Defenders Keep XI

Mimi sat bolt upright screaming into her hands.

"What is it?" Sora asked.

"Something's happened to Joe."

"How do you know?" Tai asked sitting up.

"I just know." She said desperately.

"Is there anything we can do?" Sora asked.

"Pray with me." She said shifting to a kneeling position. Tai and Sora joined her and in the darkness before the dawn three voices whispered their prayers to anyone willing to listen.

~*~

Faith, Destiny, Foxe, and Steve sat around the fire.

"So God is really real? I never believed in him myself." Faith said.

"That's like me saying that I don't believe in you, so you don't exist." Steve replied.

"Hmm. Valid point."  Faith said as a cold wind blew in extinguishing the fire and chilling them to the bone.

"Death is walking." Steve said gathering the scattered firewood.

"I take it that's a bad thing, love?" Foxe asked.

Steve nodded and raised his face to the sky. Raven, the Walker is abroad. Beware.

~*~

Beware.  The word echoed in Raven's mind jarring him to consciousness. He wasn't sure who had warned him, but he was so sleepy.

No Raven. Angelique said. Kari needs you so wake up.

"Right." He muttered forcing his eyes open to see Kari cradled in his arms.  Save for her shallow breathing and the deep gash in her side she may have been asleep.

Or dead. Angelique said urgently. He's coming.

Raven looked around to see Matt slumped over TK and in a bizarre parody of the others, Izzy slumped over Joe.

"Is... she..." Salamon managed.

"No." Raven said. "Not yet. Watch over her while I go find some shelter." He said spreading his wings despite the protests of his aching muscles and the fresh flow of blood it triggered from his side.

"You shouldn't go." Voidmon said.

"Shouldn't but have to." He muttered. He felt so drained. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and go to sleep. "Hey Matt." He said poking the blond boy with his cane.

"Raven?" He moaned. "Are we dead?"

"Not unless Satan redecorated." Raven said glancing around the foggy swampland.

"Matt?" A voice asked from the fog. "Is that really you?" 

"Gabumon!" Matt exclaimed as the canine digimon limped out of the fog before collapsing into Matt's lap. "How'd you get here?"

"I don't know. One moment I'm in a prison cell with the other digimon, the next thing I know I know, I'm here."

"Wherever here is." Raven mumbled taking to the air.

Hurry back. Angelique said. Time is fleeting.

Where are you?

As close as your heart. She said before falling silent.

Raven looked around as he flew in an expanding spiral looking for shelter. Ten minutes and a mile and a half later he found it in an abandoned cave. He checked to make sure it was empty before piling some wood in the back and returning to the others. "Let's go. He said landing.

"What's the rush?" Matt asked gently pulling himself to his feet.

"Company's coming." Raven said gently depositing TK in Matt's arms. "Unwanted company. Try not to jog him around too much." Matt nodded.

"They shouldn't be moved." Izzy sniffled wiping his eyes. Raven knew he'd been crying and that he'd cry until his eyes were dry. He also knew it wouldn't help much. "They could have internal injuries."

"No choice." Raven said scooping Kari up gently so as not to trigger fresh bleeding. "An old friend of mine is coming and I'm in no great rush to see him again."

"Let's go then." He sniffed somehow managing to sling Joe over his back and set a manageable pace.

"Izzy-" Matt began.

"Let him grieve Matt." Raven said gently.

In optimal condition the trek to the cave would have taken an hour and a half, but battered as they were it was the better part of five hours before they saw the cave.

"Looks like rain." Gabumon said as the sky started to cloud over.

"We could use some." Raven said mopping his brow.

"Well here it comes." Izzy said turning his face up to catch the first few drops.

Then he screamed as his face began to burn. "Acid! It's acid!"

"Run for the cave!" Raven shouted wrapping his wings around Kari.

In moments they had made it to the relative safety of the cave and settled in. As Raven started a fire, Kari moaned softly.

