hates me. I had a nice little section here typed out that explained an idea that I have. decided to log me out randomly just before I could hit the save button so I have to retype everything! Ok so I am in college now and I require time to write quality chapters. I am not putting this story on hold or quitting or saying that I'm not going to update during the school year. I came up with an idea because of what I noticed during the time I stopped. If I have time to write I write better and things seem to come out longer. I am going to try out another type of schedule. I will update bi-monthly and in the months I update I will update bi-weekly. This means there will be no updates during October but their will be an update every other Saturday in November. Make sense? I take a month to write chapters, which may be as long as this chapter and the other two, then post the following month. This not only gives me time to write chapters but gives me time to focus on my school work as well. I hope everyone understands because I am going to try it out.
I am just going to say that this chapter does get a bit dark and there is some foul language. OOC moments as well. There is a reason that will be explained in a future chapter because if I explained now I could potentially ruin something that I am, at the moment, attempting to keep somewhat a secret for a reveal in a future chapter.
Chapter Seventy-Six: Alone
[Koji's P.O.V]
I looked to the ground and closed my eyes. So many thoughts flooded my head but I shoved them all away. None of that needed to be thought of at this time. I shook my head trying to clear my head of the thoughts that clouded my mind. None of it would leave me alone. I opened my eyes only to be greeted by own reflection.
"Been a while since you've been here." I raised my head, looking across the lake.
In the middle of the lake there was a small island. On the small island was a simple stone temple, it was relatively small. Housed within was a clear crystal but the clear crystal was glowing blue and the image of Lobomon was projected so it looked like Lobomon was standing in front of the small temple.
"It has, hasn't it Lobomon?" I looked back to the lake, traces of light danced within the depths since the light of the sun caught the fragments of data that drifted within the lake.
When did I even come here? I don't remember coming here but it wouldn't be the first time that I would come here on my own subconscious will. I've come here a number of times without realizing it. It was peaceful here. There was no sounds besides the rustling of leaves from the trees that surrounded the lake and the lapping of water against the shore. Sometimes Lobomon would show up by using the crystal that was housed in the temple. I once asked about what the stone was and I was told that it was the 'Digital Seed'. In short the crystal was what made this Digital World and everything within in and the Spirits were able to use it to take shape and converse with us Warriors, sometimes the spirit of other Digimon could speak through it as well.
"What brings you here today?" I shrugged.
"I don't know." I closed my eyes, trying to think of the reason why I was here.
You know.
It was a faint whisper. Images started to pop up within my head not even a second later. Watched as the others and I rejoiced defeating the Demon Lords. Despite being all banged up we were done and that was enough for us. I curled my hands into fists as the images shifted. Slowly the others turned their backs towards me and vanished. Kari and Koichi stayed the longest but eventually they as well turned their backs on me and vanished from the images.
"Koji, do not lie to me. We are one now." I opened my eyes as my palm seared.
I uncurled my hand from a fist and I looked to my hand. The Symbol of Light was there. It was as if the Symbol of Light was a tattoo. I felt a pulse of power coming from it. An image flickered and I remembered when I first received it. I never told the others about it when I first received it. I didn't want to talk about it because I didn't know what it was or what it meant at first.
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I coughed as dust settled around me while I felt all the hair on my body standing on end. I sat up slowly, my arms were barely steady enough to hold myself up. I looked to Belphemon, he was a creature straight from a nightmare. I hated it but I felt fear creep into me. I didn't want to admit that I was afraid but I was. I was afraid. I was afraid of what might happen. I was afraid of what Belphemon was capable of. I was afraid of what I stood to lose. I was afraid that I might lose the people that I let into my closed off world for the very fact that I never wanted to face the feelings of having lost someone near to me.
"Storm!" Koichi's panicked cry broke through my thoughts.
I was thankful for him calling out her name. I found the strength to look from Belphemon and to push away the fear I felt once more. I stared though at the sight. Koichi had dropped to his knees beside her. He was shaking and his hands hesitated above her body as if he couldn't decide if he wanted to touch her or not. His shoulders trembled and it made me wonder if he was crying.
"Did Zale finally give up?" Belphemon's voice made anger surge up.
Even if I didn't know her like Koichi knew her I knew she wouldn't have given up. I knew she wouldn't. No not since we fought against Piedmon together. I thought she was going to give into Piedmon there for a couple of seconds back then. He had boasted about the Demon Lords knowing how to bring back one of her friends but she had turned her back on that and ended Piedmon. She could've possibly killed herself when she redirected the bolt that had come at me and instead took it herself. The fact that she refused to fall back then and just kept going told me that she wasn't going to simply give up.
"I killed one! I finally killed her! I killed your beloved friend that you gave your life to save Locke!" I watched as Koichi's whole body began to tremble and he looked from Storm.
Koichi looked so hopeless. I almost feared what I would see since Koichi was staring at something with such a hopeless look. Takuya had landed, his Spirit Evolution had dropped while he looked like he wanted to fall to his knees. Daisuke was beside the unconscious Nori while Tai was trying to get Kari to do something but Kari just sat there motionless and her eyes devoid of light. I felt myself moving to stand up despite the lack of strength that I had.
I couldn't stand seeing that hopeless look on my brother's face. I couldn't stand knowing that Kari was in so much pain that she's seemed to go numb to the world around her. The fault for both rested on Belphemon's shoulders. Belphemon was just laughing and finding all of this funny. My legs shook and threated to drop me and the feeling in my hands went. I looked to them, watching as my D Tector fell towards the ground but cracking the whole way down. No, it didn't even touch the ground before it shattered like glass before disappearing into data without a trace.
"From the beginning, this wasn't a fair fight." Takuya's voice made my fear start to bubble up once more, no it was also because my D Tector shattered and I had no way to fight.
I moved my hands so they were in front of me. I stared at them. I had no way to defend myself. My left hand twitched and I saw a bit of data appear in my hand. I was confused, almost expecting the ring of data that accompanied my Spirit Evolutions to appear since that was what it felt like but the ring didn't appear. The data just lingered there before it sunk into my hand. A pale light blue mark appeared however the mark was of a very familiar symbol.
Why was the Symbol of Light there on my hand?
"This is the end of the line!" My head snapped up, I stared at the fist that was covered in black flames, Belphemon was too strong.
