Finally, we are reaching to the end of the story. This is the ending you have voted (9 VS 1) and it's my default ending. Just like a game, you will come to a best end, good end, not-so-good end, bad end and game over. In fact the initial draft seems too cheesy for me and I want to change. Inspiration tells me to engage the readers as I can come up with another ending. I plan to post the other ending as long as there is someone who like to see.
I'll like to thank all the readers who had supported my fanfic motivating me to keep writing till the end. I never expected this fic to even exceed 100 reviews considering how my other fics fare. You guys are amazing. I feel blessed. Thank you so much. As mentioned in my review to a friend's fic reviews serve as fuel to writers. They give them courage to keep writing. My ability is to rewrite anime scene to fit in my own story. I hope it seems okay. I'll revise the crytsal Qinglongmon has as Digicore in the previous chapter thanks to Sync The Dragon Tempest's heads up.
There is some teasing even though pairing and OC is not my focus. Just needed some elements to keep Taichi going. Taichi in his dream was in his 14 years old form.
About Hikari and Taichi, am I the only one who feel that Hikari was too over-protective for Taichi in 'Diaboromon Strikes Back' movie when it wasn't the first time Taichi and Yamato got involved in battle? I think it will make better sense to incorporate this idea into my own fic after what happened to Taichi.
Please tell me how you feel about the fic overall. Appreciate all the reviews.
Lastly, the disclaimer. Digimon is not mine.
Chapter 28A: Choice
*20 March 2007*
"There's also the chance that the Digicore can end his life." Gennai informed them which shocked Koushirou and Mimi.
"This is something you can't decide for him." Koushirou stammered struggling to find his words.
"I know. It's Qinglongmon's order." Gennai repeated. Just then a voice was heard. It was Daisuke.
"Do it, Gennai-san!" Daisuke's response caught both Mimi and Koushirou aback. Daisuke turned to them.
"Whether he lives or he dies, it's up to him, isn't it?" Daisuke asked Gennai to confirm his understanding. Gennai nodded.
"Do it then! If Taichi-san chooses to let go, I won't blame him. It will hurt his family but it's better than dragging on and on. We don't know if staying in coma is what Taichi-san would want. If he chooses to come back, it'll be a bonus to all of us." Daisuke explained his rationale.
"I, as the leader, will answer for the consequence including bearing Hikari and her family's resentment." Daisuke pointed to himself with his thumb.
"Daisuke-kun, it'll be hard on you." Mimi tried to dissuade him. Daisuke placed his hands on both Mimi's shoulder.
"You used to be assertive and decisive. As for Koushirou-san, it's decision making from the analysis of the information gathered. I'm tapping on both your strength. Please have faith in them." Daisuke requested.
"But…" Mimi tried to protest but was stopped by Koushirou who shook his head.
"We'll leave it to him. I'll respect Taichi-san's decision."
"Please." Daisuke bowed. Gennai held up Qinglongmon's Digicore and placed his free hand on Taichi's chest where he was wounded four years ago. The Digicore glowed and engulfed the room.
Taichi's heart monitor began to flatline when the doctor and a team of medical staff came rushing in.
*31 July 2007*
The chosen children found out that a certain Digimon had escaped from his supposed death. Daisuke was rushing to Odaiba High School where Koushirou had ordered their presence.
"Got to hurry! Got to hurry!" Daisuke almost overshot the computer lab where there was a notice on the door by the President of the Computer Club, Koushirou which stated "Computer room is closed for maintenance."
"Digi Digi."
"Mon Mon."
"You're late!" Koushirou said sternly. Daisuke noticed that his dark eye ring was rather striking probably due to lack of sleep. Daisuke chuckled.
"Hey!" Koushirou stopped him in annoyance before turning to the rest of the group.
"So that's all of us." Koushirou turned his view to the group comprising Miyako, Iori, Ken, Takeru with their Digimon and Yamato.
"Where are the rest?" Daisuke wondered as Koushirou should be complaining about those who were not here instead of nagging at him.
"Mimi-san is on her flight here from America." Koushirou updated.
"Sora is on a trip with her Tennis Club classmates from our Middle School. She is on her way now." Yamato informed them. "As for Hikari-chan and Jou-san…"
"They are at Odaiba Learning Centre." Koushirou finished for Yamato glancing and smiling at him with mutual respect.
