Sweet Possession
Part 4
by Marduk
* * *
Disclaimer time! First things first: the characters are not mine. The plot is not mine. The only thing in this story that is mine is the juxtaposition of Sluggy Freelance and Digimon...and any self-insertion that may occur. Thus, please Mr. Abrams, huge multi-million-dollar corporations, don't sue. I make no money from this. For the readers...if the idea of same-sex relationships makes you uncomfortable, leaving now would make us both very happy. If interaction with demons, blatant discussion of witchcraft, and the complete range of what's going on here is outside your range of comfort, leave. I will not be responisble for my actions if you flame me. Arigato. Now proceed.
* * *
"Basilisk?! But...you can go invisible-like! Can't you just gang up on it and kill it?" Owikawa shook his pale face regretfully.
"It is not a basilisk, per se. You see, it began four years ago. The leader of the Dilexians, Lord Jyou, was involved in a terrible accident. A rock path collapsed, and he fell into a coma. When he awoke, it was to learn that the same accident had mortally injured his lover. A demon spirited the young man away from the healers', and he was never heard from again. The delicate Jyou lost his grip on reality. He changed his name to Joe, and began acting erratically. It became worse two years ago, and there are rumors that he is possessed. However, my son, Takeru, told Lord Joe that he believed his lover to be alive elsewhere. The man grew angry with him, and responded by cursing him. When he returned, his gaze killed anyone who met it." The man's eyes shimmered with tears. "And our prophets say...that only Lightning Bearer, the one whose emotions can blind demons, can remove the curse. And that man is you." Daisuke nodded, feeling a faint sense of dread descending over him.
"I...where is he?"
"I will lead you to his chambers. Remember, do not meet his eyes!"
"Hai...I'll remember that." The tall, thin man led Daisuke through the twisting passages of the underground habitat. The journey took about five minutes, and then they were standing outside of a thick oaken door. The pale form of Owikawa turned to him, his outline fading as he spoke.
"Here he is; be careful." The robe bowed, and Daisuke, gripping his staff, opened the door. And met two frightened blue eyes.
* * *
"Let us out of here! If I'm not in more fitting accomadations in three seconds, I'm going to tear down this dungeon, and castrate every single person in this castle!" Taichi shuddered, and turned away from the ranting Miyako. Yamato was huddled in one corner of the dark, dank cell, talking quietly with Osamu and Jun. Hikari was attempting to give some comfort to Iori, and Mimi was with Miyako, giving vague threats about what would happen if she was not given a warm bath and/or a hairbrush. Suddenly, a guard stormed into the dungeon, and stopped in front of the cell.
"You there!" He gestured vaguely at the cell. "Joe-sama wishes to speak with you." Mimi straightened her skirt and stepped forward.
"Finally! Someone's listening to-"
"No, not you. That blond chick." Blue eyes snapped up to meet the guard's eyes. Ishida Yamato stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving the guard. He reached the bars and stopped.
"I...am...not...a...'chick'." The man shrugged, and opened the cell door, pulling him through.
"Whatever. Joe-sama wants to see you."
* * *
"What do you see?" Koushiro crouched in a gallery overlooking the throne room, watching the proceedings carefully. Sora also watched, holding binoculars to her eyes.
"Hmm...Lord Joe is waiting for someone, and-I think they want the StormBreaker." There was a pause. "Isn't Taichi the Storm Breaker?"
"Nani-?" Koushiro snatched the binoculars from her and swore. "Kuso! I thought it was Yagami who...come on, Sora. We have to help them."
"But...Taichi..." Her voice was striken, and Koushiro suddenly was struck by something.
'My equipment's back in Japan! Without it...' Sora leapt from her vantage point, avoiding notice as she sped towards her love. 'Kuso...' As Yamato was dragged towards the lord, Koushiro watched intently.
* * *
"The legendary Storm Breaker...the man who is destined to pull our land from the darkness." Lord Joe chuckled mirthlessly. He stood up, fingering a large, ceremonial sword. "What darkness do you think you can save us from?" Yamato glared coldly at him.
"Your madness, your despair. You're grieving, Joe-san, so let someone help you." Joe laughed, a bark in the large room.
"You act as if my mind is all that is sick, but it is my soul that is in danger. They said the Storm Breaker would have magic, and you obviously have none. Off with his head!" An executioner stepped forward, raising an axe. Yamato tried to escape, but was held back by the same guard. The cloaked killer moved closer, readying for the swing.
"Halt!" Attention swung to a white-cloaked man with red hair. He stepped forward angrily. "Leave him alone!" Joe's eyes narrowed angrily, and then, widened in surprise. The redhead froze under the ruler's gaze.
"Kou-chan?"
"Jyou?"
* * *
"Takeru-san?" The eyes blinked, shocked, and the blond boy fell back.
"Wha-how-why?" he stammered, sitting down on a low bed in the room. Daisuke looked around the room appreciatively. It was well-furnished and actually quite large, but nevertheless a prison for the cursed child.
"Nice room."
"Wait a minute! Wait a-" Takeru shook his head. "I'm cursed! You should be dead by now! How-?"
"I don't believe in magic," Daisuke replied cheerfully. "Either that or I'm too dumb to let your stupid curse touch me. It's probably the last one, 'cause I'm supposed to help you with your curse." Takeru nodded.
