~Cifra~
Chapter Nine
-o-
Disclaimer: This story is purely fanfiction. Digimon and all its characters does not belong to me in anyway.
Warning: This story contains mature content and sexual themes. Please do NOT read unless you are 18 years or older.
Thank you so much for sticking around, for continuing to read and review my story. I appreciate your comments and input, I take all of it very seriously and feel very honored you take the time to let me know what you think. This chapter is dedicated to you.
-o-
Kyo and I didn't talk to each other the rest of that night, and he didn't even try to cipher energy from me before bed. He stayed under the bed, as if he couldn't look at me in the face, and I didn't try to make him.
The next morning, I fell into my normal routine like it was the only thing I knew how to do. I made breakfast, showered, and dressed for work. When I stopped by the door and turned to see if he was coming with me, he sat there on the ground looking up at me without expression. We just started at each other, afraid to speak, and then I beckoned to him. He hopped onto my shoulder as I exited my apartment and walked to the store. I got lunch at the convenient store on my way to the bus, and entered my building like it was any other day.
But it was not any other day. We could both feel it, and I was too afraid to talk about it. Because he was right. I wanted Rika, and now I wanted him. But that wasn't fair to any of us.
The thing that hurt the most, though, was when I thought about him leaving for good. It made my heart feel like it was being squeezed into a pulp by an icy invisible hand.
As I walked toward the elevator and wondered just how I was supposed to feel, the doors slid open as though it was waiting for me, and I hesitated before walking into it. There, leaning against the wall at the back of the chamber, was Rika. Waiting for me.
"Rika," I blurted, my eyes widening when I saw her there. She's actually standing right in front of me. Has she been waiting for me to get here all this time?
Quickly looking to the right and the left, she grabbed me by my tie and yanked me into the elevator. The doors closed, and she pressed the button that led to the basement.
"What's going on?" I asked. My brain tried to piece things together, but I couldn't even figure out if I was happy or miserable.
"Not yet," she hissed. Glaring at me silently as the elevator when down, she kept a hold of my tie until the doors opened once more. Then she pulled me out after her. We walked briskly down the hallways, further and further, until finally we reached a locked storage room in the very back. I could tell by the dust that no one came by here. Ever. "Inside," she commanded. She pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and shoved me inside.
I turned to look at her. She seemed different than before. Her face was tired, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Even her arms and legs were trembling with acute exhaustion, as though she could barely keep standing. Concern gripping me, I reach out and took her arms with my hands. "Rika," I said. My voice was full of authority. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not!" she snapped. Swaying on her feet, she closed her eyes and swore at her own weakness. Now that was the Rika I knew. "Listen, I need to know something," she said, opening her eyes and looking at me squarely. "Were you two telling the truth? About killing the Erus?"
Kyo had been silent this whole time, clinging to my shoulder and watching without expression. At her question, he lifted his head and looked at her. I was, he said firmly. Erus cannot die, though. I can only kill his body, and make him too weak to take form. After that, according to the rules, he should never be allowed to touch you again.
"Do you know how strong he is?" She insisted, glaring at Kyo darkly. "Did you know that he has seventeen people as his slaves? He spends all day and all night ciphering energy from us at different times. As long as we come to him at our time, he doesn't hurt us. But…" she cursed, shoving my hands away, and began to pace around the room. Dust hung in the air, kicked up by her feet. "But he's jealous. Possessive. Sinister. He knows that I'm in love with someone, and he uses that to make me obey him."
"Does he torture you?" I demanded.
"No," she sighed, and a shadow seemed to fall over her face. "Not... unless I don't show up. I did that once. Now… I'm smart enough to play it safe and do what he says."
Some Erus have become too greedy, Kyo nodded. They disregard our rules, our way of life, and seek to gorge themselves on power as though nothing else matters. Once, that would never have happened. I don't understand what has caused them to stray like this.
"Power always corrupts," Rika stated simply. "Unless power is tempered by love and compassion, it always, always corrupts. Everyone knows that."
