End Of Light, End Of Darkness

End Of Light, End Of Darkness

[A/N: This may have to be my longest story of the saga. Long live the darkness! And don't you just wanna strangle me for leaving the story off where I did last time?]

[Disclaimer: Don't own.]

The sky thundered with lightning and darkened with black clouds. "Koushiro!" Taichi said sharply, "Knock it off!" Koushiro stared at the sky with a vaguely worried stare. "I am doing nothing." he replied sternly, "This is a dark power."

"Impossible!" Yamato shot back, leaning by a tree, "Devimon and Ladydevimon wouldn't stand against us with our powers as they are." "And what of Shinji?" Sora asked. "She is weak and defenseless." Taichi growled in return, "It has been a month, and she likes to come out every other week to destroy something."

"Still, this is not a normal lightning storm." Koushiro insisted, "It is a strong darkness. It is unlike anything I have ever felt."

"You are the perfect darkness." Devimon walked about his daughter. Twenty-one, strong, tall, beautiful as human standards went… But there was a horrific darkness that would send anything lesser than one of the darkness screaming in terror.

A clawed, gloved hand gripped a chain tightly. There was a sharp exhale, and Devimon smirked maliciously. "You can destroy the Protectors." he ran his finger lightly across the expanse of her shoulders as he walked behind her, "The Children of Light have not awakened yet. And you are so much stronger."

His hand reached the heavy silver chain that his daughter held. It was nearly impossible for a normal human to lift, and twice as devastating to be hit with. It ended in an intricate design that looked of a dragon hunched over, clutching a sword. The sword was exquisitely sharp at the point, perfect for stabbing someone.

"Now is the time." Devimon laughed demonically, "Go!" With those words, Shinji phased from the plane of existence.

Bolts of lightning crashed down closer and closer, Koushiro trying to frantically stop them. But then, the largest bolt of them all struck down just before the Protectors, and when the dust settled, Kari let out a scream of pure terror and ran behind Taichi, who threw an arm out to block her from the horror of what it was.

Shinji stood there, staring with cold, dead eyes. But her body had aged once more. She was a woman of twenty-one. The real terror was in her eyes. Certainly, fear was thrown off by the coldness, the mechanical-like appearance, but her eyes were completely black. There was no defining edge to her eyes, no pupil, no iris, just solid blackness.

"You." she suddenly spoke. Everyone seemed to jump. Her voice had the same reverberating tone as Angemon's did, but it was horrifyingly hollow. Her ears were still pointed in the demonic fashion, and her fangs had progressed to be all of her teeth in fact.

"You are the foolish Protectors that are hindering my path." Shinji continued, "You will be destroyed."

It seemed almost instantaneous, but Taichi had been struck across the face with the long chain around Shinji's arm. The Protectors actually took a look at what they were facing. She was wearing a blue-black trenchcoat that ended just below the middle of her shins, with gray pallets, baggy black pants, and what looked to be a black shirt with black boots on her feet. A long chain hung just over the ground and wrapped around her right hand, spiraling up her arm and across her shoulders to rest in a small holder on the left side of her chest.

Taichi sat up slowly, painfully, rubbing at a large spot of ice on his face. "I didn't even see that!" he growled in his mind, "How in the hell did she move so fast?" His instincts reacted quicker than his brain did, and he rolled out of the way just before the chain's point stabbed into his forehead.

The ground was swiftly covered with thick ice, and Taichi flipped onto his feet. "Gods!" he panted, "What in the hell are you?" "I am the one completely of the darkness." Shinji replied, "The Orb of Darkness is mine, and I will destroy all of you."

Suddenly, the chain had caught Kari's arm and Shinji tugged on it. Kari flew through the air with a scream and crashed into the Fallen Child. Shinji looked at her with a hollow smile and turned the Child of Light around to face the Protectors.

Taichi growled with rage as Shinji held Kari against her chest, slowly dragging a claw beneath her chin every so often. Kari tensed, trying desperately to hold back the tears of fear. Shinji laughed, a cold mirthless chuckle, and lifted Kari easily to stare into her crystal red eyes.

