Out of the Ashes…: Chapter 3
** Disclaimers: I don't own digimon. Never will. This fic was produced for entertainment purposes only, and will not be sold. Leave me alone, you vultures!
** Author's note: OK, let's get one thing straight right now. I do not have a split personality! Has anyone noticed that flame I seem to have left for myself in "Out of the Ashes: Chapter 2"? Well, it wasn't me!!!! It was my younger brother, who thought it would be hilarious to leave flames for my fics, just to piss me off. And since he used the desktop we have at home, and since I didn't sign out earlier, it ended up bearing my signature! Oh, and if anyone read the review my brother left on "Out of the Ashes: Chapter 1", well, my real name really is "Arthur". I don't usually review my own fics unless there's a pressing reason.
This chapter is a little slow. The next couple ones will be as well, since I'm beginning to set up for the climax, so bear with me! Actually, I've already started writing chapter 7, when the final battle starts and heehee (grins diabolically), ALL OUT WAR!!!! I'm having fun! A lot of fun! However, every good fight scene and battle has to be backed up by a good, solid foundation, so keep reading! A one-sided Takari, or a "mcguffin" as my editor pointed out. Read on and see what I mean.
As always, thanks to my wonderful editor, TS. Really guys, she's a big help.
Oh, and did I mention that the digidestined get reunited in this chapter?
********
**two weeks later**
Just over the horizon, a golden orb was slowly rising into the sky. Its reddish golden rays peeked over the tall mountains on the East side of the valley, and touched a small city of rough but sturdy houses, bathing it in its soft glow. The forest wavered and stirred gently as a breeze ran through the trees.
Yamato Ishida sat on a chair, watching the shimmering patterns of the forest from his window. Gabumon was sleeping in the corner. It was beautiful, in a way, how the wind stirred up the leaves into never-ending patterns, different shades of green and black all combining into an overall, whirling kaleidoscope. The rising sun cast its rose coloured glow on the trees, breathing life into the forest. The sun's rays slowly crept down the sides of the mountains on the west side of the valley, illuminating the craggy rock face with its gentle, warm glow. Already, Matt could hear the singsong cadence of a lone bird chirping in the trees, calling nature to awake.
Sighing, he cast his gaze back upon the city of Zion. His domain. It was a good base, well fortified and well hidden. Rows of simple but sturdy buildings lined up on the ground. They served as the dormitories. Matt himself was in the central building, the largest of them all, which housed all the guns, ammunition, weapons, food, and supplies. Although it was still the crack of dawn, Zion was already stirring with life. People, women and men, were out in the fields, getting an early start on the harvest. Matt could hear the happy cries of children as they played amongst themselves. He closed his eyes.
Zion was not merely a fortress. It was home to those who dwelled in it, a place of sanctuary. As such, it was not inhabited solely by soldiers, but also by women and children. How could Matt deny them the right to live? When he opened his eyes again, his ice blue eyes hardened with resolve. This was the last place on Earth where one could hear laughter, could see children playing, where people walked about with a purpose. He would not allow Diaboromon to crush this final oasis of hope.
Again, the happy laughter of the children at their games drifted up to his ears. Matt's smile was bittersweet as he contemplated a group of children playing soccer in the fields. It reminded him of the happy childhood that had been stolen from him. Before, he would've been out there right now, joining in their game. A young man his age should be thinking about things like dating, grades, sports, and the hottest new music group, not about saving the world, supplies, weapons, tactics and strategies. He should be enjoying life to its fullest, blissfully unaware of what troubles should follow.
But fate had disagreed. The highest commander of the entire Zion rebellion could hardly be seen playing soccer with children. He was blessed (or should it be cursed?) with his powers and abilities as a digidestined. He had been chosen, along with the others, to be the warriors needed to pull this world out of darkness. Matt sighed. Although that responsibility weighed heavily on his young shoulders, he would fulfill it, for those he loved, and to preserve hope for the future.
But oh…how he wished he could be a kid again, if only for a moment.
Matt rested his forehead on the windowsill. Of their own accord, his eyes drifted to the wall in his room, and rested on the familiar blue and black goggles hanging there. He frowned, and tore his gaze away. It reminded him too much of the comrades he had lost. Tai's dead. Get over it, he thought fiercely.
The leader was a cursed position. The leader always had to take everything on himself to relieve his troops, always burdened with impossible command decisions. The leader was always at the forefront, always the first to take the bullet. Matt rubbed the knee he had wrenched during that fateful night when Mark had died. Although it had healed completely, it still twinged occasionally, especially in cold weather. Jim had told him that that twinge would stay with him for the rest of his life. "Think of it as a battle scar," the doctor had told him. "You were lucky you didn't end up with a limp."
The leader is a cursed job, but someone's gotta do it.
"Hey, Matt…you awake?"
