k2: Okay, for starters, my apologies for chapter nine getting out of control. I didn't mean for it to get extra parts added to it or for the length to get so…exponential as well, but I am actually quite happy it did.
MK: OH, the drama!
k2: Shove it! SO anyway. Chapter nine now has a total of five six parts to it instead of three so I had to try and come up with words that would describe the chapter, yet work with the entirety of the title. So I have to ask for your help in determining if it works this way. Please let me know in your reviews, thank you.
MK: Also, let her know if a ten-page chapter is too long or not, okay?
k2: Hey! Their lucky it didn't expand into fifteen! That's why I had to separate chapters, remember!
MK: Aheh. Yeah…. BEWARE OF OOCNESS!
k2: SO NOT! Err…. well, okay maybe a little! But it's hard! Getting certain characters write is real hard! I mean, I know all about Matt's passion, the way his anger; his desperation will flare, but Sora? She is usually so calm, so collected! She's a real mother figure type, like TK said in one episode. But the problem is…well, how would you react if you saw your boyfriend 'fall' from a high spot and you suspected it wasn't a real 'fall'. So essentially I have to try and figure out how she is going to react to Matt and this is the way I did it. Sorry for any OOCness from any character at any time. Hope you like the story nonetheless.
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What now!
Rated: PG-13
drama/romance
Ch.9 pt1-Darkness
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Tai, glaring at the darkening sky before him, sighed heavily as he pulled the map out of his pocket once again to study it in the failing light. About half a meter away was another forest, the one that separated them from Infinity Mountain. Once past that they would be at their destination, yet another journey would fallow afterwards. Tai wondered if they were ever going to make it to their final destination. After all, if Kari was right, if Matt was right, they were already to late. And if that were the case what would they find? Or would it find them first? And if it did find them first would they be ready to deal with it? To deal with TK?
Tai glanced over his shoulder. The group was still pretty far back, making their way steadily closer every minute. He and Davis had rode Raidramon ahead to get a good look at the oncoming forest. And, as he had suspected, it wouldn't be easy to get through. He hadn't gone to far in to check it out, only far enough to get a good idea. He didn't' want to be a full day ahead of the others only to get to them too late, but he had all the information he needed now. Since the group was catching up to the agreed upon meeting place before hitting the forest Tai decided now was the best time to make his announcement. And, as they all came forward Tai called a halt.
"Why are we stopping?" Matt demanded, "We can still hit the forest and make our way in deep before we really need to stop."
"No Matt." Tai replied, "We need to stop now. The mountain is flanked. They're waiting for us and we need to wait until daybreak to hit them, other wise we're walking in blind. If were stopped before we rest not only will we be tired but I don't want to fight in the dark, none of us have ever been good at night fighting."
"What do you mean flanked?" Matt asked
"Take a look for yourself." Tai stated as he walked over to Matt, handing him the map, "I marked an x where groups of Digimon are waiting for us. There are gaps, plenty of them, but it's easy to get turned around in the forest and it's safer to wait." Tai thought about continuing, but he knew if he said what was on his mind Matt would fall deeper into his own slump. He didn't want to come right out and tell Matt that he was also stopping because Matt needed to rest. He'd probably argue that he'd been resting the entire time while everyone else had to walk.
"Don't' worry Matt, we will reach TK in time."
Tai watched as Matt's fists clenched within Garurumons fur, the map crumpling as well, and he knew what Matt was thinking. Unfortunately there was nothing anyone could do to change his thoughts.
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"Be sure to let me know if your legs starts swelling again Matt." Joe stated as he wrapped Matt's leg up again, "To much pressure like that isn't good. You have to be sure to release pressure; same goes for your head. Make sure you let me know if any headaches start to form, that a lot more dangerous for you the pressure on your leg. Got it?"
"Yeah, whatever." Matt scratched at the new bandage on his head stared blankly at nothing.
"Are you sure your okay Matt?" Joe asked with great concern."
"Just…leave me alone." Matt murmured. "I need…I need to think."
"You need to cheer up man." Gomomon stated, "You're letting everything get to you."
"Not now Gomomon." Joe murmured to his partner, "The moral boost will only make things worse for the moment."
Gomomon looked from Joe to Matt, then back at Joe. Matt hadn't even heard what Gomomon had said, his mind already off in another world. Joe gathered his things together and he and Gomomon headed towards the fire that Tai had built, Sora noticing their return immediately.
"How is he?" She asked.
"He wants to be alone." Joe replied, "And I don't' think that's a good idea."
Joe watched, as Sora seemed to conflict with herself mentally then, with a last look at Yolie, she stood up with a look of determination in her eyes.
"I'm going to talk to him."
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Impossible. I hate that word. Things are only impossible if you let them be. I refuse to believe that it is 'impossible' to save TK.
I stared at the map, examining the details, the X's marked by Tai. Right now it seemed to be my only link, the only thing I could count on, but why?