Erus don't know that. Until we came to this world, we didn't even know what love was. We each had our Cifra, and we stayed with them until they died. Sometimes we fought each other, but that was because we are territorial, and desired to be stronger than each other. Here, nothing is in balance. There are billions more Cifras than Erus, more than we could possibly control, unless we become much stronger than we've ever been before. It is… Kyo's voice trailed off, and he looked away as though disturbed. It is troubling, he finally finished.
Rika stared at him, blinking. A minute later, she stepped toward me, and reached a hand out toward him. Like he was a real cat, she extended her hand for him to smell, as if to show him she meant no harm.
He sniffed it, looking confused.
"You know," she said quietly, tentatively scratching his head with her hand. "For so long, Takato has been so unhappy." She glanced at me, pain in her eyes. "It killed me to stay away from him, but I didn't know any other way…" she hesitated. "I didn't know any other way to protect you."
"I know that now," I whispered, clasping my fingers through the hand that hung by her side.
She smiled, faintly. "He was so broken, so lifeless, that I thought he would never be happy again," she continued, looking back at Kyo with tears in her eyes. "But then, one day, he found you."
Kyo said nothing. I could tell that he enjoyed being scratched on the head, but all he did was watch her, and listen.
"You brought him back to life. I want to thank you for that."
Rika, Kyo said softly. Please understand. Erus are not evil at heart. We need Cifras. For me, I am lucky to have found someone as kind as Takato. But you are the one that he loves.
"I know." She smiled at me. "I love you too, Takato. I really, really, love you. That's why…" she laughed, pulling away from me and collapsing to her knees on the floor. "That's why I'm going to just trust you. I learned long ago that whatever you want to do, somehow you find a way to do it, even if it's impossible. I don't know why I forgot that. I guess, I was just afraid."
"Rika, I don't know what to say right now," I groaned, sitting down beside her. Kyo jumped off my shoulder, landing on the ground between us, and sat there watching us. His face was contemplative. "It's really hard to say this, and I don't even know how. But you know that I need to be honest…"
Takato, what are you doing? Kyo glared at me. He kept his words private, so that only I could hear them. I've already chosen for you. You don't need to say anything.
"Look Takato," Rika snapped, glaring at me and pinching my face with her fingers. It hurt, and caught me off guard. "If you're going to apologize to me because you did it with your Erus, you can stop right now."
I stared at her, my mouth falling open in shock. Suddenly, I felt my face flush bright red, even to my ears, and I tried to sputter out some kind of coherent sentence. What came out was complete gibberish.
She giggled, letting go of my cheek. "You're still the same," she teased. Suddenly, she placed her hand on Kyo's head and rubbed it harshly, as thought she couldn't decide whether she was angry or affectionate. "Do you really think that I didn't know something like that would happen?" she scoffed. "I've been dealing with an Erus for over a year. For you, it's been a couple weeks."
"That doesn't mean…wait…what are you saying?" I stammered, trying to get my heart to stop racing like crazy. Why is it so hot in here all of a sudden? Good grief, I'm so embarrassed I want to die!
"It's inevitable. Erus all seem to figure out that sex makes more energy than a regular cipher," Rika rolled her eyes. She could always talk about it so blatantly! I'd forgotten that. "Why do you think I was so angry to hear you had one? I'm jealous and possessive, Takato, but I love you. and I'm the one who broke up with you, so stop acting like you were cheating on me or something. Still..." her confidence faltered a little, and she looked down as though she wanted to cry. "It's you. You wouldn't even consider having sex with someone unless you cared for them. Because that's just how you are. You stupid goggle-head."
I reached up and caressed her cheek with my hand. "I told you this before, Rika," I smiled faintly. "I love you. And I will always, always be honest with you. I value you too much to let anything get between the trust we share. That is... if you can still trust me like you used to."
"I do trust you, Takato. That's why I'm here." she looked up, gazing fiercely into my eyes. "If you love him, then I trust him too. Because it's you."
Kyo looked back and forth between us, ears tilting with uncertainty. He scowled. Okay I'm lost, he sulked. What is happening here?
"Don't you be an idiot too," Rika snapped at him, though her tone was not harsh. She tried to laugh, but it came out more like a sob. "Don't you even get it? You came out of nowhere, you were there for him when he was alone, when I abandoned him. You came when he needed someone most, and you fixed his broken heart. What did you think was going to happen?"
