A

/N = In this chapter I'm gonna focus more on the plot and a bit less on the romance… this doesn't mean I won't have my delicious Daiken and Hiyako moments, though. ;) In this chapter, I'm explaining everything about Animas, the Guardianmon, and the deities that protect Gaia. Hope I'll do a good job!! ^^;;

Disclaimer = Digimon, its characters and concepts are not mine, but belongs to the right owners. I'm just a writer that's borrowing them to write her ficcies.

Couples = In this chapter… well, Daiken, Hiyako, a tiny bit of Taisuke, and microscopic hints of Takesuke and Iokeru.

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

Heart of Steel - part 4

~*~ Dai's POV~*~

I twiddle a piece of grass between my thumb and index fingers, doing my best not to focus on the boy curled in my arms, his hot breath against my skin, his tears sliding down my bare muscles to die on his lips, pressed against me as well as his whole body.

Oi… wrong train of thoughts.

A rush of heat almost submerges me as I realize how close we're, how he's leaning against me -can I hope?- trustingly. I shake my head, trying to clear my mind. Why can't I banish the thoughts of him from my mind? His hair… his lips… his eyes… his body curled against mine, dammit! They're nice but… they're making blood rushing in strange parts of my anatomy. It's… strange… I mean--

I gulp when I realize that, on their own accord, my arms have started to close around Ken. I stop them immediately, forgetting to breathe as I silently celebrate my success… when Ken shifts and my palm ends up pressed against his shoulder, making us both jump. I tumble backward, holding out my palms in defence.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!! I just wanted to comfort you, you were crying and all, and I wanted to be helpful and I found my hands inching closer to you and I stopped them, I really did! But then you moved and my efforts were in vain, 'cuz my hand ended up on your back and--"

He blinks at me, tipping his head to one side - and there goes his hair again, swinging in the breeze and making me melt inside… damn!

"You want to… comfort me?" He asks, carefully, cutting my babbling off.

"Of course!" I reply, trying to hide the fact that I'm a little too overexcited to have him near. "People do always help who's in need when they can, right?"

"You… think so…?" he asks, tentatively, and I nod fervently, my trademark grin plastered over my lips.

"You bet!"

"And… why… would they?" I blink, and he shakes his head, lowering his gaze to the ground. "Why would you… want to help me?"

"Dude, you don't need a reason to help people. I just wanted to ease your pain, that's all!" He mumbles something I can't understand and looks at me for a moment, before turning back to the grass, looking troubled.

"What's wrong Ken…?" I ask him, placing a comforting arm on his back… and jumping away when he looks up at me in alarm.

"Sorry!" I yell. He blinks at me, and I've the impression he's shaking… Trying to lighten the mode I grin, reaching out to slap my hand. "You bad hand, always doing whatever you want without waiting for me!" And winch in pain when the slaps finds its mark, making my wound vibrate. As I'm busy cursing, yelling, wailing and holding my injured arm Ken looks up and turns to sit between my legs. He leans against my chest, wrapping his arms around his upper body.

=THAT= catches me completely off guard. Not that I've objections!!! But… so suddenly… what…?

"Ken?" I ask, swallowing as he creeps even closer. He says nothing, lowering his head to press his cheek against his shoulder. "Ken?" again nothing. I try again and at the fourth try the bulbs lights up in my head. "Ichijouji?"

"Hm?" He asks, sounding so calm and controlled I swear it makes my jaw hit the ground.

"Uh… I… why did you…"

"You wanted to provide comfort. I was feeling like I could use it." His voice's soft, and its sound reminds me of the quiet gurgle of the river that runs all around Aria, feeding the Rainbow cascades. I melt in its sweetness, but suddenly it hardens, snapping me back to reality. "Though this is a one time thing, Motomiya. Don't fan your hopes." Suddenly, his voice shifts again and he seems… amused? "You're still a freak to my eyes… even if I'm forced to admit I find honey and cocoa both to my liking."

I can SWEAR what I'm hearing now is a chuckle, but I'm too engrossed in the feeling of Ken pressed against me to care… or to ask what the heck he's talking about. I wonder what goes on in this pretty head of his… or better, I'd wonder, if he wasn't snuggling closer to my chest.

"Tell me..." He begins to ask and then breaks off, exhaling softly.

"Tell you..?" My eyebrows shot up, and I lean toward him a bit. I bit my bottom lip lightly, one hand dancing toward Ken's arm. When I touch him, surprisingly, the one that moves away as if burned is me. I try again, and again I retreat, but this time my hand remains closer to his arm, so that another try takes less than the precedent. I try again, and again and again, touching him only to bolt after a millisecond, until, finally, I wrap my arm around him, my right hand curled gently around his left arm. He makes a motion that -from my position- resembles a nod, so I move my other arm around him too, pressing my palm against his other arm. I grow bold and draw him closer and not only he doesn't pull away, like I sort of expected, but instead leans in a little further and -MY GOD!- rests his head against my shoulder. I'm going to faint. If this is a dream do =not= wake me, okay?

