I want to thank everyone who has supported the story. I think posting every two weeks is someting I can keep up with so bear with me. Now, onto the drama!
3 had been seeing Yuzuki for 3 weeks, though it felt like forever. He was absolutely head over heels for the brunette. She was smart, funny, and found ways to get along with every important person in Taichi's life. She cooked with his mom, watched sports with his dad, went shopping with the girls, played video games with the guys, and she even went as far as to bring coffee to Jou during one of his weekend studying marathons. Taichi was convinced he found the perfect girl.
He was in the middle of getting ready for Yamato's and Sora's weekly movie date, which recently became weekly double date with Taichi and Yuzuki, when he heard a knock at the door. Walking toward the sound he yelled "I thought I told you I would come pick you up- Oh, Takeru what are you doing here?"
Takeru, kneeling over slightly to catch his breath, looked completely disheveled. His hair was stuck to his cheeks and sweat beads gathered around his temples. However what worried Taichi the most was the fierce look of determination on the blonde's face. Taichi immediately led him to the kitchen table.
"Takeru, what's going on? Is it Hikari?" he asked.
Taking off his beanie and shaking his head, Takeru simply said, "We need to call a meeting. Now."
Eyes going wide, Taichi reached for his phone and quickly sent a text out, telling Yuzuki something came up and he'd explain later. He could tell by Takeru's look, and unwillingness to disclose information yet, that it was important. Going into full leader mode, he messaged everyone and told them to meet at the park by the elementary school. No exceptions.
The walk to the park was silent as Taichi tried to decode Takeru's expression. Something was clearly bothering the kid. It was so unlike him to completely put his defenses down and mope. Thinking it was best not to say anything, Taichi stared ahead as the park came into view.
Most of the destined were already waiting on them. The only one's missing were Ken, Daisuke, and Miyako. It seems they were on the other side of town and would be late, but gave the okay to start without them. Hikari immediately walked over and slipped her hand in Takeru's before pulling him toward the swings where they sat.
Yamato was the first to speak "Taichi, what are we doing here? Are Gabumon and the others okay?"
Shrugging Taichi said, "Don't look at me. Your brother showed up at our place requesting I called a meeting, I was just following orders."
Eight pairs of eyes looked toward the blonde on the swing.
He sighed. "I don't want to upset anyone" pausing to look toward his shoes "but I don't think Yuzuki is who she says she is." Immediately turning to Taichi, he continued "I ran into her at the coffeehouse earlier and everything seemed normal, but then something weird happened. She grabbed her ankle, like she was in pain and I saw that she had a tattoo-"
"She has a tattoo? So what? Yamato has a tattoo on his ribcage nobody knows about." Taichi interrupted defensively. All eyes shifted to the older blonde.
Quietly fuming, Yamato replied "Thanks Taichi, now everyone knows."
Takeru stood up from the swing. Forcing the words out, his voice progressively getting louder "Taichi, her tattoo was the crest of light. It was clear as day. And there's no way that's a coincidence. What if she's after Hikari?"
All wide eyes turned toward Taichi, whose face lost all color. The silence suffocated the group as everyone processed what Takeru just said. Hikari spoke first "Onii-chan."
Snapping out of his daze, Taichi smiled towards his sister. "It's fine. I'm fine."
Sora and Yamato walked over and put their hands on his shoulders. "Oh Taichi.." Sora whispered. They stood like that for a minute until Hikari gasped and grabbed her head.
"Hika what's wrong?" Takeru immediately knelt to the girl, full panic was setting in on his face. Jou headed over with his medical kit and started feeling her forehead for a fever. Entering big brother mode, Taichi headed toward his sister when a voice stopped him midstep.
"Well looks like the jig is up. It sucks, I was having such a fun time."
Looking toward the voice, he saw a girl, lazily sitting on top of the slide. She looked like a complete stranger, but when her green eyes met his, there was no mistaking it. Hurt crossed Taichi's face. Clenching his teeth and balling his hands into fists, he muttered "Why?"
"Why what? Why did I date you? Why did I befriend all of you? Why am I about to attack you?" Poking her chin with her finger and looking toward the sky, she frowned slightly. "The answer is simple: I need to protect something very important to me and the only way to do that is to destroy you." She shifted her gaze toward Taichi once again, eyes full of sincerity. "I am truly sorry it had to come to this... Ladydevimon!"
