SILENT SORROW
Chapter 11
Spiral of Judgement
The power of the ten Archangels comes from within. It is innate to them. Once an Archangel has tapped into his or her abilities, it is natural for him or her to try to contact those like him or her. In fact, that's the reason they are already so close to each other.
So you're saying that the reincarnations of the ten Archangels are already together?
Not exactly, my brave and sweet Tamer. At this precise moment, they are divided in five groups. Besides, they do not know what they are, they're together for different reasons, or at least that's what they think. If they had shared their lives together, may it be as Tamers or Digi-Destined, it is just because they were meant to meet each other, and discover their Angelic origins, eventually.
Oh, okay, so they are together, they know each other, but they don't know what they are. Am I right?
You're absolutely correct. Gosh, DC, you're so smart!
Oh, come on……
And so, the trio composed by the Digimon Tamer, DC; the hybrid data-virus Digimon, BlackTerriermon, and the human soul within the Opal Omnivice, Gabrielle, were once again in the Digital World. More precisely, in the western-most parts of the Eastern Quadrant, as ironic as that may sound. It was a forest area, full of green and devoid of light. The trees were so many and so close to each other that almost no light made it inside the thick layer of greenery. And it was there, under the shadows of the tall trees, where the group worked. Well, actually, the Tamer and the Omnivice worked, as, unfortunately, the Digimon couldn't be part of that conversation. And, of course, that bothered the small animal Digimon.
"Hmm, DC."
"Yes?"
"You've been awfully quiet for a while."
"Oh, sorry, I've just been talking with Gabrielle. She sure knows a lot of stuff."
BlackTerriermon sighed. "If you say so."
Of course, it didn't take long for the Tamer to put the pieces together. "Oh, come on, I'm sorry, but Gabrielle can only speak to my mind. I'm sure she'd love it if you could join us. There are some many things you should know!"
The Digimon sighed for the second time. "Alright, but, really……"
"What?"
"Gabrielle is in serious lack of a speaker!"
A female voice chuckled inside DC's head. You know, he does have a point. I wonder if Lord Takeru made us like this on purpose.
What do you mean?
I mean, really, why could he allow the Omnivice Traits to communicate with no one other than their masters? Why is it so importance to keep such a level of intimacy between the AI and the Tamer? Not that I complain, but…
DC sweatdropped. And your point is…………
That Takeru had very sad teenage years……
Huh? What's that supposed to mean!?
Oh, nothing, just ignore the rambling of this silly little girl. We were talking about Archangels, right?
………yes. You said they were divided in five groups at the moment, right?
Exactly. Three groups of two, a group of three and one is alone. But you have other things to think about right now. While everybody else worries about Takato Matsuki, we are going to finds the seeds of Sephiroth.
The Tree of Life?
Uh-huh. As soon as you receive the "Seed of Malkuth", you will gain powers beyond anything you could have possibly imagined. Neat, huh?
If you say so………honestly, I'm a little scared……
Oh, you should.
I'll never understand you.
*********************************************************************
Two pairs of eyes are fixed on each other. One, the woman, is too shocked, too scared to say anything. The other, the man, patiently waits for the woman's response. The room is warm, and the temperature seems to be increasing. The only sounds come from their breaths, and the only movement is that of their chests, as their lungs fill with air and then release it.
For a whole minute since the last word, the two people in the bedroom remain like that, characterized by their absolute lack of movement. And then, as sudden as the silence which preceded them, there are words, from the woman.
"What………what do you mean by that?"
Takeru, whose smile had disappeared a few minutes before, to be replaced with a mask completely lacking of any feeling, replied with words as calm and precise as his cold, predatory eyes.
"Exactly what I say. I want to know if that baby growing in your womb is the result of your affair with my brother, six months ago."
"Takeru! What are you talking about!? You do know Matt is married, right!?"
"Shut up, Mimi."
Maybe it was the rudeness of the words, but it was most likely the way he said them. He was also saying "don't mess with me, Mimi." The thing is, Mimi did shut up.