That's not…I'm not…
I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe. She was speaking the words I didn't have the strength to say, and laying my soul bare for both of them to look at and judge. I loved her. I loved Kyo too, though it wasn't the same. It was a new sort of love, nothing like the deep connection I had with Rika, but it was precious all the same, and I couldn't bear to lose it. How had she always been able to see through me so easily? "Rika, what are you saying?" I whispered. More importantly, what are you trying to do?
"I'm saying I know you, Takato. I know who I fell in love with. Do you think I could forget?" She grabbed my face, suddenly kissing me with a rush of passion. I became lost in it, like a massive wave of the ocean had swept me under and was dragging me down to the ocean floor. When she finally released me, I could tell by our breathing that we were both incredibly turned on. "I know that you love me, Takato. You always will. And I will always love you. But at some point, your heart decided to move on. Didn't it?"
Don't decide things like this like I'm not here! Kyo growled. What is wrong with you two? Are all humans like this? Aren't you in love? Hello? I am an Erus!
"I can't just let you go," I whispered, staring into her face. "I need you. I am going to save you."
"I know," she smirked. "I can't just let you go either."
"So what do we do?" I sighed. "This kind of puts us in an awkward position."
Very, very awkward!
We ignored him, and I found myself grinning at the distress it caused him. Rika followed suit, grinning right back at me. "Well we could always make a third option," Rika shrugged. Her fingers curled around my hair, and she leaned forward so that our foreheads touched. It had been so long since we were this close…
"What third option?" I whispered. Being this close to her, breathing her scent and holding her in my arms, it was like the pull of a thousand magnets. I was helpless to pull away, even if I had wanted to. But of course, that was the last thing that I wanted. Be careful, Rika. If you turn me on any more than this, you know what will happen.
"Option 3 is best option. You majestically save me, carry me home in your arms, and then we can keep your Erus for ourselves," she suggested, her grin widening as she recognized the lust-filled look in my eyes. One of her hands slide down to touch my chest, stopping right above my heart. Her eyes grew excited when she felt its frantic beat.
"His name is Kyo," I corrected sternly. "And he's very important to me."
"I know," she whispered.
Kyo grew agitated. He paced back and forth, watching the two of us without comprehension. Even so, the energy my body was creating seeped out of me and flowed into him like an invisible ray of light, as though he couldn't help ciphering it. It was kind of cute.
"So what should I do?" I asked.
"Here's how I see it," she replied, her voice matter of fact. Kissing me once on the mouth, she slowly moved her hand so that it reached the first button of my work shirt. "You're in love with me…"
"Yes," I said, kissing her again.
"And you're in love with Kyo."
I hesitated, blushing. "Y-yes…"
"And he's in love with you."
What is wrong with you! I am an Erus!
"Oooo... He loves you a lot, and he doesn't seem to understand it very well. That's why he's trying to save me. Because it means so much to you." She turned and glared at him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "What did you intend to do after you rescued me, huh? Run away and leave the two of us to our happily ever after? Do you want to break Takato's heart again?"
Kyo's eyes widened, and he stared down at the ground with his whole body trembling. I don't…I don't understand any of this. None of this is normal. Erus aren't…. we don't fall in love. I can't…
"Rika, what are you trying to do here?" I asked. I was seriously turned on right now, and having her this close to me without doing anything was making me lose control. I pushed her onto her back and pinned her down, my heart beating a pounding rhythm that screamed Rika, Rika, Rika over and over. "You're complicating things," I said, my hand trailing from her cheek down her neck. I missed her so much...
"I'm not," she insisted, shivering at my touch. "I'm fixing things."
"Fixing things, or making them harder?"
"Why does he have to leave? Why can't he just stay with us?" she blurted, reaching up and grasping my shirt with both hands as though she wanted nothing more than to tear it off of my body. "I'm more perceptive than most people. I can tell he loves you as much as I do, and you love him too. Yeah, he's a freakin alien. But that's what makes it okay, right?" At this comment, her eyes lit up with excitement and hunger, and she finally ripped my shirt open with her hands to feel my chest. "What do you say, Takato? I've always wanted a cat. Can we keep him?"
