Yamato the Vampire Slayer
When the Going Get's Tough...
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Buffy or Digimon thank you.
I know this has taken a while. I'm really sorry. The reasons why it has taken so damn long will probably remain between me and my Muse, mostly because my Muse is being most uncooperative right now. Bitch.
"Here," Ms Fuyutsuki said "Drink this."
Tai gulped the tea down gratefully. It was warm which was good because he couldn't stop shivering. Ms Fuyutsuki went over and handed another mug over to Matt. Matt looked down at the cup without really seeing it.
"Should we take him to hospital?" Ken asked "He's lost a lot of blood."
Ms Fuyutsuki shook her head.
"He should be all right," she said "Slayers are tough."
"But the bleeding hasn't stopped yet," Toshiki pointed out.
Matt shoved the tea away from him.
"I'm not thirsty," he said, his voice emotionless.
"Yamato you need to drink something," Ms Fuyutsuki said briskly.
"I'm not thirsty," Matt repeated.
Tai looked at him.
"Matt, you'd better drink it," he said "Come on, it's not bad."
Matt looked at him. He reached out for the mug again but his hands were shaking and he nearly dropped the mug. Tai moved over and wrapped his arms round his friends shoulders.
"Matt, it's going to be okay," he whispered "I'm sorry I didn't believe you but I'll be here for you now and I promise that it'll all be okay."
Matt looked at him.
"Tai, why?" he asked bitterly "Why my brother? Why my brother?"
Tai shook his head.
"I don't know."
Matt slowly gulped the tea down. He pulled a face.
"I don't like it," he said.
Tai took the mug off him and put it down. He didn't know what to say to Matt, didn't know how to make it better.
"Angel and Spike are here," Davis said quietly.
Tai looked up. He blushed when he saw Spike and tried not to think about what had happened last time he'd seen him.
"Hi," Matt said flatly.
"Matt," Angel said "I'm sorry."
Matt looked at him. Tai remembered seeing Matt kissing him in the graveyard and shivered a little.
"What do we do now?" Davis asked.
There was a long silence.
"We could just stand here like idiots?" Akemi suggested brightly. "Akemi, have I ever mentioned that I'd like to kill you sometimes?" Toshiki asked.
"Yes," Akemi said "A lot. Repeatedly."
"Good," Toshiki said "That's all right then."
Matt groaned and put his head in his hands.
"I can't kill my brother," he whispered "I can't."
"Matt," Angel said quietly "TK is dead. What you are seeing when you look at him is a demon inside his body. You aren't seeing Takeru Takaishi."
"But I am!" Matt cried "It's TK's body! TK's voice! His words! It is him! I can't destroy that! I've already lost my brother once! I can't again!"
He'd jumped to his feet to speak and now he swayed, clutching his neck. Tai pulled him back down.
"Breathe," he ordered.
Matt gulped in air, shivering.
"Yamato, I can understand how you feel," Ms Fuyutsuki said "But that thing is not your brother. Can't you understand? Would your brother murder innocent people and attempt to kill you?"
"No," Matt said.
Ms Fuyutsuki nodded. "Exactly," she said.
"But...but it is him," Matt whispered "It really is. Oh why did this have to happen to me?"
"Why do you have to spend all your time moaning?" Spike asked, getting bored.
"Spike," Angel muttered.
"You're supposed to be a bloody Slayer!" Spike said "Not some wimpy, namby-pamby wuss-boy that you keep acting like! All the Slayers I've met were fine, spunky girls!"
"Spike!" Angel hissed. Matt had clenched his fists and was looking very annoyed indeed.
"If the world," Spike continued "Is relying on you to save it from all it's troubles then I say that world has a severe problem!"
"WILLIAM!"
Spike looked at Angel in surprise. "Shut. Up!" Angel growled at him.
Spike obeyed, still recovering from the use of his real name. Angel looked at Matt.
"Did you see who sired your brother?"
"Yeah," Matt muttered "Two female vampires. One of them was called Dru."
"Oh," Angel said.
Matt looked at him.
"You know them?"
Angel sighed.
"The other one is called Darla," he said "Darla....she was the vampire who sired me..."
"And Drusilla was the one you drove insane," Matt remembered suddenly "She sired Spike."
"Can you not put those two together in that way?" Spike asked crossly "It wasn't like she was insane to sire me!" Angel raised one eyebrow and gave a violent cough which sounded a lot like 'Bullshit'. Spike scowled. Matt didn't seem to have noticed any of the exchanges around him.
"You know them," he said "Where would they be?"
"This was why I didn't want to tell you," Angel said "Matt, you can rush off and try to kill them. They'll slaughter you if you try to fight by yourself, especially now..."
He cut himself off.
"Now they've got a new friend," Matt said bitterly "That's what you meant isn't it? Now they've got someone else to help them kill. Someone like my brother!"
There was a silence.
"I don't think I can do this," Matt said softly "I really don't think that I can do this."
"You have to," Ms Fuyutsuki said "You have to make yourself do this."
"HOW?" Matt screamed at her "God, are you even human?"
Ms Fuyutsuki opened her mouth. Toshiki quickly plunged in to stop rash words.
"I think we should all go home and rest," he said firmly "We can sort this out in the morning. Matt needs sleep, he's lost a lot of blood and he's tired."
