"Every moment was sacred and mystic
We were near to the shore of eternity
The days are gone and will never come back."
Yuki Kajiura—"Sweet Song" (Xenosaga II)
Recommended Music:
Scene 1: "Mad City Sunset I," Heat Guy J
Scene 2: "Hear Our Prayer," Tsubasa Chronicle
Scene 3: "Alone," Naruto
Scene 4: "Sasuke's Theme," Naruto
Scene 5: "Rasen," Chihiro Onitsuka
Scene 6: "Sweet Song," Xenosaga II
Scene 7: "Superman," Five for Fighting
Black Wings
Chapter Six: "Even Heroes Have the Right to Bleed"
The beginning of June had been a rainy hell for those housed in the Underground Railroad and surrounding forest. The tunnels had partially flooded, forcing the Resistance to take shelter in the village, as the trek up the mountain to the settlement was too dangerous. Though the townspeople welcomed them, they weren't exactly happy with the disruption their presence had caused in day-to-day life. They always seemed underfoot, like a bunch of unruly little children making mischief in Mother's kitchen while she was trying to cook. And the fighters couldn't wait to go home either, tired of always having to find a relatively empty place to discuss tactics. So when the rains ceased and the tunnels dried, everyone was relieved.
Because of his illness leaving his immune system vulnerable, conditions had been just perfect for Yutaka to develop a sinus infection. He walked into the mess with a surgical mask over his face in the attempt to keep from getting everyone else sick. He covered his mouth out of habit when he coughed, catching the attention of Kage, who was reading a letter. He hurriedly shoved it in his pocket.
"What were you reading?" Yutaka asked, his voice reflecting his stuffed nose.
"Nothing," Kage answered quickly—too quickly. "It's nothing."
"All right," Yutaka surrendered, locating and opening a bottle of pills. He took a bottle of water to help chase down the medicine while Kage watched him.
"Himi, aren't you forgetting something?" he checked. Underneath his mask, Yutaka made a face.
"Thanks for reminding me," he muttered as he walked toward a portable gas stove. An iron kettle filled with strange bitter herbs was heating over it. Yutaka poured the steeped herbal tea into a Styrofoam cup and removed his mask, grimacing as the vile tisane seared down his throat. When the cup was drained, he covered his mouth and began coughing. But already it was easing, and when he spoke, his voice was clearer.
"I swear this stuff is making my cough worse," he declared, re-covering his face with the mask.
"You're just complaining because it tastes bad," Kage passively remarked. "But whatever Osamu uses from his Light Tree is definitely doing you some good."
"Where is he anyway?" Yutaka questioned. "I hardly ever see him, and when I do, he disappears."
"He took off again." There was a note of concern in his voice. "I think he knows just how uncomfortable he makes people. Even the Chosen don't talk to him. And I think it bothers him." He shrugged. "When he's gone like this, he's usually taking care of the slaves—most of the time Minamoto, but also Ayamisa. It's almost like he's using them to replace his own family." He turned and noticed Yutaka was scratching at red welts on his arm. "What is it?"
"I don't know," he answered. "I woke up like this."
"Allergic reaction?" Kage guessed. "To your medicine, maybe?"
"I doubt it. Some of the others are just as bad."
"That's weird."
"Tell me about it. Anyway, I'm heading off. Going to see if there's anything I'm not banned from doing today."
"All right," Kage answered, waiting for him to leave before pulling out the letter again. Taiyou had written to inform him that she was unable to get time off to visit him, and her commanding officer was keeping a close eye on her to be sure she didn't go AWOL. He laughed, murmuring, "Same old Taiyou."
A sudden tickling sensation began to bother his neck. Quickly, he slapped his hand down on the offensive spot, bringing it to an end. Curious as to the source of his irritation, he examined the tiny black insect carcass on his hand. Its legs were suspiciously long, and a smear of blood trailed out from it.
"Oh shit," he swore. Suspicion on not, he had an infestation on his hands.
He ran out of the relative safety of the fire-lit mess. His clothes still carried a smoky scent, so fewer mosquitoes attacked him as he called everyone out of the tunnels.