"So, you are the Protector of Light." the Fallen Child examined Kari's eyes, "How is it possible that such a small child could have so much hidden power?" She raised a claw and pressed it against the flesh of Kari's neck. "Well, no matter." she murmured, "You're going to die anyway."

"KARI!" TK's voice shouted. A flash of light blinded everyone, and when the light faded, Shinji screamed in pain. She dropped Kari, who ran towards the other Protectors. Shinji fell backwards, clutching at her face, screaming with rage and agony. Kari ran to the closest of the Protectors and hugged them tight around the knees.

"Sh, it's OK, Kari." the person said, rubbing her head encouragingly. Kari looked up and blinked in wonder. It looked like TK more or less…it was Takeru now. His eyes were flames of energy, and he looked like a normal eighteen-year-old off the streets. He had on loose blue shorts, blue and white sneakers, and large gloves. His shirt was really a light red jacket with a large print of the character for 'ki' on the back with short sleeves.

"You…" Shinji growled, shakily standing to her feet. Her hand was twitching over her right eye, and blood was leaking through her fingers. "Takeru, what did you do?" Kari asked with a hint of fear in her voice. Takeru didn't have to answer, because one moment later, Shinji moved her hand away from her face.

"You shot out her eye?!" Myotismon shouted angrily. "She was going to hurt Kari!" Takeru snapped, "What else could I do?"

"So, the Protector of Ki has awakened." Shinji growled, her right eyebrow twitching every few seconds, "The only reason you got a shot off is because I wasn't paying much attention." "Oh yeah?" Takeru grinned, moving Kari aside, "Try this on! SPIRIT SHOT!" He fired a blast of bright yellow energy, but Shinji literally slapped it away.

"That would have killed you!" Takeru blinked in shock, "How is it possible for you to do that?" "I'm more than fifty times stronger than before, fool." Shinji snarled, "Bolt of Darkness." She raised her hand, and a huge bolt of dark electricity created a net over the Protectors. All eight of them, with the nine normal digimon, tried not to show any weakness from the pain, but Kari let out a pained scream.

Shinji smirked, and the electricity net grew stronger. "Takeru, help!" Kari grabbed Takeru around the knees again and cried with fear. Takeru tried to use another attack, but his arm was shocked badly and he shouted with pain.

"Takeru!" Kari tugged on Takeru's shorts, "C'mon! Be OK, please be OK!" Takeru sank down on one knee, his arm bleeding from a burn wound.

"Why isn't she affected?" Shinji stared at Kari, "This net is close to killing them all."

Takeru grit his teeth against the pain, but it was hopeless. He collapsed, nearly unconscious. Kari dropped to her knees, shaking Takeru by the shoulder. "K-Kari, you've gotta try to get your power." Takeru groaned, "Please, or we'll all die!"

Kari looked towards her once ally, and turned back to Takeru. "But…" she murmured, "I'm really scared." "Please, Kari, try!" Takeru took her hand and squeezed tight.

Suddenly, he froze, his back arching upwards. The net had vanished, and Shinji's foot was in Takeru's back. Kari looked up towards the Fallen Child. Her good eye was as cold as it had always been, and her face was unreadable.

Kari looked down towards Takeru with tears streaming down her face. "Takeru…" she whispered. She closed her eyes, and a strange glow surrounded her. Shinji fell back, her hands over her eyes, trying to block out the bright light. Kari slowly began to float. Her body shimmered, and then, she vanished in a flash of light.

The light faded to where the Protectors could see again, and they gasped in shock and awe. In Kari's stead floated a beautiful eighteen-year-old woman. She was wearing a simple white dress and sandals, but her eyes were the purest white anyone had every seen. Her brown hair reached down to her waist, and she floated just above the ground.

"I can't believe it." Shinji snarled, "The Protector of Light has finally awoken." "H-Hikari?" Takeru looked at the beautiful woman in shock, "Hikari, is that you?"

