Fallen
Chapter 4: Friend
By: Blind Dark Faith
"I… made a friend… but it feels like we were ever since we met."
~
Takuya
The strangest thing happened to me about yesterday. I was fighting this Fiend that crossed boarders from their world to ours. I mean, it was normal, and it happens almost every day. But one thing bothered me that day. I saw him… Minamoto Kouji, standing there, staring back at me. He was there in the real world. But I don't know how. No one has ever crossed boarders from the dream world to the real world.
Ok, now you want me to explain these different worlds? I'd want to tell you, but it's not my place to tell you right now. No… No one would understand. No one is supposed to know about it. I thought those Crusaders were so smart on keeping the real world from everyone, but they're not. Who are the Crusaders? Well… remember that building at the ' Ruined Shibuya'? Well, that's their HQ. The Crusaders are a group of soldiers that are trying to fight off the Fiends that are crossing over. To tell you one thing, they're not doing pretty good at it. Their war machines and weapons won't work on them. After experiencing their attacks on them, it didn't even make them flinch.
Now, I'm the one doing the clean up work. Why isn't there anyone else helping me? Well, because I don't think there is… but maybe one can help. But I don't trust that person yet. No, that person can't be involved yet, when things are getting worse. I blame it all on those Crusaders. Somehow, their attempts to close the boarder of the Fiend's world to ours are failing. It's only making even stronger Fiends enter, and it's giving me a hard time to fight them off. The rip in the sky, that's the boarder. That's where the Fiends are appearing. It's like a permanent tear, showing the failure of those Crusaders. Gah! I'm telling too much!
What am I going to do, now? I know, somehow, he saw me fighting. And I know for sure, he's going to ask me to tell him, but how? I don't want him to know…I'm afraid he might… But why would I be afraid? Er… I can't even think straight. I'm so confused. Straightening my feelings and emotions is one thing I can't do. But if you throw me a sword and some monsters, I'd do it any day. Ok, now I'm also confusing you. Gee…
~
"Takuya!" The brunette shot his head up from his desk, and he looked around. He's fallen asleep while doing his report on a country. That's something that the boy would never do. But lately, he's been feeling drowsy for some time. 'It's those Fiends!' He frowned. "Takuya! Don't make me come up there!" The boy glanced at his door, and saw his stepsister come in his room. She had short light brown hair, and dark brown eyes. She could have been like the real sister of Takuya, except they aren't really blood related. Hikari was a year older than he was, and almost acts like their mother. She's overly protective of her stepbrother, and her real older brother, Taichi. "Takuya! Goodness! I was worried you left again without saying anything." She sighed.
Takuya smiled softly, then turned to finish his homework. The girl shook her head, and walked over close to the boy's desk. She bent over a bit, and peered over the younger boy's shoulder. "Finishing a report? Sensei-Mihama's class, right?" The boy nodded shyly. Hikari stood up and waved a hand. "Oh, don't worry about it. You'll do fine." She giggled. "Sensei-Mihama is such a softy, she'd let you go easily. I had her class last year!"
Takuya furrowed his brow, and turned around in his spinning chair. He pouted lightly, and crossed his arms. "Ok, what do you want, Hikari?" He raised a brow.
Hikari put a hand on her mouth and giggled. "What are you talking about, little brother?"
The boy made a face and shrugged his shoulders. "I know you want something. If it involves me going with you somewhere because…"
"Fine! Your right." She crossed her arms, and tapped her foot. "Look Takuya. You see Takeru is out with his brother in town. I think they're doing some bonding or something. Miyako invited me to go watch Ken and Daisuke's soccer game." Then she had her hands on the boys shoulder. Takuya grew tense, but relaxed a bit. "I don't want to leave you here alone. You might run out again and get hurt. Mom and Dad are gone, and Taichi went over to his friend's house." Takuya frowned. Both his stepsiblings know that the boy didn't make any friends. They even knew about the students in his grade are bullying him. The two are always too busy to keep an eye on their stepbrother during school. They felt very much guilty on what happens to Takuya. "So, come with me? Or I'll tell mom about that gash you got on your shoulder!" She threatened.
Takuya widened his eyes. He glanced at the girl and glared. All the wounds Takuya receives from Fiends, Hikari tends to them. Takuya doesn't say anything about it, but the girl assumes that it was the students who inflict them. And Takuya made his stepsiblings swear to not tell anyone about it, even though what the students in school are doing is wrong. The boy sighed in defeat. The look on the girl's face is one thing he couldn't stand. "Fine. But I have to come home early to finish my report."
