Geez..it's been nearly...well a long time since I updated this fic. I know this season's ended. But d*mn it, it still was a good season and I just can't let this story go off on a cliffhanger. So, here after much delay (much, much, much delay(-.-0)) Chapter 13- Conflicting Feelings! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own Digimon.Period.
Note: "Speaking"
'Thoughts'
Familiar 13
Conflicting Feelings
by Hitora
The sky's brilliant blue color began to fade before them into a vision of reds, oranges, and yellows, surrounding the descending gleaming crimson sun in the sky. Birdramon flapped down its mighty wings, catching a force of wind to glide on. Silence had followed them for a long time now, and the flying bird was getting more and more uncomfortable as time passed. She glanced down to the disturbingly quiet human sitting on top of her claw. Her human partner's actions did not go by unoticed by the great firebird, and she was beginning to wonder what was running through her companion's troubled mind. Finally, she couldn't hold back her concern any longer and decided to question her now more mysterious friend.
"Are you all right Sora?" Birdramon asked.
"I am fine Birdramon." she replied in her usual, cold tone.
"Why did we retreat? We could have accomplished our mission."
"No, I was not- prepared enough. We wouldn't of won." She lied. She easily could have destroyed them all. But that doubtful emotion got the better of her and overtook her. 'Why didn't I just allow that attack to strike that girl?! It would have been one less Digidestined to kill!' Her thoughts plagued her. She couldn't denie that something just triggered into her as she watched the attack draw closer to that defenseless Digidestined. Something silently yelled to to save her, and she gave into it. She sighed, sinking in some of the frustration. She sat wondering on the strange emotions that clouded her abilities and concentration. The same emotions that had caused her to fail her mission. She didn't understand, she just couldn't go through with it. "Our masters will be very disappointed."
"What was that?!" Piedmon cried out shocked. He had watched excitedly at his large telescope, waiting for the triumphant moment in which his trained assassin would claim the Digidestined lives. But, to his horror, all he saw was her retreating, leaving the living Digidestined and his glory behind. "Unforgivable! What have those Digidestined done to my perfect assassin?!" he yelled out, furiously rising from his seat.
"Hmm.. I was afraid of this." Yumemon said, carefully watching the battle as well.
"What? What's going on? I thought you said you had erased all her memories of those Digidestined from her!" Piedmon exclaimed to her frustrated.
A cold, threatening stare met his, drawing him back. "Must I remind you who your master is?" she warned. "Be careful who you rise your voice to, or you may never be able to speak again!"
"Ah, yes of course. What is it that you think got in the way of our victory my master?" he asked, politely of course.
"You were correct in saying that her memories did interfere." she said. Snapping her fingers, an image of a golden-haired, blue eyed handsome human suddenly appeared before them. "And it seems the Digidestined of Friendship is the cause of it." She sighed, "It seems I have made a slight misjudgement." she said disappointed. " I thought that your assassin would perform better if her memories were erased from her. But now I see that is not exactly true."
"What do you suppose we do?" Piedmon asked.
A mischevious smile curved on her lips and she came to look upon the still image of the blond-haired digidestined before her with an amusing thought. "It is ironic." she said, playfully responding to the mysterious thought. "The one that triggered her memories, will be the one to help her forsake them." she said. Flowing from Piedmon's observation platform, she glided away into the dark corridors of the tower.
"Master! What do you plan to do?!" he called out confused.
"Hmph, hm, just you wait Piedmon," a chilling voice echoed back. "She will be our most loyal servant yet."
"Man, I still can't believe she got away with the crests!" Tai exclaimed frustrated, violently stabbing into the crackling fire.
Night had fallen, and they were not willing to risk looking for the TV back to Gennai's in a dark, unknown world. So, the Digidestined had camped into a clearing of the forests, waiting for morning. Everyone seemed a bit uneasy, still trying to settle the shock of finding one of their own was also their enemy.
"Well, we tried our best Tai. Don't worry, we'll get them back somehow." Kari said back to his complaints, trying to bring everyone out of their depressing moods.
"Yeah Tai, cheer up!" Agumon said, following Kari's lead to lighten up his digidestined human. "We will get those crests back, so don't worry, I can quarantee you we will try our very best!" Agumon assured.
"Hmph, thanks Agumon." Tai replied, a little of his frustration lifted.
"Are you forgeting?" Takeru suddenly spoke. "What do we do about that assassin?" His serious tone darkening the mood again.
Everyone fell silent. Doubt, fear, confusion, all of it was thick around their minds at the reminder of Sora, or otherwise known as Shinokaze, the one sent to destroy them. Their assassin..
"She's the one who took the crests from us. She's our enemy. That's that." Tai replied back simply and coldly.
"So, we're just going to turn our backs on Sora?" Matt said back defiantly.
