I do not own InuYasha or Digimon Adventure in any way! Nor any of the songs I will be using!
Speech Key:
"The" – Oral/Normal Speech
'The' – Thoughts
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BEGINNING!
AN: Okay, the first bit of the chapter will be from the episode "Invasion of the Daemon Corps". However, after that little bit, I'll be fast forwarding a couple episodes to insert a bit of "Owikawa's Shame" and summarizing the events of the episodes that came before. My plan sounds wicked choppy, I know, but just go along with it for a bit, as I'll be inserting something else as well into this. And besides it sounding choppy, I know that it sounds pretty lazy of me, but just bear with me a bit!
Review, but if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all!
-The Ninth Child-
xX-The False Gate-Xx
-Earth; Kamiya Residence; Christmas Night-
"So what're you gonna do?" Tai asked quietly.
The three Kamiya siblings, Kudamon, Gatomon, Agumon, and, Kapurimon were in the siblings' bedroom, the Digimon huddled in close to each other on Kagome's bunk. The two teens and preteens had longs since shed their outerwear and now were adorned in whatever they had on underneath their winter coats.
Tai leaned up against the bunk bed Kari and Kagome shared, a grave look upon his face. Kari sat at the desk in their room with a small table lamp illuminating the worried and anxious expression painted on her. Kagome stood next to her brother, wrapping her arms around one of his and her head resting on his shoulder, a solemn appearance on her features.
"I don't know?" Kari whispered, not looking at either of her older siblings.
"Do any of the others know what they're going up against?" the brown-haired teen asked.
"I-I don't know," Kari's voice cracked a bit, "At least, I don't think so…"
"You guys might've broken some Dark Rings, a few Dark Spirals," Tai told his youngest sister, "But you're group has got to be prepared for whatever's coming next!"
"Well," Kari tried, "we've destroyed Control Spire Digimon, how about that?"
"I know they look like real Digimon, and fought like 'em, too," Agumon spoke up, "But you need to remember that they're not real. Excluding BlackWarGreymon, none of them had hearts, you know."
"Sweetie," Kagome said softly, "You know as well as I do that they must be prepared for the difficult decisions we've had to make in the past. I know they love and care for Digimon just as we all do; but, they also need to understand that real or not, it's what a Digimon does that determines whether or not it's good or evil."
"I know," the light-brown-haired preteen sighed, "But—I—Well, we're just kids!"
"You're not just kids, Kari," the raven-haired teen shook her head, "You're DigiDestined and that sets us all apart from everyone else because the fate of two worlds rests in our hands. Soon we'll be facing real Digimon and not the Control Spire Digimon we've been fighting. You, T.K, and everyone else that was involved four years ago understand what needs to be done, even though we don't like doing it. But Davis, Yolei, Cody, and maybe even Ken won't be used to the idea of fighting a Digimon to win. They must understand that no matter how hard it may be, sacrifices will have to be made, things will need to have been done so that we all may move forward."
"And besides," Gatomon added, "Mummymon and Arukenimon are still on the prowl here in this world."
"You all have got to be ready for whatever comes your way," Tai told the youngest Kamiya.
'And it'll have to be soon,' Kagome glanced back at her pillow, under which her deck of tarot cards was carefully placed under, 'Because I have a feeling that our true enemy will be revealed in due time…'
-Earth; A Few Days Later-
"So many children infected with the Dark Spore…" Kagome whispered, shivering a little, holding Kapurimon just a little more firmly. "The dark aura in the air is so strong…!"
"Kagome…" Kudamon said softly. "Everything will be all right, you'll see…" He nuzzled her cheek and purred in an attempt to console his partner.
It had been a few days since the DigiDestined had all returned from their little World Tour. Unfortunately, the danger had only seemed to have worsened in their time away with the kidnappings of multiple children across Odaiba. And if that hadn't been bad enough, the mastermind behind the entire plot and the one pulling Arukenimon and Mummymon's strings was a human man by the name of Mitsuro Owikawa.
Only then was it revealed that a Dark Spore implanted within Ken had been what corrupted him to the point where he became the Digimon Emperor, acting purely on Owikawa and Arukenimon's orders. Owikawa had tricked Ken into coming with him in exchange for the freedom of a group of children, only for him to go back on his word and implant copies of the original Dark Spore from Ken within the children held hostage.
