Into the Darkness
Lyra
PG – 13
Couples: Takouji, Kouichi/Izumi, Kensuke
Chapter 4 – Shackles of the Soul
Ken raised his eyebrow as he watched Daisuke stare at his shoe. It was quiet, that was just horrendously disturbing on its own. Things were never quiet when Daisuke was around. It was then that his friend turned to meet Ken's own eyes. Daisuke's eyes were a deep shade of brown, and they brimmed slightly with tears.
"Daisuke?" Ken questioned quietly.
"My shoe's untied," whispered Daisuke.
Ken slightly puzzled looked at Daisuke's untied shoe than back at Daisuke, "Daisuke, what's going on?"
"I'm forgetting Ken," replied Daisuke.
Ken looked at his friend in utter confusion. Daisuke sighed and slumped dejectedly in his seat.
"Forgetting what?" asked Ken.
Daisuke now had tears streaming down his cheeks, "Everything Ken, I'm forgetting everything. I can barely remember my own name."
Ken's eyes widened.
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It was night now, and Kouji stared at the sky wide awake. They had decided against returning to the real world until they could figure out what on earth was happening here. Kouji was surprised at how relieved he was about finding Takuya.
'Of course I was worried, Takuya's my best friend. It's perfectly normal to be worried about him.'
Kouji let his eyes wander over the campsite, or more or less over Takuya. He smiled slightly as he watched the moonlight play its magic on Takuya's features. Not that Takuya wasn't already handsome, there was just something about the moonlight that made him look almost erethral.
He watched as the trees cast shadows, and his eyes wandered to Takuya's face. Takuya's skin was for the most part blemish free, minus a small scar just below his ear. He partially remembered asking Takuya about that once, but he had never got an anwser. His eyes wandered to Takuya's closed eyes. He could remember how at times he had gotten lost in their chocolate depths.
Finally his eyes stoped on Takuya's lips.
'I wonder, if Takuya tastes like his eyes? Like cinnamon... maybe fudge... wait a minute? Why the hell am I thinking about what Takuya tastes like?!'
Kouji immediately blushed at that thought and the stream of other not so approiate ones that followed.
'Hell, I have a crush on my best friend.'
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Takuya stretched slightly as the sun warmly graced his back. It was still kinda early, but fairly warm out. He blinked when he realized everyone else was still asleep.
'Well, that's a first. I actually woke up before everyone else,' he thought mildly amused.
He sighed as he ran his hand through his wavy hair. He definitely didn't like the fact that his memory was lacking. It also made him partially nervous that Daisuke had basically no memory what so ever.
'What if that happens to me?'
He shuddered slightly at the thought.
"Takuya? You're actually up early?" asked a sleepy voice.
Takuya smiled as he looked over at Kouji. What he saw, nearly made him get a nosebleed. Kouji's hair had fallen slightly out of his ponytail and was cascading gracefully over his face and shoulders. It had the slightly ruffled, but damn sexy look to it. It had been quite a hot night and it would appear that Kouji had removed both his windbreaker and undershirt.
'He definitely works out,' Takuya thought slightly dazed.
"Takuya? Hey, earth to Takuya?"
Takuya blinked as he realized Kouji was expecting him to actually interact with him, not simply ogle him with his mind.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I was surprised too. I think it might be a first," replied Takuya.
Takuya shifted uncomfortably as Kouji slowly pulled on his shirt.
'Bad Takuya! Bad! Don't think like that! Kouji's your best friend. Do not be attracted to him, do not!' Takuya yelled mentally.
Kouji grinned as it was obvious Takuya was having some type of mental war with himself, because the look on his face was just priceless.
"If you're done having conversations with yourself, help me find breakfast," stated Kouji.
Takuya blushed, and quickly scrambled to his feet.
The two walked for a ways, quietly searching for a meat apple tree.
"Hey Kouji?"
"Hmm?"
"Did I really turn into a digimon?" asked Takuya.
"You mean yesterday? Yeah, kinda surprised me actually. You gave me quite a work out trying to catch up to you," replied Kouji.
"Sorry, next time I'll try and wait for your slow ass," muttered Takuya.
Kouji frowned and pulled Takuya's hat down over his face.
"Watch your mouth Kanbara or I won't help you start the fire."
Takuya frowned as he proceeded to rip Kouji's bandana off.
"Well you'll have to if I keep this for collateral," Takuya baited.
Kouji glared as Takuya winked playfully at him, and took off into a full sprint. Takuya laughed as Kouji hurled insults at him as the two ran.
"You're never going to catch me Minamoto!" Takuya cried.
Kouji growled in return, as he saw Takuya reach the top of a hill. Unfortunately, considering the fact he had stayed focus on Takuya he had failed to see the root that stuck up in the ground. He gracefully tripped over it and crashed straight into Takuya. The force of it sent both boys spiralling down the hill.
