Takeshi's hand was trembling and the desperation in his eyes was so visible, and the fact I couldn't even get through to him just made it more painful. He threw the knife towards his chest, and despite it was such a short distance, it seemed to go on for an eternity… Memories began to flood in my head…
I walked to the first day at my new school, I was a little unsure. Anything was better than being alone in a padded room and tortured everyday… I remember the shout from behind me.
"My name is Takeshi!"
I ran up to him to try and stop him… I couldn't let this continue, but even though I at least tried, I knew it was hopeless. But I just couldn't stand around anymore and watch this!
"Dude! I have something I need to show you!"
Takeshi was my friend… No, he was best friend and I wasn't going to let him die! I screamed, "This isn't what Shuji wanted! PLEASE!"
And almost out of nowhere, the knife was kicked out Takeshi's hand. A dark figure than grabbed him by his shirt and threw him onto the ground. As he stepped closer towards Takeshi his face became clearer and clearer… It was… Patrick?
"You really are pathetic, you know that?" Patrick muttered.
He had a disgusted scowl on his face, he continued to say, "Your brother is dead, it's a reality I know you have faced, but do you really think an unarmed child like you really could have done anything?"
Takeshi was on his knees with his arms at his side, the tears still falling down his cheeks. He stared at the knife with that same desperate and lost look. He tried reaching for it, but Patrick stepped on his hand. Takeshi let out a painful scream as Patrick pressed his foot harder on Takeshi's hand as he grinded his teeth. He grabbed Takeshi by his shirt and lifted him up and swung for his face. Takeshi dropped like a brick. He then made another leap for the knife.
Patrick kicked it away and looked down at Takeshi. "Face it, your brother is dead… Like it or not! And the person who did it was never caught, so what can you do? Find him and kill him? Or just blame yourself? Either way, no matter what happens the reality is still there… HE IS DEAD! We've all experienced loss in our lives, so stop being a fucking baby about it and move on!"
Takeshi curled up in a ball, as he sobbed uncontrollably. I took a few steps closer and sat down by Takeshi, I looked at him and whispered, "I can't remember their faces… Nor can I even remember how long ago it was. Just the sight of the accident, the rain feeling like God's spit…"
He looked up at him with the tears welled up in his eyes, "I know what it is like to lose, and I know how hard it is feeling responsible… I know sorrow and pain like no other… For the longest of times I wished for death, and actually attempted suicide while locked up… It's not something I'm proud of, but if I succeeded back then, I would have never met you or…"
I grew silent… I began thinking of Aimi's face, I was almost paralyzed due to the wave that washed over my mind. I started to shake and whispered, "If I did it back then, I would never have felt this… This magnificent feeling… This amazing ecstasy her smile gives me…"
I began to think of Patamon as well, I continued, "And his camaraderie, his friendship are so important to me too… There is just so much to live for. As soon as you forgive yourself, you will be able to see this, to feel this…"
Suddenly blades of grass and clovers popped up around us, and the darkness shattered, we were looking at a red sunset surrounded by graves. Takeshi got up and walked towards a dirty stone. He wiped it off and looked down at it with his eyes emotionally drained. Patrick walked up to it as well, and a flower formed in his hand as he laid it down by the stone. I stepped closer and looked down at the stone.
Shuji Ohanti2000-2009
Loving Son, Taken Before His Time
I found a flower on the ground and I placed it on his stone… Takeshi then threw one hand in the air and a rose formed in his palm, he clenched it tightly, and put it on the grave. He then looked at his hand, which was covered in his blood. He sighed and whispered, "It surprisingly doesn't hurt…"
Suddenly we all blacked out, and almost instantaneously we were back at Takeshi's home. Patrick was slowly lifting himself up as Gotsumon helped him up. "Are you okay boss?" he asked.
He nodded and I checked over at Takeshi who was sitting up with the same expressionless look on his face. Takeshi looked at Gotsumon and Patrick, he asked, "Gotsumon… Why are you with him again?"
Gotsumon, with confidence, replied, "We are a team! Despite what happens fate connected us for a reason… I will just have to become stronger! Right Patrick?"
Patrick smirked as he always did… Maybe I was wrong, maybe there is just a complex layer of personality we all need to see past. Perhaps Patrick wasn't as dangerous and emotionless as we originally thought… Suddenly it hit me and I shouted, "WHERE IS TAPIRMON!?"
Everyone jumped up a little and looked at the good Tapirmon Brother, who responded, "I sent him back home to our world… After all, you weakened him and defeated him, so it wasn't that hard to force him back… But I still have my part of this agreement to hold up to! So everyone, take a seat…"
Takeshi turned to me and asked, "What's he talking about?"
I looked back and replied, "It might be what we are supposed to fear…"
Takeshi turned away, almost as if he was staring into nothingness, Hanako was in the corner of the room shaking, Patrick stood with his back against the wall, and Aimi just sat there dumbfounded. Tapirmon started to clear his throat as he said, "Devimon and Lady Devimon are two of the most evil beings in our world… They try to constantly destroy our world to become stronger… I cannot even explain how many friends I have lost to them…"
Hanako stuttered, "B-b-but why?"
Tapirmon shrugged and said, "Well judging by the orders my brother was given, to attack humans, I can only assume he is out to destroy your world… But it seems odd, why would they want to do that? Not to mention, why do you have Digimon!? It just doesn't add up to me…"
Patamon flew onto my shoulder and asked, "Well, why have they only attacked you guys so far? Isn't that just somewhat odd?"
Gabumon popped in and added, "Actually, if they wanted to get the world, wouldn't there be more… I don't know… Chaos? And add in one more thing… This all started when…"
Hanako interrupted, "It started when Kyle showed up! Like he was destined to trigger these events… It may be a coincidence, but he did have experience with Digimon before this all began… Maybe there is something about him that attracts them to him."
She looked around at everyone's troubled faces, suddenly she became red and covered her mouth, she whispered, "I am sorry… I didn't m- Oh…"
I lifted myself up and walked towards the window. The sun hit my eyes, but it did not blind me in the slightest. It was like a punishment, I whispered, "You may just be right… But why does it have to be me? I mean, Patamon is a great partner, but to be honest… I used to hate the idea of Digimon. It was a Digimon who destroyed my life, and it caused me to suffer so many years… And now that I finally escape that torture, it comes back!"
My fist shook uncontrollably, "FUCK!" I shouted with the rage overflowing yet contained in my voice.
Aimi walked behind me and placed her head on my shoulder. I felt a tear hit my arm as she said, "I know… I know the suffering you have been through… Sometimes I feel guilty about my mommy problems when I know what you have suffered through. But I am sure we can fight this…"
I stared off into space, while the door slammed behind me. I did not even flinch, suddenly on the other side of the door Patrick appeared. His voiced was somewhat muffled by the glass, but I could hear him perfectly…
"You are at a crossroad now… You either fight… OR DIE! The choice is not mine, not theirs, not these devils… They are your choices! MAKE THEM!"
We locked eyes, and it felt as if we were the only two people in the world. Patrick then turned around and walked, with Gotsumon following right behind him. As I saw him walk into the twilight, I considered what he said… Fight or die…