Junpei wasn't sure where he was going, but he knew that he had to go somewhere. 

In a word, he was frustrated. That was a common occurrence these days with the way Saki had been acting. Junpei liked to think that his friends had started to open up to him after their shared adventures in the Digital World and all of the chaos that came with fighting for their lives in another universe. Still, even after all of that, Saki was still hiding so much from him, and he didn't understand any of it. They had to know that it was okay to talk to him, right? If that was the case, then why keep so much a secret?

Junpei just wanted to clear his head. He knew Saki wasn't going to open up to him easily. That was what he had learned was Saki's instinct. If they could keep something a secret, then that was what they were going to opt for. They feared talking to other people, and Junpei was just another person in that regard. He wouldn't be able to change that no matter how hard he tried. There was little he could do to fix this, but knowing that didn't change the deep anger at himself and the rest of the world that churned in his gut. All he wanted to do was help. Why did it feel like nobody else wanted him to try?

Junpei didn't realize that he was at the central square of the island until he caught a glimpse of Darcmon. She hadn't been kidding when she said the people of Inaie would be holding a festival to celebrate the arrival of the Legendary Warriors. The island had worshipped the Legendary Warriors for as long as it had existed, and having the reincarnations of their ancient heroes come to visit was the biggest occasion they had seen in centuries. Junpei knew the historical significance of all this, but he couldn't quite seem to get over the idea that all of this was partially for him no matter how hard he tried. 

Darcmon noticed Junpei before he could say anything, and she turned to face him with a grand smile on her face. She was a large Digimon, naturally towering over even the tallest of the Legendary Warriors by at least a strong foot. Junpei couldn't help but feel intimidated by her presence as she casually walked toward him, every part of her the very embodiment of strength. "Junpei, yes?" she asked. "The Legendary Warrior of Thunder."

Junpei nodded. Of course she would know his name. Darcmon had no doubt heard all there was to know about the Legendary Warriors when they first arrived in the Digital World. She was the one who had allowed them to visit the island in the first place. She just didn't know why the Legendary Warriors had wanted to come and visit, hadn't understood that they were there because they suspected her of greater crimes than she could ever imagine. All she did was smile down at Junpei like nothing was wrong, and the Warrior of Thunder felt his stomach lurch with a guilt he didn't quite understand. 

"I hope you've been enjoying the island so far," Darcmon began. "It's an honor to all of us here on Inaie to have the Legendary Warriors here for a visit. I never imagined I would see the Legendary Warriors return here in my lifetime, but all of that changed when you and the rest of your friends saved us from Cherubimon and then Lucemon. Giving you a place to stay for the night feels like a small offer after all you've done for the Digital World and Inaie, but I hope you're enjoying what I can give you."

"Of course," Junpei told her instinctively. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase his next question. He would be able to stop thinking about Saki if he concentrated on the investigation at hand, so he opted instead to dig deep in the name of the Void Fragments. "If you don't mind my asking... How exactly did Inaie end up the way that it is today?"

"Inaie's land was once a piece of the Digital World," Darcmon began. "During one of Lucemon's outbursts during his reign of terror, part of the Digital World was fractured away from the planet, but AncientTrojamon brought it back to the ground and gave the island life. The small chunk of land would have withered away without her help, but since she stepped in, the island was given new life. Ever since then, the island has been a safe haven for those who believe in equality across the Digital World."

"The way Lucemon took power in the first place was because of the fighting between the Human and Beast Digimon, right?" Junpei asked even though he already knew the answer. The Human and Beast Digimon had been at war, and Lucemon had intervened to stop the fighting. From then, he had taken power and control over the planet only for that same strength to twist him until he was but a shadow of his former self. 

Darcmon nodded. "There were still those who believed in the conflict's truth after Lucemon took control. Inaie, on the other hand, was a safe place for those who wanted to coexist with all Digimon. The island was set to move across the Digital World since there were many out there who hated Inaie for what it did. The Moon Base is hidden from most of the world on Caeruleum for much the same reason. Equality is a dangerous thing in the minds of those who believe in hatred, and Inaie is a frontline fighter in the name of peace for all," she explained. 

Junpei hummed and nodded to himself. "You've been leading Inaie for quite some time then," he remarked. "Everybody seems to respect you quite a bit. Even before we came here, we heard a lot about how much people look up to you for all the work you do."

"All I do is in the name of Inaie's safety and peace," Darcmon deflected. "Still, I'm glad to know others think favorably of me. The leader of Inaie changes from Human to Beast and then back to Human again. My predecessor was a Beast Digimon, but he passed on this mantle to me since he found me to be a trustworthy heir. As a matter of fact, you've met him before."

"Is it...?" Junpei began, his eyes going wide. "You can't be talking about Biastamon, right?"

"I am, as a matter of fact," Darcmon said with a small smile. "He lived here for a great many years before deciding it was time to leave. He wanted to achieve peace elsewhere in the Digital World, but even after all that time, we kept in touch. He was a private leader, wanting to do what he could to keep the island self-contained without others harassing us. Tensions have been rising for a long time, and it was just a matter of time before another war broke out. He didn't want it to come to that though, so he set out with hopes of establishing peace across the Digital World."

"And he placed a warrior in charge of the island in his stead," Junpei concluded as he eyed Darcmon from top to bottom. "How long have you been looking after Inaie then?"

"Quite a while now. About twenty years, I would say," Darcmon said, and Junpei's eyes went wide with shock. Darcmon laughed and shook her head. "It's not that long in terms of Earth's time given how compressed the Digital World's time was until recently. Digimon generally age much slower than humans too, so I hardly look my age. I'm well over two hundred years old, but you would never guess it."

"Wow," Junpei muttered, unable to force himself to say anything else. "You've done a lot of good for Inaie over the course of those twenty years, I can assume. I mean, everybody seems to admire you with everything they have."

