CHAPTER 10
Judgement
As it had become usual in the past months, the Digi-Destined arrived to Takeru's house as soon as they finished their duties at college or high school. The house had become their principal place of gathering, mostly because TK preferred to avoid the outside world. It was better for everyone if his "abilities" remained a secret. However, as Koushiro Izumi pondered while he drove his car through the crowded streets of Odaiba, the situation of sorcerers around the world was intriguing. He took a second to check on his company. Mimi Tachikawa was right next to him, while Joe Kido, Ken Ichijouji and Yolei Inoue shared the backseat. Looking at the mirror, he saw Tai's car right behind his. Sora, Kari, Davis and Cody were in Tai's car, too. Matt had promised to be there, but Izzy had some doubts about it. The schedule of a pilot in training could be quite tight, with the rough military training, the late parties at cheap bars which included gallons of liquor…you know, that kind of stuff. But Izzy kicked those thoughts out of his mind, and focused on what really was important…or at least, what he considered important.
Are humans THAT dumb?
Was it possible that sorcerers had managed to remain a secret for millennia? Considering Takeru's comfortable lifestyle (excluding the fighting and the saving the world…), the answer had to be yes. Izzy realized he didn't want to know how magic users hid their identity. Who knows how many people has been brainwashed by one of them…maybe I've been affected by one of their spells, yet I don't remember anything about it…
For an unknown reason, his memory drifted to New York City, but the thought disappeared as easily as it had come out, before Izzy could find out what was it all about Izzy discarded it. After all, it was just a silly thought. His trail of thought, however, changed to the subject of Matt Ishida. According to what Mina had told him (Mina……), Matt was a victim of her mind games. In fact, it was him who had prepared the scenery of TK's fake death, without even knowing what he was doing. Mina had made a good job by erasing every single memory Matt could have stored about that night. Izzy had already tried to find out if Matt had any memories of that day, but to no avail. There was a hole in Matt's mind, a hole corresponding to that day. But why can't I stop thinking about it? Is it that important?
"What's wrong, Kou-Izzy?" Mimi corrected herself at the right moment. She preferred calling him by his name, or by the title of "Kou-chan", but they both knew that would be awkward if done in public. Izzy looked at his female friend for a second, and then fixed his eyes on the road ahead.
"What's wrong? Why were you frowning like that?" Mimi insisted. Koushiro wanted to avoid an unnecessary conversation. However, his innate curiosity led him to answer…with another question.
"Mimi…"
"Yes?" Izzy took a second to think. Ken and Yolei were having one of their silly couple chit-chats, while Joe seemed to be lost in his own trail of thoughts. Izzy guessed it wouldn't be a problem to ask.
"Mimi…have you ever felt the sensation that there's something very important you should be supposed to know, yet no matter how hard you try you can't remember it?"
Mimi remained silent for a second, as if pondering the idea of answering, before she said a sentence that took Izzy by surprise. "What, you too?"
"Huh?" Izzy replied, obviously eager to know more. Mimi lowered her head, indicating that it was something she didn't want to discuss in front of others. She leaned closer to Izzy, and whispered something to his right ear.
"You can come to my house later tonight. We can talk there."
"It will be kind of late. Are you sure?" Izzy whispered back. Mimi smirked.
"What? Will you girlfriend get jealous?"
Izzy remained silent. Akane was the last thing on his mind at the moment. Maybe I'm not a good boyfriend, after all……maybe if I had paid more attention to Mimi……no…it was something else, something beyond that……but I'm sure about something: it was my fault. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.
What Izzy ignored at the moment, as he parked the car right in front of TK's house, was that it wasn't fault that he was ignoring Akane. It was that Akane wanted to be ignored. Izzy pulled out the key, got out of the car, and like the gentleman he's always been, he walked around the automobile, and opened the other door, helping Mimi get out. "My, thank you. At least the breakup hasn't killed your modals."
Izzy remained silent as he picked up his laptop from under the passenger's seat. He looked at Tai, who just stepped out of his car, with Sora, who, as always, stood by Tai's side. Izzy couldn't help but being happy for them. As long as I'm invited to the wedding…
Koushiro smiled as he saw a rather small yet gracious figure sprint to the door. It was remarkable how Kari's attitude had changed. She was full of energy, like the Kari he used to know. She was again the sweet, caring girl he knew. The girl who was in love with Takeru Takaishi. That was, of course, the reason she was so eager to knock on the door. Impatiently waiting for the others to join her, Kari tapped her foot until the others reached the door. Just then, she called for the only inhabitant of the house. After a minute of continuous banging on the door, the tall figure of Takeru Takaishi finally showed up. And he was well…naked; the area below his waist was covered with just a towel.
His hair and torso were soaking wet, which completed the mental image that Izzy had already formed in his mind: they had arrived while TK was taking a shower. And for the first time, the Digi-Destined were able to witness the product of years of training. A well-built body, worthy of an excellent warrior. But for the Digi-Destined (TK included) it wasn't time to admire Takeru's body. It was time for the girls (especially Kari……and Mimi) to blush.
