Author's note: I Feel terrible! It's been forever since I've updated. I'm so sorry! I promise that my next story will be better kept up on! But here's what I want to know from my readers...The next story is going to have no relation to this one. In fact the digimon will not be making an appearance, it's going to be AU...but would you like it to focus on TaixIris, Sorato, Koumi, Takari, or Jyoux Yuuki? Lemme know in replies please! I promise to step up on that story. I have like one more chapter of this one and then I'll be starting that one.

-SAO

Chapter 17:

They all ran through the halls, not paying any attention to what was going on around them. Many of the digimon were fighting each other and the ones who were on the digidestined's side were keeping the bad digimon from the kids. Tai grabbed Irisaeva's hand to keep from losing her as they rounded a corner. The others had spread out to clear out the castle and would meet up with the other two after. Stepping to the side Tai slammed Irisaeva into the stone wall to keep her from getting hit by an enemy digimon's attack. A moment later War Greymon smashed the digimon into the wall. "Go!"

The two teens stared at the giant dinosaur and nodded, Kyubimon ran up next to them, with patamon on her back. "Let's go. there isn't much time," The fox stated kneeling so the two could get on.

Irisaeva looked at Tai for a moment, before quickly looking away. Tai frowned and raised an eyebrow, curious to know what waas wrong with the female. He climbed behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her should. "Tai,"

He looked at the girl the best he could and moved, letting her know he was listening. Kyubimon started running down the rest of the hallway, easily avoiding any digimon. "Whatever happens, please don't interfere," she whispered calmly.

Tai was confused. Don't interfere? But the whole point of him coming with her was to help her, not sit on the side lines ad watch as she possibly died! He tightened his grip on her and shook his head, refusing to let her do this on her own. "No. I won't-I can't! Don't you get that?!" He yelled as they slowed.

Irisaeva sighed and climbed off Kyubimon's back, waiting for Tai to follow. When he was off she cupped his face in her hands and smiled sadly. "Tai. This isn't one of those times where you can help me. Yes you can support me, but I have to fight Gabriel alone. He is my battle and my responsibility," she said as her eyes watered.

Tai watched as the girl he knew for a fact he loved with all his heart, even though they had only known each other for a short amount of time, begin to break down in front of him. Wasn't he supposed to be the one crying? Was he so pathetic that he couldn't even cry in front of her? She grasped her wrists, holding them on his face as she began to move them. "Why? Why can't I help you? I-I love you! You know that!" He shouted moving his hands so they cupped her face.

Irisaeva sighed and let her tears flow freely and shamelessly down her face. "Gabriel is- He's,"

She tried to look away from the brown eyes that she loved so much, but found she couldn't, she had to tell him, he had to know. "He's me," she stated flatly.

Tai frowned. That's not possible...Gabriel is a guy! She's lying, there is no way that, that thing was her. It was impossible. "No. No! He's not! He can't be,"

Irisaeva nodded. "He is all of my evil. If I touch him willingly, he thinks that he will destroy me, when the reality of it is, he'll perish, but his evil will taint my soul. I won't become the bad guy...but...I won't be innocent. the things he did to the digimon and everyone, I would be the one to have done it. Every emotion that he felt, every evil thing he's ever thought, will be in my head forever. I may not be evil Tai, but I won't be good either. I'll be like everyone else. As long as Gabriel is around though, no one will be able to live happily," she whispered resting her forehead on his. "Every mermaid has one, mine's just manifested itself to the point of thought and logic. And A vampire is the form it takes. That's how they were created, mermaids born without evil in them have their evil created in a separate deity, until they are ready to take it,"

Tai shook his head at the brunette. "What will happen to you exactly. You're still hiding something," he whispered wrapping his arms around her.

Irisaeva gulped. "I-I most likely won't live with the amount of power he possess,"

Tai gave her a kiss on the lips, long and passionate before letting her go. "But you have to do it right?" he questioned already knowing the answer.

Irisaeva nodded. She looked over the bushy haired males shoulder and looked at her digimon. "Kyubimon, Patamon, find the others and get them out, make sure Tai goes with you. The castle will fall as soon as I absorb Gabriel's power,"

Tai kissed her one more time. "I will always love you, and will find you,"

Irisaeva nodded at his statement before turning around to face the door. She took a shaky breath before stepping through it and slamming it shut behind her.

***

"TAI! HOW COULD YOU JUST LET HER GO?! SHE'S OUR FRIEND! DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT HER AT ALL!" Yamato shouted as they watched the castle fall with the backdrop of a setting sun.

Tai could only stare at the fallen structure, he didn't care what any of his friends said, he was broken, he would never find anyone again. She was gone, he could feel it, and he wasn't ever going to see her again. He cold feel the tears on his face, but didn't acknowledge them otherwise. "Yama. Look at him," Sora whispered taking hold of the sapphire eyed males hand. "He's completely broken. Let him be. He knew what he was doing, and knew the risks, but he still let her go because he had to. He knew it was the only way,"

Always insightful Sora was. Tai wiped away his tears and looked to his friends. Everyone was bruised, bleeding, or tired. He didn't blame them. This was a lot to take in, in a short amount of time. "Let's go home," he said.

Everyone looked at him and nodded, he was after all the leader and what he said went. "Tai, you sure? She could still be-" Kari began, but the look on her brother's face told her he knew she was gone.

***

Four months went by slowl, but things started to go back to normal. Tai hadn't completely recovered, but he had lost his true love, and he was never going to get her back. He had driven to the lake and gone to see her father to explain things. He understood, and Tai lived in with the merpeople for two months, missing school and just dropping off the face of the earth. The other Digidestined knew where he had gone, and decided following him wasn't a smart idea, they knew he'd come back when he was ready.

The group had slowly gone their separate ways, nodding to each other in the halls, none of them speaking up and asking who they liked out, in fear Tai would get hurt, even though he was underwater and no where near them. They had mad a packed to wait for their leader to return and were overjoyed when he showed up ready to play soccer and happy, for the most part. A part of him was still missing but it was never going to be filled.

"Tai...you don't mind if I ask Sora out would you?" Yamato asked as they sat outside on the roof of the school.

It had been exactly four months since she had disappeared. the bushy haired brunette gave his blond companion an odd look. "Yamato. Seriously? I mean come on! Just do it already for cryin' out loud! I don't mind1 I want Izzy and Meems to go out too! And my little sister with your little brother! I want you to all be happy, I won't be hurt, honest," he shouted wavy his arms in the air like a mad man.

Yamato chuckled, glad that his friend was almost back to normal. "Alright...but um...I think...once we graduate...I'm going to ask her to marry me,"

Tai grinned. "So long as I'm best man,"

Yamato shook his head and patted his friend on the back. "Wouldn't have it any other way,"

Author's note: Tell me what you think. I promise there's ONE more chapter. lemme know if you cried, or if you didn't like it or...well you get it. 3

-SAO