Hikari raised a finger slowly, and then, Shinji jumped up with a gasp of shock. The ground where she had been standing was blown apart with a small explosion. The Fallen Child flipped through the air to stand behind Hikari and wrapped her chain about Hikari's neck. Hikari appeared calm, and easily took the chain in her hand.

Hikari pulled the chain away from her neck, turned about, and stared at Shinji. Shinji's black eye was shaking with shock and fear. Hikari then pulled the chain lightly towards her. Shinji was thrown by Hikari's shoulder, and then flew through the air towards the city of Tokyo when Hikari threw the chain in that direction.

A young intern walked through the hallway with some hesitation. She was the one in charge of making sure that the tributes were paid properly, and the CEO of the company had just called her in. Gods, she was freaked out.

Very suddenly, the loud sound of glass shattering startled the young woman and she froze. It was certainly lucky for her that she did.

Shinji crashed into the hard plaster wall and choked as blood filled her mouth. A young human woman gasped in shock. "Ma'am, are you all right?" she dropped to her knees. But the human gasped in horror when she saw Shinji's face. She took an unsteady step backwards, and then ran off screaming. The rest of the floor had seen Shinji already, and had cleared out rather quickly. With all of them gone, Shinji spat out the large mouthful of blood.

"Gods, how the hell did that happen?" she groaned, not bothering to wipe away the thick line of blood that ran down her chin, "I never knew the Protector of Light was so damned powerful!" Very suddenly, and very angrily, Shinji noticed something. The arm that held the chain, her right arm had been dislocated.

Hikari floated up towards the shattered window with a blank look on her face. She had about one thing on her mind: The Fallen Child must be stopped, destroyed if possible. The Protector of Light floated into the fifth-story window and looked about.

Strange…that crash would have snapped anything's back, but the Fallen Child was missing.

"Boo."

Hikari turned quickly…and was immediately met with a Bloody Claw to the face, with a quick Hand of Rime to follow. She fell back, hidden by ice clouds, and Shinji let herself chuckle. "That was simple enough." she murmured.

"Light's End."

Suddenly, total pain consumed the Fallen Child, but she wasn't able to express it, to release it in any way. Her left eye was blinded from the horrendously bright light, and the pain increased. Finally, unable to continue to hover there, she fell, close to unconscious.

The other Protectors and the digimon ran close behind Hikari, waiting at the foot of the building. Suddenly, the ground just before them sank down with a cloud of dust, and they glanced down, wondering what had happened.

Shinji stared upwards. The darkened sky…suddenly, even more pain. Her back arched involuntarily, and her mouth opened in a silent cry of agony.

Myotismon stared on in horror as Hikari landed from the air, crushing Shinji's left shin. Bloody wounds, that Shinji possibly wasn't even aware of, leaked blood into the crater-hole. His heart ached terribly and he bit his lip, trying to fight back what felt like tears. He could barely watch as Hikari's hand aimed towards Shinji's head.

"I am sorry, old friend, that it had to be this way." Hikari said in a crystalline voice, "But we cannot allow you to continue to act the way you have. Light's—"

"NO!"

Hikari glanced up, but was knocked aside by a blue blur. Shouts of shock rose up, and Hikari looked back towards the Fallen Child. Myotismon was pulling her down into the shadows rapidly, and Hikari flew forwards. But it was too late; the Fallen Child and her once partner had vanished.

"TRAITOR!" Takeru's cry echoed through the darkness.

Immense pain, darkness, the sensation of being in a small place… Shinji immediately panicked and forced herself out of unconsciousness. She panted with fear; she hated the dark, small spaces.

After vaguely calming down, she looked around with her good eye. Everything was dark, and it felt like a very small space… Could the Protectors know of a silly human-like fear she held? Shaking her head and trying to think of something else, Shinji forced herself to her feet.

Myotismon studied the holes in his partner's…outfit. One of the most interesting, it reminded him of a certain video game villain's outfit. It would take many incantations to fix these problems and improve the clothing. A dull thud made him jump. He readied a Crimson Lightning, holding it tight in his hand.