"Hmm…you caught me in a bad moment…could you lend me five minutes, please?" TK said.
"Too late, Takaishi!" Yolei replied.
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Five minutes had passed, and the pink flush on Kari's cheeks wouldn't disappear. TK, who didn't seem too alarmed with the strange situation, looked at the Digi-Destined with a calm smile on his face. He was now wearing a loose, white T-shirt with black baggy jeans. Taking most of the space as he stretched his body, TK tried to start a conversation, the first one he'd have with the group since who knows when.
"So, what are you guys up to-…." His sentence was cut short by a loud yawn making its way out of his lungs. Ken smirked at the sight.
"I can tell you didn't sleep well, Takeru. Is it about…well, her?"
And Kari suddenly changed her attitude. She wanted to know if she still had a chance with TK. She needed to know before doing something she might regret later. TK sighed. "Yes…and no. I couldn't sleep last night. I had too much in my head." But the grim look disappeared almost immediately, to be replaced with his trademark goofy smile. "But don't worry about it! Everything's under control. Believe me. Nothing the Chosen One can't handle."
Ken didn't look completely convinced, but the sudden change in TK's attitude was a relief. Eventually, the Digi-Destined changed the flow of the conversation to friendlier topics. For the first time in months, they didn't worry about the current threat, or the evil conspiracies of the latest megalomaniac. It was just a bunch of friends, talking about stuff. The only thing that interrupted the…normality of the scene was the unusual displays of Takeru's magic: the oven that was turned on by nobody, the dishes that flew from the kitchen to the living room, that kind of things.
However, as every good thing must come to an end, so was the evening. TK excused himself, saying he had things unfinished in the library. With the words "My place is your place. You may do as you wish." TK left to the library, leaving the other Digi-Destined by themselves, as it was now usual. However, the boys and girls already knew their way around the house, so they didn't have much trouble hanging around a few more hours. And once again, as usual, the team divided in smaller groups, each one with different topics to discuss. While Ken, Davis and Tai proposed possible reasons to explain Matt's absence, Joe and Cody discussed some school-related topics. Obviously the doctor-aspirant was trying to help the youngest Digi-Destined with some homework. On the other side of the living room, the girls had made a circle around Kari.
"What are you waiting for!?" Yolei asked exasperated, but making sure none of the boys heard. Kari's blush returned almost immediately.
"Wha-what? Now!?" Kari replied.
"Of course! This is your chance! There's no time as the present! Go for it!" Mimi insisted.
"But…but…I'm not sure…I'm so nervous…"
"Kari, for once, I agree with Yolei and Mimi. You'll never find out if there are still feelings for you in his heart if you don't talk to him. And if I know him as much as I think I do, a simple talk should be everything you two need to be back together!" Sora continued. Kari's heart was a thousand miles per hour. The idea of confronting TK again, after everything she had done to him, was simply…too much.
"But what if he doesn't like me anymore!? What if he doesn't want to be my boyfriend anymore!? What if Takeru doesn't want to be my friend anymore!?"
The other girls' silence wasn't very comforting. Yolei, Mimi and Sora didn't want to admit it, but Kari was right. TK was different, as he was more susceptible to matters of the heart than most men. They knew Kari had hurt him in unimaginable ways, as they had witnessed how Takeru had slowly withered after his "breakup" with Kari. His love for Kari was his biggest weakness, and they knew it. What if TK wasn't willing to try again? What if he had lost his hope for a chance with the woman he used to love? What if that love…was simply gone?
"I guess……there's only one way to find out. Now, go!" Mimi concluded as she pushed Kari towards the hallway. Kari froze on her tracks, her mind unable to work at normal speed. Her heart was racing, her forehead was sweating, and she had no idea what to do. Well, might as well go for it…
Kari walked a step forwards…and a red-haired blur passed right in front of her. Before she could even tell, Izzy had reached the door to the library, opened it, walked inside, and closed the door behind him. Kari sighed, part in defeat, part in relief. Looking at her female friends, she reached a conclusion.
"I…guess I'll talk to him later."
The others simply sweatdropped.
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Can I do it? Can I really bring her back? No matter how many times you say it's possible, I just…can't believe it. It's simply too much. I am strong, and my magic powers are unmatched, but…I'm not a God. There's no way I can believe a mere mortal like me has the power to bring people back to life.
Takeru had his eyes closed while he faced the ceiling of the library. His mood had improved, yes, but the confusion was still strong in his mind. He didn't know what to do. He knew he had to bring Mina back. He needed her back. But he was sure there was no way, physical or magical, he could accomplish such a feat. The soothing voice of the Nova Dragon calmed his troubled mind.
"You're right. There's no way someone like you could wield the power to resurrect humans."