"I wonder what's she's going though." Matt whispered.

~*~

Kari stood on a dusty road looking at each of two forks.

"You must choose a path, Hikari." A shadowy figure said from the left hand branch.

"Choose Hikari." TK said from the right hand branch.

She was tempted to go to TK. He was her friend after all and would never harm her, but something about the shadowy figure was familiar. "Why?" She cried.

"Because you must." The Figure said.

"A choice must be made." TK said.

"I can't choose! Help me!" She wailed.

Kari. A voice called.

Raven? She yelled with as much strength as she could. Where are you?

Far away Kari. His voice was faint and sad.

Help me!  She begged.

I cannot. You are beyond my help, but if you can not choose, then do not choose.

What does that mean?

I have told you all that I can. He said as his voice faded. I will come for you. I give you my word.

Raven! Kari called. Don't leave me!

But he was gone and she was alone, but his words echoed in her memory.

If you can not choose, then do not choose.

"Have you chosen, Hikari?" The shadow asked.

"Yes." She said looking cross legged in the path. "I choose not to choose."

~*~

She's dying Raven. Angelique said as he threw another log on the fire.

I know. He said as Matt slept and Izzy wept. He had used most of his power to seal Joe's chest and Kari's side. Even though TK had no notable physical injuries, Raven just pressed his hand to his own bleeding side, lacking the energy to heal himself. She's safe so long as she does not choose.

But what if she does?

Then she's lost forever and I've failed.

"So this is little Hikari." A precise British voice said from the mouth of the cave.

Instantly Raven was on his feet, sword in hand. "Back off."

"Come now, Raven." The man said stepping into the firelight. "Let's not be petty. It's time for her to go."

"She hasn't made her choice."

"No. She has chosen not to choose. I wonder where she got that idea from." He said acidly. Like Raven he was dressed all in black, but unlike Raven's casual jeans and turtleneck, this newcomer was dressed in a three piece suit.

"You know this guy?" Izzy asked.

"Why don't you tell them who you are." Raven said 

"I have had many names." The man in black said. "But you may call me Walker Black."

"You haven't used that one in ages." Raven snarled. "This is Death, my ex-employer."

"Yes." Walker said. "And I've come for Hikari."

"You can't have her." Raven said coldly. 

"Take..." TK gasped.

"What?" Walker moved closer to TK only to be stopped by Raven's sword. 

"Take...me."

"Hmm. A willing substitution." Walker considered it. "You would be willing to go in her place? Why?"

"It would be worth it." He said before passing out.

"I acc-"

"I challenge you to trial by arms." Raven said quickly. "Winner take all."

"No one's done that in at least 500 years." Walker said.

"But it can be done, right?" Raven said.

"Yes, but what exactly is all?" Walker asked.

"If you win, you get Kari. If you lose, you leave her until her grandchildren have gray hair."

"Sorry mate, but the stakes just aren't high enough." Walker said.

"All right. You win you get Kari, TK, and to sweeten the pot, me."

"And me." Izzy said.

"Don't listen to him. You took his friend today and he's a little distraught."

"Sorry mate. But he's a willing volunteer." Walker said. "Who was it, by the by?"

"Kido Jyou, Joe to his friends."

"I remember him. Tall fellow, blue hair." He ambled over to Joe's body. "I must say you did a rather good repair job."

"I spent centuries learning how to undo your work."

"It shows." Walker said distastefully. "So what do you get if I lose."

"You leave us alone until our grandchildren have heads full of gray hair."

"Done." Walker said coolly.

Raven looked from one child to another. Then his eyes met Izzy's pain filled ones. "And you bring Joe back."

"Can't be done." Walker said.

"I think it can. I think you're scared."

"Nonsense." 

"No. I think I pushed the stakes too high and you're scared."

"The stakes are never too high for me." Walker boasted. "I agree to your terms." The pair clasped hands to seal the deal. "First light?"

