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 chapter was so difficult to churn out. I know some of my past chapters are confusing/weak due to my growth as a writer and I did have to re-learn all my saved notes (there's a seperate document just for the headcanon and another for the Dante's Inferno / V-Pet / Lovecraft lore. You would be surprised how much research actually went into this... lol I hope this chapter will be entertaining as we are nearing the end... Also, I'm working on a Hikamato fic, so when it goes up, please give it a look!

A/N 2: Thank you "anon". I wondered when you would pop back up! :) Please be patient as I work on the remaining chapters. I hope you're looking forward to them.

Chapter 11 - Chrysalis

"The city of Dis is beyond the Murky Marshes," the Kaizer read. He held the map out in front of him as he walked. Occasionally, he'd stroke the whip at his waist and tell himself that it was all in case of an emergency attack. Just for his own defense... "Beyond that are the Tunnels of the Demon's Den."

Yamato lagged behind and kept an ever-watching eye out for Lilithmon. What Ken had said to him about Hikari hovered over him as a possibility, but either way, he knew Lilithmon was to blame. She was the one to send him into a black out flashback. She was the one to give him yet another Crest of Irony he didn't want. She was a substitute for...

Either way, Hikari wouldn't turn against them, ever. Yamato knew that and yet between scans for Lilithmon, he observed her. She scratched at her shoulder, but otherwise nothing strange.

Hikari marched in the lead. Occasionally she looked back at their group and she missed her brother. She missed Takeru. She missed Miyako and everyone else. What she wouldn't give to have Tailmon at her side. She hoped they would all begin arguing again just to keep her away from her own thoughts.

"You all should listen to me!" Ken demanded. "How else will we find these crests if we don't know where we're going? Or did you nimrods forget that we only have two of the seven?!"

"We know, fuckface," Yamato snapped. "I'll help you do whatever you want as long as I find Lilithmon."

"That's right, Yamato," Hikari said. "So she won't get into the Real World and make matters worse." The young woman pushed away the insanity of her thoughts just before. A queen? That was a title she always despised. Queens were women of power... dictatorship. She wasn't like that, was she?

"Whatever."

Hikari yelled and planted her feet. She stopped near the entrance of the city. As Ken nearly tripped over her he cursed until he found himself caught in the awe of the city beyond and the large temple looming into the sky. The city was a twisting and turning of great architecture: walls, bridges, stairwells, arches... The sand-colored sky gave a golden glow to the dark clouds swirling about.

"Why did you stop?!" the Kaizer exclaimed.

"Because this! This, what you're doing right now," Hikari cried. "What's the matter with us? Are we going to give in to our own hatred that easily?"

"H-Hikari..." Ken whispered. "I'm sorry..."

"Get out of my way," Yamato seethed. He started to push past Hikari when she grabbed him by the arm.

"Don't go repeating past mistakes in there, Yamato," she hissed. He yanked his arm back and continued on towards the main archway leading into the walled city.

Many winged Digimon abound and two LadyDevimon guarded the gate.

"Do my wicked eyes decieve me?" smirked said guard in an sensuous voice.

"Oh, no," Hikari sighed.

"You're that bratty human child from Spiral Mountain... the one with that blonde bitch of a Digimon."

"Shut up. I'm not in the mood," Hikari replied. "I'm not here for you. I'm here looking for the Crests of Sin."

"Those old things... I see you have a few with you already. I'm amazed! I heard rumours of some human children stalking around, but never did I think it would be you heathens again."

"Let me through," Yamato ordered.

"Oh, my, and who is this hot tempered young man?"

LadyDevimon reached over and brushed back Yamato's bangs with her nails. He swatted at her with a low growl.

"Do you know anything about the Crests?" Ken demanded.

"You're that Digimon Emperor the Nightmare Soldiers go on about... I'm not impressed. Anyway, I know plenty about them but I wouldn't think of having night terrors of telling you."

"Shove off," Yamato hissed and pushed past the lady devil again.

LadyDevimon was no pushover, however, and gave him a good swat to the back. The blond flew forward a few feet, landing on his stomach. Hikari rushed to his side.

"Yamato, are you alright?" Hikari whispered.

