A

A/N = *grins happily* I received a lot of good reviews for this one, on Ff.net, on the ML and on my private email account -^^- I'm glad you like this despite its… weirdness. And… it gets weirder, I assure you. *chuckles* You'd be scared if you knew how many ideas my muses have been throwing at me for this one!!! =)

Disclaimer = *sighs* Still not mine…

Couples = In this chapter… well, Daiken, and, always talking about hints and hidden feelings, few people/Dai. *winks* You'll see what I mean!

Warning = PG-13 for what can be found in later/previous chapters.

Heart of Steel – part 2

~*~ Takeru's POV~*~

I advance slowly through the lush vegetation, sweet baby grass licking my ankles and a soft breeze streaming through my hair. Then, slowly, I stop, my thoughts dragged by the paradisiacal scene displayed in front of my eyes. An azure lake glimmers under the moonlight, a stream gurgling quietly at my left and a little waterfall bubbling to my right. Iridescent colours are engaged in a wild dance over the silvery surface of the lake, reflecting the soft moonlight in a multitude of opalescent hues.

A soft wisp of green falls into my face, and I brush it aside with my fingertips, but the low branch simply fall back into my eyes. I continue to move it away, gently at first, but when the loose strands keep falling over my eyes, the motion gets more and more upset. After few tries, green foliage still dangles in front of my eyes, tickling my noise annoyingly, and I set for blowing it away, impatiently.

At last, I snap the branch away with a grunt and feel vindicated when it gets tangled with another low bench, finally freeing me from the tickling torture. Allowing myself a small victory chuckle, I stick my tongue out at the lifeless branch, prior to glancing over to my right… and every rational thought flows out my mind as my eyes meet the scene of utter beauty in front of me.

Daisuke stands, his back against an aged palm, eyes squinted in a look of thoughtful sorrow. Eyes as dark and bottomless as those of a puppy. Of a lost, beaten puppy licking his wounds in utter loneliness. Little ephemeral lights dances all around him, floating downward to gently brush the surface of the lake only to waltz heavenwards after a mere, teasing touch, fluttering all around Daisuke in a seductive dance, sending iridescent little lights to trace the sensuous lines of his face. His left foot brushes the surface of the lake, causing concentric ripples to dance around his toes. His other leg is bent up, strong arms wrapped around it, offering rest to his cheek. Dancing flickers of silver are setting his coppery hair on fire, and his skin is magnified to a glistening dark shape, darker that it has ever been.

And even breathing becomes an action I must force myself to comply. God… he's so wonderful… almost surreal… bathed in silvery light he's almost ethereal. Then, slowly, he looks up at me, as if sensing my presence, but since I was paralysed I wonder what could have drawn his attention to this area. I'm moving to turn around, but I'm stopped when Daisuke smiles at me, hopping to his feet and dusting himself off before advance toward me with a smile.

"Ehy!" He calls, his smile developing to a proud grin once he's few feet in front of me. "Take-chan! Whatcha doing here?"

"… walking." I reply absently, my eyes glued to his face. He grins, and taps my chin with his index finger, gently closing my mouth, which-much to my own embarrass- was hanging wide open.

"Yeah, right…" I feel the blush when it comes to heat up my face, and quickly turn away, a pout tugging at my lips. "Caught." He chuckles, placing his hands on his hips and bowing his head, but even at that angle, his sharp eyes catch mine. And I find myself sinking into those eyes.

Despite all my efforts, I feel my blush darken, but I've the promptness to cover it with a cough.

"And you?" I hurry to say, trying to move his interest from my growing discomfort. "What are you doing around at such hour?" He shrugs, turning toward the lake with a blank expression, his eyes devoid of every fire he'd ever had. He's gorgeous… God, divine, with the moonlight cloaking him with this gentle layer of silver light but… the weariness and pain in his beautiful features is what attracts my attention. "What happened? Are you all right?"

He remains immobile for a moment, and then shrugs, his eyes now completely blank. As if he's slipped into a sort of trance. The broken reflection of the moon on the quiet water of the lake gifts thousands of flicker to his eyes, partially closed behind his lids and velvet raven lashes, but they're so cold and empty to make me shiver for a moment.

"Yes. I've been thinking, though."

"About what…?" I ask before I can stop myself.

"You know the answer to that question." I guess I nodded, because he nods back and tips his head to a side, looking at me sideways.

"Ken."

