The Game that Gods play 2

A/N = If it took me so little to typed down and post this, you have to thank (blame…?) who reviewed the first chapter of this fic, making me feel loved!! ::cheers:: Thank you, minna-san!! I luv ya! =) in particular, I want to thank Ria, Kendra and k-chan for bearing with me and my constant babbling and wining ^^ ::huge hug:: And a great-great-great 'thank you' goes to (in wonderfully unconditional, random order): Kelly, Michiko, Satsuki, Billie, Manami, T-chan, Dragonflie (Dragonflie, I hope you're reading this!!! Expect my reply to your mail soon! Do you have ICQ? Or AIM? We could meet there!! = ) and –of course- Kyle for reviewing my lil' ficcie ::bows:: =D

Disclaimer = Dai-chan is mine, so is Ken-chan, Wallace-kun, Tai, Hikari, Yamato and all the characters you'll see in this series. ::pauses:: ehy! Look! A flying pig!!!! X_X ::coughs:: Err..........gomen ^^;;

Warnings = The same as last time - This fanfic is the culmination of too many rainy evenings spent playing the Digimon RPG game and various Squaresoft RPG, reading manga whose plots remind the Pink Panther's and watching Neon Genesis Evangelion. As a result it is very long and very twisted, not to mention that it sports a lot of religious stuff and an enormous amount of heterosexual, yaoi and maybe yuri couples. Main couples? At the moment, Kensuke and Wallsuke. Boys fighting over a boy's affection!!! And this boy claims to be straight, too!!!!! ::smells troubles::

Dedication time!! = To my cousin Kyle. Plus the Wallsuke bits are for k-chan, while Lord Van's feelings for a certain brunette has been added for the one and only Kendra, the digimon Empress. =)

Soundtrack = ::coughs:: What?! I *did* type this down listening to something utterly inspiring!! And this something was Enigma!!!! In particular, when you stumble across the only scene in Ken POV, I suggest you to listen to "Prism of life" from their CD "Le Roi es Mort, Vive le Roi!". When he starts moving through his room nak-- ::cut off by Ken's hand pressed over her mouth::

Ken = ::hisses:: No need to give out *such* details!!! ::blushes::

::nods and Ken lets her go:: anyway, picture him walking at the rhythm of that song!! The effect is guaranteed!!! =)

The Game that Gods play

Chapter 02 – With the blessing of the full Moon

* Wallace's POV *

I'm sitting down on the bed in the chamber they assigned me when someone begins to bang on my door. I smile inwardly as I walk over to the door and open it, seeing whom I was fully expecting to see behind it storming into the room.

"What brings you here in such an hurry, Dai-chan?" I ask, pretending to be oblivious to the cause of his hurry.

He glares at me and I find myself chuckling at his cute face. He resembles a three years old when he pouts and he's absolutely adorable.

"What_the_*hell*_are_*you*_doing_*here*?" I watch him stomping forward enclosed in a fog of anger and suddenly understand this is going to be more painfully that what I thought. I just walk out my room and glance at him quizzically, gesturing him to follow me. I begin to walk, not caring to control he's following me. I know he's. In fact he catches up with me midway through the passageway for the main hall. The door opens and our feet clang on the suspended platform.

Peering through the glass ceiling, I can see the first stars twinkling in the velvet sky like a thousand diamonds. Why, I've never seen so many stars. In the 3rd Class Block the sky was barely visible, hidden by the shapes of our housing blocks, piled as cellars of an immense beehive. But here… the sky's so blue, glowing softly as if for an inborn brilliance of its. And it is so clear, cloudless and pure that in the distance I can see the gentle radiance of the other academy areas filling the heavens in a rainbow of wavering blurred flames. Not even when I lived in Tokyo, on the Earth surface, I saw a sky so perfect. Coming to think about it, it isn't strange, considering how closer to the heavens we're from here. In every possible meaning. This immense Academy –called Sephiroth in its entirety- floats in the skies with his complex of parks, shops, apartment complexes and –of course- the school and the Tamer station. A little Paradise for wandering souls, a place where we're trying to reconstitute Eden on Earth. When we'll have exterminated every virus digimon and put a hold on the violence that racks the surface, we'll have created an artificial Eden where to live finally at peace.

"Wallace" Daisuke whispers quietly as he secures my right arm in his perfectly tanned fingers gently, putting just enough pressure to force me to stop, but not enough to hurt me. I don't even turn around, sighing inwardly.

"You've changed. I don't even recognize you anymore."

"Uh?!" He blinks owlishly, prior to let sparkling auburn eyes run down his body in a mimic of what my hands dream to do. "What'cha talking about?!" I stop abruptly and he does too. I hear his loud swallowing and turn slowly around, moving a stray of golden from my forehead.

"Not 'hi Wallace, I'm happy to see you.' Or 'how are you?' or something on these lines. Just 'What the hell are you doing here?' Don't I even deserve a better greeting?"

"I…" he bit his bottom lip, cheeks flushed and eyes cast downwards.

"Don't worry, Dai. I understand if you--"

"I'm happy to see you. After all these years…" He says at least, molten brown drifting into pale indigo. "But… this… I wasn't expecting *this*."

"Of course not." I frown; erasing the smile his earlier words were leading to my lips.

"Listen Wallace…"

"Listen to what?!" I shake my head, an annoyed grunt thrusting out my lips. He walks in front of me, forcing me to look at him.

"Wallace, please… refuse Taichi's order and come back home. For my sake."

"Never." Oh my… that disturbing hiss was my voice…? And is that what brought this pained frown on Daisuke's features…? I lick my lips, shaking my head once again before lock our gazes together. "No, Dai. Never. I left the 3rd Class block to move permanently here in the Academy's Core. I've no home to come back." I look away, feeling my cheeks flushed. "I did this for you, I moved here to be close to you, and yet you're so cold…"

"What are you talking about?!"

