Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, any episodes of the show and any similarities with the title of an episode is fan fiction coincidence for a follow up with the episode. That's a lot for a disclaimer!
Ok, I have to say it. Yes, the title of this chapter is directly having to do with the famous Episode 13 of Season Two: His Master's Voice. I know the big bad guy who was not seen in the show was Dagomon but I have in a sense changed it since I guess it was not official? This can be argued. The point is is the Master truly the Master if his voice is obeyed or does that Master have a Master and he obeys that voice? This is a tribute to the episode but of course a continuation of the story of course. Their were certain parts of the Japanese version that were inherently creepy and I strived to keep this theme consistent with this chapter. Ah well. I hope you can make it through. I know I barely did without wanting to throw my computer across the room.
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Lord of His Master's Voice
The darkness spread heavily and thick around them, threatening to envelop himself, Patamon, and Tailmon. Takeru manipulated both the dark digital code information and utilizing his own crest of hope, kept it at bay. The dark ocean data savagely tried to attack them, but despite it's efforts it could not get through.
"Boy Tailmon now I know how a ball of yarn feels being played by a cat!" Patamon said sarcastically.
Tailmon pressed her paw on his head rubbing it. "Oh, you want to know how that feels do you?" she said mischievously. "Then take this!"
With that the two of them played around laughing and giggling as she rubbed his head even during the time of incredible duress.
Takeru looked down on them smiling, finding it hard to believe even in such a time as this they could have fun. But even still, in this harsh environment he wondered how anyone could survive?
No sooner had he thought that cracks stared to appear on the firewall, dark digital data threatening to tear it apart.
"That's not good," he laughed a bit nervously. "Even with everything I can do, it's still not enough."
"We can't just let it destroy us!" Tailmon said. "You held the digital record right? You remember the information?"
"Of course," he said.
"Then use it to get us out of here!" Patamon yelled. "You can do it right?"
Takeru looked down at the digimon's expectant faces, then at the cracks appearing around his barrier.
"Patamon, Tailmon," he said bending down and placing his arms around each of their shoulders. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course we trust you!" Tailmon exclaimed. "I wouldn't let you be with Hikari if I didn't!"
"Wait a second," Patamon said. "Takeru you're kind of smushing me. You're not thinking of planning something mischievous are you?" he asked suspiciously.
Takeru grinned. "Patamon, you really know me all too well."
No sooner had he said those words the barrier completely collapsed and they were flooded by the tumultuous dark waters.
Takeru shook his head, his body slightly cold, Patamon and Tailmon still under his arms. He looked around him, noticing nothing but darkness, the voices of people and digimon all around him.
"What is this?" he wondered, as the voices echoed out towards him.
One familiar voice seemed to particular ring out clearly to him, the voice not only haunting, but disturbing.
"If only I could get Tapiermon to remember me," a voice said. "Then he would be mine. No one else could have him. He would be mine, my partner forever! I won't share him with anyone! I will never let him go again!"
He looked to the left, the voice appearing in the form of some darker mass and then disappearing.
"Is this...the dark ocean?" he wondered aloud, floating in the waters, surprised he could actually breathe in them.
Another voice came over to him.
"Akulomon, don't worry. The bad digimon can't beat us! You may not be able to digivolve past the champion, but you have me! No way we will lose! No way we will-"
-the voice went silent.
Takeru did not understand why he was hearing all of this, but he could not let it deter himself. Then again, he could not let go of his partner or Tailmon, both of whom seemed to be unconscious.
"I guess I'm kind of stuck here," he said. "But I can't just stay like this. I have to get to Hikari somehow," he said determined. "I've got to-"
"-Get out my boy! Get out of my boy! Get out of my boy! Get out of my boy!" A frantic voice shouted, Takeru instantly paralyzed by the terror of the moment he heard that voice.
"M-mom," he said shivering. "That was my-"
"-TK BE QUIET!" Yamato's voice shouted at him, Takeru remembering when he had tried to help a situation when he was a child, but had been shouted down.
"Where are these voices coming from?" he wondered aloud.
All of a sudden another voice whispered into his ears. "I'm no good for you Takeru," it said, but Takeru recognized it. "Why would you ever want to be with someone like me? Someone who can barely keep herself together?"
