Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Oasis ❯ Battlefield ( Chapter 7 )

~~Warning/Disclaimer~~ This is an AU story, created out of my own mind. The characters you'll see belong to someone else, sadly. It's also a *yaoi* story, so if you think that it's all romantic and sweet-well, you're right. It's just about two boys. Boys. In love. ^___^ yea, tis great. This chapter has a lot of violence, a lot of gore. If you're offended-even though I suck at writing horror-don't read. ^__^

Lots of snugs and thanks to Billie, who translated some of the text for the dialogue used at certain spots! (trust me, there's a reason for the different language.) *snugs* Thanks to everyone, not least Gale, who started this whole thing, and the ML and the damn muses and stuff that prodded me forth!! *waves to them all*

Not least thanks to the readers and the people who reviewed! *hugs again*

~Oasis~

~Battlefield~

It was the scream that pulled him out of the house and into the over-heated air of the small village, the scream of someone familiar. A strangled cry of anger and denial, it tugged at him, demanded that he run, and Taichi was one to never ignore his instincts. He tore his way out through the door, his eyes and ears honed in the direction of the sound, and felt his face pale, heart stuttering to a stop.

Daisuke was-

He could hear others running to the village, out of the small and somewhat poorly built houses, doors slamming, shouts and cries-but his eyes were fixated on the three at the edge of the trails leading to the small pastures down hill. Koushiro, hissing something to Jun in their strange language, knelt with his hands pressing down on arching shoulders. Daisuke's back was bent, his fists clenched. From here he could see how Daisuke struggled, his teeth clenched, and resisting, fighting for-something. Jun was yelling something to Daisuke but he didn't know what it was-

"Doushita no? Daisuke, nani ga atta no? Oshiete!" What's wrong? What happened? Daisuke, tell me!

-and she had her hands fighting to keep Daisuke's arms down.

~Something's wrong,~ he thought instantly, and began to run.

A strange sensation of cold-as if all the heat had been sucked out of the air-slipped around him and Daisuke made a high-pitched cry, a name-and Tai felt a horrible sense of fear as he saw flames ignite, flickering, watched them fade within the next split-instant.

~No…the Fire-oh gods the Fire!~

He skidded to a stop, kicking gravel on the slight incline, sides heaving, and fell to his knees next to Jun. The heat was almost overwhelming, thick and hard to breathe as something inside Daisuke fought to get out. Something he feared, something that he knew Daisuke was fighting to control-

(fire)

~-but why?~ "What's wrong with him?" he cried.

Jun and Koushiro shared a glance, undoubtedly sharing thoughts, and after a second, Jun turned her head to him. "Something hit him at a mental level, tore his shields apart-" she said, hurriedly. "We're trying to restore them-" again, the look of fear between the two kin. "But we can't-the Fire-I don't know how!"

~\*/~

His world seemed to shatter and reform upon a dream.

Then hands and arms, thick scarred and muscled arms fastened onto his own, holding him there-he felt as if he was dreaming. As if it was all a strange and hazy dream that would fade upon waking-whenever he would wake, he wasn't sure. Fingers, coarse and calloused, held firmly onto his thinner wrists, he felt another hand-there was more than one-gathering the fabric of his tunic and tighten, holding him there as well. The cool press of metal touched his skin, vaguely threatening. He didn't turn, he didn't have the will to bother. He knew, somehow, that whomever held him did so under orders-

The one with the orders would appear soon.

He realized with a slow thread of numb surprise that was really surprise, just shock, that the small clearing overlooking the alley was surrounded by men similar to the ones that were holding him-at lest, he assumed. ~Soldiers,~ he thought distinctly, noting the weapons strapped to the waists and various places, the weather and travel stained leather, the gleaming metal armor from beneath parted cloaks. They didn't look like very nice men, and he struggled not to cry out as more jostled past him-if it was a dream-if it wasn't real-he stood stiffly, frozen, staring-

Until the last, the one named Tsumaru, stepped out behind the wary Ishida crouched motionless only a few feet away, and knocked the blond to his knees with a precise kick to the back of his leg. Casually, indifferently, he flashed out a knife, gleaming sharp and wicked, pressed the edge to the bared and tan column of throat. A hand was fisted in the hair, lifting the face as Ishida hissed out a curse, but didn't move.