"It can't be helped, we just have to concentrate on the crests Matt."
"How can you say that?!" Matt yelled, fiercely turning back to him. "This is SORA Tai, she's one our friends and Digidestined! How can you care about some stupid crests over her like that?!"
"Look Matt!" Tai yelled back firmly rising to his feet from the fire before him. "Those stupid crests are more easier to get than trying to get that assassin to join us! She's not the Sora that I remembered, she's someone working for Yumemon! I'm just saying let's concentrate on what we can do!"
"Getting Sora back may be hard but not impossible Tai!" Matt reminded. "I thought you cared for her...."
"Back off Matt!" Tai warned. Anger and frustration flared in both their eyes as they faced eachother with threatening looks. Each challenging eachother to utter another word or make another move.
"Tai! Calm down!" Agumon pleaded beside him.
"Yes, Matt, calm down!" Gabumon said up to his Digidestined partner.
"I can't believe you! How can you be such a jerk!?"
"Who you calling a jerk?!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Kari exclaimed sternly. They both turned surprised to her, shock in their eyes. "It's hard enough fighting a fellow digidestined! We don't need to be fighting eachother too!" she yelled back. Her tightly clenched fists shivered in anger and as she struggled to speak as strongly as possible.
'I've.. never seen Kari like this before..' Tai thought worried. With a final intimidatng glare towards Matt, he managed to turn away from him to his little sister. "All right, we'll stop." Tai assured, trying to soothe his sister down.
"Yeah, we didn't mean to make you upset Kari. Sorry." Matt said, trying to calm her down as well.
She sighed, releasing all the emotions that built inside of her and looked up to them. The frightened face fortunately fading away into a smile of relief. "Good."
"Now that that's settled. I think we should worry about guard duty. We can't be too sure about this place, when the others sleep someone should stay awake to keep watch." Takeru suggested.
"Fine. I'll go first." Tai quickly volunteered.
"I'll go next." Matt said next.
"And that will leave me then Kari." Takeru said.
"No way is Kari going to keep watch." Tai objected.
"Hey, I'm a big girl Tai! I can keep watch myself!" Kari said back. "Besides, Patamon will be with me." she assured.
"And how is that suppose to make me feel better about this?" he asked sarcasticly.
"What did you say?! You better not be insulting my digimon Taichi Kamiya!" she threatened.
"All right, all right, you win." Tai said, giving into his sister's deadly stare. He knew it was time to back off when she gave him that glare, and when she says his full name outloud...
Darkness. Grays, blacks, everything around her was dulled of color. But none of it bothered her, not anymore. This place was common to her as the light of the sun everyday. She knew it well, because she knew that no matter where she went it was nearby. She couldn't escape it, so she embraced it. It was the darkness that laid in her heart. It was a dark world.
She sat silent and still on top of a large stone in the middle of a spacious field and that stood at far from Piedmon's tower. Thoughts of her mission, feelings she felt, all of it haunted her. Questions raced through her mind, becoming more and more with every new one that she asked herself.
'Why? Why does all this bother me?'
"Sora!" a voice called out, catching her attention. She looked below to a digimon standing at the base of the stone.
"Biyomon?" She looked like a small pink bird. She had big, adorable blue eyes and round orange beak. Some of her pink feathers were dipped with blue at the tips. One curved blue striped pink feather stood from the top of her head. Her wings held sets of orange claws and a thick silver ring was worn on her left leg. It flapped its petite wings and flew up to set herself beside the quiet assassion.
"I thought I would find you here. Thinking again?" she asked.
"Yes, I am."
"Are you thinking about those Digidestined?" she asked curiously.
"Yes." was Sora's reply.
"I thought you would be! You acted so strangely to them. Why did you Sora?" she asked.
"I'm.. not exactly sure. Biyomon, do you remember anything before we began to serve Piedmon and Yumemon?" she asked the pink digimon.
"Nope. All I knew was that I had to be with you and protect you Sora, no matter what. I don't remember anything before that."
Sora sighed. "Me either. I've always wondered about my past, who I was before I became who I am now. Where I came from, who I knew, but... nothing. I can't remember anything..." she said upset. Her hands opened before her and she began to stare down on a mysterious object that had laid in her palms.
"You were looking at that thing again?" Biyomon asked surprised.
"Yes. I've had this since I could remember. I.. have no idea what it is or if it even belongs to me. But, deep inside, I feel this is special to me in some way and that I should always keep it." she explained. "It's the only thing that came from my past." It was such a mystery to her, but she just couldn't part from it. It shined gently in the moonlight, it's silver and golden colors catching the glow. She slid her fingers over the small object, feeling the carvings engraved in the plate of gold that laid upon it. "Somehow, I know this thing is very close to my heart."
