Trigger Happy Jack
It had been a bit of a shock when Hikari opened the door and found both of Takeru's parents behind it, and she frankly though it was a mistake to bring them along. But she was very glad that she wasn't the one explaining to them in detail about what their child was up to.
She could feel the air icing over between Yamato and his father. Ishida Masaharu's face had gone stiff halfway through the story, and Natsuko was biting her lip looking all the world for a little girl. Hikari could tell what she was going though, but she wasn't sure if Masaharu was rethinking coming with them, plotting Takeru's death, or grievously miserable.
"So basically this freak has hold of Take kun's mind, and we're heading over to talk him down. If we can. I don't know if it's possible." Yamato was speaking rather nonchalantly, though Taichi could sense how insane he was going inside. The though of actually facing down Takeru… but the fact that he had attacked them so fiercely proved that he was serious, and to be taken very seriously.
Iori hadn't been thrilled at being left behind. Actually, with the exclusion of Nuriko, who was unconscious, and Ken, who wasn't informed, the others seemed to think that it was their bound duty to come alone, injuries and all.
"I'm the leader here." Taichi told them harshly. "Now you have to listen to me on this. If we fail, everyone who comes is lost. We'll need the rest of you to carry on. Basically, me and Yamato chan are there to guide Takeru kun."
"I'm the only one really going to fight." Hikari explained, leaning against the doorframe and taking in the various expressions of disbelief. Though they probably didn't understand the implications of this statement, and she wasn't about to explain. Miyako, in particular was giving her the evil eye.
We're supposed to face things together.
"Takeru kun is my partner." Iori argued. "I should be there with you to talk to him."
In fact he was a little enraged that he hadn't had more to do with this because of that little fact. Something he was seriously going to ride Takeru's ass about when he got back.
"This is ridiculous." Koushiro said. "There's no way you can win against another one of those monsters if only three of you go!"
"That's enough." Taichi snapped. He crossed his arms at them and looked at them with the sternness of a teacher at a group of back talking students. "We're going. No more arguments… Daisuke kun."
Daisuke looked up wearily from one of the chairs. You could read the last couple of hours in the shadows of his face. He looked maybe ten years older.
"If the worst happens, you're in charge. Ask Ken kun for guidance, and make sure everyone gets along, ne?"
Daisuke nodded nervously. He was wagging his foot and biting his lip. He didn't want to lose Taichi. He didn't want to lose anyone. And Takeru…
"Please." Daisuke was sure his voice hadn't cracked quite like that since puberty. "Bring Take chan back to me."
Hikari walked over to him seriously, and gave him a tender kiss on the forehead.
"So. You want to talk to my little pet. You think you can convince him the error of his ways, then happily ever after, as you skip merrily down the yellow brick road into the sunset?"
A smooth milky voice filled the air, and all five of the journeyers looked upward to meet the beautiful sound.
"I think you'll find, it won't be so easy to steal Takeru away from me. He's mine." Slowly, among the tattered buildings and streets, the form of a tall, dark man came into form.
Unbelieving, Hikari looked up at the stunning face of Takeru's master. Manifested against the torn background, scarlet hair sprung out in different directions. His eyes burned deeply at them in a smoldering hatred that was not born from a cool distaste for his enemies. It was born from a pained and vengeful spirit.
"Let him go. What have we done to you?" She asked, reaching her mind out for the answer that would be wordless. The beautiful face frowned at her. If Ken had been here, she was sure, he could have gleaned the information from his mind before he'd had the chance for a second diverting thought. However, he wasn't and a simple frown replaced the smug look on his features.
"You've done everything. You've made me who I am."
"Then thank us and get it over with." Yamato shot flippantly. He crossed his arms and reflected the angry features of their opponent.
"Oh, I've instructed my pet to thank you thoroughly." The Glanconer replied, as he lifted his chin slightly to look down on them with a critical eye. "I know you're wondering what he's wondering. Is Takeru really evil? Or is he something else? Is it his confidence?"
He held one hand out, as though to demonstrate something.
"And most of all. You're wondering how much you had a hand in causing this awful change in your friend… brother… son." The Glanconer favored them with a cruel smile. "There's no telling. No telling how deeply your actions and inactions have affected him over the years."
With that cryptic comment his long form vanished from sight. And the sound of gentle footsteps entered their ears, long before they saw the grim figure coming though the rubble. First they saw Death Meramon, towering over his companion, with the same firm look on his face.
"You know the score well enough, Metal Garurumon. You've gone through it." Death Meramon called to them. Blue flames leapt around him, bending slightly from the continuous motion forward until they came into clear view. Takeru stood beside him, his face a blank page. His black scars didn't look nearly so menacing now, with his face at complete rest while he studied his family before him.
