So, another chapter and again it might be awkward. Also yes, I know the title is odd but I couldn't think of anything else. [I don't know why I give every Chapter a name either...]
Chapter Sixty One: Return, Tears, and Anger
[Kari's P.O.V]
I smiled and just sank to my knees. I felt like there was actually a bit of hope. Seeing this place, it was something I thought I might never see again. We were in my Digital World. I knew exactly where we were, something that I haven't felt for a very long time now. I always felt so foreign and didn't know how much memory was reliable since layouts could change. Some things didn't exist in Koji's world that existed here.
"Glad to be home?" I looked Takuya who had bent forward enough that he was close to my height.
"We're not home yet, the others will be more than happy to see you." I looked to Tai; he had caught off any response I would've given to Takuya.
He smile and Chrono had taken his Digivice, he had offered his to her since he said after what I've been through I probably didn't want to part with mine. I wasn't sure how Tai knew that but he was right. Right now I didn't want to let my Digivice out of my hands because I had no clue the next time it might be of some use.
"Glad to see you're still alive Kari." I blinked hearing that voice.
I turned my head and I was stunned. I wiped my eyes trying to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me. I stared at Wizardmon who stood only a couple feet away. He held a Digi Egg in his arms and he was smiling away.
"Wizardmon?" He smiled just a bit wider.
"I'm glad to see you face to face." I stood up; my legs shook slightly though because now the toll of whatever I did in the Dark Ocean was taking effect.
"You're really alive." He nodded.
"You can thank Rin for that." I blinked and looked Rin; she shifted on her feet and looked away.
"I um, met him once when I was a little kid. I fell into the Digital World and until recently I thought it was a dream because well I was like five at the time. He helped me get back home and when I found him hiding out at my uncle's job I used my crest somehow." Rin looked so shy but Impmon laughed slightly.
"The Crest of Temperance is special; it has quite a few interesting traits. Besides I'm pretty sure that Wizardmon there carries a fragment of Beelzemon's data. Beelzemon's data lost a sliver of its code as a precaution so it would never become as strong as it once was." I looked at Chrono when she said.
"Oh Kari, this is Gatomon's egg." I looked back to Wizardmon but I stared at the Digi Egg.
"How do you know that the egg belongs to Gatomon?" I ignored Koji's question and took the egg, I hugged it to me the best I could.
"I've known Gatomon for a very long time plus no other egg would carry the Crest of Light on it." Gatomon hadn't been deleted; she had simply reformed back into a Digi Egg.
"If you want to leave hurry up, this gate can only be opened and kept stable for so long Kari." I looked at Chrono, something was wrong.
"It would be best if we weren't in the Digital World for long, you don't want the Demon Lords sending a flood of disposable pawns at us to see how we fair after defeating Belphemon." I sighed but nodded.
"Are you coming Wizardmon?" He nodded at Rin's question and I smiled.
I went back towards the group since I had wondered a bit away from them when Wizardmon showed up. There was a spark of light before suddenly the TV let out a blinding amount of light. I heard Takuya complaining about how his eyes burned. Koji snickered at that while I think I heard Storm mutter in her sleep about it being too bright. Evan and Storm were still out; Tai was helping with Evan while Koichi supported Storm. When the light died down I stood in the middle of the computer room. Home, I felt tears prick at my eyes but I quickly wiped them away.
"Ok so, how about we figure out how to explain this?" I looked at Tai who now looked like he was suddenly remembering something.
"Oh yeah, you kind of up and vanished with me through that portal, probably doesn't help that time in the Dark Ocean flows slower than here. It's probably been about two days since you vanished here." Daisuke said it as I heard rushed footsteps coming towards the room.
"Interesting part will be your uncle though." Rin said it as the door slammed open.
"Kamiya Taichi who do you think you are just-" Mother stopped mid yell and I turned to face her, she stared at me.
"Kari!" Suddenly I was tackled into a hug by her.
Gatomon's egg was saved by Impmon surprisingly but I'd keep that comment to myself. He did seem different from the Demon Lords. I returned the hug and held her tightly. I knew she would start fussing soon because I was kind of banged up. I had a couple of cuts and bruises, the bruises were just starting to form in some kind of delayed reaction but I was done questioning Digital World logic by now.
"Mom, it's nice to see you again." She hugged me tighter but I felt tears drip onto my shoulder.
"You just up and disappeared! You worried me half to death." I looked down and gripped her shirt tightly, how badly did I make her worry?
"Ah don't worry we took good care of Kari." My mom pulled back and we both looked to Takuya.
