Chapter 12: Another Stalemate
Hi everyone. Thanks again for the reviews of the last chapter. I always appreciate them.
I don't own Digimon or any other copyrighted thing I mention. If I did Mummymon would be locked up for crimes against cooking. A whole bottle of vinegar in some strange soup or stew thing …
Patamon was perched on the edge of TK's bed, watching his partner with concern. He glanced over to the alarm clock, which was the only source of light in the dark room. It read 3:39am and the Digimon noted his partner's nightmare had been going on for longer than any other he'd ever notice TK having before. It was something he put down to the conversation between Neodevimon and TK during the battle yesterday.
The rookie Digimon's eyes returned to his partner as the blonde boy turned in his bed again. He saw the cold sweat pouring off TK's forehead. Patamon continued to watch as a look of pain formed across his friend's face.
TK's eyes suddenly shot wide open as he lurched forward. He gasped for air as he sat up in bed. The blonde boy quickly pulled his knees up and rested his folded arms and head on them. He was panting heavily as he wiped the sweat off his face with his green bed covers. TK remained in that position for several minutes as he tried to regain his breath and clear his mind of the images from his nightmare.
"That was the longest nightmare I can ever remember you having. What happened this time?" Patamon's concern was clear in his voice as he broke the silence. His sight remained fixed on his partner while he waited for a reply.
TK took a deep breath and composed himself. "He got you, Matt and most of our friends, killing them off one by one. Then Neodevimon got to Kari. I couldn't save her and he handed her to those shadow creatures that live in the Dark Ocean. I woke up after they carried her off to their world."
Patamon flew over to the blonde teen and landed on his left shoulder. He placed his right paw on the back of TK's head in a supportive gesture. "You know we'll never let that happen. We will keep them all safe."
"I don't know how much more of this I can take, Patamon," TK lifted his head off his knees and faced his Digimon. The blonde boy looked into the eyes of the rookie Digimon perched on his left shoulder. "We need to end this."
"I couldn't agree more," Patamon nodded in reply as a determined expression formed on his face.
"Right, we're going to face Neodevimon later today," TK's expression changed to match his partner's. "I'll email the others in the morning and let them know we'll be going to the Digital World later. Until then, you'd better get some rest. You'll need all the energy you can get for the battle."
"You had better get some rest too, TK," Patamon answered as he jumped off the teen boy's shoulder and back onto the bed. "You will need your strength too."
The Takaishi apartment was silent. Nancy, TK's mother, had gone to the shops to get food for the next week while TK sat with Patamon on one of the black and grey sofas. The teen boy and rookie Digimon were deep in thought about their approaching battle. They had sent emails around the Digidestined earlier about the battle and they were due to meet the others at Izzy's apartment in an hour.
The doorbell rang, making the occupants of the apartment jump as it broke the silence. TK stood up and strolled over to the door. The blonde boy turned the key in the lock and opened the main entrance. A hope filled and welcoming smile spread across his face as he stood back to allow the visitors into his home. "Hi Kari. Hi Gatomon. Come in."
"Thanks," Kari replied as she stepped into the apartment and watched Gatomon sprint off to Patamon. The brunette girl bent down to take her shoes off as TK closed the apartment door behind her.
TK watched his girlfriend place her pink and white footwear on the shoe rack and stand back up. Their eyes instantly made contact. TK studied her face with a look of concern. He could tell she had not been sleeping well from the tiredness shown by her mahogany orbs. The teen boy found his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. Kari willing returned the embrace by wrapping her arms around his neck before she rested her head against his chest. TK rested his chin on her soft chocolate brown hair as the couple entered a comfortable silence that lasted several minutes.
Kari was first to move, lifting her head off her boyfriend's chest to gaze into his sapphire eyes. "Are we alone?" She whispered, hoping TK's mother was out.
"Yeah," TK grinned somewhat mischievously as he started to close the distance between his and Kari's lips. He opened his mouth and closed his eyes, an action that was mirrored by his girlfriend.
The couple's lips met, giving them an adrenaline rush and a pleasure they couldn't get enough of. Their soft lips glided back and forth over each other's as they opened and closed their mouths. They began breathing through their noses as they continued their kiss. The show of affection lasted several minutes before the teenagers reluctantly pulled their lips apart. TK found that he was staring back into Kari's eyes and noticed the tiredness in her orbs again.
"Did you sleep well last night?" He asked with his concern clear in his tone. Thoughts of what Neodevimon was threatening to do with Kari flashed through his mind. He started to worry that his girlfriend was being bothered by the Dark World again. TK remembered she had nightmares when the creatures of that evil realm tried to take her in the past and now he was scared they were after her again.
Kari sighed before she responded. "No, I had another nightmare."
"What was it about?" TK quickly asked as his worry was clearly increasing. His embrace of the teen girl instinctively tightened as he slowly began to panic.