So……you're not helping, you know?
"The thing is…you're forgetting something very important."
And that would be……
"Mina is not human."
TK suddenly opened his eyes. He definitely hadn't seen that one coming. Of course, he had always had suspicions about Mina's true identity. Extremely prolonged longevity, eternal youth, a perfectly designed body, weak magic powers countered with unmatched healing skills…TK had many reasons to think Mina was something else, but he had never really considered it carefully enough, maybe because he didn't find comfortable the thought of having had sex with "something else".
So……what is Mina? Will she tell me if I find the chance?
"I don't think she knows what she really is. One day, the two of you will find the truth, and believe me, it will be quite shocking. For now, this is everything I can tell you: she's far beyond the race of humans. She's in a higher level, even higher than you. Her excessive longevity is the key to bring her back to life."
And what about……him?
"Little Takeru, you mean? It's your choice. You can choose to bring Mina back, ignoring the child; or you can try to revive the two of them, which should prove to be quite a challenge."
………little Takeru?
"……just an idea. You could start a tradition, you know? Naming the first child Takeru or something like that."
TK smiled. He couldn't believe he was discussing how to name a baby. When did this happen, TK? He rhetorically asked. When did your life become such a mess?
Everything had changed, yet a part of him still felt the same. Deep inside, he still was Takeru Takaishi, Digi-Destined of Hope. A part of him still wanted to be a novelist in the future, and maybe write a bestseller or two. A part of him still feared relationships, eternally haunted by the shadow of his parents' failed marriage. A part of him still remembered the crazy week with Mimi as if it had been just yesterday, even if three years had passed since then. A part of him still wanted to marry Hikari Kamiya, to form a beautiful family with her…but there was another Takeru. The adult Takeru, the sorcerer Takeru, the Chosen named Takeru, who knew all those ideas were nothing more but a dream now. Too many things had changed. For starters, he had created life, a miserable little embryo which rested in Mina's womb, until that horrible day. But it didn't matter if they both had died, TK had become a father. It was an overwhelming responsibility, and he wasn't sure to be able to handle it. I'm getting too old, too fast…
Someone entered the library. Just as TK expected, it was Izzy, as curious as always, never stopping until he found answers. He didn't expect Izzy to pin him on the wall to force the answers out of him, but TK knew he was up for an interrogatory. However, Izzy simply sat on a chair in front of Takeru, and looking at his cerulean eyes, the redhead made a single question.
"You just can't stop thinking about her, can you?"
TK sighed. Izzy knew him too well. Izzy knew everyone just too well, while he still remained a mystery. TK decided to pay more attention to Izzy from then. "Kari or Mina?" TK replied. And it was Izzy's turn to sigh. "Both."
"You know Kari never leaves my mind. Never. On the other side, Mina…I just…I just don't know what to do with her."
"Takeru, she's dead! You know the protocol when someone dies, you lived it yourself!"
"First, I was unconscious during that occasion. Second, there's more to it that it seems, Izzy. I can't get…rid of her just that easily."
"Why!?" Izzy was slowly losing its temper. Why couldn't TK get over it? He had been able to do it, and he…had really liked Mina.
"I have my reasons, okay!?" TK replied, his voice in a higher tone than usual. He wouldn't allow anyone to yell at him in his house. Izzy was taken aback by the sudden wave of authority that TK irradiated, and closed his mouth without question.
"There's more to it, Izzy…much more." TK finished, slowly getting up and leaving the library, just to hide in Mina's room. He was going to make some company to the dead corpse for a while. Izzy sighed for the last time that night. That would be everything they'd see from TK for the day.
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College life had lost its meaning to most of the Digi-Destined. They knew it was important, but Tai, Sora, Izzy and Joe had begun to put it aside, considering the latest events. After Kari's near-death experience, Tai had found it harder to focus on his studies. His grades would have dropped dramatically if it weren't for Sora. "I guess now we know who's in control of that relationship!" Izzy had said after watching the amusing scene of Sora forcing her boyfriend to study.
It was noon of the next day, and Tai was having lunch. With his girlfriend, of course. As usual, Izzy was playing third wheel. Well, not really. He had company, too.
"So, how are you doing?" Akane asked sweetly to her boyfriend. Izzy swallowed some food before replying.
"Fine, I guess. Maybe a little tired…I guess."
"Tired? Why?"
"Lack of sleep. I'm thinking too much…" Izzy said grimly, looking at Tai and Sora, who nodded in understanding. An easy inspection of Izzy's mind allowed Akane to get the full idea.
"Then maybe you should stop worrying too much about other people's problems. You have enough problems of your own, you know?"
"Really, like what?" Izzy wondered, allowing himself a smile. Akane smirked before kissing Koushiro on the lips.
"Like where are you going to take your girlfriend this weekend, for example?" Izzy looked at his friend for help. Tai simply laughed.
