Summary: When the princess runs away a war begins in which all sides want her dead or as a weapon. But Kari's heart is torn between her freedom and doing the right thing. With dangers at every turn the time to choose draws close and she's not ready.
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon, its characters an anything related
Chapter 11 – To Follow
The brunette sat on a wooden chair in the bar he had entered to find a certain acquaintance of his. He looked over to the girl with honey coloured hair. He took a sip of his ale and wondered what his digimon partner was doing right now.
He couldn't help but feel anger at the fact that the bar didn't allow digimon. He looked back up at the girl, the afternoon shadows dancing across her face as she wiped down one of the tables. His eyes flicked over to the clock, his acquaintance would be finishing her shift soon.
He took a bite of the chips he had ordered, feeling hungry after his journey to the town. After seeing images of the fire in the princess's mind he had recognised the tavern and also the barmaid.
He gritted his teeth at how somebody had entered the princess's mind to search for her. He remembered the oracle warning him before he left that they were bound to try something like that. He had done wrong to do good by entering her mind. He had wanted to protect her but unfortunately she was too late and that sorcerer got to her.
Suddenly he was aware of a presence next to him and looked up, a goofy grin spread across his face. "It's good to see you again Mimi," he said greeting the honey haired girl.
"What name are we going by today hmm?" she asked knowing him too well. It was unlike him to stick with a name for too long, a precaution that he had taken for years. Though few knew what crimes he had committed against King Susumu if any of the king's guard discovered him then he'd be carted off before the king immediately.
"Yuko Kuenzi."
"Pleasure to meet you Yuko. Now why are you here? Business or pleasure?" she asked, pouring herself a glass of red wine.
"Business I'm afraid."
"Shame," she said smiling at him, "I enjoy it when you visit just for the sake of seeing a friend again but you always have an ulterior motive these days."
"Don't be that way Mimi. I'm just busy at the moment."
"I'm guessing it has something to do with the war, May I ask what part?"
"The heart of it."
"The princess?" 'Yuko' nodded. "A certain blonde was here in this town searching for her too, he didn't say so but I could tell. Nothing gets past Mimi Tachikawa. He had a companion with him as well."
"Companion?"
"A young elf I think," she said. She smiled and looked him in the eyes, a mischievous twinkle was evident, "A girl, although she looked like she had human blood too. She was really fierce though; she actually managed to take down Sanji. It was about time somebody taught that man a lesson."
He smiled. It was about time TK got himself a girlfriend – but what if they were only travelling together because she could help him find the princess? Elves were smart, everybody knew that, and their connection with nature would allow them passage through the great forest faster. If anyone were to figure out where the princess was without being told then it would be an elf.
'Yuko' frowned. TK may be a friend but that didn't mean they had the same job to do. TK's job was undoubtedly to take her back to king Ashnark where as his was to stop that from happening. He didn't want to lose a friend but he would if he had to. The princess was too important in all of this.
"Tell me more about this girl," he said, not wanting to let his mind dwell on the fact that he might have lost a friend by the time the princess was found.
"Don't know much about her, came into the tavern I worked in before it got burnt down, and had orange juice with her partner. She was very quiet and kept her head down for most of the time she was in there, when she got up to leave Sanji went up to her and Sanji, being Sanji, tried to get her to come back with him and when she didn't he had his Impmon attack her partner.
"I've never seen anyone so angry in my whole life. The look on her face when her partner was attacked … I've seen strong bonds before but this was something else. I'm surprised that her partner wasn't an ultimate yet."
'Yuko' shook his head at his friend's exaggeration. "Even the closest have difficulties maintaining that form Mimi."
"You would know," she said with a significant look. The one that, having known the woman for many years through the connection of her late husband, he knew translated as 'Mimi knows all, sees all, and hears all'. He had to admit she was rather good at that look.
"Anyway, she kicked him – in the jaw might I add – all the way across the room. He smashed right through the tables. Everybody was surprised but Sanji was just furious. He got up to go at her again but she pinned him down with these rather nasty metal disks that just came out her sleeve.