"Tell me about…" he begins again, swallowing almost inaudibly. "Yourself. What you did… before everything." I blink at the question, honestly confused.

"Oh. Uhm, err... sure." I crane my neck, tipping my head to one side and then another, searching for words… "Uh… I'm not all that interesting I-Ichijouji…" I swallow, suddenly aware of the strange way my body's reacting to his closeness. "Why don't ya… ask?"

He nods, his hair tickling my chin and neck in the process. "What… do you like to do?"

"Draw!" I reply, instinctively. "Painting sets my imagination free. It's cool. I'll show you my works someday. And I like everything that needs your imagination to live… clouds for example."

"Do you like… watching clouds?"

"More than anything…" I reply, reluctantly moving one of my arms from around him to point a wandering wisp of cotton candy between one twisted dark branch and another. "Look… there's my house, there. And that's the church. That other one is Miko, Hikari's cat… and that's Wormmon! Look!"

The green caterpillar begins bunching, looking around in awe. And this time I'm sure Ken's giggling. "But I bet you see other things, Ken. That's what's cool with clouds. Everyone sees something different. I think ya see what you need to see in a passing cloud, ya know?"

"Yeah…" He sighs, and I look down at him in adoration.

"But what's really cool is =who= you watch them with. If you're doing it with a special person, it becomes special…" He nods slowly, and I can picture the thoughtful frown creasing his lips.

"Everything in this world gains a deepest meaning depends on whom you share the experience with." I nod, even if I don't know what good it can make since he can't see me, and lift my gaze up to the sky again.

"Have you ever…" Ken sighs, reaching down to stroke the grass wavering beside him… and near my leg. God… "Played with a discarded junk, found somewhere in a secluded corner of your room to blow bubbles? Challenging your brother to make bubbles bigger than yours? And laughing merrily, like only kids know how?"

"Oh, yeah!" I reply dreamily. "I've always loved bubbles. There are lots of enchanting things in this world, as magic, but I reduce to a giddy three-years-old in front of bubbles. I've always had." I shift, finally relaxing and finding a more comforting position… even if, I must admit, I'll never finds something more WONDERFUL that sit down with Ken snuggled in my arms. "Hikari used to tease me, telling me I wanted to learn how to fly, and that's why I liked clouds and bubbles."

"Flying must be wonderful." He states softly. "It takes you close to heavens. The realm of Gods we all come from and yearn to go back to…"

"Heaven?" I mutter, squinting my eyes in the almost darkness. "There's no place uglier than Heaven." He tips his head backward to look up at me, lips almost brushing my chin, and I shrug, looking anywhere but to his lips. "I don't want to learn to fly, reach Heaven or whatever. I'd like just to… find happiness, wherever it lies, on this planet, in this life. Not in Heaven. And to give happiness to the people I'll meet during my life, too. That's what I want." His eyes grow wide, wider than they've ever been, and he's even more beautiful than usual. He shakes his head slightly, awed, and then lowers his eyes onto Wormmon.

"Despite… liking… boys… you're… a good person?" he whispers, and I blink down at him. Before I can reply, he's speaking again, playing with a piece of grass as I was doing earlier. "Have you ever killed?"

"I…" I swallow, dropping my hand over his and squeezing it gently. I can't help but sigh, a warm feeling flowing through my body. "I fear I've. In a battle, you fight to survive. I've never aimed my weapons or my Tear Orbs to someone with the intent of killing… but the doubt is here, and I can't wash it away, no matter what. And it is enough to make me feel guilty."

"You're feeling guilty… over something… you're not sure you've done…?" I nod, clumsily, and for an eternity we do nothing but listen to each other's breath, our hands linked.

Abruptly, the spell breaks and Ken snatches his hand out of mine and stands up, dusting himself off. "We'd better get going. We've a meeting waiting for us." I nod and stand up, following him and Wormmon down the path that sneaks through the wood toward the town. Ken's back to his cold self, I can sense it, but… what has just happened? I'm happy he opened up with me… even if it has been only for a second. And I'm happy he can't see my face, also. I'm blushing again. There's one single though stuck in my mind… him. They way he has snuggled close to me… talked with me… and squeezed my hand back.

~*~ Takeru's POV~*~

"No, I haven't seen him. Sorry, Takeru."

