Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Remembering To Burn ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

Remembering to Burn

Part Five

---

Ken watched Black Gatomon suspiciously. She claimed to know where she was going but every time they had a choice of directions the black cat digimon would stop and cock her head as if listening to someone before deciding which way to go. After the first few times Ken glanced over at Daisuke. The keeper of courage and friendship was frowning. Ken leant over.

"You've noticed it too haven't you?" he whispered.

Daisuke nodded. "She's getting instructions from somewhere."

"I think you're right." Hikari murmured from behind. "So do we call her on it?" Her tone suggested she didn't think they should. Ken agreed.

"I'm not sure pissing off a Champion Level Digimon is a good idea in this situation." he whispered.

Daisuke snorted. "In our current situation pissing off a rookie would be a bad idea."

"Are you coming or not?" Black Gatomon asked from just ahead.

They looked at each other. "Just a minute." Daisuke called and pretended to look at Hikari's splint. "Are we?" He whispered.

"We'll never get out of here on our own." Ken noted. "So we either trust this evil digimon who's motives are unknown to us but who's kept her word to us so far or we might as well surrender to them again."

Hikari looked at him for a moment. "He's right."

"Yeah." Daisuke said. He didn't sound especially happy about it. Then again none of them were. All the same they began to follow her again.

"Do you think Takeru, Miyako and Iori are looking for us?" Ken asked as they walked.

"Yes and not just them." Hikari replied mildly. "I expect Taichi's with them and I'd be very surprised if they haven't got the other older kids along as well."

"Ah." Ken winced. "I'm not sure I want to face your brother or his digimon just now. He's got every reason to hate me. Do you think they'll give time to apologise before they kill me?" He looked at Hikari who started to laugh. "That wasn't meant to be a joke."

"I doubt he'll kill you." She reassured him. "After all Yamato's still alive." She paused. "Of course Yama only tried to kill him and delete Agumon not take over the Digital World."

"Huh?" Ken and Daisuke asked simultaneously.

"It's a really long story." Hikari said wryly.

"There was this evil digimon called Cherrymon, he worked for Puppetmon, he manipulated the Child of Friendship into thinking that he had to destroy the Child of Courage if he was to fulfil his own potential." Black Gatomon offered, making it clear she had been aware of their conversation all along. "There was this big fight between MetalGarurumon and WarGreymon and for a moment it looked like the Chosen Children might destroy each other but nothing came of it because the Light interfered by possessing her." She indicated Hikari. "And giving them a lecture."

"But apparently not that long." Hikari sighed. "We learnt a lot that day. Like how our Crests represent our strongest and best inner traits."

"Kindness?" Ken asked incredulously, remembering what Black Gatomon had claimed his Crest represented. "But I've been anything but kind."

Hikari gave him a thoughtful look. "Actually you've been exactly that since we got into this mess. You didn't have to be so nice."

"She's right. You could have let them kill me at the tunnel. It's the Kaiser that wasn't you." Daisuke told him.

"Really?" Ken looked at his companions in surprise. From the odd look on Daisuke's face he knew the boy was thinking about that time in the lift.

"Really." Daisuke said firmly and Hikari nodded emphatically.

"Do you need to rest?" Black Gatomon's voice trailed back to them. "Because there's a spring here and the place seems relatively easy to escape if they find us here. You all look tired."

They decided to risk a brief break and drank their fill before sitting down near one of the exits. Daisuke looked at Ken.

"Now you've come to your senses does that mean we're friends…" he trailed off looking confused.

"Are you alright, Motomiya-kun? You look strange."

"I nearly put an again on the end of that question. Where the hell did that come from? I mean I want to be your friend but we've never been friends before."

Ken didn't answer immediately. He was too busy remembering odd things that he'd repressed at the time. Like the strange feeling of déjà vu he'd had the first time he saw Daisuke. Or the confusing guilt he'd had to squelch when he chained the unconscious Daisuke to the cliff. The feeling that he shouldn't be tormenting a friend this way. Not to mention the fact that in that damned lift he'd felt responsible for the other boy being claustrophobic which was truly silly. He looked up to see Daisuke frowning at him. "It's not just you." He said finally. "The first time I saw you I felt as if I should know who you are." He smiled sadly. "All that aside I'd like to be your friend but I don't deserve it."

"Friends are something you have as much as deserve." Daisuke said.

"How do you think your friends would react?"

"They'll come round." Hikari said with a smile. "I'd like to be your friend as well."

