Fallen
Chapter 6: Funny
By: Blind Dark Fate
"It may sound funny… but I know I'm suppose to think it's wrong…"
~
As they promised, they were walking over to the secluded area of the park, after hanging out with Tomoki and Iori. Takuya took a glance at the boy beside him. Kouji hasn't spoke to him the whole day, and it got Takuya worried. He saw the raven-haired boy's face turned away from his gaze. Kouji's cheeks were tinted red. 'Is he…. sick?' He wondered. They made it to their assigned place. Takuya looked around and closed his eyes. He felt the wind whirl around him, welcoming him. 'Too bad this isn't all real…' He thought sadly. He opened his eyes and encounters the deep blue eyes of the raven-haired boy before him. Kouji instantly blushed and Takuya blinked in innocence "Are you feeling alright? You've been acting strange lately." Takuya asked curiously.
The raven-haired eyes became distant, and he shook his head. "C'mon, let's start." He said in an empty tone. Takuya looked a bit hurt on how Kouji was suddenly acting. Since this morning, the boy was a bit… turning back to his so-called-old-self, as what Izumi noted. Takuya couldn't understand why and how it happened. 'Maybe something is going on between his family? Or is it because of something else?' He wondered. Takuya sighed and gave up on guessing what the raven-haired boy would be thinking.
Takuya dropped his backpack off near the trees, and took off his black blazer and let it fall to the floor next to his school bag. He rolled up his sleeves and turned around to see the raven-haired boy staring at the ground. His bag was on the floor near his feet, and his blazer was on top of it. Takuya took in a deep breath. 'Well, here goes nothing. Just think of this as learning how to bike again…' He bit his lip. "Well… let's concentrate on how to gather your energy into a form. That way, it can be useful and less tiring to use during battles." Takuya instructed. Kouji just nodded.
~
He was breathing hoarsely. He felt the sweat trailing down from the sides of his face. He glanced up to see the brunette not looking as tired as he is. 'Well duh, he is more experienced then you are, and what… he's been fighting for five years.' Kouji stood up straight, and looked equally at Takuya. He had to hide his emotions. He noticed his sudden distance with everyone around him. His sudden realization of his feelings of this boy made him place that mask of coldness back on him. He didn't want him to know. Was it fear of rejection? Yes… and plus he didn't want to destroy this friendship he has with the only boy who seems to understand what he's going through, except for now.
"Want to rest? Don't want to over tire you." The brunette said softly. The two were at it for nearly two hours. Kouji somehow summoned his energy and formed it into two savers of light like swords. Then they went sparring. Takuya knew Kouji was not really in experience with swords and such. Kouji did say to him one time that he was studying kendo since he was five. So Kouji was no pushover. Though, the raven-haired boy did feel the easiness that the brunette was doing during their spar.
Kouji nodded slowly, and dropped to the ground. The afternoon sky was soon becoming dark. Takuya walked over and sat beside him. Kouji stiffened, but didn't say anything. "If we keep this up, you won't break much a sweat when you can gather your energy." The brunette turned his head and smiled at him. Kouji then tried so hard to resist a blush coming up.
"Koji, can I ask you something?" Takuya suddenly asked, in a bit of a shy tone. The raven-haired boy nodded. "Well… do you believe in what you see in your visions?"
Kouji blinked his eyes, not really understanding. "What do you mean? I can't really understand any of it anyways…" 'Well… sort of…'
Takuya bit his lip. "Kouji… do you know anything about your own… birth mother?"
He fidgeted. The subject of his supposedly dead mother was sometimes a sensitive case on him. He would sometimes blow up on anyone who even talked about her, but this time… it was different. Kouji shook his head. "All I know is that she died when she was young… at least, that's what my father told me." He said monotonously. He stared blankly ahead of him. "Why the sudden question about this? Izumi isn't brainwashing you in believe that somehow I'm related to Kouichi, is she?"
The brunette chuckled a bit. "No she's not… it's just that. I believe she could be right." Takuya sighed. He too was starting to get confused. "It's that… In my vision, I saw you. You were there with Ms. Kimura, and you were hugging her tightly. And it's strange… you never really met Ms. Kimura, have you?" Kouji shook his head. Takuya closed his eyes. "On Friday… Kouichi is going to invite us over as a study group, and for some dinner. You're going to meet her… and well… I'm just warning you, because you may be in a shock of your life." Kouji let everything sink in. He nodded slowly.