Ken wondered briefly what would happen, his mind skipping in strange looping circles. He found himself focused upon the face, the bright flaxen hair, the odd color of the eyes-a pale blue that was almost silver in its fury, the exposed skin-he felt strange and full and somewhat displaced-

~it'snotreal~

-A skein of pain and fear and terror shimmered in lucid waves-utter stillness from something-Ken shivered and sagged in the heavy hands of his captors, lost and feeling sick. He saw the man grinning down at Yamato, his senses flickering into the other Sight-saw the man's aura and cringed, felt like screaming-and forced it away as he thought in a panic-

~…I'm going to die…~

Something flickered, unknown and unnoticed, as Ken felt a wild stab of fury and adrenaline course through him. ~I don't want to die!~ he inhaled, instinct guiding his actions, feeling the words upon his tongue and the power flickering to is call-

And hands, brutal but efficient, twisted his arms behind his back. He cried out then, and another wrapped something coarse and itchy around his face. A gag. He struggled, kicking briefly even as the arms lifted him from his feet, but the pain was too great and he froze again with only a dying breathless cry, his indigo eyes flashing wildly, darting towards the unnamed soldiers and the kneeling Yamato and past, beyond, trying to see back over his shoulder to where the village lay-where Daisuke was-

But Daisuke-Daisuke was-Something with Daisuke was wrong-

~\*/~

Daisuke screamed out in wordless rage, back arching, and pushed against his sister's hands. He twisted, teeth bared, mind full of Ken's terror, his helplessness. The urge to protect overwhelmed him, tugging and pulling at him even as the Fire inside his soul sought its own escape.

no

no no don't let it out

He inhaled a ragged hoarse breath, fighting, trying to remember what he was fighting, and what would happen if he couldn't.

A brief flash of a face, familiar. Eyes that he knew. A voice.

~Taichi,~ he thought, and then it was gone.

The Fire surged through him, hot twisting power that shone in bright incandescent fury, searing through his opened mind, seeking a destruction. His destruction, if he couldn't…

No no can't-Ken-can't let it out have to

have to wait-wait-hold-wait for it

Hold it close-down-near don't let it out keep it in

His mind touched upon a mind that was his-but-not-his. Desperately, racing along the lines of the connection, the Fire searing around him, he pressed himself into the mind. He saw faces, heard voices. Anger. Fear. Desperation and anguish. Pain from twisted wrists, thick sweat-smell of men. Gleam of a blade.

Daisuke pushed the thoughts aside, holding himself back and whispering directly.

//I'm trying I'm trying so hard -hurry Ken hurry hurry before I let it out-//

~\*/~

Veem'th could feel the power building. He could smell it on the air, the promise of smoke and cinders. In human-form he ran, a mere blur to the eyes, leaping between the stunted trees and down the slope in reckless abandon.

//Hurry!// came Jun's frightened cry. //I can't contain him!//

Grimacing, Veem'th lengthened his stride, pushing his limits and gasping for air, heedless of the danger. The slightest mistake, the smallest misstep would send him hurtling into an unstoppable fall-and as he was, Veem'th was helpless. He couldn't go into the village in his alter-form-no, that would be foolish, and alert the surrounding forces to his presence.

He had to get to Daisuke. He had to protect him.

He had to stop him.

~\*/~

"I never expected you to betray us, Ishida. He certainly didn't expect it." Tsumaru ran the edge of the down to the point of the chin, other hand yanking the head back by the hair. "I heard what you said, you know, when you were walking upon that mountain pass…all those things about these mercenaries. You were one of them. You were their leader…Such a clever plan. Such a clever boy."

A fist angled back, curled around the haft of the knife, and struck Ishida across the face.

"You're going to die," Tsumaru whispered. "They will all die…"

Ishida narrowed his eyes, and bared his teeth. "You have no idea how stupid you sound."

The fist struck him twice. The blond sagged, coughing, spitting blood.

"I don't think you should be talking in your position, Ishida. You've fallen out of favor."

Icy eyes peered up through a blond fringe, narrow with hate. "And the boy?" he replied hoarsely. "What do you want with Ken?"

"Oh, that." Tsumaru glanced to where the waif was held. "You must have said something very striking to the boy to shock him so. Perhaps he knows of my Lord's plans? Perhaps you told him what will happen?"

"I told him the truth," Ishida whispered back. "Something I doubt you've ever seen."

Again, the fist struck him. Blood trickled down in bright lines, spattering to the dust and grit of the ground.

"Let's go," Tsumaru said. His voice was strangely pleased.

Ken looked up from lowered brows as the man slipped the knife back into the sheath. He didn't move as the soldiers gathered around him, not quite understanding their connection with him and Ishida, not quite knowing what was going on.

Around him shadows flickered as most of them slipped stealthily back into the sparse forest, down the incline and into the valley.

~They're surrounding the village,~ Ken realized. ~They're attacking.~

Tsumaru motioned with a hand, and the two men holding onto Ken yanked him upright, and began marching him forward. Another grabbed Ishida and dragged him forward, cuffing the blond casually with one fist. Only three men followed them, swords eased in sheathes and eyes wary for any attack.

Ken doubted that they were afraid of anything.

"Hibiki-what's the report?"

