Hi all of you readers! (Stupid greeting but what else could I come up with?) *Dedication to Becci 'D* So, this is the last chapter. Wonder how it'll turn out? Now for the stuff some of been waiting for. Here it is, Chapter 16, Last Breath.

Last Breath

Tai's grip on Kora's hand was iron cast. He couldn't believe it, the thing from childhood that was his biggest weakness, not letting go.

* * *

"Tai, Izzy is running continuous analysts on Kora with Gennai. This thing is destroying her piece by piece. It must've taken a lot of strength just to contact you." Sora murmured, almost to herself.

* * *

Tai didn't even hear Sora, he was lost in his own world. "Again, she did it again. I'm so sorry, Kora. Sorry I couldn't do anything to save you from this. I wonder how much of this is my fault, if I'd cared for you more, you might've had a chance. Instead I just let you go and have been selfish, as always. I'm so sorry."

* * *

"Tai, what's wrong? Tai, can you even hear me?"

* * *

"I'm sorry." Two tears splattered on the bed sheets. "Why do I lose everything I need? Everything I love and hold dear? Is the world against me? First, the best grandma in the world, now the sweetest girl. Cancer ate away at Grandma. This thing is eating away at you just like cancer But it's worse than my grandmother, cancer could've been held back, there's no such cure for this. People don't even know this exists, doctors don't believe this is more than a coma. This is death, staring us in the face. Why'd you escape death but you can't escape this? It's like...I don't even know how to save you, protect you. I'd feel better if I'd known this was coming or that I'd at least helped in some way, but I never did. I sat watching it happen, only caring for Sora and Kari. Kari will probably be the next person I'll lose. The only other thing that comes before Agumon. I'm worthless. I'm no leader, I'm just some wannabe. Just like I've always been. Thinking I was actually helping when all I was doing was watching aimlessly. I might as well not even be here."

* * *

"Kari!" Sora smiled. "Thank goodness. Tai isn't even there. It feels like he died. He won't talk. He won't even look up. All he's done since we sent Rotamon back, was hold Kora's hand and seem trapped in his own little world. As if nothing matters." Sora said softly. "Nothing does matter. Kora's gonna die and Tai feels completely helpless because he knows he can do nothing about it." Kari whispered.

* * *

Tai could barely form any more words. He felt stupid, worthless, ashamed. Stupid for not noticing Kora before. Worthless for not being able to save her. Ashamed for he had been always important to Kora but she had never been important to him. That's when he heard talking, voices of his little sister and the girl he loved like family. He let go of Kora's hand and turned towards the voices.

* * *

"Oh, Tai!" Kari threw herself at her brother and hugged him. "I never got that kind of a hug, what's the occasion?" "You being normal!" "Humph, and I thought I was abnormal." "Well you lost your abnormality." Tai chuckled. "Let's go for pizza! There's a restaurant near by and Davis is already meeting me there for our date..." Kari continued to chatter on endlessly. "Sounds great. I'm starved." "Great. Let's go!" Kari exclaimed. Tai and Sora followed her out and they shut the door behind them. Kari continued to chatter endlessly with Sora who listened intently to Kari's love life. "Davis is such a great guy. I absolutely love him." "Well, I'm glad you found each other in life." Sora smiled as Kari continued to chatter. Tai's mind set itself adrift. He thought about Kora. Where could they go for peace? That's what she needed. But where? And they'd have to have people along, just as a precaution that the two seventeen year olds wouldn't get too comfy. Sora would come, Kari, Davis, maybe even Matt. But where would they go?

They entered the pizza place and saw Davis had gotten a booth in the back and was sitting there, talking with a boy Tai knew from their soccer team. "Hi, you guys! I'll talk to you later, Jeff." "Later, Davis." Jeff returned to his table and the three of them slid into the booth. A waitress came over. "Awww, two couples. What can I get yas?" Tai's mind almost slammed back into its train of though. Had that woman just said two couples? "Uh, we're not actually a..." Tai was cut off for the woman had left and the others stared at him strangely. "What do you guys want?" "Pepperoni!" Tai said. "Extra cheese!" Kari exclaimed. "Uh, broccoli sounds awfully good." Sora said. "I was thinking pine apple. Uh..." Davis trailed. "We could just get a four quarter pizza?" Kari suggested hesitantly. "How bout we get slices to go? We can go take a romantic walk through the park." Davis suggested teasingly. "That sounds good." Kari exclaimed. "Cool. Let's go then." Davis and Kari stood up and Tai and Sora followed. They bought their slices and went for the park. After the pizza, they began their leisure walk through the park, Kari laid her head on Davis's shoulder and they walked hand in hand and Tai and Sora kept a safe distance. "Isn't that sweet?" Sora asked softly. "Yup. Kari finally landed her man. I pity Davis already." Tai chuckled. Sora punched him in the shoulder playfully. "You take the fun out of everything." Sora giggled.

