Author's Notes: Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the people who've reviewed this fic so far! The best is yet to come! I still gotta few more tricks up my sleeve. *looks at her fic bad guy's name* Oops. Unintended pun, I assure you.
Um, warning: I wrote this chapter while constantly listening to "Butter-Fly" the Japanese theme song for 01. I'm addicted to this song. Why? I don't know. I also drew a little Christmas pic, since I'm in the spirit. I know, at the very least, one of you will like it. *whistles and points at Kyra* You can see it at http://www.crosswinds.net/~filldnothingness/digiart/iorixmas.jpg
*very important* I'm thinking of writing a FAQ about this story, and posting it on my site. You know, just to clear up anything people might be confused about. If you have a question (and subsequent answer) you want on the FAQ, add it with your review, or better yet, request a few questions for the FAQ by e-mailing me at Chynalil@aol.com
And mature feedback... Have I mentioned how much I love it yet? Because, I do. I really, really do.
Chapter 9: Old Hat, New Twist
Funny. This was very, very funny. As the Digimon Kaiser, Ken Ichijouji had created life. Deliberately with Chimeramon, and accidentally with Trikmon. Chimeramon had turned against him, had nearly killed him. If it hadn't been for Wormmon's sacrifice, Ken would've died in what assured to be a rather gruesome manner. And now his other creation, the one he didn't even know of until after its genesis, was trying to kill him.
He gave them their lives. Then, they craved his death.
Yes. Very amusing.
Trikmon's cold grip tightened around Ken's throat, and the young boy gagged, desperately trying to gasp some much needed air. Somewhere in the background he could hear Yolei and Wormmon. They were screaming, he thought. Ken couldn't be sure, his mind was too hazy from lack of oxygen. All he could focus on was Trikmon's sharp features. The digimon was pale, and a bit gaunt. But there was something about his face. It looked disturbingly familiar, like he had seen him often in his life. And then it struck him.
But it couldn't be... That would be wrong. Sick and horrifyingly... wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!
"Osamu... ?" Ken rasped, daring to use some precious air.
Slowly, as if he were enjoying a delectable bit of chocolate, Trikmon smiled. "What's the matter, Father? It looks like you've seen a ghost."
Ken's eyes widened in horror, then shut tightly. Oh, God, no... No. Why him? Why this? Hadn't he been tortured enough over his brother's loss?!
"Let him go!" The demanding voice made Ken open his eyes. Yolei was outside the firewall, ridiculously hitting the back of Trikmon with her tiny fists. As if that could possibly work. She knew it couldn't. She just couldn't stand by the side and watch what was going on. It just wasn't in her.
Grinning now, Trikmon lazily swung at her with his free hand. She was pushed to safety by Hawkmon a moment before he got hit himself. The seemingly relaxed blow sent him flying nearly across the street, then skidding harshly along the ground before coming to a halt in a heap. He didn't even have a chance to scream.
"Hawkmon!" Yolei took a step towards her fallen friend. A step was all she got, before Trikmon's long arm shot out quicker than the eye could see, and hauled her up by her hair. Screaming in pain, Yolei grabbed onto his arm, as if her touch would make him release her, and she kicked and flailed, trying desperately to touch the ground.
"Now," Trikmon drawled, bored and annoyed, "why are you bothering me, young lady? I have plans for you later."
"Let go!" Yolei screeched, terrified. Instinct overruled common sense, and she lashed out, raking at Trikmon's face with her small nails.
Apparently, this tiny attack was not something the large digimon had expected. With a surprised snarl, he dropped both Digidestined, letting them fall to the ground with undignified thumps. Trikmon put a claw-like hand to his face, and noted with fury the small, pixelated cuts that ran along his cheeks and nose.
He glared down at Yolei, baring all his needled teeth in anger. "You... witch! How dare you!" She tried scuffle away from him, but wasn't nearly quick enough. Not nearly. "Soul Eclipse!"
Yolei gritted her teeth in agony as something white hot and furious roared through her system. This was beyond any pain she'd ever experienced. This was a thousand burning suns being forced into her body, charring her from the inside out, scorching her to the brink of death. Nothing but white in front of her open eyes, and nothing but the fury of flames in her ears. Was it real? Was it just in her head? Was she truly on fire? To Yolei, yes, she was.
To Ken, no, she wasn't. What Yolei was doing, however, was lying on the ground writhing and screaming in agony, as a pillar of white light surrounded her. More than surrounded; it went through her, pulsing brighter and darker. And each time it got to a blinding whiteness, her screams increased. Ken felt something twist in his chest at the sound. Almost as if his heart was breaking. He watched as Trikmon just stood there, a demented grin playing on scarred lips as the girl cried out. She was going to die if he didn't do something.