~Daisuke,~ his mind whispered. ~They'd be afraid of Daisuke.~

"We have them surrounded. It will be easy to overcome them."

As he thought of the other boy, the strange sensation within his mind increased. A sense of heat was building, a fever-touch upon his mind. Stumbling, Ken slumped as a suffocating presence swarmed through him, choking his breath. Frightened, confused, he allowed the men to curse and pull him up painfully.

Voices muttered to him, the soldiers yanking at his arms to keep him upright.

~Daisuke.~

Something brushed by him, almost physically tangible. A whisper of voice-thought-emotion-

//I'm trying I'm trying so hard -hurry Ken hurry hurry before I let it out-//

Daisuke. It was Daisuke. Daisuke was in trouble, he needed help he was so warm and he-

-something snapped across his face, white hot and heavy-

Ken blinked, his vision blurring the gravel and trees and rocks around him, tasting blood behind the gag. Tears stung his eyes, his face aching, as he looked up to see the man Tsumaru staring at him with an angry look.

"You will walk," the man hissed, "or we will kill everyone in this village."

Ken blinked, trying to understand and feeling only a dull angry hatred of the man. He nodded, blood seeping down his chin and staining the linen. He pushed to his feet. Daisuke's words were strong in his head, even though he didn't understand how, didn't understand why it was so. It was simply there.

~\*/~

The soldiers gathered silently around the small village of ramshackle homes, concealed in the thicker stand of mountain pine, crouched behind the smaller stunted relatives, and just beyond the bends. They were ready, cold and callous men. They were ready to kill.

Not one of the men stationed along the upper ridge of boulders saw the blur of movement as something soared past them and beyond, down into the village.

Veem'th cursed silently as he crouched into a landing, springing off in the next split-moment, moving as fast as the human-form would allow, and blurred between a small stand of scrub and boulders that limned the ridge. He was still faster than a normal human, though. He dropped over the edge of the cliff without hesitation, plummeting, and landed cat-like in the shadows of the buildings.

~No time-~

The houses were only yards away, a small distance that seemed to stretch forever with Daisuke beyond them, and the blood-thirsty men so near.

~\*/~

"Are they ready?"

The man bowed, his fear of Tsumaru keeping him polite and obedient, even as he felt sick inside. He glanced discreetly at the slumped figure, the wild mindless eyes and the fear. ~This is what we came for?~ he thought in disbelief. ~He's nothing but a child!~

"Well?" Tsumaru demanded impatiently.

"They are prepared," the man said calmly. He flinched as the other captive raised his head a fraction, looking at him. "They don't suspect a thing," he finished. Icy eyes bored into him, before the man, Ishida-the recent second commander-lowered his gaze.

Inside the man sighed in relief. Ishida was dangerous, hurt and tied as he was. He was very dangerous. His eyes flickered to the pale trembling boy again, and his heart twisted.

~He's only a child,~ he thought. ~What harm could he possibly be?~

~\*/~

In the confusion and worried noise, only Takeru caught the flash of motion. He wondered, briefly, what had put the harried look on the dragon-boy's face, as Veem'th dashed out of the shadows. "Tai," he called. "Veem'th's here-"

Tai looked up from his kneeling position, as the stranger Jun raised her head and spat something at the dragon. Takeru met his worried eyes, shrugging faintly at the question. He didn't know what was wrong-and from the reaction of the two strangers who knew Daisuke as well, they had no idea.

Veem'th dropped at Daisuke's side, muttering something to the woman Jun-Takeru had caught the strangest scent from her-and placed his hands on Daisuke's chest. He bent low, whispering to the redhead, and pushing the boy down. He managed to keep the writhing form still with a palm, as his other hand, white and slender, pushed back the hair upon Daisuke's forehead. The boy's eyes were half open, glazed and furious.

~He's never lost control like this,~ Takeru thought. He shivered, dread in his heart, and rubbed his prickling arms. The acrid scent of fire swirled through the air, occasionally sparking into brilliance as Daisuke tossed his head. He seemed to be fighting Veem'th's words, his hands-

Which was why Takeru was glad, when the fire erupted for a second time, that Veem'th was able to withstand it. The fire sent Jun and her companion scuttling back, both of them pulling Taichi by the arms, while Veem'th snarled something and pushed back with his hands. The fire merely spun, sparking and bright gleaming yellow, and left no mark upon the dragon's skin.

"What's going on?" Miyako whispered, her hands clutching at his elbow. "What's wrong with Daisuke?"

The others were just as frightened. Not one of them had ever seen Daisuke lose control, and for a moment, Takeru wondered if any of them had ever known just how powerful Daisuke was.

"I don't know," he replied. He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "Something's wrong, I think." From the corner of his eye he saw Miyako bit at her lip, the normal breezy smell of her shot with worry and fear.