Rectangular in shape, smooth beneath her fingers, a tingling rushing in her every time she looked upon it.
"Do you think it might has something to do with those Digidestined we met today?" Biyomon boldly asked.
Sora froze at her words, sinking them in slowly. "I.. don't know Somehow, that one boy knew my real name, and they seem to recognize me in some way, like they've known me before."
"Do you suppose that you're one of them? One of the Digidestined?" Biyomon asked curiously.
Sora looked over at her shocked, a strange, startled look upon her face. Her eyes didn't hide the racing thoughts in her mind, contemplating the possibility that she was truely part of them and that they were part of her past in some way. The vision of the strange, handsome blonde Digidestined suddenly entered into her mind. His presence, his unforgettable eyes, they never left her thoughts since her retreat. There was something to him, something that made her heart pound faster and face warmer and redder. 'Why does the thought of him make me feel this way? Could it be linked to my past?' she wondered. "Do you think that I'm one of the Digidestined?"
"Of course you are!"
Sora jolted at the sound of voice and quickly turned to it. Floating behind her was none other than the icy figure of Yumemon.
"M-Master!" she exclaimed out surprised. She quickly knelt before her, lowering her head in shame. She suspected why her master had shown before her, and it was not for anything pleasant. "Please forgive me master, I have failed you."
"Calm down my little pet," Yumemon assured. "So, you are wondering on your past hm?" Yumemon asked. Sora looked up at her suddenly upon her comment startled. But, knowing her place, she lowered it back to face the ground again.
"Yes, I am." she obidiently admitted.
"I see. I thought you would, after meeting those Digidestined." she hissed upon saying the word, disgust seeping from her lips. "Hmph, hm, I was watching the battle you know, and I saw how you reacted to that one Digidestined. " she said amused, referring to that strange blond Digidestined.
"Wh-What do you mean master?" Sora asked, nervously dening it.
"Hm, are you wondering about that young man, Matt was it?" Yumemon asked, a playful curiousness in her voice. "I bet you are... I mean you are a Digidestined too."
Sora blinked surprised. "Wh-what? So, I am one of them? Why is it that you tell me this now master?" Sora asked.
Yumemon gently giggled, somehow amused at her question. "Well, I believed it was the right time to mention it, I mean, you probably already assumed you were one of them. Besides, only Digidestined have the ability to digivolve Digimon, in which you can clearly do." she explained. She sighed, and bent over in air to look at Sora's face directly. "But, you shouldn't be involved with them Sora. Those Digidestined..."
Sora blinked confused. 'Why shouldn't I become involved with them? They're Digidestined and I am too, doesn't that mean I belong with them? Then, why would Yumemon say that?' she wondered. "What-What do you mean master? Why should I not be with the Digidestined if I am too one of them?"
"Deep inside you, you know why. Your memories, your past feelings, they all still haunt you I see. The answer is buried deep inside of them. And I see you will not fully decide on whether to continue to serve me or join them unless those feelings and memories have become clear. Do you wish for clarity Sora? Do you wish for me to bring it forth?"
Sora quietly gasped shocked at Yumemon's unexpected question. "Can you really accomplish such a task master?" Sora asked stunned.
"I am the master of this world and all its darkness! Of course I can accomplish this!" she declared proudly. Yumemon gracefully glided through the air to kneel down before her. Her face no longer showed any amusment, but instead, an unusual, frightfully serious expression lied across her face. "But the real question still remains.." Her voice was void of any playfulness or mischef as she once again spoke, asking the doubtful assassin " Are you really sure you want to see it?"
"Man, it sure is boring..." Tai sighed.
"Hm? I thought you would like the peace and quiet after such a hard battle Tai." Agumon commented.
"Hmph, I would like a nice long sleep after a hard battle. Trust me, this peace and quiet isn't making things easier."
"You don't want to fall asleep on your first watch Tai." Agumon reminded.
"I know, I know.."
They sat, staring into the dancing campfire before them as the night slowly rolled on. Tai poked into the dying embers, allowing the air to create more flames. He watched the fires rise up suddenly absentmindly, drifting mentally off into his sea of thoughts. Agumon's mention of the battle had somehow created a chain of continous questions about...everything. But, most especially to their new enemy. 'Sora...' Memories of a sweet, caring, energetic girl came to his head. Her kind smile.. Her warm eyes.... 'But it's not the same person that I once knew!' he thought frustrated. 'I can't believe this.. ever since Matt said she was Sora... all of these memories are coming back to me. I don't know if I should be happy that they're returning or sad that the one of those memories has changed! Why? Why did Sora have to be our enemy?! I rather take an army of thousands of evil Digimon than her!' he thought, a wave of confusion and regret flooding into his heart. 'But, I have no choice... do I?'