Gathering his strength, Ken bolted to the edge of the light, thrusting his arms in— and immediately pulled her throbbing arms out. God, but it hurt! He looked down, startled at seeing the bruising that was suddenly appearing on his hands. If that happened when he had only touched it for a moment, then what was it doing to Yolei? Biting back the pain, Ken reached in again, pulling her crumpled form out. The pillar disappeared instantly, but he was too busy cradling her to him to notice.
Yolei looked... dead. Oh, God, she looked dead! Her glasses were askew, but miraculously unbroken. It could not be said for the rest of her. She was bruised and hemorrhaging everywhere he could see, and places he couldn't. The skin that wasn't blue or purple was pale, almost white. Her lips were cracked and bleeding, and her eyes looked sunken in. She was so limp, so cold...
This was his fault, Ken realized. His fault. She'd tried to save him, and this happened. Everyone he ever cared for got hurt, it seemed. For their sake's they should never bother with him. Didn't they see what a curse he was? With a racking sob, he held her closer.
"Don't be dead, Miyako," he pleaded, hushed. "Don't be dead."
"You care for her." Not a question.
"Leave her alone!" Ken snapped, holding her to his chest in a vain attempt at protection. He tried to glare up at his creation, but his tears got in his way. It was hard to look furious when you were grieving.
"You cry... for her?" Trikmon halted, actually looking genuinely surprised. "You cry because you care."
"I cry," Ken spat, "because you hurt her!"
"You care." Trikmon stated again. "You feel pain, because I made her feel pain. You empathize. You... feel bad." He blinked. "That... isn't part of my memory."
"I don't care about your damned memories!" Ken howled. "Or my memories you have, or whatever it is you want. Do you hear me? I. Don't. Care!" He stood up, Yolei lying limply in his arms. His face was one of agony, and self-righteous anger. "You're nothing like me, do you get that? Nothing! I'm not your father, I'm not who I used to be! I refuse to be judged by my past mistakes! No more.
"So, just kill me, if that's what you want," he declared. "C'mon, do it! That's why you came here, right? To surpass me. To get rid of me. So, do it, dammit! I don't care anymore. I made my peace. I'm going to Hell, and I've accepted it, so just end it already. End it!"
Across the street, Hawkmon opened his resisting eyes. The world spun for a moment, and his eyes swam even more so when he sat up. Focusing as best he could, he turned to the group in front of the house... and felt his heart drop into his stomach. Yolei was just lying slack in Ken's arms, battered and bloody. And Ken was yelling at Trikmon, saying something Hawkmon couldn't understand, but whatever it was, Trikmon seemed not to be listening. He seemed to be thinking, calculating... Planning.
The large digimon started walking towards Ken, and Hawkmon desperately tried to get up. He had to keep Yolei safe! He wouldn't let Trikmon hurt her again. But vertigo had something to say about that, and he tumbled to his elbows and knees quickly. Refusing to give up, Hawkmon crawled, knowing full well he wasn't at all quick enough.
Ken's grip on Yolei's still form tightened as Trikmon loomed over them. He began to regret his rash words. He put Yolei into even more danger with them. But he didn't' bother running, he knew how foolish it would be. So he stood tall, glaring up at Trikmon with unwavering eyes.
"Leave Ken-chan alone!" Something green and purple jumped in between them, and Ken's eyes widened at Wormmon. The small boy stood steady, arms held out protectively as he scowled up at Trikmon. "I won't let you hurt him."
"Wormmon, are you crazy?" Ken snapped, heart racing even quicker than before. "Get away from here! Go back to the house, now!"
"Gomen nasai, Ken-chan. No." The small gijinka digimon held firm. "No matter what, I'm your digimon, and your friend. I'm here to protect you."
Ken's mouth hung open, his voice unable to speak the protests that were in his throat. Wormmon... his friend. His only true one for what seemed like forever. Ken's heart clenched inside his chest. He didn't deserve him.
Trikmon seemed less than impressed with the feat of bravery and loyalty. "Go away, little bug." He swung his arm, swatting Wormmon away and sending him sailing, like light flotsam on a stormy sea. The boy landed hard on his back, and grunted in pain as the wind was knocked out of him. Trikmon turned back to Ken, who suddenly looked torn between holding Yolei to himself or putting her down to check on his digimon. "Oh, dear, confused Father. Let me make this easier on you."