"Yeah…" he faces forward again, licking his lips as a look of rapt contemplation crosses his features. He frowns for a moment, though, and when he speaks his voice is barely above a whisper. "You know? I think… his fear is not something related to us." I blink at him, confused, but he just goes on. "Do you remember what he yelled back there, in the hut?"

I nod, a whisper sliding out my lips. "I'm not a freak who likes other boys." Then, in a breathe, I add, "Homophobia."

"No." Daisuke replies calmly, the bows of ghostly light caressing his face making him look almost scary. "That's the base of the question, but that's not everything." He cups his chin thoughtfully, squinting his eyes until they're two slits of dark oblivion. "That's something skin deep. Something that goes beyond simple disgust for same-gender relationships. This is fear. Sorrow. I can smell it… see it as it radiates from his body in huge waves."

I raise a golden eyebrow, studying him with almost reverent fear. "You're saying he's been…" Daisuke shakes his head again.

"No." He says dryly, his dark eyes not wavering in the slightest. "This fear of his is related to something in his past, so much I'm sure of. But I wouldn't think about =that=." His tongue escapes his mouth, moistening his lips carefully. "And then, it seems that his disgust is mostly related to =me=."

"You?!" I shout, and once again his eyes are on me.

"He =did= latch onto you while waiting for me to jump down that window, didn't he?"

"But he didn't know I'm…"

"Homosexual?" Daisuke glares at me, once blank eyes now burning. "Here I'm my beloved." He says, his deep voice pitched of an octave to resemble mine. "We've our first time since we're about to die?"

I blink back at him, not able to utter anything for several minutes. "But… he can't… I mean… why should he… dislike you… when he =just= met you?"

"He's scared because I like boys."

"But I do too!!"

"And he's scared of you too, we =saw= it. Nevertheless, you =can= touch him."

I lick my lips, mouth the slightest bit dry. "He did let me touch him, yes." I look at him slowly, but when our eyes meet he averts my gaze, frustrated at himself. "I don't understand," I amend softly, moving closer to him of a step.

"Me neither." He sighs back. "But… it hurts!" he cries, pressing a fist against his chest. "It hurts here! It hurts so much it cuts my breath! I… don't want him to hate me." He whispers, before shaking his head slowly. "But he does… and it… it pains me… it's like… a spear wedging its way in my heart… it burns… and… suffocates me." He utters, heartbroken. Then he looks up at me, hopefully. "What's this, Takeru? Why… why do I always think about him? Why… why if I close my eyes I can see his face? Hear his voice… feel… feel his… hands… all over me?"

"I'm sorry." I whisper, drowning in his puppy dog eyes. Such lost and confused eyes that my heart breaks as I just look at them. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know that you felt this way. I didn't know that…that…" and I stop myself, merely staring at him as he exhales shakily.

"What's this I feel, Take-chan?" I shake my head, nibbling gently my upper lip. I know… I know what it is but… it would be too cruel if he's really in—"I want to ask Hikari." Daisuke whispers softly. "She'll help me, right?"

"Yes." I whisper back, smiling sadly at him. "She knows what this feeling is. She knows it better than anyone." I breathe out and then, after a pause I add, "We all know, because of you." Luckily, he doesn't hear me, and looks up at Mother Moon with sad eyes. I follow his gaze to the gentle image wavering above us, and smile sadly to myself.

I'm sorry Hikari. I'm sorry Tai… and brother, wherever you're now, I'm sure this pains you too. After all what happened, after all these years, after all the fights, the tears, the efforts, the one who captured our Dai-chan's heart is… a stranger.

~*~ Dai's POV~*~

I stroke Pegasosmon's muzzle affectionately, and he leans into my touch, rubbing his nose against my belly.

"Cut it!" I warn in a giggle. "It tickles!!" Pegasosmon complies, and –suddenly sentimental- I press my face into his velvety side, and feel him burrow his head in the mop of my hair. I keep stroking him, and he keeps rubbing his nose against my neck. My fingers crawl over the cold surface of his armour and I sigh again, fingering the protective covering slowly.

Both countries –Elenyak and Slayelth- excavate the ruins of the ancient civilization in order to increase their military power. And if Slayelth gained the upper hand is because of the enormous difference in the amount of resources buried within our ruins. But when, unexpectedly, we found these digital armours, Elenyak was able to recover from being hopelessly outnumbered to being back on an even standing with Slayelth.

My chest constricts as I let out a sigh, still caressing the digimon's side gently. This is the digimon me and Takeru raised together, and over time it had become very dear to me. This armour he wears is the one we found together in an abandoned excavation site, a memento of one of our first adventures together.

