Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine. I'm only a poor author who likes to borrow the characters

A/N: In one of the early chapters I wrote about how Yolie got the feather. I don't remember which chapter and I don't remembers the names of my characters because I haven't used them in these later chapters. If I got them wrong, please tell me. (What kind of author am I not remembering my own characters?)

Hmm, these last two chapters seemed to have disappeared but now it's fixed thanks for notifying me! I must say, after reading some of these chapters, I had to laugh at my own writing but I do appreciate that people are still reading them. Hehe.

Chapter 11: A Hidden Past

The first thing Yamato did was to visit his brother. Takeru had been bored out of his mind by the look on his face. Yamato told of his meeting with Taichi and the plan that night.

"We need to find out what the Kaizer's plans are. And we don't have much time left. More than half of Heaven had already fallen." The frown on Yamato's face showed that he was thinking deeply.

"I know, but where do we start? We don't know anything about the Kaizer and I doubt father would believe us if we told him that he's planning something. I can't get out of here so it's kind of impossible for me to try anything." Takeru was annoyed at the fact that he was helpless to do anything to help.

"Don't worry, little brother, I'll find something, hopefully. But is there anything you want? You seem bored." Yamato ruffled his younger brother's hair playfully, earning a glare.

"Books, can you get me some books? I've been dying to read something and besides I might get some ideas from them."

Yamato smiled. "I'll get them. Anything particular you would like?"

"No, anything's fine." Takeru answered.

It was when Yamato was in the library and looking through the rows and rows of books in a particular corner, which he knew Takeru still hadn't been that he felt it. The Earthquake. The first sudden shake almost swept him off his feet but he managed to land on a sofa not far behind him. The powerful surge of energy he felt from the first shake almost stunned him. Only when a falling book hit his head, did he finally realize his danger of been buried by the hundreds of books. So lying flat on the couch, with his arms above his head, he waited for the shaking to stop.

When it finally did, Yamato lay under the layers of books, panting. He slowly raised himself from the pile, wincing at the several bruises he got on his arms from a few of the heavier ones. Almost all the books had come down and were now strewn around the room in untidy heaps. He pitied whoever that would be ordered to clean this place. Bending down, he searched through the piles and picked out a few books that looked interesting for Takeru. As he picked up a third book, he found something quite interesting in the pile.

It was smaller than the other books and not as thick. The cover was black with gold letters written on top. 'To Erica from your friend, Osamu'. These simple words surprised Yamato very much for Erica was her mother's first name. And he would have read what was written inside if not for the lock holding it firmly shut. The key, unfortunately, did not come with this piece of unexpected discovery. Having a strange sense that this diary (it seemed a diary to him) might solve some of the problems in this war, he forgot the other books and only took this one back to his waiting brother.

Takeru's room didn't look any better than the library had. Yamato sat down beside Takeru on his bed, since there weren't any other place to sit, and held out what he had found.

"The problem is how to open this." Yamato stared at the little black book as if he could will it to open. Takeru thought for a moment. He reached up and grabbed the silver chain hanging around his neck and pulled out the object, hidden in the folds of his clothing. There was a tiny silver key hanging at the end.

"You told me that mother gave this to me when I was born. If this is the key for the diary then there is something in there that she wanted to keep hidden." Takeru said.

"And something that she wanted you to find out." Yamato added. He suddenly remembered again the words of their mother. 'Yamato, you must always take care of your brother. Promise me you're protect him Yamato, promise me,'

Takeru pushed the key into the lock and gave it a turn. There was a click and the book lay open before them. The two princes looked at each other before nodding. Taking the book they flipped to the first page. It was dated 17 years ago when their mother was still a teenager. And this was the story that was both sweet and tragic at the same time.

My name is Erica (from Earth). I just had my 17th birthday and my dear friend Osamu gave this diary to me as a present. We had a wonderful party with all of my other friends. Hiroshi, Kurokami, Osamu, Ken, and Lina. You see, since this diary will contain so much about my friends, I think I should explain how I met them and why they're so dear to me.

I didn't have any friends before you see and I tried to avoid people as much as I could because no one wanted to talk with me anyway. I liked to go to the lake near my house near all those cherry blossoms. It's very peaceful there and I could be alone and think. Well, one day I was heading there as usual when I heard voices. It kind of surprised me since I don't know that many people to go there so I hid behind some bushes.

