Okay sorry for the long wait, I originally finished this chapter three weeks ago but then I decided to add on to it. I hope you like the changes, not that you would notice the changes in the first place but…Wait a minute where was I? It's almost done two or three more chapters to go that is if anyone wants me to continue this. And as always I do not own digimon.
Chapter 9
"Liz are you happy with what you do?" A fourteen-year old TK asked as he walked towards the next town. That day like all the others was extremely hot, already perspiration formed on his brow. Looking over he saw the one person in this world that he cared for above all else. The one person he would lay down his life without thought.
Liz looked over giving him a lop sided grin. "It's the only thing I can do."
TK hesitated, "But do you like it?"
"Why the sudden interest in my job?" Liz asked one brow raised.
He knew she had side steeped the issue. Eventually he would lean to simply ask Liz a direct question instead of being subtle about it. Here goes nothing. "Why do you do it? Why do you continue to sell yourself? You have enough money to settle down and I don't know open a shop or something."
Liz stooped walking he thought she was going to yell instead she bent over and lost herself in a convolution of laughter. Once calmed down she wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "TK can you really see me settling down, let alone opining a shop?"
Lowering his eyes so he couldn't see her eyes, he continued walking. "It's just...you can't be happy doing this sort of thing."
"What?" She asked walking after him. "Walking in the desert with you."
"No!" TK turned around fixing his gaze on her. "Selling yourself for a living, sleeping with people who don't give a crap about you." TK regretted his words as soon as they were out of his mouth. Liz had giving everything for him, and here he was lecturing her on how to live. "I'm sorry Liz just pretend I didn't say anything."
Continuing on the same path they had been walking before this stupid conversation started TK tried to forget he even asked the question. Not taking more then a few steps TK felt a pair of arms turning him around. Looking up he saw Liz smiling warmly at him. "TK, I'm a big girl now I've been doing this kind of thing since I was seventeen." That surprised him, "It's just a job TK, theirs nothing more to it then that."
He continued to stare into her warm eyes. He really should just let this drop but something kept on nagging him to continue. "But don't you want to find someone to settle down with? Someone to love?"
For the first time since this conversation started Liz stooped smiling and her eyes took on a hint of sadness. "I was once in love."
TK was about to speak when he noticed Liz watching the desert, lost in her thoughts. "I had just lost my family from an attack on the caravan we were travailing with. I had no money and no place to live I was desperate. It funny how fate sometimes hits you when you least expect it."
Liz started to walk still lost in her thoughts. "The first man I approached was a rich merchant. He was older but handsome with midnight black hair and the greenest pair of emerald eyes you'd ever seen. Instead of taking me to the nearest bed, he took me to his home. I spent the best three years of my life with that man." They walked in quiet for a long time, Liz lost in her own memories and TK trying to absorb it all. After a while Liz spoke again. "I still remember that day. We were taking a late afternoon walk when we were attacked by a group of thieves. I managed to escape but..." TK heard the sadness in her voice, just as much as he could feel her pain. "TK I know you don't like what I do, but I not ready to settle down."
TK nodded he wouldn't like Liz choices, but he now understood a little more about her. "Liz how did you know you were in love?"
Liz smile came back on her face as her eyes lit up with laughter. "Oh do you have a girlfriend I haven't heard about?"
TK laughed, happy to have Liz her old self again. "How can I have a girlfriend when you don't let me anywhere near one."
Liz laughed harder, once calm she gave him a warm smile "He was the only person in the room."
"What do you mean?"
"TK one day you going to fall in love. Don't roll your eyes. Anyway you're going to fall in love and when you do she'll be the only person you'll see in a room filled with people"
"The only person in the room." TK repeated the words as Liz started to fade away. Blinking TK found himself inside a small but familiar room. Boxes were stacked around and in the center stood a six-year old version of himself with his real mother.
"Mommy why can't we live with daddy and Matt?" The little version of himself asked his mother.
"I'm sorry sweaty, but your father and I can't live together anymore." His mother said while kneeling down beside him.
"You don't love them anymore?" His younger self asked on the verge of tears.
His mother wrapped him in her arms. "TK I will always love you and Matt."
"What about daddy?" His younger self-mummer into his mother shirt.