"I love you, remember? How could you forget that?" His cheeks tinge, and I'm not sure is if it has happened out of embarrassment or of a some kind of rage.

"Wallace I…"

"Don't' swing that way. I know, you told me loads of times." I sigh, looking deeper into his eyes. "Liar."

He gulps, straightening his shoulders.

"But I forgive you for not caring about me *that* way. You always cared more about him anyway."

"That's a lie!!" he shouts, clear eyes narrowing and eyebrows knitting together. "I don't…"

On sheer impulse, I reach out and take his chin in two fingers, lifting his face to mine with a soft pressure. "You're so wonderful…you already were even before you moved from the 1st Class block to live in the Academy… even before you entered the Sephiroth. It's a shame he is the one that made you realize your orientation. I always wanted to be the one to…"

He angrily frees from my grasp with a rough tug, glaring at me all the time. He opens his mouth to reply, but I cut him off, smiling.

"I know there's only room for him in your heart, but I'm here to make you change your mind. I'll get rid of him, don't worry."

His eyes go huge in fear and he looks even more wonderful than usual, molten chocolate brown eyes have transformed in bottomless lakes, openings toward interminable secrets designed only to please and amaze. It always makes me feel like I would fall into them every time he looks at me. Such beautiful eyes. One of the many things about him I fell in love with. A lock of wild russet falls over his eyes, but he doesn't seem to care about it.

"What are you here for, Wallace?" He swallows, completely terrified at the idea I could hurt the one I *know* he loves even if he denied it thousands and thousands times.

"That's restricted... But I guess I can tell." I move closer to whisper in his ear, teasing his earlobe with my tongue at the end of my statement. "…I've been chosen by Lord Van to become a Lance…" we move away at the same time. The only difference is that I pull back at a snail's pace, while he literally jumps backward, eyes wide.

"No…" he chokes.

* * * * *

* Daisuke's POV *

"No…" I choke, my throat feeling dry all of a sudden. A Lance? Wallace? And he's here for him?! No… no, no… no!!!

I watch mutely as he nods, still smiling innocently like the blonde little angel of my childhood. "At 7, I entered the Sephiroth... at 11 I graduated, achieving the honour to be the youngest Tamer ever… and at 17, I earned a Lance's position. What's wrong? Aren't you proud?"

"PROUD?!" I gasp, horrified. "A Lance's duty is to kill and destroy! A Lance makes the dirty job a Tamer can't officially take care of!"

"I know." He nods slowly, looking completely calm and at ease. "But we do it for a final purpose that's superior than mere mortals lives terminated."

"Why are you here, Wallace…?"

To my own shock he just shrugs, shoving his hands in his uniform pants' pockets.

"To purge, why else? You may know this already; your beloved Thief has stolen ancients relics which are told to be designed to lead to an immense power once reunited. And the main pieces are already in that vulgar Lamb's hand. He's going to use the artefacts' power to destroy the Academy and God knows what else. Are you going to allow that?"

"You can't be serious…" I pause, looking at him tilting his head in a gesture than hints clearly that he's waiting for my answer. "That may be so." I say dryly.

"You'd let him go?"

"And if that's so?" I raise my chin proudly, looking more secure than how I really feel. "Do we have the right to exterminate a life like this? Lambs… Seraphs… Lances…they're human... *we*'re *all* human! I wouldn't go along with an homicide just because someone ordered me."

"Is *that* what bothers you?" He blinks, tilting his head to the other side. Then he frowns slightly, blinking quicker than before. "Since when do you have such doubts? You're a 1st class citizen, one of the rare pure Seraphs, and you should know that deceit, betrayal, massacre, murders and all that are only vane products of the Lamb's minds. You're right on one point, though… people are people. To me Lambs and Seraphs are the same. The only difference is personal ability. The inferior must be led by the wise, and those Lambs' inferiority is something you can't deny. Our purpose of existence is to subordinate them and lead them where they belong."

"You were originally a low-level land dweller!!" I cry, waving my balled fists at my sides. "Your father's a Lamb, your grandfather was a Lamb and his father was too!! So why...?"

"I've been chosen by Lord Van himself!!!" He yells, ocean eyes narrowing and darkening, clouded by steel storm clouds. "Don't regard me as the same as those stupid Lambs! Yes, well... I was a low-level citizen myself, but I'm going to purge the Lambs, 'cause I'm not a Lamb anymore! I'm not even a land-dweller anymore! I'm a Tamer who's allowed to live in the Sephiroth! A Lance!! I want everyone to see with their own eyes what I can do!!"

"So the wise harming the weak is a sign of ability?!" I rage, grabbing my precious goggles and throwing them to the ground, "Then I don't want that kind of ability!!! For God's sake!" I growl, anger and sorrow barely held back wavering my usually strong voice. "What happened to the old you? You used to be shy… kind… honest. Cheerful and pure! Now you are a snake talking to me with a forked tongue!!!!"

I bit my bottom lip, regretting the words the same moment they escaped my lips. This is Wallace we're talking about here… my childhood friend, the boy I grew up with before moving to live in the Academy and meeting my Ken. The boy I've exchanged endless letters with for years.

My shame is covering me like a blanket, and I'm desperate to apologize. A simple discussion can't change the feelings of a childhood spent together, and I want him to know that –no matter what- he'll always be my blonde little angel. I open my mouth, ready to apologize and to see him righteously get mad at me but, to my horror, he just laughs, whirling around and pacing forward, hands still in his pockets. "The little boy you knew grew up."

