Disclaimer- I don't own Digimon; really, just believe me all right?
A/N- Ho hum… You know I only have 9 reviews for this story… And there are a good many more hits than that… I'm starting to think no one loves me anymore… Oh and from now on I'm going to give shout outs in the story, that way if you don't leave your email address you can still garner a response. And here we go!!!!
Mimi gazed demurely down at her feet while she thought quickly. She'd never looked at girls before, she did like guys, but no man had ever made her heart race like Sora was now. What am I thinking, I've only just met this girl! What is going on? Mimi gently traced a pattern in her dress and watched Sora's beautiful eyes flitter uncomfortably from place to place. Suddenly Mimi knew what to do.
"Would you care to visit the gardens? There are some fabulous night blooming roses down there." Sora nodded enthusiastically. Mimi smiled, in addition to such niceties there were some of the best trysting sites in the whole castle…
Oh god. Tk choked up, he couldn't do this. He looked on as Daisuke picked pocket after pocket and he was entranced. Iori was his beloved, Iori was his beloved, and Daisuke was his-
Tk, you don't have to do this, I can really, you're in so much pain you shouldn't be putting up with this.
"How can I put up with this? I need to become accustomed to it, to teach myself that Dais is no longer mine, otherwise how can I love Iori?"
You
know I don't think it's really love Tk; it's a compulsion,
one that eats away at you for eternity.
"No, I saw in the vortex, it was Tai and Koushiro, Jyou and Yamato, Sora and Mimi, Miyako and Hikari, Ken and Daisuke and me with Iori." Tk's voice sounded plaintive. Jun sighed within his mind. Something about that seemed wrong to her, something that resounded deep within her bones. But if Tk was sure… She didn't remember the time in between, merely the here and now.
Whatever
Tk, now let's take care of my- OH SHIT!
Daisuke smiled to himself. Today was going well. He'd already pinched enough to feed him that night and to buy incense for Lakoi, goddess of thieves and prostitutes. Daisuke shuddered at that thought and then quickly shoved it to the back of his head. If he didn't think about it, it couldn't hurt him; at least that was the theory. Concentrate, he couldn't let his finger tremble, couldn't afford to get caught-
"Hey! Thief!" Daisuke ran, dodging in and out of a sea of people, a mindless river that forced him into its current. Then he felt himself seize up and rise up. SHIT! Magic, strong and potent grabbed him and held him above the crowd. He looked at the bag he'd stolen and saw a rune sewn onto it. It must have been a tracking rune, one that would enable a mage power over it and its holder.
"Well, look what we have here." Daisuke froze at that voice, he knew-
"I guess we'll just have to re-educate you thief, here sir, this I believe is yours." A hand snagged the pouch and gave it to the mage who sniffed disdainfully at Daisuke.
"I hope you teach this filth not to mess with his betters good sir." The voice turned into a man that walked in front Daisuke, one that Daisuke knew all to well.
"Oh certainly, good day milord, we'll take him from here." The mage motioned and Daisuke fell to the ground. He tried to run, but he only ran into another guard. The group surrounded him quickly and began to beat him quietly. Daisuke yelped in pain as he was quickly tied up. The men all hoisted him into the air and carried him to the barracks.
Rough hands grabbed him and tore the rags he called clothes off of him. Daisuke whimpered as he felt cold hands tie him to a wooden bench. Cruel splinters rubbed against his body. He was then gagged. He trembled in fear of what he knew was going to happen, what had happened before. His eyes bugged out of his head as he felt the first man enter, intense splitting pain. He screamed into the gag and his eyes watered with pain filled tears. The man slammed into him, over and over- Daisuke blacked out from the pain before being reawaken with some ice water.
