The Firelight Prophecies
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. That belongs to Toei Animation. If I owned it, Kouji would've been present and watching when Takuya faced ShadowSeraphimon. That could've been so great…
Warning: This fic contains yaoi/shounen-ai, which is the coupling of two males. If you do not like this kind of coupling or you hate the fact that this is a Takouji/Koukuya fic (the coupling between Takuya and Kouji and vice-versa) then you should probably hit that nifty "back" button and search for a fic that's best for you. Any flames shall be poked and prodded by use of a spork.
Synopsis: The Digital World calls upon the help of the Chosen children again, but this time, the battle is for much more than the fate of two worlds, as a life hangs in the balance. Will the darkness consume everything or will Kouji and Takuya have what it takes to survive? Will the shadows threaten to separate the two once and for all? Koukuya/Takouji fluff in later chapters… I really suck at writing summaries.
Summary: This chapter, like the first, is a precursor of things that will happen later. The actual plot begins here. Kouji runs into Takuya in the street, but what will happen when he does?
Setting: This story takes place one year after the series. It starts out in Shibuya of the human world, but the return to the Digital World will be quite soon.
Written by: Sailor Epyon
Kouji opened his eyes and silently cursed. Stupid people! Couldn't they be quiet for ten minutes? He could hear various people complaining loudly on the street across from the park. Kouji, being high up in the tree, could see the street from where he was sitting. For some reason, Kouji felt oddly compelled to glance over at the commotion in the street. What he saw made a chill run down his spine. There on the street, was a goggle-headed brunette dressed in red. It was he.
Chapter 2: And So It Begins… Part 2
"Takuya…" Kouji's voice trailed off as he stood up on the branch to get a better view. Takuya was indeed on the street, walking into various people. Kouji raised his brow and jumped down from the branch. He ran out of the park and crossed the busy street.
"Takuya!" Kouji called. He ran up toward Takuya, who never once stopped.
"Takuya!" Kouji called again. Takuya didn't give a reply.
"Takuya?" Kouji asked, wondering why his best friend wasn't answering him. He finally caught up to the brunette, and noticed that Takuya hadn't slowed down his pace at all.
"Takuya, what's going on?" Kouji asked. Takuya still gave no answer, but kept walking. He walked into a woman, who scowled at him. Kouji took notice that he didn't even bother to apologize.
"Gomen nasai," Kouji bowed, apologizing for Takuya, before catching up to the brunette again. Takuya still didn't slow himself, nor did he notice Kouji's existence.
"Takuya, what's wrong with you?" Kouji asked, as he was walking directly behind him. Still, Takuya silently walked.
'Is he ignoring me?' Kouji asked himself silently.
Kouji was starting to grow irritated at his best friend. He hadn't felt this irritated since the two boys had first met in the Digital World, before they had gotten to know each other, before they had gone through so much together and had become best friends. Why was Takuya acting like this, all of a sudden?
Kouji noticed that they were coming up to a street crossing. Cars were quickly darting along back and forth. Kouji stopped and waited for the traffic light to stop the oncoming traffic, so that they could cross the street. However, Takuya didn't bother to stop. To Kouji's horror, he walked straight into the car-filled street and maneuvered his way though the road filled with moving vehicles.
"Takuya, what the hell are you doing?" Kouji called out, as panic reached his face. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Takuya never stopped or turned to answer Kouji. He kept darting around cars until he reached the other side of the sidewalk. Kouji sighed in relief, after seeing that Takuya made it safely to the other side. However, a rage began to grow inside of him.
"What the hell is wrong with that baka?" Kouji asked himself. "Is he suicidal?"
Kouji impatiently waited for the traffic signal, and then took off running across the street. Something was wrong, and Kouji knew it. It wasn't long before he caught up to the goggle-headed brunette again.
"What the hell are you trying to do?" Kouji asked angrily. He jumped in front of Takuya, facing the boy for the first time today. He grabbed Takuya's shoulders, forcing him to cease his walking.
"Answer me!" Kouji shouted in fury. Takuya said nothing.
Kouji caught a glimpse at Takuya's face. Takuya's eyes were dazed, and his face looked emotionless and unreadable. Dark bags under his eyes suggested that he hadn't been sleeping lately. Kouji gave Takuya a good shake.
"What's wrong, Takuya?" He asked. Takuya remained silent, not looking away, blinking, or doing anything.
Kouji took a closer look at Takuya's eyes. He looked as though he was in some kind of trance.
"Takuya, please talk to me." Kouji said frantically. Takuya still didn't reply.