"Oh yeah, he's having his exam today." Takeru remembered Hikari's e-mail to him. "He's working hard to trying to catch up with the time he had lost."
Koushirou turned to Daisuke, "That will answer your questions. I've been staying up trying to coach him all night for his exam this morning because he said he can't sleep from sleeping too much. Does that answer your question?" Daisuke cupped his mouth trying not to laugh at his panda eyes.
"He's recovering well, isn't it?" Miyako asked cheerfully.
"Yeah, the doctors all thought it has to be a miracle after his heart stopped beating for seven minutes before it was restarted. Thanks to Qinglongmon's Digicore, he's able to heal from the damages inflicted by Demon. However it took him some time to recover his mobility as he has not been using his muscles during his period in coma while trying to put on some weight due to malnutrition. He was discharged last week, now recuperating at home. He still requires crutches to move around at times. " Koushirou explained.
"The last time I saw him when I was on my way back home. He's trying to play soccer in the field. Even though he tripped and fell countless times, he is able to pick himself up without anyone's help." Iori remarked.
"I'm really shocked when I heard from Daisuke what had happened." Ken recalled. "You guys actually "forced" him to make a choice between life and death." Daisuke blushed in embarrassment.
"Hikari-san is really pissed when she learnt about it." Wormmon remarked. Everyone could see how protective she was over her elder brother.
"It did work out all right." Daisuke retorted.
"In the end, he chose to come back to us. He's a fighter. I'm proud of him." Yamato said recalling what his friend had confided to him in a weak voice when he was recovering his strength in the hospital.
"I heard that people get to review the whole of their lives in their mind before they die and I thought it may be the same for me. When I felt Demon's claws piercing right through my heart, I thought I can regain my lost memories as I was bleeding out and dying but I was wrong. Even so, I guess I can be released from all the expectation everyone has for me as I can never be the Taichi you all know. The thought of letting go feels alluring to me. But it's because that you guys never give up on me, I realise I will be letting all of you down if I chose to run away. It's thanks to your friendship, l have the courage to move on no matter how hard it is going to be..."
"Miracle does occur. Taichi-san, he finally opened his eyes." Daisuke added in his mind glancing at Yamato's direction.
"Enough talking about Taichi-san, we have now have a new threat on hand." Koushirou pressed on his remote control when the sound of the sliding door was heard startling all of them.
"I forgot to lock the door." Yamato realized.
"Again?" Koushirou frowned. He never changed. They were panicking when the head of a boy with huge brown hair peeked over the door. Koushirou sighed in relief.
"Taichi-san, stop scaring us." Koushirou complained. "It's bad for my heart."
"I'm sorry." Taichi slid open the door and entered the lab slowly. He was caught by Jou locking his arm over his when Taichi was about to fall. He could not walk very long without assistance.
"Are you okay, Taichi?" Jou asked in concern.
"Oniichan, you should have waited for us." Hikari ran towards him anxiously.
"Don't treat me like a 3-year-old kid. I just have a 15-year old mind trapped in the body of a 19-year old. And I'm not as fragile as glass. I won't break this easily." Taichi joked trying to comfort his sister patting her on her head after Jou released him from his grip.
"Back to the topic." Koushirou clapped his hands to seek all their attention. "The new threat, I'm sorry if I reminded Taichi-san about it. It's Diaboromon."
"The one who ate the legacy of the Chosen Children from the Vault four years ago?" Miyako asked.
"Didn't Omegamon defeat him?" Iori wondered.
"We thought he did." Yamato said pinching his chin.
"But he survived." Taichi concluded looking down in shame.
"His data must have reconfigured itself and multiplied himself back in the net. He's sending Kuramon to the Real World through e-mail. We know that he feast on the Children's negativity. Who knows what he'll do if he gets to the Real World?" Takeru analysed the situation. The group remained in silence thinking of solutions until Taichi spoke up.
"Koushirou, can you open a gate to the Net?"
"There must be a source where the Kuramon are coming from somewhere." Yamato elaborated reading Taichi's mind.
"We'll strike there!" Taichi decided punching his fist to his open palm. Yamato and he would head to the net with Omegamon to fight Diaboromon after which he would seal his Digiegg with his own hand to put a full stop to the mess he had created.
