Digimon belongs to Toei! *sob*
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Shi-chan: Last chapter. *sniffle* Hope everyone enjoyed the story!
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Sadness-Colored Sandglass
Part 18
~By Shimegami-chan
Warnings: Kensuke! Yay! And just a touch of profane language in this chapter. ^^;;
"Ken!" The Chosen all looked up to see the Child of Kindness silhouetted in the moonlight, smirking down at the Kaizer. Daisuke held the ex-emperor's wrists tightly. "Nice of you to join us, Ken-chan. Imperialdramon?"
The Digimon in question stepped out of the shadowy forest and wrapped his huge claws around the Kaizer. "You're not going anywhere until we get some answers!"
The other children were still in shock. "There's...two of them," Hikari breathed.
No one replied. Ken vaulted from his Jogressed Digimon's shoulder to the ground, enfolding Daisuke in a tender hug. Imperialdramon picked up the kicking Kaizer and stared at him, pleased.
"Careful how you hold him," Ken warned. "We still don't know what kind of power he might possess."
"Excuse me, I think we're still missing something." Miyako voiced what the whole group had been thinking of.
Ken turned, shamefaced, to look at his friends. "It's a long, long story, Miya-chan. One that I'm not entirely sure I understand...but we'll get our answers soon enough, I hope."
"But you're the real Ken?"
Takeru posed the question and Ken nodded in reply. "The original, and I'm sorry for the trouble you guys have had because of me. This is all my fault."
"You don't know that, Ken." Daisuke glared at his koibito. "Just because he happens to look like you doesn't mean that it's your fault."
"Ah, but it is." All heads turned to face the Kaizer, who had ceased struggling in Paildramon's grip. "You want the truth? Fine. Knowing the truth isn't going to get rid of me.
"I was created as a product of the Digital World. Not Digimon, and yet not human--but pure darkness." A twisted smile graced his royal lips. "I was created from that."
That referred to the Dark D-3 that Daisuke currently held. Dai looked surprised. "You came from a D-3?"
Ken gasped in shock. "But that's--" He trailed off, one hand going to his hip, where the lavender Digivice was clipped to his belt. "That's my--"
"It was yours." The Kaizer cut him off. "You and your soft ways, Ken! The first time you held that Crest of yours you must have thought about what you were giving up. The Dark Power within you absolutely could not allow you to become the pathetic weakling you are now. You were infected with it, and you should have stayed infected."
"What happened?" Ken asked, his throat dry.
"You and your stupid Kindness. Your Dark Seed stayed active even after you returned to normal life--it was simply waiting for you to return to what you were meant to be. To be me, Ken." The fallen Kaizer assumed a look of defiance. "Look what you sacrificed! And for what!? Friends? Love? Normality? You could have it all. I had just as easy a time getting Daisuke as you did--and I'm everything you--"
The ex-Kaizer reeled as Daisuke punched him in the jaw. "You bastard!" Ken looked about two steps behind. "Anything that ever happened with you happened because I thought you were Ken. So watch what you say."
Takeru ran to Daisuke's side. "Calm down, Dai." Daisuke looked miffed, but feel silent.
"There's nothing more to say. You renounced your Dark Power, and your D-3 began to cleanse itself. It separated the Dark Power from the Crest power and replicated itself in the Dark D-3, and I was born from that power. And," he looked smugly at Ken, "from your inability to live up to your Crest."
"Me?" Ken whispered.
The Kaizer grinned. "It's your fault, Ken-chan."
"Don't listen to him!" Hikari cried. "You heard what he said. It was the Dark Power that created this...this thing!"
"Ken-chan couldn't handle his own feelings," the Kaizer said in a singsong voice. "'Oh! Whatever shall I do? I'm afraid to love Daisuke, and I'm afraid of myself. I don't want to be eeeevil.' Pathe--ai!" He let out a little squeal as Imperialdramon's grip tightened.
"Wormmon!" Ken scolded weakly.
"That's not what happened!" Stingmon's voice was angry. "You were careful, Ken-chan! You were right!"
"Maybe," Ken sighed. "Nonetheless, my inability to take control of myself resulted in this."
"But your Crest was what drove the evil out, Ken. It's better off out here where we can fight it, than inside where it could destroy you." Hikari looked sad.
"Your damned Kindness kept saving you." The Kaizer had regained his ability to speak. "It fought me off for a long time. Especially when it used your brother."