"Ow.." muttered Takuya as he slowly opened his eyes.
He immediately turned bright red as he realized Kouji was directly on top of him. Kouji had also turned bright red, but made no move to shift. Takuya smiled slightly as he looked at his best friend.
"Guess you caught me," he whispered.
"Oh, did I?" mumured Kouji.
Takuya felt his heart beat speed up. Kouji's face was a mere inch from his own, all he would have to do is raise his head just a bit...
"Takuya! Kouji! Where are you?" yelled Izumi.
Kouji frowned and immediately cursed Izumi as he rolled off Takuya. He missed Takuya's frown as he slowly hauled himself to his feet. He put out his hand for Takuya.
"Come kuya, let's get going," stated Kouji.
Takuya's eyes widened at that name, and his brown eyes gathered a dazed look to them.
'Kuya... Kuya-chan,' he thought numbly.
His mind wandered back to a dream. He remembered the little boy with ebony hair down to his knees. He could hear it again, the sweet melodic voice in his mind. Calling to him, only for him.
'Kuya-chan... my kuya-chan, ai shiteru. Come home, kuya,' whispered the voice.
"Home?" he muttered numbly.
"Kuya! Takuya!" cried a new voice.
Suddenly a pain shot through his face, and he blinked. He was back, and staring at a very distressed Kouji.
"Uhhh... ow?" mumbled Takuya.
"Idiot..."
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Ken smiled as he watched Izumi drag Takuya and Kouji into camp.
"Now is not the time to be wandering off alone, and without your detectors! Now come on, Junpei's almost got breakfast ready," she scolded.
Ken handed some firewood to Junpei and then settled down next to a tree. He sighed slightly as he watched Junpei attempting to explain the logic of meat apples to Daisuke.
"Did you have meat apples in your world?" asked a quiet voice.
Ken smiled at Kouichi as he settled down next to him, "No. Which as awful as it sounds I'm kinda grateful we didn't. Its one thing that Daisuke is actually learning, not having to be retold."
"Did he have his memories before he came here?" asked Kouichi.
"Yes and no.." murmured Ken.
"Yes and no? How can it be both?" asked Izumi as she joined the small group.
"Well I mean as far as I know, his memory was fine. It's just right before he ran off we had a strange conversations of sorts. He was extremely distressed, he kept on saying something about how he was forgetting everything. He also mentioned something about saying something now before it was too late," replied Ken.
"Did he say what that something was?" asked Izumi.
"Sorta-"
"Hey guys! Fire's started, so come get your food!" yelled Takuya.
Kouichi dusted himself off and headed over to where Takuya and Junpei were fighting over the meat apples. Ken prepared to head off too, when Izumi grabbed his arm. He looked down to find her smiling at him.
"You don't have to say what that something was, but you should really consider your answer when we get Daisuke's memories back," with that she stood up and headed off with everyone else leaving Ken to stare at her dumbfounded.
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"Soo... where were you this morning brother dear?"
Kouji glared at his older brother, "None of your business, Onii-chan."
"Awww... you can tell your brother these things. I do have more life experience in the matter," replied Kouichi.
"You were born like a minute earlier, how on earth does that qualify on more life experience," muttered Kouji.
"Hey! A lot can happen in a minute. Anyways you better get your butt in gear, someone's bound to snap up a guy like Takuya," replied Kouichi.
"Kouichi... for one if you haven't noticed we're in the digital world. There's only like eight of us here brainiac.. hey wait I am so not discussing this!" yelled Kouji.
"Not discussing what?" asked Daisuke as he peered down at the twins.
"Just Kouji's love life," replied Kouichi.
"Onii-chan!" yelled Kouji as he attempted to strangle his older sibling.
Daisuke sweatdropped and backed away and then headed to have a seat next to Takuya.
"Hey, Takuya... what's a love life?" he asked innocently.
Takuya raised an eyebrow, "Well for starters, do you know what love is?"
Daisuke titled his head to the side like a curious child and Takuya sighed.
'Man, this guy's almost like a four year old. He's totally innocent without his memories,' Takuya thought.
"Love is when you care for someone a lot. Say you know someone and you're good friends. You want to do anything to keep them happy and save, that's a type of love. It can vary, sometimes its romantic and other times its just purely on a friendship level," stated Takuya.
"Romantic? Do you love someone romantically?" Daisuke asked.
Takuya turned bright red, "Uhh.. well.. you see..."
"In other words that's a yes," stated Junpei as he approached the two.
"Takuya onii-chan's in love!" yelled Tomoki playfully.