Hikari jumped in delight. "Oh, you got all the time in the world!" she waved her hand. "Now go get dress." She ordered and left the room.
Takuya shook his head, and stood up from his chair. He walked over his closet and changed his clothes. 'I know there are a few who'd care for me as a friend… but I can't allow them to be. No… they'll all just be…' He looked at himself at the mirror after putting on a dark red shirt. He frowned inwardly, and sighed. He lifted his arms, and messed with his hair around. A thought came to him, and he chuckled softly. 'My hair is already messy. Hikari said if I mess with it more, I'd end up looking almost like Taichi.' He walked up to his door and was about to open it, but Hikari beat him to it. The girl opened the door, and gasped a bit. She smiled at him and giggled lightly. "Aren't you forgetting something?" She asked.
The boy looked around his room. His bed was fixed, and his stuff on the desk was neatly arranged. There was nothing he saw that rung a bell in his head. He looked back at his stepsister and shook his head. Hikari made a face and walked past the boy, into the room. She picked up something from the bedpost, and placed it upon the boy's hand. "Wear it, please?" She asked in a pleading tune.
Takuya looked at his hand, and saw a pair of goggles that was a gift to him. His eyes softened. 'This is what Hikari and Taichi gave me on my first Christmas with them…' He looked up at her. "You rarely wear it, and I saw it when I came in. I want you to wear it for me, please? It looks really good on you." Takuya lazily put the square shaped goggles around his head. Hikari's eyes lightened up. "Thank You! I know for sure you'll get more friends, because you look so cute!" She gave a thumb up and ran out. "C'mon, Takuya, or we'll be late." She called from the door.
The boy looked at himself in the mirror. His face was colored with a bit of embarrassment. He sighed, and opened his lower drawer. He took out a tan hat his stepfather gave him one day. The boy stood up straight and stared at his reflection. He took off the goggles and placed the hat on his head, then the goggles. 'Don't want anyone to notice me.' He frowned. He lowered his hat, to let his eyes be shaded. Then the boy walked out his room, and down the stairs towards the door.
~
He walked behind the little group in front of him. He watched as his stepsister talked freely with her friends, and they all laughed together. Takuya sometimes felt a bit envious at times when he sees them. He wants friends, but he doesn't want any. It just made his feelings even more confusing to him. He can't sort everything out that's within his heart. His mind and heart can't agree on anything, so it's eating the boy up sometimes.
It was after the game, and the four friends, Yagami Hikari, Inoue Miyako, Ichijouji Ken, and Motomiya Daisuke, were walking to a food place. Hikari and them made the brunette follow their little group. The boy stayed quiet the whole trip. Takuya really wanted to turn his hat around to block his eyes, but Hikari made the hat go backwards before they reached the fields. He didn't like it, but Miyako commented when she saw him. She said it was really cute on him, making the boy even more embarrassed. Hikari's friends are really nice to Takuya. They want to accept him as part of the crowd, but he tries to seclude himself from them. When Taichi makes the boy join his circle of friends, the boy felt really out of place. Takuya was five years younger than anyone, and yet they act really nice to him as well. And it annoyed Takuya very much. 'Why can't they just leave me alone?' He wondered all the time.
"Say, Takuya." The brunette looked up and saw the taller tanned boy. Daisuke was part of the soccer team, but not in the varsity team, yet. He idols his stepbrother, and also constantly wears the pair of goggles that the older boy gave him. "Are you going to be in the Fencing Club this year with us again?" The maroon-haired boy asked.
The Fencing Club was something that he, Ken, Taichi and another boy, Ishida Yamato, created. Of course the boy would join. He enjoyed the art of Fencing, even though not many people are interested in it. Ken was pretty good at it, but Yamato is the 'best' and he was chosen President of the club. There was an instructor there too, teaching and moderating the club. Takuya could easily defeat any challenger, but he would stay low, and mark him self as one of the top ten. Takuya looked up at Daisuke. "Maybe…" He said in his quiet tone.
Hikari slowed down and placed an arm around her stepbrother's shoulders. "You know that he will… Taichi is going to make him do it anyways." She and Miyako giggled knowing that it was true. The boy lowered his head, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"I know you'll be a great Fencer. I can tell that you really enjoy it." Ken smiled, and said in his usual calm tone. Takuya looked up at the blue-haired boy. He and Daisuke were the best of friends, and became closer than that.
Takuya bowed his head. "Thank you, Ichijouji."