Gendo drove everyone home. Matt went straight to bed and curled up. Tai stayed with him, smoothing his hair when he whimpered deep in his nightmares.
* * * *
School the next day was a nightmare. Tai kept jumping at everything. He wasn't sure why. He knew vampires couldn't come out in the day. So why was he acting like an idiot?
Matt was in a dream. He looked like a ghost. Tai tried to keep an eye on him. He made him sit with the other Digidestined at lunch. Sora and Izzy were startled. It wasn't something that they'd expected. They hadn't spoken to Matt for ages. Matt just sat there, staring at his lunch. It was only when Tai threatened to sit on him and force him to eat that he actually swallowed anything on his plate. Tai took him out onto the playing field.
"Matt," he said "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Matt said dully.
"I forgot to give you this back," Tai said quietly.
He held out the cross he'd given Matt. He'd picked it up from the graveside. Matt looked at it. Then he clutched it in his hand and started to cry. Tai looked around desperately for help. Like magic, the band materialised around him. They formed a circle, concealing Matt and Tai from view. Tai wrapped Matt in a protective grip and hugged him.
"Shush Matt," he whispered "Don't cry. Don't cry. It's all going to be okay." "It's never going to be okay!" Matt sobbed "Oh why can't I cope? All the other Slayers didn't have this problem! I'm just me and I'm pathetic! I can't stop crying! And TK....why TK?"
"Shhhhh," Tai said "It's all right Matt. I don't mind you crying. I understand Matt. I understand now."
He continued cradling Matt, listening to the band chattering about silly things, trying to look natural while keeping them hidden from anyone watching. Matt eventually stopped crying. He wiped his face, then fastened the cross around his neck.
"Thanks Tai," he said softly "I'm not going to cry any more."
Tai looked at him.
"I'm all right," Matt said softly "I'm going to stop TK. He's not my brother any more. He's someone else. Something else. I'm not afraid. I'm not angry. I've been given this gig. Now I have to play it."
He stood up.
"Thanks," he said softly.
Tai looked at him. Matt's face was still very pale but his jaw was set and his eyes narrowed. He looked round at the others.
"Thanks. All of you," he said softly "For helping me."
He ran his fingers through his hair.
"I'm going to cope with this," he said "I have to. For everyone."
* * * *
Ms Fuyutsuki was busy sorting out her home when the doorbell rang. Opening it, she found Matt standing there.
"Yamato?"
"I'm sorry," Matt said "I'm really sorry Ms Fuyutsuki. About everything I said. I need your help. If we're going to defeat Takeru and Darla and Drusilla, we have to work together. I need more training."
Ms Fuyutsuki smiled.
"I never doubted you Yamato," she said "Come along inside. It's time for you to get practising again."
* * * *
The band, Tai, Davis and Ken all met up and Ms Fuyutsuki's later. Matt was practising different moves on the punch bag, sweat running down his face.
"How's it going?" Tai asked.
"Okay," Matt gritted out "When it's....sun-down.....Angel and Spike'll.......come here. Council of war."
"Cool," Akemi said.
"Not cool," Matt corrected.
"You're dropping your left shoulder when you do that punch," Ms Fuyutsuki said "Don't."
Matt scowled and glared at the punch bag.
"What can we go?" Ken asked.
"Nothing," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"No," Matt said "There is something you can do."
They all looked at him. Matt looked back.
"There other Digidestined," he said "If Takeru goes to them....I want you to warn them. I don't care what you say. But I want you to go to all the others and tell them something. Make sure they know that they mustn't invite him in and they mustn't go near him. If they see him, they've got to run away. Can you do that for me? Please?"
They all nodded.
"We'll try."
"No. You can't try. You've got to do. If you don't, then I'll be in big trouble," Matt said "I don't want anyone else to die. Not because of me."
"I'll take Sora and Kari," Tai said.
"I'll take Joe and Iori, " Davis said.
"I'll take Izzy and Yolei," Ken said.
Matt smiled wanly at them.
"Thanks," he said "Make sure....I believe in you."
"What about us?" Gendo asked "What do we do?"
Matt frowned.
"I don't know," he said eventually "I haven't thought that far. I don't want you in danger."
"We'll think of something helpful," Akemi said.
"Why didn't that reassure me?" Matt asked dryly.
"You're still dropping your left shoulder," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
Matt scowled. He gave the punch bag an extra hard whack.
"If you lot," Ms Fuyutsuki said to the band "MUST be useful, I suggest you start carving stakes. You can never have too many stakes and one can never be sure how many you'll need."
"Okay," Akemi agreed cheerfully.
The Digidestined left to explain to the others. The band got carving. Matt continued to practise, not allowing himself to dwell on anything except getting his battle moves perfect.
* * * *
Izzy gave Ken a completely baffled look.
"Ken," he said slowly "I don't think I understand."
"It doesn't really matter if you do or not," Ken said "All I need is a promise that you'll avoid anything that looks like TK."
"Well I promise you but I would like more information," Izzy said.
"Sorry Izzy but I can't give you that," Ken said.
"Is this something to do with Matt?" Izzy asked.
Ken nodded.
"Izzy, it'd be easier if you didn't ask, at least until I know I can give you a better answer," he said.
