Dominance - #5. Decisions
Disclaimer: Digimon, Ken Ichijouji and Daisuke Motomiya aren't mine (**sniffs sadly**) and neither is anyone else. Nothing's mine except the fic and everything's borrowed and no profit's been made. So don't sue.
Daisuke couldn't help but feel his mouth drop as he watched the soccer ball do something it should very not do. He admitted he wasn't absolutely fantastic at soccer ... but this was bad even for him! Thank God he was alone, if anyone had seen him just do that ... he didn't want to think about it!
Sighing, he made his way over to the now-stopped ball and nudged it gently with his foot. He didn't often practise on his own - usually he got some of the other guys to do it with him, or there were the extremely rare times Taichi decided to come along with him - but he was so jittery lately he knew that if others saw him they'd think he'd lost it ... more than usual.
Two days had passed since Ken had visited his house and sent him to levels he had never thought possible. The guy had nearly brought him over the edge for crying out loud! What Ken had done to him he hadn't even imagined Hikari doing to him - and he had enjoyed it.
He had known Ken was very sadistic, but he hadn't realised exactly how much. The boy had loved torturing him like he had. What had he flung himself into this time? He knew he was way out of his depth if anything. Plus there was the added danger of going to the Digital World. Ken was the Kaiser there and had a lot more control over him than in this world. He could do anything to him, as well as the added risk of the other Digidestined being there. He could only imagine what they'd do if they saw him in an ... intimate ... embrace with their enemy.
None of it looked nice in his mind.
Why did I agree to that stupid agreement?! he wailed inside his mind, as he finally gave up on the soccer. He couldn't help but cast a nervous glance over his shoulder as he leaned down to pick up the ball. He didn't know if he was safe from Ken anymore. The guy could be watching him at any moment, anywhere .. well nearly everywhere. For the first time he was thankfully he had refused the ground floor bedroom.
He couldn't relax. Not with this hanging on his conscience. Ken had warned him that his time to choose was drawing nearer and that when it came he would have to choose. Normally that wouldn't trouble him - he'd just choose whichever came to mind first - but this choice was serious. Whatever he decided would determine what he would be viewed as for the rest of his life. He could remain a Digidestined, the Child of Courage and Friendship and the leader of the group, or change to the darkness. The side of evil, to be with Ken. He had no idea what to do.
It wasn't as if he could tell anyone either. His parents and sister would think he'd finally cracked and would throw him into the nearest strait jacket. He couldn't tell any of the others as they'd already believe he'd betrayed him. He could practically see their murderous looks and hear Miyako hissing "Traitor!" at him. No that wouldn't work. Besides, they'd think he was ... well, gay if they knew what he'd done with Ken.
Speaking of which ...
Ken would no doubt be awaiting his response to that question as well. But he didn't know what he was! While he was beginning to believe he was developing feelings for Ken (as bizarre as that sounded), his feelings for Hikari wouldn't leave either, even though he knew he should just forget about her. She was Takeru's now.
He groaned, dropping the ball as he rubbed his eyes hard. Since when had life got so damn complicated all of a sudden?!
Sighing, he grabbed the ball again and started to walk off the field. He had promised the others he'd meet them at the school to go to the Digital World. The others had planned - without him he might add - to destroy a couple of more spires. He felt his stomach tighten. Why did that thought seem so dangerous all of a sudden? Before he had relished the idea of hurting the Kaiser. But that was before he had let him own him.
There was also the fact Ken mightn't like Daisuke destroying his spires. Daisuke was now his because of that stupid agreement and Ken could basically do anything he liked with him. Including disgracing him in front of the other Digidestined by telling them what he had done. God, what had been going on in his mind when he had agreed to that agreement?! Had there been anything in his mind then?!
He didn't know. Personally, he just wished he could go into bed and never get up. Never wake up either for that matter.
My Daisuke has finally arrived, Ken thought as he watched five dots appear on his D-3. Finally, they took their time. He had been here since the morning - it was the weekend after all and there was no school - but the Digidestined had waited until the late afternoon to show up. No matter. They were here now and it was time for the fun to begin.
He had begun to doubt Daisuke's loyalty towards him after his visit to his house. The boy hadn't been to the Digital World since their final battle together and this was his first visit to the Digital World as Ken's own. He had got Iori to put his digmon back into the Digital World. It was almost as if he had been avoiding him. Now it was time for the boy to prove himself. And what amusement this was going to be!
Perhaps now would be a good time to try my new toy, he mused, glancing over at it. Yes, it would be a very good time. Picking up the tinted jar, he made his way to his most secure dungeon. Hearing the door secure soundly after him, he smiled slightly. Even though he was locked in with a Champion level digimon who was pretty damned mad at him, he didn't worry. He had the ultimate weapon here. The digimon would never stand a chance.
"How do you like your new quarters?" he enquired with false politeness, smirking. "I quite like them. Do you?"
Leomon snarled, hurtling himself towards the invisible barrier Ken had erected around him. He couldn't avoid yelping slightly as pain course through him and sent him hurtling backwards. Glaring at him fiercely, he growled, "If you think putting a ring or spiral on me is going to make me serve you, think again Kaiser!"
