Disclaimer/bows repeatedly/ Please for give me for the quick, choppy ending. I was at the library and it was closing and I just had to put up the 18th chapter! I'm going to revise it quickly and repost it. It won't be much different, but it'll be neater.
Birdboy/eyes get all shiney/ I don't even know you and you liked my story. I'm sooo happy. Thank you! You don't happen to be on LJ in a community called DigimonJapan?
HokkaidoNanami: HOYO CHIBI FRIEND! I OWN YOU! Oh, and thank you for review, you better review more!
Takouji01...I think: Shya-chen, thanx for the reviews and I can't wait until you comp gets better so you can review more.
To other my other reviewers, I'm sorry, but I'm doing this from memory and well...my memory sux. I LOVE YOU, TOO, THOUGH!
Oh, because I don't think I've done this yet. I don't own Digimon!
Chapter Nineteen
Seconds
Koushirou stared blearily at his computer. His fingers weren't tapping away. They lay without life in his lap. He stared at them with realization: without Life. Just like him...without Life, without even Knowledge.
"Izzy, you have to wake up! Okay, so you're not really asleep, demo you can't just stare at the computer all day, Izzy!" Tentomon cried, hovering around him. Black eyes met his.
"Doushite, Tentomon? I don't have a family, I don't have answers, I don't have another solution, I don't have Yuuta. All I have is a computer."
"You have me, Izzy." Tentomon buzzed sadly. Black eyes looked away.
"I begged for her to die, Tentomon, completely, rather then see her face everyday and not be able to love her. I'd rather she had been gone completely, then to know her face...attached to that new body, that new soul. I got my wish, but it hurts even worse. I need to see her. But I can't stand her new body, the new...her. I know it's illogical. A heart cannot break literally...but I believe I now understand the reason for such an over-exaggeration to be used so often. It really hurts, Tentomon, not even you can fix it. Not even Jyou-san." He added before Tentomon could suggest.
"I want to help, though, Izzy!"
"That doesn't mean you can."
"So, I can't do anything, partner?" Koushirou hesitated to answer.
"Maybe...maybe if you just stayed..." he whispered.
"Of course, Izzy." Tentomon flew down onto Koushirou's lap. Fingers, shaking slightly, stroked the long orange antennae gently.
& & &
Knock Knock.
Knock knock.
Knock knock.
Knock! Knock.
"I don't know how that boy is doing it, but he's emphasizing those knocks. Go shut him up, Eri!" a muffled voice yelled from inside. Ken took a step back.
The door swung open and he met the red-eyed, glazed glare of Eri.
"Wha the hell you wan, Ichijouji?" She slurred.
"Did you just wake up?"
"No, I wen' on a binge. Ah core, I jus' woke up." She snapped. She rubbed her eyes hard and glared at him again. "Wha you want?"
"It's almost four 'o' clock. You can't just sleep in like this. It isn't healthy."
"Obviously, I can sleep in like this, healthy or not. I don't really care." Her vocabulary was much clearer now.
"You're skipping school, not going to tennis-"
"I think I know that-"
"Don't interrupt me, Rokunda."
"You interrupted-"
"You're turning into a filthy, smelly, depressed invalid. It's time for you to take a shower and go to school."
"It's almost four 'o' clock, Ichijouji. School's out."
"Not tomorrow. When I come to pick you up, you better be ready."
"Damn it, Ken! Don't you understand? My best friend was turned into a Digimon saving my fucking life, and I couldn't do squat. She's always been picked on, always been the quiet one, but always, always, she's always been there for us! Time and time again, I've let her down. I was the one who fought off the bullies, but the times she needed me most I couldn't do a thing. This time I could only shield my eyes from her Death. I couldn't even look and be blinded like Sora-san. What kind of friend constantly lets her friend down?"
"The one friend that loves her the most, but the challenges are ones she can't face. Only Kokubunji could. You are not a Chosen Child. You were not in the Prophecy. She accepted and wanted her fate."
