Digimon is the property of TOEI Animation, and Akiyoshi Hongo, we are just
borrowing their characters and certain situations to tell our story. Domino
and Dice are our little darlings, Hikari and mine's that is. We gain no
money from this.
Story by Hikari and Wanderer D
***
Dice stood next to the chained Gatomon while the children marched in front of her.
Myotismon growled as yet another kid walked forth, and yet again, Gatomon shook her head. Another kid, another shake of the head. Finally, Myotismon grew tired of it and went to vent his frustrations on a nearby Bakemon, while everyone took a short rest.
"At this rate all the kids will get killed." Dice commented.
"But... I can't tell him, Dice." Gatomon whimpered. "If he gets his hands on her..."
"Who is she, Gatomon?" Dice prompted with a whisper. "Maybe I can find her and make sure nothing happens to these kids."
"Would you do that Dice?" Gatomon asked hopefully.
Dice smiled reassuringly, but there was something strange... however, Gatomon didn't have the time to dwell on that feeling.
"She's Kari, Tai's sister... tell her..."
"Kari, huh?" Dice said standing back, while Gatomon looked at him confused.
"You found out, Dice?" Myotismon said, as he walked back to them.
Dice nodded and Gatomon felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Her name is Kari... and I know where she is." Dice said.
The feeling turned cold.
"Dice..." she whispered. "Why?"
He just smiled and turned away. While he walked, he looked over his shoulder.
"Without her you won't have to leave me too."
***
"Listen," Matt said, "Tai will be back shortly, in the meantime, we have to protect Kari..."
"But... how long will it take?" Gabumon asked "and what will we do about Lillymon?" He added, pointing to the unconscious and petrified Digimon.
Domino, Mimi, Sora and Garudamon had brought her after they had found the trapped people and had tried to flee, however they had only been able to escape with Sora and had been forced to leave her mother behind.
"It doesn't matter how long it takes," Domino piped up suddenly, after a moment of thick and tense silence, "we won't let Myotismon get his hands on Kari, no way."
There was a pause, and then everyone smiled faintly, as though inspired by the Gatomon's optimistic words, even if they weren't sure they would be able to live up to them.
Matt looked at the Gatomon thankfully, with leadership on his hands he was still unsure on how to act.
She cast her eyes to Lillymon, and frowned. She honestly didn't know what she could do about that situation. Her powers were strong, her magic was nothing to sneer at... but this was the work of a magical power much darker than her own... she feared adding any magic to it without proper expertise could make the situation worse.
Mimi glanced at Sora's worried eyes, and then looked at Matt. "What about the others?" she asked, a frown creasing her brow. "Not Tai, but the others... our parents?" She looked at her hands. "What's going to happen if we can't--"
"We can," Sora interrupted, snapping her chin up. "We can't afford not to."
"Sora's right," Kari said with a nod of her head. "If I'm the 8th child, then I complete the team, once we're all together, nothing can stop us, right?"
Sora nodded. "Right."
Domino wasn't so sure. She didn't dare say so, in fear of dashing the hope that seemed fleeting enough, but she wasn't so certain they could beat Myotismon... or, moreover... beat Dice. She sighed. She was more afraid that, should the time come, she wouldn't be able to strike.
Could she do it? Could she really strike down her own brother? Even if he had become what he was... even if he didn't remember anything... somewhere, somehow, he was still her brother.
She scowled. Can I really do it? If it comes down to me or him... She shook her head quickly. No... me or him, I already know who will win that fight... But... She glanced at the Digidestined. But... if it comes to him... or them...? What... what do I do then?
They were suddenly interrupted by a grunt of pain, as they looked in surprise to the lower part of the factory, they could see something crawling from the street.
It was Dice, and it was obvious he was badly injured by the futile attempts he made to stand up. He was covered in mud and blood stains had made his fur a mess.
Domino's blood ran cold, and it took every ounce of self-control she had not to just run to his aide. Dice... she thought in disbelief. She couldn't understand... who could have done--?
"Dice..." she said aloud, tho barely. Her eyes suddenly narrowed to furious slits, and she cursed under her breath. "Dice!" she called, and quickly ran toward him, tho slowing quickly when she got closer.
"Dice..." she said softly, stopping a few feet away from him, wishing to treat his wounds, but fearful he would lash out at her if she tried.
