Well, anew chapter is here. As always, my thanks to the reviewers and e-mailers…and everyone who's somehow interested in this story. So…Mina's dead and so is Ryo…the Master is out there, being the b**** she is…what now? Don't worry, because the surprises are far from over. In fact, I have something HUGE prepared, and you'll be able to see what I mean right about…now!
Note: I don't own Digimon, okay? I don't own Tenchi Muyo, either. By the way, I'll put a severe Taiora warning, just in case. If you like Taiora, well…good for you!
CHAPTER 9
Revelations
The place? TK's house. The group? Those formerly known as the Digi-Destined, except one. Koushiro "Izzy" Izumi was the surprisingly absent one in the reunion, prepared to discuss the newest event. And what's a Digi-Destined reunion without our favorite know-it-all redhead? However, the other "Chosen Children" were there, each in what seemed their respective positions. What do I mean? Well, Tai goes with Sora, Yolei goes with Ken. Kari next to Tai, Matt next to Sora, and Mimi next to Matt. Finally, Joe next to Matt, and then Cody and Davis, who's next to Kari, of course. And it was impressive the similarities between them. They all had the same blank, saddened expression, except for Kari, who loudly cried, despite of Tai, Sora and Davis, and their efforts to comfort her. They all wanted to talk, but without the one who used to direct the meetings, they were silent and disorganized. And for the first time since they started visiting TK's house, Mina wasn't there to give them drinks. They would have preferred to think she was sick, or maybe there weren't any drinks to give. But she was dead, and that was the rough, horrible reality. And that was the reason Kari cried. Reality sucked.
Suddenly, Mimi got up and walked to the door, getting everyone's attention. Matt would be the one to make the obvious question.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll go find Kou…Izzy. As it seems we can't do anything without his lead, I'll go look for him." Everyone nodded in agreement, and Mimi sighed in relief. She had stopped calling him by his nickname the day of their first date together. It would be tough changing back to "Izzy" after calling him "Kou-chan" for several months.
Even more surprisingly, Cody got up and walked next to her. "I'll go, too." After seeing everyone's surprised expression, Cody explained. "Someone has to go with her, after all. Besides, I'm not necessary here." A few seconds later, both Digi-Destined left the house. Of course, the first thing Mimi did was ask.
"Why are you coming with me, Cody?" As calm as ever, Cody replied.
"Let's just say I'm curious. Besides, I was really bored."
"You too?"
While Cody and Mimi left to Izzy's home, Takeru was locked in what used to be Mina's room. In an awkward exposition of death and beauty, the lifeless body of Mina Kirahashi rested on her bed, a magic barrier protecting her from decomposition. One or two yards away, TK watched the body; looking for a something he considered missing. He almost waited for her to open her eyes and wake up, smiling with that beautiful smile of hers. But he knew that would not happen. However, he couldn't help but admire the gracious features of such an excellent female. She was beautiful, and TK saw in the dead corpse a macabre perfection she had not reached while alive. Lost in the beauties of death, TK approached to his own incarnation of perfection. Because that's the only word TK could find to describe the scene in front of him. Perfection.
His hand easily breaking the barrier he had created, Takeru caressed the naked figure, enjoying the cold charm of her stillness. Surrounded by a chaotic vortex of darkness and sorrow, the child of Hope whose hope was lost loved the body of the woman she had not loved in life. He moved his hand away; a part of him afraid that his gentle touch might have ruined Mina's absolute perfection. But the body had not change. It remained just as beautiful. Just as dead. TK moved his hand again, this time to her face.
Her skin was pale, yet he found it as smooth as ever. Memories of the night when they became one filled his mind, and he didn't do anything to get rid of them. He couldn't do anything. The only thing he could think of was her, and the overwhelming desire for revenge that weighted in his heart. The Hunters would pay. Of all the people they could have killed, raped, mutilated, they had chosen HIS Mina, and for that, they would be exterminated. They had to be, there was no other choice. The chance for dialogue had long faded. Now, there would be only destruction.
The only thing that separated TK from total madness was the people in the living room. His friends……friends? Were they really still his friends, even after everything that had changed? And what about……her?
Kari……everything began with you……maybe……everything will end……with you………
TK had always hated injections. Vaccines, or medicines in general, he hated it when they had to be injected. And Kari was just like one of those injections: incredibly painful, yet necessary. He needed her, maybe even more now, after the recent events, but his heart filled with darkness rejected her, and the sin he had committed would push her away from him for the rest of his life.
After what I did with Mina, how could I possibly ask for Kari's love? Mina was my sin, now Kari will be my punishment……
Every time the name "Mina" crossed his mind, scenes of that night filled his mind, and his heart laughed and cried. Pleasure and sorrow, that's what he felt. That night, he had felt pleasure beyond anything he could have possibly imagined, but he had lost the thing he loved most in this world, in every world. That night, he lost his light, in more than one way.
"No!" he shouted, not caring if the Digi-Destined outside began to fear for his sanity. "Why can't you leave me alone!? Even after death, you're still following me!? YOU RUINED MY LIFE!!!!"
No! A voice in his head cried. It was not her fault! Mina is not the cause of your sorrow!