"It's Iori who worries me most." Daisuke said thoughtfully. "That kid's got a judgmental streak you could fit a bus through sideways. But we'll talk him round." He held out his hand western style. "Friends?"

Ken hesitated for a moment then nodded. "Friends." He said and clasped Daisuke's hand meeting the other boy's eyes as he did so. As soon as he did something happened and a soft multi-hued light surrounded both boys.

---Flashback

Chibi-Daisuke sneaked over to where chibi-Ken was lying. The boy had been sick for several days but he was awake now. "We're you awake?" The red head whispered. "Did you hear? They're going to make us forget." Chibi-Daisuke had angry tears in his eyes. "I don't want to forget you. You're my best friend. I've never had a best friend before."

"I heard." chibi-Ken whispered back. "But that bad 'mon will kill you if you remember. I'm sure we'll remember where it matters." He reached out and tapped chibi-Daisuke's chest. "And when we do meet again we'll just know that we are friends. Our bond is deeper than memory." At those words both boys glanced reflexively towards where their digimon were sleeping and smiled.

"I hope you're right." Chibi-Daisuke sounded more hopeful. "But I'm even going to forget Vee-chan."

"It'll be alright in the end, Dai-kun, it has to be."

---End Flashback

"What the hell was that?" Daisuke's eyes were wide with shock.

"I-I-I'm not sure." Ken stammered. "A-a-a memory I think." Somehow neither boy doubted they'd experience the same even -- albeit each from his own perspective.

"What happened?" Hikari was staring at them.

"As soon as we find out you'll be the first to know." The two boys said in eerie unison.

-----

The digidestined were following Veemon when he came to such an abrupt halt that Taichi nearly tripped over him.

"What's wrong now?" Taichi asked as he recovered his balance. The blue digimon didn't reply. He and Wormmon were staring at each other with wide eyes. Miyako however did say something when her bag started pinging wildly.

"Um, guys, Ken and Daisuke's digivices are both going off." She told them as she got them out of the bag. "And indicating that we should go that way." She pointed to a nearby tunnel.

"Something extraordinary has happened! I can feel them both." Veemon was jumping up and down in excitement. "I haven't been able to do that since this started and they're close by."

"Me too." Wormmon agreed. He seemed happier than before. "Follow the digivices they'll take us to them now."

Iori looked at Gatomon who shook her head. "I sense nothing but since Hikari's digivice isn't going off it's not surprising. I'm sure she'll be with Ken and Daisuke though."

"Well what are we waiting for then? Come on."

-----

"That's the one problem with them getting their memories back." Denbe noted as he watched the screen. He had one arm round Chiharu.

"We'll never stop them meeting up with the others now. That Cat had almost led them straight to them anyway." Chiharu growled. "Why would she do that?"

"We have enemies among the Dark as well the Light. Probably one of them hates us enough to do anything to stop us."

"One who can communicate past our best screens. That means a mega." Ali added.

"So what do we do?"

"Send out our best troops to do what our normal ones failed to do." Denbe sighed. "You'll have to tell them that while they should take Kamiya alive if at all possible it's not necessary. It would be better to lose this opportunity than lose altogether."

Chiharu sighed but nodded in agreement.

-----

"I think we'd better get moving." Ken said. He was still trying to figure out what had happened when he and Daisuke clasped hands but more immediate concerns like not getting recaptured were also intruding. He looked at Black Gatomon who shrugged.

"Go that way." She indicated a tunnel. "It'll lead you smack into the other digidestined. I am so out of here. I really don't feel like fighting with my good sister today. I'll even leave you the light. I don't need it." She put down the bowl of glowing powder and there was a momentary wavering of her form. Then she was gone, vanished into thin air.

The threesome looked at the tunnel.

"Do you think she was telling the truth?" Ken asked.

"If she was then Gatomon's with them." Hikari said. "That's who her sister is."

"Only one way to find out." Daisuke started down the tunnel. Hikari and Ken looked at each other then followed him.

They'd been walking for five minutes when they heard voices ahead. Voices they recognised.

"Well what do you know. She was telling the truth." Daisuke said. "Guys! We're ... oof." He didn't get to finish because Veemon seemed to explode out of nowhere and land in his stomach.

-----

Ken watched for a moment as Daisuke tried to recover his breath from Veemon's enthusiastic greeting but then he turned to look up the tunnel as the others approaching. Hikari was walking to meet them and he could hear her chuckling at Veemon's antics.

"Are you alright, Daisuke?" The little blue digimon was dancing round excitedly. "Did they hurt you?"