Hikari stood up planning to stop her brother to only be interrupted by her leader, Daisuke who offered to go instead. Taichi's expression softened. He knew their concern but he assured Daisuke he will be fine.
"Daisuke, we're leaving the Kuramon to you." Taichi rested his hand on Daisuke's head ruffling his hair to reassure him.
"It'll be a problem if they evolved in this world." He said.
"Yes, leave the rest to Omegamon." Koushirou had the same concern but he could not help it if Omegamon was the only key to the victory.
"Taichi-san and Yamato-san, head to the net gateway to meet up with Agumon and Gabumon. I'll then direct you to the source of the mail." Koushirou began to give out instruction.
Hikari glanced at the thin and frail back of her brother worriedly as he left for the gateway with Yamato. Even though he was recovering physically, he was seeing a therapist to curb his nightmare.
"They'll be alright, Hikari." Tailmon consoled her.
Daisuke's team would be in charge of capturing Kuramon which were running about in Tokyo and send it to him in a special portal he had set up. He would e-mail Gennai-san what to do with them while Taichi and Yamato would take down the big one with Omegamon.
"Taichi, we're reaching the source point soon." Yamato informed Taichi who had been quiet throughout the journey. Even Agumon was watching him worriedly. He was so distracted that he didn't notice an incoming Kuramon knocking him out of the way.
"Agumon, be careful." Gabumon warned him.
"Ah, damn it!" Agumon got on hold of himself. It was too short a notice to get Taichi involved. On top of that, Diaboromon was the reason Taichi lost his confidence. Ken could help and allow him to evolve into Ultimate but when came to Omegamon, it would not work. That was why jogress was special. It required strong bonds between the two Chosen Children. For Taichi, it was his bond with Yamato.
"Are you ready to fight with us? If you are scared, I understand. You can get out of here once Agumon and Gabumon evolved." Yamato spelled out his concern.
"No. I'm just wondering why the Kuramon are ignoring us. They could have attack us anytime." Taichi looked around feeling uneasy.
"We're leaving that to Daisuke and the rest. We just have to focus on defeating the big one." Yamato smiled gently to assure him.
"Yeah. I'm ready to fight. Don't worry about me like the rest of them. I'm not made of glass." Taichi replied Yamato on his question earlier when they were about to reach the source point. With Yamato, Agumon and Gabumon's support, he was not afraid. Yes, with his friends' supporting him, there was nothing to fear.
"Let's go!" Taichi shouted. Agumon and Gabumon evolved straight into Omegamon. Both of them had borrowed some power from Qinglongmon specially for this battle. Agumon lost the power to evolve into Ultimate since the Crest of Courage became a Holy Stone. They were just lucky that Demon's Digiegg did not hatch back then.
Daisuke and Ken were watching from the huge screen in Shibuya while holding on to quite a number of Kuramon. They had an idea on how the battle would turn out. Ken placed his hand on Daisuke' shoulder recalling what they had heard from the "Annual General Meeting" earlier that year.
"As long as we don't give up until the end. A Holy Ring filled with everyone's hope will appear resulting in a new mode change."
*1 August 2007*
After a night of intense battle, Armagemon who was formed by a sea of Kuramon, was defeated by Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. Imperialdramon Paladin Mode was given his new power by Omegamon who was defeated earlier. The broken Omegamon created an Holy Ring filled with the hopes of everyone watching the battle with his excess power transforming it to Omega Blade which granted Imperialdramon Fighter Form the power to turn into Paladin Mode.
While the sea of Kuramon were collected by the people who were watching the battle sending them to Koushirou, Taichi had located the Digiegg of that Diaboromon who had duped him.
"We could have been friends." Taichi recalled his time with Kuramon who kept him company on the hardest of time when he was led to believe that his friends had betrayed him. Taichi had managed to seal the Digiegg all on his own.
"Sealing completed." He announced before his legs gave way to be caught by Yamato. He felt a little giddy.
"Are you alright, Taichi?" He asked in concern. Taichi must be tired from the lack of sleep for two nights straight despite what he claimed in order to prepare for his exam.
"No, I'm fine, Yamato-kun. Again, don't treat me like glass with a label stating 'fragile' like Hikari-chan." Taichi smiled as he stabilised himself. He would stand on his own. Besides, he was looking forward the surprise they had planned later. It was THE DAY after all.