"All right," Izzy said.
Ken gave him a grateful smile. "I have to go," he said "I need to speak to Yolei before it gets dark."
Izzy nodded.
"I'll see you soon!"
"Thanks."
* * * *
"Davis, this whole thing sounds really weird," Iori said.
"Look, all you need to do is promise me!" Davis said impatiently "I don't want to see you hurt. We're dealing with the problem but you need to keep away and not get damaged by it!"
"We're the Digidestined! We're supposed to deal with problems together!" Iori said angrily.
"I know that but try telling Matt!" Davis said "Look Iori, I can't make Matt agree to anything! You just have to trust us!" "I do," Iori said after a pause "I promise."
"Great! Thanks!" Davis said leaping up "I gotta go! I have to speak to Joe and the sun's almost setting! I'll see ya!"
He raced out, then leaned back in.
"Oh....Iori?"
He sounded far too casual.
"Your Kendo sticks....you may want to....you know, keep them with you and all times? You know, like after dark and stuff? Just....just in case of....well, anything."
Before Iori could say anything, he dashed out. Iori stared after him, feeling incredibly confused. There was something very, very strange going on.
* * * * "So you are telling me," Sora said slowly "That TK has come back to life."
"No," Tai said "I'm saying that there is something evil in TK's body coming around that might try to kill you and you mustn't invite it in and if you must run away."
Sora stared at him for a long moment.
"Tai," she said at last "What the hell is going on?"
"Please Sora," Tai said "I'd love to explain more but it's too confusing. And you'd never believe me. But will you do what I said?"
Sora stared at him a moment. Then she nodded.
"Yes," she said "I trust you. But I really would like to know what's happening Tai."
"Sorry," Tai said "I can't explain any more."
Sora sighed and glared at him. Tai shrugged.
"Sorry."
Sora sighed. She knew that there was no point pushing Tai until he wanted to tell her any more. But she hadn't been this confused for a long time.
"I have to go," Tai said "I need to get home."
Sora nodded.
"I'll see you soon," she said.
Tai waved and walked out. Sora watched him go.
"I hope he's careful," she muttered "It's late and that serial killers still around."
She suddenly felt a stab of fear. Running to the door she leaned out.
"Tai! TAI! It's too dangerous to be out by yourself! TAI-I-I-I!"
But Tai was already too far away.
* * * *
Angel and Spike watched as Matt kicked and struck the punch bag.
"You're dropping...." Spike began.
"My left shoulder! I know!" Matt snapped. He gave the punch bag a brutal kick then gulped in a deep breath "Sorry."
"It's okay," Angel said.
"Yamato, don't stop practising," Ms Fuyutsuki said firmly "We can talk while you work on it."
Matt nodded and started up again. The band were watching interestedly, being very quiet. They suspected that if they made a noise, Ms Fuyutsuki would kick them out.
"Darla and Dru are strong," Angel said firmly "Alone they're bad enough. Fighting together and they're extra powerful. And now with TK...."
"Takeru," Matt said harshly "TK was my baby brother. He's dead. It's just Takeru now."
Angel glanced at him once, then nodded.
"...with Takeru helping them, it'll be harder than ever."
"And we don't know how many minions they have," Ms Fuyutsuki said briskly "There could be quite a collection by now."
"We can only do it if we work together," Spike said.
"Which means that you don't shop us for your ex-girlfriend," Angel said. "Excuse me?" Spike spluttered.
"It has been known to happen."
"Like Dru would touch me with a ten-foot stake now anyway," Spike muttered.
"She's insane," Angel said flatly "Spike, you'd better now defect."
"Well, you'd better not defect either!" Spike snapped looking annoyed "I remember what Wesley told me about you when Darla came back!"
"That was different!"
"How?"
"Do you two EVER stop?" Matt demanded.
The two vampires glanced slightly sheepishly at each other. Matt rolled his eyes.
"You're worse than the band."
"Hey!" Akemi yelped.
"You lot shouldn't be in here," Ms Fuyutsuki said. "Oh fiddlesticks!" Toshiki said "We want to help!"
"I wouldn't advise...." Angel began but Spike cut in.
"Oh Angel let them! This lot are as old as the Slayerettes were when they started. And the Slayerettes didn't get themselves killed. The only ones who ought to keep out of it are the squirts."
"Davis and Ken," Matt said automatically "And you underestimate them. I think they wouldn't do to badly."
"That wasn't what you were saying before!" Spike said. Matt said nothing but he hung his head slightly.
"I was wrong," he muttered.
No one said anything to that.
"So can we help you?" Toshiki asked quietly.
"Yes....but you'd better learn some fighting moves beforehand," Angel said.
"I'm still not happy...." Ms Fuyutsuki began.
"Ms Fuyutsuki. Please," Matt said "Let them help. The band are stubborn. You'll never manage to stop them coming if they want to. At least help them learn to be better so they can be in a plan rather than messing it up."
The band laughed at that. Ms Fuyutsuki sighed and nodded.
"All right."
Matt grinned a bit.
"We need to decide what we're going to do and how we're going to find them," he said.
"Finding them shouldn't be too hard," Angel said "I'll just have to ask some demons."
"As to what we're going to do...." Spike said "I'd say, nothing more complicated than torching the place!"