"Takeru, I'm sorry." Masaharu burst out. Takeru's face remained still, his arms were crossed as he stood perfectly still before them, as though giving them the chance to speak their piece. Weighting their argument. "One of the biggest mistakes in my life was the way I reacted when Yamato… told me. I messed up. I was too proud… I should have known… I should have…"
Yamato balled his fist in anger. He wasn't helping. He was blowing it, and Masaharu doubted he could do any better.
"The worst mistake I ever made was trying to get you to convinced Yamato he was mistaken about himself. It never occurred to me how that might hurt our relationship. I always thought myself an open minded man, but I… like you have been shaped by my experiences, and how my parents felt..." Masaharu shook his head and glanced over to Natsuko's stern face. She had been a rock through the whole experience. Though she tended to need his strength more when their boys were in physical danger from the Digital World. It was a mental difference between them. He should have been more aware of that difference when he married her. "I shouldn't have put you in the middle of it, Takeru"
"At least I have one son that's a man."
Takeru bit his lip and looked at his father bitterly. He couldn't believe this was the same man that had so calmly accepted his role in the destiny of another world. But he didn't really know him, did he? He only saw him on holidays… sometimes. Maybe I should tell him… what I suspect… then he can get rid of me forever. And every one can be happier.
"Dad, Anikun is a man! He's just in love with one too! Don't you see, this is why he doesn't come to visit? He comes when it's just me and mom."
"You don't understand, Takeru."
"I understand. I understand that you can't love your sons for who there are!"
"It isn't like that, Takeru… I just can't accept." Masaharu pushed his hands through his graying hair. Almost pulling it out. This was not how he was raised. This was not the role a man played in a family. Could everything his father have taught him been wrong? "Just talk to him. That's all I'm asking. Couldn't he just be confused? He's with those crazy band members everyday. I can't believe my son…"
He's as confused as I am. How awkward. Takeru felt the blood draining out of his face. It was so strange. His father used to seem so big. "Everything's different now, dad. If you want to tell Anikun that there's something wrong with how he feels for Tai kun, then you do it. You tell him it's wrong to love someone. You tell him how wrong it is to have a deep romatic relationship that you can keep going for the rest of your life…"
His voice trailed off, and he looked up at his father, sadly. His words were gentle, mournful. Almost laughing. "You damn hypocrite."
"I'm sorry." Natsuko whispered. She wasn't sure what to say. She had always been close with her boys. They told her everything, eventually. When they were ready. And wasn't that they way it should have been? "I should have tried harder to keep our family together. It's just that sometimes-"
"This isn't about that." Takeru interrupted very softly. He looked over them as though they could never understand. They were too far away. He knew the one person who would have understood, and Hikari had seen to it that he wasn't here.
"It isn't him that needs convincing." Hikari clipped firmly. She took a step forward, but Takeru stepped backward simultaneously. Defensively. He was at the edge. She could destroy him. She could push him off the edge. He was well aware of this. "What is it about, Take chan?"
Takeru eyes rested on each of their waiting faces. They really cared about him, he could see this very clearly from the expectance on their faces. But somehow, his brain wasn't registering this fact the way it should. He recognized, in some way, that he had understood what Ken had been saying to him earlier. That he would regret these days.
But he couldn't stop. He had an internal drive that told him he must obey the Glanconer. It was a loveless devotion. It was a senseless desire. And it was all that his mind could properly process at the moment.
"The Glanconer is a teller of stories. It is his way. He collects them, as his family had for ages and ages. And at some point in the story, you realize. Good always triumphs over evil." Takeru paused to take a good look at his hand. The black marks wiggled around, eager for battle. "Good falls from innocence. Good learns from the darkness, comes back stronger. Good comes back to the point of origin wiser and stronger… But that is in a story. Good doesn't have to win."
Takeru rested his gaze back on them, this time with clear intensity in his face, insatiable zeal.
"The Glanconer wants to be the hero of this story. He's the one who's going to change everything. The old is defeated by the new. The new becomes what is perfect and righteous." He hissed. "The winners write the history books. And he wants to be the winner. And I belong to him. That's all you really need to understand."
"You know he's using you…" Taichi said, slightly amazed.
"It was fairly obvious."
"We can't let you do this, Take chan." Hikari told him gently. His eyes widened as she spoke, as though he were afraid of her. The stains of blood across her cheeks were hardly the mark of the passive girl he had grown up with, but her voice was still as calm and compassionate as it had always been. "If our world stays joined with the Digital World for too much longer, everything will be destroyed. Everything and everyone."
Takeru smiled and shook his head. "Not if the Glanconer gets his hands on the Dark Spore. With it, he can merge these two worlds with the Dark Ocean. Three. Stability. A new era of Darkness which will last forever."
