Frontier 02: Home Frontier – Chapter 17: Killing in the Name
madjack89: Hey everyone! This weekend I went to a party at the book store near me for the release of Stephanie Meyer's new novel, Breaking Dawn! And once my friend finishes reading it, I'll be able to read it! Hooray!
Takuya: Didn't that come out at, like, midnight? How long did you stay up?
madjack89: Oh, until about 5:30 AM or so.
Takuya: …Wow.
madjack89: Oh, it's not that hard!
Kouji: Speaking of new things, how about you start writing the new chapter!
madjack89: Oh, you're anxious to see what happens, aren't you?
Kouji: A little…
madjack89: Okay Kouji, I'll humor you. Just let me answer the reviews and then I'll begin the chapter.
*break*
babytigera: Yay for Eclipse! And yay for you getting a ribbon! And just plain yay! I'm glad your luck has changed, too! Oh, and the dark spirit thingamabober is actually going to be an important story element later, so yeah! Thanks for reviewing!
greywindfalcon: Hooray, more food! And just so you won't worry, I'm not planning on killing off Takuya. No need to fear! Okay, so thank you and see ya!
garnettfox: Um…well…kind of, I guess. Sorry! But thanks for reviewing!
Kayland Elric: Just so you know, I'm a dudette (heh heh)! And that's an interesting way to think of it. I didn't even think of that, actually! Thanks for reviewing!
kyokoaurora: Thank you! I try my best!
*break*
madjack89: Okay, time for the new chapter! Hooray!
Takuya: Hooray!
Kouji: Um…hooray?
—
Takuya stood still, trying to process what he had just heard Kouji say. He…hates me? But…that can't be…he can't…I thought we were…
"Kouji…I thought…I thought…" Takuya said slowly, unable to turn his eyes toward Kouji. "I thought we were friends…"
Kouji chuckled, this time grabbing Takuya by the shirt collar. "Takuya…you have always been so naïve. You really thought that we were friends? Don't make me laugh!"
He smiled, and then punched Takuya square in the face, letting go of his shirt as he fell backwards.
"Takuya!" cried Zoe, taking a step forward. She hesitated when she realized that if she went to Takuya, she would have to leave the incapacitated Kouichi alone.
Kouji glanced at her and smiled. "And then there was one!"
Zoe eyes widened in alarm. "Kouji…please. You don't really want to…" she struggled with the next word, "…kill us?"
Kouji's eyes narrowed as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his blue and white D-Tector. "You would be surprised."
"I don't think so!" Takuya jumped up suddenly and grabbed Kouji from behind, keeping him from using his D-Tector to Spirit Evolve.
Zoe sighed with relief then frowned when she saw Takuya's expression. Yes, he was acting like his courageous self by doing this, but she could tell that Takuya was just as reluctant and terrified to fight as she was by the way he looked at her.
"Zoe, go," he said. "I'll handle this from here. You just take Kouichi and go." Zoe hesitated. "Just go!" he yelled with more force than he ever had before. "Please," he added softly.
Zoe nodded, taking out her D-Tector and becoming Kazemon. Then she carefully picked up Kouichi and mouthed, "Be careful, Takuya," before flying off into the night.
Kouji smirked. "Now I have you all to myself," he muttered, elbowing Takuya in the ribs. Takuya released Kouji, gripping his chest in pain. Kouji stared at Takuya, glancing back at the grave behind him. "And so it ends," he said, punching Takuya in the gut.
Takuya let out a grunt of pain and fell onto the ground, curling into a ball and trembling. Kouji walked up to him and kicked his arms, trying to force him to get up. "What's the matter? Too chicken to fight me?"
Kouji continued to kick him, chuckling as he did it. Takuya let out little squeals of pain, unable to contain them. "Kouji…" he murmured, tears rolling down his cheeks. "We never…f-fight like t-this. W-why are you d-doing this now? I-I d-don't understand."
Kouji smirked, stopping his assault. "We're rivals. It's what we do." With that Kouji took out his D-Tector, preparing for the killing blow.
He spirit evolved in Lobomon, and then glanced back at Takuya. But Takuya was no longer there. Lobomon glanced left and right, trying to find him.
"Kouji…" He heard his name mumbled and turned around, his face meeting with Agunimon's fist. He fell to the ground, staring at Agunimon in shock then anger.