Kyo's mouth dropped open the same time mine did.
"Besides, he needs us. What will he do without us?" Rika breathed. She pulled me close and captured my mouth with hers. Our tongues battled for dominance inside each other's mouths. And with a surge of excitement, I remembered suddenly what sex with Rika was like.
Oh yeah. She's… she's a…
There wasn't much coherent thought in my mind after that. Somehow our clothes were a disheveled mess, covered in dust and sweat and more. It was a battle to see who could stay on top, who could make the other give in first, and who could keep from climaxing first. Our kisses were equal parts desperate and harsh, covering each other's bodies with kisses and tasting skin we hadn't tasted for ages. One position was never enough, as soon as one of us would start to get close, we would change what we were doing, focus on a new part of our bodies, trying to make it last.
She liked it when I thrust into her hard, and hated it when I took my time being too soft. So of course, I always did a little of both. Despite her complaints, she always melted when I touched her softly, whispering things about how beautiful she looked with her skin red and glowing with sweat and lust, while slamming hard and fast into her vagina. Likewise, I found myself melting when she would tease my weak spots, whisper dirty and commanding things into my ear about what she was going to do with me. She had a power over me, to bring out my passion, like no one else could.
But it would never stop there. Rika was something of a sadist. Many times in over the years she had actually hurt me, before we learned how to communicate better about what was too much. Now she tried harder to stick to digging her fingernails into my back, twisting my nipples roughly, and biting my skin. More than that, she had always been extremely kinky, wanting to try anything and everything to liven up our sex life.
The fact that Kyo was right there, watching us without even moving like he was too shocked to understand what was going on, made her twice if not three times as excited.
How had I forgotten this? Didn't I remember how many times in college she would seduce me into a closet or corner in some public place and get us to do it? She'd say things like 'Wouldn't it be exciting if someone found us?' or taunt me by saying 'Better keep quiet, someone will hear you.'
Rika, the girl of my dreams.
Rika, the insane freak in bed.
Rika…
Ah, I failed this time, I realized. I was on my back, looking up at her face as she straddled me, realizing that I had come first. A lopsided smile found its way onto my face, even as exhaustion slammed into my body. "You…you're insane," I mumbled.
She climaxed just by looking at my face, and fell on top of me with a strangled laugh. "Ha…ha….Takato…." she breathed, giggling. "Did you see…Kyo's…face? He's so…haha…. So innocent…."
Her words made me suddenly jealous. My smile turned into a glare, and I quickly turned my head to see Kyo cowering in a corner, staring at us in disbelief. His entire body was glowing with so much light, it was like he couldn't keep it in.
"Hee, hee!" Rika giggled in my ear. "Look at how jealous you are! What, do you think I'm going to try and steal your precious Kyo from you?" She turned her head, fixing the cat with a sneaky smirk. "You'll just have to share," she said calmly. "He's mine now too, right?"
"Rika," I gritted my teeth. "You're making me annoyed."
"You get horny when you're pissed," she whispered. "Don't you?"
Please stop, Kyo cringed, shrinking down as more light poured into him. I can't handle this…
"Kyo, are you alright?" I asked, alarmed. I sat up, grateful when Rika pulled herself off of me and sat next to me. She continued to smirk at us, her skin practically glowing with satisfaction.
"It's fine," she cooed in my ear. "He's just not used to getting so much power like that. Isn't that right, Kyo?" She asked, turning to fix him with her violet eyes.
Kyo glared at her cautiously from his corner.
"I'll bet you thought it couldn't get any better than when you did it with Takato for the first time, right?" she yawned. "I mean, there's nothing quite like the human body, is there?"
I don't know what you're getting at, Kyo sulked.
"Don't you?"
I looked at her, feeling sadness suddenly come back to me. If she's saying this, then her Erus discovered the same thing. He's having sex with his Cifras, just like I did with Kyo. If he's been doing that every day all this time… I sighed, understanding finally coming to me. "He's probably much stronger than we are, then," I said.
Rika nodded, some of her good mood dying away. "Yes," she said softly. "He sleeps with us, gathering strength all the time. He doesn't even care how we live, so long as we stay loyal to him. That's why I had to come here and try this, to see for myself."