"I'm gonna kill her!"

"Calm down, Yamato."

Hikari helped him stand and lead Yamato inside the gates. LadyDevimon chuckled.

"Belphemon will awaken soon... You three have no idea what you're getting into."

Ken followed and left LadyDevimon's laughter and the gate behind them. He looked around the city, the branching architecture not unlike Italy, yet like something out of a Dr. Suess book.

"Let's gather information," Yamato suggested. "Maybe we could use a short break from each other."

"If you want to forget why we're here and go hunt Lilithmon, then just go," Hikari sighed. "Don't make excuses. We need to be honest with one another if we're ever going to get through this."

"Yamato is right, though. Belphemon is supposedly around here and Lilithmon, too. We could have half the crests if we split up and took these bastards down," Ken explained.

"We shouldn't split up, it's too dangerous," Yamato said. Yes, it was out of the blue. Like something the old him would say. A part of him, being in this place, had essentially made him a leader. Something he always dreamed he was capable of but if those many weeks in the desert during Taichi's disappearance had been any indication, this would be a failure. Was Hikari a leader? Maybe. She seemed the most focused, the strongest of all of them. Yamato loved that about her. How she was scared shitless on the inside but could focus on the mission. Meanwhile, I... I'm...

Yamato heard his mother's voice and squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists. He wasn't going to let Lilithmon get away with what she had done! She would just get into the real world and torture more humans like she did him...

"Look, there's a crowd gathering," Ken said. He outstretched his arm to point to the south. There was a town square of some sort beyond the slanted roofs and maze of alleyways. Several PicoDevimon, BlackTailmon, and a variety of other virus types began to disappear into the foggy crevices.

The children were thankful for the confusing layout and managed to climb up a resident's back terrace to a fairly flat roof. They laid flat on their elbows and stomachs and listened to the large Digimon in the center. Until now they hadn't noticed the more powerful Digimon, mostly fallen angels like Ophanimon FallDown Mode and ShadowSeraphimon.

Hikari cringed at the sight. She remembered Skullgreymon and Tailmon and the complexities of evolution...

Another tall, humanoid Digimon raised a clawed arm and cheered. His red wings flared out, knocking back weaker demons. They knew better than to pick a fight with NeoDevimon.

"Glad Takeru's not here," Hikari whispered. She heard Yamato give half a chuckle.

"That guy in the center... Is it Belphemon?" Ken whispered.

"No, LadyDevimon said he was sleeping... this is some other evil Digimon."

Yamato glanced over at the other two. "You guys talk like that's suprising..."

The kids watched as the Digimon turned to finally reveal his face. He had several red wings and a luxurious dark robe that flowed well past his feet. His long, silver beard glimmered with the dust swirling in the air. His face looked like more of a golden mask; lifeless and dull.

"I AM THE SCHEMER OF GOLD," he pronounced. The demon slammed his staff several times, clearing the air of grime and noise. "Belphemon awakens from his 1000 year sleep! I can protect you all, if you only find this world's treasures before I return to my slumber! Do as I command and I'll spare your microscopic lives."

"What treasure could we possibly give you, Master Barbamon?!" Ophanimon (FDM) cried. She threw herself onto her hands and knees to await her answer.

"I want the Crests of Sin. Do you all truly want Lucemon to reform this Digital World or would you rather continue to run free in your villainy under your own rule?! This is what I am offering you."

"Talk about a Hitler," Yamato snorted. "Looks like this area isn't going to be any safer than the last."

"I wish we could just disguise ourselves as Digimon..." Hikari sighed. She scratched her nose absent-mindedly and shifted her weight. "We gotta find Belphemon before he does and get the crest. Which one is it now?"

Ken checked the map. "Sloth."

"Hey, up there!" cried a LadyDevimon. "I told you Master Barbamon, there are humans here!"

"Shit."

"I really wish we had our Digimon right now," Hikari huffed. She took off running with Yamato and Ken close behind. They leapt down to the ground, kicked dust into their eyes, and continued through the alleyways.

Hikari felt claws on her back and yelped as they pierced her skin. She looked back at that same LadyDevimon and then to her friends who, apparently, hadn't noticed she was missing. Then, she thought, perhaps they would come back for her.