Agunimon seemed angry too, fists clenched into tight balls and flames flaring from both his arms. His face was averted toward the ground. "I don't know what's gotten into you Kouji…but…"
Agunimon raised his head, glaring straight at Lobomon. "If I have to, I'll kick your ass all over the city until you snap out of it!"
—
"Hm, so what you're saying is that you got some sort of weird freaky mutated arm burn thingy that can track down things like...uh, evil dark spirit thingies or something? And that burn thingy led you straight to pretty boy, who immediately knocked you unconscious and unceremoniously threw you in a bush, so now we have to go kick his ass?" Kira asked Shino.
"Yeah, that's basically the gist of it. What do you think?"
Kira, Daiki and Hotaru stared at him for a few moments. "Well, alrighty then, let's fire that bad boy up!" exclaimed Kira excitedly. "According to you, we don't have all day."
Shino glanced down. "I can't."
The others stared at him, confused. "But didn't you manage it before?" asked Daiki.
"Dai, I'm guessing that he can't just control it of his own free will," said Hotaru.
"You got a point there, Taru-kun," added Kira. Hotaru stared blankly at her.
Kira glanced at him and frowned. "What? You don't like that name? Maybe I should try Hot-san…"
"It's not that," said Hotaru quickly. "I'm just surprised you're giving me a nickname," he mumbled.
Kira smirked. "Taru-kun it is, then."
"Yay, Taru-kun!" exclaimed Daiki happily. Hotaru smiled slightly, in his own little way.
"Will you all just shut up!" Shino yelled suddenly, causing everyone to jump. He slowly calmed down, noticing their startled expressions. "Hotaru's right about me. The fact is, I can't control this, and I'll never be able to. I…I'm just not cut out for this."
Kira chuckled as if Shino had told a joke. "What are you talking about? Did these spirits not choose us for the pristine honor of wielding them in order to restore peace and prosperity throughout not one, but two universes?"
"They picked the wrong guy," muttered Shino dejectedly.
"But you held off Wizardmon that one time," Daiki put in hopefully.
"Yeah, and he beat me and gave me this stupid burn! Don't you see? I can't handle this! I'm not brave or strong or smart or anything useful. I'm just…average."
Hotaru and Kira stared at him piteously. Daiki, however, seemed as if he were concentrating hard on a thought. Suddenly he gasped.
"Maybe Shino just needs more confidence!" said Daiki happily, bouncing up in front of Shino. Shino stared back at him, wide-eyed. He glanced at Hotaru, confused. Hotaru shrugged his shoulders.
"Shino, you just have to believe that you can use your super-duper arm burn powers, and you can!" continued Daiki. "Just concentrate!"
Kira's eyes narrowed. "Okay, that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard! I mean, come on! All he has to do is 'believe in himself' and he'll magically be able to…"
"Guys! Thank god!" Shino turned and found himself standing right in front of Kazemon's chest region. He blushed and took several strides backwards.
"Wow, you didn't even need to concentrate!" Daiki marveled.
"I don't think that counts, Dai," said Hotaru.
"Zoe, what the hell is going on? Where's Taki and why is Chief unconscious?" asked Kira warily.
Kazemon set Kouichi down on the ground carefully. "I can't tell you much about Kouichi. He just started mumbling about remembering something and then he just kind of fainted." She glanced at Kouichi worriedly.
"But there's something else more important than that," continued Kazemon. "I left Takuya alone with Kouji. There…there's something wrong with him." She shuddered to herself. "I think Takuya's in danger. We have to get back and help him!"
"Pretty boy," growled Kira, pulling out her D-Tector. "You've gone too far." She quickly spirit evolved to Ranamon and ran off in a random direction.
"Um, they're at the temple over in the other direction," said Kazemon to Ranamon, pointing the other way.
She quickly turned and ran in the right direction. "I knew that!" she yelled confidently. "C'mon guys, we haven't got all day!"
"Right," responded Daiki and Hotaru. They spirit evolved and joined her quickly.
Shino glanced at Kazemon and Kouichi, not knowing whether to go or not. "Just go with them," said Kazemon. "I'll stay here with Kouichi," she added, glancing at Kouichi with worry and, as Shino noticed, affection.