"Tai?" a voice snapped him out into the cold night once again. "Are you okay?" Agumon asked, worried at the intense face upon his partner.
"Uh,uh yeah Agumon." Tai assured, turning with a smile to his digimon. "I'm just fine."
"You looked really serious and sad. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." His laid-back expression quickly faded though as he suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark figure off the corner of his eye. "Huh?!" He quickly rose to his feet alert. Turning towards it, he stood ready to meet whatever it was. "Who's out there?!" he called out firmly.
The flames of the fire brightened and enlighted the figure nearby The faint glow revealed that it was only Matt and his drowsy Gabumon standing in the dim darkness. "Oh, it's you Matt. Sheesh, what are you doing?" Tai asked annoyed, partially because he was still a little mad at Matt and partially because he scared him for nothing. "Couldn't trust me on my shift?"
"Couldn't sleep." he replied, his tone matching that of Tai's annoyance.
"Why? Scared of the dark?" Tai teased.
Matt just ignored him though. "Look, I'm going for a walk okay? Later." Matt said, turning his back to him and walking off into the distance, followed closely by his digimon parter. Tai stood by, just watching him disappear into the darkness of the night.
"Um, shouldn't we go after them Tai?" Agumon asked curiously.
"Leave him. He's got Gabumon with him right? He'll be fine." Tai said, sitting back down to stare into the campfire once again. Agumon was a little reluctant to agree, but he clearly saw that Tai did not want to see Matt at the moment. So, he loyally set himself beside him, hoping that Tai was right about Matt and Gabumon.
After wandering aimlessly, Matt had come to sit on a small hill that overlooked an empty, wide grassy plain. He had come upon it just beyond the trees of the forests, where the others camped. He silently watched the gently waving grass of the meadows below, softly pushed by the cool breezes that ran invisibly through the night. Gabumon looked up curiously at the stone-faced human that sat beside. He hasn't spoken to him since the battle. Gabumon slowly felt more and more concerned as time passed. The silence was unbearable. "Matt? Why did we come here?" he asked.
"I need to think." he replied. "And I can't do that with Tai around."
"Why did you get so mad at him before Matt?" Gabumon asked, bringing up the argument that they had before. Matt's eyes narrowed at the mention of it.
"Because he was such a jerk." he said crossly.
"Come on Matt, that can't be it. What's really bothering you?"
Matt sighed, lowering his head, his eyes closed. A more serious and strange look came upon his face. It held a blend of frustration and saddness in it. "Do you remember what I said to you that one night at Gennai's house?"
"Oh, do you mean when you woke up in the middle of the night and told me about that strange feeling you had after hearing about the other Digidestined?" Gabumon recalled. "You don't sleep well very much do you Matt?"
"Not when there's so much going through my mind. That feeling... I understand it now. The longing to search for the others... and the doubt and fear... they've all become so clear now."
"Really Matt? When did that happen?" Gabumon asked, anxious for his answer. Matt's expression became more hard and stern after his question, as if that strange feeling he described had returned and consumed him.
"Ever since.. ever since I saw her again."
"Do you mean that assassin?"
"Sora. She was the one I wanted to look for.. the one my heart wanted so much to find, and at the same time didn't." Matt said in a regretful tone.
Gabumon blinked his eyes in confusion. The same, baffled emotions he had felt before upon first hearing of these strange feelings came back to haunt him as well at Matt's words. "I-I don't understand what you mean Matt. You mean you want to be with her? Yet at the same time you seem.. uh, sad at the mention of it. If she makes you sad, then why would you want to be with her so much? I just don't know what you mean." Gabumon replied, confusing himself even more.
"It's.. a little complicated." Matt said back to him.
"Why do you feel so bad around her Matt? What caused you to feel this way? Or, do you not remember?" Gabumon asked.
Matt sighed, trying to clear his emotions and thoughts. "I remember. But, it's sort of a long story." Matt warned, turning to his digimon partner. "Are you really sure you want to hear it?"
Sora knelt speechless. 'What if what I see is not what I want to know? Still, I cannot keep going on like this. I must know or I may never succeed in serving my master.... or if I should join the Digidestined. Does my past hold some unknown secret inside of my heart that can decide my fate? But, am I really prepared to see what Yumemon is to show me?' she wondered nervously. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to fight the frustration building inside of her. She clenched the strange metallic object hidden beneath her hand. Taking a deep breath, she readied herself for her reply.
"Yes," Sora said firmly, coming to stare up with a look of determination and fear upon her face. "Show me."
Gabumon stared at the open fields before him, his face soon lowered, considering the seriousness of Matt's question. 'Should I really pry that much into him? Of course, he's my partner and friend! But, he looks so uncomfortable with this subject. What happens if he cannot handle what he has to tell me?' Gabumon sighed frustrated. 'Whatever happens, I will be there to comfort him.
