Disclaimer-I don't own Digimon.

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Forces of Darkness, Forces of Evil

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"The idiot," Kanaye laughed, leaning back on the couch leisurely as Ai tended to the wound he had on his knee. "Thought he could beat me."

"Shut up and stop moving!" Ai snapped, dabbing the cotton against his wound harshly.

Kanaye bit his lip. "That...hurt," he growled weakly.

"Then shut up! You're hard enough to care for as it is already. Stop boasting so I can wrap up your knee!"

Takuya sighed and walked around the room aimlessly. Goggles...my goggles are gone...damn Kanaye, he thought glumly, heading into the kitchen. He hated having to work for Kanaye. He hated having to stay up past midnight doing stupid homework with no help from Kouichi.

He hated every minute he spent without Izumi.

The month is almost up. If I don't get free before the dance...I wait a few days after that. Less than a week. But...that means Kanaye takes Izumi to the dance. I can't let that happen, he swore to himself, I just can't. I mean...there must be some way...

"You know, the most amusing part is that after that, the idiot tried making a deal to free you, Takuya," Kanaye suddenly said, chuckling a little. "Pretty stupid, wouldn't you say?"

Ai snorted, then sat beside Kanaye on the couch. "I really don't see why you didn't accept. You promised you'd take me to the dance!" she whined, poking his shoulder.

"Shut up."

"Idiot," Takuya muttered to himself grumpily. Only Kouichi would be that considerate to ask for a specific deal. He could have asked, 'Leave everyone alone and go to hell. Literally.' But no, he has to ask for my freedom. Damn him...stupid Kouichi...

"So, Takuya, what are you doing for the dance?" Ai asked, wrapping her hands around Kanaye's neck.

"Nothing," muttered the former goggle-head, looking away from the two. He was disgusted with Kanaye, disgusted with the world...but most of all, disgusted with himself. If he wasn't so overly competitive, Izumi wouldn't be stuck in this mess. Maybe Junpei'll take her out...? I gotta tell Shinya to make him do that, Takuya thought brightly.

Kanaye suddenly laughed. "Oh, that's right, I forgot...Junpei, that's his name, right? He got caught supposedly dealing drugs out!"

Takuya's world shattered. DAMN HIM! STUPID JUNPEI! HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN THAT MESS? ONLY AN IDIOT LIKE YOU...and an idiot like me...and an idiot like Kouji...

He wanted to cry. He wanted to cry so bad. The only things that were holding him back were his pride and Izumi. Of course, his friends as well, but he had to be strong for Izumi. How does Kouichi do it? Wiping his burning eyes, Takuya let out a small groan. Drum practice. I have drum practice today of all days...what'll Kanaye say to that? Biting his lip, he prepared to ask when Kanaye shrugged. "Go ahead. But of course, that would mean more fun for me."

Takuya cringed. Better to stay than to risk Izumi getting hurt. Or anyone else, for that matter. This was why he couldn't have Agunimon be anywhere close to him. Somehow, Kanaye could just tell what he was thinking.

"Besides, I need to tell you something," Kanaye continued casually. "Have you ever heard of Marise?"

"Who?"

"Marise. He was a brilliant man, really...had a great family and everything. However, his father-in-law didn't approve of the marriage. So he divorced."

Takuya's eyes widened in shock. Wait...so is Kanaye giving me the story of his life? Cool, he thought, hiding a grin. Finally, something interesting.

"He had a son and a daughter. He never really knew his daughter, though. The divorce was a month after she was born. His wife remarried upon his request. And so, only his son knew of his existence. His daughter never knew."

So...it's not his life story. Damn. Well, this is pretty boring, then, Takuya let out a sigh and turned to look out the window.

"Of course, Marise and his wife knew why his father-in-law didn't approve of the marriage. He was destined to die. He and his wife. And for the safety of the children, he left. One could say he almost disappeared from the world."

"So?" Takuya muttered coldly. Why would Kanaye care about anyone other than himself?

A smile made its way onto Kanaye's face. "Marise Saito died a little over four years ago. He was a writer, a great one at that. Unfortunately, out of all of his books, there was one book that was let out that remained unknown. That one book was his diary, and there was only one copy in the entire world."

Takuya frowned as he looked at Kanaye and thought, Saito sounds familiar. Can't quite place it. Then, aloud, he asked, "So...? It's a diary."

Ai snapped, "The diary isn't just any diary, idiot!" Then, to Kanaye, she giggled, "Right?"