However, Owikawa and his two Digimon henchmen weren't the only ones that were after Ken's Dark Spore. A Digimon named Daemon had escaped from the Dark Realm with a few Digimon minions of his own, intent on taking Ken by force if need be to obtain the Dark Spore within the boy. With his friends' help, Ken was able to open a Dark Gate to send Daemon back into the Dark Realm once his henchmen had been defeated after much hesitation by the newer DigiDestined.
Since then, the DigiDestined had all paired off into groups patrolling certain areas to keep an eye on the children infected with the Dark Spores. They wanted to ensure that whatever happened, they would be able to at least delay the effects of the Dark Spores, not wanting them to grow and sprout to the point where each child would become another Digimon Emperor. Unfortunately, that hadn't seemed to have been Owikawa's plan in the first place. It seemed that he planted those Dark Spore into children just so that he could absorb the power that came from the Dark Flowers that bloomed when the Spores sprouted in order to 'fulfill his greatest desire'. The ghastly-looking man had been causing so much trouble and put the Digital world in a state of unbalance all because he wanted to go there himself.
"Mei-Mei?" Kapurimon glanced up at the girl he considered a mother figure.
"I don't understand, though," Kudamon spoke quietly, "that man only placed Dark Spores within that group of children, didn't he? So why are you having such a violent reaction?"
"I don't think it was only those children Owikawa planted the Dark Spore into," the raven-haired teen said nearly inaudibly. "Those were the only children there at the time, but who knows if those children were the only ones?! Had it only been a small group of children, the dark aura I'm feeling wouldn't be so strong, and yet it's stronger than anything that could come from a few young kids! No, there are many more children out there that are in danger…many more…"
The raven-haired girl and the rest of the DigiDestined had been meeting at Highton View Terrace the days since Owikawa had revealed his plans at a shrine to stay on the lookout for Owikawa and the children.
Let it go
Let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go
Let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway
Kagome and her two Digimon blinked when they heard the song pierce through the silence around them. "What the—?" She took out her phone and looked to see who was calling her at a time like this, only to be slightly surprised at the identity of her caller. "Kimi-Mama?"
"Hello, darling," Kimi Taisho greeted the raven-haired teen, "I know this is a little short notice, but could you come over for a bit?"
Kagome bit her lip. On one hand, she had a duty to fulfill, on the other she had a family she considered her own asking something of her. "When and how long?"
"Would you be able to come over now, dear?" the elder woman asked. "And I promise I won't keep you long, I just need you here for a little bit."
"Okay," the raven-haired girl nodded, "I'm on my way; but, I'm sorry I can't stay for long…"
"Oh, it's not such a big deal, darling!" Kimi giggled. "You can just make up for it by modeling a few new clothing lines later on and we'll call it even! I'll see you soon! Ta ta!"
Kagome sweat-dropped for a moment. "I wonder what she needs me for?" the teen frowned lightly as she set into a quick pace towards the Taisho Manor.
-Taisho Manor-
"Hey, squirt," InuYasha grinned, opening the door to let the teen in, Shippo settled in one arm, "glad you could make it."
"Am I missing something?" Kagome raised an eyebrow as she saw the entire Taisho family assembled before her in the entrance hall. "I thought Kimi-Mama needed help with something?"
"I only said that so we could get you to come here, darling," Kimi smiled guiltily.
"But we do have a reason for bringing you here, Kitten," Touga added. "Why don't we go and talk this out in the sitting room?"
And with the two Taisho parents led the raven-haired girl to the living room with InuYasha and Sesshomaru following close behind, their adopted children settled snugly in their arms.
Kagome looked at the Taisho family with curious icy-blue orbs. "So what's going on?"
"Those creatures appearing around Japan and the rest of the world," Kimi began, "those are Digimon, aren't they? Like the ones we saw four years ago?"
Kagome nodded. "But unlike what most people think, not all Digimon are evil or even bad. Some just lash out because they don't know what else to do in an unfamiliar environment. There are others, though," she thought back to Myotismon as well as Daemon and his minions, "that are definitely not the good sort."
"And are we right to assume that you, your siblings, and your friends will be involved in this again?" Touga asked, his tone almost weary.
Kagome could only nod.
"Keh," InuYasha huffed, "Whatever you do, just make sure you take care of yourself! I know you, squirt, and you'll do everything you can to help everyone else before helping yourself!"
"I must concur with the whelp's statement," Sesshomaru said in his usual cold tone, "You, girl, have a knack for getting into situations beyond anyone's control. Be careful and come back to us safe and sound."
