gardian 9

Ring

Ring

Matt breaks the kiss and swears. God Damn it!

Ignore it Yama. Tai pleads.

I'd like to.

Ring

Ring

But I can't. It's probably Ken.

Matt answers the phone.



Hi Matt. Ken's voice is hoarse from crying and fatigue.

Ken, what's wrong?

I'm in the hospital. Ken says grimly.

Are you okay? Matt's eyes grow wide.

Yeah, but Daisuke isn't.



Yeah, he was visiting me, and answered the door. Senator Ribbin sent somebody to finish me off, and they shot Daisuke.... Ken begins sobbing quietly.

Matt leans agains the wall, eyes wide and fearful. Tai comes over and holds him. Whatever the news Matt has gotten, it's obviouslly bad.

Is he....? Matt trails off, unable to finish.

No, but he's in a coma. The doctors don't know if he'll wake up or not.

Matt sighes. Poor Ken. Ken, I'm so sorry.

Its my fault Dai got hurt Ken murmered. It was all his fault. Bright, energetic Daisuke was lying still and silent in the ICU wing, and it was all his fault.

Matt yelled. It wasn't your fault Ken! Softer he adds. It wasn't anyone's fault. If Daisuke were awake, he'd tell you the same thing.

Tai's hand find's Matt's. He gives it a gentle squeeze, supporting Matt, just by being by his side.

The trial is going to be in one week. Ken states slowly.

Good. I hope that Ribbin gets the chair.

Ken's voice become wistful. Don't let be afraid to love somebody, otherwise you're going to regret it, like me.

Take care Ken. Keep us posted on Daisuke okay? Matt hangs up the phone, and meets Tai's terrified brown eyes.

Daisuke's been in an accident.

Tai's eyes darken. It was Senator Ribbin wasn't it.

Matt sighed. He couldn't lie to Tai about this, as much as he wanted to.


Ring

Ring



Silence.

His eyes narrow. Who the hell is this?

Don't you know? The voice leers.

What the hell do you want Ribbin?

Patience Yamato Ishida. I simply want to visit with Taichi Kamiya.

I don't know how you got this number, but Tai isn't coming anywhere near you. Matt vowed.

Senator Ribbin chuckled heartily. That's too bad. Your fiancé would be so disappointed to hear that. She misses you terribly.

Matt gasps and clutches the phone tightly. Tai watches worriedly as the color drains out of Matt's face.

What do you mean? Matt yelled.

Senator Ribbin stroked Sora's head gently before ungagging her.

Say hello to your fiancé honey.

Hi Matt. Please do what they say. They're going to kill me. Sora's voice is calm and monotone.



I think that's enough lovey dovey talk for now, don't you Ishida?

Let her go.

Odabia Plastics Factory. Midnight tomorrow. Bring Tai or the girl dies.

Click.

Tai throws his arms around Matt. Yama, what's wrong!

Matt falls on the couch and puts his head in his hands. They have her.



Senator Ribbin has Sora. They want to trade you for her at the Odabia Plastics factory at Midnight Tomorrow.

We have to do it. Tai states firmly.

Matt snaps his head up. What? Are you crazy Tai?

Tai stares into the depths of Matt's teary blue eyes. You love her. If we don't she'll die.

Tai, I'm not going to let you commit suicide. Matt exclaimed.

Enough people have already died because of me. Tai clenches his hands into fists.

No Tai! Do you think that their just going to hand over Sora once they have you?

We don't have any other choice. If we don't.... Tai trails off. Sure Sora was a rotten human being, but she was once his friend. She didn't deserve to die. Besides, Matt loved her.

What are we going to do Taichi? Matt embraces Tai tightly. He then pulls his phone out of his pocket, and dials Ken's number.

Ken, we have even bigger problems.