Takeru fell on his knees, next to the bed, while he silently agreed. If I were stronger…if I were strong-minded, nothing of this would have happened.
Are you sure? The voice replied. Some things are meant to happen…
I thought Kari and I were meant to happen, but……no, you are right, Mina was right. What happened that night was meant to happen. I know that, and I know why. And that's precisely the reason of my pain. I cry…because I know too much.
What did he mean? What is it that he knew nut everyone else ignored? Had there been another consequence of Mina's death, a consequence that caused terrible pain in Takeru's heart? Exactly………that's exactly what happened. Not able to resist the urge, Takeru placed his right hand of Mina's cold, frigid abdomen, and he felt. He experienced the emptiness within Mina's soul, within his soul. Because not one, but two sorcerers had died that night, by the hands of the Hunters' Master. Mina Kirahashi......and her son. Takeru's son.
And Takeru cried.
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Mimi knocked for like the hundredth time. What the hell is he doing!? She thought. Looking to her right, she found Cody Hida several meters away, looking who-knows-where. Obviously he had no intention of walking inside the apartment. Besides, they were in a hurry, so there was no need to go inside Izzy's apartment. Suddenly, the door was opened, and Koushiro Izumi finally appeared.
"Oh, Mimi! What……what brings you here? This definitely a surprise! Umm…" a visibly nervous Izzy said. Mimi was about to yell at him for multiple reasons, when an unknown voice echoed from inside the apartment.
"Kou-chan, who is it?" the voice, obviously female, said. The first thing Mimi realized was that it was definitely NOT Izzy's mother. The second…
Kou-chan? Kou-chan!? What the hell is going on here!?
Izzy had thoughts of his own, as he noticed how Mimi's face contorted into a grimace. Oh crap………
To make things worse, the source of the voice appeared next to Izzy. A very beautiful red-head, her ocean blue eyes looked at Mimi with big interest. She was dressed with a shoulder-less shirt that revealed her pale skin, blue jeans and……well, she had no shoes on. That's when Mimi noticed the detail that completely pissed her off. Their hair, which I must remind you, had the same color, could only be described as exaggeratedly messy.
"Kou-chan, who's this girl?" the red-head (female) asked her male counterpart. If she calls him Kou-chan one more time, I swear I'll… Mimi thought.
"Umm…well……Akane, this is Mimi. Mimi, I guess…well…this is Akane." Izzy introduced the two girls, who didn't even shook hands or said absolutely anything to each other. This isn't going good… Izzy concluded.
"Umm…Miss Akane…" Mimi carefully began. "…may I…may I borrow Izzy for a minute?"
Before the woman named Akane could even think of an answer, Mimi dragged a puzzled Izzy to the place where Cody, who had disappeared, had been standing two minutes before. She waited until Akane closed the apartment's door, then she unleashed her fury.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"What, now I can't spend some time with a friend!?" Izzy shouted back, much to Mimi's surprise.
"Yeah, right, a 'friend'…"
"Do I sense a hint of jealously?" Izzy rhetorically questioned. Mimi tried another move.
"We are all waiting for you at TK's place. You know what happened to Mina, don't you!?"
"Of course I know, and I feel terrible for her!" Izzy said, exasperated. "When's the funeral, anyway?"
"That's the problem, there's no funeral!" Mimi cried.
"What?"
"TK insists in keeping her with him, and I think he has a screw loose."
"Mimi, he's just in shock. I don't think you should…"
"And what about Kari!? She's terrified! TK hasn't told us what happened, and Kari thinks that person who killed Mina was the same person who ordered Ryo to kill her!"
Izzy sighed in defeat. "Okay…just give me a few minutes to get rid of Akane. I'll be there. You go ahead."
For the first time during the last hour, Mimi smiled. "Good. I…We will be waiting for you." Izzy was walking back to the apartment when…
"Izzy…"
"What?" the red-head said as he looked back.
"Congratulations……you know…for your new girlfriend…"
"………thanks."
As Izzy walked inside the apartment, Mimi entered the elevator that took her to the entrance, where Cody was waiting, impatiently.
"What took you so long?"
"Well, here you are! You know, I could have used some backup up there!"
"Actually, I considered it was better to leave you alone. After all, you can be pretty scary when angry." Cody declared.
"Now who do you think you are!?"
Cody smirked.
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Davis was exhausted. He had tried to calm down Kari with every method he could think of, and nothing. Now, he leaned on a nearby seat, dying of thirst and starvation, as he watched how Tai tried to comfort his sister. Davis couldn't help but feel crushed. Watching Kari cry was always a painful experience to him. And watching the closeness between Sora and Tai did nothing but increase the feeling of jealously that lived within him. Maybe it was just bad luck, but Davis was some sore of women repellent. Of course, hope never dies.
Sora appeared from the kitchen. When did she go to the kitchen? Davis wondered. Tai's girlfriend (A/N: God, it feels so good when I write that…) had prepared a cup of tea for the shocked teenager. However, Kari's trembling hands weren't much of a help, and the cup of tea ended up spilled on the floor…and Tai's lap. The event made Kari cry even louder, and the shriek was almost painful in everyone's ears.
"Look at me!" Kari cried. "I'm a mess."
