Dominance - # 9: Capture
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 and Veemon couldn't help but let their jaws drop as they stared at the room Ken had led them to. "This ... this is mine?" Daisuke said at last, feeling like he'd just died and gone to heaven. He didn't think he'd ever seen a room as nice as this one before! Or with such a comfortable-looking bed either ...
Ken was once more the Kaiser, which meant to all appearances he was a .. well, a bully again to be brief and Daisuke was yet again his servant. The brief vulnerability Ken had shown Daisuke the previous night was gone and he was yet again the hard, angry conqueror Daisuke considered his enemy. It was a bit hard to understand, but Daisuke knew better than to admit his confusion.
Ken nodded, his face impassive. "Yes, it's yours, at least for the time being, until you finally choose me." Daisuke noticed Ken had said 'until', rather than 'if', as if it was plainly obvious to the Kaiser that it would be him chosen. Yep, the Kaiser was well and truly back. Why did that not bother him? He had begun to realise the Kaiser was just another part of Ken, and if he accepted Ken, the Kaiser had to be accepted as well. How was he going to explain this to his parents anyway?
"Well, um, thanks," Daisuke said at last, still not sure on how to act around this unusual gift. "I don't think I've seen a room this big in my life ..." Veemon was just staring at the bed longingly, clearing aching for a decent sleep. His partner couldn't blame him.
Ken nodded again, smiling slightly. Inwardly, he was extremely glad Daisuke had accepted this. Of course, he couldn't tell him that, he still had his reputation as the Kaiser to maintain. "Good. I have things to attend to. You may do as you wish until I have need for you." He quickly turned and left, shutting the door after him.
Veemon and Daisuke glanced at each other for one moment, before both simultaneously flung themselves at the bed. Within moments both were drowsy and nearly asleep.
"Daisuke?" Veemon murmured, trying to keep his eyes open a moment longer and not having much success.
"Hmm?" Daisuke just wanted to sleep for the next century.
"Are you going to stay here with the Kaiser after all?"
The question startled Daisuke, who clearly wasn't ready for it. He didn't answer for a few moments, instead just lying on the bed, thinking. Finally he said slowly, "I'm not sure Veemon. Why, would you be mad if I did?"
"I dunno. I guess my opinion of Ken has changed a lot in the last few days."
"Yeah," Daisuke muttered. "Mine too." He didn't want to say it out loud yet, but part of him - a very large part he might add - was seriously considering staying here. It mightn't be so bad. He had a feeling Ken did genuinely like him and plus there were some damn good bonuses. Like this bed for instance ...
He never felt himself drift off to sleep.
He never realised something was watching him either.
The stairway was ancient. The few digimon who knew about it had long ago decided not to meddle in things that didn't concern them, and kept away from here. The stairway didn't have a known beginning, it had been there when digimon had started to wander and was dimly rumoured to be as ancient as time itself, when digimon were largely different to what they were now. It didn't help that there was an entrance from the outside, which meant every so often, by perchance, some poor, helpless digimon accidentally stumbled in. But once they went in - they never came out.
Brushing skeletons was such an irritating job.
Not that Ken knew that personally. One of his digimon was in charge of the operation naturally. And he had no need for the outside entrance, as annoying as it was, considering there was a second entrance right under his base. But it was a danger to have that other entrance there, in case the Digidestined found it. Not that it would matter soon, but still, he never left things to chance. Maybe he should start to think about blocking it up ...
The smell was disgusting. Ken grimaced, as the stench filled his nostrils. Gripping the torch tighter in his left hand, taking surprising comfort in the sound of its gentle crackling, he made his way carefully down the narrow, uneven stone steps. Breaking a leg - or worse - wouldn't do him any good. Fear made a tight knot in his stomach and he despised it. He hated fear, it was a weakness that could destroy someone. But hell, anyone who went down here had fear, you'd have to be dead not to be afraid.