He smiled but I could see it. Takuya was beyond tired and it wasn't that hard to see the worry. What was he worried about currently? We only managed to stay in one piece and get this far so far because the Demon Lords hadn't been focusing on us for a while. The fact that they hadn't focused on us was a bit disturbing in truth. I still wasn't sure if it was a part of their plans or if their attention was elsewhere.
"Why aren't I surprised?" I was confused while my mother placed a hand on her head.
"This whole family is nuts! This whole family is cursed with the freaking Digital World! I tell you! This is your fault Hiroaki!" I was as confused as everyone else when mom said that.
"It's not my fault." When I heard that voice I looked to Takuya and he looked at me.
"Isn't that, your dad's voice?" I asked it and he nodded.
"Takuya!" Takuya sighed and hung his head, I looked back and sure enough at the doorway was his father.
"I am so confused, is he this world's version or what?" Koji asked it and Takuya's father sighed.
"Ok, maybe the family is cursed. Geez now I know what Shiki and Rani warned me about during the fight." Do I even want to ask 'what kind of curse'?
"What are you talking about?" Takuya's father sighed at Takuya's question.
"Geez, ok let's see. I'm a DigiDestined and Former Runner myself. I originate from this world and Yuuko is actually my younger sister which makes you, Kari and Tai cousins." Well now.
"That explains why you took me in with no questions asked when I showed up." He smiled.
"Yelp, I already knew you'd show up one day. It was only a matter of time in truth, ever since Takuya disappeared five years ago and ended up coming back with fragmented memories of the time he was 'missing' I knew what happened though I had hoped that the Demon Lord battle was done then." I sighed and hung my head.
"Are we in for a long lecture? We all could use a nap right now, we just defeated Belphemon too." I had to agree with Takuya, I doubt I could stay up for a whole long lecture.
"I have to agree with Takuya on this one." Koji agreed too?
"Wait, what!? You guys defeated Belphemon!?" I heard a groan.
"Yeah, somehow we did. Sadly I gotta give the thanks to this chick that has yet to really explain who the hell she is." I looked at Rin when Daisuke said that and when I did I blinked.
Rin was covered in bandages. Her whole left arm and right leg were wrapped. She had a few band aids on her face too. She wore an oversized t-shirt, it was blue mostly but the shoulders and sleeves were black. She wore black shorts well. Rin looked; she looked so lost standing there. She was pale and she looked so scared. I noticed that Impmon was hiding behind her yet at the same time ready to act if need be.
"Rin Sylph, I'm the DigiDestined of Temperance. My mother died when I was a child, she was a DigiDestined named Rani Ishida while my father is also a DigiDestined, Kaname Sylph but he's defected and he works with the Demon Lords now." I was surprised when she said 'Ishida'.
"I've been involved in this since I was young; my parents knew I was 'destined' to be a pawn in this war. My mother tried to shield me from facing it while my father who worked with the Demon Lords tried to control me through abuse and even tried to kill me a couple of time." My eyes widened, no wonder she was so terrified.
"Are you, related to Matt?" She nodded when I asked.
"Matt's my cousin, his father and my mother were siblings." Rin stared at the ground, never once since Daisuke spoke about her had she looked up from the ground.
"If you're the DigiDestined of Temperance than you're connected to Beelzemon the Demon Lord of Gluttony." I noticed how tense Takuya's father's voice was.
"Note she's the DigiDestined of Temperance not the DigiDestined of Gluttony." Impmon stepped from behind Rin, his arms were crossed.
"You could say that I've been tamed by Rin. I've been fighting the Demon Lords for years; I've kept my distance from Rin for many years so she didn't get dragged into any of their schemes before now. I've known Rin for a very long time. I've done my best to combat the Demon Lords and keep them busy, for years while pretending to be Beelzemon still I was Baalmon." I looked at my mother when she suddenly clapped.
"Enough of this heavy talk, they can barely stand and judging by their shape they could use rest. Why don't you guys sleep and I'll make some food?" I looked at mother, something was different this time.
"She's gone to the Digital World to Kari; apparently she traveled with the group before us Kari." I looked to Tai surprised, he gave a sleepy smile.
"Looks like some of them fell asleep on their feet." Chrono giggled slightly, and I noticed what she meant.
Takuya had somewhat nodded off, he was awake enough to stand up but he was exhausted enough not to really be paying attention. Koji had leaned against the wall and was slowly sliding down the wall. Koichi had just sat down crossed legged, he was out. Even Daisuke's friend had fallen asleep, she was leaning heavily on Daisuke and Daisuke didn't complain once about holding her up.
