Through Their Eyes: Innocents by Child of the Faeries
Part 6: Yamato continues to blame himself for Takeru's death while Taichi and the rebels realize the end is near. Koushiro returns to his friends, but what will the ultimate price be?
Jyou felt his strength give up and he stumbled backwards, reeling. Shin was alive? That...... was impossible.
"Jyou?" Shin said, stepping into the room. "Is that you?" His eyes showed surprise and happiness. "Where have you been? I was worried sick..."
"Shin........" Jyou whispered, a sickening taste in the back of his throat. " I saw you die....... I saw you die! How..... how can you be here?"
Shin looked nervous as he stepped over the knife Jyou had dropped. "Jyou.... I didn't die."
"Yes you did! I saw you! Father beat you..... and I saw you stop breathing-" Jyou's eyes flashed in confusion and anger. "I saw you die."
"Jyou....You were mistaken. I never died," Shin said, his voice low and even. "Yes, Father did beat me badly. But I never stopped breathing. I never gave up the will to live."
"But Shin..... I know what I saw."
"Do you trust, brother? Then listen to what I say. I am your older brother. I will always be here to protect you. I would never leave. I promised you that as little children.
"I'm here still."
With Shin's soft, diplomatic words, Jyou fell to the floor, tears streaming down his face as he gazed into the eyes of his brother.
His brother. Still alive.
"All..... all of this anger and violence. For nothing," Jyou muttered inconsolably, and Shin sat down beside his brother, trying to calm his wracking nerves.
"It's all over now, Jyou. Whatever it was, it's all over now."
Jyou's eyes flashed again, and he said gravely," No, Shin. It's barely begun."
Yamato sat alone in his room. All of his "friends" had left him, discouraged and saddened. They couldn't help him. No one could.
No one could understand the pain he was in. He had killed his brother. Nothing could ever make up for that. Nothing.
He would live with his brother's death hanging over him like a shadow for the rest of his life.
It all looked so hopeless.
"I wish I could just end it all," he muttered softly, playing with the sharp side of his knife. It would be so easy...... just to slip the knife along his tender skin....
He studied the knife closer, remembering the pain and death it had already bought upon his family.
If he killed himself, would anyone cry at his funeral? Would he even have a funeral? Would anyone care?
He thought not.
And while that thought hurt him, he realized that it was his fault. Those people out there, all of the citizens, they had not deserved to be involved in his anger. There was no reason why his anger had to overwhelm him. Control him.
They had not deserved to die. Innocents, all of them. Like Takeru. Like his father. Koushiro's parents. Countless others.
What have we done?
There was a steady rain pouring outside, and tensions were high on the inside of shelter. Taichi moved around, nervous. He knew that the end was nearing. Soon they would have to take the three kings down, and the traitor would be exposed.
Why would anyone want to help the three kings? Why would they disown their friends to help strangers? These kings must be very powerful people, to turn friends against friends.
Sora pulled Taichi into a chair and sat beside him. "You need to calm down, Taichi," she whispered softly, running her hands through his wild hair. "You look upset."
"Sora-chan......I just don't know," he said, leaning back in the chair. She wrapped a comforting arm around him, and kissed his cheek gently. He looked surprised, but she just smiled and cuddled closer to him.
In her mind, conflicting thoughts and emotions ran amuck, but she put them all aside. Today she was just a normal girl who loved Taichi. Loved Taichi and would never want to hurt him.
She hoped that someday, when this was all over, she could come back to him and they could start over, without this dark blemish destroying their lives.
Hikari was sitting alone. Sora and Taichi looked so cute...... She was glad that they had finally found each other.
But she was still sad. Taichi would not turn from his revenge. He wouldn't listen Hikari, brushing her off. She was just his little sister. She didn't know anything.
So she sat there, cold and blue. Their lives were about to come tumbling down, and no one knew it but her.
Iori walked over, and put a comforting hand on hers. "Why so sad, Hikari?"
"I'm just thinking, Iori," she said softly, looking outside where God's tears were drowning the world.
"All of this........ the Loss of Innocence," Iori said, strangely wise beyond his age. It was vaguely disturbing.
"Come on, Hikari-chan," he said, pulling her up. "Let us act like children, if only for one last time." He opened the door.
Together they danced in the rain, feeling it's glorious renewing power. Iori grabbed a handful of mud and threw it at Hikari, laughing as it covered her in a coat of murky brown. "Iori!" she shrieked as she dashed after him. "I'm going to get you for this!" Back and forth they dashed, mud swishing between their toes as they felt their hearts lift and spirits start to soar.
