Chapter 21
#21 of Memories of a Forgotten Past
Chapter 21
World Revolution
               Rukan stood with his fur brisling with power as he held both blades at the ready waiting for the dark queen to make her move. The fear in her eyes was real as she looked over the edge and saw that now she was trapped with her own personal demon on the platform. Upon seeing no other options left she rushed Rukan with her bone bladed staff again.
               The Renomon felt like his body was lighter, everything moved much more precise than it used to. Their attacks clashing made more power erupt from the core beneath them and the platform was encircled with white fire. The booth of them tore into each other recklessly cleaving flesh and cutting into hard bone.
               When they finally broke apart Rukan’s jacket and shirt were in tatters and he was bleeding all over. Skullrenamon, however, was in the same boat as he. An even match it seemed. The two faced each other down for a few more moments before Rukan rushed in with incredible speed bringing the digicarbide blade up towards her chest. He knew she would dodge and so when she did he instantly countered with a roundhouse.
               To Rukans surprise the queen expected this grabbing the leg and tossing him aside he skid to the edge of the platform nearly falling over the edge. Upon recovering though he saw her closing in for the kill. He dodged to the side and she flew through the flames but to his dismay she landed on the ground cleanly without a scratch.
               Leaping from his position the Hisashi boy brought his blades down while palming the tonto. She swung her staff up to block the attack but in that moment Rukan extended his arm again throwing the tonto and sticking it into her shoulder. She howled in pain as she dropped the staff and tore the blade free from her shoulder brandishing it against her foe.
               Rukan smirked slightly as he started circling around her, looking for any weakness he could find.  The dark queen was no fool though as she left not an opportunity for him to take. It was then that he knew he had to do something unexpected in order to throw her off balance. He rushed in switching his style to a single handed dagger fight even though she had the advantage of reach he was able to keep up close and personal.
               Skullrenamon tried desperately to keep him at arm’s reach but found his speed just too much for her to handle normally. Upon blocking one of his attacks she caught and unexpected elbow to the chin which was followed quickly by a knee to the gut and another elbow to the back of her head as she doubled over.
               Rukan saw the opportunity as she fell to kick up the staff palming the digicarbide blade and slipping it into its sheath and spinning the staff he brought the end down on Skull but she rolled out of the way making him shatter one of the blades on the hard stone floor. He didn’t lose a beat though as he spun the now bone spear around and began using it as such.
               Skullrenamon hadn’t expected him to be so proficient in the weapon and was having a hard time just dodging the rapid strikes from his thrusts. She waited for him to make a sweep bringing Rukan’s tonto to bare she cut the spear in half grabbing the spinning bladed end in the free hand. Jabbing and slicing now she felt she had the upper hand once again.
               Rukan’s end of the bone staff now had a wicked point where it had been cleaved in two. Once he had a beat free he switched to one hand on the bone and the other gripped the hilt of the digicarbide blade pulling it free and rushing forward at the same time cutting Skullrenamon open from the shoulder to the hip.
               Stumbling back the Dark Queen screamed in pain dropping her weapons and falling to her knees. Rukan saw the chance and took it throwing the bone spear at her having it sink into her chest and come out the other side. Her eyes went wide as he stepped forward using his foot on her chest to give him the leverage he needed to pull the bone spear free.
               â€You lost… How else did you think this would end? Did you really believe that with a whole world against you… you could win this,†Asked Rukan as he started to walk away. All he heard in reply was soft laughing which made him stop walking and turn around. In Skull’s hands was a D infinity and after hitting a few buttons she was enveloped in a corrupted green and black light making her grow bigger and bigger.
               â€Skull Renamon burst evolution,†Shouted the dark queen as soon the light faded and there stood a woman in a purple kimono. A grin crossed her almost perfect face as her beauty was unmatched in all the lands. That was until she lifted the arm that was just a claw finishing the transformation, â€Lilithmon! Mistress of Lust and Queen of Sin!â€
               Rukan’s eyes went wide as she moved at speeds he couldn’t even see now. All he felt was the pain of his body being eviscerated. He stumbled backwards only to find himself crying out in pain and lifted from the ground as she drove the claw through his midsection and lifted him off the ground with it.
Blood dripping onto her face Lilithmon laughed softly opening a fan with her other hand to cover her mouth as she spoke, â€Yes… I did. And with your demise little hero I have won. For a while there you have me going. I thought I might actually lose this battle but you see… the world itself is infected. You never stood a chance the moment you stepped through that portal months ago.â€
â€RUKAN NO,†came the heartbreaking cry of Renamon as she saw her lover run through by the claw. She was powerless to act so far above the ground and Lilithmon took advantage of that weakness. She lifted him higher cackling more manically.