"Taichi, you idiot." Sora could not help but to scold him if he overexerted himself. Taichi laughed. He was glad that he had great friends like them as that boy he met in his dream had told him. He had encouraged him to trust them.
*20 March 2007*
Taichi's heart monitor began to flatline when the doctor and a team of medical staff came rushing in.
Taichi found himself walking in darkness aimlessly. He did not know how long he had been doing so. There were times he heard voices talking to him but he had not tried to find out where. He just wanted to be left alone.
Alone like what he deserved. He did wrong and needed to be punished. It was just ridiculous that his so-called friends were nice to him.
He was unfazed when he witnessed Keramon grabbing the kids in the orphanage absorbing their memories. They were bad memories and should be erased. But yet there were good memories.
"Taichi-niichan, save me." He saw a streak of tears falling down Ai-chan, his younger sister's cheek in the orphanage.
"Oniichan!" A voice was heard. It was really familiar to him.
Taichi clutched his head and screamed.
He witnessed himself stabbed by Demon through his heart and holding his body up in the air. He could not scream as he was too shocked to and he was in excruciating pain. Before he realised, he found himself bleeding out on the ground and was in fit, coughing out blood.
Maybe this was karma. He sowed the seed and he was reaping it. He wanted to give up but watching his friends working hard to fight Demon, he could not let go yet and he was the Digimon who landed him in his predicament of losing his memories in the first place. He must at least let Yamato and the rest know.
"It's… him…" Taichi struggled to speak as blood continued to spill from his mouth.
"What?" Yamato and Agumon tried to hear while trying to stop his bleeding.
"He was the… one who tried… to strangle me… to death three… years ago." Yamato's eyes widened in shock hearing that.
"He said… something about… my Digivice… that I… am not allowed to live." Taichi tried to get his words out despite choking on his blood.
"Taichi, it's okay. Don't speak. The ambulance is coming. You'll be fine and you can tell us later." Sora tried to comfort him by wiping off his sweat. Taichi removed her hands off his head. He held on to the towel which was used to stop his bleeding and struggled to sit himself up in the increasing pool of blood much to his friends' horror. Taichi glared at the Digimon in his drooping yet defiant eyes. His dark eye ring was evident in contrast to his paling and bloodied face.
"Oniichan…" Hikari wanted to stop him from overexerting himself with his injuries that serious.
"Agumon… time to… evolve." He pulled out his Digivice which glowed in orange. Agumon felt a surge of power.
And Taichi decided to fight to at least protect his friends as they were all scared stiff. The Digimon was targeting Ken and Wallace as well and Wallace was also hurt fighting. Agumon was granted power to evolve even though he had just lost his crest. He did not need that as courage was within him.
The battle ultimately ended in the Chosen Children's favour.
Taichi watched in contentment as Demon disintegrated and turned into an Digiegg. He gave in to the darkness knowing that his friends would be safe.
"TAICHI!" That was the last thing he heard from his his friends and partner.
He had been stuck in the darkness since then. Taichi curled to himself. He was being a coward again. Daisuke was right, he could not have been the holder of Courage being like that. He did not deserve the friendship he could not remember. They were seeing him as an old friend. He thought he could finally remember everything as he found himself bleeding and dying as he heard that people got to review their whole life when they were about to die. Guess he was quite wrong.
"Taichi?" Taichi gasped when he heard a voice suddenly.
"I know it. I know it's you." The voice continued.
He raised his head up slowly to come face-to-face with the huge haired boy in the uniform of Odaiba Middle School introducing himself as the leader of the Chosen Children of the World in another timeline. He came to see him with the permission of an Old Clock Shop Man in condition that he did not affect his own timeline with the knowledge he received.
He was the reason Taichi made his choice to heed the call of the light.
"All you need to know is to believe in them. They will be your best friends forever. They will be by your side no matter what happens. You yourself knew that right? Trust me, they actually cared for you more than they are for me as they had lost you once..."
*1 August 2007*
Taichi was led to grassland by Yamato and Sora to meet up with the rest in blindfold.
"SURPRISE!" Taichi was surprised when Koushirou, Mimi, Jou who seemed to be sweaty, Miyako and Iori greeted him when his blindfold was removed. All of them even Koushirou, Mimi and Jou were with their Digimon partners with the exception of Daisuke and Ken who took off somewhere with their Digimon.
