Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon
Chapter Twelve: Convergence: The Final Clash of the Holy and Unholy Lights
The heavens quaked. The earth trembled. The sun bowed itself into the evening as a hollow ethereal unholy glow lifted itself slowly into the sky. But no stars came out to greet it. They hid in fear from the evil one from time's past, ever changing and shifting with each generation passing.
"It has been one dark long night," the voice said ominously within the shroud, Hikari recognizing it. "An endless night, starting within darkness and clawing into the future into an even greater darkness. And yet whom do I find at the end of it? Who stands in my way to at last grant my desire?" he said nonchalantly. "Of course it had to be you, Hikari, the girl I was unable to destroy all those years ago."
"Myotismon," she said fearfully, trembling.
He laughed heartily making his appearance. Truly it had not been the Myotismon she had known. This Myotismon seemed even more intimidating and powerful if that was even possible. He had dark shredded wings, two of them smaller, but seemingly like horns sticking out of his head. Claws pierced his body all over, albeit he did not seem in pain, a set of claws on his right-hand feet extremities. What appeared as teeth on his lower shoulder and upper elbow seemed frightening, but more than anything his aggressive two crimson eyes burning for blood covering the mask of his face, a blond tuft of hair blowing eerily out of it only made her realize that despite the physical differences, this was still the same Myotismon to the very core.
The Myotismon figure folded and lowered his head. "Indeed," he said taking an insulting bow. "But I am so much more than just Myotismon now."
"It doesn't matter what form you take," Homeostasis declared. "For your end will come."
The tooth-grinning vampiric entity glanced over towards her and then back at Hikari.
"So, this explains your power," he said. "A light borrowed and then stolen away. You may have used them to defeat me a few times Homeostasis," he said, "But, in the end, I shall be the victor. The Undead King will have his reign, even if it takes me a million tries," he leered. "But I assure you, THIS time, this opportune moment, none will be able to stand in my way."
"If that's what you think you have another thing coming!" Daisuke yelled. "We beat you before! We can beat you again!" he said fist raised.
"Really?" he said amused. "Because as far as I can tell all of your cards have already been played. Your digimon are out of commission, the other megas have been spent, and even your miracle, Homeostasis, has been stopped."
"So it would seem," Homeostasis said offhandedly. "But you would be wise not to underestimate us."
"Ah, so fear is it?" he grinned. "I see right through your tricks enchantress," he glared. "This time I painstakingly confirmed that any threat would be neutralized this time."
"What are you talking about?" Taichi asked.
"He's been monitoring us," Yamato said.
"What? Watching us? But how?" Taichi asked.
"I don't know," he responded. "But that's the only way he could, right?"
"Koushiro, what do you think?" Taichi asked.
Koushiro responded, typing intensely into his computer. "With his Digital Coding here, the only way I could even think of him doing something like that is...your sister?" he said a bit baffled. "But I'm not exactly sure how."
"I'll tell you," Hikari said not turning away from Homeostasis."It may seem like just a theory of mine, but Homeostasis can confirm it."
"Confirm what Hikari?" Miyako asked.
"That I have been marked," she said.
"Marked?"
Homeostasis stood up using her staff as leverage. "This is correct," she confirmed. "Myotismon is a cunning foe. He seeks to obliterate the enemy by attacking his greatest weakness. This is why he targeted Hikari in the first place," she said glancing back at them. "It's also why he had his minions target her to be condemned and torn apart in the dark ocean, but thanks to the efforts of the crest of hope and their digimon, that fate had been narrowly avoided."
"But he never went after her when MaloMyotismon returned," Iori said.
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Ken inquired. "He was targeting me, not her."
"It only appeared that way," Myotismon grinned. "My Ventril Illusion attack worked on her proving her vulnerability. Had it not been for your combined efforts she would have fallen. And if she fell then all the powers combined between your digimon would not have succeeded either."
"But we put a stop to it," Miyako said intensely. "You failed!"
"...For a time," Myotismon leered. "But I was able to at least confirm the crest of light's vulnerability. Her light is fragile, weak, and vulnerable. I determined as long as it had not been activated then I could assure victory one day."
"But there's more to this isn't there?" Taichi groaned. "Like with Meicoomon," he said bitterly.
