The Light of Two Hearts

The Light of Two Hearts

By: Theodore 'Blitz' Leung

Theoleung@sprint.ca

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!

Everyday I long for him to return. Since that day, the day he disappeared, I have never felt whole. There was always something missing in my heart from that day.

And now, he has come back, but doesn't wish to return.

My heart aches for him, and I don't know if I can take it without him...

Tao...please return soon...

~Diary of Shastina 'Prism' Lawson, fourth generation Digi-Destined

* * * * * *

Shastina stared up at the dark ceiling above her. She lay on her bed, arms underneath the blanket, the lights off and the night sky outside, illuminated by the glow from the moon. She couldn't get to sleep, her thoughts allowing her not to fall.

Tigramon was by her side, sleeping peacefully, purring in her sleep. Normally, Shastina would have found that cute, but on that night, she was too distracted to notice.

"Tao..." Shastina whimpered. His features were imprinted in her mind, and she couldn't get it out no matter how hard she tried. Struggle as she might, she just couldn't stop herself from thinking about him.

* * * * * *

Tao opened his eyes slowly, glancing up towards the night sky of the Digital World. Well, was night sky. The sun was slowly raising in the distance. He sat down on the grassy hill, his back leaning against a tree.

"I keep forgetting about that time difference," Tao muttered, stretching his limbs and taking his weapon from the ground. He looked back, Harriermon, still sleeping, also with his back to the tree. "Well, at least I can get all the sleep I want at half the amount of time," Tao thought, standing up. His unused hand fell quickly onto the small pouch on his belt, just to make sure it was still there.

"Yep, still there," Tao spoke, satisfied, though his hand remained on it.

"Why not play it?" Harriermon suggested, fatigue suggested in his voice. The Digimon obviously must have just gotten up. "I could always using a morning song," he added quickly. Tao smiled, though the Digimon wouldn't have noticed with the teenager's back turned to him. Slowly, the Digi-Destined lowered his sword and undid the pouch by his side. Quickly and carefully, he assembled the Clarinet he carried with him all the time since the day Shastina fell to Drowsmon. He wasn't sure why he held onto it, but the boy just felt a need to hold it...for her sake.

He placed the mouthpiece to his lips, blowing into the instrument. A soft tone emerged from the other side, followed by another, then another, flowing into a successive piece of melody that enlightened the world around.

* * * * * *

Shastina closed her eyes, hearing a soft melody being played in the distance; a soft and familiar melody. She sighed reminiscently, remembering the tune Tao played for her. Her mind became at ease, her heart not aching anymore for him.

The music was enough of a reminder of him to ease her conciseness. Slowly, she fell into a deep sleep, her lips curving into a smile.

* * * * * *

"Tao, something has been bothering me for a long time..." Harriermon spoke, waiting for Tao to finish his piece before speaking. He sounded as if he was straining himself, something that bothered him for a long time that he could never speak until of now, when he gathered his courage. "And I've been meaning to ask you for a long time..."

"What is it?" Tao asked, concerned for his friend. He disliked to see his friends in distress.

"Back there...before Drowsmon was deleted...." Harriermon started. "He took a swing at you." The bird sighed, still unsure of himself, but now that he has spoken, there was no turning back. "I thought I would have lost you there; yet, you had no fear in your eyes."

"...so...?" Tao asked, trailing a bit, and trying to dodge this topic.

"You looked like...you were going to embrace death..." Harriermon spoke softly. "Like you have no regard for what happens to you..." Tao remained silent, knowing what direction his partner was heading towards. "And...I would like to know...why...?" The boy still stayed quite, not really wanting to talk about it.

"Please...Tao..." Harriermon pleaded. "I want to be a good friend, and I want to know what you're feeling." Tao shook his head, turning to face his companion.

"There once was a time where I would've been afraid of death...." Tao spoke, turning away from Harriermon. "That time has long past...I hold no remorse for life anymore..."

"Over the years...I have come to be without friends, without comrades...I was alone at school. No one liked me, in fact, they always found a way to make my life miserable."

"I knew my parents were trying to help, but I wanted something more. My parents were always there to help, I wanted something more."

"And then, from there...I determined...life just sucks..."