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"I..." Daisuke shook his head. "My only experience with curses was from fairy tales, so...I know only one way to break a curse." Takeru opened his mouth, but any comment was cut off by Daisuke's tongue darting into it.
* * *
Ken: Nooooo!!!!! What are you doing to my precious Dai-chan?
Marduk: It's called 'conflict', genius boy. But if you keep whining, I'll just make this story a Daikeru right to the end.
Ken: ...I'll be good...
Marduk: That's the spirit!
* * *
**WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MUM'M?** R'K'M paced nervously around the innermost chambers of the Dilexian leader's castle. **HE WAS SUPPOSED TO TALK TO ME AFTER HE KILLED THE STORM BREAKER.** Suddenly, she started. **I FEEL A GREAT DISTURBANCE IN THE...DEMON...SENSE...TYPE...THINGIE** There was a primal scream, and a writhing form appeared before her.
'I'm sorry...I tried...'
**WHAT?!** The form melted into nothingness before her eyes. **NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!**
* * *
Every person in the castle winced at the hideous sound echoing through the building. When the scream died away, Jyou stepped forward, smiling at Koushiro.
"Kou-chan, is that really you?" He reached out his hand to brush a finger along Koushiro's cheek. The redhead smiled, stepping forward.
"I knew I'd see you again, Jyou...she wanted to help me, and so...I've been waiting so long..." The room fell silent, watching as the two men embraced each other, weeping. Yamato stepped away from them, slowly backing away until he left the room, after which he turned and ran for the dungeons.
* * *
"Taichi-koi, hurry up!" Sora pulled the brunette out of the cell, and tried to lead him out of the dungeons, but he shook his head.
"Look...Sora. I need to wait for Yamato. He's like my best friend, and if we're going, it's with him."
"Joe-sama was going to kill him," Sora snapped angrily. "So forget about him!" Taichi froze.
"Kill-!"
"Hai! Now come on." She tugged on his arm, but Taichi refused to budge.
"No...I can't believe that Yamato's dead..."
"Hell, no! You can't get rid of me *that* easy, Yagami!" Taichi glanced at the door, where the familiar blond man stood, grinning sardonically. The brown eyes sparkled with warmth, and Taichi barely resisted throwing himself at the other man. Sora, trained to notice everything, narrowed her eyes. She knew Ishida would be a difficulty; now she saw that he was an obstacle.
"And what do I do to obstacles?" 'Destroy them!' "BwAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!"
"Um...Sora?" She blushed under Taichi's stare.
"Gomen...just forgot myself, that's all."
"Ah...okay."
'Yagami Taichi, you *will* be mine.'
* * *
The ethereal scream ripped through the underground passageways, sending the two young men apart, shaking from the kiss and the pure agony represented by the scream.
"Wha-what was that?" Takeru demanded, wrapping his arms around himself.
"I...don't...know," Daisuke replied softly. The door to the room swung open, and Owikawa stepped in, his body shadowy and nearly invisible.
"Takeru?" The voice was hesitant. Takeru glanced up at his father and smiled.
"Otousan, I...I feel normal again." Without a word, Owikawa faded into view and caught his son's gaze. They held for a long moment, and then the man threw himself at his son.
"Takeru! I...we were so worried. Arigato...arigato gozaimasu, Daisuke-san." Tears ran down both father and son's eyes, and Daisuke smiled at them. He somewhat doubted that the kiss had cured Takeru...but then again, he wasn't complaining. He wondered if Joe might have died, rendering the spell null. That was probably what had happened, but he would let these shadow people think what they wanted. Suddenly, Owikawa looked up to see Daisuke.
"Daisuke-san, it is true that you are seeking the Annj, ne?"
"H-hai..."
"Very well. We can tell you where it is, but...we cannot aid you in your journey. However, we can tell you that even if you find the Annj, it is useless to you unless you bring it to the Storm Breaker."
"The Storm Breaker?" Takeru nodded, nudging his father aside.
"The Storm Breaker is the one person who can activate the power of the Annj to destroy a demon. And from what I understand, a demon is what you are after." Then he turned to Owikawa. "'Tousan, why can't I go to help him? It won't *hurt*, will it?" The man frowned thoughtfully.
"Takeru, you have very recently been...been..." An innocent, pleading look characteristic of any child had found its way onto the young man's face, rendering Owikawa very pliable to his son's wishes. "I...fine. But I'm coming with you."
"Okay."
* * *
"No; Koushiro-san told me that Yamato is the Storm Breaker. Thus, he should go try to find the Annj, and Taichi-koi and I will stay behind to help the Dilexians." Sora smiled sweetly at Yamato until Mimi spoke.
"What about the rest of us?"
"I'm going with Yama-kun," Jun announced.
"Me, too," Osamu added, giving a sidelong glance to Jun.
"And the rest of us will stay here," Hikari replied. Sora nodded, and grabbed Taichi's arm.
"Well, then, let's get to the throne room, and you guys can get moving."
"Wouldn't it be a good idea to get some guidance before we try going out to look for something?" Yamato asked. Sora's eyes narrowed, and she nodded once, slowly.
"Fine. Come with us."
* * *
**DAMN THAT KOUSHIRO...HE'S RUINED EVERYTHING! THE ONLY WAY I COULD RECTIFY THIS WOULD BE TO DESTROY THEM ALL...HOW REGRETABLE. COME, MY CHILDREN!!!!!!**
* * *
"Hikari?" Taichi watched nervously as his roommate convulsed on the rock floor.