"You can save your little 'innocent lady' façade for someone else, Mimi. I may have been away for more than a decade, but I still kept close track of your activities. I know everything you did in the last fourteen years, Mimi. Everything. Even those things nobody else knows, and those things you don't even remember anymore."
While Mimi listened attentively to Takeru's words, her body unconsciously began to shiver. She was afraid. She was afraid of the person in front of her. It was only then when Mimi realized what the others hadn't understood yet, what DC understood as soon as he met Takeru, what Rika Nonaka and Jeri Katou understood when they met with Takeru in Infinity, what the other Tamers understood when they met in the Nonaka's house.
The person in front of her wasn't Takeru Takaishi. The Takeru Takaishi she had met was dead. He had been dead for fourteen years already. Mimi Tachikawa was in front of a completely different person.
"What do you want!?" Mimi spat as the first tears escaped out of the prison of her eyes. Takeru sighed. It was almost as much of a torture to him, watching someone he had truly cared for like that, so……afraid of him. Time has truly changed us……each and every one of us.
"I just want you to answer my question, Mimi. I won't judge you for what you two did, even if it was incorrect."
"I didn't know what I was doing! I was drunk and alone………it could have been anyone!"
"Then why my brother!?" Takeru asked in response, this time unable to hide the anger slowly growing within him. Mimi cringed under the force of Takeru's words, and her sobs grew louder and more continuous. Takeru wondered if the others could listen from outside, but immediately discarded the idea. He couldn't stop now.
"Mimi, why did that happen?"
"He was………he comforted me! He was………a familiar face…………I felt so weak……there was anything I could do!!!"
"You could NOT DO IT!!!"
"I'm telling you it wasn't my……"
"Mimi, cut the crap!!!" Takeru interrupted with a furious shout. "It was as much your fault as it was my brother's. I'm telling you, I don't give a damn about what you do with your lives. You're adults, hence you're free to make your own choices………as stupid as they might be."
Mimi covered her face with her hands and sobbed.
"I only need to know if Matt's the father. Answer my question and this conversation will be over."
"No."
"Huh?"
"He's not the father."
Mimi looked up, and Takeru saw honesty in her big, shiny, and humid eyes. Slowly, he stood up, and extended his right hand to the slightly older woman. Confused, Mimi got a hold of Takeru's hand, which guided her to the bed. Once they were seated beside each other, Mimi continued. At last, a petite smile adorned her lovely face.
"You know……I'm on the pill, for a year already. It's kind of ironic……I did that because the last thing I wanted was a child, and now that I somehow got pregnant, I can't wait to hold him in my arms and raise him."
Takeru smiled in response. "I guess maternal instinct is innate in every woman, Mimi. But, really……you do know that not even the pill is one hundred percent effective. Maybe……"
"I do know that, Takeru. As a matter of fact, I had to go to the hospital almost a month after Matt and I……you know."
"Go on."
"It was nothing really……stress. But, I guess the doctors would have noticed my pregnancy by then, right?"
"I……guess." Takeru admitted. "So it must have happened after……"
"Takeru, I haven't slept with any one since that night. Two months after that, I was told I was pregnant, and, well, sex and pregnancy don't mix very well, as you might know."
"Well, my specialty is the human brain, but I've heard about that, yes."
"Oh! So you're a doctor!?" Mimi exclaimed, suddenly in "giddy" mode again, which scared the hell out of Takeru. After a long breath, he replied with a smile.
"Well, actually……I do have a doctor's degree in Psychology. I got it in America. Even if I am pretty much a hermit, I thought I would need something for my resume one of these days. Don't ask how I paid it."
"Okies. So, a doctor……" Mimi replied, and Takeru noticed how Mimi inched dangerously close to him. "I can't believe you're the same little one I met nineteen years ago, it's so amazing!"
"Mimi……"
"You're so tall and strong and smart and handsome……"
"Mimi, don't even think about it."
"Aww, why? Oh, don't tell me there's a woman!"