"I think I will always hold you father someplace special in my heart, but he just wasn't the only man in the room."
"What do you mean?"
His mother stood up and pushed a hand through his disheveled hair. "I'll explain when you're older."
The room grew dark, when he could see again he was standing in a large ballroom. Beautiful dressed men and women glided across the ballroom floor. Music and laughter filled and warmed the air. One by one the couples dancing and the people on the sides started to fade then disappear. Soon there was only one other person left in the room beside him. Her white gown made it seem as if a holy light surrounded her. He hair was arranged that it spilled across her shoulders, looking up their eyes meet and held. He felt himself moving forward as she moved towards him in a slow peaceful pace. They never stooped until they were standing together in the center of the room.
Her eyes twinkled with happiness and love. "You're looking handsome today TK ...TK!"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"TK!"
TK bolted upright with a start; it had all been a dream. Trying to catch his breath he realized that he was in his room. After the digidestin meeting at Tai house, it had been to late to do anything. Deciding to call it a night Matt took him to his mother's house before going home to his fathers. Still trying to relax somewhat, he noticed Patomon sitting on his chest his eyes wide. "Patomon what's wrong?"
"TK, you have a visitor." Patomon voice was quiet, but TK didn't notice the tinge of fear in it.
"Patomon I was having a good dream." Pulling the blanket over his head he snuggled back into bed.
"TK I think this guy really wants to talk to you." Patomon grabbed the blanket in his mouth dragging it down.
TK sat up holding his digimon in his hands. "Just tell him to..." That's when he noticed his so-called visitor. He was a large black skeleton like digimon naked except for the red cape draped across his shoulders. In his hands he held a large saber pointed right at them. "Make himself at home. Who is he Patomon?"
Patomon moved closer to his partner trying to protect him. "His name is Cadavermon, he's an ultimate digimon whose attack is dagger strike."
"You are to come with me." Cadavermon saber drew closer as he spoke the words almost elegantly. Even though he was a skeleton his voice and actions reminded TK of a grand knight.
"What makes you think I'll come with you? Come on Patomon teach this guy a lesson." TK said growing confident.
Patomon shifted uncomfortably. "Um...TK your digivise is on the dresser across the room."
TK blinked at Patomon then turned towards his dresser across the room then back at Patomon. Turning towards Cadavermon he gave a brilliant smile. "Teach this guy a lesson in manners. I can't leave without putting cloths on. I'll be right with you."
Sliding off the bed he hurried to where he had dumped his cloths. When he was sure Cadavermon wasn't paying attention he whispered to Patomon. "If I get my digivise can you take him?"
Patomon shifted uncomfortably again his eyes pleading as he stared up at his partner. "Um...No"
"What!" Turning quickly he noticed his shout went unnoticed by Cadavermon. Lowering his voice he starred at Patomon. "Why not?"
Patomon lowered his eyes so he couldn't look at TK. "He a very powerful ultimate. Even if I could digivolve to that level I might not be able to beat him."
"This is just great. I finally get a digimon to protect me and it can't protect me." Jerking on his cloths he all but forgot Cadavermon who was glaring at him with an amused expression on his face. He searched quickly for his hat then walked towards his now useless digivise. Grabbing it forcefully off the dresser he turned to Cadavermon "Well what are you waiting for were ready."
Cadavermon mouth curved into a small smile as he stared down at TK. Without a word he walked towards the far end of the room and faded trough the wall. TK picked up Patomon holding him firmly in his hands. "I wonder if we should follow." Before Patomon could reply the wall exploded in a sandstorm of debris. Coughing from the smoke TK looked up to see Cadavermon floating trough the remnants of the wall. "Well I don't have to worry about my claustrophobia now."
Patomon squirmed in TK arms. "TK are you sure about this?"
"No." TK felt a shiver run down his spine. "If he was going to kill us though, he would have done it already. At least I hope so."
"Come." Cadavermon motioned them forward with one of his bony hands.
Walking forward to peer out into the street TK noticed several bystanders looking up in shock. Summoning up all his courage he addressed Cadavermon. "So should Patomon digivolve or should we just walk."
Before he knew it Cadavermon shot forward and was holding him and Patomon securely in his arms. "This is strangely comfortable."
