Chapter 15
Emptiness was a still, strange place. Thin, gray sadness, like a sky, over a sea of rippling memories that *hurt*. A smiling face, framed by drifting lavender hair. An email, just when it was needed the most. A slap in the face, a kind word, a push in the right direction...
You never know a treasure until it's gone.
Sitting there with his face hidden in his dusty hands, Ken felt like a shell. Half the healing he'd done since leaving behind his identity as the Emperor had been because of Yolei. Now, it was as if all of that newfound warmth had vanished with her.
Why?
*Now there's a loaded question,* Ken thought ironically, shaking his head. *Why what? Why didn't she go while she could? Why couldn't I let go? Why do I hurt everyone I care about?
*Why do I wish I could die, too?*
With him to the end, she'd said. Well, he was still around, and she wasn't. That promise was worthless now... But it hadn't been her fault, or anyone's fault! A mindless freak of nature, combined with the shortsighted eagerness of two children who were adults inside, yet not always ready for adult responsibilities...that was what had caused this!
*It's not fair! It was an accident, a stupid accident...one decision made differently, and she would still be standing here with me!
*Why didn't I tell her I cared while I still could?*
He could almost hear her voice, shouting, laughing, crying, joking, whispering...
"Ken..."
Whispering...
*Don't I wish it was real...*
"Ken." Something brushed his side, softly. "You okay?"
"Wha..." His heart leaping into his throat, he turned.
Deep purple eyes met his.
"Why are you crying?" Yolei whispered, her dust-streaked face warming into a small smile. "Look at the sky," she continued, as Ken gaped at her, thunderstruck. "It's so blue. We're going to be all right...don't cry any more."
She was right; the dust was settling, showing bright blue sky.
"I..." Ken began, and trailed off, stammering. "I...I-"
"You're safe," Yolei said, her voice gaining strength. She squinted momentarily, trying to focus on his face without her glasses. Giving that up, she painfully lifted herself on one elbow for a closer look, winced shortly, and then grinned at him. "That's what matters. You're kind of battered-looking," here she laughed, and the laugh turned into a cough which she quickly brought under control, "but you'll live, and so will I. I must look ever worse than you," she added, with a rueful smile.
"You could say that," Ken choked, his voice wobbly as he managed a smile. Yolei looked carefully at him, and must have seen something of what he'd gone through during the last few minutes in his face, because she sat up further and held out a hand comfortingly.
"Here...you look like somebody ran you through a fine-toothed comb."
*Somebody did,* Ken thought. "You do, too."
"It was more like a wood chipper," Yolei said with another grimace as she tried to move her legs. "Ouch! That hurts... Hey, I'm not holding this out here for my health, she teased, waving her hand slightly. Ken stared at it, still not sure if it was really there. He slowly reached to take it, hesitant, unwilling to quite believe, for fear of finding that this was all some kind of trick...
Then his fingers closed around hers, and he was suddenly sure.
"Yolei," he gasped, and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, Yolei, don't ever scare me like that again!"
"Hey, it's okay," she said, giving him an awkward pat on the back. "Don't worry, I don't like the idea of an encore any more than you do."
Ken grinned. Yolei; matter-of-fact, tactless, silly, crazy, wonderful Yolei; she was back! "I love you, you know," he said, with a quiet smile. She pulled back, studied him for a moment, and then returned the smile.
"You do, don't you," she said, with a touch of something like wonder coloring her voice. Ken burst out laughing, and she gave him a confused look. "What? What did I say?" She shook her head, with an I-give-up roll of her eyes. "Oh, never mind. If it makes you feel better, I love you too...you weird, weird person."
"Weird? That makes two of us," Ken smiled. He moved to sit next to her, sliding an arm around her shoulders. "I'm glad you're okay," he sighed.
"It's good to know," Yolei agreed, and they settled into each other's company to wait for help to arrive.
A deafening roar shattered the silence within Tai and Sora's little shield. Breaking the kiss, they looked around in confusion as the protective light winked out like a popped soap bubble.
