Disclaimer: The muses would like to remind everyone that Angel Spirit doesn't own Digimon, just the plot of the fic. The muses would also like to add, that it's not our fault if any words that are smushed together...
Author's Notes: Hehe...The Duskmon inspired chapter...LOL, now that everyone knows about it, I could talk about it...could being the word. However, I won't since most of you have probably seen it and want to reread this revised chapter ne? (winks at everyone) Ugh, I hate long boring and annoying days at work...(sighs) But, they make good for a day of revising huh? Anyway, yes I know that at this point in time that Kouji's uke...or at least I try to make him be uke, because an uke Kouji just makes my day! Though I've heard from other's that later on in the fic it's hard to tell which one is uke and which one isn't That, and I've also been told that Kouji's a bit OOC in some parts. Meh, I write it as I see him (and the others) for this fic, as it IS an AU...but there are some chapters and parts in this fic where he'll be in character, trust me on that! Added note: I went ahead and re-edited this chapter, since I noticed some more things that were wrong with it...I'm hoping that the second time I upload it the words won't be all smushed together, and that there won't be any misspellings either...chapter 24 is currently in the works as we speak, and I hope to have it uploaded soon.
Story Rating: PG-13
Author's Warnings: This fic contains slash/yaoi. If you're not a fan of male/male pairings, then feel free to hit the wonderful back button to the top left of your page there and run far, far away.
Time Setting: AU rewrite of season 04 with Takoujiness
Different Journeys
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter IV: Agunimon's Spirit Awakens (part III)
Takuya had been running for a good couple of days now, hardly stopping for a break. But eventually, he had to stopto geta bearing of his surroundings...wherever the Batsomon had taken Kouji, they had gotten there rather fast. It would take him awhile to catch up to them, since they had the ability to fly and he did not. Though the extra speed that he had as Agunimon helped him greatly.
Sighing as he glanced down at his Detector, which stillshowed themap on the small screenthat Takuya needed to locate the raven-haired teen he had befriended, Takuya's eyes opened wide when he realized just how close that he actually was to Kouji...if his estimates were correct, he was now only just about a good half a day away. Taking a few deep breaths, Takuya started back on the trail he had been on quickening his pace as he went. If everything went the way Takuya wanted it to, he'd be seeing Kouji again by tomorrow morning...
Kouji must have dozed off again, because when he wokefor the second time in the icy prison he was being held in, the Batsomon were hanging from the ceiling right in front his cell. Staring at him with those eerieblood-red eyes of theirs.
It made Kouji shiver a little as he stared back at them. His bodyfelt stiff, and sore, wanting thewarmth that he was deprived of by being held here. The iciness of his prison cell didn't help him much at the moment, and if he moved his shoulders where the Batsomon had dug its claws into him, he could feel thepain that rode his upper bodyin fiery waves.
Definitely not a good predicament to be in, the dark haired teenthought, as he continued staring at the Batsomon. He wondered what plansthey had in store for him.
He shut his dark blue grayeyes briefly as the pain in his shoulders flared up again and the world startedto spinaround him. A part of him wished that Takuya-or anyone at this point in timereally-could be with him now. Stifling a moan, Kouji managed to open his eyes again as he heard the door of his prison cell beingthrownopen.
What in the world...?
What Kouji saw next, filled his mind with tauntingquestions...it looked like one of the Batsomon...but it looked morelike an evolved form of the Batsomon...was it all some kind of trickery? Kouji blinked just to make sure what he was seeing was real, and not some sort of hallucination. But, the Batsomon-like creature was still there staring a him...the same blood red eyes...there was the sound of a low rumbling, and then the creature actually spoke to him.
"You...are...pathetic."
Kouji winced a little, and then his face hardened...no one called him pathetic and got away with it. In the end, Kouji would show him that he was the pathetic one. Not him.
"I'll make you eat your own words..." Kouji whispered fiercely, and the creature before him threw his head back and laughed-it was a low, evil laugh and Kouji winced again, at the harsh tone that vibrated off the icy wallssurrounding them.