'Did Sesshomaru just say something nice?' Kagome blinked before smiling softly. "I will," she gave a small nod.
"Now come with me," Kimi placed Kudamon and Kapurimon on the sofa gently before taking Kagome's hand, "There are a few things I want to give you."
"Wha—but—?!" Kagome was able to get out as the rest of the Taishos and the two Digimon watched the scene with light amusement despite the tense atmosphere.
The~Ninth~Child
"Kimi-Mama…" Kagome breathed out in awe, "I can't take these! They're too—"
"Don't you dare say they're too fine for you," the elder woman wagged a finger at the girl she considered a daughter. She stood behind Kagome after sitting her before a vanity, brush and comb in hand. "You look like a beautiful young lady, my darling. Nothing anyone says can ever change that."
"You still didn't need to go through all this trouble…" Kagome whispered, glancing down at her new outfit and glancing at the coat on a hanger by her side.
The~Ninth~Child
Kagome was currently wearing a lavender thigh-length dress with a few layers of tulle underneath the skirt, a mandarin collar and long poet sleeves where lacy black ruffled fabric flared out from a little before the wrists. Intricate black designs were made along the fabric as tiny black lace lined the top of the mandarin collar. She wore a pair of black leggings and her feet were tucked into a pair of white knee-high wedge-heel lace-up boots with sandy-hued fur lining the tops and sides.
The coat that hung by Kagome was a pure white velveteen knee-length coat with a flare skirt-like bottom and silver buttons going down the front. A small white cape draped over his shoulders line with white fur and golden roses and vine-like designs were patterned over the velveteen fabric.
In her ears was a pair of dangling lavender and silver crescent moons.
The~Ninth~Child
"There," Kimi whispered, brushing away a few stray tears in her eyes, "you're ready…"
Kagome looked in the mirror and held stifled a gasp, though she couldn't hide her widening eyes. 'Oh my…'
The~Ninth~Child
The elder woman, it seemed, had worked wonders on Kagome's hair. The long raven length was given a light curl and wave as it was swept up into a thick, wide high-ponytail, a thin braid going around the structure. Her bangs were brushed so that they splayed over her forehead, though were close to covering her right eye. And secure at the top right of her ponytail was a large lavender rose with small silver chains hanging from it and violet crescent moons of different sizes dangling from the chains' ends.
A light swipe of clear gloss was placed over her lips and a touch of eyeliner and mascara brought out her eyes.
The~Ninth~Child
"Kimi-Mama," Kagome's brow furrowed a little, "Can I ask you something?"
"You just did, darling," Kimi giggled, "But go on ahead."
"Why?" the raven-haired girl whispered. "Why are you doing this? Why now?"
The Taisho Wife sighed. "Darling you know that we all consider you our family just as Touga and I consider you the daughter we never had. We know that you'll be going into danger and there would be no way to stop you or protect you, no matter how much we would want to. So think of this as my way of sending along a little luck and our love with you." She smiled lightly. "Besides, we all chipped in to make this for you. Everyone's ideas and love went into this, even though the boys don't like dressing up so much."
"As for why we did this now," Kimi continued, "You'll be going into battle, darling; no matter how dramatic it sounds. Even though it doesn't seem like much, a woman's appearance is her armour. When you look beautiful and you feel the part, you'll find that you're much more confident than you thought you would be before any obstacle you face."
(AN: That last bit up there I kinda modified from a quote in "Saiunkoku Monogatari". I thought general meaning behind the quote fit so I modified it a bit and placed it in here.)
"Thank you," Kagome whispered, tucking her face into the neck of the second mother figure in her life, "Thank you!"
"Are you sure about this, Kagome?" Kudamon asked. "Do you even know if it'll work?"
"If you have a better idea, then go on ahead, but I've been doing this since Owikawa took the energy of the Dark Flower form that young girl," Kagome reminded her partner, "But I don't think it did too much good back then since I doubt too many children bothered listening to the track. This is our only hope now. I've known that I won't be able to stop those Dark Flowers from sprouting, but the least I could do was slow down the process. Unfortunately, my first plan didn't really work out so well, so it's come down to this."
"Very well," Kudamon nodded as Kagome began singing, her tattoo glowing. "Kudamon Digivolve to: Reppamon!"
