The Love Within
By: Theodore 'Blitz' Leung
Disclaimer: All Digimon and their characters (except for those introduced in this fic/series) do NOT belong to me. I do not have permission to use their characters, but it's a FanFic, so, who cares? =) This story line belongs to me and me alone. Please ask for permission if you wish to use it. Thanks. Now let's get onto reading!
I have seen today what happens when one is lost. Strange…they will continue to march…and continue to fight…as long as to succeed in their goal.
I have to stay…and fight…fight for both worlds…even if it means my life…
~Diary of the lost Destined
* * * * * *
Marc lay down on his bed, his Digivice on the night table beside him. On the screen was the other half of Tao's Crest of Hope.
"Well…I guess it really isn't Tao's Crest of Hope anymore…" Marc thought, turning to face Xemon, who slept peacefully on the bed. Marc smiled lightly at the dragon's sleeping, wondering if he'll ever see a dragon sleep like that before. Marc sighed, turning onto his back and facing out the window. The night sky was clear, not a single cloud to block out the moon.
"Tao…I have the other half of your Crest…" he spoke softly. "Come back so we can make it complete…" Marc glanced back towards his Digivice, then to his computer.
"Come back for all of us…especially for Shas…"
* * * * * *
Shastina sat down on the grass in her backyard. Her knees were pulled into her chest as she stared the moon high above. Tigramon was watching from the roof above.
"She's distant…" Tigramon thought. "I wonder if she believed what Marc said about Tao…"
"Marc truly believed Tao was alive…" the Digimon thought, leaping down from the roof with such grace that her landing didn't make a sound. "He believe to a point where the Crest of Hope recognized him." Tigramon glanced towards Shastina again.
"She believes…" Tigramon thought after analyzing her partner again. "She has too…"
* * * * * *
Tiberius was busily clicking on the keyboard, continuing his research. The fact that it was early morning didn't not bother him, despite the fact he only had one hour of sleep the night before.
He sat in the back of Yasmine's store, analyzing Digimon and certain properties in the Digital World. He choose this location to research since he didn't have to hide Lepumon as much and that he felt more comfortable if his parents didn't find out about his Digital secret.
"How long you planning to use that comp?" Yasmine asked, leaning against the doorframe. There was a serious look on her face, but Tiberius didn't noticed at first.
"Interesting discoveries…" Tiberius quickly answered. "Apparently the weapons the Digimon use carry their own properties, which can be used by other Digi-"
"No, just what are you doing?" Yasmine interrupted, agitated now. Tiberius blinked.
"I'm researching…" he spoke softly. Yasmine shook her head and sighed.
"You're masking your own fear and despair…" she answered for him, stepping back into the store. Tiberius wasn't sure how to respond even if the first generation Digi-Destined stayed behind and waited for a response.
* * * * * *
Yasmine sighed, her face faulting.
"Maybe I was too hard on him…" Yasmine thought. "He did lose a friend after all…and he might lose another one too…" Yuriko sighed again, not sure if she did the right thing to blast the truth right into Tiberius' face.
"Oh Tsurugi…I wish you were here right now…" she spoke softly, placing a smile on her face when a customer came to the counter.
* * * * * *
Biyomon sat in the tree, on a large branch, her legs dangling over the side. Xemon sat down beside her, his claws into the tree to prevent himself from falling. The tree was covered with snow, making it nearly impossible to see anyone within. The two Digimon picked this branch near the bottom since it was dry.
However, silence was between the two, as neither knew what to say.
"He's out there…isn't he?" Biyomon finally spoke, looking towards the sky through a small break in the snow on the tree. Xemon also looked up, following her gaze.
"Marc believes Tao is alive…" Xemon answered. "Then…you should believe Harriermon is alive…"
"Harrier…" Biyomon spoke softly, lowering her head again and sniffling. Xemon glanced over, unsure how else to calm the bird Digimon. Releasing his left claw on the branch and placing it over her shoulder. Biyomon started to cry now, with a shoulder to weep over, and she made good use of Xemon's shoulder.
"Man…Harrier…come back soon friend…" Xemon thought.