"You? You're only one...one of the beings that Cherubimon wants dead and vanished from this world."
Biting down hard on his lower lip, Kouji wondered what it was the Digimon before him was talking about. For a second, Kouji's hand went to his side, for the Detector...only to find thatit wasn't there anymore. With his eyes wide in astonishment at it's disappearance, he looked up andsaw that the evil Digimon held it in his right claw-like hand...and was now laughing at Kouji onceagain.
"Looking for this? I don't think so...did you really think that we were that stupid? We knew you could use this to defeat us...why would we let you keep such a useful device?" It hissed out.
Kouji's head felthis headache pound harder against his skull,as he tried to think of some kind of snide andwittyreply...all of his senses were now being effected from the horrible throbbing pain he felt. After a moment or so, he had one though he knew it probably wasn't the greatest comeback it would work and keep the Digimon before him busy. Hopefully too busy to think about hurting him anymore.
"What in the hell are you, and why do you stink so bad?" Saying this, Kouji used the sleeve of his windbreaker to protect his nose. It was true...the Digimon did have a foul odor about him. It made Kouji nauseated just smelling it...he'd finally found a smellthat was worse than the perfume his awfulAunt wore.
Again, the rumblinglaughter came...this time from both the creature and the other Batsomon surrounding him. Kouji was starting to get annoyed...there was nothing funny about this. Not from his point of view anyway. They weren't locked up in an ice cage freezing to death.
"What am I? Is that the best you can come up with Digi Destined? I thought that you would have done better than that child of light..."
Kouji raised an eyebrow at this. Who was he to call him the child of light? And whatinthe hell did that mean? The laughter died down as the Digimon suddenly seemed torealize, that Kouji didn't have any clue as to what he was talking about. He had yet to say anything about it, so they must have seen his questioning puzzlement in his eyes.
"I should've guessed..."
His voice rumbled, so low that Kouji almost didn't hear it.
"I asked a question, now you answer it!"
Kouji demanded, having hadenough of being toyed around with. The Digimon chuckled, and hid his detector away so that it was far beyond Kouji's reach...Kouji couldn't even see it anymore...and at the moment he didn't think he had the strengthleft to fight for it back either. His life at this point really sucked.
"Very well...only if you'll answer one of mine."
Their eyes locked, and Kouji nodded slowly...it was a done deal. The Batsomon would tell him what he needed to know, and in turn he'd tell the Batsomon what it wanted to know.
"I am known as Vampmon...I'm an evolved form of the Batsomon...I am not the only Vampmon here...but I am the only one around for the present moment. And as to why I smell...I believe that you can figure that out for yourself." It seemed to be hiding back laughter as it's shoulders shook.
Kouji was tired of the riddles, tired of the games...what did he mean by his answer? Did it mean that there were others like himon the way?
Probably, his mind thought bitterly as he tried to shift his position, and wished he hadn't as he cringed in pain. His shoulder's were really starting to bother him...and he wondered how deep the gash marks really were.
"Now, you answer my question...where are the rest of you?" Kouji shook his head at the Vampmon
"I don't know...what do you mean by that?" The Vampmon clenched a clawed hand into a tight fist as Kouji gave a question back as an answer, instead of the reply that the evil Digimonwas demanding.
"It's a simple question boy...where are the REST OF YOU?"
"Rest of me? I don't know-!" He started to reply, but Kouji felt his mind numbing...the room was spinning again as he was roughly backhanded by the Vampmon...he felt a trickle of blood run down his face and he touched it gingerly. The Vampmon's claws must've hithimand scrapedhis skinwhen he'd smacked him.
"Let me phrase the question better so that it can get through your stupidity boy! Where are the other children like you who arrived here?" Kouji shook his head the best he could without having the world go black around him. It would do him no good to pass out now...but he wasn't sure that he could help himself. He felt drained...weak. And he hated that feeling.
"I...don't know." He whispered, feeling himself falling toward the darkness. There were noises among the Batsmon as they suddenly parted. When Kouji managed to find the strength to look up, he saw that more Vampmon had arrived...so his theory had been correct...there were at least five of them now, six counting thetallone standing before him. Kouji watched them wearily as black spots danced before his dark blue grayeyes.
