Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Return of the Kaiser ❯ The Decision and the Chosen ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of the characters thus associated with it. I own only the storyline, and my muse, Raven.

Raven: That's me! *cheers*

Kagome: *grins* Yes, that's you.

Raven: *stares at Kagome*

Kagome: What?

Raven: You're being………nice. Really, really nice. How come?

Kagome: *blushes* What? Can't I be nice to you just for the sake of being nice.

Raven: No, you can't.

Kagome: I'm being nice because I like where this story is going, and you're feeding me ideas at a very good pace. Besides, I also realize that I wasn't very nice to you on some of the earlier chapters, so I thought I'd try to make up for it.

Raven: ………………………

Kagome: *clears throat* Ahem………so………yeah. Anyhow, on with the fic!

Raven: Yea!

Chapter Three: The Decision and the Chosen

Ken moved slowly, as if in a daze, towards where he was supposed to have met the other Chosen half an hour ago. His thoughts were occupied with the information the Darkness had fed him, trying to decipher it, to find faults in it, or lies. He could do neither.

Of course, he mused, it could be that the Darkness is still affecting me, so I can't disprove anything right now. Yeah, that had to be it. There was no way the Darkness could have been telling the truth. Was there?

Frustrated, Ken shook his head, glancing down and offering a small, reassuring smile to the little caterpillar digimon at his side. "It's all right," he assured his partner. "I'm just a little spooked still, that's all." Wormmon looked like he didn't believe him, but chose to remain silent for the time being. Maybe when they were alone in Ken's room, he'd get some answers out of the shy human.

"Hey, Ichijouji!" shouted a loud voice, causing the boy to jump. It was Daisuke, waving wildly at them as he trotted over, stopping within a foot of the two partners. "You're late," he smirked.

Ken felt the tension drain from him in front of his best friend and Jogress partner. Not only could their digimon combine into the magnificent Mega Imperialdramon, but they shared a heartbeat. Daisuke's confidence and courage had always calmed Ken down, and his friendship had kept him alive.

Ken shot a grin back at him. "Not true," he countered. "I arrived in the Digital World at precisely 7:16 and 32 seconds," he smirked, assuming a mock air of arrogant superiority. He grinned to himself as he headed for the rest of the group, leaving a sputter Daisuke behind him.

When Ken arrived at the picnic blanket, he sat down next to Taichi, since the brunette was the only other single person there. Taichi just glanced at him and passed him the food.

As he ate, Ken gazed into the air, lost in thought. He really couldn't tell if the Darkness was telling the truth about his choice or not. He had not felt a lie, and yet the Darkness had an evil aura about it, so he could not be sure that it had any good intent either. He sighed, weighing his options and coming up blank.

Either he believed the Darkness, and chose to become the Kaiser again, possibly falling into its trap. Or he ignored the Darkness and kept the Kaiser buried deep inside him. However, if the Mother Darkness had been telling the truth, then the Digital World would be destroyed, and it would be his fault.

His head hurt. Setting his food down unfinished, he excused himself, gathered Wormmon, and headed back towards the forest, seeking the solitude to be found within its Heart. He never even realized that one of the other Digidestined had also excused himself and was following him.

Settling down on the soft grass, concealed by the trailing leaves of the weeping willows, Ken leaned his head back and closed his eyes, trying to sort out his confused mind, to make sense of him muddled thoughts. Hearing a snap, the violet-eyed teen bolted up, automatically crouching into a defensive position, ready to fight or flee.

"Whoa, easy there, it's just me," soothed a familiar voice, as Taichi stepped through the curtain of leaves and gazed at Ken, crouched on the ground, a wildness in his eyes and a feral beauty radiating from his entire being.

Once Ken realized who had interrupted, he relaxed and resumed his contemplation, only mildly annoyed that his secret place was no longer so secret. He was aware of Taichi moving closer, then his voice, soft so as to avoid startling or angering Ken. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude on your private place, but I swear that I will never tell anyone about this place."

Ken murmured his thanks and tried to pick up on his train of thought where he had left off. Taichi sat next to him and remained silent, leaning his head against the tree behind him and closing his eyes, enjoying the quiet.

Frustrated at his inability to sort things out, he found himself talking out loud, aware that Taichi was there, but not really caring. He told the older boy about the Darkness and its feeling, and the choice it had gave him. He even included the option of having one of the Chosen as a constant companion and allowing the others to know what was going on, as well as the assurance that he wouldn't have to hurt innocent Digimon to protect the Digital World.

He held nothing back from the brunette, and Taichi just sat and listened, not interrupting. When he was exhausted, Taichi reached over and embraced him. Then he did the unexpected. He referred to the Darkness as if he knew it. When questioned, he admitted that he had indeed met the Darkness, and it had helped him as well.

Ken didn't understand. Why would something so evil as the Darkness want to help the Chosen, or the Digital World for that matter. Then Taichi pointed out that if the Digital World were to be destroyed, the Darkness would too. "Mother Darkness cares for herself above all other things," he stated.

That brought up another question. "That may be so, but then why would she have me become Kaiser again, even with all the changes? Couldn't she find a different, gentler method of preserving the Digital World?"

The goggle boy stared at the ex-Kaiser for a few moments, scrutinizing him, before answering. "Actually, no." At Ken's startled look, he clarified. "The Darkness is trying to find the easiest way to preserve the Digital World, as well as the least painful. It cares nothing for another's pain, but it realized that the option she gave you was the one plan we would most likely agree with, not because we want you to suffer, but because it truly is the gentlest method that will work."

Ken just blinked, absorbing this in his mind. Then he looked up at Taichi, his eyes bright with despair. "Then I will do it," he whispered. "I will once again don the appearance of the Kaiser." His voice filled with despair at the thought of once again becoming the one thing he feared to become above all else.

Taichi's gentle touch on his arm brought him back to the surface of his mind, and he found himself looking into a pair of sympathetic chocolate orbs. "The Darkness also said you could have one permanent Chosen companion, right?" When Ken nodded, Taichi took a deep breath and continued, "Would you take me?"

Ken blinked up at him, startled, his words ringing in his ears. Would you take me? The question was so simple, yet carried an entire range of meaning. It made sense. Taichi was single, he had the courage to follow through with what he started, and Ken loved him.

Wait a minute, the startled boy thought, love? Thinking about it, he realized it was true. He did love Tai, and if the taller boy would accept him as the Digimon Kaiser, then how was he to refuse.

Looking back up into Taichi's mesmerizing brown eyes, he felt himself melt, as he answered his question. "Yes."

Raven: Awww………look, they're finally starting to realize that they love each other. Isn't that sweet?

Kagome: Yeah, yeah, very sweet.

Raven: *sticks out tongue*

Kagome: Anyhow, a lemon's coming up soon. Maybe next chapter, maybe the one after that. Depends on where I break the story up I suppose.

Raven: In the next chapter, Ken becomes the Digimon Kaiser, Taichi becomes the Kaiser's consort, and the Digidestined receive an explanation.

Kagome: All right. If you're interested, let me know by reviewing, all right? Five reviews and I'll post the next chapter.