Tumult
#8 of Breathless
A/N: Gomenasai, I had thought I'd get this done a week ago. I had half of it done then, and well... at the time I felt tired and took a nap,and then procrastinated. This may not be as long as the others, but it has a lot of action going on, thus I believe it is in balance. And the next chapter, it will begin the final arc of this story. And don't hurt me for what happens in this chapter. There is a reason for everything.
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By the time Veemon awoke, the rain had ceased, along with the fires. His eyes winked open, as the cool wind crossed his damp body., making him shiver. Looking up at the moon still hovering above him, and its red hue, he wondered if it all had been a dream; surreal enough to be real, but not. But as his body lifted from the ground, the white marble rolled off him, circling around in front of the blue digimon. "It...wasn't a dream?" Picking it up, he squeezed it to his heart, next to the Digivice he had kept always close to him. "Kyuu... Come back... We've finally got our card--our bodies can become one."
But nothing heard him, not even the wind that still came by. Staggering up, Veemon begin to look around, wondering where he was and how he got there, since it all had been a blur. Nothing around him had seemed familiar, save for the moon that hovered close; he was still in the digital world and he knew it. Taking a step forward, then another, Veemon wished the water on his body would dry off, so that he could keep warm--but it wouldn't happen, nothing he wanted would happen.
With each step, he watched the world around him start to twist and turn, changing from a starry glade, into another broken wasteland, dead trees lining every which way. His eyes scanned the horizon, only seeing everything the same as he still walked, a piece of his mind lost somewhere in the dream of the night before. To him, this looked like a graveyard; death seemed to seethe from even the ground. "Kyuu..."
Still, no answer, no help, no one close by. His feet still trudged through the burning sand beneath him, him wincing, though enjoying the warmth that came through his body. Each tree, it seemed to repeat itself within every yard traveled, each stone, a reflection of another. In the distance, however, he could see an image--though it wavered back and forth. A woman stood there, looking down at the ground, clutching something to her chest, a red ribbon.
Finally, it was someone, and Veemon felt not so much alone anymore. Running to her, still clutching both the marble and Digivice to his own chest. "HEY HEY " He screamed, hoping to get her attention. But that was what he didn't want, especially when he saw what was around her arm as the ribbon fell--a dark ring. Halting immediately, Veemon went defensive, seeing her eyes crimson as she looked at him.
"I've been waiting..." In her left hand was a digivice, one that she scanned against her right hand. "Spirit Evolution " Her body changed, turning into a dragon hybrid, making Veemon step back. She was one of the ones against them, one of them that wanted to take away Naruto, and himself. Tymemon smirked, as she stared at the blue digimon, who was small compared to her. "Crimson Claws " Stabbing down at him, she barely missed as he jumped to the side.
Worried that she might actually kill him, Veemon stared at the marble. Swallowing the knot in his throat, he closed his eyes, flipping the marble around to turn it into a card. Scanning it down, he hoped for the best, "Biomerge Digivolution " Out from his Digivice, Naruto shot out, smirking at Veemon. "I'm back." He whispered, before he felt himself held up against a wall.
Closing both of their eyes, Naruto felt fur start to wrap around his skin, as Veemon turned into data. Three tails flicked out from behind him, as his body slowly turned blue. On his back, a shuriken began to appear, as his muzzle extended, underneath it, the white fur peeked out, going down to his chest, a sheath even beginning to appear. As his ears perked up, two crystal earrings appeared, hanging down from the twitching ears. "Tasomon "
Cerulean eyes opened, to stare over at Tymemon, a smirk crossing his lips. Though, before he even tried to attack her, Veemon made Naruto look at himself, almost squealing in delight. "KYUU WE'RE TOGETHER "
"I know... Now lets--" Before he could, Tasomon had to dodge an attack, red claws scraping against his shoulder, making him wince. "Vee, we need to calm down.." Panting slightly, Tasomon took his shuriken off his own back, letting it slide onto his arm. "Spiral " Spinning around, the wolf seemed to almost turn into a whirlwind, slicing into the armored dragon.
