Disclaimer: I so 100 percent of the way do NOT own Digimon...if I did I'd make sure that in every season all the loner boys and goggle heads were together instead of having the writers just playing around with us...as that has yet to happen though...I don't own it...*sigh* 

Author's Notes:  Inspiration...I FINALLY got the Pirates of the Carribean Soundtrack and I LOVE it...It's sooo good...I was totally listening to it when I was writing this fic and started working on a couple of others.  The music is so awesome and very well done...^-^  (Not to mention it 100 percent of the way fits the movie...which I also adore...^-^)  ANYWAY, since this fic has NOTHING to do with POTC, I guess I need to apologize for this chapter being out so very late.  BUT, the good news is that I've also got the NEXT chapter (chapter 11) out as well...eleven chapters...I still can't believe it's gotten that long...and this fic is only going to et longer too.  Since I was in such a writing mood I decided to go ahead and do chapter 11 as well and get the three parts of Thunder Spirit done...and yes, I AM working on chapter 12 now too...::evil grin::  You guys will have NO idea what I'm going to do next...anyway, I'm done rambling now so on with the long awaited chapters!  (One more thing…I decided to change the spelling of Vineramon's name…it's now Vinairamon…so if you realize that it might be misspelled here and there, it's probably because I didn't get them all changed…-_-;; though I think I DID get all of the ones I'd misspelled previously…) 

Warnings:  If you haven't figured out by now that this fic contains Slash/Yaoi, than I'm honestly shocked and surprised that you HAVEN'T for all that's happened.  If for some reason you HAVEN'T figured out that by now Takuya and Kouji are a couple, and don't like that kind of stuff then leave now or forever hold your flames.  (Some Zoey bashing in the next couple of chapters too…-_-;; not a lot, just a *little*…)    

Story Rating: PG/borderline PG13

Yaoi pairing:  Takuya/Kouji

Non Yaoi:  JP/Zoey hints 

Recap:  Last chapter Takuya, Kouji, and the other Digi Destined ended up getting captured by plant-like vines who ended up trapping them in cages.  When the Digi Destined were finally brought to the 'leader' they were surprised to see that it was none other than Zoey...but...something seemed...wrong with her.  Now she's got Kouji trapped in the temple with her and poor Takuya's out back in the cage he had once shared with Kouji earlier.  Except that someone's come to make sure that Zoey is stopped...

THIS chapter:  Vinairamon is playing Zoey for time and information on what she's planning to do with Kouji, meanwhile he finds out that Zoey definitely isn't Zoey but has been overcome by a spirit of someone he used to know and admire.  When he manages to free JP and Tommy and get back to Takuya with this new found information Takuya's more worried about Kouji now than ever...he knows that Kouji won't bow down to anyone...right...?  And what has JP got to do with all of this?   

Different Journeys

Author: Angel Spirit

Chapter 10:  Thunder Spirit Part II

            Takuya was cold...freezing actually...and the pouring down rain didn't help him much. Not only did he not know where Zoey had the vines take JP and Tommy, but with Kouji back at the Temple with Zoey...he shuddered. He knew that Kouji didn't prefer girls...he knew it...but he also knew that this would test their relationship. He had to trust Kouji, he had to trust that he wouldn't do anything against his own will...but what if...what if somehow Zoey did something to him? Did something to him to make him forget who Takuya was, and his feelings for him?

The brunette stifled a cry, and tried to unstuck the sob that threatened to escape him. His body shook, but not from emotion but from the cold that was soaking its way through his skin. He tried to rub his hands up and down as he tried to warm himself, but...but he wished that Kouji was there to warm him up instead. He knew that if the raven haired teen was there with him, he wouldn't be half as cold or as uncomfortable as he was now.

Without warning though, the vines unwrapped themselves, causing the cage to slack as they instead wrapped themselves around Takuya's body...he was getting used to this by now. Now it was only because Zoey commanded them to do so-which meant that she had something planned for him.

