*AUTHOR NOTE*This will be a Takouji fic: Takuya x Kouji from Digimon Frontier. This chapter is based on the Digimon Frontier episode 21, Darkest Before Duskmon. No copyright infringement intended. Sorry it is so short, but it is just an introduction to Chapter 2, (more slash). I usually don't write Fanfiction, so this is a bit different for me. Also, I'm being a bit brave by writing about this pairing because most people steer clear. Please R&R. Thanks.
"So, start talking." I demanded, trying to keep my voice strong. He stood in silence, facing away from me, his body a dark silhouette. I figured, like always, Kouji would give me a much appreciated remark about my stupidity, but this time, he just asked a simple question.
"Why do you think you're here, Takuya?" He stressed my name, as if he knew the answer for everyone else, still trying to figure out a reason for me... Like I was the only one holding the team back. Caught of guard, I only managed a confused sigh.
"Answer me! I want to know why you're here." Just like that, he matched my bold tone. I tried not to, but I stuttered, trying to think of a confident answer.
I tried to make him feel dumb, ushering a, "you know, to save the world." It had the opposite effect though, as I said this almost questioningly, his voice now getting louder.
"You say that like you don't know what it means, what's at stake." He accused me, continuing before I had a chance, "this isn't just some video game you can walk away from if things don't work out." He still refused to face me, and I was thankful for that. If he was looking at me, searching my eyes, I could've seen the small amount of concern on his features. If I stared into his dark blue orbs, what I said next could've sounded fragile. I didn't like to be fragile. Not in front of the team… my team… but especially not in front of Kouji.
"I'm not stupid! I know that." I defended.
"Sometimes I don't think you do. There's no second chances for us, get it?" He spat, finally turning around to face me. "If we mess up here, it's over." I looked away, examining some of the cracks on the cold stone floor. I didn't like to think of the consequences of losing a battle. Everything was so much easier when we just pretended everything was going to be okay. Thinking it, isn't enough for me. I constantly have to reassure everyone, or I'd go crazy with lost hope. Kouji's such a jerk though.
Kouji waits. He watches. Then, when we finally find a bit of hope, or in this case, a plan that just might work, he comes and chases it away with his angst aura of dislike. After our hope is gone, after we are already down, he attacks me verbally. It was even worse this time. His comments even made Tommy lose faith, staring at the floor blankly as we settled down at the remains of god knows what. The rest of the group were above us, probably sitting around the fire and discussing how awesome my plan really was. Attack all at once. Together, we could do anything. We had to. As if he was reading my thoughts, he continued.
"How can you stake all our lives on a plan you are only assuming is going to work? We don't know anything about this guy." He pointed out. True.
"Uh…" Great, another stutter. "So, we'll all be safe if we run away?" At my question, Kouji grunted in pure frustration.
"I never said that!"
"Then what are you saying?" I asked with more force than I had intended. He grabbed my shirt violently, pinning me to the nearby wall.
"Listen, Takuya." I could feel his icy breath as he spoke. "He's too strong."
My voice was barely above a whisper. "I know that he's strong, but I honestly think we can win."
"Takuya, open your eyes." He shook me gently, as if trying to wake me up.
"Open your own eyes! We're stronger together than you think!" He didn't respond after that. He loosened his grip on my shirt, but he didn't let go. The light from the outside shone on his face, his blue eyes looking bluer than usual. He stayed there, his face inches from mine, just looking in my eyes. I don't think he found what he was looking for. He didn't have time. Rocks started falling from the ceiling. It was him. Duskmon was back.
"Execute. Beast spirit evolution!"
Hearing the others yell, Kouji and I raced up the stairs and back towards camp. His breathing was heavier than usual. I risked a sideways glance, noting how tired he looked. Of course. He was the only one who actually fought with Duskmon physically. Everyone else was able to shoot a beam at him from a distance, but not Kouji. He put all his energy in his attacks. He fought like a warrior. He was the only one that really knew Duskmon's strength. It was then that I realized, he was right, about everything.
"I guess we couldn't run away from this guy even if we tried, Kouji." I said, not being one to apologize. I didn't mean for it to sound condescending, but I'm sure it did, especially considering it was coming from me. He didn't answer me, just continued running. I think he stopped breathing for a moment, for after a brief silence he began taking harsh inhales. When I turned around, I realized Kouji was no longer behind me. It was KendoGurumon. Quickly, I evolved as well, the cold of the night disappearing as I, shot a weak flame from my hand.
Wasting no time, I trapped Duskmon in a tornado of fire. Like before, it didn't seem to affect him at all. As I looked into his menacing eyes, set in a perfect, unscarred face, something in me snapped. I charged at him. I hear Kouji yell to me, telling me to wait, but I didn't listen. I never do. I threw punches. So stupid. If flames did nothing, what did I expect from the knuckled hands of a very shaken form, as I was. After I came back to my senses, I thought back to my plan. Attack as one.
Quickly, I shifted to the other side of Duskmon, holding him against me tight. As I did this, I felt his strength. I knew that he could've thrown me off of him if he wanted to. He seemed, amused.
"Now!" I yelled, wanting so desperately to get rid of Duskmon's smug expression. To my surprise, even KendoGurumon did as I ordered, firing a laser along with the rest. I jumped into the air to avoid the blast, landing a few feet behind. All of their attacks were fused, concealing the monster in a rainbow colored ball of energy. I looked to KendoGurumon, sure my face held a smirk. I thought of what I could say to him, but I didn't get as far as to actually say it. Duskmon absorbed the energy, his small percent of fatigue completely gone. I just stared at him. I couldn't move. He turned towards me, another stoic look.
"You shall be first." He declared, gripping his purple sword and bringing it up behind his head. I had no control over my body. I just stood there, staring up at him as he prepared to bring his sword crashing down, to put an end… to me.
I shut my eyes tight as he made the swing, opening them after I heard the strike. In front of me, was Kouji, back to his human form. He had leaped in front of me to save me, now lying shivering on the ground.
"Kouji!" I yelled. I think the others did too, but I couldn't hear them anymore. I could only hear my heartbeat as I stared at the bloodied boy. He had a large gash in his back, part of his shirt torn, and the rest of it soaking up the blood. Duskmon didn't give another blow after he hit Kouji, but for some reason I still turned back in to my trembling human form. Immediately, I fell to my knees, protectively rolling Kouji into my arms. I made sure his back pressed hard against my thighs so that he wouldn't lose to much blood.
Duskmon was chanting Kouji's name, but I didn't pay any mind to him. Before we were shrouded in darkness, I looked at Kouji's pained face, eyes clenched, one more time. Before we were shrouded in darkness, I was able to ask him the one question that I wanted… no… needed an answer to.
"Why?"