Chapter 11: Enemies

"Sooo…got anything besides tea?" Joe broke the awkward silence hesitantly; he and Shi had been staring at the screen watching the outside of Zui's barrier for what felt like a lifetime now. He was worried for his friends and frustrated he couldn't be with them even though he knew someone had to stay behind in order for them to return. He was pretty hungry but he mainly just wanted to fill the silence.

"Anything you want. I can make any food appear on this table." Shin replied, never taking her eyes off the screen.

"Ah…some chicken ramen would be nice."

"Ok! Here you go!" Shin waved her arm over the table and an enormous steaming bowl of ramen appeared.

"If you don't mind me asking how do you know what things like green tea and ramen are? I mean you did say you can't usually contact the real world." Joe asked curiously as he examined the food.

She seemed to consider this for a moment, before tilting her head and shrugging saying "Never really thought about it. I've just sorta always known about those things."

"Oh. Well thank you anyway." He began eating, Shin turned her attention back to the screen and silence reigned once more.

"Do you mind if we check on Mimi and Koushirou? They have been gone a while." Joe asked as he finished off the last of the ramen.

"Hmmm? I guess, but they are just waiting for Zui's defeat and it seemed to me that they might need a little privacy."

Joe coughed, hitting his chest with his fist to calm himself down. Shin looked at him with concern but he waved his hand to let her know he was ok. He sighed, swirling the chopsticks through the remaining liquid from the noodles. It was certainly a lost cause; he would just have to give up on her. To be honest he had figured it out a while ok, the way she looked at Koushirou, talked about him. It was obvious to everyone. "At least…" He pondered, "It was just a little crush. I mean I'm not feeling overly upset about it like I thought I would…it is just a bit difficult to get over."

"I guess we can check on them though, if that's what you want." Shin said sympathetically, she realised she had handled that pretty poorly. He made no response so she flicked her wrist at the screen. She and Joe hopped up at what they saw, worry and shock clearly evident in their movements and faces.

"What's going on? What the hell are those things!" Joe pointed a quivering finger at the screen. He and Shin got as close to the screen as possible, leaning almost close enough for their cheeks to touch.

"I have no idea! I thought all the digimon in the digital world had been turned to data!" Shin proclaimed.

"Ok Centarumon's a digimon, but those things aren't like any digimon I've ever seen!" Joe yelped.

The screen was an overhead view that showed several strange ape like creatures that Joe and Shin had trouble making out due to their translucency but that they could see nonetheless, they were lining up behind Koushirou in rows of two while he fiddled with his laptop and something else they couldn't make out from this distance. Motimon was on the floor beside him, he seemed to be sleeping. Mimi was standing beside Centarumon who had an oversized hand on her shoulder.

"Can't you zoom in?" Joe asked. Shin nodded, choosing to get a close up view of Koushirou first. He was working with his digivice, glancing angrily at Centarumon whatever chance he got. Shin moved the screen up toward Mimi, she was glaring at Centarumon, frightened but also very angry.

"They definitely aren't friendly! We've got to help them!" Joe said.

"We can't. If you leave I would have to go through Hikari again to get any of you back here, it would take a while and I really don't want to do it again. Besides even if you go what can you do? Your digimon is still out of commission and those things look pretty tough! I could open the portal and bring Koushirou here but that would only bring him and Motimon back, unless he gets over to Mimi somehow there is nothing we can do." Shin replied, biting her thumbnail.

Koushirou pretended to fiddle with his digivice and typed unnecessary information into the computer. He was stalling as much as he could, hoping that the others would somehow beat Zui and come help them before Centarumon figured out he was just stalling.

Centarumon was growing extremely impatient, he didn't know how this worked but he was completely sure it shouldn't take this long. "Please do not take me for a fool. If that portal is not open in the next ten seconds I'm taking her arm off." He stated this in a matter of a fact way. Mimi struggled, she looked at Koushirou pleadingly.

"Ten."

