DISCLAIMER: Digimon owned by Toei, Saban and Bandai. (are there more?)
Sorry it took so long; a lot of tests to study for. Well, part 6 of my 2nd series is here. I never thought it would get this far. For all those reading, I thank all of you for taking time to read them. And all the reviews you leave behind, you have no idea how much I appreciate it. The praises and encouragement I get is really helping me to continue and write more. Even if it's just one review, that one can mean a lot to me. I haven't had this much praise for a long time...probably never. Sad huh? Anywayz, enough of my angst, that's left up to Yama-chan and the others. So, on with the fic^o^
Things are gonna move very fast in this chapter...bear with me
WARNING: Shounen ai (literally, boy's love) but nothing overblown.
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"Revelation 6: Relationships"
By Cloud Ishida
"I'm sorry T.K...." Patamon whimpered out.
"It's not your fault Patamon." Takeru reassured his little digimon and turned to the others, "It wasn't any of your fault. Those Digimentals are just too powerful to control." He held up a his D-3 with the image of the Digi-egg of Despair staring right back at him.
The Digidestined were and dazed and confused by the last fight. They didn't win, yet neither did the Digimon Kaiser. The field was scorched black and still smoking from the flames of battle. All the digimon were in their Rookie forms but there was very little movement. The children had scratches and bruises of their own. Drained of energy, the kids decided to stay and rest.
The battle ended with the Shinimon and the others attacking each other instead at the Kaiser. They refused to obey any orders from their partners, relentless on their attacks and destroyed anything in their path. The only thing that stopped them was the fact they had used up all their energy. The Kaiser left in the middle of battle, seeing the children's digimon would finish the job for him.
And there was another matter. Scythemon was under control of the Kaiser. Piedmon couldn't believe it but a part of him expected it. Taichi had mixed feelings about the battle. Part of him was felt guilty, as if he drove her into becoming a slave of the dark emperor. But at the same time, he knew that she shouldn't have turned against them no matter what. "What was she thinking?..." he whispered.
Piedmon caught the question, "She thought she was helping."
"What, by trying to kill us?" Taichi retorted.
"Oh please," Piedmon staggard to stand up, "do you think she'd let you all be sitting ducks?"
Daisuke, hearing the start of an argument, made his way into it, "What do you mean?"
"You're Armour Digimon are no match for Scythemon at her full strength. Her crest speaks of that. You're Digimentals are too...'genile' to be strong against her." Piedmon crossed his arm, obviously taking pride in his partner's power.
"Hey, are you trying to make fun of us?!" Daisuke was ready to pick a fight dispite his injuries to his legs and sides.
Taichi held him back with a wave of a hand, "What are you trying to say? We aren't strong enough?"
Piedmon's majestic, regal tone of voice from his Dark Master days came back, "Why do you think she gave you the DarkDigimentals? She must've been planning this all along. I really don't know why, but she cares for that blonde child-"
"Matt."
"What?" The clown responded.
"Matt. His name's Matt." Taichi corrected him with a stern voice.
"...Matt." Piedmon seemed irritated for the intrusion, "Well, Scythemon must have planned to be captured to retrieve your friend, and knew that the Kaiser would use his dark spiral on her. That's why she gave you those Digi-eggs. The DarkDigimentals are more powerful. Powerful enough to stop her from destroying you. They draw upon the attributes you are instinctive to."
"You mean born with?..." Hikari stepped into the conversation after tending the other's wounds.
Piedmon continued, "The DarkDigimentals represent the instinctive, the natural attributes of life. Your attributes needed to be built, molded into your very being. But Fear, Hate, Loneliness, Deceit, Ignorance, Despair and Darkness, these attributes are inate in every being, and what is natural is always the more powerful. You humans, you make this image of greatness for yourselves and refuse to see what you truly are. And you call us monsters."
"That can't be true..." Takeru mummbled. Iori and Miyako joined the discussion, themselves not believing what they heard.
"Like Scythemon said, you can use a DarkDigimental if you have the attribute, but you all refuse to acknowledge it. That is why you couldn't control your DarkArmour Digimon." Piedmon finished.
The Digidestined were left to contemplate the turn of events.
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"Long time no see Midori." The grin refused to leave his face. The chimera-like Itami stood in the room, tails whipping around in delight. "How long has it been since you killed me? It seemed just like yesterday."
Scythemon struggled to her knees. Her mind was still in a daze from the shock of the attack and her lack of sleep. Lifting Wormmon gently in her arms, she passed him down to Yamato who was still in shock of seeing the face that brought hell into her life, "Take him and the Kaiser and leave."
"What?!" Yamato yelled out, "I'm not gonna leave you here with him!" He recieved the green digimon but refused to budge.
Scythemon rose to her feet while clutching the wall, "This isn't the time to argue. Just take both of them and leave..."
"Aww, playing the hero? Looking out for the well being of others instead of yourself. How sweet." Itami's sarcasm made her stomach turn. "Go ahead and leave. You're not important." Not yet. he finished the sentence in his mind. Your turn will be soon.
"But Mi-"
"Damn it! Just go!!" She cut Yamato off with a burst of anger, but she instantly regretted snapping at him. "I'm sorry, just go...please."
Seeing the pleads in her eyes, he picked up the Kaiser with Wormmon on top and slowly made his way for the door behind Itami. Surprised that that he didn't attack him, he took one last glimpse of the two and walked out the door.
"Now, I guess we can talk freely." Itami paced around the room as the sound of gears turning echoed whenever he bent his arm. "So, here you are, all powerful and knowing. Why do you keep putting up this cherade?"
"...What are you talking about?" She was confused, but didn't let her guard down.
"Come now, all this showing of friendship, loyalty, honour...that doesn't become of you." He walked closer to Scythemon but she refused to budge.
"Because that is me." She replied.
"You're more confused than you think." He began to laugh, "You have so much potential to be a Kaiser."
"What?!" Now she was completely confused.
"You're already halfway there. You have the power of a Kaiser, but not the mind of one." Getting no response from the girl, he contiuned on with his taunting; the resume of a Digimon Kaiser, as he puts it. "Your whole lifetime, you had to wear this mask; hide your true nature... Let's face it when you killed me and that girl all those years ago, you enjoyed it."
