I'm back with chapter 4! This time Terriermon's not with me, as I finally got Henry to take him somewhere else…….
(A female voice can be heard from the background shouting: "Daneel, I'm going to kill you!!!")
…ahem! Anyway, just as expected, I got mixed opinions about last chapter. That's really nice, as it means I'm doing things the right way. Thanks a lot for the compliments, and to those who think I overreacted with the rating thing, well……I know that a kissing scene doesn't really imply a R Rating, but when the ones kissing are a bunch of twelve-year-olds, well……I just wanted to play it safe. And to those who didn't like the chapter, well………I'll try to improve my romance scenes for next time……if there's a next time.
Another thing that amused me is that nobody mentioned my revealing of the third and final member of the Triad. I find that single thing much more important than the Rukato kiss………but the kiss was a lot funnier!
Anyway, I don't own Digimon, but I do own Ruki, Pauline and the Blackpearl Omnivice. BlackTerriermon belongs to Digidestined of Courage and Eclipse is an original conception of Tatsu no Houou. Neither do I own Neon Genesis Evangelion: R, definitely the best work of Fanfiction EVER. That belongs to the people from Modus Productions, especially to Mahel Al-Samkari. Let's go to chapter four, where Takato and Rika have communication problems, Rumiko and her mother make their first approach at "The TalkTM"; Chaos, Takato and Ruki discuss the consequences of their actions; Takeru makes a lame attempt at counseling Takato; BlackTerriermon begins to question his Tamer's sanity and Tatsu does the stupidest thing ever...with a little……actually, a lot of help from the others. Actually, Tatsu doesn't do anything wrong, it's DC who screws big time! Enjoy!
Note: The whole "Digital World Story" thing I have going since the last chapter is MY conception of the Digital World for this series, okay? I don't want you to start sending flames saying that "that was never said in the TV show!" or such. Second, this chapter presents discussions on religious and philosophical matters. If you feel somehow offended by such matters, please don't read.
SILENT SORROW
Chapter 4
Singularities, Part III: Evolution
"Why can't you just---just open up to me!!?"
"Because .. Because ich liebe dich, You Jerk!!"
Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley Soryu, Neon Genesis Evangelion: R
"Thanks……a lot."
"You're welcome, Takato. Make sure to tell me if there's anything else you need. If you can't find you can always ask Rika."
Takeru eyed Takato, and it was obvious the boy was frozen.
"We'll be fine. Thanks for everything, Miss Rumiko."
Rumiko blushed and bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Takaishi. And, please, just Rumiko will do."
Takeru waited until Rumiko left to speak again. "You just can't get it out of your head, huh?"
And Takato snapped out of it. "Of course not! What did you expect me to do, forget it!? Act as if nothing had happened!?"
"That's not what I meant. I just don't understand the problem."
"Of course you don't." Takato spat out and wrapped himself with the sleeping bag. Takeru sighed. He didn't want to fall asleep just yet.
I guess we might as well check on Rika and Renamon.
And Ryo!
True, Pauline……but where's Ryo, anyway?
"I can't believe I'm doing this……" A female voice reached TK's ears. He opened the door and faced Rika, who carried another sleeping bag, and several pillows. Takeru frowned.
"What's all that for?"
Rika simply threw the sleeping bag and one pillow inside the room. Neither Rika nor Takeru heard Takato's muffled "hey!" as the objects hit him.
"Hmm……okay, is Ryo staying with us?" Takeru asked.
Rika's eyes narrowed.
My guess would be yes.
"Hmm……I see………"
Takato finally appeared from under the stuff. "Takeru, can't you see I'm trying to sleep………"
The boy didn't manage to finish the sentence as his eyes met two brimming violet orbs. Gosh, he loved those eyes so much. But in that moment, as Rika's eyes looked at him, there was nothing in them. They were so empty, that it wasn't hard for Takato to reach conclusions.
"Is there anything you want?" He said sternly.
Takeru gulped when he saw how Rika's eyes narrowed even more and how her fists clenched as she tried to hold her anger. Finally, she gathered all of her strength and tossed one pillow right at Takato's face.
"I just thought you might need a pillow, you moron!" She said before stomping her way to her bedroom. Takeru sighed while Pauline chuckled.
Ahh, young love………
Oh, please, let's not get started………
Alright, then let's go to bed……………
I'll go to bed, you exist only in my mind………
But that doesn't mean I can't have fun with you………
Takeru gulped. But we still have to check on Ryo!
Pauline pouted as Takeru exited the guests' room. You're such a wuss……
I just have common sense!
Takeru stopped as he focused on the images in his mind. Closing his eyes and reaching inside the deeper parts of his mind, he realized Pauline was staring at him with great intensity. The problem was, she was just wearing a silk nightgown, which made Takeru gulp for the third time in less than five minutes.
"Common sense, my ass………."
Takeru sighed. "You don't have an ass!"
"Oh, really? Then tell me what this is!"
With amazing speed, Pauline grabbed Takeru's right hand and rubbed it against her rear. Takeru moved it away almost immediately. Pauline chuckled.
"Oh, come.on! You can't say you didn't like it. No fat at all!"
Takeru frowned. "Of course there's no fat. I designed the Omnivice traits to be excellent in every way possible."
Pauline snuggled closer to the blonde man. "Oh, yes, yes………you know I'm excellent at many other things…………"
Takeru blushed fiercely. "T-t-t-tha-that's not what I meant! Pauline, could you please calm your freaking hormones………or their electronic equivalent?"
"I can only think of one way to release this tension, Takeru……" Pauline purred.
"Oh, dear………I desperately need to be saved………"
"TK!" A voice shouted from somewhere outside, and Takeru opened his eyes to meet Ryo. The "Legendary Tamer" was looking at him with a weird look.
"Jeez, you were just standing there with your eyes closed……what the hell were you doing…………are you blushing?"
"N-no! What's wrong with you? I just……….I just got lost! I was looking for you, you know?"
Damn……and I was this close to scoring………
Ryo still thought there was something odd going on, but he let it go. "Well, I am here. What did you want me for?"
"I………I just wanted to talk."
"About the old times?"
"I'd……I'd rather avoid that topic, Ryo."
"Alright. To be honest, I wasn't really in the mood for reminiscences, either."
Both Takeru and Ryo sat down on the wooden floor and looked up at the sky above them. Ryo sighed.