"You can't do that!" Mimi squealed.

"Nine"

"Leave her out of this!" Koushirou pleaded.

"Eight."

"I really am going as fast as I can, opening the portal takes time!"

"Seven."

"Believe me; I wouldn't risk this sort of thing!"

"Six."

Mimi and Koushirou exchanged a worried look. His mind was running a mile a minute trying to figure out a way to save Mimi and prevent them from going after his friends. They claimed they were only after Zui but Koushirou didn't believe them in the least.

"Five."

There had to be something he could do right? He was a computer genius couldn't he outsmart this guy!

"Four."

"I'm telling the truth I just need more time!"

"Three."

What could he do? He really didn't want to let them into the real world. And what about Yamato? He was being controlled right? That's what Shin had said, what if they just cut him down? He wouldn't put it past them.

"Two."

Damn, there was nothing he could think of! Mimi was visibly frightened now; she closed her eyes, nothing in her body movement or facial expression indicated that she would hold it against him if he didn't open the portal. But he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her.

"One."

"Stop!" I'm sorry everyone. "Digiport open!"

"T.K.! T.K wake up!" Takeru moaned. He was lying on the floor, glass and fragments from the wreckage of the room he had crashed into surrounded him. He tried to support himself on his elbows only to feel a searing pain shoot from his left arm, he vaguely wondered if it was broken as he forced himself into a sitting position ignoring the pain.

His head was throbbing and his left arm was now in complete agony, he tried to cradle it in order to stand but every touch forced him to hiss in pain. "T.K. You're hurt! You should take this opportunity to rest a bit."

"Thanks Patamon, but I can't waste time here. Everyone needs my help." Takeru examined himself, he had no idea how long he had been lying here but he knew every second counted. He touched his arm reluctantly.

"I'm no doctor…but I think it isn't broken. It's just popped out of its socket."

"That's good, but don't you need a doctor to put it back in?"

"Hah…I've never wished to see Joe more in my life." He gripped his upper arm, pain shot through him but he knew this was only the start. He shoved it up, white searing pain almost made him black out. He was panting and sweat ran down his back, he was covered in dirt and blood from the numerous nicks he had got by ploughing through the window and wall.

"T.K…don't force yourself."

"I really don't have a choice." He murmured out through gritted teeth. He couldn't stop here. He had to help Tai talk some sense into his brother, help Hikari and Sora with Zui.

"I'm the holder of hope right? It will all work out. I'm going to fix my arm with this next move." He smiled wryly, shoving his arm upward again, the movement forcing him to roar in pain. "Go in go in go in!" He jiggled it painfully, dark spots started to creep into his vision. Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore he heard an audible pop as the bone clicked back into its socket.

"Ha…" He fell back onto his back, staring up at the ceiling of what must have once been an office. "Ha! Hahahahahaha! See Patamon what did I tell you!"

"You're right; it will all be fine in the end!"

Takeru rolled over and pushed himself up, he was still laughing slightly as he rolled his shoulder experimentally. It was still sore but nothing he couldn't handle. He smiled, gazing across the city to judge how far he had been thrown before leaping out in the direction he had come from.

Sora felt something tear beneath her arms with a horrible ripping sound; hot liquid spilled over them and flowed through the air in streams as Yamato was finally moved by her and Hikari's combined effort. They all hit the floor, Hikari grunted as she was thrown away from them. Sora still had her arms tightly wrapped around Yamato as her back hit the floor, she held onto him as she skidded across the roof feeling her blouse tear and the pain of sharp rubble scraping across her back.

When she finally came to a stop she hurriedly moved herself into a sitting position with Yamato between her legs, his head slumped against her chest and his body sagged. She slowly removed one of her arms from its position around his waist. She held her shaking fingers up for inspection. The hot, viscous liquid coated her entire forearm; it dribbled down her elbow hitting the floor with a small plopping sound and seemed to sparkle at her with its deep crimson red.