A pain was slowly filling my chest, placing a weight down and making it difficult to breath.
And then a gentle hand was placing itself on my shoulder. I looked up to see Sora looking at me, concern filled eyes hoping to receive some word of comfort, some form acknowledging that I was okay and that she didn't' have to worry. Something I couldn't' give her right now and I turned my head away from her.
"Matt?" I turned to Gabumon; the furry blue and white digimon was looking at me with the same eyes as Sora.
IT made me feel like a heel and Sora's hand began to slide off my shoulder. I felt as her presence began to leave and I felt my heart beginning to break. I didn't want her to leave but-.
"Matt!" I glanced at Gabumon again and his eyes startled me. They still had the concern but now there was irritation and anger in them as well. "Stop her!"
I heard a gasp and I whipped my head around. Sora had frozen at Gabumon's words and she slowly turned her head to look at me, pain filled eyes asking why he had to say something.
I started to lower my head but then I notice Sora moving towards me again. I looked up, confused, just in time to receive a sharp and painful 'slap'. I held my check in shock and stared at Sora who own eyes were filled with tears. Her body was rigid, her hands clenched into fists. She closed her eyes and bit back the sobs that threatened to break through her and then her hand…no her fist!…came flying in my direction! I ducked, startled, and started to crawl, backwards, away from her, my leg beginning to throb again. I looked over to Gabumon for help but he was in the process of being dragged away by an obviously equally angry Biomon.
"Sora, wait!" I tried, but she just took another swing at me forcing me to duck again.
"You jerk!" She shouted and I couldn't help but check to see if anyone was watching, hoping someone would lend me a hand.
We were being ignored!
"Sora, please! Just wait a second!" Almost forgetting about my leg I placed pressure on it and bit back a cry of pain, my hands flying to my leg protectively. That seemed to snap Sora out of it and she stopped in her tracks, the anger dying away to be replaced with concern. She quickly knelt down, her hands following mine, and looked at me fearfully.
"Are you okay?" She asked
"Yeah, I think so."
"Good." Her fist landed square in my shoulder and I instantly forgot about the pain in my leg.
"What was that for!" I demanded as I massaged through the pain. My anger, however, died away as I saw Sora's eyes tearing like waterfalls.
"Sora…?"
"Tell me." She murmured, "Tell me you didn't tell me you loved me out of desperation. Tell me that you really love me and that we will be together…. Please tell me Matt that even if we don't get TK back you'll still be there for me. Tell me…tell me…that…." Sora collapsed into my shoulder, burying her face deep into my shirt and I found myself speechless. I relaxed my posture slightly and I brought my hands over to massage at her back soothingly. I closed my eyes and relaxed my chin on her head. Though I said nothing I shushed her, cooing softly in my attempt to calm her. I wasn't sure what to say, I wasn't aware she felt that way. I guess Tai was right; I should have talked to her.
"You made me promise." I heard Sora mumble. "You made me promise that I wouldn't leave you. Make me that same promise Matt, tell me you wont' leave me and that you do love me."
"Sora, I-." It was awkward. It was so easy to say before, but then again I had felt desperate. And now it was as if….
"The roles have changed." I murmured with sudden realization. "Oh, Sora, I am so sorry. I hadn't meant to make you cry, I don't want you to worry. Sora I…I was desperate when I said that." I felt her body go rigid in my arms and her fingers (both hands were clinging to me one on my shoulder the other my chest) dug into my skin as she fought another bout of sobs. I shushed again and continued to try and keep her calm. "But Sora…it was the truth."
Sora stopped shaking and I heard her breathing stop as well. If it hadn't been for her tight grip I would have went for her pulse right then. When her grip loosened I heard a slight exhale as the breath she'd bene holding was released and she brought her face up to look me in the eyes. Her eyes, though teary and slightly bloodshot, radiated a welcome ray of compassion that seemed to partially lift the weight on my chest and I smiled softly at her.
"I'm sorry I made you think differently Sora." I murmured, "And you probably have good reason to think that also."
"Why did you jump?"
"What?" Her question startled me. I was astounded that she already knew, that while everyone else thought I had fallen she knew otherwise….
"Matt…." She lowered her eyes. "You have a good grip. If it means the difference between life or death you would have hung on until help arrived but…." She looked up again, pain and confusion mingled with compassion and love. IT was then that I knew that she had some semblance of an idea as to why I did what I did.
"Why Matt? I need to know."
"IT came after me." I stated, "IT had a purpose for that. It wanted to take me to whatever it is that has TK. That struck me as a little odd, really, and I had a very bad feeling of what it could mean. At that moment I just knew that if I went I may have been able to see TK again but I was also sure that it would be the last time I ever saw my brother again. I don't know why but…I felt I had a better chance meeting the ground then returning from that place, wherever it is."