Ken blinked. "The dreams."
Daisuke turned to his lover. "Dreams?"
"I had dreams where Osamu came to me, and sometimes you too, Dai...telling me to trust you, and my powers of Kindness. I had a lot of dreams where I turned into the Kaizer again."
"So close," the fallen dictator cursed.
Ken slid the D-3 from his belt and stared at it. "So this was the real thing after all." The Crest of Kindness flickered on the screen, glowing softly.
"And that's it." The Kaizer grinned manacingly. "I'm not going anywhere, Ken-chan--and you and your pacifist friends don't dare kill me. So what are you going to do?"
Daisuke's mouth dropped open. "He's right, Imperialdramon can't sit here holding him for the rest of our lives."
"Not that it would matter," Ken said grimly. "He's indulging us. He could escape at any time."
"What?" Iori turned in shock. "You think he could take on Imperialdramon?"
"Oh, no. He can shapechange. Aren't I right, Kaizer?" Ken looked at his counterpart.
The Kaizer was nonchalant. "That's correct."
"Well, how are we supposed to get rid of him, then?" Daisuke demanded.
"Maybe we could take him to the Dark Ocean," Miyako suggested.
Hikari looked doubtful. "I don't know about that."
Takeru grimaced. "We certainly can't leave him here alone."
"I'll take care of him," Ken said quietly. "He's my responsibility."
Daisuke gripped Ken's hand. "How?"
"My Kindness is stronger than his darkness. We just never knew what we were up against. We still don't--correct?"
The Kaizer smiled almost wistfully. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."
"Well then, let's bring them out." Ken strode up to his double and removed the dark sunglasses, throwing them to the sandy earth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Light burned brightly about the two dark heads, the rising sun reflecting in the sunglasses and the goggles atop Daisuke's mahogany hair. The new Chosen hung back fascinated as the two Kens faced off against each other. Daisuke held the Black D-3 in the palm of his gloved hand, watching it. Something was happening to the Digivice; he was sure, but what? A red light had been flashing on the screen, but it had turned white once Ken had removed the Kaizer's glasses. The Crest of Kindness was on the screen, not unlike the rose image that Ken's D-3 was displaying as well. Daisuke wanted to call out to Ken and note the anamoly, but his friend was currently in what looked to be a staring contest with his enemy. Violet met violet and a hard stare met forgiveness, but Ken did not turn away.
"Ah, you haven't fogotten that. Clever Ken-chan. But to look me in the eyes!" The violet orbs burned into Ken's own, and the young genius felt himself start to lose control. "That was rather foolhardy of you."
"Your sadness will be the color of the sandglass." Ken steeled himself, his D-3 clutched tightly in his fist.
The Kaizer's eyes widened.
"What does it mean, Kaizer? I know you know. So cryptic! It's your style, and yet that was the advice Osamu gave me."
"It doesn't mean anything."
"Liar."
"Don't do this, Ken-chan. I loved you."
Ken laughed. "You must be kidding me. You seduced me, you hypnotized me. You are me. What can you possibly mean by that?"
"I want to be you again, Ken. I want to be what we were before. Whole. Together."
"Forget it."
The Kaizer broke his gaze.
The world around Ken became irrelevant; the trees rustling, Iori's angry whispers, and Daisuke's pleas. Nothing mattered. He didn't even notice when Imperialdramon released their captive, devolving back into Leafmon and Chicomon.
Nothing mattered except himself and the Kaizer and the silent communication that was happening between them.
I loved you.
I'm sorry.
Please, Ken-chan...come with me?
"No," he said aloud. "I don't need you any more."
The regal face crumpled at that simple statement. "I need you."
Ken would not budge. "You can't control me any more, can you? You don't have power over me any more."
"Ken-chan..."
"No."
Both D-3s began emitting light, one a royal purple, the other rose-pink. Daisuke stepped forward with the Black D-3. "Ken?"
Ken took the device and held it in his hand before offering it to the Kaizer, closing his gloved fingers over the black object. "I don't need you anymore."
On contact, the Kaizer began to glow purple as well, staring down at the device in his hand. His body began to dissipate, shimmering and flowing; and he turned those imploring violet eyes towards Ken once more.
"I understand you," Ken said gently. "I understand now."
The Kaizer nodded.
With that, the Black D-3 consumed its owner, sucking the ex-emperor into the LCD screen as though it were a digital gate. Daisuke stared at the thing in disbelief.