"See what?" I asked. "You have a plan?"
"Not a plan, a hunch." She yawned again, and stood shakily to her feet. With lazy motions, she began to straighten her clothes and brush the dust off of her, making faces at the wet stains on her suit. "You see," she explained casually, "I remembered something I should never have forgotten: that love is stronger than any other emotion. Yes, he knows how to make me feel pleasure, but he can't replace love in my heart. That's why I had to test to see if you and I sleeping together would create more power than normal." She paused, smirking at my cat once more. "And by the tremendous glow around you, I can see that I was right."
Glow? Kyo demanded, straightening at once. Again with this glowing thing…what do you mean by that? I don't see a glow. I thought Takato said that was only him.
"Oh well, maybe it's just us," Rika shrugged. "Erus glow depending on how strong they are, or when they are absorbing power. Most of the time, the power just seeps into them. But when it is more than they can contain, it glows around them like an aura." She walked forward, reaching down and stroking his head with a grin. "Just from Takato and I doing it once, you're already glowing so bright you are almost at the same level as my Erus. I wonder how bright it would be if it were the three of us…"
I choked on my own tongue, turning beet red at her words. "Rika!" I stammered out. What was she saying!? How could she seriously be that…that…. Kinky? I groaned inwardly. Oh right. It's Rika. Of all people to fall in love with, she had to be this kind of person…
Instead of being embarrassed, Kyo grew serious at once. Are you saying that right now, I am almost as powerful as your Erus? He demanded, looking up at Rika with intensity filling his expression.
She nodded, her face grim. "Yes. A few more times, and you may already be stronger than him."
How is that possible?
"I think it's because you love Takato," she sighed. Kneeling down beside him, she stroked his head with gentle motions. "You care much more for him than any Erus I've ever heard of. Because of that, your connection with him is very strong. You don't even have to touch him to absorb his energy. Isn't that right?"
Yes, Kyo nodded. I have noticed this but…
"Takato also loves you. I can tell. In fact, that idiot is a raging hormone machine when he's in love. If you're not careful, he'll do you before you do him." She giggled, shooting me an icy smile. "Isn't that right, sweetie?"
I cringed, shivering with dread. Oh crap, she knows that too!
Kyo simply nodded, one ear tilting backwards with irritation. Yes I noticed.
"Basically what I'm saying is, there is a whole lot of love and hormones in this room, between the three of us," Rika sighed. "We're all turned on because of each other, all of us are creating massive amounts of energy just because our bodies respond stronger when we're in love, and you get to absorb all of it. Well, from Takato at least. So there you go. Instant massive increase in power."
It's almost too much for me to handle, Kyo scowled. I don't know what to do with all of this. And you two aren't helping.
"Why? Were you aroused by watching us?" Rika asked, moaning the word 'aroused' with a horny expression. She lowered her hand and slowly lifted her skirt to show more of her thigh. "Do you want to know what a woman feels like, Kyo?"
"GAAAAHHH!" I blurted, diving forward and grabbing Kyo away so fast, I barely knew what I was doing. "What... What… Rika!" I scolded. My face felt so hot I could hardly breathe.
She giggled, holding her stomach with her hands, as she stood up. "So funny!" She laughed. "I can't handle it…so…so funny!" Then she was on the ground again, laughing so hard she couldn't stop.
"Don't forget to breathe," I mumbled sullenly, holding Kyo to my chest and scowling at her. Honestly, what was she trying to do? Did she really intend to…between the three of us…do…
Finally managing to calm down, she lay on the ground and stared at the ceiling, her face covered in relief. "I don't even care," she said happily. "I have so much hope right now. Even if I die tonight, it doesn't matter. Because Takato isn't alone anymore. I'm not alone or afraid anymore." She looked at me, her violet eyes bright with moisture. "I want us to be together. All of us. Takato, Kyo, and me. If it's us, we can defeat him today, even. We'll never be lonely again."
My heart leapt in my chest. What she was saying sounded insane. How could she want me, and yet be willing to share me? And how was it that I wanted the same thing? It's not something that could work. Not... unless Kyo also wanted it...
