Untitled Disclaimer: I do not own digimon.






The True Battle III








The girl coming out with Yamato was someone familiar...but Taichi could not tell because of the cloth covering her entire face except her eyes. The couple sat down on their thrones. The room was silent.

"I have just heard that..." Yamato started. "Our kingdom has been attacked. The Delphians have struck us again, when my...beloved father was still with us." Yamato looked blankly at them, a cold hard stare in his eyes. He then cleared his throat. "And I have seen the village they have struck...they mutilated the bodies and hung them...the sickly creatures...one man was caught, but he killed himself in his dungeon."

Voices erupted from the room, both stunned and horrified. Yamato clapped his hands. Everyone became silent.

"I have gathered everyone here because I need volunteers...to fight them and save my empire. Army men are in short supply," Yamato said. He looked around. "Would anyone care to be soldier?"

The emperor of Ithaca smiled ad elbowed Taichi. Taichi froze.

"Yes...Yamato...there is one man who is up to the challenge...aren't you my boy?" the emperor said. Taichi shook his head.

"Please sire...not now...it is important th--" Taichi started.

"Nonsense Taichi!"

Taichi!? Yamato thought. His eyes roamed the men and women...there he stood. The ghostly face that Yamato had suffered through since his kingship.

"Taichi?" Yamato said. "Taichi Yagami?"

"Yes he is Yamato...you two know each other?" the emperor of Ithaca asked.

"What are you doing here?" Yamato sneered, ignoring the emperor's question.

Taichi did not answer. He looked at Yamato straight in his eyes...a cold, heartless stare.

"ANSWER ME!!" Yamato yelled at Taichi.

"I am here because I serve Emperor Tetsuya. I am a part of his army. He treats me like a son," Taichi said, his voice icy. Yamato merely growled.

"Please...Taichi, help his army," Tetsuya begged. Taichi turned to his emperor.

"I cannot your highness. And before you say anything, you also cannot understand why I am not going to do this, nor do I wish to explain," Taichi said.

"You were supposed to be..." Yamato said softly. Sora stared at them. Was this the betrayal Taichi had mentioned?

"I know Yamato, but I am not. I simply refuse to die under your hands..." Taichi said.

Yamato cleared his throat. "Do you see this man? He is a mere servant talking back to the emperor. He should be hanged for this...but I am a generous man..." Yamato said, glaring at Taichi. "I will spare your life Taichi, if you join my army."

Yamato was not stupid. He knew that if Taichi joined his army, they were going to win. Taichi was a warrior by blood, and he understood that. He also understood that he, himself, had betrayed him...and he was not about to give in.

"You can try Yamato," Taichi answered.

"I have many guards here and--"

"You cannot kill my soldier! You cannot waste a good fighting man!" Tetsuya said.

"This is my empire...you are in it and I am more powerful than you will ever be Tetsuya...I am sorry my friend, but deal with it," Yamato said. Tetsuya stared at him, enraged.

Yamato turned back to Taichi. "You either join, or die. Pick one," he said, smiling. Taichi was strong, but not too strong as to fight 20 men at once. He had no other choice, he wanted to survive.

His guards waited, staring at him, showing their large frames. Taichi nodded to Yamato and left the room.

"Bow, you incredilous fool," Yamato hissed.

Taichi continued without the slightest hesitation. Yamato's eyes were on fire. Taichi...as his father said...was not afraid of anything. He was a man of courage, and Yamato could never take that away from him. No matter how high his power was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sora stared at the workers outside her window. They worked day and night without rest and there was nothing she could do about it. She sighed and lay on her bed.

"A rose can be described as beautiful, but your beauty is undescribable." Sora gasped in surprise when she heard the soft voice, then turned to look at the face that owned the voice. She watched as he gently slipped a blue rose in her hand.

"Taichi, what are you doing here? We could get in trouble. I don't want you to get hu--"

"I would risk my life to see you..." Taichi whispered, his lips barely touching her ear. Sora closed her eyes as Taichi brushed his fingers against her hair.

"And I you," Sora replied softly, kissing his bottom lip. When she pulled away, she looked straight at Taichi. "Taichi? What was that all about with Yamato? Was that because of his betrayal that you told me about?"

Taichi's loving stare became an icy glare. He looked away.

"I don't wanna talk about it," he said, getting up to the window. Sora pulled him back.

"Taichi? If you want to love me, you have to tell me the truth," Sora said, looking intensely in his eyes. Taichi stared back and kissed her lips.

"Yamato tried to kill me, he ruled his father's land against his will..." Taichi said coldly.

"Why does it hurt you so much?"

"Because he was my best friend, you see?" Taichi said. "Are you...a friend of his? I mean because if you are I am sorry."

"No...he...is not my friend," Sora replied softly. Taichi knew she was trying her best not to tell him something.

Sora just smiled softly and traced his face with her middle and forefinger, right on the surface of his face, but not touching it. She delicately kissed his cheek.

"I can never look at any man the way I look at you," Sora whispered. Taichi kissed her lips softly, intimacy filling the kiss. Taichi put his palms against Sora's and the two clasped their hands together as they continued their kiss. Taichi gently pushed her against the bed.