He blessed any digimon who had the pleasure of experiencing such an event. Being dead was far better than facing what was below there. Instantly he felt his eyes narrow, as his lips twisted into a thin line. He was the Digimon Kaiser, he didn't hold fear. Much ...
The moment his feet left the last step and settled onto ground, he felt it curl around him, probing, searching. He tensed, as his teeth gritted together to prevent him from wincing. It was dark magic, black and simply rolling with evil. It made him look like an innocent puppy. This magic was ancient, having withstood the test of unknown time and boy, did it not know the meaning of fear.
Ken shivered, putting the torch into the nearest holder.
He nearly jumped when a deep, sinister voice entered his mind, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to instantly stand up. Scared, Kaiser? It was only his control (which he was intensely glad of right now) that kept him calm.
He squared his shoulders and replied, his voice echoing repeatedly, "Of course I'm not."
I can taste your fear Kaiser. It radiates from you. I can also sense lies Kaiser ...
"All right, fine. I am afraid, happy?"
A rumbling laugh made him wince inwardly. Extremely.
"Drop dead," he muttered rebelliously.
Something that was not born, cannot die.
"As you've constantly told me." Ken didn't bother to try and hide his impatience, he knew it would sense it anyway. He didn't like this guy one bit, that much was obvious, but for the sake of his plans and his own life, he had to stay like this. For God knew how long. He hated being submissive to anyone ... well, nearly anyone. He hadn't forgotten how lovely it had felt for Daisuke to comfort him the night before ... He shook his head, frantically hoping his cheeks wouldn't burn. No need to think about that right now.
Another grating chuckling echoed in his mind. Thinking troublesome thoughts Kaiser?
"None of your business!" he snapped, without thinking and quickly learnt what a mistake that had been.
A roar rumbled in the dim cave and a wind that shouldn't have been there quickly rose and whipped crazily around the enclosed, small space. Ken felt himself stumble to his knees and unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself, trying to keep out the biting cold as he leaned his face forward, into the wind. No wind should have been this cold, nothing should have been this cold -
Do not order me around again Kaiser, or this will seem like nothing compared to what I will do to you. Do not forget your place. I am the strongest thing you will ever see in the Digital World, as well as the oldest. None of your petty digimon can harm me, no matter how many you send. Unless of course, you don't want to be the Kaiser ...
It took Ken a moment to relearn how to breathe again, his frantic gasps scraping painfully from his lungs and through his throat. "I won't forget my place Great One," he whispered, shuddering. "You hold the Ultimate Power and I am just something for you to wield. I am nothing compared to you."
Very good Kaiser. Now I remember why I chose you. How is my new gift working for you?
Ken visibly brightened. "Wonderfully! The Digidestined hadn't a hope against it!" He realised what he had said, and quickly added, "Thanks to you of course."
Your success is pleasing. Did your own plan to capture the leader work?
"Yes." Ken nodded, a smile curling his lips. "I knew it would work, just as I knew Daisuke would run."
Is he coming around? Ken felt his eyes narrow as he heard the scepticism in its voice.
"Of course he is! Do you believe I cannot do it?" He was shaking with anger now, fists clenched tightly by his side, to keep him from doing anything he would ultimately regret doing.
Of course I believe you can do it. I chose you, or have you forgotten? My Chosen know no weaknesses.
Ken didn't think he should tell it he was beginning to wonder if he had one weakness. Daisuke ... Instead he bowed lower, so his forehead nearly touched the damp ground. This was going to ruin his uniform. "Thank you humbly for such praise," he replied, keeping his voice neutral.
Is the leader ready to submit to his powers?
"Not yet," Ken answered, shaking his head as he rose up from the ground again. "He has not yet fully come to our side. But he will, I know it." His rose shone with confidence, confidence he only secretly half-believed.
You do not sound convinced. Is it harder than you imagined it would be?
