DR: Chapter two! Another step closer to the end……

Terriermon: Alright, let's go! Daneel Rush doesn't own Digimon. He doesn't own any of the other characters that are introduced (or re-introduced) in this chapter!

DR: You seem very excited, Terriermon.

Terriermon: Well, I wanna see how this thing ends!

DR: Well, you might like it……or you might want to kill me after you read it. Oh, well……on to chapter two! The first impressions from the owner of the Blackpearl Omnivice, a little Takeru/Rumiko hinting (with Pauline's and Rika's consequent reaction), some insights on Daemon's crisis, Takeru and Ryo discuss the past, an unexpected visitor arrives to the Nonaka house, and two fanfiction writers make their way through the Dark Ocean!

Note: Special thanks to Digidestined of Courage and Tatsu No Houou for their cooperation for making this chapter……and those next to come.

SILENT SORROW

Chapter 2

Singularities, Part I: Reunion

Sunrise lit up the Digital World, sending its light to the most remote places, just like the one the small tent was settled on. It was a small clearing at the shore of a water body too small to be a lake yet too big to be a pond. The wind scattered away the ashes of a bonfire long gone at the same time the light of the digital sun woke up the man inside the tent. He slowly sat up and yawned as he stretched his arms and legs. It was then when he noticed it. The curious object that had appeared a few days before, the same day his Digivice disappeared. Shaking away his laziness, the man made his way outside the tent.

The light reflected on the water made the small lake shimmer with a faint dim which wasn't annoying to the eye. In fact, it gave quite a pretty radiance. The man looked around, searching for his Digimon. He was obviously away, looking for an early breakfast. The man stretched his body once again, now with enough space to expand his well-built muscles to their max. He walked closer to the shore, allowing the cool water to wash his feet. Besides being away from massive Digimon gatherings, the clearing gave him the most basic needs, including hygiene.

The man was very tall, probably 6'1''. He let his body fall down and sat on the grass, looking at the strange artifact attached to his wrist. It looked like a watch, but it was definitely not one, as it lacked a display. It was completely black, with a white button on the very middle of it. The man already knew what the button did, as his curiosity had leaded him to push it the very first day he saw the object. Actually, he got quite a scare when he did it the first time.

Slowly, the man approached his left index finger to the small white button, and pushed. As expected, a bright light covered the artifact as it transformed into something even bigger……and even more strange. Now, it covered his entire arm, from the wrist to the elbow. It was completely black, but the sunlight reflected on it created an amalgam of tones varying from dirt brown to a beautiful pink. There was a thin golden band around each black button (there were nine in total), and a big screen took practically half of the space. There were two slots on each side, too. He wondered what they were for.

The man focused on the buttons. The first thing he had discovered when he released the Omnivice for the first time was that one of the buttons was of a dark blue color, while the other eight were pitch black. He did the same thing he had done that time: he pushed it.

Select Function Mode: Battle/Control/Cancel

It was the exact same message the screen had displayed the first time. Just like he did that last time, he chose 'Control'.

Control Mode Activated. Awaiting Instructions.

And that's exactly where he was stuck at the moment. What kind of instructions could he give to something if he didn't even know what that something was? The only thing he knew was that this new artifact was somehow related with his Digivice's mysterious disappearance.

"Dammit, stupid piece of junk, where's my Digivice!?"

Incorrect Set of Instructions. Please Try Again.

"Why you little……hey! Did you listen to me!?"

My main processor directly receives the Tamer's brain signals, translating them into binary code, which is interpreted to discover possible instructions.

"Okay, sure………I didn't get it."

The man groaned and let his body rest on the grass. While he cursed himself for being so stupid and curse the world for giving him such a strange artifact, he looked at the Omnivice again. It shone with a faint light.

*****Rika's House*****

"Takeru!"

Takeru smiled at the sight of Jeri's radiant smile. Innocence as he had never seen before was irradiated from that girl. He found it amazing that everything that had happened to her hadn't altered it, and he silently prayed that didn't change any time soon.

"It's great to finally meet you, Jeri Katou. Same with you, Rika."

Takeru managed to recognize a barely visible smile on Rika's face, and he accepted it as the most he would get from her. Both females walked next to him and guided him inside, with the other Tamers. Jeri was the first to notice TK's partner.