Backing away from the new digimon hybrid, Tymemon tsked. "You shouldn't even exist But the master wants you " Slamming her fist into the ground, "Dragon's Claws " From beneath Tasomon, a large hand shot up, grabbing him, squeezing. He started to feel the life squeeze out of him, as it squeezed even harder.
"S-S-Starlight's S-shot." Tasomon muttered, watching as the shuriken began to spin, slicing through the hand, letting them fall down. Gasping for breath, they looked at her. "Rasengan " In his paw, Tasomon began to form Naruto's special attack, though this time it seemed to grow larger and larger. Thrusting it forward, it was met with the crimson claws of Tymemon, being held back. Chuckling, she spun around, kicking the wolf hybrid back, dispelling his attack.
"Don't try that, idiot. I know how to stop you " Holding her claws together, Tymemon smirked, before lunging forward, "Dragon Flight " Her body seemed to turn into a fire bullet, hitting Tasomon in the chest, pushing him down, enough for her to put her claws on his neck. "I should have done this back then " Pushing down harder, she was ready to kill the hybrid beneath her.
"Giga Breath " A fireball shot towards her, knocking her off the digimon she was hovering over, her scream seemed to be only because she was caught off guard. Wincing and looking over at where the attack came, Tasomon saw Beogrowlmon, Henry and Terriermon on his back. "Sorry we're late, we had to pick up a few friends." Angetailmon flew towards them, along with Cerberusmon running up closer. "Now guys, attack "
Both Angetailmon and Cerberusmon got their attacks ready, only to be cut off as Razimon jumped down, slashing a sword at them. "Tsk tsk tsk. Tymemon, you were suppose to kill him before he could Biomerge."
"I'm sorry, Razimon. But I didn't realize he had the card "
Razimon didn't care at the moment, as he turned to face the group of three who backed up Tasomon. Twirling his swords around, he laughed, "Snake's Coil " Rushing at them with speed greater than before, he started to hit them, only stopped by Beogrowlmon, who held him back. Growling at him, the large dinosaur tossed him to the side, opening his mouth to shoot another Giga Breath at him.
Tymemon didn't want to be left there, against the three, charging after Tasomon again, ready to slice at his neck, but Angetailmon came to defend, holing up her own sword. "Like I'd let you hurt any more people YOU WERE THE ONE WHO KILLED TAILMON BEFORE "
Both girls pushed against each other, only splitting up as another twirling bullet went through them, from Cerberusmon. However, it hit another metal, as Blackneokitsumon rose from the horizon, jumping over the girls to tackle the other wolf hybrid. "We never finished our fight from before "
Watching as all three of his friends battled, Tasomon couldn't help but feel left out. Almost ready to let his shuriken fly, he felt his arm grasped, and turned around. A caped man, with glasses, and black hair spiked smirked, punching the blue wolf, knocking him back. "I've finally found you "
The others, all distracted, didn't even see the fourth of the enemies come up towards Tasomon. His blue eyes stared down at the man, spitting out the blood that had gathered in his mouth. Reading his own fist to punch the man, Naruto's reaction to anything attacking him, he stopped as a card showed in the hand. It slid down quickly, passing through the Digivice--purple in color, the final of the eight cards. "Spirit Evolution " The data that swirled around the man stopped the attack, as the man digivolved into in his own hybrid.
Black scales shined, as a large tail appeared behind him, an even larger neck shot up from it, a pair of horns from it showing. The data disappeared, leaving a large demonic dragon in its place, "Balthasmon." Standing on its hind legs, the dragon smirked down at the smaller wolf. "It's now my turn to fight you, and to finally take away your destiny "
A fist slammed down towards him, with strength enough to squish Tasomon, but the digimon had moved just a bit back, watching it dent the ground. His own eyes went wide, as the tail slide around, hitting him in the side. With an ouf, he slid away, trying to grab the tail, only failing. The attacks continued, as well as fire breaths came down onto the blue wolf, barely deflecting any of them. With another slash of a fist, Tasomon found himself on the ground again, though now with a footpaw on his stomach. "You shouldn't even exist here "
As it pushed down, the wolf gasped for breathe again, his shuriken on the ground away from him. It seemed to be the end for the hybrid, until his earrings shined. "Twilight Star " The bright light knocked the dragon off of Tasomon, causing him to back up and try to catch his own balance.