Matt cursed under his breath, then, followed by Gabumon ran up to them. "What-..."
"Dice... what happened...? Who...?" She growled, and looked away. "Who did this to you?" she asked icily, trying to keep the concern out of her voice. Two could play cold shoulder, even if she wasn't very good at it.
Domino glared at him over her shoulder.
"Stay back, Matt," she warned.
Dice looked up weakly, managing a weak smile.
"My- Myotismon..."
"I don't want anybody getting hurt... just stay back, I can handle this."
"Y-you were right... sis..." he coughed.
Domino snapped her head toward him. "Myotis... but... why?" She shook her head. "You're his..."--she grit her teeth--"you're his foot soldier, aren't you?" she demanded coldly, then she stopped.
"Wait--what..." She blinked. "What did you call me...?"
"Don't... play... with me... D..." he stopped coughing.
She took a fraction of a step toward him.
Then he sneered, a bitter smile, and barely contained pain. "Attacked from... behind... after I talked with Gatomon... she asked... told me... to give.. something to... girl.. named Kari..."
She controlled the urge to lunge forward to help him, certain this had to be some sort of trick.
Domino narrowed one eye. "Kari?" she echoed, feigning confusion. "Who's that?"
".. but..." Dice didn't continue, as he slumped down, and laid motionless.
Even if he was hurt, even if he was Dice... she wasn't going to let him get to Kari... not yet... not now... No way...
Not until she knew he was for real... and it would take a lot more than a few sweet words to earn her trust back.
He didn't move. His ragged breaths continued with the rhythm of a sleeping person.
Domino inched forward. "D... Dice?" she said softly, and shot another glare over her shoulder as she caught Matt take another step out of the corner of her eye.
As they watched, they could now notice the amount of dried up blood that covered his fur. Wherever he had that wound it wasn't good.
Sora, Mimi, Kari, and the Digimon all stared from a distance, feeling a little torn... Even if Dice was the enemy, they felt bad leaving him as he was. Sora looked toward Domino, and her heart ached. We'll leave this to you, Domino, she thought. Just... please be careful...
Domino took another small step, and reached one paw out to lightly brush one of the patches of dried blood on Dice's ebony fur.
Matt didn't look too sure. "Listen, Domino... this isn't right..."
It *was* blood. And only two Digimon bled...
Domino didn't look at him. "I know, that's why I told you to stay back," she snapped. "Don't make me put up a force field, Matt, stay away, let me handle this..."
Domino didn't know what hit her. Suddenly, she was flying and crashing against a nearby door, as a figure shimmered into existence... her shout seemed to wake up Dice, who looked at the apparition and growled.
"Phantomon..."
Matt shouted in surprise, and ran back, while pulling out his Digivice. "Gabumon! Digivolve!"
"Right!" Gabumon shouted, and he could hear Sora echoing the same order to Biyomon.
"Ugh..." Domino grunted as she hit the wall hard, and she forbade herself to pass out as a million stars danced before her eyes. No, she thought, can't let go, not yet... Hold onto it... She slid down the wall, and landed in a heap on the floor, and Kari ran up to see if she was okay.
Dice struggled to stand up, but was unable as his knees seemed to give under his weigh
"Get back!" she said, her voice strained, shooting Kari a look. "Get away, don't let them"--she coughed--"don't let them get their filthy hands on you, you're irreplaceable!"
Kari looked horror-stricken. "Demo--!" she yelped.
"Run!" Domino cried. "Just get away from here!"
Kari back stepped, and watched in horror as Phantomon let out an evil cackle and swung his scythe around like a toy. What could she do??
Matt ran up to Kari and pushed her back.
"Tai asked me to protect you, and that's what I'll do..." he whispered harshly.
With a cry, Kari fell backward, watching as Matt stood steadfast in front of her to take on Phantomon.
"Matt-!!" she cried. "No!!"
Dice stood up and jumped at Phantomon, claws extended. "Dark CL- Oof!" He was batted away by Phantomon, and crashed against the railing over Matt, he hung there for a second before falling to the ground with a thud and a grunt.
Domino pushed up to her feet. She really hadn't been hurt, just a little startled. She would have a helluva headache later, she was sure, but there was no time for that now.
"Matt!" she cried, watching as Matt shoved Kari aside to fight Phantomon. She gasped in horror as Dice was tossed aside like a stuffed animal, and was now sprawled lifeless by the railing.