"I'd rather die then to live like that."

"But you have Marc as friend now!" Harriermon interrupted. Tao chuckled, shaking his head and smiling lightly.

"By the time I met him, I was long foregone for ever caring in life," Tao answered. "I wasn't at the point of suicide, no, far from that. I was just at a point where it didn't matter to me what happened to my life."

"But you got so many friends now!" Harriermon protested. "You have something to live for! You can't just go throwing your life away!" Once more, Tao chuckled.

"They don't need me," Tao answered. "I'm just a burden to them all, and I don't want to bother them anymore with my ramblings." He turned to face Harriermon once more. "Besides, I didn't want to burden you with my problems. My problems are mine alone, no one else's."

"But you can't stand it when others are in pain..." Harriermon thought, not wanting to pursue the subject anymore with his companion. "You hold in everything...you're like a sponge for problems...and death is the only way to squeeze it all out..." Harriermon shuddered at the thought. He didn't want to lose his companion.

* * * * * *

Tiberius lay back on his bed, reading a recent E-mail from Izzy, replying about a certain hypothesis Tiberius came up with during the last Ainoko Digivolve.

Your theory seems plausible. So far, all the evidence has supported you, especially since each of you hold a 'half' of a certain Crest. The Crest must match in order to form an Ainoko Digivolve by the looks of it.

Also plausible is the fact that the Merger can open rifts between the two worlds. It has been done before, as you have seen with the attacks in the Real World from Digital Monsters. We all seemed to have lost track of our original intention once the Digi-Destined were threatened with death.

I hope you people can stop the Merger soon, I don't like the thought of having Digital neighbors with a tendency to blow fireballs through the walls.

Keep my updated.

~Izzy

Tiberius smiled, closing the Digivice and glancing towards Lepumon who slept beside him. The little rabbit Digimon had some cute expression on his face while he slept, which Tiberius unsuccessfully tried to decipher. Grinning, the teenager slid off the bed without waking his partner.

* * * * * *

Shastina groggily blinked, awakening from her slumber that she so peacefully slept. She pulled back into her bed quickly when she saw Tigramon staring at her. The Digimon had a strange smile on her face.

"You look so cute when you were sleeping that night," the Digimon replied, leaping away from Shastina's gaze. "I assume you had a good nights rest."

"Better then ever," Shastina admitted, sitting up on the bed. "I was...listening to music..."

"Oh?" Tigramon inquired. "I don't remember leave a CD player on last night," she added, smiling. Shastina smiled back, shaking her head slowly.

"No, it was all in my mind," Shastina answered. "But...it was the nicest tone I've heard...it sounded so familiar...I can't put my finger on who played it...." she mused.

"Well, considering there's only like a million some music artists out there, it can't take that long to narrow it down," Tigramon joked. Once more, Shastina smiled.

"I dunno...it just sounded...strangely familiar...sort of haunting...just in a good way," Shastina assessed, struggling with the words to describe her feelings. She just shrugged afterwards, unable to express anymore.

* * * * * *

Twenty hours passed by in the Digital World. Tao sat down on the grassy terrain, legs crossed, arm on his knee holding his chin up. The boy was deep in thought, not wanting to commit any information to his companion in fear of hurting the Digimon some more.

Harriermon stood behind his partner, a few feet back, with his back turned to Tao. He also sat on the ground, deep in his own sort of thinking. The two hardly talked those sixteen hours, sixteen hours since they had their little conversation about 'death'. To any human, not talking much for sixteen hours is a little excessive. For a human who has no regard for his life, it's not really a problem.

Night was overhead the two, both still back to back and neither making a budge from their position. Whether there was a silent war going on between the two, it couldn't be told by the naked eye. You would have to ask them, and neither one was willing to talk at the moment.

"This silence is a killer..." Harriermon spoke aloud.

"Oh well," was the reply from his human companion.

And then there was more silence.

* * * * * *

The morning sun of the Digital World bathed down against Shastina as she entered the land. Tigramon followed beside her.

"Two hours after you get up, and the Digital World comes calling for you," Shastina complained in a half joking manner.

"Well, at least we know we're still wanted," Tigramon added. Shastina nodded, glancing around.

