Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, its characters, or the original plot.
For Love and Dreams
By: Tyson Granger
Takuya awoke feeling more rested and comfortable than he had in quite some time. A warmth enveloped his entire body, bringing a soft smile to his lips as he pulled himself closer to that warmth. He took a deep breath, and the faint scent of sakura blossoms wafted into his nostrils. "Mmm…Zoë," he whispered softly into the young Orimoto's hair, kissing the top of it gently as he removed himself from his current position on the couch. He smiled as he stood, remembering how she had fallen asleep in his arms during the second half of the soccer game. Takuya had been pinned down by Zoë's sleeping form, and thus, he himself fell asleep on the couch with the beautiful keeper of the Spirit of Wind securely within his grasp.
'Sure my arm is still lacking circulation, but I've got to admit, there is no better way to wake up in the world,' he thought to himself, smirking as he adjusted the blonde so that she would be comfortable on the couch and covered her with a blanket. Planting one final kiss on her forehead, Takuya turned himself away from her and went to the bathroom to catch an early morning shower. Starting today, he had two days before he would be forced to make the most important decision of his life, and he would need all the help he could get.
The young Legendary Warrior of Fire stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him sleepily, but emerged 15 minutes later fully dressed in his normal attire, reluctantly ready to face the day. 'Ok, I have two days to decide whether or not I want to leave Shibuya and play for Team Japan. Now, uh…what do I do first?' he wondered. Takuya's brown eyes scanned the room. He wasn't sure why, but for some reason he felt he might get an idea on where to start if he looked around and thought hard enough. As usual, when his eyes passed over a certain patch of yellow, however, his gaze was drawn to the blonde colored hair and it's feminine owner.
Smiling at bit at the recent memory of waking up holding said beauty, Takuya crept silently to the side of the couch and leaned down, taking Zoë's hand into his own. 'Zoë…what am I going to do about you? It would be so easy to just leave and pretend like we never had a chance, especially after all the near-misses I've had trying to tell you how I feel. But I can't just do that, Zoë…because I love you. Ever since I told you that I liked you in the Digital World, I knew that I did. I've just…never had the guts to come out and tell you…besides, we were such good friends after we beat Lucemon, I didn't want to ruin that.'
'Heh, here I am again. Even now, with maybe only two days before I leave you forever, I still can't tell you how I feel. Maybe it's for the best…if I do leave, it would be easier for you to never know. Either way, I'm sorry that I'm just too afraid to admit just how much you mean to me, Zoë. You deserve better than that, Zoë...and I'm sorry about that. I really am,' he finished sadly, placing her hand gently back at her side. The brown-haired Kanbara stood and began looking around the small "living room" of the place, but frowned when he still found nothing that piqued his interest.
Suddenly, he noticed a white and brown box lying behind the television stand in the corner, easily identifying it as the pizza box Kouichi and Kouji had brought over last night. 'Man, they're worse than me sometimes…but then, they don't have Zoë to keep them in line. Heh,' he laughed nervously, scratching the hair on the back of his neck out of pure habit. He walked over to the stand, annoyed, and picked up the pizza box quickly before setting it in the trash can. 'I'm seriously going to have to talk to Kouji about leaving his pizza boxes over…'
A light bulb clicked on in Takuya Kanbara's brain, as he realized he had just inadvertently stumbled across his first plan of action. With a lopsided grin, Takuya threw his signature brown hat and, of course, his goggles, and decided finally that he was ready to leave. As he passed the loveseat, however, a muffled whimper stopped him in his tracks. Instantly, his eyes were drawn to the thin form on the green furniture, and he noticed a pained look of discomfort marring Zoë's usually perfect features.
'Must be having a nightmare…' he thought to himself sympathetically. He knew all too well what the poor girl was experiencing at this very moment because he himself had the same nightmares. Unwanted images of his horrible dreams flashed in his mind…pictures of his companions in the Digital World , particularly Zoë, being struck down violently by Sakkakumon, Kerpymon, and/or Lucemon haunted him…and for a moment, he felt himself shiver. Yes, he knew all about what she was experiencing…all of the Legendary Warriors had begun having such nightmares when they returned to the real world.
