Chapter 16 - The Beginning and The End
"Speech"
'Thoughts' 'Memories' 'Other'
"I'm going for a walk." Takuya called into the house.
"Alright. But you'd best be back before dinner."
"Whatever." Takuya said in a somewhat chipper mood as he closed the door behind him.
The night air was calm, a soft breeze ran through the air. Takuya stopped after a few minutes and took a deep breath.
"Man...what I would've given for a night like this in the digital world." he sighed with a laugh.
The digital world had been on everyone's minds. You couldn't forget such a place...where so much happened and so much changed...But they didn't usually talk about it unless it was just their little group, no one else would have believed them anyway.
'Ta...ku...ya...'
"Huh?" he flipped around but no one was there. "Ooook...freaky..." he put his hands in his jacket pockets before beginning to walk away, slightly worried about that voice.
He was nearing the park now...
'Come...to me...'
This was a different voice, more evil than the last...Takuya suddenly felt afraid. He began running through the park, as if trying to escape whatever was calling to him.
'Takuya!' the first voice! 'Takuya watch o-'
But the warning, from whomever it was, came too late. He felt himself getting colder...a mist was filtering about him, the air strangely cold...
Black wings descended upon him, he didn't even have time to scream.
'Takuya!'
'Agunimon!'
-
Kouji sat next to Takuya's bed, in the hospital. His knees were to his chest, his arms wrapped around them as he sat on the floor.
They'd been told...that Takuya was really...blind...
He hid his face in his knees. The others had gone home just minutes ago, Zoe and Tommy in tears. Worse yet, Takuya had been asleep for days now...it wasn't helping matters.
The Kanbaras were baffled at how Takuya got in his condition, not that any of the kids had told what really happened. Takuya's mom hadn't stopped crying except to eat and such. Her eldest son was gonna be blind...for the rest of his life...and who knew when he'd wake up either.
They finally had Takuya back...and now this...
"Hu-"
Kouji's head snapped up. Takuya's voice? He could hear ragged breathing, like when you run. He grabbed the side bars to the bed and hoisted himself up to look over the side. Takuya, who had been sleeping peacefully, was now sweating badly and breathing ragged. Something had gone terribly wrong...
"Takuya?" Kouji asked, touching the boy's shoulder. "Takuya!" he called, shaking his friend.
"A...gu..." Takuya breathed out. Kouji paused.
'Agu? Agu what?' he wondered.
"No..." Takuya lashed out, knocking Kouji over and being released from said boy's grasp.
Kouji stood up. He walked over to Takuya's bed, slowly and calmly, before he raised his fist and-
-punched Takuya.
"Wake up dammit!" he yelled, just before a nurse came in, coming to check the high levels on the monitors.
"What did you do to him?" she asked, fearful.
"He's having a nightmare, I gotta wake him up!" Kouji defended. The nurse took hold of his wrist and began to try and pull him out of the room.
"Sir, you have to leave. You can't hit a patient." she ordered. Kouji didn't budge and the nurse slapped him. "I said leave!" the slap was still sounding throughout the room when she yelled.
As the nurse went to pull Kouji away again, she noticed he still wasn't leaving. The blonde turned around to yell at him again, but stopped. Kouji's head was turned slightly to the side, staring at his left hand (the nurse had his right).
"L-leave K-kouji...a-alone..."
She gasped and turned to Takuya, who's eyes were open somewhat. He sounded mad, but there was no anger on his face. He had grabbed Kouji's hand, which is why he hadn't moved...
"I..." she seemed to be in shock. "Doctor!" and she ran out to find Takuya's doctor.
"Hey there...idiot." Kouji greeted. Takuya smiled.
"At least I'm...alive, right?" he said in a sad voice, closing his eyes. Kouji knew it was because he couldn't see anything. "Why...am I still blind?" he asked as tears leaked from his eyes.
"Takuya..." Kouji sat down on the bed.
"I failed him...I really did..." Takuya muttered as he tried to stop crying.
"Who?" Kouji asked as he let Takuya hold him tightly as he cried.
"Telamon...He...I promised him I wouldn't let go...But I did...I did I did I did..." he cried.
Kouji could only sit there and hope that Takuya would be alright...The brunette had been someone he hated so much...4 years later...there was no one more important...He held on tighter.
"Everything's alright...Everything's alright...I promise. I really do...Everything's ok." Kouji whispered as the nurse came back, with the doctor.
-
Two days later, Kouji and Kouichi were going to visit Takuya. The doctor had (since Kouji's last visit) put bandages over Takuya's eyes, and said he would do another test on them today. The twins planned to be there for their friend.
'Click'
The door opened, admitting the two boys. They both paused at the sight of someone standing over Takuya's bed. It wasn't the regular doctor, but they were dressed the same. From behind they could see dirty blonde hair, kept in a ponytail, that cut off beautifully at his butt. But that was the only thing about them that stuck out.