"Don't you hear it?! Listen!!!"
"Kuso; it's the Spiral Bound!" Iori snapped, helping the brown-haired girl up. "Everyone who's died for miles around will become those stupid zombie things. We've got to warn Jyou, and you three-" He pointed at Yamato, Osamu, and Jun, "You three should go. Hopefully you can get far away and get directions from somebody else. We'll try to fight R'K'M from here."
"Right!"
* * *
"Jyou-san, something terrible has happened! An army of zombies is surrounding the castle!" Jyou glanced at the messanger, his arm tight around Koushiro's waist.
"Well, let's send out the troops to face them."
"No! They'll be slaughtered!" Six people hurried into the throne room, breathing hard from exertion. A young brunette in a loose brown robe stepped forward. "Jyou-san, we can only face these creatures with magic. Anyone who dies fighting them will become one of them."
"Who are you?" She frowned at him, then bowed.
"My name is H'kari, Seraphim. I have done you a great favor in the past; the least you could do is listen to me." Koushiro's eyes widened, and he leaned over to speak to Jyou.
"She is the creature who-" Jyou glared at her.
"You...guards!"
"No!" At Koushiro's shout, movement halted. "I would have died had she not taken me into another world. She slowed my aging, hoping that I could find a way back to you. I...she tried to help, Jyou...please, listen to her." The blue-haired lord's face softened, and he turned to Hikari.
"Speak."
"Jyou'san, let us fight these creatures, and we will hold them off. Even now, one of our companions has left to seek the Annj ne Zmfdk'r Oqhcd. You see, a powerful demon named R'K'M raises these zombies, and the Annj can destroy her." Jyou nodded.
"I...yes, go." Koushiro stood as well.
"Jyou, I will help them as well." The blunette grasped as his lover.
"No-stay here..." Koushiro shook his head.
"Jyou, please...I'll come back." Jyou reluctantly released Koushiro's hand, and glanced into his eyes.
"Promise?"
"Hai..."
* * *
Koushiro negligently tossed a fireball at the hordes of zombies, smiling as they burst into flames. Miyako had snapped, and the pieces of various zombies lay scattered on the cobblestone. Mimi had been rather reserved until a zombie had messed up her hair. Despte the fact that they were undead, a number of zombies had been knocked unconscious by her righteous rage. Iori just watched, bemused by his companions' antics, wincing appropriately when something violent happened. Sora...well, like Miyako, she had performed her fair share of dismemberments. She wasn't actively destroying, though, only breaking any zombie that threatened Taichi, who looked disappointed to not use his sword. Hikari was hurling balls of white light that melted the zombies at a touch. She claimed she was healing them, but whatever was happening, it got rid of them. Despite the vast hordes of zombies, they had all been rendered useless in 90 minutes. Miyako looked around, frowning at the carnage.
"Damn it! There's nothing left to kill! Unless..." She turned her attention to Taichi, pulling out a throwing knife. "You wouldn't mind if I maimed you a little, would you, roomie?" She froze as a swift kick knocked the knife from her hands, and hands wrapped around her throat, cutting off her air supply.
"Sora! Stop! She didn't mean it! Let go!" The brunette stepped away, shooting death glares at Miyako, but then glomped Taichi.
"I'm so glad you're all right, Tai-koi!" Taichi winced, and Koushiro blushed nervously. Hikari caught the blush, and looked oddly at Koushiro.
"Izumi-hakase...what's going on?" He glanced at Sora, and frowned.
"Well, I thought...I thought that Taichi was the one who would need protecting...I didn't realize...I found Sora years ago, or, rather, a few years in the future, wandering the streets. I found she didn't age, didn't get sick, and was strong as an ox. I trained her, and found that she was extremely susceptible to mind control. I decided that she would be the perfect weapon, defense...when I came back in time, she came with me. And when you guys were going to cross the dimensional borders, I thought you would need protection...and, well, I told her to be in love with Taichi. Um...in hindsight, it wasn't the best idea."
"Not the...not the?" Hikari was flabbergasted, and just threw up her hands. "Not the *best* idea? That's just about the *worst* idea I've ever heard! Making a confused young woman fall in love with some guy so he doesn't get killed? Besides, Taichi can take perfect care of himself! Make her stop!"
"Well, you see, that's the problem. The equipment is back in your universe, and it only reacts to me. And...I've proven that it's a law of the multiverse, that any one person can ever leave his own universe once. I've done that, so...I can't go back, and I can't reverse it from here. Sorry."
"Then how can we get your freaky assassin woman out of love with Tai-kun?"
"Nosce te ipsum. Know yourself."
* * *
Sometimes, fate works in the oddest ways. Sometimes, it works to bring together people who need to meet or conspire to make great things happen. And so, it was quite surprising when Yamato, Jun, and Osamu found themselves standing outside of a large, forbidding cave when Owikawa, Takeru, and Daisuke got there.
"Yamato?" Daisuke was surprised, and forgot to realize that he was holding Takeru's hand. "What-?"
"Daisuke? I...who's this?" Daisuke glanced down at his hand, and blushed furiously.
"This is Takeru...he was cursed, and I...uncursed him. This is Owikawa, his father. I...they're leading me to find the Annj."
"What a coincidence," Yamato remarked dryly. "So, is this it?" Owikawa nodded.
