Disclaimer: I do not own digimon...
Okay, names and age for charaters of 01/02:
Tai = Yagami Taichi (16)
Matt = Ishida Yamato (16)
Izzy = Izumi Koushiro (15)
Sora = Takenouchi Sora (16)
Joe = Kido Jyou (17)
Mimi = Tachikawa Mimi (15)
TK = Takaishi Takeru (13)
Kari = Yagami Hikari (13)
Davis = Motomiya Daisuke (13)
Yolei = Inoue Miyako (14)
Cody = Hida Iori (11)
Ken = Ichijouji Ken (13)
Digimon:
Biyomon = Piyomon
Veemon = V-mon
Armadillomon = Armadimon
Gatomon = Tailmon
And for the crests:
Crest of sincerity (Mimi) = Crest of purity
Crest of reliability (Jyou) = Crest of sincerity
A/N: I'm not siding towards any pairing at this point in time...
Chapter 4: Broken heart
She sat, alone, on the sandy white beach and her gaze was focused at the azure blue sea. Her mind was far away, deep in thought. As the Sun continued to venture below the horizon, the sky was kind of pinkish red. However, she was just too focused to notice that.
Flashback
After school
"Can I talk to you for a second, Hikari-chan?" asked a 13 year old Daisuke.
She nodded her head.
"Privately?" said Daisuke as he eyed Takeru.
She nodded again.
Daisuke pulled Hikari towards an empty stairwell.
"Hikari, you should know… that we've been classmates since young and we've became friends ever since I've become a Chosen Child."
"Yes? Is this conversation leading somewhere?" asked Hikari casually as she thought about Daisuke's words. 'Is it leading to what she thinks it is?' She had no clue, but doubted it.
"Er… Maybe… Maybe not… I just wanted to say that we've been friends and I had a crush on you since when I was introduced to you. I bet you know that, right?"
"Y-Yes… Daisuke-kun…" she said as she blushed slightly.
"I was trying all my best these few years in capturing your attention and we've been close as friends. You regard Takeru as your best friend, right?"
"Yes, just best friends." she nodded.
"Then I think it might be an appropriate time to ask you a question."
"And what would that be?" asked Hikari curiously.
"I… wanted to ask you if you could… be my… girlfriend?"
There was a long pause of silence.
"Hikari-chan?"
"Daisuke-kun, I'm sorry, but no for now... I've never really pondered deeply about my feelings for you so… I guess I can't really make a choice now… I…"
Daisuke lowered his head. "I understand… I'll wait till you're ready…"
He left, hurtful.
Hikari too walked away, head drooping as she walked back to the class to retrieve her bag.
End flashback
The boy who just got rejected was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He felt as if life was over for him. His purpose in life was stripped away from him. Despite saying that he understood that she was not ready, he in fact had taken the situation as a rejection. He felt dead at this moment. Never had Daisuke felt this lost in life. Even with Chibimon by his side, he felt that he lost all his hopes in an instant.
The girl began to think again. She went through another event later on in that day. The experience was somehow similar but different from the one she experienced in school. She sighed. Never had she thought that an event like that could happen to her.
Flashback
"Hikari, do you mind if I walk you home?" asked a blonde-haired teenager.
"I… don't mind…" said the girl beside him.
The duo started heading towards Hikari's house when Takeru posed a question.
"Hikari-chan, is something wrong?"
"No-nothing…" she said. She was obviously shaken by her experience with Daisuke earlier but doesn't want to worry Takeru.
"Are you sure?" he looked at her.
She averted his gaze and replied. "Y-Yes…"
Takeru shrugged. "So what did Daisuke talk to you about?"
She stopped.
"Hikari-chan?"
"No-Nothing much…"
Takeru raised an eyebrow at her but decide not to pursue the topic any longer.
"Okay… if you say so…"
The two continued their silent walk back, enjoying each other's company.
"Will you be fine?" asked Takeru as they reached her apartment door.
She nodded.
"If you need to talk to someone you can call me…" he smiled at her. "Goodbye."
"T-Takeru wait!"
