Disclaimer: Not ours, never was, never will be.

A/N – PC's still in that cage until the end of this chapter, currently being tickled by a feather. Her ending was rather cruel, now I have to figure out where to go. So here's my attempt.

Love, Hate, Pain, War

By: Hopeful Writer and PhoniexChild

Chapter 16 - Escape

This chapter by: Hopeful Writer

Takeru cursed. Several times. Iori actually wondered if he wasn't going to break something. "Yagami." Takeru's voice was low and cold. "Yagami, if you push that button, I will destroy you. I will tear you limb from limb in the most painful of deaths."

Taichi laughed. "I'm not afraid of dying, Takaishi," he reminded.

"I thought you fought for peace."

Taichi smirked. "You can't fight for peace. Iori said it himself. I fight for the end of this war. If you and I are dead, Takaishi, the war is virtually over."

Takeru paled, but covered it. "I'm not going to die by your hands, Yagami. I plan on living through this war. There will be an end and killing me isn't going to make it happen any sooner than usual."

"That's what you think." Taichi's finger hovered near the button.

"She's your fucking sister, dammit! How can you do this?" Takeru didn't mean for the words to come from his mouth, but they did.

Taichi snorted. "My sister? Christ, Takaishi, you know nothing! Blood, family, it doesn't mean shit in this world, kid. All that matters is winning. It's like a soccer game. The point is to score the goal. This chip, it blows up, right? If it blows up and kills you and me, war ends, goal achieved. Nothing changes, which is exactly what I want. Don't you get it?" He nearly touched the button.

"Stop!" This time it was Iori that spoke. He had emerged from his hiding spot, clutching the gun fearfully. But his posture showed a confident young man, ready to kill all those in his way.

"What the hell do you want?" Taichi was not intimidated.

Iori stared at him for a moment before uttering, "Dumbarse."

"What!?" Taichi was outraged that such a young kid would dare challenge him.

"Well, you are! You think you're achieving something by blowing yourself and Takeru up? Guess what, you're not! Both leaders die, war continues. People will want revenge. Nothing's going to change, and nothing's going to stop. You're only fooling yourself, Yagami."

Taichi sneered. "You know nothing about the world, Hida. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made to win. You should know. Your father was one."

Iori visibly winced, the comment reducing him to a little boy where a young man had once stood. Hikari lashed out at Taichi. "You're a bastard, Taichi!" she yelled. "How can you do this? You're betraying everything you were ever taught."

Taichi laughed cruelly. He grabbed his sister's chin roughly and Takeru bristled with hatred. "Get off her," he hissed, his voice cold and threatening. He took hold of Hikari's arm and pulled her away from her older brother.

Another laugh. "Love is a weakness, Takaishi. Remember that. Emotions, feeling, kindness, all weakness. Do you hear me? WEAKNESS!"

"You're mad," Takeru whispered, unusually frightened by the realization. He had a sudden flashback of Taichi holding the gun at his sister, drunk, his eyes burning crazily. "The whistle," he whispered, so only Hikari and Iori could hear. She pulled it from her pocket and brought it to her lips. "Blow it as hard as you can," Takeru ordered, his voice still hushed and his eyes fixed on Taichi. "We're gonna blast out the bastard's eardrums."

So Hikari blew.

Takeru and Iori winced as the piercing noise reached them, but they were ready for it. Taichi howled out in pain, his ears bleeding as he clutched them with his hands. "Run!" Takeru yelled, over the sound.

Iori and Hikari didn't need to be told twice. Dropping the whistle in her pocket, Hikari led her two friends deep into the woods. They dodged trees and stumps as they wove a path far away from Taichi.

Gasping for breath, they took a break. Hikari clutched her neck fearfully. "He still has complete control of me. He has that damned remote."

"No, he doesn't."

Takeru and Hikari turned on Iori. "What are you talking about?" Takeru demanded.

Iori held up the remote control. "Taichi doesn't have the remote control. I have the remote control. And he's never going to get it back. Not as long as I can help it."

A/N – So how long can Iori hold onto that thing? Will this story ever have an end? *lets PC out of cage* It's your show now. Enjoy.

Sorry about the delay in this story. I've been swamped with schoolwork and stuff. But here it is. Please review. Reviews are always welcome.