Takuya looked at his wristwatch, and widened his eyes. "Er, I have to get home. Hikari is going to get mad at me if she's home before I get there." Takuya quickly stood up and gathered his things. He smiled at bit at the raven-haired boy. "It's been quiet lately in the Real World… Something is coming up… and I'm not sure what they are planning." He said in a low tone. Kouji just stared blankly into his eyes. Then the brunette turned and walked away.
"Most of the visions I've seen do come true. Takuya did tell me once that I were to take them seriously…" Kouji whispered to himself. He saw the figure of the brunette disappeared within the trees. "I think I did see that vision once…" He bit his lip. 'Then that means my father has been lying to me.' He glared to himself. He got up and picked up his bag and blazer, and left the park to head home.
~
Flash
He was running down the dark streets of the deserted city. He looked up at the dark sky too see if he caught up with his winged friend. 'He could have waited for me…' There was a loud roar during their P.E. class, and he and Takuya had to excuse themselves from the class. Together they went through the boarders, and entered the Real World. Takuya was the only one who could cross that boarder, and Kouji couldn't find himself to cross, unless he was sleeping, and he wouldn't be real, just a projection. A group of running creatures told him that he was getting closer to the destructive Fiend. He could hear the faint cries of the creatures as they ran the opposite direction from him. After practicing for a few days, Kouji has gotten use to wielding his energy sword out with ease. He thought that his experience in the Real World was also another day of practice, but a bit tougher.
Kouji stopped and saw a giant plant like Fiend whipping its vine like appendages in attempt to knock out the airborne brunette. Kouji smirked and ran into the heat of battle. But he was stopped as shadow like Fiends rose from the ground. They were barely above the Kouji's knees, but they sure were quick and menacing. There had got to be ten of them popping out, and they came to attack him. 'It seems that whenever there is a big Fiend, these shadow Fiends appear along with it.' Kouji grinned widely, and twirled his sword in his hand. 'Oh well… at least I get to have fun.' Kouji went to strike the fiends down. They were annoyingly jumping around, as they normally do, but Kouji easily dodged their attacks. With a double slash with his double energy swords, he took down three fiends that materialized.
He could see, with quick glances, that the brunette had things under control, and Kouji didn't seem to be having a tough time. 'Because these guys are way too easy.' He slashed around once more, destroying the last of the shadow Fiends. Kouji looked around to make sure there weren't anymore small Fiends or injured creatures that didn't get captured. He saw it was clear, and Kouji went to see if he could help Takuya.
The brunette twirled around, dodging the Fiend's poison attack. As it's limb hit the building that area around it touched, melted. Takuya noted not to get touched by it's deadly attack. He saw Kouji running from behind the Fiend. 'I have to make sure he'll be safe. This one is a bit tougher…' Takuya gathered all his energy into the palm of his hand, and aimed at the raged Fiend. Kouji saw it's vine like arms swinging towards him. He jumped up to dodge it, and counterattacked with his light swords, cutting off one of the Fiend's defense. "Great job Kouji. Now try to cut off its other arm. I'll back you up." Takuya landed next to the raven-haired boy, his energy still gathered in his hand.
Kouji nodded and ran to the other side, to distract the fuming monster. "Right over here you overgrown weed!" He taunted. The monster screeched out loud and plunged down its vine upon the raven-haired boy. Kouji easily dodged it, and cut it off. "Takuya!"
The brunette straightened his arms out forward, towards the giant plant-like monster. Then he released his ball of power on it. It grew bigger and bigger until it hit the Fiend, and dematerialized it. Kouji watched as the glittering remains of the fiend float up to the torn sky. 'Back to its home, reborn as a Creature,' Kouji remembered Takuya telling him once. The brunette walked up to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nice teamwork." He smiled. Kouji quickly turned his head away, to hide his growing hot face. He just nodded in reply.
~
He ran down the streets to his destined location. He saw the rooftops of his school building, as he ran down the small hill leading to it. 'I'm going to be late.' He bit his lip. 'If my father finds out, he'll kill me…' He ran past the school gates, and ran into the school building. He dodged all the students in his way with ease. "Hey Kouji! Kouji, what's the hurry?" The boy slowed down, and turned around to see his look-alike in front of him. Kouji panted and looked up at Kouichi. "Silly, Kouji. Don't you remember that our 1st class was canceled?" Kouji narrowed his eyes and grumbled. Kouichi giggled, and grabbed the boy's arm. "C'mon, I think I saw Izumi walk into the library."
There was a big sigh, and the three boys looked up at the blonde girl in front of their table. "Hey Izumi." Kouichi greeted. The blonde pulled back a seat near Kouichi and sat down.