"Definitely." Yolei muttered as she left to get something to clean the floor, while Sora, of course, worked on cleaning the Kamiya couple, brother and sister. Davis and Ken were the only ones who heard Yolei's little remark, being the closest to her. Matt looked at Kari with a worried look; while Joe seemed to be examining something very interesting on the floor, or he just wanted to avoid looking at Kari, don't ask. However, another Digi-Destined was a lot more direct.
"Kari, could you please stop crying? It gets annoying, you know?"
Everyone looked to the hallway to find Takeru Takaishi standing next to the door of Mina's bedroom. As usual, the look on his face took everyone by surprise. There was no good in them, yet there wasn't any evil, either. There was simply nothing. Davis was the first to complain.
"Dude, can't you be a little more understanding? She's scared, don't you see!?"
"Why? Is there something to worry about? It's not like the Hunters will attack her, anyway."
"Oh, and what makes you feel so sure about that, TA!?" Davis retorted, visibly angry. TK looked at the second leader of the Digi-destined, and Davis could see pure determination on his face.
"Because I'm going to kill them all."
Before Davis could actually process the sentence, TK had already locked himself in the library. While Sora, Ken and Joe tried to convince him to open the door, TK easily opened the gate to the Dark Ocean, and left the world of humans.
Several minutes later, Izzy, Mimi and Cody returned to the house, and Izzy noticed several glares from the group. Now what did I do!?
"Hmm…what did I miss?"
Joe, who seemed very relaxed to the redhead, immediately replied. "Well, Mina is dead, and we don't know what to do with her. Kari is crying like a banshee, and TK has changed to psycho mode, and gone on a killing spree."
Izzy sweatdropped. "Geez…I never thought you needed me that badly. Can't you guys keep things in order while I'm gone?"
"Don't get all cocky on us, Koushiro!" Mimi shouted right next to Izzy's ears, and the computer genius ended up on one of the chairs, his eyes almost popping out and his jaw wide open. It was going to be a long night.
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So, Ryo is dead…
The Master sighed, her heart crying in sadness for her lost son, her face showing no feelings at all. Ryo's death was an important loss, yes, but, as every other Hunter in the army, he was disposable, and death was a possibility they all had to consider. Besides, it's not like everything was messed up…
The plan had been a total success. Statistics would reveal that night as the night with most overall murders in that year, but no pattern would be found. No relationship could possibly be found between the death of a policewoman in San Francisco and the decease of an architect in Venice. But she knew there was pattern. A huge pattern, as a matter of fact. That night, in a great demonstration of careful planning and a perfect execution, every single sorcerer and sorceress in Planet Earth was annihilated. Every single one, but Takeru Takaishi. What is it? What makes him so special?
Shooing away the thoughts, her mind began to work on possible ways to destroy Takeru. He had already proved that he could easily handle battalions of her men. Even Ryo, her best assassin, was easily defeated by him. If you want a job well done, do it yourself.
Her thoughts kept growing as she slowly walked through the streets of Odaiba. The cold wind didn't seem to alter her, as she was completely focused on her task. Her feet moved by themselves, walking to the apartment thanks to the force of habit. She avoided obstacles thanks to her magical sixth sense, and she ignored the chilling wind of the abnormal winter as her mind ignored the simple meaning of pain. There was only one thing in her mind, and that was getting rid of Takeru Takaishi. Suddenly, she stopped for a second, and looked up at the cold night sky. This cold…it's not natural…winter was over a month ago. Is this cold…magical? Her face contorted in a cold smirk. Is this a reaction to your grief, Takaishi? Is this how nature reacts to your sorrow, just like the thunderstorms and the rain? But if you are able to change the weather according to your mood, then…you're stronger than any sorcerer I've ever known. I don't think that old geek Tomari had this kind of power. Interesting…very interesting.
A gust of wind attempted to throw her away, but she stood still, her long, red hair waving like a flag in the black night. Akane Sugawara, Master of the Sorcerer Hunters, would have a very pleasant night.
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"So…what now?" Guard No. 1 wondered.
"What?" Guard No. 2 replied.
"You know, like, we killed the sorcerers, so…what do we do now?"
"Well…maybe we'll take over the world and stuff…"
"……maybe."
Guard No. 1 let go a big yawn as he barely managed to do his job: guarding the gate to the Hunter's fortress. This is, of course, the most boring job ever.
"Why do we have to do this? It's not like someone will show up or something. Nobody comes to this place, ever!"
"Don't complain…" Guard No. 2 replied. "It won't do you any good."
"I…guess you are right…….did you hear about Ryo?"
"Yeah…I can't believe he was defeated by a sorcerer. It must have been a very strong one." Guard no. 2 commented, a tinge of fear on his voice. A few moments later, the soft rustling of falling rain became audible, and the barren land got filled with dark spots.
"Aw, crap!" Guard No. 1 complained. "It has never rained in this place, and precisely when I'm on guard duty-ouch! Dammit!" He couldn't finish his bragging because smoke appeared at soon as a raindrop made contact with him.
"What's wrong?" Guard No. 2 asked.
"This rain…it's acid!"