He's… a gift, too. For this digimon, at the beginning, was…

Yamato's.

When he and Tai helped Elecmon raising digimon over at Hajimeru no Machi, they jokingly promised us that if they ever managed to breed a talking one, they'd give it to us. Digimon are an intelligent race, they can think and talk like humans, but after the ending of the war of One thousand Year a virus spread through them, and now most of the newborns are deprived of the capacity to talk, and, in the worst cases, even grow up to become insane.

So it was a surprise when, on Takeru's sixth birthday, Taichi and Yamato gifted us a little, sweet Poyomon who promptly made his way in our hearts with his chatting. Elecmon explained us that if the little fella' could talk, then he could be nothing but the reborn form of an ancient and powerful digimon, reconfigured after his 'death'.

But soon he fell sick, and with the years he lost completely the capacity to talk. Elecmon and most of the people of Aria wanted to take him away from the city, fearing his disease could got worse and bring him to the edge of insanity, but Yamato… Yamato trusted him… and convinced them we could keep him.

"You miss Yamato too, don't you, Pegasosmon?" I muse aloud, stroking his warm caramel hued back, and he barks softly in reply. "Yes, you do." After all this time, me and Takeru developed a some kind of sixth sense that allow us to communicate with him. That's why I know what he's thinking and promptly moves my head to look in his aquamarine eyes. "You gotta carry Ken, Pagasosmon, no questions." He shakes his head stubbornly, stomping one hoof on the ground, like a three years old human kid would do to show he doesn't like what he's been asked to do. I sigh, patting his nose lightly. "I know, I know… but he's not bad… he's just…" My voice chooses to leave me at this point, and I shake my head helplessly, feeling my digimon's eyes scan my face. "Just do it… Please."

After a pause, he nods, before patting gently my chest with his muzzle. I laugh, and taking hold of his reins, I walk him toward the entrance of the town, where Takeru and Ken are waiting for us. When I look over at them, my eyes and Ken's meet for an instant, but he's quick to look away. Both me and Takeru notice it likewise, and Take-chan's now watching Ken, scanning his expression. I'm sure… I'm sure Ken too was at the lake early this morning. I'm sure… I… felt him there. It's like he possesses this aura that, wherever he's, lets me know his presence.

He wastes no time welcoming me, though. But I bet he did the same with Takeru. He walks past me and up to Pegasosomon. Their gazes link, and for few minutes, they do nothing but stare into each other's eyes, as if studying each other… each waiting for the other to do the first move. Then, the most unbelievable thing happens.

Pegasosmon lowers his head, offering his forehead to Ken to be stroked as he pleases, and Ken complies almost immediately, smothering his fur with long, lazy strokes. Then, he jumps of the digimon's back, glaring at us from above. "Are you ready?" he snaps, and I wince silently, taking hold of the reins again.

"Yes." I say slowly, taking a first step forward and tugging at the reins to drag them behind. "It will take us a little, thought, since me and Takeru are forced to go by feet…"

"Are you accusing me to slow you down?!" he yells, and I don't need to turn around to know his eyes are flashing with rage. "Well, sorry if I got hurt to help =you= and your stupid cause and I'm now too weak to walk!"

"Sorry, I just…"

"Just what?!" he rages, and I can feel Pegasosmon grow nervous. I silently tug the reins to try and clam him down, and all the while Ken keeps yelling at me. But what surprises me is that when I look back at him over my shoulder, his eyes are watery. His lips quiver has he speaks, and I can see two raw of perfect teeth pressed tightly together. He soon has to look away, sobbing madly, the mere sight of a… 'freak', too much for him to stand. And as he looks away, biting his bottom lip to prevent the tears from spilling out his eyes, I do the same.

* * * * *

Pegasosomon settled into an easy trot as we moved across the Sleeping Forest. We passed several wild insane digimon on the way, but we easily left them behind with an extra burst of speed. We made it through the Salty Sand Plans without any more problems, and reached the borders of Windaria Valley in record time. I couldn't help but marvel at the way Ken handles the digimon. He's ridden them many times before, I think.

We stopped several times on our way here, and every time Ken wasn't paying attention, I turned around to steal a glance at him. He's so beautiful… I can't help it… my eyes are attracted to his perfect body and painfully beautiful features like metal is attracted by a magnet. I noticed a lot of people staring at him, too, but for completely different reasons. They know he's from Slayelth, no one in the whole country of Elenyak has purple hair and amethyst eyes. That's a characteristic unknown to us. And that makes it easy to guess his origins. I saw the fright in their eyes, but no one asked any questions or made any remarks. If anything, they were very polite to him. But I could see the mistrust in his eyes and this troubles me.