"Until we can fumigate the Railroad and manage to keep the bugs and water out, we need to leave," he announced. "People, we're going on vacation."
Taichi, Yamato, and Sora sat underneath the shade of a willow tree, relaxing during their lunch break. Sora kept kneeling so that no one could see underneath her short blue fuku skirt, but she was fidgeting with the matching sailor-style blouse.
"Well, two and a half months of school done," Yamato commented.
"Hard to believe it," Taichi replied. "It feels like we've been in high school forever."
"Too bad we don't get to see Jyou as often as we thought we would," Yamato remarked.
"Yeah, but at least it's his schedule and not the fight," Taichi reminded him. Sora, meanwhile, continued nervously playing with her blouse.
"Something wrong?" her ex-boyfriend checked.
"Yeah," she answered, making them both turn to look at her. "But I'd rather it wait until we can talk to Jyou."
"Why?" Taichi asked.
"It's something important I have to do, and he's sort of involved in it—or at least his brother is."
Yamato looked at her intensely. "Shin or Shuu?" There was no response, and it was all the answer he needed. "That's it then."
"I'm sorry," she apologized, turning back to see his hurt expression. "But I need to see if there's something I can do to help. I got Jun to call Shuu and ask him if he and my dad can find any information that can be helpful in defeating the Kaiser and saving Kouji."
"I'm beginning to wish I never agreed to help save him," Yamato muttered, but they all knew he didn't mean it.
"How long will you be gone?" Taichi questioned.
"A year or two," she answered. "No longer than that. And it's not like I'll be alone in Kyoto; I'll be staying with my father." She paused and glanced down. "It's been a long time since I've seen him."
"Then I'm glad for you," Taichi informed. His face was still toward the sky as Sora and Yamato stared at him in puzzlement. "It's important to try and maintain a good relationship with your family. One of us should be allowed to succeed." Yamato felt his stomach drop. His relationship with his mother had always been shaky, but he was currently on thin ice with Takeru. And Taichi hadn't been the same around Hikari since she hadn't shown during the battle with Demon. It wasn't right to put Sora through the same family strain.
After all, he loved her. Despite everything that had happened in recent months, he still loved her.
And that was why it was going to hurt so much to say goodbye, even for two years.
"When—" he started, feeling a lump in his throat. He cleared it and tried again. "When do you leave?"
"End of this week. I just need to pack and everything, let my teachers know so they can transfer everything to Kyoto." She forced a smile. "And it's not like I'm leaving forever. I can still phone or e-mail…"
"It's just not going to be the same without you here." This time it was Taichi, but his eyes were soft and his voice was kind. He was going to miss her, yes, but he wasn't going to let it eat him alive.
Yamato, on the other hand…
The lunch hour ended. Class began. Yamato returned to the halls of academia, feeling the stress of everything weigh him down now more than ever.
Noriko Yamadera yawned without meaning to. Blushing, she covered her mouth while Sora laughed.
"Tired?" the upperclassman asked.
"Sorry," Noriko apologized. "I've been up every night fighting."
"I know that feeling," Sora sympathized with a smile, packing a few more pairs of clothes into a suitcase. It was only a few days until her move, and Noriko was assisting in the packing. "All-nighters, cutting class for battles, spending most of summer break defeating tyrannical Digimon—we've all gone through it. It's amazing we can still maintain normal lives."
Noriko's gaze fell on a photo of Sora and Yamato taken back at Christmas. Gently, she placed it in another suitcase. "But don't you miss it? Being normal? Having love without worrying that one of you is going to die?"
"Yeah," Sora admitted, "but think of it this way: If I hadn't gone to the Digital World, I wouldn't have been able to get to know Yamato as well as I did. I wouldn't have had a relationship with him no matter how short. I wouldn't have learned what it means to love. My relationship with my mother would still be strained, and my father wouldn't feel as though he's able to mean more in my life."
"I see." Noriko's tone was sad. "At least you had some good experiences. I still have to live with the Dark Seed."
Sora locked up her suitcase and placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Things may be rough for you and the others, but you at least know that it's all right to aspire to be something you want, no matter what anyone else says. And you have Punimon too."