"I want the best for Inaie, and that's never going to change," Darcmon shrugged simply. "It's been a difficult twenty years. Human and Beast Digimon have been taking shots at one another for much longer than those two decades. Cherubimon grew paranoid that Seraphimon and Ophanimon were going to betray him since time is a treacherous being that stabbed him in the back. Fear is a terrifying thing, and when it turned against Cherubimon, the Digital World was left to pay the price. After he instigated the war, many Digimon were forced to Inaie for the sake of safety. Twenty years ago, our population was much smaller than this, but times are terrifying. and the people need a secure place to live. Inaie is just the best sanctuary many of them have."

"I guess it makes sense that the conflict has been raging for a lot longer than we would have expected at a first glance," Junpei frowned. "I mean, Cherubimon waging war out of the blue wouldn't make any sense. If he had been afraid for quite a while though, then that makes all the pieces come together."

"He was afraid that the world was going to hurt him. Unfortunately, he was caught up under Lucemon's influence, and that was all it took for the world to change," Darcmon frowned. "Many Beast Digimon were asked to join his army, and those who disagreed were sent on the run. It's been hard having to accommodate so many new Digimon, but I'm not going to let that stop me. We have a duty to look after them, and I refuse to leave anyone out to dry as long as there's something I can do to fix it."

"I'm glad to hear it," Junpei smiled to her. "You've got everything under control around here, and it's a relief to hear. I mean, it's certainly a step above what we've seen from the rest of the Digital World."

"That was the reason Biastamon left," Darcmon sighed. "He thought he would be able to make a difference if he stepped out into the rest of the Digital World to try and make a difference. He was tired of the chaos seeping in from every corner, and he was sure that he would be able to change the way things worked. He became an ambassador for Inaie at first, but that eventually expanded into being an ambassador for all Beast Digimon. He wanted everyone to see one another as equals, and I admire him for that. I've never been as skilled as him in the world of politics. My realm is the battlefield, and I doubt I'll ever find the same power he holds with words."

"He seems to be a kind man," Junpei agreed. "He's on the quiet side, but we haven't seen any reason to disagree with him. He wants to look after the people who are suffering, and he's fighting an uphill battle while still staying optimistic. It's amazing, honestly."

"He's a great Digimon, and I hope nobody ever gives him a reason to take to combat. Few are as skilled with diplomacy as Biastamon, and he deserves better than battle," Darcmon frowned. She looked off to the side before shaking her head, seemingly snapping herself out of a memory. "My apologies. I should get back to decorating. It's not every day you get to welcome the Legendary Warriors to your island, and I need to be ready to throw a festival you'll never forget."

"I'm sure we'll never forget it no matter what you do. I don't think any of us have had an entire island throw a party for us just for coming to visit," Junpei smiled to her, letting out a small laugh. At one point, he would have never thought so many people would even give him a second glance, but all of a sudden, there were people who wanted the best for him and then some. Even if he didn't know the occupants of Inaie well, they still cared for him. They still admired everything he had done. Who was he to refuse their kindness?

"I still refuse to disappoint," Darcmon smiled to him. She seemed a lot less intimidating than before when she turned around to face the rest of the square. "I'll see you tonight, Junpei. I hope you enjoy your time on Inaie until then."

With that, Darcmon took to the skies once again to work with the other Digimon scattered throughout the square. It was impressive just how quickly she fell into the work, a smile on her face all the while. Junpei could see the respect others held for her just by the way they looked at her. There were none on Inaie who were as admired or loved as Darcmon, and she deserved every bit of adoration she received. 

That only made Junpei feel worse about all of this. No wonder Biastamon had been sure that the island was innocent of any wrongdoing. He hadn't mentioned his history as a leader of Inaie, but he still had faith that Darcmon was leading the people well. He knew better than to think that Darcmon would betray him and bring the Digital World harm. After speaking with her, Junpei felt the same way. She was a good Digimon, only ever searching for the best in others. She wanted to help the Digital World, and without that desire, she never would have come this far or done so much. 