"Jeez, what a problem!" The man with the…unique hairdo commented, just to be elbowed by his girlfriend, Sora, who had a serious look on her face.
"You say that because you don't take me anywhere!"
"Hey, you know I have a lot of studying to do!"
"At least you could think of a better excuse!!"
Koushiro watched in amusement the little show Tai and Sora were making in the middle of the room. Akane simply hugged Izzy tightly, and the male redhead enjoyed the relative calm around him. He knew that would end as soon as he entered TK's house. However, that day, TK's problems would follow him to college. As Tai finally got rid of Sora's tight grip, he noticed a tall figure at the door of the cafeteria. Could it be…yes!
"TK, over here!"
Sora, Izzy and Akane followed Tai's line of sight, to meet the eyes of Takeru Takaishi, who stood on the entrance, a smile on his face. The four of them were surprised by the unexpected visit, Akane being the most surprised, of course. Ignoring the looks of the other students, TK made his way to the table where the others were eating, and joined them. "So…what's up?"
TK averted his gaze towards the unfamiliar presence, and his eyes met Akane's for the first time. "I…don't think we've met."
"Cer…certainly not." Akane replied, trying to hide the nervousness of her voice. "Akane Sugawara, pleased to meet you."
"Takeru Takaishi is my name. Nice to meet you, too."
"Can we know the purpose of this unexpected visit, Takeru?" Izzy wondered.
"I just…had nothing else to do. I finally know what to do with Mina, you know?"
The three Digi-Destined were surprised at TK's straightforwardness, considering there was a stranger with them. However, Izzy realized there was nothing suspicious about the phrase, so it wouldn't be too much of a problem. That is, if Akane were a normal person.
"Hmm……really?" Izzy replied, immediately receiving the piercing looks of Taichi and Sora. They clearly said "Are you crazy!?" Takeru had also noticed, but there was no need for the alarm. The conversation wasn't dangerous at all. However, there was something else in his mind at the moment, and it was the girl next to his friend Koushiro. He had this feeling………maybe it was the crashing of two magical presence, Chosen One's intuition, or just plain luck, but in the moment Takeru looked at her, he knew. However, he needed more information.
"Say, Koushiro, when did you meet this lovely lady?" Takeru said, smiling at the red-headed girl, who shuddered in reply.
"Hmm…that would be…at the Valentine's Day dance."
"Oh…and how come we haven't been introduced before?"
Akane's eyes widened, while Izzy seemed deep in thought. "Actually, that's a good question……guess I never found the chance to do it."
It was Sora's turn to destroy Izzy's theory. "Izzy, you've been in Takeru's house almost every day since Valentine's Day."
Izzy sweatdropped. "Heh…good point."
Takeru smirked. "Well, maybe the lovely lady didn't want to be introduced to her boyfriend's friends."
The piercing look he gave to Akane, and the nervous response he got from her were everything Takeru needed to know. His job there was done.
"Anyway, your lunch time is almost done, and I guess you all have to go to class. If you want to meet me after classes, you may find me at the Graveyard."
"Graveyard?" Taichi asked, sharing the same puzzled look Sora, Izzy and Akane had.
"Yeah, that's what I said. See ya."
And then he left, leaving four puzzled people, all of them wondering what he would do at the Graveyard, just for different reasons.
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It was slowly getting dark, but the Digi-Destined had finally found their destination. Tai, Sora and Kari leaded the group, making their way through the labyrinth of graves, flower and grass. Sora and Tai were holding hands, almost as if the boyfriend didn't want his girlfriend to get lost in the creepy scenery. Davis, Joe and Cody followed closely, the one with the goggles giving nervous glances to Kari every once in a while. Ken and Yolei were the next, the girl having a firm hold of her boyfriend's left arm. Ken's face was fairly red, the reasons are still unknown. It could have been the fear to the place, or maybe the closeness to Yolei, or maybe it was just that Yolei was squeezing his arm a little too hard, who knows?
Matt and Izzy closed the group in the back. Akane, who had pleaded Izzy to let her go with him (and we all know why), gently held Koushiro's right hand. Eventually, Izzy felt a second hand holding his left arm. Looking to his left, he found a visibly scared Mimi. Looking further to the left, Matt was giving him a thumbs-up, while displaying a mischievous smile. Izzy sweatdropped while praying for Akane not to notice the situation.
Tai, being the one in front with the best eyesight (nothing personal with Sora and Kari, but it's true), was the first to see him. Takeru was waiting for them in the top of a very small hill, the tallest place in the cemetery. However, what caught the Digi-Destined's attention (and Akane's, too) were two awkward details.
First of all, Takeru's outfit. He had changed his usual clothes for emerald green full-body armor. Only his head was discovered, revealing his glittering cerulean eyes in a firm look. A white cape waving with the silent wind finished the outfit. All but Matt and Akane recognized the outfit as the one he wore in his battle against the Dark Dragon of Evil. Second, well……the simple fact that Mina's corpse floated in mid-air, right in front of Takeru. Izzy immediately looked at Akane, looking for the expected reaction. However, besides her eyes being a little more opened than the usual, there was no reaction at all. Of course, Izzy found that strange. It was a matter of time before everyone else noticed it.
