Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Here's another chapter! There will be a few of these type of chapters in the human world before we get back to the Digital World, which are basically just clearing up and expanding on some of the side issues that occurred along with Dai getting his Spirit Chip, so enjoy! Also, I am still in the process of finishing another chapter for Digimon Chronicles: The Demon Years so if you want to check it out, I will let you know when it's posted on the forum. Again, that story of oneshots focuses on Takahiro 'Tal' Kuroki and his gang of Digidestined who do have a connection to this story. Look for it if you'd like to know more about Tal and his friends. And on that note, on with the story!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 206: Don't Let Go

Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

It was hard not to be nervous and for that reason alone Mickey couldn't help feeling a little bit ashamed of himself, but at least he had the comfort of knowing he was worried for all the right reasons, though that wasn't quite enough incentive to coax a smile onto his face.

He felt empty inside, and the food staring back at him from his plate sitting on the kitchen table didn't exactly look all that appetizing at the moment.

What should I do? What do I say? How do I make him change his mind about me? About himself. About us?

He didn't know, and it was eating him up inside, but even though it felt like his soul was breaking into pieces, he knew his heart would never waver.

He was not afraid of Matty, his twin brother, his friend, his source of comfort, his greatest supporter, the backbone of his existence. He loved Matty and that would never change, but he was afraid that Matty would take DarkAngelicmon's words too much to heart.

Afraid of Matty? Never. I could never fear my own brother. But...I am afraid. I'm afraid Matty will end up fearing himself.

"Mickey? Big brother?"

Rina's small voice startled him, and glancing at the little girl sitting on his left at the table, he managed a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, Rina, did you say something?"

"I don't like it when you're quiet."

"Sorry, what are you talking about?"

Rina looked at him with her big blue eyes for a moment, and fiddling with the uneaten food on her plate, she mumbled, "You're always quiet, but not like this. I don't like you like this. I want my big brother back."

Rina...

Her words alone were enough to make Mickey feel ashamed of himself and glancing anxiously towards the stove where his parents were talking quietly to each other in low voices, he felt his face heat up with embarrassment. Luckily, it didn't look as if they'd heard Rina's words, but even so he lowered his voice to respond. "Which brother? Because...I don't know..."

"Both of you. I want both of you back."

"Rina, I..."

"She's worried, Mickey, as are we," Palelymon said mournfully, from his spot on the kitchen counter where he sat with Patamon and Gatomon.

"You can't blame us for being worried," Gatomon agreed, taking extra care to keep her voice as low as possible.

Patamon, too, looked like he wanted to agree, but instead of voicing his opinion, he merely shook his head and proceeded to finish his dinner in silence.

Anything to keep busy. Anything to stop the voices whispering from the darkness.

"You're making Mommy and Daddy worry," Rina accused, pointing a sticky finger at him. "You and Matty. I don't like it. I'm scared."

What am I supposed to say to that?

Mickey didn't know, so instead of answering he pulled his sister into a quick hug. "I know. I'm sorry, I..."

"If you're sorry then why aren't you doing anything about it?"

"I am! I mean...Rina, I...I'm going to fix things no matter how long it takes. I'll make things right with Matty. I won't let anything bad happen. I won't let Mom and Dad down, or you."

"Promise?" Rina whispered tearfully into his shoulder, her small arms clinging tightly around his neck.

"I promise."

I won't give up. I'll save Matty so matter what...

At that moment, Mickey heard the front door open and letting out a soft gasp he quickly lowered his amber eyes to the table top, his heart beginning to pound frantically in his chest.

"Matty, is that you?" their father called out, turning quickly towards the kitchen door, earlier conversation forgotten.

There was no response, but after a series of familiar noises in the front hall, a backpack being dropped, shoes slipping off a pair of feet, Matty slowly entered the kitchen with Goldmon in his arms, a faraway look on his face.

Matty...

"There you are, Matty. Are you hungry?" their mother asked softly, giving the younger twin a hesitant smile.

Matty shrugged in response and moved slowly towards the table, his amber eyes taking in the empty chairs still available for him to pick from and Mickey winced when the younger twin chose the seat furthest from him, something he was sure Matty had not done by accident, nor was it only a coincidence.

Matty didn't want to be anywhere him, he was sure of it, and the pain Mickey could feel inside his heart began to intensify, spreading to every nerve and vein in his body.

"What took you so long?" their father asked curiously, setting a full plate of food down in front of Matty and sitting next to the younger twin. "Mickey said something about you staying behind to talk to Dai."

"Is everything okay?" their mother pressed, sitting down between Matty and Rina and frowning at the younger twin.

Matty began to pick quietly at his food, and avoiding their mother's eyes, he mumbled, "Dai just wanted to talk."

"And?"

"And...nothing. Don't worry, everything is cool."

"Just like it should be!" Goldmon said happily, leaping off the table to join his friends on the counter.

Now it was Rina's turn to be happy. She beamed at Matty, and leaning over their mother to the hit the younger twin with her empty glass, she said, "Silly Matty. You shouldn't fight with your friends. It's not very nice, you know."

Your friends or your brother, Matty.

It was more than Mickey could take, sitting there watching his brother ignoring him and pretending he didn't exist. It was too much and staring at his twin, who was trying to avoid his eyes, he pushed himself away from the table, willing himself not to cry.

