Disclaimer: Since this is a Takouji fanfic, then obviously I don't own
Digimon...right? Right.
Author's Notes: Well...after that first terrible chapter of the 12 chapters that I have so far...::sees authoress blush:: Hey, this authoress is allowed to have one horrible chapter, isn't she? I promise it won't happen again...scout's honor! (Wait a minute...I'm not a scout...::shrugs:: oh well...^-~) Mmmmm...yummy...Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks...good times! ::takes sip of coffee:: Okay, let's get on with this fic, shall we? Oh, and thanks to those who've been faithful reviewers! ::Sighs mournfully:: I have to get a new fishy from the pet store.::sniff, sniff:: I didn't check much of my grammar or my spelling this time around either but I'm a thinking that it's okay.so anyone who notices anything wrong, lemme know okay? ^-~ But enough of that! This chapter is to so *totally* make up for the last chapter, so go, read it and enjoy! (Oh, and for those of you who are reading my other Takouji fic, Eternity and haven't seen chapter III yet, it's a new chapter.so you can go and check this one out when you are finished here if ya want to!)
Story Rating: PG13
Warning: Takuya+Kouji=Takoujiness! Any questions.? =P
Yaoi pairing: Takouji! (Takuya/Kouji) Non-Yaoi pairing: Junpei/Izumi frienshipness...maybe a little more, who knows...I'm debating about making it a Koichi/Izumi when Koichi comes into play...(heh, whoops...I promised people I'd start spelling his name Kouichi for this fic...blah...but he hasn't come in yet! So I get off the hook...right? ^-^)
Different Journeys
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter 13: Together Again
Kouji was feeling tired...mentally and physically. He didn't know how much longer he could pull it off...but for now it seemed as though he had managed to loose Grumblemon completely.
Taking a few deep breaths, Kouji allowed himself to dedigivolve, stumbling a little as he did so...he had almost outdone himself there. But he had had to do it...he had to get Grumblemon away from Takuya. And now it looked as though he had succeeded...but at what cost?
He found himself glancing around, and sighed.
At what cost indeed. Now he was lost...he was sure he wouldn't be able to find his way back to where he had left Takuya...
His eyes opened wide as he realized that he had left Takuya hurt...injured...unconscious! The thought tore threw him, and Kouji shook his head...no, Takuya was alright...Grumblemon hadn't hurt him that badly...right...right? Right...he just had to keep on thinking positive...oh, but the last time he had seen Takuya...he had been on the ground, limp and not moving, eyes closed...
Kouji fought back a scream of frustration and anger...though he was not angry at Takuya. No, he was angry at Grumblemon...the stupid evil Digimon who had started all this! Kouji allowed one of his hands to ball into a tight fist, and was surprised to see his hand shaking a little...but only out of anger.
"Grumblemon...you'd better watch your back...because next time we meet...I'm going to finish you and make you pay!" With that, Kouji turned around and slammed his fist into the nearest tree trunk, letting out all his anger...
~***~
"He's going to be alright...right Izumi?" Tomoki found himself asking as he brought a fresh canteen of water to the blond girl. They had set up camp again and gotten the fire started once more, as they had been using the area that Kouji and Takuya had used previously for a camping spot. Though the other two had argued with her for awhile whether or not it was safe, Izumi pointed out that it was doubtful that whatever had attacked the two boys would come back this way...it would have probably thought Takuya dead, and would still go after Kouji.
Even though Junpei had thought that as a horrible way of looking at it, he and Tomoki had complied and gone to get some firewood...and water.
Izumi had gotten Takuya as comfortable as she could, and then sat watch...and had still been sitting watch by the time the other two boys had gotten back and started the fire.
"I'm not sure Tomoki...I'm not seeing anything to wrong with him, besides a few cuts and bruises here and there." She told him, having already bandaged up the small wound on Takuya's head, and was now pouring some of the water into a small cloth she had found in Tomoki's bag and was gently washing the other cuts on his arms.
"Who do you think they ran into?" Junpei asked, causing Izumi to jump...she had almost forgotten that Junpei was there-he was actually being rather quiet...more so then usual. She shrugged...having not a clue. They had gotten there after Kouji and whatever it was he had been fighting had taken off. That was not good, as when Takuya would wake up, he'd be sure to have questions, and expecting answers.
"Will Kouji come back?" Tomoki asked, and Izumi sighed. That was the one question that she knew Takuya was going to ask...but unfortunately she didn't have an answer, so she shook her head at this as well.
"I don't know...I don't know, alright you guys?!? Will you stop asking me questions that I don't know the answer too?" She hadn't meant to snap at them but she was feeling...frustrated? Yes, that was it...frustrated because Takuya was hurt and she didn't know how badly- wouldn't know until he woke up, and she had no idea when that would be-and she didn't know where Kouji had gone off too, or if he was hurt as well...
She bit her lower lip and sighed, shaking her head ruefully.
She wanted to make up for what had happened back in the vine village so badly...even though she knew that it wasn't her fault...still, it had been someone who had taken an image of her, and had almost...almost...no! She couldn't think of that. At the moment all that mattered was making it up to the two boys, showing them that she wanted to be friends, that she didn't mind once so ever that they were together as couple...for she didn't. Not now, not anymore-now she knew that the two boys were meant for each other.
The other two backed off for awhile, and it was silent around camp. The hours passed by, and soon she heard Junpei's snoring and Tomoki's light murmuring, and groaned. It figured that they'd fall asleep and leave her with watch...but that just meant that she could keep on keeping an eye on Takuya, who was still unconscious and had been for quite some time now.
It was only when she had felt herself drooping off to sleep, when she heard someone groaning lightly. Startled, she opened her bright blue eyes and found a pair of brown ones staring up at her, filled with nothing but confusion.
"K-Kouji?" Izumi shook her head.
"No Takuya...Kouji's not...he's not here..." She managed, and bit her lower lip, cursing softly to herself. She hadn't wanted to tell Takuya that right away...but she should've expected that the brunette would ask for Kouji when he had woken.
Takuya's eyes opened wide, as he struggled to sit up, only then to gasp in pain and lay back down rather quickly, holding his stomach as he grimaced in pain.
"Kouji's...not here? Then where...? And what're you doing here...?" Izumi just shook her head and pressed a finger lightly to Takuya's lips to shush him.