"I think she must be a trained warrior or something because she looked so in control of her movements, before she left she warned everybody never to hurt her partner. She was really protective, more so than usual considering her Gatomon was pretty strong too," she explained before adding, "But I didn't realise she was with TK until the fire."
"Gatomon?" asked 'Yuko' tiredly, trying to remember what a Gatomon was like. It was bugging so much that he wasn't really listening to Mimi anymore.
"A white cat like digimon and champion level as well if I remember correctly."
'Yuko' looked up, finding himself very interested in what she had just said. The oracle had told him that it was the girl with the white cat that knew of her location, could she have meant that it was the girl she was talking about? It was highly unlikely but it was the first clue he had in ages, even if it were an accidental one.
"Where are they now?" he asked.
Mimi's face suddenly became downcast. "TK was still in the tavern when the fire came. I tried to get him but a beam fell and blocked the path. I was cowardly and panicked, leaving him there.
"The Elvin girl came to find me in the fire, recognising me as the barmaid. She ran into the fire when she learnt what happened. After the fire was finally put out I went back to search for them, since neither returned but their remains weren't there, unlike his." Mimi shivered; even though he was gone she couldn't bring herself to say his name. He had scared her too much. She had been little more than a slave.
"I'm sorry."
"It's OK. I know they're not dead. I think they managed to get out somehow."
"Where do you think they would be heading?"
"Why is this so important to you?" she asked, eyeing the brunette critically.
"Something the oracle told me," he replied, not giving away the details.
A coy smile appeared on her face. "I think I might know where they're heading. TK wanted to go see the oracle to find the princess, that's why he was back here. If they did make it out then that's where they'll be heading."
"Thank you Mimi," he said getting to his feet, "I have to go now but I promise next time I'm back here it won't be for business." He kissed her lightly on the cheek, a simple gesture among friends that managed to heat her face considerably. He smiled at her, before leaving.
She sighed as she watched the brunette leave. She was one of the few who knew the truth about his past, where he came from, what he did and she knew how anxious he must be to find the princess, especially after –
"GET BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY COW," shouted her boss from the cellar.
"I'm going, I'm going," muttered Mimi as she got back behind the counter. The job didn't pay much but she knew how lucky she had been to find one after the fire, and she also knew how easy it would be to replace her at the moment.
-
Kari winced as she felt her wrist burn once more. It had been two days now since the spell had been placed on her and she couldn't believe that it hadn't been noticed yet.
Sure they had looked at her curiously every time she told them that they had to keep moving but so far nobody had asked her why. Gatomon had tried but the look in Kari's eyes told her not to pursue the matter further. It was normal for partners to have a few secrets from each other but she couldn't help but feel hurt that Kari wasn't telling her something but knew the princess probably had a good reason for it.
She wondered why she had been stupid enough to let that sorcerer get to her, why she had used her magic to save the four of them, when TK was looking for her. In a world full of magic it was important not to let your mind become unguarded. It was a rule taught since childhood.
Then there was the stupidity of nearly revealing that skill to TK. If he tried to find out how she had managed to escape the fire with three passengers then there was always the risk of him discovering something he shouldn't when digging into her past, something that could tell him who she was. That wasn't allowed to happen. She needed to be free.
Her wrist burnt once more, sending out the signal of her location. She couldn't be traced by magic because her own magic, weak as it may be, protected her but that cloaked figure had attached his own magic to her wrist, at least that was what the brunette had told her.
The burning sensation was a side effect of the magical seal sending out signals to its to its true master so that it could be returned. They didn't need to try and trace her anymore; they needed to trace the magic that did not belong to her, magic that had been forcefully attached to her wrist.
She had so much on her mind. If they found her she would be taken back to the castle or worse. She looked over at TK maybe she should tell him, after all he was in danger too if she was found, but if she did tell him then he would take her to King Ashnark and force her to not only fight in the war but to lead it. And also, for some strange reason, she didn't want to see TK's face when he found out that he lied to her.