"Uh………"
Oh, I so have to hear this……
Pauline! You're awake!
No, I'm sleep-talking. Of course I'm awake, you dummy!
Uh…uh…how long have you been……?
Long enough to notice that you're HOLDING HER HAND!!!!
Indeed, the hand which had guided Mimi to the bed was still firmly attached to the woman's left hand. Of course, Takeru didn't waste time correcting himself, which caused giggling from Mimi and growling from Pauline.
Sorry! I didn't mean to……
Ah……it was nothing.
But, if there was something Takeru knew about women, it was that 'nothing' never meant nothing with them. He sighed and focused on Mimi.
"Mimi……there's one last thing we must discuss."
"And what could that possibly be, Takeru?" Mimi replied with a cute smile Takeru found scary. It was probably because Pauline had seen it too.
"Sora."
And Mimi's eyes grew twice their original size.
"Oh, Takeru, please don't…"
"I'm not telling her. I shouldn't be the one who does."
Mimi sighed in relief. "Good God……thank you……"
"But that doesn't change the fact that she deserves to know."
"I……know."
"I won't talk to Sora……but I will talk to Matt."
"I guess it's okay. Might as well try to find out what's going wrong with her marriage."
"Huh?" Takeru was utterly puzzled. Mimi chuckled.
"What? Don't tell me that wasn't in your complete records of our latest activities, Takeru."
"This is no time for sarcasm, Mimi."
"Oh, I'm sorry. You are right. They might not say it, but I can see it in Sora's eyes. Something upsets her. And she's visiting Tai's grave more and more often."
"Tai's grave?"
"Yep. She goes there to think, or at least that's what she told me. Besides, there's always………"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You mean Tai's feelings for Sora, right?"
"How do you…?"
"Mimi, I'm not blind. I've never been blind. Not even fourteen years ago."
Mimi chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it was kind of obvious. Anyway, just talk to Sora and check it by yourself. Okay?"
"Alright. Anyway, Koushiro will escort you on the way back to Odaiba."
"Huh? What do you…?"
"Mimi, I'm not forcing a pregnant woman to fight. You and the others have the responsibility to protect the Digital and the Human world, but your case is exceptional. You will go back to your house, take good care of yourself, and pray for our safety."
"I………thank you, Takeru."
"No problem, Mimi. Goodbye."
"Bye."
Mimi finally stood up and slowly walked towards the door. However, she stopped just right before opening it, to turn around and face Takeru one more time.
"Heheheh, the more I think about it, the funnier I find it."
Takeru tilted his head and he filled his glass once again with water from a jar on a desk next to the bed. "What is it?"
"Well, earlier, when you were talking to all of us, you mentioned this boy, Takato Matsuki……"
"Yes?" Takeru insisted, as he was still pretty lost.
"Well, you know, as soon as I was told it would be a baby boy, I tried to come up with a name for him. And……well………I thought that Takato might be a nice name."
Takeru simply stared at the woman. His eyes didn't say anything, but his brain was starting to work like a galloping horse.
"So, when you mentioned that boy, well, I thought it was kind of funny."
Mimi saw that Takeru didn't react to her words. "Oh well. Seems like you don't find it funny at all. Anyway, forget it. See ya!"
But, as the door closed, leaving a lone Takeru with his thoughts, it was Pauline's turn to speak.
Hmm……Takeru? Honey, what's wrong?
Takeru, the Emerald Tamer, was slowly linking ideas…………
***Flashback: Third Interlude***
"Once we altered the nitrogen bases and developed a new compound for the double helix's links, we found another problem."
"Let me guess: the mind."
"Yes, Takeru, the mind. We couldn't just create an empty body, as Chaos would never take it, and if he took it, that would have made things worse, as that body had enhancements that would allow Chaos to tap into his full power, a thing he was unable to do in his past incarnations when he was a common human."
"You had to create a whole human being, with a complete personality development."