"Not now...I'll...try to explain all I can...but first, you have to tell me how you are feeling." As she spoke, Takuya grimaced again, and coughed.
"I feel...like...shit." Izumi only nodded at this.
"It's to be expected...you and Kouji must've had a pretty bad fight..." Takuya then sat up again, hissing in pain but not backing down again.
"Kouji! He...led him away...where is he?!? Have you looked for him, is he hurt?" Izumi just shook her head, her blue eyes filling with worry. Oh she hadn't wanted to tell Takuya that Kouji hadn't come back yet...but now it looked as though she had had no choice.
"Takuya...shhh...calm down, let me access the rest of your injuries and take care of you...from what it looks like, it looks like your ribs are bothering you...am I correct?" Takuya sighed and nodded slowly.
"Y-yeah, you could say that...though I'm not sure if they're broken or cracked...it's hard to tell...and it's hard to breath..." Izumi nodded and instructed the brunette to lay back down, and although he did not seem to want to do so, he complied anyway, groaning as he did so.
"I...want to just look...at your ribs..." Izumi was blushing as she said this, and Takuya just groaned.
His mind whimpered, but he only nodded at Izumi, who after all, was only trying to help. She lifted his shirt up gently and gasped, shaking her head as she rolled it up a little.
"Damn it...Takuya...your rib cage is all black and blue!" Takuya winced as she prodded a little, and slapped her hand away.
"Probably when he nailed me with his bat...or whatever you call it..." Takuya gasped as she accidentally touched a sore spot, and then she sat back and sighed.
"I don't know what we're going to do for this...we don't have any real medical supplies..." All the brunette did was whimper a little and nod...oh god it hurt...and where in the hell was Kouji? How badly he wanted the dark haired teen to be there instead of Izumi, comforting him...oh how badly he wanted it.
Tomoki came up at one point, with a canteen of water and showed it to Takuya, who nodded, suddenly feeling very thirsty as the youth handed it to him and Izumi helped him sit up enough so he could drink.
Takuya felt his eyes tear as she laid him gently back down, and coughed again, groaning afterward. He saw Izumi shoot him a look of deep concern, and he just shook his head at her...like she said, there wasn't much she could do, or any of them could do.
"Like you said Izumi...there's nothing that can be done..." He murmured, and she nodded.
"Yeah, I know but..." Takuya held up a hand, as he felt his eyes swiftly closing again...there wasn't much more he could do right now besides sleep...which was one of the best things for an injured person right? As long as they didn't have a concussion...and he didn't think he had that bad of a concussion...but even if he did have one, Izumi couldn't have kept him awake much longer...he felt his eyes close, and his breathing even out, though it still hurt to breath...and he dreamed...
He saw him running frantically through the mountains, through the dark forests that were embedded within the rocky surfaces...he looked to be lost, his dark blue gray eyes filled with nothing but frustration and fear...
His clothes were tattered, torn in some places, and there were cuts and bruises all over his face and arms...he looked warn out...
As if to prove this thought, the dark haired teen stumbled and fell, landing on his knees and giving out a loud curse as he scraped the palms of his hands.
"Me gonna get your spirit...NOW!" That voice...it was all too familiar...the dark haired teen's eyes opened wide with fear as he turned his head to see him coming straight for him...but somehow he was different...and in his eyes, there looked to be nothing but revenge...
Takuya gasped as he sat up, nearly crying out in pain as he did so. How long had he been asleep?!? Kouji...Kouji was in trouble...he knew that Kouji was in trouble...
He tried to move, tried to stand up but he only cried out in pain as he did so, and ended up giving up...something was wrong with his left shoulder...it felt...wrong. Why hadn't he felt it before? The adrenaline that had cursed through his body earlier was now easing away...and that had probably been why. His eyes grew teary as he sunk back down to the ground, holding his left arm to him steadily so that his shoulder wasn't harmed anymore, and took in deep breaths of air. God, he felt terrible...and there was only one person he wanted to see come through those trees...
But it wasn't the person he wanted to see, instead that one person was Junpei, who came through carrying some firewood with him as he added it to the pile, not even realizing that Takuya was awake, until the brunette let out a groan. Junpei glanced behind him, and smiled-though he had a worried look in his eye as he came up to Takuya and knelt down next to him.
"Hey...I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were awake..." He apologized, and all Takuya did was give a curt nod as he bit his lower lip...his shoulder was killing him...
"You want some water or something?" Takuya nodded, not thinking that he'd be able to speak, but as Junpei turned his back, he allowed a whimper of pain to escape his lips, causing Junpei to turn around again and glance at him, frowning.
"Takuya...what's wrong?" All Takuya did was shake his head. Junpei suddenly got really worried then as he had just taken a good look at his friend...who had just gone as white as a ghost, and seemed to be in pain. It took Junpei a few minutes longer to realize the way that Takuya was holding his left arm rather close to him.
"Takuya...is your left arm bothering you?" Takuya shook his head.
"No...shoulder...!" Takuya managed to gasp out, and something dawned on Junpei.
"How does it feel Takuya? Tell me, please?" Takuya gasped...Junpei was almost as bad as Izumi at twenty questions!
"It...it burns...like it's on fire...it feels...wrong...dislocated." The last part Takuya forced himself to whisper, not wanting to having to admit that his shoulder was dislocated...for that meant that someone would have to relocate it, and push it back into place...and he only wanted one person to do that...he allowed another whimper to escape his lips. That one person wasn't there however.
Izumi emerged a few minutes later from another direction, with dampened hair and grinning.
"Oh, I'm so glad we found a small river nearby! Even though the water was cold, it felt good to bathe, and...oh my gosh, what's wrong?" She noticed Takuya, curled up in a ball, whimpering just then as she let go of her hair, for she had been wringing the excess water out of it.
"He thinks his shoulder is dislocated...and I think it is...I haven't tried to get near it though to check it out and I doubt he'll let me." Izumi sighed and shook her head.
"I wish that Kouji was here with us...I really do..." Takuya's eyes widened as he heard his koi's name and suddenly remembered the nightmare he had had that had woken him up.
"Kouji! Someone's gotta go after him! Grumblemon is hunting him!" The other two looked startled.
"Hunting him? Who's Grumblemon?" Junpei asked, and Takuya shook his head.
