"Your feelings and mine are all holy." Hikari crooned softly, picking her way along the soft green grass of Folder barefoot as a child on a lush summer day. The sky was dark, but the air was as warm as it should have been, the death chill having not yet spread so far. "You still owe me a dance."
"I'd give it to you, but I'm not sure how graceful I'd be." Ken returned, smiling over at her. Hikari was a pleasant traveling companion, and they would be in Gennai's area soon.
"I might take it regardless." Hikari looked over and saw him pausing to strip off his long-sleeved outer shirt. He flushed when she noticed.
"I'm hot."
Hikari grabbed the shirt and reaching under Ken's sweater she had already filched, made herself a skirt.
"Resourceful."
"Oh that reminds me," Hikari dug the talisman she'd found in Gally's castle out of her pocket. "What does this thing strike you as?"
"I don't know. But it has similar runes to Tailmon's tailring."
Hikari eyed the thing critically. "You're right. I wish I could read them. Come to think of it, they also look a little like the markings Koushiro found when they first met Andromon."
"Another mystery." Ken shrugged, stretching a little and frowning in contemplation. Hikari stepped over and bumped his hip.
"And you still want it." She sang softly. Ken chuckled.
She slid her hand into his. "The inner sanctity."
Ken cocked his head and noticed Tailmon dragging away a confused Wormon as he let Hikari lean him right onto a tree. Flitting her bare foot around his leg, she looked into his eyes searchingly.
"And it's an evil." She whispered enticingly into his ear. Ken explored her face with his hand, gently tickling the nerves along her sensitive neck. He leaned in, lips barely touching hers.
"But the evil is necessary." He took an unplanned breath as he slid his tongue into her eager mouth, desire already making the meeting soft and sweet. Hikari pressed into him and ran her hands up the back. Suddenly she felt a little flutter against her stomach.
Hikari looked up at Ken with a jubilant expression, giggling at their little intrusion, then slid off her ill-gotten clothing, already working to get Ken out of his.
Strange woman. Ken thought, holding the back of her head, and breathing in her essence with another kiss.
Nothing between us is normal. That's why I love you. Hikari shot back happily, letting herself drown in the pleasure she could feel from both their sides.
"I'm not perfect." Takeru stated. Daisuke looked up from the ground where he'd been sitting and cocked a brow.
"No kidding."
"I mean it. I felt like I had it all under control. I could deal with anything."
Daisuke flopped over and rested his head in the blond's lap. "Just because you've got more sense than most of us, doesn't mean you can't be confused once in a while. Hell, I'm confused all the time. Doesn't matter. You can stay confused it you want."
"That's not the answer I was looking for."
"What were you looking for?"
"And answer I got a day or so ago... from someone I'm used to seeing right through, rather than the other way around." Takeru unconsciously began petting Daisuke's hair. It was softer than he'd expected. Little burgundy tuffs sticking out from underneath those shiny goggles he'd kept all those years. In the end, you were our leader. Confidence was what we needed the most. I didn't feel strong then, and we made it out okay. We look out for each other.
"Heh, he can be smart about the weirdest things." Daisuke looked up his nose. He had an interesting viewpoint at the moment and was trying not to spoil the moment by laughing. "Ya know what?"
Takeru looked down at him, giving him a stunning view of his eyes.
"I don't know about chicks. Well, at all. But I know I dig funky scars. Especially on you."
"I'm... glowing." Ken complained to himself. Hikari rolled over to her new lover and played with his soft hair.
"Of course you are. You have a new life inside you." She smiled and hoped she would get to cuddle with Ken like this for a few moments longer. They would have to go meet up with Taichi pretty soon to take them to Icon. He sighed and squirmed around to get on his back.
"No, I mean it. Look at this." Ken ran a hand over the firm, growing curve at his middle. Hikari's eyes widened when she realized he was not exaggerating. His belly was glowing, as if from a light inside. She reached over gently and placed a hand over his stomach.