He turned around.
"I need to talk… can we meet at…" she spoke.
"I know… See you there at three…" he said as he walked away, leaving Hikari at her doorstep.
She sighed and turned to walk into her apartment.
On his way home, Takeru was deep in his thoughts. He had never seen Hikari so depressed since the times when she was pulled into the Dark Ocean. He knew something must have occurred and her private talk with Daisuke might have something to do with her depressed mood. As he walked, he bumped into a boy of the same height as him.
"Sorry." he said as he looked up.
The other party remained quiet and walked off.
Takeru stared at him. "Daisuke-kun!"
Daisuke ignored Takeru.
"Daisuke-kun?"
He shook his head. Something must have gone wrong during the duo's private conversation. He shook it off and headed home as he prepared for his day with Hikari. He was beginning to seriously doubt if he should put his plan into action today, since Hikari wasn't in the best of moods.
Yagami apartment
She sighed, yet another time. Today was the worst day for her. She never felt worst before. She couldn't stop thinking the way she rejected Daisuke. She didn't want to hurt him but she felt that she just had to speak the truth from her heart. She undoubtedly had hurt Daisuke's heart.
"Hikari, can you stop pacing around the room?"
She totally ignored the feline's request.
She had never really given much deep thoughts about her feelings. There are not much boys in her life anyways. She had never imagined that one of them would ask her out today. She kept drifting into her thoughts and didn't realize time was running short for her.
It was nearly three.
Digital World
When he reached the open patch of grassland, it seemed eerily empty. He peeked at his watch. '2.57 and she's not here yet?' he thought to himself. He knew that Hikari is always on time and usually there before him. He sat down under a huge tree, and the only tree in the vicinity. Beads of perspiration began to slide down from his face as his heartbeat seemed to race faster everytime he looked at his watch. "2.58 and 30 seconds… 2.58 and 52 seconds… 2.59 and 16 seconds… 2.59 and 39 seconds…" He began to panic.
A hand landed hard on his shoulders and he felt as if something hit his head. He jolted in surprise and Patamon, who was just resting on his head, fell off. He turned around to find a girl and her cat laughing their heads off. "Stop it, will you! It's not funny!" he cried out, but the laughter still continued. He sighed.
After a little while, the laughing ceased as Takeru and Hikari sat under the tree, with Patamon on Takeru's hat and Tailmon beside Hikari.
"Why was your reaction so great?" Tailmon asked in curiosity. "Were you thinking…"
"No." Takeru snapped.
"No need to be so worked up, Takeru-kun." Hikari said as she giggled.
"I guess you're right." Takeru said as he smiled at Hikari. "So, do you want to start telling me why you're feeling so down today?"
Hikari sighed. "A-Alright… D-Daisuke-kun asked me… out…"
He suddenly looked up towards Hikari. His sudden reaction threw Patamon off his hat. "Takeru!"
"S-Sorry, Patamon." he said as he reached back to pick Patamon up and started stroking his wings with his hands. Patamon sat comfortably in Takeru's lap and the conversation continued.
"And so, what did you do?"
"I-I told him that I wasn't ready… and couldn't make a choice yet… I'm scared… I hurt him…" she started to sob.
"H-Hikari-chan…"
"Takeru-kun?"
"I think he'll understand…"
"You really think so?"
"Y-Yes…"
The two sat in silence as the wind blew against their faces. Takeru was in total shock of this revelation. Hikari was just still thinking of the awful day.
"Hikari, cheer up…"
"Takeru-kun… it's hard… I'm worried…"
"Don't be…" Takeru said as he gave a friendly hug to Hikari which she gladly accepted.
After they broke the hug, Takeru suggested, "Why don't we do something to get your mind off the incident?"
"Alright!"
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"No… Takeru-kun…" he sweat dropped.
"Patamon?"
"To visit a good old friend!" he replied enthusiastically.
Minutes later
"The village of beginnings…"
"Patamon and I come here to help every once and then to get our minds of stuff…"
"Takeru! Patamon!"
"Elecmon!"
The two humans ran forward.
