Kitty: Wow, chapter twenty-two. I'm almost done. I'm sorry these updatings are taking so long. To make a long story short, either I've had no Microsoft, no internet, or no flash disk with story saved inside. The only reason said flash disk was found was because my sister's bf moved in and she had to clean my room for me so all the junk could be stowed in there. She didn't realize she found my LIFE IN THERE! GAAAHH! Anyway, I'm hoping this will end in about two or three more chapters and then I'll go back and start correcting it up. If anything, I'll be doing both at the same time. So, if I haven't updated, I've probably been editing earlier chaps. They make me angry. LOL.

Izzy: Write, Write! You're not going to be on here for another two minutes, so at least put the first paragraph!

Kitty: Oh, damn, there's my ride gotta go!

Izzy: At least write the title!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Falling Forwards

The Chosen Children slowly filtered into the temple. A weight was just as slowly filling each heart. Something was behind them, or in front of them, that made their feet feel as heavy as stones. Their backpacks seemed lighter burdens than the aches in their hearts.

"From here on…either we never see this side again..or..." Koushirou's voice trailed off. He flipped open his laptop. He smiled sadly at the swimming fish.

"Or we come back triumphant." Taichi finished with a struggling grin.

"Let's all do our best." Mimi whispered fiercely. She reached out and grasped Alan's hand.

"Sora and Cabbi-chan are waiting." Miyako pointed out as they still stood silently.

"So is Karisama-chan." Iori murmured. Jyou reached over and squeezed his shoulder.

"Time to save the world!" Daisuke proclaimed.

Koushirou rapidly typed something into his computer. "My battery power was given a punch, so I won't need to worry about the card. As long as I go last, we should be all ready. Do you all remember the rules from last time?"

"HAI!"

"NOW!"

A rip in the empty space opened and began to glow and shimmer tremulously.

Koushirou watched as his friends disappeared quickly. Iori turned with Upamon in his arms.

"We'll both be with the ones we love one day." Iori told Koushirou softly. "Maybe we won't deserve it, but our judgment has already been passed. Either we will be together in life, or in death." The tag on his chest glowed. Koushirou nodded soundlessly. Iori turned into the portal.

"Our turn now, ne?" Tentomon buzzed.

"Hai." Koushirou and Tentomon ran towards the gate. Tentomon flew through just ahead of Koushirou. Suddenly, Koushirou's toe hit the raised edge of the crest on the floor. He was falling forward through the blinding white light.

"Izzy-kun!"

"Yu…uta?" Koushirou mumbled as arms wrapped around him.

"Ii….Iie, Knowledge. It's Ultimate Cabbimon." Koushirou lokoed up into the sad green eyes that he remembered.

"Forgive me, gomen nasai."

"Iie…I shouldn't have called you that. I don't know what-Knowledge!" Cabbi quickly pulled him to her chest and jumped backwards.

"Nani?"

"The portal almost closed on your legs, man!" Daisuke cried out running forward.

"Ho-Honto?"

"Hai, go ahead and turned off the yellow thing. I'll go ahead and grab Love!" Cabbi released him and hopped over to where Sora sat talked quietly with Mimi.

Koushirou frowned thoughtfully as he shut down the computer system.

She sounded exactly like Koku-chan. Are they started to dissimilate? NO…the prophecy says that Love has to be sacrificed…Could it mean one of the Crest Bearer's actual love instead of the crest…?

"What's up, Koushirou-san?" Jyou asked.

"Nothing…just thinking on the possible scenarios of the Prophecy."

"I just I should let you fry your brain then. Tell me to come up with something."

"Hai. Domo arigatu."

& & &

"How is the patient, Sensei?" asked the young nurse nervously.

"She's recovering slowly. Sadly, she won't be recovering as fast as she could be…"

"Doushite, sensei?"

"…She's sharing everything she takes. We're going to have to change something of the medicines and put higher dosage in her drip."

"Oh no…is she…? Oh, sensei…"

& & &

Iori watched the flames of the fire flicker. A log fell and sparks jumped into the air.

"You'll be burned, Judgment, if you stay too close."

"You already know my crest?" Iori asked, pulling farther away as Cabbi suggested.

"Of course! I know, right here!" Her paw patted her chest. "I'm your Guardian! I feel your pain, you know…I understand…"

"Do you have any choice?"

"Iie. Demo…I like it…not the pain…but knowing…" She grinned. "I can help you, ne?" She leaned over and nuzzled his cheek. "You're not a monster and you're not weak. She still loves you."

Iori gasped quietly, his eyes filling with tears.

"O-Onegai, Ultimate Cabbimon-san!"

"Mrrow!" Cabbi wrapped her arms around him. "Aishiteru! I love you, too! So, much! I promise, I'll keep you safe so you can say you're sorry to her again."

"Ch-Chichi…" Iori leaned his head on Cabbi chest and cried silently.

"Heal…poor little Judgment, such a heavy burden… She'll forgive you… I know." Cabbi rocked him gently.

