Message in the Night
This was my first digimon fic and so far, it's gotten nothing but
praise. Thanks
to all of you who had the guts to e-mail me with your words of
encuragment! Ai
minna!

"Matt doesn't treat TK like he's a brother, only like he's a bother."
Had I only known...



Tai stretched out his arms and yawned deeply, sleep still tugging at
his eyelids. He rubbed them quickly and blinked a few times before
attempting to move for fear of unintentionally stepping on one of his six companions.
There was Izzy, cuddling up with his laptop near a tree to the side along with Joe and their digimon. The two of them had stayed up all night exchanging theories on things Tai hadn't had the knowledge to fallow or understand. Instead, he and Sora, who slept beside Mimi on the other side of the now extinguished fire, had stayed up planning today's trip. Matt had of course argued and disagreed with Tai as much as possible to both his and Sora's disappointment.
Has there ever been a day when we actually agreed on something? Tai wondered, searching around for his trademark goggles. At least TK had been there to point out to Matt what a jerk he was being. Tai though again, Okay, so TK would never call Matt a jerk but with the way he acts towards him and everyone else, he sure deserves to be. Tai
took his gaze off Sora and Mimi and looked over to were TK and Matt
were sleeping. Only TK was there now though. Instead, he found Matt standing
over a
pile of sticks and arranging them in the fire pit.
"Matt?"
"Morning, Tai. You know at first I wasn't sure but now that I've witnessed it, there's no denying the fact."
Tai cocked his head to the side in confusion, "What on earth are you
talking about?"
"Your hair. I didn't think it could look any more disarrayed but one
look atthat bed head of yours and I was sure of it."
Tai frowned. What a way to start the day. At this rate they'd be at
each other's throats by midday. "Good morning, Matt," he said at last with an edge
of content in his voice.
Matt smiled wickedly at the response and walked over to Agumon, "Come
on,
Agumon. I can't very well cook breakfast without a fire," he nudged the
digimon in the side with his foot.
Agumon opened his eyes drearily and yawned much like Tai had, "It's to
early."
"No, it's not. I've been up catching fish and gathering fruit for
almost an
hour. All I need for you to do is Pepper Breath that pile of wood over there. How hard can that be?"
Agumon seemed to think it over then nodded, "All right, Matt, one fire
coming up."
Matt stood back and smiled as a bright and powerful fire sparked to
life over
the fresh timber. "Thanks, Agumon. You can go back to sleep now. I'll get ya up when breakfast is ready." Before he had finished his sentence, Agumon was asleep.
Tai laughed lightly, "I don't think he heard you."
"Whatever." Matt arranged the fruits and fish he'd brought back on a
stone and began cleaning and preparing everything.
Tai watched with interest and neared the fire for warmth. "So, what are
you doing up so early?"
Matt didn't look up from his work, "Just couldn't sleep, that's all."
"Yea, right, Matt. Come on, who are you afraid I'm gonna tell?"
Once again, Matt didn't look up, "It's not that.. I don't know. Call me
superstitious but I kinda have this belief that if you talk about bad
things, they just might happen."
"So it was a nightmare?"
This time, Matt did look up, "Yea.. or at least I hope so."
"Nani?" Tai was about to inquire further when a new voiced popped into
the scene.
"FOOD!"
Mimi scooted next to Matt and smiled, "Any small bites you'd care to
give to me?"
Matt sighed then glared at her, "If you want a snack you can go pick
some fruit for yourself. I picked just enough for everyone."
Mimi began to pout with that horridly effective look on her face that
could melt butter. Too bad it didn't have the same effect on Matt.
"Your not getting any of this till I'm done cooking so either sit and
wait or go
get some yourself."
Mimi huffed and flipped her hair in his face, "Your so mean, Matt."
Tai watched the unfolding scene and laughed as Matt rolled his eyes at
the girl's behavior. "Come on, Mimi, he's almost done. You can wait a bit
longer,
can't you?"
"Oh.. I guess so," Mimi turned around and shook Palmon, "Come on, wake
up. Breakfast is almost ready."
The shrill squeak of her voice sent most of the other, sleeping,
friends flying out of their "beds".
"Yeash, Mimi, has anyone ever told you you sound like a fire alarm?"
Joe asked
cruelly, still half asleep and pretty much unaware he had vocalize his
thoughts. Luckily for him, Mimi was too busy shaking Sora awake the
remark.
"Come on, Sora! Wakey-Wakey!"
Biyomon woke first and looked questionably at the pink clad girl,
"Mimi?"
"Oh good, your awake. Now you can help me with Sora."
"She's particularly happy this morning," Izzy noted, brushing off his
shirt.
Joe put his glasses on and rubbed the lenses clear, "I guess she had a
good
dream."
At the mention of dreams, Matt tensed and dropped one of the fish in
the fire.
"Oh.. uh.. well it looks like someone's out a fish."
Man, Matt's acting weird. that must have been one heck of a nightmare.
Tai watched as all the others gathered around the fire and smelled the
delicious smells surrounding them.
"Okay, we've got grilled fruits and fish. Help yourselves everyone."
Matt stood and took his own meal and TK's over to where his brother was sleeping.
The little boy was still asleep and cuddled up close to his digi-friend.
Matt sighed and put the food down on a rock. "Hey there, Squirt. Time to wake up."
TK mumbled something and opened his large blue eyes, "Oh, hiya, Matt!
Boy was I
sleepy."
"Let's just hope your awake enough to eat something. We'll want to head
out
early today."
TK smelled the air and his eyes grew wider, "Yummy, Matt. Did you make
breakfast?"
"Sure did."
"Hey, Patamon, wake up! It's time to eat and it smells really, really
good!"
The "piggish" digimon rolled over and mumbled something intelligible.
Matt laughed and nudged his companion as well, "Come on, you too, Gabumon."
The two digimon protested for a few minutes but finally fell in suit
and awoke like the rest of them. When all was eaten (which didn't take very long at all) and everyone had finally gotten packed up, they set out on their way.
All the
while, TK and Patamon sang cutesy little songs they had made up on the
spot.
"Oh give me a home, where the digimon roam, and the digi-destioned all
play.
Patamon's my friend, um.. what rhymes with friend? Uh, and Tai and Matt
are fighting all day!"
"Hurrah!" Patamon cheered, "That was wonderful, TK!"
"Yea, all but that last verse." Matt noted, "Me and Tai don't fight all
day. Your exaggerating a bit, don't you think?"
"It's just a song, Matt. Ya don't have to go analytical on it." Tai
shot back.
"I'm not going analytical on it, Tai. I was just saying that-"
"Or more so, contradicting yourself, am I right?" Izzy asked.
Tai began to laugh, "He's right ya know. We're fighting again."
Matt crossed his arms and sneered, "Whatever."

