Disclaimer: Don't own digimon, never have, never will.
Chapter Twenty: Courageous Flames!- - -
"Kouji? C'mon Kouji where are you?" Takuya called out into the darkness of the cave. He shivered the darkness slowly beginning to get to him. Occasionally a hand flew to hold his head while his right hand kept a firm grip on his D-Scan. He didn't know what was in this darkness, but it scared him truth be told. He couldn't put his finger on why but it did. His ears strained, every so often, he could hear a soft sobbing sound but he continually dismissed them as his imagination. The young Goggle-Head sighed sitting down resting just for a moment, his legs ached. He had been walking/running for ever it seemed like. He stood after a moment moving again to continue searching however he was soon brought back to his knees. His chocolate eyes suddenly widened as he shook his right hand nearly dropping his D-Scan a memory flashing through his mind.
-
"Look its Takuya," a boy whispered to another as they snickered. "He's such a loser, he can't do anything right."
"I know and he's always getting sick everyday it seems. Talk about pathetic." A young seven year old Takuya gripped his backpack straps keeping his head down as he walked. Unlike his future self, his face was pale, rivaling Kouji's normal pale skin. Dark bags hung beneath his eyes which were cast downwards. Everyday he heard the same things. He felt like a total outcast in his school, a boy with no friends…
-
"Get out of my mind, none of that is true anymore…" Takuya muttered through gritted teeth as he stood again, forcing himself back to his feet.
"You believe that, but how do you know for sure?"
"Because," a slight grin formed on Takuya's face as he continued. "I believe in my friends!"
"Pathetic child" The voice muttered as Takuya pressed forward. With a look of no hope though, it was just a mask. Inside he was shaking part of him believing the voice. "Just try to convince yourself that it will be much more entertaining to me when your friends abandon you."
"They wouldn't do that…"
"How do you know?"
Takuya fell silent gripping his digivice tighter as he pressed onward. He knew it was most likely in his best interest to try his best to ignore his voice. But the memories forced their way back up into his mind. Things he hadn't thought about since he was younger… There it was again. That soft crying sound as he squeezed his eyes shut as it triggered another memory. A young brunette boy, lying in a hospital bed IVs attached to his hand. Doctors passing in and out, his mother crying. Takuya's eyes were wide tears forming in them as he muttered 'stop it' over and over again. He shook his head forcing himself to continue. He couldn't think about his own problems now… He had to find Kouji. Even if Kouji would abandon him later on in life, right now they were friends, and even if they weren't Takuya refused to leave someone he cared for behind.
"Kouji, please where are you?" Takuya shouted sweat beginning to slowly run down his face. Though he ignored it. His mind focused on finding his friend. He clung to all the good memories trying to fend off the bad ones. However, as he went on it became harder and harder. His voice was nearly gone as he tried to focus on what was ahead of him. Though that was just darkness.
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"Will Takuya be alright?" It was his mother, standing outside a hospital room next to his father.
"This attack was a harsh one, but I believe he will recover," the doctor said causing his parents to sigh in relief. "However, they seem to be getting worse each day…"
"I told you he shouldn't play soccer! It's too much!" His mother, she was sobbing now looking up at his father.
"He loves the game Yuriko, I thought it couldn't hurt. That he could gain strength." An argument broke out as a young eight year old Takuya lay awake in the hospital bed. An IV attached to his hand an oxygen mask over his face as tears leaked out of his eyes whispering to himself.
"Stop fighting… Stop crying Mom…"
-
"Stop crying, stop… Stop!" Takuya screamed holding his head the tears falling out of his eyes. He heard movement snapping his head up as he turned his head. The movement came from nearby. Takuya strained to see ahead though he was surprised at what he saw. Kouji sat in the darkness obviously having moved away from Takuya shaking. Be was curled up in a tight ball, but the thing that threw Takuya was… He was crying. Not once had Takuya ever see Kouji cry, and the dazed look in his sapphire eyes… It wasn't right.
"Kouji?" Takuya said gently approaching Kouji backing up until he was against the cave wall. "Kouji it's me, Takuya. Calm down, its all okay."
"Stay away from me!" Kouji shouted fear in his eyes… Another thing the Goggle-Head hand never seen in the Loner. Takuya remained where he was squatting down to eye level.
