A/N: Last chapter on the weekend! And then the sequel - depending on whether the first chapter decides to finally behave...

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Wish Journeys 1.1
Three Brothers

Chapter 23/Kouji

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This dream quest of his had definitely taken a turn for the weird. First there was an exact replica of him he was fighting. Then he was being held in the air by magic, and then the mage lookalike he'd taken for granted was some sort of conscience was now telling him he was a twin brother.

And the strangest thing was Kouji couldn't even convince himself it was a dream. Or that the other boy was lying. Because he was all too experienced in picking out those most lies. How many times had he pressed his father for the whereabouts of his mother's grave. "I don't know" was a lie. It was definitely a lie. But his father was as stubborn as he was. He wouldn't tell.

Apparently the other took his silence as some sort of encouragement. 'My name's Kouichi. Kimura Kouichi. Kimura is 'kaa-san's maiden name.'

He knew that. He'd found the marriage certificate with some snooping around. But no death one.

'And I'm sure you could list off a bunch of other stuff as well. But that doesn't prove you're not my conscience and this isn't still some elaborate dream.'

The other two boys – both brunets – stared at each other in surprise. The younger one he hadn't seen before…or had he, in the forest? He hadn't been paying attention at that point.

'Why do you think it's a dream?' Kouichi asked, finally.

'Why wouldn't it be?' Kouji returned. His sword burned in his hand. Grew white hot. 'Swords don't do this. Armour doesn't show up out of nowhere. Strange mutant creatures don't shoot fireballs or other things or even talk. Magic doesn't even exist!' But you're not lying. And that frustrated him more than anything, because that meant he'd been wrong. Even though, to some extent, he already knew that. But that also meant he'd –

'It's easier when things are dreams,' Kouichi said quietly. 'Less responsibility. But can you really accept that?'

He understood too. Somehow.

Lopmon. That odd situation in the castle. Could it have been..?

'Your chocolate bunny friend?' He wondered as to the tone of his own voice.

The other gave a wry smile. 'I didn't want to go around regretting something I did.'

'Regretting what?' He rolled his eyes. At some point his feet were on the ground, which was nice. 'Attacking someone who attacked someone else? Fighting back?'

'We could have talked instead.'

'Right.' Kouji snorted at that. Hadn't he tried that already? With his dad? 'So where's 'kaa-san's grave?'

There was a pause. Kouichi looked…shocked. 'Grave?' he croaked, finally. 'What –'

Not lying. Again. Which meant –

'That bastard –' He'd known his father had been lying, hiding something. But he hadn't thought he'd lied about that.

Funny denial had just vanished into thin air.

Or he was doubting his own instincts. Or wanted to. Because – that pretty much picked his life up and tossed it out the window. 'You're – you're lying, right?' His voice shook. He wanted the other to convince him he was lying – but it already seemed hopeless.

Kouichi just shook his head.

Kouji wanted to punch something. Why couldn't it have been a dream? Why couldn't he have gone on pretending it was? Pretending he'd forget all of this when he woke up. Pretending it wouldn't matter.

The sword suddenly felt impossibly heavy in his hands and he dropped it.

'Can I…see 'kaa-san?'

'When we go back.' There was a small smile on the other's lips now. And some relief. 'I'm sure she'll be happy to see you.'

That's…that's what he'd always wanted. To see his mother. To have her. And she'd been alive the whole time. Why – why –

Why hadn't she come to him? Why had his father lied? Why – why hadn't he remembered anything? Why hadn't he known about his brother?'

'Obaa-chan told me, not too long ago.' Kouichi was explaining his side of the story now. 'Just before she died. It was a secret she hadn't wanted to take to the grave. So she told me. And I – I wanted to see you. And 'tou-san. But I was scared. Particularly of 'tou-san. Because –'

'Because he couldn't have forgotten, so why wasn't he a part of your live?' Kouji said that almost sullenly. 'Just like 'kaa-san must have known.' And a grandmother he would never meet. He shook his head, then laughed bitterly. 'There goes my wish down the drain.'