"You have no idea……how weird it is."
"What?"
"Having lived fourteen years with my body not aging a second."
Takeru smiled, but it was a compassionate smile, nothing else. "That's because, technically, you only lived a few days. What happened was just a combination of your Crest's powers and……certain events you got involved in."
"In other words, Millenniumon."
"Yep."
"Gosh, he keeps pestering me even after so long………"
"You shouldn't say that, you know? I heard of Monodramon's origins……"
Ryo sighed again. "Yeah………that so called 'Evil God' returns to my mind every time Monodramon evolves. I'm getting the hang of how to control it, though."
"That's good to know."
They remained silent for a couple of minutes. Finally, Ryo spoke again.
"You just said I had a Crest………is that…….?"
"Yrs, it's true." Takeru answered with a nod. "But I'll give you the details tomorrow, when I explain everything about the Ultimate Crest and Takato's Crest."
Ryo's eyes widened and he looked at Takeru with a surprised look. "Takato's Crest!? Are you telling me he's a Digi-Destined!?"
Takeru sighed, but then he chuckled. Finally, he looked at the few stars that could be seen and spoke in a barely audible voice.
"Takato……is nothing……and he's……everything at the same time. Digimon Tamer, Digi-Destined, Omni-Tamer, Enlightened………when it comes to Takato……names don't matter anymore. He's just………"
"Deus……"
Takeru frowned at the voice invading his mind. "……Takato." Now where did that come from?
However, the voice didn't return, so he immediately dismissed it. He then looked at Ryo, who seemed to be analyzing what he had just heard.
"I just………I just can't see why you say he's so important. I mean, he's a good Tamer……"
Takeru gave Ryo an evil grin. "'Good?'"
Ryo sighed. "Okay, he's excellent……"
Takeru smirked and inched his face closer to Ryo's. "'Excellent?'"
"Okay, okay, I give up! His ability, skill and power go far beyond anything I've ever seen before! Are you happy!?"
Takeru nodded happily. "Yeah, I'm happy now. And to think you're talking about the worst card-game player ever."
Ryo chuckled. "Yeah……he's a disgrace to card players……yet he's a better fighter than me………"
Takeru gave Ryo a disbelieving look this time. Ryo frowned. "I never said that, okay? I've got an image……"
"Oh, sure…….." Takeru slyly replied. "……but it's good you finally admit there's someone better than you at something."
"Just don't think I'm getting soft or something!"
Takeru laughed. "No, of course not!"
However, Takeru's smile didn't last long, as he soon changed to "Lord of Humans" mode.
"You……have yet to understand Takato's role………and your own role in what's bound to come. In a few years, an enemy beyond any enemy Digi-Destined or Tamer has ever faced before will threaten the very existence of this universe……or every universe. Even you, who carry within yourself the power to alter the very fabric of time and space, will be nothing in front of this new coming of evil."
"Gee, that's good to know……but what you're trying to say………"
"Only the one who is both God and Devil, the deity created by humans and worshipped by Digimon will be able to cleanse the darkness…………only Takato's blood will save the Digital World.
Ryo looked down at his feet. "A deity created by humans…………"
"His sacrifice is necessary. But his body is withering too soon. The time of his death is not just yet. That's why I need him alive now………he must grow and mature as a man………for the time of his awakening as a God is yet to come."
Ryo shook his head. "A God? But what about……?"
"Are you thinking of The God? The God of Christians, the Ala of Muslims, that God?"
Ryo nodded. Takeru smiled.
"Have you heard of Nietzsche, Ryo?"
Ryo frowned. "Philosophy is not something I'm good at, Takeru."
"But at least you know he was a philosopher. His greatest contribution to history was forcing humanity to wonder……to think of their origin……and to think of God………..did God create men, or did men create God? That was Nietzsche's question."
"Now that I think about it, it's a pretty darn good question……"
"We already know that God didn't create the universe 6000 years ago, that's for sure……."
A loud "WHAT!?" coming from the other side of the house startled both Tamers. They easily recognized the voice as Rumiko's, so they immediately shook it away, as it didn't seem to be something of importance to them.
Takeru let himself fall down until his body was lying on the floor. "Personally, I think the God humans imagine doesn't exist."
"Huh?"
"God as a being which controls the tide of events is merely a creation of man. It's just another way to find answers, a way to find consolation after experiencing their fears. People don't die because of God's will. Disasters don't strike because of God's will. Things simply happen. Such a God, in my opinion, does not exist. We don't need an excuse to be good……or bad."
Ryo frowned. "And this coming from the Digi-Destined of Hope……"
"I quitted that job a long time ago, Akiyama. The thing is, I do believe in something……."
"Oh, really, and what would that be?"
"After years of looking for something to believe, I finally found something……someone. And that someone is resting in that room." Takeru answered, pointing at the guests' room.
"Takato?"
"No, Ryo, not just Takato………it's what Takato represents. He's the living manifestation of the Higher Entity's existence, and its plans for our destiny."
"Okay, now I'm officially lost."
Takeru chuckled. "Yeah, it was tough for me, too………okay, the thing is, I do believe in an existence that existed before everything else, an entity from which everything was born. A 'Higher Entity'. We, as imperfect children or the Higher Entity, are unable to understand the very meaning of such a concept, and that's why we have to resort to lower-level definitions such as 'God'. Only by dancing in unison with the Unity we can get a feeble grasp of what the Higher Entity is."
"'dancing'? The Unity? Sorry to ask you this, but what did you have for dinner, Takeru?"
Takeru chuckled. "You'll eventually understand, Ryo, so don't worry. The Unity is everything, Ryo, so the Unity is the Higher Entity itself, yet is something different at the same time, as the Higher Entity exists inside and outside the universes. Dancing with the Unity is communicating with the Higher Entity, the Ultimate Prayer; Ryo. To dance is to harmonize with everything, TO BE everything, TO LOVE everything."
Ryo maintained his frown. "Okay……..but where does Takato enter all this hippie stuff?"
Takeru glared. "It's not 'hippie stuff', Ryo. It's everything……just like Takato. He doesn't just 'enter' this thing like you say. He IS the thing. He doesn't need to dance with the Unity, as his very life is the dance. Everything he does, everything he thinks…every day of his life is one step closer to the Higher Entity. And if he lives long enough, one day, he'll realize he was created by the Higher Entity. And then he'll realize he IS the Universes. Higher Entity, Takato, Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End…………there is no difference. As in a circle: there is no beginning, there's no end……but there's definitely a center."
