I'm trying real hard right now to write my other fics…but I keep coming back to this one. I would've had the new Diamond In The Rough up by now, but my computer keeps deleting it…I guess you can count on this one being finished sooner that the others.

Er…I forgot to mention. I've never seen Spirited Away, although I wanted to, but there was an article about it in Anime Invasion magazine, and there were Kao-Noshi demons in Japanese legends.

Disclaimer: I actually will own Digimon, as soon as I finish my greatest heist ever…Saint Tail, away!

(P.S.-I don't own the Saint Tail Manga either. I've never even read it)

The Future's Course

Chapter 6: Broken Mind, Broken Heart

Within minutes, Paildramon and Sylphymon had DNA Digivolved, while Ankylomon and Mezaramon stood ready. The Devimon stared at them with black, unemotional eyes.

"Alright, my dear Noshi." Pandoramon hissed. "Attack!"

The Kao-Noshi, without a word, lunged forward. His claw hit the ground, while the Digimon jumped out of the way.

"Let's give it to 'em!" Paildramon called. "Desperado Blaster!"

For a blob of goo, the Kao-Noshi was remarkably well-skilled. It easily dodged every single bullet from Paildramon's blast, then fired an attack from his wings without a word.

"Strange…" Paildramon's Stingmon voice muttered. "That was an Evil Wing attack. But he didn't say a thing."

"Maybe the Kao-Noshi can't talk." Yolei put in.

"Tail Hammer!" Ankylomon attack missed and brought a tree crashing down.

"Maybe…" Ken muttered. He was thinking again, and his hand was on his chin. "But there's something else that's bothering me…Why would Pandoramon insist that we destroy the Kao-Noshi?"

"Tiger Strike!" roared Mezaramon. His attack struck the creature in the chest, then he dodged the massive claw as it came flying.

"It's probably because she doesn't think we'll ever be able to beat it." Cody said.

"Static Force!" Sylphymon's blast was blocked easily, and she/he was struck in the chest by the Evil Wing and thrown back.

"I doubt it." Ken looked up. "It looks like Pandoramon actually cares about these things. She wouldn't risk it, especially if she's as powerful as she says. There must be something more to it…"

"Desperado Blaster!" Paildramon tried again. This time the Kao-Noshi was knocked off his feet, but leapt back and soared over the battlefield. Obviously the holes in his wings didn't affect the flight much.

"At this point, I don't care." Kari muttered, and everyone stared at her. She seamed determined, but at the same time she looked so weak and pathetic. The stress wasn't wearing on her too well. "We have to beat him…to save T.K…"

"Tail Hammer!"

"Static Force!"

Hikaru looked closely at the Devimon fake as he leapt out of the way of Sylphymon's attack, then lunged forward at the DNA form. It was strange…But somehow he thought…somehow…that creature was familiar…

"Mezaramon!" he shouted. "Go for it!"

The tiger Digimon nodded, then lunged forward. "You got it, partner!" he growled. "Tiger STRIKE!!"

The fiery paw struck the fake Devimon in the face. There was a sickening crack as something shattered, and the Noshi flew back and hit the ground painfully.

The DigiDestined cheered. "You got 'em!" Davis called, punching the air.

Pandoramon just smiled knowingly. This should've hinted them at something, but they were too busy enjoying it.

The Kao-Noshi sat up. It's face, just the illusion of a spell, was crumbling off from the force of the blow. The DigiDestined turned to face it again, then froze.

"What the…" Cody gasped.

"There's no way!" cried Davis.

"That's…That's impossible!" Ken shouted.

Kari's knees wavered, gave way, and she fell to the ground. Hikaru was sitting there in a shock.

"Oh god…It's T.K.!" Yolei whispered.

And it was true: The white porcelain noh mask was that of the kind young man. But at the same time it didn't quite look like him. His eyes, in the blank white, were no longer those shining, happy pools they once were. And his face was so serious, so sad, so very hopeless, it didn't fit him at all. But it was him.

"It's not true…" Kari whispered, then screamed as tears splashed down her cheeks. "It's not true! It's a trick!! T.K. would never…"

"Would he?" Pandoramon was gloating in her own world. "I think he would. After a full week's lashings, he finally saw to reason…"

"You mean…" Yolei left off.

"That's right!" gloated the Digimon. "My box is filled with the souls of victims! Those that I call out become my loyal Kao-Noshi! But that boy…" she motioned to the Kao-Noshi standing beside her. "He fought. He couldn't come along willingly. But now…Now his will is mine."