"That depends on where it is," Ms Fuyutsuki said firmly "We don't what any civilians getting hurt."
Spike shrugged. That wasn't the kind of thing which concerned him all that much. Angel sighed and frowned, thinking.
"We'd better work out where they are first before we make any decisions like that," he said eventually.
"Your stakes are wonky," Spike said, peering critically over Istu's shoulder.
"So? I bet they kill vampires just as well!" Istu snapped "Want to test?"
Angel quickly zoomed over to rescue Spike from an almost certain fate. Matt smiled grimly and smacked the punch bag again.
"You are still...."
"I KNOW!"
* * * *
Tai glanced around nervously. It wasn't long before he was home but he was uneasy. He was sure that someone was following him and he didn't like the feeling one bit.
He speeded up his pace slightly. Maybe he was just being paranoid. After all, this stuff was pretty nerve-wracking. Enough to make anyone paranoid - right?
"Hello Tai."
Tai froze and slowly turned round and looked behind him.
TK was standing there, leaning casually against a wall. He wasn't in game face and was smiling, looking normal. Except for the leather and just...just something different.
'He's more like Matt' Tai thought 'More adult. Sexier.'
He pushed that thought away very quickly. That was the last thing he needed to think of.
In fact, he ought to be running.
"I wouldn't try it," TK said lazily "I can catch you easily. And it'll hurt."
'I was wrong' Tai thought 'Not Matt. He's like the Digimon Emperor.'
"TK...." he said, slowly backing off a step "Come on. Don't you remember? We're friends."
"Matt's not explained this very well has he?" TK said coolly "We're not friends. Your friend is dead. I'm here now."
Tai turned to run. But his way was cut off by a pretty woman in a long dress.
"Hello dearie," she said, smiling.
Tai gulped. He was in big trouble.
"What do you want?" he demanded, trying to hide his fear.
"Nothing much," TK said, still sounding languid, as though it wasn't very important "It's all just a game really."
"Some game!" Tai said "Let me go."
"Sh," the woman ordered, putting a finger to her lips "Bad dogs shouldn't bark."
"I'm not a dog!" Tai yelled at her.
The woman giggled.
"Woof, woof," she said.
Tai wondered if he could punch her and run. She looked delicate....
Of course, if she was a vampire, she'd probably break his arm.
She smiled, as if she could read his thoughts.
"Look at me dearie," she ordered.
Tai glared at her. The woman held up two long fingers in front of his eyes.
"Be in my eyes," she murmured softly "Be in me."
'Huh?' Tai thought 'What's going....on.....?'
Then his brain started to go strange. He was sinking into two deep blue pools, unable to swim to the surface, trapped. He didn't really care, was just....noticing it happening around him.
"Cute isn't he?" he heard a voice saying from far away "Can see why Matt likes him. Wouldn't mind having a bit of fun with him myself actually..."
"Not yet TK," he heard a cold voice saying "We need to get out of here before the Slayer turns up. They have a habit of doing that. Dru, if you could just give Taichi some....extra encouragement?"
Cold hands closed around his wrists.
"Follow us dearie and don't make a fuss," the sweet voice murmured "Come along now."
Tai followed obediently, a tiny part of his brain still trying to fight the odd, cold, trapped feeling but not succeeding. Silently and unprotestingly, he allowed himself to be led away.
* * * *
Davis was dozing when the phone rang.
"Davis! Kari for you!"
Davis promptly moved quickly. Even though he was going out with Ken, he couldn't help still feeling excited about Kari calling.
"Hi!"
"Davis, is Tai there?"
Davis frowned.
"No. Why?"
"He's not home!" Kari said, sounding frightened "He was at Sora's but he's not back yet! And Sora says he left ages ago!" A horrible lump of ice dropped into Davis's stomach.
"Not back?" he repeated.
"I've tried everyone else but he's nowhere!" Kari cried "Davis, I'm so scared! What if...what if....?"
Davis slammed the phone down. Grabbing his jacket and a stake, he raced out, yelling something fairly incoherent at his parents. He had to tell Matt NOW!
* * * *
"Well, you've stopped dropping your shoulder," Spike said encouragingly.
Matt said nothing. He was sitting on the floor, trying to breathe steadily.
"Maybe you practised too much?" Angel suggested gently.
"No kidding!" Matt snapped, then sighed.
"Sorry. I know I've over taxed myself. It's just....Takeru. And those vampires. We have to...."
Someone began banging on the door.
"Matt! Matt!"
"Davis?"
Spike answered the door and Davis hurtled in.
"Matt, Tai's gone!"
Matt froze.
"Gone?"
Davis nodded.
"He's vanished!" he panted "Not home....no ones seen him...."
"Oh no!" Toshiki muttered.
Matt stared at Davis, his face white.
"We....he can't be....he'll be fine," he said, his voice determined "He has to be! He can't....can't....not now. He'll be just fine."
He scrambled to his feet.
"Angel," he said quietly "Find out where those vampires are now."
Angel left without a word, Spike following. Matt clenched his fists.
"Gendo, go and drive around. See if you can find Tai anywhere."
Gendo obeyed. The others all just stared at Matt. Despite his coolness, Matt's face was still unnaturally white.
"He'll be fine," he whispered again.
No one said anything.