Matt was startled out of his reverie at the quiet knock on the door. "Joe? Come in."
The door opened, and Joe stepped in. Matt looked down and noticed Gomamon at his feet. Joe's eyes widened as he found Matt at the window. "Man. Matt, do you ever sleep?"
The ash-blond boy grinned. "No. I don't."
Gomamon snorted, and waddled over to where Gabumon was sleeping. "Well, can't say the same for Gabumon here." Leaning in close, the fun-loving digimon screamed right in Gabumon's sensitive ear. "Wake up, sleepy-head!"
Matt and Joe chuckled as they watched Gabumon shoot up like a rocket, his fur bristling, and start chasing Gomamon around the room. The two digimon wrestled on the floor, flippers and fur entangling in one another. Then Matt turned to look at Joe. "What is it? Anything new?"
Joe nodded. "TK and Kari's recon party is back. I thought you'd want to know ASAP. I just let them in the main gate a few minutes ago, then I came to tell you." He frowned. "They also seem to have picked up a few more members."
Matt got up and stretched. The weather was getting colder, so he was dressed in comfortable black trousers and a dark turtleneck. He drilled Joe with a sharp gaze. "More? What d'you mean?"
Joe shrugged. "Well, TK's cell numbers around fifty of our best fighters, but he only took five along with him on this recon mission, not counting Kari. He said he wasn't out to fight, and a smaller group was easier to conceal. Now, he seems to be leading around ten people. One of them was on some kind of stretcher as well."
The blond boy frowned. "Well, they're probably a gang they picked up along the way." All Zion rebels had standing orders to welcome any remaining street gangs left into the rebellion. Matt walked out the door, and started down the stairs towards the main hall. "Any news from David's group?"
Joe shook his head. "No. He was scheduled to come in today, but then, I guess he got delayed."
Matt shrugged. "He'll be all right. He can take care of himself."
Together, the two digidestined walked down the hallway of the main building. People they passed stepped out of their way with respect. It was an unusual spectacle, seeing grown adults treat teenagers with such profound respect. Matt nodded courteously to them as he passed, but he continued walking to the main hall where his brother was. Gabumon and Gomamon followed their masters, and they received no less veneration than Matt and Joe.
Finally, they rounded the last corner, and saw TK's party. Most of the rebels were clustered around the food table, anxious to get a decent meal after a month and a half on camp rations. Some of them were unpacking their bags, unloading equipment and supplies. One of the jobs of recon parties such as this was to forage for any supplies left in the city, be it ammunition, weapons, or raw materials such as smelted metal. Such resources were vital to the rebellion.
Five men just stood in the middle of the room, gazing around uncertainly. Patamon and Gatomon flitted around, helping with odd jobs. Kari was helping the rebels unload their equipment. Matt looked around the room, and finally picked out a young, blond boy, kneeling beside an obviously injured young man on a stretcher. "TK?" Matt called out.
The small blond boy looked up, and his crystal blue eyes met his brother's. Then he nodded, gave the man on the stretcher a supportive pat on the shoulder, stood up, and began walking over. Matt beckoned to Kari as well, and the brown-haired girl abandoned what she was doing and walked over to join the others. "Joe. Get these people settled in, but the five new members, keep them here. I'll decide what to do with them once I've heard TK's report." Matt muttered out of the side of his mouth. Joe nodded once, and stepped forward to help.
TK finally arrived. Matt gave his brother a bear hug. "Welcome home, squirt." The younger, blond boy hugged him back. Then, Matt broke away and gave Kari a hug as well. It was always a relief to have them come back safely after a month and a half of recon.
The curse of the leader. Knowing full well that you may be sending your soldiers out to die, yet sending them out anyway.
Then he stepped back, and frowned. "What happened to you?" His brother looked a little worse for wear. His face was pale, and his eyes were tired. One of his shirt's sleeves had been ripped clean off, and the front of his shirt had been slashed. Then, he noticed a white bandage around TK's left forearm, partially hidden by the boy's long-sleeved shirt. His eyes narrowed. "TK, you've been on recon missions before. What happened this time?"
TK waved a hand. "Oh, don't worry about me…"
Matt grabbed the bandaged forearm. TK winced, so Matt loosened his grip, but he didn't let go. Carefully, he unravelled the bandage, and his jaw clenched. An angry red slash stretched from TK's elbow to his wrist. The wound looked deep, and it would most likely leave a knife-scar. The older boy's blue eyes were suddenly grim.
"Who are these people? Who did this?" he gestured at the five remaining men and the man on the stretcher.
Kari answered. "They're a street gang we picked up about two weeks ago, hiding out in Tokyo. We managed to persuade them to join us."
Matt frowned. "Don't dodge my questions. Who slashed you? This doesn't look like the work of a Bakemon." He had seen Bakemon injuries before, too many it seemed, and they tended to be fractured bones, bruises, but no razor-sharp cuts like this.