"I understand you," Ken whispered again, before blacking out and crumpling to the sand.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So it's been the Kaizer all along."
"Yes." Ken stared into his drink, eyes downcast. "I don't know how long I was trapped in the fortress for, since he kept me hypnotized a lot of the time."
Takeru leaned against his kitchen counter, where Tokomon was tearing into a bag of cookies. "It must have been hard."
Miyako looked pleased. "But it was him that sent that Rosemon, and got angry when Wormmon wouldn't evolve, right?"
"Yes." Memories of what he had done while under the Kaizer's control--unleashing the fortress' power on the Monochromon and making it evolve and attack Daisuke--had returned to Ken, but the young genius chose not to share them. It was better that the blame lay on the Kaizer rather than explain the jealousy that had affected his already-clouded mind.
Leafmon and Chicomon were sharing what was left of Daisuke's milk and cookies, an act that surprised all at the table. Daisuke usually ate anything that came his way. "Is something wrong, Dai?"
"Iie." the Chosen of Courage and Friendship addressed his boyfriend, but didn't meet Ken's eyes.
Miyako and Hikari regarded each other before standing up at the same time. "Well, now that everything's back to normal, we should be getting home. Maybe I can get in before my parents wake up."
"Right, my mother will be getting up soon too." Takeru looked embarassed.
"I should explain to your parents why I snuck into your house at three a.m." Miyako touched Iori's shoulder and stood up. The younger boy nodded silently.
"I'm going to get back into my pajamas." Takeru disappeared into the darkened hallway.
The other three children excused themselves and quietly slipped out of the apartment, leaving Daisuke and Ken alone. Hikari threw Ken a wink as she left the table.
"Dai-koi, what's on your mind?" Ken asked gently.
"It bothers me that I didn't see through him," Daisuke said finally.
Ken clasped his partner's hand. "Is that all? It couldn't be helped, Dai. He fooled everyone."
"I noticed," Daisuke said miserably. "I noticed, and I talked it over with Taichi-sempai, and I didn't do anything. I thought you had just changed."
"Don't blame yourself, Dai." Ken smiled and gently kissed his lover's tan-skinned hand. "It's over now, and I'm just glad to be back here with you."
Daisuke grinned and hugged Ken tightly. "I'm glad too. Now what say we get you home before your parents get in a panic?"
"Sure."
The two boys said a quiet good-bye to Takeru and left the Takaishi apartment, taking the train to Tamachi. Daisuke brought Ken right up to the front door before kissing him good-bye, and the young genius unlocked the door and stepped inside. Leafmon bounced in and fled immediately to Ken's room.
"Oh--Ken?" Daisuke paused as Ken moved to close the door.
"Yeah?"
"Something about the Black D-3 I noticed...the Kaizer was fiddling with it while he was taunting the others, and you and me were still hiding in the woods..."
"Hn."
"He said it was going to reformat the Digital World, and it was beeping and flashing a red light."
"Yes, I know."
"Well...while you two were having your little moment of dominance, the Crest of Kindness came up on the screen, and the light turned white. Why did it do that? I thought it didn't hold your Crest power at all anymore."
"It doesn't." Ken smiled sadly. "I guess...I guess that along with my Kaizer self, that D-3 also held the Ken I used to be."
"I don't understand."
"My old dreams, my ideals--my folly, my false beliefs. The appearance of the Kaizer is merely a costume--even then, I was still Ichijouji Ken, just one who was deluded and too ambitious. Those qualities are what made the Kaizer what he was--a person of extremes, who was out of control. His lust for power and the urge to hate and destroy were just as strong as his need for someone to love and care about him. That's why he needed you, and me."
"And because he had that weakness is why he still had a little Kindness in him? That still doesn't make sense."
"I know." Ken's expression was sombre. "I don't know this for sure, Daisuke. I'm speculating. I don't actually know what was going through the Kaizer's head, and I don't know how or why he was created. He was born from the darkness within my D-3--and I guess since that D-3 was able to harness the power of my Crest every time I used it, it still had some of that power. I can only guess that that is why he was flawed."
"You were flawed then too, Ken."
"Yeah. I had these ideals...I really thought that I controlled the Digital World, and that it was mine to do with as I pleased."
Daisuke's eyes closed. "And that's why he thought he could reformat it? Because he thought the same way you did."
"Yeah."