"I can't believe we have this stupid project that's due next week." Izumi whined. She sighed out loud and dropped her head on the table with a soft thud.
"Be glad that it's a group thing." Kouichi reminded him. He looked up at Kouji and Takuya who were sitting in front of them. "So, who do you suggest we interview? We need five students in our school."
Izumi raised her head. "Well, that wouldn't be too hard. I can ask Hikari if we can interview her and her little sister from the BBA." Takuya sank in his seat. 'Why her?' He wondered. "OH! And also there's Junpei! I know no one will get him, since he is your boyfriend, Kouichi." The boy blushed.
"Should we interview a senior as well? He already got two ninth graders." Kouichi asked. He was writing down possible people. So far, there is only two.
Izumi clapped her hands together. "I know! Takuya, you should ask your brother, Taichi!" She grinned widely.
Takuya bowed his head a bit. "He isn't in good relationship with his brother at the BBA." He replied softly.
"Oh well then… Ask Ishida Yamato then."
Kouichi saw Takuya's hesitant look. "Why don't you ask him, Izumi? You're very convincing."
"Okay! So, we got the head cheerleader, the quarterback, and a rock star. Hee. Hee. What interesting people we got on our side." Izumi giggled.
"Why do they have to be students that are known through out the school? How about other individuals?" Kouji suddenly spoke after his silence through out their meeting in the library.
Izumi looked down. "Well… these are the only people we know of, and are our friends."
"How about Ichijouji Ken, or Inoue Miyako?" Kouichi suggested, trying to draw away the tension.
Izumi put a finger on her chin. "Miyako is fine. So we have four." She looked at the others. "Anyone else you guys might be interested in?"
~
"Why do we have to interview this person?" Kouji grumbled.
Takuya looked up at him and smiled lightly. "Orimoto and Kimura are interviewing Inoue. It's either we interview her or Ishida. From what you heard from Kouichi, she is very… talkative, and I know that you won't stand her for one second." He grinned at him. Kouji scowled, knowing that it was true. He muttered a 'whatever' and they continued their walk to Ishida Yamato's apartment. It was a bit far from their school that they had to take the bus to his apartment, but it wasn't the far from their homes. "After we do the interviews… we'll be discussing our presentations to the class."
He looked up at the apartment building in front of them. He looked down at the scribbled address given to them from Kouichi. "I guess… this is it." They entered the building and took the elevator to the eighth floor, and found the Ishida residence. It wasn't the first time Takuya had been in the Ishida's apartment. He's been there many times, because his siblings were very close to them. Takuya just didn't remember how to get there.
Takuya knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal a shorter version of Yamato. The boy smiled. "Hey Takuya." He greeted.
The brunette shyly smiled. "Hello Takashi. Is… Yamato there?"
Takashi smiled widely. "Yeah, he's just getting dressed." He opens the door wider. "Come in, and sit down. I heard from Hikari that you were doing Ms. Mihama's project. I remember doing that last year. Kind of a major pain, but I passed it with a B." He shrugged. Takashi walked into the open kitchen and looked in the refrigerator. "You guys want a drink?" Takuya shook his head, and Kouji also turned down the offer. Takashi smiled and opened a can for himself.
The sound of a door opening caught everyone's attention. They all looked up to see the older blonde come out from his room. He had a towel around his shoulders, making the two younger boys think he just got out of the shower. "Hey Takuya." He turned his attention to Kouji and just nodded, and the boy responded with the same gesture. "So… I know it's a pain that you have to do this, but let's get this over with." He grinned. Takuya sank in his chair, and Kouji just shrugged.
After thirty minutes of questioning, they were sitting around the dining table, with Takashi joining them. Takuya stood up from his chair, and bowed his head. "I think I have to go now. Thank you for letting us come over, Yamato. Hikari might be worried now."
Takashi grinned wider. "Oh, don't worry about her, Takuya. Just stick around for dinner, even you Kouji, and then Yamato would drive you home."
Takuya shook his head. "Thank you so much for the offer, but I have to decline… I have other homework as well." He glanced at Kouji, and the raven-haired boy stood up as well. He slightly bowed as gratitude and the two boys were walking towards the door.
"I'll take you tow home then. Hikari would kill if she knew you're out there at this hour." Yamato took his keys and walk with the two to the parking garage.
~
"Your sister… is overprotective."
