Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, but if I did then there would be a spontaneous episode with nothing but fluffiness between Takuya and Kouji.o0;;
Finally, after a long wait, Mercury threw off the darkness. There was something wrong though… the darkness had consumed so much of inside him there was little left to keep him alive. "Hate has got no one anywhere." Mercury whispered. "I hated the world for treating me and Rana so cruelly, I could not understand why would anyone hate my lovely Rana… then Cherubi came. He corrupted my lovely Rana, until she was no longer the sweet woman I loved, I suppose my hate got me where I am now." A weak smile played on his lips. "You'll go free, as you neither hold hate. Kouji, you know why." Slowly, the world around us began to melt, and Mercury himself started to deteriorate. Ignoring the colors flying by us I stared. The darkness had consumed so much of Mercury, when purified he had died. Yet another lost life in this quest to save all from Cherubi. I held inside the fear grabbing at me, that if my brother was under Cherubi's control… I may lose him forever. This was a loss I could never withstand.
I suppose fear shown in my eyes, as Takuya placed a warm hand on my shoulder. He offered me a smile. "Kouji, I'm sure that Kouichi will survive. If… he's anything like you." Takuya said, and I don't think if said by any other person would I not only take this to heart but also feel rejuvenated encouragement. Not only because I know his words were true, but also the fact Takuya had just said he saw me as a strong person. Then it hit me, why I was the Warrior of Light. Out of all ten of us, I was the one with the strongest will, and even though I didn't seem like it, I really was a caring person. It took a brown-haired boy and corrupted man to make me realize this, how pathetic.
"You know… we're twins, so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised." I smirked, and was pleasantly surprised when I received one back. I love his smile… when this adventure is over no one in the world can stop me from telling Takuya me feelings. I know there's no better time than the present, but in this of quest no one sure what will happen. Whether he or I will survive, it's not possible to tell. Slowly the world around us became clear and shined with short beauty before turning cold and dark. Blinking in surprise and trying to get our eyes adjusted to the surroundings, there was no time for recollection as Izumi and Tomoki immediately zoomed into questions.
"Slow down!" I stated, slightly overwhelmed by all these prying needs. "One at a time."
"What happened?" Tomoki chirped, and looked up at us hopefully. Sighing, I figured it would be just easier telling the entire experience all over, excluding my thoughts and feelings. Once it was all cleared up, we managed to get Junpei conscious, and set out yet again. In my entire life, not once in my being did I feel a greater purpose than the one right now.
It looked evil. That about sums up Cherubi's castle, as I have never seen anything so dark, and self-loathing as this palace. Statues of tortured souls; the stone worn down, and seemed like it was used to beat against. There was not one thing that shown no hint of cruelty, and I was now curious how someone could have become so cruel. We walked up to the front, and I was silently expecting an ambush. Nothing. Going cautiously inside, always ready to attack, in case. Shadows ran up the wall, and strange glittering things with outlines of creatures floated by. One touched a mouse and well… I'm not entirely sure for the mouse but I do feel sorry it suffered whatever that fate was. The place was quiet and not the good kind either. The kind that says, 'Well, bud your going to die. Have a horrible painful torture/death!'
At some point we found ourselves our in the courtyard of the palace. Like the rest, it was dark and gloomy. A figure slowly walked out of the gloom. Kouichi. My eyes hardened and the others looked at me, unsure of what exactly to do.
"Good to see you brother." Kouichi said with a dark look. He did not smile, instead held a look of sheer hate I knew was directed at something entirely different.
"Don't lie Kouichi, we were told it's never smart." I said without any source of emotion, to make it hard for him to know what exactly I was thinking. Cherubi was using whatever hate Kouichi felt, and maximized it. A mountain out of a molehill… heh. Kouichi raised a brow at me, and unsheathed a sword. It was pitch black, and darkness radiated from it.
"Oh, but we were told to keep civilized though." Kouichi snarled.
"What's going on with you Kouichi?!" I demand, his unusual hateful attitude finally becoming too much for me to bear.