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"Koji." I blinked at the sound of my name – Lobomon having broken me out of the memory that has caused a couple of nightmares, which I haven't told the others about.
"You shouldn't dwell on the past." Lobomon's words grated me.
"How can't I?!" I shouted the words as I curled my hand into a fist once more.
"That day, it won't leave my head. I still remember that battle. I don't know why that one stands out so much more than the others do but it does!" The battle of Belphemon was burned into my memory.
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"It truly is the end of the line." Koichi's words was the last thing needed to break the fragile wall I had holding back my fear.
I hung my head and tried my best to repress the tremors that shook my shoulders but I couldn't. I heard the smallest screech, as if another one of those gates had opened. I opened my eyes when I felt a rush of air.
"Fire Order!" I was stunned by what I saw when I raised my head.
Evan stood there with this hands held out in front of him. A girl with blonde hair stood behind him. She raised one of her hands and placed it on Evan's back. When she did I realized that most of their bodies were made up of flickering shadows. As the seconds ticked by the shadows vanished and was instead replaced by their actual physical form.
"Code Temperance." Despite the girl's frail voice I managed to hear her words since they stood kinda close to me.
What was going on? Where did they come from? Evan was dead. I know he was because there was no way that Storm or Kari had lied when they said that he died. Takuya had even told me that Evan was dead, told me what he had seen when he arrived to check on Kari that day. I saw Evan starting to slide backwards yet even digging his feet into the ground wasn't enough to keep him from moving completely. The flames that Evan had used dispersed as Belphemon's flaming fist broke through. Evan seemed to freeze while the blonde hair girl gasped as she flinched in fear.
"Crimson Blaze." The broken voice resounded.
I turned to look. I stared at Nori. She had reached her hand out towards Evan and the mysterious girl. Flames were fading from around her hand. She had one of her eyes closed and looked like she was on the verge of passing out. Red light was shining through the back of her shirt and I thought back to how she had shards of a Digital Core embedded into her back.
"Dragon Fang." Evan's voice pulled me back to look at the fight.
Evan wielded a sword that he had stabbed Belphemon with yet I looked away. Koichi was staring with wide eyes, a look of disbelief on his face whereas I saw a spark of recognition flash through Kari's eyes. Tai slowly moved from the very protective stance he had taken, he had shielded Kari with his own body. I shivered as goosebumps broke out across my body thanks to the shriek that Belphemon had let out.
I looked in front of me when I heard something hit the ground. Evan was on the ground as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Baalmon stood between Evan and the blonde haired girl. I was actually surprised to see that Belphemon was quickly patting at his arm, golden orange flames had consumed his arm but the flames weren't going out at all.
Evan started to stand up, "Oh this isn't good, I promised I wouldn't use that but it seems like it might be the way to hurt him."
"What are you talking about?" I somehow managed to force the words pass my shock, confusion and surprise.
Evan shifted on his unsteady feet, "Don't worry about that."
"Wait." Baalmon hissed the words out but I wasn't sure if Evan had heard him since Evan had rushed Belphemon after seeming to have melted into pure flames.
Belphemon's one track mind allowed Evan to get close to Belphemon. He raised his sword as flames started to surround it. I wasn't sure if Evan said anything since he was out of my hearing range but he swung his flame covered sword yet his flames turned dark as he swung.
"His powers have been corrupted." The blonde hair girl's words were colored with surprise.
"Why would he corrupt his own powers?" Her question surprised me both because she said he corrupted them on his own and the fact that she just seemed to know that.
The cut that had appeared on Belphemon's chest was enough to draw attention to Evan however Evan managed to escape as flames once more. Belphemon barely made a move towards Evan before he shrieked once more thanks to the flames that lit the cut that Evan had caused. I was surprised though when Belphemon didn't bother with the flames this time and instead leveled a glare at Evan and sent a chain at Evan.
"Get back here Zeal! I should've killed you when I had the chance!" Belphemon caught Evan and held him caged in his hand.
I felt sick to my stomach because the image of Storm being caught and then tossed away like a toy rushed back to my mind. I could still remember the sickening sounds I had somehow heard over everything earlier – even if I shouldn't have been able to hear them. Belphemon's hand though was suddenly engulfed in flames and he wheeled back, releasing Evan who was now hovering in air while Belphemon seemed to actually be in pain from the flames that Evan had let off – the flames still flickered off of Evan's body.
"You never should've made it out of that world!" Belphemon swung at Evan – one hit from Belphemon would probably kill Evan since suddenly he was falling through the sky with nothing without whatever their cards did.
I tried to make my body move even though I knew I couldn't do anything. Knowing that though made my stomach twist and turn because I didn't like the fact that there was nothing that I could. As my left hand throbbed where the Symbol of Light was I found the strength to take a step.
"You're still so weak!" Belphemon laughed as he stopped his fist and instead a chain started to chase after Evan.
"You're not even a good toy!" I felt something strange course through my body – it felt like a Spirit Evolution but different.
I stopped moving though. I felt something stir in the air. Something felt different and the unwelcoming feeling of the Dark Ocean started to vanish as the tiny spark started to grow stronger by the second. The sensation that had felt like the Spirit Evolution had vanished.
"Enough!" I looked back to the blonde hair girl when she screamed the single word out.
Something around her neck let off a bright light. Pale yellow light washed over the area she was in and when it washed over me I knew the source of the welcoming aura that had replaced the previous aura of the Dark Ocean. Who was she and what is she the DigiDestined of?
"You crossed the line Belphemon!" The fear on her face had been replaced by anger.
"Very well, you've found your determination." Baalmon's words surprised me but told me that more than likely he was her partner.
My eyes followed Baalmon as he moved. He had jumped and was sailing through the air and headed to the chain that was going for Evan. When the pale yellow circles of light appeared around Baalmon I looked away. I looked to the girl and found that she held a glowing Digivice in her hand and there was a matching circle but it was revolving around her quickly.
"That symbol, that's the symbol of Gluttony!" Daisuke's words made my blood freeze.
I turned to look to Baalmon. What if he wasn't going for the chain that belonged the Belphemon but Evan? What if the Demon of Gluttony was going to take this chance to kill one of the people who were going to defeat the Demon Lords? My hand throbbed once more and I was about to act on some kind of instinct that called out when Baalmon emerged from the light as none other than Beelzemon.
