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.
Ken didn't want to admit it, but he was beginning to feel a bit nervous. He was afraid, it was as simple as that. He was afraid of what was going to happen and what that thing was going to do to Daisuke. Basically he was afraid for Daisuke. He shook his head slightly. I never should have let him go in on his own, he realised with a sinking heart. That thing's going to destroy him. I was a fool to believe Daisuke would be strong enough to resist it.
Veemon, to be blunt, looked about ready to have fits. He hadn't stopped pacing or fidgeting anxiously since Daisuke had gone in, and while Ken was trying to be patient since he was his love's digimon, his fretting was beginning to annoy him. If he didn't stop soon ... he would yell, and that didn't do anyone favours.
He sighed and returned his attentions to the doors. He didn't like this. He should have been able to feel something from the cavern, but he could feel noth - hold it, what was that? The Kaiser froze, eyes narrowing slightly as he heard a harsh whisper coming from ... Dammit would that digimon stop already?! Whirling around to face Veemon, Ken glared heatedly at him. "Will you stop that?!" he roared, losing his temper at last.
Veemon stopped in mid-pace and looked up to find a pair of angry azure eyes sending a flaming look at him. He swallowed before diving off and trying to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. Which for a blue digimon that didn't really resemble any animal was quite a hard thing to do. Ken only sighed and shook his head, before returning his attentions to the door. The whispers were getting louder ... something was wrong. By now even Veemon had realised something was wrong and was looking around for the answer.
"What's happening?" he asked Ken fearfully. Something bad was happening and he couldn't protect Daisuke!
"I'm not sure," Ken replied grimly, striding towards the door. The moment his hand touched the dark wood however, some sort of barrier immediately snapped up and sent him hurtling backwards. He winced as he landed hard on his back. He hoped he hadn't done anything very wrong there. Once his senses came back however, his eyes narrowed dangerously, as his lips stretched to a thin line. "Damn!" he hissed, getting up again. Touching the door again instantly sent black sparkling fire coursing through him, causing him to yelp in pain. Stumbling back, he gripped his numb arm gingerly and glared at the door. "What are you doing?!" he shouted.
Realising what a mistake you've just made only now? Disappointing Kaiser, I expected better from you. The tone was so sickly triumphant and bemused, Ken wanted to scream in frustration and settled instead for grinding his teeth. How could he have been so stupid?! Perhaps his obsession to get Daisuke had clouded his judgement.
"What do you want?" he asked at last, fighting to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't lose it, not now.
The same as you do of course. Complete dominance over the Digital World and later, the real world, Earth. You were just a pawn Kaiser, something to be used to get closer to Daisuke. More amusement. Ken felt like screaming.
He had to stall, for everything he had to stall. "Why Daisuke?" It was a question he knew the answer to very well, but he couldn't think properly right now.
The voice was full of disgust and scorn. You know why. The level of Daisuke's power is amazing. I could not let it be used by you.
"What are you doing to him?" Had to stall, had to stall ...
It was more angry now, then amused. Do not try and stall. I am not merciless to those who anger me.
Ken felt a twinge of annoyance strike him, as the genius part of his mind sprang to defence. "I am not angering you. Merely stating a question."
Nothing you can stop. After all, Daisuke does think you are using him. Ken could practically feel the smirk that resulted from that sentence. He felt his teeth grit harder, as his fists clenched.
"No." A simple word of pure denial. Said with the uttermost conviction. Ken felt his eyes narrow, as the rage inside him blossomed into something unimaginable. He stormed forward again, knowing this was going to hurt and not really caring. When the Kaiser got mad, coherent thought went straight out the window, along with fear and common sense.
The burning fire curled up his already numb arm. At first the numbness stayed, and he was saved from a horrifying crescendo of pain. But then feeling returned with an angry snap and he couldn't avoid letting lose a shrieking cry as indescribable agony coursed through him. He jerked his hand back, falling to his knees. Hot tears welled in his eyes as he cradled his arm, but he refused to let them free. He would not cry.
Do you think you can defeat me Kaiser? I make you look like a puny ant. I am the ultimate evil, something you can't stop. They say never make deals with evil. You should have listened to that Kaiser. Now your life will be the price. Something went through Ken, something that made him afraid. Fear. Genuine, raw fear. The fear he'd felt before was nothing compared to what he was experiencing now.