Rukan looked up his eyes already losing their focus as he had reached his limit. The blade didn’t work on her but, what if it worked on the core? Turning his gaze he saw they were dangerously close to the ledge and with one powerful kick to the distracted mega level he was able to free himself from the grasp of her paw and fall over the edge into the pit.
Light streamed by him as he fell and everything was a blur. A few times he thought he saw Michi reaching out for him but refused to succumb to his injuries yet. He had one last thing he had to do. Tossing the bone aside he held tightly to the digicarbide blade now burning white hot. He fell for what felt like eternity until upon falling into the light he found himself standing in the middle of the street fight again.
He felt his hope fading as he fell to his knees, one last sick trick had been played on him by the dark queen and now he would die without having achieved anything for this world. He fell forward nearly succumbing to death before the soft hand touched his cheek and a familiar voice spoke to him, â€Rukan? Rukan is that you!?â€
Rukan lifted his gaze at the voice, his vision was blurry but he saw the shining outline of someone familiar. It took a few moments for the blood to circulate enough to have him recognize that it was Ruki, alive and stuck in time here. He really did only know a fraction of the story just as Skullrenamon had said.
â€Oh Rukan look at you… This is bad… Hold still I’ll make you all better I promise,†Said the girl as she took her brother into her arms. Data from all around them began to circle around the two filling in the cuts and making the wounds close up. He felt life being breathed into him but he saw the damage around him. The scene was missing parts and upon looking at his sister he saw the illness all too well.
Ruki’s eyes had gone completely black without any discernable iris at all. Her body was riddled with black marks where green mist rose off what looked like festering flesh. Saving him only seemed to have made it worse. Shaking his head slowly Rukan took a few steps back with tears in his eyes, â€This isn’t possible… you died that night…â€
â€I should have died that night. So many emotions covered that single block of Tokyo that night, Loss, fear, and pain. All of these powerful enough to cry out for help from another world, this world. It felt the other world’s cries of agony and opened a gate to try and save those in pain. It took me into its core and seeing the strength I held inside to be able to sacrifice myself for my kind it wanted that for its own. I became the core driving force of the digital world that night. I knew one day you would find me but… not like this,†said Ruki softly as she turned her face away from her brother and sobbed softly, â€Not like a monster…â€
Rukan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ruki shaking his head slowly, â€No… You’re not a monster. No matter what you look like you are always going to be my sister. No matter what you’ve become you’re my twin… my family. I have the cure… but… I’m not sure how to use it.â€
Ruki looked up into Rukan’s eyes as he held her close even though her features were so distorted and broken her brother’s tears of joy at seeing her were unwavering. He must have thought the absolute worst all this time. She could see the pain in his heart like seeing through him quite literally. Now that he was half data she saw everything inside, including the demon he spared giving it the right to exist.
â€Rukan… you’re too kind for your own good sometimes. I’m sorry I left you in the dark for so long. It was wrong of me not to send a more clear sign. The truth of the matter is I was holding your cards that night… I thought you would have realized that it was strange to find them in your closet but well… you weren’t always the sharpest one,†Said Ruki softly as she strengthened her embrace only to pull back with a soft, â€ow!â€
Rukan looked down to see she had nicked herself on the finger with the digicarbide blade. He let her go as she saw the white light rushing through her and the scene began to change. His eyes filled with tears as he saw what it was changing to. Ruki slowly becoming herself was surrounded by cherry blossoms suspended in the air.