"Oh, thank god!" Sora gasp and I realized she had been holding her breath throughout the entire answer. "I had thought that…." She lowered her head shamefully, "I should never have thought that Matt. I know how much you love TK and I know that you are a strong person."
"I think I understand." Matt murmured, "Sora, even if I lost TK I still have you and vice versa. But If I ever lost both of you I think Tai would reach into the afterlife to kill me again if I were ever to do something that stupid. So you don't' have to worry about me, not like that. Alright?"
Sora smiled and I felt warm again. I felt as if everything was going to be just fine and that nothing could be better, until the paper lying on the ground reminded me of one thing that could make it better.
"Sora, I'm scared that something very bad has happened to TK, something that…well, I cant' explain it exactly but I it's something that none of us expected."
"What do you mean?"
"Kari is really worried. Ever since last night TK has been, well…he's been fine. No pain, no nothing. Whatever had happened to TK, whatever was happening to TK was, well, finished. She told me that there was something wrong, something that she couldn't explain. And that was when I knew, I just knew, that I was right. Sora I don't' think that e-mail before was just mocking us. I think it was the plan from the very start.
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"Well, I think things are finally settled between them." Yolie stated as she bit into a piece of fruit.
"It'd better be." Tai grumbled, "otherwise my life would be even more complicated then it already is."
"How's that?" Davis asked
"They're both my best friends, think about it." Tai replied with a grin. "Better yet, don't'. You'll probably get a brain hemorrhage or something."
"Plus, the added effect that you and Sora used to date also kind of hurts things, doesn't it?" Joe asked
"Yeah…." Tai glanced back at the two of them as they talked, their faces serious. He would have given anything right then to be part of it, but their conversation was most likely personal.
Face it Tai. he thought to himself, your best friend won out.
AS the night continued everyone began to prepare for the night, none of them happy with another night spent on hard ground and the chill of the outside air. Sora didn't have to worry about Ken and Yolie since there was nowhere to hide and she had enough trouble getting Matt to actually agree to sleep. She had to enlist the aid of Tai and Joe to finally get even a grunt of agreement out of him and she still thought it best if she were to sleep right next to him, staying awake herself until he fell asleep.
Tai, after helping deal with Matt made his way to Kari and the two of them conversed until the night's weariness finally lulled them to sleep, though Kari's dreams were restless.
At first it was all peaceful, no dreams or anything to bother her, and then the darkness of sleep gave way to dreams. Dreams of her and TK having fun, playing in the park or getting a bite to eat. She was alive again, alive with joy. TK was with her and it was all bliss!
And then he was gone. She called out his name, confused as to where he was and she started to get scared. The sky darkened and her fear began to increase. The world around her slowly became consumed by the darkness and everything became ruin.
Kari ran. She called out to TK but still no response.
And then she heard him. His soft laughter, but not the happy laughter that she always knew. IT was something different, something…not right.
And then she tripped. She fell. She didn't' land. The void was below her and she continued to fall, her screams falling on deaf ears as was lost forever….
Kari found solid ground beneath her and she looked up, confused. It was dark and she didn't; know where she was. Tai was no longer beside her and she felt alone.
"It's cold." She murmured. "Gatomon? Where are you? Tai? Please, someone answer me, anyone! Please?"
"It is time."
Kari spun around. She had heard a voice. It was almost nonexistent, whisperish even, but she still heard it. It was as if it were right next to her ear and yet so far away at the same time.
Where did it come from?
"Yes master."
"TK?" Kari recognized the sound of TK's voice and she rushed across the floor, barley managing to stand up in the process as her feet skidded on the stone.
And then she froze as she finally found what she was looking for.
"…TK…."
Before her stood a pale comparison to what TK had once been. Frail and deathlike he looked as if he hadn't eaten decently in weeks and before him stood a creature shrouded in shadows. It was as if a void were surrounding it, swallowing any light that came near it. And TK was near it. He was so close to it that he seemed to be bound to it. It was like…like….
"The battle is won, my pet, despair and darkness are mine and all that comes within."
"Yes, master." TK replied
"What is…going on…?" She whispered in disbelief.
And then another movement in the darkness attracted her attention away from the horrid sight before her and her blood ran cold. What she saw was herself, or at least what had used to be herself. It was just as pail and frail looking as TK had been but the darkness around her radiated with such intensity that Kari herself felt drained just by looking. Some morbid dark reflection that seemed to swallow light the other Kari walked forward until she was by the perverse version of TK who turned to meet her….
Kari awoke with a start. Next to her Tai slept peacefully, snoring slightly as a bubble followed along with his snores. Curled against her chest, half protectively, half comfortably, slept Gatomon and Kari caressed the purple and white digicat affectionately. She didn't know where the dream had come from, nor why she had it in the fist place. All she knew was that it had left her very cold and very scared.
"Kari?" Gatomon murmured sleepily, "What's wrong?"
Startled, Kari caressed Gatomon again apologetically. "I'm sorry Gatomon, did I wake you?"
