Gah…Ever since they installed that 'Quickedit' thing into the Document Manager, it's been erasing my usual dividing-thingy because it's not 'language characters'. Damn… now I've gotta go back and re-do the stuff I loaded up with a new divider…
As for what's actually happening…Well, it's something you have to interpret for yourself.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kouichi or anything related to Digimon Frontier. I just write weird things…
Life Is But A Dream…
Chapter 3: Shadowed Dreams
The two Legendary Warriors raced through the woods, Agunimon still carrying Kouichi in his arms.
"…Agunimon, I can walk now." Kouichi muttered.
"I know." the flame Digimon nodded. "But we'll move faster like this."
Kouichi nodded in understanding, looking down at the tiny Digimon in his own arms. SnowBotamon gazed up at him and cooed worriedly.
"It's okay." he whispered, running his fingers along between her ears. "We're with friends now. Everything'll be okay…"
"Yeah, just relax." Agunimon grinned down. "We've just gotta…"
He was cut off suddenly as something struck him from behind. He barely managed to stay on his feet, but the force flung Kouichi loose. "No!"
Kouichi covered SnowBotamon with his arms and hit the ground hard, knocking the air from his lungs. As he lay there, stunned, a footstep from in front of him broke his concentration. He froze as a familiar, dark form approached from the trees.
"D-Duskmon…" he whispered fearfully, trying to move back. Then he gasped as the tumor pulsed, as though it was filled with electricity.
The dark Digimon looked at him a moment, then began to walk forward with a glare set on his features. "Kouichi…" he growled, his hands stretching forward.
"You stay back!" Ranamon shouted, sliding between the two of them. "Drainin' Rain!
The cloud appeared and started to pour down on Duskmon. But the dark creature simply slashed it in half with his sword, then reached forward and threw the smaller one out of the way.
"Pyro Tornado!" Agunimon shouted, flinging his fiery attack forward and pounding with all his might.
Duskmon gave him a scathing look and stuck at him, knocking him back to his knees. Then he kicked the Fire Warrior under the chin, flinging him backwards several meters.
With those two out of the way, he turned to advance on the helpless boy in front of him. Kouichi scrambled back, throwing SnowBotamon clear as she gave a fearful squeak. He moved back a few steps, then found himself cornered, pressed against a tall, all-too-solid tree.
"Now, Kouichi…" Duskmon reached forward and grabbed the boy around the neck, lifting him off his feet. "It's about time you returned to me."
Kouichi gasped and gagged against the pressure, trying to pull his attacker's hands off his throat. SnowBotamon screamed and shrieked below him…Agunimon shouted for his release…He couldn't breathe…
Ranamon yelled for help from some unknown source…The tumor in his chest pounded harder than ever, sending spasms up and down his body…He couldn't breathe…
He couldn't breathe…
"Thunder Fist!"
Duskmon hadn't been ready for the attack. He spun around to defend himself, releasing his captive in the process.
Kouichi landed on his feet, and stumbled backwards, head spinning from the sudden return of air to his lungs. A strong figure steadied him from behind, keeping him on his feet. A warm, familiar feeling washed over him as he felt the figure's arms around his shoulders.
"It's alright now, Kouichi." a gruff-yet-gentle voice whispered. "I've got you."
Kouichi looked up groggily and his eyes widened. "Lowemon?"
The Spirit of Darkness looked at him gently, eyes reflecting a loving grin. Kouichi's face spread into a happy smile, his eyes watering just slightly. "It is…It really is you…"
"Don't forget me!" another voice called from the other side. Kouichi turned for find Beetlemon hovering up in front of the trees. "Good to see you, pal!"
Kouichi blinked once, then nodded, the bit of a smile on his lips widening from ear to ear. "T-Thank you…"
Duskmon growled, turning to strike at Beetlemon. The blue Digimon shot upwards, flipping in mid-air to pop up behind the dark creature.