"Wake up! I mean it, this isn't funny," Kouji shouted into the emotionless goggle-head's face. Takuya, silent like before, did nothing.
Kouji balled his left hand into a tight fist. He punched Takuya in the cheek. Kouji instantly regretted doing so.
"Takuya, snap out of it." Kouji pleaded as he rubbed his fist. He had given Takuya a very hard punch.
Takuya still remained emotionless and abstracted, not even flinching as his body hit the ground in a hard thud from the punch. Kouji gasped. Takuya was still in a complete daze, unaware of his surroundings. He stood up and began walking again. Kouji was quickly behind him.
"Oh Takuya, what happened to you?" Kouji asked, knowing better than to actually think that he'd receive an answer from the goggle-head.
"You are scaring the hell out of me." Kouji said with a frantic sigh.
Takuya walked for two blocks, with Kouji directly behind him. He then, stopped and got his cell phone out. Kouji abruptly stopped as well and wondered what Takuya was going to do. Takuya stared at his cell phone for a solid minute.
'What's going on?' Kouji asked himself. 'Is he going to call someone?'
Suddenly, Takuya's phone began to beep, signifying that someone had sent him a text message. Kouji jumped in surprise as his own cell phone did the exact same thing. He reached into his pocket to get his cell phone and instantly checked the message.
"Please go to Shibuya Station at once. Be there by 5:15 pm and then head for the basement," it read.
"What the hell?" Kouji asked. He turned to Takuya. "Was your message similar to mine?"
Takuya didn't answer his best friend. He instead gripped his cell phone in his left hand and began walking again. Kouji put away his own cell phone and took off after him.
"How familiar, this is turning out to be," Kouji said in vexation, "This is just like when…" Kouji's voice trailed off when it hit him.
"It's the Digital World!" Kouji gasped. He sighed when he got no answer from Takuya.
'Takuya's behavior and the message from the Digital World are related, somehow," Kouji thought silently to himself as he continued to follow Takuya. 'Funny, it was as if Takuya was expecting that message. How could that be?' Kouji wondered. He contemplated on asking Takuya, but knew better than to expect any kind of answer out of him.
Kouji's cell phone began to ring. He jerked it out of his pocket and answered, not stopping as he did so.
"Hello?" Kouji asked.
"Otouto-chan, thank goodness I reached you," Kouichi's voice spoke in an anxious voice on the other end.
"Onii-chan, I don't have time for this right now," Kouji said, feeling somewhat bad for cutting his brother off. He didn't want to lose Takuya though.
"No, Kouji, listen," Kouichi said in a pleading voice, "Did you happen to get a strange message a few minutes ago?"
"Shibuya Station, right? Yeah, I got it," said Kouji.
"Well, where are you? We all need to meet up and see what this is all about," Kouichi asked in a somewhat anxious voice.
"Sorry bro, but I'm not turning back now," said Kouji, "I'm headed toward Shibuya Station and I'm about two blocks from it."
"Oh I see," said Kouichi, "The rest of us are on our way as well then." Then, he added, "I wonder if Takuya is headed that way too."
"Yes, as a matter of fact," Kouji answered his brother, "He's with me right now."
"Okay," Kouichi replied, "We'll be there soon." And with that, Kouichi hung up. Kouji turned off his cell phone and placed it back in his pocket.
Kouji sighed. 'I lied to my brother. Takuya's not here with me right now. I don't know where he is right now. One thing's for certain, he isn't here with me.' Kouji glanced at Takuya, who was still in a dazed state as he walked toward Shibuya Station. Kouji glanced at his watch. It was 5:12.
Shibuya Station came into viewing distance. Kouji let out a huge sigh of relief as both boys reached the station in time.
'I hope the others make it as well,' Kouji thought to himself. He noticed Takuya had slipped through the crowd of people who were waiting for tickets. Kouji ran after him, but lost him in the crowd.
"Damn, I can't lose him now!" Kouji cursed as he fought his way through the crowd, "Takuya isn't in any condition to be left alone." He frantically searched for the shorter boy, but couldn't find him. Kouji chided and fought his way toward the elevators. That's when he saw Takuya, heading into one.
"Wait up!" Kouji shouted, "Don't leave without me, Takuya!" He then dove into the elevator before the door shut. Kouji plunged head-first into the elevator wall.
Meanwhile, the other Chosen children made their way to Shibuya Station. Kouichi, Junpei, Izumi, and Tomoki looked around for any signs of Kouji and Takuya. Kouichi then caught a glimpse at a blue and brown striped bandana through the crowd. It was Kouji, and he was running toward the closing elevator.