End of Part 12.
When the Going Get's Tough...
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Buffy or Digimon thank you.
I know this has taken a while. I'm really sorry. The reasons why it has taken so damn long will probably remain between me and my Muse, mostly because my Muse is being most uncooperative right now. Bitch.
"Here," Ms Fuyutsuki said "Drink this."
Tai gulped the tea down gratefully. It was warm which was good because he couldn't stop shivering. Ms Fuyutsuki went over and handed another mug over to Matt. Matt looked down at the cup without really seeing it.
"Should we take him to hospital?" Ken asked "He's lost a lot of blood."
Ms Fuyutsuki shook her head.
"He should be all right," she said "Slayers are tough."
"But the bleeding hasn't stopped yet," Toshiki pointed out.
Matt shoved the tea away from him.
"I'm not thirsty," he said, his voice emotionless.
"Yamato you need to drink something," Ms Fuyutsuki said briskly.
"I'm not thirsty," Matt repeated.
Tai looked at him.
"Matt, you'd better drink it," he said "Come on, it's not bad."
Matt looked at him. He reached out for the mug again but his hands were shaking and he nearly dropped the mug. Tai moved over and wrapped his arms round his friends shoulders.
"Matt, it's going to be okay," he whispered "I'm sorry I didn't believe you but I'll be here for you now and I promise that it'll all be okay."
Matt looked at him.
"Tai, why?" he asked bitterly "Why my brother? Why my brother?"
Tai shook his head.
"I don't know."
Matt slowly gulped the tea down. He pulled a face.
"I don't like it," he said.
Tai took the mug off him and put it down. He didn't know what to say to Matt, didn't know how to make it better.
"Angel and Spike are here," Davis said quietly.
Tai looked up. He blushed when he saw Spike and tried not to think about what had happened last time he'd seen him.
"Hi," Matt said flatly.
"Matt," Angel said "I'm sorry."
Matt looked at him. Tai remembered seeing Matt kissing him in the graveyard and shivered a little.
"What do we do now?" Davis asked.
There was a long silence.
"We could just stand here like idiots?" Akemi suggested brightly. "Akemi, have I ever mentioned that I'd like to kill you sometimes?" Toshiki asked.
"Yes," Akemi said "A lot. Repeatedly."
"Good," Toshiki said "That's all right then."
Matt groaned and put his head in his hands.
"I can't kill my brother," he whispered "I can't."
"Matt," Angel said quietly "TK is dead. What you are seeing when you look at him is a demon inside his body. You aren't seeing Takeru Takaishi."
"But I am!" Matt cried "It's TK's body! TK's voice! His words! It is him! I can't destroy that! I've already lost my brother once! I can't again!"
He'd jumped to his feet to speak and now he swayed, clutching his neck. Tai pulled him back down.
"Breathe," he ordered.
Matt gulped in air, shivering.
"Yamato, I can understand how you feel," Ms Fuyutsuki said "But that thing is not your brother. Can't you understand? Would your brother murder innocent people and attempt to kill you?"
"No," Matt said.
Ms Fuyutsuki nodded. "Exactly," she said.
"But...but it is him," Matt whispered "It really is. Oh why did this have to happen to me?"
"Why do you have to spend all your time moaning?" Spike asked, getting bored.
"Spike," Angel muttered.
"You're supposed to be a bloody Slayer!" Spike said "Not some wimpy, namby-pamby wuss-boy that you keep acting like! All the Slayers I've met were fine, spunky girls!"
"Spike!" Angel hissed. Matt had clenched his fists and was looking very annoyed indeed.
"If the world," Spike continued "Is relying on you to save it from all it's troubles then I say that world has a severe problem!"
"WILLIAM!"
Spike looked at Angel in surprise. "Shut. Up!" Angel growled at him.
Spike obeyed, still recovering from the use of his real name. Angel looked at Matt.
"Did you see who sired your brother?"
"Yeah," Matt muttered "Two female vampires. One of them was called Dru."
"Oh," Angel said.
Matt looked at him.
"You know them?"
Angel sighed.
"The other one is called Darla," he said "Darla....she was the vampire who sired me..."
"And Drusilla was the one you drove insane," Matt remembered suddenly "She sired Spike."
"Can you not put those two together in that way?" Spike asked crossly "It wasn't like she was insane to sire me!" Angel raised one eyebrow and gave a violent cough which sounded a lot like 'Bullshit'. Spike scowled. Matt didn't seem to have noticed any of the exchanges around him.
"You know them," he said "Where would they be?"
"This was why I didn't want to tell you," Angel said "Matt, you can rush off and try to kill them. They'll slaughter you if you try to fight by yourself, especially now..."
He cut himself off.
"Now they've got a new friend," Matt said bitterly "That's what you meant isn't it? Now they've got someone else to help them kill. Someone like my brother!"
There was a silence.
"I don't think I can do this," Matt said softly "I really don't think that I can do this."
"You have to," Ms Fuyutsuki said "You have to make yourself do this."
"HOW?" Matt screamed at her "God, are you even human?"
Ms Fuyutsuki opened her mouth. Toshiki quickly plunged in to stop rash words.
"I think we should all go home and rest," he said firmly "We can sort this out in the morning. Matt needs sleep, he's lost a lot of blood and he's tired."
