AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Wow, I feel so loved...
And a special thanks to Fairy of Golden Radiance and Sylvyr Elf who corrected my stupidity. ^_^ Now Ken-chan's not mad at me anymore...
Ken slowly opened his eyes, with an aching head and throbbing neck welcoming him back to reality. Looking down at his arms, he saw some burns there, but simply laid out onto the floor. He wanted to sleep. Sleep had been so far away...yes, yes, he needed sleep. "Glad that you are awake..."
"What?" Groaning, he looked up to barely make out a figure in the darkness.
"My dear, you have been out for quite awhile...it took one of my mind trances to wake you..."
"Wha...who...who are you? Where am I?"
"You're in a land of your wildest dreams come true..."
"It's dark..."
"Yes, you must rejuvinate the strength within. The dark spore needs to be replenished."
"What?! No!" Grabbing the back of his neck, as though it would do good, he skirted away from her, until he hit a rough surface he assumed was a wall. "No, I will never work for the darkness again!"
"But it is already too late...for if the darkness seduces you once, then forever you are in its grasp." Beginning to push himself up the wall, he growled,
"NO! No, you can't do it to me again! I will fight you by myself, and I will not give into...ARGH!!" A searing pain raced up his neck, and he fell to his knees.
"Oh, I say otherwise, Ken-chan...you shall be on my side, for I have deemed you the one to lead the revolution of darkness..."
"No...no, I-AHHH!" Tears welling in his eyes from the pain, he still tried to get to his feet.
"You're not getting away darling...you will succumb to me..."
"NO I WO-AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The child of darkness laughed at the intense pain running through Ken's body. Screaming violently from it, he fell to the ground, unable to move.
******
The sky had opened up and five sopping wet chosen ones made their way back to Koushiro's apartment. As they approached the door, they found a note tacked to it. Daisuke tore it off and read it aloud, "Was a prob, call Taichi's cell. -Yama"
"Problem? What problem?"
"That's all it says." Pulling out his cell phone, he quickly dialed Taichi's number. "Mushi-mushi. Hai. NANI?!" The others jumped at Daisuke's sudden outburst. "We'll be right there." Clicking off the cell phone, he pocketed it and yelled, "C'mon we hafta get to the hospital."
"Why? Daisuke, what happened?"
"It's Koushiro...they're trying to revive him as we speak. Now come on, let's go!"
******
Yamato and Taichi were staring stone-faced at the wall. "'Nii-chan!"
"'Nii-san!" Their heads turned to see the five younger kids running down the ward towards them. After getting yelled at by hospital security, they finally made their way over.
"How's Koushiro?!"
"Is he okay?!"
"What the hell happened?!"
"He's gonna make it right?!" Loud chaos ensued. Taichi and Yamato calmed them down, and made them take deep breaths.
"Koushiro..." Taichi began, "is fine. They restarted his heart and if all is well, then he can be released tomorrow."
"As to what happened..." Yamato finished, "we're not really sure. An electric charge came out of the computer and electrocuted him."
"But he's ok?" They both nodded.
"That's a relief."
"However, I'm putting an order out." Even Yamato turned to him in suprise. "Order" was not an appropriate word for the leader of the chosen ones, they weren't recruits for the army. Besides, Taichi had never laid down a law of any sort except for the fact he was the leader.
"Taichi, y-"
"No one is allowed to try and enter the digital world. NO ONE. There's too much at stake. Both Miyako and Koushiro were severely hurt by this and we're not chancing it again. In fact...give me your digivices."
"Taichi-san, you're not serious..." He pulled a small bag out and opened it wide.
"I know you all, and I know at least one of you will try it."
"But what if something comes up and we have to cross the digital barrier?!"
"Then it will be put under further review, however, as of right now, I want your digivices."
"You can't just do this! These are ours alone, we're the only ones who..."
"After what happened to Koushiro tonight, do you think I care? I'm not risking anyone else's life for stupidity. Ken could not have crossed a digital barrier, Koushiro came to that conclusion. So he's run away to somewhere in the real world, and eventually he will turn up. Now put your digivices in the bag." Reluctantly, one by one, they placed their D-3's in the bag. Taichi turned to Yamato, "you too."
"What the hell?! I'm not some kid, you can't boss me around!"
"I'm still the one in command here."
"We're not in the army!"
"Well, if I have to run this group like one to protect it, then so be it!" In a move so quick Yamato never detected it, Taichi grabbed his digivice.
