alamodie: Thank you so much for the reviews!!! I looked up 'ciao' to double check and it means goodbye in many languages, including Italian. Thank you for informing me so I could double check it though. As far as the blonde guy goes, I'm not saying. ;-) Thanks for reading and I hope you like the next chapter! Take Care!
Author's Note: I tried a different writing style on this chapter. I like the way it sounds, but I'm not certain if it's clear enough. This is also the last of the chapters that I already have written up so updates may be a bit slower, but hopefully not too slow. As always, criticism and comments greatly appreciated.
Chapter 2
The wolf sat beside the flame, observing those around him with a steady gaze. They had all changed much since their first meeting. He, perhaps, had changed the most, or perhaps not. Perhaps the one with tears of ice had been altered the most on that journey, or maybe it was the tumultuous wind who no longer felt so alone, so . . . different. He was not the one judge – that could only be decided by their next set of trials.
The ancient sound of rolling thunder shifted his train of thought to the figure sitting a few feet away. He had been changed as well. No longer did he have tricks to play for a price, or carry loneliness as a burden. The sound of thunder was now heard invariably amongst the group's gatherings. It was a welcoming call indeed.
The sincerity of the lion fell upon him next, as his navy eyes drifted to the figure across from him. Without him, their mission would have failed the first time and perhaps, the wolf would not have changed so drastically. If the lion had not continued roaring, perhaps, he would have changed for the worse. He owed a lot to the gentle lion. Although the lion had not morphed as much, merely lost some of the inner demons that gnawed at his soul, he had forced the wolf to see the light.
Heat gripped his shoulder as his thoughts dwindled. Smoke rose above all other sounds and licked his ear, saying, "You've barely said a word. Are you all right?"
The flame.
How could he forget the flame? His rival, his friend? Easy. He didn't. The flame was the hardest to determine. It changed shapes and spread at the rapidity of light itself. Yet it still kept its identity. The flame led with a determination known to bring down everything in its path, and a warmth able to greet any worn soldier pleasantly on a cold and lonely night. It was able to spark anything and bring it into a new light. Yet even the strength of a dancing flame must be dashed. Though it had not lost its vigor, the reality of no longer being invincible had smothered the insanity that had once driven him. Caution now held a heavier weight in his plans and ensured his victory.
Kouji Minamoto glanced over at his rival for a moment. "I'm fine." He was about to return to his musings, when he realized how curt his answer had been, and a sigh escaped his lips, knowing that his friend deserved a better answer. "I was just thinking, about us, and how much we all have changed."
"How?" Tommy asked.
Ice had always remained frozen in time. Innocent. Naive. Kind.
A soft smile found its way to his lips, as he started to explain, "Like how you no longer cry as much. You're less afraid, and you're happier."
"So you mean since out last adventure," JP said, "Like how you're friendlier and more talkative."
Lightning always precedes thunder. Blatant. Blunt. Not obscured.
Kouji nodded. "Or how you have more friends now and no longer try to buy them."
"We all have more friends now," Zoe added, a giggle entering her voice.
The wind never stopped blowing. Playful. Care-Free. Gentle.
"You're stronger and no longer feel as hurt by other's wrongs."
"That's right Zoe! You've got a lot more friends now because you're more persistent, too," Takuya continued.
Flames are constant when treated right. Strong. Wild. Optimistic.
"You. You're more cautious and less impulsive. You no longer put others in harms way." Something foreign flickered across the face of the flame. It was something rarely seen on his face: Pain . . . and something else. Something even rarer. It was harder to pinpoint. Before it had time to register, the expression had fallen from his face, and he seemed to shrink into himself. Whatever it was, Kouji knew he'd have to find out later.
He turned back and faced his brother who had remained observing from the sidelines through the whole exchange. A reflection of himself stared back at him. Lion and Wolf. Darkness and Light. Both forged from the same mold, yet each with their own distinct traits.
Without darkness, there would be no light. Lion: Wise. Powerful. Tame.
Yet without light there would be no darkness either. Wolf: Warrior. Rebel. Strong Heart.
"You, Kouichi, have released your inner demons, and are now willing to accept help with them. You no longer carry your own burdens. I thank you for that."
The lion smiled up at him gently. "Thanks, Kouji."
"No problem, bro."
An awkward silence went through the room, the only sound being that of the Trailmon rushing down the tracks.
Zoe was the first to break the silence. "Takuya, what's wrong?"
Kouji glanced over at the figure sitting beside him. He sat with his head in his hands and his breathing was unsteady. A muffled reply was the answer. "I'm fine."
"No, you aren't. Tell us," Kouji said.
There was a pause before the response: "Yes, I am."