"Hikari," he said listening as if that's all he could do.
He looked around as if something was shifting in the waters and thought he could see something moving.
"I don't know who you are or what you are planning to do," Takeru said. "But I'm not going to fall for it. Reveal yourself!" he commanded, his crest shining brilliantly until he noticed a monstrous digimon, tentacles on it's head, moss covered armor, and limb severing pinchers with sharp red eyes.
Takeru thought he recognized the digimon, but he wasn't so sure.
"M-master!" a voice called out, other voices echoing back.
"Master!" one said with joy.
"Our undersea master!" another cried.
Takeru then realized these voices all those years ago when he had been a preteen.
"You!" he said angrily. "You're the one who was after Hikari! All of you!"
"Of course we are," the smaller voices said. "We were going to defile the girl until she was as dark and twisted as we were. Then we would use our spawn to rise up against our undersea master, but alas, it was useless. He wants her for himself after all."
Takeru gritted his teeth looking down at Tailmon and Patamon. If only one of them could digivolve he would incinerate all of them for daring to harm her. Their was no way he could just let them say all of this.
"Perhaps," the larger digimon said, the one who had been called 'the master,' "my appearance is too foreboding for you?" he inquired. With that in the darkness he changed himself to a figure representing a human, both with pointy ears and two fangs protruding out of his mouth. He appeared in almost elegant attire, his eyes changed to a maroon color.
"I trust this will suffice?" He said chuckling.
"It doesn't matter what you look like," Takeru said. "I still can't forgive you for what you were going to do to her!"
"Were going to do?" he said aloud, his hair flowing straight down like a bull cut, parting down like a smooth cascade from one side of his head to the other. "Oh no need to worry. That is still in the works now," he said. "I'm sure she will be most satisfying."
Takeru wanted to rush over to him and give him the thrashing of his life, but he could not let go of the digimon.
"You have so much energy left," the digimon mused. "Usually by now those in the dark ocean not reserved under my Lord's hand would have been ripe enough to eat, but it would make sense you've lasted this long. Being a digidestined you are, you are shall I say, a most appetizing delicacy," he said licking his lips.
"Is that what happens to all those who come here?" Takeru inquired.
"Of course," he said. "My Lord only needs their negative emotions to twist. As for their bodies, for those who aren't worthy to become vessels of power for my lord I devour them. The longer they are here, the more their bodies are soaked and stewed in the darkness, giving me a most pleasurable taste in my mouth for how juicy and tender they are. The meat almost melts instantly in my mouth," he said. "I wonder how long it will be before you're tender enough for me to enjoy?"
Takeru smirked holding his digimon closer to his chest. "I'm afraid I'm off the menu," he said. "I won't be here very long."
The digimon snickered, his index finger and thumb resting over his chin. "Hmm, hmm, hmm," he snickered. "Most amusing. You digidestined never fail to disappoint. That's what makes you all the more tasty when your time comes."
"You say that," Takeru said a bit hesitantly, "As if you've eaten other digidestined?"
"Just a couple," he replied, "But that's all the evidence I need."
"And where did the others come from?" he asked.
"Nowhere they did not want to go," he said. "But please, that's not why I'm here this time. In fact, my Lord requests your presence."
"My presence?" Takeru inquired.
"Yes. He is waiting for you," he said. "I've come to guide you to him."
With that the digimon pointed towards his servants and all of them rushed forward together creating a pathway of sorts for them to walk on.
"M-master," a voice said from the pathway, eyes looking up at Takeru.
"You can walk can't you?" he asked, Takeru nodding his head.
Takeru stood up on top of a fleshly grotesque form, the form grunting out as the pressure of his foot seemed to irritate it.
"Well," he said. "My Lord does not like to be kept waiting. Let us go," he said, Takeru daring to walk behind him.
As he walked on this grotesque path Takeru could not help but feel sorry for the creatures as they groaned, some of them wheezing calling out master to the digimon.
"Pay them no heed," the digimon said. "After all they were made for me to walk all over them. And despite how they look they can move and grapple through darkness fairly well."