"Curse you "
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Angetailmon jumped back from the claws, her sword trying to come around to hit the digimon in front of her. Though, with each time she tried, it was easily blocked, another attack coming at her. "Dragon Slam " A fist slammed into her chest, causing the angel hybrid to cough up blood, her eyes wincing in the pain. "Heh, you are just as weak as you were before." Tymemon baited Angetailmon.
Angered by what the dragon hybrid said, the sword slashed around, "Heaven's Might " The sword grew bigger, finally cutting into the armor of Tymemon, an electrical jolt shooting through it. Stunned by the attack, Tymemon jumped back, clenching her fists. "Dragon Flight " Turning back into a flaming bullet towards Angetailmon, Tymemon was ready to kill Tailmon once more, as well as Mikoto. Though, all she hit was the sword.
"Shield of Light " A bright flicker appeared around the sword, holding back the attack, but being pushed back herself. Tymemon, realizing she couldn't break through the shield, started to just punch at Angetailmon, constantly going forward. Having to back up with each attack, Angetailmon continued to deflect the hits, until her back hit a dead tree, any escape blocked. With a dead on hit, Tymemon smirked, as she grabbed Angetailmon's neck.
"Perfect." Pushing hard against the tree, Tymemon knew she had the advantage now, as her other fist slammed into Angetailmon's chest, causing her to gasp out into the tight hold Tymemon had her in.
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Twin swords continued to spin around as Razimon charged Beogrowlmon once more, being stopped only by a slash downwards, though the swords held it against it. "Why do you pathetic weaklings keep trying to stop us? We just want the blonde's spirit." Growling down, another fire breath attack made the snake hybrid jump back.
"Because Naruto is our friend "
"Friends. Hah They hold you back " Slashing up, Razimon jumped towards the dinosaur's neck, wishing to do a deathblow. But as it almost connected, teeth clenched down on it, Beogrowlmon ready to burn the snake hybrid to a crisp. Though, the other sword went, hitting the dinosaur hybrid in the eye, making him drop Razimon. Hissing out in pain, Beogrowlmon could barely see the hilt of the sword slamming into his chest, knocking him back so the swords were at his neck. "They are the weaknesses of everyone."
Two paws slammed around Razimon, tossing him off the dinosaur, though the snake hybrid rolled, easily getting up. His training in battle had helped him before all this, easily able to get back close enough to smirk before he disappeared. "Shadow Clones." Four more Razimon appeared, each focused on fighting the large dinosaur. "Prism "
The five snake hybrids flew around Beogrowlmon, their swords pointed at one another, until they each slashed forward, landing into the next clone; five attacks in all, Beogrowlmon stumbled back, his body ravaged by the swords that were attacking him.
"Give it up."
"We won't "
A kick upwards from Razimon, knocked Beogrowlmon down onto the ground, with the snake hybrid holding a sword to his throat again. "Then you shall die a fool like the rest of them "
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Jumping back from another spiral, Cerberusmon had to yank out his guns again, spinning them around to deflect a second attack. "Why don't you just go back to the hole you came from ?" He shouted at the metal fox, whose mouth was opening once more.
With a crocked metal smile, Blackneokitsumon shot another black blast towards the gun-toting wolf, not even pleasuring him with an answer. Shooting bullets at the large blast, Cerberusmon had to roll out of the way from getting totally hit, but found his arm grazed by the attack. Wincing in pain, her stood up, facing him. "Go back to hell " Holding his guns up, he shot five blasts, before letting them drop to pull up his second brigade, firing wildly at the beast attacking him.
Blackneokitsumon only chuckled, as it swung its tail, the splash of bullets hitting it, deflecting away easily, before the tail slammed into Cerberusmon's stomach, launching him backwards, into a tree. Snapping underneath the pressure of the digimon on top of it, Cerberusmon found himself on the ground, a paw on his stomach. "I'll send -you- to hell." Grimacing underneath the pressure, the wolf couldn't budge from beneath Blackneokitsumon's grasp, finding breathes hard to grab.
