A/N: Okay, so we only had two Tomoki chapters in the end. Though he has a role in the next multichip as well.

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Wish Journeys 1.1
Three Brothers

Chapter 20/Takuya

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They didn't know where Ofanimon's castle was and none of them really wanted to backtrack from the Venus Rose, so they asked people and looked at maps until they worked it out. Funny how many people had heard of the Radiant Gem but didn't know exactly where to find it. In the end, they had to visit the third of the trio to get specifics.

Luckily, the creatures in the forest area did know where that castle was. Up a long flight of branches that served as stairs.

And so they met Seraphimon. He wore a helmet and armour like Ofanimon, even in the comfort of his own home. And he didn't seem particularly surprised to see them either. He told them about the Continent of Light, a place with gardens full of poppies: a sleepy land. Quite unlike the continent they were now on: bustling with life.

He pointed them in the right direction and offered some birds as transport. But teleportation was faster and they were sort of running on a time limit. Seraphimon said he'd given his sphere of light to Kouji…which meant the other boy was also only one step away from realising his wish.

And Takuya thought, from what Kouichi had said and what he'd pieced together, it would be better for the twins to sort that mess out before he got to the top of the tower and his wish. Especially if the wish had anything to do with family or friends or anything like that. Not that he thought that. He couldn't think at all what the other's wish was because he barely knew the guy.

It was honestly baffling. And a slap on the face that the world was both a very big and a very small place.

'By the way,' he asked Kouichi, once they were outside. 'Why are you two hanging out with me instead?' At Kouichi's raised eyebrow, he said: 'And no, I'm not using you as a teleportation pad.'

Tomoki blinked and looked between. 'I wasn't thinking that,' Kouichi said easily. Before Takuya could turn that into a teasing remark, he added: 'teleportation mat is too long to be bothered with on a regular basis, isn't it?'

Takuya closed his mouth, then opened it again. 'You don't seem to be the type to give nicknames to things.'

'You'd be surprised.' Then Kouichi added: 'Things I mean, not people.'

'No. Definitely not people.' He wondered if he should ask, then decided he might as well. 'Sorry about this, but why couldn't you just talk to him in our world?'

Kouichi stiffened. Takuya wondered if the question was just going to go ignored. Tomoki, uncomfortable with the silence, was about to speak. But Kouichi, in his delay, still managed to beat him to the punch. 'I – I was scared.'

Takuya blinked. Somehow, he'd expected an "I guess I was" and hadn't gotten it. That guy's got guts of a different colour. Admitting a weakness or fault like that.

Then he reconsidered. Was it a weakness or a fault? Or was it a word he couldn't quite think of right then?

'I wanted to – but part of me was worried what he'd say, whether he'd push me away or not believe me – and how was I supposed to walk up to him out of nowhere and make him believe me?' Then he walked a few paces and gave a short laugh. 'Occurred to me afterwards, it would've been smarter to find 'tou-san first…but, you know, I hated that idea. Because it felt like he'd abandoned 'kaa-san and me.'

Takuya honestly didn't know what to say. And maybe he didn't need to say anything. Maybe it was enough to listen.

Tomoki disagreed though, because he spoke. 'Your father was at the hospital too,' he said, quietly and sounding a little frightened himself. Like he expected someone to snap at him. No-one did. 'I met him. He and your mother were both there. And they both…cried.' He sounded even more uncomfortable with that last word. The idea of adults crying…

Takuya understood. And he agreed. It was frightening watching his mother cry over Shinya. It showed how serious things were.

And maybe Kouichi was thinking about that as well as the context, because he just said "I see" and summoned his staff.

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The Continent of Light really did feel like a sleepy place. 'Opium comes from poppies,' Kouichi commented. To Takuya, it sounded like he was trying to stay away from a certain conversation topic. 'Like morphine. Those high-calibre painkillers.'

'Like sleeping beauty?' Tomoki asked.

Takuya blinked. Kouichi just nodded. Either he'd thought it himself or he had a really good poker face, and Takuya was fairly sure it was the latter. Considering they'd known each other for days and that was being generous considering the time they'd spent apart and other confusing elements, Takuya didn't actually know all that well. But he was still fairly certain.

Those two had weird imaginations, he decided. 'Hey, do you read a lot?'

Both Tomoki and Kouichi stared at him, neither sure who he was talking to. 'Kouichi,' he clarified. 'Tomoki, I know you mostly play video games.'