"The Digimon that fought us the other night...Grumblemon...said he wanted our spirits, and would stop at nothing to get them from us...he...hurt me bad...and my data appeared, Kouji didn't want him taking my spirit and so he led Grumblemon off in another direction...!" Tomoki came through then, with dampened hair as well...he had washed in another part of the river and hadn't seen Izumi return.
"What's wrong with Takuya?" He asked, in concern for his friend but Izumi and Junpei only shook their heads at him, and looked at Takuya to continue his explanation.
"I...I just had...a nightmare...involving Kouji..." Takuya muttered, now gritting his teeth in pain...he doubted that any of the other three with him knew how to set his shoulder...
"And...he was chasing him...Kouji...looked pretty bad..." Takuya moaned and sat back, letting out a cry of pain and frustration...why did this seem to happen to him and Kouji?!? Was the Digital World out to get them or something? The others just did not know what to do, and they knew that Takuya probably wouldn't let them help him...
When Takuya was finished screaming out his anger, he shook his head and panted heavily...oh...Kouji...how badly he wanted him right now...to come and tell him that everything was alright, to soothe the pain away and take care of him...he didn't want Tomoki, Junpei, and Izumi there with him.
They heard the noise in the surrounding area above and to the left of them way too late...the sound of someone dashing through the forested area of the mountain trail that they were off of. The four teens eyes opened wide.
"Who...?" Izumi whispered, and Takuya's eyes were focused on the foliage around them.
"Kouji...?" He murmured, unable to stand the pain as he felt darkness closing in...but not before he saw the figure of Grumblemon emerge again, growling about spirits...and then all went black...
~***~
When he awoke again, he was in utter darkness...he had no idea where he was, or what was going on. But he did see a pair of glowing red eyes, staring at him hard...
He gulped, and felt the hot fiery pain in his shoulder...it still hadn't been set yet...and his ribs hurt like hell. He moaned.
"K-Kouji?" He managed to choke out, and the owner of the red eyes blinked for a moment and the eyes vanished. But when they appeared again, they were right next to him, and Takuya felt cool stone on his forehead. He flinched at the touch, and winced at the pain that throbbed in his head.
"I'm not Kouji...I'm a Digimon..." Takuya squinted through the darkness and made out the figure of a small rock-like Digimon.
"But I think I know who you are talking of...does this...Kouji have dark hair in a ponytail?" Takuya gasped as he nodded, praying that this Digimon knew exactly where Kouji was.
"Do you...have any idea...where...?" The rock Digimon shook his head.
"No, but I did see two other Digimon with him...he was talking something about getting a Beast Spirit." Takuya's eyes narrowed...beast spirit? How long had he been out? He asked this question, and the Digimon shrugged.
"I don't know...I found you half dead...no one was around you...I dragged you to safety...it looked like there had been a big fight." The Digimon told him, and Takuya groaned.
Now he didn't even have the others here, and he didn't know what happened to them...were they hurt as well, or separated from one another, or what? Now he felt worse then what he had when he had woken up.
"What...are you?" Takuya whispered, and the Digimon's glowing red eyes looked at him in pity.
"I'm a Gastumon...and you are...?"
"T-Takuya..." The brunette managed, before he passed out again...hoping that he would still be in the same spot when he woke up.
~***~
"Oh thank goodness he's here!"
"Yeah, but he doesn't look too good!"
"I know that you nincompoop!"
"That's why I decided to go and find you again...I...I didn't think he was doing too good, and he had said your name before he passed out...I figured that...that you know, you'd be able to help him or something..."
"It was good that you came to find me...oh god..." He knew that voice...among the other voices, he knew that voice. He wanted to wake up, really and truly he did...but at the moment he just didn't think that he could...he didn't have the energy to do so.
"Bokomon, Neemon, are there any bandages or medical supplies in this village at all? If there are, go and find them...if there's a healing Digimon, you might as well go and find that as well...I'm not sure if I can fix his shoulder..." The voice was trembling, and he felt a hand on his warm forehead and heard as sigh.
"He's got a fever...and his ribs don't look to good either...damnit you guys, what happened?" Takuya wanted to tell him...oh god, he wanted him to hold him...it was Kouji...he was with Kouji...but he felt himself drifting off again...he'd have to remember to thank the Gatsomon later...bit all his body wanted to do was sleep, and he feel unconscious again, hoping beyond hope that he'd be with Kouji still when he woke up...
~***~
"I think he's waking up..."
"I think you might be right."
He groaned, but wasn't in as much pain as he was when he had woken up the past couple of times. He opened his eyes very slowly, and felt a hand tighten around his own. When he looked over to his right, he saw none other then Kouji Minomoto, glancing at him with nothing but deep concern and love in his blue gray eyes.
"K-Kouji?" Kouji nodded, and smiled warmly down at him, gripping his hand tighter in his own.
"Yeah...it's me..." His boyfriend looked a little worse for the wear, but not as bad as he was.
"What...happened...?" Kouji nodded his head to where the Gatsomon was looking out the window of the hut they were in.
"You've got him to thank. This little guy had ran into me before running into you, and put two and two together. He came and got me, because he knew you couldn't really be moved more then you already had, and I carried you to this village that's quite away into the mountain, in a valley that we would've probably never found.
Takuya nodded, and found that he was able to breath better. When he looked down, he saw that his chest was bandaged up, his shirt was off...and his shoulder was in a sling.
"Is it...?"
"Set?" Kouji finished for him, and he nodded, looking grim.
"Yeah...Grumblemon did a nasty job on it, luckily one of the Gatsomon here managed to go and fetch a healing Digimon in the other village a little further away and he came and helped take care of you until he thought you'd be okay."
"What was the Digimon?"
"Menonamon...they're healing type Digimon, but they're rare around here...there was only that one, and it took quite a bit of bribery to get him to come." Takuya sighed and nestled himself further into the pillows.
"Your fever is broken, so that's a good thing." Kouji then told him, with a warm smile that reached his eyes...Takuya loved it when that happened, because then Kouji's eyes got all sparkly...something that none of the other's saw, except for himself.
"Bokomon and Neemon are here too?" He asked the dark haired teen, who nodded and looked around with a shrug.
"They must've stepped out to give us some privacy, with the Gatsomon who rescued you..." Kouji smiled mischievously then, and Takuya smiled right back.