Weregarurumon jumped towards Phantomon, followed by Garudamon, but they were easily avoided by the powerful Digimon.
Dice grunted, but didn't stand up.
"Dice!" Domino called, as though willing him to get up. She then turned her attention to Phantomon. Sorry, Dice, she thought, you'll have to wait for me... She squared her small shoulders, then dashed past Kari, and leapt straight for Phantomon's throat.
"Denki Claw!" she shouted, resorting to using an attack she hadn't used since she was a Salamon. Her claws ripped into Phantomon, but not enough to do any real damage.
But the attack had a secret weapon, for the Denki Claw did more than draw blood. Phantomon let out a cry as electricity seemed to surge through him from the sight of the wounds.
"Matt!" she cried, giving him the signal to attack while Phantomon was preoccupied.
She was hit and slammed against Weregarurumon, as the later attempted to catch her. Phantomon laughed floating away. "You fell into the trap, little Gatomon..."
With a cry, Domino tumbled end over end, slamming into Weregarurumon. Thankfully, he was a little more forgiving than the wall would have been, so she wasn't too bad off, but she was rather miffed that she had been caught off-guard. No matter, the odds were still in their favor.
Kari's scream stopped everything, as everyone turned, they couldn't believe their eyes as Dice held the helpless girl close, one paw holding her arm, the other, claws extended, pointing at her throat.
"No--!"
Matt looked helplessly at both of them, unsure on what to do.
Domino let out a shriek at the sight. Dice?? No, how could he--?
"Hanashite!!" Kari gasped, struggling in Dice's grip. "Let me go!!"
Dice's eye glinted. "If I were you, I'd stop that, girl. These claws are pretty sharp..." to prove his point he carefully drew a small line on her neck.
He then looked at everyone gathered. "This is it. If you guys so much as move a finger the wrong way... she dies."
Domino darted forward. "You bastard!" she cried. "Let her go, you lying cheating sonofa--!" Her eyes flashed crimson as she slid to a halt. "If you hurt her, Dice, I swear to God I'll..."
She didn't finish her sentence, just growled and flexed her own claws.
"What?" Dice said smiling as Phantomon floated next to him. "You're too weak willed... 'SIS"
"And to think I actually had the heart to worry for you..." she added spitefully.
"Just a little blood... and you're worried sick... how sweet of you..." Phantomon sneered.
"I won't dignify that with a response," she growled at Phantomon. "I don't have time to deal with fodder like you."
Her eyes flashed again. She shook her head. "Whether we're blood relatives or not, Dice, this time you've gone too far..." she hissed, baring her teeth. "Hurt her, and I will kill you, I swear it to you..."
She wasn't sure she believed her own words... but they sounded good... good enough to draw gasps from the children.
Dice smiled however.
"You can't." He traced his claw on Kari's cheek, drawing a little blood.
"Blood's easy enough to get... specially with so many kids around... like goggle boy who was running away from here, if I recall correctly." Dice commented off-handedly.
"Stop it right now!" she shrieked. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Dice--!" She couldn't even think of anything to say, she was so angry. "What the hell is wrong with you, Dice??" she demanded in a rage.
"Why are you doing this?? DO you really want Myotismon to take over everything?? Are you really that crazy??"
It was Sora who spoke up next. "Tai wasn't running away, Dice," she said stonily. "He was going to get help. Petty insults won't get you anywhere..."
"Guess" he answered smiling. "You think he managed to get help after we crossed paths?"
He casually scratched a patch of blood from his other arm.
Sora gasped. "No--!"
Domino let out a furious growl. "I asked you a question, Dice!" she spat. "Answer me! What are you getting out of this?"
Phantomon looked over at Dice. "We should go now..."
"Nah, let's see what 'sis' does..." Dice growled. He looked back at Domino. "Gatomon."
Domino's eyes were narrowed to furious slits. "Call me what you will, Dice..." she said, "but you won't get to me that way. I was a fool, I see that now. To ever have given you that second chance, that was my mistake... I won't make it again. What will you do, Dice, when Myotismon has his way and no longer needs you? You think he'll keep you around? Aren't you even a little worried? Don't you wonder what he'll do with you once his need for you is no more?"
She huffed. "Do you so long for death that you welcome it from him?" she then tossed her head. "For that is surely all that awaits you at the end of this road."