"You think Sam might have special powers?" She asked. A distinct possibility considering her heritage. Ken frowned.
"That's what I'm afraid of." He looked over at her doubtfully. "How can any child of mine be normal? What if she has powers like mine? She's an Ichijoji for godssakes. We're all crazy."
"Oh..." Hikari scoffed as curled up next to him and encircled his body with her arms. "Any child of yours will be an angel."
"Yeah. An angel of darkness."
"Quiet." Hikari ordered, kissing his lips softly, and making her way down his neck with more sweet, hungry kisses. Ken buried his face in her hair, returning in kind kiss for kiss. Reaching his chest, Hikari became more aggressive with her kisses, shivering as Ken gently caressed her back, too sensually to tickle.
"We should go find the others." Ken told her softly.
In a minute. Hikari sent, winding herself around Ken's body once again.
You're persistent.
Good thing I am. She didn't pause as she found his mouth and slid her tongue inside. Do you remember that party when I was fifteen?
We had lots of parties. Which one?
The one where you and Daisuke were singing karaoke. That was so sweet.
We sounded terrible.
But you and I talked for hours that night.
Ken pulled back and gasped for breath.
"Do you remember?" Hikari asked. She cupped the side of his face happily. Patience is a virtue.
"You have the best parties, Ken."
Ken chuckled. "I'm the only one who has parties. Real parties anyway."
"Yamato has dinner parties." Hikari pointed out. Ken nodded.
"He's a good cook, despite the occasional tenancy to try and blow up his guests with the spices."
"Lay off the wasabi." Hikari giggled. She swung her legs back and forth. She and Ken had perched on his beaten up old couch, which was smack in the middle of his dorm room, though no one seemed to have any intention of disturbing them. Daisuke and Takeru busy were mutilating his roommate's dartboard, and Hikari was certain Yamato and Taichi had locked themselves in a closet to celebrate Yamato's new record deal.
"I'm afraid my dinners are too much like my mom's. Kinda plain."
"Your deserts are okay. You don't have to be good at everything."
"That's cause I'm just a sweet guy." Ken replied flatly. Hikari looked over at him quizzically. He blushed and looked at his feet. "I was just kidding."
Hikari grinned at him. Such a dry wit. "I hope you aren't getting lonely here, Ken. College can be isolating."
"I'm fine. Wormon's here, even though my roommate thinks he's the strangest thing he's ever seen. Mamo san has a little brother who has a Digimon."
"But still. I don't like to think of you all alone here." Hikari fretted, looking over at him. You need someone to dress you. Why do you always wear white, blue and gray? Maybe I could take up the job someday.
Ken smiled. "I'm glad you care. But I do make it back to Odaiba at least once a week. Daisuke chan would kill me if I didn't."
"Good. I want you to be talking to other people. Maybe you can start to swing by and see me when you're in town." Hikari paused. "You and I keep too much inside, Ken chan. That's why we're vulnerable."
"Perhaps you're right, Hikari. But I think I'm moreso than you."
"You have to accept you past. And realize that it's just that." Hikari lit up suddenly. She hugged him around the waist. "You and I are two sides of the same magic. Come talk to me whenever you need to. And I'll do the same with you. That way, we can stay strong."
"I can accept my past. But I still have so many questions."
"Actually, I do, too."
"Have you gotten your answers?" Ken asked. Hikari cocked her head.
"Some of them. I have one for you. Who do you think the father of your baby is?"
"Ano, I'm not really sure. If I'm judging Dr. Tanaka correctly, she probably used Dai chan's DNA. She wanted to advance the methods of gene splicing. Plus she's a notorious matchmaker."
"That was before you and Dai chan broke up?"
Ken pursed his lips. "Yup. About a month before."
"Who could it be if it weren't Dai chan? What if she didn't find a way to splice genes like that?"
Ken raised a brow. "She'd probably use an anonymous donor."
"How does she get those samples?"
"From volunteers, of course. Where'd you think? She snuck around in the dead of the night and stole DNA samples?"