Takuya shook his head clear. Quickly, he found himself on his knees beside Zoë once more, stroking her forehead softly and cooing soothing words into her ear as she let out inaudible murmurs of discontent and fear. In this position he stayed for nearly 5 minutes before finally, it seemed, her nightmare had ended. Letting out a sigh, Takuya wiped a few beads of sweat from her slightly flushed face and leaned forward to plant a small kiss on her cheek.
And then, as if drawn to her, Takuya found he could not pull back as far as he might have liked from her face. He gazed upon her flushed face and noted her quickened breathing, and for the barest of moments, imagined himself as the one who had left her in such a state. His dream as opposed to her nightmare. Encouraged slightly by the fact that she had not read his somewhat perverted thoughts and slapped him silly, and coupled with the ever-growing attraction forming between he and the slumbering girl, Takuya leaned in and quickly captured Zoë's lips in a quick, soft kiss.
The peck lasted but a second, but it left the brunette both breath-and-speechless. He pulled back, eyes widened slightly as he realized that he had actually kissed the woman he loved. She had not even been awake, and yet he felt a warmth and love spreading throughout him, comforting him. For a moment, he caught himself wondering if she had felt the same thing, but mentally smacked himself, knowing full-well that she was not conscious enough to know whether or not she had.
And yet, he could not help but feel encouraged once more as the slumbering Zoë's kissably soft lips curled into a contented smile. Not trusting himself to make such a move again, Takuya quickly stood and made his way to the door, stopping only once to turn around and glance at the young woman asleep on their green loveseat. 'If I never consciously tell you, Zoë, I hope that you will sleep well and know that you are loved…'
Allowing a soft smile to grace his features as he gazed lovingly at the woman he cared for more than anything else, Takuya gave one final salute before exiting the front door of his duplex and shutting it behind him. The young Kanbara stretched as he felt the sun's rays caress his pale skin, and then he hastily decided that he had to get moving to his first destination of the day. 'Here we go…' he thought anxiously as he took the first step in the direction of his destiny.
Two steps later, he found himself knocking on the front door to the twins', Kouji's and Kouichi's, half of the duplex. 'Who do you always go to for advice nowadays, Takuya? That's right, Kouji. Who'd have thought after the attitude he had in the Digital World? But it's funny how much he's grown up, and how mature he has become,' the young brunette mused as he waited for someone to answer. Behind the door, he could hear the faint call of a voice that sounded like Kouichi's.
"Get the door, Kouji! There's someone at the door!" he barely managed to hear the soft-spoken warrior of darkness's call. Much closer, he could hear the cool, collected warrior of light yelling at a pitch that most definitely was not cool and collected.
"You get it Kouichi! I'm watching a special on wolves and I don't want to miss it!" he cried from the room obviously just beyond the door. Takuya chuckled lightly, finding it not at all surprising to find Kouji watching a special on wolves.
An indignant cry came from the Legendary Warrior of Darkness, "I'm in the shower, Kouji!" Once again, he could barely hear Kouichi's plea, indicating that the Kimura brother was much further away from the front door than his Minimoto counterpart. Takuya sighed, but nearly laughed when he heard Kouji's lazy response.
"So, get out of the shower and answer it, Kouichi! I ain't missing this!" the dark-haired Minimoto argued like a child who had to get his way. Another indignant cry, this one much louder, broke through the short silence following Kouji's response.
"Damn it! I am not getting out of the shower just to answer the door, Kouji! Stop being lazy and answer it!" the young Kimura screamed, obviously annoyed at having to even have this pointless conversation. Takuya could not help but chuckle when he heard it, knowing Kouji was defeated…Kouichi hardly ever raised his voice above a whisper, but when he lost his temper, he would scream with the wrath of 1,000 Duskmons!
Shortly after Kouichi's outburst, Takuya heard a few grumbles of discontent before the door opened to reveal a very pissed off Kouji in a yellow t-shirt and a pair of blue mesh shorts. Without a word…well, one not a curse directed at Kouichi anyway…Kouji led him to a dark black recliner and motioned for him to sit. Apparently, since Kouichi went off, Takuya got the temporary "silent treatment." 'Ah…did I say Kouji had matured? Heh heh…' the brown-eyed Kanbara joked silently as Kouji sat back down in "his" black recliner opposite Takuya.