Kanaye nodded and stood up, pushing Ai's hands away. "In that diary is a key. That key opens a locket. Unfortunately both of the items are out of my hands. You see, in that locket is very valuable data..."

The frown stayed on Takuya's face. He had to keep the locket out of Kanaye's hands...at all costs.

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"Er...s-so," Kouichi murmured, flushing when he realized he had been staring at his D-Tector for the past five minutes. "Um...y-you wanted to talk to me about something...?"

Mr. Saito nodded. "The diary...is actually a very rare book. The only one of its kind in the entire world," he murmured softly. "A cousin of mine...Marise...he wrote it."

Wrote? Kouichi frowned as he exclaimed, "But it's blank!"

A chuckle was emitted from the man and he began to explain, "No, it only looks blank. It has to be read in a special way. You see, one, Marise used a special ink. Two, he made sure it was well protected with a special code. He had a family, you see. All their secrets were in his book. His tale is rather tragic...not the way he wanted it to be. He was also a writer, and I sell many of his books. He had a penname, though."

"Oh," was all Kouichi could say. "But...you aren't making any sense, sir..."

"Ah, yes, of course not," Mr. Saito murmured, "my apologies. Now, Marise had a daughter. However, about a month after she was born, he divorced his wife, but gave his daughter a locket. This locket held a sort of decoder for the diary. But there were two parts to the locket, and something else was also put in there. The ink can be read in the dark once the diary is decoded."

"Everything...just went whoosh over my head. So I've got the diary...and there's a locket," Kouichi said slowly. Nothing seemed to be making sense anymore.

"Precisely. Now, as to the masquerade your school is having on your birthday..."

Kouichi winced. "Uh...what about it?"

Mr. Saito's face hardened as he murmured, "You'll have to go."

The boy blinked in confusion. "Why?" asked Kouichi

The bookstore owner sighed and told him, "There will be certain events in which dance is very important. If you ever want to be a spy, which I doubt you do, despite your qualifications, dancing is a very important skill to learn." Kouichi sighed. "Besides," he then added after a pause, "you promised certain people, didn't you?"

Naoko...of course, Kouichi remembered somewhat glumly. Aloud, he grumbled, "And I promised Kouji I'd sing..."

Mr. Saito broke out into a smile. "Yes, I asked someone to record it for me."

"WHAT?" Kouichi yelled in shock, nearly falling out of his chair.

"Now, now, drink your tea. I find it amusing how many people seem to comment on how well you sing. So naturally, I want to find out."

Kouichi reddened, but said nothing. He sat there quietly, sipping his tea. Minutes later, he stood up and bowed politely. "Thank you for the lesson today sir," he murmured, pocketing his D-Tector and walking out the door. Turning his head around, he asked, "Next Monday?"

Mr. Saito nodded. "Come this Thursday, as well."

Nodding in turn, Kouichi walked off. He sighed, remembering he would earn an even longer tirade from either his mother or Kouji when he got home. Just the thought made him want to run back to the Saito bookstore. But apparently, Marise's diary held a lot more info than he had originally thought. Marise S. Marise Saito? That's it, right? Mr. Saito said they were cousins, Kouichi thought dismally. "I wonder what happened," he wondered aloud, "that made him divorce his wife."

"It's kind of how your parents divorced, huh, Kouichi?"

Kouichi turned around, but found nothing. Familiar voice, but...

"You don't have Takuya's goggles with you, do you?"

Kouichi wanted to swear. "Agunimon?" he guessed quietly.

"Right-o. Ophanimon could have made it so that you could see us when you had your D-Tector, but whatever. It's safer this way," Agunimon grumbled. "Takuya's stuck in quicksand."

"I heard Junpei was in trouble, too."

"Yep. Checked on him. Apparently, he was dealing out drugs."

"WHAT?" Kouichi suddenly shouted furiously, racing off in the direction of Junpei's house.

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Junpei sighed. How the heck did this happen? That was the question he needed to ask himself. How did it start? Well...

He couldn't remember, for one. He had been hanging around his tenth grade friends, and all of the sudden, everything turned black. And he woke up in the police station.

Behind bars.

He was still behind bars. His parents refused to bail him out.

And so, he was alone. Stuck. Friendless.

"I'M INNOCENT!" Junpei suddenly yelled. "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

"Shut it, kid!" an officer barked before tipping his hat over his eyes, leaning back in his chair, and, Junpei supposed, falling asleep.