* * * * * *
The two Digi-Destined sat on the park bench, arms on their lap and eyes on the tree in the distance.
"Biyomon is so distant now…" Sora commented softly, feeling terrible for allowing her friend and companion to fall into such a state. Marc sighed, hoping Xemon can get Biyomon out of the condition she was in.
"Have faith…" Marc spoke in a surprisingly calm tone. Sora slowly turned her head to face him, wondering how he could possibly be so calm when he just lost one of his closest friends. As if Marc was reading her mind, he replied:
"Like I said…have faith…" A shiver went up Sora's spine, wondering how he knew. She turned her head back towards the tree, all covered with snow and no way to see what was going on inside.
* * * * * *
Hours passed by quickly for Tiberius as he dwelled on the words Yasmine told him only a not so short while ago. Lepumon was constantly asking his partner what was the matter, but only got a silent response.
Tiberius sat at the table in the back room, arms crossed, head up and staring towards the far wall. It wasn't until Yasmine tossed some take out food in paper bags onto the table did Tiberius snap out of his trance.
"I'm offering some dinner before you go home," she spoke, sitting down at the table. Tiberius nodded slowly, though not making a move for the food. Yasmine sat down, worry on her face now. "Listen Tiberius, I knew I shouldn't have snapped at you…but someone had to slap some sense into you." Tiberius continued to remain silent, staring at the bags in front of him. Yasmine sighed, unsure how else to get to that boy. In the end, Tiberius paved his own way.
"He is a strange one…" Tiberius spoke softly. Yasmine looked up at the boy. "Tao…that is…"
"Why do you say that?" Yasmine asked, intrigued.
"He went as far as to lose his life for Shastina…" Tiberius spoke after a little thought. "In a way…he also lead us. A leader…unconditionally, and strangely enough, didn't seem to release that responsibility." Tiberius sighed, placing his Digivice onto the table. "Maybe he deserves this Crest of Leadership more then I do."
"The Crest choose who they want to choose," Yasmine told Tiberius. Before she could continue, a black aura surrounded Tiberius' Digivice, before a black beam blasted past and out the window. Both Digi-Destined blinked.
"I guess it choose again then," Tiberius spoke softly, dropping his head onto the table again.
"But who did it choose?" Yasmine thought. "There was only three to choose…"
"Or is there four…?" she thought next, hopeful for the latter answer.
* * * * * *
Marc and Sora walked side by side, their Digimon trailing far behind as they walked back towards their residence. Their was a strange silence surrounding them yet again as they continued to walk, their feet crunching snow from the unpaved sidewalks.
It wasn't until Marc's Digivice began to go off did something interesting happen.
He quickly grabbed his Digivice, the locator function automatically going off. There were three dots on the screen, one for him, one for Sora, and one for another.
Sora also took her Digivice, the same thing happening on her's. Both turned their gaze at the location, and both weren't sure what it meant.
"Strange how our traveling took us here…I must admit now," Marc spoke softly, seeing the signal coming from inside of Tao's house. However, as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared again. Both Digivices died down again, leaving the two Digi-Destined and their Digimon confused.
"And what does that mean?" Xemon spoke, gazing back up to Marc. Biyomon had hopeful eyes.
"I don't know…" Marc answered for his Digimon. "But…I got some ideas…" He shook his head. "But I won't explore those ideas yet." He turned back to face Sora. "Let's get you home…I'm sure Ioji and co. is worried about you." Sora nodded slowly, knowing full well Ioji would be worried since she disappeared to meet with Marc that morning. The four continued on their way. Marc, however, kept on the eye on Tao's house, wondering if his theory was right.
* * * * * *
Two blades clashed, echoing across the forested area. Two adversaries circled around, neither advancing nor retreating. One let out a war cry, rushing forward with reckless courage. The attackers blow was easily deflected, then countered, knocking the attacker down. He exhaled.
"You need to be patient," the more experienced of the two spoke. The other nodded, slowly getting back up. He raised his blade again, before noticing a bright like in the distance.
"Practice is done…" he spoke. "More have arrived."