"Yes, but…….our ability wasn't great enough to do something like that. The only choice we had left was to transfer the altered DNA 'patch' into a base DNA code. The host of the patch would have to inseminate a woman with his sperm and create an embryo. This embryo would be a normal human being……until the patch was activated, then the future boy or girl would have the necessary adjustments to become the Vessel of Chaos."
"Did you……design this personality?"
Gennai nodded. "Yes, we did. We idealized a boy……"
"Why a boy?" Patamon asked.
"Increased muscular mass, stamina and endurance."
"Oh……"
***End flashback***
Project Asmodeus………A DNA Patch…………artificially created…………a child with no father……………Takato……………
The only sound in the small bedroom was the sound of a glass shattering at it hit the floor, and the labored breathing of a man who had discovered a macabre truth.
*********************************************************************
Henry made sure he was noticed by slamming the doors as he entered the improvised meeting room. As he walked to the last seat available, he noticed that everyone else who was supposed to be there was already there.
Wrong. We have three people missing. Three very important people missing.
The boy sat down, and his eyes met the eyes of everyone in that room. His eyes were like open windows, and everyone could see the anger, the frustration and a burning anxiety within him.
"So……any brilliant plans?" Henry started; his voice carrying poisonous sarcasm. Jeri, who had made sure that she, would be next to him, simply stared at him with a visibly worried expression on her face.
"Well……" Ryo began. "Without Rika, Takato and Takeru, we only have six Tamers to fight against an insanely powerful Mega Digimon and his immense army."
"Don't forget about me! I won't let that guy have the last laugh!" A smirking Impmon added.
"Five Megas and Two Ultimates………" Henry analyzed. "Five Megas, three vaccines, a data-type and a Virus. Two Ultimates, a Vaccine and a Data-type. That means we only have three Digimon which could handle a direct combat with Daemon."
"Three!?" Hirokazu shouted.
"Yes." Henry simply replied. "MegaGargomon, Justimon and Beelzemon. MarineAngemon and Andromon might be vaccines, too, but the first lacks offensive power and Andromon is an Ultimate. SaberLeomon and Antylamon are Data-types, so it would be too much of a risk to make them fight Daemon."
Jeri couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But, Henry…"
"So, that's the plan. Impmon, Ryo and I will fight Daemon, while the others handle his troops. End of discussion."
"What!?" Yamaki exclaimed. "But, that doesn't solve anything! How will you get rid of that monster!?"
Henry sighed, and silently prayed for patience to deal with the entire situation.
"Look, mister. We'll do our best. In a normal situation, Ryo and I should be enough to defeat an average Daemon. However, we're not dealing with an average Mega Digimon here. This is a Digimon with an incredible power boost, which seems to keep increasing with every minute that passes. Honestly, I don't think we can defeat him. And Jeri, Hirokazu, Kenta and Suzie won't be enough against such a large army."
Henry stood up and walked to the exit. He stopped to say some final words, though.
"Believe me when I say that we'll do everything we can. But get used to the idea that we won't save you this time. After all, we are only children, regardless of everything we've done. Right, Mr. Yamaki?"
The sound of Yamaki's lighter accompanied the sound of the door closing as Henry left, leaving a group of stunned Tamers and adults.
************************************************************************
When Matt entered, Takeru didn't bother greeting him or offering him the chair like he had done with the previous interviews. He was still deep in thought, reorganizing everything he thought he knew about Gospel, trying to figure out just what the hell was going on.
I so have to take another look to that prophecy……
"Ahem…..."
Finally, Takeru looked up to meet his brother.
"Oh, hey. Please sit down."
Takeru simply gazed at a random point while his brother did as told. If things with Mimi had been so difficult, Takeru had no idea how his sometimes-violent older brother would react. He was definitely not taking Tai's place fighting Matt Ishida.
"So……how's the space program?" Of course, you couldn't expect Takeru to go straight to such a difficult matter.
"…………slow." That was Matt's only answer.
"Hmm……I see………and how's Sora?"
"Fine, I guess. She's preparing a new collection for winter."