"I was going to put something on you," Ken admitted, absently running a finger down one of the sides of the jar he was holding, "but you are too good for them Leomon. Your nobility is legendary throughout the Digital World, but I suppose you know that by now. After all this is your second life. It didn't take you long to get back to Champion level after being reborn did it? You're extraordinarily strong. You'd make the perfect addition to my army. But if a ring or spiral was put on you, your goodness would soon warp it. I can't have that. You had to be the exception of course."
"Then you'll never have me as an addition to your army!" the digimon roared, beginning to lose his temper.
Ken chuckled, smirking broadly. "I'm afraid you're wrong there. You see, I came up with the perfect weapon here. It controls any digimon, from In-Training to Mega and beyond. Nothing can break it, not even your pathetic goodness." He laughed as Leomon didn't even bother containing his horror. "Don't be so surprised Leomon. You should know I'm always one step ahead of my enemies."
"You're demented," the digimon whispered. "What sort of satisfaction could be got from enslaving innocent digimon?"
"You'd be surprised by how much," the Kaiser replied. "Besides you're not real. You're all just bits of data. You don't matter. How can it be cruel then?"
"You truly believe that? Then you're worse then I ever imagined." Leomon's voice was flat.
"Hold your tongue!" It didn't seem to matter to Ken how much larger Leomon was. He had survived far, far worse. "Now ... get your reward for your refusal!" With a deft movement, he opened the jar and let the contents stream out.
Moments later, Leomon's screams echoed throughout the base. All digimon, controlled or not, who heard it couldn't help themselves from shivering at the desperate sounds.
"Daisuke!" Veemon's joyful cry was the first thing to meet Daisuke's ears as he opened his eyes and sat up groggily. To be met with one heavy digimon coming towards him at full force. "Oof!" he muttered, as Veemon flung himself at him. "Happy to see you too."
A light laugh made him look up from untangling Veemon from himself. Hikari stared down at him, her eyes twinkling. "It appears Veemon missed you," she remarked gently, bending down to greet Gatomon as she came up.
"Yeah," he replied absently, staring down at Veemon with an arched eyebrow. He had been away from the Digital World for only a day. Veemon shouldn't have been so overjoyed to see him, he had been away from the DigiWorld for far longer than a day before this. So why was he - oh.
Veemon had been present as Chibimon when Ken had visited his home and they had shared that kiss. It probably hadn't done the digimon any good to see his partner doing ... erm ... whatever they had been doing, with their supposed enemy. Hell, he still didn't believe he had done that with their own enemy. But was Ken still their enemy? He wasn't sure anymore.
Giving Veemon a reassuring smile, he whispered to him, "I hope you didn't tell anyone what happened when Ken came 'round, did you?"
"No way!" he replied, looking shocked. "You told me not to tell anyone and I didn't. But why is it such a bad thing?"
"I'll explain later," Daisuke muttered, noticing Hikari and Gatomon watching them strangely. Rising, he plastered a false grin on his face. "It was a guy thing." More than you think.
"Sure," she answered, smiling back at him. But he couldn't ignore the flicker in her eyes that proved she didn't quite believe him fully. Oh well, it wasn't as if Takeru was going to leave them alone for a few minutes for her to ask him or anything.
He gritted his teeth as Takeru, Miyako and Iori came up and his rival immediately slipped his arm around Hikari's waist. He didn't need to remind Daisuke he had got Hikari. It wasn't as if he had forgotten or anything. Hikari herself didn't look too happy with the motion either, judging from her uncomfortable expression. Talk about possessive.
"Shall we start destroying spires now?" Miyako asked quickly, beginning to sense the ill will simmering between Takeru and Daisuke. It was a small attempt to keep the peace but it was still an attempt at least.
"Yes," Hikari agreed, eager to stop any confrontation before it happened. The memory of the two boys' last fight was still fresh in their minds. It was an experience none of them wanted a repeat of. She quickly got out of Takeru's hold to walk over to Miyako and Iori, trying to ignore the dark look Daisuke flung at Takeru.
"You won't be doing any such thing," a smooth voice said, causing them all to gasp and spin around. The Kaiser himself was standing there, hands on his hips, his minions surrounding him. A rather tall one stood to his left, covered with a long, dark cloak. A cruel smirk curled Ken's lips and that was never good.
Daisuke, being Daisuke, immediately faced off with him, tense and alert. Both enemies glared fiercely at each other, dislike for the other radiating from them. But ... something wasn't right. The Kaiser seemed more amused than angry and Daisuke's dislike seemed too forced to be genuine. Veemon was simply confused, staring hopelessly from Daisuke to Ken and back again. What was going on?
"What do you want now?" Takeru asked, looking weary. It was the same for all of them. They were so tired of fighting, but that couldn't just stop. This was their destiny.
Ken chuckled. "I suppose saying I was just passing through doesn't count?" The Digidestined only gave him droll looks. "To be serious, I have someone from the past who wants to say ... a few words." His smirk broadened, as the figure in the cloak stepped up.