"No," he hissed again, his voice like steel. "I won't let you win. I won't let you warp Daisuke!" But it was right, how could he ever hope of defeating something like that? Then he remembered. The agreement that had ended with Ken having complete dominance over Daisuke. The hidden clauses that had come with it. Ken felt his brow furrow as his famous mind began to think frantically, putting puzzle pieces together and eventually coming up with a thin - extremely thin - plan. There were a thousand places where it could all go wrong, but it was better than nothing at all.
Veemon was practically having a nervous breakdown by now. He was literally going crazy over not being able to protect his friend. He turned to Ken, who was hauling himself back to his feet, and for a few precious moments their uneasy trust was put to the test. "We have to help him," Veemon stated firmly. He didn't need to say who 'him' was.
Ken nodded grimly. "Do you think I intend to let Daisuke be warped? Don't worry I have an idea." An idea that could very well go wrong too easily, but you don't need to know that. Turning he roared aroud the crashing, tumbling sounds that reminded him his base would soon be torn apart if this didn't work. "Wormmon!"
He had to hand it to the little worm, he was obedient. "Yes Master?" He was trembling, obviously afraid. Courage never had been Wormmon's strong point. But he was loyal, despite Ken's unfair hatred of him, and it was that loyalty that brought him to his Master now.
"Get the dagger," Ken ordered, looking upwards to see deep cracks appearing in the walls. This was not good. He looked down to see Wormmon rooted to the spot. "What are you waiting for?!" Ken bellowed. "NOW!" Wormmon tore off, surprisingly fast for a worm.
Ken returned to the doors, a grim light appearing in his face. I will stop you. For everything I will stop you.
He had never felt so alone in his life.
Darkness surrounded him, still as unnatural as ever, but this time it held a taint of liquid being, so to Daisuke at least, it felt like it could slither over his skin like some sort of probing slime. Not nice. He found he couldn't stop shivering, the slight tremors held by a control he couldn't break. God, he didn't want this. He didn't want this at all.
But the pain inside him couldn't be forgotten either. It still hadn't hit that Ken had been using him just for his power. He had thought the Kaiser had liked him - surely he wouldn't have gone to so much trouble to get him over to his side if he had despised him, would he? Apparently so. But part of him, that small part that wouldn't go away, insisted that if Ken had hated him, he would have killed him, not chase after him. He would have had plenty of opportunities after all.
But still .. if what was said about him was true, then if he did come to his power, he would be more powerful and stronger than he had ever imagined he could be. It would be irresistible to Ken to have his former enemy as an ally. Maybe he didn't mean anything to Ken - just something else to order about.
His head was beginning to hurt and even he wasn't able to ignore the alarming sounds that was telling him the cave was beginning to crumble. Unless he got out of here fast, he would be crushed to death. But the pain ... it was so bad. How could Ken have done that to him?
Wasn't even complete dominance over him enough?
Hope was fast becoming a fleeting dream, and in his dazed state, Daisuke didn't recognise the amused triumph the thing was emitting. Do you believe me? Can you still believe Ken would have genuine feelings for you? Do you believe me?
Daisuke opened his mouth to whisper, Yes, he did believe him, when a new voice ripped into his mind. This new voice was vastly different to either his own or the thing's, full of raw anguish and despair. A familiar voice ... Daisuke frowned both from trying to remember and from the vague discomfort. The shrill tones of that voice hurt!
Daisuke!
The dagger shone silvery in the dim light Ken allowed into his base. The hilt was a mixture of black and silver, the twirling, intertwining designs making an uneasy pattern that reeked and glimmered of magic. The blade shone dully, not bothering to hide the fact it was sharp. If you cut yourself it would definitely take a while for the blood to clot. By the time it did, it could already be too late. One single jewel was set into the hilt, a dark sapphire, just below the beginning of the blade. It was one of Ken's prized possessions, a knife he had found accidentally. A knife he would treasure forever more if it did its job.
He fumbled with his left glove, pulling it off and flinging it down. Taking a deep breath, he set the blade gently against the skin of his palm. He pressed slightly, wincing as the sharp blade pressed against his skin and caused pain to tingle his nerves slightly. He wasn't going to enjoy this, but there was no other choice.
Wormmon looked at the knife in a mixture of fascination and horror. "Master what are you going to do?!" He jumped as a large piece of rubble crashed near them. If it could help stop everything, then he had complete faith in Ken. Would he just hurry?
"Quiet!" Ken snapped, the crash deciding his mind. He slashed the dagger viciously across his palm, wincing as pain streaked up his left hand, wrist and arm. God, how could something as small as that hurt so much?! He grimly watched as scarlet blood immediately welled up from the cut, and began to slide across his palm. When he felt a sufficient amount had been spilled, he closed his eyes and concentrated, using his love for the other boy to gather his own power. The magic shaking through him, he sent it out with one desperate word, hoping it was enough to get through the shields around the cavern.