Junpei sat on the bottom bunk, exhaling sharply. Man, now I wish I was hanging around Kouji. I thought he was trouble, he thought, but it turns out, he's way less trouble than those guys. How'd I end up in jail? And how did they not end up in jail? At the moment, he wanted to break out into a chorus of, 'Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows my sorrow.'

Unless they were framing him. It was possible. He didn't think he really had any enemies. Junpei wasn't the most popular guy in the tenth grade, but he wasn't the least popular, either. Kouji could have hired them in revenge. Junpei shut his eyes with a sigh.

And so, he had been stuck, ever since lunch that day, in jail.

What irritated him the most was the fact that he was innocent.

"Junpei, you stupid-gah, what the heck did you do now?"

Junpei's eyes opened wide. "Kouj-oh...Kouichi...what are you doing here?" he asked, his heart recovering from shock. "I didn't do anything, I sw-wait...is that Aguni-"

Kouichi nodded furiously, then looked around. "How the digimon did you get yourself into this mess?"

"I didn't! I already told you! Somehow my friends must've knocked me out...framed me."

Then it hit Kouichi. "Kanaye! It could be...but I'd have to check on Tomoki," the younger boy muttered to himself.

"Um...Kouichi?"

"What? Can't you see I'm busy thinking?"

"Just a question, but how did you get in here?"

The color drained from Kouichi's face. "Uh...I kinda forgot about the fact that two certain digimon told me to sneak in here..."

The officer in the chair stirred slightly, and Kouichi and Junpei froze.

"But...as long as I'm visiting, they can't hurt me, right?" Kouichi asked, laughing nervously. If I get in trouble here...Mom'll double murder me...

"Go out and come back in. KNOCK," Junpei advised.

Kouichi swallowed and nodded. But just as he walked out the door, another officer walked in. "Hey, kid, what are you-" he started.

Kouichi shut his eyes. "I swear, I'm not trying to do anything! I just needed to talk to my classmate for a school project...and since he's in jail for a crime he didn't commit, I had to talk to him somehow," he babbled quickly.

The officer's face softened. "Well...go ahead and talk. But no funny stuff," he warned.

"Thank you, sir," Kouichi murmured gratefully, bowing slightly before running back to Junpei. "Okay...so...exactly who are these so called friends?"

Junpei smiled. And I thought Kouji was manipulative.

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"So...Kouichi, how did you figure out I was in jail?" Junpei asked as he stretched a little, taking a whiff of fresh air. "God it's good to be free!"

Kouichi smiled slightly. "Well, Agunimon mentioned you in trouble. Your parents were miffed when I talked to them, so...I assumed the worst."

Junpei's face fell as he muttered, "They wouldn't tell you, huh?"

The younger boy shook his head. Then, he said, "But hey, you're free now. It didn't take that long to expose the real idiots."

"True...but..." Junpei faltered. There'll be ten billion people on my back. "So why is Agunimon back?" he asked Kouichi, hoping to get his mind off matters.

Agunimon answered, "The army of evil is gathering."

Junpei laughed at this. "Typical answer."

"No, idiot, it's literally gathering."

"Oh..."

"So, to fight it, the army of darkness is gathering as well."

"WHAT? BUT DARKNESS MEANS EVIL AND-"

Kouichi cleared his throat and shot Junpei a sour look. "Yeah, sure darkness means evil. Like light means good, right?" he muttered.

The older boy let out a nervous laugh, "Sorry, Kouichi. Didn't mean it like that. But why the army of 'darkness?'"

Agunimon shrugged, but only Junpei could see. "Ophanimon asked for it to be so."

"What?" Kouichi asked, shocked. "But...she...she's more of light, herself!"

"Ah, whatever. We don't question Ophanimon. Or I don't. Too much work. Anyway, Duskmon's happy about it being named as it is."

Junpei turned to Kouichi. "You're not telling anyone a lot. Time for some explaining," he growled.

Kouichi gulped. "Um...I'm already in trouble today. How about we save explaining for tomorrow? Lunch, I promise!" he pleaded, trying to keep a straight face. Junpei gave in with a nod, and Kouichi let out a relieved sigh. "You won't miss any details! Anyway, I'm off to head home. Don't talk to anyone but your parents. Don't ask why, just do it! Agunimon, can you walk him home?"

"Yeah, yeah, but you make him sound helpless," Agunimon muttered.

