A/N: Well, it's been a while. I honestly didn't plan upon waiting a month to update, but with school and circumstances that I care not to get into, this chapter has been delayed for quite some time. Gomen nasai, minna-san for the wait. And to all who wondered just why Erinyemon has been so casual with the Tamers, specifically Takato, I've left little hints about her, but once the story develops, you'll get a plot twist that even I wondered about when I thought of it. But it's not what you think. (Or mayhap it is, depending upon your thought processes) Anyway, Takato is in for quite a bit of pain this chapter, both emotionally and physically and things take a darker turn. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Old Wounds
The swirling of wind and the feeling of something cold biting his face was the first thing that Takato noticed when he opened his eyes. Though he didn't remember closing them, he assumed that it had been more of an unconscious act, occurring after he and Erinyemon had vanished in dark light.
But he wasn't able to dwell on the fact long enough, an instant later Erinyemon jerked her hand from his grasp and shoved him roughly away.
Stumbling a moment, Takato finally regained his balance and glanced at his surroundings. His heart began to race when he noticed that he was situated atop the roof of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building, while groups of unknowing people the size of insects went about their daily treks below.
Why would she bring me all the way up here? Takato wondered as he stared transfixed at the scenes far beneath him.
"Look at it," Erinyemon spoke with amusement. "The next time that you see so many humans alive in Shinjuku will before Lord Demon has them gathered before him and burns them to nothing more than ashes."
Takato moved from the edge of the roof and turned to the Perfect Digimon, glaring at her furiously.
"Why? Why does Demon want to hurt all these people?" He asked.
Though Takato was unable to see it, Erinyemon smirked.
"Because he can." She replied simply. "Lord Demon could set worlds aflame, if he wished to do so. The power he commands is unimaginable." She paused, bringing one hand to the side of her masked face thoughtfully.
"And he enjoys seeing the suffering of those who deserve it. Kind of like you, Takato." Erinyemon continued slyly.
The statement, along with the familiar nature of Erinyemon's address only made Takato all the more uncomfortable. He had thought that Beelzebumon deserved to suffer for murdering Leomon and took it one step further by evolving Guilmon into the fearsome Megidramon in order to make the power crazed Ultimate pay.
But it was an accident! Takato reflected urgently. I was so wrapped up my anger that I didn't think about the consequences of what I was doing. If I had known what would have happened, I would never have let things get so bad.
Erinyemon watched the young Tamer, her hidden eyes calculating and cold. Subtlety wasn't normally her forte, why sow seeds of doubt when one could tear out a heart and set it ablaze?
She preferred the direct approach. But watching Takato inwardly struggle with his emotions brought her a measure of glee and something else she couldn't pinpoint precisely. Something she had been feeling much more of since her return to life week's prior.
Damn it. She growled mentally. I don't have time for this crap.
Determined to ignore the feeling, Erinyemon continued to needle Takato.
"It is your fault this is happening, Takato." She accused. "Within you is the power to devastate worlds! Your fury, unmolested, unrestrained, drew Demon from the darkness and the chaos that you created provided him with an entrance to the Digital World."
"But how-?" Takato interrupted Erinyemon desperately, though deeply dreading her response.
Erinyemon stared at him scathingly. "You lost control, creating Megidramon and nearly destroying everything that you held dear. Due to Demon's weakness, his acolytes, myself included, have massacred hundreds of Digimon to sate his needs. Refuse Demon, Takato and we will pour out the blood of humanity like a crimson flood upon your world. Everyone you love and know and even those you don't, will suffer and it will be because of you."
Takato lowered his head, the pain he was feeling clearly etched on his face, his fingers clenching and unclenching sporadically.
"It's all very simple, Takato." Erinyemon cooed agreeably. "Demon's battle with those damn Beasts seven years ago left him close to death. Combining part of his essence with the miniscule remains of D-Reaper, plus the Digimon ability to absorb data has kept him alive-but it won't last forever. He sensed your incredible power, your inner need for destruction and came to a conclusion. If you give yourself to him willingly, then he will assimilate with you, absorbing your power and giving himself a true physical form at last."
"I won't do it." Takato spoke firmly, his eyes hard and almost shinning with courage. "I won't let an evil Digimon become powerful again and allow him destroy the Digital World and Real World or hurt my family and friends. Not while we can still fight against him and against you. I'm not giving up."
"You little fool." Erinyemon muttered, her voice taking a raspy and venomous turn. "You, nothing more than human scum, barely worth the dust that you trod on, would dare to disobey the will of Demon?" With each word, her wings twitched slightly and a low growling sound rumbled deeply in her throat.