"Damn the damn Prophecy! It killed her! It took her away from me!" Eri threw her arms around him and sobbed hysterically. A few heads popped out of doors or peeped through blinds. "Ken...how could she just leave me, us!? We need her so badly! We couldn't handle not being with her. It broke me in two. And she's gone again after barely a year."
Ken held her up and stroked her oily hair, unwashed for the past two weeks. Being a good, loving boyfriend, he said not a word, but let her cry. The blush on his face was the only outward look of his noticing their onlookers. Finally, her sobs ceased and she looked up. Snot and tears covered her red face, and he pulled out his handkerchief and held to her nose.
"You look and smell terrible. Take a shower. Feeling clean will make you feel a little better. If you don't want to go to school tomorrow, you don't have to. I'll wait for twenty minutes at the elevators down stairs." He shoved his dirty, wadded handkerchief in his pocket and brushed hair off her face. "I...I miss you." He whispered.
He quickly walked away, leaving her, stunned, outside her open doorway.
That's about as close as he's going to get to say he loves me for another ten years. She walked zombie-like back inside.
The next morning, Ken waited outside the elevators. He checked his watch and sighed. The elevator little lights didn't blink, showing Eri coming down to meet him and he already stayed one minute longer than he said he would. Time to go. He turned and started away sadly.
A door opened and slammed shut and he turned back around to see a clean, school-uniformed dressed, and shaved legs Eri. Her hair was cut back short by her own scissors and dyed in blotchy neon orange 'splots'.
A small smile played over his lips.
"The elevator door was jammed with gum by my baby brother." She muttered.
As they walked down the street, a soft hand with orange, green-dotted painted nails clasped Ken's.
"I love you, too." She whispered. A light blush played over his pale skin.
& & &
"It seems you have more on your mind than just your previous encounter with that cult, young...Shogun." Dr. Kido smiled, still keeping his pretense even though he knew 'Shogun, Daitan' was Dasiuke.
"Yeah...well, it's kinda complicated." Daisuke shifted uneasily. He jumped up and started randomly pulling out books and putting them back in the wrong places. He flipped through one and then shoved it on top of the other ones.
"Is it...affecting you deeply?"
"I dunno, but I'm really sad." Daisuke shrugged. Another book was jammed back onto the shelf below its original spot. Dr. Kido hid his smile and his slight irritation. It would be very funny if this wasn't the sixth time Daisuke messed up his orderly bookshelf!
"Yes. Is one of your friends hurt again?"
"Nah, she died. Well, Koushirou-san's really hurt though. Keeps staring at his blank computer screen and pettin' Tentomon. Chidori has to force him to eat. And her parents and TA have to force her to eat." Daisuke sighed and slammed a book back in it proper place, just upside down. He flopped back onto the couch.
"I see. I remember you talking about many of the Chos-of your friends being hurt and falling out with their Partners."
"Yeah. It's not as bad, though, now. I still have Veemon and everybody has their partners. We're just sad."
Dr. Kido knew it was very serious, but knowing that Taichi ordered Daisuke not to bring Veemon to keep his identity safe, and hearing Daisuke blatantly talking about Veemon without thinking, was a little funny.
"Anything else?"
"When we first came back...Yuu-yuu-chan's parents came over to Chidori-chan's house. It was horrible." Daisuke slipped over the side of the couch, placing his head to the floor and gazing upwards at the ceiling, his body below the waist still up on the couch. "We told them what happened...but they wouldn't believe us. They started reaming in on Koushirou-san. It was horrible. He just stood there and didn't say a word. When they stopped, he walked up to his room. His whole body was shaking. Jyou-san, the doctor one, and Iori-kohai, the calm one, managed to convince them. Her mom started sobbing and begged to apologize to Kou-san. And her dad...just held his Geckomon and stared at the floor. He looked broken. He looked like Kouhsiro-san." Tears tumbled into Daisuke's hair.
"They obviously are grieving. Denial is the first step in the grieving process."