"No, this is so he doesn't get into any trouble that I can't bust him out of. Later!" Kouichi yelled, racing home.

He didn't know why he was running. He didn't want to hear a lecture.

So why was he running?

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"Mom! I'm home! So you can start ye-...Mom?" Kouichi called out, shutting the door and slipping off his shoes.

Kouji walked out of his room, glaring at his twin. "She left. You're safe."

Great. Just great, Kouichi thought, suddenly annoyed. "Go finish your homework, Kouji," he snapped.

"I did. What were you doing all of today, anyway?" Kouji snapped back. "First you screw up any chance of education, then you run off and leave Mom to sulk!"

Kouichi fell silent. His eyes burned, his hands were clenched into fists. "You know, Kouji," he murmured quietly, "you're smart. I know you are. You put on this elaborate act just to fool everyone, but you're observing their every move. But when you don't know what they're doing, you get annoyed, and you start throwing that tantrum of yours." Kouichi chuckled, "You don't change, do you?"

Kouji's face hardened. "I don't throw a tantrum! I'm trying to help you!" he yelled.

"Well you aren't helping very much!" Kouichi interrupted. "You try to help, but the more you do, the more you end up ruining my life. Life isn't like the Digital World. It won't be rebuilt magically once you've ruined it, Kouji. So don't even try."

"Then stop running from your problems," Kouji snapped hotly.

"I'm not running," hissed the older twin. "I'm preparing."

The twins exchanged venomous glares, neither moving so much as an inch as their mother opened the door.

"Kouichi...Kouji," she murmured quietly. "I need to talk to both of you."

Kouichi turned around to face his mother, regret in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he murmured, "If this is about me and the incident today at school, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. But I talked to Mr. Aizawa and he's arranged something else, so it's all good. I would have come back earlier, but Junpei got into trouble and so I had to give a few names and help them search so he'd be free. I know it was my turn to make dinner today, and I'm sorry, I'll do the dishes today. No, I'm not saying this to avoid any trouble, and..." Kouichi's eyes lowered to the ground. "I'm sorry for being a disappointment."

A smile appeared on Miss Kimura's face. "Kouichi...although that's part of the reason I wanted to talk to you, that's not all of it. I accept the apology. But don't degrade yourself so low. You aren't a disappointment," she assured him. "Now, both of you, sit on the couch. I'll go make dinner."

"I'll get it," Kouichi blurted automatically, heading towards the kitchen. But his mother shook her head. "Or...not..."

The twins sulked over to the couch, sitting on opposite sides and glaring in opposite directions.

Kouichi...

"What?" Kouichi muttered under his breath.

The darkness...it's calling you...

"Shut up, Duskmon."

"Ah, so you knew it was me?" Duskmon murmured, amused. He stepped out of the shadows.

"WHAT THE?" Kouji shouted, turning his head and rolling off the couch in surprise. "What is he-"

"Kouji, are you okay?" their mother asked, coming out of the kitchen and frowning. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," Kouji replied shakily. He rose to his feet and glared at Duskmon. "What is he doing here?" he hissed to Kouichi.

"I dunno what you're talking about," Kouichi replied lazily, taking out his D-Tector and examining it. "So you two were lying, then, Duskmon?"

Duskmon snorted, "Sort of."

Kouichi let out a sigh. "Whatever..." Does Kouji notice the D-Tector...?

"Shall I explain to your brother, then?" I think he's too pre-occupied with glaring at me.

"Whatever," Kouichi muttered again, shooting a glare at Kouji before turning around and looking out the window.

Duskmon turned to Kouichi, a smug look on his face. He simply said, "Kouichi has two spirits and you have one. How's that?"

Kouji glared at Duskmon angrily. "Why...you...stupid...EYEBALL HEAD!"

"Kouji, what are you yelling at?" Miss Kimura demanded, walking out of the kitchen again.

Kouichi hid a smile. Turning to his mother, he said, "I think you better talk to us now before Kouji loses his head, Mom."

"True...but I'm getting worried...you two aren't fighting, are you?"

"No," the boys chorused before exchanging blank glances.

Miss Kimura sighed, then walked over and sat in front of her sons. "Listen, I love you both very, very much. But you have to understand, I'm only one person. I can't watch you all the time. I want you both to promise me that you won't do anything that could put your life in danger," she said.

Kouichi turned to face her, now sitting on the couch properly. "M-Mom, we wouldn't-"

"I wouldn't," Kouji muttered under his breath.