"Yes." Gabumon finally uttered to his Digidestined partner, his voice unshaken. "Tell me."
Disclaimer: Don't own Digimon.Period.
Note: "Speaking"
'Thoughts'
Familiar 13
Conflicting Feelings
by Hitora
The sky's brilliant blue color began to fade before them into a vision of reds, oranges, and yellows, surrounding the descending gleaming crimson sun in the sky. Birdramon flapped down its mighty wings, catching a force of wind to glide on. Silence had followed them for a long time now, and the flying bird was getting more and more uncomfortable as time passed. She glanced down to the disturbingly quiet human sitting on top of her claw. Her human partner's actions did not go by unoticed by the great firebird, and she was beginning to wonder what was running through her companion's troubled mind. Finally, she couldn't hold back her concern any longer and decided to question her now more mysterious friend.
"Are you all right Sora?" Birdramon asked.
"I am fine Birdramon." she replied in her usual, cold tone.
"Why did we retreat? We could have accomplished our mission."
"No, I was not- prepared enough. We wouldn't of won." She lied. She easily could have destroyed them all. But that doubtful emotion got the better of her and overtook her. 'Why didn't I just allow that attack to strike that girl?! It would have been one less Digidestined to kill!' Her thoughts plagued her. She couldn't denie that something just triggered into her as she watched the attack draw closer to that defenseless Digidestined. Something silently yelled to to save her, and she gave into it. She sighed, sinking in some of the frustration. She sat wondering on the strange emotions that clouded her abilities and concentration. The same emotions that had caused her to fail her mission. She didn't understand, she just couldn't go through with it. "Our masters will be very disappointed."
"What was that?!" Piedmon cried out shocked. He had watched excitedly at his large telescope, waiting for the triumphant moment in which his trained assassin would claim the Digidestined lives. But, to his horror, all he saw was her retreating, leaving the living Digidestined and his glory behind. "Unforgivable! What have those Digidestined done to my perfect assassin?!" he yelled out, furiously rising from his seat.
"Hmm.. I was afraid of this." Yumemon said, carefully watching the battle as well.
"What? What's going on? I thought you said you had erased all her memories of those Digidestined from her!" Piedmon exclaimed to her frustrated.
A cold, threatening stare met his, drawing him back. "Must I remind you who your master is?" she warned. "Be careful who you rise your voice to, or you may never be able to speak again!"
"Ah, yes of course. What is it that you think got in the way of our victory my master?" he asked, politely of course.
"You were correct in saying that her memories did interfere." she said. Snapping her fingers, an image of a golden-haired, blue eyed handsome human suddenly appeared before them. "And it seems the Digidestined of Friendship is the cause of it." She sighed, "It seems I have made a slight misjudgement." she said disappointed. " I thought that your assassin would perform better if her memories were erased from her. But now I see that is not exactly true."
"What do you suppose we do?" Piedmon asked.
A mischevious smile curved on her lips and she came to look upon the still image of the blond-haired digidestined before her with an amusing thought. "It is ironic." she said, playfully responding to the mysterious thought. "The one that triggered her memories, will be the one to help her forsake them." she said. Flowing from Piedmon's observation platform, she glided away into the dark corridors of the tower.
"Master! What do you plan to do?!" he called out confused.
"Hmph, hm, just you wait Piedmon," a chilling voice echoed back. "She will be our most loyal servant yet."
"Man, I still can't believe she got away with the crests!" Tai exclaimed frustrated, violently stabbing into the crackling fire.
Night had fallen, and they were not willing to risk looking for the TV back to Gennai's in a dark, unknown world. So, the Digidestined had camped into a clearing of the forests, waiting for morning. Everyone seemed a bit uneasy, still trying to settle the shock of finding one of their own was also their enemy.
"Well, we tried our best Tai. Don't worry, we'll get them back somehow." Kari said back to his complaints, trying to bring everyone out of their depressing moods.
"Yeah Tai, cheer up!" Agumon said, following Kari's lead to lighten up his digidestined human. "We will get those crests back, so don't worry, I can quarantee you we will try our very best!" Agumon assured.
"Hmph, thanks Agumon." Tai replied, a little of his frustration lifted.
"Are you forgeting?" Takeru suddenly spoke. "What do we do about that assassin?" His serious tone darkening the mood again.
Everyone fell silent. Doubt, fear, confusion, all of it was thick around their minds at the reminder of Sora, or otherwise known as Shinokaze, the one sent to destroy them. Their assassin..
"She's the one who took the crests from us. She's our enemy. That's that." Tai replied back simply and coldly.
"So, we're just going to turn our backs on Sora?" Matt said back defiantly.
"It can't be helped, we just have to concentrate on the crests Matt."