Ranamon dashed to the side just opposite Beetlemon, glaring at the dark Digimon in with spite. Agunimon leapt to his feet, sliding to a stop in just inches front of Kouichi.
"Lowemon." he ordered shortly, not taking his eyes off Duskmon. "Get Kouichi someplace safe. We'll hold him off as long as we can."
Kouichi's eyes widened in shock. "But…Agunimon!"
"Leave it to us!" Beetlemon called, gathering electricity into his hand. "Just get outta here, and hurry!"
"He's right." Lowemon tightened his grip on the boy's shoulder as the other three Warriors lunged forward. "We have to go…now."
With one swift motion he'd scooped Kouichi in his arms, snatching SnowBotamon from the ground at the last minute, and dashed back into the trees.
Kouichi turned back to watch the lights from the other's attacks slowly disappear into the darkness. His heart felt like a dead weight, thudding slowly in his chest alongside the aching tumor.
. . . . . .
Junpei splashed cold water on his face, trying to re-align his slightly confused senses. A very strange dream had awoken him, its memory brought back by the soft buzz of the electric lights above him.
He could hear his friend calling for help, her cries echoing through the trees. He raced forward, and his ears picked up the desperate gasps and moans of a life inches away from being snuffed out.
The surging power had rushed through him, bursting out of his hand to strike at the black form. The dark-haired boy was freed, dropping to the ground unsteadily. A friend had supported him, and navy blue eyes looked up at him thankfully. Red scratches and claw marks were appearing on his pale throat.
"Th-Thank you…" he whispered, then was spirited away. Junpei once again turned to face the darkness…
"…Kouichi." he muttered, returning to his room and clicking off the light. "…He better be okay…"
. . . . . .
Lowemon looked down at his charge, not slowing his quick pace. "How're you feeling?"
"Better." Kouichi whispered. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
"Good." Lowemon's smile was echoed in his eyes. He stopped, setting the boy back on his feet. It took a moment for Kouichi to steady himself, holding SnowBotamon in his arms.
He tuned to look up at the tall Digimon, eyes reflecting in self-doubt. "Lowemon…?"
The Digimon looked down at him dearly. "What is it, Kouichi?"
"The…The others." he whispered. "Are they…What if…Duskmon…"
"Don't worry." Lowemon put a hand on his shoulder gently. "They'll get away as soon as they can, and Duskmon won't go after them. It's you he wants…"
"But…why?" Kouichi asked. "Why is he after me? Why is he still alive? I thought that…you and he were…"
"I don't you…Don't worry." Lowemon soothed. "We won't let him get you, and that's a promise."
Kouichi looked as though he wanted to ask more, but at that moment, SnowBotamon wiggled free and began bouncing away at top speed. Kouichi looked around to find himself standing on top of a grassy hill, which rolled down into a long, green field. Floramon, Elecmon and other Digimon played and laughed on the grass, rolling around happily.
SnowBotamon took off at full throttle down the hill, laughing merrily. "Hey… Come back here!" Kouichi called, chasing after her.
Half-way down the hill he caught up, bending down to scoop her into his arms. But as he picked her up, his foot snagged on a lump of ground and he tumbled forward, sending them both to the very bottom.
Kouichi wound up flat on his back, slightly winded, with SnowBotamon laughing merrily on his chest. The crystal blue sky was sparingly dotted with fluffy, friendly white clouds, and past them he could see various flying Digimon.
"This has to be the Digital World…" he sighed, sitting up. "The way it's supposed to be. It's…beautiful."
"Would you like a better look?" a voice giggled in his ear, and suddenly he felt himself being lifted under the arms and off his feet, into the fresh, clean air.
He panicked a moment, then turned back to find a familiar, purple-framed face smiling at him, a sliver mask covering her eyes. "Kazemon!"
"Nice to see you, too." she grinned. SnowBotamon cooed and cheered joyously. Her butterfly-wings flapped and she began to fly higher. "Hang on to your hat!"