They were both silent for a moment, before Ken gently touched his palm to his lover's cheek. "I should go before I wake Mama and Papa."
"All right. See you later, Ken. I...I love you. I'm glad to have you back."
"Me too, Dai. Me too."
The door closed behind the Chosen of Courage, and Ken sank to his knees on the floor. "You're wrong, though...it's not the Kaizer's knowledge that was flawed. It was mine."
He reached into his pocket and removed a small black and grey object, the screen lighting up with the touch of a button. "It was...impossible. I couldn't have formatted the Digital World using just my D-3, and neither could he." Although the Crest of Kindness no longer graced the screen of the device, Ken suspected that his theory of Kindness still lingering within it was true.
"He was weak because of me," Ken whispered to himself, a tear escaping from one violet eye. "He knew that I would overpower him, and he let himself be sucked back into the Black D-3. Why?" There weren't any answers, and too many questions. He suspected that Osamu's warnings referred to his D-3's metamorphosis, but he couldn't be sure--it was the darkness and depression he was feeling that had caused the change in the Black D-3. Its violet could have signified the Kaizer's dangerous indigo eyes. 'Sandglass' could have referred to the hourglass he was kept in by the Kaizer, or the sandy desert that Rosemon had challenged them on. Perhaps Osamu's message had just been garbled--Ken would never know, and the only person who understood Ken's situation was sealed in the D-3.
Standing on shaky legs, Ken returned to his room, where Leafmon was already asleep on the bed. The Black D-3 looked small and powerless now, even though Ken know that the Dark Power still lay within it. He was sure of it now--the command the Kaizer had input into the device hadn't been to reformat at all, but to release the Crest power still within the D-3. It couldn't have been to make Wormmon evolve, Ken decided, although if he'd tried that trick while fighting Rosemon it might actually have worked. And it wasn't to destroy the Digital World or call on one of the Spiraled Digimon he still controlled.
The only reason to trigger the device would have been to release the Kindness still left in it, thus disrupting the Dark Power and disabling his ability to exist outside of the Device. He had allowed himself to return to the D-3, and the Kaizer wasn't stupid--he knew it, and Ken knew it, and he knew Ken knew it.
It's because you understood me, Ken.
The voice existed only in Ken's head, but he knew the words were true. "I didn't need to be him anymore, and he knew it. I don't need to be him ever again."
That's my Ken-chan.
His mind finally at ease, Ken placed his lavender-and-white D-3 on the desktop and smiled sadly before sliding the Black D-3 into a drawer. "I'm sorry," he said aloud, "but I don't need your power any more."
He shut the drawer with satisfaction. "And I won't need you ever again."
~owari!
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Shi-chan: Wow! If that just wasn't the most stress-inducing story I've ever written!
Seki: And we loved every minute of it. ^^;;
Shi-chan: I'm quite sad to see it end, but I hope I did the ending justice. It really was the hardest thing I ever had to write.
Ken: I'm saved! Hooray!
Seki: And on to the next Kensuke! Just two to go. ^_~ Expect more 'Tomodachi' and 'Love Is' soon!
Shi-chan: As for 'Sandglass,' I guess you know me well enough to expect a quick follow-up. If there are any loose ends left for me to write about. ^^;;
Seki: Either way, we'd like to thank a few people. First, Rahene, who put up with so much bitching about this story (and about Digimon in general) over the Easter break that I spent in Toronto.
Shi-chan: Second, to Zippo, for being there--and for actually reading this thing even though you disliked Kensuke. I knew I'd convert you eventually. ^_~
Seki: Third, to Athena, for miraculously reading and reviewing practically everything I write. I don't know how you do it, girl, but you always know the right thing to say to spur me on to the next chapter.
Shi-chan: Last but not least, there were a lot of authors who continued to support this fic when the Alerts were first taken away and I was afraid that no one would read it, and many who reviewed with helpful comments and criticism. Gaia Lao, ShiniJekka, Quatre's Girl, Ashna, Quatre Bunny; and many many more that I can't name, you really know how to boost a girl's ego. Please keep reading and best of luck with your own fics. ^_^
Seki: And that's it's....OWARI!
Ken & Daisuke: *cheer*
Seki & Shi: *bawl*
Quatre: *holds up a sign* 'end!'
At the address below you can download the GW peice "Sadness-Colored Sandglass," that was the inspiration for this story. Enjoy!
http://kuroitenshi.digitalrice.com/conan/sandglass.mp3
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Shi-chan: Last chapter. *sniffle* Hope everyone enjoyed the story!