"Not really." Gatomon yawned, "I sensed your were having some sort of difficulty. Is everything okay?"
"I just had a nasty dream." Kari replied with a soft smile, "You can go ba-."
Kari froze. There was movement from where Matt and Sora had finally fallen asleep. Two figures were moving in the night, one tall and leaning heavily on a staff, the other short, both heading away from camp. Having an idea what was going on Kari quickly stood up and put a finger to her lips to quite anything Gatomon would have said, then motioned for her to follow silently.
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"Sora isn't going to be happy Matt."
"Shh!" I hissed as we slowly made our way away form camp. "I know that, that's why were doing it while everyone is asleep."
"But you and Sora just-."
"I know Gabumon." I heaved a sigh and looked down at my furry friend, "I know. But I can't. I can't just sit here and wait. I have to get moving otherwise…." I trailed off, shaking my head. "I can't wait till morning."
"Good, because neither can I."
I turned around sharply to see Kari standing behind me, Gatomon at her side, arms crossed. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing what your up to."
"You shouldn't be here." I replied as I turned back towards the forest, still half a meter away.
"Neither one of you should be here, you should both be asleep, waiting for morning!" Gatomon argued, "Your going to get in trouble!"
"I have to go, I have to find out for myself." Kari sounded as if she had tears lodged in her throat. When she looked at me she had those same tears as well as the same expression of pain, fear, loss…. "I have to find him Matt, I can't sit here, waiting. TK needs me, I don't know how else to explain it but…without me he isn't…."
"Complete." I finished. She looked at me, startled. "Perfect partners. The two of you, you have always been that way. You fit together, hand in hand. Hope and light, neither can fully exist without the other."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing." I shook my head, wondering myself what I was talking about. What I said didn't' make sense, but in a way it did and that only made it more confusing. Why was I being so confusing?
I ran my hand through my hair and smiled at Kari. "Your brother is really going to kill me you know. When he finds out."
Kari smiled, wiping at her eyes. "It's okay. I can handle him."
"Good, because I'm tired of getting into fist fights with him over things like this." I looked back towards the forest, the cool night breeze blowing my hair slightly into my face. "We walk to the forest, digivolve there. We're only using Garurumon; we can sneak past the patrols easier that way. Remember, we don't want any trouble, nothing to hold us back." I looked at my watch and grimaced, "By the time we actually digivolve the dawn will be approaching, the others will wake up just as we reach the foot of the mountain. By that time they won't be worried about the patrols and they'll come looking for us. We gotta move now."
"What about your leg?"
"That's why it's going to take us so long to get to the forest."
"Seen and unforeseen are the events in which transpire." The master of the void smiled darkly as he watched Mat and Kari's progress through his vortex, reveling in the irony that was falling at his feet. After his first attempt to attack them with Pegramon he had decided to hold off on any attacks until they actually made it to the mountain, but now he was beginning to wonder if that was even necessary.
"I should have linked the boy to myself sooner." He murmured, "They will be at the top of the mountain sooner then I expected and with his will so strong…."
Turning from the window he 'glided' to where he had left TK and Patamon. TK's breath was shallow but steady, his body twitched here and there, but the bite on his shoulder was almost healed, dark 'fog' rising from it ever so slightly. A small smirk came to the dark creatures hideous mouth and knew that the moment was coming. By the time they reach the top he will be ready.
"Tai!"
"Go away mom, ten more minutes." Tai grumbled as he rolled over, only to have a small rock jab him in the side. As he opened his eyes, confused, he heard, not his mother but Sora urging him awake.
"Tai, get up!"
"Sora?" He asked blearily, "What's wrong?"
"Matt's missing!"
"Whatt'ya mean missing?"
"Both him and Gabumon are gone. So are Kari and Gatomon."
Tai sat up quickly, his hands flying to where Kari had been sleeping next to him. Sure enough, it was empty ground. His eyes widened then and he checked his pocket, but the map wasn't' there and he realized that he had never taken it back from Matt last night.
"I'm gonna kill him." Tai murmured, shocked. "I'm gonna kill him,"
"Tai, what are you talking about?"
"They're gone…they went…they…the mountain! They went to find TK on their own!"
"I kind of figured that one out on my own." Sora stated, "You the only one with a direct link up to Matt."
"Yeah…right." As Tai began to turn his watch to the COM frequency the others began to stir, woken by him and Sora's voices.
"Wha's goin' on?" Mimi asked dully.
"Matt!" Tai shouted into his watch, "Answer me darn nit! MATT!"
"Hey, what's going on?" Davis asked
::Tai?::
"Finally!" Tai cried as Matt's voice came back, "Where the heck are you guys!"
::At the foot of the mountain.:: Matt replied as if it were no big deal at all. ::Looks like I was right, I figured you'd be awake by now and find us gone. See you at the top.::
"WHAT!"
::Look, Tai, I don't have time to argue-.::
"Why were you stupid enough to take Kari with you!"