Could the Protectors have found him? No, it was impossible; this place was too well hidden.

Myotismon nearly laughed when he saw his partner struggle down the stairway, but instead stepped towards her hesitantly.

"T-take me back to my mother and father!" Shinji groaned, trying to keep her hands from shaking. One hand was splayed across the wall around the stairway, the other over a wound in her side. Damn the strange thing around her left leg…

Suddenly, she slipped up from energy loss, and fell down. The traitor was instantly there, holding her up.

"You're all right?" he asked, concern lacing his voice. "Curse you, traitor!" Shinji hissed in reply, "What are you trying to do?!" "I'm trying to keep you from breaking your neck." Myotismon grinned when he said 'trying'. It was incredibly irritating.

"For the second and last time, take me back to my mother and father!" Shinji groaned, clutching his arm painfully with a shaking hand, "I need to train so I can—"

"Destroy the Children of Light, yes I've heard it over a hundred times." Myotismon groaned with mock-annoyance. Shinji grit her teeth in pain, unable to shoot back a scathing retort.

Myotismon lifted the weakened Fallen Child in his arms, with much protest from her. Of course, he didn't pay very much attention, as words sort of slipped through his mind rather easily, and she was too weak to move very much. The vampire digimon carefully set the Fallen Child down on a soft couch, which he had specially positioned by a window.

"You know, you could be a bit more grateful to the mon that just saved your life." Myotismon said lazily, draping a thin, but warm blanket over Shinji, "Now, get some rest. You've been weakened to a point where you're near death."

"So?" Shinji scoffed, "I'm a digimon. If I die, I'll just be reborn." "No, you die." Myotismon said sternly, "Born digimon are very much like humans. You weren't born from an egg, so your original data isn't somewhere out in the world of data."

"Thanks for giving me that morbid piece of information." Shinji snarled, "Now I know that I'm going to die like a damned human." "Oh, shut up and get some rest." Myotismon jokingly growled, "I just risked my neck to save you from Hikari." "First, tell me where I am." Shinji murmured. Myotismon paused. He had taken his partner back to the house once owned by the Shazaki family, but…he didn't want to say that right then. "Nowhere." he finally replied.

Shinji fell quiet, staring out the window. Myotismon rolled his eyes and shook his head. She was certainly a strange one, but that's what he loved about her. He turned to the severely damaged clothes and ran incantations through his head.

"What in the world are you doing?" Shinji's voice came out very meek. "Oh, I'm trying to fix your clothes." Myotismon said without really caring, "Hikari really did a number on them." Shinji sighed and started to sink back into the softness…but then jumped in shock.

"You took off my clothes?" she seemed to…was she squeaking? "Yes…" Myotismon turned slowly, "I had to in order to dress your wounds." He stared at her for a moment. "No, I didn't stare or do anything, and yes, you're wearing something." he read her like a book, "Jeez, you human-raised people are so weird about being seen without clothes." Shinji still seemed tense about something.

"What's wrong?" the vampire digimon asked. "My parents are worried about me." Shinji murmured in reply, "I can feel it." "Hey, stop worrying about them." Myotismon said, "It's only been about a day since I saved you." "I was only unconscious for a day?" Shinji asked, "No wonder everything hurts like hell."

"Yes, so be quiet and get some rest." Myotismon insisted, "Just tell me if you want anything." The two were silent with each other for a moment, and then Myotismon turned back to the tattered clothing.

Shinji stared out the window. The sun seemed to be out, but hidden behind natural rain clouds. Again, the darkness followed her. She lowered her eyes to look down towards her feet, albeit they were under the blanket. This was incredibly strange.

She sent a glance up towards Myotismon. His back was turned, and he didn't seem to notice. Shinji looked back towards her feet.