"Agreed." He said as Walker turned and faded away. "Damn it, Izzy! What the hell did you volunteer for? I'm trying to save lives and you're throwing yours away!"

"You threw TK in!" Izzy shot back.

"I couldn't pull TK for the same reason I can't pull you. He offered himself to Death willingly, and that can't be taken back." He said with a bit more calm than before. Raven sat on the floor and crossed his legs. "I have to prepare so don't disturb me."

"Is there anything we can do?" Izzy asked.

"Pray." Raven said shortly.

~*~

"So," Steve mused gazing at the three sleeping girls. "He's come for the child."

Raven won't let him take her without a fight.

I don't expect he would Angelique. Where are you?

Closer than anyone suspects. She said cryptically. You warned him, didn't you?

Of course. He said silently. 

Why don't you come back? He could use your help.

Not yet. I have new responsibilities now, but when it matters most, I'll be there.

~*~

Kari felt tired. TK had been replaced by Tai, then Mimi, Sora, Matt, Izzy, Joe, Gatomon, and now herself. The only constant was the shadowy presence.

"Come on Hikari." Her twin said. "Who can you trust more than me?" 

"No one I guess." Kari mumbled. This was giving her a massive headache.

The other Kari knelt beside her. "Then you can trust me when I tell you that the pain will stop when you make a choice."

"I have." Kari murmured. "I choose this."

"But all you have to do is take one step." Her twin said gazing into her eyes. "Just one step."

"One step?" Kari muttered, unaware that her twin had pulled her to her feet.

"Yes. Just put one foot forward, now the other. There, don't you feel better?"

"Mmm hmm." Her headache was gone but now she just felt sleepy.

"You're doing wonderfully, Hikari." 

Kari blinked and shoved her twin away. "I choose not to choose." She said coldly before returning to her place at the fork in the road. Five...ten...twenty paces! How could she have been lead so far astray.

"Because you trust yourself." A voice said, answering her silent question.

"Whoever you are, just go away." She mumbled. He headache was back with a vengeance.

"Hikari, I want to help you."

"Don't call me that! My name is Kari! I don't even know you!" She exploded, whipping her head around to see a young girl her age dressed in a light gray sundress with black curly hair and her face.

"Leave us." She said briskly. The shadow seemed to ripple then vanish. "I'm sorry, but in this place we have to call you by your given name and that is Hikari."

"Who are you?"

The girl didn't answer. Instead she laughed, a beautiful sound like crystal wind chimes. Do you recognize me now?

Angelique? She asked automatically switching to the Once Speech.

"Yes Hikari, but there's no need for you to be so formal. Call me Angie." She said with a smile, kneeling beside Kari.

"Okay. Just don't ask me to choose anything." She mumbled burying her face in her hands.

"Oh you poor dear." Angie said laying a hand  on Kari's forehead. She murmured an unintelligible word and the pain faded away. "Better?"

Kari nodded. "How'd you do that?" She asked. "And what was that thing you said?"

"An angelic word of power, called a sahareim. That one means 'bring comfort'." She explained, shifting into a more comfortable position. "That's how God created the universe."

"When we were in the cave, Raven said something I couldn't understand. Was that a sahareim?"

"Yes. The one that bound Tai and Sora together that night means 'eternally bound'."

"Where am I?" Kari moaned.

"Kind of in your mind, kind of not." Angie said.

"Why am I here? And don't tell me it's to make a choice."

"It's a little more complicated than that." Angie said brushing a bang out of her eyes. "You see, you have too make a decision that will have a major impact on your life."

"I'm dying, aren't I?" Kari realized. "The blast I took for Raven."

Angie nodded. "Raven's right. You're sharp as a razor. Since you've figured out that much I can tell you a bit more. Both roads lead to the same place, but it's not the destination that's important. It's the duration of the trip."

"The length of my life." Kari said. "Both roads lead to death."

"All roads lead to death." Angie said. "Raven taught me that."

"Do you know which road is which?"