Scythemon face denoted nothing, but her eyes lost their strong glare.
"You saw the Kaiser in his work and wondered how he could be so cruel so openly." His smile became wider with every sentence. "Am I wrong?"
She still refused to say anything.
Itami's left eye twitched, "Stubborn aren't we? I know you see my side, but I guess it will help to beat it into you." He raised his metallic hand and a surge of energy gathered in his palm, "I suggest you run. GIGA CANNON!"
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Yamato struggled to hold the boy and the digimon in his arms as the whole castle crumbled around him. Despite his survival instincts telling him to run, he couldn't leave Midori behind. He positioned himself underneath the archway of the castle entrance and watched the destruction before him.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Midori!" he called out. She was running, but her arm was wrapped around her ribs. He had the urge to reach her but the two unconcious bodies restricted his movements.
She reached the three and ushered them through the door, "What are you doing?! I thought I told you to leave!" She raised her scythe for a strike.
Yamato's eyes almost popped out, "Wait!! I was jus--"
He shut his eyes for the blow but only felt wind brush past him. Opening his eyes, Midori was in front, with her scythe down. Looking to his sides, he saw the halves of giant pieces of conctrete cut cleanly in half. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Get going!" she ordered but noticed Yamato's stuggle to carry the boy. "You're injured aren't you? Here, give him to me..."
Yamato tried to argue but knew she would win in the end. He reluctantly handed over the Kaiser to her and carried Wormmon in his arms. Once the weight of the boy was transferred to Scythemon, a loud whimper echoed from her lips. She instantly grabbed her ribs while the other supported the boy. "You're even in worse condition than me! I'll carry him-"
"We have no time! The whole place is gonna go down!"
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The digimon were back to their full strength and the children were planning a full attack on the Kaiser's lair. Just as Taichi was about order to move towards their destination, his digivice started to go in a beeping frenzy. He quickly unhooked it from his belt and saw a single red dot heading straight for them. "Matt?..."
And his guess was right. A giant AirDramon flew down to the middle of the group, and the digimon were ready to digivolve for the expected fight. But a voice caught them off guard, "I need some help guys!" Yamato grunted out while he tried to keep the Kaiser, Wormmon and Scythemon from slipping off the flying dragon.
"Matt!" Taichi's face lit up with joy and was the first to run to his side followed by Gabumon and Piedmon. The others gathered around and gasped at the other passangers that was with the blonde. Scythemon was still clutching her ribs, and her black suit was soaked in blood. But the other, the blue figure was lying face down on the dragon, his clothes equally red with blood. Yamato seemed like the only one that was fully conscious. AirDramon gently settled to the ground in graceful strides of obedience; the dark spiral made sure of that. Taichi climed up on the dragon and dashed for Yamato, "You're all right!! He didn't hurt you did he?!" The embrace Taichi gave could have cut off the circulation in his blonde friend. That's when he noticed Yamato was a little bigger, "You're back to normal!"
But Yamato wasn't in the mood for a celebration, "Yeah I am but that's not important right now." He gestured to the unconscious boy and his digimon. Yamato helped up Scythemon to her feet, "They're hurt, badly. We've got to put them somewhere safe." Not bothering to argue, Taichi lifted the boy and the green worm with Gabumon's help and settled them on the ground. Yamato slid off and let Scythemon come back to consciousness in Piedmon's arms.
When he let the body lie on the ground, that's when the boy's identity struck him, "The Kaiser?!"
Daisuke and the others joined Taichi and couldn't believe their eyes, "What's he doing here?!" Daisuke hollared.
"He was hurt by...Itami...." Yamato whispered out the name, and Taichi felt a hint of nostalgia from it.
Just then, the Kaiser's eyes twitched open slowly, trying hard to adjust to the bright sunlight. He tried to sit up but the stinging pain in his arm prevented him from moving up an inch. The pain woke him up to full conciousness and panic enveloped him, "Wh, where am I? Wh...You?!" His eyes landed on the Digidestined.
"You better be scared after what you've put us through!" Daisuke marched up to his rival, fists ready to strike. "So the mighty Digimon Kaiser is captured with no one to help him. When we're done with you you'll wish you never came to the Digiworld!"
"You'll do no such thing!" Everyone spun around to the source of the cry. Scythemon left Piedmon's arms and positioned herself between the Kaiser and Daisuke, "He is injured. You can fight later." Still clutching her wound, she staggered to the Kaiser's side and fell on her knees.
"But this is our chance to end all this once and for all!" Daisuke still wanted to fight and sprinted for the boy. A wave of Scythemon's arm and he stopped dead in his tracks. The point of her scythe was less than an inch away from his chin.
"He is on -my- island. All I see is an injured boy who needs to be healed and protected. If you want to fight him you'll have to go through me." Her eyes glaring and teeth clenched, she let him contemplate the choice and he backed off in reluctance. The others stood frozen in place but none were as mystified as the Kaiser. His eyes were glued to Scythemon as she support him to walk near a boulder to rest on. Seeing the struggle in her movements, Yamato took off to help her.
"M, Matt!" Taichi reached out a hand to hold him back but his fingers slipped unknowingly from Yamato's arm. The blonde reached his friend while Taichi was left to stand alone.
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"I don't get why we can't bust up the Kaiser now..." Daisuke kicked the fifth pebble on his path. Iori was on the D-terminal with Koushirou and Takeru was busy unlocking the dark spiral from AirDramon while watching over his brother.
Miyako and Hikari were preoccupied with the digimon to make sure they were fully healed. "Well, in his condition, it's not like he can continue his rampage to rule the Digiworld." Hikari said in a absent voice. Her hands were preoccupied with helping the digimon but her eyes were glued to her brother. She expected him to be extatic with joy from Yamato's return but instead, Taichi sat in introspection from the side. Agumon had a hard time to try and find out what was wrong from his human partner.
