Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

No other notes. Can't keep you waiting in suspense. Here we go!

Chapter Ten: Eclipse

The heaviness of the clouds only added to Takeru's burden burrowed deep in his chest. He wandered about, realizing that no matter what he did now, he had pushed everyone away from him in an offhanded way. Surely Tailmon and Hikari would be a salve for Patamon's wounds once they found out he wouldn't be able to come back home anymore.

He all but lost the trust of his friends, and even his brother, who he had not seen that mad in a long time. His Dad would probably say 'it was a shame', and his poor mother, well, he was sure she would get over his loss throwing herself into work.

Everyone would be fine. They didn't need him.

He contemplated everything walking back slowly to the hospital. Kids walked by having fun. Parents had their own intimate conversations with their facial expressions, Takeru swallowing heavily recognizing how him and Hikari had seemed that way as well, especially to anyone who noticed them.

And now, once he arrived at the hospital the memories everyone would have of him would be contempt. He could hear them now:

That's what he gets. He deserves it. Hikari deserves better.

He would be like an afterthought eventually, every now and then maybe Hikari thinking about him before bearing her heart to someone else.

He smiled, tears falling down his face. "It's poetic justice, isn't it Hikari-chan?" he said starting to laugh and wiping his eye. "Why, whenever I think of you, do I always feel so helpless and pathetic?" he wondered still walking onward.

The roads seemed empty and quiet, Takeru finally noticing the hospital in the distance. He had certainly walked a lot today, his legs feeling heavy, but nothing would stop him. Not even if he wanted them to, he could not give in or back down.

With that he persevered forward, the cloudy skies a dark omen of the event that would end his life.

Eventually Takeru arrived at the hospital. He went through the motions with the nurse, somberly being escorted to Hikari's room. He locked the door behind him, barely any light showing except the heartbeat monitor Hikari had been hooked up to.

He stared at her, and all Hikari was to him. A friend. A best friend. A person he could count on-even when their seemed like no way forward. Someone that could see through him-who saw him for who he was rather than who he pretended to be. Ever since they were kids Hikari had that special ability.

He hesitated for a moment; his mouth dry. He barely got the words out of his mouth, lingering regret hanging heavily in his throat. "...I'm here."

Suddenly the room lit up a little brighter, Homeostasis's eyes bearing a strange mystifying light. She sat up in Hikari's body.

"So you have," she said. "Did you spend your last hours living your life to the fullest Takeru Takaishi?"

He shook his head no. "Of course I didn't. How can I when Hikari is in this position?"

"True, I suppose," she said. "Not a single human alive has no regrets. Some more than others. It's up to those in your life to live out those wishes for you to ease those regrets. Even if it is painful."

"I hear you," he replied. "How long does Hikari have?"

She stared at him as if looking through him. "She doesn't have long. We need to start the process, but not here."

"Not here?"

"No, we're going to take this somewhere else."

With that, the whole room lit up in a bright light, Takeru amazed by the overwhelming brilliance and with a final burst he found himself outside at Heighton View Terrace Park. Not a soul was around it seemed.

"Why are we here?" he asked.

"It's no concern for the dead," she said. "Are you prepared Takeru Takaishi?"

He locked onto her eyes and closed his. "I'm ready. But, before I do, Homeostasis can you pass on a message to Hikari for me?"

"If it's within my power I shall."

"Thanks. Just tell her I'm sorry for all that I have ever put her through and that I hope she finds happiness. With her friends, with her career, and her relationships."

"Is that all?"

"If I tell her I love her Homeostasis you know how she would take it. If I just let things sit as they are it will hurt for awhile, but she will be able to move on easier."

She snickered. "The Crest of Hope has certainly become a defeatist. It's like you have given up all hope."

"Not given up," he swallowed. "I've given it to her-along with my life. And this means that if she's ever depressed again or down on herself, I know she'll keep living. Because it's not just your power preserving her. It's my power-my life as well."

Homeostasis paused and stared at him. Her eyes glanced ahead, Takeru a bit wary of them, but then focused straight back on him.

"I see your commitment in this. Very well. We shall move forward with this exchange. Close your eyes," she instructed, Takeru closing them.

"I'm going to force my power into you and use your crest power and life force to bring her back. Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," he said solemnly. "Go ahead, Homeostasis. Let's do this...for Hikari."

"Very well. Then here I go," she said, Takeru starting to feel a strange sensation mask over him.

He could breathe just fine, but this sensational power flooded into him as if somehow, he had been pierced, but nothing had hurt him physically.

Little by little this power made him feel lighter as if his spirit could barely contain itself in his body.