"No!" he shouted, and quickly quietened his voice as the place shook. Damn, he'd forgotten how fragile this place was. "He will come to our side. I must sever his ties fully with the other Digidestined. And that means capturing them and doing the last few steps." He frowned slightly, his mind already working.
Capture them. Use whatever means necessary, you must have that boy!
Ken bowed again. "As you wish." Rising to his feet, he gripped the torch again and began his ascent up the stairway again. Relief tugged at his soul at being away from that thing again, and surviving. Few survived this far, especially with the risks he took. He hurried up the steps just a little bit faster.
One last sentence entered his mind, curling slowly around his spine and making him shiver. Do not fail me Kaiser. I am most unhappy with those who fail me.
Trying to desperately keep calm, Ken replied carefully, "I will not fail." He hoped he had kept the fear from his voice.
Despite everything they had said to Daisuke before, the Digidestined were only beginning to see what a good job Daisuke had done as leader. He had kept them together and avoided any serious arguments from arising. But he had done it subtly, so it was only now, when he was gone, that they were realising it.
"Where can he be?" Hikari asked anxiously. "He's not here at all. Maybe we should ask his parents later when we get back? They should know."
"She's right," Miyako agreed. "Chibimon must be with him, because none of the digimon have seen Veemon either. I hate to say this, but this isn't looking too good." Iori and Takeru nodded sadly, their faces grim.
"You won't be doing anything," a voice growled and all four cried out as Leomon stepped in front of them.
"Leomon, please!" Takeru pleaded. "Remember who you are! You're on our side! You're not supposed to be allied with the Kaiser!" The moment he found Ken alone ...
"My master requests your presence in his private domain," Leomon went on, ignoring Takeru as if he had said nothing.
"No way!" Miyako cried, eyes flashing. "We're not doing anything Ken wants!" The others silently agreed with her, faced more angry now than grim. They all turned and quickly fled, the memory of their last battle with the digimon fresh in their minds. What was the point of fighting if they couldn't make any difference? What was the thing Ken had used now? It wasn't anything they could see, they couldn't break it or anything. It was extremely puzzling - and they were fast losing digimon they had previously saved as a result.
Leomon didn't bother giving chase, instead glancing at his companions and nodded. All six of them quickly gave chase, their roars and cries echoing throughout the Digital World, causing any free digimon to bolt for safety and cover.
The Digidestined and their digimon didn't stand a chance.
Hikari and Nefertimon were dashing desperately through the forest, Nefertimon waiting to enter a clearing so she could take off without any danger of losing Hikari. They were almost home free for the time being, until Leomon suddenly stepped out from behind a tree to stand before them. Nefertimon skidded to avoid crashing into the digimon.
"Leomon, please listen to us!" Hikari begged. "You're a good digimon, the most noble any of us have ever known. You're not evil and you're not the Kaiser's! Please listen!" But deep down she knew it wouldn't work. Something had happened to Leomon, something they couldn't see or do anything about.
"I am the master's," Leomon rumbled, dark eyes flashing. "He especially requests you."
"He can forget about it!" Nefertimon cried, lunging towards the large digimon, crying out her attack. Leomon calmly watched her and cried out his own attack. "Fist of the Beast King!" The attack, normally orange, was now darker, with something along the lines of darkness shimmering on the edges. Nefertimon didn't stand a chance. The attack coursed through her, causing her to scream as she changed back to Gatomon.
"Gatomon!" Hikari screamed, trying to get to her fallen digimon but Leomon stopped her, eyes gleaming. "Don't hurt her!"
"If you come willingly, no harm shall come to her," he answered solemnly. Hikari stared at him defeated, before glancing at Gatomon.
"Don't do it Hikari!" Gatomon cried. "That's what he wants!"
But she couldn't let Gatomon be hurt, she had already endured so much
pain in her life. It was her whole love for her digimon that caused her to bow
her head in defeat and whisper, "I will come."