Shino turned slowly, not wanting to see any more. "Yeah," he muttered, spirit evolving and dashing through the trees in the direction of the temple. I can't fight, I can't control this weird power, and now I've even lost her…
—
Wizardmon kneeled on a tree branch, watching happily as Agunimon and Lobomon began to fight. "Well, that takes care of that," he said satisfactorily.
He jumped in the surprise when he heard a muffled voice coming from his tattered coat. He calmed himself and took his small communication device out, saying, "Everything's going well. Your plan was perfect, as usual."
"Yes," murmured the voice thoughtfully. "But that dark child worries me…"
"What do you mean?" asked Wizardmon in confusion.
"He could give my identity away to the rest of them, which is not desirable to the rest of my plans."
Wizardmon's eyes narrowed. "But you suppressed his memory of everything that happened. He shouldn't be able to remember anything at all about that."
"True, but I underestimated him. And I also did that little test run on him, which might have freed something. I'll have to loosen my grip on our little friend Kouji for awhile to correct this error. Perhaps I'll give him a different memory to preoccupy himself with…"
"And what should I do?" asked Wizardmon quietly, shifting his gaze anxiously.
"Just keep an eye on Kouji for me and make sure no one interferes." The device clicked and began to crackle. Wizardmon placed it back in his coat and sighed.
"I was going to keep an eye out for my pesky sisters, but I suppose I can do both at once." He smirked. "After all, how hard can it be to beat a few legendary warriors?"
—
"Kouji!" Agunimon lunged at Lobomon, knocking him to the ground and pinning his arms down at his sides. Lobomon glared at Agunimon, growling defiantly.
Agunimon closed his eyes tightly shut. "Kouji, I don't want to have to do this," he said gruffly, "but I will if I have to!"
He raised his arm quickly, balling it into a fist as flames shot from his gauntlet. "Pyro Pu-" He stopped abruptly as Lobomon slashed him across the chest with his…um…Light Saber? (Kouji: You suck!) Okay, Light Kendo.
Lobomon smirked as Agunimon staggered back a few paces, clutching his chest in shock. Lobomon rose to his feet and stood above Agunimon, Light Saber raised. (Kouji: Stop it already!)
"Now you know that I meant what I said. I'm gonna kill you, Takuya, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Agunimon rose slowly to his feet, trembling in pain. "So that's it, huh? All that time we spent together in the Digital World…all the things we've been through…all the people we've saved…that means absolutely nothing to you now?"
"That's what I just said," Lobomon snapped impatiently.
Agunimon's head suddenly shot up, eyes pointing in Lobomon's direction. "Well I say that's bull!" Agunimon yelled, taking Lobomon by surprise. "I know that Kouji Minamoto is definitely not like that! Despite his crappy attitude…despite his loner tendencies…even despite his constant teasing…I know that he would never betray his friends willingly. He'd die before he let that happen."
Lobomon's eyes widened as recognition crossed his features. "Takuya…"
"So I don't know who you are," continued Agunimon, not noticing Lobomon, "but you are definitely not Kouji Minamoto!"
Lobomon smiled weakly. "You always talk too much, gogglehead," he muttered good-naturedly.
Agunimon stared at Lobomon. "Kouji?" he whispered excitedly. Lobomon didn't say anything, staring back at Agunimon in horror.
"I…I hurt you…" he said softly, looking at Agunimon's wounds, particularly his chest.
Agunimon grinned happily. "Kouji!" he cried, racing up to him. "What happened? Are you okay? Oh man, Kouji, for a second there I thought you were serious!"
Lobomon raised his hand shakily. "Takuya…I could have…" He shuddered, not wanting to finish the sentence.
Agunimon smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Kouji. I'm fine. See?" Agunimon tried to do a three-sixty turn but stopped halfway, clutching his chest. "Well, maybe that hurts a little bit…"
"Takuya," Lobomon began, lowering his arms slowly. He turned to face Agunimon, a sad but determined expression on his face. He stared at Agunimon and said two simple words.
"Kill me."
—
Arbormon dashed through the park, staying close to the trees, though it was at least midnight by now and no one was there. He didn't feel like taking chances tonight. He didn't know what he felt like doing anymore. Should he even be doing this anymore? What was the point?