"Kouji, wait!" Kouichi yelled as he tried to push his way through the crowd. Kouji however didn't hear his brother calling him. Kouji took a dive into the closing elevator, and Kouichi motioned for everyone to follow him. He reached the elevator door just as it had slammed shut. Kouichi and the others were too late.
Kouichi pounded his fist on the elevator door. "Too late!" He yelled in a discouraged manner. He sighed. "How ironic that this has happened to me, yet again."
"At least we know that Kouji's here." Izumi answered with a sigh, "But did you see if Takuya was in the elevator with him?"
"I didn't get a good look, but I'm sure he was," Kouichi said in a slightly calmer tone, "I doubt that Kouji would've left without him. They were together when I called him about the message, if you remember."
"I remember," Izumi said quietly.
Kouichi began to run toward to staircase. "We can still take the stairs," He said suddenly. The other digidestined followed quickly behind.
Kouichi ran quickly down the steps when he suddenly lost his footing. He was about to fall.
'Not again!' Kouichi's mind screamed. He suddenly felt hands pull him back onto the steps. He glanced back to see that Izumi had grabbed one of Kouichi's hands and Junpei had grabbed the opposite upper arm.
"We won't let you fall this time," Junpei and Izumi said in unison as they smiled.
Kouichi smiled back in gratitude. "Thanks guys," He said graciously. Junpei and Izumi nodded at him.
"Good to know that some things aren't repeating themselves," Tomoki said cheerfully, "Stairs really hate you, don't they, Kouichi?"
"I guess they do," Kouichi chuckled with a small blush of embarrassment. He then glanced at Izumi's watch. The time was 5:14.
"Oh no guys, we're running out of time!" Kouichi panicked.
"Okay, let's continue to head downstairs then," Junpei answered, "We'll make it. We have to."
The group took off running down the stairs again, joining hands this time. Perhaps Tomoki, Izumi, and Junpei were being a bit overprotective with Kouichi, but they definitely didn't want a repeat of last time.
Meanwhile…
"Gah, that hurts!" Kouji bellowed as he rubbed his aching head. He struggled to his feet and then glanced over at the silent and dazed Takuya.
"Now I know how you felt," Kouji murmured with a slight smirk. He sighed once again for the hundredth time today when he received no reply.
Kouji was becoming increasingly worried about Takuya's behavior. This elevator ride was feeling like eternity with all the silence. Kouji wondered if Takuya had felt that way when they'd first met last year, when he had ignored him on the elevator ride down. He felt a pang of guilt, out of the blue.
"I wish I knew what was wrong with you," Kouji replied in a very worried tone. "You're worlds away from me right now, aren't you?" Takuya remained ever the silent, not even bothering to glance a peak at his worried best friend.
"Do you even see me? Can you even hear me?" Kouji asked as he stepped closer to his best friend. Still, there was nothing. "Please, just go back to your buoyant and energetic self. This is scaring the hell out of me."
Takuya said nothing. He didn't acknowledge that Kouji was even there. The dark-haired boy began to stare at his best friend and secret crush. Those eyes… They were expressionless. He also took notice that Takuya hadn't blinked once since he'd met him in the street. Kouji couldn't read Takuya at all, and this scared him. Takuya looked as though he was staring right through him, as if he was truly in a different world. One could easily have mistaken the goggle-headed boy for a sleepwalker, but he didn't awaken, even with a harsh punch to the cheek. Kouji noticed that a small red mark had appeared on Takuya's cheek from when he'd hit him earlier. Suddenly, the elevator stopped and reached it's destined floor. The door flew open, breaking Kouji out of his thoughts. Takuya walked past Kouji and stepped onto the platform. Unlike last time, there were no other children around. Only one train was waiting for them. Takuya quickly made his way aboard it. Kouji, however, stepped out of the elevator rather slowly, not noticing that Takuya had already stepped onto the train. He looked around, taking notice that the other digidestined hadn't arrived yet. He let out a humongous sigh.
'Takuya isn't himself at all,' Kouji thought worriedly to himself as he stood on the platform. 'Something's happened to him. It's like I've lost him or something.' Kouji felt a cold shiver roll down his spine as he thought about it. 'What could've done this to him? It's as if he's under a trance.'
Kouji narrowed his eyes. 'The Digital World has something to do with this, I'm sure. If one thing's for certain, Takuya knows exactly where he's going.' Kouji stared down at the cold, hard floor, wearing his famous glare as he did so. 'If someone is responsible for doing this to him, they're going to seriously pay.' Kouji clenched his fists.