"A fitting observation," Myotismon agreed. "That too was also an experiment. I had to determine now if by chance the crest of light could not only be weakened, but also be corrupted. And I saw first hand the result of that with the creation of the nether magnifique Ordinemon. Even though she had been destroyed, with that damage in place from Hikari Yagami willfully deciding to terminate Meicoomon I knew she could be exposed and be eliminated as a threat by my hand."
"But it didn't go so easily," Homeostasis said staring at the fiend. "He knew that Takeru Takaishi stood in his way as well."
"Takeru?" Hikari said slightly wondrously.
"Of course," he grinned. "The crest of hope while not as powerful to destroy me as your crest has still had the capacity to injure me grievously. As is what had happened before I nearly had you Hikari annihilated or when the infernal angelic one threw his spear and transformed Gabumon into Metal Garurumon and contributed to my demise."
"I was right there with him," Hikari said. "I remember well."
"Each time I thought I would succeed that force of the crest of hope interfered with my plans. When you were despairing, he countered the despair. Even with the infernal Homeostasis extending her life the fact she lived prevented me from ultimately returning and showing my face all because you were my greatest weakness. But as of now I have conquered this weakness in our final counter. For this is the last time you will ever see me. That is, your last time, alive," he laughed cruelly.
"No matter how you threaten us," Hikari said, "I'm not the same person I was before. I'm not the same little girl who relied on others to protect me."
"Surely you jest," he laughed. "You, not relying on others? That is all you have done. When you were faced with the Dark Ocean you were helpless. And the nightmares, memories, and scars of that place still haunt you to this day. You're nothing more than a damsel in distress always in distress needing someone to rescue her," he snickered.
Hikari quivered slightly, but steeled herself taking a breath. "It's true," she said firmly, but sincerely. "Even now I wish it was someone else who had more courage to fight in my place. Someone who has been a better friend than me. Someone who has been more loving, knew more what to do, who were more reliable and was able to do it with all their hearts. Someone more optimistic...and hopeful," she said, a single tear starting to slide down her face.
"But there is not," she said staring at him. "Right now I am the only one who can do anything. So even if I am scared I won't back down," she said convicted. "I know Takeru would never have given up either. He would always believe things would work out in the end."
The vampiric entity clapped his hands. "That was quite entertaining. But alas all they are are words thrown into the wind. The evidence is all around you," he taunted. "You have no chance. And I will finally finish what I started all those years ago!" he said aggressively. "I will not be stopped this time!"
With a flick of his wrist a purple rendering slash, intensely spread over towards Hikari like a thin sharp wave of water.
She barely saw it coming turning to the side, her hair having been slightly cut, a slight crease of blood dripping down her cheek.
"Hikari!" Taichi shouted fearfully, Hikari putting two fingers on her face seeing her own blood on the tips of them.
"It appears I've lost my aim quite a bit," he scoffed, "But I assure you my ideals have only been razor sharp and focused."
"Alphamon," Homeostasis glared at him. "Jesmon," she responded equally, both of them nodding their heads. "Protect her!"
With that Hikari swallowed a bit, the Myotismon-like being licking his claw. "I haven't fed in quite awhile. To commemorate my glorious return Hikari Yagami you will be the first blood I taste upon my lips," he said licking them. "How sweet it will be. I will relish in it!" he shouted running towards Alphamon and Jesmon, both of them attacking savagely with their ax and sharp bladed weapons, the being easily able to parry, deflect and push them back.
"Is that all you have?" he questioned. "My digital blood is just starting to flow within me," he challenged.
"No, it's not!" Imperialdramon groaned standing up. "I beat you once before. I can beat you again!"
"Ah, but of course you would assume so," he said offhandedly. "That is, you would be able to do so if I was the same inferior being, but, I am so much more powerful," he breathed out with finality. "For I am no longer a simple manifestation of myself coming back to reclaim it. No," he said darkly, "I am the fulfillment of all of their power combined!"
With that he spread his wings, two dark winds blowing from them. "I am the Moon. I am the Blood Moon. I am the Endless One, the Supreme One without Equal. I am the true undead King, reign without end," he declared himself. "I…am NeoMyotismon!"
"I don't care what you call yourself," Imperialdramon fighter mode groaned lifting up with his arms. "You're still going down just like all the others,' He groaned. "Take this! Pulsatron Laser!"
With that an assault of lasers locked onto NeoMyotismon, but he casually cleaved them into nothing with his claws and tail, chortling to himself.