Daisuke!
For a moment he thought he had imagined things. Blinking in the darkness, Daisuke shrugged and put the event to the back of his mind. Or at least, he attempted to. Before he had tried, another shrieking thought entered his mind. Daisuke, please listen to me! The voice was frantic and desperate and full of hope all at the same time. In other words it was exactly the same as before.
Daisuke frowned. That voice was so familiar - who was it? Then memory surged through him and he was momentarily just carried along with it.
"You've fallen, I've spilt first blood ..."
"I could do much, much more if you allow me to ..."
"You're mind. Lock, stock and chain. You are mine, my prize, my pet ... you get the idea."
"Just follow me - and trust me."
"Why didn't you tell me you could do this, instead of making me do all the work?"
Daisuke blinked again, shaking his head hard. He hated this person, he had used him after all, but how could it be that his memories of him were fond ones? Why wouldn't things make sense anymore? He hated this person, he hated him!
Daisuke listen to me! Please, please!
No ...
But one last memory was pushing forward, demanding to be listened to. He couldn't stop it, and it spilled forward -
"I love you!"
Those three simple words tossed Daisuke into sheer chaos. His complete memory burst open and for a moment he wasn't Daisuke anymore. He was Everything. Every thought, every memory, he was part of it. And all lead to same person - Ken. Who was he, he couldn't remember who he was anymore. His name ... what was his name?
Daisuke!
Daisuke jerked out of his frantic inner turmoil, becoming Daisuke again. He wasn't Everything any longer. For a moment all he could was blink, unable to believe how close to true madness he had come to when he realised Ken was waiting for a reply. Yes?
Oh thank God! Daisuke, listen, whatever that thing tells you, don't believe him! It's all lies, a trick. He wants to destroy us both and harness your power. With a jolt Daisuke realised why the darkness was so probing and insistent. The thing was the darkness. Boy, this was confusing.
I know that now. So what do I do? By the way, how are we able to talk like this?
No time to explain, just trust me. Take off your gloves, and your left hand should be bleeding, just to warn you.
Bleeding? Daisuke immediately pulled of his gloves and in the darkness, touched his left palm. His fingertips came back stained with something that frighteningly resembled blood. Oh dear. Well, he knew Ken would explain soon enough - that is, if he got out alive. All right. Now what do I do?
First of all, do you trust me?
Daisuke replied without hesitation. Yes.
Then neither of us have anything to worry about. Feel the blood, and in a way, become it. Concentrate on finding your power and it will come to you. I promise you. But if you don't have faith in me or yourself, then we're both in trouble. Daisuke - He was gone.
It was then Daisuke realised the darkness was now shifting and rumbling, very angry. Uh oh. Staring into the darkness, unable to see anything, Daisuke felt it brush his face and shivered. The other voice entered his head again.
Do you really think you can stop me? Your love may have helped you, but you can't do anything. Daisuke got the distinct image of Ken screaming in agony inside his head and tensed. I am the Ultimate Evil. I make Ken himself and all of the evil digimon the Old Digidestined faced look like nothing. You can't beat me.
For a moment, Daisuke felt defeated and then Ken's words came back to him. He had to trust himself. Besides, he was the Keeper of Courage, he could face this with all the courage he possessed. And well ... he still had that horrible first date with Ken to get over with!
His eyes narrowing in determination, Daisuke glared at the darkness. "I don't think so." Then, with no clear idea of what he was doing, Daisuke began to concentrate. It was sort of like making himself listen at school, honing his senses. And something happened.
Later, he would think of it as a rushing motion, coming straight towards him. A split second before it crashed into him, bright and dark light momentarily blinded him, so he was in shock when it actually hit him. For a moment he felt nothing, only a dim bliss, then the numbness left and he was on fire.
Sparkling fire snaked across his skin, blistering it quite prominently, and Daisuke felt himself be torn about, rearranged and put back together. His nerves were burning, he couldn't think properly, he was screaming ... Then he heard the full undertone of something screaming with him as bright light coursed through the cavern, destroying the darkness. Destroying the thing.
Shattering, loudness, crashing everywhere. Daisuke dimly felt his bones do something near disappearing, as he collapsed fully. Just before the darkness of his mind filled him and he fell into nothing, he thought, I love you Ken.
Then nothing.