"That's nice. So……when are you going to tell her of your little escapade with Mimi?"
Okay, yes, he could have been more subtle.
"Wha-what!?"
"Oh, come one, stop the stammering. It didn't work when Mimi used it, what makes you think it will work now?"
"What the fuck are you talking about!?" Mat practically shouted right at his brother's face.
"Could we please keep this conversation clean? And could you please stop pretending? You are wasting your time."
Matt, who was breathing heavily by then, slumped back to his seat and eyed Takeru with a murderous look.
"What do you want?" He spat. Takeru's eyes widened, showing his sincere surprise.
"Do you……do you think this is blackmail, brother?"
Matt didn't say a word, but the look on his eyes made the gap between them much larger. Takeru sighed.
"I just want to know why. Doesn't Sora………make you happy anymore?" The younger brother meekly asked.
Matt stared at his brother, his expression finally seeming to be calming down.
"It's not that………I………it seems like our marriage doesn't even exist anymore."
"Well, you do spend more time at home than with your wife, brother."
"Every other couple in Japan lives with that! Why can't we!?"
"Well, maybe because Sora is desperately craving for attention."
"Huh?"
That got Matt's attention. Takeru continued.
"Anyone would think you don't know your wife at all, brother. Did you already forget Sora was a tomboy when she was little? She never really had a fatherly……a masculine figure to look up to, with his father's not being at home and everything. She started to prefer boys' activities, which provoked rejection from the girls she refused to be like and the boys she usually defeated at their own games."
There was no response from Matt, but Takeru could tell his brother was already getting the idea of where he was going to.
"You could say that Taichi Kamiya was the first male figure she could actually interact with. And, thankfully, Tai actually treated her the way she wanted to be treated."
He treated her like a goddess…………
"They had their fights, of course. They were best friends, after all. But he helped her find the friends she had always been looking for."
However, Takeru didn't get the response he was expecting.
"Tai……Tai………why does it always have to be Tai!?"
"You did know Tai loved her, didn't you?"
"Of course I knew, dammit! I'm not a fucking moron!"
Takeru ignored his brother's continuous cursing and spoke.
"Then I assume you know that he was Sora's first love. And I assume you understand that a piece of her heart will always belong to him."
"What's the big deal!? The idiot's dead, for God's sake!!!"
There was no way Matt could have seen what happened next. In the blink of an eye, he was already pinned against the wall behind him by a furious Takeru, and Matt was groaning due to the excessive pain caused by the impact against the wall, loud enough to be noticed by the other Digi-Destined. Davis and Sora were the first to enter the room, followed by the others soon after that. Immediately, Davis and Joe separated the two brothers, which was Takeru's cue to calm down. Once he was released, he let out a long a sigh and returned to his seat on the bed.
"Never……insult……Taichi Kamiya in my presence again. Now get out of here before I regret not having beaten you to a pulp. Sora, you stay here."
And for the first time ever, Matt Ishida realized that he was afraid of his younger brother.
*************************************************************************
"How was it?"
Koushiro was startled by the sudden words. He was outside Gennai's house, guiding Mimi to the nearest exit to the Human World, where he would take her to her house and make sure she wouldn't worry for them. This time, Mimi wouldn't be a part of the fight.
However, he felt slightly uncomfortable walking alone through the thick forest with the woman he had called his friend for almost twenty years. After almost two decades, anyone would have expected something different, but Koushiro Izumi still had difficulties around women. He still thought his short relationship with Catherine as a miracle. A miracle that might never take place again.
And so, he had spent the last half hour thinking of a way to start a conversation with the slightly younger woman. It wasn't that he was attracted to her, really. He did admit that Mimi was incredibly beautiful, and the fact that she was famous didn't help at all with his lack of resolve.
Why did it seem to be so easy for every other man but him?
That's why, when Mimi finally made that simple question, he mentally kicked himself for not being the one starting the conversation. It had always been like that, even the day they met, and that time in that pyramid in the middle of the jungle. He was so fixated in his laptop that failed to notice the reality behind him.