"Kouji c'mon buddy, let's go." Takuya whispered reaching out a hand to Kouji. The Loner hit away hard glaring at Takuya with his dazed blue eyes.
"How dare you talk like, like we're friends!" Kouji shouted forcing Takuya to freeze the voice's word returning to his mind though he dismissed it quickly.
"We are friends Kouji…"
"That's bull shit!" Kouji screamed tears racing down his face. Takuya looked at him a bit surprised as Kouji forced himself to stand in anger Takuya standing slowly as well. Though he felt as though the world had spun. "I don't have any friends! I never have and I never will!"
"That's the bull shit Kouji! You know you have friends!"
"No I don't Takuya… Friends… Allowing yourself to get close to another person only leads to pain! Sorrow… I don't need friends, I've survived long enough on my own! By myself!" Kouji shouted staring Takuya dead in the eye fully entranced by the voice's messages. Takuya looked at them straining to stay focused.
"Kouji, you know that's now true…"
"Shut up," Kouji said moving a hand to hold his head as he squeezed his eyes shut. "Just go away like all the others…"
"No… I'm not leaving Kouji! And you wanna know why? Because I am your friend!" Takuya glared lifting Kouji up ramming him into the wall. "I'm your friend Kouji! I fucking care about you! So does your brother, Izumi, Tommy, JP, Kira, Cat, Hex, Tails, Tony hell! Even Tanya! Snap out of it already Kouji! Scowl, glare do something besides crying like this… Please Kouji just snap outta it!" Kouji stayed there a bit shocked before looking at Takuya. The brunette had begun to cough harshly releasing his grip as he slowly sunk to his knees. The Loner stared in pure surprise watching Takuya as the boy tried to choke out the rest of what he wanted to say. "Pl-Please, I'm sor-sorry I didn't turn when yo-you yelled for help… I thou-thought it was the wind! I'm so, so sorry. It's all… All my… fault…"
"Takuya!" Kouji snapped out of the trance as Takuya's body fell limp the boy almost seeming to have problems breathing. Kouji cradled the Goggle-Head's shaking body as Takuya fell into another memory.
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"Takuya, why don't you sit this game out? Your just gonna mess the game up anyways." A snobbish sounding boy said more or less forcing Takuya to sit on the bleachers at the soccer field. The eight year old stayed quiet doing as the others forced him to do. He watched as the other boys played soccer. His skin was still greatly pale his chocolate eyes not full of life like they normally were. The young boy sighed standing up as he walked away from the field into the park.
'Why does everyone hate me? Why do they act like… Like I'm some fragile china doll? I know I've had bad attacks and I've been in the hospital off and on but… but…' The young boy stopped looking at the sky as he sat on a swing. 'I guess I'm just pathetic… I'm no use to anyone, I just make Mom cry… That's all I'm good at…'
"Hey Loser," Takuya snapped out of his thoughts turning his head watching as a group of children shoved another boy around. He watched wide eyed hearing the boy cry out for help as they shoved his face into the ground before leaving the boy curled up in a ball crying. Takuya stood walking over slowly though he didn't know much of what he could do.
"Hey are you okay?"
"Go away," the boy choked out his dark hair hanging over his eyes thick framed glasses covering his tearful sapphire eyes. Takuya looked at him sitting down.
"No…"
"Why? Just go away like everyone else!"
"My name's Takuya." The young brunette said earning a surprised look from the boy. Takuya just smiled gently at him. "What's your name?"
"… I'm Kouji," the dark haired boy said as he continued to look at the brunette boy in surprise. Takuya just gave his carefree smile though it was strange on his pale sickly face as he stood extending his hand to Kouji. The other boy looked a bit hesitant before slowly taking it. Takuya helped the other young boy stand as he looked him over earning another look from Kouji. "What?"
"Are you okay to walk…? Looked like those kids hurt you…" Takuya looked at him. True, he'd probably never see this boy again but… He looked like he was in need of a friend.
"I'm fine, I'm use to it…" Kouji muttered as he began to walk away, and to his dismay being followed by Takuya.
"Why?"
"I just am, this isn't the first time I was beat up."
"Haven't you told anyone?"
"Don't see the point."
"That's dumb."