Hikari laughed trying to imagine that. "Maybe she did."
"What were you talking about before? About something you knew that I didn't?" Ken asked seriously. Hikari smirked and stood up.
"I'm not sure I should tell you. It would be difficult to explain."
Ken rolled over to his side to force himself up. "Well, I think you should try. What's it about?"
"Sam."
Seriousness pervaded his face as he tensed up. "What about her? Stop messing with me, Hikari chan. I'm not in the mood."
"Sorry. I can't help it." She offered him a hand. Ken sighed and pulled on his remaining white shirt, with Ichijoji stitched into the top pocket.
"Devil."
"I'll tell you, but I don't expect you to believe me. But first..."
"First?" Ken asked. Hikari tossed her hair loosely around her face.
"At the end of the day, do you still think about it? Do you still have those dreams?"
"I always will. I'm connected to the Dark Ocean, Hika chan." Ken pulled her close to him with one arm. "No matter what has happened, that never changed."
"Miyako san, are you beginning to feel the slightest bit ineffective?"
Miyako glared up at Iori unforgiving. Jyou was keeping Sora confined to a bed, and hadn't allowed anyone to see her yet. "Gee, what would ever give you that idea."
"I was more referring to our inability to keep our Digivolving partners in the group."
"Yare yare, I suppose. I never thought I had a chance against that ghostly squealer anyway though." Miyako commented. She sighed. "Plus, didn't you say Take kun made you let him go?"
"Yeah. I suppose I should try to have faith that he needed to be alone."
"Take a cue from Jyou kun. Everything happens for a reason."
Iori measured his credibility before speaking. "So what happened to Sora san happened for a reason?"
Miyako rested her face on her knees. "It had better have fucking have."
"I need more than that. I need to feel like I have a purpose in this group, other than being the quiet voice of reason."
"Or the crazy gung-ho bint."
Iori laughed. "Maybe I should try harder to see the destiny in it all."
"Nah. Go ahead and question. Somebody has to, or we'd just all follow the goggle boys around like Digisheep."
"To bad there wasn't a Crest of Curiosity." Iori grinned. Miyako patted his head.
"From the stories I've heard, I think curiosity is entailed in knowledge."
"And passion is entailed in love and sincerity."
"Waaa." Miyako lit up. "That's right! I'm passionate!!"
"You sure are."
"That's pretty kewl. I'm not just a recruit. I'm important." Miyako declared. "I'm the passionate one!"
Iori nodded. "Questioning. Passionate. Loyal. That one's Daisuke. Even before he started having friends, he was very loyal to Hikari san, wanting to protect her, though he didn't quite understand why. Or that she didn't really need to be protected from Takeru kun."
"More like from herself. Though I think she has that under control more than the boys."
"Testosterone."
"Ya think?" Miyako snorted derisively and observed the young therapist in the making. "Your professional opinion?"
"No." He grinned mischievously. "From what I know, Ken kun and Takeru kun have issues with the dark sides to themselves, because they don't... well... Hikari san has this inner peace. She understands that everything has two sides, and must be balance accordingly. Takeru kun and Ken kun know this logically, but not emotionally. It's a hard thing to come to terms with, and that's why Takeru kun has been scarred by Gally's dark energy. The dark parts of himself that he denies want an outlet, whether that be screaming, crying, or causing mass destruction."
Miyako blinked. "You're good."
"Someone has to try to understand these things. Over and over in history, evil men are locked up. Put away, or killed. We never find out why. We're deprived of the means of halting the evil. It spreads like a virus, Miyako san, and even though a lot of psychotics were deterred when the numbers of the Digidestine increased, it's still there. And I want to know why."
"That's pretty far reaching."
Iori shook with silent laughter. "I'm just that kind of guy. My reach always exceeds my grasp."
"That's what Sora chan says sometimes, when she loses a case." Miyako smiled. "She keeps telling me she doesn't defend evil people. Only those that need her understanding... oh."
"What is it?"
