Chapter 7: ~Facing The Truth~
Yolei stared over over the vast land of the Digital World. She sat there contemplating why she didn't go to the other 'Digidestined' when she'd seen him? She knew the answer though. What if they'd forgotten her? What if they didn't even care that she had gone. It'd been these thoughts that had prevented her from going to them. She'd noticed that most of the Digimon she'd seen all wore dark rings, making them slaves for the Emperor. She leaned against the tree as she replayed her past in her mind.
The many conversations she'd had with Cody... she found herself even missing her brother and sisters, as annoying they'd been to her at times. She felt her smile dim slightly as she rembered when Cody started to pull away from her. They hadn't stoped talking or hanging out, but she knew that Cody was hiding something from her. She didn't bring it up at the time though. Thinking that all had the right to privacy, she'd kept silent.
Still, the time they spent together had become less and less. Then on one stormy night her life had changed completely. She'd learned she was a DigiDestined, and learned that she had an enemy. Learned of the Digital World and all its inhabitants. Learned of the cruel Emperor; who had at one time been someone she'd given her heart to secretly. She cursed herself once again for allowing herself to be a fool. She'd thought she'd found the one person in the world she wanted to spend her life with, only to find that he was a cruel, heartless, fiend!
Still, she knew that it had been her own fault for allowing herself to fall so hard for someone she didn't even know. She'd known him by his face, his accomplishments, and the cameras, yes. But she didn't know the real Ken. The one that wreaked havoc throughout the Digital World, enslaving and conquering all he saw. Letting out a shuddering breath she leaned forward on her knees glancing below her. Suddenly she saw a small T.V. set a few yards away. She gasped as a light emanated form it and Matt appeared from it. Regaining her senses she scurried backward taking refuge in the darkness of the shadows.
Hidden there she took this chance to study Matt Ishida closer. He was as handsome as she rembered. Wild blonde hair. Icy blue eyes that knew all emotions and every answer, yet at the same time nothing at all. He had a good build, he was as perfect as before. She wanted nothing more then to run down and leap into his arms, and yet she found she couldn't move. What if he didn't think she was pretty? What if he didn't rember her? What if he didn't care? What if he shoved her away?
She shook her head slightly. She couldn't risk that kind of reaction. Silently she watched him. Watched the way he moved as he walked through the Digital World. Yolei kept herself slightly distanced from him. He seemed to be searching for something. 'Or someone', part of her mind hissed. She contented herself with watching him as he made his journey through out the Digital World. After a while he seemed to give up and went back through the computer. Yolei sat coldly near the T.V. Slowly she pulled out the small red D3 from her shorts.
She stared at it a moment. She could leave the Digital World... even if only for a little while. See if anything had changed. Maybe even find out what year it was. She glanced around. Darkness was settling in. Casting away her doubts she pressed her D3 against the T.V. and was blinded by the bright light.
Yolei looked around the dark computer room silently. She couldn't help but smile slightly as the many memories she'd spent in this computer room came rushing back. She looked down to see she was still wearing the same outfit from the Digital World. Not that it bothered her. She thought it was kind of cool. She walked over to the coat hanger and pulled a long blue cloak from it. She slipped it over her thin shoulders, promising mentally to return it soon.
She let her hand pause over the door. What if someone saw her leaving? She looked out the window and walked over quickly. She opened it easily and glanced down. The floor she was on made her think twice, but if she grabbed onto the drain pipe connected to the brick wall she could climb down. Gulping, she hoisted herself over the sill, tiptoed on the ledge, and shimmied down the drain pipe.
She walked off school property and headed in the direction of her apartment complex. She entered quickly and walked util she was at the door of where she'd once lived. Taking a deep breath she knocked. Lightly at first, then a little louder.
"It's no use a'knocken. Nobody lives there anymore. They's moved out about a year ago."
Yolei turned to see an elderly woman standing there. "Why did they move?"
The woman tilted her head. "Why, their little girl... I think her name was Yolei, she disappeareded two years ago. Shame too. She was a pretty little thing. Smart too." She paused then said, "who are you's anyways?"