That was the first time I saw them. They were laughing and talking and seemed to have so much fun. I didn't recognize them and there was something different about them so I just sat there and watched. They talked about stuff that surprised me and at first I thought they were playing a game or something. Their conversation consisted of Kings and Queens and angels. They talked about Heaven and Hell like their home. Soon they started to play a game of tag and I was so into watching them that I hadn't realized that one of them was heading for my bush. He ran into me and we fell together.

I was alarmed and scared and thought that they would be mad to find out I was spying on them. But they didn't shout or yell or seemed angry at all. They looked curious and asked me if I wanted to join them.

That was the beginning of our wonderful friendship and I soon they trusted me enough to tell me their secrets.

Hiroshi is a prince of Heaven, Kurokami is a prince of Hell, Osamu is the son of Kurokami's father's best friend and therefore Osamu and Kurokami grew up together, Ken is Osamu's, younger brother, and finally Lina comes from Heaven too and she and Hiroshi are in love with each other although they won't admit it. . .

(There were many pages of descriptions of the things they did after this that Takeru and Yamato skimmed through).

. . .Both Kurokami and Hiroshi had been crowned Kings of their own kingdom! I'm happy for them!. . .

. . .Kurokami asked me to go out with him today. I can't believe it! It's like a dream coming true. I've liked him ever since he crashed into me that first day. And tonight's our first date. I feel nervous now. . .

. . .It's my fault! All this is my fault. If I didn't say we should try climbing that mountain none of this would have happened! And why didn't I watch where I was going? If I had, I wouldn't have slipped and Osamu wouldn't have to save me. It's forbidden for any of them to show their wings on Earth but Osamu did and saved me from falling off that cliff. If any human touched even a feather, something disastrous would happen. I hope nothing happens or else I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. . .

. . .Today Kurokami told me what happened. Something did happen and caused that big Earthquake last night. Someone did find a feather. And there was an explosion. Osamu is dead. Kurokami told me that the penalty for leaving a feather on Earth is death. The explosion had been Osamu's death sentence. There is a magic binding the people of Heaven and Hell to this law. It will kill whoever that broke this law. . . Osamu, I'm so sorry. . . Kurokami gave me a letter that Osamu wrote. I've already read it three times. He told me he loved me in his letter but since he knew my love for Kurokami, he didn't want to tell me. He told me not to grieve for him because he chose it himself. How can I not grieve for him? It is my own fault. Osamu, I'm so sorry. . .

. . .Ken had become so quiet since Osamu's death. I can't blame him, I would have too if not for Kurokami. He listened to me when I told him everything and he comforted me. But I can't help but feel guilty still. . .

(The two boys skipped the many pages of lament and grieve that their mother had for the lose of a friend)

. . .We decided to have a double marriage. Lina and Hiroshi and me and Kurokami. I'm going to live with Kurokami in his palace now although I don't think I'm ready to become the queen yet. I'm already pregnant though and I'll be a mother in a few months. If it's a girl then we've decided to name her Nozomi and if it is a boy then he shall be named Yamato, Osamu's middle name. I wish you were here Osamu, I miss you, we all miss you. . .

. . . My second baby is born and so has Lina's. Mine is a boy and I've called him Takeru. Yamato is very excited to have a brother and visits him whenever he can. Taichi is doing the same to Hikary, his baby sister. We've decided to make a contract to combine our kingdoms. We've betrothed Takeru and Hikary and signed it with all our names. . .

. . .I found out something horrible today and I must write all this down in here because I'm the only one to know this. I fear that if I don't I'll never be able to tell what I have found. Ken is planning something. I overheard him today. He plans to have a war between Heaven and Hell. He blames us for the death of his brother especially me and he also talked about revenge and such things. His plan is to have me killed and blame it on Hiroshi. Kurokami trusts Ken and probably will believe him and since Kurokami and Hiroshi are in a fight, it'll be more than easy to convince him. And now that he is on a trip and won't be back for another week, I fear Ken will start his plans soon. If anything happens to me, I will hide this diary so Ken will not get his hands on it. The contract of Takeru and Hikary's marriage is also in here. It is the only hope right now to bring the two kingdoms together if Ken's plans were set in motion. Please let someone find this diary before it's too late. I will give this key to Takeru since he loves to read and I've decided to hide this in the library. May he find it someday.

