*rattles cage bars* lemme out, HW!!! I finished the chapter!!! Some1 please help!!!



Love, Hate, Pain, War

Chapter 15: The Chip

By: Hopeful Writer & PhoniexChild

Dis Chapter By: PhoniexChild



Takeru tried to turn Hikari and himself around before they hit Taichi. But one minor problem. Taichi had Iori, and he had a gun.

Takeru mentally muttered a few obsanities as he sized up the situation..not good. Not good at all.

Taichi didn't say anything, but he stared intently at Hikari.

Hikari clutched Takeru's hand and kissed it. The she let go and rushed over to Taichi, before Takeru could stop her.

"Hikari, no!" Takeru screamed and ran forward. The imposter Hikari tackled him. Takeru clenched his fist, prepared to punch her, but he couldn't. The imposter smirked, she knew it, too. She looked too much like the real Hikari.

Iori came running over, ready to fight, but the imposter Hikari stood up. She stepped away from the pair and on a blink disappeared.

"What the hell?" Takeru muttered, after a few minutes silence, as he got up. "Taichi took Hikari!" Iori let out in one breath.

Sighing, Takeru stared at the sunset. He stood there in silence, trying to think of a plan, but nothing came. Not the slightest clue. He closed his eyes in frustration.

"Now what, Takeru?" Iori asked, causing the older man to open his eyes. Takeru was surprised to see it was night already.

"I dunno, Iori." Takeru turned to the younger boy. "We must save Hikari, but they'll be expecting us."

"They'll be expecting *us*." Iori smiled, "but not an army."

Takeru stared at the boy, surprised at this conclusion.

"You're in the army, right Takeru?" Iori asked.

Takeru nodded.

"Can't they help you? Isn't Taichi wanted?"

"True, but Hikari's also wanted."

The boy sighed in defeat.



The sun rose over the trees as Takeru finished his breakfast. After he disposed of the dish and dishware, he walked in the direction of Taichi's warehouse.

'As Iori said: They'll be expecting *us*.'



When Iori awoke, the sun was high in the sky, almost high enough to be noon. Quickly sitting up, he noticed Takeru was gone.

'He left without me!' Iori couldn't believe it. He figured where Takeru would go and headed in that direction.

The sun beat down on Iori as he climbed the hills leading out of the woodland area and to where Takeru and Hikari would be.

The journey seemed long and the sun was much longer than it had been when Iori woke up.

'It must be about three." Iori judged by tracing the sun's path in his mind.

Taichi's warehouse came into view. It seemed dark and no-one was around.



Takeru sat on a thick branch in a tree close to the warehouse. No-one was outside nor inside. There was no movement at all.

Suddenly, from Takeru's side, there was a snap of a twig. A loud gunshot from behind Takeru followed the snap.

Taking this as a sign, Takeru jumped from the tree and ran to the building.



Iori slowly walked, quietly, down the hallway. He was in the warehouse now; he had found an open window and climbed in. Though he was suspicious of it, Iori still went through it. He had to find Takeru and Hikari.

There weren't any doors down this long hallway. Iori kept walking, following the way. He turned so many times, he was sure he'd never find his way out again. Iori turned again and this hallway was filled with doors. Fifty, at least, on each side.

Iori walked to the closet one and pulled. It wouldn't move. He tried to twist the knob, but couldn't.

'It's fake,' Iori realized, he turned, facing some of the outer doors, 'How many are fake?' He wondered.

After an hour of trying doors, Iori felt like he should give up. He had tried about forty or so doors. Not many were left, but it was tiring work. Maybe ten of the doors actually opened to an office, but there wasn't anyone there or anything Iori thought would help.

'One more. One more than I'll move on.'

Iori thought and walked to another door. He grabbed the knob and pulled. It opened! Though there was another door right behind the one Iori opened. It had an old fashioned combination lock on it.

Sighing, Iori began to fiddle with it.



Takeru placed explosives by the front entrance. These were his orders. He just hoped that they would find Hikari before the commander decided to blow the warehouse up.

"Takaishi!" a comrade called, walking over. It was Daisuke Motomiya

"Hey, Motomiya." Takeru stood up and greeted his friend.

"So," Daisuke looked up at the warehouse, "this is Taichi Yagami's 'secret lair'."

"Yeah."

"This girl, his sister, she's on our side now?"

"Yeah, it won't matter if we try to ransom her for whatever Yagami's got. He doesn't care for her."

"Damn, that's harsh." Daisuke muttered, thinking of his own sister, who was a nurse a few towns over.

"C'mon," Takeru said, "we better finish up."