His eyes flashed. "She WILL be mine." Then he stopped, as if surprised by his own words. He looked around, finally looking at his blood-stained claws. Finally he looked back at Phantomon, who was regarding him with angry eyes.
"I- let's go."
Phantomon nodded and both faded out from view.
"DICE!" Domino shouted, lunging at the spot where he had vanished from. "Dice! Kari!! Bring Kari back!!! DICE!!!"
"DAMNIT!!" Matt shouted. "I failed Tai!"
She slumped to the ground, defeated. No... they're gone... Kari's gone... She beat the ground with her paws.
"What... what do we do now?" Matt asked. He was crying openly now. And Gabumon hurried to his side.
"Matt... I think you should calm down... and... don't mention Tai..." Gabumon said, motioning towards the shocked Sora.
Mimi was trying to calm her down.
She looked up at Matt. "No, Matt, we both did..." She shook her head as she got to her feet and walked over to him. "You were right, I was the one who let my heart dictate instead of my head... if I had been more on guard around Dice... then maybe..."
Sora brushed Mimi aside, then angrily put her hands on her hips. "Matt, Mimi, Domino, stop!" she shouted.
There was raw agony in her voice. "There's still time... We can still get Kari back..." She looked away. "Even if Tai's gone... we still have to try..." She sank to her knees. "We can't... we can't..."
She buried her face in her hands. "We can't just give up..."
Mimi dropped to one knee beside Sora. "Oh, Sora..." she said, unsure of how to react.
Domino grit her teeth, and looked up at Matt. "Matt...what do we do now? Where do we go from here...?"
She felt as though her heart had been torn into a thousand pieces. Kari was gone, Tai was dead, Dice was...one of them... How...how could they go on...?
"We have to get her back!" Matt shouted angrily.
"Get who back?" Asked a voice from the darkness, and soon Joe, T.K., Patamon, Gomamon walked towards them, carrying Wizardmon.
Domino inhaled sharply.
"Oh no..." she whispered. How were they supposed to tell them?
Sora quickly dried her tears. She couldn't let TK see her like this.
At that moment they heard the sounds of someone running. Tai, followed by Agumon came back, skidding to a halt in front of all of them. Next to him, Matt's dad also stopped.
"Where's Kari?" Tai asked, puzzled as Sora threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
Story by Hikari and Wanderer D
***
Dice stood next to the chained Gatomon while the children marched in front of her.
Myotismon growled as yet another kid walked forth, and yet again, Gatomon shook her head. Another kid, another shake of the head. Finally, Myotismon grew tired of it and went to vent his frustrations on a nearby Bakemon, while everyone took a short rest.
"At this rate all the kids will get killed." Dice commented.
"But... I can't tell him, Dice." Gatomon whimpered. "If he gets his hands on her..."
"Who is she, Gatomon?" Dice prompted with a whisper. "Maybe I can find her and make sure nothing happens to these kids."
"Would you do that Dice?" Gatomon asked hopefully.
Dice smiled reassuringly, but there was something strange... however, Gatomon didn't have the time to dwell on that feeling.
"She's Kari, Tai's sister... tell her..."
"Kari, huh?" Dice said standing back, while Gatomon looked at him confused.
"You found out, Dice?" Myotismon said, as he walked back to them.
Dice nodded and Gatomon felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Her name is Kari... and I know where she is." Dice said.
The feeling turned cold.
"Dice..." she whispered. "Why?"
He just smiled and turned away. While he walked, he looked over his shoulder.
"Without her you won't have to leave me too."
***
"Listen," Matt said, "Tai will be back shortly, in the meantime, we have to protect Kari..."
"But... how long will it take?" Gabumon asked "and what will we do about Lillymon?" He added, pointing to the unconscious and petrified Digimon.
Domino, Mimi, Sora and Garudamon had brought her after they had found the trapped people and had tried to flee, however they had only been able to escape with Sora and had been forced to leave her mother behind.
"It doesn't matter how long it takes," Domino piped up suddenly, after a moment of thick and tense silence, "we won't let Myotismon get his hands on Kari, no way."
There was a pause, and then everyone smiled faintly, as though inspired by the Gatomon's optimistic words, even if they weren't sure they would be able to live up to them.
Matt looked at the Gatomon thankfully, with leadership on his hands he was still unsure on how to act.