"Oh...privacy, huh?" Kouji nodded as he leaned in and gave Takuya a deep kiss.
When they broke for air, Takuya shivered and Kouji raised an eyebrow in concern.
"You alright?" Takuya shook his head suddenly, and Kouji frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing...but...when I woke up, I had Izumi, Tomoki, and Junpei with me...and then...then I didn't realize how badly I was hurt until Izumi realized that my ribs were probably broken or something...and I passed out and then I realized my shoulder was messed up...and after that Grumblemon..." Both of Kouji's eyebrows raised and a furious look appeared on his face.
"Grumblemon! Did he attack you guys?" Takuya shivered at the name and nodded.
"Yeah...he did...I passed out, so I don't know what happened...then I woke up again and found the Gatsomon who told me that he knew you, and maybe knew where you were and...and...all I wanted to do was find you..." Kouji smiled softly, the fierce look in his eyes dimming down to nothing but a look of love.
"It's okay...you found me...well, the Gatsomon found me to be precise, but you're here with me now...and I'm sorry, I should've been there for you..." Kouji murmured, trying to soothe the brunette as he brushed back some fallen hair out of his eyes.
"You have no idea, how badly I wanted to wake up and see you instead of Izumi..." Takuya murmured, and Kouji's eyes hardened again.
"Did she do anything?" Takuya shook his head though and waved a hand.
"No! She didn't, she was really nice actually and she tried to help me, god she tried but I only wanted one person..." Kouji's expression softened once more as he kissed him again and Takuya shivered.
"Are you cold?" Kouji asked, and Takuya gave a half smirk, half grin.
"Well, my shirt is off...don't you think I'm cold?" Kouji groaned and reached over to another chair where Takuya's two shirts were hanging, and was about to toss them to him when Takuya pulled him close so that his upper half was on the bed, and found Takuya grinning mischievously, his dark brown eyes twinkling. Kouji smirked, knowing what was coming next.
"You know, I was thinking...instead of putting my shirts back on...care to join me?" Takuya allowed Kouji to move up so that he could raise the bed sheets a little so that Kouji could climb in...and he kicked off his shoes and blue and white windbreaker and did so, snuggling in with the brunette.
"Mmmmm...better?" Kouji asked, definitely feeling a lot better then he had for a couple of days now, and Takuya nodded, yawning.
"Oh yeah...one hundred percent..." He wrapped an arm around Kouji's shoulder's, bringing him closer and Kouji snuggled his head against Takuya's uninjured shoulder.
"You know, I'm sorry you got so hurt, but...I'm kind of glad actually..." Kouji murmured softly, and Takuya glared playfully at him.
"You are, are you?" Kouji grinned.
"Well...only because we're here now...together...curled up on a soft bed...warm..." Takuya thought about it and then gave a curt nod.
"Yeah, very true...now shut up and kiss me already." Kouji gladly obliged as he did so, but found himself stopping a few minutes later when he saw his koi falling asleep, and smirked.
"Go figure...you want to kiss, and then you want to sleep..." But then the dark haired teen found himself yawning, and shook his head, glaring at Takuya as he yawned again.
"This is all your fault you know...I wasn't feeling tired at all until you brought me into bed..." And part of it was true...but then again Kouji hadn't slept for almost four nights now, and sleep was rather inviting...his adrenaline was giving out, and before he knew it his head was resting comfortably once again on Takuya's uninjured shoulder as he snuggled up close to the brunette, kissing him softly as his own eyes slowly closed.
Outside the hut, a soft giggle could be heard and then a sharp 'ow!' Shortly thereafter.
"What did you do that for?!?"
"Because...because..." Neemon grinned at Bokomon, who just sighed and shook his head.
"Admit it! You think they look cute too!" Neemon insisted, and Bokomon shook his head but was smiling anyway.
"Yes, I do think that they look cute together, and after hearing some of what Takuya has been through without Kouji...well, they deserve a good rest." Bokomon added, and held up the book. Neemon groaned.
"Oh no..." Bokomon nodded.
"Oh yes, we need to find out more about this Beast Spirit deal, and I haven't yet checked all the sources of this book, so I'm staying up to do so." Neemon grinned and tugged on one of his ears.
"Then does that mean I get to sleep too? I'm tired...we were walking around forever after we lost the other three when they found Takuya..." Bokomon glared at Neemon and snapped his pants as the other Digimon lost his footing in the process and fell to the ground, glaring back at Bokomon.
"You didn't have to do that!" He snapped, feeling irritated, and Bokomon just waved him off.
"You're cranky and crabby, so obviously I have no choice but to let you sleep, because I can't stand you when you're like this...so go and snore the night away if you must. I however am staying awake and looking for more information on Beast Spirits." Neemon just shrugged.
"Alright, suite yourself." And with that, he went to find someplace warm to sleep for the evening, as Bokomon settled himself in a tree, flipping through the pages of the book for the information he desired.
However, a half an hour later, when the Gatsomon who had found Takuya and taken Kouji to him, came to ask him a question, he found the Digimon fast asleep, book open on his chest. The Gatsomon smiled and retrieved a blanket from somewhere, climbing the small climb to the branch where Bokomon was at and gently placed the blanket over him. All Bokomon did, was roll over a little, and continue sleeping, and the Gatsomon smiled.
I hope he's found more on that spirit ordeal...cause I'm sure interested in it myself...though I won't tell them...but I will try and follow them wherever they go...if I get that spirit, and Digivolve, I'll be able to protect my village from Grumblemon's assaults... The Gatsomon then nodded to himself and clambered down the tree as he headed for his own sleeping spot, checking up on the two sleeping teenagers on his way. He smiled.
With that one final thought, he headed off to his own hut, ready for an early morning...he wanted to be up when the other's were up, not wanting to miss a single bit of action...
TBC...