"How can you say that?!" Matt yelled, fiercely turning back to him. "This is SORA Tai, she's one our friends and Digidestined! How can you care about some stupid crests over her like that?!"
"Look Matt!" Tai yelled back firmly rising to his feet from the fire before him. "Those stupid crests are more easier to get than trying to get that assassin to join us! She's not the Sora that I remembered, she's someone working for Yumemon! I'm just saying let's concentrate on what we can do!"
"Getting Sora back may be hard but not impossible Tai!" Matt reminded. "I thought you cared for her...."
"Back off Matt!" Tai warned. Anger and frustration flared in both their eyes as they faced eachother with threatening looks. Each challenging eachother to utter another word or make another move.
"Tai! Calm down!" Agumon pleaded beside him.
"Yes, Matt, calm down!" Gabumon said up to his Digidestined partner.
"I can't believe you! How can you be such a jerk!?"
"Who you calling a jerk?!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Kari exclaimed sternly. They both turned surprised to her, shock in their eyes. "It's hard enough fighting a fellow digidestined! We don't need to be fighting eachother too!" she yelled back. Her tightly clenched fists shivered in anger and as she struggled to speak as strongly as possible.
'I've.. never seen Kari like this before..' Tai thought worried. With a final intimidatng glare towards Matt, he managed to turn away from him to his little sister. "All right, we'll stop." Tai assured, trying to soothe his sister down.
"Yeah, we didn't mean to make you upset Kari. Sorry." Matt said, trying to calm her down as well.
She sighed, releasing all the emotions that built inside of her and looked up to them. The frightened face fortunately fading away into a smile of relief. "Good."
"Now that that's settled. I think we should worry about guard duty. We can't be too sure about this place, when the others sleep someone should stay awake to keep watch." Takeru suggested.
"Fine. I'll go first." Tai quickly volunteered.
"I'll go next." Matt said next.
"And that will leave me then Kari." Takeru said.
"No way is Kari going to keep watch." Tai objected.
"Hey, I'm a big girl Tai! I can keep watch myself!" Kari said back. "Besides, Patamon will be with me." she assured.
"And how is that suppose to make me feel better about this?" he asked sarcasticly.
"What did you say?! You better not be insulting my digimon Taichi Kamiya!" she threatened.
"All right, all right, you win." Tai said, giving into his sister's deadly stare. He knew it was time to back off when she gave him that glare, and when she says his full name outloud...
Darkness. Grays, blacks, everything around her was dulled of color. But none of it bothered her, not anymore. This place was common to her as the light of the sun everyday. She knew it well, because she knew that no matter where she went it was nearby. She couldn't escape it, so she embraced it. It was the darkness that laid in her heart. It was a dark world.
She sat silent and still on top of a large stone in the middle of a spacious field and that stood at far from Piedmon's tower. Thoughts of her mission, feelings she felt, all of it haunted her. Questions raced through her mind, becoming more and more with every new one that she asked herself.
'Why? Why does all this bother me?'
"Sora!" a voice called out, catching her attention. She looked below to a digimon standing at the base of the stone.
"Biyomon?" She looked like a small pink bird. She had big, adorable blue eyes and round orange beak. Some of her pink feathers were dipped with blue at the tips. One curved blue striped pink feather stood from the top of her head. Her wings held sets of orange claws and a thick silver ring was worn on her left leg. It flapped its petite wings and flew up to set herself beside the quiet assassion.
"I thought I would find you here. Thinking again?" she asked.
"Yes, I am."
"Are you thinking about those Digidestined?" she asked curiously.
"Yes." was Sora's reply.
"I thought you would be! You acted so strangely to them. Why did you Sora?" she asked.
"I'm.. not exactly sure. Biyomon, do you remember anything before we began to serve Piedmon and Yumemon?" she asked the pink digimon.
"Nope. All I knew was that I had to be with you and protect you Sora, no matter what. I don't remember anything before that."
Sora sighed. "Me either. I've always wondered about my past, who I was before I became who I am now. Where I came from, who I knew, but... nothing. I can't remember anything..." she said upset. Her hands opened before her and she began to stare down on a mysterious object that had laid in her palms.
"You were looking at that thing again?" Biyomon asked surprised.
"Yes. I've had this since I could remember. I.. have no idea what it is or if it even belongs to me. But, deep inside, I feel this is special to me in some way and that I should always keep it." she explained. "It's the only thing that came from my past." It was such a mystery to her, but she just couldn't part from it. It shined gently in the moonlight, it's silver and golden colors catching the glow. She slid her fingers over the small object, feeling the carvings engraved in the plate of gold that laid upon it. "Somehow, I know this thing is very close to my heart."
Rectangular in shape, smooth beneath her fingers, a tingling rushing in her every time she looked upon it.
"Do you think it might has something to do with those Digidestined we met today?" Biyomon boldly asked.
