A/N: SORRY FOR THE DELAY!!! -__-;; Thank you again for all your comments
and encouragements (Billy F. ^_^ in particular... and just recently
AhiFlame + many more {sorry if you weren't mentioned}) that helped me
strive for the continuation of this story. Anyways, I promised this chapter
to be longer...full of more interesting tidbits...and of course KAWAII
TAKUMI!!! please R&R!
*Jap. Names vs. English Names*: (I will not be using the acknowledgement of
- i.e.-Izumi-chan...Takuya-kun...etc.)
**(DIGIMON NAMES WILL RESUME AS ENGLISH VERSION)**
also
D-Scanner - D-Tector
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, Digimon Characters or any other related
subjects that are directly copyrighted towards Toei Animation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Pure of Heart: Netherworld Journey {I}
To Sana....I have yet to see her cry or frown or ever be anything else but
GENKI!!! (happy)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yoseimon's Return [Part 1]
-Chapter 7-
Takuya had awakened the next morning to a slight sickening feeling in
his stomach. Though, the feeling only worsened as he turned to his side
finding Izumi's bed empty. She had probably already gotten up and didn't
bother to tell him, he gloomily thought to himself. He propped himself up
against the bed's headboard and yawned wearily. It felt as though he had
not more than a minute of sleep from last night. He slouched his back and
groaned, the brooding thought of Izumi's words still resounding in his
mind...
..."I'm sorry I ever did...what I did."...her voice was booming more loudly
in his memory than from last night's conversation.
"What was I supposed to say! What did she expect from me!" Takuya
raged on as he frustratingly tugged at his hair. "I didn't mean--I didn't
think--I--Urgh!"
Takuya, still angrily muttering under his breath, absent-mindedly
pulled on his gloves, backwards cap and goggles as he made his way out of
the room. He then began to strode down the long, stone-laden tunnels of the
Caverns, focusing on clearing his discouraged mind and all the while trying
to remember where Galen had told them to meet that morning.
"Where's Izumi when you need her?" muttered Takuya, looking rather
clueless to his surroundings.
He had stopped at the entrance of Di-Cangmon's Chamber. He stared
intently into the engraved Dragon's radiant, ruby eyes. And as if he were
waiting for it to come to life, Takuya remained silently still.
Nothing.
Takuya mentally shook himself from this trance. No results came from
just staring at the immobile Dragon. So, with an absorbed curiosity from
Izumi's previous experience with Ryujinmon, which seemed to be beckoning
him to stay, Takuya slowly approached the Chamber door. Pressing his ear to
the cold, iron-cast door, he strained his senses to hear--anything,
anything at all.
"Takuya." called an all too familiar voice. "You won't be able to
hear him, Takuya."
Takuya whirled around to see Izumi impatiently tapping her foot to
the ground, her hands to her hips.
"Because he told me so." snapped Izumi, matter-of-factly. "He said he
would only return when our power was to its full prophesized potential."
"Oh." Takuya replied, lamely.
Izumi sighed. The impatient frown she had been wearing all along soon
disappeared.
"Come on. Galen is waiting for us." Izumi grabbed his arm to follow her
lead. His eyes still engrossed with the image of a gleaming Dragon engraved
upon Di-Cangmon's Chamber door.
Izumi had dragged him towards the wall that was positioned directly
across from the Chamber door, the door that Takuya still appeared to be
entranced with. Izumi tugged at his sleeve and he finally turned to her
attention.
Besides its old and discrepant appearance, the wall did differ
intriguingly from the other structures within the dim, torch lit Caverns.
Its surface had carvings that were fairly eroded but were still very
recognizable. They were similar to the symbols on the stone pagoda temple
inside the Di-Cangmon Chamber. Takuya gave Izumi a perplexed stare, his
brow raising curiously at her. She remained still, her eyes fixed to the
center of the wall.
"Erm...Izumi..?" Takuya began.
Izumi quickly hushed him, pressing a finger to her lips. And her free
finger pointed to single, thin crack in the wall that stretched from top to
bottom. Takuya creased his brows once more.
"While you were sleeping, Galen showed me this." said Izumi, still
pointing to the crack in the stone wall.
"A broken wall." Takuya smirked.
"No." Izumi rolled her eyes. "The way to the ocean--where we're
going resurrect Yoseimon."
"Through the crack in the wall." Takuya continued to simper with a silly
smile.
"Its a gateway...a sort of hidden passageway, Galen said." Izumi ignored
his childish amusement. "An enchanted gateway that the Mahonmon use to
explore the outside world--it's how they travel in secret."
"So, what are we waiting for?" asked Takuya. "Why aren't we going
through...this...er...gateway?"
"We have to wait for Galen's signal." whispered Izumi, motioning him to be
quiet, again.