"No way!" he growled.
"And now it's your demise," he said looking at his claw. "Darkness-"
"-Ray of Impotence!" a single voice shouted as Homeostasis raised her staff blinding NeoMyotismon.
"What did you just do?" Hikari asked covering her eyes.
"Bought us time," she said staring at Hikari. "While we have the time. Hikari Yagami, I need you to give your life to me. For the sake of both worlds you have to-"
-Homeostasis paused, staring at Hikari marvelously. She grabbed her shoulder, what appeared to be some sort of blade having pierced into it.
"Homeostasis!" Hikari shouted hurrying over to her, Homeostasis's crown falling off the top of her head as Hikari caught her.
"What happened? What's wrong?"
"The fiend has struck an indecisive blow, "she grimaced. "Hikari Yagami, this may very well be the end of both of our worlds. But, you have both your power and Takeru's power flowing within your veins. If ever a miracle could be created to save the worlds, only you would be capable of it."
With that she groaned out laboring her breathing.
"You don't understand what he is," she said. "Myotismon was simply a vector of the darkness from Apocalymon, but every time he perished he increased in power until he himself became even more powerful than Apocalymon. He conquered the Dark Ocean and became its master. He used the negative entities in the Dark Ocean to fuel new incarnations of himself, but this last one exceeded my expectations. We have however," she sighed, "a golden opportunity."
"A golden opportunity?"
"Because he merged the previous incarnations power with his, he has made himself defeatable. If you destroy him now you destroy him forever."
Hikari grasped her hands nodding her head. "I understand, but what can I do? Our digimon are out of it. My friends are hurt, and I'm barely standing myself. So what can I do?"
"Just accept all that happens from this time forward," she said wincing.
"I've got ya," Miyako said going over towards her taking her from Hikari's arms.
Hikari sighed out standing worried about everyone. Soon Homeostasis's attack would die down and NeoMyotismon would attack them again, but how would-"
"-Hikari," Taichi said walking up to her interrupting her thoughts.
"Brother," she said starting to doubt herself again. "What do I do? What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know," he said. "But, it's thanks to Homeostasis we are all alive at this point. I think what you need to figure out," he said, "Is what is the thing that only you can do, and what can you entrust to us so that we can help you."
She said nothing staring down. "...No matter what happens from this point," she said, pain rising in her throat, "...life will never be the same without him."
"That was Takeru's choice," Taichi said gripping her shoulder firmly. "I wish I had seen it sooner. I wish I could have done something for him, but he threw everything away to try to help you. But I don't want you to make that same mistake. Don't throw away your life for anything!"
She nodded her head wiping a tear away.
"I won't," she sniffed. "But, even now, it's strange Taichi. Inside, I feel like Takeru's right here with me now, filling my heart with hope. As if everything will be all right."
"Then trust that feeling," he said. "And if you have the power that can defeat him Hikari, help us. Use it so we can take him down for the last time."
"I will," she said nodding her head. "I-"
"-You really think such a blinding light would be enough to immobilize me?" NeoMyotismon asked blasting away the light into oblivion.
"Now then, where were we?" he wondered to himself. "Ah yes. It's time to drain you dry," he said licking his lips. "Let us begin."
"Not on your life!" Taichi snapped. "You want to take a bite out of her you're going to have to go through me!" he said determinedly standing against him.
"If you're quick enough," he snickered quickly moving towards him, Hikari noticing NeoMyotismon vanish.
"Hikari!" Taichi shouted, Hikari feeling a dark presence hovering nearby her. She tried to turn around to see what happened, but Taichi pushed her hard out of the way as a pair of fangs sunk into his neck.
He groaned out in pain, Hikari wondering terrified.
"Disgusting!" he winced spitting out Taichi's blood and tossing him aside. "Male blood is too course. I only demand the richest, smoothest sweetest blood!" he declared staring back at Hikari.
"Give me all of it!" he ordered reaching out his hand towards her.
Hikari winced, but stared at her brother in pain, which made her more angry than anything. "I said you've gone too far. That's enough!" she shouted, the light from her crest calling out towards the other mega digimon, her light revitalizing others, but to the main digimon they seemed to groan and cry out morphing back into their original mega forms.
"Impossible!" he yelled. "Those digimon were corrupted!"
