Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine. I am merely a poor author who borrows these wonderful characters.

A/N: The time has come. This is the final chapter of my first Takari. I would like to say a big thank you for all of you that's read my story. I love you all! gives readers a big hug. And thanx so much for reviewing.

Chapter 12: Suki

The door to the laboratory of the Kaizer burst open as ten guards holding spears marched in followed closely by King Kurokami, Yamato, and Takeru. They quickly formed a circle around the only person in the room and pointed the sharpened point of their metal weapons at the culprit. The brief look of surprise was soon replaced by a look of amusement as the Kaizer stood facing the King. There was an obvious smirk on his face that intensified the uneasiness inside Takeru.

"Well well well. What do we have here?" Kurokami scowled at the taunting tone of the unfazed Kaizer. The mad glint never left his face and he seemed too relaxed. The guards fidgeted uncomfortably.

"We know your plans." Yamato said, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, do you now?" The Kaizer's eyes never left the King's face as he answered. "That certainly took you a long time."

"Why you. . ." Yamato would have jumped forward if not for the firm hand of the King on his shoulder.

"Why Ken, why? We were such good friends." Kurokami asked.

"Friends? I don't believe in friendship anymore. Not after what happened to my brother."

"But that was an accident!" Takeru said.

The Kaizer turned his cold hard eyes toward the younger boy this time.

"Yes, that was an unfortunate accident wasn't it? And my brother lost his life saving that ungrateful woman! If only it was she who died that day!"

"What did my mother ever do?" Takeru was shaking in rage. How dare he talk about their mother that way.

"She was the reason that took away my brother. He loved her! And she ignored all of that!"

"That's not true Ken." Kurokami cut in. "She was always talking about your brother. She did love him, Ken, she did care about him."

"But not as much as he loved her. I hated her and I hated all of you. That's why I became your advisor, so that I can vent my revenge on all of you." The maniacal grin was on his face again. "I must admit I wasn't expecting to be discovered this early since the final part of my plan has not been completed."

Everyone tensed at that as the guards tightened their weapons in their hands. No one noticed the Kaizer reaching in the folds of his clothing.

"You see, I wanted you all to feel the pain I've gone through. I wanted to experience what it would be like to loose someone special. That's why when I found out that Prince Takeru was seeing Hiroshi's daughter on Earth, I thought we could use the prince to capture her and then kill her. But the Prince there decided to ruin everything." He looked at Takeru again.

"But you didn't realize you left something in your room that made things so much better and easier for me did you?"

"What have you done?" Takeru asked. He was beginning to feel that something was definitely wrong.

The Kaizer grinned. "A feather. You didn't notice a feather was left behind when you dyed your princess' wings and my daughter, yes, my sweet daughter got it for me."

Everything was clicking into place inside Takeru's head. The explosion, that was Hikary's feather! He stared in horror at the Kaizer.

"No, you didn't. . ." He stammered.

"Believe me I did. And according to my calculations she only has one more hour to live."

"Ken, you bastard. She is just an innocent girl!" Kurokami cried out.

"Then maybe you should blame yourselves for that. But as I said, I'm not quite finished." And then quick as lightning, he whipped his hands out of his cloak and produced a sharp looking knife which he threw at Takeru. The guards had no choice but to use their spears. But the knife had already left the Kaizer's hand.

Takeru's reflexes and quick reaction was the only thing that made the knife miss it's mark totally. But a sharp pain in his arm told him that the knife had grazed the skin there.

And that was enough for the Kaizer.

"Takeru!" Yamato instantly knelt down by his brother and helped him up.

"And now it is done." And the Kaizer burst out laughing as he sank to the ground, bleeding from the multiple wounds from the spears.

Takeru felt lightheaded as Yamato helped him stand.

"What's wrong, Takeru?" Yamato asked as he felt his brother sway.

"dizzy." Takeru murmured.

A light chuckle followed by laughter. "There was deadly poison on that knife. He probably doesn't that long either." And then the Kaizer gave a last chuckle before falling to the ground, dead.

Everyone gasped.

"No. . ." Kurokami said.

"Hikary. . ." Takeru could feel his brother holding him but he tried to get away. He had to get to Hikary!

"Takeru! You can't help her now, we need to get an antidote for you."

"No. . .I. . .I need to. . .get to Hikary!" And with that, he twisted out of his brother's arms and instantly stumbled out of the door.

He could hear his brother calling for him and hear the footsteps behind. The dizziness was worse now and the pain in his arm had already made it numb. His breath came more quickly and he felt like throwing up. But he pushed on. Takeru didn't know how fast he was going and he would have been surprised at his speed if he had been aware for Yamato had found it hard to follow him.

As he finally reached outside, he spread his wings and took off in the direction of Heaven.

Hikary fell silent as she listened to her father and brother's explanations.

"You mean, I'm going to. . .die?" Her voice was a quiet whisper. Taichi averted his eyes, unable to see his sister's pale unbelieving face. Hikary was about to say something else when her vision suddenly blurred and she swayed on the spot. Raising a hand to temple, she shook her head to try to clear the swimming images.

"Hikary!" King Hiroshi caught his daughter right before she fell. Holding her in his arms, he called out worriedly.