Yamato came back from a nearby stream with Gabumon and headed straight for the Kaiser and Midori. Taichi, not wanting to wait anymore, approached the blonde and blocked his path. "We need to talk." Agumon followed but stayed a distance away from the two. Gabumon joined the yellow dinosaur, knowing the encounter was to lead to another fight.
"....about what?" the blonde answered flatly.
Taichi flinched slightly from the coldness in his voice, but he tried to ignore it and initiated again, "About our... relationship." Taichi found it hard to say the word he used many times when referring to Yamato in the past. Yamato's face kept the cold expression but his eyes twitched. "What I said earlier, I-"
"Whatever." He brushed aside Taichi's apology and tried to turn away from the warm, brown eyes.
Taichi grabbed the blonde's wrist, not satisfied with the blatent response from him, "Don't shove this aside Matt. We need to talk." He felt Yamato shake a bit from the grip, and realized he still hadn't recovered fully from his injuries. Taichi let his grip loosen but still held firm.
"Let go of me if you don't want my fist in your face." His icy voice stabbed Taichi in the heart, but he still refused to let him loose. Keeping his promise, Yamato punched him hard enough for Taichi to stagger backwards. Taichi slowly looked up to the blonde and saw Yamato was more hurt than him. The blue eyes sparkled from the sun even more with the tears Yamato was trying to hold back. "Gabumon, let's go." He quickly turned away from Taichi before a drop fell down his cheek.
From the distance, Daisuke witnessed the two people he saw as mentors breaking farther apart when they were so close to each other then anyone else.
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"Hold still if you want it to heal properly." Scythemon advised. She finished the bandaging of his arm that finally stopped in its bleeding.
The Kaiser did as he was told; too weak in fighting back. ".....why?"
She looked blinked at him, "Why what?"
"Why are you helping me?"
Scythemon paused for a moment, "...This is a sanctuary for those who are hurt and you're hurt badly. So don't worry about anything and rest." She tied the last bandage and inspected the arm to satisfy her medical assistance, "You should rest like him." She pointed to the mummified Wormmon, sleeping soundly on Ken's lap. He could hardly recognize him with all the bandage and splints that covered him. He still couldn't believe Scythemon was helping and even protecting him against her own allies. The act of kindness was foriegn to him.
The Kasier rested against the boulder and noticed another figure coming towards him. "Yamato?..." The blonde kneeled down beside the boy and wiped his dirty face with a wet cloth. "Even you?..."
"....Midori, I'll take care of him. You need to rest." He saw she was about to say otherwise but he gave her no chance, "You can't help him if you can't help yourself." Accepting defeat, Scythemon retreated to a nearby tree and crashed down on her back against it.
"You're still helping me after what I've done?..." A softer voiced Ken spoke up to the blonde.
Yamato continued to clean him up, "Like she said, you're hurt."
Ken let his head slump to the side against Yamato's chest. Yamato tried to back off at first but Ken leaned in closer and closed his eyes into the world of dreams.
An hour passed and Ken was in deep sleep. Seeing Piedmon finally get up and walk away from Midori, Yamato decided he would counsel her too. "Gabumon, could you look after him for a while?" Yamato gently laid him against the rock and headed towards Scythemon, who looked as if she was in a trance. Her eyes trailed off into nothingness and body perfectly still. The bags under her eyes sagged even more but her bleeding had stopped. He set himself with a heavy thud beside her; he was tired himself from taking care of Ken and keeping a close eye on Midori. "You want to talk about it?"
Midori snapped out of her trance, just noticing Yamato beside her, "Hm? What do you mean?"
"C'mon, anyone staring at you for one minute can see something's really bothering you. What happened back there?"
"....nothing.."
That was the answer Yamato didn't want to hear, "It isn't 'nothing'. Don't hold whatever it is back-"
"Can you play your harmonica for me?" Yamato was caught off guard by the request. Usually, he had to make her to ask for things.
"...I'd love to but, I don't have it with me. Haven't played it since I played for you when we first met. I play a bass guitar and vocal in a band now." For the first time, Yamato wondered why he did stop playing it. "
"Guitar...my favourite instrument to hear...electric guitars are one of the best. Rock band?" Yamato nodded. "My favourite too. What a coincidence." Midori made a short chuckle but sounded too worn and bitter, "I haven't drawn since we've first met either. I guess we both forgot our roots." She stared up to the clear sky, "A band huh? You must be popular with the girls. And you do have the voice for it. I could never sing like that in front of anyone. I remember I never showed my drawings to anyone. They were a part of me..."
Yamato leaned against the tree with her, "I know what you mean. I had a hard time letting other people hear my harmonica."
"At least you could share it with others in the end, but I still refuse to do that. The only ones I ever showed my drawings was you and Asa-....Asato." The name reopened old wounds in Midori's heart.
Yamato remembered the green-eyed boy Midori had been fond of, but a love that was cut off before it had a chance to bloom. "I'm sorry. I know you loved him-"
"Love," she retorted almost sardonically, "he said he loved me...but I don't know if I loved him..." Yamato leaned in closer, his hand holding hers. "I don't know about a lot of things these days. I cared for Asato a lot but it was because of me he died. I want to feel like I loved him but I'm not sure. Piedmon loves me, but I don't know if I love him back. I feel like I'm punishing him for ordering the executions of the others. I know he's changed but..." Her voice intensified with every word, "But how can I punish him if I killed so many and not punished for them myself. I killed that girl years ago, I killed almost every digimon in my way, it was because of me all the DarkDestined are dead and I killed Itami!" She slammed her fists on the ground, not caring her hand being cut by sharp loose rocks.
Startled at Midori's outbusrt, he did the only thing he could think of. Wrapping his arms around her, he gave her an embrace she desperately needed. "It is not your fault. Everything is not your fault. And Asato wouldn't want you beat yourself like this." he whispered in Midori's ear, her head leaning against his chest in defeated weariness.
Midori took in the warmth from his beating heart, "....he said I'm a killer."
Yamato continued to cradle her in his arms, "Who said?"
"Itami. He said I want to to bad things. That I'm like that by nature....that I'm the Kaiser....."