End of chapter Rambling: ::grins to herself:: Ah...I like this chapter MUCH, MUCH better then I did the other one! So perfect...^-~ And yes, for those of you who are wondering within the next few chapters, Kouji'll probably get his Beast Spirit...don't think I wasn't going to have that not happen now were you? ::mischievous grin:: And yes, they're back together now...(Alright, everyone can say 'awwwwwwww cute' now...go on...I KNOW you want too! *^-^*) do you really think that I'd leave them apart more then I have too? They're too cute together! (Okay, now I have myself going 'awwwww, cute!' -_-;; )
Author's Notes: Well...after that first terrible chapter of the 12 chapters that I have so far...::sees authoress blush:: Hey, this authoress is allowed to have one horrible chapter, isn't she? I promise it won't happen again...scout's honor! (Wait a minute...I'm not a scout...::shrugs:: oh well...^-~) Mmmmm...yummy...Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks...good times! ::takes sip of coffee:: Okay, let's get on with this fic, shall we? Oh, and thanks to those who've been faithful reviewers! ::Sighs mournfully:: I have to get a new fishy from the pet store.::sniff, sniff:: I didn't check much of my grammar or my spelling this time around either but I'm a thinking that it's okay.so anyone who notices anything wrong, lemme know okay? ^-~ But enough of that! This chapter is to so *totally* make up for the last chapter, so go, read it and enjoy! (Oh, and for those of you who are reading my other Takouji fic, Eternity and haven't seen chapter III yet, it's a new chapter.so you can go and check this one out when you are finished here if ya want to!)
Story Rating: PG13
Warning: Takuya+Kouji=Takoujiness! Any questions.? =P
Yaoi pairing: Takouji! (Takuya/Kouji) Non-Yaoi pairing: Junpei/Izumi frienshipness...maybe a little more, who knows...I'm debating about making it a Koichi/Izumi when Koichi comes into play...(heh, whoops...I promised people I'd start spelling his name Kouichi for this fic...blah...but he hasn't come in yet! So I get off the hook...right? ^-^)
Different Journeys
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter 13: Together Again
Kouji was feeling tired...mentally and physically. He didn't know how much longer he could pull it off...but for now it seemed as though he had managed to loose Grumblemon completely.
Taking a few deep breaths, Kouji allowed himself to dedigivolve, stumbling a little as he did so...he had almost outdone himself there. But he had had to do it...he had to get Grumblemon away from Takuya. And now it looked as though he had succeeded...but at what cost?
He found himself glancing around, and sighed.
At what cost indeed. Now he was lost...he was sure he wouldn't be able to find his way back to where he had left Takuya...
His eyes opened wide as he realized that he had left Takuya hurt...injured...unconscious! The thought tore threw him, and Kouji shook his head...no, Takuya was alright...Grumblemon hadn't hurt him that badly...right...right? Right...he just had to keep on thinking positive...oh, but the last time he had seen Takuya...he had been on the ground, limp and not moving, eyes closed...
Kouji fought back a scream of frustration and anger...though he was not angry at Takuya. No, he was angry at Grumblemon...the stupid evil Digimon who had started all this! Kouji allowed one of his hands to ball into a tight fist, and was surprised to see his hand shaking a little...but only out of anger.
"Grumblemon...you'd better watch your back...because next time we meet...I'm going to finish you and make you pay!" With that, Kouji turned around and slammed his fist into the nearest tree trunk, letting out all his anger...
~***~
"He's going to be alright...right Izumi?" Tomoki found himself asking as he brought a fresh canteen of water to the blond girl. They had set up camp again and gotten the fire started once more, as they had been using the area that Kouji and Takuya had used previously for a camping spot. Though the other two had argued with her for awhile whether or not it was safe, Izumi pointed out that it was doubtful that whatever had attacked the two boys would come back this way...it would have probably thought Takuya dead, and would still go after Kouji.
Even though Junpei had thought that as a horrible way of looking at it, he and Tomoki had complied and gone to get some firewood...and water.
Izumi had gotten Takuya as comfortable as she could, and then sat watch...and had still been sitting watch by the time the other two boys had gotten back and started the fire.
"I'm not sure Tomoki...I'm not seeing anything to wrong with him, besides a few cuts and bruises here and there." She told him, having already bandaged up the small wound on Takuya's head, and was now pouring some of the water into a small cloth she had found in Tomoki's bag and was gently washing the other cuts on his arms.
"Who do you think they ran into?" Junpei asked, causing Izumi to jump...she had almost forgotten that Junpei was there-he was actually being rather quiet...more so then usual. She shrugged...having not a clue. They had gotten there after Kouji and whatever it was he had been fighting had taken off. That was not good, as when Takuya would wake up, he'd be sure to have questions, and expecting answers.
"Will Kouji come back?" Tomoki asked, and Izumi sighed. That was the one question that she knew Takuya was going to ask...but unfortunately she didn't have an answer, so she shook her head at this as well.
"I don't know...I don't know, alright you guys?!? Will you stop asking me questions that I don't know the answer too?" She hadn't meant to snap at them but she was feeling...frustrated? Yes, that was it...frustrated because Takuya was hurt and she didn't know how badly- wouldn't know until he woke up, and she had no idea when that would be-and she didn't know where Kouji had gone off too, or if he was hurt as well...
She bit her lower lip and sighed, shaking her head ruefully.
She wanted to make up for what had happened back in the vine village so badly...even though she knew that it wasn't her fault...still, it had been someone who had taken an image of her, and had almost...almost...no! She couldn't think of that. At the moment all that mattered was making it up to the two boys, showing them that she wanted to be friends, that she didn't mind once so ever that they were together as couple...for she didn't. Not now, not anymore-now she knew that the two boys were meant for each other.
The other two backed off for awhile, and it was silent around camp. The hours passed by, and soon she heard Junpei's snoring and Tomoki's light murmuring, and groaned. It figured that they'd fall asleep and leave her with watch...but that just meant that she could keep on keeping an eye on Takuya, who was still unconscious and had been for quite some time now.
It was only when she had felt herself drooping off to sleep, when she heard someone groaning lightly. Startled, she opened her bright blue eyes and found a pair of brown ones staring up at her, filled with nothing but confusion.
"K-Kouji?" Izumi shook her head.
"No Takuya...Kouji's not...he's not here..." She managed, and bit her lower lip, cursing softly to herself. She hadn't wanted to tell Takuya that right away...but she should've expected that the brunette would ask for Kouji when he had woken.
Takuya's eyes opened wide, as he struggled to sit up, only then to gasp in pain and lay back down rather quickly, holding his stomach as he grimaced in pain.
"Kouji's...not here? Then where...? And what're you doing here...?" Izumi just shook her head and pressed a finger lightly to Takuya's lips to shush him.