Takeru said nothing, but kept moving knowing whether he wanted to or not he had to follow him even if he was falling into some kind of devious trap set by Rei Kurenada.
"I've been meaning to ask you this," Takeru said as they were moving, "But if you're a digimon then what is your name?"
"You may call me Cthulusmon," he replied.
"Cthulusmon," Takeru contemplated, thinking about it. "Your name sounds like the inspiration of a famous author," he said.
"Of course it would," he replied as they kept walking. "When it comes to the most powerful dark digimon such as myself, our influence spreads past the digital world and interferes with the laws of your world. Much like the Primordial Dark Ones you saw earlier," he said.
They kept walking, Takeru remaining quiet following in Cthulusmon's footsteps. Eventually his footsteps stopped, Takeru noticing the shadow of a large foreboding structure resting, hovering in the waters on some kind of dark mass.
"What is this place?" Takeru asked.
"Our destination," Cthulusmon replied. "Behold Darkoshin Castle!"
At those words a large drawbridge lowered, cries coming from the drawbridge, but then falling silent as it completely lowered for them to cross it.
"It's this way," Cthulusmon smirked as Takeru ventured into the gaping maw of the castle.
They navigated their way past large corridors, a red throw rug with golden patterns and red roses and flames lighting up the area.
"I do apologize for the atmosphere," he said, "But the master wanted to make sure you were entertained and not affronted by our abode. The master does have strange tastes," he added, as they continued along the path.
"You are taking me to Hikari, right?" Takeru asked. "I'm not going anywhere if this doesn't lead me to her."
"That's fine," Cthulusmon replied. "However, I won't be responsible for what happens to you. Their are far worse horrible things that can happen to you aside from getting lost," he pleasantly warned, Takeru hearing screeching sounds and crunching from a far off corner.
He swallowed as the cries went silent.
"You had best stay close," he cautioned.
Eventually Cthulusmon navigated them through the castle guided by the carpets and eventually it led them to a large stairwell, where the carpets seemed to extend for miles.
"Well then Takeru," he said bowing his head, his arm across his chest. "I have done as far as my Lord has ordered. See to it that your business with him is concluded," he said walking behind him.
"I look forward to her tantalizing flesh," he chuckled, Takeru hearing his footsteps and then the footsteps vanishing.
At those words Tailmon seemed to spring to life. "Let me at him! Let me at him!" she shouted. "If anyone messes with Hikari I'll show them!" she said frantically.
"Tailmon," Takeru said, "Thanks for playing along. I just new he would escort us over."
"What about me Takeru?" Patamon asked aloud laughing nervously twitching his wings. "Did I do good to?"
"You both did great," he laughed. "But now we have to go save Hikari. This way!" he encouraged them as they all started racing up the stairs.
As soon as they started a mysterious sound started playing in the distance.
"What is that?" Tailmon asked.
"It's an organ," Takeru replied anxiously. "Rei Kurenada is calling us," he said.
"Then let's not make sure to disappoint him," Patamon added.
They all started rushing up the stairs, Patamon flying, Tailmon leaping, but getting a bit tired.
"So I don't get it," she said, "How did you know we would be ok when the dark ocean came over us?"
"Because," Takeru replied taking a breath as he ran, "he said he needed me for something. Whatever he needs me for he can't use me if I just drown to death like that. Somehow I knew he would come and take me to where he is. And I just know that's where Hikari will be to."
"That's quite a leap of faith you took there," Patamon said. "How did you know we would be ok?"
"That's why I held you close," he answered. "I would never let you go Patamon and Hikari would kill me if something ever happened to you Tailmon."
"You're darn right!" she grinned, the three of them keeping up climbing the spiraling stair case, the music getting louder and louder, until at last they reached a massive door.
No doubt about it!" Tailmon exclaimed. "Hikari's on the other side!"
"We've got to go save her!" Patamon agreed.
Takeru nodded his head. He grabbed the hat on his head, looked at it, and then cast it to the side. "Let's end this," he said, the three of them pushing forth the door to where only the villainous Rei Kurenada would be waiting for them.
As the doors swung open Takeru noticed Hikari in the center of the room trapped in some sort of dark prison-like structure.