Hikari's eyes widened at the implications of what the Glanconer had planned. The Dark Ocean had a terrible affect on anyone who had regrets in their lives. If they brought it to their world…
"We won't let you take it." Yamato told him sharply. "You've got to wake up! I don't care what he's done to your head, Take kun, you've got to wake up! This isn't right, and you know it. You've never tolerated the forces of evil before!"
"Things change."
"Not this much, they don't. My brother isn't like this." Yamato said firmly, stepping forward.
"You can stop this now. It's time for me to finish you and go after the others." Takeru tugged firmly on his shirt and reached into his pocket. Pulling out his Digivice, he looked over to Death Meramon. "As Hika chan so aptly pointed out… we're running out of time."
"How's it going in here?" Sora entered the room gently, in case either Ken or Sam happened to be napping. She knew Jyou wanted him to try to rest, but he hadn't been very successful so far in making that happen. Instead, Ken was keenly alert, almost as though he were listening for something. And at the moment, cuddling his daughter protectively.
"As well as could be expected." He admitted, his voice a weak thread. It would be awhile before he could get to his feet again. Sora sat gently on the bed. She'd taken the responsibility of checking up on him every so often, since Daisuke was so exhausted from the night before that he'd collapsed on the couch, and nothing seemed likely to wake him. In any case, it was a waiting game until their leader came back. Or didn't.
In which case, Sora would know what to do next. She knew that she, herself, would steel herself to the loss of two of her best friends, and make sure the others were strong enough to go on. At least until they'd defeated this Glanconer person and set everything right. And then…
She'd probably kill herself. Sora hadn't been alone since she met Yamato and Taichi in the Digital World so many years ago. She couldn't imagine having to go on without their strength.
"Don't worry so much." Ken's soft voice reached her from the depths of her brooding.
"Sorry." Sora smiled and looked at him reassuringly. He cocked his head to the side.
"I'll let you know if anything happens."
"What?" Sora asked in surprise.
"If anything bad happens to Yamato kun, Taichi kun, and Hikari chan. I'll know."
"How would you know?" Sora narrowed her eyes slightly. She'd never known Ken very well, but they had their moments. Their Crests were so close, and sometimes, they just connected. Knew exactly what to do. Like… with Shoujo.
"So many sad thoughts." He pondered, looking down lovingly at Sam's little face. "The Glanconer is doing something, and I can't… see things as well as I normally could. But I'll still know if something happens to them, and if that happens…"
After hearing the summary of what she'd done to most of Tokyo trying to defend against Takeru, Sora didn't need to hear the rest. If Hikari was dead, they all were. She was quiet for a moment, raising a hand to gently pet the silky cap of light brown hair on Sam head. She looked something more than human. So innocent. It was unbelievable that she'd caused so much trouble between the worlds.
"It's amazing." Sora said again. She felt like all she did today was repeat herself. "Someone so little… we were that little once. And someone had to protect us."
"Or should have." Ken muttered automatically. His eyes darted up to hers. "Sorry. I was… thinking of something."
Her tender eyes met his and inside, she felt a twinge of sadness, from where, she wasn't certain. A pain unresolved.
"There are people who should have been protected." Sora agreed. "I get the distinct feeling Shoujo wasn't protected."
Ken nodded solemnly.
"And you weren't either, or we wouldn't have had the problem with the Kaiser."
Ken pressed his lips into a firm line and waited, as Sora's wise scarlet eyes bore into his. "I remember things a lot more clearly now. I suppose you're right though."
"Do you?"
"Suppose you're right?"
"Remember things more clearly?"
"Oh." Ken stretched his back a little, wincing from the movement, but he'd been uncomfortable anyway. Sora seemed to sense this and plucked Sam gently out of his arms. "It took me awhile. Yes, I remember now."
"Does it help?" Sora rocked Sam, who had woken up, just a little bit, and the girl cooed at her. She felt a warmth growing inside her at the little girl.
"It helps me to understand some things. Where I came from. Why Daemon hates me so dearly."
"Really."
Ken raised a brow. "I was part of the first group to go to the Digital World."
Sora frowned at this seemingly impossible statement and started to speak.
"Not your group. The first group. I'm sure Gennai san told you about them. We built a Firewall around the Digital World to protect it. Me, and one of my friends were even called back to help when I was nine."
She puzzled over this statement for a moment. "How old were you the first time?"
"Almost six."
"And Daemon was you enemy." Sora returned, piecing what he was telling her together.
"One of them. I took Stingmon from his army. He hates me for it."
Sora's eyes widened with understanding. Hikari had many things in common with Ken. This was something she'd always know. But this… this was a missing piece of the puzzled that made too much sense. Wormon had been so protective. So upset that he couldn't return the favor that Ken had given him at the tender age of six… to save him from the Darkness.
