Chapter eleven:

Starting at the end, and ending in the middle

I don't remember hitting bottom, but there is solid earth beneath me. The air is humid, like some mildly tropical breeze. I'm lying on the floor, which would indicate that I did fall, right?

I don't know anymore. I'm probably dead, and this is some mild for of my personal hell. At any moment, I expect to see flashes of Ken, my Ken, kissing Davis, or TK, or anybody else. That would definitely complete my hell.

But, no. Now I get to stand here, entirely confused, annoyed, and pissed, as the wind blows warmly around me. I really wish that those in charge of fate and destiny would get their acts together, and give me a hint. As if the day wasn't confusing before, I've fallen through the tower floor, and ended up in some deep pit.

I wonder if there are snakes? I'm not really scared of snakes, except for the poisonous ones. With my luck, I'm probably in a nest of them. Hooray. Of course, lying here on the ground is probably not the wisest option if I'm in a pit of killer snakes.

I push myself to my feet, feeling the dry dirt rub into my palms. I'm not hurt, as far as I can tell. In fact, I feel like I just woke up from some freaky dream. My hands don't hurt, though I know I rubbed them raw on the roof. My torso feels fine, though there was blood dripping from it to my pants earlier. If I was dreaming, now would be a good time to have Tai come jumping into my bed, throwing pillows at my head like he always does.

He won't, of course. He's waiting for me in the house. Upstairs, or downstairs, or whereever he is. They're sitting impatiently with Lisa, and maybe Danaria, while I try to save Ken. I sigh, thinking of him. I'm not giving up, but I really don't know how I'm supposed to do anything, stuck in the bottom of a hole.

Walking would probably be an idea. I look up sharply. Somebody just spoke.

"Hello?" I know it's a stupid thing to say, but no one ever claimed that I was a genius. "Someone there?"

Of course. Do you often hear no one speak? Ha, ha. Funny. Now I'm hearing sarcastic voices with an English accent. Quit whining, and walk this way. What way?

A beam of light appears ahead of me, illuminating the shape of a young man, maybe twenty-five years old. He's holding a torch in one hand. "Hello."

Hello, Ishida. Follow, please. As if I have a choice. I follow him, watching his brown hair as it sways against the nape of his neck. He looks kind of like Ken and Sam, but with darker hair and skin. He could pass as a relation. Stop thinking so much. You're giving me a headache.

"Stop reading my thoughts, and they wouldn't bother you." Okay, I did not just say that. He turns to glare at me with gray eyes, the hand holding the fire reached out toward me. "Hey, if the thought fits, deal with it."

Ishida Yamato, you are an interesting person. I thought that telepathy would add one more item to your roster of things to whine about.

"You're funny. All in all, it's fitting. I'm assuming that you're either here to help me, stop me, or tell me what to do, right?" He smiles, turning back around to lead me again. We're going through some earthen tunnels, probably built under the house. The walls are rough dirt, packed tightly to allow us ample walking space. "Where are we going?"

The next part of your challenge will determine whether you and your friend live. That's nice. Of course, it doesn't entirely depend upon you.

The little bastard is putting me in my place! Oops. Sorry. You can stop glaring at me now. "I said I was sorry!"

We're here. Be thankful that I'm forgiving. He's led me into a wide cavern, the sod ceiling nearly ten feet over my head. There are torches lining the walls, as if others met in this place regularly. In front of me, I can see a desk and chair, behind which sits another man, this one older than my guide.

"Ishida Yamato, known to his friends as Matt, seeker of Kindness, holder of Friendship. Step forward." I do so, obeying the authority in that deep voice easily. He looks up, a middle-aged man of maybe forty, if not older. "Welcome, Matt. Please, come here."

He's wearing a business suit, like some CEO in a corporate headquarters. I walk forward bravely, imitating Tai's swagger. He smiles at me, his eyes kind, but hard. "Hello." I bow deeply, bending forward at the waist. "How may I help you, or how can you help me." The look he gives me indicates that he's surprised at my abrupt tone.

"Straightforward enough. I'm glad to see that you have a backbone, son. You're going to need it." Thank you, that was very encouraging. "What would you do for love, Matt? You have let go of your fear and jumped. Hung out over a ledge that nearly gave out. You have decided to face a demon; all because you think you'll live if you do it. If you can save Ken, then the world will automatically right itself."

"And you're here to tell me that that isn't the case, right?" His smile is grim when his aged brown eyes meet mine. "I'll do whatever it takes. I'll save Ken, as soon as I figure out how."

He turns away from me, and glances at the brunette. "Are you going to bring the other one here?"

Of course.

"You have to forgive Dasaka. He doesn't take well to strangers."

"That's nice. Anyway, can you help me find Ken? Or tell me what to do?" He grins, and I'm suddenly hit by a wave of déjà vu. Whoa.

"I take it that this feels familiar?" I look down, and stare at my body, and the flip my arms over quickly to stare at my wrists. There's a light pink line on each one, little scars from a dream that couldn't have been.

"I died." This can't be heaven.

Why not?

The brunette returns, followed by a familiar blue-haired teen. "Matt." He smiles in pleased surprise and starts towards me. I wrap my arms around myself and back away, seeing his pleasure turn to shock and hurt. "What's the matter?"

I don't answer, feeling the wall press against my back as the tears start to pour down my face. I failed. I failed, and I've died, and now we're both dead. Forever. And then comes our sentencing. I failed, and we're both doomed to be puppets to the demon for the rest of forever.

But I loved him. I did everything they asked of me. Everything. "Matt?"

"He doesn't understand, Ken. He doesn't realize that it's over." I look up, and glare at the old man.

"I understand perfectly. I did everything as I was supposed to! I can't have lost!" I look at Ken, and raise a trembling hand to his face. "I can't have failed you."

"You didn't. You're love was strong enough to face all the challenges they threw at you." He's smiling up at me, and his hand raised to gently caress my cheek. "I didn't fail you, either. I knew that you'd come."

I still don't understand, but the feel of him touching my face is real, and wonderful. The raw emotion staring at me from his eyes is starting to spread a warmth through my body. "I knew you."

"In all of my shapes, in all of my forms. I've already heard about what you went through, and I'm sorry."

With my hand on the side of his neck, I can see the scar on my wrist clearly. The pain of dying floats through my head, along with the fear that I've been pushing against the back of my head since this whole thing started. "Are we dead?" He shakes his head, smiling warmly at me. "Then don't be sorry. If we're both alive, and this is over, then it was worth it."

All of it?

I look up at the brunette, and think over that question. Would I die again? Would I face down a demon? Would I risk eternity to save Ken?

I smile down into violet eyes, and smile. "All of it."