Cthulusmon stood next to her grinning mischievously as if after business was concluded he would do something truly wretched, not that Takeru would ever allow something to happen to her.
"Hikari!" Takeru shouted, shocked to see her unconscious, suspended in the air tied to some sort of inverted cross.
"Takeru, up there!" Patamon shouted, Takeru looking up to the corner noticing an organ, Rei Kurenada playing it with such zeal and intensity.
"Hey!" Tailmon shouted. "We see you up there! You let Hikari go right now!"
At that mention of her name, the organ stopped.
"Can you hear the chaos? Kurenada asked. "This girl has been the answer I've been seeking all along. An endless lifetime. An endless supply of data, like the universe spreading out and out bringing all to this light, but trapped into darkness. They will fuel my life for eternity."
"Sounds melodramatic!" Takeru replied. "But I don't care. I will not let you use her like that. Hikari will never give into darkness, not after overcoming it."
"Heh," Rei Kurenada grinned as if entertained by his company and ignoring him. "You took such awhile to get here Takeru I was beginning to think something might have happened to you."
"I'm tougher than you give me credit for," Takeru said walking forward to the crystal.
He set his hand on it's surface, Hikari shining brilliantly to him.
"Just what did you do to her?" he asked.
Rei Kurenada jumped down from the balcony next to him, one hand in his pocket. "I've prepared her for her role," he said. "All actors have to be ready for the performance of their lifetime. As you will perform as well."
"Like I would!" Takeru snapped. "And for what Cthulusmon was going to do to her I will pay you back a hundred fold!"
Rei Kurenada looked towards Cthulusmon who only snickered bowing his head to him.
"What he does after I get what I desire is no concern," he said. "Cthulusmon, go ahead and wake her."
With that Cthulusmon placed his hand on the barrier, dispelled it and walked over to her. "It's time for you to awaken my darling," he said licking her cheek savagely, Takeru nearly losing it as instantly she woke, her eyes a bit hazy.
"Let's not be too hasty here," Rei grinned. "He only licked her after all. Their are far worse things he could do, but I will just leave that to your imagination," he said.
Hikari looked around her as if she was finally getting a handle on the situation.
"Where is this place?" she asked. "What happened? Takeru? Tailmon?" she said regaining her senses.
"We're here Hikari!" Takeru shouted. "We're going to save you!"
"Not the tentacled octopus monster or Rei will stop us!" Tailmon said. "We've got to go Hikari!"
"Y-you shouldn't have come!" Hikari said starting to cry. "Tailmon, Takeru, why, why did you come here? I didn't want you to come!"
"Why?" Takeru asked. "I know you love me. I know what you're saying now is the furthest thing from your heart."
"Something is not right," Tailmon agreed. "Why are you saying this Hikari? I'm your digimon!" she shouted.
Hikari's eyes closed and she bit her lip, tears pouring down her face.
"Let's not treat the poor girl so harshly," Rei said holding her head with one arm, cupping his hand round her cheek and chin. "After all you took the bait just as I knew you would. It's entirely your fault she suffers," he smiled positively.
"That's messed up!" Patamon yelled. "You want an airshot?!"
"Once we bash your face in we'll see who suffers!" Tailmon scolded. "Isn't that right Takeru?"
"It depends," Takeru said staring at him intensely. "It depends if we can beat him."
"Beat me?" Rei inquired pointing to himself. "Once again I'm afraid you're misunderstanding the situation. This is merely for my entertainment. The one you will have to overcome is my servant, my trusted butler Cthulusmon."
Cthulusmon grinned bowing his head to him. "I thank you for the honor my Lord," he said. "I will destroy him completely and thoroughly."
"That is of no concern," he said placing one hand on his arm. "As long as you fulfill your purpose," he said, the two of them having a conversation with their eyes, Takeru having no idea what they were talking about.
"Oh, yes," Cthulusmon grinned. "It shall be done."
Rei Kurenada then snapped his fingers, a royal throne appearing in the corner of the room, folding his leg one on top of the other. He weaved his fingers together staring at the coming battle.
"So?" Takeru said. "You look like you're comfortable enough. Why don't you tell me what's really going on?"