"The Higher Entity." Ryo concluded. Takeru shook his head.
"No, Ryo. Takato."
"But I thought………"
Takeru chuckled. "As Takato IS the Higher Entity."
"But you said he was created by the Higher Entity……"
"So was I……so were you."
"Then what's the frickin' difference!?"
Takeru grinned.
"………that we're not Takato."
*****At the same time Takeru and Ryo had their little chat………*****
Takato Matsuki peacefully rested inside the warm comfort of his sleeping bag. Oblivious to the conversation taking place just outside, oblivious to the fact that his parents had been already told of his disappearance from the hospital, oblivious to what the Nonakas were doing; Takato simply rested. But the word 'rest' must not be taken literally. The truth is that, even if his eyes were closed and his body was still, his mind was working just as if he were wide awake, as a meeting was taking place in the deep darkness of Takato's mind.
As usual, our protagonists are Takato's incorrectly called 'dark' alter-ego, Chaos; the Ruby Omnivice's personality trait, Ruki, and the artificially-created personality, whose true purpose still remains unknown, Code Name: Asmodeus. This time, the so-called 'Asmodeus' were 'leaning' against an invisible wall, while both Ruki and Chaos stood in front of him.
"Now what's wrong!?" Chaos asked, followed by a disgusted sigh. Being a part of Takato, he knew exactly what was wrong with his other self, but he preferred to hear it from Asmodeus, as he still didn't understand the problem.
"I……I think I should give up on her………"
"What!?" Ruki shouted in disbelief. She hurriedly sat next to Takato and placed her left arm on his right shoulder. "Why!? You've never been closer!"
"Are you crazy!? I kissed her! Without her agreement! It's a surprise I'm still alive! I think I should leave this house and never return before she realizes that she hasn't killed me yet!"
Chaos chuckled and sat next to Takato, too. "Did you just listen to yourself?"
"Huh?"
"You just made a very important question, Goggles. Why didn't Rika beat the crap out of you as soon as you……I……we kissed her? Because she could have easily done it. Haven't you considered that she might not be as mad about it as you think?"
Takato looked up at his counterpart. "……go on."
Chaos smirked in delight. "Yeah, I mean, it's not like you could have done something against her in the case she had gone berserk. But, in my humble opinion………I think she liked it……but it's not like she's going to admit it, you know?"
Takato meditated about it for a few seconds. "………you think so?"
"I'm almost a hundred percent sure. Besides, I've had my share of women in the past, it's not like I know nothing about them……"
Ruki twitched. "Oh, really, Mr. Hotshot? Care to give us a demonstration of your unique romance skills?"
Chaos grinned. "You wished."
"I'd rather kiss a Numemon!"
"Hey, I resent that!"
"Really? Good!"
"Shut up, Ruki!"
"Make me!"
"Alright, you asked for it!"
While Chaos pulled Ruki's hair and Ruki scratched Chaos' face, Takato……or better said, Asmodeus thought about what he had just been told. But he knew he would never reach a conclusion unless he faced Rika once more. Easier said than done, though. However, there was now a second matter than needed further thinking. Such was the matter of Chaos. He didn't know exactly how, but his counterpart had changed.
He doesn't seem so……fixated in taking control. It's almost as if he were enjoying mine and Ruki's company. But that might mean that he has simply resorted to waiting. After all, I know I don't have much time left………
Takato felt a sudden tinge in his crotch. When he looked up, Chaos was groaning in pain while covering that specific part of his body and Ruki laughed in front of him. For a strange reason, the subject of Rika returned to his mind.
But then……is there any sense in telling Rika of my feelings if I'm going to………it would be kind of sad to leave this world without telling her, though………
An alarm activated somewhere within himself.
Wait! What am I doing thinking like this!? It cannot end like this, not after everything I've done! There has to be a way I can survive this! I'm going to live through this, and once it's over, Rika will know of my feelings………but I think I should apologize for kissing her……but it was Chaos' fault! No, wait……Chaos' actions are my actions, so that's not an excuse……damn, now I'm confused.
"Just go see her!" Chaos' voice reached Takato's ears. When Asmodeus looked up, he witnessed how Ruki had Chaos trapped in a headlock, while Chaos was still pulling Ruki's hair. "I……I won't ask. Anyway, what did you just say?"
"I told you to just go see her!"
"How did you know……oh, yeah, you're me……….but I'll just get nervous!"
"Oh, come……wait a second…………let me go, Ruki!"
"Not until you promise to treat me proper…ouch! Stop pulling my beautiful hair!"
"Then let me-hey! My eye!"
Takato sighed. "I'm not gonna get anything else from you, huh?" He said, more to himself than to the two who were fighting. "Sometimes I wished my mental images showed something else but you two……"
Little did he know that he would grow to regret that wish, as his Evolution into his final form would bring upon him pain in ways he would have never imagined. But, oblivious to what awaited him, Takato got out of the sleeping bag and stood up, with a defiant look as he was ready to face……her.
*****Outside*****
Ryo sighed in defeat. "I give up. My head hurts."
Takeru simply patted Ryo's back. "You're just not ready yet. Once you learn about……"
"Sephiroth……"
Huh? The voice had returned. But it didn't speak again, so Takeru returned to Ryo. "……once you learn about the Gospel, then you will be a little closer to understanding."
"Of course, there's always a prophecy……"
Takeru sighed. "Yes………there's always a prophecy………"
Both Ryo and Takeru were interrupted by a sound from behind. The both looked at young Takato Matsuki as he walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him. Only then he noticed the two men watching his actions, which caused him to form a sheepish look.
"I…ah……um……sorry."
"For what?" Takeru replied with a sincere smile. Takato couldn't help but smile back. Takeru inquired further in Takato's obvious predicament.
"Are you okay?"
"A…ah……sure." Takato replied not very convincingly. He then noticed the glimmering emerald color of Takeru's Omnivice.
"Ah……Pauline………hi."
Takeru smiled at Takato's display of manners towards the artifact. It is obvious his relationship with the Ruby Omnivice has caused him to think of the Omnivice Traits as people………that's………nice………
Pauline, meanwhile, was in absolute bliss.