* * * * * *
K.H. never liked being forced into the Digital World, but sometimes, the God's left him little choice in the matter.
"It seems like we're on our own this time…" Kinoumon spoke, noticing they were the only ones who came. "Or we came in separate locations."
"Either way…I don't feel safe being alone," K.H. told his Digimon.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you!" Kinoumon spoke energetically. That was one of the few things K.H. was thankful for now a days. He knew his Digimon could protect him.
"It's just a matter of how far he'll go to save me…" K.H. thought. He glanced back towards his companion, who had a sweet and innocent smile on his dragon like face. "He's got the confidence…I'll give it that much…" K.H. thought, chuckling. "Come on, let's get this over with." Kinoumon nodded, standing by his side as they headed into the forest before them.
* * * * * *
The two swordsmen watched K.H. in the distance, his Digimon standing by his side. Kinoumon had a happy look on his face, but the two couldn't say that for K.H.
"So…Love is supposed to be revealed here?" the 'less patient' of the two asked.
"Well, if you believe what he said, then it should…" the other responded, emphasizing 'he'. He placed the weapon on a sheath across his back. The other one followed the example, though he had no sheath to place it in, and instead wrapped it in cloth.
"I don't know what to believe anymore…" the first replied. He glanced up at K.H. "He's confused…" The second turned his head to face his partner.
"What makes you so sure," he questioned.
"Intuition," the first answered, standing up. "Let them be, they'll figure out what they have to do," he told the second. The second stood up as well, nodding his answer. The two headed deeper into the forest, away from the upcoming battle.
* * * * * *
K.H. body was walking, but his mind was somewhere else.
"I know Kinoumon cares about me…" he thought. "But…do I care for him?"
"I can't feel it…For the amount of time I've been around him…it's no different then I've been to anyone else…"
K.H. sighed, getting a concerned look from his Digimon. K.H. looked down and forced a smile, hoping to wash away the concern from his Digimon's mind.
"He cares for me…but I'm not sure if I do for him…" K.H. thought next, looking up at the branches above. "There's supposed to be a bond between Humans and Digimon…"
"But…I just don't see it within me…" he spoke softly.
"Pardon?" Kinoumon asked, hearing that small voice.
"It's nothing," K.H. replied quickly, again forcing another smile. Kinoumon was beginning to get suspicious, but didn't pursue the subject.
"K.H….if there's something bothering you…don't hesitate to tell me," Kinoumon spoke in a semi-unbelievable serious tone. "I'm your partner and friend…I don't like it when you start bottling feelings up." K.H. stayed quite, unsure how to make of it.
"Well, isn't that cute?" the Digimon asked, surprising both Human and Digimon alike. Both looked up ahead.
In the distance, hovering over the ground was Digimon wearing emerald coloured armour. The wings on the back of this humanoid like Digimon was clearly from a dragon origin, as was the helmet he wore. He wore a pair of silver duel-pronged claws.
"It has come to my attention that Axeramon wishes you Digi-Destined eliminated," he continued. "What better time then now," he added, sadism clear in his tone. Kinoumon stepped in front of K.H., the small dragon/insect Digimon ready to protect his partner.
"What's this, a Rookie is going to oppose me?" he asked, laughing uncontrollably.
"He won't be a Rookie much longer…" K.H. muttered, taking his green Digivice. Energy began to empower the Rookie Digimon.
"Kinoumon…Digivolve to…Legionarimon!"
The Dragon-like Digimon stopped laughing, regarding the new opponent.
"Much better," he replied, glad to actually have a decent challenge. "The name is Zoterimon, your executioner!" With those words, he rushed forward, diving down at Legionarimon.
"SONIC MANDIBLES!"
The shockwave of energy flew across the air and right at Zoterimon. He grinned, batting the attack away with one arm and pointing the other arm out to impale Legionarimon.
"Look out!" K.H. shouted out. Legionarimon tried to side step the attack, but his adversary proved to be too fast, jamming a claw into his flesh, bypassing the armour Legionarimon had. Legionarimon cried out in pain as the claw withdrew, drawing blood.