The dark-haired Minimoto muttered a few more phrases not to be heard by small children, before turning his attention to his guest. "So what brings you here, Takuya? Isn't it a little early for you to be leaving your precious Zoë?" he smirked triumphantly as the brunette looked away quickly, blushing. Kouji grabbed the remote control to his television and turned the sound down so that he could better concentrate on his conversation. 'If Takuya is up this early, it had to be important,' he reasoned lightly.
Takuya coughed, clearing his throat and pretending Kouji's comment did not affect him. His ruffled frown turned into a sly smirk as he turned back to his black-haired antagonist, "C'mon Kouji, you know you're just jealous because I am living with a girl and you are still living with your dear ole' brother." Predictably, Kouji hmphed, crossing his arms and leaning back into the recliner. 'Typical Kouji,' Takuya laughed to himself before turning serious again. "But I didn't come over here to tease you, buddy, I actually have something important to talk to you about."
"I kind of figured that. So what's up, Takuya? You know you can talk to me," Kouji coerced him smoothly, hoping in all honesty that he would be able to help his troubled friend. Takuya sighed, setting his forehead into his upturned palm. Deciding Kouji was right, and that he had gone too far to chicken out now, Takuya recounted to the young Minimoto what had occurred the previous night…of course, he carefully omitted the two parts where the dark-haired warrior had interrupted he and Zoë nearly kissing. He felt no need to share that particular information with him at this time.
Kouji resisted the urge to frown…this was indeed an amazing opportunity for his best friend's future, but even he did not want to see Takuya leave Shibuya alone. He had a feeling that Zoë was not too happy about this 'opportunity' either. But could he honestly sit there and tell Takuya to turn down an opportunity to follow his dream of playing for Team Japan just because he did not want him to? The Warrior of Light was torn. He let out a breath exasperatedly, 'I guess this was important…but what the hell am I supposed to tell him?'
'Of course,' he thought, 'I should be honest with him. I mean, he's Takuya. If there's anybody who knows how to make the right decision in a sticky circumstance, it would be him. He probably just needs to see it from someone else's perspective.' Kouji's face took on a look of impassiveness. He had to make sure Takuya saw this from all angles so that he would make the decision that was right for him. The young warrior of fire looked at him so expectantly… 'He trusts me so much on this, I won't let him down.'
"Takuya, you're right. This is a hard decision, but it is one you'll have to make for yourself." He watched the brunette's face fall, but continued nonetheless. "What I can do for you is make sure you realize what you are doing…not only for yourself, but to yourself and others." Takuya's eyes shot back up quickly, confusion written plainly in his chocolate-colored orbs.
"What do you mean, what I am doing, Kouji?" he questioned. Takuya knew that he would have to give up his friends…for the most part…and his life in Shibuya if he accepted Yamaki's deal. But this was what he had dreamed about his entire life…he was prepared to make such a sacrifice if it was necessary, wasn't he? What else was there to think about?
Kouji frowned, surely Takuya had thought about what Zoë and his friends would think about all this. "I mean, what about your friends here in Shibuya? Don't you think you'll be hurting them if you go, too?" Kouji suggested sharply. Realization lit up Takuya's face…an image of Zoë's tear-stained face from the night before crossed before his eyes. Of course this decision would affect the others…how had that nearly slipped his mind? "You see, now you get it…" Kouji smiled from his chair. "This is a great opportunity, Takuya, and your friends will support you no matter what you do. But that doesn't mean it won't hurt us if you go. You're a big part of all our lives…me, Kouichi, Zoë, Tommy, heck, even JP sees you as one of his best friends. And I'm willing to bet that it won't be as easy for you to leave us behind as it is for us to let you go."
Takuya leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. Kouji was right, of course…the young Minimoto had always been very insightful. "I never thought about how you guys would feel if I left…I assumed you would support me, and I knew it would be hard for me, but I never figured in how it would affect you if I just took off," he thought out loud. He now knew that his friends would have it just as hard if he left…but was that enough reason for him to skip out on what could be the greatest opportunity of his life? He wasn't sure. But he definitely would not forget his friends in this decision.
Kouji smiled as a look of understanding came over his friend's face. "I'm glad you're seeing things from everyone else's perspective as well as your own. I want the best for you, Takuya. We all do, and there isn't a one of us who doesn't want to see you on TV with those guys on Team Japan showing them just how to play the game of soccer. We just want to be sure this is what's best for you…and we don't want you to forget about us when you become some big, famous soccer star," the yellow and blue clad boy laughed.