"Is that your Digimon?"

Patamon nodded cheerfully. "Yep, Patamon is the name! Nice to meetcha!"

Jeri giggled in response. "Nice to meet you, Patamon. I'm Jeri."

"I know."

Rika looked at Patamon for a different reason. "Renamon is stronger than you."

"Don't judge a book by its cover, Rika." That was Takeru's only response.

"Hello, Ryo here!"

Of course, everyone ignored Ryo……until he reached the living room, that is.

"Ryo! Hey, dude, this is so cool! Come over here!"

"Oh dear……" Ryo muttered as he accepted Hirokazu's request. Takeru sat between Rika and Jeri. At the sight of the Lord of Humans, Renamon immediately appeared from the shadows.

"Milord!"

"Sit down, Renamon."

Everyone looked in surprise how the vulpine Digimon obeyed Takeru's command instantly. "Renamon……"

Renamon looked at Rika and made things clear. "I only follow orders from the Triad, Omni-Tamer Takato Matsuki, and you, Rika."

Rika nodded in response, even if she didn't really like the answer. Besides Rika, only Jeri understood Renamon's words. Takeru watched how Patamon and MarineAngemon exchanged a long stare. I guess that explains the mystery of Patamon's Mysterious Agent. MarineAngemon……why didn't I notice it? (Check the First Interlude, at the end of "Omni-Tamer")

Rika noticed how her mother looked at the blonde man with great interest. She wouldn't dare………

Oh, well, you can't blame her……he's a man, she's a woman……she has necessities to fulfill, you know?

Rika grunted for a second, getting everyone's attention. "Excuse, Mr. Takaishi……"

"Takeru will do, Rika."

"Whatever. May I know why did you come here personally?"

Takeru remained silent for a second. He had so many things to say, and he didn't know where to begin. "Well, I guess I'll start with a proper introduction. I am Takeru Takaishi, and I don't belong to this world. As you know, in this world I'm nothing but an anime character from the famous Digimon TV series."

Everyone remained silent. He found it interesting how nobody reacted at the mentioning of his name. They just accepted it. He guessed they had seen stranger things.

"As most of you know, the Digital World is divided in four quadrants, each one connected to a different realm of reality. This realm is connected to the Southern Quadrant, which is ruled by the red sparrow Sovereign, Zhuquiaomon."

The Tamers nodded. They had had the chance to meet Zhuquiaomon in the past, after all. Takeru continued.

"My realm is connected to the Eastern Quadrant, ruled by Azulongmon, the Holy Dragon Sovereign."

"What you mean is that all the stuff we saw in the show was real?" Hirokazu immediately asked.

Takeru nodded. "Both the anime series and the videogames you enjoy are mostly based on events that took place in the Eastern Quadrant nineteen years ago. Since the records of those adventures exist in the Digital World's database, it's not really that strange how it became a children's show in this realm. Besides, the different realms are not as isolated as we thought. Events that take place in one dimension can alter the other dimensions, too, but only if such events are critical enough."

Everyone remained silent, swallowing the words Takeru had just said. It was hard to believe, especially for the two adults in the room. Rumiko and her mother still didn't understand how was it that the tall, good-looking man talking to them was just an anime character. Meanwhile, Hirokazu was busy looking for something in his schoolbag.

"Aha! Here it is!"

Takeru received a magazine from Kazu's hands. It was an anime magazine, and a big picture of the Digi-Destined was right on the front. Takeru remained expression-less, but the bottled feeling returned to his heart, and he silently cried.

Those were the good times, Pauline………

Are you saying you're not happy the way you are now?

Takeru smiled to himself. No, it's just………back then, I never expected my life to turn out like this. I was looking forward to finishing high school, maybe asking Kari to the prom……I would go to College and study Literature. I wanted to be a writer, you know? I would have become just another human being, and live a human being's average life: work everyday, fall in love, making a family, dying several decades later in a house filled with grandchildren………and I threw all that away, Pauline.

But your life now has another meaning. A higher meaning, Takeru. Your existence means so much more, that an average job can never be compared in importance to what you do.

Yes, but………at which price?