"Even if I did I can't tell you. That's an inviolable rule of this place. No one is allowed to directly give you the answers."

"But you told me about the choice."

"That's a loophole. Once you figured out the nature of the choice I could verify your ideas. But if I try to tell you the answer, you'll be deafened. If I try to point you'll be blinded, that sort of thing."

"So I'm on my own?" Kari slumped as Angie nodded. "I can't choose on my own."

"Then don't." Angie whispered. "You're in limbo here until you choose a path, but Raven plans to face Death in armed combat with you, Joe, Izzy, TK, and himself on the line."

"Joe? TK? Izzy?" Kari frowned. "I'm lost." Angie quickly explained what had happened after she gotten blasted.

"J-J-Joes dead?" She stammered.

"Not if Raven has any say in the matter. He drained most of his energy to patch you and Joe up, and if he wins Death has bring Joe back and leave us alone."

"Okay, I understand Izzy blames himself for what happened to Joe, but this is the third time TK's come to my defense. What's he thinking?"

"He love you Kari. You remember he promised Sora he's keep you safe from Piedmon?"

"He's loved me since then? I don't believe it." Kari said.

"Welcome to Egypt, land of de nile." Angie said

"But why would he be interested in me? I mean saving me from Piedmon is one thing, but offering to die for me..."

"Look at yourselves." Angie said ticking off attributes off on her tiny fingers. "You're cute, funny, the same age, innocent, pure of heart, and you view things with an clarity that only children possess."

"But why does he keep trying to protect me?" Kari said. "I'm not the little kid I used to be."

"Partly because he gave his word, partly for love, but partly..." Angie paused and created a breathtakingly beautiful crystal flower, with an emerald stem, ruby petals, and a sapphire enclosed diamond nestled within them. "because this is how many people you see both of you. Beautiful, delicate, fragile." She handed the flower to Kari. "Try and destroy it."

She threw it to the ground and ground it under her heel. "It's history."

"Look again." Angie said. The flower was still intact with but a few hairline fractures to show for damage.

"I'm stronger than I seem."

"You both are." Angie said tossing the flower into the air. When it fell back down there were two simple silver bands hanging from it. "You possess strength unseen." She said dropping the rings into Kari's hand. "A gift."

Kari looked at the rings. Engraved inside in a beautiful flowery script were the words "Friendship Eternal and Strength Unseen" with the crest of light at the beginning and the crest of hope at the end. "It's beautiful." Kari said slipping them into her pocket. "Thank you." She smiled, then frowned. "Why do men try to impress you?"

"Sorry kid, but that one's eluded me since the dawn of time." Angie said. "But what really gets me is when they try and talk about anything and they turn into stammering idiots." Both girls burst out laughing.

"Or-or they turn into radish impersonators!" Kari cried.

"No no no! Tomatoes!" Angie was rolling on her back with laughter.

"I can top it! I can!" Kari said seriously. They both fell silent a moment before she declared. "Cherries! Bright red sun burnt cherries!" They both promptly collapsed with tears streaming down their faces.

"Oh Kari that felt good." Angie said wiping her eyes. "but I have to go now. Will you be all right by yourself?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Okay. Just beware of those you trust the most. You saw how easily your twin sucked you in. Things are seldom as they appear."

"I'll be careful. Is that what you really look like?"

"Of course not. I needed something you can relate to. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. There's just something about you. I feel like something's missing. Something from my past." She frowned a moment, then smiled again. "It's probably just the stress of being here."

"All right. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I'm not there for you. You can call for me with the Once Speech, and I'll be here." She said fading away. I promise.

"Hikari you must choose."

She smiled, touched the rings in her pocket, and sat up to face her father.

~*~

Foxe woke early fumbling for her alarm clock. If she could just get these feathers out her face...

Feathers? She rolled over and looked into Steve's sleeping face. God he is just so ... perfect. She thought running her finger lightly down his nose.

"Oh, good morning Foxe. You were shivering last night, so I..."