TK blew out a breath, as if resigned. "Well, you see…one of the new guys had some kind of problem with being led by a fourteen-year-old, so he sort of…challenged me to a fight..."
Matt was incredulous. "And you let him cut you? This badly? Come on TK, this isn't like you. You can fight better than that."
Kari interrupted. "The guy cheated." The girl looked angry, but TK simply looked down at his feet. "It was supposed to be a no-weapons challenge. TK had beaten him fairly, but he didn't deliver the final blow. Then the guy got up, pulled a knife out, and charged TK when his back was turned. He was lucky he didn't get stabbed in the back."
Matt's jaw tightened. How cowardly. His sudden rage manifested itself as a small, flickering blue aura involuntarily began dancing around his body. "Who did it?!" he snarled. There was going to be hell to pay over this.
TK didn't answer, so Kari pointed Rob out. The new guys were watching the discussion with avid interest, but Rob looked frightened out of his wits. "There. The guy on the stretcher. His name is Rob."
Matt began stalking over, his eyes clouded over with anger. Even if the guy was disabled, he was going to teach the bastard a lesson he'd never forget…
"Matt…don't."
The older boy blinked at his younger brother. TK stood in his way, his arms outstretched to block the path to the man on the stretcher. Matt crossed his arms and glared hatefully at Rob, then turned his gaze back on TK. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't turn this guy out and leave him to fend for himself."
"You know as well as I do that he wouldn't last a day out there. With his knee wrenched, he wouldn't be able to find food. You'd essentially be sentencing him to death."
"So what?" Matt spat. "He certainly can't stay." Again, he shot a glare in Rob's direction. The streets had their own, sacred code of honour, and this man had broken it. Rob cowered under the glare. "I don't need someone like that in my rebellion. He's too dangerous to be…"
"We've been attacked by humans before, Matt. Why are you so worked up over this little fight?"
The older boy shook his head. "That's not the point. Those times, it was because the gangs were afraid of tricks, afraid we were Bakemon. They were fighting for their lives, and that I can understand. But what I'm hearing here…" he clenched his fist. "…is that this bastard, after knowing full-well that you were sworn against Diaboromon, and knowing you meant him no harm, still attacked you. What's more, he attacked when your back was turned, with a knife in his hand, in a no-weapons challenge!"
The commander scowled at the man on the stretcher. "I don't need someone like that watching my back when bullets start to fly."
TK shook his head stubbornly. When he looked up, his crystal blue eyes were filled with sadness once again. "Matt. If we left him out to die, would we really be any better than Diaboromon?"
Matt was stunned into silence. TK continued. "Isn't this the type of thing that Diaboromon does? Killing helpless people, who have no means to fight back? If we exiled him, where would he turn to? Zion is the last place on Earth that offers sanctuary, you know that."
It was true. TK himself had been on two long-range recon missions, ones that lasted six months at a time, in an effort to find other organizations like Zion. Taking along a small group of hand-picked rebels, and along with Kari, they had scoured the entire Japan, and parts of Asia, and had searched every city they came across.
They had found nothing but small street gangs. Both times they had returned with upwards of two hundred extra rebels that had joined up, but they had found nothing else. There were no other rebel establishments within Japan, and according to the accounts of travelling nomads, there were none left in the world. Five years after the initial invasion, Diaboromon had tightened and consolidated his hold on the planet. Zion was the absolute last bastion of organised human civilization.
Matt crossed his arms again. "He's still too dangerous." This man had attacked the second-in-command of Zion, and he was expected to welcome him in with open arms? Not going to happen.
"Then assign him to my cell."
Matt goggled. Silence fell in the room. "What?!"
TK drew himself up, and stared his brother in the eye. "Assign him to my cell. I'll take full responsibility for his actions. I swear to you that he'll behave just like any other member."
Silence. Then, "You know what this means, don't you?"
TK nodded. "If he does something wrong, it'll be my fault." His blue eyes softened. "I promise you he'll behave. You may discipline me, but only I may discipline the men."
Silence fell in the large room. Kari had sidled over to Rob's side. The new members watched with intense interest the battle between the two leaders. Rob especially, was watching the entire scene with baited breath. His life hung in the balance.
Then Matt nodded reluctantly. "All right…" he said hesitantly. Rob heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"From now on, Rob is officially assigned to your cell. He'll be given quarters before this day is through. We'll see if he's worth the effort…" Turning on his heel, Matt shot a glare in Rob's direction before marching off down the hallway.
"Get cleaned up, and get a decent meal. Meet me in my room in an hour for the debriefing." TK nodded. He shot a reassuring glance at Rob, and followed his brother down the hallway, his staff swinging easily from his hand.