"Oh, don't worry, Jyou!" I reply with a grin, looking at him in the eyes for a moment before resuming to scan the crowded streets in search of Daisuke. "I'd just like to know where they went…"

"Don't worry," he smiles, placing a hand on my shoulder and earning a long questioning look from me. "Daisuke knows what he's doing. He'll take care of Ken, no matter what."

"THAT's what I dread." I reply with a scuff, crossing my arms. "That he's taking care of Ken even too good."

Jyou squeezes my shoulder a little tighter, offering me a comforting smile. I sigh in response, letting my hands fall loosely at my sides. "I don't know why I bother."

"You still like him don't you?" I nod clumsily, feeling an embarrassing heat creep over my cheeks. "Well, he =is= attractive, Takeru. Extremely attractive, if we want to be honest." He adds with a grin when I raise an eyebrow at him. With a chuckle, he lets go of my shoulder, waving a gloved hand at me. The oversized sleeve of his white coat wavers almost comically as he moves, and it's a wonder I suppress a chuckle. "On the other hand, Daisuke has plenty of girls and guys that like him."

"You're telling me…" My laughter dies in my throat and I roll my eyes, mutely naming all the ones that like him… and realizing in an heartbeat it would take less time if I counted the ones that seem NOT to like him. Ken. Simple. Or not. Maybe not even Ken dislikes Dai. Maybe he's just denying it… for reasons I can't grasp.

"You'll get over it, Takeru. There are other fishes in the sea, you know. Fishes that maybe like you just as you think you like Dai." Once again I can only nod, air leaving my mouth in a resigned sigh.

"I think I've fallen for Dai thinking we'd make a nice couple. Dai's erratic and unruly, while I'm… gee…" I pause, a frown twisting my face. "I once caught Taichi saying I'm so calm and composed that I'd win a silent-competition against a rock." I shake my head, dropping it, remaining immobile until the faint innuendo of what he said dawns on me. "Other fishes?" I say as I look up, raising an eyebrow at Jyou's amused look. "There's something I don't know, Jyou?"

"Nope." He says with a lopsided grin. "And there isn't en emerald eyed creature crazily in love with you either." Taken aback, I blink, opening my mouth to ask him what he's talking about, when he suddenly pushes me away, his grin changing to his usual soft smile. "Daisuke! Prince Ichijouji! You made it just in time! Follow me!" He pats Daisuke's shoulder jokingly, almost shoving him toward the Cathedral, were Taichi and the other leaders are waiting for us. I take my time to think about what he said, my mind racing.

"An emerald eyed creature…?" I whisper, completely clueless. "What's that? Armadillomon?" Sighing for what has to be the hundredth time in the past five minutes, I shrug, and then hurry to join Daisuke, Jyou and Ichijouji at the entrance of the Cathedral.

As I move closer, I notice Ichijouji standing extremely close to Dai… so close it makes me frown. As if sensing my discomfort, Daisuke looks at me and smiles. But when he looks down at the boy inching even closer to him with each second that passes, slowly and clearly unconsciously, Dai says nothing, a dreamy expression on his face. A jealous pang twists my stomach as I wish that look were for me. Feeling a little bit… cruel, I grin at Ichijouji, pushing Dai away from him rather roughly.

"Steel yourself, Prince." I shot Daisuke a quick glance, and then focus back on Ichijouji, that's blinking rapidly, shoulders hunched instinctively. "For you're about to see something breathtaking…" I notice Daisuke's eyes widen as he attempts to reach out for me, pointing the road that sneaks around the Cathedral to the back entrance, at the same time. Swiftly, and smirking very Taichi-like, I turn around and slam the immense wooden door open, tracing an arc in the air with one hand. "Welcome to our Cathedral, Your Highness."

"Ichijouji…" he whispers almost inaudibly, moving his first, tentative step inside the structure… and freezing in the spot. His eyes grow wide, his mouth open and round in mute amazement. And when he finally says something, his voice is an amazed, cracked whisper. "…How magnificent!"

"It's a beauty, isn't it?" I reply, trying my best not to raise my chin in pride. A quick glance at Daisuke's red cheeks, partially hidden behind his hands helps, but summons in my throat a laugh I can barely subdue. "If we ever got scolded for pranks as kids, Dai and I used to hide here. And that balcony up there is where he used to play with bubbles."

"Takeru, stop telling those old stories, it's embarrassing! Let's_just_reach_Taichi!" he says deliberately slowly, his gritted teeth bared in what should be an intimating look; but his bright red cheeks make it almost comical. I chuckle, waving at him absent-mindedly as I step forward.

"As you wish, Dai. This way."

"Couldn't we walk outside?!" He shrieks, noticing both Ichijouji and Jyou walking up to my side to admire the view.