Darkness..
"One must die. Better to weaken the strong with grief over the loss of
the weak.
The little boy will do nicely..."
Silence..
"..I'm coming for you, little one. Prepare to face your end."
Emptiness.


"Hey, Matt, I'm tired. Can you carry me?"
Matt sighed, "I'm tired too, TK. If I can walk the rest of the way
though, so
can you."
TK's head fell, "But I'm just a little kid, Matt, and my legs get tired
quicker than you big kids'."
"Well, then your just going to have to grow up, TK. What do you expect
me to do?"
Tai frowned, listening to the arguing going on behind him. "I'll carry
you,TK." He offered.
TK's face lit up like a lightbulb and his smile soon turned musical as
he laughed with delight, "Oh really, Tai? Your so cool!" TK climbed onto
his back and wrapped his arms around Tai's neck.
"Don't mention it, little guy." Tai said. He looked back at Matt for a
moment and regretted immediately that he had. Matt's face looked full of hurt.
As soon
as he realized Tai was looking at him though, he turned his back to
him,crossing his arms over his chest in defiance as if to say "Sure, go ahead, see if I care".
"Let's go, everyone!" TK yelled, mimicking Tai. Tai laughed and sped up
with the
others moaning behind him. Matt remind silent, just observing.
Tai rounded the hill and turned to see most of the others hadn't even
reached
the bend in the path yet."What a bunch of slow pokes," Tai joked.
TK laughed, "Yea, they sure are slow. We beat um good, huh Patamon?"
"Sure did!" the digimon ridding shotgun on his hat replied. The gang
laughed some more till a sudden stillness swallowed it up.
"Tai...." TK's voice was shaky and frightened. The air seemed so cold,
dead
quiet and still. It was as if the hand of death had closed it's tight
griped around them.
Tai looked around, a very bad feeling coming over him, "Come on, TK,
lets go back and meet up with the group."
"It's too late for that."Tai looked up in fear and surprise and saw
something
that could have only been born from nightmares. It was tall, lanky, and
freakish looking. It stood at almost twenty feet tall, it's arms were like those
of an
octopus, long and flexible. Its eyes were spaced far apart and long
sharp teeth
pointed down from the corners of its mouth.
"Who.. or what.. are you?"
"I am Reapamon. The soul collector. And I am here, for you."
Tai and TK both gasped as the digimon's finger pointed towards them.

