It took six months to update, and I guess some of you might be a little annoyed (though you haven't said anything, I can certainly guess so) but...good things come to those who wait, right? I wrote the latter half of this when I was feeling angry, passionate, and a little hurt and sad. I wanted it to turn out just right, and I'm not sure that it has, so I'll let you be the judge of it.
I know I left out Izzy and Tai's worst fears, but I felt it wasn't necessary. But if you want to know, both involved family and feelings of loss, too.
I don't normally dedicate chapters, but there's a first time for everything. This is dedicated to everyone who's read this story, and/or reviewed, especially Kara.
The story will be finished up in another two chapters, and hopefully by or just after New years.
Disclaimer: Insert favorite disclaimer here ; )
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Yolei was plotting. She sat on her throne, staring off into space, a smile on her face. Halsemon lay beside her, a stately and elegant guardian for his Empress. Yolei absently stroked his feathers, and Halsemon arched his neck in appreciation; his eyes were red and wild, glowing in the dim light of the throne room.
"How does one get rid of a pest, hmm?" she mused. Standing, she bagan to pace, the silk of her gown swishing and billowing dramatically. Halsemon watched indulgently, crossing his paws.
"If I get rid of Ken's little ball-and-chain, Deeanna," Yolei sneered."he'll be free once more. And then he'll be mine!" she gloated, flouncing about."An Empress needs an Emperor, after all!"
Yolei would make a good evil Empress, it's true. She had the vindictiveness and malice, and certainly looked the part. But she lacked the flair and know-how Ken had once had. She knew what she wanted and how she wanted to get it, but didn't seem to know just how she would go about achieving it.
To put it simply: while she had the right look and the right idea, as an evil Empress, she was an imbecile.
Sensing this, DarkPalmon decided to step in.
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Ken was more determined than ever to see this quest through. He wasn't turning back. Not after that setback on the plain, not even after the forsaken forest.
He was also angry. He felt like he was being toyed with, and was he ever pissed off. And when Ken was determined, and angry, things tended to go a lot faster.
As he stomped his way through the rest of the forest, Ken noticed that Tai and Izzy were keeping their distances.
"What?" Ken snapped at them, narrowing his eyes.
"I can feel the anger radiating off you," Tai complained, rubbing his arms."You're creepy when you do that."
Ken exhaled strongly through his nose in an attempt to calm down. No such luck.
They were making more progress than they originally had. And no more nasty surprisees. Suspicious, yes, but very welcome.
"It's almost as if this part of the Digital World was reacting to Ken's emotions," Izzy mused.
"Say what?" Tai glanced at Izzy.
"Well, think about it. Would you want to mess with him, to try to impede him from reaching his goal when he's like this?" Izzy gestured, and Tai looked back at Ken.
He could almost see the steam shooting out the younger man's ears. Tai raised an eyebrow.
"I see your point."
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Deeanna, though in newly returned good humour, was slightly annoyed. The other Digidestined refused to leave her alone, in case she had another relapse.
"I'm not made of glass, so you don't need to hover over me," she said with a smile, though her eyes were starting to glint dangerously. And, quite sensibly, they backed off.
"Now, I'm not going to sit cooped up all day," Deeanna continued."So somebody, for the love of little Digi-eggs, take me out!"
"Eh?" Matt asked.
"I need fresh air!" Deeanna wailed dramatically, flopping herself onto the couch."I'll suffocate in here! Please, take me to the park. Take me for a walk, oh hell, even take me to the mall. I don't care, as long as I get out of here!"
Everyone laughed.
"Alright," Matt smiled indulgently as he ruffled her hair."Go get your purse or whatever. I'll take you out."
Deeanna cheered and threw her arms around Matt's neck.
"Matt, you don't know how much I love you right now!" she cried, then rushed to the bedroom to find her purse and keys, and do something about her hair.
"Is that wise?" Joe asked after a minute.
"Well, like she says, she's not made of glass," Matt shrugged."And maybe some fresh air will do her some good. I mean, she's pretty healthy right now, aside from the virus. She's a good kid who doesn't deserve what's happening to her, and I care about her a lot, and I want her to be happy. So why not?"