"I think I just got something." Miyako smoothed her long lavender hair and stood up. "I wonder... why those kids haven't attacked in awhile?"
Yugo picked up a tear shaped gem carefully. Gally had been crying since that evening, when Shoujo had come back, and begun slashing her arm with a knife, licking the purple blood and screaming.
"I understand but I can't stop! I understand but I can't stop! Why does it hurt!"
Gally had tied her down so the poor deranged little Summoner wouldn't kill herself in the attempt to work out her insanity. Something had happened, and Gally knew she couldn't stop it.
"Yugo." Gally looked up at him, a tear formed in her eye, then, falling slowly transformed into a beautiful iridescent gem. Yugo walked over to sit beside her. "My plans have gone awry."
"I will be your master, Destayne. From this point on, you will all do as I say."
The four younglings looked at each other nervously. The one, the incredibly beautiful one, had been making pearls since she'd arrived. Yugo sensed her turmoil, a mind that would shatter completely, if their master didn't deal with it immediately.
Doko looked uncomfortable, and Yugo sensed that he wanted nothing to do with the arcane. He wanted to serve the earth magics, as his hunting ancestors had before him. He would have been a mediocre hedge wizard, but he would have been happy.
And Gally, the only one Yugo had heard of before. The Tatian Empire had never had such a talented Summoner, at such a young age, too. Rumor had it, she summoned beasts in her crib on the hour of her birth. Calling and negating emotional energies were second nature to her, and she had already been awarded for her writings on the subject concerning the proper uses of the dark powers. She inspired others to be more responsible with their art. And Yugo wanted with all of his heart to be like her.
"We can still win." Yugo protested. "I'm using the dark energies once again. There's still plenty of fear and hatred for us to use. As well as lust between the Digidestine."
"No. They'll defeat us. They haven't recovered all of the Holy Relics yet, but they could. And quickly. They're the Digidestine for a reason, Yugo. And I won't let them defeat us like this. The powers of Darkness deserve better than that." She'd stopped crying and was staring intensely at an undefined point on the wall.
"What do you propose?"
"We have to stop them, for the Darkness to continue. If we abandoned this world, they would only follow, trying to stop the spread of the Darkness."
"You're so strong." Yugo said honestly to Gally. She breezed through Destayne's exercises. The others were far capable of completing them, but not with sheer ease of Gally's art.
"I know. When you reach my level, you must be absolutely certain of your direction, Yugo. The power of the Darkness must be used for the right reasons."
Yugo nodded energetically. His attention turned to Yume who had just left their master's quarters from one of her "special" training exercises.
"Little sister." Gally called. Yume looked up at her brightly and ran over, giggling.
"Gally gally gally." She cheered. A violet gem fell from her eye.
"Little dream. I think our master is teaching you something you shouldn't know. The mixing of pleasure and pain shouldn't occur like that. It can only be used for evil."
Yume stared at her blankly as if such things were beyond her comprehension.
"Evil?" She whispered. Gally nodded.
"Do not take your special lessons to heart. All of us must overcome Darkness within to be great. The art demands such duality."
Yume stared back in puzzlement, but nodded. Gally sighed.
"I'm surrounded." She confessed to Yugo.
"Hikari chan!" Taichi yelled running forward to embrace his sister. She giggled and hugged him back.
"How is everyone? Dai chan and Take chanare waiting back on Icon."
Tai sighed. "Not so good. Yama chan and Sora chan have been badly injured."
"They're getting better though." Mimi said brightly. "Despite everything."
"That's good." Ken said, walking forward, only to be intercepted by Jyou himself. Jyou pushed his glassed up on his nose and started to feel Ken's abdomen.
"You are way too thin." Jyou accused, though he knew in this situation they were doing the best they could. Ken managed a small smile.
"That's what my coaches always say." He winced and arched his back as a pain shot through it. Jyou frowned.
"I suppose it could be worse. Come inside and let me get a better look at you."