The sound of the train sounding off its warning whistle snapped Kouji out of his thoughts. He suddenly looked around to see that Takuya must've gone ahead. Kouji shook his head.
"We're not going to be separated this time around," Kouji said quietly, remembering that he and Takuya had taken different trains when this had happened the first time. Of course, there was only one train this time, but still… Kouji felt the need to say it.
He quickly ran to the train and stepped inside one of its cars in the back of the caboose. Kouji noticed that Takuya was sitting in a seat toward the front of the car. He walked over in that direction and stood across him. He stared at him intensely as he did so. Takuya's expression did not change. He was still emotionless, his eyes still dazed.
Kouji placed his strong arms on Takuya's broad shoulders and began to shake him.
"Please, answer me. Blink, glare, smile, do anything! Just please come out of this. Just listen to me, wherever you are." Kouji stopped shaking him and took his hands off his shoulders, when he produced no reaction from Takuya.
"I wish you'd come out of this." Kouji said with a sigh as he stared into Takuya's blank, expressionless face. "I wish you'd come back to me. I'm worried sick that you might stay this way forever." Kouji shook his head and cursed himself for saying that last part. Takuya couldn't stay like this forever. He had to snap out of it sometime, right?
Kouji protectively watched over his silent friend as he noticed his watch read 5:15. The train sounded its whistle and began to move. Kouji jumped when the car gave a quick jolt as it moved, but Takuya remained still and ever the silent. He sighed. The others hadn't made it.
"Hey, wait!" Kouji heard voices shout from behind. He ran outside to the back of the caboose and saw that his twin brother and friends had made it after all. They were running after the moving train.
"Hurry guys, before the train speeds up!" Kouji shouted.
"We're hurrying!" Izumi choked out. She was the fastest runner of their group and was getting closer to the caboose. Kouichi was not far behind her, lugging Tomoki along with him, who's legs were too short to catch up to the train on his own, and not too far behind them was Junpei, glaring daggers at the fact that he had to run so fast.
Kouji stood over the edge and reached out his hand, helping Izumi up onto the train. Izumi and Kouji then proceeded to helping Kouichi and Tomoki onto the train once they got close enough. Then, Izumi, Kouichi, and Kouji grabbed for Junpei, who'd finally made it up to the train, right before it began to speed up. He made it onto the caboose and everyone walked inside the car, as the small area on the back of the caboose was far too crowded. Everyone collapsed onto the floor of the car, exhausted.
"You made it just in time," Kouji declared, stating the obvious.
"Yeah, that was close," Kouichi answered as he grinned at his younger twin.
Izumi sighed. "So, I guess this means we're returning to the Digital World," she stated in a somewhat nervous tone.
"Maybe we're needed again," Junpei said quietly.
"Do you think the Digital World is in trouble again?" Tomoki asked anxiously.
"It's probably safe to assume that," Kouji answered with a sigh, before his tone suddenly changed. "Something weird is happening either way, and I'm going to find out what it is."
Kouichi glanced at his brother, taking notice that there was something more to this. Kouji had spoken in a fiercely determined voice, and his expression had been that of frustration. He caught his younger brother's eyes and looked at him as if to say, 'what's wrong'. Kouji understood this and walked back over to where Takuya was sitting. Kouichi blinked, not noticing that Takuya had been in the car before. Izumi also took notice of this.
"Hey, so Takuya made it too," she said cheerfully. Takuya remained silent as ever and Kouji's face returned to the look of worry he was wearing earlier.
Everyone walked over to where Takuya was sitting. He made no indication that anyone else was in the car with him.
"Hey Takky, what do you think of all this?" Junpei asked, wondering what their leader would think of their current situation. Takuya remained still, not acknowledging the fact that Junpei was speaking to him.
"Earth to Takuya?" Izumi asked, "Is anyone home?" There was still no change in Takuya.
Kouji looked over at the group, as if to say something, but was interrupted by Tomoki.
"Takuya, nii-chan, is something wrong?" Tomoki asked nervously. Takuya remained in his daze.
"What's wrong with you?" Junpei asked, fuming. He was losing his patience in Takuya. "Are you ignoring us? Has becoming captain gone to your head, Takuya? Are you too good for us now?"
"Junpei, please," Kouichi answered, trying to keep the peace, "Takuya's not stuck-up. He's the friendliest person around. You know that."
"Then why is he ignoring his so-called friends? Answer me that?" Junpei angrily grumbled.