"Not now...I'll...try to explain all I can...but first, you have to tell me how you are feeling." As she spoke, Takuya grimaced again, and coughed.
"I feel...like...shit." Izumi only nodded at this.
"It's to be expected...you and Kouji must've had a pretty bad fight..." Takuya then sat up again, hissing in pain but not backing down again.
"Kouji! He...led him away...where is he?!? Have you looked for him, is he hurt?" Izumi just shook her head, her blue eyes filling with worry. Oh she hadn't wanted to tell Takuya that Kouji hadn't come back yet...but now it looked as though she had had no choice.
"Takuya...shhh...calm down, let me access the rest of your injuries and take care of you...from what it looks like, it looks like your ribs are bothering you...am I correct?" Takuya sighed and nodded slowly.
"Y-yeah, you could say that...though I'm not sure if they're broken or cracked...it's hard to tell...and it's hard to breath..." Izumi nodded and instructed the brunette to lay back down, and although he did not seem to want to do so, he complied anyway, groaning as he did so.
"I...want to just look...at your ribs..." Izumi was blushing as she said this, and Takuya just groaned.
His mind whimpered, but he only nodded at Izumi, who after all, was only trying to help. She lifted his shirt up gently and gasped, shaking her head as she rolled it up a little.
"Damn it...Takuya...your rib cage is all black and blue!" Takuya winced as she prodded a little, and slapped her hand away.
"Probably when he nailed me with his bat...or whatever you call it..." Takuya gasped as she accidentally touched a sore spot, and then she sat back and sighed.
"I don't know what we're going to do for this...we don't have any real medical supplies..." All the brunette did was whimper a little and nod...oh god it hurt...and where in the hell was Kouji? How badly he wanted the dark haired teen to be there instead of Izumi, comforting him...oh how badly he wanted it.
Tomoki came up at one point, with a canteen of water and showed it to Takuya, who nodded, suddenly feeling very thirsty as the youth handed it to him and Izumi helped him sit up enough so he could drink.
Takuya felt his eyes tear as she laid him gently back down, and coughed again, groaning afterward. He saw Izumi shoot him a look of deep concern, and he just shook his head at her...like she said, there wasn't much she could do, or any of them could do.
"Like you said Izumi...there's nothing that can be done..." He murmured, and she nodded.
"Yeah, I know but..." Takuya held up a hand, as he felt his eyes swiftly closing again...there wasn't much more he could do right now besides sleep...which was one of the best things for an injured person right? As long as they didn't have a concussion...and he didn't think he had that bad of a concussion...but even if he did have one, Izumi couldn't have kept him awake much longer...he felt his eyes close, and his breathing even out, though it still hurt to breath...and he dreamed...
He saw him running frantically through the mountains, through the dark forests that were embedded within the rocky surfaces...he looked to be lost, his dark blue gray eyes filled with nothing but frustration and fear...
His clothes were tattered, torn in some places, and there were cuts and bruises all over his face and arms...he looked warn out...
As if to prove this thought, the dark haired teen stumbled and fell, landing on his knees and giving out a loud curse as he scraped the palms of his hands.
"Me gonna get your spirit...NOW!" That voice...it was all too familiar...the dark haired teen's eyes opened wide with fear as he turned his head to see him coming straight for him...but somehow he was different...and in his eyes, there looked to be nothing but revenge...
Takuya gasped as he sat up, nearly crying out in pain as he did so. How long had he been asleep?!? Kouji...Kouji was in trouble...he knew that Kouji was in trouble...
He tried to move, tried to stand up but he only cried out in pain as he did so, and ended up giving up...something was wrong with his left shoulder...it felt...wrong. Why hadn't he felt it before? The adrenaline that had cursed through his body earlier was now easing away...and that had probably been why. His eyes grew teary as he sunk back down to the ground, holding his left arm to him steadily so that his shoulder wasn't harmed anymore, and took in deep breaths of air. God, he felt terrible...and there was only one person he wanted to see come through those trees...
But it wasn't the person he wanted to see, instead that one person was Junpei, who came through carrying some firewood with him as he added it to the pile, not even realizing that Takuya was awake, until the brunette let out a groan. Junpei glanced behind him, and smiled-though he had a worried look in his eye as he came up to Takuya and knelt down next to him.
"Hey...I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were awake..." He apologized, and all Takuya did was give a curt nod as he bit his lower lip...his shoulder was killing him...
"You want some water or something?" Takuya nodded, not thinking that he'd be able to speak, but as Junpei turned his back, he allowed a whimper of pain to escape his lips, causing Junpei to turn around again and glance at him, frowning.
"Takuya...what's wrong?" All Takuya did was shake his head. Junpei suddenly got really worried then as he had just taken a good look at his friend...who had just gone as white as a ghost, and seemed to be in pain. It took Junpei a few minutes longer to realize the way that Takuya was holding his left arm rather close to him.
"Takuya...is your left arm bothering you?" Takuya shook his head.
"No...shoulder...!" Takuya managed to gasp out, and something dawned on Junpei.
"How does it feel Takuya? Tell me, please?" Takuya gasped...Junpei was almost as bad as Izumi at twenty questions!
"It...it burns...like it's on fire...it feels...wrong...dislocated." The last part Takuya forced himself to whisper, not wanting to having to admit that his shoulder was dislocated...for that meant that someone would have to relocate it, and push it back into place...and he only wanted one person to do that...he allowed another whimper to escape his lips. That one person wasn't there however.
Izumi emerged a few minutes later from another direction, with dampened hair and grinning.
"Oh, I'm so glad we found a small river nearby! Even though the water was cold, it felt good to bathe, and...oh my gosh, what's wrong?" She noticed Takuya, curled up in a ball, whimpering just then as she let go of her hair, for she had been wringing the excess water out of it.
"He thinks his shoulder is dislocated...and I think it is...I haven't tried to get near it though to check it out and I doubt he'll let me." Izumi sighed and shook her head.
"I wish that Kouji was here with us...I really do..." Takuya's eyes widened as he heard his koi's name and suddenly remembered the nightmare he had had that had woken him up.
"Kouji! Someone's gotta go after him! Grumblemon is hunting him!" The other two looked startled.
"Hunting him? Who's Grumblemon?" Junpei asked, and Takuya shook his head.