"They weren't corrupted, only emotionally stricken," she said annoyed. "I'm not going allow to you to do whatever you want to me. To this world, the digital world or any of my friends. We're going to defeat you, once and for all! Our digimon are stronger than ever before!"
With that everyone except Omegamon Schwart Merciless Mode lined up around her to protect her.
"Mega Digimon such as yourselves are but scraps of paper," NeoMyotismon sneered.
"It's better than nothing," Imperialdramon fighter mode scoffed. "Everyone don't let him get close to her!"
"That's right!" Taichi winced, one hand on his neck. "Protect Hikari!"
"Honestly can't you say something else?" Jou sighed applying pressure to his neck with a heavy bandage compress. "He got you pretty good there."
Taichi winced, one eye opened fiercely keeping an eye on things.
"You just take it easy," Yamato said stepping forward. "The last thing we want is for you to bleed out," he added looking this way and that. "Looks like this is going to be for all the marbles this time," he said hanging his head a bit. "I wish...Takeru was here to see this."
"He's with you in spirit," Sora said positively wrapping her arm around his helping him stand. "But I'll support you. We all will," she said. "Isn't that right everyone?"
Everyone agreed, Hikari noticing a fervent energy emitting from them.
Yes, they were the Digidestined. No matter what losses they accumulated or friends were lost they would win in the end. They would-
Suddenly NeoMyotismon hovered into the air shining brilliantly.
"Is the moon out?" Sora asked. "That doesn't feel welcoming at all!"
"No," Yamato groaned. "That's not light. That's despair waiting at the end of it," he said as if recognizing a similar pain he had experienced himself before.
An unholy light circled on NeoMyotismon's chest, the digimon realizing certain doom awaited them.
"Quickly everyone attack!" Magnadramon cried, each of them releasing devastating attacks, but the hollow evil laugh of NeoMyotismon enveloped them all.
"You're too late!" he cackled. "Gardiac Raid!"
With that unholy light burst forth from his chest striking all of them, each digimon crumbling to the ground in agony, each of them somehow still in one piece.
"What happened to them?!" Daisuke desperately asked.
"He literally tore through all of them!" Ken said horrified.
"What are we supposed to do against that?!" Miyako said dumbfounded.
"Even with all their strength they were nothing compared to him!" Iori said shocked.
Hikari herself for some reason did not feel as much shock as the others. She knew Myotismon well from all the times they battled him. He horrified her and terrified her beyond all comprehension, but this strange peace filled her from within, Hikari recognizing this feeling.
"Look at all of your friends Hikari Yagami," NeoMyotismon grinned hovering in the air holding out his claws asserting his dominance. "They are petrified of me. Terrified, much like you used to be. But," he said, his voice growling, "You don't share in their fear of me. Even now, with no one left to protect you from me. Why?" he said, his grin fading.
"Why? What possible reason could you have not to tremble?"
She stared down gathering herself together, one hand over her heart. "...I have been entrusted with something," she said. "A very special gift by someone I hold dear," she swallowed. "…And in his memory I won't ever let that go. Even if you end up slaying me, I will never give up this power."
"Then keep it," he said licking his lips. "The blood I've desired for all these years will finally dance across my lips. How I've waited for it," he said stretching forth his hands.
"Bloody Stream Glade!" he shouted reaching his arms out and grabbing Hikari by both of her shoulders tightly, Hikari feeling the claws prick into her shoulders creating faint blood spots.
She stared up at him resolutely.
"Just like the eyes of Tailmon no less," he chuckled. "No matter how much you look at me with those eyes, nothing will stop me from sinking my fangs into you," he said, opening his mouth.
He then snapped down toward her neck, Hikari feeling a slight pressure around her, but then a screeching yell escaped from NeoMyotismon's lips.
"What happened?" he groaned. "I was there! My fangs were piercing your neck! What happened?!"
"It's simple really," Homeostasis smirked. "You attempted to bite something your palate couldn't handle."
"What?! How dare you make such an accusation of me! I will see you rent in a thousand pieces for this!"
"...Must have been too much hope for your sensitive taste buds," she grinned, herself weak and on edge. "How lowly you are Dark Ocean King."
Hikari could not help but wonder about herself. Surely she should have been dead now, but, if what Homeostasis said was true that must have meant…Takeru's power protected her…again."
Tears streamed down her face as she caressed her neck from where NeoMyotismon had attempted to bite down.