* * * * *

* Taichi's POV *

Casting a quick glance at my wristwatch, I wet my lips nervously, staring uncertainly at the huge door looming in front of me. I hear the heels of my black lucid boots click on the iridescent tiled floor of the Academy. The whole place has this ethereal halo to it, but this area is literally heart-melting. Iridescent strokes of blue and lavender embellishes glimmering marble walls and nearly transparent hallways. The light's provided by huge spheres hanging down form the high ceiling, spreading a soft azure radiance all over. I rap my knuckles against the gold gilded door almost timidly, half-fearing an animal roar to answer me and half-waiting for an almost musical voice to do it.

"…Lord Van…?"

With a smile on my tanned face I remember he gave me permission to enter his private room without knocking, so I push the door open and limp inside noiselessly.

"Lord Van?" I ask, raising my voice a little. My breath gets caught in my throat and I stood silently at the doorway, spotting the Academy Master in a corner. His golden hair's shimmering in red as it dances in midair, moved by a breeze I fail to feel over my skin. He slowly stands up, drawing his hands over his low neckline, brushing away a loose lock of golden caressing the pale skin at the base of his throat. His earring clicks quietly a he tilts his head, opening his eyes to focus the blue orbs on me. His eyes are so blue, just like the calming sea after a storm and seem to look contemporarily at, through and inside me. It chills me to my bone, but it's not really unpleasant…

"Child, tell me what's troubling you," I jump, suddenly knocked out of my thinking as he advances toward me, reaching out a gloved hand to my chin and lifting my face to let our eyes meet. He's smiling warmly now, revealing a row of white teeth. "You must never hide anything from me. I can make everything better." He whispers as he reaches over to stroke my amber cheek with a slender finger. I look down, focusing my attention on the glimmering black marble of his bedroom's floor. I lick my lips again, shocked with how uneasy this man can make me feel.

"I… don't like the idea of Daisuke being with a Lance." I say in a barely audible whisper.

"Are you questioning my decision, I take?"

"NO!" I hurry to explain, my head snapping upward to make our eyes meet again. Wrong move. Now I'm pinned down, hypnotized by this looks which –to me- reminds the one a snake gives to his prey before swallow it mercilessly, not even denying it to be munched and savoured. Or maybe that's the look of the bad wolf from the fables my granny told me when I was little. The bad wolf that enchants innocents lambs and devours them when he has their utter trust. "I mean…" I lick my lips again, and this gesture seems to bring his gaze down from my eyes to my mouth, leaving me free to move. "I'd never question your orders… is just… I don't… like this one… much." I swallow. Damn. I had a way out served on a silver plate under my nose and then I go and waste it like this. Good work Tai!!

"It's alright." I hear him whispering under his breath. "What needs to be done will be done."

His finger leaves my face and when he turns his back at me I find my self rub the back of my hand over the point of contact, but I'm not sure if I'm cleaning the lingering sensations away or if I'm trying to pin them there. "And the young Lance will take care of everything."

I frown, despite myself. Am I not needed anymore then?

Lord Van turns around slowly, tilting only his head at first and then moving his shoulders until he's facing me completely. "But don't fear… you'll always be needed here. I'll always need you." A gulp dies in my throat and my shoulders straighten in a rough jerk. Did he just… read my thought?! It can't…

"But we need the Lance to take care of this…" he waves one of his hand dismissively and I relax, taking in a deep breath that causes my shoulders to sag and my neck to tilt downward. "The 'Lance' was created as a Sephiroth sub-organization and given the task of managing rebellious earth dwellers, particularly violent phenomenon and such annoying incidental expenses. But over the years the 'Lance' started to transform… and now Lances seek the truth, gathering and leading ignorant masses with the final aim to create an ultimate Utopia. And this one Lance is really promising… what's his name? Ah… Wallace, I do believe that's his name." He smiles even warmer than before, taking a firm step toward me. " You can be at ease, my dear Taichi. The young Wallace is a virtuous man who will shed blood only to the final purpose to create Eden."

I smile nervously, nodding slightly to him. He's right… we're fighting to create a better place where digimon, Lambs and Seraphs can coexist pacifically. There's no need to worry… If Lord Van says there's no danger, then there isn't any. If something will need to be annihilated to reach our aim… it will be… for the welfare of everyone.

…won't it…?

* * * * *

* Miyako's POV *

~*~ All cadets who'll participate at tonight's mission, assemble in the 1st floor hall in front of the main entrance immediately.

Repeat...

All cadets who'll participate at tonight's mission, assemble in the 1st floor hall in front of the main entrance immediately. ~*~

"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!" I shriek loudly, jogging down the seemingly endless corridor that will lead me to the main hall. How have I managed to oversleep?! Damn-damn-damn-DAMN!!! At my side, Hawkmon is dashing madly, and occasionally I can see at the corner of my eyes one of his russet feathers leave his body to float in the air and fell ceremoniously in the ground, to add to the long trail that starts from my room. I'm on the verge of saying something about it when I notice Iori walking quietly to the elevator and stepping in with nonchalance. "HOLD THAT ELEVATOR!!!!!" I panic, and he gulps, automatically reaching a hand out to stop the door from closing. I literally catapult myself inside, saving my self a face-to-face encounter with the wall for God knows what kind of miracle. Iori blinks up at me as I pant loudly, one hand on my chest and the other on the mirror in the back of the elevator. At my feet Hawkmon is doing the same, helped up and patted in the back by and omni-present and super kind Armadillomon.

My friend raises a finger and one of his slim eyebrows at me, opening his mouth. Before he can emit a sound I cut him though, placing a hand few inches in front of his nose. Blinking quickly at my palm he closes his mouth with a rather amusing soft 'thud'; but –having not enough breathe left to chuckle- I only swallow soundly. Then I breathe deeply, exhaling more air than what I'm inspiring. I repeat the sequence a few times, until my soar throat seems willing to follow what my brain asks it to do.