"And let Ichijouji lose this enchanting sight? Dai, you're such an =egoist=!" I reply, my tone pitched to deliberate mock-outrage. Daisuke's arm twitches, but he gives out no other sign of disagreement as he -head dropped down and shoulders sagged- walks up to our little group. I look down at Ichijouji's awed face, grinning lopsidedly down at him. Luckily he isn't paying attention to me, or else he's be bolting… or… throwing himself in Daisuke's arms, since they seem so much more close now.

I break out laughing, quickly covering the sound with a cough, as I picture Ichijouji running into Daisuke's arms… and Daisuke turning to me and ask, 'what do I do, now?!'. Very Daisuke-ish. Uhn-uhn. I can =so= picture his clueless expression as I motion to him to hold the boy… and he still doesn't understand.

Once again I laugh, wiping a little tear at the corner of my eye. I'm giving him up. And it's less painful that I thought. Seeing them together made it possible, I think. I must look crazy, but I don't care. It's not like anyone is paying attention to me right now, since they're all engrossed in other things. The kaleidoscopic-like Cathedral we're in; the incredible paintings it sports, and Ken. Well, the latter draws only Dai's attention, but still…

I turn to look at the purple haired boy that captured Dai-chan's heart as he moves his head around and then takes a step forward, swirling slowly to take a good look at the wonderful paintings that embellish the walls of the church. Light from the stained glass window shines on us, reflecting in strategically placed glasses and mirrors, filling the room with rainbow-hued fragments of light that enlightens the paintings in a complicate and enchanting game of light and shadow strategically designed to make the already wonderful pictures all the more beautiful.

"It's wonderful isn't it?" He nods slowly, his eyes shining like a kid's in a sweet store.

"…breathtaking!" He lets his eyes wander around, surveying each and every figure with almost eagerness. Not a single 'mon, man, deity, fairy creature or angel escapes his awed eyes, but he carries particular attention to the Guardianmon frowning down at us from the walls, each placed on the one that represents the cardinal point he protects. "What a brilliant piece of artistry this is…" His voice trails off when his gaze aligns on the immense altar winking at us in golden light. His eyes focus on the immense, golden glided cross, and then somewhere behind it. His breath catches in his throat as he moves forward, tentatively, as if in a dream.

I follow Ichijouji's stare and immediately look back at him, noticing how he drinks every detail of the figure eagerly. It is an incredibly huge digimon, with red wings spread out behind his back, his blue head embellished with a crown of sorts, his black armour shining in the eldritch light he seems to emanate.

"Imperialdramon." I offer. "The Guardian of north."

"That's… Imperialdramon…?" I nod, even if he isn't looking at me, and notice how his whole body seems to sag. "That's the creature of my dreams…" he says slowly, and again I nod, frowning it thought.

"They say Guardianmon speak with us mortals through dreams." He nods again and then stops, just few steps in front of the wall.

Ichijouji reaches out with trembling hands, to finger the shadows features of the dark angel portrayed with sapient strokes just below Imperialdramon, its black wings cupped around its naked body, its head bend down so that its face is shielded by it and made invisible, its arms wrapped around its torso.

"This is… wonderful…" he whispers in an exhalation, his voice barely above inaudibility.

"And the beautiful young Angel portrayed is quite beyond comparison too…" Jyou adds as he moves closer to him, fingering his glasses. The purple haired boy nods absentmindedly and, with a chuckle, I realize Daisuke's cheeks are now redder than a Fire Orb.

"Did you notice that the Angel has black wings…? And on further inspection, it looks somewhat masculine… Now these are unusual features, aren't they? According to legends Angel's wings are snowy… and usually these depictions are not gender-specific…" Ichijouji nods slowly as Jyou begins babbling about the technique and the obvious talent of the painter, his fingers still crawling up and down the Angel's lean body softly.

"This is… incomparable… but…" the boy pauses, sliding his hand up to brush one finger across the Angel's barely visible lips. "I sense an atmosphere of sadness in this picture. I can't see his face, but somehow, it gives the impression that he is… anxious. Perhaps waiting. But he's so sad… hurting…"

"He is." Daisuke nods, and then moves away, moving toward the back door that leads to the meeting room. "That Angel… has been put there to symbolize that time when the Guardianmon joined the forces of Darkness in the War of One Thousand Years. It symbolizes Oikawa's… no, men's sins, too. In a way we can say he symbolizes… evil. Evil that doesn't want to be evil, but has to. I think… it would be sad to be forced to be someone you're not. That's why he seems so sad. He is." And with that he disappears behind the heavy black door that closes behind him like a seal.

"What… was he saying…?" Ichijouji argues, and I sense his cold, unfriendly self cracking this quiet Ken's surface with arrogant force. He begins babbling about how could Dai, such a young boy, understand what such a genial painter wanted to express through this work, when I cut him off, waving a hand at him.

