A/N: Hmm…looks like the next chapter will be one of the twins. I should do Kouji because we haven't seen him for a bit, but I need Takuya to find another sphere first…

Oh, I'll just continue with Takuya next chapter and then do Kouji for Ch 8 and Kouichi for Ch 9.

Yay for writing on the fly. :)

.

.

Wish Journeys 1.1
Three Brothers

Chapter 6/Takuya

.

Takuya had just been walking along with his new companions when something suddenly landed on top of him.

Two somethings, Bokomon noted. A Lopmon, and a Chosen. And, from the black robes and the staff, one of the mage class.

He also had one sphere in his staff and another in his hand.

And, once Takuya managed to wriggle out from underneath the other and take a good look, he realised that not only where the two of them drenched to the bone, but they were the mage and creature they'd met back in Flame Terminal.

The pair that had saved his neck and let him take the sphere.

He still had it, ready to return.

.

It turned out the one Bokomon called "Lopmon" was awake, just tangled in the sodden robes.

'What happened?' Takuya asked.

Lopmon considered him, and then said: 'we were trying to get a water sphere.'

'In the ocean?' Bokomon asked.

That explained the soaked robes. And…

'Did you two have something to do with the flashing lights as well?'

'Just Kouichi.' Lopmon shook himself dry and then hovered over the other's unconscious face. 'That was too much magic with one sphere.'

Takuya was confused. What was the relationship between magic and spheres?

'Magic isn't infinite.' Lopmon had noticed the confusion. 'It depends on the health and mental stability of the caster and the amount of power they can draw on. For Chosen, the main source of power are the spheres. It's similar with warriors: the sword gains more function and strength with each additional sphere.'

Takuya looked at his wooden sword. There was nothing there. The other had two. He was already so far behind.

But it wasn't a race. So long as they all got their wishes granted in the end, it wouldn't matter.

'This isn't a world where everything's perfect, is it?'

'We have our problems,' said Bokomon.

Lopmon just snorted. Neemon wasn't paying attention at all.

.

The mage – Kouichi – woke up and said he was fine.

Takuya didn't understand it. If he'd been tired, even after he woke up his bones would ache and his head would be filled with fog. But Kouichi sounded okay and Lopmon gave him an appraised stare and then didn't worry anymore.

And Lopmon sounded far more animated suddenly. Asking about the lights – the fireworks.

Or maybe he wasn't okay after all, because it seemed to take a little too long to answer that question.

Then again, descriptions can be confusing.

It might be nothing after all.

'Don't do that!'

Takuya blinked. He'd zoned out, and only belatedly noticed Neemon rubbing his belly. He winced.

Lopmon was frowning. Kouichi's eyes were narrowed. Bokomon was looking cowered.

'They always do that,' Takuya explained. 'Just scolding Neemon because he gets so distracted all of the time.' He'd gotten used to it. 'All in good fun –'

Kouichi scowled. 'How can you call hurting someone fun?'

The red mark on Neemon's belly was already gone.

'It doesn't last –'

'That's an excuse that bullies use.'

Kouichi fit the water sphere on to his staff. It shrunk, then nestled there, beside a green one. There were three empty spaces still.

Takuya held out the fire sphere. 'You two were the ones who earned it,' he explained.

Kouichi turned away from it. Maybe he was still angry. And, after that last comment, Takuya could understand why.

But it wasn't bullying. Was it?

Bokomon was thinking furiously and hadn't said a word.

.

The mage and the chocolate covered rabbit left on rather unpleasant terms. They thanked him, but it sounded curt. And there was an argument left unresolved. That was never a nice feeling to leave someone with but they each had their own destinations and there was no point in staying.

They couldn't even work together because there'd be only one sphere to gain by the end.

They had different wishes. And, probably, both of them wanted their wishes as badly as each other.

But both of them obviously had their limits as well.

Takuya had no choice now but to fit the fire sphere into the hilt of his sword.

.

The next day, they came across the forest and heard of its tale. How it had burned. How there'd been a monster there, and how a Chosen had passed through. The Chosen had probably caused the fire. They killed the beast in the same stroke.

Takuya wondered if Kouichi had heard of this. Maybe that was why he'd been angry. Seeing what carelessness had done – if it was carelessness. He just couldn't imagine it being deliberate.

They walked through the blackened plain in the heart of the forest, then through more forest, still dull, dark and quiet and still soaked. They'd said another Chosen had come when the fire still burned and caused the rain.

They'd asked the question but gotten distracted before they could get an answer.

.

The forest was weird. The leaves glowed. And the trunks were almost white. It was eerie, but by then they had a more pressing matter. Food.

Finally, Neemon found apples. Apples Bokomon said had to be cooked first. So they cooked them…carefully. And they ate them, keeping a sharp eye on the fire. But they needed the fire because night had fallen and it was dark.

Until the moon came out.

But, by then, they were thinking about something else.

Because the trunk was showing images. Of his world.

.

'I've heard of this,' Bokomon said, awed. He'd brought out his book and was desperately scribbling though his eyes were glued to the trunks. 'They say when the Gate is open, windows and smaller doors to the other world open up at nights. Sometimes the Chosen go through as well, especially if they'll be missed.'

'Missed?' Takuya froze. 'As in time is the same…'

One of the trunks changed to a hospital scene. Shinya was there, still the same.

Takuya caught his breath.

Bokomon and Neemon both saw, but said nothing.

'Here's another.' Neemon tapped a different bark. There was Takuya's parents, looking sad and worried. His father was trying to call something. Nothing was happening.

Takuya pulled out his own phone and stared at it. There was no reception. Maybe it was him his father was trying to call.

And there was Shinya's friend as well. On his own, sitting outdoors even though it was dark outside.

'Do you want to go back for a visit?' Bokomon asked.

He'd wanted to find all the spheres – but it was night. It wouldn't matter.

'Will you two be okay?' he asked.

Bokomon and Neemon looked at each other, then they nodded.

.

Takuya took the chance, in the end. He went through the bark and appeared on the hospital roof. There was no-one in sight.

His brother's room was empty too. It was just past visiting hours, but he snuck in. He wasn't hurting anything, so he didn't feel guilty in doing that. And he stayed only a moment. 'Hi Shinya,' he whispered. 'I'm just dropping by for a visit. I found this strange world.'

He thought he heard the door open, but there was no-one there.

'It's cool. You'd have loved it, but that's okay. Maybe it'll still be there once I'm done. See, we can get a wish granted there. And I'm going to use mine to make sure you're okay.'

He smoothed his younger brother's hair. It felt so rough, so dry, so limp.

He had to hurry up and find four more spheres.

But he had to make sure his parents weren't worried first.

.

'I was staying with a friend,' Takuya explained. 'They've all been worried…and, well, I needed a bit of "away" time…'

It was a horribly selfish excuse and a lie, but no-one else saw it that way. His parents nodded and looked understanding. His father gave him a firm pat. 'Just keep your phone on,' he said. 'We were worried, you know?'

'I'm sorry, 'tou-san.' He couldn't keep the phone on. He hadn't a clue how to get reception in a whole other world.

Tomoki had come inside as well. He was looking at him. Takuya offered a smile. It was easier with his heart lighter, with him knowing he was doing something now, accomplishing something. Even if he was a little behind.

Then he waved goodbye and went back through the gate.

'Let's get going,' he said. 'This isn't a place to stop for the night.'

They didn't question him, just packed the few meat apples they'd saved for later and got going.

Something tried to pull him back, gently, barely noticeable. Takuya imagined it was the gateway home and kept going.