"Why not what?" Deeanna asked stepping back into the living room. She'd pulled her hair back in a bushy ponytail and had her purse dangling from one hand.
"Nothing you should worry your pretty head about," Matt smiled charmingly. Deeanna was shamelessly susceptable to flattery, and he knew it.
"Oh...okay!" Deeanna grinned back at him. Sora covered her mouth with her hand to hide the smile that was blooming. She didn't mind that Matt was turning his charms on Deeanna
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Matt and Kari took her to the park. The others dispersed for the day, but said they'd be back that night. Deeanna didn't mind Kari coming too. In the short time they'd spent constantly together, they'd become closer than they ever had before. And Kari was unwilling to leave Deeanna alone for even for a little while.
Matt treated them all to ice cream, indulging Deeanna's sweet tooth. They sat at a table outside the ice cream stand. Matt watched the two girls dig into the sundae they were sharing, playfully fighting over the cherries, as he sipped his milkshake.
"Mmm, thanks Matt!" Deeanna smiled, eyes closed in the sort of rapture that only comes from vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate syrup, mounds of fluffy whipped cream and marshmallow, crushed peanuts, sprinkles and cherries. And those little crumbled-up cookie things! Those were Deeanna's favorite!
"You're welcome," Matt nodded.
Deeanna stuck a spoonful of sprinkle-studded ice cream in her mouth and let it melt on her tongue. She felt wonderful. It was hard to believe she'd been so sick or in such pain the day before.
That thought led to suspicions about Yolei's disaperance. Deeanna didn't like to judge prematurely, but her dream had been so real. A little too real. She was certain that Yolei had chosen a darker path...
"Deeanna?"
Deeanna blinked at the hand waving in front of her eyes.
"Earth to space cadet. Come in Deeanna," Matt called in a sing-song voice, though there was an undertone of worry.
"Huh?"
"Your expression changed so quickly," Kari said." You looked sad and kind of worried. And then you just spaced out."
"What's wrong?" Matt asked softly. Deeanna wrung a napkin in her hands.
"My dream Matt," she said in a low voice."About Halsemon. I just know it has something to do with why Yolei disapeared. I think it's a warning."
"I know," Matt said, and Kari nodded in agreement."I know that some of us are willing to give her a chance, but Sora and I think Yolei's definately not on our side anymore."
"But did she willingly choose the other side?" Deeanna looked at Matt, chewing her lip."I don't want to be wrong about this. I may not like her that much anymore, and she sure as hell is annoying, but...yeah, I don't want to be wrong."
"I don't think any of us do," Matt said gently.
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Izzy couldn't believe how quickly the quest was progressing. Ken's anger and determination were driving them forwards. The Digital World itself bowed and twisted a clear path for them with few obstacles to slow them down.
"Do you feel that?"
Ken had stopped and was staring straight ahead with a slight scowl on his face. He was rubbing his arms, as if cold. Tai shivered.
"I feel it too," he said warily."What is it?"
"Power," Ken said quietly. He bowed his head, shaking, eyes fierce."I've felt this before, years ago. When I was the Digimon Emperor, I always felt this...this opposing power. It seemed to mock me, because I couldn't conquer it, and it remained free in spite of my efforts. I wanted to crush it, but I couldn't...!"
Tai and Izzy took a step back. Ken looked like his was warring with himself, or some other entity. Ken struggled with it for a minute, whimpering softly, and relaxed. He closed his eyes and smiled a grim little smile.
"But I know what it is. It's the Digimon Guardians. Only they radiate this kind of power," Ken said softly."We aren't far."
"Very good, Digidestined of Kindness!"
All three men froze at the loud, echoing voice that seemed to laugh at them.
"And may I congratulate you on passing the final test?"
There was a blinding white light that forced them to cover their eyes. When they looked again, they were in the middle of an old stone temple. And surrounding them were...
"Sweet bleeding..." Tai started to swear.
"Prodigious," Izzy gulped.
"You!" was all Ken could manage.
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"Uhh..." Deeanna gasped, putting a hand to her head as if in pain.