Hirokazu's next question interrupted Takeru's thoughts.

"Did things really end the way the show……showed us?" Kazu bit her lip at the redundancy. Takeru smiled.

"I watched the ending of the show you watch in this realm. Such ending displays our lives 25 years after Malomyotismon, Hirokazu. In my realm it's only been fourteen years since that terrible battle. So, there's no way I can answer you that question. There's something I can tell you: I'm definitely not a novelist."

Everybody smiled, but Takeru wasn't joking. The thought was now even more painful. It was Kenta's turn to ask, and his question was a much more interesting one.

"Takeru, you said both the anime and the videogames were based in your real life in that……realm you told us about. Does it mean Ryo……?"

The Tamers immediately understood Kenta's question and looked at the Lengendary Tamer with curiosity. Rika was the first one to reply.

"That's impossible! Takeru just said that happened nineteen years ago, and Ryo's just……how old are you, anyway?"

"Fifteen." Ryo replied with a voice lacking of any emotion. Rika noticed it, but didn't pay attention to it.

"See?"

Takeru smiled at Ryo. "What do you say, Ryo? Do we tell them?"

"I'd……rather not talk about it." However, Ryo's face lit up for a moment. "How's Ken doing?"

"Oh, he's fine. He and Yolei had their first child a year ago."

"So, he's married……" Ryo said grimly. Everyone else was shocked.

"Ryo, you do know Ken Ichijouji!!!!" The Tamers shouted in unison.

"So Ken did marry Yolei!" Kenta stated. Everyone sweatdropped.

"Yes, they got married five years ago, Kenta." Takeru explained.

"What happened to the others?" Jeri asked curiously.

Takeru sighed. He knew that question would eventually be asked. He pointed at the picture, placing his index finger on Davis' face. "Davis is still single, but he's now one of the most coveted bachelors in the world since his restaurant franchise became incredibly successful. Who would have thought?"

Then he pointed at Cody. "Cody is a lawyer. His grandfather's death was very painful to him, and he might have not gotten over it if it weren't for a nice young lady named Yui Ayami. Even if she's eight years younger, they're already engaged. She's studying to become a lawyer, too. I guess they'll make a great team together."

"Joe Kido is a well-known physician, and the maximum authority in Digimon Medicine. He's actually working in a project concerning binary conversion of mind patterns for the treatment of mental diseases. He doesn't know it, but a similar theory allowed the creation of the Omnivice."

"Matt Ishida and Sora Takenouchi got married a little more than nine years ago. Matt's career in aeronautics doesn't allow him to spend as much time with Sora as he wanted, so children are out of the question, at least for now. Sora, as the TV show says, works as a fashion designer. What the anime didn't say is that she followed her mother's steps and kept the flower shop running. And to think she hated it when her mother forced her to take care of the shop for her……"

"Mimi Tachikawa grew fond of high-class cuisine and she eventually became a famous chef, even if she specializes in sweets: you know…cakes and stuff. She has her own TV show, and she wrote a book about gastronomy, too. It's the most bought book of its type. Oh, and she's pregnant……"

"So she got married? To whom?" Ryo asked. Takeru shook his head.

"I never said she got married. She's single, and she still doesn't know she's pregnant. I know who the father is……but I'd rather not talk about it."

"What do you mean she doesn't know!?" Rumiko asked.

"Exactly what I meant. She still doesn't know. Anyway, Koushiro is the most talented computer genius of the last decade. He designs software and then sells it to the highest bidder. He uses the money to do research on the Digital World. He also dictates conferences on universities worldwide, and he met his girlfriend in one of those conferences."

"I can't believe it! Computer geek has a girl!?" Kazu asked in disbelief. Takeru chuckled.

"I got info that she was a total cutie, so I decided to find out by myself. My surprise was great when I discovered who the lucky lady was."

"Who was it?" Kenta asked with great curiosity.

"Remember the Digimon World Tour?"

The Tamers nodded.

"Remember Catherine?"

"NO WAY!!!!!"

"Yes way."

Everyone stared at Taker as if he had just told them a really bad joke. "Yeah, I reacted like that when I saw them."

"Oh………" Jeri concluded. "And what about Kari?"

Oh dear………

…………………I thought you were over her!