Gendo drove everyone home. Matt went straight to bed and curled up. Tai stayed with him, smoothing his hair when he whimpered deep in his nightmares.
* * * *
School the next day was a nightmare. Tai kept jumping at everything. He wasn't sure why. He knew vampires couldn't come out in the day. So why was he acting like an idiot?
Matt was in a dream. He looked like a ghost. Tai tried to keep an eye on him. He made him sit with the other Digidestined at lunch. Sora and Izzy were startled. It wasn't something that they'd expected. They hadn't spoken to Matt for ages. Matt just sat there, staring at his lunch. It was only when Tai threatened to sit on him and force him to eat that he actually swallowed anything on his plate. Tai took him out onto the playing field.
"Matt," he said "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Matt said dully.
"I forgot to give you this back," Tai said quietly.
He held out the cross he'd given Matt. He'd picked it up from the graveside. Matt looked at it. Then he clutched it in his hand and started to cry. Tai looked around desperately for help. Like magic, the band materialised around him. They formed a circle, concealing Matt and Tai from view. Tai wrapped Matt in a protective grip and hugged him.
"Shush Matt," he whispered "Don't cry. Don't cry. It's all going to be okay." "It's never going to be okay!" Matt sobbed "Oh why can't I cope? All the other Slayers didn't have this problem! I'm just me and I'm pathetic! I can't stop crying! And TK....why TK?"
"Shhhhh," Tai said "It's all right Matt. I don't mind you crying. I understand Matt. I understand now."
He continued cradling Matt, listening to the band chattering about silly things, trying to look natural while keeping them hidden from anyone watching. Matt eventually stopped crying. He wiped his face, then fastened the cross around his neck.
"Thanks Tai," he said softly "I'm not going to cry any more."
Tai looked at him.
"I'm all right," Matt said softly "I'm going to stop TK. He's not my brother any more. He's someone else. Something else. I'm not afraid. I'm not angry. I've been given this gig. Now I have to play it."
He stood up.
"Thanks," he said softly.
Tai looked at him. Matt's face was still very pale but his jaw was set and his eyes narrowed. He looked round at the others.
"Thanks. All of you," he said softly "For helping me."
He ran his fingers through his hair.
"I'm going to cope with this," he said "I have to. For everyone."
* * * *
Ms Fuyutsuki was busy sorting out her home when the doorbell rang. Opening it, she found Matt standing there.
"Yamato?"
"I'm sorry," Matt said "I'm really sorry Ms Fuyutsuki. About everything I said. I need your help. If we're going to defeat Takeru and Darla and Drusilla, we have to work together. I need more training."
Ms Fuyutsuki smiled.
"I never doubted you Yamato," she said "Come along inside. It's time for you to get practising again."
* * * *
The band, Tai, Davis and Ken all met up and Ms Fuyutsuki's later. Matt was practising different moves on the punch bag, sweat running down his face.
"How's it going?" Tai asked.
"Okay," Matt gritted out "When it's....sun-down.....Angel and Spike'll.......come here. Council of war."
"Cool," Akemi said.
"Not cool," Matt corrected.
"You're dropping your left shoulder when you do that punch," Ms Fuyutsuki said "Don't."
Matt scowled and glared at the punch bag.
"What can we go?" Ken asked.
"Nothing," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"No," Matt said "There is something you can do."
They all looked at him. Matt looked back.
"There other Digidestined," he said "If Takeru goes to them....I want you to warn them. I don't care what you say. But I want you to go to all the others and tell them something. Make sure they know that they mustn't invite him in and they mustn't go near him. If they see him, they've got to run away. Can you do that for me? Please?"
They all nodded.
"We'll try."
"No. You can't try. You've got to do. If you don't, then I'll be in big trouble," Matt said "I don't want anyone else to die. Not because of me."
"I'll take Sora and Kari," Tai said.
"I'll take Joe and Iori, " Davis said.
"I'll take Izzy and Yolei," Ken said.
Matt smiled wanly at them.
"Thanks," he said "Make sure....I believe in you."
"What about us?" Gendo asked "What do we do?"
Matt frowned.
"I don't know," he said eventually "I haven't thought that far. I don't want you in danger."
"We'll think of something helpful," Akemi said.
"Why didn't that reassure me?" Matt asked dryly.
"You're still dropping your left shoulder," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
Matt scowled. He gave the punch bag an extra hard whack.
"If you lot," Ms Fuyutsuki said to the band "MUST be useful, I suggest you start carving stakes. You can never have too many stakes and one can never be sure how many you'll need."
"Okay," Akemi agreed cheerfully.
The Digidestined left to explain to the others. The band got carving. Matt continued to practise, not allowing himself to dwell on anything except getting his battle moves perfect.
* * * *
Izzy gave Ken a completely baffled look.
"Ken," he said slowly "I don't think I understand."
"It doesn't really matter if you do or not," Ken said "All I need is a promise that you'll avoid anything that looks like TK."
"Well I promise you but I would like more information," Izzy said.
"Sorry Izzy but I can't give you that," Ken said.
"Is this something to do with Matt?" Izzy asked.
Ken nodded.
"Izzy, it'd be easier if you didn't ask, at least until I know I can give you a better answer," he said.
"All right," Izzy said.