"The Cave of Spoo. There are three gates and three challenges to face."
"Spoo..." Jun wrinkled her brow. "Isn't that-"
"'Oops' spelled backwards?" Osamu finished.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Yamato asked rhetorically.
* * *
(Welcome to the Cave of Spoo! I will ask you a riddle, and if you answer incorrectly, you will DIE!!!!) Yamato frowned at the guardian snake, and shrugged.
"Okay."
(What's black and white and red all over?)
"A panda with diaper rash!"
"A newspaper!"
"An embarassed zebra!"
"A skunk in a blender!"
"Dalmation roadkill!"
"A pimply mime!" The snake glared at them.
(Sorry. The answer was 'a bat with lesions'. You'll have to die now.)
"Bats are brown," Yamato snapped.
"And lesions occur under the fur, so you wouldn't see it," Owikawa pointed out.
(So? My answer makes as much sense as yours!)
"Well, if they're just as good, can't we go through, then?" The snake glared for a full minute at Jun, and then the wall slid aside to reveal another chamber.
(Oh, go the hell through!) They stepped through, and another snake watched them.
^You must pass the test of strength!^ Rocks fell from the ceiling, hitting them on the head.
"Itai! What was that for?" The wall slid away.
^You passed!^ The next chamber was much the same.
%You must pass the test of spirit!% More rocks fell, and swearing echoed in the chamber.
"Stop throwing rocks on us!" Daisuke snapped.
%Geeze, you had *terrible* spirit. You should be more like him; he has great spirit.% Yamato swayed a bit.
"Sure, Miyako, I'll let you photograph me nude. Chocolate sauce? Nooooo problem."
"You knocked him silly!"
%There is innocence in concussions. Go on ahead.% They moved through the door onto a stone bridge, on the other side of which was a platform holding a shining tome.
"There it is..." Yamato whispered. "Let's go."
**I think not,** Takeru whispered. He punched Daisuke, and suddenly was holding the OmniTaser Supreme. **It's a shame; the test of spirit broke my neck. Now...I'm R'K'M's. Now...** He pointed a piece of the taser at Yamato, and held the other near him. Daisuke grinned.
'He's holding it backwards...'
**Die, fools!** The shock of the taser sent him flying over the edge of the bridge. **Noooo! But be warned...R'K'M has seen you through my eyes. Soon, she will be here to destroy you! Ahahahahahahaha-SPLAT!** His voice had been getting softer as he fell. Daisuke looked over the edge.
"I...it's not as deep as we thought, is it?"
"No...he just said the word 'splat'," Yamato commented.
**Darn it!**
* * *
**TEST ME, SO I MAY ENTER THE CAVE OF SPOO.** The snake glanced down at the spidery demon.
'All right...no fooling. It's 'bat with lesions' or she's going down.'
(What is black and white and makes you duck when it moves by?)
**A NUN WITH A SPEAR THROUGH HER HEAD.**
(Dammit! I give up! Go on, do whatever the hell you want here! And tell your friends, it's open house at the Cave of Spoo!)
* * *
"I can't believe it...he's dead." Owikawa stared down at the pit, tears running down his face. He turned to Daisuke, his face determined. "I'll go back; I'll try to hold R'K'M off, and you get the book. I'll die, probably, but if you kill her, I'll be fine. I'll finally see Akane again, and Takeru..." Daisuke nodded.
Yamato ran forward, and pulled the book from its perch.
"Here...the Annj ne Zmfdk'r Oqhcd. I...but there's no way we'll ever be able to defeat her with this!"
"What are you talking about, Ishida?" Daisuke demanded.
"It's a cliche. By announcing that we'll never win, it's almost guaranteed that we will."
"What, like saying 'It can't get anyw worse?'" Jun asked. There was a low rumbling, and then an eight-limbed figure burst onto the bridge.
**HI, KIDS!**
"You just had to say it, 'Neechan," Daisuke muttered.
* * *
**HELLO, STORM BREAKER. YOU'RE PROPHESIED TO DEFEAT ME, SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BITE YOUR HEAD OFF; NO HARD FEELINGS?** Yamato screamed as R'K'M grabbed him, opening her huge mouth.
"Stop! If you move, I'll unsummon you with the Annj!" Daisuke held a tome in front of him authoritatively. "And-eek!" A sword lanced through the book, and R'K'M grabbed it. There was a moment of silence.
**YOU WERE GOING TO SEND ME BACK TO HELL WITH A SPELL ENTITLED "TURN-OFFS: DISCO DANCING AND KUNG-FU MOVIES"?** R'K'M flipped to the front of the book. **NUDE MEN OF SUICIDE BADMINTON? THIS ISN'T THE ANNJ!**
"Well..." Daisuke blushed a fiery red. "You see..."
"Thanks for the distraction, Dai! Yamato, use the book!!!!" Yamato, engulfed by the light of the Annj, looked sadly at Jun.
"I...
...I...
...I can't read it!"
* * *
Wow. Death, destruction, a little bit of Daikeru, and an insane assassin in love with Tai! What could be more exciting? A cliff-hanger! Cool, ne? Well, I think I'll just abandon this project right now; it's gone far enough.
Ken: I'm still in a coma!
Daisuke: R'K'M's going to kill us all!
Mimi: MY HAIR IS A MESS!!!