"He =is= the painter Ichijouji. He spent his whole life on this." And with that, I follow Daisuke inside the meeting room.

When Ken and Jyou finally follow, I shot a quick glance at them and so does Daisuke, out of the corner of his eyes. Ken's dumbfounded, and when his and Daisuke's gazes meet, he shakes his head slowly, dropping it guiltily. Daisuke accepts him back with a smile, and moves closer to him to show him that. Ken smiles gratefully up at him for a second, before looking around rather worriedly at the people already chatting and discussing, whose focus has abruptly diverged to him as soon as he entered the room.

Taichi's cold stare makes him shiver, and he instinctively moves closer to Daisuke, tightening a fist around his shirt. Daisuke looks down at him cluelessly, and then gently pushes him forward, toward the platform where he's supposed to stand as he speaks. Sighing, he reaches inside his shirt for his amulet and begins to explain.

~*~ Ken's POV~*~

"As you know, this world, Gaia, is under the protection of the four Guardianmon." I begin, slowly, surveying them all with a shiver. Then, I notice that not only Wormmon, curled up in Motomiya's arms- but Motomiya himself, Miyako and -surprisingly- Takaishi, Jyou and my 'twin' are silently cheering me up, smiling and transmitting me energy through their eyes, sparkling and deep. I try to smile back down at them, feeling my lips curve up only imperceptibly, but that's enough for them as they smile up at me even warmer.

"And two superior beings, the Deity of Light and the Deity of Darkness, have been fighting to take over this world since its birth. The Guardianmon are not creatures of Light, nor of Darkness. Their only aim is to protect Gaia, and therefore they can become vessels of the Deity of Darkness' power if its plans could - in the end- grant Gaia prosperity." I nod again, and they all nod back at me, my cherry-eyed twin snuggling closer to Miyako's chest and sighing softly before gesturing me to go on.

"In the Battle of One Thousand Years, in different moments, Guardianmon supported both the Deity of Light and the Deity of Darkness, in a warfare that brought to the recent conflict between Slayelth and Elenyak. At first, Guardianmon stood by the Deity of Light's side, but the power of Darkness was too overwhelming, mostly because it seems the Dark Deity had incarnated in a young human being. Mankind clung to its only hope of surviving this war: Yukio Oikawa." A single, shocked gasp surges from the audience, and I nod gravely. "The sinner who caused the partial destruction of this world."

"Legends say that, as a punishment to his sin, a terrible plague destroyed him and his team of scientists, erasing from the face of the planet most of the green as well. What the Ancient tests don't say, but that I found after years of research, is exactly =what= that sin and that plague were." I pause, lowering my eyes to my hand, curled around my amulet. "Yukio Oikawa played God, and created life. The Guardianmon saw this act as a menace for Gaia and briefly turned against mankind and monkind, supporting the force of Darkness until they deleted Oikawa. Surprisingly, this brought the two factions close to the end of the conflict, and to the victory of the Light. As you all know, the leader of the Dark forces, the human body that worked as vessel for the Deity of Darkness was destroyed. Before dying, though, this Deity found a way to disable the Guardianmon's powers. And their temporary deletion is what caused that unknown virus to spread through digimon and private them of the capacity to talk."

I lick my lips, taking a deep breath in through a wide open mouth. "Darkness managed to split each Guardianmon's body in several pieces. One is their Anima." A green eyed child raise one hand at this, and I grant him permission to talk with a nod.

"Forgive me for asking, but…" he pauses, furrowing his eyebrows in a look of concern. "What's an Anima?" I nod at him, and he sits back down, snuggling closer to Jyou as if in search of protection.

"That was a very pertinent question." I look around, letting my eyes hook briefly with the ones of everyone around. I show them my charm, that's dangling rhythmically between my thumb and index finger, reflecting the light in a soft pearly glow. "That's an Anima." I nod again, cautiously laying the gleaming gem back on my chest. "In the Ancient Language, an anima is a soul." Again everyone gasps, sharing confused and awed whispers with whoever is close enough to ear. "Actually, this is the soul of Omnimon, the Guardian of South. This is part of the Royal treasure, but it's the key to your victory, too."

"What do you mean?" Taichi spats, placing one hand on his hips and the other around Motomiya's shoulders, possessively.

"If we offer this Anima to his Temple, Omnimon will awake. And once you'll have the power of the Guardians in your hands, you'll have the victory there too."

"Dude…" Motomiya says, frisking free of Taichi's grip. "But isn't Omnimon's Temple due South, in the Slayelth territory?"