However, before the two hunters could seek for cover within the fortress' walls, a beam of dark energy appeared from nowhere, killing them on impact. Takeru Takaishi stepped out of the shadows, protecting himself from the acid rain he had summoned. "Anyone would expect to meet more than two guards in a place like this." He said to no one. On his right hand, he wielded a sword made of black flames, an interesting piece of weaponry, created with a very powerful black spell. With two swift slices, TK cut the giant steel floor, weakened by the acid rain, and the sorcerer stepped inside. The surprised Hunters who had witnessed the destruction of the door reacted instantly to the intruder's appearance. Armed with the most varied weapons, from knives to Uzis, a group of approximately 100 Hunters attacked the Chosen One. However, TK literally disappeared from sight before the bullets could touch him. Expecting such a demonstration from a sorcerer, the soldiers immediately looked around, trying to find the invisible attacker.
"Earth Destroyer!"
Falling down from the ceiling, TK pierced the solid floor of the fortress with his sword, cracking it and releasing debris everywhere. As TK hadn't actually attacked any of the Hunters, they prepared to attack for the second time. But then, dark energy came gushing out of the cracks in the floor, engulfing the Hunters in black flames, just like the ones in Takeru's weapon. Ignoring their screams of pain and torture, TK slashed the air with his weapon, showing that he was able to do long range attacks with it. The air waves and vacuums created with the sword were so powerful that sent flying every Hunter they ran into.
Takeru slashed again and again, making sure that those who hadn't been killed with the Earth Destroyer spell ended up victims of his mighty sword.
After a minute or two, TK stopped. There was no one else to kill, anyway. However, his ears could get the sound of footsteps approaching. The ruckus he had caused obviously got the others' attention. "Might as well welcome them warmly……very warmly."
When the second group of Hunters arrived, they found nothing but the dead bodies of their fallen comrades. "What the hell happened here…?" was the common question among them, until someone noticed something very peculiar.
"Guys…what is this!?"
Everyone focused their eyes on a floating fireball, hovering in the middle of the room. No one could tell what it was, until one of the soldiers, probably the smartest, gave the wisest advice, just a little too late.
"Everyone…RUN!!!"
But in that very moment, an invisible forced closed the door, locking them…well, not really, they could still go outside, where the acid rain was waiting for them. Anyway, without a way to escape, the Hunters fell prey of Takeru's spell, as the fireball exploded, filling the room with massive flames, reducing everything (and everyone) to ashes. Meanwhile, Takeru made his way inside the inner chambers of the Hunter's fortress, making sure to kill every Hunter he met on the way, and the more destruction caused to the building, the better. Takeru wanted it to end just like the Academy of Magic. As he ran past multiple doors, and soldiers came out from them, just to meet Takeru's merciless black blade, the Chosen One tried to let go of his grief. He wanted to avenge Mina, and he wanted to destroy those who once tried to kill Hikari. And it would be very easy to do that, as those humans were nothing compared to him.
However……he still felt empty. As he walked through the now empty halls of the Hunters' base, his thoughts drifted to what his life had become. When did my emotions take control of my life? Damn hormones… He didn't think of himself as the Casanova type, much less the Tenchi type. However, and for some reason he didn't know, a reason he didn't want to know, his life had ended up completely controlled by women. His chaotic, mixed emotions had caused every single mistake he had done in the past years, and his incapacity to choose a life partner had leaded to absolute dissonance. Hikari Kamiya, the woman he had loved, loves, and will love for the rest of his life. Mina Kirahashi, the woman he had loved for one night and then lost because of him. And finally, the woman he had loved for just one week, the one who had thought him about dreams, friendship, desire…his dearest friends, and something he would be thankful to for the rest of his life. A woman named………
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Mimi Tachikawa looked around the room, desperately looking for something to do. Kari had finally stopped crying (Thank God!), but now the silence was very uncomfortable. As everyone but her seemed to be busy talking with someone, she decided to go get herself a drink. Nobody noticed when she got up and walked to the kitchen, but she would meet someone there.
"Kou-Izzy! I didn't know you were here!" Mimi exclaimed not before having stumbled a little bit. Izzy was next to the fridge, looking for something to drink.
"Want a Coke? It seems that's the only thing Mina had in here…"
"So what? Were you looking for a Bud?"
Izzy chuckled a little bit before offering Mimi a can of Coke. After taking a few sips, they decided to begin a conversation somewhere away from the others. Mimi followed Izzy into the library. Always looking for a way to piss Izzy off, Mimi began her attack.
"So……where did you meet her?"
Izzy sighed. He somehow expected that question to come out, just not in that moment.
"At the Valentine's Day Party. You know, when Kari…"
"Yes, there's no need for details."
Mimi looked down, visibly depressed. For a second, Izzy wanted to lay a hand on her shoulder and comfort her, and then he remembered the little fact that he wasn't her boyfriend anymore. For the first time ever, Koushiro Izumi didn't know what to do. Love sucks.
Mimi looked up to meet Izzy's eyes. "When did it happen? Why did it happen, Izzy?"
"Wha…what?"
"Everything! One day I was just a normal girl who had been forced to go to a summer camp, and the next day I was fighting to save the world! And after years of struggle, when we thought we would be able to leave at peace again, little TK disappears and becomes this new, different…scary TK with magic powers and all that stuff! It's like we don't know him anymore! I don't know what going one anymore! And I hate that, Izzy, I hate it!"