Takuya shivered as the vines started moving forward...at first he thought that they were going to take him to the temple where he had last seen Kouji...but instead they moved in another direction, and further up. There was a few huts to where he was taken too, and he didn't see any Digimon...or any sign of Zoey either. Instead, he saw the Digimon that had stepped out of the shadows...what was his name again...Vinairamon?

"What do you want?" Takuya asked coldly, his arms crossing over his chest...partly for the look of defiance, and partly for the fact that it helped keep him warm.

"You." Takuya raised an eyebrow as he heard the Digimon's slippery voice for the first time.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Your help actually is what I want."

"Uh huh...yeah, you want my help and yet I get stuck in a cage, and I'm soaking wet?" Vinairamon looked at him for a moment, before ushering him inside one of the huts.

"Come inside." Takuya hesitated before accepting the offer, and stepped inside...to his surprise, a warm fire was set and roaring, the hut warm. He was glad he had accepted Vinairamon's offer then as he sat in front of the fire and held his hands out to it. Vinairamon stood a little bit away, in the shadow watching Takuya for a few minutes as he warmed his numb hands and removed his red outer shirt, placing it a little closer so to let it dry.

"Warm enough?" The Digimon startled the brunette, who nodded.

"Good."

"You know...I don't know if you're just being nice to me because Zoey ordered it and is going to do something horrible to me later, or if you're just being nice to me because you're just generally that way and don't like to show it." Vinairamon offered Takuya a small, wry smile.

"Think what you like. Actually my people were once very kind and generous, but a cold and corrupted spirit came, and stripped that all away. Now most of my people are either gone or deceased...or slaves taken away to work for the spirit..." Takuya's eyes opened wide...by spirit did he mean a spirit like one of theirs?

"Um...what kind of spirit is this exactly?" Vinairamon sighed.

"You might not understand...even we're not sure where it came from, we really aren't. But what we do know, is that it can possess your very heart and turn you into a cold person...it'll basically make you become the opposite of what or who you really are. It turned many of my people insane- it'll use you, corrupt you, and than drop you." Takuya shuddered.

"That sounds...awful...dreadful..."

"There is another spirit that we know of, one that'll be able to defeat the evil one...but we have yet to find it or even figure it out where it is...could you help us?"

"Why do you want my help?"

"Because we saw you and the others fighting the Sneemon...our vines can travel many other places and they were watching you...they believe that you can help lift this curse on our village." Takuya sighed.

"I-I guess we can try...but...I'm going to need some help." Vinairamon nodded.

"Of course, your friends you mean...the chubby one and the small one?" Takuya choked on his laughter, and only nodded instead.

"JP and Tommy...the chubby one and the small one...yeah, those'd be them...is there any chance that you might be able to get them here?" Vinairamon nodded.

"I shall try and do as you ask young one...but...I'm not sure...I've got to somehow get beyond Ms. Zoey's control...it wasn't easy doing it to get you out...let me see what I can do. In the meantime, I want you to stay in here until I come and get you." As Vineramon turned to leave, Takuya watched him go...but went after him, wanting to know one more thing.

"VINAIRAMON!" The Digimon turned around and saw Takuya at the doorway of the hut, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Kouji...my friend-the one that was forced to stay behind with Zoey- can you...can you help him? I mean, I know he's not interested in her at all, like she might be interested in him...if you can't bring him here like you might be able to do with JP or Tommy, can you at least watch over him for me? Until I can find a way to rescue him and your village too?"  Vinairamon seemed to consider this for a moment, before slowly nodding his head.

"I will do my best young Takuya. But I can't promise anything...but if you manage to save my village, I will make sure that your friend is safe." Takuya nodded as he turned around and started to leave once more...he barely heard what Takuya said next, but he still heard it.