"Very well," Rei replied. "Since you obediently followed me I will tell you. Hikari Yagami is the light that draws others in. She gathers the light to herself as you have seen before in your digimon battles, but, should she become overcome with despair she pushes the light out and instead draws the darkness in. It's either one or the other, but, let me ask you a question. What would happen if she emitted light even though she draws darkness towards her?"
"That wouldn't happen," Takeru replied. "Hikari's not going to let anyone manipulate her anymore. She won't be pushed around!"
"And yet you react so harshly," Rei leered. "Well, in any case, what if Hikari saw her beloved Takeru and her digimon die in front of her? Would she emit the light? Or would she draw the darkness towards her?"
"Like I said," Takeru said angrily, "you can just forget it. I'm saving her and we're going."
Rei chuckled slightly amused by him. "Your soul can vacate your body when I say so," he said. "But for now, with the device Hikari is attached to, her light will shine even though she emits darkness. Those in the light will be drawn towards her from your world and the dark ocean will take care of the rest twisting them into my denizens and life source," he explained. She will be the dark light that attracts all beings towards the darkness like the light of a glow fish lurking in the deep dark waters luring prey. Without you being here Takeru, all of this," he admitted, "would be quite impossible."
Takeru shook his head. "That doesn't add up," he said. "From all the information I've gathered, this can't be all there is to it."
"Oh?" He said. "Most fascinating. What makes you say that?"
"Because it's not so simple with you," he said. "It never was. As soon as we destroy him and leave here I'm sure we'll find out."
"Are you daft boy?" he inquired insultingly. "I suppose that's if you escape," he agreed. "But now is not the time to talk about such plausible events," he said snapping his fingers. "If you think you can do something then do it," he said snapping his fingers, Cthulusmon standing to attention. "Cthulusmon, Kill him," he commanded. "Make sure the girl witnesses his passing."
Cthulusmon grinned changing his form to the giant monstrous octopus-like creature he was before.
"Takeru! Tailmon!" Hikari cried out. "Please! Go back! I don't want to do this horrible-
"You won't!" Takeru shouted. "Hikari, I know you believe in us! Don't let them deceive you! We won't lose!"
She stared at all of them determined, Takeru and her having a conversation of their own.
Finally a smile cracked through on her lips. "Okay," she said shedding one last tear. "I believe in you Takeru, Tailmon. I know you can win!"
"You bet we will Hikari!" Tailmon shouted. "Let's go!"
With that in a shining pink light Tailmon transformed into Angewomon, the octopus unleashing tentacled appendages at her.
"Heavens charm!" she declared, the tentacles being severed, but instantly regenerating.
"Patamon!" Takeru said, Patamon flying up towards him.
"That's my cue!" he laughed digivolving to Angemon. "Now, taste my heaven's knuckle!" he shouted, unleashing it, the attack fizzling out upon contact.
"That's kind of weak huh?" he said talking to Takeru.
"Better take it up to the next level then," he recommended, as Angemon digivolved to Magna Angemon.
"My servants," Cthulusmon said. "Go forth, and prove yourself as having any usefulness!"
"Master!" the voices said as from seemingly out of all directions, the strange dark strange beings attacked him.
"Their is not enough room here," Magna Angemon declared. "Why don't we make some room for you somewhere else? Gate of Destiny!" he asserted curving his blade into a circle and all of Cthulusmon's servants crying out 'master' as they were sucked in and swallowed by it.
"Now Cthulusmon, it's your turn!" he declared, sucking away towards him.
Cthulusmon seemed to resist, but then start to be raised towards it. He then lifted up his tentacles calling out 'Abysmal Apprehension' as his tentacles wrapped around the gate, squeezing it, the attack dissolving into digital data.
"But how?!" Angewomon wondered.
"I knew this wouldn't work," Takeru said. "If Cthulusmon is his butler we can't beat him at this level and probably the mega level!"
"Takeru!" Hikari called out, Takeru turning her way. They met eyes staring at each other, knowing what they would have to do.
Takeru nodded his head, Hikari smiling back and then closing her eyes.
"I'm with you Hikari," he said placing his hand over his heart closing his eyes.
He felt her words and his call out synchromatically. "Holy Alignment!" they shouted, both digimon lighting up ferociously.