Then the man withdrew and Daisuke whimpered. Then the second man, and this one was big, pain again, he felt blood trickle out of his defiled body-
A scream behind made him jerk. Then the man was gone and he heard sounds of a scuffle. Cool smooth and strong hands caressed him and untied him. He looked up into the face of a blue-eyed angel. His hair was a frosty gold and his eyes were deep glacial meadows. A single cool loving hand gently traced a line on Daisuke's face and a strong loving voice spoke into his head. He suddenly found himself clothed and felt gold in his pockets. Then the figure wavered and vanished, leaving a single feather to float down into Daisuke's hand.
He looked up at a sudden whimper. The men that had been raping him lay on the floor, mewling helpless and their eyes filled with terror. Daisuke stared in awe and fear; the men twitched and bled from strange wounds that oozed puss and a weird black substance. Then Daisuke realized what was happening, their skin was peeling back from their bodies and was becoming instantly infected. What he didn't know was that they were seeing things, horrible images and feeling incredible pain in addition to the skin leaving their bodies. What he didn't know was that they would actually go on living, and would die of dehydration before anything else.
What he did know was where he needed to go, outside the city, to join an entourage, and quickly at that.
"So, Ser Takya-" Koushiro began, then stopped and blushed when Tai sent him an exasperated look.
"Sorry, Tai, where do we go now?" Tai smiled and shrugged. Koushiro groaned, they had been sent to a village as a starting point and had joined the locals in fighting off some bandits. The bastards had kept several towns in terror in that area, but between Koushiro, Tai and the 50 some odd enraged villagers they had kill the entire camp.
Suddenly Tai stopped and sniffed the air. He lifted his ears much like a hound and whirled his horse around to a gallop. Koushiro followed without hesitation, although he was a tad annoyed that Tai didn't even acknowledge his presence. All resentment vanished when he saw a young lad trying to cook something on a fire. When Koushiro realized with a sickening feeling that thing was a rat and the boy was emaciated he blanched.
The boy shied away and stared at Tai in fear. Then the three of them felt a surge of satisfaction, as if the rightest thing had ever happened. Koushiro reckoned he could almost hear a vague "point" said somewhere far away and close at the same time. Tai leapt down from the horse and grabbed the boy. Suddenly he lifted the boy up and swung him down onto his horse. The boy stared in awe at the animal and appeared frightened out of his wits.
"Oh uhm right." Koushiro stammered as Tai sent him a look that plainly said 'I can't speak and this kid needs to hear someone talk so talk you fucking moron.' "Alright then child what is your name?" The boy looked at him bewildered. Koushiro tried another language, one used only in the far south. He tried several dialects and finally in exasperation he tried old Faelk. To his surprise the boy responded.
"Iori." The boy said and looked at Koushiro and his eyes widened in fear.
"Are you a priest?" Koushiro raised an eyebrow.
"No, I am a mage and this is Tai Ser Takya, we are on a" He fumbled for the word but the admission was enough for the boy.
"You are Ser Takya?" Iori asked in wonder. Tai looked bewilderedly at Koushiro, archaic tongues were only spoken by mages, priests and scholars, and Tai couldn't speak anyways. Iori remembered this with a blush.
"Yes he is, you have heard of him?" Koushiro then blushed as well, the entire fucking world knew of Ser Takya, the youngest knight in a generation, and one that had already created a debt to himself from the royalty of Larek, well known as one of the strongest kingdoms in the world. But Iori's face grew much brighter and he smiled cheerfully.
"My name is Koushiro, and I cannot translate my mage name just yet let me think." Iori looked at Koushiro not really caring about his last name. Tai shook his head and looked around. He nodded and reached over to his pack where he pulled out his bow and a quarrel of arrows. Koushiro nodded.
"Ah, now I remember, Stareye, so anyway Iori Tai's going to go hunt now, so I'll set up camp. Why don't you go down and-" Koushiro paused, searching for the word. "Ah, wash please and then dinner will be ready." Iori nodded and slide off the horse. Then he looked at Koushiro questioningly. Koushiro's eyes grew vacant and he pointed to his right. Iori nodded and ran off.