Ken complied obediently and blew a kiss at Hikari as he laughed. She rolled her eyes and raised her hands in helplessness. Tai caught this exchange, as well as Hikari's strange attire, and raised a brow.
"Well, that's interesting. How long were you guys in that time warp again?"
"Come on, Anichan, we need to talk about how we're going to stop these children once and for all." Hikari said authoritatively, leading him by the hand into Gennai's household.
"You and Hika chan must be the two most patient people in the world, waiting for me and Ken chan to break up." He got up to stretch and pace around. With no Digimon around but their own, and Gally holed up in her castle, they had little to do but wait.
Takeru shot him a dark sideways glance. "It's not like we didn't have lives during that time. Or even planned it. We just... it was a possibility. And somehow, Hika chan said you and Ken wouldn't last like that. Don't ask me how she knew."
"She's psychic."
"She's a tease. I swear the way she had you and me going back then, and I didn't really even like her like that." Takeru began detangling a knot in his soft blond hair. Patamon and Veemon were sitting smugly beside them as the two men had finally begun to talk again.
"Can I ask you a question? Why me?"
The angled locks of antique copper fell into Daisuke' face, and Takeru momentarily wished their Digimon would bugger off.
Why Daisuke? Takeru thought to himself. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was... spirited? Brave. Loyal and kind. Something about Daisuke, that genuine outlook on life.
"Why not?" Takeru finally answered, grinning dopily at him. Daisuke laughed.
"Yeah, why not. Like I'd known why about any given guy I dated. I suppose your deal with Hika chan could be the same with me and Ken chan." Daisuke frowned a moment. "You realize, those two could self-destruct together."
"Nah. They'll make it. Hika chan was always pretty close to him. He was the only one she could talk to about her psionic experiences." Takeru mused. "What about..."
"You and me? We'll see." Daisuke smiled, reaching over to gently caress his neck. "Have hope."
Takeru narrowed his eyes at the man he was dying to jump on top of again. Control yourself, Takeru. We can take it slow.
"I will." He whispered. He leaned over and looked into those compassionate brown eyes, hoping for a consensual kiss this time. Daisuke closed his eyes and steadied himself in anticipation, wetting his lips and preparing for contact as their Digimon averted their eyes and blushed.
"Not now." Yugo's hardened voice told them.
Takeru practically growled at the interruption.
"One of the kids you saw?"
Daisuke nodded. "A powerful one."
"Well." Takeru stood up and raised his D3. "Patamon. Here's hoping."
"I'm starting to think my house has been turned into a hospital." Gennai complained. With three Digidestine down for the count, he was running out of beds. Though, given, Ken could have probably gotten up, but Jyou wouldn't let him.
"Outpost DG3." Jyou joked. Mimi looked at him scornfully. He sighed. "It's a Star Trek joke. Honestly, Mimi san you'd think you don't keep up with the latest Sci Fi."
"I don't." She hoffed turning away from him. Why would Jyou chan think- "Hey!"
She smacked him on the arm when she realized she was being teased.
"Stop! We have enough patients here."
"How's everyone looking?"
"Fine I suppose, considering."
Hikari sat over beside Miyako, who winked broadly at her. "You're the man, Hika chan."
"Yare yare." Hikari said blushing. She pulled out the talisman she'd found in the Darkling Force's castle. "What do you think this could be?"
"Um? A royal dildo?" Miyako turned the thing over in her hand, weighing it, trying to get a feel. "I don't know, Hika chan. You think it could be important?"
"They wouldn't have put a shield up if it weren't." Hikari pointed out. Gennai looked over at the item.
"It's a Relic, I believe." He told them. "Though I don't get over to Icon much."
"Like the one I have on my tail?" Tailmon asked. Gennai nodded.
"There should be plenty around the Digital World, but I don't know how many have been lost, or destroyed. Some have taken other forms for the purpose of hiding them from those who would misuse them. Such as the Crown of Darkness." He took the round Relic in hand and examined the writing. "Partner bound. Ring, Chalice and Crown. One on hand, one in heart, one on brow."