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Sadness-Colored Sandglass
Part 18
~By Shimegami-chan
Warnings: Kensuke! Yay! And just a touch of profane language in this chapter. ^^;;
"Ken!" The Chosen all looked up to see the Child of Kindness silhouetted in the moonlight, smirking down at the Kaizer. Daisuke held the ex-emperor's wrists tightly. "Nice of you to join us, Ken-chan. Imperialdramon?"
The Digimon in question stepped out of the shadowy forest and wrapped his huge claws around the Kaizer. "You're not going anywhere until we get some answers!"
The other children were still in shock. "There's...two of them," Hikari breathed.
No one replied. Ken vaulted from his Jogressed Digimon's shoulder to the ground, enfolding Daisuke in a tender hug. Imperialdramon picked up the kicking Kaizer and stared at him, pleased.
"Careful how you hold him," Ken warned. "We still don't know what kind of power he might possess."
"Excuse me, I think we're still missing something." Miyako voiced what the whole group had been thinking of.
Ken turned, shamefaced, to look at his friends. "It's a long, long story, Miya-chan. One that I'm not entirely sure I understand...but we'll get our answers soon enough, I hope."
"But you're the real Ken?"
Takeru posed the question and Ken nodded in reply. "The original, and I'm sorry for the trouble you guys have had because of me. This is all my fault."
"You don't know that, Ken." Daisuke glared at his koibito. "Just because he happens to look like you doesn't mean that it's your fault."
"Ah, but it is." All heads turned to face the Kaizer, who had ceased struggling in Paildramon's grip. "You want the truth? Fine. Knowing the truth isn't going to get rid of me.
"I was created as a product of the Digital World. Not Digimon, and yet not human--but pure darkness." A twisted smile graced his royal lips. "I was created from that."
That referred to the Dark D-3 that Daisuke currently held. Dai looked surprised. "You came from a D-3?"
Ken gasped in shock. "But that's--" He trailed off, one hand going to his hip, where the lavender Digivice was clipped to his belt. "That's my--"
"It was yours." The Kaizer cut him off. "You and your soft ways, Ken! The first time you held that Crest of yours you must have thought about what you were giving up. The Dark Power within you absolutely could not allow you to become the pathetic weakling you are now. You were infected with it, and you should have stayed infected."
"What happened?" Ken asked, his throat dry.
"You and your stupid Kindness. Your Dark Seed stayed active even after you returned to normal life--it was simply waiting for you to return to what you were meant to be. To be me, Ken." The fallen Kaizer assumed a look of defiance. "Look what you sacrificed! And for what!? Friends? Love? Normality? You could have it all. I had just as easy a time getting Daisuke as you did--and I'm everything you--"
The ex-Kaizer reeled as Daisuke punched him in the jaw. "You bastard!" Ken looked about two steps behind. "Anything that ever happened with you happened because I thought you were Ken. So watch what you say."
Takeru ran to Daisuke's side. "Calm down, Dai." Daisuke looked miffed, but feel silent.
"There's nothing more to say. You renounced your Dark Power, and your D-3 began to cleanse itself. It separated the Dark Power from the Crest power and replicated itself in the Dark D-3, and I was born from that power. And," he looked smugly at Ken, "from your inability to live up to your Crest."
"Me?" Ken whispered.
The Kaizer grinned. "It's your fault, Ken-chan."
"Don't listen to him!" Hikari cried. "You heard what he said. It was the Dark Power that created this...this thing!"
"Ken-chan couldn't handle his own feelings," the Kaizer said in a singsong voice. "'Oh! Whatever shall I do? I'm afraid to love Daisuke, and I'm afraid of myself. I don't want to be eeeevil.' Pathe--ai!" He let out a little squeal as Imperialdramon's grip tightened.
"Wormmon!" Ken scolded weakly.
"That's not what happened!" Stingmon's voice was angry. "You were careful, Ken-chan! You were right!"
"Maybe," Ken sighed. "Nonetheless, my inability to take control of myself resulted in this."
"But your Crest was what drove the evil out, Ken. It's better off out here where we can fight it, than inside where it could destroy you." Hikari looked sad.
"Your damned Kindness kept saving you." The Kaizer had regained his ability to speak. "It fought me off for a long time. Especially when it used your brother."
Ken blinked. "The dreams."
