Chapter 14.

"...I've lost everything...my sanity...my brother...my friends...is this how it's supposed to be?! Lost in darkness?! And...I'm all...alone..." Joshua yelled, slicing at an old statue.

"...Joshua..."

Joshua span around at the voice. So familiar, it sounded like an angel.

"Eiko?"

She ran up to Joshua and hugged him. Joshua went a bright red and turned away.

"It's been so long...we haven't seen each over for at least a few years! You've grown up from the young teenager I knew..." Joshua sighed.

"Joshua...I've missed you...but why are you so sad? You have friends, you have your brother..." Eiko started.

"...He's dead. My father killed him while he was trying to save me..." Joshua said quickly.

Eiko looked at Joshua's face. It was filled with sorrow and she sat down beside him, wrapping her arms around him.

"I know he tried to save you...because he knew that you were the leader of everyone, he wanted to save you. He knew you had to live..."

"Eiko...Can't you do something?" Joshua asked.

"...If I could get Aisha to help me after we beat S.P.I.K.E...we might be able to bring him back...we might not. We have to hope..." Eiko said.

"How do you know?"

"Because...the power of light is stronger than you think...and...your friends want to help you..."

"Eiko...Thank you..." Joshua said, a tear falling from his eye.

Rain continued to fall and Joshua looked outside as the weather started to get worse. After agreeing to go back the next day to explain everything, they began to talk.

"So...how did you manage to find me?" Joshua asked in a curious tone.

Eiko showed Joshua a necklace that he gave her a long time ago.

"Remember? When the jewel grows red, you'll know my heart will be near yours...You said that to me when we were younger."

Joshua nodded.

^My past hasn't always been filled with happiness...now...I don't even know if I'm a hero of light, or a minion of the darkness...^ Joshua thought.

"And until now...you've wanted me to keep these safe..." Eiko said.

She took of her backpack and something let out a bright flash. It was all seven of the Video Crystals.

"You made me promise to look after them...for some reason, Dakoda couldn't find them. I guess we were lucky...Why aren't you happy?" Eiko asked.

"Because...I can't simply turn into my alter ego! I haven't used the power of the Ultimate Gamer since the Great Gigatron...and I almost lost you..." Joshua said.

"...Could we spend tonight together, like old times? I want to be a couple again..." Eiko whispered in Joshua's ear.

Joshua's face lit up and nodded.

"Okay. Aisha's already starting to fall for Toxic anyway...I guess we can spend one night together...but I like you as a friend, nothing more..." Joshua said.

"..."

That wasn't entirely the case. Joshua did secretly love Eiko. But dislpaying emotions towards her could cause them grave danger...or ending up becoming married and being parents too.
Waiting patiently for Eiko get changed, Joshua walked outside and up at the sky. A beam of light seemed to shine down.

"Zac. I will bring you back...after this is all over...I promise. I won't let the one you care about know about this sorrow..." Joshua muttered.

The light glowed brighter, then vanished.

"He'll always watch over me...so...he can guide me through the darkness...even when my friends have left me..." Josua said to himself.

Before he could walk inside, however, he felt a sharp pain in his head and collapsed to the ground...