They eventually arrived, and Takeru silently asked them to stay still a few meters to his left and in front of him. A few movements of his hand were enough for everyone to understand.
"Thanks for coming, everyone. You too, Akane."
Akane replied with a glare nobody but Takeru saw. Mimi was the first to complain about the meeting place.
"Umm…Takeru….not that I'm scared or something like that, but……there wasn't a chance you could choose a better place for this?"
Takeru smiled. "My apologies, Mimi. Obviously I didn't consider that your delicate features would not stand such a place."
Mimi's frown was replaced with a blush. Takeru continued. "But I found this place quite appropriate for today's events. As you can see, I made sure nobody approaches this place for the night, which the way, has finally arrived."
Everyone then noticed that the sun had finally left to rest, replaced by a dim moon covered by the clouds. Davis stepped forward.
"So…what are we gonna do here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Takeru began. "We're going to judge the one accused of the murder of Mina Kirahashi and the attempt of assassination of Hikari Kamiya. We'll decide, dictate and execute the sentence."
Everyone looked at each other finding the same looks on their faces. However, none of them doubted Takeru's mental health, so they let him continue.
"So, Akane, sweetheart, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"WHAT!?" Everyone reacted in unison. Was Takeru actually accusing someone he just met? Izzy looked at Akane, who replied with the phrase she had been preparing the whole day.
"I have no idea what he's talking about."
But it seems like Takeru heard because he let go a childish laugh. "I guess……I guess you have nothing to say. I can tell everyone thinks I'm insane right now, but please wait until I display the evidence."
Evidence? Now that got Akane thinking. Takeru smiled when he noticed everyone's confusion. "Evidence number one…this!!"
Takeru simply released a fireball directly towards Akane. The woman, prepared for everything but a surprise attack, created a magic barrier around her, blocking Takeru's spell. She realized her mistake a second too late. Her first reaction was looking at Koushiro, who had let his mouth hang down wide open. Takeru would have laughed at the look on Izzy's face if it weren't for the meaning of that look.
"Yes, Izzy, your girlfriend is a sorceress."
In an instant reaction (call it survival instinct), the whole group of Digi-Destined backed away from her. Everyone but Izzy, who was still unable to move or speak. "Koushiro…honey…allow me to explain."
Takeru laughed. "Of course, allow her to explain! This is a fair trial, and I'm a fair judge."
Akane glared at him once again, but then she found herself unable to say a word. Probably because there was nothing else she could say. TK, who completely understood Akane's situation, proceeded to continue his explanation by displaying the parchment he had found at the Academy Ruins.
"This, ladies and gentlemen, is a list of every single sorcerer and sorceress living…and dead. That explains its length, of course. It works magically, crossing the names of deceased wizards and witches as soon as the death occurs. I was analyzing this thing a few hours earlier and I found something very interesting."
He waited for a few seconds to achieve an unnecessary dramatic effect. Then he continued.
"The day Mina was murdered; her name wasn't the only crossed one. In fact, all of the names were crossed out on the paper, indicating that every single sorcerer and sorceress in the world died that day too. The Hunters' Master Plan worked perfectly, I must admit. I guess I should acknowledge such a perfect work, if I weren't against massive genocides. Anyway, I said all of the names, but the truth is, two names were left unmarked."
Another pause.
"The first name is mine, of course. The second name really caught my attention, and now I'll show it to you." Takeru said, revealing the name to everyone in the place, at the same time he projected a light from his hand to the parchment, so that everyone could see clearly regardless of the dark night.
Sugawara, Akane
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Akane again. The woman remained silent, while Izzy still tried to find a way to deny Takeru's words. But there was no way around it: Akane had betrayed him. But Takeru wasn't done. It was time for the main event.
"I guess it's time to call the witnesses, huh?"
Everyone's eyes moved to Takeru. Witnesses? What could he possibly be talking about? Akane first looked at Kari, but they all knew of Ryo, after all, Takeru had killed him. Only then she noticed the floating corpse in front of Takeru. Mina's body was covered by a white blanket, only revealing her face. Takeru closed his eyes. Well, this is it? Thank God Kari's not the dead one, because I don't think this spell works on her…
"Nova Dragon Genesis!"
For a moment, the Digi-Destined and Akane thought the sun had returned, because the light emitted from Takeru's body could easily light the whole place. The light traveled from Takeru to Mina's body, which soon began to glow with the same intensity. From Takeru to Mina and vice versa, light traveled between the two bodies, isolating them from the darkness around them. Then, the light's intensity began to grow, until the point where it was impossible to look at Takeru or Mina directly. The Digi-Destined looked away right before a explosion of light that would be seen miles away from the graveyard erupted right in front of them.