She knew that she was highly strung and that they probably suspected, more like knew, something was wrong but she didn't want to worry them if she told them. And if she did, TK was going to want to know why someone would go to great lengths to find her. Then she would have another problem on her hands; also if one person could trace the foreign magic then everybody else looking for her could be too.
There was only one thing to label it – a disaster.
"Kari," TK said suddenly, "You've been acting strange ever since you came round. Tell me why. Don't we at least deserve to know that?" he demanded, finally snapping.
Kari's attitude had been getting to him and he had had enough. He wanted to know what was bothering the girl. "And you still haven't told us how we were about two days worth of travelling deep into the forest because that's impossible. Thinking about it properly I worked out that not even an hour had passed. Don't you trust us enough to explain how we got out here, deep inside the forest and what's bothering you so much?"
Kari glared at him and looked right into his eyes, walking up to him so that they could feel each other's breath on their own face. "I don't have to tell you anything," she said in a deadly cold voice, intimidating TK despite how much taller her was than her, "You don't have any power over me. What I want to keep to myself I do. What I do, I do for a reason.
"I have no reason to trust you or your partner. There is only one reason and one reason only why I'm still with you. You know the way to The Oracle. If you didn't then I would have left you back when we first met, unfortunately you know what I need to know. Convenience over comfort."
With that she broke her gaze and started to walk away. "Come on, we have too keep moving."
"Why? Can't you at least tell us that? Because something's got you spooked and you're not the type to scare easy," he said, falling at her heels.
Patamon flew over to Gatomon's side. "Do you know what's bothering her?"
"No."
"Leave me ALONE," shouted Kari to TK, throwing her cloak over her shoulder and walking faster.
"Should we break them up?" Patamon asked, rather worried for TK, "What if Kari hurts him?"
"She won't," answered Gatomon, "Despite how weird their friendship is and the fact that she refuses to accept that there is a friendship at all, Kari cares for him and would never hurt him. Heck, she even jumped into a burning building to save him. You have nothing to worry about."
"Just tell me," TK said, sounding exasperated, "What are you so scared of?"
"Nothing. I just want you to stop asking questions," she shouted at him.
"If you're not afraid why are you being so defensive?"
"I am not being defensive."
"Then just tell me whatever it is your hiding."
"If I told you everything that I was hiding then we'd be here forever. The short and simple answer is that's the most you're going to get out of me."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want you to know," Kari said, turning to face him once again. Her eyes were burning was anger but underneath the fiery rubies there was a sliver of fear. She knew this would happen. She knew it.
"Know what?" asked TK.
"Know what I'm not telling you." She let out a cry of frustration.
"Why don't you trust us?"
"I barely know you. Plus, my trust doesn't come easy. You think that just because we've known each other for a week that I'm going to talk. Well sorry but it doesn't work like that. My trust hast to be earned."
"Then what can I do to get you to trust me?"
"I don't know. I –" Kari looked away.
She didn't know how to admit that she may never trust anyone fully enough to tell them her past. She had been hurt in the past too, being used by child of noble families who only wanted to get close to her for their own personal gain or who showed contempt towards her for her dream of being free. Her own father had betrayed her when he sent away her only friend. She was too hurt and too scarred to believe she could trust like she once had again.
The silence that loomed over them was deafening. Even the sounds of the forest seemed to vanish in the tense moment, broken by a single snap of a twig. Kari was instantly alert, sensing that something was wrong. It was just too quiet for an animal to have made that noise; an animal would have continued moving along making a noise, which meant they were being stalked.
"Get down," she shouted to TK, hearing the air being cut as an arrow flew towards him. He only just managed to avoid it. "Into the bushes, they'll provide cover," she commanded, taking control of the situation as she drew and arrow and loaded it into her bow, her eyes scanning the area for the enemy as she backed into the foliage behind her. Her eyes narrowed and in a sudden release her own arrow split the air, finding its target.
"What's going on?" asked TK.
"It's an ambush," cried Patamon, flying to his partner, while Kari conversed silently with her own.
"They know who I am."