From behind the trees a human-shape figure appeared. Flying high over the chosen kids, she curled her arms in, preparing to attack.
"Take cover!" Taichi yelled, running toward Takeru and Hikari.
"Yuzuki, you don't have to do this! We can help you!" Mimi shouted. Koushiro was typing away on his laptop beside her.
Smiling at her comment, Yuzuki quietly replied, "You can't help me. I made my choice a long time ago, and I can't change it now." Looking at Ladydevimon, she nodded and turned away.
"Darkness Wave!" the fallen angel shouted. Taichi closed his eyes and held Hikari and Takeru close, waiting for the attack to hit. But it never did. Confused he looked up to see bright red and white feathers.
"I'm glad we were running late. This meeting looks like it was a disaster!" A voice hollered.
Turning towards the voice, Taichi was met with Miyako, Daisuke and Ken. Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding Taichi hollered "Boy am I glad to see you guys!"
Looking slightly embarrassed Miyako replied "Yea, sorry about the grand entrance, we were worried about running late and given it was nighttime, Anquilamon seemed like the perfect ride!"
On that note, the bird creature lifted up off the ground and faced its enemy. Looking less than pleased, Ladydevimon flew toward the creature, leaving more space between them and Yuzuki. The standoff was soon interrupted by Anquilamon yelling "Grand Horn!" ad he charged the fallen angel. Ladydevimon dodged the bird, grabbing a talon as it passed and spinning before throwing it toward the ground. Anquilamon fell towards the chosen, but soon caught himself before fully hitting the playground. Ladydevimon prepared for her second attack when she was interrupted.
"Yes, I got the server running, our digimon are on their way!" Koushiro yelled. Soon specks of light began shooting out of the laptop. Yuzuki's eyes widened in panic.
Standing up from her spot on the slide she yelled "Ladydevimon! We're done here. Let's go." The fallen angel flew toward the girl, quickly grabbing her off from the slide. As they turned to fly away, Takeru stood up. "Oh no you don't!" he yelled as Patamon flew toward them yelling "Boom Bubble!"
The attack made contact with Yuzuki's right leg and threw Ladydevimon off course. As the steadied themselves, Yuzuki's boot came flying off exposing what Takeru described earlier. There it was. Clear as day. The crest of light tattooed on her right ankle, but something was weird about the tattoo. It was glowing. A pink light shone out of the tattoo, and it was growing. As the light shone brighter, Yuzuki grabbed her ankle, clearly in pain. Taichi ran toward the flying duo, but it failed as they soon disappeared from sight.
Feeling Agumon hug his leg, Taichi turned towards the rest of the group. Hikari was standing up, hugging Takeru, Jou still checking the two for injuries. Mimi and Palmon were crying in each other's arms with Koushiro typing away on his laptop. Iori, Daisuke, Miyako and Ken were huddled close, trying to discuss what they had just witnessed. Yamato and Sora were heading his direction, probably trying to figure out how to console him.
Before anyone reached him, he spoke up. "I'm going after her."
Yamato spoke first. "Taichi are you crazy? The girl just tried to kill us and admitted that this was all some ruse. Look man, I'm sorry, this sucks, but it was all FAKE. She doesn't need rescuing, she needs to be stopped."
Taichi grabbed Yamato's collar and pulled him close. Seething with rage, he balled his hand into a fist, ready to punch. Then he met eyes with Sora, her mothering grin gone and tears in her eyes.
Slowly letting go, he looked at the ground and sighed. "She said she didn't have a choice, that she had to protect something and this was the only way. And did you see her tattoo? It caused her pain." He looked up at his friends. "Look, I'm heartbroken, I'm not too pigheaded to admit it, but her eyes told a different story and I'm not going to sit here when she might actually need my help."
Before anyone else could speak up he turned around. "As your leader, I'm asking you to trust me. C'mon Agumon. We're going."
The others stood dumbfounded as Taichi's figure walked out of view. Yamato gained his composure first. With a sigh, he turned toward the others and yelled "Well you heard him. Let's regroup at my place. I trust Taichi to find out what's happening."