He lashed his long fingers out, gripping onto Ken's head, tightly. The young man shivered, whether it was from the grip or the cold of Trikmon's hands was unclear. The digimon smiled, showing off his fangs. "I am my own self, yes, but I still am a part of you. Do you see, Father? I really am you. A piece, anyway," his grin widened as the boy's eyes dilated. "So, I can sense what you feel, what you think. I can become one with you. But I don't want that," he added, when Ken frantically tried to pull away at the suggestion. "Why would I want that... when I can just rip what I want from you?"
A scream of pain gagged in Ken's throat, as he felt Trikmon's fingers curling around his skull, feeling for all the world like they were piercing it, going through his cranium and deep, deep inside of himself. The pain was unimaginable; colors with no names flashed in his eyes, and his brain felt like it was being torn asunder piece by sensitive piece. Ken heard a thump, and vaguely realized that his arms were light. He must've dropped Yolei. The pain in his chest at that thought was matched only by the agony going on through the rest of his system. He started to see things.
The rare happy memories he had and cherished; he and Osamu blowing bubbles. Osamu teaching him chess, and laughing approvingly the first time Ken had beaten him. The first time he had met Wormmon, and the second time at Primary Village. Yolei, actually accepting him into the house, and all those times she had blushed up a storm around him. Good memories. Ones he wanted to keep for all time. Memories that were beginning to fade away. Ken tried to hold onto them, but they just slipped through his grasp like grains of sand. Barely, somewhere in the distance, he heard shouts.
"Dammit, what the hell is this?!" Tai declared, staring in horror at the sight before him.
With a beaten Yolei lying on the ground between them, Trikmon held onto Ken's skull, the boy practically floating, his feet barely touching the street. There was electricity sparking between them, and Ken's eyes seemed to get duller and cloudier each moment.
Everyone was out by now, alerted by the loud commotion. They stared in mute horror at the scene, not quite knowing just how to go about resolving it.
"K-Ken-chan!" Wormmon cried, jumping up and ignoring his injuries. "Let him go! Let him go!" He beat on Trikmon's legs with his little fists, trying in vain to stop whatever it was that was going on.
A brown hand suddenly gripped Trikmon's other leg, and Hawkmon, still reeling with nausea, yanked and pulled, trying to get the large digimon to dislodge himself from Ken. "Cold hearted scoundrel," he muttered, using what strength he had to try to rip the two apart. "Attacking a defenseless young lady. W-where's the dignity?" Somehow, the bitter anger in those words made them sound less polite than they would have in another circumstance.
Davis watched with a growing scowl. True, he wasn't a fan of Ken. But, he just wasn't going to stand by and let Trikmon do... whatever he was doing! Especially after what he did to Yolei... whatever that had been. Davis decided he probably didn't want to know. Still, he wasn't going to let it go unavenged. No one hurts Davis Motomiya's friends and gets away with it!
"Well," the boy declared, "what are you waiting for?" With that, he ran out, putting his own strength behind trying to get Trikmon away.
"Daisuke, wait!" Jun called, running out, and pulling behind a surprised Joe along with her. Gomamon, not one to let his Digidestined out alone, soon followed.
Matt ran out without a second thought. Finally, something he could let his anger out on! Not surprisingly, Gabumon was right behind. Soon, everyone was out, either holding on to Trikmon directly, or each other, pulling and yanking, trying to pull him apart from Ken. Only Tai and Palmon held back, watching the proceedings. He had caused this, Tai realized. His knee jerk reaction of kicking Ken out was what created this entire situation. Kari had been right; he had been far too harsh. He still didn't like what Ken had done, but that didn't mean that he thought the former Kaiser deserved this.
"Oh, to hell with it!" Tai murmured, and ran out to help them all.
Palmon watched him go, but didn't follow. Her feet seemed to be stuck, and her eyes were riveted to the sight before her. Yet someone else was going to be hurt because she and the others could do nothing. First Mimi... dear Mimi... And now, Yolei and Ken. And Palmon found herself terrified at being useless, and disgusted with herself at being scared.
... Sakura...
She flinched. Stupid dream. Why was it coming back now, of all times?! She watched as Tai and Matt took turns at hitting Trikmon upside the head, which wound up doing nothing but making their knuckles bleed.
... Sa... sakura...
Oh, shut up, dumb old dream! Palmon shook her head. Go away! Go away!
"Go away!" she demanded.
Sakura... ssss... it answered.