Yolei looked up at the old woman. "Just an old friend of theirs. Thank you for your help, goodbye."
Yolei turned and left. Two full years she'd been gone. She couldn't belive it. It was as though her life had been stolen from her! Blinking back furious tears she walked quickly down the corridors. Suddenly she ran into someone. 'Deja vu', she thought sourly. She glanced up and was suprised to see a pair of intense dark green eyes staring back at her.
"Cody," she whispered before she could catch herself.
"Yes thats right. Who are you? You look awfully familiar."
Yolei stood up slowly her eyes glazed slightly with tears. "I- I- I'm sorry... but I must be going."
He frowned. "But wait, who are you?"
Yolei started to walk away but paused looking over her shoulder. "My name is not important." She turned around once more. "I'm sorry, Cody."
Yolei broke into a full run. She herd Cody's call for her to stop. Bus she couldn't. No. She had to escape. Escape from what? From her memories. Her family was gone. Maybe it was better that way. Maybe. Pushing these thoughts from her mind, Yolei ran as fast as she could into the elevator and ran from the place that at one time was her home.
Cody stared at the spot where the girl had once stood. She had seemed so familiar. He just couldn't place her. What did she mean by 'I'm sorry?' How did she know his name?
"Cody, are you alright?" A small voice asked from his backpack.
Cody looked down at Upamon, the in-training form of Armadillomon. "Fine. It's just that girl... she reminded me of someone."
Upamon got a distant look. "Really? Who do you think she looked like?"
"She looked a lot like Yolei... but that's impossible. Yolei's gone. Thanks to that... that... Digimon Emperor!" Cody said, his eyes blazing in rememberance of his dear friend.
"Cody... we should go meet with the others at the school." Upomon said timidly, not wanting to interrupt his partner's trip down memory lane.
Cody nodded. "Yeah."
Yolei ran down the pavement quickly, her face hollow and empty. She crept silently through the gate of the school and climbed quickly up the drain pipe. She entered the computer room. Slipping of the cloak she hung it back up on the coat hanger. She pulled her D3 out of her pocket and stared at it a moment. How ironic that it was this little device along with the Digital World that had cost her everything. Everything. She glanced back at the computer. What was left for her here? Maybe she could live in the Digital World for now, sort things out.
She started to put the device up to the screen, but froze in terror as she her the sound of the handle on the door turning and the door creaking open.
Yolei stared at the door petrified. Thinking quickly, she pressed her D3 against the monitor and she disppeared in a flash of white light.
Cody Hida stood in the doorway for a minute. He could have sworn there was a bright light. Shaking his head slightly he sat down at one of the computers and brought up a map of the Digital World. He stared angrily at the, mostly, black grid. The others would be here soon. Since the Emperor never came out at night, they decided they'd pull a sneak attack and take out some of the Control Spires.
Seconds later Matt, Tai, Izzy, Sora, Davis, Kari, and T.K. walked in.
Cody stood up. "Ready?"
They nodded then Izzy said, "I'll stay behind and watch you guys frm here, just in case." Izzy sat down at the computer only to frown suddenly. "The gate's already open...."
The others walked over. "Really?" Cody said softly. "Thats kinda weird."
Davis pulled out his D3. "Whatever! We'll have to check it out later. Let's go destroy some Spires!"
The outhers nodded pressing their Digivices against the screen. In a flash of white light the Digidestened where gone. Once inside the Digital World those who could Armor Digivolve knocked down the nearest Control Spire in order to enable the others to Digivolve. Within 5 minutes most of the Control Spires where destroyed. And the DigiDestined were starting to relax a bit. They never noticed a pair of russet eyes watching them with envy and sadness.
Yolei Inoue stared at the Digidestined her heart heavy as she did so. How she missed the days beofre this whole Digidestined thing had happened. Though she knew that had this not have happened, she would have never known Ken's true nature. She still couldn't believe what a fool she had been. Closing her eyes briefly she returned her gaze to outher Digidestined. Sighing, she leaned forward and resigned herself to watch over them. To protect them. She would become their shadow protector. She would protect them, forever.