I nod, strangely pleased to see Taichi's tanned features twist in a frown when Motomiya steps away from him and closer to me. "Indeed. In fact, the royal Palace is built around the Temple, and we could venture to say they're one in the same. But I know the location of the other Temples. All of them. I drew a map, and I'm willing to explain to you how to awake each Guardian." Motomiya gifts me a broad grin, and my lips curve up on their own accord, my face almost aching for all this smiling, which I'm not used to. "Imperialdramon's Temple is to north, in the Aegis Forest. Shakkumon's is in the Megillah Desert. And last, Silphymon's temple is hidden in the Shimmering Lakes."

Again Motomiya grins, and offers me a hand to help me descend the four steps that separate us, when Taichi scowls, pushes Motomiya away roughly and glares at me.

"This is nonsense, Ichijouji." He growls, his tone low and threatening. He places a palm on my chest and pushes me backward, and he'd do it again if Motomoya didn't stop him, trapping his arm in an iron grip.

"What are you saying, Tai?" He inquires, his voice no less dreadful that the other boy's.

"If we just need to take the Anima to the temple, why Omnimon didn't awake since the jewel was already in his temple?" He pauses, smirking arrogantly down at me. "You said your Palace =is= the Temple, and that the Anima was in the Palace, so…" he leaves the sentence hanging, already savouring… I'm not sure what. Victory, I presume, but it's not clear to me what we were fighting for in the first place.

"You're completely right." I reply, glaring at him through half lidded eyes. "As you're hinting to, to awake, the Guardianmon need something more than their Anima. A heart the power of light resides in must summon them. And there's no one so kind-hearted in my castle. And then, they need a digimon body to posses. The right one."

"And you know them all, I suppose?" he raises a hand to hit me, but Motomiya steps between the two of us, glaring at his leader. On instinct, I grab two fistfuls of his shirt, pressing my body closer to his. I wonder… what's this feeling that comes over me when he protects me like this… I feel safe… like never before. No one has ever tried so much to protect me, even hurting themselves to save me.

Truly, I had dozens of soldiers protecting me back at the castle, but I've never need protection, since I never really left the tower I've been confined in for the last years, and when I did, which was when my brother had to go around Shania for a special talk with his people, and wanted to show off my forced reclusion wasn't killing me, I was surrounded by soldiers. They were there to protect me, but they would just stare at me, with not any expressions at all. I felt like mannequins were just staring at me soullessly. Never, never before I've felt so... safe.

"No." I admit slowly. "But we can figure their names out once in the Temples. If I need to visit the Temples is just because in each of them there's an inscription with the name of the 'mon that will be the vessel of the Guardian's power. Omnimon's destined vessel is WarGreymon, or MetalGarurumon. Or both. I can't tell, for the wall in his Temple was too ruined."

"We've no way to reach Omnimon!" He roars, and I see someone taking hold of his shoulders to prevent him from leaping forward. Instinctively, I move closer to Motomiya, who spreads a hand out to offer me better protection. "This is useless! You fanned our hopes only to crush them! You're a spy, aren't you?!"

"No!" I shake my head, my voice gaining a shocking pleading tone. "I'm here to help you! I want to save Gaia just as much as you! I'd never--" I take a step back and swallow the rest of my sentence as Taichi manages to free himself, his fists pointed menacingly toward me. His arms are shacking, though, and I blink. Trying to suppress this inexplicable anger of his, the tan skinned boy takes few, calming breathes, steels himself and then steps closer.

"How can," He yells, the shaking in his arms increasing once again. "A simple =kid= know what dozens of researchers and priests are still trying to understand, uhn?" He regards me scornfully, looking me over quickly.

I shake my head, tightening my finger in the shirt Motomiya wears. "I studied! I did researches, I tried and tried until I found this!" Once again he makes fun of me, and I quickly shake my head again, my voice rising to a shriek when I finally answer.

"I tried! I truly did! I was trapped, for more than five years, in a tower where there was nothing but books, books and books! I had no choice but to go on on my own! And what was that formed my prison's walls and the same time provided me my only way out?! The books! And I =had= to study them! I had no choice but find these answers when I didn't even had the questions, permitted to leave my golden glided cage only to be showed as an odd animal in the streets, or to be…" I raise my hand from Matomiya's shirt to clutch my shoulder almost painfully, biting my bottom lip before words could escape my mouth.

My "opponent" lowers his fists, and stand in a position of thought as I slowly release both my shoulder and Motomiya's shirt. "Gaia's dying. And it's my brother's fault. I want to help. That's the only truth I can give you. Perhaps is not a truth you like, or even not a truth you could believe. But that's the only truth I have." Taichi lowers his eyes to his hands, clenching and unclenching them rhythmically. I gain some courage from his silence and move closer, a hand placed on my chest. "We need the power of the Guardianmon." I reply slowly, sensing Motomiya's body tremble with a strange emotion... I'd call it anger… or… worry. "We just need to find the inscriptions and bring the Anima and the vessel digimon together."