A pink bird Digimon jumped into her partner's arms. "Sora, long time no see."
"Piyomon, how have you been?" Sora greeted her partner hugging her lovingly.
"So that was the trolley car you guys rode home with?" Taichi asked excitedly pointed at a vehicle nearby which seemed a little worn out due to age.
"Yes." Mimi replied in response. She covered her mouth to stop her from continuing recalling that Taichi did not come back with them. She was afraid he would be upset.
"Don't worry about it, Mimi-chan. I'm fine really." Taichi patted the brown hair girl on her head. Mimi blushed. She wondered. Her heart was thumping wildly.
"Mimi is a nice girl, I hope you will not ill-treat her. She probably didn't even know herself that she have been waiting for you for four years. I was quite surprised when she confessed to me end of 2002." Taichi wondered what kind of knowledge he was trying to implant to him telling him that. He would let nature take its course. Suddenly, he found Mimi hugging him from the back burying her face on his shoulder. He was too stunned to move.
"I just want you to have a feel of some of the experience we had during our adventure." Mimi said quietly recalling their ride together on Greymon 8 years ago.
This scene caught Miyako's attention being reminded of a certain pair in another timeline. They were already holding hands when they last met them. The girl was the one taking the initiative apparently like Sora.
"Miyako…" Poromon called her name while frowning. Miyako was not supposed to interfere as much as she was tempted to.
"Don't worry Poromon, I know the rule." Miyako shook her head as she smiled hugging her knees looking at them.
Taichi and Agumon got on to the trolley to see Yamato and Gabumon cleaning up the trolley with Sora and Piyomon. They would have a party in here later even though it was a small area. Taichi and Agumon did not want to disturb the love birds who were working together smiling and laughing. Taichi was sure his foster sister would be happy with Yamato as they were able to understand each other.
Taichi managed to talk to almost each and everyone thanking and apologising to them for causing them so much trouble for not doing his job as the leader of the Chosen Children of the World properly.
Wallace had relinquished his authority and had left to travel around the world like he always wanted to do which caused Taichi to wonder if he had to go to school. Wallace had apologised to him for keeping so much secrets from him. He was supposed to watch over him. It was due to his carelessness, Taichi had turn against them and Wallace truly felt guilty about it. Wallace had informed Koushirou, Yamato and the rest to support Taichi like they did for him. Taichi certainly needed it. Wallace believed that Taichi would really be fine from now on.
Iori pointed his Kendo stick at Taichi much to Jou and Gomamon's horror. They thought he was going to hit him. They were relieved when Iori put down his stick.
"Please stay safe even if it's not for you, but for the sake of the rest of your friends. " Iori demanded him to promise them. These past few years had been worrisome. They were afraid that Taichi would die on them anytime. Iori would only accept him as the leader above Daisuke if he could promise them that.
"I'll protect him." Agumon said even though he did not sound quite confident. Taichi patted his partner on his head. Agumon was strong. It was just his luck to be paired up with someone as unlucky as him. He would not have so much trouble if he was partnered with someone else. But every time he said this to Agumon, he would certainly yell at him.
"As expected from your successor, he is upright and sincere." Taichi whispered turning to Jou who laughed awkwardly.
"Iori-kun has a thirst of knowledge like Koushirou-kun too. I heard of this many times." Jou added.
"Really?" Taichi whispered.
"Just like Daisuke who inherited yours and Yamato's crests. He has some of your qualities." Jou tried to explain in an easier way.
"That's right, Taichi-san." Koushirou and Tentomon who came out from the driver seat, nodded in agreement. He had seen Daisuke, Miyako and Iori's growth over the years. They really took after their qualities befitting of the crest they had inherited as Digimental.
"I'm sorry, Miyako." Ken apologised.
"You guys are really late! Where were you both? Having a date somewhere?" Miyako placed her hands on her waist reprimanding her boyfriend, Ken and Daisuke who just arrived. Poromon sweatdropped at her partner. She was so enthusiastic to scold the boys who were bowing and apologizing profusely. That was what Miyako liked to see. Poromon noticed a boy and a girl behind them.
"Who are they?" He asked catching Miyako and the boys' attention.
"They are…" Daisuke grinned glancing at his back.
