Falling Inside the Black
Summary: Yamato, Hikari, and Ken find themselves being drawn back to the world of Darkness. There, they must traverse the Digital World's Hell to take down the Demon Lords and Dagomon while overcoming their personal dilemmas.
Warnings: Heavy violence, mentions of abuse, incest, and rape.
Pairings: Taishirou, ex-Sorato/ex-Jyoumato, hinted Takari, hinted Kenyako. Also DaemonxLilithmon.
A/N: This is part of the headcanon, but can be read as a stand-alone. The Chosen's Digimon will likely not make an appearance (the Digital World was cut off in 2004).
A/N: I spent days researching/skimming Lovecraft's related stories, hoping not to offend any fans by getting things wrong. There is some artistic liscense, but I hope not just your average Dark Ocean fan will enjoy what's to come.
A/N 3: I kind of hit a writer's block with this fic, so chapter 10+ may be a little more delayed. I also want to apologize for the delay in posting this, it had to do with my internet connection (which isn't very good at times). I appreciate all the reviews/comments and would be interested in what you guys think will happen! :)
9 – Innsmouth, Revisisted
The smell of rotting fish and sea salt was something Hikari hoped to never remember. She often avoided the harbor back home, especially on stormy days when the silt was kicked up, just so she wouldn't have to remember. She hated the feel of wet sand under her shoes, too.
Yamato felt some strange comfort from this dark shore. Like having dejavue. He kicked pebbles and shells in the sand as he walked. Inside of his mind, he could hear a voice trying to break through to him—and it wasn't the one he wanted. Lilithmon was kicking her heels, staring into the depths of a black cave with no end.
"What is the meaning of this, you?" she demanded, pointing to a seven year old little blonde. He was sniffling somewhere in the darkness, but she could sense him. "I didn't take over this body-" she started, reaching towards the child and pulling him into her hand by his throat, "Just to babysit! Now show me where the real human is or I'll destroy you."
The child kicked and cried, but he didn't answer her.
She tossed him to the ground, "This is absolutely motherfucking useless." She turned to the child, curled into himself on the ground, and began to drag him by his bangs. His screaming was comforting to Lilithmon. She laughed as she dragged him further away.
The sound of tumbling shells was growing on Ken's nerves, but he held his tongue. No one had confronted him about his growing snappiness, so he assumed it was his imagination. Besides, Yamato couldn't control how he was acting, could he? Maybe, Ken thought, This is all an act. Yamato's being blatantly childish because he never wanted to come here. Then, there's Hikari. What goal does she have saving a bunch of creatures like this? What if she just wants more power than you, Ken? What if they're both against you?
"I can't believe it," Hikari said, breaking everyone's concentration. She held a hand up to an old Digi-Code sign. "I'm really here. Look! There's where the lighthouse used to stand... when Takeru..."
Yamato's ears perked at his brother's name. He held back, staring at Hikari as she began to pass him, then reached out and took her arm. "Takeru...?"
Hikari smiled weakly.
"Innsmouth, it says," Ken growled. "Let's just find your King of the Ocean, grab the Crest of Envy, and get out of here."
The group walked along the shore for awhile until Hikari passed the cave of the 'Scubamon'. She stopped in front of it. "That has to be the way to Him."
"I'll go first," Ken announced, strutting past his two companions. He lead the way into the dark. Hikari followed, but Yamato remained behind. He wouldn't budge and only screamed and batted at Hikari when she attempted otherwise. She turned back to the cave.
"Ken! Wait!"
"What now?!" he barked. "We have things to do!"
"Yamato won't go, Ken. Someone should stay with him."
Ken reemerged at the mouth of the cave. "Fine. Leave him."
"Ken!" Hikari snapped. "How can you say that?"
"Face it, Hikari. He's worthless to us now. We should just leave him where he stands."
"I won't leave him and—and, Ken! You don't sound like yourself at all. I'm worried."
The Kaizer tapped his foot. He walked over to Yamato and snatched the glasses from the boy's face. "These are mine. Don't touch my things. Now, get going!"
Yamato looked to Hikari. Then to Ken. He shook his head and darted off down the beach.
"Great, you've scared him," Hikari breathed. "Ken, I think you've had those powers long enough. I don't like where this is going."