"Cutemon, mind healing everyone up since we're safe now?" The pink rabbit popped up from under Chrono's shirt.
"Yelp, leave them to me Chrono!" The rabbit jumped to the floor.
"Cutemon?" Cutemon stopped and looked.
"Hiro, you're alive! You're really alive! I thought for certain that I'd never see you again! I've looked around for everyone." Cutemon puffed out her cheeks.
"Kaname's gone all evil, Yuki and Ukiyo tried to kill me when they saw me, while Skylar and Amaya tried to use me! I couldn't find anyone to help us with our sneaking around! Shiki and Snow are both dead and I thought." Cutemon hiccupped as she started to cry.
"I thought everyone was dead! How is the other Hiro? Is he alive too?" I was confused but when Rin lifted her head enough to look at Cutemon I knew for certain that Cutemon was linked to the past group.
"Yeah, the other Hiro is alive. Who do you mean by 'we' Cutemon? I was told that Rani was dead." Rin shook slightly.
"W-who told you that Rani, was dead? Rani's still alive." I looked at Rin when she fell to the ground, stared at Cutemon.
"E-eh? But-" Cutemon shook her head and wiped at her tears.
"Kaname nearly beat her to death and should've killed her; I got through and healed her though. Lotosmon pulled us through a gate. Rani and I have been sneaking around for the past couple of years." Cutemon squealed and everyone was alert now besides Storm and Evan.
"Rani's still alive?" Impmon held Cutemon in the air by her scarf.
"L-Let me go! Y-you helped us! Why are you attacking me?" Cutemon kicked Impmon but he didn't let go.
"I won't tell you where Rani is! I won't betray her like the other did! You'll kill me before I-" Impmon threw her, Cutemon landed in Rin's lap and I noticed that Rin was crying.
"Rani is Rin's mother! Tell me how the hell Rani is alive and why she abandoned her daughter!" Tears splashed onto Cutemon's head and Cutemon stared at Rin.
"Why the hell did Rani leave Rin with that fucking monster if she was alive!? If someone like Lotosmon was on her side then why couldn't Rin have been saved! Why the hell did Rin have to live through that hell she called a childhood!?" Impmon was pissed but I couldn't find it me to be angry, a part me sided with his actions in truth.
"It isn't fair that someone like Rin was cursed with the fucking fate of being abused! It isn't fair that Rin's been abused her whole fucking life! Rin never wanted to worry anyone so she put on a fucking smile for the whole world and never said a damn thing! Rin's so fucking pure hearted that when I offered to fucking kill her father she told me no!" I was surprised when tears streaked down Impmon's face, everyone was.
"Tell me where is it fair that all of these years she's put on a smile for everyone and stood through everything even when she could've been free, all she would've had to do was say the word." Impmon's hands were curled into fists and shaking.
"Tell me why Rin was cursed with so much pain." I couldn't believe that Impmon was a Demon Lord, no the Impmon before us wasn't some mighty Demon Lords but he was Rin's partner and obviously her guardian.
"To kill the Demon Lords and avoid everyone dying, Rani realized that the prophecy had to happen. Rin would have to be abused, Daisuke would have to be used by the Demon Lords, Storm and Evan would have to watch their friends die before their eyes and watch as their world was deleted, Koichi and Koji would have to be torn apart and be forced to fight, Kari would have to be hunted since she was child by the Digital World, and Takuya would have to be kidnapped by Amaya repeatedly and used as a test subject for her creations again and again." Impmon glared at the floor.
"My mother used me then?" Rin's voice was broken and it made something hurt within.
"She didn't use you Rin; she just knew that it was better to save thousands of lives. Either she could've pulled you out and risk the chance of killing the Demon Lords forever or she could just let fate take its course and be there to nurse you once everything was done with." Impmon moved but he wasn't the reason that left Cutemon screaming this time.
Rin had flung Cutemon across the room. Rin sat there on the ground and wrapped her arms around herself. Her body shook so badly and I was surprised. Impmon was slow but he walked over to Rin. Rin, just how wounded was she? As far as I know, I think she ties with the worst past perhaps with Storm and Evan. There was little reason she really had to hold onto being good. With one word from her she could've had Beelzemon a Demon Lord at her beck and call. Rin resisted that temptation though.
"Impmon Digivolve to Baalmon, please." Rin's words cut through the silence and I noticed that Takuya, Koji and Koichi tensed.
