Into the Darkness
Lyra
Chapter 2 Flamon or Takuya?

AN: Normally I like to refrain from putting these notes in my stories other than the first and last chapters, but I wanted to apologize for taking so long in getting this chapter out. Honestly I'm a busy person, and been having problems deciding exactly where I want this fiction to go. Hopefully everyone will enjoy this chapter as much
as they have the previous two.

Italics = Memory/Flashback Sequence
Where there are two seperater lines = Dream Sequence
"...." = Talking
'italics' = Thinking

Kouji sighed as he looked at the unconscious boy before him.

'What the hell is going on here? Takuya, what's happening to you? Or what did happen?' he wondered.

A slight knock at the door brought him out of his reverie.

"Kouji-chan, Tomoki and Junpei are here. I've explained to them as much as I know, but honestly I have a feeling you know more," stated Izumi.

Kouji didn't say anything as he took a glance back at the boy on his bed and then followed Izumi out into the living room. Kouji looked at them quite neutrally as he began to explain how he had found Takuya, and what had occurred when he went to Takuya's house.

"I'm positive that Takuya being attacked in the park and his family not recognizing him are interconnected. I'm just not entirely sure how," Kouji stated.

"It's because I'm not really here," whispered a weak voice.

"Takuya! What are you doing out of bed and what do you mean you're not really here. I believe I know what I see right in front of my own eyes," scolded Izumi.

Takuya laughed slightly, a laughter that held both amusement and bitterness

"I'm here, but not entirely. I really wish I could explain it, but that stupid Bakemon didn't really go into details. It was a more of he wanted me gone, and he wasn't about to explain why."

"Are you sure he was telling the truth? I mean Bakemon aren't really the most trustworthy creatures," replied Junpei.

"What choice do I have? I mean what other explanation is there?" asked Takuya.

"Something doesn't add up. Why are you the only one affected? There's more going on here than that. Not to mention this is the real world Takuya. While Kouichi's sprit was able to cross into the Digital World, I highly doubt a sprit being able to take a physical form here in the real world," replied Kouji.

Takuya nodded then grabbed at his chest and fell to his knees. Kouji ran over to him and knelt down beside the pale boy.

"Are you alright?" he whispered.

Takuya nodded, and let a startled noise when Kouji slipped his arms underneath him and lifted him into his arms.

"Well this is different," he muttered.

"Well don't let it go to your head, I just don't want you passing out and drooling on the carpet," grinned Kouji.

Takuya rolled his eyes as he relaxed against the ebony haired boy. The two slowly made their way to the couch.

"Well since our problem is obviously related to past experiences, it would seem that the best bet would be to see if we can find a way to the digital world," stated Kouichi.

"Well, I suppose the best way would be to try to return the way we left," replied Izumi.

Kouji nodded and looked at the boy who was now drooling on his shoulder instead of the floor. He rolled his eyes towards the ceiling and then smiled softly.

Izumi watched the interaction with sad eyes. She hoped silently that everything would turn out okay, so that maybe those two would get off their high horses and admit what they felt for one another.

'Boys can be so silly sometimes. I've never met a more stubborn pair in those two,' she mused.

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Kouji glared at the ceiling. He silently wished he knew why he was glaring in the first place. True, things were
definitely in dismay and what not, but they weren't quite on a glaring level. He turned on his side and stared through the shadows at the boy that now occupied his bed. He stared blankly ahead and a slight blush crept up on his cheeks as he recalled a conversation he had with Izumi just a little while before.

"Are you going to tell him? Or have you not even admitted it to yourself yet?" asked Izumi.

Kouji raised an eyebrow, "What are you going on about?"

Izumi pointed at Takuya on the bed and then smiled secretively.

"Yeah. That's Takuya, Izumi. Don't tell me you're losing it now too," he muttered.

Izumi frowned and planted her finger firmly on Kouji's chest.

"Don't even try it Kouji. You know very well what I'm talking about. Can you honestly sit here and tell me that you don't have any feelings for Takuya-chan?" she fumed.

Kouji stared blankly at her and then coughed, "Feelings?"

Izumi threw her hands up in the air and rolled her eyes, "Kouji Minamoto! Do not play dumb with me; do you think I'm going to believe this act of yours? Tell me then why you acted so scared today when Takuya-chan almost passed out on the floor for a second time? Why you picked him up bridal style? Why you looked at him so sweetly when he fell asleep on your shoulder?"

Kouji fought to keep a straight face, "Even if I had answers for your questions Izumi, do you really think I would tell them?"

Izumi slumped in defeat and then glared at him, "Do not think this discussion is done with, not by far Minamoto!"

Kouji sighed in relief as she left the room.

Kouji sighed as he stared at the brunette. He somewhat had answers for Izumi's questions, but honestly he wasn't even sure of them himself. He smiled slightly as the moonlight danced on Takuya's features, cascading his slightly tan skin in fanfare of silver.

