Dedication: In any case. As always all my fics are dedicated to Melissa Ford. All hail Melissa

Amassed Gatherers: Melissa, Melissa, Melissa !!!

lol, On with the fic, he he he bet all of you forgot about Takeru.

                                  Fate Isn't A River Daisuke

                                       by: Yamato Magna

               Chapter Eight: Hopeful Moon and Rising Tides

Takeru stared at his weakened partner. "…" Takeru said. Still unable to believe the events that had transpired before his very eyes in the last fifteen minutes.

He had since picked up his partner and cradled him in his arms, while the rookie was now too tired to remain conscious.

Takeru stared down at his own D-Terminal and then back towards the others. They had long since gathered the ash gray rubble that was once the physical embodiment of love, hope, light, reliability, knowledge and sincerity. Since it was obvious that Takeru was in no mood to be spoken to and that Daisuke had either been denied access to the digital world or been captured by the Kaizer. The Digi-Destined were leaning towards the latter.

There was no way the digital world would deny them access, the only way one couldn't come in was if they didn't want to… He pushed those thoughts out of his head. That was impossible.

"What are you thinking Takeru?" Hikari asked him.

Takeru didn't answer, he had a lot of things on his mind at the moment. Like his partner, the other Digi-Destined, the Digi-Mentals, Daisuke and more over the Kaizer.

It was obvious that the Kaizer was behind all of this right. I mean it was simply logical. Who else would do such a thing. There were no evil Digimon around just one evil kid. It was a little sad really. To think that someone whom by all rights should have been protecting the Digi-World along side them was now their greatest enemy.

Somehow he had managed to block Daisuke entry to the digital world, destroy the Digi-Mentals on top of enslaving thousands of innocent digimon. How? How was he doing all this! It simply wasn't possible and yet here he was.

Things were happening to fast for Takeru. His vision blurred then his head became like a fog, the more he tried to clear it away and think straight again, the more it clouded over in agonizing pain. He just couldn't seem to think straight anymore.

"Takeru?" Hikari stood behind him suddenly. "You have an idea?" She asked soothingly, recognizing Takeru's  look of concentration. "Spill it, you know you can't keep anything from me Mr. Takashi." She smiled brightly at the blonde child of hope.

"It's Ken." His face went from a cheerful  nostalgia to a somber seriousness rarely seen on the leader of the moments face. "This increasing power of his." "It's beginning to worry me." He said quickly saying whatever first came to his head. What should I do should I tell her the truth. I think she's been through enough hardships for now. Maybe I should just keep this to myself.

Suddenly Patamon jumped onto his shoulder while Hikari laid her hand on the other. "Takeru?" He began, "You can tell us." He pleaded with his blue eyes which were the mirror reflection of his partners sapphire orbs.  "If you can't trust us who can you?" He begged.

Takeru sighed. "Well the Digi-Mentals there of no use. We're trapped in the Digi-World which is rapidly being taken over by a maniacal eleven year old on a power trip. Not to mention our leader is ether incarcerated dead or…" Takeru couldn't  finish the last word to do so would be the same as committing treason himself.               

Wait what was he talking about; this wasn't war was it. Sometimes the lines of reality became blurred to him. When had this become a war? How long would they be fighting it? Would they win? What was the point? This world wasn't real was it. So what if it was destroyed. So a few people couldn't use computers. Who cares they need exercise anyway. I'm sure it would be better for the environment. When had he grown so much? Was the price for his power, friends, and partner, his youth and immaturity? If that was the case he would give them all back.

"Stop right there Takeru Takashi." He told himself quietly then thought. Don't you see how selfish you're being. Oh poor me I've got all these problems and  I'm not even in puberty yet. Why can't we just go home. Well I've got news for you it doesn't look like we'll be getting home any time soon so you might as well focus on what is important. The safety of your friends and Digi-World.

Takeru looked as though he was coming out of a trance and indeed he was. What had seemed like a few minutes of conversation was truly no more than the blink of an eye.

Takeru looked around at the party. They were all staring at him They were all counting on him. He couldn't let them down. I should say something. Takeru's fingers unconsciously touched his Digi-Mental in the same pocket as his D-Terminal.

"Let's move forward." He said at last. "We should see an old friend.  I know he must be here somewhere."

 Hikari looked up smiling. They had gotten through to him. Takeru was back. His indecision had caused her great worry-if only for a short while. But it now seemed as though things were gong to be all right. She drew in a breath and then turned around. She heard a high pitched whistling noise and then everything was serenely quiet.

The others all moved forward. Gatomon looked back. "Hikari," She began, "Aren't you coming." She let out a piercing shriek.

Hikari looked down at her chest and saw where the arrow had struck, the red of her blood clashing with the pink of her clothes. Then she laughed. A soft, warm, laughter. One filled with regret and great joy.       

Strange who would have though dying would feel this way.

Miyako looked around to see hundreds of mon she had never seen before, appear from nowhere and surround them. They were trapped; this whole thing had been one huge set up.

 Ken had lured them into thinking they were safe by sending the usual single mon and then… Miyako's mind abruptly forced to turn it's attention elsewhere as an arrow pierced her side, and she slowly sank to her knees and then…

Takeru let out a yell as the first arrow brushed passed him. He paid no attention and rushed immediately to Hikari's  side. Miraculously he made it to her side just she closed her eyes, her vision filling with the red of dying and then the black of death then…

there was nothing.