"He's more than my friend...I love him..." Takuya whispered, and he didn't hear what Vinairamon said upon his departure:

"You're going to have more than him that you're going to have to save Takuya...Zoey isn't all she seems to be...but your heart is in the right place...and so is hers-you just have yet to see it...keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

            Takuya sat in the hut, no longer shivering.  Instead at the moment he was listening to his stomach growling as he realized that he-nor any of the others-had ate in quite some time.  Rubbing his stomach as if to sooth the cramps he was getting from an empty belly, he stood and went over to where the opening of the hut had once been, feeling very much like a prisoner once again.  Even though Vinairamon had managed to release him of his old prison-which had been very cramped and uncomfortable-he had now been trapped in this hut, as Vinairamon hadn't thought him liable enough to not go after Kouji on his own. 

            Which, was probably a good thing that he had done so.  Because with the worry that was constantly flooding through him about his Koi now, made Takuya want to go after him every second he thought about whatever it was that Zoey could do with him. 

            Although Vinairamon had told him time and time again that it was not Zoey...to hold his friends close but his enemies closer...

            And just how was he supposed to hold his friends close...(here now he started thinking about Kouji, who was definitely more than a friend and wouldn't mind holding him close to him once so ever)...when they weren't even around?  He sighed and sat back down near the fire, wishing that Vinairamon would hurry back with information...and maybe even some food...

            ~***~

            "My lady."  Vinairamon found himself bowing down to 'Zoey', who was looking at him rather impatiently. 

            "Make sure that no harm comes to the one called Takuya...he's going to be part of my little plan and I don't want that little plan to be destroyed...do you understand me Vinairamon?"  The evil digimon-or supposedly evil digimon-nodded. 

            "Yes my lady...so, since I'm not allowed to have anyone destroy your 'plan' can I ask exactly what your plan is?"  'Zoey' gave a little laugh. 

            "Of course...I trust you completely, more than any of the other fools who used to serve me."  At the words 'used to' Vinairamon winced and stood up again. 

            "You can always trust me my lady."  'Zoey' grinned at him. 

            "I know I can.  Which is why I'm telling you my plan.  I'm going to make Kouji mine, whether he wants to or not-I'm sick of all the cute boys being...weird...on me, and that's putting it politely."  She huffed, tossing back a few strands of blond hair that had fallen into her blue eyes. 

            "But I know that in order to do that some...persuasion...might be involved.  Which is why I need Takuya Kanbara-of all people-to help me with that.  See, I know that Kouji would do anything for no harm to come to his Koi...he threatened me earlier not to harm him, remember?"  Vinairamon nodded...oh yes, he remembered...he remembered the look of anger on Kouji Minomoto's face as he took him away from his friends...and his lover.  Vinairamon suddenly felt a little weird and realized with a start that he felt...guilty

            "And how do you plan to use Takuya Kanbara in all of this?"  'Zoey' gave him a look with her eyes that clearly said 'you're not thinking evil enough.' 

            "Oh, you'll find out soon enough...I'm going to go into see Kouji right now and see how he's getting along with me...plants...in the meantime, go and make sure that no harm has come to Takuya and when I call I want you to bring him to me.  Got it?"  Vinairamon nodded and turned to leave but thought about something he wanted to ask her. 

            "And the other's...the other two children...what do you plan on doing with them?"  'Zoey' frowned and thought about it for a minute or so. 

            "Throw them off the side of a cliff for all I care about, they're not included in my plans..."  She declared and stormed off into the chamber where she had left Kouji.  Vinairamon frowned and when he had passed the room that he had known the other Zoey-the real Zoey-was in, he bowed to her.  She gave him a look of confusion in her blue eyes, that were every bit as kind as the fake Zoey's was evil. 

            "You have the heart my fair lady...hold onto that and never let go of hope.  You'll get your revenge when the time comes...and when that time does come, you'll be able to prove to your two friends that you do care for them as only friends...and they'll learn to trust you once again."  Zoey nodded, silent tears forming in her eyes as the vines were folded over her mouth, enabling her to speak.  As she watched Vinairamon leave, she let the tears fall...but she also had a small sense of triumph that was growing deep down inside her...she knew she was going to get out of this...and when she did, she was going to kick some serious butt. 