"I… *swallow* didn't want to… *pant* be late…" I swallow again at the end of the sentence and Iori shook his head mutely, raising both his eyebrows in mock amusement.

"You only want to know more about the cadet transferred from the Eastern area, don't you?"

"What?" I shrike indignantly, pissed off by the fact he knows me so well. "I just want to… err… help Daisuke to resolve his case, that's all."

Iori narrows his big green orbs in that particular look of his that makes you feel a little child scolded by a wise old man even if he's fairly younger than you.

"Miyako…"

"Okay-okay!" I wave at him, pushing the bottom for the first floor with a rough gesture. "He's =damn= cute and Daisuke looks at him strangely…"

"Miyako…"

"It's none of my business, I know! But can you blame me?!"

"Miyako…"

"I mean did you see his eyes?!"

"…Miyako…"

"And the way Daisuke's jaw hit the ground when they meet, uh?! Did ya see it??"

"…Mi…yako…"

"I know, I know! Mind-your-business. But he--"

"MIYAKO!"

Startled to death I blink, my heart doing cartwheels in my ribcage. "What?"

"Did you take your D3?"

My eyes grow so huge I'm just waiting for them to pop out my head and roll on the floor.

"Run that by me again?"

"I knew…" he sighs resignedly, handing me my precious D3. "You left it in the classroom today." He explains quietly. Nodding distractedly to him, I turn on the D3 carefully and I first choose the Tutorial option on top. The D3 checks the directory automatically and informs me all my digimon are all right and waiting in the 011 hangar. With a sigh of relief I close the little terminal and place it carefully in my uniform jacket's pocket, nodding at my brown haired friend and smiling at him my appreciation.

"You should pay more attention to it, Miyako-san." He says slowly, while I bent down to collect a still panting Hawkmon in my arms. "Without it, you can't access your ringed digimon's files…"

"I know," I nod politely, biting my bottom lip. I look through the glass wall of the elevator fogged by the evening mist. The night has creeped up the sky, enclosing the world in its velvet purple mantel. In-between lazy steel clouds, dozens of stars wink playfully down at me, innocent, pure and bare and yet as tainted as the centuries of sinners they've shone upon. Far away, trees willows and flutters in the slight breeze that carries around the soft noises of the generators sustaining this floating island. Soft traces of a low sneering directed at us mortals illuminating the once peaceful twilight.

"Iori? I… don't like that."

"What?"

"Ring those poor digimon only because we can synchronize with only one digital partner." I shake my head, gaining an odd look from him. "I mean… they're alive… they've feelings…" On instinct, I hug Hawkmon closer to my chest and the single feather standing proud on the back of his head tickles my chin as he looks up at me. "I don't like the idea of forcing them to do anything. To use them as weapons… the simply idea of *using* them is disgusting!"

His eyes, which have been fixed on me the whole time, divert their focus on his feet and he lets loose a soft sigh, straightening his shoulders. "Miyako-san… this borders blasphemy…" he sighs softly, petite lips puckered in sadness. "But I know how you feel…" he shifts uncomfortably in the silence, casting a quick glance at his Armadillomon and smiling softly at him. "But at least, we don't have to ring our righteous partner. We can call this a consolation, can't we?"

"I suppose…" I nod unsurely, still hugging Hawkmon to me. "Who created the dark rings anyway? They're so… so…" I dance my head around, mimicking what I'd do with my hands if they were free.

"Genial?"

"Nope."

"Great?"

"Uhn."

"Amazing?"

"No…"

"…err… I fear I ran out of adjectives."

"Evil." I mull quietly. "They're evil."

* * * * *

* Daisuke's POV *

I slowly work my way down the hall to the 1s floor lobby, my head hung low, my steps heavy and yet my ears are pricked up, listening for any kind of unusual sound. Out of training I suppose. I let loose a tired, sort of labored sigh as I stagger into the huge hall, coming in just a few moments before Iori and Miyako dash inside. I follow with clouded eyes Wallace as he straggles over one of the benches that round the column of the elevator, flopping down noiselessly, leaning back and tipping his head skywards in the same motion. He watches with what seems fascination the neon lights burning under the iridescent ceiling prior to close his eyes and settle down for a mute waiting.

His (our) waiting doesn't last long and it's shattered rather violently when Chief Taichi steps inside the room, shoulders tense and face scolded in a serious look. I instinctively reach out for my goggles, regretting the foolishness that made me throw them carelessly to the ground. Taichi gifted these to me the first day I arrived here. Dozens and dozens of children had been gathered in what once was Odaiba's TV Station to test their reaction to the digital powers that fateful day. As far as I could see there were children -lots of children- scared and lost. I heard the roar of their cries echoing maddeningly in my eras, confusing and melting with the sound of my own heart, beating as fast as a jackhammer. Little bodies laid everywhere, scattered like leaves in the wind. Some of them were sitting quietly, petrified in terror or maybe worn out by hours of crying, but most were crying desperately, nearly convulsing with sobs.

As my eyes wandered over each and every little head, as to commit to memory as much faces as possible, I began to move, my legs following their own will. And soon enough I let go the comforting warmth of my sister's hand and began to reassure everyone who needed it. I kneeled beside them, hugged some and punched others. I laughed with them, joked, played and hushed. But there were so much of them… so much I could barely see them all. Paralyzed in what seemed the middle of the room, I tipped my head up, blinking in the radiance smiling down at me from the huge window above. I blinked slowly, suddenly caught in a some sort of lazy spell. Then, I numbly realized that my opened mouth was trembling and soon a lone, burning droplet broke free his cage of molten brown and slid down my cheek, splashing at my feet. I bowed my head and wiped hastily my eyes, refusing to acknowledge the burning moisture quickly welling up in their depths. And when I looked up I saw, through blurred spots of color, a boy not too older than me. He was walking among the now relatively calm children, advancing toward me with a smile that seemed designed only for me.