"It's not fair," she said shaking. "Everything he ever did for me,I never could repay him. I even got mad at him from time to time. But he was always there, even now," she said putting her hands to her face.
"I'm…I'm done with it," she said angrily brushing her tears away. "I won't be used by you Homeostasis. I won't be destroyed by you NeoMyotismon. I won't let anything happen to me or my friends ever again!" she shouted.
She could feel three different sources coursing through her, Hikari's eyes feeling as if they were being invaded by them.
"What are you doing?!" Homeostasis yelled. "If you become emotional and unstable and release that power everything we have done will have been for nothing! You will all perish!"
NeoMyotismon chuckled a bit, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Looks like the puppets have betrayed the puppeteer," he laughed. "But don't worry. You need not fret Homeostasis. After all, if I can't drain her, I can still kill her," he said running forward towards her, a single claw stretched out.
"Hikari!" Taichi shouted, everyone else repeating her name, even Homeostasis as the claw pushed forward to pierce her like a sword.
Hikari could literally feel the power permeating through her system, her emotions a mess. Even with all the powers of hope, light, and Homeostasis what good could she do? At the end of the day, no matter how she felt, she still couldn't escape the despair that had been eating away at her all those years. The scars of the dark ocean, the depression of losing so many digimon, seeing her friends get hurt…Takeru lifeless before her-she felt as if all she could do was vent.
She had kept her feelings in for so long, every time she had an outburst she felt a bit embarrassed and unlike herself. She always tried to be cheerful, soft, and kind, and got along with everyone. Miyako, her DNA digivolution partner was rough around the edges, but really helped her flesh out of her comfort zone. Daisuke was annoying, bullheaded, but good at heart. Iori reminded her of a sagely parent or teacher; Strict, disciplinary, and fair-exactly the kind of teacher she wanted to be. Ken had good advice and made everything simpler to understand, even though he didn't say things any less complicated, but his smile smoothed things over with everyone in the group. And then, as for Takeru…
...She froze, staring forward realizing she was about to die. She couldn't move. She couldn't think. All she could do was see images rush through her mind of everyone, but every other image, no matter how fast they moved, she could see Takeru, clearly in every single one.
The cheerful Takeru. The playful Takeru. The trolling master Takeru. The angry Takeru. The protective Takeru. The Despairing Takeru and the laughing Takeru. Even now, she couldn't get him out of her mind with so much at risk. She would never see them anymore. None of his faces. Not his voice. Not his reassuring smile, and charming affections. They would all be...gone.
She agonized within herself, tears screaming out from her as she proclaimed her lament. "Takeru!" she cried closing her eyes.
She thought she heard her heart give out, her eyes barely able to glance this way and that. She tilted her head seeing everyone's eyes staring shocked more than she had ever seen them.
She realized, with everything getting dizzy that NeoMyotismon must have already pierced her through, her blood probably spilling out in front of them. Pretty soon she would be too weak to open her eyes, her life giving out and could only hope that Homeostasis somehow could save them.
She found herself getting weaker and weaker, her heart giving out as she closed her eyes. She would have to entrust the future to them. In the end, she couldn't live up to Homeostasis's expectations. Or protect Takeru's gift. Or protect her loved ones. She had the energy like all the others, but no matter what it was the Digimon, -It was Tailmon that ultimately fought her battles. But when it came to dying-this was one she had to face alone, herself.
Even with the images of her brother, the other Digidestined and their Digimon, her mom, her dad, and of course Tailmon and Takeru even in death she was not alone. All she had to do was see it through and not give up till the very end. That's what everyone had taught her. She couldn't just let go of it all like that. There had to be something else she could do. Something. Anything.
She closed her eyes tightly agonizing about it, but suddenly a faint light called out to her from within her, Hikari recognizing it.
"Hikari," the voice said gently.
She opened her eyes immediately stunned beyond belief to find herself uninjured, but more than that, that somehow Takeru was holding her in his arms, NeoMyotismon staring at them shocked that his attack had missed, his claw sticking into the ground.
She stared awestruck staring at him. His shimmering blue eyes, the golden angelic hair, and of course his chiseled features no longer being shadowed by a hat. He truly was an angel having descended from the heavens.
"Ta...keru?" she said, her eyes lighting up in sorrow and joy, and confusion having no idea which one she was supposed to be feeling now.