Tai was beside her in moments. He pried Sora's arm off and lifted Yamato's shirt. He grimaced at the sight of the injury, from its positioning on Yamato's stomach he realised it must be the same knife wound Zui inflicted when she took over his body. He ripped off his own T-shirt, bundling it up and pressing it against the open wound. The original orange quickly darkened as it became saturated with blood.

"Yamato! Yamato look at me!" Sora babbled, pushing his face toward her with her hand that wasn't supporting his half lying, half sitting position. His eyes were closed and his face was getting paler by the second. "Yamato! Look at me right now! You can't do this to me! Look at me! Please!" She searched his face, her eyes darting wildly as she tried to detect any signs of life. When he didn't respond to her words she tried a different tactic; fluttering brief little kisses over his eyes, forehead, lips. Anything that might get a reaction.

His eyes started quivering; she let out a little pleased whimper of victory as he looked up at her. To her joy his eyes had returned to their original sapphire glory. He even managed to smile at her before he started coughing. She supported him as best she could, never letting her eyes leave his face as his body trembled from the cough. Alarm danced across her features as blood poured from his mouth in thick streams, she whipped her head around to look at Zui.

Zui was just standing there staring at them, her face a picture of torment. She was openly crying, twisting the hem of her dress between her fingers. Sora was astonished, if it was giving her this much emotional turmoil why didn't she just save him?

"Fix him Zui! I know you can! He'll die like this! Please…" Sora cried. Her cheeks felt wet from the tears she hadn't even realised she'd been shedding; her tone was full of fury and desperation.

"Not yet. Not until I win back control." Zui stated firmly. Tai and Sora glared at her as she walked toward them. She knelt down in front of them and just stared at Yamato like she was waiting for something.

Tai wanted to attack her, get her away from them but he had his hands full trying to stem the tide seeping out of the wound. He briefly wondered where Hikari was, he knew she had fallen with them and landed not too far away but right now he couldn't shift his focus.

Yamato tried his best to stay awake, this was exhausting. He was in tremendous pain, but what was more pressing was the pressure Zui was putting on his mind, she was trying to take over again. He felt like his consciousness was being forced back into wherever the hell she had been holding it before. He remembered that place, it was dark…it had felt like he was underwater but he could still breath, he had been able to see foggy images but do nothing to respond. He wouldn't go back there, even if it would mean relief from the agony he was now experiencing.

"Even…if you kill me…I won't obey you anymore…" He gurgled. Sora, Tai and Zui looked at him in shock, Tai growled in annoyance as Sora shouted "Oh hell no Yamato!"

Yamato and Zui blinked in surprise, they both looked at Sora who had stopped crying and was now sporting a look of extreme exasperation. "That's enough! Even if this spoilt brat doesn't help you we are getting through this! We didn't come here just for you to give up!"

"Yeah!" Tai vehemently agreed. Zui bit her lip, what the hell was that?

Yamato almost felt like laughing, but at this point he definitely couldn't manage that. He felt the life seeping out of him, indescribable agony beginning to fade into numbness. But he definitely couldn't die now, not after that.

"Zui…I won't be…a puppet…" Every word was laboured as he spoke, "…I won't die… and I can't forgive you…"

She stiffened, her features smoothing out into cold indifference. "That's what you say now, but you will with time. After everyone else is gone and it's just the two of us."

"…even if that happened…I would never…forgive you…" She glared at him but he continued, "…I would…wait for the day…I could kill you with my own hands…but…" She perked up, despite herself she grabbed his hand in both of hers at the slim sliver of hope he was offering.

"I may change my mind…if you help me now…" He started coughing again, Sora tried to hold his body as still as possible until he was finished. Zui pursed her lips, seemingly debating his offer. Yamato was barely conscious now, he knew he had to get this last part out quickly, "…I will never love you…because that would be impossible…and I am already in love…" Sora smiled at that, kissing the top of his head as he struggled on, "…But I know that…you are just lonely…someday…I may be able…to be your friend…because I understand…what that's like…" His eyes were drooping now and the hand Zui was holding went limp.