"It was about you and Neodevimon. It was like the one I told you about on Friday," Kari answered truthfully. She had noticed the teen boy's tenor and her expressions were changing to match his. She knew something was bothering him. "Why? What's wrong, TK?"
TK paused, realising he was digging himself into a hole. The blonde teen now knew he would have to tell Kari about his conversation with Neodevimon yesterday. He knew he would have to tell his love what his nemesis would do to her if he captured her. TK decided to tell her the truth and that hiding it might cause problems later, especially if those creatures from the Dark World called for her again.
The teen boy took a deep breath and composed himself. A cold chill ran down his spine as he thought about the Dark Ocean. "Yesterday Neodevimon said he would give you to those creatures in the Dark World if he catches you. He said he would give you to their leader, Dragomon, who wants to do disgusting things to you."
Kari shuddered at the thought of that evil world and the creatures that lived there. Her embrace of TK tightened and an anxious look formed across her face. "Neodevimon is just playing mind games with you, TK. He's playing mind games with both of us."
"But what if he's telling the truth?" TK asked as he continued to stare into his girlfriend's eyes, noticing the growing concern in them.
"It doesn't matter," Kari stated firmly and confidently. "It won't happen. I will not let it happen and I definitely know you will not let it happen. You have always protected me and you will protect me, and everyone else, this time as well. Takeru, you are my hero and love and that is something that will never change. I know you will always keep me safe."
TK could see the brunette's emotions showing through her facial expressions as she spoke. He pulled her body fully against his as he placed his left cheek against her right cheek. They both squeezed each other tightly as Kari rested her chin on the blonde's shoulder.
"I promise I will keep you safe," TK spoke into Kari's ear in a soft, caring whisper. "I love you too much to let anything happen to you, Hikari."
"Just remember, it would be my worst nightmare if something were to happen to you," Kari whispered back. "I couldn't bare it if you did something similar to Wizardmon."
Gatomon and Patamon sat on the sofa, watching their human partners. An air of rage was emanating from Gatomon as she thought over what Patamon had just let her know. The rookie Digimon had just told her what Neodevimon planned to do with Kari if he could capture her.
"First he wants to hurt you and TK and now he wants to hurt Kari as well," the feline Digimon snarled as she clenched her yellow paws into fists. "This is getting very personal."
Izzy sat on his desk chair, staring at the usual monitors of both his laptop and computer. He was typing away on both machine's keyboards as he attempted to calculate how fast the darkness created by Neodevimon was spreading. Tentomon sat on the genius' bed, munching away on snacks as he waited for the other Digidestined and Digimon to start arriving.
There was a soft knock on the bedroom door. Izzy stopped typing and spun around to face the door. "Come in."
A silky brown haired girl of a similar age to the Digidestined genius stepped into the room. She was wearing a white spaghetti strap top, which covered her ample sized breasts, and light blue jeans that hugged her hips. Her soft brown eyes matched the colour of her long hair that reached down to the base of her back. She was followed in by a green plant Digimon that walked upright on two root-like legs. The Digimon had a pink flower growing out of the top of her head which appeared to take the role of hair.
"Mimi, Palmon," Izzy's voice showed how happy he was to see his friends again as he stood up.
"Izzy," Mimi ran over to the shorter boy and pulled him into a tight hug. Her right arm wrapped around his back as she placed her left hand on the back of his head. "It's so good to see you again."
Izzy froze for a second as his mind processed what was happening. He wasn't use to a girl running up and hugging him like this and as a result a slight blush began to form across his cheeks. Izzy snapped out of his minor trance and wrapped his arms around his friend's back, returning the embrace. "It's good to see you too, Mimi."
The two fifteen year olds remained in their hug for a couple of minutes, happy to see each other again. Although they talked a lot over the internet, the two friends had not seen each other face to face for months and wanted to make the most of this moment.
"How are you?" Izzy bombarded Mimi with the question as they ended the embrace.
"I'm great, thanks. It's so good to be home. I like America but Japan, well Odaiba, is just my home," Mimi joyfully replied as she took a seat on Izzy's bed.
"Great," the teen boy smiled as he sat back down on his computer chair. "How's the new apartment?"
"It's huge, Iz," the brunette answered, spreading her arms out wide to signify the point. "You'll have to come and see it as soon as I've unpacked everything. We can have a house warming party with all the Digidestined and Digimon once it's sorted."
"Sure," Izzy replied before his mood suddenly dropped and he glanced over to his laptop monitor. "It will probably have to wait until Neodevimon is defeated though."
Mimi's happy frame of mind changed to one of concern as her friend mentioned Neodevimon. A serious expression formed across her face. "Yeah, I can't believe he's back. I thought that he was gone for good when Angemon defeated him five years ago."