"Deeanna?!" Matt stood abruptly, knocking over his chair."What is it? What's wrong? Ice cream headache?"
"Ah...it felt like Ken," Deeanna gasped."Like he was fighting himself for a minute or so. He...almost lost control."
"You felt that?" Kari was stunned. Deeanna nodded and forced a smile.
"I always have," she replied softly."Ever since the first time our Digimon DNA Digivolved together, when I felt his heart beating with mine."
"Wow," Matt was startled."That's deep. Does this mean he's in trouble?"
"No," Deeanna frowned.She looked tired."The danger has passed. He's alright now."
"Let's get you back home."
Deeanna didn't protest.
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Azulongmon, Ebonwumon, Baihumon, and Zhuquiaomon surrounded the 3 Digidestined.
"What did you mean, I passed the final test?" Ken demanded.
"The final test was if you would recognise the power you felt, and would you, Digidestined of Kindness, resist the urge to conquer it? Resist the old you?" Azulongmon said.
Ken broke out in a cold sweat. He had seen the Digimon Emperor in his mind, tempting him to take over once more, and unleash the last remnant of that twisted, evil person. He had almost lost that struggle, but had managed to banish him for good. He felt on the urge of hyperventilating. Or at the very least, being violently sick on the temple flagstones.
"And you passed," Azulongmon continued."Few do. And still fewer get as far as you did."
"Do you know why we came?" Ken asked boldly.
"Ah, yes," Zhuquiaomon said in an austere manner."You have come to plead for a life. You want us, the Digimon Guardians, to give up a rare and precious Tahirah Flower, to save the life of one Deeanna Ichijouji."
Wordlessly, they nodded.
"No."
"What?!"
Ken looked pleadingly to to the other 3 Guardians, but they remained silent and calm, almost chill. Apparently, Zhuquiaomon was spokes-mon here.
"Tell me, tell us," Zhuquiaomon included his fellow guardians with a sweap of his wing."why we should. Convince us, change our minds. Or the answer you recieve will still be 'No'."
"Please," Tai was shaking. He had just realised how much was riding on this."She helped to save the Digital World! She was the strong one, the shining light when no one else was able. Deeanna doesn't deserve this, she's done nothing wrong!"
"If she dies, Shadow Myotismon's data will be released again, and find its way back to the Digital World. There will be chaos!" Izzy said logically."More will die!"
"The Digital World won't be the same without her. She's the leader of the Digidestined, she's the glue that keeps us all together," Tai added.
The Digmon Guardians looked unmoved.
"She's our friend!" Tai tried again."We can't let this happen to her."
"What say you, Digidestined of Kindness?" Azulongmon asked, not altogether unfeelingly."You've said nothing so far. Tell us why Deeanna should be spared."
Ken had been staring at the floor in utter despair. His eyes had been slowly filling with tears, and now he raised them to meet Azulongmon's.
"Please, give me the Tahirah Flower," the tears began to trickle down his face, but Ken made no move to stop them."Please," it came out like a sob."I have to save her. We all have to. We knew her for a year or two before she had to leave, and now that she's come back...it's not enough time. It's not enough!
She's only 18, and she's going to die! I...I couldn't live with myself if I couldn't save her! If she had to die scared and in pain, with some digital virus eating her from the inside out! It's not fair!" Ken dropped to his knees, and pounded the floor with his fists."Please!"
The Digimon Guardians wavered slightly, looking at each other.
"I love her!" Ken stared wildly at each of the Guardians, eyes wide and full of tears. Tai and Izzy felt sick and helpless as they watched Ken pour his heart out."I love her, and I couldn't bear it! I just couldn't!" Ken sobbed."Please, please don't let her die!"
He felt the Digimon Guardians were still unconvinced. He came to a drastic thought, and decided to act upon it.
"Please," he stood on shaking legs."Give the Tahirah Flower to Tai and Izzy for Deeanna. And let me die in her place!"
"No!" Tai and Izzy yelled.
"Take me instead of her!" Ken demanded."I know you can do it, I know it!"
The Digimon Guardians glanced at each other.
"You would do this?" Ebonwumon asked.