I am!

It certainly doesn't seem like so!

"Well, Kari got married soon after she finished high school. She studies photography and began working as a reporter……my brother pulled a few strings on dad's work to accomplish that. However, the guy was a total jerk and dumped her for a teenager as soon as he found out Kari was pregnant. Now she's a single mother. She was having a lot of problems keeping her job, paying the rent and raising her baby at the same time, but she's a strong woman. She'll live. As for Tai………"

Takeru deeply inhaled.

But Takeru, what about……?

It's only a hypothesis, Pauline. As far as we know, he's…………

"………Tai disappeared two and a half years after Malomyotismon. He left suicide notes in his room, so he was declared dead after any efforts to find him were unsuccessful. He was never found, though. Neither dead nor alive. As you can see, not all of us lived happily ever after as the anime said. After all, we're humans, too. Our lives aren't perfect."

Everyone was silent. For a strange reason, the death of a relatively fictitious character was affecting them more than the expected. Ryo was the most affected by the news.

"Tai………damn, he was a nice guy."

"Yeah………"

"Why did he do that, anyway?"

"I'm sure he had his reasons, Ryo. It's not easy to take your own life, after all."

Ryo nodded. "At least I hope the others still remember me."

"Oh, they do, Ryo. They owe you their lives and so do I."

"Huh?" Rika reacted. "Don't tell me you………"

"Didn't you play the videogame, Rika? You know of Ryo's adventures against the Evil God, Millenniumon."

"But……but……but you just said………"

"…such events took place nineteen years ago? Yes, I said that. The thing is, Ryo is a Singularity."

"A what!?" Ryo asked Takeru. Everyone looked at the Legendary Tamer and realized not even Ryo himself knew how he had been able to do things that took place nineteen years before yet be fifteen years old.

"Yes, Ryo, I could explain it to you, but I think we better wait. We have other things to discuss, and there are other people I need to contact."

Takeru got up and everybody complained, Rika being the first one. "Wait, there are other things…!!!"

"…and I'll give you the answers you want, Rika, but I think it's better if I talk to everyone at the same time. Henry, I need a favor from you."

Henry, who had remained silent (or too busy controlling Terriermon to talk) the whole time, immediately got up. "Yes?"

"I need you to get your father, Janyuu. Please bring Yamaki and Daneel, too."

"Got it!"

"Count with us!" Terriermon shouted as the brunette made his way to the exit. Takeru looked at the rookie Digimon until it got out of sight. "Hirokazu? Kenta?"

"Yes?" Both boys answered at the same time.

"Go get Ms. Nami Asagi."

"Ms. Asagi? What for?" Jeri asked. Takeru remained silent, and the Tamers knew better than to piss him off, so they left immediately, followed by Guardromon, MarineAngemon, and much to everyone's surprise, Patamon.

"Jeri, go get Guilmon and the other Digimon, then go to the Wong's apartment and get Suzie and Lopmon. Renamon, please help Jeri. She'll have trouble bringing Guilmon here by herself."

"Alright." Both Jeri and Renamon replied before they left. A minute later, it was only Takeru, Ryo and the Nonaka family. Takeru walked outside and looked up.

"It's getting dark."

"Do you have a place to stay, Takeru?" Ryo asked.

Now that's an interesting question………

"Ah, well……I hadn't really thought about that."

There was a quick reaction from one of the Nonaka women. "You can always stay here, if you want!"

Rika slapped her forehead. It's official: my mother has the hots for an anime character.

I don't like the sound of that!

Neither do I, Pauline, but you know, we really don't have a place to stay. Besides, you know I have no interest on Miss Rumiko.

For your own sake, I HOPE NOT!!!!!

"I appreciate your hospitality, miss. I'll be pleased to accept your offer."

"Oh, no, the pleasure is definitely mine!" Rika's mother replied with a loud giggle. Rika groaned.

Oh, this is great……and his perfect manners and his calling her 'miss' is definitely NOT helping!

"Oh, come on, just think about it! Your new father could be a Digi-Destined!"

Alright, Rika, never…….NEVER THINK THAT AGAIN!!!!!!

Takeru smiled and leaned against a nearby wall. Pauline, it's time………

For what?