The Digidestined exchanged smiles as their familiar confidence began to return. Their earlier battle already fading as the more Control Spires were disentegrated. All seemed to be going well, but suddenly a laugh that the Digidestined knew all to well pierced the air.
"Well, if it isn't the Digirats. Must you always infear in my world with your petty resistance. Why don't you just give up?"
The destined children whirled around glaring at the costumed Emperor. As usual Davis was the first to shout. "Not a chance, Ken! It should be you surrendering!!! Get him Flamedramon!"
And so the firey battle ensued with Ken's and Davis' smart comments, and the others own insults. Yolei watched her friends as the battled the Emperor tooth and nail. How she wished she could join their fight, but she had no Digimon to aid her in such a fight. Sighing she resigned herself to watching the battle. 'Some protector I am,' she thought dourly. Suddenly Yolei saw more Tyrannomon and other slaves of the Digimon Emperor appraoching fast. They were to far outnumbered. Their attacks hit the Digidestined and their partners full force.
"No...." She whispered as she stood up.
The others stood painfully, each clutching their Digimon. But one. Yolei watched as Davis screamed for a retreat. They raced for the nearest T.V. set while Yolei leapt down from her perch. Once down she saw the others hadn't noticed they where missing a memeber of their party. Matt. Quickly she slipped his arm over her neck. Pulling him into a semi-standing position she reached down with her other arm and lifted up the unconscious, battered Gabumon. Retreating back into the shadows she watched as the Digidestined escape through the T.V., just as it was blown into smithereens.
She prayed that Ken hadn't seen her as she had dove out into the dusty battlefield and scrambled off with Matt and his Digimon. She hobbled quickly through the trees. Behind her she could hear the shouts of anger that the 'Digifools' had escaped his grasp once more.
Matt awoke slowly. Pain. Stiffness. Remembering the last battle all too clearly he bolted up into a sitting position. Groaning he clutched his head. His fingers running hrough his thick golden locks. Wincing he stood up. He glanced around the bare cave. He looked down to see his Digimon partner, Gabumon, laying next to him. He touched his fur gently before turning and walking out of the cave. He glanced around t the sky that was scattered wit millions of stars. The Digital World never ceased to amaze him with its beauty. Suddenly he saw her. She was kneeling on the edge of the foundation of the cave. He glanced downward feeling a lurch go through his stomach as he realized how high it seemed.
He studied her. She seemed to be tall though he coudln't really tell. She had long lavender hair that reached the middle of her back. She dressed strangely in tiny dark pink shorts and long dark red shirt bell sleeves that reached the ground. Her skin was a pale white. As if she knew he was there, she turned. His icy blue eyes meet the russet of the girl's.
~In the moonlight I felt your heart.
Quiver like a bowstrings paws.
In the moon pale light you looked at me.
Nobody knows your heart.~
She didn't speak. But she did stand. His eyes swept up her form and at that moment he knew who she was.
"Yolei." He whispered her name. More to himself to prove she was real. How many times had he thought that what if she was alive? The thousands of things he would say, and now when he actaully had the chance, Matt found himself speechless. All those things he'd thought up to tell her gone like autumn leaves in the wind.
She stood so cold. So unmoving. Yet it was her. He would know those deep crimson brown eyes anywhere. She looked different, and yet the same. She'd grown into a stunning beauty. Not that he'd thought her ugly before, but know she was just so... different.
~When the sun is gone I see you.
Beautiful and haunting, but cold.
Like the blade of a knife, so sharp so sweet.
Nobody knows your heart.~
Yolei didn't know what to say. Finally she nodded her head tentatively. "Yes, Matt, its me."
~Hold off your sorrow, grief, and pain.
Locked away in the forest of the night.
Your secret heart belongs to the world.
All the things that sigh in the dark.
All the things that hide in the dark.~