Taking off into the sky he heard a heart-stopping scream. "TK!" Looking down he saw his mother staring after him in horror.
His gut twisted at the sight of his mother anguish. "Don't worry mom I'm just going with this evil digimon for a bit. I'll be back by sunrise. Don't wait up."
"No don't. Come back." He saw his mother sinking to her knees crying into her hands. I'm sorry mom. I promise, I'll come home this time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
In no time at all they where set down in a small field outside the city. Cadavermon moved back then bowed in respect. "Good luck brave worrier." TK couldn't tell but it looked like Cadavermon was reluctant to leave. But then in a blink of an eye Cadavermon flew away disappearing into the night sky.
Holding Patomon close he surveyed his surroundings. Thick trees shot up towards the sky covering him in a blanket of darkness. No sounds could be heard, no birds, or crickets just silence. Feeling himself start to shack he moved to leave. "Now what?"
"Now you talk to me." The evil voice floated through the air settling like ice water into his veins.
Turning around TK knew at that moment what true fear was. "Blitomon."
Stepping into the little light provided by the sky, TK saw Blitomon was not as different from when they last fought him two years ago.
Strange that he would remember that.
He was smaller the same size as an adult human with the same pale skin and dark hair. His eyes though seemed darker more evil in nature; they seemed to bore into ones sole, killing you from within. Two black serpent wings protruded from his back, they folded as he stepped closer to his prey. "I'm flattered you remember me." He smiled causing TK to shack once again.
With more courage then he thought he possessed TK stared straight into Blitomon eyes. "What do you want?"
"To kill you." Laughing he grabbed onto TK shoulder stopping his escape. "Not right now. For now I want you to give a message to those other children." Releasing him he laughed as TK stumbled.
"What message?" TK spoke calmly as his heart seemed to accelerate.
"So brave." Blitomon stared down at him a sneer starting to tug at his lips. "But what do you expect from the child of hope. I remember you two years ago, you were their hope." Blitomon practically spit out the words. "I wanted to kill you personally. I wanted you to watch as I ripped out your heart, then collapse to the ground as it continued to beat within my hands. But you...you took the hit for that...that boy. You took away my one pleasure."
TK was literally shacking, he tried to remain calm but his palms were sweating and his legs were about to give. His anger was the only reason he could keep staring Blitomon in the eyes. Blitomon drew back his gaze still locked on TK. "You will tell the other children that the final battle will take place in three days, back were it all started."
Wetting his dry lips TK spoke. "You want us to go back to the digital world."
"Three days." His wings stretched out and started to flap, causing dirt and garbage to blow around him in a dust storm. "Three days." When the wind died he opened his eyes to revel that Blitomon was gone, back into the darkness that was called the night.
Dropping to his knees TK took several deep breaths trying to calm himself. Patomon moved in his arms. "TK I can't breathe."
"Sorry Patomon." Releasing his grip Patomon flew out of his hands.
"TK are you okay your shaking." Patomon voice was filled with concern as he settled on his partner's head.
"I'll be okay in a minute." More calm now he stood, "What are we going to do?" .
"We have to get back to your mothers place, she'll be worried." Patomon voice was steady. "We also have to call the others."
TK laughed a little. "I don't know about you but I have a feeling that they'll already be there once we get home." Hearing Patomon laugh he turned around somehow the wooden area seemed brighter now. "Um...Patomon you wouldn't happen to know where home is?"
"No, I thought you did." Patomon moved to get more comfortable on TK's hat.
TK smiled at his digimon he couldn't have made it through his conversation with Blitomon without him. He was eternally grateful to have a friend like him. "Remind me again why I keep you."
Patomon laughed. "I keep your head warm."
TK laughed feeling ten times better than he had been a minute ago. "Right. Okay Patomon which way should we go? You having the higher view and all."
"Okay I say...right."
"Right it is. Um...do you remember the house number by any chance." TK said as he started out of the glen.
Patomon started to laugh then. "It shouldn't be that hard to find. All we have to do is look for the apartment with the hole in it."