Well, she would've looked if it weren't for some thing that blocked out the sun behind her. She turned around, looked up, and gasped.

Standing before her was a full body armoured dark winged Angel; a Fallen Angel to be exact, holding a mean looking serrated sword in his left hand. His emerald eyes regarded the smaller human before him. He grinned slightly.

"My name is Garianmon," he spoke. "On the orders of Serangmon, you Digi-Destined got to die."

"And when did Fallen Angels start working with regular Angels?" Shastina spat out. "Tigramon, Digivolve!" Energy blasted from the Digivice towards Tigramon.

"Tigramon...Digivolve to...."

As sort of a surprise, but not really a surprise, Tigramon couldn't hit the Champion level.

"I don't think I need to explain what happened there," Garianmon told the two.

"No, you don't," Shastina spoke bitterly. "RUN!" she screamed out, dashing off, Tigramon right behind her. Garianmon sighed, before flying right overhead them and cutting off their escape route.

"You do realise you'll never outrun me," he told the two after they halted. "Wings go much farther then feet."

"Why don't you stop talking and start fighting?!" the voice screamed out. All eyes turned left, falling on Tao, followed quickly behind by Harriermon. Tao was running forward, unleashing three Sonic Sword attacks against Garianmon, though he easily flew out of the path of each.

"Crazy boy!" came the reply from the Angel.

"Oh well," Tao muttered, leaping up and slashing at the hovering target with a strong overhand slice. The blow was quickly blocked with the serrated blade. Garianmon pushed forcefully on his blade, sending Tao back a few steps and landing on his feet beside Shastina. Harriermon landed beside his partner.

"Tao..." Shastina whispered.

"Harrier, take Shas and Tigramon and get out of here!" Tao ordered. Harriermon didn't really want to agree, but there really wasn't much he could do in this fight. Only one person was able to fight, so the safety of the others was his priority.

"Come on..." Harriermon spoke, tugging on Shastina's sleeve, though she failed to budge from her location. Tao rushed forward once Garianmon landed on the ground, the two engaging in a duel.

"Tao..." Shastina whispered once more, clasping her hands together.

"Shas, we should go..." Tigramon suggested. Nevertheless, Shastina still did not budge.

"I can't leave Tao behind..." she spoke softly. Harriermon flew up to face level with Shastina, ready to talk some sense into her.

"Listen Shas, you can't help him," he started. "He's got a weapon he can use, you don't."

"I...I can't leave..." Shastina stammered.

"He's got no remorse for his own life!" Harriermon exclaimed. "He won't feel anything if he dies, but if you die, he'll never forgive himself, so let's GO!"

"I'll NEVER forgive myself if I let him die!" Shastina shouted back at Harriermon. "You think he has no remorse for life?! I always wanted to die until I met him." Shastina sobbed softly.

"If it wasn't for him, I would've committed suicide a long time ago. God, life is hell until I met him. He showed me something no one else showed: love!"

"Taking him away from me will be taking my life..." she whimpered. Harriermon stopped trying to convince Shastina to move. The two were soul bound. If one were to die, the other wouldn't be able to live with it, as both have demonstrated before.

Tao leaped back to avoid being cleaved in two. He landed right beside Shastina, glanced at her.

"Come on Shas, don't be so stubborn," he persisted, about to rush back into the fray until Shastina latched onto his arm. "Shas?!"

"Don't leave me again..." she sobbed, unable to contain herself much longer. The words came forcefully from her.

"Shas, I don't have a will to live," Tao spoke softly. I'm willing to die for you, just as long as I can get out of my own life." Shastina sniffled, those words reminding her of herself.

"Besides, all I'm doing is being a burden to you," Tao spoke. "Look at you, you're falling apart. It's better if I just left." With those words, and finally prying Shastina off his arm, he rushed forward once more into the awaiting Angel. Blades clashed together as Tao continued the fight.

"We should get going..." Tigramon spoke, tugging at Shastina's pants.

"No..." Shastina answered, rejecting the idea of retreat. "I will not leave Tao here. I won't let him die."

"Tao!" she screamed out. "You're willing to die for me?! I'm willing to die for you!!"