"You all arrived at the same time, and yet you don't know where the other children are? What about the brunette that the Batsomon saw you with?"
Kouji's voice caught in his throat at this question...
Takuya...he squeezed his eyes shut at the thought of the brunette he'd befriended upon arriving here...
"He-he fell..." Kouji choked out, and there was a hushed conversation for a minute.
"Bring him."
The dark undertone voice of one of the other Vampmon commanded, and they started to move away from the prison cell...the Vampmon who had been questioning him waved a hand, and the ice melted enough so that the Vampmon could roughly grab him by his torn shoulders, causing Kouji to cryout loudlyin pain. Then, he knew no more...
It was twilight now...the stars were starting to come out, and there were dark clouds in the horizon where the sun hadfinallyset for the night.
"It looks like a storm iscoming..."
Takuya mused to himself as he finally reached the area where Kouji's dot had been so still for so long. When he looked at it again, he cursed softly...it had started to move once more.
"No!" He shouted out in protest.
It had taken him nearly two and a half days to get to where he was, and he was so close...Kouji couldn't get any further away. Not if Takuya would have anything to do with it! Cursing again, he held his Detector in front of him as he started in the direction that the blue dot representing Kouji-indicated that he was moving toward.
At one point he had forgotten to watch where he was going, and he ran smack into a rock wall...
"Ow..."
Takuya mumbled, as he looked around his surroundings...taking a step back from the rock wallwhile he rubbed his sore nose. He saw that there was a cave built in high above...if he wanted to get to it, he'd have to climb upwards.Takuya sighed...he wasn't much of a climber-there was just something he didn't like about heights. Was it the fall he was afraid of if he slipped? There would be no one below to catch him-especially now.
"At least I'm still in spirit form..."
The goggle-head muttered. He hadn't transformed back to himself since leaving the fire pit-Agunimon gave him more energy...enough for him to have come this far without having to takeany resting breaks. And now it looked like he needed the Digimon's strength for the climb that he needed to make now.
"This is just great...so not what I want to do!"
Even though he didn't want to do it, Takuya knew that Kouji was in there...no, correction, he was up there...somewhere in that cave. And Takuya had to climb the rock wall if he wanted to see him ever again.
"Here goes nothing..." He muttered unenthusiastically.
Steeling himself for the task, Takuya found a good hold and started the climb that would hopefully lead him straightto Kouji...
With a thud, Kouji felt himself being dropped to the ground, and it took all he could muster to not cry out in pain. What he'd give if Takuya were there with him...to tell him it would be alright...because at this point in time, Kouji was starting tothink that things wouldn't be alright again.
When he didn't open his eyes, the Vampmon kicked him roughly in the ribs...and still, Kouji didn't cry out or open his eyes. He was tired...so tired...
"Wake up you pathetic human..."
"Takuya..." Kouji whimpered, wanting nothing morethan to be away from this icy prison. Even though he hadn't been there for very long, he felt its coldness seeping into his heart...and it caused him to shiver-and soon he found that he couldn't stop.
"Move."
The Vampmon hissed, as it tried to force Kouji into a standing position, but Kouji made his body go as limp as possible...how did the Vampmon know thathe was stillawake and not unconscious already? With the way he was acting, any normal being would figure that he was unconscious...but the Vampmon must've been stronger then what he had expected them to be.
"We just want to know where the other children are, how hard is that?" Another Vampmon whispered hoarsely.
"I...don't...know..."
Kouji hissed out through gritted teeth as he was forced to stand...and only then did he force himself to open his eyes. They were surrounding him on all sides, it was impossible for him to get away...even if he wanted to.
"We'll let Lord Cherubimon deal with this pathetic weakling!"
Another Vampmon, off to his right, insisted but the main Vampmon who had dealt with him earlier-and whowasnow holding him by the nape of his neck-shook it's head.
