Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Digimon. If I did, it would be filled with Takouji fluff!

Ayeka: Well, I'm back again and excited to write an angsty chapter. I love Kouji to death, but he's just so easy and fun to torture. Also, all the angsty stuff makes the Takoujiness even better! Thanks to all those who reviewed!

Well now, on with the story!

WARNING: Contains shounen-ai (guy/guy relationships). If you don't like it, then I suggest you turn back now...

Thoughts

"Speaking"

(Author's note)

P.O.V.

Forbidden

Chapter 1: Child of light, child of pain

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Kouji's P.O.V

"It's all you fault your father's gone! You just had to go and tell him that you had found your real mother and get him all upset. Because of you, he accepted that assignment in Hong Kong! Now he'll be gone for the next week or two!" My stepmother, Satomi raved, slapping me hard across my face. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. She'd only become nastier if I showed her tears. "You just had to go and find Ms. Kimura, didn't you? Making your father seem like a fool when you found out she wasn't dead must've felt good, huh?" She continued her yelling and I felt a harder slap across my face. This one was much harder than I had expected and in my surprise, I was sent back into the wall, wincing as my head connected with the plaster.

Satomi paid no attention to the fact that I was in pain as she grabbed my arm painfully, digging her nails deep into my skin, hard enough to make it bleed. Still I refused to cry out although I was screaming in my head. "The shame you made me feel when you said that you had found her! Your father may not have noticed, but I saw the look in your eyes when you said it! Well I've got news for you. If you think that just because you've found your birth mother that you'll be rid of me, then you've got another thing coming! Just remember that your father has custody over you, so you're not going anywhere! And I suggest that you behave because while he's gone, I'm in charge and unless you're extremely good, it'll be a whole week before you can see your bastard of a brother, Kouichi, or your pathetic little ditz of a friend, Takuya!"

The whole time she yelled, digging her nails deeper and deeper into my skin, I refused to show her my anger. But the second she began calling Kouichi names, my fists clenched tightly, ready to punch her if she continued. It was when she began demeaning Takuya that I finally exploded. She can hit me and yell at me all she wants, but I won't allow her to speak ill of my brother and friends, especially Takuya. I thought angrily, as I took action. Because she was holding my arms, I kicked her hard, surprising her and making her release me. Taking advantage of the few moments I had while she was stunned, I raced out of my bedroom, where I had been preparing for tomorrow's sleepover at Kouichi's before she came in.

I was almost at the top of the stairs when I heard her right behind me. She was faster than I had expected. Hurriedly, I made it to the top of the stairs and started to go down, but before I had even gotten down to the third step, a hand enclosed around my wrist, stopping me from proceeding any further. I turned and tried to slap the hand away, but it was my stepmother that got the first hit. Her eyes blazed with anger and humiliation as she punched me square in the face.

Now my stepmother has hit me many times before, slapping me over and over at least once or twice a day. But never before has she punched me. And let me say, she punches hard. So hard that I went flying backwards which should have been alright if she hadn't suddenly released my wrist, surprised at her own actions.

Time seemed to run in slow motion as I fell through the air halfway down the stairs. I finally came down which a sickening crash, my back connecting with several steps. I cried out in pain as my body continued to roll down the stairs on its own, ignoring the futile attempts I made to stop. The rolling ended quickly as I reached the bottom of the stairs with gaining speed, finally crashing into the wall(1), my right arm hitting it first only to be crushed by the rest of my body a second later. My head was thrown into the banister with a sickening thud. I lay in a crumpled heap against the wall, unable to move. My vision was blurred and I could feel myself falling into unconsciousness. From above me, I could hear footsteps fading and I realized that my stepmother wasn't going to help me. She's probably just going to leave me here to die or finish me off herself. I thought miserably as I tried to fight the darkness that was rapidly closing around me. Maybe it would be better if I just allowed myself to die. No one would care...they'd probably all be happier. Well, all except maybe Takuya.

Tears fell from my eyes as the darkness covered my vision. I was too weak to move, everything hurt, but as I thought of Takuya, I knew I couldn't give up. My best friend and secret crush would never forgive me if I just quit. I have to get out of here before she comes back and tries to finish me off. I didn't know if my step mom was capable of such a thing, but my head was spinning and I suddenly felt panicked and afraid for my life. With new strength, though not alot, I used my good arm to lift myself up, ignoring the pain coursing throughout my body. I can remember having much worse injuries than these when we were all back in the Digital World. This pain should be nothing. I pulled myself up into a sitting position, panting hard but determined to get myself out of this hell hole. My right arm was sprained, that much I could tell, but I used it anyways with my left arm to readjust my bandana which was allowing my long blue/black hair to fall into my face. Feeling a sticky substance in my hair, I brought my hands down and cursed at the blood that was on them. Once again, gritting my teeth against the pain, I used my hands to adjust and tighten my bandana over the spot where I thought the blood was originating from. Then, using the wall for support, I pulled myself off the ground and stumbled down the rest of the steps, trying to shake off the darkness which threatened to take over my vision.

I limped towards the door, stopping only for a moment to slide my shoes on and grab my blue windbreaker. As I left my house, another wave of dizziness hit me, almost causing me to blackout. But I was too determined to get away from my 'home' that I tried to ignore it and kept moving. Eventually I got so dizzy that I felt as though each step I took was being made by someone else while I was sitting in the back of my mind, watching my body attempt to run away.

It seemed like an eternity before I could no longer ignore the pain and dizziness. Although I wasn't as far away from home as I would have liked, I looked around, trying to find a place where I could rest. Spotting a big pile of boxes in a nearby alley, I made my way over to them and settled behind them, making sure that I sat in a spot where anyone passing by wouldn't notice me. Leaning back against the way, I closed my eyes and finally allowed myself to fall into a blissful state of unconsciousness. This is going to be one hell of a summer.

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(1)-- I don't really know how to explain what the stairs are like. I made it so they go straight down, then there's a little landing and a wall at the bottom before they turn and stairs continue to the floor. If that made any sense, I congratulate you.

Ayeka: So how's that for my first official chapter? It seems kind of short to me, but hopefully they'll get longer as I continue. Also, for the most part it was kind of uneventful, but that will soon change.

Well, I'd better go work on the next chapter...Don't forget to review!

Cyaz!