A/N: This is a random idea that occurred to me. AT from three different points in three different canons – right after the deaths of Osamu, Leomon and Kouichi (yup, he's permanently dead in this one). One of my more nonsensical bits of work…but it was still a fun trip.
And somehow or other, I managed to write all 60 chapters before posting. Usually a remi is too impatient. :D
Written for the Becoming the Tamer King challenge, Training Peak task, and for the Diversity Writing Challenge, I39 – write in the hurt/comfort genre.
The Labyrinth of Lonely Souls
1. The Boy Without His Kindness
Ken wakes.
There is no screeching of tires. There is no screaming: his screaming, the screaming of the bystanders, his brother's screaming… There is no smell of burning rubber or fresh, coppery blood.
It is dark and cold…and dry.
Ken feels around anyway. He's not sure what he's searching for. His brother's hand, maybe. Because it is dark and cold and somewhat scary and his brother's hand would be a very comforting thing. But he doesn't find his brother's hand. Or his brother's sleeve or shoe or any part of his brother.
Not even the blood he remembers seeing. Or the torn sneaker. Or the broken glasses.
Or the echo of an empty room afterwards: a room they'd shared since he was old enough to not need a crib any longer.
His voice echoes though. When he calls for his brother: his voice soft, and fragile.
He can't see anything at all. Like a nightmare. Like a sickness. And his brother isn't there to say it was just his imagination and make him feel better.
Wormmon isn't there either. Or Ryo. Or V-mon. Or his parents.
He hugs himself and tries not to cry, because there's no-one who'll wipe the tears away.