~***~

            Kouji was gazing up at the stars...feeling...nervous?  Rebellious?  He didn't know which one at the moment...maybe a little bit of both.  Zoey had trapped him in what appeared to be a large room-there was a huge bed against the far wall, and the lighting was dim.  There was soft music playing in the background and roses all around, including some that seemed to be sprouting from the walls.  He made a face. 

            Someone has a really bad fashion taste...and for some reason I don't think that it's Zoey.  He frowned.  Zoey had always had a fashion sense...the comforter on the bed was black as well as the sheets and the pillowcases.  He didn't know where the lighting came from, but it came out as a soft pink. 

            Nothing but a bad nightmare, that's all this is.  At least he had a window to look out from.  He could see that the storm had stopped and that some of the clouds were disappearing, allowing him to see the dark blue sky, and the stars.  He wondered if Takuya could see the stars, as he was seeing the stars...well, maybe not as comfortably...but, at this point in time he'd rather be watching the stars from a cramped cage with Takuya than watching the stars from inside a room-a room that Zoey would probably enter in at any minute. 

            "What does she want with us anyway?"  He asked himself out loud and was startled to get an answer. 

            "Oh, you'll soon see enough my sweet Kouji."  Kouji whirled around, his hands clenched at his sides to see Zoey standing in the doorway, leaning against it...she had changed since he had last seen her and she was now wearing a black dress that had only one strap holding it up-her right arm and shoulder were completely bare, as the left arm bore the strap that held the dress up.  The dress went to the floor and it had a slit on the right side of it, clearly showing off Zoey's right leg-but Kouji wasn't interested in the slightest.  At the moment, his mind was on Takuya...as it always had been lately. 

            "But in the meantime, let's enjoy ourselves, shall we?"  She asked sweetly as she sauntered up to him and leaned up against him as she joined him in looking at the stars. 

            "They're beautiful, aren't they?"  Zoey purred into his ear, and Kouji flinched and moved away so that Zoey nearly fell on her face.  She straightened herself and gave a little growl of irritation.  Flipping her hair over one shoulder, she decided to try again as she practically launched herself onto the dark haired teenager.  It took Kouji a minute to realize what Zoey was doing and pushed herself off from him. 

            "Not interested Zoey...you know that.  Takuya and I told you and JP and Tommy that we're together."  But Zoey seemed unphased by this. 

            "Oh, but what do you see in that...boy...he's practically nothing."  Kouji shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. 

            "He's not nothing.  Hardly nothing.  Takuya's different, he's...he's..."  Kouji found himself thinking hard as he tried to figure out exactly what Takuya was. 

            "He's the best thing that ever happened to me."  He whispered, knowing how true that was.  He'd never quite met a boy like Takuya Kanbara. 

            "Really?  I'll make sure then, that I'll be better."  Zoey said, her voice bittersweet as she pulled Kouji toward her so they were face to face, and very, very close...

~***~

            The vines that created the door to the hut started to unravel themselves as Takuya stirred from the restless sleep that he had fallen into while trying to fall asleep, thinking of no better way to pass the time.  But his thoughts kept on going to Kouji and what was going on back in that temple with Zoey. 

            Vinairamon came in, looking a little...miffed...followed by...

            "JP!  Tommy!  Are you two alright?!?"  Takuya asked as both teens came in, looking a little ruffled but otherwise fine.  They both nodded at Takuya, and he sighed. 

            "What's going on?  Why is ugly here bringing us to this place?"  JP asked as he sat down next to Takuya, and when he glanced over at Vinairamon he saw the Digimon make a face as Tommy edged away from him and sat on the other side of Takuya on the makeshift bed-which, was of course, made out of vines as well. 

            "Because 'ugly' is going to help you get your friends back."  Vinairamin replied, and Takuya grinned a little...he had to give it to him...the Digimon took JP's rude comment with a calm leisure. 

            "Oh..."  JP frowned at this as he tried to work it all out in his head. 