Beelzemon raised his guns, "Double Impact."
My body ached and that split second stopped me from acting on the odd instincts but it proved to not have been mistake. The attack slammed into Belphemon's chain, whizzing past Evan. The chain that the attack had hit shattered. Beelzemon protected Evan?
"Why was the Demon Lord of Gluttony, Beelzemon, with you?" Daisuke shouted but I continued to stare at the scene.
I watched rooted to my spot as Beelzemon caught Evan. Evan wasn't moving so I had a gut feeling that he was unconscious. Belphemon just seemed to be too surprised to move or react to what had happened. Beelzemon landed on the ground with Evan tucked under his arm.
"A very long story that doesn't need to be told right now, all that needs to be said at the moment is that we're not the enemy but an ally." Beelzemon's words stumped me.
An ally not an enemy?
"There's no going back now Rin." Beelzemon looked to the blonde haired girl, Rin, as he spoke.
"Doesn't matter, there was no going back either way. Either I chose to reveal the secret now and have you save Evan's life or reveal it later and bear the guilt of Evan's death." Rin looked from us and glared at Belphemon.
"Beelzemon, what are you doing here? Lucemon ordered you to hunt down Chrono Aleksander and kill her since she managed to not only kill Lilithmon's sister but Chronomon as well." I was stunned by Belphemon's words.
Was Chrono alright? Even if at the moment I didn't have complete trust of her there was enough that warranted a bit of worry for her life. I watched as Evan hit the ground but he didn't even so much as twitch.
Beelzemon took aim at Belphemon with one of his guns, "I'm not like you senseless beasts, I saw something and I learned something."
The roar that Belphemon let out shook the ground and it was enough to make my already shaky legs drop me. I stared at Belphemon who was lit completely aflame however the golden orange red flames from the wounds that Evan had inflicted marred the black flames that belonged to Belphemon.
"Double Impact." Bullets hit Belphemon and caused damaged yet Belphemon didn't stop the fist that was coming straight for us.
"Void Walk." Hearing Kari's voice sound so dead I turned my head quickly to look to her.
I had looked just in time to see her vanish. The arms that Tai had had wrapped around her fell since they were now empty. I heard some kind of noise leave Rin so I looked to her but as I turned my head I saw Kari. She was in front of Belphemon's fist. I forced myself up in a split second and I was about to rush to her since my throat had constricted and wouldn't let me find my voice. Her mismatched wings spread out behind her but the world seemed to shift around them.
My body stopped on its own as I watched a rift open in front of Kari, the world seemed to have nearly been torn open. Belphemon didn't stop his fist but his fist simply disappeared within the void. I didn't know what to expect but a tear in space appeared in front of Belphemon's face and his fist crashed out of it and caused him to punch himself. Belphemon wheeled backwards which caused his fist to leave the tear in space that Kari had created.
"Kari, you need to control your emotions or you're going to lose control!" Daisuke's voice broke through the tense air.
Kari shifted on her feet, "I'm in control Daisuke, the anger has a slight hand in guiding though since I never learned how to use this."
Kari once again activated the Card. From the change in appearance and the fact that she had just used an attack on her own told me that much. I registered that Beelzemon had moved but he moved faster than my tired eyes could track at the second, he was headed straight for Belphemon.
"Don't over estimate yourself Beelzemon! You went and got tamed so you're nowhere as strong as us who managed to be strong on our own!" I glanced over in time to see Beelzemon take a whip from Belphemon's chain without so much as flinching but Belphemon's words echoed – Beelzemon was 'tamed'?
"The Digivices, if you combine Light and Temperance then you should be able to do something about the Digivices." Nori's words surprised me because I knew what she was getting at but it surprised me.
"Even if Beelzemon is on our side we can't win with just him." Nori's words were sadly true since there was no way that even if he was on our side he could defeat a Demon Lord without getting hurt as well and add on the fact that he had people to protect – he would protect Rin at the least since Rin was more than likely his partner.
"Why the hell should we trust her when she's working with a freaking Demon Lord! Have you lost your mind Nori?!" Daisuke had a point as well.
"Did you forget you've practically hunted everyone here but they still trusted you?!" Nori's words seemed to silence Daisuke.
I was watching Kari though. She just kind of stood there motionless. The wings that she had now thanks to the card had drooped. They didn't seem as full as they had the last time. She still didn't seem to fully be there. Had she moved purely on instinct? Had that all just been a protective reaction? I looked to the battle between Belphemon and Beelzemon.
Belphemon had succeeded in punching Beelzemon. Beelzemon was flung through the air and he barely caught himself from crashing into the ground. How he stayed in the air wasn't something I was going to question. Beelzemon shot at Belphemon but Belphemon batted them away easily and tried to whip Beelzemon. Beelzemon managed to dodge it but a second chain caught him and wrapped him tightly. Belphemon smirked and as the chain started to squeeze Beelzemon tightly – Beelzemon struggled but was able to break out of the hold.
"Digivices aren't supposed to shatter." Rin's words rubbed me the wrong way and I tore my eyes away.
As I did I caught sight of the chain that held Beelzemon spark slightly, something coated it but I didn't look back.
"Well they did." Rin flinched at my biting words.
"Now is not the time to be fighting amongst yourselves!" Beelzemon grabbed Rin as he shouted the words.
A chain crashed through were Rin had previously been. As Beelzemon fired off shots at Belphemon as he held Rin I looked to where Beelzemon had previously been. How had he gotten out of that? I was surprised to see the chain on the ground. The end closest to Belphemon was being eaten away by black flames as if Belphemon had severed it himself whereas the end close to where Beelzemon had been was just vanishing into data which confused me.
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"I never did understand how Beelzemon got out of that chain that day." I looked to Lobomon as I drifted out of that memory.
"You don't know?" Lobomon sounded haughty and it ticked me off.
"What, you know what happened?" I snapped at him but he chuckled.
"I'm surprised you never figured it out really." I narrowed my eyes at him.
Lobomon didn't say anything and just stared back me. He was smirking though. Lobomon had an interesting personality. He reminded me of myself a bit but at the same time he didn't. I gave up on glaring at him after a couple of moments. I looked back the lake. I focused on my reflection and I realized that I didn't wear my bandana for once. I really must've been out of it if I didn't have it on.