"What Daemon didn't know… that Wormon didn't know until very recently, is that I can't be beaten by the Darkness. Not completely. Because I came from it, you see."
"No. I don't. I've been to the Dark Ocean, Ken kun. Both Yama chan and I have both seen it. You couldn't be part of that… awful…"
"It is awful." Ken admitted, taking Sam's hand and jostling it. She was such an incredibly happy baby. It was obvious she had no memories of the preceding months. "But I was it. I am it. Or better to say, I came from it before I lived in this body. It was, an effort towards balance."
"Hikari chan's the Light…"
"And I'm the Darkness. Yes." He smiled at her wryly. "Good thing Dai chan convinced the Darkness to join your side. I'd hate to think what Daemon could do with the Dark Spore if he hadn't."
"Let's not think about that. It bothers me that thing is still inside you."
Ken leaned his head back. "Better me than someone else. It would have killed anyone else by now. Even, I suspect, Daemon himself."
"Please don't take this personally." Death Meramon growled. He removed one of the chains bound around his body and, his eyes burning dangerously, cracked it into the air to signal his approach.
"Stay back." Taichi said firmly to Yamato's parents. Yamato nodded quickly to Metal Garurumon, who growled back and stepped forward into the battle.
"I understand." Angewomon said magnanimously as she strung her arrow. "And I'll ask you to understand if I have to destroy you."
"But of course." He responded, seconds before slinging his chain around in a blur of motion. Blue fire pealed off of the metal toward Metal Garurumon almost too quickly for him to dodge the attack in one piece. Metal Garurumon looked over to War Greymon through singed and worried eyes. War Greymon shook his head and raised his arms in preparation for his Terra Force attack.
During the seconds of preparation, Death Meramon unleashed another wave of fire onto them, which Metal Garurumon counteracted with his Giga Missile. Flying quickly around behind him, Angewomon nailed him in the back with a golden arrow, and darted out of sight again. Then War Greymon dropped the huge glowing ball of energy on him.
But the Terra Force was blocked, absorbed into a shield, signified only by Takeru upraised palm. Hikari stepped up.
"Do you really want to play like this, Take chan?" She asked severely.
"Oh, yes, I do, little Mistress of Light. I think I know now why Gally hated you so much."
"You're angry at me, because you're afraid."
Takeru said nothing, but nodded to Death Meramon once again. This time he shimmered out of sight, appearing behind Metal Garurumon and War Greymon and hitting them both with fire missiles. The fire roared up their metallic exteriors, heat beginning to melt the protection around them. This time when War Greymon retaliated with his Terra Force, Death Meramon jumped high into the air, freeing another chain and whipping dual waves of fire at them.
"Celestial Arrow!"
Nimbly dodging Angewomon's second attempted sneak attack, Death Meramon whipped a wave of fire beneath him and road up the scalding stream to her level, grabbing her around the throat.
"You know these tricks won't work with me, Angel." He told her simply, his grip tightening and the flames that continuously engulf his body caught her clothing on fire, inching dangerously toward her wings.
"Angewomon, no!" Hikari screamed. "Fight him!"
"I'm… trying." She gasped ineffectively. Her wings burst into flame and Angewomon began to scream pitifully in pain.
"I warned you, my friend." Death Meramon informed her, pressing her closer to his body. Weakly, it seemed as though she began to lean into his deadly embrace.
"That's enough, Take kun!" Yamato ordered. "Call it off!"
Takeru merely rolled his eyes. "I do as the Glanconer bids me. Ask him to call him off."
"The fire won't hurt Omegamon so badly. Hurry, Yama chan!" Taichi urged. The two men raised their Digivices, and held one another's hands tightly.
Omegamon's sword came slamming into Death Meramon's back, and the smoldering angel dropped to the pavement.
"Angewomon!" Hikari cried, forgetting her own safety to run to her side. She cupped her head gently and looked at her Digimon in fear.
"I'll be alright. But I can't… leave the battle for long. He's strong, Hikari chan."
"I know." Hikari removed Angewomon's helmet, to reveal the choking woman inside. Angewomon's familiar crystal like eyes met hers. "He's gotten much stronger."
Omegamon's blows weren't doing much damage against Death Meramon, but at the very least he was capable of defending against Death Meramon's brutal attacks. He was tireless, and continued again and again against the larger Digimon.
"Give up so we don't have to hurt you!" Omegamon urged him.
"My loyalties to Takeru chan are much stronger than that." Death Meramon informed him, disappearing again with his incredible speed. He appeared again behind them and crossed his arms in front of him, the backs of his hands outward. Hikari gasped and clamped down a shield around herself and Yamato and Taichi, who were far too near the battle.
"Fire Storm!"
It looked as though a huge blue bubble were surrounding the battle field, but in actuality, it was a huge explosion. First out, then in again the fire raged several times, washing over Omegamon. They could feel the waves resounding against Hikari's shields in an incredible force.