            "Vinairamon 'works' for Zoey...he's going to try to get any information on what she's planning to us and from there, we'll form a plan as to how to get out of here and help his people regain their right to be here."  Tommy eyed Vinairamon with the same look of suspicion that JP was. 

            "And how do we know that you're not just going to try and turn us in?"  He asked, suddenly feeling brave.  Vinairamon smiled a smile that sent shivers down Takuya's spine...it was everything but pleasant. 

            "Because, I want my kingdom back...and my love as well."  Both Tommy and JP fell over at this. 

            "LOVE?!?"  Even Takuya was shocked...Vinairamon had never mentioned anything about a lover before.  Vinairamon nodded. 

            "Oh yes...love...see, the Zoey you encountered...wasn't Zoey...your Zoey anyway.  This Zoey is...how do you say...a shape shifter.  Who shifted into the form of Zoey the moment she saw her, knowing that she could work her magic on the rest of you to trick you all into thinking that she was the true Zoey no matter how she acted.  And needless to say, it worked."  The three boys who were sitting on the makeshift bed froze. 

            "What...do you mean...that that girl that we saw back in the temple isn't Zoey?!?  Where's the real Zoey?!?"  JP demanded, standing up with his hands clenched into fists before him.  Takuya stood and urged him to sit back down...which the boy did...still glaring at Vinairamon and wanting an answer. 

            Vinairamon sighed. 

            "It's a long story...but...we have time for it."  He said, and Takuya shook his head. 

            "We don't have time for it...if that's not really Zoey in there with my koi, than I don't know who is and I'm not sure that she's not going to try and hurt him!"  Tommy and JP looked over at Takuya with surprise as he had a look of determination on his face...but yet there was fear in his eyes.  It was the first time they'd heard Takuya call Kouji his koi. 

            "She won't hurt him...her plan isn't to hurt him...but to hurt...you."  The Digimon said, pointing to Takuya who frowned. 

            "What?"  He didn't get it.  Apparently from the look on Takuya's face, Vinairamon figured that out and shook his head. 

            "She's figured that if she hurts you, than Kouji would do anything...even love her..."  Takuya's mind went numb with shock...he realized that Vinairamon was right.  And if the fake Zoey was going to do something like that...they needed a plan of action.  Now. 

            "Why would she want Kouji in the first place if you love her?"  Tommy asked in a small voice, and Vinairamon gave a small, sad smile. 

            "Because...she can't love someone that's stuck in a plant form can she?"  The three boys stared at him, and with that, Vinairamon started in on his story. 

            "I'll give you the shortened version since I don't think that we have much time.  Long ago-the fake Zoey-who's real name is Serenamon-and I were engaged to be married.  We're shape shifting Digimon, and therefore can shape shift into practically anything.  Then one day...I'm not quite sure what happened.  Serenamon turned...powerful.  She suddenly had the power to control those who shape shifted, and could force them to stay in the last shape that they shifted into forever." 

            "So how'd you all wind up as plants?"  JP asked, interrupting the Digimon who glared at him and held  up a hand. 

            "I'm not finished yet with my story am I?"  JP looked a little baffled and shrunk down a little in his seat. 

            "Anyway, it was planting season in our village and many of us turn into what it is that's being planted in our village so we can understand what the growing process is like.  That day something snapped inside my bride, and she magically forced us to stay in the plants that we had shifted into by an orb that she had started to carry around with her.  This orb contained some kind of power.  She stayed in her own form, able to shape shift whenever she wanted too...but the rest of us were stuck.  Eventually she drove the rest of our people away so that only I remained, trying to understand why she had done such a thing.  Eventually the area around us-what had once been our village-grew wild.  My touch turned everything to vines, trapped the both of us up here...but at one point she vanished and I had no idea where she was.  Until now that is."  Vinairamon sighed heavily and shook his head. 