"What are they doing?" Miyako nearly shrieked, and Sora smiled.
"They're only children, Miyako. With all that has happened, we have forgotten how young we are. We're only in our twenties. Still have a lot of life to live. Lots of laughs and giggles and good times left with our friends.
"We have forgotten all of this.
"They have not."
Darkness fell, and all was quiet in the palace. Everyone was asleep as Jun crept out of her bed adjoining Mimi's room.
She slipped in and out of the shadows, wrath blinding her eyes. Revenge..... That was what she wanted.
Stopping outside Yamato's room, she drew Ken's knife that she had stolen from his room. "Finally!" she hissed, her eyes gleaming maniacally.
A door down the hall opened, and Jun thrust open Yamato's door. Quickly shutting the door, she approached his bed silently.
Such a beautiful boy, she mused. His hair was a tangle of golden threads, and she felt herself drawn to it. So exquisite.......
"I will destroy you," she said softly, running her hand down his face gently. He awoke, startled, and recoiled from her.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, his eyes cold.
She said nothing, but he could see murder in her eyes.
Mimi walked down the hall. Jun wasn't in her room, and no matter where she looked she couldn't find the girl.
She stopped, and silence filled the palace. Unnatural silence.
Something was wrong. She could feel it.
"I hate you more than any person on this earth," Jun said defiantly, flashing the knife in front of Yamato's eyes. He remained unmoved.
He narrowed his cold blue eyes. "What do you want me to do, Jun? Beg? Plead with you for my worthless life?" He tossed his golden head contemptuously.
"Kill me now, Jun. Where do you want to insert the knife? My wrists?" He flung them towards her. "My heart? My head? My dear friend, kill me now. Quickly."
Jun moved the knife away, confused. He wanted to die. He was taking the pleasure away from killing him. She had wanted him to beg, plead. Turn his ravishing blue eyes at her with tears and soft words of apologies. Not like this.
"Come now, Jun," he mocked, his voice sing-song even as his eyes grew colder.
"You came to kill me. Now finish the job."
No, this was all wrong, her mind whispered to her. He wasn't supposed to act like this.
He looked Death in the eyes and was smiling.
No. She took the knife and stabbed it at him wildly.
Suddenly, she heard the crashing of glass and a shot rang out. Afterwards all was quiet.
Mimi heard the gunshot and bolted towards Yamato's room. If anything happened to him....
She opened the door and dashed inside, followed closely by Daisuke.
Koushiro stood over Jun, his hands shaking and his breathing irregular. A gun was in his hand.
"Don't kill her," Yamato gasped out, his voice soft and sad. "Please, Koushiro.... dear friend......... don't kill this poor girl."
"She was going to kill Yamato," Koushiro said, stepping away from Jun's barely breathing body.
"No....Jun!" Daisuke said bitterly, springing to her side. "Why did you do something like that? Yamato is our friend."
"I'm no one's friend," he said hollowly, but everyone ignored him. "Koushiro..... why are you here?" Their eyes met, and Yamato wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"I came to kill you," he said in a disgusted tone as he threw the gun down.
Mimi hurried to Yamato's side after Jun had been taken away to the infirmary. "Are you okay, Yamato?" she said softly. "If you would have died..... It would have been just like losing Takeru all over again."
"I'm not Takeru," he insisted.
"You're the closest thing to him. If Koushiro hadn't come...." she shivered, " I don't even want to think about what could have happened.
"I wanted death," Yamato said sorrowfully.
Ken arrived, anger and arrogance mapped on his face. "Yamato, brother, are you okay?" he asked immediately, embracing him.
"I'm fine," Yamato said, shaking him off. "How is Jun doing?"
"Why do you care?" Koushiro said from the corner. Ken looked mildly surprised at Koushiro's appearance but hid it well.
"Don't hurt her, Ken," Yamato said, gripping his friend's hand tightly. "She's all Daisuke has left."
"All right, Yama." He paused. "But only because you have asked. I would have her killed."
"You are not me," he said, grimacing. "Please leave me.... all of you." He bit down on his bottom lip as everyone filed out of the room, Ken last. "Ken..... help me down the infirmary?" he said gently, holding his side. "I'm afraid I've got a rather nasty gash..."
"Yamato! She could have killed you!" Ken spat out as he lifted the weightless Yamato out of bed. "Why will you not allow me to kill her?"