It would have been the perfect moment for Akane to escape, but what she had seen was so shocking that she found herself unable to move. It took a whole minute for the light to fade away, and when the Digi-Destined were finally able to look at the source, Takeru lied on his knees, breathing heavily. He was exhausted, but satisfied. He was looking down, where a pair of deep blue eyes were looking back.
"Welcome back, Mina. How was the Underworld?"
Mina remained silent for a moment, still trying to understand what had just happened. Then she realized she was alive again, and a brain reaction forced to move her right hand to her abdomen. Takeru smiled in response.
"He's there, too."
Mina looked up at Takeru. "So……you know."
"Of course."
It wasn't because of the child growing inside her, or because of the feelings she has had for Takeru before her death, but she couldn't help but wrap Takeru in a tight hug. It was a plain, simple, yet meaningful way to say thanks.
"I knew………I somehow knew you'd do something like this."
"We'll talk later, now I have to take care of Akane."
Mina immediately reacted. "Akane!? Is she here!?"
The girl tried to get up but found herself unable to. Takeru had to help her in the end. But the heated glare Mina was displaying was the last proof Takeru needed.
"Hmm…Mina, sweetheart, do you swear to say the truth, only the truth and nothing more than the truth?"
"Huh?" Mina replied with a puzzled look. Takeru looked at the interesting scene. Mina, looking at him while questioning his sanity. The Digi-Destined, unable to comprehend the idea of Mina suddenly getting up and talking and, well…doing all the stuff living people do. And Akane, well…let's just say Takeru would have loved to have a camera in that moment. He looked at the Digi-Destined with the certainty that he would have to answer a lot of question later. But he had other things to do at the moment.
"Mina, we're kind of in the middle of a trial here. I'm trying to prove that Akane was the one behind your death and Kari's assassination plot."
"Proof!? You don't need any proof, TK! SHE DID IT!" Mina exclaimed. TK had to hold her so that she wouldn't jump at the red-haired sorceress.
"I guess we don't need further declarations. Akane Sugawara, you're declared guilty of all charges."
Akane looked at the couple in front of her in shock. What was that supposed to mean? However, there was one last thing left unanswered.
"Why……?"
Everyone looked at the source of the voice. A disappointed, humiliated, embarrassed and just plain mad Koushiro Izumi had said those words, pretty much resuming everyone's main concern. TK smiled with that cute smile of his.
"Revenge, Koushiro? Just plain revenge. Revenge against the Academy, and magic users in general. I've made some research, Akane, and I found some pretty interested discoveries. As a matter of fact, I found out that you were the only student who was expulsed from the Academy in like, what? 4000 years of history. Interesting, huh?"
It wasn't obvious, but Takeru had hit right on the nail. Akane shook her head, as memories of her childhood, centuries ago, finally returned to haunt her.
"It was an accident!!!"
But then Mina also remembered what had happened, the reason Akane had been expulsed.
"An accident!? You call that an accident! I have a pretty good memory, and that definitely wasn't an accident!"
"Hmm…may I ask what did Akane do?" Ken asked politely, interrupting the argument. Mina didn't waste any time and answered.
"This……this thing killed another student!"
"Are you calling me 'thing', loose-mouth!?"
"HOW DID YOU JUST CALL ME!?"
"I wouldn't have been thrown out of the Academy if YOU hadn't being the teacher's pet you were and didn't tell Tomari!"
So that was it. Takeru thought. He had found out that Akane had been expulsed, but he had been unable to know the details. Besides, even if she had been expulsed, that didn't explain why Akane had gone to kill Mina personally. "So this is about a grudge that's almost seven hundred years old?" He said, but Akane and Mina seemed to be in their own world.
"How do you dare say his name!? After he treated you with such kindness, after he taught you almost everything you know, after he honored you with the Elixir of Eden! You……you killed him, you………you bitch!"
Okay, now this is out of control. Better stop Mina before Akane kills her……again.
Takeru looked at the Digi-Destined, who were part puzzled, part in shock. He was worried about Izzy the most. He wasn't looking at the scene between Mina and Akane, like the others. His eyes were fixated on the floor and his fists were clenched in anger. Then, he looked at Akane. Hurt by Mina's barrage of insults (which I won't write in here…), the redhead was just about to explode.
"Ahem…Mina…"
Mina didn't listen, of course.
"Mina……MINA!"
That definitely startled her. "Huh, what?"
"Could you please let me handle things?"
"Oh……" Mina replied, moving aside, so that Takeru could get in front of Akane. And Akane's anger changed to sudden fear. She looked back, considering possible escape ways, only to see the path was blocked by several figures…quite small, in fact.
"TK!!!!!" One of the little beings flew to Takeru's head.
"Patamon, you arrived just in time."