"Tai? What-"
He frowned. "I don't know...no, hang on! Look over there!"
Sora looked-and her breath caught in her throat.
A massive form, two-legged like a human but with the head of a wolf and long, shaggy fur covering those parts of its skin that could be seen, loomed over them. It looked neither male nor female, but wore a simple green tunic and brown pants torn off at the knee, as well as heavy leather belts around its athletic waist and across one shoulder, as well as an archer's gauntlets.
Its brown fur was streaked with green, but stranger still, what looked like rose vines traced their way across its entire body, like stripes or the veining on a leaf. A sword was clenched in its right claw, and a bow and arrows slung across its back, attached to the shoulder belt. Its eyes were intelligent, and the narrow muzzle crinkled in a smile as it looked down at them.
"Is that...Mimi?" Sora murmured weakly, staring up at the enormous beast.
Tai goggled. "Forget Mimi-that's Matt up there!"
They were both right. Mimi perched on the creature's right shoulder; Matt stood firmly on its left. Giggling, Mimi swung her legs cheerfully over the new Digimon's shoulder.
"Meet Sentinelmon!"
"Sentinelmon?" Tai and Sora chorused.
""Don't you recognize us?""
The double voice was familiar.
"Palmon?"
"Gabumon?"
""One and the same,"" Sentinelmon agreed. ""...No pun intended.""
"Well, are you going to stand there all day with your jaws dislocated, or get up here so we can flatten this thing?" Matt yelled.
Tai and Sora exchanged glances, and nodded. "Right," Tai yelled back. "We'll get up there as soon as you get down close enough for us to climb on. Let's finish this!"
"There's me Taichi!" Matt grinned, as Sentinelmon obligingly extended its free hand for them to step onto. It took only seconds to transfer the two humans onto its shoulder. Agumon was already waiting for them, and he and Tai were reunited the minute the boy could leap from hand to shoulder and grab his Digimon in a delighted bear hug.
"Tai! I thought you were a goner!"
"So did I, buddy," Tai said with a rueful grin. "But that's okay now. We're all back together again, and unless I miss my guess, this virus is about to get a beating it'll never forget!"
"If it's even around to," Matt agreed, and looked at Mimi. "Well, Captain? What now?"
"Hey, since when am I the captain?" Mimi asked, sounding pleased, if a little surprised.
"You said you wanted to prove you could fight," Matt said with a shrug. "Well, here's your chance!"
"I think I already did that," Mimi snorted.
Matt grinned. "Can't argue with you there...but still, I think you deserve to call the shots for a while. Besides, I'm more than ready to take a break from being the leader of this little army."
"In that case..." Mimi murmured, a surprisingly fierce grin spreading across her face. "Let's see what you guys can do! Go for it, Sentinelmon!"
""Will do!"" it chorused, and shot toward the regrouping virus, swinging its sword. ""Sentinel's Blade!""
The sword impacted with a mighty flash of light that blossomed across the seething virus, melting it like ice. When the spots cleared from the four humans' vision, there was a gaping hole in the mass of black. However, just as before, the edges of the ragged hole quivered, twitched, and began to surge back together. The Digidestined winced.
"Not again," Matt groaned.
"Well, obviously that didn't work," Mimi shouted. "Got anything else up your sleeves?"
Sentinelmon grinned. ""Oh, that was just the appetizer,"" it chuckled. Reaching back over its shoulder, it grabbed its bow and an arrow, nocking the projectile into the bowstring and drawing it back. ""Now for the main course.""
Watching, Matt noticed something; the arrow was fledged with leaves, and the 'point' was nothing but a rose!
"Oh, this is great!" he yelled, his stomach sinking. "Let's throw flowers at it, that'll really fix things! Maybe it'll decide to be friends with us!"
The beast turned its shaggy head to look at him, and one wise eye winked. ""Never underestimate flower power,"" it said sagely, and turned back to its quarry. ""You'd be surprised what a little sprout can do.""