Mimi was just about to burst. Barely holding her tears, her reddened expression showed sadness and anguish. Koushiro forgot everything. He forgot about the people outside, the family that awaited him, the girlfriend he now had. For a moment, his only concern was making Mimi feel better. Tenderly, Izzy kissed her forehead. A surprised Mimi looked up and met Koushiro's smile. And for a strange reason, it made her feel better.
"TK has changed in a way I cannot understand, Mimi. His…world goes beyond anything I could have possibly imagined, and that's a lot after our Digimon experiences. However, I know that he's still my friend, and that comforts me. The only thing I have to remember is that, even if we're not a team anymore, we're still friends, and we'll always be friends; and that's precisely the reason I'll thank Digimon for the rest of my life."
"What……why?"
"Thanks to them, now I have friends. Lots of them. And that makes me happy. If it weren't for Digimon, I would have never met you, for example."
Mimi was looking at the floor, dripping wet because of Mimi's tears of joy. "You know…you're really good."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're very good at making people feel better, Iz…Kou-chan……I guess there's a living, feeling being behind that geeky attitude of yours."
"Gee, thanks…I think."
Mimi got up and proceeded to leave, more relieved after the short conversation. However, Izzy had one last question. "Meems?"
"Huh?"
"How come you're still calling me 'Kou-chan'?"
"Is…there something wrong about it?" Mimi replied with a rather mischievous smile.
"Hmm…nope…not really."
"See?" Mimi concluded, and closed the door behind her, leaving Izzy completely alone. He sat down on TK's comfy leather chair, and looked around his desk. Papers, manuscripts and other strange paraphernalia transformed the desk in a complete mess. Izzy also looked around the bookcases, easily recognizing Takeru's book among Mina's vast collection of texts about the magical world. Mixed with Mina's Encyclopedia of Plants and Their Magical Properties, Magic Mineralogy, Advanced Guide to Enchanting, Volumes I, II and III, etc; there were also more……simple books, if we can say Einstein's Theory of Relativity is simple (A/N: Actually, it's rather simple, once you get the catch). I didn't know TK had such an interest in physics…
Izzy was right. Accompanying TK's favorite literature: poetry, science fiction and historical novels, Izzy found a vast collection of physics books. Being the curious man he is, the redhead spent a long time studying in the sorcerers' library. However, reading didn't seem to be as pleasant as it used to be, years ago. Gosh, I'm gonna miss Mina. She's the only woman I've been able to keep an intelligent conversation for more than five minutes. And man, she was hot…
Izzy simply sighed.
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I feel so empty……Mina, I miss you……Kari, I love you……but I think I'm gonna die……
Takeru was leaning against one of the gray walls of the former Hunter base, now nothing but another ruin in the vast nothingness of the Dark World. The magically-created acid rain had been replaced with a natural rain, and drops of black water caressed Takeru's face. It was impossible to distinguish his tears, but he was crying, that's for sure. He had sat on the floor, his sore body resting after the long battle. The water washed away his stained hands, sweeping away the blood of the now dead Hunters. His eyes were closed, and only his silent sobbing could be heard in the place, as the ghost of those he had killed haunted him, slowly carrying him away. TK would follow them soon…he wanted to.
He had failed. The Master, the one who had organized everything, the mastermind behind the macabre plots of genocide and destruction was still alive, and TK had no idea of where to find him (he doesn't know The Master is a she…). But that didn't matter to him anymore. Mina is dead, my son is dead, and I lost any chance I had with Kari. Gosh, I'm such a stupid……
In the solitary peace of the World of Darkness, the realm where weak souls are corrupted, TK finally understood why Kari hadn't accepted him. I guess Kari is not a girl anymore. She's a woman, a beautiful, full-grown woman, and she wants everyone to understand that. Yet I didn't. If I had understand she's no longer the Kari I vowed to protect, if I had realized she doesn't want to be protected, just loved……no……that's where I'm wrong. She's too afraid to fall in love……
Even if TK admitted his mistakes, he also knew Kari had something to do with the whole breakup thing. I wanted to give her everything……if she had asked me to, I would have changed, I would have understood her…but she was too afraid to have a relationship, and I………I just didn't want to remain hidden, for God's sake! Everyone knows there's chemistry between us, why can't she just……throw away her fears and let me love her!? I just wanted to make her happy…I just……did…what I thought…was the best………then……why did it have to end up like this!?
"WHY!?" TK shouted to no one, but his tears and the anguish on his face made the message clear enough. However, there was no one to receive it. TK just remained there, under the rain, as he slowly drifted away to sleep. Maybe he would find in the dream world the peace he didn't have while he was awake.
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"Kari! Kariiii!!!!! For God's sake Kari, where are you!?"
Sora Takenouchi and Mimi Tachikawa ran through the empty streets of Odaiba, two figures dashing through the shadows of a dark night. Storm clouds covered the moon, making the scene even scarier. However, the two girls didn't care, as they now had something important to do. Mimi looked at her watch: 10:38 P.M.