"Its none of your business!" Kouji shouted turning around seeming to freeze Takuya. The brunette shrunk back looking down taking a step back.
"I'm sorry, I guess curiosity got the better of me…"
"Whatever."
The boy's stood in silence though one of them could've easily walked off. Kouji looked up however as Takuya's hand moved to cover his mouth coughing harshly. The small boy fell to his knees surprising Kouji as his free hand gripped his chest.
"Takuya! Hey, wh-what's wrong?" Kouji stuttered out as Takuya tried to choke out an answer a shaky hand reaching into his pocket though it wouldn't stay steady as he pulled out a inhaler. Kouji watched him before moving quickly helping the boy to take it by steadying his hand. Takuya gasped out for air finding himself now leaning against Kouji for support.
"I-I'm sorry," Takuya spoke after a moment or two smiling sheepishly. "I have really bad asthma… My attacks have been getting a lot worse these days. I've been in the hospital so many times beca- Oh sorry! I-I didn't mean to start complaining!"
"Its okay…" Kouji muttered before he turned his head hearing his name being called as Takuya heard his name being called in the opposite direction. "I gotta go…"
"Yea so do I. It…. It was nice meeting you." Takuya said standing again as did Kouji. He began to walk off before he stopped turning around. "Oh hey! Kouji!"
"What?" The dark haired boy turned before blinking as Takuya pulled a blue bandana out of his pocket. It had brown tiger stripes on it as Takuya pushed it into Kouji's hand smiling.
"Here! This way no matter where you are you'll know you have a friend!" Kouji looked at him before smiling a little.
"Thank you Takuya…" Takuya grinned before blinking as Kouji pulled the square goggles that had been hanging around his neck. The dark haired boy smiled giving them Takuya. "I think these'll suit you better then me. And this way when you have an attack you'll know you have a friend right next to you."
With these final good byes the two boy's walked off. Takuya gained new strength from the thought that a friend was always near him, the strength allowing him to get better.
-
"Takuya? Takuya please wake up…" Kouji… He sounded so scared. Takuya's head throbbed his mind released from the memory as he opened his eyes. They still sat in the dark cave though Kouji seemed to have found wood for a fire. Takuya felt a cloth pressed against his head obviously wiping away sweat. A blanket of some sorts was lying over his body as Takuya forced his eyes opened. After blinking a few times his vision focused as he saw Kouji sitting next to him with two exceptions. His bandana was missing, currently wiping the sweat off Takuya's face and two his jacket was off, lying over Takuya revealing his yellow t-shirt. Kouji hardly seemed to notice Takuya had woken crying slightly. "Please Takuya, wake up… Please…"
"What happened…?" Takuya finally spoke surprising Kouji who looked at him relief running through his face.
"You started coughing, and then passed out and you weren't breathing…"
"Asthma attack… God haven't had one this bad in forever." He muttered sitting up only to realizing he hand been using his red over shirt as a pillow while his hat, goggles and gloves laid nearby.
"You have a fever, take it easy." Kouji said as Takuya nodded keeping that in mind as he looked at Kouji.
"So uh, how am I alive if I stopped breathing?" Kouji just blushed deciding not to answer that question confirming what Takuya had thought. CPR… Though Kouji then moved picking something up from near by. An Inhaler.
"I found this in your pocket too; when I uh got you breathing I gave it to you…"
"Thanks, you saved my life." Takuya smiled as Kouji looked at him before smiling.
"Well, I wasn't gonna let a friend die…" The two just exchanged smiles the dark cave slowly vanishing as Kouji managed to convince the brunette to rest again looking up as the others came running relief in each of their eyes. Allowing Kouji to think one thing. 'I do have friends… And I'll protect them, no matter what.'
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"Is 'Nee-chan alright?"
"She's just gone into what we call 'Fangirl Heaven'." Tony said sipping her soda wisely while Megumi watched his sister. Currently, and due to the fact Kouji gave Takuya CPR, Tanya had hearts in her eyes as well as a nosebleed and was drooling buckets. Leaving really nothing else to say… well except this.
"TANYA YOU BROKE THE COMPUTER!" Yes, the fangirl had lunged at the computer, the screen going black.
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GG: I'm in Florida. Lalala Takky angst is fun. Yea, uh not sure what else to say. Have fun reviewing!