"A surprise for Taichi-san." V-mon added.
"That's why we are late." Wormmon explained on Ken's behalf.
"Taichi-san, look who we have brought along today?" Daisuke said as the trio stepped back to allow a pair of twins to come into Taichi and Agumon's view interrupting Taichi and his partner's chat by the window. Taichi could not believe his eyes.
"Ai-chan, Kou-chan…" Taichi stared at them in widened eyes.
"Taichi-niichan, long time no see." Kouharu waved at him. He felt a little awkward to be waving and addressing a stranger as per ordered by the leader of the Japanese Chosen Children, Motomiya Daisuke as if they knew Taichi for ages.
"We became Chosen Children recently." Aizuki introduced themselves politely. It appeared that the boy with the huge brown hair really knew them but she just could not recall how they knew him.
"You guys had grown up." Taichi exclaimed as he felt his tears beaming in his eyes. What a pleasant surprise. Deep down, Taichi knew they were just playing along with Daisuke. That was just like Daisuke who would do anything for friends. Daisuke would make a great leader than he ever could. There was no way the twins would ever remember him with their memories eaten because of his foolishness.
"I'm Yagami Taichi, a Chosen Child as well. Both of you must be Aizawa Kouharu and Aizuki." He introduced himself officially offering his hand for a handshake. Daisuke stuck his tongue out in response. As expected from Taichi who saw through his plan.
The twins paused for a moment and accepted the handshake. Taichi was really happy to be able to see them again.
They had a great picnic and fun throughout the day in the trolley.
The twins decided to take their leave as they were late and they bid farewell to Taichi who was resting feeling tired. He had not been out for this long since he was discharged from the hospital.
"Taichi-niichan, let's meet again." Kouharu spoke up suddenly. "I don't know why, you look familiar."
"No matter, let's just create new memories together." Aizuki decided.
"What was past is over, you can't create them but we can create all kinds of futures. Let's create new memories together!" Osamu's voice rang in his mind.
"Let's be friends?" Taichi asked extending his trembling hand for a handshake.
"Sure. Let's be friends." The twins took turn to shake their hands before heading on their way. Taichi watched their back as they were leaving the field. He wondered if he could get to know them once again.
"Oniichan, you'll meet them again." Hikari came to Taichi standing by his side hugging Tailmon on her arms.
"That's right. We can always have a picnic when we are free and we can ask them along." Takeru added following Hikari. "Daisuke can make the arrangement, right?" Takeru turned to his leader who glared at him in gaped mouth. He was still feeling embarrassed for lying to Taichi.
"Daisuke-kun is a nice friend to have. He is not Yamato's successor for nothing." Taichi laughed.
"By the way, I'm also your successor, senpai." Daisuke raised his hand up for objection. Yamato was a devil to Daisuke during the time of his "reign". The "bad memories" were replaying in his mind now. Daisuke dropped his head in defeat. He was the weakest link before he obtained his Digimental of Friendship back then. Yamato had been strict with him since.
Taichi had bowed and addressed the eleven Chosen Children. From now on, he would learn the rope and lead them. He was after all the former Student Council President in Nagoka Middle School. He could do the job and this time, he would not do this alone like he always did fighting for opportunities for his schoolmates. He would learn to rely on his friends.
"No matter what, give it all! I'll support you." Daisuke said encouragingly to his friends as the leader of the Japanese Chosen Children.
"It's all about spirit!" V-mon added.
"Have the courage to fight with the friends who believe in you, miracle will surely occur in your favour." Ken continued as Daisuke nodded in agreement.
"It's the same idea about life. As long as we don't lose sight of our dreams, despite our circumstances…" Wallace said to his partner Digimon, Terriermon and Lopmon while they were sitting in Summer Memory reflecting on his experience since he had became a Chosen Child.
"We can live a great and fulfilling life no matter where we are." Wormmon ended for his partner. Together, they would safeguard the Digital World and preserve the peace in the Real World while they fought for their own dreams in life whether it was a ramen shop, a cook, a fashion designer or a kindergarden teacher. These dreams would certainly happen if they never lose sight of it.
"In people's heart, as well as in the world, there is light and darkness. They will continue to battle each other forever. However, as long as you keep the light in your heart and hold the power to realise your dream, all will be fine."