"The Digimon that fought us the other night...Grumblemon...said he wanted our spirits, and would stop at nothing to get them from us...he...hurt me bad...and my data appeared, Kouji didn't want him taking my spirit and so he led Grumblemon off in another direction...!" Tomoki came through then, with dampened hair as well...he had washed in another part of the river and hadn't seen Izumi return.
"What's wrong with Takuya?" He asked, in concern for his friend but Izumi and Junpei only shook their heads at him, and looked at Takuya to continue his explanation.
"I...I just had...a nightmare...involving Kouji..." Takuya muttered, now gritting his teeth in pain...he doubted that any of the other three with him knew how to set his shoulder...
"And...he was chasing him...Kouji...looked pretty bad..." Takuya moaned and sat back, letting out a cry of pain and frustration...why did this seem to happen to him and Kouji?!? Was the Digital World out to get them or something? The others just did not know what to do, and they knew that Takuya probably wouldn't let them help him...
When Takuya was finished screaming out his anger, he shook his head and panted heavily...oh...Kouji...how badly he wanted him right now...to come and tell him that everything was alright, to soothe the pain away and take care of him...he didn't want Tomoki, Junpei, and Izumi there with him.
They heard the noise in the surrounding area above and to the left of them way too late...the sound of someone dashing through the forested area of the mountain trail that they were off of. The four teens eyes opened wide.
"Who...?" Izumi whispered, and Takuya's eyes were focused on the foliage around them.
"Kouji...?" He murmured, unable to stand the pain as he felt darkness closing in...but not before he saw the figure of Grumblemon emerge again, growling about spirits...and then all went black...
~***~
When he awoke again, he was in utter darkness...he had no idea where he was, or what was going on. But he did see a pair of glowing red eyes, staring at him hard...
He gulped, and felt the hot fiery pain in his shoulder...it still hadn't been set yet...and his ribs hurt like hell. He moaned.
"K-Kouji?" He managed to choke out, and the owner of the red eyes blinked for a moment and the eyes vanished. But when they appeared again, they were right next to him, and Takuya felt cool stone on his forehead. He flinched at the touch, and winced at the pain that throbbed in his head.
"I'm not Kouji...I'm a Digimon..." Takuya squinted through the darkness and made out the figure of a small rock-like Digimon.
"But I think I know who you are talking of...does this...Kouji have dark hair in a ponytail?" Takuya gasped as he nodded, praying that this Digimon knew exactly where Kouji was.
"Do you...have any idea...where...?" The rock Digimon shook his head.
"No, but I did see two other Digimon with him...he was talking something about getting a Beast Spirit." Takuya's eyes narrowed...beast spirit? How long had he been out? He asked this question, and the Digimon shrugged.
"I don't know...I found you half dead...no one was around you...I dragged you to safety...it looked like there had been a big fight." The Digimon told him, and Takuya groaned.
Now he didn't even have the others here, and he didn't know what happened to them...were they hurt as well, or separated from one another, or what? Now he felt worse then what he had when he had woken up.
"What...are you?" Takuya whispered, and the Digimon's glowing red eyes looked at him in pity.
"I'm a Gastumon...and you are...?"
"T-Takuya..." The brunette managed, before he passed out again...hoping that he would still be in the same spot when he woke up.
~***~
"Oh thank goodness he's here!"
"Yeah, but he doesn't look too good!"
"I know that you nincompoop!"
"That's why I decided to go and find you again...I...I didn't think he was doing too good, and he had said your name before he passed out...I figured that...that you know, you'd be able to help him or something..."
"It was good that you came to find me...oh god..." He knew that voice...among the other voices, he knew that voice. He wanted to wake up, really and truly he did...but at the moment he just didn't think that he could...he didn't have the energy to do so.
"Bokomon, Neemon, are there any bandages or medical supplies in this village at all? If there are, go and find them...if there's a healing Digimon, you might as well go and find that as well...I'm not sure if I can fix his shoulder..." The voice was trembling, and he felt a hand on his warm forehead and heard as sigh.
"He's got a fever...and his ribs don't look to good either...damnit you guys, what happened?" Takuya wanted to tell him...oh god, he wanted him to hold him...it was Kouji...he was with Kouji...but he felt himself drifting off again...he'd have to remember to thank the Gatsomon later...bit all his body wanted to do was sleep, and he feel unconscious again, hoping beyond hope that he'd be with Kouji still when he woke up...
~***~
"I think he's waking up..."
"I think you might be right."
He groaned, but wasn't in as much pain as he was when he had woken up the past couple of times. He opened his eyes very slowly, and felt a hand tighten around his own. When he looked over to his right, he saw none other then Kouji Minomoto, glancing at him with nothing but deep concern and love in his blue gray eyes.
"K-Kouji?" Kouji nodded, and smiled warmly down at him, gripping his hand tighter in his own.
"Yeah...it's me..." His boyfriend looked a little worse for the wear, but not as bad as he was.
"What...happened...?" Kouji nodded his head to where the Gatsomon was looking out the window of the hut they were in.
"You've got him to thank. This little guy had ran into me before running into you, and put two and two together. He came and got me, because he knew you couldn't really be moved more then you already had, and I carried you to this village that's quite away into the mountain, in a valley that we would've probably never found.
Takuya nodded, and found that he was able to breath better. When he looked down, he saw that his chest was bandaged up, his shirt was off...and his shoulder was in a sling.
"Is it...?"
"Set?" Kouji finished for him, and he nodded, looking grim.
"Yeah...Grumblemon did a nasty job on it, luckily one of the Gatsomon here managed to go and fetch a healing Digimon in the other village a little further away and he came and helped take care of you until he thought you'd be okay."
"What was the Digimon?"
"Menonamon...they're healing type Digimon, but they're rare around here...there was only that one, and it took quite a bit of bribery to get him to come." Takuya sighed and nestled himself further into the pillows.
"Your fever is broken, so that's a good thing." Kouji then told him, with a warm smile that reached his eyes...Takuya loved it when that happened, because then Kouji's eyes got all sparkly...something that none of the other's saw, except for himself.
"Bokomon and Neemon are here too?" He asked the dark haired teen, who nodded and looked around with a shrug.
"They must've stepped out to give us some privacy, with the Gatsomon who rescued you..." Kouji smiled mischievously then, and Takuya smiled right back.
"Oh...privacy, huh?" Kouji nodded as he leaned in and gave Takuya a deep kiss.