"Legionarimon!" K.H. cried out, rushing forward with little regard to his safety of the matter. Zoterimon glanced to his side where K.H. was running in from. There was a glisten in his eyes, then he dived down at the human.
"K.H.!!" Legionarimon exclaimed, leaping towards the boy. He knocked him over, the clean claw of Zoterimon embedding into his back. The insect like Digimon grunted in pain, but refused to scream out.
"You crazy kid…" the insect groaned. K.H. stared at Legionarimon, unsure how else to take it. K.H. was surprised how he reacted when Legionarimon was wounded. Even after that blow to his side, Legionarimon still protected his partner.
"You can't fight anymore," K.H. told his friend. "With those two wounds…" K.H. didn't finish, as Zoterimon backed up a bit and started slashing at the back of Legionarimon rapidly. He didn't budge, didn't cry, all the Digimon did was absorb pain for his friend.
"Legionarimon…don't do this…" K.H. told his partner. He refused to listen, and didn't budge, only allowed for the continue assault on his back.
"He's not reverting back to his Rookie…" K.H. thought. "Even with all the abuse he's taking, he won't change…just to protect me…" K.H. closed his eyes, knowing he felt the same for his Digimon. It anything, he would've preferred it to be the other way around. Slowly he opened his eyes, pain clearly visible on Legionarimon's face.
"Time to go Ultimate…" K.H. thought. On cue, a crimson beam of energy blasted from the inner part of the forest. The beam stalled Zoterimon for a second as it entered K.H.'s Digivice. The boy nodded, seeing the other half of Tao's Crest of Love on his Digivice. "Step it up a level!" he cried out, pointing the Digivice towards Legionarimon.
"Legionarimon…Digivolve to…"
Crimson energy engulfed the insect Digimon. A cry of defiance emerged from the energy as it slowly shrunk into a new form, more humanoid then insect. It was hard to distinguish the features of this Digimon until the energy subsided.
"Aikoumon!"
The humanoid/bird Digimon stood tall, his purple skin shown to all. His blue talon like feet dug into the ground. There were wings on his back as well as wings on his waist. His facial features were invisible behind that blue mask like object that was one with his head. The Digimon raised his right arm towards Zoterimon, twin pronged claws visible.
"That won't help you!" Zoterimon screamed out. Aikoumon narrowed his eyes, the only facial feature that one could see. He leaped into the air, flying past the tree line. Zoterimon, annoyed by that maneuver quickly flew up after him, leaving K.H. on the ground and barely able to see anything through the dense vegetation.
"Running isn't going to save you," the dragon winged Digimon hissed, arriving at the same altitude as his enemy.
"I never intended on running," Aikoumon responded softly. Zoterimon growled, rushing forward to finish the job once and for all. The dragon winged Digimon slashed hard, but was easily parried by the other claw user. Swings and strike were quickly exchanged as the two soared across the sky. It wasn't until Aikoumon broke off from the fight and started to fly away did Zoterimon get truly angered with the lack of blood.
"Come back here!" he shouted, chasing after his prey. Aikoumon looked back once, seeing how exposed his foe was to attack.
"Perfect…" he thought, quickly turning 180 degrees and stopping in the air.
"SPIN DRIVE!"
The discus of wind energy blasted forward and struck Zoterimon, who had no time to defend against the attack. The Digimon was stunned for the moment Aikoumon needed.
The bird like Digimon flew back towards Zoterimon, claw extended. With all the force he could, Aikoumon drove his claw into the body of the other, drips of blood trailing down and falling towards the trees below.
Zoterimon looked down at the weapon impaled on his body, then back up to Aikoumon, slowly.
"Curse…you…" he muttered, breaking into bits of data. Aikoumon exhaled, slowly descending to the ground below. K.H. watched as much as he could and quickly caught the now Rookie Digimon in his hand.
"I…I got him good…" Kinoumon told K.H. while he lay in his arms. His wounds were closed, but he was clearly tired from that ordeal of pain. K.H. sighed, hugging the Digimon and preparing a portal to get back home.
"You deserve a break," K.H. told his Digimon.
Fin
Completed: 02/01/01