She cast her eyes to Lillymon, and frowned. She honestly didn't know what she could do about that situation. Her powers were strong, her magic was nothing to sneer at... but this was the work of a magical power much darker than her own... she feared adding any magic to it without proper expertise could make the situation worse.
Mimi glanced at Sora's worried eyes, and then looked at Matt. "What about the others?" she asked, a frown creasing her brow. "Not Tai, but the others... our parents?" She looked at her hands. "What's going to happen if we can't--"
"We can," Sora interrupted, snapping her chin up. "We can't afford not to."
"Sora's right," Kari said with a nod of her head. "If I'm the 8th child, then I complete the team, once we're all together, nothing can stop us, right?"
Sora nodded. "Right."
Domino wasn't so sure. She didn't dare say so, in fear of dashing the hope that seemed fleeting enough, but she wasn't so certain they could beat Myotismon... or, moreover... beat Dice. She sighed. She was more afraid that, should the time come, she wouldn't be able to strike.
Could she do it? Could she really strike down her own brother? Even if he had become what he was... even if he didn't remember anything... somewhere, somehow, he was still her brother.
She scowled. Can I really do it? If it comes down to me or him... She shook her head quickly. No... me or him, I already know who will win that fight... But... She glanced at the Digidestined. But... if it comes to him... or them...? What... what do I do then?
They were suddenly interrupted by a grunt of pain, as they looked in surprise to the lower part of the factory, they could see something crawling from the street.
It was Dice, and it was obvious he was badly injured by the futile attempts he made to stand up. He was covered in mud and blood stains had made his fur a mess.
Domino's blood ran cold, and it took every ounce of self-control she had not to just run to his aide. Dice... she thought in disbelief. She couldn't understand... who could have done--?
"Dice..." she said aloud, tho barely. Her eyes suddenly narrowed to furious slits, and she cursed under her breath. "Dice!" she called, and quickly ran toward him, tho slowing quickly when she got closer.
"Dice..." she said softly, stopping a few feet away from him, wishing to treat his wounds, but fearful he would lash out at her if she tried.
Matt cursed under his breath, then, followed by Gabumon ran up to them. "What-..."
"Dice... what happened...? Who...?" She growled, and looked away. "Who did this to you?" she asked icily, trying to keep the concern out of her voice. Two could play cold shoulder, even if she wasn't very good at it.
Domino glared at him over her shoulder.
"Stay back, Matt," she warned.
Dice looked up weakly, managing a weak smile.
"My- Myotismon..."
"I don't want anybody getting hurt... just stay back, I can handle this."
"Y-you were right... sis..." he coughed.
Domino snapped her head toward him. "Myotis... but... why?" She shook her head. "You're his..."--she grit her teeth--"you're his foot soldier, aren't you?" she demanded coldly, then she stopped.
"Wait--what..." She blinked. "What did you call me...?"
"Don't... play... with me... D..." he stopped coughing.
She took a fraction of a step toward him.
Then he sneered, a bitter smile, and barely contained pain. "Attacked from... behind... after I talked with Gatomon... she asked... told me... to give.. something to... girl.. named Kari..."
She controlled the urge to lunge forward to help him, certain this had to be some sort of trick.
Domino narrowed one eye. "Kari?" she echoed, feigning confusion. "Who's that?"
".. but..." Dice didn't continue, as he slumped down, and laid motionless.
Even if he was hurt, even if he was Dice... she wasn't going to let him get to Kari... not yet... not now... No way...
Not until she knew he was for real... and it would take a lot more than a few sweet words to earn her trust back.
He didn't move. His ragged breaths continued with the rhythm of a sleeping person.
Domino inched forward. "D... Dice?" she said softly, and shot another glare over her shoulder as she caught Matt take another step out of the corner of her eye.
As they watched, they could now notice the amount of dried up blood that covered his fur. Wherever he had that wound it wasn't good.
Sora, Mimi, Kari, and the Digimon all stared from a distance, feeling a little torn... Even if Dice was the enemy, they felt bad leaving him as he was. Sora looked toward Domino, and her heart ached. We'll leave this to you, Domino, she thought. Just... please be careful...
Domino took another small step, and reached one paw out to lightly brush one of the patches of dried blood on Dice's ebony fur.
Matt didn't look too sure. "Listen, Domino... this isn't right..."
It *was* blood. And only two Digimon bled...