Takuya turned his head towards Kouji and blushed. "She really is… She's like… a second mother to me." Takuya looked up from his abandoned food on his lap. He stared up at the cleared blue sky. "I guess… ever since her mother died, she took the responsibility of being the one who'd look out for her family." He whispered.
"My step-mom… She's the only one who actually cares for me… but I don't give her a chance to get to know me very well." Kouji said truthfully.
Takuya glanced at the raven-haired boy sitting next to him, with their backs up against the fence on the rooftops. "I can see she really loves you, Kouji." The boy just shrugs. Takuya looked at his sandwich and rewrapped it and placed it in his bag. 'I'll let Tomoki have the rest.' He smiled at the remembrance of his 'little brother'. His relationship with the smaller boy was really close. The boy reminded his so much of his little brother, that it pains Takuya at times as old memories reside. Kouji may have never had a little brother, but the way Kouji's relationship with Iori seemed to go out naturally. 'Guess he had what he wanted…' Takuya smiled.
"Hey, Takuya?" The brunette looked at the boy beside him. Kouji was staring up at the sky, almost seeing the black-scarred sky. "Don't you find it odd… there are no attacks from the Fiends since two days ago."
Takuya smiled. "It can get like that. It's kind of difficult for the Fiends to enter our world. What I'm really worried about is the Crusaders… they've been quiet and I haven't seen them around for almost a month now."
"Since you mention them… I haven't even met one of them since I first went to the Real World." Kouji admitted.
Takuya looked down at his lap, as if he was thinking hard. The boy closed his eyes for a few seconds, silence surrounding the two boys. "Come on… class is about to start." Kouji stared at him, as the brunette got up and heaved his bag over his shoulder. The raven-haired boy followed behind him in silence.
~
"So I'll see you guys tomorrow?"
The three boys before her all nodded. Izumi smiled widely. "Then it's settled. We'll do final preparations for our project tomorrow night at Kouichi's house. Make sure you guys bring your sheets of the interviews, wouldn't want to lose those, now would we?"
Kouichi and Takuya nodded, as Kouji just stood emotionlessly. Izumi sighed at Kouji's cold attitude. "What? Your mother is giving you guys orders again?" they all turned around to see the ninth grade student, Junpei, coming up from behind them. He wrapped an arm around his boyfriend's waist. Kouichi shyly smiled up to him "So what's the plan?"
Izumi glared at the older boy. "For your information, this is our project, and you could be distracting us from getting that A!"
"Aw, come on. I'll be a good boy and just watch you boss these boys around. It'll be entertaining." Junpei said with ease. Kouichi and Takuya stared at the older boy, as if he just asked for death to rain upon him.
"Junpei…" Kouichi warned him, and tried to pull him back from the steaming girl. Then the boy turned to Izumi. "Well, I guess we'll all see you tomorrow." Kouichi looked at Kouji, and the two walked away as fast as they can, with Junpei trailing behind them. Takuya blinked, and glanced at the blonde girl. He backed away slowly. He bowed shyly, and turned to walk away.
"I'LL SHOW YOU BOSSY!!!!!" He heard her yell, and turned around, just in time to see the girl blast off to chase down Kouichi's boyfriend. Takuya could have sworn he heard a high pitch squeal of fear as he walked on. Suddenly his gleeful mood faded. An awkward breeze passed by. He quickly turned his head, and saw five shadowed figures standing there. He slightly closed his eyes, as the wind blew past him, circling around the five figures. The one in the middle raised his head, but Takuya didn't see his features. "Your time is up, angel. You're no longer needed in the Real World. Why don't you just sleep… like the rest of the fools, and give us the Spirits of the rest of the people." Takuya frowned. When the brunette blinked his eyes, the figures where gone. The boy frowned more, and went to walk away. 'The crusaders have new soldiers… not good.'
~
"Check Mate! I win!"
Takuya blinked his eyes confusingly and looked up at the smaller brunette before him. He gaped his mouth open, and watched as the little boy jump down from the bed and dance around the room. "Yeah! I won!" he giggled and threw his arms up with great success. Takuya smiled widely. "Great job." He replied, but then the boy stopped and turned to his 'older brother.' Tomoki frowned, and gave a tiny glare. "You better not have lost purposely, just because you felt sorry for winning three games in a row."