Marduk: Geeze! Yeah, I'll get the next part out soon. Until then-
Part 4
by Marduk
* * *
Disclaimer time! First things first: the characters are not mine. The plot is not mine. The only thing in this story that is mine is the juxtaposition of Sluggy Freelance and Digimon...and any self-insertion that may occur. Thus, please Mr. Abrams, huge multi-million-dollar corporations, don't sue. I make no money from this. For the readers...if the idea of same-sex relationships makes you uncomfortable, leaving now would make us both very happy. If interaction with demons, blatant discussion of witchcraft, and the complete range of what's going on here is outside your range of comfort, leave. I will not be responisble for my actions if you flame me. Arigato. Now proceed.
* * *
"Basilisk?! But...you can go invisible-like! Can't you just gang up on it and kill it?" Owikawa shook his pale face regretfully.
"It is not a basilisk, per se. You see, it began four years ago. The leader of the Dilexians, Lord Jyou, was involved in a terrible accident. A rock path collapsed, and he fell into a coma. When he awoke, it was to learn that the same accident had mortally injured his lover. A demon spirited the young man away from the healers', and he was never heard from again. The delicate Jyou lost his grip on reality. He changed his name to Joe, and began acting erratically. It became worse two years ago, and there are rumors that he is possessed. However, my son, Takeru, told Lord Joe that he believed his lover to be alive elsewhere. The man grew angry with him, and responded by cursing him. When he returned, his gaze killed anyone who met it." The man's eyes shimmered with tears. "And our prophets say...that only Lightning Bearer, the one whose emotions can blind demons, can remove the curse. And that man is you." Daisuke nodded, feeling a faint sense of dread descending over him.
"I...where is he?"
"I will lead you to his chambers. Remember, do not meet his eyes!"
"Hai...I'll remember that." The tall, thin man led Daisuke through the twisting passages of the underground habitat. The journey took about five minutes, and then they were standing outside of a thick oaken door. The pale form of Owikawa turned to him, his outline fading as he spoke.
"Here he is; be careful." The robe bowed, and Daisuke, gripping his staff, opened the door. And met two frightened blue eyes.
* * *
"Let us out of here! If I'm not in more fitting accomadations in three seconds, I'm going to tear down this dungeon, and castrate every single person in this castle!" Taichi shuddered, and turned away from the ranting Miyako. Yamato was huddled in one corner of the dark, dank cell, talking quietly with Osamu and Jun. Hikari was attempting to give some comfort to Iori, and Mimi was with Miyako, giving vague threats about what would happen if she was not given a warm bath and/or a hairbrush. Suddenly, a guard stormed into the dungeon, and stopped in front of the cell.
"You there!" He gestured vaguely at the cell. "Joe-sama wishes to speak with you." Mimi straightened her skirt and stepped forward.
"Finally! Someone's listening to-"
"No, not you. That blond chick." Blue eyes snapped up to meet the guard's eyes. Ishida Yamato stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving the guard. He reached the bars and stopped.
"I...am...not...a...'chick'." The man shrugged, and opened the cell door, pulling him through.
"Whatever. Joe-sama wants to see you."
* * *
"What do you see?" Koushiro crouched in a gallery overlooking the throne room, watching the proceedings carefully. Sora also watched, holding binoculars to her eyes.
"Hmm...Lord Joe is waiting for someone, and-I think they want the StormBreaker." There was a pause. "Isn't Taichi the Storm Breaker?"
"Nani-?" Koushiro snatched the binoculars from her and swore. "Kuso! I thought it was Yagami who...come on, Sora. We have to help them."
"But...Taichi..." Her voice was striken, and Koushiro suddenly was struck by something.
'My equipment's back in Japan! Without it...' Sora leapt from her vantage point, avoiding notice as she sped towards her love. 'Kuso...' As Yamato was dragged towards the lord, Koushiro watched intently.
* * *
"The legendary Storm Breaker...the man who is destined to pull our land from the darkness." Lord Joe chuckled mirthlessly. He stood up, fingering a large, ceremonial sword. "What darkness do you think you can save us from?" Yamato glared coldly at him.
"Your madness, your despair. You're grieving, Joe-san, so let someone help you." Joe laughed, a bark in the large room.
"You act as if my mind is all that is sick, but it is my soul that is in danger. They said the Storm Breaker would have magic, and you obviously have none. Off with his head!" An executioner stepped forward, raising an axe. Yamato tried to escape, but was held back by the same guard. The cloaked killer moved closer, readying for the swing.
"Halt!" Attention swung to a white-cloaked man with red hair. He stepped forward angrily. "Leave him alone!" Joe's eyes narrowed angrily, and then, widened in surprise. The redhead froze under the ruler's gaze.
"Kou-chan?"
"Jyou?"
* * *
"Takeru-san?" The eyes blinked, shocked, and the blond boy fell back.
"Wha-how-why?" he stammered, sitting down on a low bed in the room. Daisuke looked around the room appreciatively. It was well-furnished and actually quite large, but nevertheless a prison for the cursed child.
"Nice room."
"Wait a minute! Wait a-" Takeru shook his head. "I'm cursed! You should be dead by now! How-?"
"I don't believe in magic," Daisuke replied cheerfully. "Either that or I'm too dumb to let your stupid curse touch me. It's probably the last one, 'cause I'm supposed to help you with your curse." Takeru nodded.