He had failed her that time. He had ignored her pleas, and barely managed to notice her before it was too late. His lack of social skills had almost cost him a valuable friendship……and their lives.
It won't happen again……I won't let it happen again!!!
"What?" He finally replied.
"Meeting him again."
"Oh, Takeru, you mean? Well, it was nice."
Mimi sighed. "How's that for a conversation………"
Koushiro didn't stop with his mental kicking as he spoke. "Well, it wasn't the emotional meeting you might have in mind. We talked a lot, that's for sure."
"Really? About what?" A much more interested Mimi happily asked, inching awkwardly closer to the redhead, who had already begun to sweat.
"Ah…umm………about all that stuff that's going on at the Southern Quadrant. I don't know, but it really worries me."
"Oh."
Koushiro wanted to kill himself. Why couldn't he find a perfect balance?
"Well, we kind of talked about what he's been doing these fourteen years."
"Really!? And what did he tell you!?"
Once again, Mimi was all over him. Koushiro sweatdropped.
"Heh, well………it seems like he's some sort of 'watcher' of the Digital World now. And he's truly devoted to it."
"What a shame. Why is it that all the cute ones are never available?"
Koushiro stared at the woman next to him with his jaw wide open. Did she actually say what he heard her say?
A few seconds later, he sighed. After all, they weren't children anymore. And he did admit Takeru had grown into quite a fine man.
"Don't tell me everything you did was flirting with him, Mimi."
"What!? Oh, no, no!!! We………talked."
Not failing to notice the sudden change in her tone of voice, Izzy delicately placed his right hand on her left shoulder.
"You don't have to say anything else."
Koushiro watched how Mimi turned his head to look at him, but he didn't get the smile he was expecting. In fact, what he got was nothing he could have possibly expected.
He met a pair of terrified eyes, and a face contorted in a mask of horror.
He was about to ask her what was wrong, when a sharp pain on the back of his head clouded his thoughts, and made him slip away to unconsciousness.
The last he heard was Mimi's desperate cries. She was calling him. She needed him.
But he had failed her.
Again.
*****************************************************************
When to attack? How to attack? Where?
Henry sighed as he rubbed his tired eyes. In front of him, a map of Tokyo. The boy silently watched the symbols, lines and letters as he thought of the next course of action. Once again, he tried to do things like Takato would have done. The problem was that there wasn't much to mimic.
Takato never seemed to take time to prepare anything before a battle. He always seemed to be ready, and he always succeeded. Why can't I be like him? Is it because I know this is a losing battle? Or maybe because I'm not a natural leader. Or maybe………because Takato was a natural strategist.
Precisely, even when Takato never stopped to plan his fighting tactics, everything he did seemed to work wonders. He had a natural skill to exploit his strengths and the opponent's weaknesses.
He was no Takato, that was for sure, but at least he knew what to do now.
The metallic door behind him opened and Mitsuo Yamaki entered the room. Behind him, a group of uneasy Tamers stood at the door, watching with caution at the reluctant leader. Henry didn't fail to notice this, of course.
"Yamaki."
"Yes?" The adult replied with a slightly nervous tone. Henry didn't know whether to laugh or to feel repulsed.
"How's the situation in Tokyo?"
"Well……Daemon seems to keep his intention of finding Matsuki at any cost, and given that there's no way to negotiate with him, and taking the fact that no military force can stop him, well……you do the math."
"He still doesn't know Takato's in the Digital World………that's good. Now we make sure he doesn't have time to go after him. Tamers, let's go."
Henry left the room, walking beside the stunned Tamers, who simply stared at him, not sure if following him was the best option. Henry noticed this, too, of course.
"What are you waiting for? Now we go out there and we do our best………"
………just like he'd have done.
**********************************************************************
Sora.
She didn't stay with Takeru when she was asked to. Only after she made sure her husband was alright. It did bother Takeru, but he wouldn't say anything. Besides, that gave him enough time to think about things the way they were. And so, Sora found Takeru with his sight lost in an image projected by the Emerald Omnivice's holographic display. A painfully familiar picture.
