Disclaimer: This story being a Takouji + rewritten version of 04=no owning Digimon (My muses would like to add that they just like to borrow the characters and use them for such plots like this, but promise to return them back to their original selves as soon as this is over.well.um.except for maybe the Takouji part.=^-^= )

Author's Notes: Ack! Don't kill me.please? ::watches as authoress cowers behind computer screen:: I'm sorry it took me this long.my life has been.um.busy? With school and work.I know that's not a decent enough excuse, but here's the next chapter for you guys! I hope it doesn't suck too badly.::whimpers.please don't let it suck to badly.:: Just to warn you guys I didn't really spell check or grammar proof this thing cause I wanted to get it up for you all to read and enjoy, so if there are any major problems, lemme know through a review, k? Oh, and one last thing, I am going to start using the Japanese names instead of the American dubbed names, just cause' I like the Japanese names better.^-~ hope you guys don't mind the sudden switch.Takuya's and Kouji's names are still the same.Zoe=Izumi, JP=Junpei, and Tommy=Tomoki. (Hope that helps any confusion! I've just been working on another story, Eternity (Yes, Takouji of course!) and I have been using their Japanese names for THAT one, SO.there's the explanation for that!) Anywho, I'm off to go and write another chapter.

Warning: sighs...even though this is like, the eleventh chapter I still feel like I should put this here...: if you don't like male/male parings (slash/yaoi, whatever you wanna call it...=P) then leave now or forever hold your peace...you HAVE been for warned (and in all honesty if you've gotten this far and haven't realized that it contains Takuya and Kouji as a couple then...::author widens eyes:: I'm shocked! Really! =P) otherwise, if you like the wonderfulness of Takouji then do please feel free to move forward...^_~

Story Rating: PG

Chapter Summary: Takuya and Kouji are away from the others, and Izumi feels like she needs to somehow convince the two boys how sorry she is...but how can she do that when they're no longer traveling with them? Junpei and Tomoki realize how much nicer she's being, and want to help her...but when they find Takuya injured in the woods, and Kouji nowhere in sight, they know that something must be wrong...and have their first encounter with Grumblemon...

Different Journeys

Author: Angel Spirit

Chapter 12: Enter Grumblemon

Takuya had no idea how long he and Kouji had been walking...at first they'd been running, but then it'd slow down to a jog, and finally a walk...

It was now slightly after dark, the three moons of the Digital World were slowly rising, illuminating their figures as they continued their hike in the mountains they'd found themselves in before the sun had set. Takuya hadn't known how tired he was until he'd stopped to catch a breath, his legs burning as they hadn't stopped for a break since leaving the others. He had to catch his breath, and he felt a stitch coming on at his side. He wanted to call out to Kouji to get the raven haired teenager to stop, but he didn't think he had the voice.

It was as though Kouji had sensed that he was no longer following him, and turned around, his eyes narrowed at first and then the expression softened as he realized that Takuya was tired and came back toward him, leaning against the same rock he was.

"Alright?" Kouji whispered, and Takuya shook his head...his side and chest hurt and the ache in his legs were driving him crazy...

"No...I...think I need to stop." Kouji just nodded and motioned for him to stay there as he disappeared for a few minutes and came back a second later, a grin on his face.

"There's a overhang where we can spend the night and maybe try and build a fire. Here, let me help you...it's just around the corner." Takuya nodded as he leaned against Kouji for support and a few minutes later he was resting against the cool rock, enjoying the fact that he was finally sitting down.

"I'm gonna go and see if I can get us some firewood or something..." Takuya just nodded wearily as Kouji departed, and the brunette felt his eyes close...

When he woke up again, he felt the warmth of the fire before him, and found Kouji cuddled up close next to him, fast asleep. Smiling as Takuya positioned it so that they were both more comfortable, he just sighed and watched the flames rise up into the night sky. He wondered how long he had been asleep, and felt bad for making Kouji do all the work, and promised himself that tomorrow night he'd build the fire. It didn't look as though Kouji had gone for food, and even though Takuya was a little hungry, he just didn't think that he could eat anything. His mind kept on wandering to the events of what had happened the past couple of days, and he found himself trying to shut it out.