The fire died suddenly, as if snuffed by a gale of wind, and Veem'th whispered something in harsh clipped language.

"Chikushou, Daisuke, aitsu no kokoru kara dero! Shinai to ryouhou zo!" Dammit Daisuke-Get out of his head! You'll both die!

There was no reply but a soft hiss, anger spicing through the acrid Fire stench, a furious rage that sent Takeru's skin crawling. Daisuke was angry. He was furious with something and himself and trying very hard to stop something. He was struggling.

~From what?~ Takeru wanted to know. ~What's going on!~ Frustrated, he inhaled, running his free hand through his messy blond hair-

-and froze, nose full of an unfamiliar greasy scent. Metal and oil, grease and sweat. Men. Blades and leather.

Unknowingly, his head raised, eyes flickering to the shadows as the paltry breeze carried more of the smell. His instincts clamored, mind shooting painfully from one single fact to another. There were men with weapons. Daisuke was in an unaccountable fury-

And Ken was missing.

~\*/~

Jun watched with worried eyes, pulse racing, and felt her teeth clamp down on her lip despite the best effort of her mind to prevent it. //Koushiro-what's going on?//

//He's trying to close Daisuke's power off, to contain it,// the redhead replied absently. //Daisuke's fighting it.//

//Why!?// she nearly screamed. //What the hell's happened! What could have torn his shields apart like that! What could have sent him into such heedlessness!?//

Koushiro replied, trying to keep his thoughts soothing. //I don't know. We'll find out later-right now we need to make sure none of these people are hurt.//

"Shitteru yo!" she replied out loud. "Demo, osae ga kikanakunatta yuragi no shiirudo wo iji suru no ha muzukashiiã!" I know that! But it's hard to maintain a shield for fluctuations that are out of control!

"Shikkari shiro!" Koushiro snapped. Calm down and just do it!

She did so, face scowling in concentration, tapping into the sleeping powers of the mountain and skimming off of the air. She wasn't the only Motomiya to have inherited the Stormwalker power-and even though hers was of lesser strength-her shields were intricate and top-notch. She set herself to weaving a flexible shield around Veem'th and Daisuke and maintain the power surging forth. It stung at her mind the way windblown sparks would nip at her skin, but she forced herself to keep it there.

Behind her the rustle of sudden motion, and a low voice urgent with anxiety. Then Taichi's snapped "What?" nearly broke her concentration.

"We're surrounded!" the younger voice replied. "They must have taken Ken!"

Then it hit her-and the shields flickered away. The fire boiled forth for a moment, the people behind her gasping, drawing back, and she snapped her mind back to the task at hand. Several things fell into place, beating into her mind even as she struggled. Surrounded by an enemy, and Daisuke in a rage-and a missing person. An unaccounted bondmate.

//Koushiro-we've got a bigger problem!//

~\*/~

It didn't take very long for the word to spread among the group of mercenaries. Everyone was out amid the central clearing, everyone concerned over the sudden collapse of one of their own. Everyone, despite the appearance, knew that when Taichi said pretend, it was a very dangerous time indeed.

The children, almost as one, began to sniffle. The younger children, some still too young to understand, but old enough to know what to do, began to cry. Some began to wail that Daisuke was going to die, and they all began together towards Hikari.

Miyako turned, weeping, and clutched at Takeru, who buried his face against her neck and circled his arms around his wife-to-be. The others, slowly coalescing into a denser mass, began to whisper and act more concerned, as Taichi stood. Riku with arms crossed and expression grave, merely nodded as Sorah neared his side. All of the mercenaries knew what to do, while only half of them were armed-all of them were still dangerous.

All in all, as Tsumaru gave the signal to finally come out into the open, weapons drawn and ready for a panicky flight-no one moved or tried to hide, as the man had assumed.

Tsumaru gave himself credit for a well-thought plan and taking them by surprise, and smiled wickedly. He assumed this was going to be easy, as his two captives were dragged just out of sight of the band, and grinned.

"Well, it seems you have some problems, Tai Kamiya!" he called. His eyes flickered to the body of the boy on the ground, braced by a blue-colored skinny waif and two cloaked figures. They weren't of any concern, so he pushed the thought away, and focused on the man turning slowly to face him.

"Akiyo Tsumaru," the brunette replied. "What a pleasant surprise-I would say I almost missed you…but I'd be lying." Tai Kamiya, self-proclaimed leader of the mercenary rebels, flung a hand to encompass his group. "All in all, I don't think we're prepared for your arrival."

"That's quite alright," Tsumaru curled a lip. "I'm not sure we could stomach your food-but you see, this is a matter of extreme importance."

Tai turned head and looked pointedly at the armed soldiers, then his own apparently helpless band. "If you need all these men, then I guess it must be so. What the hell do you want, Tsumaru?"