The two princes sat in silence after they finished reading these words. They sat digesting the information written down by their mother who, they now found out, had been murdered by her once dear friend, Ken or also know as the Kaizer now. The contrat was there, attached to the last page.

"I'm going to tell father about this." Yamato said and stood up.

"I'll go with you."

The guards outside Takeru's room had gone somewhere since the big quake and the two princes went in search for their father.

Tacichi returned to the palace to tell his father of the meeting he arranged with Yamato. The place was already half empty for most people had already left including his sister and Daisuke. He found his father in his room sitting in front of a desk with the single feather. With one look at the king, Taichi knew that something was terribly wrong.

"What's wrong father?" He asked gently.

The King raised his head and looked at his son with hopelessness in his eyes.

"What wrong?" Taichi asked more urgently. He glanced at the feather again and then remembered the huge quake. His eyes widened in fear. "No, not that. . ."

"This feather was found on Earth after that explosion. The girl that took the feather had let the power out accidentally when she was having a fight with her brother. We found the girl, almost half mad, running around the streets. She clearly didn't know what was going on and she had to be put to death. The power she had gotten from the feather will be too much for her to control." Here the king paused while Taichi stood motionless. "The house where she lived had been completely blown apart and so are the few that was around it."

Taichi knew what this meant. He knew the strict rule that their feathers weren't allowed to be left on Earth. And he also knew that the penalty was death. The only thing he didn't know was who the feather belonged to. And it was with difficulty that he finally got the question out.

"Father? Who-who does the feather belong to?"

There was a long silence and then the king whispered a name that Taichi could barely hear.

"Hikary"

"eh? B-but that's not possible father! She never even showed her wings when we were on Earth. I'm sure she didn't!"

"Even if that's true, you know about the magic. She only have two hours left, Taichi."

"Father, isn't there anyway to reverse the magic?" He didn't want to lose his sister. Not now. He could hear his own desperate voice and feel the lump rising in his throat. The despair he felt was reflected on his father's face.

The King shook his head.

"Is there nothing we can do?"

"I wish we could, Taichi, I wish we could."

All his hope disappeared with those words. His shoulders sagged as he stood. His fists clenched tightly, digging into his palms. Tears of helplessness clouded his vision.

"Let's go to her, Taichi. It's the only thing we can do. Let us be together until the end." The King said and shakily stood up.

Taichi looked up at his father.

"Oh father," And then he ran and buried his face in the king's shoulder as he cried like a lost little child. The king hugged him tightly but Taichi felt no comfort.

Takeru and Yamato stood silently as they waited for their father to finish reading the diary. They were lucky to find his father in the throne room talking with some guards. At first Kurokami had been angry to see Takeru out of his room until Yamto explained their purpose. Then their astonished father quickly dismissed his guards and with shaking hands took the diary from his son's hands.

A loud bang startled the two princes as they turned to look at their father. The King had apparently slammed his hands onto the table and had shot up from his chair, which was lying on the floor. The anger was apparent in his eyes although this time they were not aimed at Takeru. He stood, shaking and still staring at the last page of the diary. Yamato and Takeru kept silent, waiting for their father to cool down a bit.

The King muttered a few curses under his breath and then turned and stared at his son. Then his anger was replaced by sadness as he realized that his sons had been right all alone. He knew that Yamato and Takeru didn't like the war but he didn't take time to notice anything other than his own revenge which he realized had been false.

He went over to his two sons and hugged each in turn.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's alright father, everything will be alright after we get the Kaizer. It's still not too late." Yamato said.

"And I'm sure King Hiroshi will forgive you." Takeru added.

Then King Kurokami remembered his son's love for the Princess Hikary.

"You must tell me about what you did on Earth with Princess Hikary. I realize I haven't taken the time to talk with either of you for a very long time."

Takeru and Yamato both smiled at their father.

"But let's go got the Kaizer first." Yamato suggested.

They left the room. Takeru felt relieve flow through him. The Kaizer will finally be caught and they can have peace again. He was glad that everything had turned out before it was too late just like his mother had hoped, but he could not help feeling an uneasiness. He couldn't explain it but a premonition kept him from feeling happy, a very bad premonition.

To be continued. . .

Well what do you think? One more chapter to go! And please PLEASE review! I thrive on reviews . Until next time!