After twenty minutes of trying to open the combination lock, Iori heard the satisfying click.

"Yes!" He let out as he pulled off the lock and opened the door. He rushed into..an office. It was dark and gloomy looking inside.

"Hello?" Iori called out softly.

"Iori?" a familiar voice gasped.

The young man rushed behind the desk to see Hikari laying there. She was extremely pale and shaking. Her breathes were coming out as pants.

"Hikari, it's okay." Iori soothed. He wasn't sure of what to do, but that didn't stop him from trying. Iori placed Hikari's head on his lap and kept reassuring her. Trying to get her to breathe proper again.

Iori looked into her eyes.

"It's okay, Hikari." He whispered, trying to will her to breathe. To live.



Daisuke was walking down a hallway full of doors. Most seemed to be locked, though they were probably fake. Training told him that much. He saw an open door ahead.

Placing his hand, ready, on his gun handle. Daisuke walked quietly towards the entrance. Suddenly a young dark haired boy stepped out.

The description Takaishi had given him fit this boy here. "You," He called to the child, "are you Iori Hida?"

The boy turned and nodded.

Daisuke walked over to him. "Is there anyone else here?"

The boy shook his head.

Daisuke paused, thinking. "Okay, follow me."



Takeru stood outside the building, waiting for the signal.

"Takaishi!" a voice called.

Takeru turned to see Daisuke.and Iori!

"Iori?!"

"Maybe, you should take him, before he's noticed." Daisuke muttered quickly.

Takeru nodded and took Iori by the arm. He led Iori to beyond the tree line, safety hidden.

"How did you-" Takeru began.

"Why did you leave?!" Iori cried out, forcing his arm from Takeru.

"Wha? .Iori, I had to bring the military here." Takeru reassured.

"I suggested that yesterday! You didn't want to!"

"Iori, hush!" Takeru ordered. "The objective is to save Hikari."

"What about the chip?" Iori snapped, not speaking what was needed. "Which would Hikari rather you save? Her or the chip?"

Takeru studied him, knowing Iori had a secret. "She would probably want the chip saved."

"So we should do that."

"Iori, we don't where Hikari or the chip is. Or who has them." Takeru spoke softly.

"I know," Iori whispered, "where Hikari is."

"Where?!" Takeru cried in hope and joy of finding her.

"In Heaven." Iori answered, tears threatening to spill.

Takeru sat down, hard on the ground as a loud explosion echoed throughout the area.



Taichi Yagami stared at the closed box in his hands. The chip inside, filled with deadly information, seemed to vibrate with unused energy. Though that would change soon. Taichi didn't just want the chip to hold, but to use. And he knew just what to do. Exactly what to do. Exactly.



It's been five days. Five days since Hikari died. Five days since Taichi's warehouse was destroyed. Five days.

Iori lagged behind Takeru as they trekked to a nearby town. Takeru had left the area without telling anyone. That would surely get him court-martialed or such.

They were almost out if the providence. Just this last town and the journey would be much easier. There the pair would pick up a vehicle that Jun Motomiya, Daisuke's sister and who they met with a few towns ago, had left there. She had given them food and, while they were with her, shelter. Also she had packed the vehicle with enough supplies for at least a month.

Iori looked up at the horizon. He could see the last town. They were almost there.

But they would never get there.

Suddenly a loud explosion rocked the ground, throwing Takeru and Iori down hard. Takeru jumped up, taking his gun out of its holster.

There was no-one in sight.

"Don't shoot, Takeru." Iori whispered, "I have a bad feeling."

Takeru turned and looked at the boy.

An almost fatal mistake.

Gunshots ran through the air as bullets rained down on Takeru and Iori.



Takeru opened his eyes, the sun glaring at him. He shielded his eyes and sat up.

"You're awake." A strange voice said.

Takeru turned to face the speaker. She had long strawberry blonde hair and ruby eyes, her skin tanned from the bright sun.

"Who are you?" Takeru asked.

"What does it matter to you?" She answered back, watching him.

"Okay..where are we?"

"The forest."

"Where in th-"

"Takeru, you're awake!" Iori smiled as he walked in.

The woman nodded and left the tent.

"Iori, where are we and who was that?"

"We're the core of the forest. Or so they say. And that was Sora Takenouchi."

Takeru nodded, though what he just learned didn't help him much.

"Sora and her people fired on us, they thought we were enemies. But I convinced her different."

"What did you tell her?"

"Only that we're working against Taichi Yagami. That was enough for her."

Sora came back with a cup. "Drink this." She offered him the cup. Takeru took the cup and stared into it. The liquid was clear.

"Drink it, it really helps." Iori pointed out.