"Do you know how Kari and Rin were able to recreate the Digivices that day?" I pulled out my D Tector as I asked it.
I brushed my thumb over the Hazard Symbol that was on the grip. Something was different about this version of the D Tector but I've yet to figure out what was different. It allowed me to go into the other form of Lobomon without feeling like I was clawing at the seams trying to hold it together but I felt like there was so much more that it could do.
"No, I was rather surprised that they managed to recreate them myself." I lent my head back so I could instead stare at the sky.
"Storm clouds." I muttered the words as I watched the dark clouds starting to roll in.
I thought back trying to think about all that I saw that day. I did want to know about how they managed to recreate the Digivices. I could ask Nori when I see her again. She seemed to know about it so she might have the answer that I wanted. I could probably ask Beelzemon about how he got out of that chain that day. I wasn't sure if he would answer me but maybe if I asked Rin and had her ask him then I might get the answer since from what I saw Beelzemon didn't deny Rin anything.
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I watched as the battle continued on in a deadlock. Every attack that Beelzemon landed was matched by one from Belphemon. Beelzemon was managing to keep attention on himself which was good. Beelzemon and Belphemon both stopped moving and they looked to where Nori and Rin were, Kari as well since she had approached them. I turned my head to look but was caught off guard.
Kari and Rin had floated off of the ground, they were floating above a transparent circle that had three rings within. From where I was I couldn't see what the rings contained but I did see the Symbol of Light. Grass even sprouted from the barren ground beneath the ring so whatever that thing was capable of was nothing to sneeze at.
"Stop!" Belphemon's scream made my bones rattle.
The rush of black flames that Belphemon sent at them was mostly stopped by Beelzemon – he had moved in the path of it so most of it crashed into him. Beelzemon flinched and seemed to take a good amount of damage from that. Despite Beelzemon's act there was still some going straight for them. Daisuke through moved and held his arms up and water swirled around his arms.
"Reflection!" The flames crashed into the water but I caught sight of a spark of light within the water.
The black flames were absorbed by the water and swirled around within before it was spat back out and went rushing at Belphemon. The attack did no damage to Belphemon but that was to be expected since it was his own attack after all.
"Stop that forsake ritual right this second!" This time Belphemon put his body behind a punch he aimed at them.
I started to move towards them but Daisuke through held his hands up. A dome of water appeared around him, Kari, and Rin just time to block Belphemon's fist. The shield was starting to give before flames rushed past me and it slammed into Belphemon's fist while bullets tore into Belphemon's arm as well. I glanced back to see that Evan was pushing himself up and off the ground. He was unsteady and swaying on his feet but he didn't seem to back down.
"Are you scared Belphemon?" Evan's taunt was on purpose, an attempt to divert attention to him.
"You should have just died." Evan phased into fire and flung himself across the clearing so he was far from us.
"That forsaken ritual will not be completed!" Belphemon shouted it as he threw another punch and I spun.
Beelzemon managed to knock Belphemon's fist away by some chance while I stared. Above the outermost ring were three D Tectors. They had actually recreated the D Tectors. My breath caught. If they worked then I would be able to fight. I would be able to stop just standing here and actually be able to fight. The fist that Beelzemon had knocked off course slammed into ground and I nearly fell to the ground once again but I caught sight of my D Tector flying towards me.
"I stopped one of the three from being completed so that's good enough!" I caught my D Tector and stared at it.
The differences registered but I gripped it tightly. I could take stock of differences later. Right now there were more pressing things to worry about. All I cared about was that I could fight once again.
"Yeah but you failed and let two be completed!" Takuya shouted the words but I smirked – for once I wholeheartedly agreed with Takuya, he made a mistake.
"Spirit Evolution: Flare!" Takuya began his Spirit Evolution.
My hand merely twitched as the Fractal Code appeared, "Spirit Evolution: Shine."
"You puny humans can't keep those forms for long!" Belphemon sounded so haughty but I just pulled out one of beam swords, I would wipe that smirk off of his face.
"You're wrong about that Belphemon! Those new Digivices, they're meant to handle that kind of power! No longer will the Digivices buckle from holding that form!" Rin's words only made me smirk.
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"The Shine form, did that exist before or was that a new form that was created?" I laid back on the dock that I had been sitting on.
"Shine form? It didn't exist before, that form only exists because it was created when two lights were joined together. You were entrusted with the light of another and that helped fuel the creation of something new. The form that it takes is from you while the special aspects comes from the second light where it was born from." I sat up and looked at Lobomon.
"What? Do you need to have it explained in simpler terms?" He smirked at me.
He started to laugh, "Your light and Kari's light became one and born from that union was an interesting lil' love child of light."
"Shut up!" I fought the blush but from how Lobomon started to howl in laughter only made it worse.
"Aw, are you blushing?" As Lobomon teased me I placed a hand over my mouth and looked away.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on anything but what was said. I bit my lip as my mind wondered to, a place where I wish it hadn't. I opened my eyes and shifted, uncomfortable now.
"Alright, now that that's out of my system will you tell me what's bothering you so badly?" I looked at Lobomon, he looked concerned now that he had calmed down.
"I told you, I don't know. Just, leave it alone will you." Even if I denied knowing why my heart ached.
I didn't bother picking my D Tector up from the dock beside before placing my hand over my heart. Why did my heart ache? It was as if something was clouding my mind. It was as if I couldn't recall the reason why. There was a hazy image and all that I kept getting as I tried to remember why was the image that had the others slowly turning away from me and walking away.
"Have you really forgotten?" Lobomon's words were soft as he stepped off of the island, the water started to shine.
"You locked the memories away and yet your heart remembers." I was confused by Lobomon's words.
"What are you talking about?" I hated the fact that I might've forgotten something – no I would've locked the memories away.
"You're running away from your memories instead of facing them. That's unlike you Koji." I stood up, my hands curled into fists at my sides.
"I'm not running away from anything!" I snapped at Lobomon but Lobomon didn't flinch away.
Lobomon stopped and stood on top of the water and I stared him down. He stared back at me unflinchingly. He didn't flinch under my glare like others did more often than not. Then again what reason would a Digimon have to flinch away from a human?