"Good work." He smiled and ruffled my hair, accomplishing the motion with all the serene glee and wise pride of a full grown-up man. I blinked up at him, standing there in the sunlight with his hair covered with a halo of gold. Then his smile shifted to a grin, and one slightly tanned hand reached out for the odd goggles shining proudly on top of his head. "Never lose this courage of yours." He said, taking my hand- still moist with tears- and carefully laying the goggles upon my palm. I blinked down at the goggles and then up at him, but he was already walking away, shouting around at what seemed soldiers to start leading children to the Airship.

From that day on, I've always worn this goggles. But I threw them away before in the alley, 'cause I had lost my courage for a moment. I've been scared for an eternal second and I couldn't wear Taichi's goggles anymore. That's why I threw them away. My courage wasn't with me in that moment, so Taichi's goggles had to be gone with it, as is righteous. It's an odd logic, more mere insanity than logic maybe, but to me it still makes sense. Taichi's the most courageous boy I've ever known and he proved it to me soon after giving me his goggles, fighting alone some soldiers who were trying to hurt those children who were still to scared to follow them.

A smile tugs up my lips as I remember how this all made me meet Ken… my Ken-chan…

Turning his back to me, Taichi had already walked up to what now I know were his subordinates. Smiling with renewed strength, I decided it was time to follow that still unknown brunette's lead and roll up my sleeves. So, once again I began to scuttle around the room, using every trick I knew to make those children smile until, inevitably, it was time for me to get aboard the ship to the Sephiroth. I don't know how they found out I can synchronize with a digimon. Maybe that rainbow hued light spreading across the room was a some sort of scanner… I truly don't care, anyway. Once aboard, I was pleased to be welcomed by Jun's warm embrace. She had been chosen too, and I thank every deity for this. I'm one of those people who always want to be themselves, true to his deeper nature, no matter what. Jun's just like me, always ready to fight for what she believes in and ready to go even against me if it's required... And she knows I'll always back her up. But for this entrenched similarity of ours we used –okay, use- to get in a lot of fights. I remember I busted her lips once. And she busted mine in return. I guess our relationship is weird, but I can't explain how grateful I'm that she's here.

But once free from her hug, I whole-heartedly teased her, eliciting one of those angry grunt I like so much to see her perform, eyes narrowed and teeth bared. Laughing my head off, I ran away through the endless corridors of an airship that resembled a huge castle, until suddenly, I tripped. Lucky for me, I landed on something warm and soft, something I had the instinctive reaction to nuzzle against. Then, head snapping up with eagerness to see what I was lying upon, I found myself staring into closed eyes I knew to be bottomless even before the ivory lids fluttered up. And as they did, my heart did too. It had never happened before, so I gasped, scared, pressing a hand against my chest.

"Are you all right…?" Warm breath teased my earlobe as the words were spoken and I linked my eyes with those bottomless orbs of molten purple, nodding mutely. The boy in front of me smiled, and my heart did a funny thing I still can't explain or understand. I slowly moved away, rising up in a kneeling position and helping him up.

"…'m sorry… I wasn't looking where I was going…"

"Nothing…" he smiled softly. And reached out to touch gentle fingertips to my arm. "You seem like you've had a little fall. Was your body broken?" Mutely, I shook my head, unable to tear my eyes off him.

There was something about him that caught my attention. Maybe his eyes…his amethyst-blue eyes kind but lonely. They were strangely heart fluttering. I knew he was special somehow, but I didn't know why. He was beautiful and I couldn't help but compare him to a little angel on earth. Part of myself wanted to melt and let my heart did these funny things it seemed to like to do when those navy-haired boy was near. The other part of me wanted to run. And was thinking about Wallace and his supposed feelings for me, too. I hadn't seen him in 3 years, since he had been brought to the Sephiroth, but somehow looking in those amethyst eyes made me think about all his endless speeches about his eternal love for me.

I reached out and stroked his ivory cheek, tracing with a fingertip the tiny rivulet of tears drying on the soft skin. And the boy who resembled an angel blinked at me. "You cried…" I explained in a voice so soft that didn't even seem mine. He bit his now quivering lip, stray tears rolling down his face.

"I…"

I hushed him by hugging him gently, guiding his face to my chest and reaching out to tangle my hand in his hair, which gleamed in the artificial light of the alley. "I know…" I said softly. "I'm here."

It wasn't that after a few hours that we parted. And when he smiled at me I decided he *was* an Angel. *My* Angel, since I was the one who had found him, wounded and hurting, after his fall from the heavens.

"Ken." Was all he whispered softly, sniffling a bit.

"Daisuke." I replied, reaching up touch my finger to his lips. "Ken-chan."

Leaning a bit in the tiny contact he smiled and it was a strange pleasure feeling his lips curve under the sensitive skin of my fingertip. "Dai-chan."

"Dai-chan?"

"Dai-chan?"

"DAI-CHAN?!"

"WHAT?!"

* * * * *

* Iori's POV *

"WHAT?!" My russet-haired friend literally jumps, alarmed wide eyes darting on us.

"Geee… calm down, Dai." Miyako pouts at my side, hands on her hips. "Why so jumpy? Did you do something you shouldn't have?"

I blink up at my lavender haired Senpai before focus back on the evidently dazed off Daisuke. One tan hand reaches out to run through wild spikes, and he's licking his lips, looking around him with a pensive and slightly puzzled countenance. He's blinking rather quickly, his gaze darting around as if to reassure him about being really where he thinks he is.

"You seemed lost in thought." I offer slowly. "Something's wrong?"