The Devimon remained unemotional, unfeeling, and still. Hikaru stared at him, dumbstruck and hypnotized. "Papa…" he whispered. "Is it really…It can't be you…"

"Go, my Noshi." Pandoramon laughed. "Attack!"

The Devimon lunged forward. The others, frozen in shock, could hardly defend themselves against their friend's soul, and soon six little Rookie Digimon lay on the ground.

Hikaru burred his eyes in Kari's shoulder, sobbing. He couldn't bear to watch his father do such horrible things to his friends and their partners. Kari hugged him close and stroked his hair sweetly and lovingly. "Quiet now." she whispered, caressing him in her arms. "Quiet…Sh…Sh…"

Pandoramon's eyes narrowed at the mother and child. Her black heart burned not with anger or hatred, but with jealousy. She was jealous of their love, their happiness. It was the real reason she wanted to destroy them, she wanted that love herself.

"Devimon." she growled. The Kao-Noshi that had been T.K. turned back to receive his orders. "The child. Bring me the child."

Kari heard the order and looked up in horror as the Noshi lunged forward, claws ready to snatch the boy out of her protective grasp. The stone face was still unemotional and unfeeling, even though he was about to bring this monster his own son…

No. That wasn't gonna happen…Not if she could get through to him…

"T.K.!" she shrieked, throwing her hands up. "STOP!"

The Noshi froze. Some how, some way, her voice had gotten through to him. Some how, he'd heard her pleas.

Pandoramon glared. "Devimon…" she growled. "Give…Me…The…Boy!"

But Devimon wasn't listening. He'd landed, and all of a sudden took Kari's hand. But not like he was trying to hold it, but like he was curious about it. One of his claws was examining the ring on her finger closely. It was like the Frankenstein monster, or someone under amnesia, trying to remember or figure something out.

Kari looked into his eyes, then smiled. "That's right…" she whispered, like talking to a baby. "That's the ring you gave me…In the airport, remember?" T.K.'s face was black as always. "Do you…remember? Anything?"

The Noshi slowly, very slowly, came to realization. He dropped her hand and looked at his own, shaking. His face, just a mask, remained unchanging, but his body was trembling in horror. If he had been able to speak, he would have probably been screaming Oh god…What have I done?!

Everyone watched, amazed, as the creature dropped back, away from the others. Then he hit the ground, and when he did he was back in the human-shaped Kao-Noshi, the mask still unchanging.

"Impossible!" Pandoramon cried. "H-He's broken my control!"

The Noshi pulled his knees up, and was sobbing in his mind, sobbing at his own weakness. Hikaru broke free of Kari's grasp and ran to his side.

The young boy's hand touched the Noshi's arm. The masked face looked up. "Dad." Hikaru whispered, then smiled gently. "I knew it was you."

The Noshi looked at him. Hikaru wrapped his arms around the creature, snuggling against him. Kari had been right, he was more of a daddy's boy, and loved his father dearly. With that odd sixth sense he had, he could feel, even in this strange form, even at this younger age, his loving father in there somewhere.

The Noshi gazed at the child a moment, then pulled the little boy into a hug. Kari's eyes light up. "T.K.…" she whispered. "He's back…He's back!"

Hikaru giggled to himself. "Papa…" he whispered, for once forgetting to be so very embarrassed.

Pandoramon was shaking with fury. "Why you…" she growled, and snatched up her box. "I'll teach you a lesson! Get back in the box!"

She opened the box. There was a terrible rush of wind, and the DigiDestined had to told onto trees, grass and each other to keep from being sucked in. Kari squinted out to see what became of her boyfriend and future son.

T.K.'s Kao-Noshi seamed to be covering Hikaru from the gust. He was pulled back, towards the opening in the box, and tried to let go of the boy. But when he was yanked back into the dark abyss, Hikaru disappeared with him, body, soul and all.

"Hikaru!" Kari shrieked, struggling forward against the wind. "T.K.!"

The last sound before the box was closed was a very faint "Mama…!"

The lid clicked shut. Pandoramon gave them a devilish grin. "See how lovely your life is now!" she taunted, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Kari stared in horror where they had been as the others brushed themselves off. "I've lost them…" she whispered in shock. "T.K.…Hikaru…They're both gone…"

She swooned suddenly and slumped backwards. Davis caught her before she hit the ground, and soon they others were around her. "Is she hurt?" Yolei gasped.

"No." Ken sighed. "Just fainted."

Cody shook his head gently. "Now what?" he muttered. "What do we do now?"