In his heart he knew that it was true...it hadn't been Izumi who had tried to take Kouji away from him but an evil Digimon Shape Shifter...the whole thing was too confusing for his brain to handle at the moment, so instead he settled his eyes on Kouji, allowing them to drink in his koi's features...from his pale skin, to his long jet black hair, which at the moment was falling out of it's ponytail. Takuya grinned as Kouji shifted a little in his sleep, and making himself comfortable once more, found himself slowly falling back asleep...

Kouji had woken up almost an hour after Takuya had fallen back asleep, sensing something. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he had heard something, and he didn't think that it was something friendly...in fact, far from it. He glared into the darkness but didn't see anything. If anything did try to get at him or Takuya, Kouji would make sure that it wouldn't get very far. After what had just happened, all Kouji wanted was some peace and quiet with Takuya. Like now...he loved how close he was to the brunette, so close his warmth vibrated off of him, leaving Kouji feeling quite warm and content...but he knew the fire helped a little bit with that part...but there was something about Takuya, that whenever Kouji was close to him like this, he knew that he could never be cold.

A gentle breeze swept by the two, and once again Kouji heard the noise somewhere out in the darkness. Takuya must've heard it too, for he slowly opened his brown eyes, and stared out into the mountains as Kouji was doing. Kouji had felt Takuya's body tense, and so he stood and brushed himself off as he offered his koi a hand that he greatly accepted.

"Something is out there." Takuya said, admitting exactly what Kouji was thinking and he nodded.

"Yeah...something's out there...let's put out this fire...we might be cold if we do, but the smoke from the flames will let anyone out their know where we are..." Takuya nodded as he helped Kouji put out the fire, and soon the two were plunged into darkness...suddenly it seemed as though there were no stars and no moon...it was all kind of eerie actually. Takuya felt his way to where Kouji was standing still, glaring out into the darkness as he tried to sense what could be out there...and placed a hand on his shoulder causing the other teen to jump a little. Kouji's breathing quickened as he cursed a little and then shook his head at Takuya, grinning.

"Damn...you scared me, creeping up on me like that!" Takuya found himself grinning back, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.

"I know...I'm getting better at it too." Kouji just shook his head a smug look in his eyes.

"Yeah, but I'll always be the best at it...no matter how good you get." Takuya pouted and Kouji laughed a little as he pulled the brunette into an embrace.

"You know, there is one good thing about the darkness." Kouji teased, and Takuya looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"And what would that be?" Takuya asked knowing somehow, what Kouji's reply would be as the dark haired boy smiled.

"No one can see us doing this." And he pulled Takuya into a kiss that warmed him from the inside out...

Unfortunately it didn't last very long, as both boys heard the sound of laughter from above them, and caused Kouji to break it off as soon as he'd started it. Takuya groaned softly, and bit his lower lip, feeling frustrated.

"Someone's up there..." Kouji snarled, one of his hands balling into a tight fist, the other on Takuya's arm.

"It feels like we're being hunted down or something..." Takuya whispered, and then the owner of the laughter, laughed again...but this time it just wasn't laughter that they heard.

"Oh, me wouldn't hunt you down if me didn't want something from you..." Both boys drew in breaths and held it, as though it would make them disappear...but when something jumped down from the ledge and let out a ferocious, angry howl, their breath was taken away and both boys jumped back, more in surprise then in fear.

They saw the outline of the Digimon in front of them as it advanced on them, they saw the wicked smile on it's face as it pounded it's club against one hand, it's eyes narrowed at the two boys with disliking.

"Me has heard rumors that you humans stole spirits...that no good! Me come to take spirits back!" Kouji growled softly and stepped in front of Takuya, glaring daggers at the Digimon who stood so menacingly in front of them.

"We didn't steal any spirits! We earned them! They came to us!" Takuya nodded in agreement with what Kouji had just shouted, but the Digimon just chuckled low and shook his head.

"Grumblemon think that human boy is lying...does human boy want to know what Grumblemon do to liars?" Takuya felt his own eyes narrow in disliking...Grumblemon...if that was what this Digimon's name was...was seriously starting to annoy him.

"You know pal, you've got a bad attitude...and not only that, but you interrupted us from some nice, quiet time we were having together...and I think you need to pay for that..." Kouji glanced at Takuya, as Takuya nodded...he already had his Detector out, and had flipped it around and caught it as it came down right side up in his hand.