If Inaie was innocent of the crime of spreading the Void Fragments, then Junpei didn't know who could have been behind it. Still, he hoped that Darcmon was innocent even if it meant their lead would go up in smoke right before their eyes. It was the better option than the betrayal of such a kind ally. 

~~~~~

Izumi let out a careful breath after a few moments of silence lapsed between her, Hinoka, and Miriamon. The air around her seemed to shake, though maybe that was just because her hands were trembling ever so slightly. She couldn't quite tell, but she didn't want to ask any questions about it either. There were much more important things to focus on than her own anxieties, after all. The investigation of the island was a massive and daunting task, and Izumi couldn't let her own fears strike her motionless in the face of potentially the greatest breakthrough yet regarding the Void Fragments. 

She glanced up to Miriamon and Hinoka with this in mind, trying to seem calmer than she felt. Izumi had been rattled all day ever since her conversation with Masae the night before, but she didn't want anyone else to know that. She couldn't let anyone else know that. She pressed on her best pretend smile, hoping they bought it even though she didn't have high hopes. "I suppose we should get back to the investigation," she declared. "There's still a lot of ground to cover, and we've only got two days before we have to leave to go back home."

"Hold on," Miriamon interjected, and Izumi already knew she was in trouble. "You didn't seem to be entirely focused when we were speaking a few moments ago. I don't want to push you if you're not interested in talking, but... If you want to talk about what's bothering you, I would be happy to listen. I'm sure Hinoka feels the same."

Izumi looked back and forth between Hinoka and Miriamon, trying to figure out if there was a way for her to get out of this. Did she even want to get out of it? She had been bottling up all of her fears about Masae for much too long, and she wouldn't be able to focus on the investigation if she was thinking about her sister constantly. At the same time though, she felt bad for bringing it up. Hinoka was having problems with her sister as well, and all of that made Izumi's issues with Masae feel so comparatively inconsequential. There were much larger issues to handle at the moment, and Izumi didn't feel right in talking about her problems. 

But the longer she looked at Hinoka and Miriamon, the more her stomach began to sink. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep the truth from them forever. Maybe it would be for the best if she just opened up about it and said what was bothering her. At least then she would be able to stop thinking about the way Masae looked at her like she had never trusted her before. 

Izumi swallowed down her nerves and nodded to herself. "It's... It's about my younger sister," she confessed. Hinoka tilted her head slightly to the side, and Izumi sighed before continuing. "Masae... She knows something is wrong. She has no idea what's going on specifically, but I'm confident that she's figured out by now that there's more to all of this than meets the eye. Before the Digital World, we essentially told each other everything, and I guess all of that is starting to catch up with me. She knows that I'm hiding something with the way I've been acting lately, and she's going to try and figure it out soon enough."

"Do you think she could find the truth on her own?" Miriamon asked nervously. "If you need help with keeping it a secret, I'm sure the rest of the group would be happy to do something to assist you. I can't say if there's an easy solution to a problem like this, but if it's help you're looking for, we would be happy to contribute in any way that we can."

Izumi thought about it for a long moment before she shook her head. "I don't know what to do about all of this. I don't know if I can even fix it, at least not easily," she said softly. "My sister has always been slow to trust. I was the one who taught her that. She's not going to just open up right off the bat if I say that I know something is wrong. She's trying to figure out what's going on for my sake, and I know that, but... I don't know what to do about all of this."

"What do you think she's figured out up to now? Perhaps talking it all out will help you," Hinoka suggested. "I doubt she knows everything that we've been up to since we've done such a good job of keeping the secret, but..."

"She doesn't know anything about who we are or what we've been up to," Izumi explained first and foremost. "I've made sure that she doesn't have any ideas of the truth behind our recent activities. Ever since we got back from the Digital World though... She's been a bit suspicious of me. I think she's figured out that something happened that day even if she doesn't have a simple explanation for it. The... The episode I had the day of the Drimogemon attack probably didn't help my case much either."

"The... Episode?" Miriamon questioned, fear starting to creep into her voice and onto her face. "What exactly happened that day?"

"The ground started shaking from the earthquake caused by the Drimogemon, and... I don't know. I froze. I felt like I wasn't on Earth anymore," Izumi began. She shot an anxious glance over in Hinoka's direction, only realizing too late that she wasn't going to be able to stop now that she had started talking. She just hoped Hinoka didn't still blame herself for something that had happened while she was still under Cherubimon's control. "I felt like... Like I was in the whirlpool."

Hinoka's eyes went wide with shock, and Miriamon tilted her head slightly to the side, a silent prompt to continue. Izumi pressed one hand to her forehead, trying to convince herself to keep talking in the face of Hinoka's worried and guilty expression. "It... It was how I found my Beast Spirit. It was creating a tornado, but since the Spirit was underwater, it was creating a whirlpool. The short version is that I wound up at the bottom of the whirlpool and got by Beast Spirit, but... I almost drowned. I try my best to not think about it when I can avoid it, but... I don't know. When the ground started shaking, I felt like I was back in the whirlpool all over again, and all I could do was just... Stand there. I fell to my hands and knees, and when Masae walked in, she knew something was wrong. I ran out, and ever since then... I don't know. I feel like she's been even more afraid of talking to me. She knows there's more to this than I'm telling her, and she doesn't know what to do about it."

Miriamon nodded along to the story, trying to come up with the words to respond properly. Hinoka, on the other hand, took a step toward Izumi, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "Izumi, I'm sorry," she murmured. "The whirlpool... I... I don't think there's anything I could say that could make up for what happened that night."

Izumi held up her free hand to stop Hinoka from going any further. "I forgave you for what happened a long time ago. You were under Cherubimon's control, and there was nothing you could have done to push back against all of that. I just... I think about the whirlpool sometimes. That's nothing you should have to carry on your shoulders," she assured the Warrior of Water. "Apparently it bothers me a lot more than I thought if I had a breakdown about it like that. I feel like that day is the reason Masae is walking on eggshells around me. She doesn't know what's going on, and I can't really tell her either. I think she would believe me if I was sincere enough, but... I can't just put her in danger by telling the truth about everything that happened."

"I agree that it's probably for the best to keep the secret from her for as long as you possibly can. If she eventually finds out, then I suppose we won't be able to avoid it, but... I don't want her to learn of the Digital World prematurely. You're right when you say that it's dangerous, and I would rather not get innocent people involved with this," Masae said. "But that doesn't mean you can't spend time with your sister at all. As long as you're careful, you can continue to be around her. In fact, I think you should spend more time with her if you can. That might not reverse the effects of her concern, but it should at least soften the blow in some ways."

"I hope you're right," Izumi sighed. "I've been trying to figure out what to do for ages now, but I can't ever seem to find the right answer. Masae knows me better than just about everyone. Aside from the Legendary Warriors, she knows me best. In fact, the only thing she doesn't know about me in some way is the fact that I'm a Legendary Warrior and part Digimon. I hate having to hide things from her more than anything. Now, she's figured out that I'm lying to her about something, and she's going to find a way to squeeze the truth out. I know she's going to reach the truth soon enough whether I'm ready for it or not."

"If something like that does happen, we'll be here for you," Hinoka assured her. "I want to help you to keep the secret from her for as long as possible, but if she winds up stumbling into the truth, the rest of us will be here to help you with it." She let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I can't really do much about my relationship with my little sister right now, so the least I can do is try to help you with yours."

"Thanks, Hinoka," Izumi smiled gently. Silence fell over the group once again before the Warrior of Wind looked up at Hinoka slowly and carefully. "I hope you don't still blame yourself for what happened with the whirlpool last night. I meant it when I said that I had forgiven you ages ago, and I don't want you to blame yourself for something like that when I've never held anything against you for it."

Hinoka seemed caught off guard by the words at first, her eyes wide with shock, but she forced herself to concentrate again a moment later. "I... I used to feel way worse about it than I do now," she told Izumi. "You said that you didn't hold anything against me when we first met as our human selves, and at first, I thought it was too good to be true. Now that I've had time to get to know you and the rest of the group though, I know that's just what all of you do. You forgive others. You never hated any of us Fallen Warriors even after all we did while we were under Cherubimon's control. If not for your genuine kindness, I would probably still blame myself for it, but... I know better than that now. You wouldn't have given me a place in your lives if you didn't actually forgive me for all I had done. As long as you hold nothing against me for it... I'm not going to hate myself for it either. You're the one who makes that decision in my mind, and I'm not going to turn against that."

Izumi smiled gently at that, relief flooding her chest. The first time she had met Hinoka, she had feared that the Warrior of Water would never forgive herself for what had happened while she was under Cherubimon's command, but these days, that Hinoka felt so distant. She had come a long way since then thanks to having the rest of the Legendary Warirors there to comfort her through it all, and Izumi couldn't have been prouder. It had taken a while for Hinoka to settle in with the rest of the group, but she was in a great place now, and Izumi loved it. 

"I'm glad to hear it," Izumi said softly. "I don't want you to hate yourself for something out of your control. We felt the same way toward everyone else too, and... I'm glad all five of you have come to accept it now."

Neither Izumi nor Hinoka noticed it as it was happening, but the mention of all five Fallen Warriors made Miriamon shift uncomfortably on the spot. She turned her attention to the ground at her feet, staring daggers into the pavement like she thought it would right a wrong that nobody else quite understood. She snapped out of it quickly though, instead clearing her throat and offering the two Legendary Warriors a gentle smile. "Perhaps we should continue our investigation elsewhere on the island," she suggested. "We have quite a bit of ground to cover, and we shouldn't delay it for any longer than we need to."

Izumi nodded her agreement. "You're right. We should get back to work," she said firmly before looking over to Hinoka. "Do you feel any better about everything that's happened over the last few days?"

Hinoka smiled. "I feel about as well as I can... Which is to say, much better." Her uncertainty was clear as could be, but Hinoka didn't bother with trying to hide it the way she once would have. Instead, she let the weakness lay open and free, fragile but important nonetheless. 

Izumi returned the smile, something tired but relieved finding a home in her eyes. She knew it wouldn't be easy to resolve her issues with Masae, but she was still going to try. At the end of the day, Masae was still her sister, and Izumi loved her more than anything else in the world. No matter how difficult it got, Izumi would persevere in the name of her younger sister. "Yeah... Me too." 