::Hey, I had no choice in the matter Tai! I knew she wasn't about to let me go on my own and she feels the same way I do!::
Sora wrenched Tai's arm around, erupting a startled cry of surprise and pain form him and began shouting at Matt herself.
"I can't believe you would do this Matt!" Sora cried, "Are you seriously trying to get yourself killed!"
::I got the map, I already figured out how to get passed the patrols without being seen.:: Matt argued back, irritated. ::By the time you guys make it to the top we'll have already found the portal. We'll see you all there.::
"No!" Sora shouted, "You had better get back here this instant Matt, or else your going to be real sorry!"
::Well, I guess I'll be sorry when I see you Sora.::
And then Matt was gone.
"I'm going to kill him." Sora murmured, just as shocked as Tai had said it.
"I'll kill 'em both!" Tai shouted, "I can't believe this! They're the ones that thing is after the most and they go and pull this! They have to be the stupidest two people on the face of the earth!"
"We have to go after them." Mimi said, "We have to find them before It does!"
"Guys, break out the wings, we gotta hurry.
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"Celestial Arrow!"
"I guess one of them got lost." I murmured as the Snimon disintegrated. I double-checked the map, looking around, and shrugged. "Thanks for taking care of it Kari."
"Hey, Garurumon's our ride, someone needs to do it."
"Kari, I can fly you up if you want." Angewomon said as she floated down towards us.
"No, we may need you for another battle just in case." I intercepted the offer.
"Matt's right." Kari stated, "It'd be best for you to return to Gatomon right now."
I turned my head to stare up the mountain. We had already gotten about a quarter up the mountain and I already knew that Tai hadn't gotten this far when he scouted the area so we were bound to run into something sooner or later. The fact that it was only one surprised me to no end; we should have run into something else at some point.
AS Garurumon continued jumping ledges and running up the flat areas I checked over my shoulder to see if I could see the others. Sure enough, in the distance, I saw the silhouettes of something flying towards us, but they were still to far away to make a difference to us.
And then I saw something else. They were intercepted by the digimon in the forest. I cursed silently. They were easy to spot in the air like that during the day and they were defiantly spotted.
It doesn't' matter, those digimon can't stop them for long. That only proves I was right to head off first, other wise we would also have been intercepted.
Strangely enough we didn't' run into any more trouble as Garurumon traveled. It bothered me; it was too easy to get up the mountain, which should have been pretty heavily guarded. When I glanced back over my shoulder I realized I had lost sight of the others.
Something was defiantly off here.
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"Tai, this isn't' right!" Davis shouted as X-Veemon slammed into a DarkTyranimon.
"What'dyou mean?" Tai asked as he ducked an attack from a Snimon. Seeing this Greymon roared angrily and threw a Nova Blast it's way, slamming it into a nearby tree.
"The map! There was only a small group in this area, I just remembered! Tai, we're being attacked directly! They knew we were coming!"
"He's right Tai!" Izzy shouted, "Somehow we're being watched! And right now we're being separated from Matt and Kari!"
"We gotta go after them!" Tai cried out, panic starting to rise again.
"Cody, Izzy, with me!" Joe declared as he took on the initiative, "We'll hold them off, you guys hurry up!"
"Right!" Tai jumped onto Greymon's tail and climbed up his back while the digimon headed towards the mountain that now lay only fifteen feet away or so. "Wait, this wont' work. Greymon, devolve, but take out these trees first! Sora, we need Birdramon!"
"A little busy at the moment!" Sora cried as she ran over to him. Birdramon is fighting a Kuwagamon!"
"Togemon digivolve toooo, LILYMON!"
"Don't' worry Sora!" Mimi shouted, "Lilymon, take care of Kuwagamon for Birdramon!"
"Right Mimi!"
Lilymon fluttered towards the two digimon that were currently fighting in the air, aimed her arms at the Kuwagamon and shouted; "Flower cannon!" and followed up quickly by a vicious vine attack.
Free from her burdensome fight with the Kuwagamon, Birdramon glided over to Sora and Tai just as Greymon knocked several trees over for her and landed in the newly created clearing.
"Great!" Tai shouted, "Davis, Yolie and Ken, your with me and Sora! Joe, you guys catch up as soon as you're done here!"
"Right!"
Tai, Agumon and Sora grabbed hold of Birdramon's leg and she took off into the air while Davis Ken and Yolie followed along with X-Veemon, Halsemon, and Stingmon.
Please, let us make it in time! Tai thought desperately as he stared ahead, hope the only thing keeping his mind from screaming out in panic.
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"Man, this place is a ruins." Kari and I stared out across the near mountaintop where we had marked our destination.
"Tell me about it." Kari replied as she slid off Garurumon.
Swinging my staff over I held it to the ground and used it to hold my weight as I slid down myself, careful not to put pressure on my leg. As soon as I was off Garurumon reverted to Gabumon and collapsed to the ground.