The dark haired boy just shrugged it. "Next to soccer, I know I like fencing too."
"Playing with swords isn't something you should do anyways." Miyako said. She tucked a few of her lavender hair from her face, and she adjusted her round glasses on her face. The girl is the oldest among them, maybe the same age as Junpei. But she was the same grade as all four of her friends. She and Hikari are best friends as well. But Hikari is dating Takaishi Takeru, and Miyako is a boy-crazy type of girl. "Plus, what's the use of learning how to fight with swords, when we are in the twentieth century." She mused.
"For you information, Miss Smarty-pants. Fencing is like a hobby. It can be a sport, but we do NOT use swords." ((What do the use anyways?)) Daisuke glared at her, and the taller girl glared at him back. Takuya was laughing to himself. He sometimes enjoyed watching Hikari's friends when they hang out. It sometimes makes him want to be like them with really nice friends. 'Aren't Orimoto, Kimura and Shibayama your friends already?' He heard his mind question. 'No they're not.' He argued. 'They're just… acquaintances.' 'But what about Minamoto?' Takuya felt his heart froze, and his face burning. "Hey, are you ok there, Buddy?" Daisuke's voice snapped the boy back to reality, and he looked up at the older boy. Takuya shook his head, and continued walking with them.
~
Flash
His breath was hoarse. Beads of sweat were trailing at the sides of his face. The glow in his eyes faded, and he stood up straight. The shadows of the buildings were casting upon him, and everything was silent around him. He looked around and scanned the damage that happened in his battle. He saw the tiny essence of the monster he defeated floating back to its own world. The hiding creatures were appearing, coming back to their destroyed homes. The look on their faces was making the boy frown. 'This is their only home left. The creatures here lost their home because of those fiends. ' He clenched his fists.
There was a distant sound that alarmed the boy. He instantly looked up at the dark sky. Booming sounds of helicopters echoed through the city streets. Spotlights were moving about down it. The creatures around Takuya all scurried away, hiding in fear. The brunette stared straight forward, and curled his hand into a fist. He stood still, as one light shined upon him. He couldn't hear anything but the loud beatings of the propellers turning. Long lines of rope trailed from above, and masked soldiers dressed in black slid down from it. 'Crusaders…' Takuya sneered at the name.
The leader, as Takuya recognizes, had his finger at a microphone, that connects to an earpiece. Takuya narrowed his eyes, as the leader pointed towards different alleys. The black soldiers nodded and all scattered, and disappeared into the darkness. The leader glanced at the small boy, and smirked. He neared him, but the boy didn't flinch. Takuya just glared up at him. But he had to squint his eyes through the light above him. "Listen kid… we know all about your powers, but tell me this… How do you plan to keep this up much longer?" The man had a deep and eerie tone, but it didn't scare the boy. "The fiends are getting stronger, you'll eventually fall, and you won't be able to protect your precious real home. Why don't you just sleep like the rest of them, and release the Spirits so they too can sleep. You'll be safe with us, and you don't have to worry about the Fiends anymore."
Takuya closed his eyes, and turned his head away. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass. Resting is tempting for me. After fighting for some time, I could use the restful sleep, but I can't. My duty is to protect the real world from the fiends and you. And I won't rest until I fulfill my mission." He glared hard at the Crusader. He saw through the dark lens of the man's mask, and can see the outline of his face.
"Pathetic." He spat. The man stood up straight and smirked. His men came back, but with something in their hands. Takuya looked around, and his eyes widened. There were struggling creatures in their grasp, and they were cowering in the light. Anger washed over Takuya, and he gritted his teeth. "Let them go." He said calmly.
The leader glanced down at the boy and his grin widened. "Why should we? They are part of them, and they came from their world. Plus… they are living in our world, and we need to get rid of all the monsters." He said in a low tone.
"Let them go… they have done no wrong, and the reason they live here is because their world is destroyed!" he can feel his clenched fists shaking. "It's all your fault our world is dying." His eyes flared with his rage. The man had his arms crossed, and he just had that evil smirk on his face. Takuya lowered his head. " Let. Them. Go. Now." He warned coldly.
The man snapped his fingers, and the black soldiers all hung on to the ladders that came down form the helicopters above. Soon the Crusaders were rising up into the black sky, and the leader was the last, watching the boy. The spotlights danced away from the lone boy. The man smirked as Takuya disappeared from view, and he was raised higher, and back into the flying machine. He glanced around, and saw that the creatures were being put into cages.