"Let's get rid of this nuisance..." Kouji growled, grabbing his own Detector.

"Me not going to allow you use of spirits...me going to TAKE spirits from you!" Just as the two boys were starting to Digivolve, Grumblemon attacked Takuya, hitting him hard and sending him flying against a rock wall...he hit it hard and lost his breath as his Digivolving process ceased and he slid to the ground, holding his chest...that had seriously hurt...

But while Grumblemon had attacked Takuya, Kouji had managed to Digivolve into Lobomon, and now Grumblemon was faced with quite an angry looking wolf.

"You touch him again and I swear..." Grumblemon just locked eyes with Lobomon and snarled at him.

"You swear what? Swear that you kill Grumblemon? Cause Grumblemon not easily defeated! Especially by stupid humans!" Lobomon growled low and started attacking first, as Grumblemon blocked his blows.

Takuya had managed to stand back up, and though he was still feeling breathless, knew that Kouji was giving him time to Digivolve again...which, he did so and in record time, was helping Kouji battle against Grumblemon. Even though it was two against one, even Takuya had to admit that Grumblemon was probably one of the strongest Digimon he and Kouji had run into since their arrival in the Digital World.

"Me not like you using spirit against me..." Grumblemon declared as he knocked Lobomon out of the way, who grunted in protest as he was slammed up against the wall.

"Lobomon!"

"Agunimon, look out!" Takuya had seen it coming too late, and even as he got his attack ready, Grumblemon was down upon him, and Takuya found himself knocked out of the way again, but this time Grumblemon came after him. He was actually loosing...he felt himself getting tired, no matter how hard he tried to fight off Grumblemon's attacks, they kept on coming.

It was the last attack that finally did it for Takuya, as it sent him flying up so that he landed hard against a tree, and, feeling himself loosing consciousness, he slowly fell to the ground.

He didn't see Lobomon coming to attack Grumblemon from behind to keep him away from him as he fell to the ground, or did he see his data actually appear as he groaned in pain. But Grumblemon saw it, and despite the fact that Lobomon was putting up a good fight, turned his attention back to Takuya, who was slowly turning back into his human form.

"Me take spirit from flame boy now..." Lobomon however, growled in protest and laughed himself at Grumblemon again as Takuya's spirit showed briefly...but not long enough for Grumblemon to get it, who was busy fending Kouji off. As Takuya's spirit and data disappeared, leaving behind a weakened and wounded Takuya, Grumblemon glared at Lobomon, who glared back triumphantly.

"You loose..." Enraged at what had just happened, Grumblemon started attacking Lobomon non stop, who knew that he head to take the fight away from his injured koi...he didn't want Takuya to get even more injured then what he already was.

"You want me ugly? Then come and get me..." Lobomon found himself running into the darkness of the mountains, Grumblemon, after letting out an angry growl, dashed after him...

~***~

"It's too quiet Izumi..." Izumi didn't pay any attention to Junpei once so ever, so was caught up in her own thoughts...her own thoughts of misery that is. She couldn't stand it that Takuya and Kouji had just taken off like that...without knowing how sorry she was...but why should she be the one sorry? She didn't do anything? But she had...it hadn't been her, but it had been her image. And no matter how many times she could and would say sorry to the other two teenagers, she was never sure if they'd forgive her or not. Maybe never.

She felt like crying...but had long since run out of tears. And besides, lately she would cry at night when Junpei and Tomoki were sleeping, so they wouldn't hear her and she wouldn't have to explain to them if they asked questions as to 'why' she was crying. They couldn't do anything about it...no matter what Junpei would say to comfort her.

"Izumi...I wanna rest..." Izumi barely glanced over her shoulder at Tomoki, and sighed. It was shortly after sunset, and she was tired as well...they might as well rest.

"Okay...okay...let's call it a night guys." The two boys sighed in relief and sunk down to the ground to rest their weary feet. Izumi however, didn't quite feel like stopping yet...something inside her told her that it was wrong to stop...that there was something up ahead that they had to reach before stopping.