When they pulled away, they looked right at each other until they fell asleep. Taichi kissed her forehead gently, then took the rose he had given her and put it on her pillow. He quietly left the room.





In the morning, Sora had awoken to find the rose still there. She took it and stared at the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We shall start training tomorrow," Yamato said, looking at the soldiers he had accumulated during the week. He kept on gazing at Taichi, who ignored any eye contact with him what-so-ever.



After the short meeting, Taichi headed out the door, but was stopped by Yamato.

"Taichi, you will never speak of what happened," Yamato whispered, his voice hard.

"And why? My Lord?" Taichi mocked.

"Because it is a thing of the past. We do not talk about the past."

"But we talk about lying and stealing and murdering now don't we?" Taichi smirked.

"Shut up! I did not lie, or steal. And I did not kill anyone..." Yamato said, his voice filled with dread. Taichi knew he was trying to cover it up. "I simply undid the mistake he would have made by assigning you my position." Yamato shrugged. Taichi walked away.

"I know what you did Emperor Yamato," Taichi said, making his voice deep and mysterious.

"I did not do anything," Yamato said. "Now return to your quarters you fraud."

"I am not the fraud Yamato, and you know it," Taichi answered before he left Yamato by himself in the empty room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Training was harsh. Taichi was forced to do impossible labor, while the other men did military practices. Harsh, but not as harsh as Taichi was getting.

As Taichi did his practice, letting sweat drip from his body, Yamato came up to him and smiled. Taichi shot him an angry look.

"I see you are having fun," Yamato said. Taichi ignored him and continued his angry glare. Yamato's face became soft. "Well, I want you to meet someone very special, my wife," Yamato said. "I want to show her to you because she is probably the only woman you will ever see. Since you are to shameful to be with," Yamato spat. He motioned a woman to come to him, wearing the same transparent cloth covering her face. Her eyes looked terrified and hurt, but in a way that she was trying to cover the terror and hurt.

"Yamato, I do not care if you wish to boast about your wife. True she is beautiful, but she is also a human, not a prize," Taichi said, contiuing his harsh practice. Fifty push-ups on two stools over a hot fire, while on top of his back, lay a heavy stone.

"Take off that silly cloth Sora," Yamato said. The girl shook her head. Yamato stared at her angrily and pulled it off her face, revealing the face Taichi would have thought of last, to be under the cloth. "I would like to introduce my wife, Sora Ishida, this is Taichi Yagami," he said.

Taichi could barely keep his balance as he bare skin nearly touched the tip of the flaming fire. Sora looked apologetically at Taichi, for she knew she should have told him. The two have been seeing each other secretly for nearly a month during Yamato's crusade to find soldiers. Yet she never mentioned that she was Yamato's wife.

"Pleased to meet you...Queen Sora Ishida," Taichi said, sitting up as he shook her hand. Sora closed her eyes and choked down tears.

"You too Taichi Yagami," she replied, trying her best to keep her voice from cracking.

"Well, now that you have all met, we shall go now to leave you with your training," Yamato said, laughing menacingly as he left with Sora. She stared at him as she left. Taichi stared back, then looked away painfully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taichi saddled his horse. He was in dire need of water and wanted to head to the river near Olympia. It wasn't that far away and he knew he would be back by sunset.

"Taichi! Wait!" a female voice called. Taichi looked in her direction and frowned. He got up on his horse.

"You lied to me," he responded.

"I know, I'm sorry, Taichi please--"

"Look, you could get hanged by being with me. I care about you and I am not about to let that happen to you."

"I told you a month ago that I would risk my life to be with you. I would still do it if you want me," Sora said, her eyes begging. Taichi tried his best not to soften up.

"I have to go, Queen Sora," he said, and rode away. Sora stared after him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I heard that Delphians struck again, this time closer to the palace. They were also seen roaming around in the market place just outside the palace," Yamato declared.

The heirarchy in the palace were terrified even more. Taichi stood by the door, guarding it. Tetsuya had asked him to watch out for the Delphians.

Sora got up. "Yamato? I want to fight," she said. Yamato stared at her with disbelief.

"Aww, dear that is merely impossible. You will stay here," Yamato said. Sora stared at him as his smile turned into mocking laughter. The other men and women laughed as well. A horrible, rude laugh that made Sora feel alone. Her eyes became angry.

"Yamato, I am serious. I want to fight the Delphians," Sora urged on.

"Is it because your 'dear Papa' didn't come to get you?" Yamato asked.

"Yamato, please...just let me do this."

"I don't want my wife to die! I mean for Heaven's sake you're a woman!"

Sora got up and walked up to Yamato angrily, but was pulled away by the guards.

"Take her to her room, she is too much nuisance," Yamato said, fluttering his hand towards the door. Taichi watched as she walked to her room with the guards. Taichi followed. He watches as Sora punched a guard in the face, and hit him, sending him flying into a large marble and gold pole. She turned to the other one and sneered, grabbing a torch and hitting the guard with the pointed bottom of the torch. He was knocked unconcious.