Two and a half hours before, Kari had suddenly left the house; not saying anything, yet the tears on her face indicated that her trouble mind needed to rest. Tai thought she was going back to the Kamiya's residence, but after two hours of waiting, and a phone call where Mrs. Kamiya had told Tai that Kari wasn't there were enough to ignite the big brother's alarm system. He had attempted to go look for her, but in the last second, Mimi and Sora had offered to do the search. Of course, Tai had complained, as it was HIS responsibility as the big brother. Besides, it was too dangerous for two young and pretty ladies like Sora and Mimi to be by themselves during the night. However, not even THAT argument worked. Before Tai could say anything, the two women had left.
And so they began their search for Kari. Of course, you can't expect a girl in the middle of a mental breakdown to run too far away, so it was just a matter of time before the two women found her. She was crying under a lamppost, only lit by the dim light above her. Not seeking for comfort, Kari tried to shoo Mimi and Sora away. "Kari, what's wrong?" Mimi asked, even if she knew it was a dumb question. Everything was wrong. However, Mimi's words seemed to calm Kari. Not able to think of anything else to do, the older girls sat one on each side of the younger one, placing her arms around Kari's shoulders. People who saw them might mistake them as whores, or even lesbians, but what the hell!?
"Kari, I think I know what's troubling you, but you have to let it all go out. We're here for you." Sora tried to soothe her boyfriend's sister. Kari already had stopped crying, but it looked like she had a lot to say. Gathering the lost strength, Kari finally spoke.
"I just……want this madness to stop. I just want to wake up in my bedroom, to live a normal day. Tai would bother me to no end, making jokes about TK and me…Davis would call me first time in the morning to know how I slept and obviously, Takeru would be waiting for me at the door, so we could walk to school together……why can't things go back to the way they were before!?"
"You know that's not possible, Kari. Things have changed quite a lot, we like it or not. It's chaotic, but it has had its good things…" Sora replied, thinking that she would have never ended up with Tai if it weren't for the way things had turned out. Thinking a little, she continued. "We could say things went crazy after the Dragon Emperor incident, huh?" Kari nodded in agreement, noticing how Mimi looked away at the mention of the Dragon Emperor. Kari smiled in understanding for what she thought troubled Mimi. On the other side, Sora, who knew what really bother her best friend, decided to let Mimi deal with her feeling by herself. She proceeded to continue. "But that's not everything, right?"
Kari looked to her friend, visibly confused. "What?"
"You don't just miss the old days……you miss Takeru, don't you?" Kari lowered her head, in a sad nod. Sora shook her head in defeat.
"To be honest, I don't understand you at all. You have been friends with him since when you were eight. Everyone knows you have feelings for him, as you have admitted it herself. He shares the exact same feelings, if not stronger. Isn't that everything you two need!?"
"No! I can't do that! It's not that easy! I can't ruin a perfect friendship by taking such a risk! What if things don't work as expected? I'd never be able to look at him again!"
"Kari, stop it!" Sora demanded in an angry tone. Now even Mimi listened closely. "Don't make the same mistakes I did!"
Kari was able to notice a tear forming in Sora's eyes, but it was immediately stopped, preventing it to come out. Somehow, she had forced Sora to remember things she'd rather forget. Suddenly, Sora's tone of voice changed from a fierce, demanding voice to a calmer, rather sad one.
"I have been friends with your brother since, well, ever. And now I realize I loved him, in my very childish, tomboyish way. And now I know he loved me back. I never get tired of listening to him as he says how much he loves, how he has loved me since we were kids. Yet…I was stupid, unable to recognize true love in his fiery eyes……"
Kari and Mimi listened to her, partially happy for her, partially jealous, as they had been unable to find someone who loved them the way Tai loved Sora. No… Mimi thought. Kari has someone……and that precisely seems to be the problem……
Sora continued. "…I feel in love with a friend. Probably attracted by his looks, maybe by his masculine, rock-star type charm. And I fell for it. And I forgot about my best friend, thinking that I didn't need anyone else now that I had found love……I broke his heart, yet……" This time Sora couldn't prevent the tears from falling down. "……yet, he never got mad at me, he was always forgiving. Every time I cancelled a trip to the movies, or maybe an afternoon at the park, just to be with my boyfriend, Tai simply smiled and said it was okay, there would always be another opportunity. And now I know how much it hurt him to say such words…I was……killing him."
Another tear trickled down, caressing the concrete floor. But Sora wasn't done yet. "Don't you see, Hikari? I almost ruined a perfect friendship by doing exactly what you're doing now. Looking for other people to hang out with, looking for a boyfriend, trying to prove what doesn't need to be proved. You're practically an adult, Kari, and everyone knows that, even Tai and Takeru. But you're not helping yourself by running away. An adult knows that love is about taking risks. If things don't work out well, it's because you were with the wrong person, and the search continues. But when you find the right person, there's no need to worry, as nothing can go wrong. If you find the person you're meant to be with, your body and soul will make sure everything turns out okay. It's the way the heart works."
Kari smiled. It wasn't the smile of Hikari Kamiya, seventeen years old. It was the smile of little Kari Kamiya, eight years old. "You know……TK told me something like that a few months ago. He said love was about taking risks and stuff."
"Then he's as mature as I think he is." Sora replied.
"Believe me, he is." Mimi added.
"Oh, I guess you should now, shouldn't you?" Sora retorted, referring to what happened the days after the Dragon Emperor was defeated. "Sora!!!" That was Mimi's response.