"Koushirou-san never denied her dying. After realizing he couldn't deny the prophecy, he never denied her fate again. He just...tried to stop it."
"This...Koushirou-san, sounds like a very practical and intelligent young man-"
"He is a genius."
"-And he probably is grieving in his own way. People are not cut black and white. Therefore, not everybody grieves the same."
"Then why does everybody always say denial is the first step?"
"Because it usually is. Didn't you tell me he had denied a prophecy of her fate?"
"Hai."
"Then, he most likely has been grieving since then." Dr. Kido adjusted his glasses and sat back in his seat. Daisuke flipped over, his chin against the floor.
"You know I'm really Motomiya-Deity, don't you?"
"Iie." Dr. Kido smiled. "I know you are Motomiya, Daisuke." Daisuke smiled back.
& & &
"Carry the four and-"
"Can you believe she turned into a Digimon, Hida-san?" Chichi tapped her lip with her eraser.
"Karisama-san, we are studying for your final exams."
"I know that." Her black eyes met his directly. "You are taking this way too calmly, Iori."
"...Because panicking doesn't do any good. A person should calmly face every adversity."
Chichi stuck the end of the pencil in her mouth and nibbled.
"But you're only fourteen...a kid...don't you ever panic?"
"Iie. We're studying math, Karisama."
"I thought my name was Chichi?" She tapped his nose with her pencil.
"That's disgusting! You were just chewing on that!" Chichi giggled.
& & &
"Michael, I'm here with lunch."
"Is it that nasty cafeteria food?" Michael whined. Mimi smiled cutely in her candy striper uniform.
"Of course not. I made it myself." Mimi placed a finger over her lips and winked. "Don't tell the others or they'll get jealous." Michael smiled, a regret hidden behind his age-washed blue eyes.
"Cross my heart."
"Open up wide, Mike-chan. I'm going to feed you!"
"Now, I'm not that old just yet, Mimi!"
Mimi pouted. "But I like feeding you. I fed you when we were dating, remember?"
"I think so, but my memory is so bad nowadays." Micheal teased.
"Then I will remind you!" Mimi proclaimed. Micheal couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm so glad I could see you, Mimi, if just for a little while."
"Micheal..." the chopsticks drooped and rice fell onto the floor. "Don't talk like that, please."
"You do know it's true. I'm pushing ninety. I'm very old...and with a Battle coming up. I don't think my old heart is going to make through another one of your dangers without me at your side."
The chopsticks clattered to the floor.
Mimi threw herself across Micheal lap, her arms going around his thin wiast. So thin, so frail. Tears soaked the blue covers over his legs.
"If I could, I would turn back time! I would turn you back to an eighteen-year-old so we can be together forever. I want nothing more than to be with you. I'm going to school to be a nurse, just so I can take care of you." A hand fell on her hair. "I love you, Micheal." She looked up at him, her cheek as glowing again, a large green teardrop on her face.
"I love you, too, Mimi." His thumb slid over her Crest. "You are magic." Mimi looked at him in confusion.
At the door, Alan leaned against the wall, his eyes closed, Betamon on his shoulder. No matter what she says, I am just a mirror to her. I'm second-best to my grandfather. I'm just seconds.
& & &
Miyako pulled on Poromon's wings bored. She lay on her stomach on the bed.
"Miya! Stop it!"
"Oh, hush, I'm not hurting you!"
"You're pulling my wings!"
"Mm hm." Miyako poked his pink cheeks.
"Please, Miyako, he is your partner, not your toy. You are a Chosen Child, not a torturer." Hikari stroked Nyaoromon's head softly.
"She knows how to treat her partner." Poromon's eyes streamed tears.
"You know I love you." Miyako snuggled with Poromon and flipped over onto her back, Poromon on her chest.
"Miyako?"
"Yes, koibito?"
Hikari sat on the edge of the edge and cupped Miyako cheek.
"I love you."