~~~~~

As it turned out, Kotemon and Bearmon's tour of the island helped Yumiko a lot when it came to orienting herself with her unfamiliar surroundings. The two knew the island much better than she would have anticipated, and Yumiko couldn't help but smile at their sweet, childlike commentary throughout the trip across Inaie. Something deep in the pit of Yumiko's stomach told her that a lot had changed since her ancient form had first helped to establish the island, like everything was familiar but just barely out of reach in terms of her personal understanding. Still, she rather enjoyed being able to see Inaie in full. The longer she looked around, the more she realized just how accurate everyone's descriptions of the island had been up to that point. The Human and Beast Digimon of Inaie really did work together perfectly, creating a community much like the Moon Base. It was beautiful, and Yumiko could only wonder how much things would have changed if the Digital World was just a little bit more accepting of ideals so precious. 

At the end of the tour, Yumiko settled down on a bench with Kotemon and Bearmon. They were in a greener part of the island, expanses of wildflowers and grass stretching out before them. Something about this area in particular felt perfect to Yumiko in a way she knew words would never be able to describe, like a seed deep within the pit of her chest was finally starting to blossom. Inaie felt alive to her in more ways than one, and she could feel its love and life with each breath. Saki had mentioned before that they could feel the pulse of the Digital World as part of their powers over Steel, and Yumiko was finally starting to understand what they meant by that. She understood Inaie perfectly in a way that no other person could ever hope to imagine, like every piece of her life was finally finding a home in a greater image of unexpected but perfect peace. 

Yumiko brushed a few stray threads of hair out of her face as Bearmon looked up to her with a beaming smile. "What do you think?" he asked excitedly. "Inaie really is great, isn't it?"

Yumiko nodded with a light smile. "It's incredible," she confirmed. "I never imagined the island would feel this... Cozy. When we first began to plan to come here, I... I don't know what I was expecting, but it really feels like this magic is alive with magic. I suppose I have all of the occupants to thank for that though."

"Everyone on Inaie is great," Kotemon agreed with a nod. "They've been really accepting ever since Bearmon and I first got here." He shifted uncomfortably on the spot, looking down at the ground just in front of the bench as a stray leaf drifted by. 

Yumiko hesitated before speaking, unsure as to if she should even ask this question at all. "If you don't mind my asking... How did the two of you arrive on the island in the first place?" she asked carefully. "How did you grow to be so close?"

Kotemon immediately clammed up, going stiff and still as a statue. Bearmon hesitated for a moment, tripping over his words fore a few seconds before he offered a quiet reply. "It was because of the war against Cherubimon," he admitted softly. "Cherubimon was trying to expand his Beast army. He had a powerful army as it was from his personal guard, but he wanted more fighters at his side so he would be able to take on the Human Digimon more comfortably. He decided to do that by... P-Possessing any Digimon he could get his hands on."

Yumiko's eyes went wide. She had always been kept fairly distant from the machinations of Cherubimon's main forces because the Fallen Warriors operated on their own. They had their own base because they were meant to defeat the Risen Warriors and other important players in the war. The bulk of the army was under Cherubimon's direct control, out of her reach and scope of knowledge. It made sense though; why would so many Beast Digimon join a cause that would no doubt lead them to their own destruction? There was her answer. They would go along with it if they had no other choice. 