With a shrug he shoves his head in his pockets, bending slightly backward. "Naaaa… I'm fine."

I give my head a slight toss, showing outside an acceptance I fail to feel deep inside. I'm not that good at guessing, but I know my Senpai is *not* fine at all. Even a fool would understand something's going on in his head. Something related to this new cadet, judging by the worried glances Daisuke keeps casting at him every now and then. There is silence for an eternity before Lord Van himself walks through the large intricate door that graces the hall, crossing the iridescent floor to a huge collection of transparent greenish pipes running around the main column of the elevator. His face's as pale as that of a nocturnal vampire. The tight raven uniform wraps every curve of his body so tightly that one can see every strong muscle squirm underneath. And his golden hair shimmers with bizarre red flickers. Immediately, chief Taichi walks noiselessly up to him, head bowed in a respect I can't understand. I don't mind if that's blasphemy… I can't make my heart trust this man. I'd say he's evil, but I know he is not. He's our benefactor, a man fighting for a dream that will lead every single creature of this world to a better era, a new world of peace and understanding. He's a hero, isn't he?

Lord Van spreads his arms out, smiling gracefully at his audience.

"First of all, let me congratulate you on the results of you latest test. You all…" he says with a smile that tastes as fake. "…are the elite of all the cadets reunited in the Sephiroth." Here he pauses, letting his hands fall loosely at his sides. "From here, you'll be dispatched throughout the world as Tamers. Tamers is the code name for the finest soldiers of our world, Sephiroth special combat force. But, this is only the one side of Tamers revealed to the land dwellers... you all fight the evil on Earth, and when the time comes, Tamers will create the new Eden and a new era will began!" With that he turns, giving the new cadet his best smile. I roll my eyes, despising the danger to be pointed as a blasphemer. Every time a new cadet… a new 'pearl' of his is transferred here in the Core of the Academy, Lord Van honours us of one of these sublime speeches of his. It seems like he wants us to proclaim out loud that we're on the right side of the barricade. Like he fears we could forget we're the 'good guys'. It's half-annoying and half-upsetting, coming to think about it.

Why does he care so much about making clear *we* are right? To me… it seems like… it's otherwise. And that all his efforts are spent to trick us and veil the truth that lies who knows where. But I'm being paranoid, am I not? As I said… he's a hero… right?

"My order is to catch the subject memorized in the MAGI's central databank under the code 127-ZX-130027-PW and retrieve all the stolen artefacts currently in his hands. This subject is *evil*, my children, and potentially dangerous, since his main objective is to gain endless power and shatter our Utopia. He's the darkness we've been sent to destroy. He's the tempting devil. Be careful and don't let him fool you. I know this task I'm asking you to accomplish is dangerous, but to help you, my dears…" he reaches a hand out to the blonde cadet, who steps out of the shadow he was lurking in to reach Lord Van on the little podium, smiling proudly. "…we welcomed in the Core a new cadet."

"Tamer 0023 – class A – level Chief – licensed to raise up to 10 digimon from level in-training to Mega – owner of the only pair of twin digimon known. My name's Wallace. Pleased to meet you." He bows politely, his lips curving in a smile so bright it nearly blinds me.

Chief Taichi gasps, auburn eyes widening in disbelief. And amazed cries escape our mouths- hanging open in shock. The only pair of digimon existing is synchronized with him… and he's the younger Chief I've ever seen. And he's a one of the best cadet ever it seems, considering that he's one of the three level A Tamers ever existed and that even Taichi's licence allows him to raise only 7 digimon.

Lord Van reaches over to stroke Wallace's pale cheek with his talons and the reactions of the Chiefs at his sides are immediate and… there's a strange contrast between them, I may add. Chief Wallace looks up, and cocks his head to a side, his clear smile still on his lips. But Chief Taichi grits his teeth, narrowing his eyes to glowing cracks, a sound halfway between a growl and a grunt escaping his pursed lips.

After flashing both boys a smile, Lord Van turns his attention back to us, a some sort of unjustified delight crossing over his countenance. "This is the current situation. 3 hours after the Aphrodite's eye has been stolen, MAGI was asked to calculate the most probable next target. For the past 26 hours, it has been processing data and at the present time, we are in the process of deploying."

"14 soldiers -- separated into Squads A-D -- will participate to this mission. Members of Squads C and D are already in their respective hangar bays, waiting for further instruction. They'll be your backup and will intervene only if Squads A and B fail. Tamers – class B – level Champion – number 011 and 012…" I straighten my shoulders hearing Miyako's and mine code numbers being called. "Will make up squad B. As is righteous, Tamer – class E – level In-training – number 010 " That's Daisuke "Will make up squad A, but this time Chief Wallace will be his supervisor." Both Daisuke and Taichi clench their fists, lower their eyes to tiny slits and nod.

"It doesn't mean anything that you're about to clash a robber. The place where you are going to must be considered as an actual battlefield, so you be ready to face both victory and defeat, life and death. Your life can be in danger, I hope you are fully aware of this." He pauses to allow us to nod and then nods back, still smiling rather predatorily. "You will disembark Sephiroth on your own flying digimon and then move quickly to reach the Tamachi Museum of Ancient Art and protect…"

"…the Mermaid's tear…" I whip around to see Daisuke regard our superiors with a narrowed glare, half satisfied, half angry. And I whip back around as soon as Lord Van himself confirms the thief's next target is this jewel named "Mermaid's tear". I'm… amazed, to put it lightly. It doesn't matter how clueless when can be, Daisuke *always* knows what this thief is planning. There's this strange connection between the two… I don't know how to explain it, but they seem to share a link way deeper than what we can imagine. In a way it's scaring that our enemy and our comrade are so close, but I trust my Senpai with my life. Actually, is this inexplicable bond between them what convinced Lord Van to allow a Level E Tamer to take care of such an important case.

