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)