"I'm just going to lay here for a minute." He murmured with a wave of his hand, er…paw. Whatever. "You…you go on ahead."
I grinned and began to hobble off, looking around as I did. Remnants of Devimon's pavilion were scattered throughout the mountaintop. I was sure there were remnants of Piedmons twisted version as well, having done his best to make the place his when he had claimed it as Spiral Mountain, combining parts of the digital world to it as he had done so.
"Matt, wait for me!" I heard Kari cry as she realized I was already beginning to look around for the portal. I stopped and turned to look at her expectantly. She had her arms wrapped around herself and was looking around with agitation reflected in her chestnut eyes. "I don't' like it here." She murmured, "It feels cold. Its wrong here, dark."
"Dark?" I asked her. I looked around me, there was nothing that 'seemed' dark to me, but then again I wasn't tuned into that sort of thing either. "I don't suppose you could sense where the portal is, could you Kari?"
"The portal…?" She seemed to think on it for a moment, and then looked at me with wide eyes. "If you mean can I sense and over whelming sense of darkness, the likes I have only felt a few times in my life then yeah. It's coming from over there." She pointed towards a grouping of cliff rock partially surrounded by marble ruin. As we approached I realized that it wasn't just surrounded by it but most of the pavilion was still pretty much intact. As we got closer to it I began to feel what Kari was talking about. Something was wrong, dark. I didn't like it. I wanted to get away, but I knew that we had finally found what we were looking for.
"Over there!" Kari whispered as she pointed towards a door in the semi darkness that seemed to radiate a sickly yellowish green light that looked unhealthier then anything else in the dismal ruins; a light that seemed to be growing with every second.
"Kari…step back." I ordered quickly. I wasn't sure why, but that light gave me a very bad feeling.
Nodding her head Kari took a step back. Then another. And another. I, too, quickly hobbled towards the entrance to the pavilion, my feeling of unease growing steadily larger as the light seemed to brighten in a sickly dim sort of way and as I turned my head back to look the door blew forward as if it had been blown apart by some strange force. I leaned heavily against my staff and the wall as the debris and wind blew past me but was forced after a minute to retreat a little more but when I tried I stumbled and fell backward. When the wind finally died down, however, I risked a glance up.
My eyes widened as a figure stood in the archway. A figure distorted by the light ahead of us, directly behind it.
I sensed, more then anything else, that Kari was somewhat behind me, having retreated like I'd told her. I faintly remember seeing her jump backwards out of startled fright from the corner of my eye before I stumbled backwards though for now my eyes were locked on the strangely familiar figure before me. A figure that was followed by another, taller, figure that seemed to materialize next to the first. A sudden, sinking feeling grew in the pit of my stomach to merge with my ever-growing unease.
"Hello, Matt."
I gasped as my eyes widened in disbelief, mixed emotions filling every fiber of my being. I knew that voice like I knew my own and yet it sounded unnatural. Hard even. Behind me I heard a whispered 'no' as Kari came to the same conclusion as me.
TK stepped forward, the shadows falling away as he left the sickly greenish yellow light. His shirt was torn slightly, brownish red splotches seemed to stem from his shoulder and I knew for a fact it was dried blood. His eyes were dull, lacking their usual bright intensity that always made TK seem so eager and full of everything good. And there were shadows under his eyes, patches that made it seem like TK hadn't slept for a week.
And his complexion was the worst. The reflection from the energy swirling around the 'doorway' made it a sickly greenish pallor that made him look awful. The very sight of him made my skin prickle and my nerves grow cold.
But the sight of Angemon, however, was the most frightening.
Beside TK stood his partner, but somehow he looked…wrong. I couldn't place why but he looked more intimidating then his usually glorified self. More deadly, efficient. It was like he was a silent guardian with no true life and intelligence of it's own, answering only to it's master.
"T-TK!" I attempted to cry out, but my voice caught in my throat and it came out strangled.
"You okay Matt?" TK's words bothered me. He seemed to not really mean them even as he spoke them, a sort of carefreeness that TK had never once had in all the time he's been able to talk. And his eyes as remained dull and impassive as if he weren't really looking at me.
"TK…." I swallowed, unsure what to do. I glanced behind me and saw that Kari had collapsed to her knees. Clearing my throat, I tried once more to talk to my brother though somehow I knew it would be futile. "TK, are…are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine." The reply was vague and a lump began to form in my throat. A lump that seemed to increase as, when he began to walk towards me, I felt fear grow inside. It was a horrible sensation, watching with growing fear as my baby brother approached me without an ounce of love or compassion registering anywhere around him.
"Why wouldn't I be Matt?" TK continued. His voice still had that hard edge that made him sound unreal, unnatural. This just couldn't be my brother.
"Darkness…darkness all around him…." Hearing Kari's hushed, strangled mumblings I quickly looked over to see her still on the ground, holding her hands to her mouth, tears in her eyes. She was slowly shaking her head, fear reflecting in her eyes as she watched TK approaching.