"What are you two talking about?" Kari wondered. Before Sora could make any more jokes, Mimi covered her best friend's mouth and answered.
"Oh, no, nothing! We should…we should go back. It's really creepy out here."
Agreeing with her, both Kari and Sora followed Mimi on the way back home. Kari and Sora had a final conversation on the way.
"Sora, what was that about?"
"Mimi will tell you about it when she thinks it's right to do it." Sora simply replied, leaving Kari even more curious. But it was time for Sora to ask a question. "Kari…"
"Yeah?"
"……do you love him?"
Kari thought about it for a second, before she realized she was doing it again. I'm thinking too much about things…I'm a thinker, what can I do about it? However……Izzy learned to think with his heart, and if he can do it, I can, too. Finally doing the right thing, she ignored the words in her mind to focus in the sensations in her pounding chest: how her heartbeat seemed to accelerate every time TK was mentioned, how her body itched when he was away, as she worried about his safety. She didn't know how, or when, but the word seemed to escape her throat, and floated free as a bird, taking away a huge weight from Kari's heart with it.
"………yes."
Sora smiled. "Good. Now you have to let him know that."
Sora walked faster to meet with Mimi, but not before Kari asked her a final question. "Sora?"
"Yes?"
"…do you think you've already found it?"
"Found what?"
"The right one."
Sora smiled again. "Definitely."
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"Open your eyes, Chosen One…"
When TK opened his eyes, t didn't take him long to realize he wasn't in the Dark World anymore. Actually, he was there, yet wasn't at the same time. Like flashing screens floating around him, images of the Dark World, the Digital World and the Human World surrounded him, as he walked in a realm he had never seen before. However, he could feel the purity of that place, by realizing that his presence corrupted that world of light and hope.
"At least you admit your mistakes, my dear child…"
A silver blur dashed behind him, but TK was unable to get a sight of the entity. The thing moved at an incredible speed, so fast that not even Takeru's highly enhanced sight couldn't see it. "Show yourself!" Takeru shouted. The thing chuckled, with what Takeru now recognized as a female voice.
"That's not the right way to talk to your mother, Chosen One…"
Before TK could wonder what could that possibly mean, the thing stopped, revealing itself to be the most incredible thing TK had ever seen in his life. An immense, yet beautiful silver dragon, standing on her (TK insisted that it was a she) four feet. Three meters tall, seven meters long, it irradiated an aura of calmness TK couldn't help but enjoy. Her beautiful silver wings were as long as the dragon herself and her head had a V-shaped protuberance pointing backwards. TK ignored her long, menacing teeth, as the creature showed no signs of aggressive behavior. TK knew dragons were extremely intelligent, even if the only one he had met was a very evil one. TK ignored who the creature might be, but a feeling in his heart gave him the info he needed.
"Nova Dragon……"
The dragon nodded. "That's just a name sorcerers use…used for me. I'm also known as Novadramon."
"You're……a Digimon?"
"I'm what you want me to be. I live beyond the material world, traveling across dimensions, looking for a place where I can live in peace. But it doesn't matter where I go, there's always evil powers seeking for the Ultimate power. In the end, I'm always forced to give my blessing to a warrior who shall destroy the evil in the worlds. They are called the Children of the Nova Dragon."
"Chosen Ones……"
"But I must admit my sin by telling you something: you're my favorite."
"Huh?"
"You're the most original Chosen One I've had. Troubled by the problems of a simple teenager, while at the same time discovering your destiny, and challenging Evil at the early age of sixteen. I think you're the youngest one who has defeated the Dark Dragon. But now I see you're corrupted."
TK looked down in embarrassment. This creature could see right through him. He accepted the truth with a weak nod.
"Grief is a horrible emotion, Takeru." The dragon continued. "But that's exactly why I like you. You have the power to overcome the darkness. The solution is very easy, yet it takes time to find it."
However, TK had other questions to ask. "Why me? Why did I have to become…this?"
"Why not?" The dragon simply answered. "You know you're special, Takeru. Or would you have preferred if I had chosen the child of Light?"
TK's fist clenched in anger. The dragon chuckled again. "No, that's not necessary. Besides, there's no way you can possibly hurt me. I would have never chosen her. Too weak. The Evil would have crushed her mind."
But TK wasn't really listening to the Nova Dragon, and the silver creature noticed it. "Still crying because of that sorceress? People die everyday, Takeru, and you know that."
"It's not just her! It's everything! I defeated Evil! I should be living a normal, happy life…"
"…with Kamiya by your side, right? You know that's not the way things work. The history of the world is the history of its conflicts. Long after you're gone, people will remember you because of the way you handled the obstacles life put in the way. There's always something that threatens your attempts at happiness. New people enter your life, and one day they'll leave you. It's the way it is. Mina Kirahashi didn't deserve to die and neither did the Sorcerer Hunters you killed. They were controlled by a twisted, sick mind. If there's someone who deserves to die, it's that girl."
"Girl!? The Master is a woman!?"
"…guess I said a little too much. Consider it a little help from moi. Anyway, you must stop this madness before the darkness consumes you. Instead of grieving over the lost ones, fight to protect those who still are by your side. Humans live, wither and die, but friendship and love exist beyond the limits of time and space. You love Hikari Kamiya, and that will never change. Not even what you did that night with Mina can change that. What happened that night was just Destiny's way to keep the race of sorcerers alive."