Takato watched Erinyemon nervously, greatly worried at her sudden change of personality. And before he could blink, he found his throat harshly clasped by metallic claws and his body raised high above the ground. Takato struggled against the Perfect Digimon's grip, but found it firm and unyielding, much like steel.
"Do you know what's going to happen now, Takato?" She hissed poisonously. "You've just condemned yourself to unimaginable suffering. My associates and I might not be able to kill you, but you can rest assuredly that when we're through with you, you'll be begging to die." She tightened her grasp, causing thin rivulets of blood to seep down her hand. "And when that time comes, I'll be waiting. Waiting to deliver you to Lord Demon like the fodder you are."
Takato gasped, the lack of air and loss of blood causing him immense discomfort. He then felt his heart nearly stop when Erinyemon strolled towards the edge of the building, lowering his body high over the ground beneath them.
"And be sure to tell Ruki-chan and Foxy that I'll be seeing them real soon." She muttered before releasing Takato and watching his body tumble downwards. She smirked slightly as numerous onlookers screamed in horror and fear. But just as Takato was mere inches above a gruesome death from the solid ground, she extended one of her clawed hands.
"Dark Telepathy!" She shouted, a purple orb of light flying from her outstretched palm and growing larger by the moment. In an instant, it encased Takato and carried him into the sky, amid cries of astonishment and horror.
Erinyemon watched Takato vanish into the sky and sighed. You'll understand soon enough, Takato, she mused dreamily. And when you do, I'll be waiting.
As she lapped the warm, sticky blood from her claws, Erinyemon slowly began to fade. She had wasted enough time in the Real World. Lord Demon was waiting.
Yamaki was annoyed. Actually, given the current situation, he was closer to being enraged than anything else. Returning to his position as Head of the Technical Division after the disastrous meeting and to Reika's curious questions had done little to cool his temper.
Just who the hell do they think they are? He
fumed as he drove, well knowing that it was the worst possible thing for him to
be doing at the moment.
Did they think by giving me 'some time to think,' that I'd just change my
mind? As though I were some chastised child who needed a talking to and a 'time
out.' Yamaki growled under his breath and honked his horn loudly when a car
from another lane cut him off.
I don't know what's worse, he deliberated. What they plan upon doing or the fact that a few months ago, I was just like them. He finally maneuvered his car into a large parking lot and sighed.
How am supposed to explain this? How can I tell them that the people they saved would rather to betray them, than try to work out some type of compromise? Feeling reluctant, Yamaki opened the door and exited his car, walking briskly to the apartment complex ahead of him.
Whatever I decide to say, he reflected as he opened one of the large glass doors, it had better be good.
Going through the entranceway, Yamaki passed numerous doors marked with their appropriate numbers, quickly. The apartment he was seeking was on one of the top floors; he had researched its location in the company files months prior. He hadn't called ahead of course, with the rampant suspicion already placed upon him; Yamaki didn't want to take the chance of being found out.
He had been careful, not even telling Reika where he was going. The last thing he needed was to put her life in danger and he could only assume that he hadn't been followed. Yamaki ascended the last flight of stairs, before moving into the hallway. When he finally reached his destination, he extended a hand and knocked, then waited impatiently to be received.
Yamaki was slightly startled, but not at all surprised when the door was opened by none other than Lee Janyuu. The older man's face was stunned, but he managed to put his astonishment behind him and stepped away from the door.
"Yamaki, this is a surprise, to say the least. Would you like to come in?" Janyuu spoke courteously, through frowning under Yamaki's terse gaze.
Yamaki nodded. "Thank you, but I won't be staying long." He replied brusquely as he entered the apartment. Janyuu shut the door behind him quickly and turned.
"Something bad has happened, hasn't it?" He inquired. "Has Shibumi-"
"This has nothing to do with Shibumi," Yamaki cut Janyuu off curtly. He sat down on the edge of the couch stiffly and sighed once again.
"At least from my current knowledge, it doesn't. The reason that I'm here deals more with your son and his friends."
Janyuu's frown deepened. "Jen? He isn't even here right now. He's at lessons with his sensei. But tell me what's happening. Are he and the other Tamers in some type of danger?"
Removing his dark glasses, Yamaki stared at the older man wearily. "More so the Digimon than their partners are in danger."
Moving to the opposite end of the couch, Janyuu sat down tensely. "Would you mind elaborating?"
"Of course." Yamaki proceeded to explain the existing situation, leaving nothing out, save from his proposed involvement, he believed that some things were best left unsaid.