"Shut up. We wouldn't do anything that dangerous."

"Yes, well, in any case," Miss Kimura murmured, forcing a smile as she stood up. "I'll go back to making dinner, then."

"That's not it, is it?" Kouichi asked.

"No...it isn't." Their mother turned around and let out a sigh.

Kouji frowned and questioned, "What is it, Mom?"

"Apparently, Kouji, your step mother is pregnant."

Kouji and Kouichi exchanged glances.

"When did Dad call?" Kouji demanded.

Miss Kimura remained silent.

Kouichi shook his head. "Mom...?"

"Before you two came home," she whispered softly. "Well, I should get back to cooking before something burns." She turned around and gave them a smile before walking back to the kitchen.

"I hate him," Kouji muttered, disgusted. "He has to do something as stupid as that, just when we're all getting to be a family again. It's so stupid."

You're so stupid, Kouichi wanted to tell his twin. "So...then...have fun being an older brother."

"I don't want to be!"

"Really? You always seem to act like that around me," Kouichi returned, clearly amused.

Duskmon sighed impatiently. "Are you done, Kouichi? Lowemon and Agunimon need to talk to you."

"Lowemon and Agunimon? WHY DO YOU HAVE THREE SPIRITS?" Kouji shrieked in a harsh whisper.

Kouichi stood up and walked to his room with no explanation. 'The army of darkness,' Agunimon had said. But why had Ophanimon chosen such a name? Surely 'The army of light,' would have worked just as well?

"My head hurts," Kouichi groaned, shutting the door to his room. "Lowemon, Agunimon...what is it?"

"Nothing you haven't heard already. But you need to find that locket. It's important. From what Takuya was apparently muttering, according to Tomoki, who talked to Shinya, Kanaye wants the locket and Marise's diary. Beetlemon is here. No one has their D-Tector yet," reported the warrior of darkness.

Agunimon then added, "And Tomoki obviously knows we're here. I always liked that kid. Smart, he is. Wish I had half his brains."

"Notice how he seems to have Takuya's personality," Duskmon commented.

"And if that means Lobomon has Kouji's personality..." Agunimon started.

The three digimon shivered. Then Duskmon snorted, "So what? We outnumber Lobomon."

"Oh yeah!"

"Idiots," Lowemon muttered under his breath. "I'm working with idiots."

Kouichi suppressed a smile. Instead, he lay on his bed, holding up his D-Tector and examining it. "I wish...I just wish," he whispered.

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"Kanaye..."

Kanaye continued to ignore Ai and her pestering voice.

"Kanaye, you've ignored me for the past who knows how many weeks, then you make a bet with Takuya, and he's always around now, and what's worse is you aren't even taking me to the dance anymore! Kanaye, are you listening to me?" she shrieked angrily, turning his chair to face her. "I'm sick of being ignored. You promised me a higher position in your life!"

The boy shook his head. "Of course," he murmured softly. "Saito hid the book where someone else would find it. Meaning it either hasn't been found yet or..." He paused and turned to Ai. "Or someone else has it." A smile graced his lips. "Ai, you don't understand, do you?" he asked, pulling her towards him. "Of course I'm ignoring you, but if I don't, don't you think Izumi will be suspicious? Whereas if I do ignore you, she won't suspect as much..."

"But Kanaye..." Ai whined, kissing him fiercely. "You promised..."

"And the promise will be carried out so long as my plans are carried through properly," he growled, pushing her away. "Now let me work."

Ai stormed off angrily. Kanaye let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, fingering the chain around his neck. "Girls," he muttered. Not worth any of the trouble they cause.

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A/N-

(This was supposed to be posted on my b-day/Pearl Harbor Day, but I didn't have time, yesterday). MORE INFO! W00T! Marise's diary is covered! Although, not completely. Takuya is covered! Not completely. Junpei covered! Tomoki needs covering! So does Izumi! And Kako! AND KOUJI!

Which reminds me. I hate Kouji for some reason, but I don't really remember why. Stupid Kanaye...I hate his last thought. Oh, anyway, sadness descends upon the Kimura household. .:sigh:.

Okies, well that's it for this chapter. Tell me if you want Japanese digi-names or English. I'm doing English, so far.

Thank you for the reviews (In reverse order of reviews)-

The Light's Refrain, With Broken Wings, BrokenAngel01, Light's Blue Blossom, Snowy Leopardess.

Review or Flame.