Sora and Tai shared a desperate look before turning their eyes to Zui.

"You heard him! Help him now!" Sora demanded.

"You're the one who did this, you have to fix it!" Tai added.

Zui whimpered, she looked surprised and devastated when his hand went limp. She glanced at his wound and his pale face. "I'm…I'm sorry! Don't leave me alone!" She pushed Tai away and placed her own hands over it, dark light swirled about the wound and it began mending itself, it was done after a few seconds leaving behind a slim jagged scar.

As soon as Sora saw it was mended she punched Zui, who didn't expect it at all and couldn't defend, sharply in the jaw. Tai watched with a his mouth hanging open as Zui bounced and rolled across the roof before slamming into the chair sending it and the corpse it contained tumbling to the floor.

Sora felt Yamato's pulse, it was weak but it was still there. "He's alive." She stated to Tai. He nodded and stood up, he spotted what she assumed was Hikari and ran off leaving her alone with Yamato. She cradled his head, watching him breath with relieved satisfaction. Finally. He was finally back in her arms and was finally on the mend. She couldn't stop herself from winding her fingers through his hair as she started humming to him. She didn't know if he could hear but it felt like the right thing to do; she felt like laughing, crying and screaming all at the same time but she settled for this instead. "I love you too...don't do that to me again." She whispered into his ear before resuming her humming.

Tai reached Hikari just as Takeru returned to the roof. Takeru surveyed the scene: a smiling Sora and his sleeping Nii-chan, a broken chair and Zui rubbing her cheek and getting to her feet and Tai patting an unconscious Hikari's face. Well that's definitely what needs his attention first.

"Earth to Hikari! Don't you think you've spent enough time being unconscious?" Tai said with a bit of worry, he assumed she must have hit her head when she fell. Takeru came up behind him and knelt down just as Hikari woke up.

"Ow…yeah I do actually stupid Onii-chan. Wait, what about Yamato!" She held her head as she spoke.

"He's okay now." Tai responded. Takeru looked very relieved as he and Tai helped her to her feet before they all turned their attention to Zui.

Zui looked very confused, unsure of what to do with herself she approached Yamato and Sora again. Takeru and Tai slid into her path, weapons ready. This was definitely not how she had wanted things to turn out. Yamato would never be hers, she had tried dragging him kicking and screaming but that had only made him hate her. But he had said they could be friends eventually…right? She didn't want to settle for that but…

"I'm very sorry!" Tai and Takeru could hardly believe it as Zui dropped into a deep bow, placing her head on the floor.

"What the hell…?" Tai grumbled.

"You think that's going to be good enough!" Takeru yelled.

"We can't forgive you. I can't think of anything you can do to possibly atone. Not only for all the suffering you put Yamato through but also for all the people you killed. You're hands are stained with blood." Sora seethed, still cradling Yamato's head as he breathed softly.

"I didn't kill those people! I just shut the town within the barrier…I thought people were like digimon…that they'd just get reborn later."

"You did kill those people! Even if you didn't take their lives directly you still created the barrier that trapped them in here! And even if it was the same…they would still lose all their memories. That isn't even good enough to be considered a excuse." Tai cut in.

"…what should I do then…?" Zui gradually stood, she was getting angrier by the second, she wasn't one to apologize for her actions but she had been sincere and they shot her down.

"Zui…you truly disappoint me. Bowing before children…I thought we were kindred spirits." Bastard said smoothly. Tai and Takeru started, when had he come back? Bastard had his corpse bride in his arms and was staring at Zui.

The tv, which had been cracked and tossed on its side when Zui had hit the chair, began to flash. A bright light flooded the roof, everyone turned toward the source. The light faded revealing an army of translucent ape like creatures.

"Oh what now, I am seriously getting tired of this!" Tai fumed.