Magia – Kalafina/Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Someday you will wish for great power
For the sake of someone else
In the night when love captured your heart
Unknown words are born
If I can go on without losing my way
I don't mind if my heart is broken
I want a spell that will let me fight
Against the sorrow before me
You're a memory that keeps on dreaming
I'm the sleepless tomorrow
I'll move forward in order to reach
The miracle of the two of us meeting
What I hold in these hands of mine
Is a sword of handpicked flowers
My feelings alone are all that I live for
A wish that I wield
Within my heart
"Reppamon Digivolve to: Chirinmon!"
"Let's go," Kagome placed a simple black lace mask over her eyes as she climbed onto her partner's back.
"As you wish, Milady!" Chirinmon boomed as he launched himself into the air.
The raven-haired teen placed Kapurimon into her messenger bag before placing it down gently, making sure it was securely placed on Chirinmon's back before raising an arm snapping her fingers thrice, her eyes glowing mildly and the sounds echoing loudly over the whistling wind.
Sparks jumped from her fingers with each snap, and when the final snap was heard bars of music could be heard beginning softly but getting louder with each passing second.
-Highton View Terrace-
"GAH!" Davis bit his glove to keep himself from being heard. "How long do we have to wait here?! And where's Kagome?! Did she say she'd meet us here?"
Ken, Davis, Yolei, Kari, T.K, Cody, their Digimon, Matt, Joe, and Izzy were hiding in a patch of bushes and trees by the bridge at Highton View Terrace, keeping a lookout for any children or Owikawa.
"Well, for your first question," Matt answered, "Owikawa told the kids to meet up here, don't you remember? Plus there's also the fact that a Digital Gate's been opened up here before, so it's only logical that Owikawa would try and use this particular location to get to the Digital World."
"As for your other questions," Joe spoke up, "Kagome isn't the type of person to blow something as important as this off. If she's late, then there's a valid reason for that."
"And I think I know what it is," Izzy's eyes widened as he stared at his laptop screen, "Check this out!" The group huddled in around the aurburn-haired genius and their eyes widened when they saw what was playing on the screen.
It was a live stream from some news network, showing Chirinmon flying around Odaiba and other areas of Japan. But that wasn't the most surprising thing that was shown. The thing that shocked the DigiDestined the most was the masked girl in white singing and dancing on the Digimon's back, her raven-hued hair flying behind her.
"Hey, could you turn it up, Izzy?" Yolei asked.
The auburn-haired teen nodded and turned up the volume so they all could hear whatever it was that Kagome was singing.
The~Ninth~Child
(AN: I had to look up several different sites to get the translation lyrics and put together what I thought would be the best way to describe the song, so if it's in accurate in any way, please forgive me! Oh, but I do suggest watching the anime AKB0048, it's pretty good.
Dreams are Forever Reborn (Yume wa Nandomo Umarekawaru) – AKB48/AKB0048
The stars that shine in the night sky
Lie billions of light-years away
Even if the depths of despair
Should cast an endless shadow
The truth will make itself heard
Who will be the one to receive
The message of light
Set adrift on the river of time?
People are born, and people die
Our bodies don't last forever
Those who rise up from the ashes
Give passion to the next generation
Dreams are like reincarnation
Like déjà vu,
My distant memories keep coming back to me
It's like reincarnation
With my head still in the clouds
I'm running off somewhere again
Will my tears make me give up?
Will enough lives make my dreams come true?
(Music)
Eternity is an endless loop
Made of paths left behind by our predecessors
Somewhere in this wide universe
They may have left tracks behind
When I close my eyes and remember
Nostalgic scenery comes into sight
An unrecognizable me
Gazes up at the sky
People love, people are loved
I want to retrieve from the mud
The feelings I let slip away
And make them mine once more
Love is like reincarnation
We recall once again our forgotten pain
It's definitely like reincarnation
We're expected to understand everything
Will enough farewells make me turn my back?
Will enough experiences bring us together?
(Music)
It's my generation
Dreams are like reincarnation
Like déjà vu, my distant memories
Keep coming back to me
It's just like reincarnation
With my head still in the clouds
I'm running off somewhere again
Will enough tears make me give up?
Will enough lives make my dream come true?