"Mickey, where are you going?" his mother immediately questioned him, her dark eyes taking on a worried look.

"I...I feel pretty tired after today. I think I'm going to go to bed early, if that's okay."

His father started to say something, but before the golden-haired Digidestined could finish, Mickey turned and almost ran from the room in his haste to get away, completely forgetting about Palelymon.

Once inside his room, he softly closed the door and collapsed onto his bed, willing the tears in his eyes not to fall. He buried his face into one of the two pillows strewn across his bed and a soft sob escaped his throat.

There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. He and Matty shared a room together and that meant there was no escape. Sooner, rather than later, they would have to face each other, and when they did what would Matty say? What would he say? What would he do?

Does it matter? Either way, it won't be the same...

The sound of the doorknob turning immediately alerted Mickey to the presence of his twin and leaping off the bed he quickly yanked his shirts over his head before stumbling his way over to the dresser to find a clean top to sleep in, his hands trembling as he tried awkwardly to open one of the drawers. Unfortunately, because of his position in front of the dresser, he could see his reflection in the dresser mirror, and catching sight of his face, he flinched at what he saw. His skin was pale and his eyes were haunted. He looked like someone who was on the losing side of a battle with the demons that were trying to stalk him.

The darkness is so close. How do I escape from this nightmare? I feel like I'm drowning...

The door opened with an audible click and Mickey turned just enough to catch sight of his brother entering the room before quickly going back to his search for a clean shirt.

At least it kept his hands busy so Matty wouldn't see them trembling.

But what about the rest of me?

Mickey could see goosebumps beginning to prickle on his bare arms and chest, and he shivered, anxious to dive beneath the covers on his bed. The room was warm, but he felt cold both inside and out.

Empty. Lost. Like a wandering soul without a purpose, doomed to wander aimlessly with no light to guide the way forward, to move onto something better.

Something worth fighting for.

Is this how Sam feels? Like he can never be himself again?

Behind him, Mickey could hear Matty changing into his night clothes, having apparently decided to go to bed early, as well, and though he knew he should probably be doing the same thing, he continued to stand there without moving, his hollow eyes staring back at him from a face in the mirror he could barely recognize.

Is that really me? Have I really given up so easily?

A second face in the mirror startled him and he jumped when a warm hand suddenly touched his arm, snapping him out of his trance.

Matty, standing behind him, gazing into the mirror.

It was like a horrible spell had suddenly been lifted, and trying desperately not to cry, Mickey looked away from the mirror, unable to look at his twin brother's face, and whispered, "I won't let you do this. I won't let this happen."

"I know."

Two words spoken with conviction. A desperate plea for help.

It was more than Mickey could handle and squeezing his eyes shut he turned and flung his arms around his brother's neck, hugging the younger twin tightly to his chest. "Don't do this to me."

Matty's muffled reply was simple. "Don't let me."

Simple words, but they were exactly what Mickey needed to hear. Being there with Matty felt right again, at least for the moment, but considering the circumstances, a moment was all he needed. "Never."

Matty didn't reply and standing there with his brother's arms around him, Mickey didn't feel so cold, and it wasn't until the younger twin let go of him that he suddenly realized Matty had been clinging just as tightly to him as he'd been clinging to Matty.

It was better than being cold inside, being alone, but most of all it was better than being avoided, being treated like someone who was vulnerable to evil.

Tainted by weakness.

"Here," Matty mumbled, handing him a shirt he'd pulled from the drawer. "We should get some sleep."

Mickey slowly pulled the shirt over his head, and gazing at their identical faces standing side by side in the mirror, he said quietly, "I really should go and get Palelymon."

"No need. I brought them with me."

Matty pointed towards the two Digimon sleeping peacefully on his bed, and ducking his head Mickey felt a deep blush stain his cheeks. He'd been so nervous about confronting Matty he hadn't even noticed the two digimon in his brother's arms when Matty had entered the room.

Even when we're far away, we somehow manage to be together.

It was a comforting thought, and pulling on the rest of his night clothes he quickly climbed under his covers and curled himself into a little ball for comfort. He expected Matty to do the same, but instead of preparing for sleep, Mickey felt the younger twin sit down next to him on the edge of the bed.

"Shouldn't you be getting some sleep, too?" Mickey pointed out, nodding his head towards his brother's bed.

Matty glanced briefly at the two digimon still sleeping on his pillows and leaning back against the headboard, he said firmly, "I'm staying right here."

"But-"

"Stop trying to tell me what to do and go to sleep."

The words were playful and Mickey had to smile. It was like they were little kids again, only this time their roles were reversed.

Hiding from the darkness. Hiding from the monsters. Only this time, the monster are all too real...

Or were they?

Shifting his head slightly, Mickey silently pulled DarkAngelicmon's feather out from beneath his pillows where he had stashed it earlier after coming home, and gazing sleepily at it beneath the covers, comforted by Matty's presence close beside him, he was surprised to discover that the feather looked slightly different than it had before, which made him grateful that despite Matty's determination to watch over him, the younger twin was already fast asleep.

DarkAngelicmon's feather was no longer completely black. Without him even noticing, sometime between leaving the Motomiya residence and pulling the feather out from beneath his pillow just now, the tip of the feather had turned white.