He started to feel dizzy, thoughts of the others and Hikari swarming in his mind. Somewhere as he realized his life was flashing before his eyes a memory came up between him and Hikari, the memory so vivid he thought he was actually reliving it.

In this memory Hikari had climbed a tree trying to get her cat down who had refused to come down. She had tried to reach forward, but fell, Takeru running in the last second calling out 'Hikari-chan!' and letting her land on him.

It hurt more than anything, both of them wincing as she put her hands to her face, tears pouring down.

"Takeru-kun! I'm sorry!" she sniffed. "I was only trying to get Miko down and-"

"-Don't worry about it Hikari-chan," Takeru winced. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

"That's not something you can promise," she said getting up and holding out her hand helping him up. "Thanks for saving me Takeru-kun, but," she said her tone kind of down, "But I have a feeling one day you won't be able to save me no matter what you do. You shouldn't waste your life on me like that."

The whole thing made Takeru angry, who then stood up, his hands outstretched holding out his fists.

"What are you talking about Hikari-chan?" he said frustrated with her. "I'm not wasting my life! I would even die for you Hikari-chan!"

At those words, Hikari started tearing up even more pressing her hands to her eyes. "You shouldn't say things like that!" she said upset. "When you die you're no longer a part of this world. You're not here anymore. Like Wizardmon," she said getting even more upset. "Or our digimon friends. In this world, if you die you-"

She broke down crying, Taichi coming out of nowhere calling out Hikari's name.

She would not be comforted no matter how Taichi tried his best as her big brother. He gave up sighing, as if realizing it would just take her some time to get over it.

He nodded his head to Takeru and walked away with her, Takeru longingly looking at her as she walked by. She turned her head back to him, tears falling down her face, her eyes red.

"….Don't die Takeru…"

As the memory faded, Takeru found himself opening his eyes in a surreal moment. He slowly turned his head, in the distance blurs of the other Digidestined running up to him desperately calling out, Takeru not knowing what they were saying.

He turned his hazy eyes back to Hikari, who he imagined in Homeostasis's place smiling radiantly like she always did with him.

"Of course," he said, his body falling forward. "Of all times I had to have that memory now. I'm sorry...Hikari-chan," he said, his eyes closing. "I won't be able to grant your wish, but I will give you hope...all of...mine," he said his conscience fading away.

The other Digidestined ran forward yelling out for Takeru and Hikari, Taichi and Yamato leading the way.

"What just happened?!" Yamato shouted sharply.

"He just fell over!" Taichi said amazed.

"I don't understand what is going on?" Sora yelled. "And why is Hikari-chan here?"

"Did he take her here?" Koushiro wondered. "No, that would not be possible."

"Then how do you explain this situation?" Jou asked. "It's not like they could just teleport or something."

"We can ask those questions later," Mimi said. "I don't know what happened, but they just came out of nowhere."

"Yeah, this is crazy!" Daisuke exclaimed. "How did they appear like that?"

"We were having a meeting about all of this and there they are," Ken said amazed. "That just doesn't happen!"

"I don't think that's what important right now," Miyako said. "They both don't look all right!"

"I don't remember Takeru-san being that weak or Hikari-san having eyes like that!" Iori exclaimed. "Something is off here!"

They all approached who they thought was Hikari, Takeru limp on the ground.

"What just happened here!" Taichi asked.

His eyes lit up in shock realizing this was not his sister.

"What did you do to them Homeostasis!" he shouted.

"What did you do to my brother!" Yamato bellowed. "Takeru!" he exclaimed running over to him and rubbing his back. His skin had lost color, his eyes closed. "Takeru! Speak to me!" he cried. "Takeru!"

"Is he ok?" Sora asked tearfully.

"Stand back!" Jou said moving his way forward. "Sorry, Takeru-kun, if you'll forgive the intrusion."

He bent down feeling his wrist, and put his head against his heart. He stood up somberly and took off his glasses. "He has no pulse. And he has no heartbeat. I'm afraid he's-"

"-He's not dead!" Yamato snapped, tears starting to come down from his eyes. "He was just with us! TK is not dead! He's not!"

Sora practically swarmed him with her embrace holding him and his bitterness, Yamato shaking, his fist squeezing so much his hand started to bleed.

"TK!"a single voice flew out of nowhere as Patamon crashed into him. "TK get up!" he said landing on his back. "Why aren't you moving? I need to give you back your hat!" he said trying to put it back on him, but it kept falling back off.

"Oh no, why is it not staying?" he said starting to be overwhelmed. TK! TK!" he cried.

Not one Digidestined had dry eyes, even Iori stunned at a loss. Even Daisuke could not hold them back, closing his eyes shaking his fist.

"I don't understand," Miyako said confused. "Why did this happen? How could this happen?"

