Title: The Courage Child

Author: angel zeniko-chan

Email: zeni24@hotmail.com

Pairing: Taito, a bit of Takari, Sorashiro (If thats how it is, Sora/Koushiro), and Jyoumi

Rating: There's nothing THAT bad. A bit of kissing in a m/m relationship. Some light swearing. I would say PG13.

Summary: In the Digital World, a powerful digimon wants our favourite leader to rule with her.

Author's Notes: yeah! chapter three!!! (I just noticed that I screwed up the rating and pairing there instead. Sorry, people.

Disclaimer: Digimon's not mine...

*** change of POV or time gap

"speaking"

'thinking'

Italics: letter

The Courage Child

Part 3

That was too much for Tai. It was one thing for a digimon to bite him, but for her to rape him? "No!" Tai yelled and pushed her away. "Stay away from me!"

Back at the capsite, Yamato and the others heard Tai's yell.

Kari was the first one to her feet, followed closely by Yamato, then Agumon and the rest of the gang. They ran towards the direction where Taichi had disappeared to. "Taichi!" They yelled when they saw him and Miliramon.

"Leave him alone!" Yamato yelled after he saw all the red bite marks, some spewing blood, on Tai's upper body. He saw red only. This digimon was going to pay for what she had done to his beloved.

Taichi's eyes widened as he saw his mistake. By yelling out oud, he had caught the attention of the other digidestined, therefore putting them in danger. All because of him. "No..." He whispered softly.

"Agumon digivolve to... Greymon!" Tai's yellow dinosaur digimon partner yelled and changed his form, growing bigger so that he could save his friend.

"Claws of Poison!" Miliramon yelled out. She took one claw and flew towards the brown striped tyranasaurus-like digimon.

"No!" Tai cried out.

Miliramon missed, thanks to Tai's cry. She was so angry that she spread her arms out and shot his other attack. "Darkness Flight!" A black shadow like thing came out of her body and rammed into a tree. He fell and dedigivolved back into Agumon. "Greymon, no!" Tai screamed. He ran up to his fallen partner.

"Sorry, Tai..." Agumon said weakly.

Tai smiled. "Don't worry about it." He said. "I'm just glad that you're okay."

Just like Greymon, none of the other digimon had a chance either.

Miliramon smiled and laughed as she blasted Ikkakumon away. Then she turned to the humans, smiling menacingly. "I'll be back for you, Courage." She directed to Tai before she disappeared into the night.

Tai sighed in relief then fell to the ground, unconscious from all the energy he had used up.

"Tai!" Yamato caught him in his arms. He and Jyou carried him back to their campsite where they all pitched in to make him as comfortable as possible.

While taking care of him, Jyou noticed that his zipper was halfway undone. 'She tried to rape him?' He thought horrified. 'That's why Yamato was so angry!' He quickly zipped it back up and buttoned the tiny button which seemed to be in perfect condition compared to Tai's body. 'I hope the girls didn't see that.' He thought. He didn't want anyone else knowing if Tai hadn't want it to be known.

Then strolling towards where there was a group huddle, he pulled Yamato aside, unoticed by anyone else.

Jyou had seen Yamato acting very weird these days. As if he wanted something. And Jyou knew that he wanted something from Tai. He had seen all the glances which he'd only seen from lovestruck girls when they meet a guy of their dreams. Yamato seemed like one of those girls.

"Matt," He said Yamato's english name. No one knew why, but Yamato didn't like being called by his japanese name. Only Tai was allowed to call him that.

Yamato turned to Jyou, and for a split second, Jyou thought that he saw concern and love in Yamato's ice blue eyes. Then he turned back to the pale eyes which Yamato looked at everyone with. Everyone but Takeru and Taichi.

"I gotta tell you something." He pulled him from Takeru's side. The little blonde boy was busy comforting Kari, who was clinging to his arm, making him blush. Tai's sister, was crying very loudly and nothing seemed to stop her tears.