"We'll be disembarking any time now. Prepare yourselves well. That is all. If anyone still has questions, please direct them to Wallace. Dismissed." With that he turns and walks away, Chief Taichi following close behind after casting a last glance at us- or better at Daisuke and Wallace. Once they disappear behind the fine chiselled door they had previously come in through, I turn toward Wallace and find him chatting politely with Miyako. But, for what I can see, his gaze goes past my lavender haired friend and his fixed on the goggled boy behind her. And Daisuke's his reciprocating the glare, holding up a staring contest that – I've to admit – gives me gooseflesh. Arching an eyebrow, I approach them as quietly as I can, careful not to disturb them even if –I'm almost sure- they're completely oblivious to their employments, and not even shouting at the top of my lung I could get them to tear their eyes off each other.

I walk up to Daisuke quietly, and stood at his eyes, glaring at the blonde who's still pretending to be focusing on the oblivious Miyako. Then, Daisuke surprises me, for he's stepping forward, proud smirk stamped across his lips and sparkling eyes set on fire.

"Chief Wallace?"

The blonde grins, as if he had been waiting for his name to be called for ages. "You can call me Wallace, Dai-chan. We aren't out on a mission, yet."

"Wallace, then." Daisuke reciprocate the smirk, and I hurry to step beside him. Don't ask me why, I just do it, so that I'm in the position to step between the two if things will take a bad turn. And –surprisingly- Miyako's doing the same.

"Yes…?" Wallace replies politely, tilting his head with a seemingly genuinely quizzical smile tugging up his lips. "Any question about the mission?"

"I understand our orders but what is our main objective?"

In the pause that's following Daisuke's question I can see Miyako opening her mouth to answer it herself, but I cut her off spreading out an arm, preventing her from moving as she takes a single step forward. She blinks down at me and I shake my head, gesturing at her to step back. Reluctantly, she nods me her agreement, taking a step back only after a spending a good minute scrutinising Wallace and Dai's faces. I smile up at her, before focus back on the two. "That's classified." Wallace replies with nonchalance, surprising Miyako who was full expecting him to say 'protect the jewel.'

"But without knowing our objective, our response to any order will be slower…even if we're just ordered to withdraw, we need to know at least where we're allowed to go and what we're allowed to do… or there's something you should tell us about this mission?"

Wallace's clear eyes narrow, shifting from a sunny tone of azure to a bottomless dark blue.

"Your objective is to protect the jewel and catch the thief. If other objectives will be issued during the mission, they'll be relayed directly to each Tamers through their D3"

"Is that so?" Daisuke tilts his head as well, narrowing his eyes. "You've no second aims, then? No secret orders you don't care to share with us?"

The question and the innuendos lying deep within it shock me to the very core of my being. Does Daisuke know something we don't? Is Wallace someone else than who he claims to be…? Are my doubts about the rightness of Tamer's action right, then?

"Your only concern is to protect the jewel from the enemy. Any problems with that?

"I guess not." Daisuke replies with a shrug, closing his eyes. "But…" he says, eyes snapping open before narrow dangerously. "The thief's *mine, Wallace."

The blonde stares at Daisuke blankly, and then shrugs his shoulders, looking annoyed with life itself. "Anything else? Then this ends the main briefing. Check you digimon and wait in your assigned hangar bays the order to disembark." He turns his back at us and moves toward the door. Once there he stops, cocking his head to take a sideways look at us. "Remember, I've complete authority over the mission. I'm the designed faculty supervisor after all. And who am I to discuss Lord Van's orders after all? Am I nothing but a Tamer, right Dai? And I'm here to obey him, if anything." Once again he smiles, and gestures at Daisuke. He traces a line across the base of his neck with a thumb, a huge grin spreading through his cheeks. Sure by the look of hurt on Daisuke's face that he has hit whatever target he planned to hit, the blonde turns back around, walking toward his hangar bay and waving indifferently at us. "Dismissed."

Despite myself, my lips purse in a frown. I don't like this boy. It seems like he's playing with Daisuke's feelings and I don't like it. Daisuke Senpai may be a rather odd fellow, but he's honest and good-hearted. Sure thing, faults and flaws plague his being, but this is beyond the point. I'm not stating he's perfect. In total honesty I think he's one of the beings farthest from perfection to ever walk on Earth. But the fact we're too different to get along doesn't mean I hate him. Or that I'll let someone hurt him. He's one of my friends after all, and I'd never refuse to help a friend, let them down or sat down and see them being hurt without putting up a fight.

That's why I think I'll keep an eye to this new Tamer. Daisuke's like a child, too naïve for his own being. His world is black and white and there's no place for the grey in-between. But he's wrong to think like this, mostly because he himself is a rainbow of different shades and tones. He *does* think like this, though. His world revolves around few things that don't have to change for Daisuke's own good. Few pillars he himself created and is preserving sustain his world. I suppose Daisuke projects outside his fears… his dreams… his inner self, somehow. And he fights with his entire mind to protect those people –or objects- he's projected his deepest feelings upon. I think he does it to protect himself as well. It can sound egoistic said like this, but Daisuke isn't egoist. Really. On the contrary he's very kind and ready to help you, even if he's supposed to be against you for some reason or another.

Be a Tamer is his dream.

Tai is the role model he dreams to be equal to.

Ken is his angel.

This thief is… his demon. His devil.

I truly pray every deity I know nothing of this will ever change, for Daisuke's whole world could shatter and crash down on him. And Daisuke couldn't bear that. He's too innocent on a lot of things. He deserves some peace in his life, because I honestly think he's had things more difficult than any of us. I hope nothing changes. I hope everything will remain as it is now. I hope.