Nodding, Takeru downed the drink, but noticed it had no taste.

"It has no taste." Takeru said after swallowed, his body feeling refreshed.

"That is the key." Sora smiled slightly, "With the right ingredients you can make poison or medicine."

Takeru nodded, handing back the cup.

After Sora left again, Iori began to explain.

"It's been almost two days since we were attacked. Yagami has a new hideout."

"Where?"

"I dunno, but Sora has a guess. She's sent out scouts to investigate."

Takeru nodded.

"Okay. .Takeru, how long are we gonna be here?"

"Not too long." Takeru stood, "When will the scouts be back?"

"They come back every night." Iori answered, "Why?"

"I'd like to know what they learned so far."

"Oh." Iori muttered, "Well, are you hungry?"

"Some," Takeru admitted.



After a filling meal, Takeru set out in search of Sora Takenouchi.

Iori was busy socializing with newfound friends, or Takeru would have asked him to help. Though he thought the boy needed some time with kids his age.

Takeru searched the 'streets' and several tents, looking for the longhaired redhead.

"Takeru." A female voice said from behind him.

"Sora." Takeru said as he turned around.

"Why are you out here?" She questioned, watching him, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes." Takeru glanced around, "I need to talk with you."

"About what?"

"I want to know what the scouts have found out."

Sora sighed, "Not much. Just an old burned down cottage."

"That's it?"

"Takeru, it's *rumored* Yagami has a hideout here."

Takeru sighed deeply. "Well, I have another thing to ask you."



"Takeru!" Iori rushed into Takeru's tent.

"Iori! Calm down." Takeru waited as the boy caught his breathe. "Now what is it?"

"The scouts found Yagami's new hideout!"

"Where are they now?" Takeru demanded.

"By the creek." Iori said, but as soon as he had finished Takeru was already running outside. And, of course, Iori followed.



Iori studied Yagami's new hideout. The old burned down cottage was a perfect way to cover up the tunnel which led to the lair below.

Takeru was checking the perimeter. Iori was to stand watch. To see who came and went. To make sure none of the villagers came. There was a snap of a twig and Takeru came into view.

"Ready?"

Iori nodded.



Sora watched the field beyond the trees. There was dust rising from behind an army jeep. It was awfully close the tree line for a moving vehicle.

Sora stepped out into the sunlight. The driver of the jeep must have seen her, for it stopped nearby.

"Hello." The man in the vehicle said. He had dark maroon hair and brownish eyes. His skin was tan from hours of work in the sun.

Sora nodded, walking up to the jeep. "Who are you?"

"I'm lookin' for someone. Well *two* someones."

"Who?"

"Takeru Takaishi and Iori Hida."



Takeru searched for Yagami. He will deal with him first. He clutched the poison, he had Sora make him, that was in his pocket.

"Takeru, listen!" Iori whispered loudly.

There were voices not too far off.

Takeru quietly rushed towards the source, Iori hot on his heels.

Looking through the doorway, Takeru saw Yagami and another figure. Probably a soldier. More importantly, there was a door behind them.

"Iori." He whispered, barely audible.

The teen looked, Takeru handed him a gun.

"Wait for the signal." And with that Takeru was off again.

He had seen a door in the background and figured the passage to it. Takeru ran to the other door. Turning through a hall and then he found the door. Pulling out his gun, Takeru burst through the door, tearing it down.

Yagami and *Hikari* whirled around.

"Hikari!" Takeru cried in shock.

Hikari ran to him, hugging him tightly.

"Why, hello, Takaishi." Yagami smirked.

"Her eyes!" Iori's voice echoed. HE wasn't visible, but he could be heard. "The other one was a fake!"

"Not a fake, a clone." Hikari whispered into Takeru's ear.

"Clones?" Takeru pulled her away to see her.

Hikari nodded, "Iori was right. The eyes were different."

"How?" Takeru was speechless.

Clones? There were rumors of clones, but only animals. They were just rumors. Just wartime rumors. The technology wasn't quite ready for that.

"It's the chip." Hikari whispered, fearfully.

"Who cares about the damn chip!" Takeru cried, holding Hikari tight.

"Someone should." Yagami snickered, pulling something out of his pocket. A remote control. To the chip?

"Takeru," Hikari whispered. Only now he noticed how tired and worn she looked and sounded.

"Hikari, are you okay?"

She shook her head, "Takeru, the chip...it-it's," Hikari's hand flew up to the back of her neck, "in *me*."



Okay im done! *waits 4 HW* eh! Well please review n tell HW to LET ME OUT!!! Sankies!

Cya!

PhoniexChild