"If we let Lord Cherubimon deal with him it'll mean all of our deaths...including his...which, he can save now from misery if he tells us where the other children are..." It was obvious that all of the Vampmon were getting irritated from Kouji's non-responsive attitude. It made Kouji wonder just how far they'd all go to get an answer out of him.
Kouji bit down on his lip once more, hard enoughto draw blood this time and looked downat the ground. He didn't know, he really didn't know the answer to the Vampmon's persisting question...why didn't they believe him? He hadn't even rode on the same train as the 'other children' had. He'd only seen them with Takuya when they'd rode by that train station much earlier...
What did they want them all for anyway? So many questions, so little answers, so little time.
"If you don't tell us willingly, we'll find ways to extract the information from you."
Another Vampmon declared, raising a claw...Kouji had had the feeling that this was going to happen and he winced at the movement; looking away as it's razor sharp claws came flying toward his body-only to feel nothing. When Kouji looked upagain in surprise, he saw the Vampmon holding him in place had saved him by easilyblocking the blow.
"No, we'll do it another way...but either way we'll get him to tell us where they are..."
It hadn't been an easy climb for him, and Takuya was panting for breath by the time he had finally managed to clamber over the top. Twice he had to stop because of his fear, and even though he was still Agunimon, he was also himself as well...and his fear didn't leave...it would always be there inside him no matter who he was. But a big part of him felt proud of himself, as he had conquered his fear...for now anyway. He was now lying belly down on the lip of the cave opening, looking down the length of the rock face that he had just climbed up.The brunettegulped, and sat up in a sitting position, standing a few seconds later as he felt a strong breeze in the air and glanced up above him towards the sky.
The clouds had come in, and the breeze was strong enough to carry the scent of rain...Takuya/Agunimon wrinkled his nose. He wasn't a big fan of rainy weather, he much preferred the sunshine. A reason why he hated the winter time at home...but it wasn't winter at home, it was Spring. Apparently though, it wasn't really Spring here-either that, or the Digital World didn't have seasons like Earth did. And that was just plain weird.
Heading into the cave, Takuya got out his Detector that he had put away for the climb, and saw that Kouji's dot hadn't moved to far from where he was standing now...he was still relatively close. Takuya smiled and mentally cheered to himself...thinking of Kouji's reaction when he saw him...and then frowned a little as he hesitated in his step. When Kouji saw him he'd be seeing Agunimon, and not Takuya himself...would Kouji know that it was Takuya inside this Digimon Spirit?
There was only one way to find out.
"Hang on buddy..."
Takuya whispered, as he followed the dot resembling Kouji once more. He was only a few meters away, so close that Takuya could practically feel him nearby. He wondered what Kouji's reaction would be when he would see that he wasn't dead. And Takuya couldn't wait to tell him what had happened to him back in the fire pit.
The wanting and the need to see Kouji grew deep, and caused Takuya to move faster...and he realized that even though he was moving swiftly, there was no sound-his feet didn't crunch on the gravelly sand that was underneath him-and Takuya smiled. That would be a good advantage on his side-the enemy that had taken Kouji from him wouldn't hear him coming.
He was so close now his spirit could practically smell the raven-haired teen...
And then he heard the scream...and he paused mid-stride...that scream...
Kouji!
Narrowing his eyes, Takuya put on a burst of speed, rounding a corner...and than he saw him. Surrounded by bat-like creatures, kneeling on the floor as heheld ontoa shoulder that was bleeding freely. Agunimon's eyes narrowed with pure hatred.
They had hurt Kouji.
His Kouji.
They never heard or sawhim coming.
Kouji couldn't help the scream that tore through his throat...it hurt...oh gods it hurt...the moment that the lead Vampmon dug it's claws into the wound he had gotten earlier from the flight here, caused it to bleed again and Kouji held back tears. His shoulder was in pain, burning like fire again.
Damn you...
He swore in his mind, as his vision blurred for a moment while he clutched tightly at his wounded shoulder with his other hand, as they demanded once more of him to tell them where the other children were.Kouji swore again that he didn't know, and the Vampmon dug his long, sharpnails harder into his wounded shoulder preparing his claws to do the same to the other wound that was starting to heal...