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"I..." Daisuke shook his head. "My only experience with curses was from fairy tales, so...I know only one way to break a curse." Takeru opened his mouth, but any comment was cut off by Daisuke's tongue darting into it.
* * *
Ken: Nooooo!!!!! What are you doing to my precious Dai-chan?
Marduk: It's called 'conflict', genius boy. But if you keep whining, I'll just make this story a Daikeru right to the end.
Ken: ...I'll be good...
Marduk: That's the spirit!
* * *
**WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MUM'M?** R'K'M paced nervously around the innermost chambers of the Dilexian leader's castle. **HE WAS SUPPOSED TO TALK TO ME AFTER HE KILLED THE STORM BREAKER.** Suddenly, she started. **I FEEL A GREAT DISTURBANCE IN THE...DEMON...SENSE...TYPE...THINGIE** There was a primal scream, and a writhing form appeared before her.
'I'm sorry...I tried...'
**WHAT?!** The form melted into nothingness before her eyes. **NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!**
* * *
Every person in the castle winced at the hideous sound echoing through the building. When the scream died away, Jyou stepped forward, smiling at Koushiro.
"Kou-chan, is that really you?" He reached out his hand to brush a finger along Koushiro's cheek. The redhead smiled, stepping forward.
"I knew I'd see you again, Jyou...she wanted to help me, and so...I've been waiting so long..." The room fell silent, watching as the two men embraced each other, weeping. Yamato stepped away from them, slowly backing away until he left the room, after which he turned and ran for the dungeons.
* * *
"Taichi-koi, hurry up!" Sora pulled the brunette out of the cell, and tried to lead him out of the dungeons, but he shook his head.
"Look...Sora. I need to wait for Yamato. He's like my best friend, and if we're going, it's with him."
"Joe-sama was going to kill him," Sora snapped angrily. "So forget about him!" Taichi froze.
"Kill-!"
"Hai! Now come on." She tugged on his arm, but Taichi refused to budge.
"No...I can't believe that Yamato's dead..."
"Hell, no! You can't get rid of me *that* easy, Yagami!" Taichi glanced at the door, where the familiar blond man stood, grinning sardonically. The brown eyes sparkled with warmth, and Taichi barely resisted throwing himself at the other man. Sora, trained to notice everything, narrowed her eyes. She knew Ishida would be a difficulty; now she saw that he was an obstacle.
"And what do I do to obstacles?" 'Destroy them!' "BwAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!"
"Um...Sora?" She blushed under Taichi's stare.
"Gomen...just forgot myself, that's all."
"Ah...okay."
'Yagami Taichi, you *will* be mine.'
* * *
The ethereal scream ripped through the underground passageways, sending the two young men apart, shaking from the kiss and the pure agony represented by the scream.
"Wha-what was that?" Takeru demanded, wrapping his arms around himself.
"I...don't...know," Daisuke replied softly. The door to the room swung open, and Owikawa stepped in, his body shadowy and nearly invisible.
"Takeru?" The voice was hesitant. Takeru glanced up at his father and smiled.
"Otousan, I...I feel normal again." Without a word, Owikawa faded into view and caught his son's gaze. They held for a long moment, and then the man threw himself at his son.
"Takeru! I...we were so worried. Arigato...arigato gozaimasu, Daisuke-san." Tears ran down both father and son's eyes, and Daisuke smiled at them. He somewhat doubted that the kiss had cured Takeru...but then again, he wasn't complaining. He wondered if Joe might have died, rendering the spell null. That was probably what had happened, but he would let these shadow people think what they wanted. Suddenly, Owikawa looked up to see Daisuke.
"Daisuke-san, it is true that you are seeking the Annj, ne?"
"H-hai..."
"Very well. We can tell you where it is, but...we cannot aid you in your journey. However, we can tell you that even if you find the Annj, it is useless to you unless you bring it to the Storm Breaker."
"The Storm Breaker?" Takeru nodded, nudging his father aside.
"The Storm Breaker is the one person who can activate the power of the Annj to destroy a demon. And from what I understand, a demon is what you are after." Then he turned to Owikawa. "'Tousan, why can't I go to help him? It won't *hurt*, will it?" The man frowned thoughtfully.
"Takeru, you have very recently been...been..." An innocent, pleading look characteristic of any child had found its way onto the young man's face, rendering Owikawa very pliable to his son's wishes. "I...fine. But I'm coming with you."
"Okay."
* * *
"No; Koushiro-san told me that Yamato is the Storm Breaker. Thus, he should go try to find the Annj, and Taichi-koi and I will stay behind to help the Dilexians." Sora smiled sweetly at Yamato until Mimi spoke.
"What about the rest of us?"
"I'm going with Yama-kun," Jun announced.
"Me, too," Osamu added, giving a sidelong glance to Jun.
"And the rest of us will stay here," Hikari replied. Sora nodded, and grabbed Taichi's arm.
"Well, then, let's get to the throne room, and you guys can get moving."
"Wouldn't it be a good idea to get some guidance before we try going out to look for something?" Yamato asked. Sora's eyes narrowed, and she nodded once, slowly.
"Fine. Come with us."
* * *
**DAMN THAT KOUSHIRO...HE'S RUINED EVERYTHING! THE ONLY WAY I COULD RECTIFY THIS WOULD BE TO DESTROY THEM ALL...HOW REGRETABLE. COME, MY CHILDREN!!!!!!**
* * *
"Hikari?" Taichi watched nervously as his roommate convulsed on the rock floor.