"Thank you." She said softly staring into his eyes. "I appreciated it." They leaned in close and were about to kiss when...

"Will someone please turn off that damn alarm?!" Destiny yelled. 

Steve and Foxe slipped away from each other like oil and water. One day, they vowed silently. I'm gonna get that damned kiss!

Steve pulled his cape back to check his digivice. "It's mine." He said tapping the flashing button.

"It's about time." An irate Gennai said as his hologram shimmered into being.

"Who are you?" Destiny asked, sitting up.

"My name is Gennai. I'm a kind of custodian of the digital world. Stephan-"

"Steve."

"Steve can you contact Raven. I think something is terribly wrong."

Raven? When he got no response he cast his mind out only to be slammed back by Raven's barrier. "He's blocked out everything. I can't reach him."

"Why would he do that?" Faith asked rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"He's preparing."

"For what?" Gennai asked as the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon.

~*~

"It's time." Raven said snapping his eyes open.

"I always liked that about you Raven." Walker said from the mouth of the cave. "Very punctual. I'd be willing to forget all about this if you'll just come back to work for me."

"If you're so willing why did you bring your sword?" Raven asked picking up his own sword.

"Because I know you're totally unreasonable and you'd rather risk everyone else's lives rather then return to my employ."

"Very good. Let's take this outside."

"Before we do, I brought back a bloke you know. A gesture of good faith and what not." He stepped aside and Joe stepped into the cave. He was hazy and transparent around the edges but it was definitely Joe.

"Joe?" Izzy said rushing to hug him. He was more than a little dismayed when he stumbled through him.

"Come along Walker. What they have to say is not for us." Raven said stepping outside.

Death nodded and rose into the air. "Third blood, eh?"

Raven shrugged. "Let's do it." He said rising to meet him. He touched the flat of his sword to his forehead, bowed and took a defensive stance. Death did the same and the contest began.

~*~

Kari had seen everyone she knew. Parents, friends, enemies, dead relatives, the whole nine yards. Yet she still refused to choose. Suddenly she felt something akin to the ping of a knife against a crystal glass.

"Huh?" She frowned a moment then raised her voice in the Once Speech. Angelique? Stephan? I need you.

Don't be scared little one. Steve said a moment before a young boy dressed in white overalls appeared.

We're here for you. Angelique said appearing in her youthful form.

"Thanks you guys." Kari said pulling her knees up to her chin. "It's started hasn't it?"

"Yes." Steve said softly. "Whoever draws blood three times first will be declared the winner by the rules of honor."

"But don't worry." Angie said. "Nothing will happen to you as long as we're here." She poked Kari's nose causing the human girl to giggle.

"See?" Steve said. "You look so much better when you smile."

"What happens if he fails?" Kari asked.

Steve sighed as the gleeful moment ended. "Two become one and you walk with the Dark One."

"He means that the Dark One will come to claim you and you won't have a choice anymore. The two roads will become one and the choice will be taken out of your hands." Angie said.

"And I die." Kari said with a quiet strength in her voice.

"But you're not going to die." Steve said. "Raven is one of the best."

"But he's not at his best." Kari said. Her voice still held it's same even calm, but her eyes blazed with fear. "He's sore, weak, battered, and tired."

"We can only hope." Angie said.

With that Kari broke down and began to openly sob in fear. Angie and Steve moved together to hold her, and in the dust of a long forgotten road, three frightened children knelt and drew comfort from each other.

~*~

"That's two, old boy!" Death said gleefully as he sliced a deep gash in Raven's sword arm. "We're even. Next draw wins."

"Then let's end it." Raven said switching his sword to the other hand before forcing his body to launch a new offensive.

"You know mate, you're being totally unreasonable about all this." Death said blocking one of Raven's thrusts and taking a swing of his own. "First Sora, now Kari. You're not going soft on me are you?"