'He's pretty damn beautiful, isn't he?' the evil little voice that resided in the back of her mind asked, 'You want him? Take him!' "Go to hell." Shinji ordered back, "I hurt, and I'm not about to think about this." 'Ah, you're just worried that he hates you.' the voice cackled, 'He's a traitor to the darkness anyway. Destroy him once you heal.'

"I said, go to hell." Shinji murmured to herself, rolling onto her side, facing away from Myotismon. She fell asleep quickly.

……"Shinji!"……

"Shinji, this is the tenth time you've failed to beat me!"

"I'm sorry, father! You're too strong to be defeated!"

Shinji found herself in a dark memory, of when she was first training. "Gods, not this, please not this…" she dropped to her knees and lowered her head, trying to block it all out.

"Enough!" Devimon shouted, "You must be punished for this failure!" He snapped his fingers and the younger Shinji, the fourteen-year-old Shinji, vanished. Shinji watched on in horror as her worst fear was created. Her younger self floated within a tiny cell of nothingness. Perpetual darkness, even darker than before, surrounded her. No light was there, nothing. Her eyes wouldn't adjust, and she couldn't move or speak. It was like drowning in darkness.

"Let me out!" the twenty-one-year-old Shinji screamed in fear, "Please, gods, let me out! I hate the darkness! I want to be released from it! LET ME GO!"

"Shinji! Shinji!"

Shinji snapped awake. She panted for breath, from fear once more. She clapped her hands over her face, slowly trying to draw in breath. She felt the arms around her, but didn't acknowledge them.

"Shinji, I thought you were truly of the darkness." Myotismon's voice whispered from the darkness, "Why do you want to be released from it?" "Y-you could read my dream?" Shinji's voice sounded as if she were sobbing.

"No, you were screaming in your sleep." Myotismon replied, "H-here." He snapped his fingers and a dim light appeared beside them both; a candle.

"Shinji, I thought you wanted to cover the world in darkness." the vampire digimon rocked the Fallen Child in his arms, "Why do you hate the darkness so?" "I just can't live in it anymore." Shinji replied, "I've had to live in the darkness for seven years. I fear it now." "Small, dark spaces." Myotismon sighed, "You have a severe fear of those."

"I can't escape them!" Shinji grabbed the front of his shirt tightly and buried her face in his chest, "I can never leave them on my own! I can't fight them at all! I always came close to going insane before my father would release me!"

"Sh." Myotismon ran his hand along the top of Shinji's head, "Just calm down and sit still for a moment." The vampire digimon slowly rocked the Fallen Child in his arms, unwilling to let her go.

"You are the Protector of Darkness." he sighed after a few minutes, "For where there is a Protector of Light, there must be a Protector of Darkness."

"How could that be?" Shinji's voice shook dangerously close to a sob, "Why?" "I don't know why." Myotismon whispered, "I just know that you and I are the partners of Darkness. We have always been." He froze, unable to believe what he just felt. He gently pulled Shinji away from his chest.

Her face was wet with tears.

"Myotismon…" she sobbed, "I finally remember you…" She leaned her head down towards him, sniffing with sobs. "I finally remember everything." Shinji whispered, "I can remember Rei and Kagato, and when the other Digi-destined and I were just normal. And I know that I can't possibly shun away from being the Protector of Darkness, when I have been for seven years already." "Shin-chan…" Myotismon sighed with a small smile, "I love you."

"I love you too." Shinji smiled as well, "I've loved you since that one day before we destroyed Machinedramon." The Protector of Darkness leaned forwards slowly, and Myotismon, knowing exactly what she meant, pulled her to him and carefully kissed her.

"Taichi?" Hikari asked. Taichi looked up towards his sister, but he wasn't so sure she was his sister anymore. "Taichi, you wouldn't happen to be plotting revenge, would you?" Hikari asked.

Taichi blinked at the Protector of Light, and then down towards the paper between his hands. He had been plotting to snap a few necks. "No." he lied quickly, crumpling the paper up and shoving it in his jacket pocket.

Hikari stared at his flaming eyes with a minor smile, and raised a finger. The paper flew from Taichi's pocket and into her hands before the Protector of Fire had anything to say about it.