Tai chuckled along with Sora. "Hey, Sor." "Yes?" "Does your family have a house in the country or anything?" "Actually, we do. My mom didn't have the heart to sell it. It's a living memory of Kora and Kara's mom. It's outside of Yokosuka." "Yokosuka. Is the house located on the ocean or water?" "Yes. It's on the water. Why?" "It'd be a good place for Kora to rest. It could be our trip now that summer is starting and school's out." "That's a great idea but one flaw. How is Kora gonna be released when she's in a coma?" "I'm talking to her when I go to sleep. I'm gonna look until I find Kora and tell her to wake up." Sora almost had to giggle. "You're being so childish. you just can't tell Kora to wake up." Tai blushed, realizing how stupid he was being. "There's always hope."

* * *

Back at the hospital. later that evening, Sora was snoozing in a chair. Tai held Kora's hand as he too drifted off to sleep. As he woke in his dream, Kora was already waiting for him. "Tai?" Kora's voice reminded Tai of a warm breeze. "Kora, I want to know if you wanna come with us on a trip to Yokosuka." "Yokosuka?" Kora asked. Tai saw tears threatening to surface. "Yes." "Well, sure. When I wake up." "We need to go soon." Kora smiled and managed to nod. "I'll try and wake up soon, okay?" "Okay."

* * *

Tai woke up and saw Kora's eyes opened. "Kora!" His reply was a blank face. "Kora?" Sora woke up. "Tai, what's up?" "Uh, nothing." Tai replied, trying to maintain control. Kora's blank face was freaking him out. It seemed like she hadn't even heard him. "Well, now that you're awake, Kora, you can be released and we can take our trip." Sora exclaimed. Tai smiled as well. "Let's get you outta here." Tai and Sora spoke with the doctors who were extremely amazed at Kora's recovery. "It must've been a miracle." One doctor said, awestruck. Kora was released and they packed for the trip. Their parents actually allowed it due to their reasoning. By the next day, Sora, Tai, Kora, Kari, and Davis had boarded the train and set off. Most had to decline the invite for various reasoning. On the train, they mainly talked amongst themselves and Kora sat blankly as if she didn't realize what was going on. "Kora, how are you holding up?" Davis asked, smiling. Kora nodded and smiled.

Inside Kora's soul...

No, Davis, don't even talk. No one say anything. This isn't me. Tai! Sora! Anyone! Please, help me. This thing has taken over. You need to do something. Hit me, I won't even feel it or hit back. This being hasn't been able to take over my whole body yet. I wish I could tell you in some way. Wait, I know.

Kora reached for her purse and pulled out a pad and a pencil. She struggled to write. Her hands were fighting one another and Tai's eyes grew wide. Her right hand was desperately trying to write something. "Kora, what are you doing?" Her left hand kept putting the pencil down and the right hand was struggling. Next, the left hand was trying to stop the right hand from writing by holding it down but it wasn't working. With great difficulty, 4 jagged looking letters took up the page. Tai could barely read it. He finally got it. Help. Strangely, why was Kora asking for help? Tai saw the word before the left hand had wrestled with the right till it erased the word. Finally, the left managed to put the pad in the purse and Kora remained blank yet again. "Uh, what was that?"

The others were looking at Tai before they turned back to one another, talking again. Then, Kora's mouth began to move. "Tai, please help me!" Kora managed to plead before her lips stopped and she became mute again.

In Kora's soul...

Kora's soul had once been immensely beautiful, covered with lush beauty and beautiful creatures. The lush scenery had been engulfed by living flames. The part that had been attacked by the flames was left gray and empty. Kora's image, representing her physical image was covered by burns and scrapes. The inferno had almost engulfed her soul. If it wasn't stopped, Kora would be annihilated from the inside out.

Tai looked closely at Kora. Then he saw something, her eyes weren't normal. There was a deep darkness in the pupils. "Kora," Tai touched her shoulder and yelped in pain. He felt as if he'd been burned. Sora stared at him, "Tai, are you okay?" "No, something's incredibly wrong. Sora, that isn't Kora!" "What are you talking about?" "I can't touch her. Her skin, it feels like fire. It burnt me. Look," Tai showed her his palm, there was almost a raw redness to it. "Oh my God! Tai!" "It hurts, Sora. It hurts." Tai choked on his tears. Sora blew on it gently. "Kari, get me my first aid kit. Now!" Kari looked completely bewildered until she saw Tai's hand and Davis immediately aided her in finding the kit. They found it and Sora extracted from it an icepack and some gauze. She laid the icepack on it and finally, Tai's palm became normal enough to wrap gauze without Tai yelping in pain. He held the icepack on it and sat in his seat quietly. "We have now reached Yokosuka." A voice said, as it came over the speaker. Davis carried Tai's bags along with his own and they got off the train.