Or, rather, he'd gotten it in a way he'd never thought he would.

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After that, dealing with the doppelgänger had been a simple matter. He'd looked at the other, without a sword in hand. And he'd vanished. Just like that.

Takuya explained things as they continued up. He talked a lot, Takuya. But it broke the awkwardness that hung over them. And explained the whole rabbit situation which Kouichi hadn't seemed to want to. He'd certainly had the opportunity.

But he also didn't stop Takuya from explaining. Even the "being in the hospital bit" – though it looked like he wanted to. And Kouji found himself agreeing with Takuya on that aspect. It was incredibly risky and reckless. Especially when he'd had proof that it wasn't a dream.

But he probably would have done exactly the same thing.

If only he could wave a staff or wand and put that first fire out. And if only he hadn't been so focused. So tunnel-visioned.

'What are you thinking about?' Takuya asked, curiously.

'Three guesses,' Kouji returned.

'Geeze, are you always sarcastic?'

Yeah, he probably was.

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Takuya and Kouji met the Goddess alone. Her hands scooped them up and they sat in her palms and stared at her. 'Hello, Chosen,' she said with a smile. She really did look like an angel, and not a war angel like Ofanimon but the sort that could grant wises.

Kouji wasn't entirely sure what his wish should be.

'And what are you wishes? I see they both have changed.'

'Mine is to mend Shinya's body,' Takuya said immediately.

'Mend the body,' the Goddess replied. 'Not the mind.'

Takuya nodded. 'It was something Kouichi said,' he explained to Kouji's surprised look. 'And Ofanimon. If he's supposed to wake up, he'll wake up. If he's supposed to die, he'll die. Living after you were supposed to die…I'm sure a lot of regrets come with that. And that's assuming it's possible.'

The Goddess smiled wider. 'Those are wise words,' she said. 'And it is possible, but like all things, it has a cost and meddling with life, death and time requires a cost greater than what you recognise.' She nodded then. 'Very well. I will grant that wish. And you?' She looked at Kouji.

He'd been toying with his wish since the trek up. He had his original wish…almost. His mother wasn't dead. He could meet her. And there were some bitter feelings to deal with, but he didn't need a wish for that.

There were two things he did: the forest, and the accident he'd, in part, caused. The accident that had put his brother in the hospital. He'd heard Hikaru bark. He hadn't bothered seeing what it was. Maybe he'd even felt someone following him. Or maybe that was survivor's guilt or something like that. Like with the forest. Even though he'd tried to convince himself otherwise.

'Did anyone get hurt in the forest fires?' he asked.

'Hmm…' The Goddess looked down. 'Only you, I believe. Your brother was quick on the uptake both times.' Her smile turned wistful. 'It's interesting, actually. Sometimes you seem like two different people. At other times, you seem to complete each other. Otherwise I'm sure neither the forest digimon not you would not have been so fortunate.'

'What do you mean, me?' Kouji asked. He'd worry about the rest later. He still need to wrap his head around the new family situation.

Her smile widened again. 'Wind fans fire. Water puts it out. Both elementals are ones your brother is strong in. Fire is yours. If the first fire hadn't chased most of the forests' inhabitants out, there would have been far more tragedy wrought by the second one. But as it was, the rebuilding had not reached far in, so they fled in time. See?'

He sort of saw. The forest could rebuild itself.

'And can we come back?'

'Until the Gate closes in eighty six days, yes, of course.'

He took a deep breath. He really hoped he wasn't making the wrong wish here.

'Can you heal my brother?' he asked. 'Physically, I mean. Like Takuya wants his brother.'

'Of course.' She nodded in approval. 'Both your wishes will be done.'

She uncapped her hands. They slid. Then fell.

'Farewell, Chosen who have made their wish. Go see your brothers.'

'What about Tomo – ' Takuya began, but a hole opened up beneath them and swallowed them up.