A foreboding presence seemed to whisper out to them all. "...It seems you were unable to comprehend the situation."

"What happened Homeostasis?" Taichi shouted. "Give Hikari back, right now! Get out of her body!"

"I should be able to," she said, "But unfortunately I cannot. Takeru Takaishi's sacrifice failed. Even with his power and mine combined it wasn't enough to bring her back."

"What does that mean?" he said terrified.

"It means you are looking at her animated corpse," she said indifferently. "But with my power flowing through her, she yet moves with the power of her light, my power, and the crest of hope as well. She has now become the ultimate vessel."

"Just what are you talking about?" Yamato growled forcing himself away from Sora. "You better tell us everything right now!"

"Fine," she said tilting her head away. "If you really must know Takeru Takaishi tried to give his life to Hikari Yagami to save her. As from the letter you read I'm sure you understood the situation. But what you didn't understand is why Takeru did all of this to begin with."

"Wasn't it to try to get Hikari to confess her love for him?" Mimi asked.

"Not entirely. He tried to get Hikari Yagami exposed to the whole school to try to make her more noticeable and form more relationships and attachments with people but he did not have a lot of time to do it. As I recall Hikari Yagami's year of birth is not too far from now isn't it? You know what that means."

"...She was going to die anyway," Koushiro said confounded.

"So you're telling me that blonde-haired jerk did all of this just to try to give her more life?" Daisuke asked hands out. "And from the note TK said you had refueled her. I still don't get this! Then how did he fail?"

"Why isn't Hikari back with us then?" Iori asked. "What did you do?"

"Nothing," she replied. "The transaction has been completed, but it was not enough. This means that the vessel known as Hikari Yagami was at the very end of her life cycle. There's nothing more that needs to be said."

"Like hell there isn't!" Iori said taking out his kendo sword and pointing it at her. "You're telling me he went through all of this just for nothing? And that we've lost both of them?!"

A small smile creased across Homeostasis's face. "Precisely."

She glared at all of them, the Digidestined feeling as if they were being looked at inside.

"It took Takeru a lot of courage to do this, but you all played right into his hand."

"What do you mean?" Koushiro asked.

"He wanted us to hate him," Ken said solemnly. "That's why he had his brother read the letter. He wanted us to get angry at him so when he passed it wouldn't hurt so much."

"Yeah?" Daisuke grimaced. "He still managed to piss me off though! And I can't believe Hikari's gone to!"

"What...were we doing," Mimi said tears pouring down her face like rivers. "We cast him away, but yet he-"

"-Yes," Homeostasis declared pointing at all of them. "One of your own was hurting deeply. He made his noble decision, and you punished him for it," she declared. "You are all at fault for not recognizing the truth. You should all be greatly ashamed of yourselves."

Sora practically collapsed under her own weight falling to the ground.

Jou practically broke his glasses stumbling.

Taichi and Yamato both fell forward, their eyes shut tightly lamenting over him.

Koushiro tried to search for answers on the ground, his vision teary-eyed and blurry.

Mimi shivered unleashing torrents of tears.

But yet Daisuke, Ken, Miyako, and Iori they also were upset, but not as beat up over it.

"I don't understand," Taichi winced. "Why...why does it hurt this bad?"

"And why did TK lie to me?" Patamon bellowed. "My partner! My best friend! He lied to me! I'm his digimon aren't I? I establish hope! I…"

Suddenly the air grew silent. What sounded like a storm echoed out from Patamon as his eyes lit up. Suddenly he morphed in a black light to ShadowSeraphimon, a deep growl echoing out through his chaotic armor.

"No way!" Daisuke yelled out. "What is that?"

Not too longer after Tailmon cried out and became Ophanimon fall-down mode once more.

"This can't be happening!" Iori exclaimed.

"How did they get that way?" Ken asked.

"I don't know, but they sure are angry!" Miyako noted.

"It's not just them new generation. See for yourselves," Homeostasis said.

They all turned around, all of the original Digidestined lamenting on the ground crying out for both Takeru and Hikari, darkness seeping out of their hearts. One by one their digimon transformed into the dark mega forms of their digimon.

"I can't believe it," Daisuke said. "Just who are these digimon? I mean, I recognize Black Wargreymon, but who are these others?"

"BlackMetalGarurumon, Darkphoenixmon, SkeletalHerculesKabuterimon, Blackrosemon, Evil Vikemon-all the negative mega forms of their counterparts. The negative energy emitting from the hearts of the Digidestined has caused their transformation," Homeostasis declared.

"Then we'll just have to snap them out of it!" Iori shouted.