The person stood, but didn't turn.
"His eyes should be fine...within a week, at most. I promise he'll be okay." he turned his head to look over his shoulder, a peaceful smile making his expression glow. Little silver, doctor-ish glasses adorned his face.
Kouji smirked as Kouichi stared in awe at this man.
"I suppose this is your way of apologizing then?" Kouji asked in an almost joking manner. Kouichi looked more lost at the casual way his brother spoke. The man smiled again, looking back to the sleeping Takuya.
"I suppose..." he sighed softly, as if in content. "Shall I tell you a story?"
Kouji nodded.
"Once upon a time, bad creatures kidnaped a simple, pure boy. They changed him, created a new him, and tore him away from the world he knew. The boy's friends from his old life still recognized him though, and went through many challenges to save him. Though the boy had been blinded and his memories erased, he still returned to them."
"The leader of the creatures wondered...'Why did he chose them? Why over me? Me who gave him power. Me who gave him a place to stay. Me who gave him a new purpose in life'...Shortly thereafter, the boy returned with his friends and destroyed the evil creatures, purifying them and sending them back where they came from."
He turned to face them, a serious yet wistful look on his face. Crystal blue eyes glimmering with a complex form of sadness and regret.
"I've contemplated the answer to that man's question...And I think I know the answer." he said softly. "Though I don't know the human mind or heart very well...This I do know. Those friends of his gave him his power. They gave him a place to stay. And they...gave him a purpose in life...before the other man had ever existed..."
Kouichi's face seemed understanding, and surprised at the identity of the doctor. Kouji's face was almost serious...almost. As the doctor reached the door and prepared to leave, the younger twin spoke up.
"White suits you...Matamon." he smiled at the digimon.
Matamon removed his glasses, which disappeared, and looked at the twins. He nodded with a smile, one that reached his eyes. Something or someone grabbed his right wrist, the one closest to the outside of the door, and pulled Matamon out. When the two teens checked, no one was in the hallway...they were gone...
-
11 days later (1 ½ weeks)
Takuya was sitting in a chair in the Kanabara's living room. A black blindfold covered his eyes, but it didn't matter. He hadn't even dared to open them since he was released from the hospital with the promise that his eyes would be alright after a week...
The radio next to him was playing a sad song, which didn't help his mood. He felt he had betrayed Telamon's trust...He'd broken his promise...
When you're not used to being blind...you can' do much. Sleep, possibly eat, sit, and listen to music. He didn't understand braille, so he couldn't read. And the tv made no sense if you couldn't see it...
Shutting the radio off, Takuya shakily stood and used the wall for support and to find his way. His hands landed on a table and he smirked, feeling for the receiver to the phone before picking it up and pausing.
He couldn't see the buttons...how was he supposed to dial the number!
Someone started dialing for him, causing the blind boy to jump.
"There ya go." Shinya said with a short nod. Takuya gave him a blank look (as best he could with the blindfold on). "You were calling Kouji right?" Shinya smirked when his brother blanched before blushing.
'Hello?...Hellloooo?' came an impatient voice over the phone.
"Oh!" Takuya hurriedly pulled the receiver to his ear. "Hey Kouji."
"Takuya? What's wrong?" Kouji asked. Takuya smiled slightly, and spoke next with his usual fervor.
"Nothing wrong Kouji!" he laughed. "I just, ya know, wanted to know if you wanted to go for a walk. I mean, I can't exactly go by myself...and Shinya's been taking care of me all week!"
The brunette knew his friend could hear past the happy, and for once...he was glad the other boy had that ability. He could tell that Kouji had nodded.
"Ok. I'll be there in a few. Bye."
'Click.'
-
'Knock Knock!'
"Hold on a minute Kouji!" Shinya shouted without opening the door. About 2 minutes later, the door opened to reveal Shinya and Takuya, the latter being pushed out the door. "There ya go." he laughed when Takuya tripped on the step.
This sent him flying into Kouji, making both of them fall to the ground in a heap. Kouji's arms were around Takuya, whether by accident or not was unknown. Moments later, both boys were standing again, huge blushes on both their faces.
"W-well, let's get going then...shall we?" Takuya offered, motioning.
"Sure. And Takuya...that's your house. We're headed to the park...the one...across town." They were avoiding the main park for obvious reasons. The bluenette took Takuya's hand and began leading him away.
"Stop picking on me...I'm blind!" Takuya complained, making Kouji laugh. Shinya watched his brother as he was led away, a smile on all three faces.
-
A large cherry tree stood in the middle of this park, on a hill. It was in full bloom with cherry blossoms. The sky was lowering from bright blue to hues of red, orange, yellow, purple, deep blue, and even black. Two teens were the only ones there anymore, people rarely came here anyways...compared to the main park.