The scene grew out around them in every direction showing their mother and grandfather beaconing the twins towards them in the distance. Rukan walked forward pushing a few of the blossoms out of place, â€This was my favorite time to… The Sakura blossom festival… We went to Okinawa to see Grandfather one last time. Oh god what he must think of us now…â€
Ruki reached out to hold her brother’s hand and spoke softly, â€Invisible hands guide our lives. Some say it’s destiny others call it fate. I believe all we did was to lead to this moment… Where our willingness to sacrifice saves millions… maybe billions of lives. Grandfather would be proud. I’m sure he would cry like he used to when we achieved something difficult. You think too much on the past Rukan. You’ve a future ahead of you bright and shining now.â€
Rukan looked down to the shorter of the twins and lifted a brow, â€You’re coming with me right. Mom will be so amazed to see you again! Everything can be just like it was before and now that evil man is out of the house we don’t have to be afraid anymore!â€
Ruki bit her lip and looked away for a few moments letting out a weak laugh at his words, â€Rukan you just beat a world ending threat… I hardly believe that man would be any challenge to you anymore. But… I can’t leave here Rukan. I am this world’s heart now, its light, it’s hope… the very lifeblood of the world courses through my veins.â€
â€No… It can’t keep you from me! I won’t let it,†Shouted Rukan with a deep frown and tears forming in the corners of his eyes, â€What sort of thankless reward is this!? This world is sick! It shows me the lost part of my heart is still alive but I can never be with it!? What sort of sick joke is this!?â€
â€Rukan calm down! It’s not like that… You saved countless lives and… you don’t need me anymore brother mine,†said Ruki as she turned her gaze towards their forbearers and Rukan saw Renamon smiling in the distance with open arms, â€you’ve got something more than I could give you. More support than I can offer and it’s not like I’m going anywhere. I’ll always be here for when you really need me.â€
Rukan looked to Renamon knowing right now she probably thought him gone. He looked up at the perfect blue sky with fluffy white clouds overhead and felt the tears welling up again. He was exhausted physically and emotionally. He didn’t want to be the hero anymore. He longed for the normal life he lived before everything went wrong. Something in him knew though that he was in store for something greater. His destiny would drive him on to continue to fight for the light and stomp out every threat that would stand in the way of what was good.
â€Now you have some unfinished business my hero. They need your help up there. Finish the job,†Said Ruki softly as Rukan felt himself floating upwards. He held out a hand to hold onto Ruki’s for those last few second. Enveloped in light he saw his Grandfather smiling up at him and waving goodbye. Rukan felt his heartache return but it was much less than it once was.
The core shot him up through the pit and he landed neatly on the edge with the digicarbide blade in hand. His body was whole again but with a few scars where he had been injured. He lifted his blade looking about to scan the scene. Renamon was in a desperate struggle to survive against lilithmon while Taka and Narwith were trying to find a safe way down to help.
Rukan didn’t waste any time. He dashed at speeds even he thought impossible ramming his shoulder into the mega’s side and sending it flying into a wall with a surprised and enraged look on its face. Renamon yelped at the sudden change in the battle. She saw Rukan standing there and all of her inhibitions fell away. She ran to him and held him tightly for a few moments speaking softly through her tears, â€I thought I had lost you!â€
â€You’re not going to be losing me any time soon… I made a promise… and I keep my promises. Now it’s time to finish what we started months ago,†replied Rukan as he looked to Lilithmon and letting go of Renamon he rushed forward bringing his blade to bare. In an act of desperation she lifted her claw arm to try and impale the incoming Renomon.
Seeing this Rukan deflected the attack driving the claw directly into her own chest. Eyes wide the almost human looking digimon gasped for air but found none. She looked for her virus particles but none were in the air. The vaccine was spreading through the world like wildfire. The battle on the surface was ending and the last of the most powerful infected fleeing as their subordinates were cleansed and turning on them.
â€Your lust for power was your undoing… rest in peace oh dark queen… Your reign is over,†Said Rukan as he drove the arm farther in. A grin crossed Lilithmon’s face as she chuckled even as she coughed up blood.
Her voice was but a rasp as she could barely get the air to throw it any distance, â€No… no boy… this isn’t the end…†Her body began to fizzle and fade into specs of green corrupted data that disappeared into the air. It wasn’t long before she was gone entirely leaving only the heroes of the digital world as witnesses to her final moments.
Renamon ran to Rukan wrapping her arms around him tightly and kissing him deeply as their victory was finally at hand. Finally they would have the peace to settle down and figure out the rest of their lives together. They wouldn’t have to sleep with one eye open for fear of attack. Their life together was just beginning. Rukan returned the kiss with a smile at the corners of his lips as he lifted his mate off her feet and spun her around in the heat of the moment.
Narwith and Taka looked to each other as Datamon sat with them at the edge of the slide all of them smiling. Finally, that was the only word that came to each of their minds. Finally this nightmare was over and the dream could become a reality.
â€I suppose you’ll need help rebuilding the city huh,†Asked Taka looking down at his best friend.
Narwith chuckled with a slowly nod gazing down at the two lovers with a smile, â€That can wait a while… I think I’d rather stay in this moment a while longer… It’s been so long since I’ve been able to live without fear. I want to feel it a bit longer.â€
Takeshi nodded slowly as he pat the much larger than him digimon on the back with a soft chuckle, â€No problem… though we are gonna have to figure a way out of here eventually.â€
Datamon looked up at Taka and smiled, â€We’re in the core. That platform has a gate device on it. It will send us… well back up. I believe though if recalibrated you could return to your world with it.â€
â€Hush… I’d rather not think about that right now Datamon,†Was the reply the computer digimon got from his tamer.
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