Chapter Five: The Demon of Dispersion

Tailmon in her arms, Hikari ran, trying to escape the downpour. Takeru sprinted along beside her, Patamon flying just above his head in a noble attempt to shield his partner from the worst of it.

"I can see a cave!" Piyomon called above and ahead of them where she was scouting out shelter. "It's not too far ahead!"

"We'll follow you, Piyomon!" Taichi shouted above rain. "Come on, you guys!"

The eight remaining Chosen Children and their partners had watched the light that carried their friends between the worlds until it had winked out of existence, signaling the end of Gennai's power. The storm had started almost immediately afterward, coming upon them without warning, hard and heavy with all the force of a sledgehammer. As soon as the rain touched it, the forest had begun to seemingly melt away, which made Hikari wonder if the entire landscape had only been an illusion that Gennai had cast for them. Devoid of his influence, the land around them had reverted into a rocky wasteland. Yet, there was still colour, she noted, and was grateful. Without it, this place would have been too much like the Dark Ocean for her taste.

Hikari shivered: now was not the time to reflect on that place. She needed to focus on running.

Tailmon was shaking in her arms, though whether from the cold or from her acute aversion to getting wet, Hikari could not tell. She tired to protect her partner as best as she could, but the rain was fast and firm, striking her bare face and arms like bullets. It stung, and she let out an involuntary yelp. Takeru must have said something to Patamon, because a moment later the pain lessened and she looked up to see the little orange digimon flying above her.

"Thank you, Patamon," Tailmon said for both of them. Hikari turned gratefully toward Takeru, but he was staring straight ahead, intent on reaching the shelter of which Piyomon had spoken.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, they reached the cave, soaked to the bone and gasping for breath.

"I don't remember it ever being like this before," said Mimi. She was shaking badly, and Hikari had never seen the girl so disheveled.

"Neither do I," Palmon said, huddling closer to Mimi, "and this is my home."

"It'll clear up," said Takeru, ever the optimist. "It's only rain."

Sora nodded in agreement. "And at least we're safe."

"For now," added Jyou, looking around them. He frowned. "What's that?"

Hikari followed his gaze, peering into the darkness. "Oh!" she cried out in surprise. Something was glowing, faintly, from the back of the cave.

"Let's check it out," Taichi said, and they made their way toward the light.

They had to walk a while, following a path that twisted deeper into the cave, narrowing as it went, until they entered a larger space, a cavern within a cavern. As they drew closer, it became clear that the glow was emanating from what looked like some sort of crystal, suspended in midair.

"It's beautiful," said Mimi. "Like a diamond."

Hikari reached out tentatively, her fingertips connecting with a smooth, cold substance. "It's…ice."

"Why is it here?" Koushiro wondered aloud.

Tentomon hovered over the sphere, peering down into it. "There appears to be something inside of it."

Jyou leaned closer to get a better look. "It's some sort of musical instrument," he said in surprise. "A flute, maybe."

Hikari bent forward with her hands pressed up against the ice, trying to glimpse what Jyou had seen. "It is a flute," she said in astonishment. "And it has the Crest of Friendship on it!"

They turned to Yamato, who was staring thoughtfully at the orb. "Maybe…maybe it's my Artifact, or whatever Gennai called it."

"Any ideas on how to get it out of the frozen ball of ice?" Jyou asked, rapping his knuckles against its surface.

"Just one," Taichi grinned. "Agumon, do it!"

"Baby Flame!" cried Agumon.

It was a good idea, Hikari had to admit, even if it had come from her brother. Yet, they all watched as the ice somehow absorbed the energy, not heating up at all.

"Sorry," Agumon said, "but I guess melting it isn't an option."

Next they tried to chip away at the ice using the sharp rocks that were scattered about the cave, but it was like trying to crack steel with chalk and the rocks crumbled in their hands.

"Any other suggestions?" asked Takeru. Try as they might, they couldn't come up with anything, and the exhaustion from the past day was starting to catch up with them.

Gomamon let out a yawn. "I think I need a nap," he said.

Koushiro nodded. "I'd say we could all use some sleep. I'm sure that a clearer solution to this problem will present itself in the morning, when our minds are fresh."

Hikari couldn't argue with that. Nor could anyone else, and so they headed back through the tunnel to the entrance of the cave. The rock floor wasn't exactly comfortable, but as she lay down with Tailmon curled up by her head and Taichi and Takeru flanking her from a little ways off, she at least felt secure.

At least, she did, until a tendril of darkness crept its way into her mind, igniting a rush of terror within her. "Ah!" She bolted up from the ground, causing Tailmon to hiss in surprise.

"What is it?" asked Taichi, concerned.

"I felt…" Hikari paused. What had she felt? Whatever it was, it had slipped back into whatever dark place it had come from.

"Hikari-chan?" Takeru was looking at her with worry in his blue eyes.

She shook her head, trying to calm her racing heart. "It's nothing," she said. "I must have just imagined it." She could tell Takeru didn't believe her, and she knew for a fact that Tailmon didn't, but they let it go.

Hikari lay back down, but she didn't sleep for a long time.

Later that night, Yamato sat at the mouth of the cave, watching the lightning make mysterious patterns across the sky. The storm hadn't lessened any since they'd arrived. He wondered if that meant something. It wasn't that he believed in omens, but everyone knew how acutely Hikari could sense evil, and her earlier outburst had startled him.