"I … I … I'm … fine … or … I … was … until … you … landed … in … my … stomach." Daisuke finally managed to gasp. Ken couldn't help smiling sadly as he sat down against the wall and watched the other boy and his partner make their way over to the others. He was going to apologise to Wormmon but he couldn't imagine ever having such a wonderful relationship with his digimon. Not after how badly he had treated him. Something nuzzled his hand and he looked down. Wormmon was looking up at him.

"Please, don't cry, Ken-chan. It'll be alright." The caterpillar digimon nuzzled his hand again. Ken raised his other hand to his cheek and discovered it was wet. He hadn't even realized that he was crying until then. He picked up his digimon and cuddled it.

"Oh, Wormmon, I'm so sorry." He whispered. "Really I am."

"I forgive you, Ken-chan." The little bug said happily. "I'm just glad that you are back."

"Things are going to change." He promised. Then glanced towards the digidestined. They were standing just out of earshot, talking and occasionally casting glances in his direction. They were probably trying to decide what to do with him. Daisuke and Hikari might have forgiven him but what about the others? Would they? Why should they? The sound of footsteps made him look up in time to see Taichi and Agumon approaching him. The older boy was carrying his whip. This might hurt.

"Jyou's fixed up a better splint for Hikari." The Child of Courage said in an odd tone. "She told me what you did." He sounded confused and offered the whip to Ken.

"I'm sorry." Ken said softly. He looked at the whip for a moment and then tossed it aside. It vanished in a puff of data.

"For helping my sister?" Taichi managed to sound confused and amused at the same time.

"No, not that!" Ken met his eyes. "I'm meant I'm sorry for what I did to you and to Agumon." He winced at how inadequate that sounded. "I'll do anything to make it up to both of you. Anything."

Taichi and Agumon looked at each other. "I think that he means it."

"Yeah." The digimon agreed. "So do I."

"So should we accept his apology now or make him grovel some more?"

"I think we should accept his apology." Agumon said. "I mean look at him. He's punishing himself enough as it is."

"You're right." Taichi nodded. "Okay, apology accepted." He smiled at Ken's surprised look. "We need all the help that we can get … and if what we've been told is true you're one of us. We can't afford to hold grudges now that you've come to your senses." He offered his hand to help Ken up.

Ken hesitated a moment and got up and walked over to the others. The welcome that they gave him couldn't be described as being warm but it wasn't as frosty as he feared either. Well except for that from the youngest member of the group. When he looked at Iori he could almost see the ice. He searched his mind for something to say that would reassure the boy that he was genuine but nothing would come.

"We should be getting out of here." Koushiro said. "I doubt that they are just going to let us leave."

"There's one problem." Yamato said as the headed back along the tunnel. "Does anyone remember the way back?"

"I kept notes." Iori was still watching Ken suspiciously but he held up a pad.

"Good thinking." Ken told him.

"Thank you." The second child of knowledge said in a clipped tone.

Ken sighed. "Hida-san," He began, the younger boy blinked at this formality. "I am really sorry."

Iori gave him an even colder look than before. "And that's supposed to make it alright?"

"Of course not. Nothing can ever make it alright." Ken admitted. "But I'm going to do my best to make it as close to alright as possible."

"I hope you're serious. If you are then I'll work with you but don't expect me to forgive you."

"I won't."

-----

Ali and Chiharu were not very happy when they inspected their troops.

"Is this the best we've got?" Ali muttered in disgust.

"You know it is." Chiharu frowned. "And it's a lot better than what we sent last time even if there are fewer. With nine champions helping him Necromon ought to swing it though especially with the bunch of strong rookies."

"Time was we controlled a real army." Ali muttered.

"It wasn't our army, Ali-chan." Denbe said as he joined them. "And it didn't help us as I recall. Most of them deserted." He gave her a pointed look. "I wonder why?" He looked at the squad they'd assembled. "Not bad. Pick the right spot and they'll defeat the digidestined."

"Tactics… of course!" Chiharu nodded. "What do you suggest, Denbe-kun?"

"You're asking me?" He asked in mock surprise.

"Yes. I've got to start taking your advice more often." Chiharu leaned back against him. "We'd win more if I did." She looked up and him but he just chuckled, reached round her and called up the map.

"I think that if we attack them here we'll have our best chance." He tapped a point on the screen. "There's very little cover in that cave and the possible points of retreat are easily blocked."

"He's right." Ali agreed.

"Yes." Chiharu nodded. "Okay we follow Denbe's plan and hope that nothing else goes wrong."

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R&R, please