"Stop it now!" Kouji growled, flying to Takuya's defense, "Takuya isn't himself."
Junpei jumped and immediately stopped hounding Takuya. He apologized to Kouji, but glared at Takuya.
"Some answers, please?" Junpei asked, irritably.
"Yeah Kouji, is something wrong with Takuya?" Izumi asked, worriedly.
"Take a look for yourself." Kouji replied. "Of course something's wrong with him. Takuya has been in this state since I met him on the street. He doesn't acknowledge anything. He doesn't make any indication that he can speak, blink, see, or hear any of us."
Everyone gasped. Kouichi waved his hand over the goggle-boy's eyes to confirm what his twin was saying. Takuya's eyes never once followed his hand movements. His dazed eyes continued to stare straight ahead.
"Damn," Junpei cursed, "It's like he's catatonic or something."
Kouji shuddered and nodded. Kouichi frowned.
"Who or what did this to him?" He asked.
"No clue," Kouji shrugged, "I think the Digital World holds the key to that question though. Someone there must know something."
Izumi frowned as a memory struck her. "Takuya was acting strangely when I saw him after his game last week," she said thoughtfully.
"How so?" Junpei asked.
"He was kind of out of it," Izumi explained. "He was zoning out on me, but I thought it was just typical Takuya-behavior. Plus, he answered once I yelled at him."
Kouichi glanced over at Kouji and began to speak. "Remember when I called you last night?" He asked.
Kouji nodded slightly.
Flashback "Otouto-chan, you'll never guess who I ran into today." Kouichi teased cheerfully on the phone.
"Whom did you run into?" Kouji asked, being serious as always.
"Takuya. He was walking home from soccer practice as I was buying bread for okaa-chan." Kouichi answered, cheerful as usual.
Kouji felt himself blush. "Oh, did you?" He asked, trying to sound cool and collected.
"Yup, I did." Kouichi answered, and then changed the sound of his voice from cheerfulness to concern. "I'm a little worried that he's overworking himself, Kouji. He was in a complete daze this time."
"How is that different from any other time?" Kouji asked in a somewhat annoyed manner, trying to hide the slight concern he felt at learning that Takuya was likely overdoing things.
"It was very different," Kouichi answered, thoughtfully. "I had to call his name three times before he finally answered me."
"Typical," was all Kouji could manage to say before Kouichi decided to ask about tomorrow's get-together. /Flashback
Kouji couldn't believe the phone call had slipped his mind before this moment. He sighed as his gaze fell upon his catatonic goggle-headed friend and crush.
"Well this time, he won't answer no matter how loud or how much you call his name," Kouji replied sadly. Had the others not been there, Kouji might've begun to cry. Takuya was pretty much unreachable at this point.
Junpei lifted his fist and proceeded to attempt a knock at Takuya's jaw. Kouji caught the movement and stopped Junpei's fist within inches of Takuya's face.
"That won't solve anything," Kouji replied as he shook his head, "I've already tried that and if my punches couldn't bring him out of this, then nothing will."
Junpei sighed. "I'm just so tired of seeing him like this. Why won't Takky just wake up?"
"He will," Izumi, answered quietly, "he has too."
Kouji sat down in the chair next to Takuya, as Tomoki took the chair on the other side of him. Junpei, Izumi, and Kouichi sat across from them. Everyone sighed as they watched their leader, wishing there was something more they could do.
Kouji sat in uncomfortable silence, as doubts began to plague him. 'What if Takuya never comes out of this? What if he stays this way forever? This is unbearable. I don't think I could stand it. Seeing you this way is breaking my heart. I feel like I've lost you, Takuya.' Kouji shook his head of such thoughts. 'No, Takuya will snap out of it. He'll be just fine. He won't stay like this forever.' Kouji maintained his cool, as he didn't want to show his fear to the others.
Kouichi glanced at his brother and sighed. Kouji was putting up an impressive façade for the others, but he knew his brother. He was scared out of his mind.
"Takuya, come out of this, for all our sakes," Kouichi said loudly. After all, Kouichi wasn't only worried about his brother, but Takuya as well. As leader, the goggle-head was the group's emotional rock. He had to come out of this, because everyone needed him. Besides, Takuya was one of his closest friends. He didn't enjoy seeing him like this either.
Kouji looked over at his brother and smiled grimly.
Tomoki glanced out the window behind him and noticed that the train was about to head into pitch-black darkness.
"I think we'll be in the Digital World soon," Tomoki gulped, as the other children (excluding Takuya) took a peak out the window as well.