"Now why didn't I think of that?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Why are we sitting around here doing nothing? We have to look for him." Kari paced back and forth inside the Takeshi living room. The police had left a few minutes ago claming the explosion was the result of a group of kids. Miss. Takeshi never mentioned that her son had been kidnapped by an evil digimon; she knew the police wouldn't have been able to do anything. When TK had disappeared she had raced to the phone to call her ex-husband and son hoping that they could do something. Two hours later all the digidestions, and their digimon were sitting in her living room trying to figure out what to do.
"Calm down Kari, will find him." Gatomon tried to reassure her partner.
Matt stood abruptly. "Izzy can't you find him."
Izzy who was busy typing on his computer turned it off. "I'm sorry Matt. You know as well as I do that the tracking mechanisms on our digivises don't work very well in this world."
Swinging around Matt punched the wall. Ignoring the pain that throbbed in his hand he slid to the floor in anguish. "I just got him back."
Tai walked over to him placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We didn't go through all this trouble to lose him now."
Gabumon shook his head agreeing with Tai. "Yea Matt what would TK say if he saw you like this."
Matt let out a shaky breath. "Thanks guys. We just have to find him."
"Don't worry Matt will find him." Gabumon reassured his partner.
Ajona jumped out of her seat. "Lets stop all this feeling sorry for ourselves and comb the city. We won't stop until we search every crevice every ditch. For all we know he could be hurt or dead he could be..."
"Hi guys." Ajona turned quickly seeing TK walking through the door Patomon sitting on his head.
"Coming trough the door. TK!" Ajona throw herself into his arms the impact causing him to tumble to the ground. Pulling herself away from him she looked him up and down making sure he was okay. "You jerk." Lifting her knee she made contact with his groin causing him to double over in pain. "How could you be so stupid? Running off in the middle of the night with a digimon you didn't even know. Not bothering to tell anyone where you were going, you could have been killed. Worrying your mother like that, you have got to be the most thoughtless, incompetent jerk." Wrapping her arms around him she hugged him again. "I'm so glad your okay." Standing up she kicking him slightly with her foot and turned to glare down at him. "Don't you ever do that again. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Besides that fact that I'm never going to have kids, not much." TK positioned himself so that he was on his knees.
"You are such a..." Turning Ajona marched back to the chair she was sitting in before and sat down refusing to look at him.
Matt didn't know if he should laugh or cry, as he watched the seen between TK and Ajona. He instead ran over to TK enfolding him in his arms as if never wanting to let him go. He felt his mother and father next to him as they embraced their two children happy that they were all safe.
Once everyone was settled down, Matt turned to his brother. "TK what happened?"
TK gave a small smile. "Blitomon just wanted to say hi."
"What!" Matt closed his eyes and briefly lowered his head into his hands. "That's it call and ambulance. I need to be placed in a padded room."
"Matt are you okay?" Gabumon asked.
"No I'm not okay." Turning he stared at TK. "You could have been killed. Did that ever accrue to you?"
"That's not important right now." TK started. He didn't want them to get more upset then they already were. "The important thing is that Blitomon gave me a message. He said that we have to meet him in the digital world in three days for the final battle."
"This has to be a trick." Tai walked across the room pacing in thought. "Blitomon is up to something."
"But what?" Davis piped up. "If we don't go then who knows what might happen."
Joe leaned down further in his seat. "I think I'm going to be sick."
TK leaned away from him. "Please don't get sick on me again. The last time on the way from camp was enough."
"I forgot about that." Joe adjusted is glasses, then stopped to stare at TK "You remembered."
Everyone eyes turned to TK whose eyes widened. "I remember."
"TK?" Patomon approached his partner carefully.
TK smiled picking his digimon up in his arms and swinging him. "I remember. I remember it all. Tai and Matt fought all the time in the digital world. Ken was the digimon emperor. Davis is a jerk."
"Hey!" Davis protested.
"Sorry Davis." TK hugged Patomon close. "It's all coming back. My memories are coming back."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TK woke up with the sun on his face, and the cool breeze blowing through the open widow. It was nice to wake up and not have an impending disaster looming overhead. Opening his eyes he surveyed his brother's room. Matt's bedroom as a whole was the same as it has been years ago. Of course that was before he'd lost his memory, before he had changed. He had once been so happy so cheerful nothing seemed to bother him. What did Blitomon say he was the group's hope?
Was he still?