He was watching us with a serious expression, his eyes unblinking. In the silence, he sighed, and looked into my face with a strange smile. I've told you before, Erus can have more than one Cifra. That was the plan all along, if you remember. I would save your Rika for you, and take her as my own, so that the two of you could be together.
"But you have to be there too," I whispered. "If you say anything else about leaving again," fear and despair gripped at my heart, though all I said was, "I'll be really angry."
I understand, he purred, almost as though he could see past my words at how I really felt. I won't leave you, Takato. That's a promise.
"Hey," Rika snapped. She sat up, watching us with half closed eyes. Her heart was beating rapidly, and her arms trembled with desire. "Don't keep me waiting. Are we going to do it or not?"
My face flushed red, and I lowered my head to stare at the ground. Hell, don't tempt me with that. Of course I want it. I never thought that I would but… don't say things like that unless you mean it.
Kyo leapt from my arms. In a flash of light, he changed into his human form, and stood in front of us with his arms crossed. His face showed embarrassment, and uncertainty. "If it's possible to rescue you today, then that's what I want," he said quietly. "Waiting any longer might make it harder."
Rika stood up and walked toward him, her eyes lit up with excitement. "My, my!" she breathed, grinning when he jumped at the touch of her hand. "You're incredibly hot! How did you end up picking this appearance?"
He blushed, shrinking back from her awkwardly. "T-takato drew it…and I thought that it fit me so…"
She shot a glare in my direction. "You drew this, huh? I didn't know you had this side to you, Takato. Don't tell me you're going to switch sides on me."
Growling incomprehensibly, I came forward and yanked her hand off of him. I don't know if I want to share him with her. She'll try to take him for herself.
"Is this going to be another competition?" Rika laughed. "I'll win this time too."
Kyo sweated nervously between us, but his eyes never left my face. He seemed to grow tense whenever Rika made me embarrassed.
"Don't worry," she whispered in my ear, running her hand across the muscles in my chest. "We can fight over him next time. This time, I'm going to focus on you. If he wants you, he'll have to compete with me."
"W-what are you saying?" I stammered. I was quickly growing hot. How can I be this exhausted, and still get so turned on by her? And why is it so much stronger now that Kyo is human!? I cringed as her hand went down to my groin.
"Well Kyo?" She taunted. "He's your Cifra, right? Let's see who can make him feel better. You, or me."
Like something snapped inside his brain, Kyo grabbed me and held me close to him. His mouth went to my ear, tracing nips and kisses along my jaw line. I was helpless to the onslaught of his magic, and my knees grew too weak to hold me up.
I collapsed to the floor, gasping.
Wait, why is it me? I thought desperately. But after that, I couldn't think at all.
-o-
How many hours had passed?
My head hurt too much to try and figure it out, so I gave up trying. So I just lay on my back, completely naked, unable to move. Rika was curled up against my body with her head resting on one of my arms, while Kyo sat unmoving on my other side. He was in cat form again, staring at nothing, like he couldn't even think.
Maybe he couldn't. Hell, I could barely think. What had even happened between us?
I remembered being completely and utterly ravished, first by Kyo, second by Rika, and then somehow by the two of them together. It was all such a blur, the only thing I could remember was climaxing over and over again, trying to stammer out their names, and otherwise completely succumbing to the ecstasy.
The aftermath was a body so drained and stiff, that death felt like the only cure.
I want to die! I want to die! I can't handle how horrible I feel right now! My mind complained over and over. Seriously, I was in pain! I was so freakin sore it was infuriating.
But at the same time…
It felt…so damn good…
I wasn't sure I could ever handle that kind of pleasure ever again.
"Don't you get tired too?" Rika asked, yawning and sitting up. She rubbed her eyes, staring at Kyo sleepily.
He glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. I have too much energy to be tired, he said simply. But I have been thinking. He can go for a really long time, even if I drain every last drop of energy. The same goes for you. It's a little surprising, even unnerving.
Rika chuckled. "We're not normal," she shrugged. "Our stamina is pretty high."
So I've noticed.
"Hey…Kyo?"
I listened to them, allowing my eyes to close. I was too tired to really try to participate in their conversation, or even try to tell them that I was awake and could hear them talking.