(Music)
The~Ninth~Child
"You know, it doesn't matter how many times you see or hear her do it," Kari commented, "I'm still surprised by Kagome each time. I mean, she's my sister and even I didn't know she could sing that good! She sang some lullabies for me as a kid, but this is on a whole other level!" She then spotted her sister's outfit. "Hey…when'd she change her clothes? That's definitely not the outfit she went out wearing today…'
'That kinda 'cause she's technically a professional…' Matt refrained from commenting. 'But Kari's right about one thing; every time she sings, I'm blown away each time. She's really that good!' He frowned a little. 'After this week, I thought for sure that Kagome was just a heat-of-the-moment sort of crush and that Sora was the one I really cared about. But now…I think I really am falling for her and big time at that!'
"But why's Sis wearing a mask?" T.K asked.
"'Sis'?" Matt echoed with a raised eyebrow as everyone else besides Kari looked at him oddly.
"What?" the young blonde flushed lightly. "So I see her like an older sister, is that a crime? Kagome definitely doesn't mind!"
"But he's right," Yolei spoke up, "Why's Kagome wearing that mask? And isn't that one of Masquerade's songs she was singing? Heck if I didn't know any better, I would've said that she could be one of the singers for Masquerade!"
'You don't know just how right you are Yolei,' Matt sweat-dropped.
"Uh, anyway," Izzy coughed to get their attention, "The report says that this Digimon and the mysterious singer have been going around Odaiba and other parts of Japan. I wonder what her plan is…"
"You know, I guess it might have something to do with her singing," Davis suggested. "Remember all those times she started singing and then something happened? Like that one time when she sang, Reppamon Digivolved to Ultimate and then that other time when her singing made that barrier around us? What if she's using her singing to do something else this time?"
"I'm impressed, Davis," Ken smiled a little, "I didn't think you of all people would come up with such a valid explanation!"
"Tha—HEY!" the maroon-haired preteen glared at his navy-haired friend.
"Hey, guys," Cody called to them quietly, "Look over there! Kids are starting to show up!"
Everyone scrambled over to the bushes and peeked either over or through them. And sure enough, with each passing moment, more and more children began showing up.
"It's like they're…waiting for something?" Yolei observed.
"Or someone," Cody added, "Could it be Owikawa?"
"If those kids have the Dark Spores inside them," Matt nodded, "Then, yeah, there's a good chance that they could be waiting for Owikawa."
"But I still don't get it," Davis shook his head, "Why here at Highton View Terrace?"
"A Gate to the Digital World as been opened here many times before," Izzy explained, "Owikawa may be trying to access that very gate to get into the Digital World."
"Except there's one problem with that," Matt told them, "From what Gabumon and the others said, something's completely sealed that Gateway. But I have the feeling that those kids and Owikawa don't know about that yet…"
-Elsewhere-
"Hurry Chirinmon," Kagome urged her Digimon to fly faster, "We have to get to Highton View Terrace as quickly as we can! I feel something dark and an immense amount of power coming from that direction!"
"But are you sure it's not just a place near or beyond Highton View Terrace?" the dragon-like Digimon asked.
Kagome nodded. "A Digital Gate has been opened there before multiple times, so it wouldn't be any surprise if Owikawa tries using that very Gate to enter the Digital World. However, there's one thing he doesn't know about."
"The protection you and the Guardians placed over that Gate," Chirinmon stated.
"Yes," the raven-haired girl acknowledged, "Because we sealed that Gate as tightly and as permanently as we could there's no way Owikawa should be able to get to the Digital World. But if he does attempt it, then something disastrous could happen!"
Chirinmon said nothing else as he picked up the pace, gliding through the air, ignoring the amazed or frightened gasps he and his partner heard.
It wasn't until a while later when they arrived at Highton View Terrace did their expressions change from determination and worry to horror and fright. "Oh my…" Kagome breathed out, "We're too late…"
And she was right. There before them Owikawa laughed maniacally as a large golden doorway opened up before him and the large group of children that had gathered around him.
"No…" the raven-haired teen whispered, watching in horror as they all ran into the doorway, followed by Davis and the rest of the DigiDestined preteens along with Cody. "NO!" She silently urged her partner to make haste for the doorway before it closed.
"Kagome?" Joe whispered in surprise.
Matt, Izzy, and Joe watched on in shock as the raven-haired teen rode into the gateway on Chirinmon. "Wait! Don't—" Izzy cut himself off when the gate sealed itself shut, leaving no trace that anything had been there in the first place.
"We're too late," Matt feel to his knees, fear coursing through him, "They're on their own…"
Ciao,
TsukiyoTenshi