A/N: unexpected break from fanfiction...which also included not posting up pre-written chapters. But here's the next one!

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Wish Journeys 1.1
Three Brothers

Chapter 22/Kouichi

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The tower of destiny was a thin, spiralling mountain that seemed to pierce the clouds. For a moment they simply stared at it. 'Would it be cheating if we teleported or flew?' Kouichi wondered aloud.

They considered that. It did sound far more wonderful than walking. 'I don't see a rulebook,' Takuya said finally. 'And flying sounds fun.' Then he blinked and looked around. 'Isn't this where Bokomon complains where he hates flying? Where are those two?'

It was only the three humans standing at the foot of the mountain.

'Maybe only humans are allowed in?' Tomoki suggested.

They considered that. 'I would've liked to say goodbye to them.' Takuya looked at his hilt, then at Kouichi. 'How about we fly? Less likely to miss your brother that way.'

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They hadn't gotten very far up the mountain when tails of fire hindered them. They fell to the earth when one broke Kouichi's concentration, but they'd been low to begin with so it hadn't hurt them at all. And they'd landed in a wide expanse as well. Slightly rocky terrain, but rather tame. Except for a boy with a sword in the centre. A boy with a flaming sword and brown hair and sun kissed skin.

If Takuya hadn't been standing beside them, they'd have thought it was him. It was almost like looking into a mirror.

'You don't have a twin, do you?' Kouichi honestly didn't know if that was an honest question or sarcasm. He just knew it was unnerving.

How was he supposed to explain things to Kouji?

Takuya gave a shaky laugh. 'Not that I know of.' He raised his voice. 'Hi! Are you –'

They ducked as the other sliced at the air, producing more flames.

'Why is he attacking us?' Tomoki asked – though it was a question on all their minds.

Takuya shook his head. 'Wish I could do that.' He looked at Kouichi. 'Got anything that can stop these flames from roasting us?'

'Another rain cloud?' Kouichi suggested. 'Or we could take the direct route and hit him with something.'

'Should we be doing that?' Tomoki whispered. 'If it's a mirror image or a conscience or something, then isn't it better to come to an agreement instead?'

'That would involve talking,' Takuya gritted his teeth as a bit of fire hit him. Kouichi threw up a shield to block the next onslaught. 'He doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk.'

But nobody seemed to want to attack after Tomoki said that. Or perhaps even before.

'We can't stay behind the shield forever,' Tomoki said. 'We need to do something.'

'Though these attacks aren't particularly strong,' Kouichi added, 'so we have some time.'

The two brunets stared at him. 'Not strong?' Takuya echoed. 'You think he's just weak or not attacking us at full power?'

'Hmm…' Kouichi looked at the other in the distance. 'Not attacking us at full power. There must be a reason he hasn't approached…aside from the fact he's outnumbered.'

He wondered about that. Was this some sort of final test? It sure felt like that. And it would also explain why there was only a doppelgänger of Takuya.

'What are you thinking about?' Takuya asked.

Kouichi realised he hadn't been talking out loud. 'I was thinking if this is a test,' he said.

'Like some final battle before the big boss?' Tomoki asked. 'That makes sense. But – ' He bit the top of his thumb lightly again.

'What?' Takuya tried and failed to raise an eyebrow.

Tomoki shrugged. 'Usually you just cream the opponents in games,' he said. 'But what Ofanimon said makes me think this is about something else. If you can't understand yourself, then...'

'- how can you understand someone else?' Kouichi finished. 'That's pretty wise.'

Tomoki blushed. Kouichi looked at Takuya. 'Any ideas?' he asked. 'Since this is you we're talking about.'

'Try to keep him occupied until we can tire him out so he's more willing to listen?' Takuya suggested. 'I don't know. I don't think I'm the type to attack blindly like he's doing.'