"Yes," Ken answered.
"For her?" Baihumon asked.
"Yes," Ken clenched his fists."Yes!"
"Digidestined of Kindness, close your eyes," Zhuquiaomon sounded so stern...
Ken closed his eyes, shaking, ignoring Tai and Izzy's cries. He had no regrets.
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Matt and Kari had taken Deeanna home, and they were sitting on the couch talking. Deeanna started to shake.
"Please, no..." she whimpered. She felt something strange, a sudden desperation."Ken, no..."
"More trouble?" Kari cried.
Deeanna didn't answer, but began to cry. Matt and Kari put their arms around her. It was all they could do for the sorrowful young woman.
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Ken felt something in his hands. Slowly, he opened his eyes. He was still alive, still in the temple. He looked down. There, shining brilliantly in his hands was a large, pure white flower, whose petals shimmered almost as if with moonlight.
"What...?" he asked, bewildered. He looked at the Digimon Guardians. They seemed more gentle, less harsh and imposing.
"Ken Ichijouji," Azulongmon said gently."You were willing to give up your own life to save Deeanna. That is true kindness. And through offering that sacrifice, one life for another, you have earned the Tahirah Flower."
"Thank you," Ken sobbed gratefully.
"How do we use it?" Izzy asked.
"Let Deeanna drink the essense of the flower when it is boiled into tea," Zhuquiaomon answered."She must drink it all. And then you must wait. It will take many hours, and it will be extremely painful for her, but she will be saved."
"You must not, however, remove the flower from the Digital World," Ebonwumon cautioned.
"It will wither and disapear if it is," Baihumon explained."It was not meant to leave this world."
"Go now," Azulongmon said, and the 3 men suddenly found themselves in a regular part of the Digital World, next to a stream
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By the time the other Digidestined had returned, Deeanna had stopped crying, and was sitting quietly, looking limp and worn. She couldn't explain what had happened, because she didn't fully understand herself. The desperation, the sadness, the utter despair. What had happened to Ken?
The girls sat with Deeanna to comfort her, while the others tried to decide what to do. What if something had happened to Ken, Tai, and Izzy? Should they go after them?
"Oh!" Deeanna suddenly lept up, pulling out her D-Terminal. Her hands shook as she read the message out loud.
"'Deeanna, Mission accomplished. Come to the Digital World right away, and...bring a pot and a mug'," Deeanna almost dropped the D-Terminal.Instead, she dropped to her knees."Bring a pot?! And a mug?!"
"He must have a reason," T.K said, hauling deeanna back up."Come on, let's go!"
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Deeanna burst out of the Digiport and into Ken's arms. They held each other while the others sorted themselves out from the tangle they were in (never having really perfected their landing style).
Tai had started a small fire while they had been waiting for the others to come. He snatched the pot from Matt's feeble grasp (feeble, since Matt was on the bottom of the pile and was being crushed), filled it with water, and set it to boil.
"What's going on?" Deeanna asked, clinging to Ken like a burr.
"We got the flower!" Ken smiled tiredly."You're going to be okay!"
It didn't take long for the water to boil, and the tea to be brewed. Deeanna, cuddled between Ken and Kari, eyed the mug of steaming, fragrant liquid that Tai held out to her. It didn't smell unplesant, but she was still wary.
"Come on, Zhuquiaomon himself said this would cure you," Tai coaxed.
Deeanna took the mug and downed it in a few gulps. Pulling a face, she handed the mug back. Dismayed, she was given another mugful.
"You have to drink it all," Izzy explained.
Mug after mug, Deeanna fought off increasing waves of nausea as she continued to drink, faltering. Her friends and husband coaxed, pleaded, and encouraged her even as it became to difficult to hold the mug herself, which Ken did before she could drop it. Soon, all the tea was gone.
Deeanna slumped weakly between Ken and Kari. She couldn't hold herself up anymore. She heard her friends shouting at her, but it made no sense to her. Then the pain came.
It was a different pain that she'd felt before. But it was still enough to keep her screaming and sobbing, fighting against the hands that held and tried to soothe her..