For you to activate the 'Contact' algorithm.

Really!?

Yes.

Really, really!?

Yes!

Neat! Okay, here I go!

The Nonakas gasped when Takeru suddenly fell to the floor and stopped moving. Ryo immediately walked next to him to check for a pulse.

"He's……he's just sleeping."

Rika rolled her eyes, and her grandmother made a trivial comment.

"Damn……I wish I could do that."

*****Takato's Mind*****

Ruki's ears perked up and her eyes grew wider. She immediately got up and began to look around, as if she were searching for something. Chaos had been witness of all that.

"Well, it seems she totally lost it." He said to no one, and then yawned loudly. "Man, I'm sleepy. Is it just me or I sleep longer and more often lately?"

"It's calling me."

"Huh?"

Chaos looked at Ruki again, but the female manifestation of the Omnivice was still in some sort of daze, looking around for something.

"Who is it? Who is the one calling me?"

Chaos rolled his eyes. "Oh dear……she's so totally wacko……hello, it's only the three of us here! Well, that if we count Mr. Play-Dead over here."

"My sister is calling me."

Chaos sighed. "I think we need to make something clear here. You're NOT human!!! You're a machine! You don't have a family!"

"It's the Emerald Omnivice. My sister……I finally get to meet my sister."

Suddenly, Ruki came out of her trance and grabbed Chaos by the t-shirt's neck. "You! Take me to her, now! She's at Rika's!"

Chaos had to intention of messing with the apparently-mentally-unstable, so he nodded. Then he noticed something else.

"Hmm……Ruki? We're in a hospital, remember?"

"I don't care! Take me with my sister!"

"And what about Gogglehead?"

"HE'LL LIVE!!!"

"Whoa, what's with the newfound hope all of a sudden?"

"Shut up!"

"Alright, alright, geez………but I'm only doing this because I'm dying of boredom!"

"Oh, come on, stop overreacting!"

"Seriously! I feel strangely weaker!"

*****Back to Rika's*****

Takeru couldn't help but smirk at the way his orders were followed. Rika's house got crowded with people in less than an hour. Henry had not only brought Janyuu, Yamaki and Daneel. Riley and Talley had come along, as well as Shibumi. What was Shibumi doing at Hypnos that day? How am I supposed to know!?

Kazu and Kenta had found their teacher at the school, and much to her surprise, Miss Asagi immediately followed them to the Nonaka's house. In fact, it was almost as if she were expecting them!

Jeri had successfully gathered the Digimon and brought Suzie along. That made sixteen humans (without Takeru) and eleven Digimon. As big as that house was, it didn't have enough space for everyone inside, so they were forced to sit down on the wooden floor, while Takeru stood on the grass outside, facing them with a stern look. He looked at Guilmon, who was fast asleep on the grass, breathing heavily. That does confirm my suspicion.

A gaze was enough for Daneel and Nami to separate from the group and walk closer to Takeru. The blonde Tamer looked at his two agents.

"I think this is the first time we meet like this." Takeru stated with a smile. Both Daneel and Ms. Asagi nodded.

"Milord, do you think it is right to reveal the truth to all of them like this?" Daneel asked. Ms. Asagi showed her agreement with a nod.

"Do you think they're ready for it, Lord Takeru? I mean, when I first had my initiation, I found it hard to believe. It's all so……complex."

Takeru nodded. "We've reached a critical point, my friends. An unexpected event, something that escaped my Crest Powers…….something that even the Event Matrix couldn't predict has happened. And we're going to need all the help we can get to deal with this threat. And the answer to your question is no, my dear Nami. They are definitely not prepared for the complexity and challenging Gospel. And some of them will definitely find it hard to believe, especially those not directly connected to Digimon. I barely understand the truth behind all the seemingly unrelated details………the Gospel, Project Asmodeus, the Dragon God's true intentions, the Triad's influence in the plot………heck, even the Omnivice is still a mystery to me, and I invented it! The point is, we don't have time to prepare them for this. They have to know of it now, so they can be ready when all the Dimensions know of Gospel. They'll have to cope with it, or the Day of the Prophecy will swallow them whole."

Daneel and Nami nodded in unison, even if they didn't understand the whole idea. Takeru smiled at them.

