Hikari no Koge
by Marduk

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Part 2: Oscillation

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Warning: the characters used in this story are the sole property of Toei and Saban. I intend no copyright violations with this work of fanfiction, from which I make no profits. Also, this is a dark story. Death, angst, mature themes, general darkness, and shounen-ai/yaoi and shojo-ai/yuri. I rated it 'R' for a reason, folks. Please show good judgement. Also, please review! But keep in mind the fine line between constructive criticism and a flame.

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~Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.~
-Nietzsche

"Yamato, let's both be honest, all right? I no longer have feelings for you, and I know you never did. But, I want to know why it is you don't feel for me. I mean, am I ugly? Is my personality fundamentally repulsive?"

"No, no," Yamato muttered. "You're a wonderful person, a little overbearing, but yes, you're pretty, but..." He sighed. "I don't like women."

"You're gay?" she asked, amused.

"I guess, sort of...it's just that the person I like happens to be a guy." He paused. "The guy is Yagami Taichi."

"So, does he like you?" Yamato shrugged.

"He's really sort of a womanizer. And besides, all he's ever seen us as is friends." Jun smiled sympathetically.

"You're one of the Digidestined, Yamato. You've faced down monsters, Yamato, yet you can't face your feelings for your friend?"

"Why did I tell you about that?"

"Because you've been drinking Long Island iced teas?" Yamato glanced down at his drink, and moaned.

"That *would* explain the constant pounding."

* * *

Yamato turned the corner from the restaurant onto the small alley which constituted his quickest way home. It wasn't normally a path he worried about taking, but the air was heavy with anticipation. Yamato walked quickly, trying to hold his confidence about him. But he heard footsteps behind him. He turned quickly to face the oppressive darkness.

"Who's there?"

"My name is Droes. I am the avenger of hypocrisies. I seek to destroy the false and corrupt. And Friendship itself is false, so I must destroy you." Yamato felt a hand resting on his shoulder. "You do not reach out to those in need; you wait for others to ask your friendship. Even among those you call friends, you do not give them friendship. Blind and a coward, Friendship. For such crimes, for ignoring the misery of even those you call friends, the punishment is death." A metal hand struck out, jabbing into Yamato's stomach. Harsh laughter echoed in the darkness, and the knife was dropped next to Yamato, as he fell to the pavement, grasping the bloody wound. The tall shape walked off, shooting a glance to the prostrate body before it vanished. "Sayonara, Yama-*chan*."

* * *

Daisuke knocked on the Ichijouji's door, and bowed to Mrs. Ichijouji when she opened it.

"Hello, Ichijouji-san. Is Ken here?" The woman nodded at Daisuke, smiling.

"Sure, he's in his room. Go in; he's always happy to see you." Daisuke walked past her and pushed open the door to Ken's bedroom. He walked in, and glanced around.

"Ken-chan?"

"He's not here," Minomon muttered sadly. "He went into the Digiworld earlier with his science project, and hasn't come back yet." Daisuke frowned.

"What do you mean, hasn't come back?" he asked of the small Digimon.

"He meant that I hadn't returned to my house," Ken explained, standing in front of the computer. "I had to test a theory. I think I'm done now." He smiled at Daisuke, and put a hand on his shoulder. "So, were you concerned about me? That's comforting." A hand rested on Daisuke's, and Ken smiled.

"Daisuke! Your sister is calling for you." Daisuke glanced at the door and stood up.

"Why would she...?" He trailed off as he left Ken's room, grabbing the phone from Mrs. Ichijouji. "Jun?" His older sister's voice was panicked and nervous.

"Daisuke! Listen, I've got bad news. Your friend Yamato was attacked. He was stabbed in the stomach, and he's at the hospital right now. I already called his father, but I only know Ken's number, and I knew you were over here, so you should call his other friends. I'm sorry, but I'm calling from the hospital, and the doctors have some questions for me." There was a click, and Jun was gone.

"Ichijouji-san, may I use your phone to call someone? One of my other friends is injured, and I wanted to tell one of the others..."

"Yes, of course, Daisuke. Go ahead." Daisuke grabbed the phone and dialed.

"Hello? Takeru? Jun just called me from the hospital. I don't think she knows your mother's number, so I'll tell you. Yamato's been stabbed. Ken and I will call the others, and you can get your mom down there."