His face turned serious for a moment longer, however, as he made one more comment. "Takuya, you've always done well as a leader for us…and we've always been there supporting you. But if you go, you leave us behind. We all know you can do it, Takuya, but the real question is… is it worth it to you to leave Shibuya and your friends behind?"
Silence overcame the room for a moment as Takuya pondered Kouji's question. 'Is it really worth it to leave my friends for Team Japan? I mean, I'll be able to come back and visit them sometimes…ever couple of months or so…but what about them? I don't know…Kouji, you've given me a lot to think about.' Takuya stood, deciding that he'd received sufficient advice from the ex-lone wolf turned friend and twin. He thanked the young Minimoto just as he heard the shower turn off in the bathroom, and took that as his cue to leave. Before he grabbed the door handle, however, a hand on his shoulder stopped him from exiting just yet. He turned and his brown eyes met a set of dark ones. "Kouji?"
"Have you talked to Zoë about this, yet?" Kouji asked softly, hoping Kouichi could not hear from the other room. Takuya nodded mutely, and Kouji pulled his hand back and placed it in his pocket. "You haven't told her how you feel, yet, have you?" This time, Takuya shook his head. "You have two days, pal. If you don't tell her before you leave…if you leave…I guarantee you it will be too late," he warned ominously. "How's she taking it, anyways?" he continued softly.
Takuya frowned as he remembered again Zoë's face from the night before, "Not too well, Kouji, but you know that doesn't mean a thing. She could just not want her best friend to leave her…besides, I can't expect her to love me if she knows I'm just going to leave her…"
"I think you should let her decide that…" Kouji suggested knowingly. "Talk to her, Takuya. I know how afraid you are of rejection…especially from someone you love as much as Zoë, but that threat will always be there, no matter what you do. And now the clock is ticking…it's almost run out." A clouded look misted into Kouji's eyes as he took a deep breath. "Don't make the same mistake I did, Takuya…talk to her. You might be surprised…"
Takuya nodded mutely, remembering all too well the mistake the dark-haired Minimoto was referring to. 'I can see it in his eyes…he still loves that girl…' he thought sadly as memories of that night a few months ago came back to him…Kouji on his doorstep, drenched in rain and crying. Kouji never cried, but that night he had just appeared, so brokenhearted…and the tears had flown like a river down his cheeks.
'He told me that she left him because he never told her that he loved her…but anybody who ever saw them together knew that he loved her more than anything. I guess he still loves her…' he reckoned to himself. Deciding the mood had been melancholy long enough, Takuya smiled brightly, placing his hand on Kouji's shoulder in a friendly embrace. "You're right, Kouji. Thanks, buddy. I'll talk to her tonight…but for now, I have a ceremony to get to! Coach Kamiya is handing out the championship rings today in front of half of Shibuya!"
Kouji merely nodded as the young warrior of fire left the duplex in a sprint, probably late as usual for the presentation in question. 'Typical Takuya…I just hope things come together for him and Zoë before it's too late,' he hoped silently before memories of another person special to him flooded his mind once more. A pained look crossed his face as he sat back down in his recliner.
"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?" a different voice, obviously belonging to his twin came from the other recliner. "You always get that kicked puppy look when you think about her, you know?" the young Kimura explained gently. Kouji nodded reluctantly…
"I just…I still miss her, you know? And if Takuya doesn't watch it, he's going to fall into the same mess that I did. I wouldn't wish this kind of pain upon anybody, Kouichi…especially not Takuya," the dark-eyed Minimoto admitted. Kouichi merely nodded sympathetically, also familiar with the type of pain Kouji was feeling.
'We both have had our share of heartbreak, brother,' he thought sadly, remembering his own failed experience in the department of love. 'I still miss her too…' "I know how you feel, Kouji…maybe I should talk to Zoë, you know? I'm sure I can talk some sense into her, and maybe I can get her to admit her feelings for Takuya before he decides to leave…you think?"
Kouji smiled, his brother was always the sensible one. "Good idea, Kouichi. If either of those two has the guts to come clean, it's definitely going to be Zoë." And with that, no more was said for the rest of the morning between the two brothers as they continued to watch the documentary on wolves.
However, their minds were never free of the haunting images of a lost love…and of how dangerously close Takuya and Zoë were coming to the same fate for themselves…