"Yamato. Yamato, wait!" Ken barked. He reached out and gripped the blond's shirt. The two crashed into the ground. "They've stopped following us... for now. And Hikari's gone, too."

"What? You going to preach to me more about her betraying us?" Yamato asked. He rolled over and kicked the Kaizer off of him. "Hikari can handle herself."

"Is that what you really think, or do you just not care?" Ken snapped. "What happened to the old Yamato that would risk anything for his comrades?"

"...and what happened to you? Not being smart put a damper in your ego?"

"I'm fine, but to say the same about you would be a crime. You act like none of us have noticed what's going on with you and maybe we don't know, but when you keep us in the dark so all we can do is helplessly watch you kill yourself, what do you expect us to do?" Ken stood.

"...Ken." Yamato closed his eyes. "Hikari's right. We need to work together, but I'm not going to let that hellion get away with what she did to me. Not again."

"Again?" Ken wondered. "Yamato...?"

"You can come with me to take her out or you can go back and rescue Hikari. I really don't care. Hell, maybe you can find that Belphemon or whatever."

Ken smiled. Yamato raised an eyebrow. "I remember Takeru telling me this story. You got something you need to take care of? We'll be here waiting for you."

"I..." Yamato stared at his now scuffed and worn boots. "Ken."

"Yeah?"

"There's something wrong with Hikari. I'm not sure what. Maybe it's just a dumb feeling I have, but please, take care of her. Taichi would kill me, you know?"

"...that reminds me. What do you think everyone is doing right now?"

"Forgetting about me, I'm sure," Yamato laughed and ran a hand through his bangs. "Miyako must be worried to death."

"Yamato, let me be honest. I don't think you should fight Lilithmon alone. We can take her on together as a team."

"This is my burden."

"Since when?"

"It always has been and none of you need to worry about it!" Yamato screeched. "I've handled this for twelve years, I can continue to handle this alone. This isn't like before."

Ken twisted his lips. He wasn't sure what Yamato was going on about. Surely whatever he was dealing with in that fractured, child-like mind Lilithmon had reverted him to, but the Kaizer had no time to question it. "...and if it is?"

"Leave Ken."

"Not without you. We're going to rescue Hikari."

"Leave. Now. I won't hesitate to kill you all, remember? Like Hikari said? I'm telling you this for your own safety."

Ken growled and marched over to the blond, took him by the shirt collar and snapping a button.

"Hey! Don't stand there and act like you're the only one who has ever done anything he's ashamed of!" Ken yelled. "I've been where you are."

"I highly doubt you have any idea what I'm going through," Yamato hissed. Despite his words, he didn't try to break free. He waited until Ken let go. The Kaizer left to rescue Hikari.

Yamato held back tears. He knew Lilithmon wasn't going anywhere without his body. She wouldn't give up after one measely attempt... and Yamato didn't want the others involved. He couldn't drag them into his problems... he couldn't let them find out... and tell Takeru the truth.

"So, you're the one that made that deal with Dagomon," Barbamon said. He circled around as LadyDevimon wrapped Hikari tight in her claws. "I see you aren't aware of what gift he bestowed upon you."

Hikari shook her head. What does he mean?

"Master Barbamon, what should we do with this human? String her up for the townsfolk to feed on until her body is but a husk? She has one of the Crests."

"Envy. Are you really that envious, child? Of what... let me find out. Open up your mind."

Barbamon reached out, but Hikari began to glow. He retracted his hand from the burning aura.

"Them, Barbamon."

"And what do the homeostasis want with you?" Barbamon muttered. "Nonetheless, we won't be able to extract the Envy crest from this child... for now. Let's take her back to my temple. I have a feeling these three analogs weren't brought here out of the blue."

"And what of her condition, Master?"

"We'll have to act quickly, I suppose. Otherwise she'll be fit for nothing but a bartering chip with Dagomon, if that time comes."

Hikari looked down at her hand as it tingled. She flipped her palm and realized she was... flaking? Gross. Upon closer inspection, she saw what looked to her like the scales of a fish. Or...

some sea monster Hell-bent on having his way...