"No!" He gripped her even more, "You're the most unselfish, gentle person I've ever met. And you're not a Kaiser! All those things you've done were forced upon you...so don't beat yourself anymore..."
She stayed silent for a moment taking in what Yamato had faith in. "Thank you Yamato. But, part of what he said was true. I was jealous when the Digimon Kaiser could be so cruel so openly while I had to hide myself for so long. I wanted to be free, even for just one day. I hold back my yearnings, restrain from doing evil..."
"And that's what makes you so special." Yamato buried his chin in her hair, "You're able to hold it back, take control of yourself. I wasn't able to when Cherrymon turned me against Tai. That makes you one of the strongest in the world."
She smiled slightly by the remark, "Thanks..." she smiled weakly. "Another thing...he said I'm already half a Kaiser. My powers... And him, Ken, got the mind of a Kaiser..." She shuffled in his arms, "The three of us are connected. We encountered that black orb years ago. You were the only one to be totally free of it. I embraced it but Itami said my conscience kept me from gaining the mind and Ken..." Midori hugged him harder, "We have to stick together. The three of us." Yamato held her tighter, the revelations swimming in his head.
"...enough about all that. Do you have someone that's got you muddled up like me?" Midori asked.
Yamato tensed from the question. He had two answers, one absolute and the other an unknown variable. But if he had to talk about it with anyone, it would be with her. "...I, I think I have feelings for someone, but, I'm not sure if those feelings are being returned..."
"So who's the lucky girl?" She got no answer. Midori looked up and saw his face glowing bright red, but sadness in his eyes. "Yamato?"
"......IthinkI'minlovewithTai-" he blurted out all at once. He waited for the face of disgust to greet him.
Midori released herself from his embrace and looked at him straight in the eye the biggest smile of genuine happiness on her face, "That's wonderful!"
Yamato was half shocked and half relieved, "Y, you don't care the he's a-"
"A guy?" She took hold of Yamato's shoulders and almost giggled from his explicit blushing, "Why would I care? There are a lot of people living without ever feeling or experiencing love Yamato; I should know. It doesn't matter who it is as long as you feel strongly about that person."
He breathed a sigh, "Thanks Midori. I do appreciate that...I really do."
"So, does he know?" she asked eagerly.
".....oh yeah...." He remembered the confession all to well. "He said I was confused."
She gave him a sympathetic look, "I'm sure he's confused himself. It's not everyday a friend of yours confess their love to you. Give it time."
"He just tried to talk to me just now but I acted like a selfish jerk and pushed...more like punched him away." He regreted leaving Taichi behind.
"If he really cares for you, love or not, he'll try again. And again and again if he has to."
"Maybe..." Yamato was unsure, but he was reminded of the other factor, "Well, actually....there's someone who has a kind of crush on me..." Midori didn't know if Yamato could turn anymore crimson but he did.
"Forget what I said earlier; you must be more popular with the guys." She teased and smiled at his mocking faces.
"Shut. Up." Yamato retorted playfully. He was glad he could make her smile; she had been frowning for too long.
"So, can I ask who it is?" Yamato didn't say anything and just pointed behind him. Midori peeked over his shoulder and her eyes widened, "The Kaiser?!" The blonde nodded slowly, his eyes closed in embarressment. "I never thought he had it in him... Well, I guess Taichi-san and the Kaiser have to fight over you now." She grinned even more causing Yamato to attack with a threatening glare. "Heh heh, sorry. But, does he know you like someone else? What did you say to him?"
"....I kinda punched and threatened to break-every-bone-in-his-body-with-my-bare-hands kind of stuff..." His face turned to a coy smile.
Midori patted him on the back in sympathy, "We've got to work on your people skills."
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"Hey guys! I have news from Izzy!" Iori gathered the Digidestined minus Yamato. "He got word from Gennai that there's a strange power eminating from the east of this island." He showed his D-3 with the map on screen.
"What kind of power?" Amrmadillomon asked.
"Izzy's not really sure but he said it seems similar to the crests, whatever that means."
Takeru looked at Patamon to Hikari to Taichi, "Could that mean there's another crest?" The other two contemplated the idea but were unsure themselves.
Iori continued his report, "Gennai wants us to check it out and Izzy agrees. They already sent a message to Pixiemon and Centarumon to come and meet us there."
"So we should all get ready to leave then." suggested Daisuke.
"I know that region." Piedmon stepped up, "I can guide you all there."
Daisuke readied his D-3, "All right then let's go-"
"RIVER OF POWER!" Daisuke was cut off by the scream and a stream of bright light slicing throught the ground.
The original Digidestined and digimon were bewildered by the name of the attack. The ground beneath them crumbled from the force of the blast. Taichi slipped on the edge of the newly made cliff but Hikari caught his hand in time but she too lost her balance. Takeru grabbed her hand but the weight of the two caused him to come crashing on the faltering edge. His cheek were starting to flood with blood as the jagged edges seeped into his flesh. Daisuke, Miyako, Iori and the digimon made a human/digimon chain and pulled them to safety. Hikari looked up on confusion, "Was MetalSeaDramon reborn too?!"
"Well, one-seventh of him at least." said the icy voice. Everyone looked up to the source and Hikari, Taichi and Takeru remembered the figure. It was distorted, but knew it was the same boy who had killed his own comapanions, the DarkDestined.
Black wings of Devimon kept him hovering over them in the air. Itami readied his stance for another strike, "Let's make this fun shall we? GRISELY WING!"
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What do you think? Since the main theme of the chapter was about relationships, it's mostly descriptive and stuff. And I didn't proofread either (thanks to Libek for saying I don't have to worry about it^_~). Things are going to get a little more interesting from here on. And sorry about the lateness. School is important (or so I'm told^_^) but sucking the creative life out of me. Please review if you can. Even short ones like "That was good." or "Write more action" is enough. I just want to know that there are names behind the readers and well, you guys give me a boost on my gloomy days. Hopefully, I'll get the next chapter up by the end of the week but I'm also starting another story/series too (WARNING!! SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!!^o^) which will most likely be called "Nightmare Soldiers". If you're interested, read and review it please!! I'll have that story up soon...hopefully....