The river was fast moving but there was a small pool where Iori could wash. He quickly stripped and jumped in. He yelped at the cold water and shivered, before grabbing some sand and scrubbing his body. Then he submerged his head and scrubbed his hair. Suddenly Koushiro was there and holding a bar of soap. He passed it to Iori who, teeth chattering, blushed and quickly took it before turning his back on Koushiro.
Doesn't like being naked around others. Koushiro filed that away under information for where the boy might be from. He drew a towel out from behind him and waited. Iori looked at him and towel with an almost pleading look. Koushiro smiled and laid the towel down. After doing so he walked off. Iori, still shivering, continued to wash and then jumped out. He quickly grabbed the towel around him and washed. He was so cold…
Then he looked around and realized he had thrown his clothes into the river! Iori stared forlornly as he watched them float away and realized his shoes were gone. The day had started off so well and then he had gone and done something so stupid… He felt strong arms lift him up and looked into the kind face of Ser Takya. Iori blushed; realizing he was naked with only a small towel separated him from the great knight.
Tai clutched Iori to him and rocked him softly as he carried him back to the campsite. Iori felt warm and cozy, and he snuggled up to Tai's chest reflexively. Tai was unpleasantly surprised by how light the boy was, and became vaguely angry at whoever had put the boy through this.
"Damn it Tai what the hell were you thinking?" Koushiro inquired angrily. Iori woke up and saw the size of the young buck Tai had caught and almost laughed at the helpless expression on Tai's face. "I mean honestly what are we going to do with all of it?" Koushiro gestured wildly now. Tai shrugged and made an eating motion with his mouth. Iori sighed and laid his head down on Tai's shoulder.
Tai caught the flicker of jealousy in Koushiro's expression and decided tonight that he would "explain" something he'd been working up the courage to for a few nights now. Tai smiled inwardly, he could face down Assassins, a rampaging Wyvern, bandits, royalty, Duke Eltan, but he couldn't show the boy he thought was attractive who he at least knew liked him that Tai would return his affections? That was sort of backwards, or so it seemed to Tai. He looked at Koushiro and smiled, yes, tonight he'd start something, what he didn't know was how powerful that something would become.
Things
are falling together quite well, what do we do next?
"I don't know, I can't find Hikari and Matt is on his way to the right place. But I can't find Kari!" Tk sounded desperate and Jun couldn't blame him. Each of the digidestined were essential, but some of them were more, susceptible, to certain influences, Kari was one of those. Ken was safe and Tk was obviously bound to Jun but Kari…
"You will not find Kari Tk, she is protected by my adversary. Jun, you must take control, for my enemy does not know of you and cannot protect himself from your power." Jun quietly slipped into control. Feeling the wind bless her skin with its cool touch. Her wings spread, white columns of blessed light. Tk shrank deep into their shared mind and rested. Jun stretched her wings and jumped from the tower. At the last second she sped off, their magic powering them. She felt for Kari and found her, and her dismay was mirrored by Tk as she realized what would follow.
"Ken I'm so bored." Miyako murmured plaintively. Ken sighed at her tone, Miyako needed exercise and frankly riding a horse all day wasn't doing it for her. Ken enjoyed the perspective quiet that riding brought. But Miyako didn't enjoy it at all and- He realized she was glaring at him.
"I swear Ken you have the shortest attention span I've ever seen." Ken blushed.
"Thanks Miya, ooh look a vagabond knight looking to ravish you." Miyako sneered at him and when she thought Ken wasn't looking gave a furtive glance over her shoulder. What she did surprise her, a small boy, no, a young man about her and Ken's age from the looks of it was slipping in and out of the shadows behind the traveling group. She loosened the sword in her sheath and when she saw the figure reappear she wheeled her horse around and charged him. Ken noticed her ansence and the knights she galloped past quickly followed her.
Daisuke froze in fear as he saw the horse bear down on him and young lady sitting on it, her purple hair flowing behind her like a vengeful haze. Her sword was long and cruel and her demeanor was righteous wrath. She leapt off of the horse, which stamped around and gave Daisuke a reproachful look as if to say 'this is all your fault.'