- "Goodbye." -
My eyes widened and my eyes dropped to the water. What was that? That couldn't have been real. I thought I just heard, I thought I just heard Kari say goodbye. That wasn't real. I shook my head. I have to be imagining things. I'm just imaging the worst things because Lobomon is pressing me about something.
"Koji?" I looked to Lobomon, the look he had made me angry.
I turned around and picked my D Tector up before bolting away. Why was Lobomon looking at me with pity?! I hated it when someone looked at me like that! I didn't want anyone's pity! It was one thing when people close to me helped me but I didn't want someone's pity. I stopped running when my lungs started to burn and when I looked around I found that I had run all the way back to the Forest Terminal.
"Where are you headed?" I looked to the Trailmon that asked the question, it was just chilling on the rails.
"The Real World." I took deep breaths while the Trailmon let out a whistle.
The doors flung open, "All aboard."
I boarded the train and as I stepped onto the train the door swung shut. I was glad that I was greeted with cool air but it didn't sooth the ache that was starting once more in my heart. I shook my head and took a seat as the Trailmon started to move. I lent my head back and watched as the scenery started to blur together.
Why are you fighting it?
I sighed and closed my eyes.
You're going to continue to run away? Doesn't seem like the brave Warrior of Light who faced so much.
I huffed and opened my eyes. I stood up and just started to pace. I couldn't sit still because my mind just kept wondering back to whatever I was 'forgetting'. I didn't want to remember it if it made my heart hurt. I wasn't running away either. I was just, moving on already. Yeah that's it. I was just moving on already. Why should I remember something that would only hurt me? I might as well just put it behind me and just keep marching forwards.
"Why won't things just let me relax?" I stopped pacing and placed my hands on my head.
With my palms over my eyes I dug my fingers into my hair. I was tired and all I wanted was a nap now. Once back to the Real World I would go home. Once home I'll take a nap. It's not like my parents will be there. Father will be at work while mother would be out with her friends. I would get to go home and just be alone.
"That sounds really good right now." Being alone, oh how that sounded wonderful.
If I was alone then I wouldn't have to deal with anyone pressing me to try and figure out what was 'wrong' with me. I wouldn't have to deal with anyone trying to make me remember something that only brings pain. I swayed as the train stopped. I looked out the window and I was surprised to see that I had reached the Real World already. That was the fastest Trailmon ride I've ever had I think.
The door swung open, "Watch your step as you exit."
I got off and not even a moment later the door was shut and the Trailmon was going back down the track. I shoved my hands into my pockets as I approached the elevator. It was empty and there was no one around. I leaned on the wall as I hit the button to go up. The elevator ride was boring and uneventful. When the doors opened I got off and when I got closer to the exit I sighed. Rain poured and not many people were present in the station.
"Great." I took a deep breath and braced myself before running once more.
I didn't want to be out in the rain longer that I had to be. I just wanted to get home and take a nap or maybe find something to occupy myself. Maybe I could watch some TV or play some of the games that I rarely touch. Well I've played them more often since I became friends with Takuya. I stopped under an overhang to get shelter from the rain and to catch my breath.
"Why do I have to live so far from the station?" I had at least two more blocks until I was home.
I almost jumped hearing the ding and the door beside me opening. I felt stupid for the fact that I almost jumped since a glance backwards told me that I had stopped in front of a convenience store. Of course people would be coming in and out. I sighed and with one last deep breath I took off running once more. I would've bought me an umbrella but I was saving my money. I reached the house and shook myself off but I noticed that the light was on in the house.
Trying the door revealed that the door was open. Huh, normally dad and mom were out during the day. The lights was only on if someone was home. The living room if my parents were home. I opened the door and entered the house, slipping my soaked shoes off and peeled off my equally soaked socks. As I walked down the hall I took my jacket off. No one was in the living room so I went to the dining room.
"Dear, we have to do something." I paused before entering their sight when my stepmother spoke.
"We should just let him deal with it. Koji won't like it if we meddle." Why were the talking about me?
"He's always up in his room, staring blankly at that TV or sleeping the day away. That's when he's at home! We don't even know where he goes for hours upon end when he does leave!" I cringed when I heard a chair scrap across the floor.
"Please calm down. If Koji wants to talk about what's going on then he'll talk to us." Father kept calm.
"No he won't!" Mother raised her voice.
"He won't even speak to us! I understood why when we suddenly got married and I expected he wouldn't accept me as his mother for a while. He did and we talked but now, it's like we took a hundred steps back. Not only that he won't even talk to you!" She was flipping out.
"He's dealing with things, Koji's always been like this when people leave him. Before it was that childhood friend of his and it lasted a couple of days. This time it's his best friend and the girl he liked. Of course he's gonna shut down." What was father talking about?
"His twin left as well, it's going to take a while for him to process everything." What did father mean by that?
It felt like my heart dropped into my stomach when that image appeared in my head again. The way that the others turned their back on me and vanished, it all had a different meaning now. I dropped my jacket and it made a wet thud when it hit the ground. I heard footsteps approach where I was.
"Koji?" My stepmother called name softly.
"You're soaked!" She went to touch me but I flinched away.
"Are you ok?" She sounded worried.
"Koji?" She stepped towards me.
When I felt my eyes sting I just bolted up the stairs. I heard both my stepmother and my father call my name out. I flew up the stairs and ran to my room. Footsteps echoed after my own but I didn't stop. Once I was in my room I closed it and locked my door. I stood there numbly for a couple of moments before I dropped to my knees.
"They're gone?" I whispered the words, confused.
They couldn't be gone. Where had they gone?
[insert page break]
I watched as every just relaxed. Everything was all said and done. There was finally some kind of peace. I smiled as I reached over and grabbed Kari's hand. She looked up from the pictures she had been going through – she had grabbed a camera since everything settled down. We were all in a clearing, Kari and I were on the outside of it while there was a lake off to the side which was where Daisuke and Nori were. Takuya, Chrono, Evan and Rin were sitting by a spread of food that ranged from just simple fruits to whole dishes. I looked to Koichi only to find that he was fast asleep with his head in Storm's lap while Storm had fallen asleep lent against the tree.
"I can't believe we actually defeated them." I still couldn't believe it and it's been a week.
