I had more time to spend on this, so it should be more or less error free.
Diclaimer: Still don't own digimon. (Ooh, but I got the DVD last night! YAY!)
Though the Eyes of Friendship
Chapter 6
Takuya smiled slightly as he reached for his Digivice. His smile faded as his hand failed to find that small, but necessary, piece of equipment. He slid down to sit on the ground, his back to the Region Border stone. Great plan, Takuya! He could almost hear Koji's voice in his head, You're blind, you can't call for reinforcements and you haven't got a friggin' clue where they are!
He sat in his private darkness, angry at his disability, angry that it had dragged him back to this region, endangering his friends. He seemed to disappear in to the silence that surrounded him and then out of the despair a voice drifted into his consciousness.
"But, we can't stop now guys." Takuya remembered back. "We're so close. I can feel it, I really can. Please. Believe me."
"We'll keep going. Don't worry." Koji had replied.
His friend's simple, heart-felt words cut through his despair, pulling him back to reality.
"Come on, Takuya. You've got one option and you need to make it work! "
Takuya got to his feet, using the Border Stone to help, intent on keeping in contact with his only point of reference. Once up, he checked what supplies he still had in his pockets, as he had already noticed that his backpack, and contents were missing too. At least he still had his compass and a water bottle. Good basic essentials.
Sometime in the last few hours, Koji had said something about... Yes! Takuya's attentive, sharp mind remembered that little bit of information that gave him a starting point for his 'rescue mission', if he dared call it that. Koji had said to Kouichi that they'd been traveling south-east from the Stone. Takuya ran his hands over the it to establish which way it sloped and, knowing that it always sloped away from the region, he placed himself in his familiar position in front of the stone facing the lake. He then turned slowly around until his back was towards it, facing roughly in the direction they had walked away from his point of reference, remembering this from his first visit to the region.
Taking the pocket compass in his hand, he turned back and hit it against the solid rock, smashing its glass face, hoping that he had not damaged the pointer inside. Touching the compass gently with the fingers of his other hand, he breathed a sigh of relief. The device's hands were still intact and moving in search of this planet's north (or magnetic equivalent). He allowed the hands to settle, located north and twisted around to face south-east or at least his closest guess.
Takuya stepped forward, determination setting his features as he tried to convince himself that he didn't need to be completely accurate on his direction because would eventually reach the hill bordering the valley even if he didn't exactly follow their original path. As he took a few more tentative steps, he tried not to think about falling down ravines he could not see in his path. Three, four more strides and he could feel his confidence grow. Two more strides and his foot caught in a dip in the ground, turning his ankle and dropping him unceremoniously to his hands and knees, jarring his joints as he impacted with the hard, unforgiving ground.
Takuya cursed then panicked as he realized he'd dropped the compass. He desperately scrabbled around, blindly searching the earth around him. He needed that stupid thing. It was his only guide. He combed the dirt, trying to control the rising fear, then his right hand brushed something and he closed his fingers around the compass.
Takuya rocked back onto his heels and released the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He slowly stood back up, checked that he was still facing south-east and started walking again. A little more slowly this time and concentrating on trying to stay upright and head in the right direction, blissfully unaware that he was being watched.
The Aciesmon leader who had spoken to Takuya stood together with another of his kind watching Takuya's pitifully slow progress. They saw as he fell a few times and stopped every three or four paces to check a small instrument he held in his hand. "What is he doing?" he asked his companion.
"I do not know, my lord. He has not left this region and now he tries to travel the path to the valley."
"But why?"
The two continue to observe th boy's strange behavior then the leader added, "Does he attempt to return to his slaves?" His companion did not reply so the leader continued to ponder aloud, "This is very strange. None of Lord Lucemon's minions has shown any level of care towards his slaves and yet this one is putting himself through this in what appears to be an attempt to reach them. Very curious."
His companion clearly did not know the answers to his leader's questions. Choosing to ignore them, he said, instead, "Shall I kill the slaves?"
The leader, his eyes still on the strange one's behavior, shook his head and replied, "No." Then seeing his bemused look, added, "No, I want to see how long he perseveres with this. Tell me when he has given up." With one last look at what he thought was a evil follower of Lucemon's, he touched the brooch on his tunic and disappeared in a flash of white light.
(o)o(o)o(o)
Tommy, J.P., and Zoe were pacing. Koji had seen him do this for a long time now, and, although he believed it to be a pointless exercise, he knew it would be no use to indicate this to them. They tried to find a way out of their prison but had not been successful and now even Kouchi was showing the urge to pace.
A bright flash of white light from the other side of the archway caught Koji's eye, "Hey guys" Everyone stopped. "we have company."
Zoe stopped in mid stride and spun to face the entrance. The native who'd been doing all the talking before they'd been 'flashed' into this cell was standing the other side of the barrier. Koji strode so forcefully towards the arch, the creature could not help but take a step back despite the invisible protection. Koji inwardly smiled at the effect he had clearly had but stopped short of the barrier. "Where's Takuya and what the hell is going on!" he shouted.
The Aciesmon tried to regain his composure but stayed where he was. "Who is 'Takuya'?" he asked, keeping his voice level and almost disinterested.
"Who's Takuya? You should know, you good for nothing bastards blinded him. I want to know what you've done with himnow."
"Oh," the Aciesmon replied in understanding, "Takuya is the name of your leader. I am the leader of the Aciesmon."
"Takuya is not our evil leader. He is our friend and if you've hurt him so help me I'll rip your head off!" J.P. interjected.