She didn't understand that this torturous pain was the purity of the Tahirah Flower tea fighting against the vile rotting of the virus. She didn't understand that it was helping, or that her friends were trying to help, too. All she knew and understood was the burning acid in her veins, the explosions of agony in her fevered mind, the inferno of flames in her torso.
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Ken felt helpless. As the hours dragged on, all he could so was try to hold Deeanna as she moaned and writhed, or screamed and cried incoherently from the pain. They were both exausted and sweat soaked. The Digimon had ran and hid in the bushes, afraid of what had been happening. They cautiously peeked out.
But Deeanna was starting to calm. The screams came less frequently. Finally, they stopped altogether, and Deeanna seemed to slip into an easier sleep.
"Is it over?" Cody whispered. The last few hours had been horrifying to him.
"I think so," Ken replied cautiously. Aside from the occasional twitch or whimper, Deeanna seemed to be okay. Ken gathered her up in his arms.
"Let's go home, sweetheart," he whispered in her ear.
No one noticed that they were being watched, or the figure that quickly ran away.
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Deeanna opened her eyes, blinking at the sunlight that was directly in her eyes.
"Eh?" she mumbled, noticing that she was tucked up snuggly in bed beside Ken, who seemed to be asleep. Wormmon slept soundly with Demiveemon in the little basket bed.
"Must be dreaming..." she sighed, and rolled over to go back to sleep. In doing this, she came face to face with Ken, who wasn't asleep after all.
"You're awake!" Ken sat bolt upright, and caught Deeanna up in his arms."You've been out for over a day!"
"I have?" Deeanna was confused."It's been that long?"
"Yeah," Ken nodded.
"Wow," Deeanna mumbled. She pulled away from Ken, intending to look at the clock, and winced as the movement irritated her sore diaphragm.
"Hurts?" Ken asked. Deeanna nodded."I shouldn't wonder. With all the screaming you did, not to mention whatever that tea did to the virus, I'd be surprised if it didn't hurt!"
Tenderly, Ken tucked Deeanna back in under the comforter, and fluffed up her pillows.
"Stay in bed, darling," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead."You need to get your strength back. That cure took a lot out of you. I'll go make you some breakfast."
"Yay!" Deeanna cheered. Ken laughed and left the room, leaving Deeanna to her thoughts.
Her first thought was that she felt different, normal. Was she really cured? Truly? Happy tears welled up in her lovely brown eyes. The absense of lingering pain and fear was almost startling.
Her next thought was that she and Ken were going to have a nice, long talk. Where did he get off, frightening her like that? But then...Ken didn't know about that subtle bond, did he? Probably not. And if she had it out with him, then he'd probably find out about just how ill she'd been while he was away, and then Ken would yell, and she would yell, and they'd probably end up making up by...
Deeanna grinned, and squirmed delightedly under the comforter, interupting her run-on thoughts. It felt so good to be well. So good to be alive!
"It's good to see you looking happy again!"
Deeanna looked up as the cheerful voice rang out. Tai was leaning cockily in the doorway, with Matt peering over his shoulder.
"Tai! Matt!" she cried. The two men perched one on each side of her.
"You look 110 better already," Tai greeted, before he was grabbed about the middle and squeezed in a newly strengthened grip that made him gasp.
"Oh, thank you for what you did, Tai!" Deeanna cried happily. Tai mussed up her already bed-tussled hair.
"Anything for you," Tai grinned.
"Um..." Deeanna tilted her head curiously."but...why are you here?"
"Well, believe it or not," and Tai looked slightly embarassed."when we got back, Ken, Izzy, and I slept as long as you did, so we never really left. That quest really took it out of us, and Izzy said that humans weren't meant to walk that path, or something like that."
"And the rest of us stayed to look after you all, and we didn't want to go until you were up and feeling better, either," Matt explained."Everyone else is out in the living room."
Deeanna laughed to herself. Was she doomed to be constantly under watch? And, of course, this meant no fight between her and Ken, and no steamy kiss-and-make-up, either. Drat.
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Deeanna had the luxery of a private breakfast with Ken, and a post-breakfast nap. When she got up, she was alone. She could hear voices in the living room, so she decided to make herself presentable.