Daisuke turned to his lover. "Dreams?"
"I had dreams where Osamu came to me, and sometimes you too, Dai...telling me to trust you, and my powers of Kindness. I had a lot of dreams where I turned into the Kaizer again."
"So close," the fallen dictator cursed.
Ken slid the D-3 from his belt and stared at it. "So this was the real thing after all." The Crest of Kindness flickered on the screen, glowing softly.
"And that's it." The Kaizer grinned manacingly. "I'm not going anywhere, Ken-chan--and you and your pacifist friends don't dare kill me. So what are you going to do?"
Daisuke's mouth dropped open. "He's right, Imperialdramon can't sit here holding him for the rest of our lives."
"Not that it would matter," Ken said grimly. "He's indulging us. He could escape at any time."
"What?" Iori turned in shock. "You think he could take on Imperialdramon?"
"Oh, no. He can shapechange. Aren't I right, Kaizer?" Ken looked at his counterpart.
The Kaizer was nonchalant. "That's correct."
"Well, how are we supposed to get rid of him, then?" Daisuke demanded.
"Maybe we could take him to the Dark Ocean," Miyako suggested.
Hikari looked doubtful. "I don't know about that."
Takeru grimaced. "We certainly can't leave him here alone."
"I'll take care of him," Ken said quietly. "He's my responsibility."
Daisuke gripped Ken's hand. "How?"
"My Kindness is stronger than his darkness. We just never knew what we were up against. We still don't--correct?"
The Kaizer smiled almost wistfully. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."
"Well then, let's bring them out." Ken strode up to his double and removed the dark sunglasses, throwing them to the sandy earth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Light burned brightly about the two dark heads, the rising sun reflecting in the sunglasses and the goggles atop Daisuke's mahogany hair. The new Chosen hung back fascinated as the two Kens faced off against each other. Daisuke held the Black D-3 in the palm of his gloved hand, watching it. Something was happening to the Digivice; he was sure, but what? A red light had been flashing on the screen, but it had turned white once Ken had removed the Kaizer's glasses. The Crest of Kindness was on the screen, not unlike the rose image that Ken's D-3 was displaying as well. Daisuke wanted to call out to Ken and note the anamoly, but his friend was currently in what looked to be a staring contest with his enemy. Violet met violet and a hard stare met forgiveness, but Ken did not turn away.
"Ah, you haven't fogotten that. Clever Ken-chan. But to look me in the eyes!" The violet orbs burned into Ken's own, and the young genius felt himself start to lose control. "That was rather foolhardy of you."
"Your sadness will be the color of the sandglass." Ken steeled himself, his D-3 clutched tightly in his fist.
The Kaizer's eyes widened.
"What does it mean, Kaizer? I know you know. So cryptic! It's your style, and yet that was the advice Osamu gave me."
"It doesn't mean anything."
"Liar."
"Don't do this, Ken-chan. I loved you."
Ken laughed. "You must be kidding me. You seduced me, you hypnotized me. You are me. What can you possibly mean by that?"
"I want to be you again, Ken. I want to be what we were before. Whole. Together."
"Forget it."
The Kaizer broke his gaze.
The world around Ken became irrelevant; the trees rustling, Iori's angry whispers, and Daisuke's pleas. Nothing mattered. He didn't even notice when Imperialdramon released their captive, devolving back into Leafmon and Chicomon.
Nothing mattered except himself and the Kaizer and the silent communication that was happening between them.
I loved you.
I'm sorry.
Please, Ken-chan...come with me?
"No," he said aloud. "I don't need you any more."
The regal face crumpled at that simple statement. "I need you."
Ken would not budge. "You can't control me any more, can you? You don't have power over me any more."
"Ken-chan..."
"No."
Both D-3s began emitting light, one a royal purple, the other rose-pink. Daisuke stepped forward with the Black D-3. "Ken?"
Ken took the device and held it in his hand before offering it to the Kaizer, closing his gloved fingers over the black object. "I don't need you anymore."
On contact, the Kaizer began to glow purple as well, staring down at the device in his hand. His body began to dissipate, shimmering and flowing; and he turned those imploring violet eyes towards Ken once more.
"I understand you," Ken said gently. "I understand now."
The Kaizer nodded.
With that, the Black D-3 consumed its owner, sucking the ex-emperor into the LCD screen as though it were a digital gate. Daisuke stared at the thing in disbelief.