When they broke for air, Takuya shivered and Kouji raised an eyebrow in concern.
"You alright?" Takuya shook his head suddenly, and Kouji frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing...but...when I woke up, I had Izumi, Tomoki, and Junpei with me...and then...then I didn't realize how badly I was hurt until Izumi realized that my ribs were probably broken or something...and I passed out and then I realized my shoulder was messed up...and after that Grumblemon..." Both of Kouji's eyebrows raised and a furious look appeared on his face.
"Grumblemon! Did he attack you guys?" Takuya shivered at the name and nodded.
"Yeah...he did...I passed out, so I don't know what happened...then I woke up again and found the Gatsomon who told me that he knew you, and maybe knew where you were and...and...all I wanted to do was find you..." Kouji smiled softly, the fierce look in his eyes dimming down to nothing but a look of love.
"It's okay...you found me...well, the Gatsomon found me to be precise, but you're here with me now...and I'm sorry, I should've been there for you..." Kouji murmured, trying to soothe the brunette as he brushed back some fallen hair out of his eyes.
"You have no idea, how badly I wanted to wake up and see you instead of Izumi..." Takuya murmured, and Kouji's eyes hardened again.
"Did she do anything?" Takuya shook his head though and waved a hand.
"No! She didn't, she was really nice actually and she tried to help me, god she tried but I only wanted one person..." Kouji's expression softened once more as he kissed him again and Takuya shivered.
"Are you cold?" Kouji asked, and Takuya gave a half smirk, half grin.
"Well, my shirt is off...don't you think I'm cold?" Kouji groaned and reached over to another chair where Takuya's two shirts were hanging, and was about to toss them to him when Takuya pulled him close so that his upper half was on the bed, and found Takuya grinning mischievously, his dark brown eyes twinkling. Kouji smirked, knowing what was coming next.
"You know, I was thinking...instead of putting my shirts back on...care to join me?" Takuya allowed Kouji to move up so that he could raise the bed sheets a little so that Kouji could climb in...and he kicked off his shoes and blue and white windbreaker and did so, snuggling in with the brunette.
"Mmmmm...better?" Kouji asked, definitely feeling a lot better then he had for a couple of days now, and Takuya nodded, yawning.
"Oh yeah...one hundred percent..." He wrapped an arm around Kouji's shoulder's, bringing him closer and Kouji snuggled his head against Takuya's uninjured shoulder.
"You know, I'm sorry you got so hurt, but...I'm kind of glad actually..." Kouji murmured softly, and Takuya glared playfully at him.
"You are, are you?" Kouji grinned.
"Well...only because we're here now...together...curled up on a soft bed...warm..." Takuya thought about it and then gave a curt nod.
"Yeah, very true...now shut up and kiss me already." Kouji gladly obliged as he did so, but found himself stopping a few minutes later when he saw his koi falling asleep, and smirked.
"Go figure...you want to kiss, and then you want to sleep..." But then the dark haired teen found himself yawning, and shook his head, glaring at Takuya as he yawned again.
"This is all your fault you know...I wasn't feeling tired at all until you brought me into bed..." And part of it was true...but then again Kouji hadn't slept for almost four nights now, and sleep was rather inviting...his adrenaline was giving out, and before he knew it his head was resting comfortably once again on Takuya's uninjured shoulder as he snuggled up close to the brunette, kissing him softly as his own eyes slowly closed.
Outside the hut, a soft giggle could be heard and then a sharp 'ow!' Shortly thereafter.
"What did you do that for?!?"
"Because...because..." Neemon grinned at Bokomon, who just sighed and shook his head.
"Admit it! You think they look cute too!" Neemon insisted, and Bokomon shook his head but was smiling anyway.
"Yes, I do think that they look cute together, and after hearing some of what Takuya has been through without Kouji...well, they deserve a good rest." Bokomon added, and held up the book. Neemon groaned.
"Oh no..." Bokomon nodded.
"Oh yes, we need to find out more about this Beast Spirit deal, and I haven't yet checked all the sources of this book, so I'm staying up to do so." Neemon grinned and tugged on one of his ears.
"Then does that mean I get to sleep too? I'm tired...we were walking around forever after we lost the other three when they found Takuya..." Bokomon glared at Neemon and snapped his pants as the other Digimon lost his footing in the process and fell to the ground, glaring back at Bokomon.
"You didn't have to do that!" He snapped, feeling irritated, and Bokomon just waved him off.
"You're cranky and crabby, so obviously I have no choice but to let you sleep, because I can't stand you when you're like this...so go and snore the night away if you must. I however am staying awake and looking for more information on Beast Spirits." Neemon just shrugged.
"Alright, suite yourself." And with that, he went to find someplace warm to sleep for the evening, as Bokomon settled himself in a tree, flipping through the pages of the book for the information he desired.
However, a half an hour later, when the Gatsomon who had found Takuya and taken Kouji to him, came to ask him a question, he found the Digimon fast asleep, book open on his chest. The Gatsomon smiled and retrieved a blanket from somewhere, climbing the small climb to the branch where Bokomon was at and gently placed the blanket over him. All Bokomon did, was roll over a little, and continue sleeping, and the Gatsomon smiled.
I hope he's found more on that spirit ordeal...cause I'm sure interested in it myself...though I won't tell them...but I will try and follow them wherever they go...if I get that spirit, and Digivolve, I'll be able to protect my village from Grumblemon's assaults... The Gatsomon then nodded to himself and clambered down the tree as he headed for his own sleeping spot, checking up on the two sleeping teenagers on his way. He smiled.
With that one final thought, he headed off to his own hut, ready for an early morning...he wanted to be up when the other's were up, not wanting to miss a single bit of action...
TBC...
End of chapter Rambling: ::grins to herself:: Ah...I like this chapter MUCH, MUCH better then I did the other one! So perfect...^-~ And yes, for those of you who are wondering within the next few chapters, Kouji'll probably get his Beast Spirit...don't think I wasn't going to have that not happen now were you? ::mischievous grin:: And yes, they're back together now...(Alright, everyone can say 'awwwwwwww cute' now...go on...I KNOW you want too! *^-^*) do you really think that I'd leave them apart more then I have too? They're too cute together! (Okay, now I have myself going 'awwwww, cute!' -_-;; )