"Give me that back right now, damnit..."
"Don't make me kick your ass in a fight to prove I'm right, Yamato."
"Now you've crossed the line, Taichi. You're not a dictator! We're not under your 'command' like we're below you! Now hand out the digivices or else I'll do it for you." Tying the bag to his hip, he folded his arms.
"Go on. I *dare* you."
"You asked for it." Yamato slugged him without a second thought. Much like the fights when they were eleven, this one was intense. But before they saw it coming to stop, security pulled the two apart and escorted them to different exits of the hospital. "I'm gonna get you for this, Taichi!"
"Go on and try! You'll lose anyway..."
"Bastard..." Yamato swore, then realized Taichi still had the bag with the digivices...he had been unable to obtain them during their fight like he had intended. "Shit, I'm gonna kill him..."
******
Hikari paced in the living room. She had just hung up the phone with Daisuke, and Taichi still hadn't come home yet. It was nervewracking. What was she going to say to him? For once, she was at a loss for words. He hadn't acted like her 'Nii-san, Taichi would have never reacted on his own like he did. Or would he? Did she really just not know her brother? Sighing, her mind wandered as the front door opened. The sudden noise startled her, and she almost jumped as Taichi marched right past her into their room. She stared at the door for a little while, then made her way towards it. Softly, she inquired, "'Nii-san, daijoubu ka."
"I'm fine, leave me alone."
"If that's what you wish, than alright..." Turning her back to the door, she thought to herself, *"Something is definitely wrong...I know it..."*
******
Squinting, Koushiro tried to blink his eyes open. This was unsuccessful, being as the white lights were too bright for him. "My head..." he groaned.
"You feeling a little better, Koushiro-san?" He turned his head to the side and squinted, seeing Daisuke sitting beside the bed.
"Daisuke? What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if you were up and uh...thought it would be nice if someone waited until you woke up."
"You came to ask me if Ken can be in the digital world."
"What? I-"
"I have a theory about that, if you'd like to hear it."
"Can you put it in terms I can understand?"
"I can try."
"Then go for it."
"Well, I told Taichi-san and Yamato-san it was practically impossible to travel at this point in time. However, it might not be that it's impossible to travel, but it's impossible for *us* to travel."
"I'm not following."
"Let's look at it this way. Miyako and I were both hurt when we tried to use the digital gate, right?"
"Right."
"Well, hypothetically, if Ken tried to use it, was he hurt?"
"Probably, being as we haven't found him."
"Or, maybe...you can't find him because he can't be found...not in this world at least."
"So wait, then Ken did go to the digital world?" Slowly nodding, he finished,
"Not only that, but I know there's something here we're not seeing...and the answer's probably right in front of our faces too..."
******
Hikari paced in the living room. There was an answer everyone was missing. There had to be. Stopping dead in her tracks, she swore she heard something. Glancing around quickly, she saw she was alone. At another sound, she froze in place. They were distinctly footsteps. Looking back at the door to her room, she jumped at the sight of a girl standing there, mouthing something. "Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" The girl insistantly pointed to her room, then vanished. Hikari stood there in shock, then made her way through the door. Taichi was sleeping soundly on his bed. She scanned the room, noting there was nothing out of the ordinary. Once again, there was the sound of footsteps, followed by the girl appearing. Frantically pointing at the computer, the girl was mouthing words quicker now. "You want me to go through the digital gate?" Hikari whispered. A nod followed by more mouthed words was the response. "But...Miyako and Koushiro were harmed..." The girl pointed at Hikari and shook her head no. "Not me? I won't be hurt?" The girl's eyes brightened, and she nodded. Considering it, Hikari glanced over at her brother lying on his bed. The sack containing the D-3s was clutched in his hand. Turning back to the girl, she saw she had once again disappeared. Hikari glanced between the sack and the computer monitor. What was she going to do?
******
Daisuke pondered in his mind Koushiro's words, *"...the answer's probably right in front of our faces too..."* He was going to find that answer. Glancing up at the sky, he noticed the stars weren't out tonight. Sighing, he continued walking, not really knowing where he was going. As he realized where he was, he sent a message to Hikari's D-terminal:
Hikari, you still up? -Daisuke
He tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for an answer. His D-terminal beeped:
Daisuke, Hikari's not here. -Taichi
Perplexed, he sent another message:
But I talked to her not even an hour ago on the phone...where was she going this late?
The reply came back:
Daisuke, I just realized Hikari's D-3 is missing...