Minutes later Takuya and Izumi had locked their gazes in alert; Galen
was calling for them. The tiny creak in the wall began to separate. The
severance of the wall had sent an instant tremulous shake to the
surrounding area in which they stood. It made the two children plant their
feet firmly to the ground. Beneath them the ground appeared to suddenly
glimmer and illuminate with a familiar glow; they now stood upon a solid
landing of Digicode. Soon the separating stone walls revealed another wall,
a wall that embodied an odd kind of Digicode entrance. It was almost
transparent, flowing in a way which water would stream down a waterfall.
Codes of data and a scrambled, foreign number system trickled downward.
"Children, before you go beyond the threshold of this Digital Gateway
you must clear your minds." Galen's peaceful voice echoed. "Clear your
minds and concentrate your thoughts towards the ocean. When this is done
you may pass through, and your destination will be the correct path."
Takuya and Izumi exchanged knowing glances. Closing their eyes, both
of them began to pace their breathing. Thinking only of the ocean, which
they had previously seen upon entering this netherworld, Takuya bravely
lifted his hand to touch the luminous wall of Digicode. A rush of cool,
soothing electricity had surged from his fingertips and traveled like a
current of delight to the ends of his toes. Though, uncertain of his
focused thoughts of the ocean, he pulled back. Izumi had sensed his aura
stir; it was as if his thoughts had been flooded with doubt.
Peering through one opened eye, Izumi shot a worried glance over to Takuya.
Guilt had suddenly sunken in and replaced all the fury and contempt
she had felt towards him just a night ago and at that very moment. It was
stupid and childish, she thought. Snapping at him and just being plain
irritable wasn't helping. His usual fiery eyes were now anxious-looking and
filled with a fluster of unease. He needed someone's support not a
lingering argument to strain his thoughts, she debated amongst herself.
Izumi began to shun away all the resentment she had towards him.
"Come on, Takuya. Focus." Izumi said smiling, slowly taking hold of
his hand.
Takuya looked over to their clasped hands, then to her cheery,
emerald eyes.
"I thought you were still--" he began, confused.
"Angry? There are more important things to worry about." she replied
casually but continued in a more reluctant tone. "And--and...I'm still your
friend...and friends are still there for each other, right?"
Takuya nodded, and within his eyes was an undetectable expression,
one that Izumi had never seen before. Takuya quickly shook himself of the
strange and abrupt feeling. Disappointment?
"It was never this easy to argue with you before. What happened? You
finally realized that you were wrong to be angry with me, all along?"
Takuya chided, a coy smile adorning his face.
"Don't ruin the moment, Takuya." Izumi quipped back.
Together they took each step in complete concentration of the ocean
and its shore. And from the instant they passed through the threshold of
the Digital Gateway a swirling surge of electricity ran its course swiftly
throughout their bodies. Upon opening their eyes, after the thrilling rush
of electricity ebbing away from their bodies, they struggled to hold back
their admiring gasps. It was the same glorious ocean they had passed on
their way to the Naraka Woods. Its same stunning ocean waves tumbling into
the cascading sapphire sea. And the same blazing sunset of three suns
overhead made the distant waves glisten like fields of diamonds encased
within a newly revealed treasure trove. Having a more close-up view of the
ocean was almost surreal. They stood at the edge of the watery shore for
quite some time before speaking.
"Que bella!" Izumi said breathlessly, tightening her grip on his
hand.
"Yeah. You can say that again." Takuya added, also in awe.
"Takuya!" Galen's voice had called from behind them. "Izumi!"
The two whirled around to see Galen hovering towards them. "Children, you
made it!"
Izumi cast Takuya a reassuring smile, "We did."
Galen's gaze fell to the pair whose eyes were locked in silence. He spread
a knowing smile across his face. Clearing his throat for their attention,
"Stunning sight, isn't it?" Galen seemed to be referring to the ocean
before them.
Takuya and Izumi quickly and awkwardly parted their hands to direct
their attention to Galen's comment.
"We were just saying the same thing." Izumi replied, wringing her
hands as if to stop them from trembling.
Takuya nodded in agreement, hoping his silence would wait out any
words he would be spluttering out nervously.
"Yes, this is Ryujin Sea." Galen added pointedly. "In honour of your
beast, Takuya, Ryujinmon."
"I've spoken to Ryujinmon. He's the one who helped me see Takuya's aura."
Izumi wasted no time in telling him this with an excited fervour.
"Ah, yes. It was prophesized for his guidance to help you see through
Kukuthmon's deception. You will meet him once more. He will be of great
help to you especially, Takuya." Galen shifted a wary eye to Takuya's
surprised expression.
"He's...my beast?" asked Takuya.
"Yes. As Yoseimon is Izumi's beast, Ryujinmon is yours." Galen replied,
simply.
"How many other secrets and tasks does the prophecy have for us?" Takuya
asked, curiously.
"There is much more in store for your fates, children. Though, for now the
Di-Cang Prophecy directs me to only tell you to take each task and new
revelation in gradual, considerable stride." replied Galen. "Your first aim
is to defeat Nagamon. He endangers our tribe now that Kukuthmon is no
longer here to do the same. And once you have done this the data he has
stolen will be returned to the protective barrier surrounding this
netherworld. Lucemon will not be able to penetrate his evil through the
barrier once we have fully restored it to this world, again."