"Here we go again Angewomon," Magna Angemon said putting his hand around her chin.
"You're making this more suggestive than what this is," Angewomon chuckled slightly.
With that the two of the melded together, calling forth the holy power, Archangemon in their place.
"Archangemon!" Takeru and Hikari exclaimed joyful to see it.
"Once more," Archangemon declared, "The judgment shall be rendered," it said taking appearing in front of Cthulusmon.
"A flash in my eyes, nothing more," Cthulusmon scoffed. He locked over his tentacles towards him, but Archangemon instantly severed them.
"No how matter how many hundreds of tentacles you have," he declared. "I will sever them all."
"Then how about thousands?!"Cthulusmon laughed to scorn unleashing them from him, the tentacles splitting out into others and locking around them.
Despite his efforts Archangemon eventually became tied up and wrapped up in them.
"Archangemon!" Hikari cried out, as more tentacles enveloped him imprisoning him like a cocoon.
"Now," Cthulusmon said, "Let's enjoy," he said, strange fleshly feeler monsters with claws poking their way through the flesh of the tentacles and crawling up them towards him.
"Can't you break out of them? Archangemon!" Takeru shouted.
"He can't hear you," Cthulusmon grinned. "Hikari, take a good look at what's happening. This will ultimately be what happens to you, once I've had my way with you,' he grinned.
Hikari looked away in disgust, closing her eyes and turning away as if not trying to think about the monster.
"That does it," Takeru said clutching the crest over his heart. "I've had it!" he exclaimed. "Hikari, do you remember when Hallowedmon first appeared? You overcame your own fears and you helped me obtain the Digital Record! I still have my memory of the Digital Record within me and Hallowedmon is there!"
"I understand Takeru," she said nodding her head, Takeru noticing a certain radiance about her. "I'll help you," she said. "Just like you've helped me all this time. You, Patamon, and Tailmon," she smiled.
Takeru could not help, but smile back. "Now you're making me embarrassed," he grinned.
Cthulusmon stared over at the two of them and coughed up something truly disgusting. "How revolting," he said. "This sweetness, this light is completely too wholesome!"
"You won't have to worry about it long," Takeru said, his mind searching through the digital record history until at last he found it.
"Hikari!" he shouted stretching his hands out toward her, his eyes aglow with the knowledge he had been seeking.
"Takeru!" Hikari cried back, a moment of impacting interrupting the two of them, as, for a fraction of time everything seemed to slow down around them, only their crests aglow with brilliance.
In the blink of an eye Archangemon somehow lit up with ferocity changing form into the illuminating figure that was Hallowedmon.
Cthulusmon groaned shielding his face with his claws. "So wretched!" he cried. "How dare you bring this light into my master's presence?!"
Takeru glanced his way to see his reaction, but Rei Kurenada was not the least bit fazed. "Not to worry," he said snapping his fingers, a pair of sunglasses manifesting over his face.
"My Lord for this grievous inconvenience, I will make sure the both of them suffer a thousand times for this insult!" he declared, throwing all the tentacles he could at Hallowedmon. The moment each tentacle touched him the tentacles lit up in brilliant light and dissolved.
Cthulusmon cried out regrowing them and attempted to swarm him with them, but those too ended up dissolving.
"It's over," Rei Kurenada said getting up. "You won't have the energy to keep going. Fulfill your role my servant."
Cthulusmon stared at Hallowedmon and then at Rei Kurenada who smiled cheerfully nodding his head.
"I offer my body and soul to you my Lord!" he exclaimed, rushing towards them all.
All of his body seemed to writhe in tentacles, even his eyes and face being overcome by them as the only thing they could see now was his demented smile. "Kraken Assault!" he cried as all of the tentacles swarmed over towards him with amazing speed and power, but even still even as the tentacles went away Hallowedmon remained unharmed and untouched the whole battle until the last of the tentacles making up Cthulusmon was no more.
"He didn't even attack him!" Takeru marveled.
"Hallowedmon is on a completely different level," Hikari said amazed, "But I'm glad he won't bother us again," she shuddered. "I'm just glad you were there for me the first time," she said, Takeru walking over to her and holding his arms around her. "I'm afraid of what might have happened," she said smiling a bit apprehensively.