"Wha-Dai-kun?" Takeru sounded confused. Then, after a pause, there was a gasp. "Stabbed?! Who-oh, gods, I'll get down there, and you, don't bother calling the others. We'll call them at the hospital. Ja!" His panicked voice cut off, and Daisuke hung up the phone. He turned to his friend, and grimaced.

"Ken-chan, I'm going to the hospital. Are you going to come with me?" Ken glanced up, frowning.

"No...I have some important things to take care of." Daisuke nodded, silent.

"Shall I send your greetings?" Ken nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow; tell me how he's doing." Daisuke hurried from the apartment, the worry plain on his face, and Ken retreated fully to his room. He ignored Wormmon, and threw off his outer layer of clothing. They went into the trash, and he bundled it up. Then he grabbed a towel and hurried into the bathroom. There, he began by washing his hands. The water from the sink ran brown and red, the dirt and mud which had been obscured by his dark room washing off cleanly. He sighed, staring into the mirror. He continued scrubbing his hands, until they shone white. Every speck of blood and dirt was washed from them, but he kept scrubbing. In the back of his mind, he knew what was happening, and what he had to do to stop it. But...for now, his hands had to be cleansed.

* * *

"Take-chan! Are you all right?" Daisuke sat in the hospital chair next to Takeru, placing a comforting hand on his forearm. Takeru glanced up at him, smiling faintly.

"Otousan and Okaasan are talking to the insurance people, and we just heard from the doctors. Whoever attacked Yamato either didn't know what he was doing or didn't want to really hurt him, so he'll be okay. But he has to sleep off the painkillers they've given him." Daisuke shook his head.

"I checked with a nurse on my way in. I want to know how *you* are. When I was younger, Jun was in the hospital, and I felt horrible, and I didn't even *like* her that much. I know you and Yamato-san are close, so..." Takeru smiled a little more, and placed a hand on Daisuke's shoulder.

"Thanks, Dai-chan. It means a lot to me that you care." Their faces were close, and for a moment, Daisuke leaned towards Takeru's lips...

"My god, I cannot believe Yamato got *stabbed*! I mean, maybe if we lived in New York or something, I could deal with it!" Miyako's shrill voice in the waiting room startled the two boys into their original positions, and then Daisuke pulled his hand back. Hikari, right behind her, pulled Takeru into a tight hug.

"Take-kun, is Yamato going to be all right?" Takeru nodded slowly while Daisuke shot daggers at Miyako. Taichi wandered in after her, face pale. Sora was following him, staring worriedly at the bushy-haired brunette. Jyou and Koushiro came in after, the latter *not* holding his omnipresent laptop.

"I-Is he going to be all right?" Taichi choked out. Sora grabbed his hand tightly as he nervously began to hyperventilate.

"Yeah," Takeru muttered, pushing Hikari away. She stood apart from him, glancing at the now-depressed Daisuke. "They sewed him up and he's sleeping off painkillers. We're lucky the attacker didn't hurt him that badly." He sighed. Taichi sagged in relief against Sora's shoulder.

"He's gonna be all right..."

"Hi." The doctor looked at them. "Mr. Ishida has woken up, and his parents are talking to him. I can send in a few people, but one at a time." Takeru glanced at Taichi, and grinned.

"He can go in first. I'll go in after him." The nurse nodded, and gestured for Taichi to follow her.

* * *

Yamato's parents exited, and Jun slipped in.

"Hi, Yama-kun," she whispered. "I'm sorry that this happened. I-" She broke off, sighing. "I hope you feel better. I know you're not exactly feeling wonderful, but here's to your recovery. And rest assured, from now on, I'm going to stick with guys my own age." The older woman kissed his forehead, and hurried out the door, passing a shocked Taichi. She knew she'd get berated by the nurse, but she didn't care. She had cut off her hopeless romance, and had emotionally freed herself. And maybe she could take on Yamato as just a friend.

* * *

Taichi, orignally panicked, relieved, nervous, felt his heart ache at the sight of Jun leaving. So Yamato had never-

'Shut up, Yagami! He's your friend, and he's injured. Concentrate on helping him feel better, rather than your own heartbreak!'

"So, how do you feel?"

"Much better thn you'd expect me to be after having been stabbed by the devil." Taichi's eyes opened in shock.

"The devil?"

