Chapter Forty Eight: Gates
(Tai's P.O.V)
"So you're going to open a gate to the Dark Ocean?" I eyed him still not completely sure about trusting him.
"I'll open it." Despite knowing what he had done something deep down told me that I could trust him.
"Tai, you're not really going to are you?" I looked at Agumon; he looked more hesitant than me.
You would think that he would be braver since he was an orange dinosaur wouldn't you? On top of that he was as Digimon, if anything happened he would just return to a Digi Egg. I looked at Agumon for a few moments thinking. I wasn't one to think before acting. It seemed like since I started to think things haven't always worked out the best. I usually went with my gut feeling and it was urging me to take him up on the offer. Besides how else would I get a gate to the Dark Ocean opened?
"How soon can you open the gate?" I looked from Agumon to him.
He gave a small smile. It was odd seeing him smile so small but I was used to Davis even if they have different hair styles. He moved so that his hands were behind his head as he eyed me. It looked like he wasn't completely sure of what to make of me either.
"As soon as you want and the sooner the better, it won't be long before they realize that I betrayed them." I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Who did you betray?" He sighed.
"How do you think I knew that Daemon was going to attack Rin?" My eyes went wide hearing that, he worked with the Demon Lords.
"So you worked with them huh?" He nodded.
"Yeah, I hurt a lot of people and I wish I could make it up but I won't ever atone for everything that I've done." Something told me that betraying them meant death usually.
"You're really not leading us into a trap are you?" He looked at Agumon.
"If I wanted you people dead I wouldn't have warned you about Daemon. After he killed Rin he would've went after you guys for revenge." I bit my lip.
His words were harsh but true. Daemon was already angry at us because we sealed him away in the Dark Ocean. Even if it was Ken who opened the gate he blamed us all. It was guilt by association with him I think.
"Are you planning to go alone?" I nodded and he sighed.
"That's gonna be tough for you if you're after Dragomon. To get to him you will probably have to get through the mock-Digimon." I narrowed my eyes hearing that.
"What do you mean by mock-Digimon?" He tilted his head to the side slightly.
"You don't know do you?" I shook my head not quite sure what he thought that I had known.
"The Dark Ocean has only one Digimon, Dragomon. All the other Digimon there aren't really Digimon, their mock-Digimon. Failed experiments of trying to recreate Digimon or fragments of data that was scattered from many different things that just came together and formed what seemed like Digimon, even if that data had once belonged to a Digimon." There were people that tried to make Digimon?
"That's horrible!" He laughed at Agumon's words.
"Yeah it is especially when some of those experiments used human lives to, tried to turn humans into a hybrid but failed." My stomach churned hearing that.
"Ah, probably shouldn't have shared that bit with you. If it helps any none of those are the mock-Digimon there." My stomach still felt sick slightly.
"Do you really plan on taking Dragomon on by yourself?" I took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yeah, I don't have anyone that would be able to fight him." There were very few people that I had even considered.
I would've asked Matt but he was with Rin now. She needed someone with her and that someone had to be Matt. I had thought about Davis and Ken for the faintest moment. They would be good back up but I don't think I could ask Ken to go back to the place that corrupted him. That would be making him face something that could probably tear him apart. I don't think that Davis and Daisuke being together would be a good combination.
"Are you going to make an excuse to your mother about where you're going?" At his words I looked over my shoulder.
The curtains were drawn so our living room was left hidden. My mom and uncle were busy catching up. I didn't know why he closed the curtains then again maybe he knew something that I didn't. Should I tell her? No if I tell her she probably won't let me go. She probably wouldn't have let Kari go if she had known. She didn't want to lose us like she had lost my uncle.
"No, I'd rather not lie but I'd rather not tell her either." He sighed.
I turned my head slightly to look at him when he landed. He stood a few feet away from and he stared at the glass of the sliding door. Something bothered him or he was just more serious that Davis was. He sighed and I noticed how tense he was. He moved his hands from behind his head and snapped his fingers. I was surprised by how easy it was for him to open a gate.
"I would hurry up, your uncle probably sensed the Dark Gate." I stared the gate that had appeared.
It looked more like shimmering black water than what I though a gate would look like. It was a Dark Gate so I guess the black color did fit and it was to the Dark Ocean so I guess the water like appearance also worked. Taking a deep breath I stepped through the portal, Agumon followed behind me quickly.
I felt like I was being pushed and pulled from every direction. I couldn't tell what was up and what was down. I felt fear creep up. I closed my eyes but I couldn't tell if they had already been closed or what. All that I saw either way was just pure darkness. It was inky and thick. It also felt like I was being suffocated. It was dead silent but then I could hear waves. Opening my eyes slowly I saw a grey sky that had clouds that were only a slightly bit darker than the sky. I blinked as I saw a black light pass over.
Turning my head to the side I saw a lighthouse in the distance. The light that it shined though was pure black. The lighthouse was grey as well. It was like this whole world consisted of shades of grey and black. Well grey is actually a shade of black isn't it? Whatever I don't care about that. I sat up and I looked at where I was. I was on the shore and I was surprised to see that the water was dark even though I had figured that there was a reason it was known as the Dark Ocean.