"He invaded a few Beast Digimon villages and cities so he would be able to get more soldiers on his side," Bearmon continued, rambling on with a detached fear in his voice. "He wanted the best fighters he could get, and... Well, he gave it everything he had, and... He fought through as many villages as he could."

Yumiko saw the way Bearmon scratched nervously at his lower arm, and she felt a lead weight form in her chest before trying to drag her down to the earth below. "Your home was one of those destroyed villages," she concluded. "You came here because you had no other choice."

Bearmon nodded slowly. "They took over my village so quickly, and... The village elders were possessed and taken under Cherubimon's control before I knew what was going on. The weaker Digimon were killed. I only managed to survive since I hid well enough from them," he murmured. "After taking over my home, they rolled over into the nearby Human Digimon to try and take out more of their enemies."

"A-And that was where I lived," Kotemon whispered. "I-I didn't know what was going on, and before I knew it, the entire village had been destroyed and everyone was gone. It wasn't until all of the Beast Digimon had moved on that Bearmon got there."

"I was hoping there would be someone there able to take care of me after what had happened to my home, but when I got there... The village was already empty and destroyed," Bearmon went on. "I found Kotemon though, and we hid for a while longer to try and wait it out. When we were sure that we were safe, we left the villages and tried to find a place that would take us in."

"I'm so sorry," Yumiko murmured. She hesitated before wrapping an arm around both of their shoulders, pulling them in a little bit closer. Kotemon remained still for a moment before leaning against her side, welcoming the touch. Bearmon gladly curled against Yumiko's other side, closing his eyes and relishing in the comfort she brought. The Warrior of Wood looked down at them with tears starting to well up in her eyes. "I... I'm sorry for everything you went through. I wish there was something I could do to help you."

"Just listening to us is more than enough," Bearmon assured her. "Most people in the Digital World didn't want to give us that grace. When we went to Human Digimon settlements, they said I was responsible for all of their problems because I was a Beast Digimon. Kotemon kept me safe while we were stuck in places like that... But we were never truly safe until we reached Inaie."

"The island had stopped at one point to pick up supplies, and Darcmon found us in an alleyway. It was the only place we could sleep at the time, and it was the safest we were going to be. We knew it too," Kotemon went on. "Darcmon offered to let us join her here on Inaie, and we accepted. Ever since then, we've been living here, and she's been keeping us safe."

"I'm glad you had someone like that on your side," Yumiko said softly, the words sacred and fragile. "I'll have to give Darcmon my thanks when I run into her next. It sounds like she's done a lot for all of the Digimon here."

"She has," Bearmon agreed. "Everyone here wants to be kept safe from the world outside. The Human Digimon hate us Beast Digimon for the war, and the Beast Digimon don't have much of a way to negotiate peace right now. I mean, Cherubimon... The war ruined just about everything for us. At least, that's what it seems like."

"I understand why you feel that way," Yumiko nodded. "I can only imagine that times have only been growing more difficult for all of you since Cherubimon's attacks... I'm sorry for all that you went through."

"It's okay now," Kotemon assured her. "We're here together. We miss all of the Digimon who we lived with before, but... We have one another, and we're going to stay together no matter what happens. We're safe here on Inaie, safer than we've ever been before."

"I'm glad to hear that," Yumiko nodded to herself. She looked down to both Bearmon and Kotemon for a few heavy moments, and her stomach began to sink once again. They were both just children. Digimon lifespans were a bit more complex than human lives, but Yumiko could say certainly that these two were too young to have to deal with all of this. They had already been made orphans and lost everything because of the world around them. The war had torn apart all that they had ever known, but they were still facing the future with smiles on their faces. After all they had suffered through, they were finding a way to be at peace with the world. 

It was incredible in more ways than Yumiko could ever hope to describe. She had been terrified throughout much of her time in the Digital World during the wars against Cherubimon and Lucemon. She had known that she was just a child back then, a teen but still too young to fight in wars. It had taken a long time for her to come to grips with her new reality, a long time to make the world around her something that she could love and accept as her own. She was a soldier from the moment of her birth; she just hadn't realized it until Cherubimon sunk his claws into her mind and body following her arrival in the Digital World. Yumiko knew that she could withstand it though. She had found a way to fight back, and now, she was better off emotionally than she ever had been before the Digital World. 

But that wasn't the case for everyone. Kotemon and Bearmon were still children, even younger than she had been the first time she Spirit Evolved. Yumiko had found the Legendary Warriors, and they had eased her through the traumas of the past and present. Bearmon and Kotemon only had one another before their arrival on Inaie though, and even now, they struggled with all they had been through. Damn it, they were children. They deserved so much better than all of this. 

Yumiko had been part of the reason that they had suffered so greatly too. Yumiko had snapped herself out of her guilt spirals long ago when it came to her actions as a Fallen Warriors, but the horror still sunk its ugly teeth into her neck when she let her guard down. She had fought alongside Cherubimon even if it had been against her will. Yumiko may not have been directly responsible for what Kotemon and Bearmon had gone through, but she had still been their enemy, albeit only for a brief time. She refused to let herself fall into the grips of darkness ever again though. If anything happened, she would be sure to defend those who she had once hurt. She owed it to both her victims and to herself. 

"Yumiko?"

Bearmon's voice pulled Yumiko out of her thoughts. She blinked a few times before looking down to the two Digimon. They were watching her with wide eyes and concern, worry and fear creeping into their gazes. Yumiko shook her head as soon as she was able to get a grip on herself once again, and she pulled them in a bit closer. "I'm alright," she told them, ignoring the way her tongue felt like cotton against the roof of her mouth. "I'm sorry about everything you went through before you came here."