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In the end, they went with Takuya's suggestion since they couldn't just crouch behind the magical shield indefinitely. Kouichi tried to vary his shield to block the flames that got too close when they inched even closer (though, really, they seemed to be mostly aimed at Takuya). Takuya drew his sword. Tomoki tried to find an opportunity somewhere, though Kouichi had a field Takuya didn't realise the younger brunet was doing that.

He probably didn't notice the two winces when the Takuya and Takuya look-alikes crossed blades either. Takuya looked more experienced, but also more hesitant. Both of them were quickly acquiring scratches on skin and armour.

Tomoki's eyes widened suddenly. He'd seen something. Kouichi looked more closely at the clashing. Takuya was being careful but still he was getting a few slices in. A cut on the opponent's cheek – suddenly appearing on his own?

Kouichi drew a sharp breath. Really like mirrors. He opened his mouth –

And then suddenly Tomoki was hugging the other Takuya around the waist and they both froze.

'Tomoki.' Takuya looked frightened. 'Get away from there!'

'I won't get hurt,' Tomoki said quietly. 'Promise.' He looked up at the other Takuya. 'You don't hurt people for no reason, right?'

The other Takuya shook his head.

'Are you angry at Takuya-nii for some reason?'

And that question seemed to turn on a light-bulb in Takuya's head. 'It's because I shouldn't have ever let Shinya get into that situation.' His voice grew low. Heavy. 'I know that. I've been telling myself that all month. That I need to change. Be a better brother. Be a better person. And I've been trying to be a better person.'

The other Takuya lowered his sword a little.

'Does this mean we can talk?' Takuya sheathed his.

The other Takuya dropped his, and Tomoki came over to Kouichi. 'Maybe we should let them talk by themselves.'

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'That's a test I hope I don't have to do too many times in life,' Takuya sighed as they continued to make their way up the mountain. 'It's a pretty painful way of telling yourself something. And in my case I'd already figured it out.'

'It must be a lot harder when you haven't,' Tomoki said. 'It's pretty scary.'

'What you did was scary,' Takuya snapped. 'If you'd been wrong –'

'Kouichi could have covered me,' Tomoki said with a smile. 'I'm not as brave as you.'

'It was still a brave thing to do,' said Kouichi. And no-body really had any answer to that.

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They found Kouji a little further up. And he, like Takuya, was fighting a doppelgänger. But this fight looked more serious.

A small part of Kouichi wondered if Kouji had simply mixed the doppelgänger up for him – but that wasn't a very pleasant thought.

And it was hard to throw a shield with two swords constantly parrying.

He set himself and his companions on the ground, then tried a wind spell. He remembered the last time he'd used an ice spell instead and he really didn't want a repeat of that.

It separated them and caused them both to hang in the air, struggling invisible ties. Thankfully, while their swords could heat up to almost unbearable temperatures, they had no long range attacks. So they really couldn't do anything aside from glare at each other. And turn in the air (because Kouichi didn't have that fine control) and glare at the source of their disturbance.

Naturally, neither were very pleased to see them. 'Mind your own business,' Kouji snapped. 'Unless you're a part of my consciousness that has some useful wisdom to depart.'

Kouichi shouldn't have found that amusing. He really shouldn't have. But he found a smile creeping onto his expression anyway. 'That there is your consciousness, but I'm a different person entirely.'

'I dunno,' Takuya muttered from behind him and under his breath. 'Does twin telepathy count?'

Kouji was giving his full attention at least. And though it wasn't a smart idea to turn one's back on one's opponent, the both of them were still in the air. The worst the other could do was throw his sword, and Kouichi made sure to keep an extra eye out for that. 'What do you mean?' he snapped. 'Why else would you look like me?'

'We…' Now it was crunch time, and he still had no idea how to drop the bombshell. 'We're twins.'

He was sure he could have done better than that, but too late now.

Kouji stared at him. Then: 'you're lying.' But he sounded somewhat unsure.

Or maybe Kouichi was imagining it.

Still, that was a chance.

He hoped.