Kari squeezed my hand tighter, "Well we did and now we can finally relax some."
"Hey, come over here!" Nori called the words out.
I looked over to her when she squealed. Daisuke had thrown her into the lake. Kari giggled as she stood up but she didn't break our hands. I stood up when she pulled on my hand. We walked over and I started to swing our hands. By the time everyone had come over, including Koichi and Storm, Nori was out of the lake.
Nori snickered, "That backfired on you."
Nori pulled Daisuke's jacket tighter around her. Daisuke had practically shoved his jacket at her once she got out since the white shirt she wore was now completely see through.
"Why'd you interrupt my nap?" Koichi was joking but he did still seem half asleep – he's been having nightmares lately if he was telling me the truth earlier.
Daisuke shifted and shoved his hands into his pants pockets, "Nori and I are going to go back home."
"What?" Kari was the only one who managed to say anything.
Nori gave a small smile, "We never knew how to say it because we didn't want to make things sad after everything we've been through."
"That doesn't explain why you're just leaving without any kind of warning!" Rin stepped forwards but Nori only smiled before stepping forwards and hugging Rin.
"If it had been up to Daisuke we would've just vanished without a word but I wanted to at least tell you guys where we were going." Nori released Rin and stepped back after speaking.
Daisuke looked away from us and started to rub the back his neck, "It's not like you guys ever really accepted me so I didn't see why we needed a touchy feely goodbye."
Kari walked to Daisuke, "You're wrong, we're all friends now Daisuke. You long proved yourself to be one of us."
Kari hugged Daisuke which surprised him. Daisuke hesitated but he hugged her back. The hug lasted a couple of seconds. They broke apart and there were no words. I didn't know what to say and everyone seemed to be at a lost as to what to say.
"Alright, before you go, I want you to know that I don't hate you anymore and for everything that happened in the past – that's where it is, it's all in the past so it doesn't matter anymore. If you ever need anything just ask." Storm's words made Daisuke laugh but I saw the hand that had dropped to behind his back make motions.
His card appeared in his hand before he dropped it. The water that it touched didn't even ripple. I watched as the water shifted to something else. I knew what it was though. It was a Digital Gate. It was like the ones I've seen throughout the times we changed worlds.
Daisuke grabbed Nori's arm, "Goodbye."
After their words in unison they both just took a step back into the lake. They fell straight through the gate. The gate closed mere seconds after they fell through it.
[insert page break]
"Daisuke and Nori were the first to leave. That one didn't hurt as much since we weren't as close." I muttered the words.
I tried to place the wall back up. I didn't want to remember. I don't want to go back to the times when the group of friends I had finally made just vanished.
[insert page break]
I crossed my arms as I looked at the two of them. They sat in the living room planning. They were talking about how they were planning to leave. I sighed and shook my head.
"If you're going to just vanish Evan, say goodbye to my brother at least." I stepped around the corner as I spoke.
Evan and Rin jumped. I hadn't exactly thought that Evan would leave without Storm. Storm knew that Evan was leaving apparently though and it was something that they had decided on. Storm wanted to stay with Koichi while Rin had to go back home to her cousin and uncle but Evan didn't want to part from Rin just yet.
Evan stood up, "I can't say goodbye to him Koji. He's the longest time friend that I've had."
"It's not goodbye for them anyways." Rin gave a small smile to me.
"So you're planning on coming back?" I didn't like the fact that one of Koichi's best friends were just going to up and disappear.
"Well, probably. I don't know in truth." I opened my mouth but I stopped.
Rin let out a squeal as she vanished and Evan nearly completely vanished within a second. He gave a sad smile to me.
"Tell Koichi bye for me, k Koji?" He vanished after those words.
I didn't know what to say or do. He just vanished. He thinks I can just walk up to my brother and tell him that his friend decided to ditch him and wanted me to say goodbye instead of saying it to his face. I jumped when someone touched me. I looked over my shoulder and I found Koichi. Koichi had his head rested between my shoulder blades. Since everyone was gone out of the house for a couple of days I had invited the others over – my parents didn't mind since they thought it was nice that I finally had friends that I was inviting over.
"Koichi." I turned around.
I didn't know how to handle the situation, especially when Koichi raised his head and looked at me. Tears had gathered and that told me he had heard the whole thing. I didn't know how to handle crying people, especially not my brother.
"I'm ok." He wasn't ok.
I did the only thing that I could think of. I reached out and brought him into a hug. After a couple of moments he wrapped his arms around me and just held me. I didn't know everything that he went through when he was younger. I knew that Evan and Storm were big parts of his childhood so I didn't know how badly this hurt him.
[insert page break]
"It hurt worse seeing Koichi break down than seeing Evan and Rin leave. I knew Rin would leave at some point because she still had her family." Seeing Koichi that hurt left me feeling wounded myself.
My door rattled as someone tried to open my door. My eyes burned because the image of Koichi just breaking down wouldn't leave me. Another breakdown of Koichi assaulted my mind and I tried to push it away. I didn't want to remember! I don't want to remember it at all!
[insert page break]
"Why did you call me out here so suddenly?" I sat down on the swing beside Koichi.
Koichi didn't say anything in response, he just swung back and forth lightly. I stared at him but when I got the idea he wasn't going to talk I looked around the park. The sun was setting and it reminded me of years ago when I didn't know that Koichi was my twin and we had met each other here. We had played together and I only remembered that old memory recently.
"Did you know the first time we met was here in this park Koji?" I looked back to Koichi.
I smiled, "Yeah. I'm surprised you remember that."
He laughed slightly as he stopped himself. He hung his head and just stared at the ground. My smile started to die and I was worried. Was he still hurt over the fact that Evan left? That Storm made the announcement that she was going to leave soon? Storm was planning to leave and go back home because she had to go back and clean up the mess that the Demon Lords had caused. Evan refused to go back and take care of their DigiDestined Duties so it fell to her to go back and take care of it all.
"Once I found out that you were my brother, it came back. All I could remember for the longest time was that moment. We had been so close. If only we had known. I wonder how much would've changed." Koichi tightened his grip on the chain that belonged to the swing.
"Do you think I would've ever met Evan and Storm?" I looked away from him.
"I don't know, you never told me how you met them." I really didn't know how he met them.