About time someone but you showed some manners! I do have feelings, you know!? I don't like being ignored! Damn, I'd kiss those cute cheeks of his if I could………
Takeru grimaced. "Pauline appreciates your words, Takato. How is Ruki?"
"She's busy beating the crap out of me………as weird as that sounds………"
"Seems like Chaos and Ruki don't have the best relationship, huh?" Takeru said with a smirk.
"You have no idea……" Takato softly said.
Sullenly (and suddenly), Takato sat next to Takeru. Ryo still tried to find sense to Takato's and Takeru's most recent exchange.
"It's……it's hard to believe those……Digivices of yours have personalities of their own."
Takeru sighed and smiled. "A miracle of the Digital World. I would have never succeeded if I had developed my theory in this World, that's for sure…….wait, did I say a miracle? I should say a nightmare……"
*PZZT!*
"Hey!"
"She shocked you, huh?" Takato spoke with the voice of someone who shared Takeru's feelings at the moment.
Takeru relaxed his electrically-charged muscles. "Oh well, most of the time we are very friendly towards each other."
Maybe too friendly, though……
Well, what can I do!? You're just TOO CUTE!
Takeru sighed again, but not loud enough for the two boys to hear. "But Takato………how is it, you know, dealing with such a messed-up mind?"
Takato chuckled. "Actually………it's kind of nice……."
The boy let himself fall down, resting his head on his hands. His face contorted in a smile, even if the only thing he could see now was the wooden ceiling and the starless night sky. Neither Ryo nor Takeru could bear to look at the younger boy, as if somehow interrupting Takato's trail of thought seemed………sacrilegious.
"I guess……it gives me the certainty that I'm never alone. Although it makes me weaker, I………I can't imagine life without them anymore. Ruki is always a valuable companion, and Chaos, well………he's nice."
"He doesn't fit in my definition of nice, Takato." Ryo commented. Takeru chuckled in response, of course.
"You're just pissed because ChaosGallantmon kicked your ass."
Takato smiled as he replied. "No matter what he says, or how he acts, I am sure he's not evil. He is just confused, as somehow his experiences in my body have changed him somehow. He simply can't understand those changes."
He's smarter than he looks.
Yeah………do you think his Neuro-Merge level has increased?
Maybe………I guess we'll have to do some tests to find out………remind me to tell Daneel to make the preparations.
"I……I'm sure tomorrow's talk will help you find some answers, Takato. I'm sure Chaos will find it very enlightening, too."
Takato smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."
"So do I." Ryo added. "I want to understand the whole 'Crest' thing."
"Crests?" Takato asked. Takeru shot a glare at Ryo before answering.
"Tomorrow, Takato, tomorrow."
"Oh, alright."
"Okay, then, we'll wait until tomorrow. As long as you don't start with the freaky 'dancing' thing again, it's fine by me."
Ryo only got more glaring after that sentence. Takeru quickly changed the subject before the puzzled Takato pressed the matter any further.
"So, anyway, what are you doing, Takato? Can't sleep?"
Takato nodded grimly. "I……have too much in my mind."
"Yeah, I guess. Tough life for a twelve-year-old, I think."
Takato sighed. This time it was Ryo's turn to ask. "Huh? What happened?"
"You DON'T want to know!" Takato immediately replied, his faint blush hid in the night's relative darkness. Takeru chuckled once again.
"You should thank God Terriermon is not here. If he finds out, the whole city will know."
"Can we PLEASE change the subject of this conversation!?"
"Oh, come on, Takato! It's not like you can avoid it. Besides, you could use some advice." Takeru said with a mischievous tone as he playfully nudged Takato's side. Ryo frowned at the older Tamer's attitude.
"Okay, I'm officially lost."
"And you better stay that way!" Takato replied, a rather embarrassed tone in his voice. Takeru insisted a little more.
"But, you know………you should try talking to her."
Of course, that was the only clue Ryo needed………which was pretty much TK's intention when he said that last sentence.
"Okay, so what happened between you and Rika?"
Takato's eyes widened when he looked at Ryo, but it didn't take him long to realize what Takeru had just done.
"TK!"
Takeru smiled, noticing Takato's use of his old nickname. I guess I'll just let it go this time……
"Oh, come on, it will eventually become common gossip, so there!"
Takato growled in response. Ryo folded his arms, mostly to keep himself warm.
"So……I'm waiting."
Takato sighed. "Well…I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore……I……..she………we………well…….."
"Oh dear." Takeru muttered as he shook his head. "He kissed her."
If Ryo had been drinking coffee, tea, or a similar drink in that moment, both Takeru and Takato would have ended up soaked wet. As that's not the case, saliva will have to do.
"Did you really have to do that?" Takeru angrily muttered as he cleaned himself after Ryo's "spray".
Of course, the "Legendary Tamer" was at a loss of words.
"That you did WHAT!? How come you're still alive!?"
Chaos said something very similar………where is he, anyway?
Takato felt an electrical impulse in his arms, as if he were being squeezed.
Are they still going at it? Jeez……
"I……I don't know. But………"
"How was it?"
"Ryo!"
"Okay, okay, sorry……"
Takato softly laughed at the exchange. "But, really, you should go talk to her."
"Easier said than done." Ryo said. However, Takato remembered that he had planned to go talk to Rika before he left the room, and decided to put an end to his doubts once and for all.
"I……I wonder if she's still awake."
"Knowing her, she's still dwelling on it, too." Takeru replied. Ryo nodded in agreement.
"She's probably in a state of mild shock and basic bewilderment, which means I should keep a safe distance," Ryo added. Takato chuckled and stood up, ready to face Rika Nonaka once and for all.
*****Once again, while Ryo and Takeru had their talk, in Rika's Bedroom*****
The door made a loud creak as it was violently closed. Rika began walking without a definite path around the room, in a vane attempt to organize her ideas. However, the same storm of feelings and memories that haunted her since……it happened attacked her mind, confusing her even more. Rika, however, eventually stopped……to slam her fist against the wooden walls.
"He's………he's such an IDIOT!!!"
This, of course, got the most of Renamon's attention, causing the Data-Type Digimon to materialize right next to her Tamer.
"What's wrong, Rika?"
Rika replied in Cyberdramon-ish. After a quick succession of growls and snarls, Rika turned around, having Renamon face her back.
"It's nothing, just……just…….that……that dumbass!!!"