A quick shower later, Deeanna was dressed in old comfortable jeans and a tank top, and had tied her hair up in short, spikey pigtails. She was applying a little gloss when DemiVeemon wandered in munching a granola bar. He mumbled a greeting around his mouthful. Deeanna scooped him up and knicked the last of his bar.
"What can I say," she shrugged when her Digimon glared tearfully in protest over the loss of his snack."I have my normal appitite back, pal."
DemiVeemon's expression softened.
"I'm glad you're better, Davish."
"Thanks, buddy," Deeanna smiled."Listen, I have to talk to Ken."
"Aboui what?" DemiVeemon's curiousity was peaked.
"You'll see," Deeanna replied, standing."C'mon."
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Everyone looked up as Deeanna entered the living room. Ken stood up, nearly spilling the cup of coffee he was holding.
"Deeanna!" he cried."Are you sure you should be up?"
"I feel fine," Deeanna replied. She certainly looked fine. The dark circles and lines of fatigue and pain were gone, replaced by smooth, luminous skin. She looked like any other normal young woman. If Deeanna could be classified as normal by any standards.
She allowed Ken to lead her to the couch, and they sat. Everyone else began to babble questions at her about her well being, or exclaimations of joy over her recovery from certain death. She endured this with goodnatured exasperation.
"Now, what was everyone talking about before I came out here?" she asked.
Everyone fell silent.
"Oh..." Sora murmered uncomfortably."We were just telling Ken about Yolei's disapearance."
Deeanna's face fell.
"I see," she said softly.
"It'll be okay," Ken put his arm around his wife."We'll get her back if she's been kidnapped. And if not, and she's switched sides, I won't let her hurt you."
Deeanna closed her eyes and clenched her fists and teeth. She could care less about being protected right now. She could see no other way to tell him, but to blurt it right out. He had to know!
"Ken, I have to tell-" Deeanna started to say desperately, when everyone's D-Terminal's began to beep. Disapointed, Deeanna reached for hers from the coffee table.
Everyone had recieved the same message.
'Dear Digiestined,
Don't feel too cocky that you've saved Deeanna. How do I know this? News travels fast in the Digital World. Don't think your troubles are over yet, because you have yet to see how much trouble I can really cause!
I suppose you've noticed by now that your precious Digidestined of Love and Sincerity is now missing. If you do not wish her to come to harm, I suggest you meet me at the following co-ordinates.'
Aside from the co-ordinates, that was all the message said. It wasn't signed at all.
"Maybe we were wrong," Sora whispered to Matt.
Deeanna's heart sank. How could she have been wrong about something she thought she'd had right? It still felt as though she was right about Yolei, but how could she say so now?
"We'd better go, then," she said flatly."If she needs us, who are we to abandon a fellow Digidestined in her time of need?"
"Are you sure?" Ken asked quietly.
"I don't like it!" Deeanna snapped."And not just because it looks like an obvious trap! I still don't think she was kidnapped. I think she went of her own free will! But I really can't judge her, now can I?"
"Deeanna-"
"Shut up!" Deeanna snarled at Ken. Everyone stared, then looked at each other."Everyone deserves the benefit of a doubt. I was willing to give you a chance, Ken, when everyone else thought you were pure evil. No matter what I think right now, what my heart tells me, or what my personal feelings are, this is no different!"
She glared at everyone. They began to sweat bullets.
"We're going to go, and we're going to be careful. If it is a trap, we'll pull back. If it's not, then we'll fight and we'll win!"
"So?" she snapped, her eyes burning. She pointed stiffly to the computer."Hop to it! NOW!"
Tai resisted the ridiculous urge to salute as he and the others made a mad scramble to the computer to open a Digiport. He'd never seen his successor this angry, or this...effective. Skillful. Angry. He was proud.
Deeanna took a deep breath and forcefully let it out. She didn't want to be doing this. She knew something was off, but one didn't abandon another in their time of need. The others hadn't abandoned her, so why should she start? She would just tell Ken later.
Before she followed the others, she pulled her goggles, her lucky talisman, out of her purse and put them on.