Chapter 10: Can't Keep a Grumblemon Down

TAKUYA'S POV

The fire was out, the sun barely overhead. The good dreams almost didn't feel worth it due to the nightmare that followed. Kouji was gone again. What if something happened to him. Without realizing it, I began to twist my shoelace around my fingers as the others paced. I didn't secure the knot until Tommy called us over, pointing out a note. It was his handwriting, a messily drawn picture of Bokomon and Neemon functioning as their signature. It read, "I'm going on alone so I can actually get something done." So much for my speech about us needing him, about him being part of the team. Even in a note he sounds like a jerk.

"I guess he likes to be on his own." Zoe offered, putting a hand on my shoulder. But why would she feel the need to comfort me? Why would I be distressed by the thoughts of Kouji out there alone. Does she know that the only thing I resent about Kouji's disappearing act, that beat all of JP's tricks last night, is that he didn't take me with him? "Given this group", she continued, "Sometimes I understand."

Apparently, I wasn't the only one angry. JP reached over, swiftly ripping the note into as many pieces as he could. "He wants to be on his own? Fine!" And with a clap of his hands, the torn letter floated to the ground like dust.

Only one thing left to do. We have to find him, so I can convince him to stay, for real this time. Angrily, I kicked at a rock on the ground. When I was sure I had everyone's attention, I initiated my plan. "At least Kouji can take care of himself. But what about Bokomon and Neemon. You think Kouji will bother to worry about protecting them? Doubt it. We're gonna have to find them."In an instant, JP's fighting stance was dropped and he was on board. Tommy was running ahead calling out their names, while Zoe's hand finally removed itself from my shoulder. I hadn't even noticed it was still there, but she gave me a smile before walking off with the others.

For some reason, I couldn't get that smile out of my head, especially not now, as she was knelt down in the field sobbing. It was my turn to place a hand on her shoulder as I watched Gigasmon chase Kouji away. He had shown up just before JP and I had lost our spirits as well. Maybe it was no wonder why Kouji wanted no part of this. As Zoe asked us, "what good am I to you guys now?", I couldn't help but ask that same question. What good am I to you guys ever? Once again, for the countless time, Kouji was fighting on his own as the rest of us struggled to get back on to our feet. But Kouji wasn't Lobomon this time. He was KendoGarurumon, another wolf descendent, with lasers and wheels under his feet. I didn't know he could get any cooler. According to Bokomon, it was his beast spirit. Of course he would find his first.

"I could've done that." I saw JP flex out of the corner of my eyes. I guess I know what you dreamed about, huh, big guy?

But my attention returned to KendoGarurumon when I realized Kouji wasn't in control. He was slamming into things, moaning in what I could only take to be utter pain. Seeing this as his opportunity, Gigasmon charged. Bokomon pulled Neemon out of the way, but I couldn't move. I watched as they slammed into each other, a large cloud of dust picking up from the ground. I think I called for him, but it was so weak that I couldn't be sure. It wasn't until I heard Tommy yell that I knew what I witnessed really had taken place. They had fallen from the top of the cliff we were standing on, and landed somewhere in the oceans below. I ran to the edge, falling to my knees before crawling further.

"Kouji." I saw a splash as Gigasmon landed, and before I had time to scan the rest of the seas, a hand whacked me in the face. Kouji's hand.

"Can I come up now?" He asked me.

"You're alive!" Eagerly, I grabbed for his arm, trying to pull him back up. "You can't keep going off alone like that."

"Sorry, mom." He coughed.

"Seriously," I took a breath as I tightened my hold on him, "You had all of us worried." Once he was safe, I fell back, catching myself with my hands with a thud.

"You've got to work on your hero skills. Rescue first, lecture later." He said as he fixed his bandana.

"Oh yes, chivalrous warrior who always puts others over his own desires. Thank you for the lesson in heroism."

"Whatever," he scoffed, "Need I remind you who saved your asses again today?" He smirked, only to get that smirk wiped off his face by JP's punch.

"You call that saving us?" JP demanded as Kouji's wrist pressed to his nose to stop some of the blood. "You didn't save Zoe." JP clenched his fist, holding one up again. Kouji was quick to get back onto his feet, raising his own hands in front of his face.

"Hey, stop it!" I finally yelled, stepping between them. It was then that I realized JP blamed me as well, as he readied for another strike.

"C'mon guys." Tommy whined, "We can't fight with each other if we ever want to be strong enough to beat Gigasmon." JP offered an angry huff before walking back over to Zoe. He gave Tommy a pat on the head before starting a conversation with her.

"Are you okay?" I turned to Kouji, watching as a few more drops of blood fell from his porcelain face.

"I'm fine." He said before he too began to walk away, changing his mind and turning back to me accusatorily, "but I'm better than fine when we don't have to waste our time babysitting them." We? "Though if I started getting paid by the hour maybe I wouldn't mind so much." He mused, flicking a piece of hair out of his eyes. And I knew that he was talking about how he always got us out of trouble, and how he would always have to finish the battles that we would start. But for some reason, when he started talking about a payment plan, my thoughts went straight to trading money for other justifiable services. How many weeks' allowance would it take to exchange for that? Sinking down in the grass, I waited for the others to walk away. I looked down, uncovering my hands from my lap. Turns out, a Grumblemon isn't the only thing I can't keep down.