"I understand you," Ken whispered again, before blacking out and crumpling to the sand.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So it's been the Kaizer all along."
"Yes." Ken stared into his drink, eyes downcast. "I don't know how long I was trapped in the fortress for, since he kept me hypnotized a lot of the time."
Takeru leaned against his kitchen counter, where Tokomon was tearing into a bag of cookies. "It must have been hard."
Miyako looked pleased. "But it was him that sent that Rosemon, and got angry when Wormmon wouldn't evolve, right?"
"Yes." Memories of what he had done while under the Kaizer's control--unleashing the fortress' power on the Monochromon and making it evolve and attack Daisuke--had returned to Ken, but the young genius chose not to share them. It was better that the blame lay on the Kaizer rather than explain the jealousy that had affected his already-clouded mind.
Leafmon and Chicomon were sharing what was left of Daisuke's milk and cookies, an act that surprised all at the table. Daisuke usually ate anything that came his way. "Is something wrong, Dai?"
"Iie." the Chosen of Courage and Friendship addressed his boyfriend, but didn't meet Ken's eyes.
Miyako and Hikari regarded each other before standing up at the same time. "Well, now that everything's back to normal, we should be getting home. Maybe I can get in before my parents wake up."
"Right, my mother will be getting up soon too." Takeru looked embarassed.
"I should explain to your parents why I snuck into your house at three a.m." Miyako touched Iori's shoulder and stood up. The younger boy nodded silently.
"I'm going to get back into my pajamas." Takeru disappeared into the darkened hallway.
The other three children excused themselves and quietly slipped out of the apartment, leaving Daisuke and Ken alone. Hikari threw Ken a wink as she left the table.
"Dai-koi, what's on your mind?" Ken asked gently.
"It bothers me that I didn't see through him," Daisuke said finally.
Ken clasped his partner's hand. "Is that all? It couldn't be helped, Dai. He fooled everyone."
"I noticed," Daisuke said miserably. "I noticed, and I talked it over with Taichi-sempai, and I didn't do anything. I thought you had just changed."
"Don't blame yourself, Dai." Ken smiled and gently kissed his lover's tan-skinned hand. "It's over now, and I'm just glad to be back here with you."
Daisuke grinned and hugged Ken tightly. "I'm glad too. Now what say we get you home before your parents get in a panic?"
"Sure."
The two boys said a quiet good-bye to Takeru and left the Takaishi apartment, taking the train to Tamachi. Daisuke brought Ken right up to the front door before kissing him good-bye, and the young genius unlocked the door and stepped inside. Leafmon bounced in and fled immediately to Ken's room.
"Oh--Ken?" Daisuke paused as Ken moved to close the door.
"Yeah?"
"Something about the Black D-3 I noticed...the Kaizer was fiddling with it while he was taunting the others, and you and me were still hiding in the woods..."
"Hn."
"He said it was going to reformat the Digital World, and it was beeping and flashing a red light."
"Yes, I know."
"Well...while you two were having your little moment of dominance, the Crest of Kindness came up on the screen, and the light turned white. Why did it do that? I thought it didn't hold your Crest power at all anymore."
"It doesn't." Ken smiled sadly. "I guess...I guess that along with my Kaizer self, that D-3 also held the Ken I used to be."
"I don't understand."
"My old dreams, my ideals--my folly, my false beliefs. The appearance of the Kaizer is merely a costume--even then, I was still Ichijouji Ken, just one who was deluded and too ambitious. Those qualities are what made the Kaizer what he was--a person of extremes, who was out of control. His lust for power and the urge to hate and destroy were just as strong as his need for someone to love and care about him. That's why he needed you, and me."
"And because he had that weakness is why he still had a little Kindness in him? That still doesn't make sense."
"I know." Ken's expression was sombre. "I don't know this for sure, Daisuke. I'm speculating. I don't actually know what was going through the Kaizer's head, and I don't know how or why he was created. He was born from the darkness within my D-3--and I guess since that D-3 was able to harness the power of my Crest every time I used it, it still had some of that power. I can only guess that that is why he was flawed."
"You were flawed then too, Ken."
"Yeah. I had these ideals...I really thought that I controlled the Digital World, and that it was mine to do with as I pleased."
Daisuke's eyes closed. "And that's why he thought he could reformat it? Because he thought the same way you did."
"Yeah."