I face forward again, tearing my gaze off Ken. And I finally notice that very, very soon Windaria Valley will be visible below us. I tug Pegasosmon's reins and we skip to an halt on top of the hill, only to be left breathless by the sight below us. Nestled in-between azure mountains and green hills, is a little Paradise, shimmering like a diamond. The sun doesn't scorch here, but glows softly, welcoming each and every tired traveller in a soft hug. Wide, grassy fields drown in golden sunlight and embrace the crystalline heavens. The sound of the distant laughter of a stream echoes in the blue. Soft strokes of brilliant azure embellish the green canvas of the plains, rivers and lakes bubbling in quiet contentment.

"Wow…" Ken's voice is filled with child like awe as he speaks, his eyes gleaming with delight.

"Windaria…" I whisper. "The valley of wind… we're finally home…"

"It's beautiful…" he whispers softly. "Daisuke." I freeze. And I bet Takeru does too. He called me by my name… He… I thought he… I turn back around, and Ken's there, looking at the Paradise below us with an angelic smile.

The sky behind him is painted with brilliant azure, iridescent purples, and soft pinks, pearly wisps of clouds lining the distinct hues like cotton. His long hair wavers in the breeze, grazing his shoulders on the front and restrained in a loose ponytail that quivers behind his shoulders, and I whish to feel its silk, soft strands slid between my fingers. I gaze at him wistfully, yearning that he'd turn around and allow me to gaze upon his handsome face, the eyes that gleam gently, the lips I long to kiss...

But I'm not ready when he grants my whish and turns around. Our eyes meet and for a moment, he's smiling only for me. Some of his hair come loose from the bind in the back with the movement and the strands get caught on the breeze and waver, gleaming in the golden light. He doesn't look away, nor let his smile fade for what feels an eternity, and I'm even more aware at how painful it is when those amethyst hued eyes are not on me.

Then, the spell's broken somehow, and he looks away, his face twisted in a look of disgust.

"Maybe we should straighten out our sleeping arrangements now," he says in a cold voice. And I sigh, lowering my gaze to my feet. Ken runs hot and cold. I never know what to expect from one moment to the next.

"Actually, we're really close to Aria. It took us two weeks to arrive here after the attack to the Castle, and I believe we should hurry." Takeru says cheerfully from behind me. "The guys must be worrying for us, I suggest to keep going! If we keep marching at the same rate we adopted for the whole journey, we should enter the town before dusk." I nod reluctantly, and the only reaction Ken has is to dig his heels in Pegasosmon's sides, urging him into a light gallop.

He's running away.

From me.

Again.

~*~ Hikari's POV~*~

I lift my gaze to the velvet skies above, a distant smile tugging up my lips. The sun's creeping down toward the horizon, inundating the sky with sweet cherry light. The sunlight becomes almost iridescent as the sun retreats in front of the thinning clouds, and the sky turns golden, dimming to deep purple as the eye travels to where the sun's going to meet its last desire, the wavering line of darkness that will be its night-bed.

I tip my head to a side, loosing myself in the breathtaking sunset, somewhat relieved at the thought that - no matter what the Emperor could do to hurt and scar the Planet - the nature would keep setting such wonderful sights to the eyes of its beloved creatures.

My smile has a short life, though, and dies softly under the bittersweet warmth of the lone tear trailing down my face. I sigh to myself, and drag my knees closer to my torso, curling up in an almost foetal position, lowering my face between my knees to hide the redness of my puffy eyes and the dry traces of tears over my cheeks to the world. Aria… Aria isn't the same if Dai isn't here. I… I want him back. I'm worried. After hearing rumours about him being killed during a clash with the Imperial soldiers gone after us, I heard rumours about three boys spending the night in Mistalm, at the borders of Elenyak, but… I can't dare hoping. One of those could be Dai… the other Takeru… and the other the person we were supposed to find, but…

What if I fan my hopes only to see them shattered by another rumour? I couldn't bare to cry myself too sleep one more night. And I'm sure the last thing my friends need is to bear with my endless sadness when they are already fighting their own worry and sorrow, while entangled in a battle with themselves to remain cam and stoic in front of the littlest ones. I bit my bottom lip, squeezing my eyes shut against the tears and yet causing two fat droplets to roll down my cheeks with the sharp motion.