Takuya put his hands up in defense, and sweat dropped. "Um… no… it seems like you found my strategy." Takuya laughed out loudly. When he was around Tomoki, he felt like he could be himself again, like how he was to his brother all the time. He may not act this way towards Kouji all the time, but he knew he could feel safe when he was around him. Even though Takuya had more power, and almost two world's weight on his shoulder, he felt like nothing matters whenever he was around Kouji. Like he was tiny haven to get him away from all realities and illusions. Takuya blinked his eyes and flushed deeply at these thought. He shook his head, and turned his attention back to reality. Takuya nearly screamed out loud finding the smaller boy's face up close his face. "Gah! You nearly gave me a heart attack, Tomoki!"
The boy backed away, and bowed his head down. "Sorry… it's just you spaced out, and I was calling you. Then I noticed your eyes. Why are they two different colors?" Takuya became red and bit his lip. Tomoki neared his face again. "It's looks really cool, and pretty. Wish my eyes can be like that."
"Well… something happened to me when I was born, that's why I have two different colored eyes." Takuya was feeling a bit awkward. He felt wrong telling little lies to the younger boy.
Tomoki backed away again and sat down in front of Takuya, with crossed legs. "Can I ask you something?" The older brunette nodded. Tomoki had his hands between his legs and he bit his lip. "It may sound funny… but I know I'm suppose to think it's wrong… though some of the older kids in here are like that…" Takuya gave him a questioning look. Tomoki smiled widely at him. "Do you… I mean… Do you like Kouji?" Takuya froze on the spot. "I'm sorry I asked… it's just… I see the way you sometimes look at him and stuff. Even Iori thinks that Kouji likes you too! Sure I may be young… but I do notice things, you know." Tomoki leaned a bit forward and kept staring at the frozen boy. "So… do you?"
Takuya fluttered his eyes and looked down at the smaller boy. "I promise I won't tell! I won't even tell Iori, because you're my big brother, and I'll keep secrets, even from my best friend." Tomoki raised a hand up and he promised.
Takuya smiled softly at him. "Sadly… I don't know what I'm feeling now. It's just… so confusing to me, that's all." He answered truthfully, with his cheeks tinged with a faint red color. Tomoki smiled widely.
~
After their visits with their 'brothers', Kouji and Takuya both walked together towards Kouichi's house. They made sure they didn't forget the things they were suppose to bring for their projects. Kouji looked up at the small house that was at the edge of the city of Shibuya. Kouji heard from Junpei that Kouichi takes the bus to school, or sometimes walk it to catch up with Junpei when he knew that the older boy was going to walk to school late. Kouichi told Kouji that it was by instincts that he knew when Junpei was going to wake up later than the usual time. Kouji sometimes felt jealous that the boy that looked just like him, has a perfect relationship with the person of his dreams. Sure Junpei could be imperfect at times, but that's what makes him, him, and Kouichi loves every bit of him. Kouji shook his head and walked up the porch of the house. "Wait." He blinked his eyes at the faint sound, and turned his head towards Takuya. "Um… you sure you want to go in?"
Kouji eyed him questioningly. "What, you want me to call them and ask if we can like move our schedule meeting to someplace else but here?" Takuya shrunk back. Kouji sighed. "Visions are visions… weather they mean things or not. But I want to get this stupid project done, and get some decent grade." He shrugged and knocked the door.
"Kouichi, someone is at the door."
"Can you get it for me mom? I'm helping Izumi with this…"
"Sure."
Takuya heard footsteps nearing the door, and he held his breath. He stood next to Kouji, and would be the first to be seen by Ms. Kimura. The door opened to reveal the young woman at the door. She smiled widely. "Oh, hello Takuya and…" Then her eyes widened in shock as he saw the boy beside the brunette. Kouji as well was just as surprised as she was. Takuya fidgeted, and switched his weight to his other leg.
"Mom… who is it… oh hey Takuya, Kou…" Just as he was about to greet his look alike, his mother fainted, and fell backwards, into Kouichi. "Mom!"
"Ms. Kimura!"
To Be Continued…
((OH YEAH!!!!! Finals are OVER!!!! And I finally got to update on this fic. Yay! Sorry the ending didn't go right... I had to finish quickly, since I know how much of you want to read more of this, and I'm a bit lazy to read over and do some corrections. ^.^; Yeah, so the story is like jumping form here to there… I want to finish this fic as soon as possible, but I don't want it to be so short. I have another story in my head, which includes all Digimon seasons. But I'll have to finish this fic first. ^.^ Anyways… like it, hate it? Just give me some reviews, and I might post another chapter soon. So, I'll see you around… gosh, even my review is short and quick. Oh well.)) ***** had to repost and edit it. Fanfiction got screwy, so I added separators. Errr. Hope now it's less confusing ^-^