"Sometimes I feel like I'm doing something wrong," Noriko confessed. "She stays at the Baby I level all the time. She only reaches Child during the battles."
"I'm not Koushiro, but I can tell you that the only problem is that you're too afraid to enter the Digital World. When the rogue Digimon attack, a tear is momentarily left in the boundary between the worlds. Your Digimon take strength from the power of the Digital World, and combined with the danger the enemy presents, they evolve. If you want Punimon to get stronger, you can't be afraid." She turned on her computer and let Noriko come closer, motioning toward Punimon to join them.
"Don't be afraid," Sora whispered as the shaking Noriko held her digivice to the screen. "It'll all be okay."
The red light on the Digital Gate turned green suddenly, and a white flash engulfed the room's occupants. When the brilliant light faded, they were gone.
It was a beautiful violet-and-gold twilight outside, not that it really mattered in Cell 24. The eternal darkness was only barely pierced by lanterns of Fox Leaf Arrowheads and dying candles that Renamon had to light.
That boy, that Kouji, fascinated her to no end. Currently, he was staring blankly at his bandaged left arm, almost in a naïve curiosity. It made Renamon wonder if he could still think, still wonder at things. He had only just managed to eat a boiled potato by digging his spoon into it with his left hand. She had watched the whole time as he tried to adjust to being left-handed. Even with his resigned, soulless existence, some part of him was still determined to keep going. But still it was not enough. He was not the same as he'd been merely a month before. They'd succeeded in breaking him. He docile as a lamb now—a sacrificial lamb that realized it was heading to slaughter and nothing it tried would ever spare it. Just as his parents had known before they were killed.
Yes, what had happened to his family was wrong. She knew and understood this; she was not heartless. But she had to do it. And something told her that it had not been her Kaiser's plan. He'd treated them well up until now.
Then whose idea was it?
She didn't know, and she had no suspects. It was infuriating to wonder if there was something wrong with her Kaiser and know that she couldn't do anything to help him. Her fury channeled into hate as she watched Kouji in contempt, staring as he stared at his arm and suddenly—
Suddenly he stared right at her.
He couldn't see her behind his haze of grief, but he was still looking directly at her location. It was almost frightening, and she took a step backward as everything in the darkness started swirling in her vision. It wasn't that boy's doing, for he had returned his unfocused gaze to his arm, but Renamon knew she had to get away from him, get away from this darkness.
In the dusk, she stood in the shadow of Hokkaido's trees, the base not far from sight. Her palpitating heart slowed considerably, and her dizziness had faded. It was safe to return home.
But one thing still puzzled her as she returned to her barracks. Before she'd started suffocating in the darkness, before she'd retaken her breath at the gingko trees, had she felt as strong as she did now?
Daisuke sat on the couch with Chibimon, watching the news. A plate of snacks rested on the coffee table in front of them, and Jun briefly leaned over to munch on some fried wontons.
"Dried apple and walnut," she noted. "Not bad. Keep cooking like this, and you might become a world-class chef someday." He shrugged impassively, causing her to frown. "Want me to put on a movie?" He shrugged again.
"Might as well. Nothing's on right now." He meant on the news. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, what he was waiting for, but ever since learning about the failure of Hikari's gift, he felt hollow. There was something he needed, but as always, it was just out of his reach.
"Daisuke…"
The phone rang, cutting off Jun's plea. She walked over to answer it while her brother kept watching the news.
"Hello?"
"Jun, it's Shuu."
"Shuu, how's everything in Kyoto?"
"Great, and that's kind of why I called."
"Oh?"
"You know Sora Takenouchi, right?"
"Yes. What's this about?"
"I'm calling because I thought you and Daisuke should know that she's moving her for a while to be with her father."
"What?"
On the other end, Shuu nearly dropped the phone from her shriek. "Y-yes, she is."
"But why wouldn't she or Yamato or somebody tell us?"
"Jun, need I remind you of your previous obsession with him?"
"Shuu, you know as well as anybody that I've grown up in the past few months. I'm not like that anymore—with you or Yamato or anybody."