Miyako smiled softly. "I know. Why remind me like this?"
"I might lose you like Izumi-kun lost Yuuta."
"Miyako will not be turning into a Digimon anytime soon." Nyaoromon retorted, still unused to the blatant affection.
"It doesn't matter. Many of our number will be hurt in the near future. The Day of Battle encroaches. Pain will be its outcome, and a moment of Light...of Hope within the darkness." Hikari's eyes glazed over, her voice toneless.
"Hikari?"
"The Day of Battle...a verse of Prophecy unspoken by the Prophet, relayed only through the Light, closest to the Life." Hikari blank eyes turned to Miyako. "Lover of the Light...will you turn to the Darkness? Take the Crest and replace it with Darkness. The Shadows are calling the Bearer of the wrongness. Release the mistake and take the pain of exchange. You carry the Light's opposite, but you underestand only its sameness."
"Hikari! What's wrong with you? You aren't Hikari? Who are you?"
Before Miyako's eyes, Hikari's honey-brown eyes bled darker. Brown, the color of dark chocolate, bored into her own. Tears slipped down Hikari's cheeks.
"Within the Light, Life may speak. I am the Prophet." Suddenly, the sad, lonely voice shot straight through Miyako's chest.
"No..."
"...hai. Now, I leave. I...no longer exist. But my words are etched into Yagami-chan's heart." Hikari's hand touched her chest softly. The chocolate melted away and Hikari fainted. Miyako grabbed Hikari and kicked open the door, running full tilt.
& & &
"Koushirou-kun?" Taichi stuck his head around the corner.
"Yes, Taichi?"
"Want some miso? Light, hot, yummy, and nutritious!" Taichi grinned.
"No, thank you."
"Too bad." He obstinately put the tray on Koushirou's desk.
"Taichi..."
"You need to eat. If I have to feed you, I will."
"If I must."
"Tai is right, Izzy! You need your strength." Tentomon agreed quickly.
"Soon, we'll be fighting Diaboromon again. We have to be ready to fight!" Koromon added.
"Why are all the Digimon in In-Training?" Koushirou asked. "Besides Tentomon."
"Saving strength, of course." Taichi toasted Koushirou with his spoon and shovelled in some food.
"I felt I would serve you better in my present form." Tentomon explained.
"Ah...where's Motomiya?" Koushirou sipped slowly.
"At the doctor's."
"The doct-urg-" Koushirou fell hard off his chair onto his knees, tipping over his tray. Miso splashed over the wood floor. The horrid gagging noise of retching filled the tiny room as Koushirou leaned over the small wastebasket. Taichi held his shoulders, his eyes wide and his face a liittle green.
"Kou...kun? What's going on?"
Koushirou looked over his shoulder and grinned weakly.
"I can't seem to hold down my food. My body's been rejecting almost everything I eat. I've basically been living off crackers."
"Kou-kun..." Taichi gasped, surprised and scared. "Doushite?"
"I...I don't know." Koushirou whispered. His fingers tightened around the edge of the wastebasket. They both turned the door hearing footsteps.
"Izumi-san! Tai-san! It's Hikari!"
"What's wrong with my sister?" Taichi leapt to his feet seeing the unconscious Hikari.
"I can't hold her up anymore." Miyako burst out. Tai took her quickly.
"How did she lose consciousness?"
Miyako's brackish eyes met his black ones.
"Yuuta possessed her body for a short time. She spoke through Hikari...about a lost verse of the Prophecy that only the Prophet knows. She called herself that Prophet, Izumi-san."
He scrubbed his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Lay her on the bed. I'm emailing Gennai. Tell me when she uses the smallest amount of movement. Call Jyou and the others."
& & &
"Chidori?"
"Hai, Takerun?" Chidori looked up from her book.
"I think there's something wrong..."
"Yagami-chan was possesed by the soul of my friend and was told a lost verse of the Prophecy. She still happens to be unconscious." Chidori adjusted her glasses and the sun flashed on her lenses."Does it sound right to you?"