Omegamon dropped to his knees, and raised his sword over his head in defense.
"Wait." Angewomon instructed, as Hikari jumped to her feet and raised her Digivice. Angewomon floated upwards. The winds swirled around her and she traded flesh for scales. Out of the mists a shining dragon came forward to protect Omegamon. "Let's face fire with fire, Death Meramon."
"Let's. Magnadramon." He replied coolly.
She opened her mouth and blew a torrent of flame on him, and he had to drop back to the ground to hold his position. Though he was fire, the force began to wear at him. Omegamon stood again and readied himself against Death Meramon.
He tried his Fire Storm attack once again, but Magnadramon blocked with her own fire, expelling the godfire as she might a breath of air, and deftly slithered around him, holding him still.
"No!" Taichi cried out. Not like that! But it was too late. Omegamon brought his sword down on the weakened Digimon, and in a burst of sparks it was over.
Having returned to her Tailmon form, Hikari's Digimon scampered over to her feet. Hikari petted her head absently as she looked at Takeru's angered face.
"Be careful." Tailmon whispered gravely. I have to trust her. She's trusted me so many times. Just now not being the least of them.
Hikari straightened herself and began to walk towards Takeru Taichi grabbed her shoulder. "What's going on?"
"He doesn't have anyone to hide behind now. I'm going in." Hikari looked at him seriously, though a little sadly. Taichi didn't let go, but continued to observe his sister nervously. It was his job to protect her… "I hate it, Anichan! I hate that it has to be this way. But if I'm not the one who comes back, promise you'll look after Sam and Ken chan. They'll need it."
Taichi could see Yamato pulling at his precious hair when he heard her words. He sighed. "I promise. Go on."
Yamato looked at him waveringly, stepped forward tentatively, then plunged himself into Taichi's arms. Masaharu stepped back in shock as they held one another. Taichi smooth the abused hair and forced himself not to look at his sister walking headfirst into death's door. "Dammit! I'm afraid for them both."
"You should be."
They look down at their feet to see a rather battered looking Tokomon.
Michael felt like pulling every last strand of his curly blond hair out. It wasn't that he disliked running around the continental United States controlling masses of wild Digimon with an even wilder girl who thought she was the next Latin pop sensation. He was just rather worn out.
Chicos, on the other hand seemed to have an inexhaustible storehouse of energy. For which, he was going to kill the nearest Digidestine for, when they finally met him, because he'd been forced to spend so much time alone with this wild animal.
"Time to go! Time to go!" Chicos cheered. She smiled at him brightly and he faked a smile back.
"Where do you propose we go? There aren't any more Digimon in the area."
"Go to next area. We'll get all the Digimon under control so my Ken can set everything right."
Micheal twitched a little. "We can't go everywhere. I'm sure there are other Digidestine trying to pull their areas together as we speak."
"No! We have to do it now! What if there's no one else fighting?"
"Dammit, Chicos! I've been doing this all night, with just the two of us, and I'm bloody well tired. We are going to stop somewhere and get some fucking sleep!"
Chicos quieted for a moment in shock. Then shrugged. "Alright. We go find someplace to sleep."
She darted off to the nearest building and began poking her head into windows looking for a good place to lie down.
"What a weird girl." Michael muttered.
"You're telling me." Monocromon answered, to his surprise.
"Shoujo chan."
"Yeah." Ken returned. Sora's eyes looked at him with intense sadness.
"She was so… unhappy. So messed up. She couldn't even tell us apart the last time I saw her."
"Sam didn't want her hurt. That's why she-"
"I know." Sora said regretfully, her mind on the curled up body of their tormented enemy. "Her father's daughter. She made sure Shoujo chan's fate was her own choice."
Ken shook his head. "I don't think you'd attribute her qualities of mercy to me."
"Oh no?" Sora stood and laid the sleeping baby down in the little nest of blankets that Mimi had made from the linen closets. "Hikari chan would kill anyone who did what she did. She would feel sad for them, but if she had to, Ken kun, she would destroy her enemy to stop them. It's something from our group, I think. We were a little blood thirsty."
Ken chuckled. "That's survival."
"But Sam chan. She'd rather bind her enemy; keep her from damaging herself and others. Give them the choice to change or to end it themselves. Just like you, right Ken? You trapped Daemon in the Dark Ocean, even though you knew he could get out and hurt you in particular very badly someday. And the Firewall. Your group… didn't want to kill Apocolymon, did they?"
"We'd seen enough death." Ken replied grimly. "It wasn't a good time. The DigiGods weren't happy."
"So they get a handful of new recruits to do the job." Sora leaned against the dresser and ran her fingers through her hair thoughtfully. She was weary. "I wonder how much like us they were."