He knew that the digidestions wouldn't quit when they meet Blitomon in two days but something just didn't feel right. Tired of dwelling on it, he tossed back the covers and starting putting on his cloths. As another gust of wind blew through the open window it reminded him of all the desert night he had spent outdoors. He couldn't remember how many nights he had sat up with Liz watching the stars as they shined in the sky.
Would he ever be able to do that again?
Matt had complained the night before saying that they were both going to catch phenomena. Of course if they had stayed at his mothers house it would have been worse after all there was a large hole in his bedroom wall.
He didn't really care were he slept he just wanted to sleep. He had been riding an adrenaline roller coaster for the last couple of days, and was ready to collapses. Of course he wouldn't have minded collapsing in the park where he'd meet with Blitomon the night before. On the walk back to the apartment he realized just how much he'd missed his daily walks through the desert with Liz. He also realized how much he missed his old life, sure he hated stealing and cheating at every turn, but it was who he was.
The question came back again was he the TK who had grown up steeling and cheating in the desert? Or was he the same person he had been before, the TK who had helped save this world?
Matt walked into the room just as he'd finished dressing. "Good morning Matt, Sleep well?"
"I always sleep well with ten extra blankets on me." Walking over he gave TK a lopsided grin. "We have to get you new cloths, or at least wash these." Pointing to the clothing that he had worn since getting there.
Tugging his hat on he turned to Matt. "I don't know why. I only had two pairs of cloths with Liz, since we had to travel light. As far as cleaning is concerned their not that bad. Remember I lived in a desert water was too rare to waste in on cleaning cloths. Besides I have other things to worry about."
An evil smile crossed Matt's lips. "Would one of those things happen to be Ajona?"
TK didn't even try to hide the blush he knew was spreading across his face. Instead of answering he went to wake up his digimon. "Patomon wake up, I want to carry on an intelligent conversation with someone."
Patomon grumbled something before settling down deeper into the blankets. Traitor.
"Come on TK with you getting back your memories it could be like old times." Matt smiled. "Talk to me."
TK chuckled "I seem to remember not telling you who I liked years ago. I'm not about to tell you now."
"You don't have to tell me. It obvious the way you look at her." Matt sat on his bed patting the spot next to him. "Come on talk to me."
TK hesitated but then sat next to him. "I want to talk to you about something, but more important then girls."
Matt lost his cheerful smile. The one good thing about Matt was he knew when to be serious when the time called for it. "What's wrong TK? Did Blitomon say something else to you that you didn't tell us?"
Shaking his head he noticed his brother relaxing somewhat. "Do you think that...am I..." TK let out a heavy sigh he just didn't know how to ask. Lucky for him Matt must have realized what he was asking.
"When I first saw you I have to admit that I was surprised by your maturity."
TK raised a brow "Maturity?"
"Okay, maybe that wasn't the best choice of words for your changes. But you have grown into something that I am not ashamed of." Putting a comfortable hand on his shoulder he continued. "You're strong and trustworthy and though you changed on the outside, you haven't changed on the inside."
"But I have changed..."
"No you haven't." Matt interrupted "The shape of who you are may be more square then circle but it doesn't change who you are."
"Thanks Matt." TK said not completely satisfied.
The devil own smile crossed Matt's face as he looked at his brother. "Now, why don't we talk about this thing with Ajona."
TK gave him a questionable look and he picked up his still sleeping digimon. "What thing about Ajona?"
"Come on TK I'm your older brother I can help you with women." Matt said following TK and Patomon out of the room.
TK chuckled then turned around to face Matt. "I lived with a prostitute for the last two years of my life. I don't need advice, in fact if you need advise you come see me." With that TK walked out the door leaving a stunned Matt in his wake.
"TK wait what do you mean you know a lot about women?" Matt shouted taking off after his little brother. "How much is a lot?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"So it's settled then." It was mid afternoon and all the digidestions and digimon were at Tai and Kari house again. Izzy rubbed his chin as he walked around the small room. "Will go into the digital world tomorrow and try to get the drop on Blitomon."
"He won't know what hit him." Davis cheered as he gave the group a reassuring smile.