Hikari grimaced. How esoteric. "What do these Holy Relics do? Other than let Tailmon Holy Beast Digivolve?"
"They can provide energy for many things, but I doubt the children could have made use of any Relic. You do have to be a Chosen for than. Or a Digimon."
"Maybe she just wanted to keep it from us?" Ken suggested. Hikari nodded over to the bed where Ken was laying. She thought it was a little funny the tough guy wasn't allowed out of bed until Jyou said it was okay, though how he was going to enforce it, she had no idea. Or keep her from curling up in there with him.
"That's probably it." Gennai surmised. Iori perked up.
"If Takeru kun and I had a Relic, we could take Shakkouamon to another level."
"But we'd have to find it first." Miyako pointed out. "Tailmon always had that tail ring."
"The Ring of Light." Hikari muttered. "I wonder if Hope has a Relic?"
"He'll have to try to use his Crest." Yamato spoke up. He'd been rather silent, but had of course been listening the entire time. "He's spooked himself about it, and he needs to get over it. Take kun might have a dark side, but I'm sure it has little to no power over his actions."
"That's what they thought about Gally." Sora whispered. Miyako ran to her side.
"Sora chan..." Miyako caressed the sides of her face and looked longingly into her lover's eyes, hoping to see the same person there. To her surprise, Sora appeared to still be Sora.
"Takeru kun is going through what Gally went through. He was the strongest fighter against evil, and now his own evil is trying to overtake him. He can't let it win." Sora stated firmly. Her pale face told Miyako she was once again preparing for a fight.
"He won't." Yamato argued. "Just you wait and see. Take kun's stronger than that."
"Maybe." Sora admitted. Miyako began running her fingers through Sora's brown hair. She'd noticed awhile back that doing that after a particularly bad trial seemed to keep her calm. To Miyako, her hair was the most beautiful peachy brown she'd ever seen. Sora calmly closed her eyes and whispered to Miyako. "We have a visitor outside."
Miyako jumped up as Gennai touched a panel causing a screen to pop up showing their visitor. She hissed. "Shoujo."
"Ah, she's darling." Matt muttered sarcastically. He pushed himself up with his palms before Taichi could stop him. "We're all going."
Ken nodded. "We have to make a stand."
Sora paused and took Ken's hand as he walked by. She stood to face him, tall, and almost eye level with the tall dark man.
"I know you can see too, Ken kun. You and Hikari chan always could, so I need you to know. Before you go out there." Sora told him gently, placing a hand to his temple. "I'm not strong enough, but I know you are. So I know you can understand. For love. Or for kindness."
Ken nodded. He understood. Hikari walked over in puzzlement.
"Ken chan?"
He smiled and embraced her. "Let's go. Yes, I'll be careful."
She placed a hand on his back and helped guide him up the stairs and out of the watery underground house. Shoujo was waiting for them there.
"Please stop this." Sora pleaded. She reached out to her with one hand, half expecting to be blown to bits for her effort. Shoujo raised her own hands up and looked at them. Sora gasped in shock.
"She's bleeding." Mimi said unnecessarily.
"I..." Shoujo twitched and raised her bauble desperately. "I can't do this. I'm not strong enough."
Sora wilted under the determined gaze of the girl. She's begging for her death.
"You can't give up! I won't let you!" She screamed angrily. Shoujo shook her head as a catlike beast appeared.
"You can't beat this one. I'm not as skilled as Gally, but my beasts are very strong." She told them solemnly. The cat snarled and attacked.
The huge cat belched fire at them, clawing and doing its best to maim all of the Digimon, so that it could reach the humans beyond.
"Garudamon! Stop her, please!!" Sora begged. One by one the group unleashed their Ultimates. Hikari and Miyako gave each other a nod.
"Divine Sword!" Valhallamon cried, plunging the Fenrir's Sword deep into the beast. Black blood spurted out, and it screamed angrily, tossing the angelic bird aside.