"As for now, I want you to sit down and listen. You may even learn some new facts. Oh, and don't be afraid of asking questions."

Nami nodded and returned next to the Tamers, who immediately showered her with questions, all of them she answered by shaking her head, remaining silent, and smiling. Daneel stayed for an extra question.

"Have you made any progresses with the text lately, Lord Takeru?"

"I've had little time for that lately, Daneel, but in the few time I spent with it I made a discovery. I don't know how important it is, though. We'll talk about it later."

Daneel nodded and returned to the others. No one even bothered asking him. Takeru walked to the exact middle of the grass field and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I apologize for the inconvenience such an amount people causes. I'd also like to thank Miss Rumiko Nonaka and her mother for allowing me to borrow her place for this reunion. I'll be eternally in your debt."

Rika's grandmother bowed in appreciation, as a way to accept Takeru's words, while Rumiko replied with a silly giggle. Rika groaned and Pauline growled. Yamaki was the first to complain, his lighter being flicked in a fast motion.

"I think everyone agrees with me when I demand to know the reason we're here. And who are you, anyway?"

Murmuring and nodding was the massive response. Takeru didn't change his usual smile and replied.

"I guess I should start with a proper introduction, then. As I just said the Tamers a few hours ago, my name is Takeru Takaishi and I'm not from this world."

No response. Janyuu coughed, breaking the eerie silence. Takeru proceeded to explain.

"The reason I gathered you all here was to tell you a story. The story of the Digital World, as you never imagined it."

That simple sentence got everyone's attention. Maybe it was the way he said, or maybe Takeru simply had the ability to become the center of attention. Anyway, Takeru interrupted his speech.

"I'm eager to start, but we still have to wait for my special guest."

"Really, and who might that be?" Ryo asked. His question immediately found an answer.

"You need not to wait anymore, Triad guy."

The voice came from the main entrance. Rika immediately jumped out of her sitting place.

"Takato!"

She immediately corrected her mistake when she realized everyone was staring at her.

"……Gogglehead."

However, it could be easily seen that Takato was not in the best of his days. Blood stain covered his t-shirt and the way he slowly walked in front of Takeru revealed severe leg injuries. That, added to the way he covered his lower torso and the bandages that could be seen below the clothing revealed the true nature of Takato's health catastrophe. Rumiko was the first to complain.

"What are you doing here? Mr. Takaishi, Takato should be in the hospital!"

Takeru shook his head. "No hospital will cure the problem that's slowly killing him. Besides, I need him here. After all, he's the main protagonist of the story I'm about to tell you."

Shibumi frowned. "How come? I thought you were going to talk about the Digital World."

"Indeed. The history of the Digital World is Takato's Story. But let's not rush into things. There are many things I must explain before we get to Project Asmodeus. Takato, could you please sit down with the others? And how am I supposed to call you anyway?"

Takato smirked with a devilish grin. "You can call me Takato if you want. Chaos will do if you don't."

Only then Rika recognized the entity controlling Takato's body. "YOU!!!!"

"Glad to see you missed me, Rika."

"Oh, get lost and bring back Gogglehead!"

"You know I can't do that." Chaos replied as he sat next to Jeri, who immediately inched as far as possible from Takato's alter-ego. Henry looked at Takato with a concerned look, while Terriermon took the chance to lighten the moods up a little.

"So……what's up, Taka-chan?"

"NEVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN, RABBITMON!!!!"

Rika's mother noticed her daughter's snickering. "Why are you laughing, Rika? You were the one who invented that pet-name, after all."

"That I did WHAT!?"

Takeru chuckled. "That's another story, Rika, now could you please calm down and let me begin?"

Rika muttered something inaudible and sat down next to Chaos, who immediately leaned against Rika's side.

"Hey, I'm weak and I need help, okay? So bear with ……"

*TWACK!*

"Hey! That hurt! I think you reopened a wound there!"

"Chaos, please move away from Rika." Takeru ordered, using his hands as an indication. It was then when Chaos noticed it.

"Hey……isn't that Ruki's sister?" Takato said, pointing at Takeru's Omnivice with his right index finger. He could hear Ruki's excited cheers in his mind.