Tao's eyes went wide, pausing him for a split second and getting him a punch in the face that sent him rolling back towards Shastina. He stopped right in front of Shastina, who quickly knelt down and took his head in her arms.

"Oh Tao...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to distract you..." she apologised.

"Shas..." Tao started, tired from the battle. "Are you serious at what you said? Willing to lose...your life?"

"I came close to it once before, and I almost lost you again, and now you are going to get lost?" Shastina spoke. "No, if we die, we die together." Tao sighed, smiling lightly.

"We protect each other to the end then," Tao responded, kissing Shastina on the lips. Her eyes went wide, but she didn't protest to the whole idea. Instead, she just pulled the boy closer to her.

Two Digivices began to react, surrounding in a glow of white energy. Both halves of the Crest of Light emerged from each Digivice. The two made a whole. Harriermon and Tigramon exchanged looks, both nodded, knowing what will happen. The two beams of energy sucked both into the Crest of Light.

"Harriermon...." "Tigramon...."

"Ainoko Digivolve to..."

The Crest was surrounded by an orb, which shattered as quickly as it was formed. A humanoid figure replaced the shattered orb, made from pure energy. Slowly, silver armour red trims generated onto its body. Crimson tights formed from waist down, followed with white loincloths down and around the waist. A pair of brown boots formed on its feet. Tied to the left arm was a red bandanna. Sapphire eyes emerged from the energy, as did the short black hair with blond streaks and silver highlights. A bang trailed down each side of its face. A broadsword formed in its hand, long and with a small chip near the top of the non-bladed side. With the same energy, angel wings sprouted from its back.

"Kashokumon!"

"Well, I guess that's what you get when two Angel Ultimate become one..." Tao inquired, slowly getting to his feet.

"Er...is it a guy or a girl?" Shastina questioned, unsure what to make of the new Angel.

"Don't ask, as long as it can fight, it's cool with me," Tao answered.

"Good enough for me," Shastina agreed, waiting for the next round to commence.

Kashokumon didn't keep them waiting, blasting forward with insane speed, locking blades with Garianmon.

Shastina held onto Tao's arm as the two watched. Tao held Shastina closely, ready to protect her in case anything crazy happened in that battle.

Slash, block, slash, block, parry, evade, dodge, cross cut, deflection...

The actions went on as neither Angel got the upper hand. Tao slowly released Shastina, holding his weapon, glancing over to Shastina. The weapon had an emerald shimmer to it now, and Shastina knew what Tao was planning to do. She stepped back to give him room.

"Kashokumon, move it!" Tao yelled out. The Angel sort of guessed what was planned, and quickly moved, a Sonic Sword just blasting past where it stood a moment ago. Garianmon took the blow to the chest, unable to defend from the sudden attack. The other Angel made its move.

"DAWNING!"

Holy energy charged into the massive broadsword. Grinning, Kashokumon rammed the blade into the ground, causing a 30-degree arc shock wave in Garianmon's direction. He blinked once, cried out in surprise once more before getting swallowed by the shock wave. Slowly, it subsided, leaving data on the ground of what was once Garianmon's body.

* * * * * *

"You know what it's like to merge with a male Angel!?" Tigramon complained loudly, sort of jokingly.

"You know what it's like to merge with a female Digimon?!" Harriermon's reply came, equally as jokingly.

"No, but I can ask Xemon," Tigramon answered.

"Doh!" Harriermon spoke. The two watched their partner's in the distance, hugging each other tightly.

"You still won't come back?" Shastina asked softly, her head leaning against Tao's shoulder.

"I don't...feel ready yet..." Tao answered, sighing. "Maybe...when I know I won't be such a burden on all of you, then, I'll come back."

"But you aren't a burden!" Shastina protested.

"I am..." Tao responded. "I believe I am, and until I think otherwise..." he didn't need to complete the sentence, Shastina knew.

"Well, if you need anything, you know where you can turn to..." Shastina spoke, holding her tears. Tao nodded, about to release Shastina but was greatly surprised when Shastina held on tightly and kissed him on lips once more. Tao didn't interrupt the moment. He didn't mind at all, nor did his girlfriend.

Fin

Completed: 03/17/01