"We could use some help over here." The Mega Jogress called, prepping for another attack. Iori clenched his fist.
"If only Takeru kun were here."
"This should be working." Yamato said, leaning against Taichi. "We have the numbers."
"But not the strength. They've whittled us down. We need to band together and lick this thing!" Taichi told them.
Ken raised his Digivice and cried out. "Do it for her, Wormon! We have to stop her!"
"Come on Garudamon!" Sora yelled. She hugged her arms and remembered that little girl, clinging to her with intense need. Children that had to be stopped, before they destroyed everything or destroyed themselves.
Ken's Crest began to glow, and a pink light erupted from both his and Sora's, surrounding their Digimon. The warm, glowing energy filled Stingmon and Garudamon, powering the Mega level Digivolve.
Hououmon, emerged from the light first, a glittering phoenix powered by love, her multicolored plumage almost blinding the Digidestine as she rejoined the attack.
"Starlight Explosion!" The stars themselves came to the bird's aid, pummeling the beast to the ground, as Valhallamon unleashed another bout of the dreaded Heaven's Rage.
Sprouting out of the light, Stingmon had managed somehow to Digivolve two levels, and GrandKuwagamon sliced off the catbeast's tail with his Dimension Scissors. It howled, and the others knew it had been weakened by the Mega Level assault.
Yamato and Taichi nodded to each other and sent MetalGarurumon and WarGreymon to join the offensive. The cat eventually backed down, and before the final blow, Shoujo called it back to its world.
"So. I'm beaten." Shoujo laughed. She cupped her bauble with both hands, and the energy began to flow into her. At that moment, the Darkling appeared.
She glared at her. "You are too close. I will not let you give up."
"It's none of your business!" Shoujo screamed. "Why do you care if I die and take them with me?"
"I care." The Darkling said her brow furrowing in genuine confusion. "They care."
"No no no." Shoujo whispered. The Darkling reached out and touched her shoulder. Shoujo screamed with all of her strength. "NONONONO!!!"
"I will not let you hurt others. You should not hurt yourself either." The Darkling continued over Shoujo's maddened screams. The Darkling took her bauble in hand and blew on it with a bright light emanating from her small mouth.
"Be bound, until you learn from your mistakes." She said finitely releasing the bauble, which grew to ten times its size and, upon touching the beautiful young girl, enveloped her. Shoujo drew in on herself and then broke apart in a thousand bits of data and vanished along with the bauble.
The Digidestine stood back from the Darkling, shocked by her swift brutality.
"What did you do?" Hikari asked softly. The Darkling looked at her.
"I trapped her in her karma. If she decided to repent, she could have been free, but she chose to move on." The Darkling told her simply. Ken stepped forward, his jaw slack in surprise. He recognized her from his dreams. She had Hikari's small, slightly upturned nose.
"Who are you?" He demanded.
"I am the Darkling."
"Don't call yourself such things." He answered gently stepping closer to her. Hikari followed him step by step; unsure in the girl understood entirely what was going on.
"I-" The Darkling shimmered, faded out, then solidified. "No."
She clutched her arms, the smooth shell of a face expressing another new emotion. Fear.
She shimmered again, being pulled away by something. The stars in her eyes faded to black in her distress.
"Please." She whispered, reaching out for Ken. He grabbed her fading hand, and with Hikari hanging onto his side, all three disappeared.
Ken opened his eyes to the world he always saw in the back of his mind's eyes. The negative photograph of a universe. The Dark Ocean.
"Where did she go?" Ken demanded. Hikari looked around frantically. She started, then pointed out across the dark sea.
"There, in the lifeboat."
Ken bolted for the girl, dashing across the sand to the ethereal representation of everything he cared about at the moment.
"Sam!! Are you alright?" He cried, gasping a little from the sudden exertion. He slid a hand under his belly to brace himself against the burning sensation inside him. She was in him, but she was also out there, sitting in the middle of the Darkness.