As the man was satisfied, he took off his helmet, and sighed out. He shook his head, and let the beads of sweat sprinkle from his pale face. He brushed his golden locks of hair, and glanced out of the doors of the helicopter. He could see the base in view. 'For five years we've been engaged in this demonic war. All our hard work in keeping our residents safe, but somehow, those pests are entering the Dream World.' He narrowed his eyes. They were getting closer to their HQ. 'Only our city is suffering, as the whole world is healing from that great power surge that occurred years ago. That stupid boy put that stupid shield, so the Fiends won't spread further than Shibuya. It's futile; he's growing weak as the Fiends are growing stronger.' He glanced at his men lounging around in the helicopter. 'But what can we do once the boy is gone? We can't fight the fiends with our weapons and technology. Only that stupid boy and his powers are the only ones who defeat them.' He growled and narrowed his eyes. 'Stupid boy…'
There was an explosion, and it shook the whole aircraft. The man held on to a bar, and glanced outside. There, flying beside the helicopter was the boy. He had that look of anger flaring in his glowing eyes. In his hand was his silver sword that blazed with fire on the blade. The helicopter was going out of control, and another explosion was set off as Takuya released a ball of fire at it. The man gritted his teeth and placed back his helmet. "The aircraft is going down, everyone evacuate, and bring your weapons. We're taking down that boy too!" They all jumped out of the helicopter and landed on rooftops. Everyone quickly got up, and the leader narrowed his eyes. On signal they started to launch their firearms at the airborne boy with no hesitation.
Takuya flew around, dodging their attacks. He headed into the vacant aircraft and saw the cages filled with some creatures. With his strength, he broke the bars. "Don't worry, you're all going to go back to your homes safely." He assured them. They all thanked him. He placed his hands out, and a shield appeared around them. Takuya flew out of the helicopter, just as it exploded, and the shield with the creatures was tailing behind him unharmed. There was a wave of ammo aimed at him, but Takuya swiftly dodged it. He flew away as fast as he can from them, with the creatures behind him.
The man growled at the fleeing boy, and ran up towards the edge of the rooftop. "You're not getting away easily!" he swore to himself. He took out his own weapon and aimed it at the boy. With one shot left, he fired it. "Stupid boy." He growled.
Takuya winced in pain as the bullet hit his upper arm. He quickly put pressure on to his wound with his other hand to stop the rushing blood. He glanced behind him as he saw the creatures looking at him with worry. He gave them a small smile to assure them he was fine, and turned his head forward. 'I promised their goddess that I'd protect them as well. I won't fail them, or my world.' With all his might, he flew into the darker parts of the city.
~
The sky was cloudless, and very blue. It was clam, and a gentle breeze was in the air. Drowsiness was taking over his senses, but he was trying hard to stay away. Takuya was alone on top of the school building, as always. He leaned against the building wall with the door leading back inside. He sat down, with one leg propped up and the other outstretched in front of him. He had one hand over his recent wound that still burned through his skin. Hikari was really furious when she found that gunshot wound. She was basically scolding him, as she tended to it. Takuya did get the bullet out, with the help of the creatures. But he can still feel the pain lingering in his arm. 'That was no ordinary gunshot.' He thought to himself, as he glanced down as his bandaged arm.
"Hey, Takuya." The brunette looked up in surprise, to find Kouji. The raven-haired boy grinned a little, and then walked up to him. He plopped down beside the boy. It's been a week already, and Takuya was still waiting on when the boy would ask him about him fighting those monsters. Yet, the boy hasn't said anything. The two have been hanging out on the rooftop for sometime. They'd have their small talks, but nothing about that other world. Takuya didn't mind the company at all. He actually enjoyed having the raven-haired boy around. Slowly, he was opening up to him, but he was a bit hesitant on telling him personal questions. "What are you up to?" Kouji asked. He leaned up against the wall and stared at the cloudless sky.
The boy just shrugged, and he let go of his arm. "Kouji…" His voice was small, and still shy. "…Why do you like hanging around with me? It just bothers me that you don't think I'm… a freak, because I can… disappear or something." His voice became a whisper.
Kouji shook his head. "I don't think you're some freak." He brushed some strands of hair from his face. His eyes shined with the blue sky. "I just like… to hang with you. You're a nice person, and you're no different than any of us." He shrugged. "No matter who you are, some alien, some monster… I'd like you for who you are." Then his face brightened in red. 'Did I just say I like him!?'
Takuya also had the same thought, and he was blushing deeply too. 'He likes me!?' He shyly glanced over to look at the boy, but he kept his head straight forward, avoiding looking at him. Takuya turned away and his gaze softened. "Kouji… do you think… am I your friend?" He asked in his shy tone.