Indeed, there was a tunnel ahead; the same tunnel which seemed to separate the two worlds when they first entered the Digital World a year ago.
Suddenly, the train began to speed up, going faster than before. Everything inside the train suddenly became warped. Kouji noted that the train most likely transformed into a trailmon, just like before. Everyone's cell phones began to transform into D-Tectors, just like before.
'This is like deja vu,' Kouji thought to himself.
Everyone was carefully inspecting their D-Tectors in awe and happiness, with the exception of Takuya, who continued staring into space, not taking notice of his whereabouts.
"I'm glad to have this thing back," Junpei said happily as he firmly held his D-Tector in his hand.
"Same here," Izumi nodded in agreement.
Kouji's moment of joy ceased when he took notice of the silent boy next to him, who hadn't moved or said a word. He quickly put his D-Tector in his pocket, and everyone else did the same, with the exception of Takuya, of course, whose D-Tector was remained tightly gripped in his hands.
Kouji glanced out the window, but saw nothing but darkness. 'How appropriate,' He thought to himself. The doubts began to plague his mind once more, and got worse as he found he couldn't think positively this time.
Kouji then, stood up and began walking toward the door that led to the back of the caboose. He wanted to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. It had to be coming up soon. Besides, Kouji couldn't bear to see Takuya like this any longer. He had to leave, and quickly, before his eyes flooded with tears of frustration.
The other children, excluding the catatonic Takuya, stood up as well and proceeded to the back of the car.
"What are you doing?" Asked Izumi.
"As if it's any of your business," Kouji barked. "I want to be alone."
"Takuya always says that's when you need to be around people the most, Kouji." Tomoki stated quietly.
Kouji's head shot up when he heard Takuya's name being mentioned.
Kouichi let out a small smile, "How logical of Takuya," he laughed, "I agree with him."
Kouji couldn't help but smirk at that. "I never thought I'd ever hear the words Takuya and logical used in the same sentence." He snorted. He then patted Tomoki's head.
"Thanks, I needed to hear that," Kouji smiled slightly as he continued to ruffle the little kid's hat.
Kouji silently cursed himself for his momentary relapse back into that cold loner that he used to be. 'See what happens when you're not around, Takuya?' Kouji quietly thought to himself.
Everyone smiled, silently reassuring each other that everything would be fine, when suddenly, a loud thump and a gasp were heard. Kouji whirled around to find that Takuya's D-Tector had fallen to the floor. His eyes followed slowly up to the bench that Takuya had been sitting in, to find that the child of flame was gasping for air. Kouji was immediately by his side.
"Takuya?" Kouji asked, hopeful that Takuya would actually respond this time.
Takuya was breathing hard, as though he had been held under water and had come up for air. Beads of sweat rolled down his face. He appeared to be clutching his head, as if in pain. Takuya's breathing slowed, as he looked straight up into Kouji's dark blue eyes.
"K-Kouji?" Takuya stammered, confused.
Kouji smiled. "Takuya? Are you awake?"
Takuya looked up at him, confused. "Was I asleep?" He asked.
Kouji let out a faint chuckle. "Not exactly," He answered him. Kouji put his hand on Takuya's shoulder. "Welcome back, Takuya," he said happily.
Everyone sighed of relief as they saw that Takuya was responding normally again. Takuya rubbed his eyes, which no longer held that look of daze.
"My eyes are on fire," He stated with a small grimace.
'You haven't blinked since who knows when,' Kouji thought silently as he stared at the boy. Takuya looked around at his surroundings, confused.
What are all of you doing here?" Takuya asked. He then looked at his surroundings and gasped, "What am I doing here? Where am I? What's going on?"
"We were hoping that maybe you could tell us," Kouji answered.
"Me? What do you mean?" Takuya asked, obviously disoriented. He then clutched his head again.
"What is it? Does your head hurt?" Kouji asked, worriedly.
"No, it just feels numb. You know, like the feeling you get when you eat your ice cream way too fast, but the pain isn't really all there. My mind is racing. I'm so confused." He explained.
Kouji tightened the grip he had on Takuya's shoulder. The goggle-head took a moment to straighten himself up and then smiled.
"I'm okay. I just wish I knew what was going on here." Takuya answered.
Kouichi kneeled before Takuya and asked, "Do have any idea what happened to you?"
"No, that's why I'm asking all of you." Takuya answered as he began to grow nervous. 'What the hell did happen to me?' He thought to himself.
Kouji instantly took notice of Takuya's confused and worried expression.