Before they could form a response, a jolt sent all of them from their seats. That's the sign they had been waiting for; they were now in the Digital World. The screeching of the Trailmon coming to a stop distracted all of them, as they stood, brushing themselves off.
"I guess it's time to see how much it's changed," JP said. They all nodded in agreement, heading towards the door, the flame forgotten, except by the wolf.
"What is it, Takuya?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Just leave me alone, Kouji."
The two locked eyes, Takuya's were slightly puffy and reddened. Kouji was the first to look away. The foreign emotion that had crossed his face earlier had now been identified. He could see the guilt in Takuya's eyes. He also knew that whatever had happened, Takuya just needed some time. "Suit yourself. Remember though, I will find out."
Kouji exited the Trailmon in time to hear Tommy shouting, "Thanks, Mr. Trailmon!" He found himself smirking as he walked down the steps, but it faded once he saw the Digital World. It was in shambles once again. The buildings around the station were torn and roofs were caving in. It looked worse than the last time, even after the Knights had stolen the data. He only hoped that they were not too late.
"I suppose you're the ones we were supposed to be meeting. Took you long enough." The voice came from the shadows of a nearby building and a figure began to emerge from the darkness. When the light from the moons struck them, a girl a little younger than he was, was revealed. Her midnight blue eyes studied them shrewdly. "You don't look like much. I thought you were supposed to be great warriors."
Another wolf.
"Hey! Who do you think you are anyway?" JP burst out.
Three more figures came out behind her. "Pay her no mind. She is always like that." The girl opened her mouth in protest, but the speaker, a young man of about seventeen, waved her to silence as he continued, "Please forgive her manners. My name is Hiroshi Tanaka. You may call me Hiro if you wish. These are the people who accompanied me on the . . . Trailmon, as you call it." He nodded towards Tommy.
A short boy with blonde hair and ice blue eyes waved toward them with a wide grin, "Hey, guys! I'm Shin Kawano! It's nice to meet you!"
The other girl standing a little behind Hiro waved meekly at the group. "I'm Rei Nagasaki." She was around fifteen with long black hair and brown eyes.
Hiro motioned toward the other wolf. "That's Akir–"
"Kira.Just Kira," the girl interrupted. She looked pointedly at Hiro, her dark auburn hair blowing in the soft wind. It was cropped short, with a navy headband tied around her forehead.
Takuya had come up behind him, without his knowledge, and he was surprised when Takuya began to introduce them.
Once he was finished, Hiro asked the question they all knew was coming: "Where are we anyways?"
"You're in the Digital World, my boy."
"Bokomon!" the former Legendary Warriors exclaimed.
"Hey! I'm here, too! Where's my welcome?"
"Neemon!"
"It's good to see you again, children," Bokomon said.
"Wait, why does everything here end in 'mon?'" Hiro asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
An eagle. Always searching. Questioning. Intelligent. Elegant.
"Because we're Digimon, of course. It's short for Digital Monsters."
"Monsters?" Rei murmured, wringing her hands together nervously and taking a small step backwards.
A mouse. Timid. Small. Quick. That's the only thing Kouji could think to describe her with.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of monsters. I bet you're afraid of the dark, too," Kira said, rolling her eyes.
"I would expect that you would have already explained all of this to them," Bokomon said, looking over at the veterans.
Takuya rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually, we just met them."
Bokomon sighed. "Let me explain it then."
The small Digimon closed his book as he completed the tale of the Legendary Warriors, complete with the latest edition of digidestined adventures. "Come now, we have to reach Ophanimon quickly now."
"If I may ask, where are we going?" the eagle questioned.
"The battlefield."
"The battlefield!" many children chorused.
"Oh, don't worry. There is not a battle occurring now."
"How far out is it?"
"It isn't far, my boy. Not far at all."
The group continued their walk in silence, as they headed out across a field pitted with holes from thousands of battles. A wooded clearing rested in the distance, obviously where they were headed. As they neared it, cries of battle could just be heard across the expanse.
"Fire Barrage!" a deep voice called out.
"We have to hurry!" Takuya said suddenly. The ever impulsive flame darted past him.
"Takuya, wait!" Kouji called after him. Perhaps he was wrong about the flame's new found caution. Of course, caution and stealth were the way of the wolf, and speed was of the flame.
He kept right on running, forcing the others to follow.
They soon arrived at the clearing and a large red bird hung above their heads, it's talons open wide, directed towards the crouching angel below. "Scorching Claws!"
The group skidded to a halt and watched in horror as the bird dove for the wounded angel, it's talons digging deeply into her flesh. Before it turned into data, the Digimon let out a final cry of pain.
The group stood aghast, before a single cry escaped them:
"Ophanimon!"