"It's nothing special," Kotemon murmured, kicking his legs back and forth where they fell over the side of the bench. "That was the way Cherubimon handled things during the war. He thought the strong should rule over the weak. He thought he was the strongest of all. I'm sure there are a bunch of others out there who have the same story."

"That doesn't make it right," Yumiko countered. "Even if he thinks the strong should have power over those with less power, that's no excuse to ruin the lives of so many people. It's never been right. People have a duty to defend one another from the evils of the world. Nobody should ever be left to survive on their own. Everyone deserves love and care from those around them. Cherubimon's actions can't change that."

She only realized the weight of her words after she had spoken them. For many years, Yumiko had been alone as well. She hadn't recognized it at the time, but the people around her were only using her for the sake of their own gain. She had been alone whether she processed it or not, and the pain had eaten her alive once she came to that moment of revelation. Yumiko had feared reaching out to others--feared her own weaknesses--for ages after she realized just how little she meant to the rest of the world. It hadn't been until she was freed from Cherubimon's control that she allowed herself to understand that she deserved the love of others as well. Tomoki and the rest of the Legendary Warriors had helped to pull her out of the darkness, and she didn't know what she would have done without them. 

As Yumiko looked down at Kotemon and Bearmon, two victims of war too young to suffer so much, she knew that she couldn't lie complacent. The world around her was still brutal, and the Void Fragments were proof of that. Kotemon and Bearmon had been alone and defenseless for so long, suffering on their own in a world that didn't give them a second glance. She refused to let them endure that again. If there were victims of horror out there, Yumiko would do all she could to help them. She owed it to the rest of the world, and she owed it to herself as well. 

Yumiko took in a careful breath to ground herself once again as she stared at the island ahead of her. "No matter what happens, you're safe here," she murmured, and she hoped Kotemon and Bearmon knew that she wasn't entirely referring to Inaie. "I'll do everything I can to keep you both safe. I promise."

Kotemon looked up at Yumiko in shock, seemingly having sensed some shift in her demeanor but saying nothing about it. Bearmon smiled to her though, the grin as fragile and soft as could be. "Thanks, Yumiko," he said quietly. "We're happy to have you here."

Yumiko nodded to herself. She prayed no Void Fragments came to Inaie, and she prayed even more that the island itself wasn't the source of the attacks. No matter what happened though, she knew that she had a duty to look after those who had suffered most from the war against Cherubimon. The Digital World was still putting itself back together, and Yumiko would do all she could in order to save those who were hurting under the weight of the conflict. She would not leave others to cry out in silent pain the way she once had. She had grown, and she would show the rest of the world the truth of her evolution. 