"Don't you hear it?! Listen!!!"
"Kuso; it's the Spiral Bound!" Iori snapped, helping the brown-haired girl up. "Everyone who's died for miles around will become those stupid zombie things. We've got to warn Jyou, and you three-" He pointed at Yamato, Osamu, and Jun, "You three should go. Hopefully you can get far away and get directions from somebody else. We'll try to fight R'K'M from here."
"Right!"
* * *
"Jyou-san, something terrible has happened! An army of zombies is surrounding the castle!" Jyou glanced at the messanger, his arm tight around Koushiro's waist.
"Well, let's send out the troops to face them."
"No! They'll be slaughtered!" Six people hurried into the throne room, breathing hard from exertion. A young brunette in a loose brown robe stepped forward. "Jyou-san, we can only face these creatures with magic. Anyone who dies fighting them will become one of them."
"Who are you?" She frowned at him, then bowed.
"My name is H'kari, Seraphim. I have done you a great favor in the past; the least you could do is listen to me." Koushiro's eyes widened, and he leaned over to speak to Jyou.
"She is the creature who-" Jyou glared at her.
"You...guards!"
"No!" At Koushiro's shout, movement halted. "I would have died had she not taken me into another world. She slowed my aging, hoping that I could find a way back to you. I...she tried to help, Jyou...please, listen to her." The blue-haired lord's face softened, and he turned to Hikari.
"Speak."
"Jyou'san, let us fight these creatures, and we will hold them off. Even now, one of our companions has left to seek the Annj ne Zmfdk'r Oqhcd. You see, a powerful demon named R'K'M raises these zombies, and the Annj can destroy her." Jyou nodded.
"I...yes, go." Koushiro stood as well.
"Jyou, I will help them as well." The blunette grasped as his lover.
"No-stay here..." Koushiro shook his head.
"Jyou, please...I'll come back." Jyou reluctantly released Koushiro's hand, and glanced into his eyes.
"Promise?"
"Hai..."
* * *
Koushiro negligently tossed a fireball at the hordes of zombies, smiling as they burst into flames. Miyako had snapped, and the pieces of various zombies lay scattered on the cobblestone. Mimi had been rather reserved until a zombie had messed up her hair. Despte the fact that they were undead, a number of zombies had been knocked unconscious by her righteous rage. Iori just watched, bemused by his companions' antics, wincing appropriately when something violent happened. Sora...well, like Miyako, she had performed her fair share of dismemberments. She wasn't actively destroying, though, only breaking any zombie that threatened Taichi, who looked disappointed to not use his sword. Hikari was hurling balls of white light that melted the zombies at a touch. She claimed she was healing them, but whatever was happening, it got rid of them. Despite the vast hordes of zombies, they had all been rendered useless in 90 minutes. Miyako looked around, frowning at the carnage.
"Damn it! There's nothing left to kill! Unless..." She turned her attention to Taichi, pulling out a throwing knife. "You wouldn't mind if I maimed you a little, would you, roomie?" She froze as a swift kick knocked the knife from her hands, and hands wrapped around her throat, cutting off her air supply.
"Sora! Stop! She didn't mean it! Let go!" The brunette stepped away, shooting death glares at Miyako, but then glomped Taichi.
"I'm so glad you're all right, Tai-koi!" Taichi winced, and Koushiro blushed nervously. Hikari caught the blush, and looked oddly at Koushiro.
"Izumi-hakase...what's going on?" He glanced at Sora, and frowned.
"Well, I thought...I thought that Taichi was the one who would need protecting...I didn't realize...I found Sora years ago, or, rather, a few years in the future, wandering the streets. I found she didn't age, didn't get sick, and was strong as an ox. I trained her, and found that she was extremely susceptible to mind control. I decided that she would be the perfect weapon, defense...when I came back in time, she came with me. And when you guys were going to cross the dimensional borders, I thought you would need protection...and, well, I told her to be in love with Taichi. Um...in hindsight, it wasn't the best idea."
"Not the...not the?" Hikari was flabbergasted, and just threw up her hands. "Not the *best* idea? That's just about the *worst* idea I've ever heard! Making a confused young woman fall in love with some guy so he doesn't get killed? Besides, Taichi can take perfect care of himself! Make her stop!"
"Well, you see, that's the problem. The equipment is back in your universe, and it only reacts to me. And...I've proven that it's a law of the multiverse, that any one person can ever leave his own universe once. I've done that, so...I can't go back, and I can't reverse it from here. Sorry."
"Then how can we get your freaky assassin woman out of love with Tai-kun?"
"Nosce te ipsum. Know yourself."
* * *
Sometimes, fate works in the oddest ways. Sometimes, it works to bring together people who need to meet or conspire to make great things happen. And so, it was quite surprising when Yamato, Jun, and Osamu found themselves standing outside of a large, forbidding cave when Owikawa, Takeru, and Daisuke got there.
"Yamato?" Daisuke was surprised, and forgot to realize that he was holding Takeru's hand. "What-?"
"Daisuke? I...who's this?" Daisuke glanced down at his hand, and blushed furiously.
"This is Takeru...he was cursed, and I...uncursed him. This is Owikawa, his father. I...they're leading me to find the Annj."
"What a coincidence," Yamato remarked dryly. "So, is this it?" Owikawa nodded.