* * * * *

* Ken's POV *

The air is humid and rarefied in the first rays of moonlight. I draw in a deep breath, the cold air striking my nostrils like a knife. It reminds me -in its own way- that I'm still alive, and that I've things to take care of. The room his coated in twilight shadows, so insubstantial and soft it seemed I was looking at the world through a purple hued glass. Dust mites dance lazily along the faint radiance which seems to stream around me, intertwining and melting with the pale shadows. The pallid moon's painting my moonlight coloured skin with strokes of subtle light and brushes of midnight shadow, bringing to the surface underneath fears and delicious dreams running deep into the waters of my heart. As I lay eyes on the full disk smiling forgivingly down at me I seize the opportunity to enact an ancient ritual.

I lift my hand and cup my palm around the first of the silver buttons of my uniform jacket, the cold band shielded from the black browed night by a snowy dove. Sliding my hand down my chest I slowly unclasp each button, until my jacket slithers to the ground, feather light. It lands at my feet noiselessly and is soon joined by my white shirt. My chest and lean belly are suddenly exposed to the air, and I arch my back, gasping in the coolness of the night breeze. Trapped in those moments of perfect stillness suspended in-between the magical afterglow of dusks and dawns, when the sky is still bright, but all of the earth is dark, dusky; when the obscurity reaches bizarre depths and intertwines with unreal sweet radiance, I let my fingers trail their way languidly down my slacks, leaving a tingly trail behind.

Almost methodically, they open the hidden clasp before two thumbs hooks in the waistband. Leisurely, the others eight fingers sneak under the cloth of my school slacks and underwear, sliding them off with almost a tender stroke. They slither down, brushing my skin gently, to pool at my feet. For just an instant, I pause, my hands sliding up my sides to fold my arms in front of my chest, one palm cupping around my shoulder and the other brushing gently the other. My lids lower halfway down to hide my heliotrope orbs, and I let loose my breath in a soft mewling moan, so quite to be almost imperceptible. I don't know why I'm doing this. It's not like what I've to do requires me to strip down to my skin, but in full-moon nights I wouldn't allow myself to do it any other way.

A gorgeous full moon blossomed in the sky the night I was born. Its pale light accompanied Osamu through his last journey. Its smile blessed my encounter with Daisuke and Minomon. And now, the full moon is all I've left. It guides me through unknown paths. It is the mute memento of my failures, of my losses and greatest bliss. Fingertips waltzing gently down my arms to entwine for a little moment before be spread out at my sides, I close my eyes, tipping my head up to offer myself at the pale light bathing me. Advancing one step with jewel eyes still closed blissfully, I left my discarded clothes behind to wait for being picked up and worn under the less secretive and conspiratorial light of the sun. With a relatively sharp motion –still slow and calculate but sharper in the complex- I drop my hands at my sides, parting my lips to suck air through them. As I walk, the little device on my left wrists begins to bip quietly.

And then it's like a gelatine-kind of substance is engulfing me. At first it wraps itself around me like a loose blanket, but then it tightens its hug, securing me like a second skin. Its coldness bites me playfully as it flows up to my knees, then my waist, and soon it is rolling around my neck. It warms up, enclosing me in an embrace that gets warmer with each second that passes. Streaming fingers run up my cheeks and I open my eyes to look at the full moon through a screen of lilac water solidifying slowly in front of my eyes until the once pale disk is tinged with a soft undertone of lavender. I stroll toward my window slowly, enclosed in a fog of dignity, my shoulders raising and falling rhythmically with each proud step.

I can feel the unsubstantial fingers stream up to my head, worming their way inside my locks and modelling them as they like and please. Then they run downward, caressing my shoulders fondly, before cascading down my back. They shift behind me, intertwine and part again, until I hear them waver at pace with my march. Mutely, I reach the window and step out in the on the balcony, welcomed by the night's chilly and yet warmer hug. I walk to the very edge of the terrace, where a metal railing is usually expected to be. I stare into the deep blue depths of the night that's offered me below my feet. The blue oblivion is calling out to me, and I can't remain deaf to its sweet voice.

I let one arm go out in front of me and then at my side, accomplishing the motion with slow elegance.
Then the other.

I squint my eyes, lips puckered out.

I take a slow step forward.

And then…

I jump.

I'm falling into the blue depths below.
The wind's blowing freely through my hair, ruffling it in an unruly manner.

The darkness itself it streaming around me until…

…I land, one knee down while the other up, one forearm placed over my bent knee and one gloved hand hanging loosely from it. It seems like I've been made to fit here. Like that's my righteous place in life.

"Where to, Master…?"

I tilt my head to a side with a proud smirk playing over my lips. My amethyst eyes concealed behind heavy dark shades drift into big orange orbs, and my smirk shifts, growing wider and revealing a row of pearl teeth behind.

"Tamachi Museum of Ancient Art, Stingmon…" I answer with a mischievous glint setting my eyes on fire. Then I face forward again, laying a hand on my digimon's muscular neck while he carries me toward my next target. "Tomorrow is Mimi's birthday… don't you think she'd like it if we gifted her…" I pause, my eyes widening briefly in a look I know to me almost maniacal. "…a Mermaid's tear?"

Then, barely able to control my self anymore I begin to laugh, a loud, deep, evil sneer gurgling from deep within my throat to trust forcefully out my wide mouth. Be warned wanna-be-Gods Tamers. Your worst nightmare is coming to you.

The devil's here.

* End of chapter 02 *

* * * * *

Final A/N = So, liked it? =) I truly hope so!!!!! I know it can be confusing at times, but big secrets are going to be revealed bit after bit in the next chapters!! =)

I'm done now… reviews? Please? ::huge Chibimon puppy eyes:: Pretty please with the Kaiser on top? ^_~ (-- addicted to reviews)