Renamon frowned, focusing in the first person that came to her mind.
"What did Ryo do to you this time?"
Rika hastily shook her head.
"Don't even remind me of him! I'm talking about………God, he's such a moron! He's the King of all Morons!"
Renamon was quick to understand. "Oh, so……what did Takato do to you?"
"That jerk……" That was Rika's response.
*****Right outside Rika's Bedroom*****
Takeru Takaishi…………what an interesting man………
Oh, yes, Rumiko had reasons to be interested. It was not everyday she met a man Rika didn't complain about, unlike most……wait, all of her dates. Besides, he was just a few years younger than her, and he was quite handsome, too. And, above all, she couldn't help but feel enticed at the fact of Takeru still being a virgin. Well, people like Takeru are almost an extinct species, you know?
However, there was something else. That something was the natural barrier Takeru had placed to shield himself from human relationships. It was almost as if he needed to be alone. That mere idea made the blonde model to wonder what kind of life had Takeru lived. Guess I can always watch the TV show…… Rumiko thought with an added grin.
"Oh, so……what did Takato do to you?"
Rumiko immediately recognized Renamon's voice. It wasn't hard to distinguish, as it had a neat combination of sharpness and patience she really liked. Besides, the Digimon's relationship with her daughter was remarkable, almost to the point of causing a little jealously from the mother. Just a little, though. Rumiko couldn't help it. But being a mother also gives the right to eavesdrop on her daughter's conversations…………right?
However, she couldn't hear Rika's response. It probably was too low. What she could hear was Renamon's voice.
"I don't understand why you're acting like this, Rika. I thought you were in good terms with Takato."
Which is quite an accomplishment. Rumiko thoughts. She appreciated……no, ADMIRED the young boy's persistence in being Rika's friend. A normal kid his age would have retreated at the first hostile manifestation Rika displayed……..which is usually a few seconds after the initial contact.
But I guess they've been through a lot together, right? ………no………there's something more.
She didn't need to be rocket scientist to notice it. His cheery smile, his unusual resistance to insults and humiliation, the continuous approach to Rika and her family, his permanent presence by Rika's side, the smile he permanently wears when Rika is around…………
He likes her………or maybe………? Love? What does a child his age know about love? However, these kids are way too mature for their age……well, maybe not Hirokazu and Kenta, but Jeri and Henry are………that boy Akiyama is several years older, and Takato…………sometimes it's hard to tell………
……sometimes he acts as a child, playing silly games, despising school and fooling around, but……………he has shown displays of maturity I'd never expect from a twelve-year-old. He's just…………not normal.
Oh, she has no idea………
But anyway, Rumiko inner exchange had caused her to ignore the conversation taking place inside the bedroom. Leaning closer to the door, the woman tried to get a better idea of what the heck was wrong.
"Who does he think he is!? He's so full of himself!"
"I've always seen him as a very humble person, Rika………"
"A humble person wouldn't have done what he did to me!!!"
"It'd help if you told me what he did, Rika." Renamon replied with her usual quiet tone.
"He……he……"
Rumiko leaned even closer. What could have Takato possibly done to piss her daughter off like that?
"Rika………"
"He………he…………damn it, Renamon, HE KISSED ME!!!!"
"WHAT!?" Rumiko shouted in response to Rika's words, startling both Tamer and Digimon (surprising, huh?), as Rumiko's voice was heard in the entire house, to the point of reaching Takeru's and Ryo's ears, even if they were talking in the very other side of the house. Of course, Renamon was the one who quietly opened the door, revealing the figure of Rika's mother leaning against the door.
"Umm……well………so, daughter of mine, what's up?"
Rika simply slapped her forehead. "Oh, God, kill me now."
*****The Dark Ocean*****
It couldn't be described as a camp. It was just an immense gathering of Digimon, waiting for the order to move out. In the meantime, the members of Daemon's army simply wasted their time in whatever could occupy their simple minds. Talking, sparring, sleeping in whatever empty space they could find in the crowded field, etcetera. Now consider a multitude of Digimon doing such activities and you get the result: a massive swarm of chaotic leisure. That was what Tatsu, DC, Eclipse and BlackTerriermon witnessed from their hiding place.
"………I can take them." BlackTerriermon softly said, the sarcasm obvious in his voice.
"Yeah, sure you can………" Eclipse's feminine voice replied. The human, the singularity, the Digimon……and Tatsu were hidden inside a small opening in the rocks surrounding the field Daemon had chosen for his troops to gather. In any other situation, it would have been a terrible choice, being completely surrounded by mountain and wide open for an ambush. However, there was no enemy, so there was no problem. After all, neither the Digital World nor the Real World had even the slightest idea of the plan that was about to be set into motion in the Dark Ocean: the plan to capture Takato Matsuki and take control of the worlds.
"……there are more." Tatsu simply said. Eclipse nodded, rubbing her head against the cave's ceiling as she did it. The group was stuck in a very narrow space and they were laying face-down on the cold, hard rock, so movement was very restricted.
"You're right, Tats. There weren't so many of them yesterday………hey!"
"Huh?" DC muttered right next to Eclipse. The girl's growl was enough of an answer.
"BlackTerriermon, you little runt! Stop touching my butt!" Eclipse shouted, combined with a punch to the Digimon's face.
"Hey, stop it! I'm not doing anything!"
Eclipse glared at the Dark Animal Digimon until she noticed that he was too far away for his tiny hands to reach her. "That means………"
DC immediately shook his head. "I can't help it! It's too tight in here!"
Of course, that wasn't much of a save.
*TWACK!*
"Pervert!"
"Ouch…….." Tatsu merely added, closing the scene. Eclipse calmed down, even if she still was shooting daggers at the Digimon Tamer, who simply moved as far as he found it possible, which only resulted in BlackTerriermon being squeezed against the rocky wall.
"Hey, it hurts!" The Digimon complained, pushing DC back to his original place……and a little further, forcing Eclipse to move to the left, colliding with Tatsu. It all reached a conclusion when DC collided with the girl, pinning her against Tatsu's body, and finishing the Eclipse Sandwich.
"I've had enough of this! This is NOT my kind of threesome!"
"Oh, and which would your kind of threesome be, cutie pie?"
"THAT'S IT! YOU'RE GOING DOWN, RABBIT!"