"A boy named Daisuke-" his eyes didn't miss, however, the glances shot to the boy on the ground from the other mercenaries. "Among other things."

"Daisuke's not available," Tai said, voice cold. He cocked a hip and rested a curled fist. "Try again. And ask politely!" he mocked.

Tsumaru grinned, his mind already speeding ahead to where he would be awarded the highest position possible, and did a foolish thing. "Tsk, Tai-you're hardly in a position to make demands." He turned, waving the soldiers behind him forward to show off his captives, and watched the man's expression with a giddy sense of sadism.

"As you see," he said, as the limp and bruised body of Ishida was thrown forward. "I've got all the cards."

~\*/~

Ken staggered as the men holding back his arms tugged with absent cruelty, his gaze wavering somewhere between tears and pain. He was back in the village, now. On level ground, with all of the mercenaries gathered together. The soldiers had surrounded them, weapons drawn. They looked angry, vicious. Their very presence stung at his mind, at his other Sight-he was unable to control the moments he slipped into the Sight, and the pains it produced in his mind. Seeing such ugly twisted auras hurt, even as he reeled and tried to keep from collapsing.

He breathed in shallow pants, vision blurring as he turned his head. The gag was painfully tight against his mouth, pulling trapped hair and aggravating the throbbing bruise from earlier.

~There's no way…~ he thought despairingly. ~No way that-that they'll-~

He focused his gaze on the man named Tsumaru, on his mocking and triumphant voice. He watched, heart aching, as Ishida was dragged forward. His gaze flickered to the taller dark-haired man, a horrible sense of déjà vu and fear as he tried to see clearly. ~That's Tai,~ he thought after a moment. ~That's…Ishida's lover? His mate?~

He knew, after a moment's struggle, that neither man had been reunited in two years. ~Daisuke thought he was a traitor…Ishida left to protect these people…~ He watched, seeing the face pale and the fists clench. ~He left to die for these people, to save them.~

"Well?" Tsumaru was saying. "What do you think?"

It was hard to hear the words. It was hard to concentrate. His mind was full of pain and a strange burning. He knew it was Daisuke, felt fear at the thought that something had happened, even as he turned his eyes to look. He couldn't worry about Ishida-he had to find Daisuke. His mind was full of Daisuke, full of the strange burning presence, the anger and the fear and the worry. Full of the mindless strength of the mancer power, overwhelmed and afraid. He couldn't face such a fear, such a power, even as it ebbed to a faded pulse-he noted with some surprise that it matched his heartbeat perfectly-and sucked in a breath.

"I think you're an idiot," Tai was replying, voice scathing and face a mask of hatred. "But then, that's nothing new."

~They're going to get hurt,~ Ken thought when Tsumaru hissed out an order. ~These people are going to kill them.~ He knew it. He didn't know how-perhaps it was the way they grinned like bloodthirsty wolves, or the way they tightened their hands upon the hafts of their weapons-he didn't know what triggered the sudden revelation.

All he knew, as his mind registered the fact, was that Ishida had been right. Daisuke had been right. And now, right now-they were all going to get killed.

~\*/~

//Daisuke-stop, damn you! Hold still and let me rebuild your shields!// Veem'th's voice.

No. He couldn't. He had something to do. Had something very important. Daisuke opened his eyes, seeing the sun through a hazy red flare, and pulled in a breath that stank of burnt grass. He pushed against the hands holding him down, against the mind wrapped around his.

//…let go…// he forced himself to say. //…for just…one moment…// He didn't know what he was going to do. All he was aware of was fear, and pain. Anguish and a struggling sense of despair. Not his-someone else.

Snarling, Daisuke pushed Veem'th away, his mind aching and his thoughts reduced to sensory detail. He rolled, pushing to his knees, fingers dragging at the simple tunic that Veem'th wore until they found purchase and he managed to pull himself up. His mind burned, his body burned-everything around him seemed to burn. He was looking through a veil of molten dancing sparks-and he saw his enemy, and the fallen Ishida.

//Trust me!//

He saw Ken, and the fear in those eyes, the pale wild face. Veem'th was pulling at him, telling him to keep down and let him finish.

Something snapped.

~\*/~

Ken felt it. He watched Daisuke push himself up, his eyes wide and unfocused. Power burned in those eyes, flickering into view as dripping flames and vanishing just as quickly. Across the distance, through the fog of emotions and reckless power, their eyes met. Power coalesced, rising and spinning into maelstrom.

Ken could feel it coming. His eyes widened, his body sucking in a startled ragged breath.

Tai's face was paling as Veem'th backed away, falling clumsily onto his bottom. Daisuke was still kneeling, his face devoid of expression. Slowly, one by one, the others turned to look. The soldiers' eyes were drawn to the kneeling boy, with Tsumaru's sneering sound to accent it.