He blinked, 'Do I like Takuya-chan?'

He stared even harder at Takuya and ran this thought over and over in his head. Sure, he cared about Takuya, a lot. Did he like him more than a friend though?

"Deep in thought I see," whispered a new voice.

Kouji whipped his head around to see Kouichi sitting cross-legged behind him. Kouji blushed as he realized his brother had walked into the room and sat behind him, and he hadn't even noticed because he had been too busy staring at Takuya. Wait, correct that his brother had saw him staring at Takuya. Kouichi laughed softly as his twin turned even more scarlet.

"Does Takuya-chan have something on his face? Or is he so ill that he requires your 24/7 watch?" Kouichi joked.

Kouji frowned, contemplating silently if it was possible to 'take his brother out' without waking up Takuya. He sighed and grumbled, realizing it probably wasn't possible, and so he settled for sarcasm.

"I'm glad I amuse you so," he muttered.

"Romance is always amusing," Kouichi replied.

Kouji nearly choked at that one, "Ro... romance?!"

Kouichi simply smiled, while Kouji smacked his hand to his forehead.

"I take it you've been talking with Izumi?" questioned Kouji.

Kouichi blushed slightly, "Izumi-chan? Nope, this is merely my own observation. Not to mention I must be somewhat close since you haven't been acting quite like yourself since we found Takuya-chan."

Kouji silently sent a prayer up to the heavens at that slight blush, because it meant a change of subject was at hand.

"Why'd you blush when I mentioned Izumi?" questioned Kouji.

Kouichi's eyes widened slightly and he blushed even more so, "No reason."

Kouji raised both eyebrows and grinned wickedly.

Kouichi smiled slightly as he rose, "You're not the only one who can keep their emotions locked up brother."

Kouji sighed in relief as Kouichi left the room, and turned back on his side.

'Do I really act differently when Takuya-chan is around?'

Kouichi smiled sadly as he closed the door behind him.

"Do you think he'll ever admit it to himself?" asked Izumi.

Kouichi's concern for his brother kept the blush at bay as he turned to face Izumi. He had to cover his mouth to withhold his gasp. Izumi was standing before him, her hat long gone and her hair cascaded gracefully around her face. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, but still just as gorgeous. She wore a white dress shirt, and a pair of his mother's pajama shorts. She was smiling at him sadly, concern obvious in her eyes.

Kouichi shook his head slightly, "Eventually, although I fear how this situation will go, I think it may just cause a realization to dawn in him."

Izumi smiled then held her hand out to him, "Come on, you look like you need some hot chocolate just as much as I do."

Kouichi felt the blush creep up on his cheeks as he placed his hand in hers, and the pair made their way to the kitchen.

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Takuya frowned as he took in his surroundings. He couldn't see a darn thing; all that surrounded him was a gray mist. He nearly had a heart attack when someone tugged on his pant leg.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you," whispered the owner of the hand.

Takuya spun around to see a small child with ebony blue hair, and gray eyes staring back at him.

"Who are you?" Takuya asked.

"Kouji," replied the child.

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Kouji sighed as he closed his eyes.

'Do I really care that much for Takuya?' he pondered.

He kept on turning this thought over in his head, he knew he cared more for Takuya than he did the others, with the exception of his brother. Sometimes he felt like he had to protect Takuya. Takuya's was probably one of the most pure people he knew, also the most stubborn. If it were a choice between Takuya's life and one of his friends, it would be no choice for Takuya. Takuya would easily give up his life for any of them, and while this one of Takuya's greatest strengths. It was also his greatest weakness.

Kouji sighed as he finally let sleep claim him, his mind still going with all of these new 'realizations'.

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Takuya looked at the child before him, "Kouji?"

The child smiled, "Do you want to go home kuya-chan?"

Takuya merely nodded as he stared at the child before him.

The child raised his hand towards Takuya, "Then lets go, my kuya-chan."

Takuya took the child's hand.

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Kouji snapped his eyes open as he felt something touch him. He found himself staring straight into a pair of dark blue eyes, he jumped back and ended up banging his head into the shelf. He grumbled slightly and turned to see a shadow running out the door. He looked at the bed and promptly noticed Takuya was gone. He quickly ran out the door as well. As he was running, he heard Izumi scream which he knew meant the others were awake as well. He made it to the front door before the creature and promptly locked it. Kouichi dashed towards the light switch and turned on the lights, and Junpei blocked the other door. The creature turned out to be Flamon.

"Takuya?" Izumi questioned quietly.

Flamon looked at them with confusion clearly clouding his eyes. He screamed and then ran back to the bedroom and busted through the window.

"Damnit, "muttered Kouji, who then turned and unlocked the door and ran down the hall. He knew where Takuya was going he just hoped he would make it there in time.

Chapter 3 - Enter the Digital World