"His name was Droes...it's Portugese, I think, means demon or devil. He stabbed me, left me to die, made some self-righteous speech about friendship. Said I was a failure." Yamato sighed. "I'm not a bad friend, am I, Tai-kun?" Taichi hurried over to where Yamato was laying, and grabbed him in a hug.

"I'm glad you're all right," he murmured. He stood up, and frowned slightly. "And I don't know what you mean by 'bad friend'. You've always been there for me." He turned away from Yamato, and the blond sensed something in his friend, something he was hiding...

'Ignoring the misery of even those you call friends...'

"What's wrong, Taichi?" The brunette turned quickly, paling.

"What makes you think-"

"Don't lie, Tai-kun. There's something that's bothering you, and I want to know what it is." Taichi's cheerful exterior fell as he glanced at the floor.

"I...saw Jun leaving, and she kissed you, and I..." He trailed off helplessly. "Takeru wants to talk to you; I'll go now."

"Stay." Yamato's voice was stronger than he'd expected. His mind was racing. Was this what Droes has meant? Taichi was jealous of Jun, and Yamato had ignored him... "Taichi, I'm not dating Jun. I think she was getting over me. She...we had dinner, and got some things out into the open." Warm brown eyes looked up hopefully.

"Yamato, when I heard you were in the hospital, that you'd been stabbed, I...I was terrified. If you'd...if you hadn't made it, Yamato, I-I don't know what I would have been able to do. I-Yamato, I love you." Yamato smiled.

"You know, Tai-chan, Jun wouldn't give up unless it was clear she didn't have a chance. I told her I was already in love...ai shiteru, Taichi." The brunette grinned, and threw himself at Yamato. Their lips met, and the tableau held for perhaps three seconds.

"Guys, the nurse wants to get us out of here as soon as possible, so do you think I could-" Takeru's voice broke off, as did the kiss. "I think I'll leave."

"No, come on in, ototochan," Yamato protested. "Taichi and I were just finishing up in here." Taichi pouted, but left when Yamato pushed him. Takeru grinned at his older brother.

"So, how long has this been going on?"

"About three seconds, brat." Yamato smiled and ruffled Takeru's hair. "Digidestined of Courage can't get out his feelings until his crush nearly gets killed. Somehow, it seems so typical." Takeru sat down on the edge of his brothers bed, smiling at the other blond.

"Shall I take that to mean that you like him too, or were you playing with him? 'Cause if it's the latter, you're going to have to face Sora, Hikari, and maybe Miyako, and I wouldn't want to be in your shoes if that happened."

"Of course I feel the same way! If I didn't, I'd have let him off gently." He was silent for a few moments. "Are you okay with this?"

"Not according to 'Kari. She thinks I've got a crush on Taichi." Yamato glanced skeptically at his little brother.

"But you don't, do you?" Takeru shook his head.

"No, but the Ishida genes seem attracted to bushy-haired brunettes." Yamato smiled.

"You've got a crush on Daisuke?"

"Yes. And at this rate, he's going to be the last Digidestined to know."

* * *

Ken glanced at his watch. 7:15. Good. No one got to the school for at least another half-hour. He pushed open the front door, knowing it was always left unlocked. He hurried through the hallways of the high scool, stopping at the chemistry supply room. He opened the door, and slipped inside. His violet eyes scanned the shelves frantically.

"Boranes...I know there have to be some of them somewhere..." He cried in triumph, and snatched a bottle from the top shelf. The bottle was carefully placed in his backpack, and he smiled. He let himself out of the door, and sighed in relief. No one saw him.

"Hi. Ken, right?"

"Ah!" Ken whirled, hands raised in defense. Motomiya Jun smiled at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I might ask the same of you, except I know you'd tell me that this is where you go to school." She grabbed his hand, and dragged him behind her. "You see, my little brother seems to think that you're in some sort of trouble, and I'm inclined to think so as well. Ken-san, there's a lot of people who are worried about you, and I want to talk about it." She pulled him into a darkened classroom, and sat him at a desk, and sat next to him. "I know you're smart and everything, but your friends seem to think you're paying too much attention to this chemistry project. What's so important to shut out your friends for?" Ken bowed his head.

"It's much too important to give up now, Jun. I-I have to work on this; there are some side-effects I have to deal with...but once it's perfected, I'll be fine. I'll be better than fine. So just leave me alone, all right?" He stood up, and as he walked out of the classroom door, Jun heard him mutter, "Hypocrite."

