Digimon: Death of Akume

Chapter 5: I'm Sorry

T.K. ran back into the prison coliseum just as the General raised a knife to Kari's throat. Kari pushed herself as far back into the wall as she could, fearing for her life.

"Kari!" Both Tai and T.K. exclaimed at the same time. The General held the knife lightly against Kari's throat as the General turned to look at Tai.

"I see T.K. brought you here like a good little boy." The General said to Tai with a laugh. "T.K., get back in your cuffs." She ordered. T.K. did as she said, fearful for Kari's life. "You can step into yours now, also." The General said to Tai. Tai, seeing his sister was in danger, decided to make a deal.

"I'll get into your cuffs if you let the other Digidestined go." Tai said to Sokkia, the Digimon General.

"Fine. Get in the cuffs, then I'll let them go." Sokkia replied.

"How do I know that you're not lying?" Tai asked her.

"Because I've had enough patience not to slit your sister's throat yet." The General replied with a sneer. Tai then obediently stepped up to let the cuffs hold him prisoner. The cuffs closed around Tai's wrists and ankles.

"Now, let them go." Tai demanded.

"As you wish." Sokkia replied simply. The cuffs around the other children released as Sokkia stepped away from Kari.

"What about the Digimon?" Tai asked.

"You never said anything about Digimon, Tai. Only Digidestined." Sokkia laughed at Tai's worry. "You children, get out of here before I decide to go back on my promise." Sokkia yelled at the released Digidestined. They all ran from the coliseum as fast as they could. Sokkia had the Digimon transferred to separate cells with extra guards.

Sokkia walked up to Tai as he looked at her for a sign of emotion.

"Tai," The General began softly, "I, I just feel so angry, I didn't know what to do with myself. Now I'm in so deep that I don't think anything could save me." Sokkia softly said the words, trying to outwit Tai.

"That's not true. No matter how bad things get, there's always hope." Tai said softly to her. "I believe you can get yourself out of this."

"Do you really think so?" She asked, letting a few tears loose for Tai to see.

"I know so." He simply replied.

"But it's so hard." Sokkia said, letting out a sob. She threw herself against Tai, hugging him with fake care. Then she drew a hand back and punched him in the stomach. Tai had not been expecting this and he bent over as far as he could, in pain. Sokkia took a few steps back.

"Never trust pure evil." Sokkia said, wiping her eyes dry. She stepped back up to Tai and gave him a hard punch in the eye. Just then Kari ran back into the coliseum.

"Please, stop hurting my brother!" She begged, running up to the General. Sokkia prepared for a surprise attack.

"Stay out of this, little girl." Sokkia said to Kari.

"What are you doing?" The Emperor asked as he walked from the shadows.

"I am trying to get my revenge, brother." Sokkia replied, not taking her eyes off Kari. Sokkia expected an attack, but not from the direction it came from. Sokkia was knocked into Kari, then down to the ground from the kick. Ken had attacked her. Her own brother. Sokkia got up off of Kari.

"Kari, are you okay?" Tai asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She replied.

Sokkia stood to face her brother, preparing for the next attack. Ken rushed at her with the speed he used in Soccer. He made a hard blow to Sokkia's stomach. Sokkia doubled over in pain, paralyzed by its intensity. Her brother dragged her up as Kari was pulled away by Davis. The Emperor put her in a set of the wall cuffs. Her head hung low as she moaned in pain.

"Why, Ken?" Sokkia asked her brother, her voice weak from pain.

"Because I no longer need you." The Emperor came forward and tore Sokkia's glasses off. "You are no longer a ruler in this world." He said with a laugh, then he left the two alone. Tai looked over at Sokkia. He saw a few tears drip from her face.

"Sokkia." He said gently. "Sokkia, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Sokkia asked, still cold.

"I'm sorry for a lot of things, but mostly I'm sorry that Akume died, that you decided to become evil, that you were hurt." Tai said, genuinely sorry.

"Why are you saying this to me, Tai?" Sokkia asked, "Are you trying to get to me? Like you did Akume?"

"I never tried to get to Akume. I tried to break off with her slowly, so it wouldn't hurt her so bad. What happened was she confronted me, asking if I was slowly breaking up with her. So I told her the truth, I said yes. Then she just ran away down the hall." Tai said.

"So, it wasn't your fault?" Sokkia asked him

"It wasn't anyone's fault. It was Akume's decision." Tai said to her.

"Tai," Sokkia said, crying once more, only this time she let him hear her. "I'm sorry I tried to attack you, my anger just overpowered me." She said to him, sobbing loudly now. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"Of course I can, Sokkia. What kind of a person would I be if I didn't?" Tai said kindly.

"Thank you, Tai." Sokkia said. This time she really had turned good. Sokkia lifted her face and looked at Tai, allowing him to see she was telling the truth by the tears streaking her face.

"No problem." He replied very gently. The Emperor then appeared.

"How very touching." He said with a laugh. Both Sokkia and Tai gasped. "I'm letting you go, for now, Tai. I want to have some personal time with my dear sister." Tai's cuffs opened and he fell to the ground. Tai got up and stood beside Sokkia.

"I won't leave her alone with you!" He said to the Emperor defiantly.

"And what can you do to me?" Ken asked coldly.

"I can't do much, but it's better than nothing." Tai said. The two boys starred at each other, the tension building. Sokkia knew if she didn't do something, they would have a fist fight.

"Tai, come here a moment." Sokkia called to Tai. He backed carefully away to where Sokkia was chained on the wall. "Tai," Sokkia whispered in his ear, "You need to round up the other Digidestined and their Digimon, then rescue the rest of the Digimon. They will need your help, you must go." She told him, then Ken began advancing on Tai. Sokkia whispered a warning, "Tai, look out when you turn around Ken is almost on you." Tai quickly turned around and blocked a blow from Ken.

"You're not the only black belt around here, ya know." Tai said. Tai gave Sokkia one last caring look, then took off at a full speed run into the brush. Sokkia was relieved to see that Ken did not try to follow Tai. The Emperor stepped up to where Sokkia was being held and took her Digivice.

"So, you are no longer evil. Are you sure?" The Emperor asked his prisoner and sister, Sokkia.

"Yes, I am sure. I am no longer scum, like you, Ken." Sokkia said as she glared at her younger brother.

"Let's see if Gatomon believes you." The Emperor said as a Leomon came forward. Sokkia's cuffs released and Leomon grabbed her. Leomon took her to Gatomon's cell.