A/N - In case any of you are interested, I should be coming out with another Takato fic after this, and I promise it WON'T be as angsty as these are.
Chapter Twenty-One: "If you're not Takato… Who are you?"
There are things that can't be
changed by crying or laughing
But I believed, let's walk holding hands
In time we'll be able to do anything
So I believed, let's walk holding hands
~Seven
There was a great sound, then Aishuu hit the ground hard. Janyuu had managed to deflect his attack, and send one of his own. His eyes flared in pure rage. He jumped up, and fighting like a demon, began his attack. Janyuu and Aishuu were both very skilled fighters, but Aishuu had the advantage of youth and his cyborg body.
Aishuu deflected the attack sent at his face with his glaive. He slashed, missed, then the endless exchange of blows continued. Janyuu would've rather spoken the battle then fight it, but with the way things were going, it was a bit difficult. "If…you're…not Takato…Who are you…?" He said, huffing for air in between.
He gaped at his youthful opponent. He wasn't even remotely tired by the battle. Aishuu grinned, a cheery reminder of Takato. "Why should you be entitled to this knowledge?" He did a sidestep, then slashed. "Why should I even BOTHER telling you?"
"I deserve to know." Then, Janyuu stopped fighting, then folded his arms, and waited for his answers. Aishuu also paused, puzzled. Why was his opponent stopping? Aishuu's artificial brain, was confused. It told him to continue fighting, but Aishuu stopped.
"Who am I? Such a open question. Specify." To Janyuu, it sounded similarly to a machine's hard way of speaking.
"Why are you using Takato's appearance, if you are not Takato?"
"He is the Chosen One. It is very simple, if you look at it a certain way." Aishuu smiled serenely. "I am…well…what humans would specify as…perhaps…a dark presence…a evil spirit, perhaps even, a fallen angel?" His eyes took on a evil glint. "My dear Tamashii-chan describes me as a dark incarnation of himself… No matter how you describe me, I am not human."
"Tamashii… Soul? You don't mean… The real Takato?"
"The only one. Of course, he has nothing to do with my mission."
"Mission?"
"To destroy those who destroyed the Digital World." His eyes flashed darkly. "And to take revenge on the world for locking me away into the eternal darkness!!" For a few seconds, he seemed even sad, but it faded away.
"The world shouldn't have to suffer."
"Then why did I have to suffer? Why does the soul trapped inside this body have to suffer? Why couldn't someone else come in, and take the pain away?" Aishuu glared now, holding his glaive triumphantly to Janyuu's heart. "Why do YOU deserve to be happy?"
"I have children… I have a family… I have people who care about me."
"And because I have no one who cares, I should die? Because no one would mourn if I died tomorrow, does that really make you so important?" Aishuu's relentless logic followed Janyuu, made him regret his words, and then admire the boy who easily kept up with his argument. "I see not your point, Lee Janyuu."
"Please… Let me live… Only for my children, if nothing else. For my son, for my daughters." Aishuu watched the plea with a hint of amusement. "I beg you, spare my family."
"Such an odd human you are. First you begin giving reasons why you should live, then you end pleading for others… Tell me, where do you truly stand?" Aishuu toyed with his glaive, like an bored child.
"Wait… Let me ask you… Let me speak with Takato." Aishuu raised an eyebrow. "Please. If I can convince him, whatever happens… Please…" Aishuu sighed. And let control slip back into Takato's hands.
Janyuu watched, amazed, as Aishuu's deadly red orbs vanished, and were replaced with Takato's quiet ones. The boy blinked. "What did you want?"