Palmon tried to focus on the situation at hand. Everyone had piled up, doing all they could, and it still wasn't budging Trikmon or Ken. They just wouldn't separate. And yet, no one was giving up. Unlike her, the other digimon hadn't decided that they were useless. They were doing what they could, protecting their Digidestined the only way they could now; through bravery and bare fists.
Sss... sakura... ssss...
She was unworthy to be Mimi's digimon, Palmon decided. Mimi had been 'powerless,' and she had still risked her life to save Iori's. And what did Palmon do? She shivered in a corner and felt sorry for herself, that's what. She winced. How stupid she was acting. How selfish and cowardly! Mimi wouldn't want her to be like this. Mimi would want her to be the brave friend the Digidestined knew she could be.
Sakura... sakura sss...
She'd want her to be confident.
Sss... ssssl... sakura...
Mimi would want her to be proud.
Sakura ssss... ssl...
Mimi would want her to be strong.
Sakura ssssl... ssssl... sakura sssl...
Mimi would want her to fight!
"Sakura Slash!"
The world ceased moving for a moment. There was no noise. Then, everything happened in a loud rush of insanity. An arch of pink streaked out of Palmon's outstretched hand, surprising even her. It flew in a strong, unstoppable wave, and everyone froze in mid motion, watching it with awed confusion. In seemingly slow motion, it crashed headlong into Trikmon, wrenching him apart from Ken, and hurling him away. Ken collapsed to the ground, falling atop Yolei's crumpled form.
Everyone watched, shocked, as Trikmon stood up, and turned around, glaring daggers at Palmon, who was still staring at her hand in wonderment.
"You bitch!" he growled, his pupils nearly pinpoints. "How could you? How dare you?!"
"I don't know," Palmon whispered. "It just... happened."
"I'll show you 'just happened!'" Trikmon howled. "Soul E-"
"Aries Rage!"
Red flames, and lots of them, erupted from seemingly nowhere, and engulfed Trikmon with a passion. He flailed, and when the fire died away, Trikmon was still standing, but charred and definitely injured. And definitely furious.
His painfully light eyes darted around in an erratic manner. "How? Who?!"
Tai knew. He was looking at the culprit with his own, startled eyes. "Agumon? How did you... ?"
The orange skinned boy was shaking a bit, but his glare towards Trikmon was steady. "He was going to hurt Palmie. I couldn't let him. I couldn't, and... it just came to me... Like my dream."
Tai was about to question that, when Trikmon let out a roar of crazed fury.
"So, you think you've figured out a way to defeat me?" he snarled, his needle teeth gleaming, his eyes flashing madly. "Don't get your hopes up, little ones. You haven't even seen what I can really do! Not hardly," he snarled. His glower turned into a twisted grin, and his eyes board down on Palmon. "I've taken down three of you. Even the strongest of machines can't work with three missing parts."
Palmon's fist clenched, as righteous anger filled her. "Sakura-!"
But he had already vanished before she could finish. Their was a long, awkward silence, as everyone stared at the fallen Ken and Yolei, and then at the new-powered Palmon and Agumon. Suddenly, Wormmon broke the silence.
"Ken-chan!" he sobbed, kneeling by his hurt friend, and shaking his shoulder. "Wake up, Ken-chan. Wake up!"
Tai stared down at them with a grim look. Two more fallen. Sora walked up beside him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should take them inside," she said, softly.
Mutely, he nodded and picked Ken up. Hawkmon insisted on carrying. Injuries be damned, he was her digimon, and he was going to do what he could. With a feeling of deja vu, they all walked back into the house with their fallen comrades.
Floating. That's what he thought he was doing. He was just... floating in nothingness. It was peaceful, yet something was telling him he had to leave this peace. That there was something back in the reckless world of havoc that needed him. He resisted while he could, content to stay in the void of calm. But soon, the call was too loud, too insistent for him to ignore.
Reluctantly, Ken's eyes fluttered open.
"Ken-chan!" Wormmon shouted, happily. With a squeal of joy, he jumped onto Ken's bed, and hugged his friend about the waist. "I knew you'd wake up!"
With a small smile, Ken patted the boy's head. His body ached in places he didn't even think were possible, and the hug was causing little stabbing pains, but he wasn't going to complain. It was good to see Wormmon happy and safe.
"Glad you're up." A voice to his right made Ken turn his head, despite the protest of his stiff neck. Tai was there, leaning against the wall with a fixed look on his face.
Ken stared at him, surprised for a moment, then something important hit him. "Miyako," he croaked, his voice rough. "Is she... ?"