"It's about time we get to rest...I think that Neemon is about to fall sleep on me..." Bokomon complained from where the two had stopped a few feet away from the group. They'd been trying to keep the pace that Izumi had set, but had kept on falling behind.

"I-I'm going to go and get some firewood and see if maybe I can't find any food or anything..." The blonde muttered and walked off deeper into the mountains before the two boys could say anything. But as soon as she had disappeared, Tomoki and Junpei exchanged worried looks as the two Digimon traveling with them slid to the ground, feeling rather exhausted.

"She's going to be alright, right Junpei?" Junpei looked to where he had last seen Izumi standing and bit gently down on his lower lip. He honestly didn't know the answer to Tomoki's question. So in response, he shrugged, looking rather helpless about the situation at hand. Izumi had been acting like this since Takuya and Kouji had decided to go off on their own for awhile again. He supposed it might have been because of what had happened with the Shape Shifting Digimon in the vine village, but a part of him thought that maybe it was because they did not quite want to be with people yet...that they wanted to have some time with each other, to be together before they joined them. To him, that was more of a likely explanation then the one that Izumi was toying around with...that the boys didn't travel with them, and had run off because she was to blame. But it hadn't been her...and sooner or later, Junpei knew that she had to understand that.

"I'm cold..." Tomoki stammered and stood up shaking. Suddenly, Junpei felt cold as well and shivered a bit as he stood up with the other and looked at him, a strange look in his eyes...for he felt...strange. Like something was going on that shouldn't be going on.

"I'm going after Izumi." Junpei declared, and took off in the direction that the blonde girl had gone off in, and Tomoki, after looking around and realizing that he didn't want to be alone, headed after him, still shivering.

Bokomon had looked up and groaned...he hadn't felt like walking much more, but he didn't want to be left behind either. He poked Neemon awake, who grunted and sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking rather cranky.

"What? Can't you see I was sleeping?" Bokomon nodded his head in the direction of where Junpei and Tomoki had taken off after Izumi.

"Yes well, we're going to be left behind." It took Neemon a few minutes before he actually realized what it was that Bokomon had said, and his eyes widened wide.

"Holy smoke, we're being left behind!" Bokomon sighed as he took off after Neemon as they too ran off in the direction Izumi had gone.

~***~

They'd only been jogging for awhile when they heard a howl...and it sounded like an angry howl. The two boys looked at each other, eyes wide as they wondered what on earth could possibly make such a noise like that...and then, remembering that Izumi was out there somewhere, Junpei started to move again, picking up Tomoki and carrying him on his back in a piggy back ride when the youth complained that he was too tired to run anymore.

It was only when they had heard the howl the fourth time when they'd finally found Izumi. She was standing on the trail, looking quite afraid as the look in her eyes told Junpei that she was also trying to figure out what was making those noises. She jumped when Junpei came up and placed a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to him, her blue eyes wide.

"Junpei...did...did you and Tomoki hear it too? That horrible sound..." She shuddered, and Junpei nodded as he kept his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly to comfort her. Tomoki stood near them, having gotten off of Junpei's back as soon as they'd seen the girl standing there.

"Well, I know I heard it..." Bokomon breathed out, and Neemon nodded, afraid as the sound came again and he jumped onto Bokomon, who ended up falling to the ground at his weight.

"Clumsy oaf, get off me!" Bokomon scowled, and pushed a still scared Neemon off of him.

"What are we going to do?" Tomoki muttered, feeling a little afraid himself as the howl sounded again, but this time it sounded like it was in pain more then it was angry...and it was more like a growling noise now...but it was moving further away.

As if answering Tomoki's question without words, Izumi suddenly found her courage and straightened her shoulders, standing tall and batting away Junpei's hand and started toward where they'd first heard the sound. All Junpei could do, was look at her in shock.

"Izumi! Izumi, you're CRAZY!" Izumi just held her head high as Junpei ran the small distance to catch up with her, and Tomoki did the same.

"Izumi, we don't know what that thing is..." But when she turned to face him Junpei saw a fire in her eyes that told him she wasn't going to change her mind about finding whatever it was that had made that noise.

"Izumi..." Junpei whimpered, but started to jog when Izumi did. After what seemed like an eternity of jogging, they reached a wider part of the trail they were on, that led to a rock structure that looked like someone had been using it for a shelter...there was firewood that was still warm. Izumi stood up after looking at it, and looked around, lowering her eyes.