Once both destined had left the room, Rob turned to Kari. "Why does he do this?" his voice was hoarse. "Why did he…he vouch for me? After I tried to kill him!" This kid is either incredibly stupid, or incredibly kind…
Kari looked at Rob. She shook her head. "You won' t understand- "
"Tell me." Kari looked at Rob in astonishment. The dark-haired young man had…changed. It was the first time anyone had shown him mercy. He had been given a second chance, and he didn't quite know how to deal with it. "Please…I have to know…"
Kari looked at the man on the stretcher. Her first emotion was intense hate at the man who had tried to kill her boyfriend, but with an effort, she fought it down. Hate got you nowhere, she had learned that much from TK. She sighed. "Takeru Takaishi is one of the few people left in this world who refuses to be dragged down by the war."
"That's just the way he is." Her voice was gentle. "Even in war, even when surrounded by death and killing, he won't let it get to him. His honour and his morals are that important to him. He can't bear to see death."
Her crimson eyes softened. "To him, gentleness and kindness are the soul of humanity, the hope that keeps people going. If we were to lose that, then we would become lower than animals. Sometimes, it gets him in trouble, like now, but then, that's what I love about him."
Rob fell silent. Now, he finally understood the fanatic loyalty he had seen in the eyes of TK's cell, the way they treated with the utmost respect the young, blond boy who was their leader. And how they considered it an honour to serve and die for him.
And, against his will, his mind grudgingly admitted the truth he had been hiding from himself for the past two weeks. Maybe following this kid isn't such a bad idea after all…
Dusk, two days later…
The outer wall of Zion was a sturdy, defensive barrier that surrounded the entire village. Along its perimeter, lookout towers had been placed for sentries. If Zion was attacked, the wall would provide cover for the defenders.
TK sat in one of the lookout towers, his staff in hand, as he scanned the surrounding forest with his sharp blue eyes. The sun was setting, and the woods were beginning to darken. The temperature was dropping as well, and TK wrapped his simple dark robe tightly around his slim body. Absent-mindedly, he fingered the glass pendant of hope he wore around his neck. Patamon perched on the railing, looking around. It was strangely serene and quiet, the way the velvety darkness enveloped the forest. The soft chirping of crickets sounded in the background.
Stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky. TK watched them flicker and blink in the velvety cloak of darkness that was the night. He noticed nine particularly bright ones, shedding their light on the gloom below. So pretty… the boy thought. He opened his mind, and just sat there thinking…about stuff. Nothing in particular, but more and more often, he found his thoughts focusing around a certain girl…
Then, Patamon tensed as his sensitive ears picked up footsteps approaching. He opened his mouth to warn TK when the boy nodded. "Don't worry, I hear it too." The digimon relaxed, and looked at the entrance of the lookout tower to see who would enter.
A small, dark form appeared in the doorway. "Um…sir? May I come in?"
TK sighed. "Sure. Come in. It gets a little quiet out here sometimes." He turned around to see who it was.
A small boy, around eight years old, stepped in, carrying a tray of food in his hands. He had dark hair, and blue eyes, but he seemed nervous, staring at his shuffling feet. An awkward silence descended, until TK looked at the boy quizzically. "Hi there, what's your name?"
The small boy cleared his throat nervously. "Um…it's Tim sir…I uh…" He held up the tray. "Miss Kari said that this was for you. She prepared it herself, but she was too busy to come give it to you personally, so she asked me to…uh…"
TK smiled warmly to try and help the boy feel more at ease. In a way, he understood the boy's nervousness. After all, he was the second-in-command of the entire Zion rebellion, commander of the most deadly fighters Zion had to offer, and possessing powers that no one really understood. He was also renowned as a deadly soldier, skilled in the ways of war.
TK could remember when he himself had been like that, awed and cowed by authority figures. Of course, that had been five years ago.
Standing up, TK left his staff leaning against the railing, and walked over to take the tray. He sniffed the food. "Smells good." Again, he smiled at the boy to try and ease his nervousness. "Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. It's always nice to have a hot meal on a cold night like this."
The boy gave him a small smile. "You're…you're welcome, sir."
Another awkward silence descended, so TK took the opportunity to walk back to his post. Sitting down with his tray, he turned back to look at the forest, giving the boy an opportunity to leave quietly. Tim was probably dying to get away. Taking a fresh piece of bread, he broke it, and chewed quietly on the warm crust.
"Um…sir?"
TK turned around, surprised. The boy hadn't left. "Hmm?"
Tim was staring at his feet, scoffing them against the floor nervously. "Well…I, uh…" He seemed hesitant to finish his sentence, as if TK would bite his head off if he said something wrong.
Patamon cut in. "If you have something to say it, go ahead. TK won't kill you."
The small eight-year-old swallowed the lump in his throat. "Um…please sir, may I see your staff?"