He could feel it coming. Ken bent his head, eyes shutting slowly, lethargically, as the image of the fallen boy etched itself in his mind.

~Daisuke…~

Something cracked.

~\*/~

//…trust me…// was what Veem'th heard, as Daisuke pushed him away. Fear was what he felt, as Daisuke gathering himself, his gaze focused with feral intensity upon Tsumaru. Then, in the next moment, without even time to breath, Daisuke set free his power.

Flame roared forth, stirred into a maelstrom of blazing white-hot fury, aimed straight for the fallen Ishida, Tsumaru, and half-seen Ken. It gathered force like a tsunami, rolling over itself and scattering embers. It pushed towards the skinny gaping man, past Veem'th and the mercenaries, a violent destructive heat.

//…now!// came Daisuke's half-strained reply. //Do it now!//

Veem'th snapped his gaze to Daisuke, thinking ~It's too much!~ and twisted his face into desperation. He reached up, unable to gauge when the fire was drawing near, and splayed his hands against Daisuke's face, cupping it.

//I'm sorry,// he said, and slammed a mental shield down without regard for Daisuke's mind, and smothered it.

Daisuke stiffened, eyes suddenly unfocused as the roar of the flames sputtered out, and fell. The only thing that kept him upright was the strong hands of the dragon-even as Veem'th struggled to keep his mind from destroying the half-breed.

Shouts and screams in the sudden silence, the sound of harried breathing, the rasp of drawn weapons. Daisuke closed his eyes, a faint smile on his face, and slipped into oblivion. Veem'th feared he had killed him, knew he hadn't because the boy was breathing, but couldn't help feeling the panic. The dragon drew a shuddering breath, not knowing what Daisuke's reckless plan had been, if it had worked. All he knew was that he had to shield with all of his strength and hope it held. He wanted to explode out of this fragile human form and attack them, bite and kill the ones that were threatening his human people.

He almost did-but as Daisuke fell heavy in his arms, he knew he couldn't. Not yet.

He lowered the half-breed to the ground, taking care not to jostle him too much-and began to curse as a second power, outside and untamable even for his own magic, increased without warning. The air went cold, as Veem'th twisted his head around, and saw the reason, saw the actual results of Daisuke's reckless behavior, and began to curse the boy with a fluent tongue. He recognized the bitter twisting and intricate power.

"You stupid stupid boy!" Veem'th cried out.

~\*/~

~What the hell was he trying to do?~ ran through Taichi's panic-stuttered mind. ~What the hell!?~

The Fire, in a horrific display of power, had lasted no more than a few seconds. No one had time to react, only expressions of fear and the beginnings of movement. Taichi looked around, seeing almost everyone ducking away, moved more by instinct than anything. It had gone straight for Tsumaru, straight for Yama.

~Yama,~ his mind breathed, as the Fire sputtered, then broke apart like a splashing wave upon some invisible barrier. The Fire soared towards them, small curling arcs of it reaching out even as it died into smoke on the air. Clothing smoldered where embers had fallen, and Taichi noticed in a daze of adrenaline, that a smaller and unnoticed figure had fallen.

~He was aiming for him?~

No-the boy was getting up. Something fluttered to the ground, as Veem'th caught the collapsing Daisuke. It was a burning piece of cloth, small and discolored.

"Ken!" Takeru's whisper under the noise.

~So that's the boy Daisuke brought home…~

A pale face hidden behind dark hair turned their way, eyes widening as they fell upon Daisuke. It almost seemed to happen outside of time, Taichi noticed. He saw Ishida push himself upwards, confusion and pain in his face, and look behind him. He saw the soldiers straightening from their fearful positions, watched Tsumaru get to his feet with stumbling anger, heard the man screaming. Smelled the smoke and the fire and the strangely clean scent of earth. Felt himself inhale, a part of him very quiet, very still, at the almost identical looks of fear on Yama's normally calm face-and saw Veem'th snap his head up, the closest thing to horror on the boy's face, and stare at the boy, the stranger. His lips moved, saying something-but as Taichi turned to look back-

-the world started to explode from the ground up.

~\*/~

Far off in the distance, seated at the window of his private room, Osamu raised his head and stared towards the southeast, where the mountains where, and frowned.

~Ken,~ the man thought. ~My little one-~

Through the link between him he felt the surge of power, the utter absence of thought. Something in him shivered in the face of it, and at the same time, a part of him smiled gently. His little one was strong, so very strong.

But there was something-not quite right-

~\*/~

The earth shuddered beneath them, grinding out a shrieking protest as chunks of rock were elevated, thrust into the air and piled haphazardly. One would almost see the mountain tearing itself apart. Chunks of earth and grass, soil falling away from damp roots. Men cried out in horror, falling to the earth and struggling to hold on, searching for a spot of safety amid the roiling earth. The earth almost screamed as the ground erupted around them.