"I think it would be a good idea if we go home and get some rest." Joe pushed the frame of his glasses higher on his nose. "It's going to be a long and hard day tomorrow and were leaving early." Everyone nodded each one realizing that Joe was silently telling them to spend some time with their families. It might be the last time they would see them.
"So will meet here bright and early tomorrow morning." Ajona voice broke into the group thoughts.
"You're not going." Everyone turned, not surprised that it had been TK who had said the words.
"Oh yes I am, and you can't stop me." Ajona stood daring TK to contradict her.
Everyone was silent, as they watched TK standing up to meet Ajona challenge. "You can't go. It's going to be dangerous, and I don't have the time to baby-sit you."
"Baby-sit! I don't need your help Takeru Takashi, I can take care of myself."
"You've done a great job of that so far." TK voice began to rise as he took a menacing step towards her. "Have you already forgotten falling off the roof of a building?"
Ajona backed up. "I was surprised." Her voice was week but then she turned to TK and her eyes lit up with rage. "If it wasn't for me you would be three digidestions short. I was the one who keep those toad things at bay until you arrived."
TK turned around quickly. This
wasn't going to be easy; Ajona was the most stubborn person he knew. He had to stop her from coming along with
them; she didn't realize how dangerous the digital world could be. Without a digimon to protect her she could
be killed. "Why do you want to come
along anyway?"
A weary look came over Ajona
features. "What?"
TK voice remained calm, which was the complete opposite of what he was feeling on the inside. He hated himself for doing this but it was the only way. "I said why do you want to come, no one want you to." He glanced over his shoulder far enough to see the hurt look in her eyes. "I don't know why I'm arguing. Why should I care if you're killed." He heard the sharp intake of breath as he peered over to the other digidestions, he could feel their accusing eyes burning into him. "I guess I'm just feeling a little guilty. I did kill your brother after all."
"TK!" Matt voice was stern, telling him that he crossed the line. But he didn't care he'd gone too far to turn back now.
He kept his back to Ajona; he did not look at her for fear of what he would see. "What was that town called again Dell something. It doesn't matter as far as I was concerned it was just another meaningless stop. Liz and I had just gotten our hands on some juicy merchandise and were anxious to sell it, but it was to dangerous with the hunters out in full force. That's when I saw my scapegoat, or your brother whatever you prefer. When the stupid clod wasn't looking I slipped a piece of contraband in his pocket. After that it was clear sailing I hinted to the hunters that your brother looked suspicious and while they dealt with him Liz and I took off a little richer then we came in." He turned then staring Ajona deep in the eyes. "What one less farmer to worry about. I probably did him a favor by sending the hunters after him. He was probably to stupid to survive for long anyway."
The silence that descended the room was tomb like in nature no one dared to speak. TK kept his eyes glued on Ajona, he wasn't sure what she would do. He wanted to rip out his heart when two tears slid down her cheeks leaving a trail behind them. She didn't move to wipe them away as more tears started to fall. He just continued to stare at her willing himself to remain firm, if he moved now he would ruin everything. Swallowing passed the lump that had formed in his thought he made his voice hard. "Go away AJ. Leave before you end up like your brother." Without a backwards glimpse he escaped through the door before his emotions got the better of him.
Patomon was racing after him and just managed to get through the door before TK shut it. He took the stared two at a time racing to get away from the guilt that was eating him away. He didn't stop running when he reached the street he just ran blindly until he collapsed on the sand under a peer. Still trying to catch his breath he reached up to push away hair from his eyes. His hands brushed across his cheeks and he realized that they were wet from tears he didn't know he cried.
He just hoped that it was all worth it, that Matt didn't realize he was lying, and most important that Ajona leave. He almost laughed, for two years he had never shed a single tear now it seemed that was all he was doing. Patomon landed in the sand next to him, but didn't say anything; he simply curled up next to him and placed his head on his partner's lap. They stayed that way under the peer not talking watching the sun go down. When the first star shorn brightly in the sky TK made a wish. He wished that he still was the digidestion of hope, that way when this was over he would have some hope of Ajona forgiving him.
To be continued:
Okay well if anyone thinks they know what's going to happen, all I can say is can you tell me. I think I know how it will end but I'm not sure, so your guess is as good as mine. Maybe I should just kill them all. I joking put down the sharp utensils. Well I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, please review thank you.