"Whatever," Matt said with a doubtful grimace.
"Uh, Matt, Mimi?" Sora said tensely. "That virus doesn't look too happy. Any time now would be really good..."
"I don't know...are you sure this'll work?" Matt said. Mimi snorted.
"No. That's why we have to trust our Digimon, Yama."
He glanced over at Mimi. "Well, if you say so..."
"Yup," Mimi agreed. They faced forward, raising their fists as a wall of virus shot out toward the little group.
"FIRE!!"
"Budding Vengeance!!!" Sentinelmon bellowed, and released the bowstring.
The arrow left its bow with a soft rustle of leaves, almost silent in the gurgling cacaphony of the writhing virus. It flew softly across the gap between children and virus, with their hopes, even their lives, riding along on its fragile trajectory.
It buried itself up to the fledging in the dark tide of the virus, like a little green flag planted in a huge mountain. And then...
It dissolved.
And the virus kept on coming.
"Oh, no," Mimi whispered. Matt grimaced and swore. Tai reached for Sora, gathering her into his arms as Agumon came to stand between them and the speedily approaching virus.
Back in the real world, in the computer room and in the street, the Digidestined held their breath, or covered their eyes, or simply stared, riveted by their leaders' last stand...
Her face buried in Tai's shoulder, Sora braced herself for the impact of the virus, knowing they were all too weak to fight it this time. Every fragment of the moment seemed to crystallize in her mind as the virus barreled toward them.
The tears glistening in Mimi's eyes even as she looked at her friends for the last time; the defiant look on Matt's face as he stood at his Digimon's shoulder, one hand resting lightly on Sentinelmon's neck as he faced down death; Agumon's show of devotion as he tried to protect them, willing to die for his human friends; the warmth of Tai's arms around her and the soft sound of his heartbeat in the almost silent world. They were bright, clear, intense images, stamped indelibly on her heart. And as she stood, in the split seconds before impact, she closed her eyes and thought.
*At least...
*At least we're all together.*
Emptiness was a still, strange place. Thin, gray sadness, like a sky, over a sea of rippling memories that *hurt*. A smiling face, framed by drifting lavender hair. An email, just when it was needed the most. A slap in the face, a kind word, a push in the right direction...
You never know a treasure until it's gone.
Sitting there with his face hidden in his dusty hands, Ken felt like a shell. Half the healing he'd done since leaving behind his identity as the Emperor had been because of Yolei. Now, it was as if all of that newfound warmth had vanished with her.
Why?
*Now there's a loaded question,* Ken thought ironically, shaking his head. *Why what? Why didn't she go while she could? Why couldn't I let go? Why do I hurt everyone I care about?
*Why do I wish I could die, too?*
With him to the end, she'd said. Well, he was still around, and she wasn't. That promise was worthless now... But it hadn't been her fault, or anyone's fault! A mindless freak of nature, combined with the shortsighted eagerness of two children who were adults inside, yet not always ready for adult responsibilities...that was what had caused this!
*It's not fair! It was an accident, a stupid accident...one decision made differently, and she would still be standing here with me!
*Why didn't I tell her I cared while I still could?*
He could almost hear her voice, shouting, laughing, crying, joking, whispering...
"Ken..."
Whispering...
*Don't I wish it was real...*
"Ken." Something brushed his side, softly. "You okay?"
"Wha..." His heart leaping into his throat, he turned.
Deep purple eyes met his.
"Why are you crying?" Yolei whispered, her dust-streaked face warming into a small smile. "Look at the sky," she continued, as Ken gaped at her, thunderstruck. "It's so blue. We're going to be all right...don't cry any more."
She was right; the dust was settling, showing bright blue sky.
"I..." Ken began, and trailed off, stammering. "I...I-"
"You're safe," Yolei said, her voice gaining strength. She squinted momentarily, trying to focus on his face without her glasses. Giving that up, she painfully lifted herself on one elbow for a closer look, winced shortly, and then grinned at him. "That's what matters. You're kind of battered-looking," here she laughed, and the laugh turned into a cough which she quickly brought under control, "but you'll live, and so will I. I must look ever worse than you," she added, with a rueful smile.