"You're...alive? You're...not dead? What happened? How can you be here? How is that possible? Tak-"
His sweet lip pressed against hers, Hikari confused, emotional, and shocked beyond all else, but more than anything, a relief spread through her unlike any kind of relief she had felt before. Relief Takeru was alive. Relief to know his feelings. Relief to release those feelings. A burden slowly lifted from her flushed cheeks as he lifted his face up staring at her with a somewhat confident smile.
"...I heard your letter," he said. "Every single word. Your heart. Your feelings. I embraced them," he said ever so tenderly.
NeoMyotismon gasped staring at him. "Impossible! You can't be alive! When I marked Hikari Yagami I sensed your presence leave this world! You were dead!"
Takeru smirked placing one hand back on Hikari's cheek, his face flushed red to. "I'm supposed to be a lot of things," he said still enamored staring at Hikari. "But I don't care about what I'm 'supposed' to be. At the end of the day I'm only myself, and all my flaws that come with it," he said planting his lips on Hikari's again, Hikari sensing him relishing each and every kiss.
"...Hikari," he breathed out, caressing her cheek, his hot breath brushing her lips. "…This is the last time I will ever do something so stupid. Or let myself be tricked."
"Tricked?" she wondered.
"How can you even be here?!" Yamato shouted confused. "Takeru, I saw your lifeless body on the ground!"
"It's medically impossible!" Jou said baffled.
"It's scientifically at a negative percentage of being able to happen!" Koushiro agreed.
"I think we're all shouting because we're so happy!" Sora said elated tearing.
"Even Yamato's crying," Mimi snickered, Yamato in tears over him.
"You'll understand soon," Takeru said, his head lifting up towards Homeostasis. "Isn't that right?" Takeru smirked grinning, Homeostasis nodding her head.
Suddenly Takeru and Hikari lit up, strange lights around them manifesting within their eyes swirling around each other.
"Now, convergence!" Homeostasis declared, holding up her own power, a blast of light shining towards the two of them; a blinding power shooting forth from them into the heavens and beaming down onto Omegamon Schwart Merciless Mode.
Immediately Omegamon Schwart Merciless Mode shed the blackened armor as if ashes scraping off of his body, the ashen demonic wings, changing into brilliant white ones. It's body lit up in blue lines, a shining gleam in it's eye as the transcendent sword burst forth from his hand as if he had been filled with overwhelming power.
Myotismon groaned out monstrously. "Homeostasis!" he shouted hatefully, Homeostasis grinning.
"You're reign is at it's end...oh Dark Ocean King."
In desperation NeoMyotismon unleashed a blistering sea of bats for a dark raid attack, shouting out desperately with all his power as literally the sky turned to a spreading darkness, nearly completely composed of sharp dark bats with wicked fangs.
"Nightmare Raid!" he cried out, each of the bats flying over with blistering speed to Takeru and Hikari determined to destroy them all at once.
They literally converged with terrifying force upon them, their light emitting from them being eaten away as the bats started to swarm and tear through the barrier. But between them, Omegamon Merciless Mode shot itself into the air, it's blade gleaming burning with a white glow, NeoMyotismon petrified and helpless as he recalled Ordinemon that had been slain by this attack.
He gawked as from each Digidestined their crest power converged on his blade, the blade blinding to look at, even as he stared petrified beyond all reason as the blade slashed into the darkened day into the realm of his night instantly dividing him in two.
He stared at them, and then at his hands as he started to vanish. "I declare," he wheezed, "With my dying breath, the two of YOU, the instruments of the enchantress are cursed. You will never live normal lives even if all of the others will. My forces will come after you again and again, down to the last generation as your blood is spilled out! You will never know peace! You will never escape!" he groaned holding out his hand. "With this curse...I promise you, one day you will perish!" he shouted making a fist as his body broke down into digital fragments and scattered like ash into the wind.
Hikari stood strong wondrously at what happened, Takeru having his arms wrapped around her in a protective pose just like when he had held her distraught when she had thought Taichi had died. He stared determinedly out at the battlefield where NeoMyotismon had once been standing, still holding Hikari firmly, his arms shaking.
His mouth twitched, his eyes watery, but emotional, Hikari sensing his body heaving from all the stress he had endured.
"...I'm sorry," he said with a sigh. "For this stupid challenge. For not being able to tell you how I feel. For putting you through all of this," he said regretfully.