Impmon nodded and a flash of pale yellow light later Baalmon replaced Impmon. Baalmon had his arms wrapped around Rin. Slowly Baalmon rose to his feet, Rin in his arms. He vanished though; he didn't attack or do anything. I couldn't imagine how betrayed Rin has to feel. Her own mother left her, her mother pretty much sacrificed her.
"This war is beyond cruel." Storm suddenly speaking made everyone jump.
"Since you know so much and after what you and your partner did, I think you owe us answers." Cutemon didn't get a chance to move, electricity shot across the floor in a second and Cutemon caged.
"Chrono, help me!" I looked at Chrono when she laughed.
"Why should I help you? You're as bad as those Demons I loathe. You and your partner have used us, she had every chance to intervene but instead decided that the life of a few were less valuable than the life of many." Chrono shook her head.
"Who cares if you screw up the life of eight kids' right? I mean, at the end of the day they'll have done such a great deed that everything will be fine, right? Nah, we all will have to bear our scars and wounds long after this war is done. It would be hilarious if we all chose to curse the very people who let this happen to us to save their own lives and chose instead to become the next worst evil the worlds have ever seen." Chrono exerted a murderous aura and something in her eyes looked so furious, if looks could kill I think Cutemon would've been long dead.
"Those naps and that food will have wait for a while I guess." I glanced at Evan, he was awake.
"I met Rani earlier I'm willing to bet, that woman who knew far too much about me. She seemed kind but I knew something was off; her kind smile unnerved me and her angry scowl unnerved me. I knew something was wrong with her." I looked at Takuya's father, my uncle, when he stepped forward.
"Why don't we all clam done just a little? Rani might've gone about it wrong but she's on our side that I can promise." Cutemon nodded at Takuya's father's words.
"You knew as well, didn't you dad?" Takuya's voice, it sounded so low.
"I knew bits and pieces, I knew the whole thing once but I forgot most of it." How many people could've stopped this from happening but didn't?
"Rani never meant for anyone to get as hurt as they did." Cutemon muttered it but then squealed; a small bolt of electricity had struck her.
"She knew what would happen, even if she didn't know about the others parts she could've saved her own daughter." I looked at Wizardmon; he had been silent this whole time, he also once again held Gatomon's egg.
"There's no excusing what Rani did but she thought it would be for the best. She nearly lost her brother to the Demon Lords and her best friend almost boyfriend was killed by the Demon Lords. She was forced to watch as Shiki was murdered while she was forced to stand back and watch what happened to Snow, she hated the Demon Lords. She wanted them dead and what happened to her might've been what jaded her." Cutemon sounded scared as she talked.
"Yeah, well you're right about there being no excusing what she did. Well actually, it's what she didn't do." Daisuke's voice was low, an odd mix of hurt and anger present in his voice.
"Who are Shiki and Snow?" Koichi asked the question but I noticed when he said 'Shiki' he glanced at Storm for some reason.
"Shiki worked with us as we tried to fight the Demon Lords and Snow was one of her friends, Rani was the only one who had met Snow in truth." Takuya's father backed up slightly as he spoke.
"Shiki Aleister, she was the DigiDestined of Loyalty. Snow Aleksander was the DigiDestined of Miracles." I froze; even I knew what might've just been said.
Aleister was the last name that Storm and Evan bore. Aleister was the name that they inherited from their mother who died before they knew her if not when they were born. They only knew what little they did, if they shared all they knew at least about her from their mother's Digimon. Aleksander was Chrono's last name. I didn't know much about Chrono's history actually.
"So she was murdered by the Demon Lords? Heh, guess that's better than thinking we killed our mother by being born." Evan's words were low.
"Snow Aleksander, did she have a connection to Chronomon?" Chrono's question received a nod from Cutemon.
"Yes, Chronomon took care of Snow after she somehow fell into the Digital World he ruled." Chrono sighed.
"Snow, so that's my mother's name." Her words caught us all off guard; she hadn't even known her mother's name?
Here's an awkward chapter! I did my best also, seriously I'm noticing the gaps between chapters. I can keep saying I'm sorry and I'll try better but I keep forgetting about Kari's Secret. I keep forgetting because it feels like no one's even reading it. Even though I said I wouldn't exactly be like others authors who ask but, please read and review. I get motivated by reviews apparently, like seriously get motivated. Also, tell me if anything doesn't fit with the rest of the story. I feel like I used a detail that was different in the beginning [I reworked situations in my head but I can't remember if I ever wrote the change and then changed that fact in the story besides throwing it in].