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Barely on his feet, Tasomon stared at the ground, breathing in slow breathes. His eyes went to the others, each one in their own battle, each one failing. Tears started to form as his fists clenched, his eyes closing before he faced back at Balthasmon. "You...." A utterance, more than a growl, but it was enough to get the black dragon's attention.
"...It's because of you... all this pain... this suffering " The tears dripped from his furried cheeks as he stood there, opening up his eyes to glare at the dragon. "IT WAS YOU WHO GAVE THIS PAIN TO US " From around Tasomon's neck, Naruto's crystal formed, it fluttering in the wind with its blue hue shining out. "YOU "
Forming in his fists, a long sword appeared, a crimson one that drew the crystals towards it. "I won't forgive you " It seemed as though his own chakra was seething out of his body as he launched himself at Balthasmon, the blade growing black as it slashed towards him. Stumbling back from the attack, the dragon growled at the wolf before him. In his mind, he was right. The blond was the key to everything, the key to what needed to be done.
Opal eyes stared at the crystal that had formed, before his claws reached out--the next attack coming almost knocking him back. With his claws around it, Balthasmon yanked, breaking away the crystal, dispelling the sword that had appeared, as well as making Tasomon stumble back. "This... This is the key "
Like his heart was wrenched out of his soul, the wolf grabbed his chest; pain flooded his senses as he dropped to one knee, trying to catch his surroundings again, but it was to no avail. "ENOUGH We have what we need Now let's get back " The black dragon dedigivolved back into Ken as he held the crystal close to his own body. "No wonder you survived outside of your body." Turning around, he began to walk away, the other three following after with their human forms coming back.
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Henry couldn't do much but watch, as his friends all got hurt, and were lying around, bleeding as they returned to their own forms. Tasomon still retained his form, watching as the four walked into static--watching as if he couldn't do much else. A chorus of groans came from each of the other digidestined, their bodies wracked with pain, their eyes staring up at the reddened sky. Henry went to each of them, making sure they were all right, before he looked over at Tasomon, watching as a spiral of green began to surround him.
Words couldn't escape the wolf's muzzle as he too dedigivolved, looking the worst as Naruto's body became surrounded with the green sparks. Veemon looked over at the unconscious Naruto, his dream relived once more. "KYUU " His own tears began to fall as he reached out, to the slowly disappearing Naruto, clutching him tightly in his arms. "NO I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE "
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'No wonder you survived outside your body.' Words that had echoed in the darkness, words that seemed to be too true to him. A spirit severed from a body would normal move on, the body losing its sights, fading away like time. But for Naruto, he was encased in his own creation, something else bringing him back to this world.
As his blue eyes stared up into the darkness, watching as he himself started to become green sparks, Naruto could feel tears falling on his skin; tears that were cool to the touch, like a summer's rain. Reaching up with his right hand, he caressed where he believed the cheek was where the tears were coming from, feeling the cheek he had always loved to touch late at night. "Vee..."
Smiling down at him, Veemon clutched Naruto tighter, his tears never ending. "I...I won't let you go. I can't let you go... No...I...I can't...I can't... live without you....I... I LOVE YOU KYUU " Naruto chuckled slightly, his hand falling from the digimon's cheek, touching the ground once more.
"I love you too, Vee..." The green sparks continued to flow up as his body still disappeared, even within the blue digimon's arms.
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Mikoto got up, following the other digidestined as they stood around Naruto, each feeling their own pain. They might have not known him as long as Veemon had, but they felt the pain in the dragon digimon's heart. Each one closed their eyes, their own tears forming, falling all around Naruto--no one was able to even keep himself or herself from shedding at least something.
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Echoing all around him, Naruto saw the others appear in his darkness, as they all looked down, letting their tears fall. None of them, from what he could see, wanted this, or wanted anything like this to happen. His eyes went back up to Veemon's, as he smiled one last time. "Don't worry... I'll still be right here." He managed to tap his finger against Veemon's chest, as it disappeared, along with the rest of him. "I'll never leave your side."
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Falling forward, Veemon slammed his fist into the ground, the green sparks escaping his grasp. His cries were loud, never ending--the one he had cherished even more than life itself had just left him, this time it was worse. He couldn't feel the blonde's presence in his Digivice, or even in the air. Naruto had truly left him this time, and Veemon knew whose fault it was. Pushing himself up, his eyes glared at where the four disappeared, teeth clenching. "YOU TOOK KYUU AWAY " Veemon jumped up and rushed over, wishing to do something other than cry at this very moment in time.