Takeru smiled in response. "Ruki? Is that the name As……Takato gave to his Omnivice Trait?"

"Yeah, and she's a total witch……no, wait, change the w for a b there……"

HEY!!!

"Now what the fricking hell are you talking about!?" Hirokazu complained. Takeru proceeded to explain.

"You see, every Omnivice has the ability to develop a personality trait based on a basic pattern its Tamer gives it. Such 'Omnivice Traits', as I called them, are always female, and they take the Tamer-Digivice interface to a new level. We could say it gives a new meaning to the expression 'user-friendly'. It's a good way to handle many of the Omnivice's most advanced features, like is programming. Besides, they're a great help for strategy and discussion. I created the 'Omnivice Traits' to transform the Digivice into a new friend for the Tamer, not just a machine."

Chaos continued. "So you could say we have this chick talking inside our heads all the time. It's annoying."

I'm NOT annoying!!!!!

Takeru frowned. "You may not like it, Chaos, but I'm sure your alternate existence has become great friends with Ruki. Pauline is my best friend besides Patamon."

Yeah, sure………now we're 'friends'……

Shut up.

Chaos rolled his eyes. "You called your interface Pauline?"

"It's not worse than Ruki."

"Point taken. Sometimes I wonder why the Gogglehead picked such a name."

"Anyway. Can we please continue? The others are getting impatient."

"Sure thing, mister………"

"I'm Takeru Takaishi, Chaos."

"Hey, the Digi-Destined of Hope! Well, I've seen weirder things."

"Thanks……I guess. Anyway, where should I start?"

Takeru remained silent to organize his ideas. He became the center of attention while the others waited for him to begin. Rika, Jeri and the Agents were the most interested. However, those few seconds Takeru spent in thinking had a much more important meaning……

*****Inside Takato*****

Code Name "Asmodeus", or at least his mind pattern slowly opened his "eyes", revealing himself to the inside of Takato's complex mind. As he adjusted his eyes to the light……or rather, the lack of it, Asmodeus recognized the familiar sensation of not being alone. He also noticed he wasn't the one in control of the body. As the memories of what had happened that lead him to the longest period of time he had been out of commission returned to his mind, Takato realized he had lots of explaining to do. But he had to find Ruki and Chaos first. Of course, that didn't take too long.

"You called me bitch!"

"Yeah, yeah, what's the big deal?"

"HOW CAN YOU ASK ME THAT!?"

"Oh, come on, it was for comic relief."

"Well, I didn't find it funny at all!"

Yes, Asmodeus was in the correct mind. Now he had to get their attention.

"Hmmm……so……what did I miss?"

The reaction was instantaneous. Two seconds later, he was being squeezed to death by a crying Ruki.

"Gogglehead!" she shouted before jumping to his arms with a strength that sent the both of them to the ground.

"Ummm……Ruki, I appreciate the gesture, but……could you please get off me!?"

Chaos walked closer to Takato and in a surprising gesture, extended his hand to help him. "Took you a while, Goggles."

Takato smiled back. "That Eternal Justice Dual Force attack hurt like the dickens."

Chaos nodded. "Well, I'll admit it changed my opinion of female fighters. Anyway, are you taking the body back?"

Takato raised an eyebrow. "Are you actually handing control to me by free will?"

Chaos chuckled. "I just want to see if you're capable of handling it in that state."

Indeed, Asmodeus wasn't in one of his best days. His ragged clothes filled with dry blood stains and sweat barely covered the immense damage his mind and body had received. That's what Chaos admired the most from Takato: his definitely-inhuman resistance to pain and exhaustion.

However, Ruki had the biggest sweatdrop on her forehead. "Oh, I can't believe you, Gogglehead!"

Takato looked down at his friend. "What is it, Ruki?"

Ruki pointed at Chaos. "He's what's wrong! He's the cause of everything that's wrong with your life, and you chat with him as if you were best friends!"

Takato's smile disappeared. "Ruki, I am Chaos, and he is me. We're different manifestations of one self. I don't why we're separated, but I'd be wasting my time if I went against him."

"First smart thing you say in quite a while, Gogglehead."

"Could you please stop it with the 'Gogglehead' thing?"