"We all did, Mimi," Tentomon replied as he glanced up at the human sitting next to him. "But, as we learnt from that battle, Digimon can be reconfigured."
"How are TK and Patamon taking it?" Palmon asked as she looked over to Izzy.
"Not too well," the red haired boy responded as an expression of concern crossed his face. "It doesn't help that Neodevimon is threatening to kill us all in front of TK to make him suffer."
"I can see why TK doesn't want us to go into the Digital World and fight alongside him," Mimi sighed and furrowed her brows.
The doorbell of the Izumi apartment rang, interrupting the conversation. The fifteen year olds heard Izzy's mother welcome someone in before the other guests made their way to the bedroom. TK, Kari, Patamon and Gatomon stepped through the open door and into Izzy's room.
"TK, Kari," Mimi greeted them happily as she jumped up and sprinted over to them.
"Mimi!" The younger Digidestined replied in unison as Mimi placed her arms over their shoulders and pulled them both into a hug. The younger teens returned the embrace by placing their arms around their friend's back. They also used it as an excuse to place an arm around each other's backs.
"How are you?" Kari asked the older brunette as the three-way hug continued.
"Great and you two?" Mimi asked back, squeezing them a little tighter as she waited for a reply.
"As good as can be expected," Kari answered in a tired tone that made Mimi pull back from the hug and gaze at the expressions on her friends' faces.
She noticed the focused look on TK's face and the concerned expression on Kari's. Despite being away for such a long time, Mimi could tell that this battle was taking its toll on both of them.
TK gave the older Digidestined girl a weak smile. "I'm as good as can be expected too. I just want to get this fight over with."
Mimi nodded in agreement and stepped aside. A serious expression formed on her face. "I couldn't agree more. We can talk when you get back."
"Yeah," the blonde boy agreed as he walked over to Izzy's computer. "Is everything ready, Izzy?"
The red haired boy stood up and moved to one side. "Yes it is, but we are still waiting for Tai, Matt, Sora and Davis to turn up. I guess that would not stop you from going right now though."
TK shook his head. "No, I have to get this over with."
"Ok," Izzy sighed before he and the others moved to a safe distance from his computer. "The gate to Infinity Mountain is set up on my laptop."
TK and Patamon approached the yellow and white portable computer. The blonde teen held his green and white digivice out in front of him and readied himself to go to the Digital World. "Digiport open!"
The teens and Digimon watched as the white light sprung from the laptop screen and surrounded their friends, taking them to the Digiworld. Mimi noticed a mixture of concern and hurt form on Kari's face as TK was sucked into the other realm.
The random TV screen sitting on the cold rock surface of Infinity Mountain glowed once again as it deposited TK and Patamon on the other side. The freezing wind once again ruffled TK's clothes and hair as he pulled himself to his feet. The blonde boy noticed the dark cloud had increased in size and the light was definitely dimmer than yesterday. He also noticed the evil power he could sense had increased as well.
Patamon took it upon himself to digivolve without needing to be told to. "Patamon digivolve to Angemon. Angemon digivolve to Magnaangemon!"
The white light of digivolution died down and revealed Magnaangemon. The white robed angel Digimon moved his right arm and positioned it in front of him. The purple beam sword, Excalibur, extended out from the attachment on his right wrist as the Digimon of Hope entered a fighting stance.
"Back so soon?" Neodevimon's twisted, taunting voice echoed across the mountain top as he flew out from behind the largest white marble temple.
TK's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists as the grey and red skinned demon landed in front of Magnaangemon. "Yeah," TK growled through gritted teeth. "Let's get this over with."
Neodevimon laughed manically. "I guess I really did hit a nerve when I told you about my plans for the Digidestined of Light. There can be no other reason for you wanting me dead so quickly."
The teen boy clenched his teeth as his nemesis exposed his weakness for Kari. "I'm not going to let you or the Lord of the Dark Ocean near her."
"You'll have to watch as he has his way with your precious Hikari," the demon continued to taunt.
A smirk formed across TK's face as he realised a flaw in his foe's plans that he could exploit to his advantage. "You'll have to kill me to get to her. So, how are you going to be able to get to her when you can't kill me?"
Neodevimon paused, realising he was beginning to lose the advantage in the mind games. "You will need the Digidestined of Light to beat me and that's when I'll get her."
"We won't need Kari and Angewomon to beat you. We've come close to beating you already and Magnaangemon will beat you by himself. Neodevimon, you are frightened of us, why else did you bring an entire army of Digimon to fight us?" TK began to taunt the devil as he stared straight into the monster's eyes.