* * *

Dr. Kasshoku sat at his desk, typing up a few reports for his next class. He pushed a few strands of long, brown hair from his eyes, and continued his work. As the Director of Curriculum, he had a lot of work, making sure what was taught was suitable for the students.

"Kasshoku-hakase, it's nice to see you working so late." Black eyes shot up from their work to see a pair of cold indigo eyes smiling from across the room.

"Students aren't allowed in the school this late," he protested.

"Another rule made for the good of this place of Knowledge? Ha!" The eyes drifted towards him, like a predatory cat slinking towards its prey. "You are a hypocrite, *heboisha*. You are a pillar of learning, of knowledge, and yet you make rules about what a teacher can teach, what a book in the library can say. And you deny the world knowledge that would end evil as we know it. You are a hypocrite, Doctor. The lord of Ignorance, you are. And then, the eyes were behind him, and fingers curling around his neck. And he couldn't move! "I tried to kill before, and I failed. I will not make this same mistake. Good-bye, doctor."

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"Kasshoku-hakase, I need to talk to you about my senior essay-" Hikari stared at the body. The man's face was blue, and he was slumped on the desk. A small pool of blood sat on the desk as well. But on the blackboard, blood was liberally smeared into a message.

'Knowledge Is Power.'

* * *

"Ao-san, I'll see you tomorrow!" The green-haired health teacher waved at the retreatiing student, and smiled. Her position as a sex ed teacher gave her...unique benefits. She could have all sorts of conversations with students that normally would be frowned upon if she were, say, an algebra teacher. And it was expected for her to have students coming to her at all hours. She turned back into her office, and smiled as she picked up her bra. She'd forgotten to put that back on under her shirt. She threw it into a desk drawer, still smiling, and looked up when a small noise caught her attention.

"Oh! Are you new around here?" The student was silent as he approached her. His hair was spead around his head like a halo, but he was anything but angelic. His eyes radiated hatred.

"Hello, Ao-san. I see you were busy. I suppose you are applauded for your work with the students, ne?" She nodded, feeling a trace of terror creeping into her heart. "You just *love* kids, don't you? They're your life's work." The mouth twisted into a grim smile, and a pair of handcuffs appeared. He moved quickly, and she was soon trapped into her chair. "But I know, Ao-san, that you are not loved. With your power, you sow fear among those who called you 'mentor'." A knife appeared in one pale hand, and her shirt was sliced off. "A pillar of fear, hypocrite, is what you are. You do not want to grant the knowledge I hold to others, because it destroys your own influence." The knife sliced her throat, and the murderer used his hands to paint a message to others above the corpse.

'Love Conquers All.'

* * *

"I know, it's terrible, isn't it? I...I can't help but feel that there's a connection. Yeah, I haven't been down there for a while. All right, Kuroi-kun, take care of yourself." Mrs. Motomiya hung up the phone, and sighed. Two members of the Odaiba High School Board of Directors had been murdered, and she was seriously worried. Whoever did this had a vendetta against them. She shook her head. Worrying never got anyone anywhere. Kuroi Hiro, a nervous black-haired philosophy teacher, and another member of the Board, would do enough worrying for all of them. The poor man, despite teaching the importance of trust and reliability in his classrooms, was paranoid, and would probably be ket safe.

"Bye, 'kaasan, I'm going over to Takeru's house," Daisuke shouted, halfway out the door. She watched her son leave, and sighed.

"Be careful, son."

* * *

Hikari, Iori, Daisuke, Takeru, and Miyako sat in a circle on the floor of Takeru's room.

"Why would someone kill two teachers?" Hikari asked, her voice dull. "I-Ao-san was so popular, and Kasshoku-hakase never hurt anyone."

"Ao-san wasn't exactly an angel, Hikari," Iori muttered. "She was found without a shirt on, you know."

"It doesn't mean that she-" Takeru began.

"She's a hypocrite," a voice spoke. The group turned to see Ken standing in the door. He walked towards them, and took a seat next to Daisuke, between him and Takeru. "She...has a taste for younger men." His head was low as the words sunk into the others.

"I don't understand," Iori said nervously. Ken glanced up.