Just when Kouji didn't think he could stand the pain much longer, the claws were ripped free from his shoulder, and Kouji slumped backward as he heard a long, loud snarl and his body tensed up as he heard it from right behind him. He squeezed his eyes tightly...was someone else here to hurt him as well, to try and get information out of him that he didn't have...?
He heard sounds of fighting, and again the snarl sounded, this time turning into more of a growing yell of determination. He heard the heavy feet of a Vampmon advancing toward him-realizing that he'd fallen on his side and was now lying on the ground,and opened his eyes warily to face it...only to see it get thrown backwards by another Digimon. But this Digimon was...different.
This Digimon reminded him of fire...warmth...Kouji smiled inwardly. Whoever this Digimon was, it was protecting him, trying to help him. That much he knew.
When the Vampmon seemed to be all down and breathless, not stirring from their positions, the strange new Digimon came toward him and Kouji tensed as he tried to ease his hurting bodyaway.But the Digimon held out a hand and touched it lightly on his left shoulder-as Kouji was now holding the right one that had started to bleed again.
"Kouji..." The Digimon's soft voice murmured, almost apologetically.
Kouji's head snapped up as he looked into the new Digimon's eyes...there was something about them...he'd never seen that color of blue before, and they held a kindness and a determination within them that he had seen somewhere before.
"Ta-Takuya?" He choked out, wanting to believe it. But...Takuya was dead...he'd fallen into the fire pit, hadn't he?
The Digimon that was staring at him smiled-partially from relief as Kouji had quicklyfigured out who he was.
"The one and only!"
It replied cheerfully, and Kouji nearly collapsed then and there...Takuya...if the Digimon was really somehow Takuya, knelt down and caught him gently. Keeping him from falling to the cold ground...
Warmth...Kouji felt warmth again.
"Are you okay?" Takuya asked softly, and Kouji somehow knew that it was Takuya inside that Digimon...somehow...Takuya's voice sounded a little warped, but Kouji recognized it all the same. Kouji nodded wearily.
"Y-yeah...I just want to get out of here..."
Kouji mumbled, feeling sleep claim him, but he didn't want to sleep...he wanted to ask questions. Like how Takuya survived that fall into the fire pit? He didn't honestly think thatanyone could survive a fall like that. And how was Takuya a Digimon now?
"That's what I've come here to do," Takuya answered. "But first, I've got some unfinished business I've got to-omph!"
Takuya had been smacked hard from behind by one of the Vampmon that had awoken, and he tumbled to the floor, letting go of Kouji who moaned in pain as Agunimon's body laid on top of him. Kouji saw Takuya's now-blue eyes narrow as he rolled off Kouji, placing himself in front of the danger as Kouji moved away. He wanted to help...he hated feeling weak.
Somehow Takuya, I'll pay you back for this, I promise. Kouji thought, before the fighting began again. Kouji didn't know that Takuya could fight...or maybe it wasn't really Takuya fighting at all, but the Digimon instead...the raven-haired teen shook his head. It was all so very confusing and he was finding it harder and harder to stay focused and awake.
"Fire Darts!"
Takuya hollered out as fire-in the form of darts-sprang up from the gray metal strapped around his wrists-looking toKouji that they were very sturdywrist guards. Kouji had wondered previously what they were for. The Vampmon cried out at the attack and after several rounds, had hit him and managed to shrink himback into a Batsomon. Then a light appeared around all of them, and the Digimon Takuya was grinning triumphantly.
"It's time for you to be Digitized!"
Taking out his black and red Detector, he pressed a button, and the light was gone...so were the Batsomon. Kouji heard the sound of metal hitting the floor...his own Detector. Takuya picked it up and walked toward him, handingthe blue and white Digivice tohim when he got to him. Kouji pocketed it thankfully, more than ready to leave.
"Ready to get out of here?"