"What is the last thing you remember, Takuya?" Kouji asked, whose hand still remained on Takuya's shoulder. At the moment, Kouji didn't care if anyone noticed his public display of affection for his best friend and crush or not.
Takuya then closed his eyes and began to think, "Last thing I remember was walking down the street. I had to go shopping for mom, which is why I couldn't meet up with you guys, if you recall. But then after that, I don't know. Everything sort of went blank and I ended up here." Takuya opened his eyes.
"How'd I end up here? How did I meet up with the rest of you?" He asked as deeper disorientation settled in his eyes.
Kouji let out a sigh. "That's a good question," He replied as he attempted to explain. After fifteen minutes of explaining, Takuya was brought up to speed. He bent down and slowly picked up his red and black D-Tector.
"So, we're returning to the Digital World? Wow, I'm guessing it must be in trouble again," Takuya spoke in a somewhat more calmer voice than earlier. He quickly put the D-Tector back in his pocket. "I'm sorry I spaced out or whatever, guys. I honestly don't know what happened to me, or how it happened. I don't remember anything. It was just blank, like a dreamless sleep, or like getting knocked unconscious."
"There's no need for you to apologize!" Kouji exclaimed. "It wasn't your fault. Don't worry about it."
Kouichi smirked at how quickly it took Kouji to respond to Takuya's apology.
'My dear little brother has it bad,' the older twin thought to himself.
Takuya then took notice of the sore sensation on his cheek. He rubbed it, wondering why it felt so sore. Kouji observed this and sighed.
"I hit you, Takuya. I'm sorry I did, but you were totally out of it. It was all I could think of," Kouji explained, genuinely apologetic, "You didn't respond in the least, not even after you hit the pavement. And trust me, it was a very hard punch."
"The Minamoto special, no doubt." Takuya grinned as he rubbed the red cheek. "It's okay, Kouji. Dude, if I was that out of it, then I guess you had to do something. I would've done the same in your shoes. I can't believe I didn't respond though. You have a killer left hook."
Kouji blushed slightly at the compliment and nodded. "Believe it, pal. You were completely spaced out."
He gave Takuya's shoulder a final squeeze before letting go. "I'm just glad that you snapped out of it, Takuya. It was quiet here without you." He cackled.
"Oh, so you're saying I'm loud, huh?" Takuya teased as he stuck out his tongue.
"You said it, not me." Kouji taunted as he closed his eyes and sat back down in his seat next to the goggle-head.
"Yeah, yeah…" Takuya replied, playfully rolling his eyes, before turning toward Tomoki and giving him a pat on the head.
Everyone began to converse with Takuya, cheerful that he was back to normal. The uncomfortably silent trailmon had somehow transformed itself into a very loud and happy one. Kouji kept his eyes closed, enjoying the sound that he had grown to love.
'Thank goodness he's back,' Kouji thought to himself. 'Thank goodness Takuya came back to us. I was scared to death that he'd stay that way forever. The silence, the unresponsiveness… It was unnerving. I thought I was going to lose him. I hope it never happens again.'
Kouji reopened his eyes and took a glance at Takuya, who was laughing at something that Junpei had said. He smiled. 'I prefer that lively laugh of his over that horrible silence from earlier, anytime.' Kouji contemplated to himself. Then, his smile turned into that look of seriousness that he always wore on his face.
"Takuya, I'm sure that the Digital World is involved with whatever happened to you earlier. I'll find out the truth one way or another, so don't worry, okay?" Kouji showed fierce determination in his eyes, which caused Takuya to blush. Too bad Kouji didn't notice it.
"Well, I hope you're not planning to find out alone," Takuya declared as that familiar look of determination shined in those fiery chocolate orbs of his, causing Kouji to blush as he stared into them, "Because I intend to find out as well. We'll work together, just like back in the old days."
"Of course," Kouji answered in that famous, low voice of his. He was inwardly jumping for joy to find that he and Takuya would be working together again.
Kouichi quietly chuckled to himself, taking notice that Kouji and Takuya had been so involved in their conversation that they'd once again forgotten all about the others.
"Don't think you're going anywhere without the rest of us," Izumi jumped in, breaking both boys out of their exclusive conversation.
"We wouldn't," Takuya answered her as he flashed a smile her way, "We're a team, after all."
Izumi grinned happily as the others began to join in for the "all for one and one for all" speech that was sure to follow.
Kouji sighed. 'Man, why is it that Izumi always jumps in the middle of everything?' He silently asked himself, but then brightened up. 'At least he said we were working together again. I would love that more than anything.'