"She always stays after talking to male students in 'study sessions,' myself included. I'm just glad that she can't touch anyone else." The room fell silent, and Daisuke put a hand on Ken's shoulder, trying to comfort him. "You know, she would always say that she did this because she loved her students..." His voice trailed off, and he began to sob softly. Daisuke gave the others a meaningful look, and pulled him up, leading him from the room. Takeru looked after the two of them sadly, and then turned to the others.

"Guys, I think there's more to all of this than we're assuming," he whispered. "It's almost as if..."

"The murders are some sort of vigilante's justice," Hikari concluded. "But it scares me. Who's going to be next?"

* * *

Ken waved as Daisuke left his apartment. He turned and returned to his room, still smiling. It was comforting to know that he had someone to help him, always. When hesaw his computer, it was beeping lightly.

"An E-mail?" He opened the message, and frowned. "Why won't she leave me alone? I can handle this by myself!" He ignored Wormmon as he began to pace. "All I have to do is find a way to cause the formula to affect only the portions of my brain controlling the 'id', and I'll be free. I just have to kill off those impulses..." He paused, and groaned. "Not here! Dammit, not here!" There was a knocking on his door, and then his mother's voice.

"Ken, honey, there's a girl here who wants to talk with you." Ken was curled on his floor, moaning in pain. "I'll send her in." Jun came in, and fell to his side when she saw him. She glanced behind her, where Mrs. Ichijouji had already left.

"Ken...Ken, can you hear me?" He groaned, and gestured to his desk.

"Get the bor-X solution, the green solution..." She grabbed a bottle from it, and Ken fumbled for a syringe in his backpack. He filled it, convulsing every now and then. Then, carefully, he slid it into his arm. A gasp, a shudder, and he sat back. Jun looked at him suspiciously.

"Ken, are you on drugs?" He shook his head.

"Not exactly..." His breath was ragged. "I-Jun, I want you to take this. I can't be trusted with it. I'd give you my crest, too, except I seem to have lost it." He pressed a gray Digivice into her hand. "I...Jun, I want you to find the sleeping pills on my desk. I have to sleep, and I can't risk the chance of him getting out." She frowned at him, and retrieved the bottle.

"Ken, what's wrong?" He sighed.

"I tried to destroy him, but instead...I've let him free. Kaiser reigns in my mind, waking and sleeping. He's angry, and I can't keep him under control anymore..." He sighed, and took the bottle from her. "Please, don't tell them. I'm close, so close to finding a way to destroy him, and then everything will be better." He swallowed a pill, and waved her away. "Now, please go." She stood, frowning. But before she reached the door, he spoke. "Wait. Jun, please, take Wormmon with you. He isn't safe here." She turned, and saw the Digimon cowering on the floor. She picked him up, whispering soothing words, and left the room. Ken sighed as he began to feel drowsy. In a few minutes, he was curled up on the floor, asleep. But then his eyes slid open. Hard and angry, He stood, and opened his window. And Kaiser, Droes, or Ichijouji Ken, left the building.

* * *

The office door swung open, and Mr. Kuroi looked up to see someone he hadn't expected.

"Ken?" The genius smiled.

"Not exactly, Kuroi-san. Are you familiar with the work of Robert Louis Stevenson?" His hungry gaze landed on a letter opener the teacher had been using to open his mail.

"Um...yes..." Ken smiled, and slunk around the desk.

"Well, there you are." He placed a hand on the man's shoulder, still smiling. "You know, Kuroi, you shouldn't leave your office unlocked. But you teach all about faith and trust in others, don't you? And yet...you normally lock any room you're in. You don't really trust anyone. Isn't that odd? Hypocritical, really. It's a shame your door was open just this once." His hand rested on the teacher's ear, and then, with a terrible snap, he twisted the man's head around. He dipped his finger into the blood seeping from the neck, and began to paint on the desk. The characters were formed painstakingly.

'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.'

* * *

"He's dying, Jun. He's weakening. Ken-chan is losing to himself." Wormmon looked sadly up at her from his vantage in the car next to her. "Jun, can't you help him?" She glanced at the insect, frowning.

"Wormmon, he...I don't know how to help him. If someone is going to help him get away from Kaiser, it's himself."

* * *

Hi, me again! Part two is now done. Sorry it took so long...I had AP exams and whatnot, but now I've got a break, so I'm back to my old tricks. I've got a quick note for you. Someone on ff.net asked if Ken is going to commit suicide, and I would like to answer this. No. Ken will not kill himself. I'm not that sort of person to do that...Anyway, that's it until the next part.