"You!" Kouichi hissed, and charged right at me. The others backed away, not entirely sure what they should be doing. Until he came. A creature… not quite anything. He looked like he once had been an angel of some sort, one who loved kindness and was deeply gentle. Except that he had been corrupted severely. Empty yellow eyes looked onward at us, and he was huge. It was some sort of… possessed fiend who stood in the least at twenty feet high, and that's just a guess. Large jagged teeth prodded out past his lips, and he gave them a cold snarl. My heart sank… He's going to attack them while I fight Kouichi. The others were strong, but the legend stated that only the Warrior of Light… me… could defeat the true darkness.
"Thy Legendary Warriors…" Cherubi said in a cold, hateful voice. "Ending your destinies a bit young are you not?" A cold merciless laugh echoed from deep inside him. Izumi, Junpei, Tomoki, and Takuya stood their ground, not showing a hint of being wavered.
"It's not over until the ugly thing sings." Izumi growled. Gotta love the girl, she was not your average pushover. In fact, more likely than not she was doing the pushing and you were the one going over. Cherubi tossed her a glare, and she didn't even flinch.
"Kouji… your fight is with me." Kouichi drawled. He had my attention. And so, we all clashed. It was a blinding frenzy, and I cannot really tell what happened. I blocked, struck, and heard cries from both Cherubi and the others as our struggle went on.
"Why?" I manage to get out, as my mind was concentrating on the fight ensuing.
"You." Kouichi hissed, and knocked me backwards then charged again, and I barely blocked it. "Mother. She… she's still alive." He said, and his eyes began to look watery. I nearly let down my defenses; I had not expected that. "They were keeping our parents away from us, because of you. As the Warrior of Light, you could not know that they were still alive otherwise you would get distracted." A tear rolled down Kouichi's cheek, and my brain was trying to process this horrid information. "They wouldn't tell me either, because I was your twin. Because I'm your damn twin I to had to suffer without parents!" Kouichi hissed, and punched me square in the stomach and then uppercutted me when my body did the natural reaction of curling up. I felt my back hit the ground, and ignored the pain knowing Kouichi's next strike will be with his sword and most likely fatal. Just in time.
"How did you learn of this?!" I asked, more interested in the knowledge our parents were alive than anything else.
"I saw… her… and Tomoki's parents sent her away saying she could not see us. When I met Cherubi, he confirmed their life. And offered me the chance to get back at you." Kouichi hissed with venom I had not known he could send out. I knocked him away, and stood there. I could understand his anger, and now I knew how Cherubi got a hold of him. Kouichi was trying to get my attention that night to tell me, but I turned away from him. Cherubi took advantage of what all happened to Kouichi that one night, and turned his anger and sorrow into full-fledged hate.
"Kouichi. Brother. I love you, and the indignity Cherubi caused you will be stopped." I stated. Kouichi looked momentarily confused, but ignored it. "Cleansing Light." I whispered, and it shot at Kouichi. His eyes got large in shock, and when the light went inside him, his body went rigid, and he was placed gently on the ground. The darkness and light fought angrily deep inside his heart, but I know the real Kouichi will defeat the darkness. It will just take time. Turning my attention, I ran over and deflected dark energy aimed at a knocked out Tomoki. Junpei was down for the count, seeing as he was still hurt from earlier, and Tomoki could barely move. Izumi was causing some damage, but not as much. Her energy was draining, as was Takuya's. The remaining three of us were taking on a huge force; one that held so much power I felt my own was puny against it.
"Hurri-omph!" Izumi yelped and was knocked headfirst into the wall. Blood slowly went down the wall. Izumi… Cherubi frowned seeing me, and looked around.
"Kouichi… nani!?" He gasped when seeing my brother staring blankly ahead. He looked coldly at me, then his eyes slowly swept towards Takuya. Things slowly started to click inside my brain. Cherubi knew alone he could not defeat me. There was only me and Takuya left standing. Kouichi was not usable to him right now. He could not use darkness on me… but he could Takuya. My eyes widened in fear, and I turned to warn Takuya only shortly after something wrapped around his body and pulled him upwards. Takuya yelped, and wriggled around trying to get free from the rope-like things grip on him. They would not let go and carried him up to Cherubi then he… ate… him.