The Digi-Destined looked at the rest of their Digimon partners, who were blocking the path. TK looked at Patamon, giving him a silent message.
"You know what to do, right?"
Patamon replied with a nod. Suddenly glowing with a bright light, he transformed in the Seraph Sword, Takeru's favorite weapon (check "Son of Darkness, Son of Light", chapter 13). Takeru grabbed the sword, which felt even lighter than the last time. But the power…that was what took TK by surprise. Whatever power that magic weapon had, it had increased since the last time.
"Akane, you did not just kill my best friend over there…" Takeru began, pointing at Mina. "…but you also tried to destroy the light of my life, and there's no way I can forgive you after that."
Everyone look at Takeru and then at Hikari, who blushed in response. What the Digi-Destined didn't see was the smile of satisfaction was covered the brunette's face. There was still hope, after all.
"But not just that!" TK continued. "You also used my dear friend Koushiro's feelings to get to me. No one hurts or manipulates my friends and gets away with it! For those reasons, and the massive annihilation of the magic race, including my dear Master Tomari…Mina's Master…your Master……for those reasons, I shall kill you tonight."
Akane immediately look behind her, but the Digimon hadn't moved from their places. Mina looked at the Digi-Destined, mouthing a silent "Move back." They followed the instruction, moving a few steps behind them, giving Takeru much more space. Mina walked next to them to watch the battle unfold, when she noticed that one of the Digi-Destined hadn't move a single step. Koushiro………
Akane, realizing there was no other way around, focused all of her anger on her first spell. She had promised herself that she would destroy every single sorceress and sorceress, and Takeru Takaishi wouldn't stop her.
"Magna Inferno!"
Flames engulfed the Chosen One, and the Digi-Destined let go a massive gasp. But Mina remained silent, a small smile on her face. When the flames retreated, Akane saw that Takeru hadn't moved from his place. He had easily blocked the spell with his Magic Shield. TK simply smiled.
"Quite impressive Inferno spell, Akane. And the Magna invocation gave it a considerable boost. Very impressive, indeed. You should take notes, Mina."
Mina replied with a "hmph!" while Takeru's smile grew wider. "However, that spell barely affected my Magic Shield. If you want to break my barrier, you'll have to use a Fire spell……like this one, for example…….I summon Taichi's Crest of Courage!"
Tai's eyes immediately widened, but only for a second, as he suddenly entered in what could only be described as a trance. The Crest of Courage began to glow on his chest while the other Digi-Destined moved away from him.
"What did you do to him!?" Sora immediately complained.
"Calm down, Sora. I'm just using Tai's Crest power to invoke a spell. The Nova Dragon didn't tell me the truth with great precision, but I could deduce that the Crests work as a powerful source of magic power, too. Now, why don't we see what your boyfriend can do, huh? Crest magic, Magma Blade!"
Akane was expecting Takeru's spell, so she wasn't prepare for what happened next. Trance Tai raised his right hand and released a beam of super hot magma from it. Akane was barely able to react.
"Magic Shield!"
From the first moment everyone could see that Akane was having trouble keeping the Magma Blade away from her. The spell eventually subsided, and Tai was taken out of his trance.
"Ah…uh…where am I?"
Sora and Kari immediately rushed to Tai's side, who was still trying to remember what had just happened.
"What…what happened?"
"You……don't you remember, Tai?" Sora asked. Tai shook his head in response. "Why is my hand so warm?"
TK laughed, joining his hand in applause. "You should have seen yourself, Tai! That was simply formidable!" Then he looked at Akane, who was already showing signs of exhaustion. "And I must say you have great powers to resist such a spell, Akane. Come on, it's your turn to attack."
Takeru was playing with Akane, and she knew that. She also knew that if she used an Elemental Spell, Takeru would counter with a Crest Spell of the same element. She had to choose wisely. She had to win that battle, for her honor. She was the best of the class while he studied at the Academy; she was able to stand a fight against Tomari himself during her childhood. It was impossible that this……nobody named Takeru could beat her. But Mina had to be there to tell her the shocking truth.
"Give up, Akane, you can't beat him. You matter how strong you are, you can't beat the Chosen One."
"The what!?" Akane replied in absolute shock. The-the-the-the Chosen One!? The legendary Chosen One, the child of the Nova Dragon? He who can use the forbidden magic? But…but……
"Lies! How can he be the Chosen One!? It's impossible!" Takeru sighed.
"Too bad. I guess I'll have to make you believe. Come on, Akane, attack. Actually, let's make it more interesting. I won't use my barrier, okay?"
"What!?" Mina cried, looking at Takeru in disbelief. "TK, don't say such jokes!"
"Who said I'm joking? Come on, Akane, I'm waiting."
Akane looked at Takeru and smirked. If he wanted to play Mr. Big Shot, well, she would surprise him. And if he really was the Chosen One, killing him would make her the Ultimate Sorceress……
The Goddess of Magic……yep, I like the sound of that.