"Why are you following us boy." Daisuke bristled at that but went silent in fear as he saw the two men approach. He was about to open his mouth and speak but one of the men comtenpuously spat on him.
"Street filth, skewer him and have done with it." He took out his sword but his companion placed a commanding arm on his hand.
"Stay your hand, most thieves are not thieves by choice Fredrick, as you should know." The man said pointedly. The bulky Fredrick blushed and turn back to the group which had stopped. Daisuke once again opened his mouth to say something when the feather in his jerkin fell out. As it did it blazed with bright light and blinded everyone except Miyako and Daisuke. And those two saw a group of young people with small strange animals. And then the vision ended.
When it did Ken was there and from the confused look on his face he had shared the vision. One of Ken's father's treasured advisors was there with a curious look on her face. Beside him was Senji's apprentice, who was looking at them with wide eyes. The feather gently floated up and returned to Daisuke, but not before caressing the faces of Miyako and Ken.
"A sign." The apprentice said in awe, and most of the caravan made the sign of whatever god they worshipped.
"So, Daisuke, you say you were rescued from prison by an angel?" Ken asked. His father looked askance as Ken's mother.
"Yes." Daisuke answered, intimdated by the presence of nobility and power. Miyako sent a look at Ken.
"Father, mother, Miya and I have something to share with you." Ken's father looked at them and his mother narrowed her eyes, thinking something along the lines of illegitmate children. "And no it has nothing to do with sex, but when I was knocked unconscious I felt." Ken struggled for the words to express what he had felt.
"I felt it too, you see I didn't best those badntis, one swooped down out of nowhere and struck me a glancing blow. But before falling I felt this strange sensation of feathers." Both of them looked at each other. Ken's mother and father exchanged a glance.
"Although your story could be attributed to the fact you were both knocked unconscious, I believe that this episode with the feather proves there is some stronger power at work here." His father paused. "I'm sure when we reach Larek we can talk to the archpriests and discover which god is involved with this." The youths nodded. "Until such time, Ken, Miyako, you are the guardians of this boy, make sure he comes to no harm." At that was end of that, but merely the beginning of something greater than anything they could imagine.
"Please milady, please-" Hikari glared coldly down at the man. Her face showed no emotion and her body was rigid in displeasure. Her face was drawn tight. With a small gesture blackness surrounded her hands, it was more an absence of anything than energy, it was just the essence of not-being, the antipathy of existence. She hurled it angrily at the man, and his flesh bubbled angrily where it struck. He screamed as he was consumed by the negative energy.
"Next time dust every shelf." She said coldly. The rest of the staff shuddered. Kari stalked into the throne room and flung herself onto her throne. Strong smooth hands gently massaged her shoulders. She sighed angrily.
"They're so disobedient, sometimes I swear I don't know what to do with them." Kari leaned into the strong hands and chuckled seductively. "But then again I know exactly what to do with you." She said. She darted up quickly and flicked her tongue into his mouth, tasting his sweet powerful flavor.
Piedmon smiled, with Kari under his sway he would rule absolute. Only someone so good could fall to something so deliciously evil. He trilled gently into her mouth and proceeded to ravage her on her throne. His queen of darkness for his empire of darkness. Soon, so very soon… Revenge and dominion would be his, and not even those blasted guardians could stand in his way. All 4 worlds would be his…
So I'll start from the last chapter-
Taya- well I tried to make it intruiging! It's nice to know it worked. I thought that Jyou's job would be rather ironic and as for what happened to Jun and Tk, well that was sort spun form the story, I didn't mean for that to happen actually.
Izumi Dude- Well here you go, hope you enjoy. Big shout out for reviewing every chapter. THANK YOU!
As for the rest of you I need reviews to know I'm doing well, I have one review for every 20 readers, which means something is going wrong… so REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!!