TK grinned in the darkening watchtower. So that's what this was all about. The kid wanted to see my staff. He patted a seat beside his own. "Tim, isn't it? Come here, sit down."
The small boy fairly scooted over, and plunked himself in the seat. Then, he watched with eager, shining eyes as TK took his staff, and handed it over to the small boy. "Here you go."
His eyes shining with excitement, the boy held the staff reverently. Over years, under Patamon's instruction, TK had shaped the once crude walking staff into a true weapon. Bandages wrapped around the side, improving the grip. The smoothly sanded bo gleamed softly in the starlight, a warm, golden brown colour. "But…but it's so heavy! How do you manage to fight with this, sir?"
The blond boy leaned back in his seat, wrapping his robe tighter around himself. He took a sip from a cup of soup on the tray. "Do me a favour. Stop calling me 'sir'. I'm just fourteen you know. 'TK' or 'Takeru' will do just fine." It was refreshing, in a way, to be conversing with a child for once. To not be discussing tactics and supply problems, and to just talk.
"Si…um…Takeru? Why are you out here anyway? You certainly don't have guard duty." TK was, after all, a commander of his own rebel cell.
The blond boy sighed, and looked at the stars again. "Leaders exist to serve, and not to be served. Just because you're the head doesn't mean you don't have to do the menial chores like everyone else does." His gaze once again went back to the nine, bright shining stars. Again, his fingers closed around the glass pendant around his neck. "And…I just needed some time alone to think...you know…about stuff."
Tim was beginning to feel less nervous. Even with TK's reputation, there was something about his appearance and his smile that made people feel at ease. His disarmingly bright blue eyes and seemingly innocent, fourteen-year-old face had that effect on most people. "Like…what kind of stuff?"
Again, TK was struck by the boy's innocence. Tim was finally beginning to come out of his shell. "Oh, nothing in particular. This and that…" he gestured vaguely.
Tim was silent for a few moments. Then he piped up again. "Did it have anything to do with Miss Kari?"
TK shot a glance at the boy. He had been thinking about Kari. The boy was more astute than he looked, despite his innocence. "What makes you think that?"
Tim shrugged. "Why, everyone in the camp knows about you two. And you were holding that pendant she gave you." Then he blushed. "I…I'm sorry if I seem disrespectful. It's really none of my business, sir…"
TK grinned. "When you're talking with me, treat me just like any other fourteen-year-old kid. Pretend you met me from school." A couple concerned Zion rebels had set up a small schooling system to keep the younger ones occupied.
"Really?" Tim looked up, his eyes bright and eager. "But sir…"
"Ah...Ah…" TK wagged a finger. "What's my name?"
Tim looked abashed. "Yes…I mean…OK…Takeru." The word came out sounding strange, but Tim had said it.
"Good." TK tucked the pendant under his shirt, and leaned back again in his chair. "Now, to answer your question. Actually, I was thinking about Kari." He shot a glance at the small boy beside him. "What exactly did you hear about me and Kari?" The rumor mill in Zion was notorious for distorting the facts, and TK was curious about what the people thought about their relationship.
So Tim told him. "Well, everyone says you're never apart. The kids say that you're, you know…boyfriend girlfriend type of thing. Dad and Mom say that you two are in love." Again, Tim blushed, but this time it had nothing to do with TK, personally. It was just the type of thing that eight-year-olds did when they were talking about love. "The older kids also say that you're lucky to have such a 'hot' girlfriend. And they're supposed to be the experts on dating…"
TK himself was blushing as well, but he hoped the darkness was hiding it. "What else?"
This time, Tim turned scarlet. TK could see it even in the dark. Here goes…"Well, I heard some people saying that…um… if you two were just a couple years older, we should be…uh…expecting a baby anytime now…"
Patamon choked.
TK threw his head back and laughed. A baby! The other sentries stationed around the wall glanced at the watchtower questioningly as they heard peals of merry laughter drift from it. It was unusual to see TK laugh so uproariously. Smile, sure, but he rarely let go of his emotions so far as to laugh. Tim, for his part, was heaving a sigh of relief.
"No…haha…it's not like that at all…" TK gasped as he wiped tears of mirth from his eyes. Then he took a deep breath and calmed down a little. "We'd never consider something like that until after we're married."
Tim looked puzzled. His idea of love between a boy and a girl had always been based on lust. That was his childhood had taught him, anyway. According to the older, and supposedly more mature and learned kids, when a boy "loved" a girl, he "lusted" after her. The two terms were synonymous. "So…what is it really like between you two? What do you feel for her?"
TK shook his head. "You won't understand. You're too young –"
"Aw come on! That's what Mom always says whenever she doesn't feel like telling me something. I'll understand, I promise!"