Ken observed her seriously. "I remember one girl who was a lot like you. She tried to look after us, and protect us, no matter what happened to herself."
"Mommy Sora." Sora smiled bitterly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I had my hands full taking care of you guys anyway." She turned her head a fraction, so the tears welling in her eyes would go unseen by Ken. Though she knew he would know regardless. It was important that she not be seen.
"I have a feeling Shoujo chan is more like Hououmon than you think. And so are you."
Sora thought on these strange words, and brought a hand up to wipe the moisture from her face. Ashamed of her tears.
"And Daemon?"
Ken sighed. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill him someday."
Waking from a particularly disturbing dream, Daisuke rubbed the back of his neck and peeked his head over the couch back to see if anyone else were around. A few people were draped around the living room, sleeping, resting, healing. He had a super bad feeling creeping up his spine, and he wasn't sure why but he could feel himself getting the sniffles just thinking about his dream. Even though he couldn't remember what had happened. Something about butterflies.
He struggled to his feet, still exhausted but unable to sleep. He was more worried about everything than he let on. The thought they might lose Takeru… that he might lose Takeru now that he'd just truly found him. He wasn't sure he could go on with the loneliness anymore. And that was what it had been, the reason he had wanted to be with Ken so much. He was his best friend, and he did love him. He wasn't lonely when they were together.
But Takeru had been so different from Ken. So less calculating. So clearly on the normal end of the spectrum that Daisuke never guessed that he might have felt they way he had back when they'd first met. Of course, he'd adored Hikari, as well, despite anything he might say these days to convince people he was clearly directed at his own gender. But everyone adored Hikari, for their own reasons. And now that he had finally found Takeru, he realized everything he kept missing in relationships. They hadn't even gotten around to their first serious fight yet.
Daisuke had been looking forward to making up for their first serious fight. And if Hikari left them…
If Hikari left them, he would be having that first fight with Takeru about living arrangements, because there was no way that either Takeru or Ken were living alone under those circumstances. Ken particularly, because Daisuke knew how dangerous he could be to himself when things like this happened. It was a scary prospect… the three of them sharing their lives.
Daisuke scratched his back and went to look out the window. This one would definitely go down in the history books. Tokyo would have to be frikin rebuilt. Everything was going to change. But, Daisuke figured, it would have anyway, in a million discreet little ways. Only now it was a really big chance so everyone had to notice. He wondered if Sam would be reading stories in her history class about herself.
"I'm gonna cross my fingers and hope Take chan is writing one of those history books." Daisuke muttered to himself.
Michael woke with a start to the realization that somebody new had entered their makeshift hotel. Still pretending to be asleep, he assessed the situation and decided it was probably a robber who hadn't fled the city. Probably was thanking his luck that he'd found two easy marks left in the city, among the other things he could steal while people were away. He prepared to jump up and fight their prospective mugger.
"Yaaaa!!" Chicos squealed as she jumped onto the back of the man who had just entered. Michael sat up and watched as she beat his head wildly, screaming battle cries as she went. After a moment, a metallic dragon that had happened to be standing next to the man before picked her up gently with it's claws and set her on the floor.
"Please don't do that to Ryo. I'm kind of supposed to protect him."
"Gee, thanks." The man rubbed his head and hit the light switch. Michael blinked. He was an attractive man, medium height, with short brown hair, and dark eyes, though he was smiling warmly. He reminded Michael a little bit of when he'd gotten to see Gennai that one time. He walked over to Chicos and put out his hand. "I'm Akiyama Ryo. Believe it or not, I'm here to help. I actually didn't want to wake you. You were doing such a good job around here that I'm sure you're tired."
Chicos shook his hand suspiciously and her eyes darted over to the dragon. "That's your Digimon."
"Yes. That's Cyberdramon."
He growled at Chicos in response, and she jumped appropriately. Ryo only smiled again.
"Don't worry. He won't hurt you either."
Michael got up to face him. "So what are you doing here?"
"Mm. I'm setting things in order, so to speak. I have to go to Japan soon on business, and I need to make sure everything's okay over here first."
"Business must be a little slow these days." Michael remarked wryly. Ryo continued to smile and put a hand in his pocket.
"For most people, I'd guess. But my business is the Digital World." He pulled out what appeared to be a large Digivice and held it up, as though scanning the area. "You could say I've just been through a debriefing, and I kind of need to make an appearance before things go down in Odaiba."
"Bad things?" Chicos asked, her hands almost in her mouth. Ryo placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"Not if everything gets set up right."
There wasn't much to see, though Taichi really hadn't wanted to look. Hikari had simply walked up to Takeru, through his shields, and taken his head in both hands and pressed it to hers, and they had been standing that way for a long time.