Daisuke… where are you…? Dai… Dai…

"DAI!!" The tone, exhilarated and excited is enough to make my head snap up from its resting place in-between my knees. I look around, almost scared, huge eyes burning with the almost too familiar stinging sensation of tears. Again the name is called by dozens and dozens of voices together, and I scramble to my feet, nearly tripping on my own feet as I do. I run toward the front gate of the city, pushing and fighting my way through the quickly gathering crowd. And as I finally arrive, my breath dies somewhere inside my throat.

Advancing slowly, grinning and waving proudly to the people reunited to welcome him is… Daisuke. He's walking slowly, Takeru waving at his side, his face settled in a look of teary happiness. On Pegasosmon's back, eyeing us all with a cold and yet surprisingly scared look, is a boy wrapped in a purple cape. I focus on him just for a moment, the time to blink my eyes, and then I'm aligning my gaze Daisuke's lean form. But I'm sure that those eyes blinked back at me. Tinged with curiosity…

Through the veil of tears blurring my vision, I see Taichi running toward Dai, picking him up and spinning him around with a glorious laugh. When he puts him down, he ruffles his spikes playfully and Miyako immediately walks up to him, hugging him with a squeaked cry of happiness, before pulling away roughly and posing her trademark 'bingo' sign for him.

I smile through my tears, wiping at my burning eyes furtively only to have news tears reducing my world to blurry lines and spots of colour all over again. Iori nods politely at him, and even through the veil of tears I can see him blushing profusely. Dai smiles back at him, gesturing him to come closer. Iori complies and –very uncharacteristic of him- traps Dai in hug. Both Mimi and Sora jump Dai once he frees himself from Iori's vice-like hug, one hiding her face in his chest and the other wrapping both him and her pink haired friend in a hug, placing her chin on top of Dai's head. Koushiro and Jyou comes up then, smiling and shaking Daisuke's hand vigorously, while Mimi and Sora place themselves at his sides, with Mimi still clinging to Dai as he's her lifeline.

My vision's too blurry now, and I vaguely recognize Miyako's blurred shape as she comes closer, and almost trip when she pushes me forward gently but resolutely. The little push is enough to make me fall in someone's arms, though, and when I look up, Daisuke's smiling down at me, warm eyes glimmering with affection.

"Ehy…" he breaths out in a soft whisper, reaching out to finger my cheeks. And I can't hold it anymore. Everything that happened, all the worry, all the pain, the affection, begin simmering inside my chest, and I can't fight anymore the tears that inevitably come when his soft touch reaches my chin, to tip my face up and let our eyes met. I know I am crying when I smile up at him, tears streaming down my face unchecked as I swallow down my sorrow, desperately wanting to just touch him and reassure myself that he is here.

"Dai…" I choke out, shaking my head frantically. "I thought… I thought… you were… were…" Unable to even say it aloud, I lower my head, lying my forehead against his chest, whisperings his name over and over, brokenly. My face's buried in his shirt, drenching it with tears. But he doesn't seem to mind, though. He simply enclose me in a warm hug, stroking my hair tenderly.

"Hush… Kari… stop crying… I'm here… everything's gonna be alright… shhh…" he whispers softly, moving a strand of brown from my forehead to kiss the white skin tenderly. Gently, he takes me in his arms, and I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in the hollow of his neck. "Let's go home…" he says, and I nod slowly, still crying unstoppably.

He doesn't even excuses ourselves, advancing slowly toward home. I look up then, watching Miyako smiling softly at me. Takeru and Taichi's smiles are sadder, but that already faint inner sorrow disappears under the warmth of their clear relief. The only thing that troubles me is the purple haired boy on Pegasosomon's back. He's looking at me with huge amethyst hued eyes. They're so confused… scared… and it seems that, deep within those bottomless polls of shining purple, there're some indistinct… something clearly conceived and unrecognised. But something that, to me, with all my inexperience, looks like… longing.

* * * * *

Once in my room, Daisuke slowly lowers me to my bed, ruffling my hair before walking toward the door and closing it noiselessly. I silently hold my arms out to him as he turns around. He advances slowly toward me and gently takes one of my hands to place the whisper of a kiss on my cold skin, while sitting down carefully at the edge of my bed. I smile up at him, loosing myself in his eyes.

"I was so worried…" I whisper and he nods, smiling back at me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you worry…"

Watching him smile, a little frown finds its way over my lips. Disentangling my hand from his gentle grasp, I reach out to brush soft fingertips under his eyes, tilting my head in worry.