Takuya asked as though reading his mind, and Kouji nodded as he tried to stand but slumped against the wall instead-breathing hard from the pain that flared up inside of him because of his injuries. Takuya's eyes narrowed again into tiny slits as he briefly examined Kouji's wounded shoulders...the claw marks that the Vampmon had left behind...they'd have to be cleaned and bandaged. Part of Takuya actually looked forward to doing that. It would give him a chance to get closer to Kouji.
"Need a little help?"
For a moment, Takuya saw Kouji hesitate at his question-it was plainly clear in his dark blue grayeyes that he didn't really want any help. But instead the teen nodded, and leaning against Takuya's Digimon Spirit for support the two made their way out of the cave, and out into the pouring down rain...Takuya's face fell. He hadn't been expecting that.
"Man..."
He looked down-wrong thing to do. Now he really didn't want to climb the rock wall back down, and how would Kouji do it wounded the way he was? It looked like Kouji was thinking the same thing, as he shivered in the cold rain and wind. Takuya thought for a few minutes, before shrugging hard...if he had gotten up here in the first place, then he could climb back down again...right? Besides, it was just a little fear, and everyone had a fear...this was just one of the few that Takuya had.
"Here..."
Takuya muttered as he slipped his legs over the side and looked at Kouji, still holding his bleeding shoulder, though it looked like the bleeding was at least starting to slow down.
"Hold onto me as I climb down, I can carry you piggy back style." Takuya suggested, voicing his thoughts.
Kouji had a stubborn look on his face at this suggestion and Takuya sighed.
"You're not going to be able to climb down this by yourself, it's to long of a climb, trust me I've done it already once to get up here!"
Kouji still made no move, and instead just stared at him, making Takuya feel like some kind of fish in a bowl on exhibit.
"What?" He asked, rolling his eyes in annoyance. He wanted to get out of here and get Kouji to safety where he could clean and bandage his wounds. They were starting to look infected, and that scared Takuya a little bit.
"H-how can I be sure that you're really Takuya?"
Kouji finally asked softly, his eyes not showing any emotion that Takuya could read. Takuya felt like smacking his forehead...how could he have forgotten? He was still Agunimon...and he'd need to be Agunimon in order to do the climb down...Kouji would have to trust him, but how could he get him to do so?
Takuya thought about it for a moment...and then suddenly he had his answer.
"Remember coming to this world on the train?"
Kouji looked into Agunimon's blue eyes with a look of confusion and pain.
"When the train stopped so suddenly, and we fell on top of each other? I didn't know you'd be that ticklish..."
Kouji smiled a small smile, one that could be read of pure relief, and Takuya even found himself grinning. It seemed like he'd just gained Kouji's trust once again.
"Now are we going to get out of here or what?"
Kouji nodded and sat so that his legs were swung over the edge as well...grabbing hold of the shoulders of Takuya's Digimon form as the two of them started down...
"So you really are Takuya then?" Kouji asked the strange Digimon before him, and he nodded.
"Yes..."
They'd finished the climb quickly,and were finally back on the bottom, taking a quick breather before moving on-at Takuya's expense. Kouji could finally see how tired he really was.
"But who are you now?" He asked, continuing his round of questions, for Kouji felt confused by the whole situation that was presented before him.
"Agunimon...the fire spirit."
"Child of light..." Was what the Vampmon had called him before Takuya had showed up. It made Kouji wonder if the Vampmon had known something about himself that Kouji didn't...if Takuya had a fire spirit...
Kouji didn't get time to finish his thought, as abright light suddenly glowed around Agunimon for a brief moment, and when it faded awayKouji saw Takuya himself...and smiled wryly at him. Suddenly even though he felt tired he wanted to hug the brunette...so hug him he did ignoring the pain in his shoulders and completely throwing Takuya off guard. But Takuya quickly returned his hug, savoring the closeness that they shared.
"How?"
"Well, when I fell into the fire pit, I got my fire spirit...and the fire spirit protected me."
Takuya looked sheepish for a moment, making Kouji wonder what really happened. But, he didn't want to push it-instead, he wanted to thank Agunimon for bringing Takuya back...he'd have to remember to do that next time. Kouji let out a breath and swayed a little as Takuya steadied him, looking at him in concern.
