Kyuuketsuki: Illusions of Blood and Darkness
Co-Written By: Dana-cha' and Ice-cha'

Chapter 3

"You could lift it up.. I can't do anything... I can't help him... Please...?"
    His DigiDestined's plea broke Agumon from his trance and he nodded silently, and quickly warped into WarGreymon, knowing he had not the time to worry about using too much energy. "Stand back Takeru, Gabumon.. I don't want you to get hurt."
    Takeru shook his head. "I'm staying here with Oniichan.."
    Gabumon looked up at WarGreymon. "We're both staying. I'll keep him from getting crushed. Just do what you need to do before you use up all your energy.."
    WarGreymon, knowing he could not win, lifted up the tree, and was releaved to see that nothing fell from its branches onto the two boys and their Digimon..
    Pushing the tree away from him with all his might, WarGreymon let it crash down to the ground and he turned into Koromon.
    Takeru shook Yamato quietly, having not even flinched his sight from Yamato. "Yama..? Yama-kun..? Are you okay...?"
    Gabumon waited in silence for the answer he was praying for...
    Hikari watched all this as she clung to her brother, her little arms wrapped around his waist.....

~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Palmon frowned at the cub as it tried to bite her. "I-I think we should try and block their vision or something.. that might calm them down...."
    Aoiku hid under the clothing of Mimi's dress, whimpering heavily, and deciding not to move anymore. He quiet his struggles, and instead began to cry out his fear. ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Tentomon nodded silently and followed. It was just too painful to speak. He was too afraid... He just knew, *KNEW* something was happening to the small, ten-year old boy that was his DigiDestined... ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     You. Him. His head was spinning again, and the sickening feeling only heightened as the inhuman female leaned close, her tongue tickling his cheek as she moved to his ear, then whispered softly, "Oh come on... I know you'll like it..."
    His world was spinning, and he shuddered.
    She giggled, a soft sound, a sound that made him ill. She moved, shifting, lips pressing near his, "I promise.. You'll enjoy it." She descended, covering his lips, silencing any protest he might make. His first kiss ripped from him by this *thing*... Feelings that only heightened the nauesa. Nibbling his lip, she pulled away, licking a bit of blood from her lips. "Yummy.."
    He felt the queasiness seize him, and he tried to keep from trembling, but he couln't hold on. The coppery tang of blood in his mouth brought it to it's conclusion, and he turned his head in time to be sick...
    She pouted, turning his chin to face her, wiping at his lips, "My little toy, I don't want you to be broken so fast... Where's the fun in that?" She snuggled closer, and he leveled a now teary gaze upon her.
    "Leave me alone..."
    Another kiss, this one long and deep, and she smirked as she drew away, licking his lower lip, "But I don't want to..." ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     All he wanted to do was hold onto Hikari, feeling as if something was slipping away, but he couldn't just sit here, not when Yamato might... No, he pushed that thought away, as painfully true as it might be. He pushed away from Hikari, kneeling at Yamato's side. Vague memories from first aid trickled back to him, and he wished he'd listened better. Jyou or Sora... They might know what to do now. He had no idea what he was supposed to do...
    "Yama...Yamato, can you hear me?" No answer. Silence that stung more than the falling rain. He checked for a pulse, remembering at least gow to do that. There was one, soft, but there was one. His breathing seemed fine.. What was that? He touched his hand near Yamato's lips, pulling back his hand to see a smear of red, melting away in the falling rain.
    He felt queasy, and wiped the blood away. What did that mean? Um, um... Internal bleeding. Right? Which ment, things were broken... Simply put, it meant there was no way he could make...
    No, he wasn't going to think that. He never thought about the dark side... He only let the hope of a happy ending carry him on. His gaze focused on the others. Takeru and Gabumon care about you so much... You can't die... You can't die... But he was dying. How was he supposed to tell them this news... But he knew he couldn't, and he fought back that hopelessness, only to have a pit of anger form...
    "Yamato! Wake up! You can't die...! You have to wake up..." Fists clutched on his lap, he bowed his head, ignoring the fact that he was crying. Crying... He only cried for Hikari. Only cried because of what he'd down to her...
    "You can't die! You can't! You gotta wake up! If you die... And leave Gabumon and Takeru... I'll never forgive you... So wake up... You gotta wake up..." ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Palmon frowned at the cub as it tried to bite her. "I-I think we should try and block their vision or something... that might calm them down...."
    Aoiku hid under the clothing of Mimi's dress, whimpering heavily, and deciding not to move anymore. He quiet his struggles, and instead began to cry out his fear.
    Sora held out her hands to Palmon, "Let me see Aoiki... I can hide her under my hat... That might help.."