"Dai…" I whisper and he nods again, sensing what I'm about to ask. "You cried…" And, when he nods again, bottom lip quivering and eyes shimmering with unshed tears, the only word that slides out his lips is "Ken,"

~*~ Ken's POV~*~

I watch mutely as they retreat, disappearing from view inside one of the biggest houses of the whole city, with a faint hint of disappoint surging to coat the insides of my mouth. The brunette girl with the eyes of gold bears a odd resemblance to me. Something in her countenance, the delicacy of her features, the way her silky hair frames her pale face smoothly, makes her look very similar to me. But the similitude stop to the appearance, not touching her inner self. Because I would never let him touch me ever again. I… I don't even understand how she can let him touch her. He's not… he's not… appealing at all. His… his skin is the colour of mud. And… his hair are a mop of dirty reddish. I… I… no, I don't find him… interesting. At all.

I'm shivering though, and biting my lip with each word that crosses my mind. I don't know why, but looking at Motomiya carrying away this girl I could venture to define a feminine version of myself makes me feel… strange. She's… me, held carefully in his arms. Like those two nights and days he spent pressing our bare bodies together to warm me. I… me… in his arms. Me… in his arms. Me. I…

"Ken." I'm startled out my thoughts when I hear the voice call my name. It is loud and strong, tinged with hints of barely tamed rage. I look down, and a boy with brown hair and chestnut eyes set in a light tanned face is looking up at me, his fists clenched at his sides. The blonde… Takeru, is by his side, whispering to him to calm down. I suppose he told him about my disgust for pansy-ass faggots. I raise an eyebrow at him, amused by the way his body shakes with anger. This boy is really easy to understand. He hates me. For hating Daisuke. Is he like him, then? I suppose so.

On instinct, I move away, and sensing my discomfort, Pegasosmon retreats of a couple of steps, not allowing the boy's tentatively raised hand to touch him. I'm grateful for this, and pat the digimon's neck affectionately, and he nods, a soft mewling sound escaping his big mouth. I giggle, supposing this means "it was nothing."

Then I look down, licking my lips and trying hard not to shake.

"Taichi, I suppose."

"Yeah…" he says deliberately slowly, almost trying to scare me, clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly. I bit my bottom lip hard, now shaking violently. He's… like Daisuke… he's… like them… like them… like… them… all.

I let out a deep sigh, reaching up to slid my hood off. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm the one that send you that letter." I take a pause, during which we study each other carefully. My eyes burn, and I want to escape, terrified to death. But I must stay… no matter what, I must help them. I've to stop Osamu. I've to do it for the Planet's sake. Gaia needs my help to keep living… I swallow my fear, somehow taming my violent shakes. Pegasosmon tips his head up, offering me his neck to rest my hand upon, trying to help me relax. I'm grateful for that, too. "As I said in the letter, my name's Ken." I lick my lips yet again. I hate feeling like this, helpless, scared… but I've to go on. My mission is more important that my fears. "Prince Ken Ichijoiji Slayelth III."

The crowd around the three of us explodes in a single, loud gasp that makes me quiver, feeling the need to suddenly morph and become as little as possible. Takeru's mouth drops open and he reels backward, instinctively clinging onto the nearest source of support, which reveals to be a lavender haired girl whose cinnamon eyes are hooked on my shivering form.

"And what's the great help you're willing to offer us?" Taichi glares at me, totally unimpressed. I study him with the exact same coldness, tightening my hand around Pegasosmon's hair to gain courage.

"Simple." I reply, my voice even and slow despite the fear shimmering just underneath my calm façade. "The only thing that could possibly beat Emperor Osamu's army."

"What?" He replies disdainfully, folding his arms with a look of cold hatred. I sigh, lowering my gaze to Wormmon as he exits my bag and crawls on my lap, my free hand reaching up to show them all my pendant. I look straight in Taichi's eyes then, my voice resounding strong and low when I part my lips.

"An Anima."

~*~ End of chapter 02~*~

*looks around hopefully* How was that? Bad? Good? Completely crazy? ^^;; Uuhh… I know too much people seem to hold hidden feelings for Dai, but I needed to have it this way. =) Daisuke grew up with tons of people declaring him their love… and now he's so confused he doesn't even know what love, spiritual and physical, means… My… I sense problems… don't you? =) *waves a Kensuke flag* Please review and tell me whatcha think!!! -^^-