"NO!" Yamato bellowed out, fighting against this fragile knowledge that he had received. "Life is a precious thing. No man should have the right to end a fellow man."
"I don't understand...." Ken mused as the two friends walked down the stairs into the bright infirmary. "Perhaps I never will."
"Yamato will be okay," Ken announced an hour later. "It was just a flesh wound. He lost of a lot of blood, but nothing else is the matter. Jun will also live," he said, his voice turning sour. "But she will need to stay in the infirmary for several days until she recovers." He looked displeased.
"Ken...... Koushiro...... needs to place to sleep," Mimi said softly. "Where should he go?"
Ken narrowed his eyes, and Koushiro moved away from him, uncomfortably. "I do not trust you," Ken said wearily as he seated himself on a chair," but you saved my best friend's life and for that I am eternally in debt. You may have my room." He put his head in his hands, and Mimi motioned for the rest of them to leave.
"He needs some time alone," she confided in Daisuke and Koushiro as they walked away. "We all get like that sometimes."
What did Yamato mean? Was he giving up? Calling to quits? "Yamato, I need you!" Ken said bitterly, feeling tears run down his face.
Tonight had been too close. Yamato and Jyou were the only family Ken had. He couldn't lose them.
Madness. All of this. They were going to get themselves killed. Taichi and his rebellion would only end in their own death, and assassins would pick off the rest.
Doomed. That's what they were. Every single one of them.
Life's so unfair. We tried.... to take on the world. Cheat life and make ourselves better. But it's all gone to ruin. Every single one of us will never be the same again.
All of our lives are wavering, like a candle, threatening to be blown out.
Mimi pulled on her shoes and climbed out of bed. With all of the excitement she couldn't fall asleep again.
She had to work harder. Things were starting to fall apart. It would only be days until they started turning on each other. She could feel the distrust growing between everyone, the fear of death swelling with each glance. And when the fighting started, she didn't know what side she would be on.
Ahead of her was a balcony, and she could vaguely see someone standing on it. As she moved closer, the lights outside the palace shifted and she recognized Koushiro by the glint of his red hair. He looked out at the city with it's myriad of glittering lights.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she said, stepping beside him. He didn't move, his eyes still trained on the lights.
He was hurting. Ken's sting of mistrust and Daisuke's aloofness had wounded his pride. The lights outside reflected his pain in his eyes as he turned to face her.
"I've missed you," he said brusquely, hesitant.
I'm so glad you returned, Koushiro, Mimi thought to herself. I knew you would. If you just followed your heart, I knew you would get back to us. Back to me.
Together. Once again. Tears pricked her eyes as she gazed at the injured little boy that she had grown close to. Never again will we be separated.
"I promise." He gave her a odd look.
"What?"
She hugged him fiercely, clinging to him. He looked at her and then fervently kissed her lips, never wanting to left go.
"I love you, Mimi," he breathed, holding her close.
Then he opened his eyes and gazed into hers.
Sadness and grief was all he could see. Disappointment filled him.
Disgusted, he walked away, realizing that she loved a man that he could never be.
Takeru.
"Who can it be??" Taichi asked, pacing around the room. "Not Hikari. She would never betray me. Not Sora.... Miyako. No."
"Taichi, what are you doing?" Sora asked, leaning against the wall. She threw him an annoyed look. "You're not still trying to figure out who the "traitor" is, are you?" She studied his face and laughed. "Oh, Taichi, you really are silly. Iori was just messing with you. Trying to make you confused."
"I don't think so," he whispered looking at her. Could it be Sora? No. She was never on the computer. Perhaps Miyako. She always seemed to be typing away.
As the days passed slowly, Taichi could stand it no longer. "All the data is in?" he asked Miyako. She nodded.
"We'll need a few more days to analyze the information and localize the attacks," she said, studying the green screen. "It should take... no more than 4 days."
Taichi studied the faces of his brave friends. Each one of them turned towards their leader, awaiting orders.
"I'm leaving," he said urgently, pulling on his shoes. "The rest of you join me in the king's palace in 3 days. Near midnight, in the throne room. I'll be there."
He turned and walked away.
He doubted he would ever see his friends again. Whoever the traitor was, they would surely destroy all of them. Poor Yamato, Takeru, Jyou and Ken, he thought as he ran down the road. You died so early. Never got the chance to fight for what was right.
They must be dead. All of his friends would be dead, casualties of war. But I will prevail. I will get the revenge for what it is worth, or I will die trying.
There was no one to help him, no one to trust.