Janyuu had remained quiet throughout explanation, but with its conclusion he abruptly stood. "What they're proposing is…unthinkable." He sputtered angrily. "When we put Operation: Doodlebug into action, though knowing of its terrible consequences, it was unforgivable. But this…"
"Unless something is done, this is the end," Yamaki spoke calmly. "Not just for the Digimon belonging to the children, but all those in existence."
"I don't see why we can't just kill him." Lady Devimon muttered sulkily as she and Piemon stepped out from one of the abyss's many "rooms," with Piemon roughly slinging an unconscious body over his shoulder.
"Patience, my dear." He spoke dramatically. "The curtain hasn't risen and our fallen captive has yet to play his role."
Lady Devimon snorted rudely as she walked away from him. "Still, I suppose I should be happy that Demon let us toy with him a bit." A sinister smile lit her beautiful face, allowing the ghastly cruelty that was her nature, shine through.
Piemon followed her, a supercilious smirk of his own across his face. "But of course. Though I do wonder if you were a tad overeager with those claws of yours."
"You've never complained." Lady Devimon responded slyly as shoved aside a Devimon that stood before the entrance to the room of Demon's residence.
Piemon chuckled lightly at her audacity as he entered the room. He frowned at the all too frantic melee that was the usual accompaniment to Demon's feeding. Several Goblimon and Wizarmon stood guard over the captured Digimon, which were mostly Children and weak Adults.
Off to the side, Lobomon stood patiently, his wolfish face expressionless as a Patamon was dragged in front of him. Wasting no time, the lupine Digimon grasped the struggling Patamon and proceeded to swiftly separate its head from its body. Immediately after, a burst of data made its way to the center of the room, to the awaiting body of Demon. Like a horrific procession, the deed was repeated, causing more and more Digimon met their painful ends and fluid absorptions.
Even the sight of the shapeless bulk of the dying Ultimate Digimon made Piemon tremble. The power, the unadulterated evil seemed almost overwhelming. But refusing to allow his weakness to show, Piemon arrogantly strutted towards Demon and roughly deposited the battered and torn body on the ground before him.
"He's still alive?" Demon inquired with mock surprise. "After the torture that you inflicted upon him, I would have been enraged to learn that he was dead."
Sharing worried glances, both Piemon and Lady Devimon prostrated themselves before him.
"Forgive me my Lord," LadyDevimon pleaded. "I was…overeager."
"You were malicious." Demon corrected softly. "Aside from the Vessel, the Maker is of the utmost importance to me. His death would have jeopardized my rebirth inordinately."
Lady Devimon quailed as Demon's frost blue eyes began to shine menacingly.
"My Lord," Piemon interrupted hastily. "We ask your forgiveness and-"
A roar of fury burst throughout the room, causing the lower occupants of Demon's army to fall to their knees and making Lobomon freeze.
"Forgiveness?" Demon repeated threateningly. "Such ridiculous notions from one who would be my lieutenant. Be grateful that I am not of my full strength and that you are needed, otherwise you would be spending your days impaled by your own swords, Piemon. And Lady Devimon, cross me in any means again and it will be you, rather than that wretch Erinyemon who shall be torn to pieces. Now stand!"
Both Digimon did as they were bid and Lady Devimon couldn't help but sigh with relief. Piemon glared at her irately, embarrassment replacing his fear as an indignant fury coursed through him.
"And now it is time." Demon rumbled coolly. "Bring him closer."
Almost robotically, Lobomon stepped forward and drew the body behind him. It had been he who had kidnapped the human and nearly tearing him apart in the process. But despite his error, Lobomon felt that he had earned the honor to stand before Demon with that which he so desperately did seek.
"The Beasts held the advantage, their control of the creatures known as Digi-Gnomes has been one of the deciding factors in our battles. But with the acquisition of the Maker, one who shares a similar relationship with them, the nature of our confrontations shall change."
"What if he won't help?" LadyDevimon questioned without thinking.
Demon eyed her coldly. "I had you place him in this state to make entrance into his mind easier. If Mizuno Goro does refuse me, then I will shatter his mind."
Preview of the Chapter 3-Cerebral Clash:
"…You've been a fool," The voice admonished seriously. "To think that they cared about you, that they shared your visions, your dreams."
"They did!" Shibumi shouted into the endless darkness. "They do. Everything that you've been telling me has been a lie! I don't know what you're trying you're trying to accomplish, but it won't work!"
For a moment, silence was his only reply. Then with unimaginable speed, a fierce pain burst through the shade that was Shibumi's consciousness. He could only cry out in agony as he felt his thoughts being torn…
"What am I?" The newly made Digimon inquired, his intelligent red eyes roaming about, trying to absorb any and all information around him.
"You are Veliomon." Demon stated grandly. "And you will lead the Reapers."