"Father, I think I'm. . ." Her voice was barely above a whisper and Hiroshi tightened his hold as if trying to keep her from disappearing.

"I'm sorry Hikary." The King said brokenly and was unable to hold back his tears any longer.

They carried her to her room where they found Daisuke who, after hearing their story, let his anger out by punching at the wall.

"Damn that Kaizer!" He hollered.

There was a sudden commotion outside the room.

"Let me go! I need to see her!"

"Help me hold him down. This one's from Hell!"

"What should we do with him?"

"Take him to the King."

"Let. . .go. . . Hikary. . .HIKARY!"

And then the door burst open and Takeru was standing there, breathing heavily and looking worn out. Before he could take another step toward the princess lying in the bed, guards jumped on him, trying to pull him out.

"Stop." Taichi commanded. "Let him go."

"But Your Highness, this one is. . ."

"I know who he is, just let him go." Taichi said impatiently.

Wish a bewildered look the guards released the boy and backed out of the room with a bow.

"Takeru. . ." Hikary whispered and reached out a shaking hand.

Takeru stumbled toward the bed, leaving a trail of blood from where the poisonous knife had wounded him. He fell down beside the bed and knelt there, catching Hikary's hand in his.

"gomen. . . I guess this is goodbye." Hikary said trying to smile.

"No I'll go with you." Takeru chuckled. "The Kaizer was kind enough to make sure of that. I guess I should thank him for it."

"What do you mean?"

Takeru showed them his arm and explained.

"He's dead now, everything will be alright. The war is over."

No one felt like smiling at this good news.

"King Hiroshi, please forgive my father for what he has done." Takeru said.

"Of course. I just wish things didn't turn out this way. I am so sorry."

"Father, don't cry, it is not your fault."

Another wave of dizziness hit Takeru and Hikary as their body shimmered.

"This is it. Promise me one thing Hikary."

"What is it?"

"Promise me we'll see each other again and create a better ending than this." Takeru held out his pinky which Hikary took willingly.

"I promise." Hikary answered. "Will. . .will you hold me?" She asked shyly.

Takeru smiled. He pulled Hikary up and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

"It's warm." Hikary said, closing her eyes as their bodies began to fade. "Oh, Takeru, I forgot to tell you something."

She raised her eyes to meet the boy's green ones. "Daisukidayo."

Surprise and joy showed themselves on the boy's face. To hear the one he loved most speak in his favourite language, his mother's language, brought a happiness. Tears shone in his eyes as he smiled and said, "arigatou."

He leaned forward and gave Hikary a warm kiss full of passion and promise.

We will meet again.

They stayed like that, in each other's arms, until both faded away quietly. The only things left were two feathers, one dark, one white, lying on top of each other.

Epilogue

"Where are you going today?"

"To the lake!" A young girl shouted back at her brother. "It's such a nice day!"

The boy sighed and shook his head exasperatedly at his ten-year-old younger sister. "But you're always going there."

"I like it there! It's special!" She crossed her arms in front and pretended to be offended.

The boy laughed. He ruffled his sister's short brown hair. "Have fun."

"Bye!" The girl sped through the door.

"Come on hurry up! We're going to be late."

"Wait! I don't wanna play baseball today, brother." A young boy, wearing a baseball cap and carrying a baseball bat said.

"Why not?" The other boy turned a puzzled look on his younger brother.

"I have to go there." He pointed in the direction where a bunch of cherry trees could be seen and then beyond that was a lake, glinting in the morning sun.

"Huh? Why?"

"I don't know." The boy shrugged. "I just felt like it."

The older boy sighed. "Well, ok. But make sure you come back home by 4:00pm."

And before he could say anything else, the other boy was gone.

With a feeling of anticipation and great excitement, the boy ran toward the lake. It almost seemed like his legs were drawn there. He didn't know why but he knew something would be there.

He stopped as the lake spread before him. Looking around he saw that he was at a clearing surrounded by trees. He walked toward the lake. And as he got closer, he saw a willow tree bending over the lake. The site was beautiful and as the branches swayed, they revealed a girl sitting with her head resting on her knees, staring out at the water with a smile playing around her lips and laughter in her eyes.

The boy walked closer. It felt familiar, this place, and the girl. . .

Before he could say anything, the girl seemed to sense his presence and turned around to look at him.

"Hi." She said and smiling.

"Hi." He answered.

"Come up, it's quite nice up here." She offered.

Without hesitating, he climbed on to the branch that the girl was sitting on. What he saw came as a surprise and yet not a surprise. It was beautiful, he could see the lake growing into the distance and meeting the blue sky. The water sparkled and danced. It stirred a memory although it disappeared in a second. It was the memory of a pair of smiling brown eyes and a clear bell-like voice.

"My name is Hikary, what's yours?" The girl asked.

"Takeru, it's Takeru." And as he answered, he noticed that her eyes were brown. "Hikary. . .I like that name."

He smiled.

end

Wow it's done! It's finally done! And in my opinion this chapter sucked, but I did like the epilogue. And thank you again for all of your wonderful wonderful reviews and great encouragements. And therefore I would like to say these words. THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH! Hope to see you again!