No one to rely on except himself.
Part 6: Yamato continues to blame himself for Takeru's death while Taichi and the rebels realize the end is near. Koushiro returns to his friends, but what will the ultimate price be?
Jyou felt his strength give up and he stumbled backwards, reeling. Shin was alive? That...... was impossible.
"Jyou?" Shin said, stepping into the room. "Is that you?" His eyes showed surprise and happiness. "Where have you been? I was worried sick..."
"Shin........" Jyou whispered, a sickening taste in the back of his throat. " I saw you die....... I saw you die! How..... how can you be here?"
Shin looked nervous as he stepped over the knife Jyou had dropped. "Jyou.... I didn't die."
"Yes you did! I saw you! Father beat you..... and I saw you stop breathing-" Jyou's eyes flashed in confusion and anger. "I saw you die."
"Jyou....You were mistaken. I never died," Shin said, his voice low and even. "Yes, Father did beat me badly. But I never stopped breathing. I never gave up the will to live."
"But Shin..... I know what I saw."
"Do you trust, brother? Then listen to what I say. I am your older brother. I will always be here to protect you. I would never leave. I promised you that as little children.
"I'm here still."
With Shin's soft, diplomatic words, Jyou fell to the floor, tears streaming down his face as he gazed into the eyes of his brother.
His brother. Still alive.
"All..... all of this anger and violence. For nothing," Jyou muttered inconsolably, and Shin sat down beside his brother, trying to calm his wracking nerves.
"It's all over now, Jyou. Whatever it was, it's all over now."
Jyou's eyes flashed again, and he said gravely," No, Shin. It's barely begun."
Yamato sat alone in his room. All of his "friends" had left him, discouraged and saddened. They couldn't help him. No one could.
No one could understand the pain he was in. He had killed his brother. Nothing could ever make up for that. Nothing.
He would live with his brother's death hanging over him like a shadow for the rest of his life.
It all looked so hopeless.
"I wish I could just end it all," he muttered softly, playing with the sharp side of his knife. It would be so easy...... just to slip the knife along his tender skin....
He studied the knife closer, remembering the pain and death it had already bought upon his family.
If he killed himself, would anyone cry at his funeral? Would he even have a funeral? Would anyone care?
He thought not.
And while that thought hurt him, he realized that it was his fault. Those people out there, all of the citizens, they had not deserved to be involved in his anger. There was no reason why his anger had to overwhelm him. Control him.
They had not deserved to die. Innocents, all of them. Like Takeru. Like his father. Koushiro's parents. Countless others.
What have we done?
There was a steady rain pouring outside, and tensions were high on the inside of shelter. Taichi moved around, nervous. He knew that the end was nearing. Soon they would have to take the three kings down, and the traitor would be exposed.
Why would anyone want to help the three kings? Why would they disown their friends to help strangers? These kings must be very powerful people, to turn friends against friends.
Sora pulled Taichi into a chair and sat beside him. "You need to calm down, Taichi," she whispered softly, running her hands through his wild hair. "You look upset."
"Sora-chan......I just don't know," he said, leaning back in the chair. She wrapped a comforting arm around him, and kissed his cheek gently. He looked surprised, but she just smiled and cuddled closer to him.
In her mind, conflicting thoughts and emotions ran amuck, but she put them all aside. Today she was just a normal girl who loved Taichi. Loved Taichi and would never want to hurt him.
She hoped that someday, when this was all over, she could come back to him and they could start over, without this dark blemish destroying their lives.
Hikari was sitting alone. Sora and Taichi looked so cute...... She was glad that they had finally found each other.
But she was still sad. Taichi would not turn from his revenge. He wouldn't listen Hikari, brushing her off. She was just his little sister. She didn't know anything.
So she sat there, cold and blue. Their lives were about to come tumbling down, and no one knew it but her.
Iori walked over, and put a comforting hand on hers. "Why so sad, Hikari?"
"I'm just thinking, Iori," she said softly, looking outside where God's tears were drowning the world.
"All of this........ the Loss of Innocence," Iori said, strangely wise beyond his age. It was vaguely disturbing.
"Come on, Hikari-chan," he said, pulling her up. "Let us act like children, if only for one last time." He opened the door.
Together they danced in the rain, feeling it's glorious renewing power. Iori grabbed a handful of mud and threw it at Hikari, laughing as it covered her in a coat of murky brown. "Iori!" she shrieked as she dashed after him. "I'm going to get you for this!" Back and forth they dashed, mud swishing between their toes as they felt their hearts lift and spirits start to soar.