Ken lifted his head, a hand floating up to tear the remnants of the gag away from his face-a part of it, sticky with blood, hadn't fallen away. His eyes were blank and wide with power as he pushed to his feet. The ropes around his arms had melted away, gone in a mere instance of thought. The battle-hardened soldiers had only time to blink at him as their captive stood.

"Stupid brat," one snarled, raising his head and seeing only the boy standing there. He scrambled to his feet, the shaking earth slowing to a mere tremor, and drew his shortsword. "You're coming with us-"

Ken turned his head, looking at him with expressionless eyes.

The man stopped, his comrades drawing back, and choked. His blade dropped to the ground, strange marks like whiplashes appearing on the bared skin. The man gave a soft breathless shriek, the loudest sound in the moments after the quake, and doubled over. The marks darkened, splitting open within moments as if invisible knives were dragging over his skin.

"W-what is it?" a second gibbered, backing away without thinking, as the boy he had assumed harmless tore a man apart. Mere seconds had passed, not even a full minute since the terrifying fiery explosion, and blood was spattering into the ground. The wounds widened, to his horrified eyes, and the first man fell to his knees. Then over into his widening pool of blood, dead and unrecognizable.

The boy turned his head again, facing the rest of the soldiers, and took a step forward.

~\*/~

Dazed, Taichi rolled onto his side, bleeding from small scratches, and raised his head. No one was seriously hurt-and as he pushed himself up further-looked with a shivering awe at the near-perfect circle of unmarred earth. His eyes moved to the tumbled earth-dark stones, the wet soil. Men stirred in the piles of stone, most of them dazed. A few had been crushed, and blood darkened the soil.

~Gods,~ Taichi thought. ~What the hell happened?~

A scream rang out, high and choked. Slowly, the only one of his band to be standing yet, Taichi turned. He saw Veem'th huddling over Daisuke, saw Yama with a bloody dagger and kicking a half-dead soldier away-

-and saw the boy from before standing amidst the chaos. Tai felt his stomach heave at the blank look, the unfelt breeze tugging around the boy. ~Who is that?~

"What are you doing?!" Tsumaru shrieked, face purple with rage, and brandished a dagger. "Stop hiiim!"

The boy took a step forward. A man soared backwards, mouth open in silent agony, and twisted as his flesh began to melt, his skin bubbling. Other men cried out, scrambling backwards, stumbling over protruding rocks and the blood-slick soil. Taichi exhaled, tasting bile, and saw more than one man fall into a bloody heap, writhing and screaming.

The boy took a step forward, somehow avoiding the mess of flesh, avoiding the blood even as it spattered onto his skin and hair, a sticky mess on his clothes.

"Gods," Taichi moaned, his eyes focusing painfully on a blond figure. Yama. Yama was still alive. "Yama-"

Tsumaru was headed for Yama.

~\*/~

"Get up!" a voice snarled. Hands tugged at him, pulling him up and around-Yama growled, his dagger knocked from his fist. Pain was twisting through his body, instinct overriding his common sense, and bared his teeth. He couldn't do anything, as the hands pulled at him and the voice shrieked "Get up Ishida!"

He smelled blood. He could taste it thick on the air, dark and metallic. It choked at him, as his ears were choked with screaming, and after a great deal of effort, forced his eyes open. Something flashed, a face drawing near. A blade. Tsumaru's face. Ishida growled again, confused and struggling to make his body work right, wanting to strike at the hateful man. He rasped a sound, unable to speak right away.

Tsumaru yanked him to his feet by the collar of his clothing, the blade pressing to his throat. He felt a sting as it patted the skin, warm blood trickling. "What is he?" the man hissed. Ishida could smell the sharp acrid stench of fear, the panic, and smiled.

He couldn't resist the weaker man as Tsumaru shoved him backwards, spinning him as he stumbled, and yanked at his hair. "What?" he gasped-then stared in disbelief as he discovered the source of the blood.

~oh gods,~ he thought in sudden clarity. ~Oh dear gods…~

Ken, white faced, was taking a slow and measure step. He was closer than Tsumaru would have wanted, dust swirling at his feet and the absent breeze tugging at his clothes. Men had fallen around him, bloody and unrecognizable. Some were still screaming. Blood had spattered onto the pale skin, onto the clothes and into the hair.

"What did you do?" Ishida choked out. "What did you do to him?!"

"Nothing!" Tsumaru shrieked, shaking him. "I was informed he was harmless!"

Ishida barked out a frightened laugh, the blade swerving in to press at his throat and slowly shook his head. "You stupid man…" and cried out as the hand in his hair tightened painfully, twisting.

Ken paused then, looking at him. A tiny almost-invisible frown slipped across his face. Then slowly, he took a step forward.