Thanks again readers!
Sorry it took so long; a lot of tests to study for. Well, part 6 of my 2nd series is here. I never thought it would get this far. For all those reading, I thank all of you for taking time to read them. And all the reviews you leave behind, you have no idea how much I appreciate it. The praises and encouragement I get is really helping me to continue and write more. Even if it's just one review, that one can mean a lot to me. I haven't had this much praise for a long time...probably never. Sad huh? Anywayz, enough of my angst, that's left up to Yama-chan and the others. So, on with the fic^o^
Things are gonna move very fast in this chapter...bear with me
WARNING: Shounen ai (literally, boy's love) but nothing overblown.
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"Revelation 6: Relationships"
By Cloud Ishida
"I'm sorry T.K...." Patamon whimpered out.
"It's not your fault Patamon." Takeru reassured his little digimon and turned to the others, "It wasn't any of your fault. Those Digimentals are just too powerful to control." He held up a his D-3 with the image of the Digi-egg of Despair staring right back at him.
The Digidestined were and dazed and confused by the last fight. They didn't win, yet neither did the Digimon Kaiser. The field was scorched black and still smoking from the flames of battle. All the digimon were in their Rookie forms but there was very little movement. The children had scratches and bruises of their own. Drained of energy, the kids decided to stay and rest.
The battle ended with the Shinimon and the others attacking each other instead at the Kaiser. They refused to obey any orders from their partners, relentless on their attacks and destroyed anything in their path. The only thing that stopped them was the fact they had used up all their energy. The Kaiser left in the middle of battle, seeing the children's digimon would finish the job for him.
And there was another matter. Scythemon was under control of the Kaiser. Piedmon couldn't believe it but a part of him expected it. Taichi had mixed feelings about the battle. Part of him was felt guilty, as if he drove her into becoming a slave of the dark emperor. But at the same time, he knew that she shouldn't have turned against them no matter what. "What was she thinking?..." he whispered.
Piedmon caught the question, "She thought she was helping."
"What, by trying to kill us?" Taichi retorted.
"Oh please," Piedmon staggard to stand up, "do you think she'd let you all be sitting ducks?"
Daisuke, hearing the start of an argument, made his way into it, "What do you mean?"
"You're Armour Digimon are no match for Scythemon at her full strength. Her crest speaks of that. You're Digimentals are too...'genile' to be strong against her." Piedmon crossed his arm, obviously taking pride in his partner's power.
"Hey, are you trying to make fun of us?!" Daisuke was ready to pick a fight dispite his injuries to his legs and sides.
Taichi held him back with a wave of a hand, "What are you trying to say? We aren't strong enough?"
Piedmon's majestic, regal tone of voice from his Dark Master days came back, "Why do you think she gave you the DarkDigimentals? She must've been planning this all along. I really don't know why, but she cares for that blonde child-"
"Matt."
"What?" The clown responded.
"Matt. His name's Matt." Taichi corrected him with a stern voice.
"...Matt." Piedmon seemed irritated for the intrusion, "Well, Scythemon must have planned to be captured to retrieve your friend, and knew that the Kaiser would use his dark spiral on her. That's why she gave you those Digi-eggs. The DarkDigimentals are more powerful. Powerful enough to stop her from destroying you. They draw upon the attributes you are instinctive to."
"You mean born with?..." Hikari stepped into the conversation after tending the other's wounds.
Piedmon continued, "The DarkDigimentals represent the instinctive, the natural attributes of life. Your attributes needed to be built, molded into your very being. But Fear, Hate, Loneliness, Deceit, Ignorance, Despair and Darkness, these attributes are inate in every being, and what is natural is always the more powerful. You humans, you make this image of greatness for yourselves and refuse to see what you truly are. And you call us monsters."
"That can't be true..." Takeru mummbled. Iori and Miyako joined the discussion, themselves not believing what they heard.
"Like Scythemon said, you can use a DarkDigimental if you have the attribute, but you all refuse to acknowledge it. That is why you couldn't control your DarkArmour Digimon." Piedmon finished.
The Digidestined were left to contemplate the turn of events.
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"Long time no see Midori." The grin refused to leave his face. The chimera-like Itami stood in the room, tails whipping around in delight. "How long has it been since you killed me? It seemed just like yesterday."
Scythemon struggled to her knees. Her mind was still in a daze from the shock of the attack and her lack of sleep. Lifting Wormmon gently in her arms, she passed him down to Yamato who was still in shock of seeing the face that brought hell into her life, "Take him and the Kaiser and leave."
"What?!" Yamato yelled out, "I'm not gonna leave you here with him!" He recieved the green digimon but refused to budge.
Scythemon rose to her feet while clutching the wall, "This isn't the time to argue. Just take both of them and leave..."
"Aww, playing the hero? Looking out for the well being of others instead of yourself. How sweet." Itami's sarcasm made her stomach turn. "Go ahead and leave. You're not important." Not yet. he finished the sentence in his mind. Your turn will be soon.
"But Mi-"
"Damn it! Just go!!" She cut Yamato off with a burst of anger, but she instantly regretted snapping at him. "I'm sorry, just go...please."
Seeing the pleads in her eyes, he picked up the Kaiser with Wormmon on top and slowly made his way for the door behind Itami. Surprised that that he didn't attack him, he took one last glimpse of the two and walked out the door.
"Now, I guess we can talk freely." Itami paced around the room as the sound of gears turning echoed whenever he bent his arm. "So, here you are, all powerful and knowing. Why do you keep putting up this cherade?"
"...What are you talking about?" She was confused, but didn't let her guard down.
"Come now, all this showing of friendship, loyalty, honour...that doesn't become of you." He walked closer to Scythemon but she refused to budge.
"Because that is me." She replied.
"You're more confused than you think." He began to laugh, "You have so much potential to be a Kaiser."
"What?!" Now she was completely confused.
"You're already halfway there. You have the power of a Kaiser, but not the mind of one." Getting no response from the girl, he contiuned on with his taunting; the resume of a Digimon Kaiser, as he puts it. "Your whole lifetime, you had to wear this mask; hide your true nature... Let's face it when you killed me and that girl all those years ago, you enjoyed it."