"She's in her room, really beaten. But alive," Tai added. He glared down. "She still hasn't woken up, though."
Ken shut his eyes. That was his fault... "I'll leave as soon as I can get up," he whispered.
"No, you won't," Tai stated, shortly.
"Eh?" Ken's eyes shot open.
"I said, you're not going anywhere," Tai declared, firmly. Raking a hand through his hair, he sighed. "Listen, I wasn't thinking straight when I said that. It was a rash action on my part, and it wasn't right. That's not the way I normally act. Well, at least I try not to act like that," he amended. "It was just... a bad situation made worse by something that you probably don't even know about." Tai flinched when he thought back to Sora, just rocking there on the front lawn.
"B-but I-" Ken stuttered.
Tai raised a brow. "Do you want to go back out there?"
Ken shook his head. "N-no."
"Well, then. It's settled," Tai shrugged. "You're staying. I'm not saying that all of the sudden everyone's going to accept you, and things are going to be nothing but rainbows and sunshine. I think we both know the truth of that. It's still going to take time for everyone to be okay with you. But I think," he sighed again, "I think today was a good start. A violent one. But a start, nonetheless." He held out his hand. "No more secrets?"
Ken stared at Tai's hand for a moment, contemplating the situation. Then, ever so cautiously, with every muscle screaming in defiance, Ken reached out and clasped Tai's hand, shaking it as strong as he could. "No more secrets." He promised.
"You can stay, Ken-chan!" Wormmon beamed, hugging his friend even tighter, forcing Ken not to wince.
Another thought struck Ken, and he looked up at Tai with curiosity. "Say... Just how did you get me away from Trikmon, anyway?"
"Well, that," Tai smirked, ruefully, "you'll never believe."
"Has she woken up yet?" Iori asked, walking into Yolei's room, Armadimon behind him.
Hawkmon looked away from his sleeping Digidestined and shook his head. "Not yet. She's mumbled and groaned a few times, but that's it."
With worry in his deep green eyes, Iori stood next to Yolei's bed, and gazed down upon someone he considered to be a best friend. She looked so bad, with all those bruises, some of which were just beginning to show. Joe had said that she had some internal bleeding, but without the proper equipment he couldn't gauge just how bad it was. Iori hoped to God it wasn't that bad. He didn't want to lose Yolei. She had always been so kind to him, so good. She had her moments of flakiness, but that's what made her endearing to him. She always cheered him up, always had that special smile that she kept just for him.
Yolei was more than just someone who fixed his computer when he needed it. She was his friend, and his 'older sister.' She was his playmate, and his guardian. She was light, and laughter, and fun times, and comforting, and, and... And everything all rolled up into one special person that someone up in Heaven had been kind enough to send him. And if Iori lost her, he didn't know what he'd do.
Iori reached out, gently touching her purple-bruised cheek. "You think she'll be okay?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course, she'll be," encouraged Armadimon, who patted his friend's shoulder. "She'll be just fine."
"She'll be out and about before you know it. Yolei's a strong young lady," Hawkmon said, with obvious pride. He sniffed, "How else would she have gotten such a splendid digimon such as myself?"
The light jest made Iori smile slightly. Of course, she'd be okay, he reasoned. She was always there for him before. There was just no way she'd let him down now.
Palmon held Mimi's hand between hers. Mimi, she reflected, had the most delicate hands. Yet, they were strong, too. Strong enough to punch annoying, drooling Sukamon across a lake, and strong enough to hold more compassion in them than any other person Palmon had ever met. One day, she'd be as strong as Mimi.
"You should've been there," Palmon said, smiling at her friend. "I knocked Trikmon right upside the head! You would've been so proud."
Mimi didn't move. Sighing, Palmon placed Mimi's cold hand on her warm cheek.
"You're my best friend, Mimi," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I miss you. I don't know how to get you back. But... but now that I have this new power, I'm going to find a way. Just you wait!
"You'll see. I'll make you so proud. You'll wake up, and everything will be just fine," Palmon squeezed Mimi's hand, reassuringly. "Don't worry about a thing. I won't let anything bad happen to you. I'll protect you from anything in the world, whenever you need me to. I promise."
Next Chapter: Learning Time
More Author's Notes: For anyone who didn't see today's episode, Osamu, or Sam (his English name) is indeed Ken's late older brother. Can you believe it took me more than five seconds to realize why they called him "Sam?" Dah... Osamu... Sam... Oh, I get it! *gets whacked by Osamu's ghost* College has rotted my brain!