"It's beautiful Takuya. It really is." Kouji said with a hint of sadness. "I just wish you could see it."
"Kouji...The reason I haven't taken the blindfold off...I-" he cut himself off.
Kouji squeezed his hand as if to give him strength to go on. Takuya pulled away and faced away from the older boy.
"I..." he looked at the sky. "I'm afraid." he admitted. And as he spoke, Kouji could see tears beginning to fall from under the blindfold. "Afraid that when it comes off, I'll see only darkness..."
"Takuya-" Kouji stopped himself and kept quiet, he looked to the ground.
"I made a promise Kouji, did you know that?" Kouji's head snapped to his friend. "To Telamon." he wiped the tears he could get to away, turning to look at Kouji. "I promised him that everything would be okay. That I wouldn't let him go. He may have been an empty existence Kouji...but he was one of my best friends too." and he shed some tears.
If Takuya could open his eyes and see, what a sight he'd see. Kouji standing in front of him, under a cherry blossom tree with the sunset behind him. It would seem an ethereal being had come to comfort him.
Kouji could only remember one other time Takuya had cried like this. When they thought they were gonna fail. When Lucemon looked victorious. He cried when the moment meant enough. It was complicated thing, for both of them.
"Takuya." Kouji took two steps to Takuya and wrapped his arms around him. "Everything is alright. And you feeling like this means you haven't let go. You didn't break a promise..." Takuya, who had stopped crying when he was hugged, shed two last tears.
Kouji pulled back and looked at his friend. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a silent deep breath. Opening his eyes, Kouji leaned forward, taking a step as he did.
What happened, they'd never really know. But suddenly both boys were tumbling down the hill the tree sat on. Everything was a blur and for a split moment, Kouji wondered how big that hill really was.
After what seemed like a lifetime, they stopped. They had landed in a position where Takuya was on his back on the ground and Kouji was on top of him. Their lips were pressed together lightly, by accident due to the fall. Kouji opened his eyes as he pulled away, one hand on either side of Takuya's head.
His bandana had fallen off and his hair was laying loose around his shoulders, but not in Takuya's face. The black blindfold floated down about 5 feet away from them, landed lightly on top of the bandana.
Takuya's eyes opened partially, then he blinked a few times...like he was just waking up. He then looked about to cry.
"I..." Kouji feared the worst. "I can see you Kouji...I can see you." he said, fresh, happy tears falling from his eyes to the ground below him.
Takuya pulled Kouji down and kissed him again. This time was more passionate than the first, and it was perfect. Both would say the other was beautiful at that moment. They were smiling into the kiss, and any others they would share before Kouji took Takuya home later on.
The bandana and blindfold were left there, forgotten, even long after the two had left. The blindfold was laying perfectly on top of the bandana. A soft wind blew, and both cloths were blown into the air, but they weren't blown very far apart.
-
3 days later.
"Hey guys!" Kouichi called as he raced into his brother's house and up to his room. Inside were Kouji and Takuya, apparently just...sitting. "I just got news from Ophanimon!"
"What?" Takuya exclaimed.
"How?" Kouji asked. Kouichi shrugged but inserted a disc into Kouji's computer.
"I was on my computer and this suddenly...popped out of it." he shrugged again as it began playing.
'Children...I can see you have grown a lot since your journey in the digital world. It has been a very long time, since you left. Our time is different than yours, and is much faster. So many generations have passed since then. People still speak of you, for you are legend...The things of children's tales.'
They all smiled.
'I apologize for the trouble we've caused you. I never once even imagined that those digimon would find a way into your world.' her voice was airy for the last two words, then returned to normal. 'And I supposed you'd like to know what happened on our side.'
They were hanging on every word.
'Baronmon and Heraldomon are in confinement even now. They weren't purified after your fight, because you no longer have your detectors. Matamon has become a great man. You did purify him, but by other means. Congratulations Takuya.' they could hear her smile... 'As for Telamon...'
They leaned closer to the computer.
'He and Matamon have become a very cute couple.'
All three teens in the room face planted.
'You've all done more than you should've had too. We thank you. The spirits still guard this place, and the peace you created has more or less remained. Bokomon, Neemon, and all the other friends you made are happy and have asked me to say hello for them. Now it's all over, and your lives can return to normal once more. Good-bye...for now.'
"Does...anyone else get the feeling we'll be seeing them again?" Takuya asked with a smirk.
"Soon, I think." Kouji nodded.
"Let's hope it isn't too soon though. I need a break...and we've missed enough school as it is!" Kouichi whined, causing them all to laugh.
The end!
No, I am not writing a sequel to this unless I get...some kind of idea for one. That bit at the end was just to say that he digital world was forever going to be a part of their lives.
Thank You to all my reviewers! I love you guys! You're great!