And a special thanks to Fairy of Golden Radiance and Sylvyr Elf who corrected my stupidity. ^_^ Now Ken-chan's not mad at me anymore...
Ken slowly opened his eyes, with an aching head and throbbing neck welcoming him back to reality. Looking down at his arms, he saw some burns there, but simply laid out onto the floor. He wanted to sleep. Sleep had been so far away...yes, yes, he needed sleep. "Glad that you are awake..."
"What?" Groaning, he looked up to barely make out a figure in the darkness.
"My dear, you have been out for quite awhile...it took one of my mind trances to wake you..."
"Wha...who...who are you? Where am I?"
"You're in a land of your wildest dreams come true..."
"It's dark..."
"Yes, you must rejuvinate the strength within. The dark spore needs to be replenished."
"What?! No!" Grabbing the back of his neck, as though it would do good, he skirted away from her, until he hit a rough surface he assumed was a wall. "No, I will never work for the darkness again!"
"But it is already too late...for if the darkness seduces you once, then forever you are in its grasp." Beginning to push himself up the wall, he growled,
"NO! No, you can't do it to me again! I will fight you by myself, and I will not give into...ARGH!!" A searing pain raced up his neck, and he fell to his knees.
"Oh, I say otherwise, Ken-chan...you shall be on my side, for I have deemed you the one to lead the revolution of darkness..."
"No...no, I-AHHH!" Tears welling in his eyes from the pain, he still tried to get to his feet.
"You're not getting away darling...you will succumb to me..."
"NO I WO-AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The child of darkness laughed at the intense pain running through Ken's body. Screaming violently from it, he fell to the ground, unable to move.
******
The sky had opened up and five sopping wet chosen ones made their way back to Koushiro's apartment. As they approached the door, they found a note tacked to it. Daisuke tore it off and read it aloud, "Was a prob, call Taichi's cell. -Yama"
"Problem? What problem?"
"That's all it says." Pulling out his cell phone, he quickly dialed Taichi's number. "Mushi-mushi. Hai. NANI?!" The others jumped at Daisuke's sudden outburst. "We'll be right there." Clicking off the cell phone, he pocketed it and yelled, "C'mon we hafta get to the hospital."
"Why? Daisuke, what happened?"
"It's Koushiro...they're trying to revive him as we speak. Now come on, let's go!"
******
Yamato and Taichi were staring stone-faced at the wall. "'Nii-chan!"
"'Nii-san!" Their heads turned to see the five younger kids running down the ward towards them. After getting yelled at by hospital security, they finally made their way over.
"How's Koushiro?!"
"Is he okay?!"
"What the hell happened?!"
"He's gonna make it right?!" Loud chaos ensued. Taichi and Yamato calmed them down, and made them take deep breaths.
"Koushiro..." Taichi began, "is fine. They restarted his heart and if all is well, then he can be released tomorrow."
"As to what happened..." Yamato finished, "we're not really sure. An electric charge came out of the computer and electrocuted him."
"But he's ok?" They both nodded.
"That's a relief."
"However, I'm putting an order out." Even Yamato turned to him in suprise. "Order" was not an appropriate word for the leader of the chosen ones, they weren't recruits for the army. Besides, Taichi had never laid down a law of any sort except for the fact he was the leader.
"Taichi, y-"
"No one is allowed to try and enter the digital world. NO ONE. There's too much at stake. Both Miyako and Koushiro were severely hurt by this and we're not chancing it again. In fact...give me your digivices."
"Taichi-san, you're not serious..." He pulled a small bag out and opened it wide.
"I know you all, and I know at least one of you will try it."
"But what if something comes up and we have to cross the digital barrier?!"
"Then it will be put under further review, however, as of right now, I want your digivices."
"You can't just do this! These are ours alone, we're the only ones who..."
"After what happened to Koushiro tonight, do you think I care? I'm not risking anyone else's life for stupidity. Ken could not have crossed a digital barrier, Koushiro came to that conclusion. So he's run away to somewhere in the real world, and eventually he will turn up. Now put your digivices in the bag." Reluctantly, one by one, they placed their D-3's in the bag. Taichi turned to Yamato, "you too."
"What the hell?! I'm not some kid, you can't boss me around!"
"I'm still the one in command here."
"We're not in the army!"
"Well, if I have to run this group like one to protect it, then so be it!" In a move so quick Yamato never detected it, Taichi grabbed his digivice.