One day, all would be at peace. Until then, Yumiko would be the defender of the weak, and Inaie was only the beginning. 

~~~~~

Koji had been hesitant to leave Tomoki behind after the conversation he had shared with the Warrior of Ice about Yutaka. He knew how awful Tomoki's paranoia could get, and Koji didn't want to leave the younger boy to spiral under the weight of his own fears. Still, he knew Tomoki had a point when he said they needed to search the island for evidence or lack thereof of the Void Fragments' presence. Takuya had suggested Koji go and find Koichi since none of them had seen the Warrior of Darkness since arriving on Inaie, and the Warrior of Light knew the choice had already been made for him. With that, he set off. 

Koji was beyond worried about Koichi. He didn't know how he was supposed to phrase it to his brother nor was he sure of what to do to break down Koichi's walls of defense and fear, but he knew that he had to try. Koji could see Koichi getting worse, and he could feel his brother's spiral deep in the pit of his stomach. He had to do something to fix this. He was determined to help his brother before he could be fully consumed by the darkness. Even if Koichi didn't want help, Koji would be there to offer it. His brother deserved that much. 

Instinct drew Koji to the edge of the island, a pulse in the heart of his body telling him exactly where he could find his brother. He followed the instruction and paused when he had broken through a thick wall of buildings that overlooked the edge of the island. Koji pressed his hand against a nearby building as he picked his brother out from the silhouettes. Koichi was sitting on the ground with his legs pulled up tight against his chest. He was motionless as he stared out over the horizon, just watching the island rumble over the land below. 

Koji walked over slowly, not wanting to frighten his brother. He sat down carefully, and Koichi finally looked up when he realized Koji was just a few feet away. The Warrior of Darkness went pale immediately, and he forced himself to speak despite the knot of fear and anxiety in the center of his chest. "Koji," Koichi greeted. Anyone could see just how strained he was by having to speak, and the weak smile he offered Koji did little to help his case. He was falling apart, and everyone knew it. 

"Koichi," Koji returned, though it was clear that he wouldn't be taking any of Koichi's lies sitting down. When Koichi went to stand up, halfway to finding an excuse as to why he couldn't be there any longer than he already had been, Koji reached out and grabbed his brother's wrist to force him to settle down again. "I'm not here to argue with you. I just... I want to talk."

Koichi hesitated before nodding. "Alright," he said thickly, the word clearly tasting like poison against the tip of his tongue. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You," Koji replied simply. "I know you've been hiding something from the rest of us, and... I hate seeing you like this. It's clear that you're struggling but don't know what to do about it, and I can't just sit here as long as you're in so much pain, Koichi. I want to help you, and even if you don't want it... I want to let you know that I'm here for you no matter what. I'll always be here."

Koichi shook his head. "I'm fine. I don't need to talk about anything," he insisted the same way he had when Koji last tried to push the subject with him. "The Void Fragments are putting a lot of pressure on everyone, and that doesn't make me special. It's nothing for you to worry about."

"That's not true," Koji objected. "I know there's something else wrong. Hinoka can see it too. Ever since that attack on Earth, you've been slipping, and you haven't wanted to breathe a word of it to the rest of us. I can't just sit back as long as you're suffering. Even if you hate me for it after the fact, I at least need to know that I tried my best to help you before it could all fall apart."

"I'm fine, Koji," Koichi repeated, his voice starting to grate on something irritated and fearful. "You really don't need to worry about me. It's the same things that everyone else is dealing with. That's all you need to know."

"But that's not it," Koji reiterated. His voice was getting louder and more intense, but he didn't bother to pull himself back in. This was the only way he was going to hear the truth he was looking for, and even if Koichi hated it, Koji knew that he had to try. He would rather his brother hate him than not do anything. That was a reality he just couldn't live with. "You've been struggling so much more than everybody else. What's going on with you? What are you so afraid of? You can talk to us about it. I wouldn't be saying that if I didn't mean it, Koichi."

"I'm afraid of everything," Koichi finally choked out, the words strained at the corners. "I'm afraid of what could happen if the Void Fragments continue on the way they have been. I'm afraid of the mounting tensions between Human and Beast Digimon. I'm even afraid of what might happen if our father finds out that you know about me. He still doesn't know that you know I exist. All of this... I don't know what to do, Koji. I'm afraid of what the future could bring. It's just too much."

Koji faltered at that, and he realized a bit too late that he had gone too far. He looked off to the side solemnly, wishing there was something else he could say that would make this a little bit easier. "I... I can't blame you for being afraid," he admitted. "I think all of us are scared. We thought all of this was finally over when we got back to Earth. I mean, I love the Digital World, and I know I always will. But this... We're still flighting for our lives all over again. It's a lot to handle, and we have to balance the rest of our lives too."

"It's awful... It's so much harder than I would have thought," Koichi admitted. Tears were starting to well up in his eyes, and he shook his head before pressing his face against his arms where they were folded on top of his knees. "I can't stand lying to the world all the time. I can't tell anyone the truth, and it's eating me alive. I'm so tired, Koji. I'm exhausted."

Koji could tell that his brother was no longer talking solely about the worries he had voiced before, and he hesitated before continuing, knowing there would be no going back once he pressed forward. "Koichi, what is this really about?" he asked gently. "Where is all of this concern really coming from? This isn't just about the Void Fragments. What's going on?"

Koichi's breathing increased its pace, and Koji let out a sigh that broke the instant it left his lips. "I just want to help you, Koichi," Koji murmured. "Please. Let me do something to help you. I'm tired of watching you fall apart when there's something I can do. Just... Give me a chance."

Those last few words snapped the floodgates open, and Koichi let out a noisy wail of a sob before he clamped his hands over his ears. "You don't understand, Koji!" he cried out. "I'm a monster! There's nothing you can do to help me because I'm beyond the point of redemption! I have been all along!"

Koji's eyes shot open with shock, and he reached a careful hand out to touch at his brother's shoulder. "Koichi, what are you--"

"Duskmon is still alive, Koji!" Koichi shouted. "I can feel him and the other Legendary Warriors of Void! They're still inside of me! When all of us started to feel our Digimon forms resonating inside of us, I found out that they were there on top of the purified Warriors of Darkness! Duskmon... He's still here, and he's going to tear me apart if I'm not careful!"

Koji was shocked still with those words, and his eyes went wide as he stared at his crying brother. The two matched gazed for a few heavy moments, and Koji felt his heart start to beat a little bit faster. The faint scar across his torso from Duskmon's blow months ago started to pulse with pain, and Koji did his best to not instinctively move to touch it for the sake of his brother. He couldn't make Koichi feel guilty that way. His brother had been grappling with such a demon for far too long, and Koji wouldn't be the one who sent him back into hiding all over again. 

Koichi continued to cry for a few moments longer before he took in a shaky breath and rubbed at his eyes. "I... I could feel it when we fought against those three Digimon that day," he began softly, the words breakable on the breeze. "The Void Fragments... They were familiar to me. It was only when I got close that I realized they hold the same power that Cherubimon gave to me to twist me into the Warrior of Void. The name isn't a coincidence. It's the same magic that destroyed me the first time we were in the Digital World. The power of the enemy still lives on inside of me. How can you not despise me for that? Everyone should hate me for it."

Koji shook his head. "I'm sorry," he began, and Koichi froze on the spot. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to do anything to help you sooner. If I had know this was what you were dealing with, I... I would have tried harder to reach out to you."

"I don't deserve your sympathy," Koichi countered. "After everything I've done, I don't deserve your kindness. I have the same power as those monsters, Koji. I'm still the same as I was before. I'm the same beast that nearly killed you during our first time in the Digital World."