"You were so small back then………so innocent………time sure leaves its mark."
"Huh? Oh, Sora, you startled me! Please sit down next to me."
Then, the two adults joined for some picture-watching. It was the picture taken right after Apocalymon's defeat and right before the Gate to the Eastern Quadrant was sealed. A picture of a joyful group of children and Digimon in Primary Village.
"What happened to us, Takeru? Where did those smiles go? Why do people lose so much whey they grow up?"
"It's called 'adulthood'. The time comes when people lose their innocent and realize they live in a harsh and cruel world which has no mercy for those who don't fight. You can't expect to stay the same forever, Sora. That's just not the way things work."
"Well, but I'll miss the young Takeru. At least he'd never fight his own brother."
"Your husband made a mistake. He had to pay for it."
"What are you talking about!?"
"He insulted the memory of my second brother."
Sora remained silent. Takeru smiled calmly, as the flow of memories sent a warm feeling traveling through his body.
"I guess you must remember………after Etemon was defeated, and Tai returned to the Real World. When we all had separated, and he returned, I was the first one he found……thankfully."
More silence from Sora's side.
"I had been fooled by DemiDevimon……he put me against my own Digimon. I was sad, weak, and completely vulnerable. And I asked Tai to be my brother."
Sora was startled by Takeru's laugh. She had thought the blonde Tamer had already forgotten how to do that.
"Of course, it was just a kid's words. However, I guess I started thinking of Tai as a very important friend. I learned to respect and admire him. That's why I can't allow anyone to insult his memory, not even my brother…………I hope you understand."
"……………I do. I………I miss him too."
Takeru didn't fail to notice the faint blush slowly forming on Sora's cheeks.
"He was always……my best friend. And I miss him a lot. And it hurts me to know…………that his death s my fault."
"You're wrong, Sora."
"Huh?"
"What Tai did was his decision and only his. His feelings towards you did influence him, right, but that doesn't put the blame on you."
"………it still hurts."
"It will always hurt, Sora, to you especially, but………do you think it would have been better if he hadn't told you of his true feelings before leaving?"
"I guess……not. I guess you're right. A part of me……a part of me is glad he felt that way."
Silence fell upon the small bedroom, until a different thought invaded Sora's mind.
"Everybody thinks I ignore Tai's feelings towards me………everybody thinks I never noticed.........everybody thinks I never found out. How do you……?"
"I know you still keep the suicide note he left for you. I've seen you, how you read it over and over every time you visit his grave……it wasn't hard to deduce that he had written something other than 'goodbye'……after all, I would have done the same in his situation."
"……………I………I see………"
"……he'd be very happy for you."
"What?"
"Tai. I'm sure he'd be very happy if he saw you now. You have become everything you'd attempted to become. Since the moment you decided to devote your life to fashion design, you have gotten nothing but success. You live a steady, comfortable life……with the man you love."
"Hmm………I wonder………"
"What?"
"No, nothing! Was that……was that everything you wanted to tell me, Takeru?"
"Well…yeah, pretty much. I hope can count with you and Biyomon."
"Heh, not like we have any other choice."
"……………"
"But I'm with you. We do have a world to protect, regardless of age. Excuse us if we're a little rusty, though."
"I understand. Thank you, Sora."
"You're welcome…oh, and one other thing."
"Yes?"
"You WERE in his situation, Takeru. And you didn't do anything. You just left without saying a word, not even to the one who'd miss you the most."
"It was too late. There was no point in…………"
"It's never too late, Takeru. I thought you of all people would know that."
A silent Takeru stared ahead as a smiling Sora left the bedroom. Takeru immediately began analyzing his conclusions.
Mimi……I should listen to you more often………
Meanwhile, Sora had doubts as strong as Takeru's.
………a steady, comfortable life……with the man I love………
*********************************************************************
She had never felt so tired before………yet still, she felt so alive.