Taichi walked out, clapping. Sora breathed heavily and stared at him. She suddenly smiled and threw her arms around his neck.

"Taichi, I'm sorry, I love you..." she whispered. Taichi hugged her back, and kissed her angrily. He touched her bare back and moved his hands down to her waist.

"I love you too, Sora," Taichi said, moving her hair behind her ears. He gently caressed her skin lovingly.

Sora smiled at Taichi and touched her lips, continuing to reminisce the taste of his lips on hers. Taichi grinned an innocent lopsided grin that made Sora feel weak in the knees.

Taichi pulled out a blue rose, similar to the one he had given her earlier. "This blue rose is as rare as the love you give me Sora. It is a magical rose given by to me by the gods because of my love for you..." Taichi pulled off a petal, brushing it against Sora's cheek. "My heart belongs to you," Taichi said, kissing her cheek where he had brushed the petal against.

"Taichi? You will come back to me won't you? After the war? If I could go, I would, but I have just realized I cannot get the training because Yamato is always watching me."

"You mean he could be here right now?"

"No..." Sora said, laughing softly. "He is talking right now."

"Okay, well...I will return to my guarding duties now. Good night, my lady," Taichi said, kissing the tips of her fingers. He looked into her eyes for a short moment and turned to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sora lay on her bed and looked up at the ceiling of the darkened room. Her eyes started to become heavy...all of a sudden, there was a loud piercing scream heard across the palace, sending cold chills up her spine. She shot up from her bed and walked out. Through the curtains she had heard the scream from, she could see a shadow holding a daggar. She ran in and grabbed the daggar before it hit the woman.

She noticed the man wearing a dark cloak with a black hat and cloth covering his face. Sora struggled and threw the daggar out of his hands.

"Who are you and what do you think you are doing?" Sora asked, gritting her teeth as she pressed the man against the wall.

"I am no one--"

"Tell me or I will ruin your organ system," Sora threatened, holding the knife to his heart.

"I am a-a guardian of the Delphian ruler," he said quickly.

"Are there more of you?" Sora asked.

"No--" Sora pressed the daggar harder.

"Do you wish to keep your liver?" Sora asked, harshly.

"Yes! Yes there are more of us in the palace. One is heading for the emperor's quarters right now. Please spare me my lady!" the man said.

"You are a fool! But I will spare you." Sora walked away throwing the daggar to the ground. The man watched her leave, then quietly grabbed a large vase getting ready to throw it over her head with one movement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A man gently crammed a knife into a Athens guard's chest without a single sound. He fell to the ground, moaning softly. He crept into the emperor's quarters and looked at the sleeping blonde in the enormous wealthy man's bed.

His laugh was sinister. He crept to his bedside and tied a long cloth around his mouth before he could even notice.

"There is no need to declare war against us Emperor Yamato," he said, tightening the ropes around the terrified man's hands. "We will just kill you and all is well," he said, smiling a toothless smile. All of a sudden, the man stopped laughing.

"Ugh...ah...oh..." the man breathed, before he fell to the ground. Yamato noticed a knife at his back and Taichi behind him.

Taichi quickly undid the cloth on his mouth and the ropes around his wrists.

"Are you all right?" Taichi asked.

"Yes, I could have taken care of myself. I just was not prepared. I did not need your help!" Yamato said stubbornly. Taichi ignored his stubborn act.

"There are more of them and I need you to help me find them and gather them up. They killed almost all your guards secretly, so that leaves us and the helpless sleeping guests." Taichi disappeared through the doors. Yamato had to admit he felt safer when Taichi was there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sora quickly turned and stuffed a sword into his gut, causing him to stop completely and drop the vase to his side. Sora drew the sword out, revealing its bloody surface. Sora wiped it on the curtains and walked out the door to look for the rest.

Arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and mouth, muffling her voice. Sora struggled and elbowed his ribs, but armor protected it. The man roped her hands and covered her mouth with a peice of material that he tied behind her head. Sora grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground. She quickly ran off into the dark halls.


Another man appeared with the guard. "I lost the queen," he said in a deep hoarse voice. The other man that had appeared pushed him.

"Then look for her you simpleton!" he ordered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taichi looked behind him and in front of him as he walked backwards. There was no one in sight. Suddenly, he crashed into someone behind him and he turned, getting ready to strike the person with his sword.

"Taichi--it...is me," Sora muffled. Taichi put his sword down and undid the fabric on her face and cut the ropes.

"Is this their technique? Put cloth on their mouths and ropes on their hands? It is getting pretty old," Taichi said.

"Taichi? Now is not the time to talk about their stupid techniques...there are more of them."

"You go that way, I'll go here," Taichi said. Sora grabbed his arm.

"Hold on," Sora said, kissing his lips hungrily. Taichi pulled her close, wanting the kiss to last longer. Sora walked closer, pushing herself against him. Taichi breathed deeply when he pulled away.

"Be careful," she said. Taichi smiled and ran the other direction.




In the darkness behind a large pole, was Yamato.







A/N: Okay, this is the climax, just to tell you, and it's probably the longest chapter I made. Well, bye! Gotta work on the next one.