"I think they were here..." Junpei and Tomoki looked at her like she was crazy.

"Think that...that who were here Izumi?" Bokomon asked looking around, and Izumi just shook her head lightly.

"Kouji and Takuya..." Junpei glanced around and nodded. He knew why Izumi was thinking that...he doubted that there were too many Digimon out there who knew how to make fires like the way the logs were arranged in the dirt...and there was dirt over the wood. That made it seem as though someone had put it out quite suddenly.

Tomoki had started to wander around the area, a strange feeling of foreboding coming over him. He had taken his hat off because it had gotten windy and he was afraid that it would blow away, so he was now twisting it in his hands when he found Takuya lying face down in the dirt, looking half dead. Tomoki stifled a scream and instead raced back to get Junpei and Izumi, to find Junpei trying to comfort a distraught Izumi.

"I know they were here Junpei! And they weren't here to long ago, and...!" Tomoki interrupted them before she could finish what she was saying.

"TAKUYA!" He yelled, and the two teens in front of him stood there staring at him, not registering what he had said in the least bit.

"Yes, we are talking about Takuya..." Bokomon said, declaring it as though Tomoki knew that already, but Tomoki shook his head.

"No! TAKUYA! He's hurt!" Izumi gasped, one of her delicate hands reaching up to her mouth a shocked expression on her face, a look of fear in her eyes.

"Where?!? Tomoki, where?!?" Tomoki said nothing, but instead turned around and raced back to where he had found the other injured Digi Destined. As soon as Junpei and Izumi had reached the part of the trail where he was lying, Izumi let out a gasp and reached the brunette first, kneeling down next to him and quickly checked his pulse.

"He's...still breathing but...oh Junpei, what happened!?!" Junpei just shook his head, wondering the same thing.

"Yeah, what happened to Kouji too...the first feeling I had when I met these two was that they were inseparable..." Tomoki nodded, agreeing with Junpei.

"Guys...Lobomon...is a wolf-type Digimon...right?" Izumi asked, a hint of fear in her voice as both boys nodded at her. She suddenly looked kind of afraid.

"I...I think that was Lobomon we were hearing...something happened here...something terrible..." Junpei's eyes widened as he heard and understood what Izumi was saying. It was as soon as she had finished her sentence when they heard a light groan of pain and the trio glanced down to see Takuya slowly opening his eyes.

"K-Kouji?" He gasped, but Izumi just shook her head and brushed some of his fallen brown hair out of his eyes.

"No Takuya...Kouji's not here...I'm sorry..." Takuya started for a moment, but Junpei lightly pushed him back down.

"Relax Takuya-kun you're hurt." Takuya didn't seem to notice who was with him at the moment, or even recognize them...Tomoki hung back, looking a little scared.

"We should get him away from here..." Izumi muttered, and Junpei nodded as he gently lifted Takuya, who had fallen back into unconsciousness.

"I do say that we should use the sheltered area that he and Kouji must've used earlier....before whatever happened, happened." Bokomon suggested, as he glanced up at the sky and the others nodded as they followed his gaze. It looked like it was going to rain again.

"What did happen?" Neemon asked curiously and Bokomon just reached out and smacked the other Digimon alongside the head, causing everyone else to sweat drop for a minute.

"You nimrod, we don't know what happened! Takuya will have to tell us later, when he wakens."

"Oh..." Neemon said, before casting a look at Takuya.

"He'll wake up soon?" Bokomon sighed at Neemon's question, as Junpei carried the unconscious teen to where the shelter was, the other's following as Izumi worked on getting the fire started again.

"I hope so Neemon...I hope so."

Quick AN: ::Cowers again:: I'm sorry, I'm sorry.::holds hands in front of her in self defense:: I *know* this was *really* short.much shorter then usual. I PROMISE I'm working on the next chapter! Really, I am! This just seemed like a good place to leave off.And don't tell me that the first battle with Grumblemon sucked.you guys don't have to tell me something I don't already know.I know it did.blame the muses.::cowers from evil glares of muses::.I'll do better next time.::whimpers and scurries off to write a better chapter::