She looked at Izzy for a second. Maybe she could take him with her after she killed Takeru. She didn't want to admit it, but she had grown fond of the redhead in the short time she spent with him. Maybe we can start a new generation of Hunters……
"Prepare to spend an eternity in your frozen cage, Takaishi! Subzero Death!"
A chilling wind that solidified as it contacted the air made a threatening approach to Takeru, who as promised, didn't use his barrier. Instead, he used his sword. A single slash was enough to shatter the magical ice, and the shockwave produced by it was strong enough to knock Akane away. Takeru chuckled again.
"Ice, huh? Guess it's big brother's turn, huh? I summon Matt's Crest of Friendship."
Just as Tai, before, Matt entered a deep trance, the Crest of Friendship glowing on his chest.
"Let's see…Crest Magic, Absolute Zero!"
Akane immediately used her Magic Shield, but Takeru's (or should I say Matt's?) spell encased her in ice, shield included. The chilling cold stunned her right before the ice shattered and transformed into sharp ice crystal which pierced through Akane's shield like cold missiles. Akane ended up on the ground while Matt's trance reached an end. While the Digi-Destined attended a partially confused Matt, Takeru checked Akane's situation. She was slowly getting up. It was time to put an end to the games.
"I'm deeply sorry, Akane…no, now that I think about it, I'm not. Anyway, this is goodbye."
The female redhead didn't even have time to look up.
"Nova Dragon Flare!"
The Nova Dragon Elemental Magic of Fire attacked with a powerful explosion which engulfed Akane in fiery flames. The girls covered their ears to ignore Akane's screaming, while the men simply looked away. TK stuck his sword into the ground and turned back. He didn't to see what was left of Akane after the flames subsided.
Mina was the first to look. She didn't expect more than ashes, but, much to her surprise, Akane's body laid motionless on the ground. The skin was badly damaged and there was no way she could have survived. Then she looked away again, surprised at Takeru's straightforwardness. He usually was a kind person, but when in the heat of battle, he could be merciless.
As everybody was looking somewhere else, they didn't notice that Akane was still alive. Mortally wounded, but alive. And she had only one thought in that wicked mind of hers. If she was going to die, she would take the Chosen One with her. With a few moves of her right arm, she found exactly what she needed. A memento of Ryo, his favorite weapon: the poisoned dagger. She slightly caressed it, gathering her last energies to throw it.
"DIE, TAKAISHI!" she managed to shout right before throwing the knife straight at Takeru, who turn back again just to see the lethal weapon. Akane smiled for the last as she saw the look on Takeru's eyes. It was done, Takeru would die.
TK watched things unfold on slow motion. The Digi-Destined, following the knife's motion towards him. He watched how Mina closed her eyes and covered her mouth with her hands. And then he closed his eyes, as he knew that he was unable to stop the sharp blade in time. He waited for the unavoidable ending……which never came.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the unimaginable. The sword, the sword which had helped him defeat the Black Dragon of Evil, had released itself from the ground and moved the several feet that separated it from Takeru, just in time to block the knife, which fell to the ground without reaching its target. Akane Sugawara died before the knife touched the grass. Takeru stared at the sword, still unable to understand what had happened.
Telekinesis……
Takeru smiled as he looked at Mina. "Nice reflexes, Mina! I definitely owe you one!"
But Mina shook her head. "I……I didn't do it……"
Takeru's eyes practically bulged out of their place. "What do you mean you didn't……"
He didn't finish his sentence, as he then remembered something that happened during his battle against the Dark Dragon.
**Flashback**
"Mina, if you really love me, then get out of here! I'll…I'll never forgive myself if you die!"
"No! I can't…"
Mina couldn't finish her sentence, because a strange sensation suddenly filled her body. Then, she felt very sleepy, and passed out in front of everybody. Izzy walked next to her and took her with him. Soon after that, the Digi-Destined slowly walked away behind him.
"Excellent sleep magic, Tomari. I owe you one." TK said.
"I didn't do it, Takeru."
"What? Then, who did…?"
"I don't know and I don't really care right now. Good luck, and…see you."
**End Flashback**
It happened again……how……?
And just then, in that very precise moment, he understood. He knew how had happened, why had happened………and he smiled again.
He looked around the graveyard, avoiding the sight of Akane's dead body. It was still hard to believe, but it was the only explanation. Someone with innate magic powers had helped him…twice. And Takeru couldn't help but chuckle.
Everything was so clear………
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I'm already writing the epilogue, so you don't want to miss it. Find out what happens to the Mina/TK/Kari triangle, as the three parts join together to settle things once and for all. Takeru will have to choose between the love of his life and the responsibility of raising his child. Believe me; you won't expect what I'm preparing for you! And who's the mysterious sorcerer who always helps Takeru when he most needs it? Find out in the final chapter of "The Last Sorcerer" See ya!!!!
Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)