"Stop!" Tsumaru bawled out. "Stop right there or I'll slit his throat!"

Silence fell, mercenaries and soldiers alike-the ones alive, that is-turned their faces to the motionless destructive boy. Tilting his head, Ken stepped forward again, the grating pebbles almost loud. Ken peered at him with mild curiosity-Tsumaru bared his teeth, drawing back the blade-

Ken blinked slowly as the blade angled down and plunged into Ishida's chest. Watched as Tsumaru gibbered a laugh and yanked it away, drops of blood spattering. Ishida's face had frozen into shock, his eyes wide. Then Tsumaru sent Ishida falling to the ground with a kick.

From a far off distance, two voices shrieked out, one with a name and the other a wordless howl. Seeing without seeing, Ken recognized the one named Tai-Ishida's lover-and the smaller blond. Takeru. The brother.

Something inside stirred, and almost before he realized it-he had reached out with a thought, wrapping the air around Tsumaru and drawing it tight. A glint of maliciousness entered his eyes, as the man screamed behind a wall of air, fists beating on it. Ken narrowed his eyes, and forced the area smaller. Forced the air to close in, forced the space to tighten.

Tsumaru screamed again, bones breaking and limbs twisting as the air forced them into unnatural positions, a wail of fury and mindless agony as his body was crushed. Behind the trapped man, Ken made a small note that Tai had stopped the younger blond, had grabbed him and was shaking his head.

When he looked back Tsumaru was dead.

His gaze fell upon Ishida, still alive, and took a step forward. Instinct guided his hand, as he knelt, power burning trough him with an icy heat and laid his hand upon the wound. He drew no sigils, said no words-

-but Ishida arched and screamed, deep and from the bottom of his gut. Ken smiled faintly at him, when the blond fell back to the earth with a shudder and took his hand away. He revealed a reddened scar, crescent shaped, on Ishida's chest. He had healed.

~Good,~ Ken thought distinctly. ~It's over. Stop.~

Without a second thought, without another movement, he slumped, power slipping away from him and leaving him shivering. Hands caught him, bracing him, as the lack of power dragged at him. Everything seemed heavy, and he struggled for breath. His mind ached, his body thrummed strangely, and something foul was in his mouth.

"What's going on?" he whispered, blinking. Light stung his eyes, his head a painful ache. Thoughts and emotions whirled, keeping him off-balance and unable to pinpoint what exactly was wrong.

"Ken?" replied a hoarse voice. Ken raised his face, peering at the pale blood-spattered face of Ishida, and frowned. The man half-shook his head, hands pushing up him upright, keeping him there. "What did you do?"

"I-" his gaze fell to the gaping tear and to the curved scar. His hands reached out, his mind blurry, and grazed the skin. "I don't-" He froze, as everything seemed to narrow down, blocking out the rest of the world.

~no…~

But the world rushed in, full of pained screams and the bitter smell of blood, blood on his hands and on Ishida and as his mouth worked, on his face. On him. Blood-gore and bits of hair and gobbets of unidentifiable flesh-on him.

He choked, gagging, staring at the darkened stains on his hand. Ishida was saying his name, shaking him. He turned his head, face pale beneath the blood, and saw the jumbled earth, the blood-soaked soil. The bodies. The men that scrambled away, the ones that screamed and died and stared at him with horrified eyes-

"I-ishida," he gasped. "Ishida, w-what--?" He breathed short and shallow breaths, dizzy and aching and full of a choking disgust The shallow breaths turned to hysterical half-sobs when Ishida looked at him, a strange pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," the man whispered. "I'm sorry I had to tell you."

Ken shook his head in denial, not even knowing why he was doing so. "It's…it's not true," he whispered half-heartedly, even though he couldn't raise his eyes. "It's not. It's not. It's not."

"I'm sorry," Ishida breathed.

Ken crumpled in on himself as his body shook with violent sobs. The hands switched from holding him to an embrace, unexpected and warm. Ken choked out a sob, tears thick in his throat, and hunched over. Without realizing it, his hands had clutched the tattered tunic. Arms folded around him, warm and secure, and Ken fell deep into bitter sobbing, chest aching as he poured out his misery.

~~

My god, that was long…I hope it makes up for the wait!! Damn near 20 pages in Word, this. ^_^;; I wish I had more to this-I had planned more-but that wouldn't be too hard to put in the next chapter. ^___^. As of yet, I have no clue on when this will be finished-it shouldn't be much more….

Second-I hope I put the right sentences down-they came off a lil weird cuz my puter isn't Japanese-loving friendly…><;; so I did the best I could! Again, thanks uber uber much to billie! *snugs*

Next chapter-On the road, and Daisuke/Ken finally talk! Of course, there's a little matter of his family to worry about….