Scythemon face denoted nothing, but her eyes lost their strong glare.
"You saw the Kaiser in his work and wondered how he could be so cruel so openly." His smile became wider with every sentence. "Am I wrong?"
She still refused to say anything.
Itami's left eye twitched, "Stubborn aren't we? I know you see my side, but I guess it will help to beat it into you." He raised his metallic hand and a surge of energy gathered in his palm, "I suggest you run. GIGA CANNON!"
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Yamato struggled to hold the boy and the digimon in his arms as the whole castle crumbled around him. Despite his survival instincts telling him to run, he couldn't leave Midori behind. He positioned himself underneath the archway of the castle entrance and watched the destruction before him.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Midori!" he called out. She was running, but her arm was wrapped around her ribs. He had the urge to reach her but the two unconcious bodies restricted his movements.
She reached the three and ushered them through the door, "What are you doing?! I thought I told you to leave!" She raised her scythe for a strike.
Yamato's eyes almost popped out, "Wait!! I was jus--"
He shut his eyes for the blow but only felt wind brush past him. Opening his eyes, Midori was in front, with her scythe down. Looking to his sides, he saw the halves of giant pieces of conctrete cut cleanly in half. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Get going!" she ordered but noticed Yamato's stuggle to carry the boy. "You're injured aren't you? Here, give him to me..."
Yamato tried to argue but knew she would win in the end. He reluctantly handed over the Kaiser to her and carried Wormmon in his arms. Once the weight of the boy was transferred to Scythemon, a loud whimper echoed from her lips. She instantly grabbed her ribs while the other supported the boy. "You're even in worse condition than me! I'll carry him-"
"We have no time! The whole place is gonna go down!"
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The digimon were back to their full strength and the children were planning a full attack on the Kaiser's lair. Just as Taichi was about order to move towards their destination, his digivice started to go in a beeping frenzy. He quickly unhooked it from his belt and saw a single red dot heading straight for them. "Matt?..."
And his guess was right. A giant AirDramon flew down to the middle of the group, and the digimon were ready to digivolve for the expected fight. But a voice caught them off guard, "I need some help guys!" Yamato grunted out while he tried to keep the Kaiser, Wormmon and Scythemon from slipping off the flying dragon.
"Matt!" Taichi's face lit up with joy and was the first to run to his side followed by Gabumon and Piedmon. The others gathered around and gasped at the other passangers that was with the blonde. Scythemon was still clutching her ribs, and her black suit was soaked in blood. But the other, the blue figure was lying face down on the dragon, his clothes equally red with blood. Yamato seemed like the only one that was fully conscious. AirDramon gently settled to the ground in graceful strides of obedience; the dark spiral made sure of that. Taichi climed up on the dragon and dashed for Yamato, "You're all right!! He didn't hurt you did he?!" The embrace Taichi gave could have cut off the circulation in his blonde friend. That's when he noticed Yamato was a little bigger, "You're back to normal!"
But Yamato wasn't in the mood for a celebration, "Yeah I am but that's not important right now." He gestured to the unconscious boy and his digimon. Yamato helped up Scythemon to her feet, "They're hurt, badly. We've got to put them somewhere safe." Not bothering to argue, Taichi lifted the boy and the green worm with Gabumon's help and settled them on the ground. Yamato slid off and let Scythemon come back to consciousness in Piedmon's arms.
When he let the body lie on the ground, that's when the boy's identity struck him, "The Kaiser?!"
Daisuke and the others joined Taichi and couldn't believe their eyes, "What's he doing here?!" Daisuke hollared.
"He was hurt by...Itami...." Yamato whispered out the name, and Taichi felt a hint of nostalgia from it.
Just then, the Kaiser's eyes twitched open slowly, trying hard to adjust to the bright sunlight. He tried to sit up but the stinging pain in his arm prevented him from moving up an inch. The pain woke him up to full conciousness and panic enveloped him, "Wh, where am I? Wh...You?!" His eyes landed on the Digidestined.
"You better be scared after what you've put us through!" Daisuke marched up to his rival, fists ready to strike. "So the mighty Digimon Kaiser is captured with no one to help him. When we're done with you you'll wish you never came to the Digiworld!"
"You'll do no such thing!" Everyone spun around to the source of the cry. Scythemon left Piedmon's arms and positioned herself between the Kaiser and Daisuke, "He is injured. You can fight later." Still clutching her wound, she staggered to the Kaiser's side and fell on her knees.
"But this is our chance to end all this once and for all!" Daisuke still wanted to fight and sprinted for the boy. A wave of Scythemon's arm and he stopped dead in his tracks. The point of her scythe was less than an inch away from his chin.
"He is on -my- island. All I see is an injured boy who needs to be healed and protected. If you want to fight him you'll have to go through me." Her eyes glaring and teeth clenched, she let him contemplate the choice and he backed off in reluctance. The others stood frozen in place but none were as mystified as the Kaiser. His eyes were glued to Scythemon as she support him to walk near a boulder to rest on. Seeing the struggle in her movements, Yamato took off to help her.
"M, Matt!" Taichi reached out a hand to hold him back but his fingers slipped unknowingly from Yamato's arm. The blonde reached his friend while Taichi was left to stand alone.
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"I don't get why we can't bust up the Kaiser now..." Daisuke kicked the fifth pebble on his path. Iori was on the D-terminal with Koushirou and Takeru was busy unlocking the dark spiral from AirDramon while watching over his brother.
Miyako and Hikari were preoccupied with the digimon to make sure they were fully healed. "Well, in his condition, it's not like he can continue his rampage to rule the Digiworld." Hikari said in a absent voice. Her hands were preoccupied with helping the digimon but her eyes were glued to her brother. She expected him to be extatic with joy from Yamato's return but instead, Taichi sat in introspection from the side. Agumon had a hard time to try and find out what was wrong from his human partner.
