~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Disclaimer: We don't own Digimon. You all know that and . . . . so do we . . . . . unfortuatly.

A/N: So sorry for the lateness, school is SO . . . . . . well last year of high school. And parents don't help things, the're not happy unless you have a perfict average. And having an older brother who is able to do so without trying DOES NOT HELP !!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I had to get that out of my system. So much stress. But don't worry for I will continue to write and type (^_^). But it might take a realy long time for me to finish this. I apoligize, for spelling and the like because of the *censored* * beeping* *@$#?!!:#^*&$@!!* completly runed my generation of spellers. Sorry but it's true DON'T SUE I OWN NOTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just stresed that's all. Why oh why do these things happen oh . . . . . . . . . . . Oh well . . . . on to the fic !

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*~ Eternal Love ~*~

Part 5: Inner Turmoil

~*~

. . . "June !," Daisuke smiled. "Where were you ?"
"Yeah ! What's the hold up ?," Yamato called. "Oh . . . Hey, Koushiro ! How are you doing, Buddy . . . Koushiro ?" Yamato's expression turned to that of
worry and confusion.
Koushiro grunted as they pulled Shuu through the doors. "YAMATO !," he yelled. "CALL AN AMBULANCE ! ! !"
Yamato's eyes widened, and he whipped out his blue cell phone.
Sora gasped.
Joe went ghastly white. "SHUU !," he cried, as he bolted over to his oldest brother with sheer desparation.
Koushiro and June got so caaught up in what was happening with Shuu that they forgot about Taichi . . .

~*~

. . . But there was one who hadn't forgotten about him.
Agumon's head shot up. "Did I just hear Taichi call ?" A sensation stirred inside of him. his heart beat faster.
'AGUMON ! ! ! ! ! !'
"Taichi ! That you !"
'HELP ! !'
"The digivice is going off ! Taichi's in trouble ! ! !"
With that, Agumon leapt out of the car, tossed off his shirt, jacket, and tie, and bolted into the university . . .

~*~

. . . Joe paced nervously and clutched at his untamed hair as he let his cell phone ring . Finally, someone picked up. "Oh, hey, Bro . . . it's Joe. Who else would
be calling you 'brother' ? . . . Yes, b- but, Shin. Listen to me. Shuu's been shot . . . Don't laugh. I'm serious . . . we're at the university, but we'll be at the hospital
soon. Meet us there, okay ? . . . One in each leg, and his left arm . . . No, not leathal. But he's lost a lot of blood . . . He could . . . Okay, I won't. See you there,
Shin. Bye." Joe looked over to Koushiro. " . . . How'd this happen, anyway ?"
"And . . . wasn't Taichi supposed to be with you this afternoon ?," Sora asked innocently, but with a hint of worry in her voice.
"TAICHI !," Koushiro cried out desparately at the rialization. "TAICHI ! ! ! . . . "

~*~

. . . Agumon was only about 100 meter behind Koushiro, but Koushiro was the only one to see it happen . . .

~*~

Taichi charged Akuma, wresteled the gun from his hands, and tossed it aside.
Akurei had obviously suffered an agonizing blow to the face. Blood thickened from both courners of his mouth, and his right cheekbone was beginning to bruise.
He watched as the gun spun; skidding across the floor . . . strait towards him.
"Face me like a man !," Taichi yelled. "Enough with weapons ! Don't hide behind them like a coward !," he glared bitterly at Akuma. "If you're going to kill me,
the do it YOURSELF !"
"FINE !," Akuma roared, and lunged at Taichi . . .

~*~

. . . The wailing sirens and thick walls drowned out the sounds of the struggle within.
"It'll be alright, Shuu. Just hold on," conforted his Crabmon.
"Joe ? You okay ?"
"No, Gomamon. I'm not. I'm worried about my brother. Oh, I hope Shin will be of some help to us."
"Well . . . I'm worried about Koushiro. Why did he go birzirk when you mentioned Taichi ?," Tentomon questioned.
"That's what I'd like to know," said Yamato suspiciously.
"Yamato ? Why does Agumon look so angry ?," asked Gabumon.
"Do you think something's wrong with Taichi ?," asked Piyomon.
"What if he's in trouble ? Maybe he needs our help," suggested V-mon.
"I sure hope not," sighed Sora.
"We have to be sure . . . I'll go check on them," volenteered Daisuke.
"Be careful," June pleaded worridly.
Daisuke turned. "Why ? Do you know something, June ? If you do, then tell me. Please."
June looked away, avoiding everyone's eyes. "I . . . can't. I promised Taichi," she whimpered, as she climed into the ambulance. "Come on, Otamamon. It's safe."
"The siren hurts my ears," her Otamamon whined.
"You don't have ears," June smiled.
"But I can still hear."
"And I don't have hands, but i can still shake them. So, let's just get moving," Gomamon urged, as he leapt into the ambulance. "Joe, you comining, or what ?"
Joe was hesitant at first. "Um . . . okay. You guys fill me in on what happens later. I'm going with my brother. And make sure that Koushiro and Taichi are okay for me, would you ?"
"Yup," they all nodded.
"Thanks," Joe smiled, and shut the ambulance's doors. With that, they spead off.
Daisuke turned, and boulted into the university (A/N : Oh just the mention of the dreded ' that '. Sorry . . . ) after Agumon; V-mon close at his heels. Tentomon followed them.
Yamato and Gabumon looked worridly to Sora and Piyomon. The four sighed. All that was left for them to do now was . . . wait . . . . .


~*~

. . . Taichi was grappiling with Akuma. 'I'm sure Koushiro's called the police by now,' he thought. 'I've just got to hold him until they get here. Then it'll all be right again.'
Akurei looked at the silver gun in his hands. Just one good shot. That's all he'd need. But pressure made him a slip-shot. Yet . . . Taichi was so close. Just one good shot would kill Taichi Yagami. With just one shot, the fledgeling peace would fail, and his family would be safe . . . from digital monsters, at last.
But what about other dangers ? If it wasn't the digimon, it'd be something else . . . wouldn't it ? What was the point ?
No. Akurei's loyalties were to the others; . . . . to Akuma. But why ? He seemed to constantly be twisting his thoughts; playing with his mind. Akurei didn't even know why he hated the Digital World and digimon so much. And he hated the Chosen Children especially. he never even spoke of the past yet his followers were forced to, or else risk being kicked out.
But Akuma spoke with such passion and rightiousness. His ideals on justice and the threat that the digimon posed stirred something deep inside Akurei; as it did for all the members. He toled them what they wanted to hear, . . . . he gave them confort and purpose. He gave them a new life . . . as his sodiers.
. . . Or were they merly his puppets ?
And did he only know them because he'd forced them to tell him who they were ?
And did he use their pain and sadness to his advantage so that they would follow him; his pawns.
No ! It couldn't be true !
But Taichi seemed so pure and noble.
Akuma gave him life ! Gave him power !
Taichi had a son.
Taichi brought peace and unity.
He brought the digimon.
One of those digimon killed Akurei's son.
He had to avenge his son's death.
It was Taichi's fault.
"JUNSHIN !!!!," he cried, with tears of anguish and eyes blazing with rage as he aimed the gun, and pulled the trigger . . . . .

To Be Continued . . .

A/N: Sorry for the cliff-hanger but this is the best place to stop.
Will Taichi survive, (Well if you read "FGTG" you know the answer to that) Will Shuu ! Will Koushiro reach Taichi on time ! Will Sora realize her true fealings ! Will Hikari wake up soon, will the kids be back by 8 o'clock. Find out soon. Well not to soon