I stared at first in disbelief, then my eyes narrowed. He ate people… and used the darkness swirling around inside him to control and possess them. Knowing if I did not hurry, I probably could not save Takuya, I decided screw my destiny and ran towards Cherubi blindly. He was surprised, and was not expecting me to run headfirst towards him, and clambered up the dark things. I took my sword of light and stabbed it right down into Cherubi's flesh. He cried out in pain, and I seized the opportunity to jump inside his mouth. A suicide mission I know, but I had to save Takuya, I would never forgive myself if ANYTHING ever happened to him. It was shocking when I got inside, as power so needy, hateful and… hungry wrapped itself around me and pulled me down… down… and even deeper. My head felt light and my insides were feeling crushed, and I felt my will slowly getting eaten away by the darkness. Voices told me to give in. To let darkness reign freely over my pure heart.
About to do so, I saw a pale figure whom I immediately recognized, and ignored everything around me. Takuya… I will get you out of here. The darkness then shriveled away from me, as a faint light glowed around me. How… strange. I guess in this place where no lights shown my abilities were put to a better use. I moved slowly through, unable to go very fast until I reached Takuya. He looked so… weak, and I detested seeing him like this. Darkness went inside his body, trying to turn him into an enemy. Slowly reaching out, I grabbed him then pulled him into a tight hug, happy to both see him alive, and in a deep desire that my light will drive this darkness away. It does not. I look around helplessly, not knowing how I can protect him. Then, a flashback comes to me…
"You can use more than just your hands to use your abilities." Takuya answered smiling.
"Like…?" I trailed, hoping he'd give me some sort of help here. He chuckled again and let my hands go.
"I'm not sure…" Takuya said sheepishly. "I'd have to see." He added. I sighed and signaled he could try and find out. Hestitantly, he reached a hand out and touched my cheek as he leaned in to take a closer look at my eyes. His hand felt warm."Not your eyes." He said and moved away and removed his hand from my cheek. Takuya frowned before shrugging."Don't know what else you can use for your abilities other than your hands or eyes." He sighed.
The light was coming from inside me. Knowing now what I had to do, hestitantly I moved my lips carefully towards Takuya's. This was not exactly how I was planning on him finding out but… oh well. Placing mine on his carefully, a pain screeched through my insides. My heart felt like it was being yanked out, and I realized it was the darkness trying to stop me. Then I felt Takuya's body jerk wildly, not because I was kissing him, in fact I think he might be responding, but the darkness was going inside him faster, seeing a way inside me. The pain now left, and everything was steadily growing colder. That was not what was worrying me though, it was the fact I could feel Takuya's body shaking, as it seems the long battle of light and dark was deciding to try and make a conclusion inside him. This was not in my plan at all… but I couldn't pull away or else the darkness would literally consume him entirely.
I couldn't help but feel panicky, I loved Takuya and I might lose him. A tear slowly rolled down my cheek, I'm not sure how it did but this feeling of possible loss was making my heartache even more. The light then started to come out of Takuya's body into the darkness, which confused me. It slowly crawled all over the place and started to… cleanse it like a wildfire. When a forest fire sweeps through to be rid of all the dead tree and plants to make room for new life. Takuya's hand clutched onto me tightly, he was probably hurting inside too, most likely worse. He shivered inside my arms, and I pulled away as something inside told me it was safe. I looked at him, and frowned, he still didn't look very well.
"Kouji…" A small voice called. I turned to see who it was. It was Cherubi but he looked more… angelic. No longer corrupted. "You have purified me. I thank you. With the remaining bit of my power I will save Kouichi, but I cannot help you or your friend. Rest now…" I barely recall being thrown out of the darkness, Takuya inside my arms. I barely remember feeling weak and my body aching. I barely remember wrapping my arms tightly around his waist. I also barely remember feeling how cold Takuya was, and the fact it didn't seem like any life was left in him…
A/N: *Pant* …T_T …four pages long… you guys got one freakin' long chapter here… I hope your happy… next chapter is the last. Excuse me while I pass out from sleep deprivation… *Falls asleep in chair*
Saga: o0;; She stayed up until midnight writing that chapter, and damaged her eyes from being less than two inches in front of the screen. …Her cat just jumped two feet into the air for no reason. Err… wel thanks for the reviews, you people are so nice! Me bow now! *Bows to almighty reviewers who control the authors*