Wow, I'm surprised! I seriously didn't expect that kind of response to my first chapter. Seriously; I thought I'd get maybe 2, four if I was extremely lucky. But ELEVEN?!

Rika: Oh, please. You're gonna make me sick here. Just get on with it would ya?

…Yes Ma'am…

Takato: Sigh.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE!

A Gogglehead's Gift

By Angel's Hazard

Chapter Two: Beginning Anew

5 years ago, '?' realm-Digital world

He didn't know how long it had been since he had last seen the others. It seemed like an eternity passed in the blink of an eye, with his consciousness floating on the edge of oblivion. Slowly, his senses came back to him. The first was feeling, though regretfully he wished it hadn't been.

There had been instances, during his time as a Tamer, when he wondered what the digimon felt in defeat, as their data was sent to a place unknown. Surely it would have felt like he did now. Every nerve in his body screamed in pain; from his feet to his fingers, it was inescapable. One spot hurt more than the rest combined, though he couldn't remember why. The exact spot where his heart was felt like liquid fire had been poured into him. He couldn't even think, the pain was so intense.

After countless moments, the pain finally started to abate, allowing voices to filter through his semiconscious mind. A groan escaped his lips.

"…Hey Ane-san! He's waking up!" The sound of hurried steps came from far away, purple boots stopping within range of his waking sight.

A soft voice spoke from above him. "Here, some water." The rim of a container was pressed to his lips and the liquid trickled into his grateful lips.

Raising his head, he was greeted by the sight of what appeared to be a girl with purple hair, a visor covering her eyes.

He blinked. In the ensuing, brief, darkness a sound like static came to his ears.

When he opened his eyes again, a girl with long blonde hair stared back with a worried look on her face, no visor in sight.

"How's he doing?" A sudden voice made him and the girl jump. Several footsteps emanated from behind.

"Oh, hi Takuya-kun," The girl replied. "He woke up just now actually."

The young man she spoke to walked up to him and extended his hand. "Nice to meet ya…" He stopped. "Um…" His gaze turned expectant.

"Ta…kato…?" He closed his eyes trying to remember. "Mat…suki Takato… I think that's my name…?"

"O-kaay… Matsuki-san it is then; my name's Takuya, the one in the bandana is Kouji, the big one's JP and the younger guy is Tommy." With each name each of the people behind Takuya came forward. "And she…" Here he nodded a glance to the girl at Takato's side. "…is Zoe. I gotta tell ya, I was afraid you weren't gonna make it for a while there."

"Oh? How come?" As soon as he uttered this, the mood made a 180. "…? What's wrong?"

"We-well, we found you several days ago while we were traveling through a forest, and… y-you had several injuries, b-but there was one that seemed to be the cause of your coma…" the boy named Tommy recounted the tale through a sudden pouring of tears.

At the moment his tale ended, a jagged pain jolted through Takato's nerves, tearing his eyes away from the group gathered around him; and directing them toward a scar that revealed itself on his chest. His eyes widened. "AAaaaaagghhh!!"

"Hey, what's wrong?! What's happening?!" The others flew into a panic at his sudden outburst, and kept alternating their gazes between themselves and his hunched form. At that same instant his left eye throbbed, making him cover it with his hand, now with a steady whimper forcing its way past his lips. Tommy started hiccupping, the terror of the moment taking the most obvious toll on him; though the girl called Zoe was proving to be a close second, hands fluttering back and forth, torn between wanting to comfort the Tamer or getting a first aid kit, among other ideas.

In that moment, his body arched backwards, his arms being flung to each side. As he fell, Takato's entire being began to glow a faint crimson.

As the flabbergasted group looked on, Takato's body merged with the growing light. The radiance began to grow and widen into a much larger shape, getting more brilliant by the second, causing everyone to close their eyes to avoid going blind. And just when the glow couldn't seem to get any brighter, there came a sound like a lightning strike; causing the group to plug their ears against the sudden assault of noise.

Just as suddenly as it had started the sound vanished, and the light disappeared. As the five kids slowly revived their senses, opening their eyes and unblocking their ears, they were witness to a shocking scene.

An angel in crimson armor lay unconscious on the ground, ten luminously white wings spread out behind him.

The silence was deafening.

To be continued…

----

A/N: Gah! Why can't I ever write a longer chapter?! And why can I never get one out more quickly… (mopes)

Rika: How pathetic can you get! A slug could write faster than you! And don't get me started on this garbage you end up with.

Me: Whimper

Takato: Ouch, don't you think that's a little harsh…?

Rika: Hey, he's the one putting words in our mouths… (walks off)

Takato: … (sighs) She has a point.

Me: sniffle.

Please Read and Review!