"Ah, so you were planning and drawing out how to snap the Fallen Child's neck?" Hikari looked at him with a smile. "…And Myotismon's." Taichi admitted. "Well, can you blame him?" Yamato asked, "We're all pretty riled up, since you really kicked her ass."

"Yes…" Hikari stared out at the raging storm that had started during the night, "I personally can't believe that I had enough power to do so." Her white eyes stared into the rain. She sighed slightly and began to think. The constant chink of glass against metal didn't seem to bother her at all. Why on earth the other Protectors chose a bar to hang out in, she didn't know.

Hikari knew something. She knew something important. But she didn't dare reveal it to the others. Why wouldn't she say anything? Because she knew it would destroy everything she was working to salvage.

Yes, the Protector of Light and the Protector of Darkness could sense each other's power. Hikari had been able to sense it, even as Myotismon traveled through the Dark Realm. But a rather large burst of her opposite's power had just been displayed a few minutes ago…Hikari wondered why.

"I probably just gave away my position." Shinji said, slightly out of breath. "Yeah, but I think your wounds are healing quicker." Myotismon pulled her closer, "Gods, why in the hell did you let off all that energy?" "It was pent-up, fool." Shinji smiled, resting her head on Myotismon's bare chest. Myotismon's fingers traced the bandage around his love's head, and then slit it cleanly apart.

He traced his finger down her cheek and under her chin, making her look at him. "Y-your eyes!" Myotismon whispered in shock. "I'm not the Fallen Child anymore." Shinji lifted her hand to rest it by his pointed ear, "I'm the Protector of Darkness, and so I look the part." Myotismon continued to stare at her eyes, when she spoke.

"What?" he asked dumbly. "We have to face the other Protectors—" she glanced at a small clock in the room, "We have to face them tomorrow. Otherwise…" Shinji seemed apprehensive to continue. "I know." Myotismon slid his fingers through her hair, "Don't worry."

Hikari barely slept that night. Something was going to happen… Why did everything feel so incomplete at that moment? Unable to stand within the smoke-filled walls of the bar—she still had no clue as to why they were staying there—Hikari walked outside, unafraid of the bouncer that stood guard at the door.

The rain from the storm had turned into a delicate mist that slowly collected, and then dripped down Hikari's face. Various digimon and humans walked by the Protector of Light as she strolled down the sidewalk.

Digimon had been popping up without warning in the Real World. The Real World and Digital World seemed to be crossing over with each other unexpectedly, and it was becoming more frequent. Something was up, and Hikari wanted to know what.

Suddenly, the Protector of Light became aware of her surroundings. She had wandered out of the city and into a desert-like region. It stretched onwards with no end in sight. But that wasn't the real thing she was seeing.

Shinji was standing about ten meters before her, her back turned to the Protector of Light.

"You!" Hikari gasped, raising her hands in a stance, "What on earth are you doing here?"

"You followed my energy signature without even knowing it?" Shinji chuckled, "You are still a child of eight years, Hikari." Hikari mentally cursed her wandering mind, but stood ready. "You will not leave this plain alive!" she growled.

Shinji's form phased out of Hikari's sight, and then she reappeared directly in front of Hikari. Her eyes were closed, and Hikari froze with shock.

"Hikari." a familiar voice said loudly, "Listen to what we have to say first." Hikari glanced to her left; Myotismon was sitting on a rock, staring at the two of them.

Hikari looked back at Shinji, and fell backwards in shock. Shinji grabbed her hand before she fell to the ground and pulled the Protector of Light back to her feet.

"I am no longer the Fallen Child, Hikari." Shinji said softly, "I have never been the Fallen Child. I am the Protector of Darkness, but I simply couldn't see that." Hikari fell backwards again, unable to really register what Shinji had said.

"Hey, did you see a pretty woman leave?" Taichi asked the bouncer. "Yeah." the weak man said, trying to sound tough, "She headed down the street about a half hour ago."