Tomoki mumbled something and looked down. Kouichi, still looking confused, nodded.

That made perfect sense in Takuya's mind though. 'And you have a horrible poker face, you know.'

Kouichi's expression grew more bemused – and Takuya wondered if that word was supposed to sound like befuddled and amused put together or not.

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They climbed the stairs to Ofanimon's castle and were admitted by an Egyptian-looking winged cat. She greeted them politely, asked their names, and then carried them up several flights of stairs to a chamber and to Ofanimon.

Tomoki's awe was the most paramount, but Kouichi too was surprised. Takuya knew what to expect; the first time he'd been amazed as well.

'I see you have brought your friend,' Ofanimon said softly. 'Is that why you came?'

Takuya nodded. Please don't let Kouichi take this the wrong way.

But Kouichi just looked blank, particularly when Ofanimon turned to him and stretched out a hand. 'Come, child mage Kouichi,' she said.

Takuya couldn't remember if he'd given a name or not, honestly. And he got the feeling it didn't matter.

Kouichi took the hand. Ofanimon studied it and his eyes carefully. 'You are taking a rather large risk,' she mused. 'Though this time it is worth it, even if not for the reasons you think.'

Ofanimon hadn't sounded so cryptic before. Takuya wondered if it was something she saved for off the battlefield. She looked almost like a fortune-teller right then. Except for the armour.

'Tell me, child,' she continued, 'how much value do you put on your own life?'

Takuya couldn't see Kouichi's expression, but he heard no verbal answer.

Ofanimon seemed to not need that answer. 'Time and rest are two things that often contradict,' she said. 'A coma is one of the ways we seek to avoid that contradiction. Things like the fragrance of the poppies are another. And yet life is not eternal, and neither are opportunities. Regret can be a very powerful chain – or leash.'

She stressed the final word. Takuya wondered why, and he thought about what she'd said. A leash. Something dragging them merrily along. He looked at Kouichi's back. Did he..?

'That goes for you as well, young Tomoki,' Ofanimon said, smiling at the younger boy. 'Now, tell me, you've seen some of the dangers of this world?'

'I've heard them, ma'am.' Tomoki looked like he'd been called upon by a teacher to talk. 'But I haven't really seen anything yet.'

She laughed. It was a kindly laugh. 'You are looking at one.'

Tomoki blinked.

'We are all dangerous,' she clarified. 'I am a Lady and a ruler. I command this continent. I have been to was. Does that not make me dangerous?'

Tomoki considered that, then said: 'To your enemies…but we're not your enemies, right?' He glanced back at Takuya, who honestly didn't know where Ofanimon was going with this either.

'And what is an enemy?' she asked.

He brought a thumb to his lip and bit lightly on the tip, then hurriedly pulled it out of his mouth. 'Someone who tries to hurt you or the people you care about, and…' He trailed of. Because of the "and", no-one assumed his answer was complete. '…and whose reasons you can't agree with?' The last bit sounded unsure, but when Takuya thought about it, he thought that was pretty wise for a nine year old. He would've ended his answer on the "and".

Ofanimon was nodding as well. 'Impressive answer,' she said, and Tomoki blushed. 'You should all heed it.' She paused, then asked: 'was there anything else?'

Takuya stepped forward. 'I also wanted to say thanks,' he said, 'for the orb. And for…your advice.'

She smiled. 'It was my pleasure to help the Chosen,' she replied, 'and as for the advice…the mind is an organ that requires sustenance and healing as well, is it not?'

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'That woman was scary,' Tomoki whispered when they left the Radiant Gem. 'Like wise old grandmother scary.'

Takuya laughed. 'She was a lot tamer the last I met her, but I have to agree with that.'

'She was…' Kouichi began, then shook his head.

'What?' Takuya asked, curious.

'Like my grandmother was.' It was almost a whisper, but both of them heard the past tense and sorrow in it. 'Looking for understanding instead of just knowledge.'

'Ni-san would like her,' Tomoki said, after a pause. 'And he'd be happy I learnt something from her.'

Takuya wasn't sure his parents or brother would be happy per say with him taking lessons from an angel. Disbelieving might be more accurate. But the learning – they couldn't begrudge that. Especially since it was the sort of learning he'd been, on some subconscious level, looking for in this world.

And it made him all the more sure that his new wish was the right one.

'I wish we could've gone,' Bokomon mourned. Unfortunately, the cat hadn't been able to carry all five of them.