"Sure thing, Goggles."

"That includes any modifications to the original nickname!"

"Oh, alright, Taka-chan."

Takato's blush was enough to send Chaos into a fit of laughter. A second after that, Takato felt how he was slowly regaining control of his body, and an incredible pain overwhelmed his brain. He realized he needed to get used to it again as he felt his body losing balance and falling down to one side, eventually landing…………on someone's lap.

*****Rika's House*****

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, GOGGLEHEAD!!!???"

Oh, yes, that's become a classic. That, and the usual beating.

*POW! TWACK! BLAM!*

Yes, that beating. Of course, the massive smacking and punching didn't get the usual response from Takato (whining and complaining). Jeri was the first to react.

"Rika, stop it! You're hurting him!" the young girl with the long dress got in between the angry Rika and the groaning Takato, who remained motionless on the cold grass, his body trembling, his forehead sweating and his wounds reopening. However, Rika wasn't done yet.

"That's what that moron Chaos gets for sitting on my……huh?"

Rika couldn't finish the sentence, as the words seemed to freeze inside her throat at the same time her eyes widened in terror. Jeri forced herself to follow Rika's line of sight, even if she was sure she would not like what she would see, and, indeed, she let go a loud gasp when she finally did it.

Takato had begun to cough, and every time he did it, a considerable amount of blood escaped through his mouth, spreading on the grass in a macabre scene under the moonlight. In one second, Takato was completely surrounded by humans and Digimon, Takeru getting down on his knees to help him, as he knew exactly what had happened.

"Takato, do the switching, NOW!"

Takato didn't waste anytime following Takeru's suggestion. The very moment Chaos regained control, his powers beyond human comprehension acted on Takato's body, giving him a temporary relief. The coughing and bleeding soon stopped, and Takato easily got up, much to everyone's disbelief. He looked at them as if nothing had happened. He then looked at Takeru.

"How is he?" the blonde man asked.

"He'll live." Chaos immediately eyed Rika, who in a second realized exactly what had happened. "Don't tell me I………"

"Yes, Rika, your stupidity has just reduced Takato's lifespan. I'd kill you right now if I didn't respect my other self."

Takato walked away from the group and sat down on the grass, his back leaning against the house's outer wall. He then faced Takeru.

"Your story will have to wait, Takaishi. I'm sure you want him to listen to it, and he can't do it in his current state………" Takato shot Rika a glare that would make Rika's look like tender smiles. "I'll need at least an hour."

Takeru nodded. "I'll help, too."

Chaos frowned. "How could you possibly help?"

Takeru sat down next to Takato and showed him a short cable he had kept inside his pocket. He connected one end of it to his Emerald Omnivice and the other one to the port Takato's Omnivice had (the same one Takato used to hack into the Hypnos Mainframe, remember?). Before activating the link, Takeru gave some last words to the others, who were as confused as worried.

"Takato and I will be out for a while. I offer you my most sincere excuses. Oh, and Rika………next time make sure you're beating the crap out of the right one."

Both Takato and Takeru closed their eyes and drifted to unconsciousness. Of course, Rika became the new center of attention, but she was too depressed to reply with one of her icy glares. Only Jeri gave her supporting words.

"There was no way you could have known………."

But Rika barely listened to her colleague's words. She had a very important question bothering her mind to no end.

How can I protect him from the world………if I can't even protect him from myself?

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End of chapter 2……

DR: Okay, this chapter was originally thought to be written in one single delivery, but it was turning out to be too long, so I saved the best for the next part. Man, and Daemon hasn't even showed up yet. I guess I'm making this story longer than I thought. Cool!

Terriermon: Oh, but I want to the action!

DR: Trust me, you don't.

(The Biggest Dreamer starts playing)

Ruki's Voice: Well, hello! The Omnivice connection allows Takeru and Pauline to access Takato's mind. I finally get to meet my sister, and I can't believe she has the hots for her Master! I mean, eww! Anyway, once we're done helping Takato regain control, thanks to that *mutters something inaudible, and better left unknown* Chaos, Takeru proceeds to explain everything he had meant to tell us since the beginning! Things start falling into place in the next chapter of Silent Sorrow: Singularities, Part 2: Gospel.

Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)