"I can control it, Hikari. I'm not the fragile peasant I was when you met me," the Kaizer reassured. "Look. I'll go find Yamato. Why don't you go on ahead and we'll catch up with you?"
Hikari bit her lip.
"The only thing that interests these beings is you, right? What good are we to them? And if I really am losing control, won't it just make things worse to meet the origins of these dark powers? Let me get some... fresh air... and we'll regroup."
"Alright... please, take care of Yamato," Hikari urged, then turned and began tiptoeing into the dark. How she wished Miyako were here. She had been helpful the last time they entered the Dark World. Even as she ventured on, she hoped for the others. Daisuke's optimism was as bright as her crest of Light in all this dark and how she ached to feel the warmth of his arms around her.
Ken found Yamato huddled under a pier about a mile down the beach. He wrinkled his nose as the human shivered. "Come on. We need to catch up with Hikari before she gains the power I need. I'm the only one who can defend worthless people like you."
Yamato couldn't budge. He wasn't going into anymore caves. Not without Takeru. Or Gabumon. He was too scared. He began to whimper.
The Kaizer could only seen a grown man falling apart, not the child, hiding under the bed from his mother's unclean advances. He ordered Yamato to move once more. When he didn't, Ken grabbed the whip at his side and struck the man down, making him cry out. Part of it was absolutely blissful, until Ken saw the blood seeping through Yamato's blue uniform.
Lilithmon felt her entire soul tingle. "Seems your friend absolutely despises what you've become. But then, that's different from your everyday, how?" She chuckled as she rode the wave of Ken's lashing, still dragging Yamato by his hair. "Tell me where the real you is, Yamato. The one that beds anyone who looks at him. The one who gets wasted just to forget. The one that dreams about things he could never tell anyone. And yes, I mean that. Took me a long time to find that one out and it's just luscious. If you don't tell me, I'll soon have the Kaizer destroy your useless body and claim his. Now, speak!"
Yamato wiped the tears from his eyes.
Ken frowned. "Oh, God, Yamato... Yamato, are you alright?" He knealt down in the sand and pressed his hand to the bleeding wound. He looked around for anything, but found nothing. He then ripped away part of his cape—something of a security blanket for the child—and wrapped it about his wound. "There. Good as new."
Yamato sniffled. "Ken..."
"I didn't mean to hurt you. God, I didn't mean to-!" Ken cringed, pounding his fists in the dirt.
Yamato stared into the ocean ahead of them. The waves were growing closer with each lap. He had upset this badly dressed young man he knew as 'Ken' and he was sure it was his fault. "You're supposed to love me. You were never supposed to hurt me."
Ken choked back his own set of tears. How familiar the blonde's words sounded to him, just like when he used to talk to Osamu. He had become aware, after some time of reflection, how similar his Kaizer self and his older brother were. However, memories of his brother were so fuzzy, he couldn't even tell what was real anymore. All he knew was that Hikari was right: he was losing himself once more in the darkness and hate that was his guilt. He had to find a way to alleviate himself of his loathing—as Daisuke often attempted to do.
Ken ripped away the rest of his cape and wrapped it around Yamato's shoulders. He huddled next to the child-man a moment as he cried. Ken wasn't sure why. Perhaps another twisted memory of Osamu told him, but he leaned in to Yamato's forehead and placed his lips there. The gesture was innocent, right?
"Finally!" Lilithmon barked, kicking Yamato the rest of the way down the tunnel until they both entered the clearing. "There you are. There's my precious young man."
Little Yamato tugged at her boots, but she kicked him in the face.
Outside, Yamato was crying and shaking. Ken had hoped his act of kindness would be enough, but there was something deeper going on. Something he couldn't find.
Lilithmon found Yamato entangled in throngs of lovers, bare and wasted. As much as the lustful Digimon wanted to leap right in, she decimated everything until only two were left. Yamato, and his mother, holding him down. She looked to Lilithmon and then the Digimon destroyed her, too.
"She'll come back," the bare Yamato said, rolling onto his side. "She always does. No matter how many people I bury her under, she's always inside of me."
Lilithmon marched over to him. When she looked back, the child was bleeding but still alive. She stared down at the core she had come for. "Come on. I can make sure she stays away."
"You're a liar."
