Hey! I hope you all are enjoying this! Please read and review! Constructive critcism is greatly encouraged and I don't mind getting flames.
Chapter 1
Takuya Kanbara sat silently in his desk as his math teacher scribbled a bunch of letters and numbers across the board, his monotonous voice echoing throughout the room. His algebra homework sat on his desk – incomplete as usual.
His dark brown eyes strayed from the board and drifted to the other students – many of whom were sleeping peacefully sprawled across their desks. He would join them, except he had to pass the class for the upcoming soccer season. Very few of the other students took notes in the class, knowing full well that the teacher was known for his amount of failed students – whether they took notes or not. That was just part of how it was.
As class dwindled on Takuya found himself staring more and more frequently out the window at the clouded skies and blowing leaves. School had been in session for two months, and the signs of fall were already beginning to show in the brightly colored trees. A slow drizzle fell from the sky, forcing a sudden feeling of weariness to wash over the sixteen-year-old. He felt his eyes began to drift shut . . .
A vibration occurred in his pocket, shaking him from his brief nap. He reached into his brown cargo pants and removed the phone, careful to keep it out of the teacher's line of sight. Almost as if manifesting straight from his dreams, the old symbol revealed itself on the screen – the red clouded background with the black target symbol. His hands flew to cover the speaker on the back of his phone, but he wasn't fast enough.
"It is time once again, Takuya. We need your help now. Come to Jiyuugaoka Station and take the outbound train at 9am. Your destiny is calling for you once more," Ophanimon's familiar voice filled the air, carefully enunciating each syllable, as Takuya looked up to see the vast majority of the class staring at him. He had managed to muffle the last part of Ophanimon's message so only those sitting closest to him could hear it.
The teacher's hard eyes bored into him as Takuya glanced up at the board. He had stopped mid-stroke and half of a 'z' could be made out where his chalk rested. "You know cell phones cannot be utilized in class, Takuya. Who were you speaking to?"
Takuya's eyes widened at the question as he frantically searched for an answer, his mind whirring to discover one. "I'm sorry, Sensei. It's just that it was . . . my mother, so I had to answer it. She needs me to . . . meet her at Jiyuugaoka Station right away. She's been real sick lately, and I have to go to her," he rushed to explain.
The teacher nodded in response. "Very well then Takuya. I understand. You'd best get out of here." Takuya stared at the teacher in utter disbelief, waiting for the teacher to break into laughter at his own joke. Sensei had apparently read the look on his face as he added, "Go. You have my permission. I heard her voice, I believe you." As he gathered his things and headed for the door, a sense of guilt entered him, but he knew that it was his job to leave – the Digital World depended on it.
He closed the door carefully behind him and glanced down at his watch: 8:49. A common panic arose within him as his feet began to fly towards the nearby double doors that led outside. His backpack thudded against him as he ran and his hands pressed against the door, flinging it open – causing it to strike against the wall with a loud bang.
"Opanimon really needs to come up with better timing," he muttered as he ran towards the nearby intersection. He could hear the sound of the school bell ringing behind him that ended class for the hour. His feet skidded to a stop as the walk sign in front of him changed. An angry sigh escaped his lips as he glanced down at his watch: 8:51.
Takuya made a quick decision as his gaze perused over the nearly empty intersection and he raced across the street, ignoring the blare of a car horn as he did so. The sound of screeching tires reached his ears and he pushed himself harder. As the deafening sound of the horn ceased, an even louder crash filled the air around him, and shards of broken glass rained down around him, causing him to wince. A cry emanated above the fading sound of the collision. It was filled with all the anguish of death as it pierced Takuya's ear with its cries. An eerie silence infiltrated the area as the howl diminished – the only sound that could be heard was that of the rain striking the pavement.
Slowly, Takuya turned to face where the sound had been, and what had once been a navy car, was barely distinguishable amongst the wreckage. The light pole that had terminated the car's course was bent in such a way that it formed to the exterior of the car. It was evident that in swerving to avoid striking him, it had struck the wet pavement, sending it careening into the light pole nearby. A small fire glowed on the hood of the vehicle, and the entire front end was scrunched together like an accordion.
"No . . ." He felt his head shaking back and forth in disbelief, and his hands trembled. His knees suddenly gave way beneath him, and he found himself on the ground, staring into the warmth of the flames. As realization struck, he clenched and unclenched his fists and distantly realized that it was his own voice yelling now, as tears slowly dripped down his face, mingling with the falling rain. Against his will, his feet raced toward the vehicle and his hands grasped at the edges of the door. Using all of his weight, he forced the door open. Inside, the figure of an unfamiliar man was covered in blood and breathed unsteadily. His blonde hair was awry, and his bloodied face rested against the air bag. He looked to be not much older than Takuya. His own hands worked to pull the man from the seatbelt and set him on the ground. As he stepped away from the vehicle, he saw a white van coming his way. Upon seeing the crash, it pulled over and Takuya could see the woman fumbling in her purse for her cell phone. He then knew that the man would be receiving what help he could get as soon as possible. He was running out of time. Knowing this, Takuya fled.