This caused Kouji and Kouichi to stop their arguing at stare at Takuya, which did nothing to help the brunette's embarassment as he turned even more bright red. All the while Daisuke was staring at Takuya totally confused.
"So since Takuya turned bright red, he's in love?" he asked.
Izumi giggled, "Sorta Daisuke-kun. Sorta."
At this point Takuya had managed to sneak off. He sighed as he approached a small stream. He knew exactly where he stood on his feelings of love, however he highly doubted those feelings were returned.
'I suppose I shouldn't worry about things that can't be changed, and focus on stuff that can,' he thought mildly.
He frowned and hugged his knees closer as a cool breeze blew through the area.
"The wind's are changing," whispered Izumi as she settled down next to Takuya.
"It's also getting colder, things are going to get bad soon aren't they?" asked Takuya.
Izumi sighed, she didn't know how to answer her friend. All she knew was things are about to change. She prayed silently that it wasn't for the worst.
Ken frowned as he stretched slightly, the air was just brimming with electricity. He peered through the thick coverage of the trees and saw the sky was near black.
"A storm's coming and fast. We better find some better shelter than this if we don't want to get caught in it," stated Junpei.
"Is everyone here?" asked Tomoki.
Junpei looked around and frowned, "Where are Takky and Z?"
"Right here! What's up?" asked Takuya as he approached with Izumi.
"Storm's coming, Junpei says we better find shelter soon," stated Kouichi.
"Well, let's go! Which way you think's best?" asked Takuya.
"This way!" yelled Izumi and Junpei at the same time.
Everyone sighed as the two began to argue over the direction. Ken frowned as he peered over at Daisuke and noticed the worried look on the boy's face.
'He couldn't...' Ken thought worriedly.
"Daisuke, daijoubu?" asked Ken.
"I feel weird... Like all my senses are standing on edge," replied Daisuke.
'Crap...' thought Ken. He sincerely hoped they would pick a direction soon.
Finally Kouji got annoyed and picked the direction for everyone and they were soon off, as thunder could be heard in the distance.
"I don't think we're going to make it, "whispered Izumi as she huddled close to Kouichi.
"What do you mean? We can barely hear the thunder anymore," replied Takuya.
Suddenly lightening shot across the sky, striking the ground just a few feet away. Izumi screamed and clutched Kouichi's waist in fright. Which in turn resulted Kouichi to turn quite an interesting shade of red.
"Onii-chan as much as you're probaly enjoyed Izumi's contact, we need to move. Now!" yelled Kouji as he broke into a full run.
The group ran and soon rain was pouring down on them as well.
"There!" yelled Tomoki through the rain.
A small cave hidden slightly behind a old rockslide and trees became clearer through the foilage of the forest. Soon almost everyone was inside except for Takuya, Ken and Daisuke. Takuya went to enter with Ken just close behind when Daisuke suddenly stopped.
Ken whirled around a clear shone fear and knowledge gleaming in his eyes.
'Shit!' he thought annoyed.
"Daisuke, what the hell are you doing?" yelled Takuya as he brushed past Ken to approach the boy.
"No, don't!" yelled Ken.
However Ken's warning was too late. Takuya reached out to grab Daisuke's arm. What happened next was a bit of a slow motion blur. A shot of blue lightening rained down from the sky slamming into the ground between Daisuke and Takuya.
Takuya was sent flying backwards and slammed against the outside of the cave. Within a second Kouji was outside of the cave checking on the unconscious brunette.
Daisuke on the other hand was unharmed and was glowing a sky blue. His skin had paled a couple degrees and his normally reddish hair now had streaks of blonde running through it.
"What the?" whispered Junpei.
Ken slowly set his laptop down on the ground and headed out towards the glowing redhead.
"Ken! What are you doing?" cried Izumi.
Ken merely turned and looked at them and smiled. Again a bolt of blue lightening flew from the sky heading for the bluenette. However just before it was about to strike him it bounced off an invisible barrier and dissipated.
The other's watched in amazement as Ken started to glow with a faint purple light of his own, and slits of purple ran through his ebony hair. Ken's eyes were glowing a deep amethyst as he approached Daisuke.
"Daisuke, calm down," he whispered calmly.
Daisuke turned his head to the side curiously, "Ken."
Ken stopped glowing and returned to his normal state as Daisuke's eyes slowly closed and he slumped to the ground. Ken sighed in relief as he went and picked up the unconscious redhead and turned to head back to the cave.
However Kouji met him halfway with an unconcious Takuya in his arms, "You have some explaining to do, and I mean now. Just what the hell is going on?"
AN: Lol, I just keep on adding twists don't I? Don't worry all shall be explained. Of course more Takouji and Kensuke moments to come in the next chapter. I hope everyone's enjoying and thank you so much for the reviews!
Next Chapter – Untainted Memories