A noise from behind him made him turn his head, and he smiled a little as Gabumon approached.

"Sora says that you should come back inside," the digimon told him, "and I'm inclined to agree with her. What are you doing out here, Yamato?"

"Thinking. I'm wondering what to do about that flute."

Gabumon rested a paw on Yamato's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. We always have before."

A wry smile stole over the blonde's face. "Just like old times, eh?"

"Mm. A little too much so, perhaps."

Yamato sobered instantly. "Do you think a Dark Master is behind all this?"

"Maybe," Gabumon answered sagely. "If so, then we need to concentrate on finding Gennai's Artifacts. He did say that was the only way to restore the balance."

Yamato nodded, and rose. "I need to stretch my legs a bit. I'm going for a walk."

"In that?" Gabumon asked, gesturing outside.

"I won't be gone long."

"I'm coming with you."

"No," Yamato shook his head. "You'd better stay here. If your fur gets wet, you'll stink." He placed a friendly hand on the digimon's head to let him know he was only kidding.

Gabumon didn't need to be told. He knew that his partner sometimes needed his space, and he knew the real reason Yamato wanted him to stay behind. It had always gone unspoken between them that first and foremost, Takeru needed to be protected. Sora as well, lately, if Gabumon was correct in his thinking.

"See you soon, Gabumon."

And Gabumon watched as Yamato slipped into the night.

Takeru dreamed.

He dreamed that he was standing on a flat, barren stretch of land, with no end to it in sight, no horizons. The light was dim, its origin unclear. He looked around him, desperately seeking out a familiar face.

"Patamon!" he called. "Yamato! Hikari!"

Suddenly, his vision went red. Staring up into the sky, Takeru watched in fascination as thousands upon thousands of red flowers drifted down toward him.

Poppies, he thought.

The flowers began to fall faster, and the air soon became thick with their scent. It was almost like it was raining blood. A shout rang out through the air.

"Takeru!"

It was Hikari's voice.

"Hikari!" he called, pushing his way through the curtain of petals. "Hikari-chan, where are you?"

He searched as best he could, wading through a sea of petals that came to his knees. It was imperative that he find her. "I can't see you, Hikari," he cried out desperately. "Where are you? Please, answer me!"

The poppies were smothering him now, and he began to choke. "No! No, please! I have to find her, I'm the only one that can-" Takeru failed to finish his words, his airway blocked by the horrible poppies.

He woke then, sweating and shaking, but the choking sensation did not disappear.

"Hello, Takeru," his brother said, hands tight around Takeru's throat. "Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Sora."

The voice drifted into her mind, pulling her slowly back into consciousness.

"Sora, wake up."

Blinking, Sora opened her eyes. "Yamato?" she said groggily. "What's wrong?"

Yamato was crouched in front of her, a serious look in his deep blue eyes. "You and Piyomon need to come with me, quickly."

Puzzled, but trusting, Sora roused her partner. "Piyomon, wake up."

"Sora? Yamato?" the pink digimon glanced back and forth between them. "What's going on?"

"There's no time to explain," Yamato said. "Come on."

He stood, offering Sora his hand. She took it, gazing around in confusion. "Where is everyone else?"

"They're waiting for us," Yamato replied, pulling her along toward the passage that led to the chamber where they had discovered the orb of ice. Piyomon hopped along behind them, her eyes flitting about nervously in the dark. However, like Sora, she trusted Yamato, and followed without protest.

It took Sora a bit of time to process what was happening, her mind still hazy from sleep, but as they made their way deeper into the cave, she began to realize how strange the situation really was. Not only was Yamato behaving distant toward her, which he hadn't done since they were children, but there was absolutely no sign of the other Chosen, not even voices that would surely have echoed back from wherever they were.

"Where are we going, Yamato?"

There was no reply.

Another thought occurred to her. "Where's Gabumon?" she demanded.

Silence.

Frustrated, she stopped, jerking her hand from Yamato's grasp. "Yamato, answer me!"

He whirled to face her. "Shut up!" he yelled, striking her cheek with the palm of one raised hand.

Piyomon gasped, flying up to hover defensively between the boy and her partner. "Should I blast him, Sora?"

Sora couldn't speak. She raised a trembling hand to her stinging cheek. He had never hit her before, never even raised his voice. It didn't matter how much he looked like Yamato: this person could not be her boyfriend.

"You're not Yamato."

The creature grinned maliciously at her, a terrible expression on such a beautiful face. "That's right, little girl," it said in a raspy voice. "I'm not."

Piyomon had heard enough. "Magical Fi- ack!"

The creature flicked a lazy hand toward the little digimon, sending her spinning through the air.

"Piyomon!" Sora cried. Her partner was plastered against the wall, black bindings on her wings and legs, preventing all movement. Sora turned angrily to the creature. "Who are you?"

The thing smiled evilly. "I am Choronzomon." He pulled her closer to him, and raised one hand to grasp her chin, drawing her lips toward his. "But you can call me goshujin-sama." (1)

Sora screamed.

(1) Goshujin-sama is the formal address for "husband" in Japanese, just to make Choronzomon ever creepier.