"What are they doing?" Miyako nearly shrieked, and Sora smiled.
"They're only children, Miyako. With all that has happened, we have forgotten how young we are. We're only in our twenties. Still have a lot of life to live. Lots of laughs and giggles and good times left with our friends.
"We have forgotten all of this.
"They have not."
Darkness fell, and all was quiet in the palace. Everyone was asleep as Jun crept out of her bed adjoining Mimi's room.
She slipped in and out of the shadows, wrath blinding her eyes. Revenge..... That was what she wanted.
Stopping outside Yamato's room, she drew Ken's knife that she had stolen from his room. "Finally!" she hissed, her eyes gleaming maniacally.
A door down the hall opened, and Jun thrust open Yamato's door. Quickly shutting the door, she approached his bed silently.
Such a beautiful boy, she mused. His hair was a tangle of golden threads, and she felt herself drawn to it. So exquisite.......
"I will destroy you," she said softly, running her hand down his face gently. He awoke, startled, and recoiled from her.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, his eyes cold.
She said nothing, but he could see murder in her eyes.
Mimi walked down the hall. Jun wasn't in her room, and no matter where she looked she couldn't find the girl.
She stopped, and silence filled the palace. Unnatural silence.
Something was wrong. She could feel it.
"I hate you more than any person on this earth," Jun said defiantly, flashing the knife in front of Yamato's eyes. He remained unmoved.
He narrowed his cold blue eyes. "What do you want me to do, Jun? Beg? Plead with you for my worthless life?" He tossed his golden head contemptuously.
"Kill me now, Jun. Where do you want to insert the knife? My wrists?" He flung them towards her. "My heart? My head? My dear friend, kill me now. Quickly."
Jun moved the knife away, confused. He wanted to die. He was taking the pleasure away from killing him. She had wanted him to beg, plead. Turn his ravishing blue eyes at her with tears and soft words of apologies. Not like this.
"Come now, Jun," he mocked, his voice sing-song even as his eyes grew colder.
"You came to kill me. Now finish the job."
No, this was all wrong, her mind whispered to her. He wasn't supposed to act like this.
He looked Death in the eyes and was smiling.
No. She took the knife and stabbed it at him wildly.
Suddenly, she heard the crashing of glass and a shot rang out. Afterwards all was quiet.
Mimi heard the gunshot and bolted towards Yamato's room. If anything happened to him....
She opened the door and dashed inside, followed closely by Daisuke.
Koushiro stood over Jun, his hands shaking and his breathing irregular. A gun was in his hand.
"Don't kill her," Yamato gasped out, his voice soft and sad. "Please, Koushiro.... dear friend......... don't kill this poor girl."
"She was going to kill Yamato," Koushiro said, stepping away from Jun's barely breathing body.
"No....Jun!" Daisuke said bitterly, springing to her side. "Why did you do something like that? Yamato is our friend."
"I'm no one's friend," he said hollowly, but everyone ignored him. "Koushiro..... why are you here?" Their eyes met, and Yamato wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"I came to kill you," he said in a disgusted tone as he threw the gun down.
Mimi hurried to Yamato's side after Jun had been taken away to the infirmary. "Are you okay, Yamato?" she said softly. "If you would have died..... It would have been just like losing Takeru all over again."
"I'm not Takeru," he insisted.
"You're the closest thing to him. If Koushiro hadn't come...." she shivered, " I don't even want to think about what could have happened.
"I wanted death," Yamato said sorrowfully.
Ken arrived, anger and arrogance mapped on his face. "Yamato, brother, are you okay?" he asked immediately, embracing him.
"I'm fine," Yamato said, shaking him off. "How is Jun doing?"
"Why do you care?" Koushiro said from the corner. Ken looked mildly surprised at Koushiro's appearance but hid it well.
"Don't hurt her, Ken," Yamato said, gripping his friend's hand tightly. "She's all Daisuke has left."
"All right, Yama." He paused. "But only because you have asked. I would have her killed."
"You are not me," he said, grimacing. "Please leave me.... all of you." He bit down on his bottom lip as everyone filed out of the room, Ken last. "Ken..... help me down the infirmary?" he said gently, holding his side. "I'm afraid I've got a rather nasty gash..."
"Yamato! She could have killed you!" Ken spat out as he lifted the weightless Yamato out of bed. "Why will you not allow me to kill her?"