The blonde teen knew he was taking a risk by returning to his taunting tactic which had caused him to receive a few cuts from Neodevimon's claws last week. He knew from that particular battle that this plan would make his foe angry and, therefore, let his defences down. However, TK also knew that if he was injured again then Kari and Matt would kill him before Neodevimon could. In fact they would probably kill him if they found out he was taunted the demon again. The teen boy shifted his bodyweight and entered a position where he could sprint or jump away from any attack sent in his direction.
"That army was a plot to make you bring your friends with you so I could get them," Neodevimon snorted as hints of rage entered his tenor.
"That proves it," TK cocked his head to the side as his smirk grew. "You needed help to beat us and your plans backfired. You can't get to my friends on your own because you're too weak to beat us."
"I am not weak," the demon roared as his anger rose. "I will beat you!"
"Then do it now," TK taunted. He knew he was taking a huge gamble that would result in the others coming to the Digital World if something went horribly wrong. "What are you waiting for?"
Neodevimon turned his attention to Magnaangemon and drew his right claw back. A black mist-like aura formed around his serrated metal claws. He then plunged his arm forwards and in the direction of the angel Digimon. "Stun claw!"
The black aura took the shape of Neodevimon's claw as it cascaded towards its target. Magnaangemon flew into the air and barrel rolled over the attack before thrusting his right arm out in front of him. The angel Digimon dived towards the demon with Excalibur at full power and stretched out in front of him.
Neodevimon used his legs and wings to push himself off the ground and into a collision course with his angel foe. The devil threw his claw forwards to block the oncoming attack. "Guilty Claw."
Magnaangemon's purple beam sword and Neodevimon's metal claws collided with sparks flying from the powerful impact. The two evenly matched Digimon found they were in a test of shear strength again. They both grasped their wrists with their left hands to add extra strength and support to their right arms as the demon and angel tried to overpower each other. The result was the same as in their last encounter. They used their strength and pushed off each other before backing off to a safe distance. The Digimon hovered in the air, staring at one another in silence.
"Are you not as powerful as you thought?" TK taunted, breaking the silence of the battlefield. "Are you going be a coward and run off again?"
"I'm not going anywhere," Neodevimon growled as he tried to formulate a plan to beat the Digidestined and Digimon of Hope.
"Gate of Density," Magnaangemon called out the name of his most powerful attack. The angel Digimon moved his purple energy sword in a perfect clockwise circle, leaving a trace of light behind it. The golden gateway began to take a solid form and started to rotate. The ancient text covered doors opened to reveal the place of no return for any Digimon that entered it. The Gate of Destiny started to float towards Neodevimon.
The devil flew away from the gate in a circular motion that brought him back face to face with his opponent without the weapon in the way. He drew his claw back again for yet another attack. "Guilty claw."
Magnaangemon again blocked the attack with Excalibur, forcing the two Digimon into another test of strength. They placed their spare hands on their wrists again as they tried to overpower each other. The Gate of Destiny slowly began to move into position behind Neodevimon as Magnaangemon tried to keep him locked in battle.
Neodevimon realised what was going to happen if he stayed in that position and flew upwards into the air before moving to a safe distance away from the Gate of Destiny and Magnaangemon. The devil slowly lowered to the ground, trying to recompose himself after the near miss.
Magnaangemon spun the gate around while he powered up Excalibur. He pointed the sword in the direction of his foe and fired a multicoloured energy beam towards the demon before he could land on the ground. The angel Digimon knew his human partner would have been vulnerable to his nemesis' Guilty Claw attack if the devil had landed.
The demon Digimon flew into the air, just avoiding the attack as it hit the surface underneath him. The attack caused an explosion that left a small crater in the hard rock. Neodevimon flew out of the cloud of dust created by the attack and took up a position across the plateau from his rival. He realised the Gate of Destiny was moving towards him again.
"We shall see each other again," Neodevimon growled, spinning in midair and flying off into the distance.
"You're a coward!" TK yelled as he watched his nemesis fly off over the forests that surrounded Infinity Mountain.
Magnaangemon closed the gate before it dissolved into nothing. The angel Digimon powered down to his rookie form as Neodevimon was long gone. Patamon flew over to TK, who was walking towards the TV screen and their route back to Earth.
"Please can you not tell Kari or Matt about me taunting Neodevimon again?" TK asked his Digimon partner as the rookie landed on his shoulder. "They would kill me if they found out I was doing it again, especially after I was hurt the last time I did it."
"Ok, I wasn't going to tell them anyway," Patamon replied. "Just don't get yourself hurt, TK. Only do it when he's in the air so I can make sure he can't land and use his Guilty Claw attack on you."
TK nodded before unclipping his green and white digivice from his belt and holding it up to the TV that sat out of place on the plateau of the mountain. The screen emitted a bright white light around TK and Patamon, transporting them back to Earth.
There we go, another chapter published for you all with a bit of Koumi in there for all the Koumi fans. Please click the review button below and leave your thoughts =D