"We need to check out those claw marks..."
He said, motioning with one hand toward Kouji's shoulders, and Kouji nodded. He flinched a little then, as Takuya moved one hand to trace the scratch on his cheek that one of the Vampmon had given him during their questioning-he'd have to remember to tell Takuya about that later.
"I think I saw a river not far from here when I was coming to rescue you, and also some shelter we can use to wait out the storm...think you can last till' then?"
Takuya asked, and Kouji nodded, as Takuya removed his warm hand. Why was it that Kouji felt so cold suddenly? Colder than before...
They started moving, and reached the river minutes later. It had only been a fifteen minute walk, and already Kouji's strength was feeling sapped.
There was a covered area there by the river, where the thickness of the tree branches managed to take in most of the rain, leaving a relatively dry spot...it wasn't perfect, but the two didn't have much more to go on.
"Sit."
Takuya ordered Kouji, who at first, looked like he was going to refuse. The log Takuya was pointing to was damp, and he was still cold...and now soaked to the bone...but then again, Takuya was too. Sighing, he sat miserably. Takuya took a look at his face and almost laughed-but snorted out loud instead, making Kouji glance irritably at him...Takuya shrugged hopelessly.
"Sorry, the look on your face is priceless. How about this...the moment we get those cuts on your shoulders looked at and cleaned up, than the sooner we can go find a drier shelter?" Takuya asked, and Kouji groaned.
"Whatever." He finally replied softly afterwards,and Takuya sighed...if that was the way he was going to be...
"Take off your shirt." Kouji raised an eyebrow, and looked at Takuya as though he were crazy and Takuya sighed with exasperation.
"In order for me to look at those slash marks, I need you to take off your shirt!"
With a blush, Kouji slowly lifted up his shirt, and gasped as the shirt lifted off the gashes...it hurt...no, it burned...Takuya helped him slide it off, and than examined the marks as he prodded them gently. Kouji gasped in pain at one point,darkness starting to seep into his vision...and Takuya stopped, looking thoughtful.
"I need to use your bandanna." Kouji looked at him, horrifed and thought for surethat Takuya had lost his mind.
Not his precious bandanna!
It was one of the only items he had with him to keep his hair tied back and away from his face.
"No way." He muttered, denying the brunette in front of him access to the precious cloth.
"We need something to clean up your cuts with! Your bandanna is going to be the best bet, and besides, it's already wet anyway!"
Kouji sighed in agreement and allowed Takuya to take off the blue and brown bandanna; his face holding a triumphant smirk...
And why did I want Takuya's company again? Kouji thought wryly, as Takuya cleaned his bandanna in the water for a moment, and than brought it back, wringing it out. No matter how gentle Takuya tried to be, Kouji still hissed and writhed in pain.
"Sorry."
Takuya whispered apologetically, and Kouji said nothing for a moment as his eyes watered...more from the pain than anything else.
"Why...why did you come after me?"
He finallyasked, the question being one of the many that was on his mind at the moment (that and he wanted something to help keep his mind from all the pain that he was in), and Takuya stopped for a second, not sure what to say. He chewed on his lower lip, looking deep in thought, until he had what he believed was a worthy enough answer for Kouji's sudden question.
"B-because I think of you as a friend...a really good, andtrue honest friend."
Kouji looked away as Takuya replied. He hadn't been expecting that kind of answer...in fact, he had been thinking that Takuya would tell him that he'd only saved him because he felt obligated.
"Kouji?"
The raven-haired teen started out of his thoughts, looking into Takuya's deep brown eyes...he definitely liked them better brown than blue. Blue just didn't suit him.
"Yeah?"
"I think we need to get out of the rain..."
Takuya muttered something inaudible at that moment, looking down to hide the small blush that was creeping up on his cheeks. He really didn't want Kouji seeing that...
"I think you're right." Kouji put his T-shirt back on, which was still wet but at the moment he didn't really care.