"TK!" I whipped my head back to my brother, fear rising even further in me, and managed to level myself up to a sitting position with my arms. "What is gong on!"
"I…." TK hesitated in his walk for about a second, his eyes loosing a little of the dullness. He took a step back, as if unsure of what he was doing. "I…I came…I came for Kari!" His voice strengthened in force, certainty taking over and he began forward again.
No!
"TK! Stop!" I reached my hand out as TK began to pass me and grabbed his wrist but the moment I touched his skin I recoiled. It was cold, clammy. It felt almost dead….
I reached out again, snatching his wrist and forcing back the shivers that ran throughout my body. The only thing that mattered was snapping TK back to reality, getting him to come back to himself, whatever it was I had to do to get him back!
"Stop it TK! We need to get you back home! Mom and Dad are worried sick!"
"I am home." TK replied as he began to pull from my grasp. "Now let go."
I tightened my hand, desperate to hold on. "No TK!"
"I said let GO!" TK cried and before I knew what had happened he had swung around, kicking me in the stomach.
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Kari screamed. Her hands, which were still pressed up againt her mouth, muffled the sound but she screamed nonetheless. TK had just done the worst possible thing she could ever witness him doing. He had kicked his own injured brother in the stomach with his foot, a solid strike that had sent Matt rolling. She watched as the older blond rolled away in pain, her heart pumping wildly and her eyes as wide as saucers. She watched as TK stared at Matt as, his eyes withholding any form of love or compassion. She watched as TK turned back to her, the same dull look of unconcern marring the eyes of the boy she once knew. And she watched as he slowly came forward, approaching her with an intensity hidden deep within that drove all comprehensible action from her mind and left her numb with fear.
Gatomon stood in front of her protectively, somewhere in the back of her head she heard Gabumon calling Matt's name. And then she saw the furry blue digimon running to Matt's side as said teen struggled to get up. The kick had been far harder then Kari could have realized.
"TK…." Kari murmured through her tears as her hands slowly fell away from her face to lie at her sides, "What…what have you done?"
"I stopped a nuisance." TK murmured, a dark aura around him radiating a cold darkness that seemed to immobilize her far more then the fear she felt had been.
"You kicked…your brother! He came here to save you, he's injured and you kicked him!"
"I-." TK stopped. The dullness seemed to leave his eyes for yet another moment and he stumbled backwards about two steps. He placed his hand over his head and for a moment the old TK had returned more surely then before. The youth collapsed to his knees grasping at his chest painfully, a weak cry trying desperately to escape his constricted throat. Beside him Angemon only stared at impassively.
"TK!" Matt quickly crawled over to his little brother ignoring the pain in his leg as he dragged it along with him. Gabumon, hesitating for just a moment, grabbed Matt's staff and hurried over as the teen reached TK. Matt, his common sense momentarily lacking as his concern took over, gently placed his hand on TK's shoulder. It was strange, it was like Matt's touch triggered something in TK as his head snapped up, his eyes glowing a harsh red color and, when TK spoke it was a harsh whispery voice that struck out at them.
"Leave him alone!"
Matt's eyes widened again knowing full well that wasn't TK's voice but he wasn't quick enough as his younger brother moved like lightening, Striking him in the jaw and standing in a motion so quick that he was able to fluidly center a second kick into Matt's face. Gabumon threw himself at TK but the young blond smacked him down hard. Gatomon made to attack as well but Kari swung her arm out and latched onto her the digimon's shoulder. She didn't' want Gatomon to get hurt also, nor did she want Gatomon to hurt TK.
Turning back to his brother TK stood over Matt, an uncharacteristically dark expression on his pale face as he held his hand out, snapping his fingers. The red faded from TK's eyes and he glared down at Matt venomously as Angemon glided over.
"Pick him up." TK stated, his voice back to normal once more.
Angemon obediently reached his arm out, his hand fastening around Matt's throat. Unable to fight back Matt's hands instinctively wrapped around Angemons arm as his air supply was cut off, his eyes barley open and his nose bleeding freely. As Angemon held Matt at arms length TK continued to stare at him, another impassive expression making its way onto TK's face as the anger that had flared momentarily faded into nonexistence.
"T…K…." Matt managed to choke the two letters that made up TK's name as his windpipe was held shut.
"TK!" Kari cried in horror.
"Kari, you have to let me help!" Gatomon shouted desperately
This…this can't be happening! Kari's mind was numb with indecision and fear. She was confused; she had no idea what to do or how to help Matt without hurting TK. And there was no way she was going to hurt TK.
"You shouldn't have done that Matt." TK murmured as impassively as his expression. "He wants me to cut contact with you. You were supposed to feed the stone but why wait?"
TK! Kari thought desperately, Please, stop!
"Kari…."
"T…K…." Matt tried again, "Please…don't…let him…control you…!"