TK glanced at the young boy. Tim reminded him strongly of himself when he was young. Innocent, eager, full of life and energy. He exchanged a glance with Patamon, and Patamon stifled a giggle. TK turned back. "All right then…the farthest Kari and I have gone is kissing –"
"On the lips?"
The blond boy sighed. "Yes, on the lips."
"Eeeeewwww…" Tim wrinkled his nose. TK laughed again. "Hey, you promised you'd understand."
Tim gave it a moment's thought, then nodded. His childish face turned serious, and he looked at TK. "All right, I'm listening."
TK was impressed. He was actually making a serious effort to understand and to learn, putting aside all his childish misconceptions. He approved. Fine. You asked for the truth, you'll get my honest answer. You deserve it. The blond boy leaned back into his chair.
"I…I can't really explain what I feel for Kari. Love isn't something you can describe in words. Words are too limiting. It's something you…you have to experience for yourself in order to understand, and even then, you'll never understand it fully," he began.
"It's like…I'll do anything to protect her. I would gladly give my life to wipe away a single tear from her cheek. To ensure her happiness, I would do anything, anything at all." TK gestured helplessly as he tried to formulate such a complex idea into such limiting words. How the hell does one explain love to an eight-year-old?
"I love her unconditionally. It's not because she looks or acts a certain way, or possess something special. No matter what happens to either one of us, the bond will endure. You see…" TK paused. "To me, she'll always be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And I'm certain that until my last breath, I'll love her. Her beauty extends beyond her physical self. I love her spirit, her gentleness… It goes…beyond that…somehow…"
The boy groaned and rubbed his face with his hand. "I…I can't do this. How do I explain it? I can't. I'm not even sure I understand it completely myself." Great, I've probably lost Tim completely.
There was a short pause. Then Tim spoke up. "I'm…not sure I get it…but then…I think I understand…"
TK was surprised, and then impressed. The kid had actually stayed with him during the entire explanation, and hadn't zoned out. What's more, he was actually trying to understand. He'll go far… TK thought. Tim continued. "Basically, you two are just, well, best best friends. I guess that would be what everyone says is 'love'." The small boy looked proud of having "understood".
The blond boy closed his eyes. Love. It seemed to be such a simple word for what he felt for Kari, how he rarely thought of anything, awake, or in his dreams. And how their relationship kept changing, how each day, they discovered something new together. Kari was his light, the one who guided him through these dark days. Whenever the holder of Hope himself began to despair that they would never defeat Diaboromon, she was the one who would reassure him, gird his hope with her light. And for that, he owed her…everything.
Reaching out, TK ruffled the younger boy's dark hair fondly. It was surprising how much he liked the kid. His innocence and exuberance was a relief from the darkness and despair of the war. "Yeah," he said slowly. "I suppose that's the best way to put it."
A moment of silence descended upon the two. A couple of insects could be heard chirping in the dark. TK looked back out into the forest. The stars were becoming brighter now, though the nine shining ones he had noticed earlier continued to be the brightest of them all.
Then, Tim turned to TK beside him. "Takeru? When I grow up, I want to be just like you. Of course, I'll never be able to match you…"
TK laughed, though his laughter was tinged with a bit of sadness. He has no idea…"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll grow up to be a fine young man. I remember when I used to be just like you…"
Tim's eyes were wide. "Really?"
The older blond boy nodded. "When I was eight years old, I was totally clueless. I remember I used to be the crybaby of the group, always bawling for my Mommy. The other digidestined tried to be sympathetic to me, but then, I was always the runt of the group. Um…no offence."
The dark-haired eight-year-old was incredulous. "Really? But…but look at you now! Second-in-command of the Zion rebellion, and…and…commander of your own cell!" TK bawling for his Mommy?!
TK smiled. "My point. People grow and change. You'll do all right. I'm sure of it."
The two boys sat alone in the darkness for a few moments, just listening to the crickets chirping softly in the background. The night was almost tangible, in the way it enfolded in a velvety cloak of peaceful black. TK sighed, and cast his gaze back up into the sky, and saw his nine stars again. All of a sudden, they seemed to be shining much brighter than before…
beep beep beep…
The older boy's blue eyes widened. In a moment, all traces of mirth was wiped from his face. Quickly, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out his digivice. Patamon hurriedly flew over and perched on his head, peering intently at the screen as well. Tim watched puzzled as TK punched a few buttons on the tiny device.
The blond boy stared incredulously as five dots appeared on the screen. Each of them coming from the general direction of Tokyo, and headed towards Zion. They were only about a hundred meters away. His digivice hadn't exactly been tuned to full sensitivity. He looked up. His eyes were shining. "I don't believe it…" he whispered.
