don't know him."
"This better not fail." Apocalymon said, "If it does, you will pay with your life."
Saji fought off the army of cloaked fighters with his sword in hand. Using the flexibility of the blade, he not only sliced at them, but whipped them with the flat end to further dustract their attention from their prime target.
"Enough!" A voice boomed.
Saji looked over to where the voice came from and a giant blast of air hit him. The emmense pressure forced the sword out of his grip and it flew up and pierced into the wall. Saji fell to the floor and this gave the enemies the chance to trap him. They all grabbed him and lifted him up on his feet. They unsheathed his last sword, the crusader blade, and tossed it aside. Apocalymon walked towards Saji, with his hand forward, explaining where the blast came from.
"You think this will keep me trapped?" Saji asked, "Think again."
Saji broke free from the grip and snapped his finger, creating a giant cloud of smoke.
"Not so fast." Apocalymon unleashed another blast, but this time, he released a stringed chain from his hand. The chain shot into the smoke cloud and when it settled, Saji was standing in place, wrapped around in chains and unable to move, "It seems the clown has made his last performance."
The cloaked figures brought Saji's body to Apocalymon. At this moment, Sora approuched with Matt next to her.
"You too?" Saji asked, looking at Matt, "I thought it was only Sora."
"Now let's end this masquarade." Apocalymon said, "Let us see who hides beneath that mask."
Apocalymon slowly brought his hand to the mask. He brought his long, clawed fingers under the mask and pulled it off. The shocking surprise hit Sora and Matt when they finally discovered the identity of the Dark Jester.
"Tai?" Sora looked at his face and knew instantly who it was, "It's been you all along?"
"Well, well, well. What do you know?" Apocalymon scoffed, "The DigiDestined leader is also a solo vigilante."
"Tai? How is this possible?" Matt asked. His envy for Saji quickly dissolved, now that he knows who the clown is. His best friend has been taking on a superhero job and was now captured by their worst enemy.
"Well, at least all this is now over. I have the clown and now there is no one left to stop me." Apoclymon joyfully said, "But first, tell me." He grinned with the hint of evil in his eyes, "Do you know why you're here clown?"
Tai looked up, glaring at Apocalymon, "Because I did what a hero would do. Rescue an innocent life."
"Wrong." Apocalymon answered, "You're here because..." He pointed his sharp clawed index finger towards Matt and Sora, "They turned you in...over love."
Tai looked at the two in horror. His own friends betrayed him, they set him up for the trap.
"Ironic isn't it?" Apocalymon asked with an evil, chuckle, "The bearer of love, now created hate. Hate, through you."
In pure anger, Tai forced himself at Matt and Sora, yelling in fury, but the chains prevent him from getting up properly, but he managed to jump at a good distance. As he came closer to the two, he felt a strong hit to the back of his head. He fell to the ground, unconcious from the hit and remained there.
"Chain him to the wall." Apocalymon ordered one of his servants, "And have those two chained up too."
That's the end of the second last chapter. Please read and review.