Sora froze at her words, sinking them in slowly. "I.. don't know Somehow, that one boy knew my real name, and they seem to recognize me in some way, like they've known me before."
"Do you suppose that you're one of them? One of the Digidestined?" Biyomon asked curiously.
Sora looked over at her shocked, a strange, startled look upon her face. Her eyes didn't hide the racing thoughts in her mind, contemplating the possibility that she was truely part of them and that they were part of her past in some way. The vision of the strange, handsome blonde Digidestined suddenly entered into her mind. His presence, his unforgettable eyes, they never left her thoughts since her retreat. There was something to him, something that made her heart pound faster and face warmer and redder. 'Why does the thought of him make me feel this way? Could it be linked to my past?' she wondered. "Do you think that I'm one of the Digidestined?"
"Of course you are!"
Sora jolted at the sound of voice and quickly turned to it. Floating behind her was none other than the icy figure of Yumemon.
"M-Master!" she exclaimed out surprised. She quickly knelt before her, lowering her head in shame. She suspected why her master had shown before her, and it was not for anything pleasant. "Please forgive me master, I have failed you."
"Calm down my little pet," Yumemon assured. "So, you are wondering on your past hm?" Yumemon asked. Sora looked up at her suddenly upon her comment startled. But, knowing her place, she lowered it back to face the ground again.
"Yes, I am." she obidiently admitted.
"I see. I thought you would, after meeting those Digidestined." she hissed upon saying the word, disgust seeping from her lips. "Hmph, hm, I was watching the battle you know, and I saw how you reacted to that one Digidestined. " she said amused, referring to that strange blond Digidestined.
"Wh-What do you mean master?" Sora asked, nervously dening it.
"Hm, are you wondering about that young man, Matt was it?" Yumemon asked, a playful curiousness in her voice. "I bet you are... I mean you are a Digidestined too."
Sora blinked surprised. "Wh-what? So, I am one of them? Why is it that you tell me this now master?" Sora asked.
Yumemon gently giggled, somehow amused at her question. "Well, I believed it was the right time to mention it, I mean, you probably already assumed you were one of them. Besides, only Digidestined have the ability to digivolve Digimon, in which you can clearly do." she explained. She sighed, and bent over in air to look at Sora's face directly. "But, you shouldn't be involved with them Sora. Those Digidestined..."
Sora blinked confused. 'Why shouldn't I become involved with them? They're Digidestined and I am too, doesn't that mean I belong with them? Then, why would Yumemon say that?' she wondered. "What-What do you mean master? Why should I not be with the Digidestined if I am too one of them?"
"Deep inside you, you know why. Your memories, your past feelings, they all still haunt you I see. The answer is buried deep inside of them. And I see you will not fully decide on whether to continue to serve me or join them unless those feelings and memories have become clear. Do you wish for clarity Sora? Do you wish for me to bring it forth?"
Sora quietly gasped shocked at Yumemon's unexpected question. "Can you really accomplish such a task master?" Sora asked stunned.
"I am the master of this world and all its darkness! Of course I can accomplish this!" she declared proudly. Yumemon gracefully glided through the air to kneel down before her. Her face no longer showed any amusment, but instead, an unusual, frightfully serious expression lied across her face. "But the real question still remains.." Her voice was void of any playfulness or mischef as she once again spoke, asking the doubtful assassin " Are you really sure you want to see it?"
"Man, it sure is boring..." Tai sighed.
"Hm? I thought you would like the peace and quiet after such a hard battle Tai." Agumon commented.
"Hmph, I would like a nice long sleep after a hard battle. Trust me, this peace and quiet isn't making things easier."
"You don't want to fall asleep on your first watch Tai." Agumon reminded.
"I know, I know.."
They sat, staring into the dancing campfire before them as the night slowly rolled on. Tai poked into the dying embers, allowing the air to create more flames. He watched the fires rise up suddenly absentmindly, drifting mentally off into his sea of thoughts. Agumon's mention of the battle had somehow created a chain of continous questions about...everything. But, most especially to their new enemy. 'Sora...' Memories of a sweet, caring, energetic girl came to his head. Her kind smile.. Her warm eyes.... 'But it's not the same person that I once knew!' he thought frustrated. 'I can't believe this.. ever since Matt said she was Sora... all of these memories are coming back to me. I don't know if I should be happy that they're returning or sad that the one of those memories has changed! Why? Why did Sora have to be our enemy?! I rather take an army of thousands of evil Digimon than her!' he thought, a wave of confusion and regret flooding into his heart. 'But, I have no choice... do I?'
"Tai?" a voice snapped him out into the cold night once again. "Are you okay?" Agumon asked, worried at the intense face upon his partner.