"What brings you here?"
"What do you think?"
"Oh right. I guess I know… thinking about her again? What's her name…" he immediately met with a fierce glance from both Takeru and Patamon. He took the hint and immediately paused.
"Nice to meet you… Hikari..." said Elecmon as he changed the topic.
Takeru slapped his forehead. 'Shouldn't have shown him her picture…'
"You still recognise me?" Hikari asked curiously.
"Eh. Well… I met you once… So, you must be that little girl, right?" he said, trying to cover his mistake.
"Yes… I was…"
The trio of boys sighed.
Tailmon was getting curious. "What are you three up to?"
"Nothing… Can we start now?"
"Okay!" cried Hikari.
She started by picking up one Digi-egg and started rubbing it.
"Rub-rub…" the egg shook. "Rub-rub…"
She still remembered the first time she hatched a Digi-egg as an eight year old child and now she was thirteen and things definitely changed a lot. New friendships were forged, old ones strengthened and she grew up, not only physically but mentally too. She could still remember some of her silly conversations with Takeru and the others when she was young and couldn't believe how naïve she was back then. Naïve, but not innocent. She had seen her fair share of the evil ones and the death of Wizarmon took a toll on her.
As she sat by a nearby tree with toys hanging on it, she thought about the events that just happened two years ago. She thought back at the time when she spoke to Takeru after being separated from one another for three years, it still feels like it was too good to be true. The Digital World called for their help with new Chosen Children to help them out. Daisuke. This one boy brought her joy then, but pain and worry now.
She thought back at the events and thought aloud her one query. "What happened to Demon after he was sent to the Dark World?"
"I have no idea."
"Hmm…"
"…"
The two humans and digimon sat at the tree in silence for the rest of the time, enjoying each other's presence. The two humans were deep in their own thoughts while the digimon rested.
"Thank you… Takeru-kun…"
"Hikari-chan…" he smiled.
"Is something wrong?" She could sense that his smile was not like one of his usual, although it was still heartwarming.
"Nothing…"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…" he sighed.
Hikari folded her arms. "Tell me what's wrong…" she tried saying that in the most authoritative tone she could muster.
"No…"
"Tell me…"
"No…"
She was getting irritated with him bottling up his feelings while telling her to open up. "Takeru-kun. Tell me. Or else you can forget about us being friends again since you don't seem to trust me at all." she blurted out.
He was stunned. "I… couldn't… I… don't want to hurt you… anymore…" he said as he started to break down in front of her.
It was her turn to be shocked. "T-Takeru?" she said in a soft tone.
"…"
"I'm sorry…"
"Its fine… not your fault anyways…"
"Takeru-kun… I…"
"You really want to know?" he asked in a low tone.
"I… I…"
Silence. He pulled out a small box from his pocket and handed it to Hikari.
She took the box and held it, a little surprised. She opened the box. It flipped open to reveal a necklace. She held it up and scrutinized it. The necklace was made up of a thin silver chain and a small engravement of the crest of light on a piece of silver hung at the centre. Tears were coming down her cheeks as she was touched by Takeru's gift.
"Why?"
"…" He didn't dare to give an answer. He definitely didn't want to lie to her, but the truth would hurt her, considering what she had just been through this afternoon.
"Takeru-kun…"
"I… can't say…"
"Takeru-kun…"
"I… don't want to hurt you…"
"Takeru-kun, your gift had really touched my heart and… I really want to know why…" She said. She was fearful all of a sudden, fearful that the answer might not be what she had expected by the reaction of Takeru. It might not be just simply due to friendship. However, she desperately wanted an answer that could satisfy her after having such a bad day.
"I…"
"Takeru-kun…" she said in a more demanding voice. "You are hiding something from me…"
"Yes… Haiz… I might as well tell you…" he finally said in defeat.
"So why?" she asked curiously.
"I… It has been five years since I first met you…"
"Yes… Now that I think of that… It had been that long…"
"We had been through thick and thin together… The two separate adventures…"
"Yes…" she said as she was deep in her memories.
"This necklace… Well… Something happened a week ago that made me buy it…"
"What happened?"