"Tokomon, what's going on?" He asked softly. He couldn't keep the irritation out of his voice. Taichi wasn't thrilled with him for fighting against them, but Gabumon had always stayed by Yamato's side, even if that had meant killing their leader.
"I'm not sure. But after what happened the last time, they obviously have no need of a physical fight. He's gotten stronger than last time."
"It's all mental then?" Yamato asked. He and Taichi had been clinging to each other since the standoff began, even after his parents had walked out of their hiding places and joined them in their vigil.
Inside Takeru's mind, it seemed much more than mental. He hadn't even noticed the switch, when Hikari had taken them both inside their minds to fight, to wage the battle internally to save the world from more destruction. But she knew he was on her level now, to be able to do this, and took her role very seriously.
Arms positioned in the cross she used for shielding, Hikari pitted her ultimate strength against Takeru's. This time, she wasn't fighting not to kill him, her shield sizzled from the impact with his, and the battle of wills was beginning to drain her. Until Takeru dropped his shields completely.
They fell away from each other, exhausted. Hikari looked up at Takeru, surprised to find his face as it had been prior to their battle with the Darkling Force. Smooth and clean. Happy. He was sitting there, spent and laughing.
"Take chan." She said gently, walking over and sitting next to him.
"I can't, Hika chan. If you take me out of what he made me, I won't exist anymore." He confided in her, his voice soft and inviting.
"I can't let you do this to the planet. To all those people." She insisted, searching his warm eyes for a better answer. "Please, Take chan Try to fight him."
He shook his head and sighed. "This isn't real, is it? I thought things seemed too clear. When I'm not here, like this, things are so much harder. But it doesn't make any difference, don't you see that? No matter what happens…"
Hikari raised her hand to his face and traced along where the curlieques of black should be. "We all have scars, Take chan"
"This isn't a wound I can walk away from. It's a soul wound." He took her hand in his and stroked it tenderly. He noticed the red blood stains were also missing from her face. "Sometimes I remember why I thought I was in love with you."
"Do you? You're my best friend. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"No? But you're more like I was back then. You know what you have to do, Hika chan. And I won't blame you for it. In fact, I wish you would. I already regret, trying to kill Ken chan. And, honestly." He paused, tears were beginning to roll down his cheeks. "I wanted to kill him. I really did. I knew what he was trying to say, but I wanted to kill him anyway. I was always the one who was so certain about what had to be done whenever we came face to face with the forces of Darkness."
Hikari looked at him sadly, brushing his cheek and rubbing her head against his. It was a fake contact, but it would have to do. And it seemed real.
"Now you're the one who knows what to do. You're not so weak as you used to be."
"Why does being strong mean I get all the screwed up choices?" She said, fighting the break in her voice. Daisuke was going to be very sad when they got back.
"Because that's what it means to grow up. Reasoning isn't going to heal me this time, Hika chan. I can't be fixed."
For a few more moments they looked at each other meaningfully. Takeru gripped her hand and helped her up, so that they were facing each other as they were on the physical plane.
"Hikari."
"Takeru…. I love you. Stay with me." She pleaded with him. Slowly she took her hands and began ripping away the overlay of confusion and evil that had been intertwined into Takeru's soul. It felt like she was pulling him into pieces, and he bit down hard on his lip so not to scream and make this more difficult for her.
Hands deep within his rib cage, her fingers clenched around the Darkness, and pulled with all her might. It struggled and wanted to stay. She was stronger. Black oil spilled all over her hands, and blood also soaking her clothing as the slippery shades of organs came squealing out of his body. The resisted through the skin, but it was a light snag, and soon all remained was a sharp tug, and the Darkness snapped like a cord and fell in with a plop to her feet. She looked up into Takeru's eyes, and he smiled weakly at her.
"Stay, Take chan. Stay with us."
Her eyes popped open as she felt the weight of Takeru's body leaning against hers. She barely caught him before he hit the ground.
"No." She whispered. The others were already running over to them. "No, no no. Dammit, Takeru!! Why couldn't you fight it! Why can't you stay!"
Yamato nearly collapsed at the tone in her voice. It was a horrible shrill sound that he'd never heard come from her tender mouth before. He grabbed his brother's hand as he lay sprawled lifeless in Hikari's lap. "Come on. Come on, wake up."
Frantically he leaned over to listen for the heartbeat he knew wasn't there. He pressed his hands to his brother's chest, pumping madly, then pressing his lips just as insanely to breath life into him.
"No, no…" Hikari continued to cry, her own tears burning against her cheeks, feeling half as though she were in truth soaked in Takeru unfixable blood. "It's not right. You're not supposed to die. You're supposed to fight the last battle with us! You're our Hope!!"
"Hikari… Yamato…" Taichi said firmly, as though their names would return sense to the world. As though their names would make everything make sense. Hikari shrugged Takeru's limp body off of her.