"Was the data that Kukuthmon stole returned to the barrier when we
defeated her?" Takuya queried.
"No, unfortunately. The data she had collected is still in possession of
her Data Ravens." Galen frowned sadly. "We will deal with them later. They
are well hidden within the Naraka Woods. It would be wise to find Nagamon
first; he will be much faster to confront."
"So after Nagamon...and after the Data Ravens...we would have to
confront Hisamemon?" said Izumi thoughtfully.
"Yes." Galen solemnly stated. "But for now you must focus your minds
towards Nagamon. He poses as a rather difficult adversary. As for
Hisamemon, you will need more time and the help of the prophecy to guide
your every move. She is, after all, Lucemon's counterpart of Yomi-Naraka."
"Right." Takuya and Izumi nodded in understanding.
"Now, we must begin the ritual." said Galen, motioning them to crowd closer
towards him. "Yoseimon's hour of awakening is at hand."
Takuya, Izumi and Galen sat cross-legged and encircled with each
other. Two Lodestones and Galen's Light Cure Crystal were placed in their
circle's middle.
"Clear your minds." Galen's voice sweeping balefully through their
thoughts. "To summon Yoseimon the mantra must be chanted with a focused
aura."
Galen then gestured them to hold hands. "Now, follow my every word."
Galen promptly shut his eyes, Takuya and Izumi following in suit.
Their eyes closed, their hands gripped tightly together and their thoughts
intertwining to a straining silence; from all this there suddenly came a
sharp sensation. A blinding light saturating their contemplations into
momentary pain.
"What--was--that?" Izumi gasped to the abrupt incident.
"Focus, child, focus." Galen quickly responded.
Izumi complied reluctantly. "Okay."
The sharp sensation continued to strike at unexpected moments
throughout their silent meditation. And as quickly as the pain came, it
rapidly subsided in hasty retreat.
"Animus, Yosiemon..." bellowed Galen, strangely with his same placid
tone.
"Animus, Yoseimon..." Takuya and Izumi chorused together.
"Novare, Yoseimon..." Galen continued to use a low, hollow voice to mix
with his ever peaceful tone.
"Novare, Yoseimon..." Takuya and Izumi repeated.
"We beseech you!"
"We beseech you!"
"Revivisco!" Galen thundered his loudest.
"Revivisco!" Echoing Galen last chant, Takuya and Izumi found their words
beckoning a new powerful rush of light that began surging from the center
of their circle.
The Lodestones and the Light Cure Crystal beaming brilliantly towards
the dawning sky, Takuya and Izumi couldn't help it; they gasped.
"Yoseimon?" said Izumi, finding herself breathless.
A blinding blaze of cerulean blue surrounded the group, isolating
them from their previous atmosphere. And staring them right in the face,
seeing through their sharpened auras, was a startling pair of eyes serenely
studying them. The strikingly blue eyes were framed within a swan-like,
feathered face. This unearthly creature resembled something akin to a bird.
"Yoseimon, you are called upon by the Legendary Warriors." Galen
finally spoke. "Yonhamon calls for your assistance."
The elegant head of the creature nodded as if in understanding. The
eddies of blue light began fading from the gust of the beating flutter of
its wings as it hovered a good distance above the group. The creature was
now revealed in clear light. It was a bird, indeed. A stunning vision of a
swan, though, looking brutally strong as a preying stalk or crane. Its
wings spanning enormously wide and glimmering of blue luminance within the
sunlit sky. A sleek, silky coat of pure-white feathers covered its majestic
body. And like a peacock's mane of well-ornamented feathers, this
creature's head was visibly bearing a shimmering, blue headdress of
feathers.
"Go, Children. The Isle of Mae awaits your opposing front!" Galen
rushed them to board Yoseimon's back as she hovered gently to the ground.
Takuya and Izumi obediently did as they were told. Izumi straddled
herself in front while Takuya rode from the back. Yoseimon cooed
affectionately to Izumi stroking its feathery mane.
"You have already gotten this far, children. Don't lose hope." Galen
said firmly. "And remember I'll always be at your side. Though not
physically, but always through your minds."
With that, Galen thrusted their Lodestones, in mid-air, towards them.
Takuya and Izumi attentively caught them. "We'll be back soon, Galen. We
won't fail you!"
As Yoseimon began to beat her wings to further their ascend Galen
waved ecstatically to them below. Takuya and Izumi waved back as they were
soon soaring into the distance, the three suns soon swallowing them within
the light.
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A/N: Oh jeez!!!! That took me forever to do...I'm very disappointed in how
long it took me to finish this....Well anyways, I guess it showed hints of
more TAKUMI (to come....)....but this is just the PART I of this chapter
so.....keep reading for the next installment of PART II...it is soon to
arrive! KEEP R&R please! ^_^