She tried to get up once again, and her body refused, just like it had done the last times. She was sore, and her lungs were working at full capacity. She couldn't move, so her eyes were wide open, and her ears were attentive, listening closely to any threatening sound. However, she doubted she would be able to do anything if an actual threat actually appeared. She was simply exhausted.
There was too much in her mind, though. She was still trying to process what had happened on the last ten seconds before she had fallen unconscious. It wasn't that she didn't know what happened. She understood the chain of events with utmost perfection. She had reviewed them in her mind at least twenty times since the moment she regained consciousness and found herself lying on a dusty wasteland, unable to move.
What she could understand was why. Why a boy in the verge of death would use his own body to protect a perfectly healthy young woman and her Digimon from the biggest explosion in the city's history?
His fingers moved a few millimeters, and she grasped a feel of the soil under her. She felt the warm of the daylight, and amazed her sight at the glowing sphere floating above her: the Human World, her home. She wondered what had happened with Renamon. She hadn't heard of her in the few hours she had stayed like that, thinking and grieving.
Her stomach growled, and she realized her lips and her throat were dry. Just how long had she stayed unconscious, anyway?
"Ri……ka…………"
That voice.
His voice.
Gogglehead?
She didn't know if she had just thought that word, or actually voiced it. She seriously doubted her vocal chords were actually able of doing something.
"Ri…………ka?"
She mentally slapped herself. If he could do it, of course she could do it, too. Wasn't she supposed to be the tough one?
"G……g………" That was all she managed to mutter before she entered a coughing fit. It did have its good thing, though. Coughing helped clean her sore throat. She still felt as if every inch of her skin were burning, though. And that might as well be the case.
"Ta……Takato?"
She managed to hear a slight sound resembling a sigh. A sigh of relief.
"A……a……are you………"
Don't talk.
That was what she wanted to say. She couldn't see him, but she knew he was having a great deal of trouble just to say a few words.
"Are you………are you okay?"
Damn you, Takato! Damn you and your damn stupidity! Why do you have to be so…………
"Yeah………" She said as one lone tear escaped and her fists clenched in painful frustration.
Another sigh of relief.
"I'm………I'm glad……………"
With energy she ignored she had, Rika raised her body to a sitting position and looked to her right………and she had to hold the urge to gasp.
If she had thought Takato couldn't look worse than that time when everybody reunited at her house, then she had been definitely wrong. Given that his clothes were mostly black with ash, just like pretty much the rest of his body. Combined with the burns and scratches, reopened wounds and the blood trail coming out of his mouth, Takato didn't make a pretty good sight.
But she wasn't looking at that. Her pretty violet orbs were focused on something else. Something different. Something……bright.
He was smiling……or at least, his lips contorted to something resembling a smile. And his eyes……
Oh, God, those eyes……
His eyes hadn't changed at all. They still glowed with the same ferocity, innocence and brightness she had seen since the very moment she stopped seeing him as a way to become more powerful.
"Takato………"
"I'm……so glad you're………okay………"
She couldn't say another word……she could move a single inch. She just stared, struggling with the emptiness, as she also fought with the turmoil of feelings invading her. She just stared as Takato, still smiling, closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
End of chapter 11………
Author's Notes: Once again, after an insanely long hiatus, I'm back with another chapter. And so is Takato! Yay! I just realized that writing chapters without Takato and Rika was a pain, so I'll just put this little scenes every chapter until I get to Concerto of Despair, where we'll have an absolute Rukato overdose. Oh well, nobody seems to complain. Oh, and I got over 200 reviews! Whoa, could you believe it? Anyway, here goes next chappy's preview, and we'll see just how long it actually takes me to write it!
(The Biggest Dreamer starts playing)
Gabrielle's Voice: Connections………everybody, everything is connected. Everything is a point in the giant web of the Thread of Destiny. Everything is connected. And so, the links thought lost may have become even stronger……may it be for the better……or for worse. The next episode of "Silent Sorrow" is: The End of a Circle.
Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)