"You shouldn't hide from me. We share such blissful similarities."
"I'm nothing like you."
"I can give you everything you've ever wanted."
"She said that, too. Now, get out."
Lilithmon screamed and raised her hand to destroy him for good when she felt something pierce her skin. Blood began to pour down her front. Gaping, she turned. Little Yamato held a gun and he had fired it at her.
"Yamato..." Ken whispered. "Come on, snap out of it. I'm right here. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore."
A laugh echoed somewhere in the soiled air and Ken held his breath. "Even you, Ichijouji?"
Ken let Yamato go and stood. "Daemon! Come out!"
He did so, appearing from a dark hole in the ground. Ken felt his heart growing heavy and knowing that he had to fight himself, protect the child breaking down behind him, and destroy this Digimon, too...
"It's all a little overwhelming, isn't it?" Daemon questioned. "Stop fighting who you really are, Ichijouji. Embrace the memory of your brother."
"You don't know anything about me!" Ken growled.
"I've no need to know. I do have eyes and I see what you are. Remember, Ichijouji, if you don't embrace your potential, your friends will-"
Daemon suddenly widened one eye and started over, shoving Ken to the ground. He stared down at Yamato, who was still curled with his head between his knees and sniffling. "Lilithmon."
Ken gasped. Lilithmon?!
"Why have you trapped yourself in this rotting human cage?! Answer me!" Daemon waited and with no answer, he chuckled. "Foolish woman. Let me assist you." He raised his hand and Yamato began to clutch at his throat.
Ken stood and was ready to tackle Daemon, but something in him stopped him. Daemon's words. If he didn't fully except the Kaizer, he couldn't protect everyone. He had to stop being soft. Yamato could take care of himself. He knew Hikari could, too. But when faced with other challenges, who would be their only chance at survival? Him.
Ken could only hear a sick, gagging sound. He watched and waited as the blonde finished hacking up something black and purple.
"Were you planning to escape to the Real World without me?" Daemon demanded of the puddle, which was beginning to materialize.
Ken took his chance and grabbed Yamato's hand, leading him out from under the pier. Daemon watched the two scurry away—not that it mattered. He couldn't have them dying on him now, that would be too easy. That would destroy his chances of destroying the world he hated so much. He never asked to be born such a vile creature as a mindless angel. He only wanted a just, fair world. Was that too much to ask?
"Lilithmon, you reek of human," Daemon snorted.
The woman-devil screamed and raised her hand to Daemon, slapping him. "What did you DO that for?! I nearly had him! I nearly had him!"
"I can't allow you to supercede me, Lilithmon."
"I'd like to see you try."
"He will destroy you."
"Ha!"
"You were nearly dead yourself—caught offguard by a child. I had to save you. You're nothing without me." Daemon laughed some more.
Lilithmon felt the scar in her center. Daemon may have saved her, but he didn't have to. She didn't need him! She was going to get her revenge on that blonde brat, for making her look like a fool, especially in front of her lover, Daemon! She spread her tiny wings and started for the City of Many Angles.
"When did you become the Kaizer again?"
"I had to to save you and Hikari."
"We can't trust you now," Yamato replied.
The two continued to talk as they followed the path Hikari had taken through the tunnel.
Ken sighed, "You don't trust anyone anyway, what do you care?"
"You're right. I should be turning back and slitting that witch's throat. I'm sure you would just love the chance to cause some destruction."
"T-That's not it at all. I'm using this power for good!" Ken yelled, raising a fist to Yamato. The blonde shrugged.
"Whatever lie makes you feel better, Ken. I'm not judging you. Just know I'm not trusting you."
"Let's just go rescue Hikari."
"What if I'm sick of this? I think I'd rather just go hunt Lilithmon alone."
Ken reached for his whip and tossed it down across the wound from earlier, seperating the cloth fabric of the cape, making it flutter to the ground. Yamato cursed as he gripped his arm. Blue eyes met Ken's with an intense hatred the Kaizer hadn't seen in him before. Almost something repressed. "See?" Yamato seethed, "You've hurt me twice now."
"You're a fool. If not for me, you would be dead."
"Keep telling yourself that. When it comes time to kill you, I'll gladly do it."
"I'm sure you will, if that track record of yours is anything to remember."