"How?" asked Gatomon, her eyes widening with fear. A guilty look passed over Kari's face and she lifted her sleeve, revealing the ugly snake burnt into her skin.
"I'm sorry for not telling you," she whispered, "Now we're all in danger."
"We'll be fine. I can take their digimon if you can take out the humans." Kari nodded admirably at her partner.
"There are two over in that direction, both are rookies. There's another three over there but one of them is a champion level like you, think you can take them?" Gatomon nodded, before disappearing up the tree, working her way around to take her adversaries by surprise while Kari made her way over to TK. "Are you ready to fight?"
TK drew his sword in answer, while not as outstanding as Kari's own ruby sword it was strong and well made.
"Good because it's five against two, not counting the man I took down already," Kari told him, before slipping away. TK followed suit and snuck off in the other direction, staying alert at all times. Patamon flew silently by his side, his tan fur blending in with the forest in the perfect disguise.
TK spotted two soldiers just ahead of them. Time to see if fighting those Orgles had pulled off.
-
Kari smirked as she aligned her bow with three soldiers on horseback. She released the strain and three arrows flew through the air in a flash, one taking out a soldier, one wounding another's sword arm but the third missed its mark.
The moment she missed she knew her advantage was lost, she had revealed her position and was now open to attack. The lead soldier, from what she was guessing, whistled, urging the horse forward.
Kari dropped her bow into a nearby shrub and drew her ruby sword, letting years of intense training take over her movements. She charged at the soldiers, as the horses thundered towards her. She pushed upwards with her feat, leaping into the air and grabbing one of the horses neck, swinging herself on and knocking the wounded soldier off and, with a sickening thud, he hit his head on a rock, knocking him out cold.
A pain in her arm, as an arrow dug into her flesh, reminded her that she wasn't safe yet and she still had one soldier to deal with. She winced as she pulled the arrow from her arm and dug her heels into the horse's side, speeding it up as they cleared a fallen tree.
The man on the horse next to her narrowed his eyes and drove his horse closer to her and she returned the look with a glare, pulling on the horses reigns, bringing to a sudden stop, as she flung her dagger into the man's back mercilessly.
He groaned at the action but pulled it out and chucked it to the side, digging his heals into the horse causing it to charge at her. She replied in same, holding her sword out before her as they collided.
The sound of metal clashing against metal filled the air, causing her horse to rear up in surprise. She gripped the reign tightly and turned the horse around in time for her to intercept the soldier's next attack. The force at which he hit knocking her backwards off her horse.
She cursed silently as her horse ran off, leaving her without a mount as the man charged at her again, the earth pounding under the horse's hooves. She leapt to the side at the last second, holding her sword to the side and cutting the man's horse down the side.
It reared up at the injury, the rider holding on tightly to the reigns but sliding off. Free of it's burden, the horse bolted into the forest and away from the fight.
The soldier limped slightly as he took up a duelling stance. She nodded at his perseverance and lunged, her ruby blade clashing against steel. Her agility and speed gained her the upper hand whilst his brute strength knocked her back.
The blades clashed again, both holding firm whilst they studied each other. The man was skilled and knew his duty and for that Kari could admire him but if he won the fight then it could possibly mean her life and if not it would be her imprisonment. She could not let that happen.
The man must have seen the sudden change in her eyes, the knowledge that she would never give up, as he froze slightly, giving Kari an edge. She twisted her blade quickly, catching the man's under it and sending it flying across the forest floor.
She held her blade to his throat, ruby eyes glinting in the forest light with an unnameable emotion. Her voice was heavy as she spoke, almost devoid of emotions. "I'm sorry. I cannot allow you to live."
His eyes visible through his helmet widened in understanding but he bowed his head in understanding. "I will not beg for my life," he stated.
"And for that I honour you," she replied, unblinking as she lunged the blade forward, killing the man.
Her ruby eyes glistened slightly but tears would not fall. She knew it would come to this eventually. She watched the body slump to the floor and the crimson blood run town the tip of the blade before wiping it clean and replacing it in its sheath.