"I... cannot come in. They took me." She said forlornly. Ken looked to Hikari, who was already skirting the edge of the Dark Ocean. She'd found a stake in the ground holding the rope that kept Sam from drifting off into the Darkness completely. Tears formed in the little child's eyes. "I cannot touch the rope."
Sam experimentally waved her hand across the golden cord and her hand passed through it, as though unsubstantial. Hikari looked up at Ken. He maneuvered himself down so he could take the rope in hand with Hikari. Together, they pulled. After a few moments, a crying Darkling was clutching them both.
"Why do they want me? Why must they use me?" She begged. Ken patted her small head. He wished he had a better answer for her.
"People who misuse the Darkness, don't usually stop to think about the people they hurt." Ken told her. She nestled her face against his abdomen, apparently unaffected that her physical body was still in there. He looked out over the Dark Ocean, the aching reminder of what he could not deny. He did not belong.
Do you think Sam belongs to the Darkness just like me?
Hikari knelt to the child and wiped the tears from her face.
You aren't Darkness, Ken chan. You were cut from the Darkness. You are compassion, the ambassador between the Darkness and the Light.
And you are the Light. Ken returned. Hikari smiled contentedly.
And I am her mother, so she is neither Light nor Darkness. She has the capacity for both Good and Evil, and so far, what has she chosen?
Tears once again fell from Ken's wide blue eyes. I suppose that makes her... a normal little girl.
Hikari frowned and motioned with her head. Only, creeps like him want to use her for their own purposes.
Ken sneered at the cloaked figure approaching them.
"Daemon, we sealed you once, don't think you can get out by harming my daughter!" Ken told him fiercely. Daemon floated over the water.
"She belongs with us."
"She belongs wherever she chooses to be." Hikari countered, standing in front of her child and her lover. "Don't make the mistake of trying to take her again. Or I might forget that I'm supposed to be an angel."
"What kind of role model is that? I simply want the Crown of Darkness, and I will have it." The creature told her. "I've been very patient, waiting for unbalance to come to the Digital World again. Finally I was able to strike a bargain with the devil, or so to speak."
Sam looked up at him, once again removing emotion from her face. "Do not hurt my parents. I just now begin to understand... why they protect."
"I shouldn't have to. If they comply." Daemon told them. Hikari raised her hands and formed a shining ball of light in defense.
"No deals. No compromises. We're leaving, with Sam."
"I won't give up. I will have what I'm after." Daemon told them, shying away from the brilliant light Hikari was threatening him with. She turned and opened a gate back to the Digital World.
"Come on." She said. Sam looked up at her and kissed her hand before disappearing again. Ken rested a hand on his belly and sighed.
"All present and accounted for."
"Daisuke." Takeru gasped falling back. He'd never seen such a wide assortment of monsters named after food. "I just don't have the energy to bring MagusAngemon to the Mega Level."
Pocky slammed forward again, knocking X-Veemon flat. A de-energized Chibimon ran back to Daisuke.
"We need to do something." The little noseless creature chirped. MagnaAngemon continued to battle on his own, striking again and again with his energy based sword, barely able to keep the creatures off of him.
"We need a miracle." Daisuke murmured into the little beast's ear. Takeru tensed. He knew the dark energy he'd been using against Gally wouldn't work this time, or they wouldn't have bothered to come out. But he had to try something.
" The good and the bad..."
" Your abilities have nothing to do with your changing personality. You have the power within you."
"You are hope. Hope embodied."
Takeru tensed his jaw and cupped his hands in front of him, calling forth energy. The sudden motion caught Daisuke' attention and he hesitated, wondering if he should attempt to stop whatever despirate move Takeru had planned.
I believe. Takeru thought.
A green light appeared and began to circle him, bright tendrils of mother earth's green twirling and spiraling around Takeru's determined frame. He screamed out in agony as the blackness spread cruelly up his face. Eating around his eye, then consuming it.
Momentarily blinded by pain, Takeru refused to falter. Slowly the world came back into view, and in his hands, was a golden chalice.
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