What is it?
"I just wanted to say thank you. Just in case…" her voice trailed off.
Do you think either of us will let him win? Kyo purred. He stepped onto my chest and sat down on it, and I could hear him nuzzling Rika's arm with his head. We're going to save you, Rika. Right, Takato?
I somehow managed to open one eye. So he does know I'm awake. "Count on it," I whispered.
She smiled and stroked my head with her hand. I couldn't get over how beautiful she was, how her naked skin, glowing with warmth, elicited such deep emotions within me. "Well I hope you can do it tonight," she said. "Because I'm already late."
My eyes snapped open. Late. Then he's already looking for her?
Will he come to you, or wait for you to go to him?
"Last time he came and found me, because I wouldn't go to him." She shivered, the memory of it making her cold. "It's like he can sense where I am."
He can, Kyo sighed. You are Claimed. Only he may cipher energy from you, and know where you are at all times. That is why I could only cipher energy from Takato.
"And yourself," she smirked. "Don't think I can't tell. When you do it as a human, you're receiving your own energy too. Isn't that funny?"
It's different, I'll admit that.
"How long till he gets here," I asked, forcing myself to sit up. I glanced at my clothes, deciding it was probably a good idea to get dressed. Damn, I am so worn out right now, it hurts to even think about moving. How am I even sitting up?
"Let's get dressed," Rika nodded. She helped me stand, and handed me my clothes, quickly shoving herself into her own. "It could be soon, or he could just be waiting to see if I'm being held up at work."
We should probably leave this territory. I'm not sure this Erus will want to get involved, Kyo sighed. He has left us alone today, because he knows why we're doing this. But I don't think he's pleased.
"Where should we go?" Rika asked.
I stumbled, suddenly unable to stand anymore, and found myself falling over. I wonder if I'll even feel it when I hit the ground? Two pairs of hands caught me, and kept me from crashing onto my face. My brain was barely aware as I saw both Rika and Kyo's faces, staring at me with concern.
"Wow, he is really drained," Rika complained worriedly. She dressed me in my clothes while Kyo supported me. "I'm sorry Takato, you're wonderful. Just hang in there, alright? We can leave and go to your place, so you can sleep in your own bed. How's that?" She turned and looked up at Kyo, who stood taller than both of us. "Carry him on your back," she ordered.
Kyo nodded, and turned so that I could hold onto him as he lifted me onto his back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, exhausted, as he held my legs with his hands. I felt like a kid again, getting a piggy-back-ride. If I wasn't so worn out, I might be embarrassed, I thought, sighing. I'll just get back at him later.
Dimly aware of my surroundings, I watched as the two of them hurried up the elevator, out the door, and onto the first bus they could catch. When we get off at my stop, I began to feel a sense of danger lingering behind us somewhere. I lifted my head and looked behind me.
"What is it?" Rika demanded. "Is it him?"
Kyo peered over his shoulder at me, concerned.
"Yeah," I mumbled. "He's coming pretty fast…"
"How can you tell?" Kyo scowled. "Even I can't sense him yet."
"It's better not to question Takato's instincts," Rika huffed, and they began to run faster to my apartment. "He's never wrong."
"What about you? Are you also this perceptive?"
She nodded, clicking her tongue anxiously. "Yes, but he's on a whole other level."
"There's something you're not telling me. Like how you got these abilities if other humans don't have them."
"There's no time. If you succeed tonight, ask Takato later. He'll tell you all about the Digital World."
Kyo started. "Ah, yes I recall him saying something about that."
"Oh no!" Rika halted, and Kyo skidded to a stop beside her. At the sound of her voice, I looked up wearily. Standing in front of us was a man with a scowl on his face, and a dark aura swirling around him.
He was ridiculously strong.
Rika's senses are not as accurate as mine, I grimaced. To her the brightness looks the same but…there is no way Kyo can beat him with his current strength! He's much more powerful!
Kyo let out a defeated sigh, sensing the same thing that I did. He let me down and walked forward, turning only once to smile at us with a sad expression. I'll do my best, he said to us.
Rika held onto me, supporting me so I could stand. I draped my arm around her shoulders and glared at the Erus who had taken her from me.