The raven-haired boy turned his head, and stared at the boy. Takuya had his legs folded close to his chest, and his arms were wrapped around them. Takuya's eyes glanced at him, but then looked away. The boy smiled to himself. "Only if I'm your friend." He replied.
Takuya looked up at him, and their eyes met. It was like Kouji was in a trance, and he hasn't noticed it before. Takuya had two eye colors. One was gray and the other was a chocolate brown color. His mouth gaped open at the two contrasting colors. Takuya blinked his eyes, and nodded his head. Kouji blinked his blue eyes and tilted his head. He smiled after finding out Takuya also thinks of him as a friend. 'I… made a friend… but it feels like we were ever since we met.' He thought.
"I'm curious." Kouji blinked his eyes, snapping away from his thoughts. He glanced at the brunette, and gave a puzzled look. "Kouji… I've seen you during my fights, and I'm guessing you were there, somehow. How come, you never asked me yet, about it?" He asked with furrowed brows.
Kouji raised a brow. "Well… actually, it would slip my mind." Takuya face faulted. 'I bet he never would forget things… he's playing with me.' Takuya frowned mentally. "Then tell me, about that world." He asked in a polite tone.
Takuya look surprised at first, but then he bit his lip. "Well… it's hard to explain, and I might confuse you."
Kouji leaned back on the wall. "Well, we do have all the time we need. Our last two classes are open for today. Ms. Mihama is at a meeting with some of the other teachers." He reminded. Takuya mentally kicked himself on the head for forgetting. 'Must have dozed off during class.' Something the brunette would rarely do.
Takuya leaned on the wall as well, and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, and just listened to the muffled sounds of the students chatting below. 'I trust him… I really do… He's my friend now… I should have noticed that before…' Takuya opened his eyes, and glanced over to Kouji. He too had his eyes closed. The wind was gently blowing by, playing with his loose stands of dark hair that escaped his ponytail. 'I didn't notice how cute he was…' Takuya turned deeply red on his face. 'Did I just say that!?' The boy cleared his throat, and Kouji opened his eyes, and gave him another bewildered expression. "Well… I can't um… explain if I don't know where to start." His face was faintly colored pink. Kouji just thought of it as embarrassment, which was half true.
"Well… tell me about that world I keep seeing, and those creatures, and that giant building in the middle of the city." Kouji suggested.
Takuya chewed on his lip. "Well…" Takuya lowered his head. "That world is known as the Real World." Kouji stared at the boy, keen on listening. Takuya glanced at him. "It's called the Real World, because this world," He looked around at his surroundings. "This world is not real." The raven-haired boy raised a brow, but didn't question. "This world is called the Dream World."
"So there are two worlds." Kouji replied. Takuya nodded.
He closed his eyes, careful on choosing his words. "Yes." He licked his lips. "It all happened in about… five years ago…" he started.
To Be Continued…
((My predicament was right! I do have fewer reviews than my last chapter. Boy, aren't I such a pessimist. Oh well. Anyways, this chapter doesn't have that much going on. Except that Takuya finally accepts Kouji as a friend. Then you got to meet Takuya's stepsister, Hikari. I know what you're all thinking! The casts of Digimon 01 AND 02 are in it! I know, isn't it cool? Well, to me it is. I'll also be adding the characters of Digimon Tamers. Oh wait… I think one of them is already in it. But I won't tell you! Everyone is so OOC!!! And I like it! It does seem a bit in a fast pace, isn't it? But I want' to get to the point of the story, and to the romance. Hee! Hee!
Next chapter, Takuya will explain everything to Kouji. How would Kouji react? Will he still want to be friends with Takuya? Would he believe him? I don't know, but that's for you to find out. I'm thinking of scanning and posting my arts on this fic somewhere, and sometime soon. ^-^;; They look a bit funny, trust me. I'm no artist or anything. Heh. Heh. And, I promise to add some more scenes with Izumi, Kouichi, and Junpei. And when will Tomoki show up? XD I'm not telling you yet, but he WILL be in it. I promise! Er… I shouldn't promise when I'm not so sure I can keep it. Er…
Anyways, thank you for the reviews: firelight102003, kellyQ, Crystal Ketchum Darklight, Ice Itako, micki5, Kioko of Grunge, and Splash-Yaoiluv I really appreciate your comments, and reviews. ^.^ Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy reading this, as much as I enjoy writing it. @.@))