DC muttered something inaudible, but Eclipse could somehow feel the vibration caused by the words. This, of course, forced her to look down, where……
"GET OFF MY BREASTS, YOU JERK!!!"
DC muttered some more gibberish, which of course triggered some massive beating. Tatsu merely sighed, not wasting his energy in moving off his place in between the cold wall………and Eclipse's rear.
It's a miracle we haven't been caught yet……… He thought, which was surprising considering the amount of blood flooding his cheeks, face and head.
*****Okay, after the little comedy interlude, we're back to the Rukato*****
"I can't believe it! I simply can't believe it! Did he really………oh, my God, this is HUGE!"
"MOM!!!"
Rumiko finally stopped her ranting to face her daughter, who seemed to be in the verge of a nervous breakdown. You know the labored breathing, the fists clenched until the knuckles look white, the veins popping out of her forehead, the eyes injected with blood and all the other stuff that is usually seen before an explosion of madness and rage.
"Mom, could you……could you please SHUT UP!?"
"But Rika, don't you know how important this is?"
"No, I don't know, and no, I DON'T CARE!"
"But Rika, it's your first kiss!"
"AND IT MAY AS WELL BE THE LAST!!!"
Rumiko didn't say a word. Calm down, Rumiko……she's just confused, she doesn't know how to deal with this………there's no point in shouting back…………no shouting………no shouting……………
"WHY CAN'T YOU STOP ACTING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL!?"
Rika's eyes widened at the sudden outburst, and her body reacted by retreating a step back. However, that only lasted for a second, and then she shouted back with equal strength. Like mother, like daughter.
"ARE YOU SAYING I'M IMMATURE!?"
"CERTAINLY!"
"WELL, YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT MISS MATURITY, EITHER!!!"
"THE HELL!? NOW WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!?"
"OH, COME ON! WITH THE WHOLE 'I'M THE WORLD'S GIFT TO MEN' FAÇADE!"
"SHUT UP!"
"YOU CAN'T FORCE ME!"
"OF COURSE I CAN, I'M YOUR MOTHER!"
"YOU ONLY USE THAT TITLE WHEN YOU FIND IT CONVENIENT!!!"
"SINCE WHEN DID THIS BECOME AN ARGUMENT ABOUT ME!?"
"SINCE THE MOMENT YOU DECIDED TO SNOOP IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH TAKATO!"
"AHA! SO YOU DO ADMIT YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP!!!"
Rika froze right on her tracks, the will to shout suddenly gone. Rumiko smirked in absolute triumph. And the winner is……me!
Rika backtracked until her back was leaning against the wall. She finally slumped down, sighing loudly.
"You know that's not what I meant."
Rumiko relaxed her expression and sat down next to Rika. "I know. So………do you want some motherly advice?"
"Now that would be new. Since when do I need your advice?"
"Since you began the process of becoming a woman. I guess I should start preparing myself for your first menses…"
"HEY!!!"
"Well, it's true!" Rumiko hastily replied to her daughter's complain. However, she wasn't done with her mischief. "I guess I don't have to tell you about the birds and the bees, right?"
"MOM!!!!"
"……I guess not. But the point is, you're slowly, but surely, becoming a woman. And that brings a whole new set of problems to deal with……men being one of them. It's unavoidable, but you'll start to get the attention of boys your age."
"But Takato……"
"Takato is not immune, Rika."
Rika remained silent for several seconds.
"But……but………it's not right!"
"What?"
"ME! With the Gogglehead! WITH ANYONE!!!"
"Rika, I just told you. Takato is not immune………and neither are you."
Rika lowered her gaze. Rumiko simply looked up at the ceiling, but she wasn't paying attention to the pattern of the wooden planks.
It wasn't this hard for me…………in fact, I looked forward to growing up and becoming a woman………but I guess that's me, and Rika………
"I know it's difficult for you, dear. I know the last thing you want to have in your mind is what you're gonna use to stop the blood, or the size of the bra you're going to wear, or how you're gonna get rid of the boy who keeps asking you out everyday, but………it's a part of life, and you'll have to live with it. Besides, it's not that much of a torture. I guess you'll have to thank your hormones for that."
"Huh?" Rika finally looked up, puzzled by her mother's words. Rumiko nodded.
"Yes, of course! It is at this point when you do realize who your real friends are, as you'll have to work together to live through whatever awaits you. Besides, who knows? You might actually meet a guy you like."
"Mom, I don't need a guy."
"Neither do I, but I'm still drawn to them. And so will you."
"I………I was better off alone. I didn't have this many problems."
"Alone? Ha! That's impossible, Rika. People need other people as much as they need oxygen. People who live alone become grumpy and boring, or simply wither and die. Do you really want that?"
Rika remained silent.
"Would you rather throw away everything you've learned by being with other people? Would you try to ignore your experiences as a Tamer, the moments you're spent with your teammates? Would you destroy the relationship we've finally formed after years of mistreating each other? Would you rather get rid of your faithful partner, Renamon? Would you rather discard the first and only TRUE friendship you've managed to find? Because if you do, then you're definitely stupid."
"Mom……"
"A person who is able to say: 'I have a true, real, unconditional friend' is a very lucky one. Think of those who're not as lucky as you, Rika. Think of the people who'd do anything to have what you want to throw away."
Rika stammered a few meaningless syllables before managing to say something coherent.
"But……but, it's just so confusing!"
"What's confusing?"
"The past, the present, the future! I'm not as stupid as to not to notice that every evil foe we've faced since D-Reaper seems to be after Takato! And if the evil Digimon don't kill him, he's going to die anyway! And there's his insanely annoying alter-ego!"
"You know, I could really use some explaining on that 'alter-ego' part……"
Rika ignored her mother's words and continued her complaining. Neither Rumiko nor Rika paid attention to the sound of a door being slid open. "And then the Digimon……the only thing I thought I could excel at, mom! And then Ryo defeated me at the Card Game, and Takato…………he's………"
"He's what?"
"He's………he's just out of my league…………"
Rika's fists clenched as the memories of her battles against BlackTerriermon and ChaosGallantmon triggered the feelings of disappointment and humiliation that haunted her every day.
"How can I…………how can he………why is he so powerful!? I have more experience, skill, and God knows I have better cards! Why can't I be better than him!?"
Rumiko silently stared at her daughter, as she watched how the first tear went down her cheek. What could she say? How could she help her daughter? She knew nothing about Digimon, much less about fighting. It was the boy who entered the room's turn to talk.