"I had a nightmare… and it forced me to think… about our friendship…"
"So you decided to buy this for me for our friendship?" she asked.
"Not really. I… I was preparing to ask you something but today just doesn't seem like a good day to do so…"
"Because of me having a bad day?"
"Yes."
This simple reply made her wonder and ponder whether she truly wanted to dig up the real reason for him to give her this gift. It wasn't the first time she received a gift from him but he never did buy her something this exquisite. It certainly has to be a very special occasion for him to do such a thing. However, she doesn't seem to remember that the day had anything special to it. She was curious.
"But… I want to know why…" she pouted at him.
"Patamon… Tailmon… If you would please…"
The duo understood him and went away from the tree and back to the Village of Beginnings. He was now alone with Hikari.
"I gave you this because… well… I… found out from that nightmare that I liked you more than just as a friend and the necklace was just a gift. I was hoping that we could push our relationship beyond just friendship…" he said, looking at her.
She sat, stunned. She knew that she had to expect this as an answer since he already dropped so many hints on her but she just had to ignore it. She was internally confused as a second boy now officially asked her out today. She was silent.
"I'm sorry…" he said.
Memories of her rejecting Daisuke rushed back into her mind. Now she faced the possibility of rejecting Takeru. She had not thought about her feelings and thus she could not just accept it either. Her mind was totally confused and feelings mixed. Anger. Frustration. Panic. Sadness. Hurt. She depended on Takeru to ease her pain but now she was hurt. Hurt that Takeru confessed to her on such a bad day but she had forced him, didn't she? It wasn't entirely his fault.
She did not know what to do. She made an impromptu decision to run. Her mind was telling her to run. Run away from the confusion. Run away from the sadness. Run away from her problems. She stood up and took off, with her eyes filled with tears of confusion.
Takeru sat there as his head lowered. From the corner of his eye, he could see Hikari running back to the real world. He sighed as a silent tear dropped. He knew he was not rejected but he knew his move would prove fatal to their relationship.
End flashback
She sat silently on the beach, going through her thoughts again and again, and thinking about her relationship with the two boys. She did not directly reject any of them but it might be hard to still befriend them after all this happened. She focused her thoughts and began to delve deep into her heart. Takeru-kun? Daisuke-kun? What are they to me?
Takeru-kun: my best friend since eight. The one who understands me the best besides my family. He is trust-worthy. Do I feel anything for him? I always liked to be around him… But it's the fact that we're best friends and I can trust him… I don't know… Do I like him?
Daisuke-kun: my classmate and a close friend in school. He's the humorous one and also manages to cheer me up, although he had a habit to chase me like he did but I always regarded it as only a joke or at least a small crush but… I didn't know his feelings went this deep. I… I don't know if I like him…
She felt a tear drop as her mind was filled with total confusion.
As she continued her thoughts, another figure sat on a beach, looking at the sun. From his view, the sun was just above the mountain and shining a brilliant hue of golden-yellow. His mind was still deep in thoughts of the occurrence that happened just a few hours ago. He didn't really get her message clearly but it doesn't seem that she had downright rejected him. It was a relief and a pain for him. He was regretful in hurting Hikari the way he did. As he continued to sit silently, he thought of the strange but surreal dream he had. It was what caused him to be in his current position.
Flashback (A few days ago)
A beep radiated through the silent room.
"Whoever that is better shut it now or else…" the teacher left it hanging.
Takeru was in shock as he picked up his beeping device: the D-3.
"Mister!" he shouted quickly as he raised his arm.
"Yes, Takeru?"
"I-… I need to use the bathroom."
"Go ahead."
"Thanks." he said as he rushed out to the corridor. Class was important but the beeping was more urgent. The fate of the world was in his or rather, his and the Chosen Children's hands so he can't just stay till class is over, although he did feel bad for lying.
The next thing he knew, he was in File Island again, face to face with the four dark masters whom they certainly defeated five years ago on their first adventure.
"Hahaha… I'm revived…" a voice hauled.