"The Cave of Spoo. There are three gates and three challenges to face."
"Spoo..." Jun wrinkled her brow. "Isn't that-"
"'Oops' spelled backwards?" Osamu finished.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Yamato asked rhetorically.
* * *
(Welcome to the Cave of Spoo! I will ask you a riddle, and if you answer incorrectly, you will DIE!!!!) Yamato frowned at the guardian snake, and shrugged.
"Okay."
(What's black and white and red all over?)
"A panda with diaper rash!"
"A newspaper!"
"An embarassed zebra!"
"A skunk in a blender!"
"Dalmation roadkill!"
"A pimply mime!" The snake glared at them.
(Sorry. The answer was 'a bat with lesions'. You'll have to die now.)
"Bats are brown," Yamato snapped.
"And lesions occur under the fur, so you wouldn't see it," Owikawa pointed out.
(So? My answer makes as much sense as yours!)
"Well, if they're just as good, can't we go through, then?" The snake glared for a full minute at Jun, and then the wall slid aside to reveal another chamber.
(Oh, go the hell through!) They stepped through, and another snake watched them.
^You must pass the test of strength!^ Rocks fell from the ceiling, hitting them on the head.
"Itai! What was that for?" The wall slid away.
^You passed!^ The next chamber was much the same.
%You must pass the test of spirit!% More rocks fell, and swearing echoed in the chamber.
"Stop throwing rocks on us!" Daisuke snapped.
%Geeze, you had *terrible* spirit. You should be more like him; he has great spirit.% Yamato swayed a bit.
"Sure, Miyako, I'll let you photograph me nude. Chocolate sauce? Nooooo problem."
"You knocked him silly!"
%There is innocence in concussions. Go on ahead.% They moved through the door onto a stone bridge, on the other side of which was a platform holding a shining tome.
"There it is..." Yamato whispered. "Let's go."
**I think not,** Takeru whispered. He punched Daisuke, and suddenly was holding the OmniTaser Supreme. **It's a shame; the test of spirit broke my neck. Now...I'm R'K'M's. Now...** He pointed a piece of the taser at Yamato, and held the other near him. Daisuke grinned.
'He's holding it backwards...'
**Die, fools!** The shock of the taser sent him flying over the edge of the bridge. **Noooo! But be warned...R'K'M has seen you through my eyes. Soon, she will be here to destroy you! Ahahahahahahaha-SPLAT!** His voice had been getting softer as he fell. Daisuke looked over the edge.
"I...it's not as deep as we thought, is it?"
"No...he just said the word 'splat'," Yamato commented.
**Darn it!**
* * *
**TEST ME, SO I MAY ENTER THE CAVE OF SPOO.** The snake glanced down at the spidery demon.
'All right...no fooling. It's 'bat with lesions' or she's going down.'
(What is black and white and makes you duck when it moves by?)
**A NUN WITH A SPEAR THROUGH HER HEAD.**
(Dammit! I give up! Go on, do whatever the hell you want here! And tell your friends, it's open house at the Cave of Spoo!)
* * *
"I can't believe it...he's dead." Owikawa stared down at the pit, tears running down his face. He turned to Daisuke, his face determined. "I'll go back; I'll try to hold R'K'M off, and you get the book. I'll die, probably, but if you kill her, I'll be fine. I'll finally see Akane again, and Takeru..." Daisuke nodded.
Yamato ran forward, and pulled the book from its perch.
"Here...the Annj ne Zmfdk'r Oqhcd. I...but there's no way we'll ever be able to defeat her with this!"
"What are you talking about, Ishida?" Daisuke demanded.
"It's a cliche. By announcing that we'll never win, it's almost guaranteed that we will."
"What, like saying 'It can't get anyw worse?'" Jun asked. There was a low rumbling, and then an eight-limbed figure burst onto the bridge.
**HI, KIDS!**
"You just had to say it, 'Neechan," Daisuke muttered.
* * *
**HELLO, STORM BREAKER. YOU'RE PROPHESIED TO DEFEAT ME, SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BITE YOUR HEAD OFF; NO HARD FEELINGS?** Yamato screamed as R'K'M grabbed him, opening her huge mouth.
"Stop! If you move, I'll unsummon you with the Annj!" Daisuke held a tome in front of him authoritatively. "And-eek!" A sword lanced through the book, and R'K'M grabbed it. There was a moment of silence.
**YOU WERE GOING TO SEND ME BACK TO HELL WITH A SPELL ENTITLED "TURN-OFFS: DISCO DANCING AND KUNG-FU MOVIES"?** R'K'M flipped to the front of the book. **NUDE MEN OF SUICIDE BADMINTON? THIS ISN'T THE ANNJ!**
"Well..." Daisuke blushed a fiery red. "You see..."
"Thanks for the distraction, Dai! Yamato, use the book!!!!" Yamato, engulfed by the light of the Annj, looked sadly at Jun.
"I...
...I...
...I can't read it!"
* * *
Wow. Death, destruction, a little bit of Daikeru, and an insane assassin in love with Tai! What could be more exciting? A cliff-hanger! Cool, ne? Well, I think I'll just abandon this project right now; it's gone far enough.
Ken: I'm still in a coma!
Daisuke: R'K'M's going to kill us all!
Mimi: MY HAIR IS A MESS!!!
Marduk: Geeze! Yeah, I'll get the next part out soon. Until then-