Takeru and Patamon couldn't help but gasp as the cloak fell away to reveal the Kaiser's new slave. "Leomon?!" the Child of Hope gasped, his eyes widening. "What's ... why?!"
"I serve my master," Leomon growled, dark eyes glaring down at them. "The Digimon Kaiser. That is all you need to know. You have changed much from the small child I last saw, Hope. I hope you will be a more proper adversary now." He snarled loudly as he stepped towards them. Gasping, the five Digidestined immediately turned and ran for their lives.
"This is Devimon and the Black Gears all over again!" Patamon cried, as they took shelter in the nearest cave. The small flying digimon looked less than happy. "I thought Leomon was on our side!"
"So did I," Takeru added quietly, looking extremely troubled.
"Besides, I thought Leomon was too good to be controlled by a ring or spiral," Gatomon remarked, frowning. "The Kaiser must have a new 'toy' then."
"Well, what do we do now?!" Miyako asked, not quite understanding what Takeru and Patamon were on about, but wanting to help anyway.
"Leomon is a Champion digimon," Hikari commented. "If we digivolve, we have a chance of defeating him!"
"Right!" Miyako and Iori chorused, as Takeru nodded, a grim light in his eyes. Only Daisuke was silent.
"Daisuke?" Hikari asked, glancing at him, her eyes filled with worry. Usually he was the most enthusiastic of them when it came to fighting. But this time he was silent. Something was very wrong and she had a feeling it had something to do with the Kaiser as well.
"Have you suddenly turned too scared to fight?" Takeru demanded impatiently, not noticing the sharp look Hikari gave him. Somehow she had the feeling now wasn't a good time to tease Daisuke for some reason.
But it worked. Instantly the familiar spark was back in their leader's eyes and he clenched his fists. "No way, let's do it!" Veemon rushed after him to the entrance of the cave, as the others followed him, his energy infectious.
But Hikari held Takeru back a moment. "What's wrong Hikari?" he asked, looking at her. "Aren't we fighting with the others?"
She nodded. "We are. I just ... I just think you shouldn't have done that to Daisuke, right then."
"Why?" he asked confused. "The guy was acting like a perfect chicken!"
"Maybe there was a reason for it," she answered cryptically, as she followed Gatomon out of the cave, leaving him staring after her, Patamon hovering nervously around him.
Things were bad. Already Miyako and Iori were nursing their exhausted digimon, who had eventually lost too much energy and had had to return to their Rookie Forms. They were simply no match for Leomon and Hikari and Takeru weren't having much luck either. Only Daisuke held back, fear evident in his eyes.
"Patamon!" Takeru cried, as his digimon returned back to his Rookie form and dropped. Catching him in time, Takeru gasped. "Are you all right?"
"I'm sorry Takeru," his partner replied weakly. "Leomon's too powerful."
"It's okay Patamon," he answered, keeping him close. "You tried your best and that's enough." He looked up just in time to see Nefertimon scream as she fell, light surrounding her. Gatomon only barely landed on her paws, thoroughly exhausted. It was then Takeru noticed Daisuke holding back, Veemon at his side. "Daisuke, why aren't you trying? Get Veemon to armour digivolve!"
"Uh ... well ..." Daisuke stammered, turning white. Takeru only just managed to hide his surprise. If he didn't know any better he'd say Daisuke was too scared to fight. Now he'd seen everything!
"Yes indeed Daisuke," the Kaiser added, smirking smugly at him. "Why aren't you fighting? You aren't hiding anything are you? Let Veemon fight then! Or are you going to fight?" He looked completely relaxed, but then he was winning wasn't he? Of course he'd be nice and relaxed.
Daisuke paled even more, as he found all of his friends' attention on him. He looked desperately down at Veemon, who looked at a loss for what to do. He glanced up at Ken then, his heart sinking. He was a Digidestined, the leader for crying out loud! He had to fight. But if he did fight and do some damage to Leomon, Ken definitely wouldn't be happy the next time he met him alone. He shuddered, as he realised Ken had set this up deliberately, to see where his loyalties lay. What am I going to do? Which side am I going to chose?
Looking up at Ken, he stiffened as he saw the cold glint in his eyes behind the shades. He'd definitely be first up for torture if he did anything. And he was essentially Ken's now ... and he knew Ken, if he could, would order him to forfeit. Could you do that?
But he was a Digidestined, the Child of Courage. If he didn't battle, there was no point in him having courage. Besides he didn't want to think about what his friends would do if he didn't fight. It would be kind of strange. But if he fought, Ken might tell them his secret. He couldn't take that chance. But what was to say he wouldn't say it anyway if he didn't fight? But he couldn't take that risk, he just couldn't.
Looking up at the Kaiser one last time, Daisuke sighed in defeat. "I won't fight," he whispered softly, looking down at the ground. As a result he didn't see the Kaiser's satisfied smile or his friends' shocked looks. His ears ringing with their gasps, Daisuke unexpectedly felt something sting his eyes. What have I done?
But deep down, he knew he had just handed something very important over to
the Kaiser. The last bit of his freedom.