She walked over to the man's sword and picked it up, examining it slightly and its Amarian make. At least she knew now who was after her but it didn't settle her one bit. She walked back to the body of the man who had fought valiantly and pushed the blade into the ground before him.
She carefully removed his helmet, examining the young and handsome features of the man whose life she took, before she replaced it on the hilt of his blade and uttered a prayer for him.
She didn't have the time to give him a proper funeral but this would have to do.
She turned and walked back the way she came when she heard a horse trot up beside her and a small smile crept its way up her face. "So you came back, did you?" she spoke aloud, examining the horse and recognising it as the one she had ridden.
She slipped her foot into the stirrup and lifted herself up onto the horse. Now the fight was over she took in the powerful muscles and form of it and, while not as magnificent as the ones at the palace, was undoubtedly strong and healthy. She clicked her heels into its side; urging it back to where she had left TK, worry for the boy entering thoughts unwillingly.
"TK, Gatomon, Patamon," she called, returning to where she had last seen them. She climbed off the horse and looked around. Her calls were met by silence. "Where are you?" she asked even louder, "Guys?"
A firm hand landed on her shoulder and reflexes took over and she jammed her elbow into the person behind her who groaned in pain.
"Remind me not to surprise you," a familiar voice groaned.
"TK," she cried, examining the little worse for wear but other than that perfectly healthy boy. "Why didn't you answer?"
"I was busy," he cried out, "And then you attacked me."
"Just a little jumpy."
"You've been jumpy for days!"
"So what? Who cares if I've been jumpy?"
"They were after you."
"What makes you believe they were after me? They attacked the both of us in case you didn't realise."
"It was you they wanted. Don't even deny it. They asked after you." He paused, his voice becoming slightly darker at the implications of what the answer to his question would be. "Did you know they were coming?"
The girl looked down guiltily. She was right about bringing trouble. She pulled her sleeve down, revealing the seal on her arm for the second time that day, the snake wrapped around her wrist. "I'm being tracked."
"Why?"
"I told you before, I'm a thief," she said shortly.
"Not that," he hissed, "why didn't you tell us about this. Don't you think we deserve to know about this? You could have got us killed."
"It was none of your business," she snapped.
"None of my business? We almost got killed back there."
"You should have been more alert then."
"There was no reason to be alert."
She laughed slightly. "You're walking through the forest with someone you don't know, has admitted to being a thief, and proven herself dangerous and you feel that you don't need to be alert? You're a fool."
"Don't take this out on me. This is all your fault."
"You're right. This is my fault. If I didn't save you then my mind would never have been open to attack and I would be walking free and pretty by now away from you. So in fact, TK, this is your entire fault that I'm even in this situation. If you hadn't been conversing with mercenaries or whoever the hell it was then none of this would ever have happened."
That said she stormed off to find her partner and to scour the forest for where her bow and dagger had been dropped.
Once she was gone the angry set of TK's face vanished into a smile. A week ago he would never had gotten that reaction out of his mysterious travelling partner. If he didn't know any better then he would have to say she was warming up to him.
I told you it was slightly darker. I had Kari kill the man. He died before but it was kind of different. Instead of getting the dagger in his back before and dying he contined to fight. I needed him to show that not all of the enemy are necassarily the bad guys. Some of them are good people fighting fr thier country. It's the leaders who are corrupt.
It was also important that Kari had to kill the man because it hasn't completely hit home yet the concequences of running away. But don't worry, she will. Soon. By taking the life personally, it's going to set in just what the price of freedom really means when it comes to her.
Also the fight wasn't so bad in the original version but that's because I needed the stress of killing the man Kari had respected because of thier fight and also to show that she's much more open with TK than before. If this happened when they first met then she wouldn't have cared what he thought about her actions, shrugged and continued on her way.
Instead, Kari reacts the way she does because she cares what TK thinks about her and tries to reason her ways. She's stressed and someone she has grown fond of is shouting at her so she fights back. If she didn't care about TK she would have threatened him like in thier first meeting.
Please Review. Update will be in two days, again.