    Mimi nodded, "Aoiku likes my dress, it seems... But he's crying... I wish it wouldn't storm... I feel so bad for them..."
    Palmon looked down to Aoiki before up to Sora. "I guess it's worth a shot.." She reluctantly gave Aoiki to Sora, the little Gomamon pup squirming crazily.
    "Thanks, Palmon..."
    She smiled, and held the cub close, before offering her hat as a place to hide, "Look, it's nice and dark..." ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Jyou followed after him, blind to the world around him. He knew something was happening... Something was happening to Koushiro. And he couldn't do anything. "Is it better, here?"
    Gomamon was already trying, "Hmm, I think I smell something... It might be him..." He took another sniff, "This way... It's a faint trail, so w'll have to be careful..."
    Jyou nodded, "Of course..."
    Tentomon remained silent, and followed, flying slightly behind the two. ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Takeru sobs got louder, and he clinged onto his brother hard, feeling his brother's weakening breath. "N-no! YAMA!!!"
    Gabumon cried as well, and he tried to wrap his arms around both Yamato and Takeru, but he was just not able to.. He wanted to protected them both, but he knew he could not. And that is what got to him, what killed his heart. This is what caused him to cry harder, and the tears mingled with the rain, as the forest seemed to weep around him.
    Hikari watched them all, not knowing what to make of their reactions. Clutching her crest, she approached the others slowly, and wrapped her arms around Taichi's neck. " 'Niichan... It's going to be okay.. It's gotta be okay.."
    Her crest was light. She was meant to be the light in the darkness. She was suppose to be there when needed. But how was she suppose to help now..?
    However she was suppose to help, she had to. Hikari could not believe that someone was dying... She had to help them..
    Tightening her grip around her brother's neck, she cried. She would not let Yamato die, Takeru and Gabumon still needed him.
    As the tear trailed down her cheek, her crest began to glow softly.
    She had to be the light shining forth from the heart of darkness!
    The glow grew brighter...
    He would survive! She would make sure of it!
    It grew brighter.....
    And he would live! LIVE!
    It shone brightly, and the light drowned out all the nearby darkness, and it then shot out to hit Yamato, where upon his crest's glow joined her and their light surrounded Yamato. A minute later, the light from the crests died and the DigiDestined opened they're eyes to still see Yamato there...
    "Y-yama-kun..?" Takeru whispered, shaking the boy again..
    "W-what was that..?" A tired Koromon asked.
    And promptly at that question, little Hikari's grip on Taichi's neck loosened and she fell to the ground as she fainted.
    "What happened..." Yamato blinked, everyone was crying... It was raining... What happened?
     Taichi blinked, at the light, a smile that was to good to be true slipping onto his lips, "Yamato!" But then Hikari was falling... Hikari... It was all because of her. Catching her, he held the girl close, "Hikari! You did it!" Hikari... "Are you okay? You're just tired, right...?"
    Takeru let out a happy shout and clinged to his brother tightly. "YAMA!! I thought I was going to loose you! I was so scared! I-I'm happy that you're okay, 'Niichan... I love you... Don't ever scare me like that again!"
    Gabumon also wrapped his arms around Yamato. "We were worried about you Yamato! So worried that you weren't going to make it!" Relief fled his senses, and he ignored the rain. Yamato was going to live and that was all that mattered...
    Yamato blinked, realization sinking in, then hugged as much of he could of Gabumon and Takeru. "I'm all right... Don't be worried... You shouldn't have worried..."
    But what had happened? He didn't remember much. Takeru... Patamon... He'd
pushed them away... Something was going to hit them...
    He held tighter to his brother. "I'm all right..."
    Hikari moaned weakly and grabbed a bit of Taichi's shirt, pulling herself closer to him. Opening her eyes a little, she gave him a slight smile and nodded weakly. "Y-yeah, I'm o-okay 'Niichan... D-don't worry.."
    Then, the girl passed out... ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     What are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to find him? Gomamon's going so slow, I feel like we're not making any progress at all. I'm just worrying, but I'm allowed to worry now, I can't help but worry. If I'd been paying attention to him, this wouldn't have happened. It's all my fault.. The boy sighed.