They got a taxi to Kora's mother's condo. They entered it and began to settle in. They were now all disturbed by the presence in Kora. Sora made some sandwiches. The four went to the back yard, where the beach began. They ate their dinner quietly, each trapped in their own thoughts. Finally, they returned, and changed into their swimsuits. They swam for an hour until the sunset, which they watched from the large back porch. "It's breathtaking, isn't it?" Davis asked. Kari kissed him sweetly and they both smiled at each other. Sora sat quietly until she said she was going to go in. Tai followed when the phone rang. Tai answered it and Sora went into the living room to see how Kora was. Tai figured it was his mom or something and was extremely amazed to hear Izzy. "Hey, Izzy. What's up?" "Tai, get as far away from Kora as possible. All of you. Get back here and leave her." "Are you serious? You're nuts. Explain before you scare me." "Okay, has anything strange happened between any of you and Kora?" "She burnt me." "This isn't good. Tai, Gennai, Kara, and I discovered that the being in Kora is an inner shadow. It is feared immensely by digimon and Kora is it's first victim. It will destroy her from the inside out. You must destroy it." "Izzy, but, will we destroy Kora in the process?" The line went silent. "I don't know." Izzy replied.

Tai was glad he wasn't talking face-to-face with Izzy or he would've shook him by the shoulders so hard. "Izzy..." Suddenly, Sora's scream pierced Tai's ears. Kari and Davis burst into the room and Tai dropped the phone as the trio ran into the room. Kora was on top of Sora, pressing her to the floor firmly, Kora's left hand going for Sora's throat. "Help!" Tai barely reacted before Davis tackled Kora to the floor. He held her down as Tai got Sora by him.

Davis was sent sailing when his face met Kora's left hook. "Tai, it's her left hand. Something's controlling it. It's the strongest." Tai nodded, trying to devise a plan to leave Kora's left arm useless. Kari helped Davis up. Kari's eyes went wide with fear as Kora lunged right for her. Kari barely had time to scream before Kora had her pinned to the floor. Tai couldn't take it any longer. He took the best weapon he could find which happened to be a blunt wooden object and brought it down on Kora's head. She immediately collapsed and hit the floor with a sickening thud.

Tai gave Davis an icepack for his black and blue cheek. Sora and Kari sat quietly, both scared and worried. "Tai, now what?" Tai shook his head, unable to answer his sister's question. Davis removed the icepack and rubbed his cheek. Kari kissed his cheek gently. "Does it feel better?" Davis smiled. "A little. Thanks." Kari snuggled against Davis. "Any ideas of what to do?" "Izzy called and told me we need to destroy the inner shadow. We might be able to kill it without hurting Kora. What do you think would have that power?" "Maybe the combined power of Hope and Light." Davis suggested sadly. "No, the power of our digivices will do it." Tai declared. "Okay. I'll call the digidestined and we'll assemble here or maybe at the station." "Or we could go to Digiworld." "Why there?" Tai asked Kari. "We'll be together and we can banish this thing straight to the Dark Ocean." "Good idea, Kari." Davis said. "Let's call and get there." Sora called quickly and they headed to Digiworld, Tai carried the limp Kora.

"Hi, everyone." Mimi exclaimed. Tai laid Kora's body down with ease. "Everyone, hold out your digivice." The digidestined surrounded Kora and the 12 digivices glowed with their own light. The light beams shot at Kora and then they saw the inner shadow. It was a form of Kora except it was black. It writhed until it disappeared, becoming digital data. Tai suddenly was transported somewhere. This strange place was engulfed in flames. Then he saw Kora, torn, bloody, beaten, and burnt. Her hope had gone from her eyes then he saw something that hurt him. Her voice, it was almost gone. She then took his hand and he followed her and saw something. Kora managed to croak, "Do you see these colored fires?" She asked, her voice almost failing her. "Yes." Tai replied meekly. "These are the flames of the digivice. These are the lights the digivices shot out to kill, obliterate, annihilate my inner shadow. Look what it's done to me, Tai. And look at the one that burns the brightest." Tai didn't even have to look, it was his. "Watch them and see exactly what they do." The digivice fires seemed to eat the other fires and grow larger. "Touch a fire, Tai. It won't burn but you'll feel what I'm feeling a million times over." Tai touched a flame with a fingertip and felt a backbreaking pain. "What you just felt is what I felt at this very moment except mine was a million times worse." Tai was crouched on the ground, suffering the pain. "The light that saved me destroyed me. This is a more painful death than anything." Tai sobbed, "I'm sorry. I wish there was a way I could help." "Me too." Kora murmured sorrowfully.

Tai was transported back to the Digiworld. "Tai, are you okay?" "We need to do something to save Kora." "Like what?" Matt asked. Suddenly, they heard rustlings of leaves and the ground seemed to shake. Tai's mouth was left gaping. Thousands of digimon had arrived. "What's happening?" Kari asked, pressing herself to Davis's side. "I think this is every single digimon in the Digital World. Look!" Sora pointed. All of them are crying. "Why?" Izzy asked. "They saw it. They're mourning." The tears slowly became data and they saw a data flow all focusing on Kora. "They're reviving her. They're tears are healing her, bring her back." They watched in awe as the tears restored Kora fully. The digidestined all rushed towards her.

Wow! Now only the epilogue remains! Hope you have enjoyed and will read the epilogue. Thanx for everything, Angel13