"Uh,uh yeah Agumon." Tai assured, turning with a smile to his digimon. "I'm just fine."
"You looked really serious and sad. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." His laid-back expression quickly faded though as he suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark figure off the corner of his eye. "Huh?!" He quickly rose to his feet alert. Turning towards it, he stood ready to meet whatever it was. "Who's out there?!" he called out firmly.
The flames of the fire brightened and enlighted the figure nearby The faint glow revealed that it was only Matt and his drowsy Gabumon standing in the dim darkness. "Oh, it's you Matt. Sheesh, what are you doing?" Tai asked annoyed, partially because he was still a little mad at Matt and partially because he scared him for nothing. "Couldn't trust me on my shift?"
"Couldn't sleep." he replied, his tone matching that of Tai's annoyance.
"Why? Scared of the dark?" Tai teased.
Matt just ignored him though. "Look, I'm going for a walk okay? Later." Matt said, turning his back to him and walking off into the distance, followed closely by his digimon parter. Tai stood by, just watching him disappear into the darkness of the night.
"Um, shouldn't we go after them Tai?" Agumon asked curiously.
"Leave him. He's got Gabumon with him right? He'll be fine." Tai said, sitting back down to stare into the campfire once again. Agumon was a little reluctant to agree, but he clearly saw that Tai did not want to see Matt at the moment. So, he loyally set himself beside him, hoping that Tai was right about Matt and Gabumon.
After wandering aimlessly, Matt had come to sit on a small hill that overlooked an empty, wide grassy plain. He had come upon it just beyond the trees of the forests, where the others camped. He silently watched the gently waving grass of the meadows below, softly pushed by the cool breezes that ran invisibly through the night. Gabumon looked up curiously at the stone-faced human that sat beside. He hasn't spoken to him since the battle. Gabumon slowly felt more and more concerned as time passed. The silence was unbearable. "Matt? Why did we come here?" he asked.
"I need to think." he replied. "And I can't do that with Tai around."
"Why did you get so mad at him before Matt?" Gabumon asked, bringing up the argument that they had before. Matt's eyes narrowed at the mention of it.
"Because he was such a jerk." he said crossly.
"Come on Matt, that can't be it. What's really bothering you?"
Matt sighed, lowering his head, his eyes closed. A more serious and strange look came upon his face. It held a blend of frustration and saddness in it. "Do you remember what I said to you that one night at Gennai's house?"
"Oh, do you mean when you woke up in the middle of the night and told me about that strange feeling you had after hearing about the other Digidestined?" Gabumon recalled. "You don't sleep well very much do you Matt?"
"Not when there's so much going through my mind. That feeling... I understand it now. The longing to search for the others... and the doubt and fear... they've all become so clear now."
"Really Matt? When did that happen?" Gabumon asked, anxious for his answer. Matt's expression became more hard and stern after his question, as if that strange feeling he described had returned and consumed him.
"Ever since.. ever since I saw her again."
"Do you mean that assassin?"
"Sora. She was the one I wanted to look for.. the one my heart wanted so much to find, and at the same time didn't." Matt said in a regretful tone.
Gabumon blinked his eyes in confusion. The same, baffled emotions he had felt before upon first hearing of these strange feelings came back to haunt him as well at Matt's words. "I-I don't understand what you mean Matt. You mean you want to be with her? Yet at the same time you seem.. uh, sad at the mention of it. If she makes you sad, then why would you want to be with her so much? I just don't know what you mean." Gabumon replied, confusing himself even more.
"It's.. a little complicated." Matt said back to him.
"Why do you feel so bad around her Matt? What caused you to feel this way? Or, do you not remember?" Gabumon asked.
Matt sighed, trying to clear his emotions and thoughts. "I remember. But, it's sort of a long story." Matt warned, turning to his digimon partner. "Are you really sure you want to hear it?"
Sora knelt speechless. 'What if what I see is not what I want to know? Still, I cannot keep going on like this. I must know or I may never succeed in serving my master.... or if I should join the Digidestined. Does my past hold some unknown secret inside of my heart that can decide my fate? But, am I really prepared to see what Yumemon is to show me?' she wondered nervously. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to fight the frustration building inside of her. She clenched the strange metallic object hidden beneath her hand. Taking a deep breath, she readied herself for her reply.
"Yes," Sora said firmly, coming to stare up with a look of determination and fear upon her face. "Show me."
Gabumon stared at the open fields before him, his face soon lowered, considering the seriousness of Matt's question. 'Should I really pry that much into him? Of course, he's my partner and friend! But, he looks so uncomfortable with this subject. What happens if he cannot handle what he has to tell me?' Gabumon sighed frustrated. 'Whatever happens, I will be there to comfort him.
"Yes." Gabumon finally uttered to his Digidestined partner, his voice unshaken. "Tell me."