Domino didn't look at him. "I know, that's why I told you to stay back," she snapped. "Don't make me put up a force field, Matt, stay away, let me handle this..."
Domino didn't know what hit her. Suddenly, she was flying and crashing against a nearby door, as a figure shimmered into existence... her shout seemed to wake up Dice, who looked at the apparition and growled.
"Phantomon..."
Matt shouted in surprise, and ran back, while pulling out his Digivice. "Gabumon! Digivolve!"
"Right!" Gabumon shouted, and he could hear Sora echoing the same order to Biyomon.
"Ugh..." Domino grunted as she hit the wall hard, and she forbade herself to pass out as a million stars danced before her eyes. No, she thought, can't let go, not yet... Hold onto it... She slid down the wall, and landed in a heap on the floor, and Kari ran up to see if she was okay.
Dice struggled to stand up, but was unable as his knees seemed to give under his weigh
"Get back!" she said, her voice strained, shooting Kari a look. "Get away, don't let them"--she coughed--"don't let them get their filthy hands on you, you're irreplaceable!"
Kari looked horror-stricken. "Demo--!" she yelped.
"Run!" Domino cried. "Just get away from here!"
Kari back stepped, and watched in horror as Phantomon let out an evil cackle and swung his scythe around like a toy. What could she do??
Matt ran up to Kari and pushed her back.
"Tai asked me to protect you, and that's what I'll do..." he whispered harshly.
With a cry, Kari fell backward, watching as Matt stood steadfast in front of her to take on Phantomon.
"Matt-!!" she cried. "No!!"
Dice stood up and jumped at Phantomon, claws extended. "Dark CL- Oof!" He was batted away by Phantomon, and crashed against the railing over Matt, he hung there for a second before falling to the ground with a thud and a grunt.
Domino pushed up to her feet. She really hadn't been hurt, just a little startled. She would have a helluva headache later, she was sure, but there was no time for that now.
"Matt!" she cried, watching as Matt shoved Kari aside to fight Phantomon. She gasped in horror as Dice was tossed aside like a stuffed animal, and was now sprawled lifeless by the railing.
Weregarurumon jumped towards Phantomon, followed by Garudamon, but they were easily avoided by the powerful Digimon.
Dice grunted, but didn't stand up.
"Dice!" Domino called, as though willing him to get up. She then turned her attention to Phantomon. Sorry, Dice, she thought, you'll have to wait for me... She squared her small shoulders, then dashed past Kari, and leapt straight for Phantomon's throat.
"Denki Claw!" she shouted, resorting to using an attack she hadn't used since she was a Salamon. Her claws ripped into Phantomon, but not enough to do any real damage.
But the attack had a secret weapon, for the Denki Claw did more than draw blood. Phantomon let out a cry as electricity seemed to surge through him from the sight of the wounds.
"Matt!" she cried, giving him the signal to attack while Phantomon was preoccupied.
She was hit and slammed against Weregarurumon, as the later attempted to catch her. Phantomon laughed floating away. "You fell into the trap, little Gatomon..."
With a cry, Domino tumbled end over end, slamming into Weregarurumon. Thankfully, he was a little more forgiving than the wall would have been, so she wasn't too bad off, but she was rather miffed that she had been caught off-guard. No matter, the odds were still in their favor.
Kari's scream stopped everything, as everyone turned, they couldn't believe their eyes as Dice held the helpless girl close, one paw holding her arm, the other, claws extended, pointing at her throat.
"No--!"
Matt looked helplessly at both of them, unsure on what to do.
Domino let out a shriek at the sight. Dice?? No, how could he--?
"Hanashite!!" Kari gasped, struggling in Dice's grip. "Let me go!!"
Dice's eye glinted. "If I were you, I'd stop that, girl. These claws are pretty sharp..." to prove his point he carefully drew a small line on her neck.
He then looked at everyone gathered. "This is it. If you guys so much as move a finger the wrong way... she dies."
Domino darted forward. "You bastard!" she cried. "Let her go, you lying cheating sonofa--!" Her eyes flashed crimson as she slid to a halt. "If you hurt her, Dice, I swear to God I'll..."
She didn't finish her sentence, just growled and flexed her own claws.
"What?" Dice said smiling as Phantomon floated next to him. "You're too weak willed... 'SIS"
"And to think I actually had the heart to worry for you..." she added spitefully.