"Control?" TK asked, "No one controls me. No one controls me." TK's voice, strangely, began to sound unsure, upset. "No one…no one controls…. No one! Drop him!"
"NO!" TK seemed to be shouting at himself and his eyes flashed red once again as he threw out another order, "Finish him!"
NO!" the desperation that seemed to suddenly flare within TK's voice as his hands flew to his head was more then Kari could take and she grabbed her own head, crying out desperately for everything to just stop while Gatomon, suddenly finding Kari's grip on her gone, looked from Kari to Matt, unsure what to do. "STOP GETTING INTO MY HEAD!" TK screamed out, stumbling around and generally looking as if he were insane.
"MAATT!"
"…Gabu…mon." Matt, hardly able to breath, barley registered the frantic sound of Gabumon's voice as the digimon rammed into Angemon, sending both him and Matt flying through the air. Matt skidded across the rocks and Kari gasped as she saw him get closer to the edge of the cliff.
"Kari!" Gatomon cried desperately, "We gotta do something!"
"I know!" Kari wiped at her eyes, "But…what? We can't just-."
"We may have to Kari!" Gatomon shouted, "How else do we save him! Or are you just going to let TK kill Matt!"
Kari bit her lip. She looked from Matt, his form laying unconscious by the side of the cliff, to Gabumon who was checking on Matt fretfully, again to Angemon who was beginning to get up, and finally to TK who was still clinging to his head, an internal conflict warring inside.
"He's…torn." Kari murmured as she began to realize just what it was that was wrong with him, "He's…he's trying to fight…. TK…TK!" Kari struggled to get up, fighting past her fear and forcing her legs to move. When she finally did manage to stand she took a few hurried steps towards TK, hope still floating in her heart of hearts that the struggle inside him was strong enough that she could pull him out of whatever it was they did to him.
"TK!"
"K-Kari…?"
"I'm here!" She knelt down beside him, scared but determined. "Stay with me TK! I know you can do this, I know you can pull through!"
"Kari, get away from him!"
Kari, surprised, looked up to see Matt, braced up by his arms, staring at her angrily.
"But…TK needs me!"
"You don't get it Kari!" Matt shouted
"MATT! KARI!" Both heads turned to see Tai, Sora and Davis land on the other side of the cliff. As soon as they touched down X-Veemon and Birdramon devolved to Biomon and Veemon and they all ran towards the small group.
"TK!" Tai shouted, surprised, "But…how!"
"Yo, TM!" Davis cried excitedly, "How on earth did ya make it outta there!"
At the sound of Davis voice, TK's eyes flashed. He shoved Kari out of the way and flew towards Davis, his hands going for the other boy's throat aggressively. Having no time to react Davis found himself in a vice like grip with a thoroughly peeved off Takeru and frantically clawed at the blonds tightening fingers. Tai and Sora stepped back in surprise, as shocked as Davis.
"TK!" the enraged youth cried viciously, "My name is TK! Get it right you pee brained buffoon!" TK threw Davis to the ground, the brunette's head slamming into the rocky surface, and kicked him for good measure.
"Angemon!" TK cried, "Distraction!"
"Hand of fate!" Angemon slammed his fist into the rock face that housed most of the remains to Devimon's pavilion, destroying the side and sending an avalanche of rock down. Tai, Sora, and the three digimon dodged the attack but the rock separated them from the others like a wall.
"TK, no!" Matt cried
"Hand of fate!" Angemon redirected himself this time, his attack now headed towards Matt. Matt cringed as the attack closed in on him and Gabumon jumped in front of the blast before it reached the prone blond, the force knocking the small digimon into Matt, which sent them both rolling right off the edge of the cliff. Matt grabbed for the edge as he fell with one hand and quickly grabbed Gabumon's horn with his other. Gabumon cried out painfully, but when seeing the sight below him sighed in relief. Matt, however, was having a hard time keeping his grip on both Gabumon and the edge.
"Kari!" TK shouted, "Your coming with me!"
"TK, stop this!" Kari shouted as he stormed over to her. "This isn't right, this isn't you! You just sent your brother-." She never finished her sentence. TK's fist collided with her cheek and he glared at her.
"Stop it! Stop bring him up! He's…he's blurring things! Matt is an obstacle! I destroyed that obstacle, now it's time! We have to follow destiny!"
"TK…this isn't our destiny!"
"Lighting Paw!" Gatomon charged at TK but Angemon whacked her hard with his Angel Rod, sending her skidding across the ground.
"If you wont' come peacefully," TK began, "Then I'll just make it peaceful for you." Kari looked up just as TK's fist met her face again and all she saw was a red haze before it all went black.
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k2: Aheh. Umm…. yeah, about all that….
MK: Fun, isn't' it?
k2: I am so dead.
MK: Prolly only if you'd left this as a cliffie, but since you didn't…..
k2: Ohh…. my head hurts.