"No." Raven said blocking with a backspin. "I just got tired of seeing you over my shoulder EVERY SINGLE DAY!" The last three words were punctuated by quick sword blocks.

"I don't think so mate." Death said as Raven narrowly avoided a slash. "I think they remind you of those you lost."

"Bullshit!" Raven said making a thrust for his opponents shoulder.

"No bloke." Death said, ducking low and aiming his next thrust at Raven's stomach. "Sora bears a passing  resemblance to Angelique."

"Coincidence." Raven said dismissively as he flipped over Death's head to avoid the third strike.

"Kari looks a bit like Michelle, that mortal you spent a lifetime with." Death commented barely avoiding a thrust for his side.

"So?" Raven said while attempting to remove Death's head.

"I think you care about these kids more than you're willing to admit." Death said swinging for Raven's sword arm.

"What makes you say that?" Raven asked twisting out of the way and taking a clumsy swing at Death's unprotected side.

"Because if you didn't," Death said disarming Raven and slashing a gouge in his chest. "you wouldn't be here. Third blood has been drawn." Death said formally as he faded away.

~*~

While Kari was summoning angels and Raven was drawing blood, Izzy was communing with spirits.

"Joe."

"Izzy."

"You look good." For a dead guy. He added silently.

"You look...passable." He ran a phantom hand along Izzy's acid scarred face. "You really should put some ointment on that."

"Damn it Joe! You're dead because of me. If I hadn't been so absorbed with this piece of shit-" He broke off and threw Raven's computer into the cave wall obliterating it.

"I know it hurts Izzy," Joe said looking at the shower of microchips and plastic. "But we were counting on you and you came through for us. I know the truth about you, Izzy."

Izzy's tear filled eyes snapped up fast. "What do you mean by that?"

"I know that's how you cope. Without you're computer you would have gone mad long ago. I realize that even if you don't."

"Really?"

"Yes. We all had them. Tai took command, Matt watched out for TK, Mimi and I flaked, and you had your computer."

"The fact remains that you're dead because of 'my computer'. I'm never going to touch a computer again as long as I live." He swore.

"Izzy-" Joe began as Raven staggered in clutching his chest and crying.

"What's wrong Raven?" Izzy asked anxiously.

"It's over." He moaned dropping to his knees beside Kari. Kari, I'm so sorry.

~*~

Sorry...Sorry...Sorry

The word echoed in the lonely solitude of the road.

"It's over." Steve said.

"Does this mean..." Angelique asked.

As if in answer to her unfinished question Raven appeared as a young boy.

"Raven, you're crying." Kari said walking over to him.

"I'm sorry Hikari!" He sobbed catching her in an embrace. "It's over. I failed you."

"Shh." She soothed. Behind her she could sense the roads merging. "It's all right. I know you tried your best."

Raven lifted his eyes and as Kari looked into his pain filled soul she knew it would never be all right. Raven echoed her sentiments. "What good is that if you're still dead?"

"It'll be okay." She lied as her own heart broke in her chest. "I know you tried and I have lots of people to care for me."

"Kari love." She looked up to see the man who called himself Walker Black. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes." She said calmly as she wiped her eyes. Now that she was faced with the inevitability of it, Death was an old friend she had faced many times. "It's time for me to go."

"What about the others?" Raven asked, a surprisingly strong voice issuing from so small a frame.

"I said I'd take them, but I never said when. For now it's Hikari's time." He explained patiently.

"What about me?" He asked coldly.

"Keep your immortality. You're far more amusing to me alive."

"We had a deal!" He barked.

"And I am changing the terms!" He snapped in a cold steely voice. "We are both men of honor," He said leading Kari down the path.

"But honor is not everything." He said as they faded away.

~*~

Raven gently lowered Kari's lifeless shell to the ground and folded her hands over her chest before draping his cape over her.

Raven-

I failed her Angelique. He said despondently. I failed myself. With that he spread his wings and flew faster than he ever had.

But not fast enough to outrun the pain.