"...But you did that because you didn't think you had any other choice, right?" she asked knowing the answer already. "...It's because of you, Takeru, that, I can go on living. I won't pass out like what happened before," she explained. "In truth, I knew something was different about you after you walked me home that day I had blacked out."
"You knew?"
"It's not that I knew, but I knew that you were acting differently-as if you didn't know yourself if you were putting on an act or not. Just you, typical Takeru," she smiled tiredly.
"...I made everyone pretty mad at me," he chuckled. "...I even thought I had died when I took up Homeostasis's offer."
"About that you two," they turned around noticing everyone grinning at them, even Taichi with Jou still having a towel moistened with his blood on it on his neck.
For once Takeru glanced at themselves and then at them, a surprisingly goofy shock on their faces as they realized their position.
"This isn't what it looks like!" Hikari said embarrassed beyond belief. "…Or is it?" she questioned herself.
"Which is it Hikari?" Takeru asked, his face adoring her.
"It's definitely not the one you see right now!" she said wondering if she was arguing with herself. "...Or maybe it is?"
"You're still not making sense," Takeru teased.
A familiar flap of wings flew over to him, Patamon elated to see him.
"Takeru!" Patamon rejoiced flying into his arms angrily pushing into his stomach knocking him down.
"Patamon!" Takeru winced. "I missed you buddy!"
"Why did you lie to me?" he said, his face puffed up. "I'm your best friend! Don't you ever do that to me again! I don't want to have to air shot you to the face to knock some sense into you!"
Takeru smiled closing his eyes and rubbing Patamon's head calming him down. "I'm sorry pal. I won't ever do that to you again," he said honestly. "And I'm sorry to all of you," he confessed. "But if I didn't do this I might have tried to back out of it. I had to make you all hate me," he said slightly nervous, Yamato approaching him.
"You don't get it," he said flicking his forefinger with his thumb across his forehead. "Yes, of course we were pissed off you pulled such a bonehead move, but we would have eventually calmed down. Well, except for Taichi here. He probably would have put you six feet under."
"Who knows what could have happened," Taichi said not agreeing with Yamato, but not denying it. "All that matters is this whole thing is over and both of you are safe. It's a miracle."
"It truly is a miracle," Tailmon said crawling up Hikari's side onto her arm. "Both of you survived when I thought it was the end of all of us. Even NeoMyotismon's attack. And despite my reservations we have Homeostasis to thank for that."
"….That is the truth," Homeostasis said under her own power walking forward, "Though it was long-winded and dragged out, ultimately this plan was successful though their were a few close calls."
"Successful?" Taichi said incredulously.
"You mean you planned all of this out?" Yamato questioned. "Even my brother's death?!"
"That's harsh!" Miyako exclaimed.
Homeostasis tapped her staff on the ground looking down. "It was for the best," she said. "Because Hikari had been marked by NeoMyotismon anything that happened to her had to be convincing. In order to get him to manifest from the shadows and attack making him vulnerable I had to devise a plan that was believable even to those who had to take part in it."
"So then which parts were lies and which ones were the truth?" Koushiro inquired.
"It was true that Hikari Yagami was dying. The only part that I hid from all of you was the fact that Takeru in exchange for providing Hikari his life would also perish. In order to make this appear in fact real I set up a digital barrier around Takeru in order to show he had passed. I had to fool all of you, but, as long as that was successful I knew NeoMyotismon would show himself. Takeru's return and the combination of all of our powers with the restoration of Omegamon Merciful Mode was crucial."
"So you basically played the villain," Iori said, "In order to draw out the true villain? That is a bit underhanded, but commendable," Iori agreed with himself.
"You're more like an anti-hero," Daisuke grinned. "But, Hikari-chan I guess this means that's it then huh?"
She stared at him a bit puzzled. "Daisuke?"
"I saw you just now. Guess I know you're crazy for this guy after all," he chuckled. "Man, I swear I thought it was destiny you and I would be together ever since I saved you from that Monochromon and I got Taichi's blessing."
Hikari glanced toward Taichi, a stern look of disapproval on her face.
"Daisuke," Taichi winced walking over to him and putting his arm around his neck. "Welcome to the Digidestined Rejection Club buddy. As your senior I'll have to show you how to rebound from the loss of your first love."
"But don't you mean second?" he asked walking with him. "After all you were in love with my sister Ju-"
"-As your senior Daisuke," Taichi grinned squeezing his neck, "I'll just have to show you how to bounce back."