Koushirou tapped hurriedly on his computer. Notes and guesses six pages long filled the screen. The words of the Prophecy were jumbled in different orders and webs with hundreds of branches filled up the document.

"Darkness…it's going to claim someone soon. Who would have a crest that doesn't belong to them?"

"Maybe…Maybe I have the wrong crest, Izumi-san."

"Ichijouji-san?"

"I mean… I know…I needed the crest I have now…demo…I don't belong to it. It came to me to help me heal myself from the Dark Spore. I'm healed now. It's waiting to find the right person to belong to…"

"Nobody deserves that crest more than you, Ichijoui-san. You are a kind soul."

"No…my soul is tainted more than anybody's here. I have a dark soul. It's not evil…just dark." Ken wrapped his fingers around the light purple crest. "It will leave me soon and my true crest will come. Darkness is not always bad, Izumi-san. Sometimes…the night can heal your deepest wounds." His violet eyes glanced over at the now sleeping Iori and Cabbi. Koushirou glanced over as well.

"Sometimes the nighttime hurts the worst."

& & &

"This is it." Hikari said suddenly.

"Nani, tenshi?" Miyako asked, turned around.

"This is it. Right here."

"This is where it ends." Takeru's voice joined hers.

"Takaishi-san?" Chidori gazed at him, with a confused frown.

"This is where we fought him." At Taichi's voice, shivers traveled down the Chosen Children's spines.

"I can't believe it. We're back." Mimi rubbed her arms.

"It won't end up the same, Mimi." Palmon promised.

"We'll all do our best!" Takamon suddenly shouted.

"Hai." Takeru agreed.

"Should we wait here?" Yamato asked.

"He's bound to show up again." Gabumon snarled.

"He will come to us." Hikari agreed.

"I already have."

As one they turned. Cabbi felt the blood within her surge.

Momiji stood, panting harshly. His eyes were stained as white his hair.

"You're almost your original form…" Koushirou calmly noticed.

"Hai. Soon, I will be as I once was."

Momiji suddenly fell to his knees. His thin frame shook as he harshly coughed.

"Momiji!" Sora rushed forward and tripped over her own feet.

"My sky…" Momiji rose to his knees and held out his hand. Koushirou watched as his eyes faded from purple to white.

"DIABOROMON!" Lowvell screamed.

"IIE! MOMIJI!" Sora screamed.

"Love!"

"YYYYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Momiji screamed in pain as light erupted from his tag.

"It's killing him! His crest is destroying him!" Sora screamed. "Let me go, MOMIJI!"

"The Nameless Crest will kill the boy you love…" Cabbi whispered.

"Momiji…" Sora sobbed. "Please, we have to save him! He's a Chosen Child, too! Please, save him!"

"You called, Partner?" Diaboromon fuzzed into existence next to Lowvell.

"Hai…" He let his weight down on his arms.

"You can't fight us now!" Cabbi cried out.

"Why not? It just takes a simple swing of my arm-" He raised one arm and swung it toward them. They all cried out and raised their arms over their faces. "-and I can force all of you to your knees!"

"The Prophecy must be followed! Not all the Crests have been found, Diaboromon!"

"You really think I'm going to wait until you can actually fight me? That's stupid!"

"YAAAHH!" The Chosen Children screamed out as he raked their claws towards them again.

"You're partner is going to die if you use his power in his condition, look at him!"

"I will destroy before his life escapes him."

Cabbi let go of Sora and jumped forward. She sprung towards the ground and flipped, pushing her paws hard into the soft grass. Her feet landed on Diaboromon's face. She pushed off of his face and landed next to Miyako. A large chunk of his face was deleted.

"I'm still just as powerful as you are! You're weak too! I could destroy you now to protect my Chosen Children! I may be deleted with you, but you will have to wait another seventy years as well. Are you willing to?" Cabbbi hissed.

Diaboromon snarled. Her ear went up and she smirked.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you!"

He and Momiji disappeared.

"Thank goodness, Cab-Cabbi?" Miyako quickly grabbed her.

"I…I lost some strength. I had to use a bit of my soul to delete just that little bit."

"Of course! You tired to use Yuuta's crest! That's her crest, not yours." Koushirou felt her forehead.

"I don't have a crest." Cabbi agreed.

"So…you really couldn't delete him, could you?" Gomamon asked.

"I-Iie. I could not. I bluffed and he believed me. Only because he's scared of the Prophecy. He used my bluff as an excuse."

"How could he be scared of it? He could destroy us all now, no problem."

"Iie. No matter what, the prophecy must come true. He'd be bringing his death sooner."

"So we're guaranteed to win?" Eri asked.

"Iie. No one knows the actual outcome, but if he were to try to destroy us before it was time, he would surely fail." Cabbi nuzzled Koushirou's shirt. "Strange…I smell aisukukriimu…French vanilla." Her eyes closed as Koushirou's widened.

"Yu-Yuuta…" Koushirou gripped Cabbi closer and bit the inside of his cheek. She's so close…so far away…I miss you.