Ken gave him a grateful smile. "I have to go," he said "I need to speak to Yolei before it gets dark."
Izzy nodded.
"I'll see you soon!"
"Thanks."
* * * *
"Davis, this whole thing sounds really weird," Iori said.
"Look, all you need to do is promise me!" Davis said impatiently "I don't want to see you hurt. We're dealing with the problem but you need to keep away and not get damaged by it!"
"We're the Digidestined! We're supposed to deal with problems together!" Iori said angrily.
"I know that but try telling Matt!" Davis said "Look Iori, I can't make Matt agree to anything! You just have to trust us!" "I do," Iori said after a pause "I promise."
"Great! Thanks!" Davis said leaping up "I gotta go! I have to speak to Joe and the sun's almost setting! I'll see ya!"
He raced out, then leaned back in.
"Oh....Iori?"
He sounded far too casual.
"Your Kendo sticks....you may want to....you know, keep them with you and all times? You know, like after dark and stuff? Just....just in case of....well, anything."
Before Iori could say anything, he dashed out. Iori stared after him, feeling incredibly confused. There was something very, very strange going on.
* * * * "So you are telling me," Sora said slowly "That TK has come back to life."
"No," Tai said "I'm saying that there is something evil in TK's body coming around that might try to kill you and you mustn't invite it in and if you must run away."
Sora stared at him for a long moment.
"Tai," she said at last "What the hell is going on?"
"Please Sora," Tai said "I'd love to explain more but it's too confusing. And you'd never believe me. But will you do what I said?"
Sora stared at him a moment. Then she nodded.
"Yes," she said "I trust you. But I really would like to know what's happening Tai."
"Sorry," Tai said "I can't explain any more."
Sora sighed and glared at him. Tai shrugged.
"Sorry."
Sora sighed. She knew that there was no point pushing Tai until he wanted to tell her any more. But she hadn't been this confused for a long time.
"I have to go," Tai said "I need to get home."
Sora nodded.
"I'll see you soon," she said.
Tai waved and walked out. Sora watched him go.
"I hope he's careful," she muttered "It's late and that serial killers still around."
She suddenly felt a stab of fear. Running to the door she leaned out.
"Tai! TAI! It's too dangerous to be out by yourself! TAI-I-I-I!"
But Tai was already too far away.
* * * *
Angel and Spike watched as Matt kicked and struck the punch bag.
"You're dropping...." Spike began.
"My left shoulder! I know!" Matt snapped. He gave the punch bag a brutal kick then gulped in a deep breath "Sorry."
"It's okay," Angel said.
"Yamato, don't stop practising," Ms Fuyutsuki said firmly "We can talk while you work on it."
Matt nodded and started up again. The band were watching interestedly, being very quiet. They suspected that if they made a noise, Ms Fuyutsuki would kick them out.
"Darla and Dru are strong," Angel said firmly "Alone they're bad enough. Fighting together and they're extra powerful. And now with TK...."
"Takeru," Matt said harshly "TK was my baby brother. He's dead. It's just Takeru now."
Angel glanced at him once, then nodded.
"...with Takeru helping them, it'll be harder than ever."
"And we don't know how many minions they have," Ms Fuyutsuki said briskly "There could be quite a collection by now."
"We can only do it if we work together," Spike said.
"Which means that you don't shop us for your ex-girlfriend," Angel said. "Excuse me?" Spike spluttered.
"It has been known to happen."
"Like Dru would touch me with a ten-foot stake now anyway," Spike muttered.
"She's insane," Angel said flatly "Spike, you'd better now defect."
"Well, you'd better not defect either!" Spike snapped looking annoyed "I remember what Wesley told me about you when Darla came back!"
"That was different!"
"How?"
"Do you two EVER stop?" Matt demanded.
The two vampires glanced slightly sheepishly at each other. Matt rolled his eyes.
"You're worse than the band."
"Hey!" Akemi yelped.
"You lot shouldn't be in here," Ms Fuyutsuki said. "Oh fiddlesticks!" Toshiki said "We want to help!"
"I wouldn't advise...." Angel began but Spike cut in.
"Oh Angel let them! This lot are as old as the Slayerettes were when they started. And the Slayerettes didn't get themselves killed. The only ones who ought to keep out of it are the squirts."
"Davis and Ken," Matt said automatically "And you underestimate them. I think they wouldn't do to badly."
"That wasn't what you were saying before!" Spike said. Matt said nothing but he hung his head slightly.
"I was wrong," he muttered.
No one said anything to that.
"So can we help you?" Toshiki asked quietly.
"Yes....but you'd better learn some fighting moves beforehand," Angel said.
"I'm still not happy...." Ms Fuyutsuki began.
"Ms Fuyutsuki. Please," Matt said "Let them help. The band are stubborn. You'll never manage to stop them coming if they want to. At least help them learn to be better so they can be in a plan rather than messing it up."
The band laughed at that. Ms Fuyutsuki sighed and nodded.
"All right."
Matt grinned a bit.
"We need to decide what we're going to do and how we're going to find them," he said.
"Finding them shouldn't be too hard," Angel said "I'll just have to ask some demons."
"As to what we're going to do...." Spike said "I'd say, nothing more complicated than torching the place!"