He stared; unable to believe that the very one he destroyed five years ago, with the help of HolyAngemon, was back. He looked up as he made eye contact with his partner, Patamon. The orange winged digimon nodded his head in understanding.
He looked around and saw all the original and new Chosen Children around him.
"Well, we'll have to defeat you again then." Said Taichi as the rest of the Chosen Children nodded.
"Ha. We'll see about that. Without your crests, you are nothing." Laughed Piemon.
Takeru took that hard. Piemon is right. They can't do anything without their crests to give the necessary boost to reach the Perfect level or Ultimate level to be able to deal with the four dark masters.
"We'll win even without our crests. Power is not all in a fight. We'll try our best and we won't go down without a fight to let you hurt innocent digimon." Taichi said.
"Yup." everyone replied in unison.
As he clenched his digivice in his hand, he called out to his partner. "Agumon!"
Pure white light shot out from the digivice and engulfed Agumon.
"Agumon… Evolve… to Agumon?"
The others then took a turn as Takeru stood watching and hoping for the best in this grim situation.
"Huh?" everyone was stunned. None of the other digimons were able to evolve.
"Well then," said Daisuke. "Leave it up to us."
"Digimental Up!" Takeru cried, along with the other four chosen children with D-3s.
V-mon, Hawkmon, Armamadimon, Patamon and Tailmon evolved into their armour levels, Fladramon, Halsemon, Digmon, Pegasmon and Nefertimon respectively.
The four dark masters then took off in four different directions.
"Wait..." Hikari said as Daisuke was about to leave, following Piemon. "Don't we need to come up with a plan first? At least a simple one before we start to find them?"
"I guess you're right…" shrugged Daisuke.
"So, what was the plan going to be? Defeat them one at a time?" Miyako asked.
"I guess that's good since we have numbers to our favour." Said Iori.
"Hmm… But which one of them should we battle first?" asked Takeru.
"Well… I don't know." said Hikari.
The five of them were discussing about the plan, completely ignoring the older Chosen Children and Ken, but they also failed to realize something.
"Hey!" Ken screamed to the five of them. They stared at him. "I think we need to split up and act fast." He said as he pointed to the sky.
Dark clouds have been formed all around them in all four directions. The clouds were spreading fast and was throwing the Digital World into darkness.
"Alright." It was decided.
Daisuke was going for Pinochimon with Taichi and Yamato, Iori for MetalSeadramon with Jyou and Koushiro, Miyako for Mugendramon with Sora and Mimi, and Takeru and Hikari for Piemon with Ken.
"I feel like we have walked a long way." Takeru complained.
"Me too." Sighed Hikari.
"I feel that…"Ken was trying to said but abruptly interrupted.
"Welcome." A voice said. "Prepare yourselves."
A sword came out from nowhere and almost struck the ex-holder of the crest of hope. It went past his shoulder, narrowly missing his skin by mere millimetres. It did, however, caused a small slit on his shirt.
"That was just a warning."
Takeru growled. The darkness from the voice was exactly what he had remembered from those years ago. "Piemon…"
"Hmm… the smallest child… The key to defeat the two great evil beings back then… Devimon and myself… I will rise today and defeat you…"
Takeru clenched his fists angrily. Hikari, who was behind her was tensed at the sight of not only Piemon, who almost ended her life five years ago, but also Takeru, with a dark aura giving off him. Her light seemed to have weakened.
"Patamon, ready?"
"Yup, Takeru."
"Digimental Up!" Takeru shouted with all his might, in total ignorance of Hikari and Ken.
"Patamon… Armour evolve! Soaring Hope, Pegasmon."
The golden aura from the newly evolved digimon lit up the sky, driving back some of the darkness in the sky.
"Futile!" Piemon screamed.
A sword came out from nowhere and struck Pegasmon down.
"Tailmon!" Hikari shouted as she watched Pegasmon fall. "Digimental up!"
"Tailmon… Armour evolve! Smiles of Light, Nefertimon."
"Nefertimon! Go help Pegasmon!" Hikari instructed.