"Is that what you want, Rika?"
Both females looked up and gasped at the sight of young Takato Matsuki, and their hearts shattered at the grief his almond eyes irradiated. The three remained silent, frozen in their places, as both girls watched the lone tear that went down Takato's left cheek.
"Is that the only thing you want? Is that the only thing you care about?"
Rika silently nodded while mentally cursing herself for allowing Takato to see her in her moment of weakness. Of course, she still could correct that.
"Of course, you moron!"
Rumiko shook her head, even if she didn't grasp the true extent of Rika's mistake. Why do you keep doing this to yourself, Rika?
The woman looked back at Takato and her eyes widened in surprise. Takato still cried, but his lips had contorted in a smile. However, there was no joy in Takato's expression. His face was filled with coldness and the dim glow of his eyes was almost macabre. His sardonic grin sent a shiver down her spine.
"Then you shouldn't be crying, Rika. You should be celebrating, as it's a matter of time before you become the strongest Tamer."
One look at Rika told Rumiko that the young redhead was as confused as her.
"What……what do you mean?" Rika said softly, almost as if she were afraid of knowing the answer. However, Takato didn't waste any time answering, and his voice echoed in the room with the ferocity of a roaring lion, as he didn't speak back, he shouted, saying words so painful that both ears and hearts were damaged with them.
"REJOICE IN YOUR PATHETIC PRIDE, RIKA NONAKA, AS ONCE I LEAVE THIS WORLD FOR GOOD, YOU'LL BE THE STRONGEST TAMER!"
The next thing both females heard was the sound of the door being closed, and the angry footsteps as Takato's feet hit the floor. The room was invaded by silence, as Rika and her mother stared at the closed door, almost waiting for Takato to return, and maybe join them in their grief. But that didn't happen, and Rika burst into tears, her heart's icy shield finally cracked and shattered by the cascade of emotions that overwhelmed her. Burying her face in her hands, the girl slumped down and let herself be wrapped by her mother's arms, as she sobbed and cried, softly calling out for Takato again and again. Rumiko didn't say a word, because, honestly, she was more worried about the boy who had just left the bedroom.
*****The Dark Ocean*****
"Are you CRAZY!? No, wait, why do I even bother asking!? You HAVE to be crazy in order to even THINK of doing what you want to do!"
"BlackTerriermon, SHUT UP!"
"But, DC, you can't be seriously thinking….!!!"
"Of course not! Tatsu's plan is crazy and just plain stupid, but you just leave the shouting and complaining to ME!"
BlackTerriermon finally calmed down, allowing DC to speak with Tatsu once again.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!?"
Tatsu sighed. "No, I'm not. I just think that we can take him."
"Of course we can't! There are hundreds-no, thousands of Digimon in that place!"
"For once, I agree with the pervert." Eclipse added. DC growled under his breath.
"I'm telling you: I'm NOT a pervert! It was an accident! ACCIDENT! Does that word ring a bell!?"
BlackTerriermon playfully nudged DC's head (as usual, he was on it). "Oh, don't be shy, buddy. You're young; your hormones are the ones that control you! You don't think with your head, you think with your……"
"DON'T YOU DARE FINISHING THAT SENTENCE!!!"
Tatsu interrupted the argument. "Before DC's veins explode, could we please go on with the plan?"
DC snapped right in front of the other boy. "There's no way I'm going to be part of your plan! What are you, suicidal!?"
Tatsu chuckled. Kind of ironical, as I'm already dead……
"Look, that's why I'm planning a sneak attack. Do you remember the cave in which we hid to watch the camp? There's a whole net of caves and passages under these mountains, and I know them all. We could get to Daemon's tent without being noticed!"
DC insisted. "Okay, so we MIGHT be able to get past the entire army, and then what? Are we just going to show up in front of Daemon and say: 'Mr. Daemon, we're sorry but we need a favor to ask? Could you be so kind as to allow us to beat the crap out of you?'???"
"Of course not. We're going to kill him……"
"And how EXACTLY are we going to do that!? The guy's a MEGA, for God's sake! And not just any Mega, he's one of the strongest ones! Didn't you watch the TV show!? The entire team of Digi-Destined only managed to lock him here! And how are we, a rookie Digimon, two boys and a barely clad chick supposed to do what they couldn't do!?"
"Hey! Take that back! No one makes jokes about my clothing style!"
"Clothing? What clothing!?"
"Well, if you don't like it, that's too bad! Tatsu here likes it when I dress like this. Unless there's something you want to tell me……" Eclipse purred as she cuddled closer to her friend. Tatsu blushed madly, this time the blood in his cheeks being easily noticeable.
"Eclipse, not now………"
DC, given the time he needed, finally managed to calm down. However, his next words were definitive.
"My purpose here was to gather information about the extent of Daemon's power and inform him ASAP. I have already gathered enough information with what I've seen so I shall take my leave. You two should, too, unless you want them to find you and kill you. Go back home."
The Tamer turned his back to the other two "humans" and began to walk away, BlackTerriermon silently standing on top of DC's head. He was already a hundred feet away when Tatsu's voice reached his ears.
"But I'm already home."
Both boy and Digimon turned back to face Tatsu, who had walked half the distance that separated them.
"This is my home. This is where I belong. Sure, it's not the most charming place in the Universe, you get boring of the lack of colors and of having to deal with Dragomon's troops after a while, but………this is my place. Problems? Yeah, of course, but I face them. Me……"
Tatsu took the large object he had on his waist and released his main means of protection, a long katana whose unique combination of black and silver gave a certainty that it was definitely not a toy.
"……and my sword. And I'm going to use it again to protect this land. It was already a crappy place before Daemon began his plan, but now it had become a living hell to survive every day. I can't allow him to accomplish whatever he is trying to do. I only know that, if he puts his hands on Takato Matsuki, we'll be doomed. And if there's a chance of stopping him before he reaches Takato's world, then I'm taking it! I have nowhere else to go, so I might as well fight for the only place I can call home."
DC sighed, deeply, silently, grimly. He then looked at Eclipse. "And what about you?"
"I'm with Tats. I don't really like the idea of fighting big, ugly demon but if Tatsu goes, I go."
"Don't you………wouldn't you rather go home?"