    The weight of the air around him further depressed Tentomon, and he started to fly slower, but still faster than the remaining boy.. "Oh Koushirou... where are you..?" The Digimon wondered outloud, worried that his was lost forever... And he might as well be, for what was happening to him.. ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Grinning from ear to ear, she leaned close to Koushiro, resting her cheeks against his. She was cold, where he was warm. Even that warmth was being drained away. "Oh Koushiro... I wonder if your friends will be as fun to play with as you're going to be... You've made me happy so far..." She licked his cheek, pulling away as he trembled. "You're gonna be lot's more, though, so don't think I'm letting you get away any time soon.." She left one last kiss lingering upon his lips, bloody, and drew away, standing slowly. Leaning, she set hands on his shoulders, and smirked, "I have to get another toy, though...I think you'll like this one... I really think you will..." Sliding hands down his arms, to bound wrists, she trailed claws over the gashes caused by tight bonds, smiling sweetly as he cringed. "I'll be back, Koushiro..." She stood, smirking, and vanished before his eyes...
    When he was sure she was gone, he tried once again to break the bonds, but nothing came to fruit. Sweat mixed with blood, and he twinged at the pain. But he had to get away... Maybe he could get to the others before she did... Anything to stop her. He wasn't strong enough. Even knowing that, he tried to break... Even with the tears that fell. Even with the blood dribbling down his chin... Even with the spasms of pain the too tight ropes was causing... ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     The girl-cub took the bait and was soon hiding underneath the hat. There was room enough for two in here, and she began to call for her brother.
    Coming out from underneath a fold of Mimi's dress, Aoiku darted quickly under the hat and whimpered as his sister gave him a bath, licking his head and hair, slowly calming him down. Together they would be okay..
    Mimi smiled blissfully at the silent cubs, "They seem better now... I wonder where they are. I hope nothing happened..."
    Her attention had turned to there friends, and Sora nodded, "Like I said, I'm sure they're fine... Maybe it started raining..."
    Piyomon nodded, "Sora's right... Maybe I could scout about for them, if you two want?"
    "It's okay with me..." Sore replied, smiling. Mimi nodded,
    "You think it's a good idea, Palmon?" ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     "Mmm...." Takeru replied, hugging his brother harder. "I was scared Oniichan! I'm happy that you're okay now!"
    Gabumon nodded and increased his hold on the older boy. "Me too to both of what he said."
    Taichi smiled, and held her close. "Hikari..." She'd be okay. He knew it. Smiling faintly at what she had done, he glanced towards Yamato, and the ones he held close. I'm really glad you're okay... But he spoke not a word.
    Yamato's gaze lifted for a moment, and there eyes met in that instant. Suprise reflected in blue depths as Yamato realized that tears stained Taichi's cheeks... He shook his head, slightly, and turned his gaze away...
    Laying Hikari down, he brushed hair away from her still gaze before smiling, then wiping half dried tears away from his own cheeks.
    Tailmon nuzzled close to her child, worry in her eyes, yet a smile on her lips. I'm so proud of you, Hikari...
    Hikari smiled in her sleep, despite the rain, despite the tiredness that
flowed through every vein of her body. Unconsciously, she curled up next to
Tailmon, happy for the warmth her Digimon gave.
    Gabumon looked at his friends. "We'd best get going..." ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     Palmon nodded. "I guess... something could have happened to them..." She pratically lay on the ground as she watched the cubs clean and calm each other down. "The cubs seem a lot calmer now.."
    And so they were, the male cub having curled up near his sister, slowly falling asleep. Aoiki licked her brother's ear affectionately before she laid her head down on his back, keeping a watchful eye out for any sort of danger.
   Palmon smiled at the scene in front of there. They sure were cute...
    "I wonder what happened to them... I wonder why they were alone.." Sighing, Sora gazed down at them.
    Mimi nodded, thoughtful, "I know... I wonder if Jyou and the others have found anything about them..." ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~ ~~~*~~~     It was getting darker, as if the very air was trying to hold them back, by not letting them see forewards. Jyou trudged at the back of the group, the crashing of lightning slowly him down... He clamped hands over his ears, not wanting to listen to it, wanting it to just stop. The rain came, then, stinging bare flesh, and he rushed to catch up with the others... He hadn't realized they were getting so far away.
    Lightning crashed, and hit a tree, a tree which crashed down in front of him.. He jumped back to keep from being hit, and slipped, wincing as his ankle twisted and he fell to the ground.
    The rain was so heavy, even when he cried out for Gomamon, he knew he couldn't be heard. That didn't stop him, "Gomamon!! GomaMON!!!"
    The only sound heard was the pounding of the rain, pounding into him.He clutched his ankle, throbbing. "Just great..."
    It was then as if the rain was softening around him, and he gasped as he felt a body behind his, arms wrapping around his neck. "What the?!" He started, then winced as his voice trailed away. The hold was strangely soothing, and something about it, made him not want to break away. Nice and comfortable.
    "I get to play with you next..." The voice promised, before placing a piercing kiss upon his neck. His world span, and darkness fell. End of Chapter 3