"I know," Takeru said, definitely remember the agony he felt losing her, way too many times than he could count. "But I promise this won't ever happen again," he said gritting his teeth. "No matter how many times it feels like the whole world is out to keep us apart I swear I won't let that happen!"
She turned towards him within his arms and put her hand on his cheek, her hand shivering.
"It's ok," she said, Takeru feeling her heart beat against him. "We're together now," she smiled. "It might have taken us awhile to get here, but now that we've overcome all those things, nothing will stop us from being together," she said so happily. "The darkness will never win. Rei Kurenada will never win. He doesn't know what it means to hope. He doesn't know what it feels like to have light shine down on his face," she said. "And since he can't feel that he wants to take that away from all of us."
Takeru nodded his head and bent down sweetly kissing her lips pulling her body towards his enveloping his face with hers, Hikari returning his affections. After a moment he regained composure, having lost himself for a moment.
"It's crazy," Hikari said resting her chest against him. "Loving someone so much, as if your whole life you had been desiring that feeling of being connected to someone like this. You didn't know who, but when you saw your parents and the connection they had, it just made you feel kind of envious," she said closing her eyes.
Takeru cupped his chin over her head, finding himself also smiling. "I know," he said. "I knew my parents used to have this feeling before they separated. And my whole life I admit I wanted to find that feeling to, that sense of just being content with someone like that," he said. "I'm so happy it was you. I'm just so glad you returned these feelings," he said embracing her. "I'm sure I could have lived with the rejection, but I don't think I could have lived with myself if I never told you how I felt."
"Takeru," she cooed, her voice so soothing in his ear.
Takeru cleaved to her voice, but, started to feel a bit odd as if he was being watched.
Takeru and Hikari ceased their affections and just looked at each other, both of them puzzled as if they both shared a similar feeling.
They then turned and looked up, Hallowedmon just standing solitary observing them this whole time.
"Oh, um sorry Hallowedmon," Takeru nervously smiled, Hikari also nervously smiling. He could not believe he had forgotten about Hallowedmon after all he had done to protect them.
Hallowedmon just crossed his arms indifferently, the whole room starting to vibrate.
"Wait, are you that mad?" Takeru asked.
"No," Hikari said, Takeru grabbing onto her shoulders to steady her. "Something is slamming into the floor!"
Takeru listened, the familiar turbulent waters troubling him. "No," he said. It's the Dark Ocean itself!" he realized a bit fearfully.
The ground started to throb as if a million gallons water were gushing from underneath them.
"But that does not make any sense!" Hikari exclaimed. "Wouldn't the whole castle be shaking?"
"You'd think so," Takeru said looking towards where Rei Kurenada had been sitting, but he had vacated his position. He stared on wondering if somehow he had been misled.
"There's no way Kurenada would have just left like that," he said. "But that means he must have got what he wanted?"
"But he lost," Hikari said staring at his eyes, Takeru still amazed to look into them. "Maybe his castle is self destructing because of it!" she said positively, the ground throbbing so violently, the two of them had to wrapped their arms around each other and fall to their knees just to prevent from losing their balance.
"Regardless," Takeru said. "We've got to get out of here. It's not safe."
"Mhm," Hikari replied. "There has to be an exit somewhere," she said looking around.
Takeru felt the ground lift beneath him, barely able to move.
"The floor isn't going to hold!" he shouted. "Hikari!"
"Takeru!" she immediately responded clutching onto him, closing her eyes tightly.
He grasped her knowing he had no way of escaping. In fact, he could have sworn he could have heard water rushing their way.
But just as all had seemed lost, he felt himself become lighter, daring even to open his eyes, Hikari looking at him to, their bodies shining nearly translucent.
"What's happening?" he wondered looking at her and then his hand.
"I don't know," she replied, both of them looking up noticing Hallowedmon had placed a hand down on them, Hallowedmon illuminated itself in a blinding light.
A voice seemed to whisper into Takeru's heart, the look on Hikari's eyes wide, as if she could hear the same thing.
"Translation," it said, Takeru losing sight of everything as they vanished in an intense light, just as the dark waters burst through the castle floor completely collapsing it.