"Maybe I would……if I knew where 'home' is. I don't know who I am, when was I born, or where the hell did I came from. I don't know if there are others like me, and I don't know why I am so……special. All I remember is hanging around with Tatsu, and I'd rather cling to that memory……until the very end, if necessary."
For the first (and probably last) time ever, Tatsu didn't even flinch when Eclipse wrapped her arms around him. DC watched at the girl and the boy, at the same time his mind dwelled with a swarm of questions. Finally, he lowered his head, accidentally causing BlackTerriermon to fall to the ground.
"Living………without a place to call home?" DC muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. He then looked back at Eclipse, who gazed back at him with her big, black eyes.
"Where are you from, Eclipse?" DC said softly, more of a rhetorical question than anything else.
"The Apex!"
"Huh?"
"The Apex……look for the Apex………"
What……what?
A confused DC placed his open hands on his head, frantically searching for source of the voice. But the voice was inside his head, speaking directly to his mind.
"You're looking for answers………look for me! Look for the Apex!"
What……who are you?
"Look for me! You need me!"
I……I don't even know who you are!
Tatsu and Eclipse finally noticed there was something wrong. They immediately walked closer, joining the confused BlackTerriermon, who simply watched how his Tamer looked around, looking for an invisible interloper. Finally, DC closed his eyes and let go a soft whimper.
"Umm……buddy? DC? You scaring me you know?"
But the young Tamer was oblivious to his partner's words, as the voice in his head continued its speech, each words being pronounced with greater intensity.
"Look for me! The Apex! The answers are in the Apex!"
What……what are you talking about!?
"Everything! Everything you need to know! The Origin and the Ending, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End."
"Circles, so many circles……each are representing a person, an actor of the Universes' story……"
"An actor? No………a puppet. Tied by the bindings of the Thread, each living thing is tied to its own Destiny."
"Gospel………do you want to know?"
To know………what? Stop it!
"No………I won't stop. You need me."
No!
"Oh, but you know you do. Or you'd rather go on with your silly, meaningless human life? Useless scum……"
I'm……I'm not useless!
"Yes, you are………and you've always been scum………since the very beginning………LOOK FOR ME!"
Stop it! It……it hurts!
"YOU NEED ME! LOOK FOR ME! THE APEX!"
No! No more! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
"NEED ME! NEED ME! NEED ME! DANCE WITH ME! LOOK FOR ME! FIND ME!"
No! I……I just want to go home! I just………
"THE APEX! I'M IN THE APEX! YOU NEED ME! LOOK FOR ME!"
"YOU WANT ME! LOOK FOR ME!"
"YOU WISH TO BE ONE WITH ME! FIND ME!"
DC's opened his eyes once again, widening them to their fullest extent. Eclipse gasped at the sight of the young boy, his eyes dilated and injected with blood, his forehead sweating and his hand squeezing his head with all of his might, as if the pain would make the voice go away. However, what frightened Tatsu, Eclipse and BlackTerriermon the most was DC's absolutely terrified look. His face contorted in a horrible grimace, and the trail of saliva going down the right side of his mouth.
And the reason for DC's dear was not a simple one, but one that reached to the deepest level of his mind. Something in the voice triggered unknown feelings within him. The mixture of pain, anger, confusion, solitude, longing and desire all bottled up within him, finally released in an explosion of adrenaline.
"LOOK FOR ME!"
No!
" NEED ME!"
No!
" WANT ME!"
NO!
" FIND ME!"
NO!
" BE ONE WITH ME! DANCE WITH ME!"
NO! NO! NO!
"FEEL ME! TOUCH ME! UNITE WITH ME!"
NO! STOP IT! IT HURTS! NO MORE! LEAVE ME ALONE!
"................."
Leave me alone………
"……………LOVE ME!!!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
DC finally released himself with a piercing shout that took his friends by surprise, forcing them to cover their ears and back away, as DC's voice reached the furthest places in the Dark Ocean and his tears fell on the dead ground. All the pain, the feelings that the voice had awoken from deep within him were released in a matter of second, as DC's scream revealed the whatever terrifying truth the voice had dawned upon him. But the true reason DC screamed, the true motive of his denial and his fright, the simple detail that sent him over the edge of maniacal frenzy, almost bordering dementia………the true reason was that the voice that spoke in his mind………
…………was a female's.
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
End of chapter 4………
I loved this chapter! It's just so stuffed with psychological drama! Hence the quote coming from Evangelion……or at least from an Evangelion fanfic.
Why DC, you ask? Well, the "conversation" he just had marks the beginning of a whole new storyline, just one of many one that had been developed in this series, and, just like the others, it will reach a conclusion when all of the stories merge into one. What the hell am I talking about? I'll explain with further detail once I'm done with the story. The thing is, I need the character that would begin this new "separate" path the story will take, so I wondered: why not a special guest star? I guess it means that DC and BlackTerriermon will start to play a more active part in the story, as their search for the 'Apex' will bring forth……the answers………
Hey, it seems that every time I make progresses on the Rukato story I write something that just ruins it, huh? Well, I can guarantee you that it's not random, and I'm definitely not doing this to piss you off. I have the ending perfectly visualized in my mind, and nothing (and/or no one) will separate me from the path I'm taking. I already have the whole "Takato's Death" thing completely designed in my mind (in fact, it will take a very dramatic twist in the next chapter) and believe me: you 're gonna love it………and you'll want to kill me once I'm done. Flames? I'm waiting for them………
As a final note, due to circumstance beyond my control, I no longer can access the Internet from my house. That means no more MSN or AIM Instant Messaging for me anymore. Damn. I'm gonna miss certain chats. I will only by available by my e-mail, in case you want to tell me anything. Of course, I'll be updating the new episodes from my university's computer rooms, so don't worry about that. Well……see ya!
(The Biggest Dreamer starts playing)
Takeru's Voice: Takato is missing………while Ryo and Daneel are sent to find him; Rumiko, her mother and myself are left to deal with a mentally altered Rika, and with Takato's parents, who have been looking for him after they found out he wasn't in the hospital. Meanwhile; Tatsu, Eclipse, DC and BlackTerriermon have been captured by Daemon's troops, and now they have to deal not only with Daemon's interrogation, but DC's silence, too. Things don't seem to be going the way I expected…………all this in the next episode of "Silent Sorrow", Damnation, Part I. Because the road to completion is long and painful…………
Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)