The Aciesmon leader couldn't help but flinch at the anger in the slave's voice. He scanned the strange quartet. He had been watching them in the cell for the past few hours and had not seen the expected Lucemon slave disorganized behavior, concerned only for their own survival, not that of their fellows. Yet, these creatures were working together to find a means to escape, whilst showing their deep concern for the missing one. "Who are you and what is this 'friend'?"
Before J.P could explain that he wasn't a friggin' dictionary and what he'd do with one if he'd had one, Koji interjected, "We are the 5 legendary warriors sent here by Lord Serphimon and Lady Opahnimon." Koji reinformed.
"And a friend is someone who is important to us, someone we care about, respect, trust and we'd hate it if they were hurt." Zoe added.
"Takuya is our friend, Not a mean bully. He's always protected us." Tommy expressed.
"Please can you tell us where Takuya is and if he is okay?" Kouichi asked.
The Aciesmon appeared to consider the kids' words for a moment but then he touched the brooch on his tunic and disappeared.
"God dammit!" Koji exclaimed, kicking out at the invisible barrier and eliciting a flash of blue light.
(o)o(o)o(o)
Takuya sat on ground nursing his left wrist. He'd lost count of the number of times he'd tripped, ending up on his knees or all fours, but this time his left hand had slammed awkwardly into a stone in the dirt, causing it to bend in a direction he wished it hadn't. It was protesting loudly now at its mistreatment and Takuya could already feel the heat rising in the joint.
He really could have done without this latest set back but then it had been inevitable as he'd stumbled blindly along the rubblish path. He knew his progress had been slow. Even without the falls, he had to stop every few steps to check he was still heading in the right direction.
Knowing there was hardly anything he could do about his wrist right now and hoping it wasn't broken, Takuya checked his water. He was just about to get up and check his position on the compass, when he heard a rustling sound to his right.
Takuya felt a chill run down his spine and reached out for the large stone that had caused the injury to his wrist. Holding it defensively in his right hand, he yelled out, "Who's there? What do you want?" He tried to sound confident and defiant, hiding his rising fear. The rustling grew louder, nearer. Takuya shifted his position, facing in the direction of the approaching footfalls. He raised the stone threateningly. "Don't come any closer!"
For a moment the rustling silenced and then suddenly Takuya sensed a presence directly in front of him. Before he could react, the intruder was on him, licking his face and whining with ecstasy at finding a member of his lost group.
Takuya couldn't help but laugh, more through relief than actual humor as Koji's German Shepherd knocked him on to his side. "Scaff! You old rascal!" he said then added, slightly tentatively, "Koji? Guys?"
Silence.
He sighed. He hadn't really expected a reply, not that he knew why he just hadn't expected it. He tussled Scaff's ears, at least he was here and pleased to see him. "I guess it's just you and me, buddy." He sat for a moment, no longer feeling so desperately alone. Okay, so he'd rather it had been his friends but Scaff was a distinct improvement on no one. Takuya struggled to his feet, removed his belt and slid it through Scaffs's collar. "Come on, boy, let's find the others."
Scaff pulled Takuya to the young man's left. Takuya stopped him, knowing that was in the general direction of the region border. "No, Scaff, this way," he urged, pulling the dog around to his right. The dog hesitated for a moment and then headed back up the path down which he'd just come, content to follow his lead.
The odd looking pair made their way back towards the valley. Takuya knew they were making faster progress now. He still stumbled over the rough ground and even fell a few times, seriously aggravating his wrist, but at least he wasn't stopping every few paces to check the direction. He did pull Scaff up short and check his compass once, but they were heading south-east and so he left Scaff to his highly-effective and efficient senses.
They'd been traveling along the path for what Takuya thought was a good hour or so when Scaff stopped and started growling, a low threatening noise. Takuya halted next to the him, "What is it, Scaff?"
Several yards ahead, the Aciesmon leader, and his usual companion had appeared. The leader frowned and addressed the other Aciesmon, "Why has he not given up? I do not understand."
"Who's there?" Takuya asked tentatively, Scaff growling at his side.
"It is I. The Aciesmon Leader. Where are you going?"
Takuya jumped at the reply. Two emotions warred inside him, anger at the loss of his friends and fear that he would be sent back to square one. Keeping his voice as even as he could, Takuya answered, "I am going to get my friends and take them home. And you are not going to stop me. Come on, Scaff." He urged the dog forward whilst trying to look both defiant and determined at the same time.
The Aciesmon watched as the strange pair walked on towards him. Again, that word 'friend'. This was not the behavior of a the legendary warriors they had previously encountered. Here was a being who showed a strength of commitment to his companions and a deep compassion that moved the cynical Aciesmon. Maybe these 'people' could be trusted, maybe...The Aciesmon leader raised his hand towards Takuya as his other reached for the brooch on his tunic.
Takuya heard Scaff's growl deepen and then almost immediately felt a tingling sensation wash through his body. Oh, no! He was sending him back again!. NO! It had taken him ages to get where he was. He was exhausted! His wrist was throbbing, his whole body ached and felt like it was covered in bruises and cuts and scrapes. He didn't want to have to start all over again! "No, please, don't send me back. I just want to find..." His pleading was cut short as pain burst in his head robbing him of his breath. As the tingling increased so did the pain until his consciousness could stand it no longer and shut down, dropping Takuya into oblivion.
Ooh hoo hoo! The plot thickens!
Thanx for the reviews, and thanx for bearing though the makeshif storyline. ((Big Grin))