"Just a little blood... and you're worried sick... how sweet of you..." Phantomon sneered.
"I won't dignify that with a response," she growled at Phantomon. "I don't have time to deal with fodder like you."
Her eyes flashed again. She shook her head. "Whether we're blood relatives or not, Dice, this time you've gone too far..." she hissed, baring her teeth. "Hurt her, and I will kill you, I swear it to you..."
She wasn't sure she believed her own words... but they sounded good... good enough to draw gasps from the children.
Dice smiled however.
"You can't." He traced his claw on Kari's cheek, drawing a little blood.
"Blood's easy enough to get... specially with so many kids around... like goggle boy who was running away from here, if I recall correctly." Dice commented off-handedly.
"Stop it right now!" she shrieked. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Dice--!" She couldn't even think of anything to say, she was so angry. "What the hell is wrong with you, Dice??" she demanded in a rage.
"Why are you doing this?? DO you really want Myotismon to take over everything?? Are you really that crazy??"
It was Sora who spoke up next. "Tai wasn't running away, Dice," she said stonily. "He was going to get help. Petty insults won't get you anywhere..."
"Guess" he answered smiling. "You think he managed to get help after we crossed paths?"
He casually scratched a patch of blood from his other arm.
Sora gasped. "No--!"
Domino let out a furious growl. "I asked you a question, Dice!" she spat. "Answer me! What are you getting out of this?"
Phantomon looked over at Dice. "We should go now..."
"Nah, let's see what 'sis' does..." Dice growled. He looked back at Domino. "Gatomon."
Domino's eyes were narrowed to furious slits. "Call me what you will, Dice..." she said, "but you won't get to me that way. I was a fool, I see that now. To ever have given you that second chance, that was my mistake... I won't make it again. What will you do, Dice, when Myotismon has his way and no longer needs you? You think he'll keep you around? Aren't you even a little worried? Don't you wonder what he'll do with you once his need for you is no more?"
She huffed. "Do you so long for death that you welcome it from him?" she then tossed her head. "For that is surely all that awaits you at the end of this road."
His eyes flashed. "She WILL be mine." Then he stopped, as if surprised by his own words. He looked around, finally looking at his blood-stained claws. Finally he looked back at Phantomon, who was regarding him with angry eyes.
"I- let's go."
Phantomon nodded and both faded out from view.
"DICE!" Domino shouted, lunging at the spot where he had vanished from. "Dice! Kari!! Bring Kari back!!! DICE!!!"
"DAMNIT!!" Matt shouted. "I failed Tai!"
She slumped to the ground, defeated. No... they're gone... Kari's gone... She beat the ground with her paws.
"What... what do we do now?" Matt asked. He was crying openly now. And Gabumon hurried to his side.
"Matt... I think you should calm down... and... don't mention Tai..." Gabumon said, motioning towards the shocked Sora.
Mimi was trying to calm her down.
She looked up at Matt. "No, Matt, we both did..." She shook her head as she got to her feet and walked over to him. "You were right, I was the one who let my heart dictate instead of my head... if I had been more on guard around Dice... then maybe..."
Sora brushed Mimi aside, then angrily put her hands on her hips. "Matt, Mimi, Domino, stop!" she shouted.
There was raw agony in her voice. "There's still time... We can still get Kari back..." She looked away. "Even if Tai's gone... we still have to try..." She sank to her knees. "We can't... we can't..."
She buried her face in her hands. "We can't just give up..."
Mimi dropped to one knee beside Sora. "Oh, Sora..." she said, unsure of how to react.
Domino grit her teeth, and looked up at Matt. "Matt...what do we do now? Where do we go from here...?"
She felt as though her heart had been torn into a thousand pieces. Kari was gone, Tai was dead, Dice was...one of them... How...how could they go on...?
"We have to get her back!" Matt shouted angrily.
"Get who back?" Asked a voice from the darkness, and soon Joe, T.K., Patamon, Gomamon walked towards them, carrying Wizardmon.
Domino inhaled sharply.
"Oh no..." she whispered. How were they supposed to tell them?
Sora quickly dried her tears. She couldn't let TK see her like this.
At that moment they heard the sounds of someone running. Tai, followed by Agumon came back, skidding to a halt in front of all of them. Next to him, Matt's dad also stopped.
"Where's Kari?" Tai asked, puzzled as Sora threw herself into his arms, sobbing.