He stood there, not knowing what to do. His digimon was beaten so easily but it was obvious Pegasmon is not a match for Piemon even before the battle begun. He could feel the anger that was built up in him slowly begin to diminish as he felt the light radiating from Nefertimon. He looked back as Nefertimon faced up against Piemon.
Another futile attempt. The three words could summarize the event that occurred. Ken, Takeru and Hikari got together, backing off from Piemon as all their digimon who had either been out of the fight, or have totally no chance against Piemon.
"Trump Sword!" Piemon shouted.
The trio scattered as the elusive swords flew around, waiting for an open chance to strike. Takeru watched around closely, fear gripping him as the uncertainty was present. The swords could come out from anywhere and strike a deadly blow to him, ending his life. He had to be extra vigilant.
He caught a glimpse of a sword to the right and quickly ducked to his left. Unfortunately, he did not expect what would be happening next.
"Watch out!" he heard a voice say, then felt a shadow looming over him.
He was stunned. Hikari was in front of him, using herself as a shield, with hand fully stretched, facing in the direction where the next sword came from.
"Hikari-chan!" Ken screamed.
"Hikari-chan…" beads of tears came streaming down Takeru's checks.
"Thank you, Takeru-kun. For your help and support for me all this years." Hikari whispered silently as her body fell and masses of crimson spewing from her cut.
Takeru could see that her eyes were beginning to shut.
"No, Hikari. No! You can't leave me like that… I… I… LOVE you!" Takeru cried as words came out from his mouth without really going through his brain.
"I love you too, Takeru. Bye." These were the last words she said.
"No!" he clammed his eyes shut, not taking in the scene in front of him.
He felt a sting in his stomach. He was too engrossed in Hikari's death to notice he himself was facing the same fate. His heartbeat was racing and he was starting to sweat profusely.
"Takeru-kun!" he heard Ken shouting.
"Hikari-chan!" Takeru screamed, unbothered by the fact that a sword is plunged deep into his abdomen.
Suddenly, a pink glow shot up from the deceased Hikari. Takeru closed his eyes and hoped for everything to end and… Hikari to return to him. His body glowed golden-yellow as he heard a faint sound in the background.
"Patamon… Warp Evolve! Ser…"
He opened my eyes, surprised to find himself back home in bed. Patamon was lying on his belly.
"What's wrong?" Takeru asked Patamon, rubbing my eyes.
"I heard you screaming. You must be having a nightmare." Patamon said, looking concerned.
"I guess so." Takeru sighed.
That morning, he spent the whole day thinking.
What does the dream means? Do I really love her?
His heart pounced as he began to flip through my memories with her. Well, I guess I do.
Then, he made a promise to himself: I have to tell her my true feelings no matter what now, before it's too late. I can handle Daisuke and Taichi later, although probably I would be killed by Taichi for that. He laughed.
End flashback
He sat, sighing. He really didn't know what he should think now of her. The uncertainty in the relationship was there. They might not even be able to be friends again.
The sights were too much for both their partners to bear. They too let down their tears. However, they just sat quietly beside Takeru and Hikari respectively. They had no idea of what happened that fateful day and had no way to cheer up their partners. They were just afraid to make them feel even worse.
Hours later
Hikari stood up. She had been at the beach for quite some time now as her grief and worry over the events slowly wore off. It was already late into the night as she stood up. The sky currently reflected her emotions. The irony was there. The Child of Light, who has given up her crest, now has her heart filled with darkness. She paced slowly back towards the forests that borders the beach and slowly started back to the Village of Beginnings, with Tailmon in her arms.
As she entered an open field within the forest, a sudden burst of pink light came from the sky and hit her directly. She saw another similar beam hitting a nearby beach area. She was starting to feel uneasy as the beam transported her away.
As she stepped onto the new ground, she could see silhouettes of her friends.
A/N: Ok, so next chapter would be the meeting... btw the two groups. Expect it to be up by end Oct, since exams are coming AGAIN... Once again (I might not have mentioned it before), sorry for keeping such long intervals between chapters cause ideas are not coming to me... Oh and remember to review! Thanks.