Yamato came back from a nearby stream with Gabumon and headed straight for the Kaiser and Midori. Taichi, not wanting to wait anymore, approached the blonde and blocked his path. "We need to talk." Agumon followed but stayed a distance away from the two. Gabumon joined the yellow dinosaur, knowing the encounter was to lead to another fight.
"....about what?" the blonde answered flatly.
Taichi flinched slightly from the coldness in his voice, but he tried to ignore it and initiated again, "About our... relationship." Taichi found it hard to say the word he used many times when referring to Yamato in the past. Yamato's face kept the cold expression but his eyes twitched. "What I said earlier, I-"
"Whatever." He brushed aside Taichi's apology and tried to turn away from the warm, brown eyes.
Taichi grabbed the blonde's wrist, not satisfied with the blatent response from him, "Don't shove this aside Matt. We need to talk." He felt Yamato shake a bit from the grip, and realized he still hadn't recovered fully from his injuries. Taichi let his grip loosen but still held firm.
"Let go of me if you don't want my fist in your face." His icy voice stabbed Taichi in the heart, but he still refused to let him loose. Keeping his promise, Yamato punched him hard enough for Taichi to stagger backwards. Taichi slowly looked up to the blonde and saw Yamato was more hurt than him. The blue eyes sparkled from the sun even more with the tears Yamato was trying to hold back. "Gabumon, let's go." He quickly turned away from Taichi before a drop fell down his cheek.
From the distance, Daisuke witnessed the two people he saw as mentors breaking farther apart when they were so close to each other then anyone else.
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"Hold still if you want it to heal properly." Scythemon advised. She finished the bandaging of his arm that finally stopped in its bleeding.
The Kaiser did as he was told; too weak in fighting back. ".....why?"
She looked blinked at him, "Why what?"
"Why are you helping me?"
Scythemon paused for a moment, "...This is a sanctuary for those who are hurt and you're hurt badly. So don't worry about anything and rest." She tied the last bandage and inspected the arm to satisfy her medical assistance, "You should rest like him." She pointed to the mummified Wormmon, sleeping soundly on Ken's lap. He could hardly recognize him with all the bandage and splints that covered him. He still couldn't believe Scythemon was helping and even protecting him against her own allies. The act of kindness was foriegn to him.
The Kasier rested against the boulder and noticed another figure coming towards him. "Yamato?..." The blonde kneeled down beside the boy and wiped his dirty face with a wet cloth. "Even you?..."
"....Midori, I'll take care of him. You need to rest." He saw she was about to say otherwise but he gave her no chance, "You can't help him if you can't help yourself." Accepting defeat, Scythemon retreated to a nearby tree and crashed down on her back against it.
"You're still helping me after what I've done?..." A softer voiced Ken spoke up to the blonde.
Yamato continued to clean him up, "Like she said, you're hurt."
Ken let his head slump to the side against Yamato's chest. Yamato tried to back off at first but Ken leaned in closer and closed his eyes into the world of dreams.
An hour passed and Ken was in deep sleep. Seeing Piedmon finally get up and walk away from Midori, Yamato decided he would counsel her too. "Gabumon, could you look after him for a while?" Yamato gently laid him against the rock and headed towards Scythemon, who looked as if she was in a trance. Her eyes trailed off into nothingness and body perfectly still. The bags under her eyes sagged even more but her bleeding had stopped. He set himself with a heavy thud beside her; he was tired himself from taking care of Ken and keeping a close eye on Midori. "You want to talk about it?"
Midori snapped out of her trance, just noticing Yamato beside her, "Hm? What do you mean?"
"C'mon, anyone staring at you for one minute can see something's really bothering you. What happened back there?"
"....nothing.."
That was the answer Yamato didn't want to hear, "It isn't 'nothing'. Don't hold whatever it is back-"
"Can you play your harmonica for me?" Yamato was caught off guard by the request. Usually, he had to make her to ask for things.
"...I'd love to but, I don't have it with me. Haven't played it since I played for you when we first met. I play a bass guitar and vocal in a band now." For the first time, Yamato wondered why he did stop playing it. "
"Guitar...my favourite instrument to hear...electric guitars are one of the best. Rock band?" Yamato nodded. "My favourite too. What a coincidence." Midori made a short chuckle but sounded too worn and bitter, "I haven't drawn since we've first met either. I guess we both forgot our roots." She stared up to the clear sky, "A band huh? You must be popular with the girls. And you do have the voice for it. I could never sing like that in front of anyone. I remember I never showed my drawings to anyone. They were a part of me..."
Yamato leaned against the tree with her, "I know what you mean. I had a hard time letting other people hear my harmonica."
"At least you could share it with others in the end, but I still refuse to do that. The only ones I ever showed my drawings was you and Asa-....Asato." The name reopened old wounds in Midori's heart.
Yamato remembered the green-eyed boy Midori had been fond of, but a love that was cut off before it had a chance to bloom. "I'm sorry. I know you loved him-"
"Love," she retorted almost sardonically, "he said he loved me...but I don't know if I loved him..." Yamato leaned in closer, his hand holding hers. "I don't know about a lot of things these days. I cared for Asato a lot but it was because of me he died. I want to feel like I loved him but I'm not sure. Piedmon loves me, but I don't know if I love him back. I feel like I'm punishing him for ordering the executions of the others. I know he's changed but..." Her voice intensified with every word, "But how can I punish him if I killed so many and not punished for them myself. I killed that girl years ago, I killed almost every digimon in my way, it was because of me all the DarkDestined are dead and I killed Itami!" She slammed her fists on the ground, not caring her hand being cut by sharp loose rocks.
Startled at Midori's outbusrt, he did the only thing he could think of. Wrapping his arms around her, he gave her an embrace she desperately needed. "It is not your fault. Everything is not your fault. And Asato wouldn't want you beat yourself like this." he whispered in Midori's ear, her head leaning against his chest in defeated weariness.
Midori took in the warmth from his beating heart, "....he said I'm a killer."
Yamato continued to cradle her in his arms, "Who said?"
"Itami. He said I want to to bad things. That I'm like that by nature....that I'm the Kaiser....."
"No!" He gripped her even more, "You're the most unselfish, gentle person I've ever met. And you're not a Kaiser! All those things you've done were forced upon you...so don't beat yourself anymore..."