Tim, for his part, was more than a little concerned by now. "What's the matter? What is it?" TK was renowned for his unnatural calm. It took a lot to fluster the blond leader, but whatever it was that he had seen on that weird device had spooked him badly. Or maybe spooked wasn't the right word. He seemed…excited, exuberant, almost ecstatic. "What is that thing?"
The older, blond boy leaped to his feet, his robe swirling about his slim frame, his food forgotten. For a moment, a small, golden aura flickered around his shoulders until TK reigned in his excitement. Jumping from the tower, he began racing towards the east wall, where the dots were approaching. Patamon flew by his side. "Tim!" he called back over his shoulder. "Go get Matt and the others, and tell them to meet at the East wall. Tell them it's urgent."
"But…but…wait a minute…Matt Ishida? The commander? But what'll I tell him?" Tim was really confused now.
TK's voice carried clearly through the night air. "Tell him I've got a signal on my digivice. He'll understand." Then the boy was gone, fading into the darkness as he raced towards the East wall himself.
As he ran, his eyes were glued to the screen on his digivice. No mistake. It was definitely picking up five signals, approaching the East Wall. TK tuned his digivice to maximum sensitivity and shook it several times. The five extra dots remained. Counting the signals representing Kari, Matt and Joe, that made a total of nine dots on his screen. Nine signals!
"TK?" Patamon frowned as he flapped beside his master. "Why are there five digivices?" TK frowned as well. The extra digivice was a mystery to be sure. "Dunno, but we'll find out once we get there." Almost invisible, the young boy flitted through the darkness like a wraith, his robe blending in perfectly with the night, silently.
Finally, the East wall loomed ahead in the darkness. TK ignored the main door, and instead, climbed up onto the ramparts of the wall. Whether they possessed digivices or not, it was always a good idea to see who was knocking before you let them in. When he reached the top, he cursed under his breath. He had forgotten to bring a flashlight or a torch. He glanced at his digivice. The dots were at the wall by now. No time to go get one.
Then, he took a deep breath. His mind cleared of all thoughts, and his body relaxed. Holding up his right hand, he focused his mind on it, and a small, golden flame appeared in the palm of his hand. Patamon grinned. It wasn't the best lamp ever made, but it would do. TK held his hand up higher, and the flame brightened. The golden brilliance pushed back the gloom all around them, shedding light on the scene.
He looked over the wall. Even with the aid of the improvised lamp and his sharp eyesight, all he could see was a mob of shadowy figures, their identity shrouded by darkness. Frowning, TK tried to intensify his aura even more. It looked like a literal army of men, at least a hundred.
He turned, pursed his lips, and whistled sharply. It was a prearranged signal for danger. Zion had to be alerted. It wasn't everyday that an army of a hundred armed men showed up in the middle of the night. And it definitely wasn't everyday when you picked up signals on your digivice. Sentries along the wall began shouting, several lamps flared up, and a troop of guards gathered by the East wall. Turning back, TK looked upon the mysterious visitors again.
"Who are you? Do you come in peace?" TK called out the time-honoured challenge of the sentry. It was only slightly better than the hideously overused phrase "Halt! Who goes there!" but then, clichés became clichés simply because they were so appropriate. There was no way around it. Straining his eyes, he tried to pick out who these mysterious people were, although he already had a good idea.
For a moment, no one responded.
Then a hesitant voice called up. It was tinged with awe. "TK? TK, is that you?" The blond boy's heart skipped a beat. The voice sounded hauntingly familiar. A voice he'd thought he would never hear again. It can't be him. He's dead…
Then, TK turned as he heard people approaching behind him. Matt and the others had arrived with their digimon, along with a crowd of curious Zion rebels. The newcomers were clearly not hostile, so who were they? TK could see a few familiar faces within the Zion crowd, Tim, Shinta and Rob. The blond boy made a mental note to thank Tim later. The kid had been fast. Joe and Kari held the crowd back, while Matt peered over the edge with TK. His steel-blue eyes narrowed. "David. Is that you?"
A different voice called up. This time, TK instantly recognized it as the soft, commanding tone of the cell leader. "Yes, Commander –"
"Commander?!" several voices chorused at once.
David continued dryly as if there was no interruption. "It's me and my cell. We're back from that recon mission, and we've found something…interesting. If you'll let us in sir, I think you'll be in for a surprise. I assure you that these men are not hostile."
Matt nodded. "TK, open the gate –"
Then he stopped. TK had already hopped down onto the ground, and was eagerly throwing open the lock. Even in the darkness, he had no trouble manipulating it. Swinging the wide door open, he stepped back as the sixteen human figures slipped in. The rest stayed outside, awaiting the go-ahead. TK walked back to join Matt and the other destined as they watched the little party file into Zion. Placing a supportive arm around Kari's shoulders, TK noticed that she was trembling. Kari turned and gave him a grateful smile, then turned her attention back to the mysterious party.