"That's not true," Koji cut in. "You don't seem to want to admit it, but Duskmon hurt you too. You weren't in control of yourself all that time. You were suffering because of that dark power too. It's not something that you can force off your own chest. You can say all you want that you don't deserve pity or mercy because Duskmon hurt other people, but he hurt you too. You had no control over yourself, even less control than the rest of the Legendary Warriors. Cherubimon broke you back then. You shouldn't hold it over your own head when it was out of your control."

"But I still let him hurt all of you," Koichi disagreed. "The scar on your stomach... I think about it all the time. I did so much to hurt all of you. Hinoka... I never apologized to her for what I said back then. I never told her how sorry I was for saying things that made her lose control of herself completely. Duskmon did so much to destroy all of us. I could have killed you the day I slashed your stomach. What aren't you understanding about that?"

"Trust me when I say that I understand it perfectly well," Koji assured him. "I think about it a lot more than you realize. I see the mark of that day each time I look in the mirror. But... I don't hold it against you. Duskmon is different from you. Back then, you were under somebody else's control. You had no way of knowing what was going on or stopping your body from acting the way it did. I know you don't want to believe me, but... I know how I feel about it, and I know that you're innocent."

Koichi stared at his brother for a few long moments, his eyes and watery as could be. He shook his head as he rubbed at his eyes with one sleeve. "I don't think I ever quite understood it," he admitted quietly. "I don't know if I'll ever understand it. After each one of us Fallen Warriors was freed from Cherubimon's control, you just... Forgave us. It wasn't even a question to all of you. I don't know how you could forget so much of that and just... Gloss over it. We did so many horrible things to you, but you don't seem to care."

"Tell me, Koichi... Do you blame the others for what happened when they were under Cherubimon's control?" Koji asked. Koichi hesitated, and that was all the answer Koji needed to hear. "That's what I thought. You don't hold anything over their heads for the same actions. We forgave them all along time ago. We forgave you too. I know that you don't want to admit that, but... We care about you a lot more than you realize. We're your friends, Koichi, and we don't want to see you fall apart under the weight of your own fears and terrors."

Koichi felt himself leaning against Koji before he could hold back, and the Warrior of Light gladly welcomed his brother into his arms. "If we still held it against you, then we would have said something by now... But nobody's said a word, have they? Everyone forgave themselves and one another ages ago. I just wish that you would give yourself the same grace you offer to others," he murmured. 

Koichi sniffled again and rubbed at his eyes. "I... I don't know how," he admitted. "It feels so impossible to look at myself in the mirror after everything I did... I just... I don't know what to do, Koji."

"I'm not going to say that it's going to happen overnight. I think we both know better than that," Koji told him. "But I want you to try and be a bit kinder to yourself. The rest of us have never held anything against you. I'm sorry you've been led to believe all this time that you deserve some self-inflicted punishment. It's not true though. Please... If anything like this happens again where you're afraid to talk to anyone about something, try to open up. We're all here for you, and we're not going to just abandon you because times get tough. I promise."

"Thank you," Koichi choked out around a massive lump of fear at the back of his throat. "I... I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for all of this."

"You don't need to thank me," Koji assured him. "I'm here because I want to be. All of us are here because we love each other, and that includes you. We chose to stand at one another's sides. We're here because we want to help you in any way that we can. I know that you're afraid of facing that, but... It's alright. You're not in this alone, and one day, you'll come to accept that for yourself."

Koichi nodded. "I hope so too," he murmured. He took in a careful breath, the exhale coming out shaky and uneven before fading away on the wind. For a long moment, he just stared out at the horizon like he thought it might offer him all the answers he sought to his recent catastrophes. "It's not easy."

"Nobody ever said it would be," Koji agreed with a small exhale through his nose. "But we're not in this alone. We never have been, and we never will be. No matter how terrifying the world gets, we'll be fine as long as we can face it together.:

Koichi hummed, and he leaned a little bit closer against his brother's side. "Hey, Koji?" he asked softly. His brother hummed in return, and Koichi's gaze shied away to stare at the ground beneath the island. "Would you stay with me for a while longer?"

Koji smiled at that even though he knew his brother couldn't see it. Still, he was sure Koichi could feel the grin in the silence. "Yeah... I'd like that."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow, the Inaie arc is heavy. I mean, I knew that going into things since I planned all of this out, but... Wow. All of the subtle character details from up to this point are getting ready to boil over and explode. Welcome to the island of character growth, everyone. Next stop: emotional agony. 

Now, let's get into the emotional agony in more detail. I loved writing the scene with Junpei and Darcmon at the beginning. I thought it would be a perfect combination for a conversation since Junpei is naturally inquisitive and wants to learn more about the world around him. Darcmon is a fun character to write too, and I absolutely adore her. Also, she revealed a minor twist to us. Biastamon was the previous leader of Inaie and passed on the work to Darcmon. No wonder he was so set on the island's innocence; he loves the people there and led them himself before passing the torch on to Darcmon. The two have very different leadership styles since Biastamon is an inspiring and charismatic speaker while Darcmon is a natural warrior who earns respect through combat. Still, they get along well, and I'm looking forward to writing scenes with them in the future, but for now, we get the lore about them through Darcmon and Junpei. 

Next up, we have a continuation of the scene with Izumi, Hinoka, and Miriamon. Yeah, Izumi wasn't going to be able to escape her problems with Masae that easily. Izumi and Hinoka both have a lot to grapple with when it comes to their sisters, and this is just the beginning. In a way, their problems are exact mirrors of one another with Izumi's issue being too close to Masae for all of these secrets while Hinoka knows too little about her sister after all these years. I'm incredibly excited to resolve these plot points in the future, and I hope you all are just as excited as I am. 

Then comes the scene with Yumiko and the child Digimon. Kotemon and Bearmon are incredibly sweet here, and you can see the differences from canon through them. In the canon of Frontier, the two were friends in secret against the rest of the island's factionalism, but here, they're open friends against the rest of the world. The conversation also offers a bit more insight into Darcmon's noble personality and why so many people admire her before diving into Yumiko's issues. Yumiko's arc in the first book was about taking a stand on her own two feet after a lifetime of being made into a doormat as evidenced by her being the first Fallen Warrior to consciously choose to act against Cherubimon by joining the enemy. You can see her growth of confidence here in her defensiveness of Kotemon and Bearmon. After all that she's been through, she refuses to see others suffer the way she once did, and looking after Kotemon and Bearmon is the perfect proxy for her to come to understand her feelings in full. What sweethearts. 

Last but not least, we have the biggest scene of them all... Koichi and Koji talking at the end of the chapter. At long last, the truth from the first act's finale is out in the air after all the effort and time Koichi put into hiding it. I was originally planning on splitting up this scene across this chapter and the next one, but I'm glad I was able to put it together. I think it flows a lot better this way, and it gives them both the brother time they've been looking for all this time. Having them talking in the same chapter as Izumi and Hinoka, the other two characters with sibling issues, fits perfectly in terms of overall cohesion. I loved writing this last scene, and I think they both needed it a lot more than they wanted to admit. Koichi deserves to cry his feelings out. He really does. 

That wraps things up for this week. Phew. That was a long one. Next week, we're going to continue on with the Inaie arc as the Legendary Warriors investigate the island a bit more. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is appreciated as always. Have a nice day, everyone!

-Digital