Matt couldn't explain it. He just had to run. Tai and TK had passed
them up long
ago and something just didn't seem right. It was just a nightmare.. you
roverreacting...nothing is after TK, he's going to be safe! But as he
neared the edge of the hill, his heart stopped, his breath was lost and his soul cried out.
"TK!"
"Matt!" TK cried from within Reapamon's long slendar arms. Matt
fallowed the
length of the creature with his eye, stoping at his feet where another
body lay.

"Tai?!"
He raised his head, a sharp pain in his right arm making him wince and
hold on to his wound, "Matt, I.."
"Are you alright? What's going on?!"
"I'm soo sorry...I.." Tai placed his unwounded arm on Matt's sholder,
"He just came and took him... he's going to-"
Matt stood imediatly, his face turned twords that of Reapamon, "Put my
little brother down, NOW!"
The digimon smiled and laughed, "Your brother? He cares more for his
digi-friend
than for you." Reapamon pointed at the unconscience body of Patamon
lying by the
trail, "What kind of brother comes second in a little boy's heart?"
Matt balled up his fists, keeping back tears, "That may be true but I
swear that
if you harm him I'll hunt you down and kill you with my own two hands."
Reapamon glared at him, "Oh, will you?"
Matt watched as TK screamed in pain and writhed under the digimon's
powers."MATT!"
"TK!" Matt ran strait at Reapamon and was blown back by blast of
energy. The
impact with the ground left him gasping for breath. He sat up on his
elbows and
looked back up at his crying brother and could not help but cry as well
in despiration.
"What's going on!" someone shouted. Joe. The others were there now.
"What is
that thing doing to TK?"
"Tai!" Sora ran to her friend and looked at his bleeding shoulder, "Are
you all right?"
"Reapamon's.. going to kill.. TK."
Sora gasped and looked back up at the strange Digimon. The others soon
gathered
around as well. "Good, now you can say your last good-byes my little
prey."
TK began to cry even louder.
"We're not allowing you to kill our friend! Gomamon, digivolve!" Joe
ordered.
"No!" Reapamon threw a blue power gate over all of the digimon, "You
will not
interfere."
Gomamon fought to digivolve but the gate somehow would not let him.
"Joe! I..I
can't digivolve!"
"Go Agumon!"
Agumon tried as well but to no avail, "Tai, I'm sorry. He's blocking
our ability to digivolve!"
"But... no.. TK!" Tai shouted, feeling helplessness seize him. The
entire group
looked at their small friend with sadness. There was nothing they nor
anyone could do without the help of thier digimon.
"No... You can't have him. I won't let you take him."
Everyone turned to see Matt, now standing with a ghostly look on his
face, "Put him down and leave us alone."
"And why should I?" Reapamon asked.
TK screamed again. Matt cringed at its sound and walked up closer.
"Because everyone loves TK. You can't take him away from us. It wouldn't be fair."
Reapamon laughed, "And who said life is fair, kid?"
Matt clenched his fists at his side, "No one. But please, please, don't
kill my little brother. I'll do anything, just don't kill him."
Reapamon smiled, "You can do nothing for me. My mission here was to
claim a life therefore I have what I needed."
"Just a life?" tears came down his face like streams, "Is that all he
is to you? A life?" Matt felt like punching something. A Reapamon sorta
something."If that's all you need than how bout an exchange? TK's life for mine."
"Matt..." Tai started to talk but Matt silenced him with a glance. "How
about it? I'm stronger, older and problie worth more to you than a six year old kid."
Reapamon seemed to think it over, "You'd give your life for him?"
Matt nodded without hesitation, "I'd give him everything if it were
possible."
Tai stared, wide mouthed and shocked. Matt, Mr. Too Cool; don't touch
the hair; whatever;... was willing to sacrifice himself for his brother. The same brother
he had complained about taking care of sence they had arived in the
digiworld. The same Matt who had been so cold and unfeeling twords his brother's plees to be carried.Had we only known.."Matt!"
"No, Matt, don't!" TK shouted, his eyes red and burning.
Reapamon smiled. Yes, you'd do much better. "As you wish, my prey."
TK was set soundly to the floor with the digimon's long arms. Sora and
Tai quickly grabbed him and took him away from the beast. He was burned and bleeding and screaming at the top of his lungs for his brother.
Matt looked back at TK and smiled, "Don't cry, TK. Tai will take care
of you from now on... I love you, Takeru."
"Matt!"
Reapamon shot a blue blaze at Matt and a bright light engulfed him.
When it died down, Reapamon was gone and only the crumpled figure of Matt lay in it's place.
"M..M.. Yamato!" Tai screamed, running to his friends side. Matt's eyes
were closed, his skin was pallid and cold. "No... please no...."
"MATT!"