Kouji then had the urge to slap himself for acting all giddy over something so ridiculous. This crush was getting worse by the second, but Kouji didn't care. He wanted to be near Takuya. He liked to be near Takuya. He wasn't going to stop, for any reason.
Kouji smiled softly as he stared at the happy and active Takuya, who was yammering on about how everyone was a part of the team and that they would work together to defeat whatever trouble was headed their way. Everyone in the group was nodding and agreeing.
'He'll likely try to protect everyone, just like last time,' Kouji contemplated as he felt himself blush at the thought of seeing that heroism in Takuya again, "And just like last time, I will protect him."
Suddenly, a light flashed through the windows of the car. The trailmon had entered the light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone shielded their eyes, not used to the brightness of the light. Kouichi was the first to refocus his eyes as he took a peak out the window.
"Guys, I think we're here," Kouichi announced, a bit nervously.
Everyone else turned to look out the window as well. It was the Digital World, and it was, surprisingly, all in one piece. There didn't appear to be huge chunks of data missing. It was very odd; definitely not what everyone was expecting. The Chosen Children had expected the Digital World to be in some kind of horrible trouble, like last time.
Tomoki sighed with relief. "It looks like it's all in one piece," He said as he gave a small smile.
"Looks can be deceiving," Kouji declared, in an untrusting voice that was reminiscent of the tone he used long ago.
"I wonder where this trailmon's destination is?" Junpei asked.
"I guess we'll soon find out," Takuya answered him.
The trailmon kept speeding toward its destination as the digidestined took in the view of the Digital World through the windows. Izumi pointed toward several tall mountains that they appeared to be passing. The mountains looked lush and plentiful, with their green vegetation, as the sun shined brightly upon them.
"Beautiful," She commented in a voice of awe.
Everyone else stared at the view and agreed, murmuring words of awe and wonder. Even Kouji let down his guard long enough to agree. Takuya's gaze, however, fell upon the valley below the mountains. The sun's rays fell on the mountains, forgetting about the tiny valley below. Takuya saw the huge shadow that cast down into the valley. Other valleys that stood at the foot of the mountains were refused sunlight as well. He stared at the dark horizon that no one else seemed to notice.
"Shadows…" Takuya whispered quietly, as he suddenly felt uneasy. No one else seemed to hear him.
A/N: Yay, chapter two is up. The actual plot began here. If you'd like to know the truth, this chapter was originally supposed to be part of chapter one. However, it got so ridiculously long that I was forced to separate it into two different chapters. I wasn't sure how it'd work out, but now I'm glad I did it. It worked out for the better.
Now that I'm back in class, I'll probably be updating every 1-2 weeks, depending on how everything goes. I'm not going to abandon this fic though, so don't worry. This fic is fun to write, because it takes my mind off of things. I'll continue to work very hard on it.
Hmm, I wonder why Takuya was catatonic? You'll just have to wait and see. I'm evil that way. All will be explained in later chapters. Oh, and I think you'll like the next chapter, hehe.
Thank you to all of the reviewers out there. You're all very sweet people. Your reviews made me smile. I'm so honored.
Kenzy-chan: Thank you very much. I plan on it.
KellyQ: Microsoft word keeps capitalizing your name, lol. Anyway, thank you. Isn't Takouji just the greatest? I think it may be my favorite yaoi pairing.
Kouji Kun: I promise to update as often as I can. Cliffhangers do suck, don't they? They're so evil. I'm glad you liked my story so much.
Dragi: Thanks! And thanks for wishing me good luck with this story. I need all the luck I can get to just find the time to write this sucker.
Takuya: Thanks very much. I'm glad you think it's cool.
Angel Spirit: You're very welcome. I'm glad too. This story is so much fun to write. Ooh yes, I totally agree with you. A jealous Kouji is a fun Kouji and it's always fun to watch Kouji's emotions flare when someone comes near his Takuya in fanfics. Summaries have always been so difficult for me. It's difficult to sum a story up in just a few sentences, for me. I'm glad the summary got your attention though. It makes me feel a little better about it. Oh gosh yes, yaoi is the greatest thing to come to me since I discovered Dippin' Dots. And of course, Takouji is the cutest, sweetest, most fun yaoi couple (in my opinion). And yes, Kouji's definitely the star in this fic. I can elaborate on his emotions and thoughts forever. Such a complex guy, Kouji is. (gives you a Kouji plushie) Hehe, yup, Koukou brotherly love (with Kouichi being all supportive) and Takouji angst is definitely the best. I'm so glad that you reviewed this fic. I feel so honored.
Now, be good little dears and review for me.