She stayed silent for a moment taking in what Yamato had faith in. "Thank you Yamato. But, part of what he said was true. I was jealous when the Digimon Kaiser could be so cruel so openly while I had to hide myself for so long. I wanted to be free, even for just one day. I hold back my yearnings, restrain from doing evil..."
"And that's what makes you so special." Yamato buried his chin in her hair, "You're able to hold it back, take control of yourself. I wasn't able to when Cherrymon turned me against Tai. That makes you one of the strongest in the world."
She smiled slightly by the remark, "Thanks..." she smiled weakly. "Another thing...he said I'm already half a Kaiser. My powers... And him, Ken, got the mind of a Kaiser..." She shuffled in his arms, "The three of us are connected. We encountered that black orb years ago. You were the only one to be totally free of it. I embraced it but Itami said my conscience kept me from gaining the mind and Ken..." Midori hugged him harder, "We have to stick together. The three of us." Yamato held her tighter, the revelations swimming in his head.
"...enough about all that. Do you have someone that's got you muddled up like me?" Midori asked.
Yamato tensed from the question. He had two answers, one absolute and the other an unknown variable. But if he had to talk about it with anyone, it would be with her. "...I, I think I have feelings for someone, but, I'm not sure if those feelings are being returned..."
"So who's the lucky girl?" She got no answer. Midori looked up and saw his face glowing bright red, but sadness in his eyes. "Yamato?"
"......IthinkI'minlovewithTai-" he blurted out all at once. He waited for the face of disgust to greet him.
Midori released herself from his embrace and looked at him straight in the eye the biggest smile of genuine happiness on her face, "That's wonderful!"
Yamato was half shocked and half relieved, "Y, you don't care the he's a-"
"A guy?" She took hold of Yamato's shoulders and almost giggled from his explicit blushing, "Why would I care? There are a lot of people living without ever feeling or experiencing love Yamato; I should know. It doesn't matter who it is as long as you feel strongly about that person."
He breathed a sigh, "Thanks Midori. I do appreciate that...I really do."
"So, does he know?" she asked eagerly.
".....oh yeah...." He remembered the confession all to well. "He said I was confused."
She gave him a sympathetic look, "I'm sure he's confused himself. It's not everyday a friend of yours confess their love to you. Give it time."
"He just tried to talk to me just now but I acted like a selfish jerk and pushed...more like punched him away." He regreted leaving Taichi behind.
"If he really cares for you, love or not, he'll try again. And again and again if he has to."
"Maybe..." Yamato was unsure, but he was reminded of the other factor, "Well, actually....there's someone who has a kind of crush on me..." Midori didn't know if Yamato could turn anymore crimson but he did.
"Forget what I said earlier; you must be more popular with the guys." She teased and smiled at his mocking faces.
"Shut. Up." Yamato retorted playfully. He was glad he could make her smile; she had been frowning for too long.
"So, can I ask who it is?" Yamato didn't say anything and just pointed behind him. Midori peeked over his shoulder and her eyes widened, "The Kaiser?!" The blonde nodded slowly, his eyes closed in embarressment. "I never thought he had it in him... Well, I guess Taichi-san and the Kaiser have to fight over you now." She grinned even more causing Yamato to attack with a threatening glare. "Heh heh, sorry. But, does he know you like someone else? What did you say to him?"
"....I kinda punched and threatened to break-every-bone-in-his-body-with-my-bare-hands kind of stuff..." His face turned to a coy smile.
Midori patted him on the back in sympathy, "We've got to work on your people skills."
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"Hey guys! I have news from Izzy!" Iori gathered the Digidestined minus Yamato. "He got word from Gennai that there's a strange power eminating from the east of this island." He showed his D-3 with the map on screen.
"What kind of power?" Amrmadillomon asked.
"Izzy's not really sure but he said it seems similar to the crests, whatever that means."
Takeru looked at Patamon to Hikari to Taichi, "Could that mean there's another crest?" The other two contemplated the idea but were unsure themselves.
Iori continued his report, "Gennai wants us to check it out and Izzy agrees. They already sent a message to Pixiemon and Centarumon to come and meet us there."
"So we should all get ready to leave then." suggested Daisuke.
"I know that region." Piedmon stepped up, "I can guide you all there."
Daisuke readied his D-3, "All right then let's go-"
"RIVER OF POWER!" Daisuke was cut off by the scream and a stream of bright light slicing throught the ground.
The original Digidestined and digimon were bewildered by the name of the attack. The ground beneath them crumbled from the force of the blast. Taichi slipped on the edge of the newly made cliff but Hikari caught his hand in time but she too lost her balance. Takeru grabbed her hand but the weight of the two caused him to come crashing on the faltering edge. His cheek were starting to flood with blood as the jagged edges seeped into his flesh. Daisuke, Miyako, Iori and the digimon made a human/digimon chain and pulled them to safety. Hikari looked up on confusion, "Was MetalSeaDramon reborn too?!"
"Well, one-seventh of him at least." said the icy voice. Everyone looked up to the source and Hikari, Taichi and Takeru remembered the figure. It was distorted, but knew it was the same boy who had killed his own comapanions, the DarkDestined.
Black wings of Devimon kept him hovering over them in the air. Itami readied his stance for another strike, "Let's make this fun shall we? GRISELY WING!"
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What do you think? Since the main theme of the chapter was about relationships, it's mostly descriptive and stuff. And I didn't proofread either (thanks to Libek for saying I don't have to worry about it^_~). Things are going to get a little more interesting from here on. And sorry about the lateness. School is important (or so I'm told^_^) but sucking the creative life out of me. Please review if you can. Even short ones like "That was good." or "Write more action" is enough. I just want to know that there are names behind the readers and well, you guys give me a boost on my gloomy days. Hopefully, I'll get the next chapter up by the end of the week but I'm also starting another story/series too (WARNING!! SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!!^o^) which will most likely be called "Nightmare Soldiers". If you're interested, read and review it please!! I'll have that story up soon...hopefully....
Thanks again readers!