"No, of course not. It's something else. I think the lost verse...it has something to do with me."
"But Inoue-chan couldn't remember what Yuuta said."
"She remembers Hikari was talking about taking or switching Crests and something about Light and Hope." Takeru paced the floor, Tokomon running at his feet.
"Not much to go on." Mushroomon commented.
"She was too scared to try and memorize anything." Takeru retorted.
"I know." Mushroomon mumbled. Chidori chewed her bottom lip.
"I may not be a Chosen Child, Takerun, but Mushroomon and I are strong and smart. We'll be there for the Last Battle." She touched his shoulder softly. He stopped and looked at her.
"Thank you...but...something tells me...something bad..."
"It's a battle, Takaisha! 'Something bad' pretty much sums up a battle in very naive terms." Chidori crossed her arms over her chest. "Live for tomorrow. Our future is not already written. Even tablets of stone wear away and break."
"Yeah." He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her hard. "I know, I do."
& & &
"Hikari?"
Miyako's soft, anxious voice was the first thing Hikari registered. Even with her eyes wide open, she couldn't see. Finally, she regained her full senses.
"Miyako?" Hikari croaked.
"Let me get you some water, koibito." Hikari slowly forced her eyes to follow Miyako's movements.
"I don't think...I can drink. It'll spill." Hikari tried to explain.
"Shhh, Hikari, I have a straw."
"Hikari, onee-chan, you're awake?"
"H-hai." Hikari smiled around the hollow plastic tube.
"Hikari, please, don't talk."
"We need to know the lost verse immediately. The Festival is in eleven months. Armageddemon will be ready by then."
"You really don't think so,Koushirou-san?" Miyako frowned.
"I would not have brought it up otherwise."
"D-day of Battle, test of wills
Crests revived, pain of recieving to the Light's Lover
Darkness develops an old soul of evil
Hope and Light combined create the wings and sword
White eyes see truth where others are blinded by sadness
"But Love cannot be spared
When the heart is pierced-"
"We know the rest." Taichi mumbled.
"Yes." Hikari sank back onto her pillows.
"It's a confusion of phrases. It makes no sense." Koushirou looked up from his notepad. "It's like this 'lost verse' was created by a child. A child who wanted to create a destiny with a wax crayon and construction paper."
"It does seem that way." Ken held his chin with his thumb and forefinger.
"If anyone can figure it out, it'll be you, Kou-kun." Taichi smacked his back.
"Yeah, dude! We got eleven months." Daisuke held up a thumb. Then blinked."Why eleven?"
"We have eleven months to Yuuta's birthday." Tsumi whispered.
"Everything in centered around that day. I have a strong suspicion he's going to stick to that focus."
"Practically a year. I waited for two, I can wait for less than one." Eri clenched her fist. "I want my friend back. Do you think that missing piece will tell us how to change her back?"
"It may..." his face and voice betrayed his doubt.
"Then hope for the best." Iori murmured.
"Yeah..." Everyone whispered.
Takeru scratched his back uncomfortably.
& & &
"Koushirou, dinner."
"Miso? Light, hot, yummy, and nutritious?" Koushirou joked.
"No...something a little more...um, it's rice and curry. Mild curry."
"Sounds, and smells, delicious. Arigatu gozaimasu."
"How far are you in finding out what it says?" Taichi asked after inhaling his own plate.
"Honestly? Not far at all. It just doesn't make any sense. I would doubt it's integrity, but I know its source. Hikari doesn't lie about serious matters, nor does she enjoy the life of a healthy invalid." Koushirou half-smiled at his oxymoron.
"You can say that again."
"Taichi?"
"Yeah?"
"Is there enough for seconds? I'm still hungry."
Taichi took back the plate in amazement.
"But you got reallysick the other day."
"I was helpless and depressed. Now, I'm doing something." Koushirou urged Taichi forward with his cleaned plate. "Just a little bit more, agreed?"
"Y-yeah."