They all stared, not knowing what else they could do, watching as the blue digimon began to punch the air blindly, seeing even in his anger, he was still overbearingly sad. Their eyes closed, trying to think of other thoughts, though hearing the grunts and whimpers escaping Veemon.
"Veemon... That's not going to he--" Death like eyes stared at Henry for speaking up, Veemon bolting towards him, slamming his head into the boy's chest.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW? "
"STOP IT " Mikoto cried out, holding her arm slightly. "WE DON'T NEED TO BE FIGHTING EACH OTHER "
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A gust of wind approached them from behind, a light hearted sigh coming from within it. The sands rose, a figure almost being drawn out of them. The others became defensive, Veemon even more so because of what had happened. "..." Green eyes opened to stare at them, the sand slipping down onto the ground once more. "You are the ones who were called to save us?" Almost groaning, he dusted off his red suit. "Leave it to someone else to choose the worst looking gang to save all of us."
Henry scowled at the man, as did Matt, "Who the hell are you?"
Blinking his green eyes, he couldn't let up a small smirk, though it disappeared as quickly as it came. "Gaara..." His crimson hair blew in the wind, showing off the kanji on his forehead, the others still defensive about the man before them. "I've been sent to...get you off your asses. Staying here will only result in much more being lost than the blond idiot."
"HE'S NOT AN IDIOT " Veemon was almost seething with anger as he stared at Gaara, fists still clenched.
"You don't know him that long, I'm guessing. Anyways, you all need to come with me-and soon you'll find your reason for being who you are now."
Growling, Veemon walked over to stare up at the red head, attempting to slam a fist into his chest, only to have it blocked by sand. "I'm not going with you!" Gaara's hand held down Veemon as he tried to pummel through the sand barrier.
"It doesn't matter. You are needed in another world-this one's soul has already died." His green eyes closed, his sand starting to swirl around them all.
"NO NO NO! I'M NOT GOING!"
"Don't you wish to be reunited with the blond idiot?"
"K-Kyuu? NO! YOU'RE LYING!"
"I wouldn't lie to you all. Naruto...He's still alive. You just need to get back what's his, and the only way you can even wish to accomplish this, is by following me. You all need to go to Konoha."
The others just stared at Gaara, trying to figure out if they want to believe what the red haired man had told them. "Why should we believe you, though." Takato had actually thought his question through, which was a rare thing for the goggleboy to do.
"Because, if you don't... you'll be lost here along with the rest of these creatures. This world has already died-its soul was sucked out with the time you dwindled away in the wind. But here's your chance. You can give life back to this world, and any other world that was destroyed because of those... those people. And stage a last revolt against them-and I would like to say that you all would be a good part of the resistance in Konoha. So, will you come, or do I need to force you all to come with me."
Biting back any words, the others stayed silent, save for Veemon. "YOU'RE STILL LYING! I DON'T TRUST YOU!"
Opening his eyes to stare down at the blue creature, Gaara held out his hand, "Sand Coffin!" Sand wrapped around Veemon, though not as tight as it usually would.
"LET ME OUT LET ME OUT!"
"I'm sorry, but I cannot. You all must come with me." The others nodded as they came closer. Holding his hands in a seal, Gaara sighed to himself. "I hope that he knows what he's doing-because I don't like this." With a gust of wind, sand spun around them all, whisking them away. Behind them, the gust of sand continued, blowing across the deserted wastelands they left behind; a last memento of their trials here.
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Their eyes were greeted with a large stone sculpture, as the sands disappeared-reflected upon it was the setting sun that had looked so dead from where it was heading. In awe, they looks around, seeing buildings all around; buildings that were on fire, ravaged and broken down. This once paradise was destroyed, with a large Dark Spire in the center of it, broken into a large tower that seemed to be the central point of this place. "This is where you are needed now, Chosen Ones." Gaara's voice was grated, as if sand had gotten into his throat. "This is where your destinies have led you."