A Journey of No Return :: Yin and Yang sequel Part 11

It was morning. You were up, bright and early, tending to the baby Digimon who had hatched the night before. In your arms was a Nyaromon feeding from a bottle. The baby Digimon suckled contentedly while your mind wandered off to the long discussion that ended late last night.
~*~ Flashback ~*~
"I mean, since this thing is a virus, can't we just go up and kick its butt? I mean, if that evil virus had a butt..." Takuya exclaimed, looking all geared up to go virus-hunting.
"Get real, Takuya. This virus had done so much damage. If it is that easy to get rid of the virus, why didn't the entire Digital World got rid of it already?" Zoe snapped, glaring at Takuya.
"She's right. I bet there are plenty of powerful Digimon around but they don't seem to be winning," JP put in, his eyes were mesmerized by the flickering orange glow from the fire.
"Yeah, the Digimon will not stand by and get bullied. I think they must have put up a great fight," Tommy added. Koji and Koichi didn't say a word. They were too engrossed in their own thoughts. As for you, you had to listen to the annoying voices of the Dagger and Crystal arguing about what was the best plan.
*Pur-lease! That can be the worst possible plan! Komi, you tell that kid to sell his brains!* the dagger hollered, after listening to Takuya's plan.
*Sell...his...brains?* you thought, not knowing what that meant.
*That's what I said. Make him sell his brains. Since his brains are so...unused, I bet it can fetch a high price. Hahaha!!* The dagger broke down laughing. You sweat dropped.
*That can be your worst ever joke!* the crystal cried out, annoyance in her voice.
*It's not!*
*It is!*
*NOT!* you sighed as you tried to block out the argument.
*I didn't know the crystal can also be just like the dagger...* you thought privately. Takuya was still pacing around and the others were still deep in thought.
*Yo Komi!* the dagger hollered.
*What?!* You snapped, *the argument is over? Who won?* you asked in a sarcastic tone.
*Oh quit it! Anyway, we just want to tell you that working in a pack is better than working alone. You're kinda like a lone wolf. Surely you'll know this fact,* the dagger said cheerfully.
*I have my brothers...and my friends. Are you suggesting that Takuya's idea is a good idea? You asked, mentally glaring at the dagger.
*Obviously NOT! I mean you can gather an army or something,* the dagger replied. But before you can raise the idea, everyone decided to turn in for the night.
~*~
The baby Digimon was fast asleep in your arms. You held it for a while before tucking it into bed. "Working together, huh?" you muttered to yourself as another baby Digimon hogged your attention.
"So, working hard or hardly working?" Takuya asked, strolling in. He stopped beside you and eyed the little Digimon with distaste. "I don't know how you do that but the Digimon I get is always trying to give me a black eye," he commented.
"Too bad for you then. Maybe it's because you're a guy or something," you retorted, not looking at him.
"Hey! So what if I'm a guy? I can fight better than you! Plus, I don't give trouble," Takuya shouted, glaring daggers at you. A second later, he is bashed at the back of his head by Zoe who happened to walk in.
"Shut up, Takuya!" Zoe snarled, glaring at Takuya.
"What's that for?! What I said was true!!" Takuya yelled, rubbing a bump on his head. Then, like an old married couple, they began to quarrel. You lowered your head in silence. Your unseeing eyes strayed to the baby Digimon who was busy sucking from a bottle.
*I give trouble...huh?* you thought as memories from before flashed through your head. *Yes, that's true. I did give trouble. The times I blacked out are too many to count on my fingers and toes.*
While you sank back into your dark train of thoughts, Koji and Koichi appeared, looking bleary eyed. Their eyes took in your dejected looking figure and knew something was up.
"Hey, did Takuya say something wrong again?" Koji asked, sounding grumpy.
"You bet he did!" Zoe replied, pointing a finger at Takuya.
"Did not!" Takuya retorted.
"Did to!"
"Did not!"
"DID TO!"
"DID NOT!"
Koichi sighed. It was one of those times where Zoe and Takuya seemed to be able to quarrel forever. He watched you carefully. Although he knew that he had to back off a bit to give you some space to grow, but he was an overprotective brother and which brother will not be protective of the sibling he hadn't knew he had until recently.
"Oomph!" a soft thump could be heard coming from behind the rows of cradles. Tommy popped his head above the baskets with a baby Digimon sitting happily on his hat. "Hey! You want to play?" he asked the baby Digimon as it began bouncing on his head.
"Now, now. Don't be rough. Be careful around here," Swanmon said gently, turning to look at Tommy after she had put a baby Digimon to bed. The Digimon you were caring for had drank its fill and fell asleep almost instantly. You placed it into its cradle, turned and walked out of the door without a word.
"What's with her?" Tommy asked, looking at your back.
"Takuya said that she was trouble," Zoe snapped, gearing up for Round 2 with Takuya. How the babies managed to sleep through their arguments was a mystery.
"WHAT?!" Koji and Koichi exclaimed together. They knew that after that traumatic dunking you got in the past made you extremely sensitive. Plus, there is this whole save-the-digital-world project you had to do and it will mean using up a lot of energy.
"How could you say that?!" Koichi exclaimed, glaring at Takuya.
"Yeah. You know what? I think you're more trouble than Komi!" Koji snapped, also glaring at Takuya.
"Hey, may I know what's going on?" JP enquired, entering the barn where all the digimon were housed in. "Why is Komi running out of the barn? She nearly bumped into me on her way out."
"Oh darn you, Takuya. You made her cry," Zoe snapped, giving Takuya another whack on the head before dashing out after you.
~*~
Once you were out of the door of the barn, you began running as fast as you can, nearly colliding into JP along the way. Luckily, JP hurriedly moved out of the way, staring at you and shouting, "Hey! What's the matter?"
You ignored him and continued running. You felt horrible. You didn't mean to become a burden to your brothers and friends. Somehow, every time you used your powers, it always sucks out every speck of energy out of you. It was very irritating. And after your energy was spent, your brothers will have to come to your rescue. *When can I ever use my powers without feeling so...spent?* you thought angrily to yourself.
*There's always training,* the dagger piped up. You growled to yourself. Sometimes, you just wanted to have your head to yourself, without anyone or anything listening in on your thoughts.
*We're here to help. And to help, we had bind ourselves to you. We use your energy to help you use your powers. But there is another way to use your powers without feeling this side effect. It is to cut off all ties with us,* the crystal said softly. *However, once you have rejected us, you can never bind us back again. Also, you will have to face your growing powers by yourself. So, think twice before you cut the bond off.*
*Hey! Why did you tell her that?!* The dagger screamed at the crystal.
*Because she has to know,* the crystal replied in a calm tone. You gave a sigh. You had finally stopped just outside the borders of the land of Beginnings. You sat down on the ground and pulled your knees to your chest and wrapped your arms around your knees. Your eyes gazed blankly ahead. Your mind was now confused and in a dilemma.
*I thought I knew what I was doing. But it turns out that I don't. What am I supposed to be doing now?* you thought, resting your chin on your knees. It was such a difficult choice to make. Plus, you were a child that was forced to grow up quickly. *I can't save the Digital World if I am always ... sleeping. But if I can't control my powers, what good am I?*
*How about you learn how to control you powers instead of crying?* the dagger said. You snapped back to reality, startled. You touched your face to feel tears on your face. You wiped the tears off your face.