"…Do you understand now?" Shinji finally finished what she started. "So, you are the Protector of Darkness." Hikari sighed, "You do not want to be in the darkness as you have been any longer. And you want to ask for our forgiveness and join us against your mother and father?"

"Yes." Shinji nodded, "So, as my opposite, do you forgive me?" Hikari sighed in thought, staring at her knees.

"PINNACLE OF INFERNO!" "HAIL OF POWER!"

The two attacks streaked through the misty air and crashed into the Protector of Darkness. Shinji flew through the air, severe burns and frozen patches erupting on her skin.

"Hikari!" Takeru ran up and pulled Hikari up to her feet, "Are you all right?" Hikari stared at the fallen digimon a few meters away.

"Shinji!" Myotismon started towards the woman. "SPIRIT SHOT!" Takeru quickly fired a shot of energy. It delved deep into the vampire digimon's side and he collapsed to the ground, a deep wound bleeding heavily.

Shinji stared up at the sky. The pain was back again. It hurt worse than before, it hurt worse than when the light had nearly destroyed her. She heard the call of her name, the panting of pain from the vampire digimon, the dripping of blood onto the ground…

Her sight turned red as blood ran into her eyes. Her open eyes… She didn't blink. Shinji hurt too badly to blink.

Suddenly, someone had grabbed her collar. The blurred image of the Protector of Fire came to her blood-sight, but his angry words never reached her.

"Aren't you going to smile?!" Taichi shouted, shaking Shinji by the collar roughly, "The traitor to the darkness is dying because of you!" Shinji's red eyes stared on, never blinking. Her face seemed to be placid, but that only angered Taichi more.

"SMILE, DAMN YOU!" Taichi forced a Fury Punch into her stomach. Shinji's back arched, but her face remained placid. Taichi pulled his hand back. It was covered in red blood.

"Taichi, stop…" Myotismon tried to speak, holding his side, "You can't…" "Go to hell!" Taichi ordered. He turned back to the senseless digimon he was holding.

Shinji took in a sharp breath and a small smile came onto her face. "I…" she whispered, "It doesn't hurt anymore. I…" "You what?!" Taichi shook her harder, "You WHAT?!"

"I can hear them." Shinji laughed slightly, "I can hear…Rei…and Kagato…" "Who?" Taichi hissed. "My mother…and my father…" Shinji laughed, "I think I can hear them…" She smiled, and then coughed away from Taichi, blood flecks dripping into the puddles around them.

"I can hear them…" Shinji smiled, looking away from Taichi, "They don't mind that I've done such horrible things to my friends. They still love me…" "We aren't your friends!" Taichi shouted.

Shinji's eyes closed, and tears slid down her face. But…they were tears of blood. The blood pooled in her eyes…

She opened her eyes slowly, and Taichi drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes…they were completely blue… They were the same blue she had had when she was like a human…her eyes reflected the light and shimmered with the pale darkness that she was… Taichi dropped her to the ground. "Taichi, kill her and be done with it!" Yamato snapped. Taichi stared at Shinji.

Real tears appeared in Shinji's blue eyes and she drew in shaking breaths. The clear tears washed away the blood and left streaks of red on her face.

"S-so this is how…" she said in the softest whisper, cringing, "…how it feels to…die." She coughed, blood flecks dying the puddles red once more. She smiled slightly, and then her eyes closed slowly.

"Oh no!" Taichi whispered, "Oh no, no, no!" He dropped down to his knees and grabbed Shinji's shoulders. "No, please, don't be dead, no!" he shook her slightly, "Don't be dead, don't!"

"Taichi, what the hell are you doing?" Jyou growled, "Kill her and be done with it!" "NO!" Taichi yelled, tears welling in his flame eyes, "Wake up! Get up! Make a joke, taunt me about my hair, laugh about Agumon! Do something! Please, don't be dead!"

Shinji coughed again, her hand twitching. Taichi drew in a breath and applied a bone-crushing hug to the Protector of Darkness. Of course…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"