He sighed briefly. "I know, Jun. I'm just trying to rationalize here. I don't know why they wouldn't tell you and your brother, with him being the leader of the Chosen Children and all. Just, please. Don't go crazy on anyone. And no matter how much grief this causes Yamato by default, show your support for Sora. Show her that there are no hard feelings."
"Don't worry, Shuu, I will."
"That's my girl."
She managed to laugh. "Now you're starting to sound like my father. Quit that, unless you think acting like him will make him like you better when you finally meet."
"Think I should try it?" he joked, making her laugh again. "Talk to you later."
"Okay, bye."
She hung up and turned to her brother and Chibimon—the latter of whom was turned around on Daisuke's shoulder to see her. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Daisuke, Sora Takenouchi is moving to Kyoto." Chibimon looked devastated while Daisuke remained unexpressive. "Don't you even care?"
"I do, but things have gotten so bad that…" He stopped talking and placed his hand over his face. But Jun understood immediately. Things had gotten so bad that it hurt to care too much.
A pre-teenaged girl waved goodbye as she slung a light backpack over her shoulder and left a garage.
"See you tomorrow, Yuki," she promised.
"You're going home already?" another girl asked in disbelief. "But your parents aren't even home yet; that's why we've been practicing every afternoon."
"I know, but I need to talk to a friend. From the sound of it, he's in trouble."
"Oh. I hope things work out, then."
"Me too." And with that, Chiaki Horaki set off.
A year and a couple of months prior, Chiaki had been one of many children in the Tokyo area who had been called to the Digital World. Of the many, only six were allowed to remain. But two boys, Katsuharu Suzuhara and Teppei Aida, had decided to stay and had convinced their two companions, Teruo Nagisa and Chiaki Horaki, to do likewise.
She found herself smiling fondly at the memory as she walked to the park they'd agreed to meet at. Life in the Digital World had been good. Katsuharu was their older brother and always kept watch over them to be sure they'd be all right. And Angemon had been a wonderful friend, however stiff and unemotional he'd seemed at first. He had been entrusted to care for them, and eventually care he did. He'd almost seemed to regard them as his own children. But then—and her smile faded—then he was killed in battle trying to defend them. If they'd only listened to the Chosen Children and not tried to prove themselves against the Royal Knights, Angemon might still be alive.
"Remembering the days of old?" Katsuharu asked, seeing her face. The quartet's unanimous leader got up from his bench and walked over to her. "Come on, imouto-chan," he half-teased, "tell niichan what's wrong."
"Nothing, actually," she replied. "Like you said, remembering days of old—the good and the bad."
He nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss him too. Hell, I miss all of them."
"Are we thinking about the same 'them' here?" the shorter and more impulsive Teppei questioned.
"Depends on whether or not you mean all the Digimon we befriended during our bout of stupidity," he answered.
"Yeah," Teppei agreed. "Sad but true, they're probably all dead now. And if you start blaming yourself for it again, let me remind you that we didn't exactly knock you unconscious and haul you back home ourselves. We were all ignorant back then."
"True," Katsuharu yielded. "You know, I wonder if they'd even remember us. I know what Tomoki and everyone said about Digimon being reborn, but they never said anything about memories. After all, Patamon didn't seem to remember anything about being a Great Angel—whatever it was they said."
"Where's Teruo?" Chiaki asked.
Katsuharu shrugged. "Don't know."
"It's pretty irresponsible," Teppei commented. "He calls us here and then he doesn't show."
"Maybe he texted us the wrong location," Chiaki suggested, but all speculations were put to rest when the missing party finally appeared, jumping a fence and running over.
"Hey, Teruo, what's up?" Teppei called.
"Yeah, we were starting to get worried," Katsuharu added while the slightly smaller boy keeled over, panting.
"Sorry," Teruo apologized. "I wanted to get over here sooner to tell you, but my C.O. wouldn't let me go."
"C.O.?" Chiaki repeated.
Katsuharu's eyes met Teruo's as older brother stared at younger. He could see every detail of the other's thoughts, desires, and intentions as skilled as any telepath. And why shouldn't he? He was the one who knew Nagisa best. Or that's what he thought. This was something he hadn't expected.