"By the way, how did you manage tofind me?" Kouji asked, yet another question he'd been wondering about since Takuya had come after him.
"I used the Detector...when I came out of the fire pit as Agunimon, it went on the fritz for a minute, and than suddenly I realized that it had brought up a map onto the screen. It had two dots on it-one was me, and the spirit quickly figured out that one was you...the rest is history."
Takuya said with a shrug, and Kouji nodded as he stood feeling slightly less dizzy than before, but still tired. He realized that all he wanted to do was sleep...with Takuya's arms around him protecting him from any danger. Kouji fought a blush at that thought and asked a question instead to keep his mind away from thoughts of Takuya.
"Is the map still there?" Looking down at his detector at Kouji's question, Takuya sighed and shook his head.
"No, it's gone now..."
"I wonder how close shelter is?"
Kouji mused out loud, as he looked around. All he wanted to do at the moment was find somewhere dry, get himself warm, and fall into a deep sleep...apparently Takuya had the same thoughts for as his eyes scanned the area they were in, he thought he saw a glint of something up ahead.
"Hey, let's go check that out..."
Kouji had seen it too, and he nodded as they rushed toward it, both hoping that whatever it was they saw, would be some kind of shelter for the coming night...
TBC
AN: I think hands down, that this is actually one of my favorite chapters out of this fic...I'm not sure why. There's just something about it that I totally enjoy and this chapter was a lot of fun to revise actuall. It feels more whole now! (Grins) Meh, I debated about whether or not to delete the sneak peek for the next chapter that I'd put up but...I also realize that there are still some newbies around here checking out this fic, so I'll leave it for their enjoyment. (Winks at everyone) Anywhozits, I'm off to go and revise the next chapter...I think that I'll have as much fun with that one as I did with this one! All the Takoujiness...(sighs happily) Makes me want to actually write more...see, sometimes it's good for one to go through some of their own stuff...bwahahahahahahahahaha...
Sneaky Peek Of Next Chapter (OR, you COULD just be lazy and go hit the next chapter button...LOL!):
"Kouji?"
Takuya shivered in the darkness...he didn't know why it felt so cold, so dark...Kouji stirred in his restless sleep, knowing that the fire they'd managed to build with the dry firewood they'd found had long since gone out. The chill he felt increasing as he roused, looking into Takuya's dark brown eyes...he looked restless too...
"Yeah?"
He whispered in the darkness as he found himself curling up into a tight ball, trying to keep the cold from seeping into his zipped up lightweight jacket...at least he had a jacket...all Takuya had was the red over shirt...
"I-I think it might've been a bad idea to come in here..."
Takuya whimpered a little as he licked his lips, suddenly feeling thirsty and uncomfortable. A part of him wanted to flee-go back outside in the pouring down rain.
"I know what you mean, but at the moment it's the driest place around, and I for one don't want to have to go back out in the rain...I'll take what I can get."
Kouji meant it, but deep down inside he was feeling the way Takuya was feeling-the need to flee this place...something kept him grounded here though, but he couldn't figure out what it was. He saw Takuya start shivering-harder...so hard that he noticed it and sat up, stretching a bit.
"Cold?" He asked, as Takuya nodded.
"I-it's so dark in here..."
He murmured, not liking it at all. He suddenly felt very self-conscious in this place. He needed out...it felt like the walls were starting to fall in on him...
He heard the sound of a zipper being undone, and looked over as Kouji shrugged out of the windbreaker that he had. It had long since dried since their escapade in the storm outside.
Takuya's eyes widened a little bit and he continued to shiver as Kouji scooted much closer to him, and offered to share the coat...the brunette hesitated a moment, before nodding and clambering over the rocks to join him, and they sat there huddled together, sharing Kouji's coat, listening to the wind howling outside...like wolves on the hunt...
WANT to see more? DYING to see more? Hate that I'm torturing you with this little scene? You know the only way for me to get the next chapter out faster with this scene included...REVIEW! (LOL, or since the next chapter is out since this is a revised edition chapter, just go read that...but...reviews are still, always nice...)-