"Give me that back right now, damnit..."
"Don't make me kick your ass in a fight to prove I'm right, Yamato."
"Now you've crossed the line, Taichi. You're not a dictator! We're not under your 'command' like we're below you! Now hand out the digivices or else I'll do it for you." Tying the bag to his hip, he folded his arms.
"Go on. I *dare* you."
"You asked for it." Yamato slugged him without a second thought. Much like the fights when they were eleven, this one was intense. But before they saw it coming to stop, security pulled the two apart and escorted them to different exits of the hospital. "I'm gonna get you for this, Taichi!"
"Go on and try! You'll lose anyway..."
"Bastard..." Yamato swore, then realized Taichi still had the bag with the digivices...he had been unable to obtain them during their fight like he had intended. "Shit, I'm gonna kill him..."
******
Hikari paced in the living room. She had just hung up the phone with Daisuke, and Taichi still hadn't come home yet. It was nervewracking. What was she going to say to him? For once, she was at a loss for words. He hadn't acted like her 'Nii-san, Taichi would have never reacted on his own like he did. Or would he? Did she really just not know her brother? Sighing, her mind wandered as the front door opened. The sudden noise startled her, and she almost jumped as Taichi marched right past her into their room. She stared at the door for a little while, then made her way towards it. Softly, she inquired, "'Nii-san, daijoubu ka."
"I'm fine, leave me alone."
"If that's what you wish, than alright..." Turning her back to the door, she thought to herself, *"Something is definitely wrong...I know it..."*
******
Squinting, Koushiro tried to blink his eyes open. This was unsuccessful, being as the white lights were too bright for him. "My head..." he groaned.
"You feeling a little better, Koushiro-san?" He turned his head to the side and squinted, seeing Daisuke sitting beside the bed.
"Daisuke? What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if you were up and uh...thought it would be nice if someone waited until you woke up."
"You came to ask me if Ken can be in the digital world."
"What? I-"
"I have a theory about that, if you'd like to hear it."
"Can you put it in terms I can understand?"
"I can try."
"Then go for it."
"Well, I told Taichi-san and Yamato-san it was practically impossible to travel at this point in time. However, it might not be that it's impossible to travel, but it's impossible for *us* to travel."
"I'm not following."
"Let's look at it this way. Miyako and I were both hurt when we tried to use the digital gate, right?"
"Right."
"Well, hypothetically, if Ken tried to use it, was he hurt?"
"Probably, being as we haven't found him."
"Or, maybe...you can't find him because he can't be found...not in this world at least."
"So wait, then Ken did go to the digital world?" Slowly nodding, he finished,
"Not only that, but I know there's something here we're not seeing...and the answer's probably right in front of our faces too..."
******
Hikari paced in the living room. There was an answer everyone was missing. There had to be. Stopping dead in her tracks, she swore she heard something. Glancing around quickly, she saw she was alone. At another sound, she froze in place. They were distinctly footsteps. Looking back at the door to her room, she jumped at the sight of a girl standing there, mouthing something. "Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" The girl insistantly pointed to her room, then vanished. Hikari stood there in shock, then made her way through the door. Taichi was sleeping soundly on his bed. She scanned the room, noting there was nothing out of the ordinary. Once again, there was the sound of footsteps, followed by the girl appearing. Frantically pointing at the computer, the girl was mouthing words quicker now. "You want me to go through the digital gate?" Hikari whispered. A nod followed by more mouthed words was the response. "But...Miyako and Koushiro were harmed..." The girl pointed at Hikari and shook her head no. "Not me? I won't be hurt?" The girl's eyes brightened, and she nodded. Considering it, Hikari glanced over at her brother lying on his bed. The sack containing the D-3s was clutched in his hand. Turning back to the girl, she saw she had once again disappeared. Hikari glanced between the sack and the computer monitor. What was she going to do?
******
Daisuke pondered in his mind Koushiro's words, *"...the answer's probably right in front of our faces too..."* He was going to find that answer. Glancing up at the sky, he noticed the stars weren't out tonight. Sighing, he continued walking, not really knowing where he was going. As he realized where he was, he sent a message to Hikari's D-terminal:
Hikari, you still up? -Daisuke
He tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for an answer. His D-terminal beeped:
Daisuke, Hikari's not here. -Taichi
Perplexed, he sent another message:
But I talked to her not even an hour ago on the phone...where was she going this late?
The reply came back:
Daisuke, I just realized Hikari's D-3 is missing...