"Ano…I was wondering…"

"Hai, Daisuke?" Taichi ruffled his hair.

"Maa…the Prophecy says the continuing line of heroes…does that mean some one is preggo?" Daisuke asked.

Everyone turned and looked at Cabbi.

"SHE ISN'T PREGNANT!" Koushirou shrieked, flaming red.

"Demo…all the rest of us are gay…maybe…Sora?"

They all turned to look at her.

"IIE! I would know! It's been a while now, I should know by now, ne?" Sora exclaimed.

"Hai…definitely." Chidori agreed.

"I'm going to go email Tsumi-chan. Come on, Ken."

"Whoa!"

"ARE YOU PREGGO? YOU'RE RUNNING OFF SCARED!" Daisuke accused.

"YOU FREAK! I'M STILL A FRIGGIN VIRGIN!!!!!" Eri screamed.

A screaming match between erupted.

"I guess that's how he wanted to relieve his tension." Gabumon said.

"But he's right…who is going to continue-"

"Oh kami…" Iori gasped. His legs collapsed.

"No, I'm sure that's not it, Iori-kun." Takeru quickly dropped beside him.

"Demo…demo…I-I raped her! I know I did! I…I'm continuing the line of the heroes! No one else…there's no one else it could be!" Iori gripped his hair. "What have I done!?"

"Shhh, Iori-kun, shh, it'll be all right. We don't if she is or not."

Iori started to chuckle. His laughter caught in his throat and he coughed, still laughing.

"Iori-kun?"

"He did it! He just helped us fulfill part of the prophecy." Iori laughed wildly through his tears.

& & &

"Sensei! She moved!" The nurse called out. She watched as the small girl laid her hand on her stomach.

"I…Iori…" Chichi whispered.

& & &

"We made it here." Alan gasped. He lowered the tired Mimi in his arms back to the ground. Betamon hopped out of her arms to the pond.

"Let's hope Gennai is still down there." Mushroomon muttered. Chidori smacked his head.

"YEAH!" Betamon crowed happily splashing around.

"Be careful up there! That's my front yard!" Gennai's voice cried angrily. Everyone sighed in relief.

"Gennai!" Cabbi jumped into the pond as the water parted. She landed on the grass gracefully and set down Sora. "We're here!"

"You did well."

"What happened? How did Momiji get out of here."

Gennai's old face fell.

"Gomen nasai, Sora."

"Let's go inside and eat something first. Gennai will explain, Sora." Biyomon gently suggested. Sora nodded.

"So…let me get this straight." Yamato leaned back on his elbows. "You went to make some food, and he was gone by the time you got back?"

"I went after him…but I can't go far from this place. Diaboromon would be able to track me down and delete me and I'm still needed."

"Gennai…can you answer me a question about back in the Human World?"

"I already know your question, Iori." Gennai rose and walked to the window. "You are going to be a father."

"What about Chichi-chan? Is she going to live?" Iori jumped to his feet.

"I don't know."

"Then what good are you?" Iori snapped. "What have you done for us? Everything we've done so far was struggle and lose ground! And you just disappear!" Iori clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"He found Kokubunji-chan." Jyou said quietly. Iori turned.

"G-Gomen nasai." Iori murmured.

Silence filled the little house. Cabbi looked at the sad faces around her.

"Time for sleep." She decided loudly. They nodded, a few of them even smiled at her.

& & &

Miyako woke up suddenly, gripping her chest.

"Hikari…my heart hurts again. Hikari?" Miyako turned and saw the empty futon next to her.

She got up, puzzled and worried. She slid open the door and looked down the hallway both ways. She slowly walked towards the front room.

"Hikari…" Miyako whispered. She turned to look out in the water. She paused. There were two people standing in the water. She squinted and pressed her nose to the glass.

Blonde hair glowed in the moonlight that shimmered through the rippling water.

"Hi…Hikari?" Miyako watched with wide eyes as the two forms embraced. "Hikari…and Takeru?" She stumbled backwards. Her socks made her slip on the smooth wood floor. Her eyes filled with tears s her body trembled. "D-Demo…I thought…" She heard them coming to the door and quickly crawled and slipped down the hall. She managed to get into the bedroom before the front door opened.

"All right. We'll wait to tell the others." Hikari's voice was heavy with doubt.

"It's for the best. You know Hideki-chan and Miyako-chan, they can't know about this yet."

"But Take-kun…I don't want to lie to her."

"It'll only be for a little while. The meeting with Diaboromon and Lowvell will be soon. We only have to wait until then."

"Hai…"

Kitty: Ah, end of chapter twenty-two! So soon, too. I think the last chapter is the next one, and then maybe an epilogue. I think poor Iori deserves an epilogue! Cabbi and Koushirou, too. My poor baby! I'M SORRY I'M MAKING YOU MISERABLE!

Izzy: Then, let go of my head. --

Kitty: My math tutor-slash-friend is letting me use her brother's computer. She wanted to be mentioned, so give a shout out to her in your next review!!! CHAA!!!