"So you know about…my son."
"Oh, yes, yes……he'll be powerful. Very powerful. More powerful than yourself, as a matter of fact. And he'll be truly happy, as his life won't be a soap opera, like yours."
"Hmm, well…you know he's dead, don't you?"
"Have you forgotten who you are!? You're my child, the Chosen One, he who challenges Destiny itself! I gave you the power; it's up to you to find the way to bring them back."
"…them?"
"Mina and Takeru, of course. He still needs a place where to grow for nine months, you know? You know I gave you the power to destroy, by teaching you the Nova Dragon Blade and the Nova Dragon Elemental Attacks. But I also gave you the power to create. It's up to you to find it. Your magic powers are strong; I know you can do it."
TK looked up, smiling for the first time in a long time. For some reason, as the dragon spoke, his mind reached a level of clarity he had never imagined before. The puzzle was solving itself, and TK was the one holding the pieces. But there was something he still couldn't understand. Actually, two things.
"He's still alive, isn't he?"
The Dragon nodded. "Although…technically, he's not a he. Evil is pure essence. It has weakened considerably after his defeat against you, but it's still there, plotting. So you better don't skip your training, okay?"
TK chuckled. He had one last question. "The Digi-Destined…"
"Oh, yes, you little human friends. Since the beginning I knew one of you would be my Chosen One. It was tough, but you were my best choice. They are all excellent, but they are too focused on their main virtues, the crests. Well, except for Mimi Tachikawa, she's not that…pure anymore."
TK could barely hold his laughter. The Dragon chuckled again. "Tai and Davis are very strong and courageous, but they're impulsive ones. Koushiro, on the other side, is very intelligent, but he lack in the strength department. However…"
"What?"
"No, you'll eventually find out. Anyway, I have enjoyed this little chat, but I think I've taken too much time. Besides, you have a lot of things to do."
Takeru nodded. "Goodbye……mother."
"Goodbye, my dear son…and remember that I'm always with you. In your mind, in your heart. Look for me, and I'll be there."
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As usual, the Digi-Destined were staying at Takeru's house until very late. However, they didn't know whether to leave, now that they had found Kari (who now seemed to be back to her usual, cheerful self, much to everyone's pleasure), or to stay and wait for Takeru a little longer. Koushiro, who had left the library a while ago, and was now, sitting on one of the many chairs in the house, considered the idea of leaving.
"We're not doing anything here. Some of us have to get up early tomorrow…" He looked at his watch. "…today, and I have things to do before going to bed."
"Like making a 2-hour phone call to your girlfriend?" Mimi joked, getting everyone's attention. More surprising than how well was Mimi dealing with it, was the very fact of the existence of Izzy's new girlfriend.
"So it's true? Nice job, dude!" Matt exclaimed, offering his hand for a high five, which Izzy ignored. His face, now crimson red, was bursting with embarrassment. "Thank you, Mimi."
"You're welcome."
Ken, who hadn't spoken at all during the night, except for some sentences directed only to Yolei, agreed with the bearer of the Crest of Knowledge. "You're right; we should call it a day. We should have no problems with locking the door, as TK can probably handle that without any problems."
"Indeed, a locked door wouldn't be a problem, but that won't be necessary. I'm here." TK said as he stepped out of the library, after having returned from the real world. Everyone stood up to receive him, just to freeze in surprise when they noticed the change. Every remnants of darkness were gone, as the cold, icy look they had grown used to fear was gone. He still looked strong, handsome and overwhelming, but the grief was gone. That simple smile, the smile that used to drive Kari crazy was back. His tall figure was adorned with glowing blue, and his lips were contorted in an expression of joy. For the second time that night, Mimi's and Sora's memories returned to please them, as that sixteen-year-old boy looked like the young, caring boy they had grown attached to in the Digital World. But the other Digi-Destined could also feel it. He was the Chosen One, yes, but now he had reached balance. Takeru the sorcerer and Takeru the Dig-Destined were finally one. And everything was good now.
Takeru's eyes met Kari's, and the dark haired girl enjoyed the peace irradiating from her loved one's soul. She couldn't be any happier. TK Takaishi, her Takeru, was finally back.
"It's time to settle everything, once and for all." TK said, summoning everyone's attention. "Tomorrow will be the Judgement Day, and I'll be the judge, the jury…and the executioner."
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Chapter 9 is finished! Only two chapters left! Yes, I know I took my time (as usual), but bear with me; I have lots of other things to do. Besides, I'll pay my debts to you during December and January, as I'll be locked in my house for two months! Believe me, after the surgery, I'll have lots of free time. As always, reviews, suggestions and anything but flames will be gladly accepted. Let's just hope I get the time to read them…
About next chapter, well…there's not much to say. It will be rather long, as TK finally confronts the Master, at the same time he's forced to make a decision that could change his life in a radical way. What kind of powers will Takeru use to bring back Mina from the Underworld? What other tricks does Akane Sugawara have under her sleeve? Believe me, there will be more than one surprise in the next chapter of "The Last Sorcerer"…
Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)