Sora, Mimi, and the rest of the digimon were busy trying to look for some herb that would make Tai's pain go away and Koushiro was on his trusty laptop like usual, typing away at some medicine site and emailing Gennai about Tai's conditions and what they could do about it.

Yamato was still gripping onto Tai's silver flute as he followed Jyou quietly.

They stopped at some trees and Jyou looked deep into Yamato's uncaring eyes. "You care for him, don't you?" Jyou blurted out.

Yamato looked shocked as he finally raised his head to look at the blue haired to-be-doctor. Then he sighed. "Yeah. But Tai's straight. He'd never like me." He mumbled.

"I wouldn't think that..." Jyou said with a hint of a smile.

Yamato gave Jyou a weird look. "Why did you pull me away from the others anyways?" He asked the older guy.

"Right." Jyou snapped back to the present. "Don't do anything drastic, but..." he shifted his glasses nervously, not sure about how he should say this. "Well... I think that... Miliramon tried... tried to... rape Tai." The last part was whispered out very softly.

"WHAT?!" Yamato yelled out.

"Sh!" Jyou put his hand over Yamato's mouth. "I don't think anyone else noticed anything..." He told Yamato about how Taichi's zipper was half way undone. "And plus, you know Tai. Even better then I do. He would never do anything to put us in the danger so he wouldn't cry out if it wasn't something drastic."

Yamato nodded. It made sense. Tai wouldn't have wanted anyone in danger. If Miliramon had been threatening him, he would have tried to stop her himself and not tell anyone, in that case probably writing his own death wish. 'I knew digimon were dangerous... but to rape someone? Especially Taichi?'

Yamato clenched his fists. 'Miliramon is going to pay. And she will pay dearly.' He vowed silently. But first he had to make sure that Tai was alright.

Yamato and Jyou went back to the campsite where everyone but Kari, TK and Agumon had left the prone, pale figure of Tachi Kamiya. Yamato gave his bedst friend's little sister a hug. 'If, and I mean if. If Tai dies... then I'll take care of Kari. I know he would want me to.' He thought on the inside, but on the outside he put on a hopeful smile for the distressed little girl. "Don't worry, Kari. Tai will be fine. He has to be fine."

Kari smiled and gave Yamato a thankful smile. "I hope so... I really hope so..."

***

It's been days since Miliramon was last seen by any of the 8 digidestineds and their digimon partners. Aslo days since Tai last woke up. He still lay in the same spot as a few days ago, pale and feverish. The wounds have almost closed now, just forming batle wounds which scarred, in Yamato's opinion, Tai's beautiful body.

Koushiro, Sora and their digimon had left with Augmon, who felt as if he failed Tai and wanted to do something useful, to search for the mysterious antidote that Gennai had sent them which should be able to cure Tai from the posion running through his veins.

Fortunately, the poison that spread through his body was slow, which gave them a bit more time to find the cure.

Mimi, Jyou and their digimon also did a bit of searching, but they searching around the area where Tai lay, only because Jyou knew the most about medical care.

Yamato, TK, Kari and their digimon stayed with Tai, waiting for him to wake up, and attending to his every needs.

At times when the younger children were asleep, Yamato would break down and cry. He asked himself why he hadn't told Tai sooner about his feelings, because he may never know how Yamato felt about him.

One night, Yamato was sitting in the same position he always did for the past few days. He held his harmonica in his hands and was playing a tiny song he had written for Tai in his spare time.

When he reached the chorus, he noticed that Tai's hand seemed to have moved. Yamato quickly dropped the forgotten harmonica and took Tai's cold hand. "Tai?" He asked eagerly. Finally his love was waking up.

Tai's eyebrows bunched up, then his deep brown eyes slowly opened, trying to adjust to the moonlight. Then he noticed Yamato's face in front of his and he felt very aware of his bare chest.

"Hey..." He said shyly, a tiny trace of red on his sheeks.

If possible, Yamato's smile brightened and he flung himself on Tai, who had just begun to try and get up.

And if humanly possible, Tai blushed even harder.