"That depends on where it is," Ms Fuyutsuki said firmly "We don't what any civilians getting hurt."
Spike shrugged. That wasn't the kind of thing which concerned him all that much. Angel sighed and frowned, thinking.
"We'd better work out where they are first before we make any decisions like that," he said eventually.
"Your stakes are wonky," Spike said, peering critically over Istu's shoulder.
"So? I bet they kill vampires just as well!" Istu snapped "Want to test?"
Angel quickly zoomed over to rescue Spike from an almost certain fate. Matt smiled grimly and smacked the punch bag again.
"You are still...."
"I KNOW!"
* * * *
Tai glanced around nervously. It wasn't long before he was home but he was uneasy. He was sure that someone was following him and he didn't like the feeling one bit.
He speeded up his pace slightly. Maybe he was just being paranoid. After all, this stuff was pretty nerve-wracking. Enough to make anyone paranoid - right?
"Hello Tai."
Tai froze and slowly turned round and looked behind him.
TK was standing there, leaning casually against a wall. He wasn't in game face and was smiling, looking normal. Except for the leather and just...just something different.
'He's more like Matt' Tai thought 'More adult. Sexier.'
He pushed that thought away very quickly. That was the last thing he needed to think of.
In fact, he ought to be running.
"I wouldn't try it," TK said lazily "I can catch you easily. And it'll hurt."
'I was wrong' Tai thought 'Not Matt. He's like the Digimon Emperor.'
"TK...." he said, slowly backing off a step "Come on. Don't you remember? We're friends."
"Matt's not explained this very well has he?" TK said coolly "We're not friends. Your friend is dead. I'm here now."
Tai turned to run. But his way was cut off by a pretty woman in a long dress.
"Hello dearie," she said, smiling.
Tai gulped. He was in big trouble.
"What do you want?" he demanded, trying to hide his fear.
"Nothing much," TK said, still sounding languid, as though it wasn't very important "It's all just a game really."
"Some game!" Tai said "Let me go."
"Sh," the woman ordered, putting a finger to her lips "Bad dogs shouldn't bark."
"I'm not a dog!" Tai yelled at her.
The woman giggled.
"Woof, woof," she said.
Tai wondered if he could punch her and run. She looked delicate....
Of course, if she was a vampire, she'd probably break his arm.
She smiled, as if she could read his thoughts.
"Look at me dearie," she ordered.
Tai glared at her. The woman held up two long fingers in front of his eyes.
"Be in my eyes," she murmured softly "Be in me."
'Huh?' Tai thought 'What's going....on.....?'
Then his brain started to go strange. He was sinking into two deep blue pools, unable to swim to the surface, trapped. He didn't really care, was just....noticing it happening around him.
"Cute isn't he?" he heard a voice saying from far away "Can see why Matt likes him. Wouldn't mind having a bit of fun with him myself actually..."
"Not yet TK," he heard a cold voice saying "We need to get out of here before the Slayer turns up. They have a habit of doing that. Dru, if you could just give Taichi some....extra encouragement?"
Cold hands closed around his wrists.
"Follow us dearie and don't make a fuss," the sweet voice murmured "Come along now."
Tai followed obediently, a tiny part of his brain still trying to fight the odd, cold, trapped feeling but not succeeding. Silently and unprotestingly, he allowed himself to be led away.
* * * *
Davis was dozing when the phone rang.
"Davis! Kari for you!"
Davis promptly moved quickly. Even though he was going out with Ken, he couldn't help still feeling excited about Kari calling.
"Hi!"
"Davis, is Tai there?"
Davis frowned.
"No. Why?"
"He's not home!" Kari said, sounding frightened "He was at Sora's but he's not back yet! And Sora says he left ages ago!" A horrible lump of ice dropped into Davis's stomach.
"Not back?" he repeated.
"I've tried everyone else but he's nowhere!" Kari cried "Davis, I'm so scared! What if...what if....?"
Davis slammed the phone down. Grabbing his jacket and a stake, he raced out, yelling something fairly incoherent at his parents. He had to tell Matt NOW!
* * * *
"Well, you've stopped dropping your shoulder," Spike said encouragingly.
Matt said nothing. He was sitting on the floor, trying to breathe steadily.
"Maybe you practised too much?" Angel suggested gently.
"No kidding!" Matt snapped, then sighed.
"Sorry. I know I've over taxed myself. It's just....Takeru. And those vampires. We have to...."
Someone began banging on the door.
"Matt! Matt!"
"Davis?"
Spike answered the door and Davis hurtled in.
"Matt, Tai's gone!"
Matt froze.
"Gone?"
Davis nodded.
"He's vanished!" he panted "Not home....no ones seen him...."
"Oh no!" Toshiki muttered.
Matt stared at Davis, his face white.
"We....he can't be....he'll be fine," he said, his voice determined "He has to be! He can't....can't....not now. He'll be just fine."
He scrambled to his feet.
"Angel," he said quietly "Find out where those vampires are now."
Angel left without a word, Spike following. Matt clenched his fists.
"Gendo, go and drive around. See if you can find Tai anywhere."
Gendo obeyed. The others all just stared at Matt. Despite his coolness, Matt's face was still unnaturally white.
"He'll be fine," he whispered again.
No one said anything.
End of Part 12.