"Tai!" I looked to Agumon, he was running towards.
I saw Daisuke following after him; it didn't look like he was having a problem keeping up with Agumon. Once Agumon was to me he stopped but Daisuke stood a good ten feet away. His eyes never stayed on any one place; he was looking around constantly as if he was waiting on something.
"What's wrong Daisuke?" He stopped looking around, his eyes focused on something behind me.
"The battle starts the moment you step foot in here." Agumon looked at whatever he looked at when his eyes widened I tilted my head back to look at the water.
My eyes widened I got up quickly. I turned around and stumbled backwards. Shadows were rising up out of the water and they seemed to glitch slightly. They weren't there when I looked. I grabbed my Digivice that I had pocketed right before I walked through the gate.
"We're just lucky that Dragomon didn't attack while we were out." I nodded slightly; yeah there were things we had to be grateful for I guess.
"Agumon Warp Digivolve to WarGreymon!" He might as well go all the way up since I have no clue how fast this battle will go or when Dragomon will show up.
(Kari's P.O.V)
Something was off with what she told us. I could tell that there was something off but I wouldn't say it. I trusted Storm even if Koji and Takuya didn't. I knew Koichi trusted her. I glanced at Koichi, he was still unconscious. How long until he wakes up?
"Why don't you hand over your card?" I looked at Koji at his suggestion.
Handing over the necklace would limit her power but allow her to fight but if she handed over her card she couldn't fight at all. If she couldn't fight then she would be the perfect target for the Demon Lords. They'll attack with little hesitance and they will probably kill her. That's how they are.
"You want me to hand over my only means of fighting when our lives are being hunted?" Storm seemed taken aback.
"That would mean that even if controlled you wouldn't be able to hurt us." Storm narrowed her eyes at Koji.
Takuya had turned his head slightly to look at Koji. I wasn't the only one who was caught off guard by what he wanted. I got that he could be protective but that might be a little too far. She should be able to protect herself from the Demon Lords in case they attacked her.
"You really don't get it? Why not take Takuya's D-Tector so we know he won't attack us again either? Why not take Koichi's D-Tector so he won't attack again?" Storm's eyes were narrowed at Koji.
It wasn't hard for me to tell. Koji was walking a very thin line. No he wasn't even walk on a line but a thread. Storm was getting angry and she only came in the first place because of Koichi probably only stayed for Koichi too after Evan died.
"Oh wait, you trust them don't you? If it makes you better I'll leave. How about that? I'll just leave you guys here." The necklace disappeared and in a flash of electricity her card was in her hand again.
She threw it on the ground to make us relax but she can summon it back to her. Koji moved but in a split second he was sent flying. He slammed into a tree and I stared at Storm. She hadn't even released her card. Her left hand crackled with electricity.
"Since you can't trust me or even take the peace offering I offered I'm leaving." She turned and she crouched as if she was about to jump but she stopped, we all did.
"Storm." It was weak but it was enough for us to hear.
Storm looked over her shoulder and I looked down at Koichi. His eyes were barely open. Seconds later he struggled in my hold. It was weak but I let him go. He stumbled forwards and almost fell flat on his face but he caught himself. Everyone was watching Koichi.
"Trust her." I glanced at Koji who was walking back towards us.
He was glaring at her with his D-Tector in his hand. He was back to being human. Koji sighed before looking at Koichi. Koichi looked at Koji even though he was barely standing. Koichi looked like he was ready to fall over at any moment.
"She hasn't given us much reason to trust her Koichi. She nearly attacked Kari back there. She's hidden things from us, from you, since the very beginning." Koichi narrowed his eyes but it didn't last long.
He nearly fell forwards. Takuya who had dropped his Spirit Evolution at some point lurched forward to grab him just like Koji did. Yet Storm beat them both. She had flashed from where she was to beside him in a split second. She held his arm and helped him stand.
"Koichi, stop it. Don't push yourself. It's fine. I'm fine. I'll be fine on my own. I'll go and meet up with Chrono; I'll work with her until we're all drawn back together." We were off caught off guard when he gave a laugh.
"If she goes then I'm gone. Storm's stuck with me through all of these years, even if she lied every now and then she didn't ever fake anything." Koichi's declaration surprised me.
He would leave us and follow her? He would leave behind his own world and follow Storm. I knew they were friends, childhood friends at that but knowing that I still didn't expect that he would leave. I blinked when something dawned on. How are they childhood friends if her world died four years ago? Was that a lie that they both told?
"You aren't serious are you Koichi?!" Koichi gave a halfhearted glare to Koji when he nearly yelled the words.
"How are you two childhood friends?" My question stopped everyone.
Storm tensed but Koichi didn't look from Koji. Koji and Takuya seemed to have caught onto what I had said. How did they know each other during their childhood if she only lost her world four years ago? The way they spoke told that they've known each other since probably the beginning of Elementary School. Yet Storm only lost her world four years ago so the timeline didn't add up.
"That's right, you admitted to having lost your world four years ago. How is it that you magically have known my brother nearly your whole life?" Koji must've overstepped a boundary.