Yamato burst into tears. "I'm sorry!" He sobbed, his arms wrapped tightly around Tai's small waist, which led to some painshooting through Tai's back, but he bared it, happy and also embarassed that Yamato was hugging him. It was the first time that Yamato had ever shown that much emotion and Tai was not sure what he was supposed to do. He had never been good at comforting anyone.

He awkwardly rubbed and patted the blonde boy's back. "Sorry for what?" He asked softly.

Yamato sobbed out the answer. "Sorry for not protecting you!"

Tai didn't have an answer to that, so he just held Yamato, hoping that he'd stop crying soon, but also hoping that he would never let go of him. He felt safe in Yamato's arms.

Tai suddenly noticed that not everyone was around. "Where is everyone?" He asked, afraid that something bad had happened while he was asleep. He knew that he was out for many days.

Yamato pulled Taichi back down. "Relax, Taichi. You're still hurt." He said, not realizing that he had said Tai's full name.

Tai looked at him for awhile. 'He said Taichi... Why?' He had noticed Yamato's little slip. 'Could he l-? Nah... Wishful thinking, Tai.' He thought inside, but what he said outside was, "I'm fine." Yet he still lay back on the ground, his head in Yamato's lap. The he repeated his question.

"Koushiro, Sora, Biyomon, Agumon and Tentomon went to find a cure further away and Mimi, Jyou, Palmon and Gomamon went to look for one around here. Me, TK Kari and our digimon stayed behind to watch you." Yamato answered.

'All because of me...' Tai realized. He turned his head away, his eyes filled with unshed tears. Burying his head in his arms, he ignored the pain that ran through his wounds and cried. 'If anyone gets hurts, it'll be my fault. Then they're all going to blame me. And I have a feeling that someone will get hurt...'

Yamato's mind raced. 'Why did Tai turn away?' He wondered, confused. Then he saw the beautiful brown eyes he had grown to love so much, fill with tears. He felt a big pang in his heart. This was the first time that Tai had ever broken up in front of him. He always seemed so happy, so carefree. Yamato was jealous of him all the time, because others seemed to like being around him.

'Tai's never cried in front of anyone before...' He thought. Tai had the crest of courage, and it was not possible for him to be sad and lonely. He's never been scared, or hurt... that's why everyone looked up to him. That's why they were working so hard to try and cure him. They've never seen Tai so pale, still and with so little energy, and it scared them. They wanted their energy-filled, happy leader again.

"T-Tai?" Yamato asked hesitantly.

"Why didn't you just leave me? I'm just a burden to everyone now. Just a useless, good for nothing..." Tai sobbed. He took the necklace that held his crest from around his neck. "Stupid crest of Courage." He cried, snapping the chain into two and tossing it away. "It shouldn't be mine anyways. I don't deserve it."

Yamato looked at his best friend. They had been best buddies for as long as Yamato could think of. And for all that time, Tai has never denied his crest. Especially when everyone knows that he was the right one to get that crest.

Inside, Tai was secretly seething at himself. 'Tachi Kamiya, you are the biggest loser in the world! You just started crying! And in front of Yamato too! Even worse!' But despite the yelling and bashing in his head, he continued to cry.

Yamato looked at Tai. His heart was breaking, seeing Tai; the strong, determined, confident Tai, now weeping. He hugged Tai and let him sob in his arms. "Tai, please stop crying. You're gonna wake TK and Kari up." Despite Yamato's pleas, Tai still continued to cry.

He tried another approach. "Tai, you're perfect for the crest of courage. Everyone knows that. And you're not being a burden." He said softly.

Tai had stopped sobbed loudly, but the tears still fell from his eyes.

Suddenly, Yamato was fed up. "Dammit, Tai! You're acting like a baby!"

This shut Tai up very efficiently. He pushed Yamato away and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I know." He said quietly.

'Shit!' Yamato mentally cursed himself. "Tai..." He raised one hand towards Tai, but the brown haired boy woujldn't let anyone touch him.