"So after all this time, you are finally stupid enough to try to resist me," the Erus said. His voice was cold, and so full of power, it hurt my skull to hear it. Rika winced and shrank into my arms. "And what is this?" he continued, turning to look at Kyo with a sneer of disdain. "Do you really seek to challenge me with that level of strength, Dygon?"
Kyo waited patiently, not replying.
"Rika," the Erus commanded. "Come to me."
She pulled away from me, but I held onto her, preventing her from leaving. "I wont let you take her," I growled, feeling strength suddenly flow into me from nowhere. It always happened this way, when I had something to protect. Something as precious as Rika.
"He compels me to obey," she whispered, burying her face against my chest. "Don't let me go to him!"
"I won't," I whispered back.
"You won't let me take what is rightfully mine?" the Erus hissed. His aura grew around him, making the air so tight, it felt like it would crush us. I could see people walking past us, as though they couldn't even see us.
A Veil, I realized, finally understanding what it meant. He's using power to conceal us from the world, so no one can interfere.
"I propose a challenge," Kyo spoke up, stretching his neck casually. Even as a human, his every movement seemed cat-like. "You have seventeen Cifras, correct? Let's have a duel for this one."
The Erus looked at Kyo furiously. His eyes narrowed, as though evaluating how difficult of a fight it would be. Finally, he turned away in disgust. "Rika, if you come now, I will let him live."
"Don't take it out on Rika," I taunted, smirking at him. My arm tightened around her. "It's me that is keeping her from coming to you. It was me this whole time. Surely even you can see that."
Ah, that made him angry. What's wrong with me? I thought, quelling my panic with slow, steady breaths. My instincts were telling me that angering him was very, very bad. But I ignored them. If he shifts his anger from Rika to me, then he won't punish her. This way, Kyo and I can figure out a way to win.
Even as the underdog, I always find a way to win.
Not this time, my instincts screamed at me.
Yes, this time too.
No, not this time. Run. Take Kyo and run. Quickly…
I felt my body trembling with rage and helpless frustration. I could see that if we escaped now, the Erus would let us go. He looked down on us like peons. He would take Rika back, and things would go back to normal. We could get stronger and come back next time.
And we had to do it now.
I'm not strong enough to do it! My mind screamed. I can't leave her, I can't! I can't!
Rika shoved me away with her hands, and too weak to resist her, I fell backwards onto the street. There were tears streaming down her face. "You see it too, right?" she whispered. "Of course you see it. You always see it. Your instincts are never wrong."
I watched in horror as she ran from me, straight toward the Erus I hated with all of my heart. She clung to him, trembling, afraid to even speak.
All the while, Kyo did nothing but stand there and tremble.
"You've made the right choice," the Erus said coldly. He smirked at me, relishing my pained expression, and turned to look at Kyo with distaste. "At least some Erus are still following the rules," he sniffed. "If you value your life, or your Cifra, I suggest you never show your face before me again."
Kyo said nothing. His back was rigid, and his arm twitched with restrained anger, but he refused to speak.
Then, quite suddenly, Rika and her Erus vanished from sight.
"No…" I whispered. I lay on my back and stared at the sky, wondering how it had become night so suddenly. "Rika no…" I feel lifeless again. I'm so useless, so helpless…I couldn't do anything!
Kyo lifted me to my feet, and then picked me up on his back once more. We arrived at my apartment shortly after, and he carried me into my room and laid me upon the bed. But when he sat down next to me, he buried his face in his hands. I'm not strong enough yet. I would have forced him to kill us all if I fought him. This was the only thing we can do.
I curled into a ball, crying silent tears. I can't lose her again…
"Next time," Kyo whispered, "I will tear him to pieces."
But what if there wasn't a next time?
-o-
Cause winning now would be just too easy.
Wouldn't it?
Sorry for the lack of actual lemon scenes, I was just too tired to write them out. Don't worry, working on some really sexy ones. In the meantime, I hope this at least stirred your imagination. I try not to do a scene unless I feel like I can write it in such a way, it's an experience and not just an explanation. But sometimes, like today, I am just not able to get one right. Thanks for understanding!
I look forward to seeing you next chapter as well!
~rukatofan