She soared upwards, up above the few puffy white clouds and came to a stop. Kouichi looked around, eyes wide with excitement and awe. From up here, he could see for miles around in every direction, it was fantastic.
To the north, there was the towering beanstalk rising high into the sky. In the south, where he had come from, a lush green forest ended at a crystal blue ocean that reached the horizon. The darkening sky showed the Rose Morning Star to the East, and the sun set in West over the very edge of the ice-fields around the Autumn Leaf Fair.
"Like what you see?" Kazemon asked, smiling.
"It's wonderful…" he breathed. "It looks so great!"
"And it's all because of you guys." the purple Digimon grinned, beginning their decent towards the ground. "You and the others helped us restore this world, so it's all thanks to you."
She arched towards a large, black figure that was galloping across the plain at an easy pace. Lowemon had apparently slid-evolved into JagerLowemon and was keeping a close, protective watch of the two.
"Easy does it." Kazemon giggled, setting Kouichi down on JagerLowemon's back. "Got a good grip? Can't have you falling off, now can we?"
JagerLowemon gave a nod and a slight growl of agreement, then kicked his feet and took of at a run once more. SnowBotamon squeaked and bounced back, hiding herself in Kouichi's shirt.
"Lowemon?" Kouichi leaned down a bit, blinking a little against the wind, and looked around the green countryside that rushed past him. "Why'd you Digivolve?"
"It'll be better if we keep moving." the Beast Spirit said gruffly. "And this way, not only can I run easier, but you can get a better look at the Digital World."
Kouichi sat back up and gazed skyward. Kazemon as flying over them, spinning loop-the-loops and other acrobatics through the clouds.
"But why do we have to keep moving?" he asked again. "I mean…Duskmon can't be stronger than all ten of you combined, can he?"
"Not physically, no." JagerLowemon sighed. "But that's the problem. He isn't here physically."
"What?" Kouichi breathed.
"It's a bit like what happened to you, Kouichi." Kazemon arched down in a barrel roll and hovered about three feet above them. "He affects things here, and takes hits like he's here, but he's never really hurt."
"In other words, he can beat us, but we can't beat him." JagerLowemon sighed. "He appeared here about five weeks ago, growling and attacking anyone who got in his way."
"Fiver weeks…" Kouichi muttered in a low breath, too quiet to be heard over the wind. His hand slipped absent-minded under his shirt, feeling the pulsing limp. "That was when I…"
"Did you say something?" JagerLowemon asked.
"Um…nothing." Kouichi gave a slight grin.
SnowBotamon looked up at him, and her sweet "Snow-bo-snow-snow-bo." sounded almost like a scolding.
"What does he want, anyway?" Kouichi asked, turning back. "Why'd he come back?"
"There's something he wants." JagerLowemon growled. "And, judging by how he's following us now, I'd say that something must be from you."
Kouichi frowned a bit, now worried again. But then he noticed the herd of Armodillomon that were trying to race them, stumbling over themselves and falling into heaps of yellow balls. The sight was so funny that it made him laugh, and that cheered him up.
Kazemon turned her covered eyes skyward, sighing to herself. "There's a strange wind blowing…" she warned. "JagerLowemon, I think you'd better pick up the pace a bit…"
. . . . . .
Izumi opened the window, letting the cool night air blow her hair back. She pulled a robe over her nightgown and sat on the sill, trying to concentrate.
She closed her eyes, remembering how the wind in her dream had rushed past in the very same way, as the lush, green field extended below her.
She'd arched downward, towards the quickly-moving black figure, and set her load on his back. The dark-haired boy looked up at her and smiled. But his eyes reflected a kind of frightened sadness as the conversation went on, and a part of her was desperately worried.
"There's a strange wind blowing…" her voice had whispered. "You better pick up the pace…"
"…Kouichi…" she muttered quietly, leaning her head against the window before she fell asleep again…
TBC…