I just don't know anymore, he thought, shaking his head. His feet continued to carry him to his destination, independent of his will.
He broke through the cover of the trees and almost tripped over an object on the ground. He squinted at it, and his eyes widened. Kira lay on the ground in front of him, badly bruised and beaten.
"Kira!" Arbormon exclaimed, crouching down. "Who did this? Where are Daiki and Hotaru?"
"Dai," muttered a weak voice. Arbormon turned to see Daiki and Hotaru lying a few feet away, Hotaru looking worse for ware than the other two, and unconscious.
Arbormon turned back to Kira. "What happened?"
"It was…Wizardmon," said Kira painfully, trying to get into a sitting position. "When we got close to the temple…he just came out of nowhere…and attacked us."
Arbormon stood slowly, realization coming to him. "I have to go ahead alone and face him."
"No!" cried Kira and Daiki fearfully.
"Shino, I'm serious here, he will not hesitate to kill you. We only got out of there alive because of Taru-kun, and look what happened to him!" said Kira quickly. "Please don't go!"
"I know that I can't win," said Arbormon, clenching his fists. "But I can at least provide a distraction long enough for Zoe and Kouichi to catch up." He said Kouichi's name with malice, not trying to hide his resentment anymore.
He turned quickly and continued toward the temple. His friends' cries grew softer and softer as he dodged through the wilderness, rushing to death. A tear escaped his eye. I'm done for.
—
Wizardmon stood near the entrance to the temple, still tingling from his last battle. "C'mon, I know there are still more of you," he muttered excitedly, itching for another fight. "I haven't had fights like this in awhile now. I need something more!"
"How bout this?" Wizardmon looked up just as a large blue and yellow fist slammed into the ground where he had just been.
Beetlemon growled in agitation. "Damn it, I missed."
"You just love delivering the nick of time saves, don't you?" asked Wizardmon playfully, raising his wand defensively.
Beetlemon smirked. "Well, someone's gotta do it."
They were just about to lunge for each other when they heard a thump coming from the trees. They glanced over to see Arbormon kneeling on the ground, clutching his arm in pain as it glowed.
Wizardmon's eyes narrowed. "I'd forgotten about that little mishap. But I remember now. I marked you, so now you can track me."
Beetlemon stared at Arbormon. "He can…what?"
"He can track me," repeated Wizardmon, glaring at Arbormon with malice. "But he can't even control it yet, so I suppose it isn't a huge threat, anyway. Kind of pathetic, really."
"Just shut up!" yelled Beetlemon, raising his fists angrily.
"He's right." Beetlemon turned to see Arbormon looking at them sadly. "I really am pathetic, JP. I can't do anything right. And I don't deserve this power." He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "JP…tell Zoe that I really did like her, even loved her."
His eyes rested on Wizardmon. "I'm ready," he said quietly.
Wizardmon chuckled. "If that's the way you want it." He raced forward, pointing his wand directly at Arbormon. "Magical Game!" he cried, wand glowing with a ball of flame.
"No!" exclaimed Beetlemon.
Arbormon closed his eyes, preparing for the pain.
"Arrrrrggggghhhhhhh!"
—
madjack89: Dang, it took me a whole week to finish this chapter! I wrote that introduction on Monday, and I still haven't read that book! Grrrr!
Daiki: I'll be okay. Be happy!
madjack89: You're right, Dai! I feel better now!
Daiki: Yay!
Tommy: Jeez, he's more innocent than me!
Takuya: You are shooting up like a sprout, buddy.
Kouji: Soon you'll be five inches taller than Daiki.
Daiki: Dai!
madjack89: Well anyway, lately I've been listening to music while I'm writing this, and today I listened to "The Feel Good Drag" by Anberlin while writing Shino's little monologue, and you know what? The song reminded me of him!
Shino: How?
madjack89: Oh, come on! Just look at the lyrics! 'This was over before it ever began'? 'I'm tired of who I am'? 'You were my greatest mistake'? 'I fell in love with your sin'?
Shino: Um, sure, I guess.
Takuya: What do you listen to when you write my stuff?
madjack89: For some reason I associate you with Green Day.
Takuya: Oh…um, why?
madjack89: Because I am the author!
Takuya and Shino: …
madjack89: Okay, see you later, everybody!