"Got it man, but you're hurting me a bit."
The two of them started walking home the other way, Taichi glancing back.
"...Takeru," he said, his voice, a bit relieved, but stern, "...Make sure to have her back before 8 o'clock," he said, much to Takeru and Hikari's appreciation.
"Got it," he said a bit relieved himself. "Though, Hikari, I don't know where to go from here. I still have to complete that ridiculous challenge by telling them the results."
She looked at him questionably, Hikari smiling to herself. "But, do you really?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've always just let people assume whatever they want about you," she said holding his hand, grateful warmth had returned to it. "So why should it be any different?"
"That's a good point," he grinned. "And by the way Iori, Daisuke, Miyako, and Ken all helped when you went unconscious. We have such good friends."
"Mhmm," she smirked. "The best."
Homeostasis tapped her staff, catching everyone's attention. "With NeoMyotismon gone now the Dark Ocean will vanish for a time. But, with his curse in place I can't guarantee it will not come back. The two of you should prepare yourselves in the event he does return."
"We'll be ready," Koushiro said typing into his computer. "I have my own theory about this curse, but it's going to take quite a bit of research before I have answers. I can let you know as soon as I have them."
"But how will you do that Koushiro?" Mimi asked.
"With Face Line."
"Face Line?"
"Homeostasis if you create a profile then I can upload all the data I find to you," he said.
"Profile?" she questioned.
"Just leave that to us," Sora grinned. "Miyako-chan, come over here and help me out!"
"I am so there!" Miyako said giddily laughing with the three girls creating an online profile for Homeostasis.
Hikari looked over at them nervously wondering about Homeostasis who had suddenly become involved in the world of making an online profile with three of the most aggressive personalities she had ever met.
"...Maybe she's the one who needs to be more sociable," Takeru whispered into her ear, Hikari laughing a bit.
"Anyways," she said closing her eyes, "Now that this is all done with, how do we move forward now? I'm still kind of in shock over all of this," she said a bit nervously.
"Me to," Takeru smirked. "But, Taichi said I get to have you all to myself until 8 pm," he said putting one hand on her chin a bit sinisterly. "Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Hmmm," Hikari wondered. "Let's go see my mom."
"Your mom?"
"If I know her she's worried sick about me right now. Plus I think you two might need to talk."
"Talk? I'm not going to have to go through some bizarre ritual right? Like drink a banana beef smoothie?"
"Who put those ridiculous ideas in your head?" she scowled.
"No one, but I have heard horror stories from both your brother and Koushiro. Haven't you ever tried one of her creations?"
"You know, it's the strangest thing. She's never offered those to me once."
Takeru smirked heartily. "So I guess what you're telling me is I might be in the doghouse huh?"
"Naw, that's reserved just for Taichi," she smiled back warmly. "I'm sure she'll be very welcoming to you."
The look on his face puzzled Hikari a bit, the way he smiled as if a bit nervous. "I doubt it."
"Why, did something happen?"
"Well…"
As daylight set in Hikari heard Takeru explain about everything that had happened. She ended up walking with him back to her place where Takeru sincerely apologized to her Mom, but in order for her to accept the apology he had to actually eat a new 'dessert' she had just created.
Somehow pickled onion Mango macha green chocolate brownies didn't seem very appetizing, even though Takeru forced himself to eat them and seemed quite uncomfortable the rest of the visit. But, regardless they made up and he left Hikari happily with a firm kiss on the cheek, her mom echoing out an 'Oh My' as he left with a smile and a wave.
Of course, the rest of that evening before she went to bed her Mom teased her telling her how delighted she was that she found a new fan of her cooking, and she approved of him unless he broke her heart. Because apparently, if he did she had a super secret special recipe reserved just for him.
Hikari shuddered thinking about it, but lied down in bed taking everything in that had happened that day. In fact, it was too much. Her friends got hurt, nearly everyone died, she thought Takeru died, NeoMyotismon appeared and they barely achieved victory. And now Takeru, for better or worse showed how he felt about her and they even kissed...quite a few times. She put a finger to her lips, one arm over her head still a bit overwhelmed.
And now, to put the icing on the cake tomorrow he would have to answer the whole school about his love letter contest. She sighed, her head a bit feverish, Tailmon rubbing her fur against her to calm her down.
What was a girl to do?