"And how are you possibly able to do that?" she taunted suggestively. "They just lost the two youngest of their original Digidestined group. And even if you wanted to, I will not let you."

"We'll see about that!" Daisuke shouted. "Veemon!"

"Wormmon!" Ken echoed out also.

"Sounds good!" Veemon yelled.

"Just leave it to me," Wormmon responded.

With that the two of them DNA digivolved all the way to Imperialdramon Fighter Mode.

"I don't know what she's planning, but you keep her distracted long enough so we can get through to them."

"In their suspended state you just might," she said snapping both of her fingers, both Alphamon and Jesmon appearing through portals kneeling at her feet.

"It's that one again!" Miyako shrieked.

"The one that kidnapped us and knocked us out for awhile!" Ken yelled.

"So glad you remembered," she said.

"Jesmon, Alphamon, Put this interloper in his place," she said, both Jesmon and Alphamon going over to attack Imperialdramon Fighter Mode.

"So it's two against one huh?" he taunted, blocking one punch by Jesmon, but grunting as he received a punch in the gut from Alphamon.

"That's not fair Homeostasis!" Daisuke barked.

"I don't play fair. Not to you, and not to Dark Digimon, like the ones I sent you to destroy."

"Oh yeah?" Miyako growled. "Hawkmon, let's go!"

"But of course!" he approved digivolving into Aquilamon.

"You to Armadillomon!"

"I'm on it, partner."

With that he digivolved into Ankylomon.

"I know we don't have much firepower," Miyako said,

"But we're trusting you to hold off some of their attacks until we can think of a better plan," Iori finished.

They both nodded their heads. "We believe in you," they said in sync rushing at the enemy.

Each of them tackled one of the respected enemies pinning them down.

Hawkmon pinned Jesmon to the wall with it's horns.

Ankylomon pressed against Alphamon to the ground.

"You think this is heavy? Try this! Gigaton Press!" He said pressing with more force pinning him to the ground.

"Now, while we have the chance!" Daisuke yelled.

"Imperialdramon finish Homeostasis off!" Ken shouted.

He started to pump up his attack, a blueish power brimming in his arms. "Take this! Pulsatron-

"-Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked, smirking.

"Daisuke, if that thing hits Hikari's body is going to be destroyed! We can't let that happen!" Ken scolded.

"It's too late to stop! My power's going to come out!" Imperialdramon warned.

With that Alphamon kicked Ankylomon against Imperialdramon, the Pulsatron laser attacked unleashed narrowly missing Homeostasis, the background lighting up in a bright blue explosion.

Homeostasis's locks lifted a bit, but that was all. "Insufficient," she merely said. "Alphamon, Jesmon, keep this one at bay for a little while."

They both nodded their heads, the Zero Two Digidestined powerless as Jesmon knocked out Aquilamon with one punch to the ground stepping over him.

"Aquilamon!" Miyako called out concerned.

"Ankylomon get up!" Iori instructed.

Both Digimon were down for the count with one hit.

"What can you expect?" Ken sighed. "Those are mega level Digimon in a class of their own."

They started to assault Imperialdramon Fighter Mode.

"We're...helpless," Miyako said, falling to her knees.

"What can we do?" Daisuke groaned; his eyes shut tight gripping his fists. "Isn't their anything we can do?!"

"There is nothing any of you can do," Homeostasis said. "You four are inferior. But I will give you a purpose."

"Oh great, what's she going to do now?" Iori grimaced.

"You will be my witnesses for this glorious transformation. Behold!" she said holding up her hand as Black Wargreymon and Black Metal Garurumon swirled around together in two different types of darkness to become a fused being.

The skies darkened dramatically, brief flashes of red lightning somehow slashing the air.

"Who is that? He looks familiar!" Miyako noticed

"Just a lot darker," Ken growled.

"Is that Omegamon?" Daisuke asked.

"No, it's like Omegamon, but different," Iori said. "Even I can feel how dark that being is."

Homeostasis then snapped her fingers, the power of the other Dark Mega Digimon power blasting out from them to the dark being.

"Power," she said, her words chilling the air. "If you think you've seen the strongest most terrible Digimon, then you are gravely mistaken. Bear witness!" she declared, the dark power morphing the dark being into a figure of tremendous power, each of the Digimon wincing from being in it's very presence.

It changed form, demonic wings sprouting from it's back, red lines moving up and down the arms, legs and torso in patterns. A draconian arm showed itself with blistering red eyes, and a wolf on the other with deadly fangs. Two piercing eyes revealed themselves from it's head, the being bursting forth it's sword from the dragon's mouth emanating omnipotence.

"Behold my prize," Homeostasis declared: "Omegamon Zwart, Merciless Mode..."