            "I don't know what to do with her.  I told her this wasn't a good idea, messing around with humans...and from what I've heard from the trees and such, you guys possess the power of spirits, don't you?  Spirits that turn you into Digimon?"  The three boys looked at each other feeling uneasy...they'd have to completely trust Vinairamon in order to tell him that what he was saying was true.  Finally, Takuya slowly nodded. 

            "Yeah...it's true.  If you can trust us to help you, we'll help you...but you've also-"  He was cut off when Vinairamon held up a hand and cocked his head off to the side. 

            "She beckons."  Takuya went rigid as Vinairamon murmured this, looking uneasy. 

            "She?  You mean...the fake Zoey...what's her name...Serenamon...beckons you?"  Vinairamon nodded, his eyes sharp. 

            "Yes...but she also beckons me to do a command as well."  Feeling uneasy, JP and Tommy both scooted closer to Takuya, who stood up causing the two boys to look at each other and sigh.  So much for the idea that Takuya would protect them. 

            "What command does she give?"  As soon as he asked this, Vinairamon seized him by the arm.  At first Takuya was surprised and started to struggle. 

            "Struggling will not help you...her command was for me to bring you to her.  And as I serve her, I will do so."  Takuya gasped and continued to struggle. 

            "No way!  If what you said back there was true, that she'd try to hurt me to get to Kouji...NO!"  JP and Tommy had stood up by now and were slowly moving in circles so that Tommy was still in front of Vinairamon and JP had moved to the back.  They were ready to attack when vines shot up from the floor of the hut and wrapped themselves around the teens, binding their arms and legs so they couldn't move, no matter how hard they struggled.  Tommy and JP watched as Vinairamon practically dragged a struggling Takuya out of the hut and watched with wide eyes as the vines climbed up again creating the door that had trapped Takuya in the hut earlier. 

            "What are we going to do?"  Tommy whispered, as they heard thunder in the distance.  JP's body went slack...he suddenly felt a little weird.  It was as though the thunder was calling to him...

            "I don't know...but we'll think of something...we have to.  Takuya and Kouji...and even Zoey are depending on us to think of a way out."  Tommy nodded and continued to struggle, but all JP did was stand there and listen to the thunder as it got louder and louder...

~***~

            "Why?"  Takuya demanded, struggling even more than he had before they'd left Tommy and JP.  They were now going up the steps of the Temple of Vines and Takuya found he was being dragged inside. 

            "Because even though she is evil, she still rules over me...she's my...my..." 

            "If you say she's your Queen or something like that, you're crazy!"  Takuya shouted, still struggling and then suddenly felt something-actually a bunch of tiny somethings-slice into his wrist and he yelped in pain and immediately ceased his struggles as he went limp with the unexpected pain. 

            "What...?"  He gasped, feeling blood as it started to trickle down his punctured and sliced wrist. 

            "You could've come quietly and that wouldn't have had to happen."  Vinairamon hissed and Takuya winced a little-more at the pain than at the tone of voice Vinairamon was speaking to him in.  His brown eyes hardened in anger. 

            "We should've never trusted you!"  Takuya whispered, and Vinairamon sighed and shook his head.

            "Trust is a very hard thing to come by my young friend." 

            "You have some guts to still call me your friend." 

            "I am still on your side...though from here on out it may not seem like it.  I can not let her see that I am planning on helping you-so you have to trust me.  Whether you want to or not."  The Digimon whispered, and Takuya could see in his dark eyes that he was indeed sorry for what happened. 

            "I must warn you-sometimes the vines do have thorns...as I was able to create here and now-which was what hurt you...Serenamon might try this."  Takuya nodded, his wrist feeling numb as Vinairamon stopped at a doorway and looked down at him. 

            "Trust me...or trust no one at all."  With that, he placed his vine-like hand on the door and the vines twirled down so that there was an opening into the room.  When they walked in, the vines sprung back into life...and Takuya had the uneasy feeling of being trapped once again...

TBC 

AN:  Part III is up now with this chapter...as a gift to all of you who have waited for so long for this one to come out...^-^  And if anyone saw any mistakes spelling wise, let me know will you?  Thanx!