He glanced down at his watch. It read 8:53 for a brief second, before changing to 8:54. A pair of hands tied knots in his stomach and tears threatened to fall from his eyes as he ran. He felt as though his throat would be torn in two if he didn't let his own anguished cry escape his lips as the realization sank in – it was all his fault. A man could be lying in the street dead, because of his own impatience. The strength of a dancing flame can also prove to be its weakness.
"Come on, Takuya. We need you." The voice came out of nowhere, almost as if it was inside his head, but he recognized it. Agunimon's clear unease rang through his gentle chide and forced Takuya to focus on what lied ahead. The guilt was something he would have to deal with later, right now his job was to decide the fate of two worlds. He would wait to grieve later, because mourning then would only put millions in jeopardy. That was one of the many things he had learned in the Digital World, when Kouji 'died' he had decided to give up. He now knew that he couldn't afford to.
As he passed a bread company on the corner a few blocks away, his eyes slid shut. "Agunimon. Please help me." A foreign feeling passed over him and he could hear the gasps of people around him. Something furry brushed against his leg and he knew that it had worked – he was Flamon again. As he opened his eyes he dropped back onto all fours, and felt the wind rush through his fur as he raced through the rapidly vacating streets of Odaiba.
The train station was just in sight down the street, and he forced himself to run harder, knowing full well that he was almost out of time. His heart pounded quickly, counting the seconds that he had left. The pads of his paws struck the ground, allowing him to bound down the sidewalk. The station was just in sight. His hands reached for the handle of the door as he watched Zoe dash out of view. He now knew that he was not the only one running behind schedule. He raced for the ticket machine, fingers fumbling for the cash that remained in his pocket, and inserted it into the machine. He grasped the ticket and looked at the clock: 8:57.
Three minutes. It would have to be enough.
The pounding of his footsteps echoed through the crowded corridors, as people bustled to and fro, fighting the crowd in order to reach various destinations, each with their own reasons for leaving. Upon seeing him, most worked even more frantically to get out of his way.
The train was in sight now, and he forced his paws to run faster.
Thirty seconds.
The doors were beginning to slide shut.
Fifteen seconds.
Ten more feet.
Ten seconds.
Sweat moistened his 'fur.'
Five seconds.
He could hear a woman's cries of horror.
Three seconds.
His feet crossed the threshold.
Times Up.
He had made it. Now all he had to do was wait for the call.
Time passed slowly as he sat on the bench alone. People shied away from him, causing him to remember that he was still Flamon. Knowing he couldn't change in front of everyone, he sauntered over to the small restroom at the back of the train. Men shouted in fear and fled from the room as he entered, leaving him alone. Takuya felt the same familiar sensation pass over him once again and looked down to see his own bare hands. A nod of satisfaction stopped him for a second as he realized how grateful he was to be able to save the worlds again, and see his friends again. His phone vibrated and relief coursed through him as he removed it from his pocket. Ophanimon's voice rang clearly through the surrounding air, "Very good Takuya. Take the westbound train to Shibuya Station. Be there by 9:25. You know the way."
He immediately turned and fled towards the front of the train, where passengers were already lining up to leave. The train slowly slid to a stop at the next station, and Takuya forced his way through the crowd toward the open doors.
His feet eventually carried him in the direction of the elevator as he saw Tommy slip inside. The doors were already closing. Takuya dove into the elevator once again, and looked down at the twelve-year-old. "Hey, buddy! How've you been?" he asked the child as he tried to catch his breath. His gaze drifted towards the small opening between the elevator doors. He saw the familiar face of an old friend rushing for the door, but came up short as the doors blocked his path. Immediately, Takuya reached over and pressed the button marked 'Open Door,' and extended a hand outside, grasping the figure's shirt. The figure was wrenched backwards slightly as his momentum was distinguished.
"Not this time, buddy. Kouji would have my head if I let that happen again," Takuya stated firmly as he pulled the boy back into the elevator beside him.
Kouichi flashed a grateful smile in his direction as the floor shifted beneath them, signifying their descent. "Thanks Takuya."
"It's good seeing you again," Tommy said a broad smile across his face as he looked up at the two.
"Good to see you, too."
"Hey, Kouichi, where's Kouji now anyways?" Takuya asked, rubbing the back of his neck absently.
"He was visiting his grandmother's over in northern Odaiba, I think he had to take a different route. I hope he makes it."
Takuya struck the boy on his shoulder gently, saying, "Don't worry. He'll make it."
The descent of the elevator ceased, and the doors slid open, revealing a few Trailmon parked on the tracks. A blonde head appeared out of the back window of the nearest one. "Ciao! We're all in here," Zoe said, waving frantically at the trio. The three boys raced to the steps and entered the doorway as the Trailmon began its trip toward the Digital World.
Their journey had already started years ago. There was no turning back now.
Thanks for reading!!!