No I knew he overstepped a boundary. I would've thought Storm was about ready to hit him after what he's been insinuating but to everyone's surprise, even Storm's surprise it was Koichi. I don't know where Koichi got the strength from, he managed to knock Koji of his feet and pretty much sat on Koji's stomach. Not even seconds after that Koichi had punched Koji in the face.
"Don't you dare Koji!" Koichi had pulled his fist back but Storm grabbed his arm.
"Koichi, stop it." Koji stared at Koichi stunned but Koichi glared at Koji.
That was the first time besides when Koichi went Duskmon that I saw that. I've Koji and Takuya get into a fight both physically and verbally. I've even seen Koji and Koichi argue but I've never seen them actually fight. I don't think I've ever seen Koichi that angry either.
"How do you know Koichi, truthfully." I watched as Storm squeezed her eyes shut.
"Evan and I were orphans. We grew up on the streets and had no one to turn to. No one cared about us but then one day, we found an egg. It hatched and the thing that came out cared for us. It protected us from the cruel world that rejected us." My eyes widened.
I hadn't expected that. I had thought she probably had some loving family before she was taken to her Digital World before the Demon Lords attacked. I could understand something now though. That's why she seemed so used to being outside. That might also explain why she seemed so mature for her age.
"You had a Digimon?" Storm nodded before opening her eyes slightly.
"We came to love him; he treated us like we were his. It was a while before we found out that he was our mother's Digimon." Her mother was a DigiDestined?
"That world was no place for kids to grow up in. He was strong so he could protect us but he soon came to hate how we were forced lived. He opened a gate between worlds and he chose a peaceful world and told us to go, said that we were free." Her voice was soft; it was in that moment that I saw a vulnerable side of her.
"Yet we couldn't stay all the time. He let us stay for a while before he made us go back but we always came back here. He knew we were meant to be DigiDestineds so he sent us back every now and then in case there was something that our world would call us for. There was never anything though until six years ago." I looked to the ground but before my eyes fell to the ground they were caught by Koji.
His eyes were wide and he stared at Storm. I guess Koichi knew bits and pieces or he knew that something tragic had happened in her past that led to them meeting. It's possible that he had just known that something painful had happened. He also might just be simply protective of Storm.
"Did you know that before you punched me Koichi?" Koji looked from Storm to Koichi.
Koichi hung his head and his hair shadowed his eyes. His arm that Storm still held shook slightly. I don't think he knew exactly. I think he only bits and pieces of the truth behind her past.
"She told me that her world was horrible and she had no one but Evan, that she came here to escape that horrible place before she went back and became a DigiDestined. She disappeared for two years and those two years she spent peacefully in her own world." Storm let his arm go and it fell to his side.
"Can you get off of me yet?" Koji groaned, I guess Koichi was starting to get heavy.
Koichi stood up slowly, unsteady on his feet. Storm placed her hands on his shoulders and he seemed to steady just a little. Koji sat up and rubbed his cheek where Koichi hit him. No one spoke for a few moments and no one moved. That was changed by a simple movement, Storm rested her forehead on Koichi's back but he didn't say anything to her.
"Anything else we should know about you?" I saw Storm's hands grip Koichi's shirt but he didn't say anything.
"My name, it isn't Storm Aleister." My eyes widened hearing that but I saw even Koichi was caught by surprise.
"Evan and I, we took different names here because we wanted to be different. We didn't want to be the homeless twins that were treated like monsters." Even if it was surprising I understood why I guess.
"I take it back, Storm is actually my name. So it's part of my name actually. Aleister was something that my mother's Digimon gave to us." What was her actual name?
"Why are you telling all of this to us now?" Takuya was surprised but he took a few slow steps towards Storm.
It was kind of odd that she was telling us this now. Why didn't she just tell us this before? Why did she lie instead of telling the truth? There was something else she was hiding, a reason that she wasn't telling us.
"Why didn't you tell the truth from the beginning?" Takuya seemed a bit weary to trust her now.
It was odd that she spilled her secrets so suddenly. She knew that I wasn't from this world so she could've told the truth couldn't she have? She knew that we had knowledge about the fact that there were many different worlds so we would've understood more than likely.
"We don't have time to waste. We need to keep moving. I told you the truth but it's up to you to believe me." I watched as she moved.
She stepped away from Koichi. Koichi didn't turn around and Takuya looked to Koji probably because probably only now was it dawning on him that Koji got flung into a tree. I was about to turn to check on Koji when I saw Storm place her palms on her eyes. She rubbed her palms on her eyes and there was a small tremor that I almost missed. Was she crying?
So, sorry about forgetting to mention that I was taking a break for the holidays. I hope this was good and sorry if it's a bit confusing. So I have a question, who would be interested in learning Storm's full past? I've been debating if I would either write out a situation where she fully explains her past or just leave everyone to pick up the small details and hints that have been sprinkled throughout the story. I've even been tempted to write a story that would be of her past, though that wouldn't have a lot of familiar characters and probably be nearly a completely original story. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas [or anything else that's celebrated] and have had a Happy New Year so far.