"I know." Tai said again. "Just... just leave me alone! I know you want to lead. I know you rather have the crest of courage." He walked over to his crest and picked that and the snapped chain up. Then he took his digivice as well and threw it all at Yamato. "Take it! Just take it! I don't care anymore!" He took his flute gently from Kari's tight grasp and ruffled her hair softly, kissing her on the forehead. "Goodbye. Luv you, Kar." Then he got up and ran.

"Tai..." Now Yamato was the one crying. He stared at the crest and digivice in his hand. Then he got up as well. "Tai, wait!" He tried chasing after Tai, but even with his back wounds, Tai was still the soccor champ and the fastest runner in the school. He got away very easily.

Yamato slump to the ground. "Dammit, Yamato Ishida! Why did you have to do that?!" He yelled at himself, the tears already running down his cheeks, and as much as he wiped them, they still continued to falling off his face. "Tai. Come back... please..." He whispered.

***

Tai ran.

It didn't Yamatoer where, he just ran as far as he coujld.

Away from him.

Him...

Yamato Ishida...

"Why does everything happen to me?" He asked the sky, of course not expecting an answer. Which was good, because he never got one.

He stopped to take a deep breath. He was far enough, and those many gym classes with Yamato told him that the blonde was not built to be a runner.

Sitting on the ground, he finally made up his choice. He had three alternatives.

One, was to go back to Yamato and endure all the cursing and everything that he knew was going to come.

Two, go back home.

Three... rule with Miliramon.

But he couldn't go back home, without something sending him back there, and he didn't want to go back to the campsite if Yamato was just going to yell at him some more. 'Plus, stupid blonde was probably laughing at how easy he got rid of me and took over as leader.' He thought with regret that he had ever loved his rival.

And three... Miliramon didn't seem like a bad person. She just wanted someone to rule her kingdom with her...

In a few minutes, Tai made up his decision. 'Now to call her...' He thought sadly. He didn't want to leave Kari, but right now, he had no choice. Hw sighed deeply and too out his flute. He'd noticed that she was always there when he played his flute. So maybe that might bring her to him.

He placed the mouthpiece up to his lips and blew.

***

Yamato was crying on the ground when he heard the sound of Tai's flute. 'Tai!' He got up with a new burst of energy and followed the sad music.

***

Taichi continued to play, unaware that Yamato was coming to look for him. Then he heard a sound from behind me him. Everyone always said that he had sharp ears...

Miliramon stood behind him.

Tai looked at her, then dropped his gaze to the ground. "I'll rule with you." He said softly.

Miliiramon smiled. It was a pretty smile, which lit up her face nicely. "Really? What about your digidestined friends?"

Taichi looked at the lake beside him. "They're not my friends, and I'm not a digidestined anymore." He told her, not giving any reason why this was so.

Miliramon smiled again, not asking any questions. "Come." She said in a twinkling voice.

Tai tucked his flute safely in his pocket and walked over towards Miliramon. She gently placed her arms around his shoujlders, being almost a head taller then him, careful to make sure that her nail don't accidently scratch him. "Let us go, my king." She said softly.

Just then, a yellow blur ran towards them. "Tai!" Yamato yelled out.

Tai looked up for a second and Yamato saw some kind of unknown emotion in his eyes. Sadness? Then Taichi turned away. "Yes, let's go... my queen." He said, loud enough for Yamato to hear, breaking both of their hearts at the same time.

Miliramon gave the blonde kid a triumphant smile and she and Tai disappeared into the night.

"Tai, NO!" Yamato yelled out and rushed towards them, but it was too late. They had disappeared and the only thing left was Tai's beloved goggles.

"Tai!" Yamato screamed. "Don't leave me! I love you!" But it was no use. Tai was too far to hear anything of what Yamato said, whether he wanted to hear it or not. Yamato hugged the goggles tightly to his chest and cried.

To be continued...

angel zeniko-chan: *sniff sniff* poor Tai-chan. I think I'm making them a bit too emotional in my stories.... But I like writing angst and thats the only thing I'm good at cuz I can think of too many sad things... Hmm... Oh well, review please!!! And the next chapter might take a bit more time cuz I have a big geography project to do and cuz my parents think I'm spending too much time on the computer... Laterz!!