"We don't have time to take your pretty ass around in search of these inscriptions!" He snaps, his quiet façade all but gone. "The Emperor's army could strike by any moment!"

A pause follows, an uncomfortable silence wavering flatly in the air. And then Motomiya steps forward, raising his chin proudly. "Taichi." He says slowly, a darker tone I've ever heard him use echoing in his voice. "Jyou and Koushiro both can read the Ancient Language. Send them to the East and West temples, and provide them with a little escort. I'll take Ken to the North temple. No questions." He adds threateningly when the taller boy opens his mouth to object, and then takes my hand, pulling me toward the front door. Once there, he swirls around, placing his eyes on Jyou.

"Decide who will escort you." He orders, and then repeats the same to a red-head boy I suppose to be Koushiro. "When you're ready, we'll depart. And make it short, 'cuz me and Ken are leaving in an hour." The boys both nod at him and then he looks at me and smiles, not moving of an inch until I smile back at him, and then bring us out, the bright daylight forcing my eyes close.

~*~ Hikari's POV~*~

"We're talking about a very dangerous mission, Hikari!" Taichi pleads with me. In vane, I should add. Not even turning to face the two of us, Koushiro flips his blood-red cape over his shoulder.

"Hikari is the commander of the second division and Miyako's the commander of the fourth. Nefertimon, Aquillamon and MegaKabuterimon are in order one of the most agile, fast and strong digimon we've." He pauses, hopping onto MegaKabuterimon scaly arms. "That's quite a bit of a powerful team, if you don't mind my saying."

"But… you're heading one of the most dangerous zones of the planet! I can't let the three of you go alone! We're talking about a flooded maze here!" Taichi shrieks, still trying to gain my attention. At my side, Miyako pulls her lips back in a broad grin.

"That makes it easier to get lost in it, uh?" She chuckles, watching my older brother's face fall.

By the look on his face, the way he's furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes, it's easy to understand he's racking his brain for a reason that could somehow convince me and Miyako to reconsider our decision to follow Koushiro. I shrug, finally acknowledging him.

"We can make it, Tai." Hoisting my bag between Nefertimon's shoulders, I hop onto her back, her huge wings fanning around me and giving my hair a soft breeze to play with.

"Taichi." Nefertimon speaks, moving few steps forward and walking past Taichi. "Hikari's safe with me. I'd give my life before letting anything touch her." She nods solemnly, and halts, folding her wings. "I'm not going to lie to you. The task that awaits us is difficult and the journey filled with obstacles, but if there's someone that can make it, is us."

"I know, but…" he walks around Nefertimon, looking up into my eyes once he halts. "Hikari-chan, please be careful."

"I'll be." I reply coldly, urging Nefertimon to move. Taichi stops us again, curling his arm around her neck. "What?" I ask, trying to be colder as I've ever been.

"Why are you so cold, dammit?!" he shrieks, his gaze pouring flaring outrage. "You're leaving for a mission that could be of no-return, are you aware of that?!"

"And are you aware of how =damn= childish you're, Tai?!" He blinks owlishly, his rage fading in a matter of seconds into shock. "You said it yourself, Taichi, Ken's a =kid=. He's thirteen, for God's sake! He lived through an Hell we can only imagine, he's scared, alone, trapped in a foreign land trying to help his former enemies to stop his brother, his own =brother=, dammit! Risking his life in the process too, and all you can do is try to hit him? Showing him an anger he doesn't deserve?!" Taichi backs away, and I take an instant to catch my breath.

"Why are you so jealous?! If Ken's a kid, then what does this make of Daisuke?! As far as I can remember you always regarded him as a man, didn't you?! And they're about of the same age!" I look down at his hurt expression and my voice softens a bit, but doesn't lose its angered quality. "That's not the Taichi I know! The Taichi I =thought= I knew would try to help Ken no matter what, like everyone else here is doing. Now, if you excuse me…" I bow my head politely, patting Nefertimon's neck to make her move.

Before she can though, Taichi steps in our way and shakes his head, lowering his eyes to the ground. Slowly, he looks back up at me, but it's only for a second, and then his eyes are on the ground again. Not able to stop, I reach out to touch his hand, smiling down at him with concern.

"Taichi…?" I whisper, studying his features, a perplexed expression registering on my face.

"I love him, Hikari." The words came out in a rush, unbidden, unrestrained, and he's sniffling, his whole body racked by heavy shivers of what seems rage. "You understand, right?...I've loved him since the beginning, and now…" A melancholy, cracked chuckle surges from his mouth and he wipes at his eyes angrily, even though they're dry. "But I guess that it doesn't matter, does it?"