Tai awoke, a cold sweat on his forehead. Without warning, he began to
cry with heart wrenching sobs. "Yamato... no.. we never got to tell you how much you meant to us." His whole body contorted with each great gasp and bout of tears. "Please, hear me, I'm sorry for being a jerk, Matt... I didn't hate you I.. I just.."
"Tai?"
Tai raised his damp face and looked threw the night fire at TK. It was
haunting to look at him at times. He looked so much like Matt. But it was to be expected.
TK was now 13 years old, the same age Matt was when it had all
happened. Perhaps that's what had brought the dreams on.Tai wiped his eyes on his shirt, "What's up, TK?"
The younger boy took a deep breath, "I know you and Matt fought a lot
but I also know that he knew you cared. He knew, Tai. I didn't get to tell him I
loved him back then but he's always with me and in that way, we both know we're
loved."
Tai sighed. Even after the many years it had been, TK was still as sensitive and
caring as he had been as a child. "I guess your right," he lied, trying to
smile, "Thank you, TK."
"Whatever."
Tai hadn't expected that. He stared at TK in amazement. It wasn't like TK to
react that way to a word of gratitude. Such a response was more like something...
TK put his hand over his mouth, "Oopse, sorry, I don't know what came over me. Your welcome though, Tai. G'night."
Tai was still amazed. TK had sounded so much like Matt just then. The whisper of music filled his ears suddenly. A familiar tune. But how... A smile,genuine this
time, crept over his lips as a thought came to mind. As long as TK was alive, so
was Matt. He wasn't just a memory, he was as present in daily life as any living
being. And in that way, he was sure to know he was cared about. TK was right,
Matt knew. He just had to. For the first time in almost seven years, Tai felt at
ease and slept without a care.His eyes lost focus and a deep yawn drew him back to sleep.On the other side of the fire, TK smiled at the same tune that sang in his ears,
"Big bro, your the best." he said, curling up and letting the music take him back to a time now only in his memories when the soft notes of the harmonica sang him to sleep. A lone silhouette of a man leaned up against a tree beside the camp site, a harmonica pressed against his mouth as he sent his message into the night.

By: Yakumei
Alternitive "happy" ending available here
Authers note: Yea, I know, I'm morbid. Chances are that if I make a story where someone does not die, isn't thought to be dead or isn't in mortal danger, It's someone else using my pen-name. ^,^ If ya hate that I killed Matt, E-mail me!
I'd enjoy the hate mail! And if ya like it, E-mail me! I'd enjoy the fan mail!

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