He gave a laugh that sounded a bit watery, "I never told you that?"
I looked to him, worried. Something was wrong and I was really starting to worry. He had stayed home earlier because something was wrong with our mother. I hadn't thought that I would hear from him today. He had called out the of blue and asked if I could meet him here.
"It was when we were in school, before we met Kari actually. I was the odd kid out and I didn't have any friends. I was dealing with everything that was happening with our grandmother and how mother was working herself too hard to pay for everything. They transferred in and so many people just whispered about them and wouldn't approach them let alone talk to them." He raised his head and looked at me, tears streaked down his face.
"I knew what it was like to be alone so I approached them and didn't leave them alone until we were friends. No one would approach me or talk to me either so I thought they would be the perfect friends for me. After we became friends, nothing broke us apart." I looked away from him because I couldn't keep watching him cry, it made my heart hurt and I wasn't one for that kind of pain usually.
"Whenever they left they would come back at least four days later and at most a month. They were always there for me, through everything they were there. Until shortly before the Digital World Adventure we had they were the only friends I had. Once I met the others and I became friends with them I didn't think much about them when they were gone. I knew they would always come back." I looked at Koichi when he grabbed the hand that I had just let hang between us.
"This time though, I don't know if they will. Well, that's half true. I don't know if Evan will ever come back but I know Storm won't. Storm told me that. Storm won't be able to leave her world once she goes back. Gallantmon and Leopardmon aren't there anymore so there is nothing there able to hold back the evil from attacking. The forces of evil had never acted out in fear of Gallantmon and Leopardmon but since the two of them have reverted back to Digital Eggs there is no one there fighting." I squeezed Koichi's hand since I was at a lost as to what to do.
"Storm has to go back and be the DigiDestined who keeps the evil back. She has to become the pillar of support for her Digital World before they adjust to fighting and a Digital Ruler takes over or a group of DigiDestineds are chosen and even then she would have to stay back and monitor them." Koichi released my hand and stood up.
He moved so he stood in front of me, "Koji, can you forgive me?"
"What are you talking about?" I was confused.
"I talked to Cherubimon since he's the only Digital Ruler we have at the moment. He already told me that I could." Koichi stared me down even though tears were still falling.
I stood up, "What are you getting at Koichi?"
"I'm going to leave and go to Storm's world. I know that it is a stupid and selfish thing to do. I know that chasing after one person and leaving behind everyone and everything I know is stupid but I can't." Koichi's words were rushed but it hit me like a ton of bricks.
"What?" Did I hear what I think I heard?
"I'm going with Storm when she leaves." Koichi's voice shook and he stared at me, afraid.
"You're leaving?" I barely got the words out of my mouth.
Koichi looked away from me, "Yes."
"Leave then." Koichi's head snapped back to me.
"If you're going to leave, then leave already!" I snapped and my hands curled into fists.
"Go ahead and abandoned everyone you knew! Go chase after some broken girl who at most you're a childhood friend to! Who the hell cares about the family you're leaving being?! Who the hell cares that you're leaving!" The words poured out even though I didn't mean them.
"I sure as hell don't! I lived without you before and I can live without you again! This is one less awkward relationship I have to try and maintain!" I wanted to take the words back as soon as I said them.
Koichi backed away from me. He stared at me with wide eyes. The tears that had stopped were back. I watched as he broke down in front of me once again. This time though it was because of me. He sunk to his knees and I wanted to go to him. I wanted to apologize and tell him that I didn't mean any of it. Despite what I wanted to do I found myself turning around walking away.
"The place we first met is a fitting place for our final goodbye." The words tasted like poison and my heart had dropped farther than my stomach at this point.
"Koji, please, don't do this." I stopped when Koichi's pained words reached my ears.
I looked over my shoulder, "You made this choice. Reap what you sow, you want to leave, go ahead and leave."
[insert page break]
I placed my head in my hands as my shoulders shook and I lost it. The tears started to fall uncontrollably. I had never even seen Koichi and Storm off. I'm not even sure what happen after that day. Koichi never called or texted me. I only knew he left with Storm when Kari told me. Kari had been surprised that I hadn't gone to the Digital World to see them off. When I told her that I hadn't even know that they were leaving that day she was surprised.
"Koji, let us in please." My stepmother begged.
"You shouldn't lock yourself away." Father spoke and the door rattled again, he was the one trying to open the door.
"Go away." I whispered the words.
"Leave me alone like everyone else has." Losing two more people wouldn't hurt much would it?
[insert page break]
I let my feet carry me down the street. My head was fogged and I felt numb. I needed a pick-me-up. Hanging out with Kari or even Takuya would do the trick. I knew it would. Kari would do her best to cheer me up whereas Takuya would probably just sit down and play video games with me while we ate way too much junk food.
"What brings you here today Koji?" I paused and looked up when Takuya's mother addressed me, she stood by the mailbox.
"I was coming by to see if Kari or Takuya was in." I would've called or texted them but my phone was missing.
Takuya's mother looked away, "Oh about them."
My blood froze and I feared the worst. They wouldn't have just disappeared without telling me like Koichi had would they? No, they knew how bad that tore me apart. They wouldn't dare just disappear would they? Would they?
"What about them?" I barely got the question out past the lump in my throat.
"Takuya and Kari went to the train station, something about Chrono had to go home. Hiro gave Takuya permission to go and visit Chrono's hometown for a while. Kari said it was about time that she went back since she was growing homesick." They really were just going to leave.
"How long ago did they leave?" Would I be able to reach the train station and into the Digital World before they left?
"About five minutes ago, you." I didn't give her time to finish before I took off running.
I wouldn't let them vanish like Koichi did. I didn't want to be left alone again. Normally I would be able to deal with this but with how Koichi left I couldn't. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the only two people that I've come to be as close to as I could with how closed off I usually am. They couldn't leave! Even when my lungs started to burn I didn't let myself stop. I reached the train station but I didn't see them, they must've already gone down.
I ran to the elevator and I waited for what seemed like forever. Once in I hit the button to close the doors and down button. The elevator wasn't moving fast enough. By the time the elevator had reached the button a Trailmon was pulling out of the station and was chugging away.
"Where is that Trailmon going?" I asked the other two Trailmon that were present.
"That's headed to the Forest Terminal. If you need to get there I can take you there." I looked the Trailmon to my left.