"You could say that," Ken choked, his voice wobbly as he managed a smile. Yolei looked carefully at him, and must have seen something of what he'd gone through during the last few minutes in his face, because she sat up further and held out a hand comfortingly.
"Here...you look like somebody ran you through a fine-toothed comb."
*Somebody did,* Ken thought. "You do, too."
"It was more like a wood chipper," Yolei said with another grimace as she tried to move her legs. "Ouch! That hurts... Hey, I'm not holding this out here for my health, she teased, waving her hand slightly. Ken stared at it, still not sure if it was really there. He slowly reached to take it, hesitant, unwilling to quite believe, for fear of finding that this was all some kind of trick...
Then his fingers closed around hers, and he was suddenly sure.
"Yolei," he gasped, and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, Yolei, don't ever scare me like that again!"
"Hey, it's okay," she said, giving him an awkward pat on the back. "Don't worry, I don't like the idea of an encore any more than you do."
Ken grinned. Yolei; matter-of-fact, tactless, silly, crazy, wonderful Yolei; she was back! "I love you, you know," he said, with a quiet smile. She pulled back, studied him for a moment, and then returned the smile.
"You do, don't you," she said, with a touch of something like wonder coloring her voice. Ken burst out laughing, and she gave him a confused look. "What? What did I say?" She shook her head, with an I-give-up roll of her eyes. "Oh, never mind. If it makes you feel better, I love you too...you weird, weird person."
"Weird? That makes two of us," Ken smiled. He moved to sit next to her, sliding an arm around her shoulders. "I'm glad you're okay," he sighed.
"It's good to know," Yolei agreed, and they settled into each other's company to wait for help to arrive.
A deafening roar shattered the silence within Tai and Sora's little shield. Breaking the kiss, they looked around in confusion as the protective light winked out like a popped soap bubble.
"Tai? What-"
He frowned. "I don't know...no, hang on! Look over there!"
Sora looked-and her breath caught in her throat.
A massive form, two-legged like a human but with the head of a wolf and long, shaggy fur covering those parts of its skin that could be seen, loomed over them. It looked neither male nor female, but wore a simple green tunic and brown pants torn off at the knee, as well as heavy leather belts around its athletic waist and across one shoulder, as well as an archer's gauntlets.
Its brown fur was streaked with green, but stranger still, what looked like rose vines traced their way across its entire body, like stripes or the veining on a leaf. A sword was clenched in its right claw, and a bow and arrows slung across its back, attached to the shoulder belt. Its eyes were intelligent, and the narrow muzzle crinkled in a smile as it looked down at them.
"Is that...Mimi?" Sora murmured weakly, staring up at the enormous beast.
Tai goggled. "Forget Mimi-that's Matt up there!"
They were both right. Mimi perched on the creature's right shoulder; Matt stood firmly on its left. Giggling, Mimi swung her legs cheerfully over the new Digimon's shoulder.
"Meet Sentinelmon!"
"Sentinelmon?" Tai and Sora chorused.
""Don't you recognize us?""
The double voice was familiar.
"Palmon?"
"Gabumon?"
""One and the same,"" Sentinelmon agreed. ""...No pun intended.""
"Well, are you going to stand there all day with your jaws dislocated, or get up here so we can flatten this thing?" Matt yelled.
Tai and Sora exchanged glances, and nodded. "Right," Tai yelled back. "We'll get up there as soon as you get down close enough for us to climb on. Let's finish this!"
"There's me Taichi!" Matt grinned, as Sentinelmon obligingly extended its free hand for them to step onto. It took only seconds to transfer the two humans onto its shoulder. Agumon was already waiting for them, and he and Tai were reunited the minute the boy could leap from hand to shoulder and grab his Digimon in a delighted bear hug.
"Tai! I thought you were a goner!"