"Tai…" He steps away, waving me off.

"I know. Don't worry, I always knew."

I follow his eyes and unsurprisingly find myself staring at Daisuke. He's been chatting with Jyou, Takeru and Iori as they carefully climbed on Ankylomon's back and now he's giving them last, few words of encouragement. With a quick wave their team departs, and -wasting not time- Dai swings immediately up onto the saddle of Pegasosmon, seizing the reins. Carefully, Ken strolls up to the two of them, and Pegasosmon lets out a happy squawk as the Prince goes to him and strokes his golden neck, softly. The digimon closes his eyes in delight and Ken reaches up to pat his head, with Daisuke chuckling madly all the time.

When Ken looks up at him with a small frown, Dai's shoulders quiver again, the laughter louder this time, and then he waves him off, grinning. Ken must be telling him something, since I can see Dai nodding, and then he hold his hand out to the dark-haired boy. He takes it hesitantly, and when Dai pulls him up behind him and helps him adjust on the saddle, he's reluctant to hold on to him.

"There's nothing to worry about!" Daisuke chirps, bouncing over Pegasosmon's back. "This digimon's strong enough to carry both of us!"

"But…" Ken glances up at him briefly, clasping and unclasping his hands.

"For the Guardianmon, Ichijouji, if anything happens he can overrun every kind of monster! And just in case, I'll be there!"

"Yeah, but…"

"Oh, come on, are you going to hold on or not?"

"Uhm… I…" Ken fidgets, looking everywhere but to Daisuke.

I blink. Daisuke too blinks, and then dissolves into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Miyako asks as Aquillamon hops up to Nefertimon's side, and I shrug, watching as Daisuke struggles to slow his breathe to a resemblance of normal rhythm. At last, he finds his voice, and by now Ken's cheeks are of a terribly amusing red tone.

"Oh my, Ken!" He laughs, "You have nothing to worry about!" He swallows, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes as he manages to return to an upright position. "I have no intention of violating your honour."

Half Aria dissolves into laughter at that comment and I can barely see Ken's cheeks turning even redder, for my eyes are filled with tears of laughter. Miyako too is fighting not to fall off her digimon's back, and she would fail if it weren't for Aquillamon's quick response to each and every of her movements. Ken wrinkles his nose in a grimace of anger, and glares at Daisuke with glassy eyes, his cheeks flushed, looking at him the same way he was being looked.

"I just don't have much experience riding on a digimon. Thankyouverymuch."

Throwing his head backward with a laugh, Daisuke nudges Pegasosmon forward and with a squeak Ken puts his hands around Dai's waist, burying his face in his back. Pegasosmon gallops toward us, and I smiles gently at the three of them, reaching out to pat the digimon's armoured muzzle.

"Be careful okay? All of you."

"You too." Daisuke says with a nod. I nod back at him, and behind me Miyako lets out a squeak.

"She has the privilege to have me as her escort, she's gonna be fine!" With a laugh, Daisuke turns toward Taichi, and when their incredibly similar eyes meet, they both fall silent.

After a moment of shared hostility, Taichi shrugs, looking a bit sheepish. "Take care of the Prince, Dai. And I warn you: if anything happens to him, I'll punish you personally, ya heard me?!" I bit my bottom lip not to grin, but Daisuke doesn't care and flashes Taichi an incredibly radiant smile.

"I will Tai." Then, on impulse, he reaches out and traps him in a hug. "You too be careful, and don't do anything crazy while I'm not here to stop you… Taichi-niisan."

"Don't worry." Taichi grins back at Daisuke openly, but I can she his arms shaking when they move from around Daisuke. "Now go."

Nodding fervently, Daisuke urges Pegasosmon to the city gate, and once there pauses to wave at us, giving us a final grin before nudging Pegasosmon in a steady gallop, disappearing in the wood.

"Believe me I always knew." Taichi whispers to no one. "He can't think of me romantically, because he already thinks of me as family…" then he looks up at me, his grin tired and his concern true. "Come back home soon, Hikari-chan."

"I'll do it." I reassure with a smile, placing a quick kiss on his cheek.

With that last promise, Nefertimon leaps up in the air, tracing large, lazy circles above Aria, letting me take a long, final look back at my home. But soon, all to soon, all can I see below me is an endless field of clouds.

~*~ End of chapter 04~*~

*sniffles* I feel sorry for poor Tai… but not enough to let him have Dai-chan. X Action, Romance, the rescue of the first guardianmon, more Hiyako, Iokeru and Daiken in the next chapter, plus.. a scene with my favourite, (if not only one I like) digimonxdigimon coupling!!!! *giddy*
See you in the next chapter!