I walked to it, "You can?"
The doors swung open, "All aboard if you're coming aboard."
I got onto the Trailmon but I didn't bother with taking a seat. I barely swayed as the Trailmon took off. I passed the travel time with pacing back and forth up the length of the car. They wouldn't leave before I managed to get there right? Would I have a chance to say something to them? I would be able to get some kind of explanation for them deciding to just leave without saying anything right? I had told them that my phone was missing so if they needed to get in contact with me they should call the house or Takuya could use our D Tectors.
"Hold on we're going over some bumps!" I grabbed onto a railing just in time to save myself from going face first into the floor.
It seemed like hours later we were pulling into the station. I saw Takuya, Chrono and Kari standing on the platform. Takuya had a bag slung over his shoulder, he really did look like he was leaving. Chrono and Kari had a bag as well. They really had planned on leaving without saying anything. They all looked surprised as the Trailmon pulled into the station. The doors swung open and I hopped off.
"Koji!" Takuya exclaimed my name in surprise.
"What are you doing here?" Kari slowly approached me.
I glared at them, "I feel like I'm the one who should be asking that."
Chrono gave a nervous laugh, "What do you mean by that?"
I curled my hands into fists, "I was going to drop by and hang out with Kari or Takuya. I get there and Takuya's mother tell me that you guys went to the train station. Told me that Chrono was going home and Takuya had permission to go and visit for a while and Kari decided to go home."
I felt so betrayed.
"You weren't supposed to find out." Takuya's words stung.
"You guys weren't going to tell me? You three were just going to up and disappear without saying a word to me?" It tore me up when Koichi did that.
"You need time to heal after what Koichi did." Kari's words, they made me laugh.
"I need time to heal after what Koichi did. You guys think that giving me time to heal is a good idea but by doing that you guys wouldn't tell me that you guys were planning to leave let alone when you guys were going which is exactly what Koichi did to me." They were doing the exact same thing to me.
"I get why Chrono and Kari are leaving but why are you leaving Takuya?" I looked at him.
Takuya flinched and looked away from me, "I want to go on an adventure after everything that happened. I can't sit still now that we've relaxed for nearly a month. I'm coming back in a year, maybe sooner than that but possibly longer than that as well."
I looked to Kari, "Were you planning on coming back?"
Kari stared at me but then she looked to the ground. That action was all that I needed for an answer. It was an answer that broke my heart. I felt worse than betrayed. I was and wasn't surprised when I felt tears starting to fall. I was surprised because this was the first time I've cried in front of others while I wasn't surprised because it fit for this situation.
"After everything you're just going to leave without a word. You weren't even going to give me a chance to say goodbye. After I confessed and even asked you out, which you agreed to, you were just going to leave with no plan to come back. You were just going to vanish never to be seen by me ever again?" I didn't care that they were seeing me cry or the fact of how broken I sounded in that moment.
"Koji." I shook my head at Kari's call of my name.
"Save it. You have my heart, no matter how broken it is." I turned away from them and stepped back onto the train.
"Um, I take it you want to go back?" The Trailmon sounded confused but who wouldn't be in this situation.
"No, he doesn't want to go back! Koji come on, don't do this!" I looked behind, Kari stood in the doorway now.
"This isn't how we're going to say goodbye. Besides, I didn't plan on visits because I'm not sure if I'll be able to come back. Unlike this world, my world is so shut off that it doesn't even know how to communicate with the outside so opening a portal is out of the question! I thought maybe I could stay but I can't just leave everyone that I know and loved behind!" I looked away from her.
"You're right. I'm sorry, of course you want your family and friends back." I closed my eyes.
"Sorry for being selfish. Go on, go back to your family. I'm sure they miss you a whole lot since you've been gone for a while." I curled my hands into fists.
"Koji, I'm sorry." I shook my head.
"I have to go back now. Ophanimon was the one who knew how to open gates and she's not here anymore so once Chrono's gone there's no one else who knows how to open the gates so, I have to leave now with Chrono. I can't ask Chrono to put off going back home." I bit my lip.
"I understand, you don't have to explain it to me." It hurts so fucking bad.
"Are you sure?" I nodded.
"Yeah just, let the initial shock wear off and then I'll be fine." That's a lie.
"I need to go back, my father and stepmother are probably wondering where I went since dinner should be done. I told them I was going to Takuya's house if they needed me, they're probably starting to worry since I ran off without telling Takuya's mom where I was going." I couldn't continue to stand here anymore.
I stiffened when Kari wrapped her arms around. I turned around slowly and despite the mix of pain, heartbreak, and anger there was still love. I hugged her back and when she pulled back I did my best to smile for her. She seemed to hesitate but she kissed me. It last only seconds before she stepped back and fled from the train. The door swung shut afterwards and the Trailmon started to go back. I was glad that it moved because my legs dropped me.
[insert page break]
There were all gone. I remember why I had gone to the Digital World now. I knew how I ended up at that temple thing. I had sought out the only refuge that I had. I sought out the only place I could see someone that I knew. Zoe and her family had moved back to Italy after Zoe returned home, to the world she had been kidnapped. Tommy had moved at least five towns away while J.P.'s family had decided to go on vacation while they decided if they were going to move or not.
"Koji." My stepmother breathed out my name as my door swung open – my father must've lock picked the door.
I was brought into a hug by my stepmother. I didn't move at first but I couldn't. I squirmed until I got out of her arms. I stood up. Both of them were staring at me then again this was the first time since I was young that I cried in front of my father and this might be the first time my stepmother has seen me cry.
"I'm going to take a nap." I turned and just stumbled to my bed.
"You should at least change from your wet clothes so you don't catch a cold." My father sounded all hesitant.
I laughed, "If I did catch a cold at least then I would have a reason to stay home from school where all I get are questions of 'where did Takuya go' and 'where did Kari go'."
I collapsed onto my bed before curling into a ball. I stared at my bed for a while and no one said anything. I heard my door close after a few moments and my stepmother protest from behind it but father led her away. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
I was greeted with pure darkness. The only light that was present in the void of darkness was the pale blue light that was emitted from myself.
This is the end.
Also just to clarify the parts like 'this is the end' Koji does not hear at all. That's why he didn't react to them.