"NO!" She screamed. "This isn't right. This isn't how it happens."
Taichi favored her with one look of pity, and curled his arms around Yamato, trying to get him to stop beating away at his brother's body. Natsuko and Masaharu were holding each other as well, both in tears. There was nothing else to say.
But Hikari continued to scream. "This isn't how it happens! I know you can hear me so come out now!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Yamato yelled at her. He caught himself, the sound of his voice, whimpered pitifully and buried his face in Taichi's shoulder. "Oh, god Tai kun. What am I going to do without him?"
"It's okay. It's okay." He whispered, petting his silky hair. Looking up at his sister, he wished Ken were around to console her. She was looking up at the sky, waiting for it to answer.
"I said, come out now. Don't make me ask again." She sounded so cerTaichin. Taichi sighed and thought of the therapy she'd be going through if any of them survived the Glanconer.
"Okay, okay I'm here." A cheerful voice said. "Now what?"
In startlement they all looked in Hikari's direction. Amazingly enough, a woman was flying up to them on a wooden oar. She parked the oar in front of Hikari and floated down from it, slowly, her wild black hair surrounding her face mysteriously, if it weren't enough that she'd appeared out of nowhere to Hikari's call. A great smile stretched from ear to ear.
"Take chan isn't supposed to die." Hikari informed Anubis. "You know that. That's why you've been hanging around here."
Red eyes twinkled merrily. She held her hand out and the oar snapped into oblivion. "I'm always around. I would have been here even if you hadn't called. It's just you wanted to see me so much, I couldn't deny you."
"Who are you?"
"Who do you think I am?" That smirk was driving Hikari crazy.
"You said before that you'd tell me anything I ask. Who are you?"
She smiled genuinely. "I'm me, Hikari chan.."
Hikari stopped and thought for a moment. "What are you?"
"I'm Death, among other things. But, I believe I said before you could call me Anubis. No need to be formal." She replied, still smiling. Taichi's eyebrows nearly smacked up against his eyebrows. "You know, there aren't many people capable of summoning me."
"You've never come when somebody demanded an answer?"
"I do come. It's just that most people can't see me anyway is what I mean. And if they can, mostly they don't believe me. Death is a skeleton guy in a cloak, not a girl. Most don't get the whole destruction/creatrix thing."
"Ken chan can. And he does."
"He could always see me. He asked me to trade his life for his brother's, you know."
"What happened?"
"Osamu chan wouldn't have it."
Hikari bit on the tip of her index finger. Was she being led? "Could you trade my life for his?"
"I don't make deals, Hikari chan. And, maybe." Her tone had taken a gentle turn. Anubis walked over to the grieving family with a light step.
"This isn't right." Hikari snapped.
"It is neither right nor wrong. It simply is."
"Why?" Natsuko asked, her eyes so bleary with tears she couldn't distinguish who this woman was.
"Basically, his soul got too screwed up to get better. It happens. Especially when creatures like the Glanconer go around helping things along." She knelt down and caressed his limp hair. "Death was the only cure. And he knew it. He's much happier that he didn't kill any of you."
"You know where he is?" Masaharu asked eagerly. Anubis nodded.
"He's in the Arena… which is to say… not completely passed on yet. Don't worry, I didn't leave him alone. He's an interesting guy to talk to, you know. He's trying to wheedle the meaning of life out of me right now." She stood again and faced Hikari. "I'll give you three days to think it over. Then I'll be coming back. And somebody is coming with me."
"Take me." Natsuko insisted.
"Alright." Anubis shrugged evenly, offering her a white hand. Masahare grabbed Natsuko before they touched.
"No! If anyone is taking Takeru's place, it's me!"
"Dad!" Yamato protested.
"If I couldn't be there for him in life, I'll damn well be there for him in death."
"I'd think about it some more. Every Life and Death has an affect." Anubis remarked softly. Her wise eyes sparkled, bearing into each of them. "You might be depriving somebody of your acquaintance."
"I've lived my life." Natsuko protested. "If I can make my little boy live longer… we couldn't do anything to help him."
"The only thing that could have help him right now would have been Death. Even if the Glanconer had willingly set him free, it would have been the case." Anubis said to them, crossing her arms. Then looked at Hikari sternly. "Pillars must stand strong. Like I said, think about it. Hard."
She held her hand out and the oar sprung into existence again. She hopped onto it unceremoniously and grinned. "Congrats, by the way, Taichi chan. And I want to be invited."
She gave them a broad wink, and flew away into the sunset, favoring them with a spin on her oar just before she disappeared. Eyes still fixed on the horizon, they all heard a slight groan.
"Takeru!!" Yamato grabbed him in such a tight bear hug Takeru figured he'd be seeing the Sunless Lands again before the night fell.
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