It was still too dark to see who it was. Several Zion members had brought flashlights, and they trained them on the newcomers. TK and Kari both raised their hands, and their auras flared forth once again. The light cut through the night, and finally revealed the figures.
For a moment, there was a stunned silence. Both parties stood gazing at each other, wide-eyed, as they finally got a good look at each other. These were faces they had thought they would never see again. Beside him, TK could feel Kari's trembling increase. He sympathized. He felt the same.
Matt was thunderstruck. His hands were trembling, and the Zion rebels looked at him with concern. Matt was also renowned to be unnaturally calm. "Tai?" he whispered. "I don't believe it…"
Then the ranks broke. Rushing forward joyously, both sides met in a clash. Bear hugs, laughs, and even kisses were exchanged all around.
"Kari! It's you! You're safe!!!" Tai yelled as he swept his sister up into a crushing bear hug, regardless of her seemingly burning hands. "I'm never going to let go…ever again."
Kari, for her part, was hugging her older brother back fiercely, tears of joy streaming down her face. "Tai! You're alive! You're not dead! I thought I'd never see you again…"
The digimon all piled up on one another, happy to see each other once again. A tangle of fur, flippers, vines, wings, and claws rolled and squealed on the ground. It was, in kid terms, a "mushpit".
Mimi launched herself headlong into Matt's arms. "I can't believe it's really you!" she squealed. Hugging the lanky, blond boy close, she planted a long kiss on his cheek, then continued jumping up and down with excitement. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" A couple Zion rebels fell around laughing as they saw the partly horrified, partly overjoyed expression on their commander's face.
Izzy gave Joe an exuberant high five, and then embraced as well. When they pulled away, Joe looked the auburn-haired boy up and down. "My, you've grown. Still the computer geek, I see," he added teasingly, pointing at the laptop.
Sora rushed up to TK, and swept him up in a motherly embrace. Although the boy wasn't exactly short for his age, Sora was rather tall. The younger, blond boy was swept clean off his feet, and he found himself in a crushing bear hug. His staff clattered to the ground as he hugged her back. Tears streamed down his normally calm blue eyes. "I…I can't believe it's you! After five whole years…"
Then, she let go, and TK dropped back to the ground. Stepping back, she looked him up and down. "But…but last time I saw you, you were so little…"
Mimi turned from Matt, and looked at the younger blond boy as well. "But now look at you! You're so tall! And so cute too…"
TK blushed. Several Zion rebels laughed uproariously. Shinta and Tim were doubled over with laughter, wiping tears of mirth from their eyes. Even Rob smiled. It was not everyday that you saw your commander being mothered over like a kid.
Matt laughed along with them. Some things never changed. Hell would freeze over, the seas would dry up, the mountains would be levelled into dust, but Mimi would always be boy-hungry. And it had never occurred to him that she would be attracted to his brother of all people.
Then, Tai noticed Willis, standing on the sidelines. The boy had a smile on his face, yet it was tinged with sadness. He was happy for his friends, but then, he realised, he would never be a part of their circle.
That was where he was wrong.
Grabbing his arm, Tai dragged Willis into the circle with him. "Come on! You're a destined as well. Let me introduce you…" Together, they disappeared back into the mob of screaming and hugging friends, reunited at last after more than five years at war.
"Tai! I thought you were dead!"
"TK! You've grown so much!"
"Sora, where's your helmet?"
"Kari? Is that you? I don't recognise you! You're so much taller!"
The night continued with joyous celebration. Matt brought everyone back indoors and held an impromptu party. No one slept at all that night. It was all spent talking, catching up, and general mayhem, so excited were the kids. For that one night, they were commanders and soldiers no longer, but a merry band of friends, acting their age.
That was a turning point in the war. The destined would always remember that night as special, that night when they were finally together again, after five torturous years of separation, of war and of pain. History would always remember that night as the night when the nine warriors were finally reunited again. For once, hope burned bright for the human race.
Apart, we are nothing, mere embers of resistance, easily snuffed out, but together, we are strong as a raging fire…
** Author's notes: Um…Lord Necrodain, if you're reading this, that little kiss scene between Mimi and Matt is not meant to be Mimato. Mimi was just getting a little over-excited. This is not a Mimato, and there are no further hints. That last scene wasn't a hint either. I don't really care much for Mimato. I prefer Koumi, if you ask me. I was converted by Vision's "College Buds", which, by the way, is one awesome series. ^_^ (I'm not kidding. Visions, if you're reading this, I really loved that series! Too bad it ended)
Remember way, way back in "Yesterday When the War Began", I held a poll, asking you guys whether you wanted Seraphimon or Omnimon? Well, (rolls eyes) if you can't guess which one I've decided on by now, then I'm not worth much as a writer. *rubs hands * You won't believe how much fun I'm having writing this…
As always, please review!