"So that's it then," he commented in disappointment, turning away.
"Katsuharu…"
"I really thought you were smarter than that. Guess not."
An unexpected fury burned in Teruo's soul, making him shout, "How can you say that, knowing how many of our friends died? You dishonor their memory!"
Without warning, Katsuharu spun around, his fist out. It hit Teruo in the jaw, and the surprising force threw him back on the concrete, where he sat holding his injury and staring back in fear and confusion. And though he was the one who'd been hurt, he began to apologize:
"Katsuharu, I'm sorry, I…"
But Katsuharu turned around, refusing to let the other see his face. His voice was calm and deliberate and he informed, "Just go on then. Do what you think is right. Fight under whoever's banner you're going to. Just don't forget who you're doing it for."
Silently, Teruo got up and left, knowing very well that it was the last time the four would be together like this, would regard each other in the same way. What mistake had he made? He could not turn back from it now that he'd signed his soul away.
He never saw the tears that streamed down Katsuharu's face. No one did; Teppei was too angry and Chiaki too numb. He didn't hear the whispered words that missed the other two's ears:
"Goodbye, ototo-chan."
Sora stood in the train station, her bags on a cart beside her with a purple teddy bear sitting atop them, watching diligently for their ride. Her mother was next to her, the only person she'd asked to see her off. She hadn't been sure she wanted to see any tear-streaked faces other than her mother's right now.
"You honestly weren't going to leave without saying goodbye to us at least, now were you?" asked a voice from behind her. She turned to see Taichi standing and smiling with Yamato right behind him. Where Taichi was at least giving his best try at looking cheerful and supportive, Yamato was visibly depressed.
"I asked Dad and Shuu to call all of you…" she tried to explain. "I just didn't want to have to bring you all out here to say goodbye. I wanted it to be easier for you."
"I guess the bearer of the Crest of Love would know the best way to show her own," Taichi replied, nudging Yamato forward. Sora stared awkwardly at her former lover as he stood before her, unable to speak.
"So," he began, motioning at the bear, "any potential boyfriends I have to worry about?"
"Actually, Jun gave me that," she answered. "She stopped by earlier today to give it to me. She would have seen me off, but I asked her not to. I didn't want her to feel too upset."
"Why?" Taichi questioned out of sheer curiosity. "The two of you were never really close friends."
"I know, and so does she. That was why."
"Take care," Yamato wished.
"Write soon," Taichi made her promise.
"I will," she replied. "And I'll call as soon as I get there." She then hugged them both as the train arrived. She grabbed her luggage and took the opportunity to kiss her mother goodbye before boarding. She waved to all of them as it left for Kyoto, for a new beginning.
"Are you going to be okay, Mrs. Takenouchi?" Taichi checked. The woman was sniffing and dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Yes, yes," she answered. "I'll be fine. It's only right that she gets to see her father—after all, we're not divorced, so he has as much right to custody as I do." She took a breath and compulsively folded her handkerchief. "What about you two?"
"Don't worry about us," Taichi informed, "we'll be—"
Suddenly, and without any reason, Yamato broke into tears on his best friend's shoulder.
To Be ContinuedThe title comes from a line in Five For Fighting's "Superman." Admittedly, the idea of Osamu's herbal tisane that Yutaka hates came from Raistlin of Dragonlance, who must drink a concoction of herbs created by Par-Salian in order to relieve the terrible cough that came as a result of his body shattering in exchange for magic. The mosquitoes came from good old Florida, plus a little supplemental inspiration provided by Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies. And if Yamato seems to be acting out-of-character, yes, he's supposed to be like that. Even the others will notice he's being pathetic. The last names of Katsuharu and company are from Evangelion: Hikari Horaki, Toji Suzuhara, Kensuke Aida, and Kaworu Nagisa. Why did I give them these names? I have my reasons.
Chapter Seven: "Twilight of Mnemosyne"Was there a time before we felt such pain and sorrow? Drink the waters of the river of memories and look back on the days of old. Who is behind all this pain and sorrow? Is there a chance we'll ever be free?