They were both silent for a moment, before Ken gently touched his palm to his lover's cheek. "I should go before I wake Mama and Papa."
"All right. See you later, Ken. I...I love you. I'm glad to have you back."
"Me too, Dai. Me too."
The door closed behind the Chosen of Courage, and Ken sank to his knees on the floor. "You're wrong, though...it's not the Kaizer's knowledge that was flawed. It was mine."
He reached into his pocket and removed a small black and grey object, the screen lighting up with the touch of a button. "It was...impossible. I couldn't have formatted the Digital World using just my D-3, and neither could he." Although the Crest of Kindness no longer graced the screen of the device, Ken suspected that his theory of Kindness still lingering within it was true.
"He was weak because of me," Ken whispered to himself, a tear escaping from one violet eye. "He knew that I would overpower him, and he let himself be sucked back into the Black D-3. Why?" There weren't any answers, and too many questions. He suspected that Osamu's warnings referred to his D-3's metamorphosis, but he couldn't be sure--it was the darkness and depression he was feeling that had caused the change in the Black D-3. Its violet could have signified the Kaizer's dangerous indigo eyes. 'Sandglass' could have referred to the hourglass he was kept in by the Kaizer, or the sandy desert that Rosemon had challenged them on. Perhaps Osamu's message had just been garbled--Ken would never know, and the only person who understood Ken's situation was sealed in the D-3.
Standing on shaky legs, Ken returned to his room, where Leafmon was already asleep on the bed. The Black D-3 looked small and powerless now, even though Ken know that the Dark Power still lay within it. He was sure of it now--the command the Kaizer had input into the device hadn't been to reformat at all, but to release the Crest power still within the D-3. It couldn't have been to make Wormmon evolve, Ken decided, although if he'd tried that trick while fighting Rosemon it might actually have worked. And it wasn't to destroy the Digital World or call on one of the Spiraled Digimon he still controlled.
The only reason to trigger the device would have been to release the Kindness still left in it, thus disrupting the Dark Power and disabling his ability to exist outside of the Device. He had allowed himself to return to the D-3, and the Kaizer wasn't stupid--he knew it, and Ken knew it, and he knew Ken knew it.
It's because you understood me, Ken.
The voice existed only in Ken's head, but he knew the words were true. "I didn't need to be him anymore, and he knew it. I don't need to be him ever again."
That's my Ken-chan.
His mind finally at ease, Ken placed his lavender-and-white D-3 on the desktop and smiled sadly before sliding the Black D-3 into a drawer. "I'm sorry," he said aloud, "but I don't need your power any more."
He shut the drawer with satisfaction. "And I won't need you ever again."
~owari!
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Shi-chan: Wow! If that just wasn't the most stress-inducing story I've ever written!
Seki: And we loved every minute of it. ^^;;
Shi-chan: I'm quite sad to see it end, but I hope I did the ending justice. It really was the hardest thing I ever had to write.
Ken: I'm saved! Hooray!
Seki: And on to the next Kensuke! Just two to go. ^_~ Expect more 'Tomodachi' and 'Love Is' soon!
Shi-chan: As for 'Sandglass,' I guess you know me well enough to expect a quick follow-up. If there are any loose ends left for me to write about. ^^;;
Seki: Either way, we'd like to thank a few people. First, Rahene, who put up with so much bitching about this story (and about Digimon in general) over the Easter break that I spent in Toronto.
Shi-chan: Second, to Zippo, for being there--and for actually reading this thing even though you disliked Kensuke. I knew I'd convert you eventually. ^_~
Seki: Third, to Athena, for miraculously reading and reviewing practically everything I write. I don't know how you do it, girl, but you always know the right thing to say to spur me on to the next chapter.
Shi-chan: Last but not least, there were a lot of authors who continued to support this fic when the Alerts were first taken away and I was afraid that no one would read it, and many who reviewed with helpful comments and criticism. Gaia Lao, ShiniJekka, Quatre's Girl, Ashna, Quatre Bunny; and many many more that I can't name, you really know how to boost a girl's ego. Please keep reading and best of luck with your own fics. ^_^
Seki: And that's it's....OWARI!
Ken & Daisuke: *cheer*
Seki & Shi: *bawl*
Quatre: *holds up a sign* 'end!'
At the address below you can download the GW peice "Sadness-Colored Sandglass," that was the inspiration for this story. Enjoy!
http://kuroitenshi.digitalrice.com/conan/sandglass.mp3