"So did I, buddy," Tai said with a rueful grin. "But that's okay now. We're all back together again, and unless I miss my guess, this virus is about to get a beating it'll never forget!"
"If it's even around to," Matt agreed, and looked at Mimi. "Well, Captain? What now?"
"Hey, since when am I the captain?" Mimi asked, sounding pleased, if a little surprised.
"You said you wanted to prove you could fight," Matt said with a shrug. "Well, here's your chance!"
"I think I already did that," Mimi snorted.
Matt grinned. "Can't argue with you there...but still, I think you deserve to call the shots for a while. Besides, I'm more than ready to take a break from being the leader of this little army."
"In that case..." Mimi murmured, a surprisingly fierce grin spreading across her face. "Let's see what you guys can do! Go for it, Sentinelmon!"
""Will do!"" it chorused, and shot toward the regrouping virus, swinging its sword. ""Sentinel's Blade!""
The sword impacted with a mighty flash of light that blossomed across the seething virus, melting it like ice. When the spots cleared from the four humans' vision, there was a gaping hole in the mass of black. However, just as before, the edges of the ragged hole quivered, twitched, and began to surge back together. The Digidestined winced.
"Not again," Matt groaned.
"Well, obviously that didn't work," Mimi shouted. "Got anything else up your sleeves?"
Sentinelmon grinned. ""Oh, that was just the appetizer,"" it chuckled. Reaching back over its shoulder, it grabbed its bow and an arrow, nocking the projectile into the bowstring and drawing it back. ""Now for the main course.""
Watching, Matt noticed something; the arrow was fledged with leaves, and the 'point' was nothing but a rose!
"Oh, this is great!" he yelled, his stomach sinking. "Let's throw flowers at it, that'll really fix things! Maybe it'll decide to be friends with us!"
The beast turned its shaggy head to look at him, and one wise eye winked. ""Never underestimate flower power,"" it said sagely, and turned back to its quarry. ""You'd be surprised what a little sprout can do.""
"Whatever," Matt said with a doubtful grimace.
"Uh, Matt, Mimi?" Sora said tensely. "That virus doesn't look too happy. Any time now would be really good..."
"I don't know...are you sure this'll work?" Matt said. Mimi snorted.
"No. That's why we have to trust our Digimon, Yama."
He glanced over at Mimi. "Well, if you say so..."
"Yup," Mimi agreed. They faced forward, raising their fists as a wall of virus shot out toward the little group.
"FIRE!!"
"Budding Vengeance!!!" Sentinelmon bellowed, and released the bowstring.
The arrow left its bow with a soft rustle of leaves, almost silent in the gurgling cacaphony of the writhing virus. It flew softly across the gap between children and virus, with their hopes, even their lives, riding along on its fragile trajectory.
It buried itself up to the fledging in the dark tide of the virus, like a little green flag planted in a huge mountain. And then...
It dissolved.
And the virus kept on coming.
"Oh, no," Mimi whispered. Matt grimaced and swore. Tai reached for Sora, gathering her into his arms as Agumon came to stand between them and the speedily approaching virus.
Back in the real world, in the computer room and in the street, the Digidestined held their breath, or covered their eyes, or simply stared, riveted by their leaders' last stand...
Her face buried in Tai's shoulder, Sora braced herself for the impact of the virus, knowing they were all too weak to fight it this time. Every fragment of the moment seemed to crystallize in her mind as the virus barreled toward them.
The tears glistening in Mimi's eyes even as she looked at her friends for the last time; the defiant look on Matt's face as he stood at his Digimon's shoulder, one hand resting lightly on Sentinelmon's neck as he faced down death; Agumon's show of devotion as he tried to protect them, willing to die for his human friends; the warmth of Tai's arms around her and the soft sound of his heartbeat in the almost silent world. They were bright, clear, intense images, stamped indelibly on her heart. And as she stood, in the split seconds before impact, she closed her eyes and thought.
*At least...
*At least we're all together.*