"NO!" Yamato bellowed out, fighting against this fragile knowledge that he had received. "Life is a precious thing. No man should have the right to end a fellow man."
"I don't understand...." Ken mused as the two friends walked down the stairs into the bright infirmary. "Perhaps I never will."
"Yamato will be okay," Ken announced an hour later. "It was just a flesh wound. He lost of a lot of blood, but nothing else is the matter. Jun will also live," he said, his voice turning sour. "But she will need to stay in the infirmary for several days until she recovers." He looked displeased.
"Ken...... Koushiro...... needs to place to sleep," Mimi said softly. "Where should he go?"
Ken narrowed his eyes, and Koushiro moved away from him, uncomfortably. "I do not trust you," Ken said wearily as he seated himself on a chair," but you saved my best friend's life and for that I am eternally in debt. You may have my room." He put his head in his hands, and Mimi motioned for the rest of them to leave.
"He needs some time alone," she confided in Daisuke and Koushiro as they walked away. "We all get like that sometimes."
What did Yamato mean? Was he giving up? Calling to quits? "Yamato, I need you!" Ken said bitterly, feeling tears run down his face.
Tonight had been too close. Yamato and Jyou were the only family Ken had. He couldn't lose them.
Madness. All of this. They were going to get themselves killed. Taichi and his rebellion would only end in their own death, and assassins would pick off the rest.
Doomed. That's what they were. Every single one of them.
Life's so unfair. We tried.... to take on the world. Cheat life and make ourselves better. But it's all gone to ruin. Every single one of us will never be the same again.
All of our lives are wavering, like a candle, threatening to be blown out.
Mimi pulled on her shoes and climbed out of bed. With all of the excitement she couldn't fall asleep again.
She had to work harder. Things were starting to fall apart. It would only be days until they started turning on each other. She could feel the distrust growing between everyone, the fear of death swelling with each glance. And when the fighting started, she didn't know what side she would be on.
Ahead of her was a balcony, and she could vaguely see someone standing on it. As she moved closer, the lights outside the palace shifted and she recognized Koushiro by the glint of his red hair. He looked out at the city with it's myriad of glittering lights.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she said, stepping beside him. He didn't move, his eyes still trained on the lights.
He was hurting. Ken's sting of mistrust and Daisuke's aloofness had wounded his pride. The lights outside reflected his pain in his eyes as he turned to face her.
"I've missed you," he said brusquely, hesitant.
I'm so glad you returned, Koushiro, Mimi thought to herself. I knew you would. If you just followed your heart, I knew you would get back to us. Back to me.
Together. Once again. Tears pricked her eyes as she gazed at the injured little boy that she had grown close to. Never again will we be separated.
"I promise." He gave her a odd look.
"What?"
She hugged him fiercely, clinging to him. He looked at her and then fervently kissed her lips, never wanting to left go.
"I love you, Mimi," he breathed, holding her close.
Then he opened his eyes and gazed into hers.
Sadness and grief was all he could see. Disappointment filled him.
Disgusted, he walked away, realizing that she loved a man that he could never be.
Takeru.
"Who can it be??" Taichi asked, pacing around the room. "Not Hikari. She would never betray me. Not Sora.... Miyako. No."
"Taichi, what are you doing?" Sora asked, leaning against the wall. She threw him an annoyed look. "You're not still trying to figure out who the "traitor" is, are you?" She studied his face and laughed. "Oh, Taichi, you really are silly. Iori was just messing with you. Trying to make you confused."
"I don't think so," he whispered looking at her. Could it be Sora? No. She was never on the computer. Perhaps Miyako. She always seemed to be typing away.
As the days passed slowly, Taichi could stand it no longer. "All the data is in?" he asked Miyako. She nodded.
"We'll need a few more days to analyze the information and localize the attacks," she said, studying the green screen. "It should take... no more than 4 days."
Taichi studied the faces of his brave friends. Each one of them turned towards their leader, awaiting orders.
"I'm leaving," he said urgently, pulling on his shoes. "The rest of you join me in the king's palace in 3 days. Near midnight, in the throne room. I'll be there."
He turned and walked away.
He doubted he would ever see his friends again. Whoever the traitor was, they would surely destroy all of them. Poor Yamato, Takeru, Jyou and Ken, he thought as he ran down the road. You died so early. Never got the chance to fight for what was right.
They must be dead. All of his friends would be dead, casualties of war. But I will prevail. I will get the revenge for what it is worth, or I will die trying.
There was no one to help him, no one to trust.
No one to rely on except himself.